Freedom on the inside
Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don't own anything to do with Dark Angel. They apparently belong to some guy who is most definitely in need of a brain check. What was he thinking when he decided to axe the show? Oh well, I guess when I'm rich enough I'll just have to buy the rights to the programme and then we'll finally get a third season. I wouldn't count on it though.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: M/A (eventually!)
Summary: What if Max never escaped Manticore in 'Designate This' and didn't get the chance to infect Logan? Logan and everyone else in Seattle thinks she's dead and Renfro's still alive?
Author's Note: I know there's been a lot of 'what if she never escaped stories?' but this is my shot at what could have happened. Please read and review!
Chapter Fourteen
Goodbye, Hello
Max crawled through the small hole in the wall. Getting completely through to the side she wanted to be on, she pushed the crumbling bricks back into place and then got out from under her bunk. Standing up, she brushed the dust and dirt from off her and wiped her hands on her trousers.
"Hey Max."
Max spun around on the spot, not really thrown by the voice as she had in all honesty expected a visit from him.
"Hey Alec."
"So how's the big guy doing?" he asked pointing down to the floor.
"Good, but feeling a bit low."
"So you told him?"
"Yeah," Max sighed, "And I'm guessing Renfro's already talked to you?"
"Yeah she has. I was actually on my way to say bye to Josh but I noticed the bricks moved aside and guessed you were down there. Thought I'd give you some space."
"Thanks," Max said. There was then an awkward silence, before Alec broke it,
"I should probably go see him now though," he said getting down on all fours beside the bunk, "I've already had a little talk with the unit but they still wanna talk to you."
"Ok . . . um Alec?"
"Yeah Max?" Alec asked peeking out from under the bunk.
"Are you angry at me?"
"Why would I be angry?"
"Coz I'm not giving you a choice. I'm forcing you to leave Manticore even if you don't want to."
"Max its Manticore doing the forcing and I'm not angry. I don't know what I'm feeling; happy, sad, excited or scared; I can't really make my mind up."
Max nodded still not quite believing him.
"Honestly Maxie, wouldn't want you to leave me and have all the fun now would I?"
Before she could even reply, Alec had disappeared through the hole in her cell wall.
Max sat down on her bunk with so large a force that it shook and the chains holding it in place rattled. The rattling of the chains was the exact description she was looking for when thinking about the state of her brain; she was well and truly rattled by Alec's last words. Was it just her making a big deal out of nothing but was there a cryptic message behind the words? 'Wouldn't want you to leave me . . .' No it was just her overactive imagination, Alec wouldn't care that much if she left. Sure he would probably be pissed for a couple of days but he'd soon get over it. He'd soon find another unfortunate female X5 to pester and cheese off constantly. Somehow though, Max didn't believe it.
"I'm gonna miss you," Ginger mumbled into Max's hair.
"Well it's not as if I'm escaping this time round. I will be back regularly for updates."
"I know, but it won't be the same with both you and Alec gone."
Max slowly released Ginger from their hug, "I thought that would be something to celebrate," she said with a grin.
"Ha ha!" Ginger punched her lightly in the shoulder. "Have you told the rest of our unit?"
"Yeah, thankfully no water works, but then I didn't expect any: they're males after all."
"Yeah," Ginger sighed.
"I also wanted to um thank you," Max said looking up, "You've been a great friend and I hadn't really expected to be making any. Especially since I'm considered a traitor and . . ."
"No you're not . . . okay you were . . . but we all know you better now and you're a friend to all of us."
"Thank you," Max said moving in for another hug which Ginger returned.
"Yep we're ass kicking soldiers that are crying babies, all rolled into one!" Ginger laughed.
"Oh for crying out loud!"
Both the female X5s turned their heads to the doorway of Ginger's cell. Alec stood leaning against the frame with a look of sheer disbelief,
"It's not as if we're going away to die and you're coming to our funeral next week!"
"Shut up Alec," Max snapped, "We're girls, it's what we do."
"Yeah cry, cry and then cry some more."
"It's called letting your feelings out and sharing. Maybe you members of the male species should try it out some time."
"Ha! Yeah right! Anyway, I came to tell you we're heading off in ten minutes."
"Ok," Max nodded, "I'll see you out front."
Alec nodded and then left Max and Ginger to their goodbyes.
Logan sat behind the driver's wheel watching the four distant figures in the car's mirror. Max and Alec were talking to Renfro and Lydecker, probably about their guidelines outside of Manticore. That's what he guessed anyway. He was still waiting for them to finish up talking so that they could head off towards Seattle, but it seemed they wouldn't be leaving just yet.
How did he honestly feel about this whole thing? He wasn't in the least bit sure. At first he had been so excited and pretty much over the moon at the prospect of Max being back in Seattle with him that he hadn't thought about what she'd want. But how was he to know that she wanted to stay in Manticore? She hated the place for Pete's sake! She ran away from it in '09, so what the hell was different now? The only logical explanation he could come up with, was Alec. So you can only imagine how pissed off he was to realise the cocky X5 was tagging along too.
Sighing, Logan looked back into the mirror. This time the reflection was different. Lydecker and Renfro had disappeared, leaving Alec and Max walking side by side towards the car. They weren't talking but they seemed completely at ease unlike the day he had first met Alec in his apartment.
Logan looked away from the mirror and concentrated on the steering wheel as he waited for them to get in. A cold breeze hitting the back of his neck indicated the opening of the back door and a casual "Hey Logan" told him it was Alec who had gotten in. Max walked around the front of the car and opened the door to the front passenger's seat. Getting in she said nothing to Logan but quickly fastened her seat belt, waiting for him to drive off.
Alec could sense the tension as soon as both of them had entered the car but he was clearly surprised by the lack of words between the two love birds. Wracking his brains for any possible reasons, his memory stopped on the conversation, or rather argument; a handful of transgenics had eavesdropped in on earlier.
"Manticore controls you and it always will!"
"No you're right, I am a freak and I always will be!"
Ooh dear. Looks like Max hadn't forgiven him quite yet. Well in that case he was in for a long boring drive into his new life.
As Logan drove off, looking nowhere but forward, both Max and Alec turned to watch Manticore as it got smaller in the distance, until all that could be seen were the trees and more trees that lined the horizon, and a mass of traffic behind them.
Yep, this was gonna be one boring ride.
A/N 2 – Well they're off! I hope you liked that! Not to worry all of those who are thinking that that was the last of Ginger, I will bring her back! Chapters 15 and 16 have been written, just need to type them up, so they will be on their way soon. Let me know what you thought and as per usual thank you very much to my lovely reviewers:
Kristibella – v. glad u liked Triangle! I've taken your hint, more chaps shud b up on ur return
Lakergirl – thank you – hope u liked
Lolitaro – yep, she is developing feelings for him, it's subtle at the moment
Chaosti – Yes old man cale is in for a surprise!
Chainedreamer – there u go, here's ur update, hope u liked!
Loralee – I'm glad someone didn't see it coming! Lol!
SGOU – well I guess we'll never know – grins evilly – well I may just give you an insight . . .
Aotearoa Hiphop Grl – So what d'ya think? Anyways hope u enjoyed
Nelita – um I dunno much about Biggs, so I'm kinda leaving him out, sorry 4 the slow update
Lynsi – oc is coming and Ginger will be back – never fear!
Willow98002 – hope u liked Alec's reaction and Max's too
Jade-k – tru, logan did wat he thought was right but you know I love any opportunity for Max to be angry at him!
eNsEnS wifey ChAdZ lover – Sorry for long wait and yeah it's no probs about using Ginger!
Hope you all have a wonderful summer!
SmilinStar xxx