Author’s Notes: This is an action/adventure, mystery, kinda-maybe-AU, ‘omigod, it has plot!’ A/M ficcy. Big freaking surprise, I know, more like, been done a thousand times. But this one’s got better plot then the others, so THERE! J/K. So be a sport and read it anyway, okay? And then you can rant or rave to me in e-mail. Isn’t that so much better then just stopping right now? I mean you already went to the trouble of clicking the link and everything!
Story Notes: Takes place post-Freak Nation and the Trannie War.
Summary: Post-DA. The fight for freedom is over and the transgenics have won, but at what cost? Everything is not as it appears.
Rated: R
Feedback: Love it? Hate it? Go on, you’ll be my best friend! See, all you have to do is click the little link! goddess_delenn@yahoo.com
Date Started: November 25, 2005. Date Finished: N/A
Journeys
By Delenn
She wants to struggle, as they wheel her down the narrow hallway with its bright fluorescent lights and sterile gray walls. But it's too late for that - she knows it.
Still, she tries. Twisting against the gurney and straining against the metal bands holding her down. How did she get here? How did they get her?
She can't remember.
Looking up at officials smirking down at her - cold and calculating with their gazes, unfriendly in their movements. She thinks she's screaming, screaming at them, but she can't hear anything.
Her clothes are torn and her side throbs, and she can taste the blood from her split lip. It seems like she's been strapped down forever, caught, being sent down this hall. But she hasn't, there was something before and…
She can't remember.
Every other second, another light passes overhead, and she's counting them. Keeping track of the distance they are taking her. There are no windows.
With a sharp jerk, the gurney rounds a corner, never slowing its speed, and then stops short, the officials moving in front of her to enter a pass code that she can't see. The heavy metal wall slides open, and they push her in.
She can feel the bang of the door shutting, and then, for a second, everyone is out of her line of sight.
There's a moment of movement, and then there are masked men leaning over her. Doctors. And she thinks they're talking to her, as they prod her and shine even brighter lights at her, but she can't see their mouths move and she can't hear their questions.
A syringe slides into her arm. She has just a moment to stare at it, gasping, and then there is a roar of noise. Machines beeping, doctors talking, the banging of her fists against steel.
"Watch her heartbeat… Careful, that's enough… Somebody hold him down…"
A roughened voice to her right, that she thinks must have been screaming before, "What have they done to you?" and she turns her head, startled even though she knows what she'll see…
And woke up, mouth opened in a scream. Eyes darting around, Max sat up in bed, trying to shake away the nightmare. She could see the brilliant blue sky, outlined in the window, and the light of the sun pouring in. Bright on her face, but not fluorescent and harsh.
Reassured, she sank back down into the plush covers and soft bed, arms stretched to brush against the sides of the down comforter. Once her heartbeat had slowed, she reached towards the nightstand, and the notebook sitting atop it.
But the dream was already fading, and by the time Max held the pen to paper, all she could scribble down was: long hallway, bright lights.
Shrugging, she glanced at the clock, and determined it more than time to be awake. Sleeping in had never been her thing. The covers pushed back, Max slid her bare feet to the floor, judged the temperature warm enough to avoid slippers, and rose from the bed.
Her nightgown was just a little long, and trailed slightly against the floor as she replaced the covers and moved onto the balcony. It was a bright and beautiful day, with flowers blooming in the garden, while the water below glistened and the blue sky met a backdrop of tall mountains. All Max's unease melted away at the view. It was ridiculous to be so worked up over a silly dream.
Feeling much more awake, slightly calmer, and only a little silly, Max crossed back through her bedroom and out into the hallway. After only a few steps, she was descending the large stairway, brightly lit by the windows on the opposite wall.
Max wandered down the stairs, through the living room and into the kitchen, bending down at the entrance to pick up an apple out of a basket.
From the other side of the kitchen, a familiar voice remarked, "Who knew I'd be the first up?" the stove clicked off, and the voice moved toward Max, "I figured I must've worn you out, so I made you breakfast."
Instead of turning around, Max took a bite of her apple. "Maybe I'm not hungry."
"Had to ruin my moment."
Setting the apple down on the table, Max shrugged, "Like your ego needs to get any bigger."
Hands settled on her shoulders, "Hey, at least I can cook," and spun her around.
Max leaned in for a kiss, grinning at the indignant look she was receiving. The look quickly faded, as the kiss intensified, and the hands trailed down her silk-covered back to rest at her waist. "Forget breakfast."
Pulling away, Max laughed, turning towards the table and ignoring the sigh from behind her. Smirking, with false innocence, "But, Alec, I wouldn't want to ruin your moment!"
The sentence was barely out of her mouth before Max found herself scooped up, her half-eaten apple pressed into her hand. Alec grinned, "I was thinking: breakfast in bed."
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