Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters
A/N : My first attempt. Since all my reviewers are commenting about the same aspects this is for all you lovely people. Seems Ben is an under used favourite because everyone wants him back quickly, unfortunately you can't rush a good thing. He will show up at Manticore but not until after the others have got there and some stories of their past emerge. I'm thinking about four chapters time. But until they meet even I don't know if Max and Ben will be a pair, depends on his reprogramming I guess. As for Alec he's basically a nice guy who figured out that Manticore was the problem.
Many thanks:
Angelofdarkness78: Glad you liked Alec sticking up for Ben.
Jracklesfan77: Welcome to a new reviewer. I normally like MA pairings but this seemed to work so thought I'd give it a go. Glad you like it.
Wildsky: Glad you like the Max/Issy bit, there's more to come. Lydecker was switching sides in the series when he went missing, so it seemed right for him to come to help them now.
Honey X5-452: Alec's comfortable now and doesn't want trouble with Max, when he remembered his past he also remembered that all the bad things that happened were due to Manticore's belief that they were weapons to be treated like a prototype tank or fighter plane.
Shygirl1: Glad you like it.
EminemIsCool: Ben will be here as soon as I get the team to Manticore and they have some quality time together. This story was supposed to be about 20 chapters but looks like being 40.
Who loves the teacher?
Chapter Twenty-seven: Preparations 2
Max found Sandeman, "I think you should know that yesterday I learnt that X5-493, Ben, is alive. Lydecker sent orders for him to return and he should be back in a few days."
She watched the man's face for a reaction to her statement, there wasn't one.
"I suppose you think that I am expecting you to fulfil my plans with him?" he asked.
"I was wondering," she replied.
"I think that would be presumptuous of me, you will need time to sort out your feelings," he replied. "I thought you were looking for me to talk about the broadcast?"
"Yeah Dix thinks he can do an Eyes Only type hack, so we need to talk about it."
"Can we leave that until later?" he asked, "I understand you will be leaving with Lydecker and the others in three days and I wanted to talk with you and Issy about what will happen in the lab in her absence."
"She was leaving for the lab earlier, so we can probably find her there," she replied.
"I'd like Lydecker in on the talks as well," said Sandeman.
As they walked over to the labs Max saw Lydecker without his escort, "Don't tell me you've lost your shadow," she laughed.
"Yeah they went to a meeting, but I can't get in anywhere," he replied.
"Don't worry, you're on surveillance out here, that's why the building guards won't let you in," she continued to smirk, "anyway Sandeman wants you to join us for a meeting with Issy, so I'll be your escort."
As they entered the med. centre Issy was just finishing her conversation with Psyche.
"I'm surprised she's here," Lydecker whispered to Max, "she was quite ruthless at Manticore."
"I know, that's why Issy wanted her here," Max replied in her normal voice, knowing that Psyche had probably heard everything.
Psyche looked in their direction, "Lydecker how pleasant to see you," she commented sarcastically, "killed any kids recently."
"I thought that was your speciality, at least destroying their brains," he snapped back.
"So no introductions required then," Max interjected. "Psyche this is Sandeman, Sandeman Psyche one of our psy-ops team," Max introduced.
"Pleased to meet the father of my race," Psyche responded.
"Issy could you join us for a meeting in the lab, now?" asked Max.
"Sure we were just finishing," Issy turned to Psyche. "See you later."
They went into a nearby lab leaving Psyche in reception. "If you're all leaving in three days to collect Ben we need to talk about what will happen in your absence," started Sandeman. "I don't mind assisting but I will not take charge of anything."
"Good because I think the transgenics would resent that," Max replied. Turning to Issy she continued, "in your absence I don't want Psyche anywhere near Ben."
"If we get the familiar she'll be too busy," Issy replied, "besides I think Dara would be better suited to working with Ben. I'd like you to be there when I brief her after lunch, if that's ok."
"Yeah I'd like to be there," replied Max.
"I would like Dara and Serena to work with all of the returning X5s," Issy commented.
"Why them, they were the least effective at Manticore," retorted Lydecker.
"Actually they were the most successful in my view," replied Issy, "just because they took longer, did not make them inferior, none of their subjects were terminated. They took their time and produced a better long term result without lasting injury."
"So which one worked on Alec?" asked Max. Issy looked surprised by the question, so Max continued, "everyone talks about the length of his stays in psy-ops as though it was unusual."
"Oh, his stays were longer because they usually occurred when I was on leave and Madame Renfro preferred to use Psyche. So when I returned I worked with either Dara or Serena to restore his sanity," Issy replied.
"How long were your holidays, for that much damage?" queried Max.
"I usually managed to avoid holidays for two years, then someone would notice and say I had to have nearly 3 months off. So I would go to Europe or Asia like any other tourist and return to the disaster I expected and vow never to take a holiday again," Issy replied.
"I think Issy probably has a better idea of who to use than anyone else," Sandeman offered his support.
"When are you thinking of bringing in NorBAC?" Issy asked him.
"My first thoughts are to get samples to them for analysis with a document explaining the background and concerns about this virus," said Sandeman. "I know Dr Sandstrom and his team and I will deal with them directly."
"What about them coming here?" asked Max.
"I would like to keep them away until Issy can deal with them directly," he replied.
"So there won't be any need for blood samples until we're back?" asked Issy. "They can have the samples we've already taken; I can have them boxed and ready to go by lunchtime tomorrow."
"We can get Sketchy to take them to Jam Pony and courier them to Vancouver," replied Max.
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That evening Lydecker joined the dinner party, while Joshua took Sandeman to his exclusive art gallery within TC.
"Smart place you got here," Lydecker commented as he entered the apartment.
"We aim to please," smirked Alec.
"Have you issued the orders?" Max asked Lydecker.
"As soon as you left last night," he replied gruffly, "they acknowledged receipt. ETA for Ben's return is 8:00 6 days hence. ETA for X5-362 is 24 hours."
"So soon for X5-362?" Max queried.
"Yeah I had asked her to return to the States three days ago and go to Washington and await further orders," replied Lydecker. "Gave her the order to assassinate Senator McKinley during lunch yesterday and return to base on completion of the mission."
"So this time tomorrow we could be hearing a news flash of McKinley's death?" asked Alec.
"Yeah," he replied.
"Better get Dix sorting that broadcast for tomorrow," replied Max, "maybe Sandeman will allow us to use his brand on the first broadcast."
"Yeah but we need to be ready to leave the night after tomorrow," Lydecker commented.
"Not until after dinner," replied Alec.
"What's happening with Alex," Lydecker almost sounded concerned.
"Gem has agreed to have her until we return," replied Issy with regret, she didn't like leaving Alex but it was for the best.
"How're we getting out?" asked Lydecker, "I don't suppose White would let us just leave."
"We've got our ways of going under them, but since you'll be blindfolded it would be silly to tell you," laughed Max.
"When are you going to trust that I'm on your side?" Lydecker sounded exasperated.
"When we all get back with these X5s and there have been no problems," Max replied.
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A/N: No cliff hanger on this one and a short one, but I thought it a good place to end.
I'm trying to keep them shorter for my most consistent reviewer. Next update at 140 reviews.
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