AN: Sorry I'm late on the updating but school started and I was cruch with school work and my new job. I'm going to try and update as soon as possible so I want leave you guys hanging.

AN: Thanks for the reviews, it seems like you guys are catching on to why Alec attack Max. I think I'm going to have another attack maybe. It all depends how I start the next chapter. Anyway here it is, chapter 10. Enjoy

"That would bring the total up to …eleven including Missy from last week. These four are showing the same sign as the others, feverish sleep state with no source of the cause. If I didn't know better it's like they only getting the twenty-four hour bug and up and health the next day."

Minx was explaining once again the strange diagnosis of four more fallen transgenics in the infirmary to Alec. He was looking over the three male and one female as they lye on the made shift stretcher. Like the others they had no bit mark on them like Missy and two other females but they did had the distinct smell of Gabe and Alec can't help but get annoyed by it.

"Any word from the ordinary about the blood work on Missy and the others," Minx asks.

"No not yet but the medical supplies should be in so I'll go by and check it out. Where are the seven that are awake?"

"The last time I saw them they were in the mess hall eating. Afterward your guess is as good as mine."

"Well keep an eye out on these four and let me know as soon as they come too."

"Sure thing."

Alec walks out of the infirmary mind set. He waited for too long to do something about it and now more of his people are fallen sick to something unknown. Who knows how a month is going to turn out. Half of the city would probably fall sick by then. One way or another, it seems this sickness is only attacking the X5s and X6s and only targeting certain ones. If this sickness really was contagious it would of attack everyone and being that he been around the sick ones, should tell you something wasn't right about it. So he's going to the source he feels is responsible for this little problem and that person is Gabe.

Alec walks in the mess hall only to find only two of the eleven, sitting eating their meal. He walks over to them and they stop their little conversation to look at their tired leader.

"Have you guys seen Gabe?"

None of them answered him just stared up at him with expressionless looks. Alec look at them puzzle at their silence but ignore it. They probably don't know him by that name only his designation.

"I'm looking for 568, have you seen him?"

The bigger one out of the two lift his brow before answering, "Why do you need to know?"

"Because I'm looking for him," Alec said sternly catching on the harsh tone of the guy. He eyed both of them closely seeing the evil look they were sending him. "Have you guys seen him or not."

It was a great pause before the smaller one answered. "No we haven't seen him," evenly callous.

Alec left the two to their rude behavior to head else where. He looks back to the two and found them looking at him with their evil eyes again. Noting for later to have Minx to look them over, he left. He went into the training room to find the rest of the five training like crazy in the room. Also with them was Gabe. He was doing pull ups on one of the bars with Missy both synchronous. Alec walks over to them and stood in Gabe's view with his arms crossed.

"And what do I own to your present," Gabe said in-between his pull ups.

"We need to talk."

Gabe jump down from the bar and grab a towel to wipe away the sweat from his fore head. He follows Alec to a corner of the room and waits until for other man to talk.

"What are you doing here Gabe? And don't give me that crap about being with wanting to be with his kind or whatever bull you come up with. We both know the eleven people getting sick is your doing. So I'm asking you nicely, what are you doing here?"

"I don't know what you're talking about Alec."

"Bull shit Gabe what are you pulling around here?"

"I'll watch that temper of your Alec; if I'm not mistake you attacked a certain friend of yours…"

Alec grabs Gabe by the collar of his shirt and pushes him to the wall with enough force to knock the breath out of him, but Gabe seems to not be fazed by it.

"I'd put up with you since you got here and I won't be hurt if something should happen to you. Tell me now what you've done to these people so I don't throw you over the fence and let the human see fit what to do to you."

"Is that a threat 494…," he said pulling Alec hands away from him and standing up straighter from the wall. All awhile the other five people gather around, making a half circle, behind Alec. "…because I don't do well with threat, especially from a pathetic person like you." He moves from the front of Alec to behind him and Alec turns around to see the five people, including Gabe, looking at him. "You think you're all high and mighty because you're SIC of a little city you think you could push people around. That title of your is just a name. Not fit for a screw up such of yourself. You can't handle a mission right let alone a city. People are getting sick and probably more and you blame other people from your mistake. NO MAKING MISTAKES, one of Manticore rules if I'm not mistaken."

"This isn't Manticore Gabe. We no longer live in Manticore, its dead. We're free to live better lives, live without orders, free…"

"Would you listen to yourself, you sounding like that 09er chick. She must have you whipped 494. Wrapped around her little finger and you buy right into it. Look around 494, this place is a poor excuse in living in the free. These people need orders, need a better place to move around instead of coop up in this forsaken place you call home, they need a better leader."

"Max is their leader."

"A woman, a 09er at that can't be a leader. She a traitor to our people but they seem to have forgotten that part the moment they got out. You seem to have forgotten too. I mean what 452 and her fellow 09ers did to you back at Manticore; you'll think you would want a little payback."

"Manticore did those things to me despite what the 09ers did but you played right along with them, Gabe. Listen to their hatred toward the 09ers and their views of what was a traitor, you label anyone so much as look at you wrong as one. Your friend being one of them."

"And they were right. The traitors were the weak, the 09ers, you. You and your kind, the clones, could have followed up what your other half did and we would have been punished even more."

"So you rather punish us then get punish right? It had nothing to do with the point that I had the face of 493 and the ones like me with faces like the 09ers. You weren't punishing my kind because we look like the 09ers?"

The room was quite and once again Alec and Gabe was caught in a staring contest. And once again Gabe was the first to look away. He smiles as he walks around Alec until he was standing in front of him again.

"It doesn't matter; the past is the past right like you said. The problem here is you coming to me blaming me for the sickness going around here."

"They got your smell all over them, I'm sure you know that not much of a coincident on your part."

"I can't help it if I get around, meet new people and they happen to fall sick afterwards."

"What is it? Is it a retrovirus targeting transgenics or some kind of drug what?" Gabe kept his mouth shut. "Then you won't mind if I check your room."

Alec made to leave but two X5s block his path.

"I can't let you do that Alec."

"No matter, I'll find out soon enough and sure enough my words will be a promise if I find out you're behind this."

Alec push passes the two X5s and made to leave the room. Standing at the door way was Biggs who stood there with his arm cross. Once Alec walks pass him, he looks back at the six people in the room and Gabe smiles up at him before going back to his pull ups. Biggs follows Alec who was on a fast pace to the bar. He caught up with him about time they were in the bar and Alec was already ordering him self a drink.

"I hate that guy," Alec said after downing his drink and going for another one.

"Yeah I do too but you might want to lay off approaching him until you find out what's in the blood work you sent to Logan."

"Why," downing another.

"Well I've been watching him and the others for some time and something is off about them. Their fighting style is powerful and it doesn't seem to faze them. Just the other night, I watch two of them fight and the blows they were sending each other was like…bone crushing hand to hand combat. Something changes about them."

"Tell me about, it something Gabe is giving them I know it. But the blood work from Logan hasn't come in yet."

"Have you checked on it today?"

"No but I might stop by later on today."

"Okay but like I said stay clear from Gabe. I'll see later.'

"Where are you going," Alec yell to his departing friend.

"I'm going to get ready to see my fence tonight. He said he might have some Tryptophan for us."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"No I'll be fine; you have other things to worry about like a certain lioness for instance."

With that he was out the bar and heading toward his apartment and soon walks in Max looking puzzled. Alec put his glass down once Max reaches him.

"What's the matter Max, what got you all in a knot," he said with a smile on his face.

Max look up from the floor and look at Alec. She was studying his face as it change from the smile to a face of concern.

"Max are you okay?"

"Yeah I fine," looking away. "Just thinking…"

"What you thinking about?"

"It's nothing. Come on, Logan called and he said that our medical supplies came in. He said we should stop by tomorrow but I think we waited long enough for them and with this sickness going around we need now."

"Do I have to go Max; I mean the Log master isn't in, in seeing me. He really prefers you being there then me."

"Well there is no one else to help me carry the three boxes here."

"Sure there is, I'm sure Joshua would be happy to help you. Plus Logan would…"

"I don't care what Logan think I want you to help me," she bellows.

This time Alec was puzzled. Max want him and don't care what Logan thinks in one sentence was surprise to say the least. She probably feels sorry for giving him all that work and guilting her self for it. Well he can't say no if she really wants him to help.

"Fine Max I'll go but if he says so much of a mean word to me, there will be no blaming me for my action."

"Okay let's go."

No comeback for threaten her man, this is different on Max part. What got into her today?

…….

Biggs was walking down the empty alley carrying in backpack of Tryptophan. He just left meeting with his fence and was heading back to terminal city. Getting the feeling he's being watched he turns around to check the end of the alley. There was no one there except for one of his fence's bouncers standing by the door. Shrugging it off he continue to walk. He turns the corner and bump into a hard body.

"Sorry I didn't…what are you doing out here," Biggs said seeing one of his fellow transies standing before him. The man didn't answer just look at him.

A present behind him startle him and he jumps to the side to see another transgenic. He was box in when another person stood in front of him. Moving a little to the side, the one in front of him let Gabe in smile at the now piss Biggs.

"What do you want Gabe?"

"We're here to help a fellow friend get back safely to the city without running into trouble." Bigg look at the four Xs in front of him before settling on Gabe.

"What you really want," he asks already trying to find a way out of the situation.

"You should have stayed out of this 510. There's no place for snooping around behind other people's back when they are not looking" he walks a little closer to Biggs. "I know you been following me 510 under 494's orders and I can't allow that to continue. You might ruin my plans for the city and 494 and I can't let you risk it. It's time we teach 494 a lesson."

Gabe nods his head for his three minions to attack but Biggs was expect it. He swung his backpack at the Gabe and the other guy in front of him and punches the guy to the left of him to jump over him for his escape. With his transgenic speed he blurs away from his attackers. Who wasn't far on his heels.

……

Alec and Max makes their way to Logan's in uncomfortable silence, well Max silence while Alec talks about the game of pool Biggs and him played last night which they both won. Alec won the game but Biggs won a fun night with CeCe.

"I wonder if I lost would I be that lucky. Not with CeCe of course but someone else. With my luck lately probably not since most of the women here think you and I are together. They wouldn't want to sleep with someone else boyfriend. What are you thoughts on the matter Max? Max?"

Alec looks at his silent friend next to him and could see she was in her thoughts.

"Thinking about it huh? If you were there would you want to sleep with me," he asks making fun but sort of curious of what she'll say. But he should have known she wouldn't have heard him since she is in deep thoughts. So Alec went on to some more rambling.

"I wanted you there, like old times when we use to hang out at Crash with OC and Stretchy. Having fun, drinking beer, and not thinking about taking care of thousands of transgenics. Not that I mind doing the job, especially with us being head of city but we hardly have time to spend together. To have fun, to fight like we use to, to talk about our problems. I need…you more then…ever right now Max. There are so many things…I need…to tell you. About this problem I'm having with an old friend who is turning this place into another Manticore. Well want it to be like how my life was back in Manticore, and I don't know what to do. How to stop him? Then there is you, Max. I love you, you know."

He looks over to Max and she still was lost in her thoughts. He laughs at how foolish he was being and stuffs his hands deeper in his pockets.

"What are you laughing about," Max asks finally looking at him.

"Oh Max you're back from the land of the dead. I was getting worried."

"Shut up, you still didn't answer my question? Why were you laughing?"

"I was telling you I'm in love with you," he said with a serious face. He would have a smile on his face but he wanted to see what her reaction would be.

With a snort she hits him on the shoulder. "That's very funny, Alec. And take that look off your face before I take you seriously."

"Yeah you don't want that to happen," he said a little hurt.

Max walks a little ahead of him and she drops her smile. Does he mean that?

…..

Biggs jumps over a fence and up the metal stairs on the side of the building to the roof. He lost his followers ten minutes ago and wanted to get as much distances away from them. He took out his phone and dials a number and hopes the person answer it.

…..

Max opens the door and walks in to find Logan and Asha kissing on the couch.

"Oh my gosh," Max said turning around to put her fore head on Alec's chest.

"Did we interrupt something," Alec said looking at the two.

"Max…" Logan started.

"No Logan its okay," she turns back around to face him. "I'm mean we're not together anymore so it okay. Where are the boxes?"

"Max I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow and me and Asha, we were…"

"I know what you was doing Logan and its okay really."

Max move pass Logan to get to the boxes without looking up at him. Alec was right behind her. Max grabs one boxes and heads for the door but turns back when she notice Alec looking inside one of the boxes.

"Alec come on lets go, I'm sure Logan and Asha would want sometime alone together."

"Max look at this," he said holding up a defibrillator. "Do you think we need this? We should check does it work. What do you say Logan, want to be our test dummy," Alec look directly at Logan. He flinches from the hard stare from Alec.

"We can test it later Alec, come on."

"Yeah, yeah I'm coming." He makes his way to picking u the boxes but his cell phone rings. "Hold up Max let me get this, hello."

….

"Alec I'm being followed," Biggs say in the phone while keeping an eye out for Gabe and his men.

"By who," came Alec reply on the phone.

"It's…"

The phone was kicked out of Biggs hands and fell off the roof, breaking into piece. One of Gabe's men kick again, hitting Biggs in the chest and then in the abdomen. Biggs was clinching his chest after the two blows but pushes the pain aside to fight back. He uses the guy's momentum against him to grab his arm and hit him in the back of the head with his elbow. He then kicks him in the back when he saw another one of Gabe's men coming. When the guy jump across the roof to get to him, Bigg quickly spin kick him in the stomach and punch him on the side of his head. He then uses that time to get away. Taking the stairs two at a time, he reaches the bottom and cut out running. Turning around the corner he was punch in the face and fell to the ground. Gabe was standing over him along with another of his guys when the other two caught up. There they begin to kick and punch him until he was black and blue.

"Hey," Gabe called to a guys hanging around the area. "We got us one of those freaks over here."

The men call in some more guys before heading over to where they were. Before the guys reach them, Gabe bend over to him and whispers in his ear.

"Don't worry 510, 494 will soon be joining you."

With that he and his men backs up and let the humans take their turn beating Biggs.

……

"Biggs, Biggs can you here me?"

Alec stood up straighter and had a scare look on his face when he turns to look at Max. Max read the unsaid words and drops her boxes on the floor.

"Something wrongs let go," Alec said moving pass her and running to the door, with Max right behind him.

AN: Cliffhanger, I know. It had to be done or else the chapter would have been entirely too long. What do you think? I think in the next chapter or the one after that, I'll put in more Alec's background in Manticore and his friendship with Gabe. I'm sure you guys want to know more about that, I think. Anyway hope you enjoyed it.