a/n- Hey all, Just spent a very cold weekend in Wales with my friends in a place called "Little Wedlock". It was nice. But I spent the whole weekend being followed around by a 5foot9 puppy dog who wouldn't leave me alone. Now I'm slightly more than annoyed at the whole male species and the male characters of chapter 15 will suffer.
I'm not sorry.
Don't forget the Manip Artchallenge for the last chapter. I've had no entries for the final piece of artwork. C'mon guys help out here.
Chapter 14 Reconnection, reunion and release
Alec was rudely awakened from his rather nice dream by someone poking him in the ribs with a sharp implement.
"Go away," he muttered and tried to roll over, only to be stopped by the arm of his chair.
Wait… Chair?
Alec opened one eye to see the amused look on Max's face.
"Gee, I hope we weren't boring you?"
Alec sat up quickly, ignoring the amused look on the faces of the others involved in their impromptu meeting scattered around the circular table in the lecture room of command centre.
"Ahem, not at all, I was just thinking on the ramifications… of the information that you…" he sighed resignedly. "Just tell me I didn't drool?"
"Only a little," Max teased.
"I thought it was fetching," Dek grinned and Feen stifled a giggle as she settled back in Techie's arms.
"Jerk." Alec sat up and gave a look of innocence. "So what did I miss?"
"We were just discussing the little bombshell that Sandeman dropped on our collective asses," Pix said and everyone was shocked to hear the anger in his usually pleasant tone.
Pix folded his arms over his chest as he had allowed the news, that he was by-product of an insane cult-dealing mad scientist with delusions of grandeur, to sink in.
Needless to say, he was feeling somewhat bitter about it; especially when you factored in all of the suffering that he had undergone whilst at Wyoming… and for what?
Not the good of mankind; not even the good of humans in general. He wasn't there to protect and serve. No, he had been a genetic mistake, engineered specifically to the mad whims of Mr. Sandeman who appeared to all intents and purposes to be a few catalysts short of a chemical reaction.
It was enough to make even the hardiest of soldiers question their place in space, time and in the universe.
To Pix, it just pissed him off.
Chance reached over and patted his hand, getting a random smile in return for her efforts.
"Sooo," Gem said casting odd looks at Pix. "What do we do with this information?"
"We," Max indicated her and Carrot, "maybe have stumbled onto White's plan in all of this. Carrot?"
"Sure," he took over. "If White is one of these cult members, that could explain his heightened strength, heightened intellect, heightened senses."
"Years of selective inbreeding," Dek nodded, "Makes sense."
"And is fun for all the family," Mole spat, rolling his cigar in his scaly fingers.
Carrot nodded and continued. "It also explains his hatred for transgenics. He sees us as a deviancy from the norm… his norm, anyway. That'll work to his advantage in the event of exposure—our exposure."
Everyone sat up. "What?"
"Think about it," Max jumped in, sitting on the corner of the table. "What would be more abhorrent to people than polluting their DNA with animals? Human history has shown a plethora of prejudice against race, social class, religion, colour- DNA is just one more step. Why expend time and energy on hunting us down, when with exposure he can have all humans turn on us?"
"Instant mob," Dek said shaking his ahead.
"Just add the media and turn to a slow genocide." Alec shuddered.
"I repeat," Gem said slowly. "What do we do?"
"I'm open to suggestion," Max said with a bright smile letting them know that she was currently clueless and less than happy about it.
Both Dek and Alec leered at her words and Max rolled her eyes. "Not that kind of suggestion. You guys are sick."
Dek and Alec grinned at each other, glad that they could find humour in the situation, however inappropriate.
Max looked up as Tara slowly raised a hand. "Yeah?"
"I have a suggestion, but it's not one that you are going to like."
"Anything is better than what we have now," Max shrugged.
"In my recent employment as a PR consultant, I ascertained that one of the biggest aids in any situation is positive publicity. Even the hardiest drug addict and child-killer can be exonerated through the press detailing his tortured childhood and penchant for darning quilts."
Carrot smiled as his girl started in on her eloquent speech. Tara had always been smarter than most in her unit and when they started to take lessons she had excelled in surgery and the medical profession to such an extent that she was taken away from her unit and utilised in the field from about the age of ten. As a result of this early separation she had never really learnt to socialise or interact with others and had, at first, found Unit 8 and Special Ops to be frightening in their intensity and she had tried so hard to fit in and moderate her speech for them so that she didn't seem to be talking above them all of the time.
Thankfully, once the others had realised this they had told her that she could speak any damn way she wanted and she had returned to her eloquent and poetic form of speaking.
It had the added effect of driving Carrot's hormones into a frenzy, but he was such a gentleman that he didn't like to mention that… at least not in company.
"As loathe as I am to admit it, our best bet if White does try to besmirch us in the press is to have an advocate that the people trust and accept to put in a good word for us."
Carrot realised where she was going and slumped in his chair groaned. "Oh, shit."
"Colour me confused." Luke looked at them oddly.
"We have a well respected member of the free media, knows all about us, knows where, when, how and, to a certain extent, who we are. Why not use him?"
"Eyes Only," Max spat.
Mole kicked out at the chair. "Figures."
"He may be something of a jerk," Tara continued. "But he does 'do-good' for the general populace. He has their respect and I think he could be instrumental in our assistance."
"Despite our personal preferences, the guy has a wicked rep," Jay said quietly. "We could do worse."
"We could die," Luke filled in the silence.
"Why would he help us?" Alec asked.
"Why not?" Dek rubbed his forehead, feeling migraine coming on. "If he really stands for the helpless then he'll lap it up as being the voice of the transgenics. And we can give him what no one else can."
"A terminal case of irritation?" Pix gave a ghost of his usual smile,
"An army." They all looked at Carrot. "What he's wanted since we met him, someone to do his leg work."
"Cuz his don't work." Alec smirked.
Techie looked askance at him. "You do realise that its bad karma to disparage the differently-abled?"
"Yeah, so?"
"I'm going to hell for just knowing you."
"I realise that most of us have the attention span of a goldfish, but can we please concentrate on coming up with a plan?" Max asked snidely.
"We need emissaries to talk to Logan," Tara pointed out. "Probably me and one other…not Alec; since he seems to be incapable of not pushing him around."
"How about me and you," Max said. "We can play good cop, bad cop."
"Or sweet cop, psycho cop," Dek said with a huge grin.
Max frowned at him. "Whatever works." She sighed. "All right me and Tara will go to see Eyes Only. Pix?"
"Sure, we have to set up security detail and relief for Aiden. Housing rotas are in and supplies lists. Maybe you could ask Logan if he has some black-market contacts that we could use."
"Munitions supply," called Mole as Max and Tara got up to leave.
"Extra set of wheels," added Alec
Max slapped him upsides the head before she left.
>>>>
Logan Cale's apartment was just as it had been for many years and it was just the way that he liked it. It was well furnished with luxurious paraphernalia without being ostentatious and flashy. Logan did not flaunt the fact that he was wealthy, but neither did he hide it.
He simply bought what he liked and what he needed, regardless of cost, and that was something that Max could respect him for.
As she sat in his lounge staring enviously at the figurine of the goddess Bast and sipping hot chocolate she wondered what she would have thought of him had she met him before finding out that he had been instrumental in the death of her brother Seth.
Perhaps admiration, respect… bafflement. It looked like she would never find out and she knew that she would always feel on edge around him, her hands would itch to wrap around his neck and her feet would ache to kick him.
She sat by Tara on the leather sofa and tried not to look like she would rather murder him and wear his rib cage as a hat than share a plate of biscuits.
Logan seemed to sense the burgeoning hostility and watched her from the corner of his eye.
"So, Tara, what brings you back here again?"
"The thing is, Logan, that despite our manifold talents, what we don't possess is the ear to the public."
That caught his attention. "Beg pardon?"
"You sent Carrot on many missions for you and I'm sure that you often wondered who it was that set fire to Manticore to try to kill us."
A pause. "Ye-es."
"And who, indeed, was behind trying to recapture us and slaughter us by the boatful."
Logan cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "Sure, I wondered that."
"Any ideas?" growled Max knowing full well that he was hiding something.
Logan looked down avoiding her eyes. "Well, Eyes Only has uncovered something of a governmental agenda."
Max blinked. That was unexpected. She had assumed that Eyes Only couldn't find his own ass with a roadmap. "Say what?"
"Manticore was actually not as well hidden as they like to believe, I mean how could it have been when billions of tax dollars had to be diverted for it to be funded? That amount of money raises flags in some quarters.
"My sources tell me that it was supported and funded by monies diverted from several arenas of public health and safety and also private investors within the US; not to mention the large dividend from the Defence budget."
"Why not," Max scoffed and sat back feeling slightly more charitable to him now that he proved he at least had half a brain.
Whether he used it was another matter.
Tara nodded. "So with the aim to make the perfect super soldier, unaware of Sandeman's other agenda, they financed the project?"
"Sandeman?" Logan perked up. "Who's he?"
Max exchanged glances with Tara and then turned back to Logan. "He's unimportant at this point. Carry on."
Logan realised that to get something, he had to give something. "From what I can gather, the technology that went into creating you was so advanced that it had to be shielded from other, less savoury countries."
"Right!" Max mocked. "Because the US of A isn't twisted enough on its own, it has to stop other mini-twisted powers from creating a human- animal hybrid to fight its wars."
"At least their psychotic tendencies are patriotic," Tara offered. Max smiled softy at that.
"Well, they picked a committee and they oversaw the secrecy of the project," Logan continued, sipping on his coffee. "After the escape of '09 the committee leaders, spearheaded by the D.O.D's own leader, Colonel Michael Hamersley, tried to scrap the whole project, for fear that the American public would balk at the huge financial and moral ethics that surrounded the training and preparation of the soldiers."
"But there was no exposure at that point," Max pointed out. "And despite the crappy attitudes of the Trainers on the escape and those who didn't quite manage it," she rolled her eyes ironically, "they didn't shut us down."
"Someone interceded on your behalf."
"Who?" Max was on the edge of her seat.
"A Colonel Donald Lydecker."
"Huh," Max sat back again. "Son of a bitch."
Logan watched her closely as she thought that out. She got up and walked over to his large penthouse windows watching the masses below go about their lives like busy little ants.
"The pulse was actually a blessing for the committee. People no longer cared about governmental expenditure and they'd be heavily in favour of anything that could protect them whilst America was vulnerable to attack. Now things are back on track people are starting to take an interest again."
Too little, too late.
Max stared down at the bustling streets and the market place with its furious denizens battling over a fresh loaf of bread. She watched as the queue for petrol grew as long as the black and people bartered for batteries. "You think things are picking up?"
"People used to be gunned down on the street for their boots," Logan pointed out. "I'd say things have improved. Things are still corrupt but at least civilisation is making a comeback."
"With the thugs and bully-boys in command," Tara added.
"Not for long if Eyes Only has any say in it," Logan maintained earnestly. "This is what I do. People have a right not to walk the streets in fear and not to have to pay for the privilege. They were so scared after the pulse they handed the reins over to the corrupt in hopes that things would be better, they are paying for that but some of us want to take back control."
"You?"
"It's a start."
Max shook her head in cynical amusement. "An idealist with a computer and unlimited funds. Do the good people of Gotham know that their Batman works out of a penthouse?"
Logan smiled. "I prefer Spiderman."
"Got the angst down pat," she countered glancing down at his legs. "But no climbing buildings for you."
"That's where you come in." Logan stared her down ignoring the slight on his disability. "You came to me for something more than a history lesson of your project."
"You're not as dumb as you look."
Logan smiled.
"Of course, you look like retard."
His smile fell and he had enough. "That was below the belt, Max. I am offering to help out here and I would at least appreciate it if you dropped the insults. I'm not your punch bag."
Max stared at him but he sat up straighter and she felt a trickle of respect that he didn't back down.
"I tell you what," she said. "You don't get us killed and I'll stop insulting you. Deal?"
"That's fair," he agreed.
She turned back to the topic at hand. "Do you think that the committee is the one who ordered Manticore burnt?"
"Possibly," he hedged.
"You lie like you dress—badly," she winced. "Sorry, that slipped out."
"What I think has no bearing here," Logan pointed out acknowledging her apology with a smile. "I want to know why you are here specifically."
Max eyed him carefully, not trusting him at all and Tara was the one to take over.
"Logan, we are being hunted. You yourself pointed out the signal to me and Carrot, the light show in the sky. You knew that shots were fired on the bridge and someone has been looking for bar-code gangs. We know who that someone is and we think that he is going to try exposing us to public censure and attack. What we need is PR from Eyes Only."
Logan pursed his lips. "Positive publicity from a trusted non-political figure?"
"People respect Eyes Only. I've worked with humans long enough to see how they react when your name is mentioned. They see you as doing good by ridding them of the corrupt. You do good, Logan."
Logan smiled at her and Max felt a breath of relief that Tara knew ways to smooth things over and even use Logan's ego to their best advantage.
"Look at it this way," Max said cynically. "You like to help the underdog, the one who can't help himself? Well, transgenics are gonna need your help. Think of all the humanitarian brownie points this will get you."
Tara sighed. Max obviously wasn't aware when to leave well enough alone, she seemed incapable of restraining the hostility when talking to Logan.
"Max!" she cautioned and Max shut up.
"We would appreciate your help, Logan."
He nodded quietly, thinking about this. "I'm not as heartless as you think, Max," he said. "I'll help. After the… I can start to turn the tide before exposure by discrediting the one who starts it if you want? Who is the guy that's after you?"
With a half smile Tara told him all about Ames White and his attempts to get at them, she even gave him selected details about the cult that they had uncovered and saw Logan's eyes gleam with the knowledge of a new story and possible scandal that he could help discredit and destabilize.
"You do realise that once word of transgenics gets out properly you will be the story of the season and not everyone will be swayed by my reports."
"We get that," Tara said quickly before Max could make one of her scathing comments. "We appreciate any help that you can give us."
"In return…" he hesitated and glanced at Max.
"In return," she said coolly, "if you require…help with one of your Eyes Only missions we might come to some arrangement."
His eyes lit up. "Really?"
Max turned to go. "Just make us look good, okay?"
"Give me a number where I can reach you."
Tara scribbled down her cell number as Max reached the door.
Logan watched them both leave wondering why Max was so annoyed with him; surely her boyfriend had told her who was responsible for opening Manticore. After all Ben and Alec was the same person.
Wasn't he?
>>>>
Tara kept glancing at Max out of the corner of her eye, curious as to the unbridled hostility Max exhibited when with Logan even after they agreed to a cessation of hostilities.
She remembered that Max had issues with Logan back when she rescued Tara on her mission but she had never got down to the basics as to what her concerns were.
"Are you okay, Max?"
Max was silent for a while and Tara thought that she wasn't going to answer. "I was brought up to think that indiscriminate violence was just a waste of resources. I try to tell myself that extracting Logan's spine and wrapping it around his neck would be a waste of time and energy, but I can't seem to care." She smiled ruefully. "I hate him."
"Why?"
"Because I had… someone told me that he was the reason for one of my siblings' deaths and I can't forgive or forget that."
"Did you ascertain if it was true?" Tara's voice was quiet and sincere and made Max think deeply.
"N-o," she sighed. "I trusted who it was that told me the information; trusted him in that he had no reason to lie to me on that."
"Who?"
"Lydecker," Max laughed at her own naivety. "I realise that that is tantamount to trusting the devil but I saw no reason for him to fabricate that. Seth had been in the employ of Eyes Only, he died, it was as simple as that."
They reached the street and Tara had to move quickly to avoid being jostled by the crowds. "Did you ask him?"
"Lydecker?"
"Logan."
"No, what's he gonna say? Yes, Max, I killed your brother. Sorry?"
Tara looked down. "I spent a lot of time with Mr. Cale and I can tell you Max that he may be a spoiled child, an idealist with unlimited funds and enough smarts to put it into practice but he isn't a murderer. If he had anything to do with the death of your brother it was incidental. Perhaps the Colonel had his own reasons for wanting you to distrust and dislike Mr. Cale."
Max hooked her thumbs into her jeans and swept her fringe out of her face. She trusted Tara's judgement and her level headedness more than she trusted anyone else's and if Tara implied that Cale wasn't to blame for her brother's death then, he probably wasn't.
It grated.
"I want someone to blame," she confessed. "He's an easy target."
"The easy way isn't always the best way, or the right way." Tara smiled sadly. "Take it from someone who was in the field from age ten. Some times the hard way is the only way."
Max looked away into the store front of a nearby window.
It was an electronics store fronted by plasma screen TV's and mini Hi-Fi's proclaiming the latest in technological advances. Max almost smiled at the music video playing in Technicolor surround sound.
It reminded her of Alec and his attention deficit.
She was about to answer Tara, and explain why she was tired of taking the hard way, when the picture on the screens broke up to show KIPH 3 SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN blazoned across the screen. As the tile faded the scene showed an austere man dressed in a suit behind a news desk. He frowned into the camera, furrows on his handsome face.
"This is a Channel Three news break." The picture spun away from him to show a bald man, as tall as Mole, pick up a police officer and throw him into a building.
He spun to grab at another man, tossing him like he was as light as a feather; he didn't even have to gasp for breath. Another cop with a police issue baton went to grab him and the man spun on his heel clearly showing a black bar-code on the back of his neck.
Max grabbed Tara's hand as they stared at the show.
"A hoverdrone recorded this shocking footage. Authorities are refusing to comment on the nature of the assailant. But, as you can see for yourself, the attacker has what can only be described as superhuman strength."
"This is bad. This is so, so very bad," Max said she clutched Tara's sleeve.
"The subject, who was described by witnesses as a mutant, refused to comply with police officers on the scene. He is believed to have escaped from what is purported to be a covert government project known as Manticore."
Tara's breath escaped her body is a hiss of disbelief. "Oh, God!"
People around them were starting to stop and watch the show and as they called more people to come and watch Max began to feel uncomfortable. They closed in around her and she flicked up her collar and pushed her hair behind her ears.
"Authorities have denied all knowledge of Manticore, but so far no one has been able..."
"Max," Tara hissed as someone pressed impossibly close. "We need to get out of here."
Max shook her head, unable to believe what she was seeing.
"...obvious physical prowess. One of the officers was seriously injured before others opened fire. Some eyewitnesses claim that it took police six shots to bring down their attacker, but Channel Three can neither confirm nor deny..."
"They shot him," she said.
"Good," said someone by her side. "Damn freaks!"
"The papers were right!" someone else said and Max could practically feel the hostility ebbing from the crowd.
"Hey, I heard they had some sort of marker to tag them."
"Yeah, listen."
"Max," Tara tugged on her sleeve. "We have to get back—Now!"
"You can see it right there--the barcode. Unconfirmed reports suggest these tattoos were used to keep track of the various soldiers involved in the program. The mutant's body was rushed from the scene based on officials' concerns regarding a potential biohazard."
"Max—now!"
"It's started," Max whispered before slinking back into the crowds.
"Shit, what do we do, Max?" Tara hissed as they walked down the street.
"Get the hell out of here," Max hissed back, not watching where she was going.
Tara pulled her out of the way of someone hurrying to get to the crowd of people in front of the electronics store. The streets, which were cramped before, were now stifling to the point of claustrophobic and both Max and Tara wanted out. Now.
"We need to get back to TC, once the shit hits the fan we'll have an influx. We should recall Aiden and just set up a map at Man… home base." Max realised that it wasn't a good idea to start mentioning Manticore in public anymore. Not if they wanted to remain lynch-free.
"What was that mule doing fighting like that in public?" Tara asked. "It doesn't seem logical for any Man—alumni to go off like that."
"He was cornered," Max said crisply moving faster down the street as the level of noise increased. "Hell, the cops probably started it."
"Maybe so, but—" Tara stopped mid-word as she slammed straight into someone.
"Oof!" she said as her whole body collided with a body who felt like a brick house. She stumbled back and only two strong arms kept her from falling to the floor.
"Damn!" the other person muttered and pulled her back to her feet.
Max touched Tara's arm. "You all right?"
"Yeah," Tara rubbed her arm and looked at the man she was walked into. "Damn, you're heavy."
He pushed his blond fringe out of his face. "Sorry," he said with a frown. "Did I hurt you, ma'am?"
Tara shook her head and smiled at him, noting his vivid blue eyes and warm straw coloured hair. His chiselled jaw was tightly clenched as if he wanted nothing less than to talk to her and nothing more than to swat her out of the way.
"I'm good," she said quickly, something telling her that the last thing she wanted was to get on his wrong side. "Wasn't watching where I was going is all."
"Me too," he gave a ghost of a smile as he looked over her shoulder to where the crowds gathered. "What's going on?"
"How should we know?" Max said defensively, her emotions in tatters. "Probably a mega sale."
"Hardly," he returned coolly. "Weren't you at the window?"
Max looked at Tara who nodded carefully. "There was a news bulletin saying the cops had tried to arrest one of those tr-mutants that all the tabloids are talking about. The poor thing looked terrified."
"Mutants?" His gaze shot to the crowd.
"Probably a stitch job for publicity," Max said. "Or some poor kid with a disability. All we need now is public panic and hysteria over it, lends credence to a bunch of frat boy imaginations."
He settled his cool gaze on her. "Really?"
"Go see for yourself," Max gestured to the window not liking the way that he seemed to be measuring her up with his expression.
"I might at that. Ladies."
Max watched him walk away.
"Good spin," she said quietly. "It might not make any difference though."
"One questioning is a start," Tara said softly even though there was no way he could hear them from that far away, she pointed to the man as he walked away. "One questions and it can carry to doubts, each voice will count in this war, Max."
The man stopped dead in the middle of the street. He spun on his heel, gawking at them in shock.
"Max!"
Max started and stepped back, her eyes intent on him.
There was no way that he could have heard them form this distance. That meant he was either a transgenic or one of White's cronies. Tara felt, rather than saw, Max manoeuvre herself into a fighting pose.
"Depends on who wants to know." Her hands flexed, ready for a fight.
The blond walked slowly back, all the while staring at her.
"Close enough, pal," Max said as he got to within touching distance.
The side of his mouth quirked. "You don't recognise your big brother, Maxie?"
He touched her face with his forefinger and Max's mouth dropped open as those blue eyes pushed some memory loose, a memory of long ago, of warm hugs and teasing manners.
"Zack?" she breathed.
"Hey, baby girl."
Max threw her arms around his neck and held on for dear life.
"Zack," she whispered into his neck and taking in the scent of him that was so familiar and so comforting.
He pulled away and looked down into her eyes; his face broke into a huge grin. "Damn, Max, it's good to see you. We thought you were dead."
"Take more'n ice to keep me down," she said brushing her hair out of her face. "What are you doing here?"
"I was on my way to see Eyes Only."
"Logan?" Max blinked and even Zack looked taken aback.
"You know him?"
"We've just been there. Wait… he knows about you?" Her eyes narrowed. "He told us he had no contact."
Zack scoffed. "You expect roller-boy to be truthful?" He reached out and touched her hair, stroking it soothingly. "Didn't know you were so naïve."
Max rolled her eyes, secretly pleased that he was teasing her and feeling so comfortable with his touch, even if she hadn't seen him in so long. It felt the same as when she hugged Pix, like home.
"Hardly naïve, Zack, I'm a big girl now."
"You grew up well," he allowed and Max swelled at the praise.
"So why are you off to see his royal ass-ness?"
Zack shrugged. "I caught a broadcast yesterday and wanted to know who sent it, if it was a dud. Guess I know now."
Max smirked. "Your friendly neighbourhood trans-G."
"So if it was you, what's with the instant recall, Maxie?" he frowned pulling her to one side. "Having everyone in one place will compromise everyone's safety."
"Safety in numbers," Max maintained, somehow not used to having her orders questioned in this way. "Those we have together are family, Zack."
He shook his head. "They're soldiers... And so are you. The only person you can rely on, Max, is yourself. Everything else is just a lie. It's phoney sentimentality. And it will get you killed."
Max stared dumbfounded at her brother. "That's a lonely life, Zack. We may not be human," she said quietly, "but even most animals need to be sociable with those of their own kind. We need to stay together."
He shook his head. "If you stay in a group, you risk tactical exposure or have you forgotten everything that they taught us?"
It was Max's turn to shake her head. "No, but I'm trying real hard at it. You're still back at Manticore. Maybe I'm chasing a sentimental lie but at least I'm trying to get away from it. I was there for ten years longer than you, Zack. I understand the way the system worked and the mistakes that they made and tried to rectify later on."
Zack started. "Mistakes?"
"Heat? Seizures? Claws? Mating? All the things that they never planned for; never even imagined. I lived through that, Zack. We lived through that. Manticore changed a lot after you had gone and forced separation was one of those issues that they changed their minds over. Whilst ten of you were gone, scatter and stay low was a good idea, but now? There are hundreds of us out there maybe more, one of the facilities burnt down and we all made it out."
"I know," he said absently, trying to sort all this out in his head.
Max frowned. "How do you know?"
"Eyes Only," he hedged wanting her to continue but not wanting to spill the fact that he was responsible for the destruction of her home.
"There is not only safety, but power in numbers and with this exposure it's the only way."
"Exposure?"
Tara, forgotten until now, placed a hand on his shoulder. "We need to talk about this. But not out here, Max. We have to go back."
Max nodded. "Come on, Zack, come back with us. There are things that you have to know."
Zack hesitated. "Okay, just for a while."
Max smiled as she tucked her arm into her brother's. "Oh, by the way, this is Tara."
"Charmed," Zack smiled.
"Likewise," said Tara all the while wondering exactly what Alec was going to say about this new development.
>>>>
At that moment Alec wasn't even thinking of Max. He was far too busy sorting through some of the new arrivals that Aiden had sent his way. Twenty-nine groups of soldiers had entered Terminal City in the past hour and Pix had delegated Alec –as a natural born charmer— to greet them.
When Alec had protested that he wasn't a "people person", an overworked, stressed and irate Pix had yelled that he 'had better damn well start then!'
Alec had taken a step back and agreed simply to keep the peace.
The fact that he knew Pix still had his little black book helped not just a little.
He'd asked Feen to set up housing for the small group of kids that had arrived earlier, assigned two mules to security detail and sent a bunch of anomalies to the kitchen when he discovered that none of them had eaten in two weeks.
He had just finished paperwork on the girl who had come in alone when another group was ushered into the room by Chance.
"Hey, Alec. Here's some more."
Alec looked up to the group of children flanked by a tall dark-skinned transgenic.
"Hey, did you go by old M?" he asked by way of greeting and smiled at one of the smaller children who blushed and held even tighter to a small ragged bear that she had somehow gotten hold of.
"Yeah," answered the only adult. "Picked up the token from Aiden."
They had given Aiden a load of tokens snuck from one of the labs in the middle of Terminal City, inscribed with a specific symbol to allow those back at Terminal City to know that this was the genuine article. They had thought long and hard as to what the symbol could be. Something that was specific to the transgenics but something that not even the upper brass would know.
"Great," Alec nodded and held his hand out for the identifying token and inspected it when he handed it over. Alec grinned as he turned over the token to see a little black book etched into the back. "Looks fine. So, uh… what are your designations and names?"
"Uh, these are third and fourth gen X's, I'm X5-310."
"310?" Alec frowned and put his pen down. "Why is that familiar?"
"I was part of Unit 2," 310 said. "We had several classes together."
Alec clicked his fingers together as the face became familiar to him. "That's right, I remember you from life skills and Escape and Evade."
The man grinned, his white teeth showing against his dark skin. "Did you manage to escape with 45—Max, Alec?"
"Yeah," Alec smirked. "That was fun. What was your name again?"
"Harley," he said. "I escaped south of Seattle with this group until I heard the call."
Alec was about to answer when the door opened and Gem stood there with Cece, their arms full with blankets and boxes. It was funny to just be able to see their heads over the top of the items.
"Alec, we found these in one of the drawers, thought they might come in handy if some of the transgenics come in soaked or cold."
"Great idea," Alec said. "Come on in, this is Harley."
Gem walked in and smiled at the X-series. "Welcome to Terminal City."
None of them saw Cece freeze behind the door.
Harley took the blankets off Gem and she gave him a grateful smile, ignoring his wide eyes as he saw her obviously pregnant stomach for the first time. She leaned down to the children.
"Hey there, hope you all like it here."
"This is Gem," Alec introduced, glad that he could palm the kids off onto her. "And this is…"
Cece had vanished.
"…thin air," Alec finished vaguely, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Cece?" Gem called and peered out into the hallway.
Harley straightened, his eyes wide. "Cece? As in 202?"
"Yeah," Alec said suspiciously.
"Uh, where does she work?" Harley shifted from foot to foot uneasily.
"Usually in the kitchen," Gem said puzzled. "You know her?"
"Only in the biblical sense," he said under his breath and neither Alec nor Gem caught it.
"Well, you're gonna wanna settle in," Alec decided. "Gem can show you where block F is, rooms 8 through 12 are free."
"Great," Harley said, but his voice was distracted.
Alec watched them leave with the vague feeling that he was missing something there, but the thought was put out of his head totally when he heard shouts coming from central command.
He raced down to where people were gathered around one of the screens and watched in horror with the rest of his fellow transgenics as one of their own was captured on camera throwing a cop thirty feet.
"Shit!" he summed up succinctly and heard the murmur of assent around the room.
He exchanged glances with Pix as the rumble of voices escalated.
"Lockdown," he suggested and Pix nodded gathering himself.
"Listen to me!" Pix called authoritatively and the voices stopped as everyone turned to stare at him. "We are now officially in creek territory; as in up it without a paddle. This city is now on full security alert. There is no more time. We need every able man to sign up for security rotation and surveillance. No excuses and no sneaking out. Exposure is real and is happening now. Someone recall Aiden and tell him to leave the cryptic map."
"I'll do it," Dek offered and raced for the walkie talkie.
"Everyone else; I need a full search and scan, I want every hole in TC locked up tight. From sewer to rooftop, every vent shaft is to be inspected every mouse hole to be filled. Nothing goes in or out of this place that we don't know about."
Silence.
"Move!"
There was the sudden burst of sound and activity as they raced to do his bidding, not even the Spec Ops or Unit stopping to register the odd fact that it was Pix who had issued the order.
"Max is still outside," Alec reminded him quietly, handing him the clipboard he had somehow managed to hold onto through his mad dash to the centre.
Pix gave the arrivals list a cursory glance before handing it back to him absently. "She'll understand, I only hope she's managed to talk Eyes Only into being altruistic on our behalf."
"Shouldn't be too hard," Alec tried to reassure him. "From what I saw, any excuse to help the underdog is embraced like a cheap whore."
Pix blinked. "Delightful turn of phrase."
"Thanks."
"But not around the kids, okay?"
It was Alec's turn to blink. "Kids?" He turned to see Chance holding the hand of two newly arrived transgenics, her expression indicating that she, too, had heard his course language and wasn't impressed.
"More new arrivals, Alec."
Alec grinned sheepishly. "Thanks, Chance."
Pix's muffled laugh was heard behind him and he shot their new leader a glare as the two children followed him back up into the office.
Pix let his gaze rake possessively over Chance as she turned to pick up a sheaf of papers.
"I can feel that," she said sweetly.
"Wish I could," he countered with a leer. "How can you do that to me without even knowing it?"
Chance blushed and looked around noticing the faces pointedly not looking in their direction.
It was impossible and slightly pointless to hold a private conversation when everyone around could hear the squeak of a mouse from miles away.
"Pix," she warned, her face flushing a delightful pink colour. She ducked her head, her hair forming a curtain to cover her cheeks.
"Are you almost done with the new arrivals?" he asked, his tone more that of a lover than that of her leader.
Chance tried to ignore the sensations that raced over her as he took her hand and brought it to his lips.
"Pix!" she hissed totally embarrassed at this display. But no matter how embarrassed she was, it was delightful to see that mischievous spark back in his eyes.
Since taking on practically the whole of Terminal City by himself he had been lost in paperwork and rarely had time for the old Pix to come into play and she had missed that look in his eyes that arrived whenever he was just about to embark on some piece of naughtiness; or when he had that uber innocent look proclaiming louder than a scream that he was guilty beyond all measure.
She loved it and had missed it.
But not in central command during a crisis! She tried to pull her hand away even as he nibbled on her fingers.
"Pix!"
Mole coughed delicately nearby and she heard someone cover a snicker.
Pix pouted deliciously. "Aw, come on Chance, I missed breakfast and you taste so nice."
"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day; maybe you should go fill up and take your hands off my baby sister before I feed them to the nearest chinchilla?"
Chance squealed loud enough that even the most hard of hearing transgenic winced and she leaped into the waiting arms of Biggs.
Pix shoved his hands in his pockets and glared mutinously at Sunny. "You couldn't have kept him away for any longer?"
Sunny swept her blonde hair over her shoulder and smirked. "Serves you right for partaking in the middle of the day in public. Hardly manners you know."
"Gee, where have you been," he inquired as she came up to the central dais, "Finishing school?"
"Only if the rattle of coins is a polishing technique," she reached him and pulled him into a quick hug. "Hey, Pix."
Pix ruffled her hair affectionately. "Hey, Sunny. Good to see you."
Biggs came up behind her, one arm slung around the shoulder of his little sister. "Pix."
"Biggs."
They sized each other up and every memory of their skirmishes, every fight both verbal and physical, and every glare that they had ever shared sizzled along that one glance.
Biggs clutched Chance possessively as if to warn Pix that he was back now and he could take care of his own, thank you very much.
Pix reached out and slung an arm over Sunny's shoulder in silent challenge.
Sunny was my friend before yours. You take mine and I will make damn sure that you have the worst time of your life.
Biggs let his gaze flicker for a moment, letting Pix know that he had caught the inference and took it on board.
Pix tried a sunny smile. "Well, isn't it nice to see the two of you back? Staying long?"
"Pix!" admonished his girlfriend as she clung to her brother. "Play nice."
"Of course," he patted the pocket that she knew held his little black book.
Biggs followed his hand and took a step back as he remembered the action and what it usually entailed. He smiled uneasily.
"No need for that."
Pix just smiled. Oh, it was so good to have them back.
TBC….
Bluejean452- Cheers pet, Max and Alec really are cute together aren't they? I know I adore them still.
Sigma1- I just love writing, anything I can. Of course if it made me money that would be nice too. The art manip challenge that I set for someone to draw me a pic for the last chapter. Poor baby, hope you are feeling better now.
Caboodle- Cheers pet, more soonas.
Keekee- It felt different too- I think that's because I read a hell of a lot of Pride and Prejudice before I started to write—blame it on the Austenite!
Sakura- I would love to update more often but I have this pesky thing called work to do—it sucks but provides me with enough tea and biscuits to keep me happy. The 09er's will be making an appearance and there is only 1 chapter of PO and 4 or so of SF left.
Aku-neko- Mole just has this special presence that makes people want to be his friend. LOL. More M/A moments coming up with a twist of lemon. Kudorrific? LOL. Like that' The whole cult thing is a far cry from the show but I don't think that made much sense, I prefer the super-human element rather than weird sci-fi experiments.
Pinkflipflop3- It's very hard to think that 3 other people decided to be a pink flipflop. The rest of them will be coming together soon, we get to see many reunions in this chapter. As for Ben/Drew/Dek- have to wait until next chapter of PO.
Moonlite star- Cheers pet, gotta love White—he's such a cool bad guy. The cult thing is a very interesting angle to work from.
Geminangel- Bulli may make a future appearance, I haven't really decided as yet. The Sandeman angle wasn't really explored in the series as much as I think it could have been. In my story he is a bit of a psycho, and we have enough of them so that's why we wont see him. scarily proud of that piece of logic.)
Crimsonreality- Cheers pet.
BlackRose9- But unlike Maccy-D's, my produce will not produce wind and calories.
JJBP- How long? Ooh chapter and a half? Ish.
Starr Light1- I'm not sure if that was compliment or sucking up. Either way that has to be the sweetest review I have had. A real book… I wonder if I could get it published? Anyhoo Logan will be popping up with annoying frequency. I may have be nice to the guy—I don't have to like it.
Kim- Up his sleeves? Arms usually. Something just struck me that Sandeman wasn't the sweet father figure that we always thought. After all, why leave Joshua in the basement? Or let his kids be treated that way if he truly cared. And why mix humans and animals and put it in kids? Creepy mad guy was the only answer.
RoxyRoo- I never liked Cece, siccing her with kids seemed the perfect answer. More reunions coming up thus.
Aleja21- Hey pet, glad you like it and congrats for finding us again. I did stop for a while which could be why you missed it. Enjoy, read and review.
Toniboo- Friends are great but boy do they take up valuable reading time. I know that mine do! Lydecker is an odd one and no one is sure whether he is good or bad—even me!
Electricgurl- All rugby tackle White—he he I can see that. More Max/Alec goodness in the next part along with a generous helping of smuttishness. Just for you.
Nevanroy- Cookie? Choc chip? Oatmeal and raisin? What's your choice? Or do you mean English cookie or American Cookie because they are very very different.
Lotamoxie- Lydecker should live by that motto- better late than never. He always seems to come in after the fact. Not good for those who are dead, of course? He is far away from Manticore and Aiden is lucky… and gorgeous but that is a different matter.
Guesttypeperson- Alec always manages to be cute, it'd be irritating if it wasn't so damn endearing. Long live Dek… and Drew I guess.
Pixiewildfire- Cheers pet, glad you like and thanks for you-know-what.
Athena80- Thank you very much, gotta love Pix being in charge for a change. If you read Pressing Onwards you see what the others have been up to.
Meri24- Okay already, you people have no patience, One Dek/Drew scene coming up.
Thisiswheremynamegoes- cheers. Sorry you think that the characters are confusing. If you read PO they get less so, honest!
Grey daze's nirvana- Eesh I couldn't imagine being without the net for more than couple of days! Yup more M/A action on its way and hopefully you'll get to read more of that soon as.
Mystic Fayth- Uh… hello?
L80bug- What happened to the promised update? I went to Wales, where it was freezing and oh so slightly cold. Thank you, I'm glad that they aren't confusing to you. There are an awful lot of them so I could see how that could be, but I always see them as the pictures on the site anyway.
Angelofdarkness231- I'm sure Dek would be delighted to hear that.
Elle6778- Mole is very cool isn't he, gotta love a green guy. Max could resist Alec because all men are scum. It's a fact. LOL, okay I have issues but even I wouldn't be able to turn Alec down! Sandeman was a bit of a creep and a lunatic at that. I know that Lydecker is an odd guy to describe he doesn't fall into the good-guy/bad-guy mould very easily. Not sure what to make of him.
Ladybug- yes.
Lavenderbrown- cool name, another Potterite? Who do you ship? Seen the movie? Ahem, glad you like this fic, I gotta say that it isn't easy but so much fun anyway. Enjoy
Allison lightning- I'm not sure that the familiars are smart enough to bother with at times. White is male after all. (grumbles about men in general, men in specific and one in particular) I think lots of people forget that the whole story changed when Max got left behind. Logan never had her to stop him falling into pillar of despair when his legs went—he did try to commit suicide at one point if you remember. Asha also never materialised here because Max stopped her heist back in MAL and a load of other factors which changed Logan's life totally. He isn't the same person that he was in the series because his whole life was different with Max being around.
Chaigirl- okay already! I'll update.
Ladybug- way past.