Title: The Pro

Disclaimer: I own pretty much nothing. Dark Angel and its characters fit into the 'Nothing' category.

Setting: Post Cold Comfort, Pre-Pollo Loco. But since this is AU, it throws a lot of episodes totally out of balance.

Summary: AU. You've got problems when the girl you love thinks you're her brother.

/ It's hard to pretend to be somebody else...even if he's your twin.

Chapter 1: The Assignment

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Elizabeth Renfro was adamant.

"Deck! No arguments, please. You've messed up the entire operation from day one. If you'd handled everything like an expert, those 'kids' of yours would never have been allowed to escape in the first place!"

"I've been making progress in locating them."

"It's been ten years, Deck! How long is the committee to wait before you admit that they've outsmarted you?"

"Sending an X5 after X5s could prove to be catastrophic."

"How can it be catastrophic? It'll mean that I'll have twelve '09 escapees in custody instead of one! And, need I remind you, that the only reason that we have that one, was because of the Progeria."

"The escapees could inflict their liberal ideas onto him. Then we'd have another rogue to worry about."

She brushed his argument aside with an irritable flick of her hand.

"If he begins to show signs of weakness, then we'll brainwash him. Simple solution to a simple problem. Enough arguing, Deck! I'm in charge now, and I'm giving an order. Do it!"

Lydecker resisted the urge to strangle her neck.

"Yes, Ma'am."

Renfro gave a nasty little smile.

"Good boy! Now salute me!"

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"At ease, soldier."

Lydecker stonily observed the young man before him. There was no hint that the boy had spent a considerable amount of time in the dark realm of the Psy Ops department. Outwardly, he appeared to be nothing less than the cream of Manticore's crop, but Lydecker had doubts that he was ready for another undercover solo mission. This assignment was condiderably trickier than his last, and yet that had failed miserably. However, Renfro was very enthusiastic that her plan would round up the escaped X5s and Lydecker had no choice other than to follow her orders. Whether he liked them or not.

"X5-494!"

"Yes Sir?"

"You have been assigned a solo-mission. You are to capture the remainding eleven rogue X5s starting with 452. Do you know why you have been chosen for this important assignment?"

"No, Sir!"

"You are one of our finest soldiers. Apart from your screw up last year in the Berrisford case, you have proved yourself capable in solo missions. We feel that you are now professional enough to handle a new mission. The committee has reached the decision that you've learnt your lesson. But above all, you have been chosen because you alone can pass off as a rogue."

"Sir?"

"You have a twin, X5-494. His designation is X5-493."

Lydecker searched the young man's face for any signs of surprise. Apart from a slight flicker in his eyes, there was none.

"You are to assume his identity, and make contact with X5-452. But you shall call her 'Max' as she will call you 'Ben'. Any questions?"

"Has X5-452 been in contact with X5-493 since the escape?"

"My sources have indicated that they have not."

"My barcode is different to that of the twin."

"That can be temporarily altered. Anything else."

"If I am to pass off as X5-493, I will need information on both him and X5- 452."

"I know. Here's their files as well as the files of the other escapees. Study them. I want you to play this part to perfection. In the past, all your previous mission required you to assume the identity of somebody the target had not yet met. You will not have that advantage this time. But since X5-452 is unaware that Ben...X5-493 has a twin, you'll be able to manage to get around any unrecorded knowledge she has of him. Gain her trust. Her only weakness is her 'siblings'. She would never suspect her 'brother' to turn against her, and so you should be able to bring her in without much trouble. Also, there's a secondary mission to the assignment. It's been noted that 'Eyes Only' has been helping X5-452. We want you to learn his identity."

"Am I to to terminate the secondary subject?"

"No. We want to observe him, and his reaction to her capture. If he makes trouble for Manticore, then we will order a termination. Any other questions?"

"I'm to capture X5-452 first. With all due respect, sir, it would make more sense to capture X5-493 first and then proceed to take out the remainder."

"I'm aware of that, but 493's location is a mystery to us. He often moves and does not stay long enough at any given place to give us a definite trail. 452 will be easiest to find. We know that she has spent a good deal of time in Seattle. She may still probably be there. On the chance that she's fled, you are to find a trail - somehow. If Zack could do it, so can you. Speaking of which, it's been noted that X5-599 has a tendency to risk himself for her sake. If she's captured, I can guarantee you that he'll come looking. When we've got him, we've got all of them because he alone knows their locations, and he'd have been the only person who could warn the others about the fake Ben. It's important to get Zack as quickly as possible. He's the crucial one, but Max is his bait. After we have Zack, you can pick them off one by one. Leave 493 for last. He'll be trickier and will require a different strategy. Any other questions?"

"No, Sir."

"Good."

He indicated the files.

"Study those well. I want you to give an award winning performance, soldier! A lot is counting on how convincing you are."

"Yes, Sir. Understood."

"Oh, and 494?"

"Yes, Sir?"

"Under no circumstance, allow yourself to be influenced by their beliefs."

If the young man was puzzled by his words, he made no visible sign.

"Yes, Sir."

"Also, 494..."

"Yes, Sir."

"Do yourself a favor and don't fall in love with her."

Lydecker did not miss the slight narrowing of the soldier's eyes, nor did he fail to notice the clenched fist.

"I'll try to restrain myself, sir."

Deck almost raised his eybrow. Was the boy being cocky with him? He decided to let it go - for now.

"Dismissed."

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A/N: Well? My knowledge of military jargon is extremely limited, so I just put in what I thought might work. So, whaddya think? If you're worried that this is too...uptight for you, trust me that things will get more romantic in the later chapters. This is a devoted M/A shipper writing after all! If the response to this story is good, I can already see a follow-up in the future. So review! Come on! Please!