Chapter 1 – Designate That – by CindyZ

This just came to me while watching a rerun of Pollo Loco. It's the only one of season one that I'll watch, (for obvious reasons, J). I had only seen it once before, and it has inspired this. This is TOTALLY AU, but just from the beginning of season two. It is from Max's POV, but there will be a lot more of Alec later on.  – I'm gonna probably skip loads of the eps, and definitely loads of the Logan parts.  J

Teaser: What if what Renfro suggested in Pollo Loco was true. That madness was hereditary in X5's. All it needs is a trigger, and unknown to Manticore they ARE the trigger. Some can survive longer than other's but no one can survive forever. And Max is the one that breaks.

Disclaimer: I know, I know, I'm using a lot of the lines in the ep. I apologise, please don't sue me, I admit I didn't write them. The tweaking however, I admit I did do, so please don't sue a penniless student. J

Pairing, M/A

Rating: R

A/N: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO MAIA for betaing this thing. You are a STAR girl – thanks a bunch!! J

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"State you're designation," the Bitch asked me, and mentally gritting my teeth, I answered like a good little dog.

"X5-452, ma'am,"

Revenge, revenge, revenge, echoed through me, and I curbed my desire. *When the time is right. You're on your own, complete the mission.*

 "You don't fool me. I know you're just playing along. Come on - I want to show you something."

I followed her obediently to what she wanted me to see, seething. When I walked into the room, I saw a man strapped on a gurney, all sorts of tubes and machines around him. I didn't recognise him, but when I looked into his eyes, I knew.

"Zack," I said out loud, I couldn't help it. My brother, not dead, but close to it. I suppressed my tears, and focused on him. Did he know me, did he recognise me?

When the Bitch told me what they had done to him, I wanted to rip her throat out. I would have at that moment, and I think she knew it, but she stepped away after her insincere condolences, and showed me my family. She told me I was poison, and I believed her. Pictures of them all, all who had died because of me.

Then she showed me eyes-only. I made my expression go blank. She knew we had a connection, but not exactly what. I didn't want to betray him completely because he was my link to destroying this place. He would help me have my revenge. 

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These soldier's were good, I thought, referring to my fellow X5s as I was accompanied by a norm guard, armed with a tazer that he foolishly thought would protect him. I studied him from the corner of my eye, I could see his alertness, and also his confidence. I did not have any remorse in being confidant that I could squash him like a bug, and that I would enjoy doing so if it had no repercussions.

I was also glad I was out. I could walk around straight, put on one foot in front of the other, stretch when I wanted to. I could have lasted longer, but it was nice not having to.  

I was assigned a group that were obviously recovering from injury. It was plain that my handlers thought I wasn't as good as my X relations from being outside. While not making it obvious I was checking the exits, the guards positions, their alertness, I kicked all their asses. Sure they had some new moves, but not enough that I couldn't multitask. The Drill Sergeant came up to me, and I had to crane my neck to look up at him. I hate looking at someone who is taller than me and makes it so obvious by standing in my face. I wanted to kick him where it hurt, I knew I could do it in a blink of an eye, but I was being a good girl.

"So you're an 09' escapee. You think you're pretty good, huh?"

I looked him straight in the eye and told him I was. "I guess it didn't help that I'm with the recoveries, but I did learn to fight dirty." I gave him a humourless grin, watching his eyes bulge slightly with my cocky remark. One thing I did love about being free was that I could say what I wanted, when I wanted. This would not change. If they wanted to punish me, well fuck them.

Drill Sergeant's eyes then narrowed, and I knew I would be.

"X5-967!" He bellowed, and a smallish man stepped forward, with dark brown hair and incredible blue eyes, and answered his summons.

"Sir, yes sir!"

"Spar with X5-452, and show her you can fight 'dirty'." Sergeant shouted out, and we took our positions.

The training area was silent, all eyes on us. I loved it. This was control; this was what I was born for.

With a blink of an eye, 967's foot shot out and I couldn't avoid it, it was too quick. I spun into the hit and it deflected off of me, while spinning my other foot to his abdomen. I hit him, but not hard, and he stumbled back slightly. We were testing each other. It seemed I had a reputation too.

"What's the matter 452?" 967 said tauntingly. "Still recuperating?"

I couldn't help mouthing off. Just to see his eyes narrow with indignation. "Bite me."

"Must have given you a lousy heart," 967 said, and I lost all control. They could taunt me, but not Zack.

Our fight was over within a minute, lighting fast kicks and punches, ducks and jabs.

My opponent had a bloody nose, and favoured his left leg slightly. I had god knows how many bruises, but I wasn't the one on the floor.

There was silence. I had beaten their fighter. I thought the drill sergeant would make me fight again, but then I was called to the Bitch. I sauntered out, looking all the while like I was walking in the park on a summer's day. I had won, and I saw the others looking at me warily. I had furthered my reputation even more today, I hoped it would be a help, not a hindrance.  

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Please review and tell me what you think!! Continuation coming soon!!