Author: Restive Nature (aka Bavite)
Rated: up to NC-17
Disclaimer: All characters within this fiction are the property of Cameron/ Eglee. I just like to play with them.
Timeline: Sequel to Dream Within. Fiction starts about six weeks after FN.
Pairing M/A
Summary: Dreams don’t often come true for Manticore-bred soldiers. So when the chance comes along for Alec, he’s not quite sure how to take it.
Chapter Six
New Arrivals
“Max!” Jiminy called. The rest of the group turned the same direction of the wiry, energetic X. He wasted no time, but jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Incoming!”
“All right,” Max called back easily. Alec noticed how at ease she’d seemed. Which was distinctly out of place since everyone else had tensed up at the new X’s call. He was still a little bit of an unknown quantity and until the others had gotten used to him, they would be wary and on guard. It was the same with each new arrival. Fortunately it didn’t take long to get a feel for all the transgenics and transhumans, but some days, it was a bit like overload when a large group came through the fence.
But Max was handling it with aplomb. Of course, Alec mused, it could have been from all her years on the outside. She was used to dealing with large crowds that ebbed and flowed, with people coming and going. And yet, Alec had just spent the last year getting acclimated to the outside world. He knew that he’d taken to it like a duck to water. But even he still had the moment of tension whenever a newcomer popped up suddenly. Perhaps it was because Max was supremely unconcerned about things like sneak attacks, or the enemy using sleeper agents. So many variables of problems not yet cropped up that crowded each trans-being every time they were confronted with what they hoped were their own.
“I got it, guys,” Max sighed, drawing Alec once again out of another thought provoking moment. He shook his head, almost like he was trying to rid his ears of water. He knew he definitely needed to get out of this funk he was in, overanalyzing every little thing that this totally enticing in too many ways to count, yet completely off-limits female came up with.
Alec hurried after Max and Joshua, vaguely wondering why she had grabbed the job of greeting the newest arrivals. And since the pair ahead of him weren’t talking, he figured he may as well just ask.
“Not to be rude or anything,” he began diffidently, but Max didn’t seem to be fooled.
“But you will anyway,” she chuckled, slowing so that he could walk abreast of them. Alec sighed and rolled his eyes.
“What I was going to ask was why on earth you’re heading out there?” he demanded. “Don’t you have better things to be doing?”
“Like what?” Max returned with just a hint of exasperation in her voice.
“Oh I don’t know,” Alec returned sarcastically, “maybe resting like Dr. Carr wanted you to. Or doing some paperwork at your desk. There are plenty of things you could be doing.”
“And I can do this,” Max shrugged. Joshua seemed simply content to let the conversation flow around him. He too might have been concerned about Max’s health, since she obviously cared not one whit. And the more Alec thought about it, the more it seemed as if Joshua had taken the same position he had, to simply shadow Max and make sure she didn’t exert herself.
“But why?” he insisted. “Anyone in the office could have taken care of it. Josh or I could have.”
“You could,” she agreed mildly, picking up her pace a little once they exited the building. The two males kept up easily. “But I’m already going.”
“Right back into the line of fire,” Alec murmured under his breath. Admitting to himself that he really didn’t like seeing her going back to the fence line, no matter that it wasn’t close to the street that the cops had blocked off. Mole’s shooting down the hover drone and the resultant havoc was still fresh in his mind, as was the adrenaline pumping its way through his system. There was only so much a body, even a genetically revved up one, could handle. And he certainly didn’t want another scene like that. But hopefully, this would be just what it seemed. Some new arrivals that would be processed easily and quickly. And then he could get back to convincing Max to settle down and take things easy.
In minutes, they were at the south entrance, where the call had come in from. There, with the two border guards, were a knot of four transgenics. They looked to Alec like X-6 series, slightly younger than he and Max, probably in the fourteen to seventeen range. Although, just going by their faces, they looked quite a bit older. Alec recognized the mask all four kids wore, since it was identical to every Manticore soldier he’d ever encountered. The kids were in an unknown situation and he knew they’d probably behave as if they were back at Manticore itself. He was about to point it out, but Max beat him to the punch.
“Smile Joshua,” she encouraged with a light elbow to the big man’s side. “These guys are welcome to our utopia, such as it is.”
The big guy grinned down at his friend and Alec’s thoughts flew off again, wondering how Max could consider this toxic dump a paradise. But before they got too far, the presentation of soldiers began.
Taking their cues from the attitude of the guards, the X-6’s snapped to attention, carefully cataloguing who was garnering the respect of the guards and was therefore likely candidate as leader. Alec didn’t recognize any of the teens and by the careful inspection the kids were doing on each of their faces, knew that he, Max and Joshua weren’t recognized either. Finally one boy took a half step forward, focusing correctly, on Max. His hand snapped up to salute, but a minute shake of Max’s head forestalled the action.
“Tactically dangerous to salute officers when surrounded by the enemy,” she chastised gently. The boy nodded and quickly shuffled back into line with his group. Max smiled impishly. “Plus the fact that it pisses me off to no end.”
The border guards chuckled, affirming her statement and the X-6’s looked on at them with a mixture of awe and a little bit of horror at what they perceived as impertinence. But Max’s answering grin showed them which way the wind was blowing in this camp.
“S’okay,” Max continued, “this is the way it goes, we greet you. Hello by the way. Welcome to Terminal City. We pat you down,” she glanced at the guards who indicated in the affirmative that this had already been accomplished. “Then we get your designations and head over to headquarters. If you’ve chosen names as well, that’s fine, we’ll take those too.”
“And you might want to hurry,” Alec broke in, smirking. “Max has a tendency to name things. And she doesn’t do well at it.”
“I did all right by you,” she retorted, rolling the pen between her fingers and Alec waited for what he knew was coming. The alternate name she’d wished she’d chosen. But she surprised him. “Right 494?”
Alec noticed that the X-6’s stood even straighter, if that was possible and evidently it was since they did it. Perhaps they might not have recognized the face, but the number was a power to be reckoned with. He could just imagine the tales that were bandied about the lower X series of his performance with Manticore. ‘Don’t screw up like 494, or it’ll be Psy-Ops for you.’ ‘Don’t fall in love with your target’s daughter, or six months solitary will be your reward.’ The sudden rush of unwanted emotion at his long ago failed mission and reminder of Rachel jarred him. Determinedly, he pushed it aside, trying again to focus on the moment at hand.
“So,” Max drawled, her clipboard and pen in one hand, the other hand on her hip. “Designations please?”
The first boy tilted his chin up in deference to her. “X6-228.” Max dutifully wrote it down.
“And a name, if you’ve chosen one,” she muttered. The boy hesitated and she glanced up to see him eyeing the others in their party. They all looked, to Alec, like they were trying, unsuccessfully, to hide something. He grinned; he couldn’t wait to see what Max came up with.
“Well,” the boy began hesitantly. “I-uh…”
“Don’t worry if it’s unusual,” Max assured him with a smile, then returned her pen to the paper, waiting. “Besides, if I don’t like it, I’ll just call you Aloysius.”
Alec squeezed his eyes and mouth shut, trying to control the sudden guffaw that was threatening to burst out of him. Truly, she did not disappoint. After managing to stifle the laughter, he chanced a glance at the group. The kids were gob smacked, the guards and Joshua were amused and Max had pursed her lips as if getting ready with a punch line. He wasn’t surprised really. Alec moved quietly over to stand with the guards and Josh.
“Just kidding!” she sang out, a full fledged smile bursting upon her face. But the result of those two words was like a huge relief and stunning blow on the kids. Whatever serious mien they’d been trying for was completely lost as they looked amongst themselves and at Max in consternation.
Max waited patiently again, both hands resting on the top of the clipboard that was now resting with its butt end against her taut stomach.
“Actually ma’am,” X6-228 spoke softly, “its J.K.” Max nodded and recorded this next to his name. Her right hand, with the pen in it, returned to the top of the clipboard, and her left hand disappeared behind her back. She moved easily to the next soldier, a young woman. But Alec missed her designation as his eyes were caught by the quick movements of Max’s fingers.
“Chas,” Joshua growled softly after a moment. Alec had no idea what the big dog man was referring to and turned his attention to the larger male.
“Huh?”
But Joshua simply nodded towards the small group. Alec mentally shrugged. If Josh wanted him to know, he’d tell him, in his roundabout puppy excitable way. Max had moved on to the next young man and again, as his designation was recited, Max’s fingers were again dancing. “Mort,” he repeated softly, now grinning.
“What?” Alec demanded in a whisper, surprised when he heard the boy echoing Joshua. His eyes flickered between the two, wondering when the hell Joshua had become psychic. He was about to ask, when Joshua knowingly shushed him.
Max stood before the last of the group, another young man and this time, Alec concentrated on what her fingers were doing. She was motioning in a very specific way that reminded him of the silent military code that the soldiers had been taught since they were children. But the signs she was using weren’t any that he recognized. She made a circle with her forefinger up. Then a closed fist with her pinky up. Then she zig zagged a couple of times then made a curious fist with both thumb and pinky extended to the sides.
“Dizzy,” Joshua muttered and it was confirmed by the redheaded youth. Alec’s mind spun as he realized it wasn’t Joshua that had gone psychic, but Max. Of course, his mind assured him. It wasn’t all that surprising a leap between psycho and psychic and images of the tele-coercionist Mia sprang to mind. He wondered briefly if this could be another dormant ability of Max’s that Sandeman had implanted, like her runes. Perhaps something that was awoken prematurely by Max’s accident. Or maybe something that was developing naturally.
But if that was the case, Alec shuddered, who knew how far she had already gone. If she was picking these kids names out of their heads before they even announced them, what else had she seen? In them, in him? Was it this then that was responsible for her sudden change in attitude? He was reminded abruptly about how she knew down in the sewers that he was going to lie about the things he yearned for. The way she simply knew how Gem was feeling, what she was thinking and having never cared before for Angie, exactly how Gem ordered things and what the baby needed in a precise moment. This new awareness of Max’s awareness was nerve racking on many levels and Alec suddenly felt a desire to bolt.
But again, the sense that he needed to stay, to protect her, was near overwhelming. And as Alec struggled with this inner conflict, he heard Joshua mumbling again.
“What was that?” he demanded.
“Max using Ameslan,” Joshua repeated himself, his tone puzzled. Alec was puzzled too, not having heard that word before and the dog man glanced at his face, realizing that more of an explanation was needed. “American Sign Language,” he expanded.
That Alec understood. He just had never known that there was an actual name for the sign language that ordinaries, deaf or mute people used. He’d always just thought of it, if he’d ever consciously thought of it at all, as ordinary sign language. “I didn’t know you knew any,” he accused gently. And accordingly, Joshua had never shown the slightest inclination to the silent gestures they made, military or otherwise.
“Found a book,” Joshua explained, an underlying note of pain was clearly evident to Alec and he soon found out why. “Was going to teach it to Isaac.” He sighed heavily, his gaze shifting to Max. “But couldn’t. Manticore burned down. Had to get everyone out. The book burned up too, I think.”
“Oh man,” Alec glanced up at the sky, absentmindedly noting the sun’s position and the approximate hour. He was just no damn good with this mushy stuff. But it seemed that something at least needed to be said. “I’m sorry Josh.”
But the big man waved his sympathy away. Alec hoped that it meant that Joshua had been able to make peace with his brother’s death and the role that the big man had played in it. “Tell Max I’ll see her later,” Joshua informed him and before Alec could reply, had shuffled off, heading in the general direction of his apartment building. Alec stared after him thoughtfully, wondering what Max would say when she discovered that Alec had inadvertently upset him. His hand stole up to rub at the back of his neck, an uncomfortable sensation settling there. These days, who knew how Max would react. But as the tingling grew stronger, Alec realized what it actually was. That strange sensation that he was being watched. Half-turning, the feeling was confirmed as all assembled eyes were on him.
“Earth to Alec,” Max chuckled and Alec felt himself not quite blushing at being caught not paying attention. “We’re ready to go.” He nodded and started to head back towards headquarters. Max fell into step beside him, but instead of grilling him about Joshua, she kept her attention focused on the X6’s. She questioned them easily about where they had been and how long it had taken to reach Terminal City. She approved the cautious manners they’d adopted, yet gave nothing away about the city or the inhabitants within. That would come in time if this foursome checked out as their own and not enemies placed in their midst. It seemed a harsh line to take, especially in the face of what were essentially children, but when they were fighting for freedom and survival no measure was too great.
Once the group was deposited with Luke and Dix, Max gestured for Alec to follow her. As they made their way to the staircase that led to the catwalk, Alec heard X6-288, J.K., inquiring about another X6 that had been deployed before Manticore had burned down. He didn’t hear Dix’s answer and didn’t worry. Whatever problem cropped up, he was sure the others could handle it right now. He had more pressing problems on his mind.
Max led him into her office and unlike usual, didn’t gesture for him to shut the door. He did so anyway, since what he wanted to discuss with her was something that should remain private. For as long as he could, he’d keep this thing, if there was something, private. The psy-ops division was not highly regarded by their own kind and Max already had enough strikes against her with the TC populace.
“We need to talk,” he began quietly.
“What happened to Joshua?” she countered quickly. Alec waved his hand dismissively.
“He said something about Isaac and that he’d see you later,” he spoke quickly, hoping to get back to the track he was on. But it seemed she would not be deterred.
“Is he okay?”
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Alec countered, his voice a little harsh. He could see exactly how she was trying to distract him from whatever it was he wanted to discuss, which led him to believe that she knew already what his concerns were and didn’t want to delve into it just yet, if ever. But the possible consequences were too far reaching to just let it lie. At least, that’s what he told himself. He couldn’t ignore the little voice inside his head panicking at the thought of his every thought being laid before her feet for her to peruse whenever she wished.
“But if he’s upset about Isaac,” she pointed out, “why would he suddenly be okay?”
“So he’s not okay,” Alec agreed with a shrug. Frankly, his concern just wasn’t with Joshua at the moment. The larger man had had ample time to deal with the death of his younger brother.
“If you’d killed your brother to save someone else, would you ever be okay?” she retorted harshly, her face all at once haggard and pain filled. Alec swore silently, seeing a looming session of self-pity and hatred before them. This situation was fraught with all sorts of bad feelings and though they had worked them out to a degree months before, it was obviously something that Max still hadn’t come to terms with. And maybe never would. And of course, she knew from experience how difficult this was for Joshua.
“You wanna go talk to him,” he conceded finally, knowing that until this was dealt with, she’d stubbornly refuse to deal with the issue on his mind.
“I’ve talked to him until I was blue in the face,” she smiled sadly. Alec’s head jerked upwards to gauge her words. One shoulder came up defensively and she glanced out the tiny window, through which the sun was cautiously shining, highlighting the dust motes in the air. “He and I have been over this and over this. There’s nothing else I can say. I can’t make it better for him.”
“So you don’t want to talk to him?” he tried to clarify, a little dubious. Max rolled her eyes.
“No,” she drawled sarcastically. “I want you to go talk to him.” She spoke slowly, emphasizing each word.
“Me?” Alec was surprised and a little, well, flattered. And puzzled, definitely puzzled. “Why would I go talk to him?”
“Maybe because you started it, so you can finish it,” she snapped impatiently and all of a sudden, Alec felt on solid ground again. This was a Max he knew.
“I didn’t start anything,” he fired back. “If it wasn’t for you and your little psychic act, Joshua wouldn’t have been thinking about Isaac at all! And speaking of which-!”
“Don’t even go there,” she commanded her words icy. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Well damn it, we’re going to,” he hissed, realizing all of a sudden how the volume in the room had grown exponentially. “We need to know, to figure out-!” A sudden gesture cut him off completely and in an instant he had skirted the desk and crouched beside her seat. “Max? Are you okay?” Alec tried to control the sudden surge of panic he felt, seeing her covering her eyes and forehead with the palm of one hand. His fingers were gentle, one hand cupping her elbow, the other resting on her knee.
She pulled her hand away and nodded. “Just a sudden headache,” she admitted slowly, meeting his eyes. And he could see the truth of her words in her face. He felt once more like kicking himself that he’d let her push herself so far, and then in contentment that he’d suddenly found himself on equal footing with how she used to act, had pushed her even further.
“You need to lie down,” he asserted quietly and knew immediately how bad it was that she nodded, agreeing easily. Of course, it could also have been in part a ploy to get him to do as she wished and go see Josh. And seeing that it was easier to cave, and certainly better for her current state of health, Alec gave in. “I’ll walk you back to your place and then go talk to Josh.” He didn’t wait for her to acknowledge the plan. “And then I’ll bring you something to eat, okay?”
“Okay.”
Chapter Seven
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