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A Max/Alec fic.
Chapter Twelve.
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Disclaimer: See previous chapters ...
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A/N: I know, it's been ages since I've updated this. I'm a horrible person, I apologize profusely.
I'll try to finish this story before I start any new ones, I want to get it finished for you guys. I'm thinking a couple chapters, and it'll be finished.
Well, I'm sure none of us want to listen to me ramble on and on, so let's just get on with it, shall we?
I hope you guys like it, I know I'll love writing it.
As always, please read and review, I live for feedback!
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When they arrived at Terminal City, Max wasn't surprised in the least to see that the inhabitants had split themselves up into their series, banding together with their "own". The "normal looking" transgenics shied away from the "nomlies", not used to seeing them so close, if at all.
Max moved through the crowd with Alec and Joshua, catching looks from everyone. All of the nomlies recognized Joshua, and most of the X5s and upwards recognized Max and Alec. Several still had some contempt for Max, but she knew that most everyone respected Alec. He was a perfect soldier, and had a strong reputation from Manticore. She would have to use that to her advantage, knowing that he would be fine with it. It was the only way to gain their trust.
Sighing, she made her way up to a makeshift stage area, climbing up with Alec and Joshua. There were murmurs throughout the crowd of transgenics, all of them clearly wondering what she was about to do or say.
"Alright, so I know you guys got lots of questions, and this is all a bit disorienting, but trust me when I say you're better off here than at Manticore," she spoke, her voice deep and strong.
A fair number of the more "unusual" transgenics nodded their heads in agreement, but the later X series took issue with that.
"Says who? You? You destroyed our home, you kidnapped us from Manticore!" one of the X6s said.
A few others voiced their agreement, and Max knew she'd have to do some damage control before she had a riot on her hands. She turned to Joshua, placing a hand on his arm. "You know the others best. Can you take them aside and make sure they're cool?"
He nodded. "Sure, Little Fella."
Max smiled, watching him move through the crowd and take a large majority with him to another part of the complex. The remaining X series looked at her with annoyed, expectant expressions on their sculpted faces. She didn't know where to begin, but luckily she had a little help.
"Hey, you guys can bitch and moan all you want, but we all know that life at Manticore was less than stellar," Alec reminded them. He turned to the X5s to the left of the stage. "I know for a fact that most of you hated the forced breeding, and the unquestionable obedience. But it's more than that," he told them, his voice carrying over their scoffs. "Manticore was messed up, guys. I mean, the theory is all well and good, but we're more than soldiers. We're people, and we have rights. This woman," he said, motioning to Max, "saved every single one of you from that maniac, Renfro. And she didn't get out of there without loss. They injected her with a virus, specifically targeted for a man whose only crime was that he was a Freedom Fighter, trying to get the truth out to the people. Anyone here wanna tell me how they think that's okay?"
Silence rang through the crowd, and Max gripped Alec's hand, thanking him for his help. "Look, we're not gonna make you stay here if you don't want to. We're not Manticore. But if you want to stay here, then we need to work together. Those of us that can't leave," she continued, emphasizing the 'us', "are gonna need help. We're family, and I would put my life on the line for each and every one of you."
Alec nodded. "And she did."
Max exhaled, thinking things were finally getting on track. "Alright, so first things first ... steady employment. Who here is willing to get out there and find themselves a job?"
A few seconds passed before one hand rose in the air. Max recognized her as a fellow X5. A few more rose after that, and soon most of the people in front of them showed their willingness to help out.
Max smiled. "Okay, good. I'm sure I can swing employment for some of you at my work, and the others, we'll get you stationed throughout the city. Next up on the agenda, if we're gonna be living here full-time, we're gonna need some decent accommodations. Who's good for supply runs?"
A few more people raised their hands, and Max paired up a couple X5s with some X6s and one X7. "Alright, come find me later, and we'll work out a system. Next up, we're gonna need money, and lots of it. Anyone got a problem with using 'frowned upon' methods to get what we need?"
There were actually a few grins throughout the crowd, and no one put their hands up.
Max smirked at Alec. "Good. 'Cause we're gonna need weapons too, and they don't just mass supply those at your local gun store."
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Max never would have imagined herself in a position of leadership, especially when it came to her fellow transgenics. She was happy to follow Zack's lead, and she was a good soldier ... but this was new. Alec slid easily into the role of her second-in-command. She'd offered him the job, but he'd shrugged it off, telling her he was good where he was. She was more suited for it, he was just her arm-candy.
Max smacked him playfully when he told her that, rolling her eyes when he caught her hand and tugged her into his chest, swallowing her retort with his luscious mouth.
Max had managed to get four of the X6s and one X5 a job at Jam Pony. Any more would have been pushing it, as Normal was testy enough as it was. But, they were all good at their jobs, and did their best to not arouse suspicion. Some of them also moved out of TC, but stayed in Seattle, finding apartments around the city.
Max kept her apartment with Original Cindy, not wanting to separate herself from her old life. Alec stayed with her most nights, and sometimes they both ended up staying at TC with the others. Construction was moving fairly well, but they had to be discrete about the lumber and cement trucks that they robbed. It wouldn't bode well if the citizens and government of Seattle figured out that the previously uninhabitable Terminal City was the new stomping grounds of genetically empowered soldiers. For this same reason they had to work at night, and leave the outside of the complex as run-down as it had been when they'd arrived there. But the inside was a totally different story.
They kept the main routes as clear as they could, leaving room for large trucks to drive through the small city. But they now had real rooms, including a computer area, bedrooms and even a couple training rooms. A couple X6s had 'borrowed' some equipment from a large gym two cities over, and they now had fully functional areas for them to hone their skills, or even just let off some steam. Max had used the punching bags a few times herself, usually whenever Logan pissed her off, which he'd been doing a lot lately.
He was the one dark spot in her new, happy life. He refused to accept the fact that they weren't getting together, and shrugged off the virus like it was no big deal. As far as he was concerned, he could just get another transgenic to infuse him with their blood if something happened to him, or Max could make more of an effort to find the cure.
She'd nearly hit him when he'd made that statement, but she reminded herself that she wanted to bruise him, not kill him. He was constantly asking her to go on Eyes Only missions for him, and she tried numerous times to drill it into his head that she didn't have time, that all of her effort had to go into making a new home for her transgenic family. As much as Logan claimed that that part of her life never bothered him, it clearly did.
She'd finally told him that she needed some time apart to re-evaluate their relationship, and that if he knew what was good for him, he'd stay away for a while. The glare she'd sent him had seemed to get through to him, but Max was still doubtful.
All-in-all, Max adjusting to the change in her life pretty damn well. And honestly, she had to attribute most of that to Alec. He was there for her literally whenever she needed him, whether it was for a de-stressing cuddle, or a snarky sparring match. All was well ...
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Ames White paced around the remains of the Manticore facility, his men standing awkwardly behind him with worried expressions on their faces.
"Who would like to explain to me why none of these mutant freaks are responding to the 'come home' signal we've been sending out?" he asked to the practically trembling men.
Silence rang out for a few seconds before one brave soul spoke up. "Sir, we believe that the ones who attacked the facility in the first place have turned the soldiers against Manticore."
White turned to glare at the man. "Well, that's unfortunate."
Another soldier let his voice be heard, "We believe the transgenic behind it was one that had previously escaped in '09. Designation X5-452, Sir."
White nodded slowly, thinking over everything he knew about the project. "Well, we'll just have to cut off the head of the snake, won't we? I want 452 found, now. It's time to clean up this mess."
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End of chapter twelve.
Again, sorry for the long wait. I'll try to get this finished ASAP for you guys.
Reviews are appreciated, flame if you must, but constructive criticism is much more useful.
Until next time ...!