Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters
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Honey-X452: thanks for the comments, glad you're enjoying it.
Elle6778: hope you like the surprises. Guess who named the medic and how.
Angelofdarkness: Glad you're confused, it will become clearer, just not too soon. Glad you're enjoying it.
I was so pleased with the reviews received that I decided to post next chapter, if only a quarter of the people reading left a review my request would have been passed 2 days ago. By the way up to chapter 10 have been written, after that I'll slow down on postings.
A/N : My first attempt, sorry if it seems twisted.
Who loves the teacher?
Chapter Four: Medical Procedures
When they got to the infirmary Dage asked what he was supposed to be doing. He hadn't seen any X5 like this before.
Issy replied that she had and he needed an immediate blood transfusion and antibiotics. Max was confused, X5's didn't usually need antibiotics. Issy asked Max to trust her, after all Issy had worked in both psy-ops and the infirmary at Manticore.
After several minutes of arguments Max relented when Issy said if they didn't do something soon it would be too late.
Issy asked Josuha to take Alex somewhere safe, while she worked.
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Issy told Dage which antibiotics he needed to get and where her backpack was with everything they would need. As Max watched what was going on, she realised that Issy had come prepared, but why.
"How did you know what to bring?" Max accused.
While setting-up for the transfusion Issy looked at Max, "Didn't you listen to Josuha? I was designed to keep you alive. How can I do that if I don't anticipate the problems? Alex has been getting the worse nightmares you could imagine about Manticore for two weeks, then I turn up with a daughter he knows nothing about bringing news of cures. His brain can't cope at the moment; it's trying to sort too much information."
"So why the antibiotics?"
"His immune system has been compromised, so it's just to give him a boost. The sedatives are to calm him while the information is processed and the transfusion will boost his immunity and serotonin levels."
"How will the transfusion boost his serotonin levels, all transgenics have a problem with those?" asked Max.
"I'm a transgenic but don't have the problem, it was a Manticore design fault." Issy answered as she started giving her blood to Alec. He was asleep, sedated, but looking more peaceful than he had for weeks.
When the transfusion was over, Issy cleared everything away. Josuha came over to her, "I left Alex with Gem, until you finished. How's Medium Fella?"
Max stood impassively at the side, glad that Josuha had asked the question, she needed to know but didn't want to ask.
"He'll be fine when he's rested," replied Issy softly, then turning to Max, "but I need to talk with you and your command team as soon as possible." Turning to Dage, "Can you let me know when he comes round; I'll be with Max in the command centre."
Logan appeared at the door, "I wouldn't trust her, if I were you Max, we don't know enough."
Max sighed Logan had never thought much of Alec, but now he was jumping to conclusions about someone who had made Alec laugh again. She needed to get away, but knew that wasn't a possibility just yet, she still needed answers.
"Look Max, I know I haven't gained your trust yet, but I will leave in three days, probably sooner. I owe Alec and he trusts me a little more, so when he comes round I'll explain the medical procedures that will cure his serotonin deficiencies and get rid of the bar code. I'll answer as many of your questions as possible, but the procedure comes first in my book. It's just a pity that none of your medical staff have much experience, but if they can follow what I do they might be able to help others when I've gone." Issy tried to explain to TC's leader.
"Max ignore her, she could kill Alec then get out and allow White's familiars in," countered Logan.
"Shut-up Logan this is family stuff and I need a clear head," shouted Max, as they left the infirmary. Too much was happening and she wasn't in control, she didn't like that. Much as she loved Logan, he was never objective when it came to her family, and for some reason in this instance she trusted her family. Alec trusted Issy completely and so did Josuha, that was the decider he now. Josuha understood people and he trusted Issy.
"Max, she's psy-ops, she'll be messing with your head like Mia," Logan added.
"Yes Logan I could try and mess with Max's head, but what good would that do me? I am here to impart knowledge quickly and leave Alex where she will be safer."
"What do you mean? Leave Alex here." Max asked.
"Alex will be safer here than with me, that's why we need to talk." By now they had reached the command centre. "If your team is here then we can start now, I don't mind the ordinary sitting in, if that makes you happy," Issy was talking so quietly Logan couldn't hear. "Your sixth sense will know if I'm not telling the whole truth. Hasn't it so far?"
Max thought about everything that had happened since Issy had arrived. Although everything seemed strange, there were no missing bits and she did seem to be helping Alec.
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Mole and Dix were already in the control centre when they got there, looking rather surprised at two X5's who had their backs to the door. Mole was asking questions and the conversation seemed quite animated for transgenics.
Max was confused, those X5's looked suspiciously like Biggs and CeCe, but they had both been killed. What was going on?
Biggs turned, "Hi Max, long time no see." He said with a big grin on his face.
"Biggs! CeCe! But you're both dead," exclaimed Max, running over to hug them. "What. How. When," Max had so many questions and turned these towards Issy.
"Sorry Max, I couldn't let them in until Alec was asleep. I told you I am here to help, lucky for me they sent these to the right morgue, or I may not have been able to steal them," Issy laughed. "X5's are designed to heal fast, if you can get to one within 12 hours of death, transfuse and resuscitate they will usually respond. Sometimes, as with CeCe, an ordinary will think they are dead but superior knowledge of the series helps." Issy explained to Max, quietly so that only a transgenic would hear.
"No nanocites, like Zack?"
"No, they cause more problems than they solve."
"Why come here now, why not let us know sooner. Alec was really upset about Biggs," said Max
"If Biggs and CeCe had come here earlier you'd have thought that White was involved. They only came to back me up tonight; otherwise they wouldn't have come until morning. If you haven't realised yet, I am a telepath, so while we were arguing about Alec's treatment I asked Biggs and CeCe to join us. OK" Issy explained quietly.
Logan was getting pissed off with knowing they were talking, but not being able to hear everything. "I'm still here and I want answers too," he yelled so all the transgenics covered their ears.
Max motioned everyone to the command room table; most people were eating or sleeping by now so they were the only ones there. Looking at Issy she said, "I think you've got some explaining to do."
"As you can see I work with some people who can do wonders with dead transgenics," Issy looked at Biggs and CeCe and everyone laughed.
"That go for the rest of us freaks as well?" asked Mole.
"Depends on the method of death, but that isn't why I'm here. I have a cure for your virus Max; I might not have time to complete it but will leave you with the necessary." Max looked surprised; Logan thought it was a lie. "Check with Max later Logan, I don't have the time for your problems," Issy snapped at him.
"How does she know what I'm thinking, knew she couldn't be trusted," thought Logan.
"I have already told Max that I have two medical procedures to perform on Alec to erase the bar code and remove the serotonin deficiency. These are both done by changing his DNA, so for each it is two procedures."
"That can't be done," exclaimed Logan.
"Biggs, CeCe show them your bar codes." Biggs and CeCe turned and exposed their necks, but there were no bar codes.
"They're familiars with plastic surgery to look like CeCe and Biggs," exclaimed Logan.
"You're paranoid Logan," said Biggs, "Alec always said you had a problem."
"That's true," said a small voice at the door.
"Alec, I asked Dage to get me when you stirred," Issy was startled.
"It's alright I told him not to, but I wish I had known who was here, I'd have come to sooner," Alec replied. "So how you guy's been?"
Issy had almost run to his side, ready to catch him, "Its ok, I'm ok," Alec continued.
"But you need your rest for later," countered Issy.
"That a promise," Alec quipped with his customary grin.
Max laughed, "Glad to see you're back on form," she said with relief.
By this time Issy and Alec were back at the table and Issy was making sure Alec was seated first, whilst checking her patient. "Stop fussing, I'm alright. I missed some of what you were saying, but when do we start on these procedures and how long will it take, and how much will it hurt?" asked Alec with a wince.
"Never did like pain, always made me wonder why you took so much in psy-ops." Issy commented, before answering, "Since you're up and about already, I'd like to start in the morning. Sorry no general anaesthetic, no-one qualified here to administer, so we'll use local anaesthetic. You'll be sedated to lessen the pain and chance that you'll attack me, the advantage of that is you'll recover more quickly," she finished with a laugh.
"So I have to go through this four times?" he ignored the comment about attacking her. He was not looking forward to any procedure, too many memories of Manticore, but four that was too many.
"No, only twice I'll get what I need the first time and do the fix the second time, but I would like to unlock a part of your brain, psy-ops fashion," Issy waited for the expected outburst, knowing what had happened before.
"You're not doing any of that stuff, messing with his brain, didn't Manticore do enough," shouted Max, indignant that Issy would consider that Alec might let her do allow it.
"What do you want to do and why?" asked Alec quietly, looking quite pale at the prospect. If she was asking it must be important he thought, she knows what happened before Max doesn't.
Issy sighed, she really didn't want to do this, but if she didn't come back TC would need this to happen, "Do you remember back to your first visit to psy-ops, before the escape," she was watching Alec closely for signs that he remembered, "When you were about 5 Sandeman took you and Ben to psy-ops to get some information planted in your brain for when you would need it. Hence the reason I had to keep you alive at all costs. That information is the code to understand the runes which would only appear if either of you were around Max at the right time. If psy-ops hadn't messed around you could have interpreted them by now."
"What, you mean he has had the answers all this time and kept them to himself," said Logan, incredulously.
"If that part of his brain hadn't become locked in psy-ops, he would've read them out on sight, without realising what he was doing," replied Issy. Alec, Max and of rest of the table were watching the argument with amusement, it wasn't often that anyone stood up for Alec and it seemed Issy had all the answers. Most of TC didn't like Logan, but put up with him because Max liked him and he could be useful sometimes.
Max decided to break it up, "So if Alec agrees we can find out why I'm Lady Jesus," Issy nodded, "So what is it Alec?"
"I don't like the idea, but if it helps us out I'm game," he said with a smirk, but secretly dreading the prospect.
"Good, first subject dealt with. Now to the second, White and his familiars," sighed Issy.
"We know about them, already kicked their asses once," said Mole, cigar sticking out of his mouth as usual.
"I know about your fight, but although your blood is vital against the coming plague Max, all the transgenics need to join in a fight against the familiars. Can Terminal City be a big enough base?" Issy turned from Mole to Max.
"Why aren't you staying to help?" the question had been bothering Max since she first realised Issy kept alluding to it.
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