Dark Angel Revised Chapter 17: All shook up, a dark angel fanfic

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

For instance, in this reality, the stuff in Collins' book takes place a couple of years before it's written in the book in order to coincide with Max and Alec being in Seattle at the same time.

Chapter 17

All shook up

His eyes snapped opened when his subconscious registered the movement of his bed. It had been awhile, but not so long that he had forgotten what to do. Immediately, he rolled over and gripped her in his arms. While he cradled her seizing body, he reached across her to the nightstand by her side of the bed and grabbed the small bottle that was there.

Max whimpered in pain and Alec tightened his grip on her.

"I've got you, baby, it's gonna be okay." He soothed while uncapping the bottle with his thumb. He then lifted her slightly before shaking a few pills into his hand. "Here Max, easy, come on open up and take these babe. It's gonna be alright."

She was able to swallow three before a powerful seizure took hold. Alec held her tighter and stroked her hair and whispered soothing words as she fought for control.

He hated them, the seizures. He hated how one second she could be smiling and laughing and an instant later she could be crumbled on the floor. He hated how helpless he felt as he watched her going through so much pain yet there being nothing he could do to stop it except feed her pills knowing it was only a temporary fix. If only he knew how they fixed this for him, he often thought.

"Alec." Max whimpered.

"I'm here, Max." He said, glad to see her body calming little by little. An hour later she was fast asleep. But in a reversal of roles, his eyes were wide open as sleep just couldn't claim him. She might need him again. And in the mean time, he'd rack his brain trying to think of a way to help her so she'd never had to go through them again.

***

"You look like shit, dude. Rough night?" Sketchy inquired the next morning at work.

"Yeah, I was up all night." Alec answered while rubbing his eyes. He then donned his sunglasses before steering his bike outside. Sketchy was holding his bike in a similar fashion alongside him.

"Sucks, man. After riding out here all day for Normal, there's only two things I look forward to, that's beer and sleep. I try my hardest to never let anything come between us. Unless of course it's a hot chick." Sketchy shrugged. "Actually an all right looking chick would be okay too. I'd need the beer if it was an ugly chick, though."

Alec shook his head. "You're too much, Sketch."

Loosing sleep was nothing detrimental to his genetically engineered body. He started off the day sluggish but he was one hundred percent by the time he delivered his first package. Sketchy's antics were a nice distraction to his thoughts of Max's seizures so he was glad they got to do their runs together today. He might even let Sketchy beat him at pool later to show his appreciation.

They had just finished their runs in a sector downtown when Sketchy spotted a familiar face.

"Hey Kendra." He yelled to the blond across the street from them.

"Hi Alec, Sketchy." The flamboyant woman shouted and waved back.

The two Jam Pony riders decided to break up their day and crossed the street to chat it up with Kendra.

"So who's the lucky guy?" Sketchy said while gesturing to the double doors of the hotel they were standing in front of.

"Wow the Steinlitz." Alec commented. "This place is classy. The guy must have excellent taste, but of course we already knew that by his choice of women."

Kendra blushed but then quickly shook her head. "Calm down boys, it's not what you think. I'm actually here for a conference. Shoot, which reminds me." Kendra shrugged off her back pack and removed a notebook. "Do any you guys know how to spell Poly-merase?" She asked while squinting at her notes.

"P-o-l-y-m-e-r-a-s-e." Alec quickly recited. "So this conference's about DNA duplication?"

"Beats me." Kendra shrugged and then handed Alec her notebook. "Here take a look, probably easier than me trying to explain it."

Alec's eyes lit up as he quickly scanned the pages. This could be just the thing he had been looking for. If this doctor could fix someone's genes after they were born, maybe he could fix it so Max would stop having seizures permanently.

"So Kendra, I know how to spell Karma Sutra. What do you say this Friday, you and I—"

"Forget it Sketch. Not even if every other man and all the batteries in the world disappeared."

"Damn that's cold."

"So what time's this conference happening?" Alec cut into their banter after he finished reading.

Kendra looked at her watch. "Shit, I'm late. I have to meet with Dr. Tanaka, but he isn't scheduled to start for another hour." She informed them as she stuffed the notebook back into her back pack and slung it over her shoulder. "Later guys."

Sketchy watched her walk away, and Alec studied his watch while coming up with a plan.

"Hey Sketch I'm gonna have to catch up with you later."

"What's up?"

"I just remembered I gotta thing. Handle the rest of my runs for me, will ya? Twenty bucks and I'll buy at Crash tonight."

"Thanks dude, you're on!" Sketchy said while grabbing the cash and a few packages from Alec's arms.

When Sketchy was out of sight, Alec took out his phone.

"Hey Max, can you meet me at Logan's now? I'll explain everything when you get there."

"Kay, be there in ten minutes." Max replied.

"Later."

***

"You okay." Alec asked.

Max shuddered once more and then grimaced. "I just don't know if I'm gonna be able to get that image out of my head." She answered while desperately trying not to think about what happened earlier.

They both understood the concept of doors. But for some reason whenever they came across one, especially if it was to a place they'd been inside numerous times, knocking seemed a bit beyond them. However after today, Max would have to seriously rethink that philosophy.

Logan hadn't known they were coming over. They just showed up and walked in as usual. Unfortunately, for their eyes anyway, Logan had been busy entertaining company. The sweaty, heavy breathing, naked kind of entertaining that a thing like a locked door normally kept out of view.

Max's stomach lurched right before she ran out of the apartment, but Alec seemed to take it all in stride. He simply turned around and waited while a furious Logan grabbed his bathrobe and then ushered the younger man into the kitchen.

Alec calmly explained that they needed credible identities for the conference. After some long suffering sighs from Logan, he agreed to do it for them. Normally Alec would have waited and helped himself to some of the delicacies Logan seemed to always have on hand while Eyes Only got their stuff together, but he could tell when his presence wasn't welcome. So he and Max decided to use the time it would take Logan to doctor up some passes for them to shop for the right clothes to wear to a conference. "Now Max, if I recall, that was one of your favorite positions."

"Damn it Alec! Just when I thought it was finally purged from my memory banks."

"My bad." Alec smirked. He then turned his attention back to the clothing rack.

"Sheesh, no wonder why so many people are unemployed." Max muttered while looking at a price tag. "You'd have to already be pulling six figures to afford the clothes for the interview. And what the hell color is this?" She said while holding up a silk blouse.

Alec put back a pair of slacks and walked over to the other side of the aisle to the woman's rack Max was currently looking through, and after a few seconds of rifling, pulled out a few items and showed them to her. "Here this will work for you."

Max gave him a strange look as she eyed the outfit in his hand. "It will work for me." She said dumfounded. "Did Manticore give you a class on fashion or something?" She asked while taking the clothes from him.

"Actually yeah." He answered while trying on a tie. "After clearing common verbal usage, we had a sartorial class.

"At least they knew that wearing the same thing everyday cripples one's sense of style."

"Oh no doubt." He agreed while trying on the jacket to the suit he picked out. "It was pretty funny how long it took for some of them to get cleared."

"But let me guess, you passed with flying colors the first time around."

Alec shrugged. "I can't help it if style, rhythm, and good taste come just as natural to me as my incredibly handsome face."

"Don't you mean your incredibly handsome ego?" She volleyed back.

"Come on, Max, you know it's more than justified. I mean look what I'm working with here." He answered while pointing one hand down towards his feet and the other up by his face.

She rolled her eyes but couldn't quite stop a smile from forming on her lips. "You're impossible."

"Yeah, but you love it." He said before moving in for a kiss. When his lips touched hers, she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him even closer.

She did love it.

***

Two hours later, Max pretended to study her notes while she waited for Alec to come out of the conference room. They entered the hotel separately and sat no where near each other during Dr. Tanaka's demonstration.

"Biotech Frontiers. My friend interned with them last summer." A deep voice spoke from behind her.

Max turned around slowly. "Really, what's your friend's name?" She asked pleasantly.

"Ms. Dover…Eileen."

Max coughed into her hand to keep from laughing. "You're such a dumb ass." she then whispered.

"And I know you love it." Alec whispered back easily. She stopped herself from rolling her eyes at their familiar routine, knowing they were still trying to keep up appearances.

"So what do you think?" She instead asked seriously.

"I think he may be our guy." From her change in demeanor, Alec knew what her question was pertaining.

"Really." Her eyes lit up. "You really think he can help me." She added softly.

"Yeah I do." Alec smiled down at her. He loved how hopeful she looked.

"I talked to Tanaka earlier and even gave him an idea so it shouldn't be a problem getting him to talk to us later." Max looked down and bit her lip in a nervous gesture before staring back up at him. "But um, how much do you think it's going to cost to get him to help us?"

"Doesn't matter. Whatever it is, I'll make it happen." Alec assured. He then lowered his voice even further. "But come to think of it, this guy Tanaka's a scientist; he might just do this for free for the chance to study the physiology of something like us." Max couldn't fault his logic and nodded in agreement. And speaking of physiology, I gotta take a leak." He added while looking around for the men's room. "Be right back."

Max watched him walk away and then looked back down at her blank piece of paper.

A few seconds later she felt something prickly in the hairs on the back of her neck. Her eyes immediately snapped up to scan her surroundings. The sensation was not something new to her. She had it before and it always screamed threat.

For a moment it seemed like everything came to a standstill when she saw Lydecker headed away from the water fountain. And straight towards her!

But luck was on her side. A man she didn't recognize intercepted his approach calling Lydecker by his first name and then shaking hands.

As intrigued as Max was that Colonel Donald Lydecker had a social life outside of Manticore, she knew that this was the perfect opportunity for her to get away.

"Alec, we have to get outta here now." Max had latched onto his wrist the second he walked out of the men's room and then steered him behind a pillar.

"What's up?"

"Lydecker's here."

Alec's eyes widened. "Shit. Here?"

"Hey guys, thought I saw you in there but then I was like what would Max be doing at this conference and then I thought I saw you but I was like I just saw Alec with Sketchy so why would he be here but then I came out and saw the two of you standing here and I was like—"

"Kendra." The two X5s nearly shouted.

"Yeah?"

"Look, Kendra, I'll explain all about why I'm here later, but right now I need you do to me a huge favor." Max beseeched. "See that guy over there." She continued at Kendra's nod. Kendra looked in the direction Max had gestured.

"Middle-aged, but kinda cute. Bet he could teach me a few things."

Max shuddered but continued on in a strong voice. "Me and Alec have to get out of here without that guy seeing us. Think you can distract him."

"Me, a distraction? No problem." Kendra smiled. "But what's the dealio?"

"Like I said, I'll explain everything later. You got my back, girl."

"Totally." Kendra nodded before sauntering off towards her prey.

At first Max remained fixed in place as she watched her friend's progress. But with a reassuring hand squeeze from Alec she was able to quell the guilt of crossing Kendra with Donald Lydecker. And when they saw that Kendra was doing a good job of leading the colonel back through the conference room doors, they made their way for the stairwell without looking back.

***

They went to Alec's place to change back into street clothes since it was the closest and Max's feet were killing her from being in heels.

Max went straight to his bedroom to find something to wear. Alec, who was distracted by the sight of his television, simply kicked off his shoes and collapsed on his favorite chair right in front of his boob tube. After finding a suitable program he began taking off his clothes and flinging them towards his bedroom.

"Any idea why Lydecker was there?" Alec said when a commercial came on.

"Probably to kidnap that little boy so he can dissect him later."

"Now that's harsh, Maxie."

"Sorry." Max yelled from his bedroom. "Seeing Lydecker's ugly face always brings out the worst in me. You know, he was probably there for the same reason as us. Who knows what other problems our mixed up DN—"

"Ugh, Max. You better get out here." Alec interrupted.

"What's up?" She called out.

"Come look." Alec yelled back while turning up his television.

Several hostages have already been killed, including the Conference's keynote speaker Dr. Tanaka. Negations between Darius and the military are still underway, but things look like they may get a lot worse before……….they get better.

"Oh no." She was now standing beside his chair staring, just as transfixed as he was, at the news broadcast.

"I'm sorry, Max." Alec soothed after turning away from the television to look up at her. "We'll find someone else. Don't worry."

"No." She shook her head. "Kendra." She whispered. "I left her there. What if---"

"Wait." He jumped up and stood in front of her, blocking her view of the television. "Don't start beating yourself up just yet. The newscaster said that all the women were released. Kendra's probably fine. Why don't you call home to see if she's there yet?"

She turned shimmering eyes up to him and stared at him for a moment before nodding. She then turned and grabbed up his phone and dialed her number.

"Come on, come on." She pleaded when it continued to ring.

"She might have been detained for questioning." Alec reasoned. He was about to tell her to call Logan to see if he knew where they would take the former hostages but Max's voice stopped him.

"Ugh hello, who's this?"

"Max." A voice, barely audible, said on the other line.

"Hello!" Max yelled into the phone after hearing a cluttering noise. The noise was then followed by a dial tone.

"Max?"

"Some guy answered not Kendra."

"Could have been a cop escorting her home."

"No." She said while shaking her head. The guy sounded hurt or sick or something and he said my name.

***

They stood with backs to the wall on each side of the door outside Max and Kendra's apartment. After listening for a few minutes, Alec held up one finger. Max nodded also only having heard one heartbeat coming from inside.

After a three finger countdown, Alec pushed open the door and stepped inside ready for anything. Max came in shortly after also ready for anything except for the sight that met her.

The body was crumpled on the floor next to the phone. Blood and bruises marred several inches of skin.

Alec made a grab for Max when he sensed her movement towards the body but she easily avoided him, so he could only watch as Max fell to her knees and gathered the figure into her arms.

"Zack, what happened?" She whispered as she brushed his hair away from his forehead.

"Brin." Zack croaked back.

***

Max and Alec had traveled around a great deal since meeting one another. They never knew what environment their adventures would place them in next. At times they had to flee in a hurry and many possessions were lost along the way. But the one thing Alec insisted they always either bring or get the moment they arrived somewhere new was a first aide kit.

It had been her first house warming gift, so to speak, from him when she moved into the dilapidated building she resided in with Kendra.

Alec retrieved it shortly after checking around the outside of Max's apartment to make sure Zack hadn't been followed.

His first aide kits were a necessity and a blessing in their lifestyle. And they never only carried just the usual items. Lighters, stitching thread, Tryptophan, and transfusion lines could be found along with the standard bandages and antiseptic.

They quickly and easily patched Zack up as he explained that Lydecker's men snatched Brin when he had gone to meet her earlier.

"Are you sure it was Lydecker?" Alec asked.

"Of course I'm sure." Zack was then silent for a moment as he thought back to the incident. He had a good look at the car that came straight toward him before jumping over it only to be hit by the second car. He didn't actually see Lydecker in any of them though. "I mean, who else would it be?" He added less confidently. "I can't believe she let them follow her. How many times have I warned them?" Zack stood and grimaced at the sudden movement. He then began to pace ignoring the pain. "How can she be so careless!"

"Easy Zack." Max chided. "We do know Lydecker is here in Seattle. In fact we know exactly where he is now. Once he gets out of the situation he's in now he's bound to go meet with his boys where Brin is. We follow him, we've found Brin."

"What do you mean situation he's in?" Zack asked.

"He's being held hostage at a genetic conference at a hotel down town." Alec contributed. "It's all over the news."

"Great, even more exposure." Zack resumed pacing. "You can't seriously be thinking about going down there."

"It's our only chance to find out where Brin is." She reasoned.

"So what are you saying?" Zack rounded on her. "You want to try and rescue Brin and wind up back at Manticore too. It's over Maxie, she's gone."

"How can you just give up on her? She's our sister."

"Max, I'm looking out for the greater good. One soldier is not worth the lives of her entire unit. Remember I know where all the others are. I can't risk them getting me to give up that information."

"I know you Zack. If they did manage to capture us you'd never tell them where the others are no matter how much they torture you."

"I don't care what they'd do to me Max, but if they get you too and use you—" Zack stopped speaking and ran his hand through his hair in frustration at the situation and himself for letting too much emotion slip out. "You know what, just forget it." He recovered and this time his voice was cold steel. "You need to accept that Brin's gone and move on. Is that clear?"

"It's not like I need your permission or help." Max shot a look at Alec who nodded letting her know that he, of course, had her back. "I'm going to get my sister back with or without you." Max stared him down with eyes as hard as his voice had been moments ago.

Zack opened his mouth to argue further, but Alec cut him off.

"Zack, buddy, I think its best for all if we just fast forward to the part where Max gets her way.

***

Alec wasn't thrilled with the idea that he had a rival for Max's heart even if she herself didn't know it. Alec recognized the look in Zack's eyes whenever he looked at Max and it was not brotherly love. But Alec was also practical. He knew that loving Max meant doing anything to make her happy because although he'd never admit it to her or out loud he was pretty much whipped when it came to giving in to her. And Alec knew that Zack felt the same way. Like he said, that thought didn't have him doing cartwheels but it did get them out of her apartment and to the Stienlitz a lot quicker than if he had just let the two 09iners continue arguing for another half hour before eventually ending up exactly where they all were now.

Then again if he knew then where he'd end up now, he might have rethought his plan of rushing things. Because now he was hanging on the side of a building several stories above ground and going higher.

Police, military, media, and spectators were aligned along different sides of the hotel each of which was lending chaos to an already chaotic situation. However the two X5s were able to spot a wall not covered by any of the above groups most likely because there was no door and therefore no way in or out of the hotel. But X5s didn't always need doors so the two began scaling up the building in order to enter the hotel via the roof. Zack hung back because of the injuries he recently sustained, and instead went to "commandeer" a car for when they hopefully exited with Lydecker.

"One of us should stay here to make sure we have an escape route already clear." Max said once they reached the roof.

"Good idea." Alec nodded. "I'll go inside and you stay here."

"Why do you get to go inside?"

"I knew that was coming." Alec muttered. "Fine, I'll stay and you go."

"No." Max sighed. "You should probably go."

Alec growled in frustration before turning towards the stairwell door. "Fine." He grunted. He was halfway there before he turned around and marched back towards her.

"Wait. Why do you want me to go now?" He had to ask.

Max rolled her eyes before stating. "I figure since you said the terrorists released all the female hostages, my face would be more memorable when they question the survivors after we handle this bitch."

"Yeah, yeah." Alec said nodding his head and shaking his finger at her. "That was my reasoning in the first place."

"Sure it was." She said with disbelief clearly evident in her tone of voice.

"Why is it I'm in love with you again?" He asked. Her answer was to pull him by the front of his shirt towards her for a deep, passionate kiss. "Oh yeah." He said after their lips parted. "Now I remember." He smiled.

"Be careful." She whispered to him just before he disappeared behind the door.

***

The man didn't have a chance to make a sound when Alec grabbed him from behind and cut off his air until he passed out.

With his gun now in Alec's hand, Alec felt a little bit more at ease with the situation. It just wasn't fair when he was entering a place with several armed gunmen and his only weapons were a lighter and a pack of chewing gum.

He was able to creep down the hall to the conference room without further incident. Rather than going by the main doors to the conference room he went around back to the room that led to the stage. The man posted by the curtain didn't stand a chance against Alec's fist. And Alec blurred behind him to catch him in his arms so his body wouldn't make a sound when it hit the ground.

After moving the body out of the way, he carefully peered outside the curtain to the main area. From his vantage point he could see most of the room. All of the remaining hostages appeared to be seated in the first two rows. There were six terrorists, all armed, in various positions around the room. One covering each of the main doors. One on each side of the rows of hostages. And two, Alec guessed one of which was the leader, were in front talking animatedly.

He looked back towards the rows of hostages once more to make sure he didn't miss him the first time, but it was the same picture.

He was debating whether or not he should go in to the projection booth to get an even better view of inside the conference room when his keen hearing picked up the sound of walkie-talkies in the distance.

Alpha team side clear, permission to proceed

Roger Alpha Team. Orders are to shoot hostiles on sight.

The military was preparing a full breech, he realized.

"Damn it." Alec cursed as he heard the exchange. He was out of time and there was no sign of Lydecker. How was that possible? Unless.

It was wrong but he couldn't help smiling at the thought. Maybe this day wouldn't turn out so badly after all. Yeah, they lost Tanaka but at least there was a possibility they could cross Donald Lydecker off their list of things to worry about.

Once outside the room, he looked both directions before crossing the corridor and heading back the way he came in.

***

Max slowly stood from her crouched position. When she heard gunshots earlier, she instinctively dropped low until she was sure they were coming from the other side of the roof.

Once the gunfire stopped, she cautiously made her way towards the sounds of men's voices. However before she reached them, the bodies of two dead soldiers lay in her path. Max merely glanced at them, only letting the sight confirm what the gunshots had been and not getting involved with the idea of now fatherless children or childless parents.

She heard more signs of a struggle up ahead and decided to concentrate on that instead. There was a familiar sound of someone's head being cracked against an even harder object a second before she reached the wall blocking her view.

When she peered around the corner it took a moment to process what she was seeing. Two men were dragging Lydecker towards the edge of the building. As they got closer to the edge and the realization hit her that they were planning to throw him off, time seemed to slow for Max.

It was perfectly within reason to stand by and watch. She had no weapon to stop the terrorists with and more to the point she had absolutely no good feelings towards the man that was about to be murdered. She hated him. He had made her childhood and many others a living hell. She had fantasized about killing that man, herself, many times in the past. In fact there wasn't a day that went by when she didn't wish him dead.

But for some reason she couldn't let it be today. She told herself that he was their only hope in finding Brin as she hooked the soldier's rope to the building and tied it around her waist. She told herself that he may even come in handy as far as telling her how to permanently stop her seizures as she blurred towards the edge and jumped off a second after the gunmen had dumped him over.

He'd been unconscious when he went over but luckily for him they didn't position him face or feet first. Max barreled straight into his back and grabbed him around his waist. When the rope jerked them to a stop she was able to wrap her legs around his body and pull him flush against her as they swung towards a window. One of the gunmen shot the rope a mere second before they crashed through.

She quickly jumped off her nemesis once they landed on the bed and checked to see if he was alive. When she saw that minor cuts from the window glass and the bump on his head from the assault rifle were his only injuries she left him there to get Alec to help her get him out of the hotel.

She almost mistook him for one of the terrorists when she saw him from behind with the machine gun in his hand.

"Alec." She whispered.

He whirled on her a bit startled to see her there. He quickly put his fingers to his lips and motioned with his head towards the stairwell door. Her eyes widened when she heard the footsteps of several people coming towards them.

Max motioned for him to follow her and together they backtracked to the room Lydecker was in. By the time they closed the door, the sounds of gunfire and yelling erupted.

"The military's storming the place." Alec said.

"What about all the hostages that were left there? They'll be caught in the crossfire."

"They don't care, Max." The two stared at one another as memories of Manticore and what they were taught about human lives and their own experiences with the TACs reinforced Alec's words.

"How do we get him out of here?" Max broke the silence as she nodded over towards the bed where Lydecker remained unconscious.

Alec went to the broken window and looked down. "All the activities up here so we'll go down a couple floors. Jump down to the balcony below and I'll use the rope to pass him down to you."

It was a cumbersome process but they managed to make it down four flights without anyone spotting them. Alec used the patio table to break into the room. They then half carried, half dragged Lydecker into the room, out into the hall, down another few flights of steps, and into another room where they then broke another window to get out to the outside area of the hotel they had started and where Zack was waiting for them in a black SUV.

***

"Where is Brin?" Zack shouted into Lydecker's face. His fist was already pulled back ready to deliver another blow if Lydecker kept up his bullshitting.

"Brin? You're one of them. One of mine. X5." It was starting to make sense now. When he woke up ten minutes ago blindfolded and tied up, at first he thought he was still with the terrorists. That, perhaps, they found his ID and figured he'd be more useful as a hostage alive. But when they started interrogating him about a kidnapped girl he thought it might have been simply a case of mistaken identity. But when they said the kidnapped girl in question was Brin and he realized that the two shouting at him didn't sound like any of the terrorists from the hotel, it all came together."

Lydecker spit out a wad of blood before continuing. "I know you're X5. Nobody else would know the names you kids called each other."

"Where is she?" Max yelled at him.

"I don't have her." Lydecker returned and received Zack's fist to his jaw for his trouble. But Lydecker was no stranger to abuse having been on both the receiving and giving end of it. So instead he laughed.

"You're still angry. You haven't changed much have you, Zack?"

"We'll play "pin the name on the barcode" later." Max cut in. "Answer the question."

"And who might you be? Jondy, maybe? Tinga? Max?" Of course she didn't answer so Lydecker continued. "Listen up. I don't want to see Brin fall into enemy hands any more than you do."

"You are the enemy." Zack snarled.

"I told you, Zack. I don't have her."

"Stop lying!" Zack screamed and hit Lydecker yet again.

The blow hurt but to his credit Lydecker didn't let it show knowing that showing weakness now in front of his kids would undermine everything he taught them.

"You put your prisoner in a threatening environment and then you use threats and verbal abuse to try and weaken him psychologically." Lydecker preached.

"Shut up!" Max cried not in the mood for another one of Manticore's lessons especially by daddy himself.

"And eventually, you'll employ non-verbal techniques, including torture." Lydecker continued.

"I said shut up!" Max yelled again.

Alec stood up and was on his way over to her to try and calm her down. He'd never seen her like this and it disturbed him that this man could still get to her even after several years of freedom. But before he got there, Lydecker did something unexpected.

"Why don't we just cut to the chase?" Lydecker said as he grabbed hold of his own finger and broke it with one snap. "One down, nine to go. What do I have to do to have you accept that I'm telling you the truth? I don't have her."

All three X5s looked from one to the other and came to a silent agreement that a human crazy enough to do that just might be telling the truth.

"Then who does?" Max said in a softer voice.

"Any number of foreign governments would love to get their hands on Manticore technology."

"You're saying someone kidnapped her so they can sell her to the highest bidder?" She asked with disgust clearly evident in her tone of voice.

"Is that so surprising? Each one of you is worth millions."

"Why should we believe you?" Zack asked.

"A weapon system like Brin doesn't come up for sale everyday. Let me contact my people. We can find out who's brokering the deal. Think about it."

Max looked back at Alec who was shaking his head. She then looked to Zack who also shook his head. She turned her back on Lydecker and walked over to Alec. Zack followed.

"What do you think?" She whispered.

"We should kill him right now and take the win." Zack replied

"I'm with Zack on that one." Alec said earning a surprised look from Zack.

"I think he's telling the truth. He doesn't have her." Max stated.

"You're not seriously buying into that crap?" Zack said angrily.

"It's plausible. Before we do anything crazy, we should at least check it out."

"How?" Zack said. His frustration was growing and he wanted nothing more than to snap Lydecker's neck.

"Logan has contacts with the military." Alec answered."

"Yeah, maybe he can shake something loose." Max nodded.

"I'll go." Alec volunteered.

"Make sure you knock this time." Max whispered as Alec walked away. He turned and the two shared a smile. Seeing it, Zack clenched his jaw and looked at the floor.

***

Alec had been gone for twenty minutes before someone finally broke the silence that settled over the warehouse after his departure.

"So who the hell is Logan?" Zack asked from his spot against the wall. Max was seated on a stool directly in front of the chair Lydecker was tied to.

Hearing Zack's question she stood up and walked over to him.

"He's this rich creep with a major superman complex." She answered easily. "The work he does keeps him connected with a lot of big players so he comes in handy some times." Max spoke while at the same time using hand signals to tell Zack that she'd explain all about Logan later because the work he was into was very sensitive and she didn't want to chance Lydecker hearing.

Just then Alec walked in and motioned for them to come over to him at the other side of the warehouse. Throughout the whole encounter with Lydecker, Alec had been keeping his distance. Having only recently escaped, they didn't want to risk Lydecker hearing or seeing him and knowing he had hooked up with the other escapees. It was a risk they hadn't considered back at the hotel but luckily, with Lydecker unconscious the whole time, it didn't wind up being an issue.

"He's right. She's being held at Fort Xavier." Alec told them. "The Chinese military has been trying to procure bio-synth technology on the black market for the last few months. The order's just been filled. A Major Jake Sanders is brokering the deal." Alec pulled out a sheet of paper from his jacket. "Here's a layout of the base."

Max and Zack studied it for a few seconds.

"Great so now we know where she is." Zack said before turning away and walking back over to Lydecker.

"Zack, what are you doing!" Max yelled when she saw Zack take out his gun.

"We know she's at Fort Xavier; what do we need him for anymore?"

"That's Jake Sanders' command. I can't believe it. We served together." Lydecker said.

"Well, it's a shame you won't be able to make it to the reunion." Zack aimed the gun and cocked it.

"You're wrong Zack. You do need me on this one. You'll never get out of there alive. Listen to me. I know Sanders. I can get on the base. I can call an attack team."

"And then what? Take her back to Manticore?" Zack shouted.

"I would give my life... rather than to see Manticore technology end up in the hands of the enemy."

"Well here's you chance."

"Zack no!" Max yelled. "Please don't. If what he's says is true, we might still need him "

"It's true Zack. Fort Xavier is a secure installation, but it's not a legitimate military base." Lydecker said. "Sanders went rogue in 2015 and convinced a lot of soldiers to serve under him. They're no longer serving this country. They're only in it for the money and they'll kill for it."

"Don't, Zack, please." Max pleaded once more.

"URGH!" Zack growled before shooting at the wall behind Lydecker. Relieving the strain on his trigger finger did nothing to cool his ire so he spun on the other two transgenics.

"What's to say that even with his help we can get her out, huh? You think that because he's there, they are just going to hand Brin over. I told you this was impossible Max. Damn it! Why did she let herself get caught!"

"I'm sure she didn't mean to get caught Zack!" Max retorted angrily. "You think she wanted to go back to Manticore." She stormed over to him until she was directly in front of him. "It's not her fault!"

Zack's shoulders slumped further and further as her words assaulted him. Suddenly feeling tired, his rage a memory, he spoke in a low voice.

"No, Maxie it wasn't. It was mine." He confessed.

"That's ridiculous Zack. How could it be your fault?

"It's my job to look out for you all. I should have gotten to her sooner. I knew she was sick and needed me, but I didn't want to risk contacting her so soon after seeing you."

"What do you mean sick? Brin never had seizures when were kids. Did she get them later."
"No, she never got seizures even after we escaped. I don't know what was wrong with her. It happened so suddenly. She kept telling me how weak and tired she felt lately."

"Could be a form of progeria." Lydecker offered finally having recovered from the sound of the bullet whizzing so close to his head. "Similar to Werner's syndrome. It's a spontaneous, rapid mutation of the genome, expresses in the form of highly accelerated aging. If that's the case, even if you got her out of there on your own, there'd be nothing you can do for her. The only known treatment is at Manticore. Taking her to any other hospital or doctor or the outside and they wouldn't know what it is they were looking at."

"You're lying." Zack turned and pointed the gun back at Lydecker. "You're only saying that to get her back to Manticore."

"Lydecker's on the level." Alec whispered into Max's ear. "Get Zack over here."

"Zack, come here." Zack looked at her when she spoke. "I need to talk to you." She continued while motioning between her and Alec.

Reluctantly, Zack put his gun back in his pants and joined the other two X5s on the other side of the warehouse.

"When we were kids a couple people in my unit got progeria and died." Alec whispered. "Then about a year and a half ago another girl developed it, but after a few weeks in the infirmary 735 was perfectly fine. They must have found a treatment."

"735?" Zack asked.

"Brin's twin." Max said astonished.

"He's right." Alec continued. "Nobody but Manticore can help her. If he can get her out, it might be best to let him do it."

"No we can't let Manticore take her, we can't." Max said horrified and dangerously close to tears. "I'd rather die than go back there and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I just sit back and let Lydecker have her."

"Maxie, there's no guarantee that we can get into that base and get her out. We'd be risking our lives to get her out only to watch her die later." Zack said in a defeated tone. When Brin first got caught, it hurt him to know that she was probably back at Manticore but he was willing to accept it. The risks of going after her far outweighed the benefits. No way he'd be willing to trade one life for eleven even if that one life was one of his baby sister's. But after Max convinced him that they should at least try to rescue her he changed his mind. He was willing to take the risks to get her out. But now that he knew that without Manticore she would die, the choice was strategically simple. Despite the way it conjured the greatest amount of pain he had ever experienced."

"I can't abandon her Zack. Maybe there's still a chance. Logan has a lot of contacts. If we rescue her and then take her to him, maybe—"

"Max." Alec gently put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him fully. "The treatment's only at Manticore."

"But—"

"Listen to me, if we manage to rescue her, she's going to die. If we leave her there rather than let Manticore get her, they are going to take her to China where she'll eventually die and they'll take her apart and study her to find out how to make more like us. If we let Lydecker get her and take her back to Manticore, she'll live. And once we take Manticore down, she'll be free."

A few tears spilled down her cheeks and Alec wiped them away as she nodded.

"Okay. Let Lydecker go so he can call in his team and get her out."

***

It was over in under ten minutes. They left Lydecker outside of Fort Xavier blindfolded but with a cell phone.

By the time they reached an overpass where they could look down and watch the activity from a distance, several teams were already heading in.

The soldiers at the Fort didn't stand a chance against the unexpected assault from Lydecker's attack team.

When they brought her out, Max held her breath as she took in Brin's haggard appearance. Too weak to stand a soldier had to carry her out. With her skin so wrinkled and her long hair gray, Max wouldn't even have recognized her if she hadn't zoomed in to her eyes.

She felt Alec arms coming around her and she was grateful. Even if she wasn't sure whether or not he did it for comfort or to hold her back to keep her from going after her sister.

When she snuck a look at Zack, she saw his fists were clenched and his eyes were misty so she covered his hand with hers and squeezed. He didn't pull away like she thought he might. Instead he gripped her hand in his and let the tears fall.

Together the three remained holding one another in some form or another long after the humvee that carried their "sister" drove out of sight.

***

"You sure you're gonna be alright, Kendra?"

"Oh I'll be fine. It was scary at the time, but it'll make for a great story for my grandkids. I only wish I could find out what happened to the little boy."

"He's fine. Physically he wasn't harmed and I talked to this guy I know that has the connections to make sure he gets put into a good foster home."

"That's great, Max." Kendra beamed.

"Knock, Knock." A deep voice said.

"We're in my room, Alec." Max called out.

"Hey Alec." Kendra greeted.

"Kendra." He bowed slightly and Kendra blushed. "You all set." He then turned to Max and asked

"Yep." Max answered and slung her bag over her shoulder.

"So where you two headed?" Kendra asked as she followed them into their living room.

"Not sure. Some place warm, probably."

"Oh it's so romantic that you two are taking a trip together." Kendra gushed.

They decided they needed to get away for awhile. Seattle was far too hot at the moment. No doubt Lydecker had to think Seattle was Manticore escapee central, what with capturing Brin there, Seth having last been seen there, 494 disappearing after a mission there, not to mention Zack and an unidentified female X5 kidnapping him there. They had pitched there idea of taking down Manticore to Zack and how much easier it would be if they had the help of the other X5s. He'd said he'd get back to them and grunted a goodbye before taking off. So they decided to have Logan watch out for any strange military activity and to let them know when the coast was clear. In the mean time they'd have a little down time and maybe do a little side searching for the others themselves.

"How long will you be gone?" Kendra asked.

Both X5 shrugged.

"Wow, I can't believe that weird boss of yours gave you indefinite time off." Kendra continued.

"Alec's very persuasive." Max smiled up at him.

"And you love it." Alec smiled back before leaning down for a kiss.

TBC

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