A/N- A few things. Firstly No, Biggs isn't dead. I made a typo-- it happens.
Secondly, you MAY have noticed that some of you have recieved a cameo in this and the next chapter-- because I am wonderful and I love you all. I am writing a SHORT SHORT SHORT story with all the transgenics in to finish-- all at Coco's wedding and I would like to reward my faithful reviewers with a cameo. SOOOOO, if you want a role in a Transgenic Wedding- review and leave me a useable name.
Thirdly- I would Love to hit 1000 reviews by this stories end so i am basically BEGGING for reviews. I will do whatever to get them too.
One girl asked for a Zack/ Emma thing and voila, one asked for a naked Alec/ Ben fight and...well, mostly naked-- see,be nice to me and I'm nice to you!
Part b- Hope in the darkness
It was Luke who saw the news first and that was because he had been assigned to screen detail along with Sigma, who had been giving the sweet trench digger side-long glances.
He had been so nervous over her attentions that his sweaty hands slipped on the controls and the channel switched to a late news update. It was testament to how tied up she had his insides that it took several seconds for his brain to work out what it was that he seeing.
"Oh, crap!"
"What?" Sigma was at his side in a moment, her sweet scent momentarily distracting him.
Luke just pointed at the screen and she repeated his curse with more enthusiasm.
"Shall I get 452?" she asked and Luke nodded.
"This is not good," he said as she sped off.
"What's the problem?" Alec asked from across the other side of the command panel. He looked up and saw his own face, pale and distraught on the screen.
He dropped his notepad and hurried over to the screens. "What the hell?"
"They had hover drones over where you and Max were," Luke said unnecessarily.
Alec watched as his own face disappeared into the blood soaked body of his friend and Max stood, streaked with red and hands on her hips like a fierce warrior, prepared to do battle.
Her face was set in a mask that would have scared anyone. Her face—her face!
Alec swore long and hard. "They have our faces," he spat, "on camera. Every jack man is gonna know what we look like."
"And here come the cavalry," Luke said as the crowds stood back, allowing the transgenics to corner them.
Mole's face came up clearly, as did Tara's, and Alec watched as a dark figured Max grabbed the camera guy in what looked like a fierce grip and pushed him to the body of Pix.
"What the hell's going on?" Max asked as she shouldered into the crowds that had gathered.
"They caught us on candid camera," Alec said in disgust as the footage played on.
Max's reply was short, succinct and would have done a sailor proud. They both watched as Tara and Alec raced off with Pix's body and Max started yelling at the crowds. Every word was clearly echoed and sounded that much worse when combined with the reactions of the crowd as they stepped away from the irate transgenic.
"You said that?" Luke winced. "I can see why we never assigned you to personnel."
"Kiss my transgenic ass," Max said absently, her eyes intent on the screen. "Did they show the chase?"
"You mean; do they know where we are?" Mole asked from near the window, puffing away on his cigar. "I think the answer to that is self explanatory, Princess."
Max turned to look at him and caught her breath at the seriousness of his expression.
She looked out of the window and her heart sank at the myriads of vans squealing up at the entrance to Terminal City.
"This is bad."
Alec joined her as people seemed to crawl out of the woodwork like locusts, brandishing placards and torches, looking every bit like extras from a Dracula mob movie. They surrounded the front gate and took up a chant.
"Oh, this is so very bad," Alec repeated.
"Gets worse," Mole said and nodded towards the entrance where reporters almost miraculously appeared.
Max backed away from the window. "Meri, get word to the front line, no one goes near those gates."
"Aye, aye," Meri said and raced off to spread the word.
"We're screwed," Dix spat.
"A little less negativity, please." Alec tried for levity.
Dix looked at him for a second. "We're screwed," he said, his tone almost pleasant.
"Thank you." Alec tried to grin but failed miserably. "Everyone needs to be on full alert. Can you rig up some alarm system so we can tell when we are under attack?"
"Sure," Techie nodded and reached for his tool kit, calling Isacar even as he walked away.
Alec bit his lip as he looked out the window. "I guess our plans of re-joining Jam Pony are out, huh, Max? Max?" Alec turned to find her watching the screen again.
Max said nothing, her eyes focussed on the moving images.
Alec came up behind her quietly, not understanding why she was now so silent. Shouldn't she be issuing orders and making plans? Would she be mad if he took over? Someone had to speak and he knew what he was doing.
"Max?" he all but whispered.
Max's thoughts were in a whirl as she watched herself in the monitor.
Her picture flickered out a woman stepped onto the screen, her pressed suit pristine.
"Good evening. I'm Ellen Emi,"
"And I'm Kenney Smith for SR5, Seattle's hottest and most up to the minute news. We're here with our viewers talking about the latest danger affecting our nation- transgenics. Earlier today—"
Max blocked out the sound of the speaker.
It was all happening at once, it was too much; too damn much.
What the hell was she supposed to do now? They had protestors and reporters camped outsides their front door; they had White knowing where they lived and what they were about and Lydecker working in conjunction with him, even though he had been quiet of late.
Max had been trying to organize a war but she had just run out of time.
People knew who what they were. People knew where they were.
What was she supposed to do?
Think, Maxie, Think. She ordered herself. What needs to be done? Supplies- already got people foraging and hunting for food; Aiden and Zan are dealing with the water situation. Security- I have Harley and Cece checking for entrances and Techie and Dix working on looking over every area. I have Jay set up guard detail, Biggs and Sunny working each corner. Mole on munitions and B.J. and company on explosives. Feen is dealing with the newcomers… What am I missing?
"So are you saying that you personally know a transgenic?"
Max turned as the reporter she had been filtering out spoke up.
"Yeah, I guess I do."
"Sketchy!" Alec cried as he stared at the familiar tousled hair on the screen.
"Can you tell us more, sir?" the female moved in closer.
"The girl on the footage you showed," he said uncertainly. "Her name is Max and she's—"
"A transgenic?" the reporter suggested as he paused.
"Yeah," he gave his goofy smile. "I never realised it before, but she must have been."
"You've been in close contact with her?"
"Sure, dude," Sketchy said. "She beats me at arm wrestling every time we go out."
The reporter took a step back as if Sketchy were carrying some disease. "You have heard the stories that they are a public menace?"
"Max?" Sketchy scoffed. "No way, man. She kicks ass, sure. But danger to America? Hardly. In fact," his voice went soft, "she's the best person I know. She's bailed me out of trouble no end of times and, dude, she'd give you her last dollar." He seemed to pause and looked directly at the camera. "Max, if you're watching, I'm totally on your side. Tell me what you need and you got it."
The reporter pushed. "So you're saying they're not all monsters?"
"No way. Not Max."
"What about me?" Alec pouted, but his eyes were shining.
A grin spread over Max's face. "Ata boy, Sketch."
She knew what she had to do. But before she could make a move Sunny rushed in.
"Max, there's activity at the gates."
"We know." Max gestured to the screen but Sunny shook her head.
"No, I mean there is some guy who insists on seeing you."
"It may have escaped your notice, Duchess," Mole interjected with a glare, "but we are kinda busy."
"He insists," Sunny said.
"If it's a reporter," Max stated sweetly, "my answer is 'no comment'."
"It's someone from Manticore," Sunny hesitated. "At least I think it is. I recognise him."
Max frowned. "Who?"
"Said his name's Bill."
"Bill?" Max's forehead creased. "Bill wh—BILL!" she turned and raced for the gates.
Mole smirked. "Guess she knows him, then."
>>>
Colonel Donald Lydecker had a very tumultuous past littered with things that, while he may not have been proud of, he did for his country. He also had one hell of a temper and he realised that he was on the point of losing said temper and doing something that he would have been ashamed of in his youth but he saw real potential in now.
It was amazing how the opinion of torture changed depending on its recipient.
Right now he could quite happily spend hours peeling away the layers of skin that separated Ames White from his bones and dousing them in a mixture of lemon juice and nitric acid. He had listened in anger as White refused to deny the existence of transgenics but moved past fury, past lividness through sheer unadulterated hate. He not only wanted White dead, but wanted him to pay.
He wanted him to hurt and bleed and scream in pure anguish. He wanted blood to run and bones to break and he would not be satisfied until Ames lay battered and broken at his feet.
And just like the coward, he was nowhere to be found.
He had disappeared soon after that fiasco of a senate and Lydecker hoped and prayed that he'd get his hands on the little demon soon.
Thankfully he had sent Bill off once the news was out and maybe he'd be able to do some damage control with the transgenics.
All the plans he had had to get Bill to talk Max into voluntarily rejoining Manticore without pressure from outside forces were all for nought and he now had to devise another way to protect both his investment and his kids.
So White had decided to set the general populace on them? Maybe that would work in Lydecker's favour.
When the enemy hands you lemons…
>>>
Zack stared over the parapet and cracked his knuckles as he watched the crowds massing outside the gates.
He felt hedged in, cornered and caged and he hated the feeling with an intensity he normally reserved for his former 'boss'—Lydecker.
He knew that bringing in the '09ers wasn't the best of plans or the smartest move that he had ever made.
Now that the public was surrounding them he wondered with a sinking heart if he had brought his squad here to die.
It was almost ironic enough to make him laugh; he had spent years keeping them apart to keep them safe and the one time he had insisted that they all come together it might be their last.
He crouched down, kneeling on the granite roof and stared hatefully at the camera crews that pulled up.
His hair flew about in the breeze and he yanked a hand through it in as much irritation as frustration.
"You'll pull it out if you keep doing that," said a voice from behind him.
Zack merely sighed and shook his head. "I should shave it all off, they'll do it when they capture us anyway."
Emma walked slowly over and placed a hand on his taut shoulder. "Don't speak like that. Have a little faith, Zack."
"You sound like Ben." He shrugged off the hand and stood. "The only thing you can truly trust in is instinct. My instincts told me to go to ground and stay there and I chose to have 'faith' in Max. Now my people are in danger. That's on me."
"Are we not your people?" she said, an edge to her voice. "Cuz the last time I looked, you and me had pretty much the same DNA."
"You know what I mean." He waved his hand dismissively.
"Yeah." She nodded. "You feel responsible for allowing your squad to see their long lost baby sister, to allow them to have hope that they might not have to be on the run for the rest of their lives and live in fear. You feel bad that you've allowed them to have independent thought and maybe even to be around others who understand and can maybe explain some of the things that they have been or are going through. You're right, Zack. You're a monster."
His sharp eyes met her cool ones and he glared.
"This might get them killed."
"So instead of presenting their backs as they run away, they are standing their ground the way they want and might die on their feet as soldiers. Horror."
"You don't understand, Emma. You haven't been on the run for ten years. Hiding and being afr—wary of every shadow."
"No," she said succinctly as she tucked a red strand of hair behind her ear, annoyed at his reasoning. "I was in hell for the past ten years. Hell with your friends is still hell."
Zack had nothing to say to that and looked away but Emma wasn't done.
"Listen to me, Zack. You've done well by your team for ten years, but there comes a time when you have to stop making their decisions for them. They are more than capable of choosing their own destiny—" she paused, "—and choosing how they die."
"I'd rather they not die," he retorted bitterly.
Emma smiled softly. "It's not your choice. They are all growed up now, papa Zack. Let them go."
He gritted his teeth, taut lines in his chiselled jaw as he fought against the truth in her words.
Emma moved forward and ran her hands over his back, tucking her arms around his waist. "Maybe it's time to live for you, instead."
"I have responsibilities," he bit out. "I can't let them drop."
"Then share them," Emma countered, rubbing her cheek against the soft leather jacket he wore. She moved around to his front and captured his face in her hands, looking deeply into his hard blue eyes. "I happen to be a very good listener."
"I don't need a listener."
"What do you need?"
His answer was to immerse his hand in her tangled red hair and fuse his lips to hers.
Emma felt her whole body melt as his hard body begging for her to hold him close, his lips hot and hard as he plundered her mouth. Through the swirl of feeling she experienced, she could also feel his emotions pushing at the edge of her senses and she let her guard drop enough to let him in. His vulnerability masqueraded as desire, and his stance, his heart, his very blood cried out for her to show him that everything would be all right and that he wouldn't be alone anymore. He had been alone for so very long.
He needed reassurance that he would never ask for; too proud, too self-possessed, too scared.
Emma pulled back, gasping the words that he needed to hear. "I'm not leaving."
Zack gave her a lopsided grin that turned her heart over. "What makes you think I'd let you?"
As she laughed in giddy delight, he pulled her back and showed her how he'd keep her.
She had no complaints.
>>>
Although Max was uneasy at being in front of crowds who wanted to kill her, she was earnestly looking forward to seeing Bill.
The last time that she had seen him he had been waving from the front porch of his house whilst his daughter lay in bed benefiting from the application of Max's superior DNA.
Max had raced across the compound but halted within sight of the immense gates that supposedly kept the public from coming in.
Already she could see the effects of their encampment by the smashed bottles that littered the insides of the gates where they had been thrown by enraged and, probably, inebriated, humans.
She stepped carefully over them and made her way to the gates, listening to the cries of "transgenics are monsters" and "scum go home" that echoed around the near deserted entrance. Max was glad that she had insisted no one go near the fence that surrounded the city, but as she neared it she heard the echoes die down as people noticed her coming towards them.
Their hostile faces turned towards her with ill intent written in their eyes. She took a deep breath and scanned the crowds for the familiar face of her former mentor; and there he was.
He was the only one smiling at her and it soothed her insides to know that he wasn't against her.
A small smile graced her features and the faces in the crowds started to look confused at it, it was like they didn't think she could be happy.
Bill edged forwards, elbowing the crowds out of the way as he reached the wired fence.
"Hey, Maxie," he said softly, but she heard him. Even without her transgenic hearing she would have heard him. So attuned she was to his presence.
"Hey," she said softly and then glanced at the armed guards that surrounded the walls. "Let him in," she instructed and the transgenic guards shouldered their weapons, pulling back the bolts on the huge gates.
The crowd began to clamber to come inside but the appearance of fully armed guards dispelled their eagerness and Bill was able to slip in without anyone else following him.
As soon as he was in the gates, he enfolded Max in a huge hug.
"It's damn good to see you."
"You too," she responded with a sigh. When she had been younger she had pretended that Bill was her father and every time she saw him it was like recapturing that feeling of security that she had only felt in his presence. Wyoming had been especially harsh to her and he had been her haven—he was the one that she turned to when things got hard and he was the one that had brought her back to herself when she thought that she was lost.
Bill had kept her sane, kept her going and, more importantly, kept her alive.
Without a doubt he was the first person that she had ever really loved and those feelings swamped her as she held him tight.
He was the first to pull away and looked deep into her eyes.
"You," he said, "are not getting enough sleep."
Max gave a short burst of laughter. "Are you saying I look like crap?"
"What was the point of me giving you these fantastic genes if you don't use them to full affect, huh?" he teased.
"Shark DNA," she tossed back, their argument coming back to her like it was yesterday. "I sleep one night in four, what the hell were you thinking?"
"It was either that or fins," he mock glared, tapping her nose.
"You made the right choice," she acquiesced pointing him towards the central command. "So to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Hey, can't a concerned fath—," he stopped and Max smiled.
"Concerned father?"
He rolled his eyes, ignoring the blush that spread over her face. "Can't I drop by and see my favourite transgenic without suspicion?"
"In these days?" Max raised an eyebrow at him and he nodded, his face clouding over.
"There is that."
Something in his voice made her stop.
"Bill?" she asked tentatively.
"He has Laura," Bill blurted. "He took Kelly and Laura and threatened me that if I didn't go back to Manticore."
"Yeah, well after he fired the best Dr Mengler's, who was left to do his dirty work?" Max said bitterly with a touch of panic to her voice as she eyed her friend. "Lydecker took them." She wasn't sure she dared ask the question. "Because of me?"
"In part," Bill hated putting that haunted look in Max's eyes. "I had to take Laura in for testing, standards procedure and someone found something odd about her blood and called the CDC. They called Lydecker and he held them ransom if I didn't come back to continue the work after the Seattle base DNA labs were blown. I can see them once a month, if I behave."
Max looked away. "I'm sorry."
"No, no, no," Bill grabber her hands. "I don't blame you, Max. If it weren't for you then Laura would be dead. I owe you and here I've brought trouble to your door."
Max half-smiled thinking about who really owed whom. Bill had been her saving grace and kept her alive. She could never repay him, but getting his family back would be a good start.
"What does Lydecker want?"
Bill paused a moment and then looked straight in her face, eyes sad. "You, Max. Lydecker wants you."
>>>
"Is Maxie around?" Ben asked as he walked into central command.
Alec rolled his eyes. The last thing he needed whilst Max was outside talking to Bill was this pretentious little upstart mixing things up.
"She's gone outside," he said shortly, consulting the list that he had taken upon himself as part of his duties as 2IC.
He had been serious when he had told Max that he wanted to help in more ways than just fixing the water situation. Max was his mate, no matter what arguments they had and what trials they faced; and part of that mate situation was Alec's need to protect, defend and shield Max from the worst things that life could throw at her.
But Max was the leader and, to some extent, she had never stopped being so; she wasn't in any need of protection or shielding and was actually the one taking care of everyone else.
Alec had tried to consign himself to the role of supporter rather than Alpha and his role was to help Max; not protect her. But the main point was that he wasn't just her lackey or her supporter. He had been CO in his own right and he was more than ready and far more than willing to shoulder some of the responsibilities.
That didn't stop him from wanting to shield Max from people like Ben whom he cheerfully would have strangled at any point.
He may have his issues with Dek and Zan, both men wanting Max's attentions; but Dek was still loyal to him, having been under Alec in Seattle before Max ever even arrived. He'd told Alec of Ben's dislike despite the fact that he found it amusing and Alec had realised that Ben had not only been irritating Alec, but trying to poison others against him too.
He was… pissed off, to say the least. But he was sure that if he separated Ben's head from his shoulders Max would cut him off… at least for a while.
"Had to escape, did she?" Ben said with a grin. "Don't blame her."
Alec scratched the back of his neck and tried to ignore Ben; he was Max's brother; he must have some good qualities.
"Did she leave you for an ordinary?"
Any good quality.
"No, I bet she's out doing whatever it is do-gooders do."
One thing—no matter how small.
"Can't argue with her command, only her taste in men."
Alec broke. "If I throw a stick, will you leave?"
Ben grinned. "And he comes up swinging. Exactly how long were you thinking of that comeback?"
"Not longer than your criminal record," Alec smirked. "Because you actually have one."
Ben's smile faded. "Everyone needs a hobby."
"And yours is pissing me off?"
"No, mine is being near Max. Pissing you off is a nice little bonus."
Alec took a deep breath. "Aren't you supposed to be off doing something somewhere that's…away? Cocking your leg against a hydrant? Playing hopscotch on the interstate? Oh, running with knives is in this season."
"And miss hanging around with the bane of my existence?" Ben shook his head. "Unlikely."
"Did the aliens forget to remove your anal probe?" Alec shot back. "What exactly has you so buzzed about me, huh? Is it because I get Max and you don't? Newsflash, pal, she doesn't want you."
It took supreme effort but Ben didn't wince; no matter how much that one hurt, he'd never show that kind of weakness to Alec.
The thing was that, since he had been here, he'd seen how close Max and Alec were. It was odd seeing someone with your face in the place that you most wanted to be. It was like a dream where you could see yourself and wanted desperately to be there but no matter how hard you tried, you knew that it'd never happen.
For Ben, who'd spent the majority of his life feeling like he was stuck in one never-ending nightmare, this was just one step too much.
What he'd really like to see, was for Alec to lose that cool that he surrounded himself with. He'd like to see Alec feel, just once, like he himself, did—like an outsider; like someone who didn't belong anywhere.
Failing that, he'd like for Alec to lose his temper so that, maybe, he'd see himself in Ben's face.
No matter the airs and graces that Alec gave himself; they were no different.
"When you get over yourself give me a call." Ben pretended to yawn. "This whole ego trip is stale. What makes you think I have a beef against you?"
Alec gave a short laugh. "The constant insults, the backbiting, oh, and lest I forget the fact that you have been spreading shit behind my back."
"No, that smell is you."
"Grow the hell up!" Alec said in disgust and turned away knowing that if he didn't he'd start a fight that he promised himself he wouldn't have.
He set Ben aside; like he was unimportant; like Ben didn't belong there.
"Don't turn your back on me," Ben spat with gritted teeth. "I'm not one of your subjects."
"No," Alec said. "You are one of Max's subjects. She doesn't want us to fight. I don't want to fight whilst we have this situation on our hands. So I'm not going to fight. Go away, Ben, you are not getting a rise out of me."
The back door opened and Alec watched as Aiden and Zan walked in, their faces animated with a discussion over water issues.
"Did you just dismiss me?" Ben said incredulously. "You royal suck up. Think your so fucking high and mighty just because you stayed home like a good little soldier?"
Manticore? Alec blinked. "Home?"
"Well, screw you, Alec. You are not my CO, in fact you're not anyone's CO."
"What's going on here?" Zan asked as their voices rose.
Aiden looked at the two identical men. "Maybe we shouldn't ask."
"Or maybe you should, huh?" Alec said, slamming the clipboard down and turning to face Ben. "Maybe they want to know too why you have such issues with me?"
"You're an asshole."
"May I introduce you to a little thing called logic? You're an ass but I'm not trying to gain a cult following— transgenics against amateur dentistry."
Ben's voice was as cold as the expression on his face. "Keep talking like that and I might feel the need to turn pro."
Aiden and Zan looked confused at each other even as Ben and Alec faced off.
"Here's a thought; if you feel so bad about it, don't do it."
"You're just like Zack," Ben spat, "laying down rules; constantly up heaving everything; screwing up everything and thinking that you can just walk in and ruin people's lives. Newsflash for you, jerk-off, I got on fine without you."
"Then go back. No one asked you come here."
Ben looked like he had been slapped in the face. No one asked you to come here.
"Drew did," Zan spoke up. "I'm sure she said that she asked Ben to come along and I know one or two people that are glad that he's here."
"Thank you, Zan," Alec said, not taking his eyes off Ben, "your loyalty inspires me."
"I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere," Aiden said, "because I am totally lost."
"Let me sum it up for you," Ben said with acid in his voice. "I hate Alec because he is a pompous ass who likes to think he's in charge. Alec hates me because…I don't actually care."
Alec enlightened him. "Because you want Max."
"Oh, God, not another one," Aiden sighed. "Does she, like, taste of chocolate or something?"
"Wait, I thought you wanted Drew?" Zan said confused.
Ben shrugged. "I kinda like Dek."
Aiden wrinkled his nose, well and truly lost. "I thought you liked Max?"
"Not like that!" Ben rolled his eyes. "Sheesh!"
"And eww," added Zan.
Alec decided to get things back on track. "Because little brother Ben wants me out of the way he's been whispering malicious things about me to Dek, Pix and Zan."
Zan held up one hand. "I didn't like you much anyway."
"I know."
"Good. I did tell you that if you lost Max I'd sit back and mock."
"Is that an excuse for believing this ass?" Alec asked incredulously.
Zan shrugged awkwardly. "It's been a rough week."
Alec turned back to Ben. "It won't work, Ben. I'm staying here. I'm Max's mate, no matter what you guys do, we are together. Max, me. There's no place for you here, dentist boy."
No place.
Outsider.
Like he had been all his life.
Max was his home, had always been where he felt most grounded and no cheap imitation was going to take that away.
Over Ben's dead body… or Alec's—either would do.
Ben's grin was as startling as it was menacing. "Didn't your trainer ever tell you not to play with fire?"
"You're not fire," Alec taunted knowing that he was being childish but not caring. Ben was enough to try the patience of a saint. "You're wind. Hot air."
"And you're—" Ben hauled back his fist and let it fly into Alec's face. "—bruised," he finished.
Alec brought his hand up to his lip, touching the blood that trickled from the cut.
Dammit. He had goaded Ben into hitting him and he knew that, as the more mature one, he should stop the fight then and there. He was 2IC for Manticore's sake, Max depended on him, it didn't matter what some pretentious upstart thought or did. He should walk away.
Ben looked mockingly at him. "You bleed red, I was kinda expecting green. Isn't that what those inferior clones in the X files bled?"
Alec smeared the blood from his lip and drew a breath. "Inferior?"
Ben shrugged, gleefully. "Call it like I see it."
Alec took a deep breath. He wasn't going to do this. He wasn't.
"Guess someone had their fair share of chicken DNA."
"I'm not afraid of you, Ben. I'm not afraid to fight you. I just don't see why I should."
This wasn't going according to plan, thought Ben. Alec wasn't supposed to come off as the mature one. He wasn't supposed to be the one who people admired. There was something that he could use.
He smirked. "Did you ever think that maybe they took you into Psy Ops because you deserved it? I mean, according to form, you were in more than once. That wasn't my fault. Something about a girl?"
Rachel. Alec stiffened. The only way that Ben could have known about that was someone from Special Ops. That meant Zan.
His temper flared and ignited into a white-hot flame. "That wasn't smart."
Ben stepped back and brought his hands up in a classic fight status and Alec just shook his head. "Ten years on the outside and all you can do is—" he cut off his own words to sweep a leg around, catching Ben in the back of the knee and making him buckle, "—fall for that, dumb ass."
As Ben lurched forwards he grabbed the neck of Alec's t-shirt and pulled, tearing the material even as he swung Alec around and kneed him in the stomach.
Ben growled. "You're the dumb ass if you think I'm standing for your crap, after everything I've been through."
A whoosh of breath left Alec and he raised his arm, catching Ben in the chin with a sharp elbow.
"Everything you've been through?"
Ben's head snapped back and he dropped Alec, stumbling several paces.
"Uh, I really think we should do something," Aiden said as he watched them both.
"Popcorn?" suggested Zan.
"Max?" Aiden retaliated.
Zan waved the idea. "They need to work out their issues."
Aiden regarded him dubiously. "You just want to see Alec get his ass kicked."
Zan grinned. "That too."
"You do realise you'll be next?" Aiden offered and Zan's face dropped.
"Probably," he shrugged.
"Poor misguided psychopath," Alec was saying. "Life is hard."
"It's even harder if you're stupid," Ben shot back and launched a fist at Alec. The punch connected and Alec staggered back from the impact, dodging the next swing by the skin of his teeth.
"No, Ben, stupid is the one attacking the 2IC and the CO's mate. That's not just dumb but suicidal!" Alec said as he kicked Ben in the stomach.
Ben buckled as the heel of Alec's boot caught his ribs, he grabbed Alec's ankle in mid-swing and twisted listening out for the crack that would signify a broken ankle. It didn't come as Alec flipped over even as Ben turned his ankle and lashed out with a boot to Ben's face.
Ben dropped, landing against one of the consoles.
"Hey!" Dix yelled. "Equipment is expensive. Kill each other but stay off the electronics."
Alec was aware of the rest of the transgenics watching him for the first time. He realised that they wouldn't stand in to help or even stop the fight since he was the CO and he was the one who was supposed to stop it. But he was in too deep now and more than ready to put an end to Ben once and for all.
Ben had ricocheted off the console and lay on his back on the floor with a grunt.
He scissored his legs, catching Alec and swiping 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, turning to kick Alec in the ribs.
"You really think you garner that much respect, huh?" Ben taunted. "I mean it was easy enough to find people who didn't like you. Maybe it's you who needs to re-evaluate your place here, pal, and as for Max… I'm sure things were just fine once you made her leave me. At least you had your friends." Ben smirked remembering watching Alec and Max fighting in the courtyards of Manticore.
Alec curled away from Ben's foot, protecting himself before grabbing Ben's ankle and twisting.
This time there was a crack and Ben swore as he stumbled.
This gave Alec time to get to his feet and he rubbed his chest as he stood to face his target. "Arrogant son of a bitch!" he exploded, his temper well and truly gone. Ben's barbs had hit harder than his feet and Alec reeled inwardly at the pain inflicted. Max had gone mad at him for making her abandon her brother and it had been easy for Ben to turn others against him.
Alec had thought that he had a pretty good repartee with the other guys and it grated that Zan would ally himself with Ben and that Dek would entertain the thought of it, even if didn't follow through. No matter what history the men had had together he, at least, thought he could trust them to keep something like Rachel a secret.
They didn't know all the details and the thought that Zan had taken even what scant knowledge that he had and told Ben.
Ben- of all people.
His eyes flashed and he turned his head for a moment, pinning a watching Zan with a hateful glare.
"I guess some people aren't worth calling friends."
"Uh oh," Aiden cursed under his breath as Zan's eyes narrowed.
He grabbed hold of Zan's elbow even as he started forward to address the slur that Alec threw at him.
"Guys!"
"Leave it," Ben asked as he clambered to his feet. "Apparently Alec here has some issues he wants to address."
"My issues are with you assholes thinking that you have a right to my mate. Is that your problem?" Alec snarled at both Ben and Zan. "Max turned you both down so you band together to be pains in my ass?"
Zan shook Aiden off and folded his arms over his chest. "Say what you really feel, Alec."
"Why the hell were you listening to this Manticore reject?" Alec demanded pointing at Ben. "So we've not seen eye to eye but, shit, Zan, I thought we were actually friends!"
Zan's face wouldn't have seemed to change to anyone that didn't know him; to those who did there was a flinch in his expression that made Alec feel slightly better.
"You once yelled at my entire unit for changing loyalties," Alec reminded him of when unit 8 had issues with Max. "Why is that different for you? Betray confidences, Zan? He is not our unit. He's an outsider."
"I am not an outsider!" Ben growled. "I have just as much right to be here as you and more, hell, I knew Maxie way before she even knew you existed."
Alec snarled as his fist met with Ben's cheek, spilling blood from a split lip. Ben shook his head and responded with a fast blow to Alec's stomach, grinning evilly at the sound of a crack within his chest.
"Son of a bitch!" Alec spat as he touched the rib that had just healed from the bruising Dek had given it not too long ago. "You and Dek have the same aim."
"Let's see if we can't mess up those pretty boy looks," Ben offered and brought his left fist across towards Alec's chin.
There was a sound of flesh on flesh—but it wasn't the punch that they expected and Ben looked at the tight fist that held his hand, up the arm and into eyes swimming with fury.
"Just what the hell," Max demanded, "is going on here?"
Alec and Ben both stared at Max, unable to believe that they had been so intent on beating each other to death that they hadn't even heard her approach.
Max released Ben's fist and stepped back, unmitigated rage in her expression as she glanced from Ben to Alec and back again.
For the first time Alec looked around the command centre to see every pair of eyes on them and he felt a vague disquiet at the attention.
He cursed himself for allowing Ben to rile him to such a point that he forgot that these people should respect him.
Max waited for them to speak but both men studiously avoided her irate expression.
"Ben, Alec, Zan, Aiden," she chose the two nearest spectators and spoke quietly. "I think we need to go upstairs."
For the first time Alec noticed Bill standing someway behind her with an amused look on his face. He nodded a greeting at Alec and wandered over to where Sunny was stood waiting.
Max spun on her heel and marched up the stairs to her office and motioned for them to follow her inside.
Once the door was shut Max walked over to the desk on the far side of the room and leaned her hip against it, arms folded as she stared at them all. "Okay, who wants to tell me what the hell that was all about?"
Silence.
"I mean here we are, on the brink of an all out war between ordinaries and transgenics where, it's possible, that we will be killed. Do you think the ordinaries need help with that?" Max frowned. "Are you trying to even the playing field or what?"
"It was a simple misunderstanding," offered Zan but was struck by the withering look Max sent him.
"Don't insult my intelligence, Zan." She turned to Alec. "Alec?"
Alec gave a sideways look to Ben. "It was a disagreement that got out of hand."
"A guy thing," Ben said with a grin. "Are you our mother now, Maxie?"
Max was not amused. "No, Ben. What I am is leader of Terminal City. Part of being a leader means ensuring that anything that threatens the peace—like you dumb asses— is dealt with. Now I don't know what issues you guys have with each other—" she held up her hand as both Ben and Alec started to interrupt "—and I don't much care. I need everyone's support here. So deal with whatever it is that's bothering you without causing chaos. Do I make myself clear?" she looked at them both and Alec's unflagging temper simmered.
"You're my CO, Max, not my mother," he snapped.
"Then it's an order," she replied coolly.
Ben's eyes narrowed. "Taking lessons from Zack?"
Max swung around to face him. "I know you don't like authority, Ben. But here's where I don't give a shit. If people aren't willing to take direction—then they make their own direction—elsewhere."
Ben froze and then everyone in the room heard his vulnerability in his voice. "Are you kicking me out of Terminal city?"
Max grabbed his hands. "No. Ben, you are my brother and I love you—" Alec stiffened, "—but I need you on board and ready and willing to follow me. If you can't or won't accept my lead, then you are endangering everyone. I can't have that on my conscience."
He looked down at her and then shuffled his feet, giving Zan and Aiden a sideways look.
Max understood. "Zan, Aiden, can you guys wait outside?"
Once they closed the door behind them Ben spoke.
"He made you leave me, Max. I know that you wanted to come with me and he made you go. I lost you and I almost lost me. I can't take orders from him."
Alec stared, incredulous. "You lost her? Max didn't speak to me for months after that little stunt. I had to watch her go on missions and know that if she died, she died hating me. If Max had gone with you then Manticore would have hunted her down. I was looking out for her and not being selfish."
Ben turned on him, wincing as his ankle throbbed. "Oh, and having her back in Manticore wasn't selfish? Huh? Like you didn't get some almighty kick out of having her there?"
Remembering the almighty kick that Max had delivered to his person, Alec winced.
Max's lips twitched at that and she had to look away.
"Did either of you ever stop to think that I did have a choice? Yeah, I chose to go back with Alec, because I didn't want them to find you, Ben." Max sighed. "I will not choose between the two of you. I want you both in my life, but not at each others throat. Can you at least try to get along? For me?"
"I'm willing to call a truce if Ben quits his campaign of Alec- bashing."
"What?" Max frowned. "This again?"
"Ask him," Alec offered, swiping at the lip still gushing blood.
Max gave Ben a questioning look. "Any idea what he's talking about?"
"He said I don't belong here," Ben blurted.
"And you said no one likes me." Alec shot back.
"Oh, God," Max shook her head and slumped to the desk. "I feel like I'm stuck in kindergarten." She looked between the two of them. "Or a bad Freudian dream."
"So this is what its like to argue with yourself," Alec said, suddenly seeing the humour in the situation.
Ben smirked. "Split personality- fun for all the family."
"Twice."
The two men chuckled and then fell silent, staring uneasily at each other.
Alec stood. "I don't like you because I went through hell when you ran away and again when you came back into Max's life. But for Max I'll put up with you. For Max, I call truce. Even if she is a pain in the ass at times."
Ben glanced at Max who was pretending not to have heard that last comment and then down at Alec's hand, extended. "I hate you for having her and not appreciating what you have. But for her, truce."
He grabbed Alec hand and tried to squeeze it to pieces.
"Great!" Max said as both men winced, their bravado reminding them of what injuries they had inflicted on each other. "Now can we get through the next ten minutes without a crisis?"
Even as the words spilled from her mouth, the door slammed open and Dek blurred into the room.
"I'm guessing not," Alec joked even as his stomach lurched.
Dek ignored him, his eyes intent on Max. "Max, its Pix."
Max's nails gouged into the table. She was scared that if she spoke she'd throw up and so the one word came out stark and clipped. "Yeah?"
"He's awake."
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