Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters
A/N: My first attempt. This one's a back to being shorter.
Many thanks:
Maria656: glad you find 'Deck interesting
Darkangelgirl: Max and Ben in this.
Angel Of Darkness231: Max is still responsible for Manticore getting blown-up, and therefore responsible for everything else, even if indirectly.
Shygirl1: Glad you liked the Lydecker bit.
Kam: new reviewer: Thanks, I promised so he's in here.
Elle6776: Yeah a precocious teenager our Alec
Lakergirl08: Ben's here but not with Alec yet.
Who loves the teacher?
Chapter Thirty-one : The Prodigal Son 1
The next day, whilst Candi was on gate duty, Issy took them to the computer system that Sandeman had installed in the basement.
In one corner was a generator that was still running and computer, in another corner was a small kitchen, bed and couch.
"Don't tell me," said Max looking at Issy, "you stayed down here after Manticore was blown-up."
"Ok, I won't tell you," replied Issy curtly.
"Don't be like that," Alec pleaded, "what happened?"
Issy looked at him, and laughed at his puppy dog look, "ok, you always know how to get round me. By the time I had completed what needed to be done, the guards were killing anything that moved. Since it was indiscriminate I thought it was better to stay put, there was enough food and water for a month and everything else I needed. There's even a bathroom behind the screen."
"Sandeman must not have trusted anyone when he started here," Lydecker cut in.
"He never trusted the military," she replied. "You had a different agenda from his."
"So how long did you stay?" asked Max.
"I knew Alec and you were on the outside and hoped you were ok," she continued, "I couldn't leave until White dismantled his camp, after someone changed the signal he was sending."
Alec and Max smirked, "that was us," Max said.
"I thought it might be," Issy replied with a grin.
Alec was trying to get the computer on line, "if we can get this going we can maintain contact with TC," he said, "and maybe download the information to them."
"Good idea," replied Max.
"Hey, some of that information is classified," Lydecker snapped.
"No all of the information is classified," replied Issy, "but it's about the transgenics and could prove useful to them."
"Since it will be destroyed when we leave, either we download it or lose it all," replied Max, "I'm for keeping it."
"Ok," said Alec, "download to TC completed." Looking at Lydecker's face, he continued, "what? I wasn't going to listen to your military decisions; it's about us, so now we've got it."
"It's done now, so stop looking like that Lydecker," remarked Issy, "how many times were X5's sent to retrieve classified data by their handlers? I'm sure Sandeman will be happy at the retrieval of this information."
"Ok I surrender," Lydecker replied brusquely, "I would just have liked to check it first."
"You mean deleted anything relating to your work," Max replied sarcastically.
"That's ok, he wouldn't have found anything incriminating, that's all stored in another room," Issy cut in, to surprised looks by Max and Alec.
"Hey got a message from Dix," called Alec, still sat at the computer, and deciding not to comment on the conversation going on behind him.
"Well," said Max staring at him, "what does it say?"
"Sandeman says thanks for the info, it will help with his work," replied Alec, "and Biggs says there are several inhabitants of the cells awaiting your return. Mole says the ordinaries now have two different groups picketing TC. He says its nice watching them fight each other."
"Have you told them about Candi?" asked Max.
"Not yet, I was waiting your command before replying," he retorted.
After giving him a punch in the shoulder, she continued, "ask them who they've got in the cells."
"No way, there's nothing we can do until we get back," he replied. "I'm not having you getting uptight about how they're being treated.
Max glared at him. "Ok," she snapped, then turned to Issy "what do you mean the incriminating stuff is stored somewhere else."
"Every procedure was digitally recorded, as well as some of the training sessions and all the security cameras," she replied, noting Alec's worried look. "That's why I told you how to avoid the cameras if you were going to sneak to my apartment, I had to erase several that night before Renfro had chance to see them."
"So you're saying that all this information is stored in another room?" Max asked.
"Not all, only anything which was incriminating or Sandeman might need," she replied.
"So where is it?" Lydecker snarled. "Or are you going to keep it hidden."
"Behind the shelves by the computer," she replied, "but I think Alec might want to check some out on his own before the rest of you see them."
Lydecker and Max had moved the shelf unit and were starting to look through the contents of the room as Alec shouted, "Hey didn't you hear Issy."
"Yeah, but why should you get first look?" Max retorted picking up one of the dvd's and loading it into a player.
The screen started with a picture of Renfro detailing the date and experiment number.
The next scene was of Alec strapped to a bed naked with a white coated medic leering at him. A voice cut in, "The elite unit get my attentions only, so get out," Issy snapped as she walked into the picture.
"Hey this looks interesting, you look about sixteen here," Max called to Alec.
Alec had gone pale, he remembered what that was all about and didn't want Max watching the humiliating act that took place. Issy reached the player and switched it off quickly, saving Alec further embarrassment.
"Aw, spoilsport," Max complained with a pout.
"Hey wasn't that the experiment on virility and sexual maturity of the X5's?" asked Lydecker, Issy nodded. "So that's how you got your kicks then, how many experiments did you do personally."
"Look it was as degrading for me as them," Issy protested. "But as you must know I did only experiments on the elite unit, Alec's unit." Seeing Max's look of horror, she added. "If I'd only done Alec every time it would have been suspicious by doing the whole unit they were all saved from the unscrupulous attentions of the perverts."
"So what did Lydecker mean experiments in virility and sexual maturity?" Max asked.
"Can't you use your imagination?" Alec protested, not wanting her told the intimate details.
"I just want to get this clear," she replied coyly.
"Bitch," he spat back.
"Briefly what Renfro wanted was to find out exactly when the boys became virile and the quality of their sperm. So from the age of sixteen they were taken to med bay to produce a sample, but as with all of her experiments, they were strapped to a bed whilst the sample was extracted and every detail was filmed for her enjoyment."
"That's gross," squirmed Max. "And you did the elites to protect Alec?"
"Alec was already coming to me for the theory of sex when Renfro ordered this experiment," Issy replied. "I took the opportunity of seeing him before the experiment started to explain what was going to happen."
"Yeah, gave me time to tell the others what to expect as well," Alec cut in with a grin. "The worse part was when the sadist was there leering, I was praying that Issy would arrive soon."
"Unfortunately Alec's tape was kept as the training tape and shown to everyone attempting the procedure," Issy finished.
"So there are tapes in here detaining anything Renfro wanted for her own enjoyment?" Max asked as Lydecker continued looking at the titles.
"That and more," replied Issy. "I suppose you'll spend the rest of your visit watching them?"
"Some could come in useful both with the media and government," Max replied.
"Maybe, but I don't want to see my body being tortured on prime time TV," replied Alec, who had come to join them.
"You said something about monitoring the CCTV system down here," Lydecker turned to Issy. "Any chance that any of its still working?"
"I could try but I don't suppose we'll get much," she replied sitting by a monitor and turning the equipment on.
To her surprise the cameras by the gate gave an almost perfect picture, as did three on the perimeter and two by the block they were in. "Seems we have the means to monitor our safety," smiled Lydecker.
Whilst Max, Alec and Issy spent the next day deciding which of the dvds to use, which to keep and which to destroy. The horrors of some of the clips gave Lydecker an insight into how much crueller Renfro had been than even he had imagined. Lydecker and Candi brought all their supplies into the basement, which was still well concealed in an emergency although not very spacious.
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It was early on the fourth day that Max heard someone approaching. Issy and Alec had gone for a shower, Candi sleeping after her watch and Lydecker was sorting breakfast. She had been sat reading some of Issy's files and had not seen the person approaching. Using her intercom she informed Lydecker of the approaching footsteps before checking who it was.
When she realised that it was indeed Ben that she'd heard, she didn't know what to do. She had hoped that he would arrive during Lydecker's shift, then there wouldn't be any awkwardness, but that wasn't to be. She wondered if he would recognise her, as she watched his steady approach.
When he got to the gate it was as though he hadn't seen her, "493 reporting for duty," he said.
Max didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the clipped Manticore tone. He still hadn't really looked at her; she knew she had to act out the role before he noticed.
"493, Colonel Lydecker will be here to meet you in a few minutes," she said in her best Manticore tone.
There was a flicker in his eyes as he registered who was talking to him; how should he respond, he knew she had been captured before he left. Had Manticore broken her, as they thought they'd broken him; could he talk to Maxie like they used to, better not risk it. "Am I to wait here for him, 452?" he asked not letting his mask slip.
Max was disappointed, she'd seen the flicker of recognition, but he was still 'stick up his ass' Manticore; better keep the act going she thought. "That's what he said 493," she replied, hoping Lydecker wouldn't take long, as they waited in silence both absorbed by their own thoughts.
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A/N: Hope you like the return of Ben, please tell me what you think. Update at 168 reviews.
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