Chapter 7

Renfro's dark eyes were wide with pride. He had turned out just as wonderfully as she'd hoped. She paused to stifle a laugh at that thought. No, I never 'hoped'. Renfro was better than that. She had planned for him to come out like this. The next step of her brilliant plan was proving to be just as great a success as the first part.

Her soldier had passed the physical inspection with flying colors, this came as no surprise to her. She knew he would do well, he'd always been a good soldier. That had been his downfall, really, his flawless execution of being the perfect soldier.

She thought with an evil smile how fortunate she was that this moment was even possible. Not making him better, of course. She'd planned too well for that to fail. But that she had a chance to work with him was amazing, something she actually owed to 452 and Lydecker, the man who had been running from death for far too long. She would deal with him later, but for now, she reveled in the fact that 452 had practically gift wrapped 493 for her to have.

The snapped neck was beautiful, as well. His mind had been entirely in tact with a death like that. His beautiful mind, she thought with bittersweet bliss. She recalled her performance with Deck, to fool the man into thinking she didn't care what became of 493. It had worked out wonderfully, he'd ended up really coming through, for once. Too bad it had to take fooling him to get what she wanted. He really had the potential to be a great ally. If he wasn't such a damned sentimental fool, she thought, cringing again that he had allowed himself to become so attached as to call himself their "father".

Renfro stared at him condescendingly. Once again, he was disappointing her. But maybe this time, it could work to her advantage without him knowing. "Hello, Deck," she greeted him out of practicality.

Her black sheep of the staff sat down all too comfortably in the chair in front of her. He'd better enjoy that seat, he won't have the opportunity to sit down, or do anything for that matter, much longer

"Make yourself at home," he had the gall to say to her. "To what do I owe this…pleasure?"

She enjoyed seeing his frustration. Clearly, that he had to report to her bothered him. Something about his displeasure served to satisfy her. "Well," she explained, "I read the reports. They found two bodies in Seattle already, only a few days apart. He's accelerating."

"I'm on it," he replied succinctly.

"I hope so," Renfro told him, not satisfied with his control of the situation. But that's what I'm counting on. "At least the others are considerate enough to maintain a low profile. But this one…" she trailed, giving him an opportunity to explain himself, on the surface. Really, she just wanted to watch him as he realized his "kid" was a screw up, and there was nothing that "daddy" could do about it. She wondered what bullshit answer he would use to try and make it seem like it wasn't as horrible as it truly was.

"…is an anomaly," he replied, again, not offering much to his explanation.

Renfro wanted to laugh. Oh, Deck. I knew this would be amusing, she thought with a smile. "Is he?" she asked in disbelief, hoping to watch him squirm a bit, and hopefully sell the idea that she didn't give a damn about his "kids". It would work to her benefit if he thought she only wanted them hidden or dead.

"The other X5s…they never showed any signs of this type of pathology," he explained.

"So far," she continued to doubt and discredit him. "Did X5-493-" She stopped suddenly, remembering the name that Deck referred to his "son" as. "Or, um…would you prefer to call him the name the others gave him?" she asked. She stared at him with mocking eyes. "'Ben', is it?"

"X5-494 is fine," he replied.

She grinned. He was trying to hide his feelings. Funny, something the man surely prided himself in was his lack of emotion, but she could see right through his facade of the obedient general.

"Did he ever show any signs of psychosis before the '09 escape?" she asked, getting to the point.

"No," he answered honestly, not wondering where she was going with this line of questioning.

"Then what makes you think that the rest of this group aren't just waiting to implode? And let me remind you of something, Deck. Your kids are messy when they implode. We had to put down an entire class."

He somehow remained calm, but she could see she was getting to him. "The X2s were… an anomaly."

Renfro this time almost couldn't hold in her laughter. "Another anomaly! Well, they're starting to add up, aren't they? We executed 26 potential soldiers. The 4 we held onto for observation will spend the rest of their miserable lives muzzled and restrained. That is not an anomaly, Deck. That's a disaster."

She stood up before giving her order. "Find him. Bring him back to Manticore. And figure out what the hell went wrong with him."

What really ended up taking place had worked out for her quite nicely. 452 had been an unexpected addition to the mission. She had allowed 493 to return to base almost entirely in tact. Lydecker, as usual, had underestimated Manticore, never being able to see beyond his role as the "father" of his precious X5ers. He had never expected that Renfro would bring the soldier back, improve his once lost mind, and use him to do whatever she wished without needing to check with his "daddy" first.

Renfro smiled as she noticed how calm and silent the soldier was, standing in front of her. Perfectly obedient. He didn't even need her to tell him that he'd passed the physical examination. He was one of the better soldiers there.

It was the mental examination that she had been worried about. He had always been the most brilliant, which came at a price- his mind was also the most troubled. In the end, he had created his own reality, and could not in his fragile state find the difference between his and the actual reality.

Renfro thought bitterly again about 452. She had killed him. He had asked her, of course. I guess in the end, the soldier in him did win, Renfro thought. But the moment, though annoying with 452's meddling, had only created a better situation for Renfro. So looking back, she only found more satisfaction.

She stared at the reports, more than pleased with the findings. All signs of his flaws were gone. His mind was now better stable than most other X5s.

"How do you feel?" she asked him, curious to hear what he would say. She'd never had the opportunity to speak to him yet.

"Ready," came the simple reply.

"Your file was quite a read," Renfro commented. She was testing him. "Do you remember your past?" she asked.

"I remember all of my training, Ma'am."

"And?"

"There is no more."

"Where have you been these past 12 years?"

"Various missions for Manticore that required my memory of the mission to be erased, standard protocol."

Renfro smiled. She couldn't wait to give him his first assignment.


Max couldn't shake the horrible feeling overwhelming her. Alec had been gone for 2 weeks straight now with no word. Why hasn't he contacted me? She hadn't slept since he'd left, which was not unsual, given her shark DNA. But even she had her limits. She longed to lay in his arms again. She didn't want to sleep again unless it was with him.

The thought put a tiny smile on her face. She would have never imagined being with Alec could feel so natural and make her so happy. But you're not really with him, she reminded herself. It's just the running gag at work. But her heart told her otherwise. She really did feel like they were together, truly connected. Which was making the weeks without him seem even longer.

"Last package for the day!" Normal called to Max as he handed her a small box.

"Finally!" Max complained as she got onto her bike. She was eager to get out of there. She knew that nothing exciting lay ahead for her day, but for some reason she was very anxious to get home. There was a worry in her heart.

Gossip at work had finally moved beyond Alec and Jam Pony's latest couple. She'd been Alec-free in conversations for the past few days now. So why can't I stop thinking about him today? she wondered, her worry increasing, as she pedaled faster to get her last run overwith.


Max slumped onto the same couch that she'd last rested with Alec upon in Logan's old penthouse as soon as she came home from work. She sighed out of boredom and the worried feeling that she still hadn't managed to shake.

A clicking sound in another room caught the attention of her ears and she perked up with anticipation. Is someone here?

Max crept into the room to find Logan's computer on, a message coming through. I don't remember leaving this on she realized as confusion spread across her face. Being a transgenic, she had heightened senses, and so she stood for a moment trying to figure out if there was another presence in the place besides herself.

Her focus was interrupted though, as she read the words that were appearing on the computer screen as a message came through. What the hell? The computer hadn't had any activity since the day Alec received a message which by now was long ago. What is going on?

She read as the codename 'eyesonly4u' from some online love site came through. saw Ur profile. Ur hot. whatsup?

Max snorted as she read the lame message. Internet flirting these days! Please, now I can't even escape lame pickup lines in the privacy of my own home! This is probably some bored little 12 year old whose mommy and daddy grounded him. What a loser. She shook her head as she realized who it was to blame for this. Alec! That idiot must have signed me up as a joke. She reminded herself to add it to the list of reasons why she was going to kick his ass as soon as she saw him next.

Max typed a response: do your parents know you're not doing your homework right now? A thought then occurred to her. Damn. I'm just as big a loser for even talking to this little dweeb. As fun as the prospect of talking to an underage hornball sounded to Max for how she would spend her Friday evening, she realized that was the sign she was looking for that she needed to get out. She considered hitting up Crash. Or hell, at this point, I'd even be up for a good heist! Anything to get out of this depressing place!

We shood mEt. 2morO? the high place?

Max froze as she read the message. The high place... Her mind immediately took her to the top of the Space Needle. A place that very few people knew meant something to her. Not to mention, no one called it that. Except...Ben?

No! Ben died! You watched him die! She brushed off the eerie coincidence and it only annoyed her more that somehow a little dork had gotten to her through his challenged vocabulary.

Sure. We'll meet. In your dreams, kid! Which reminds me, isn't it past your bedtime? Anyway, nice chatting with you, but I'm gonna get back to my life!

With that Max turned around to leave, only to feel all her breath escape her as the face looming in front of hers scared her more than she thought possible. She stood completely frozen as she found herself staring face to face with a ghost.

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The handsome face of the man she was missing alone was harmless. But when she took in the haunting stare in his dark, empty eyes...the posture and the way he was holding himself together like a true soldier...the innocence in how calmly he was waiting there for her to notice him standing in the shadows...the expression that held so many stories behind it...

"Ben!" she exclaimed with a gasp as the breath finally escaped her. Max then began to come to her senses and wondered why she was talking to a figment of her imagination. The sight before her was definitely a sign that she needed to get out more...immediately!

But as she attempted to push through the silvery image in front of her, she realized it was solid, and she ended up closing all space between herself and the man in front of her. Her breath remained trapped in her throat for a different reason as she gazed longingly into the hazel pools that were taking her with their innocence and familiarity. A feeling crept up her spine and she felt a burning come over her cheeks. She desired this man and it was hard to deny it with how close she now was to his lips that looked soft and dry for her to take them with her own.

He only increased her desire and anxiety as he reached up with one hand to stroke the face that was so close to his own. "Max..." he said in a voice as calm and gentle as his touch.

She instinctively turned toward his touch before she came to her senses and backed away.

She found herself completely speechless as she stared at him. Who was this man in her apartment with the face that she knew so well?

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"Maxie..." he said to her, giving her a confused look. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost." He showed eyes of concern although he flashed her a confident and cocky grin.

"I..." she said after a pause. She still looked confused and didn't let her stare leave him as she continued to try and figure out who she was staring at and what had just happened.

"Max!" he repeated with a carefree stare mocking her tense state. "You look like you could use a massage. What do you say?" He gave her the familiar wiggling of his brow and his smirk as he made the suggestion.

"Alec!" she replied without thinking. The rest of the reply was going to be something like 'you're such an idiot sometimes', before she realized what she was saying. Alec? She again gave him a questioning stare.

"Okay!" Alec replied. "Remind me never to leave you on your own again! First you take me for your dead brother and then you can't tell if I'm really Alec! Just how many twins do you think Manticore cooked up of me? I mean, I know I'm good looking and all, but still, three gorgeous men with this face? I don't think the world can handle all of that, do you?"

Max snorted. "More like the world can't take another idiot like you!"

He moved his hand right above his heart in mock concern. "Maxie...that hurts me, you know. I thought you might have missed me."

"Like missing a pain in my ass!" she replied. She had missed him of course. If this is really Alec... She noticed, though, that his eyes that initially had appeared dark and troubled now looked carefree and full of spirit. His posture which she'd first taken to look like that of the perfect soldier now appeared more relaxed and natural, more true to his cocky nature. And he seemed to carry himself with an ego that couldn't be measured. It was definitely Alec.

She considered it just a fluke from the coincidence that her unknown internet perve had just reminded her of Ben right before she noticed Alec. Plus, it's been a while since I've seen Alec, she reasoned.

Finally, she allowed her body to process the excitement of Alec's return. She couldn't help but grin at him despite the slap upside his head that came next.

"Hey!" Alec complained, rubbing one hand against the spot where her hand had made contact with his head. "What the hell was that for?"

Max shrugged. "It's what you get."

"For what!"

"A number of reasons!" she told him. "Sticking me with Normal for 2 weeks, not contacting me at all, and sneaking up on me like that!"

"While you were what?" he asked her. "Enjoying some casual conversation with an internet hottie?" He was mocking her and it made her cheeks burn more.

"Oh, you enjoyed that?" she asked him in an accusing voice. "Because I'm pretty sure that you are the one that signed me up for that!"

"Well maybe I knew that you'd enjoy it so much!" he told her. "Maybe I anticipated you missing me and wanted you to still have some company. It's only because I care, Maxie!" He again gave her a feigned look of concern.

"Right!" she returned, rolling her eyes.

"So you didn't miss me...even a little?" he asked her as he gently poked her in the ribs.

Max felt a tiny blush coming over her cheeks. She tried to ignore it by focusing on something else. "So, what happened, anyway? As your girlfriend, I think I have a right to know!" She meant the comment to be lighthearted teasing, but the reaction it brought was not one she was expecting.

His eyes flinched for a moment as something dark within them flashed for a split second. But just as quickly, he was back to looking at her carefree and like a smart-ass. "Okay, my girlfriend. Why don't you show your boyfriend how much you missed him?" He again wiggled his brow at her.

Max couldn't deny that the desire to do just that was growing within her the longer she stared at him. His absence made her even more ready to quit running from the way she truly felt about him and she longed again to lay in his arms.

But something didn't feel quite right. Even as he was drawing a desire from her, she couldn't shake the feeling that had been following her all day long. Something was wrong. But she couldn't place what exactly that was.

She didn't have much more time to consider what exactly it was that was troubling her though, as she heard the distinct sound of another message coming through from the computer. Immediately, her eyes flashed over the terminal out of curiosity.

w8. U have 2 come. we have 2 talk. about the blue lady.

Max again felt her breath captured. Could this all really be such a coincidence? The message continued as she felt her heart racing. Ur in danger.

Before she could read the rest or allow one more question to form in her mind, Alec took all of her attention in one swift action as his lips pressed against hers. Her mouth opened out of surprise to the message and instinctive fear. Alec took advantage of the open passage for his tongue and felt the breath of her gasp fill his mouth before he interrupted it by tasting her.

Max found herself helpless to deny the desire that had building since she'd first realized his presence as she answered his kiss, showing him just how much she had missed him and the way he made her feel.

As Max enjoyed the taste of Alec, she felt the usual shrill go up her spine. But she couldn't help thinking that there was something different about his taste this time. He was so aggressive as he sucked, it was like he wanted to devour her in desperation of the limitations that this moment wasn't going to last forever.

Max pulled away not because she didn't enjoy it. On the contrary, she felt a rush course through her as her pleasure increased. But a feeling lingered that bothered her. As amazing as the kiss was, she didn't recognize it. Of course, she and Alec had only joined lips twice, so maybe she didn't remember as well as she thought she would. Nonetheless, she couldn't help herself from backing up to literally question the strange feeling that came with the taste of Alec this time. "Alec?" she asked him, staring into his dilated eyes.

Alec immediately it seemed realized that he was putting it on too strong. He responded not with words but with light kisses forming a line from her chin down to her neck where he sucked more gently, eliciting a moan of pleasure from Max.

This time, Alec pulled away, much to Max's dismay as she was getting into the moment. "Come on," he said, pulling her toward him gently as he wandered out of the room. "Where do you want to sleep tonight?"

Max grinned, realizing that as innocent as it might seem, she wanted to fall asleep to the feel of him surrounding her more than a passionate make out session right now. "How'd you know that I am due for a good nap?" she asked him with a pleased smile as she followed his lead out of the room.

Alec grinned. "It must be those awful bags under your eyes," he joked, though the sight of Max looked far from tired. She was more beautiful than he remembered. He made a mental note not to leave her for an extended period of time ever again.

Max punched him lightly in response. "Smart ass!" she exclaimed but with a grin. She then pulled him down toward the couch that was now familiar to her. She continued to pull his arms around her to complete the familiar feeling she'd been missing in his absence.

Max allowed herself to relax as she enjoyed the moment. Her eyes finally fluttered shut and the last sensation she felt before falling into a deep sleep was the touch of Alec's soft lips on her forehead in a chaste goodnight kiss.


a/n: thanks secret, deirax, christique, time2waste247, purplebunnywabbit, and dustori ! I am really glad to hear that you all are enjoying this.