Too Far Gone

Part Nine


Previously:

Alec and Baz were laughing hysterically at a joke Sketchy had just cracked and Cindy was swapping DNA with a leggy brunette when suddenly an ear-splitting shriek shook them from their world.

"OH.MY.GOD!" Cece screamed. She was white as a sheet. The entire room fell silent, staring.

At the very moment Alec and the others turned in the direction of Cece's shaking finger there came a shattering "NOOOOOOOO!" and a resonating 'crack'…


Mission? Impossible!

Max was tired of waiting. The food had already gone cold and she had no idea how long Biggs would be gone. They'd been forewarned that 494 was unpredictable. Biggs could be halfway to China by now.

At that very moment, Biggs sauntered into their room and planted himself in front of her. He smiled that 'All Biggs' smile and she couldn't resist returning one of her own. He looked very pleased with himself.

"So," she began. "How'd it go?"

"Well, I think we struck gold, Max!" Max couldn't remember when she'd seen Biggs this excited. It was nice. But at his next words, her heart stuck in her throat.

"I found some of the other X5's. I stopped to call the Director on the way back here. We're to call her immediately after we take out 494 and restrain the rogues." He was grinning now.

Max forced herself to stay calm. In the few hours she'd been waiting Max had come to a startling decision. She could not take out 494 until she knew for certain what he was to her. Something tugged at her mind whenever she pictured his face and it gave her no peace. Max knew she had to play along until she came up with a plan.

"An added bonus, and on your first mission as SIC! Impressive by any standards." she smiled, hoping her words sounded convincing.

Biggs eyed her strangely. "What's up Max? You don't look so hot."

Max covered quickly. "No, no! I'm fine. Just missing Zane." Biggs nodded sagely and Max let out a mental sigh of relief.

"Status report?" Biggs got right to the point.

"494 and 3 other unidentified X5s went to Crash. If they follow the same patterns we discerned before, it's very likely they will be there for some time yet. I suggest we take out the target tonight and apprehend the other rogues." Max nodded as if in agreement.

"Ready?"

"Always."

"Ok. Let's get this bitch over with."

Max set her earpiece in place as Biggs did the same. Comms units were working and they would be able to communicate as long as they stayed within the pre-arranged parameters. The two made their way into Crash and pushed steadily through the crowd.

Max took the right side of the room, Biggs the left. Biggs was the designated assassin. Max shuddered. It was a cold word. A harsh reality. But she knew, according to what she had been told about 494, that assassinating the target was tactically correct. She signalled to Biggs to move into position and wait for her call.

Max watched as Biggs raised his weapon, waiting for his cue to take out their target. At that very moment she heard laughter, as the group near the pool table reacted to whatever it was the goofy-looking blonde guy had said. Then, the blonde girl tugged at 494's arm and said "Alec..."

Max snapped back in shock. It hit her like a head-on collision. 494 was Alec, her friend, her confidante. And as the memories raced in her mind she remembered the most important thing of all: he was the man she loved above all else.

She struggled to remain calm. She had to do something, fast, else Biggs would take Alec out of the equation. Max knew she had to protect Alec.

Biggs glanced at her, wondering what was taking so long. They had 494 exactly where they wanted him and he was oblivious to the danger they posed. 494 was a sitting duck. But then, Biggs noted Max's agitation. He spoke softly into his comms unit. "452, focus! Tell me when you're ready." She was losing focus and that could mean failure. And failure was unacceptable. There's no way in hell I'm going back to Psy-Ops! he thought as he took a step forward. He cocked his gun and aimed at 494.

Max knew Biggs was right, she was losing sight of the objective. But what he didn't know was that the objective had changed. There was no way she would let Alec die, not even if it meant she died instead of him.

Max caught the glint of light on metal as she saw the blonde girl, whom she now remembered as Cece, Biggs' girlfriend for fuck's sake! pointing at Biggs in horror. She heard Cece scream.

"OH. MY. GOD!"

The entire room fell silent, staring in bewilderment at the scene unfolding before them.

At the very moment Alec and the others turned in the direction of Cece's shaking finger Max let out a shattering "NOOOOOOOO!"

Biggs had pulled the trigger, issuing forth a resonating 'crack' that shook the room.

In the few seconds before the bullet would have struck Alec, his heart being the target, two thoughts went through Max's mind. One, she would never reach him in time to block the fatal shot and two, even if she warned him verbally it would register too late for him to take action. So Max did the only thing she knew would work. She shot Alec herself. She then fell into a roll and before Biggs could get off another round, and as she heard him let out a roar of frustration, she pulled the trigger yet again and Biggs fell to the floor, dead.

Alec collapsed on the ground, the pain in his leg was excruciating. The very second he fell, a bullet whizzed over his head and imbedded itself in the wall behind him. He looked up at Baz in shock.

The mass of people that were at Crash dashed for the doors, screaming in panic. Cece rushed to Biggs' side and clutched his lifeless form to her as she shook, deep, terrified sobs wracking her body. Baz and Nell grabbed Max who lay heaving and crying on the stairs, frozen in shock at her actions. There wasn't time to process her presence or assess the damage. They had to get out before they all got caught. There would be time enough to deal with the consequences when they got back to Terminal City.

Original Cindy and Nell picked Max up and made their way out of crash, Sketchy followed behind supporting a wounded Alec. And Baz had the worst part to play. He had the burden of carrying the quickly stiffening body of one of his best friends to safety. As they scurried through the dark night, Biggs' body grew hard and cold. Very much like the feelings they now all shared for Max.