Many thanks:
Maria656 : glad you're happy with the pairing at the moment
Angel 0f Darkness231: Issy will be back, but she's medical/psy-ops not a fighter so sometimes she'll be doing other things. Glad you like Alec, I just write what comes.
Elle6778 : Yes chapter 17 was supposed to be funny but wasn't sure it worked. Max is a girl with a problem, which makes for some fun, I hope.
Lakergirl08: The way the chapters keep adding themselves on it'll probably be chapter 35 before the showdown, but that will come I promise.
Crazy4Cocopuffs: I think Alec was surprised too, as for Logan he's with Max but can't always be in TC so he sort of pops in and out. Max and Lydecker won't be alone but theirs a twist coming.
Lora lee X5-214: thanks for reviewing, hope you're still there for this chapter, special note at the end for you.
Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters
A/N : The next five chapters cover just 2 days, so the quicker the reviews the quicker the update, as they're all ready (I think). But then I've come to a halt, someone arrived and I'm not sure what to do with him.
Who loves the teacher?
Chapter Nineteen : Sandeman's Visit
As they approached the blockade Lydecker took some papers out of a case.
A member of the National Guard signalled them to stop. As the soldier approached the truck Lydecker shouted, "I have orders from General Powell to get this inside," showing the orders to the soldier.
"Now get the barrier out of my way," he continued.
Another man stepped from the shadows, "Colonel Lydecker I should have expected you to try something."
"Ames White after your last fiasco I though you'd leave the transgenic problem to the experts."
"But whose side are you on?" retorted White.
"My orders come direct from the head of state, now let me pass, or do I have to call the president."
"No it's Ok, it's easier to get in than out," White signalled for the barrier to be removed.
Lydecker was perplexed by White relenting so easily.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
The delivery was welcomed by the residents of TC, who gathered round as the trucks stopped.
Alec, Mole and Biggs organised the different work groups to empty the trucks and start to store their supplies.
Max went to greet their guests, "Thanks for bringing our supplies, Sandeman, I presume," Max offered her hand in greeting. Sandeman and Lydecker were looking round at the residents, all busy, all different, but working together.
"It's not right the nomalies working with the X's and the transhumans," noted Lydecker in his commander's pose.
"Actually everyone here is treated equal," replied Max, "and you'd better get used to it," the contempt she felt showing in her voice.
"Bet you haven't been training, very sloppy soldier," he continued.
"Sorry to disappoint, Alec, Mole and Biggs got training sessions going about three weeks ago," she replied. "Anyway if you'll both follow me, we're using one of the classrooms for our meeting."
"Classrooms," said a surprised Sandeman.
"Another of Alec's achievements, he figured the children would need a school," she replied.
"Yeah, don't want my kid growing up knowing less than me," laughed Alec, joining the group.
"Everything sorted?" Max quizzed.
"Yeah, all the guys should be there getting their coffee by now, so we'd better be quick."
"Never thought you'd take orders from a girl," sneered Lydecker.
"Never thought you would help escapees," rebuffed Alec with a smile, "seems we're both full of surprises."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
As they entered the classroom the room hushed, everyone turning to inspect the humans.
"Ok everyone I think introductions are required," called Max, "I'm Max and for my sins I try and keep this lot in control," she turned to Alec.
"Alec, Max's SIC and procreator of supplies," he continued.
"Mole, weapons and security."
"Dix, the communications and surveillance."
"Issy, joint head of the medical facility."
So it continued around the TC high command, Sandeman and Lydecker nodding at the X series, but Lydecker looking incredulous at nomalies and transhumans being included.
"I am the person you know as Sandeman, actually its Alexander Sandeman but I will understand if you call me Sandeman, as you are aware I am the person who designed you," stated Sandeman softly. "I have been trying to keep in touch with what has happened, but as the conclave discovered where I was working I thought it best for you if I disappeared. Hoping that they would not discover what is seen as my treachery until it was too late. I left Issy to continue monitoring and assisting wherever and whenever she could."
Then it was Lydecker's turn, "Most of you know me as the CO at Manticore and I can see my influence is needed here. Discipline is lacking and the cross breed interaction is unacceptable," he started.
"Hey we don't need your sort here," snarled Mole clutching his pump action shotgun.
"Mole calm down," snapped Max, "and 'Deck you're only here so we can find out what you have to offer, most of us wouldn't think twice about snapping your neck."
"See indiscipline, and lack of command, you should have a male X5 in charge."
"You always were an arrogant pig," remarked Alec, "Been here five minutes and think you can take over."
"Actually, in this line of work you shouldn't judge a transgenic by human limits, Colonel Lydecker," remarked Sandeman. Everyone wondered what he was talking about. "You all treat Issy as though she's nearly twenty years older than the rest of you, in reality she is only about eight years older."
Everyone looked at Issy who seemed as surprised as them. "Cats mature quicker than humans, which is alright if you need a technician and can keep them isolated, but when they are being constantly monitored by others it would be a disaster," he continued.
"So you mean I should be dead by now," said a horrified Issy.
"No, once I realised that you were developing too quickly, I altered your DNA to continue at the normal human rate," Sandeman confessed to Issy, "The changes allowed your physical development to slow to the normal rate at the equivalent of ten years, then for the next eight years I encouraged you to learn at X5 rate everything you would need to know to fool anyone you worked with. What I forgot to tell you to remember was the research which created you, hence when my lab was destroyed by the familiars and when I sold my soul to the Committee, it was like starting from scratch with a prototype I couldn't fully decipher."
"So you're telling us that Issy is effectively only eight years older and your original transgenic, so why didn't you put these runes in her and make her lady Jesus," asked Max.
"Max please don't be bitter, you're everything I wished and more. Issy was the first, what if I had been wrong. You've seen the nomalies, it would have been a waste of time if Issy had been one of those. When I knew that the series was working I choose you to carry the message to the world and the cure for the coming virus," he said patiently.
"So how come she can translate the runes, perform procedures that were thought impossible and .." Max stopped herself, she wanted to be rude about little miss know it all who had stolen Alec, but realised it was the wrong time to vent her frustrations.
"Issy was in the sessions where both Alec and Ben were programmed with information to translate the runes. I asked her to sit in to see how much could be remembered without resorting to Manticore methods, although she was really a final back-up. Both of the boys had tendencies which might lead to their destruction, even at that age."
Alec looked across indignant at this last comment; Issy touched his hand in sympathy, which he held on to. "So what other plans did you have for us, computers, I'm sure sex wasn't on any of Issy's data sheets," Alec sneered.
"You're right, but I didn't remove any of your human emotions, so I guess that was a side effect of the amount of contact you had at Manticore," was the reply.
Alec was livid that was how the old man saw them, just an experiment that hadn't quite worked right, "So Alex is just an unwanted side effect of your great plan, is she, because if she is the I'm out of this experiment now and I'll take Issy and Alex with me," raged Alec, his free hand in a tight fist.
"I agree with Princess, if that's all we are, you're on your own," agreed Mole.
Although Max had started this line of enquiry, she was as outraged as the rest about the old man's reaction. Only Joshua and Issy seemed remarkably calm.
"If that's the best you can say, then you'd better leave, before I kick you out of here," snarled Max.
"I have answered your questions honestly, but I admit unemotionally. I am amazed with your progress and would no sooner want you treated like sub-human than any other member of the human race," the old man replied. "I am not alone in that belief, but proof is required by some that you are not intent on killing everyone. The familiars have done a lot of damage and it won't be easy to undo. I am here as a friend to help you all. The past and how we got here is of little relevance to where we want to go now."
"Who says we don't want to kill the ordinaries," snarled Mole.
"You just want a fight Mole," remarked Issy, "Look I have as much reason as anyone here not to trust him, but if there's one thing I remember it was his brutal honesty before offering a solution that usually worked," she continued in the same calm voice that Sandeman had used, hoping that Alec would follow her lead.
"I don't like the 'usually', but if Issy wants to listen, I trust her," Alec offered, finding himself feeling calmer, "and we can still kick him out if we don't like what we hear," he continued with a grin.
"Ok," said Max, "Who wants to hear the rest of what the weasel has to say." All hands were raised, although some waited to see what others would do first. "Ok you've got five minutes to explain, then we'll decide again."
"I'm glad you are at least willing to listen," the old man replied, as if talking to some petulant teenagers.
"I wouldn't waste your time trying to gain support, you have few who will speak up for you," snapped Max.
"As you are aware from your current translations, Max is the key to a vaccine that will save humanity from a virus being brought in on the comet."
"Take that as read, so what don't we know," Max was really pissed with his attitude, it reminded her of Logan.
"You, also know the familiars want this virus to run its course so that they can take over."
"Again tell us something we don't know."
"Every transgenic has immunity and therefore the antidote to this virus," any mumbling in the room stopped this was becoming interesting, "but it is Max with Alec who will lead the army to defeat the familiars," he paused for effect.
"So you're saying that Max has to be with Alec, is that in the marriage type sense or what?" Logan was seething, all this time Max had been having a relationship with that... screw-up behind his back.
"No, at least not now, my original plan was that either Max and Ben or Max and Alec would become a breeding pair, but the opportunity never arose and I believe different pairings have now been made, otherwise you wouldn't be here," Sandeman replied looking at Logan, then Max and Alec (noticing Issy holding Alec's hand), "I would not try to change that, so long as Max and Alec can work together combining their abilities to create an effective unit there will be no problems."
"Do you hear that Max, you've got to stop hitting me," laughed Alec.
"In your dreams," she laughed back. "Why don't we take a break, resume in thirty minutes."
Max needed to get this meeting under control (Logan had said the wrong thing, what had happened to the truce) and this session had not gone well. "Mole and Biggs can you escort Sandeman and Lydecker to the canteen for coffee, please. Logan, Issy, Alec and Joshua can I see you in my office now? CeCe could you get us some coffee, thanks," she ordered.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"Look we need to be united," said Max looking hard at Logan, "at the moment it isn't working, so we've got fifteen minutes to sort out the differences. Who's going to start?"
"Look I don't mind sticking around and working with you, it won't be the first time, but can we cut the punches. If I want to get beaten I can always join the training sessions," remarked Alec.
"I don't want him sniffing around and screwing things up, or screwing you. We're together now, aren't we?" Logan butted in, shouting at Max.
"I'm with you Logan in the physical sense, but the running of terminal city means I need a second in command and Alec has always been that for me. So get over it," Max glared at Logan. Turning to the others, "Any other comments?"
"I'm not sure why you wanted Joshua and me here," asked Issy.
"Because you and Joshua seem to be supporting Sandeman," Max replied. "Our personal issues seem to be causing problems with this meeting," she turned to Issy.
"Father is not bad, he cares, he will help," said Joshua innocently.
"I agree with Joshua, Sandeman may seem bad but we need to find out what he wants and whether it's what everyone here wants," Issy stated, "As for our personal issues I thought we had a truce at least until everything is straight. In the mean time, with your permission, I would like to carry out the procedures on the X5's to make them more useful in the field and train staff for the infirmary."
"Look I wish you two would stop talking about me as a personal issue," said Alec, "I know just like Logan, you both wonder if Sandeman's original plans might be in my thoughts," he looked from Issy to Max, "Maybe before Issy arrived I would have taken the chance, but not now. Yes you're hot Max, but you pushed me to the edge before Issy arrived, and since she's been around things between us have got worse. I'm not sure whether its jealousy, but I'm here for the freaks not for a relationship with you. Let's just get this sorted."
Joshua and Max looked embarrassed whilst Logan seemed relieved. Issy thought to Alec, 'Thanks'.
There was a knock on the door and CeCe brought in the coffee. Looking at the faces she asked, "Everything Ok in here."
"Yeah everything's fine," said Max as CeCe left.
"Hope you mean that," said Alec.
"Yeah, positions have been cleared, its time to get working together," she agreed without much enthusiasm.
"Actually one thing hasn't been sorted," said Issy quietly.
"What's that?" snapped Max.
"Logan hasn't agreed to back off on Alec or me. This jealousy thing he's got about Alec could still cause problems and he still doesn't trust me, the truce has to be unanimous to work" Issy stated.
"Logan is that true?" Max turned to him and asked.
"You and Alec seem attracted, what happens when you're in heat, will he be able to control himself?" he replied with candour, "I can't be as close as I would like and Issy has yet to prove herself here, plus she worked in psy-ops from our experience with Mia they just use people."
"I'm glad we're being honest, it makes solving problems easy," Issy confessed, "To your first point, if Max would put herself forward for the procedures, heat can be removed to be replaced by a human cycle, so that would no longer be a problem. On your second point I learnt a lot of things in psy-ops which can prove useful, but that they should never be used without the subjects co-operation, unless in a torture situation. Torture should only be used on an agreed enemy as a final resort. I hope this will alleviate some of your worries."
"Although I have issues about you and Alec, I can't question your honesty or how much you have helped us. Biggs and CeCe would be dead and I've seen the work you did on Alec, if you'd wanted to hurt him you could, but I saw how much it hurt you," said Max.
"You spied on the procedures?" Issy was horrified, that was supposed to be private.
"I didn't trust you then, so I got Dix to set up a camera to record you working," Max replied defensively, "I only watched it after your return because I couldn't talk to Alec without you being there. Seeing it I realised that your tears seemed genuine, and you stopped the last procedure as soon as Alec recited some strange words." Then quickly changing the subject, she continued, "when do you want to start the procedures, I think I should lead by example and be first."
"I was hoping to start in the next few days, but if you want to be first, you might want to make sure plans are in place for your absence, it'll take about three days."
"You mean you'd trust this woman with your life," asked Logan incredulously, how could she after everything he'd said.
"Yes, I think she has more belief in needing keeping me alive than you ever did, and I think this is the only way to get people, including you, to trust her," Max replied. "I want your assurances that you will make this truce work, or you'll be banned from TC."
"If that's what it takes to keep you, I'll agree," he replied grudgingly.
"Good," she replied, "let's get back to the meeting."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
A/N Alexander means protector of mankind, a role which Sandeman took seriously in creating the transgenics.
Lora lee X5-214 :Just in case you didn't read this at chapter 13 an explanation.
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. (I believe it is a male fantasy to sleep with their friend's mother in their teens, so I don't see much difference).
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