Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its characters obviously do not belong to me. I am writing this purely for non-profit entertainment. No infringement intended, so don't sue me!

A/N: I am back from holidays! Thanks for all your reviews…passes around virtual holiday sweets...

Lotamoxie – Thanks for reviewing. Glad you liked the twist. Anyway, did not really plan to make her pregnant because… I don't know, that plot has been used so many times.

Mel11 – Thanks for your review. Hehe! Glad you thought the virus thing was awesome -:Grins:- I worked quite hard on that!

Calistra – Thanks for reviewing. Reviewed yours already, but haven't read the latest yet.

HoneyX5-452 – Hope you had a good vacation as you'll be reading this when you get back. Thanks for your words on this story; I am glad you think it's the best one, lol!

Kungfuchick – Happy that most of you were glad Max wasn't pregnant; that would have been more of a mess! Glad you liked the twist too, hehe! Thanks for reviewing.

W1cked angel – Thanks for your review. Aww… A love child would be fun, but it didn't quite want to appear in the story, lol!

Random Rose – Ah, Max is not pregnant, so you can heave a sigh of relief -:grins:- I don't know why, but pregnancy did not seem to fit in this fic anyway.

Aotearoa Hiphop Grl – Thanks for reviewing. -:grins:- So, did that mean you like the chapter or not, lol! Yeah, poor Max keeps on realizing one after another thing about what Alec did…

Ro – Thanks for your review. Glad you thought that was unexpected…yep…deception is the whole theme of the story…Hehe!

Alana84 – Glad you liked the twist with the virus and the fact that Max wasn't pregnant. Don't wonder anymore, next chappie is here. Thanks for your review.

Lakergirl08 - -:smiles sheepishly:- Ah, yes, the lead towards the pregnancy was pretty strong I suppose, lol! Alec have plans for Manticore as you will soon see…Thanks for reviewing.

X5898 – Hehe, gotcha didn't I! I couldn't have gone on that way, because then Max will never find out and they will never start to mend their relationship. As for Biggs and Alec, they were both in Manticore together, so I guess Alec see that Biggs did not really have much of a choice anyway. Renfro a transgenic? -:shudders:- I dread to think what she might do if she was THAT strong! Thanks very much for your review; loved reading it…especially the first bit, lol!

Angelofdarkness78 – Glad you liked the chapter. Biggs pretty much felt the same as Alec, having to betray someone he likes, but neither of them really had a choice. Thanks for reviewing.

Sarah – Yeah, her being pregnant would really bring her down, but a targeted virus would, hehe! Glad you liked the twist. It's nice to know that the story is not completely predictable, otherwise what's the fun of reading it! Thanks for your review.

Iridescent Twilight – Thanks for reviewing. I'm not really fond of Rachel either, but the image of Alec topless in a pool of water does wonders for my tolerance of her, lol! Yuck, keep your rotten tomatoes and spiders away from me!

L80bug – Just thought I wanted to surprise you all, lol! Thanks for reviewing.

Chance32 – Ah, well…Her being pregnant would be a bit awkward. Alec and Max will soon sort their problems out, so watch this space! Thanks for your review.

Crimsonreality – Thanks for reviewing.

EnIgMa – Hehe! Nah, me a writer for DA? But thanks, I'll take that as a compliment! -:blushes:- You are right about the obligation bit. Otherwise Max will be wondering if Alec is sticking around just because of the baby etc, and that would definitely make this story drag on! Thanks for your review!

Vkitty – Thanks for reviewing. Me? Bad? Surely that's not true! Hehe! Yes, Max's going to find out everything eventually!

Angelofdarkness231 – I am tempted to give you a double update but my fingers and brain refused to cooperate, lol! Thanks for reviewing!

Now on with the story!


Deception - Chapter 9

(by elle6778)

Still in Harbour Lights Hospital

Max's bleary mind tried frantically to process the doctor's words. Then it suddenly sank in. The feeling of horror as she realised what had happened to Logan was enough to jolt her senses.

Max's eyes snapped open.

"No…" she rasped weakly, her eyes registering the white walls and the monitors surrounding her. Alec and Biggs stood at the side of her bed, the surprise evident on their faces as she spoke.

Alec was instantly by her side, enveloping her hand in his larger one, "Hey, Maxie. How are you doing?"

Max studied Alec for a moment before snatching her hand back, "Don't call me that," she snapped, glaring at Alec, "Did you know?" she asked in a deceptively soft voice, "Did you know I was the carrier?" she repeated, hoping that he would say no. Hoping that he had not deceived her yet another time.

Alec stilled as he realised that Max had heard what the doctor said. Expelling a heavy sigh, he nodded wordlessly. He really did not want her to find out this way, especially considering the state she was in. But he supposed it could not be helped now.

"And you didn't tell me!" Max choked out, staring at Alec incredulously. She could not believe that Alec knew about the virus and chose not to tell her about it. As if he needed another lie to add to all of those he had been feeding her.

Dr Shankar decided to interrupt. She did not know what was going on but all that stress was definitely not good for her patient, "Max, you need to rest. Save it for later,"

Max ignored her, her flashing eyes still pinned on Alec. She could see Biggs out of the corner of her eyes, but she just did not have enough energy to focus on more than one thing at a time. She pushed herself up into a sitting position. Shouting at Alec while lying down did not seem as effective.

"Tell me, Alec. Just for once, tell me the TRUTH! I am sick of your lies!" she ranted angrily at the still silent Alec.

Knowing that she would be no help in there, Dr Shankar decided to leave them to their own devices. She had a feeling that they would not appreciate an audience at the moment. She said softly, "Call me if you need me, alright," then turned to walk out of the room, shutting the door with a soft click behind her.

"Max…" Alec started, then paused, unsure how he should continue. He ran his hand through his hair in a show of frustration. He knew that this time, he should just come right out and be completely honest with her. All the lies were killing him.

"Why didn't you tell me!" she went on furiously, staring accusingly at him as if he had committed yet another unforgivable sin.

"I didn't tell you because I knew how much you would dislike going back to Manticore. And the only way Logan would have been saved was that for me to bring him back there with you," he explained, not wanting to add that he could not bear the thought of her being reassigned to another breeding partner since in Renfro's eyes he had failed so miserably to produce a result from their copulation.

"It could have saved his life, you jerk!" Max ranted, punching the bed in frustration. She could not believe that Alec knew about the virus and chose not to save Logan. She could not believe he just let another human die just because Manticore told him to do so. She should have known; he was born and bred a Manticore assassin. So why was she so disappointed?

"It was the only thing I could do, Max," he tried to justify himself, trying to keep his calm when all he wanted to do was yell back at Max for shouting at him even before she heard his side of the story. The tone of her voice was beginning to irk him. She did not seem to hear what he was saying, just what she wanted to hear. And all she wanted to hear was nothing good about him.

"If Manticore just wanted information from him, he did not need to die. But you let it happen," Max insisted stubbornly.

Alec had enough of being blamed for everything that went wrong in the last month or so. Especially after the pain he had gone through torturing himself with thought of her and the damned trip to psy-ops. Manticore blamed him for failing to impregnate Max and for not bringing her back. Max blamed him for pretending to be Ben and Logan's death. Heck, why don't everyone just blame him for even existing?

Annoyed now at all the blame Max heaped on him, Alec retorted heatedly, "Don't be so naïve, Max. Logan's Eyes Only. He was trying to bring Manticore down. Manticore would have tortured him to death anyway if we brought him back. What else did you think they wanted him for? They were trying to stop his bloody crusade. Is that what you want? For him to die painfully? And for you to lose your precious freedom again into the bargain?"

Unperturbed by Alec's mounting anger, Max went on, "I could have made a choice if you told me! I could have avoided touching him. We could have saved his life! Instead, you let me kill him,"

"I didn't KNOW Logan was Eyes Only. You wanted me to tell you everything, but look at yourself. You never told me he was Eyes Only," Alec shot back angrily. He did not want to argue with her, but he could not just stand there while she verbally attacked him, especially when he had a good reason for doing what he did. But apparently those reasons were not good enough for her.

"How am I supposed to know that you were part of Manticore's plan? You didn't bother telling me about it either. Exactly like the way you conveniently avoided telling me you were NOT BEN!" she yelled.

"Hey, guys…" Biggs tried to interrupt. He realised that the argument was beginning to get out of hand. These two needed to talk to each other, not have a shouting match in the middle of a hospital room. And definitely not with an audience, especially him. He looked back and forth between Alec and Max, at a lost as to how to stop them.

Ignoring Biggs, Alec continued, "So we are back to that again, huh! So what if you knew I am not Ben? Would you treat me any differently?"

"YES!" Max shouted emphatically, swinging her legs off the bed. She shook her head to clear it as a wave of dizziness hit her at the sudden movement.

"So if I AM Ben, then you'll treat me like what you did? That's how you treat a brother, right?" Alec taunted sarcastically.

"Shut up, Alec!" Max said, reddening as she realised what he meant. He was saying that sleeping with him while thinking he was Ben was a very un-sibling-like behaviour.

"HEY! Snap out of it, you two!" Biggs finally yelled, pulling Alec away from Max before the argument became physical. Renfro did say that she wanted Max back intact, he thought wryly.

Breathing heavily, Max and Alec continued glaring murderously at each other.

Biggs cleared his throat, "Well, much as I enjoyed that verbal war, I think we have a bigger problem here,"

Max turned to Biggs, finally remembering why he was there, "And you! Which part of this sick Manticore game are you taking part in?"

"Hey, don't take it out on me! I am just doing my job," Biggs said, holding up his hands up in defence.

"You guys are sick, you know that," Max spat in disgust.

"Would you stop with the insults? Just hear us out for a minute, will you," Biggs said sharply.

"Why should I?"

"Because otherwise you will end up a vegetable!"

"Huh?" Alec's words made Max pause, "What do you mean?" she asked warily.

"You are not just a carrier. Renfro did something to the retro-virus in you. Made it mutate so that it attacks your muscular tissue and nerves, making you weak so that Manticore would eventually capture you. You will get worse unless you go back and get yourself fixed," Alec explained, dreading her reaction to this.

"You got to be kidding," Max said faintly, feeling slightly nauseous. Was there no end to Manticore's manipulation of her life?

"No, Max. Much as I hate to say it, it's true. Renfro told me," Biggs confirmed.

"I would rather die than go back there," Max snarled

"That's the thing, it's not fatal. You'll just grow weaker and weaker till you couldn't move. That's why you need to go back," Biggs explained, hoping to get it through to her.

"I can't believe I am hearing this," Max shook her head slowly, finally comprehending how serious her condition was. If she did not go back to Manticore now, sooner or later Manticore would get to her considering how weak she was.

"Well, whatever it is, we need to bring you back soon before you get worse," Biggs told her.

Max sighed. She admitted that it seemed that going back to Manticore was the only option she had, unless she wanted to end up a vegetable, as Alec so kindly put it.

Biggs and Alec waited until Max nodded before they exhaled in relief. They could have just dragged her back irregardless of her wishes, but it would make things easier if they had her agreement.

Biggs walked to the door, throwing his words over his shoulders, "Come on, we've got to get ourselves some wheels,"


In a Stolen Car

Max laid down in the backseat of the car while Biggs and Alec sat in front. Biggs was driving; his eyes occasionally wandered to his friend who had remained silent since they climbed into the stolen car. Alec was staring unseeingly straight ahead, his mind full of something Biggs wasn't privy to.

As he spotted a familiar road, Alec signalled for Biggs to stop. Biggs turned a questioning eye to Alec but did as he was asked.

Alec jumped out as the car pulled to a halt by the roadside, "Wait here. I'll be back in a while," he said, already starting to walk off.

Biggs leaned out of the window, "Hey, where are you heading to?" he asked, worried that his friend may do something stupid.

Alec stopped at Biggs's question. Without looking back, he said quietly, "I need to do something. It's time to fix what went wrong the last time,"

Biggs watched as Alec resumed his steps, losing sight of him as he rounded a corner.

In the backseat, Max stirred, "Where are we?" she asked, pushing herself up.

Biggs glanced back towards her, noticing her pallor, "Take it easy, will you. We are still in Seattle; haven't gone very far," he answered.

Max managed a sneer, "Well, I would have thought that you would be in more of a rush to deliver me to Renfro. Where's Alec anyway?" she asked, telling herself that she was not bothered that Alec had left her alone with Biggs. Why would he care anyway? She thought to herself, not liking the feeling of disappointment which came with that thought.

"He went off to do something. Didn't tell me what though,"

Max snorted, "Tell me something new,"

Irritated at hearing the tone of her voice, Biggs turned back fully to face Max, his eyes flashing, "You know, Max. You should give the guy a break. Nothing that happened was his fault,"

"Sure you'll say that. You are all buddy-buddy with him, aren't you," Max mocked, rolling her eyes. She tried to push herself up, but with not much luck. She let herself slump back down on the seat, too tired to force herself up.

"That doesn't mean that I can't think straight. Him, on the other hand, is another matter," Biggs said, shaking his head with a resigned expression on his face.

"What do you mean?" Max questioned, unsure how she should take Biggs words.

Biggs pinned her with his gaze, "Ever since he knew you, he had been thinking with his heart, not with his brain. So if you want to blame someone, blame yourself,"

Max fell silent.


Manticore

Alec and Biggs had brought her back to Manticore that morning, practically carrying her all the way from the car; she was that weak. Max refused to feel scared as she waited in the white-washed room for someone to turn up. She was lying down on the table; they did not even bother to restrain her considering her weakened physical state.

The door swung open and Renfro stepped in, alone. Max could see the evil gleam in her eyes as the older woman gave her a decidedly snakish smile. Max returned her smile with a defiant glare.

"Well, well, well… Look what we've got here. The elusive 452," Renfro chuckled.

"Oh, piss-off," Max snapped grumpily.

"I see you have settled in well, 452. Enjoyed your brief taste of freedom?" Renfro asked, still smiling.

Max bared her teeth, "What the hell do you want from me, you bitch?"

"Tsk…tsk…452, such language. I thought we have taught you better than that," Renfro admonished.

"Manticore did not teach me anything worth learning,"

"It's a matter of opinion, surely you know that. You belong to Manticore, much to our joy. And we have big plans for you,"

"Cut the crap, Renfro and get to the point. What do you want from me?

"We want just you,"

"What for?"

"You will find out when the time comes," Renfro replied cryptically.

Max snorted, "Ever occurred to you that you would waste less time if you would just spit out what you think than to sprout all sorts of meaningless crap?"

"I am just enjoying our little chit-chat, 452. I…" Renfro paused as a knock on the door caught her attention, "Come in," Renfro called out.

The door opened to admit a lab tech, standing nervously holding a clipboard and some lab apparatuses, "Ma'am, I was told to bring these here," he stammered.

"Leave it. Where's Doctor Simms?" she barked

"He's on his way," the lab tech replied, putting the stuff down on the table across the room from Max. He walked hurriedly back to the door, eager to get away from Renfro.

Renfro nodded. Dismissing him, she turned back to Max, "Well, we will find out soon enough how useful you will be to us," she told Max in an ominous voice.

Max just stared at her wordlessly, not trusting herself to speak lest she betrayed how nervous she felt. She watched Renfro as the woman walked out of the room, wondering what they had in store for her.


Alec's Manticore Cell

Alec had thought hard about what he was about to do. He knew it would be dangerous, but it needed to be done. He also knew that he could not possibly pull it off alone. He needed a helping hand, or two. The more the better.

He needed Biggs's help.


Renfro's Office

Dr Simms flinched as Renfro slammed down the file he had just passed on to her minutes ago. He knew that that look on her face did not bode well for him. Renfro was simply furious. And currently, her fury was directed at him. That was the last thing he wanted.

"What is the meaning of this!" she bit out, her angry eyes boring into the man's nervous ones.

"T-the test results are inconclusive. W-we think that it may be due to the mutated virus messing up her system, after all, the virus was DNA targeted," he stammered.

"Dr Simms, I need to know her DNA make up. Her actual DNA make up. And you are going to get it for me," she snapped, pointing a finger at him for emphasis.

"Y-yes, ma'am, but…" he hesitated.

"What?" Renfro barked impatiently.

"You instructed us not to cure her of the virus. But to get an accurate information on her DNA, we would need to remove it. To neutralise the virus," Dr Simms explained

Renfro took a minute to digest his words. She had told them not to cure the virus because that meant that 452 remained easy to handle. And anyway, if her DNA make-up was what they thought it was, 452 would no longer need to operate as an active unit. Her purpose would be different. She would be the one they had been looking for.

Her life would be used to serve a greater purpose.

Renfro made her decision, "Go ahead and remove the virus. And bring me the results of the test the minute you get them. Go now,"

Dr Simms nodded, relieved to be dismissed.


Biggs's Manticore Cell

Alec stood outside Biggs's cell with a guard who was looking expectantly at him. As he fished out a small packet from his pocket, the guard's face brightened. Taking the packet from Alec, he unlocked Biggs's door, allowing Alec access.

Biggs looked up as Alec stepped in, a questioning look on his face, "What's up, man," he asked, curious as to what his friend wanted so late at night.

"I need your help to figure something out," Alec replied, sitting down beside Biggs.

Biggs's face scrunched, confused, "Figure what out?"

"How to get away again," Alec stated rather blandly.

"What?" Biggs stared at Alec incredulously. He could not believe what had just come out of his friend's mouth, "You are not thinking of escaping, are you," he asked warily. Maybe Alec was talking about something else, he thought hopefully.

"I don't think I can take it anymore after all this," Alec admitted with a sigh, thinking of Max, psy-ops, Renfro and what he remembered recently of his failed mission involving Rachel.

"So you want to escape?" Biggs asked, surprised.

Alec nodded, "Along with Max, if she trust me enough after everything,"

Biggs took in the sad look on Alec's face, "You know it's not your fault, right. Manticore had been manipulating all of us since day one,"

Alec let out a heavy breath, "Yeah, I know it in here," he tapped the side of his head, "But the look on Max's face when she found out I lied to her. It kills me, you know,"

Biggs laid a hand on Alec's shoulder, trying to comfort him.

Alec stood up abruptly. Grabbing Biggs's arm, he said, "Let's go,"

"Huh?" Biggs cast another questioning look at Alec

"We are going to pay Max a visit,"


t.b.c

A/N: So how do you like it so far? I guess it's pretty obvious where everything is heading -:sigh:- We are almost at the end of this story now. Please review and let me know your thoughts!