Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters.
A/N: Sorry this is longer than usual, but I wanted to get to a certain point before finishing. For those who don't get sent pictures Greg is Ben Browder (Farscape/Stargate SG1)
I have been informed once again that thanks can no longer be included in stories. So if you want a reply, you'll have to supply a valid email, I will reply.
Who Loves The Teacher?
Chapter Fifty-nine: Welcome Home 1
The two cult members grabbed Greg to take him as their victim, but as they grabbed him Jondy and Zane came through the door fighting. As they took care of the guards Greg grabbed the retreating Matthias and held him, "going somewhere," he said, "I don't think so," he finished as he knocked Matthias out.
"Well I hope it goes as well for the others," Jondy cried, "now where's the way out."
"Hey who's carrying him?" Zane asked.
"Well if you're asking it must be you," Jondy replied sarcastically as they disappeared out of the room to the sound of charges exploding in the corridor.
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In another part of the asylum in a similar Gothic styled room Krit and Syl came out of the secret passage to find a gaudily decorated woman parading around with a snake in her hands.
"Strange people this cult," Krit whispered to Syl.
"You can say that again; so which one are you going for the woman or the snake?" she replied.
The woman was reciting strange words as if in a trance as they approached. Krit nodded towards a case for the snake to travel in.
"Hey ugly I think you need some make-up lessons," provoked Syl as they got closer.
The woman looked at her, "transgenic filth tonight you die," and threw the snake at them.
Krit grabbed it and locked it in the case as Syl tackled the woman. Biggs and CeCe chose that moment to join them from the corridor.
"Seems to be going well without us," Biggs commented to CeCe before smacking the woman down and grabbing the cable ties to take her with them.
The charges started going off as Biggs carried the woman, Krit grabbed the case and they escaped down the secret passage.
They met the others in the corridor by the secret exit, "so far so good," commented Jondy.
As they exited the building and looked around, Biggs retorted, "you were saying," as about ten feet away the cult members stood looking at them.
"Now why don't you be good freaks and go home and leave us alone," suggested Greg with a grin.
As the cult members started to approach with knives the boys picked up some weapons that they had hidden, "now that was just unnecessary," Greg commented as they opened fire on the cult members.
"That's a bit of an anti-climax," Jondy complained.
"Yeah, but effective at leaving a message," replied Zane, "and transgenics don't use guns!"
"And you should know the boys need their toys to play with," CeCe observed.
"I suppose that's why they need the girls in charge," Jondy replied, "to talk them out of the mess they get themselves into."
"Are we going, or just waiting for another bunch of lunatics to show up," Krit reminded.
"Right let's get outta here," called Jondy.
They grabbed their prisoners and headed back to their transport, hoping that the base hadn't been rumbled. They were in luck and after a few words were exchanged the team was heading back to Tukwila and the boat.
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Back in TC its acting CO was receiving visitors.
"Well at least you can't get into any mischief in here," remarked Mole, an unlit cigar in his mouth, observing the stark room.
"If you believe that you'll believe anything," Issy laughed as she checked the drips before leaving.
"Everyone worried when you not reply," Joshua reproached.
"Yeah, well they weren't the only ones," Alec replied, "it was going quite well until the bitch struggled, then I don't remember anything until just before I called Max."
"You called Max?" Mole was astounded, "there we were worried and you called Max, what did you expect her to do fly here and rescue you?" he finished sarcastically.
Alec was confused, "I'd missed a call from her and didn't want her to worry."
"Didn't want her to worry, what do think everyone was doing here having a picnic," Mole replied with further irony, "didn't you think we might want to know you were alive."
"After I spoke to Max I contacted Issy, what are you getting so worked up about?" he replied confused that Mole should seem so angry.
"Issy and I had already been looking for you in the collapsed buildings, I was beginning to think you were crushed under tons of rubble and you call Max!" Mole exclaimed.
"Sorry I just …" he replied.
"For someone with such a high IQ thinking of others isn't one of your good points," Issy chided as she brought him some food. "How's the legs?"
"Not so bad."
"Good cuz the next message to Max is going to have you sat in front of the screen in HQ," she replied sharply.
"Can I eat first?" he smirked.
"You'd better the chef said you should eat it hot."
"What is it? Chilli?" he grinned, then tasted it and finished more high pitched, "yeah it is and it's hot."
Issy and Mole grinned, "now you know how surprises can feel," Issy asserted.
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Next morning in Gillette most of the team were enjoying breakfast; whilst Lei was guarding Faith, and Kelly and Den were on lookout duty.
"So Max what happens when the Russian team return?" asked Tori.
"Hopefully we can persuade them to return with us to TC and we start the next part of this destiny we've been promised," she replied with a touch of cynicism at the end.
"If not?" Tori pressed.
"Then we let them get themselves killed without our help," she replied.
"Will it be that simple?" asked Judd.
"Probably not, but we haven't got time to waste, so like with you its join or leave," she stated.
"Just as well we decided to join you then," Raven interjected, "otherwise you'd be a small group waiting for the Russian team."
"I just have one small question," Max asked feeling uncomfortable, "what's with the English accents."
Judd smiled, "Manticore thought that it would be easier to blend in certain countries with English accents, most of us talk foreign languages with near perfect accents, but we were encouraged to perfect the English one."
Raven added, "its quiet useful, in South Africa the Reds didn't think we were transgenics because we weren't Americans and they know it's an American project. It made completing the mission so much easier."
Max remembered her own experience with the Reds and had to agree.
Ben was sat by the computer waiting for a link from TC, "now's you're a sight for sore eyes, how you feeling," he said to the person at the other end.
Max looked up questioningly at him, he looked back with a smile on his face. Max rushed over to hear the reply.
'Been feeling better but at least my legs belong to me again,' Alec replied, 'so how's things at your end, or should I rephrase that.'
"Everything's fine so far," Ben replied, "but I think Max wants a word."
"What stupid hair-brained idea did you come up with this time to get yourself killed," she accused glaring at the monitor, her fists tightly clenched.
'Maxie I don't know what you're on about,' Alec squirmed innocently, 'I was just trying to confuse the enemy, my skin is really important to me.'
"As soon as the Russian team is here we're coming back," she snapped, "I can't leave you in charge without things going wrong," she knew it wasn't true but her concern had turned to anger at the cause of her worry.
'Now Maxie that hurts, I've always tried to watch your back,' he tried to charm her, but it wasn't working.
"The truth often hurts," she snapped back, even Ben was watching her in surprise. "Where's Jondy, Biggs and the others?" she demanded.
'How should I know, I get dragged out of my hospital bed for an ear bashing, without being brought up to date,' he sighed.
"Where did they go?"
Alec took a deep breath, ready for another ear bashing, 'they left during the air raid to capture the cults High Priest and some of those snakes,' he responded.
"What!" she exclaimed, "that's far too dangerous; and you sanctioned it?" she accused.
'It was well planned and they had an inside man in Greg,' he countered beginning to feel tired, he'd felt fine until Issy had disconnected the drips (at his insistence) so as not to alarm Max.
Max wanted to vent more of her frustration, but Issy stepped up to the monitor, 'sorry Max but Alec needs more rest, you can shout at him when you get back, until then Mole will be in charge.'
Max was surprised at Issy, she didn't usually say anything about the command structure; then she realised maybe Alec wasn't up to being in command just yet. By the time Max had reasoned it out the link had been cut.
"You were a bit hard on him," Ben whispered to her.
"Yeah maybe, but TC can't afford to be without its leaders," she replied.
"Its not, he's still there to direct, and I'm sure he will," Ben assured.
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"So you just wanted Max to give me an ear bashing," Alec accused Mole and Issy, after the link was broken,
"Well at least she wasn't close enough to inflict physical injury," Mole laughed, "did you see the look on her face?"
"Yeah if looks could kill I'd be dead," Alec replied with a grin, "but I thought that's why she was upset?"
"At least she'll have time to calm down before she gets back," Issy mused, "but that's only if Jondy's mission goes well."
"So when they due back?" Alec asked; what little colour he had beginning to drain from his face.
"Later today if everything went well," Mole replied, "although I told the boss tomorrow, thought it'd give us time to find an excuse if they were late."
"You mean you hoped I'd be back in charge by then," Alec grinned.
"Maybe, but you're in charge from bed for now," Issy looked at Alec, "you need your rest, you lost a lot of blood yesterday."
"And I thought you were suggesting something much more interesting," he grinned suggestively.
"Maybe later, but right now you need to get some rest," Issy laughed, "and since I don't think you'll walk that far I hope Mole will do the honours."
"My pleasure ma'am," Mole replied picking Alec up and carrying him to med bay before he could protest.
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The mission team got back to the boat without incident, their prisoners well restrained.
"I'll call TC," Jondy announced, "let them know we're coming in."
"Good idea," Biggs replied, "find out what happened in the raids, but keep it brief."
Back in TC Alec's cell started ringing in HQ, Mole picked it up, 'who's calling Alec,' he asked.
"Er, hi Mole, where's Alec?" Jondy asked confused.
'In med bay, he left his phone here,' Mole replied non-committal.
"Oh, well can you tell him mission's complete, we'll be at the rendezvous in about an hour," she informed him.
'We'll have the reception waiting,' he replied and closed the phone.
"So is everything ok?" asked Biggs seeing Jondy's confused look.
"Would Alec leave his phone in HQ if he wasn't there?"
"No, it's a permanent attachment why?"
"Because that was Mole's excuse for answering the phone."
"Where did he say Alec was?"
"Med bay."
"He must've left it a bit late and got injured," Biggs replied a worried look on his face, "Better get moving and find out what happened."
Soberly they got settled on the boat and sped downstream to Seattle.
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"Issy can Alec keep this with him?" Mole asked showing her Alec's cell phone.
"I thought he already had it," she replied surprised.
"Must've dropped it when he was talking to Max."
"Why, is there a problem?" she asked as they walked towards Alec's room.
"Jondy rang to say they're on their way back, but got me," he grumbled.
"You'd better tell Alec," she commented, "the retrieval plan's been worked out already hasn't it?" she queried.
"Yeah, Rob, Mitch and the others are getting prepared now," he replied, "I'll go in Alec's place," he finished outside Alec's room.
"What are you doing in my place?" Alec called from his bed.
"Joining the welcome committee for Jondy and Biggs" Mole replied, entering Alec's room, "Seems it all went to plan."
Alec still looked pale and had drips in his arm, but was fidgety. "So I'll join you," he replied trying to work out where his clothes had gone since talking to Max.
"No you won't," Issy retorted, "and it's no good looking for your clothes, they're back in our apartment," she lied, "you need at least another two hours here, if you're to function with Psyche and the prisoners."
"But at least you can talk to them on this," Mole passed him the phone, "if they call again."
"Where was it?"
"By the monitor," Mole replied, "although that's probably as well otherwise you'd be the one trying to organise things, and getting in the way by collapsing."
Alec looked indignant but they ignored him and left. Alec tried to get out of bed to look for his clothes not believing Issy, but his legs gave way. 'Damn,' he thought, 'suppose this must be how it is for Logan." He tried to get back into bed before anyone noticed, but he was not that fortunate.
"I can see why Issy won't let the other females in here," grinned Psyche, as she watched him struggle his T-shirt pushed up where he had slipped.
"Fine knock a man when he's down," Alec snapped. "How come you're here anyway?"
Psyche went over to help him, "Issy thought you might like to talk about what you want me to find out from the prisoners," she replied. "Guess she thought if we were talking you wouldn't try and escape," she laughed.
As he got settled back in the bed he replied, "so you must've taken your time getting here then."
"No, but if you don't behave Issy is threatening to strap you in until she thinks you're ready to get up."
"I forgot she had a bondage fetish," he joked.
"She doesn't you idiot, she just wants you back on form before Max returns," Psyche rebuked laughing, "and if the only way to get you to stay still is by restraint, she'll do it, just as she would to anyone else. Besides if the rumours are true you'll need to be on form for Max, she's likely to inflict enough physical damage that you'll be back down here for a week."
Alec winced at the thought of what Max might have lined up for him, remembering the cage fight. "You didn't come to talk about Max did you, I thought you want to talk about these new prisoners," Alec replied and they discussed what was to be done.
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Down on the waterfront Mole had lookouts posted in case any of White's men showed.
Suddenly a boat came round the corner and docked, Biggs and Zane jumped off to secure it.
Mole whistled from his hiding place and the team left the boat, carrying the prisoners.
"Good to see you Mole," Biggs greeted, "how's Alec?"
"Improving, but I think it was more serious than Issy's letting on," Mole replied.
"Does Max know?" Jondy asked.
"Yeah and about this," he replied, "she's livid and told him so."
"Just as well this was a piece of cake," Zane grinned.
"Yeah, if you call shooting cult members a piece of cake," Jondy rebuked.
"Yeah, well let's get TC side before any unfriendlys turn up," suggested Mole and he gave the signal to move out.
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In Gillette several of the team were in the gym sparring, four were out for a run, Faith was still in solitary with Tori as her guard and Raven and Judd were on lookout duty, the only ones in their control room were Max, Ben, Dara and Lydecker.
"So you're nearly there, how does it feel to convince them to work with you so easily?" Dara asked.
"Like I didn't have to do much work," Max replied accusingly.
"I thought you didn't have time for niceties and just tried to make things more congenial," Dara replied, "don't know whether it will work for the Russian team though."
"Why not?"
"Certain members don't trust psy-ops."
"Hardly surprising if they always had Psyche," replied Ben.
"Can you influence from a corner without them noticing?" Max asked.
"I'll try, but you'll have to deal with the fall out at some time."
"When we get back to TC," Max replied, "at least they'll be safe from the cult there."
"I don't know why you're so concerned about protecting them, if they could cause problems," Lydecker queried.
"Because like it or not they are part of my family," Max replied.
There was a commotion outside and the door flew open, in stormed five people guns levelled. "Who are you and what are you doing here?" demanded a tall well built man. Then he noticed Lydecker, "Sir, I didn't see you there," he came to attention, "reporting as ordered sir."
Lydecker stood up and looked at the man and his team, who were all standing to attention. "783 you're late," he snapped, "you should have been here yesterday." Lydecker was enjoying being able to give orders, if only for a moment, "stand down soldier, all Manticore units have been dismantled."
The young man's Manticore mask dropped as he looked at Lydecker, he was confused, "sir."
"All units still operational are now assigned to a facility in Seattle known as Terminal City, your new CO is 452, better known as Max and you will do whatever she tells you, is that understood."
"Sir, yes sir," he replied.
"That goes for all of you," Lydecker looked at the others, "do you understand."
"Sir, yes sir," they replied.
"Over to you Max," Lydecker continued in a more friendly tone.
"Thanks 'Deck, could you get transport arranged, I'd like to move out ASAP," Max requested.
"I'll get it done now," he replied leaving the room.
As Lydecker left Judd and Raven entered, "sorry Max we saw them come in but they must have been watching for a while, we were on the far side when we saw them inside the perimeter," Judd said sheepishly.
"No worries, can you tell the others that we'll be leaving soon?" Max asked, "and Raven can you check Faith and bring her here?"
The team stood before her were looking at each other, what the heck was going on, 452 the leader, 759 and 914 acting like ordinaries. Something was definitely off, but Lydecker was in on it and there weren't any other guards or the spooky X7's.
Max realised that they would keep their Manticore masks for longer, a bit like Zack never really gave up his CO attitude towards them. "We haven't much time, so I'll give you the brief version of events. Manticore was destroyed by itself, it tried to wipe us out in the process, but some of us escaped. Now we've set up home in a place called Terminal City, we're not free and the ordinaries are still trying to kill us, but worse than them is a cult that know we were created to destroy them. I need your help to destroy the cult, but if you prefer to go your own way you'll be fighting the cult and ordinaries on your own."
The team looked at each other, "so you're in charge, who's your SIC, 494?" 783 asked glancing at Ben.
"For a start that's Ben 493," Max replied patiently, "and yes Alec is my SIC."
"How is a group run by an 09er and a screw-up supposed to protect us," he accused.
"We've been fighting this corner for a lot longer and have more experience, but it's your choice," Max replied. "If you're staying can we dispense with designations, as you've already noticed we use names here."
One of the males ignored 783 and asked, "so Max what do we get if we help you?" looking at her questioning glance he added, "I'd like to be called Owen."
Max looked back, "so obviously not the name you used in Russia, well Owen we are trying to gain freedom, but in the meantime Issy is working minor miracles and removing some of our more obvious flaws."
"Thought she'd be involved if 494 was," spat 783.
"Ok you have issues, but I presume the flaws are the barcode and serotonin deficiency," replied Owen, Max nodded, "well that's worth it on its own."
"Ok we'll return, at least until that's done," replied 483, "You can call me Peter, Fritz," he pointed to the other male, "Natashia," he pointed to a female with long curly blonde hair, "and Raisa," the final member of the team.
Lydecker and the others returned. "The choppers will be here in twenty minutes," he announced.
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