All of Us -- Chapter 53

Disclaimer:  The TV show Dark Angel, all of the characters that appeared on it (Max, Zack, Alec, etc.), and everything else that has to do with the show belong to their respective owners, not to me.  No money is being made off of this fic.  I only own the original characters (Becky/X6-405, etc.).

“They’re here!” Jeff yelled as Max, Zack, and the others who had gone arrived back in the control room in Terminal City. Everybody cheered.

“Holy shit,” Max said, her eyes wide as she looked at the cheering transgenics. “I can’t believe it.”

“Actions do speak louder than words, sweetheart,” Mole said, grinning as much as he ever did. “You did kill the scumbag, right?”

“He’s definitely dead,” Max confirmed. “I couldn’t hear a heartbeat. That happens when you take one in the head from a gun loaded with exploding hollow points.”

Alec looked surprised. “I thought you said that you’d never use a gun again.”

“I said I’d only use it in the most extreme of extreme circumstances,” Max reminded him. “He had a gun pointed at Zack who was slightly out of it and pinned underneath Stephen and was this close to firing the gun. That counts in my book as the most extreme of extreme circumstances. Nobody tries to kill the ones that I love.”

“If anybody tried to hurt Brin or Tony, they’d be dead before they could blink,” Alec agreed. “You did damn good in there, Max.”

Becky grinned. “I can’t believe we pulled all of this off. I really can’t believe it.”

“Believe it, Becky,” Max said.

“The fun’s only beginning,” Dix told them. “The transmissions were made. Stephen should have been picked up by an ambulance and formally arrested for attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, among other charges by now. If we’re lucky, he’ll break and give the authorities the names of other Familiars. They’re toast, especially considering how high ranking General Murphy is.” He smiled and shook his head in amazement. “So these guys are all normal now? Whatever specially bred traits they have are gone?”

“Yeah,” Zack said. “Just moments after Max killed White, Stephen had his first experience with pain. I heard him try to follow us, but it definitely sounded as if he was moving at normal human speed and I heard him collapse before he could get to the exit that Max and I had used. They’re down for the count.”

Brin smiled. “It’ll be nice not to have to worry about Familiars trying to attack us or the children. They won’t be able to do that again. Hell, they don’t even exist anymore.”

“They don’t,” Max said. “Now they’re just another cult who will just go away like so many other religious cults have throughout history.” She made a face. “Great, I’m starting to sound full of myself.”

“You’ve been hanging around Alec too long,” Sasha commented.

“Thanks, Sasha,” Alec said. “I can’t tell you how it warms my heart to know that I can always count on one of my oldest and best friends.”

“Anytime, bro,” Sasha said cheerfully.

“This calls for one massive party,” Jondy yelled triumphantly. The crowd cheered.

“Whoa, not right now,” Max said, laughing. “I am way too tired and so is Zack and he took a hard hit to the head back in the warehouse so the only place he’s going right now is med bay.”

Zack turned to give Krit a glare. “I heard that whip-cracking noise, Krit. I didn’t hit my head that hard.”

“I think everybody needs to know the contents of your porno stash now,” Syl said wickedly.

Krit’s eyes widened in horror. “Sweetie, please don’t tell them? Please?”

“Convince me not to,” Syl said, still smiling.

“I’ll do my best,” Krit promised. He pulled her in and kissed her deeply.

“We save the world and he’s still…Krit,” Max said, laughing.

“You, Maxie,” Zack said. “You were the one who saved the world. You were the one who had killed White and saved every human being on this planet. I didn’t.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” Max insisted. “You kept Stephen busy while I fought White. If you hadn’t gotten that shot off at White, he would have killed me. I couldn’t have done it without you and I couldn’t have done it without anybody here.”

“No matter how we distribute the credit for this,” Zack said. “You are the most amazing person that I have ever known.” He leaned down and kissed her. “I love you so much, Maxie.”

“I love you, too, Zack,” Max said. They both smiled and kissed each other again.

“Time out there, kids,” Wayne teased. “As your field med slash doctor, it’s sort of my duty to haul Zack’s ass over to the med bay to make sure that he still has what passes for a brain in his skull.” He ducked the swing that Max took at him and laughed. “And yes, to treat myself for whatever injuries Maxie decides to inflict on me if I don’t shut my mouth.”

“Hey, Jondy, there’s hope for him,” Max remarked to her sister.

“Sweet,” Jondy said happily.

“Seriously, come on and let’s get over to med bay and I’ll check Zack,” Wayne said. “Are you okay, Maxie?”

“I’m fine,” Max insisted.

“You’re more than fine,” Zack murmured in her ear.

Max blushed a little but smiled. “Yeah, I guess I am.” She gave Zack another kiss and then they headed off to the med bay.

The end!