Title: Just the Truth

Author: Athena

Rating: PG-13

Show: Dark Angel

Genre: Drama/Action/Romance

Pairing: M/A

Summary: Max, Alec & Logan realize some things about each other. And someone reacts very, very bad.

Author's Comments: It's my first fic, I hope you like it... (:D)

Chapter 6: Gettin' Burned

Why does he always have to fight my decisions? Max thought. Urghh, I want to kick his ass so bad!

A really nice ass, by the way, a little voice said inside her head… Whoa… where this came from? I can't think of Alec like that. He's my friend, my brother.

He's not your brother, and you know it…, the little voice said again. "Shut up!"

Everybody gave her a strange look. She must have said it aloud. Shit

"Well, I think the meeting is over. Alec and Zully, go with Kary and give her the good news", she said, trying not to look at him, but she couldn't. He was giving her an odd look, like if something was wrong with her. She felt the temperature of her body rising while he was looking at her. She gave him an appreciating look. Damned, does he always look this good? Why did I never realize that?

She felt the urge to hold him, to kiss him, to lick him, to fu… Max stop! She screamed for herself. Damn it, I must be in heat. But, my heat mustn't start until next week! This mustn't be happening. I need to get out of here NOW

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Are you sure? I mean, about the infirmary thing?" Alec was waiting for Max's typical attitude. But he didn't get what he expected. Something was out of place, but he couldn't say what.

"Yeah. Anyone has a problem with that?"He got a little bit of defensiveness from Max, but he could sense something different in the air.

He saw her and he noticed how her sweat made a trail from the base of her head to her neckline. She irradiated some kind of smell, a mixture between vanilla and spicy, completely intoxicating.

He saw her looking at him, like if she was really look at him, appreciating his looks, his body. He could see desire in her eyes, like if she wanted him. He felt his temperature raising; he must be almost reaching the boiling point.

It took him several seconds to understand what was happening. Dammit, Max is in Heat

He needed to get out if he didn't want to something he will regret later. Immediately.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Three hours earlier…

Dix was checking out the TC system, when he noticed something odd. Apparently, the surveillance camera at Max's office was turned on. He checked, and put the camera signal on the main monitors at TC headquarters. He clearly saw Max in her office, apparently immerse in deep thought.

"It can't be. I programmed myself this camera and the one at Alec's office to be always off." He said in a low voice, just for himself. It means only one thing, and Dix knew it. Someone had hacked TC systems. And it was someone who knew what he was doing. He didn't even leave a trace. Dix could only think of one non-transgenic person with the skills to do this, but he couldn't believe it. He didn't want to. This ordinary had helped them a lot before, besides he didn't have a reason, did he?

Well, maybe he does Dix knew that things between him and Max weren't ok, but on the other hand, he didn't think Logan was that type of guy. Naah, Logan isn't capable of this shit

He sized his options and he could only find one. It would sound extreme, but he knew their security was at stake. The next time this unknown hacker will try to infiltrate their system, he will find an unpleasant surprised left for him.

He checked his watch… Good. He had plenty of time before the meeting. He probably even had time to implement his "gift" before telling the committee about this problem… Yeah, it's a good challenge. Dix thought, smiling for himself, while he started to work at transgenic speed.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Just before Alec and Zully left the meeting room, Dix started to talk. "Hey, guys, wait a minute, I have something to tell you"

Max looked at him harshly. "I told you the meeting is over. You had your opportunity, Dix"

Dix continued talking, "This is nothing to do with the trial, Max. It's about our security. I found out this morning that someone hacked our surveillance system. And it was good job, I must say. I wasn't able to find the source."

"How did you find out?" Alec said with an odd voice. Something isn't right, but I can't say what Dix thought. Mole cleared his throat, signing him to continue. "Oh, yeah. Do you remember when we re-implemented the surveillance cameras we found inside the compound?" Everybody nodded. He turned to Alec. "So you must remember that you and Max asked me to keep turn off the cameras at your offices." Alec and Max nodded, too hard for his taste, but he ignored that. "Well, I found this morning that the camera at Max's office was turned on"

"But that can be done by one of your guys, right Dix?" Zully said, speaking for the first time. "No, they can't. Only me. And I know I didn't do it."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Alec was trying not to cut Dix into pieces for being near to Max. He knew Max was in heat and it was driving him crazy. It took all his strength to remain aware of the current situation. He was in the middle of a meeting with all the transgenics representatives, for God's sake! And he could only think about take Max's clothes off.

Why on earth Max let this happen? The mere thought that she did on purpose, as ridiculous as it could sound in other circumstances, excited him so much that it was really hard to pay attention to whatever Dix was saying.

He just heard Max saying something like "Ok Dix, let see it", or something like that. The next thing he knew, he was taken out of the room by Zully. "Come on, Alec, we need to go to see Kary!"

While he and Zully were walking to Kary's cell, Alec was having a hard time fighting against his instincts. His body wasn't reacting the way he wanted. Hell, his mind wasn't working as usual. His two halves, the human and the feline, were struggling inside of him, he knew it. He wasn't even listening to what Zully was saying; he was just trying to ignore the pheromones trail that was driving him mad. His rational mind told him to do what he knew he had to do, to avoid Max, that he will regret anything that happen, but the feline in him didn't want to give up. And in every step he took, he could sense that his cat part was winning.

But it was more that Alec could handle. He couldn't stay away from the call of nature. The animal on him was stronger; his human side was fading away every second it passed.

And after all the fighting, the cat finally won.

He sniffed the air, looking for the origin of the pheromones; totally oblivious to Zully and the task assigned to them. He turned back, and started running in the opposite direction, headed to TC headquarters. He didn't even hear Zully screaming, calling him to go back.

All he wanted was to find the female in heat, to find Max. All his senses were conditioned to follow Max's trail, to feel her even when she wasn't near to him. His mating instincts took charge.

He suddenly stopped, he knew she wasn't far away, even when he couldn't see her, but he could still sense her. A growl was formed in his throat. She wasn't alone. He had competition.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Max was looking hotter each moment, like she was in a sauna place or something like that. It must be the hot weather we're having in Seattle these days, Dix thought. But the moment Max, Dix and Mole arrived to TC headquarters, Dix sensed that something was wrong, but he couldn't place what. The X5's who was on duty that day, immediately paid attention to Max. They usually don't do that. But well, nothing interesting has happened lately

They approached Dix's workstation, and Dix started to explain Max and Mole about the stuff he discovered some hours ago. But Max was completely absent, like she was daydreaming or something. "Max, are you ok?" She didn't answer him, just stared at him with an expression between confusion and… hunger? Now, Dix was worried. "Max, are you ok?" He asked again. When he got nothing as response, he thought about taking her to the infirmary, but then, he saw them. Four X5s were approaching them by their left slowly, like a cat prowling its prey. And that was when Dix knew what was happening. Shit, Max is in heat. Why I didn't notice before? Oh my god!

He looked at Mole and he saw he noticed that too. "This isn't good, Mole", he whispered. "We need to put a distance between us and Max fast, or they're goin' to tear us to pieces." Mole looked at him, with his trademark cigar almost falling out of his mouth. Things didn't look really well for them. "I know, I know. But we need to do it carefully. If they see us as a threat, we'll be totally screwed; you know that we're no match for a bunch of heat-driven X5 males."

The X5s were getting closer and closer. They tried to go back, putting Max between them and the males. But then, they saw three more coming from their back. They were now totally surrounded. "Dammit, Mole, you're the fighter here! I'm just a computer geek! If we go out of this, I promise I will buy all the cigars you want, but do something! "

The four on the front were advancing as one, but when one of them attempt to reach Max, the others attacked him fiery. That was their opportunity. Without glancing behind, and completely avoiding Max path, so the other three guys didn't attacked them, they quickly jumped the little fence between the surveillance area and the main area of the headquarters; they almost reached the main door when it suddenly opened. It was Alec.

"Alec, thanks God…" Dix started to say, approaching him causally, when he saw his aggressive expression and the terror completely petrified him. One thing was seeing the other X5s transformed in dangerous beasts, but it was completely different seeing his buddy Alec growling and sniffing the air like a wild animal. Mole had to tackle him to the ground because he couldn't move. He was truly terrified.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

They tried to escape, but the scene in front of them was mesmerizing. They couldn't leave, feeling between terrified and amazed. Alec was fighting with the X5's, and Max was watching the whole thing with excitement, like if she was having delight with all the testosterone demonstration.

Even when this behavior was so unlike Max, what it got most their attention was Alec. They had never saw Alec fighting like that, with that passion and aggressiveness. He looked like a big jungle cat, attacking his prey without mercy. It was weird to see him so primitive, with that furious glint on his hazel eyes, growling and biting his opponents. He was beating all the X5's, one by one; Mole was shocked. He had fought with him side by side a lot of times in life-threaten situations, but he never saw that kind of ferocity on him. The others were fully trained Manticore soldiers; X5's looking for the same goal, Max, but he had no problem taking them down. Mole just wished he hadn't killed any of them, because he knew Alec couldn't live with that after all this mess finished.

Mole's train of thought stopped when a big bang was heard. The last X5 fall to the floor. Alec had won.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Logan was trying to find an excuse to call TC, but he couldn't find any. He was desperate to know of Max. He had give her some time to clear her mind after what he saw, but now, he wanted to set things straight with her.

She will never be happy without him. She needs him, like he needs her. We're meant to be together, no matter what that sociopath told her

He paged her, but he got no answer from Max. He almost called Alec, but he discarded the idea in a heartbeat. He didn't want to give that transgenic scum any basis for his lies. He called OC and nothing. So his only option was calling TC, but he knew they didn't want him very much.

He started the link to TC videophone, expecting to see Dix, or Luke. But the first thing he saw took all the words from his mouth. Holy shit. What the hell is happening?

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Max was thrilled with whatshe was seeing: 7 transgenic males fighting for her. Mhh, and all of them are delicious. A purr of excitement formed in his throat. But when seconds, minutes passed, and any of them had beaten the others, she started to get desperate a little. Well, "a little" was an overstatement. She was totally desperate. She needed a male NOW. Nasty thoughts started to cross her mind. Mmmh, maybe not just one. Why can't I have two or three? Or all of them? Even when her instincts told her to wait for the last man standing, her need was getting bigger and bigger each moment. I don't need to wait for a winner, who say so? She was about to make her move, when someone blurred in front of her and started to beat the other X5's, one by one. She was delighted with the sight of this gorgeous X5, his hard muscles rippling through his clothes, his hazel eyes showing aggression and power. Her mind was so clouded with the heat that she didn't recognized him. All she wanted was to touch him; she was completely turned on with his demonstration. But she also wanted to see him fight a little more; she wanted to see him beat them all because of her. She waited until all his competition was out of combat, until the last X5 fall to the ground unconscious. And then she smiled seductively. Now, he is mine

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

When he saw her smiling at him in that seductive way, he knew she was more than willing to give him his prize. He smiled back. Now, she is mine

He blurred and takes her in his arms with possessiveness, letting her know who was in charge. He kissed her with passion, with all the fire that was consuming him. It was primitive, rough, wild. He turned on more with her response, as primitive, rough and wild as his. He needed to see her, to touch her, to feel her as his. Let the world know that she was his, that he had won her.

He ripped her top tank, and she did the same with his shirt. They were so into their passion, that they didn't see Logan's horrified face on Dix's computer screen.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

When Dix and Mole saw what was happening, they knew they had to do something fast, if they didn't want to see their friends having sex in front of them. "But what can we do? Alec is gonna kill us without a thought if we try to do something to separate them."

"I know, I know, Dix" Mole said, with a worried expression. "Wait, wait, I have an idea, I just hope it works"

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Max! Max! What the hell are you doing?" Logan was screaming, trying to got Max's attention, unsuccessfully. This can't be happening!

An almost naked Max was kissing (and maybe more than that) an almost naked Alec, with a passion he never saw before, not even in X-rated movies. He watched the whole thing, feeling helpless, because they didn't seem to even think about stop there. He closed his eyes, afraid of what he was seeing.

This must be a nightmare. A really bad one. Yeah, I fall sleep and I'm having a nightmare. I'm dreaming. Nothing is happening. Nothing is happening. Nothing is happening. Nothing is happening. Nothing is happening. …. He kept repeating in his mind, like if he was praying for vanishing the image on his screen.

He didn't see when Mole and Dix knocked them out with a pair of tazers and dragged them out of his sight.

tbc...

o – o – o – o - o – o – o – o

A/N: what do you think is gonna happen? Tell me! I'm open to suggestions (:D)

o – o – o – o - o – o – o – o

Tks a lot to the people who review this story, specially when I kinda quit like 6 months (yeah, a long time)… Now, I'm trying to continue it (this is the second chapter after my sudden disappearance) but it's been hard. So, your support it's only thing that keep me writing… btw, I promise I'll be more constant. ;)

So, tks to:

Diamond Princess

SecretlyBeautiful

Ting

Jamie's Spawn

dokushoka79

Jade-k

Doza

Loisen

all your questions will be answer soon… I hope, hehe (nervous laugh)… just be patient, please…