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 Eighteen – Battle Cry

Alec was ready to leave the stage when a ruckus began at the back of the crowd. As he looked out over the faces he saw Gabriel approaching the stage with his posse in tow, 'this can't be good' he thought as he stopped mid step and settled back onto the stage.

As Gabriel got closer Alec acknowledged him "Gabriel?"

Gabriel ignored him and jumped up onto the stage and faced the crowd. With a commanding voice he issued the challenge "I, Gabriel challenge Alec for leadership of the transgenic nation."

"What!" Alec demanded.

"I challenge you for leadership" Gabriel reiterated.

"The people have voted Gabriel" Alec reproached.

"They voted on the style of leadership. They didn't vote as to who the leader would be."

The crowd was stunned, no one had anticipated this turn of events that is except for Alec. He stood there eyeing his opponent, sizing him up.

"I say let the people decide!" Gabriel roared.

The crowd was silent, and Alec was thankful that is until a lone voice cried out "let him challenge! Let him challenge" and the rest of the crowd took up the chant.

'Fools' Gabriel thought as he grinned, chest puffed out.

Alec waved his hands to settle the crowd and then turned to Gabriel and through slightly gritted teeth accepted the challenge before leaving the stage.

Alec made his way back to command replaying the events of what had happened in his mind and assessing the possible implications. He had known that Gabriel would be a threat he just had not expected it so soon. Things were going to start to get messy and he knew that Gabriel had a small following in Seattle.

Increasing his pace he knew that he could not allow Gabriel to take the leadership. Alec may not know the transgenics agenda but he knew enough to know it wasn't in favour of the nation he had fought to have.

Francesca hugged Gabriel a wicked smile adorning her face "you did it my love."

"All in a day's work" Gabriel advised as he extricated a mobile phone from his pocket and hit speed dial.

Senator Kinnane

"Senator it's done"

Your challenge was accepted? The Senator asked skeptically.

"The people applied pressure, Max had no choice but to accept."

Good, just make sure you win!

"No problem."

Gabriel ended the call and he noticed the funny look Francesca was giving him.

"What is it my love?"

"Why are you aiding in Alec's pretence? We know that Max hasn't been the leader for a very long time."

"It's a fine line doing what is best for your people and betraying them."

"I don't understand?"

"If it ever got out that I was aiding Senator Kinnane I can at least attempt to present the idea that I was in fact spying. I'm not willing to die for the Senator and I certainly don't want to be lynched by my own people. What he doesn't know won't hurt him and will hopefully mean I won't get hurt either."

"Can you beat Alec?"

"I've never lost to him in the past, the odds are in my favour!"

Alec entered command to find an impatient Mole barking at a squirmish X6 "what part of 'don't touch' did you not understand!"

"Mole, what's going on here?" Alec enquired putting himself between Mole and who he was interrogating.

"Incompetence, that's what's going on."

"Get out of here" Alec ordered the X6 who was more than willing to obey as his dashed out of command.

"You have a visitor" Mole Gruffed.

"Who"

"In your office" was all Mole would say.

Alec looked at his friend with concern "take a break, you're no good to me like this" and then walked towards the broom closet and opened the door.

"Max?" He asked questioningly.

"Alec" was her simple response.

"What are you doing here? Oh my god is something wrong with one of the children?"

Max rose from her seat and took the few steps towards him "No, the children are fine, I'm here for another reason" she touched his cheek softly with no response, and she removed her hand at the coldness and took a step back.

As Alec closed the door Max sat on the corner of his desk. Alec turned and faced her, a puzzled look on his face "so why are you here Max? Our last conversation was well, awkward."

"Where do I start?"

"How about at the beginning" He retorted.

"I received some Intel four days ago" she began.

"From who?" Alec questioned as he stared at her still not believing she was actually here.

"A reliable source" Max replied vaguely.

"And what is this Intel."

"The less you know the better."

Alec began to pace, frustration painted on his face "Max, what the fuck is going on? You show up here and well I really don't know what to think…" He moved away from the door and edged slowly towards her.

"We're at a crossroads." Alec begins to pace Max's words frustrating him more.

"What's that suppose to mean. Stop being cryptic" Alec said raising his voice slightly.

"There are a lot of things going on that we, the transgenics, have not been privy to" she paused as Alec stopped his pacing and seated himself into the tatty armchair. "I was recently informed that the Familiars have been amassing an army."

"Max, how is it you've heard this and I haven't?"

"I've had someone within enemy territory."

Alec tried to keep his voice steady "who?"

"Thaddeus."

"Max, Thaddeus is dead, Horatio confirmed it."

"That's what we wanted you to believe."

Alec's cool suddenly dissipated as he rose and approached Max his muscles tense trying to control the rage "explain."

Max removed herself from the edge of the desk creating space between her and Alec "you were asking too many questions, Thaddeus approached Horatio and told him to tell you he was dead."

"And Horatio went along with this?" Alec questioned disbelievingly.

"Not at first, I convinced Horatio to do it."

"Is there no one loyal to me!" Alec exclaimed raising his hands in surrender.

"It's not about loyalty to you, rather it's about loyalty to this nation we are building."

"So you've been lying to me."

"Not lying, just bending the truth."

"Max, that's lying no matter how you sugar coat it." He began to pace again "so Thaddeus has been snooping, who's he been spying on?"

"Senator Kinnane."

"Max, what in hell were you thinking! What if Thaddeus got caught, Jesus you could have destroyed the peace."

"Alec, it was necessary and I didn't tell you so you could, with a clear conscious, deny all knowledge."

'Why spy on the Senator?"

"We've all wondered why the humans came to the table to discuss peace."

"Yes."

"It turns out that some very high up people have always known about the Familiar threat, to the point that they started to build an army to fight this threat. It seems the Familiars are working to a very specific timetable and they intend to wage war on America in eight weeks time."

"So they have an army."

"The Familiars are a real threat, their numbers have remained hidden for so long, and no one has ever been able to really identify how many Familiars there really are."

"Why eight weeks?"

"The Familiars are all about ritual, apparently it has something to do with prophecy's that say when the Familiars will attack America."

"The humans knew that they would never be able to beat the Familiars so they started working on building their own super army."

"We were designed to fight this war" Alec muttered suddenly realizing.

"That was our purpose, fight the Familiars and save the American people."

"How did the humans find out about all of this?"

"Sandeman. He was originally sent in undercover by the Familiars to scuttle the project."

"What happened."

"He changed sides. He built the humans an army that could stand up to the Familiars, but we had other ideas and well with their army now 'out of action' they suddenly had a problem."

"We signed a peace treaty stating we would provide military support if America was ever attacked."

"I know, that's why they agreed to peace so readily. Senator Kinnane knew the timeline and knew that the humans could not afford a prolonged conflict with the transgenics."

Alec looked at her, realizing the magnitude of what was happening. Max continued on "The American government will be sending an envoy to Seattle with the expectation of us honouring the treaty."

"How do you know this?"

"Senator Druitt."

"What do you suggest we do, fearless leader" He said in a mocking tone.

"Alec please…"

"No I'm interested, considering you have this all mapped out."

"We need to honour the treaty."

"You want our people to go into battle for the humans?"

"Alec we have little choice" Max pleaded.

"And how exactly are you going to sell this to your people?"

"They won't listen to me, but they will listen to you."

"So I've been no more than a puppet?"

"Alec, please don't let your ego get in the way of what needs to be done."

"You know what Max, I've almost had it with you. You're hot and then cold, you make these decisions and just expect me to toe the line."

"Alec" Max soothed as she approached him.

"Max" he cautioned raising a hand to stop her.

"Alec" her voice softened "we have no where to maneuver here, if we don't help the humans the Familiars will destroy them."

"And then they will turn their attentions to us."

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend" Max quoted.

"So we are going to war."

"We are going to war. I'll remain in Seattle to greet the human envoy."

"What do we do about Gabriel?"

"You fight him."

"And if I lose?"

"You can't lose."

"He could always disappear."

"No" Max said forcefully "then you become a dictator."

"Aren't I already that?"

"You start down that road and it will never stop, we cannot make the opposition just disappear. You need to be above reproach."

"Where is Thaddeus now?"

"He's with the children."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"They've gone dark."

"Max, what's going on?" he asked concerned.

"Alec, you can't kill Gabriel and regardless of whether or not you win or lose he will always be a threat to our family."

"Max, I can handle Gabriel."

"I'm sure you can, but what if he decides to get to you through me or the children?"

"That won't happen."

"I'm not willing to take that chance, as long as you are alive, we your family can be used as leverage."

"Max this is insane" Alec commented running his hands through his hair.

"No, it's just our life" Max stoked his arm tenderly "once I have dealt with the envoy, I'll be joining the children" she paused before continuing "there's something else we need to discuss."

"What?"

"Ivy."

"What about Ivy."

"She passed my test" she said approvingly.

"Max, I never took you for mind games."

"I needed to know I could trust her."

"And pushing her into my arms was supposed to do that?" Anger rising in his voice once more.

"I wanted to see if she would and she didn't."

"Why, what are you planning?"

"She's going to take my place."

"What!"

"You are going to position her to take my place."

"Why the hell would I do that?"

"Because you need to distance yourself from me."

"Max you've been doing a lot of crazy talk and this is the icing." Alec laughed bitterly as he began to pace once more.

"You lead these people, I'm going to force our people into a war, and your association with me would be a detriment to your position and your leadership. If they know that you and I are still…"

"Screwing"

"Alec, do you have to be so crass."

"Hey you're the one making our relationship crass."

"They could turn on you."

"They're going to turn on me anyway."

"Not if you disapprove. Our own people still believe that I'm telling you what to do. They just accept it more because you're the 'face'."

"So we just say we're not together. Easy problem solved."

"Alec, you spent three years looking for me, do you really think they would believe you if you say 'I don't love Max'. They have to see it, they have to see you with someone else."

"One problem, Ivy will not go for this."

"I've already spoken with her, and she will play the part."

"What happened to you?"

"Our children happened and Lammasu, I made a decision a long time ago that I would do anything to make sure the children live."

"You're being paranoid."

"I'm being practical and realistic, Alec you are going to be recognized as leader not only by the transgenics but also by humans at some point. Our children will always be a target to use against you and I won't have that, not again."

"How is this going to work?"

"I will greet the envoy, agree to their terms. You will disagree with me openly and we will fight. I leave, and Ivy moves in."

"That simple uh."

"Simple is best."

"Why Ivy?"

"Once when I was waiting for you at the space needle she accompanied you. She stood by your side and I could sense you trusted her at least enough to take her to my spot."

"Max" he whispered hugging her to him and caressing his face with her hair "will I ever see you again?"

"I'm not sure, and as much as I want to I won't ask you to wait."

"Max" He caressed her cheek, removing a single tear.

"I'll find my way back, I always do. You're going to fake a relationship with Ivy, if that becomes something more I will not deny you that."

"Okay this is to much" raising his hands in protest but Max just brushed them aside, looked at him deeply and then brought their lips together in a tender kiss.

TBC