A/N- For some reason Pix is starting to remind me of Fred and George Weasley- not sure how that has happened!

Chapter 4 alongside  Sunny side up.

It was dawn by the time 511 got back to her cell only to find, to her surprise, that 494 was sitting on her bunk.

"Hey 511."

"Hey Sir, what are you doing here?"

"Actually I swung by to see if you were okay last night but couldn't find you."  He patted the bed next to him and she snuggled under his arm, the way she had done since they were young. She felt safe there.

"I was training."

"In the gym where I looked several times?" he asked dryly and she bit her lip.

"I went to see 418 in solitary." She confessed "I wanted to say sorry to him for getting him into trouble."

"It wasn't your fault." He stated.

"That's what he said." She wouldn't tell him all of what 418 said, it still made her blush.

"He shouldn't have mouthed off at the trainer though. Shows disrespect." 494 frowned.

"And without respect authority crumbles." She finished the Manticore catchphrase and he hugged her tight.

"Still it was nice of him to come to your rescue like that- your very own knight in shining armour. I felt almost redundant." He teased and she nudged him

"Never, but he was nice."

He turned to face her "You like him?"

She dipped her head and he caught her chin, used to her avoidance tactic "Do you?"

She nodded and he grinned "Those damn Wyoming kids."

She knew what had prompted that comment.

"I was with 452." She offered and he sighed.

"Ahh the ever lovely- ever scary 452 who would love to kill me."

She found that amusing.

"Not kill you."

He shrugged and then gave her a calculating look "You two are getting to be good friends."

"We are." She confessed and he slipped his arm away and brought it to her hands.

"Then my dearest darling 511, do me a favour."

"What?" she grinned, liking this new playful side to their C.O.

"Put in a good word with her for me. Come on you know me, tell her I'm not evil incarnate."

"I don't know." She teased "You're not the C.O you used to be maybe she's right to keep her distance."

"Hey!" he said half insulted and she couldn't keep her amusement in.

"Very funny."

She thought so.

X5-633 was trying to pay attention to the drone of the Professor trying to talk about British colloquialisms but was put off as 521 wriggled restlessly behind her.

She heard 452 chastise her and felt her try to settle down but after her knees hit the back of her chair for the twelfth time she couldn't take it anymore and twisted in her seat

"Knock it off!" she hissed and 521 apologised.

"Sorry 6-33." She sat back and grabbed her pencil twisting it in her hands.

"Hey 633, chill off." 291 suggested.

"Its chill out, not chill off." She stated icily "And you try having her knees jabbed into your spine for the third time and see how tetchy you aren't."

"I am really sorry guys," 521 said leaning forwards "I'm not feeling so well."

633 swapped glances with 452 who looked worried.

X5's didn't get ill.

Sunny swiped her hand over her forehead. She felt far too hot and almost restless, like she was itchy from head to toe. She wriggled again and felt 633's disapproving glare.

"Sorry." She whispered again feeling more desperate. She had been feeling bad all morning, although it had eased during the mornings exercise, but hadn't wanted to go to med bay just in case they poked and prodded her again.

She was fed up of being a human sized guinea pig.

Max leaned over "Sunny are you okay?"

She shook her head and wrung her hands watching the clock as the seconds hand ticked slowly towards the end of the lesson. She could feel her palms sweat and her head ache. No it wasn't her head…not her back…lower. Much lower. She rotated her head on her neck and felt it crack with a soothing snap.

She breathed out in one long breath and it felt good. As she looked up she noticed that the trainer was still talking, his little button mouth making the cutest sounds. He turned to point something out on the board and Sunny's breath caught as his t-shirt stretched over his broad back. He had been working out.

Cocking her head she let her glance drift down his back to his tight trousers and down his powerful calves. Her view of his feet was obscured by someone in front of her.

"Sunny, lessons ended."

She snapped out of her trance and shook her head. Ew had she really thought that Trainer Morris was cute. He was short and had badly grown facial hair.

Feeling a little more than disorientated she got to her feet and hurried out after Max to her next lesson which was tactics.

The trainer was sitting around a huge table which was covered in maps and grid lines.

General Taffy was saying something about mainframes and adaptation but Sunny couldn't concentrate. Her lower back was throbbing and she was feeling hotter than ever. She raked her fingers through her hair and loved how soft it was- obviously Seattle agreed with it. She smiled softly at her thoughts and shifted on her seat as she tried to get comfortable again.

She stared around the room and her eyes caught on Flex, he really was quite cute, she couldn't see how Max dismissed him so easily. She turned and caught his eye giving him a smile. He gave a hesitant smile, and turned away quickly.

Sunny pouted playfully and bit her lip as she saw the way that the light glinted off 510's brown hair. Oh she'd love to run her fingers through that.

Feeling a bit more twitchy she ran her hands down her legs intending to get rid of the sweat but she luxuriated in the satiny feel of the material rubbing against her sensitive skin- funny she had never thought of her skin as sensitive before but she could feel it touching everywhere, gliding against her body like silk. 

Max touched her hand and she glanced up into the concerned face of her friend. Apparently they had been paired off.

"Sunny what is with you today boo?"

She wiped a hand across her forehead wondering that herself "Sorry Maxie, I just have this bad feeling." Although it wasn't bad so much anymore. "I think I'm sick."

Max froze but she had lost Sunny's attention as she turned to where she could see Flex leaning over the table talking to 494.

His shoulders stretched his tight shirt over his fine muscles and they rippled as he reached far across.  She bit her lip and considered walking over there and grabbing those tight muscles and feeling them in her strong hands.

She waved something Max said aside as the General walked into her eye view.

"Funny I've never noticed how cute General Taffy is."

And he was almost adorable with his military crew cut and broad shoulders; his defined jaw and sweet little dimples whenever he bellowed.

She shrugged off her friends hand as she continued to watch.

Suddenly Aiden and Flex's heads snapped up and they pinned her with a look that sent shivers down her spine right to her toes.

"Uh huh." She lowered her head and looked up at them through hooded eyes "Mmm."

Aiden made a move towards her but 510 stepped in front

"Back off." Someone snarled although at this point she wasn't sure who… and didn't much care either.

She rolled her head back and stretched and felt pure feminine satisfaction as they stopped to stare. 

She vaguely heard Alec yell at Flex and pouted as she was sent into the corner but her attention was soon captivated by 510 and Aiden as they advanced on her.

She felt a slap and saw a fading red handprint on her arm where Max had just hit her.

"Soldier you are in heat and you are compromising the mission. We need to get you to iso before we have a situation."

She heard Max and rolled her eyes. Max was such a worrier.

"But why?" Sunny purred as she looked Aiden up and down "I feel fine." She bit her lip "And I'm sure he feels fine too."

"Ew. Let's get you out of here."

"I wanna stay." Sunny pouted and Aiden grinned wolfishly as he advanced only to find Alec blocking his path.

They both growled at the others stopping them and she steeped forwards to stop them.

"What's going on?"

633 asked, her eyes wide.

"Get out of the way" 510 growled and pushed her.

She swung her head to Max who was tugging on Sunny's arm.

"452?"

"Heat!" she called and 633 understood. She had to stop 510...oh shit…and 191 and 766 away.

Luckily 291, 921, 361 were too far away to scent her. 418 was in solitary still and 494 seemed immune…thankfully.

886 was too shy of girls to make a move and 133 was…hey!

633 saw 133 stand up and make a move.

"Not so fast big guy." She jumped in front of him and he stared down at her.

"Move." He ordered and she growled back.

"No, sit your ass down soldier!"

"What's going on?" 511 asked hesitantly

"Can you grab 510 and make him see sense?" the raven haired transgenic asked.

511 evaluated the situation and raced in front of him.

"Hey c'mon bro."

633 nodded and as her attention wavered 133 tried to pass around her.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." She pulled back and her fist dove into his stomach.

With the wind knocked out of him, he fell to the floor and she took up a fighting stance alongside 511, 555 and 148. From the corner of her eyes she could see the other females doing the same as 521's scent had permeated the air.

"Dammit 452, get her out of here." 291 hissed as she smacked 766.

Sunny pouted as Max dragged her out of the door. Well at least Alec was coming with them. He could stop the itch that started low down in her pelvis and raged through her sweat soaked body.

It was getting unbearable and she writhed against Alec's hard body as he carried her through the woods. At first her pleas were sexy, sensual but she started to get desperate as he refused to help her out.

Her entire being throbbed for the strong male body that tantalizingly rubbed against her already sensitised skin. Every brush was torture to her enhanced senses and it was all she could do not to scream aloud with the sweet, delicious agony of it all.

Her pain escalated as he chatted to Max and she just wanted to scream at him not to touch the dark haired bitch. For goodness sake she was an 09er- not worthy of his time. Part of her was shamed at her thoughts but the rest of her didn't care as it demanded for him to touch her…anywhere.

She hissed through her teeth and the gag Max had somewhere found for her mouth as Alec lifted her against his chest to carry her over a large log. It was such a great chest, even through the t-shirt it was impressive and she could feel the ridges of his muscles and the smell of his musky male scent. She wanted to… needed to touch him.

The urge turning to desperation that bordered on obsession.

Sunny ran her tongue over her teeth as she imagined tasting his unique body chemistry and ripping off his t-shirt.

She suddenly realised that her hands were free as she was thrown unceremoniously onto a bed.

She grabbed at her gag and yanked it down. Watching as Max and Alec backed away from her.

"Oh come on please? I need him." Sunny urged desperate to the point of breaking. "God, you don't know how much I need him."

"Sleep it off." Max ordered and the door slammed shut leaving her in darkness in sheer torture.

Sunny's head flopped against the bed and she screamed, one long raw sound that scared her as it raced through her blood stream.

~~~

Pix walked out of solitary and into the breakfast room. He did a double take at the silent group amassed around the Special Ops table.

"Morning all what…the hell happened!" his jaw dropped as he surveyed the group.

Flex was sporting a huge bruise over his left eye and a split lip. Aiden's jaw was black and blue and 133 was clutching his ribs and giving 633 dark looks which she was ignoring.

Several men sported bruises and cuts and they were avoiding each others faces.

Alec was half grinning and Max was trying to talk to 510 who was glaring at 511.

Pix took in the sight and felt his own lips twitch.

"Who went into heat?"

Max ducked her head and he saw her shoulders shake silently in muffled laughter.

Alec flowed with a few chuckles and one by one down the table, lips curved and giggles escaped as they too saw the funny side.

"S- 521." Max explained holding in her laughter- unsuccessfully.

"I see." He nodded sagely

"At least the General left in one piece." Chance offered between giggles and that made the rest of them start laughing.

"Oh god, you should have seen your face!" Alec said to 510 who rolled his eyes

"Laugh it up." He groused "I don't know why you weren't affected."

"I had a powerful reminder." Pix shook his head as Alec stared at Max hoping to catch her eye…and failing.

"Next time can any girls please remember if they go into heat head to med bay?" Max said over the laughter.

Sunny was ashamed of her behaviour and it took her two tries to walk into the common room. She had been locked in med bay for two weeks while her heat played out fully, then they had wanted to run some tests on her.

Renfro knew how badly heat affected X5's and wanted to synthesize some new drug to stop it being such an issue- a suppressant of the base urges. It would be detrimental if they had to cancel a mission because of the unfortunate genetic side effect.

Sunny felt like a guinea pig after all the time she had been poked and prodded but what was worse was thinking of seeing their faces after the way she had behaved to them especially...oh no- Alec.

 She danced from one foot to the other and tried to make herself walk in.

"Hey there." She spun to see the talkative 510 leaning against the wall.

"Hi!" she replied just a little too perkily and winced. He grinned knowing why she was having trouble walking into that room.

"It's not so bad."

She gave him a patently disbelieving look.

"Really, they aren't mad. We all saw the funny side of it."

"Great so they're laughing at me." She folded her arms "Because that is so much better."

"Yeah actually laughing with not at. Besides you see how often we laugh at 511, its time someone else took a chance."

Sunny poked her tongue out at him.

"I'll protect you from them if you like."

"I'm not 511, I don't need a protector."

He looked her up and down "I can see that."

She raised an eyebrow at his patently open leer "Really?"

"Shall we?" he held out his arm and she took it, her spirits returning as they opened the door.

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Freedom Angel- yes an update. grin like it?

Messymissy- Thanks for the ideas I have used one or two of them so keep them coming please! Max is an enigma, no one gets her! Music lessons? Not as far as I have written but it could be interesting. I'll have to see. As for Bill…have you been reading my notes? Tension between Zan and Alec? We'll have to see.

 Nat1- I wont neglect the other fic. Worry not fair Nat.

Raven- That's okay people are busy. New stories are fun and seeing Max and Alec through new eyes is good too.

Darkangel562- feel free to say it was excellent. Pix is a scream and I am loving him.

Sigma1- Glad that although they mix they are not dependant on each other. Like the Xseries themselves really.

Max and TC- I think that Max knows what will work with Chance because she has been in that "baby" position before. She'll be good for Chance.

Melinda- Max will have to tell them sooner or later and watch out for that Chapter, it's a big one- full of angstyness. Good luck with school. I really miss being at Uni, but I can sympathise with it being hard.

Dokushoka79- Pix and Chance adorable or what! Trouble for Zan? Are people seeing something that I'm not?

Ting- fake Juliet? Pix is cute isn't he, he's making me fall for him and I created him!

Silverdragon- hey there! Sorry its been a while between updates.

Moonlight19- They'll be given names soon so it'll be easier to keep up with them don't worry. Its great that the interest is still high and I will try to update faster but this week has been a bitch! And a few of the characters refuse to behave.

Ganko- hey! They are brotherly- sisterly aren't they! Max should get along with Alec but some people rub you up the wrong way!

Feenian- Glad you like the characters what do you think of 555? Zac's story is one in a million though.

Barcode-babe-210- I love writing too much to stop. Thank you!

Nat452- Max and alec will get over themselves but keep on fighting s its fun to write!

Kim- There are pictures of the characters available at my site which is www. geocities.com/fayth82 look under Max and Alec section and pictures of Xseries and Special Ops. That should help.

Elfie- I do watch Charmed- or used to anyway. I loved Cole and when Phoebe got rid of him I was a little less than impressed.

Lyndsay- Thanks Chance needs her ego building up doesn't she!

Cloudburst- very busy! Did I? Oh well you are right, as long as I named the chapter right. I know the designations get confusing. I have to keep the pages up to when I write so it was much easier whn they get named which they do next chapter.