A/N=- Okay this was an experiment in style- which kinda worked out well! I like it anyway.
Thanks to the new reviewers who delurked, thank you!!!! (Carii, Maribella, Jane, AusAngel, Tawnyteaser, Keekee and Pure insanity)
I received orders for who wanted what in Chapter 16 and tried to accommodate as much as possible. Should be up the middle of next week.
A/N2- Gee you guys are as bad as me, Zan/Sunny, Zan/Emma, Zan/Jondy- I thought I was confused!!
Chapter 15- It's a hard transgenic life.
Dek's POV.
0700 hours.
The sound of TAP's first thing in the morning is not something you wanna hear after being up all night with insomnia. I'd stayed up most of the night just talking with Max, who suffers the same fragmented D.N.A as me, and we agreed that it sucked. But Max seems to deal with it better than I do, seemingly bright and at least awake if not exactly bubbly first thing in the morning, when all I want to do is find the nearest rock and hibernate. Why couldn't Manticore have given me Bear D.N.A instead of Shark?
If you ask me it indicates a real shortage of forethought.
I roll over and pull my pillow over my head but I can still hear the infuriating sound of the bugle boys. They do this every damn morning, why can't they pick a different tune for Manticore's sake?
Yesterday I got out of bed and screamed at them to shut up but was met with louder calls. Every day they torment me but today…ah, today I am ready for them. I fall out of bed and my hand drops into the drawer besides my bed and I pull out my secret weapon. I edge to the window and prop it open taking in wind speed and direction. My eyes narrow and I can feel my feline eyesight come to the fore as I spot the buglers in their pretty little uniforms moving to take another breath. I bring the weapon to my lips. An ingenious device inspired by Pix who wanted to spit from the back of the class, he rolled up a Manila Mission file and blew a small ball out from one end- ingenious. Of course my weapon is slightly more sophisticated. Ok so it was a metal tube and a small golf ball stolen from one of the Trainers but, hey! I take careful aim and blow with all my might and then duck down. The Bugle horn cuts off with a whimper and then blessed silence as I fall back onto my bunk and pull the covers over me.
Bliss.
0725
I was rudely awakened by banging on the door and pull the pillow tighter over my head murmuring at the noise to go away.
"C'mon Dek, roll call in five minutes!"
Alec's voice penetrates my comfy haze.
Five minutes? Shit! I fall out of bed and onto the hard stone floor catching my elbow as I hit the ground. Oh this day is gonna be bad, I just know it!
0732
I wince as the Trainer hits a new decibel levels.
"Late 766! Again!"
It's only the third time…or is it the fourth? Ask me if I care. Me and Max stayed in the gym, testing ourselves on the equipment trying to keep up to standard and I didn't get to shower before I finally went to bed. As a result my hair feels sticky and every bone in my body feels overstretched and aches. I try to surreptitiously stretch the kinks out. Ouch, I feel like I have just gone through three rounds in the tank, my elbow is still throbbing and I haven't had a shower yet. Today, as Max would say, sucks.
"Two rounds of the field before breakfast!"
Two rounds? That's almost 45 minutes, I won't get time to go for breakfast before lessons. Doesn't he know that an army marches on its stomach? How am I expected to be fully functional if I don't eat? I wish I could snap this guy's neck with my pinky and use him as a bowling ball, but I just nod like a good soldier.
"Yes, Sir!"
Asshole.
"Atten- HUT!"
Geez, does every Officer have to compete for the Let's-Make-Everyone-Deaf Awards? Yes, drills, we get it already!
My only consolation is the Bugle boy that walks by with a black eye and a murderous glare in my direction.
Ha.
"Ten- TWO,"
Punch, kick, block and… whoa
"766, get up off the floor!"
Transgenic grace is not coming easy this morning.
0823
Two rounds of the field made me exceptionally late for breakfast…in that they closed the hatches the second I stepped into the mess. I glare at the closed hatches in the vague hope that they would spontaneously combust and give the full level of my wrath to the kitchen staff and all their flunkies, ah, yes death by flambé, fitting.
A quick glance over to the tables shows me that Special Ops and Unit 8 are merrily scraping their plates or pushing away their plates in preparation for the morning's lectures. Zan and Emma are fighting over the last bread roll and B.J and Anna are arguing…again. Alec has his arm draped over the back of Max's chair as she gestures wildly to Pix, who can't stop laughing and Drew is deep in conversation with Mets. Huh, nice to know I'm missed. Suddenly I don't want to join the happy band of soldiers. Well at least I can get a quick shower with no one to bug me.
0825
Shower is cold. Life sucks.
0830
Standing in formation, it is easy to see why people are so impressed when they come to visit the facility. We are all smartly turned out staring forwards with military precision and commandeering presence. My hair is still damp from my cold shower and I can feel icy drops dripping down my neck into my shirt. Urgh!
"Eyes Front!"
If looks could kill then this evil military commander would be a charred ruin by now but once again the universe conspires against me. I mean, is it so frigging hard to have enough hot running water for hundreds of transgenics? Hmm? They are a multi-billion dollar organization, would it kill them to actually attempt some creature comforts?
"Eyes Front!"
Drop dead.
"All right people, this morning we try out the course, it's been added to so as to expand your capabilities."
Great like my capabilities aren't expanded enough.
"It should be a refreshing exercise for you to better yourselves."
Oh please! Just tell the truth, you want us to suffer in the most imaginative ways possible so you have devised a medieval form of physical torture. Don't attempt to sweeten it and don't insult our intelligence by claiming that it's for our betterment.
Call it what it is- trial by mud.
"You are competing against each other in this and will be reviewed on performance."
Geez, could this day get any worse? Just as I think the thought I feel something on my cheek and Biggs groans next to me;
"It's raining."
Someone up there hates me.
0842
I hate life, I hate Manticore, I hate rain and I hate mud!
Max was first off the mark and she sped ahead with Alec trying to catch up. Yeah, good luck with that. If there is one thing that Max excels at, it's the course. Drew raced off trying to prove that she was as good and the rest of us just followed at our own pace.
Normally, I'd try to keep pace with Drew but she hasn't even said hi this morning and instead sat around making freaking moon-eyes at that Mets. What the hell does she even see in him, he is such a curly haired... he has… he doesn't…well I'm sure he has some bad points.
The rain is coming down in big fat drops and my hair is already plastered to my head, falling into my eyes, and the more I push it out of the way, the more it flops into my face. I'm already starving and lunch isn't until 1300 hours. I saw Biggs and Harley, an X5 from Unit 4, race past trying to beat each other and normally as a member of Special Ops I'd have to try to beat them as a matter of principal, but today I don't care. Let them beat me, it can't possibly make my day any worse.
As I round a corner and jump over a fallen tree, hearing the soft ground squelch beneath my feet I wish that I was back in my warm bed.
I look up and skid to a halt, Max is standing in front of me with her arms folded.
"Hey."
I push the water away from my face and stare at her.
"Max."
She raises her eyebrows at me. "Didn't see you at breakfast this morning and Alec said you overslept."
"Yeah." I know that my attitude is firmly in place as she gives me a look.
"Bad morning?" She asks and I glare.
"Yeah." I think it's more a snarl than word and she just gives me that smirk again. You know sometimes Max is a pain in the ass.
She smiles and unfolds her arms throwing something at me. By reflex I reach out and catch it before it hits me in the face and aren't I glad that it doesn't follow the rest of my day and smack me in the nose.
I look down.
It's an apple.
"I held it back for you; it should keep you going until lunch anyway."
Max gets my first real smile of the day.
"Thanks, Max,"
I'm touched, really. Here Drew didn't even notice that I was missing but Max not only noticed and asked Alec but also brought me breakfast. I take back what I said about her being a pain in the ass, she is wonderful.
"Just try not to oversleep too often okay, soldier?" she gives me that grin which makes it all too easy to see why Alec has fallen for her and leaps into the trees, using them like a modern day Tarzan to get ahead of the others. Briefly I consider doing the same but even as the thought appears…well, considering the day I have had so far it's not a good idea to tempt fate.
I slip the apple into my pocket to eat after the course and head over the fallen logs and round the corner. There is only a split seconds notice that the grass ahead is slippery and I pinwheel my arms to stop myself falling over. I succeed and breathe a sigh of relief. Maybe my luck is changing.
Two seconds later Chance skids into my back and knocks me flat on my face in the mud.
I spoke too soon.
"Oh God, Dek I am so so sorry, I didn't see you and the grass was slippery and I wasn't, oh are you all right?"
Chance, our one-woman wrecking crew, stutters and drags herself up out of the mud. Me, I'm quite content to lie here all day. At least that way Karma can't attack me again.
Although I may just drown.
"Dek, Dek, did I hurt you?"
Go away and leave me to my fate.
"Dek?"
"Urgh," I clamber to my feet and swipe mud off my face and out of my eyes glaring at an equally muddy and apologetic Chance, who seems anxious at my silence.
"I am so sorry," she tries again.
I nod, my tight smile less than friendly and turn, oh so carefully to finish the course.
Maybe the rest of the day will just go quietly by and leave me alone. That is unless I get hit by lightning which, today, is not that unlikely.
0915
"766! Your uniform is a disgrace. What happened?"
Chance happened. I want to say. But we have had strict orders not to drop any of our fellow units in punishment. Especially Chance, anyway. I'm sparring with Pix later. If I drop his sweetheart in Solitary, then I'm not sure I'll get out alive. He packs a mean punch.
"Adverse weather conditions, Sir."
"Yet no one else looks like they took a Turkish Bath detour."
A what? What the hell does a Middle Eastern Country have to do with anything? I think my exasperation and annoyance shows on my face as the Trainer looks back at me.
"Drop the look of insubordination 766 or I'll throw you in the brig!"
"Sir!" I shout and wish I hadn't. My ears are ringing and my head is starting to ache.
"Sir, it's my fault!" Chance spoke up and I resist the urge to roll my eyes. But only just.
"Well, I can't say I'm surprised, 511," the Trainer sneers and I can feel both Biggs and Pix bristle at my side. "I think a day's stay in Solitary might make you a little more amenable to adverse weather conditions."
Chance swallows and even I can hear it. "Yes, Sir."
She walks off, her shoulders slumped and even through my bad mood, I feel sorry for the girl.
"Now for telling lies, 766, an hour's kitchen duty before lights out. How does that sound?"
Like the sound of a distant beating drum ready to signal death to the Trainer. Asshole.
"Sir, yes Sir!"
Suck up.
0930
I was allowed five minutes for another shower. Water still cold. Life sucks.
0935
"Thank you for joining us, 766."
Hey don't thank me, if I had my way I'd still be in bed.
"Sir."
"Today we are going over what action to take in a hostage situation. So 766, sit your ass down."
I slump in my seat and ignore the look that Drew is giving me. Has she finally realised that I'm alive? Oh good.
Thankfully, only Special Ops takes these training classes so at least I don't have to put up with Carrot and Tara doing their sickening rendition of 'who-can-look-away-the-longest'. It really says something about the obliviousness of Manticore techs when they can't even catch two transgenics in love. It's pathetic. Did I mention that I was having a bad day?
"Step 1 is always to evacuate the area. Why is this? 452?"
"To minimise the threat of damage from a bomb or a wild bullet and ensure minimal civilian casualties."
Okay, so Max remembers it all, we went over this stuff three weeks ago and our transgenic memory can recall word for word what was said. However, my memory is apparently the size of fungus and half as bright today. I am having trouble recalling the day of the week and how to stand up straight, let alone what steps to take in a hostage situation. Somehow I don't think that 'go sleep in the office and let them kill each other' is the right response.
Shame.
"Exactly, now in movies you'll see gawkers standing on the same street. This is bullshit okay? In reality you tape off and control foot traffic in the radius of the situation. Your team of Security Officers will do this and patrol for any who slip through the net, especially freaking journalists."
"Sir?" Alec's hand is raised and he looks puzzled. It's a good look for him, normally he only gets that way with Max.
"Yes 494?"
"Will Local Law enforcement be the best choice for that?"
"In ideal circumstances, yes; success is measured by human lives- the more you get out alive, the better the outcome of the mission.
What we want is the hostages safe and our men okay. The Local law's lives are on the line in every situation as they may be trained but are nowhere as sophisticated as you. Law casualties are regrettable, but to be honest it is better for them to be canon fodder than for our Special Ops to be out of commission. You concentrate on the important stuff and leave grunt work to the civilians."
"Sir!"
Ha, I bet Max is seething over that one. She has some dumb idea that humans aren't as stupid as they look. Something about some lab tech that she met back in Wyoming. Anyway I'm waiting for her reaction and… yeah there it is, her shoulders go back, and I can almost see her bristle. Zan's hand goes to her shoulder to calm her down and she gives him a grateful look. Alec's turn to bristle. Oh, this is fun. For one of our top soldiers and unit C.O, Alec isn't very good at hiding his emotions when it comes to Max. But then again I think most of us guys have a few failings in that area.
I sneak a quick glance over to Drew who is scribbling things down; her head set in concentration.
"Step 2, 766?"
Crap. This is the perfect time to rely on my excellent eyesight and crib off Drew's notes.
"Cover any and all potential points of entry and exit to the building."
Thank Manticore that I can decipher Drew's writing.
"Good, glad to see you still with us."
Bite me.
"Cover windows, doors, ventilation shafts and delivery bays. Including any underground access."
Yes, because we get miniature maniacs that hide in vent shafts a lot. They are called Teeny terrorists.
The Trainer has started to pace backwards and forwards. Add that to the tap of his boots on the tiled floor and supersensitive hearing exacerbated by a headache and you'll see why I suddenly want to beat him to death with his own Manila file.
"Step 3, Gather as much intel about your hostage taker as possible. Examples?"
"Name, job, family, reasoning behind situation?"
"Good, 344. Also his or her perception of events. You need to get a connection with the person. Get them to trust you. Be aware that if he perceives his loss as significant enough then he may be looking for payback and then to kill himself."
Payback, sounds good about now. Stop pacing!
"Understanding his or her issues may help to deal with them, they usually believe that the police are there to kill them."
"Isn't that the case?" Anna asks with a flick of her dark hair.
"No, the ideal outcome would be the unconditional surrender of the perp with no casualties at all. Step 5 is to locate the phone number of the building and call. Step 6 is you ask your hostage taker if he or she is all right."
"No offence, but why should we care?" Mets shrugs. "I mean he captured a building full of ordinaries with nefarious intentions; surely our primary concern is the hostages?"
Ooh nefarious. Mets, the great humanitarian has been reading too many books with big words. I ask again what does Drew see in this guy? I try to look objectively.
Okay, so he has good bone structure, but that is 100% Manticore genes. Curly hair dark, doesn't that make him look like a girl though? He's got muscles but then who of us haven't? Okay, B.J is a little on the scrawny side but even he has some muscles. Is it the pseudo Italian accent and looks? He is not that good looking, seriously.
His nose is off centre.
"… so the fact that you seem to care catches him off guard, he may become emotional."
"Just what we need, a sobbing psycho."
The Trainer rounds on B.J who really should learn that his mouth gets him in more trouble than Pix's mischief. This reminds me, I need to ask him about something to do to the Trainer at drill. Two rounds of the field on an empty stomach calls for fireworks in his exhaust…again.
"That sobbing psycho is a man pushed to the edge. Usually he is under extreme stress. You need to calm him down, so lose the attitude or you lose the hostages…and for god's sake when you talk do not refer to them as hostages."
"What do we call them?" Sunny, ever the pragmatist and Mommy tries to deflect attention off B.J, who is trying to get his foot out of his mouth.
Suddenly I wonder where that phrase originates from. Why would you put your feet in your mouth? Is it even possible?
My mind is so damn off today, I can't concentrate at all.
"…so what is active listening?"
Something that I so don't have today. I wonder if the Trainer would notice if I slunk under the table and caught some sleep.
"766?"
Okay, maybe he would.
"Uh…"
Drew moves back and I can see her scrawling notes, "Repeat all the information he has given you, go into detail about his demands to buy extra time and help tire him out." Ok this is easy "Encourage conversation and build a… yow and herm?" what the hell does that say? Herm…oh Him! "Him," damn, "build a you-and-him against the world relationship." Ok Drew needs to clarify her notes a bit. "Ask for a solution and put the situation in his hands."
"Well done." The Trainer eyes me suspiciously but I put on my best innocent face. The one that Drew says lets people know that I am up to no good. But hey, it seems to work on the Trainers.
Drew glances over again. It's possible that she knows I'm cheating.
I give a bright grin and her eyes narrow. Oops.
"Step 9 is to negotiate for a solution, ask for a good will gesture- usually women and children, proof of life. Don't be too specific about meeting his demands. Always negotiate. Step 10 is?"
"Explain that if any harm befalls the hostages then all bets are off."
"Good, good, 624 and finally?"
Finally, hey does that mean that we can go now?
"If you hear shots your team should move in and end the standoff."
"Well recalled. Now we'll go over things from the hostage takers point of view before a demonstration."
Yippee.
1130
Thank Manticore that the lesson is over. Now we have a slightly less intellectual exercise, and I, for one, am glad because I don't think that my brain is operating at full capacity today.
We are split up into teams to go over some data papers that Max picked up on her last solo mission. Normally it'd be a techs job, but they like us to sort and sift to see if there is anything they missed. It's mind numbing work, which is what I need this morning. After the day I have had so far, the last thing I need is to have to think.
Mets walks over to me.
"Hey Dek?"
"What?"
He raises his left eyebrow at my tone. I know I snapped, but again, ask me if I care.
"Do you have the decoder for ream 12?"
I shrug and look down.
"Not seen it, sorry man."
He looks puzzled and walks away going to ask Alec if he has it. Drew looks in my direction, but I don't want to talk to her just yet. I'm still mad. Why am I mad? No idea; doesn't stop me from being it, though.
Oh signor Dek ou es the decoder? Italian Pansy.
Oh there it is, just under my elbow.
How about that?
1300
I really can't tell you how looking forwards to lunch I was, the apple Max gave me for breakfast only just managed to sustain me for a while. But now I am so starving I could eat an anomaly… or maybe not.
Anyway I finally get to sit down with my…whatever the hell this is. I poke at the grey stuff on my plate and wonder what it used to be.
"Oh, rat surprise, my favourite!" Sunny enthuses and my appetite fades.
"Rat?"
Sunny looks up at me and grins mischievously. I know that she is joking, Sunny is too nice for it to be real. I roll my eyes even as she laughs and I turn to Pix expecting him to have the same grin but he is staring to one side with the oddest look on his face.
After our impromptu bachelor party the other month, I took Pix aside and talked to him about Chance. We get on so well, especially recently and he confided that he feels the same way about Chance that Alec feels about Max and Carrot feels about Tara. But he is worried that she clings to him only because he was the first to ever see beyond the scared little girl to the woman within and that maybe she likes him because of gratitude. I wasn't sure what to say to that. I have known Chance since the test tube and never bothered to look very far, to me she was always Feen's friend or Biggs' sister. But now that Pix arrived she has grown into her own person, and it is a person that I have got to know well, she's a lovely girl; great with computers and so damn sweet.
But she's still so easily led that I can see what Pix means when he's worried that he may be leading her to like him, not for himself but for what he can and has done for her.
I had no consolation for my friend. I think the only thing that would make Pix believe that she loves him is if she told Biggs to shut up and let her get on with her life- if she actually stood up for herself and for her love for Pix without prompting. I think that would be proof enough for him, but even now I doubt that she has enough gumption to do it. Still whatever her reasoning I know that he is in love with her for real and would do anything to protect the girl.
"Pix?" I ask warily, wondering exactly what has made him look that way and he turns to me.
"You know Chance hates to be put in Solitary."
"Y-eah," I hedge not sure that he is entirely sane right now.
"Nothing," He turns back to his food and picks up some of the slop in his spoon before dripping it to his bowl.
I follow his gaze and it alights on the Trainers table where they are eating lunch. The Trainer from this morning is an officious little parasite called Reilly and he is eagerly tucking into his grey slop. A horrible thought crosses my mind.
"Pix, tell me you didn't."
"Didn't what?" His grin is anything but friendly and nowhere in the vicinity of innocent. There is a cold gleam of anticipation and justification in his eyes as they dart back to Trainer Reilly.
"Oh shit, Pix. We are supposed to be sparring partners later, please don't tell me you're bailing?"
I know that I am whining but the way my day has gone, I'll probably end up with a pissed Drew as my sparring partner and spend the rest of the day in Med Bay.
"I guess we'll know in 5...4…"
Almost like watching a car wreck I turn to watch the Trainer.
"…3…2…" I hear Pix counting down and at one he stops and grins.
I hold my breath but nothing for a second and as the breath whooshes out of me, Trainer Reilly's bowl explodes.
With startled yells and screams accompanying it, grey slop hurtles into the air, coating everything every which way. Every trainer is covered in the stuff-- the table, the floor, the ceiling-- nothing escapes. Heavy slops patter the floor as the drops splatter on their descent, the bowl-- which I am convinced has to be made of indestructible plastic-- clatters to the table and spins, banging on the table top, dented but intact.
After the initial eruption there's a deadly silence that coats the room. Trainer Reilly is caked in the stuff from head to toe and has to reach up and wipe the gunk from his eyes so that he can see.
He looks up and his gaze fixes immediately on our table where Pix isn't even trying to hide his grin.
"418!" he screams and every pair of eyes swings to Pix.
"Sir?" Pix's voice is a mockery and the Trainer goes bright red under the grey creating an unusual mottled colour. Very unattractive.
"GET YOUR F****** ASS TO THE F****** BRIG RIGHT NOW YOU *********,"
You know it's a shame that real life doesn't come with those bleeps that they have on old movies. Of course, right now it would sound like a truck reversing with all of the forbidden words that Trainer Reilly is shooting out.
Let's see if he is finished
"YOU ARE THE MOST ***-"
Okay, so not quite. Alec is gaping and Coco looks impressed while Biggs has clasped his hands over Feen's ears.
Wow, I didn't realise that that was grammatically correct let alone physically possible.
Pix gets up and shrugs to me, "Sorry man, looks like you have to find a new sparring partner for today."
"Yeah," I laugh shakily even as the Trainer is still going with his impressive vocabulary. I'm sure the X7's are learning some new things. The mess door slams as Pix walks out and we can still hear the Trainer as he bellows down the hall.
Now that the grey sludge is coating the floor it reminds me of what Silt did when Pix kicked him in the stomach in the Jungle. I push my plate away and groan. Damn I was hungry too.
"Hey Dek, you need a sparring partner?"
I look up into Max's smiling face.
"Yeah."
"I volunteer," she says and I feel a blast of relief even as Alec glares at me. Max usually spars with Alec but is willing to change to help us out. It's either spar with Max or be forced to talk to my best friend, who is pissing me off today.
I have had a crap day, so right now, Alec can hang with Drew.
"Cheers, Max."
As she leaves she throws something at me and I reach out and catch it and smile.
Where the hell does she keep getting these apples from?
1400
Gym sparring. Max's partner.
1500
Med bay.
Oh I won't spar with Drew today, she's in a pissy mood and I'll end up in med bay. Asshole.
Here I am sitting on the ice-cold metal table in Med bay with Mary fussing over me like a mother hen.
"Oh 766, you look like you have been in the wars." She touches my bruised and battered face with her soft hands "What was it? Bad training exercise? Mission Pre- Op? Escape and evade, Pursue and procure?"
"Sparring."
She pauses, "452?"
"452."
I nod and wish I hadn't as pain explodes in my head.
"Ow."
Mary reaches over and touches my arm and I resist the urge to beg her to jut put me out of my misery. But only just.
"Concussion for certain, sprained wrist and shoulder out of joint. We need to realign the shoulder and pack that wrist." She goes to move away.
"Mary?"
Mary turns with that sweet smile.
"Ice?" I whimper… in a manly way of course.
"Ice." She chuckles and walks to the freezer and hands me a pack. I put it over my aching and swollen left eye.
I cringe at the coldness of the pack and shudder- I'm a cat, cat likes heat not cold.
Mary comes back with a sweet smile, one which I could get used to seeing, and a drink. Bless her.
Mary is an angel, I swear; an angel that has a crush on me, true. But still, she always gives me a smile and makes me feel welcome no matter what.
As she flits around getting the apparatus ready to realign me it strikes me that, for an ordinary, she really is quite pretty. Nothing compared to Drew, of course… Did I just think that? I think Max may have knocked more than concussion into me.
I feel my face go numb and I move the pack away from my eye and look down as I spy some digits scrawled on it.
"Uh, Mary, why does this pack say 494?"
"Oh that's the one we use when 494 has been sparring with 452."
Ask a stupid question.
1600
Nursing my bruised and battered self I make my way to my next lesson- Life skills to use on the outside. Today it's cooking and the laws of karma say that the kitchen is the last place on earth that I should be today.
With my luck, I'll probably burn down Manticore. Our cooking instructor or Chef is a woman, who insists we call her Betty. Okay, so she insists Alec call her Betty.
Max calls her Bitchy and scowls whenever she comes close to her table. Once Max even tried to set fire to Betty's hair when she leaned over the cooker to flash her cleavage at Alec. Alec, of course, loves that; the Max part, not Betty's cleavage. She doesn't do it often, but any sign that Max likes Alec like that is enough to send him into raptures for a week. Her jealousy gave him a goofy grin for a fortnight. Sickening really.
For the past few weeks she-- Betty, our instructor-- has been teaching us, with varying levels of success, how to cook everything from vegetables and poultry to cakes and lavish, but oh so boring, dinner party foods like appetisers and aperitifs. It's boring work, but gets livelier as transgenics who can disable a man in two easy steps or operate a complicated aircraft, go to pieces when asked to follow a simple recipe. Coco will explain how they never told her to crack the eggs before putting them in the flour, B.J says that bicarbonate of soda and icing sugar are too similar anyway and Sunny swears that she didn't know plastic shouldn't go in a microwave oven; I, for one, will never eat anything that Flex cooks-- ever.
Still, Techie likes it and Skye took to it like an X5 to high places, so we are not incapable of cooking, despite what the state of the ceiling may attest to. Seriously, pancake flipping with transgenic strength-- not a good idea.
Hopefully this lesson will be okay and we'll get through with out setting fire to the kitchen, which by the way was so not my fault. However, my heart sinks as we get halfway through and Betty takes off her cardigan, exclaiming that she is hot, and under that conservative woollen-monstrosity has on the lowest cut top, which just graces the edge of decency and she immediately lets her eyes drift to Alec.
Not good.
Alec, like any red-blooded male, can't quite keep his eyes away and Betty preens as he gets an eyeful.
Max doesn't notice and carries on carefully adding water to her stew and cutting vegetables.
Drew walks over to my table.
"Hey Dek."
"Drew."
I'm still pissed that it is past lunch and this is the first time that she has spoken to me all day.
"You have been in a foul mood," she says.
"Good of you to notice." Okay, so I'm being an ass and I know it, but damn she can't even tear herself away from Pretty Boy to talk to me.
Drew looks taken aback and runs her fingers over the table top.
"I notice, I may not say anything but I always notice."
"Great," I say sarcastically. "Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule of Mets worshipping to throw this poor chump a bone."
Ok now where did that come from?
Drew's jaw drops "Dek!"
"Whatever." I turn back to my…well it was supposed to be stew or casserole or something, now it resembles slop. Dammit, too much water and I think one of my ingredients was off as there is a bad smell coming from it. I turn to see where the teacher is to help me solve the mess. Betty is leaning over Alec's shoulder trying to show him how to cut his vegetables up. Yeah, like an X5 needs help with his knife skills.
Drew touches my arm "Dek, listen to me okay"
"Why?" I shake her off and turn away.
I spent two days helping her to revise and research for some pathetic test that we all knew she'd pass anyway and today she hasn't so much as said hi. Maybe I'm tired of being the friend who always helps out and never gets anything back.
The other half of my brain which is currently working on another generator yells that she does give back and I'm just being pissy, but I tell it to shut the hell up and I am not in a bad mood. Yeah, and Betty is helping Alec out of the goodness of her heart.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Drew says.
"Like you care. As long as you have someone to help you revise when you go into your paranoid 'I'm-so-bad-I'll-fail-everything' moods, what the hell do you need me around for?"
Her eyes swim in tears and I suddenly feel like the world's smallest life form. Smaller even than Betty's shirt.
"That's not fair," she whispers. "You know you mean more to me than that."
Tough, kick ass chick Drew stands in front of me looking like I just killed her puppy. I feel like the disease on the world's smallest life form.
"I'm having a bad day," I bite out between clenched teeth and irritated Drew emerges from hurt Drew's ashes.
"Yeah well, it hasn't been a picnic for me either," she snaps "My best friend has been avoiding me all day and refuses to tell me what's wrong."
I can't help but gape. "Me? Me avoid you?"
From the corner of my eye I can see Cece notice Betty's attempts at flirting with Alec. She bristles, but my attention is drawn back to Drew as she explodes.
"You didn't show up at breakfast when we were supposed to meet, you avoided me during the course and didn't bother to catch up with me. You glared at me all through first and second lesson and avoided me when I tried to catch your eye. You didn't sit with me at lunch and you chose Max as your sparring partner instead of me. What have I done, Dek?"
I can think of nothing to say, when you put it like that it sounds like I was deliberately avoiding her.
Cece gestures Max to Alec and he nods and gets someone else to ask for Betty's help. She moves away from him and I think I might need to get her to help me with my mess. It must be the meat that was off as the smell of it is too rank, how the hell did I miss that first time round? I rub my head as I get a headache trying to concentrate on the lesson and my fight with Drew. Normally a transgenic can multitask but today, I just can't.
"It's not about you, Drew, none of that was intentional."
"So talk to me." Her eyes plead and I roll my head back on my shoulders trying to rid myself of the kinks in it.
What is wrong with me? Okay, so I have decided that I dislike Mets intensely, probably best not to tell her that. But when have I ever kept secrets from Drew, when have I ever had to? That pisses me off even more.
"You wouldn't understand."
And I pick up my stew pot to show Betty and ask her opinion on the foul scent of my meat and the general wateriness of my concoction just as Cece 'accidentally' slips her foot out. Betty trips, her heels catching in the tiles and she pinwheels her hands before falling forwards to smack into the back of Drew.
Drew is caught unawares and falls forwards smacking into me with my steaming hot, too watery, rancid smelling stew, which ends up all over my front.
Of course.
1730
Dinner is at 1730 and I have time to go back to the barracks for another ice cold shower before I go down for dinner. The smell of the rancid stew caught the back of my throat and made me feel nauseous. By the time I made it down to the showers the smell was ingrained in my uniform and no amount of washing is gonna get rid of that so I'll just burn the clothes. As it is I never want to smell stew again, especially beef stew as I think I'll throw up. Getting the smell off me was slightly easier but was still a bitch to get rid of, and yeah the meat was off. I'm just glad that I didn't eat that or I'd be worse off than I am now- if that is even possible.
I get to the hallway and am met with the overwhelming smell of dinner cooking. It's stew.
I give up.
1735
Ok so I've figured it out. If I don't move I can't possibly get into trouble. Right? So after dinner- or at least my abysmal attempts at salvaging some appetite after that class, I go to the rec room to sit and try to take twenty minutes where the cosmos isn't trying to drive me crazy. I count up to thirteen before I am interrupted.
"Oh sorry, Dek, didn't see you there!"
I look up into the concerned, flushed face of Max.
"How's the arm?"
Bloody painful actually. But since Max is the only one who has been decent to me today, I figure I owe her some slack.
"Not so bad now, thanks Max."
"I'm really sorry about that. I don't know what's wrong with me today."
I jump, startled. Is Max having a day like mine too? You know me and Max get along great at the best of times. She's funny and very hot. I can totally see what that asshole of a C.O sees in her…. wait, did I just call Alec an asshole? I like Alec. What is wrong with me today? I feel like I have PMS-- Pre Manticore Stress, or is it Post Manticore stress? --stress anyway.
Max leans on the arm of my chair and stares at me.
"Dek, honey, are you okay?"
"No," I reply honestly. "I have had enough."
"I get that."
Max stands up and stretches, walking over to the window and pushing it open. The cool breeze wafts in and plays with her hair flitting it around her face as she leans into the wind. One strand curls around her face, looking so soft.
"You know one of the great things about Seattle is the heat, in Wyoming it was cold way too often for me. I love this time of year."
She cocks her head and smiles at me and somehow I feel my bad mood ebbing away. She really is amazing.
She walks back towards me and sits on the edge of my seat, right next to me.
"Are the others still at dinner?"
"Uh huh," she's staring at me now and touches my shoulder. "Come on Dek, tell Maxie what's wrong."
I reach up to play with that strand of hair that has been driving me wild.
"I feel, unappreciated. By Drew, by Manticore, by everyone," I say as I curl that strand around my finger. Max leans in to my hand and turns her whole body to face mine. Our legs are touching now and I can feel Max's warmth spread all up one side of me. It's nice.
"Drew just has a few issues now, Dek, you need to let her know how you feel. Tell her you feel unappreciated and she can do something."
"I pissed her off earlier," I confess. "I don't think she'll want to make me feel appreciated."
"Well if all else fails, I appreciate you," Max says softly and looks up at me with her incredible eyes, her lashes are so long and her lips are so full and pouty. I bet she tastes great.
"That's great, Max," I murmur and swallow hard as her lips curve again and her tongue darts out to wet her lips.
She reaches up and pushes my hair away from my eyes and cups my chin in her soft hands, soft fingers tracing smooth circles on my cheeks.
"So strong," she murmurs and then her teeth drag in her bottom lip. She half stands and drapes her leg over both of mine so she is straddling me.
Max is straddling me.
Oh. My. God.
"Uh Max, are you okay?"
"Fine," she purrs and rubs herself up my leg, her hands coming down from my face to touch my chest. She leans forward and I close my eyes expecting to feel her lips on mine, but her mouth bypasses mine and her soft lips rub over my cheek and back to my ear where she nibbles, taking it in her mouth and scraping teeth along it.
It sends shivers up my spine and my hands move to her back to pull her closer, her breast press against my chest.
Suddenly today is looking up.
I run my hands up her back feeling her soft skin under her tight t-shirt until I can twine my hands in her luscious hair. Max giggles in my ear as I play with her hair.
She likes that.
Then she nips at my throat and all thoughts fly out of my head.
Oh I like that.
"Mmm Max,"
She licks and nibbles at my neck and pulse point and I can so totally see why Alec is in…
Oh God Alec!
My C.O and friend is in love with the girl that is currently writhing around on my lap. If he finds me with her, he'll rearrange my insides and I kinda like the arrangement they are in! It's a good look for me. No matter how hot she is, I'm not sure I wanna lose Alec's friendship like this.
"Whoa, Max!" I push her away.
She pouts and her full lips stand out.
"C'mon, Dek, I was having fun." Her little girl voice sends a bolt straight to my… Well lets just say not my brain, okay? And I lean forward and nip at her pulse point, tracing her vein with my tongue. Max whimpers and writhes in my lap, a long hiss escaping her lips. She tastes of honey and vanilla. Sweet, thick honey spread so deep on her velvet skin that I could drown and never want to be saved, I could just---
Snap out of it!
I pull back and take a deep breath to calm myself and that's when it hits me. A double dose of hot, sweet pheromones.
Max is in heat.
Max stretches her arms up over her head and arches her back so I have a tantalising view down her shirt and then gives me a look from under her lashes as she bites those luscious lips and I'm about to throw caution to the wind and hang my friendship with…Alec.
"Max no! You are in heat."
She freezes. "Say what?"
"Heat, Max," I say somewhat desperately.
"Aww, crap," She jumps back off me and skitters away across the room. "Dammit, dammit, dammit!"
"Yeah," I agree standing up and moving behind the chair I was sitting on so I am not tempted to go after her. Remember Alec. Remember Alec, remember Alec. Alec, Alec, Alec…damn Alec.
"Sorry Dek!"
"Having a hot willing female writhing on my knee? Not really the lowest part of my day…especially today." I grin at her to show that there are no hard feelings and her sweet smile drags those feelings up in my lower—
"Get to solitary now!"
She pauses and looks down at her feet which had subconsciously started to move toward me.
"Hell yeah!" she turns and runs out of the rec room and towards what I hope is med bay.
I fall back onto the sofa, bury my head in the loose cushions and scream.
This isn't my day.
1800
Last lesson of the day takes place in the tactics room and I am counting the seconds until I get through this.
General Nick Pope is supposed to teach us about unexpected surprises but I don't think that even he could have foreseen my day going like this.
"We seem to be missing a few," he says as he looks around.
"418 is in the brig," Alec says.
"Again?" Pope sighs. "Okay."
"511 is in Solitary."
"Again." he nods as if he expected that and gives a short laugh.
"148 is on assignment and 677 was called to med bay for an assist on a operation," Alec finishes.
"What about 452?"
Alec looks around and his brow creases in worry.
"452 went into heat this afternoon," I hear myself say and everyone turns to look at me. "She's gone to Solitary."
"Ok," Pope clicks his fingers. "Let's get to this then. What to do if your enemy launches a surprise attack."
Alec comes over to me during the lesson.
"Max went into heat?"
"Yeah."
"Dammit!" he whines. "I wanted to be there." His eyes suddenly narrow. "How did you know?"
"I was there."
Oh shit, not the best thing to say, nor the smartest. I may want someone else to have as bad a day as me but not Alec; maybe Mets but not Alec.
Alec's jaw tightens. "You and Max?"
I hold up my hands. "Listen Man, I swear I didn't even kiss her!"
And I didn't. Grope yes, kiss no.
"Honest?"
"Yup, as soon as we realised, she raced off to Solitary. I would never do anything with Max."
Alec sighed with relief and I felt like a heel, it's possible that I got even closer to Max that he has. And the thought does not make me feel better at all.
Alec claps me on the back "I know you wouldn't, pal."
Pal.
I hate my life.
2000
I have an hour's kitchen duty and as I sit in the kitchen wading through pots and pans and clearing up garbage and peeling potatoes. For some obscure reason I think that it's possible I could get through the day with out going insane. Only a few more hours to go until lights out and I can start tomorrow off fresh and clear.
Of course, as soon as I think that thought I slip on one of the potato peelings that I missed when I was sweeping up and fall onto my concussed head and aching arm sending pain shooting through my shoulder and seeing pretty stars.
You know, I think that this could be the worst day of my life.
2230
I fall onto my bed and hope like hell that the springs don't give way and poke my eyes out. Given my day it's really not that farfetched.
I push my face down into my soft pillow and try to suffocate myself.
There is a tiny knock on the door.
"Yea?" My voice is muffled by the pillow but they come in anyway and I can tell that it's Drew by her footsteps.
"Dek?"
"I'm trying to kill myself. Come back later."
She chuckles and I am so glad that she finds my pain amusing.
"Come on, was your day that bad?"
I lift my head enough to fix her a glare with one eye.
"Yes." One word sums it all up.
She holds up her hands in surrender and sits on the edge of my bed. I let my head fall back into my pillow.
"You were an ass today in cooking," She says conversationally.
"I'll apologise tomorrow, today is still too painful," I manage.
"It's a good thing that I am your best friend and that I forgive stuff like that. Because I understand," she continues.
"Good."
She brings her hand up and runs her fingers through my hair, stroking my head.
"Sorry you had a rough day, baby." Her hands run over my back and she hisses "Damn Dek, your shoulders are so tight. Talk about stress."
"No, I've had enough of it today I don't wanna talk about it too."
She pauses in her rubbing of my back.
"Shirt off."
"What?" I turn and gape at her incredulous. Damn, is every girl in heat today?
She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small vial. She unscrews the cap and lets me smell it.
"What the hell is that?" it smells like… actually I don't know. Soothing, I guess.
"Its massage oil, supposed to relax you, I got it off Coco who got it off Feen. I don't want to know where Feen got it- or why. Techie is sweet but not my taste. Now take off your shirt."
Humouring her I pull off my shirt and Drew gets up and moves around the bed until she leans over my back.
She drapes one leg over my hips so she is straddling my back and I take the time to marvel at the irony of having two women straddle me in one day- both of who like other men.
"Stop tensing," she orders as she pours the oil onto her hands and rubs them together. As she starts to rub my back and work her thumbs into my tense muscles I can feel my body finally start to relax. All the damage that it has taken today in one form or another is being soothed away by Drew's expert hands. Her weight is comfortable and even welcome on my back and I start to feel sleepy.
The scent of the oil fills the room as I fight off yawns.
"So I guess Techie isn't your type because Mets is?"
She drags circles on my back and down my sides before answering.
"I never said Mets was my type."
"But you are with him," I say in between yawns.
"You don't like him," she says knowingly and I smile at that because she does know how I feel, even when I don't.
"He's too quiet and sinister."
She laughs; a sound I don't hear often enough from her and I love it.
"Some girls prefer silent to smart ass, and you were looking for mysterious not sinister."
"I stand by my original."
My eyes are closed now and she massages my neck and shoulders, her hands slipping easily over my barcode. I shiver and she giggles- an honest to goodness giggle.
"You're cute when you are sleepy," she says.
"Manly not cute." I know my words are thick with sleep as I yawn again. "You prefer silent to smart ass?"
I can feel myself falling asleep as she takes her time answering, her hands gliding over my skin and easing down the contours of my back, now slick with oil. My breathing has evened out and I'm almost gone when I feel her stop her soothing massage and get off me.
"I'm not so sure anymore," She whispers and I feel a gentle press to my forehead before her footsteps head for the door.
"Goodnight Dek."
Night Drew. I say in my head and the door closes a small smile graces my face.
Ok so maybe today wasn't so bad.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Moonlite Star- Well done for your patience.
Geminangel- Yeah Emma and Biggs threw me too. I didn't realise it until I had written it! Hope you found this as funny as I did.
AcidBurn- I feel so pleased that you now review! See its not so hard and it is mucho appreciated. Well the Xseries were supposed to be gorgeous so yeah he is cute for a geek. Not so sure about xovers although I am sort of writing and X-men/DA one.
SGOU- Yeah like I said, I didn't realise until I had typed it and I was like what the hell??? I think Techie is in denial, bless him! Anna's sex partner was back before SO, so it could be B.J. but we'll have to see how that one plays out. LOL, stealing her muffin- that's possible too! The Carrot and Tara thing- by appointment and request will be seen in the next chapter- see what power you have?! Max is so clueless!! Oh and Dek was saying that eh understands not that there is someone—yet.
Stormvind- Possessive Alec. Mmm. Anna/BJ- who knows?! Drew rocks!
Poo- So glad you find me funny. I know poor Pix- more of him soon, worry not.
Kat461- aww I wanted to see the dance. LOL, you were reading this at half 1? Get you to bed girlie!! Feel free to write long reviews- I love them.
Sigma1- They are realising that there is more to life than Manticore which is cool for them.
Jynx- maybe I can mind read, but cool that I transformed you- I love Moving Along almost more than Moving Ahead which is odd for me but okay.
Ganko- I wish I had been at the guys slumber party- drool. I think Dek, Pix and Aiden get along so well as they are quite similar in so many ways.
Lanlie- Yay go girl- review me!! Maybe its the whole Joey thinking she likes Dawson but its Pacey that rocks her world- the bad boy and the best friend deal- I have no idea! More airtime with Drew and Max- done!
Nat452- I would have thought that you had author alert- but yeah I prefer the whole getting together, I lose interest after they have gotten together.
Kim- Yeah Zan was still in med bay- I think if he and Mets had been there things would have been different.
Ru- Biggs is a playboy but even I was blown away about Emma. I know Max is so damn blatant about her feelings and yet!
Carii- LOL- tell you what, you let me know who sang Lets get it on and I'll write a spoof chapter of Techie singing for ya! I think you are the only one who feels sorry for Cece! Thanks for reviewing!
Talichernin- Yeah okay, but just because you say it doesn't mean I have to do it! J when is your bday?
Arwen-amy- LOL, yeah Biggs has double standards doesn't he! I never thought of it that way.
Nora- Max is the QUEEN of denial but even she will have to come to terms with something's soon. You'll have to do me a list of warnings so that I can put the appropriate one at the top of each chapter. Hope it doesn't get boring!
Fangedangel- yeah I thought they needed a break from non-stop action and angst and required some down time. don't worry we get action up again soon. No I don't plan to do a mating wave and the only firm couples are Carrot and Tara and Pix and Chance. Everything else is up for debate.
Maribella- we needed a little POV rather than just action so had to let them relax for a while. At least you are definitely decided on Drew and Dek, I'm still up in the air right now. Thanks for reviewing pet.
Elfie- A Skye fan- that's new! I did wonder where you had been but it is great that gave me a big review- cheers pet. Ooh Drew as Ben cool idea! No one can capture the black book it is programmed to self destruct! Zan/Jondy? Hmm. Yeah damn it Male behaviour isn't learned. They lean on pretty much each other now, not just their love interest but this is where it gets interesting. You like my dialogue which is so cool! Well that is one for Mets and Drew.
Jane- hey there! Dek in denial- yeah he kinda is, isn't he? Another for Drew/Dek!
Jade-K- The whole thing was just one verbal tennis match and was so damn fun to write! Techie and Feen are so for each other bless 'em! Emma and Biggs- gotcha there! Yeah Drew/Dek/Mets- I wish they would make up their minds already!
Pure insanity- Lots of romance in the air…must be spring.
Raven- Of course they have issues- but who hasn't? J it wont all be love lives though!
Restive nature- I know the twisted male psyche- shudders and OMG I never noticed how that line could be construed! Eek!
Feenian- This one was much longer- I was considering making it two but I was having too much fun with it!
Keekee- Thank you Keekee, glad that you like it so much!
Marielle- More Biggs and Sunny –I think there needs to be doesn't there?
Lynn- I hope this chap made you feel better for Dek- ain't he cute! I know, for guys locked away from the world they are pretty clued up when it comes to love! NOONE saw Emma and Biggs coming. What do I like better than chocolate? Uh…Alec?
Tawnyteaser- fight harder! LOL, bless ya. Tell your sis that once she reviews she can use the computer but since you do you HAVE to use it first- its law!!
Shasy/Ausangel- I' have taken your order ma'am and have had to rearrange the kitchen but I believe that in chapter 16 we have been able to accommodate your palate. Bon appetite! Remember to tip your waiter.
Chaosti- Nah truth or dare is way overused! Although interesting concepts! No I wrote the male parts cringes delving into the male psyche is scary! My beta said it would be more sex talk and bragging but I refused to go there!!! Ahh the uses of a Flamethrower- if you ask me my dad is just being picky- the cat was only lightly singed.
1red1- Feen is too confident to be upset for long! More about Emma and Biggs in Chapter 16. B.J and Anna as a couple- I'm not sure they'd survive! Mets wasn't there but Dek wasn't sure about how he feels about Drew so he said nothing! Biggs so has issues!!!!
ALSO THANKS TO THOSE WHO EMAILED ME- Isabella Garlen, Regan Kirk, Possenau, Lena (Moonie- still waiting for that review!), Ellenejw, Kathleen, Minnie mouse!