Chapter 6
Alec quickly stashed the rest of his bags in his closet and closed the door. He turned and grabbed the two still sitting on his bed. He'd had to rush after leaving the planning session to make his meeting with his supplier, then to hit up a few others that he dealt with occasionally. He had been able to get most of the things on his list which pleased him greatly.
Terminal City had needed new com systems for the teams going out on raids for weeks before he left and Mack, his supplier hadn't disappointed him. He could just imagine the glee on Dix's face when Alec showed the mutant his new toys. The other bag held coffee, a bribe that would hopefully make Max forget he had left TC without backup. She had repeatedly told him that he needed a few extra hands in case something went sideways, but Alec hadn't had time to wait. Colombian Roast would have to soothe her anger this time.
His grin spread wide... He was going to have to find a better bribe once she found out about the paintball guns he had stashed in his closet for Duncan and the younger X series. He had been trying to think of fun, less traumatic ways to teach the kids safety and defense when he had seen them in the market. He'd also picked the kid up some clothes too. It was too cold in Seattle for him to be wandering around in the same grey t-shirt and jeans all of the time. He put clothing on his mental list of TC's needs.
He hurriedly made his way to the Command Center's briefing room where he knew that his team for the night would be assembling. Duncan and Seri, another X8 had been dispatched to inform and gather tonight's crew. Max had initially been against using the X8s in Terminal City's daily duties but Alec had argued that they were soldiers and it made them feel useful. Duncan's chest had puffed with pride when Max informed him he would be in charge of TC's courier service.
Alec walked into command and waved to Mole who had his feet up on his desk. A cigar was clenched between his teeth and a notepad in his hand. He was making notations on it and Alec figured it was one of his never ending ammo request lists. Alec gently set the heavier of the two bags on Dix's desk. It was a hard feat as both it and his workbench were covered in computer guts.
"What's this?" Dix asked curiously.
"Why don't you look buddy?" Alec said grinning when Dix's face broke into a broad smile.
"These are ten times better than what we have now Alec! Great find! I'll get them integrated into our system and you can take them tonight!" He said, nearly tripping over himself in his rush to open the boxes. Max walked in and saw the small mutant in electronic ecstasy and raised her eyebrows at Alec. He gestured for her to back into her office and followed.
"So, I'm guessing that equipment didn't fly itself over the fence into TC by itself did it?" She said archly.
"Not really but if I had known it could do that I would have saved myself some hassle." Alec grinned unrepentantly.
"Alec! What have I told you about taking backup?" Max demanded slamming her hands down on her desk.
"Take some?" He asked cheekily.
"Damn right! No one leaves by themselves! What if you had run into trouble? No one knew where you were. We could have lost you!" Max said her voice rising.
"I left for a whole week to get your sister Max. I'm fine. I wasn't even gone an hour." Alec insisted.
Max sank into her chair sighing. "You just don't get it Alec. We make the rules for a reason. We need to be careful. White is out there and looking for you, more than likely wanting your head on a stick after your last run in with him. Can't you just be careful for once?" Her head fell forward into her hands.
Alec's brow furrowed and worry slid a cool hand down his back. Angry Max he knew how to deal with but this upset Max was foreign to him. He had expected her to hit him and scream. When a tear slipped down her face, Alec's eyes widened and he backed up slowly. The bag in his hand bumped her desk and reminded him what he had for her.
"Um Max," He ventured carefully. "I have something that will make it better. I promise. You uh, like Columbian Roast right?" Max wiped the tear away took a breath and looked at him. She hadn't meant to get emotional, but after looking at the file Mole brought her, Max had started to see Alec in a whole new light.
"Yeah. I do." She smiled wanly. She took the bag and sniffed deeply. "Mmm, there is nothing like real coffee." She looked up at him. "Don't think I forgot you left without telling me and taking backup with you though. Next time I'll kick your ass." She said her smile a bit steadier.
"Yes Ma'am!" Alec laughed and saluted. He heard noise in the common room and saw most of his team filing in to the briefing room. He turned back to Max and shut the door gently. "I know we have to hurry up and get ready for this mission, but when we get back I'd like to talk to you." He paused "about Jaia. I have tried not to push you about Ben but Max, I need to know." He had avoided her eyes until this point and when he looked at her, he could see this had taken her aback. She nodded slowly.
"When you get back we'll talk. But Alec, it's not pretty." She said slowly. She closed her eyes and for a moment wished he had asked anyone but her. She didn't want to be the one to put the horror in his face. She had hoped cowardly that Mole would tell him. She breathed deeply then stood up taking the few steps to stand in front of him. She raised a hand to his face touching him gently. Alec's eyes widened at the physical contact that was so unexpected. He found himself leaning slightly into her hand. Her scent teased him maddeningly. "Alec," Max whispered. "You aren't him. And for right now you need to put this out of your mind. You are about to go out there and risk yourself. I need you at one hundred percent. Can you do this?" Her eyes searched his face. He nodded slowly.
Max sighed, a silent breath of relief. "Okay. Be careful." She lightly caressed his face. Their eyes locked and Alec could swear she was leaning in until they heard a loud thump on the door. The duo jumped and released shaky breaths. "You better hurry, everyone is probably waiting." Max said hastily.
"Yeah. They are." Alec agreed and moved jerkily to the door. Max turned to the window to compose herself.
Alec quickly detailed the plan to his group. He scanned the faces at the table satisfied with his team. Zane's grey eyes assessed him coolly as always. Rig and Tyrel fidgeted restlessly. They hadn't left TC since the siege and were looking forward to some time outside. Dani had her blond hair pulled back into a tight braid that made her look stern, a complete contrast to her joking personality. Rolling his neck side to side he asked "Any questions, comments, concerns?" No one said anything. "Well, good since we are ALL so comfortable the teams will be as follows: Dani, Rig and Mick will be team Alpha, Tyrel, Zane and Ryan will be Beta and that leaves me and Ike."
"Alright it's about a forty-five minute trip so make sure you all go to the bathroom before we leave." Alec joked "Okay let's go kit up and we'll meet back here in one hour." Alec gave a quick wave to Max as he left for the armory. She returned the gesture. . Max and Alec had discussed one of them staying behind at all times and truth be told Alec preferred to run missions with Max or Biggs at his back but it wouldn't do for the both of them to be caught.
Walking over to Dix she put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey." She said quietly. The transhuman looked up startled. "Hey Max."
"Do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Make sure that that piece of equipment we talked about gets modified." She asked quietly. Dix nodded. "Sure thing boss."
Duncan was waiting outside of command when Alec walked out to head towards the armory where Mole would surely be waiting to dutifully dole out the weapons and gear for tonight's mission. With the body armor one could expect to receive a lecture from him on how he knew how many rounds were in each gun and if "sissy" X5s used more than was strictly needed they would be answering to him.
"Hey Alec, you're going out on tonight's mission right?" Duncan asked excitedly.
"Yep pal, I am." He replied.
"Cool! I wish I could go." Duncan said wistfully. "Don't suppose you want to get breakfast tomorrow do you?" he asked hopefully.
"We could do that. I have to brief with Max, then we could go after. Want to meet me at CC?" Duncan nodded. They reached the armory. "Okay pal, I have to go in and get ready. I'll see you around 0800 okay?" He said gently. He could tell the little guy didn't want to leave but Max had decreed the armory off limits to anyone younger than X6.
Duncan nodded. "Okay. 0800." He headed off towards the barracks and Alec watched him go, mentally making a note to talk to Max about the adoption issue.
Mole handed him a vest and crossed his arms over his chest. "Too bad they don't make them long sleeved. With your arm being the bullet magnet it is, we should probably look into it."
"It's so nice you're worried about little ol' me cupcake. Don't worry; I'll never leave you alone." Alec teased back. Mole turned back handing out gear to the rest of the team.
"Whatever, if you didn't come back then I would have to deal with her highness, let's just say I have a vested interest." He replied. When the rest of the team was done getting their gear it was just he and Alec. He handed him two clips and a small knife. Alec looked up in surprise.
"What's this?" He knew how tight fisted Mole was with ammo.
"Just in case you run into trouble. They have close to five hundred people in those barracks." Then Mole smirked "And trouble does seem to follow you. Don't waste it though."
Alec nodded not disputing the fact. "Wish you were coming buddy." He said hitting Mole on the back. He slipped the knife into a pocket in his boot and straightened.
"I don't. Xena's on tonight and I final hijacked some cable." The lizard replied lighting a new cigar.
1 hr later…
Alec sneaked through woods quietly. He could hear the other team's chatter on his earpiece and it soothed him slightly. Being in charge of other soldiers had always made him tense. Almost as tense as Max's brother Zane had made him while he stared at him in the van the whole way here. Those grey eyes never wavered, making him wonder what thoughts of brother Ben he had. Alec saw a guard up ahead. It looked like the ordinary was chatting on his cell phone. Alec rolled his eyes. And to think Mole was worried.
Blurring towards the obstacle in his path, he knocked the guy unconscious before he even finished his sentence. Alec shut the phone ending the call with out a word and pulled the radio from the guard's belt. As another guard called for a check in Alec winced at the volume the radio was set to. "Was he worried about falling asleep?"
Alpha team in position and procuring Dani's voice came over the com channel. Was that laughter he heard? Alec shook his head
"Acknowledged Alpha. Keep me aware of your status." He replied. Alpha was in charge of looting the medical facility.
"Will do." Dani replied. She was filling the canvas bags a fast as she could Rig was carrying them out to the pick up point outside. When Beta finished looting the armory they would swing by and pick them and their cargo up.
When she finished with the meager medicine and medical tools she moved on to linens and she also stuffed one of the fluffier pillows in after them. A girl's gotta look out for herself every once in a while..
Alec quickly navigated the halls heading towards the galley. His part in this raid was to determine if there were any foodstuffs they could use. He and Ike, the tall dark skinned transgenic quickly riffled through the cabinets and filled the collapsible bins they had brought with them.
"Beta mission complete. Moving to Alpha teams position. Over." Came Zane's voice over the com system. Alec silently let out a breath of relief.
"Roger. You have ten minutes Beta." After picking up Alpha and their cargo they would depart and the second van that Rig would be driving would pick up Alec's team so they could head back to Terminal City.
"Copy." Zane replied.
A few minutes later Rig showed up and the three men started loading the food into the last cargo van. As they were loading the last crates and shout rang out.
"Hey! You!" Alec turned and swore under his breath. It was a lone soldier and he was clutching his gun nervously. Sweat dampened his dark hair and the gun trembled in his hands. Alec could see his adam's apple bob as he swallowed hard. Alec put his hands up slowly and inched towards him.
"Now buddy, this doesn't have to get ugly." He said in a low voice. Ike was approaching slowly on the man's left and the soldier was swinging the gun between them. Alec saw Ike tense then lunge at the soldier. This startled the man and the gun went off with a sharp report that cracked like lightning. An instant later Alec's right shoulder flared with pain. "DAMN it!" He swore. The gun went off again as Ike and the man struggled. This time Alec's leg buckled. He found this funny until the pain followed and hit him like a train. He gritted his teeth as he watched Ike knock the guy unconscious. Dozens of footsteps thundered through the tiled halls as guards came to investigate the noise.
Alec heard Ike echoing on the coms and near his ear. "Damn, it's all gone fubar. Alec's been hit. Dani you guys get out of here, we'll follow when we can. Don't wait." Alec heard Dani protest weakly. He knew that they would go; being the good soldiers they were trained to be. The world seemed to swirl around him and went dark.