Chapter Text
It wasn’t the weather that was getting to her; Washington was always raining, Max had come to terms with that fact a long time ago, back when she was a punk kid, and she and Original Cindy had made the run from LA to here to find some peace and quiet from the gang scene. No, Max had to admit, there was something more depressing then the weather getting her down. And, glancing at the computer monitor that linked her to Logan (housed safely outside the contaminated area that was Transgenic Central), she had a pretty good idea what it was. It had been well over nine months, and she was beginning to face facts: they hadn’t found a cure yet, and it was looking like the virus bitch was never going down.
“I got the paperwork to have your citizenship finalized. Did you want me to fax it to Alec’s office?” Logan asked, eyes on the afore mentioned papers.
Max’s eyes flicked up at the mention of her second in command’s name. Logan hadn’t taken her (rather large) lie that Alec was now her…something well. He had taken it even worse when several of Alec’s old Manticore unit, mostly her unit’s twins and other ‘at risk’ X5s turned into the elite of the elite, X5Rs, had shown up. Aside from tossing Max into a head spin (There was Brin’s twin, and Tinga’s…), these transgenics did things very differently. First of all, they never even looked at Logan. The R’s 2IC was most guilty of that; her designation was X5R-105 (they all added the R to their designations, the elitists), and she called herself Keegan. Max hated her instantly.
Their commander wasn’t any help either. X5R-496 was a derivative off the 49- cloning line, but they had changed his cocktail up by adding some bear to the panther, creating a bulkier, ebony haired male who looked only in passing like (her) Alec. He went by the rather obnoxious name of Felix MacGyver, and really didn’t seem to act much like a commanding officer at all; he was content to let the unit do what they wanted to. He at least didn’t treat Logan like a piece of furniture.
“Max?”
Max’s eyes flicked back to the screen, and she offered Logan a half-hearted grin. “Yeah, sure, send it to Alec.”
Logan gave her a look. “Are you sure he’s not too busy reminiscing?” He said scathingly.
Max sighed. “Yes, thank you.” And she cut the transmission. His bitch fest was getting too much. Flopping down in her chair, she rubbed at her temples. “Damn, this was so much easier a few months ago.”
“Wheels giving you a problem?” Speak of the devil. Max turned in her chair just in time to see Alec smack Felix across the arm for that remark, but the taller transgenic was still grinning, not looking the least bit sorry. “I still think I should build him one like Professor Xavier used…”
“And it would probably explode, like everything else you build. I don’t think Maxie would like you much after that.” Alec said, taking the seat next to Max, shooting her a wink and leaving the broken one for Felix. Felix eyed it for a moment before smirking and taking a wrench out of his pocket, setting to work on the hapless chair. “Yes! Aha! I told you, Maxie!”
Max rolled her eyes. “What do you two want?”
Alec and Felix shared a look, and Max hated Felix on principle. All of them (the X5Rs especially) had this, camaraderie that she never seemed to be able to foster with anyone else but her unit. A few had become her close friends; but Alec had an entire unit that was not only elitist (Keema, Brin’s twin, had informed her that even Alec bore the designation X5R), he had been their commander.
“Uh…I wanted to take you out on a job.” Alec said, not meeting her eyes.
There was something about his tone that made it very clear this wasn’t one of their ‘Steal from the Bad Guys’ jobs. “What kind of job?” She asked, trying to keep her voice even.
Felix stepped away from the now repaired chair, and snickered, hands raised. “As much as I have your back, Alec, I am not getting in the middle of this. I’m gonna go find my mate. You two kids play nice.”
Max ignored him. “Alec.”
Alec turned back to her, putting on a face that spoke of resentment. “A job. A regular…” He mumbled something. “Job.”
“Can you try it without mumbling?”
Alec was an amazing actor, Max had seen him work his whiles on everyone from women to Normal, and come out with whatever he wanted. But when it came to her, he always seemed to fall short. “The X5Rs are still working assassinations for the government—Max, come on, don’t give me that look! Just listen!” She rolled her eyes back to him, torn between smacking him upside the head and just walking out, when he gave her that pout. She’d never admit it, but that pout always got to her. “Thank you! Ok, look, we’re getting paid, and it’s-”
“We’re?!” Alec nearly fell out of his seat. Max suspected she would have too, if someone had said that in that tone, to her. But the fact remained, “Don’t give me that look, Alec McDowell, you said we.”
“I’m an X5! It’s what we do!” He said, though his case for assassinating people was made a little weak considering he was hiding behind his chair.
“I’m trying to tell the world we’re not a threat!”
“And we’re not!” Alec insisted, dodging to the other side of the chair as she came around to get him. “We’re taking out the bad guys! Cult leaders, terrorist groups, military governments—not our own, mind you—OW!”
Max grabbed him firmly by the ear and dragged him out from behind the desk. “No. And I’m not having my second in command go out on assassinations behind my back!”
To her surprise, Alec reversed the hold on her, pulling out of her grip, and forcing her hand up behind her own back. “Max, I think you’ve got a lot to learn about us as a people and species before you start making demands like that.” He leaned in, and was he scenting her neck?! Max tried not to shudder, but by the low chuckle in his throat, Alec noticed anyway. “Warehouse, twenty three hundred hours, tomorrow.” He whispered in her ear, pressing himself against her.
“And if I don’t show?” She snarled, trying to buck him off her.
She was surprised when he gently bit the side of her neck, pressing up on her arm to cause a spark of pain, all the while pressing closer. “You’ll just have to if you want to stop us. Ahem, me.” He pulled away then, dropping her arm, and slipping out of the main office with nary a sound.
Max was left leaning over her desk, wet, aroused, and wondering what the hell else went on in Transgenic Central since those damned X5Rs came home to roost.