Finding the light

by max333

new problems arise when the government calls a reclaim on the 'Manticorian's', claiming their government property. new players come in to wreck havoc while old players seem to be behind the new ones. all that on top of raising a family, and keeping the peace within and outside of Terminal City. our beloved leaders sure have their work cut out for them before the struggle is over.

15. a flailing fish in a cover up

Sey77: that might not be for a minute. She has to make him sweat it out.

recicup: thanks!

Thanks for the praise, I hope you all enjoy this next one. It was actually re-written in a lot of parts due to a death scene. So if there's typos my apologies! Read and review!

Season 5 ep.15

White POV

I boarded the plane moments after Ross did. Getting him away from the X5 guard was easier than I thought as the restrooms were not in direct view of their seating. Apparently he needed to use it before flight take off. I slipped in behind him and none to gently shoved him fully inside as I shut the bathroom door to read 'occupied'. "What the – White!" Ross replied, he had been aiming to grab his gun, when saw it was gone.

Transgenics aren't the only ones with sticky fingers. "You should know better than to carry a gun on board an aircraft." He fumed. I didn't care. "Any reason why you're skipping town on us? We had a deal you pussing little sore." I stated. My reply was filled with ice, "Seriously your one for calling me out for anything? You sanctimonious prick." Ross replied to me. I nearly laughed at him for his audacity.

"You're going to walk your cankerous ass out of here, finish what we started and I'm going to pretend I didn't have to come on board this flight to retrieve you. Am I in anyway unclear?" I demanded of him. I got into his face so that he understood the severity of the issue at hand. "I get that you need me to help put those filthy hind leg flea bags away but I can't do it. I'm going on a vacation to Rio. Permanently. So piss off." He spat.

I turned my head to question it, "Permanent? Why?" I asked. He wasn't the type to drop out in the middle of a project like this. Not for anything. Something had him spooked. "Tired of the life." I knew it was a lie. A trickle of sweat came down, a nervous twitter about himself as he refused to look me in the eyes. One bad guy to another and he knew I would see it. A good guy wouldn't. If you're going to catch a snake you need your own snake.

"And you really think I'll let you walk out of here alive if you decide to stay on this 'vacation'?" I asked him. I was itching to kill him now. This little pet project of mine was failing…just like the other ones. I know somehow this relates to 452. They always do. "We can protect you if that's what's needed. The things we can do in our organization are far beyond that of anything else out there. Then we'll take out those transgenic filth." I tell him, he laughs in my face, it pissed me off.

"Come with me now or I will ensure you don't leave this plane alive." I warned him. I slipped the safety off the gun in case things didn't go my way. "You can do nothing. Your friends can do nothing. This is higher than them." Ross said. I doubted that but I can't very well explain that I have people in higher places without making unnecessary risks, "Now I'm leaving, our contract is over with. You cannot make me stay."

As if to taunt me he adds, "And considering how closely you were on this I suggest you take a vacation to." his words were like a slap to me. His lack of respect of my offer infuriated me to no end. I had to keep this silent if he didn't relent. I still had to get off this plane without a suspicious episode to happen. So I calmed my mind down. "If you keep going through with this we will cancel our contract with you…there's no going back form that." I rectify.

I would not run from this cowardice low life. This man was nothing more than a deserter. How he got his power and status I'll look into later on if I feel like it. "You would never dare kill a U.S. major on a plane. Your position in the government prevents it. You're a part of the system." he smarted back off to me. I nearly killed him then…but I had to make this right, "You sure this is the choice you want to make?" I give him his option.

I took his silence as agreement. A minor mistake on my part, "You will ensure 452 - " he cut me off. Not a wise idea, "I honestly don't understand what everyone's obsession is with that DNA tainted soldier!" he states exasperated. "494 is protective of her to a feral state of mind I would guess, Lydecker defends her even after her repeated times of escaping his grasp, and you want her dead for obvious reasons." Ross got into my face.

I was trying extremely hard to prevent myself from simply snapping his neck right here. There was only one transgenic on this plane and she was sworn to protect Ross. How would I explain that? Especially since I'm the only one that came aboard last minute in which case this needs to end now or I won't be able to get off. "Or are they obvious." I look to him in mild confusion, "The hell are you going on about?" I was truly lost.

"Judging from what I've seen you hate her but not entirely for the reasons you state." He reasoned. If only he knew I hated her because my father choose her and her freaks over me, his own son. "Could it be that Special Agent in charge Ames White hates her because he can't have her?" I was stunned that he even thought that. 452 maybe a looker but she's worth more trouble than anything.

Would I ever admit she invades my dreams on occasion? No. That in those said dreams she's doing incredibly naughty things to me and letting me do them to her? No. Would I ever admit to any form of jealousy over 494 for getting her? No. Attraction is an easy thing to admit to without being thought of as weak. After all it's a very human trait. Admitting to attraction is fine as long as at the end of the day you can still kill the trash in front of you.

His words however made me snap. I was supposed to try and 'convince him' with force but I didn't feel like it nor did I believe I had the time to convince him. So I quickly spun him and grappled him into a hold that would take only a 30 seconds to kill him in. He fought viciously, his legs kicking out.

They kicked at me but did nothing. "Pain is a phantom of the mind." I state coldly in his ear. "I am more than you will ever imagine. We will crush the meek and take out our loose ends such as yourself in the process. We are everywhere." I felt his body start to go numb. He had at best ten seconds remaining, "As for 452…" he slumped for good in my arms before I dropped him on the toilet. "Not that it makes a difference since you're now dead but you are right I hate her for many reasons…and two of those you mentioned are right on the money."

Max POV

Instead of going back home I decided to take the long way and ride for a bit.

Alec was on my ass the whole time, though part of me suspected he just enjoyed watching me ride. Or rather seeing my ass partially bent over on my bike. I smiled, weaving in and out of traffic as Alec did the same thing. We made sure to avoid getting our speeds to high in front of sector cops. They'd still do what they could to get an easy shake down from us and I'd rather not lose my bike…again.

As if my thoughts became real I hear a siren behind me. I looked down at my speed-0-meter and only saw 35. Frowning I pulled over, and saw Alec do the same with his Duke not too far behind me. Throwing her into neutral I planted my booted feet to the ground and pulled out my sector pass. "Is there a problem officer?" I asked, honestly hoping that it wasn't a bored cop looking to shake us down. However I knew the odds of that. "Step off the motorcycle." he ordered, not bothering to ask for a sector pass...yup shake down.

I sighed before asking, "What's the problem?" hoping for an actual answer this time, "You know how fast you were going?" he asked, "I looked and my speed-o-meter read 35. Why?" okay so it's 30 for regular roads but come on EVERYONE drives 35 in 30's, just like everyone drives 45 in 40's. "Speed limits 30." he states in monotone voice, "Sorry I guess I wasn't paying attention." I answered, shrugging my shoulders.

He took out his ticket booklet, not bothering look at my reaction and demanded, not asked demanded, "License and registration."

I pulled it out and heard the other cop coming around me. Thoughts of my knives still on me had me slightly worried. It's not like knives were illegal to carry but these knives were a LOT longer than the legal length. I saw Alec coming up and I tried to motion with my hands to go but the other cop came around, blocking my view of him. It was the whispered, "Danny, she's got a sweet looking ass on her, I'm gonna shake her, see what she's packing." the cop barely smiled but it was enough for the other sector cop to come towards me.

"You have any paraphernalia on you? Any weapons or anything that might poke me?" he asked, sounding professional. Can this get any worse right now? Wait don't answer that! "Is there something wrong?" I ignored the previous question. It was Alec who came up that had both sector cops shifting towards him, "Is there a problem officer?" he asked, hands up in near neutral defensive position.

"This doesn't concern you sir, leave now." The sector cop closest to him said. Also the same one who I knew had been taking a gander of my ass. Jackass. "Considering you've pulled over my wife I believe it is my business." I could help but smirked a little bit at that before realizing I don't have any rings to show proof of that.

I saw the cop looking to, "It's getting fixed, and one of the diamonds fell out." I explained.

The cop that wanted to feel me up was pulled back by the other one, "What the hell man?" the leery cop whispered, "Let this one go, can't have witnesses to your actions. Learn the rules. With the husband here he'll protest and the judge will take their side over ours. Only with singles." He then handed me a slip, "Try going the speed limit from now on." he remarked. I looked at the ticket and blanched in near outrage at the amount, "$150!"

I snapped at the sector cop before me. For five miles over I get THAT much? I thought that was the amount for – oh I see it now. Great he put me down for 15 over the limit. They couldn't get into my pants so they took it outta my wallet. Fabulous. The cop arched a brow and asked, "Would you like more?" I tightened my fist up wanting to pound both of the perverted sector cops into the ground.

"Can we leave now?" I ask, looking to leave before my temper blew up. Getting back on my bike I watch Alec walk off and feel the need to burn rubber on their faces. Seeing Alec get on his own bike he waits till I'm riding on mine till he rides his own off. Now I really needed a ride. Going into the areas nearer to South Market Street I knew the sector cops there were fewer are far between, it gave me the chance to ride faster than before.

I wanted to feel the wind, feel the speed, and feel the vibration of the bike as she tore down the streets. I heard Alec's Duke coming up behind my own. I looked over and saw him speeding before looking over and winking at me. I licked my lips briefly before turning back and kicking it into fourth gear. The streets full of pot holes that made it more like a ducking maze to weave through. It was fun.

Seeing the cars coming up we slowed down our speeds till we were at a comfortable 20 mph in second gear, then to a stop as we realized that the cars weren't moving. Looking down the right side we saw just a heap of traffic. Kicking our bikes back into first gear we slipped through the traffic and across to another set of streets, this time my goal shifted...the space needle.

I could use a break...I thought to myself. Heading down there I hid my bike and slid inside. The city of Seattle still didn't have the funds to re - open this place, after all this time still... "You'd think with all the dough they shake the citizens for they'd have the money to rehabilitate the place." I mused out loud. "Nah to busy pocketing it." Alec answered. I agreed. The politicians were more corrupt than the gangs. That's a sad thought…

"Been a long time since we've been up here..." Alec said, coming up behind me. The mountain of stairs we climbed doing nothing to slow us down. I stepped outside onto the platform that I usually sat on to help me clear my head. "Remember the first time I found you up here?" he asked, hands in his pocket. I smiled, "Yeah, you were kinda un-wanted back then."

He grunted, "And now?"

I turned to him, "Realizing how much you were actually needed and I just didn't want to give in." he smiled a little, "To have given in would have admit that I cared about you, that you weren't the ban of my existence...that I had been developing loving feelings towards you." I admitted. He walked forward and enveloped me in his arms, before nibbling on my ear lobe, "A lot has changed." he said.

"Yeah, it has. When you first were up here why did you come?" I asked, putting my arms over his own, "Truthfully, I saw you coming here, saw your bike, I was feeling kinda lonely myself...needed someone to talk to, or at the least to be around. With everything that had happened that day, that week, I knew we could both use one another for something, even if it was just for verbal sparring." he quipped.

I smiled, "I remember wanting to be annoyed with you but not really having the heart to care at that point." I remark.

I rubbed his arms through the leather of his jacket, "Must be why you let me sit next to you." he dared, his voice told me of his grin. "It also must be why I let you hold me to." his face darted to mine. I had his attention now.

"Thank you...I know I must have just fallen asleep from mental exhaustion and stress but it was still nice to know that when I was at my weakest and most vulnerable I never heard about it. You never brought it up." I say, my voice held gratitude in it.

"Max what's with the trip down memory lane?" he asked, "Dunno...let's just stay here for a little while." I knew we eventually have to go home but I just wanted a night to free my mind...it was then that Alec left me to take off his jacket. I went to reprimand him for assuming we would be having sex when he merely laid it out beneath his shoulders and head, "Come 'err." he cajoled, just lying there.

I smiled and walked over taking my jacket off and laying it over both of us as I laid on his side, my head cushioned on his chest, my arm wrapped with his, while one leg was draped partially over one of his.

We laid there for nearly an hour before my phone rang, "Duty calls." I quip. I go to answer the phone when Alec stops me. Hand on phone he halts its progress, "Let someone else take care of It." he implores. Slowly he leans in and gives me a passionate kiss. It sparks the fire within me once more, and it seems that all my anger has evaded me from his actions.

Hand now cupping my cheek and neck I feel his tongue slid along my own. His leg slides gently between mine as I wonder about 'christening' the space needle. Just as my leg wraps around his left hip, my booted foot curving behind his thigh, the phone rings again, Alec's lips attach themselves to my neck in bliss. It make me want to give in, but the ringing is incessant. "I need to answer that."

I reach down for the phone again when he once more halts the progress. The hand previously on my cheek and neck now holding my hand was determination. "There's Daniel and Cece at TC, let them - " I cut him off as it hits me, "Its Gamble then! White!"

He finds himself on his back groaning mildly and I swore I heard him say 'cock blocker' before I answered my phone, "Max here."

"I thought something was wrong, you didn't pick up." Gamble said, "Pre - occupied." I stole a glance at Alec as he licked his lips, fully intending to get back to his place on me once the conversation was done with. Hell he was already rubbing my arms and nipping at my backside, only covered by my tank top.

"White killed Ross but...you need to get to TC, see the news. This cover up is a douse." I sighed, "We'll be there." I hang up, "We need to get to TC, and White killed Ross. But there's a cover up now. Gamble says it's a - " Alec cut me off, "Yeah I heard 'douse'." he scoffed, "Who says that?" I rolled my eyes and got up to leave.

"Let's just go." he followed behind me, before mounting his bike after I did mine, "Does this mean I'm off the hook now?" he asked, puppy dog look in his eyes. I didn't want him to think he was off just yet, "One more night on the couch, then you can be back in bed." his shoulders sagged, "Fine."

I almost...ALMOST said 'never mind' but I had a plan tonight and he would be on that couch.

We rode back to TC, I felt better even with my speeding ticket as I walked through our doors to HQ. The ride had been nice and the traffic going home seemed gone by the time we left out from the space needle. So everything was going smoothly. "How's our new friends?" I asked Cece, her stomach ready to pop. "Most of them are set up with places of their own, the last two, Don and Sam, are having trouble 'deciding' on who gets what duties for tomorrow." I smiled, knowing it just meant they both worked in the same field but only one was needed in it right now.

"I guess I'll go and see how to delegate them." she smirked to my smile.

I walked into the room and saw how the tempers were flaring, "Here's how to settle this..." I announced, both men looked to me, "You get Monday, Wednesday, Friday..." I pointed to the one on the left, "And you get Tuesday's, Thursday, Saturday and you flip a coin for Sundays. Got it?" I commanded. Both nodded before one left out, leaving his comrade to the weapons area with Mole.

"Aww damn it, you spoiled my entertainment." Mole said around his cigar. "No one is your entertainment Mole." I snapped without any real bite back. He grinned around his cigar, "So the Bastard's dead huh?"

I nodded, "He won't be able to ruin any more lives." I commented.

I knew the guy in the room would be wondering who we were talking about as he didn't know that his former boss had been marked for death.

"Come on Mole, if you wanna see what's going on. You..." he spoke up, "Sam." I nodded, "Stay here and continue on, weapons inventory gets done once a month and we're almost through." he nodded, "Yes, mam - " I cut him off, "First rule around here, don't call me ma'am. I have a name, its Max." he nodded, "Max, Mole." we both nodded before leaving.

Walking to HQ I saw Alec already at the top of the stairs. Walking up to him I feel his arms shift to pull me into his embrace, we saw the t.v. station come on, "We are coming to you live with breaking news." "This must be what Gamble meant..." I surmised, "Earlier today on a flight headed to 'Rio De Janeiro' General Avram Ross was found dead by Special Agent in charge Ames White. Apparently the General was fleeing the country, committing AWOL when Agent White, stopped him on the plane and asked him to return without the need to use force." I shook my head.

"Another way of saying White threatened him to stay or else face charges." I mocked.

A few people looked to me before the news castor spoke up again, "It is reported that the General refused to return and thus tried to kill the agent attempting to bring him back. Agent White was given no choice but to kill the General in order to avoid becoming a victim himself and to prevent the General from escaping the country."

I smiled, "Way to go Ames, you FINALLY do something for transgenics and you don't even know it." a lot of people grinned at that piece of knowledge, "I'd love to see the look on his face if you said that to him." Mole state in glee.

I smiled, "So would I." it was the ringing of my cell that got my attention, "Max here." I answered, "Its Gamble." I inclined for Alec and Mole to follow me into my office, "Hang on." going in Mole closes the door behind us. "Okay you're on speaker." I say near the phone as both Alec and Mole situate themselves in the room, Alec leaning against my desk, Mole in my spare chair, "Oh, okay, well I assume you saw the news." we smiled, "Yeah we saw it. So that's the official story what's the un-official story?" I asked.

"Well it just so happens that I was in on the meeting that White gave his own report to with the conclave." this was good, "What happened? What was said, and I mean all of it." I demand.

"Well when you ask so lovely..." a hint of sarcasm was within his voice, "Just get to it Gamble." Alec grunted. A minor amount of annoyance was in his voice along with the tinge of a disgruntled mate. I smiled, "Go ahead." I said lightly. It earned a 'come on' look from Alec. I shrugged my shoulders as if it knew nothing of what he really meant. "We'll it started out very tense..." he began.

Gamble's POV

Conclave meeting after Ross's death

The conference room to meet up in once White returned from the plane trip or rather the report he gave to his boss on why he was unable to 'bring home' Ross. We knew he would be able prevent the man from walking away from this. White sat in the chair in front of the conclave, the elders with respect, it was the only time he did really. "Tell us everything Ames, every last detail." a priestess asked in a light yet obvious demanding tone.

"The General was all alone save for one X5 that was left. Apparently the rest had left in favor of being lead down a different path." he started.

He looked to be in deep though before answering, "I think it was 452, I saw her at the airport with 494, but I couldn't get to them without drawing suspicion onto myself. I did have a goal there after all." They nodded in understanding as to why he didn't go after her.

"So I followed him and the X5 onto the plane. He spotted me but ignored my presence. Once we were up in the air he stayed with his X5 detail as much as possible, I wanted him alone to try and convince him to come back before killing him. My mercy if you will." I nearly snorted at that. What does he know of the word?

I watched as stern expressions passed over their faces, our partnership had been rocky from the start but we found an odd pattern of work together without actually being around one another that worked out.

White was a tool for them to use and he had yet to notice it. I however did and noticed how I was being used as well. I wondered how long it would be till they decided to get rid of the so called 'weak' ones here. White had been one of their favorites when he turned his back on his father so many years ago. The need to make himself better and not a reminder that his father had created the transgenics deeply embedded in his mind.

"Good to see some results. It seems you have accomplished your goal...in some sense." one of the priestess said.

A back handed compliment, White and I both knew, "Yes Ross is dead." he stated with ease. "Tell me how accurate to the news his death is?" the priestess asked, "I tried to get him to come back. Told him that the work was of utmost importance to people that ranked higher than himself." they nodded, "But something had him spooked, beyond what we were able to place ourselves." he told them, a hint of confusion in his voice.

"What was that?" the priestess asked, "Not sure, he didn't exactly tell me his life's story but I'll bet you anything it pertains to 452." he answered.

"It seems she's a more formidable opponent than you gave her credit for." the priestess who had always been on his side remarked. "She's nothing but transgenic trash." White told her. A distain in his voice. "Trash that you have yet to be able to take out to the dumpster for years now isn't it?" she replied. It had White pursing his lips in need to retort but knew it wasn't wise to say anything at this moment. To speak back would not be tolerated. Not without good reason and last I checked defensive reflex with no purpose wasn't a good reason.

"Go on with your report Ames." she nodded, giving him the floor again. "I managed to get him alone in the airplanes bathroom. His X5 soldier had just gotten done checking it and leaving as I walked up and slipped in behind him. Thankfully due to the way the bathrooms are laid out no one saw me. Like I said before, I tried to reason with him, told him that he was needed here but he refused. I asked him at one point why 'Rio'."

They looked to him, "And?" He responded, "I haven't a clue." he responded period point blank, they looked to one another.

"What did he do to warrant that type of fear from 452?" the priestess asked, "Did you do any research on him before getting him to try and take down the transgenics?" I asked him. He shot me a glare icy enough to freeze fire. "The General was clean, whatever it was it was beyond what resources I have at the FBI." he admitted. "Yet the transgenics were able to get it with what little resources they have. FBI sources versus transgenic ones and transgenic won." I remark, loving the way he was being scrutinized.

"The transgenics must have done something to get him to leave. Either way he is dead now. My assignment with him is complete." he tried to end it, "I'd still like to know how you killed him, I mean from what I hear there was a mess to clean up." I remark, a smirk on my face. I even saw the priestess struggling to keep the smile from hers.

"You do know that when a human dies everything gets released? You do know that correct?" he defended, "Anyways I got him in to a chock hold and during the brief struggle - "I cut in, "Struggle?" I asked, anticipating a crappy reason.

"Airplane bathrooms are very small." he near grouched. Okay he had me there.

"Anyways, I strangled him in the bathroom with him flailing about like a fish out of water. Took a few moments but he eventually died. And since it's not impossible for a human to snap another human neck I was able to cancel our business arrangement." He concluded. "Now I have just one question." I hide my smirk.

He glared at me, "Why wasn't beaten in any way? Don't we try to convince in other ways before canceling contracts?" he pursed his lips, I edged in. "Surely you're not covering something." he was flaming red with anger now, "No I just knew that there was no convincing him." he covered. He turned back to the priestess and priest whom had been silent for a while.

"It was quite entertaining to feel his life slipping away with every gasp he made." he smirked in arrogance. "What exactly happened to get to that point?" the priest asked him.

"We disagreed over his staying. He wanted to leave I was declining his pursuit of the matter." Every nodded, but I could tell he was leaving some things out but I didn't know what, "Then you canceled him." I added. He looked to me with a certain amount of distain. "Yes he suffocated to death in less than 30 seconds." the conclave nodded, "It seems your plan to get the transgenics back under control though has failed." the priest remarked.

"I had not counted on Ross trying to leave when we were getting so close. He didn't seem like the type that would easily scare away. I'll just find someone else to replace him." White tried to shrug it off.

"There's no one else that would touch the transgenic issue, as it stands their building up a good standing with the city of Seattle." I tell them. However the head priestess had her own points to make, "What's disconcerting is that even the transhuman's, the ones that were least likely to make it without being slaughtered by the populace, are now able to roam the streets at night without fear any longer."

"Perhaps we've been leaving the 'transgenic hunt' in the wrong hands." the priest said. As if rethinking White's position with them. I could tell Ames was about to rebuttal but I knew his anger would ruin what plans Max had. I didn't know but I knew. So instead I talked, "I think it's in the right hands. No one besides yourselves hates the transgenics or the transhuman as much as White does. He's got FBI training, he has their connections and their resources plus he's highly motivated. I think he's the perfect man for the job."

Plus if he's failed this much it's only a matter of time before Max or Alec kill him. I know White was a bit stunned at the compliment, "I will ensure 452 and 494 are killed. It's a top priority that cannot be put on the back burner." White states. "It's been a top priority for a while now Ames. You need to kill her and 494 soon. If not, hatred or not, we will put someone else that doesn't just give us empty promises." the priestess told him.

He was on thin ice now, "I will deliver." he said stony.

"Deliver by the end of the month or everything you've ever worked for, worked towards will be for nothing. Then Ames, you will know how your father has felt all this time...on the run...if not dead." The tone used was cold as ice.

I could see White gulp as this whole idea of his to use Ross had completely back fired on him. And since I had nothing to do with it, none of the fault fell on me. Leaving the meeting he rounded on me as I reached the door leading to the world outside. "Why did you help me?" he demanded, "Because I know at the end of the day, with everything you have riding on this, with your hatred of her kind -" he cut me off.

"'Her' to." he annunciated. I smirked diverting the topic of referring Max to being human, "Yet she keeps getting away from you..." I cock my head to the side, "Could it be that some part of you, some subconscious part perhaps wishes she was familiar...?" I egged him on, emphasizing on familiar. His face got red with mounting anger at my suggestion. Yes I was trying to rile him up, but not to much. I need to be in control of this and to ensure that he stays on the right path. I know he'll go after Max but she's got a city full of loyal transgenics and transhumans. I know she can handle herself…just as long as I give her a heads up.

"Are you implying that I 'like' that piece of trash?" he demanded.

I'm going to have to be a little honest here if I want him to believe. The best lies hold the most truths. "I'm merely stating facts, partner. Truth is I wouldn't have minded if she were a familiar. Even for a transgenic she's quite a lovely woman." he looked away. His inability to look me in the eyes or come up with a claim of denial told me as much. His father made her a stunning creature and he saw it.

"I know you feel the same way. But you have to admit, it is ironic. You're sworn to hate her and her kind, yet everything about her draws you to her. Like a moth to a flame and somehow you can't quite bring yourself to kill her. Despite your opportunities." I say in a gently tone belying the seriousness of the conversation, "I will kill her." White stated in low tones.

I leaned in just enough to prevent anyone nearby from hearing anything even resembling what I would say, "I don't think you will. I think 494 will kill you before you lay a hand on her." I lean back as he fumes, "494 is nothing compared to me." his ego getting in the way I use it to my advantage, "I don't know they had twins for the first round of kids. Seems to be man enough for her." I could see his face getting more upset by the underlying message in my words so I decided to leave it there, "Good luck...you'll need it."

Present

Max POV

"Wow..." I stated shocked. "We knew he killed him but 'flailing fish', really?" I asked. The room silent since the conversation began.

"So White gave it to him." Alec remarked, nibbling on his thumb, his one arm crossed over his chest, the other being supported by it. "Serves him right." Mole grinned, "What happened to the X5?" I asked, "White made no mention of her. So I don't know if she made herself scarce once they landed back in Seattle or not. Once she made sure the bathroom was safe and White slipped in she was gone." I wondered.

"You don't think she was working for White do you?" I asked those in the room.

"Could have been...I honestly don't see an X5 with her attitude as getting scared by an unknown man." Alec supplied. "Unless..." he added, "She was putting up a brave front for us that day in the airport." he tried.

"Could be...either way she's in the wind...check with her old 'classmates' and see if she has any haunts to check out. Could be now she'd like to come in from the cold." I supplied, "So were taking her in?" Mole asked. "Only if she wants to come in. We're not Ross nor Manticore. We not going to force or manipulate to get her here. It'll be her choice." I tell them.

"You mean like when you let her choose to stay with Ross?" Mole asked.

"Yeah, she made her choice, she has to live with it. But now she has another opportunity again." Alec held up his hands in an almost forget it motion, "Don't bother I've worked with her before on past Manticore missions. If she wants to come in from the cold she'll do it otherwise, she'll throw it back in your face again." I looked to him, "I've got to at least try."

"Go ahead, you'll be wasting your time." Alec dropped it.

"Mole find out from your new 'ammo' buddy where she would normally go, I can see if she's hangin' around or if she's decided to slip out of the country herself." I tell him, "Got it." He walked out.

"You really think she'll come back if you find her?" Alec asked me, "I don't know, but if I don't put in the effort to locate her it'll bug me. Sides, its time well spent if I go lookin' for her while Gamble gets back to us on White's next genius move."

He nudged his shoulders, then walked casually, yet panther like around my desk. He came up behind me in a calming yet predatory manner. Making his next moves meaning full yet letting me know that he wasn't pushing the offer. "I can think of a few things to do to 'burn' that time away."

His arm slipped nearly around my hip, covering part of my stomach. I could feel the butterflies rotating inside me. My breathing hitched just a little as I felt him breathing in gentle puffs against my left shoulder. His lips even went as far as grazing my ear lobe. It sent tiny shock waves through my body at the simple yet seductive movements.

He didn't grind himself into me, just gently pulled me back into his embrace. I still felt the stiffening arousal he was getting, but I didn't give in and grind into him for friction the way my body was dying to. Remember couch mission tonight! I commanded myself.

"I better go and find this girl. I'll be home tonight though." I tell him, gathering my strength to actually pull away from his embrace, "What do you want for dinner?" he asks, not letting up, his fingers gently grazing the seam of my jeans. All I wanted to say was 'YOU!' but I kept it down, "I'll eat out, just make sure you eat and that the girls eat." I managed to slip out of the embrace as he groans a bit.

"Maybe I'll grab an Italian Sausage…? It's nice and juicy, full of flavor…" I teased. I could hear the groan from half way across the room. I even felt the air shift, his testosterone infusing in the air, making me want to give in. He wanted to jump me. "I should be back around eight, think you can stay up?" I asked.

He gave me a strange 'I've stayed up later than that!' look. "I just think we need to talk is all and I know taking care of the girls can be exhausting." He grunted something that sounded like 'yeah' before I left. I grinned at my little plan, but first, find this girl and see if she wants to join, if not, leave her alone.

I grab my leather jacket and leave out, running into Mole, "She has a hang-out, sector five, 5th and Grande." I don't even bother, "Thanks." Leaving out I get on my bike and take a ride to the area. There's one bar, and it's the only one where I could see her being. I wonder if she's tried to change her appearance yet. Make herself look different to hide better.

I walk into the bar, it's more evolved than 'Crash' but not like the places I'm sure the elite part of society would visit. Spotting her barcode for a moment before she covers it up I see she's changed her hair color. Bright blonde. Her attributes now being brought out by the change in hair color. Now she looks like a French model. She had this oddly innocent vibe that once you tamper with you get the viper hidden beneath.

I sit next to her at the bar, "Beer." I order. She looks to me, "Relax I'm not here to drag you anywhere, just to let you know that our doors are open to you." I look to her.

She narrows her eyes, "Would you like to talk?" she asks.

I nod, "Outside." She leaves the bar. I see the bartender about to pour, "Don't bother, save it for someone else." I apologize before leaving. Walking out the back door I see her looking angry at me, "What?" I ask.

She smirks near evilly at me, "I bet you don't even know who I am…do you?" she didn't look very…wait a minute…upon closer inspection, I looked at her facial features that I knew looked familiar, "Your Vada's twin." I gasped in surprise. I knew it wasn't actually Vada, she would not have been working for such a dick. "I got the brunt of the Pys Ops thanks to her. While she's not here you can take her place in getting what's coming to you."

I sighed, "Look I'm sorry you got dealt a rotten card but word to the wise, things changed, people changed. We were kids that were losing our own unit mates, we wanted to have a life that was ours. Something that wasn't up to military command, we wanted freedom." I told her. She kept up the smile.

"So you think what, you offer me a place to sleep and I'll forgive you and yours? I'm not weak like the others." I countered her words, "No one's weak. But your obviously very smart, elsewise you would be dead. White, the one who killed your boss Ross would have killed you, or at least tried." I tell her. Her face barely shifted, "You want to know where I was when Manticore went down?" She asked.

"Where?" I asked, "In France on a mission. I was about to die by a man named General Ross when a guard of his saw my strengths and found me out as an X5. Ross decided to put me on as a guard himself. I was biding my time when he would be alone long enough to kill him for trying to kill me." she smirked.

I frowned, "That's why you were hell bent on being around him, you wanted a clear shot yourself." I iterated in mild shock.

"Oui." She stated happily in French. I could only thank god Alec taught me a little bit of French over the years. Then she made her apparent final statement in French, "Maintenant je ferai quel Manticore n'a pas fait, vous tue." By the time I mentally translated it 'Now I will do what Manticore failed to do, kill you.' She had wacked me in the face, so I wacked her. "You don't have to do this." I try.

"Donnez-nous un baiser." She called out before trying to hit me again. Translation, 'Give us a kiss.' I cocked out, "And here I thought the French were supposed to be neutral."

"Neutre de baise!" she cursed out. Translation, 'Fuck neutral.'

I blocked her next hit with my right arm as she tried to hit with her left, then used that arm to twist her around and mid twist hit her in the face. She twisted back around, "Chienne!" she spat, that one I knew pretty clearly, 'bitch!'

She dodged my second hit to her head and tried a backwards hit to my face. I blocked it but she came around with her other closed fist and nailed my in the jaw. There were several dodged, ducked and missed blows thanks to the blurring we were both using. Both nearly to damned fast to hit the other right on target.

On one dodge, I took in the hit to smack her with a closed fist across her face, her lip split, her teeth cutting into it. "Enough." I really hadn't been planning on fighting her. She went to kick at my legs, I blocked and back flipped off her leg, the extra weight of my body temporarily sending her to her knees, "Give it up." I tell her. She tries a high kick, almost getting air lifted with her transgenic abilities, I duck then rise up enough to kick her at her right shoulder.

She barely blocks it from dislocating it on contact, "Stop this now. I won't pursue you but you need to stop!" I warn her.

She merely screamed in rage as she tried to more hits to the face, swinging her body around to avoid me being able to land a hit on her. I went to grab her when she beat me to the punch, slamming her knee into my gut. I took it in, feeling the pressure before swinging my leg up high enough from the side to kick her in the head. It sent her reeling back.

She grabbed a nearby trash can, contents and all, and threw it at me. I ducked it and had to then take in a kick as she used it to distract me from her coming with it. I slammed into a brick wall before she grabbed me up, "Vous niner-déchets sans valeur. 494 mérite mieux." I grit my teeth at the translation 'You worthless niner-trash. 494 deserves better.'

I used her own momentum to swing her around and slam her into the brick wall, "Enough of this French crap!" I snapped, slamming my booted foot into the back of her. She turned around to avoid the next hit as I went to back hand her with the backwards momentum. She caught it and used my own arm to flip me. I used my cat agility to land back on my feet, swing back and knock her feet out from under her.

I went to go hit her again when she vaulted herself up and used her own cat agility to jump up and kick me in the face. I was sent into a set of trash cans. I swung my leg up and missed her head before she could swing out at me. But my miss meant her miss. Blurring back behind her I elbowed her in the back causing her to go forward.

"This doesn't have to go like this." She seemed really good at fighting, her training under the General – and Manticore proved to be useful…not that I'll let her know that.

We both had several more misses and barely there hits with both of us using our speed and agility. She managed to hit me in the gut, I bet forward with it and slammed her in the face with my foot going back up over my head. It sent her reeling back in shock, "By the way, Alec likes my agility, AND my flexibility." I state cockily.

It wasn't till sector cops came that she decidedly fled the area, "Next time." she spats in English before blurring away. "Hopefully there won't be one." I remark, walking away, grateful for once that the sector cops came, I didn't want to even think about how that could have ended. If she went all out I would have had to subdue her. Knock her out then find out where she lived to drop her off.

"Go figure Alec's right about her. not that I'll ever admit that to him…or want to that is…." I mutter to myself. Speaking of…I bite my lip in longing of thoughts over him. Time for the couch!