Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters
A/N: My first attempt.
Many thanks:
Wildsky: glad you liked the interactions, there are more to come.
Maria656: that's fast reading. Glad you're still with me.
Honey X5-452: don't write 'Deck off just yet.
Angelofdarkness78: Agree with you on 'Deck, there's a surprise in store. Sorry Ben has to wait for 2 more chapters.
Darkangelgirl: Updates for reviews, if I get what I ask for, I keep my promise.
Elle6778: Yes Psyche is that cruel, but her Manticore methods will only ever be hinted at.
Angel Of Darkness231: Sorry to nag about reviews, hope your internet connection is ok now. Yeah I gotta stop talking and do something but the next 3 are sort of background before Ben arrives.
Who loves the teacher?
Chapter Twenty-eight : News Flash
The next morning at the morning meeting Biggs, Mole and CeCe were looking pleased with themselves.
"I don't know whether I am going to regret this," said Max looking at the three transgenics. "What are you looking so smug about this morning."
"You did ask us to plan an operation to get one of White's familiars, didn't you?" asked Biggs.
"Yes, so what have you been up to?" she replied slightly irritated.
"Dix caught one on the security cameras, so we picked them up and delivered him to Psyche last night," replied Mole.
"What!" Max yelled. "Didn't you think to check first?"
"Hey you might be in charge today, but you're leaving us in a couple of days," snapped Mole. "Thought you'd like to see that we will be taking the duty seriously."
"I'm sorry, but it was a risk that should have been discussed," she apologised the edge still in her voice, she was still incensed that they would put themselves at risk. "What if something had happened, we can't afford to lose anyone."
"There wasn't much risk, three transgenics against one familiar who had wandered away from the safety of their building and too close to the fence," Biggs explained realising Max was angry. "We were never more than three feet from the perimeter."
"Didn't you think that strange?" asked Lydecker. "Could he be a plant by White?"
"If he is Psyche will know soon," replied Issy. "She doesn't usually waste time and with the drugs and laser, she'll break him."
"How many guarding him?" Max asked.
"Four, two inside, two outside the cell," replied Biggs. "He was fastened to the chair before we left him, used the extra strong chains. We had a chain attached to the wall on him as well, thought you wouldn't want him to escape."
"Is the cell secure?" asked Alec.
"As secure as anything in TC," shrugged Biggs.
"Ok let's hope he gives enough for a broadcast tonight," said Max. All eyes turned to her waiting for an explanation. "One of the field operatives has been sent to kill Senator McKinley, hopefully his death will be on the news tonight. We need to have our broadcast ready to go by then." Everyone looked at each other.
"Won't McKinley's death trigger a transgenic witch hunt by the familiars?" asked Mole, the ash dropping from his cigar as he spoke.
"That's why I need everyone on alert and ready," replied Max, "with Alec and I away you will have to be more aware of what's happening. How's the broadcast going, Dix?"
"Should be ready for viewing at lunchtime," he replied.
"Good just in time for Sketchy to arrive and collect those samples," replied Max. "Issy will Sketchy be able to interview the prisoner by then?"
"I haven't seen him yet, but I'll let you know before he arrives," she replied.
After talking about the mundane tasks of supplies, disputes and general running of TC Max closed the meeting.
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Jam Pony that morning
"Come on you reprobates, these parcels don't deliver themselves," shouted Normal as the phone started ringing.
Picking it up he said to the caller, "Jam Pony messenger service, can I help you?"
"Hi Normal."
"How's my Golden Boy then," Normal started smiling, he missed hearing Alec's adventures.
"Fine, we need Sketchy to collect a parcel, it needs to get to Canada fast."
"You want who?" he replied aghast, looking at Sketchy.
"Sketchy and tell him to bring his camera and notebook."
"Not on Jam Pony time."
"I'll pay double rate, it's important for TC. Watch the news and you'll see why later," Alec finished.
"Sketchy get your stuff together you've got a pick-up at TC and a special request for a reporter," Normal shouted as he replaced the receiver.
Sketchy looked surprised and bewildered.
"Well don't just stand there, my Golden Boy has asked for you personally, can't think why, so bip bip bip," Normal snapped at him. "As for the rest of you people back to work these packages don't deliver themselves."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Max and Issy found Psyche outside the cell holding the familiar. The cell was like a police interview room with a two-way mirror. Inside the room was a projection screen, several instruments on a trolley and a laser trained on a chair. Strapped in the chair was a very pale dark haired man who was in his early thirties.
"Well they were right about one thing," Issy commented as she looked at the man, a memory flashing through her mind.
"What's that?" asked Max.
"He's definitely a familiar, one of White's old buddies, Greg Saunders," replied Issy. "How's it going Psyche?"
"Slow, I don't want to push too quickly, yet!" was the reply.
"Try asking about Melody and Connie," replied Issy, "that might loosen his tongue."
"Why?" asked Max, slightly irritated that Issy seemed to be drawing this out.
"Melody and Connie were his cousins," Issy replied.
"Were?" queried Max.
"Yeah, White killed them when they were about sixteen, male hormones on the blink," she laughed. "Anyway Greg loved Melody and was distraught, vowed he'd do anything to destroy White. It might be the leverage you need to break him, just don't let Sandeman see him."
"Thanks Issy, but why hide him from Sandeman?" replied Psyche.
"Sandeman felt sorry for the boy," replied Issy, "he wouldn't like us to hurt him."
"Oh!" replied Psyche, "any chance of finding an X6 that looks like her?"
"I'll see what I can do," Issy replied.
"Gonna let me in on the secret?" asked Max.
"Yeah, we get an X6 to ask the questions to gain his forgiveness," replied Psyche, "with the drugs he won't know what's real or not and he'll answer everything. You could even film it with her off camera for your broadcast."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
At 20:15 there was a newsflash.
News is just emerging of the assassination of Senator McKinley on the steps of the senate building as he left for the weekend. The assassination is being blamed on the transgenics.
"Ok Dix you ready?" asked Max.
"Ready and willing," he replied.
"Time to send a message to the world then," she commanded as Dix started the cable hack.
On the television screens across the nation came a new voice.
'Do not adjust your sets, this is a message from the nations freedom fighters. Today an assassin killed Senator McKinley, this was an order from your own government. Senator McKinley had been identified as a member of an organisation known as the Conclave. These people are known as familiars and can be identified by the snake brand on their left arm. The Conclave is planning on the destruction of the human race, believing itself to be superior.
Several years ago a member of this cult decided they were wrong and helped the government to create supersoldiers, known to you as freaks and transgenics, to protect the ordinary humans. The battle for humanity has begun, be careful who you call your friends.
The following interview is from a captured familiar.'
A scene follows of a man talking to camera about his involvement with the Conclave and naming White as his superior. The camera does a close-up on the snake brand on his arm, while he talks.
'The Conclave have people in high office who will deny the truth, but when your friends start dying remember it is only the transgenics who can save them. Freedom To All.'
The televisions returned to the normal broadcast, with cheers from the transgenics.
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Watching the broadcast at Crash OC turned to Sketchy, "so that's what our boy wanted you for."
"Yeah, also got an interview and pictures for my editor," he replied, with a grin "when I dropped it off earlier he was so pleased they ran the story today. He said if I can get more then he might taken me on permanent"
"Wow so the boy's got his scoop," she cheered. "You think you leaving me and movin' up fool. It ain't gonna happen."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Back at Jam Pony Normal watched the TV with interest, 'so that's what golden boy was up to with Sketchy," he thought. "Glad I got that parcel on the plane today, that White guy might come here looking for it."
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A/N: I promise that the journey to Manticore to wait for Ben will start in the next chapter but I won't update until I have 148 reviews.
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