Ah, Alec--the shinning light to an otherwise dreary second season. While certainly nice to look at, Alec also benefited from--*gasp*--characterization! Not necessarily _consistent_ characterization, but still. Seeing as Alec was present during almost all season two episodes, I'll try to break things down into manageable (and very edited) chunks.

Wait a minute, here! This guy looks familiar! Didn't Max snap his neck last season?

You'd be thinking of "Ben, [his] Manticore twin, Ben." Sam was a "clone" of Max, whereas Ben and Alec were "twinned"--you figure out the difference. Alec had some limited knowledge of Ben and his activities. He was aware that Max's "fellow traitor [,] went psycho." Due to Ben's unfortunate pastime, Alec spent six months in psy-ops (at least some of that time spent under Mia's care) in order to make sure Ben's problems weren't genetic.

However, as revealed in Hello, Goodbye, Alec wasn't aware of the extent of Ben's activities: "they told me back at Manticore that he'd gone nuts, but. . . serial killer?" Alec was identified by Mrs. Ryan as the murderer of Timothy Ryan, one of Ben's victims. Max had an uppity moment and threatened to leave Alec to the cops. Alec convinced her that he hadn't been out killing random people for fun: "guy's teeth were pulled from his head, for God's sake! [...] Come on, Max! You know, no matter what you think, there's no way it could've been me. That guy was killed over a year ago. I was at Manticore. [...] I mean, come on, I can hardly stand going to the dentist."

Nor was Alec aware of the events of Pollo Loco. Max told Alec what happened to Ben (namely her killing him). This led to a bonding moment between Max and Alec--Alec recognized that it "must be hard, huh? Having me around? Some guy with Ben's face, making you think about things you'd rather forget?" Max acknowledged the truth in that, and added "that's probably why I'm such a bitch to you sometimes." Sweet, isn't it?

So, tell me about Max and Alec.

Max and Alec met in Designate This--he was Max's assigned breeding partner (wasn't Renfro just full of great ideas?) Max wasn't impressed with the idea, and Alec wasn't much impressed with Max (cooties, you know). No sex, but Alec did get his name--Max didn't think 494 suited him, so "I'm going to call you Alec. [...] As in smart aleck."

There was snarkage. Some viewers even saw sparkage.

What was going on between Alec and Asha? Huh? Huh?

Well. . . not much. They first met during Designate This at Logan's apartment after Max's escape from Manticore. Guns were pointed, fun was had by all. Oh, don't get me wrong--there was flirting. Alec gave Asha his phone number (the silly girl didn't bother to note it down). Alec ever so smoothly hit on Asha during Borrowed Time (while Max and Logan were wasting their virus-free hours). Asha even came home with Alec, but ended up falling asleep on his couch (he was nice enough to tuck her in).

Things fizzled after that. During Hello, Goodbye, Alec approached Asha at the Crash for the sole purpose of telling her to stay away from him: "Look, you don't want to get involved with me. I was made in a lab. You know? I spent my formative years learning the fine art of assassination. There are guys out there right now looking to kill me, and I'm sure someday they'll probably succeed."

How's Alec doing on the Great Love front?

There was some use of the L-word in The Berrisford Agenda. Yes, yes, it's enough to set hearts aflutter. What happened, you ask? Ah, 'tis a most tragic tale. Settle down now and listen.

Robert Berrisford was a fifty-eight year old widow. He was also the CEO of Mercidyne and one of Manticore's subcontractors. The company subsidized in cutting-edge gene-splicing techniques and stem-cell research. Mr. Berrisford also suffered from an unfortunate bout of curiosity about the work Manticore did. Close surveillance of Mr. Berrisford was thus a necessity.

Mr. Berrisford just so happened to have a lovely young daughter, seventeen year old Rachel Berrisford ("she's a good student--excels in history and communications"). After strangling the real Simon Lehane, Alec took his identity and set off to serve as Rachel's piano instructor. True Love (or the closest approximation thereof) blossomed. Doe-eyed looks and kisses abounded.

However, Mr. Berrisford had acquired some damaging information about Manticore and was about to go to the Senate with it. Alec was ordered to kill Berrisford and Rachel. Alec attempted to warn Rachel and told her that he was sent there to kill her father. Rachel ran screaming to her father and kept him from getting into his car. They did, however, stand there hugging right beside it. The car blew up and Rachel was knocked into a coma, in which she had remained for two years.

Papa Berrisford was understandably upset. He toyed with Alec's mind a bit (piano music piped through Alec's cell phone) before nabbing him and threatening our conflicted X5 with death. Alec upset matters a titch by agreeing with Mr. Berrisford's general idea: "what are you waiting for? I deserve it. Kill me. Do it!" However, Max showed up in the nick of time and saved Alec. He was then able to sit at Rachel's bedside and say his goodbyes: "I should've tried harder, Rachel. I should've fought them. I didn't understand. . . I didn't understand how much I loved you."

Rachel's lifespan was as short as any of the guest transgens, and she died at the end of the episode. However, Alec was able to assure Max that "I'm always alright." And thus ended Alec's Grand Romance.

So, Alec is really just a sensitive guy looking for the right woman?

Um. Not quite.

Manticore burned to the ground. Alec had sex (Bag 'Em).

Alec frequented a strip-joint (Gill Girl).

Alec dated two co-workers at the same time (Berrisford Agenda).

And in Hello, Goodbye Alec pretty much dismissed the idea of a serious romantic relationship: "Max, we don't belong with 'em. Okay? We're a danger to them. When are you gonna finally see that?"

What was Normal's deal?

Alec fought as a boxer: "undefeated in his three times in the ring, he hails from parts unknown. Standing six feet tall, weighing in at a lean 178 pounds, Monty Cora!" Normal was there. Normal was impressed. Normal was most devoted to Alec when he came to work at Jam Pony.

Wouldn't some comments about Alec's personality be a nifty idea right about now?

Sure, why not? Alec started off morally ambiguous. He wasn't all warm and fuzzy transgenic family feeling: Alec demonstrated some prejudice towards the freakier looking transgenics early in the season. He made snarky comments about Joshua in Designate This. Alec didn't want to save Lizard from White in Bag 'Em. He had no trouble killing the Panther-woman in Proof of Purchase but was reluctant to kill an X6. In that same episode, Alec would have rather sliced off Joshua's barcode (had he had one) rather than Max's. He was also willing to ditch Max and the Bag 'Em kids--but he did wind up returning to help them save Max from White.

Alec had an entrepreneurial spirit. At Manticore, he traded vitamin pills for cigars (so much for the All Seeing Manticore Bigwigs!). Alec sold steroids ("andy") on the outside. Alec had wads of cash--origins uncertain--at various points throughout the season. He sold off Brain's televisions after Brain died and moved in his former apartment.

What did sweetch--uh, Alec--do at Manticore?

Well, he certainly wasn't having much in the way of fun: "You can't understand; you weren't there. You ran. You and your little rugrat brothers and sisters. You think life was rough when we were ten? A little schooling, a little brainwashing, some maneuvers outside? You think that was tough? Take it from me: later on, it got a whole lost worse. But you did what you had to do. Then you tried to forget. And when you couldn't forget, they had ways of making you not care" (The Berrisford Agenda).

The Berrisfords were Alec's first deep cover mission. He had previously successfully completed four away missions, but hadn't done anything long-term. He had been preparing for the Berrisford mission for a year. Alec learned how to play the piano within a day.

We also know that Alec went on a mission with fellow X5, Biggs: the Volkovitch job, "over in Kezmekistan or wherever." They greatly enjoyed their off-hours and Lola (use your imagination for that one, folks).

Ah, Ben; dear, psycho Ben. Back at Manticore, Ben was seen to be the sensitive, creative type. He made shadow-butterflies on the walls and entertained his unit members with stories, both comforting and terrifying. He spoke of the Good Place: "only the best soldiers get to go to the Good Place." The soldiers who failed were sent to the Bad Place "where they open you up and drink your blood until you're almost dead. Then they leave you there for the Nomolies." The Nomolies (X2s who had gone crazy) "crawl up from the basement through special tunnels. And when you're not looking. . . BAM! They break through the wall and drag you away. [. . . ] They keep you as prisoner of war and eat you up, little by little, forever."

However, after the X5s received a card with a picture of the Virgin Mary from a janitor at Manticore, Ben came up with a new set of stories about the Blue Lady. "She's watching out for us," Ben assured the others. The X5s had their very own little cult going on. They would go up to the roof (the High Place) and gave up some of their own teeth to the Blue Lady ("they make her stronger. . . so she can fight Nomolies.") However, Ben suffered a crisis of faith when one of his unit members was taken away during while seizing: "why?! What did we do wrong?! We believe in you!"

Ben's confusion carried over into the years after the escape. He told the Reverend W. R. Destry of the _Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church_ that "I've taken human life. What more is there to say?" and, "I'm a soldier. Killing is what I was trained to do." Later on, Ben informs Max that Eva and Jack died because "we failed her [the Blue Lady]" as "we weren't strong enough." Ben admitted to Father Destry that "sometimes I feel the Lady's given up on me."

This uncomfortable mix of Manticore indoctrination and religious crisis led Ben along an unfortunate path. Ben began recreating an event which occurred at Manticore before the escape. Lydecker had released a prisoner into the woods and sent the X5s in pursuit of him. The X5s caught the man and found a heart-tattoo on his chest. Believing him to be a Nomolie, the X5s went wild: "it was the most exhilarating day of your life. For one brief moment, you were what you were meant to be--a predator. [. . . ] I think we even scared Lydecker that day. [. . .] Don't tell me you don't wake up with the sound of your heart pounding in your ears. [. . . ] Or the taste of blood in your mouth. [. . . ] You're like a wolf in sheep's clothing, Max! You're hiding your instincts, every minute of every day, so no one will know what you really are. A soldier. . . a hunter. . . a killer."

Ben kidnapped people ("They're soldiers. Worthy opponents.") and carved his own barcode into the back of their necks ("war is art, remember? So what if I sign my work?) and set them free in the woods with a weapon. Ben then set out in chase. He had committed two such murders in Chicago, four in Miami, and three in New York. The autopsy of the first man Ben killed in Seattle revealed that "the killer was incredibly strong--snapped the neck at the second vertebra with one hand. The victim's face and arms were covered with cuts and abrasions that indicate he was moving fast through the brush. [. . . ] The body was found displayed on a rock outcropping. [. . .] His left arm was twisted around behind his back, broken at the elbow. His shoulder was dislocated. No bruising, so it was done postmortem" and the victim's teeth had been pulled out. Lydecker stepped in each time and shut down the investigation.

In Seattle, Ben chose Father Destry: "your strength is your faith--your belief in the Lady. Tell me you don't believe in her, and I'll set you free. I'm not a liar." However, Max had learned of Ben's earlier murder in Seattle and had been lead to Father Destry's church. She met Ben there while he was offering up teeth to the statue of the Virgin Mary/Blue Lady. He got away at that meeting, but Max met Father Destry and was informed that he was missing when she returned to his church. She set out after Ben. They fought.

Manticore was also aware of Ben's activities. Renfro demanded that Lydecker "find him. Bring him back to Manticore. And figure out what the hell went wrong with him." Manticore was approaching Max and Ben's location as they fought in the woods. At that moment, Max snapped Ben's knee which meant that he wouldn't be able to escape under his own power. Nor could Max carry him and get away in time. Ben begged Max: "don't leave me here. Don't let them take me. [. . . ] Please. You know what they'll do to me. They'll put me down there with them. . . the Nomolies. Please." Max reluctantly agreed and asked Ben to tell her about the Good Place. Ben began: "where no one ever gets punished, and no one gets yelled at, and nobody disappears. And when you wake up in the morning, you can stay in bed as long--"

Max snapped Ben's neck and Lydecker found his body shortly thereafter.

In a stunning attempt at continuity between the first and second seasons, Max and Alec discussed Ben during Hello, Goodbye. Alec asked about Ben and Max replied that "when we were kids, back at Manticore, he always wanted answers for everything. You know? Why we were there, what was outside. So he would make up these fantastic stories to explain things. Somehow it made us feel. . . loved. Like we weren't all alone." Alec said: "sounds like a nice kid. What went wrong?" Max answered that "after we escaped, it was like there were too many things in this world he didn't have answers for. [. . . ] I don't know. He just. . . lost it."

And quotes I couldn't fit in anywhere else:

"We never should've left. Everything made sense there [at Manticore]."

"Nothing went wrong with me! I'm doing what I was made to do, what we were taught to do!"

"I'm a good soldier. I try so hard." (Doesn't he just break your heart?)

Ben appeared in Pollo Loco and was discussed in Hello, Goodbye.

Like magic, Biggs appeared out of nowhere. In a blink, he was an established employee at Jam Pony (which had become the Transgenic Underground between episodes). Biggs and his buddy Alec remembered a bit of action from their past--"No, the first thing we ever did together was the Vokovitch job, over in Kezmekistan or wherever," Biggs said. "Oh, yeah, that's right," Alec remembered, "Ooh, the off-hours were definitely the highlight of that mission." Both of them: "Lola."--and then headed off for a different kind of action in Seattle, America's transgenic capital.

Three motorcycle riding transgenics--could chaos be far behind? They zoomed around the sector police and White and rescued the fair--that is, the Arctic transgenic on the run. Heroes victorious, they vroomed on off to Terminal City (transgenic population growing daily!).

There was an ever so foreboding scene of "trannie" hating bigots (aka. 'Light of Life Mission') taking donations of the street. Hold on, and we'll get back to them after some brief plot development.

White had a new Transgenic-Tracker device which detected the X-series' higher thermal energy signature. Biggs was the not so lucky transgenic who got picked up by it. No idiot, Biggs spotted the goons who were ever.so.subtly closing in on him. He made a run for it and managed to escape.

Unfortunately, Biggs' day was about to get worse. His picture was put on the television--of which there happened to be several which were turned on and tuned to the right channel, right there on the street. Alec saw the news and called Biggs to warn him. However, the previously mentioned bigots had already caught sight of both newscast and the 'trannie' himself. They closed in on Biggs and attacked him while he was distracted by his face on the television.

"Hey! He's one of 'em!" someone called out when Biggs fell, revealing his barcode. Not simply content to be observers of a hate crime, other people joined in to beat the hell out of Biggs: "How do you like that, freak?" By the time Max and Alec reached Biggs' location, he was long dead. Murder not being half as fun without a party afterwards, Biggs had been strung up by his feet over the street. A wooden X was burning nearby: "That oughta teach them freaks a lesson, huh?"

Biggs' sole episode was Love Among the Runes.

As if there weren't enough of them. . . enter Max clone number two, this one an adult and fellow X5. Sam was married to an unnamed man and had adopted his (nameless) son, who called her 'mom.' Sam had been out of Manticore for two years, on a deep-cover mission. Her husband had started off as that mission--industrial espionage--but when Sam found out that Manticore was gone, she opted to stay with him. Until the goons with guns burst into their home, the husband was unaware that there was anything odd about his wife.

Sam lacked Max's Special DNA (tm), but White had uses for her nonetheless. Never mind that he had tried a version of it before (Alec. Microbomb. Didn't work, hon), White told Sam that it was her husband and child's life for Max's. Harbouring some bitterness towards Max, and not being stupid enough to say no to the villain, Sam agreed and went off to track down her 'sister.'

We were granted a fair amount of Sam-style bitchiness: she smoked (well, she had quite until yesterday), she drove a motorcycle, and she really didn't have the same trouble with guns as did Max--hey, more the merrier, two guns are even better than one! She shot the heck out of Otto's car and told everyone to back the hell off. They did.

Sam caught Max in the midst of running away from her problems in Seattle. Some snarkiness and revelations ensued: "Bet you never once stopped to think about what they'd do to the rest of us. They wanted to make sure it wouldn't happen again, so they tightened the leash. We got the worst of it, your twins. Manticore figured since we had the same basic psychological makeup as the twelve of you, we were the greatest flight risks, so they hauled us into psy-ops for evaluation. . . for six months. You have no idea what they put us through, do you? While you were out in the world, living the dream, we paid the price."

Logan showed up. Max was freed. A fight followed--and Max fought dirty. White showed up, and Max had fun playing with her twin's clothes. Logan knocked White out. They worked out a trade with White's agency: White for the husband and kid. The trade was successful, and as White was the villain, he pulled a gun--and a whole bunch of armed transgenics showed up.

The day was saved! The family was reunited! Sam still didn't like Max! And the husband still had no name and didn't have a clue as to what was going on. Luckily, they had a nice drive to Canada in which to hash everything out.

She Ain't Heavy was Sam's first and only visit to Dark Angel canon.

The Inimitable Pooh_Bah did a little math and came up with the following:

"Case must be five or six years old. We'll be generous with Tinga's age and assume she's an older one like Zack, which makes her twenty-two at the time we met her. She would then be seventeen when she gave birth to Case. And if she was on the younger end of the series--say, twenty, like Max--she would have had Case at fourteen or fifteen. ::cough:: You know, Charlie looks thirty- something. I think the producers either didn't really think this one through, or didn't communicate sufficiently with the casting department."

X5-692 was an unnamed transgenic. He was captured by White and was to be used as a test subject for a pathogen designed to target a specific segment of a population. He was released by the mad scientist of the episode and took off from the van in which he had been restrained. Max chased X5-692 and knocked him into a vat of water which would protect them from exposure to the pathogen. He struggled until Max showed him her barcode and the countdown on her pager. He got the message and stayed under.

X5-692 survived, and Max ushered him over to Joshua's where he was to stay for the night. As he was sleeping at the time, X5-692 lost out on his last chance to actually say something. Max's final word on X5-692 was that "he's had a rough couple of days," and that Logan would help get him over the border tomorrow.

His only episode was Radar Love.

Season two was the year of underdeveloped transgenics. The lucky ones were those that warranted a name. This section includes only those transgenics who appeared long enough and/or said enough for me to have some information on them. Those X-Freaks given a name by the fans or with distinguishing characteristics have their own sections (ex: Lumpy).

We had an unnamed, unnumbered X5 who was training with Max. He was winning at the beginning, allowing him to make a snarky comment: "What's the matter, 452? Still recuperating?" Demonstrating her brilliant wit, Max replied: "Bite me!" Snarky went in for the kill: "Must've given you a lousy heart," he said, prompting Max to draw on some extra energy and win their fight. He appeared in _Designate This_.

We also learned that an unnamed, unnumbered male X5 had achieved "successful copulation with X5-392" in _Designate This_.

Another unnamed unnumbered X5, this time a female, revealed that copulation was unsuccessful as "X5-698 failed to achieve minimum mission requirements." Beyond the public embarrassment, 698 got dragged off for some poking and prodding by Manticore's doctors. They, too, were introduced in _Designate This_.