Title- Belonging
Pairing- Max/Alec
Disclaimer- I do not own Dark Angel, James Cameron and Charles H. Eglee does.
Summary- Set after season one, but before season two. Max has been re-captured and is about to be assigned a new unit.

Chapter One

Max walked down the long and narrow hallway towards Renfro's office. She knew that this was decision day and right now it was going to be decided if she was either going to be slung back into Psy-Ops or if she would have to act the good little soldier and do what Manticore wanted her to do.

Max mentally shook her head at the thought of being their little puppet. She didn't want to do what they wanted but what choice did she have? Go back to Psy-Ops for a few more months? That wasn't a choice. She knew deep down that she would have to keep pretending to be 452 and that she would have to do what Manticore says. But it's not like it would be for long, she was going to escape when her time was right.

She had been stuck in this place for almost five months already. For the first week she had been recovering from her heart transplant then as soon as the doctors said she was fit enough, Renfro gave the orders for her to be put in re-indoctrination and sent to Psy-Ops. Just thinking about going back to Psy-ops gave her the chills, remembering all the lasers and other forms of punishment they had used on her.

No. She had no choice, no matter what she wasn't going to be sent back there. Because if she was there, she had no chance to escape from this place and that is what she was going to do; escape.

Ever since being captured she had always remained determined that she was getting out of here and that she could go back to her strange little world that she had grew to love. Just the image of being at crash with O.C, Sketchy and Herbal was enough to keep her going. Hell even hearing Normal's 'bip, bip, bip' would get her through the day.

The hardest part about being back though was the constant glaring she got from her fellow transgenics. But remembering what Jace had been like when she had first seen her since the escape, she supposed that she couldn't really be surprised at why the others disliked her so much. For the last eleven years they had it beaten into their heads that the 09'ers were just traitors and couldn't be trusted.

Stopping in front of her destination, she took a deep breath and tried to focus on the task at hand. The guard on her left tapped on the door of Renfro's office. Waiting for a reply, Max was still until she heard a voice from inside telling her to enter.

This was it the moment that she had been waiting for. Max couldn't help feeling nervous, but even if she was, she was damned if she was going to show Renfro that. As she entered Renfro's office she made sure her face was un-readable, so no one would be able to determine what she was feeling.

Standing in the centre of the office, Max raised her hand and saluted a seated Renfro "X5-452 reporting as ordered, Ma'am". Standing silently she waited for Renfro to speak.

She had fooled all the other superiors into thinking she was just X5-452, another Manticore soldier, but she knew trying to convince Renfro would be a harder task. The woman wasn't director of Manticore for nothing, even though she didn't know much about genetics she was a bitch and that was what kept everyone in line.

Renfro stood up from behind her desk and walked forward, never taking her gaze off the silent X5 in front of her. "So 452, I have been reading your reports, it seems you have been doing well". She picked up a report off her desk and started flicking through the pages. "From all these reports it seems you are now ready to be put on active duty", putting the report back down on the desk she looked at 452 and smiled. "Yet, from past history, I was just wondering if you are ready yet? Do you think you are ready yet?"

Max remained still, but moved her glance to look at Renfro. "Yes Ma'am, I do believe that I am ready for active duty". Her heart had started pounding as soon as the words had left her mouth and she was actually quite proud of her self for not stammering. But she knew if Renfro didn't believe her then it would be back to Psy-Ops.

Renfro tried to study the X5's face. She believed that 452 had been broken down. The once cocky X5 was nothing like she was when she had first been captured; she now listened to orders and did what she was told. It had taken almost five months for it to happen, but slowly it had. But she still thought that maybe the X5 had a little hope that one day she would escape again.

Renfro nodded her head in reply "Very well. I have also read your reports from before your little escape, it seems you were one of the better soldiers, in fact you were the best female in your unit, while X5-599 was the best male."

'In fact you were the best female of your unit and X5-599 was the best male.' Max saw a series of flashbacks of Zack, her brother who had sacrificed himself to save her life.

"Zack", Max whispered. A flash of fear washed over her as she realised that Renfro was still in the room. She checked to see if Renfro had noticed and breathed a sigh of relief that thankfully she must of whispered it so low that Renfro hadn't even known she had murmured.

"See this puts me in a difficult position." Pausing she looked at 452. "I have to decide whether or not you should be placed in a new unit. As you know every transgenic is part of a unit which they were placed in ever since they were children, but due to yours escaping this means you will be placed in another one, or like your sister... Brin." Max noted the sarcasm as she used her sister's name instead of her designation, obviously trying to get a reaction out of her. "...Who was never assigned a new unit, but instead was assigned the task to re-capture your siblings."

"You see each unit is put into ranking orders. Your old unit, the one you were in before were one of the top ranking units. Well... until you escaped. See, this is where the difficulties lie. You have proven to be in one of the high ranking units with your strength and speed, however you lack the training of a top rated soldier."

Max tried to focus on what Renfro was saying, but she was also curious about the new unit she was going to be put in. She had known that once she was put into active duty she would be assigned a new unit, but it was still weird to think of being in a different one from her siblings.

"452 go back to your cell for now, I will send for you tomorrow and I will tell you my decision then." Renfro smiled, She already knew what she was going to do with 452. However it would be better done tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow.

"Yes Ma'am." Max nodded, a little surprised by the turn around by Renfro. One minute she was explaining about putting her into a new unit and now she was sending her back to her cell.

Exiting from Renfro's office Max tried her hardest not to smile. A rush of emotions and questions passed through her. -I'm not going back to Psy-Ops. I'm getting put into a new unit. What will they be like? What will my new CO be like? Will he be as good as Zack? Will they like me? Will they accept me? -

---

Renfro watched 452 leave her office. Walking back round to her desk, she sat on her chair, Picking up her phone she waited for the other line to answer "This is Renfro, I want you to send X5-494 to me."

He had just finished training when he had been told that the director wanted to see him. Knocking on the office door, X5-494 entered when he heard the director's voice.
Closing the door behind him, he stood still and saluted. "X5-494 reporting as ordered, Ma'am." Remaining silent, he waited for the director's orders.

He wondered why he had been requested, he couldn't think of any reason as to why she would need to see him so urgently. -This can't be good news. -

Renfro nodded at the X5 "At ease". Watching him relax a little Renfro picked up the file from her desk and gave it to him, gesturing for him to open it.

Opening up the file, 494 saw a report on an X5. Looking at the top left corner he saw a photo of the X5 in question. The young woman was really quite beautiful; she had long dark hair and brown eyes to match. Wondering how he had never seen her before if she was an X5, he looked slightly right to the picture at her designation. He then realised why; X5-452. She was a '09 escapee. He looked back up at Renfro, waiting for her to explain.

When he had finished glancing at the report Renfro began to speak. "I know you must be wondering why you have a report of an ex X5 escapee in your hands. Well to keep the answer short, she will be transferred into your unit."

Trying to keep the shock from his face, 494 remained silent. -What was the director thinking? Had she gone mad? How could she suggest moving this ex-escapee into his unit? She would be a security risk. God, she would probably try to escape as soon as she got the chance. - Trying to figure out what was happening, he decided to try and get more information. "Permission to speak Ma'am."

"Go ahead, 494."

Hearing the director's reply, 494 spoke. "Are you sure this is a good idea Ma'am, due to 452's history? She has missed out on 10 years of training and from past experiences may be un-reliable". He hoped that the director didn't take it the wrong way, but how could she even consider putting her into his unit? The idea was insane.

"I agree X5-452 has proved to be un-reliable in the past, however I think this situation might have its advantages. She has proven to have potential and I believe that if she is placed in a top-ranking unit then it might help her to become much better trained. Of course she will have to be put in extra training programmes but I'm sure that with the help of a high ranking officer like yourself it will turn out to be quite successful."

"Yes Ma'am" 494 agreed. How could the director be making such a big mistake? Didn't she realise that 452 was an ex-escapee, which meant on the first possible opportunity she would probably try to escape again?

"Good, 452 will be joining your unit tomorrow. Any questions?"

494 suppressed the urge to snort. "No ma'am."

"Ok, you can go now." He nodded and made his way out of the director's office. He couldn't believe what was happening. He was being lumbered with an ex-escapee, who had missed out 10 years of vital training and worst of all he was in charge of helping training her. -This is just great. -

Big thanks to my beta Sian.

Also if you have the time, please review because I would love to know what you think.