Legacy
By Shikasta
Spoilers: Anything's fair game in my view although this is an AU
Disclaimer: The characters of Dark Angel are owned by Twentieth Century Fox Television and Cameron Eglee productions. In laymen's terms: Don't own them but by god I wish I did.
This story is the third part in the Fable universe and follows on from Alec's War.
Chapter Five – ScarsMax's anger had slowly subsided to the relief of Fizz and many others, it was still unclear as to what exactly she was mad at, although many took it upon themselves to speculate. Those inhabiting Logan's Legacy were still maintaining communications silence with those in Seattle and beyond. Cut off from the world they were unawares of the events unfolding, for all they knew most of those still on US soil had been slaughtered or enslaved. Time had cunningly stopped for this oversized farm community and life was unrealistically too normal, and the inhabitants embraced it all willingly, some even praying for it to stay this way, for a while at least.
But things were about to change.
Max sat up in bed, she had made some off handed complaint about pain earlier, which Ivy hadn't believed but allowed her patient the luxury of one more night. For someone who hated hospitals Max was rather anxious about leaving the sterile environment. Ivy guessed it might have had something to do with Alec's absence and the two new additions to their ever-growing brood.
Ivy entered Max's room with an air of authority, she walked steadily over to the bed and proceeded to fluff Max's pillows for her while Max leaned forward, enjoying the brief attention.
"So are we feeling calmer today?" Ivy joked.
"I will not make apologies for my behaviour" Max snipped as she leaned back into the soft pillows. Ivy began to wonder if Max's refusal to leave had anything to do with the bits of stuffing that was supporting her head.
"Would you like to hold the twins?"
"Not at the moment."
"Have you decided on any names for them, baby1 and baby2 really doesn't suit them you know" Ivy laughed and made herself comfortable on the bed next to Max "What's wrong?"
"Nothing" Max said in an unsure fashion.
"Max, something is obviously wrong."
"What makes you think that?"
"Well for starters, you hate hospitals and this is, in its crudest form, a hospital."
"I told you I'm not feeling well, I just had twins remember!"
"Being unwell hasn't prevented you from doing things in the past."
"I'm not an X8 who needs mothering." Max was beginning to get mad at Ivy's questioning and her tone and poise was letting Ivy know this.
"Max I realise Alec's absence has been hard on you."
"You know nothing about it Ivy, how dare you sit there and try to understand" Max was now shouting.
Ivy jumped off the bed her own anger rising to the surface "How dare you! You're spoilt Max, and you forget there wasa time when I would worry about whether or not he'd return, I still worry." At that Ivy stopped speaking, she had overstepped her bounds, the last conversation she had had with Max about Alec, Ivy had promised herself would be the last but now she was standing here opening wounds that hadn't properly healed. The beautiful, blond transgenic doctor was still hopelessly in love with Alec, he had proved to be her one everlasting love and she knew her feelings would never change. Some of her companions during her time with Alec had been shocked that she had ended it so abruptly. Sometimes she would sit in one of the fields of the farm surrounded by cows and whisper to the surrounding trees for just one more day with him. She knew it was hopeless and Ivy was a healer, it wasn't in her nature to be vicious or vengeful, she did, however, suffer a mild dose of jealousy but this would never cause her to do anything untoward.
"You're right Ivy."
Ivy's mind rushed back into her body and the room, locking away once more the memories that almost haunted her "I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for, as usual you are right and I'm being pigheaded. I have so many conflicting thoughts and emotions going on that I'm not sure how to deal with them."
"He'll be back."
"I know, I just get so frustrated."
Ivy approached the usually strong, emotionally invisible woman and put an arm around her shoulders "That's rather an understatement don't you think!" and both women laughed.
A column of black SUV's snaked there way across the green countryside. Washington DC felt like it had been a mirage sprawled out across a heat-ravaged desert.
Alec sat back, relaxed, deep in thought nibbling away at his thumb. He and his entourage had spent eight months negotiating peace with the ordinaries, and now the smell of freedom was somehow sweeter than what he had imagined. His thoughts now turned to Max, it had taken two weeks for him to hear whether or not she had arrived safely in Canada. Any written or electronic communication with the farm had always been forbidden, Alec was determine to maintain its secrecy, hence transgenic runners carried all communications between the farm and the others on American soil. Once Alec had gone to Washington DC he had ordered no communication whatsoever with the farm, a decision he had sometimes regretted for it meant no news of Max and his daughters but then the thought of them being safe relinquished his selfish thoughts for a time.
He was now headed back to Seattle, there was a mammoth task now facing his people for the city needed to be rebuilt, and surveys of their new territory conducted. Alec had still to decide what to do about human civilians still living on transgenic land, and borders needed to be established. It was times like these he wished he could simply walk away from it all, hand over the reins to someone more willing to undertake the task. He knew it was just a thought, his ego wouldn't allow some other transgenic to come in a put the final touches on his and Max's accomplishment.
"Max" he whispered.
"What was that?" Gabriel questioned.
"Nothing, I was just thinking" Alec's companion and driver shrugged, Gabriel had chosen to return to Seattle much to the surprise of his passenger. This angel that had shadowed the transgenic leader for eight months still had a long and difficult journey ahead of him and whether he would burst forth into light or sink deep into the darkness was unclear. Gabriel had already made one choice unbeknownst to Alec, to align himself with Senator Kinnane, a choice that may prove his eventual downfall.
While Alec thought of his family and when he could make the trek to Logan's Legacy, Gabriel was deciding the best strategic move to oust Alec as leader of the transgenic nation. Gabriel was determined to become leader of the transgenic nation, a position he was created for and Gabriel had the arrogance to believe that he could successfully manoeuvre Senator Kinnane and Alec, so as to achieve his ultimate goal.
The countryside was a streak of green outside the SUV's windows as it sped at unnatural speeds down the empty roads. This transgenic group were travelling cross-country having decided that it posed less risk than flying, for signing a treaty didn't mean that trust followed. Alec couldn't wait to get off of US soil having treaded upon it long enough to last several lifetimes in his opinion.
"I reckon we'll be entering our territory in about six hours" Gabriel voiced unexpectedly.
"The sooner the better, don't trust the ordinaries and I want to make sure we're prepared for anything."
"Aren't you being rather paranoid?"
"Gabriel if you had lived behind those walls for over two years you'd be paranoid as well."
"You forget I spent twenty four years behind walls at the mercy of the ordinaries."
"It's not the same, freedom was a foreign concept to us, we didn't understand the implications of the word."
"Not all of us were blinkered Alec."
"I don't wish to argue with you, I appreciate your limited help-"
"Was that a dig, brother?" Gabriel interrupted with a lighthearted accusation, enjoying the moment.
"Don't refer to me as that." Alec huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.
Gabriel merely looked at his passenger then under his breath muttered "I suppose that means we're spending the rest of the journey in silence."
"What did you say?" Alec demanded.
"Nothing."
Angeline sat cross-legged in the hotel foyer where the transgenics had been staying. She fidgeted with her hair, removing errant strands from in front of her eyes, she was nervous as she tapped her shoe uncontrollably. Horatio had made an impression on her and she had hoped to see him again once she had left the rubble and ruin of Seattle. It had taken eight months but now she was here and only a few stories separated her from the transgenic that had been her escort.
August approached her, during the Seattle war he had been one of the Sector Heads but now he found himself assigned to Horatio and Washington DC.
"Ma'am" he greeted, bowing his head ever so slightly.
"Will he see me?" She asked in a rush as she stood.
"I will take you to him if you would like to follow me."
"Thank you."
Standing outside a collapsed building that was once known as Command, Mole chomped on his cigar, breathing in the dusty air "Who would have thought" he muttered to himself, as he watched Case walking towards him.
"So hows the clean up going?" Case asked.
"As good as can be expected, considering the amount of rubble."
Case nodded his agreement "We received a transmission from Washington."
"And-" Mole encouraged.
"Alec is returning to Seattle, Horatio estimates that he should be rolling into Seattle in about five hours."
"They drove then?"
"It would appear why have they waited till now to tell us?"
"Apparently Alec did want us to have enough time to organise a welcome home."
"Ha, if he thinks he's getting out of it that easy he should think again."
"So operation "welcome home", has the go ahead then?" Case questioned.
"Of course, clean up can wait!"
TBC
A/N A review gives life to my muse and ensures the story goes on.