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Zack settled into Terminal City like he'd always lived there, pitching in with every chore, mustering the residents into efficient teams, and boosting moral by reminding each and every transgenic and transhuman how they were designed to be the best soldiers in the world. Martial arts classes were organized, weapons drills begun, and the armory was inventoried with a number of items put on a list for acquisition.

At first, Max was relieved, grateful that she didn't have to shoulder the burden of leadership by herself any more. Zack had great ideas, and his commanding attitude, although the polar opposite of Alec's easy, laid-back style of leadership, got results. Alec had always used his charm and charisma to manipulate people into doing what he wanted, leaning on them until he got his way. Zack, however, used pure strength and power. Alec had usually asked with a good natured smile ... Zack ordered with a scowl on his face and a look in his eye that brooked no questions.

For all his years in Manticore, Alec had actually been far less "soldierly" than the older X5 who'd escaped as a child. With Zack, the training had stuck. With Alec, the training had merely been a means to a commercial ends that ultimately had very little to do with military discipline.

However, grateful as she was for Zack's help and companionship, Max also saw something happening in Terminal City that disturbed her greatly -- the art market, the TC Mall, was rapidly going under. Without Alec's clever hand to guide the budding artists and entrepreneurs, the businesses were deteriorating. Inventory was high, plenty of things to sell, but with all the bad press recently sales had dropped to almost zero, and most of the TC folk who had booths and shops in the building were losing interest in the endeavor, wandering off to find other means of raising money or getting food. Many days only Joshua, Dix, Luke, and a couple of others manned their spots under the overhang, hawking their paintings and sculptures, while the other cubicles sat locked and unattended. Even Gem's coffee shop was suffering. Alec's suppliers had disappeared, and they couldn't find a good source of quality beans or baked goods. Stale bread and bitter coffee meant little revenue coming in for the place. They'd actually missed last month's loan payment to Logan Cale. At this rate, Max realized, her former boyfriend was going to soon own the building instead of the transgenics, a thought she didn't like at all.

Logan.

"What about Logan, Max?" Zack asked that first day he'd come back as they sat sipping coffee in Gem's shop.

"We're through," Max said, keeping it brief as she stared into the black swirling liquid. "We broke up."

Zack smiled. "He wasn't right for you, Maxie. He never was. I guess you finally saw that."

Max bristled at the implication Zack was making, that she had made a wrong choice. "Logan was wonderful," she returned. "We were in love, and for awhile things were working."

"What happened then?" X5-599 asked, the look in his blue eyes truly puzzled. "If things were so great, and he's living right here," he indicated Logan's apartment building with a nod of his head, "why the break up?"

Max took a deep breath and decided Zack needed to know the truth. "Because I fell in love with someone else," she said quietly.

The big X5's jaw dropped open. "Who?" he demanded in a rather loud voice. "What do you mean you fell in love with someone else?"

Max swallowed hard, a tear rising in her eye as she suddenly remembered Alec's confident yet playful voice ... his gentle touch ... his bravery that was so often masked by bravado ... "X5-494," she said quietly. Her eyes met Zack's. "You remember him -- Ben's twin?"

"Alec," Zack said, nodding. "I remember." He scowled. "But I thought you hated that guy. I remember you were always bustin' him about something, and you told me not to trust him."

Max smiled sadly. "It turned out Alec just needed to grow up a bit," she said. "And I needed to look past that conceited facade he'd put up to survive Manticore, and see who he really was." She regarded her brother across the table. "I loved him, Zack."

"Loved?" Zack glanced around. "Where is he anyway?" But then he saw the agony in Max's eyes and, understanding dawned. "What happened?" he asked gently, his big hand reaching across the table to hold hers.

"Steelheads," Max said, clenching her jaw. "They shot and killed him in a drive-by." She nodded to the front of the store. "Right out there in the market. It happened a little over two months ago." She shrugged. "Since then, things have gone downhill. Out people retaliated, killed a bunch of British Eddy's gang, and the city declared us outlaws. They even took away our council seat and sector passes. Now, we're no better than one of the clans."

"We are too better!" Zack declared hotly. "I'm sorry about Alec, Max. I really am. But he was a soldier, and it sounds like he died like one, bravely and in battle."

"He did die bravely," she whispered. "Alec was a lot of things, some of them not exactly what I'd call upstanding, but a coward ... never. In his own way, he was one of the bravest men I've ever known. He avoided trouble when he could, but when things got serious he never backed down." She smiled at a memory. "Believe me, you didn't want to corner him. And, even though it took me way too long to realize the truth, he was always there for me when I needed him."

"And you became lovers," Zack said, his voice rough.

Max just nodded. "And then he was shot." She raised her eyes again. "We only had a short time together. There was so much we could have done ... so many things we could have explored. Terminal City was right on the verge of succeeding. But when Alec died ... sometimes I think all of our luck died with him."

Zack squeezed her hand. "Don't say that, Max. I'm here now. I'll help you. Together we'll save this place, one way or another. We might not be able to get the city to help us, but there are other ways to survive. You've got a lot of strong, loyal soldiers in here, and with the right leadership we'll be an army no one will ever challenge -- not the sector cops, not the National Guard, not even the Marines."

"I don't want to live in a military camp, Zack," Max argued. "That's never what Terminal City was supposed to be. We want it to be a real community, a thriving place to live with businesses and homes for our children."

"We'll still thrive, Max," Zack promised. "But you tried Alec's way and it didn't work, or at least it can't work without him. Now, try it my way. I promise, everyone will be safe and warm and well fed. And most importantly, we'll be strong. No one will need to be afraid."

Deep in her heart, Max had a very bad feeling about what Zack was saying. But, for the life of her, she couldn't put her misgivings into words. What he said made sense. Their job now was to strengthen their clan and protect themselves, surviving the only way they could, even if it crossed legal boundaries. After all, plenty of other gangs thrived in Seattle that way. Why shouldn't they do the same?

"You need to talk to Mole," she finally said, pushing aside her now cold cup of coffee and standing up. "He's in charge of the armory and security. Luke manages TC's perimeter defenses and the vehicles."

"It's a place to start," Zack said, rising with her, and ignoring the way Gem was staring at him from behind the lunch counter.

Gem always had a smile for Alec, Max remembered with a sudden pang in her heart. Alec had just been like that -- someone who made people feel good ...

Zack on the other hand, in spite of all his good intentions, made them wary.

*****

Alec knew he was living on borrowed time. He was never going to truly give in to Manticore discipline again, which meant that sooner or later he'd be considered too much of a liability. And then, God only knew what Lydecker and his superiors would do with him. In the long run, his only chance was to escape. But that possibility, at least for the moment, was just a dream. Lydecker had him on as tight a leash as possible. When he wasn't locked in a cell, he was training with Lane's squad while soldiers kept him in the sites of their machine guns. As even more of a deterrent to escape, the New Manticore base was surrounded by 12-foot chain link fence topped with concertina wire -- too high to jump. And then of course there were the creepy X7s -- creatures with bat in their cocktail and no conscience whatsoever designed to subjugate their older X brethren -- patrolling the perimeter 24/7.

However, for now, it was back to basics for Alec, just like the good old days. In a way, he was amazed how very little had actually changed since his military career. Lights on in his barracks cell at 5 a.m, shower, shave, roll call, a bland breakfast eaten in utter silence in the mess hall, out to the practice fields for general calisthenics followed by military and martial arts classes, a break for lunch, then maneuvers in the fields surrounding the main building complex, oftentimes under the duress of live ammo being shot over his head. His day then ended with a lackluster, unimaginative dinner among surly companions who still weren't allowed to talk to each other except for training purposes, and lights out at dusk.

Lane was squadron leader with Devon his accepted "second." Keema and Jewel occasionally showed up for training, but were often out in the field on missions, the four of them the darlings of Lydecker's New Manticore army. One other X5, a surprisingly slow fellow named "Mick" who'd disappeared from TC some months ago, rounded out Alec's group until the poor kid took a bullet to the head during one of the training exercises. His body was simply dragged away without comment. No one except the morgue techs and harvesting surgeons even cared.

Ah yes, the memories, Alec thought sarcastically as he crouched in the field with chiggers crawling up his butt, waiting for "enemy" ordinance to pause so he could supposedly blur to the target -- a dummy wearing a South American dictator's uniform that he was required to "kill" with his bare hands. At least he was rapidly getting back in shape, regaining muscle strength and mass, as well as stamina. The scar on his chest from his open heart surgery was only a pale white streak now. In another month it would most likely be gone.

Alec tensed, actually intending to do well on this exercise. During the few moments when the X5s were allowed to congregate and talk to one another freely, usually after supper but before lock down and lights out, he'd heard rumors about him being in the running for an outside assignment, something about his unique skills. The others in his squad were surly about it, jealous perhaps, but he didn't care. With all his heart, Alec hoped that was what was going to happen -- because once on the outside there'd be no stopping him. He'd be able to escape and get back to Max.

The shelling suddenly ceased. Dead silence hung in the humid North Dakota air. Lane, crouched several feet to the right, glowered at him and motioned with his hand. Alec blurred to the dummy and reached out, intending to simply snap its "neck."

However, suddenly the "dummy" made a sound and raised its head. Terrified blue eyes stared at Alec, and he jumped back with a small gasp. Damn it, they were using prisoners as canon fodder again! He'd been forced to kill before, back at the Old Manticore. Lydecker would bribe prison officials for the use of death row inmates -- convicts who'd never be missed in the outside world. They'd be brought onto base and used as practice bait for the X5s and higher series, teaching them what it felt like to kill real human beings.

Alec knew damn well this was a test.

"Please," the terrified young man panted, his arms and legs pinned cruelly to a post so he looked for all intents and purposes like a limp scarecrow. Sweat was running in rivulets down his pale face. "Please ... don't hurt me."

"494!" Lane shouted from the undergrowth. "Complete your mission!"

Alec glanced over to the edge of the field and saw Lydecker and several scientists watching him. If he didn't kill this man, one of the others would. The kid's life was over no matter what. If he did kill him ... it would go a long way toward convincing Lydecker he could be trusted on a mission.

Max, forgive me.

"I'm sorry," Alec said in a low voice. "There's no other way." Then, narrowing his eyes ... steeling himself ... X5-494 clenched his jaw, reached out, and deftly snapped the young man's neck.

*****

He was rewarded that evening. Instead of the lights in his cell blinking out at 9 p.m., the door opened and a girl was shoved into Alec's quarters. He considered her a "girl" because she looked all of about 14 years old. With short, curly brown hair, freckles, and golden eyes she was a petite thing, her head barely reaching his shoulder

"I'm your breeding partner," the X6 stated. "Designation X6-873."

Alec gaped at her. Lydecker has to be kidding!

"You're too young for that," he said.

"No, I'm not," she replied defiantly, holding her chin proudly in the air and thrusting out near nonexistent breasts. "I'm cycling and the doctors say I'm fertile. They want me to have a baby with an X5. The genome base says your DNA could work with mine. It's far from a perfect match, but possible."

"I already have a breeding partner," Alec said before he could stop the words from coming out of his mouth.

The X6 looked puzzled. "What?"

"Never mind," he said as he circled the girl, looking her up and down. No way in hell were they going to make him rape a child. "Listen," he said. "You don't wanna do this with me. I'm way too old for you. Besides, the people who are keeping us prisoners here have no right to tell us who we have sex with."

"Yes, they do," she said, a flash of attitude showing in her light brown eyes. "Look, they told me about you. How you're a rogue with a lot of discipline problems. But your DNA is valuable and needs to be passed on. I also hear you have great physical qualities."

She was eying him in a "Lolita" way Alec found disturbing.

"You're just a baby," he repeated. "I'm not interested."

"We have our orders! Take off your pants, soldier!"

"Fuck orders! I'm no cradle snatcher!"

Alec wouldn't have been so free with his tongue if anyone could have heard him, but he seriously doubted his cell was bugged. Back at Old Manticore they'd determined cameras and hidden mics made the breeders, especially the males, too self conscious to perform. Privacy had always produced better results ... a higher rate of pregnancy.

"I'm supposed to fuck you," the mouthy girl (who Alec was rapidly reclassifying as a bitch) shot back, reaching down to pull off her t-shirt.

"You can have the bunk," Alec replied coldly, sliding down the wall, and sitting on the floor much as Max had done long ago in a similar awkward situation. "Don't worry," he added. "I'll cover for us at roll call." He then turned his head away.

"Faggot," 873 spat as she gave up and threw herself down in a huff on the sparsely padded cot that served as Alec's bed.

"Whore," Alec muttered under his breath as he continued to watch his "guest" out of the corner of his eye until at last the guards came to remove her.

*****

Showered, cleanly shaved, and dressed in a fresh grey t-shirt and khakis, Alec stood at attention in line at roll call. Beside him X6-873 was poised primly. Glancing at her sideways, Alec shifted his stance, uncomfortable. He didn't like that smug sly smile on her face.

One of the Manticore scientists -- a typical geek-type with white lab coat, buzz cut black hair, long face, big ears, glasses, and clipboard in hand -- was coming down the line, questioning the breeding pairs. When he got to Alec and 873, without looking up, he said, "Report."

Alec opened his mouth, a snarky comment on his tongue about successful copulation. But before he could say a word, X6-873 shouted for all to hear, "Copulation with X5-494 was unsuccessful, sir!"

The scientist glanced up, peering at the recalcitrant X5 over the top rims of his glasses. "Explain," he said, the order directed at the X6 although his eyes were on Alec who was silently fuming.

If she says I failed to achieve minimal mission requirements I'm gonna wring her scrawny neck!

"X5-494 refused his orders, sir. He refused to copulate with me."

"He refused?" the scientist said, a slightly dirty smile lifting the corners of his thin lips. "What's wrong, 494? Don't we like females any longer? Or could you just not get it up?"

"I like females just fine, sir," Alec replied emotionlessly. "I just don't like molesting children."

The scientist stared at him for a long moment, tapping a pencil against the clipboard, considering ... Then he nodded at Lane who was standing beside his own breeding partner, an extremely buxom red-headed X5 who had the weary face of a prostitute and a fading black eye.

"X5-600," the scientist barked. "Escort X5-494 off the training grounds to some place private, and demonstrate to him exactly what happens to soldiers who refuse their breeding orders."

"Yes, sir!" Lane replied with way too much enthusiasm for Alec's liking. The big X5 motioned to Devon, and the two of them, huge grins on their faces, came toward him.

Instinctively, Alec's hands went up. Backing out of line, breaking formation, he retreated. "Wait a minute, guys," he said, watching them warily. His shoulder bumped into the high chain link fence that surrounded the compound. "Hey, let's talk about this. It's not like it sounds. It's just that--"

"Get him!" Lane snarled.

Devon went one way, Lane the other while the rest of the soldiers watched. Alec was trapped. Dropping into a sparring stance, fists ready, he bounced lightly on the balls of his feet, ready to take on the two X5s if they tried to touch him.

"What's wrong, 494?" Lane taunted as he feigned a right jab and dodged left. "You're not afraid of me are you?"

"Not at all," Alec lied, smiling wickedly as his muscles coiled. He took his own first shot, a jab that caught the bigger X5 directly on the nose. Blood spurted everywhere as Lane roared with rage.

"I'll kill you, you motherfucker faggot!" he screamed, charging straight at Alec. With nowhere to maneuver, Alec was trapped. By sheer weight alone, X5-600 bowled the lighter X5 over, knocking Alec to the ground at the base of the fence, and smothering him in a vicious bear hug. Kicking, clawing, the younger X5 tried to writhe free, twisting beneath those pinning arms, but then Devon was on top of him too, grabbing hold of his hair and yanking his head back, the forearm around his throat choking off his air.

Alec's vision began to darken.

"Get him out of here!" the scientist shouted. "You know what to do!"

"Gladly," Lane snarled as he climbed to his feet dragging a half-conscious 494 with him. Then together he and Lane shoved Alec toward the parade ground gate and the dark private woods beyond.