Title: Today 'They' Won the Battle Part 10
Author: Rhasa
Category: Drama, Angst.
Rating: This part R (for a few swear words)
Disclaimer: 'Dark Angel' and the characters do not belong to me. No money is being made. No infringement intended. This story MAY NOT be archived without permission.
Summary: A multiple part story that explores the developing relationship between Max and Alec. Since it's been a while since I posted, I suggest reading the last chapter (9) at fanfiction.net. If you don't want to do that, Alec made his feelings for Max obvious in the last chapter but she put some distance between them spouting her 'leadership' as an impediment to any future relationship. Alec went on a mission and Max anxiously awaits his return.
All previous parts available at fanfiction.net.com
Feedback: I love to hear from anyone who reads my stuff (really, I like to hear you're theories about absolutely anything!) so feel free to drop me a line to Rhasa4@yahoo.com or hit reply.
Today 'They' Won the Battle Part 10 by Rhasa
"Hey Gem," Max said softly as she stepped through the door that Gem had just opened in response to her knocks.
"Hey Max."
"Sorry. I know it's late. I just came to check on Jed, that's all," Max said.
"It's okay. They're sleeping. Come take a look," Gem urged her.
The two women moved further into the small apartment towards a rear room. It wasn't uncommon for Max to pop in now and then. Gem had generously offered to look after Jed while Alec was busy with the every day tasks required to keep Terminal City running as well as the odd mission or two. It was an arrangement that benefited everyone, Gem had said. Looking after two small children seemed to be a lot easier than looing after one.
Gem slowly turned the handle on the door and she and Max stepped stealthily into a room where two small cribs stood side by side.
"I know it's cliché," Gem whispered. "But, they're so adorable when they sleep."
"Yeah," Max said simply as she peered over the edge of the crib, first at Jed then at gem's daughter Eve.
"Is something wrong?" Gem asked, sensing a change in mood in Max from the other times that she had come to visit.
"No. Not really," Max shrugged. "It's just.. I don't know. It's jut that, them sleeping together like this... It kinda reminds me of us kids back at Manticore. When we were young, you know.. the barracks," she whispered. "It reminds me of the barracks."
"With one real exception," Gem said.
"What' that?"
"We never had mobiles over our cribs or a forest scene painted on our walls," Gem said, pointing over Max's shoulder.
Max turned to look at the beautiful mural that adorned the once bare wall from floor to ceiling. She smiled. "Joshua did a good job with that."
"Look up," Gem instructed her.
"Clouds," Max marvelled.
"And what's got to be the most realistic looking rainbow I've ever seen painted anywhere right there in the corner," Gem said. "You can see it better in the daytime."
"He really out did himself," Max smiled.
"Yes he did," Gem said. "It makes you wonder if Manticore didn't mess up in more ways than one where Joshua was concerned."
"What do you mean?" Max asked.
"Well apart from the mistakes with the genetics, too much canine and all that, even after Sandeman left him there, in the conditions in which he was kept, he still managed to survive. They didn't break him. And not only did they not break him but he has this amazing spirit, this amazing talent.. a gentleness about him that just at looking at him you would never have guessed. He is so good with Jed and Eve. He would do anything to protect them."
"As would we all," Max said.
"Yeah," Gem said softly as she and Max moved back through the door and closed it softly behind them.
"Well I'd better get back to the command centre," Max said once back in the living room, turning to leave.
"Any word on Alec and the others yet?" Gem asked.
"No. Not yet. He should be nearing the drop off round about now," Max reported with a sigh.
Gem stared at her. "He feels responsible, you know," she told her. "he couldn't know that Thor and Switch would follow him-"
"I know," Max sighed. "I was angry before, but.. I know it's not his fault, not really."
"He didn't mean to disobey you, Max."
Max looked at Gem, wondering how it was that she knew what was really bothering her.
"Alec came here when he got back from searching for Mary," Gem began to explain. "He wanted to check in on Jed. He'd been told that you were looking for him," Gem admitted. "We talk sometimes," she shrugged awkwardly. "You know, one parent to another parent, something like that."
It made sense that Alec and Gem would be getting close, she did after all have Jed most of the time, an arrangement that Max was grateful for.
"Max, can I say something?" Gem asked.
Max looked up, a little fearful of whatever truth she was about to be told and gave a little nod.
"I know it's probably not my place and non of my business, but...." She paused, a little unsure of how Max would take what she was about to tell her. "But Alec loves you. He's in love with you. And I'm guessing, that he's been in love with you for a long time."
Max stared at Gem with wide eyes. What is that obvious? Was whatever it was that was happening between her and Alec out there for everyone else to see? Damn it. She was supposed to be a leader. She was supposed to be in command. There were more important things, more pressing things, more crucial things that needed her attention right now. How could he do this to her? Hearing Gem speak about it meant that it wasn't going to be something that she could ignore.
"I..I" Max began, but she couldn't find the words to answer what Gem had told her
"I know," Gem said somewhat emabarrased. "It's non of my business, right?" Gem said.
Max's head was whirling. She was confused. She was angry. She didn't know what to feel, which is exactly what she had been afraid would happen if she allowed her personal feelings to get in the way.
Feeling guilty, Gem tried to explain. "It's just that.. well, we talk about starting a new life for ourselves. We talk about being free from Manticore.. well that includes being free to feel, Max, free to love."
"I don't have time for love," Max answered in an abrupt tone.
"You're not serious?"
"Yes. I am. Gem, I heard what you said, but I have bigger concerns right now."
Gem opened her mouth. She couldn't believe what Max was saying. She knew it wasn't true, but she also knew how stubborn Max could be. Gem opened her mouth to argue the point but didn't get to say a word as a large explosion shook the apartment in which her and Max were standing. A surprised Max only had time to gasp before a second blast was felt and heard coming from the outer perimeter. That wasn't a coincidence. It was obvious - they were under attack. As if to prove that point a mere second after the blast, automatic gunfire could be heard which was followed by heavy footfalls on the streets and shouting.
It seemed one of Max's nightmares was coming true.
"Stay here. But get ready to move," Max ordered Gem as she took off in the direction of the ensuing battle...
**********
Alec had very bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. His mission to resue Thor and Switch - two transgenics that had supposedly been nabbed when they had foolishly followed him out of one of the secret tunnels that served Terminal City - had failed. The two transgenics were nowhere near the place in which, according to police reports, they were supposed to have been held. It wasn't the first time that their 'intelligence' had been wrong - weeks back they had 'walked' into a trap set by White when they had raided a food store warehouse. That mistake had cost them the lives of seven transgenics. Although this had not been a trap, Alec was still concerned. It wasn't likely that they had got it wrong again. They had been especially careful with their intelligence ever since their last raid. No. Something was definitely wrong. Add to that the fact that Alec couldn't raise anyone from 'base' on their two-way radio and the X5 became even more nervous and suspicious.
"Can't this thing go any faster?" Alec yelled at Mole as he drove, his impatience and anxiety clearly evident.
Mole ignored him as he gunned the engine once more.
Mole's seemingly indifference to the concerns he had been voicing for the better part of the return trip to Terminal City had really begun to piss Alec off. The X5 was about to mention something to him when five blocks away from Terminal City they noticed smoke billowing above the compound and the sound of sporadic automatic gunfire from five blocks away.
Damn, Alec thought. He hated to be right - especially about something like this.
This was not good. Without even so much of a "Holy Mother-" Mole wordlessly pushed the truck in which he and Alec were travelling into a higher gear, trying to accelerate it beyond what was mechanically possible.
Weighing their options, Alec tried in vain once more to reach anyone on the two-way or cell. His frustration quickly giving way to sheer panic.
He looked over at Mole. It was hard to tell what was going through the lizard man's mind. True to form, a cigar protruded from his mouth. For some reason, Alec tried to think back to the siege and fight at Jam Pony. Had Mole fought White and his familiars with that thing in his mouth? Mole's apparent calm demeanour irked the X5 who found himself yelling, "I could run faster than this. " Then after a moment's thought, Alec put his hand on the car's door handle.
"Easy there tiger," Mole said, too calmly for Alec's liking, as he reached out a hand and clasped Alec's shoulder forcing him to abandon any attempts to leave the slow moving truck behind. "We don't know what we're walking into. AK 47's are still firing on the eastern perimeter, shelling is still coming in from the south, so what ever has happened, it's still happening. We need cover. At least until we know what's going on."
Alec stilled at his friend's words. He suddenly understood why Mole had been so quiet. He had been listening hard, analysing the gunfire he heard, trying to get a handle on the situaton. If anyone knew munitions, Mole did. It was possible for him to get a sense of the battle uphead merely by the patterns of volleys. After a moment's thought, Alec told him, "Head for the western wall."
"Any particular reason?"
"There's seems to be less smoke there. The alley that runs adjacent can also offer us some cover, not to mention a convenient escape route," he said confidently. "If we need it."
Mole nodded agreeing with Alec's assessment and plan. "We can abandon the truck near Pfifer," he said. "We'll have access to the sewers if we need to go underground in a hurry. If the fighting is more to the East we should be able to get close enough to the outer perimeter without being detected."
Mole turned the truck to the right and kept a watchful eye out. "Sure would help if we knew exactly who the enemy was," he whined. "What the fuck happened?" he said more to himself than to Alec.
"I don't know," Alec sighed, trying to surpress the fear that threatened to overwhelm him. "But I know one thing."
"What's that?"
"There was no way we saw this coming. We didn't expect this. We weren't prepared. It's going to be bad, Mole," he said looking over at his lizard friend. "Real bad."
****
It had taken Alec and Mole a full twenty minutes to make it inside T.C's 'outer' perimeter and they had yet to ascertain just who or what was attacking Terminal City. Moving quickly past the biotechnology labs they were still a long way from the residential areas. Oak Street which housed the majority of X5's lay half a click to the east, closer to the fighting. Alec took some small measure of comfort in the fact that the automatic gunfire they had been hearing for the past half hour had decreased somewhat and mortar fire had not been heard for the past eight minutes. Still, he and Mole moved quickly but quietly, with caution, having decided not to head for the front lines but fall back to the command centre where they could determine where the best position was for them to be deployed.
Passing Riverbank Road, Alec finally encountered the first T.C. inhabitants - and the news was not good. Chaos seemed to reign. Grabbing the first 'person' who ran past - a rather hairy heavy-set male transhuman, the likes of which Alec had never had the pleasure - Alec discovered that things were even less organised than he had hoped. 'Bear', as he was called, had no idea what was happening, or who was attacking them. All he knew was that whoever was bombarding the perimeter with gunfire and mortars was doing it from at least a block away. They had yet to breech the perimeter, but all available forces were busy 'holding the lines'.
"What about Max?" Alec shouted. Although the gunfire had diminished, the streets stilled echoed with the sounds of battle and people running past in confusion which meant he had to yell to be heard above the noise.
"Max?" Bear asked. "I don't know any 'Ma-" he began, but Mole interrupted by pulling earnestly on Alec's arm.
"Come on. He's new. He doesn't know anything. She's probably in the command centre."
Alec allowed himself to be lead on by Mole. In the back of his mind, he had to hand it to the transhuman. Mole never seemed 'phased' in a crisis. To his credit, Alec too was focused, oriented on his goal, cautious and alert - at least on the outside. On the inside he was a mess of concern and worry. The questions that he had not allowed himself to express verbally out loud now resonated in his mind, like echoes in a cave. He couldn't quash the fear he felt for Max and his son. Where were they? Were they safe?
The trip to the command centre was anything but easy. Mortar fire had penetrated deep inside the compound. Many of the buildings, already in complete disrepair from the days of the pulse, could not withstand the assault and had collapsed - often on the inhabitants. Moving forward, Alec and Mole had to make their way past debris, and the crowded streets all the while resisting the ingrained urge to head to the front lines.
It was a very relieved Luke that greeted them on their arrival at the command centre.
Alec quickly assessed the situation and moved towards a harried Dix who was shouting at a young X6. "No. I say again. Do not move beyond your current position," he yelled, before the younger transgenic took off.
"Oh thank God," Dix said, when he caught a glimpse of Alec and Mole.
"Where's Max?" Alec asked.
"Ah I think she's-" Luke began, but was interrupted as another mortar shell rocked where they were standing shaking dust from the ceiling.
A clearly nervous Dix didn't waste anytime explianing the situation to Alec. "The main assault has been on the eastern perimeter. We've sustained shelling for the past half hour or so which has resulted in a lot of casualties."
"How many?" Alec asked concerned.
"No way to know just yet. We've got four field med units out there at the moment. Infirmary is filling up fast though. Comms are down and we're using runners-"
"Ah the old fashioned way," Mole said.
"Yeah. Best I figure is that they're jamming our radio signals and have cut the satellite links," Dix offered.
"How far have they advanced?" Alec asked.
"That's just the thing," Luke said.
"What do you mean?"
"They haven't advanced. They haven't moved. We've sustained gunfire from sniper positions, and the occasional 'run' at the line but not enough to do major damage, more of an inconvenience really. The shelling has done more damage by hitting buildings, some of the residential areas were hit pretty bad and some of our guys in the 'nest' positions were taken out, but as yet they haven't moved."
"Who are they? Army?" Mole asked.
"No, Luke said. "Spotter reports say they're Familiars, but we can't be certain, cause they're not coming closer."
"That doesn't make any sense," Alec whispered as he went to the bank of security monitors that were the eyes to Terminal City and looked at them carefully.
He did not like what he was seeing. Black and white cameras were picking up a lot of damage. The screens were filled with people, many transhumas, support personnel never designed for fighting, who were trying to flee the shelling. A sickening feeling swam in his stomach once more. He wondered about his son. Alec's eyes flicked over the screens, closely watching the X5's on the eastern perimeter firing shots out across the fenceline. Their defense was classic, but he could tell there were some who were itching to move out and face the enemy head on - that's what they had been trained for, afterall.
"Do you think they're going to storm?" Dix asked.
"I'd like to see them try," Mole snarled, then added, "No. That isn't their style. They would have hit us hard first up, caught us by surprise. As it is they know that they would extremely out numbered. Being Familiars and not the Army, unless they've had a recruitment drive it would be suicide to come in here."
"Then what the hell are they up to?"
"It's a diversion," Alec said quietly, while turning around to face the rest of them. "It's the only thing that makes any sense. They're rattling us. They're keeping us busy."
"While they do what?" Dix asked.
"I don't know," Alec admitted. "Dix, you said that they're attacking the eastern perimeter. What about other areas?" he asked.
"So far other than a few squirmishes at the northern gate, nothing."
Alec thought hard. "What about the tunnels?"
Everyone looked at everyone else as silence fell over the group.
"No one's patrolling the tunnels?" Alec asked incredulously.
When no answer was forth coming, Mole uttered "Shit!" and began to race off with Alec not far behind.
"Alec!" Luke called, and the X5 turned around. "I was going to tell you.." he trailed off.
"Luke what is it?" Alec asked with impatience and concern.
"Max. She left about twenty minutes ago. She said she was going to get Gem and the kids.." he stopped and looked uncomfortably towards Dix.
"Jesus, Luke, just tell me!" Alec shouted.
"She went to get Gem and the kids to take them to the tunnels. She was preparing for evacuation. She wanted to get them ready if it came to that."
"We haven't heard from her since." Dix added.
A sickening feeling rose once again inside of Alec, but it didn't linger as a rough hand grabbed at his shirt. "Come on," Mole shouted in Alec's face as he dragged him out of the command centre.
TBC
Author's Notes:
Yeah I am back. I know it's been a few months. The good news is that I plotted out the next six chapters while I was on holiday so it shouldn't be another two months before I post again. I will wait to see if anyone is still interested after reading this last part before finish writing the next though. So if you are still reading please drop me a line and I will keep writing.
I really hate my Max here for being so stubborn and not allowing her to enjoy her relationship with Alec. It reminds me kind of like Zack. It seems that Manticore unit leaders all seem to suffer some degree of matyrdom.
The discussion about Joshua is important for the upcoming plot as was Alec's attempts to track down Mary a few chapters back (some people were asking me about Mary). I try to follow movie direction 101 when I write fanfic. NEVER ever introduce a character or a point for discussion if it is not relevant to the storyline. Movies cost too much to make, so if a shot shows you a glass of water, then (if the director is any good) that glass of water must be of some importance to the future plot or character development. If you want to see a great modern movie that uses this direction watch SIGNS with Mel Gibson. Nothing is introduced by way of props (singled out by individual shots) that is not important to the climax of the film. It's great (Baby monitor, book, glass of water, the knife etc etc). Happy to discuss further if you're interested at Rhasa4@yahoo.com. Anyway, I hate being bogged down in stories that waffle on for waffling on's sake.
And here ends my little rant. I'd love to here from you so review or drop me a line.
Til next time Rhasa
P.S Happy Australia Day
Author: Rhasa
Category: Drama, Angst.
Rating: This part R (for a few swear words)
Disclaimer: 'Dark Angel' and the characters do not belong to me. No money is being made. No infringement intended. This story MAY NOT be archived without permission.
Summary: A multiple part story that explores the developing relationship between Max and Alec. Since it's been a while since I posted, I suggest reading the last chapter (9) at fanfiction.net. If you don't want to do that, Alec made his feelings for Max obvious in the last chapter but she put some distance between them spouting her 'leadership' as an impediment to any future relationship. Alec went on a mission and Max anxiously awaits his return.
All previous parts available at fanfiction.net.com
Feedback: I love to hear from anyone who reads my stuff (really, I like to hear you're theories about absolutely anything!) so feel free to drop me a line to Rhasa4@yahoo.com or hit reply.
Today 'They' Won the Battle Part 10 by Rhasa
"Hey Gem," Max said softly as she stepped through the door that Gem had just opened in response to her knocks.
"Hey Max."
"Sorry. I know it's late. I just came to check on Jed, that's all," Max said.
"It's okay. They're sleeping. Come take a look," Gem urged her.
The two women moved further into the small apartment towards a rear room. It wasn't uncommon for Max to pop in now and then. Gem had generously offered to look after Jed while Alec was busy with the every day tasks required to keep Terminal City running as well as the odd mission or two. It was an arrangement that benefited everyone, Gem had said. Looking after two small children seemed to be a lot easier than looing after one.
Gem slowly turned the handle on the door and she and Max stepped stealthily into a room where two small cribs stood side by side.
"I know it's cliché," Gem whispered. "But, they're so adorable when they sleep."
"Yeah," Max said simply as she peered over the edge of the crib, first at Jed then at gem's daughter Eve.
"Is something wrong?" Gem asked, sensing a change in mood in Max from the other times that she had come to visit.
"No. Not really," Max shrugged. "It's just.. I don't know. It's jut that, them sleeping together like this... It kinda reminds me of us kids back at Manticore. When we were young, you know.. the barracks," she whispered. "It reminds me of the barracks."
"With one real exception," Gem said.
"What' that?"
"We never had mobiles over our cribs or a forest scene painted on our walls," Gem said, pointing over Max's shoulder.
Max turned to look at the beautiful mural that adorned the once bare wall from floor to ceiling. She smiled. "Joshua did a good job with that."
"Look up," Gem instructed her.
"Clouds," Max marvelled.
"And what's got to be the most realistic looking rainbow I've ever seen painted anywhere right there in the corner," Gem said. "You can see it better in the daytime."
"He really out did himself," Max smiled.
"Yes he did," Gem said. "It makes you wonder if Manticore didn't mess up in more ways than one where Joshua was concerned."
"What do you mean?" Max asked.
"Well apart from the mistakes with the genetics, too much canine and all that, even after Sandeman left him there, in the conditions in which he was kept, he still managed to survive. They didn't break him. And not only did they not break him but he has this amazing spirit, this amazing talent.. a gentleness about him that just at looking at him you would never have guessed. He is so good with Jed and Eve. He would do anything to protect them."
"As would we all," Max said.
"Yeah," Gem said softly as she and Max moved back through the door and closed it softly behind them.
"Well I'd better get back to the command centre," Max said once back in the living room, turning to leave.
"Any word on Alec and the others yet?" Gem asked.
"No. Not yet. He should be nearing the drop off round about now," Max reported with a sigh.
Gem stared at her. "He feels responsible, you know," she told her. "he couldn't know that Thor and Switch would follow him-"
"I know," Max sighed. "I was angry before, but.. I know it's not his fault, not really."
"He didn't mean to disobey you, Max."
Max looked at Gem, wondering how it was that she knew what was really bothering her.
"Alec came here when he got back from searching for Mary," Gem began to explain. "He wanted to check in on Jed. He'd been told that you were looking for him," Gem admitted. "We talk sometimes," she shrugged awkwardly. "You know, one parent to another parent, something like that."
It made sense that Alec and Gem would be getting close, she did after all have Jed most of the time, an arrangement that Max was grateful for.
"Max, can I say something?" Gem asked.
Max looked up, a little fearful of whatever truth she was about to be told and gave a little nod.
"I know it's probably not my place and non of my business, but...." She paused, a little unsure of how Max would take what she was about to tell her. "But Alec loves you. He's in love with you. And I'm guessing, that he's been in love with you for a long time."
Max stared at Gem with wide eyes. What is that obvious? Was whatever it was that was happening between her and Alec out there for everyone else to see? Damn it. She was supposed to be a leader. She was supposed to be in command. There were more important things, more pressing things, more crucial things that needed her attention right now. How could he do this to her? Hearing Gem speak about it meant that it wasn't going to be something that she could ignore.
"I..I" Max began, but she couldn't find the words to answer what Gem had told her
"I know," Gem said somewhat emabarrased. "It's non of my business, right?" Gem said.
Max's head was whirling. She was confused. She was angry. She didn't know what to feel, which is exactly what she had been afraid would happen if she allowed her personal feelings to get in the way.
Feeling guilty, Gem tried to explain. "It's just that.. well, we talk about starting a new life for ourselves. We talk about being free from Manticore.. well that includes being free to feel, Max, free to love."
"I don't have time for love," Max answered in an abrupt tone.
"You're not serious?"
"Yes. I am. Gem, I heard what you said, but I have bigger concerns right now."
Gem opened her mouth. She couldn't believe what Max was saying. She knew it wasn't true, but she also knew how stubborn Max could be. Gem opened her mouth to argue the point but didn't get to say a word as a large explosion shook the apartment in which her and Max were standing. A surprised Max only had time to gasp before a second blast was felt and heard coming from the outer perimeter. That wasn't a coincidence. It was obvious - they were under attack. As if to prove that point a mere second after the blast, automatic gunfire could be heard which was followed by heavy footfalls on the streets and shouting.
It seemed one of Max's nightmares was coming true.
"Stay here. But get ready to move," Max ordered Gem as she took off in the direction of the ensuing battle...
**********
Alec had very bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. His mission to resue Thor and Switch - two transgenics that had supposedly been nabbed when they had foolishly followed him out of one of the secret tunnels that served Terminal City - had failed. The two transgenics were nowhere near the place in which, according to police reports, they were supposed to have been held. It wasn't the first time that their 'intelligence' had been wrong - weeks back they had 'walked' into a trap set by White when they had raided a food store warehouse. That mistake had cost them the lives of seven transgenics. Although this had not been a trap, Alec was still concerned. It wasn't likely that they had got it wrong again. They had been especially careful with their intelligence ever since their last raid. No. Something was definitely wrong. Add to that the fact that Alec couldn't raise anyone from 'base' on their two-way radio and the X5 became even more nervous and suspicious.
"Can't this thing go any faster?" Alec yelled at Mole as he drove, his impatience and anxiety clearly evident.
Mole ignored him as he gunned the engine once more.
Mole's seemingly indifference to the concerns he had been voicing for the better part of the return trip to Terminal City had really begun to piss Alec off. The X5 was about to mention something to him when five blocks away from Terminal City they noticed smoke billowing above the compound and the sound of sporadic automatic gunfire from five blocks away.
Damn, Alec thought. He hated to be right - especially about something like this.
This was not good. Without even so much of a "Holy Mother-" Mole wordlessly pushed the truck in which he and Alec were travelling into a higher gear, trying to accelerate it beyond what was mechanically possible.
Weighing their options, Alec tried in vain once more to reach anyone on the two-way or cell. His frustration quickly giving way to sheer panic.
He looked over at Mole. It was hard to tell what was going through the lizard man's mind. True to form, a cigar protruded from his mouth. For some reason, Alec tried to think back to the siege and fight at Jam Pony. Had Mole fought White and his familiars with that thing in his mouth? Mole's apparent calm demeanour irked the X5 who found himself yelling, "I could run faster than this. " Then after a moment's thought, Alec put his hand on the car's door handle.
"Easy there tiger," Mole said, too calmly for Alec's liking, as he reached out a hand and clasped Alec's shoulder forcing him to abandon any attempts to leave the slow moving truck behind. "We don't know what we're walking into. AK 47's are still firing on the eastern perimeter, shelling is still coming in from the south, so what ever has happened, it's still happening. We need cover. At least until we know what's going on."
Alec stilled at his friend's words. He suddenly understood why Mole had been so quiet. He had been listening hard, analysing the gunfire he heard, trying to get a handle on the situaton. If anyone knew munitions, Mole did. It was possible for him to get a sense of the battle uphead merely by the patterns of volleys. After a moment's thought, Alec told him, "Head for the western wall."
"Any particular reason?"
"There's seems to be less smoke there. The alley that runs adjacent can also offer us some cover, not to mention a convenient escape route," he said confidently. "If we need it."
Mole nodded agreeing with Alec's assessment and plan. "We can abandon the truck near Pfifer," he said. "We'll have access to the sewers if we need to go underground in a hurry. If the fighting is more to the East we should be able to get close enough to the outer perimeter without being detected."
Mole turned the truck to the right and kept a watchful eye out. "Sure would help if we knew exactly who the enemy was," he whined. "What the fuck happened?" he said more to himself than to Alec.
"I don't know," Alec sighed, trying to surpress the fear that threatened to overwhelm him. "But I know one thing."
"What's that?"
"There was no way we saw this coming. We didn't expect this. We weren't prepared. It's going to be bad, Mole," he said looking over at his lizard friend. "Real bad."
****
It had taken Alec and Mole a full twenty minutes to make it inside T.C's 'outer' perimeter and they had yet to ascertain just who or what was attacking Terminal City. Moving quickly past the biotechnology labs they were still a long way from the residential areas. Oak Street which housed the majority of X5's lay half a click to the east, closer to the fighting. Alec took some small measure of comfort in the fact that the automatic gunfire they had been hearing for the past half hour had decreased somewhat and mortar fire had not been heard for the past eight minutes. Still, he and Mole moved quickly but quietly, with caution, having decided not to head for the front lines but fall back to the command centre where they could determine where the best position was for them to be deployed.
Passing Riverbank Road, Alec finally encountered the first T.C. inhabitants - and the news was not good. Chaos seemed to reign. Grabbing the first 'person' who ran past - a rather hairy heavy-set male transhuman, the likes of which Alec had never had the pleasure - Alec discovered that things were even less organised than he had hoped. 'Bear', as he was called, had no idea what was happening, or who was attacking them. All he knew was that whoever was bombarding the perimeter with gunfire and mortars was doing it from at least a block away. They had yet to breech the perimeter, but all available forces were busy 'holding the lines'.
"What about Max?" Alec shouted. Although the gunfire had diminished, the streets stilled echoed with the sounds of battle and people running past in confusion which meant he had to yell to be heard above the noise.
"Max?" Bear asked. "I don't know any 'Ma-" he began, but Mole interrupted by pulling earnestly on Alec's arm.
"Come on. He's new. He doesn't know anything. She's probably in the command centre."
Alec allowed himself to be lead on by Mole. In the back of his mind, he had to hand it to the transhuman. Mole never seemed 'phased' in a crisis. To his credit, Alec too was focused, oriented on his goal, cautious and alert - at least on the outside. On the inside he was a mess of concern and worry. The questions that he had not allowed himself to express verbally out loud now resonated in his mind, like echoes in a cave. He couldn't quash the fear he felt for Max and his son. Where were they? Were they safe?
The trip to the command centre was anything but easy. Mortar fire had penetrated deep inside the compound. Many of the buildings, already in complete disrepair from the days of the pulse, could not withstand the assault and had collapsed - often on the inhabitants. Moving forward, Alec and Mole had to make their way past debris, and the crowded streets all the while resisting the ingrained urge to head to the front lines.
It was a very relieved Luke that greeted them on their arrival at the command centre.
Alec quickly assessed the situation and moved towards a harried Dix who was shouting at a young X6. "No. I say again. Do not move beyond your current position," he yelled, before the younger transgenic took off.
"Oh thank God," Dix said, when he caught a glimpse of Alec and Mole.
"Where's Max?" Alec asked.
"Ah I think she's-" Luke began, but was interrupted as another mortar shell rocked where they were standing shaking dust from the ceiling.
A clearly nervous Dix didn't waste anytime explianing the situation to Alec. "The main assault has been on the eastern perimeter. We've sustained shelling for the past half hour or so which has resulted in a lot of casualties."
"How many?" Alec asked concerned.
"No way to know just yet. We've got four field med units out there at the moment. Infirmary is filling up fast though. Comms are down and we're using runners-"
"Ah the old fashioned way," Mole said.
"Yeah. Best I figure is that they're jamming our radio signals and have cut the satellite links," Dix offered.
"How far have they advanced?" Alec asked.
"That's just the thing," Luke said.
"What do you mean?"
"They haven't advanced. They haven't moved. We've sustained gunfire from sniper positions, and the occasional 'run' at the line but not enough to do major damage, more of an inconvenience really. The shelling has done more damage by hitting buildings, some of the residential areas were hit pretty bad and some of our guys in the 'nest' positions were taken out, but as yet they haven't moved."
"Who are they? Army?" Mole asked.
"No, Luke said. "Spotter reports say they're Familiars, but we can't be certain, cause they're not coming closer."
"That doesn't make any sense," Alec whispered as he went to the bank of security monitors that were the eyes to Terminal City and looked at them carefully.
He did not like what he was seeing. Black and white cameras were picking up a lot of damage. The screens were filled with people, many transhumas, support personnel never designed for fighting, who were trying to flee the shelling. A sickening feeling swam in his stomach once more. He wondered about his son. Alec's eyes flicked over the screens, closely watching the X5's on the eastern perimeter firing shots out across the fenceline. Their defense was classic, but he could tell there were some who were itching to move out and face the enemy head on - that's what they had been trained for, afterall.
"Do you think they're going to storm?" Dix asked.
"I'd like to see them try," Mole snarled, then added, "No. That isn't their style. They would have hit us hard first up, caught us by surprise. As it is they know that they would extremely out numbered. Being Familiars and not the Army, unless they've had a recruitment drive it would be suicide to come in here."
"Then what the hell are they up to?"
"It's a diversion," Alec said quietly, while turning around to face the rest of them. "It's the only thing that makes any sense. They're rattling us. They're keeping us busy."
"While they do what?" Dix asked.
"I don't know," Alec admitted. "Dix, you said that they're attacking the eastern perimeter. What about other areas?" he asked.
"So far other than a few squirmishes at the northern gate, nothing."
Alec thought hard. "What about the tunnels?"
Everyone looked at everyone else as silence fell over the group.
"No one's patrolling the tunnels?" Alec asked incredulously.
When no answer was forth coming, Mole uttered "Shit!" and began to race off with Alec not far behind.
"Alec!" Luke called, and the X5 turned around. "I was going to tell you.." he trailed off.
"Luke what is it?" Alec asked with impatience and concern.
"Max. She left about twenty minutes ago. She said she was going to get Gem and the kids.." he stopped and looked uncomfortably towards Dix.
"Jesus, Luke, just tell me!" Alec shouted.
"She went to get Gem and the kids to take them to the tunnels. She was preparing for evacuation. She wanted to get them ready if it came to that."
"We haven't heard from her since." Dix added.
A sickening feeling rose once again inside of Alec, but it didn't linger as a rough hand grabbed at his shirt. "Come on," Mole shouted in Alec's face as he dragged him out of the command centre.
TBC
Author's Notes:
Yeah I am back. I know it's been a few months. The good news is that I plotted out the next six chapters while I was on holiday so it shouldn't be another two months before I post again. I will wait to see if anyone is still interested after reading this last part before finish writing the next though. So if you are still reading please drop me a line and I will keep writing.
I really hate my Max here for being so stubborn and not allowing her to enjoy her relationship with Alec. It reminds me kind of like Zack. It seems that Manticore unit leaders all seem to suffer some degree of matyrdom.
The discussion about Joshua is important for the upcoming plot as was Alec's attempts to track down Mary a few chapters back (some people were asking me about Mary). I try to follow movie direction 101 when I write fanfic. NEVER ever introduce a character or a point for discussion if it is not relevant to the storyline. Movies cost too much to make, so if a shot shows you a glass of water, then (if the director is any good) that glass of water must be of some importance to the future plot or character development. If you want to see a great modern movie that uses this direction watch SIGNS with Mel Gibson. Nothing is introduced by way of props (singled out by individual shots) that is not important to the climax of the film. It's great (Baby monitor, book, glass of water, the knife etc etc). Happy to discuss further if you're interested at Rhasa4@yahoo.com. Anyway, I hate being bogged down in stories that waffle on for waffling on's sake.
And here ends my little rant. I'd love to here from you so review or drop me a line.
Til next time Rhasa
P.S Happy Australia Day