Chapter 8

Manticore

"What was your mission?" the bark came.

"To terminate Robert Berrisford, sir," Alec said doing his best not to flinch as a trickle of blood slipped past the corner of his eye.

"An order you failed to carry out."

Alec watched Sandoval nod to someone behind him, and the man disappeared from view. His commanding officer approached him with steel calm. "Understand 494, we can't abide anything but perfect execution of our orders. We expect nothing less from any of our soldiers. What is the punishment for disobeying orders?"

Swallowing discreetly, Alec tried his tongue but it wouldn't function. Like many other occasions in his short life, his body was failing him, just as his genetics had landed him in Psy-Ops for intensive testing and observation after they discovered his twin had gone nuts on the outside. When he failed to answer his superior, he was abruptly shocked with electrical currents. The tasers touched the soles of his bare feet and he instinctively arched away from the tips. He grit his teeth and clenched his fists, beads of sweat trickling down his neck.

"I'll ask you one last time, soldier. What were your orders?"

"To- terminate Robert Berris-" his tongue refused to form the words. It felt thick and coarse, constantly sticking to the roof of his mouth.

His slack response only further infuriated Sandoval. The technician hovering near his left arm tightened the restraints on his wrists and wheeled over a piece of apparatus Alec was closely familiar with. Anyone who failed in the field knew what it was. Part of the re-indoctrination procedure was a laser companied by hours of mind numbing imagery designed to plague your conscious mind into submission. Till you no longer cared about what they wanted, you would do anything just to make them stop. Your body would submit to their will because on a subconscious level they knew that your body's first instinct was to survive.

As a guard pushed his head back against the table, Alec didn't struggle. If he resisted, it would only prolong the exercise. Someone put leather strap over his mouth, and at first he almost thought he would endure their torture and be nothing, if not a little sore for it.

He was optimistic until the footage began. He watched as Rachel raced out of the house and went to the car. Then the explosion engulfed the car in flames. His heart thundered in his chest, and he couldn't stop the scream from escaping his lips.

"Rachel!"

Tasers connected with his chest and if it weren't for the restraint holding his head, the eye speculum would have torn his lids out as his muscles tensed against the shocks.

Over and over they forced him to watch the same footage until he no longer felt the current coursing through his body. But every time a tear slipped down his face, they rewarded him with another shock. He watched that car blow up until his unblinking gaze became a cloudy fog. He couldn’t see her clearly, all he could hear was the sound of the explosion and her voice.

"Daddy?"

"Rachel."

He didn't even know if he said it aloud anymore. It was an automated response. It sounded distant and hoarse. He didn't know why he couldn't stop saying it. They wouldn't give this up until he did, so why couldn't he?

Another shock rippled over his skin and then darkness overtook him. When he woke up, the projector was gone. He was tired and sore, every inch of his body ached and he realized that he was still in the lab, and that he still couldn't close his eyes.

"Even an X series has its limits, X5-494. Your body has the same needs as mine. Air, water, food, blood..."

The taunting voice faded and Alec thought they might actually be giving it a rest of the day, but a second later ice water rained down on his tender flesh and he bit his lip to keep from crying out. If he'd learned anything from his upbringing it was that weakness only brought more pain. His body shuddered involuntarily, as after effects of the sensation rippled through his overworked nerves.

A cruel laugh prickled his ears and he closed his eyes. Gloved hands removed the speculum and his lids fell closed. His eyes felt gritty and painfully dry. He blinked forcefully several times, making a conscious effort because his lids felt incredibly heavy and stiff.

"I have a question for you?"

Not again Alec pleaded silently. 'Anything you want, I'll do anything just leave me alone' Nobody removed the brace holding his head so he could only turn a fraction to try and see where Sandoval was standing.

"What does she mean to you?"

They wheeled Max into his line of sight and Alec felt his body's strength return in a flash flood.

"Yes, 494 do tell. What does she mean to you? Friend, partner, or lover perhaps?"

White's face bent over his and Alec felt true fear stir in his chest. He watched in powerless horror as White lifted a gun and pointed it at Max.

"Any last words?"


Max's Apartment, Terminal City

Alec jackknifed in the bed, his hands trembling and his skin bathed in a cold sweat. The sheet pooled about his waist and it took him a minute to take in his surroundings. It was just a dream. Well part of it anyway. For the most part it was almost as though he was back at Manticore. It played out exactly as it had when they'd taken him back after that failed mission. The last part however wasn't real... but White's voice. Having heard it not more than an hour ago was doing sick things to his gut. Icy fingers curled around his heartsqueezing all the warmth from his body. He looked over his shoulder at the sleeping form next to him. Max was safe, and White was under guard in the brig. He'd never touch her again.

A loud knocking pounded on the door, and Alec froze.

"Hey Max, you in there?" Mole hollered.

Max sat up and quickly scrambled to the edge of the bed. "Yeah, hold up a sec." She ran a hand through her hair and adjusted her robe. She scanned the floor thinking of what to do next and feeling Alec's eyes on her back, she felt her cheeks flush. 'Clothes Max. Clothes would be good right now.' Pulling on a freshpair of underwear, she searched through her trunk from something to put on.

Alec watched her dress at super human speed and disappear out of the room before he could even reach for the towel. He heard her talking to Mole and decided to wait till the transhuman was gone before making an appearance.

Closing the door Max walked back into the bedroom. Alec had dressed with what was left of his clothes and she groaned in embarrassment when she noticed the state of his shirt that was lying across the foot of the bed. "Sorry about that."

"That thing, nah didn't like it that much anyway."

He grinned but Max could tell he was lying, even she liked the shirt. She would have to get him a new one. "They need us in HQ. Apparently there's an outbreak in Washington. The CDC already all over it, and it doesn't look good."

"It's started." Alec pulled on his denim jacket and buttoned it to the neck. It wouldn't be the trendiest look he'd tried but it would serve under the circumstances. Once they were done at HQ maybe he could see if his apartment was the way he'd left it. He wasn't holding his breath with the way things went walkabout around Terminal City but it was worth being optimistic.


On the way to HQ

Max slowed mid-stride and cast a sideways glance at Alec. "You know I picked out names for the kids, but since we're supposed do this thing together, I guess..."

"This has to be the first time you've ever asked me for my opinion on anything. I didn't even get to pick my own name." Alec chuckled happy at the distraction she was providing from the dark memories his dream had provoked.

Max narrowed her eyes at him and elbowed him in the ribs. "If you'd rather I just settle this myself, I will you know."

Alec held up his hands and smiled. "No, I'm truly honored that you've decided to include me on this. What you got?"

"I like Jesse and Tia."

Alec stopped walking. "Tia's nice but Jesse?" He gave her a skeptical look. "Sounds kinda wussy don't you think?"

"Our son will not be a wuss, and I thought about it a lot. Jesse's nice."

Alec rolled his eyes, and shook his head. "If nice is what you're after..." Whether he agreed or not she'd pretty much decided already and he probably wasn't going to be able to sway her on it. "Since you're picking the given names, I'm picking the last name."

Max put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?"

Putting his hands in the pockets of his jeans and inclined his head thoughtfully. "Yeah, and I was thinking Brandy, Floyds or Amber, maybe Walker."

Max gave him an incredulous look and continued walking down the hall. "We are not naming our kids after beverages, Alec," she called over her shoulder.

Alec grinned and hurried after her. "But why not? The stuff's great and I think they're pretty cool names. Here booze goes hand in hand with popularity...don't believe me drop by Dumps when we roll in with a full bar."

When they hit the double doors of the Command Centre, Alec was still pleading his case. "Look how 'bout a compromise? Bamber?"

Max paused with her hand on the door. "You'll go with Jesse and Tia if I say okay to Bamber? Your fake ID name?"

"Yeah," Alec offered.

Opening the door, Max pursed her lips in contemplation. He wanted the kids to have his last name. If she didn't know better she'd bet that, that's what he'd been pushing for all along and to make it seem inconspicuous he'd played with outrageous suggestions as usual, in a bid to throw her off. Pushing on the door handle, she turned and gave him a knowing smile. "All right."

At her look, Alec didn't know whether to cheer in triumph or plan a strategic retreat. Her eyes told him that she had made an assessment about something, and the sparkle he saw in those rich, honey-brown eyes made him swallow consciously. What had he said?

"About time," Biggs snorted as they entered HQ. "Much longer and I would have sent out a search party."

"Very funny," Max quipped with a fake smile. "What have we got?"

Logan swiveled in his chair and pointed the remote at bank of monitors Luke had set up overhead the Command Centre. The biggest screen changed from the surveillance of the street outside the railway yard and showed Channel 3 News footage.

"An hour ago, both the Pentagon and the White House were put into lockdown after an unidentified agent put over thirty people into a critical condition. Since then there have been than twenty-six more cases confirmed and the number keeps rising. The CDC has yet to release news on the source of the agent but are urging people to remain calm, keep indoors and to stay away from public and crowded areas.

We go live now to Washington where Senator Allan is holding an emergency press conference."

"As you all know, the White House has been quarantined, not only for the safety of those inside, but also for the protection of you, the general public. At this time the CDC is still uncertain as to what has caused the incident that lead to the crisis but they are using every resource available. Until such time as they resolve the source of the contaminant, they are advising everyone to stay in their homes."

"Senator, how is the President?"

"Unfortunately I can't comment on his situation at this time..."

"With respect, Senator, the people have a right to know if he's alive."

The Senator looked uncomfortable, and more questions were thrown at her when she failed to address the reporter's question immediately. She looked down at the podium for a moment, and an advisor stepped to her side and whispered in her ear.

Lifting her head, she looked directly at the Channel 3 camera. "The Secret Service confirms that the President is being treated and is in a stable condition. That is all."

More questions were fired at her retreating figure.

"This is Trevor Harris reporting for Channel 3 News and we'll bring you live updates as we receive them."

Logan switched the monitor to another channel.

"...Senator McKinley, it's my understanding that you have a theory as to the origin of the crisis that has hit our defense and political center."

"You would be correct there Ms Cane. We have known for some time that the transgenics pose a threat to us. Although many do not understand to what extent they can endanger us. I have been provided with evidence that they were designed to be carriers of various bio-warfare agents, themselves immune while releasing their viruses on the helpless and unsuspecting public. The CDC is aware of this information and is gathering transgenics in Washington D.C. as we speak. I urge law enforcement in other capital cities to do the same. And again I remind you, the general population, not to approach these...these transhumans. They are dangerous, highly trained, disease carrying time bombs. Leave their arrests to the officers in charge."

When Logan changed the feedback to the surveillance of the street outside Terminal City they could see that a crowd was already gathering outside the gates. The police outside were doing their best to hold back rioters and soon the roar in HQ matched the sound of the crowd outside.

"Quiet." Biggs managed to stand up on the railing and yell above the angry group in HQ. "Keep your heads on straight. They're not on us, and we've have kept our end of the peace bargain. They stay off our turf, and we haven't given them a reason break that agreement."

"Look at that." Mole tilted his shot gun in the direction of the monitor. "You think they're really going to hold them back? They're as freaked as the rest of them. McKinley gave 'em reason enough to burn us to the ground."

"Yeah, he good as said we make the President sick," Dix added bluntly.

"Then we make them see otherwise." Alec jogged up the stairs and stood next to Biggs. "White's cronies are behind this and McKinley's one of them. We expose them and bring this whole thing to an end."

"Oh yeah, and how do you supposed we do that?" Mole didn't have a lot of faith in the X5. He'd bailed on them once before, and even though it looked like Max and Biggs, along with a few of the other Xs were willing to let bygones be bygones, he wasn't known for having a short-term memory or a forgiving streak.

"I think I can help with that." Logan stood up and went to the railing. "This might have started in Washington D.C but I don't think it's going to stay there. If anything, this is going to spread. We need someone on the inside, and that's where we'll start."

Alec nodded in agreement and Biggs gestured to Joshua. "Go get our rat from the brig."

No sooner had Joshua made a move for the door, when flash bombs dropped from the ceiling vents.

The bombs were followed by tear gas, and Max made for the nearest exit. There was only a single thought on her mind. She had to get to her kids.


The brig, earlier

"I'm only interested in one thing." White narrowed his eyes at the transgenic in front of him. "Your friend, I'm sure he can fix it up."

Alec folded his arms across his chest. "Oh yeah, and what does this magnanimous person have to do for you? Give you Ray? 'cause that's not going to happen, we already clarified that-"

"Shut up." That got his attention. They were verbally circling each other and not only was it making his headache worse, it was wasting time. The longer they played the interrogation game the less chance there was that they'd actually be able to beat the Familiars. "When this goes down, and you take on The Conclave, a lot of very important people are going to want to know who your source was. It's going to look bad for me, on both sides of the road. I'll need to disappear, and not without full amnesty for anything they might want to pin on me."

"Anything else?" Alec rolled his eyes and smirked, the guy sure knew how to make a wish list.

"I want it in writing and signed by the President."

Alec laughed, he couldn't help it and even White's cold stare couldn't make him quit. "Want a private jet to go along with that? Maybe a nice beachfront villa on an uncharted island in the Caribbean?"

"Get your friend Eyes Only to fix it up, then we'll talk names."

Pulling out his cell, Alec put in a call to Logan. Still grinning with sarcasm, he leaned against the wall and gave White a long assessing look. "You know, I just might let you walk after this. Just to see how far you get before those friends of yours catch up with your sorry butt."

Logan came in looking disheveled and annoyed. One glance at White had him straightening and backing down though. "Ah, you said I needed to hear something?"

Alec pushed off from the wall and went to lean on White's shoulder. The man buckled under the extra weight and groaned. "Yeah, ol' Ames here wants us to fix him up with sweet deal. A Presidential pardon for everything he knows on The Conclave and their evil plan of galactic domination, or is it just global for now?" He gave White a smirk and ruffled his hair.

White scowled at both men. "Neither of you will be laughing when it actually hits every person you ever cared about. When they start slipping away from you before your eyes and you're helpless to save them... we'll see who's laughing then."

"You're talking about the plague the Familiars are planning." Logan shot a look at Alec, and then stared at White.

"You think that virus Manticore cooked up for you was a nasty piece of work? Mother nature is capable of darkness you can't even begin to imagine."

"I'll put in a call to a friend, but unless you can give us something solid to offer them." Logan looked doubtful for a moment and Alec noticed, although White didn't seem to.

"Give me a pen and paper, and I'll give you a start."

As they left the brig, Alec paused in the hallway. "You think they'll go for it?"

Logan shook his head. "White was booted from the NSA last year. I'll bet he's been working for Senator McKinley. The senator gets wind of this in the White House and anything White says will be useless."

"Can we make him believe he's getting what he wants? There any way we can keep this one the down low?"

"I'll get in touch with my contact and see what we can figure out. Something tells me the clock's way past half time on this."

"And he knows it." Alec slapped Logan on the shoulder. "Thanks Logan, let me know how it pans out."

Logan nodded and headed off for HQ, and Alec turned and left in the opposite direction. He'd left her for over an hour. It had to be getting close to midnight by now. In reality he'd only just found her again. Five months they'd been apart and it seemed like a lifetime. He shoved his hands in his jacket pockets and hurried to the infirmary. They had a lot of talking to do, and knowing Max, she'd use every move in the book to avoid it. Just like old times.

Notes: Please review or comment. X5-459 - was that soon enough? HoneyX5-452 and Somebody's Dark Angel, I'm so glad you two are still with me too. :o) Part of the reason the next part is taking so long is because I'm trying to make it as realistic as possible. Hopefully I'll succeed. I'll try not to keep you guys waiting too long. Thank you so much for sending feedback.