Disclaimer: Not mine except new characters.
A/N: Thanks to those still giving reviews they are appreciated. Hope you enjoy the surprises in this.
Who Loves The Teacher?
Chapter Seventy-two: The Race Against Time
It had been two weeks since the NorBAC team had come and vaccinated their friends. No-one had developed any side effects and between the team at NorBAC and Sandeman production of the vaccine had started at several facilities across Canada and the States. The transgenics had got used to donating some blood every week for the pharmaceutical companies and Jam Pony was getting the job of getting these supplies out of Seattle.
Max was beginning to worry, although they knew that White had not been able to locate the High Priest and Priestess of the cult time was running out and she knew he would make his move soon.
Greg and Lydecker had arranged for batches of the vaccine to be taken around the world on 'medical missions', these were supposed to be doing cataract operations in the third world or vaccinating the children against measles. In the developed world they explained the flights as trade missions being careful to make sure that none of the snake cult found out what they were really doing.
In the morning meeting Max stated, "White and his cronies aren't stupid they're going to figure out shortly that all these flights leaving the States are doing more than the government is telling them."
Alec looked at her thoughtfully, "yeah, it's just as well Lydecker managed to get the government to remove anyone with a snake brand from their service without alerting them to what was happening."
"True but sidelining so many into dull back water jobs is going to be noticed soon, especially with some being in positions of responsibility."
"So we prepare for war," Mole replied.
"Trust you to think of that," remarked Dix.
"We were built to fight," Mole retorted.
"Speak for yourself," Luke interjected, "some of us were built to dig trenches."
"Well we might need them," Mole responded.
Max was annoyed at the banter, "enough we need to plan, yes for a fight," she looked at Mole. "But also for what comes after, it's no good fighting if we end up imprisoned afterwards."
There was a hush in the room. They had spent so long fighting no-one had thought what would happen when the cult threat had gone.
"Well you might be ok with the ordinaries, but I can't see them ever accepting the likes of Joshua and my kind," Mole sneered.
"Maybe we've got to work on the transgenic publicity to include everyone and what we're doing to help," Jondy suggested.
"We could do a few more 'Eyes Only' type transmissions," Dix thought out loud.
"Yeah but we need something worth reporting that puts us all in a good light," Max mused.
"And that doesn't alert White to what we're really doing," Alec added. "Better keep an eye on the news and see where we can help."
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White was still seething, his superiors in the cult had been upset with his failure to find any of their kidnapped brethren and they were sure that the transgenic filth had them. He wasn't getting any co-operation from the local police; his contacts in Washington had been reassigned or disappeared. It seemed like the transgenics were winning the war behind the scenes. Even the press were beginning to publish pro-transgenic stories about some new vaccine that they needed the transgenics to be able to produce.
They needed to get a new High Priestess for the ceremony or find the old one. The cult leaders were busy initiating a new one but White thought he knew who might be holding old one and how to get her back. This would be his last chance and he wanted to destroy the transgenics as well. How they were defying him without 452 and 494 he didn't understand, but they would buckle soon.
White realised that Lydecker must be involved somehow and it was time to get Issy and Greg away from TC. Without them it wouldn't function for long. The easiest way to get Issy was that bastard daughter of 494's; take her you've got the mother.
White planned his abduction of the girl with precision, unaware of how many transgenics were really in TC and how many would come after him if anything happened to the little girl.
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Ben was looking for Max after the meeting, when she came out of the command centre he pulled her to one side. "I hope you're not busy," he insisted.
Pulling her arm away she replied, "actually we're all busy, can't this wait."
Ben looked at her, "yeah but you haven't been to the gym and I thought we could talk while we spar."
Max looked at him, he was right, she had spent too much time trying to work things out in her office and a workout would do her good, "ok, but I need to be back in an hour."
Ben looked at her, "of course ma'am," he replied.
She cuffed him for the remark and they both laughed. "So what do you really want to talk about?"
They were walking together to the gym and he looked across at her out of the corner of his eye, "two things."
"Ok, number one."
"I'd like to be considered for more of the off site jobs."
She looked across concern shadowing her features, "why haven't you got enough to do?"
He smiled, "yeah loads, but it was nice to be outside and feeling like I was useful in a constructive way."
Max looked trying to hide her emotions, she wanted to say of course she'd give him anything he wanted, but she didn't want to upset the equilibrium. She needed to talk with Alec before making a decision. "Number two."
"Having you ever considered how vulnerable we are because to the kids?"
Max looked at him in surprised, "what do you mean? The kids are our future."
Ben realised he'd started the wrong way, "I know that and it's just that I don't want anything to happen to any of them," he tried to placate. "It's just if one got abducted what would happen, the parents would go looking and our forces would be split between hunting the kid and protecting everyone."
Max was astounded, "where did this come from?"
"You mean apart from having too much time to think?" she nodded. "When Issy greeted White, I suddenly thought what's her greatest weakness?"
"Alec," Max replied, then she thought a bit more, "Alex. Alec can defend himself and they've got that link thing, Alex doesn't have that."
Ben looked at her, "you need to beef up security around the kids, without letting Alec and Issy know why."
Max looked at Ben, when had he become so caring of Alec and everyone else. His thoughts worried her but she also realised he was right. Why hadn't she thought about it? She realised that everyone in command had been working on the vaccination program and routine matters, they'd forgotten about the White threat against the leaders of TC.
She replied slowly, "I'll see what I can do, and thanks for thinking about it."
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White had a secret weapon in his abduction of Alex, X5-206. He knew that this was a clone or twin of one of the 09ers and that Max had been in touch with them. So he didn't think anyone would take any notice of a new X5 turning up, he was relying on that.
After his experiences with 494 he knew these animals had a keen sense of self preservation and since this one had been caught before getting to TC there would be none of 494's loyalty to 452 or her replacement.
In fact this would be a useful fact finding mission as well, he was sure that they had been hiding something when Clemente and he had searched the site. Now this good little soldier would do the recon for him and report back.
White went and joined his men in the cell holding the animal.
"206 I hope my men have been treating you badly," he sneered.
There was no reply.
"I take that as a yes then," White continued. "I've been studying you animals and it seems you only work well under coercion." He paused to look at the creature that was staring at him looking for an opportunity to pounce.
"I know you'd like to kill me, but you won't," White press on. "Want to know why?" He paused, "of course you do. While you were out cold I had a tracker inserted just by your brain stem. It's a nifty little device because if you step out of line it blows your head off and only I can get it removed."
206 looked startled but tried to hide it.
"So as your life is in my hands you will do exactly what I ask of you, do you understand?"
206 remained mute.
"Don't let me lose my patience. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir," 206 replied.
"Good. Tomorrow you are going to visit the rest of the animals in TC, while you are there you will do two things for me and you will return in 24hours. Do you understand," he snapped.
"Yes sir."
"First you will check numbers and designations of who is in there. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Then just before you leave I want you to kidnap the daughter of 494 and Issy, and bring her back here. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir."
"If you do everything the implant will be removed after you have been debriefed." White turned to Otto, "get him a watch to count down his time, I want him out of here before day break and taken to the rendezvous point." Turning back to 206, "I believe 205 goes by the name Zane and if you're late the tracker gets blown."
White walked out pleased that this plan seemed to have no problems.
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Max was in her office when Alec walked in. "Heard you wanted to see me," he grinned.
"Yeah how do you feel about Ben taking a more active role?"
Alec's smirk grew wider, "I thought he had an active role, if the noises we hear are anything to go by."
Max blushed, "you know that's not what I mean, jerk."
"Oh you mean around command," Alec feigned innocence. "What were you thinking?"
"It was nice him going with me to the hospital," she started.
"So it begins," he commented. "I suppose you want him as your back up on everything from now on."
Max realised that she hadn't explained very well, "I don't think you got what I mean."
"Oh I think I got it," Alec replied caustically. "Now that Ben is settled in, you don't need me around to back you up."
Max was upset that wasn't what she meant and didn't know how to stop this, "no, what I meant was I think we could use him for more than just training others."
Alec felt embarrassed; he'd jumped to conclusions because he still felt unsure of his position with Ben around. "Look I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean…" he stuttered. "What I mean is yes you're right, but what were you thinking of giving him to do."
Max looked at Alec, "do you really think I want Ben to take your place?"
Alec looked sheepish, "ever since he came here it's been in the back of my mind."
"If I'd wanted to do that it would have happened after we came back from Gillette and the fiasco that we walked into."
"Hey just cuz I was immobilised didn't make that a fiasco, I mean most of the plans came off without a hitch," he joked.
"I think nearly killing yourself was a big hitch."
Alec looked her chewing his thumb while trying to think of an answer. "Kept you from kicking my ass for a while though," he grinned. "So you haven't answered my question, what do you want him to do."
"Thought we'd give him a place on the security detail and maybe a few off site missions," she replied.
"Whatever you think, I'll back you," Alec responded. "Just remember if he's taking over SIC I want to be informed first."
"No problems," she laughed. "With NorBAC sending out the vaccine across the world, do you think we'll get it done in time?"
"We'll catch a lot but not everyone, unless this disease thing doesn't occur."
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As TC watched the news reports that evening it was obvious that the comet had brought the disease that had been predicted. All across the globe there were reports of people dying from a mystery illness. It was also reported that some areas seemed to be immune.
Max wanted to laugh, yeah they were immune alright because the vaccine had reached those parts in time. Some countries that had refused to let the Air Force take in medical aid were being decimated; no doubt they would be blaming the US of creating this disease to regain their world dominance.
Max called Sandeman to see if there was anything they could do to help.
The short reply was no, they were all needed for the war against the familiars which was imminent.
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206 followed the route which all transgenics had been given and got into TC without any trouble. He briefly surveyed his surroundings and found somewhere to hole up until light.
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A/N Sorry for the delay I'm hoping to finish in a couple of chapters, but since its close down I'm not sure how exciting they'll be.
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