Title: Yadda Yadda, Bang Bang
Co-author: BHG
Author: Lusmeitli
Rating: PG-13 (until further notice)
Show: DA
Disclaimer: Cameron made them, no money, no cry
Genre: Action/Drama
Pairing: Yogi Bear and Betty Boo
Summary: My post-FN version, so to speak. It picks up right
where FN left us hanging.
A/N: A huuuuuuge thank you to BHG!!!
A/N2: Wheee, another chapter of erm… utter thrill… J Enjoy.
Chapter II
Hundreds of
eyes were fixed on Max as she stood in front of the transgenics with Alec one
step behind her. His presence made her feel calm. A fact which irritated her,
but she decided to let it slip for the moment. She had other things to worry
about right now.
“Okay,
folks,” she started. The whirring of voices stopped immediately.
Max took a
deep breath.
“I want all
She turned
to the IT-team.
“Luke, Dix,
and Logan will help you with the surveillance system,” Max informed. ”You‘ll
get some more help as soon as we have the lists. Mole is in charge of sentries.
Joshua,” she turned to the dog man, “food and accommodation. Who‘s had any
proper medical training, apart from field med?“
Two hands
rose instantly. Max nodded.
“Very
good. Go over the supplies we already have and make a list
of what you’ll need. Bring it along to the headquarters in an hour. Anybody
who’s in need of special medical treatment, report to…,“
she questioningly looked at the female transgenic and the male transhuman who
had raised their hands.
“Pillow,“ stated the red-head.
“L-l-l-iam,“ stuttered the transhuman.
Max was just
about to give orders, when Luke’s voice stopped her. “Max, sorry to interrupt,
but maybe you better had a look at this.”
She turned
to Luke and her eyes searched for the source of concern he was pointing to. It
was the television. Luke turned up the volume.
* * * * *
“…the
transgenic threat in
The screen
was divided and both anchorman and reporter were now visible.
“Stephen,
can you tell our viewers if there was any indication whether this task force
will come to
The reporter
put on an arrogant smile. “Well, Bob, Rickham
indicated that they would and try to negotiate with the transgenics. However,
the citizens of
The
anchorman nodded in agreement. “Yes, you’re absolutely right. There is no
talking to such violent creatures. Thank you, Stephen.”
The reporter
disappeared from the screen. The anchorman touched his earpiece, listening to
something.
“And I just
heard that to demonstrate just how violent transgenics are and what threat they
form, we will show you something truly shocking. One of our crew members managed to film this
incident with a hidden camera just today.”
Behind a
window at the back of the studio, the director’s voice asked coolly: “Did you
cut out the wrong bits and put in the right bits? Minimalise the quality?”
An employee
beside him nodded affirmatively.
“Very well.”
A cruel smile formed on the director’s lips. “Very well indeed.”
* * * * *
Evelyn
stared at the TV in the laundromat. Anchorman Bob Linder had just disappeared
and a shaky video showed a young man with dark hair on a sidewalk. The camera
was shaking quite a bit now, but it looked as if the young man – without any
reason whatsoever – randomly and brutally attacked by-passers. The video,
quality bad, ended abruptly. The anchorman appeared again.
“We have
managed to interview the victims just minutes after the attacker, a transgenic,
has been arrested,” Linder said, before three men
appeared, apparently terribly beaten up, bruised all over, with cuts on their
heads and bloody lips.
“He was all
ova us fo’ nuthin’, man,” a Chinese
said.
Evelyn tried
to remember for a second how many men she had seen being beaten up by the
transgenic before. Weren’t there four?… But she stopped immediately, when
another man came into view.
“Yeah, man,
he nearly killed Willy.” The camera swung to his partner,
barely hanging on in his arms. He looked a bit more messed up than the others
and couldn’t speak anymore, but merely moaned.
“Man, he’s
got two small kiddos and a young wife at home. What am I gonna tell ’em? Huh?”
A cold
shiver ran down Evelyn’s back. “Transgenic scum!” she hissed.
* * * * *
The
transgenics at TC’s headquarters stared at the telly in disbelief.
“Biggs,”
Alec whispered.
“Are
ordinaries gonna buy this?” Dix asked with a frown. “I mean, every fool can see
that they manipulated this video and cut it just to please their purpose.”
“I think
they will buy it,“ Max swallowed, “The media has
turned us into monsters and that’s news worthy.
They’ll do whatever they have to in order to perpetuate that.”
“And people
want to kill monsters,” Joshua said quietly.
Max turned
to face him. She knew it was difficult being a transgenic as such, but standing
so obviously out of the crowd had consequences, Joshua had already experienced
once.
“Well,” she
said determinedly, “I won’t let them. WE won’t let them.”
Her eyes
wandered to Alec, who was standing there, staring at a point in the wall. She
was worried about him, she had never before seen him with this expression in
his eyes. But she didn’t have time. There was just so much to do now and they
needed to do it quickly. It would have to wait.
Alec
couldn’t believe what he had just seen. He felt as if Biggs had been killed
twice. Ordinaries had cruelly taken his life from him, but now, some corrupt,
calculating and manipulating news channel had demolished his best friend’s
dearly beheld memory. For the whole nation to see. They had made him a monster.
The knuckles of his fisted hands turned white.
Max’ voice
brought him back to reality.
“The
remaining men and women over sixteen I want to report to Alec,” Max pointed to
him, her voice a tad sharper now. “We need to scan TC. This is the territory
we‘ll have to fight in if need be. We must know it. Also look for useful things
and buildings that are suited best for accommodation. This is all for now.”
The
transgenics set to work and Alec left with them.
Max turned
to
Max held up
a hand. “No, Logan. We don’t know for how long it would work.”
“But I could
get another transfusion.”
“Believe me,
we’ll need all the blood we can get for our own kind.” She didn’t realise how
harsh it had sounded until she saw
“You can
count on me too, boo,” OC said and hugged her friend. “Let me know how I can
help.”
Max hugged
her back. “I will.”
“What about
you, Sketchy?” OC nudged him.
“I was just
thinking…,” he started.
“No
kiddin’,” OC murmured.
Sketchy shot
her a mocked hurt look. “I was just thinking,” he continued, “I mean
after what we just witnessed… wouldn’t it be good if you had some support from
the outside. You know, media-wise.” His hand went into his hair. “Um, you know, if you kinda had your own channel, telling your side
of the story, the truth and no manipulated fuck up mock-video.”
Max sighed.
“Actually, we might do with a little bit of media support. Maybe Eyes Only and
“
– have to
find some new processor too and maybe he could fresh up some contacts he had
when–
“
Max‘ voice
brought him back to reality. “Huh? Oh, yeah. Eyes Only will surely help.”
“Thanks.
Right, I think it would be best if you had waited in the headquarters.
They all
nodded and watched as Max headed away.
* * * * *
An hour
later, headquarters was full of transgenics waiting to report.
“Do we have
the lists?” Max inquired.
Alec waved
with a pile of papers. “Yep. So far we‘ve 523 transgenics and transhumans in
TC. Capable of fighting: 449 people. The rest is either babies, too young,
pregnant or injured.”
They had to
digest that fact first. Mole was the first to speak. “It ain’t a lot to fight
that army out there.”
Max’ eyes
narrowed. “We’re not fighting them, we’re defending ourselves. Killing only if need be.”
Mole
returned her glare. The whole headquarters was quiet.
Alec looked
from Mole to Max and back, then cleared his throat. “Shall we move on?“
Max and Mole
continued glaring at one another for a moment, then they both looked at Alec.
“Okay,” Max
picked up again. “We need to evacuate the pregnant, the mothers and their kids,
before this becomes a war zone. We‘ll
discuss this later. Other reports?”
Alec spoke
up again. “Yes, actually. TC’s perimeter houses a lot of homeless humans. What
do we do about them?”
Mole let out
some smoke and smiled. “Well, why don’t we throw them out?”
Dix frowned.
“Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“Why not?
They seek refuge in and around TC, just like you do,”
“Yeah, and
spy on us,” Mole retorted.
Max sighed.
“How are they reacting towards our presence so far?”
“They’ve
known we’re here. It’s been kind of a ‘you leave me alone, I’ll leave you
alone’ thing. Now they’re just in a sort of wait and see mode, no hostile
behaviour or statements against us,” Luke informed.
“Okay,” Max
said. “How about we send someone to talk to them? See where they stand?”
“Yeah,” Luke
agreed, “good idea. But who?”
Luke
suddenly grinned. “It’s gotta be someone charming.”
“Convincing,“
Dix offered, grinning too.
“Eloquent,“ Mole picked up.
“Smart,“ Max added charmingly.
All eyes had
turned on Alec. He looked up in surprise. “What?”
He realised
what was going on and shook his head. “No way. Look,
I’m all honoured and touched and I’m actually starting to feel all mushy
inside, but seriously: NO.”
They all
kept staring at him. A smile formed on Max’ lips.
“Good, that’s settled then. Alec‘ll talk to the ordinaries.”
She ignored his protesting groan.
“Hey wait a
minute,” Alec implored, “I know I’m a looker and charming, but I’m not a
familiar character to them. They’d have no reason to trust me. Send
Max had to
concede that point. “Okay, contact Eyes Only see what he can do.”
“That leaves
us with the main question: what supplies do we need and how do we get those?”
Max’s eyes scanned the people in headquarters and locked with Alec’s. *For the
second time this day,* she thought. Maybe it was because she trusted him. It
was hard to see the screw-up in him that she used to after all that had
happened the past three days. He had had her back.
“Well,” Alec
started, “the list is long. We need gas for the generator, food, water, blankets,
bedrolls, Sterno for stoves and uh, stoves, more
weapons, bullets, ammo, guns, grenades, not to mention the money to buy all
that.“
“Is that
all?” Max asked.
“No, it’s
not,” Mole complained, “I had a lot more on my list.”
Alec picked
up said list and slid it across the table. “Yes, a
Dix picked
up the list and quickly ready through it. “You sure have some extraordinary
wishes.”
Mole
gleefully lit his cigar again. “There’s nothing like some good TNT, my friend,
believe me.”
Dix nodded.
“Yeah, but point six? I don’t even know what this is and you know I was in
artilleries for quite a while.”
Mole
quizzically looked at Alec. The latter reread the list. An eyebrow raised as a
smile spread on Alec’s lips.
“I’ll see what I can do about that,” he said
quietly. Mole seemed vastly relieved.
“What about
the medical department?” Max turned to Liam who blinked nervously.
“M-m-medicines
such as t-t-trytophan, iodine tablets, b-b-basics for wound treatm-m-ments,
b-b-bandages, sterile instruments w-w-would be c-c-cool, morphine, antib-b-biotics. Anyt-t-thing you
c-c-can get.“ The transhuman‘s
ears were flushing red when he noticed everyone was staring at him.
“Wha-what?” he asked.
Mole took
the cigar out of his mouth. “And what did they throw in your cocktail?
Grasshopper DNA?”
Liam nodded.
“How d-d-do you know?”
“Instinct.”
The lizard man smiled gleefully and leaned back in his seat. Turning to Alec he
said: “I LOVE grasshoppers. They’re my favourite dessert.”
Liam gulped
audibly.
“All right,”
Max interrupted. “Should you need anything else let us know. Now, how do we get
that?”
Alec lazily
stretched his arms. “You know, I still have contacts with the Koreans. I’m sure
they won’t mind which side they’re doing business with. So weaponry and ammo
will be covered there as long as we get the money. I also have some other
useful contacts on the black market. I’ve already checked them out and they are
very interested in a… shall we say cultural exchange. I’ll set up meetings with
them.”
“Good,
that’s settled then. What about the scanning of TC?”
Alec spoke
up again. “One hour wasn’t exactly enough time to scan each and every building.
I need every person available after this meeting. People left in quite a rush
after the toxic spill and left us lots of good stuff.”
“Very
well. Next meeting after the search.“
As the headquarters deserted, Max turned to Alec and her friends: “That leaves
us only one last question for now: how are we gonna get the children, women,
OC, Logan and Sketchy out?”
They turned
quiet, thinking hard.
Alec
pensively bit the skin on his left thumb. ”What’s this?”
Dix looked
up. ”It’s the metro tunnel map.”
Alec’s eyes
met
Alec nodded.
”We might get them out through that tunnel.” He pointed at the map. ”All
attention is now on TC, but not yet beyond. Not until they noticed some of us
are gone. Should they, that is.”
He withdrew
his index finger from the paper and slightly tapped on the map on the computer
screen.
”See, King
Street Station is close to where we are now. All we have to do is get in
through the sewers, get down to South Jackson Street, follow it down, get from
the sewers into the metro tunnel, follow it up to either Westlake Station or
maybe even up to Convention Place station.”
It had all
come out in a rush, as all eyes followed his finger. They were still
considering the option, when
”I could
arrange transports over the border from there,” he offered.
“How much
time do you need?” Max inquired, looking at the screen, careful as not to touch
“Give me
three hours,” the hacker replied.
“Very
well. We’ll be back in two hours top,” Alec stated and got
up. “I’ll get several units to begin sightseeing TC and contact…uh my contacts,
then I’ll join the search.”
Max had
wanted to stay with
* * * * *
Alec’s team
searched the buildings and streets of Eastern TC. Mole and Joshua had joined
him, as did Max. It had surprised him that she didn’t want to spend the
remaining time with
They had
just finished with the last building, when they stepped into the street again.
Mole was frustrated.
“Ordinaries,”
he said with disgust. “Didn’t any of them even hide cigars in their desks?” He
kicked a metal plate that was lying on the floor.
It whirred
through the air and landed in front of Joshua’s feet. The dogman bent down to
pick it up. He dusted it off and momentarily froze.
“Josh, what
is it?” Alec asked.
“Father…,”
the dogman whispered. Then a bit louder: “Let freedom ring.” His eyes were
suddenly beaming as he looked at Alec.
“Huh?” Max
and Alec both said simultaneously.
“Let freedom
ring,” Joshua repeated and turned the plate for the others to read.
Alec
remembered history ed in a nanosecond. He looked at
the plate in Joshua’s hands. “Well, it seems as if – in a way – history keeps
repeating itself over and over again,” he said dryly. “It’s ironic, isn’t it.”
But Joshua
shook his head. “No, no, Alec. It’s a sign.” The dogman tried to explain.
“We’re on the right way. Remember: from the blood into the white light. This is
where we want to go.” He shook the plate in his hands. “King says, let freedom
ring for black. Joshua says, let freedom ring for transgenics and transhumans.
It’s a sign.”
* * * * *
“Why do we
have to go?” Gem asked, her eyes furious.
“Because we
decided to get the pregnant, wounded, children, babies and mothers out of TC.”
Max gestured to the group of transgenics and transhumans gathered around them.
Her voice was resolute and she pushed the transgenic decidedly towards the edge
of the manhole to the sewers.
“This is
ridiculous, I could fight, I am nearly up to my old shape again, I could—“ The young mother started.
Max held up
a hand.
“Stop it.” Her voice softened. “Gem, you have
a wonderful baby. Don’t you think it deserves to live with its mother?”
Gem looked
at the baby that lay cradled in her arms. “Yes, but—“
“No but.
This baby needs you more than we do. Now don’t be difficult.” Another shove toward the manhole.
“But
“Is right
behind you,” Mole said, walking up to the group. He had his Uzi in one hand,
the collar of a furious
“Come here,
you, you lizard you, I can take you on at any time!” His fists angrily shot out
to Mole but only hit air as Mole held the kid at arm length from his body.
Mole chewed
on his cigar. “Shut up you little punk or this,” he wiggled his Uzi, “will make
acquaintance with your ass.”
Mole turned
to Alec and grinned. “Children are like dogs: they need to know their master.”
“Who in this
case would be…?” Gem asked.
Mole didn’t
bother looking at her and started walking back to headquarters. “Me, of
course.”
Dix suddenly
was in Alec’s earpiece.
<All
clear. You have ten minutes to get to the metro tunnel.>
“Okay, let’s
move,” Alec ordered and jumped down the manhole.
The strong
smell of excrements, old water, rotting litter and rats knocked the breath out
of him for a moment. He felt the urgent need to throw up, but he gulped it down
and turned to help others get down.
* * * * *
The group
moved quickly and quietly through the sewers. Alec and Max waited and watched
for the others to climb up a stone cairn leading to the metro tunnel.
“Ugh! You
wouldn’t believe what people flush down their toilets,” his face showing his
disgust. “Leftovers, condoms, small pets, waste…” His eyes wandered over the
floor that now was knee-deep covered in a brown, stinky broth. “Their
husbands.”
Max’ head
shot around. “What?”
“Their
husbands,” he nodded his head to a – judging from the clothing that was not
under water – male body, lying face down in the broth.
Max saw him
now too. He was so covered with filth and waste that it was hard to discover
him. A shiver ran down her spine and she had to hold back so as not to shout at
the transgenics to make haste.
Finally, she
hurried up the pile of stones, climbed through the hole and swung her legs over
the edge, easily making the three meter jump and landing with catlike grace. Alec
was right behind her.
They cautiously
walked through the metro tunnel. Alec hoped they could get the whole group out
without anybody noticing anything. He walked faster, helping an injured
transhuman.
Eventually,
Alec stopped and turned to the group behind him and announced: “
Now, it was
goodbye for Cindy, Sketchy and
Alec
swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat as he watched the three
people in front of him. It wasn’t easy to see them go. Manticore hadn’t offered
any training on ‘how to say goodbye to a friend when the stakes are high that
you won’t see him again’. Manticore didn’t know what friends were. So Alec did
what he had taught and trained himself: he pushed his feelings away and put on
his infamous smile. He reached out his hand to Sketchy, who took it, looking
very concerned. There was so much he wanted to say. For an instant, Alec wished
back old times when nothing else mattered but being at Crash with his friends.
He felt overwhelmed by helplessness. He wanted his friends to know that they
would be all right. But they all knew very well that this was a lie. Alec
flashed him a reassuring smile.
“Sketch.”
It was obvious
Sketchy felt the same. He feared he might never see Alec again and Alec was the
only real friend he had ever had. He saw the smile on Alec’s face and knew he
had put it on for them to make it easier. Sketchy squeezed the reached out hand
and pulled Alec in for a quick hug.
“Alec.” Then
he stepped aside, looking down immediately.
OC didn’t
hold back her feelings. She slung her arms around Alec’s waist.
“Take care
of my boo,” she mumbled into his chest, knowing he would hear her.
Alec tried
hard to keep the smile on his face as he hugged her back. Cindy’s physical
display of affection got to him more than he wanted to right now.
“I promise,”
he whispered.
Alec felt
his eyes start to burn, the rims of his eyes started to fill with a very
traitorous fluid. He breathed in deeply and blinked the liquid away. Just in
time.
“Good.“ OC let go of him, but looked up into his eyes. “And who
will take care of you?”
The smile
that spread over Alec’s lips was genuine. “I will.”
OC playfully
hit him in the chest. “You better.” She too, turned, secretly wiping her eyes.
But Alec had
seen her concern about him and the simple gesture, she tried to hide. It made
the lump in his throat grow heavy. *Soldiers don’t cry, soldiers don’t cry.*
Images flashed before his eyes. His pulse calmed down.
He stepped
up to the younger man. “Look, Alec…”
But Alec
interrupted the hacker, his face cool. “I’ll protect her, I promise. With my life.”
“Thanks.” He watched, as Alec offered him his
hand.
The chances
of Max getting out of this alive were relatively small, but Alec increased
those chances considerably. And even though it hurt to even think of Max being
happy with Alec,
“Be
careful.” They said in unison, both laughing.
Alec turned
away from
The
transgenics moved on.
Max stepped
up to Sketchy. “Make us look good,” she smiled.
Sketchy
embraced her. “I’ll do my best. Good luck, Max.” With that, he climbed up the
ladder.
“Boo.” Tears
ran freely over Cindy’s cheeks as she hugged her best friend. “Promise me to
take care,” she said in a choked voice.
Max’ tears
fell too. She hugged Cindy close to her, as memories washed over her. Deep
down, despite all the telling herself she was being pessimistic, she knew that
maybe she might not see OC again. So she hugged her friend a little tighter.
She wanted to remember the warmth of her body, the smell of her hair, the
softness of her hands; she was trying to imprint the feeling of her dear friend
in her arms. Just in case.
“And you
have fun with your new room mates,” she whispered. “Don’t let them make you do
all the chores.”
Cindy
laughed, tears still streaming down her face. “Boo, you know me. I’ll kick
their asses if they try.”
Max smiled
at her friend. OC tore herself away and hurried up the ladder. Max sighed
sadly. She felt very empty right now. Just one more goodbye to go.
Hesitatingly, she turned to face
“So I guess
it’s our goodbye then,”
“Yeah, I
guess.” Her voice sounded tiny.
“Max, are
you sure you want me to go?”
He wanted
her to tell him to stay. He wanted her to tell him that she wanted him by her
side, that she wasn’t with Alec. He wanted her to tell him that she still loved
him.
She studied
a fingernail and said quietly: “It’s not safe for you to stay. You might die.”
“I don’t care.”
And he didn’t.
Max looked
up at his words. Desperation, hurt and pain were written all over his face.
“I do and we
need you out there, where you can do us more good as Eyes Only. Not to mention
the fact that people out there need you to continue fixing their injustices.” She
smiled.
He studied
her for a long moment, but her eyes held out against his. Eventually, a heavy
sigh slipped him.
“But we’ll
talk on the phone.” It sounded more like a question than a reassurance.
Max nodded
slowly. She felt… not how she had expected to feel. She wanted this to be over
with. She wanted to go back to TC where – oddly enough – she felt safe, and not
so irritated, confused and empty like now. Lost. She
wanted to lock herself up in a room and cry.
“Max,”
Her eyes
widened in horror as she backed away from him. Avoiding his eyes, she suddenly
found a dent in the wall behind him very interesting.
When Max
looked up again, he had already disappeared up the ladder. “I will,” she
whispered.
Suddenly,
she was aware of the cold wind in the metro tunnel. It went through her,
leaving her trembling slightly.
She felt
someone’s presence and turned around. Alec stood mere inches in front of her.
She didn‘t look up. Max felt Alec’s arms go around her and gently pull her to
him. Right then, her barriers and walls came tumbling down and the flood of
tears was silently cried into his chest as she clung to his body for dear life.
* * * * *
“
Max looked
at Gem, the baby safely cradled in her mother’s arms. She felt tears water her
eyes as she carefully hugged the young mother. “Take care.”
Gem nodded.
“You know I could still stay here and fight with you.”
Max shook
her head. “We’ve already had this discussion. Take care of the baby and of
Gem squeezed
Max’ hand. She hoped that she would see her family again, one day. At a loss
for words, she finally climbed up the emergency exit of the metro tunnel.
“What about
me?”
Max gently
nudged him. “Gem needs someone to look after her and the baby. A man. You.”
“All will be
fine. I promise.”
He searched
her face and found a reassuring smile. He hugged Max, looking over her shoulder
to Alec, needing his order to leave. Alec nodded again and the boy quickly
ended the hug and hurried away.
* * * * *
He couldn’t
ignore the ringing phone anymore. It was no use looking at the number on the
display of his mobile, for he knew exactly who it was. “Fenos’tol.”
<You
almost screwed up.>
“It was you
who sent the Phalanx,” White retorted heatedly.
<The
Conclave has decided it is time for another move.>
“Which will be?”
<None of
your business. You’ll see soon enough. Stay put. Fenos’tol.>
Before White
could return the code, the line was cut off. He grimly stared at the phone for
an instant. Then he threw the mobile with all his might through the air. It hit
the opposite wall with a loud thud and shattered to pieces.
“We’ll see
if it’s none of my business.”
Next on “Yadda Yadda, Bang Bang“:
A little more than kin,
“Why didn’t you leave?”
And less than kind.
“I want them out of
All that lives
“Joshua have dreams. Bad dreams.“
Must die.
“ALEC!”
Hamlet, Shakespeare