CHAPTER 71

CONTACT

December 11, 2010

10:17am

Charlottesville, Virginia

Russell Family Home

'Air? Andy?' Aaron and Andros looked up from the Centre floor plans and met each others gaze.

"Alex," The boys grinned. The group of people around them looked at the boy's confused. But confusion soon grew to understanding when everyone realized that Alex had contacted the boys.

'Thought you forgot about us baby sister,' Aaron said.

'Looks who's talking. Either one of you could have contacted me. The boy's suppose to call the girl remember,' Alex teased.

'That's only in dating Katie-girl,' Andros told her.

'Whatever,' Alex replied. 'Not that I'd don't mind talking to the two of you alone but why don't we see if we can get Mike and Maddie in on this conversation. And try a little experiment while were at it.'

'What type of experiment?' Aaron asked curious.

'Lis, Jer and Greg are borrowers. What's to say they can't borrow our bond. I mean in truth they are more closely related to us than Mike and Maddie. Hell, we've never even tested to see if we have a natural bond with them,' Alex said.

'Give us a sec to sort everything out,'Aaron told her.

'Take your time I'm not going anywhere,' Alex replied.

"Alright boys and girls listen up," Aaron spoke to the Black Files. "Alex has an idea."

"Uh oh," Marc muttered.

"Relax bro, it's a good idea," Aaron reassured the older boy. "Alex wants Mike and Maddie in on our little talk."

"And, she wants Greg, Jer, and Lis in it too," Andros continued.

"How in the hell does she want us to do that?" Lissa asked.

"Well beside the obvious of borrowing Will and Alley's telepathy," Greg said.

"Granted Will and Al, are powerful T.P.s but they can't reach out across the ocean," said Jake.

"But were aren't borrowing their powers. We're borrowing bonds," Jeremiah spoke up.

"Give the boy a prize," Aaron said. "So you three up to it?"

"Worth a try," Jeremiah commented. Greg and Lissa nodded their heads agreeing. The triplets reached out and tapped into Aaron and Andros's bond with Alex since theirs was stronger than Mike and Maddie's. With in seconds all eight of them were connected with one another.

'Talk about a head rush,' Greg mumbled telepathically.

'Greg it's good to hear your voice,' Alex said thrilled her idea worked.

'It's not if you hear it all day long,' Lissa spoke up.

'Don't even start you two,' Jeremiah warned.

'Hey Jer,' Alex said softly.

'You okay?' Jeremiah asked her.

'Me I'm five by five,' Alex replied.

'Glad to hear it baby sister,' Mike said.

'Most glad to hear it,' Maddie agreed.

'Looks like your plan worked Katie. Don't get a big head about it,' Aaron teased.

'So baby sister what's going on?' Andros asked.

'We have a new ally. He was born Malcolm David Collier Jr. At the age of three he was taken by the Centre, his family murdered. He's a natural pretender and Raines shaped him to be an assassin, now he's my personal sweeper. He was given the name of Bane after he was brought to the Centre, but you'll also find information under the name of Midas. Midas is his project name,' Alex informed them.

'Please tell me this guy has the ability to turn things into gold,' Mike begged.

'No, he got the name Midas because of a drug that Raines gave him turned his eyes gold,' Alex said sending the seven of them a mental picture of Bane.

'He's kinda cute,' Maddie commented. A brief moment of possessiveness overcame Alex. It lasted just long enough for Greg to realize what it was.

'You like him,' Greg said in shock.

'Greg shut up,' Alex sighed.

'No way. You really do like him. You kiss him yet?' Greg asked.

'Can we get back to the subject at hand?' Alex snapped.

'He is the subject at hand, and we'll take that to be a yes,' Mike said amusement in his voice.

'Little Katie has a boyfriend. The first of all the Black Files to start dating, I can't wait to meet this guy,' Lissa teased. Aaron, and Andros were oddly quiet, both unsure how to feel about this guy who their little sister had become involved with. Sensing this Alex spoke to her brother's directly leaving everyone else out of the conversation.

'He's a good guy. And he's as protective of me as the two of you are. And he just may love me,' Alex told them.

'Do you love him?' Aaron asked her.

'I'm starting to,' Alex replied honestly.

'If he hurts you in anyway we'll kill him,' Andros stated.

'I'd expect nothing less,' Alex told him. 'Now lets focus on the major stuff.' The three opened themselves back up to the other five Black Files.

'How is Pete, or should I say John?' Jeremiah asked sensing that Alex, Aaron, and Andros had finished with their privet conversation.

'Johnny is...He's still Pete inside, and I'm starting to see more of Pete in him. Parker really did a number on his mind. We've been playing Pete and Adam's favorite game. Quid pro quo. John wanted to know about his mother so in exchange for pez and his journal I told him. He took it pretty hard, knowing how Grama Catherine was used and then murdered, he ran off a little while ago.'

'John left his journal behind and I've learned that he's been having memories of being Peter. That complied with the fact that John has been hearing voices the poor baby thinks he's going mad,' Alex reported.

'How long do you think it's going to take for John to remember who he is?' Aaron asked.

'I don't know,' Alex sighed. 'And even when he does realize who he is and just what has been done to him, it's still going to be far from okay. And speaking of being far from okay I have some bad news.'

'Is you mean there's another type?' Greg muttered.

'Raines is alive,' Alex told them. The rest were silent, too shocked to even curse.

'A-are y-you sure?' Maddie stuttered.

'He and Cox paid me a personal visit. Midas kept them away from me. But I don't think they're going to stop till they get what they want,' Alex said fear in her voice.

'What do they want?' Aaron asked.

'My blood. I destroy the genetics lab, along with Shadow and Phoenix Redux. They need a place to restart,' She told them.

'How could Raines fake his death again? And why the hell weren't were informed Cox escaped?' Andros seethed.

'I don't know,' Alex sighed 'How's Jacky and the rest doing?' Alex asked changing the subject.

'He's a tough kid. You can barely tell he's sick. I mean he's tired a lot, and he has a fever that likes to jump around, but other than that...' Mike trailed off.

'Any luck on finding out what they gave Jack?' asked Lissa

'I was gonna ask you guys the same question,' Alex sighed.

'Guess that's a no on both accounts,' Jeremiah commented.

'I'll see if Midas can dig anything up. And hopefully I can get John to help. Speaking of John, any plans on getting us out?'

'Well we can always use the way you guys got in but there's a slight glitch in that,' Andros told his sister.

'The fact that I can't walk. Thus no way to get me up that ladder or through the vents,' Alex said

'Why don't you talk to your boy Bane. He might know a way to help us get you guys out. Or there's always a chance Johnny boy knows something. Get him on our side and who knows the possibilities,' Greg suggested.

'I'm working on it. I guess I better go, I'm starting to get tired,' Alex said.

'You do need your rest,' Jeremiah spoke.

'Don't worry big brother between Midas and Johnny I'm practically sleeping more than I'm awake,' Alex replied.

'Glad someone is keeping you in check. I like this guy already,' Aaron said.

'I'll be sure to tell him that,' Alex told him, glad that her brother had more or less given his blessing. 'Tell everyone that I love them and I miss them.'

'We will Katie-girl,' Andros promised. The rest of the Black Files bid Alex good bye, and with that they broke their connection.

"What did Alex have to say?" Jake asked the younger Black Files.

"We'd better gather everyone and tell them all at once," Aaron said somberly.

"Damn, that bad huh?" said Marc letting out a low whistle.

"You have no idea," Andros sighed. The Files went to gather the rest of the family and the all met in the living room.

"So we've got good new and bad news," Greg address the group. "Which do you want to here first?"

"Just give it the way you heard it," Sam told him son.

"Air, Andy," Greg nodded to the boys. Aaron and Andros sighed readying themselves for the reactions that would follow what they had to report.

"We have a new ally his name is Malcolm David Collier a.k.a Bane a.k.a. Midas. He's sixteen an assassin pretender, and now Alex's personal sweeper," Andros began.

"Among other things," Greg muttered a smirk on his face.

"Raines an Cox are alive, they are both in Carthis and they want Alex. But Peter...John I mean, he and Bane are keeping them away from her," Aaron said picking up from where Andros left all. The room was quite enough to hear a pin drop. Non surprisingly it was Morgan who broke the silence.

"What do you mean, Raines is alive?" She asked carefully enunciating each word.

"He's alive," Jeremiah said. "Bastard faked his death...again."

"How many times does that make now?" Marc asked.

"What else," Jarod sighed. The boys went to explain the situation with Pete/John and reassured everyone that Alex was okay.

"So We have someone on the inside that's not Alex. Raines is alive. Cox escaped prison. Pete/John's -whatever you wish to call him- his reeducation didn't truly take. I miss anything?" Will asked.

"Only that Alex is in love," Lissa snickered. Jarod, Will and Sam's eyes went wide.

"What?" they yelled.

"Alex has gone and fallen for a fellow Centre project, who just so happens to be her personal sweeper Bane," Maddie told them enjoying the reaction on her uncles and cousin's faces, but at the same time secretly fearing what it would be like for her when she started to date.

"She's too young to date," Jarod said, and the room burst into laughter.

"Daddy, Alex is being held captive. Pete has no memory of us. The devil himself is back. Jack is sick and your worried over the fact Alex had gotten herself a boyfriend," Alley spoke. "Side's Jeff and I started dating when we were Katie's age."

"You and Jeff didn't start dating till you were fifteen," Jarod said, his eyes going wide.

"No we were-," Alley's words were abruptly cut off by a soft jab from Jeff. He met her eyes and Alley remembered that her father was still under the assumption that Alley and Jeff didn't date until they were fifteen. "You know what Daddy you're absolutely right. Jeff and I have just been together so long it just seems like we started dating when we were fourteen." Will let out a bark of laughter that quickly turned into a cough.

"Can we trust this Bane?" Morgan asked bringing everyone back to the subject at hand.

"Yes," Jake spoke.

"Let me guess Jakey you know Bane," Jeff said taking a stab in the dark.

"Rach and I worked with him a few times just before we escaped. He was about eight or nine, not the best pretender but not an idiot. Not to mention he's supper strong and can take a few bullets without doubling over in pain," Jake replied.

"Should we still do some research on him?" Andros asked.

"Are you asking me that in the capacity of an agent trying to rescue two people or as a bother who wants to make sure some guy isn't going to break his little sister's heart?" Jake retorted.

"Can't it be both?" Andros replied.

"Alex is fine," Rachael reassured, not just Andros but the rest of Alex's overprotective siblings, and Jarod and Morgan as well.

Morgan let out a sigh of relief happy to know that her children were safe for now. She was pretty sure that the only person in true danger was Jack. If Bane was as trust worthy as Jake and Rachael said then Alex and Peter would be fine for now.

But Morgan couldn't help but feel cheated. Her little girl had found love for the first time. When it had happened with Alley, she and Morgan had giggled like school girls as they discussed the opposite sex. Morgan knew her youngest daughter well enough to know that hell would probably freeze over before she and Alex ever did such a thing.

Even still Alex should be able to date like a normal teenager. Her first date shouldn't be in a cell at the Centre but a nice restaurant. She shouldn't of had her first kiss as she laid hooked up to an IV.

"Mom could you honestly see Alex experiencing love for the first time any other way?" Will asked his mother.

"I thought we talked about you reading people minds without asking," Morgan said disapprovingly.

"How else am I going to know what you're thinking?" Will retorted. "But back to Alex. She may have dreamed about her white knight rescuing her. But in her dreams Alex was never a damsel in distress that had been captured by an evil king. She was a peasant girl who disguised herself as a knight because she wanted to fight only she ended up getting captured on some rescue mission. And that is what happened in a way and that was exactly how Alex wanted it. She was never one for normalcy Mom. None of us ever were, Alex least of all."

"I mean can you honestly see Alex falling for anyone other than a super charged pretender assassin, with golden eyes?" Will asked. Morgan found herself chuckling.

"No. No I can't," Morgan agreed.

Up Next: Bane has a confession to make to John. John is in denial. And Alex has another run in with Raines and Cox.

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