*****

Luke Photo courtesy of Still Frame

Max forced herself to put aside Lydecker's words. She had enough to worry about already -- getting her people settled and strong in their new home, not to mention her pregnancy -- without adding obsessions over her child's potential for being born a congenital liar into the mix. Alec, at his core, was a good man. She wouldn't be in love with him if he wasn't. The additional fact that "when he was bad he was horrid" was a character trait of his she'd become resigned to long ago.

"Three messages for ya, Max," Dix reported when she entered the building they're turned into their control center (the old one having been destroyed by Renfro's people). The monocled mutant still had his arm in a sling, and the deep cut on the side of his face was only partially healed. He'd been on duty that day, and had barely escaped the explosion with his life.

Luke, wearing a headset and with his right leg in a splint, smiled up at her from where he was going over maps laid out on a table. "Hampton's guys have found three ranchers willing to supply us with beef and poultry, so long as we pay cash up front," he said happily. "And I think I've found where we can buy a couple of milk cows."

"Who's gonna milk 'em?" Max asked, one dark eyebrow rising.

"I will," Joshua replied from where he was sitting on a stool in the corner. "I'll learn how. The babies need milk."

"Hey, Big Fella," Max greeted her friend with a smile.

"Hey, Little Fella," the dog man returned. He looked behind her. "Alec still gone?"

"He won't be back until tomorrow at least," Max said. "Where's Mole?"

"Where d'ya think?" Dix said. "In the armory of course. Probably counting the bullets one-by-one."

"Livin' the dream," Max said with another smile, this one a bit more wan. Personally, she was uncomfortable in the ordinance building. Call it a phobia -- and a ridiculous one at that considering she was supposed to be a supersoldier -- but she just didn't like being around all those guns.

She looked down at her messages: the first from Gem telling her what fresh food supplies they needed; and the second from one of the X3 techs saying it would be longer than they'd hoped until they got a satellite link re-established. So much for Alec's favorite "boob tube" channels, she thought wryly. The third, however, gave Max pause. She read the words again, and still didn't understand.

"Who's this last one from?" she asked, waving the slip of paper at Dix.

He shrugged. "Some chick called in on the land line from Gillette. Said she was a friend, but wouldn't leave her name. Wants you to meet her at noon in the town diner. I figure it's a reporter."

"Did it sound like O.C.?" Max asked hopefully.

"No," Dix said. "White bread all the way."

"I don't have time for this," the X5 said, balling up the message and tossing it in the trash. "Let the New World Weekly find another cover girl this season."

"She did say one thing odd, though," Dix commented, his already wrinkled brow furrowing further as he creaked around in his swiveled seat.

"What's that?"

"It was about Alec."

"Alec?"

"Yeah, she said she needed to talk to you, and hoped Alec would forgive her."

Max's stomach dropped. What the hell has he done now?

Picking up the note from out of the trash, she unfolded it and checked the time: Noon. The Pine Tree Diner.

"Max," Dix said. "The Army's got that town under a microscope. It's crawlin' with undercover operatives and McKinley's people. They might try'n grab you."

"I'll take body guards," she said tersely, glancing in Joshua's direction. "I'll be fine. They won't dare get too aggressive in a public place."

"We're considered terrorists, Max," Dix argued. "They'll get as aggressive as they want."

"Not before we negotiate with head military honchos," Max insisted. "We've been granted immunity until then, remember."

"Whatever you say, boss."

*****

Asha Barlow Photo courtesy of Jensen Ackles Museum

Dressed from head to toe in black leather, and flanked by Mole on one side and Joshua on the other, Max felt more than a little bit conspicuous as she walked into the Pine Tree Diner -- a tiny hole-in-the-wall eatery in the middle of what passed for Gillette's Main Street, a.k.a. State Route 90. In a way, the place reminded her of Gem's restaurant back in Seattle, with its lunch counter and booths, but the western-themed decor -- including half a dozen elk heads mounted over the front door -- left no doubt she was a long way from the urban life of her old Terminal City home.

The red-headed waitress behind the counter was staring, mouth agape, at the two big transhumans, her cleaning cloth dangling forgotten from one hand, and the cook -- a high school kid with long hair held back in a hairnet -- was peeking wide-eyed through the swinging kitchen door. But it was the light blonde head of hair showing above the back of a booth seat in the far corner that held Max's attention.

"Watch the doors," she told her companions.

"Can I order coffee?" Mole asked plaintively. "That re-constituted freeze-dried shit on the base sucks."

"Guzzle down all you want," Max replied, still not taking her eyes off the blonde. "Just be sure you pay for it."

"Waitress!" Mole called out, snapping his fingers in the frightened girl's direction. "Hot 'n black!"

"Me too!" Joshua added.

As her guys got comfortable on counter stools, Max made her way down the single aisle and stopped beside the formica table. "Asha?" she said, greeting the Seattle S1W member with more than a little disbelief.

"Max," Asha said, looking up with eyes that seemed unusually relieved, especially considering the two of them had once been rivals over the same man. "I was afraid you wouldn't come."

Glancing toward her bodyguards -- and seeing them contentedly sipping large mugs of coffee while also keeping watch out the windows -- Max slid into the booth across from the blonde. "Did Logan send you?" was her first question.

Asha cast those eyes down. "No," she said quietly, "but I'm not surprised you might think that. This has nothing to do with Logan, not really. He might disagree, but it doesn't."

Max brushed long dark strands of hair back from her face, tucked them behind her ears, and shook her head, not understanding. "Why are you here then?"

Her former rival took a deep breath, and Max suddenly felt queasy. This can't be good.

"I need to talk to Alec," she said.

"Alec?"

"I ... Max, I have to see him. But I wanted to come to you first because I don't know how to tell him this. And I need you on my side."

"Asha, what the hell are you talking about?"

Another deep breath from the now visibly trembling girl. "Max ... I'm pregnant, and the baby's his -- Alec's."

Max knew the room wasn't really spinning, but she gripped the edge of the table anyway.

"Logan thought the baby was his own," Asha was continuing. "And so did I. But then Dr. Carr ran some tests because there was something odd about the sonogram and he told us it's half X5." She was staring intently at Max now. "I know you don't want to hear this, Max. But Alec is the father. It was just a one night stand a few weeks ago but--"

Max held up her hand, gesturing for silence. "Excuse me," she got out. And then the contents of her stomach emptied all over the floor.

*****

Hotel Sofitel Zurich, Switzerland

He was a long way from home -- and, for the moment, loving it.

Alec shrugged broad shoulders in the coat of his casual dark blue business suit, adjusted wire-rim glasses on the bridge of his nose, gave his reflection a last once-over in the window, and smiled cockily, liking what he saw. "Now that's more like it," he said to the image looking back at him. Then he picked up his leather briefcase, and entered the main lobby of Zurich's Hotel Sofitel.

No one here would ever suspect he wasn't what he appeared to be -- a young American businessman visiting Switzerland for the first time.

"Aidan Scott," he said, greeting the buxom blonde concierge behind the front desk with a charming smile. He then held out one of the business cards Lydecker had provided. "I'm with Mercer Diamonds. I believe I have a reservation?" He was about to repeat what he'd said in French (his Swiss being less than fluent), but it wasn't necessary.

"Room 419, Mr. Scott," the girl said in heavily accented English as she flirtatiously batted false eyelashes. She glanced behind him. "Your luggage?"

"On its way from the airport," Alec said easily as he signed the register. "There was some delay." He glanced up at her impishly, accepting the admiring stare. "I'm in the city to meet a client," he said. "I have some items that I'd like to secure in the hotel safe."

"Of course, sir," the girl said. "That can be arranged." She then handed him a brochure. "And these are some of our hotel's other amenities: the spa, heated swimming pool, exercise room, an arboretum on the roof, a five-star restaurant, and of course our world famous massage parlor. We also offer an extensive library of movies in our rooms, as well as personal services."

"Personal services?" Alec said, one eyebrow raised and wondering if that meant what he thought it meant.

"Of course, Mr. Scott," the concierge said coyly, at the same time casually unbuttoning the two top buttons of her uniform revealing ample cleavage. Then she planted elbows on the desk and leaned forward to enhance the view.

Alec -- reassured that he hadn't lost his "touch" -- smiled graciously, but decided the game had gone on long enough. He held up his left hand to show her the gold wedding band on his ring finger.

Those full luscious pink lips immediately turned down in a pout. "Ah," she lamented. "Why are the gorgeous ones always taken?"

"Sorry," Alec said, on some level meaning it in spite of Max. Then he remembered something, and found himself proudly adding, "We're expecting a baby in--" He quickly did the math in his head. "--November."

"Congratulations!" the willing concierge said, her smile returning. "I'm sure with you as the father it will be a beautiful child."

Alec Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Jensen Ackles Museum

The ring had been Lydecker's idea -- a ludicrous one Alec had thought at the time -- but the Colonel had been right. Zurich, and it's liberal sexual morals, was almost as torrid as Bangkok when it came to brothels and hookers. A handsome young businessman checking into a hotel for just a couple of nights would pose a tempting target for working girls. It was either married or gay, Lydecker had told him. Unless he wanted to be fending off hordes of blow-job offers the entire time he was trying to case the place.

Now, so long as he stayed out of the massage parlor, word would spread fast that "Mr. Scott" wasn't interested, and he'd hopefully be left in peace.

"About the vault?" he said, holding up the briefcase. "I've got some inventory I need to secure."

"Of course," the girl said, turning around and taking a set of keys off a hook on the wall behind her.

The safe was old fashioned -- pre-Pulse. The Hotel Sofitel had been built in 1968, and the vault was your standard two-foot thick steel- walled variety with combination lock. As the concierge opened the barred cage door to the antechamber, the X5's eyes expertly took in the four strategically placed video cameras. There might be pressure panels on the floor, but he doubted it -- too much foot traffic tended to do a number on sensitive electronics like that, not to mention the marble tile looked undisturbed. He didn't see any sign of a laser detection system either -- so far, so good.

The vault door was standing open for the day. Inside, he could see rows of safety deposit boxes.

"The hours are six a. m. to ten p.m.," the girl told him as she picked up a small key from a rack hanging just inside the safe. Then she walked over to one of the boxes -- teetering slightly on high heels that showed off shapely legs -- opened it with her own accompanying master key, and pulled out a metal bin. She nodded at a curtained privacy room located across the antechamber. "Let me know when you're ready, Mr. Scott," she said.

"I'm always ready," Alec said, a sly grin touching his lips, the flirting so second nature to him he couldn't help it.

Sashaying closer, she leaned in to him. "You mean ready to be a father," she whispered huskily in his ear. A sexy wink again. "Just keep remembering that, handsome ... that baby you've got on the way. It'll keep you out of trouble."

"Right," Alec said, fingering the wedding band on his hand, and realizing the girl was absolutely correct. He needed to stay grounded ... act mature. There would be time to play (with Max) when he got home.

*****

Alec Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Jensen Ackles Museum

Having deposited the fake gems in the safe and gotten a good look at vault security, Alec retired to his room -- a very nice suite decorated in plush blue velvet and gold complete with queen size bed and all the usual amenities -- paid for by Lydecker's personal credit card no less.

He had several hours to kill, and spent them enjoying the perks of a five star hotel -- a nice long soak in the hot tub (where he found himself missing Max's company something terrible), followed by a raid on the honors bar for chocolate, cookies, soda, and one tiny bottle of really good Scotch (since 'Deck was footin' the bill). Then, wrapped in a fluffy white terry bath robe sporting the hotel's logo, the pampered feeling X5 settled down on the bed with TV remote in hand and began flipping through the X-rated movie offerings. (The fact that most of them were in Swiss didn't really matter since the soft core porn was primarily visual in nature anyway.)

By the time 1 a.m. rolled around, Alec was thoroughly bored with Greta, Ursa, Inga, and Nadine who'd nakedly romped, cavorted, slinked, and fucked their way through Paris, London, Brussels, and Rome.

In fact, truth be told, he was thoroughly bored with blondes. But he knew he couldn't dwell on Max right now -- not when it was show time.

Black jeans and t-shirt had been stuffed in the briefcase along with the zircons, plus his trusty set of lock picks and a few other goodies Dix had provided. No gun though -- he couldn't have gotten it through airport security, and there wasn't time to buy one on the street. Not that he'd need a weapon. This was a simple heist, not an assassination.

Alec waited until the clock showed a quarter past the hour before quietly slipping out of his hotel room and making his way down the back service stairs to the lobby. There were a few people standing just inside the front door, and the main desk was still well lit. However, the vault room was shrouded in shadows, closed for the night.

Five minutes passed ... ten ... As an X5, Alec was feline patient, and he waited calmly, concealed behind a tier of potted plants in a corner by the stairwell access door. At last the moment he'd been waiting for arrived : the concierge -- a clean-cut looking lad with typically pale Swiss features -- came out from behind the desk to escort a group of new arrivals to the elevators.

He only had a few seconds, but it was enough.

Blurring through the shadows, Alec hopped over the desk and was into the vault antechamber, leaving nothing but a breeze in his wake. Once inside, he plastered himself against the wall in a blind spot for the cameras and waited, controlling his breathing, watching ... The concierge returned to his post and began looking through the check-in records on his computer, never suspecting there was an intruder.

Home free.

Alec Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Jensen Ackles Museum

Alec knew that as soon as he moved he'd be visible on the security cameras -- which is where one of Dix's gizmos came in handy. The little metal box he took out of an inner pocket looked innocent enough, but it emitted a powerful silent radio signal that would scramble any video feeds within 50 feet. Flipping it on, Alec set the time in his head and began a subconscious countdown. He knew he had perhaps two minutes at most to get what he needed and escape before the guards quit fiddling with dials in the security room and got their asses down here to actually see what was wrong.

Still moving like a wraith, the black clad X5 glided across the tile to the vault door where he leaned down, placed an ear close to the metal, and delicately began turning the combination lock with a gloved hand. Thirty seconds later the last tumbler fell into place and the door opened with a slight hiss. Piece of cake.

Looking back over his shoulder, he could see the concierge chatting happily with a girl who -- from her mode of dress -- was probably working the lobby. Good.

Inside, the only light he had was what followed him through the crack of the vault door -- but it was enough. Cat pupils dilating fully, he quickly moved to the cabinet that held the master safety deposit box keys, and opened it with his lock pick. There were quite a few keys, and it took him a precious few seconds to find the one for the tier he had to access. Then he was in front of box 312 -- the number Lydecker had given him. He had no idea what was inside -- and had a feeling the Colonel didn't either -- but his orders were to confiscate the contents and return to Gillette with them, no questions asked.

Alec hated working blind, but both he and Max agreed they owed Lydecker this one, so long as it didn't involve killing. It was the least he could do to pay the man back for the lives of their people. But someday, he vowed, 'Deck had better offer an explanation.

Using the pick lock again, he had the deposit box open within seconds and slid out the inner container. Opening it, he saw that there was only one item inside -- a white business envelope, unlabeled and sealed.

Alec Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Jensen Ackles Museum

Tucking the missive safely into an inner pocket, Alec put the box back, closed and locked the door, then returned the key to the wall rack. Peeking through the door, he saw his first problem of the evening. The hotel guards were coming across the lobby, probably to investigate the malfunctioning cameras.

The X5 didn't bother trying to retrieve the radio jamming device. No time. This was the one part of his plan he hadn't been sure about, and now he was in the worst case scenario -- essentially penned. If only he'd been 20 seconds faster ...

Outside the hotel's front door a police car pulled up, lights strobing, followed by two more. The back would be covered as well. Alec knew he had no choice. At least the guards didn't have guns in hand, and the real cops were still outside. He had to move -- now or never.

Which is when the alarm went off. Blaring loudly over his head, the noise was excruciating to his sensitive hearing and Alec instinctively ducked. Then his eyes widened with horror as he saw a heavy pocket-door panel begin to slide shut across the antechamber entrance. God, I hate surprises!

Launching himself out of the vault, he dove for the opening, knowing he'd be trapped if he didn't get out into the lobby.

He was almost too late, but in a moment of inspiration rooted in desperation, Alec shoved his left hand into the pathway of the sliding door just before it completely closed. The panel would have crushed his fingers alone, but the wedding band jammed and brought it to a momentary halt -- long enough for the X5 to get a grip and shove it back into the wall far enough so he could slip through.

"Halt!" the command came in English as one of the guards drew a gun. "Halt or we'll fire!"

Alec ignored him, blurring for the main stairs. Two tourists got shoved aside, one -- a tall middle-aged lady -- falling down the last flight. "Sorry," Alec said ruefully as he ran past. "Outta my way, comin' through!"

He flew up the stairs three at a time until he reached the fourth floor where he dashed down a hallway to the service passage that he knew led to the roof. The building was six stories high -- too far to jump to the street -- but that wasn't the plan.

Once on the roof, Alec leaped up onto the parapet, gauging the distance, then hopped back down and backed up to give himself room for a running start. When the trio of hotel guards burst through the door, they were just in time to see their quarry launch himself into space in a spectacular, inhuman leap that carried him more than 30 feet to the top of the adjacent building. Bullets followed, the shots going wild. A second later their cat burglar had flown to a third building and disappeared into the night, leaving nothing but the guards' open mouthed astonishment behind.

*****

Jedediah Zakes Photo courtesy of Eyes Only

Jedediah Zakes, director of the South African military's supersoldier research program, was not a happy man. Looking down at the report on his desk, he shook his head. His team of scientists were getting nowhere fast, and his superiors were applying pressure. The neuro-implants worked just fine when inserted into healthy specimens -- sometimes functioning for up to a year before destroying the host. However, the end results just weren't good enough, and worse -- they were running out of volunteers.

They needed a way to create a soldier with better endurance for the implants, or better yet, a soldier that didn't need the implant at all. And what would fit the bill perfectly was a Manticore transgenic -- like the girl in Seattle who'd eluded them three years ago.

He'd almost had a deal with Donald Lydecker at one time -- for a genetically enhanced embryo -- but that had fallen through. And then Manticore had gone down and there should have been transgenics free for the picking. However, the U.S. government had ordered their destruction (a horrible waste in his opinion), and the transies who hadn't been killed had either gone into deep hiding or holed up in Terminal City in Seattle -- an impregnable community of supersoldiers who guarded their own with a territorial fierceness unlike anything he'd ever seen.

Not so much as an X3 or X4 had fallen into his hands, no matter how hard he'd tried to capture one, and now his funding was in danger of being yanked.

"Sir," his assistant said from where he was standing in the doorway.

"What is it, soldier?" Zakes asked tiredly.

"There's been a sighting."

Jedediah's head rose. "A transgenic? In international territory?"

"We believe so, sir. We have a report from Zurich. There was an incident at Hotel Sofitel an hour ago that has the markings of our quarry. An X5 from the looks of him."

Zakes greatest hope for the past months had been that he'd be able to find a Manticore transgenic outside American borders -- one who'd strayed from the fold that he could corner and capture without interference from the U.S. government.

"Get me the details and send a team to Switzerland right away," he ordered.

"They're already on their way, sir. We dispatched Alpha 2 out of Paris. They'll be arriving within minutes."

"Good. I'll issue their orders shortly. We need this one, lieutenant. Badly."

*****

Max Photo courtesy of Still Frame

"Are you all right?" Asha asked worriedly as Max shakily held onto the edge of the table and tried to catch her breath.

"I'll be fine," she said, picking up a napkin and wiping her mouth. A disgusted looking waitress was already approaching with a mop and pail.

"Come back to the base with me," Max said, unwilling for the coming discussion to become a public spectacle.

After paying for Asha's coffee, the two women joined Mole and Joshua in the van. The ride back to the base was in silence, but once inside the compound, the hard questions came fast and furious.

"What the hell do you mean it was a one-night-stand?" Max demanded angrily. "I'm just supposed to take your word that Alec was ... was ..."

"Unfaithful to you," Asha said quietly.

"I was going to say 'such a jerk.'"

"Why do you doubt me, Max? You know he's capable of it. Alec's not the monogamous type. Not even for you."

Max's eyes narrowed. "You say Dr. Carr ran DNA tests on the baby?"

"I had an amniocentesis," Asha said. "The sonogram showed an anomaly and Logan and I were worried."

"What kind of anomaly?"

Asha shrugged. "Something about the bone structure being atypical."

"Transgenics are bred for heavier bone density," Max conceded. "Makes us harder to break."

"Dr. Carr's worried about the baby," Asha continued, her brown eyes darkening with sadness. "He says an X5/human cross isn't good, that there will probably be a lot of complications."

"You should have used birth control," Max said coldly. "Or made him use it."

"Alec doesn't like condoms."

The ease with which the other woman said that about Alec bothered Max -- because it was true.

"And I wasn't on birth control pills because Logan wants a son."

"So, you cheated on him with Alec?" Max said snidely. "My, what an honest loving relationship the two of you have."

"As honest and loving as yours and Alec's," Asha shot right back.

A long moment of silence followed, then--

"Max, I came here because I don't have anyplace else to go. And, I was hoping maybe your people could help me with the baby ... help it be born healthy."

"Logan kicked you out?" Max guessed.

Asha nodded. "When he found out the baby wasn't his, he told me to pack my bags."

"Does he know you're claiming that Alec's the father?"

Again a nod, and a grim smile. "Alec had better stay out of Seattle. Logan swears he's going to kill him."

"Can't really blame the man," Max said. "He's got reason. But he'll have to get in line."

"Max ... About you and Alec. I don't want to come between the two of you."

A dark eyebrow rose. "I think it's a little bit late for that."

"Max, Alec loves you very much. He told me so. He was drunk when we had sex, and the two of you had just had a fight of some kind. I should have stopped it, but Logan was mad at me too. It wasn't anything romantic at all. We did it against the wall in the alley back of Crash and--"

"Stop!" Max said sharply, holding up her hand. "I don't want the details."

"He never even kissed me. It was ... mechanical for him ... and then you guys left Seattle."

Max put her hand against her own stomach. "How far along are you?"

"Five weeks."

Five weeks? And I'm four. He put his seed inside her just a few days before he put it in me ... Bastard.

"Can I stay?" Asha asked again.

Max shrugged. "It's a free country. But we don't have any doctors or scientists here so don't get your hopes up about the kid. From what I hear it's probably not gonna be a happy ending."

The blonde girl hung her head. "I know," she said. "But I have to try." Then she looked up, her gaze once again strong. "I will try. I'll do everything I can for my baby. It doesn't matter who the father is. I love him already."

"Him?"

"It's a boy," she said, smiling. "The amnio was definite. Alec's going to have a son."

*****

Alec Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Jensen Ackles Museum

Alec walked easily through the concourse of Zurich Airport, a man completely confident in who he was and what he was doing. The job had been ridiculously easy -- well, except for the slightly exciting exit he'd had to make over the rooftops. But he'd lost his pursuers with no problem, picked up his backpack where he'd left it stashed in an outer terminal locker, and now was on his way to check-in with ticket in hand. His direct flight to Denver left in two hours, which meant he'd be back home by this time tomorrow. True, he wasn't looking forward to the long cold motorcycle ride to Gillette (he and Max had recovered their bikes from Yellowstone last week, after the Renfro furor had died down), but all-in-all this hadn't been so bad.

Mission accomplished.

He was standing in the security line, waiting to be searched by a not-bad-looking female officer, when a uniformed airport official walked up to the chief guard and whispered something in his ear. Honed by many years of military training -- not to mention a naturally suspicious nature -- Alec's ears perked up. Something was happening. But he didn't worry too much. In an airport as large as this one there were bound to be numerous security alerts. It was, afterall, a crossroads for Europe and many an international terrorist probably passed through here every day.

Stretching his arms and making the move look natural, Alec slowly turned around -- and saw the various doorways up and down the long concourse filling with dark-suited men of a burly nature.

Not good. Still, they weren't necessarily after the Hotel Sofitel robber.

Nevertheless, the X5 reached inside his jacket and fingered the envelope he'd taken from the safe. He had no intention of letting whatever information it held fall into enemy hands, or himself either for that matter. Still ... he was in a bit of a pickle. With the doors blocked up and down the hallway, the only way out was past security, through the airlock, and onto the runway.

Stay calm, stay cool, and bluff like hell, he told himself. He didn't have a weapon -- or access to one unless he wrestled a gun away from a sky marshal -- and he was effectively boxed in. Alec still didn't really think they were after him, but his military training was goosing him to be prepared for any contingency.

A large black man was approaching, shouldering his way through the crowd. Alec's back stiffened, and then he forced himself to relax. The guy didn't look like police, or military either. Maybe there was just a question about his ticket or something equally innocent.

The fellow was smiling now. Alec's eyes shifted to the runway -- his only escape route -- as the man moved to within three feet of him.

"Don't run, son," the slightly accented voice said. "You're surrounded, and we know you're not armed. Come with us quietly, and it won't have to get ugly."

Now, it was Alec's turn to smile as he shook his head in disbelief. When would these bozos learn that an X5 never comes quietly? Whirling on his feet faster than the eye could see, he leaped the security barrier in a single bound, then blurred past three astonished guards and out onto the tarmac. A flight was taxing to the door -- a 747 passenger jet -- and he ducked beneath the wheels as a small army of men poured out of the terminal after him.

"Get him!" the black man bellowed. "Don't let him get away!"

Alec knew exactly what he was going to do. He'd make the perimeter fence, disappear into the woods on the outskirts of the airport, then steal a vehicle and head for Paris. It would put him a couple of days behind schedule, but Lydecker had given him a variety of identity papers in case of an emergency, as well as enough Euros to buy a new ticket in another city. The European countries didn't share information readily with one another, and chances were he'd be free and clear once across the border.

Still, this seemed like an awful lot of fuss to go to in order to apprehend a simple hotel burglar, Alec thought as he saw another dozen men in his peripheral vision attempting to flank him. One of them raised a rifle --no, not a rifle, a TASER.

--and an alarm went off inside Alec's head. TASERs weren't standard police issue by any means. They were a very specialized weapon used by elite military organizations.

They were also the weapon of choice when it came to capturing transgenics -- alive.

Someone knew who ... or rather what ... he was -- and they'd come prepared.

"Give up, son!" the black man shouted again while more than a dozen TAC officers slowly formed a ring around Alec as he ducked back and forth between the still moving aircraft's wheels. "We won't hurt you! You're very valuable to us! Cooperate and everything will be all right!"

That clinched it. These bozos weren't after a burglar, they were after a Manticore alum -- probably South Africans from the accent. Max had told him all about her little run-in with the revved up ex-cons from Johannesberg -- Reds -- and what one of their neural implants had done to her body. They'd wanted her for her eggs back then ... to use to breed their own supersoldiers. Apparently, they hadn't given up on that particular plan, only this time they were after a tom instead of a pussy.

There were half a dozen TASERS pointed at him now, and Alec knew he had to be careful. One hit might not bring him down, but two probably would, and three definitely. Maybe better to pretend to surrender and take his chances later.

"Okay!" he said from where he was crouched behind one of the jet's now-still wheels. And then he remembered the envelope in his pocket.

Shit.

Reaching inside his jacket, he crumpled the paper up and stuffed it inside the wheel well. Then he put on his most affable smile, and called out, "You got me. Don't shoot."

Slowly, he emerged from the shadows of the wheels, crouched low. Blinking in the brilliant sunlight, he stood up and took stock of the enemy. There were at least 20 men on the tarmac now, all armed-- frickin' bad odds that probably even Max wouldn't have taken on.

"What do you want with me?" he asked the black man who was standing at the forefront of his men.

"I think you know, son."

Alec weighed his options, and didn't like any of them. But maybe he could make a deal. "You need my cooperation," he said, backing up slowly until he bumped into the aircraft's rubber tire. "You need me alive. I'm worth more that way and you know it."

"You're offering to cooperate with me?" the man said, skeptical.

"How's this sound?" Alec said easily. "I give you what you want -- your genetic samples -- and then you let me go."

A big white-toothed grin split that black face. "How about this instead? You give me what I want, and then we keep you forever anyway."

Alec's eyes darkened. They had him, and he knew it. If he tried to escape he'd just be taken down and captured anyway. There would be a better time. What was that human expression? Discretion is the better part of valor? Nodding once, he slowly raised hands in surrender.

*****

Max Photo courtesy of Still Frame

"Where the hell is he?" Max snarled as she paced the communications room. "He was supposed to check in as soon as his flight landed in Denver. Well, according to Delta.com it landed over an hour ago, and he hasn't called and isn't answering his cell."

"Alec was on a mission?" Asha asked from where she was watching off to one side.

Max's mouth tightened, but she answered politely. "He was in Zurich, and was supposed to catch a flight back today. Typically, he's off profile."

"Maybe something happened to him," Asha offered, putting into words exactly what Max didn't want to hear.

"Don't worry," the X5 said. "The father of your baby's a pretty clever guy. I doubt he's in any real trouble. More than likely he just missed his flight and will be on the next one."

In reality, Max felt like she was going to explode with anxiety. All she wanted in the world right now was for Alec to come home, take her in his arms, and tell her in that sexy reassuring voice of his that Asha was lying -- that he hadn't had sex with the S1W member a few weeks ago. Because if he had--

The X5's hand went to her stomach. Then their whole relationship was based on a lie. It meant she'd been right about Alec way back in the beginning -- that he was a first class, manipulative jerk who cared nothing about anyone except himself, and who would say anything to get his own way no matter who he hurt in the process.

She'd thought he'd changed over the past two years -- or perhaps had never been quite the fiend she'd first had him pegged for. But if he'd shagged Asha ...

"Max?" Asha said, jerking the X5 out of her black thoughts. "What if he's not on the next flight?"

"Then we go by regulations," Donald Lydecker answered from the doorway. "Twenty-four hours more, and if we don't hear from him we presume he screwed up, as in taken by the enemy -- captured or killed."

"And who would that enemy be?" Max asked, her dark eyes on the Colonel. "Stendahl? McKinley?"

"Not likely in Europe," Lydecker replied.

"Then who?"

"Think a minute, Max," the Colonel said, his voice patronizing. "Who would want X5-494?"

"You mean besides scores of horny women?" Involuntarily, she glanced in Asha's direction.

Lydecker didn't smile. "Charisma and good looks aside, that smart ass is an advanced biological weapons system -- state of the art genetic technology. Dead or alive, 494's DNA is worth millions."

"You think he might have been snatched by a foreign government?" Max said, following the Colonel's train of thought.

"It's a possibility we have to entertain." He eyed the bank of computers manned by Dix. "And, protocol or not, I don't think we need to wait twenty-four hours to start investigating. There are certain contacts I can make that might tell us something."

"Do it," Max said quietly. "Find him."

*****

Alec Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Jensen Ackles Museum

Alec sat on the floor of the metal box -- a shipping container from the looks of the welding -- and listened. That really was all he could do, because he couldn't see a damn thing through the small ventilation slits near the ceiling that let in barely enough light for even his X5 vision to function.

The vibration and engine noise told him he was on an airplane ... in the air (he'd felt the take-off), but what he really needed was some clue as to where they were taking him.

Barefoot, wearing nothing but jeans and a black t-shirt (they'd stripped him of his jacket, sneakers, and socks), Alec leaned his head back against the cool smooth wall, closed his eyes, and tried to think this mess through.

It wasn't Stendahl (thank God) -- there would have been drugs and surgery by now. And McKinley and his Familiar horde would simply have pulled the trigger. The Conclave had no use for one of Sandeman's bastards alive.

No. His captors wanted him healthy. They hadn't even tried to give him a sedative -- which told him they were also leery of approaching him.

Good. An enemy who feared you can be a distinct advantage (Military Tactics 204 -- Manticore 2nd Level Mission Training).

But if they wanted him to stay in good shape, they could at least have given him some food and water, Alec thought ruefully as he swallowed the dryness in his mouth. And it was also damn hot in this metal coffin. His t-shirt was sticking to his back with sweat, and his head was starting to hurt. X5s didn't tolerate long periods of high temperature very well (their basal metabolism was too revved) -- something these bozos probably didn't know of course.

Climbing to his feet, Alec looked up at the ventilation slit located just below the ceiling of the 8-foot tall box. Jumping lightly, he caught fingers in the inch-high opening and did a pull-up so he could see outside. From what little he could make out, he appeared to be in the hold of a large cargo carrier (a pressurized one thank God). The air was thick and musty, the only light the faint red glow of an "exit" sign at the top of what was presumably a door. Still, in the dimness, his night vision could make out a number of other containers -- probably identical to the one he was incarcerated in -- although doubtfully containing X5s.

He thought briefly about calling out. His senses told him there wasn't a guard, but someone might hear and he could get more information. However, Alec bit down on his tongue as another old adage from Manticore came to mind: If captured by the enemy stay calm, say nothing, and wait for rescue.

Letting go of the vent edge, he dropped lightly back to the floor of his cage and returned to the corner. Damn, he thought as a trickle of sweat ran between his shoulder blade. It's hot in here.

*****

Dr. Samuel Carr Photo courtesy of Still Frame

"Sam," Max said from the doorway.

Dr. Samuel Carr turned around quickly, nearly dropping the small microscope he was holding.

"Max!" he exclaimed. "What the heck are you doing back in Seattle? Don't you know how dangerous it is for you here?"

"I need to talk to you about something," Max said. "In person."

"Something medical?" the balding physician asked.

Max nodded. Then ... slowly ... "I understand Asha Barlow's a patient of yours."

Carr's brow furrowed. "Max, I can't talk about another patient with you. You know that."

"She says the baby's Alec's," Max continued, ignoring the admonition. "She says you ran DNA tests to prove he's the father. Is that true?"

"Patient confidentiality, Max," the doctor repeated coolly.

The hand clamping around his throat caught the medic completely by surprise. He'd forgotten just how fast the X5s moved.

"I don't give a damn about patient confidentiality," Max breathed softly in his face. "What I do care about is Alec. Part of me suspects he's capable of fucking around on me with Asha -- but an even bigger part of me says she's lying." She eased up her grip, allowing him to gasp. "I need to know the truth, Sam," she said. "About Alec. Then I might need you to do something for me before I climb on my bike and drive another 12 hours to get back in time to save the idiot's ass."

"What are you talking about, Max?" Carr rasped, rubbing his bruised throat and backing warily out of arm's reach.

"The DNA tests Asha had done on the baby," Max said bluntly. "Show them to me. She claims Alec's the sire. I want proof."

"Max, I'll lose my license if I--"

"Would you rather lose your life, Sam?"

The doctor's face relaxed with pity. "You don't mean that. You're not a killer."

Dark eyebrows rose and a wicked little smile played on full lips. "Oh, but there you're wrong, Sam. I am a killer. Haven't you been reading the tabloids? It's what I was created to be." Brown eyes narrowed. "Show me the files."

"And then?" the doctor asked. "You said something about a procedure?"

Max sighed and looked out the window at the Seattle rain. "I'm almost five weeks pregnant, Sam," she said. "I thought the father was a man I could trust ... someone who loved me. But if what Asha says is true ..." She took a deep breath and pinned Logan's old friend with her eyes. "Then I don't want it. At five weeks it should be an easy thing. Right? No big deal."

"An abortion?" Carr said. "You want me to perform an abortion on you?" His brows drew down in a frown. "Yes, it would be a relatively simple procedure -- a matter of a few minutes. I could do it here in the office. But Max ... becoming pregnant isn't easy for you. Are you sure you want to throw this chance away? Even if Alec did cheat on you, it's still half your child ... your son or daughter."

"Stay out of my business, doc," she said quietly. "And just do your job. But first, show me Asha's records."

With one last despairing look at the medical license hanging on the wall, Dr. Carr shook his head and headed for the file cabinet.

*****

Max Photo courtesy of Still Frame

Max thumbed through the folder until she came to the amniocentesis analysis ... the DNA records.

"Her baby is definitely half X5," Carr said, pointing to a series of numbers and a chromosome chart. Here ... here ... and here there are markers that aren't human. But I've seen DNA analysis' on purebred X5s -- yours and Alec's specifically -- and, even though I'm no geneticist, I know these strands aren't put together right. On the off chance her pregnancy makes it full term, Asha's child is probably going to be born deformed and retarded."

Max closed her eyes, sympathy rising for the other woman in spite of everything. And here I'm considering murdering a perfectly healthy baby of my own ... But it was the only way she could break things off with Alec completely -- short of killing the guy like she had his brother.

Max jerked her thoughts back from that precipice. "So, Asha's kid is definitely half X5," she said. "Where's the proof that 494's the father?"

Dr. Carr looked at her strangely. "I thought you knew," he said.

"Knew what?"

"The only proof I have as to the father's exact identity is Asha's word. I destroyed all of Alec's medical records, along with yours, when you asked me too two years ago, and I've never kept a file on either of you since." He pointed to the DNA analysis. "Get me a sample from Alec and I could tell you for certain, but I don't have one."

Max felt as if the weight of the world was suddenly resting on her shoulders. She'd hoped things would be over once she saw these records, but instead the main question remained.

"Max," Carr said gently. "Have you talked to Alec about Asha? What does he say?"

"Alec's on a mission. He doesn't know about this latest little drama -- and he may be in trouble. That's why I've got to get back to the base."

"Then for God's sake give the guy a chance to defend himself!" Carr exclaimed. "Or at least explain. And if nothing else bring me a DNA sample so I can ascertain the sire of Asha's child for certain. Up until just recently there were plenty of other X5s running around Seattle, Max. Even though Asha says it's Alec, that doesn't necessarily make it so."

"Why would she lie?" Max asked dully, looking out at the rain again.

"Good question," Carr said. "Asha could hate Alec and be trying to get back at him, or she could be in love with him and using this as a way to capture him. Or ... she could just be trying to hurt Logan for all the times the man has chosen you over her. Asha could be sleeping with the enemy -- Alec -- and rubbing Logan's face in it."

"I have to get back to Gillette," Max said quietly. She looked up at the doctor. "I'll bring you your sample later, and then ... Then ..."

"I can perform a simple abortion up until three months, Max," he said, answering the question she couldn't ask. "There's no hurry."

"No," Max said, resting her hand against her stomach (a habit she was falling into lately). "I guess there's not."

*****

Alec Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Jensen Ackles Museum

"We can offer you a comfortable life," Zakes said to his transgenic "guest."

"I'd settle for a drink of water," Alec replied levelly.

"Water, wine, gourmet food, women ... whatever you want," the South African said.

Alec swayed on his feet, a bit light headed from dehydration, heat, and two days without sleep. The plane had landed hours ago, but there had then been a short ground journey by truck. When the side of the shipping crate had finally dropped open a few minutes ago, he'd jumped into a sparring stance, ready to fight for his life. Instead, he was being offered luxuries, and he found the hospitality a bit disconcerting.

"Did you say women?" the X5 asked, vamping for time while he regained his mental and physical balance.

"As many and as often as you want," Zakes said with a white-toothed grin. "With proper birth control measures in place, of course. We wouldn't want to be careless with that valuable DNA of yours."

"Of course not," Alec conceded. "'Safety first,' is my motto." He looked around at the half dozen TASER-armed men in the cargo hold, gauging his chances. "I could still use that drink," he said. "And perhaps a travel brochure. Where the hell am I?"

The warm air smelled of diesel exhaust and smog, and he could hear the ocean.

"Where you are doesn't matter," Zakes said. "The only thing you need to know is that you're our permanent guest. Cooperate, and your life can be quite comfortable. Fight us ..." The smile slipped. "And you'll wish you'd never been born."

"Sometimes wish that anyway," Alec said honestly.

"There will be pain either way, I'm afraid," his captor said. "Medical procedures and all. But if you surrender willingly there will be anesthetic ... drugs. Cause trouble and it will be torture."

"And if I submit to your pain, I get wine, women, and song?" Alec said, wanting to get his facts straight.

"And more," Zakes promised.

"How about my freedom?"

"Not in the cards, I'm afraid. I've waited years to get my hands on Manticore technology. You're my dream come true, son."

He was on a dock. Alec could hear the seagulls as well as the surf. There were only six of them, plus Zakes, and they hadn't shackled him. This was doable.

"Dream?" Alec said with a little smirk. "More like nightmare."

He blurred for the man nearest him, knocking the TASER aside and delivering a right cross that broke his jaw. However, instead of dropping like a sack of potatoes as he should have, the guy just shook his head, spit out blood and a couple of teeth, then grabbed Alec in a bear hug. Arms tightened around the X5's middle in a grip as hard as a vice. Flinging his head forward, the transgenic broke the man's nose. More blood -- but the arms didn't loosen. Alec couldn't breathe, and his struggles became more panicked. Then a rib snapped ... another ... his spine would be next. Who the fuck is this mother? He was too ugly to be X5, but he sure had the strength of one (and more). Calling on every ounce of his own power, Alec tried to burst free -- failed -- and his eyesight began to dim.

"Wait!" Zakes shouted. "We need him intact for now!"

The soldier let go, and Alec stumbled backwards. Gulping in air and cradling his broken ribs, stooped with pain, he braced a hand against the bulkhead to steady himself, then looked up into the soldier's soulless gaze. "You've got one of those implant thingies, don't you?" he gasped, knowing now what he was facing. "You're Reds. I should'a guessed."

"Yes," Zakes confirmed, bending down beside his prisoner so his head was on level with Alec's. "These are Red soldiers, and it's your DNA that's going to save them."

*****

Colonel Donald Lydecker Artwork courtesy of Valjean

"Times's up," Max said in a clipped voice. "Where the hell is he?"

"Captured," Lydecker said, turning around in the swivel desk chair to face her.

Max looked around the control room, taking in the banks of sophisticated computer tracking monitors. This was the heart of the Gillette base now -- not as good as what Renfro's people had destroyed, but still far better than anything they'd had at Terminal City.

She'd gotten back from Seattle earlier that morning -- making the trip in a record 9 hours.

"We think he was snatched night before last in Zurich," Dix chimed in. "There's a police report of an altercation at the airport, although there's some confusion about just who the arresting party was. It says, though, that one man was captured -- someone wanted for suspicion of terrorism."

"Terrorism," Max snorted. "Like hell. Alec's a lot of things, but a terrorist isn't one of them -- at least not this week." She moved to stand behind Lydecker. "If it's not the Zurich police, then who's got him? And please don't tell me it's Stendahl."

"It's a pretty long list of suspects, Max," the Colonel said. He looked back at her, blue eyes cagey. "But I know who's at the top."

"Who?"

"My guess is that the South Africans nabbed him. They've wanted to get their hands on one of my kids for years."

"Tell me about it," Max said, remembering her own horrific run-in with the Reds. She even had a souvenir -- one of their implant devices in the back of her neck. Thankfully, it was completely shorted out, although the metal alloy it was made from could still potentially be tracked. "So, you think Alec's in Johannesberg? If so, I'll tell the boys to saddle up."

"It's not that easy, Max," Lydecker cautioned. "Jedediah Zakes has a rather large army at his disposal, and labs located around the world. First, we need to confirm that he does, indeed, have 494. And then we have to find out where he's taken his prize."

"You sound like you know this Zakes guy pretty well," Max commented.

"We trained together at one time," the Colonel said. "And attended a few genetics conferences that were in our mutual interest. But he was always the enemy."

"Because he wanted to steal transgenic technology?"

"Because he wanted to steal my kids."

Lydecker turned to Dix. "Dial into the South African military grid and find me a back way into it. Also, check the Chinese and the Syrians. If Zakes has 494 there might be some gossip leaking out and there could be internet chatter."

Max watched a few moments as Dix and Lydecker typed on their keyboards, staring at the flashing computer screens that had access to top secret military servers. "Will they hurt him?" she asked.

"Not right away," Lydecker said. "But eventually they'll tear him apart to see what makes him tick." He turned around to look at her. "Military secrets aside, we don't want to leave 494 in their hands, Max -- for his sake as well as ours."

"Not to mention the fact that Alec probably has something that you want pretty badly," she said, her lips twisting in an ironic smile. "He was on a mission for you, right? Something 'personal' I think you said?"

"You're correct that I want the information 494 presumably obtained for me," Lydecker said. Then his voice softened. "But I also want Alec back. He's a valuable asset to your people, as well as to the X5 genetic pool -- irreplaceable."

"Not irreplaceable," Max found herself saying. "Not while his twin brother's swimming in a tank in the basement. You wouldn't lose the genetics."

"No," Lydecker conceded. "But I'd lose the man ... and so would you. If nothing else, I want him back for you sake, Max. I know how much he means to you ... how much you love him."

Again, the ironic smile. "You're sure singing a different tune from what you were a few months ago, 'Deck. There was a time you tried every way you could to break me and Alec apart."

"I was wrong," Lydecker said. "I see now that you and 494 are the leaders your people need. Together you're stronger than alone. That's what counts in the long run. And your children will be strong as well -- their parents a good genetic match."

"Yeah, right," Max said bitterly, turning away from the man and facing the wall. "Alec's the perfect mate." She gestured to the computers. "Just find him and get his ass back here."

Lydecker regarded her for a long moment, as if about to ask -- but then he nodded and went back to work.

*****

Asha Barlow Photo courtesy of Jensen Ackles Museum

"Max, you're the one he loves."

Max continued looking out the window toward the yard where a group of X6s were being mustered by some of the X5 trainers. Martial arts was an ongoing skill ... one that had to be practiced ... and it was high time the young soldiers got back to basics.

"Max," Asha said. "Did you hear me?"

"Oh, I heard you just fine," the X5 said pleasantly, looking at the other woman over her shoulder.

"You're going to hold this against him, aren't you?"

"No, Asha. I'm going to congratulate him for cheating on me and knocking you up." Max's lips compressed. "If Alec's really the father of your child, then him and me are through. You can have him." Her voice dropped lower. "You win. Just like you won with Logan."

Now, it was Asha's turn to smile grimly. "The story of my life -- always falling for the guy who's in love with another woman, then getting the leftovers. Alec loves you, Max. Not me. He was drunk. In fact, he treated me pretty much like a whore."

"Apparently he doesn't love me enough," Max replied, once more turning to gaze out the window. But then, in Alec's defense felt compelled to add, "You know, though, Dr. Carr's DNA tests aren't conclusive yet. He needs a sample from Alec to make a positive match. And I also haven't heard smart ass' side of the story yet, either."

"You're calling me a liar?"

"I'm saying I'm not going to convict the guy until all the evidence is in. Alec deserves at least that much from me -- a chance to defend himself or deny the charges." Then she pinned the other woman with an oddly feline look. "I'm pregnant, too, Asha."

The S1W member's mouth dropped slightly open. "I had no idea," she stammered. "If I'd known--"

"You'd have come knocking on Alec's door anyway," Max said bluntly. "But at least my child will be born healthy, if I choose to keep the pregnancy. Yours is going to be a mess. Have you thought about that, Asha? Have you considered what's best for the kid?"

"You mean abortion?"

Max heard the unshed tears in Asha's voice, and her heart softened. "Alec's genetics are hopelessly tangled," she said gently. "I don't know if Dr. Carr explained it to you, but X5s, even though mostly human, aren't really homo sapiens. We're part feline -- the animal DNA grafted onto our own through the use of retroviruses. That kind of Frankenstein tampering doesn't mix well with your kind."

"You mean my baby might be born with whiskers and a tail?" Asha said, trying to smile as if it were a joke.

"The outwardly visible feline traits are pretty well suppressed in us X5s," Max said seriously. "But you only have to look at the X3s and even the X4s to see what we were just a generation or two ago. Sharp teeth, slit eyes, pointy ears, fur, and the remnants of tails are just the tip of the iceberg. With Alec and me, the geneticists and maybe a touch of cosmetic surgery as babies got that stuff hidden, but the chromosomes that shape those traits are still inside of us. Asha, a chimpanzee is closer kin to you than an X5 on the evolutionary scale of things." Her eyes went to the other girl's stomach. "You won't be doing that kid any favors by letting it be born -- especially since the amnio already shows anomalies."

"But I already love my baby," she whispered. "And they'd be half siblings ... yours and mine."

"I know," Max said, sympathizing and finally admitting the truth to herself. "I love my baby too, even if it turns out the father is a damn bastard."

*****

Alec Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Jensen Ackles Museum

"Where am I?" Alec asked.

The cage they'd put him in wasn't any better than the shipping crate had been -- not so much as a pillow or blanket to soften the cold metal floor, although they had at last given him some water.

"On a ship in International waters," Zakes said.

"I thought you were taking me back to Johannesberg."

"Not all of you," the dark skinned man replied, his brown eyes looking rather sad. "You should have taken the deal when it was offered, son ... not fought back. Now, you're considered too untractable to be kept alive." He held up a small plastic bottle. "What's this, by the way? It was in your jacket pocket."

Alec shrugged. "Just my meds."

"Meds?"

The X5's eyebrows arched. "You mean you didn't know? I guess Manticore really did keep its secrets well."

Zakes shook his head, not understanding.

"Let's just say this perfect supersoldier body of mine has a not-so-minor genetic flaw," Alec replied tiredly from where he was sitting on the floor. "Us X5s have a brain chemistry boo-boo. We can't manufacture serotonin, and when we get too low we have seizures." He nodded at the pill bottle. "I have to take meds to keep that from happening."

"And if you don't get your meds?"

Alec shrugged. "Seizures ... coma ... eventually I die." A grim smile. "Uh-oh. Now you know my secret."

The South African regarded the medication. "I had no idea Lydecker's kids had such a major defect." He glanced at Alec. "The man hid it well ... your frailties. This was in none of the reports I've read." Eyes narrowed. "You've been with us for two days. How long can you go without your 'meds'."

"The time varies," Alec said truthfully. "Depends on whether I'm in a bad spell or not. Sometimes I need 'em every day. Sometimes I can go a week and be all right." He eyed the bottle. "If you wanna be safe, you could just give 'em to me now."

"And let you overdose and kill yourself?" Zakes said. "I think not."

"It's not that kind of medicine," Alec said, the idea of suicide not even having occurred to him -- until now.

Zakes pocketed the bottle. "Don't worry," he said, his voice quiet again. "You won't be needing this. Not after tomorrow."

Alec waited until his captor had left the containment area before curling up in the corner of the cell, hugging his legs, and resting his chin on his knees.

Hurry up Max, and bring the Cavalry.

*****

Max Photo courtesy of Still Frame

"Found him!" Lydecker declared triumphantly, nodding at the computer screen. "And right where I expected. In the hands of my old friend Jedediah."

"How do you know?" Max asked, leaning over his shoulder to peer at the data.

The Colonel pointed to a line on what appeared to be a brief report that had been issued that morning. It read: "Specimen obtained. Samples to follow."

"Samples?" Max said. "I don't like the sound of that."

"I don't either," Lydecker said grimly. "Zakes always wanted one of my kids to be the cornerstone of his own transgenic program -- presumably alive. But 494 would have fought back, and a dead X5 is still worth a fortune to them."

"Samples," Max repeated the word, her stomach clenching into a knot.

"What's going on?" Asha said from the doorway of the command center.

Max looked back at her. "Alec might be dead," she said bluntly.

The blonde woman's face turned ashen -- and Max's gut tightened even more. Asha truly did have feelings for the father of her baby, which somehow made Alec's cheating all the worse ... the fact he'd made the girl love him, then used her so callously just for sex.

That was a thing the "old" Alec would have done, Max reasoned. But not her Alec -- not the man she'd fallen in love with. Something was really wrong with this picture.

"Can you tell where he is now?" Max asked Lydecker. She swallowed hard. "Or what's left of him?"

"This post was issued via radio from a ship at sea," Lydecker said. "The freighter Alba Varden -- South African registry. It's in International waters off the coast of San Francisco, but according to satellite intel she's headed for shore, probably to re-supply or pick up passengers before making the journey to Johannesberg."

"Why would they have him on a ship?" Max wondered.

"Makes sense," 'Deck replied. "If they want to keep their supersoldier lab secret, what better way than to be mobile?"

"We have the Blackhawks," Max said. "Devon can pilot. I can have a team in San Francisco in under four hours."

"Get them ready," Lydecker advised. "I'm going to try one thing first. Zakes just might be willing to negotiate with me, which would prevent a lot of bloodshed. But if I fail, we need people ready to move in."

Max nodded. "Mole and Joshua then, with me and Hampton. That makes four, not counting Devon. We probably should have one more."

"I'll go," Asha said. "I ... I want to go."

Max started to automatically tell her "no way in hell." But then she hesitated. If Asha was in love with Alec, who better to have fighting for his life? And the S1W member was well versed in firearms and martial arts. She could handle herself against ordinaries.

But these weren't ordinaries. They were Reds ...

"Too dangerous," the X5 said. "And besides, you're pregnant."

Lydecker looked up at that, as did Dix and Luke on the other side of the room.

"So are you, and you're going," Asha countered. "I need to do this, Max."

The X5 understood, and didn't have the heart to tell her no. "Go see Mole," she said. "He'll get you some fire power. We leave as soon as the chopper's ready."

*****

Colonel Donald Lydecker Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Jensen Ackles Museum

Donald Lydecker was not afraid to die -- an attitude that gave him a distinct advantage when dealing with people who still retained their survival instincts.

Dropped off on the outskirts of what used to be Fisherman's Wharf by his soldiers -- once a popular San Francisco tourist spot but after The Pulse now simply another seedy port of call -- he openly approached the ramp of the Alba Varden, shoulders back, eyes sharp, and hands in the clear.

"I'm unarmed," he called out to the South African soldier rushing down the ramp to meet him. "I'm here to talk to Zakes. Tell him it's Lydecker. He'll know what it's about."

Under the watchful eye of several armed men, the Colonel cooled his heels for several minutes, and then an officer on the upper deck signaled for him to be brought aboard.

"Long time, no see," Jedediah greeted his old comrade in the ship's forward cabin. "What brings you to my doorstep, Donald?"

Lydecker shook his head, amazed at the South African's act. "You've got a pair of brass ones, I'll say that about you, Zakes," he replied. "You know damn well why I'm here. You've got one of my kids, and I'm here to take him home."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Zakes said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Would you care for a drink?" He poured himself a whiskey from the wet bar.

"Sure you know what I'm talking about," Lydecker said, ignoring the offer of a beverage. "X5-494 was on a mission for me in Zurich, and your people snatched him up. Careless of the kid, I might add. And he'll be disciplined for it. But right now I need him back. He's got important intel, not to mention a body worth millions that belongs to me, not you."

"I thought all of the transgenics were free agents now," Zakes said. "You don't own him."

"So," Lydecker said, pouncing on the worlds. "You admit you have him."

"I admit I have one of your thoroughbreds in my stable now, yes," Zakes replied. "And that's where he's going to stay."

"By his own choice, I presume?" Lydecker said. "Because if not, it's white slavery."

"Since when are X5s considered human enough to be slaves?" Zakes returned. "Maybe that's the politically correct opinion in your country, but not in mine. Where I come from, transgenics are considered subhuman at best, animal at worst. That boy belongs to me, 'Deck. Possession is nine tenths of the law, as they say, and there's nothing you can do about it. I caught him fair and square."

"He's alive then?" the Colonel asked, wanting to be clear on that point before proceeding.

"Not for long. He's scheduled for vivisection within the hour." Zakes made a sour face. "We've discovered that your kids aren't exactly what you'd call domesticated."

"In other words, he kicked your ass," Lydecker said with a proud little smile.

"Almost. Let's just say it took one of my Reds to subdue your tom. Your kid really is quite good, although his natural abilities can't match what a neural implant can do. Still, his healing powers and stable DNA can help our neural program as well as our genetic one. Give us ten ... fifteen years tops ... and your Manticore boy will -- figuratively speaking -- have sired an army."

"The only thing Alec wants to do is sire his own offspring," Lydecker said bluntly. "Give him back to me, Jedediah. Let me take him home, and we'll forget this ever happened."

"And if I refuse?" the South African said. "You haven't got any leverage 'Deck."

"I wouldn't call an army of transgenics no leverage."

"An army?"

"494's family," Lydecker said. "His clan. They want him back in the worst way, and they're ready to fight to the death if they have to. Do you really want to go to war with my kids?"

For the first time, the dark skinned man was looking uncomfortable. "You're bluffing," he said. "All of your people are stuck out in the middle of Wyoming on that abandoned military base. There's no way you'd have brought an army here."

"Each one of my kids is the equivalent of a hundred ordinary soldiers," the Colonel said. "You do the math. How many would I need to take this boat of yours?"

"We're done here, 'Deck," Zakes said, suddenly not the gracious host any more. "Get off my ship. Your boy is gone."

"I don't think so," Lydecker said easily as he allowed himself to be escorted to the ramp. At the bottom, he turned around. "It was nice knowing you, Jedediah. Sorry things have to end this way. But that X5 is mine."

*****

"Proceed quickly," Zakes said as he entered the laboratory area. "We can't leave the port for another hour. The refueling isn't finished. But I want those samples obtained and safely frozen for transport as soon as you can get them.

"You're certain you want to do this?" the doctor asked. A large blond man with watery blue eyes and a goatee that made him look slovenly, Dr. Pish was a cornerstone of the South African's genetic research program. However, he didn't like being rushed in his work. "In my opinion, the X5 is worth far more to us alive than dead. This type of thing shouldn't be done carelessly. Mistakes could be made ... opportunities wasted."

"All we need for the DNA lab are samples from the boy's major organs and tissue," Zakes said flatly. "You said that yourself."

"Theoretically, yes, but samples can be lost or damaged. It would be far better to maintain the host."

"It's too dangerous," his boss said. "Lydecker knows we have his kid and he's on his way with a rescue team. If we were at sea, we might have a chance, but we're stuck in this port with nowhere to run." He looked the doctor square in the eye. "Cut up the transgenic now. We'll then leave his remains on the dock for 'Deck to retrieve." He moved to a wall intercom unit. "Bring the Manticore boy to the lab," he ordered.

*****

Alec Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Jensen Ackles Museum

Alec knew something bad was going to happen when three Red soldiers approached his cage. Scrambling to his feet, he backed into a corner and crouched low, prepared to fight. "Come to invite me to a party, boys?" he said with a fleeting smile.

"Just knock him out," the attendant who'd been guarding the prisoner said.

"The doc says no drugs," the lead soldier replied as he unlocked the cage door. "Something about contaminating the samples. No TASERs either. The Captain doesn't want damaged goods." The huge ex-con then turned his attention to Alec. "Here kitty, kitty," he said with a ruthless grin as he entered the cage with his two back-up men at his heels.

Literally cornered, Alec knew he didn't have a chance -- not against these muscle-bound, revved up killers who outweighed him by a hundred pounds each and couldn't feel pain. But he'd be damned if he'd let himself be a lamb led to slaughter.

His fist lashed out in a blur and buried itself almost to his wrist in the first soldier's gut. A human would be critically wounded by that blow. The Red, however, merely grunted, then grabbed hold of Alec's neck, lifted him off the floor, and began to squeeze.

The X5 kicked, hard, and felt the goon's shin bone snap. A second kick to the groin brought a satisfying squishing sound. However, his brain was being deprived of blood, and things were starting to go black, the sleeper hold taking effect.

Panicking, Alec grabbed hold of that steel corded arm with both of his hands, trying to tear it away from his throat. He wasn't afraid to die. But he was afraid of what they'd do to him first.

But his struggles were futile, and the last thing his conscious mind registered was the sound of a low, ruthless laugh.

*****

Alec Photo courtesy of Jensen Ackles Museum

When Alec opened his eyes he was lying strapped spread-eagle on a metal table. Not this shit again! he thought, flashing back to all the times he'd been knocked out only to come around to find himself in this type of melodramatic position.

"I'm surprised I'm not naked," he snarked, noting that jeans and t-shirt were intact. His eyes riveted the white-coated doctor hovering at his side. "Usually they want me naked."

"Stop talking," the man said quietly, his pale blue eyes completely devoid of emotion. Then -- in a move as brutal as it was swift and precise -- he grabbed hold of Alec's black t-shirt and ripped it open, baring the X5's chest and belly. "I'd tell you this isn't going to hurt a bit, son," he added with a chilly smile, "but that would be a lie." "You're going to endure hideous pain before I cut out your heart and finally allow you to die. Don't worry, though. No one will mind your screams."

"Uh, I suppose it's too late to take you guys up on that offer of wine, women, and song?" Alec said quickly. "'Cause I could still cooperate you know ... we could make a deal and--" He stopped talking at the sight of the gleaming scalpel in the doctor's hand.

"I thought you wanted me alive," Alec said, swallowing the taste of fear in his mouth.

"Not any more," the doctor said, holding the metal blade up to the light and watching it glitter. "You're too much trouble. Whole, you could escape. In pieces, however ... Let's just say you'll be a lot easier to work with."

Alec tried to think of something ... anything to say to delay what was about to happen. "Be humane, doc. How about at least knockin' me out before the fun begins."

"Anesthetics would taint the samples," the medic said coolly.

"Then kill me and do the autopsy afterwards," Alec tried, although begging for his own death went against every instinct he had.

"No."

Alec began to struggle, straining against the straps holding his wrists.

The doctor snapped his fingers, and two Red soldiers stepped forward. "Hold him down," he ordered, setting aside the scalpel and picking up a large bone screw from off an instrument tray. "Hold his hand."

"What the hell are you doing?" Alec yelled as one of the Reds grabbed his arm and held his right hand flat against the table palm-up.

"Making certain you don't run away on me, animal," the doctor said softly. Then he placed the blunt tip of the screw against Alec's palm, raised a ball-peen hammer, and struck, driving it through flesh and bone and into a corresponding screw-hole in the surgical table.

*****

Mole & Joshua Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Eyes Only

They all heard the scream come from the ship -- full throated ... primal ... a man in agony.

"Alec," Max whispered.

Joshua's arm tightened around her shoulders, and a low growl sounded in his throat.

The X5 turned anxiously to Lydecker. "We need to hurry."

"Team's ready," the Colonel said, glancing around at the dog man, Mole, Hampton, and Asha. He spoke briefly into a walkie-talkie, and added, "472's keeping the chopper warm in the lot behind the dry dock for our get-away." He slid the clip out of his Glock and rammed it home again. Mole and Hampton cocked their shotguns. Asha held up her semi-automatic pistol and nodded.

"Then let's go get our brother," Max said.

*****

Alec was writhing in agony, the adrenalin overload so high he was actually making it hard for the two Red soldiers who were trying to hold his other hand still so Dr. Pish could continue the crucifixion of his X5 specimen.

Suddenly, the staccato sound of gunfire sounded in the hold -- coming from above decks -- and Pish and his men stopped to look toward the door.

"Sounds like you've got visitors," Alec snarled through gritted teeth, his hazel-green eyes flashing murderous fire. "Go ahead and greet 'em, Doc. Don't mind me."

The hold door slammed open and Zakes stood framed in the opening. "You haven't completed the procedure yet?" he wailed, seeing the very-much-alive young transgenic pinned (literally) to the table.

"You said I'd have at least an hour!" Dr. Pish shouted.

Zakes gestured toward Alec. "Just ... take his head, heart, and testicles and we'll be done with it. We'll put them on ice and catch one of our private jets back to Johannesberg tonight."

"But the musculature and bone structure are priceless," Pish argued. "Not to mention the capacity of his lung tissue, and his feline glandular system. We can't just leave--"

"We're out of time!" Zakes shouted. "They're here! Lydecker's people ..." He pointed to Alec. "His people are here! We only have three soldiers on board -- not enough to hold the ship." He gestured to the two Reds trying to hold their transgenic captive down, indicating they should get above decks.

And Alec's heart leaped. Thank God there was at least one constant in the universe. The woman he loved more than life itself was going to save his sorry ass -- again.

*****

Alec Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Jensen Ackles Museum

Max burst through the door into the hold to see a horrifying site -- Alec, bare chested, bloody, and thrashing, strapped to a surgical table with a doctor wielding a scalpel looming above him.

Pish saw her and smiled grimly. "Too late," he said. "You can't have him back." Then he raised the knife and slashed at Alec's vulnerable throat.

"No!" Max screamed, launching herself across the hold in an incredible leap. A tigress defending her mate, she was on top of the doctor, grabbing the scalpel from his hand and striking without conscience or qualm, slicing open pale skin with the blade just as he'd been about to do with Alec. Blood drenched the front of her leather jacket, and with a gurgle meant to be a cry Pish sank to the floor.

"Alec?" she whimpered, turning around. He was lying there -- alive -- panting and looking at her with wide golden green eyes. Moving to his side, Max reached up to brush strands of sweat-soaked hair off his forehead, needing to be certain he was still in one piece. "Are you ...?"

Breathing deeply to still his trembling, Alec nodded. "I'll live," he said, his voice tight with pain, "but Max, you cut it kinda close."

"You idiot," she murmured, placing a small kiss on his forehead, another on his tear-stained cheek, and a third on his lips. "You incredible idiot." She was staring at his hand now -- the one impaled by the large screw. "Oh, God!" she exclaimed, feeling nauseous. "Alec--"

Alec was watching her face, but suddenly his eyes widened. "Max!" he yelled. "Look out!"

Max whirled to see a Red soldier standing in the doorway -- a large specimen in military fatigues with corded muscles and machine gun in hand. With no expression whatsoever on his brutal face he raised the weapon, his orders clear -- if the South Africans couldn't obtain a live X5, then a dead one would do (and a pair would be even better).

We're all three going to die, Max thought. Me, Alec ... and our baby.

Her hand instinctively tightened around Alec's uninjured one, and she felt his fingers clasping hers. She wanted to close her eyes, but couldn't. Instead, she could only stare, mesmerized by the black barrel of the machine gun.

The shots exploded with a staccato rhythm, and she jerked, her brain expecting the impact of bullets. But instead of her own blood and Alec's spewing out onto the floor, crimson blossomed on the chest and stomach of the Red.

Looking down at himself in astonishment, the soldier tried to raise the machine gun again, but another three shots knocked his body against the door frame where he finally sagged to the floor -- not quite dead, but getting there. He raised his eyes then, to the slight blonde woman with a Browning automatic in her hand.

With a grimace of distaste, Asha put a bullet in the behemoth's head, exploding brains and his face all over the wall ... finishing the job. Then, she nodded at the two X5s. "Got your back," she said.

*****

Alec Artwork courtesy of Valjean

There were too many of them to ride in the Blackhawk back to Gillette, but that wasn't really a problem.

"In a way, I'm kind of glad old Zakes got away," Lydecker said, standing beside the black SUV Hampton had just 'jacked' for himself and the Colonel to use as transportation. "Jedediah and I go back a long way, and as they say, you can't blame a guy for trying." He then nodded at Alec who was being helped into the helicopter by Joshua. "All that really matters is that I've got my kid back in the fold."

"Alec's tired, hungry, and hurting," Max said, "but no permanent damage. He'll heal." She looked over at Asha who was talking to Devon. "Thanks to her. She saved our lives."

"That one would make a good soldier," Lydecker agreed.

"That she would."

*****

It was too noisy in the chopper to talk very much, so Alec simply rested most of the trip back to Gillette, lying safe and secure against Joshua's warm body with the big guy's arm around his shoulders. His hand was throbbing -- he'd almost passed out when Lydecker had pulled out the screw pinning him to the table -- but as wounds go it was really relatively minor. Now, the puncture was suitably bandaged, and he knew it would be good as new in a couple of weeks, his only real worry the tetanus shot he knew Luke was going to insist on administering.

Seeing the base was a blessing (he briefly thought about kissing the ground when he alighted from the chopper), and -- Manticore barracks or not -- his own bunk had never looked so good to him.

"I could sleep a week," he said to Max as he sat down on the edge of the cot. "But only after I eat a horse."

"Alec," she said. "We need to talk about something first."

"'Bout what?" He'd noticed she'd been awfully quiet on the journey home, but had assumed she was just upset at him for getting careless and getting caught.

"About Asha."

That made Alec blink. "What about her? And what's she doing here anyway? Did Logan dump her again?"

"Yeah, Logan dumped her, Alec. But I can't really blame the guy since she's pregnant with another man's child."

Alec Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Jensen Ackles Museum

"Oh, really?" Alec said. And then he realized how hard Max was staring at him. "Wait a minute," he said, raising both his good hand and the bandaged one in the air. "Wait. A. Minute. Don't tell me that-- You don't think-- Max, it wasn't me. I swear."

"Asha claims otherwise, Alec, and Dr. Carr says the baby's half X5." Leaning against the doorframe of their cubicle, she crossed arms in front of her chest. "If you've got something to tell me, Alec, spit it out now. Lying's only going to make things worse."

Alec was moving beyond astonishment to indignation. Hazel-green eyes narrowed dangerously. "Max, I'm tellin' you it wasn't me. I've never slept with Asha. If she's carryin' a half-breed kid in her belly, then she was layin' with some other X5 stud."

"Like who, Alec?" Max spat. "What other 'X5 stud' does Asha know other than you? And it's always been obvious she has a little thing for you. For all I know you've slept with her more than once. Remember that time I found her in your apartment?"

"Nothing happened that night," Alec shot back. "I told you that up front back then. She just fell asleep on the couch."

"You were naked ... in the shower ..."

"I was just gettin' cleaned up," Alec protested. "Why don't you believe me, Max?"

"Maybe because you've got a reputation as a liar, and the facts against you are pretty strong. She says you fucked her in back of Crash one night about five weeks ago, after you and me had an argument."

"What argument?" Alec howled, truly puzzled now. "You were comin' in heat five weeks ago, Max! We were all over each other! I don't remember any argument, just lots and lots of serious time between the sheets!" He glanced down at her belly. "That's when I put our kid in you, remember?"

"We're always arguing about something," Max said rather lamely. "Her story's credible."

"No, it isn't," Alec said, his jaw clenching. "It's bad enough that she's lying through her teeth about me, even if it is some kind of sick fantasy of hers. But the fact you automatically believe her--" He shook his head, hurt that -- even after all they'd been through together the past year -- Max still didn't truly have much faith in him.

"If you're really not the father of Asha's baby," Max countered. "Then prove it."

"How?"

"Dr. Carr can run a more complete DNA match if he has a sample from you."

Alec reached into the pocket of his jeans, took out a small folding knife, reached up, and neatly sliced off a lock of his dark blond hair. "Here," he said, handing her the strands. "Your sample. Knock yourself out."

Max accepted the offering with slightly trembling fingers. "I'll messenger this to Dr. Carr in overnight mail," she said. "We should know the results in a few days."

Alec, however, was already stuffing clothes into a backpack. He grabbed up his pillow. "Let me know when you get your answer," he said, his voice deep and low. Then -- defiant and wounded -- he looked her square in the eye. "In the meantime, I'll be bunkin' with Josh and Mole."

*****

Asha & Alec Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Jensen Ackles Museum

"What's goin' on, Asha?"

The blonde girl turned around, startled, then she gave a little laugh. "How do you do that?" she asked. "I mean, just ... appear."

"We learned early on how to sneak 'n creep," Alec said with a slight shrug. He looked up at the sky where stars were twinkling in the cold night air. "You know I'm not the father."

"You could be," Asha said quickly. She took hold of his arm and searched his face, her brown eyes earnest ... yearning. "Alec ... Logan doesn't want me. He never really did. But I was an idiot and kept thinking that if I was just patient he'd eventually see that Max wasn't the right girl for him."

"What's that got to do with me and a paternity suit?" Alec asked, his voice cool. "Asha, you and me never did the deed together."

"We almost did, once," she said defiantly. "And if I hadn't been such a stupid little nit back then -- so hung up on Mr. Logan Unattainable Cale -- I would have made sure it happened. You and I could have been good together."

Alec was nodding. "Yeah, we could have had a few fun dates, a couple of nice naked romps. Then, I'd have dropped you like I did all the other ordinary girls I took a passing fancy to. Asha, like I told you once before, you don't wanna get involved with me."

"Yes, I do," she declared, her grip on his arm tightening. "Alec, I've always been attracted to you, and I thought the feeling was mutual -- at least back in Seattle. When you took Max away from Logan--"

"Hey! I didn't steal his girl!" Alec declared hotly. "Logan drove Max away and it was weeks before I even made a move on her."

"When you took Max away from Logan," Asha stubbornly repeated, "it was like the sun had come out for me. Logan turned to me for comfort and companionship. Eventually, he made love to me and I thought I was going to be his girlfriend. But he never forgot Max ... and was never satisfied with what he saw as less."

"Who's the father, Asha?" Alec asked quietly. "There were quite a few X5s prowlin' the streets of Seattle not so long ago. Care to give me his name? I could talk to him for you if you want ... see if he wants to make an honest woman of you, or at least take responsibility for his kid."

"I want you to be the father, Alec."

"That's not gonna happen."

"Don't you care about me at all?"

Alec glanced up at the stars, phrasing his words carefully, knowing the truth would sound brutal. "You're an acquaintance, Asha. Maybe even a friend. But compared to my relationship with Max, you're nothing."

"Nothing?" she whispered.

"Pretty much."

"Alec, I don't have anywhere to go. Logan threw me out, the S1W is disbanded ..."

"Don't you have a trust fund you've been living on?" Alec asked, seeming to remember something about her family being well-to-do.

"My mother is missing," she said, "but it has to be seven years before she can be declared dead. Until then, my money is tied up in legal red tape."

"You have a brother. Go to him."

Asha shook her head. "Ilya's made his own life. I can't barge in ... not when I'm like this." She looked down at herself. "Alec," she said with a little sob. "Dr. Carr says the baby's not right."

"Then get rid of it," Alec said bluntly. "If you're not gonna tell the real father, then what does it matter?" He reached up and took her chin in his hand, forcing her to look into the inhumanly dilated pupils of his eyes. "You know, don't you, that Max just sent off my DNA sample to Carr. In a few days the truth is gonna come out anyway. All you've managed is to make Max and me fight -- but then maybe that's what you wanted all along ... to drive a wedge between us."

Asha's eyes narrowed. "The baby's yours!" she spat. "No matter what the DNA test says, I'll still claim it's yours!"

"No, it's not," came a voice from the darkness. Alec turned around. He'd known someone was watching from the shadows ... had sensed the presence. Now, he could clearly see Devon standing there.

The other X5 stepped forward into the faint pool of light cast by the moon. Asha could see him now too, and her face paled.

"She was drunker than a skunk," 472 said. "And I'd had a few too. We met up in Crash. She saw my bar code and started going on about her 'friend' who was an X5 too. I knew she was talking about you, 494, and so I decided to take a little advantage of what I presumed was one of your ladies." He shrugged. "How was I to know the great lover 494 really was still a one-woman-man. I always figured your ongoing supposed devotion to Max was just a good show so you could have a higher standing in TC ... have more power."

"You wanted to get back at me for beatin' the crap out of you a few months ago," Alec said, understanding everything now.

A wicked smile flashed in the darkness. "And I still do," Devon said softly. "Wanna get back at you that is. In due time, 494 ... In due time ..."

"What about her baby?" Alec asked, nodding at Asha.

"No!" Asha shouted -- so loudly the sentries in the towers turned and looked their way. She tried to run, but Alec grabbed her wrist. "I've never seen this guy before! He's lying!"

"I don't think he is," Alec said, his voice tinged with sadness because Asha was obviously having some kind of mental meltdown, and it hurt to see her this way. "472's a bastard, but he's not THAT kind of bastard."

"The kid's probably gonna be deformed anyway," Devon said cruelly. "She should have gotten rid of it as soon as she found out I'd put it in her belly."

"I'm keeping my baby!" Asha declared hotly, still looking up at Alec. "I'm keeping your son!" With a swift vicious jerk of her knee, she nailed the X5 in the groin, and ran.

"You okay, bro?" Devon asked with a huge smile on his face.

"I'm fine," Alec got out through gritted teeth as he tried to catch his breath. Slowly, he straightened up and swiped tears of pain out of his eyes with the back of his uninjured hand. "Where'd she go?"

"Don't know. Don't care," Devon replied.

"No," Alec said. "I guess you wouldn't."

*****

Alec Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Jensen Ackles Museum

There was no sign of Asha in the compound, even though Alec, Joshua, and Mole looked for her most of the night. Dawn was breaking when a beyond exhausted 494 approached Lydecker's quarters in back of the mess hall (he'd been three days now with no sleep).

"You were supposed to debrief last night," the Colonel said.

"So sue me," Alec shot back. "I was busy."

"Not with Max. Word is she threw your sorry ass out."

"'Word' is wrong. I left."

"Well, before the soap opera of your life becomes any more of a ratings winner, I need to have your mission report. Did you get the contents of the safety deposit box?"

Alec shook his head in wonder at the cold hearted Colonel, then dropped into a straight-backed chair. "The mission was a success," he said. "I broke into the vault and got the contents of the box. an envelope. But when Zakes and his people cornered me, I figured I'd better get rid of it."

"You destroyed the envelope?" Lydecker said, the look in his crinkled blue eyes stricken.

"Stuffed it up the wheel well of a 747," Alec said. It's probably in shreds over Sri Lanka by now." He smiled at his own alliteration.

Lydecker closed his eyes a moment, then quietly asked, "Did you read the contents before you destroyed it?"

"You ordered me to not look at what I was stealing," Alec reminded the man. "Under pain of termination, I believe you put it, and I took it you meant the execution kind, not the unemployment kind."

"494! Did you read the contents?"

Alec took pity on the man. This was obviously extremely important to him. "Of course I read it," he said.

"Can you remember some of it?" the Colonel asked, his eyes now lighting up with hope. "Any little bit could be of the utmost importance."

"I don't remember any of it," Alec said smugly. "I remember all of it." He tapped a forefinger to his temple. "Eidetic memory, courtesy of good old Manticore. Remember?" He realized he'd just made an unintentional pun and grinned again. "Give me a pen and some paper and I'll write it out for you, although I think it must be some kind of code because those numbers and names sure didn't make any sense to me."

*****

Max & Alec Artwork courtesy of Valjean & Jensen Ackles Museum

She wasn't ready to let him go.

It didn't really matter if he'd had a brief fling with Asha or not -- she didn't want to lose him.

"Alec," she said firmly, walking up to where he was standing alone by the corner of the armory. It had taken her almost 15 minutes to find him. No one had seen him this morning, including Joshua and Mole, and she'd started to worry that maybe he'd left for good.

She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I doubted you."

His brows drew down as he regarded her with suspicion. "The DNA results came back already?"

"No. It will be at least tomorrow. But-- I needed to tell you that it doesn't matter to me if you're the father of Asha's baby or not. I don't care. I know who you are ... I know you have weaknesses ..."

"Gee, thanks," Alec said dryly.

Max swallowed hard. "I mean ... I love you anyway, even if you slipped up. I forgive you."

"You forgive me, but you don't believe me when I tell you there's nothin' to forgive?"

Max shook her head. "I just don't want to lose you," she whispered. "But you lie so well ... even to me sometimes. I know that. It's your nature ... the way you survive. Can you blame me for doubting?"

"I suppose not," Alec conceded, letting her off the hook. "I admit my track record isn't so great when it comes to tellin' the truth." He smirked. "Guess I'm like that kid who cried wolf. When it counts, no one believes me." Then he held out his arms to her.

All was forgiven.

He smelled good, Max thought as she snuggled in that warm embrace ... naturel ... like leather and sweat and musk. Like Alec ...

"Devon's the father," he said into her hair. "Not me. I wasn't lyin'. And Asha's gone."

"Gone where?" Max asked, pulling away and looking up into concerned hazel-green eyes.

Alec shook his head. "We don't know. The guys are lookin' for her out on the grounds, but it's a big forest, more'n three thousa