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

ARCHIVE: No

Artwork courtesy of Valjean & JRAUnlimited

The gun clicked on empty -- and in the breathless second that followed, all three participants in the melodrama simply stared at one another. Then, in a blurring move too fast for the human eye to follow, Max had wrenched the weapon out of Logan's hand.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she shrieked, throwing the gun across the room.

"What does it look like?" Logan screamed back at her. "I'm getting out of your way so you and your new boyfriend can be together!" He glanced ruefully at the gun. "I emptied it at the Square and didn't re-load," he said. "Guess I wouldn't make a very good soldier, would I?"

"Guess not," Alec breathed, warily watching both Max and the man who used to be his friend. Which is when the X5 was caught for the third time that night by surprise.

With an agility uncanny for someone with his handicap, Logan Cale sprang at his rival, his fist connecting with Alec's chin before the transgenic could block or get out of the way. A second blow burst the younger man's lip, and a third grazed a cheekbone. However, enough was enough. Logan's fourth swing was easily caught in Alec's big hand, his mere human arm forced back with a strength that was frightening.

"I deserved that," Alec said levelly, his eyes glowing green with a lust for battle as he held Logan's fist in his own. He spat out blood. "But now we're done."

Logan's face grew red as he struggled against that impossible grip on his hand, the man seemingly determined to beat the X5 down.

"Logan!" Max shouted, grabbing hold of his shoulders. "Stop!"

Alec released him to Max's embrace, Logan clasping 452 to himself as if he could somehow truly possess her. She caught the other X5's eyes and shook her head.

Alec knew his cue when he got it. She'd made her choice. "Have a nice life, Max," he said. Then he turned around and walked out the door.

*****

Back at Terminal City Joshua was beside himself, trying to convince his best friend to not leave. However, Alec was determined. Everything he owned -- or rather everything he cared to keep -- was going in a backpack. Emptying out his dresser drawer, he was rather amazed at how much stuff he'd managed to accumulate.

"Here," he said, tossing a pair of binoculars to Joshua. "You always liked to play with these."

"Alec," Joshua implored. "Don't go. We need you."

"Yeah," a new voice said from the doorway. "Don't tell me you're lettin' that bitch drive you away from your home."

"Okay," Alec said lightly. "So I won't tell you. But I'm leaving anyway, and nothin' you two say can stop me."

"Where will you go?" Joshua asked.

Alec shrugged. "Wherever I want." He looked up and smiled. "You know, that sounds kinda nice -- wherever I want ... Free at last from Manticore, Max, this place--"

"Yourself?" Mole said sarcastically.

"Maybe," Alec conceded as he adjusted a strap. "Tell the other guys ... Dix, Luke, and Hampton ... so long for me. That it's been fun."

"Tell 'em yourself," Mole snarled.

"Hey, man," Alec said, regarding his friend sadly. "I'm sorry. But I just can't do this any more."

"Can't what?" Mole said.

"Be around a girl I want so bad I can taste it, but can never have."

"Damn it!" the lizard man said. "Don't let that whore do this to you!"

"Don't call her that," Alec said quietly. "Max is smart and more importantly she's a good leader. She won't steer you wrong."

"And what about Logan?" Joshua had to ask. "Logan's your friend."

"Not any more," Alec said quietly. He hefted the backpack. "Stay safe, guys."

And with those final words, X5-494 -- for the second time that night -- turned his back on people he loved.