Recicup: no more running in circles, and max will get laid…at some point before the end of the season here. I'm just building up tension. Here's the next update. The last one from my now 'retired' beta reader.
I am still looking for a beta reader, no joke I need one! if miss 'firwolfsas' could come back that'd be great…hint, hint! Maybe 'recicup' could help me!
Season 4 ep.5
We waited as Gamble stepped out of the SUV and had his two bodyguards flanking him as they approached us.
"This better go smoothly." Alec remarked in a low, confidential tone only I could hear. I glanced over and met his eyes. Trying to be reassuring, I answered, "I know…it will. It has to." I hope it does. "Sides we're transgenics. Didn't Deck always teach us at some point that there's always an option, always a solution to the problem?" I asked. Alec stared at me briefly, then as if in remembrance, he gave a slight nod with a tinge of a smile in agreement.
"Yeah…let's hope we see the continual solution to this problem." I gave Alec a brief flash of hope before Gamble came up to us. His smile evident even in the not-so-bright parking level. The man could advertise for a toothpaste ad, his teeth were so white.
"Good to see you both again." He greeted us as he shook Alec's hand. Then he extended his hand out to me. I could have sworn for a moment as both of his hands took mine that there was a slight caress involved, but I said nothing. I caught a glint of something in Alec's eye before he put his Manticore mask on. "Where is the Detective?" Gamble asked curiously, looking around, but still holding onto my hand.
"He's not here today." I smiled politely, trying my best to retrieve my hand without actually yanking it out. He slowly released my hand and the whole experience unnerved me a bit. I talked in order to cover my slight annoyance, "He doesn't normally come to our meetings. We just keep him informed on press relations." Not the whole truth, but we may not be able to afford to keep him from non-press related matters.
"Oh, I see. Shall we?" he directs us to the elevator. Ever the well-bred gentleman, he has me lead the way, falling into step next to me with Alec on my other side. Alec seemed to be radiating tension, and my own "spidey-sense", as Alec would put it, was tingling, but not sure why. I brush it off for now as we board the stainless steel contraption. He presses the button to the ground floor.
Maybe it was actually my cat senses simply not liking the confined space. Gamble was wearing some expensive cologne that seemed to bother my newly sensitive nose. And it was a tad crowded in the elevator making the scents even more pungent. Just because your cologne cost over a hundred bucks doesn't mean it smells THAT good.
Alec and I were in the back with Gamble, and his security was in front of us. I instinctively stepped a bit closer to Alec as he placed a hand at the small of my back for reassurance. I definitely preferred Alec's scent, and the fact that he smelled of body wash more than cologne. His nearness settled my nerves. I hadn't noticed how truly nervous I was about this meeting until I felt his soothing presence and his soothing scent. Must be a mating thing. Even the little circles he was drawing on my back were helping to soothe my nerve endings. I could feel my back shift to a less constricting position.
This Gamble guy seemed a little too smooth for my tastes. Maybe it's just the way politicians were, but something in his eyes, the way he looked at me, made me slightly jumpy on some level. I glanced at Alec who was simply watching the door. He did mention something about Gamble wanting me for more than a treaty chat, and at the time, I found that notion absurd. Now I began to wonder. Something tells me I better be careful with this guy.
"We have a small conference room reserved for this meeting." Gamble explains, his voice cutting through the silence. The elevator was moving slowly. Too slowly. We would have got there a whole lot quicker with the stairs! But he interrupted my thoughts as he asked, "So, have you looked over your treaty at all?" Get a grip 452! This is why you're here!
"Yes, we reviewed some of the concerns and ideas that were planned in the past with Preston." The elevators stop, the doors open, and the security guys step out. I gesture for Gamble to leave first, but he shook his head and says, "Oh please, ladies first." I bite my lip to retort out that I'm not a lady as I give him a fake smile and step out of the elevator, Alec directly behind me.
I had to remember that sugar was going to win, not salt. Or was that vinegar instead of salt? Something OC said about that…I think to myself. Shaking off my thought process, we let Gamble lead us inside. We followed him down the seemingly narrow hallway, then entered the small conference room. I look around at the few exits and entrances to the room. Just two…I looked over and noticed Alec doing the same thing.
"Now there are a few things that we are willing to work on, but what issues did you have in mind that you wanted to change?" I ask, getting straight to the point.
He looks over, giving me a brief once over. Nothing too much, but enough to have me noticing Alec shifting his stance slightly. Not noticeable to the human eye, but when you're mated to a transgenic, you tend to sense these types of things. Gamble then pulls out his file folder and spreads the papers out on to the table, not bothering to sit, as Alec does the same, pulling out our briefcase, making sure to keep the papers separate from each other on the table.
Gamble taps the top page of one of his documents with a tip of a finger, "One of your old treaty agreements was that Preston received guaranteed votes from every transgenic and transhuman within Terminal City limits." It was a statement, not a question. We nodded our agreement in unison as I spoke up.
"It was pointed out to me yesterday that if things don't improve for Mayor Preston, that you would just end up taking his place during his term of office. And if that were the case, YOU would get those votes instead. I think the only reason we didn't make it an adjustment is because none of us know the condition the mayor will be in, in the future." I explain to him as he nods his head in understanding.
Giving me a shrewd look, he agreed. "It would be logical to think that, but like you said, no one knows for sure if he'll pull through. As far as what I have been informed by his doctors, he is and remains in a deep comatose sleep. If it persists, leadership of this city will go to me, and at that point, I would discuss the possibility of running for another term in the future. As of right now, I am simply his stand-in."
His voice was that of someone experiencing hardships already. Clearly he was having difficulty filling the man's shoes. Made me wonder how the city's council were treating him? He was younger, he seemed more open-minded when it came to our cause, something I'm sure not a lot of members are thrilled with. He must be getting hit hard with all of this. Still though, he's a questionable character and I still felt I should be careful with him.
He pointedly looks at me and asks, "You ever feel that way? Like you're in over your head?" I wanted to tell him "You have no idea". There were times I wanted to blur at top speed to the hills, or in this case, just have a few nights away and spend them at the Space Needle. Just to get away and clear my head…the only thing that helped was Alec by my side…and Cece and Daniel having our backs when needed. It was something I was more than grateful for.
Lydecker's words from childhood still rang in my head …"Every unit needs a leader, a Commanding Officer and their Second-in-Command. Without that infrastructure, without someone to take command, chaos and anarchy are an inevitable factor that can weaken and eventually destroy a unit." Ours worked for us, but every once in a while, I still felt the weight that leadership has caused me.
Not that I'd ever let this man know that, nor did I need to show or tell this man I was still learning my strengths and weaknesses as leader. It would only show weakness and I didn't know enough about him to admit that weakness. Whether or not he claimed to be on our side, we didn't know for a fact if he really was. "Well, for me, it helps to have a team of transgenics, transhumans and a few normal humans to help out. I'm grateful for them." I submitted.
Feeling a few little harmless pieces of information would be fine. It's not like any names are being mentioned. "We all work together as a team in Terminal City. Like our own little 'city hall'." I feel Alec lean towards me slightly as if in a show of comfort from a foot away.
"It's good to have a working group like that. Shows real character within the group's leader." He states proudly. I feel odd at his compliment. The old mayor wasn't as forthcoming with the pleasantries as Gamble was. It struck me speechless for a second and I think Alec could tell that, so he commented, "I agree that it shows we have more depth than what the media conveys to the public."
Saved by Alec! This is why I love him. He knows when to let me lead and when to step in… Like now when someone else has me at a loss for words. It gave me enough space to clear my head and respond. "So, what do you propose…other than possible future votes?" I ask him. Gamble rubs his chin in thought. "I got one thought." Alec said, surprising me. I turned to him, curiosity in my features.
He faced Gamble straight on and quietly suggested, "How about any future crime committed by a transgenic or transhuman be put through the normal court system…as long as one transgenic of the same rank or higher is on the jury to hear him or her talk? And gets to have an equal say in what they think of the whole process? I don't think right now, it would be potentially fair for a transgenic to be tried." It held merit, and we all knew the chances of equality for a transgenic didn't bode well.
Any transgenic or transhuman would get fried before a trial would even be held, and I do mean fried…or sent to a base for either reprogramming or dissection, none of which work for me. People looking to put us in a cage for life, turn us into science projects or kill us….probably all three… Having another transgenic there within the same rank or higher could help the process out.
"That's a good idea Alec." I smile at him. Why didn't he bring this up before? But of course, we've been arguing, so he probably couldn't bring it up. "I have decent ideas once in a while." Alec smirked at me and gave me a wink. I barely managed to suppress the blush that was creeping up into my cheeks. Somehow he always manages to do that, make me blush at the wrong time.
Seeing that we were off in our own little world for a few seconds, Gamble said, "It's a plausible arrangement until something better comes along. I'll get back to you on that Alec. By law, you have to get your voting rights first. So once we get that sorted out for you, I see no problem with this arrangement." Gamble nodded while jotting a note on one of the papers with an expensive fountain pen and then moving on.
"Now, as the deputy mayor of Seattle, I have the mayor's seat to represent, which makes me the voice of the people of Seattle and all that would entail." Seeing his eyes shift from me to Alec had me at a stand still. What was he thinking? I wasn't too thrilled with the way his eyes jutted from myself to Alec, as if weighing his options on where to go with what he said next.
"I feel you two…" he gestured to both myself and Alec, "Need to have someone representing transgenics and transhumans to be the voice for your cause… and that someone will need to leave Terminal City for brief durations, to mingle with the general public." Question is, who did he have in mind? Please let it NOT be me… "Max." Damn! I so wanted to stomp my foot like an aggravated child right now.
I hate kissing up for long durations. I looked up, at Gamble and saw a strange glint of satisfaction in his eyes, something that I knew I wasn't going to like. Why? Why me? Why NOT Alec? "I think you would be the best suited for the part." He walks around the table, charm personified in his walk. He did keep a respectable distance as I watched him warily. To avoid any conflicts I presume.
After all, you don't want to make assumptions and get too close and invade personal space. That could be taken as an act of aggression, or to make the person you're speaking to uncomfortable…or as an act of making the person know you're attracted to them, my inner voice hissed at me. Is Alec really right about that? I wondered internally. Gamble was keeping his distance respectable. Although it could have also been the "You're a transgenic and I'm not too sure about being within arm's length of you"
Could also be that…I told my inner voice to shut the hell up as I tried to remain calm and focused. "You are a very highly intelligent young woman. You have the potential to do many things, but you want the world to see that your intentions are good. So why not show them you're as normal as everyone else?" He wants ME to pretend to be a snobby ass HO? My inner conscious was practically screeching it out internally. Can I really act that part? Do I really want to?
More than likely seeing the expression glowing in my eyes, Alec deflected, "Max has many duties and obligations around Terminal City; perhaps I would be better suited for the task at hand." Alec suggested, my glow faded away as Gamble had turned and walked the two steps back, "As charmed I'm sure, as the women of Seattle would be, to be frank, Alec, you're a 'pretty boy'. You could only be taken seriously up to a certain point." I could tell Alec didn't like that comment.
"This man behind me has brought grown men and women to their knees." His eyebrow rose up slightly at that comment. I blinked slowly as realization dawned on how he took that. Gamble's eyes smirked knowingly, in that way all men have. Sighing inwardly, I know I have to brazen this out, even though that was not what I meant. Why do men tend to take a woman's words and turn everything into something sexual?
Then again, if you think about it, nearly everything can be turned sexual, depending on how you looked at it. Shaking that off, I look at Alec and see his thought processes went the exact same direction, going by his wink and grin. Arrrgh! Men! Gamble coughed slightly, "Yes I'm sure he has." I felt Alec resist the urge to tense behind me, Gamble continued on. "But this isn't 'physics' its politics."
"Max, you would actually be the perfect choice. You're already a leader, you have this innocent youth about you that screams 'I know a great deal, but I can still learn a great deal more'. Men and women all over would love to take you under their wings and teach you." I narrowed my eyes at the meaning.
Yeah women would love to teach me how to love money, and men would love to teach me how to blow them just right. Fuck that! I was about to speak when he pressed on, "Plus, with my having you there with me, we can make more attempts to bring about peace to Seattle. Together." His eyes hit mine as he said them making me slightly uncomfortable, not that I'd show it in any form, "The current leader of Seattle and the transgenic leader, showing everyone that we're working together for mutual peace."
I didn't like the idea of not doing this with Alec, "Alec should be there as well. He knows multiple languages, he can connect with more people…" something I really needed to start learning. I continued, "And he has been in combat situations. He can talk to the vets at the events. Get closer to them." Gamble seems to see my point, "Okay, we can have dinner parties once a month…" I knew that look.
The very possibilities happening weren't very good. The events, yes. But not the dinner parties. I was already 90% positive that Alec wasn't really invited to any dinners Gamble would set up, if any. Nine times out of ten it's just an incentive to get people to agree with you while still going to the places and events that really make the difference. The only way I'd get to have Alec come out was if I dragged him along.
Either way I hate dinner parties. They're stuffy, boring and I'd just really rather not go, even if I do have a reason to dress up… which I'm not hugely fond of since I don't have a whole lot of fancy cocktail dresses – save for one item – evening wear…speaking of, how am I going to get a dress once my pregnancy begins to show more? Gamble seemed to catch on to my inner dilemma as he conceded, "Or something to show how passive the transgenics can be, how they can be just like everyone else."
I can see he's not fond of Alec being there but you have to admit Alec is attractive and charming. Hell, on occasion Mole even calls him princess! "I think we can all agree to some of the propositions we've made now." Gamble suggested. Alec and I both agreed, so far everything was something we had been aiming to achieve anyway. I'll bring up the Alec thing again another time with Gamble. Surely he'll see Alec's usefulness.
"I think this could be the start of something good here." I remark, not wanting him to think we were going to agree to everything. We may say yes, but we are trying to speak for everyone in TC, so we need the consensual agreement from all – or most - members of TC as well.
"Now before we finish up, let's move on to the funds for Terminal City…" Alec presses on. I was grateful that he loosened his stance up a little once I mentioned the languages part, knowing that he would be useful even if some people didn't take him seriously enough. Gamble just doesn't know Alec. Hell he can charm people he just needs to see it then he'll know.
Besides, just as long as some obvious bleached blonde bimbotic Barbie trophy wife who coos at my man with her, "Ooohh you're so muscley" because she's married to a rich guy that doesn't seem to give a flying fuck about her, we'll be just fine. I have to remind myself that Alec can handle himself, no matter how much I want to tear that imaginary Barbie to shreds.
Manticore taught us how to disarm, how to maim, and how to kill…not necessarily in that order…and my inner tiger wants to mark my territory. Part of me really wanted to find Rita's contact that was all over Alec last night and give the drunk bitch a piece of my mind.
"What about a start-up fund?" Alec suggested. His question pulled me from my blonde torturing thoughts. We both looked to him in question as he explained, "What I mean is, how are we to give you a percentage of our profit if we have nowhere to start from? You need funds to make funds."
I nearly dropped my jaw on his words, probably looking a bit like a fish out of water I worked the muscles in my jaw to be sure I hadn't actually dropped it. He was right and I hadn't even thought of that myself. Gamble himself looked to be biting his lip as he stated, "I can provide you with the funds you'd require if we divert some from other groups within the city that are already over spending in 'unnecessary' areas."
As much as I didn't like the word "divert" here, it sounded reasonable that it was coming from a place that overspent on needless atrocities. "Sounds reasonable. As long as the funds aren't diverted from cancer societies or donation centers, nothing that would deter necessary research or aid for those in need of it." I state. Gamble agrees like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
"Of course not. The last thing anyone here wants to do is to take away from that. Nor do any of us need the negative publicity. Now, as I do provide your funds, I would like to raise the percentage on the profits you'd donate." I look to Alec same time as he looks to me, "By how much?" my voice becomes slightly tense, "20%. So by my calcu-" I cut him off, "So you want 40% total of all of our profits made?"
His eyes smiled, I protested, "Preston only asked for 20%!" Gamble argued calmly, "You'd still have 60% to keep Terminal City up and running." He remarks back. I wanted to grunt out in annoyance but refrained from doing so, "Why the rise? If I may ask that is." Okay, so complete annoyance couldn't have been kept from my tone that time, a little slipped through. I figured I should give the man a chance to explain before I rip his throat out, I'd be nice enough to let it be a quick death.
He merely smiles, "Well I figure it's only fair since that would be your electric bill, plus water and sewer." Two sets of transgenic eyes widen as both sets – mine and Alec's – look over to each other. Gamble picks up a stack of papers off the desk, about ten pages thick, and passes it to me. Alec looked over my right shoulder as we both scanned the contents of the papers.
"This is from the Seattle Power Board, and from Seattle Water and Sewer Authority. You will find that the 20% Preston had asked for would never cover your needs. I found in his records that he was going to pay the difference out of his own pocket, which was very generous of him." I had to agree it was…so why couldn't he be that generous.
"Unfortunately, I will admit, I am not quite that generous." Gamble admitted.
Go figure… His hands came up in a placating gesture as he explained, "I like you guys, as a matter of fact, I have respect for your cause. But I also believe, after getting to know you, that you would insist on paying your own way so that you are not a burden to the city in any way. Am I right?" Gamble raised a brow in question. We were setting out to prove that we weren't a financial burden to the city since they were complaining on how we were talking things from them.
So to have a financial way out of that without having it come out of the taxpayers pockets and have them putting more flaming X's up…yeah we'll have to take it, even if it is out of our pockets. Alec and I could see it in black and white in front of us.
Sides…we either keep running generators – and the back-up ones which are used when needed - and keep buying or at times, stealing our gas to keep those generators going (which is like twenty bucks a gallon right now – not to mention hard to come by in those quantities in Seattle these days) or we enjoy electric, water, sewer services for all of TC with a little rise in what we pay. If my calculations are correct, it would probably come out cheaper on us in the long run.
Gamble raises his hands in a supplicating gesture. Why do politicians insist on talking with their hands? "Let me explain. You see, the only reason we weren't able to cut the power off to your little 20 block 'no man's land' was because it's also all connected to the 'neighboring projects' we are rebuilding, within a 5 mile radius as well. It would cause a negative uproar and create bad publicity for all those involved."
Not really…he could just blame us and that would further agitate the citizens to hate us and want our sorry asses out. But you gotta give him credit, at least he was trying to avoid that too it seems.
"Plus the city doesn't have nearly enough money or time to invest in re-wiring that part of the city just to cut you off. It's actually more time saving for everyone, and less expensive to reach an agreement with you, and just simply take a profit from you at the end of the month, every month you're open for business. The city benefits, you get needed utilities for whatever you need and we'll improve as time goes on." That must have been a hard sell to the other committee members on the board.
Alec looked thoughtful, "Okay, so what if we have bad business one month, is that still 40% of nothing we have to pay you?" Alec asked. I looked to him as Gamble frowned slightly and Alec continued. "I don't want this to be like 'Goodfellas' here where it's, excuse the language – 'business was bad, well, fuck you, pay me', is it?"
I really wanted to ring Alec's neck for his way of getting his point across, but it was completely true. Gamble sighed, rubbing the back of his neck in a tired way, thinking it over, "If that is the case where the money can't be delivered…" Gamble met Alec's eyes, and then mine as he answered. "One or the both of you will do 'side jobs' for the city. Jobs our police force don't really have time for."
I think Gamble could see the doubt in my eyes because he quickly explained, "The jobs wouldn't be illegal. You'd just be bringing in the criminals that our own forces are having a hard time keeping off the streets. I would think with your extensive training from Manticore, that shouldn't be too hard for you guys." He had a point.
Side jobs' were a possibility then. It didn't seem so bad. While I'm not normally the type to help out the po' po's, keeping those people from trying to blame their crimes on us off the streets would be a good idea. McKinnley even used it as a reason to get the public to hate us even more. More blame on us. This could possibly help control that media standpoint a bit.
Gamble threw in one more comment though, "There are a few gangs out there that give even sector cops a hard time. Some of them have longer rap sheets than others." I wondered if one of them were the Steelhead gang that Alec, Scetchy and I had run-ins with in the past?
Instead of volunteering intel that may or may not benefit us, I instead change the thought process, "I think that could work, for the months that we don't pull in anything." Alec agrees. I look to Gamble with a smile on my face, "Agreed." Then another thought hit me. "Wouldn't you need someone to represent the transhumans in all of these dinners that you were talking about?"
He looked at me thoughtfully for a second and then shook his head, "To be quite frank Max, I think it's best, for the public's sake, to just stick with those of you that look human." I started to say something but Gamble raised a finger in an indication that he wasn't finished. "Now don't get me wrong here, I'm not one bit prejudiced about the transhumans myself, but you have to admit, a majority of the populace is. I think we should ease into it, starting with you."
He glanced at Alec and grudgingly said, "And possibly your second-in-command here as well." it brought a 'gee thanks' look from Alec. "Bringing someone that looks like they're dressed up for Halloween will just incite more hatred and more riots right now, which is something we don't need. Let's keep it simple for the time being and we'll discuss the possibility of a transhuman representative in the future."
I glance quickly at Alec, and he gave a slight nod to me and said, "I have to admit he's right Max. Remember, monsters in the closet and under the bed? The references made by the media? Bringing out someone that looks like Mole or Joshua, no matter how gentle Joshua is and we both know how Mole is on 'tactic', it will scare the bejeebers out of people and cause more trouble instead of less later."
"Bejeebers? Really Alec?" I snicker at his choice of wording, which in essence, released a little stress. He nodded decisively and smirked back at me, "Yep! Bejeebers. I heard Scetch use that word once. I like it. It was my word of the day." Shaking my head and trying to control my mirth, I glace at Gamble, who simply looked thoughtful and waiting for my response.
"Okay, fine. Just me and/or Alec." I had wanted to make sure to include Alec since he seemed to be on Gamble's back burning thought process. Gamble himself seemed to give a sigh of relief and began to gather his papers up from the table. Stacking them, he remarked, "So we have made progress today. You will be given funds to start the building process of Terminal City, and we will start to set up dates to gain donations from various organizations and groups."
With the funds in soon, we can start construction. "You will be the face of transgenics and transhumans as well." Gamble stated looking at me, "The votes will become mine once things are systematically cleared with Preston and you will gain the right to citizenship with the right to vote." It all sounded so good.
Also made me wonder when the other shoe was gonna drop. I'd had high hopes for this meeting today, things will change, they have to change, I don't want any of this to be for naught, He smiles back. I watch as Gamble takes my hand for a presumable shake before bringing it up and kissing the top portion of it at the knuckles. Logic tells me that the kiss is to show respect to myself, but all I can sense is unease and Alec keeping his own emotions in check.
"Likewise Max...Alec." he states as a clear afterthought. Alec holds his hand out for a shake giving no indication that he was effected…at least till I noticed Gamble give a slight grit to his teeth before Alec released his hand with a masculine smirk. I smiled at the male domination within Alec. Even a smidgen of it could either piss me off at certain times or like now with my hormone levels…make me hornier than goat weed in heat ever could. I could kill Scetchy for telling me 'bout that crap.
Saying our goodbyes later at the parking garage, I made sure to keep Gamble or one of his entourage members in sight at all times. I didn't want to take chance that one of or any of them would try something stupid…I learned a long time ago to trust no one and everyone is suspect. Nothing happened, thank goodness, and I was weary of what would lay ahead even with this truce we now had.
Getting back to TC, Alec and I made an effort to make our presence known to Mole, Daniel, Cece, Joshua, Dix and Luke before going into the conference room, already knowing that they were going to be following us. Alec called it the "dominate alpha" thing in the both of us, I preferred to call it the "chain of command". Once we closed the doors of our conference room, ensuring at least some amount of privacy from the rest of the transgenics hearing outside, Mole was the first to speak up, "Well?"
He bit his stogie, then raised his voice a tinge, "We just gonna stand here with our thumbs up our asses or are you two gonna talk shop?" I quirked a brow at him. Geez! We just barely made it in the door Mole! Get a grip!
"A few minor changes were made, but everything is something we can mostly live with. I don't think we set up a time and place when most of this will take effect. I think it'll come in gradually as we go along." I stated out loud walking around the desk.
Shucking off the pin-striped suit vest along the way, it left my lace-lined silk cami in place. I felt more than saw Alec straighten up. Think you could be more obvious Alec? I ignored his reaction for now. Time for play later! "I want to start the projects up. Alec, I want you and Daniel to start contacting your people on the outside. I'll contact OC and Scetchy 'bout making those tryptophan runs. Cece and Mole, I want weapons checks to be done." So far, nods all around.
"If we're going to be expanding, we don't want anyone getting any more crack pot ideas. Joshua, I'm gonna need you, Luke and Dix to take a day and start to map out more tunnels. I'm getting a bad vibe on a feeling here." I told them."What it is Max?" Alec asked, coming up behind me, his presence helping to calm me down, "If Gamble is really looking out for us, then it makes me wonder what his motives are?"
I almost got lost in my own little world. Not wanting to lose focus, I continued. "We need possible extra tunnels for safety purposes." He nods, "So, everyone has their assignments? I'll make my calls…" everyone started filing out the door as I held my arms around myself, "I'm thinking maybe the baby is giving me that sixth sense." I laugh off my weird feeling.
He kisses my forehead lightly before dragging his lips lightly to my own, "Max, every transgenic and transhuman has a slight sixth sense. Yours is just heightened due to your pregnancy." I nodded. The nervous feeling was calmer with him around, I think it had to do with my feeling of being safe with him. I always felt safe with him nearby.
Hours later, I was still on the phone with OC and Kendra on a three-way call, a little trick OC did to prevent an unnecessary call out. Kendra had been busy lately with her teaching. She took on more Chinese classes so she could make up rent for her and Walter. His pay earnings were okay but at the end of the day it wasn't enough for bills and food, hence all of Kendra's extra temp jobs. When I had first asked OC if she would be open to the tryptophan idea, she jumped at it.
"You serious sugar?" She asked me over the phone, I'd taken my cell into the bedroom along with the papers needed to keep us in supply legally. "If it's something you can't or don't wan-" I was already giving her the option to back out, I felt bad for getting her or ANY of my friends involved in our business like this. "Stop talking – you know I wanna help you boo's out. 'Sides, I wanna make sure that 'mini you' comes out just fine without you goin' into the shakes in the process." I smiled at the image of a mini me.
My long dark hair, Alec's hazel green eyes that had gold flecks within them, without our penchant for trouble though, knowing our luck since we're BOTH prone to getting into trouble. If it's true about karma, that might not be an option. "Thanks, I have a list of specific places for you to hit." I told her, pulling out the small list with times and dates on it out.
"I figured I could have you, Scetchy, Herbal, Kendra and even Normal if his ass agrees, with different places and different dates to hit. At least this way no one can figure out how we're getting help from the outside. Last thing you guys would need is for people to realize you're helping a bunch of transgenics. Don't need my friends getting into a jam on account of any of us." We may not have had the fullest support yet, but that didn't mean I wanted my friends to get into trouble because they were helping us.
If our haters found out that we were still getting in supplies to help keep us healthy and balanced, they would be pissed. Even worse, if they found out who was helping us. It could get potentially – no it WILL get dangerous if OC or anyone else gets exposed. It's why I gave everyone different places to hit and days, never the same one, never at the same time, that way no one can pinpoint anything.
"No worries sugar! OC gotch'u." she replied back, "Yeah, me and sister girl always got your back. So when did you want us to start and where are we gonna get the cash flow for it?" That was another thing. We didn't want to use credit or debit for the obvious paper trail factor. "Joshua's old house has a sewer line running right next to the house. I'll be dropping by there at the end of the week to leave the cash in separate stacks, so you all can get the amount needed for the right places."
Though we'd have to come up with a better internal system for our money. Keeping thousands of dollars in cash in locked safes weren't the best plan with a city full of transgenics or transhumans. Not that I didn't trust people, but well…hell I didn't trust EVERYONE! I'd have to come up with an idea about that later on. At least with it separated, Scetchy could figure out what would be needed for each store and not grab too much at once.
That's the last thing we needed, "You can each drop by at different times this Friday afternoon. The money should be there by then. If not, drop me a line and I'll bring it by within the hour." I told them, "No problem boo. OC's got the day off that day and Scetchy's got a run near that area anyways, so it would be no hassle for anybody." OC assured me.
I smiled over the phone, "Thank you both. You good with it Kendra? I don't want you getting into this if you're not cool with it." I asked, "You kidding me? It'll give me a chance to try and nail a job over at one of the locations. Teaching doesn't always bring home the cash flow and temp jobs are just that… temporary." I nodded my head in acknowledgement even though she couldn't see me. "Yeah I've been there…sorta. Okay here are the locations, OC…"
After giving them the locations we ended up just catching up. Turns out, as much as we'd thought that Jam Pony would have been in bad with business after our little episode there, seeing as how it had been dubbed the "Transgenic Underground" while we were there, the business actually ended up benefitting from it. It was a shocker to us all really. We were expecting people to be let go and business to fail.
Apparently, Normal and those employees that had been there during the siege had nearly all been interviewed. Well, those that didn't mind the publicity, nor the fee they got paid for getting interviewed. Hell Normal himself had been charging a grand for interviews about his harrowing experience with the transgenics and transhumans alike AND his story about delivering a transgenic baby. He's raking in the dough, and the money he'd gotten from it was well-pocketed.
But at least the insurance company on the building came through. Turns out when the Pulse happened, the owner of the company, Bookie Lee Farnsworth, ended up putting an insurance policy on it for theft, or in any other case, such as a hostile take-over. The cash wasn't taken, obviously, but the damages to the building had been massive. The main gate in the front had to be replaced, that was easily around 1500 bucks, not to mention all the shell casings that were left behind.
Then forensics came in and collected them all, which must have been a fucking load of fun considering all of the rounds expelled from White's no-pain-no-gain asses weren't registered to any department that anyone knew of. However, all he had to do was say that they were on loan from another agency and that was the end of that. Like the snake he really is, White always finds a way to slither out of trouble by pulling rank.
Kinda made you want to yell out "Asshole!" to the world at the unfairness of it all and because he is an asshole. As for our rounds, all they were able to do was I.D. the bullets casings. There was still a listing of several types of guns the bullets could have come from. Made it harder to track it down at the end of the day.
Nowadays, Normal had a brand new gate, and the rest of the insurance money had been used to repair what was necessary upstairs. Cheap building insurance goes to the cheap building repairs. But the employees were still employed, so no one complained…any more than the usual that is. But that's back then, I was just glad our stunt hadn't cancelled the business for good. That would have made me feel even worse.
But again, that's beside the point, "I'll call Scetchy and Herbal next girls." they said their goodbyes before hanging up. Ringing Scetchy next, I hear his rough scratchy voice over the phone, "If this isn't an insanely beautiful woman, I'm hanging up." I smiled at the moronic line, "Well, I like to think I am." I reply jokingly. "Max?" Scetch asked, his voice going up a notch. "Is that you?"
He sounded sleepy, I checked the time on my phone before answering with a laugh, even if all I really did was to scowl at it. Poor boy, probably spent most of last night trying to hook up and fell short around three to four a.m. "Scetchy, it's nearly dinner time, what are you doing sleeping?" I laugh into the phone. I hear a crashing sound in the background just before his voice pops back on. "Ow, damn it…hey Max! How are you? How's Alec? How's the baby-er-fetus I guess." I looked at the phone.
I didn't even know he knew what that word was, let alone how to use it in a sentence… "All fine, for the most part, you got a minute?" I asked him. "Sure, what'cha need from the Scetch-miester?" he offered with a lame British accent. "Well for one, drop the British bit, it's not working for you. And secondly, if you're up to it, would you like to make a few extra runs throughout the month as a favor to yours truly on the inside?" I hear hesitance, and I get a little nervous with that…
"What kind of runs? I don't have to go through Steelhead territory again, do I?" Oh, that was the hesitance! Poor thing, I really do have to whack Alec in the head for having him do those runs. Even if Scetchy is a grown ass man who should be able to make smart decisions for himself. His fool head probably smarted off to one of 'em, trying to act cool, and got himself into the bind to begin with…
"NO Scetchy none of these runs have you going through any type of Steelhead or gang territory, I made sure of it." He sighed, "Sure then." his happy ass self back in full rotation as I gave him the run down. I did make sure that for everyone, not just Scetchy, that they were all away from different gang land territories, I didn't want anyone getting hurt. "Okay, now wake your ass up." he grunted in reluctant agreement before ending the call with me.
Coming up with a plan of action, I called Cece up, "Yup?" she answered, "Hey, you up for a little experiment on the outside?" I asked, walking to the exit of the building, hoping that she'd say yes. "Considering my work load, it depends." She answered tentatively, "Can you see if Mole could let you by for today only?" Maybe I could bribe him with some extra cigars in our next shipment. "Tell him I'll get him some extra cigars next shipment if he does it himself."
That ought to satisfy him. As long as he keeps that smoking far away from me! Or… "How about you just being late by about…" I remove the phone from my ear to see the time on it before replacing it back, "Two hours give or take?" I answer, "I'll let Mole know. What'd you need anyways?" Walking to the basement where we're keeping the cash in a small deposit box, I answer, "We need to make a deposit." Taking a small handful out, roughly a grand, I shove it in my leather jacket.
Waving and signing it out from the transhuman on duty, "I'll meet you at the Metro Bank of Seattle in 30 minutes." I hang up, already knowing she's on her way. "So Max, what's with the bank take? I thought this system was pretty good?" The transhuman whom dubbed herself Zircon asked. She seemed slightly hurt so I tried to explain gently, "Cause, as good as this system is, we can't just have thousands of dollars in cash in a small box." I smirk, thinking of Alec.
"It won't always be able to fit in there. We need a location to secure it that has a really big steel door. Banks happen to have that. 'Sides, it's not fair to keep a transgenic or a transhuman down here to guard a couple of boxes for hours on end. Gotta keep the senses sharp, focused. Elsewise, after a while, the senses get dull. People make mistakes if only out of sheer boredom." Seeing the logic, even as much as she probably wanted to dispute it, I left with a wave as I took the car to the bank.
Probably should tell Alec…I go to grab my phone when I remember he's working with some of the old demolition crews on creating a more effective bomb that can have a more lasting effect on White's people. We may have stopped their big plan, but that also put us number one on their "you're fucking dead" list. Alec thought it'd be a good idea to get input on weapons that could have an effect on temporarily taking them down for the count long enough to either escape or take them down without killing.
It was a good idea, so that is where he is now. He was going to start on the projects first, but the suppliers for the equipment needed wouldn't be able to get to the drop-off point till Monday of next week. So ringing his phone during bomb tests…might NOT be a good idea. Didn't want the slightest disturbance – unless it was an emergency – to make a test go haywire.
Arriving at the building, I got out of the now parked car and saw Cece already standing at the front of the bank, "Hey, took you long enough." She quipped. "I had to avoid sector check points with a car. You had sewer entrances to take with a bike." I snapped slightly, she merely chuckled, "Pregnancy making you irritable, huh?" I sniped slightly, "No, just the fact that I can't ride my baby anymore. At least not till I give birth."
She simply laughs. We walk in, seeing bankers, tellers, customers, none of them are truly aware of what just walked in and we were going to keep it that way. "No flashy moves, we're here to keep a low profile. Only objective is opening an account." I tell her, she nods, seeing the rent-a-cop leaning against the wall. "I don't think we'll have any problems." Cece answers. I agree but still, "All the same…" I tell her. She rolls her eyes at me.
"Hey I have just over a grand in my pocket here, I don't want to lose it. For us that's - " she held up her hands in defense, "Fine I get it. But why so much?" I looked to her, "Don't you think businesses would bring in more than the usual for a bank deposit? Not just a few hundred?" she conceded my point. "Never made a bank run before." She defends, "Me neither." She shoots me a look as we walk on.
Going up to a teller I ask her, "Hello, we're new to this bank and were wondering if we could open up an account?" I had made sure this bank would be safer than the others by checking to see which sectors had the most transgenic or transhuman activity. If they knew what we looked like and how to identify us. This one had the least amount of chances for us to be discovered.
The teller smiled, "Come on over, we'll be with you shortly." She escorted the both of us to a banker at his desk. Since he was on the phone, we both did an inconspicuous sweep of the place for entrances and exits. Something that was so integrated within us, it was the same as breathing, that automatic. Looking at each other, we knew we were secured…for now. "So, how can I help you ladies?" he asked as he finished his call, smiling politely. "We'd like to open up an account." I state, "For our business." Cece added.
I look to her. Leaning in, she whispers in low tones, "We have just over a grand in our pockets. The amount alone says something." I begrudgingly admit to myself that she's right as I continue on, "For 'United We Are' Corporation." I smile at my own quickness at the name. Trying to keep a professional façade, Cece glanced at me in surprise. I can practically see the "Where the hell did you get that from?" turning in her head.
The banker starts to type the information into a computer when a loud and ridiculously familiar "pop, pop, pop" sound filled the air.
We turn around in time to watch five men…Correction, make that five moronic, very badly timed men…carrying semi auto's and no care in the world regarding where the bullets were going. I sigh and hiss low so only Cece can hear me, "Really? Now?" I don't know what's worse. Familiars, military, or morons with guns…I was really trying to figure out which ones were the worst for the situation. "Nobody move! On the ground now!" the one with overly bleach blonde haired yelled at us all.
We sunk to the ground from our seats, hands up in the air quickly, looking to see if there's any type of strategy to use that wouldn't expose us, "Nobody try to be a hero today and you all leave out safe and unharmed!" one of them yelled out. "Yeah right…" I muttered out, catching Cece's attention, "These guys are lame bums trying to score." I take a good look at them.
Remembering the type from my days on the streets, I examine their moves, "The leader won't I.D. himself till someone makes a bogus move. These guys just watched way too many movies growing up. My guess is if things were to hit the fan, they'd try to go through their rol-a-dex of movies with a similar type of scenario to try to figure out what to do." Cece's look of bewilderment had me almost crack a smile…almost, "Grew up on the streets, remember?"
She nods her head, "You'll have to tell me about it someday." She said as they started to come over, making sure everyone was being gathered around a central area of the bank. I shot a look over to the security guard. The security guards looked around frantic trying to talk to the robbers. Yeah dumbass, that never works. If they want the cash one little guy isn't going to help matters much. Idiot…I mutter out as the guy got his ass handed to him by the butt of the gun.
Seriously, why do the rent-a-cop types think they can handle the big shit? I shook my head at the utter absurdity of it. Trying to keep my head down to avoid being seen, I motion for Cece to help cover me as we get shoved over to where the other hostages are now. "Should we call HQ? Tell them we're in trouble?" she whispers so low only I can hear her.
"No." I decide, "This isn't my first time dealing with these kinds of scumbags. Let's see how this plays out for a bit. Let me see how far things get. Sides, neither of the boys know we're gone. If they find out we're in the middle of this, you wanna explain it to Daniel?" I asked her. She sighed, "Fine, but if this gets any worse than it is…" I concede her point, "Then you can make the call. Till then, we can handle this." I hope…
However, as if the shit couldn't hit the fan any harder, one of the guys looked at me really, REALLY closely, "Hey ain't you one of them freaks that's been on the news?" He questioned loudly. I now had a LOT of people looking over at me. I used my training to avoid looking as panicked as I felt. This is not good…if I get discovered here…I clenched my fists slightly in anger over what we we're being restricted to do yet again.
Damned those fucking hoverdrones that saw me! I briefly thought that maybe the hoverdrone stunt I pulled back at JP was too much. But then, the look on the sector cops' faces as I rode one of their most prized assets over their nine car police court – including Celemente's ride - and into through the window of JP right in front of them…yeah it was worth it.
"I don't believe it." The banker behind me muttered out, breaking me out of my internal thoughts. I turned to look at his now astonished face as he peered at me in recognition. I shut my eyes briefly in irritation. Fuck! This is SO not good! "I don't think we're getting that account." Cece muttered out. I tried to not shoot her a look as the gun man pointed the semi at her.
"What about you?" Bleached Blond asked Cece. She didn't look too fearful at the gun, which would have been a dead giveaway. I really needed to talk to her about how to work undercover when needed and to hone in some of those kick-ass acting skills that Alec somehow managed to wing wherever he went. Seriously, I think he had an actor for his DNA donor. Somehow he pulls shit out of his ass and makes it golden globe worthy. But for now, I nudged her in the side without being seen.
I think she was getting the fact that if she acted as if she was in fear for her life, they wouldn't think she was a trannie/freak, therefore, they would leave her alone. Both of us didn't need to go down right now. Putting on a look of distress that I would have given her a Oscar for, she put that same panic into her voice to make it sound more authentic for the role she was about to play.
"What?" she raised her voice level, "What? I'm just here to help out a friend. What are you talking about?" her innocence was working…shit if she wasn't a soldier she'd make a hellava living as an actress. Maybe I don't need to have that talk after all! The guy was second guessing himself! "Have her show you her barcode! They all have 'em!" one of the others yelled.
He forcefully turned her around to look for it. Luckily for all X5's Alec and I made it mandatory for those that left TC the most to get them lasered off once a month. Turns out, Alec had commandeered the necessary equipment for it a few months back. He said we couldn't all afford to keep sneaking out at night just to go to the doc's office for laser treatments. I let it go since he did have a small point.
"Nothing!" he yelled back, "Then take the other freak out back and take care of her! Can't have some trannie trash trying to stop us!" Cece looked to me in fear. After all, I was pregnant. I gave her a reassuring look. After all, I was a pregnant alpha female willing to do anything to protect her baby. He walked me to the back of the bank. "Time to put you down freak." He muttered out. "Not today ass wipe." I muttered back. Listening for him to pull the trigger that he thought would end my life.
I moved the second before it popped, blurred behind him only to knock him out with a fist to the back of the head. Taking the gun he had I looked at it in disgust before smashing it into his temple. Just enough to keep him knocked out. "Not that you can hear me…" I whisper by his ear, "But NEVER try to harm a pregnant female. We're freaking lethal bitches when we're protecting our young. Transgenic or not!" I hiss the last part out as I walked back to where everybody else was.
Now I just needed to take out the rest of the men and avoid letting Cece get exposed as well. Should have known better than to try a bank. Maybe there's a different way? But till there is, we need a bigger box to keep our money in back at TC. Seeing me in the back, I can see Cece's look of relief as she hand signals me "You ok?" she asks. "He's down and I'm fine." More relief.
"Call Daniel. He should know." Cece signed. I got out my cell but hesitated…what can they do? What could I say? We left the safety of TC to try and make a deposit with funds and didn't tell you cause you were busy? No I need to distract the men inside and I did have Cece with me…sorta. I signal to her "Let's wait it out and see what happens. I think I have a plan but I need your help." She seemed hesitant, but accepted my decision.
Okay now I needed to come up with a plan…once that involved no actual deaths but a lot of knock outs. I walked back out the way I came to notice that out front there were no cops. Either they're taking longer than expected, or nobody was able to reach the panic button in time. Still with a gun in hand, I shoved it into the waistband of my jeans, something Alec had told me several times a long time ago.
Even if you don't want to shoot it, it's still useful as a weapon to hit someone with…his words echoed in my head. It was the only time anyone saw me carry a gun after that…at all. Seeing the power box on the outside, I smashed the lock off using the gun and my superior strength as I looked for the right wires. My time as a thief is coming in handy right about now.
I re-wired some of the pathways so that it would short out within the next half hour. It would be enough to give me time to get back in, back to Cece and use the darkness to our advantage and knock the gunmen out before making for the exit and calling the cops on their asses. Re-wired, I left the box and went back inside where I saw Cece waiting to make a move. It's hard to ask a high-minded X5 to just sit around a wait for the plan to take action.
Seeing me, she signaled, "What's your plan?" I replied back, "We've got 20 minutes till lights out, then we take the men out and bail out." Her acceptance was in her eyes as our sensitive hearing picked up on the conversation two of the guys were having, "Where's Marco, man? He should have been back by now." I smiled…he's stone cold out. Then it hit me, maybe they need to hear a gun shot? No! Then they would be expecting him back right then and there.
No, let them think something happened, then lure them out one by one. Make it easier for Cece just in case. Not that she wasn't capable, but in case something were to go sideways before lights out. If she were to take on three versus one or two, it might give her away as a genetically enhanced killing machine. One of them we heard was told to go check up on him. I nodded to Cece that he was taken care of. Watching him go outside I saw him start to panic as he saw his friend out cold.
I was actually tempted to smile in slight pleasure at the look of fear on his face, "Come on out, trannie freak! And I'll make it painless for you!" he yelled out. His movements were now shaky as he frantically pointed his gun in many different directions. I really wanted to laugh at his stupidity, three times he had his gun pointed at me but each time he pointed away just as rapidly into another direction. I laughed out loud, "God, how much of a dumb ass are you?"
He looked over as I moved from my spot, hands ready to pull the trigger in the slightest now. "Trigger happy I see." I remark to him calmly. "Yeah well it's my only defense right now!" he shouted, still rapidly moving…you got that right…I'm tempted to step out of the shadows and reveal myself, but his trigger happiness cautions me, "Tell you what?" I let out.
Still frantic, he moves about, "What?" he shouts, his sweat now visible as he clearly is freaking out with me playing with him like this, "You drop your gun and leave. No questions asked, you bail. As far as your friends will see it, you ran from the cops as soon as you heard sirens." He smiled slightly before mouthing off, "Bull! There aren't any po po's coming!" I nodded in agreement, "For now…but what about when gun shots are heard out here?" he looks away.
There's my moment. Blurring up to him I pull one of Alec's moves and grab both his shoulder and the gun before flipping over him. Now with his shoulder in a bind and his gun hand cut off from executing a shot he ends up dropping it to avoid me breaking his hand. Stepping on the gun, I see his eyes widen in fear, "Go! Now!"
He runs off, nearly tripping over his own feet in the process before I call out to him, "Hey kid!" he stops, fumbles a little, "Next time you try to hold up a place…DON'T!" he nods and runs off the rest of the way. I look at the gun before putting it to into the back of my jeans…well two down three to go…hope Cece's doing okay in there…I look at my cell for the time…great…my little cat and mouse game took just over 15 minutes. Going back inside I think…Here goes nothing…