Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters.
A/N: My first attempt. Some minor torture sessions in this chapter.
Many Thanks:
Mel11: sorry have to jump backward and forward between them until Max and Ben get back.
Elle6778: yeah Ames up to his tricks; just thought life should be easier for our heroes.
Lakergirl08: Ames thinks Max and Ben are still in TC, you'll have to wait for Greg's answer.
Honey X5-452: next time for Max and Ben.
Angelofdarkness78: yeah White's got to be evil.
Shygirl1: Glad you're enjoying.
Darkangelgirl262: Alec's just got bad memories, he's trying not to hold it against her.
Alec494: Poor Alex has working parents, who try to do the best but have major roles in TC but good friends who help out. Alec will get better around Psyche.
Who Loves The Teacher?
Chapter Forty-nine: Thula
Back at Sandeman's place he and Greg were just sitting down for dinner. "So are you going to explain why you started working with my son?" Sandeman asked.
"You've heard the phrase keep your friends close but your enemies closer," Greg replied. "I thought if I stayed close to him I'd find a way to destroy him."
"And have you?"
"What found a way to destroy him?" he replied. "Not really, he is intent on destroying your work so that the Conclave can take over as planned. He keeps looking for 452 and 494; though I'm not sure whether that's just a personal grudge against them. Anyway the Conclave isn't happy with his attempts, if he keeps failing them they will probably deal with him."
"So do you want to go back there or help the transgenics beat the Conclave?"
"I have a reason to help the transgenics in the form of the beautiful Dara," he replied.
"Is that why you didn't fight with Issy?" Sandeman laughed.
"Dara didn't want any of the TC command team to learn of our fling, I don't think she even let the bitch that worked on me know."
"Poor Psyche you think so badly of her, when she was only doing her job," Sandeman looked compassionate for the girl.
"Why were they in such a rush?"
"So your pillow talk didn't extend to that," Sandeman replied. "They wanted to put out a broadcast before Senator McKinley was assassinated and they needed your testimony about the Conclave to be included on the broadcast."
"So that's what Issy meant about not being welcomed back?"
Sandeman nodded, "so all the more reason to help. They will need to know the Conclave's strongholds, can you help."
"With some but not all," Greg replied. "I thought they had other prisoners to help."
"They have but they are Phallux, not the easiest to break."
"If it will protect Dara I'll help, but how will you let them know?"
"Alec or Biggs will probably call tomorrow to see that everything is ok, we can tell them then."
"But I don't want to tell them about Dara, won't they suspect."
"We'll find a way to keep her out of the picture."
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As the nine transgenics left the canteen heading to the bar they spied Seth walking in the same direction with Candi.
"Hope you're going to join us for a game of pool," called Zane.
"Yeah give us some time to give Candi the low down on your past foibles," Jondy laughed.
"In that case we'll see you tomorrow," replied Seth trying to change direction as the others caught up with them.
Jondy took his arm, "now that's not very friendly," she teased leading him to the bar.
Zane put his arm round Candi, "we're not that bad when you get to know us," he said.
"You're probably not, but I have security duty later," Candi replied as she tried to pull away.
"That's alright I'll cover for you," replied Mole puffing smoke over everyone.
"I guess we haven't got much choice then," Seth sighed.
"None whatsoever," replied Krit laughing.
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Just before he went into the interrogation room Alec turned to Psyche, "give me five minutes then bring in the drugs and lazar, just make sure the screen images are designed to destroy allegiance to the Conclave."
As he entered the room Alec felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise and a shiver run down his back. It wasn't the woman tied to the chair that caused the reaction, but his memories of being on the receiving end of this kind of treatment.
Thula saw the reaction, "so White was right about emotions being your weakness," she accused. "So are you here to let me go or watch someone else do your dirty work. I must admit I'm disappointed that when I asked for the leader I get you, I thought 452 ran this little enterprise."
Alec looked at her, pushing the memories away, "what makes you think I'd leave all the pleasure of your torture to someone else even Max?"
"I haven't had the pleasure of your company since you dragged us back here," she taunted.
"I've had much more important things to do than waste my time with you," he replied smoothly. "After all your attack disturbed my usual routine tasks, which are all more important than you and your cult buddies."
"I thought you needed us for information."
"Don't know why you'd think that, our sources are much better and more reliable," he bluffed. "But we thought we'd find out how tough the Phallux really are." She struggled in the chair. "There's no point struggling we upped the strength of the bonds and chair to four times that used by Manticore, figured that would keep anything secure for treatment," he pointed out, wondering if this was what those bastard lab techs felt like. He didn't enjoy the feeling, they always seemed to, but at least Thula was clothed something Manticore wasn't strong on providing for dignities sake.
"So you think tying me to this chair will get you what you want to know?" Thula hissed still struggling.
"No but you were the one who wanted to talk, I was just about to enjoy a drink and game of pool with some friends when Psyche told me you wanted to talk," he replied nonchalantly.
As he turned his back on her, she hissed, "so how's your whore, I heard what White did, so where did you bury her, here or in the woods."
Alec's eyes darkened and he tensed ready to inflict maximum damage, but realising that's what she wanted he took some deep breaths to calm himself before he turned to her. "Strange thing about transgenics, they don't die that easily as I'm sure she'll tell you herself later." Seeing the look on her face he continued, "oh didn't White tell you she was a transgenic," he smirked. "I might let her try her resurrection technique on you, see if you familiars really are as good as you make out," he continued getting very close to her with a blade at her throat.
The door opened and Psyche wheeled in the trolley with the instruments that were going to be used.
"Enough of this friendly chatter; are you going to tell us the reason for your attack, the Conclave's stronghold, when this apocalypse is supposed to take place and why I should care," he stated, "or shall I allow Psyche to find out what it takes to kill you."
"I thought you were going to do this," she accused.
"If you could see this as a good cop/bad cop situation, I'm the good cop answer my questions and you don't have to find out what the bad cop has up her sleeve," he replied. "Don't worry I'll stick around for a while, but I really want to get to that game of pool."
"You'll never break any of us," Thula challenged.
"Oh I love it when they say that, it makes my job so much more fun," Psyche replied sarcastically.
"I'd believe her if I were you," Alec confided, "I've been on the wrong side of her more than once."
Psyche turned to Alec, "Issy says she'll wait for you in the viewing room."
"Well let's get started, I don't want to keep her waiting too long," he replied rubbing his hands together.
Psyche filled a needle with some liquid and injected it into Thula's arm. The liquid burned as it coursed through her veins and she started losing consciousness.
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The group of friends sat down with their drinks, "so what do you think will be happening to those familiars now?" Syl asked.
CeCe looked at her, "don't tell me you've got some sympathy for them."
"No I just wondered what techniques would be used," she replied.
"Psyche was the best interrogator, so her only reason for not harming them would be fear of killing them before Alec has the information he wants," Biggs replied.
"Do you think that's why she came to get him?" Jondy asked.
"Yeah but she needn't worry I don't think he'll be upset at a few dead familiars," he replied, "especially after White's treatment of Issy."
"How is Issy?" Candi asked, "I haven't seen her since we returned."
"I'd say fine, but I think some of its show for Alec," Biggs replied.
"How so?" asked Krit. "She seemed fine in med bay."
"Maybe but when you asked about procedures she said she hadn't sorted out the appointments," Biggs explained. "If she was ok the list would be up and the first in surgery today, instead she let Alec persuade her to have a rest this morning."
"So how's the sleeping arrangements coming?" Biggs asked the sibs.
"Still arguing," replied Krit. "Ever since Syl and I booked our room the others can't decide what to do."
Zane looked at CeCe, "you wouldn't help us out by letting me stay at your place would you?"
CeCe blushed, "I beg your pardon."
"I just thought if I stayed at your place, then it would make it easier for Jondy and Seth," he replied innocently.
"Hey don't make out that we're a couple," Seth complained, "I have other ideas."
"Well the cheek, I have never even thought of living with Seth," Jondy protested.
"I've got a spare room, if it would help," suggested Biggs, "you could always stay there Jondy." Biggs was hoping she wouldn't just turn him down and as he felt a foot rub against his leg, he hoped it was the right one.
"I might just take you up on your offer," Jondy replied huskily.
"So does this mean I get the place to myself and can invite someone to join me?" Seth asked looking at Candi.
"I think that depends on whether CeCe will let me use her spare room," Zane replied. "So what about it CeCe?"
"What makes you think I've got a spare room?" she replied flabbergasted.
"I heard that the command team have apartments in Max's block and figured that since hers has two bedrooms and so have the one's allocated us, that they all would," he replied smoothly.
"Good deduction," laughed Biggs, "get out of that one CeCe."
"I could offer my spare room to Jondy or you could share with Seth," she replied.
"No I'm quite happy with Biggs offer and I think Seth has someone else in mind for the spare room." Jondy retorted.
"Oh is that the time, I'm late for duty," CeCe stammered. "I'll see you later," she finished getting up from her seat.
"It's alright I'll come with you and we can discuss the arrangements," Zane said as he followed her out of the bar.
"That was fun," laughed Mole, "is she in denial, or doesn't she want us to know?"
"Denial," Biggs replied, "has been since the first day he arrived, but don't let her know I told you."
"What about you?" asked Jondy, "I'm surprised you haven't got a partner."
"Most of the females come with partners," he replied, "med bay has the most single females and I still don't feel safe around them."
"Why not they look very pretty and Alec's partner comes from there?" Jondy quizzed.
"They're pretty enough, but they're psy-ops, I remember some past grilling by them, not something that's easy to forget," he replied with a shiver.
"Alec must have forgiven Issy," she probed.
"Look Alec and Issy go way back and he knows that she tried to lessen the severity of treatment his unit received in there," he explained. "When any of us were taken to psy-ops he'd sneak over to her place and find out what was going on, just a pity we couldn't do it when he was there."
"I get the impression he spent a lot of time in psy-ops," Seth asked.
"You could say, all the 09er twins spent months in psy-ops after your escape, then when Ben went psycho Alec got sent back there and when he botched a mission he had another stay with them," he replied. "The happy-go-lucky façade is just a mask for those who don't know him. Manticore might have instilled confidence in our abilities and design, but tried to erase our emotions, it didn't work."
"So I suppose we'd better check out your digs," suggested Jondy.
"Ok, Mole can you give us a call when Alec shows up?" Biggs replied getting up to take Jondy up to his apartment.
"So which one of you am I going to beat on the table?" asked Mole.
"I guess you get me," replied Krit, "but don't expect to win.
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Alec had watched while Psyche got down to work efficiently and Thula was beginning to succumb and mumble some answers.
Psyche nodded to Alec that she was ready.
"So Thula why did your group foolishly attack our stronghold?"
"White told Matthias that 452, 494 and 493 were here and that we needed to take them out quickly," she replied.
"Who's Matthias?"
"The High Priest of the Conclave."
"What is this apocalypse that you seem to be planning?"
"It is when the weaklings will die and the Conclave will rule the earth."
"And when is this event supposed to take place?"
"The first full moon after the comet leaves the sky."
"So where might I find this High Priest if I wanted to say hello," he asked cynically.
"He will be at our stronghold at the Myrtle Grove Asylum for the Insane near Roslyn."
"Why do they want the transgenics dead?"
"They are an abomination that Sandeman created to prevent the fulfilment of our destiny. It has been written that we will become the rightful leaders of the planet and all shall pay homage to us. All transgenic fifth must die." She started struggling in her bindings.
"Ok Psyche, knock her out I think we have enough to work on tonight. Make sure she gets returned to her cell and is bound, we don't want her escaping," Alec instructed. "I'll take Issy for that game of pool why don't you join us in the bar."
"Thanks but I'm not ready for that yet."
"Well once she's secured take the rest of the night off, we'll start after morning meeting, ok."
"Thanks I'll see you about 10 then."
Alec left to collect Issy and have a game of pool with Biggs to unwind, it had been another long day.
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