Many thanks to :
Elle6778, GiRl MaGe, shygirl1 loved the reviews
Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters
A/N : My first attempt.
Who loves the teacher?
Chapter Sixteen : Action Stations
9:00 Morning Meeting
"The agenda for today is review preparations, discuss latest on the runes, discuss Sandeman/Lydecker situation, anything else?" asked Max.
"What about the siege and familiars," Mole added.
"I think we might touch on those, but I don't want to dwell on them today," Max replied, "I read the reports, seems we are doing quite well on most things, but some things are too big for the tunnels. Any ideas?"
"Call me stupid, if you want," started Alec.
"Stupid," replied Mole and Max sarcastically.
"Funny. Hear me out, then you can say it," drawled Alec. "Anyway as I was about to say, why don't we get Lydecker to bring it all in through the main gates. A sort of peace offering." Everyone looked stunned. "Well if Sandeman and the colonel want a meeting, why not use them to our benefit, then if we don't like what they say it won't all be for nothing," he shrugged.
"Who said we'd let them in?" snarled Mole, his stogie almost falling out of his mouth.
"Just a suggestion!" Alec replied defensively.
"Smart Alec, it might just work," replied Max with a grin, "they want to see us, but how do we make sure they come alone."
"Easy, X5's driving," he replied.
"Ok let's have the details, 'cus I'm confused," Max looked at him incredulously.
"All the stuff is being delivered to a warehouse, right," nods around the table, "we need to check the stuff and pay for it, right," more nods, "so we arrange for Sandeman and Lydecker to meet us at the warehouse and drive them in," he finished.
"Fine until the driving in, if the National Guard realise we're driving, they're likely to open fire," Max voiced the concerns of everyone.
"Not if we're dressed in full military uniform and Lydecker orders them to let the lorries through," he replied.
"Might work, if Lydecker's on our side, but we'll need good cover for our men if he isn't," Max was still not convinced; it sounded like another Alec screw-up in the making.
"Well security is my department, we can have you covered, but what about the pick-up point?" stated Mole, "what if they bring others?"
"We abort," stated Alec, "we give them directions to the warehouse, but by them a roundabout route, then spy on them to check whether they're followed. Even with tazars they shouldn't fit enough ordinaries in a car to take out eight X5's."
"It's not as hair brained as most of your ideas, seems you thought about this, any objections," no-one spoke, "Ok it's a go once we set a date with Sandeman. If you three discuss the route, security and surveillance after the meeting and bring plans to me at 14:00," Max said indicating Alec, Mole and Dix.
"Next topic the runes," Max announced. "Alec, Issy, Logan and I were working on these yesterday. It seems that the familiars are expecting this comet to bring some sort of disease that will kill the ordinaries, but that they are immune to. I'm supposed to have immunity to it and maybe the rest of you as well. Somehow this means that a vaccine could be produced for the ordinaries, I'll let Issy explain.
"Thanks Max. Dage and I are going to be working in the lab to discover what it is in Max's blood that protects her from this disease and then checking whether it is in all transgenics. We are hoping to get some ordinary blood to analyse and Logan has agreed that we can check his and see whether he already has immunity due to the transfusions he has received," Issy informed the group, "Any questions?"
"So you gonna want samples from all of us, including the nomalies and transhumans?" queried Mole.
"Since it's only Dage and me the answer is a qualified, yes," she replied. "We will need samples from everyone, but not immediately. I want to complete the initial analysis of the four samples I expect to have by the end of the morning. When I have checked my results I will report to this meeting and further samples will be requested. The request for samples will be voluntary," Issy finished realising Mole was 'unhappy' to comply.
"Although Issy says it is on a voluntary basis, I expect everyone here to be in line. We have to be seen united, otherwise the others will not follow," commanded Max, looking directly at Mole. "In fact Alec and I will be two of the first samples."
"The runes, also, seem to point to some fight against the familiars, but possibly with the ordinaries helping. This brings us to our next subject – Sandeman and Lydecker," Max brought the meeting to order and everyone waited with baited breath. "It's a given that none of us trust Lydecker, but Sandeman is new, if they're working together we need to find out what they want and if they will help us. It has been suggested that we set up a remote location meeting via web link," she looked at Dix who nodded. "The idea is we get a laptop with camera delivered and call them at a predetermined time, they can check us out and visa versa, questions?" she continued.
"How we gonna get the lap top to them?" asked CeCe.
"Once Dix has got it sorted Alec and Issy will take it to Jam Pony and get them to deliver it," she replied easily, smiling towards a stunned Alec and Issy.
"Why them?" asked Biggs, "Both CeCe and I worked at Jam Pony."
"Yeah, but you're both dead," jeered Mole.
"True," was the reply, "but no-one knows Issy at Jam Pony."
"Yes, but Alec doesn't like needles and Issy needs some blood from an ordinary. When I ring OC and tell her the package is coming in, I will ask her to donate some blood. OC will trust Alec and thereby trust Issy, ok" replied Max patiently.
"But all this planning's no good if we don't know where to send it?" commented Mole, lighting another cigar.
"That's what we've been working on," said Luke gesturing towards Dix, "been following the transmitter Issy planted on the car. Have got it down to a street, just need someone to checkout the street tonight," he finished.
"Any volunteers to check it out?" asked Max.
"I'll go, Biggs could come for back-up," suggested CeCe.
"Fine, check-in with Luke and Dix for the location at 22:00, Mole can we make sure they are equipped and report back to this meeting tomorrow?" Max asked.
"So at tomorrow's meeting we need the address for Sandeman and Lydecker, plans for bringing the lorries in, security arrangements, and names for the operations. As soon as tomorrow's meeting is over I want the package on its way, so we need to get it to OC today. Meeting adjourned," finished Max.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Logan arrived as the meeting broke up. "Hi, thought you'd be here for the meeting," asked Max coyly.
"Thought they'd rather I wasn't interfering," he replied with a nod towards the departing transgenics, "anyway I only came over to let Issy get her blood sample and see you."
"I think she's already left for the infirmary, but I'll come over with you," she replied finishing tidying her papers.
"I thought I saw her with Alec and Mole as I came through," he watched for her reaction.
She smiled, "quite likely, Mole thinks everyone needs a gun and I don't think she's ever thought about carrying one."
"Sounds like someone else I know," he laughed.
"Not quite, she's never used one," the reply was serious.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"What I'm saying is, with you not knowing how to fight, you need some protection out there," Mole argued.
"Now why would I never that when Alec is going to be with me?" Issy replied.
"Look he may be pretty, but doesn't mean he doesn't need back-up, and since you gonna be the only one with him you're going need a piece," explained Mole to Issy.
"Hey Mole if she's never used one, I think I'm safer if she doesn't have one," said Alec.
"At least we're agreed on that," said Max, as she and Logan joined the group. "You getting sorted for the visit to Jam Pony?" she questioned.
"Yeah, I was going to get stuff from the infirmary when Mole insisted that we talk protection," replied Issy. "You come to donate Logan?" she asked.
"Yeah, just arrived at the end of the meeting," he tried to keep it light.
"Well let's go and get it done," Issy replied, "I'll be about twenty minutes, if Dix is done then Alec and I could get our package on the first stage of its journey," Issy said to Max.
"Fine I'll ring OC and put her in the picture, while you're gone," Max replied letting Issy guide Logan over to the infirmary.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"Skilfully done," commented Logan.
"What do you mean?" enquired Issy.
"Separating Max and I. That was your plan, wasn't it?" he queried sarcastically as they walked.
"Actually I hadn't thought about that, I was too pleased for an opportunity to get away from Mole, before he insisted on me carrying some sort of weapon," she replied.
"It was you who wanted a truce, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, there's too much going on at the moment for internal bickering and I would have thought you would understand that."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"You're so wrapped up in your own closeted world, you sometimes forget that Max isn't human and she will fight with her family. You resent her position here and her relationship with her family."
"You mean Alec," he replied.
"Not just Alec, but how she reacts with everyone here. As for Alec, I don't think Max fully understands how important he is to her, but he'd never take her from you. I just hope she realises it works the other way too, once Alec decides on a course of action he doesn't change his mind," she said as she prepared the needle.
"You mean Alec won't be causing her problems in future."
"No, on a business level it'll be the same as ever, but the flirting will never go any further," she replied as she drew his blood.
"What makes you so sure?" he asked.
"Because I know Alec," she replied.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Max left Alec and Mole to argue about the gun issue. Entering her office she rang OC on her cell.
"Hi Boo how you been?" asked Max.
"Hey sista what you calling me here for, Norm'll go spare."
"Sorry we need a favour."
"You got your boys sorted yet."
"They've sorted it themselves, but that can wait," replied Max. "Alec and Issy are coming in with a package we want delivering."
"What, they coming in here?" OC queried.
"Yeah, Issy needs some of your blood and Alec can talk Normal into anything."
"Yeah the boy can talk, but what's about blood."
"Issy needs some non-transgenic blood to find out about this virus thing, I suggested you."
"I maybe your sista but what's at stake?" asked OC.
"If this virus is coming it seems we maybe able to make a vaccine, and if you help your dose is guaranteed," Max tried.
"Ok, so who's the package for."
"Sandeman and Lydecker, but we won't have the address until tonight and we want them to get it early tomorrow. Can you do it?" Max asked politely.
"For my sista, course suga."
"Thanks gotta go, see you soon."
"You bet, bye boo."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
N/A I'm away from tomorrow (6th Aug) for a week and will update on my return, but expect to see at least 80 reviews. Please note that if my current regular reviewers reviewed every chapter we would get that easily. Chapters 17-19 are ready for my return.
I shall attempt to review all chapters of everything I read, so please review. I need feedback as Sandeman gives me writers block.
7