Extra chapter, not an actual part of the series.

"Decisions"
by Kirsten Tapp

Disclaimer:

Dark Angel doesn't belong to the author, but to James Cameron, etc. The characters of Caroline, Devon, and Hank however do belong to the author. No copyright infringement intended.

Summary:

The horror of growing up at Manticore, and not living as a normal child prompts the decision to escape. After the death of a sister and a brother the decision is put into action.

Timeframe:

Pre season 1

Rating:

R


The inside of the Manticore facility was as sterile and daunting looking as the outside of it. Each child that marched down the hallways of the imposing building hid their fear of the eyes that they could feel watching them, but could not see. Not one of them moved out of line and marched as though they were one.

Although she kept her eyes facing forward, Max could see one of the guards staring at her sister, Jondy. There was something about his stare that made her uncomfortable, but she wasn't sure what. She guessed her sister must have either seen it or sensed it herself, as Max could feel her sister tense up beside her. She pushed her thoughts aside as she noticed Jack start to shake up ahead of her. The seizures had started again and they were strong.

Each of the X5s reached out for Jack as he fell to the floor shaking uncontrollably from the seizures that took over his small body. The guards started to pull the X5s away from the seizing child. When the guard who had been staring at Jondy moved towards her, Zane stepped in the way, gently pulling his sister clear himself. The guards quickly picked Jack up and carried him towards the infirmary. Another guards ordered the X5s back into line.

Zack signaled the others to move back into line, but his face held a defiant look. A plan was already forming in his mind. He knew as well as the others that they wouldn't be seeing Jack again. He looked over at Max to make sure that she was alright before continuing the march they had started.

That night, the absence of Jack was present in everyone's minds. It was as though an icy wind blew through the barrack chilling them all. Finally somebody suggested that Ben tell one of his stories. It had made them feel better in the past, but not tonight.

"Do you think they sent Jack to stay with the nomalies?" Jace asked, the fear obvious in her face and voice. She could think of nothing worse than being trapped with the nomalies that lived in the basement.

Ben shook his head and squeezed his sister's hand. "No. I bet the Blue Lady is looking after him. Jack's gone to the good place where nobody gets yelled at and the nomalies can't get to you. The Blue Lady lives there and makes sure that nobody gets hurt or is ever sad." Ben, of course had nothing to base his story on. There was such a place, he was sure of it. Because of his certainty, the other X5s believed.

Zack sat on his bunk watching his siblings. He had to get them out of there. He didn't know what a normal childhood was like, but he was sure that none of them were living it. As always, his gaze rested on Max. Her safety was always at the front of his mind, although he wasn't sure why. He loved the way her face lit up when Ben told stories. It was as though her whole face shone. It wasn't something he saw a lot of though. Next he looked at Jondy who was cuddled up next to Max. He hadn't missed the way that Zane had blocked the guard's path to her that day. There was something wrong there. He would speak to Zane about it when he could get Zane alone. It was no use waiting for everyone to go to sleep as Max and Jondy rarely slept.

Zane had started going everywhere with Jondy. If she even had to go to the bathroom, he would follow her and wait outside to ensure she was safe. Lydecker had seen something in Jondy that he felt would make her the perfect distraction. Unfortunately, she seemed to be distracting the guards. One in particular couldn't seem to keep his eyes off of her and Zane had noticed that the guard kept brushing up against Jondy. Lately Zane had felt uneasy when the guard had even touched his sister's arm. It was a simple enough gesture in itself, but it felt as though there were a hidden meaning behind it. Glancing over at Jondy to reassure himself that she was alright, Zane rolled over in his bunk and went to sleep.

Jondy signaled to Max that she was going to stretch her legs. Part of her wanted to wake Zane to go with her, but he looked as though he were sleeping peacefully and she had no wish to disturb even the brief moment of peace that he had seemed to have found. She made her way towards the infirmary, sliding up against the wall so that the cameras couldn't locate her. Sneaking into the infirmary she saw that something or someone was covered up by a white sheet. Glancing around her to make sure that nobody was watching, Jondy walked up and lifted the sheet. Upon seeing who was lying beneath it, she dropped the sheet back down and raced for the door. The horror of what she had just seen would be forever in her head.

Zane felt someone shaking him. Opening his eyes, he saw Max standing over him with a worried look on her face. It could only mean one thing. Zane glanced over at Jondy's empty bed. It was pointless to ask Max where Jondy was, Zane knew that. Max and Jondy had always had a strange bond between them. It was instinct for Max to know that something was wrong with Jondy. Cautiously, Zane left his bunk and went looking for Jondy.

Max waited until Zane had left the room before waking Zack to fill him in on what was going on. Zack wouldn't like the fact that Zane had gone after Jondy without clearing it with him first. Sure enough, Zack was furious when he realized that his siblings had left their bunks without his permission. Quietly he woke the others and organized a search party. With any luck, they would all be back in their bunks before Lydecker and the guards knew what was going on.

So consumed with the horrified memories of what she had seen running through her head, Jondy didn't notice the guard until it was too late. She felt her body being shoved up against the wall and her clothes being torn from her body. When she tried to push the guard away, he punched her in the face causing her head to slam against the wall. Still she fought against him despite the now overpowering headache. She couldn't hold back the scream as he forced himself into her. Her entire body seemed to be screaming in pain and then suddenly she fell to the floor when the weight of the guard was lifted from her.

Zane stood over the guard's dead body for a moment before racing into the infirmary to grab a sheet to cover his sister's battered and bruised body. As he wrapped her in the sheet he saw Lydecker approaching him. Expecting to be shot on the spot, Zane was surprised when Lydecker gently lifted Jondy into his arms and carried her to the infirmary, gesturing with his head for Zane to follow. Zane watched as Lydecker lay Jondy on an examination table and told Zane to stay with his sister. A female doctor was sent into the room moments later to check the damage done to Jondy.

Jondy clung onto Zane's hand as the doctor examined her. She was more concerned about what would happen to Zane. He had killed a guard to save her and he could be terminated because of it. She saw that Zane was watching something outside the door, his expression becoming grimmer by the moment. "Zane. What's going on?" She winced as the doctor prodded her tender body.

"Lydecker's cleaning up the mess I've made." Zane was confused. Lydecker seemed to be covering for him, but why. He realized that the doctor that was examining Jondy was probably under strict orders not to repeat anything she saw or heard that night. "The others will notice we're missing." He had no wish to get the others in trouble.

"Don't leave me," Jondy pleaded with Zane. "I'm scared." She knew the doctor was trying to be gentle with her, but she was in pain. She whimpered as the doctor continued her examination.

"I'm not going anywhere, Jondy." Zane had no idea how he was going to convince Lydecker to let him stay with his sister, but there was no way he was going to leave her alone. Not when she was this scared. "You can't let them keep you scared, Jondy. That guard isn't going to be hurting anyone ever again. You're going to get through this. I promise I will help you."

Zack signaled his team to stop. He could see Lydecker disposing of a body. He knew this had something to do with Jondy and Zane somehow. They would have to head back to their barrack. There was nothing they could do now, especially if Lydecker was involved. Zack signaled everybody to head back to their bunks. Somehow he would have to get his brothers and sisters out of here.

It was five days before Zack and Jondy rejoined their squadron. Jondy was even more reserved than she had been previously and Zane was more protective of her. They had confirmed with the others that Jack had been experimented on for the source of his seizures. Jondy had even seen his body. Max's seizures had been coming more often lately and the others had been covering for her.

Krit marched beside Syl, directly in front of Max when the seizures started. Zack and Jondy had grabbed Max as she fell. As they closed around their fallen sister, Eva grabbed one of the guards gun and triggered it. Standing directly in front of Max, Eva held the guards at bay. But Lydecker wouldn't stand for such disobedience and fired off a shot before Eva could. She was dead before she hit the ground.

Lydecker ordered the X5s back into line. He could see the looks of hatred on each of their faces. His kids were the best out of all of the X series. He would not settle for anything less and if it took each of them hating him to make them perfect soldiers, then they could hate him all they liked. He had kept the incident involving Jondy and Zane quiet. As far as anyone knew, the two X5s had been put in solitary confinement for leaving their bunks against orders. Jondy was too traumatized to deny his story. Zane, on the other hand, was not about to put his sister through more stress by letting the others know that a guard had raped Jondy and he had broken the bastard's neck.

Zack started to take an interest in the guards' shifts and movements. He realized that some of his siblings would be too frightened to leave, but he was going to get as many out as he could. He wasn't going to wait for Lydecker to kill anymore of his family. Each day he went through the normal Manticore routines and at night he planned their escape.

Lydecker started to notice a change in some of the X5s. He couldn't pinpoint what the change was, but he had a feeling they were planning something. He ordered security be tightened but instinct told him that wouldn't be enough.

Zack waited for lights out that night and gathered his family around him. "Here's the thing, nobody has to go tonight. You can stay if you want, but I'm not going to stick around for Lydecker to pick us off one by one. We've already lost Jack and Eva. Who knows who could be next." What really worried Zack was that Max could be the next one. He couldn't just stand by and let that happen. "We have to go tonight." He had been watching Lydecker. He knew that Lydecker would be watching them closely, so they had to move out before he could become even more suspicious.

"I'm in." Krit had no idea what had happened with Zane and Jondy, but he knew Zane would only kill if Jondy were in danger and he had noticed that one of the guards had mysteriously disappeared. Zane had confirmed later that he had killed the guard, but wouldn't say why. "I don't know what awaits us out there, but I'm sick of being a Manticore toy."

"I'm in, too." Syl wanted a better life or at least a difference one. One that didn't consist of field maneuvers, training exercises and guns.

Max glanced over at Jondy. She wouldn't go if Jondy wasn't going. She waited for Jondy to nod. Jondy was in, which meant Zane would be coming to. "Jondy, Zane and I are in as well."

"You're not going without me," Tinga added. She had no desire to stay behind. Even if they got caught, they would have at least made a try for freedom.

"I was getting fed up of this place anyway." Ben grinned. "I guess I'm in as well."

There were thirteen of them all together. In single file they crept down the corridors pressed up against the wall. Zack had planned it so that the escape would be timed to avoid the patrols. It was working perfectly until one of the guards decided to check the barracks to make sure everyone was in their bunks.

At the sound of the alarm, Jace froze. Max beckoned her to follow them but Jace just shook her head. As much as Max hated to leave her behind, she knew if she stayed, she would probably end up like a science experiment the way Jack had.

Down to twelve, they crashed through a window and headed for the fence. Max and Jondy climbed up the fence side by side. A few of the others that had decided to stay behind made a sudden dash for the window. Unfortunately they were all caught by the patrols that Lydecker ordered out.

Barefoot, they raced over the snow-covered fields. Guards on snowmobiles drew close to them, but the X5s had been taught well and hid amongst the trees. Freedom was close at hand. They gathered around Zack as he signaled their movements. They would have to split up. It was ever that or they would all get caught. Moving quickly and quietly through the trees, the X5s avoided the guards as best they could. As Max ran across the ice, it cracked beneath her and she fell into the icy water. One of her siblings ran up to help her out of the water but the sound of approaching guards caught the attention of both of them. Quickly Max ducked under the icy water while her sibling hid behind a tree. When the guard past them unaware of where they were hiding, Max pulled herself up out of the freezing water with a little help. She glanced behind her in time to see Zack being caught. Max had the feeling he allowed himself to be caught to give the others a chance to get away.

Jondy turned to see what Max was staring at. Trading glances with Max, they both realized that they had to make a run for it. If they got caught as well, Zack's actions would be in vain. They waved goodbye to each other and ran in different directions.

Zack smiled to himself as he watched Max and Jondy raced towards freedom. The guards managed to get him as far as the Manticore fences before Zack turned their own weapons on them. "You shouldn't play with guns. It's dangerous," he taunted them before escaping for the second time that night.

Zane followed Jondy once she and Max had headed in separate directions. He realized that his sister would have no trouble getting someone to look after her. The problem would be finding someone who wouldn't use and abuse Jondy. He caught up with her easily and they headed for the nearest bus station. It wouldn't be hard for the two X5s to find a bus to sneak aboard. The first bus that showed up was heading for San Francisco. Zane saw another bus heading for Los Angeles. He pulled his sister aside. "You take that bus, I take this one. If you get into trouble, you'll know where I'll be."

Jondy nodded that she understood and hugged her brother good bye. "I'll be fine. I'm not going to let Manticore win." She smiled at her brother as she crept onto the bus without being seen. She hid herself in the baggage compartment unsure if she really believed what she had just said to Zane.

Zane waited until he was sure that Jondy was hidden out of sight on the bus before sneaking aboard the bus to Los Angeles. He wished he could have stayed with Jondy to make sure she would be safe, but it would have made it easier for Manticore to find them. Something told him that Jondy would be fine. Over the past few days he had seen a side of Jondy that she kept well hidden. A side that was determined to keep those she didn't know and trust firmly on the outside of the wall she had built around herself.

Max froze when she saw the headlights of an oncoming car. Manticore couldn't have found her that easily. As the car slowed down to stop beside her, Max braced herself to make a run for it. There was no way she was going to let them take her back. The door was thrown open and she saw the driver.

Hannah realized that there was a possibility that Max wouldn't trust her, but she had to take the chance. "Get in." She saw the hesitation in the little girls face before she finally climbed into the vehicle. Hannah had no idea how she was going to keep the little girl safe from Manticore, but for tonight her home would be the safest place. They could figure the rest out tomorrow.

Krit and Syl had stayed together as long as possible before jumping aboard passing trucks heading in different directions. Each of them wondering if they would ever see their siblings again. Zack hadn't planned any further than getting them out of Manticore and over the fence. From here they were all on their own.

A few years later, Zack had escaped from yet another foster home. His foster parents weren't too bad, he had, had worse, but he had a mission. He had to locate all of the siblings that he had escaped with. He suspected that they had all been put into foster homes as he had. After breaking into the adoption agency's computer he had managed to locate the last foster home of all of his siblings except for Jondy. She seemed to have disappeared off of the face of the planet. Zack couldn't help but smile. Disappearing in front of people was what Jondy did best, but there would be one person who would know where she was. Zane. Leaving the same way he had come in, Zack headed for Los Angeles.

Zane rolled his eyes as his foster father started throwing things across the living room. Obviously the cable was out again. He tugged on his foster mother's hand and nodded towards the front door. It was time to go and he wasn't going to leave the poor woman behind to have to deal with the drunken sods temper, not that his temper was any better when he was sober. "Time to go, Caroline." He could see the fear in her face as she shook her head. "I'm not leaving you here alone. You're too good for a life like this." He always kept a bag packed in the hallway cupboard just incase. He had packed a bag for his foster mother when he had realized that his foster father had taken to beating Caroline. He grabbed the bags and Caroline's hand and left through the front door before his foster father could notice they were leaving.

There was a woman's shelter a few blocks down. Zane made up his mind to drop Caroline off there before heading to San Francisco to see how Jondy was doing. They were almost at the shelter when Caroline's husband caught up with them. There was no way Zane was going to let Hank hit Caroline. As Hank raised his fist to hit his wife Zack appeared out of nowhere and knocked Hank flying. "Zane! Let's go." Same old Zack. Still issuing orders and expecting Zane to follow them.

"Not until we get her to safety." Zane face was filled with determination. He could see that Zack wasn't happy that he was disobeying a direct order. "It's not far, Zack." He waited for Zack to nod his consent.

"Fine, just hurry up. Once he sobers up, he's going to be wondering how a kid just knocked him for six." Zack followed Zane and the woman to the shelter and kept watch until Zane made sure that she would stay there and not go back to her husband out of guilt. "Do you know where Jondy is? I can't find any trace of her."

Zane nodded. "Yeah, I was just heading there to check up on. She's in San Francisco. This kid called Devon found her and took her home to his mother. She's been living with them ever since." He chuckled to himself. "She's changed her name and her accent so don't look too surprised when you see her and hear her speak."

"That's a smart move. Maybe we all should have done that." Zack knew where two of his eleven brothers and sisters were, only nine to go. The most important one of all to find would be Max, as always. He wondered if she had changed much.

Zane hotwired a nearby car and climbed into the passenger seat. "You drive, I'll give you directions. Jondy seems to think that Max is in Seattle." He saw the look on his brother's face. "Don't ask how she knows. You know what Jondy and Max are like. They haven't tried to contact each other, so don't ask about that either."

Zack nodded. "I looked up the records at the adoption agency. I know where the others are. Jondy was the only one I couldn't find a record of. I'll set up a contact number so that I can be reached if any of you get into trouble or we get compromised."

Zane fished a photo out of his pocket. "Sounds like a plan. This is what Jondy looked like six months ago." He laughed as he saw Zack's eyes widen. "Yeah, I know. She's gorgeous. I bet the others are too."

"I'm guessing you're going to need another place to stay when you get back here." Zack kept his eyes on the road. He didn't want the police to stop what were obviously two underage drivers. "I take it they were your foster parents."

"Yeah. Don't worry about it. I have somewhere I can go until I find something permanent." Zane always made sure he had a back up plan. "The woman that took Jondy in is real nice. I can't see Jondy having anymore problems. Her foster brother is really protective of her. He almost flattened me the last time I came to visit."

"Did the mother see you?" Zack felt that Zane was taking a risk visiting Jondy too often.

"No." Zane rolled his eyes. "Lighten up, Zack. You know I wouldn't put Jondy in danger. You should be happy that one of us found a good home."

"Yeah," Zack gruffly replied. "Everybody else seems to have been in and out of foster homes. Brin was in five in two months. I guess I'll find out about the others when I get to them."

Jondy spotted her two brothers before they saw her. "Devon, stay here for a minute will you." She nudged her friend that had become like a brother to her. "I just have to speak to these two guys." She giggled at the look on Devon's face. "I'll be fine." She walked over to her brothers totally unaware of the attention that she was getting. "What happened this time, Zane."

Zane kissed his sister's cheek. "Hank got drunk again. I managed to get Caroline to a shelter before he put her in hospital again." He gestured to Zack. "With a little help from big brother here."

Zack hugged his sister. "You look good, Jondy." He had been surprised by her English accent but more surprised by the fact that the photo that Zane had of her didn't do her justice. She really was beautiful. "We can't stay long. I just wanted to make sure you were alright." He showed her a number that he had written on a piece of paper. "This is the contact number. You need anything, just leave a message and I'll get here as quick as I can."

Jondy nodded. She had instantly memorized the contact number as no doubt the others would. "I'm fine here, Zack. Devon's mother just told everyone that she had adopted me. Nobody actually thought to check that she had. By the way, everyone calls me Jessica."

Zack managed a small smile. "Smart thinking. We gotta go." He hugged his sister again and headed back to the car.

Zane shook his head. "He hasn't changed, has he?" He waved to Devon who was watching them.

Jondy was watching Zack. "He never will. He feels responsible for all of us. Has he tracked down Maxie yet?"

Zane nodded. "You were the only one he couldn't locate. He's making his way around the country, contacting us one by one. I think he came to me first." He hugged his sister. "You know where I am if you need anything."

Jondy squeezed his hand. "Sure thing, Big Brother." She turned and walked back to Devon.

Once Zane was safely back Los Angeles, Zack headed to Seattle to find Max. It wasn't easy. She had left yet another abusive foster home when the Pulse hit. There were no records to go by and he figured she was pretty much living on the streets. He finally spotted her one day on the street. Her hair had grown and now fell around her shoulders in soft curls, a bit like Jondy's but dark brown instead of copper red. Something stopped him from approaching her that day. He wasn't sure what, but he stood out of sight watching his sister as she walked into an abandoned building. She had a confidence about her that she hadn't had before. She also had friends that from watching her, he could tell she was close to. He couldn't risk giving her the contact number. Watching for a few minutes more, Zack then headed to Portland to find Tinga.

Over the years that followed, Zack was constantly on the move. Traveling from state to state checking up on his siblings. Every one of them had found a way to make it through the hurdles that life put in the way and stayed out of sight of the Manticore troops that wouldn't give up looking for them. Who knew what the future would hold for them though.

The End