Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters.
A/N: My first attempt.
Who Loves The Teacher?
Chapter Sixty-four: The Fight
After Alec had left the gym for the showers, Max turned to Ben, "do you think he's ready."
Ben looked at her aghast, "the bigger question is are you ready for him?"
"What do you mean? I can always kick his ass," she replied indignantly, as they walked out of the gym.
"Even if you have to fight fair?" he replied with a smile.
"I did it in the cage fight," she replied smugly as they were heading towards HQ.
"From what Biggs told me of that, you didn't fight fair," he responded and she shot him a death glare. "Anyway Biggs and I are setting some rules and Biggs will referee, so don't think you'll get away with fighting dirty," he continued. "This will be a fair fight, but he's got a point to prove, can you honestly say the same."
"You mean you think his motivation is higher."
"Yeah."
"So he'll win and be back on the command team," she grinned, "win/win situation."
"I don't think it'll be that easy."
"How so?" she queried slightly nervously.
"He wants you to fight not give in."
She looked confused, "so we'll be fighting."
"Yeah that's what I thought," he replied, she still looked confused.
An X6 came running over from HQ, "Max, Dix says there's a message for you, he thinks it's important."
"Ok I'm on it," Max was still confused as she left Ben.
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"Hey Dix what's the panic," Max called as she enter the command room.
"That Detective guy's on the phone for you, didn't want to speak to anyone else," the mutant replied.
Max grabbed the phone, "since I don't think mine have been upsetting you recently, what's the problem?" she snapped.
Detective Clemente was taken aback, Max wasn't usually this snappy at him; they had worked together in the past. "Sorry Max, I just thought you might like to know that Agent White has been to see me."
"What's that to me?" her voice still clipped.
He was getting worried about her attitude, what had happened in TC during that raid. "He reckons you've got some hostages and wants them back."
"So you doing his dirty work for him now?"
"I'm buying you some time, but I need to know what's going on," he replied patiently. "He seemed happy when I said that I hadn't had any contact with TC since his air raid."
"So Alec's sacrifice wasn't for nothing," she responded without thinking.
Detective Clemente was shocked to hear that something had happened to Alec, what could he say? "Are you alright? How is Alec?" the Detective replied with genuine concern.
Max was surprised at the tone of his voice, he seemed concerned. "I'm fine, Alec's improving, but if White thinks we're not please don't disillusion him," she pleaded. "What has he told you about these supposed hostages?"
"Not a lot, just that they're from Roslyn, what's going on Max?"
"While I was out of town Alec sent a squad to extract the cult's leader and a snake from their base," she heard Clemente gasp. "We needed the snake to develop the vaccine for the ordinaries."
"You mean for people like me," Clemente interrupted.
"Yeah, Alec thought the High Priest could help us with this prophesy stuff," she continued.
"Are they alright?" he replied.
"They're fine and most of the ones that came before, but I'm not prepared to hand them over just yet."
"Agent White has gone to get orders for their release or we come in shooting," Clemente warned.
"Thanks for the tip; I'll see if my contacts can slow him down until we're ready."
"Take care Max; if you're humanities only hope you can't mess this up."
"Call when you hear anything, I'll try and keep you in the loop," she replied, "I've been out of town and haven't had time to call before."
She put down the phone and saw Mole staring at her, "What?"
"Did you give him enough information?" the transhuman accused.
"He's helped us in the past and wanted to pass on a tip about White," she replied haughtily.
"So why didn't he tell us about the raid?"
"I don't think he knew."
"You don't think; well excuse me for not trusting him, but what has he done for us?" Mole replied sarcastically.
"He's let us get on with things in relative peace recently and he was concerned about Alec and me, even though he doesn't know exactly what happened," she responded, "He's an ally and we've precious few of them."
"Ok but don't blame me if it turns out wrong," he replied, then added seeing her expression, "and don't blame Alec either. So who's this contact and how are they going to stop White getting what he wants."
"Oh White will get his order, but it'll be delayed long enough for us to get our act together," she responded. "Lydecker said he'd help, let's hope he means it."
Max rang Lydecker with her proposal then left HQ to catch up on what had happened during her absence.
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Max walked into the lab being used by the NorBAC team and started looking at different pieces of equipment. Issy was talking to Dr Reynolds about something and they were laughing. Max suddenly felt very protective of Alec and was about to make a comment, when someone grabbed her arm.
"What do you think you're doing, this is a restricted area?" he accused, as Max nearly dropped the thing she had picked up. "That's not to be played with by silly girls," he finished, taking the object off her.
Max was incensed nobody spoke to her like that. "Who do you think you're talking to?" she retorted.
The commotion broke the conversation between Dr Reynolds and Issy.
"Max, I'm glad you got here," Issy called, glaring at Dr Patterson. Taking Dr Reynolds over to Max, she continued, "this is Dr David Reynolds, the team's leader, we were just discussing how Mina's procedures are going."
Max raised her eyebrows.
"David and I have known each other for years, but he didn't know about X5s when he thought he'd rescued Mina," Issy explained.
"Yeah, I only found out about that when her friends got here," he responded. "So you can imagine what I thought when she was throwing herself at me one day and ignoring me the next."
"Mina was in heat," Issy explained.
Max got the joke, "yeah been there, done that," she replied with a grin.
"Anyway you're not here to talk about my previous experiences with X5s," David responded putting his arm around Max. "Let me take you on a tour of what we've got," he suggested, flashing a charming smile.
Max removed his arm from around her shoulder, "I can follow quite easily, without the hands on," she sneered.
He was taken aback not realising how much transgenics hated anyone invading their personal space. "Fine, then just follow me," he replied, leading her through the different stages of progress.
Max looked concerned at Issy. "It's alright he's got the X5 he wants, you're safe," Issy smiled quietly.
Max followed as David enthused about the progress they had made with determining the way the virus attacked and starting to develop a vaccine. As they finished the tour David said, "of course we need to get back home to complete the work. It's just as well the away team got the snake or we would never have got this far."
Max gave Issy an accusing look. David noticed and continued, "I just meant we needed the pathogen to create the vaccine. If we go back tomorrow, we should be back in a month for the first trials."
"What do you need on your return?" Max asked.
"About twenty volunteers to try the vaccine and risk exposure," he replied.
"I think we can get them," Max replied, "Will Mina be ready to go with you?"
"I think David has a personal request as well," Issy interrupted.
Seeing Max eyeing him wary, David felt uncomfortable about his request, "I'd like Psyche to join me as well."
"Everyone's free to come and go as they please, I'm not their keeper," Max retorted.
'Unless their name happens to be Alec,' Issy thought angrily.
"Yes, but she wants your blessing, she doesn't want you to think she's deserting," David pleaded.
Max looked at him, then to Issy, "is there any problem with her going?"
"None that can't be handled a different way," Issy replied.
"Then there's no problem, I'll tell her myself."
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After collecting Alex from the nursery, Alec took her to the canteen for lunch. Entering the room he saw most of the tables were full, getting some food he realised that Mole and Biggs were sat together with several of the new X5s and most of Max's unit. He turned away from the scene to order the food and thought about having a quiet meal at a corner table.
Suddenly he felt a slap on the back, "you weren't thinking of sneaking off, were you?" Biggs teased.
"What did you do that for?" Alec complained, "As for sneaking, I never sneak," seeing the look on Biggs face, "well only on missions. But I did think the crowd might be a bit much for Alex," he lied.
Alex was pulling at Biggs trouser leg, wanting to be picked up, "well I don't think that's likely, she's been the centre of attention round here for weeks at mealtimes. Come over everyone wants to see you," he finished as he carried Alex towards their table.
Alec looked, no chance of avoiding it now, just glad neither Ben nor Max were there.
Judd and Raven moved over so Alec could sit between them and Biggs, "nice to have you back with us," Judd said.
"You mean that?" Alec teased, "you still owe me 100 bucks."
Will laughed, "well you certainly haven't lost your memory," he laughed, then more seriously, "is everything ok now, I heard you broke your back."
Alec looked up from his meal and realised that they were all waiting for an answer, "well everything I've tried so far works, but you'll have to ask Issy if it's up to normal," he replied straight-faced.
Some of the girls blushed and some of the guys coughed and looked embarrassed.
Alec was glad the ploy worked, "what's wrong, I mean Issy is like the doctor on my case, what were you thinking about?" feigning innocence.
"So why are you pushing Max for the fight?" Jondy asked, "you know she doesn't want to do it."
Alec grinned, "I know I've just got fed up of being pushed around; I thought I'd see how she felt about being pushed."
"She'll try not to fight," Zane replied.
"I know, but I know enough buttons to push," Alec was still grinning. "So Tori what do you think of the place?"
"Not bad could do with a few improvements," she smiled.
"You stopping to do them?"
"Until we get this freedom thingy, someone tried to sell us," she responded.
"Oh I'd almost forgotten about that," Alec replied, "What's Max got you all doing?" he asked the new X5s before catching up with the 09ers and his friends.
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Sam left the gym and headed for the canteen, determined to grab some food and think about what had transpired with Alec.
She had nowhere to go and needed Alec's help, if she was going to stay in TC. Sure last time she'd been here she hadn't wanted anything to do with the place, but that was before White had killed her family and sent her to infiltrate TC. Max hadn't been here then but Alec had trusted her enough to ask her to help in a diversion, which she had messed up. He should hate her, she still felt a little mixed-up about everything, but he had given her a chance to redeem herself.
She set off for med bay to see Peter and Fritz to see what she could do.
As she entered the building she could hear Max talking to the NorBAC team and an idea formed. She just hoped Alec would accept that the alternative was probably for the best.
Finding their room she poked her head round the door, "hi, how's it going?" she asked in a relaxed tone.
"What do you want 452?" Peter snarled.
"I see you're not on first name terms with Max," she replied, "no matter, I'm Sam, her twin."
"453," Peter acknowledged, "so what do you want?"
"I was hoping to have a little chat about your plans when you leave here," she replied.
"What's it to you?" sneered Fritz.
"Well my plans depend on what you're doing," she confided.
"Why should what we're doing affect you?" Peter was surprised.
"I need an advocate here, after hurting Alec," she replied, "and that's conditional on what you do."
"I was wondering who we could thank for taking him out," Peter gloated with a grin, "he won't be so superior from a wheelchair."
"You're out of date on that," Sam smiled watching the change of expression on their faces. "Alec's been practising in the gym today, kicked my butt and three others."
"So what do you want?"
"The request is for you to stay until the fighting for freedom is over," Sam said simply.
"No way are we staying around 494, the prize punk," Peter retorted.
"Then would you act as escort and body guards for the NorBAC team," Sam suggested.
Peter looked at her, "you mean like a mission to protect?"
"Yeah, you'd go with them to their base in Canada and return when they come back," Sam continued. "What they're doing is for the safety of humanity, Max doesn't want any problems and she'd know where you were."
"As if she cares about us," Fritz snorted.
"Funny thing is she cares about all of us, whether we deserve it or not," Sam replied. "Alec knows that and wants you to stay for her sake and your safety."
"494," Peter started, but saw her look of disdain. "Alec only cares about his own status and keeping people in line, besides I thought he had that Issy woman, why should he care about 4-, Max?"
"Alec is SIC to Max here, so of course he worries what she thinks," Sam snapped, "as for keeping people in line; that was his job at Manticore, he's not the same guy now. But you seem to be the same prats you were there."
"Does anyone know about your suggestion of going with NorBAC?" Fritz asked.
"No, I only thought of it when coming here," she admitted.
"So that mightn't help you," she shook her head. "We'll consider and give you an answer this evening."
"It'll have to be after the fight."
"What fight?"
"Alec's taking on Max to reclaim his position on the command team," she said simply.
"That should be fun," Peter looked at Fritz, "watching her take him down."
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A/N While the fight is taking place Issy and Jondy are talking at the side of the ring (italics).
As Alec entered the gym with Issy he was surprised at how crowded the room was. The area for the fight was simply a matted area in the centre of the gym, similar to the training surface at Manticore, the edge of the mats marked the fighting area and was surrounded with seats on all sides; only a couple of seats were empty. He looked around and saw the new X5s sat by one corner with CeCe and Mole, while in the opposite corner sat the 09ers and Joshua.
He turned to Issy with a grin, "nice of them all to turn out to see me beat Max, guess that's our corner over there."
"Don't be over confident," she warned.
"Who, me, never," he replied with a smirk.
"Have you seen who's over there with us and who's with Max?" she asked.
He looked again, "so Sam's with us and Peter and Fritz are with Max, that figures." He grinned at Issy, "you'd better take your place; I see your friends from NorBAC are here as well."
As he made his way to a corner, Max came into the gym with Ben; she looked around and was surprised. "Seems everyone wants to see this one," she commented quietly.
"Yep, it's public knowledge about you throwing Alec off the command team," Ben replied. "He's got a lot of sympathy out there."
"So thanks to Issy they'll be rooting for him," she mused.
"Of course," Ben replied, putting his arm around her, "but only because they want him back, nothing against you."
"Of course it's against me," she hissed, "they see this fight as my fault."
Ben went to his place as Biggs stepped onto the mats. "Ok both of you," Biggs motioned them over. "This will be a clean fight, any dirty tactics and the perpetrator will be disqualified; that means no body contact below the belt," he looked at Max, to make sure she understood. "You break when told, submission or knockout to win. Other than that it's a free fight."
Max looked at him, "what about falls?"
Biggs looked at Alec then at her surprised, "come off it Max we're used to that, it's all part of the fight." He looked at Alec again.
"No problem here," he shrugged.
Biggs stepped off the mats so he wouldn't get in the way as Max and Alec started to circle.
Jondy caught Issy's eye and they moved seats so that they could be together. "I've never seen Alec look this mean."
"You didn't see him at Manticore, but it's all an act until the fight really starts," Issy replied.
Max was continuing to circle trying to avoid Alec's attacks but not mounting any of her own. Alec was getting bored and decided it was time to knock her over and get her mad. Two kicks later Max was on the floor and Alec leaning over her, "so Maxie what makes you think that by giving up, this will be over, if you don't fight back, I might just decide to join the outing to Canada with Issy and Alex."
"You wouldn't," she replied shocked.
"Why not, it was nice having a little family time yesterday and now you've got brother Ben, you don't need me around." He could see her bristle when he called Ben, brother Ben.
Jondy turned to Issy, "he's goading her, he'd better take care or she won't hold back."
Max flipped Alec off and took up a fighting stance, "now that's more like it," Alec smiled.
Issy "that's what he wants, he wants to demonstrate to everyone that he's back."
Max kicked out feebly and Alec blocked easily, "now Maxie it's no good just pretending, I know when you're pretending," he complained whilst blocking a fist and landing a kick to her shoulder.
Jondy "is that what this is all about."
As Max staggered backwards, "so you want me to prove I'm better," she accused.
"Oh come on Maxie, you've never been that," he laughed, as she got ready to attack.
Issy "no Max knocked him down, so he wants to knock her down, so she knows how it feels."
Max laughed back, "so how come I always kick your ass."
"Because it's so much easier on everyone if I let you win," he taunted.
"And the cage fight?"
"This is going to get ugly," Jondy commented.
"You cheated," he accused, as she tried the same tactic. He was ready and caught her leg throwing her into the air with such force that she would have landed badly, if he hadn't caught her.
"I thought this was a fight not Swan Lake," she snapped pushing him away and they really started to fight, with no time for words as each attacked and counter attacked. For several minutes they looked like they were perfectly matched until Max stumbled a landing and within seconds it was over and Alec had her in a choke hold.
Biggs entered the ring before just Ben fearing that Alec might not stop, but as soon as Alec saw Biggs he released her.
"Why did you take so long?" Alec accused, as he helped Max to stand and get her breath.
"I thought she might …" Biggs stumbled.
"Come on you know better than that," Alec replied, as Ben came to help Max, who was coughing.
"I should punch your lights out for that," Ben snapped at Alec, "you didn't need to choke her."
"Hey we're all big kids now, when Max started fighting she knew where it would end," Alec replied hands raised in submission to calm Ben.
Max coughed again and they all looked at her. "You stopped the pressure before Biggs stopped the fight," she accused.
"It's not my fault he took his time," Alec responded looking hurt.
Max realised she'd hurt him, "sorry I was just trying to say thanks for stopping when you did."
"Old Manticore trick we used with the trainers," he replied, "they didn't always know when to finish a session, gave Issy a few subjects until we stopped waiting for their ok to stop; but we had to make it look good or it was a week in the pit for disobeying an order."
As Biggs held Alec's arm to indicate he'd won Max asked "so it's business as usual tomorrow?"
He grinned, "but of course."
She looked at his face and realised what it was all about, "smart ass."
"Still fixated, thought you had someone else now," she attempted to punch his shoulder but he was ready and dodged with a smirk, so she caught Biggs instead.
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A/N Hope the fight wasn't too bad. Reviews please.
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