ARCHIVE: No

Alec was relieved to see this lime green motorcycle shining brightly in the glow of the single flickering streetlight that illuminated the government building's pot-hole filled parking lot. It would have just been the perfect ending to his lovely evening if he'd come out to find his ride had been stolen, or, as was more likely, impounded. The local sector cops really had it in for the transgenics, and his bike would be an easy target.

He'd just thrown his leg over the seat and was about to start the engine, when a sound behind him brought his head sharply around. A dark-haired woman stepped out of the shadows, and Alec relaxed visibly. Not Juarez.

"Councilwoman Brown," Alec said politely, recognizing the forty-something divorcee in her stylish grey tweed tailored jacket and slightly-too-short skirt. The hat perched on her head looked like a custom number, probably from one of those expensive shops in the high rise district -- a bright red beret of sorts with some poor bird's tail feathers sticking out the back. He'd read her dossier, along with the files on all the other members -- Melissa Brown, formerly married to the wealthy Albert Brown, owner of the chain of Little Debbie bakeries. Divorced three years ago, she was a renown patron of the arts and a liberal do-gooder. Logan thought she might be a possible ally for the transgenics.

Her short black hair professionally dyed and trimmed in a neat cut that matched the business air of her ensemble, her eyes too blue to be natural, and her nose obviously crafted by a plastic surgeon (her breasts bought as well, Alec thought -- judging by the way they strained the buttons of her low cut silk blouse those knockers had to be plastic), the woman was giving him the once-over as well. "Councilman McDowell," she returned his greeting. Then she smiled, her white teeth shining brilliantly, like the rest of her too perfect. "I didn't get a chance to talk to you after the meeting," she said, holding out her hand.

Alec clasped her cool fingers briefly, but didn't dismount from his bike. There was something about the woman he didn't like, although he couldn't put his finger on it. It certainly wasn't because of her taste in jewelry though. His cat burglar instincts told him those diamond earrings were the real McCoy, and the matching pendant on a gold chain around her neck had to be a whole karat at least.

"I've never met a transgenic before," she cooed coyly, batting those eerie blue eyes at him.

Alec smiled. "We're not so different from you," he said politely. "For all you know, you've met a lot of us before and never even realized it."

Her eyes were roaming over his body in a way that made Alec's skin crawl. Normally a beautiful woman checking him put a proud grin on his face, but Councilwoman Brown's scrutiny went beyond admiration. It felt as if she was quite literally undressing him with her eyes, especially when her gaze lingered.

"Was there something you wanted?" Alec asked, his smile a bit forced.

"As a matter of fact, there is," Ms. Brown said. "I want you."

"Excuse me?" Alec thought he'd misunderstood her.

"I've been researching the transgenics ... you and your kind," the woman said. "Reviewing all the news tapes, the transcripts, the printed stories. You're very photogenic you know. I saw the footage of your fight with those drunks outside Terminal City last spring, and your rescue of that transgenic boy from foreign agents in July. When I found out that gorgeous hunk in black leather was going to be the new council representative for his people, you can't imagine how excited I was."

Oh, God, she's a transgenic groupie.

Alec had a bad feeling about where she was going with this. But Logan had said she could be an ally, so he knew he had to hear her out. "How can I help you?" he said politely.

"By coming home with me," she said bluntly. "Tonight."

Alec blinked at that. Rarely in his life had he been on the receiving end of such a blatant sexual proposition. At least he thought it was a proposition. "I'm afraid I don't understand," he said, playing dumb.

"It's simple," Ms. Brown said, her tone of voice going from seductive to businesslike in a way that told Alec she'd practiced this speech already. "I'm a wealthy woman. I could do a lot for your people, both with my money and with my power on the city council. Men like Juarez are going to try and destroy the transgenics, or at the very least run you out of town. You need allies, Alec -- allies like me. But my kind of help doesn't come for free."

"And your price would be ... me?" Alec said, wanting to be perfectly clear on that detail.

"You're extremely handsome," Ms. Brown said. "Young, strong, and from what I've read about your kind, you probably have the stamina of a racehorse and the genitals of a bull." Her smile was hungry. "I like men, Alec. And I'll pay very well for your stud services. And in return, besides the money I'll leave on the nightstand, I'll back you in whatever issues you want to put before the council."

There was a time in his life when Alec wouldn't have thought twice about accepting such a generous offer. Why, when he'd been freed from Manticore, the very first thing he'd done was to purchase the services of a hooker. The opportunities to engage in sexual intercourse had been few and far between for the X5 during his lifetime of captivity, and it really was one of his very favorite things to do. He'd always been able to enjoy a quick tumble in the sack with a beautiful woman, so long as he could leave her bed in the morning with no strings attached. Girls who'd dated him in the past had quickly found out that he wasn't the kind of guy you made long range plans with or brought home to meet Daddy. He wasn't a "keeper." Over the past year and a half Alec had had more one-night-stands than he could count. So why was he so offended by this conversation? Hell, the woman was even offering to pay him for it, not to mention the help she could be for his people.

Two weeks ago, in fact, Alec would quite likely have accepted the proposal. Ms. Brown would this very minute be seated behind him on the green Duka and they'd be headed for her bedroom. Afterall, it was just sex.

But two weeks ago he'd thought that Max and Logan were happy together. Now, he wasn't so sure. And for some reason, that made a difference.

"I have a girlfriend," he lied.

Ms. Brown shrugged angular shoulders, accentuating her rather anorexic figure (anorexic except for those store-bought breasts). "I don't care if you have six girlfriends, or even if you're gay. We can work out your hours of service. You'll have plenty of free time, so long as you're between my legs when I want you there. You see, you tickle my fancy as the saying goes, or rather I'd like you to tickle it."

"Look," Alec said, turning on the charm. "You're a beautiful woman and I'm flattered by the offer, but like I said, I'm in love with someone, and contrary to what you might have read about transgenics, I'm not the tomcat you seem to think I am."

"Fuck your girlfriend," she said, the epitaph sounding incredibly ugly coming from those perfect, red glossed lips.

Alec smiled. "Maybe," he said softly. "But I'm not gonna fuck you, lady, so you might as well just go home." He turned the key in the ignition, starting the Duka's engine with a roar that would prohibit further conversation. Then, tipping his head at Councilwoman Brown, he drove out of the parking lot.

"You'll be sorry!" she shouted after him. "You had your chance and now you'll be sorry!"

Alec heard the words, but he ignored them, far more worried at the moment about Pedro Juarez than he was about horny Melissa Brown.

*****

"So," Max said as he approached her where she was sitting on the rooftop of the Space Needle, her favorite perch. "How'd it go? Did that infamous Alec-charm knock 'em dead?"

Alec dropped beside her with a weary sigh.

"That bad, huh?"

"Not really," he replied. "I kept 'em from closin' down the mall. We've got two days to put in six more toilets and a wheelchair ramp. Oh, and we've also gotta get rid of the cockroaches in the Gem's coffee shop, and a wooden cutting board or some such nonsense."

"I'll put the X4's on it in the morning," Max said. "What about medical care?"

"Wasn't on the agenda," Alec said. "We've gotta learn how to play their games, Max."

She nodded. "We will. We've got to."

"Either that or go outlaw," Alec said.

"No." Max shook her head, adamant. "If we become criminals it will be all the excuse they need to wipe us out."

"If not that, then it will be some other excuse, Max," he said quietly. "They still hate us, in spite of all their fancy speeches about equal rights. They hate us, and they're afraid. That guy, Juarez, told me to my face he was gonna see us wiped out."

Max's dark eyebrows rose in mild alarm. "And your reply was?"

Alec looked away.

"Alec?"

"I know you told me to keep my mouth shut about the assassin stuff, but, Max, I had to get the guy off my back."

"You threatened him." She sighed again and looked away.

"Not exactly," Alec tried.

"Did you hit him?"

"No."

She pinned him with her eyes.

"Just choked him a little."

Max threw up her hands and stood. It was difficult to pace on top of the Needle, but somehow she was managing. "Great. Just great. And I suppose the news media got a picture of you going all alpha on him?"

Alec hadn't thought about that. "I don't think so," he offered. "'Least, I hope not." But he was remembering all of those flashbulbs going off in his face. Who knew what the photographers had recorded for posterity?

"Anything else I need to know?" Max asked, stopping and standing with hands on her hips.

"Councilwoman Brown cornered me in the parking lot," Alec said wryly. He glanced up at Max, his hazel-green eyes playful. "It seems I tickle her fancy. She offered all sorts of help to the transgenics if I'd be her new boy toy."

Max's lips curved in a sly smile, her brown eyes narrowing. "And you said?"

Alec's brows drew together in a mock scowl. "Max, that hurts! What kind of guy do you think I am? I turned her down, of course, even though it means we've lost another ally." Then a rather alarming thought occurred to him -- something from his old Manticore days. "Unless ... you think I should ... you know ... Use her that way for beneficial access to the council."

"Of course not," Max said gently, letting him off the hook as she dropped down beside him once again. "I'd never ask you to prostitute yourself."

"Well, she was pretty beautiful, Max ... " he teased.

"Shut up."

"Shouldn't you be getting back to Logan?" Alec asked, noting the time on his watch.

"Yes," Max said. But she didn't move. It was Alec who stood and stretched. "I'm gonna turn in," he said. "Besides, my roomie gets worried when I don't come home at night."

"Joshua loves you," Max said quietly.

The words caught Alec by surprise. He knew that of course, but for Max to say it out loud?

"Feeling's mutual," Alec replied easily. "The big fella's pretty much my best friend in the whole world."

"Pretty much," Max agreed, a strange look in her eyes. Then she stood and shrugged into her jacket. "Coming with me?" she asked.

"Yeah," Alec said carefully, following her to the opening that led down into the Space Needle's abandoned restaurant. From there they'd take the stairs down to the parking lot.

It really had been a long night.