Thanks for all of you who reviewed! You guys made my day!
Iridescent Twilight: hahaha! I don't think Logan will have any unfortunate "accidents" in the story. Hahaha! But I do agree with you on the whole "stalker" thing. I've got a little of example of that here in this chapter. Hehehe…
Doza: This is sorta Alternate Reality…Max and Logan never met because Max never escaped back in '09. At least, in my story. So yeah, I guess it takes some time to get used to. And don't worry, this is totally M/A.
RavynJensen: M/A all the way…hehehe…:-)
Tap Dancing Widow: I forgot how vampires can't get into someone's house without getting invited in. Hmm…how can I forget about that? Anyways, let's just say that Spike got invited in. Hehehe…:-)
And thanks to everyone else: lakergirl08, bob, Lynn-50670, screaminheathen69, kim, ElizabethV, Sequoia, Mari, and Jessika.
NOW ON WITH THE FIC!
Fire and Blood
By: human28
Chapter Six
The med-tech's current hideaway was a dingy motel thirty minutes away from Foggle Towers, and the technician, a balding thirty-something year old man, was packing his things by the time the four of them arrived. Without much as a nod of acknowledgement, the med-tech went straight to business. He pulled up a chair and motioned for Spike to take his seat. The vampire did as told.
"I can disarm it," the tech said after a brief examination. "But it will cost you five grand."
"No problem," Spike said with a smirk, pulling out a wad of money from his pocket.
"Where the hell did you get that kind of money?" Buffy demanded, hands on her hips.
"Curiosity killed the cat, love." Spike winked at her before gesturing at the tech to do his thing.
After three seconds of holding their breath (except for Spike who did not breathe), the tech pulled out the micro-explosive from his brainstem and held it at arms-length, allowing the group to take a good look at it. "Well that's about it." He tossed it at a nearby trash can, and picked up his suitcase. "Sayonara, folks."
"Wait, what about that thing," Buffy pointed at the can. "Won't it explode?"
The tech rolled his eyes. "Oh it will explode. But it's a micro-explosive. It'll be nothing more than a small 'pop'." He grinned mirthlessly. "Of course, that small 'pop' would've been enough to make his head," he pointed at Spike. "Go boom."
"Alright, alright. We get the picture," Faith said with a wince. "Now let's get outta here."
…
"Alec!"
He spun around at the sound of Max's voice. She was scowling at him, hands on her hips, and glaring daggers at him. He raised his eyebrows innocently. "What?"
"You can't just go off stealing that painting!" She hissed accusingly.
He frowned. "Why not? He's got more than what he needs. Honestly Maxie, you have to admit that this place is overly decorated. Paintings here, statues there, a vase of flowers over there. I'm just helping him out with the excess decors." He smirked, and winked at her. "Just like you are helping him out with the excess food."
Max stuck out her tongue at him. "That's different. He can buy more food. But he certainly can't get another painting like that!" she pointed at the medium-sized canvas that was resting on Alec's palms. "That has to cost at least thirty grand."
"Aw, come on Max. He won't even notice it's gone." Alec pleaded. "And besides, thirty grand will be get us a new apartment, some food, and some clothes."
Her frown vanished in an instant, and Alec knew he had won her over. "Well, when you put it that way…" She grinned and then rolled her eyes. "But if he notices, I'm blaming you."
"No problem," He shrugged off his jacket and placed the painting carefully inside it. He then folded it and tucked it under his arm. His eyes traveled over to the half-open door that led to the room where Logan kept all of his computer equipment. Max followed his gaze and shook her head.
"Don't even think about it."
"Too bad Maxie, I already did." He smirked at her and strolled into the room. Whatever Max thought, he didn't trust Logan. Not one single bit. Nor did he trust Buffy and her crew. It was a little thing that Manticore taught them.
"Just don't – change anything," Max said nervously, as she watched him type several commands on the computer keyboard. He skipped through files and documents about terrorism and illegal shipments – mostly save-the-world shit. He was starting to get bored when he came across a folder entitled 'Manticore' that his attention sharpened.
Max, who had taken her seat beside him was the first to tell him to open it. He raised an eyebrow at her and she just glared at him. "Well, we need to know how much he knows about Manticore. For all we know, he might be the enemy."
"For the first time in my so-called 'life', I actually agree with you." Alec said and ducked just before her hand came to smack his head. She missed it by centimeters. He had to go through a number of security systems and codes – nothing he couldn't handle. Although he had to admit, he was impressed with Logan's computer skills. He was only an ordinary after all.
After several minutes of cracking into the file, he finally made it through, and he almost fell out of his seat when a close-up picture of Max, dressed in her cammies filled up the screen. From the background, he caught sight of himself just behind her, and other X5s making a run for their life. This was taken during Manticore's termination.
"What the fuck," Max said in shock.
"He must've hacked into Manticore's security cameras," Alec shook his head. "Why the hell is this guy so obsessed with Manticore? Not to mention…with you." Alec frowned as he opened several folders, most of them came up with pictures of Max, her medical files, the missions she had completed, even her training schedule. "What is up with this guy?"
"I don't know, but he has officially freaked me out." Max said.
Alec stared at her. "I wonder if he knows about what Renfro told you."
Max's dark eyes clouded over.
Flashback"Alec! They're going to place Manticore into lockdown!" she yelled above the chaos that had ensued everywhere. She pulled Alec out of his cell just as every single transgenic became trapped in their own cells. The guards were nowhere to be found.
"This way," Alec shouted and blurred towards the control room, Max at his heels. The smell of fire was thick in the air. And they knew that if they didn't get out of here in time, they were toast.
They burst into the control room to find two guards and the Director of Manticore herself issuing the commands on the computers. Without further thought, each X5 took a guard each and twisted their necks around in a sickening snap. Now wasn't the time to play saint.
They had just entered hell.
Renfro turned around and smiled sadistically at them. "452, how nice of you to join me. Because I am not leaving the compound without you." She glanced at Alec. "And only 452." She pulled out a gun and trained it on Alec. A stupid thing to do, considering there were two of them and one of her. Not to mention the fact that the two of them were transgenics – X5s at that.
In a move too fast for the human eye to follow, Alec had knocked the gun out of Renfro's hands and was about to knock her unconscious when she crumpled to the ground. He turned around to see a guard pointing a gun at them, his eyes were wide with terror. It seems that he had shot the wrong person.
Alec flashed him a feral smile.
That was all the guard needed, he turned and ran for his life.
Max simultaneously finished typing in the commands disabling the lockdown, and from outside, they could here shouts of confusions and anger emanating from the transgenics. Footsteps thundered outside the control room – all heading towards the same direction – freedom.
They were about to follow when Renfro's rasping voice called out towards them.
"You're the one we've been looking for, 452…Sandeman…"
Max stared at her.
"Find…Sandeman…"
End Flashback
"Father," Max whispered, remembering the transhuman she had made friends with during her free time in the basement. His name was Joshua – and he had referred to Sandeman as his 'Father', that he was the first one that Sandeman ever created. The first child.
"Joshua," Alec nodded in understanding. "You know, things just became a tad bit more complicated to understand."
"Maybe I can help."
The two X5s spun around to see Logan standing in the doorway, for who knew how long. The two of them had been so caught up in their 'research' that they hadn't heard him come in. Alec cursed himself mentally for that.
Max stared at him. "Maybe."
Buffy, Faith, and Spike sauntered into the room, wondering what everyone was talking about. "So what's up?" Buffy asked, cheerfully. "Why all the serious faces?"
"Uh nothing," Alec said, pushing a button on the monitor, and immediately, the computer screen went black. "Nothing at all."
Faith was staring at Max weirdly.
"What?" Max asked.
"I forgot to tell you," she said. "You're wearing my clothes."
"Oh."
…
To be continued……
A/N: Liked it? Please review!