The Game 2

Edited by Karen Leigh

"How's it coming?" Pendrell asked Star-Mac 27.

"Coming along. A few repairs and it may be ready to use," the android replied.

"We will gather at the river," Pendrell sang sadly.

"It's a sewer," Star-Mac 27 pointed out.

"River, sewer, it doesn't matter. What matters is getting off this planet. I see no hope for anyone here. No hope at all. I must lead my people to the promised land," Pendrell said.

"Alexander? Hephaiston? Achilles? Patroklos? Is my Theban Band ready to go forth?"

"Yes, oh great Pendrell, it is!" replied the beautiful Alexander.

"Then go, rescue Ricky Caruso and his friend. Bring me the injured Mac Brown so that I may repair him. I will gather my lambs and go to the stars."

"Kind of chicken shit," remarked Bagoas, third member of the lovers' triad of Alexander and Hephaiston. He was young and in his head the dreams had not yet died.

"How can we be an army when we can't unite? Where there is no love lost? I had a dream, but it has been worried by jackals. The worms have eaten my beloved's brain and I am sorely tried. I have my towel and my lantern. I need nothing more. Gather them to me and we will go. Ad Astra!"

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"Special Agent John Doggett," the blue-eyed man took the other man's hand and shook it firmly. He also took note of the quick expression that crossed the other man's face. He glanced back at the bed and then turned back. "And I very much doubt that *I* have a chip." He glanced at Scully as she had moved away to check on Skinner once again.

He turned his attention back to Adam/Methos. "From what I have read in previous cases Agent Mulder has been involved in, as well as Agent Scully here," he said shifting his weight, "the chips were implanted to... track abductees. I can't imagine everyone here being abducted. But it is something we should look into. To find the true reason why they were implanted."

He motioned for Adam/Methos to sit on the bed. "I'll check for you. There should be a scar of sorts right?" he asked as the tall man walked over. Doggett's finger reached over and pulled the shirt collar out, running a hand over the back of the man's neck as he looked closely to see if there was indeed a scar. His breath gently blew over Adam/Methos' neck.

Doggett's fingers moved over the smooth skin adding a little pressure. The search didn't take long as John's blue eyes came to rest on a small scar located at the base of his neck. His breath caught as he leaned in closer, brow furrowing at the sight before him.

"So tell me, Special Agent John Doggett. Do you see a scar?" Methos' voice was tense. It would be totally fucking crazy if he turned out to have one, but both Philip and Anson had them... And Hobbes too, he reminded himself. Jess as well. There were a lot of them around.

Doggett's index finger rubbed over it and he felt the man tense. His voice was soft, "Yeah, yeah I do." He pulled away to face the man. "But that doesn't mean there is a chip back there. You could have gotten it from something else." Even as Doggett spoke those words, he didn't believe them.

One hand rested on the bed as he looked at Adam/Methos, reading the look of dread on the other man's face. "So now what? Do you need to take x-rays or something?"

"I think..." Methos frowned. His heart had sunk, but he supposed that the thing wasn't life threatening. At least, it hadn't been so to date. "An x-ray would be..."

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Though he radioed ahead, Gross got no acknowledgement from the compound. He was surprised, but things had been in chaos when he left; the organization was split, and that led to important jobs being overlooked.

Reaching the mansion he gathered up the child, who was showing signs of awakening, and hurried to the infirmary. It seemed the logical place to take her while Dr. Scully was summoned. Bursting through the door he announced loudly above the babble of voices from the people already there, "I have a creature here that has the form of Agent Mulder's sister. We do not know what it may be, human, alien or maybe even an artifact. I am to give it to Dr. Scully for safekeeping, and ask her to have it investigated. Does anyone know where she is?"

He looked at the people around him for a response.

Gross looked about him in amazement. Here he was with a semi-conscious child in his arms asking for help, and no one was taking a blind bit of notice. He waited patiently for a couple of minutes, but there was no reply to his question about where to find Dr. Scully.

However, one smartly dressed man was examining the neck of another occupant of the room; he was certainly a doctor. Impatiently thrusting Samantha into the man's arms, he headed for the door shouting, "Get the kid to Scully, Mulder's orders!"

Turning as he got to the door, he added, "And get your asses in gear. There's an alien invasion going on out there, in case someone forgot to tell you. Excuse me, I have a world to save."

Slamming the door, he stomped off down the corridor.

Mouth agape, Methos looked at Doggett, looked at the child dangling from his arms, and then at the door through which Gross had vanished. Suddenly recollecting himself, he stood hastily and led Doggett over to a bed, where he gestured for him to lay her down.

"What?" He frowned, and examined the girl. "She seems healthy enough." He shook her shoulder gently.

Doggett stood back. What the heck did that man say? Alien invasion? "Did he just say what I thought he just said? Is Mexico invading us because he can't mean... aliens right?" Doggett was trying to process all of this.

First all these replicants and clones, Mac units, the injury to Skinner, something about a chip and several people having them, including the man before him... then this child gets dropped off with them at Mulder's instruction... it was like a Saturday afternoon and someone left the nut house gates open.

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Hobbes grabbed Wraith's arm after stashing the rifle against the wall. "Does she know what's best? Does she really? Think about it Wraith." He held the forearm tight in his grip. "Who is securing this place? You are. Not her. And what will she do if the Macs get inside? Does she know how to handle a take over? No."

He locked onto the green eyes before him, "How do you know she's not using you? How do you know she is your wife... just because she said so? What proof do you have? How do you know she's not your wife?" Hobbes tightened his grip. Hobbes realized he was jealous, jealous of the fact someone claimed Wraith already.

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"And if she means so much to you and you to her... why did she leave you alone with me? Why did you even fuck me... and enjoy it. Don't tell me you didn't... I know you did. You liked it as much if not more than I did. When two people love each other as man and wife do... they don't do what we did together, with someone other than each other... they are committed only to each other... cause if they do that means the love truly isn't there. And if she really WAS your wife... how did it come to be that you had to be told this information? How did you two get separated? Can she or did she tell you that when she found you?"

"There was an accident. Maybe a car accident. I don't remember. They never told me what happened, not exactly." Wraith frowned, searching fruitlessly after memories that he knew were long gone. "I died. This... these things... " His upper lip curled as he gestured to his arms, which were the most obviously altered of all his body parts. "A Mac 27 was dismantled and its parts were used to repair me. They told me I should be honored, that they sacrificed such an important resource for my sake. Number Two. Their emergency unit." A spike of pain made Wraith twitch as he voiced those words.

"Parts of my brain were damaged, replaced with electronics. I only get flashes of the past... and then I'm not sure if the images are from me or one of the Macs I stripped and incorporated." It was a mistake talking about it. A pounding headache was beginning to form in the back of his skull. It was more difficult to process information while the pain pressed at him. Securing an up-link to the computer and locating the unit he had assigned to protect Marita took an unreasonable three seconds. "Marita and the boy..." Wraith's voice rose to a shout. "I have to go her immediately." The information her guard unit was passing on was intolerable.

Hobbes reached and grabbed the gun, "Dammit Wraith... are you doing all this just so she is acknowledged as the head of a fucked up company? Is it because she says she is your wife? Why are you doing this... really? There is no way she is going to be able to lead the Macs into a war against the aliens. She'll probably make you do it...you're expendable, just like I am to the US Government... like the military has other soldiers... she has others all around her that look just like you... and can tell them the same lies she has fed to you."

In light of what Marita's bodyguard was relaying about the situation down in the lab Hobbes' words took on an even sharper sting. "Marita has a plan. She's an operative. Everything Marita does is for a reason. Her actions will be to everyone's benefit. I'm sure of that. Stop talking about her like that or I will damage you."

He pushed past Wraith; "If she really is your wife and loves you like one... you have the right to beat the shit out of me for what I just said... I... I just hope for your sake... you are right. Because I don't want to see my lover..." he quickly changed it, "my partner hurt."

Wraith almost didn't hear the words through the wave of emotion slamming through him. Marita was simply doing the same thing he himself had done with Hobbes. She was sealing an alliance with a physical demonstration.

He stared at Tom's back for brief moment while his hands tightened on the weapon in his hands. Wraith's next actions were totally unacceptable and a foolish waste of resources but he couldn't stop himself. The machine gun he held smashed across the stairway railing with a satisfying screech of rending metal.

Hobbes whirled about and stared as Wraith selected a replacement for the gun he'd just destroyed. "Two more flights down." Tension in every movement, Wraith attempted to distract himself by skimming through the information coming through the company's security cameras.

Hobbes figured he hit a nerve. But everyone seemed to be tiptoeing around Wraith, fearing him. Hobbes did not. He guessed he'd learned that from Pinocchio. The man was always straight forward, not hiding the fact... unless it was about himself. But he could read others pretty well and Hobbes could tell, either his words pissed the man off or...something else did.

He turned and started down the stairs once more, in the lead, moving quickly and with a purpose. He could feel Wraith's anger breathing down his neck as he did so. Tom started to feel guilty for his words but... were they true? Was Wraith right? Did Marita have a plan to benefit all or was she just trying to gain control, feel power like the people she played with? He hoped he was wrong about all of this... he really did but... something in his gut told him... someone was going to be hurt by the time this was all over... but who.

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Marita bucked in Phoenix's embrace. "Wraith understands," she breathed huskily, "that Power... is what we..."

Suddenly seeming to come to herself a little, as she bit him, she said, "But I promised myself... I wouldn't use any of you for my own purposes. That I'd only..."

She gasped as she felt him pushing against her, into her.

"... work with the clones and Macs as an equal, and never exploit them. So, what I need to know..."

He felt so good as he sheathed himself inside of her, holding her against the wall. He seemed to want it, and yet...

"is, do you want to do this, Phoenix? I know... more than you may think. I remember you, those like you. I always wanted to have you... Dr. Sawyer said you were elite, best of the best. Her finest work."

Marita knew more than he expected. Still, her knowledge didn't put her off but rather it seemed to excite her even more. "I am her Phoenix." His hips slammed forward without restraint, pinning Marita. "I am the masterpiece." Phoenix's hands gripped her ass, lifting. "I was created to rule, not to serve. You want to rule, don't you Marita?"

As she wrapped her legs around his waist, tangling her hand in his long, fine hair, she gasped. "Always... and now I can... join with me, Phoenix. Me and Wraith Loren... we can have it all. I want to be more than the whore I was, and you... you deserve more than what you have. Don't you think?"

It had to be conditioning. Only a trained spy would talk so much, ask so many questions, during sex. Phoenix set himself to the task of making the woman lose some of her precious control. His teeth bared to scrape pale skin and his fingers dug in.

Marita's body was amazingly welcoming, almost too slick. Phoenix was reminded that she'd come to him straight from another man, Wraith.

She gasped and writhed as he bit her neck, her nipples...

What he'd seen through the opening in the door upstairs was reviewed swiftly. Whatever Marita might think of herself, she wanted to be mastered. This woman wasn't up to the task before them. Phoenix's movements grew broader, thumping her spine to the wall, trapping Marita. He might have the appearance of a half grown youth but the frame inside his deceptive exterior was strongest metal on earth.

Holding her up with one hand, the other insinuated between their bodies. His thumb slipped in sweat and stickier fluids before finding its target and rubbing insistently. Marita shuddered at the contact.

"Take me, Phoenix. Take me... then we'll take them. We'll show them who really is in control... you... Phoenix. The man with the plan, Sawyer told me once. Aren't you? Aren't you the one with all the power?"

"I know what to do." Phoenix could feel her pulse under his mouth. "You'll tell Wraith to give me everything he hacked. You'll tell him to take my orders, won't you, beautiful one?" Fingers pinched lightly and then immediately soothed the hurt. "I have the plan. If we can't find Mac 27 number one... number two will work. It was the back-up unit."

She tugged at his ear with her teeth. "Wraith and I will help you get it. If you'll help us."

She smiled. "Hargreaves won't stand a chance."

"Hargreaves doesn't matter anymore. None of those old men matter. We have everything we need." Phoenix pushed her onward. The lab's proximity alarms had tripped. They didn't have much time. "Stop thinking Marita. Just feel for a moment." The hand supporting her shifted, fingers slipping between her ass cheeks to tickle across hidden skin. Phoenix silenced her by pressing his mouth to hers. The thumb on her clit demanded that she squirm with sensation and every pump of his hips jolted her to the cool plaster of the wall.

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The scream had died on Ricky's lips, but now he cursed as the scientists moved toward Dennis. "Don't touch him. I'll kill you. Get your fucking hands off him,"

A sound like a popping light bulb sounded after which there was a brief sizzle and then the smell of burning meat. Christ, what now?

Ricky saw six Mac 27s...they wore chitons and breastplates, but carried ray gun looking weapons. The lead one said, I am Alexander of MAC-edon and these are my companions. His royal highness Pendrell has bid us to save you and the beautiful one who is your companion."

Sore back and all, Ricky was glad to be released. The well-armed, warrior-like Macs intrigued him. He pulled Dennis close to his side and said, "Let's go with them! This is getting interesting."

A pair of the Macs, Damon and Pythias, escorted Ricky and Dennis through a hidden passage. Before they went far, they were blindfolded. Ricky was dizzy with the number of turns before they arrived deep beneath Innobotics. His uncovered eyes opened wide at the sight of a huge aircraft...no, it must be a spacecraft.

A sweet red haired man in a white lab coat that was trimmed with ermine said, "Welcome, clone, behold your future! We will be the first...to seek out new galaxies. To boldly go where no human has gone before. Abandon Earth with me, Ricky Caruso! Come with me to the stars!"

Mouth agape, Ricky felt a surge of longing. His entire being said yes. He gripped Dennis' hand and looked in his/her eyes. Would he go with him?

And Walter...what about Walter? Must he choose between the stars and the man he loved? Between Denise, a person that he wanted to love as well and freedom? Yet to be free of this game was a temptation beyond all prizes he could be offered.

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In another part of the compound, Alexander and his remaining companions found Mac Brown. Hephaiston moved the grieving human woman aside gently and said, "It's time for him to come home. He must be repaired."

Achilles and Patroklos lifted Mac Brown up and carried the badly damaged hero toward the secret entrance from which they had arrived. Bagoas, young lovely and sweet, a glowing eyed Alex clone of eighteen years, said, "She loves him. Should she not have a choice?"

Alexander who was not very fond of females replied, "Humans are fickle. She'll get over it. Why would she need to flee this world? She is part of it and is no slave. Leave her."

With a wink at Allison, Bagoas said, "All right, I'll close the door. Go ahead."

Instead, Bagoas ducked through the passage and left it open a crack. He gazed at Allison with his doe-eyed softness and said, "It's up to you. We're leaving Earth. We're going to take over an alien ship, do what we can to disable the remaining ships, and then we're going to the stars! If you don't want to go with Mac Brown, just close the door."

Allison looked at Bagoas. "I love Mac Brown," she said, simply. "My place is with him." Looking directly into Bagoas' eyes, she said, "I wish to go with Mac Brown. I have nothing here."

Just then Sappho came over and jumped into her lap, purring. She rubbed against Allison's face.

"Except for my cat, Sappho," Allison said. "Can she come, too?"

Allison thought briefly of Rodney and Eugene, and that they might miss her. But, she also knew that if one of them were in Mac Brown's position, the other would surely go with him.

She said, "When do we leave?"

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