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 Twelve – Goodbye my love, Goodbye my friend

History advises us that many nations have been born from the chaos of war. In its youth the transgenic nation would continue the tradition albeit a little more frequently. It would take twenty years after the signing of the human/transgenic peace treaty before we would see the beginnings of a proud and powerful nation.

The transgenic civil war would have to be the most devastating to the nation and frightening for those of us across the border. It caused great instability and the Transgenic nation was in jeopardy of collapsing before it had really blossomed. Humans feared the worst during those times and paranoia was a dominant emotion that was not alleviated until the transgenic involvement during the "Familiar War" that claimed so many young lives but was a necessary step to quell the growing threat.


Extract from "Birth of a Nation" by Prosper Blue


"We must remain focused on our goal, to be one people, strong, proud and free. We must stand united, firm in our resolve, if we do not then this freedom we have fought and died for will be lost and once more we shall find ourselves behind locked doors."


Alec McDowell (Speech 2029)

Alec sat in the tatty but comfortable armchair eyeing his surroundings. He was back, back in Seattle and back in his 'broom closet', the old smells still remained but the bits of paper were long gone, now a computer sat on his desk and he sighed.

Things had changed, the last couple of months were testament to that and seeing Max again proved to be exhausting emotionally and physically. Time had changed everything along with circumstance and although he wished it hadn't there was no going back. He loved Max, she was the mother of his progeny, but love had a nasty habit of shifting slowly like the clouds that blanket the sky. He hadn't wanted it to, neither had she but. . .

"But" he muttered aloud as he nibbled the tip of his thumb. His mind wandered to memories of Layla, Toby and his heart grew heavy. He was suddenly weary with it all, wishing he could walk and never look back. He hadn't wanted this, any of it but Max, it was the only way to impress her back in the day and he tried so incredibly hard.

"Why do I always fall for a pretty face?" he asked the air. He had been so jealous of Logan back then, and didn't understand Max's attraction to the guy, he wasn't juiced up like he was, and he was in a fucking wheelchair but her heart remained true for the longest time. Alec had been amazed when Max finally noticed and then she ran off with the milkman in a manner of speaking.

He leaned forward on the graying armchair and pulled a crumpled photo out of his back jeans pocket. It was a matter of fact photo of Max that was taken when she was processed back during the war. He caressed her cheek, there was history, a mixture of good times and bad times, because of her he belonged, had found his place in a world that didn't want him.

Their first meeting had been in a cell, designated breeding partners, different worlds colliding. Alec smirked at the memory and then his mind jumped forward and his face became tense.

"Why now Max" he uttered as his fist hit the arm of the chair.

"Because it's time" the memory of their conversation reverberating in his ears.

"Come back to Seattle" Alec knew he was begging but he didn't care.

"I don't want to."

"It's your home, you love Seattle. I have plans to rebuild the space needle."

"It stopped being my home a long time ago."

"This is crazy" Alec stated shaking his hands "I want you back in Seattle".

"And I don't want to go back" Max retorted placing a gentle hand on his cheek "I love you Alec, I always will"

"but"

"but time has changed things."

"What is this crap you're spouting?" Alec squawked getting agitated with where the conversation was going.

"Remember how we first met?"

"How could I forget, you kicked me in the gut!"

"You were getting fresh with me" Max chuckled.

"Hey I was following orders."

"And you now have four beautiful children to prove it!"

"Max" Alec approached cautiously and took her in his arms "are you breaking up with me?" he half joked.

"Have we ever been in a relationship where a break up is actually required?" she responded her head cushioned by Alec's chest.

"Those were extenuating circumstances."

"Alec the circumstances will always be extenuating, we don't need each other, we want each other, but we survive quite happily apart."

"Max, don't do this."

"It's time."

"Stop saying that, stop blaming time, it has nothing to do with it". Alec rattled off childishly.

"I love you" Max stated strongly as she leaned in for a kiss.

"But we work better apart" Alec responded.

"I will always be there for you, I just won't be in Seattle and because of that it is perhaps best that we part now".

Alec backed up, knowing this was coming but not quite believing what he was hearing.

"There's another guy isn't there" Alec said feigning hurt.

"Alec, you can be such a. . ."

"A what"


"Smart Alec!"


"You know I'll be back!" Alec challenged.

"I have no doubt about it, after all I'm irresistible!"

"You keep telling yourself that sweetheart" Alec mocked as he grabbed Max roughly and kissed her with all the accumulated passion of the past decade.

He pulled away quickly and Max stood there, eyes shut savoring the taste, her tongue subtly licking her lips as if committing to memory the moment. Max then opened her eyes and looked intently at the man she was saying goodbye to "you're a good leader Alec, far better than I could ever have been, I'm too emotional".

"You started it all; if it wasn't for you I'd still be in Manticore".

"Somehow I don't think so; you had an independent streak even back then."

"What will you tell the children" Alec asked.

"That's daddy's gone back to Seattle to finish off what mummy started." she paused as if choosing her words carefully "I'm sorry Alec".

"For what" Alec said confused.

"For making you leader, running off, coming back, and running again."

"You're a regular hot potato."

"I have never known when to let go; I made the same mistake with Logan". Max saw that Alec looked hurt at being compared with his predecessor and quickly changed the subject.

"Be careful and watch your back."

"Always!"

"I'm serious, we may have won the war with the humans, but we have yet to win the battle with our own people."

"Are you forgetting that I was a professional fighter?"

"This is different, you're top dog but someone is going to want to knock you off and take over."

"I know Max and maybe I should just let them." Max suddenly looked nervous and Alec quickly retorted "However, I need to see this through and provide stability."

"I'll be Alpha for a long time Max, nothing to worry about."

"It's your cockiness that concerns me" Max said through gritted teeth as she spied Devon off in the distance approaching fast. Time was up and for some reason, even though she had instigated it all, she didn't want it to end.

"Goodbye my love" Alec whispered softly in her ear reading the expression on her face all to clearly.

"Goodbye my friend" Max whispered back embracing him and resting her head in the crook of his neck subtly breathing in his scent. Alec stroked her soft hair before moving his head backwards to kiss her one last time.

"Sir" Devon interrupted.

"Just a minute" came a muffled response.

Devon averted his eyes and quietly tapped his foot, hopelessly trying to pretend the scene next to him was not happening, he wasn't a fan of mushy Alec.

"Love you" Alec winked, ending a chapter of his life.

"Love you too" Max punched his arm playfully "be safe"

"When have I not been?!"

Max rolled her eyes as Alec gave her one last quick embrace and then she watched him trot away with Devon on his heels.

Max ran. It had been two days since Alec's departure and her heart was still heavy with what she had done, it was necessary but she still cried herself to sleep. She saw the SUV in the distance and picked up her pace, the dust billowing behind her as her feet pounded the dirt road. There was an urgency in her run, she needed to reach the SUV before it pulled away.

Ivy exited the building, she had said her goodbyes and was ready for the journey back to Seattle, Alec had insisted on organizing a car to take her, even though she protested saying that is was not necessary. Alec had disagreed stating the doctor needed to be back in Seattle sooner rather than later. Ivy's hair flicked in the breeze as she headed towards the back door of the SUV which was being held open by Case.

"See ya soon" he smiled.

Ivy was about to step into the vehicle when she heard her name carried on the breeze, she looked around to see Max fast approaching.

"Max!" she called in greeting.

"Ivy, I'm glad I caught you."

"What's wrong?" Ivy asked worried.

"Nothing, I just wanted to ask you to do something for me."

"Anything Max."

"Look after Alec."

Ivy looked stunned and confused "Max, I'm sorry I don't quite understand what you are asking."

"I let him go Ivy, I had to for the greater good."

"You don't have to be a martyr Max, it's a tad vain."

Max looked hurt but continued on "I don't want to go back to Seattle, we could stay together but what would be the point."

"And what's your point?"

"He needs an ally, things are going to get rough, and he's not the type to be alone."

"And"

"I would rather it were you than someone else" Max spluttered.

Ivy just stood there.

"Say something" Max requested.

"I'm a little speechless, it's not everyday an ex is handed up on a plate by their mate. What am I suppose to be a concubine, keep him warm and safe until he's able to come back to you."

"He won't come back to me" Max implored.

"Don't be a fool, and don't treat me like one, he'll come back he always does it's what he's good at."

"I won't let him."

"Forgive me if I don't believe you." Ivy said angrily.

"I know how you feel about him."

"And I know how he feels about you. I thought you had more respect for me and him!"

Ivy turned and climbed in the vehicle and Case slammed the door.

Max watched as the SUV sped away and Case broke the awkward silence "I have to say one thing Max, when you make mistakes you're not 'half arsed' about it."

"Shut up Case."

Case opened and then shut his mouth, an angry look in his eyes; he then turned and walked back into command.

Max stood in the dust, alone. That was what she was good at.