Chapter 2

Max, now staring at Darla, pictured whether Cindy's original assumptions were right or not. She laughed to herself at the thought of Darla with Sketchy.

Max was just about to ask Darla exactly what they were waiting for, when she saw someone she wasn't expecting and found a frown place itself on her otherwise perfect businesslike composure. She finally rested her eyes upon the 2nd empty chair next to her, that was quickly filled with the bottom of someone she didn't really want to be there.

"What are you doing here?" She blurted as Darla greeted Alec warmly, more warmly, Max noted, than she had greeted Max.

Alec finished saying hello to Darla before turning to Max, "Well, I was invited, Maxie! Just trying to do my part to represent the Freak Nation!"

"Terminal City!" Max snapped, annoyed.

"Oh!" Darla said with surprise and slight confusion. "That's okay with you, right Max? I thought we could do an interview together, with the two leaders of Terminal City. If that's a problem, I guess we could do them separately, but I think this would make better TV, show a more united image, don't you think?" Her smile was almost blinding as Max found it all the more difficult to present a professional image.

Oh, you're not foolin' me! Max thought bitterly staring at the wretched woman. As if the lady even cared about how "freak nation" would look at the cameras. She just wanted an excuse to interview Alec, which would have been pointless, without Max, the real leader, present.

Max wanted to gag noticing the googly eyes Darla was sending toward Alec. Ugh, sick, she thought, someone shoot me! Is she flirting with him! Max found the insincerity within her to agree happily even though the longer this interview lasted the more concerned she was with her own sanity. "Sure!" she replied with a glowing smile of her own, "Of course, Terminal City is all about working together! That will be fine!" She placed special emphasis on the name of their home, staring sharply into Alec's hazel eyes to hit it home.

"Fabulous!" Darla said, looking truly delighted. She motioned for the camera man to start recording. Here we go!, Max thought grudgingly.

"Tell us a little about yourselves, we want to get an inside look at the leaders of Terminal City." She winked at Max upon finally saying the name right. Max smiled in appreciation while inside getting more annoyed by the second. What exactly did a personal bio have to do with how unfairly Terminal City was being portrayed on the media right now?

"Well," Alec began. Oh, lovely. Max thought, this oughta be good! She was sure Alec would use the time and spotlight to expand his own already inflated ego. And she would be forced to sit there quietly and listen.

"I never really wanted to be in a position where I was responsible for others-" What a surprise!, Max thought, What's next, he despises me for putting him up to it?

"But Max believed in me, and so I was able to rise up to the challenge. Of course, I think Max does a much better job than me." Max almost dropped her mouth, momentarily forgetting she was being recorded. Did he just throw me a compliment? She was shocked. And was he just being… She didn't want to use the word, but hell, it was true- he was being humble! This couldn't be the Alec Max knew. He's just charming up the cameras, Max realized, annoyed.

Darla nodded, "But can't you give yourself a little credit? I mean, you must be working awfully hard to keep the city in order. That's something that not just any ordinary person could do!"

Max snorted. Did she just giggle? This flirting was too much to bare! Why don't you say it! Max wanted to say, Tell him you think he's "special", then tell him how you want to go out with him after the interview!

Max looked at Alec. Well, here was his chance. Go on, flatter yourself. You're used to it, you could do it in your sleep. She laughed to herself with her next thought. He probably did flatter himself in his sleep.

"Well, I'm not just any ordinary person," Alec admitted. Here we go, Max thought, inflate that ego. "I'm a transgenic."

Max was again shocked. He wasn't acting like he was any better than any other transgenic, and he was also trying to portray a good image of transgenics.

"Right," Darla nodded, "You're a transgenic. So that means you're…enhanced." Good Lord, Max thought, she's actually blushing!

Alec nodded, looking to Max, "We do have certain abilities that the average person doesn't. So that might explain the fear, that we are slightly different."

Max was actually happy with Alec's response. She was shocked, though, to see he was siding with Max, really trying to appear like a team working together.

"You have abilities, in lots of areas, correct?" Darla said with a slight smirk.

Alec nodded but didn't comment further.

"Well, you're certainly physically enhanced!" Darla gushed, "Well! I mean, you are far more attractive than anyone I've ever seen!" She laughed out of embarrassment. Or was that more of her flirting?

Alec smiled awkwardly, "I would thank you, but I really had nothing to do with my own appearance."

"So, what other enhancements do you have?" Darla prodded. Wouldn't you like to know? Max thought, trying desperately not to frown while in the hot seat.

"I really don't want to discuss that, if you wouldn't mind." Alec dismissed the question politely. Politely? Max eyed Alec. Why didn't he practice this sort of behavior around her more often?

Darla looked disappointed, but finally turned to Max, or so, that was what Max thought. "So, Max, why don't you tell us what it's like working with such an amazing individual!"

"Excuse me?" Max asked. Finally she asks me a question, and it's about him? Max was getting antsy. This chick was relentless!

"I mean, it must be difficult to stay on task, I would think, with such a distraction as your partner."

"He's not really my partner, I'm the leader. He's my 2nd in command. And wouldn't you know it, I'm actually capable of doing work even with Alec in the room!"

Darla nodded, but looked like she disagreed, "But I mean, you must have had a time when you found it hard to focus. Doesn't it get lonely in Terminal City, working all the time. What does a leader of Terminal City do for fun?"

Max stared at the camera, frowning. "Okay, that's it! I've had enough! Turn that thing off!"

The camera man kept rolling. "Turn it OFF!" Max demanded. "Don't make me do it for you!"

The camera man backed away while continuing to film as Alec grabbed Max gently to calm her down. "Maxie, it's okay, I understand why you don't want the world to know what we do for fun!" He grinned mischievously at her.

Max ripped herself from his arms. "Oh, don't you wish, Pretty Boy!" She said. Then she turned to Darla. "Look here, missy! I agreed to this interview so that we could talk about Terminal City. Trans. Genics. Unfair protests, discrimination. Not how attractive Alec is or the 411 on what his idea of a date is! So either you start getting serious, or we're out of here!"

Darla was still smiling, but there was a slight fear apparent in her eyes as she stared at Max. "I'm just trying to get a good look into the mind of a leader of Terminal City. Alec didn't seem to have a problem, so if you'd like, I can just interview him for the time being."

"Oh, if I'd like!" Max said still glaring. "Don't you mean if you'd like! I'm sure you'd like to have Alec all to yourself for more than just an interview! Why don't you take him to Crash, have a couple drinks, get an in depth prospective on what it's like to have sex with a transgenic, I'm sure that's relevant to your story!"

Darla now really did blush, and for once seemed at a loss for words.

Alec looked to Max, "I think we're both actually out of time, unfortunately. We are leaders, you know. We have some city stuff to attend to." He motioned for Max to leave.

"Sorry, Darla! You'll just have to get that Alec exclusive later!" She walked off in a fury, not waiting up for Alec to join her stride.