Disclaimer: The TV show Dark Angel, all of the characters that appeared on it (Max, Zack, Jondy, etc.), and everything else that has to do with the show belong to their respective owners, not to me. No money is being made off of this fic. I only own the original characters (Elle/X5-164, etc.).

One week later...

Chapter 36: Parker (X5-537)

I sat in the computer lab, bored out of my mind. I can and have pretty much blasted my way though any program that Manticore ever thought up at to test our skills at hacking into computer systems. I'm not arrogant, though, honestly. You can't be when it comes to this kind of thing. As big of dickheads as the trainers are, they do have a valid point: when you become cocky, you lose concentration and when you lose concentration you make mistakes and that means disaster in this area. I suddenly straightened in my seat and typed a few more commands into the program that I was working on when one of said dickhead trainers came towards me.

"Nice work there, 537," he said after looking at the monitor. "Fine work. Keep at it, soldier."

"Thank you, sir, I will," I said. As soon as the trainer had moved on, I typed in the next series of commands and then I had a little bit of time, so I looked up and around the room. Some of the X5s who had the time in the lab right now were specialists in computers like me and others just wanted to work on these skills for whatever reason, like Zack who was sitting at the computer next to mine. He was okay at computers, but he did not like to use them very much. I turned my head to look at him. "You got it now?"

"Yeah," Zack answered. "Thanks, P—537." I glanced up and saw the trainer passing by us again. Like we're going to use our names when they're in hearing distance. What are we, stupid?

I concentrated on my work and grinned when the bell signaling the end of the class finally rang. I quickly shut down the computer and stood up and Zack and I left the computer lab. "Thank goodness that's done and over with. Do you think that it could have been any more boring?"

Zack frowned. "No, it was pretty damn boring as it was. I wish that I didn't have to practice my computer skills." He cracked his knuckles. "I can't wait until I get onto the assault course next."

"Sure," I said dryly. "Nothing like jumping through tires or crawling underneath barbed wire while somebody's shooting blanks at you or tossing smoke grenades." I shrugged. "Hell, I guess it could be worse. I'll take the assault course over the tank any day of the week."

"You, me, and at least ninety percent of everybody else here," Zack agreed. We stopped walking. "I told Max that we'd meet up with her here before we go over to the assault course."

"Then why am I here?" I teased. I counted the shades of red that Zack's face turned. I think I saw about three. It's a good thing that I managed to hold my laughter in or I would have been burnt toast.

"Save the comedy for somebody else," Zack said. "Besides, Jondy and Krit are going to be meeting us here in a few moments, too." He gave me another glare for good measure and I almost couldn't hold my laughter in, but I got distracted by the phone discussion that I could hear taking place in Director Renfro's office just down the hall from where we were standing.

"Ahhh, Colonel Lydecker," Renfro said. "To what do I owe the honor of this phone call?"

"We need the database CD returned," Lydecker said on the other end of the line. "Have the techs finished copying the data yet?" I perked up. The entire Manticore database on hand and practically within reach?

"It's funny that you should mention that, Colonel," Renfro said. She sounded smug as hell, even more so than Ben and Rena did on the day that both of them somehow managed to beat Zack and Max on the obstacle course. "I just received the word from our computer technicians not even five minutes ago that the data transfer has been completed. I will personally return the disc to you, assuming that you are still in the city of course."

"I'm still in Seattle," Lydecker said. "Meet me in the lobby of the hotel at 2100 hours." I heard the line disconnect and Renfro sigh in aggravation. I don't think that she likes Lydecker all that much. Well, there's not much that I can say to that except join the club and get at the end of the line of people who already want to kick his ass. I mentally shook my head and I grinned. That database…

"Parker, I know what you are thinking and the answer is absolutely not," Zack said. I turned back to him. He really does know me like the back of his hand.

"What does Parker want to do now?" Jondy asked as she, Max, and Krit approached us.

"Director Renfro has the entire Manticore database on hand in one of the computers here," I said. "She just had it copied from a CD that she's got to return to Lydecker tonight. Can you imagine how awesome it would be if I could manage to hack into our own mainframe and copy that database for ourselves?"

"That's sick," Krit said. "That's gotta be dangerous as hell, Parker. I know how good you are and everything, but this?"

"That's exactly why you shouldn't do it," Zack said.

I rolled my eyes. "Zack, try not to worry so much. I know what I'm doing. I have all the equipment that I would need to pull this off stashed inside of my cell. If I get the slightest hint that they would be onto me hacking into the mainframe to get the database, then I would stop in a heartbeat. I'm always careful, you know that." I turned to Max. If there was anybody that could get Zack to come around, it was my youngest sister. "Please, Maxie?"

"Just like a child," Max teased. "When daddy says no, you turn and ask mommy."

"Is your name Tinga?" I quipped. That got most of us laughing and even Zack had a faint smile on his face. "Seriously, Max, I know that I'm capable of pulling this off. I could even get Xavier to help me with this. The kid's a genius when it comes to hacking."

"You'd have to go through Becky if and when she finds out," Max said. "As risky as what you want to do is, possibly facing off against her is a hell of a lot more dangerous."

"I'll take my chances," I said. And pray that Jeff will be nearby to calm her down if she gets pissed.

"Good to know," Becky said from behind me. I jumped a mile, causing Max, Jondy, and Krit to laugh. Becky's expression was unreadable. "Are you absolutely, positively sure that you can do this without getting caught and if they catch you, you can get out before they can confirm who it is?"

"I'm sure," I said honestly.

Becky nodded and exchanged looks with my sibs before she smiled a little. "Then I'm going to have one hell of a time scraping Xavier off of the ceiling at dinner because of how excited he'll be when he helps you with this."

"You rock, baby sis," I gave her a kiss on the cheek and she gave me a weird look, which again made Max, Krit, and Jondy laugh.

"I thought I liked to take risks, but you took a whopper of one just now," Jondy said.

"I like to surprise even myself sometimes," I replied.

"Let's get going," Zack said. "We still need to get out to the assault course on time."

"Have fun," Becky said. "Good luck."

"Thanks," I said. "We will." I gave her a quick wave and watched her continue on her way before Zack led the rest of us out towards the course.

TBC