This Thing Called Life

Chapter 5- Ready to Strike

452 came up behind Dix and tapped him on the shoulder. He jumped in surprise. "Max! You startled me."

"Did you run that plate?" she asked, getting straight to the point.

"Yeah. It's registered to an Otto Gottlieb. He works for the NSA. One of White's henchmen."

"Where can we find him?" Max repeatedly fisted her hands in raw anger. Her fierce gaze made Dix tremble.

"That's the thing. There's no known location. It's just listed as a transport vehicle with the NSA. I'm sorry, Max. This is going to take longer than we expected."

"Fine. Keep me informed of your progress. I'll be in Med Bay ."


452 sat next to Alec's bed, her head resting lightly on his bruised upper body, hand entwined with his. It was the only uninjured part of his body that was available to hold and she desperately wanted to offer whatever comfort she could. 452 shuddered as she heard the erratic beating of his heart, her head rising and falling in synch with his chest.

She's sat at his bedside for the better part of two days. Dix still hadn't managed to pinpoint White's location and Eyes Only hadn't returned to his apartment. She could only wonder what would keep him away from his home. 452 knew the truth even if Max wouldn't admit it. The Eyes Only broadcasts were his life; they took precedence over everything else, including Max, the so-called love of his life.

Kat entered the room with Mel in tow. The two busied themselves with checking his vitals and stats and once satisfied that he was stable, they turned to leave. 452 lifted her head and called out to Mel.

"What are the chances he'll wake up?" She knew the damage he had sustained left them all worried that he might never come out of his coma.

Mel looked at 452 sadly, reaching out to touch her arm softly. "I don't know, Max. There's no telling how long it will take, or if he'll ever really come back to us. But he's a fighter. I haven't given up hope yet. And neither should you." She silently left the room but not before glancing over her shoulder once more. She took in the sight of 452, hunched over Alec's still form, her face emotionless, yet her eyes unnaturally bright. She sighed as she saw a single tear form and fall. Max's feelings for Alec were surfacing and Mel only hoped it wasn't too late for her friends.

"Alec," 452 said as she gently caressed his cheek. She watched in wonder as he flinched slightly. "Alec?" she called more forcefully. "Can you hear me?"

Maybe it was my imagination.

She lowered her head and placed her lips next to his ear. She whispered fervently, her words passionate. "I swear to you, I WILL take him down. If it's the last thing I do, I will make him pay for what he's done to you!"

She continued to caress his face, brushing the hair out of his eyes. "For so long Max dominated me. She tried to keep me hidden from the world, afraid of what I can do, what I have done. I'm through with being kept in the dark. Max is weak; she could never see that sometimes killing is the only way to end the madness. 452 is a soldier. I can and will do what needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

"Don't you worry, Alec. 452 will make sure White gets exactly what he deserves."

She pulled back at the sudden movement from the man next to her.

"Max." The name came out in a hoarse whisper.

"Alec? You're awake!" she reached to call for Kat but the slight pull of his hand restrained her.

"Max. Don't do this. Don't lose yourself over me." Every word was forced tiredly from his frail body. He shook with the effort.

"Alec, don't speak. You're too weak. Let me get Kat-" he shook his head.

"Max. Don't. Do. This." He closed his eyes tightly and pushed back into the pillows as if trying to draw strength from them.

452 rose to her feet and looked down at Alec coldly. "I'm doing what has to be done. No one, not even you, can stop me. White will suffer. And I'm going to be the one to make it happen."

The effort to fight her was too much and the toll it took on Alec's mind and body sent him blissfully back into a state of unconsciousness.

Pushing Alec's words out of her mind, shoving them deep inside to rest with Max, 452 went in search of Kat.


When 452 returned to Command she was greeted by raised voices coming from the computer terminal. Dix, Mole and Klip were having a heated argument. She stepped between the three and put her hand up, indicating silence.

"What's going on here?" she asked, her question directed at Mole, her right-hand man.

Mole stood up straight as he replied. "Dix has a possible location. I suggested we tell you about it immediately, that you'd want to know about any developments. He and Klip said we should wait until we had firm evidence."

She looked at Mole and smiled. "You were right. I would want to know. Dix," she said, turning to look at the diminutive man beside her. "What do you have to report?"

"There is an abandoned building on the other side of town. Mole sent scouts to do recon about an hour ago." 452 flashed an appreciative grin at Mole.

At least someone knows what to do. Do I have to tell them everything?

Dix continued quickly as he sensed her disappointment in him. "We'll know more when they return." He pointed at the receiver next to him. "The team says they sighted the van there and for an empty building it's seen quite a bit of action."

452 gestured to Mole and Klip to follow her. "Mole, get the teams ready. As soon as the scouts are back, I want to be prepared to attack. If this is our target, we're gonna take it down tonight."

452 went through her mental checklist. She strode over to the cabinet at the side of the room. She removed assorted items, checked for ammo, extra clips and magazines, and other sundry bits and pieces that could prove useful. Mole and the others approached and set about doing the same.

When everyone was duly suited and armed, they gathered to hear the plan. 452 told Mole, "Okay. Mole, you lay it down. I need to check some last minute things with Dix and Luke."

Mole nodded before pointing at Joshua and four X5s. "Joshua." the dog-man looked sharply at the scaly lizard, listening intently. "You, Jake, Quinn, Kate and Steve will go on ahead. Make another visual sweep of the perimeter as a precaution. I want a second count of guards and any other people hanging about."

He looked at Klip and Beau. "The two of you work well together. The blueprints show entry points from the sewers. I want detailed plans and backup routes. The two of you will go in from the bottom with Remi and Jason. Max and I will be right behind you. Once inside, spread out and cover as much ground as possible. We don't know where Max's unit is being held, if they're there at all. So be careful who you take out. It could get messy and we don't want to lose any Friendlies in the crossfire."

"Ma'am!" Mole called out. 452 smiled briefly. She hated being called Max, especially since that spineless bitch could never have followed through with this sort of plan. But the people around her knew only Max, and 452 had reluctantly accepted the title. Only Mole had acknowledged her designation and rank. She respected him for it.

"Mole?" she tossed back.

"Team briefed and ready to deploy, Ma'am." She barely paid attention to him as a group of five X6s filed into Command and made their way over to her.

"X6-312, Ma'am. I'm Seb." The young boy told her. His unit stood and saluted.

She was impressed. The group before her displayed both control and respect. In fact, most everyone had fallen back on their training once 452 had assumed control two days earlier. It was efficient and it worked. Terminal City needed a bit of discipline. They'd been scattered all over the place with no leader. Being on the outside of Manticore was good, but for some of the residents of TC, having a chain of command was crucial.

"I take it, Seb, that you command this unit?" He nodded.

"Your report, soldier?" She looked at him keenly.

"The building in question is an abandoned construction site on the corner of Davenport and Farrell. Four stories high, surrounded on three sides by fifteen-foot fences. Four entry points, only two in use. Two generous enough to accommodate large vehicles, the others are cemented shut save for metal fire doors.

"In the few hours we were there, we saw one rotation. Guard detail is heavy. On last count there were twelve guards at any one time, on each side of the building.

"If there are any other access points to the building, I would suggest considering those. The structure is heavily fortified and there has been heavy traffic entering and leaving the place. We saw a group being hustled inside at one point; some were walking of their own accord, others dragged. Not one made a sound. We assume they may be the people you are looking for. Fray and Lynn got some surveillance shots."

The two stepped forward and handed 452 a small disk. "Good work. Dismissed." 452 quickly made her way over to Dix, handing him the disk. She looked at him, impatient.

"Let me bring these up on screen. Okay, here we go." Dix hit 'enter' and assorted images popped up on the monitor. 452 gasped.

She recognized a few of the faces. Krit, Syl, Brin. Her heart stuck in her throat as she saw the last picture. It was Case. Tinga and Charlie's Case.

What was Case doing here? Why were any of them here? How did White know who they were? How did he find them? How did he manage to catch them all?

452 didn't have time to dwell on the multitude of questions bombarding her mind. It was time to rescue her family and put White down once and for all.

She turned to face the groups that would be accompanying her on what could be a kamikaze mission.

"Okay people, listen up. Anyone who's not cool with this, stand down now. I need focused and dedicated soldiers. I'm going up against White because he has my family, my unit. I understand if you don't want to be involved. But speak up now. I need to know that I can rely on anyone who comes with me, count on you to have my back. If you have any doubts, now's the time."

The group before her shook their heads. A couple X5s voiced their feelings.

"White's been trying to kill all of us for a while. I say we take him out!"

"He hurt our friends, killed Biggs. We can't let him get away with this!"

The faces looking back at her were angry. They were all deadly serious and completely committed to the cause. Avenging their friends and ridding themselves of White was their ultimate goal. They would succeed or die trying.

"Beta team go with Mole. Alpha team, follow me. Let's move out!"

TBC

Chapter 6