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. More people from Max's past start showing up, the humans start finding out about transgenics, a heat experience changes Max and Alec's life 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 Seven-Turning Point
"What do you mean it just got worse?" Syl demanded. "Is Max alright?" Zack didn't look at her. "Zack?" A crack of thunder suddenly split the sky. Zack looked up as rain began to pour down. Max groaned softly and all three pairs of eyes turned to her.
"Max? Max are you alright?" Krit asked desperately, kneeling down next to Zack.
"A...Alec..." Max gasped softly. Zack looked over at Syl and Krit.
"Where's Alec and Blake?" he asked. They just shook their heads, not knowing where they were. "Find them!" They immediately raced off in opposite directions. Zack turned back to Max. The rain was washing the blood off her bodyand was creating a mini-pool of blood around her. Zack held her shaking hand tightly with both of his.
"What...Brin...she..." Max tried to speak but suddenly had a coughing fit. Zack gently turned her head so she would at least cough the blood onto the ground instead of on herself.
"It's alright Maxie. Everything will be alright," Zack tried to soothe her. He gently stroked her forehead, moving her soaked hair out of her face. She managed a weak smile.
"Liar," she choked out. Zack swallowed. Max blinked and her eyes fell on Brin's slumped form a few feet away. She gasped and tried to pull herself up. A searing pain shot up her leg at the same time her chest contracted painfully. She cried out and fell back against the pavement. Zack managed to get his hand behind her head before she cracked it. "W-we have to get o-out of h-here." Zack nodded.
"I know, Max. But I need to wait for Syl and Krit. We can't leave them here," he said softly, but Max could tell he wanted to just get her to a safe place. Away from Brin. She gripped his soaked shirt with her hands and pulled him closer.
"Y-you don't u-understand," she said through gritted teeth. Zack stifled his tears as he felt her body shiver uncontrollably. "S-she'll w-wake up. W-we c-can't stop her. She'll k-kill us." She began to sob and tightened her grasp on his shirt. "S-she c-could've k-killed my b-baby. W-what if she d-did? I-I don't know. Help m-me Zack." Tears cascaded down her cheeks and mixed with the rain drops. "D-don't let her h-hurt my b-baby. Don't. Don't let h-her." She suddenly let out a blood curdling scream and let go of his shirt, her hands going to her head as her body wracked with intense seizures. Zack's eyes widened as he stared at her, horrified, but she began to flail around and he couldn't touch her. Pounding footsteps reached his ears and he looked up. Syl and Krit were each hauling someone. Alec and Blake.
Alec was swaying slightly but as his eyes fell on Max's shaking body he forced his legs to carry him to her and he collapsed by her side.
"M...Max?" he asked groggily. She let out another high pitched scream as the seizures didn't subside. Alec felt his skin crawl as he turned worried eyes to Zack. "What happened to her?" Zack just stared at her seizing body in shock. "Zack!" Zack didn't look at him as he let his gaze fall on Brin's form. Which was beginning to stir.
"Get her up," he commanded. The others stared at him incredulously.
"Are you insane? We can't even touch her!" Syl screamed. Zack's eyes hardened as he glared at her.
"Get her up," he repeated. They didn't move. A small, deep, groan could be heard from Brin. Their eyes snapped to her form. And they suddenly were blurring to get Max up and away. Alec was trying to pick her up but the drug Brin had shot him with hadn't completely gone away and he kept tipping over. Zack finally picked up her up, thankful that her seizures had stopped. His relief was short-lived.
"I don't think that's actually a good thing," Krit commented softly. Four pairs of eyes glared at him. "Is she still breathing?" Zack held his ear to her chest and his eyes nearly bugged out of his head.
"Run," he ordered. The others exchanged looks, not noticing Brin stand up behind them. "Run!" They finally turned around and ducked, barely missing a crow bar that Brin had swung at them. Zack led the way through the alleys, trying to get back to the car. Brin wasn't far behind them. Zack reached the car and stopped. "Someone open the damn door!" Syl blurred to his side and opened it. Zack hurriedly got in, still carrying Max, while the others piled in as well. "Drive!"
Krit slammed his foot on the accelerator just as Brin jumped onto the back of the car. She punched a hole through the back window and grasped Blake's neck.
"You're not part of this family," she hissed in that creepy voice. She bashed his head against a window. The glass shards cut his face and his hands instinctively went up to protect himself. Brin chuckled and broke all the fingers in his right hand. "Get out." She hurled him through the broken window. A stray glass shard injected itself into his waist as he rolled on the pavement. Alec ducked down, trying to cover Max's body. Brin grasped his hair and lifted him away. "You are a clone of a brother. You are not family either." She smashed his head against the door, knocking him out. "But just enough to stay." Krit swerved the car to a sudden stop and Brin flew over the hood. She landed on the ground in front of the car, standing upright. Krit quickly put the car in reverse.
"Get down," Zack ordered coldly. Syl looked back at him but didn't comply. "Get down!" He pulled a gun out of the back pocket of the front seat and aimed at Brin.
"Zack, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Syl demanded.
"Saving us," Zack growled. He fired two shots. One imbedded itself in Brin's leg and the other shot through her shoulder. She didn't even cry out, but she stopped stalking towards them as blood began to turn her clothes a dark, shiny, reddish-brown.
"Dammit," she muttered before collapsing.
"Get Blake," Zack ordered. This time Syl didn't hesitate as she jumped out of the car, ran to Blake and dragged him inside. He wasn't conscious. "Krit, go to the hospital." His jaw tightened. Brin had almost killed both Max and Blake. No way in hell was he going to let that happen again. God knows he wasn't going to let a son of a bitch like White stop him from getting them the right medical attention.
Max lay unconscious in a hospital bed. Her face had a surprisingly peaceful expression, despite her already-healing cuts and broken nose. The doctor had said she also had 2 cracked and 3 broken ribs. The hole in her leg had needed to be checked for infection or remnants of the bar that had impaled it. Alec and Zack hadn't even bothered to tell the doctor that there wouldn't be an infection, but they knew it would stir up too many questions.
"Have you checked on Blake yet?" Alec asked emotionlessly as he heard Zack re-enter the room. Zack sighed as he took in the position Alec was in. He had dragged a chair to Max's bedside and was holding her hand with one of his while he also held an ice pack to his head.
"Yeah, I did," Zack answered softly, settling himself in another chair. "He'll be fine too. The doctor said he lost a lot of blood though." Alec slowly nodded, ignoring the ache in his head.
"Just like Max..." he commented. Zack took a deep breath.
"Just like Max," he repeated, letting his eyes fall on her pale face. Now to tell Alec what he had been waiting to hear. "The doctor caught up with me in the hall on the way here. Said the tests came back."
"And?" Alec asked, glancing over at Zack expectantly.
"Asked if we knew she was pregnant," he chuckled humorlessly. "Then she proceeded to scold me for letting a pregnant girl get hurt like that. I almost snapped her neck." Alec still showed no reaction. "The baby's fine. Somehow, miraculously. The baby's fine. Just like Max is gonna be." He saw a ghost of a smile cross Alec's face. But it quickly disappeared.
"Did you ask them about the seizures?" he questioned. Zack nodded. "So?"
"They have absolutely no idea. Made 'em kinda mad, too," Zack replied. "Didn't like not knowing."
"We have that in common," Alec muttered, stroking Max's hand. Zack drew in a shaky breath as he remembered the way her body had thrashed. And that scream. He'd never heard anything like it. Especially not from Max. He mentioned this out loud. Alec shook his head sadly. "Neither have I..."
"She's so strong..." Zack said tearfully. "She's not supposed...She should never be this helpless." Alec took the ice pack away from his head and grasped Max's hand tightly with both of his.
"Please wake up baby. Please," his voice cracked. Max showed no reaction. Alec rested his forehead against her hand. "Please..."
"That's not gonna work."
Zack and Alec's eyes snapped over to the doorway. Brin was leaning against the doorjamb holding a blood-stained cloth to her shoulder. Zack jumped up so quick his chair toppled over.
"Stay away from Max," Alec growled menacingly. Brin smiled slightly but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Honey, it's kind of where I need to go," she replied. Zack grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against the wall.
"Get. Out. Of. Here," he commanded angrily. Brin gave him a defiant look.
"In case you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly my creepy alter ego," she choked out. Realization dawned on Zack and he let her drop. The sound of a gun cocking reached their ears and they both turned to find Alec pointing a Glock at Brin. The first sign of fear flashed across her face.
"You may not be that glowy red-eyed bitch right now, but I will splatter your brains on that wall sooner than you can say 'Ames White' if you don't start explaining yourself," he said coldly. Brin flinched. A feral grin appeared on Alec's mouth. "Recognize that name do you? Why don't you tell us a little story before you're executed?"
"I'm not exactly in the sharing mood when I have a Glock pointed at me," Brin snapped. Alec blurred forward and held the gun between her eyes.
"You better get in the mood if you don't want me to get seriously trigger-happy," he growled. Brin swallowed and nodded. Alec stepped away but didn't lower his gun.
"Brin, sit over there," Zack ordered. Brin complied and sighed in relief once she was off her hurt leg. "Do you..." Alec suddenly moved his aim to Zack.
"If you're about to ask her if she needs a doctor before we get information then so help me God! I will bury this bullet in your skull!" Zack held his hands up.
"I was just gonna ask if she needed something else to stop the blood flow, cause that cloth looks pretty used," he explained. Alec just nodded, not bothering to apologize for his threat, and returned his aim to Brin.
"Talk," he growled. "Bitch." Brin took a deep breath.
"About two months ago, I was supposed to be transferred to a new Manticore facility in New York," she began. "I was put on a private jet to Pennsylvania and I'd be moved into a truck the rest of the way. During the ride, I was being a 'good little soldier', when the truck came to a screeching halt. I looked out the window and realized we were in the country part of New York. Still at least two hours away from the new facility. The driver was suddenly pulled out of his seat and the guards were beaten to a bloody pulp. I had this weird feeling in the pit of my stomach that I shouldn't interfere. So I stayed seated, until the ambushers pulled me out as well. I remember the overwhelming shock at who I came face to face with." She paused and Alec waved the gun in a gesture meant for threatening her. It worked and she immediately continued. "It was Zane and Loralee." Zack's eyes widened.
"What?" he breathed. Alec rolled his eyes.
"I take it those are two of the 09ers?" he questioned dryly. Zack and Brin both nodded.
"I struggled to get away from him. Keep in mind that I was still in my Mantiocre-induced brainwashed state," she added. "But he held me tight and forcefully poured a hot, bitter liquid down my throat. He told me it would help me. I tried to spit it out but he made me swallow it. Previous memories and things I'd done flashed before my eyes and I stumbled away from him. Somehow he could tell I was myself again. But I was too shocked. And being the stupid little idiot that I am...I ran." Alec raised his hand that wasn't holding the gun.
"I have a prediction," he commented. "The next part of this story is going to include White capturing you, slowly drugging you to create the bitchy alter ego that we all know and loathe. And you go along with it because, like you said, you're a 'stupid little idiot'." Brin stood up angrily.
"I did not go along with it! I tried to get away more times than I can count! You think I like doing this? You think I enjoy feeling a human being's life crushed by my hands?" she yelled. Alec stared at her blankly.
"I'm sorry, is this the part where I'm supposed to sympathize with the fact that you have no will power? Oops. I'm too busy fantasizing about your blown up brains. But please, carry on," he ushered. Brin glared at him.
"Was he right?" Zack asked softly. Both transgenics turned to face him. "Was Alec's prediction right?" Brin looked away.
"More or less," she muttered, sitting back down. Alec smiled triumphantly. Brin glanced over at Max's unconscious body. "I can help her." Alec's smile faded and he tightened his grip on the Glock.
"What do you mean?" he asked. Brin didn't take her eyes off Max. Alec pushed the gun against Brin's temple. "What do you mean?" Brin's eyes slid towards Alec's angry face.
"I can help her," she repeated softly.
"How?" Zack asked. Brin gave Alec a pointed look, silently telling him to take the gun away from her head. He complied but kept it trained on her.
"Like this..." she muttered before going to Max's bedside. She held her bloodied cloth against Max's forehead and then placed both hands on either side of her head. Alec made a move to stop her, not knowing what she was doing, but Zack held him back. Brin murmured a few words under her breath that neither transgenic could understand. Her eyes suddenly glowed that blood red color and Alec fired his gun without hesitation. A bright red light filled the room and Zack and Alec felt themselves thrown back. They slammed against the wall and when they looked back into the room, both Max and Brin were gone.
"Fuckin shit!" Alec screamed. Many patients, nurses, and doctors stared at him in surprise, but he didn't care. "Where the fuck did that bitch take her!" Zack could only stare in shock at the vacant hospital bed. He was numb.
Max let out a small groan before opening her eyes. A harsh light made her close them again. She raised her hands and groggily rubbed her eyes.
"You alright little sister?" Brin's voice whispered to her. Max was suddenly wide awake as she grasped her tightly by the throat. "Is this how we say 'hello' now?" Max wasn't amused.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't snap your neck right here?" she growled. Brin smirked.
"How bout 'cause even if you did, I wouldn't die seeing as we're back for a little subconscious mind-walk." Realization suddenly dawned on Max as she looked down. She was still wearingher hospital gownbut all her cuts and bruises were healed. But what really grabbed her attention was her stomach. It was protruding a lot more than it usually did, considering she was supposed to have pretty flat abs. She dropped Brin to the ground and gingerly touched her stomach.
"What...happened?" she asked softly. Brin rolled her eyes.
"Don't tell me I have to explain the birds and the bees to ya little sister?" she joked. Max glared at her. "Fine. No more joking. But you do realize why your stomach looks like that right?"
"My baby?" Max guessed. Brin nodded, smiling.
"Yep. Soon to be a bright-eyed, dark-haired beauty. Gonna have mommy's temper and daddy's lust for the opposite sex." Max's eyes widened. "Okay I lied. But that was my last joke, I swear." Max sent her another glare. "But the appearance was correct. I actually don't know about the temper or lust thing."
"Then what do you know?"
"Besides the fact that you're gonna be having a healthy baby girl that's gonna have the world on her shoulders, literally? A whole hell of a lot actually." Max took a threatening step towards her.
"Then tell me!" she ordered. Brin raised her hands in mock-surrender.
"I will in a second little sister. But first things first. I need your help." Max let out a bark of laughter.
"Sure no problem. Just let me go gouge my eyes out and break every bone in my body. Then I'm all yours," she replied sarcastically. Brin smiled slightly.
"You don't get it, do you?"
"Get what?" Max asked angrily.
"This isn't your subconscious," Brin explained. Max gave her a confused look. "It's mine."
"Then why the hell am I here?" Brin sighed.
"Because I need your help. And you need mine." Max crossed her arms defiantly across her chest.
"What makes you think I want your help Miss Red-Eyed Psycho?" she growled.
"A few things, actually. One, you're actually unconscious because of me, or my lovely alter ego. Two, somehow your pregnancy is already starting to show. Three, you used tohave many cuts, gashes, bruises, etc all over your body. Four, if you don't let me help you, you'll never wake up and you'll die the next time one of those extreme seizures wrack your body," Brin ticked each point off on her fingers. Max stared at her with wide eyes. "Did I leave anything out?" Max lashed out with a hard right hook. Brin's head snapped back but she didn't seem too affected. "Is that all?"
"Yes," Max snapped. "Now hurry up. I hate these creepy mind walks."
"Patience is a virtue, little sis," Brin replied jokingly. Max glared at her.
"And being able to walk is a privilege," she retorted. Brin laughed lightly. "Now what's first? What am I supposed to do for you?"
"Be my anchor."
"Gee, I thought this wasn't going to be confusing," Max replied sarcastically. "Anything else?"
"I'll let you know."
"Lovely. Are you gonna answer my questions now?"
"If you like."
"Then explain to me why the hell my pregnancy is already starting to show when it hasn't even been two weeks."
"So we're starting with the simple stuff then...alright. The answer is actually pretty obvious. You're a transgenic. The amount of time in which you carry a baby isn't as long as a human's. It contradicts with your life span."
"What's the supposed to mean?" Brin frowned.
"I don't actually know..." she said softly, confused. Max gave her a weird look. "Anyway, that's why your stomach is sticking out more than it should. Instead of nine months of carrying your little girl, it'll be six and a half. Next question?" Max stared at her incredulously.
"That's it? Just 'oh, your freakishness affects your unborn child let's move on to your next problem'. You'd make a great therapist, you know that?" she said dryly. Brin just looked at her. "Okay, fine. How do I wake up so I can get out of this mind thing?" Brin smiled.
"Easy. Once we're done talking, you'll wake up and all will be right as rain."
"What about your thing you need help with?"
"You can't help me while you're in my subconscious. It wouldn't be real. You have to do it outside my mind first." Max stared at her blankly.
"Ya know, if I wasn't a transgenic, I'd be screaming my head off and trying to check myself into a mental institution."
"Nice to know where you stand."
"Can I wake up now?"
"Sure you don't have anything else to ask?" Brin looked at her pointedly.
"Oh! Right. What exactly am I supposed to do to help you?" Brin smiled.
"It'll come to you," she replied cryptically.
"That's great. Can you just..."
Max suddenly found herself falling on the hospital floor. She landed with a loud smack. She groaned and rolled onto her back. Her vision of the ceiling was quickly clouded by nurses, doctors, and several other people checking to see if she was okay.
"I fell from the ceiling apparently. I'm just dandy," she muttered sarcastically as she slowly eased herself up. She was surprised to find herself clothed in jeans, a red long-sleeved hoodie, leather jacket, and combat boots. Her hair was done up in a ponytail. "Well, this is convenient."
"Max!" She caught a glimpse of Alec pushing through the large crowd. Zack, Syl, and Krit were close behind him. Max stood up and brushed herself off.
"I'm fine, people. Would ya mind creating a path for a girl get out?" The crowd parted and Alec immediately engulfed her in a tight hug. He kissed her forehead, then made his way to her lips before he rested his cheek on top of her head.
"Geez Maxie. We were so worried," his voice came out muffled. Max smiled awkwardly as she noticed that the other people were still staring at her. She didn't realize it was for a different reason than she thought. Alec was still holding his Glock.
"You guys have to get out of here," Syl whispered so only the transgenics could hear her. "I'll stay here and wait for Blake to wake up. You guys have to leave."
"Um...sir?" a nurse spoke boldly, not taking her eyes off Alec's gun. "Guns are prohibited on hospital premises." Max's eyes widened and she nudged Alec away from her. Alec laughed sheepishly and quickly pocketed the gun. "If you don't leave I'm going to have to call the police."
"Wouldn't want that..." Zack muttered. The others quickly exchanged looks before turning to Max.
"We have an Agent White to visit," she explained coldly before leading Alec, Zack, and Krit out the door.
A/N-Soooooo sorry I haven't updated in a while. But I went on a week long trip to the east coast and when I came back I was really sick...I had to stay home from school for another week. But I'm better now and so updates will be quicker. Please review!
willow98002-Hehe. Sorry. I hope this chapter made up for it ;o)
Aur-Sorry it took so long...but updates will hopefully be more regular again ;o)
angelofdarkness78-The baby is okay ;o) You'll find out just how okay she is in the next couple of chapters. And don't worry, I don't have any plans for killing off Brin.
x5-493-Thanks ;o) Sorry it took so long...I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Angel Of Darkness231-Lol. I'm glad you liked it ;o)
naeri-Thanks ;o) Don't worry, Lana and the other transgenics will be coming back. Blake does miss her, I just haven't really written much from his point of view.
