Disclaimer: Alright, I know...I don't own DA, but I wish I did.Satisfied? Good.
A/N: ok, everybody. you're going to have to be patient with me...i have this one, which i just couldn't hold back from you anymore, and "Being Who I'm Meant to Be". so, it may take some time to get both of them completed, butI will do it. Please, R&R.
The Identity of a Soldier
A/N: White comes in much later in this version of the story.
A/N 2: Max went home before going back to Manticore to change and retrieve her baby, the virus is really slow acting.
A/N 3: Alec went back to Manticore after Max kicked his butt into submission...you'll see details will be revealed as we go...
Chapter One: I Can't Remember
He stumbled out of the woods wearing his gray and black military issued fatigues and gray t-shirt. Everything in his memory seemed to be gray, everything but her. He vaguely remembered a complex of fenced-in gray concrete buildings bursting into flames, and a figure which stood watching the explosion on an embankment then walk over the rise and head into the trees. He thought he recognized the figure on the hill, but forced himself to squash that hope. The man didn't know if he had been in the building or not. If he was in the building, he had no idea how he had gotten out. The one thing that he knew completely: he had been let down all his life.
He tried to make his way in the direction where the figure had stood. He ran as fast as he could. He remembered trees blurring by him as he ran. He stopped suddenly and put a hand to the back of his head. When he brought it down again, he saw a pool of blood on his hand. He was loosing too much blood. A brief cry of pain left his lips just before he fell unconscious. He had just reached the bottom of the hill where the figure had stood before.
When he woke up, he looked around to take in his surroundings. He was in a decrepit barn somewhere in a remote part of town. Somewhere beyond a partition he heard a rustling sound. A woman, dressed in a black cat-suit, leather jacket and boots, rounded the corner and looked at him skeptically.
"So, you are awake after all."
Alec heard the woman speak. He could see her lips moving, but the only thing he could think of was a name, a name that sprung into his mind the instant that he saw her. "Max."
"Yeah, I actually thought you might die, and then I'd be left with your dead weight to lug back to Seattle with me for a decent burial." He saw her look at him scornfully. "I guess I could have just dropped your body in a ditch somewhere, it's not like anyone would care." Max had to take a few breaths after that statement. That scenario was to close to how she left Ben. The fact that Alec looked like Ben didn't help much, either. To help her nerves a bit more, Max looked at the dirty floor of the barn, avoiding the face that mirrored one she had loved so well. "But I couldn't give the Manticore clean-up committee the satisfaction of finding your body to do God-knows-what with."
When she said the world 'Manticore' he felt something akin to hackles rise on the back of his neck. The only association he had with that word was betrayal. They are the ones who let us down all our lives, he thought with animosity. A low growl escaped his throat.
Max was disturbed with the fact that he didn't say anything this whole time. When he let out the guttural sound, she started to get a little worried. Alec is not like this. "What's with the sour expression, Alec? Do not like it out here in real life, do you want mommy and daddy to take you back?"
"No! Never say that." He really didn't know what he was talking about, but he was sure it was hell on earth. "I hate that place. They ruined my life. I'm glad to be gone from them!"
Max immediately knew that something was up. What? Manticore Golden Soldier Boy X5-494 not want to associate himself with the mother-base. Back on base before he helped her get out, Alec had been all gung-ho about the greatness that is Manticore. Now he just seemed very disturbed by the fact that he had come from there at all.
"Alec." Max's tone had turned very serious, no longer arrogantly sarcastic and playful. "What's wrong? What happened to you?" She may have not liked the guy since he came into her cell, demanding that they copulate because of orders, but she didn't want to see any of her kind this disturbed. Don't get me wrong, she thought, thinking of that night. The boy has got a fine body. But the circumstances were all wrong. No way would I go after a guy if Manticore told me I had to. I would not give them the satisfaction.
He looked at the one called Max and thought for a moment. Alec? Yeah. Alec. That sounds right. Especially when she says it. For a moment he considered not telling her what happened, or rather that he couldn't remember what happened, but he decided he couldn't not tell her. He just felt so dejected at admitting the fact. "I don't know…" He trailed off, still unsure. Then he decided, it was better than living with it alone. And maybe she could help. "Max, I can't remember anything."
The man in front of Max hung his head as if he were a lost boy. Alec? Not remember anything about Manticore? He lived at Manticore all his life. He was the perfect soldier; he believed everything Manticore ever told him. She knew that he was prone to lies, especially for sake of completing a mission, yet she did believe him. Something really wrong must have happened for him to not remember. At least he remembered the fact that Manticore destroyed their lives. Taking pity on him, and seeing this as a chance to start fresh in their relationship, Max decided to help him. "C'mon." She held out a hand for him to take. "Let's get back to Seattle. Then I'll help you figure out this mess." She calmly led him to where her motorcycle waited as she would a small boy in an unfamiliar place.
A/N: did you like? the next chapter will come as soon as i can get it fixed. also, know that BWIMTB is my priority story. So, as I said, be patient, it will come.
