Coming home again.
As the van came to a halt, Max looked out to see a nearby formation of X6's trying not to glance at the newcomers, one boy wasn't doing so well and was letting his interest overcome his training. He kept shooting glances from the corner of his eye and his head was gradually turning to watch them with unabashed curiosity.
Max nudged Zan and motioned to the kid.
"3…2…1" they counted and then, in time with the commander who noticed, chorused "EYES FRONT!"
Sunny and Pix burst out laughing as the door opened and had to stifle that laughter as they came out into a line for inspection. It was instinctual for them to form lines as they awaited the arrival of their commander.
A woman walked towards them in a severe black tailored suit, sharp gold silk blouse and short spiky blonde hair. She was shadowed by a short balding man who was on the wrong side of forty.
The woman had a pinched, mean look about her as she turned to them with a fake smile
"Welcome to Seattle, I'm Director Renfro and I'm in charge around here. This is Agent Sandoval, my assistant."
Sandoval smiled like he was in pain and Max's lips twitched in amusement. He obviously relished being in the position of subordinate to the harridan.
Renfro looked them up and down "I've been told that you are the best of what is to offer from our selective facilities. I hope so." She added sarcastically "You have exactly half an hour to settle in before we meet in room 15 for debriefing. Sandoval will escort you to your barracks."
She walked away abruptly leaving the X series bewildered and Sandoval sighed.
He motioned for them to follow him and as they walked across the training yards Max let her gaze wander. The Soldiers surveyed her as she watched back, their ages ranged from toddlers to twenty something and they all seemed interested in the newbies.
There seemed to be more males than females here from what she could see which had been the same at her Manticore…her Manticore? As if. She was ecstatic to be rid of the place.
She watched as a pretty blonde put her hand on a dark haired man's arm drawing his attention back to her. Zan came up by the side of her and smiled down at her.
"What do you think of Renfro?"
"Bitch." She whispered and he chuckled. Max knew that she was going to like Zan, while he had the same feeling as Zack and Zane; he had a much closer sense of humour to her than her brothers had and it was refreshing to find someone to joke with.
"Catch up." Sandoval said snidely, glancing back at them and they hurried to obey.
He led them to a big block with bars on the windows and into the insides far in the building.
"521, you are in here." He said after glancing at a clipboard.
"Single units?" Sunny said as she peered into the room.
"Yeah we found that teens are more able to concentrate if its not co-ed." He looked the sweet blonde up and down "Go figure."
Max growled, not liking his tone at all as he leered at Sunny and Pix and Carrot put their hands on her arm to calm her.
Sandoval blinked unaware of how close he had come to being slammed up against the wall by a defensive X5 and pointed to the next room.
"452."
She pushed past him emitting a low growl and walked into the room throwing her bag on the bed and ignoring his gaze as it fell on her ass.
"Oops." She heard Zan say and Sandoval gasped "Clumsy."
"Whoa there." Carrot said and she heard the grin in his voice as Sandoval rubbed his aching arm.
"So much for feline grace." he mumbled.
She sat on the bed and marvelled at the fact that they were protecting each other so fast.
So this was home. She glanced around at the Spartan room. There was one bed with chains so it could be hooked up during the day to maximise space. A sink lay in one corner with a grey metallic desk nearby with a nightlight and matching metal chair. A desk sat near that with drawers presumably for clothes and that was it.
She shrugged, just glad that she had her own room and picked up her bag to unpack. Well the first thing was to see if her room was bugged or had a camera and then she needed to find a place for her contraband and Tryptophan.
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Ok short chapter here but I had to do a small one to reply to all the fab reviews…Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed for me. Because you were all so great I have posted two chapters this time round…aren't I good to you? Anyway…
Ethos- Damn you reviewed quick! Thanks pet.
Sigma1- Your welcome I like to keep people happy. Hope you continue to enjoy.
Freedom Angel- Not so different from Manticore? Well slightly different after all we do have some special people here. J
Raven- She's free! And now she has some friends and realises that she wasn't as alone as she thought…but will she hold a grudge?
Gamegirl452- Won't have to wait long for Alec…watch the next chapter. As for being a beta, what do you beta (grammar, spelling, plot?)
Emma- not have to wait that long see!
Anna Kristina- worry not, Max will have enough to angst about soon enough. She's just so happy to be away from Bulli that she isn't thinking of it right now. but thi is Max ands she'll be angsting again. Alec coming up.
Feyechelon- I'm mirroring Zan on Zack because Max needs that in her life…although lighter please!
Acb- Happy New Year and many felicitations of the season. J
JYNX- Thanks for reviewing.
Nat452- Max needed some friends and will be meeting Alec soon.
Et- Phew so glad you don't have to find a new author! LOL.
Ting- They are human beings and the whole nervous but trying anyway was just how I wanted to introduce them…especially Sunny.
Dokushoka79- You're welcome I like that people have got involved with this story and wanted me to update so fast. Max did have some support and I think that will help to boost her confidence some. I'm glad you liked the names for some reason I had a bitch of a time coming up with some of them (poor Carrot!)
Kathryn Buffy Gellar- LOL, I am sooo glad that your heart was beating while you read the story…just think what would have happened if it had stopped!!! Zan is a cutey!
Natasgi- Glad you like it, Alec will be here soon.
Ev- Hey you reply and I post- that's how it works. Glad I kept you interested.
Nora- bows thanks honey. Happy New Year to you too.
Nat1- LOL, more more more…reviews that is. I know SIC annoys me too.
Brynnmissy- yeah this is her new family…but it's missing some members.
Ru- They are going to be a Unit, Special Ops is five from each of the three facilities and they are placed together. Keep reading.
Mewing aloud- Uh…thanks. J You'll like later chapters if you like cat behaviour.
Dark-angel562- Thank you so much, I'm so pleased that you think so. How's two chapters for you? Big hugs.
Lazy2be- it was slow start but it picks up fast and each chapter is like a mini episode after this but I needed to introduce the new characters in a realistic way. They do have hearts and it was important to show that they weren't just soldiers. Sunny is almost the complete opposite to Max, but they get along well. Its unusual because Max didn't really interact with many female characters in the show. Training will be a big part of Manticore life so let me know what you think there.
Kitty- you keep reviewing and I will keep writing.
Elite- Thanks pet, glad you liked them. as for yoru question the answer is Max…although we will get to see Psy-ops more in Seattle. Don't forget that Alec is still only fifteen here and wont have even been sent on solo missions yet so he hasn't had a chance to screw up with Berrisford so only one or two Psy-Ops trips for Alec whereas Max was in and out all of the time.
Blackjap- They are all in the same Unit- Special Ops. Any of the other 09ers? ALL of them…but you have to wait. Sorry.
Dark Blossom- Thank you, its great that you think so, its nice that its had such a positive response. I love M/A stories too.
Elfie- I was expecting a load of questions from you!! My world is askew! Glad you like the description of Seattle- I really had to drag my memory banks for that. it was mostly set up because the Units needed to be plausible and Max suddenly having friends just wasn't going to cut it. Zack had a great rep and it showed to the other units as well. Zan will play a bit part so he was given the name- plus I can imagine him as way way cute.
Tabitha5- Max will let us in on a lot of her family stories- mostly as flashbacks so we get to know them more. Enjoy.
Lyra_Skywalker- Thanks pet, keep reading
Angel21- Yeah Max is going to meet Alec…very very soon.
Kitty- Yeha this will be going up on Gumboot Mafia as well as NWP because we finally have Alec in the story.