A/N- Thanks to Itay.
Chapter 8 Sneaking suspicions
Takes place One year after Dutifully advantageous and one year BEFORE Curing History
Zan crept down the hallway as quietly as he could. He knew that Max was taking C.O. training with Alec. They were supposed to be learning how to teach fighting techniques to civilians but knowing Max and Alec they were probably fighting each other.
He scowled at the name of the other man. Since Max and Alec had made up it seemed that he couldn't go near Max without Alec being there. It was starting to drive him crazy.
Zan and Max had been great friends and she spent a lot of time with him and now Alec seemed to be muscling in on all of his Max time. It wasn't that he disliked the guy, no Alec was a great C.O, what was annoying was that Zan wanted to get to know Max better, he needed time with her to sort out whatever feelings he was getting…or already had and that was hard with Alec constantly around.
Zan needed to know if he saw Max as…well he wasn't sure how he saw Max. Not as a sister that was for sure. Sometimes he was aware of her in a way that he wasn't aware of the other girls in his unit. He never thought of Sunny that way or Coco but Max?
Max was different. Maybe because he had spent so much time in Wyoming watching her, she had gained his respect by just existing and getting through whatever punishment she was doled out by her squad. What little he knew of it anyway.
Still he was trying not to be bitter but things that she had said over the past few months made him think and he wanted to know more about what she had gone through in Wyoming. Of course he knew bits and pieces of it- that little Shit Bulli couldn't help but brag about everything that he had put Max through, but from what she was saying, Zan knew that he didn't know half of it.
This was why he was creeping down the corridors towards the med bay at this time of night. The place had an eerie ambiance that was there during the day as well but was easily hidden in the hustle and bustle of daily life.
The records chamber was right next to the med bay and he listened down the corridor for any noises before ducking to the door lock.
He picked the lock which was laughable by anyone's standards and edged into the room making sure the door was closed behind him.
He didn't need to switch the lights on thanks to genes which meant that they could see in the dark as well as they did in the light.
The files for all of the transgenics were kept on the computer but thanks to the pulse they were also backed up on paper. Now those on the computer would have access codes and passwords but those on paper would just need someone who A- knew where they were and B could pick a lock. Someone just like him.
Where would be the best place to hide the files? In plain sight. The fact that they were labelled under "Systems maintenance" made Zan unsure whether to be insulted or whether to laugh.
He knew that Manticore thought of them as tools but that was ridiculous.
He sifted through the various files until her came to one tagged
Subject- X5-332960073452.
With a grin of triumph Zan pulled the file and went to sit in the corner where the light filtered through the window.
~~~~
Techie waited warily for his program to finish and silently urged it to hurry up. If he wasn't careful it'd take too long and she'd be here.
It had been six months since their first mission and there wasn't a day that went by that he hadn't wished he'd let her stuff up the code and kept his mouth shut.
For some reason Feen had adopted him as her pet project. She tried to make sure that he had some interaction with other members of the team. That would have been fine but what she meant was that she'd drag him along to sit with the girls for an hour a week. He'd blush and they'd take delight in teasing him. It was the best torture anyone from Manticore could ever have come up with and he was beginning to think that she was Psy-Ops in disguise.
He had taken to hiding from her, much to everyone's amusement, and it seemed to be working well, all he needed to do was-
"There you are."
Too late.
~~~
Drew sat in the labs, her vision blurring as she tried to read the textbook. She felt like she had been up all night, which she had. Rolling her head on her neck she pushed the book away and lay her head on the table. It wasn't fair. She had as much genetic makeup as the next person why wasn't she as good at this brain stuff as they were?
She started as the door was pushed open and someone came in.
It was Mets.
"Oh hey didn't realize you were in here."
"I was just going." She slid off her seat and made her way to the door but he put a hand out.
"Have I mortally offended you Drew?"
Her jaw dropped "What?"
Mets pushed his fringe out of his eyes and fixed her with a look.
"You are avoiding me. All of the time. I just want to know what I've done."
"Nothing." She hunched one shoulder uncomfortably
"Sure." He nodded "Whatever."
As he moved into the room she felt a wave of sadness pass over her and followed him.
"Seriously you haven't done anything."
Mets sat on the table and swung his legs staring at her in contemplative silence
"You laugh and joke with Dek. Fine - he's your best friend. Alec is your C.O so that fine too. You fight with Flex, you joke with Pix but you can barely look at me. Why?"
His intense eyes pinned her and she swallowed.
"I wasn't… I didn't." she sighed "You're being paranoid."
"Fine so look me in the eye."
Folding her arms tightly across her chest Drew looked him straight in the eye. He smiled lazily and her stomach gave a funny flutter.
"I see."
"See what?" she said when he didn't elaborate.
"Oh nothing." He jumped off the table smiling to himself.
"What?" she asked annoyed now and he shrugged.
"You're scared."
Her jaw dropped again "I am not! I have never been scared of anything!"
"Are too." He leaned against the door
"When I was four, I climbed to the top of Building C to prove that I could. I have NEVER been scared of anything."
He cocked his head and gave her a soft gaze "Are too."
"And what exactly am I supposed to be scared of?" she asked, her temper flaring.
"Me."
"As if!" she scoffed
"Sweetheart you're terrified of the way you feel about me."
"The only thing I feel about you is that you need a trip to Psy-Ops for observation." She bit out incensed as he seemed to find this amusing.
Mets grinned wider "Prove it."
"What?"
"Prove you're not scared of me."
Drew frowned "You want me to kick your ass?"
He pushed away from the door "No that's what Drew the tomboy would do. That's not all of you. You're scared to be a girl."
"Am not!" she couldn't believe the nerve of this guy.
"So prove it."
"How exactly am I supposed to do that?" she spat angrily.
He leaned forwards with that smirk.
"Kiss me."
~~~
Zan had no idea how he'd managed to get back to his cell. He had no memory of walking back and no thought as to how he had made it.
All he could think was kill. Kill. Kill.
He'd spend an hour reading Max's file. A whole hour and his blood was boiling the whole time. What she'd been through, what she'd seen and had been done to her made him feel sick to his stomach.
He paced his cell like an animal, every step increasing his ire until it swept out of him in a wave.
With an animalistic roar he punched the wall of his bare room. The sting in his knuckles as one popped was satisfying in way that he couldn't describe. He reared back and smacked his fists into the wall again revelling in the crack of plaster and the base thud of concrete beneath his fists.
He imagined that the wall was the face of that coward 261… Bulli and he set up a rhythm his eyes hardening in abject hatred for the projected target.
He felt the plaster give way under the relentless pressure of his full transgenic strength and grinned as he saw blood drip down his clenched fists.
Smack
261
Smack
261
Crack
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Zan spun around at the sound of the trainer who was gaping at him.
"What's it to you?" he snarled and the man gulped
"Destruction of property is a punishable offence 291." He straightened "To the solitary bay."
Zan told him to do something that was anatomically impossible and the man went for his stun rod.
Grinning wildly Zan thought of all of the trainers who had turned their back on Max, all of those who knew what 261 and the rest of her unit was doing and he pictured them all in this one man.
He didn't stand a chance.
~~
Tara folded her arms tighter over her chest as they waited silently in the Rec room. She wasn't sure what was going on or even what they all were doing here. It just seemed like the thing to do when they had heard about Zan.
Carrot came behind her and placed his arm around her in a gesture of comfort.
"It won't be long now." he offered and she nodded turning into the comfort that he was offering.
He stroked her hair as she sighed into his chest. They had started to be pretty good friends these past few months since she was transferred to Unit 8. She had taken his words about going with the flow to heart and was more comfortable and less rigid than she had been when she originally joined them.
He caught Pix's eye as he sat next to Chance who was also holding onto his arm nervously.
They shared a worried look and he knew that they were both wishing for the same thing.
For Max and Alec to get back from wherever they were.
Skye rocked backwards and forwards and only Steve's hand on the small of her back kept her from bolting upright and pacing, like B.J was doing. She followed his erratic paces with her eyes and timed her breathing in with each rock.
"It's okay." She glanced up startled as Cece, who didn't normally talk to her, came over and leaned against her shoulder. She thought that Cece didn't like her which was why she was surprised at the show of solidarity. "Alec'll be back soon and so will Max. they'll sort it out." She said with conviction and her tone calmed Skye some. She gave her a grateful smile.
Sunny curled up tighter into the sofa and hugged the pillow to her. The only part of her that was moving was her eyes as she watched B.J pace. Biggs sat by her head and his presence was enough to stop her launching herself at B.J and telling him to quit pacing.
It was Anna who finally broke, her temper not being the most stable of things at the best of times.
"B.J sit the hell down before I smack you down. You're making me sea sick!" she screamed and Chance winced.
B.J glared at her "It helps me calm down!" he yelled back and Chance ducked her head into Pix's chest. He cradled her and looked fiercely at the others.
"Knock it off." He hissed.
"Please." Drew added where she was leaning in the corner staring out of the window at the cold night "It's tense enough without hysterics."
Feen drew her knees up into her chest and stared at her feet. She looked so lost that Techie forgot that he was scared of her and got up to sit by her offering her his comfort. She glanced gratefully at him and to his shock leaned against his arm.
Coco began to nibble on her fingers as she anxiously shot furtive glances at the door.
At the sound of footsteps they all tensed and the door swung open.
Max walked in closely followed by Alec and they stopped dead at the look on everyone's face.
"What is it?" Max asked warily and with a strangled sob Emma flew at her and buried her head in Max's shoulder sobbing.
Max's expression turned scared. "What?"
"It's Zan." Sunny managed. She sat up and felt Biggs move behind her supporting her back. "He was dragged away."
"Why? What the hell happened?" Alec demanded his C.O face falling down fast.
"We don't know." Chance lifted her tear stained face away from Pix's chest "I saw him being dragged away from his cell. God Max, there was so much blood."
Emma felt Max stagger under her and she held her tighter.
"What?"
"The trainer wouldn't tell me what was going on." Chance continued miserably "He told me to get back to my cell unless I wanted the same. Then they carried someone else out of his room."
Max rubbed Emma's back and looked over her shoulder at Alec. His jaw was tight and he looked almost sick.
Max straightened "What way were they headed?"
"Med bay." Chance watched as Max gently pushed Emma away.
Emma clutched her arms around herself and shivered. She'd felt safe with Max there, she glanced up to find Alec smiling at her. He pulled her into his arms and she felt her tense body relax.
~~
Zan rubbed away the spot of blood from his slit lip and exhaled again. It was getting easier to breathe, for a moment there he was worried that he had punctured a lung.
He tried to inhale and exhale again and it was even better.
Of course he still ached from head to foot and he was probably in deeper trouble than he had ever been in his life but at least he wasn't foaming at the mouth.
Always a good sign.
He tensed as the door swung open fully expecting it to be a tech or even the death squad itself.
"Zan, what the hell happened? They're saying you attacked a trainer unprovoked!"
"Max?" he swallowed. In all of his rage he hadn't registered that she was still alive. He had read for an hour of mindless torture and he had half convinced himself that no one could survive all of that. He had half thought Max was dead and so seeing her standing in front of him sent a jolt to his already taxed system.
After a stunned second he realized that while he was right to have been worried about Max, it might be more prudent to be worried about himself, she was spitting nails!
"Well?"
He pushed himself off the bed with a groan and staggered over to where she stood with her hands on her hips and her eyes flashing in pure unadulterated fury.
With a smile he wrapped his arms around her and held tight.
Max froze and then patted his back.
"Uh okay. Zan?"
He winced as her hands pushed on his fragile ribcage and he slowly edged backwards.
"Zan?" her voice was softer now and she was actually looking at him in concern, her anger overridden.
"I don't know what happened Max. One second I was fine and the next I saw a trainer and bam. I hated him and wanted him dead." He shrugged and whined as the motion caused the ache in his side to intensify.
"It was dumb to attack him." She said matter-of-factly.
"Especially when he had a taser." Zan groaned and clutched his painful side.
"You're lucky he did or they'd disassemble you for that stunt." She sighed "As it is you're probably gonna get bumped back down to unit status. What were you thinking?"
He swallowed as he took in her features.
"I thought you'd understand Max. Don't you hate them too? They are supposed to be protecting and teaching us and yet they stand by and just let things happen that shouldn't."
He knew that if Max ever found out that he had read her file she would kill him and possibly never speak to him again. Which of those options was worse he wasn't quite sure.
"Ass." She whispered and she wiped his bleeding lip gently "Of course I understand but that's where being smart comes in. it's a bad idea to go against Manticore, Zan. Bad."
The tenderness in her eyes was more than he had hoped for and he pulled her closer to him holding tightly to her hand and relishing the feel of her soft palm on his face.
"Stay with me Max." he begged and she smiled softly.
"I will but I have to see Renfro first. I don't know what I'm gonna say but I have to stop you from getting thrown out of Special Ops."
He nodded and with some reluctance let go of her hand.
She gave him one last look and headed for the door.
Zan had been a constant for her the entire time that she was here and she couldn't imagine life without the blonde transgenic. During her first few weeks he had been her fellow soldier and Unit mate, a relic from her former facility. Then, gradually, he had become her friend. They had a similar sense of humour and shared opinions and traits, like a dislike for the Trainers, which had bonded them and made them close.
He reminded her of her big brother Zack but was different enough for her not to get a pang every time she saw him. Of course Zan wasn't her brother. He was her friend and her protector and that was enough for her. But right now she had to protect him.
~~~
Tara took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
Her heart was beating so fast that she could feel it thudding in each vein. She had to do something that months ago she wouldn't have hesitated to do but now it was painful.
She had to report to Renfro. Her transfer had certain stipulations to it that she couldn't ignore and at first it had been a privilege to be chosen for the assignment. Then she had got to know those in Special Ops and Unit 8 and her glee and pride had turned to reluctance and fear. Fear that the others would find out what she had been up to and hold it against her. So she had avoided making her report to Renfro.
But now she didn't have a choice. Zan was in trouble and the rest of the unit was in shambles at the worry that something bad would happen and she alone had the possible power to change it.
It meant that she would have to do this carefully and hope that they never discovered her secret.
"X5-677 to see Director Renfro immediately."
"Appointment?" the nerdy tech asked bored and she gave him a scathing look.
"No. I have to see her now. She'll want my report." She gestured to the folder in her hands.
The tech rolled his eyes and pressed the buzzer and the intercom sounded.
"Yes?"
"677 here to see you ma'am."
"Send her in."
Tara gave him another nasty look as he waved her in and she strode into the room.
Renfro was sitting back in her leather wing-backed chair twirling a pen in her hands. Her short blonde hair looked scarily spiked even this early in the morning.
"Well hello 677. What do you have for me?"
"Some information that you may find interesting." Tara swallowed as she handed the folder over to Renfro who flipped open the manila envelope.
She scanned the information and then turned ice blue eyes to Tara.
"Is this factual?"
"Based on my observations and experience I would say so."
"Elaborate." Renfro gestured and leaned back fixing her with piercing eyes.
"When you assigned me to Unit 8 it was to act as an observer of their behavioural patterns and attitudes."
"Among other things." Renfro smirked and Tara nodded.
"During my months of watching I have reached the startling conclusions that I presented in the report. Animalistic behaviour has a far greater impact than previously ascertained. The subjects have shown greater territoriality, advanced productivity at different times of the day. Bizarre sleeping habits mimicking that of their respective D.N.A, a tendency towards the baser aspects of their dominant mammalian physiology and they are starting to exhibit pack like behaviour to those exposed to them."
"What does that mean?" Renfro asked carefully
"Well I specialize in field medicine not social behaviour or psychology but it seems to me that the animalistic strains of D.N.A are having a far more significant factor on the behaviour than even training. In fact I have reason to believe that instinct overrides any training given."
"Like those who go into heat." Renfro stood up and walked to the window deep in thought staring out at the morning sun just coming up over the dark city.
"Yes ma'am."
"A worrying problem." She said seriously
Tara urged herself to push on and not worry about what would happen if she stepped over the line or if Renfro did not buy her lines.
"Not necessarily ma'am. "
Renfro spun around and fixed her with a raised manicured eyebrow "Oh?"
"It is well documented that male animals will protect what they consider to be theirs with their lives. Those who perceive their unit or Manticore as home and their own territory will fight to the death to protect it from outsiders. Better than forced defence. It's innate and can't be controlled so the best thing to do would be to channel it in the right direction but that does mean allowing leniency in the cases when it does get out of control like would be done in heat circumstances."
She bit her lip and forged ahead "I heard that 219 was taken away for attacking a trainer."
"Yes." Renfro's eyes narrowed. "What of it."
"I believe that is… it is my professional opinion that he was acting under instincts. His cell is his territory and for a trainer to enter his territory uninvited and with a weapon at his side alluding to hostile intentions Za-219's instinct perceived a threat and he acted in accordance with his feelings. It was unavoidable as his…in fact all of our instincts are growing with our age. He shouldn't be penalized for acting within his genetic coding."
"You overstep your place 677." Renfro replied and Tara fell silent.
"Sorry ma'am."
"However you raise some interesting points. As a behaviourist I find this fascinating but as project leader I can't help but think that this will jeopardize missions."
"With all due respect ma'am, I don't think that it can be suppressed."
"Noted. However we have come up with a way of negating some effects of heat in the form of a supplement. The courses are in the final stages of testing and we will be supplying female transgenics with them in due course. I suggest to the labs that we study your notes however until then I will take your comments under advisement 677. You are dismissed."
Tara saluted and turned to leave. She paused with her hand on the door.
"Ma'am?"
"Yes 677?"
"219 is part of their pack. They…won't let him go so easily."
Renfro searched her eyes and after a few tense moments nodded.
"219 must suffer the consequence of his actions but I will not remove him from the program if your professional opinion is that it will be detrimental to the rest of the unit."
"It is." Tara's heart beat hard in her throat as Renfro nodded again.
"Dismissed."
With a salute she walked out of the room and closed the door and leaned her forehead against it with relief. She had done it! Zan was staying with Special Ops.
She grinned and turned to leave - only to be blocked by Max.
Shit.
"Max!"
She watched as Max's eyes narrowed in to slits and a faint growl was heard.
Tara winced as she realized that with transgenic hearing there was no way that Max wouldn't have overheard what was being said in there.
"That wasn't what it sounded like." She started desperately
"Come with me." Max's clipped tone made Tara despair as she stumbled after the fuming C.O.
Max marched down the corridor and out past the courtyards with Tara hurrying behind like an eager fan- an eager fan who was dreading the confrontation that she knew was about to occur.
The passed the hallway and into the gymnasium. Max glared at the X6's who were sparring.
"Out." She growled and they took one look at her and fled- sorry, retreated.
Max stripped off her t-shirt and turned to Tara.
"Let's spar."
Tara shook her head "Uh uh. No way Max."
"Now." Max hissed and Tara shook her head again.
"No way." She'd seen Max angry and this was way beyond that. She didn't want to think of the state she'd end up in if she sparred with Max now.
"Dammit." Max spun and kicked the nearest punch bag. It swung lazily on its axis, designed for Manticore strength and endurance.
Tara gulped and fortified herself "Max, you need to understand-"
"Oh I understand." Max bit out, her hands on her hips in her classic Max-pissed pose. "Understand that for the past few months you've been spying on us like we're some damned lab rats and reporting our behaviour to Renfro. What's next Tara? Dangle some cheese to see which way we run through the halls?"
Tara's hands shook "N-no I was…"
"What? Playing us. Playing at being Scientist? Acting as our friend, what did Renfro think of the whole naming thing huh? Cute? Dangerous? Do we get our own vet now?"
"Max," she began.
"Shut up!"
"No!" she screamed back "I'm not Alec, Max. You don't get to talk to me like that."
Max raised an eyebrow and pinned Tara with her icy stare, when she spoke her tone was the coldest that Tara had ever heard her use with anyone- including Alec.
"I may not be your Commanding Officer 677, but I am a Commanding Officer and I am Special Operation. You will address me as a superior or field med or not I will have you up on charges of insubordination and insolence. See how Renfro reacts to your reports then."
Tara swallowed hard and for the first time ever felt scared of Max.
"This isn't my fault." She whispered "I was making the best out of a bad situation and in case you didn't hear it all, I got Zan off the hook! So please just back off. Okay?"
Max glared at her as Tara laboured for breath. She was used to happy Max- or at least a Max whose eyes were closed and hard; a Max whose stony expression sent shivers down her spine. So this was what Max looked like when she was protecting her own? Tara hoped that she wasn't about to make herself an enemy of Max as something told her that would be a very stupid thing to do.
"Explain." Tara winced as Max sounded scarily like Renfro.
"I was originally assigned to Unit 8 to observe Special Ops behaviour and see if it was beneficial for you and Unit 8 to have as much interaction as you do. You train together and go on missions together and Renfro wanted to know if it was detrimental to procedures. I was to report regularly on specific behaviour patterns and discover anomalies and any irregularities that might impede mission status. If any were found in Special ops to be performing below expected standard then I was to report that to Renfro and I was to take their place in Special Ops."
"Replace one of us?" Max was horrified.
"I would have been chosen as Special Ops Max, I was on a mission when tests were being done. I think," she breathed deeply "I would have had Drew's place."
"So each screw up and toe out of line you've been reporting to the brass." Max spat.
"No." Tara shook her head frantically "At first I just was pleased to be given a chance to be elite but then I got to know you. All of you. You have chemistry that I have never seen before Max, even in the field and certainly not at Manticore. I wanted that so badly but I knew that it worked so I kept quiet and told Renfro nothing. Today is the first time I've reported to her since the transfer."
"But the report?" Max seemed to have cooled down some.
"For my own fascination." Tara shrugged "I have been watching, Max."
"So why tell her?" But it was clear that Max already knew.
"For Zan. Because he is one of you. I saw how worried and scared you all were and I knew I could help."
"Even if it meant potentially getting exposed and having us all think that you were a traitor?" Max finished and Tara nodded.
"Please, don't tell them." Tara begged "In my old unit, they never respected me, they never included me and they sure as hell didn't like me. I was an outsider always on missions but in Unit 8 I fell like one of them if they thought that I was…"
"Okay." Max held up her hand "I get it. I won't say a word."
"Thank you." Tara whispered and glanced from under her long lashes "I never meant for any of this to happen."
Max shrugged "Yeah Unit's have a way of creeping upon ya. I can understand wanting to be accepted by new ones."
"I just don't want Carro- I mean anyone to look at me different."
She blushed as an enormous grin spread over Max's face.
"Carrot?"
"Uh um." She nodded quickly and Max laughed
"Oh this I gotta hear."
She pulled Tara to the floor and sat in rapt attention as Tara started talking.
~~~
Drew bit her nails and squeezed her eyes shut.
"Uh, I can't."
"C'mon Drew you know this!" Dek urged from his place on the bed.
Drew took a deep breath
"The five ranges are Trapping range, close range, middle striking range, long range and grappling range."
"Good, what are the distances and weapons for each range?" He stared at her as she closed her eyes tighter and seemingly read the answers off the inside of her eyelids.
"Trapping range is direct contact where you can use wrist or headlock. Close range is within 12 inches of the body and you can utilize knees, elbows and head-butts. Middle striking range is within 24 inches and you can use punches and open handed techniques. Long range is within 48 inches and can use front and side kicks. Grappling range is further than arms distance away and any projectile weaponry can be used for attack."
She breathed out and smiled.
"And tackling." Dek added and her smile faded a little
"I always forget that!"
"Would you relax." He threw the book that they were revising from over his head and leaned back 0on her pillow. "You have aced every single exam and test that Manticore threw at us. This will be no different."
Drew sank onto the cold stone floor and propped her chin on her fist.
"I know. But this is the important one Dek. If I fail this then I won't be qualified for the program to go on solo missions. I just want to be prepared."
"You are." He snapped his gum and yawned. "Can we get some shut eye, I'm shattered."
"I thought you had Shark D.N.A, Mr. I-don't-need-to-sleep." Drew teased and he kicked her.
"I have been helping you revise for this damn test all day, my brain needs the R and R."
Drew nodded. He had been helping her all day long. She was so nervous of doing badly on these tests and getting bumped down to rank again that she was taxing her gifts to make sure that she was giving 110% all of the time. It was exhausting. Luckily Dek understood. He was there for her and she knew it.
"So you were going to tell me what happened between you and Mets the other day?" Dek prompted, his dark eyes dancing in mischief as she squirmed.
"No I wasn't."
"Was too." He leaned up on one elbow and faced his best friend. "C'mon girl, tell me."
"No." and she wasn't about to admit to him about that conversation with Mets. Not only was it private but it was embarrassing. He had adamantly maintained that she was afraid of feelings that she had for him, demanded that she prove that she wasn't afraid and kiss him. He had pushed and provoked and called her chicken and she had gotten do incensed and uptight that she had pulled him close and…
Drew closed her eyes and winced as she thought of the huge bruise that Mets had sported the next day.
Head butting him probably wasn't the right way to win that argument- although it did shut him up.
"Nothing to tell." She lied with a slight shrug and Dek nodded, his eyebrows raised in obvious scepticism.
"Uh huh."
"Oh shut up and help me revise."
Dek laughed internally as she tried to avoid the subject.
"Ok then, what are the five main ways to tell if a suspect is lying?"
Drew was relieved to have him drop the subject and breathed easily despite the gleam in his eyes that told her that he wasn't deceived.
"Erratic and increased pulse…"
~~~
Tensions raced through the hall as they all sat staring at the blank sheets in front of them. Renfro stalked across the rows like a prowling tiger and smirked at a few worried faces.
"This test will be the hardest that you've done to date. If you fail this then you are not cleared for the solo operations program and will have to remain behind."
Drew shuddered.
"You have three hours and it starts…now."
Drew glanced around and saw Max take a deep breath before turning over her paper. Sunny was already scribbling furiously and Alec had his bent over the paper.
She ran her hands through her and tentatively turned over the page. She scanned the first line
Outline and then detail the five main ways of ascertaining if a suspect is untruthful.
With a small smile she picked up her pencil and started to write.
~~
There was thunderous applause as Zan stepped into the Rec room. He grinned around at the room and took a bow. Special Ops had been congregated to hear the results of their tests while the other Units were at lessons. Zan had been able to take the tests in Solitary as Renfro wanted to give all of the Unit a chance to apply for this prestigious program- no matter whether they were in punishment or not. It would look good on her record if the whole of Special Op0s were cleared for solo missions.
"Rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated." He stated and slumped back into the nearest chair.
"Not if you scare us like that again." Max stated from her position on the sofa "Because I'll kill ya."
"I've only been gone a few weeks." He said with a shrug
"Do the crime do the time!" Carrot said as he high-fived Zan
Zan smiled at Max although it was a little strained by the way that she was sitting by Alec as she read her book. She was sacked out on the chair, her feet curled under her and Alec leaning against her knees.
Easy familiarity that annoyed Zan to no end.
He didn't even know why it grated so much. It wasn't like he didn't want Max to be friends with the others, even Alec, but couldn't she at least look a little less comfortable already? He shrugged off his irrational thoughts.
"Ahem!" Everyone turned to look at Pix who stood up and faced the rest of the room "I'd like to make an announcement."
Max looked at him and grinned "What's that boo?"
"I would like to announce that it is exactly a year ago this week that Max gave us our names. So according to human customs and habits 101 that makes it our birthdays. Also we welcome back Zan." Zan nodded and Pix continued with his speech, "and we celebrate the fact that we all passed the exams for Solo mission training and not to mention the excellent score of Drew in Manticore's midterms." Drew blushed at the applause. Dek banged her on the back and she caught Mets eye and blushed harder.
"Anyhow I figured that we need to commemorate our birthday by an event."
"What exactly do you have in mind?" B.J drawled from the corner.
Pix paused dramatically "Pix's Mischief challenge." He announced and they stared at him waiting for him to elaborate. "I challenge you all to come up with the best practical joke and mischief that you can. Implement it and avoid capture. Sort of escape and evade with fun."
They giggled at that.
"The best one will be judged by an impartial party and will get a prize."
"What prize?" Anna asked interestedly
"Probably a long visit to Psy- Ops." Carrot said disapprovingly. "May I remind you that we are soldiers, not jokers. How do you think the other units are going to react to this?"
"That's why it's just Special Ops, bro." Pix grinned "I challenge you all."
"Challenge accepted." Max said with relish "Chaos, mayhem and disorder- my favourites!"
Pix sat back in his chair and smiled at the deep thoughtful looks on their faces as they tried to come up with pranks and tricks. He bet that this week would be fun.
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Freedom Angel- Cheers pet!
Messymissy- Yeah, they were all getting to know each other- sweet huh! Yeah Max feels a little off because she still misses her brothers and sisters even though it hurts less obviously after that long. Techie is adorable and poor guy- the best Feen could do for him to is to leave him alone! LOl.
Kim- Manticore isn't all doom and gloom. They deserve to be happy. Max is every bit the leader that Alec was, she just didn't shove it in peoples faces but she stepped up to bat when it was needed. I know too many fics make Max the outsider and everyone follow Alec, he's great but it bugs the crap out of me! No where in the show does it say that he was a C.O or even better than any other transgenic but everyone seems to think he's the best of the best.
Cloudburst- Yeah me too. The kiss was just what was ordered! Aw bless ya, anytime you need cheering up, email me. Apparently my sarcasm makes people laugh- go figure! Techie is my sweet boy, I feel so bad for him! I was glad that you picked up the hair brushing thing, it just struck me as perfect! Dek and Drew…really? They are your fave? Meh.
Ting- LOL, Techie looks set to be a firm fave too!
Elizabeth Annette- Biggs needs to chill but no one is sane when in protective mode.
Feenian- I know updates are getting slower but the chapters are getting longer. So you win either way! J
Ganegirl452- Thanks o was worried because I didn't seem to be getting as many reviews but hey, everyone who reads it likes it so cant be bad huh! More pairings? Who do you want to see then?
Sigma1- Coco was funny then, she and Flex played off each other well I thought.
Ricter- Thanks for reviewing, nice to see new names. Glad you like it so much!
Elfie- Nah they don't know much but now Zan knows maybe he'll let more slip. Chance will get Biggs to pay more attention to her soon. Zan/Alec, Zack/ Logan- I didn't see it but I guess it does have elements. But Zan isn't her brother. I'll talk to Zan and see what he thinks on this!
Natasgi- Max and Alec went to play pool. Do you read them both together?
Moonlight- I hope you got my email because damn girl you had a lot to say! Where do I live? Not so Sunny old England. Flipping freezing it was today!
Angel 21- as long as it doesn't get too repetitive.
Ganko- Glad you like my sense of humor- perfect couple? Yeah I thought so to. I Manticore being too soft. You want them to tease Alec? Hmmm I could do that!