Dark Angel Revised

Summary:  Max comes to Seattle in search of her brother Seth.  Alec has also just arrived in Seattle on the Berrisford mission.  They cross paths and stuff happens. M/A

Disclaimer:  I don't own or have anything to do with the creation of the show or its characters. 

Spoilers:  Anything is subject to altering from both seasons as well as Max Collins' book Before the Dawn

HUGE shout out to all those who have reviewed.  Would have written my appreciation sooner but I already had the first four chapters written and uploaded.  I'm really happy that people like this story because I have a ton of ideas and plan on making this a long, possibly never ending saga…well we'll see about the never ending part.  All write tee then, on with the story.

Chapter 5:  The Exploring

     "Well, Manticore hadn't lied when they said the outside world was a filthy and diseased place."  Alec remarked.

     They'd left early the next morning to explore the surrounding area in search of a place to get food and fuel.  Three miles down the road, they saw their first signs of civilization.  A term used loosely to describe the cluster of shacks occupied by sick and dirty families.  Living in post pulse America, Max had come across more than her share of shanty towns. She could tell Alec was a little unnerved by the distrustful glares people were sending their way, but it didn't faze her in the least. Although she did hope that this wasn't all they'd find during their expedition. These were hardly the places where they'd be able to get food or gas.

     Another few miles, brought them closer to the highway which consequently meant more businesses.  The market places in this area were just as dirty and crowded as the shanty towns but with the sounds of bartering and the aromas of different types of food in the makeshift huts that served as restaurants, the place had a less depressing aura. 

     Further into the marketplace, Alec discovered another reason why the folks in this area seemed so jolly.  A few feet down the road from the church, there was one structure that was actually made out of bricks.  The music and laughter that blared from inside its doors captivated Alec.  Max watched with an amused expression as Alec's feet seemed to move of their own volition towards the entrance.

     He was mesmerized by the scene before him.  The bar that lined the back wall was promising but nothing he hadn't seen before. The scantily clad waitresses, very nice, but again he was pretty familiar with naked women. What had his eyes dancing with delight were the two mounted flat screen televisions on each corner of the room, the seven different arcade games against another wall, the cage fight going on in the back corner, and the pool tables. To Alec, who'd only had four missions outside of Manticore to war-torn poverty stricken countries, before Seattle, this place was Disneyland. 

     Max took in the room with indifference.  Her main concern was finding out where they could get fuel for her bike.  When she turned to Alec to tell him that's what they needed to go find out about next, she saw that his mouth was hanging slightly open and his eyes were wide.  Max burst out laughing at his kid in a candy store expression. He looked so adorable that she decided to take pity on him.

     "I'm gonna go ask around about fuel.  How about I meet you back here in an hour?" 

     "Sure, no problem."  He said, his eyes never leaving the television. Max rolled her eyes and walked away.

     "Ooh ooh Max, wait a sec, Max."  Alec said as he caught up to her.

     "What is it Alec?"
     "Got a quarter?"  She sighed dramatically before checking her pants' pockets. As she searched, she kept shooting glances his way.  He was so excited, he couldn't stand still. 

     "Here you go."  She pulled one out of her jacket pocket.  Just before she dropped it into his eager hand she added sternly.  "Now don't talk to strangers and stay where I can see you."

     Max laughed again at Alec's enthusiastic nodding before taking the quarter and nearly blurring to the video games.

     It had only taken her fifteen minutes to find out that a fuel truck came through the area once a month and that they had just missed it. A quick glance towards the video games showed that Alec was going to be busy for a while.  Apparently he was so good at whatever he was playing that a crowd had formed to watch. 

Shaking her head at the exposure but not really overly concerned, Max decided to check the back hoping to find more dubious activities underway.  She wasn't looking for trouble, by any means.  Specifically, she was looking for shady characters in the pharmaceutical business. 

Since the pulse, over the counter drugs were harder and harder to come by.  Max only being out in the world after the pulse, couldn't fathom a time when you didn't need a hook up to get some Tylenol.  Nevertheless, Tylenol was still a lot easier to come by than what she needed.

     Her stash of Tryptophan should be good for a couple of weeks, but being that they'd probably have to stick around for a month on account of the fuel truck, she hoped she'd find a supplier here.

Across from the cage fight, what looked like a sub committee of Hell's Angels was playing poker at a table.  Max decided to strike up a conversation with a young, not so hairy member standing by the table watching both the game and the cage fight.

Ignoring the hoots and whistles as she made her way over to him and the equally degrading perusal he made of her body once she was standing in front of him, she decided to start with a question she already knew the answer to.

     "My chopper's low on juice, know anywhere a girl can score some gas in these parts."

     "What's a sexy, little thing like you doing riding a motorcycle? They're dangerous, you know?" He rasped.

     "Oh, I know all about danger." 

     Something in her eyes made him believe her.  It gave him a chill and even though he kind of liked it, he still decided to get straight to the point.  "Fuel man won't be back for another few weeks.  But if you're in a rush I'll take you anywhere you wanna go, baby."  

     "Guess I'm gonna be here a while."  She deadpanned and there was that chill again. But then she smiled brilliantly at him and moved to stand next to him against the wall. "Is this all the action this place has?" She gestured towards the cage fight.

     He stared at her for a long time, his awed expression different from the lascivious one he had given her when she first approached. "You're a wild one ain'tcha." He finally said.

     Max gave him her most innocent look.

     "Wooh doggy," He smiled revealing several missing teeth.  "My mammie warned me 'bout women like you." He laughed. "Name's Gap."

     Max smiled genuinely and shook his hand while mentally patting herself on the back. True she could take out all these thugs without breaking a sweat, but the attention it would draw was too much. So like many previous times in the past, Max had to rely on her keen perception when needing information out of the lion's den.  His words confirmed what she had seen through the tough, threatening exterior—a momma's boy.

***

     She had learned almost everything there was to know about Gap and his companions as well as all the fun things to do at T and A Pub when she spotted Alec looking for her.  The only thing she didn't know was the answer to her whole reason for chatting with Gap in the first place.  But she had already anticipated having to wait for that bit of information.  For all they knew, she could be an undercover cop. 

     "Need another quarter?"  She asked when Alec made his way over to her. 

     "Ugh no." Alec answered while eyeing Max's present company. 

     "Who's the pretty boy?"  Gap mumbled.

     "Alec meet Gap.  Gap, Alec."

     "Pleasure." Alec said amicably to which Gap grunted in reply.

     "Anyway, Max," Alec turned back to her.  "I know a way we can make some quick cash."

     "You gonna start hustling the town's youth in video games."

     Alec tilted his head in contemplation before quickly shaking it.  "No, this is even better.  Cage fighting."  At Max's cynical look he continued.  "I heard the champion takes home at least ten large a night.  We stay here a week, and I can win enough to last us for the next few months."
     "Sounds risky, Alec."

     "What's the risk? It's not like anybody's gonna be able to beat me.  All we—"

     A burst of laughter from behind them interrupted their planning and the two X5s turned to see what was so funny.

     "I'm sorry, Max.  Me and the boys couldn't help over hearing your little friend."  Gap choked out between fits of laughter.  "You got some mouth boy, but maybe you better take a look at the challenger before you get in the ring and that mouth gets you killed."

     "I'll be okay." Alec stated dismissively before turning back to Max who sensed that Gap wasn't too happy with Alec's tone and quickly spoke up to diffuse the situation.

     "Ugh Alec has a lot of experience as a fighter.  He's been boxing for the last three years and he's been undefeated."

     "This ain't no prep school light weight division."  Gap challenged. "Anything goes in that ring.  Hulk there was champion until he got his ass kicked the other night by a man twice his size."  Gap pointed to a…well…hulking specimen of a man in the corner. His arms alone were the size of Alec's whole body.

     Alec eyed him with disinterest.  "I like a challenge." He then turned back to Max.

     "So Max, I already talked to the guy in charge, but he said it's gonna cost a thousand bucks just to enter, said something about insurance.  Can you spot me?"

     "I don't have a thousand dollars."

     "Well how much do you have?  Maybe we can try your video game thing to raise the rest."

     "Alec, just forget it."

     "Tell you what, hot shot, I'll give you the cash cause you're in need of a good ass whuppin." A voice roared behind them. Alec turned around and raised an eyebrow.

     "You're gonna part with a thousand dollars just to watch a stranger humiliate himself."  Alec said disbelievingly "What's the catch?" The owner of the voice stood up and walked dramatically slow over to Alec.

     "Well, when you lose, I collect my collateral." 

     "Which is what?"

     "Your girlfriend."  He said while leering at Max.

     "What!"  Max shouted.

     "Now, Harvey, that ain't no way to treat a lady."  Gap protested.  "Plus Max here is good pe—"

     "Deal."  Alec held out his hand.

     "Alec!"

     "Come on, Max, you know I got it covered."  He winked.  Max fumed but kept silent when she saw Harvey pull out a wad of cash.