A/N : I know, it's been a long time and i'm sorry but i do have a life beside writing and school has been a bit hard these days so i didn't have the time to write, plus i have to write a play for my association...and i still haven't writing anything!
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Thanks to all of you who reviewed...You're great...i love you all...kisses and hugs...
In the last chapter...
« So what happened? » inquired Sid in a soft voice.
« I killed Ames. » Max said.
« And the other familiars too... »
« No. I didn't kill them. » Max cut in. « I didn't. I saw them die. »
« But we saw the bodies Max! Only someoneas strong as us would have been able to kill the familiars! » intervened Alec.
Alec's sudden outburst startled Max and she put her hands up to cover her ears.
« No! No! » she yelled. She was acting like a panicked prey. « I didn't. » she continued to cry out. She stood up and took refuge in one of the cornerof the room. She rocked herself back and forth still mumbling some nonsense under her breath.
Sid went close to Max and whispered reassuring things to her patient then turned back to Alec.
« Don't do that again. » ordered Sid calmly. « I know what i'm doing. If you do those kind of outburst, she'll react the way she just did. » She paused a moment. « Your presence is good for her. She responds much more to things when you're around. That's why i think you should be present to all the seance. But if you continue like that... » she trailed off letting the words sink in.
« I understand. » said Alec.
« Something...bad happened there. Give her the time she need to accept and she'll tell us the story. »
Alec nodded.
« I'll be back tomorrow. Don't startle her, she's still in some kind of trance. She'll get back to her normal mode in a few moments. Just let her calm down. »
« Yeah. Don't worry. » assured Alec as he looked at Max.
'What happened there Max? What are you so afraid of?' he wondered.
Max continued to mumble some nonsense for fifteen minutes then she got up ant grab a paper and and pen that she found on the kitchen counter and began scribling.
Alec couldn't help but notice that they were like the rune she had on her body but they were different.
« Max. » he said cautiously.
« She raised her head to stare at him.
« What does it mean? » he inquired.
« They are coming. They are coming for me. » she said.
« Who? The familiars? »
« No. The Seekers! » she murmured almost afraid to pronounce the word.
Then, she was back to her drawings.
Once she had finished the 'drawings', she seemed to wake up from her trance.
It took her a few seconds to figure out where she was. Then she looked at the papers and looked questioningly at Alec.
« Alec. What's those writings? Who did this? »
« You did. » he informed her.
« How come...? » she said.
Alec shrugged. « Don't know. Maybe it was the trance Sid put you in. » 'Or maybe because of what happened in that warehouse.' he thought, not daring to say those words just yet. « She must have thought that you wouldn't tell her anything more so she left. But she said she'll be back tomorrow. »
Max just nodded and stood up.
« Max. Do you remember what you said, what you did? What you said? » he asked.
She shook her head. No.
Alec gathered the papers she just left.
« Do you mind if i take those to Dix? » he said.
« Hmm...no..take them. » she stammered. « Do what you want. »
Alec saw the look of distress in her eyes and couldn't resist to pull her to him hug her, just to comfort her.
« We're going to be ok. You're going to be ok. » he assured.
« I hope. » she whispered in his chest.
« By the way, i forgot to tell you. » he said.
« What? » she asked eyebrows lifted.
« You look damn gorgeous with your hair cut like that. »
She blushed.
Alec couldn't believe that Max, the girl that kicked him when he walked in her cell to tell her that they were breeding partners, the girl that skicked Ames ass, the X5 that was his 2IC...had just blushed at one of his comment.
Maybe it was the time to ask her.
« Umm...Max. Do you know about mating? »
« Yeah, i do. Talked to with Gem and some other X5 females. » she informed him. « They told me pretty interesting stories. » she said with a wicked grin.
« Not that i'm interested in the female mind, but umm...i don't really how to tell you this. »
She took a deep breath.
« I do remember. » she announced.
« What? »
« I do remember. When i was in catwoman mode, i choose you as a mate. » she said.
Alec gulped. So she knew. Well it was a good thing. Right?
« But you never aknowledge me as your mate. » she stated.
« You were in no state for that... » he stopped.
« So you did think about it? » Max said.
« Of course! Look at you Max! Who wouldn't? »
« So it's just a physical attraction? » she said, a hint of disappointed in her voice.
'What are you doing Max?' he thought.
« No. » he finally uttered. « No. »
« I was just teasin gyou Alec. Relax, i understand. »
'Do you?' he wondered. God he loved that woman, but he had just decided that it wasn't the moment. Plus she said she was kidding. Right? 'Right?'
D-Day : The Marshall Treaty.
« Everyone is in place? » asked Alec.
« We've got snippers everywhere and others X5s and X6s on the field. Don't worry. Our people are watching her. » said Mole.
30 min later...
« Ladies and gentlemen, we're gathered here to make astep together toward the future. And the future, for us, will be a peaceful and powerful US with transgenics and humans. We've learned from our mistakes of our past... »
« Can he be more boring? » chuckled Jaz.
« Learned from their mistakes my ass! It took them two fucking years to admit that we had the right to breathe! » muttered Ria.
« Hey! After this day we'll be free citizen, so calm down. If you don't watn to listen don't and focus on the task at hand. » ordered Alec in his radio.
One minute before the signature.
« Alec. There's a problem. » said Jaz.
« What? » he inquired.
« One of the snippers noticed...she's going to have a seizure. »
Indeed Max's hand was shacking and she was having difficulties to hide it.
« Shit! » muttered Alec.
« She needs at least 6 pills to calm down... »
« I know that! » Alec cut in.
« Send me one of the X8s. » ordered Alec. « Now. »
Ten seconds later, Bugler appeared with the tryptophan Alec did some hand signals to him and he headed toward Max.
Max rose to her feet after listening to Bugler.
« I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen but this littleboy needs the restroom. »
A roar of understanding chucklings was heard in the vast room.
In the toilets.
« Do you want me to get Sam? » asked Alec.
« No. » she said defensively. « I'll be fine. Thank you bugler. »
« You're welcome Max. » uttered the little X8.
« You're sure you'll be ok? » inquired Alec.
« I said i'll be fine Alec. »Max assured. « This is my baby. »
« Take four more pills. » he said.
She agreed and did what he said.
Max was still trembling a bit when it was her turn to speak and it was obsious to all the audience.
« Well looks like i'm nervous. » she exclaimed with confidence.
That remark received a general laugh.
« I've listen carefully to every speach and now it's my turn to speak. I'll make it short. Everyone here was right, the vice-President, the senator and all the people who talked. I believe, just like them that we can live together peacefully, humans and transgenics, I believe that we'll be able to face whatever will happen in the future, and that we will stand together against common ennemies. Thank you to all of you who witnessed this great day. I think i speak for all my kind by saying that we are proud to be US citizens. And we'll do our best to defend this country. Thank you. » she concluded.
Ensued the usual applause and then the signature with Alec and her, The Senator and the Vice-President.
Later that day they still had to attend a cocktail and the Senator's Mansion.
A contingent of ten transgenics (transhumans and X series) were supposed to go there to represent the Freak Nation.
There was two back up teams just anything goes awry. Alec had maintained a constant alert. Standard procedure, until he was really sure that his kind was safe.
He was going to the cocktail with Max, Joshua (Mole was supposed to go but had 'declined' the offer), Trent (a transhumans who had too much cat DNA), Luke, Dix, Jaz, Ria, Dix and Taj and Pat (two X4s).
It was the first time, Alec got to see Max all dolled up. She was dressed in a beautiful red coktail dress revealing her back. The dress stopped right above her knees. She had black high heels and a purse that matched. Her hair was done in old-fasfhion like in the 20s, and a flower was stuck behind her ear. With the color of her skin she looked even more exotic.
Alec's mouth was hanging open and she almost laughed at his reaction but she maintained her satisfied smirk.
« Come on Alec. Close your mouth, you're drooling! It's not good for your image. »
He snapped from his reverie as she giggled.
« Umm.... » he cleared his throat. When he thought that his voice was normal again, he spoke up. « It's not really suitable for an escape and evade. »
« Who said we're going to play little soldiers Alec. Get in the car and enjoy the night! »
Alec couldn't help but stare at her and he wasn't the only on when they stepped in the Senator's mansion. All males attention and some women were directed toward Max. It's not that he himself wasn't attracting attention, it's just that he hated that anyone but him noticed how beautiful she was.
She really was enjoying herself. Jondy was right when she told him that she made people care. And he more than cared about this woman.
Max was aware of Alec's eyes on her. But far from freaking her out, it was comforting. She just had finished to greet everyone and could breathe a little.
She went straight to Joshua.
« Dance with me Big Fella. » she said with a smile.
They had practised for this because Joshua was afraid her wouldn't be good, but he was. A wonderful one.
She was really enjoying herself. There was still a long way before they could really be accepted. Not in the papers, but in the hearts of the people. But yet, they had won the greatest battle. Yes, they had. When they finished dancing, the Senator and his wife were heading toward them.
« Max. »
She turned around to face Marshall.
« Senator! »
« I believe i didn't introduce you to my beloved wife yet. »
« I didn't have that pleasure. » replied Max with a sincere smile.
« Well, this is Audrey, my wife, and Audrey this is Max. »
A very elegant brunette, in her late 40s shook Max's hand. She was still beautiful. Max thought that she must have been one of those homecoming queen in highschool.
« Nice to meet you. » said Max.
« So i was right to be jealous. » joked Audrey Marshall. « Thank god, you're not a blond. »
« Thank God i'm not Alec then. » said Max on the same tone.
« Alec? »
« My CO. Our leader. » she informed.
« Oh, the handsome dark blond guy over there. »
Audrey didn't seem to have any problem totalk about a handsome guy in front of her husband, Max thought.
« Don't worry, we teaseeach other like that. » said Audrey as if she had read Max's mind. « But we are in love, aren't we honey. »
Audrey had turned to face her husband. And effectively, Max saw the same spark she saw at Logan's cousin's wedding.
Max cleared her throat and said : « May i introduce you to one of my closest friend. I consider him as a brother. Joshua, this is the senator Marshall and his wife, Audrey. Joshua is a painter. »
« You don't mean the Joshua, the one with the paintings? » asked incredulously Audrey.
Max nodded.
« Nice to meet you. » said Joshua, as he pulled out his hand to Audrey.
She took hold of Joshua's hands and said : « I'm a great fan of your work. Tell me you're still painting...you know i have a friend that has a gallery... »
She wasn't giving Joshua the time to reply as she pulled him toward her friends. And he wasn't sure, if it was useful that he answered.
« Is she always like that? » inquired Max.
« Unfortunately. » said Marshall. « She really likes his work you know. And she only saw two of his paintings. »
« If everyone were like you two, we wouldn't have any problem anymore. »
« Ah...today we won a battle...litte by little people will accept you. »
« But it's not for today. » Max sighed.
« Everything will be fine Max. You did a great work. »
With the year of negociation they spent, Marshall had become the fatherly figure she never had. And she considered himself responsible for her.
Of course there will always be things she will never tell him, things she knew he would never understand just as Logan couldn't. They would never understand. She was different and she didn't want to deny that fact, and she was proud of her difference. A difference she shared with Alec.
Marshall had lost his youngest sister a year after the pulse during a riot. She had Max's age at the time when she died. She was fighting against the police abuse. She died taking a bullet for a young boy who was barely ten. When he learned that 452-Max- had taken a bullet for a boy a few weeks before the siege and that she almost died (Harbor Lights) he saw his little sister in Max.
But that was not the only reason why he had decided to fight for the transgenic cause. At the beginning, he was just merely intereted in the transgenics. Well, he was more that merely interested. He wanted to know everything about and Manticore, and so he started to dig and found out about the comittee, Lydecker and Renfro. Even Sandeman. That's when things became dangerous.
People started to threaten him and his family as he was digging out more information about Sandeman.
Slowly, he came to the conclusion that it couldn't be the transgenics. He was barely an annoyance to them. If it wasn't them then it could be the government. But at the time, he was encouraged to do those research about Manticore. (As it appeared, more than a half of the people who were supposed to have the power didn't even know about Manticore!)
He remembered the day when two familiars as Max called them had cornered him in the parking lot of his building. If it wasn't for Max and 494-Alec-, he would be dead by now. Gives you a good motivation, don't you think?
That's when the negociation really started. It took two years but they had accomplished it. This young woman was really a hell of a woman. He saw this supposed-killing-machine taking care of young kids, taking care of her own. He admired her for her courage, her humanity, and her stubborness. And god, that little woman was stubborn.
Alec, on the other hand, was more difficult for him to approach, and to accept. Probably because he was the highest raking officer among the transgenics. So in the senator's mind, he was more dangerous than Max. That's why he refused to call him Alec, for now and prefered to call him 494.
He was making the mistake of thinking that as Max was a 'female' and that she escaped in 09, she was less dangerous.
Sketchy approached Max and the senator.
« Senator Marshall, Max. Do you mind if i take a picture of you? For the gossips tomorrow. »
« No problem Sketch. » said Max.
Sketchy had played his part too in those negociations. He was making positive articles about transgenics, about Max that saved his butt more that once. Little by little some people that Max helped during her year as the side kick of Logan aka Eyes Only talked to Sketchy about what Max had done for them. And some letters of people (mostly soldiers) rescued by transgenics arrived too as people recognized them on the news. There were mostly directed to Alec's Unit as he was more exposed to the media.
That also helped Max to make peace about Manticore. She had made the difference between being an X5 and that facility that contained so much torture and her worst nightmares. She wasn't evil. (Yeah it took her 12 years to accept that!)
The cocktail went smoothly. After hours of smiling to all the bureacrats, they were finally allowed to breath a little as people started to leave.
Max was talking with Jaz, Ria, and Original Cindy when he spotted her.
« Max. »
It was Alec. He looked a bit nervous.
« Alec. Everything is okay? » she inquired.
« Yeah. I was just wondering...we'll soon head home so...um...would you mind to dance with me before we go? » he stammered.
« I don't mind dancing with you Alec. »
Ria and Original Cindy were fighting bakc their smile.
When the couple was out of hearing range, Ria asked : « Do you think they already talked about the mating thing and all? »
« I think they did. » said OC.
« You think or you're sure? » inquired Ria.
« They did. She told me so when i arrived. »
« So as Joshua puts it 'they'll get busy' tonight? » asked Jaz.
« I don't think so. » stated OC.
« Why not? »
« They are too complicated. » Original Cindy shook her head. « Plus, there is all the tatoo thing. Good thing they disappeared before today. »
« Umm humm...it's just make up. It took us one hour... » whispered Ria.
Just before they left, Marshal stopped Max.
« We'll need to talk about the familiar situation. » he said.
« You know where to reach me. » Max replied. « Thank you for everything Marshall. »
The dance she shared with Alec made her light headed.
« You're welcome Miss Guevera! » he said smiling back at her.
Right before she got in the car, they heard a gunshot. They all turned their head toward the origin of the sound.
« Alec. » Max breathed.
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