AN: Okay he is chapter 5. This have lots of flashbacks in it so I made the flashbacks in italics. Hope it won't confuse you. Also I hope you enjoy this chapter as I try to make it interesting and willing to read. I hope I didn't make it confusing then it really was. So enjoy

AN: Thanks for the lovely reviews everyone gave me. I really appreeciate it.

Though he only had an extra two hour of sleep from when Max came in his room to talk to him, he was all hype up for the heist tonight. This would take his mind off of other things and focus on the task at hand, and boy does he need his mind on other things right now. After leaving Joshua's he went to his apartment to find Biggs getting ready for the heist. He took him to round up some guys, an estimate of ten, to meet in the meeting room, while he ready to brief them on the job. After his nice warm shower he slips in his black cat burglar suit and his black matching gloves. After minutes of getting ready he leaves his apartment to head for the meeting room.

For a small room he was amaze at the amount of people who could fit inside. With the inter circle and the ten willing X5s, the room was pack. He spotted Max immediately, being one out of three female in the room, and she look amazing. Don't get him wrong he seen Max in her tight black suit before but something is different about her. He walks up next to her in front of the room along with Biggs who now position himself beside Alec.

"Are you excited as much as I am," he whispers playfully to Max, saying it only for her to hear.

"It just a simple heist Alec, there's nothing to be excited for."

"Yeah but usually it's just us and one of Eyes Only mission; it'll be fun to see the merrier men in action."

"Oh really, then who's Robin in this whole steal from the rich and give to the poor heist of yours?"

"Do you really have to ask," he smiles at her. Max rolls her eyes.

Everyone was in their own conversation when Alec looks around in the room to see the ten people going with him on the heist. He eyes stopped on one person in particular, Gabe. He stood between two male Xs talking about something he doesn't know about. Biggs followed his friend line of direction and understood Alec's startled demeanor. He heard about 568, well Gabe, arrival just this morning and knew how Alec felt about the guy.

"I know what you're thinking but we had no choice to recruit him since some of the guys here are busy already. Plus, he volunteers himself so that was helpful enough for us."

"Yeah I know but I can't help to think he is only volunteering for this job just to get on my good side."

"You think…" Biggs said slapping Alec on the shoulder. "Don't worry though, I'll keep an eye out on him for you," squeezing Alec's shoulder.

"Thanks man but there's no need. I mean what can he do? Anyway that's long gone and we need all the help we can get. I just don't like the guy."

"You and me both brother."

They chuckled a little before going on their own. Biggs went to go talk to other fellow man while Alec stood looking over the lay-outs of the warehouse and underground tunnel with Max. Every now and then he would glance over at Gabe and roll his eyes. He despise the guy and yet here he is, have to inform him and others about their next heist which is about to happen in the next twenty minutes. He's practically beaming with joy over there in his own little corner: laughing, smiling, and rubbing his hands for this job. It makes him sick because now his once nice mood just turns ugly.

494 and his group of others Xs stood in field gear waiting for the TAC officer instruction. Training today will consist of battle training and teamwork. With weapons ready, the small group waits as TAC officer, Whitney explains the rules.

"Today soldiers you will have an all day combat battle between another group of soldiers out there somewhere in the woods," he wave his hands area to emphases that the enemy is out there. "You will treat this as if this was the real thing and follow through with your mission until it is over. Which mean if you hear the whistle blow, then the training is over. The objective of this to see how you guys would do under battle scenario and how quickly you can get it done, is that under stood."

"Yes sir."

"Good. Now as you already know you will be doing this training with another group of soldiers that TAC officer Huff has out there somewhere informing them about the same instruction I am feeding you right now. You will have posts to start off with at the beginning and work your way in the woods as a team to find and attack your enemy. To make sure you don't fight each other during the battle, at your post would have waist band. Put them on and begin the exercise. Any question?"

"No sir."

"Good because the one leading this group will be…" he walks in front of the line-up soldiers with his index finger at his lip in thought. Stopping with a smile on his face, he made his decision. "The CO of this group will be 494."

The TAC officer handed 494 the map showing where their post is and where the other group post is at. 494 studied the map before stuffing it in one of his side pocket and stood at attention when the officer went on.

"Do know that since this will be treated as the real deal, then injuries will occur. The only thing that isn't real are the guns you have in your hands. These are loaded with paint ball so shot with a paintball you are to pronounce dead. Unless you are shot in the arm or leg then all means continue to fight. Shot to the head, chest, abdomen, or neck is fatal wounds which mean you are dead. Stay down until the exercise is over. Now that I have explain the exercise to you go and find your post and wait until you hear a whistle to start the exercise."

Nodding to the group, 494 lead his team into the woods to find their post and wait for orders to continue from there.

"The best way for us to sneak out here without being detected by the police or protesters is if we go out through the sewers. Dix printed out a layout of the sewers and this one…" pointing to a long line connected to two circles at the end of it. "…leads straight to the warehouse. It would be easy for us to get in and sneak items out as fast and quietly as we can without being caught. Everyone got that?"

Alec looks around the meeting with the people gathering around the table to see the layout of their heist. Nodding their affirmation, Alec went on.

"Now being that there is little security in this place, we still need to be on our guard just in case. We won't know what we'll run into until we get there. May I remind you guys that if you happen to run into a little trouble, wound first kill if you really have too. Hopefully we won't have that little trouble and risk having the media report more bad things about us thus causing worse rap. This is a get in get out situation so no linger to long. Only case the place for things we really need so let's make this heist last for fifteen minutes once we're in. Okay look over the lay-outs as long as you need, we'll be leaving in five."

Ending his report to the group, Alec left out of the room and to the open night air in the city.

"You did a really good job planning this thing out Alec, I'm impressed."

"Thank Maxie," he said turning around to face Max with a smile on his face. "Planning is what I do best," he said rubbing the back of his neck.

"You know, after this we should focus on the small stuff. Focus on getting this place looking like a home; fixing it up a little more. Worry about the arriving transgenics that seem to grace us with their present every month."

"We've been doing that Max what more can we do to this place?"

"I know but you and me and especially others have been working hard to have this place running for three months now and I figure why not slow down a little. We're working crazy around here and it's taking it toll on everyone. Especially you Alec. You've been working hard more so then other in making this place a home for our family and a little down time is needed for everyone, you in particular."

"Well I can't take all the credit, Max."

"I know but you do deserve to be told what a wonderful job you are doing here every once in a while and all I have been doing is saying what a screw up you are or saying nothing to you about it. So I am impressed by the work you are doing here."

"Thanks Max but why all of a sudden the words of encouragement?"

"You deserve so much more then me complaining or nagging on you or making you feel as if you are useless," she walks a little closer to him.

Alec is render speechless as Max walk up close to him. He still can't seem to know why Max look so incredible in her black suit but right know he doesn't care. He should impress her more if this is the turn out.

"I just want to say thank you for all you've done, I couldn't do it without you."

It was a short pause before Max backs away and head over to where the sewers were at. Alec was a little confuse at what just happen but a smile soon pop up on his face. Could it be that Max is starting to have feelings for him? She does look different and what just happens earlier was a completely different person. Maybe he is reading too much into this. But how can he explain what just happen and what she said to him? People start to file out of the meeting room which brought him back at the task at hand. But then his mood change once again. Gabe was the last person out of the room and he happens to smile up at Alec and wave once he passes him. Alec was trying not to think back to his Manticore's days once he follows the group to the sewers.

494 and his group lay down on a steep hill looking over it into the surrounding trees up above. They lay down for cover because not that long ago they heard noises coming from the trees up ahead. Turning to lay on his back, he held up his hands to get his team attention. With his hands he signals for them to spread out arm length and be preparing to move out when ready. Their enemy is near and they may have spotted them as well. Turning back on his stomach, he looks over the hill for any signs of movement. He know they shouldn't be moving out first but if they stay here to long then it's going to be a game of sitting ducks. Plus, waiting out behind this hill will give their enemy the advantage they'll need if they would plan on ambushing them from above. Using a diversion to think they are out there looking around when they are in the trees. With one last look over the hill and up in the trees he signal for his team to move out. They move with ease and quietness, looking around as they move forward. Using the trees and bushes as covers since his team are wearing black arm band. Noises up ahead cause them to halt and get down lower just in case they were spotted. 494 use his eyes to zoom in and search for what cause the noise and he spots it. A little left from him was another soldier with a brown arm band on, pointing his gun in their direction. Moving his eyes along in front of him, he spots a total of six lined up on the ground with their gun pointing at them. So that would mean the other six are somewhere close. He looks up in the trees and zooms in and much to his surprise there was six soldiers. Using hand signals, he signs for his team to split in three group of four. He decides to try and flank them. As his team move, the ones who stayed in position aim their paint gun toward the trees and fired. Swoop noise was heard from both side but it seems that his team has better shooting. With the cover they had, they could hide from the aerial fires. Seeing that their hits are making their targets, his team begin to focus on the six ahead of them, and to his amaze, they were already held gun point by the rest of his team. The battle they won. A whistle was heard far away but making it was closer. All firing cease then. 494 felt like smiling when they all moved in the opening to line up and saw 568 with a black spot on his upper shoulder and chest. All in the middle now, the TAC officers step out and survey the two teams.

"Good job 494 team for winning the exercise. 568 you left your team open when you position yourselves in the trees. It might have the height advantage but you made yourselves easy target," officer Huff announce. "But I hate to say your exercise isn't over yet. You have one more mission to do and that is to attain the red flag. This time you will no longer be teams but enemies. Ever one of you are consider each other enemies because there is only one red flag to attain and that red flag my friends come with a prize. In order to know what that prize is, then you'll just have to get the flag to find out. So strip off any weapons you have on and prepare to begin faze two of your exercise."

Once stripped, 494 look around at his so called enemy. Some of them are his real enemies. He spots 510 and they nod in good luck and 494 continue his look around. Turning to his left and he sees 568 looking straight at him. 568 held up one hand and made it look like a gun. With one quick bend of the thumb, 568 made as if to shot 494 and smile afterwards. The sound of a whistle blowing cause 494 to look away and he cut out running in the woods looking for the red flag.

Almost what seem like an hour in the sewer, they made it to the warehouse. Climbing up the ladder and slowly opening the lid, Alec could see that they were next to the warehouse and it seems like coast is clear. But to make sure, three Xs and himself climb out of the hole and scan the building for guards and cameras. Seeing that it's clear, he signals for the rest of the team to come out of the hole. Alec looks inside and with his night vision eyes he could see no one is inside. Signaling again, they all move inside and to be careful just in case. Picking the lock off the chain doors, they finally search through the boxes for food. And sure enough there were pre-pulse food in there. Chips can foods, water, sacks of potatoes and rice, and sodas. They fill their bags up with the items and lower them in the sewer where a cart sat waiting for them. They continue to rampage through the warehouse, finding all sort of things.

494 search high and low for this red flag of theirs and find nothing. During his search he's been thinking about what the prize could be. They never receive a prize before and it was surprising to hear that. For all he know is that he want it. He know he deserve it with all the hell they put him through. So he keeps looking even though it seem like it was pointless after searching hours for it. For all he knew someone else already found it, but they would have blown the whistle if it was found. He stops dead in his track when he saw what was in front of him. The fence keeping them in and trespasser out, and on the fence was the red flag. It was kind of genius putting the flag there, knowing no one would go twenty feet near it if they was smart enough. Knowing that some where in these woods were the X7s keeping silent watch at who ever come near this fence. Does he want this flag enough to risk his life? He looks at the land over the fence. How easy it could be to just jump over the fence and escape, just like the kids in 09. It right there staring at him in the face but yet he scare of the outcome. He should just forget it but he really want to know what that prize is. For all he knows, getting killed could be the prize they want for someone who's dumb to try and retrieve that flag. But he wants that flag. He never back down on a challenge and this is one hell of a challenge. 494 begin to bit on his thumb's nail, lost in deep thought. Soon the hairs on the back of his neck stood and he spun around to come face to face to 510.

"You scare me, I thought you were one of those X7," 494 said letting out a relief breath. But 510 just shook his head.

"What are you doing here? I've been looking all over for you to tell you that 568 and his followers are looking for your ass."

"Figure…," he said facing the fence again.

510 follow his eyes and they widen when they saw the red flag.

"You're not thinking what I'm thinking you're thinking right?"

"Oh I'm thinking it I just don't know what to do. I want that flag but I don't want to risk my life for it."

"Then don't."

494 start biting his nail again, again in deep thought. A smile graces his face and 510 frown at him.

"You have my back right," 494 said putting down his hand to his side.

"Yeah why…"

"Because I'm going to get that flag."

Without hesitation, 494 took off running for the flag. An X7 stepped out of the bushes and aim his gun to 494 and fired…

Their looting was coming to an end and they almost clean out the warehouse. Some of the things in the warehouse were old but they manage to find some good edible stuff. Max was heading out to the sewer with her bag when she spots Alec looking at something. Looking over his shoulder, she sees he is looking at an open box with carnival stuff in it and a string of red flags was what his fingers was on. Max softly put her hand on his shoulder to get his attention and smile at him.

"See something you like? It would be good to decorate your apartment with," she said.

Alec just drops the flags and face Max. "Red doesn't really suit me but for you…" he trails off looking Max up and down. She hits him on the shoulder and let a laugh escape her.

"In your dreams pretty boy, come on let's go everybody leaving."

"Okay you go ahead, I'll make sure everyone our butts in covered and not exposed."

With a need Max left Alec alone with searching the place over. He checks everywhere to make sure there was no sign of them ever in here. Looking at the red flags again, he walks out of the warehouse with his bag and close the door. Turning around, he was face with two sector cops and two guns pointing at him.

"Alright pal put your hands up," one of the cop said.

Dropping the bag he was carrying, Alec put his hands up."

TBC...

AN: I left the flashback and the present in cliffhangers. I thought it would be nice to have them that way and plus so this chapter won't he that long. I was already going over my limit as it is. I hope you guys like it. For the lovely reviews I recieved last time, I hope this chapter won't throw the story or your interest off of it. I'm really trying not to go off my main point in this story but to me I think this stuff is important. And here I go blabbing. Anyway thanks for the reviews and I hope to hear from you guys about what you think about this chapter. Until next time.