A Final Farewell
Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel it belongs to James Cameron and the people at Fox, not me all I own is a can of soda and a computer.
A/N: Okay I have realized that the name A Final Farewell doesn't quite suit the story because I came up with the name when it was only going to be a one shot thing but I have decided not to change it so people will still be able to recognize it. Anyway thanks to those of you who reviewed for the encouragement and all I can say is please keep them coming they are very much appreciated and tell me that people are actually enjoying my story. To those of you who haven't what are you waiting for? Anyway thanks for reading.
The next morning at breakfast as usual she sat alone, not that that was anything unusual she had been doing it since she had gotten there. She was considered a traitor and no one would even talk to her if she initiated a conversation. Then again conversation starting wasn't exactly look at as a good thing. Conversation in general to the superiors was just plain bad.
She threw her tray out and walked toward the double doors that led to the hallway. She felt eyes following her and turned to see almost every eye in the mess hall staring at her. She didn't know why she just knew that she had to get out of there as fast as she could.
She started down the hallway to the gym she needed to work out to make sure that she was in top shape for her evaluation. That morning she had been told that because she had been outside for the past 10 years they had to make sure that she was in prime physical and psychological health. If she was found incompetent she would be subjected to reindoctrination. Not the most fun process in the world she thought to herself.
Walking into the gym she was assaulted by the smell of sweat. She walked around and looked at the different machines. This was the first time that she had been in there since her return. It was different from the last time she had been in there. The machines were the latest equipment instead of the old worn out machines that had been there 10 years ago. She found a bench press that was open, adjusted the weight and started to do 3 reps of 20.
She was almost done when she heard a sigh next to her. "Are you X-5 452?" Said the man that was sitting on the bench but not working out next to her.
"Yes, what do you want?" She continued to finish her reps.
"Renfro would like to see you." Max finished and looked over at him.
"Yeah hold on." She took the towel that she had grabbed off the cart when she had entered the gym and wiped her sweaty neck and arms.
"She would like to see you now." He grasped her arm and started pulling her towards the door. She pulled free and walked in front of him. Every once in a while glancing back to see him still following her. He gave her an uneasy feeling and she was happy when they reached Renfro's office.
"Ah 452, how nice to see you again. Before we begin your physical evaluation I would just like to say that it is nice to have you back here." She gave her a quick smile and then her face became the impassive stone that it was always. "If you fail the physical part we will put you through the most rigorous training of your life then after a week we will put you through another evaluation if you continue to fail you will continue to be put through training and we will keep doing that until you can win."
"What happens if I win?" Max asked.
"Then you will continue to train with the other members of your unit every day and every month you will be subjected to a physical evaluation."
"Okay. What about the psychological evaluation?" Max questioned.
"The psychological evaluation will consist of a lie detector test. You will be given sodium penethol or truth serum under which you cannot lie, not even you. The later units were given in there genetic code, the ability to bypass it, unfortunately when you were created we didn't have the technology to do that."
Max cast a glance at Reden and caught him looking back at her, he didn't look so tough. He certainly wasn't as tough as Zack had been and she had been known to kick his ass a time or two.
"You will challenge each other in the rec. room. The match will be the best out of 3. A victory will consist of one of you holding the other to the mat for 3 seconds if you succeed in that then that will be the end of a round. Now I want you both to take some time to prepare the match will begin at 12." She looked at her watch and continued. " That will mean 2 hours from now. 452 I have already talked to your superiors you are excused from your morning training. Go to the gym do what you have to, to get ready. You may go."
Max and Reden left the room at the same time Max going one-way Reden going the other. Max was looking at the floor when she bumped into something. She looked up sharply to see Alec standing right in front of her. "Hello, plague of my life."
"You don't mean that Maxie." He assumed with a playful grin.
"Don't I? I would rather befriend a 7-foot shark, that talk to you."
"So where were you going in such a hurry Maxie?" Alec questioned.
"It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does no one moves as quick as you when you are trying to do something important."
"Fine, you want to know what I am doing, I have to go for a physical evaluation in 2 hours against a guy that I can in no way possible beat." She yelled at him.
"Max calm down, do you want the whole compound to hear you?"
"I wish they would, 'cause maybe then they would stop looking at me like I'm some kind of freak and realize that I'm just like them."
"But that is the problem Max you're not like them, you've been on the outside where they can never go, you've seen things that they have only dreamed of, you've tried to live a normal life, something that they can never have. No Max you are nothing like them, and that's what makes you special. They look at you not like some freak but as the person that they wish they could be." He paused and looked at her. "As the person that I wish I could be." He moved closer until their faces were only inches apart. Max pushed him away and stared at him incredulously.
"Don't Alec, just don't."
"Why? I thought you were attracted to me you acted like you were last night."
"You arrogant, self-absorbed, conceited, egotistical, self-centered, narcissistic, son of a. uhh" She could think of any more words for what he was. "If I for any reason you thought that I was leading you on I'm sorry." He continued to stare at her idiotically. "Alec I am attracted to you, believe me I am, but I have someone back home who is waiting for me and even if I never see him again I couldn't do that to him, I couldn't live with the guilt that I had betrayed him." She paused for a minute and thought about what else she could say to make him understand. "I love him Alec, and even though I've never told him, he knows that I love him, and I know that he loves me back."
Max was surprised by her own words, she realized that, that was the first time that she had admitted it to herself. She loved Logan and nothing could change that, not even being 200 hundred miles away from him. She had written it in the letter but she had only written it to satisfy her conscience, it was the first time that she had ever said it out-loud. She realized that Alec was talking at her. "What?" She asked.
"What planet are you on?" He asked.
"Just thinking, what can you tell me about this Reden guy?"
"You're up against Reden. this is great." He said sarcastically. "He's one of the best fighters that I have ever seen, you go up against him you will get beaten. But I can give you some tips that might help you out."
"Why are you helping me?" Max questioned.
"You'd be asleep by the time that I got to your cell every night."
"I don't sleep." That had been the exact same line that she had used with Zack. "To much shark DNA in my cocktail. As you know sharks don't need to sleep therefore neither do I." She smiled wryly. "So back to Reden, how do I beat him?"
"You don't."
"What do you mean I don't?"
"Reden is the strongest fighter that Manticore has ever created. They put a lot of tiger, shark, and other strong animals in his 'cocktail' as you call it." He even did the air quotes, which made Max smile.
"Air quotes a classic, so back to Reden for the third time." Changing the subject as quickly as she could.
"He doesn't have a lot of street fight training, he doesn't fight dirty he sticks to the books. You've been fighting on the streets for what 10 years you must have learned some tricks that he hasn't. You use the ones that you think he doesn't know chances are he won't know any of them. You use those and you may have a chance. It may be a snowball in hell's chance of winning, but at least it is a chance."
"Thanks for your wonderful support in my fighting ability."
"Let's go to the training room, you can practice some moves no one will be there, they all have morning training outside."
"Don't you have morning training?"
"No I have been excused, it's one advantage to being Renfro's lap dog, she gives me off whenever I feel like it."
"Must be nice and I'm sure she doesn't make you go for evaluations." She looked at him for an answer. Under her scrutiny he looked away suddenly. "You are so much like Ben."
"Am I? I didn't think that we had anything in common except looks. At least I'm not crazy."
Max whipped around suddenly to look at him, her face full of rage. "Don't you dare talk about Ben like you know him. He wasn't crazy; there were just some things that he didn't understand in the big bad world. You know absolutely nothing about him."
"I know that because of him, I spent six months in psy-ops having my mind poked around in to make sure that the craziness wasn't genetic."
"Looks like it was." Max muttered under her breath.
"I heard that." Alec told her.
"Sorry I blew up on you, I just get defensive when it comes to my family, they are everything that I have in the world and I can't stand when people bad mouth them. I know Ben was killing people I understand that it was wrong, but in some weird way it was his means of crying out for help, and no one would listen."
"I'm sorry I brought the whole crazy thing up."
"Actually I'm glad that you did, talking about him makes things easier to deal with."
While they were talking they had been walking down the hallway that led to the training room, now they were in front of it. Alec being the gentlemen that he was opened the door for Max. "After you Maxie."
"I really wish that you wouldn't call me that. I haven't been Maxie in over ten years and even then that was only to my family."
"Okay Maxie." He said emphasizing her name.
Max sighed and walked through the doorway. "You really are impossible you know that."
"It's one of the things that makes me charming." Alec said in an arrogant tone.
"Charming? Yeah you wish." Said Max mockingly. She looked around and only one word came to mind. "Wow." Was all she said.
A/N: I have a little problem, I won't have computer access for a while probably until next week, around Thursday or Wednesday so I may not be able to update for a while. If by chance I can get to the library I might be able to upload it probably around Friday or Saturday. So please hang in there and I promise that I will update as quickly as I can. SO in the meanwhile please review because reviews make me happy.
Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel it belongs to James Cameron and the people at Fox, not me all I own is a can of soda and a computer.
A/N: Okay I have realized that the name A Final Farewell doesn't quite suit the story because I came up with the name when it was only going to be a one shot thing but I have decided not to change it so people will still be able to recognize it. Anyway thanks to those of you who reviewed for the encouragement and all I can say is please keep them coming they are very much appreciated and tell me that people are actually enjoying my story. To those of you who haven't what are you waiting for? Anyway thanks for reading.
The next morning at breakfast as usual she sat alone, not that that was anything unusual she had been doing it since she had gotten there. She was considered a traitor and no one would even talk to her if she initiated a conversation. Then again conversation starting wasn't exactly look at as a good thing. Conversation in general to the superiors was just plain bad.
She threw her tray out and walked toward the double doors that led to the hallway. She felt eyes following her and turned to see almost every eye in the mess hall staring at her. She didn't know why she just knew that she had to get out of there as fast as she could.
She started down the hallway to the gym she needed to work out to make sure that she was in top shape for her evaluation. That morning she had been told that because she had been outside for the past 10 years they had to make sure that she was in prime physical and psychological health. If she was found incompetent she would be subjected to reindoctrination. Not the most fun process in the world she thought to herself.
Walking into the gym she was assaulted by the smell of sweat. She walked around and looked at the different machines. This was the first time that she had been in there since her return. It was different from the last time she had been in there. The machines were the latest equipment instead of the old worn out machines that had been there 10 years ago. She found a bench press that was open, adjusted the weight and started to do 3 reps of 20.
She was almost done when she heard a sigh next to her. "Are you X-5 452?" Said the man that was sitting on the bench but not working out next to her.
"Yes, what do you want?" She continued to finish her reps.
"Renfro would like to see you." Max finished and looked over at him.
"Yeah hold on." She took the towel that she had grabbed off the cart when she had entered the gym and wiped her sweaty neck and arms.
"She would like to see you now." He grasped her arm and started pulling her towards the door. She pulled free and walked in front of him. Every once in a while glancing back to see him still following her. He gave her an uneasy feeling and she was happy when they reached Renfro's office.
"Ah 452, how nice to see you again. Before we begin your physical evaluation I would just like to say that it is nice to have you back here." She gave her a quick smile and then her face became the impassive stone that it was always. "If you fail the physical part we will put you through the most rigorous training of your life then after a week we will put you through another evaluation if you continue to fail you will continue to be put through training and we will keep doing that until you can win."
"What happens if I win?" Max asked.
"Then you will continue to train with the other members of your unit every day and every month you will be subjected to a physical evaluation."
"Okay. What about the psychological evaluation?" Max questioned.
"The psychological evaluation will consist of a lie detector test. You will be given sodium penethol or truth serum under which you cannot lie, not even you. The later units were given in there genetic code, the ability to bypass it, unfortunately when you were created we didn't have the technology to do that."
Max cast a glance at Reden and caught him looking back at her, he didn't look so tough. He certainly wasn't as tough as Zack had been and she had been known to kick his ass a time or two.
"You will challenge each other in the rec. room. The match will be the best out of 3. A victory will consist of one of you holding the other to the mat for 3 seconds if you succeed in that then that will be the end of a round. Now I want you both to take some time to prepare the match will begin at 12." She looked at her watch and continued. " That will mean 2 hours from now. 452 I have already talked to your superiors you are excused from your morning training. Go to the gym do what you have to, to get ready. You may go."
Max and Reden left the room at the same time Max going one-way Reden going the other. Max was looking at the floor when she bumped into something. She looked up sharply to see Alec standing right in front of her. "Hello, plague of my life."
"You don't mean that Maxie." He assumed with a playful grin.
"Don't I? I would rather befriend a 7-foot shark, that talk to you."
"So where were you going in such a hurry Maxie?" Alec questioned.
"It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does no one moves as quick as you when you are trying to do something important."
"Fine, you want to know what I am doing, I have to go for a physical evaluation in 2 hours against a guy that I can in no way possible beat." She yelled at him.
"Max calm down, do you want the whole compound to hear you?"
"I wish they would, 'cause maybe then they would stop looking at me like I'm some kind of freak and realize that I'm just like them."
"But that is the problem Max you're not like them, you've been on the outside where they can never go, you've seen things that they have only dreamed of, you've tried to live a normal life, something that they can never have. No Max you are nothing like them, and that's what makes you special. They look at you not like some freak but as the person that they wish they could be." He paused and looked at her. "As the person that I wish I could be." He moved closer until their faces were only inches apart. Max pushed him away and stared at him incredulously.
"Don't Alec, just don't."
"Why? I thought you were attracted to me you acted like you were last night."
"You arrogant, self-absorbed, conceited, egotistical, self-centered, narcissistic, son of a. uhh" She could think of any more words for what he was. "If I for any reason you thought that I was leading you on I'm sorry." He continued to stare at her idiotically. "Alec I am attracted to you, believe me I am, but I have someone back home who is waiting for me and even if I never see him again I couldn't do that to him, I couldn't live with the guilt that I had betrayed him." She paused for a minute and thought about what else she could say to make him understand. "I love him Alec, and even though I've never told him, he knows that I love him, and I know that he loves me back."
Max was surprised by her own words, she realized that, that was the first time that she had admitted it to herself. She loved Logan and nothing could change that, not even being 200 hundred miles away from him. She had written it in the letter but she had only written it to satisfy her conscience, it was the first time that she had ever said it out-loud. She realized that Alec was talking at her. "What?" She asked.
"What planet are you on?" He asked.
"Just thinking, what can you tell me about this Reden guy?"
"You're up against Reden. this is great." He said sarcastically. "He's one of the best fighters that I have ever seen, you go up against him you will get beaten. But I can give you some tips that might help you out."
"Why are you helping me?" Max questioned.
"You'd be asleep by the time that I got to your cell every night."
"I don't sleep." That had been the exact same line that she had used with Zack. "To much shark DNA in my cocktail. As you know sharks don't need to sleep therefore neither do I." She smiled wryly. "So back to Reden, how do I beat him?"
"You don't."
"What do you mean I don't?"
"Reden is the strongest fighter that Manticore has ever created. They put a lot of tiger, shark, and other strong animals in his 'cocktail' as you call it." He even did the air quotes, which made Max smile.
"Air quotes a classic, so back to Reden for the third time." Changing the subject as quickly as she could.
"He doesn't have a lot of street fight training, he doesn't fight dirty he sticks to the books. You've been fighting on the streets for what 10 years you must have learned some tricks that he hasn't. You use the ones that you think he doesn't know chances are he won't know any of them. You use those and you may have a chance. It may be a snowball in hell's chance of winning, but at least it is a chance."
"Thanks for your wonderful support in my fighting ability."
"Let's go to the training room, you can practice some moves no one will be there, they all have morning training outside."
"Don't you have morning training?"
"No I have been excused, it's one advantage to being Renfro's lap dog, she gives me off whenever I feel like it."
"Must be nice and I'm sure she doesn't make you go for evaluations." She looked at him for an answer. Under her scrutiny he looked away suddenly. "You are so much like Ben."
"Am I? I didn't think that we had anything in common except looks. At least I'm not crazy."
Max whipped around suddenly to look at him, her face full of rage. "Don't you dare talk about Ben like you know him. He wasn't crazy; there were just some things that he didn't understand in the big bad world. You know absolutely nothing about him."
"I know that because of him, I spent six months in psy-ops having my mind poked around in to make sure that the craziness wasn't genetic."
"Looks like it was." Max muttered under her breath.
"I heard that." Alec told her.
"Sorry I blew up on you, I just get defensive when it comes to my family, they are everything that I have in the world and I can't stand when people bad mouth them. I know Ben was killing people I understand that it was wrong, but in some weird way it was his means of crying out for help, and no one would listen."
"I'm sorry I brought the whole crazy thing up."
"Actually I'm glad that you did, talking about him makes things easier to deal with."
While they were talking they had been walking down the hallway that led to the training room, now they were in front of it. Alec being the gentlemen that he was opened the door for Max. "After you Maxie."
"I really wish that you wouldn't call me that. I haven't been Maxie in over ten years and even then that was only to my family."
"Okay Maxie." He said emphasizing her name.
Max sighed and walked through the doorway. "You really are impossible you know that."
"It's one of the things that makes me charming." Alec said in an arrogant tone.
"Charming? Yeah you wish." Said Max mockingly. She looked around and only one word came to mind. "Wow." Was all she said.
A/N: I have a little problem, I won't have computer access for a while probably until next week, around Thursday or Wednesday so I may not be able to update for a while. If by chance I can get to the library I might be able to upload it probably around Friday or Saturday. So please hang in there and I promise that I will update as quickly as I can. SO in the meanwhile please review because reviews make me happy.