This Thing Called Life
Chapter 4 - Remember
452 made a detour on her way back to Command. She knew that Terminal City was in good hands and that the residents had taken every precaution in securing the perimeter. But 452 was a perfectionist. No detail was too small, everything second guessed. She stepped outside and blended into the shadows of the night.
She circled TC thoroughly and spotted a few cracks that needed filling. The entrance to the sewers outside of the housing complex on Oak Street wasn't as heavily guarded as it should be. The proximity to the living quarters made it an easier target. 452 noted this mentally. She would have to talk to Mole about this. Security was of the utmost importance, especially now, and strengthening their fortifications wasn't just tactically sound, it was imperative.
452 scaled the wall at the back of Med Bay and surveyed the surrounding area. The top of the wall was bare. Admittedly, it was 20 feet high and it was unlikely anyone would try to climb over, but she figured there should be glass shards or sharp wiring to help dissuade anyone from attempting a breach. Another mental note.
She jumped, landing softly and gracefully on her feet. And came face to face with an M16. The slim girl toting the weapon quickly lowered it as she saw 452.
"At ease, soldier." The X6 relaxed her stance slightly, her training kicking in at the command issuing forth from her superior.
Word got around fast in Terminal City and everyone was aware that Max had fallen into soldier mode. It was difficult for most to accept as Max was generally congenial and easy to talk to, Alec being the exception. No one could understand her behavior toward her fellow X5, or his willingness to accept her verbal and physical abuse. But it wasn't their place to question the rocky relationship. It was all part of Max and Alec's routine.
"Nell, right?" The girl nodded. "When's the next rotation?" she asked. Nell knew exactly what she meant.
"0400 hours, ma'am." 452 consulted her watch. Twenty minutes until the next guard detail would arrive.
"As soon as your shift is over, go see if they need anything in Medical. I want an update on everything. Meet me back at Command. Dismissed." Nell saluted, turned and left.
452 made her way to the Command Center . Issuing commands and taking control came to her like second nature. She didn't stop to think how the change in her affected those around her. 452 was doing what she felt needed to be done. Her unit wasn't with her. That left her in charge until someone of higher rank stepped in. She knew Alec was her superior and that he would have done the same had he been here, but Alec was out of commission and someone had to do it. Someone had to plan the attack on White.
Looks like it's just you and me babe.
She directed the thought at Max, who was struggling deep inside. She wanted to come out, to give in and cry at the wretchedness of the situation. To crumble and fall and let her emotions free. But she knew without a doubt that Max would never do the tactically correct thing. She would give in to her humanity; she would shy away from killing, anything to avoid killing another human being. And that was just the thing that could jeopardize the lives of everyone she cared about. So 452 pushed Max out of the way again.
This is for Alec. For Biggs. For Sketchy. Cece. Cindy . This is for everyone who has ever meant anything to me. For my life. My future. My sanity. Fuck you, Ames . This is war.
In an abandoned building across town…
Ames White stared at the frightened man before him. He sniggered slightly as he took in Simms' look of desperation. White had planned the entire thing and it had played out according to plan. The only thing he wanted to know was how. How did 452 manage to get everyone out and completely raze the site? The 452 he knew wouldn't have been capable of obliterating an entire complex. Not single-handedly.
"Did we get any of it?" he asked.
Simms nodded slowly. "The remote recording device caught most of it. We've set it up for you in the conference room."
White entered the darkened room and sat down facing the blank wall. Simms followed shortly after and fed the tape into the machine. The images flashed before them and the only sound in the room was the whirring of the VCR.
White stared in awe. The woman on film was a far cry from the 452 he thought he knew. She was savage, beastly, deadly. An animal driven by rage and lust for blood. It was obvious from her stance, the look in her eyes, her aim and delivery. Every kill was deliberate, well thought out, premeditated. There was nothing impulsive in any of her actions.
This makes things a little bit different but the results will be the same. I've got you, 452. This will break you. I know your weakness. It will be so gratifying to see you crawl…
…and die.
Max entered Command to see groups of transgenics, transhumans and nomalies working together. Mole and his team were gathered around Dix, at the computer terminal. Dix was hastily typing away; tapping and clicking with tremendous speed. Windows and text boxes littered the screen and the others were comparing the information to maps, blueprints and documentation. The room was alive and cluttered and everyone was working toward one goal: finding White.
Nell chose that very moment to enter Command. She was pale and frightened. She approached 452 gingerly and stood with her head bowed, afraid to speak.
"Nell? What is it?" she asked softly. The girl's obvious fear touched her heart and 452 found herself giving in to the sensation. Max was trying to resurface again.
"It's Alec, ma'am. Kat say's he doesn't have much time left." The room fell silent at Nell's statement.
452 squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. She ignored Nell. Turning to face the others she enquired, "Do we have anything substantial yet?" She received no reply. Dix shrugged apologetically.
"Have you contacted Eyes Only?" Klip looked at her, sad resignation in his eyes.
"There's no answer at his apartment. We sent a team over to speak to him but it seems he isn't home. They made a cursory check of the building. Apparently there was scuffle in the parking garage. A gunfight."
452 closed her eyes tightly. Things were going from bad to worse. She had to stay focused.
Just then, Quinn, one of the X5s on sentry duty, burst into the Command Center , breathing heavily and gasping.
"Max, come quick!" and he beckoned before he rushed back outside.
Sensing his distress, she hurried after him. A feeling of trepidation had settled in her stomach, making it contract wildly.
Mole, Klip, Luke, Jake and Specks were right behind her, weapons drawn and at the ready. They headed into the sewers, trying to keep up with Quinn who was practically flying in his haste to get 452 to whatever had spooked him.
As they emerged from the tunnel, they stopped cold. A long, black bag lay next to the fence, an envelope attached securely to the zipper. 452 bent and retrieved the letter, smoothing it in her hands.
Greetings, 452.
I had the pleasure of crashing a party this evening. Unfortunately, the revellers weren't quite so happy to make my acquaintance.
Since you couldn't make it, and the gathering was for you, I thought I'd drop off a party favor. There's more where it came from.
I hope you like it as much as I do.
Looking forward to our next encounter.
452 knew who'd sent the letter and the package.
White.
Specks and Luke opened the bag, slowly pulling the zipper down. Jake was unable to suffer the sight in front of him and proceeded to empty his stomach all over his shoes. Luke gagged and turned away. Quinn stepped toward her and put up a hand to stop her. He'd seen the contents of the bag. He knew who it was and what her connection was to Max.
"Max, no! Don't do this"
"I have to know." 452 peered into the bag.
Jace's sightless eyes stared back at her, a single bullet hole in her forehead. Her face was almost unrecognizable, mottled and covered in deep gashes, bruised so heavily it barely resembled the sister she knew. And the blood. So much blood.
She spoke quietly, her voice harsh. "Did you see who dumped the body?"
Quinn nodded. "We caught the license plate."
He wants me to come after him. Don't worry, Amesie. I'm right behind you.
"Mole!" He snapped to attention. "Get a team ready. Quinn, get the plate number to Dix. I want that location, NOW! Have everyone ready to leave in thirty minutes. What are you waiting for? GO!" she barked and everyone scattered.
452 hurried back to Med Bay . She had to see Alec before she left. If the mission went sideways…she wanted to know she'd said her goodbyes. Phoney sentimentality it may be, but something about it felt like the right thing to do.
She entered the room to find Kat and a transgenic she didn't recognize standing over Alec's still form. Paddles in hand, Kat called out "Clear!" Alec's body convulsed with the force of the shock. The monitor next to his bed was silent. Kat cursed under her breath. She indicated to Mel that she wanted to try again. Mel started to cry. "Kat, it's no use. He-"
"JUST DO IT, GODDAMMIT!" Kat took a breath and called again, "Clear!" The second set of shocks passed through Alec's frame and lifted him several centimetres off the bed. Everyone held their breath. Mel and Kat lowered their heads in defeat when suddenly a 'blip' was heard. A line straggled across the monitor.
"He's still with us." Mel whispered in awe. Kat checked his vitals. Shaky, but still there.
Thank you. Whoever or whatever you are that's watching out for him, thank you!
452 approached slowly. "Can I have a minute alone?"
The others filed silently out of the room. 452 pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed. The sight of her friend's battered body strengthened her resolve. She would fight for him. Seeing him lying there, helpless and alone, infuriated her beyond reason. She couldn't understand the force of her feelings. It was more than protectiveness of a friend. More than that she needed her ally, her sidekick, her partner-in-crime. But she refused to give in to her emotion, refused to recognize what it was that had pulled her to his side or that forced her next words out of her mouth.
"Alec, I don't know if you can hear me. But I need you to know. I'm sorry. For everything I've said and done, for the things I should have said and done. I hope one day you can forgive me.
"White did this to you. To Cece, Sketchy, Cindy . You've all been hurt." She left Biggs out of it. It's one thing to talk about the injured, but to remind someone who's on the brink of death that his best friend was murdered was like extending an invitation to the devil.
"I've lost too many people in my life. I won't let that happen again, not when I'm able to stop it. I'm going after White. I'm going to beat his sorry ass into the ground. Then I'll rip him limb from limb. An eye for an eye. I can only hope I remember everything I learned from you. I had the best teacher. It's up to the student now to do you proud.
"Please hold on. Fight! You've never chickened out yet, soldier! Don't go being half-assed now. I need you too much."
452 bent to kiss Alec's forehead. Or was it Max? She was teetering on the edge of sanity.
You can't let you guard down now, soldier! FOCUS! Remember the mission: Kill White. Never forget what he's taken from you. Remember Jace. Remember Biggs. Think of Alec.
Kill White.
She repeated it in her mind, her mantra. 452 left Med Bay and went to meet the team.
It was time.
TBC
Chapter 5
