A/N: I know, I know, it's been a long time since I last updated...but anyway...here's chapter five...I hope you guys enjoy it!!!

Predators

5: Playing with Fire

"I'll do the sentry duty tonight," Mole volunteered gruffly. They were at the Control Center, having a brief discussion over Sean's disappearance. Rian was sobbing hysterically at the corner, and Gem was doing everything she could to comfort the poor X5.

"No," Max shook her head. "It's too dangerous, Mole. We need someone more experienced…"

"Fuck experienced," Mole swore. "This isn't about experience, princess. This is about gun power." He raised his shotgun for everyone to see, while nodding his head at the same time. Alec had to keep himself from laughing (the image Mole presented was pretty amusing). Max would have his ass if he was finding entertainment over something deadly serious.

"You know, Max. Mole's got a point. Two X5s who had more than enough experience already got snatched. What difference would it make?"

"The difference is, Mole would probably be the next one to get killed." Max retorted at him as Mole sputtered indignantly. "I'll do sentry tonight."

Alec stared at her. There was no way in hell that he was going to let Max do sentry tonight. What if she was the next one to get kidnapped? He would never forgive himself if he did. But then, shooting down Max's suggestion would probably kill him too. So instead, he said: "I think I'll tag along too."

Max's heated gaze swung over to him. "No. Alec we already discussed this. You will not be doing any sort of guard duties any time this week. You still need time to recuperate…"

"But--"

"Look, do want to end up with another bullet hole in your chest?"

"No, but--"

"The answer is NO." she finished in a tone that brooked no arguments. A scowl came over Alec's face, and Max had to mentally slap herself for thinking how cute he looked…Shit, I am so whipped. She had been so caught up in her thoughts that she did not notice the transformation that had come over Alec's face.

He was now openly grinning at her. "I don't accept it."

Max gaped at him. "Wha—what?"

"I won't accept no, Maxie. I'm coming and there's nothing you can do about it."

Max's mouth snapped shut, and she clenched out through gritted teeth. "Fine." She snapped. "But if you get yourself captured or shot. That would not be my fault."

"How about an additional man?" a deep voice called out from the crowd. It was Ryan, a blonde X5 that carried a quiet sort of confidence that Max had always admired. He had been a big help in Command Center for the past weeks, having excelled in computer and technology back at Manticore. "Coz', you know what they say: there's safety in numbers."

"So, four people on sentry? Not a bad idea," Dix said, nodding thoughtfully. "Plus, we could attach a surveillance camera over there too. That way, if they do get kidnapped, we'll be able to catch a glimpse of the intruder."

"Excellent idea," Max agreed, her annoyance at Alec fading for a minute at Dix's obvious genius. Sometimes, she couldn't believe that Manticore made Dix to simply just dig up trenches. There was a particularly huge brain hiding behind that particularly pale face.

"We could rip the one here in the Control Center out and post it there," Dix said with a shrug. "It'll be put to better use there."

"Alright, so everything's settled then." Max said with a nod of approval, she checked her watch: 3:18 p.m. "Mole, Ryan,…Alec. We'll meet at the sewer exits, 6:00 pm sharp."

"This time, whoever's killing the transgenics will be the one who'll end up dead tonight."

"It's time we lit the match."

…

6:00 p.m.

The sewer exits or the tunnel area, as what they call it, was located somewhere near the back of Terminal City, a bit far from civilization. It's distance from the main region of TC gave it's atmosphere a deadly kind of silence. The kind that told you: you're on your own out here. If you scream, no one will hear you.

And after the previous occurrences that had taken place here, many of the transgenics had made the wisest of decisions and had stayed clear from the area. Of course, now, it was relatively safe. Or as safe as they thought it would be.

Three X5s and a growling transhuman with an attitude paced the area, shooting surreptitious glances at one another. The surveillance camera that Dix had installed earlier stared at them from it's hidden spot on top of a tree. And the transgenics knew that they were being watched by more than a few people from the Command Center, via the camera.

They were like characters in a reality show.

Characters who were relatively bored at the minute.

It was a good thing that Alec brought with him some food – a bag of potato chips which had long since disappeared after a few minutes of munching, chewing, and 'Alec can I have a piece?'. He stared, aghast, at the now empty bag and threw it haphazardly behind him where it was instantaneously blown away by the wind.

At the simultaneous blowing of the wind, Alec looked up at the sky and was aggrieved to see heavy, gray thunderclouds floating amongst the stars – not exactly a pretty sight. "It's gonna rain." He remarked to no one in particular.

Max arched an eyebrow from across. "Point out the obvious, why don't you?"

He smirked. "I just did."

"Whatever. Just shut up and look around for anything…weird."

Alec looked straight at her. "I'm doing just that."

That earned him a hit on the arm.

7:15 p.m.

The rain was going down slowly in form of a light drizzle, which was even worse than a total downpour. Drizzles made you feel sticky, humid, muggy, and it gave certain people bad moods.

"Ugh, I hate the rain." Max complained, seeking shelter underneath the large tree.

"Point out the obvious why don't you," Alec retorted, mimicking her earlier tone. She frowned at him. "We have feline DNA, Maxie. And it's a proven fact – cats hate water."

"Don't mind me saying this, but I'm hungry." Ryan stated from his spot.

"Hey, it wasn't my fault that Max finished all the chips." Alec said. Max's frowned morphed into a scowl. "And speaking of Max, she has shark DNA. Maybe you could eat her."

Ryan grinned but it faltered quickly when Max's smoldering gaze swung over to him. "Uh, no thanks."

The drizzle made no indication that it was stopping any time soon.

7:45 p.m.

"Damn, I'm all out of cigars." Mole grumbled, flicking his last one onto the ground and firmly bringing down his foot on it. "None of you happen to have any, now do you?"

"No," Max snapped crossly as a wet leaf dropped onto her. That had been the fifth one, so far, and it did nothing to improve her mood. "And it's about time you ran out of it. All that smoke is making my nose twitch."

Mole chose not to comment and instead to turned to face the two male X5s.

"I don't smoke," Ryan said raising empty hands.

"You know Mole, I have to agree with Max." Alec said, earning a surprised look from the only female in the group. "All that smoking will only make her grumpier."

This time, two livid gazes turned to face him. Alec swore that if looks could kill, he would've been in his grave by now.

8:10 p.m.

"Maybe he's not showing up tonight," Ryan said hopefully.

"It's still early, Ryan." Max said glancing at her digital watch and letting her eyes sweep over the vicinity. Everything was quiet, as usual. They had been out here for almost three hours, and so far, the only thing they saw scampering around was Alec's empty plastic bag of chips which was being blown around by the wind.

"You mean we could be patrolling here for the rest of the night?"

"That's what you volunteered for, Ryan." Max said, her voice coming out a bit exasperated. The guy was getting a bit restless – and nervous, she noticed.

"Oh. Right."

"Hey, why don't we play a game?" Alec suggested from his spot near Mole.

"Excellent idea." A silky, cool voice drawled from the sewer exit. "Let's call it: 'kidnap the transies and bring them to Deck.'"

The four transgenics froze.

And slowly, very slowly, they turned to look at the intruder.

8:14 p.m.

"Rian." Max stated icily.

A cynical smile cracked Rian's vacant facade, and she loudly snapped her fingers.

Two figures emerged from the shadows. Somehow, Max wasn't all that surprised to see that one of them was Sean. The two of them had been acting it out all along. It was them who were doing all the dirty work – doing all the assassinations. And the worst part was, Max never even suspected them. They held up their front pretty well – too damned well.

And judging by their not-so-subtle entrance a few minutes ago, they had – and as well the person whom they were working for – had discovered Terminal City's means of getting in and getting out.

Max was half-tempted to lash out of them verbally right now. And it took everything she had to restrain herself from keeping her anger intact. Now wasn't the time to exchange angry remarks. Well except for one, maybe.

"Fuck you." Max snapped and the four of them pounced.

…

A/N: Please review...it's Christmas afteraLL!