Title: Total Recall, Chapter 8

Author: CSIphile/redwing

AN: Yeah, I'm evil….bwhahahahaha.  Hope you enjoyed the last installments cliffhanger, cause it aint pretty here on in.

Wow, Mirella, you have a lot of questions about this fic, and I really, really love that you do! I tend to dole out information a little at a time until the end, so everything will be answered….in time. insert evil laugh here

AN2: No tricks or treats here, there's no clone and she isn't faking. She just doesn't remember (and now neither does he), some more explanation in this chapter.

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Chapter 8: Partners, Again

Terminal City

"Mole, it's been a month. Four weeks."

"You think I don't know that?" Mole sighs, and slams a fist on the desk. Max's old desk.

Dix looks at him, softly. "They aren't coming back."

That earns a whimper from the other transhuman in the room. Dix turns and touches Joshua lightly on the arm. All of TC is grieving the loss of their leaders, but no one more than Josh. Every day, less and less people come up to Dix and inquire about the status of Max and Alec -- most probably accepting the fact they are gone.

"They could still be alive," Mole protests.

"They could. But Mole, you've had guys following White and his cronies for three weeks now, and there is no sign they have them. Logan can't find any indication they were sold to another country. We need to move on -- you need to accept that you and I are the leaders now. These people need us." Dix swallows nervously, not sure how his next statement will be taken. "We don't have the manpower to keep following all White's henchmen. It's getting hard to procure supplies."

"I know, I know." The lizard sighs. "Ok, bring everyone back but one. I want one person on White at all times; figure out a rotation schedule."

"Ok." He pats his friend on the shoulder before leaving.

"Max and Alec not dead," Joshua finally says, his voice hard.

"You don't know that, big guy."

Joshua sniffs the air before giving Mole a determined look. "Not dead."

Manticore

Richard looks over the training area in front of him. There are a few dozen pairs of transgenics fighting, learning new techniques, teaching others. 'This is what Manticore intended,' he thinks, and gives himself a self-satisfied smirk. He created this.

He sees his assistant jogging across the grounds at him, and moves forward to meet him.

"Yes, Jacob?"

"They've been cleared by medical. Are you sure this is wise? It's only been three weeks since the wipes."

Richard doesn't even look at the other man as he speaks, keeping his eyes on the action in front of him. "Have they shown any indications of remembering things?"

"No, sir. Both are under the impression they were injured during separate missions and have been reassigned here."

"And they believe this?"

"Absolutely. They never waver from what we implanted. We wiped and replaced most of her life outside -- just used another deceased X's mission parameters. As a precaution, the lab boys think they erased most memories of X5-493, since he is 494's clone. 494 was much easier -- only three years erased -- also replaced with a deceased Xs missions."

"Then do it. I guess we'll find out if the wipe worked shortly. If they recognize each other, shoot them onsite."

"Yes, sir." He salutes and heads back into the building.

Richard waits patiently for Jacob to bring the two to him. This is the first time the memory wipe had been used on a transgenic; there had initially been some concern that the brain cells would regenerate, but if they were going to, they would have by now. He earned high praise from the top brass about turning 452 and 494, and he intends to keep them that way.

Finally, the two soldiers in question appear in front of him, at full attention ready. Apparently they didn't recognize each other, or he'd be looking at bodies.

"At ease."

As one they both relax slightly, widening their stance and staring at a spot behind him. Richard takes a moment to observe them, silently; they don't look at each other or give any outward sign of knowing each other. Excellent.

"State your designations," he clips.

Both respond without hesitation, stating their Manticore assigned numbers, still not looking directly at him.

"Excellent. Since you both have been transferred here recently, I'm going to assign you as training partners and place you in the same unit, understand?" He is taking a serious risk by exposing them to each other on a daily basis. But the only way to be sure the procedure works is to see if their memory returns. Besides, Richard is somewhat of a risk taker; he didn't have to assign them to the same unit, but he can't wait to see what happens -- or doesn't.

"Understood, sir." In unison, they respond.

"Good. Find your CO and get your assignments. Training starts tomorrow. Dismissed."

"Yes, sir." Again in unison, the salute and walk off, not even turning to each other on the hundred yard walk to the barracks.

This may have worked better than I imagined.

494 lay in his bunk, staring at the ceiling -- the fact that all the lights are off doing nothing to hamper his vision. He is excited about getting back to training after recovering from a mission that went sideways. Ready to get back into action. 494 hates being idle for any period of time, always more content with having something to occupy his mind. He thrives on the routine of Manticore, always has.

Despite this, he has a nagging feeling that something is not exactly right. It all started when he first saw 452 in the hall earlier…..

He was waiting patiently in the hall, leaning against the wall when he sees another transgenic heading toward him.

Medium height, long brown hair and almond eyes; she had to be the most exotic of the human X series he had ever seen. She walked with confidence as all X5's do, that air of superiority always around them.

She had stopped directly in front of him, and he had made eye contact. He knew her -- how, 494 didn't know, but he KNEW her. They'd never been on a mission together, of that he is sure, but there is something hauntingly familiar about those deep brown eyes. Something that tugs at his brain. But there is something else: she instills in him a certain sense of fear, not OF her, but because of her. A feeling that he needs to keep these thoughts to himself, that she could be the death of him if he doesn't.

He had narrowed his eyes at the woman, and wondered if she was having the same feelings. If she did, she was giving no outward indication. Her face stone, emotionless.

Something about that expression bothered him.

Even lying here in the dark, 494 can't recall what exactly had bothered him about her typical-for-Manticore expression. It had seemed…unnatural to him.

'Why?' he thinks to himself, and turns his head in the direction of her bunk -- seeing only the back of her head, her hair splayed out behind her.

Green eyes. That had been the first thing she noticed about the male transgenic leaning so casually against the wall. Deep, beautiful green eyes -- the kind you could get lost in. Now that man, 494, is her training partner. Not a bad deal in 452's estimation. Not that Manticore made an ugly soldier, but he is by far the best looking she had ever seen.

Why did she feel such guilt about appreciating his looks?

452 rolls over on her bunk and catches 494 watching her out of the corner of her eye. Something inside of her screams and she turns away, a feeling of dread settling in her stomach.

Now, why did looking at him bring a sense of dread?

tbc………………….