Messes in the McDowell house hold? Are you crazy?! That sounds weird even saying that. It’s not just the Berrisford house hold anymore. Not with me and Rachel being married and having a kid on the way. We’ve got two kids already. Neither of them are messy kids. And as adults we’re not messy. Or at least I don’t think we are. Even if Rachel would probably disagree with us or anyone that said otherwise. We’re men, after all.

But back to these so called messes. Only time I’ve ever had to clean up one is if Hope has her toys out. Even then it’s not many and it’s not a huge mess to clean. Hell, the girl doesn’t even make a mess when she eats. Most of the messes I clean up aren’t hers. Yeah, I clean up around the house. But the main mess I help clean up is Terminal City. After all, it’s got to be made livable by more than just us genetically empowered freaks.



Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 169

Olympics? That’s more of an Ordinary’s thing. After all, who says a transgenic could even be a part of that stuff? Definitely not the Ordinary’s that are a part of it. They hated the unknown and transgenics were just that. The unknown. A thing to be killed. To be despised with a passion. So he wouldn’t even try becoming part of the Olympic sports. Besides… it’d be unfair to begin with. Wonder why? Because of the way he was made. Better than the normal Ordinary.

He’d be able to run faster, jump higher, throw farther… For him it was a bit unfair to even think of joining something that the people hold so very dear. And it wasn’t his cup of tea anyway. So he’d never join the Olympics. He’d hate to put the Ordinary’s to shame. It wasn’t what he wanted to do. No, all he wanted was to be accepted for who he was. The Olympics wouldn’t be that thing.

Couldn’t be that thing.

Never would be either.



Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 170

Scared? I don’t think my kind is really meant to be scared. We weren’t made that way. But there’s some of us who can feel that. Who escaped the little… well, the brainwashing to put it bluntly. If that’s really what you want to call it. And I don’t scare easily. But there have been a few times where I’ve been scared. If you want to know by who… his name is Ames White. He’s part of the Familiars. They’re a bit stronger than us X5s. Definitely someone that we hate with a passion.

Well, here I was. Someone that didn’t scare easy when I found myself in a cage. He wanted me to take out some X5s. And if I didn’t… Let’s just say that he’d embedded something in the back of my neck. A bomb to be exact. Trust me, I was scared out of my mind then. Especially since I only had so long to live. That is if I didn’t get his X5s and give him their barcode. It was the agreement we’d made so I could live. But I couldn’t do it. I’m not evil. I’m not him.

It cost Maxie the cure to her virus but she helped. Got the bomb out. I just wish I could’ve paid her back. Could’ve made it better. Especially since I’d tried to kill her as well. Some part of me is glad she didn’t kill me afterward. But she understood. Sort of.

Someone who scares me… Ames White.

Though if you were to ask me that now… it’d be my wife. Especially if she’s angry. Something I plan to not do.


Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 274

Respect means a lot to us transgenics. Especially now that we’re on the outside. And, me, I’ve got this special respect for what Maxie’s done. She didn’t have to do it but she did. After all, Terminal City may be ours but she didn’t have to run it. Didn’t have to lead any of the transgenics into freedom. But she did and we all welcome it. Welcome her as our leader because we know she’ll do the right thing. Or at least she tries to. Especially now that she’s got kids. Even more reason to respect the woman who’d of never been tied down.

Then there’s Rachel Berrisford. I’d lost her trust there for a while because of something Manticore had made me do. Something I’m not proud of. Though in retrospect… I never pressed the damn button. But the woman I love deserves respect too. She puts up with me and the other transgenics. Helps us out and all that other good stuff. Quite frankly she’s up there with Max in the respect department.

So you ask what it means to me… I’ll tell ya what it means to me.

A whole damn lot. It goes hand in hand with loyalty.


Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 202

He rose a slight brow at the question before him. What kind of question was that? But it wasn’t like he was going to turn the person away. After all, the young transgenics were the curious type. But what kind of question was that? Asking if there was an appropriate situation to be unkind. If he were to ask Rachel, she’d probably tell him that there wasn’t. Not unless it came down to the enemy. But did that… oh hell… So he did the next best thing. He told the young one to ask Rachel. Besides, she was better at this kind of thing than he was.

Now did he, himself, think there was an appropriate situation to be unkind… yes, he did. But that was before he met Rachel. Before Rachel every situation was appropriate. Especially if it got you what you wanted. But now… not so much. And for once, he didn’t have a problem with that.



Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 159

The whole entire house was quiet that early in the morning. Rachel and the kids were asleep. As they should be. But he couldn’t sleep. He should’ve told her that he couldn’t sleep. Should’ve told someone but he didn’t. They all looked so peaceful that way. Which is how he found himself out on the terrace. Nice and peaceful. The way the night should be. No one being hunted down for who or what they were… none of that.

By the time he headed back inside he looked towards the clock and noted that it read three am. He hadn’t even realized that he’d been out there that long. Going upstairs he checked on the kids finding little Hope staring at him, quiet as could be. Kissing her forehead he picks her up and goes back into the bedroom and lays down with Rachel, laying Hope between them. Noting that his Rachel was going to wake up he kisses her softly whispering for her to go back to sleep.

Instead of sleeping himself (despite the time), he just laid there and watched her sleep. Watched as Hope eventually fell back asleep with her little hands curled up in his shirt. It may have been late or early morning rather but it was a great one.


Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 215

Alec had everything a man… animal, transgenic could ever want. But in the near future… What exactly was he looking forward to?

One. Transgenics to have equal rights. Ordinaries have their rights but it’s like the transgenics don’t any have at all. So equal rights. The kids being able to go to school or the adults being able to work. All of this without the Ordinaries trying to out them or kill them.

Two. To watch his children grow up. Watch them head off into a society that won’t harm them for what they are. Not that he’d outright tell anyone but if someone found out, he’d want them to not be harmed. So watching them grow and have happiness would be another.

Third. The last thing to look forward to? Married life with Rachel. To grow old with her and be the happiest transgenic he can be. Because with her… he feels human.


Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words 154

Things were going pretty good in Terminal City. So good that the rogue X5 had lost track of time. It wasn’t the first time and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. He’d ordered Max to stay home with her kids and he knew in the long run she’d hurt him for that. Terminal City could be classified as Max Guevara’s place. After all, it was her who united the transgenics.

Finally checking the time he winced. Crap! Letting Mole know he was leaving he heads back home, to the Berrisford estate. The kids were in bed so he checked on them first. When he didn’t find Rachel, however, he searched the rest of the place only to find her on the couch. Not bothering to wake her, he lays down on the couch beside her and holds her close to him.

For her… he didn’t mind sleeping on the couch. Even if their bed was a whole lot softer.


Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words159


((OOC: The Max mentioned is not the one in Theatrical Muse))

It’d probably be easier if he had parents. But he didn’t. Not to his knowledge anyway. If he’d had any they were no longer around. Probably dead even. Which meant that the closest thing to a parent he’d had was Lydecker. A man who had always said things would be fine. If only because he wasn’t like his twin.

Things weren’t fine… he’d fallen in love. He’d lost her. But the biggest lie to ever be told… was that he couldn’t fit in. That the Ordinaries wouldn’t love him. Wouldn’t take him for whom he was. That he’d have to forever hide. The man had been wrong. He has a beautiful Ordinary who loves him for who he is. Smart alec, transgenic… genetically empowered super soldier with feline DNA. She loved it all. Every bit of it.

If he ever did have any parents… of any type, he would hope that they’d have no reason to lie to him. Because lies can hurt. And that’s the last thing that anyone needs.


Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 171

Me? Seduced. That’s never happened. Not unless you count Rachel Berrisford. Though at the time she wasn’t trying to seduce me. It was all innocent… yeah, maybe. I’m not too entirely sure on that one just yet.

As for whether I’ve seduced anyone or not. Yeah, I have. There’s been a few missions that I’ve done for Manticore where the target needed to be seduced. It was easy, really. I mean, after all, I’m a genetically empowered super soldier with feline DNA. I was made to look beautiful/handsome/pretty. It’s in the DNA so to speak. So seduction, that comes almost like second nature to me.

I’d go into detail and tell you about the mission but I’m not going to. That was in the past. When I was naïve and thought that Manticore was my home. Rachel is my home now. So anything done for Manticore… anything at all, it’s in the past and I’m not going to bring it up.


Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 161

A dimly lit room… a cage in the center of it and a young transgenic within the cage. Yeah… Alec wasn’t too entirely sure how he’d managed to get himself into this mess. Oh wait, yes he did. He had been protecting his family. That was when he’d been shot. When he’d been taken to the compound and caged like some wild animal. The thought in itself made him give a slight smirk.

“Now this is what I don’t get 494. You’re stuck in a cage and you presume, by your smirk of course, that you have something on us.”

Hazel eyes looked towards Ames White, that smirk only getting bigger. “Actually, White, I do. It’s called loyalty. And this little thing called family. You should look into it.” He was shocked for his efforts but he merely gave a laugh.

Ames canted his head a bit. “You mean her?” He asks nodding towards Rachel and Hope. “Funny… we grabbed her but there’s something making it to where we can’t touch her. Do you happen to know why?”

“Even if I did I wouldn’t tell you.”

A slight few babbles came from little Hope and the familiar went flying back against the rocks. Hey… no one said he had to tell anyone (other than Rachel) that their little girl had started to come into her abilities. Or whatever you wanted to call those.

Quite frankly once they did get out of there he’d be glad if no more of his ‘old acquaintances’ popped up. Especially if they were of the Manticore variety. No, he’d prefer to stick with his new ones. And stick with the people he knew.


Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 278

Some have it and some don’t. Ordinaries… depending on who they are have it. Well, sort of. Us transgenics… we’ve got all the control in the world. It’s etched into our DNA. Part of how we were made. Only time we don’t have it is when the female transgenics go into heat. The girls go for any guy available to them and the guys… well, they can’t resist the scent that the girls put off.

Not me though. I prefer to stay hidden away. To squash down that primal urge. It’s an urge that would get my ass into trouble feline DNA or not. See, my girl, she’s not a transgenic like myself. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up the bit of control I do have. You see… Rachel means the world to me. Therefore those urges that I get around transgenic females in heat… not happening.

I’ll gladly stay home locked up in a room with just the piano. Or in the piano room playing for Rachel and our little girl Hope. Like I said some have it and some don’t. I’m a man that does.


Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 190

She was beautiful in all her glory. My job was to take out her father. But I soon found all my time around her. This beautiful blue eyed angel. The moment I saw her playing the piano I knew I was done for. Oh, I didn’t act like it but I just knew. Everything about her intrigued me. From how she played the piano to how she held herself. And then everything went to hell. She ended up in a coma and I thought she was dead. It’s what her father had told me. At the time it had broke my heart. It still breaks my heart to think about it.

But now she’s fine. Has been for some time now and we’re back together. We’ve got our son and daughter. Two wonderful kids. And everything about her is intriguing me again. Her piano playing and just how well she is with the kids. Seeing her around either of them just makes me happy. If only because she’s so damn happy. She’s a wonderful mother. And I don’t see that changing any time soon.


Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 184

But she just makes it all too concise and too clear
That Johanna's not here

Once he realized where their delivery was meant to be it became hard for him. He wanted as far away from the Berrisford Estate as possible. Away from the memories that would now haunt him. That night… the dinner at Joshua’s when he started playing the piano in the basement he started seeing it as clear as day. Her alive… him teaching her how to play. But then everything went wrong.

After that he’d gone home and his phone had rang. The piano music playing over it eerily familiar to him. Maybe he’d been hearing things but when he’d gone to the mirror… he’d seen her face in it and had turned around. She wasn’t there. That ended up with the mirror being smashed and him investigating. Her father would’ve killed him had it not been for Max. In fact, he’d wanted to die. Would’ve welcomed it. In the end, she was gone. Dead and buried…

Except there was a problem with that thought. She wasn’t dead. The love of his life just wasn’t there.



Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 175

I couldn’t just have one wish and if I did they’d be all intertwined. Because it consists of more than one thing. For one there would be marrying Rachel involved… living happily with her and having kids with her. We have Piotr and baby Hope but I’m talking kids of our own. Not that Piotr and Hope aren’t ours because they are. On top of that I’d want Seattle safe. Our kids not needing to worry about going outside and being shot at because they’re a transgenic freak. Not that I’m a freak or anything despite what some of the stupid Ordinaries say.

But if I have to narrow it down which I seriously doubt I have to do, I’d go for having a world where transgenics can live with the ordinaries and not have a care in the world. Where we could go to their schools… do their jobs… everything and anything they could. All without the worry of being hurt or killed. It’d be safer and probably even a much richer environment.

One we’re lacking right now and need very much.


Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 183

Dreams aren’t a normal occurrence for us genetically empowered super soldiers. It just isn’t in our DNA. We can have hallucinations and the like but hardly ever dreams. Me though… after everything that’s gone on I’d like to think that I have. Or maybe I was being delusional while being sick. Oh, wait, I can’t get sick. Not like the Ordinaries can. So it wasn’t some delusion and it wasn’t some hallucination. But I can say this… the dream is always the same. Forever the same. Probably will be until the day I die.

It’s me with Rachel. We’re still in Seattle so that I can be close to Terminal City. We’ve got two kids. A boy and a girl and they’re the apple of their mother’s eye. (Not that I truly understand that saying but it sounds good). Our little girl, Sera, is just like her mommy when it comes to the piano. The most extraordinary little girl there is. (Helps that she’s a transgenic too). Then there’s Brody. Every bit the mini me. Which is actually just scary.

But it’s only a dream. And not all dreams are real. Even if that old saying goes ‘Dreams do come true’. Or something like that.


Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 205

Twenty years from now… That’s a tough one. Sort of. No, it isn’t. In twenty years I’ll still be with Rachel. We’ll have a life of our own. Maybe even have a cabin somewhere outside of Seattle. Don’t get me wrong I like the Berrisford Mansion but I’d want something that’s solely mine and Rachel’s. That place… it belonged to her old man. A man that didn’t particularly like me. But that’s in the past now.

Maybe by then I’ll even be a dad. Although… that’s kind of scary in its own right. Me? A dad. But I’d protect them with my life and hopefully they’ll not have barcodes. Not have to worry about dealing with the idiots of the world that us transgenics had to deal with. Maybe by then the transgenics will have equal rights. But I won’t be holding my breath on that one.

There’s no telling what’ll happen twenty years from now. Hopefully I’ll be happy and so will Rachel and the rest of the transgenic world. Because even if twenty years pass or hell… thirty its her that I’ll want to make happy. And I’m sure I’ll find a way to accomplish that and keep it that way. It’d be the perfect thing to have twenty years from now.


Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 214

More exquisite sensation… you’d think that I’d say revenge. That after what Manticore did to us that I’d think that was the more exquisite sensation. Well, truth be told… you’d be right and wrong. See… for the first part of my life after Max brought down the only home I knew… I was set on revenge. I wanted nothing more to tear out her throat. To get rid of the one person that brought my home crashing down. But I don’t feel like that anymore. Though that might be because of who I found again.

Rachel Berrisford.

See… finding her again… just seeing her happy, it makes me happy. Gives me a relief I never knew I could have. If only because she’s alive and well. Because she’s a woman that I found out I loved. And even though I caused some bad patches in her life… I know she loves me. So if you ask me what the more exquisite sensation is then I’m going to tell you relief. And if you don’t like it… oh well. Its one the one that I choose. Whether you like it or not.


Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 191

[Locked from those who know nothing about Manticore]

Fine… you want a secret. I’ll give you a damn secret. One that’s huge. Or at least it is where I’m from. It’s called Project Manticore. A government funded project that put millions of dollars into making genetically engineered super soldiers. Though I prefer the term genetically empowered. We were born and bred to be killers. The perfect soldier. Don’t believe me ask Lydecker or even that Nazi bitch Renfro. Oh, wait, you can’t. They’re dead. As far as I know Lydecker is… Renfro I know for a fact is.

They put us through hell. Conditioned us. Stuck us in underwater exercises just to see how long we could stay under. A lot of us nowadays can’t stand water because of that. But then again, another secret to add, it could also be because of our feline DNA. See… they had this bad habit of crossing human DNA with animal DNA. Some of us have cat, some have bat and then there’s some that have too much dog in their cocktail. Hey, not our damn fault it’s Manticore’s.

And if they wanted you to forget… they’d find ways to make you. No matter how hard you try to hold onto those memories. One of the main damn reasons why I despise Psy-Ops. I’ll never go through that again for as long as I live. Try and make me and I’ll kill you. Simple as that.
[/Locked]

You don’t deserve my secrets. Those who do already know them.


Muse: Alec McDowell
Fandom: Dark Angel
Words: 246

She was alive... and he wasn't hallucinating. A part of him wished that he was. That it was just her image he was seeing in the mirror again. A mirror he'd had to replace countless times because he'd broken it. He took a deep breath and left his place and headed to the old Berrisford estate but he couldn't bear making himself go inside. Not after what Robert did to him last time... but he'd wanted to die then. Would've had Max not interfered.

Right... well, it was time to tell Rachel the truth. Even if his mind was on the fact that he'd seen her grave. And had visited it every day since. Somehow all of this seemed wrong now.