Chapter 16: The Decoy
A/N: I know it has been like a year since I updated and most people have probably forgotten that this story ever exsisted and I apologise. It's just been a bad mixture of endless computer problems, writers block, exams, me actually (though very temporarily) getting a life and other stories. The only reason this is up is a severe case of procrastination from revision.
I no longer have microsoft word and the programme that I am using doesn't have spell check and seeing as I can neither type or spell this is probably going to be a mess. Sorry.
Also this isn't that long but I just need to ease myself back into this whole 'updating' thing slowly. Plus not much happens it it, sorry . . . again.
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Jondy entered Terminal City's bar area, surveying the local residents in what was now considered their natural habitat. She scanned the room until she found who she was looking for. "Matt!" she exclaimed enthusiastically as she sat on a bar stool beside him. "How are you?" she asked with a beaming smile on her face.
"I'm fine thanks," said Matt with equal enthusiasm, "Now what do you want?" he asked, his tone serious but a small grin on his face.
"Whatever do you mean?" she asked innocently.
"Oh all right I need your help," she admitted when he raised a skeptical eyebrow. "My fellow unit members and I have devised a six step plan to get Max and Alec back together, for good, and hence get things running smoothly round here again."
"About time!" said Matt. "But only six steps? I mean they are pretty complicated people with some rather complex issues, are you really sure that you are going to be able to pull this supposedly miraculous plan off?"
"Are you doubting my greatness?" demanded Jondy, clearly irritated and offended.
"No not at all," said Matt defensively.
"Good," said Jondy, relaxing again, her eyes twinkling mischieviously. "Now step one, 'Insight,' has successfully been carried out. Basically we sent Max's friend around to help her see clearly and now we need your help with stage two, 'The Decoy.'"
"Go on," said Matt, clealy intrigued.
"Well we think that if Max sees someone else hitting on Alec and spending a lot of time with him she'll get really jealous, well we know that. Then with some helpful nudges from various people she will see that he's resisting the decoy's charms even though they are technically not going out anymore, be touched and see how trustworthy he is."
"Woah Jondy, I don't know what you've heard but neither me nor Alec are into other dudes! I mean have you been talking to Carl, cause . . ."
Jondy rolled her eyes, "No I don't wan't you to be the decoy!" she said half laughing. "I wanted you to find us a good decoy! We figured you'd know someone for the job. You know, someone who he gets on well with and who could really make Max tick."
"Oooooooooooooo," said Matt. "That makes much more sense. But what if he doesn't resist the decoy's charms?"
"I have every faith in him that he will," said Jonday, confidently. "But if not then I'm sure we'll be able to form a queue in orderly fashion to kick the living shit clean outta him," she said with a grin. "So you got anyone in mind?"
"Yeah actually, I think I do. Her name is Alice, she just arrived in Terminal CIty today but her and Alec go way back. She was in our elite unit for a while and her and Alec did a couple of long term missions together. If you ask me there was always a little sexual tension between them. I was talking to her earlier and apparently she's been spending her time mainly in New York, studying drama."
Jondy raised an eyebrow as he continued, "Apparently," he said. "She's became quite the little actress, which should come in rather handy."
"Sounds good," said Jondy, nodding her approval.
"Oh you haven't heard the best bit yet," said Matt, a devillish grin appearing on his face. "She's tall."
"Ooooohh," said Jondy. "That's good! How tall we talking here?"
"Very tall, easily the same height as Alec."
"Wow that's really going to piss Max off. She's always had a thing about her height," said Jondy, standing up. "You've been very helpful. Fill her in and bring her by Zane's later."
"Sure, oh and Jondy - she's a blonde."
"God I love the way you think!" said Jondy, walking out of the bar, pleased that they had found the perfect girl to get Max's jealousy engine in overdrive.
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"Hey Max!" said Dix running up to her. "Can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Sure Dix, what's up?" she asked, holding Jen in her arms.
"Well after a few X6's had a close call today we found out that the familiars have figured out some new way to detect transgenics, though we are not sure what exactly. It could be pretty dangerous to us, especially since we have more and more transgenics coming here each day there are bound to be loads in the Seattle area, who could easily be caught. Now I did some digging and found a facility were some are being held. It's heavily guarded in a built up area so it's going to require some planing."
"Ugh we so don't need this right now," said Max worriedly. "Ok gather a team to get working out finding out the specifics of this device, we need to know exactly what we're up against and how to avoid being identified ourselves. Also try and find out how many transgenics need rescuing and I'm going to need maps, blue prints, the works."
"Already on it," said Dix.
"Great, also could you put up a notice about a mandatory emerency meeting in HQ in two hours. I'm going to need the usual plus tactical and weapon experts," said Max.
"Sure thing Max," said Dix, running off to get to work.
"Looks like it's back to the nursery for you sweetie," mumbled Max regretfully to Jen. "I'll make it up to you I promise," she said, kissing her head.
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Alec tried to relax as he lined up his next shot. 'Damn!' he thought as he potted the black ball, which would have been great if it weren't for all the other balls he still had to pot.
"Dude, what'd the matter with you?" asked Sketchy, "You've been loosing all night!"
"Sorry Sketch," said Alec, running his hand through his hair. "I guess I'm just distracted."
"Well if you were this distracted more often I wouldn't be so broke all the time," said Sketchy. "We need more beer. This one's on me, buddy," he said walking away with the crisp twenty in his hand that he had just won from Alec.
Alec rolled his eyes as he set the table up for the next game. He had headed out to Crash under Matt's advise to try and escape from everything for a couple of hours but no matter how hard he tried, Alec could stop thinking about TC and the familiars and most of all he couldn't stop thinking about Max.
Alec sighed as he chalked his cue. "A little birdie told me I could find you here," said a familiar voice behind him.
Alec spun round in surprise, "Alice!" he said, his eyes lighting up.
"The one and only!" she said with a cocky grin.
"How the hell have you been!" he asked as he gave her a hug.
"Pretty damn good!" she said, half laughing.
"Kim said that she'd seen you in New York a while back and that you'd been going by the name of Alice but I'd no idea you were in Seattle!" said Alec, delighted to see his old friend.
"Yeah well I only arrived in TC this morning, saw your message in an Eyes Only broadcast last week, very clever of you," she said, a grin on her face. "So what about you, how's life been treating ya?"
"That's a very complicated question," said Alec, his smile faltering a little.
"Hey, Alec!" said Sketchy, arriving on the scene with a fresh pitcher or beer. "Are you going to introduce me to your friend?" he asked looking Alice up and down appreciatively, as Alec's pager went off.
"Nope," he said looking down at it. "Sorry Sketch gotta blaze," he said as he grabbed his leather jacket and put it on.
"I'll come too," said Alice. "Nice meeting you," she said politely to Sketchy, before exiting quickly after Alec.
"Yeah," said Sketchy, "It woulda been!" as he whistled after her.
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"So you been in Seattle since we got out?" asked Alice as her and Alec quickly made their way to TC.
"Uh mostly," said Alec. "But I was in Vancouver for over a year on a mission for Eyes Only, taking down the New Manticore."
"So you haven't really had much of a break then?" she asked.
"You've no idea," said Alec. "I mean don't get me wrong, when I got out I was this lazy, self-absorbed womaniser and I really enjoyed that, but I don't know it just got boring after a while. I need something to challenge me."
"Or someone?" asked Alice.
"Yeah," said Alec. "Unfortunately that someone is proving to be a little too challenging at the moment."
"Oh so you're seeing someone?" said Alice, putting a little bit if disapointment in her voice. "Is it serious?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?" asked Alice incredulously.
"Well it was serious but now . . . look no offence but I have enough people trying to get me to talk about it and I really don't want to."
"Ok," said Alice, knowing when to back off.
"So what about you?" asked Alec to lighten the mood. "Any special guy in you life?"
"Yes," said Alice. "Several. Each one as equally special and as unaware of each other as the other."
Alec laughed, "Typical!"
"Hey just cause you've changed your ways doesn't mean I have to follow your example! Besides I do have the occasional relationship, I'm just not the settling down type."
"I missed you, you know that?" said Alec, after a few moments walking along in a comfortable silence.
"And who wouldn't?" she demanded to know with an innocent look on her face.
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"Is everyone here?" asked Max looking around HQ.
"Almost," said Zane, gesturing to Alec's empty chair.
"Well we'd best starting then," said Max looking down.
"Maybe we should wait just a bit longer," said Jace. "I mean I know Alec hasn't been a meeting regular recently but I just can't see him bailing on a meetin that Dix paged him as 911 for."
"Yeah and I gave him a good talking to about ignoring his SIC responsibilities," said Jondy.
"Fine," said Max with a sigh, "But if he isn't here in fi . . ."
"Sorry I'm late," said Alec at that moment, stumbling into HQ with Alice. He gave an apologetic look around the room before meeting Max's eyes. Their gazes were locked for just a moment, both trying to say what they couldn't, before Alec broke the stare and sat down hurriedly in his seat beside Jondy.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" asked Max, confused coming out of her daze and catching sight of Alice, who Alec had came in with.
"Oh hey, I'm Alice," she said. "Just got in today. Was passing when I saw the notice, I was tactical officer for the elite unit at Manticore."
"She was the tactical officer's CO," said Cam, another tactical officer, vouching for her.
"Oh right," said Max, looking her up and down, a strange feeling working it's way through her stomach. "Well , Alice, take a seat, we're really going to need your help with this . . ."
Jondy tried to hide the smug look on her face when she saw the forced smile on Max's face and that jealous look in her eyes. She shared knowing looks with all of her siblings and then raised a superior eyebrow at Matt.
Matt who was standing at the back of the room grinned, and gave Jondy a small bow. He had to admit it, the girl knew what she was doing.
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A/N: There you have it. Oooh I'm so nervous about posting this! What if no-one reviews! Or even reads it! It's been so long and I'm so so so so sorry! If anyone cares I am going to try and update some Charmed fiction soon too. (Please review!)
