Chapter Two: Destruction

Author's Note: This story will be told primarily in Lux's Point of View, the exception being the prologue and anywhere it's been noted.

When I woke up next I was first aware of how quiet it was. Just as I was about to unravel from my curled up position a hand slammed over my mouth. I jumped and my eyes immediately narrowed. It wasn't often that any other X series could be taken by surprise unless it was by another Transgenic, which was another name that we were all called.

"This is a severe breach of protocol soldier," A stern voice hissed into my ear. I knew who it was instantaneously.

"494," I whispered.

"You haven't been cleared for solo missions," 494 frowned.

"Director Renfro said that you elected me to be here, sir," I said.

"The people who took you did so illegally," 494 stated. "They're information didn't check out."

"What now, sir?" I asked.

"Well you and I have a mission," 494 said, "and then you're going right back to Manticore."

"Yes, sir," I responded.

494 patted me on the head before ordering for me to hide with him. We scaled the walls and hide in the drop out titles. The next person to the who woke up was Logan. He wheeled into a desk where a lot of computers were and I watched bewildered as he began to record something.

"Do not attempt to adjust your set. This is a streaming freedom video. Your location has been revealed," Logan said.

I cocked my head realizing that I had heard that sentence before. It was the same message that the cyber terrorist Eyes Only used. Manticore had been looking for him for a while ever since he had helped people some of the 09ers escape capture. After all my years of training and orders to expect what was unexpected. I had to say I didn't see this coming.

His computer beeped and I zoomed into the screen seeing that the satellite link had failed. Logan growled under his breath attempting to reconnect. He got it to begin processing and turned around. It was then I noticed that the three of us were not alone. 494 tapped my shoulder. The order was cleared it was time to move.

"Max," Logan whispered. I saw that he was standing and then I heard the small sound of mechanical legs helping him move.

"We gotta get you out of here," Max exclaimed. "They're coming to get you."

She was closing the distance between her and Logan and suddenly they were kissing. After a minute they broke apart.

"We gotta go," Max urged.

"Who?" Logan asked. "What's going on? How did you…"

"I'll explain later," Max said. "Come on."

"No, I have to finish my broadcast," Logan argued.

"Forget it," Max said, "it isn't important."

So, Max knew that Logan was Eyes Only. When Logan collapsed to the floor beginning to shake. I looked to 494 who didn't seem at all surprised. So, Manticore knew about Max and Logan's relationship and who Logan really was.

"What's wrong?" Max asked.

"I don't know," Logan gasped.

"Logan what's happening?" Max whimpered.

"You killed him," 494 replied coming out of the shadows. He snapped his fingers and I scampered obediently to his side. That was one of the most important lessons I had ever taught myself, listen to your commanding officers. Especially the alpha of Manticore. You see, the downside to cat DNA was all of us females went into heat a few times a year and any male that was around couldn't help themselves. They fought to get the best female and 494 came out on top and had been the alpha ever since. "That's what's happening."

"Alec," Max hissed not understanding. She then gazed at the gun held tightly in Alec's hand.

"Nice job, 452," 494 sneered. "Mission accomplished."

Max glared at 494 who returned the gaze. I didn't know how to feel. Max was cradling Logan and he in turn was grasping her arm.

"Yeah, I'd stop touching him if I were you," 494 suggested. "You're just gonna make it worse."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Max hissed.

"A genetically targeted retrovirus," 494 stated. "You're the carrier."

Max quickly backed away from Logan as 494 continued to speak, "Any intimate contact between you activates the agent. Now, you didn't kiss him or anything, did you?"

"You son of a bitch!" Max shouted.

She moved to lunge but 494 raised the gun.

"Whoa, whoa, hey," 494 reproached. "Just following orders. Okay, now Renfro said if you want him to live, you gotta bring him back to Manticore and turn yourself in."

"There's a cure?" Max whispered.

"Yeah," 494 said. "She'll give him the antigen if he tells her what he knows and who he's been working with."

"Why should I believe her," Max growled.

"Do you have another choice?" 494 replied.

"She might not," A deep voice growled. "But, you do and if you don't drop that gun I'm gonna give you a new hole to breath through."

I glanced behind me and saw that Sam and Dean had come out of the backrooms and were both aiming guns at 494. I noticed that there was another gun in 494's pocket and moving with blurring speed I pulled it out, aiming it at Max and Logan as 494 moved to address Sam and Dean.

"Ooh, now that's a scary threat," 494 smirked. "Seriously, I'm terrified here. Now, who are you exactly?"

"Winchester," Dean sneered.

"Dean," Sam whispered looking at 494 wide-eyed.

With both Alec and Dean in the room it was clear how much they resembled each other. The only clear distinction was that Dean had some stubble and was a few years older than 494. Other than that they'd be identical. It really wasn't all that unbelievable after all, Manticore got DNA from willing donors.

"Huh," Alec nodded. "Well, nice to meet you, Dean. But if you'd excuse us this is a private matter."

Max was beginning to inch forward but I fired a warning shot a few inches above her head startling everyone, "Don't move."

"Lux!" Dean growled.

"I'm just following orders, sir!" I replied.

"We've been set up," Sam muttered.

"Believe whatever you want to, stretch," 494 responded. "Now drop your weapons or my little friend might get a little trigger happy."

I heard two guns drop and slid across the floor to 494. I was distracted for a moment when I heard the beep of the computer and that's when Max lunged slamming against 494 with a surprising amount of force. 494 knocked me backwards and right into Dean's hold, which I found surprisingly unyielding.

I watched the scuffled from the sidelines and just when it looked like 494 was about to regain the upper hand Max kicked the gun over to Logan.

"Logan!" Max shouted.

Logan had picked up the gun and was aiming it at 494. Max stopped fighting and 494 held up his hands.

"Fine, fine," 494 muttered. "But when he's dead, can I go home?"

"It's not gonna be there," Max growled approaching the computer.

"What are you doing?" 494 growled.

"I'm ending this thing once and for all," Max sneered.

She hit the enter button on the computer and the prerecorded Eyes Only Message began to play.

"You just killed us all," I growled. "They're going to burn the place down and start all over someplace else."

"No," Max contradicted. "Because we're going to set them free."

"You might me and the runt are staying here and finishing the mission," 494 corrected.

"There is no mission!" Max retorted sharply. "Manticore is finished."

"Dean, let her go," Sam whispered before turning to Max.

"Yes, Dean," 494 growled glaring at Dean. I had never seen that look on 494 before. If I didn't know any better I'd say he was trying to protect me. "Let. Her. Go."

"Aw, does Alec actually have feelings," Max sneered.

"Alec?" I whispered.

"That's his name," Max said.

"Yeah," 494, otherwise now known as Alec replied. "And you're Lux now?"

"Yes, sir," I nodded.

"Okay," Alec sighed. "Well, what are you waiting for, Maxie? They're going to burn Manticore to the ground."

"And you need the antigen," I responded.

Max didn't need any other motivation, tearing out of the apartment. Alec rolled his eyes and sat down on the couch. Dean and Sam looked at each other before standing closer to Alec.

"What exactly are you?" Sam asked suspiciously.

"My designation is 494," Alec responded. "And I'm guessing that some of my DNA came from either your brother or father."

"That's not possible," Dean hissed.

"Really?" Alec pursed his lips. "You're father never really needed money. I heard Manticore use to offer a pretty good cash prize for people worthy of donation."

"You two are nearly identical," I shrugged sitting down. "You have to have some DNA in common."

"And you too, Lux," Alec replied.

"What why?" I asked.

"You're designation is 893 that's three hundred points off of mine," Alec responded. "Manticore used my DNA and I'm guessing another X5 to make you."

"We're all related?" Sam raised an eyebrow.

"Not necessarily," Alec shrugged. "We just have similar DNA, granted ours is a little better than yours."

"How do you know?" I asked. "You knew that we had…"

"Yeah," Alec nodded. "We all have the same eyes and characteristics. Although, you're a bit quiet. Then again, fresh off of Ps-ops will do that to ya."

"I was in Ps-ops?" I whimpered.

"Yeah," Alec nodded.

"What's Ps-ops?" Dean asked.

"Psychological observation," Alec explained. "That's where they take bad little soldiers who didn't listen to directions."

"And Lux didn't listen to directions?" Sam prodded.

"Worse, she mouthed off to Renfro," Alec said. "That bitch hates all us transgenics. Only works at Manticore because they pay her to. We're just meat to her, soldiers and expendable ones at that. Even though billions of government funding isn't exactly expendable but what do I know."

"How come I don't remember?" I whispered.

"They mess with your head so you don't realize it until later," Alec muttered and squeezed my shoulder. "But it's okay. You have guts, not a lot of people are willing to tell the Director to go fuck herself."

I flushed and then remembered vaguely what Alec was talking about. Maybe that's why Renfro was so quick to sell me. Sam and Dean were looking at me with admiration in their eyes. They had met Renfro themselves the woman really was a bitch. With the sudden lapse in conversation I looked over to Logan. He had broken out in hives and wasn't fairing so well. Alec noticed the same thing I did and looked a bit remorseful before the soldier took back over and he schooled his face into casual disinterest.

"Is he going to be okay?" Sam asked.

"If he gets the antigen in time," Alec shrugged.

"He probably will," I said. "Max is fast."

"What's going to happen to Manticore?" Dean questioned.

"Burn," Alec sneered.

"Why'd you like it so much?" I asked.

"What else do we know, Lux?" Alec shrugged looking more serious than I had ever seen him.

"I don't know much," I muttered. "But, I know that anything is better than what they put us through."

"Maybe," Alec mumbled.

"Maybe?" I repeated. "Alec, come on, we're pawns and apparently expendable ones at that. We could be the ones in that facility right now burning right by Manticore."

"Max is going to get the antigen and everything will be okay," Alec soothed. "You know she's gonna let everyone out too."

"And into a world that they weren't ready for," I sighed.

"We're all smart, Lux," Alec responded. "They'll go to ground. Do what we were all trained to."

"And we're going to stay here," I retorted. "With them?"

"Looks like," Sam said.

"Don't you want to find out if our father actually donated DNA for you two?" Dean questioned. "Cause I sure as hell do."

Alec and I exchanged glances before nodding slowly. That was a good question. We didn't know anything about family or where we came from only that we were there and that we were soldiers. No one else cared about us and you had to look out for yourself that was Manticore Rule Number One. Only we'd see just how much that would help us now that we were in the 'real' world and not the one that Manticore brainwashed us into believing.