Reunions

Two days, they'd been locked in for two days and he was tired. They hardly spoke, not that there was much to say after her announcement. But that wasn't the real reason, the truth was, even though Alec tried, really really tried, he was just weak. He was a man and she- well, partially human anyway. The animal- his feline side couldn't, wouldn't say 'No'.

"We never speak of this!" Nÿx ordered in a harsh breath. Alec plopped onto his back panting from exertion. Her order was only slightly offensive to him, after all, he'd been minding his own business, hadn't even flirted with her- well maybe that part wasn't exactly right but still, he'd kept his distance.

"Yep, sure." He gave her a thumbs up closing his eyes. Arguing was the last thing on his mind and truth to tell he'd rather not waste the energy. He couldn't remember ever being this tired after- but then Alec had never experienced a Transgenic female in heat. Nor had he had to repeat performance after performance so often without a break. He didn't think they'd slept more than an hour or two.

Alec remembered the first time he'd been paired at Manticore, when the higher ups had decided to breed them in order to get a better super soldier than they'd already concocted. He'd stood in the cell and surveyed his 'partner' knowing that she was somehow…lacking. Yes, the X-5 wasn't…she wasn't his even if they'd paired them. But he was a soldier and another trip to psy ops wasn't part of the plan so he did as he was ordered. He followed orders…

Nÿx rolled onto her side so she could look at him. Alec had his eyes closed but she knew he wasn't asleep though if he were there was an even simpler solution to waking him up. Time didn't seem to be moving fast, not for her. She began to wonder why she'd ever taken the trancs when this was much better… a slow smile brightened her face as she ran her gaze over Alec admiring the well defined muscles, his chest devoid of any blemish. Manticore made beautiful soldiers, very easy on the eyes and extremely capable. She leaned in, unconsciously taking a deep breath. She blushed, slightly embarrassed to have done it but Alec's scent was intoxicating.

Alec noticed her look and groaned. "Already?"

"Quit complaining." Nÿx ordered with a smile. How could he possibly complain? Wasn't this a guys dream?

"Yes ma'am." Alec saluted and Nÿx suddenly found herself on her back looking up at a smirking Alec and grinned in return. She'd realized the smirk was his mask, the armor he put on but then they all did. She didn't think too much on it, not then because there was the other side of Alec she wanted more. The animal side that called to her, made her want to submit and Nÿx hadn't felt that, ever. She wasn't part of anything anymore and she wasn't going to bow to anyone, wouldn't think of blindly following orders…

But Alec…

'Why did I ever sleep the days away?' she wondered when she could have been doing this for the three da-. Three?

Nÿx frowned and started to think or tried to at least, but Alec was very good at distracting her.

"Mmm…" Nÿx sighed closing her eyes and somewhere, the more logical part of her brain tried to muddle through the count. Everything had started at Crash which hadn't been so long ago… Nÿx shifted to her left and her brain temporarily lost track of her thoughts then had to refocus. Alec had taken her to Terminal City and the next morning they'd promptly gotten themselves locked in. She'd almost made it two days before finally confessing but that had been three days ago, hadn't it? Wasn't this her fourth day then?

'I'm not in heat anymore.' Nÿx thought in sudden shock. She didn't know if she was relieved it was over, well not exactly over because Alec-.

"Alec!"

"Say my name baby!" he replied enthusiastically. Clearly he had no idea Nÿx wasn't crying out his name in the throes of passion. She was about to tell him she wasn't in heat, that they didn't have to go any further- not that they hadn't done everything already. Nÿx blushed remembering everything she had done, the way she'd been behaving…

'So why not once more?' she asked herself. He wouldn't know the difference, hadn't Syl said men were all the same? That they only cared about themselves but Alec was proving to be the exception. He wasn't at all how Syl painted men, well not entirely. He was opportunistic and selfish at times but well he wasn't being selfish just then.

Nÿx relaxed, ignored the feline in favor of her human DNA. She didn't want to be the animal, what she wanted was to feel… the same as any ordinary girl.

'Not selfish at all...'

-X-

JamPony was busy as usual with a few old faces back in action while some of the moderately new were missing.

"HotRun! Bip, bip, bip!" Normal hollered from the dispatch window. He waved the parcel in the air while checking his watch until someone sped past taking it on their way out.

"What's wrong with you people?" Normal grouched. "I call out a 'HotRun' and it takes a full minute for any of you slackers to pick it up?" he glared into the thin crowd of messengers. "Things are gonna change around here people." He threatened.

"Hey, Normal." A familiar voice called out. "You gonna try selling the place again?"

There was some laughter from those who were around to participate in the first failed attempt at selling the messenger service. Not everyone had been around to see Original Cindy, Sketchy, Herbal and some of the others foil the attempt. She was sure she could scrounge up some volunteers if the need arose…

Normal wagged a finger in OriginalCindy's direction. "Just because I let you have your old job back doesn't mean I'll be taking it easy on you, missy."

OriginalCindy laughed, it was the same old Normal, harsh on the outside but a softie at heart.

"Besides couldn't sell the place even if I wanted to. Not after the little fiasco 14months ago…" he trailed off with a meaningful look.

"Normal…" OriginalCindy might've tried to defend Max and the others but Normal waved them aside. He leaned forward glancing around then in a low whisper asked; "How's that baby doing?"

OriginalCindy frowned wondering about the baby when she realized he meant Gem and baby Regan. OriginalCindy smiled.

"Boo, they both fine. Baby Regan is already walking and getting into a mess of trouble."

Normal grinned pleased they were ok.

'They named her Regan.' He thought with pleasure. He remembered OC standing there and abruptly wiped the smile from his face as he stood. He glanced around to see if anyone had seen him with the goofy smile as he gruffly shooed her to the back.

"You can use one of the bikes until you get your own. Here." He handed her the JamPony ID and pass. "Don't loose it or the replacement comes out of your pay." He warned though his gruf demeanor didn't seem to have the same effect on OriginalCindy as it had before.

OriginalCindy walked off, a sad smile on her face. Being at JamPony brought to mind many memories, one's she didn't want to forget and people she missed. She sat on the bench thinking that Normal probably missed them too. He hadn't put up much of fight when she came asking for her job back and now he was letting her use one of the company bikes which was out of the norm for him. All those months with Max at Terminal City had cost her so much already. Her health, home… having to hide her sickness from Max had been difficult enough but coming back…

"Where's Nÿx?"

"Does it look like I would know?"

The conversation pulled OriginalCindy from her thoughts and she turned to see a beautiful red head talking to blond and stupid. The woman was new but the blond, Gryph, was the resident horn dog and one of Normal's favorite fighters.

'Probably the only favorite he has now that Alec's at Terminal City.' She thought while admiring the slim body and dangerous curves on the red head. 'Wonder if the girl plays for my team?'

"That's not what I asked." Audny crossed her arms particularly drawing Gryph's eyes to her chest.

"Nope, don't know." Gryph said absently. In his mind he was re-living the one night-.

"Gryph!" Audny jabbed a finger in his chest.

"What?" Gryph winced rubbing the spot. "I don't know. Haven't seen her since Crash."

"I'm worried." Audny whispered. "Its' not like her. I think Normal's worried too."

"He's threatening to fire her ass!" Gryph exclaimed clearly not of the same opinion.

"Come on, you know he won't." Audny laughed counting on her fingers the reasons Normal would never do that. "She's never missed work or been late for a shift. She's the most reliable messenger he has, not to mention one of the fastest on a 'HotRun' and you think he doesn't notice she picks up some of the slack around here? She got the bike back from the SteelHeads and delivered the package." Audny shook her head again playing the part of worried and supportive friend to perfection. "Normal's not getting rid of Nÿx."

"Since you put it that way." Gryph shrugged having to admit Nÿx did sound pretty good when you listed all her accomplishments; he just wasn't about to spill on how she managed to do them. He wasn't about to tell her Aric hadn't seen her either nor had she been home. Nope. Gryph was going to keep his mouth shut and -.

"Does Aric-?" Audny began.

"Nope, I mean I don't know." Gryph corrected but it was obvious she'd caught his slip. "I haven't seen him since Crash either. Gotta jet." He quickly grabbed his bike and moved away.

"HotRun!" Normal yelled and Gryph took it out of his hand before he could start counting how long it took the messengers to react.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Normal pointed to Gryph's retreating back.

'I can't believe I'm running away from a girl!'

-X-

Aric opened his front door and immediately inhaled the delicious aromas coming from the kitchen. He sniffed just to make sure it was in his apartment knowing there was only one reason for it. His heart began thumping loudly in his chest as he turned the corner not daring to hope for exactly what he got. At first he wasn't sure that what he was seeing was actually there. It could've been Nÿx sitting at his dining room table, her hair wrapped in a towel with six or seven plates in front of her wearing a bathrobe but she'd been missing almost five days.

"I'm out for a couple of days and you can't buy groceries? What's wrong with you?" Nÿx asked with a carrot in hand. It was definitely her voice and she had some balls to be busting on him for not buying food.

"Where the hell have you been?" Aric yelled moving into the room. "I've been worried sick! You just up and disappear from Crash not a word or message!" Aric gripped the back of a chair. What he really wanted to do was shake her until he worked that out of his system then crush her to him and hold her close.

Nÿx continued to eat, picking from different plates and ignoring his tantrum. Aric noticed, which made him clench the chair harder. With white knuckles and tightly clenched jaw he barely managed to get out the next sentence.

"Gryph says Normal's threatening to fire you and he's called at least once every day since." Aric hoped that would get her attention.

"He can't." Nÿx replied confidently. She had a thin slice of cheese wrapped with ham. "I'm his best messenger. Besides, Normal loves me." she finished with a careless wave of her hand.

"He lo-?" Aric couldn't get the question past his suddenly slack jaw.

-X-

Krystal hissed at the bedraggled figures demanding entrance into Terminal City immediately recognizing the older man. He was covered in dirt, his clothes torn and bleeding from somewhere. She could smell the blood, old blood. Kian watched Krystal refuse them entrance even after the old man identified himself. He couldn't believe the stupidity of the old man, didn't he know just about every Transgenic and Transhuman would kill him on sight? Didn't he know how much they all loathed him, hated him with an almost poisonous passion? And the other one, the spy. Kian had heard about Max's capture and escape from the Conclave and both because of him.

"Let us in! I have information that could help Max." Lydecker's voice was rough and scratchy; he coughed harshly into his sleeve while the Transhuman hissed at him clawing her hands.

"You can rot!" Krystal raged slapping a hand on the chain links. The fence rattled alerting other Transgenics on guard further down.

"We ca-an h-hel-help Max." the hunched figure raised his head slightly, seeming afraid to even look anywhere besides the ground. Kian frowned slightly, he didn't look like a spy, didn't behave as one…

"Open the gate." He ordered shouldering his rifle.

"What?" Krystal's eyes slitted even more than they already were. Her body tensed ready to pounce…

"We take them to Max and let her decide." Kian said. Looking directly at Lydecker he added; "She might want him dead as much as the rest of us."

Lydecker hoped the Transgenic male was wrong because he had no wish to die, not now, after all his hard work to escape, after the torture, the cage, the darkness… No, he wasn't ready to die, not yet. First he wanted some payback.

-X-

Terminal City wasn't how he'd picture it. There were guards posted at the entrance which was understandable and more walking the perimeter, also expected. Krystal had left her post and escorted him to the command room. It wasn't far so they walked the quarter mile. She pointed out the direction of the clinic and explained that the buildings closest to it housed the pregnant Transgenics which made sense. Most of the other buildings had been outfitted with generators and all the Transgenics with mechanical skills had been set to work on amenities such as getting hot water into the lived in areas.

Krystal mentioned most Transhumans preferred to stay with other Transhumans and the same with Transgenics and that the buildings were modified accordingly. But not everybody preferred to segregate themselves so there were plenty of buildings housing those and if he wanted she was sure there were a couple of empty apartments available. Krit wasn't sure which he would prefer since this was the first time he'd actually seen a Transhuman. He thought staying with Nÿx and Max was a better idea but he didn't know where they lived. So he smiled noncommittally at the cat lady and followed her into the command room.

"Krit!" he turned at the sound of his name and grinned seeing Max rush to meet him.

"Max." he hugged her then both stepped back to look each other over. Max hadn't seen her brother since they had blown up the DNA lab. She'd thought him living in Canada with the other Transgenics who'd made it across the border. Now there he was, standing a full foot taller than she remembered and sporting the shadow of a beard. She ruffled the fuzz on his cheeks grinning.

Krit patted her hand aside making a face. He was more than happy to see his sister alive and well especially since Lydecker had told them she'd been killed in the raid. Both he and Syl had stuck together heading into Canada where they'd had a rough time finding work and somewhere to live. Then the 'EyesOnly' broadcast of the Manticore facility had pushed them into going back and they bumped into Zane who gave them the news that Max was still alive. That had been a shock and both had been reticent to believe it but they managed to contact Logan who confirmed it, even putting Max on the line.

After that the trio decided not to stay in Seattle and the only other place left was Los Angeles, where Zane had worked as a mechanic. They'd bought the ranch and began their own resistance, finding and taking out the black ops Manticore programs.

"You don't look much different." Krit said. His eyes searched for some change now that she had Zack's heart. Something of him but it was just Max.

"I'm not. Not really." Max shrugged looking away and directly to Logan. "The virus is still active. White still wants me dead and the government still thinks we're less than human." She shrugged looking back at Krit. "Everything's still the same."

"Zack…?" he asked wanting to know if their brother were alright even though he knew it was safer not to know. He glanced at Logan as well but the ordinary only walked away, leaving them with a little privacy.

"Fine." Max smiled. "He doesn't remember any of us and he's happy. He's got a girl…" she winked and Krit laughed at the thought of Zack with a girlfriend. He was always so stiff and strict, Manticore's fault but big brother had loosened up enough to get a girl.

"Oh great." Max sighed with a roll of her eyes. Krit turned to look over his shoulder and stopped dead at the sight before him.

"Next time you need to lock someone up do me a favor," Alec said walking into the command room. "Find someone else."

"Why? You had something better to do?" Max asked with arms crossed and a slightly arched eyebrow. Alec hesitated frowning and felt his face begin to warm.

"Ben…" Krit stepped forward staring intently at the Transgenic before him. Ben had been the same age as he and they along with Max and Eva had usually stuck together. They would listen to Ben tell stories about the blue lady and after what Max told him she'd had to do… seeing Ben's twin was almost…

"Name's Alec." He said looking from Max to the new guy. He took a closer look at them and was amazed to see a strong resemblance between the two. Max laid a gentle hand on Krit's arm, her brown eyes softened, looking from one to the other.

"He's Ben's twin, Krit." But she knew he realized that.

Alec glanced from Max to the new guy making the connection between Nÿx and the Transgenic in front of him. This was the guy who found her and sent Nÿx to Terminal City for Max as if she were some toy he could pass on… 'I owe him.' Nÿx had said and never explained. Why should he care? Didn't she rather pretend they'd never been locked in together?

"I'm Krit." He held out his hand and seeing it Alec suddenly felt himself get nervous, as if they could see what he'd been doing with Nÿx just a few hours ago. He took the proffered hand and in typical Alec form asked; "So, you guys have the same last name?"

-X-