DISCLAIMER: All DARK ANGEL characters belong to James Cameron and Charles Eglee (Cameron Eglee Productions) and DARK ANGEL itself belongs to FOX.

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Photo courtesy of JensenAckles.org

The X5 froze, knowing that death was just a few seconds away. However, the knife blade remained pressing on his skin, but not penetrating as Berrisford breathed heavily in his ear.

"Go ahead," Alec said through clenched teeth. "Do it. For Rachel."

But instead of feeling the skin of his throat being slit and his life pouring from his body along with his blood, the knife was withdrawn. Alec looked back at the older man, nothing but questions in his eyes.

"I can't," Berrisford choked out the two words as he sat heavily in the co-pilots seat, the knife still in his hand. "I can't kill someone like that. I'm not an assassin ... an animal." This last was said as he raised his eyes to the young man who was an assassin, and part animal as well.

"Not to worry," Alec said tightly, picking up a wad of gauze and holding it to the bleeding wound behind his ear, but at the same time keeping a wary eye on the enemy. "I'll be dead in a couple of days anyway. No need for you to get your hands dirty on this one, Robert."

"Why do you say that?" Berrisford asked. "You're free now. Why would you die?"

Alec made a deprecating sound in the back of his throat as he took a bandage from the first aid kit. "I'm not free," he said, not trying to conceal the bitterness. "At least not for long. Manticore's got me in a noose that I can't slip no matter how hard I try."

"Noose?"

He regarded the man for a long moment. What the hell, it won't hurt to tell him. "I'm a walking dead man," the X5 said quietly. "If I don't report in to base every three days to receive an injection there's a poison catalyst in my blood that will activate and kill me." He thought back to those days of horror after Lydecker had first injected him. "In a very slow painful way I might add." Then he smiled. "But that should make you happy, right? The guy who killed your little girl is gonna go out screaming in agony."

Alec was expecting to see grim satisfaction in Berrisford's eyes. Instead, he saw nothing but pity.

"What's the poison?" the man asked.

Alec shrugged. "They never told me."

"You could get to a hospital ... have your blood analyzed. Maybe there's an antidote."

"I doubt there's time," Alec said, swallowing hard as he put the first aid kit away then turned to check the autopilot controls. They were coming up on Washington State and it would soon be time to land.

"So, you've given up? From what I've read, that doesn't sound like X5 mentality to me."

"Let's just say I've learned to be pragmatic," Alec replied. He glanced at Berrisford. "But I'm not suicidal. My people might still be able to help me."

"If you can get to them in time."

Alec tapped behind his ear. "Now that Lydecker can't tag me, I've got a chance."

"You'll need to get a message to Terminal City," Berrisford said. "I can guarantee you that the place will be watched, and the phone lines tapped."

"I've got friends on the outside," Alec said. Secretly, however, he was worried about the very thing Berrisford had just pointed out. Lydecker would have a small army mobilized around TC by now, and he hated to involve Sketchy or O.C. -- the only two ordinaries he could trust. Max wouldn't even know he'd been captured, escaped, and now was trying to get home. Hell, she probably thought he was livin' the high life as a cat burglar or entrepreneur on the other side of the world.

"They wouldn't be expecting me," Berrisford suddenly said.

Alec looked sharply at the man, thinking he'd misunderstood.

"I could reach that girl for you. 'Max' is her name, right? I've seen her on the news, and there have been pictures of the two of you together. I'm guessing she'd help you. Right?"

"Why would you do that?" Alec said, reaching out to take the jet off of autopilot because they were approaching Seattle air space. "Why would you help the guy who killed your daughter?"

Berrisford worked his jaw a moment, seemingly looking inward, his dark eyes troubled. "I've been asking myself that very question ever since I didn't slit your throat awhile ago," he finally said. "Apparently I don't want you dead any more, and I imagine it's because -- deep in my heart -- I realize you're as much a victim of this Manticore project as my daughter was."

Alec's expression was skeptical. "You mean you've seen the light?" he drawled, taking the plane slowly lower and wondering how long before he had to say something to the tower.

"You were an innocent child exploited by evil men," he said. "They experimented on you, tortured you, tried to brainwash you into being what they considered a perfect soldier. Some of your kind turned into monsters, like that serial killer who butchered ten innocent men in 2019 and 2020."

Alec cringed slightly, wondering how Berrisford had heard about that. But he wisely said nothing, rather letting the man continue to talk his way through what was apparently some kind of epiphany.

"But others were ... are ... like you," the man continued. "The free ones are trying to lead normal lives ... forget the horrors of their childhood, even the ones who are deformed. I actually admire the way the Terminal City conclave has pulled together to help its own. It shows good leadership. This Max must be quite a woman."

"She is," Alec agreed.

"And even though I hate to admit it," Berrisford said. "I've got to say that you're quite a man -- even if not in the human sense. You see, Simon, I've kept up on your career as Terminal City's alderman and representative ... your exploits as it were. In spite of my hatred for you, I recognize the qualities of a superb leader when I see them." Then he looked Alec straight in the eye. "I also recognize the fact that you're not the evil creature I thought you were."

Alec felt absurdly like saying "thank you," but he didn't. He remained silent, holding Berrisford's piercing gaze, unfazed and unbowed, acquiescing to the unexpected compliment.

"Bravo nine one three four," the plane's radio speaker suddenly blared. "Acknowledge."

The X5 reached for the mic, not at all sure what he was going to say. Then suddenly Berrisford's hand was on top of his. "I'll talk to them," he said quietly. "I'll get us down, and then I'll contact Max for you."

Alec knew he shouldn't believe the man -- but he also knew he had to.