So sorry for the extendedly long wait. I have a lot written out but I already know if my beta doesn't read it there will be mass amounts of grammer errors that I will get ridden for so its better in the end to wait – and not throw flaming objects at me – and enjoy to finish piece.
Recicup: thanks for your continued support! Heres the update and hopefully at the end of this week I'll have my next one. My beta accidentally deleted it at work and has to beta the 'epie' again.
I wont take up anymore time so on with the 'epie'.
Season 4 ep.2
We had just stepped into TC's main building when we were greeted by our "welcoming committee" of sorts. Krit approached first, looking concerned considering the circumstances. Fixit and Bugler trailed in behind him as they were flanked by Syl. Bugler peered up at me and spoke first, "Ma'am…I mean, Max…are you okay?"
I smiled down at him. He was really trying to stop saying "Ma'am", but lately it seemed more cute than annoying. I rarely think of anything as cute as of late, but I'll contribute this to pregnancy hormones. I rubbed his head in response, making sure it was the hand that wasn't covered in blood. "Yeah we're fine. Got a lot of work ahead of us but we're good." I told him. I looked to Alec as he gave me a strange warming look before Krit broke our sudden spell.
"See you guys got back here okay." Krit's voice was concerned but weary. "Yeah, lot of…" I looked down at Bugler before shifting my head back up, "Stuff that we need to review and go over." They nod, "Yeah got a few words myself. Like, where did the blood come from?" Krit commented with a pointed glare at Alec. Alec's eyes narrowed as he responded, "I don't think now's the time for petty sib crap. Let's focus on what's more important." He gestured for us to walk.
I was so over the male posturing! "The blood isn't mine, Krit." I iterated. He seemed to visibly relax somewhat as he let out a deep breath. He met my eyes with a tired brotherly smile. "Just as long as my little sis is okay." I smiled at his brotherly protectiveness. "No worries. I know how to take care of myself." I was hoping my smile would reassure him and that he would sense how I really felt, because to be honest, I felt a little off-kilter due to the mayor's current state of health. We had a lot riding on him.
"Hey Max!" Cece and Daniel came running out with Mole and Joshua not to far behind them. Can't anyone see that I'm really jonesing for a shower right now? "Please tell me that Mayor Preston's alive?" Mole growled out with a hint of worry in his voice. Even though his stance didn't show any signs. Something you hardly ever got from the lizard man, "He's alive…barely." I answered wearily.
Too long of a day and I seriously needed a shower... "Okay guys. We need to talk. Our place…" I indicate Alec and myself, "in 20 minutes." I told them. I knew they wouldn't need to be ordered on this one. Everyone nodded in agreement as Alec and I left for our place. For once I was glad our little apartment was less than five minutes from our current position. Made for a short walk and more shower time.
I wasn't even completely through the door when I started to strip the bloodied business suit from my form, the ick factor of all the blood on my clothes made me want to puke. I heard Alec groan, "Damn it Max! Will you at least let me close the door first? Or do you want to flash the entire hallway?" Alec asked sarcastically. "Why should it matter? I have an undershirt on." I called out from the bathroom.
"It matters to me because I don't want all of Terminal City seeing something only I get to see." he called out. Shuffling his own outer wear off he changed in the bedroom while I was in the bathroom, "By the way, did you happen to notice how Gamble was looking at you?" he asked walking into the bathroom, sans business attire, now with sweater, jeans thrown on and his Hanes foot wear in place.
I was stripping my knit pants away from my legs when I felt more than saw him lingering in the doorway, watching me undress. I shrugged as I tossed my clothes in the hamper even as I smirked internally at being able to feel his presence. I looked at the articles in there…though I am seriously tempted to toss them now…I doubted I could get the blood out…if ever.
"I noticed. It's nothing to worry about. Sides he's not my mate you are, which means he's barking up the wrong tree." Alec shrugged his shoulders, "True…just hope HE knows that. I don't share well with others." I straightened up as he tries to look indifferent. I know the feeling…
Some baser instinct within me felt the need to reassure my mate, "Is that a hint of jealousy I detect in your voice?" I say as a smile tries to make its way to my face. His jaw ticked just slightly, the only indication that I was on to something, "Nah! Not me." He denied, like it was nothing. But I folded my arms and stared him down, making him huff out a breath in defeat.
"Just… well…" he scratched the back of his head…something he did when he wasn't a hundred percent happy with the trail of the conversation, "He's rich, he's smooth…" he gets lost in thought for a second and I know who he's thinking of besides Gamble, he then indicates the dilapidated apartment around us, "He can offer you a hell of a lot more than a makeshift apartment in a radioactive town. Being with me just keeps a target on your back at all times."
I smirked a little, which causes Alec to have a hint of concern in his eyes as he raises a brow at me. "What?" he asked doubtfully and a little curiously. "I like it when you're jealous." I told him as I approached and wrapped my arms around his neck. Again he couldn't – or wouldn't argue. "Plus it makes me a bit horny…" he smiled a hint on that one as he leaned his head down to mine, which in turn had me smiling.
"Doesn't mean I have to like it that some other guy is checking you out." He started to take me around the hip when he inhaled my scent and wrinkled his nose, "Shower. You still smell like blood. I don't like it." He gently maneuvered me into the shower stall to start getting wet. As much as I didn't like the idea of him walking away I knew what he meant. He didn't like smelling blood on his pregnant mate.
Not only does it screw with one's sense of smell and prevent other scents from reaching his nose, depending on how heavy it is, but at the same time, who wants to smell blood on their pregnant mate? Well, unless she giving birth and I'm nowhere near giving birth anytime soon. Sides, any longer and the smell would have started to make me nauseous. It was only my horniness for Alec's jealous moment that had me momentarily forgetting about it.
Leaving the bathroom, he left me to my own devices. Knowing I had less than fifteen minutes, I scrubbed down to the near point of pain before leaving and throwing on my faded navy blue "Saints" sweats. Throwing my hair back into a ponytail, I was just in time as Alec let in everyone. "So, what's this meeting about?" Mole asked, "And why here?" he added. "We'll wait for Max. She's the one who called it." Alec retorted as everyone settled in.
I walked in, seeing Mole leaning up against the wall next to the sorry excuse of a couch that Alec, Cece and Daniel were sitting on. Cece must have figured it still wasn't such a good idea to have Alec next to Daniel just yet. They were still on uneven terms. Joshua was by the window looking out at the world, more or less. Krit took to leaning against the bar while Syl sat on top of it.
"What do we know so far?" I asked everyone, trying to piece together this attempted murder fiasco.
"The shooter is more than likely a pro... ex-military would be my guess." Alec answered unconsciously weaving his hand through his hair.
"And you know that how?" Krit asked, slightly belligerent. Alec narrowed his eyes at Krit. I really wish I could understand what's crawled up Krit's ass!
Alec answered pointedly, "One shot. No more than one. It took out one of our own and downed the Mayor. Only a pro can do that. It's probably a rifle with a telescopic lens that is used for sniper shots. Only someone that is an expert with firearms can make that one shot. Someone who has spent a lot of time at the range. Could even be ex-military, or possibly a cop."
"And you don't think it could probably be ex-Manticore?" Krit asked, again defying Alec at every turning point, not to mention setting everyone in the room on edge.
Alec bounded up from his seat in agitation. At the same time, my eyes shot to Krit. Neither of us liking the sound of what Krit was implying. "A Manticore alumni?" a near mad laugh came from Alec for all of a few seconds before he said, "Someone from HERE possibly?" Krit just shrugged his shoulders. Alec then shook his head in disbelief, as if in stupidity of the suggestion, "Why the hell would anyone here shoot Mayor Preston?" it was the most logical thing to ask.
Krit couldn't rebuttal as Alec continued his argument, "We were within SECONDS of becoming US citizens! A bone-head move like that would cost us everything! Where's the motive for someone in here?" Krit next words had me agitated now, "You mean here?" he indicates the floor we're standing on, "In a radioactive wasteland surrounded by on-the-take sector cops that are just waiting for the chance to pop us off one by one." Alec tried to ignore his words, "Its better than Manticore."
"Alec's right..." I say interrupting Krit, but he ended up interrupting me with a grunt and disgusted eye-roll, "Figures! Side with our brother's reject clone." He grumbled the last part like it was curse, but all of us heard it. I could feel more than see the vein in Alec's neck twitch in response to that statement.
"What the hell is THAT supposed to mean?" I asked my brother, not wanting Alec to get into his face even as I was trying to keep my temper down. That would spell trouble, and I didn't want anything in our apartment broken on account of two X5 males having a pissing contest cause my brother's acting like an ass. I placed my fists on my hips in irritation. I love my brother to death, just like I love all my sibs, but his attitude lately was getting on my last nerve.
Might just be pregnancy hormones, but I knew I wasn't the only one noticing his belligerence toward Alec recently, contradicting everything he said, Krit sees our dead brother's face on a cocky smart Alec that's mated to me.
Just like what you used to see with Alec…my mind supplied before I shook my head of it…gonna have to talk with Krit about Alec more in depth later on. In the meantime, we needed to get this settled, and to do that, he needed to answer what needed to be answered and move on.
But he didn't answer my question, just sighed and directed the conversation back to the original intent of why we're here. "I'm just saying it's a possibility. We can't rule it out. In case you haven't noticed, many of the Manticore alumni are still NOT HERE." He indicates the residence we're currently occupying, "They were brainwashed at Manticore just like we were... some more than others."
I shut my eyes at some of the people from Manticore that I remembered, whom they'd stolen their lives from as I heard Krit's voice continue… "Some may still be doing what they know best. Killing. And they could be making money at it. I think it could have been a hired hit."
That made me pause and nearly slouch for a moment. Like it or not, Krit had a point…I just didn't want to admit to it…yet. It is true that Manticore had about 1000 transgenics total when I blew the building…Correction – I blew their cover, causing Renfro to call it a day and wipe us out…. We only have about 250 in Terminal City. It makes one wonder where the others are? And what they're doing on the outside?
Alec folded his arms in defiance, standing his ground, "No. there's no logic in it. No transgenic in his right mind would ruin the one chance to free us, even for a pay day." He looks pointedly at Krit, "Freedom can't be bought for us, we have to earn it with everything we have that's legal. Otherwise people will never see us as people, only the monster under the bed." Alec's words hit home.
"The genetic mistake…the monster in the basement…" I muttered out past sudden dry lips, the very words I had called Ben before I had to kill him. Thankfully it seemed only Syl might have heard it, even with the transgenic hearing in the room. But if she did, she gave no indication. I didn't want to explain that now, not with so much more important things to discuss.
"I went through probably more of the Psy Ops brainwashing than all of you put together, and let me tell you, our IQs are still off the charts and logic would dictate to stand down on this one. No, there's no chance! None of our own would be that stupid!" Alec shook his head and slashed his hand in the air, ending this train of thought.
Syl stood up, trying to play peacemaker, "Look, I don't know about the rest of you, but I see both sides of this." She turned to Alec, "Like it or not, we can't rule a transgenic out-" she raised a hand so she could continue through his slight protest, "UNTIL we find proof that rules them out." Then she turned back to Krit, poking him in the chest, "And if you'd open your ears Smart Ass, you'd notice that Alec technically agreed with you...in a sense." Krit glared at her, apparently not liking what he was hearing.
"He mentioned ex-military, and that's what Manticore is…right?" she goaded as he nodded in reluctance. "So before the two of you get into your little pissing contest, do us all a favor and try to work together instead of fighting. If you haven't noticed, Max is pregnant, and neither she nor the baby needs the stress from the two of you butting heads to be on top." Both guys looked at me.
Their expressions clear, angry at each other but sorry for me and the baby. You could almost feel the 'Sorry Max' leaking from their faces, her reprimand ended off with, "Next time, take it outside where transgenic hearing be damned. Do I make myself clear?"
I smiled at my sister's knack for being able to shut Krit up. I could clearly see them being mated…once they got their heads out of their asses long enough to see it too…Krit's jaw clenched now, "Syl, are you kidding me? He's Ben's CLONE...or are you too blinded by the fact that he's 'helped' out on an occasion or two?" his voice was beginning to sneer as he faced Alec and continued.
"Ben went psycho! It's not that unlikely that Alec's genetics here are waiting to implode same as Ben's did. It's just a matter of time before HE will too! It's genetics Syl!" Krit jabbed a finger in the air at Alec's direction as his words rang louder and louder. I could hear Joshua briefly growl under his breath at Krit words. The 'Big Fella' tended to be as over protective of Alec as he was of me. Even more so now that I'm pregnant.
The growl didn't register to Krit's ears. It was that or he ignored the warning to just shut up. Sides, Joshua himself had had a brother that had similar issues. He knew that the same thing could have been said for him, but we never went there. We knew he wasn't his brother. Same way we know Alec is not the same person as Ben. Genetics are the same but they each made different decisions in their lives that brought them to different places. Ben's choices killed him. Alec's choices were mostly driven by love of another. First Rachel, now me.
I knew I had to defuse the tension here, "That's not completely accurate, Krit. Some people can gain hereditary diseases that provoke that type of behavior but end up leading completely normal lives for life. It's nature versus nurture."
"Alec just said himself that he took the brunt of the re-indoctrinations! Don't you think that might make him looney tunes too? Possibly start pulling teeth and hunting people down in the woods for sport?" Oh crap! I knew those were fighting words.
They hit at the heart of his greatest fear…that he might one day become just like Ben due to having the exact same genetic make-up. And I knew what was at the heart of his fear for me. That, on the off chance, our child MIGHT, and that's a pretty big MIGHT, inherit that same trait. And for my brother to poke at my mate's biggest weakness made me see blinding red.
Therefore, in my anger, I pushed Krit with both hands hard, causing him to stumble back a step in shock at what I was doing. I pointed my finger under his nose and hissed, my inner cat demanding to defend it's rightfully chosen mate, "Listen to me 'oh mighty big brother' while I connect the dots for you, cause I'm only going to say this once. So listen up and fast!"
Now he looked stumped. It wasn't everyday he had little sister Maxie raising her voice at the elders. "I chose Alec as my mate because I love him, more than I've ever thought I could love someone. If you can't accept that he's a part of my life for the long haul, then pack up your gear and get the hell out of Dodge. I will not tolerate you constantly dissing my man. You either fall in line and learn to live with how we role or you can leave. The choice is yours!"
Seeing how angered I was, Alec stepped between us and guided me back, keeping his body between myself and Krit while making sure to hold me carefully at bay. He knew I could react without thought when upset, and as bad as it was, nobody was immune to reacting when hormones and anger levels were high. His head turned halfway back to Krit, "Frankly I don't give a rat's ass regarding how you feel about me."
He glanced at me to make sure I was okay and once assured, he turned fully and faced Krit head-on, his voice deadly quiet. "I don't care what you think of me cause I'm NOT Ben! I've been living in his shadow long enough, I'm done with the complex." Alec stood nose to nose with Krit and bit out, "This is a warning…the next time you upset Max like this, Max's brother or not, you'll deal with me. And I can guarantee you, it's not going to be pretty. Got it?"
With my mate and my brother facing off like combatants, I knew a line had been drawn by Alec and I hoped and prayed that Krit heeded the warning.
I stepped between them. Male posturing is so over-rated! "Alright guys, enough. I asked you to come here so we can figure out who the shooter is, not threaten each other into a pissing match. We need to work together. So Krit, if you're staying, put those brain cells to work in figuring out who our sniper is and what his motive has to be."
Alec and Krit still glared at each other, sizing each other up, but in the end, Krit raised his hands up in a surrender motion, "Fine…this is for you Maxie. I'll back off." But Krit had one more final thought, "For now. But make no mistake brother. I'll be watching you." The glare Alec sent was enough to make Krit shift slightly. Krit needs to realize Alec is one of the, if not the, top alpha around here for a reason.
I gave both of them my patented irritated look as they both backed away from each other warily. Krit sat back down on the end of the couch with Syl sitting on the arm next to him. Alec squatted by our space heater, warming his hands. One look to me made him let it go…for now.
"Now that the show's over, can we move on to the subject at hand?" Mole groused around his cigar. I wrinkled my nose at the smell as he took an extended drag, inhaling the aroma. At least he's not looking for a place to spit…Besides, I really needed to have a chat with Mole about smoking in my apartment…or at the very least around me while I'm pregnant. But now was not the time for that convo.
Mole removed the cigar from his lips and jabbed it in the air toward Max, "What if it's not a pro? What if Max here was the target and they missed."
Everybody fell quiet and looked at me. Pins could have dropped with a thud it was that quiet in here and that was making me feel edgy. The thought really hadn't occurred to me and I didn't like the idea of some trannie hater accidentally missing his mark. I'd rather be hit and not let any more innocent blood fall due to me. I think Alec would have protested on that one though.
Make no mistake, I'm glad I'm alive, I'm thrilled my baby is fine but someone may end up dying because the shooter was actually aiming at me. I could have survived…well possibly. The Mayor could very well die.
Alec glared at Mole for even suggesting that notion. "It wasn't meant for Max." Alec declared as he stood up. He glanced at me and then back to Mole, "I still say this is a pro job Mole. They knew what they were doing. One shot took down an X5 bodyguard and placed a slug in the Mayor that was meant to kill him, but instead, it put him in a coma. If they had wanted to kill Max, she wouldn't be standing here."
That kind of blew away my inner "proud to have survived" thoughts. It also had me looking at him like he was an utter moron, "Alec, how can you dismiss that so quickly? In case you have forgotten, White's wanted my transgenic head on a plate since the day we met. Not to mention most of the populace out there! I think it's highly possible that White's cult has something to do with this. The shot happened just before signing the treaty. Who else has a bigger reason to not want this treaty to happen than the freaking Conclave?" I blew at him.
Alec glared at me, "It wasn't for you Max. This was a professional hit. You wouldn't be standing here if that bullet was meant for you."
Mole stabbed a finger in Alec's direction, "Who died and made you an all knowing God here? You X5s think no one else out there has the brains you do!"
Alec was growing more irrational the more Mole spoke. That much was clear to everybody. The things his testosterone levels are doing to his brain due to my pregnancy was an amazing thing to witness… sometimes!
Mole continued arguing, "I'm just saying we can't rule it out. That it could have been a botched hit that missed its intended target."
Alec got in Mole's face, anger in his stance with his fists clenched at his sides. "If you don't pipe down you chain smoking lizard, you and I are going to have a chat really soon about how and when to use tact!"
"What the hell would I need that for?" Mole snarled.
"Too much stress on pregnant females can cause miscarriages you moron. If norms can figure it out, why can't you? You just keep pointing out that Max is the target…"
"I'm just saying it's possible. You apparently don't see the target on her back." Mole gruffed out in annoyance.
"Mole, shut the f…" Alec stopped mid rant to try and get control of his emotions, "I swear to god if you don't shut up…"
Mole towered over Alec and growled, "What? I can't speak freely because you knocked Max up?" he gestured to my stomach in irritation.
"Not anymore, you can't. Not when it boils down to the possibility of any harm coming to Max while she's pregnant due to you scaring the bananas out of her." I briefly looked at Alec at his word usage…really bananas?
The ludicrous look on Mole's face spoke more than his words did…almost, "So you're shooting down my idea…not because it makes sense, but because you don't want Max to hear it?"
Fed up with males and their pissing contests…first Alec and Krit and now Alec against Mole! I mean…what the hell? It was time to put an end to this! I snapped out, "Hey guys, I'm right here! Stop talking about me like I'm not in the room." I elbow my way between the two of them and glare at Alec, "And YOU! I'm not some friggin' china doll Alec! You should know that better than anyone!" I push him, causing him to stumble back a step.
Alec's hands went out in surrender, like he was trying to placate me, like one would do with a small child having a mild tantrum, only I wasn't a fucking child, which made me angrier. Then I heard Mole actually snort behind me, following that statement. Knowing where he was behind me, I took a step back and elbowed him in the gut with my elbow. I knew it wouldn't do much to the big guy, but I needed an outlet, and hearing his mild grunt of pain, followed by another grunt of "pointy little…" helped ease my anger…just a tiny bit.
I turned fully on Mole, "And you! Stop egging him on!" he puffed his cigar once more as he straightened up. And that was it! I had had it with the smoking of that stinking stogie and wanted it out of my home! "And by the way, put that cigar out!" I demanded.
Mole blinked in surprise and didn't do as I told him quick enough for my liking. I reached up, yanked the stogie out of his mouth and marched to the window, throwing it outside into the cold air as it hit the metal fire safety stairs outside. I slammed the window shut with a snap and turned to find everyone peering at me in shock.
I didn't care. I redirected my anger in another direction as I pointed at Alec, ignoring the looks of the others. I had to take charge. "You!" I marched toward him while Alec kept that stupefied look on his face…the male look of a guy that has no clue what to do with hormonal females and was trying to figure out a solution to the problem. I pushed him into a seat… the one he had vacated at the end of the couch. With hands on my hips, I bent over him. "Let ME get something straight with YOU 'dick'!" I purposely used the name I would have given him to ensure my words came out loud and clear.
"I'm the leader here. You are NEVER to instruct my people to keep quiet about anything as important as this. Do I make myself clear?" Standing this close to him, I saw his eyes flash with two ranges of emotions. One was absolute lust that his pregnant woman was taking charge…which begs the question, why do men like that? The second one, his more logical thinking brain seemed to want to yell at me but was in realization that maybe just maybe he'd over reacted on this one….at least that's what I'd like to think was going on in his head.
But I was wrong. The lust was still clear, but the low growl showed he was still smarting.
"Bedroom…NOW!" Alec growled as he jumped back up, grabbed my arm and began hauling me to the bedroom.
What the fuck? Seeing the curious gazes I barely suppressed the urge to shriek out my next words.
"Alec! This is not the time for sex!" I said as I tried to struggle out of his grip.
"Who says it's about sex Max?" He opened the bedroom door and led me inside. He raised his voice enough for the others to hear, "This will only take a moment."
"Hmph! No wonder Maxie doesn't act too satisfied if all you're giving is 'a moment'!" Daniel commented. Alec gritted his teeth and shot his eyes down the hall…he couldn't see Daniel but at that moment, I kind of felt sorry for the guy.
I huffed into the bedroom with my head high, Alec walked in behind me and closed the door. He didn't bother locking it, but leaned back against it with his arms crossed, his body effectively blocking the door.
"Are you planning to emasculate me every time we're in front of others Max?" Alec asked in a low voice, his eyes piercing me.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, not quite as low as him. I didn't care if others heard.
He started to walk toward me, causing me to back up. Crap! I think I just enraged his inner alpha male.
"Maxie, I can handle being second-in-command. I have no problem with you being our leader. I never raised a fuss about it and can care less about who is in charge…most of the time." He surmised before getting serious again, "However, you're pregnant now. This brings our situation to a whole different level."
My back found the firm surface of the wall, I couldn't back up any further and Alec stood in front of me with a hand just above my head on the wall. He leaned in, "Check with some of the other X5s that have gone through this Max. We're part cat, which means part animal, which means periodically, I'm going to get all chauvinistic on you and everyone else. I'm going to get all protective and at times, stupid." Despite the seriousness of the situation I had to crack a smile.
"So first thing's first…never EVER dress me down in front of the others again. If you don't agree with what I have to say talk to me, but not to the point of tearing me down. Talk to me in private, like we're doing right now. Second, show me a little respect. And third…"
His mouth swooped down in a quick move and kissed me, just long enough to pacify my anger, but work up my lust. He raised his head and smirked knowingly, "Leave the big boss lady in the bag till we're in bed. Having her come out when we're in a room full of people doesn't help the situation at all." I couldn't help but smirk a tiny bit, "You saying I'm bossy in bed?" I asked.
He smirked, then shrugged, "You have a few control issues, which I am happy to tame. However, there is a time and place for that. Dressing me down in front of others doesn't help us at all. We lead together…well I help you lead, but same difference. You're just gonna have to get used to the effects your pregnancy has on me because it's not going to change."
"Alright…" I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the wall, letting out a tired sigh. Alec kissed me on the forehead and then asked, "Are you okay Max? You look like you're worn out."
I blinked my eyes open to see the concern in his. I smiled reassuringly, "I'm fine. Let's get this over with."
Alec gave that smirk again, "So we can get everyone outta here and continue where the kiss left off, right?"
I winked, "Later. Right now, we have a sniper to catch."
When Alec and I got back into the living room, everyone was apparently discussing the sniper without us. Alec stood next to me but was glaring daggers at Daniel. Alec apparently had not forgotten Daniel's earlier comment.
Syl spoke up, "I think Max's idea can be the most logical. If this Conclave has such a beef against transgenics, it's a definitive motive to stop the treaty. Does anyone know who else would have a motive to do the same?"
Mole snorted, "It's a shorter list to tell you who does NOT have a motive to kill us or stop the treaty." I shot him a small look. We're not THAT hated…okay even I had to drop the disapproving glare on that thought.
"Guys, this is getting us nowhere. Let's try writing it down." Alec announced as he walked toward the couch. Reaching in the space behind it, he pulled out a dry erase board. I was catching on to what he was doing so I grabbed a spare chair, rickety as it was and we used it as an easel. Then Alec disappeared behind the kitchenette counter, opened a drawer and found some markers and an eraser. Coming back, he checked the black marker and red marker and found both were working.
Using the black marker, he wrote the word "SUSPECTS" and underlined it. Then he moved over a few inches and wrote "MOTIVES". Under the Suspects column he wrote;
White – aka Crazy Conclave
Under the Motives column, he wrote "Wipe out transgenics, squash any power we may achieve, possible world domination."
Then he turned back to the group, "Let's try to keep the suspect pool narrowed as much as we can. We can't say 'All trannie haters' for example." He gave a pointed look to Mole who in turn looked on stunned, "What? So my suspects are obvious? Who cares it could have been." He defends. "Give me specific names or groups ONLY if they have a motive you know is true." Alec continues on.
"Logan…" Joshua said quietly, the first thing he said since walking into my apartment tonight.
I raised a brow and asked gently, "Why would you think that Big Fella?"
"He loves Max, but Max doesn't love him. Max loves Alec. Having his baby." He looks happily over at my stomach. Despite the dire situation, I can't help but smile at the thought.
Alec shook his head, "While that's a nice jealousy act. It's not really a huge motive for attempting to assassinate the Mayor, Josh." Puzzled Alec asked, "How would Logan even get a connection to the Mayor? It's not like they're old buds on each other's speed dial. I don't see the Mayor throwing away over two hundred votes just for Logan's jealousy act. The Mayor was riding on us to get back into the office next year."
"Revenge?" Joshua suggested hesitantly to Alec noting that he had a point. "Get back at Max for loving someone else by hurting those around her?" it actually did have merit…a little…
"I'm still not connecting your dots Josh…" Alec admitted.
Joshua continued like it was so simple, in reality for him it probably was that simple, "The treaty…Logan knows treaty is important to Little Fella…so Logan stop treaty because he's mad at her…" Thinking about it for a moment Alec turned to me, "Does Logan have any formal sniper training?" I answered, "Not to my knowledge. Although I can admit he was pretty decent with a gun. But not quite that good. Logan always had people all over to do his dirty work for him if he needed them."
"Like say all over the states?" Alec asked, "Trained people that could make the shot perhaps?" I looked over at him, "He mentioned one time that he had people in LA but I don't see the logic there." Now I had all eyes on me, "Oh for the love of…" I pinched the bridge of my nose, "Jealousy isn't a high enough motive. Logan would lose support as Eyes Only if he would do that."
Mole looked to me, "Not like anyone would know who it was. Sounds to me like Logan has it wired all over. He could hire someone to-" I interrupted him, "What I mean is his supporters, his contacts think that Logan 'works' for Eyes Only. BUT…they also know something would be seriously off if for over a year he's a huge righteous supporter of ours and suddenly he tells one of them to take out the Mayor to stop the treaty? Doesn't fit."
"Max is right. We may not like the guy but there's got to be a stronger motive involved than just petty jealousy. Money and power would be the biggest motivators. Sides I don't see Logan as having the balls to go through something this major." Alec's words rang true.
Joshua looked disappointed that his one and only theory got shot down. But bless Alec's heart, he saw and hurried to explain further, "I can see where you're coming from and trying to help, and I want you to keep thinking outside the box, cause we can use all the help we can get." Joshua nodded, "It's just not logical for him personally. His followers would put up a stink if he suddenly said 'death to transgenics'."
It would ruin his reputation with his own people, and he'd have no one to do his dirty work for him… "He would be deemed a hypocrite over night and be shunned by his own contacts if he suddenly did a one-eighty." Alec made a valid point and…he defended my ex. Pretty frickin' big of him if you asked me.
Mole gave him a surprised look, which caused Alec to get a little defensive, "What? I can't defend the logic of my mate's 'we-were-never-like-that' ex…whatever-he-was not having a motive to kill us off? In his journalistic circle, that would be 'reputation suicide'. As much as I hate to admit it, it can't be him. Even he's not that stupid." Alec defended himself.
I smiled at him, "Logic overrules personal agenda…most of the time…" I had to remember how I'd initially blamed Lydecker for Volgosang's death. I smelled a rat but found a 'mouse'…sort of…instead. Shaking my head from the thoughts I got back on the subject at hand. "We're narrowing it down, but not by much. Who else could be on the list?" I look up then ask, "What about any 'alumni' that you might know of? Manticore or not." I look pointedly to Krit.
He turns his head as Alec answers me, "Not many, which makes it easier considering… I only see two names and three designations. That's everyone at Manticore, myself not withstanding, and people I've met that could make the shot. One of the Manticore alumni was last heard of over seas, the other two haven't been seen since months before the site went down. And the two norms I met are hired contract killers. They happen to cost a gorgeous penny though. IF it was any of them they can be tracked."
I was lost now, "If these guys are hired and trained professionals, how can you track them? We're like the masters of escape and evade. If the Manticore ones found out that the site went down they probably got as far away from here as possible." Alec just smiled, "You remember what I told bout my formative years?"
I didn't want to go into his assassin years in front of Krit. Apparently he saw that, "I don't care. I know how all of these guys operate. I can find them and see if it could have been them. I'm the only one that's worked with all of them." I nodded my head, "And besides, no one can avoid leaving a trail. Deck taught me that." I nearly sneered at the thought. "We did." Krit stated proudly.
Alec turned his attention to him, "Yeah and how did that work out? Ten years on the run, no one but your own to trust? Never stay in one place too long. Lydecker on your back, having to keep lazering off your barcode?" they were meant as questions for Krit but it struck with me too, "Alec, we managed for just over those ten years, and yeah we had to deal with Deck breathing down our necks, but we made a life for ourselves just fine." He turned to see Krit smirking at him.
"Knock it off Krit that wasn't for you." It didn't rid him of the smirk. "I get that being on the run was what gave you lives, I do, but for these guys, money and kills is what they did, do. They don't care to make a relationship, a connection with other people. They see it as a liability. You weren't easy to find cause of the 'Pulse'. You had the perfect way to stay in the dark and still be out in broad daylight…till now."
Damn…why does he have to be right? Alec shook his head, "But that's not the point – I can find these guys. I can find out if it was one of them though I doubt it." Moving on, "Then who else besides them?" I asked trying to veer away from the last bit, "What about Gamble?" I shot a look to Alec, "What?" did I hear him right?
"He was talking with Preston right? He knew what Preston was planning in our peace treaty talks. Maybe he figured 'hey you know what, here's one way to gain the public's power, money and win over the votes of the transgenics, all I have to do is give the Mayor a dirt nap'. Probably just didn't know that Preston had an X5 for a bodyguard." I was stunned, "That sounds…" Mole was thinking out loud, "That falls under power." Was his last note as Alec wrote it down.
I shot out of my position, "Are you seriously thinking Gamble? He wasn't there!" I defended, "Who said he has to be there?" Mole retorted having Alec's back. I turned around, "He may not have to be there exactly but he would have had to have been close by to have issued the…" no he doesn't…he could have had someone else there… "But there's no guarantee he would gain the mayorship or whatever."
There couldn't be a reason for him…even if Alec's were semi logical… "She does have a point. The mayor was getting it wired for us. Delaying would only piss us off as a unit and hold less trust in them. Not very much to work off of with this Gamble guy – and seriously 'Gamble'?" Syl stated before asking me. "I didn't name him." I rolled my eyes at the notion.
"Well that's-" Alec started but was cut off by his new 'favorite' brother, "How odd is it that most of our suspect list is going away from my original projection." Seriously Krit enough! "Krit we are not doing this again, we are grabbing any and all suspects here. So cool it." Krit fumed at the response. The tension was thick in the air before Mole made his presence known again.
"Humph! Narrowed down by one measley Ordinary…" Mole snarked.
Alec answered, "No, don't forget the Conclave is on it too. Compare all that's here to the rest of the world and I'd say it's narrowed down the suspect pool quite a bit."
"Don't forget the possibility of a former transgenic." Syl piped up. Alec gave her a curt nod. Like it or not, Syl was right and he had to concede that was Krit's original idea. We couldn't rule that out.
Alec turned back to the board and wrote "POSSIBLE Transgenic on outside". Under motive, he wrote a question mark while 'possible was big and bold, showing just how little he thought of Krit's theory.
Alec gave a pointed look to Krit and Syl, "Any ideas on what the motive might be?"
"Money." Krit answered matter-of-factly. "Transgenics have to live somehow and they need money to do it. We can narrow it down to an X5 or X6. It's the more logical choice to make."
"Why? Cause you X5s are so special?" Mole muttered.
Krit glared at Mole as he said, "No, because logically we're the ones who pass the most easily as human on the outside. You know that one of your own would have been shot down by now if he was still roaming the streets".
I spoke up, seeing him start to bristle at that statement, "Look, he's right." Mole shot me a look, "Like it or not, Krit has a point." Mole looked away, "The X5s were the officers back at Manticore, the X6s were made to be more obedient and they're trained to obey the X5s. So I think we should narrow it down even more. It's not in an X6's nature to do this without an officer telling them to."
Turning to Alec I told him, "Change that to X5." I said, indicating the board. Alec turned, used the eraser and with one swipe, erased the information. Then he wrote "X5 sniper" as the suspect and wrote "Hired hit – money" as the motive.
We discussed more options late into the night. Noticing how fatigued everyone looked, I had to remind myself that not everyone has shark DNA like I do. I finally called an end to the meeting as everyone, with evident relief, grabbed their jackets and filed out. Once I let the last one out the door, then closed and locked it behind them, I turned to find Alec staring at the board.
"I can't shake the feeling that I'm missing something here Maxie." Alec commented.
I looked over the board too. We came up with three suspects, which in my opinion was progress. We can even bring this information up to Clemente and let the po-po's do their jobs. We had plenty on our own plates.
I wrapped my arms around Alec from behind, laying my head on his shoulder, "Well, maybe it will come to you after you've had a night's sleep."
He turned to me and quirked a brow sardonically, "Sleep? Last I remember, you promised me we'd do more than sleep."
I faked a yawn and shrugged, "I don't know Alec… I don't think I have the energy."
He knew I was teasing. He knew me so well. He turned to me, wrapped his arms around me and began to nibble my neck, making me giggle.
Yeah, I said giggle! ME!
"Well… how about…" and he nipped my earlobe at that moment and whispered into my ear, "I do the driving and you just lay back and enjoy? You won't have to do a thing…"
That sounded good to me as I led him by the hand into the bedroom.
(Following day in TC HQ)
After giving everyone their tasks on what to do, things seemed to fall into place a little bit better. Trying to spot the sniper using the hoverdrones was a dead end, but now Dix, Syl and even Krit were busy working on a computer program that would interfere with the hoverdrones' video recording system anywhere within a twenty-five foot radius of us. The trick was to not let the sector police know we were playing with the damned things. Hence the closeness the hoverdrone would have to be to get a picture of us.
Till then Alec and I couldn't go out till the area was cleared out of the pesky motorized po po's. We had to have Daniel and Cece go out for us. Needless to say it felt like things were getting a bit restless. And to make it worse, Gamble hadn't called yet. A week had gone by and no word from him. I did give him a month but now I was thinking a month was too long.
I watched from my paperwork as Alec came in without knocking as per usual. He had his own files in his hands. I was trying to figure out what I didn't have before me that I needed to know about, "No worries. I got this stuff covered. It's the inventory of the latest runs Cece and Daniel did." that caught my attention. "And?" I asked inquiring as to its contents. "They weren't able to bust into medical, apparently the normal places we go have upped their security systems."
Damn…stupid guards are learning… "They're becoming more prepared against us." I mumbled out, "Pretty much. I mean it's not like they couldn't break in but not in the time allowed if were trying to avidly avoid running into security people." I agreed, the whole purpose of Cece and Daniel doing it was to still have two normal faces that weren't our own for the time being out there.
Alec continued on, "It also means we're going to have to expand our search radius for meds. Or…" he left the last words lingering out. I raise my head from my paperwork, "Or…" I motioned for him to continue. "Or we have the few norms that we trust go out and buy it legitimately for us. Once a day every day in certain quantities should be enough to keep the po po's off our backs."
I opened my mouth to protest but the thought posed a lot of merit. I mean the closest people we trusted were good friends of ours. I wanted to ask if that be putting them in the line of fire, but I already knew what his response would be… that they're buying medication that isn't required to be over the counter with actual money. "How would they do this without it raising suspicion?" I had to think of something. He seemed happy that I was considering it.
"I've already looked it up, the abnormal high in quantity they look for is over five bottles of 60 pills to one person. The only way to get away from more to the same person is if they have a manufacturer's coupon which will never happen. So this is our most legit way of getting it." I tried to think of a way to avoid using our friends as buyers for our meds, it really should be us. "In fact I've already contacted OC, Scetchy, Herbal and even Normal for help." I looked up at him.
"Relax, all they do is go out to different random hospitals and pharmacies that way no one can say there was anything specific, buy as much as allowed, gather together to deliver it at the end of the week here. Our own supplies of tryptophan are out of the country at the moment, so it's not like we can just order a huge purchase online and have it shipped here." I hate it when he's right…
"The thought possesses merit…however, are you sure nothing will happen to our friends?" I ask him, "They are first and foremost our friends before they are our 'mules'…so to speak." That was a bad example, "You know what I mean." I threw out before he could rebuttal that. "Already got that covered. If anyone does ask, they work for a medical corporation that has the permits to purchase different meds from other businesses." He answered proudly.
I was stunned, "Logan's not the only one with contacts good and bad." I couldn't rebuttal it at all, "IF they agree, put the plan in motion." He nearly left out the door when he pulled a large package from the top of his paper work. How'd I NOT see that with everything he was holding? Handing it to me he said, "Just open it." Knowing I was going to ask what it was.
Unwrapping the package, I discovered a big thick book titled '40 weeks, Devotional Guide to Pregnancy'. The little baby on the book was heartwarming. "It's a month by month guide to pregnancy, I figured it could help us both out." Alec said a little caught up in the emotion of it. I myself was hard pressed to say anything without letting my own emotions take over so much. Getting up from my desk, I go around and pull him into a kiss then a hug, "Thank you." I whisper against his ear.
He held onto me tight as well, "Well, Manticore didn't exactly give us 'Baby 101' training, so this is the best I can come up with for now. I've ah…" he loosened up his hold on me, "also talked to Gem a little bit since she's been through her own pregnancy and given her Carr's number so they can collaborate together on helping us out." the way he kept including himself was like an extra reassurance that I didn't realize I needed. I knew he wanted this child as well, but just that extra bit did things to my gut.
"I'll ah have to talk to her then. See what she has come up with in addition to this book. I have a feeling it'll help…a lot." I smile before leaning up and gently pressing my lips against his own. There was some passion there but this was about loving and being thankful for such a wonderful man. "I'm too lucky to have you. Makes me wonder when the other shoe will drop." I think out loud. He looks at me in confusion.
I roll my eyes at his frown, "Basically when something really good or really bad happens it means that 'karma' has a way of balancing it out. If something really bad happens, then somewhere, somehow, something really good happens to balance it out. But in this case, when something really good happens, it means something bad will happen." I explained. I figuratively saw the cogs in his brain figuring that process out.
"What if this is the good evening out the bad?" he asks. I now wear his previous expression of confusion, "What do you mean?" he explains, "Well the Mayor gets shot, we lose a valuable X5 bodyguard, get held up by the po po's…but…" he has me hold on when he notices my rolling eyes yet again after his list kept going, "we also have the Deputy Mayor taking over, the Mayor is alive still, and Clemente did get us out of holding." I opened my mouth, but everything he said made sense.
"I guess things did even itself out." Not that I completely believe in that stuff, but you can never be to sure these days. Sides, Cindy believes and has high hopes up for many things and relies on her belief system as do many others out there. "So read the book, I already did, and we'll have a chat with Gem and Carr later on." knowing him he memorized it already, "Oh and ah…" his arms fell to his sides a little bit on this one.
"I did make a few side notes inside…just what I remember being briefly said back at Manticore." I looked in curiousness at what he said, "I thought you said Manticore didn't have 'Baby 101'?" I remarked, "They didn't, but…they did explain some results or rather 'consequences'," he put his hands up in quotations on that one with an obvious roll of the eyes himself, "of possibilities of what could and would happen if an X5 were to become pregnant." This had me curious…hugely curious.
"Like what? What I would do or what you would do?" I asked on who this would really concern here. Alec takes the book from the desk and flips open to the fourth page. It's the list of first month symptoms, like breast soreness I just threw that note in there." He points out. I read, "'Note: Get padded bras." I look up at him with a cringe in my brow, "Basically you're going to be tender and the padding of the bra's will help decrease soreness." Again I just wanted to yell but I couldn't.
It was logical and reasonable, "That's something that Manticore taught you?" I asked skeptically. He scratched his head, "Sorta…since we're part cat we-you're going to be even more sore than the average female." I grew slightly panicked at that, "Max, your senses will be more heightened than even a regular transgenic's will be. Ergo, you'll have more sensitivity here…" He cupped a breast in emphasis, "You'll feel more down here…" his voice dropped an octave as he gently cupped between my legs.
I couldn't help but feel more aware of where he was touching me, and how his voice was affecting my own libido, "Does increased horniness come into effect?" I asked him noticing my own voice had dropped a little as well. He smiled, "It can go either way but since you're a highly sexual female mated to a highly sexual male who just so happens to frequently enjoy making love to you, I don't think we're going to have a problem in that department." I couldn't help but smile.
"And what makes you think I'm so 'highly sexual'?" I joked out, "Max…" he leaned in nipping at my ear, "Mm…" I responded inarticulately, "You do realize that we can't go more than a week without making love?" I couldn't help but laugh a little…this was true… "From what I've heard, isn't there a cut off time to when we can't be together?" I hated to ask, but I had heard about it over time.
He sighed releasing me a little, "No, only after the pregnancy. We just can't have anything penetrative for six weeks. The only thing I read for during the pregnancy was if you were carrying twins but I doubt that'll be a possibility." I was ready to ask 'what makes you think that?' when the office phone rang, "Could be Gamble." I mutter out as I leave Alec's embrace to answer the insistent ringing device.
Having not gotten a call yet does have me slightly on edge with what Gamble could decide to do. Without his support, we could be looking at going about our entire operation completely illegal. Which isn't a huge problem but when you're trying to vie for citizenship, and avoidance of being hunted for who and what you are, you're gonna need all the support you can get. We needed his help…legally…more than we were willing to admit…more than what I wanted to admit.
Picking up the receiver I respond, "Guevara." It had become my automatic response for answering my office phone as of lately…apparently its more 'business professional' as Alec put it. "Ms. Maxine Guevara, is that correct?" the voice I recognized then and there as Gamble's. "Mr. Gamble… you found the contract I presume." It let Alec know who it was on the line as he came around the desk to listen in closer. I need not remove the receiver from my ear since he could hear perfectly from where he was.
"Yes I did, as a matter of fact. I'd like for us to get together and discuss the terms." The terms hadn't changed though…unless… "You're changing the terms." I voiced out loud not liking where this was going. Even Alec looked at me in slight worry, "Not exactly. I think it'd be best if we met up someplace outside of Terminal City. A place safe enough for both of us." He said.
I knew of one hotel area that we could go to close enough to here and still not too far from where the Mayor's office was, "We can meet up in the lower level garage of the Steinlinz Hotel." My past there will come in handy, since I knew more of the ins and outs of the place. Alec looked at me wondering why there when Gamble agreed, "How does Friday sound?" he asked. I agreed, knowing it would give us time to grab our copy of the terms we had and make another copy.
"Great I'll see you there at…" he left it open, Alec nudged me mouthing 'WE are going together'…over protective little… "You'll see us there at fourteen hundred hours." I said giving an approximate time. "Us?" he questioned. "Me and my second in command Alec. You saw him at the hospital. He'll be there as well." he went silent for a moment, "Okay, we'll work it out. See you then." "See you too." We hung up respectively. "So that's it. We go and talk to the guy?" Alec asked.
I shrugged, "Pretty much. I do wonder what he's done to the agreement. The way he sounded…" I was unsure how this meeting would impact us. "Hey calm down Maxie, it won't be that bad…" I hope not…the words of my very thoughts were hidden from his face, but were written in his eyes, "I am calm, but as leaders of this place, there is reason to worry." I didn't want to go into this blind.
He came up to me, putting reassuring hands around my body as he spoke, "Max, there's always gonna be something to worry about. Whether it's simple or hard, we'll make it work out…it's what we do. We make the impossible happen. You know why?" he asked me, pulling my chin up so my eyes met his. My eyes did the asking, "Because we are a team…in every form." His other hand reached down and flattened itself against my still flat stomach.
We both looked down at the contact. Our baby, our child was growing right there and we still had this whole mess to deal with. He leaned down and gently kissed my forehead in comfort. "We can beat this bitch Max. Besides…" he leaned back up and I followed suit, "There's also a chance he's a supporter in us and wants to use us in the same 'negotiating ways' that the previous Mayor did." I gave a tiny light snort on that one. "Besides, something I learned off Scetchy…" I looked into his eyes.
"There's too much negativity in the world, something good has to come from it." I give a weak smile and bury my head into his chest as he holds me…yeah there's a lot of negativity. Question is, will we let it control us? Or can we use it to make things better? Or is there a third option…? Whatever that may be, it hasn't presented itself yet. Guess this road will be the type to take it one day at a time.
White's POV
I watched as he paced about his cell looking disheveled. Over a year he'd been here, over a year ago my men ran him off the road and took him. His people never came looking for him, when I told 452 and her comrades, they seemed almost thrilled that I had taken him, like I could erase him from their pasts. Once I saw those looks, I had a feeling he could come in handy.
If they didn't care about him, no one would come looking for him. It gave me ample time to get whatever I wanted out of the Colonel. Especially if it related to 452. I was determined to find out how to get to her, because that would lead to finding my son. And so far, the Colonel would give out very little information about her. I actually had to hand it to the old man on that one. I had a sense that he was the one who handled much of the torture delivery back in the day.
The old man knew how to take it and stay quiet…with the vitals that is. One thing he had admitted-not that it was vital, hence the admittance-was how even he couldn't figure out how she managed to inspire such loyalty within her comrades. Apparently, it was enough to persuade them to ignore their training. He'd muttered something about their C.O. doing something reckless to save her. I didn't much care, but after a few brief words with Thula, I saw a small point.
If 452 did inspire such loyalty, as the Colonel put it, then it gave us an insight to how to defeat the transgenics and rise to power as we are meant to. Take 452 out and they have no main leader to go to. Only problem with that was according to the inside man the Conclave assigned to me…not like his presence is needed…494 was also there and seems to be close to her. Though he did verify that neither the Mayor, nor any of his bodyguards knew he was there, nor did 452 or 494 sense him there either.
Thula however saw this as an opportunity to let the people react to the shooting and see what comes from it. If all goes well, the contract that the freaks have with the Mayor will completely fall through. And by the time we make our final move, the freaks won't know what hit them. I couldn't help but smirk at the thought as I watched the Colonel through the glass window of his cell.
Granted, I was fuming beyond belief when 452 and her little side kick 494 destroyed years worth of planning with their little water plant stunt. It gave us the chance to prove to the Conclave that the old plans from back in the day weren't going to work. We were going to have to strike them in a different manner, take the mat out from beneath them and watch them fall down the pit.
I continued watching as the Colonel kept wracking his brain for a plan. He wasn't willing to give his prized kids up unless he knew he'd actually see the light of day again. He wasn't stupid, that was for sure, but his arrogance at thinking he was still needed to by them, to us, was pitiful. Yeah, we held him captive, for we wanted what he knew, not for what he could do.
Feeling my phone go off I pushed the button down and answered, "Fenostol, yes he's still acting as if he can't be touched." Even then I could tell the High Priestess was smirking over the other line, "If he doesn't start spilling vital intel on 452, then he may as well consider himself expendable. Fenostol." She said before hanging up. I smiled slightly before grabbing 452's file…again and walking into his cell. "I thought you'd be rid of my tired ass by now?" he nearly questioned me.
"As much as I'd just love to dump your body into a body bag and throw you into the Potomac, this is considered your last chance offer." He looked uneasy at me as I put the metal case containing 452's medical data onto the table in the room. "Tell me what I want to know and I'll set you free." I stated. A false promise we both knew, but hey, no harm in trying.
"I tell you anything and you kill me…" he remarked haggard. I didn't bother correcting him, "She's not living your soldier's life though. The one you brought her and the rest of her 'family' up in." I hated saying the word 'family' considering how unfortunately close she technically was to myself and C.J…it still irked me that she'd managed to get my little brother on her side.
She was nothing more than a vermin…admittedly one that didn't look half bad for a freak but a vermin none the less. Not that I'd EVER let the Conclave know that. I'd be stripped of my rank and branded as a traitor within the hour. McKinnley has only kept it from their views due to my public association with the transgenics. Hell, the people see me as a hero and when 452 and her side kick are gone, the people won't know what hit them. Another smirk crossed my face.
Looking back at him, I could tell the Colonel still wished she had stayed back at Manticore. Truthfully, I was glad she didn't. Who knows what might have happened having her back there. Granted, now isn't better, but if I could persuade him to lower his guard down just enough when it came to her… "I can give you the opportunity to bring her and the rest of those animals back to base." He looked at me with a sense of cockiness, I didn't like it.
"Son, how dumb do you think I am?" I refrained from making facial movements but my vocals cords couldn't, "Is that a rhetorical question?" he sighed, "Agent White, you've kept me prisoner for over a year now, longer than that." He was right, what we had put him through would have made Ghandi cry out in pain. I almost felt a tinge of respect for him…almost.
If anything it had lengthened his process. Taking him had been risky since he was a former colonel, but with no body to be found and his SUV in the river sector cops would think the body would eventually wash up. By the time they realized it never did no one would care. Once Deck was here he denied everything, even went through numerous rounds with my fists, until I thought to myself, get him to crack psychologically, I showed him the rendering of 452 done by the X8's.
He didn't talk a lot, just enough to get us to NOT kill him. Nothing important had been retrieved but still I knew he'd be important. It was the only reason he'd been kept alive, badly beaten each day, my gift to him, but alive. He still held a black eye from yesterdays beating, "If you didn't have any use for me my ashes would have burnt up that night your men took me." True…not that he needs to know that, "Either that or we just don't care to use the kiln." I sneered.
He tensed but kept going, "I'm here because you still have a use for me. You think your daily beatings will get you any further? Some of your methods I taught my kids how to get through. You really think you can up the torture on the one who came up with them?" he laugh was almost sinister. If he wasn't their colonel and human I'd actually like the guy, he had valuable torture techniques we could possibly use.
"So I'm guessing that giving you a daily beat down wasn't enough. How about a daily cut – leery?" I pulled a knife from the back of my belt and glided it over an artery, before slashing it over his chest. The material sliced within seconds. Blood pooling, covering and soaking the material within seconds…hum…maybe to deep for a first cut…one look into his pain filled eyes however and I was all for inflicting more. He's human, he's a weakness, why shouldn't he feel pain?
I carved into his chest, "You know, your precious 452 has these little tattoo like markings here, here, and here, on her chest." he seemed to be getting worried…good he should be, "So she got new tattoos, not very smart for someone trying t-" I cut him off, "Oh no she didn't get them tattooed. You see a traitor that we had many years ago, gave them to her, out it in her DNA." He actually look stunned.
I mocked out, "Aww, looks to me like big colonel daddy didn't know about little 452's tattoos, oh the scandal." He got angered, "Whatever she has on her I had nothing to do with. I over saw parts of her genetic make up. I don't remember there being anything about-" I cut him off not really wanting to listen to his drivel. "Bored now." I slashed again eliciting a cry of anguished pain from him.
"Tell me what I want to know or I'll…you know what…I'll do it anyways." I spent the next ten minutes carving the symbols I remembered on 452 into his own skin. The cries of pain as I did this were tremendous. I don't think he taught this torture method to his kids, "452…" he broke out, I paused, "Her DNA along side 494's…they are more valuable than you can imagine." That I couldn't argue against.
Having read the contents of the file, I saw how much of a genetic match those two were for each other. It sickened me to know how much of their skills and traits could transfer to any kids they would have. Lucky for me the "pretty boy", as Thula dubbed him, didn't seem the type to want any kids. And seeing as how he was always too busy being 452's bitch, I didn't feel the need to worry about THAT happening any time soon. 494 was clearly a player and out for himself.
Hell, he'd sooner "fuck and leave" 452 than choose the "white picket fence" option with her. Then again, the idea did pose merit…452 too big to even kick, let alone aim a gun right…not that she'd ever truly used one…not to my memory…it was a sight to laugh at…right before I'd put a bullet in her pretty little head. "How do you figure that their tainted genetics are valuable? They're animals." I spat out. He looked up at me with hard eyes. "Their DNA is worth millions." I had no interest in money.
Not this kind anyways… "So what are you suggesting, I let you go, you bring back 452 and/or 494 so I can sell them?" Deck actually looked perturbed that I didn't get it, "Sorry to say, but when it comes to you leaving this room it isn't going to happen. Besides, I want the bitch dead and in the ground, NOT shipped over seas where some foreign dignitaries can make more of her." I spat out in annoyance.
I had enough of that with the RED's as Deck had explained. Not to crazy himself that they'd tried again. He was all about keeping current work from foreign powers. We were able to detain those that were left behind here after a few months and take them out. One was permitted to go back on one condition. He had to send a message back to his bosses back in South Africa
I had to nearly smile again, it had been one of my more genius moves. I took the other men there and with the help of my men, put them through a tree shredder. They got the message. Didn't need them getting in the way of our plans here. I already have one guy in place with what the Conclave want. As soon as the colonel out lives his usefulness he's a dead as 452. If we couldn't rise right now then we would kill those who took that chance from us.