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 Eight-Reality Limits

Max walked purposefully out towards their car, ignoring the shouts and protests of the hospital staff. She was a transgenic, dammit, she didn't need to stay in a hospital for so long. It wasn't exactly a smart thing to do either. She wrenched open the car driver door only to find it shut. She glared up at the person who had closed it.

"What do you think you're doing?" she growled.

"You were just put in the hospital for a hole in your leg, numerous amounts of gashes, and severe seizures," Alec ticked off each point on his fingers. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to be driving yet." Without saying a word, Max rolled up her pant leg and shoved it in Alec's face. "That's a nice leg Maxie, but what..." His eyes widened as he realized that no hole whatsoever was apparent. "How...?"

"Another helpful dream," Max replied cryptically. "Now can you move out of the way so we can get to White's little warehouse of fun?" Alec moved out of her way, a dazed look on his face.

"We going?" Zack asked as he got into the back of the car. Max glanced over at Alec before nodding. "Let's motor then..."


Max parked the car a few blocks down from the warehouses. Alec looked over at her, feeling slightly uneasy by the determined expression on her face.

"Do you have a gun?" Krit asked from the back seat. Max's determined face turned into a scowl.

"No," she ground out. Krit gave the back of her head a confused look.

"Then how..." he began before Alec gave his head a slight shake, signaling him not to continue. Zack pulled out the gun from the back pocket of the front seat. He handed it to Krit. "What will you be carrying then?" Zack didn't answer as he got out of the car. "Okay..."

"One gun per group," Max instructed as she joined Zack outside. He nodded in understanding. "You go with Krit. I'm with Alec."

"Whoa, whoa. We're splitting up? Is that smart?" Max didn't answer as she led the way to the warehouses. "Before we do that...what exactly is the reason for going to meet our bloody deaths?" The others looked at Max for an answer.

"We're gonna save Brin."

"But wasn't she with you?"

"Yeah."

"Then..." Max let out a sigh of frustration as she stopped walking.

"Fine. You guys obviously don't get what I'm doing. So just be backup. I'll go in alone." She continued down the street. Alec grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"Not fine," he argued. "You need someone in there with you. You don't even know what you're heading into. Or what warehouse you'll be going into."

"He's right, Max," Krit agreed.

"Be careful," Zack said bluntly. Krit and Alec stared at him in surprise. Max gave him a grateful smile.

"Don't worry, I will." Then she blurred away.

"Max!" Alec shouted after her. Only silence responded. "How could you let her just go by herself?" Zack turned towards him with a blank expression on his face.

"She won't be by herself. Just because we're backup doesn't mean we won't be in the same room with her." Alec fumbled for a convincing argument.

"I...but...shut up and lead the way..." he finally grumbled. Zack hid his grin and complied.


Max didn't bother with the stealth act as she took out the five guards standing in front of the warehouse with surprising ease, even for her. She turned the doorknob, only to find it locked. She let a small sigh before suddenly wrenching it open so it hard, it broke off its hinges. She stared at the useless door dangling in her hand before shrugging and entering the warehouse.

The room wasn't pitch black like she thought it would be. A dim light illuminated her surroundings, giving her a chance to take in everything. Her informational gazing was interrupted by several guards charging her. She fought them off easily before a loud voice ordered them to stop. The voice sent chills down Max's spine and knew exactly who it was.

"Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in," White commented silkily after the guards had backed off. He stepped into a part of the room that had more light.

"Just so you know, there wasn't any dragging. I came here on my own," Max stated. White smirked.

"Is that so?" he questioned disbelievingly. Max shrugged.

"Do you see anyone flanking me?" she retorted.

"Not yet. But that doesn't mean there isn't." Max rolled her eyes.

"Gee, paranoid much?"

"A man's got to be careful."

"True," Max said calmly before her expression hardened considerably. "But you're not a man. You're a heartless dickhead that gets off at the idea of a bullet or anything else remotely deadly destroying the lives of my family." White chuckled humorlessly.

"And the transgenic filth comes out swinging. Any more insults you'd like to add before I pull off each and every one of your limbs?"

"I'd love to, but I don't think it would be a good use of my time 'til Judgement Day," Max snapped. "You know what you are. And as much as I would take great pleasure in pulverizing your subhuman ass, I have better things to do."

"Such as?"

"Making you tell me how to save my sister." White cocked his head to the side.

"You sure that's what you want to do?" he asked, an eerie glint appearing in his eyes. Max found herself hesitating and hated White for it.

"Brin needs my help. I'm not gonna just stand by and let you freaks use her for your own perverted murderous pleasure."

"Are you familiar with the phrase 'pot calling the kettle black'?" White asked randomly. Max was careful not to show that the question had caught her off guard.

"Yes," she bit out.

"Then you know what it means."

"Of course, dipshit."

"Then you'd better be careful about who youcall freaks," White hissed dangerously. Max let out a bark of laughter.

"Or what? You'll hit me with a pot?"

"More like the end of a bullet, but take your pick," White drawled. Max's jaw tightened.

"That pulverizing idea is starting to sound more and more appealing," she growled. White didn't appear threatened.

"You want to know how 734 can be saved?" Max scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"No, I just came by to pay my sweet uncle Whitey a visit!" she snapped sarcastically. White blinked.

"Never refer to me as being related to you," he hissed. "I'd rather dip my body in boiling lava." Max raised her hand.

"I'd love to do the honors."

"Shut up."

"Not possible."

"I'm beginning to realize that."

"Can you stop your childish bickering for a SECOND and get my cure?" Max yelped in surprise. White's brow furrowed and he took a cautious step backward. But Max seemed too freaked out to pay attention to him.

"What the hell was that?" she muttered angrily.

"What? Did you think I was just gonna leave you unsupervised?"

"I'd really prefer that instead of you violating my mind," Max snapped, louder than she meant to.

"Wow. I'm actually witnessing a transgenic lose their marbles. It's oddly interesting," White quipped. Max glared at him.

"Give me Brin's cure," she ordered. White chuckled humorlessly.

"I'm sorry...Maybe we haven't met." He pointed to himself and then Max. "Mortal enemies. I don't just give filthy creatures like you something you need."

"Ask him if he wants a deal!"

"I was just going to!" Max hissed, ignoring White's amused look. "Are you implying that you want to make a deal?" White shrugged as he reached into his breast pocket, retrieving something.

"He's got it with him, the little weasel..."

"Brin, will you shut up?" White's smirk disappeared as he narrowed his eyes at Max. She swore under her breath.

"Brin?" he questioned coldly. Max didn't answer. "She's 'talking' to you, is she?"

"Give me the cure."

"Fat chance." White dangled a small vial of a bright blue liquid in his right hand. "You want it? Come get it." He suddenly dropped it from his position on the balcony.

"Bastard...!"

Max felt a sudden gust of wind push itself against her. She nearly toppled over from the force of it. She was thrown a few yards towards the falling vial,which shequickly caught.

"That's my girl!"

Max smiled triumphantly up at White, only to find he had disappeared. Blinding red light suddenly filled the room and a howling noise penetrated Max's ears. Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head as she let out a blood-curdling scream. An agonizing pain shot up her leg and she gasped as bloodbegan to stain her jeans. She tried to move her hands to lift her pant leg but she soon found they were twitching uncontrollably.

"Oh no..." she gasped as the rest of her body followed suit. She screamed and shrieked until her voice completely left her. A loud crash reached her ears and her body was showered with glass. Then everything went black.


"Max! Max! Please wake up, Max..."

Max forcefully kept her eyes shut as she groaned in annoyance.

"You know, these whole mind walk things are really starting to piss me off," she complained as she got up into a sitting position and stared into Brin's eyes. "Please tell me this is the last one." Brin smiled.

"I'm glad you're okay."

"Okay! I just had to go through more of those freaky, very un-normal seizures! And my leg was ripped open again!" Brin winced.

"Sorry...I didn't know that would happen." Max waved her hand in a dismissive gesture.

"Whatever. I'm over it. Least I got the cure thingy." Brin's face split into a wide grin as she held up the vial of blue liquid.

"That you did..." Max looked at her expectantly. "What?"

"What do you mean what? Drink up!" Brin laughed softly before drinking the liquid in one gulp.


"Hey look! Her eyes are opening!" Max distinctly heard a woman's voice. But...how did she get here?

"Lana?" Max croaked, fixing her eyes on the female transgenic. She hardly recognized her. Her usually golden skin was frightfully pale, her honey-blonde hair was limp and uncared for, and her green eyes had lost most oftheir lively glint. "What happened to you? How'd you get here? How'd I get here...?" Max added as she realized she was back in the hospital. Lana smiled slightly, but she lookedslightly confused.

"You do remember what happened to you at the warehouse, right?" she asked. Max nodded, but stopped when it hurt her head too much. "You've been unconscious for almost two weeks. The others have been worried sick."

"Damn straight," Blake appeared next to her. Max raised her eyebrows.

"But when did you get here?" she asked Lana.

"Few days ago. Ran into Blake and Krit, who were on their way back from Joshua's place," Lana explained. Max eyes suddenly widened as she remembered.

"Brin! Where's Brin?" she questioned as she shot up in the hospital bed. Blake laughed softly and gently pushed her back down.

"She's fine. She's somewhere in the hospital, getting snacks. Alec and Zack went with her. They should be back..."

"Now," Alec interrupted as he rushed over to Max's side, dropping his food. "How are you, baby?" Max smiled and leaned into his hand.

"Better. In fact..." She suddenly felt Alec tense and she looked at him, slightly alarmed. Even more so when she saw his expression. "What is it?"

"Um...when the hell did you get tattoos?" Alec questioned. Max stared at him in bewilderment.

"What tattoos? I don't have any ta..." she trailed off as Alec held up her arm. Tiny black rune symbols surrounded her wrist. Fresh ones were appearing already. "Holy shit..." Max scrambled up in bed, ignoring her body's protest, and tried to check if there were any other symbols.

"Oh my god...what the hell are those?" Lana asked as she and the others all leaned in for a closer look. Max made a small whimpering noise.

"I can't tell if they're any where else..." she complained. Alec kissed the top of her head.

"We'll figure it out later," he assured. Max still had a worried expression on her face. Then she realized Brin looked somewhere between horrified and confused.

"What is it?" Zack asked, noticing as well.

"Th-those symbols..." she stammered. "I recognize them from somewhere...but..."

"But what?" Krit questioned almost angrily. Brin covered her mouth with her hands before sliding them to her forehead.

"I-I don't remember..." she replied softly. The others exchanged looks.

"It must've been something that was exposed to you while you were captured by White," Blake guessed. Brin nodded slowly but her expression didn't change.

"Yeah...Th-that must...be it..." she said doubtfully, obviously thinking it was something else.

A/N-Sorry it's a little short, but I didn't want to get into the next part yet. Review please, it helps my muse keep in touch ;o)

hphotshot-Thanks ;o) I'd be happy to read your story, what's it called?

X5-459-I'm glad you like it ;o) More of his reactions are gonna be in the next chapter.

Gabbie760-Thanks ;o)

Angel Of Darkness231-Thanks ;o)