darkweb47: there's more to Gamble than meets the eyes.
Recicup: it will also be expanding, I've been doing a tad bit of research to bring in new characters and up White's desperation to kill Max.
Please read and review!
Season 4 ep.19
"Here's how this'll play out." I started while looking over the papers we had scattered all over the table. The room we were currently in was the size of a medium bedroom. It was enough for a bed, a desk, two cabinets and a dresser. Currently it only held a really big desk and a chair. A chair ready to be used by a certain someone really soon. Alec already wanted to dub it our 'interrogation room' but that seemed too 'copish' to me so it was simply 'holding room'.
The five of us huddled around the table looking over our plans about to go down. Goal one, to get Gamble, goal two, to get his entourage away from him long enough to snatch him up, goal three find out the truth from Gamble, goal four prevent the media from getting wind and blaming us for technically kidnapping the deputy mayor. If his security found out it was us instead of the outside agency we were posing to be it would be a disaster on our ends.
Luckily they had a protocol on hand for when another agency takes control of the security, even temporarily. It would give us a few hours to interrogate him before hopefully releasing him, "Secondary objective here is to get Gamble without harming a civilian or his security personnel." Nods all around me, we didn't want anyone to actually get hurt during our fake attack.
The plan was to make sure Gamble was out in the open, set off a chain reaction so that his security would take him to the car and driver whose to be in there at all times takes off and takes the deputy mayor to safety. Only wrinkle we're putting into the plans, the attack will be fake, and the driver will have called off due to sickness while Alec takes the wheel.
The attack itself will have been a argument out of control by a couple of scatter brained friends, and the call off driver will be told from his company to take a day off while Alec takes his place for the drive, "His men will do most of the work for us." Daniel and Cece smiled at the thought, "Plan is start the fight. Cece, you and Daniel will be backing us by preventing any real damage from happening, these are friendlies out there."
The place itself was over near Jam Pony so we talked a few friends into staging a 'power fight' if you will. Fake argument leads to lots of wrestling around but the crowd control will be cause for alarm causing the men to take Gamble away from it. "I'll call Gamble over to where I see his car. Make sure you center the fight around Gamble, his men will lead him out as standard protocol for safety, take him to the car, he'll get in and Alec drives off." nods all around.
If things go smoothly Gamble won't be at TC longer than a few hours. Long enough to get the truth from him and plant a tracker on him. "Mole I need you have eyes on the security once Gamble's out of sight. Listen to who they call afterwards. If it's anything beyond what's standard for protocol let us know." He grinned. He was gonna get cocky about this I knew he was.
"Listen we don't know if his security is familiar or not so be sure to watch yourself and keep an eye on them." he nodded, "Can I take - " I threw his a look. "What's the point in making those darts to knock out the familiars if we don't use them?" I looked around to see the agreement on faces all around. Rolling my eyes at the smirks and 'we made them for a reason' looks I sighed, "Fine you can take the 'tranq sniper rifle' with you."
Alec snorted at the glee on Mole's face. His newest toy to play with, I knew he couldn't wait to use it. I just didn't want it to be in a very public crowd, or a crowd at all. "Cece and Daniel I want you two out of there once the fighting is done. We can't leave a trail here." "Got it." Was the reply all around the room. "We need this to be clean guys." I stated lowly, "Can't have people thinking or knowing it was us." A collective of 'yeahs' were across the room.
"Even if it is us." Alec remarked, now looking at the papers from over my shoulder. I looked up and back a little, "Lets use those trained skills of ours to ensure our survival, to ensure Gamble's legitimacy for us." We all nodded silently, "And lastly let's ensure we remain innocent. We've worked to long and hard over these past two years to let it go to hell over one man." Everyone in there knew the truth in his words.
No nods were needed nor words. Their expressions spoke volumes. "We leave at 4 p.m." I ended. Everyone started to filter out leaving Alec and I to clean up the papers for our mission this evening. It also gave us a few hours to have time with the girls before sending them off to Gem's daycare. Since she got her license she opened it up with some surprising customers.
Turns out there were a few late night bars close by where people caught a late shift, and a late drink, when the bars closed the barmaids had to pay their babysitters a larger fee for the lateness of the curfew. When one of them came around with her two kids about five days ago when Gem was taking care of Eve, and a few other second generation X5 babies, she asked if Gem could watch the two till at least 11:30pm curfew was at 10pm the local babysitter had to be home by that time.
Gem had her fill out the proper paperwork, the fee for taking care of the two kids and the lady was off. So Gem decided to extend the hours to midnight for those that worked extra late shifts. Turns out a lot of people in the sector have late shifts, she was gaining business from people who couldn't afford to try and swap shifts to pick up their kids earlier. Made it easy for her. Once the daycare hours shifted from 5am - 5pm to 11am - midnight she gained more revenue.
We were surprised it was working out so well. Plus because of where the daycare center was located, the toxic levels weren't a huge issue. The new location we picked was nearly outside of TC's protective zone. Making it easier for commuters to see it and come in without feeling threatened by the toxic waist levels. It was also the building we had patrols around more so since we didn't want anyone to try something stupid to try and hurt our chances of business with the kids.
Thing is we'd only been open for five days with all our places, I was wondering how all of this and the new Intel on Gamble would effect everything, if at all. If he was on our side, great, but if not, would he say fuck it and drop everything just to save his own hid with the familiars? I sighed and tried to massage out a kink in my neck. Alec's touch soothed my neck as he whispered in my ear, "Stop worrying. It'll be fine." He was so confident, sometimes I wish I was too.
I leaned back into his chest, "We need to go to the girls before we leave today." I tell him. He kisses the side of my neck, "I know. But give me five minutes to calm you down…momma." I crinkled up my face at the inside joke. It didn't work for anyone to call me 'momma' unless it was my daughters…well when they could talk that is. "Alec seriously?" I asked, "What?" he asked. I rolled my eyes and walked away, already knowing he was following me. "What did I say?" he called after me.
I smiled, "Don't call me 'momma'. It doesn't sound right." He laughed, "Maxie, you are a mother now. So what if I call you that every once in a while?" I furrowed my brows in humor, "Okay so while were having sex you won't mind me calling you 'daddy'." He saw the challenge. Scratching the back of his head he let out a question more than an answer, "Um, no…" seeing my point he conceded, "Fine I get your point." I smiled and turned on my heels heading to Gem's place.
Rounding several corners I tapped her door with my knuckles. Opening it she invited us in while she was conversing with someone on the phone. Seeing our girls in the playpen I immediately fell to my knees in front of them and picked Nyx up while Alec bent down and picked up Nikita. "You're already growing…" I smiled. "That's my girl…just don't grow up too fast." I saw the look of 'just please don't grow up to fast' written on his face. "I'd like to have sometime to enjoy you as a little thing."
I wanted to snap for calling her a 'little thing' but seeing him holding our little girl…it was enough to make my heart melt. I looked back down to Nyx. "I'm gonna have to agree with daddy on this one. Feel free to be carefree, little girls. Just don't go running away from us on the outside." Not safe in this area for a baby just yet. Plus we don't know the development rate of a second generation X5 child.
The pregnancy was the same as a human but the growth rate could be faster. We didn't know. "We'll have to make an appointment with Dr. Carr and Shankar. See if a 'pediatrician' can be brought into the mix. Our X5 doc isn't well versed on 'baby 101'." He nodded his head, "If anything someone could come in and verse her on it. That way we'd have two different heads to go on." He surmised. Agreeing with him I saw Gem come back in.
"Ridiculous demands that lady has." Ah the one who demanded Gem get the license. We looked up to her in question, "She's now demanding that we have inspections once a month to make sure the new 'daycare center' is up to 'par'." More political bullshit, "So we'll do weekly checks our self from the one of those top books or something. No worries we won't let you down." She calmed down a little bit on that one. "Thanks. She just aggravates me." Gem complained.
"I know…" looking back down I cooed at Nyx. Never say you won't be a good parent cause I certainly thought I wouldn't get the chance. It was a fleeting, whist filled dream that I thought wouldn't come true with the way my life was going. Now here we are. "I know that look." Eve got it when she needed to be changed. "Never thought I'd be glad to have had previous experience." I muttered out.
Sparing a glance at Alec I saw the water works about to come, "You to daddy. You've got the water works in T minus ten." Alec scurried over to me as we headed off to Gem's room where her changing area was, "Don't make a mess unless you intend to clean it!" she shouted over her shoulder. Alec waved her off as we made the dash into her room. I spotted the changing table she had acquired.
Laying Nyx on it Alec was right beside me with Nikita, "There's something to put on their butts isn't there?" he asked in mild dread. He ripped the tabs of the diaper off as I did. The stench that came from them both was horrendous, "Oh f - " Alec started to cough around the smell. I held my breath. "What the hell are they being feed?" he grouched out taking up the same method hold breath holding as I had.
"Some off market baby spinach. It's supposed to give them strength." I answered without though, "Their only strength right now is in the diaper! For the love of -" he complained while trying to keep his own meal down. Tossing the now rolled up stench bomb into the garbage along with mine we both wiped down their bottoms with wipes till they were clean and clear.
Pulling their feet up a few inches I put the diaper down, the powder and the squirty stuff for their bums. All in all we did okay. Alec was a bit more out of tuned with the process since it was Gem that had been watching them the most of the time. "Gem I've got to give you credit for doing this all the time!" Alec shouted though not too loudly. Didn't want to break any sensitive eardrums.
I watched her walk in and lean against the doorway. She smiled, "I know what you mean, as much as I love Eve, I'd rather dismantle a bomb. At least they don't let off odors enough to render us into squeamish little kids." She laughed. Nyx and Nikita giggled almost as if they understood what she said.
"You think they…?" the question was there. Even Alec looked back and forth, "Nah, even if they do it's not something that'll be retained. Not till later years." First memories of Sandman coming to visit me as a probable six year old little girl came to mind, but nothing before that…at least not yet. "If anything it would probably take a trigger to set off the memory." I stated without thought.
Alec and Gem both look to me, "When Joshua first showed me Sandman's cane at his old house I had a weird memory hit me. I was around six. He called me his 'special little one'." Alec turned his head partially to the side, "And you think they'd remember hearing something as long as the object that was there came back some many years later?" he nodded, "Makes a sorta sense. After all we retain stupid things sometimes." He laughed off as he secured the new diaper around Nikita.
"Like the ingredients on the back of 'pork rinds'?" I asked sarcastically, my smile creeping on my face as I put Nyx's diaper on. "You never know. It might come in handy." He tried to point out as he picked Nikita back up. Soothing and cooing at her, "I think she needs momma's milk now." He smirked at me. I narrowed my eyes briefly at the smirk before I did the same with Nyx and brought her with me to sit down. "I'll let you guys handle this." Gem excused herself.
We knew Gem would be back, but watching Alec fawn over me feeding the girls my milk wasn't something another female or male interfered in. Alec and I were private in that kind of way. It was after all mother's milk. Shifting my shirt I opened up the top four buttons giving the girls plenty of movement. Alec was a cross between slight jealousy and admiration and most of all loving.
"Someone's hungry huh?" I remark watching the girls drink up. "I know I am." Alec said. His voice laced with a tinge of lust at the sight. "Aww isn't that sweet. Daddy wants a sip to." Alec smirked at me. Of course he got his sips at nighttime. When the girls were all feed and there was still some left over. "Daddy'll get his sip tonight, and a drink from down below to." His words and heated look down to between my legs sent my hormones into a frenzy.
"Don't do that!" I berated him. He smiled, "Why not?" he asked innocently, "Don't get me horny while I'm feeding the girls. It's…" the look on my face said enough, "I won't do it again…anytime soon." The last part was muttered under his breath. I shot him a glare but continued to feed till they popped my nipples from their mouths and settled in my arms. Their eyes you could tell were already getting drowsy. "Not yet girls." I mumbled to them.
With a swift movement on both Alec's and my own end, both girls were positioned into a sitting position and our hands under each of their chins, having their back rubbed. Both of us had a towel on our hand to prevent any liquids from hitting the clothes. Burps now out of the way and one puked on towel in the hamper we settled the girls down for the next several hours till we could get back to them. Gem came back in sensing we were done though I think it was cause she had Eve herself so she figured out our time range.
It wasn't the best way of working the next few months but till our business with Gamble got settled and our business with Logan did to, we were gonna be running around too much to leave the girls at our place without someone there. Sides it was only temporary, till business settled down and things became more normal…well as normal as things were gonna get.
Leaving out I once again stuffed the mom in me on the back burner as the leader in me stepped back to the plate to handle business at hand. I wanted to smile. We had a deputy mayor to squeeze. But I couldn't. He represented so much of what we were gaining. What if we lost it all? What if it was never there to begin with? What if I was being conned this whole time? All the more reason to squeeze him I thought with a gleam in my eye.
We left off for sector nine, heading towards the one route that we knew Gamble would have to take if he wanted to go to this upper echelon ceremony, some bigwig bullshit that I didn't really care about. What I did care about was how to trick Gamble and his men into following me just long enough to get him to his car. Alec would be taking him from there without them even knowing it.
The plan was simple enough. Produce a fight at the right opportune moment with the right people so there aren't any real injuries. Jam Pony members provided the perfect solution for those looking to make a few extra dollars and looking to help support our cause. Sketchy, OC, Sky and several others were in attendance to help out. I was shocked by Sky's offer to help. Even though Normal had pulled a gun on him back in the day for THINKING he was a transgenic he still put out the offer.
I didn't think he'd say yes. Helping a friend do something small is one thing, helping said friend in a technical sense 'kidnap' the deputy mayor…it's a big deal. But he was down as were several others. Made me wonder what OC and Sketchy told them. Plus I know Alec had been teaching some of the employees a few moves here and there at the 'martial arts' studio.
Sketchy came in just a week ago with a few other JP members and he was surprisingly good at picking it up. He just kinda lacked the power behind the hits. Something Alec told me he was working on him with but in this case the moves with lack of power would be perfect. The other members were just glad to get cheap 'martial arts' training from professional people.
The fight alone started out simple enough. Nail the right moment when Gamble would be passing through, and start up over something stupid. Throw a screaming female into the mix and reason why is solved. Just as Gamble went by the fighting started to escalate into something bigger. On my signal a nod with two fingers to my head, Sketchy shouted out some obscenities that resulted as the signal for the other JP members.
They started to fight to. Just as that started Gamble's men ushered him out of the potentially hazardous area. Their reason for going down this particular rural area was the big shot guy mentioned earlier was having a commencement ceremony, a rich tycoon with trucks load of deniro to spare to not particularly fond of 'wasting' it on the poor. I snatched up his name to see if we couldn't snag a few pieces from any collection that he might have.
Rumor was he had mob connections and was trying to 'relieve' himself of them. Yeah I doubt that. Either way this area was the quickest way of getting there and my guess was he no doubtable was running later than usual. The tycoon I didn't care about. He didn't need the extra support. He was only doing it for the public support and commerce to begin with. Not that I could say much, it's what thieves do. So I didn't take it personally, I just took.
So I had little guilt about pulling Gamble away from it. This was after all more important than patting some rich asses back. Once the fight had escalated his guards got him out of their in one shot. Got to hand it to them, if either of them was a familiar their playing it nice and cool. I had wondered about that before, them being familiar that is. I wonder, but I have no proof…yet. They got him out fast and effective enough to avoid any major type of conflict.
Smiling my thanks to Sketchy which he related back to the group of JP employees I briefly saw OC had her head in a 'your good' gesture. She mouthed 'And that's how it's done'. I nodded knowing she wouldn't be able to completely lip read my words. Some words yeah but not from this distance. Slipping out at the right moment I made myself look slightly worried, yet not frazzled.
After all, as per part of old Manticore training, unless you or someone you know has a belly bomb, the situation is solvable and salvageable. It sounds bad I know but sometimes the situation called for it. Granted this isn't a belly bomb but same difference! Great I'm defending myself to my inner thoughts. He relaxed upon seeing me. Bad move…it was my chance to move in.
Touching his arm in concern I asked, "What's wrong Gamble?" I looked him over with concerned eyes, "You look weary." I gave my eyes that worried look to them, "A fight broke out. We need to get to safety before a riot starts." I could just see the wheels in his head turning. He looked back to see if anything had dissipated. Sketchy and the others made it look like it was expanding in the area.
Squeezing Gamble's hand I asked, "Isn't your car nearby?" he nodded firmly, strategizing a way to get there and what to do next. "Let's get you to safety." I suggested. His guards followed, calling for the car to come forward. No reply was needed as the car rolled up beside us. The windows had long been tinted to avoid letting criminals seeing who was in it. Anyone of them would love the chance to take out a leader in control. Make a name for themselves.
It also prevented them from seeing the current driver residing up front. Shutting the door I tapped the roof to signal to get out. His guards seeing the vehicle speed off yelled for the driver to wait. To no avail I stopped them, "Hey!" they looked back to me, looking worried and frazzled now. "Gamble's obviously in safe hands." I attempted to cool down their nerves. They merely looked to each other.
"Why don't you go home and wait for your bosses call?" I suggested. One stepped forward, "Its protocol - " I cut him off, "So call the company and ask what to do next. I would assume that's what you're supposed to do next…right?" signaling to his colleague he jumped on the phone which prompted me to hit the call button on my cell. It told Dix to intercept the call coming in from my location, and since the guards were the only ones to make a call to that company it was pretty simple to intercept the transmission.
After two minutes of hearing Zack's voice, grateful that one I had the hearing to listen in and second that he played his part well and convinced the man of what to do next. The guard hung up, "Let's go home. Gamble's safe and he'll call us later." They waved me off and walked away. Waving back I turned around and couldn't help the smirk that crossed my face. Oh yeah were good…I resisted the urge to do a little victory dance. The party was still far from over.
Now the time to see if Gamble is really on our side, or if he's playing us…flipping open my phone I called HQ, "Hey Max." Dix answered, "Great job Gamble's men are taken care of…till morning at least." It was always good to confirm excess 'casualties' and 'exposure risks'. It gave the crew back home less to worry about at the end of the day, and less Alec had to worry about since his ass was driving the damned car.
Jumping back on my own bike I headed back to JP to ensure everyone was okay and weren't really injured. I parked her in the alleyway near a dumpster to avoid an actual nice bike from being spotted by someone looking to gain a little extra cash. It's why I never bothered to protest Normal's use of bicycles. Less gas that I wouldn't get reimbursed for and I managed to avoid getting it jacked from me which a few houses away in some bad neighborhoods.
Walking in I thought…it has been a while I'll give it that. New gate rolled up over my head, still tons of graffiti everywhere, Normal's bulletproof glass still garnered more spit wads than actual bullets, the lockers seemed even more banged up than usual. I walked down the small ramp seeing Sky. "Hey Max." Giving him a pat on the arm I ask, "Hey Sky, where's Cindy and Sketch? I wanted to make sure all was okay." He points in their direction. "Thanks." He nodded and we bumped fists before he walked off.
I swayed down the ramp with a goofy grin and confidence plastered to my face as I spotted OC shutting hers. I spotted my own locker. My lock absent but I knew it was still empty. She kept it for me…even after all this time…it made my smile widen. "You miss me?" I happily asked. Grin firmly planted on my face as I saw her own smile spread on her face. She turned to hug me.
"It's getting to long boo. We need to see each other more often. You and those girls need to come out and spend some time with auntie Cindy." I nodded in agreement. "Maybe you could take a few hours out of your weeks here and hang out. We could even leave Alec and Sketch with the girls for one night and go chill out in that bar at TC like twice a month or something." Anything…it really did feel too long lately.
"To bad I can't just work over there. Normal's cutting hours like ridiculously." The sigh of depression and struggle was within her voice. "More so than usual?" I asked, looking back to the once neo – republican idiot. He still had that sour puss expression of distaste on his face. He spun his wheel of stamps around while working on some paper work. His, "Hey you! Feckless bum get back to work." Earned him smoker dudes attention.
"Your break was over five minutes ago." An eye roll and a drag was his only reply, "And I'm not paying you to get lung cancer! Put it out and get back to work!" Still yelling at employees…what's new? "He's cutting back cause some fool's with badges threatened to shut the place down if he didn't." I looked back to her in question, her statement, the reason not making any sense.
"They don't want there to be another 'transgenic underground'. Only the old employees from the siege are still here, but the press on you guys lately good or bad, and Normal's recent 'I want to rehire Alec…and Max' had the original owner pulling back just enough payroll to prevent any new hires." I wanted to laugh at her altered tone for Normal's voice over.
Damn… "Wow…you know if you're looking for another job on top of this one, the pay isn't that great, it'll only be for a few hours during the day due to its location, but you'll get to see Gem and the girls more, oh and free martial arts lessons." It was a crap small enticement. Working with Gem at the daycare would provide an outsider cool with Gem to talk to but wouldn't provide enough cash to keep a roof over her head. Made me rethink the offer.
Even for my nearest and dearest I wasn't able to do more…I didn't feel like a very good friend at the moment. "You'll get free lunches…" okay retracting coming into play here, "You know what, never mind cause it's more of a volunteer job than anyth - " she cut me off mid rant, "Max!" her hand waved in front of me to catch my attention, "To see all my girls and make nice with more friendlies in there a few days out of the week? Of course I will!" I was skeptical.
"You will?" I asked. She gave me a 'no doubt' look. "I'll see you in three days sugar." I smiled, "Thanks boo." We hugged as Normal popped his head around the lockers. "Sweet Mary, Lord 'n' Joseph!" clip board in hand he looked me over. Seeing my now flat stomach once again he asked, "Where are the kids?! Sketchy told me you gave birth but where are 'the fruits of my 'rock stars' loins'?" he near demanded. He looked briefly around. I suspected he was trying to locate a stroller.
"At home. Got Gem to babysit…again." I answered. Clip board folded over his chest he regarded me seriously, "You giving those loving brood their proper nutrients? Grow up to be strong and healthy, like their strong father!" he sounded so excited. You'd think he was their godfather or something…something both Alec and myself had yet to discuss. I had to insult his intelligence level for his obvious forgetfulness of my name.
"No I figured puppy chow and cool aid is good enough." His face dropped so fast OC and I both started howling as he figured out the joke. Pushing his glasses up his nose he did his own fake sarcastic laugh, "Ha, ha very funny girlie." He muttered as he walked away but not before giving me a card for Alec. Seeing as it wasn't sealed I opened the flap, "Congrat's on becoming a dad." I looked to him, "They ran out of new ones for mom." He excused himself and left off for the dispatch desk.
I'll bet…He couldn't fool me I knew Normal better than that. Sides, no matter what he says or does Alec will always be backing me. Even when we were just good friends he had my back. Sketchy had told me of when he and Normal had their suspicions of me. Alec was the only other one besides Cindy that had my back to try and convince them otherwise, even if they were right.
I ignored him and found I had a few minutes to kill. I saw Sketchy in the lounge room watching TV. Walking up behind him I say right over his shoulder, "Still hard at work I see?" smirk on my face, his lights up as he turns around, "Max!" getting up from the beat up old lounge chair he hugs me. "I have missed you so much!" he exclaimed. His grip tight but loosening as he spoke again.
"You've gotta put the smack down on Normal!" I laughed at it same as Cindy, "Come on Normal's been riding us extra hard. I think its cause he can't hire anyone else and wants to put you and Alec back on the payroll." Though he's not block enough to think I'll seriously hurt Normal his desolate attitude and solemn voice gives me an idea. I guess the excitement dwindled down since I last heard.
"No more interviews huh?" I asked, "Nah, my editor kept naggin' on me for something sexy and fresh. I'd ask about the pictures that Alec took but I figured if you guys are having issues translating nobody would give two craps about strange looking funk symbols." He did have a point. 'New World Weekly' readers didn't want to try and figure things out. They wanted it all to be simple. Even if the symbols were tattoos that 'magically' appeared people wouldn't pay much mind.
"No more licks thrown through here. The main owner doesn't like the transgenic publicity now, good or bad. Dude changed his tune. Plus now he's trying to implement some new sector rules." OC told me. I looked to her in confusion. "'South Market Streets' been getting worse lately. The owner don't want no more risks to be taken." It didn't help me much explanation wise.
"This is 'South Market' were talkin', there's always a risk." I stated perturbed. Now they're sweating the employee's safety around here. Go figure. "Unbelievable." I muttered. OC stepped closer, "A Jam Pony employee was found dead down there. Beaten to death." I shot my face to hers in shock. "Some gang down there. Shinny spikes. You might remember them. Kids parents want to sue but so far only action we've seen is less packages to certain high risk areas." Damn…
"If there's been no direct legal action then it was probably cause the kid was off duty." OC looked to me, "I may have excelled in telecommunications as a kid but I have a knack for some law to." I partially joked, partially stated seriously. "Either way unless Normal can find TWO willin' employees to go down there, then packages get sent to different businesses. Turns out a lot of packages were from that area."
We may be in sector nine but apparently a nice percentage of profit came from sector two where it was stationed. Makes you wonder what this world is coming to. Plus now I need to figure out how to deal with those Steelheads. Beating that kid to death was too far. I sighed…even for them. "Is that the reason why Normal wants Alec and me back on the payroll?" I asked her in suspicion.
OC thought about it, "Could be. You and Alec have been through that area plenty and never came back with so much as a scratch on yo' asses. Thing is anyone else would be working nearly for free. It'd only be for the packages goin' out to those high risk areas." Probably the reason why the owner felt Normal's suggestion was out of the question. It would be a near complete waste of payroll hours.
Then again…I looked around. It would be nice to get back to basics for a little while. I do miss the simplicity of delivering packages around town. Even the high risk areas while distasteful weren't bad as long as it was the right time of day. I looked to see Sketchy munching on a chip. Stealing one from his bag I ignored his look of protest as I came up with a plan of action.
It was the least Alec and I could do for causing the hold up to begin with. "Hey Normal!" I called out walking up and leaning against the counter. I didn't bother to see if he had time to talk his glare at me was signature, "Got an idea of how to fix your loss of business, need extra help without the extra headache problem." He looked to me in partial shock and partial dead panned 'are you serious?' I'm guessing he was mostly stunned by my offered assistance.
Then his face fell. "Oh no! Last time one of you feckless bums tried to 'help' me I ended up nearly glued to my toilet bowel for the better part of the day. NO!" I blanched in confusion till I remembered OC's comical briefing over the whole 'Sivapathasindaram' escapade. Thing is, "I had nothing to do with that." I looked around and made my decision. Tell him the truth, maybe he'll believe me this time.
Inclining him to come closer I told him, "At that time my brother and I, you know your 'Great Hope Sam'…" his face widened in shock, "Yeah, he and I got betrayed by our former colonel, whom had his old buddy hold us up till we busted ourselves and our sister out of the jam. Thing is we weren't able to bust out till that night." Fully enthralled now he asked, "How'd you escape?"
Leaning over the counter even more I replied, "Faked my own suicide, knocked out the military units holding us, grabbed my sister, then helped my brother jack a truck of theirs and broke out through the gates." Normal was stunned. "If not for what I know you to be I'd think you were messing with my head again." I give him the not making this up look as the wheels in his head turn.
"Wait so all your prior excuses…?" he asked, "Not excuses, but reasons, very good reasons I might add. He nods his head, "So about my plan…" we discuss it the next 10 minutes before he decides to sleep on it. I nod then leave out the way of the ramp. God did it feel good to be back, even if only for a short period of time. I run to my bike seeing as how now I'm over due in getting back.
Now Alec'll never shut up about my being late. I race back to TC, all side routes till I reach our sewer entrance. Then I power through till I reach our underground access filled with assorted vehicles. Dismounting my bike I walked up the tunnel, past the 'rec' center, gym, then finally into the main building where I saw Alec standing. "Everything go okay?" I asked. "If it didn't why would we be here?" Zack's monotone voice nearly snipped behind me. I rolled my eyes.
"Guess you've never heard of figure of speech." I retorted back. Walking past me he said, "Yeah… 'Miracle boy' said that to." I sighed while shutting my eyes in aggravation. Alec mouthed 'Miracle boy?' to me. I mouthed 'Logan' right back. His expression was still slightly befuddled so I explained. "Long story short when the transfusions started he went in and out of gaining his ability to walk. Zack showed up during one of his good days." He grunted a 'right, right.'
Neither of us mentioned the part where the donation was what probably started Logan on his downward path of obsession with it. Right now Carr was in TC at least three times a week to see how Logan could be weaned off. Turns out he'd taken so much during his time in hiding that he needed the transfusions or he'd be in serious amounts of pain, like a shitty ass way of going cold turkey off of drugs. So the weaning part was going a LOT slower than originally planned.
Carr only let him have enough to not be in excruciating amount of pain. Inhumane he'd said. But Logan still demanded more. For the first several weeks he tested his bonds like crazy. Now-a-days I suspected he still tested them to see if he could stretch them out or weaken them. His guards take precautions, not so much on strength but on adrenaline from the transfusions and a lot of psychosis.
Deck next to his was throwing back and forth ideas to the good doc. The more info shared the more that was learned. Imagine Deck and Carr talking about Logan's 'blood issue'. Not something you hear every day. Then again seeing them talking in the same room like two colleagues not something you see everyday either. Mentally I prepared myself right before we entered the interrogation room. After all we have a deputy mayor to take care of.
"You play bad cop, I play good cop?" I threw out there. "If I get to snap at Gamble I'm all for it. Just don't get to close. If he is familiar then he won't have a problem breaking something to break through his bonds." I agreed. Though it's not like he'd get very far. A room with half a dozen transgenics and two transhumans, not to mention a city full of both of them right beyond the door…he wasn't getting out.
We walked in and instantly Gamble tried to play his 'mayoral' card. Alec got into character perhaps to easily. Made me wonder if one of his DNA donors wasn't an actor or something. I brushed the thought aside. We had bigger things to think about. "We've already figured it out so why don't you drop the act of 'I'm just a deputy mayor' crap and step up!" Alec snapped at Gamble.
Alec grabbed the remote in the room and turned the same 13-inch TV towards Gamble showing himself and his actions. The footage we had, of what he had been doing to Preston for the past year now was incontrovertible proof. He simply sighed, "I had a feeling this would come." His eyes met mine and I felt betrayed, hell we all did, and speaking of.
I turned around in time for Joshua, Mole, Cece, Daniel, Syl, Krit and surprisingly though questionable Zack, to come in before securing the door behind us. Only then did I see a glimmer of fear in Gamble's eyes, "Relax were not going to kill you." I stated dryly as he visibly tensed. "Not yet." Alec grunted crossing his arms over his chest. I rolled my eyes, "Tell us the truth." I asked. My eyes pleading with him that it would be better if it came from him.
"NO cause once I tell you who I work for I'm dead. And not by my own kind." The way he said it, "Your familiar." I stated. Zack straightened himself up really fast. He started on a path towards Gamble, "We should kill him and - " I blocked his path, "No one is killing him without getting all the answers first. And even then, he is still the deputy mayor. We can't kill a public official." Zack still stood stony and for once Alec had the same look in his eyes. Go figure they finally agree on something.
"I hate to admit it but she's right. He could have potential Intel about his buddies on the inside." I could see the cogs turning in Alec's head. Torturous thoughts were churning around, "Fine, I'm a familiar." Gamble said. Calm as anything now, "What are your motives with us?" I demanded. He smirked, "It was to take over Preston's job and eventually screw you guys over royally, and lead up to killing you." Alec pulled out his gun ready to fire.
I put my hand on the weapon, "He's going to - " I cut him off, "He may want to but he can't." I snap my head back to him, "Their not as fast as us. There's no need for a weapons discharge in HQ. Are we clear?" I demanded. He grunted something that sounded like 'fine' before putting the gun away, "I've truthfully changed over a new leaf." Gamble admitted.
"Oh come on!" Daniel cracked out over in the corner. He walked up to where Alec was, "You were just waiting for an opportunity to strike. Admit it." He demanded. Gamble pursed his lips for a few seconds, "I was…at first. Then I met 45 -…Max and that all changed." He looked over to me. "Are you kidding me? That's a load!" Zack's outburst caught our attention.
"He's going to go straight back to his own HQ, tell them all he knows then they'll come here gunning for us. I say we - " I saw the fire arm before anyone else did and bodily pushed him back. "Look I'm not trying to say he doesn't deserve to get his ass handed to him, he does. But that doesn't excuse us taking out the freaking 'deputy mayor'! Take a breather if you feel the need to pull out a weapon. NOW!" I snapped. "Thank y - " I turned on Gamble.
"Don't thank me! If it were up to me I'd feed you to the wolves but your still of use to us." He nodded, "Now continue on what you were saying." A few more 'are you kidding me's filtered throughout the room, "You made me see transgenics and transhumans in a different light. Hell you guys are more caring towards each other than we are. In the time I've spent with you, learned about you, you're dare I say it, better than we are, on a human level." Zack snorted.
"We are so much better." I shot him a look, "Forgive my brother he's got an ego as big as his trigger finger, as you can see." He pointedly ignored me, "I want to be apart of something that allows me to be more human. From the time were kids were taught that were better than everyone else." Alec snorted in near laugher, "So you're taught like rich, snooty kids are." Rolling my eyes I urged him on, "White the guy whose been hunting you down, is my partner." That was new.
"The conclave assigned me to him due to his 'continuous failure of killing 452'." He mocked in a badly impersonated female voice. One of who actually sounded, to my surprise, recognizable, "I'm gathering your badly impersonated voice was from the priestess bitch. I'm willing to go with the short haired one, you know, likes to take cat naps when confronted with a transgenic." I smirked.
He smiled, "Ah yes, Priestess Moorehead. She's a testy woman, and a highly ranked Priestess. She also is one of Ames White's biggest supporters. She's the one that handles most of his dealings and now mine through the conclave." Syl stepped up, "Not that were complaining but why are you so forthcoming with all the Intel?" Krit tugged on her arm, "Hey he has his reasons I'm just asking." She shook it off. "Cause Sandman wasn't the only one that found faults within the cult logic." He responded.
I snapped my head to him, "What do you know about Sandman?" I practically snipped at him. He stated, "Sandman was a brilliant mind. The Conclave held him very high on a pedestal." He smiled as if in remembrance, "Till he decided to go the 'gen splicing route'." I supplied. His eyes dimmed. "Yeah. The conclave told us of his betrayal, that he could never be trusted again. His death warrant was issued within a day of finding out about what he had done." At this Zack and Alec surprised us both.
"You mean to tell me - " once they realized they were speaking word for word verbatim they stopped, looked to one another and waited till one was ready to go on. Alec spoke first, "To tell me that they waited a whole day? Back at Manticore if you were found to be guilty of treason, you were dead within the hour. You hand over Manticore secrets to the enemy or any foreign person NOT collaborating with Manticore on the payroll, you were essentially branded a traitor." His eyes met Gambles.
"That's why I called my guards less than ten minutes after I got into the car and told them I'd be fine." I looked to Alec and he nodded, "If the conclave finds out that I told you anything it would be my life. Don't you get that? I'm here! Willingly I might add." I had to concede his point, "He's got us there." I said. Zack broke out with, "Are you nuts?!" he made himself the view point by standing in front of me, "He'll double cross us the second he gets the chance!" oh Zack, you never change.
"Even if he wanted to he can't." I reply back. Zack crossed his arms over his chest, "Oh like Lydecker couldn't?" I narrowed my eyes at him, "Those were different circumstances and we both know it!" I growled back. "Gamble is going to do us what Lydecker did to us years ago. He'll double cross us and this time we might not make it out alive. We barely got out last time without being sold as livestock!" he shouted and motioned with his hands to emphasis his point.
"He isn't Lydecker!" I protested. His examples were of other people not even related to him let alone within the same category. Deck would want us to be loyal soldiers again, IF Gamble was truly a bad guy he'd want us dead, in the ground, six feet under. "He's the enemy! They're all the same! If they don't want to turn us into experiments they want to kill us!" he was getting to close during his yelling, and though I had ignored it and not backed down I sensed Alec taking a step forward.
Probably to be in the right area to take defense for me if need be. "I hate to say this but 'memory – boy' has a point." Mole said with distaste. We looked to him, "Both of them are our enemies, and be it for death or dissection that's what our enemies want." Gamble gaining back our attentions shot out, "But I don't want to hurt anyone!" all attention back on his he continued, "Look after all that's gone down don't you think you can trust me just a little?" we looked at him like he was nuts.
"Okay bad question. Let me prove myself to be in the side of 'man kind'." He wagered his query. Neither Mole nor Zack looked happy, "We're not - " I stopped those trains of thoughts, "We're mostly human people, therefore we are a part of 'mankind'. If he wants to support that good, but were not letting him out of here with out insurance." I sum up. I get looks from all those in the room.
I usher them all out to inform them, "Look the doc can put a tracker implant in him so we know where he is at all times." I look back at the room to ensure he can't hear or see my lips moving, "Plus we can put a listening device on him so we can hear what ever he hears and more." Zack didn't look pleased, "And where are we going to get that? I thought all of TC's cash was for supply use only? Not to use on wasted time missions?" I glared at him.
"Max's plan holds merit and we can scoop up the cash another way. We weren't always on the up and up." I look to Alec to confirm the agreement. Time for a little B & E. "Alec and I will leave out in an hour, in the mean time, Mole tell Luke and Dix we need some of high value to lift off an ass within the hour. Then tell them we need to put an order on the line for some nice hardware." Mole ran off. "Daniel, you and Cece are in charge till we get back." they nodded and left off.
Now it was only Joshua, Krit, Syl, Zack, Alec and myself. "And why are they left in charge?" Zack demanded, "I was Commanding Officer of our unit - " I cut him off, "This isn't just our unit anymore. There is over a hundred units here. Daniel and Cece were voted in and named secondary's as soon as we established our hierarchy chain of command." He shut up.
"When in here you are helping out same as the rest of the transgenics in here." I told him as Alec came up, "I get what you're going through man. I was the CO of my unit to. But you gotta know as a CO when to take command and charge and when to stand down and fall back." the hard glint was all Alec received before Syl and Krit asked, "What do you want us to do?" the question made Zack's eyes widen.
He'd never really heard any of his unit mates, his soldiers under order, ask for duties from another CO in charge. It must have been surreal. The only other CO a unit mate takes orders from is the one above his or her own. "Right now…get Gamble a seat next to Deck. And keep an eye on both. See how they react around one another. It may not be their first meeting." Seeing where I was headed to with it they nodded and went back to the door.
"You know he can't stay here for to long Max. His security detail will be comin' around here askin' bout him." Alec informed me. I turned to him, "I know. That's why I need Zack here." At the mention of his name he stopped pacing about angrily, "What?" he demanded, "I need you to pretend to be Gamble on the phone to his men. Tell them that your - he is going to be here longer than originally projected." Alec grabbed my arm gently in protest, "Why not just have Gamble do it?" he asked.
"What if Gamble isn't on our side like he claims to be. He could send out a message and we can't let him do that." I look to Zack, "Think you can handle it without sounding like your happy go lucky self." The sarcasm deep in my words, he dead panned a look to me, "I wonder what would happen if the roles were reversed." He commented, "Some needed people would be dead and I don't think you'd be the poster child the city of Seattle would want to look to." He burned holes through Alec at his words.
"I'd get results. I wouldn't let our enemies become 'frenemies'. The moment they think they have leeway they take advantage. Just like Lydecker!" he growled, getting into Alec's face. Alec himself wasn't fazed by the intimidation. Being top alpha did do that to a man, but Zack was alpha material. Which is why when Alec spoke even Zack had to recognize he wasn't top dog, "We've been working our asses off for 'results'." Zack tried to look like he was ignoring him and maybe he was.
So Alec made him listen. Grabbing him by his shirt, Alec used the momentum to haul Zack back a few steps. Zack regained himself, not having anticipated the reaction and grabbed Alec back. However Alec was upset. His strength was encouraged by that and thus was able to shove Zack into the wall, "Listen up cause I'm not going to bother repeating myself." Seeing the threat and that I wasn't helping, Zack fought back and not with words.
Attempting to punch Alec in the kidney, which he blocked, then went to hit Zack himself, "Alec!" I snapped. Not in a 'your in trouble' but in a 'please don't hurt my brother' snap. He rolled his eyes briefly but changed his trajectory and instead moved to immobilize him instead. "Time to get your head in the game of things around here." Alec said. Zack's face was angry.
I knew Alec would use that to his advantage. Grabbing the offending arm of Zack's that he'd earlier blocked, he swung it around behind Zack, kicked one of his booted feet over the other, and pinned him with his knee in between his legs. I was a bit stunned. I had never seen…thinking back I had seen it. When I was recaptured back at Manticore, they were teaching it to the X5's and X6's.
It was a form of 'kung fu'. Alec never told me he knew it. He certainly hadn't ever displayed it before…not in front of me at least… "Remind me to have you teach that to me." I knew it wasn't the best timing but hey when is it ever? "Anytime." He commented back. Zack shouted a bit outraged that he was being a bit ignored while being pinned down by an unknown move, "Hey!" we both turned back to him.
"You're going to regret this. The rest of everyone here will see the futility of your work." I shook my head in sadness, "You really will always be stuck at Manticore. Won't you?" I could tell he was getting more upset by the moment, "Point is…" Alec continued, "Just because Deck made a bad move then doesn't mean every enemy turned 'frenemy' will to." Zack shoved the hold off him when he felt Alec loosen it up.
I knew Alec meant him no real harm. Not unless his family or someone close to him was in actual danger. "Alec's right. We need all the friends we can get. So you go do the voice over with Luke and Dix, and Alec and I will get ready to leave off." Zack mumbled a few choice words before walking off. Alec and I both watched his retreating back for a moment, "Man…" he started.
"He cannot handle, not being in charge." It wasn't just that. Not by a long shot. "He can't handle seeing an enemy for so long become a friend. Doesn't see the merits or the possibilities." I surmise. "He didn't even fully trust Deck when we went back to Manticore to take them down." I saw the minor look Alec shot me. "We can't change the past but we can take measures into ensuring our future." I grab his arm, "And we're doing just that." He nods as we walk off to our apartment.
I just hope this plan works out to our benefit…