Title: Total Recall, Chapter 9

Author: CSIphile/redwing

AN: This one is pretty short and it may be a bit for another update, the holidays and all. I need to give my beta a little break anyway. She so deserves it. Plus I'm starting a new job and wont be at the computer as much.

Again, thank you for the lovely reviews, I love reading them! Keep it up!

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Chapter 9: Aquariums

494 had finally fallen asleep somewhere around 2 am, so when the 6 am alarm sounds, he is a little groggy, but awake and ready to go.

After a speedy breakfast that barely appealed to him, 494 reports to the outside training area to find his partner already there and stretching along with some other X5's he hadn't met. Easily, he gets into training mode, surprised that his body has healed so well after the internal injuries he sustained during the last mission. It feels to him like he never stopped exercising, instead of being in intensive care for two months.

'Cause you weren't.  The thought comes, unbidden, and he dismisses it as the training instructor tells them to pair off.

Twenty minutes later, he is practically bouncing on his heels, waiting his turn to get onto the mat and duke it out with 452. So far, three other pairs had gone at it, and he is getting antsy.

"Stop that," she hisses at him under her breath so only he can hear her.

"What?"

"Stop bouncing up and down. You're making me seasick."

Immediately he stops, and hears a few relieved sighs from the other Xs in the audience.

Finally, one of the transgenics on the mat pins the other, and they are dismissed -- the instructor making notes about their techniques.

"494, 452. You're up!" he shouts, and 494 eagerly steps onto the blue mat, sensing 452 right behind him.

"Assume fight position." the instructor barks, and they follow orders -- standing knees slightly bent facing each other, staring into each others eyes. Slowly, they start circling each other, waiting for the whistle to indicate the beginning of the exercise.

494 licks his lips, but doesn't break eye contact. 452 cracks her knuckles. Both unclear why they feel the need to beat the hell out of the other and win. The point to these exercises isn't to win exactly, but to learn where your weaknesses are and improve on them.

Then the high squeal of a whistle permeates the air, and 452 is the first to move, bringing a forearm with within centimeters of his face before he blocks it, and sends a fist toward her head. She easily intercepts it, and counters with a kick to the stomach. He grabs her foot at the last second and pushes her into a back flip.

452 lands expertly, and comes back to fighting stance -- an angry expression on her face. They do half a circle again before starting another flurry of arms and hands, only visible to the others watching because of their enhanced vision. Neither one of them landing punches, they always seem to be one step ahead of the other, anticipating each other's moves.

Finally, he lands a punch across her face, but pulls away slightly. She takes the chance and returns the favor, punching him hard in the stomach. He steps back, but returns, hitting her squarely in the solar plexus, then again in the side. She responds by kicking his feet out from under him and sitting on his chest.

Again the whistle blows.

Both the transgenics stand quickly at attention, waiting for the instructor to say something; to 494, he seems to be gathering himself.

"Well, that was impressive. I guess neither one of you have missed a step." He pauses and looks at 494. "Why were you holding your punches?"

"I'm sorry, sir?" 494 is honestly confused.

"You were holding your punches when you finally got one in. You should have had her down with the hit to the chest."

"Yes, sir."

"You're done -- back in line."

"Yes, sir." They both respond and step off the mats and back into the circle of observers.

494 avoids looking at her; instead, he replays the fight in his head. He HAD held his hits, not going at her full force. Why would he do that? This is a place where screwing up costs you dearly. And yet there he was, not using full force when it is expected.

What the hell is wrong with me?

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Days later, he finds himself in the water tanks. The place he remembers dreading as a child. They want to check his lung capacity after surgery they told him. Easing into the tank, he places one foot in the ring at the bottom to keep himself submerged. As soon as his head had gone under, the counter had started -- he can just see it outside the tank.

Closing his eyes, he allows his brain to wander. The past few days of training have made him suspicious about the circumstances of the mission he supposedly was on. Despite being in intensive care for two weeks, and being transgenic, 494 figures he should be sore, maybe a little slower than usual. But he's not -- he is more on top of his game than ever. He noticed the other day sparring with 452 in their limited free time that he had picked up some not exactly Manticore-taught moves.

Plus, he had no external scars to speak of; he heals fast, but not that fast. Something in his head doesn't add up, but he doesn't dare speak up and ask questions. That's a guaranteed trip to Psy Ops, and after his twin escaped, he spent enough time there.

Then there is her -- 452. Every time he is with her, that feeling of fear settles into every bone in his body. Sometimes when she looks at him, he thinks he sees a similar expression on her face. But along with fear there is something else, something he can't define, something….familiar.

Looking at the clock, he is surprised to see the four and a half minute mark slide by and he isn't even hurting for air yet. This isn't right. Again, his mind wonders if someone a mere five weeks out of intensive care should be able to do this. No, they shouldn't.

Again, he takes in his surroundings, looking for what he doesn't know exactly.

Oversized aquarium, that's all this is. He contemplates the humor in that -- a human trapped in an aquarium, with rocks and a water dish. Being fed on its master's whims. Wait….Don't lizards live in aquariums…….?

"Mole!"

Mole jerks out of his half sleep and sits up in his (no, Max's) chair. "Yeah?" He gets out, thankfully not sounding as sleepy as he is.

"I think we have a problem."  Mole's partner in running this dump announces, as he flashes by his (no, Max's) office.

Quickly, the lizard man is out of his chair and following to the computer monitors that show the various security cameras across the compound. A security system that had been set up by Alec….

"What?" He asks and tries not to be obvious about rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"All the reports from the recon teams are in. There's no sign of them. Nothing. They've seen White, but nothing else. The Familiars seem to be…oddly quiet."

"Dammit. Tell them to keep watch, Whites a cagey little bastard. Make sure they follow if he leaves anywhere."

"Will do." Dix replies and transmits the instructions to the teams.

Mole stares at the area around him, considering the idea that Max and Alec may actually be dead.

tbc……………Happy Holidays!