Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural or Dark Angel. There may be mentions of child abuse and violence. Dark themes.

Somewhere in his mind he knew he should hate Manticore. Knew that what they had done to him was unforgivable. The hell they put him through, and it wasn't even just him. They had ruined thousands of lives in the facility.

But Manticore always comes back, they've never been, and never will be destroyed. If the building that housed all of Manticore had been crumbled and broken, the soldiers who survived and didn't know how to cope helped it live on.

Alec missed Manticore, and right now, sharing a room with Dean and John, that they were as close as it gets, save for joining the army. John was similar to a CO, giving commands and orders and immediately expecting them to be followed. Dean was like a fellow soldier, if not an SIC, giving out secondary commands and strategies that seventy-five percent of the time were better than original orders. And Alec? He was just there along for the ride.

So when they told him about the supernatural beings, about them being real, his mind went into momentarily - probably could be amended to something quite a bit longer than that - shock. His subconscious quickly latched onto the idea that they were in a war. Hunters and supernatural creatures.

He could be a soldier again.

His stomach both dropped with dread at his hope and fluttered in excitement that he won't be fighting a war of his own. He won't be another mindless soldier. Alec's body would immediately follow orders, but his mind won't allow him. Not anymore.

Mind over matter. Except Alec doesn't have control over his mind.

He can't sleep, can't eat, can't even think without Manticore eating away at his brain. Reminding him of his very first mission. It happened exactly at this time.

He may have succeeded in his superior's eyes, but he failed in his own.

xxxxx

494 was barely eight years old. His blond hair had grown out, ordered by the higher-ups, and his bangs nearly reached his gold speckled green eyes, the back nearly covering his barcode.

His small, lithe body shook faintly as Colonel Lydecker gave him his orders. The colonel was kneeling in front of him, keeping their eyes locked. He knew he was sacrificing the boy's psyche, but the kid was perfect for the job.

494's jaw trembled slightly as the final order came through, kill the man, retrieve the target, and return to the meeting place - where Colonel Lydecker will be waiting - to be drove back to headquarters.

The man to be killed was named Ethan Kalmen. Known as the CEO of a major company that has dealt with Manticore, by dealt, they gave him a soldier by the designation of 436. He has been there for over a year, five months passed the stated return.

The X5 will be dropped off at a foster home, which Manticore had planted information for Mr. Kalmen to find that they had lost control of a certain transgenic. It is very likely that Kalmen will retrieve him, and 494 is to report his behaviors and files in his computer to give Manticore the information it needs to determine whether they are being planned against.

Either way, an assassination will go down.

Now Lydecker may be known as heartless and demanding in his best of times, but he had a soft spot for the young soldier standing in front of him.

He had a personality that even sociopaths would adore, and although it is quite obvious of the rebel and smartass in there, there was also a soldier that would follow orders at any given time. Deck knew it was an act, but the act was good enough for him so long it didn't compromise any missions in the given future.

Taking a deep breath, Colonel Lydecker nodded his consent for his kid to wait outside for the vehicle.

xxxxx

Alec closed his eyes as the memory assaulted him, of the pain he went through on his very first mission.

xxxxx

Eric was his given name. His very first name.

His heart was pounding, dread and fear coursing through his veins as he looked at his colonel for reassurance. The car he was in seemed to get smaller and smaller as his panic increased. He jumped slightly when a hand was put on his shoulder, his innocent eyes looked up at Lydecker, he looked very much like a terrified kid.

And that played with ol' Deck's poor heart. He leaned in and wrapped his arm around the kid, knowing that if he was going to grow up and thrive as a soldier, he would have to be brave enough to face his fears. "You're going to do fine. Just relax and do what you're told, understand?"

Sue him, he wasn't great at comforting scared little kids.

"Yes sir." 494 murmured, looking out the window at the foster home as a lady came out and quickly strutted to their car.

She put on a big, fake smile, opening the car door and looking at 49- Eric. She bent down to his level, "My name is Alexa, and I'm going to be showing you around today." Alexa looked up at the colonel, "Will you be on your way?"

Deck nodded and gave 494 a gentle nudge in the direction of Alexa. He quickly got out of the car and watched solemnly as the slightly worn navy blue truck drove out of sight and looked up at his tourist.

Alexa put her hand on his back and guided him to the home, very much looking like she couldn't wait to go home. Taking a deep breath, 494 - he refused to think of himself as something that will most definitely be temporary and raise his hopes - steeled his nerves and prepared for his mission.

xxxxx

Alec stood up from his bed, jarring Dean, and walked to the bathroom, seeking refuge. He struggled to breathe as the lump in his throat grew and grew while his mind played the memories. He knew that if he went to sleep it would get so, so much worse.

There were many things he missed about Manticore. He missed their order, their control, his unit. But what he missed most of all was the fact that he didn't have to feel, didn't have to think for himself.

He just wanted someone to live his life for him, because he really did not want to relive the rest of his first disastrous mission.

494 may not have failed that mission, but it ensured that he would live in fear for the rest of his life, Manticore or not.

The next thing he knew he was being engulfed in the black shirt that Dean was wearing, and the bulk of the man's arms wrapping around him as he sensed that the transgenic needed comfort.

And lots of it.

He may not know what is wrong with Alec, but he will be there every step of the way until that smartass comes back. He knows when it's safe to push, and when to back away and let him lick his wounds in peace.

Right now Alec needed somebody to help him hold himself together.