Title: Fallen Angels – The road to Hell

Author: misslara
Rating: R (this story may occasionally contain graphic violent themes. If this is not what you enjoy then don't read it please. I'll give specific warnings with each chapter.)
Show: Dark Angel
Genre: Action/Drama
Type: Standalone, series
Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel, it is owned by Fox. No money is made from this story, only entertainment.

Pairing: Alec/Max
Summary: Post-AJBAC. Max is captured by Manticore and is looking for a way to escape. 494 is ordered to ascertain her loyalties and 'deal' with the problem. Torn between what he knows and the fiery personality that is Max he learns that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Chapter 1

Keeping her posture rigid Max saluted director Renfro and stood at attention in front of her desk. Renfro looked up from her desk and studied the face of the defiant young woman in front of her. It was a perfectly bland mask. "State your designation."

"X5- 452, Ma'am."

"You don't fool me. I know you're just playing along, but they tell me you're ready to start training. So, 452, are you ready to prove your loyalty to Manticore?"

"Ma'am! Yes, ma'am!"

Renfro still looked incredulous but she waved her hand and dismissed the dark-haired woman from her office. "Report to the drill sergeant for training."

"Ma'am! Yes, ma'am!"

Max pivoted on her heel and marched out of the office in the direction of the training ground. She was feeling physically better now that she was out of psy ops but her mental scars would take longer to heal. After a surreptitious glance around her she put her hand on the long faded scar of her heart surgery. Her big brother had given his heart, his life for her. And for what? Now she was back in the place she hated most, forced to serve a woman she despised with every fibre of her body.

She reached the heavy steel door that marked the passage way to the parade ground and pushed open. She was greeted by a tall man in fatigues who had all the makings of the typical drill sergeant. Snapping a salute Max stood at attention, showing all the outward signs of an eager soldier. She was determined to keep her cool, not give them the satisfaction of watching her lose her temper.

"Sir! 452, reporting for training as ordered, sir!"

Max could feel the eyes of most of the guards and trainers fall on her as she uttered her designation but she ignored them and kept her eyes dead ahead. She couldn't help observing her surroundings from her peripheral vision however and was amazed to see the amount of soldiers out in the yard. The sneering of the drill sergeant in front of her drew her full attention back to him.

"Right, 452, follow me."

She marched behind the bulky figure of the drill sergeant and ignored the curious glances of all the X5's engaged in hand to hand combat scattered across the yard. She noticed they were heading towards a group of younger transgenics and fought the urge to roll her eyes. Did they really think it would bother her to have to train with X6's? Or was that the test? She sought her limited knowledge of military ranks and determined it was meant to put her down to the other X5's. Max fought the urge to snort, if it was up to her, she wasn't going to be here long enough to be offended.

The drill sergeant who hadn't introduced himself stopped short of the ranks of the younger soldiers, kids still really. Probably not yet field active Max surmised, which would make sense since Renfro still considered her a flight risk. He beckoned the trainer in front of the rows closer and Max noticed the man was slightly shorter but had the same stocky build that was characteristic for a special ops infantry man. He had red hair and freckles and looked marginally less intimidating than the first man.

"Trainer O' Reilly, meet 452. She's been cleared for training and we expect her to start pulling her weight around here soon. Please whip her into shape for us."

"Understood master chief. 452, take a place in the ranks and try to keep up."

Max kept her face carefully blank and followed the motions assigned to her by the trainer. Her eyes never left their blank stare into oblivions and she ignored her surroundings completely, while her mind ran the entire range of escape scenario's she could think of. She managed to keep her cool during the entire training session till the master chief returned and ordered a sparring session between her and 322. She acknowledged the trainers and stood on the edge of the mat. While there she observed her opponent. He was build like the trainers and Max knew that if he got a hold on her she would be soundly trounced.

As they circled Max noticed all motion in the yard stopped and attention drifted over to the mat where she was warily watching her opponent. He was sure of his superiority, arrogant, keeping his stance nonchalant and she thought he was underestimating her. She kept her silence and watched for his first move. Soon he felt he knew enough and attacked her trying to catch her in a secure hold. Max rolled underneath his grasp and hopped out of range. She shifted her weight to her right leg and attacked with a snap kick that was deflected and she danced out of range.

He came at her again and this time Max wasn't on time to duck the blow to her stomach and she went down hard. Not for long though, she quickly flipped back over her head and distributed her weight evenly again, trying to find an opening in his defence. She attacked with a flurry of punches and danced around to stay out of his reach. She was almost successful until the end when he came at her with a sweeping motion of his leg and she missed the uppercut that split her chin.

He head swam for a moment due to the power of the blow and Max spit out the blood that was pooling from where she bit her lip. She danced back but needed to shake her head to clear it. This was the opening the man had been waiting for and he jumped on her and pinned her to the mat before Max could recover. Max could feel the tendons in her arms stretch as he twisted her arm a little higher than was necessary.

Fighting against the pain Max saw his head come closer to throw an insult and she held back waiting for him to come closer. The man smirked. "What not healed yet, sweetheart. The outside has clearly made you weak."

Max held still, seemingly ignoring his jibe till he came close enough then she sneered and head butted him. She could hear the satisfying crunch of broken bone. Not waiting for his reaction she raised her knees and planted her feet firmly on the floor. She knew there was no point in trying to flip him since he weighted much more than she did but it distracted him into repositioning. That was the opening Max was waiting for, she kicked out and slithered out of his grasp, much like a snake would. He wiped the blood from his face and hissed "You'll pay for that."

Max baited him with a mocking smile and waited for him to lose his cool. To her surprise he didn't and even stiffened slightly. Assuming a higher officer walked past Max risked a glance behind her. As air rushed past her she realised her mistake and cursed herself as she dropped on the mat, covered by his bodyweight again. She knew the same trick wouldn't work again and she hit the mat in defeat. To her surprise the man didn't get up immediately. Instead he changed the angle of his grip and rubbed his lower body against her. "This is all you're good for."

A blind rage overtook Max when the meaning of his words punctured the protective bubble she'd constructed and she launched herself at the man. She landed one punch before she was held back by several transgenics who handed her over to the master chief. "Unprovoked attack on a fellow soldier. Seems you've forgotten the meaning of discipline." He addressed the soldiers still holding her down. "Take her to the tank and leave her there till morning."

Max was still growling in anger when she was being dragged through the halls, no one spoke a word the entire way. The group halted in front of a steel door and Max was unceremoniously tossed inside. When the door closed it took with it every sliver of light. In complete darkness Max cursed herself for losing her cool, but the thought of him rubbing himself on her still flared up all the hatred she felt for this place inside her.

Outside the door a shadowed figure halted and listened for the soft sound of whimpers that penetrated the cold steel. Stepping closer to the door the lights overhead shone on his face, displaying the handsome face drawn in a taut expression.

Moving to the switchboard next to the door he flipped one of them and moved away without a backwards glance.

Back inside Max's eyes were trained on the door but there wasn't a single sound to announce the guards had returned for an alternative form of punishment. After a while she refocused her attention to the small lightsource and vowed retribution on all of Manticore's lackey's but to Director Renfro first and foremost.