At Jam Pony the next day. I was getting ready for work and Normal said, "Let's go, people! These packages aren't going to sprout little feet and walk home by themselves!" Then Max walked in and Normal said, "Well, well, well. If it isn't the late-as-usual-and-doesn't-even-do-the-job-she's-been-assigned-to-when-she-is-working person." Max replied "What's got you all rotated?" Normal said, "You neglected to get a signature on that delivery sector ten yesterday." Max said, "That's Alec's fault. Make him do it." Normal replied, "No, Romeo called in sick." Max said, Typical. Normal said "Hurry back. With Alec out and Marina and Little Suki gone, we're short three men...so to speak." Max left and I laughed a little thinking about what Max would do to Alec later. I was also felt a little ticked myself he was making my work even harder.
That night at Crash, I was at a table and Alec was drinking at the bar. Max came in and sat at a table with Original Cindy. I listened in on their conversation because spying was my bread and butter especially when it came to other transgenics. Original Cindy asked, "What's up with your boy?" Max replied, "He's not my boy, and I don't know." Original Cindy said, "Never seen him like this...anguished and all Heathcliff-like. No wonder the straight women fall for the tortured types." Max said, "Please. (Watching Alec) I know I'm gonna regret this, but...I should see if he's okay." Original Cindy replied, "Take your time. I got my eye on this fine shorty at the pool table."
Max joins Alec at the bar. Max says, "Call me crazy, but I got the feeling you're in some kind of jam." Alec says, "Okay, you're crazy." Max said, "What about the locket? Steal it or something? I went back to that house to get a signature. Saw the locket you've got in a portrait. Now I'm all curious." What locket is she talking about what's going on between them. Alec stated, "Curiosity killed the cat, Max. Stay out of my business." Max replied, "Fine. I know we don't always get along..." Alec said, "Nicely understated. Barkeep!" The bartender refills Alec's drink. Max said, "...but if you're in some kind of trouble and need my help, then you should ask now and not wait until it's too late and everything's all messed up, like you usually do." Alec replied, "Well, I appreciate the offer, Max. I really do. But you don't know what you're talking about." Max said, "Then explain it to me. " Alec said, "I would, see, but you wouldn't understand. You can't understand; you weren't there. You ran. You and your little rugrat brothers and sisters. You think life was rough when we were ten? A little schooling, a little brainwashing, some maneuvers outside? You think that was tough?" Max said, "Sucked pretty hard." Alec said, "Take it from me. Later on, it got a whole lot worse. (Sips his drink and then stares into it) But you did what you had to do. Then you tried to forget. And when you couldn't forget, they had ways of making you not care." Max said, putting a hand on his shoulder "I'm sorry." Alec said, shrugging it off "I don't want your pity. I want your absence." Max replied, "I'll leave you alone." I didn't realize how hard it truly was for the kids raised in Manticore I had a relatively good childhood especially compared to them. Alec pays for his drink and leaves.
I followed him from a distance and saw two men following him Alec turns and begins fighting them and they fight back, one of them using a taser on him. Max walks out of Crash, and sees Alec being tasered, and joins the fight. Max and Alec fight one man each. When Max finishes her man she notices Alec kicking his and he continues to kick him over and over. Max exclaims, "Alec! Hey!" Max pulls him away from the guy and pushes Alec against a nearby car hood. Alec shoves her away. Alec yells, "Stay the hell away from me." He stalked off and Max looked ticked and a little confused. The exchange left me think that maybe Alec and Ben had more in common then I thought they kept painfully things bottled up until it would explode.
All night all I could think about was Alec and how much I wanted to help him because I felt that by doing it I would be paying homage to Ben by helping his twin.