Angel of Darkness
By Astro Purple
AstroPurpl@aol.com
PG for language, violence, and some sexual references, but mostly language.
Timeline: After Jace met Max but before season two with a few minor changes. Okay, okay, rather big changes. I loved Ben, Brin, and Tinga a lot and can't bear the thought of not writing about them. So Brin was rescued safely from Manticore for a third time and is back to normal. Tinga managed to get to Canada, and Max got to Charlie and Case before Lydecker and they're with her. Plus Max managed to drag Ben out of the woods and get him some help. There was a chemical imbalance with his brain that medication corrected.
Summary: An X5 who didn't escape and is now sent to hunt down those who did.
Author's Note: I'm stuck as to where to go from here, so if anyone has any ideas, I'd appreciate it if you'd drop a line. Thanks ahead of time!
Disclaimer: Dark Angel characters belong to the wonderful people who bring Dark Angel to us.
* * *
They weren't Ben's eyes. There was amusement in them, almost mocking. Who was this person? He wasn't Ben. Fala reached up impulsively and tugged on his hair, pinched his cheek, trying to find out if he was wearing a mask and this was all a joke.
X5-494 was beginning to get annoyed. He saw the confusion in her face, almost as if she was expecting someone else. And when she started touching him, he became aggravated. He snatched her hand, holding it away from his face and demanded. "Look, who were you expecting? In case you haven't heard, X5-934 was killed on his solo mission a month ago. We're the only two left."
Fala gave a half-hearted shrug trying to withdraw her hand in his iron-like grip. "I didn't know that. But I was expecting maybe an X6, X7, or X8. More than one transgenic, and least of all, someone, anyone who didn't look like you."
"387, you are so naïve. Hard to believe you're an X5. There are X6s. I'm in charge of them." 494 replied snidely finally releasing her hand. "Renfro wouldn't send X7s, her highly loyal and extremely capable perimeter guards, or X8s, who haven't matured enough to concentrate on even one simple task in Manticore. As for the way I look, deal with it." He took a step back, letting his eyes move over her. "Because I'm certainly dealing with the way you look."
Fala stuck her hands in her pockets, hoping they wouldn't lash out from there to smack the smirk off of 494's face. "All right then, high commanding officer, lead the way back to where you foolishly left the X6s to their own primitive brains."
"For your information, the X6s can follow command, as long as you assert your authority strongly enough."
Fala arched an eyebrow. "Oh really? I find that hard to believe." As if to prove her point, a car came squealing down the street headed straight towards them. She reached out, grabbed a handful of 494's shirt and pulled him off the road. She got a look at a bunch of teens dressed in combat gear, each waving some sort of weapon, and one flicking them off. "Your X6 series assist team?" She inquired, trying to plaster innocence into her voice.
494 smoothed his rumpled shirt, trying to establish his calm. "I'll bet they were off to go scout the territory." His voice sounded strained, even to his own ears.
"Ha! Try again."
A sigh escaped his mouth. "You win. I should have known they were up to something when none of them verbally resisted my order to stay where they were."
Fala leaned against a street lamp and asked nonchalantly. "So what are you planning on doing?" 494's eyes questioned her as he studied her facial expression, wondering. "It's not my problem. I'm returning to Manticore once I pass on my information. I was just wondering how you're going to stop a bunch of adrenaline driven X6s with dangerous weapons from drawing too much attention."
"And who said you were going back to Manticore?"
Fala looked at him, meeting his eyes. "Renfro said 'reinforcements.' We all know what that means. You have my mission now, don't you?" She added the last part hesitantly.
494 smiled slyly. "As I recall the X6s ran away. And reinforcements mean exactly what it sounds like. We were sent here to help you complete your mission. Then return to Manticore together. But since the X6 team has disappeared, I suggest you take more of an interest in helping me recover them. Well? I think you know that the director has lost trust in you. I can give you a positive referral, 387."
"Fala." She corrected.
"Sure, whatever."
Fala looked him up and down, taking her time. "Would you prefer Alec or Dick?"
494 did a double take. "Excuse me?" He croaked, hoping it wasn't what he thought it was.
"For you. Would you like to be called Alec or Dick? Alec meaning smart- aleck, and Dick meaning exactly what it sounds like."
"How about John instead? That's a nice, normal name."
Fala laughed. "Too bad you're not nice, or normal." She walked over to a payphone. "Oh look, a phone, time for check-in with the director." She commented, smiling. "Wonder what's going to be said about you losing the X6s."
"Absolutely nothing because we won't be checking-in tonight. Our excuse tomorrow will be that we were busy dealing with the renegade X5s. Now, first on our list of things to do tonight will be the recovery of the loose X6s. If they cause too much damage, unnecessary attention will be drawn to that and there will be local law enforcement involvement, perhaps even a forced government 'investigation.' And we both know that's exactly what Manticore doesn't need. Now let's go."
* * *
Throughout the entire search, Fala had managed to keep up a string of chatter to annoy anyone, just to cover up some of the 'noise' she could hear the other X5s make behind them. She caught 'Alec' give her the death look twice but she'd done her best to misinterpret it, which for an X5 was hardly possible.
"So have you suddenly decided to start calling me Alec without my opinion? Or was my opinion of both choices good enough for you?"
Fala shrugged. "You struck me more as an Alec than a Dick. Maybe if you start thinking more with your male anatomy, I could be persuaded to call you Dick."
Half the night later, the two X5s advanced upon a run-down bar in one of the worst sectors in the city. The trail left by the X6s led to here, and it was here that the stolen station wagon lay smashed against a lamppost 'parked' in front of the bar. A round of bullets was loosed inside the bar and a couple of bikers stumbled out, searching around wildly before spotting their bikes.
Fala sighed, frowning. "Too late on that 'discrete recovery' thing." She commented as the two of them stepped inside the bar.
The cramped room was heavy with cigarette smoke and the strong smell of liquor. More bikers maneuvered past the two of them, tossing Alec a hostile look.
"Crazy kids these days." A fat, bald guy muttered shoving his way past the two of them. "They think they own everything."
Alec's gaze hardened as his eyes laid sight upon the six X6 series soldiers. They had secured themselves the only pool table, the TV, two of the tables, and a personal waitress. The two female X6s were shooting a game of pool, while the four males were alternating between arguing over the TV, ordering more beer, and pawing the scared female who was obviously not a waitress. One of them, obviously their CO, was waving a semi- automatic Uzi while shouting at some of the apparent bar regulars to quit talking and dominating the bartender's attention.
Fala tsked as she stared at the scene. "Guess you got stuck with the Manticore rejects."
Alec turned his icy expression onto her. "Do me a favor and make yourself useful. Grab the two girls and get them outside."
"Whatever." Fala said making her way towards the pool table. "Alright kids, playtime's over." She grabbed the two X6s forcing them to drop their pool sticks and then shoving them towards the door. "Uh huh! Don't even think about that." Her hand grabbed one of the girl's before it managed to reach a pocket where a handgun was contained. She gave them both a serious look before commanding them to leave. Outside she waited as one by one, Alec tossed out the males as they attempted to put up a fight. Last out on their rump was their CO. "Honey…" Fala said sweetly, kicking one of the downed X6s. "They're just kids."
Alec picked up without missing a beat. "I know…" He reached down and dragged the CO onto his feet. "But they're never gonna learn right from wrong if they're always babied. But I promise, next time, I won't be so gentle." With absolute calm, he snapped the CO's arm.
* * *
"I don't like this turn of events." Lucas whispered voicing what was on everyone's mind. "If I recall from our Manticore days, 494 was always a little too cocky and ambitious. It's been years and I can see he's still exactly the same."
They hid in the shadows watching quietly as the X6's arm was broken. They felt sorry for him in the respect that he hadn't grown up normally and was only doing what kids his age did.
Brin watched from her position, glaring at the two X5s. They were her siblings, but she couldn't help feeling the anger that she did. Sure, she'd done a lot of stuff when Manticore forced her return, and she was sorry for all of it. And she knew that if she had the control of her own mind like the two X5s before her, she would not have done any of it. The people she'd killed and those who had been hurt, she regretted not resisting the orders more. As the months had dragged on, it got easier watching more and more people fall by her hand. She was grateful to her big brothers and sisters who came and got her out. They saved her before she'd lost herself completely to the madness that was Manticore. Fala come into their lives again after they had left on orders, and she didn't stop herself from hurting her family. Brin hated Fala for being so weak, she didn't understand that in the real world you don't hurt your own family members. A few hours ago Brin might have forgiven Fala and welcomed her as family again, but now, seeing her stand next to a fellow X5 and smirk at the howling X6's pain drained her. Whatever love or hope that might have been growing was gone now. In Brin's mind, Fala had died long ago that snowy night they escaped, and this girl who was a grown version of her little sister was a replacement. And X5-494, Ben's clone, had died also.
Trisha studied her younger sister closely. Brin was absorbed into her own thoughts, into the scene that was playing before them. She could piece together the expressions, which flashed across Brin's face, and almost read her thoughts. Anger. Resentment. Hatred. Trisha returned her attention to the scene before them. Seeing 494 break an arm on purpose and with no regrets scared her. The X6 CO was someone he probably saw on a daily basis at Manticore, maybe even trained with. What would 494 do when it came to them, his own family?
Zack glanced at his watch and then signaled for Krit, Syl, and Jondy to follow after the Manticore soldiers. The rest of them needed to get back to their temporary residence. Tinga would be arriving soon and Zack wanted to brief her before she meets either or their lost siblings or the X6 series soldiers. To tell the truth, he was a bit worried on events that would be happening. He didn't think X5-494 would leave Manticore to join his rouge siblings, and he hoped the X5 wouldn't pick up on Fala's restlessness. If he did, he might ship her back to Manticore without them knowing or before they even got a chance to get her out. With Krit, Syl, and Jondy following, he felt a little safer knowing their warehouse wouldn't be accidentally stumbled upon to.
* * *
"Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!" X6-296 yelled as his Second attempted to set his arm for a cast. X5-494's job hadn't exactly been clean and his fellow comrades had been alternating for the past two hours in cleaning his arm and pulling out broken splinters of bones. Now, X6-713 was maneuvering his arm into the correct position so the bone could regenerate any missing pieces and heal. X6-296 gritted his teeth as another large piece of bone was extracted.
Fala sighed as she tried to ignore the amateur doctor work that was going on behind her. From what she had seen a few minutes ago, the X6 would probably have to regenerate half of the bone in his upper arm. Recuperation for him would be at least a week. She wondered if what Alec had done was smart, not that she cared, she was only interested in keeping him and his "reinforcements" away from her family.
She climbed out the window, trying to get away from the noise and still unclear as to why she led them here, to the Space Needle. Now they were in the dome portion and positioned as to have a clear view of all the major and semi-major streets, on a good day. She padded her way to the edge and sat down, studying the view below. Tonight wasn't exactly clear and all she could see through the mist like build-up was a few dark shapes that were taller buildings and lights from some of the rooms near the top. Fala locked her arms around her knees and shut her eyes. She felt separated from the world below, like she was in another world. In a way, she was. The mist was the walls to her prison, keeping her from leaving and keeping others from entering.
"Just to get back at what happened to their CO, one of the X6 soldiers could sneak up behind you and give you a little push, seeing as how attentive you are to your surroundings." The voice shot out from behind her.
Fala felt like groaning. Just what she needed now. "Or, a certain pissed- off X5 could turn around and give you a gentle push." She muttered hoping he'd get the point and go away. She wasn't in a talkative mood just then and the anger she felt at Alec wasn't helping. He thought he could just dump his X6 kids with her and expect her to baby-sit them while he saunters off to hell-knows-where, well he couldn't. If his kids weren't genetically engineered killing machines who couldn't be let loose unsupervised on a city full of innocent norms, she would have been long gone by now.
Alec groaned. "Okay, so I left you with the X6 series soldiers for a while. It's not like they bite. Besides, from what I saw, they were a bit preoccupied tending to their wounded CO to bother you." He sat himself down behind her. "There's still half the night, we shouldn't waste it all sitting here. If we scout around, we might be able to pick up our target's trail."
"Sure." Fala decided after careful thought. "It doesn't look like the X6s are going anywhere anyway. Not with their CO demanding that they treat him like royalty. A trek down over a hundred floors of stairs won't be his cup of tea." I don't know what we can find, but if I can convince him we need to split up, I can disappear.
By Astro Purple
AstroPurpl@aol.com
PG for language, violence, and some sexual references, but mostly language.
Timeline: After Jace met Max but before season two with a few minor changes. Okay, okay, rather big changes. I loved Ben, Brin, and Tinga a lot and can't bear the thought of not writing about them. So Brin was rescued safely from Manticore for a third time and is back to normal. Tinga managed to get to Canada, and Max got to Charlie and Case before Lydecker and they're with her. Plus Max managed to drag Ben out of the woods and get him some help. There was a chemical imbalance with his brain that medication corrected.
Summary: An X5 who didn't escape and is now sent to hunt down those who did.
Author's Note: I'm stuck as to where to go from here, so if anyone has any ideas, I'd appreciate it if you'd drop a line. Thanks ahead of time!
Disclaimer: Dark Angel characters belong to the wonderful people who bring Dark Angel to us.
* * *
They weren't Ben's eyes. There was amusement in them, almost mocking. Who was this person? He wasn't Ben. Fala reached up impulsively and tugged on his hair, pinched his cheek, trying to find out if he was wearing a mask and this was all a joke.
X5-494 was beginning to get annoyed. He saw the confusion in her face, almost as if she was expecting someone else. And when she started touching him, he became aggravated. He snatched her hand, holding it away from his face and demanded. "Look, who were you expecting? In case you haven't heard, X5-934 was killed on his solo mission a month ago. We're the only two left."
Fala gave a half-hearted shrug trying to withdraw her hand in his iron-like grip. "I didn't know that. But I was expecting maybe an X6, X7, or X8. More than one transgenic, and least of all, someone, anyone who didn't look like you."
"387, you are so naïve. Hard to believe you're an X5. There are X6s. I'm in charge of them." 494 replied snidely finally releasing her hand. "Renfro wouldn't send X7s, her highly loyal and extremely capable perimeter guards, or X8s, who haven't matured enough to concentrate on even one simple task in Manticore. As for the way I look, deal with it." He took a step back, letting his eyes move over her. "Because I'm certainly dealing with the way you look."
Fala stuck her hands in her pockets, hoping they wouldn't lash out from there to smack the smirk off of 494's face. "All right then, high commanding officer, lead the way back to where you foolishly left the X6s to their own primitive brains."
"For your information, the X6s can follow command, as long as you assert your authority strongly enough."
Fala arched an eyebrow. "Oh really? I find that hard to believe." As if to prove her point, a car came squealing down the street headed straight towards them. She reached out, grabbed a handful of 494's shirt and pulled him off the road. She got a look at a bunch of teens dressed in combat gear, each waving some sort of weapon, and one flicking them off. "Your X6 series assist team?" She inquired, trying to plaster innocence into her voice.
494 smoothed his rumpled shirt, trying to establish his calm. "I'll bet they were off to go scout the territory." His voice sounded strained, even to his own ears.
"Ha! Try again."
A sigh escaped his mouth. "You win. I should have known they were up to something when none of them verbally resisted my order to stay where they were."
Fala leaned against a street lamp and asked nonchalantly. "So what are you planning on doing?" 494's eyes questioned her as he studied her facial expression, wondering. "It's not my problem. I'm returning to Manticore once I pass on my information. I was just wondering how you're going to stop a bunch of adrenaline driven X6s with dangerous weapons from drawing too much attention."
"And who said you were going back to Manticore?"
Fala looked at him, meeting his eyes. "Renfro said 'reinforcements.' We all know what that means. You have my mission now, don't you?" She added the last part hesitantly.
494 smiled slyly. "As I recall the X6s ran away. And reinforcements mean exactly what it sounds like. We were sent here to help you complete your mission. Then return to Manticore together. But since the X6 team has disappeared, I suggest you take more of an interest in helping me recover them. Well? I think you know that the director has lost trust in you. I can give you a positive referral, 387."
"Fala." She corrected.
"Sure, whatever."
Fala looked him up and down, taking her time. "Would you prefer Alec or Dick?"
494 did a double take. "Excuse me?" He croaked, hoping it wasn't what he thought it was.
"For you. Would you like to be called Alec or Dick? Alec meaning smart- aleck, and Dick meaning exactly what it sounds like."
"How about John instead? That's a nice, normal name."
Fala laughed. "Too bad you're not nice, or normal." She walked over to a payphone. "Oh look, a phone, time for check-in with the director." She commented, smiling. "Wonder what's going to be said about you losing the X6s."
"Absolutely nothing because we won't be checking-in tonight. Our excuse tomorrow will be that we were busy dealing with the renegade X5s. Now, first on our list of things to do tonight will be the recovery of the loose X6s. If they cause too much damage, unnecessary attention will be drawn to that and there will be local law enforcement involvement, perhaps even a forced government 'investigation.' And we both know that's exactly what Manticore doesn't need. Now let's go."
* * *
Throughout the entire search, Fala had managed to keep up a string of chatter to annoy anyone, just to cover up some of the 'noise' she could hear the other X5s make behind them. She caught 'Alec' give her the death look twice but she'd done her best to misinterpret it, which for an X5 was hardly possible.
"So have you suddenly decided to start calling me Alec without my opinion? Or was my opinion of both choices good enough for you?"
Fala shrugged. "You struck me more as an Alec than a Dick. Maybe if you start thinking more with your male anatomy, I could be persuaded to call you Dick."
Half the night later, the two X5s advanced upon a run-down bar in one of the worst sectors in the city. The trail left by the X6s led to here, and it was here that the stolen station wagon lay smashed against a lamppost 'parked' in front of the bar. A round of bullets was loosed inside the bar and a couple of bikers stumbled out, searching around wildly before spotting their bikes.
Fala sighed, frowning. "Too late on that 'discrete recovery' thing." She commented as the two of them stepped inside the bar.
The cramped room was heavy with cigarette smoke and the strong smell of liquor. More bikers maneuvered past the two of them, tossing Alec a hostile look.
"Crazy kids these days." A fat, bald guy muttered shoving his way past the two of them. "They think they own everything."
Alec's gaze hardened as his eyes laid sight upon the six X6 series soldiers. They had secured themselves the only pool table, the TV, two of the tables, and a personal waitress. The two female X6s were shooting a game of pool, while the four males were alternating between arguing over the TV, ordering more beer, and pawing the scared female who was obviously not a waitress. One of them, obviously their CO, was waving a semi- automatic Uzi while shouting at some of the apparent bar regulars to quit talking and dominating the bartender's attention.
Fala tsked as she stared at the scene. "Guess you got stuck with the Manticore rejects."
Alec turned his icy expression onto her. "Do me a favor and make yourself useful. Grab the two girls and get them outside."
"Whatever." Fala said making her way towards the pool table. "Alright kids, playtime's over." She grabbed the two X6s forcing them to drop their pool sticks and then shoving them towards the door. "Uh huh! Don't even think about that." Her hand grabbed one of the girl's before it managed to reach a pocket where a handgun was contained. She gave them both a serious look before commanding them to leave. Outside she waited as one by one, Alec tossed out the males as they attempted to put up a fight. Last out on their rump was their CO. "Honey…" Fala said sweetly, kicking one of the downed X6s. "They're just kids."
Alec picked up without missing a beat. "I know…" He reached down and dragged the CO onto his feet. "But they're never gonna learn right from wrong if they're always babied. But I promise, next time, I won't be so gentle." With absolute calm, he snapped the CO's arm.
* * *
"I don't like this turn of events." Lucas whispered voicing what was on everyone's mind. "If I recall from our Manticore days, 494 was always a little too cocky and ambitious. It's been years and I can see he's still exactly the same."
They hid in the shadows watching quietly as the X6's arm was broken. They felt sorry for him in the respect that he hadn't grown up normally and was only doing what kids his age did.
Brin watched from her position, glaring at the two X5s. They were her siblings, but she couldn't help feeling the anger that she did. Sure, she'd done a lot of stuff when Manticore forced her return, and she was sorry for all of it. And she knew that if she had the control of her own mind like the two X5s before her, she would not have done any of it. The people she'd killed and those who had been hurt, she regretted not resisting the orders more. As the months had dragged on, it got easier watching more and more people fall by her hand. She was grateful to her big brothers and sisters who came and got her out. They saved her before she'd lost herself completely to the madness that was Manticore. Fala come into their lives again after they had left on orders, and she didn't stop herself from hurting her family. Brin hated Fala for being so weak, she didn't understand that in the real world you don't hurt your own family members. A few hours ago Brin might have forgiven Fala and welcomed her as family again, but now, seeing her stand next to a fellow X5 and smirk at the howling X6's pain drained her. Whatever love or hope that might have been growing was gone now. In Brin's mind, Fala had died long ago that snowy night they escaped, and this girl who was a grown version of her little sister was a replacement. And X5-494, Ben's clone, had died also.
Trisha studied her younger sister closely. Brin was absorbed into her own thoughts, into the scene that was playing before them. She could piece together the expressions, which flashed across Brin's face, and almost read her thoughts. Anger. Resentment. Hatred. Trisha returned her attention to the scene before them. Seeing 494 break an arm on purpose and with no regrets scared her. The X6 CO was someone he probably saw on a daily basis at Manticore, maybe even trained with. What would 494 do when it came to them, his own family?
Zack glanced at his watch and then signaled for Krit, Syl, and Jondy to follow after the Manticore soldiers. The rest of them needed to get back to their temporary residence. Tinga would be arriving soon and Zack wanted to brief her before she meets either or their lost siblings or the X6 series soldiers. To tell the truth, he was a bit worried on events that would be happening. He didn't think X5-494 would leave Manticore to join his rouge siblings, and he hoped the X5 wouldn't pick up on Fala's restlessness. If he did, he might ship her back to Manticore without them knowing or before they even got a chance to get her out. With Krit, Syl, and Jondy following, he felt a little safer knowing their warehouse wouldn't be accidentally stumbled upon to.
* * *
"Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!" X6-296 yelled as his Second attempted to set his arm for a cast. X5-494's job hadn't exactly been clean and his fellow comrades had been alternating for the past two hours in cleaning his arm and pulling out broken splinters of bones. Now, X6-713 was maneuvering his arm into the correct position so the bone could regenerate any missing pieces and heal. X6-296 gritted his teeth as another large piece of bone was extracted.
Fala sighed as she tried to ignore the amateur doctor work that was going on behind her. From what she had seen a few minutes ago, the X6 would probably have to regenerate half of the bone in his upper arm. Recuperation for him would be at least a week. She wondered if what Alec had done was smart, not that she cared, she was only interested in keeping him and his "reinforcements" away from her family.
She climbed out the window, trying to get away from the noise and still unclear as to why she led them here, to the Space Needle. Now they were in the dome portion and positioned as to have a clear view of all the major and semi-major streets, on a good day. She padded her way to the edge and sat down, studying the view below. Tonight wasn't exactly clear and all she could see through the mist like build-up was a few dark shapes that were taller buildings and lights from some of the rooms near the top. Fala locked her arms around her knees and shut her eyes. She felt separated from the world below, like she was in another world. In a way, she was. The mist was the walls to her prison, keeping her from leaving and keeping others from entering.
"Just to get back at what happened to their CO, one of the X6 soldiers could sneak up behind you and give you a little push, seeing as how attentive you are to your surroundings." The voice shot out from behind her.
Fala felt like groaning. Just what she needed now. "Or, a certain pissed- off X5 could turn around and give you a gentle push." She muttered hoping he'd get the point and go away. She wasn't in a talkative mood just then and the anger she felt at Alec wasn't helping. He thought he could just dump his X6 kids with her and expect her to baby-sit them while he saunters off to hell-knows-where, well he couldn't. If his kids weren't genetically engineered killing machines who couldn't be let loose unsupervised on a city full of innocent norms, she would have been long gone by now.
Alec groaned. "Okay, so I left you with the X6 series soldiers for a while. It's not like they bite. Besides, from what I saw, they were a bit preoccupied tending to their wounded CO to bother you." He sat himself down behind her. "There's still half the night, we shouldn't waste it all sitting here. If we scout around, we might be able to pick up our target's trail."
"Sure." Fala decided after careful thought. "It doesn't look like the X6s are going anywhere anyway. Not with their CO demanding that they treat him like royalty. A trek down over a hundred floors of stairs won't be his cup of tea." I don't know what we can find, but if I can convince him we need to split up, I can disappear.
