No rest for the wicked

Chapter 4: Grand Melee

Improvised Cells of Terminal City

Alec slowly regained conscious, feeling bruised and miserable while debating what to do next. He had to find a way to deactivate the tiny machines inside his body before they would rip him apart. The fact that he was still alive made him believe that Volrath’s control over the nanites was limited to a certain range, otherwise the Cabal agent would have ordered them to destroy him as soon as his failure to retrieve Max became evident.

However his options were more than limited: Even if he managed to capture Max and to return to AESIR, Volrath wouldn’t help him. He would give him more time and continue the sadistic little game he played with the life of the X5 on stake. Alec’s only hope was to find the mysterious Polito but to do this he would need help. Perhaps Logan would be able to locate her but, considering his deeds, he doubted that the obsessed do-gooder would help him.

His train of thought was interrupted by the entrance of the last person he wanted to see now: Max. She looked more furious than he had ever seen her before.

“Hey Max!” Alec said, trying to sound casual, “Great of you to come and free your old pal Alec. I must admit that I started to wonder whether you forgot me.”

“SHUT UP!” Max snapped, “Do you really think that I’ll forgive you so easily? You betrayed us and attacked me twice. You’re lucky that no one was killed during our raid at AESIR and that I didn’t leave you there so you could have a talk with your good pal Volrath.”

“I had no choice Max!” Alec echoed, “Horne wanted to execute me and the deal Volrath offered sounded not too bad. I thought that I could betray him once I was out of AESIR but the nanites spoiled the plan. I will apologize a thousand times but now we have to get these things out of me. We have only 58 hours to get rid of them otherwise they will dismantle my body. Volrath mentioned a Manticore researcher named Polito who is probably the only one who is able to help me and I’ll need your help to find her!”

“If you think that I’m going to save your ass this time, you’re mistaken!” Max replied, “You’ll stay here until I have decided what will happen to you. If you’re right and the nanites will kill you, this decision should be fairly easy.”

Without further delay she turned around and headed towards the door, only to be stopped by her prisoner’s voice.

“Max, WAIT!” the male X5 yelled, not longer able to hide his desperation, “Polito can get rid of the virus, you and Logan could be finally together. Think about it! Everything could be as it was before Renfro sent you to kill him. All you have to do is to find her and to take your good pal Alec with you.”

“Are you sure about this?” Max asked, sounding suspicious, “It sounds simply too good to be true, especially that she can help both of us at the same time. Why should I believe you?”

“Well,” Alec replied, “Volrath told me that these tiny machines can do almost everything which includes destroying viruses and you should consider that at the moment you have no alternative if you ever want to touch Logan again!”

“Alright than,” the Terminal City leader replied,”I’ll help you but if you trick me again, I’ll kill you personally!”

Inwardly, Alec signed, relieved that the bluff had worked. He was not sure at all that Polito would be able to help Max. All he could do was hope that Logan would find her and that she was as skilled as Volrath had claimed.


* * * * *

Command Centre, several hours later

Max made her way through the crowded Command Centre, trying to reach Logan who was seated at his laptop. Her feelings were terrible confused since Alec’s revelation: A part of her wanted nothing more than to have Logan back and would sacrifice everything for this goal. Another, more sinister, part distrusted the other X5, considering his claim a bluff and being convinced that he should be punished for his betrayal. She had spent the last hours talking to Original Cindy, who had been able to convince her to seize this new chance to get rid of the virus.

Max had suggested to search for Polito on her own and to leave Alec here, a plan which had been ruined by Cindy who pointed out that, despite his failures, the renegade X5 seemed to know the scientist, a fact which could come in handy in the planned mission. She had to admit that Alec’s presence was required (without him Polito would probably flee from her, assuming that she was a hired killer, sent from the Cabal or Manticore) although there was the risk that he was still working for the Cabal and waited for an opportunity to please Volrath by capturing her.

The thought of encountering this transgenic again startled Max, she had never encountered someone more calculating and insidious. Joshua had told her about being attacked by the Cabal agent during the rescue mission. Even though they had managed to blind their opponent with a flash bang, no one considered attacking the Cabalist. Joshua depicted Volrath as a very dangerous and cunning fighter, who had been able to defeat the whole team without help. Max made a mental note not to take any chances should she meet the Cabal agent again.

Logan’s voice shook her out of her thoughts and she realized that she had been standing next to him for about 10 minutes completely lost in thought.

“Max?” he asked, “Is everything all right?”

“Of course,” she replied, “I was just rapt up. Have you found something about Polito?”

“Yes and no,” Eyes Only replied, “I have no idea where she is but I have found someone else who could help you. She also worked at Manticore and I helped her to get to Canada shortly before we met. She was Polito’s assistance and will meet you tonight at an old military base, which is located outside of Seattle. Her name is Dr. Elizabeth Weir and I think you can trust her.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Max echoed, “I hope that she knows enough about this nanites to help Alec. Thanks for your help, Logan; I’ll prepare the mission immediately.”


* * * * *
AESIR Co-operation, dusk

Ertai was in a very foul mood: Apparently the struggle between Volrath and Horne would end soon, forcing him to decide who he would support. He couldn’t continue his former strategy of staying neutral, due to the fact that the winner of this undeclared contest wouldn’t trust him and would perhaps have him executed. The demise of such a gifted person like himself would have severe consequences to the western civilization and had to be prevented at any cost. Unfortunately, the coming mission could decide the outcome of this mind game so Ertai would have to take the risk that his new ally would loose, which was disturbing and unprofessional but couldn’t be helped.

While pacing through the long corridors of AESIR Co-operation he tried to decide which Cabalist would have his support. Horne was more experienced and had excellent connections to the Council but Volrath seemed to be more cunning. Besides Horne had treated him very badly back in her office and Ertai never forget things like that. He came to the conclusion that both sides had their advantages, a fact which was not helpful at all. As a result Ertai decided to use a different approach: What would happen if he opted for Volrath but Horne was victorious and vice versa. Volrath would certainly use his nanites to control or kill him and he was highly resistant to Ertai’s psychic abilities. Horne, on the other hand, was merely a human and never killed someone personally. Even if she distrusted him or even chose to have him eliminated, Ertai was confident that he could manipulate and outsmart her.

So his choice was clear: He would stick to Volrath, simply because this decision would greatly improve his chances to get out of this struggle for power alive. Lost in his thoughts, Ertai almost stumbled into his new ally.

“Pay attention where you’re going!” Volrath growled, “I need your full concentration tonight. 494 is leaving Seattle, using the sewers. If my assumptions are correct he’s searching for Polito and we have the unique chance to capture the bitch. If he’s just running away, we’ll get him and send him to the Council. Now, be gone and gather a tag team! We’ll start immediately!”

* * * * *
Outside of Seattle

Max and Alec carefully searched the abandoned military base, looking for a trace of Weir. The female X5 grew more and more anxious at the absence of the scientist, afraid that she had walked into a trap. After all, Logan could be wrong and Weir could sell her to the Cabal as exchange for her live and freedom. Another possibility was that she was becoming paranoid due to the unsettling events of the last days.

“How well do you know Weir?” she asked Alec, “I have the impression that we are lead into a trap. Any information could be very helpful.”

“I know almost nothing about her,” her companion replied, “My recollection of these days is vague at best but I don’t think we’re in immediate danger. Polito and her assistant were quite nice to me (at least that’s what I think) and have no apparent reason to lead us into a trap. Maybe you’re getting paranoid Maxie!”

Max didn’t even bother to respond, for they had just entered a very large and shadowy room. Her eyes nervously darted from shadow to shadow, searching for the missing ex-Manticore employee. The target of her search revealed herself a few moments later, startling both X5s with her sudden appearance.
She was an attractive woman in her thirties with short blonde her. However, her beauty was eclipsed by her haggard appearance and the haunted expression of her face. Max suspected that the years of fleeing form Manticore had taken their toll.

“Logan’s transgenetic friends, I assume?” she asked rhetorically, “Please excuse my sudden entry but I decided to stay hidden until I was certain that you’re alone. The constant fear of being found by my former employers seems to cause paranoia. But now we should get going! What exactly can I do for you?”

“A transgenic named Volrath injected nanites into my body,” Alec retorted, “They are programmed to dissemble my body in exactly 12 hours and 16 minutes. He mentioned that Polito invented them and I hope that you would be able to help me.”

“Apparently Volrath is still fond of his sadistic power games,” Weir chuckled, “But don’t worry, with the right equipment one can get rid of them in a few minutes. I’ll give you another nanite injection, which will deactivate all others with weak EMP-impulses. Also, this new nanites will stay active and prevent further infection in the future.”

Weir moved to a desk, which had been obscured by shadows, fumbling with various vials and a hypodermic needle.

“It will take them about an hour to deactivate all machines in your body,” she explained after giving Alec an injection, “So make sure not to get near Volrath, who could order the remaining ones to kill you immediately. Anything else I can do for you?”

“You could get rid of a Manticore virus which is engineered to kill Logan,” Max echoed, hopeful that Weir would be able to help her, “I’m its bearer; if I touch Logan he’s as good as dead! Can you help me?”

“I could program some nanites to destroy the virus in your body,” the scientist replied, contemplating the situation, “But they have to be adapted which will take some time and requires a blood sample. If you give me the sample I can start at once.”

“Why are you helping us?” Alec asked, after Weir had started adapting the nanites, “It’s extremely dangerous and you hardly know us. Are you doing this for Logan?”

“Partly,” Weir replied, her voice dripping with hatred, “But the main reason is my hatred for the Cabal. If I help you, it will cross their plans, exactly what I want. They will pay for what they did to me! No one tries to kill me and gets away with it! Other former Manticore scientist try to hide until they’re safe again, but I doubt that they will ever be. If you can’t run away form something, you’ll have to fight it. That’s the reason why I’m helping you!”

After having finished this statement, she continued her work, a grim look on her face.

* * * * *
Outside

Volrath silently ordered his team to block all exits, savoring his coming triumph. Once his soldiers were in position 452 and everyone inside would have no way to escape. 452 and perhaps even Polito would be captured or killed; the Council would grant him any position he wanted and Horne would be finished. It was almost too good to be true and the plan was foolproof, so nothing would stop his ascension.

A soldier nearby signaled that everyone was in position, according to the plan they waited for his signal to enter the building form all sides and to capture everyone who was inside. Although it would be nice to get Polito and 452 alive, Volrath had ordered his soldiers not to take any chances and to kill everyone who offered too much resistance.

“Now you have nowhere left to run 452,” he said to no one in particular and gave the signal to attack.


* * * * *
Inside

Suddenly the room burst into motion: heavy armored soldiers burst through the door, only to be attacked by other fighters who had been hidden in the shadows. Within seconds the orderly planned attack had become a brawl, rendering the guns of the attackers useless.

“What the hell?” Max said to Polito while entering the melee, “You brought some bodyguards with you?”

“Did you really think I would come without protection?” the scientist replied with a chuckle, “If I had been so foolish, the Cabal would have killed me much earlier. But now we should concentrate in finding a way out of here!”

After dispatching her current opponent Max paused to considered her situation, which was quite gloomy. Though they had managed to slow the onslaught of enemy troops and even managed to defeat some of them, the fight couldn’t be won. Now, further enemies entered through other doors which Max hadn’t noticed in her first scan of the room. Outnumbered, ill-equipped and surrounded the defenders ceased to struggle.

“Greetings 452,” a horribly familiar voice said, “I knew we would see us again. Most certainly you’re asking yourself ‘How did Volrath find me? I know he’s extremely intelligent, handsome and a tactical genius but he had no way of knowing where I am’. Well, I’ll be delighted to enlighten you: I found you by using an emitter, implanted under 494’s skin; it’s quite easy to find someone once he or she emits a signal.”

“Apparently, I made quite an impression on you,” Max replied sarcastically, “After all you come out here with a complete tag team to get me. You flatter me with you attention!”

“You overestimate yourself!” Volrath echoed, “Though the Council will be pleased to see you, your capture was only a bonus. The main purpose of this raid was to find Polito, the greatest thread to the Cabal, and I’m proud to say that we were at least partly successful by getting hold of her assistance! Long time, no see Dr. Weir!”

“I would have preferred not to meet you again!” Weir stated dryly, “However, I doubt you will be able to enjoy your victory. I’m quite sure that another Cabalist will dispose of you and claim credit for this operation.”

“That might happen to an ordinary Cabal agent without my considerable skill…..” her opponent replied only to be interrupted by Ertai.
“Sir,” he said, looking shocked, “I sense something! A great number of individuals are entering this building! They will be here in…!”

This instance the doors were knocked out of their angles and another tag team entered the room. They were similarly equipped and outfitted as Volrath’s soldiers, though his expression of stunned disbelief revealed that he had never seen them before.

“Commander Volrath,” one of them said, “By degree of Director Horne, you and your men are under arrest! You’ll hand over your prisoners, come with us and await the beginning of your trial for high treason!”

The Cabalist’s reply consisted of a snap kick which caused the speaker to crash into the wall. Within seconds the two precisely planned attacks became a grand melee, which scattered the combatants through all rooms of the building and rendered firearms useless.

The last thing Max heard before joining the fight was Volrath’s enraged snarl: “Horne is behind this madness! High treason! She only wants me to fail! Oh, how I’m looking forward to kill this BITCH!”


* * * * *

After knocking several opponents out, Max was able to make her way out of the room and soon lost herself in the long corridors of the complex. She had lost Alec and Weir in the turmoil but managed to grab the vial with the nanites that were supposed to get rid of the virus. Now the only thing left to do was to find a way out of military base before one party could get the upper hand in the fight, a task which was much more difficult than usual.

Nearly every room was filled with Cabalists who were mostly fighting themselves and hardly noticed her. Those who did notice her entry soon found themselves lying unconscious on the floor. Though it was easy to avoid or fight the Cabalists, Max was becoming more and more desperate due to the fact that she had no idea how to find Alec or how to get out of the building. Finding the right way would have been much easier when she didn’t had to knock out several highly trained soldiers on every step.

The next door she tried led to a storeroom which was filled with huge boxes but devoid of anything alive. Content that she could finally open a door without getting into a brawl, Max made her way towards the door on the other side of the room. Her elation turned out to be short-lived because this instance a figured dropped form the ceiling, knocking into her and sending her to the ground. When she had regained her footing, she found herself facing Volrath again.

“452!” he said, apparently pleased to see her, “What pleasant surprise! I knew someone would try to reach the exit, located in this room but I’m surprised that you didn’t recognize this rather obvious threat. Perhaps my plans are simply too good and only such brilliant minds as my own can grasp their full poten…..”

Max interrupted her opponents monologue with a series of quick blows and kicks, hoping to gain an advantage before the self-important Cabalist could create a proper defense. However, her plan was foiled by Volrath’s excellent reflexes which enabled him to parry all her blows and even to launch a vicious counterattack, targeting her abdomen. The X5 managed to evade the blow by sidestepping it but lost here balance for a few moments. Volrath was no one to let a chance slip by unused: He grabbed Max, spun her around and slammed her into a nearby wall, forcing the wind out of her and sending her to the ground.

“You disappoint me,” he said to the dazed X5, “I expected you to be a more capable fighter. Well, sometimes it’s good not to be right!”

When he tried to launch further attacks Max used her low position to sweep away the legs of her opponent. Volrath came down cursing and got hit by a snap kick which send him flying towards a huge and quite solid box. The resulting sound told Max that she had broken several bones of her attacker, probably a few rips and, considering its odd ankle, also an arm. Whatever, the reason her opponent seemed unconscious or least too dazed to continue the fight.

“I would love to continue kicking your ass,” she snarled, before leaving the room “But unfortunately I’ve got to find a way out of here! See you later, sugar!”


* * * * *

Alec rushed through the complex, using his psychic abilities to avoid or disable the Cabal agents who battled in almost every room. The X5 admired the excellent timing of this struggle for power due to the fact that without the confusion caused by the fighting Volrath would have captured him again. However, his luck seemed to have run out the moment the grand melee had started. Now he was lost in apparently endless corridors, surrounded by enemies and only his most unreliable ability kept him save. He had used his last vial of serum when the fighting started and had no way of knowing when the effects would were off.

The X5 assumed that he had staggered deeper into the military base, which would explain the seer size of the complex and the fact that nothing felt familiar. Alec hated to admit it but that was exactly the kind of moment were usually Max would show up and would get his sorry ass out of trouble. Unfortunately, no Max was in sight this time, so he just had to rely on the trusted trial and error method to find the way out. Signing in frustration, he opened the next door, hoping that his luck had finally returned.

It took him only a few seconds to realize that luck was a bitch, who apparently hated him and eluded him when he most desperately needed her. She reminded him of the bitchy Max who was always in a bad mood, criticized him all the time and held him responsible for everything that went wrong. Of course there was also the hot Max, who looked gorgeous and had saved his butt around a million times. Alec dismissed the thoughts about Max’s true feelings about him and the nature of luck, concentration on more pressing problems.

He had staggered into another of the many brawls that took place in the abandoned military base. The only remarkable aspect of this particular fight was that Ertai was part of and used his mental powers to give his opponents the beating of their life.

“Ah, 494!” he said, while dispatching the last soldier, “I hoped I would encounter you! Those pitiful excuses for transgenics are simply no match for me. I need a challenge, someone who has similar abilities and here you are, exactly the opponent required for such a fight. Let’s see if Polito made you good enough to best me!”

Before Alec was able to react, Ertai sent a wave of energy, causing the X5 to stumble against a wall. Soon Alec felt the horrible sensation of being lifted into the air by an invisible force, followed by the searing pain of another impact on a few boxes. This time, however, he managed to evade the next incorporeal attack the Psy-Ops sent in his direction, which reduced the boxes to rubble. Making a mental note to avoid further hits, Alec responded with a similar telekinetic blast.

This instant he realized that his powers were pathetic compared to Ertai’s: It took his opponent only a few seconds to block the attack with another blast and to trap him again in an invisible grip. To make things worse, Ertai lifted him by the throat this time (or at least an invisible force, commanded by the Cabal agent did this), causing Alec to gasp for air and making it hard to concentrate.

“Apparently,” Ertai stated while lifting his victim into the air, “I’m simply too good! I expected a better fight, considering the fact that Polito improved you. Well, serum alone does make a brilliant Psy-Ops! But now it’s time to end the fight! Volrath will be pleased to see you again, so I’ll just make sure that you can’t run away!”

The grip around Alec’s throat tightened, cutting his air supply completely off. Even worse was the excruciating pain that shot through his head. He identified the source of the pain as massive mental assault, which crushed his meager defenses. The room started to blur as he began to lose consciousness and the X5 realized that further struggle was pointless.

Suddenly the invisible force that held him aloft vanished and the psychic attack ceased to attack. The dazed and battered Alec landed flat on his back, gasping for air. Slowly, everything came back into focus and he was able to identify the face that looked down on him.

“Dr Weir!” he said, feeling elated and surprised at the same time, “I expected Max but some diversification increases the fun of being saved.”

Weir didn’t seem to be in the mood for jokes, regarding the fact that her smile didn’t reach her eyes. When Alec stood up he realized that she was not alone, the soldiers who had defended her earlier were with her.

“You should leave now,” the scientist said, indicating a door to Alec’s right, “The corridor behind this door leads to the outside!”

“What about you?” the X5 echoed though he already knew the answer.

Weir shook her head, looking even more exhausted and weary than before. “It’s safer if we use different exits. I’m Volrath’s main target, staying near me would just get you into trouble. Besides, I’ve got all the protection I need. Now go, I’m sure we will meet again!”

With a heavy heart and convinced that Weir had just doomed herself, Alec followed her advice. A few moments after passing the threshold he heard the unmistakable sound of gunfire behind him.

* * * * *

Marek was convinced that today was the worst day in his whole life. Everything had gone wrong and he would have to endure Horne’s wrath soon. He had expected that Volrath would surrender once he saw that he was surrounded but the reckless Cabalist had resisted, ruining Marek’s plan and turning the whole base into a huge arena filled with an enormous amount of brawls.

The thought of Horne’s reaction sent shivers through the transgenic’s spine. Even under normal circumstances the Director could be an unscrupulous, sadistic bitch and now she risked everything to get rid of Volrath, a fact which would probably increase these notions tenfold. It was an outrageously risky plan and not for the first time Marek wondered whether the Cabal would be more powerful without the constant struggle between its members.

If everything went wrong Volrath would inform the Council that Horne had used captured X5s to create a personal taskforce, which was forbidden according to degree 440 of the Council, probably because the Cabal leaders feared that someone could use the transgenics to topple them. The revelation of Horne’s disobedience would lead to a full fledged trial for high treason in front of the Council, which would probably have her executed.

The thought of Horne’s possible death should have lifted Marek’s spirits, after all she had forced him to fight for her, but the X5 worried about his own fate. Either he would have to serve a new Cabal commander, probably Volrath who would use Horne’s trial as a chance to get her position, or the Council would regard him as her accomplice and have him executed as well.

Another option, to run for your life, was negated by a tiny chip which was stored somewhere in his body and constantly told Horne where he was. Marek draw the conclusion that he would have to find Volrath and arrest him, so Horne could blame him for the failure of the mission. The escape of Dr. Weir would be a fitting excuse for Horne, enabling her to get rid of a rival and to keep the existence of her army secret. Volrath would be degraded and sent to new Manticore, powerless to stop his former commanding officer because no member of the Council would believe a simple soldier who accuses Horne of violating Council degree 440.

Having made up his mind, Marek concentrated on the task at hand, finding Volrath, which could become difficult considering the size of the complex and the fact that his team was spread in the building, fighting Volrath’s men and Weir’s allies in a way that reminded the transgenic of the many pub brawls he had witnessed in the course of his life. The lack of organization was not only annoying; it also meant that he would have to fight Volrath on his own.

It took Marek about 20 minutes to find his quarry, who was lying in an abandoned storeroom, sporting various injuries including a broken right arm. Though the Cabalist seemed to be unconscious, the X5 approached warily, knowing the extraordinary abilities of his enemy who could use his nanites to heal much faster than any normal X5. His approach was stopped by the sound of Volrath’s voice, which sounded disturbingly confident.

“Do you really want to try this again, lad?” Volrath said, “Last time you failed completely and this time you don’t have almost 30 armed soldiers to support you! So I would suggest that you drop this weapon of yours and surrender before I’ll show you what happens to soldiers who interfere in things that are not their business.”

Marek almost laughed aloud: “You’re mad! I’m armed and fit while you are messed up and left with no other weapon than your ego! Now be reasonable and surrender before things get nasty for you!”

Like last time they met, Volrath answered non-verbally, sweeping the legs of the X5 away and knocking the gun out of Marek’s hands. Though his opponent fought with only one arm, Marek couldn’t get the upper hand in the fight. The horrid feeling of having underestimated his opponent was soon confirmed, when the Cabalist blocked one of his blows only to respond with a viscous counter that sent the X5 to the ground.

Before Horne’s lieutenant could re-establish his defense, he found himself pinned to the ground by the person he was ordered to capture.

“Now,” Volrath said, his voice cold as a grave, “We’ll have a little chat about our mutual friend Nicole Horne! You better answer correctly or I’ll start to break all bones in that useless hump of flesh you call your body. Did I make myself clear?”

“As glass, sir,” Marek echoed, “What do you want to know?”


* * * * *