Many thanks
HoneyX5-452 : enjoy your holiday
elle6776 :glad you've caught up
GiRl MaGe : sorry to disappoint on the romance angle
Lora lee X5214 : sorry about you're disappointment but Alec and Issy had been together at Manticore, he'd had it blocked in his memory, so when she restored his memory he remembered his feelings. Max has Logan, at the moment.
Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters
A/N : My first attempt.
Who loves the teacher?
Chapter Thirteen : A Past Uncovered
Morning meeting of TC leaders.
"Good morning everyone," Max said cheerfully, "I believe my attention has dropped over the past few weeks and you have been turning to Alec for guidance. With this meeting that will change, I'm back and in charge," she waited for the expected response.
"And what does Princess say about that? You've been around Max but not really with us since you got that virus thing fixed," argued Mole, cigar waggling at the side of his mouth.
Max looked daggers at Alec, "Look I may have been getting things done, but I never thought I was in charge and I don't want that responsibility," he stated honestly with his hands held up defensively, worried by Max's gaze.
"Any one else with a problem?" Max challenged, no-one dare move. "Right down to business!"
"These freaking runes appear to be giving a warning of some fight, not sure who with yet, but let's get prepared. I understand we've got some running water," nods around the table, "we need to ensure that we have more than one supply. Any problems with that?" Max questioned her team.
"We'll need to monitor any supply for poisons, I can set up a space in the lab for that," said Issy.
"Thought we were immune to those sorts of things," grumbled Mole.
"Most, but not all," she replied.
"Ok get it sorted," Max snapped, "anything else?"
"Rainwater filtration tanks will be ready next week, but we need more," said Dix.
"Only had to ask," drawled Alec at ease, "I'm on it when we're done here."
"Ok water sorted. Next food, we seem to have enough for a week, but I want three months supply and storage. Ideas please," Max continued.
So the meeting continued with Max crossing off each problem as someone took responsibility for sorting it. As the meeting came to an end Max gave the commands. "Right get to it; I want reports at 14:00. Alec. Issy. Can we meet at Logan's at 13:00; we've still got to make sense of the graffiti?"
"Sure, does that mean we get pasta for lunch," teased Alec, to receive yet another punch from a grinning Max, "Hey thought you'd given up on that," he feigned a hurt expression.
Issy looked on amused by the banter, but not threatened, silently agreeing to be at Logan's. "Are you going to let her get away with that?" Alec asked Issy.
"Why not, you deserved it," she grinned, "but I do wish you'd cut the flirting, unless you're serious."
Max looked embarrassed and flustered.
"Hey you know you're the only one for me," Alec pleaded putting his arm around Issy.
"Maybe, but that never stopped you flirting back at Manticore," Issy replied with a grin.
"You mean he's always been like this?" questioned Max.
"Yeah, the more you react the more fun it is for him, haven't you worked that out yet?" Issy was puzzled by the question.
"Hey I'm still here," he drawled, "and it hurt's that you would think that I would deliberately try and upset Max." To which Issy elbowed him in the ribs.
"I think we'd better get to work before you need the infirmary," laughed Issy to Alec, Max nodded in agreement.
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After sorting out their respective tasks Alec took Issy to Logan's place, arriving exactly on time. Alec knocked at the door, unusual but after the previous night with Issy he didn't want to embarrass Max (who knew what was going on behind that door).
Max opened the door, "What's wrong, you don't normally wait to be asked?" she questioned Alec.
"Thought you might be distracted and didn't want to disturb you," he replied easily, thinking back to the previous night with Issy.
"That's nice of you Alec, seems being around an older woman has taught you some manners," sneered Logan, adding, "The table's laid and your request has dutifully been fulfilled." Alec looked perplexed. "The pasta is ready," Logan replied in annoyance at the blank look.
"Ok business lunch, my favourite," said Alec, rubbing his hands together, "Sorry I didn't bring the wine."
"Don't think we need any for a lunch time meeting," replied Max leading the way to the table.
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As he served himself to pasta Logan asked Issy, "So you've got everyone trusting you, but we still don't know where you fit in," Max shot him a glance to get him to shut up. Alec went to say something, but Issy put her hand on his leg to stop him. "I mean you turn up all knowing from nowhere, I still think you could be here working for White, you seem to know about him."
"So you want my life's story, is that before or after we look at the runes, because it will take some time," Issy replied curtly.
"Before," said Logan. "After," said Max and Alec.
Ignoring Max and Alec, thinking it was better to clear the air now, Issy started, "I was created by Sandeman to do his bidding, in whichever lab he was working, sometime before he arrived at Manticore. I believe it to be twenty years but have some gaps in my childhood, so it might not be. At about the age of ten he brought me home from the lab to grow up with his family."
"Why would he do that?" asked a fascinated Max.
"He wanted me to be able to mix with people; you can't do that in a lab," she had never been certain herself, so was her explanation to herself, "Anyway he told his family that my mother worked in his lab and had died and as I was an orphan he'd agreed to look after me."
"That sounds plausible, but how old was White?" asked Max.
"Ames was about two, so he knew me until he went to the conclave's school. I went to an ordinary school and was considered gifted when I excelled, but I realised that I would have to keep some of my abilities hidden, human children can be so horrible to anyone better than them. I did make some friends, usually those who needed my help, but when I left and went to university we lost touch."
"So there are people who could confirm some of your story?" questioned Logan.
"Yes, but I don't know what happened to them after the pulse hit. The terrorists who set them off round the world knew what they were doing, crippling the economies of all the major countries, sending the world into recession."
Max and Alec looked, they hadn't really considered how much damage had been done by the pulse, everyone said about pre-pulse stuff but it hadn't registered that it was wide spread. Although thinking about it the only good wine was pre pulse, so it must have hit wine making areas as well.
"Anyway back to my childhood, during the time that Ames was at home he used to taunt me about being 'little orphan Annie' and despite being younger would often start a fight. Unlike you I wasn't bred for that so despite being faster his strength usually had me beaten," she continued, rubbing her neck at the thought. "So if you think we're friends, you're mistaken."
"What about CJ?" asked Max.
"CJ was sweet, some of the fights were about me trying to protect him from his evil brother. He hadn't been born when I arrived, so he always treated me like an older sister and we got on well until I left."
"Ok, so how come there's no record of you at school or university?" Logan still wasn't quite sure, she seemed plausible, but there was still the question of her Manticore records.
"When Sandeman started work at Manticore he wanted me to work along side him, but by that time White was with the conclave and causing problems. He suspected that there was something different about me and my closeness to his father's work worried him. This was reported to the conclave who tried to find me, considering they have people in all levels of government, security and business circles they would have found me in time. So Sandeman changed my name and got a fake birth certificate so I could start work at Manticore. Naturally I couldn't return to the only home I'd ever had, so I had an apartment on the base near the labs, under their protection," she continued.
"So what was your previous name, just so I can check it out?" asked a suspicious Logan.
"Alexia McDowell, Alexia meaning protector of mankind and McDowell after my surrogate mother," she replied, everyone looked stunned.
"So how come you named our daughter Alex?" queried Alec.
"She is the next generation of protectors, seemed as good as anything," she replied.
"The bigger question is how come Alec is Alec McDowell?" queried Max.
"Well I thought you named him Alec, so that's your fault, good choice but still your fault," Issy replied, "McDowell would probably come from Sandeman's instructions, after his surrogate mother."
"So does that make you brother and sister? Gross" Max pulled a face, looking between Alec and Issy.
"I shouldn't think so, the eggs were from different donors, nothing to do with the surrogate," Issy replied, then changing the subject. "Is that enough of my life story for now? Otherwise we won't have time to discuss the runes or Sandeman and Lydecker before the meeting."
"Ok but I will check this out and may want to come back to it later," replied Logan, happy now that he had something he could reasearch.
Alec was getting tired of the intrusion into Issy's life, it was none of Logan's business, but before he could say anything there was a voice in his head. Don't! I knew this would happen that's why I'm not fighting it, you don't need to fight this one for me, we haven't got the time. Alec looked at Issy, she simply smiled back and he relaxed.
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"Ok so which do you want to start with?" Max asked Issy.
"Sandeman and Lydecker, we can talk about them while clearing the table, we'll need the table for the runes," she replied.
"So what are we going to do about them?" asked Max.
"I think we should invite them over soon," Issy suggested. Seeing the worried look on their faces, she continued, "They are going to try and get in, so it will be easier if we stay in control."
"That makes sense," agreed Logan in his usual pompous manner, surprised at himself.
"What do you suggest?" asked Max, as they carried the dishes to the kitchen.
"If we could get Dix to rig lap top with a camera to the main TC computer then we could contact them and arrange a meeting, but they could see that we're united across the creations. That way we could gauge their reaction before inviting them to TC."
"How do we get it to them, without getting captured?" asked Logan.
"Jam Pony! Normal and OC will love helping," replied Max, feeling an plan forming. "Ok I like the idea, but what are we going to say?"
They'd nearly finished clearing the table and Logan was getting everything they had related to the runes. "Let's hope this will help with that," replied Issy.
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A/N Yeah thought I'd start on the runes, but sorry I'm leaving that for next time. Think I've given you enough for some comments.
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