PLEASE READ A/N- Hey all. I have noticed a drop off in reviews lately. I know thatI haven't been updating as fast asI used to (illness, new job, more illness, family issues, comp problems and yet more illness) but is interest waning in this series? Is it getting boring? Less funny? Too depressing? Interactions not working anymore?
What would make it better for you?
I am writing for you guys so if you don't tell me what you want,I can't give it you.
Please review.
Chapter 6 What signifies 2?
Alec stumbled into the kitchen and reached blearily for the coffee pot. He was exhausted and needed his caffeine if he was to function tonight in the ring. He'd waited up for Max last night, but she hadn't come home by the time he fell asleep and he was worried. That is, until he looked at the couch to see her curled up on the end staring at her hands.
"Max?"
"We have to talk."
Alec sighed and gazed longingly at the coffee pot before sitting on the edge of the sofa and facing her. "You know, historically speaking, nothing good has ever come from those words."
Max looked up at him and smiled sadly, "We have a problem."
"What?"
"Last night I was at Crash and—"
"Crash?"
"A night club," Max waved and carried on not seeing Alec do a double take. "Anyway, I was told that there had been some… questionable activity out past sector 11."
"What were you doing in a nightclub?"
"Strip tease, Alec. Pay attention!" Max snapped. "This is serious. I went out to Sector 11 and there was a military encampment." She took a deep breath. "Lydecker was there with some CIA agent called White. I went to the library to do some checking up on this White, guy— Ames White— flawless career. Notorious for his success. Alec, he wants the transgenics. He wants us dead."
Alec blinked. "So? Max we're X5. More than that we're Special Ops, there is no way that they can catch us."
Max nodded, "Rule one of being in hiding is to keep you head down. Going to ground means just that, keeping low and out of the public eye."
"Standard procedure," Alec shrugged.
"So billboard coverage proclaiming 'Monty Cora fights tonight' isn't exactly what I'd call low key, Alec!" Max held up the notice that she had found on the way home pinned to a lamp post. It was a red flyer with 'Monty Cora' swiped across it in bold black lettering.
Alec took the paper and laughed gently, "Would you relax."
"I'll relax when you cover that barcode, Monty Cora!"
Alec leaned over and draped an arm over her shoulder. "Listen Maxie, this guy White, maybe he's CIA, maybe he's some hot-shot government guy. But that's all he is, a guy. A human guy. We're more than match for him."
Max turned to him and looked intently. "The Colonel isn't some teeny government agent without a clue. He knows us. He knows me. If anyone can find us, it's Lydecker."
Alec sighed and said softly: "And how many of the '09ers has he found?"
Max stiffened and he continued, "sorry, Maxie, but its true. Your rugrat brothers and sisters stayed off his radar for ten years and they had minimal training. We are the best of the best. We're not going to be caught."
Max tossed her hair and moved away from him. "I'd feel better if you weren't quite so high profile."
Alec sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "Max, there is nothing to worry about."
Max shrugged off the hand that he placed on her shoulder and walked away, not really wanting him to touch her right now. Why wouldn't he listen to her? Lydecker was bad news, he had been regarded as the bogie-man by all of her Unit and he wasn't just a figment of her imagination. Max had countless memories of her childhood, innumerable experiences of pain and suffering and the one constant was Lydecker, standing by impassively watching her as she writhed in pain.
Alec didn't understand that. Renfo, while being a prize bitch in her own right, had never been that kind of imposing authority figure. She had never actively watched them being abused or instigated it, Renfro never had an active role in their lives. While they could state categorically that Manticore was bad, Seattle had never been the deepest level of hell like Wyoming.
Alec had never been held under the tank by his Unit, he had never watched his unit-mate be sliced and diced on an autopsy table. Alec had never watched Lydecker turn away whilst some man broke her arm and leg to see how long it would take to set.
Max closed her eyes as one memory swamped over her.
She stood by the edge of the river shivering in her tiny cotton nightshift as it flapped in the stiff winter breeze. The temperature was hitting the minus' and even her transgenically enhanced body couldn't fight the cold as it seeped into her bones. Zack edged closer, keeping an eye out in case Lydecker turned quickly and saw him attempt to give comfort and warmth to his little sister.
"It'll be okay, Maxie," he vowed as she couldn't help the shudder that ran over her body.
"Cold." She slammed her mouth shut so that her teeth didn't chatter and give her a headache.
Before he could answer Colonel Lydecker turned around and faced them all.
"An army marches whatever the condition, your enemy will try to conserve themselves in extreme weather, they will stay put and be less on guard as they will consider you to do the same. This gives you the element of surprise. Your task is to make it back to Manticore within the timeframe of twenty minutes. Any time over that will result in punishment, physical. You have twenty minutes from when the flare goes up." And with that Lydecker turned sand left the fifteen soldiers standing in the middle of the icy forest in thin gowns staring after him in horrified silence.
"We're gonna die!" Eva stated.
"We're not going to die," Ben said and Zack nodded.
"That's right."
"We're going to freeze." Ben finished. "Death would be quick."
Zack frowned at him as Merie started to cry.
"Shut up, Ben. We are not going to freeze or die. Pair up and huddle to conserve body heat. Syl, Krit, take point, we need to see when the Colonel hits the flare gun. Merie, Jack, you two get in the middle."
Max nodded, Merie and Jack were the weakest, even though she was the youngest, and they needed to be protected from the bitter cold.
Ben came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, the smell of fresh leaves filling her with comfort. Zane edged up on the other side and Zack let him into the huddle as they pressed their shivering bodies close together. Jace, Brin and Ash slid to the floor and draped over each other, like a pile of cats and were quickly followed by Tinga and Wade. Jondy crept over to Max and was immediately let into the hug. Seth rolled his eyes and jumped up and down on the balls of his feet trying to keep warm as he watched out for the signal from Syl and Krit, Eva stood next to him, her severe eyes gauging the reactions of her fellow Unit.
Syl and Krit raced back towards them, their thin gowns fluttering and their breaths freezing as soon as they exhaled.
"Signal's up, lets move out!" Syl said decisively and Zack nodded at his second in command.
"Okay, everyone grab a partner and head into the brush."
Before Zack could turn, Ben had Max's hand in his and he was pulling her into the forest with Zack growling behind them.
"He's going to be angry at you," Max warned and Ben grinned.
"His anger will keep him warm."
Max giggled despite her discomfort as the leaves and hard braches stuck to her bare feet and scratched her tender soles. It was exhilarating just running… no, blurring, through the trees with the wind in her hair and her siblings by her side and—
Somewhere to her left Wade screamed.
Ben stopped abruptly, "What was that?"
Wade screamed again, his voice sounding like a wild animal, trapped and in pain.
This time it was Max who grabbed Ben's hand as they tore through the undergrowth to reach Wade There was another scream, this time it was Merie and Max sped up trying to reach her siblings.
"Watch out!" they heard Eva yell. "Feet!"
"Feet?" Ben queried as they reached a clearing. Too late they understood what Eva had shouted as they skidded onto a sea of broken glass and nails.
Max felt a scream bubble up in her throat as sharp sharps pierced her already sore feet and she launched herself backwards, out of the clearing to land just on the outskirts. She looked back to see that someone had emptied an entire factory full of broken glass and sharp metal objects into the clearing. It looked just like a crystal lake, glittering in the moonlight, but shadowed by the trees. Drops of blood marred several pieces where she had stood and where Ben was painstakingly making his way back to her, droplets of red shiny liquid sliding from beneath his toes. Eva stood on one side of the clearing with Jack and Jondy, motioning for Max and Ben to be careful.
"Please, we need help!" called Brin from inside the woods and they all stood up shakily on torn feet as they edged around the trees, all sense of fun and frolicking gone.
"I. hate. Lydecker." Ben grimaced as he hobbled, trying to keep Max going whilst holding back tears of pain.
"Centre," Max reminded him. "Centre the pain, cut yourself off from it. It's not happening to you."
"I. hate. Lydecker." he repeated and again, "I. hate. Lydecker." Every step was punctuated by Ben's mantra and Max could feel herself echoing it as they hurried towards the muffled moans and cries of their brother.
They rounded the corner and saw what all the fuss was about. Someone had placed a bear-trap in the middle of the clearing. A huge hole that had been covered over by leaves to hide its appearance and they had put a large metal trigger trap inside, which Wade had fallen onto. It had slammed shut on his leg, the sharp, jagged metal teeth biting almost cleanly through his tiny leg.
"Wade?" Zack called. "What's your status?"
"Hurt," Wade cried, tears falling down his cheeks. "M-m-my head is spinning and I f-feel sick, I think… I may have concussion. My leg is s-s-severed clear through to the bone… maybe b-beyond and… and… I can't climb out."
"There's no way down," Syl pointed out to Zack, tears in her own eyes.
"We need to head back to Manticore," Zack said. "The Colonel will send someone back to help out."
"NO!" screamed Wade. "The Nomalies will get me, alone out here."
Zack spared a furious glare at Ben, who scowled back at him.
"They won't get you, one of us will stay to make sure. Volunteers, Ben?"
Ben shook his head and Max tightened her grip on his hand. She knew that the Nomalies were more real to Ben than to any of them and there was no way that Ben wanted to stay out here.
"I will," she volunteered.
"No," Zack shook his head. "Krit?"
Krit didn't look at all enthusiastic about it but nodded and let go of Syl's hand. "All right."
Zack motioned for them all to move out and this time to go slow, keeping an eye out for any other traps that someone may have laid for them
They actually made it back to Manticore in less than twenty minutes, even with their sidetrack and Zack saluted Colonel Lydecker who barely looked up from his coffee.
"Report, 599."
Zack swallowed, "Mission partially successful, sir. Thirteen made it back in time. One is injured in the field and I left one man standing guard in case of… enemy attack."
"We are on Manticore grounds, 599, who are the enemy?"
Zack stiffened, "Unknown, sir. X5- 711 and 400 are located southwest of inner quadrant 3a. Just under half a click away."
Lydecker stared at his paper, "Go clean up."
Zack paused, "Shall I lead the retrieval squad, Sir?"
"We'll find them in the morning."
At Merie's quiet gasp, Zack knew he had to try again, even if he was punished for it. "Sir, X5-400 was heavily injured, he may not last until morning and that would result in loss of billions in R and D."
Lydecker finally looked up."X5-400 wouldn't be in the situation he is in now if he followed the signs correctly and was aware of the dangers. As it is all those of you who didn't avoid the sea of glass are down to half rations until you learn to be on guard at all times. They don't warn you about traps in the middle of war. Now leave."
Zack saluted, his face pale and they all walked out; some heading to the medical bay and some for the showers each praying to the Blue Lady that their friends would return safe in the light of day.
Wade didn't last until morning.
Alec would never be able to understand that, Trainers may have been cruel and sadistic at Seattle. But it seemed they were sent to Wyoming for training in how to be pure evil. And none were as bad as Lydecker—even his name made Max shiver. She wrapped her arms around herself.
Max grimaced as Alec came up behind her. He had watched while she was lost in thought and he felt guilty for dismissing her so quickly. He loved her and he knew that she loved him, it was new and he didn't want to screw things up.
"Okay, Max, I tell you what. Why don't you come to the ring tonight? I'll have a word with Helen about not publishing my fights and you can make sure that there are no military around to come and take me away, okay? If you are still uncomfortable after that, well, I'll quit the ring."
Max turned in his arms, "You mean that?"
He gave her that lopsided smile that she adored so much, "I promise. After all you mean more to me than those sweaty guys."
Max leaned up, her heart in her eyes as she kissed him, pouring all her love and worries into the touch of lips on lips.
Alec pulled her head back and smoothed his satiny lips over hers, and nibbled down her jaw line to suck on her collar bone, pulling sensations from her centre.
"I like sweaty guys," Max muttered, her face lighting up in teasing. "We have an hour before the ring, wanna see?"
Alec's eyes darkened with desire before he hauled her up into his arms, "Oh yeah!"
----
Ames White glared at Lydecker as they both stood in front of the ruined signal box.
They stared at each other in silence as if daring the other to be the first to break the stalemate.
Otto looked between them and then back up at the broken sign and back again. He sighed.
"Can I get someone to sweep up the mess?"
Two soldiers, eager to be out of the firing line hastily swept away to find a cleaning crew, leaving White and Lydecker still glaring at each other.
"So," White said with a faux smile. "Any ideas how this happened?"
"Malfunction?" Lydecker replied dryly.
White twitched. "A gun malfunctioned? Or the signaller shot itself?"
"Perhaps it had been depressed."
Otto choked on a laugh keeping away from White's furious gaze.
"I hardly think this is the time for levity. Someone came in here, dismantled the signaller and crept out again… all without being seen. It doesn't take a genius to see that it must have been one of your 'kids'."
"Clever aren't they?" was Lydecker's response.
Otto backed away as his boss went red.
"Clever?" White hissed. "Those… monsters destroyed our beacon."
Lydecker shrugged, "We'd established that it wasn't working anyway."
White took a calming breath and tried to emulate Lydecker's placid manner. "Fine."
Lydecker's lips twitched as he turned, "How are things going with our contact?"
"My contact, Cyril," White said smoothly, "has set up his little experiments and says that phase one should be set for Thursday."
Lydecker gave him a look "Is that another three step program?"
It was White's turn to smirk. "You'd know all about those kind of programs, wouldn't you, sir?"
Lydecker stiffened and White thanked his contacts for giving him the file on Lydecker. So, they thought that they could foist an alcoholic misfit on him did they? Not a chance.
He grinned at the furious Lydecker and turned back to the destroyed tower. "It's a good thing that one of us, at least, has some idea of how to proceed."
"You honestly think that Cyril's plans will take care of everything?"
"It's a start," White snapped. "Once we are able to target a pathogen to… locate your X's and render them unconscious for long enough for us to retrieve them—"
"This pathogen, you are sure that it only targets and renders them unconscious. It doesn't harm them in any way."
"They won't feel a thing," White turned his back and smirked. "Trust me."
----
Max smiled sweetly as the man handed her a bill and thanked her for the package.
"Thanks for using Jam Pony!" she trilled as he shut the door and the smile faded off her face. She massaged her aching face. "Damn who knew being nice was so exhausting!"
Max walked out of the building and flopped down on the steps looking up at the mid-day sun.
It was so damn hot and she was tired, physically, emotionally and mentally. She had been looking for her unit, her family for about a month and nothing. Not a glimpse, not a sign—nada. She had told them to go to ground, and they had. So far underground that she despaired of ever finding them.
Max pulled off her baseball cap and sighed heavily.
She was tired, both physically and emotionally and all she wanted to do was to curl up into a ball in Alec's arms and sleep for a month.
Unfortunately, she knew that Alec wouldn't be there when she got home.
Like he hadn't been there the past three nights… the past week or so. And even when he was… he wasn't. It was like he was pouring all of his time and energy into fighting in the ring.
He told her that he was just trying to make enough money for them to be comfortable, but the truth was that maybe… just maybe he was bored with her already?
He said that he loved her, and they made love with as much passion as they had the first time but she couldn't help thinking that this was some guy thing.
O.C. had said to her once that once guys got what they wanted they lost all interest in having it.
Was that what had happened with Alec? Had he pursued her because she had been the one woman at Manticore that had said no? Did he want her because she was the unattainable '09er? Now that he had had her was there no longer enough challenge, had he tired of her; lost interest?
Or maybe even he had found some other girl—there were plenty of them hanging around the bar and fight club for him to chose from and she could attest that he was the best looking male there by a long shot and he was the prize fighter. Perhaps… perhaps… perhaps.
Max shook her head and brought her water bottle up to her lips for a long swallow.
Perhaps she was reading too much into this. It could be that Alec enjoyed what he did so much and to be honest, didn't he have reason to cut loose and chill out as much as she did?
Maybe even more so since…
Max shook herself again and stood up determined to stop these ridiculous sepulchral thoughts. Things would get better soon. They had to.
She put her drink in her bag and walked into the street, getting on her bike, still lost in thoughts about Alec.
As she turned the corner there was a sound of a car horn and screech of tires and before she knew what had happened she was sailing in the air. Training and instinct took over and she somersaulted in mid-air and landed on her feet with her arms in attack position. Her hair flipped over her shoulder as she scanned the gathering crowds.
A car door burst open and a tall dark haired man jumped out.
"Oh my God, are you okay?"
"Fine," she said quickly. "In…uh… Jujitsu they show us how to take a fall."
"Jujitsu?" he laughed. "With moves like that you could be a stunt-woman or in a circus."
"So you try to run me over and then insult me?"
He grinned, "Sorry, couldn't resist. I need to check you over." He reached for her and she darted back.
"I think not."
"It's okay I'm a Paramedic."
"Are not."
"Am too."
"Are not."
"Am too."
"Are too."
"Am no… damn, almost got me," he laughed out loud. "Well, you sound fine."
"Told you," Max smiled sweetly.
"I'm Rafer."
She wrinkled her nose, "That's a name?"
He nodded, "It's short for Raphael."
"I'm Max."
"Oh and that's better than Rafer? At least mine is gender specific."
"Bite me!" Max laughed. She liked this guy. He was cute but he was also funny and seemed sincere.
"Sorry I made you fall off your bike. Do you need a lift somewhere?"
Max shook her head, "I'm not too far from work."
"Where would that be?"
"Jam Pony… why?"
Rafer shrugged, "Curious."
Max eyed him oddly and then shrugged. "Well, I have to get back."
"It was nice running into you," he said straight faced and Max glared at him.
"Smart ass."
----
White tapped his fingers on the dashboard and glared out of the front windshield. His phone was being twirled in his fingers as he stared impassively.
He had been in company of Donald Lydecker for less than a month and already he was ready to commit murder… more murder.
The man was impossible and he was fast becoming fed up with his superior attitude. But that wasn't what was bothering him the most.
Cyril.
The man was unconventional and an oddball. His theory was sound and he was good at lateral thinking. In fact his idea was brilliant. What he actually proposed was a species specific weapon geared to a certain genome which would differentiate between ethnic groups.
In short, once deployed it could, potentially, wipe out a whole race from any area. It was inspired and the most useful thing to come out of Seattle in years.
There was no problem with the theory and the application seemed sound. The problem was that Cyril's research into the specific DNA strands that separated transgenics from humans could have potentially… embarrassing connotations for himself. Who's to say that that fool Sandeman didn't adapt the DNA of his fellows into these scum. That would mean that once the virus that Cyril manufactured was spread, it would be more than the transgenics who would collapse.
Embarrassment was not an option here.
The very fact that Lydecker knew about his meeting with the eccentric scientist left him more uneasy than he would ever own to.
He wasn't scared of the ex-alcoholic with his delusions of grandeur but it paid to be wary of someone who had that much governmental responsibility and clout behind him.
The very fact that he knew about Cyril meant that he was far more connected that White had first thought and the fact that he had let White know this meant that he was about as impressed with White as White was with him. In other words not much.
---
Alec crept into the room and silently shut the door behind him. He didn't want to wake Max up if she was already asleep.
He heard breathing coming from the sofa and edged over to see Max fast asleep with a book on her chest moving gently up and down with her breathing.
She looked so adorable just laying there and he snuck over to stare down at her waves of tenderness washing over him.
Her hair curled around her ears and her face was young and carefree, sweet and innocent. And totally devoid of the usual kick-ass persona that wrapped around her most times.
He knew that she was mad at him at the moment. She wanted so badly to find their unit-mates and spent most of her energy during the day out on her bike looking for them, bring back pittance from that 'job' that she had picked up.
He still didn't understand why she had gone in for that job at all. It wasn't like his didn't bring in enough money and he loved it when he came home to see her and she was actually there. Which was happening with less and less frequency recently.
Alec let his hand fall to her raven tresses and debated waking her to come to bed. A soft sigh escaped her lips and his mind was made up, he sank to his knees and kneeled in front of her just watching his girl sleep.
----
Special Thanks to those who have continued to review faithfully. You all mean so much. Thank you always.
Jade-K- Hi darling, they do have their reasons and things will et worse before they get better.
Natacup82- I do now, thanks. Hope you are okay too.
Sigma1- Oh good I was worried you were going to come after me with a burger… don't ask.
Btm452- Hey sweets.
Tina N Blair- I am glad because the reviews seem to be trailing off somewhat, I'm wondering if people are getting bored with this?
Ganko- Yeah Manticore has a lot to answer for. The drive me crazy!
Fangedangel- LOL, no she is not pregnant. Just annoyed.
Angel of Darkness231- As long as you keep reviewing.
HisVampira- Sorry but Malecy goodness is subject to disturbance at the moment. Normal Max/Alecy love will be resumed shortly.
Guest Type person- Families love to share don't they? Well bugs anyway! LOL, yes Max's Shark dna is biting them both on the ass.
Natasqi- No, not heat although I haven't forgotten that plot point. Her DNA is playing up. It will come out soon.
Lotamoxie- I can promise you that Max meets up with two of our xs in Chapter 8!!!
Caboodle- lazy is better than none!
Moonlite star- things pick up from here on out. So does the action!
Geminangel- Much better thanks and ready to write again.
Raven- Max is being pissy because of her Shark DNA and yes, she will sort it out soon. Alec's behaviour makes more sense to me here than it ever did in the show.
Ayaren- Hi! Glad you could join us on this, hope you like the next parts as well. Who is your fave character?
SGOU- Bless ya, my mom fractured her tailbone and doing anything was excruciating for about a month. You have my sympathy. Very good points about my angst—this is really low level and things always get worse before they get better. You know me! I think, like the show, Alec is enjoying the freedom he has and just wants to take it easy for a while before facing his responsibilities. Don't worry I'll kick his ass before long. His demons do have a few issues to sort out, don't they? I may have things covered but sometimes it does take people to point things out that I have missed. Which is why I love you guys!!
Shygirl1- Cheers pet.
Senorita-DLH- very important to the overall story but things pick up soon.
Lynn- 50670- Josh is off with Carrot having a blast!
NoAngel- I added more Alec in here just for you, hope you like it! I think that now Xmas is over people will be updating more.
Elfie- Slight wrong end of stick. Alec just isn't thinking just yet and NO RACHEL can I state that clear enough. That whole thing made me heave! Hug him all you want, he needs it right now, bless him! Someone else is set to sabotage Cyril but I won't spoil who!
Ronda TIW- I was so into Buffy that the quotes are almost part of my brain now and slip into whatever I am doing. Its crazy!
Erak- Hey there, I am so glad that you did discover this and have started to read (wow that's a lot to do- Left Behind, Moving Ahead/Moving Alongside, Surging Forwards/Pressing Onwards—I'm tired just thinking about it.) Well we meet some of the 09ers in PO soon and then they will gradually all make their way over here! Who is your fave character?