Seattle Ain't What it Used to Be
Disclaimer-Nothing that has to do with Dark Angel or Dark Angel books belongs to me. Only the parts of the story that I make up are mine.
Summary-Sequel to Reliving Manticore. After escaping, Max and the other transgenics find refuge in Seattle. But she has been separated from most of them. More people from Max's past start showing up, the humans start finding out about transgenics and it doesn't help that White is back in the picture.
Pairings-Max/Alec and Syl/Krit. More people will be paired off as the story goes on.
Chapter One-Going With the Flow
"So you promise you're back for real now? Everything's okay?" Sketchy asked for the millionth time. Max laughed.
"Of course, Sketch. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't," she replied.
"Really?" Sketchy questioned again. OC rolled her eyes.
"Yes, foo, now leave my boo alone," she scolded. Sketchy just grinned. "And you even got yaself a new hot boy." She looked pointedly over at Alec, who was talking with some other Jam Pony workers. Max followed her gaze and met Alec's eyes. He winked before going back to his conversation. Max blushed slightly and pretended to search for a package in her bag.
"He's not my boy," she argued out of habit. OC rolled her eyes and just gave her a pointed look. Max smiled. "Okay, maybe he is. I haven't quite gotten used to it yet..."
"Hot run!" Normal interrupted and threw a package at Sketchy.
"Come on man, I was on break," Sketchy complained. Normal looked over at him.
"Not anymore wet head. Now go deliver the package," he ordered. Sketchy sighed and waved goodbye before riding out. "You two." Normal pointed to OC and Max. "Get going. These packages are missing their mommies terribly." They rolled their eyes but complied.
"Hey Max!"
Max turned around and faced Alec. "Yeah?"
"Are you going out on your runs?" he asked. Max nodded. "Good, I'll come with." Max smiled happily and Alec kissed the top of her head.
"Nuh uh. None o' that while we deliverin' packages. Original Cindy just ate," OC complained. The two transgenics just smiled and followed her out.
"Where to first?" Alec asked as they rode down the street.
"I have a package that goes to 56th St and Evergreen," Max supplied.
"Closer than mine. Let's swing there first," OC said as they stopped for a light. "How many packages ya got anyway?" Alec and Max searched their bags.
"Four, I guess," Alec answered. Max groaned.
"Guess I really am back..." she mumbled. Alec and OC gave her a questioning look. "Normal gave me 6. That moron hasn't changed much has he?" OC solemnly shook her head.
"Same ol' bigot wit a stick up his ass," she replied.
"Wow, I sure am glad I decided to work for him with you guys," Alec said sarcastically. Max smiled.
"You should be. There aren't a lot of jobs that we could get and keep a low profile at the same time," she reminded. Alec rolled his eyes.
"Please, I was at Manticore for like 22 years. I know not to attract attention to myself. No matter how hard that may be," he grinned smugly. OC raised an eyebrow.
"Ya boy sure is full o' himself," she said to Max. Max pouted slightly.
"It's not his fault. Manticore just knows how to make 'em pretty. I mean, look at me," she replied. OC laughed.
"Careful, boo. Ya startin' to sound like him too," she joked.
"Is that such a bad thing?" Alec countered. Before either woman could answer, the light turned green and they continued riding down the street.
"Hello ma'am, Jam Pony messenger," Max said brightly after the woman opened the door. She handed her the package and then the clipboard. "I need a signature, please." The woman smiled.
"Alright, just let me get my glasses," she said before going back into her house. Alec poked his head inside.
"Check it out, grandma's got herself a plasma-screen tv," he grinned. Max pulled him away from the door. "What?"
"You're thinking of robbing her," Max stated. Alec pulled his innocent face.
"Was not."
"Was too."
"Was not."
"Was too."
"My god, will you two love bunnies just shut up? Ya giving me a headache," OC complained. The two transgenics fell silent as the woman came back and signed the clipboard.
"Come on, Maxie. You have to admit, you didn't just take this job because you get your yah-yahs from delivering packages," Alec commented as they walked back to their bikes. Max blushed. "See. You were using it to case places."
"Well, I had to," Max argued. OC scoffed. "What? I did. I have skills that shouldn't go to waste. And a girl needs to make a living."
"True that," OC replied.
"But I only stole from bad people...and if Logan needed me to do something," Max continued. Alec's grin faded slightly.
"What exactly did Log-boy have you do?" he questioned. Max fidgeted with her shoulder bag.
"Classic break'n'take," she replied lamely. Alec narrowed his eyes but didn't say anything.
"Speaking o' Log-boy," OC broke the tension. "Have you talked to him since that night you came back?" Max smirked and shook her head.
"It's been two weeks. Guess it freaked him a little..." she joked. Alec rolled his eyes.
"The geezer should get a life," he muttered. "He should find something other than computer gadgets to tinker with." Both females ignored him.
"And how 'bout the others? I know Normal gave Syl, Krit, and Zack jobs. Course, Zack can't exactly tell him that his name isn't Sam...so he'll be stuck with that 'til he finds a better job, which is doubtful. Have you heard from the newbies yet?" OC asked. Max shook her head sadly.
"And I don't know what to do either...I have no idea where they might be..." she complained. Alec wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"I'm sure they'll contact you soon. They knew you used to live in this area while we were on that last mission. Just give 'em time. They'll be bangin' down your door before ya know it," he said cheerily. Max smiled gratefully.
"You better be right," she replied. Alec nodded in understanding.
"If not, you again have permission to try and kick my ass," he joked.
"But that would damage it..." Max pouted.
"Okay, Original Cindy's had enough of this lovey-dovey talk, catch ya later," OC jumped on her bike and rode off.
"You scared her away," Alec commented. Max shrugged and turned to face him.
"Guess that means more 'alone time'," she replied, standing on tip toes to reach his lips. The kiss was soft yet deep. Alec ran his hands through Max's hair and she lightly stroked his barcode.
"I think OC would have lost her lunch by now," Alec joked after they broke away. Max giggled.
"Let's finish our runs," she replied as she got back on her bike. Alec made a pitiful whining noise. "Aw...you sound like a puppy." He widened his eyes and made his bottom lip quiver slightly to complete the image. "Aw..." Max leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "But we still have to finish our runs."
"Fine," Alec relented, sighing.
"Don't be so disappointed. I'll make it up to you later," Max said before riding away. Alec smirked and caught up with her.
"I'll make sure you keep that promise," he replied. Max smiled but didn't say anything. "So where we going next?"
Logan's Penthouse...
"Jam Pony messenger!"
Logan hurried to open the door. Alec and Max stood at the other side. "Max."
"Hey Logan," she greeted with a forced smile. "Got a package for you." Alec held the parcel out.
"Thank you," Logan replied as he took it. "I've been waiting for this."
"So how ya been doing buddy?" Alec asked as he walked past him into the apartment. Logan rolled his eyes at the familiar action.
"I've been alright. You?"
"Peachy keen."
"And you?" Logan turned back to Max, who was still in the doorway, subtly trying to motion Alec to come back.
"What Alec said," she replied. Logan nodded slowly. "We should get going." She looked pointedly at Alec. He quickly got the hint and walked back over to her. "It was nice seeing you, Logan."
"You too."
"Bye bye," Alec waved cheerily before starting towards the elevator. Max followed shortly after him. Logan stayed in his doorway until the two transgenics disappeared.
Back on the Street...
"Well that was breath of vile air," Alec commented as he and Max rode back to Jam Pony. Max rolled her eyes but didn't reply. "I was just kidding Max." She sighed.
"I know. Sorry. I just always get this weird feeling when I see him," she explained. Alec nodded but Max could tell he was still unsure. "It's nothing alright? You're the one that I love. I just wish I could patch things up with him. Logan can be helpful...sometimes."
"I get it, Max. Don't worry," Alec assured her. "Right now, there isn't anything that we can't deal with by ourselves."
Chinatown...
A man wearing a large hat shuffled down a busy street. He looked around and approached a couple of venders. They saw his face and exchanged worried looks. The man pointed to an overcoat hanging behind them and one of the venders got it for him.
"Eight dollars," the vender said as he held the coat out to him. The man handed over some money. Blood dripped from his hand onto the t-shirts lying on the counter. The venders stared in horror.
"What are you doing? Don't take his money!" one said.
"Go away. Don't come back," the other added and the man shuffled away.
Another part of Chinatown...
A boy watched a firecracker burst high in the air as he sat on the steps. His father looked up from his position at the Check-In counter. He visibly frowned.
"Henry, I told you not to fire bottle rockets," he said.
"But Dad, it wasn't me. I swear," Henry replied.
"Don't lie to me. Now get out there and sweep," his dad ordered. Henry sighed and picked a broom.
As he was sweeping the steps, a young man staggered down the street nearby, bleeding form the nose. He began to gasp and soon collapsed, bleeding from the eyes as well. A small crowd gathered around to help. A man wearing a suit quickly pushed through and looked at the bleeding man.
"Someone call an ambulance!" he ordered.
The Next Morning...
OC yawned as she stepped out of her bedroom. She walked over to the coffee pot and turned it on. Whining and howling was heard from outside the apartment. She went to open it, clearly expecting a dog, but Joshua burst in and faced her.
"Oh," she gasped. "Max!" Max walked into the living room.
"Joshua! How'd you get here?" she asked as she gave the big man a hug.
"Nose. Followed Max scent," Joshua replied, grinning.
"Did anyone see you?" Max questioned. Joshua just shrugged. Max turned to OC. "This is Joshua. He was one of the transgenics to escape from the bon fire formally known as Manticore."
"Yeah, I kinda got that," OC replied, staring at his face. Joshua grinned at her. She smiled weakly back, still caught off guard.
Alec walked out of the bedroom that he shared with Max, yawning and stretching. Joshua saw him and hurried over, giving him a huge hug. Alec groaned, not quite awake, as Joshua lifted him off the floor.
"Nice to see you too, buddy," he said groggily. Joshua dropped him and ruffled his hair.
"Nice to see Alec. Buddy," Joshua replied, still grinning widely. Alec smiled slightly and walked over to Max, kissing the top of her head.
"Morning Maxie. What's Josh doing here?" he greeted before pouring himself some coffee. Max shrugged.
"He followed my scent and found me here, I guess," she answered.
"Well, I'm making breakfast. Want some?" OC asked. Joshua nodded quickly.
A short while later, he was sitting at the counter and wolfing down a bowl of oatmeal, barely bothering with the spoon. Max and Alec sat across from him, drinking coffee, while OC tended to the pot of oatmeal.
"So did you find a permanent place to live?" Alec asked Joshua. He frowned and shook his head. "Then where have you been staying?" Joshua shrugged.
"Alleys," he said simply. Max sighed.
"That's not very classy," she commented. Joshua suddenly grinned and pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket.
"Joshua found directory. Places Father might be," he explained, handing the paper over to Max. She examined it and smiled.
"I can check these out with you after I get off work," she replied. Joshua's grin grew wider and he nodded in agreement. OC offered him the pot.
"Want some more oatmeal?" she asked. Joshua nodded quickly and started to eagerly lick the pot. OC made a sound of protest and smacked his head away. He looked embarrassed and held his bowl out for her to fill.
Jam Pony...
Max rode her bike into Jam Pony just as her beeper went off. She checked the read out and frowned. She went to the phone and dialed the number.
"Max?" came OC's breathless voice. Max's frown deepened.
"OC? What's wrong?" she asked.
"I-It's bad..."
"What is?" Max asked worriedly.
"Sketchy and I were delivering a package in Chinatown. And then...all these people...they started bleeding from the eyes and nose...coughing. I've never seen anything like it."
"Oh my god. I'll be right there."
"Hurry. Max." Max nodded and then realized OC couldn't see her.
"I will," she said and hung up the phone.
As she was getting her bike back, she overheard the news on the tv.
"Police have finally discovered a possible suspect or suspects that were the cause for the terrible fire that claimed as many as a hundred lives two weeks ago. The building was a veteran's hospital built in 2007. Authorities are refusing to release exact info on why the terrorist group known as the S1W would destroy such a building..." the reporter was saying. Max tuned the rest out as she hurried out of Jam Pony.
I have enough to worry about without them bitching about how or why Manticore was destroyed. Veteran hospital my ass, she thought angrily. Who really cares about the S1W anyways? Like terrorists could really do any more damage to an already destroyed third world country...Her thoughts were interrupted as she found herself flying off her bike and landing flat on her back. It took her a second to realize she had been hit by a car. "Oh crap." She started to get up when she found herself face to face with a familiar someone. "Rafer!"
"Lie still," he ordered as he began to feel her cheeks, shoulders, and arms.
"I'm okay," she grunted.
"I don't know. You went down pretty hard."
"I said I'm okay," Max repeated angrily, trying to get up again. He began to slide his hand up her shirt and she immediately swatted it away. "What the hell do you think you're doing!"
"Relax. I'm a paramedic," Rafer said calmly. Max's face contorted in disbelief.
"No you aren't. You deliver pizzas."
"That was part-time. We spent one night together like, a year and a half ago. You think you know my life story? Now try and lie still. I have to check for broken bones..." He tried sliding his hand under her shirt again. She growled and flipped him over onto his back. She still held his wrist, twisting it so he couldn't get up.
"Next time you wanna cop a feel, hit me harder and make sure I'm out cold!" She dropped his hand and went back over to her bike. She groaned when she found it completely twisted. "Son of a bitch..." she muttered.
"Need a ride?" she heard Rafer ask. She groaned again.
"Yeah..." she mumbled before turning around. "Can you get me to Chinatown?" Rafer smiled and nodded.
He better not try anything...she thought angrily as she loaded her bike into his car and then hopped into the passenger seat.
The ride was relatively quiet until Rafer broke the silence. "Look...about that...night..." he began. Max rolled her eyes.
"I'd really just like to forget about it, okay?" she said curtly. Rafer nodded.
"Me too. I was in a really weird state 'cause I had just broken up with my girlfriend like, three weeks before. So if I came on a little strong...I'm sorry." Max sighed.
"It's okay," she replied.
"Came by Jam Pony looking for you a few times. No one knew where you were."
"I had some family stuff to take care of. It's complicated."
"Family stuff's always complicated."
"You have no idea."
"Thought maybe you had a boyfriend somewhere." Max glanced at him.
"I do." Rafer frowned.
"Oh...you mean...you had a boyfriend when..." Max's eyes widened.
"No! Not then! I have a boyfriend now," she replied. Rafer nodded in understanding.
"He's a lucky guy," he said. Max smiled, thinking about Alec, as they arrived at Chinatown.
"Yeah. I am too. And I'm sure you have a lucky girlfriend or potential one somewhere..." she said, unbuckling her seatbelt. Rafer glanced away and Max immediately got the point but didn'task aboutit when she saw OC and Sketchy in a crowd of people. "Uh...thanks for the ride. Maybe I'll see ya sometime. Later." She quickly jumped out of the car and got her ruined bike without waiting for a good-bye.
"Max!" OC ran up to her. "Thank god you're here. I don't even know how much were killed but...Sketchy and I are supposed to get checked for an infection. I'm scared." Max's expression was one of concern.
"And they just all started bleeding?" she asked. Sketchy nodded.
"It was wicked scary, Max," he said. Max let her eyes wander around the crowd and they landed on yet another familiar person.
Crap. Figures I'd run into him here...she thought. Logan spotted her and waved her over.
"I'll be back in a second guys," she told OC and Sketchy. They nodded, noticing Logan.
"What's up?" she greeted, forcing a smile. Logan didn't return it so she let it fall away.
"I think it's obvious 'what's up' Max," he replied, using a tone that Max knew well and hated.
"Well...not quite. I just got a call from OC about people bleeding from their eyes and noses. Don't know much else. How 'bout you?" she said. Logan held up his cell phone.
"I just got off the phone with Detective Matt Sung," he explained. "He said it was Twenty-two people. All Chinese. And apparently it's happened before. Yesterday, the same thing infected a young man in Chinatown. It's some kind of pathogen."
"A toxin?" Max questioned.
"They're still running tests," Logan answered. He leaned in closer and Max stepped back, not liking the nearness. "Have you heard anything on the news about Manticore?" Max nodded.
"What about it?"
"Matt asked me about it. He seems to think what's causing these people to become infected might be a transgenic." Max's eyes narrowed.
"And you believe him?"
"I don't know. But there is talk of one of them hiding out here in Chinatown. Supposedly deformed. Bleeds through the skin."
"And you automatically think transgenic?" Max bit out through gritted teeth.
"What else could it be, Max?" Logan asked, obviously irritated as well.
"Even if there is a some screwed-up transgenic out there, doesn't mean he's got whatever is killing these people."
"When you were at Manticore, were you aware of any experiments involving exposure to virulent bacteria or pathogens, or..." Max stiffened.
"No. And I think you should be a little more open minded about this. Don't go accusing people just 'cause some government people decided it might be fun to see what happens if you bleed through skin," she snapped and walked away, ignoring Logan's calls.
Secret Lab...
The man that had told someone to call an ambulance when the first person was infected, was looking into a microscope and talking to a man in a chair. Several large men in suits stood nearby.
"What delays? I told you three steps were going to be involved, did I not? Step one: target the pathogen to a single individual, expose him to it via airborne dispersal, make sure it's the only one it affects. Went off without a hitch, didn't it? Step two: target the pathogen to a specific race of people. The Chinese at the bus stop. Worked perfectly. No one died but them, Mr. White, yes?"
"Your technology is impressive. But let's move on to step three," White said.
"I'm ready," the man said. "But see...it was easy with the Chinese. I had specific gene sequences that I could target. But the kids you're targeting..." he chuckled softly. "Wow, that was tough. See because, uh, they're just a little bit of everything, aren't they? In the end..."
"Cyril."
"In the end, I targeted their immunological surveillance cells..."
"Cyril!" White shouted, standing up and getting in his face. "Action is character. Show me some. I showed you, didn't I?"
"Yes."
"I paid you half, up front. I gave you everything that you asked for. Now it's time for you to show me." White pointed to an unconscious man in restraints. He had tan skin and dark brown hair. "This is your test subject. X5-654."
A/N-It took a while to actually get this sequel posted, but I hoped you liked how it started...There will be more transgenics in the next chapter as well...Review please! ;o)
