Hey all, many thanks to those who joined in the DA month and made it so much fun. The site is up at www. geocities. com / newworlweekly/ damonth for those who want to check it out (no spaces obviously) someone asked about the Da discussion group- also found at DAdiscussionboard at yahoo groups.
As for me. I have been writing this and Pressing Onwards, organizing Driving lessons, dealing with DAmonth, writing my first orginal book and reading Harry Potter and the "Oh my life he can't be the" Half-blood Prince. I would rant about it, but i choose to maintain dignified silence.
This is where Dek and Alec meet- mwah hah hah hah haha- enjoy! and thanks to those that reviewed- you rock.
With thanks to Itay- my beta and to Princess Incognito- you know why, pet.
Chapter 11- I've got your picture… he's got you.
Bearing in mind that Max was a super-human mix of kick-ass bitch and kung-fu warrior, it was a little unnerving for her to actually be inwardly cringing as she stepped up to the dilapidated warehouse that housed Aiden and Dek.
So used to being the one in charge who made others do her bidding or face her wrath, Max didn't like the feeling of not knowing what was coming next and this was one instance where pre-cognition would have been a handier skill than being able to open a can with a nail.
The basic fact of the matter was that she wasn't sure how Alec was going to react to the presence of Dek… and visa versa for that matter. Although they had appeared as friends once upon a time, it wasn't as if they weren't recognised rivals for her and Dek had always been the only one that Alec had felt threatened of.
With good reason, Max thought as she remembered the few kisses that she and Dek had shared recently.
Alec, for his part, was watching Max with something akin to amusement. It was the first time in memory that she has seemed unsure of herself in his presence and watching her twitch was something that would stay with him. She hadn't explained anything to him; all she had said was that she had someone that he should meet and then had instructed O.C. and Sketchy to tell Normal that his newest rider had torn a hamstring, or something, and would, hopefully, be back tomorrow.
Then she had dragged him out here to a converted warehouse on the outskirts of town and stood, almost dancing at the door in nervousness.
"Max?" he prompted as she just stared at the door.
She jumped a little, as if she had forgotten that he was there. "Right, door," she said blankly and stared at it.
Alec reached over and rapped twice with his knuckles. "It's called knocking, Maxie."
"Right." She frowned again and brought her hand up to her mouth, chewing on a thumb nail.
Alec stared at her, horrified. "Hey, Feen!" he snapped, "What did we say about waiting until lunch?"
"What?" Max stared down at her hand, before her mouth twitched into a smile. That was what they used to say to Feen who had had this awful habit of chewing on her fingernails until they were down to the bone. She had ignored their attempts to stop her until Pix had coated her hands with tobacco residue while she slept.
It had been three days before she spoke to Pix again, but at least she stopped the disgusting habit.
Max put her hand down and squared her shoulders. "Right."
"That's three 'right's," Alec pointed out, "Anyone would think that you were nervous for some reason."
Max swallowed and, for the first time, Alec felt more than a slight worry that whatever was behind the door was more than he could cope with.
When he had heard that Max was being courted by another he had been annoyed, but not particularly worried. After all, he was a transgenic, what could any guy offer that was more than what he had? He had super stamina, he had superior strength, he was great-looking, he had history with Max, he had her best interests at heart and knew all of her secrets…most of her secrets; what else could anyone else offer?
But the quieter Max got, the more that tiny little niggle of doubt that had blossomed in his chest when he had seen those flowers, grew bigger and began to make him uneasy.
"Max…who is it?"
Max just shrugged as they both heard footsteps coming towards the door from within.
Alec braced himself even as he reassured himself that no matter what, he could offer more to Max that any damn human could.
He had nothing to fear.
Nothing to fear.
The door swung open and familiar blue eyes stared at him coolly.
"Oh, it's you," Dek said crossing his arms.
Alec blinked. Oh, Shit.
>>
Certain human phrases Aiden had never understood at all; exactly what was a white elephant sale? Why would someone want a white elephant? How exactly would someone 'go for a Burton' and why would you pick bones with people? Needless to say he left 'in a pig's eye' and 'as queer as folk' well alone.
However the phrase 'you could cut the tension with a knife' was brought home to him quite literally as Dek walked back in the room followed by Max… and Alec.
His mouth had lifted in greeting for his favourite lady-transgenic, only to flee quickly at the mutinous look on Dek's face and the blind simmering fury on Alec's.
Alec stormed in so closely to Dek that, had he wished to, Aiden could have hit them both with a single blow. As it was, he was wondering the best way to extricate himself form this potentially hazardous situation with minimum of blood-shed… His own, of course.
Dek and Alec had brought this whole thing on themselves.
"Hey, Alec," he said as blasé as he could.
Alec's gaze swung to pin on whomever else was in the room and he relaxed marginally when he realised that it was Aiden lounging at a table, sipping coffee.
"Hey," he did a double take. "Hey, longer hair suits you, pal."
Aiden grinned and nervously fingered his hair which had grown in the few months that he had not seen Alec. It had taken him by surprise one morning when he had to tuck the dark locks behind his ear, but he did look better—even if he did say so himself.
"Thanks, Alec."
Silence.
"Sooo," Aiden drawled, "how are you?"
"Curious," Alec said not taking his eyes off a glowering Dek. "How long have you guys been in Seattle?"
Dek sat on a large wing-back chair and leaned back, throwing his booted feet over the arm of the chair. "Forever," he said arrogantly, lifting an eyebrow at Alec. "Wouldn't you say so, Aiden?"
Aiden looked from Alec to Dek and then over to Max who had discovered that her feet were far more fascinating than she had ever realised before.
"Sure," he tried, wincing at the strained sound of his own voice. "Since the fire anyway…and of course, Manticore is pretty much in Seattle so I guess since I arrived at Manticore from Atlanta years ago… It is five years, isn't it? Yeah, it has to be, I mean there was the call for Special Ops in 2016 and that was almost a year of tests, then, what four years of Special Ops training? I suppose you could say that I have spent 5 years in Seattle… It seems like forever, but then when things happen like this…" he trailed off as he realised that everyone was staring at him. "Shutting up now."
Max couldn't help the grin that spread over her face. "He has a point," she said. "I spent seven years in Wyoming after the '09ers escaped and then shifted over to Seattle, it's hitting on for six years now."
"Gee, Max," Dek teased. "I've known you for only six years?"
Max rolled her eyes. "Feels like a lifetime."
Alec watched this byplay with barely concealed irritation and, although he was loath to admit it, anxiety.
In all his years as Max's best friend the only one that he had ever been worried about as a potential rival, was Dek. Oh sure, Zan had given him a few moments worry way back at first but that that had soon petered out when he realised that Max would never see Zan as anything other than a big brother substitute. But Dek was a different matter.
He was arrogant, playful, seductive and enticing, as well as a dangerous bad-boy (Max's weakness). In fact, Dek was far too much like Alec for Alec to be comfortable with him around Max.
When the door had swung open to reveal the pout on Dek's face, the worry that, just maybe, he was in for more of a fight than he originally realised, exploded and he actually felt quite sick with trepidation.
He had been the best of the best, because he gave his all to be near Max. Dek had it in him to be just as good, if not better than Alec, after all it was in their genes—all he had lacked was motivation to push himself that extra mile.
Did he now have that motivation?
Would Alec literally have to fight for Max?
Dek watched as myriads of emotions crossed Alec's face and he hid a malicious grin. Whilst not evil by nature, he did have a wicked streak, especially when he knew that this arrogant ass had hurt Max; hurt her bad enough so that she was willing to find solace in Dek's arms. He knew that he would have to relinquish Max now that Alec was back in her life… That didn't mean that he had to make it easy for the man.
With a mischievous glint in his eye that made Aiden grimace, Dek motioned for Max to come over, which she did reluctantly, knowing that whatever was hatching in Dek's brain was unlikely to have great repercussions for her. Dek pulled her into his lap and smirked at the white cold fury that blazed in Alec's eyes.
Aiden surveyed the scene with almost agonising hesitation as the game was set, Dek had Max in his corner— for now— and Alec was stirring up righteous indignation over seeing his girl in someone else's possession.
Aiden wondered if he had enough time to maybe pull something cunning and head off the disaster that was bound to happen.
Maybe if he bound and gagged both Dek and Alec until Max could explain, he could prevent World War IV from staring in their living room.
Maybe it wasn't—
"So, Alec, staying long this time?"
—Too late.
Aiden and Max winced simultaneously.
Alec's eyes narrowed at the territorial way Dek pulled Max to him and the challenge in his voice.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Dek's mouth twisted into a parody of sincerity. "Oh dear, did the big bad wrestlers mangle your brain too? You used to be kinda smart."
"So did you," Alec countered. "Although I have to question that, since you seem to have developed a death wish." His eyes fell on Dek's hand on Max's waist.
Dek's hand tightened reflexively. "No," he said, "Not a death wish. I'm just better at keeping what I cherish close to me. Unlike some."
"Tea," Aiden said randomly and half stood. "I could make tea."
They spared him a glare.
"It always works for the English," he sighed as he sat back down.
Alec bit the inside of his cheek to stop the curses that threatened. Dek, however annoying, had a point. He hadn't held Max close and now was at the risk of losing her to this… this… pretty boy.
"So your game plan was always to lie in wait for what was never yours in the first place?"
Dek smirked. "Who said I had a plan? I just don't let opportunity pass me by. I'm not one to throw away gold."
"I didn't throw it away."
"Temporarily mislaid it?" Dek asked innocently and Max was suddenly overcome with the insane urge to giggle.
She had gravitated over to Dek's side because she knew that he was feeling mischievous and, to be honest, she had wanted to get back at Alec at least a little for what he had done in leaving her.
However, much she acknowledged that part of it was, indeed, her fault.
But the last thing she wanted was to be in the middle of an all out war, in which, she suspected, she had no real place anyway.
They might think that they were fighting about her, but she knew better. They were transgenic boys and they needed to roughhouse a little. A quick tumble and they'd be feeling better.
That sounded so wrong.
She got off Dek's lap and walked over to Aiden, sitting down and pulling his coffeepot over to fill a second cup.
"Oh, don't mind me." She waved. "Carry on."
Dek hid a grin at the dumbfounded look on Alec's face. Honestly, did he really think that he was any threat to Alec's relationship with Max?
Dek knew that Max belonged with Alec, just like he belonged with Drew… when he found her.
That wasn't saying that he didn't have feelings for Max, because he did. Max was so much like Drew that it had seemed a natural extension for him to reach for her when Drew wasn't available. The thing was that Max knew that; even without being told by Aiden, they both knew that this thing between them was more convenience than anything else. They were both also aware that should their other half return, they wouldn't hesitate to be with them.
That didn't mean that he couldn't mess with Alec a little.
Alec, for his part, wasn't far away from reaching inside Dek to check whether his old friend's heart was still beating.
Aiden smiled down at Max as she sipped his lukewarm coffee.
"Urgh!" she said and shuddered. "This tastes like the crap they gave us back at Manticore."
"I was craving the old fashioned comforts of home."
Max eyed him. "Would you like me to tie you up and beat you?"
Aiden pretended to consider it. "Maybe later."
"Uh, excuse me, serious fight here," Dek reminded them and Max grimaced.
"Sorry, I'll be quiet."
Dek wasn't able to stop the grin that spread across his face at her pretend penitence.
Alec looked between them, realising that there was something going on here that he wasn't completely aware of.
"Look, Dek," he said seriously, "thank you for taking care of Max while I was indisposed, but I think I can take over from here."
"Indisposed?" Dek grinned "Is that what they are calling it these days?"
"They used to call it sulking," Aiden added.
"Or pouting." Max ducked her head at Alec's incredulous glance.
"How about being an ass?" Dek challenged.
"Great, someone else you has a fixation with my ass!" Alec threw his hands up. "Why do I even bother?"
"I always wondered that," Dek said, "I mean any normal guy would just give up."
"I'm not normal," Alec said without thinking.
"I'll agree with that," Max said cheekily, leering at Alec.
"Me too," Aiden said and then paused, "Although probably not for the same reasons."
"Unless there was something going on between you and Dek that I didn't know about," Max raised an eyebrow in query.
"I must admit to feeling a stir every time I saw that apron," Dek admitted.
"Too much information, thank you," Max said in disgust. "There are some things that need to stay hidden."
"And some things that shouldn't," Alec brought in and the lighter atmosphere disappeared as if it had never been there. "What's going on between the two of you, Max, Dek?"
Max glanced over at them both and then stared directly at Alec. "Ask him."
"But not in here," Aiden said quickly, standing up. "I just cleaned in here and bloodstains are hell to get out. Go into the back."
Dek nodded and stood up too. "He has a point. Let's finish this conversation out back."
Max watched as Dek and Alec walked through the door and shut it carefully behind them. She turned to Aiden. "Tell me that this is a good idea."
"This is a great idea," he said confidently.
"Really?"
"No."
>>>>
Aiden and Dek had turned the back room into a training room of sorts. They knew that they had to stay in prime shape if they were to keep one step ahead of White and Manticore. Thankfully, the converted warehouse had plenty of space and the back room was a perfect place to fight and train.
Alec followed Dek into the room and watched warily as the blond shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned against the wall.
"So," Dek said arrogantly. "You wanted to talk?"
"What happened between you and Max?" he asked.
Dek shrugged. "Nothing that we both didn't want."
"Did you sleep with her?"
"Maybe," Dek hedged. They'd slept in the same bed but hadn't had sex, so technically yes he had slept with her; although he'd probably get ripped to pieces if he told Alec that.
Alec's eyes hardened as he regarded Dek. The man's face was no longer full of boyish mischief. He was deadly serious as he stared back at Alec and Alec felt something primal rise inside him.
"Maybe? Maybe you slept with her? If you're unsure then it couldn't have been that memorable. Maybe you don't have it in you to keep a woman like Max happy."
"But at least I've never made her cry." Dek refused to rise to the bait. He was well aware, almost painfully aware that this was a deadly situation that had to be navigated carefully if both of them were to get out unscathed.
Alec's jaw tightened. "I always wondered about you, Dek. It seemed that you could never keep your hands off what didn't belong to you."
"She isn't a possession," Dek stated, watching Alec' posture carefully as he began to tense.
"No… That doesn't make her any less mine."
"Maybe she'd have something to say about that."
"Would you listen?" Alec snapped. "Seems to me that you have some sort of mental block against women saying no."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Dek demanded.
"Drew," Alec said flatly, "where is she?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know or you don't care?"
"Too far, Alec. You go too far!" Dek roared as he pushed away from the wall. "Drew has nothing to do with this."
"Bullshit," Alec said succinctly as he circled Dek, "or have you decided out of sight out of mind?"
"You can blast your own problems up and down to hell and back, but keep your mouth shut about what doesn't concern you." Dek's hands shook.
"It does concern me," Alec said snidely. "After all, wasn't Drew supposed to be your one true love?"
Dek swung for Alec, snapping his hand out as it caught Alec's chin and, suddenly, the fight was on.
Alec staggered back from the punch and dodged the next swing by the skin of his teeth. The two men circled each other, knowing that they were well matched in speed and stamina but not wanting to give an inch.
"Max was supposed to be your one true love," Dek countered, "didn't stop you leaving her."
"I didn't leave," Alec said as he kicked Dek in the stomach. Dek buckled as the heel of Alec's boot caught his ribs.
He landed on his back on the floor with a puff of dirt to signal the less than hygienic state of the floor.
"I didn't know invisibility was one of your talents," Dek spat, "coz I never saw you around."
He kicked out at Alec and swiped him off his feet sending another cloud of dust and dirt to swirl in the air, almost masking his movements as he leaped to his feet stomping hard on Alec's chest.
Alec rolled quickly, feeling the ache on his sternum where Dek had landed his foot. He rubbed his chest as he stood to face his target.
"Or maybe, that's what you called tactical withdrawal?"
Alec snarled as his fist met with Dek's cheek, spilling blood from a split lip. Dek shook his head and responded with a fast blow to Alec's stomach, grinning evilly at the sound of a crack within his chest.
Alec gasped for breath wondering, stupidly for the first time, whether he and Dek really had any idea of what they were doing. Was this tension release or something more? If Dek punctured a lung would he care? If he snapped Dek's neck would he care?
There was something animalistic in the way that that they were fighting each other—each one wanting to do damage over their mate. Alec could almost feel his teeth elongating in the irresistible urge to grab Dek by the scruff of the neck with his teeth and shake him into submission.
His hands clawed and he snarled at Dek, hearing him do the same.
He lunged for him, but Dek took to the air, somersaulting over Alec's body until he landed behind him. A crack to the head had Dek spiralling to the floor where Alec grabbed his leg, forcing it back. Dek retaliated with the back of his elbow against Alec's knee in a move that had them both grunting in pain as two bones snapped in the otherwise quiet room.
The only sounds that rang in the room during the next few heated moments were snarls and growls and the sound of flesh on flesh as they fought brutally with each other.
Dek dropped to the floor and kicked out, dragging Alec down with him and pinning him before Alec could move.
The sight of his once-friend staring up at him with bloodshot eyes brought some sense back to Dek and he shook his head.
"Alec—"
Alec bucked up, throwing Dek off him.
"Let me ask you something, pretty boy," he glowered, clutching his ribs. "Why my Maxie? She was mine and you knew it."
"You walked away and she needed comfort."
"So, what was the deal with Drew, huh? Were you with her because she needed comfort or was it just because Mets had her, huh? Is that your great plan, you only want what you can't have and when you've had her, is that it? Game over? Then you move on to someone else's girl? Where is Drew now?"
Dek grabbed Alec by his collar and slammed him against the wall.
"Listen to me, you arrogant asshole, Max came to me. Maybe you're the one that can't satisfy her." Dek was on the attack now as he lashed out at Alec. "Maybe what you should be looking to, is why would she come to me if you were able to make her happy? I mean, shit, Alec. You had her. You actually had the girl of your dreams, she was here and she was with you. You had a slice of paradise in your hands and blew it. For what? A few minutes in a dirty ring with a bunch of wrestlers?" Dek yelled dropping Alec and backing away from the fight. "You know what, Monty Cora? You don't deserve her!"
"You—"Alec opened his mouth but Dek wasn't finished.
"Shut up! Goddammit, just shut up." He pointed at Alec. "You have no idea how lucky you are? Max made it out—with you! You didn't have to go back and search for her among the dead. You didn't break your hands moving rocks through the entire ruins of Manticore looking her for body!" His voice cracked. "You didn't lie awake all night wondering if she was alive, hoping that she was safe; yes, even if she was with Mets. I wouldn't care if she was screwing him in broad daylight twice a week, if she was alive! But you… you just didn't get that." Dek's voice lowered and took on a pained tone. "You held your love in your arms and knew that she was there. She was with you and you threw her away like she meant nothing! It's you that called 'game over'."
Alec was silent as he watched the heartbroken look on Dek's face as he wrestled with those emotions.
"Dek," he stopped, having no idea what to say next.
"What if she's dead, Alec?" Dek whispered. "What if she… she..." grabbing his hair, Dek sank to the floor and shook.
Alec dropped to his knees, cringing at the pain in his knee, and clutched Dek's shoulders. "Shh, Dek, Shh, we don't know…we'll find her, I promise."
Dek swore as fast and viciously as he knew how, trying to dispel some of his tension. Alec sat through the drawn out expletives, feeling almost proud as his friend said words that would have made a sailor blush.
When Dek had finally exhausted himself, they sat side by side, with Alec's arm around Dek's shoulder, his hand stroking his hair in rhythmic strokes.
"You know," Dek said conversationally. "If Max saw us like this, she might get ideas."
And suddenly it was as if the last few hours hadn't happened.
Alec threw back his head a laughed, only to stop when his chest ached and his lip spilt again, dribbling blood down his chin.
"Ow." He rubbed at his chest. "Broken ribs."
"Baby," Dek said and pulled away from Alec's arm, whimpering at the ache in his muscles.
"Wuss," Alec chuckled at the mutinous glare Dek gave him as he staggered to his feet. Alec followed suit and almost whined at the pain in his body. Alec took stock of their injuries as he limped to the door. His leg was possibly broken and he suspected he had one or two cracked ribs. His whole face felt like a puff-ball and he could feel one eye swelling shut even as he stood there. His lip was spilt and he knew that blood trickled from his nose. Dek had fared no better though, he favoured one leg and cradled his arm against his chest. One eye had already closed and blood ran in rivulets from various cuts on his face.
"Aiden better have the ice ready," Dek said as he took tiny steps towards the front room again.
"I'm beginning to wonder if there isn't something going on with you and Aiden," Alec joked, "he's like a maid and a wife rolled into one."
Dek gave him a look with his good eye. "I was only kidding about the apron thing."
"Yeah." Alec laughed and then stopped his hand on the handle "About the Max thing."
"Didn't touch her," Dek denied. "Sleeping occurred but nothing else."
"I knew that," Alec maintained and Dek laughed.
"Sure, pal." He slapped Alec's back taking delight in the moan of pain that bubbled forth from his lips.
>>>
Aiden sat in the kitchen refilling the bowl with ice cold water and folding more towels.
"You know," Max said conversationally as she bit into her apple. "I don't remember you ever being this practical."
"It's being around Dek," Aiden teased. "Someone has to be the grown up…on occasion."
"You got nominated?" Max grinned feeling more like herself than ever before.
"Of course," Aiden gave her a look. "Do you even remember life skills class with Dek? No way am I ever eating anything of his."
She laughed at that recalling the unforgettable aroma of Dek's rotted beef stew. That had possibly been one of the most memorable days in life skills class… except for the pregnancy one, of course.
"Okay, so how did you get to be all home ec-ified?"
"Ec-ified?" he questioned, his eyes glinting in humour.
"Too many teen shows," Max said with a shrug. "I had to do something when I couldn't sleep."
They were disturbed by the creaking of the back room door and it slowly swung open to reveal a battered Alec, and bruised Dek.
"Sheesh!" Max rolled her eyes. "I was hoping you'd stop before you killed each other."
"I'm alive, Maxie," Alec said as he sat on the seat next to her, "just damaged goods. Will you still love me?"
"That depends," Max eyed him. "How damaged?"
"I kicked ass," Dek said and gingerly sat by the sink. "Make me feel better," he asked Aiden pathetically.
Aiden grinned evilly. "Do I hafta?"
"No, you could leave him to suffer," Alec said brightly. "That would be fun."
"Play nice!" Max admonished. "Or I won't nurse you back to health either."
"Will you wear a nurse's outfit?" Dek's tone was hopeful.
"Hey." Alec's tone was less playful and full of warning. "Knock it off."
"Guys!" Max rolled her eyes and grabbed the towel off Aiden, rubbing at the blood on Alec's face. "Now that you have this out of your systems, can we start to plan what comes next?"
"Bed?" Dek suggested, ignoring the slight growling coming from Alec.
Aiden slapped him upsides the head and Dek cried out.
"Oops." Aiden looked apologetically to his hurt friend. "Sorry, pal." He leaned over to a tray and picked up a chocolate Brownie, still cooling, and handed it to a very forgiving Dek.
Max shook her head as Alec scrambled for a Brownie too. Honestly, she could have ended up with Drew, Sunny and Carrot—they would have been far more helpful. Hell, Steve and Pix would have been more use than this lot.
"Can we concentrate with coming up with a plan?"
"I was thinking!" Alec protested.
"You were talking," she corrected.
"I can do both."
"I doubt that."
"Well you just lost your tip," Alec pouted.
"Here's a tip," Dek said with his mouthful. "She was your CO, she's now your girlfriend and she can still kick your ass."
"Good tip," Aiden nodded sagely.
Max huffed, even as she was secretly pleased by their support.
"Hello! White?" She reminded them.
"Right."
Alec frowned as suddenly Aiden and Dek grew serious.
"White what?" he asked confused.
"Ames White," Dek said and then paused, glaring at Alec's look of ignorance. "Suspiciously more than human, less than transgenic guy who nearly whipped mine and Aiden's butts?"
"The guy that was with Lydecker the night that you freaked about the laser?" Alec seemed to recall Max mentioning something about him that night a few weeks ago, when she had come back from work late.
"The one and the same," Max nodded.
"Serious badass," Aiden agreed.
Alec flicked his gaze between them all. "Seriously?"
"Seriously," they chorused and Alec nodded, suddenly taking it seriously.
His eyes narrowed. "Tell me."
>>
The evening had well drawn into early morning when they had finished telling their respective stories and Alec had remained silent whilst his three friends filled him in on what he had missed during his extended stay in asshole-ville.
It could be equated to three short sentences.
Ames White was a very, very bad guy.
Lydecker was a very, very bad guy.
They were working together…which was very, very bad.
Simple. Effective.
Terrifying.
"So what do we do?" Alec asked once they had finished.
"I always like plan A!" Aiden said.
"Which is?" Max raised an eyebrow.
"Run."
"Huh," Alec considered that. "Is there a plan B?"
Aiden and Dek exchanged amused glances. "Not that you'd want to hear."
"Great, so we are plan-less?"
"No," Max glowered at him. "We are not plan-less."
"We have maps," volunteered Aiden brightly. "Big maps."
Dek rolled his eyes. "Why do I suddenly feel like the mature one."
"Renfro knows." Max rolled her eyes and stretched.
Aiden pouted, he thought that he had had a good plan. Maps were very useful and he and Dek had used them a lot. He realised that he was whining to himself. Maybe he was more tired than he realised.
He fetched the large grid maps of Seattle that he and Dek had managed to… borrow from the town hall and they all shifted in their seats to look over it, nodding at the bright colour coded dots that Dek and Aiden had placed over it.
Green dots for areas that could possibly house transgenics, blue for places where they had heard rumours, red for definite sightings and yellow stars for places that they hadn't searched yet.
"What's this place?" Alec pointed to a large area directly in the centre of Seattle marked with a few dozen green dots.
"Oh, someone mentioned that place to me. A dead zone in the middle of Seattle. Some toxic waste spill or something back in the day, only humans with nothing to lose go there because of the bio-toxins."
"But we're immune to the bio-toxins." Alec countered.
"We hope," Aiden scoffed, "Manticore messed up so many things, do you wanna chance that they may have made us immune to some violent strains of chemical warfare? Because, hey, I enjoy not bleeding out of my eye sockets, thank you very much."
"A dead zone?" Max looked thoughtful. "Why is that ringing a bell?"
Coco had sat with her head raised towards the light filtering in at the window, lost in her musings and ramblings. Max and Drew had grinned at each other as she spoke about her recent assignment.
"So, what did you talk about?"
"I asked him to tell me the major job of R.C.F. Environmental Cleanup Demolition & Disposal," Coco reminisced. "He told me that they are mostly a construction business specializing in demolition of scientific outlets and headquarters like decommissioned military bases, government facilities, anywhere there might be containment issues."
"Containment issues?" Max asked curiously.
"Yeah," Coco nodded. "Apparently there is this ghost town in mid-Seattle called Terminal City. It used to house Biological and Technical treatment and research centres, laboratories and that kind of thing. When the pulse hit, some of the facilities lost containment because the systems were computer generated. Some nasty stuff was exposed and they had to seal off the area in case of bio-hazardous waste. No one goes in there."
"Wow," Drew had mused, "Bet Renfro loved that!"
Max had snorted at that. "Yeah, let's hope she buys property there and catches the Black Death."
"Terminal City," Max leaned back thoughtfully. "No humans go there, no police interference, not hazardous to transgenics." She grinned. "Gentlemen, I think we have found our friends."
>>
The gates of Terminal City were as decrepit and abandoned as they had been forced to believe and Dek's nose crinkled in disgust.
"I don't know, some paint, a set of curtains, it'd be nice."
Max, Alec and Dek turned to look at Aiden as one in pure, unadulterated incredulity.
"What?" he said, trying to stop the smile from spreading over his face.
Alec leaned over to Dek. "Exactly what have you been feeding him?"
Dek grinned. "It wasn't me; I think the power of the apron went to his head."
"Ha ha," Aiden said icily. "When you've quite finished, don't we have friends to annoy?"
Max shook her head and edged around to the back of the fencing. "I can't see guards anywhere, nor can I see surveillance or security. Someone is doing a sloppy job."
"So, let's point it out." Alec motioned to a flat platform. "Let's see if we can make it inside without being seen."
"With that knee?" Aiden asked, bemusedly as Alec favoured the leg that Dek had broken. Dek whistled and looked away.
Alec leaned over and prodded Dek's snapped arm, eliciting a strangled hiss from the man.
"Me and Dek will take the front door." Alec stated with no little satisfaction. "You go in through the roof."
"Escape and evade?" Max grinned. "My favourite."
Max took a leap and landed in a crouch on the corrugated iron roof, motioning for Aiden to follow leaving Dek and Alec to edge around the side of the fence. Dek stared up at them as they flew over the rooftops.
"I was better at target practice," he sighed and followed Alec.
They sprang across rooftops and ducked under eaves; they prised open dusty slatted window blinds and crept through into rooms that were older than they were. They had seen shapes flitting through the shadows and had seen people, their people, walking around without fear.
"Haven for the damned," Dek whispered to Alec as a short man with elephant ears and a snout ambled by laughing with a monkey boy.
"Freak nation," Alec breathed and smiled.
Aiden had similar thoughts as turned to Max with a grin. "Asylum?"
Max shook her head, almost choked up at the thought. "Home."
Max had never thought that this could be. Here they were in a city almost tailor made for them. No humans around, no fear of someone knowing what you looked like, just acceptance.
She turned back and looked at Aiden whose eyes glistened with the same thing that hers did.
Pure joy.
They had silently made their way to the centre of the city, the hubbub of activity and Max saw the structure that was making its way through the citizens. The building was far better guarded than the rest of the city, despite its dilapidated state, and she could even see weaponry being used to fortify the place.
She could hear sounds of life from within the huge warehouse and knew, almost instinctively, that this must be central command. She nodded with something akin to admiration as she realised that whoever was in charge was starting from the centre inwards, something that she would have done had she been in their place.
With quick hand gestures she told her partner that she'd head up towards the roof and veer left, Alec and Dek would go through the ground level and Aiden would slink in via the balcony.
Max hurtled towards the roof at breakneck speed, sliding through the air and landing on the roof with feline grace. She managed to duck between two guards as they passed and they didn't even notice the faint creak as Max eased her way in through the roof tiles.
She dropped onto the dirty floor and grimaced at the state of the place. Obviously health and hygiene weren't high on the lists of things to do and they had lived in some truly disgusting conditions whilst on missions, but the cat part of her still hated the dirt and wanted nothing more than to give herself a bath.
She hid in the shadows at the back and watched the bustling activity below. A tall lizard-man, with what looked like a cigar hanging from his mouth, issued orders and generally intimidated people.
2IC, she thought in approval as she glanced around at the compliance to his orders. He may not have been the conventional choice but it seemed like people obeyed the lizard-man's words, which was what was wanted in a 2IC.
Max let her eyes wander over the crowds, taking in with precise detail everything that was going on in the hive. An albino male with icy blue eyes was poking something electrical whilst a trench-digger joked at his side. Another anomaly with a monocle was sitting at a console screen, surrounded by half functioning VCR materials and listening to an African transgenic wave her arms on abandon.
The lizard-man growled something intelligible at one of the workers and then turned to the balcony.
"Hey, Pixie, the boys asked if you wanna third rotation on the south western corner."
Pixie? Max looked up and her heart stopped as a familiar tousled head and mischievous eyes peered up over the balcony.
Pix.
"Dammit, Jay, thought you were head of security?"
The African girl turned around and scowled at him. "Hello, securing here!" She gestured to the screens. "Rome wasn't built in a day, oh illustrious leader."
Pix rolled her eyes even as Max gaped.
Pix, the leader?
Was it the janitor's day off?
When did the world go crazy and what was she doing when at the time?
Pix rolled his eyes in that familiar way and scratched the back of his head. "Manticore save me from flunkies," he sighed.
Max found herself grinning at the typical Pix gesture and felt the overwhelming urge to hug the little frown lines away from his face.
As Pix dispensed with the two workers that held clipboards and turned his attention to the latest problem, Max re-evaluated the situation.
He had always managed to make her feel better, and he seemed to shepherd people without them actually realising that he was doing it.
Maybe she was underestimating Pix; he had made it into Special Ops, hadn't he?
"Yes," he was saying, "it's great that you enjoy valuable TV time, I'm just saying that if you got your rotations in the correct order, then you wouldn't have to watch them from the screens. Basic security detail 101, people."
Max decided it was time to step out of the shadows.
"And here I thought you slept through basic training."
Grey Daze's Nirvana- I'm glad that my reasons have been accepted- Phew! My comp is a pain in the…. Renfro.
Ronda TIW- LOL, oh c'mon, that was great! Dek/Max… but no, would I do that to ya?
BlueJean452- No drama? Come on, this is me!
Iridescent Twilight- Cheers pet. I admit that I don't usually like OC with a standard issue character, but I had to do something to get Alec's ass in gear. Glad you found me!
Keekee- Sorry to keep you waiting so long.
Starrlight1- Yes it would, I admit that. The thing is she was feeling a tad guilty for having illicit smoochies! More reunions in the next chapter- I cant wait!
Tiggi- A Max/Dek standalone? Isn't it a bit pretentious to write a fic about your fic? I would love someone else to give it a go though! Alec's rage here expounded!
Chaosti- OMG, you weren't kidding, were you? The longest review I have ever had…I think. I agree with the fact that having Dek show up did wonders for her, both physically and emotionally. She needed someone that she had been close to in order to help herself back. The only person who would have been better for her would have been Pix. Yup the shark thing is true. Do research for my fics and have amassed a crazy amount of knowledge about guns that I will probably never need…I hope. Party at TC in chapter 16 Everyone invited. Deck is busy with White… in a non-slashy way. Does the flamethrower really date that far back? Wow. BTW tranny bear? Rain, thunderstorms? All of the above- enjoy!
Erak- LOL, either I'm very persuasive, or your fickle…I like to think the first one! Its great that you feel like you are watching the show again, huge compliment there.
Messymissy- how do I come up with twists and turns? Cheese before bedtime…no, actually they just seem to happen and I have no control whatsoever. Aiden's gonna be with… OH like I'm going to tell you! But it is someone we have met already (hinthint)
Caboodle- ah bless ya, more soon honest. I was just reading HP and had to take a reality break.
Nevanroy- Ah, I don't think Drew has room to throw stones anymore.
Gamegirl452- it was wrong, but needed and they have all come out, more or less intact. I would have thought girls are too intelligent to write virus' but you're right.
Kiwifruit03- he was atd mushy wasn't he? Blame it on his visit to Manticore.
BlackRose9- cheers pet, more soon.
NoAngell- Well you may have told me but I never tire of hearing it. feel free to tell me often.
Kristibella- eek! I remember a-levels, evil things, that they give you no warning and no preparation- good luck sweetheart.
Lynn-50670- Ah thanks pet, glad that you still like it!
Geminangel- Hehe Dek and Alec together- seems scary!
Toniboo- Sorry to keep you waiting so long, best on the site? You flatterer you! Big hugs.
L80bug- Alec is more like himself again, which is always cool. He has been jealous of Dek- with good reason here.
Pixie Wildfire- adore your name btw. And yes there are punches a plenty.
Ellenemi- Thank me, I write better- although I should say to thank god for my talent (especially if you stand under a tree in a thunderstorm- always good to be respectful of the big guy upstairs). The Molemaid inspired me to all sorts of things…some you wont want to know of. Regency Dark Angel! third on my list of fics to finish- Left Behind, Coming to terms, DA version of Pride and Prejudice. Alec as Mr Darcy!
Sigma1- Good, bodily harm tends to put one off writing. Yay I made things make sense between Alec and Max again, that was work and a half! Drew to appear…hummmmm, I'll think on it.
Jynx- LOL, against the religion of Dek/Drew possibly. Hm, these reviews were religious this time, I counted three alluding to God- odd that.
Elle6778- Who was sending flowers to Max? Good question- any thoughts. Why on earth would Dek send them? Yay I was believable! Kudos and cookies for me.
Suenooneus- more updates babe, enjoy this dek-alecy goodness!
Ev- Hehe, not a few chapters- nowish! See you must have a crystal ball too! Feel free to kiss ass, makes me fell better.
Athena80- Alec can be sweet when he isn't being an ass.
Aku-neko- RAFLMAO- you almost knocked over the monitor- damn I have to use that! You'll have to work on Aiden quick as he gets a girlfie soon! I hope that locking them in the room together worked as well as I think it did.
Magickal one- Hey sweetness. Good luck on finals and I hope that they went well. Let me know how you did!
Honey00- more insight into Alec works for me, as well as answers a few questions that we needed to hear the answers to. I hope to get more OC nad Sketchy in again.
Lotamoxie- mean people suck ass through a crazy straw- as my friend would say- odd saying. Yup 5 more chapters until the merge so I have a hell of a lot to do- Proposals, propositions and paranoia (guess who does what!) better get to it.
Loisen- Thank you again for those wonderful pictures for the DA month- loved them! They are up on the site. Glad that you like so much. More soon.
Silk- Hey pet, glad to see ya. I think Aiden's partner will be out of the common way and so will be a bit less predictable than others who have paired up. I'm not planning to pair them all up so you can dream to your hearts content. I took your words to heart and in the next chapter; we have a Max diatribe with her accepting her own blame. Thanks for pointing that out, it never actually occurred to me- I must be more of a feminist than I realised!
Raven- Being evil is fun… in small doses. Hope the fight scene lived up to it.
Electricgurl- I wouldn't disappoint with Alec, I do love the guy! He did need a scene to himself methinks. My sister touches my computer only to write her own fic. I wish she'd damn well delete some of her pics off it cluttering up my hard drive mutters
Sweettweety06- I have a list of people who want Aiden as their boy-toy. I'll put you on it but, like I said, he has one on its way.
Moonlite Star- Oh I love cliffhangers- you know me! I didn't mean to make you wait so long- honest.
Sarah- they did make such a sweet couple didn't they? Sure, the website is under DAdiscussionboard in yahoo groups. Love for you to join! http/groups. Superb? Ahh bless ya. I'd agree with whoever said that it took a while to get into this time around, but I do think that each chapter is getting better. At least I hope so.
XxinsanityXx- Glad you liked it, Dek and Alec- mwah hah hah.
V- Glad to hear from you and thanks for sticking with the story for so long! You ship Dek/Zan more? That is a compliment. Thank you so much.
Feenian- You may always say it but imagine how I'd feel if you stopped saying it! Do you want to volunteer for either Dek/or ben?
Portkey00- Wow, in three days? Being obsessive is fun, have you read the companion stories yet? You'll like them, honest! Nice tag btw- have you read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood prince yet?
Crimson Reality- Cheers pet, glad you love it so much.
Chicita- LOL, did you want me to update by any chance?
aa- Many thanks, pet. Hope you enjoyed this as well.
Elfie- Deep into Alec's psyche is where I want to be… or is that his pants? One way or the other I guess. Glad that Alec' reasoning's worked out so well, I was worried that it wouldn't make sense but everyone seems to be satisfied with it. so that's good.
X5-454- Hey, thanks for joining us. Begs the question- do we like Deck or White more?
Fangedangel- sorry you got lost, I hope things are clearer now. Alec want master- not like Manticore, Like Max, Max as master. LOL. Oh my brain hurts! I wont lose my flamethrower, it's a part of the family now.
SGOU- hey pet, missed you. Did you have a good vacation/holiday./outing whatever? Loved to see what you loved, even if I did miss the usual essay (pouts at nasty I don't have a dog and I make my brother do the dishes- isn't that what brothers are for?
Havok- Why don't my transgenics shave? Oh that's because…. They have this innate fear of holding a razor near their throat…sort of a defence mechanism… yeah okay sags I don't know. mutters about smartass readers
Ladybug- Aiden needs someone to love him and hug him…other than me, obviously. Clever girl, No Dek didn't send the flowers.
Amelya- Hey pet, They scattered because she told them to go to ground. Those who didn't stay in Seattle had their reasons but mostly because they were so intent on not being caught. Once they regain equilibrium they do navigate back to Seattle- as in the case of Dek, Pix etc.
JG- I adore you for reviewing- so that equals out then.
Guesttype person- something against Dek…hmmmm. Lost in my own world there.
MOU- Ah, bless ya. They'll start trickling back in dribs and drabs, well see more in the next few chapters and in chapter 16 when the two stories come together it'll be clear. I did ask if anyone wants sneak previews and was overruled!
Lyndsay- My ability to rule? Oh I like that! Cheers pet, glad to see you again.
Kim- hard to please but worth it obviously! Dek'll undersatdn, especially when Drew comes back.
L80 bug- way overdue for an update- sorry!
X5-454- you asked, I answered, I hope that answers your question. Mwah!