Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters.
A/N: My first attempt. This chapter is short but I still want 188 reviews for next update. Sorry for the delay, I had a problem with my computer and lost everything that I had done, teach me not to back up my work.
Many Thanks:
Big, big thank to Honey X5-452 for letting people my recent reviewers know that my computer had gone down and I'd lost my work, luckily I had hard copies.
Mel11: glad you liked.
Elle6778: give them time.
Darkangelgirl: talk yes, but not alone yet.
Lakergirl08: chap.36 for TC, but still have to re-type 35 first.
Honey X5-452: as I said to elle6778 give them time.
Angel Of Darkness: glad you liked it.
Who Loves The Teacher?
Chapter Thirty-four: Catch The Birdie
Max and Ben joined the others for lunch.
"Issy tells me that you managed, with her help, to avoid the excesses of psy-ops," Alec remarked to Ben.
"Yeah, she told me about your treatment," he replied. "I'm sorry," he added sheepishly.
"Hey Manticore was always a bit twisted," Alec replied more jovially than he felt. "I just seemed to be the first in line for any new twisted treatment they conjured up. If it wasn't for your misdemeanours, it was for my own."
"What Alec's trying to say is that there's evidence of the treatments in the basement, if you want to check it out before we return to TC," Issy explained.
"What!" exclaimed Max. "I couldn't see but Ben can," she
complained.
"You wanted to see before I had a chance," Alec countered. "Anyway it might help Ben when he meets my old unit. No matter what I've said and they've agreed, it'll be a different matter when they're face to face."
"I sent a message saying that we'd be bringing two back and Biggs sounded like although he wants you back soon, he's worried about Ben," Lydecker cut across. "So when are you thinking of going back Max?"
I think we probably need a couple of days," she replied, "otherwise they'll think something's wrong."
"That's good, but we might need some more food," said Lydecker. "I thought they'd be four of us for three days and five for four days. Instead we've been five for four days leaving just enough food for today and tomorrow."
"Ok we've got enough of the dried basics with my store, but we'll be short on meat and fresh veg., Candi and I could go looking for wild veg. and you could go hunt a deer or something."
"Is that wise?" asked Lydecker, "me and the kids hunting for a kill."
"I just thought you might like the exercise and working together as a team," she replied.
"You act so naïve at times," Lydecker snapped. "They were designed to be killing machines and you want them to go and kill something in these woods." The memories of the times they'd chased and killed convicts flashing through his mind.
"No you taught them to kill without mercy any target," she replied angrily. "I don't think Max ever did so without regret, Rachel broke Alec and Ben was broken by his own death. I always taught that survival was the most important instinct and we need meat for food."
"What makes you think hunting won't turn them?" Lydecker quizzed. "They only need a trigger."
"Because I have faith in them," she snapped. "But you're right we can survive on coffee and rice for a day."
The others had been clearing the table as the exchange took place, none of them daring to interrupt for fear of becoming the next target.
Ben turned to Max, "are all the discussions this heated?"
"No, but I think Issy was giving us a test," she replied quietly.
"What sort of test? To see if we would revert."
"No, to see if we could work together as a team and prove that you won't revert," she replied.
Issy turned from Lydecker to the others, "Since I cooked you can clean up, I'm going for a walk." Then she turned and stormed out before anyone could stop her. Alec was stuck at the far end of the kitchen and couldn't get out before Issy disappeared.
"You're a prize dick at times 'Deck," Max rounded on Lydecker. "Issy was trying to set us a test and you stopped it."
Alec disappeared and came back a few minutes later with a worried look on his face. "I think the test is still on," he said. Max looked confused, so he added, "Issy's taken the crossbow."
Max realised that Alec was worried; Issy and he were rarely apart unless they were working and then they knew where the other was. "Did Issy have any weapons training 'Deck?" she asked seriously.
"Psy-ops staff didn't need it, but most did some. Why?" he asked.
"It seems Issy's gone to get that deer," Max replied.
"That's not my main concern," Alec cut in, holding out his hand, "she left her coms unit."
Max was thinking of a plan, "Right we go in pairs, Alec you take Candi, Ben you're with me and 'Deck do you think you could manage to monitor everything," she added sarcastically. "If we head out east and west of the woods and remember if you see a deer and not Issy, she's probably behind you."
"I thought you two had some sort of telepathic link," Lydecker queried of Alec, wondering what all the fuss was about.
"We do, if she wants to use it," he replied, "but she won't respond , that's an added worry."
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Issy had been running through the woods following the deer tracks, not noticing where she was going. She'd seen one in clearing and aimed, bringing it down in one. It was only as she approached the kill that she realised that she was not alone.
Turning slowly she gasped at what was behind her. She stood surrounded by four men in dark suits. One stepped forward.
"Well, well what have we here," mocked White, "daddy's favourite pupil."
She heard Alec's call in her head, but for the moment she had to concentrate on White. 'Why had she been so stupid, without her coms unit the others could walk into a trap.'
"It's unlike you not to have an answer, what's wrong Issy, weren't you expecting to find me here?"
"I thought you were busy with your cult buddies," she replied sarcastically.
"No, I'd heard that there were some filthy transgenic scum around these woods, so I thought I'd bring some friends and check it out," he replied. "And look what I found the first of the transgenic scum."
She was busy trying to think of a way out; although she knew that she was out of practice with combat (although the practice she'd done with CeCe had helped) and the crossbow was far too slow. Suddenly she sensed the directions that Max and Alec were approaching from and shot a crossbow bolt into the air between them, sending it high. She hoped they would realised there was danger.
"That was a silly shot Issy," White chided, "I doubt you'd even get a squirrel with that." He turned to the men, "seize her, she could be a useful bargaining tool."
"As the men approached Issy stood calmly waiting. When one got close enough she kicked out hard breaking his leg and making him scream.
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Alec saw the bolt and using his coms asked Max, "did you see the bolt?"
"Yeah, think we can work it back to her," she replied.
"Probably, but I think Issy's in trouble," he replied.
"Why?"
"Even Issy knows deer can't climb trees," he replied sarcastically. "I think it's a warning."
As they continued towards where the bolt had come from they heard a cry. 'Male' they all thought.
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Ben put his hand on Max's arm, "she's smart, she'll try and keep them busy until we get there. This test is better than the one she planned."
"Alec carry on as if the test was to rescue Issy," Ben said into his coms unit. "What would you do now?"
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Alec calmed, "two pronged attack you go left, I'll go right let me know when you've got eyeball." Then to Candi, "Issy's obviously found hostiles, time to rescue the damsel. You got my back?"
"No problem," she replied, as they edged forward.
Then there was a gunshot. "Issy only had the crossbow," Alec informed Max, his body tensing.
"She'll be alright," Max reassured, wondering what would happen if she was wrong.
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As Issy recovered from breaking the man's leg White raised his gun. "Why couldn't you just come quietly," he said as he pulled the trigger.
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A/N: I liked the idea of this having a cliff hanger, but 188 reviews before the answer (if I've typed it in by then).