Chapter One

A/N: Someone shoot me, I’m starting another story! I have SO many that are open… Argh but this idea wouldn’t leave me alone so I had no choice! Damn it all! Well nonetheless I hope you enjoy!

Summary: As she witnesses the end of the world, her purpose becomes clear, and she alone must stop the evil forces from killing everyone she holds dear. Especially her life mate: Alec.

Rating: M (language, violent, sexual content)

Pairing: MA

Genre: Romance/Action/Drama

Disclaimer: I have no rights to Dark Angel!

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Terminal City

Seattle, WA

2025 A.D.


It was war. The fine line that had kept the Familiar and Transgenic race apart had finally broken when Terminal City was breeched. They’d been expecting an attack but nothing so severe. The sky glowed a red-orange hue due to the flames that roared through the tallest buildings of Terminal City. Shots fired, causing shouts and cries of pain. Her people lay amongst the ruin of what they’d called home. She herself was leading a small group that’d been on the other side of the city when the first initial attack had started.

They moved stealthily over sparking power lines and hissing pipes that steam billowed out of. She tried not to look too long at those that stared blankly at her when she bent to check pulses. She kept the tears at bay, trying her best to keep the CO persona. But it was hard, so hard, when she saw Gem lying with her baby in her arms. Both were dead, both probably in a better place. She flinched when hearing the whimpers of Joshua behind her and she turned to console him.

“Joshua, we have to keep moving,” she said quietly.

“Gem…” His dog eyes were full of sorrow. “Little Gem…”

“I know.” Max rose trying to remain calm in the panic. “I know. That’s why we have to keep going.”

“Where?” whispered a grown Dalton, who’d filled out nicely at his ripe age of eighteen. “Where do we go from here?”

“We find survivors,” said Max. “And take out as many Familiars as we can.”

“There’s only six of us,” whispered an X6 named Jem, a newer recruit that found her way up from Florida about a month ago. Her face was covered in grit and there was a cut at her temple. Blood trailed down to her cheek and her once bright blonde hair was matted with the dirt and her own blood. “I have a bum ankle and Dalton’s hand is smashed.”

“I only need one,” he said, making her roll her eyes.

“Look,” said Max. “I know the odds aren’t in our favor but-”

She broke off at the sound of gunfire and she straightened, ignoring her own injuries. A piece of shrapnel had ended up embedded in her upper arm but Alec wrapped it and she had been ready to go. The jeans she was wearing were shredded at the knees and her long sleeved black shirt looked unscathed but it was soaked with the blood of those she’d tried to save, but hadn’t been successful.

Max signaled where she wanted her team to move and they were off, trying their best to silently move over what’d used to be Command. Along with Dalton, Joshua, and Jem: Dex and Mage accompanied her. Both were male X5’s and were excellent in their weapons training. Alec’s team had Mole and a couple female X6’s that knew how to take care of themselves.

She would be happy when the sweep was over with and she could get out of there. She wasn’t comfortable still being here and kept her ears open for another attack. Another cowardly attack from White: who was too chicken-shit to come here and take her on fair and square.

Then she heard more gunfire and she put her fist up to show that she wanted them to halt. She listened, and her eyes widened when hearing the sound of battle. She signaled to the left and they were off. Her heart started to beat faster and faster as they got closer and closer. The fires had spread to cover most of this area and the heat made her sweat. It pressed against her skin, making condensation form above her breasts and along her top lip.

She scratched her arm; it itched like crazy, as did her back. She had to ignore that now, though, while she climbed up a hill of debris. When getting to the top, her eyes widened as to what she saw. A circle of Familiars, about ten: taking on Alec’s squad. She saw the X6 females lying on the ground, their necks at an awkward angle. She saw Mole fighting two male Familiars and Alec who had three.

She wanted to run down and protect him but knew it would be stupid. She signaled her two sharp shooters to take positions and signaled that the shot needed to count, and that the skull was the target. They nodded in understanding. She then signaled the same to Jem and Dalton who also nodded and took their positions.

They looked at her for her mark and she nodded. Four shots rang out, and four Familiars dropped dead. Those that’d been in the circle looked up and though she was certain they couldn’t see them: they moved in her direction.

“Again!” she shouted.

Four more shots and only two dropped. They were a hundred yards away, sprinting at her. She looked to see Alec battling a female but she saw how tired he was. The shooters reloaded and she went down when the Familiars opened fire on them. This time only two shots from the two snipers rang out but only one Familiar fell.

Fifty yards.

Dalton went down, his shout of pain distracting Jem, who shortly followed him as a bullet entered her throat. Max hurried to her, almost getting shot herself. Jem made choking sounds as she gripped her throat, which was flowing with blood.

“Shh…” Max put a hand against the wound. “It’s ok…”

Jem gurgled, and Max let a lone tear fall as the last of the shots rang out.

“I’m sorry,” whispered Max, who then left Jem’s side to join the fight. She was enraged; her eyes were almost black with anger as she leapt in the air as a cat would when pouncing on a mouse. Her hands fisted around the jacket of a Familiar and they tumbled down the hill. She grunted as her back in the bottom but she was on her feet in a second, as was the Familiar. She blurred to the side and managed to jab an elbow to his side, the Familiar didn’t even wince but she got behind him and blur-kicked him in the spine. His legs gave out. Though the Familiar’s threshold of pain was high, no one would walk with a broken spinal cord. She then punched the bastard in the face then reached down for his weapon.

In the past, she would’ve flinched or even hesitated when taking a life. Now, she had no choice, and she pointed the weapon at his head and fired until there was nothing left to fire at. She looked up when hearing a roar and saw Joshua making quick time against five Familiars. She rushed to help him and raised her gun high. She caught one, then two Familiars as she ran before she was tackled down. She grunted as her face met the hard ground and she rolled for a good ten feet. She sat up, as did her attacker.

“White,” she spat, slowly getting up.

“452,” he said in his arrogant voice. “We meet again.”

“I’m not in the mood for foreplay,” she said, tossing her head to the side so that her long, caramel colored hair fluttered in the air. “Let’s end this.”

“Fine,” he said and he was the first to attack. She did her best to block his attacks but his high kick hit her bad arm and she hissed in pain. Having found her weak spot he tried his best to hit it again but she evaded and soon with a quick one-two punch she was back in the game. He was put on the defensive and when he moved to block a feigned low attack she leapt in the air in a backward flip, the toe of her boot nailing White in the chin. He went down on his back as she landed upright on her feet and she didn’t hesitate as she kicked out again, her right foot connecting with his left temple. When she moved to do it again his hand blocked and gripped her ankle. He pulled with all his might and she cried out as her ankle popped.

Alec must’ve heard it because soon he was on top of White and attacking him in a way that she’d never seen him fight. She fell back on her ass as the grip on her ankle was lost and she winced at the pain of it. She got back up, ready to give her mate back up but soon she heard the crack of a neck and her eyes widened when Alec stood and White lay still.

“Alec…”

“Max,” he said, hurrying toward her and engulfing her in his arms. “You’re ok?”

“I’m fine,” she assured, nuzzling against his neck. “You?”

“You know me,” he said and she wasn’t surprised to see his cocky smirk when she pulled back. “I’m always all right.”

“Yeah,” said Max, scratching her arm again as she fidgeted. “Sure.”

She then looked at White, her expression grim yet satisfaction was evident. He was finally gone, and Alec must’ve known what she was thinking because she was soon held against his side. She felt comforted as he kissed her temple and reached up so that his fingertips brushed against his mating mark.

“Let’s get outta here,” he said.

“Good idea.”

They assessed their situation. Joshua and Mole were limping toward them, as were both of the X6 sharp shooters. The flames were still high and they still needed to regroup and get the hell out of there.

“You sure you’re fine?” he asked, eyeing her as she scratched the back of her neck.

“I itch like crazy,” she muttered. “I think someone messed with my laundry.”

They laughed, but Alec’s laugher soon faltered. He had a surprised look on his face and Max was about to ask him what was wrong when he looked down. Her eyes followed and she gasped when seeing the large stain of blood on the front of his shirt.

“Alec!”

“Maxie…” he whispered, just as his legs gave out. She caught him and they both went down. She ignored the pain of her foot as she ripped off his shirt then used it to press against his would. “Fuck!”

“You’re ok,” she whispered. “You’re ok.”

“Damn,” said a voice. “Was hoping one shot would be enough.”

Max looked up at the intruder and her eyes widened when seeing who it was.

“You!”

It was the bitch she’d fought at Jam Pony but before Max could get up to attack her Joshua was there, taking her on. Max scanned the area before looking down at Alec, who was coughing up blood. She ran her bloody hand over his cheek and she began to shake.

“Don’t leave me,” she whispered, her lips trembling as she pressed against his wound. “Alec…”

“Maxie…” He was looking at her, but his eyes were unfocussed. “I love…”

He didn’t finish his sentence. She looked at him in shock, unsure if this was real. Her hands were pressing against his wound. His blood was still warm. He couldn’t be dead. This was Alec, Alec who had well over nine lives. So she shook him, urging him to come back. Then she started CPR

“Don’t do this,” she ordered as she did compressions. “Fight for me, damn it!”

She moved to tilt his head back. She pressed his nose closed with her thumb and index finger then pressed her lips against his and breathed for him. When he didn’t respond, when she couldn’t FEEL him anymore like she used to after they’d mated: she arched her back, tossed her head back, and screamed.

A scream of anguish and rage pierced the night air. Those that still fought hesitated in their attacks when it sounded and a cold chill moved under their skin, but quickly resumed once the scream had ceased. Max, however, wasn’t done fighting. She was ready to kill. Her mate was gone, her lover and best friend. He was gone and she had nothing else to live for. She looked down at him, and then pressed her lips against his. She didn’t care that she tasted his blood or even dirt. This was her kiss goodbye.

So she stood on shaky legs just as another bomb went off in another part of the city. She didn’t even flinch. She started to run and ignored the calls of Mole and even Joshua, who’d taken care of the Familiar that’d ended her reason to live.

She went on a hunt and each and every Familiar she came upon went down. There was nothing left that signified her as a human. Logan had been right. Deep down they were nothing but animals. She fought until she was at the edge of the perimeter that had yet to be touched. She saw about twenty Familiars surrounding a suit and somehow she knew… She knew the suit was responsible.

She didn’t even hesitate. When he saw them she calmly walked in their direction. The Familiars had started to raise their weapons but the suit lifted a hand to stop them. Max stopped about twenty feet away and eyed the man. He had a patch on his right eye and a cigar in his mouth. His black suit was clean, unlike her clothes, which were unsalvageable. He looked about fifty and she cocked her head to the side as she studied him.

“I suppose I have you to thank for this,” she said calmly.

“You do,” he said, puffing his cigar. “Filthy little girl with her laboratory genes.”

“I prefer the term genetically enhanced,” she snarked, putting her hands on her hips. “Why couldn’t you leave us alone?”

“Because,” he said, “you were the ones that could stop us. The Ascension comes forth and on that day all that will remain… Will be us.”

Max stilled at this. So that was the plan? Rid the world of all humans and transgenics and all that would remain would be them. The snake worshipping quack jobs that hadn’t a clue as to whom they were dealing with. Well, they had known, considering the attack.

“You thought we could stop you?”

“Not all of you,” he said. “Just one. One alone had the power to change it. To go back and change the events that lead to the destruction of her people. Of the world! I still don’t’ know how my brother did it. Luckily, no one will have to care.”

She easily put the pieces together.

“Brother? Sandeman was your brother?”

“Yes,” he said, playing with his cigar. “Thanks to him, we almost lost all that we were trying to accomplish. Luckily, I severed that threat long ago.”

“Bastard,” spat Max, who then cried out as the itching of her arm turned into a burning sensation so severe that she had to pull up the sleeve of her arm.

Everyone, including the cigar guy, stared at the glowing symbols on her skin. What had been once black ink was now a burning orange. It looked as if the markings were on fire.

“No…” The cigar guy then grabbed the gun a Familiar had been holding. “She’s the one!”

Her head snapped up as the trigger was pulled and she dove to the side as the gun fired. She then ran, zig-zagging as she escaped from those that wanted her dead. She ran until her couldn’t go any longer and she fell in a heap. Her body was burning and she pulled off her shirt to see the markings still glowing. Her breathing increased and she whimpered as the pain worsened. She closed her eyes when she felt nauseous and then fell to her side as the seizure took her over. She closed her eyes, knowing she was about to die…

‘Alec…’

She whimpered as the shakes got worse then she felt something… Strange. Her eyes opened wide and she couldn’t see it, but they glowed a bright blue… Light surrounded her just as a couple Familiars found her, aiming a weapon at her head. She closed her eyes, waiting for the killing bullet to come… But it never did. In fact… She felt… weird.

The smell of smoke was gone, as was the feel of the cool air against her skin. Opening her eyes she saw the ceiling of the old apartment that she’d shared with Cindy. Slowly standing she winced as her sore ankle protested and she braced herself against the wall. She gave herself a couple minutes to settle before she pushed off the wall. Looking around she saw her bed, which she distinctly remembered taking to TC with her.

Something didn’t feel right so she went to the doorway and exited out into the living room. It was her old apartment and using her hearing she could sense that she was alone.

It wasn’t the fact that she was alone that scared her. No, it was the fact that this building, about three years ago, had been demolished. This place shouldn’t even exist. So she frantically moved around the room, wincing every time she put weight on her bad foot. She was looking for a clue to tell her what was going on. When she saw the newspaper she lunged for it and frantically searched for something to tell her what was going on. Then she found it, and her mouth opened in a shocked ‘o’ as her eyes read the information over and over again.

“What the…”

The year was 2020.

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TBC…

Whoa, time travel? Just what kinda stuff was Sandeman involved in? Well we’ll never know, the guy’s dead, but thank the Lord that he knew a little hocus-pocus!

As Always, Reviews Are Appreciated:0)