Reliving Manticore

Disclaimer-I don't own anything that can be found on Dark Angel. The only things I own are some of the transgenics and the parts of the storyline that I make up. So don't sue!

Summary-Max was captured at the end of season 1 but in my story she wasn't shot in the heart and Zack didn't shoot himself, but he was captured as well. And Max never escaped or burned Manticore down. So basically this story is about Max being back at Manticore with missions, transgenics and all. M/L at first but it will become M/A.

Chapter Six-Starting the Mission

"So where are we supposed to stay again? I keep forgetting," Natalie said. Biggs sighed.

"We stay at that hotel over there," he grumbled, pointing to a luxurious hotel across the street. Lana whistled softly.

"This guy must be pretty loaded to be staying in a place like that," she commented admiringly. "Who's staying with who?"

"Two rooms for girls and two rooms for guys," Nick answered.

"Isn't that a shame?" Alec replied. Then he looked at Max, "And to think, I thought I could share a bed with you." He put on a disappointed face. Max just smirked. "It'd be the easiest way to get back at you for tickling me."

"And I finally kicked your ass, didn't I?" Max said smugly. Alec narrowed his eyes.

"Nuh uh," he said, "You just made me flail around helplessly. There's a difference."

"Right. When you can convincingly tell me it what it is, I'll be ready to listen," Max retorted.

"Can we please just go check out our rooms? I'm bored," Blake complained. Max smiled and nodded.

When they entered the lobby, they were stunned at how beautiful it was. It was pretty outside, but nothing like this. It was like the pulse never happened.

"Wow," Justine said softly. Max tried to look unimpressed.

"Tell me Max. Have you seen a better hotel than this or are your expectations incredibly high?" Biggs asked.

"No. I'll just be suspicious until I actually see our rooms," Max replied. "Sometimes the lobby looks great, but the rooms are trashy." Alec smirked.

"And you would know trashy when you see it wouldn't you?" he said. Max scowled and punched his shoulder. "Ow."

"Classy place guys, hello. Try to act more normal," Lana warned.

"Aiight. Let's check out our rooms. I'm gettin' anxious," Cindy said. The others agreed.

About a half later, the transgenics had all their things safely in their rooms and each were checking out the rest of the hotel.

Max and Cindy were checking out the game room.

"Hard to believe an uptight place like this would have this kinda stuff," Cindy observed. Max shrugged.

"Just be glad they do. Or we'd be hella bored," she replied.

"I hear ya," Cindy paused. "Are you gonna tell me more about your past life or what? 'Cuz I gotta tell ya suga, I'm curious." Max smiled slightly.

"That was subtle," she said wryly. Cindy just looked at her. "Alright, what do you wanna know?" She sighed.

"First off, tell me about this person I'm named after," Cindy replied. Max grinned.

"She's my best friend. I met her when I was about 17, I think. I'm not quite sure about my age. I don't even know when my birthday is. But anyway, she was being harassed by a bunch of low-life bikers when I first saw her. I helped her out and we just clicked. We got along really well. She had this attitude that was just so," Max paused trying to think of the right word. "Different, I guess. But definitely in a good way. She was really nice and honestly cared about the people around her. She was actually the first friend I ever had." I miss you so much OC. I wish I could hang out with you, Sketchy, Herbal, god even Normal, Max thought as Cindy comfortingly patted her back. Am I missing someone? Oh my god, Logan! How could I forget him? Isn't he the guy that I...

"Sorry to break up this touching moment but we gotta figure out what we're gonna be doing," Alec interrupted her thoughts. Max and Cindy nodded and followed him to the room he was sharing with Biggs.

"So, what does this guy even look like?" Natalie asked once everyone was settled in. Alec just handed her a picture. Edwin Callaway was a tall, skinny guy in his 30's. He had pale skin and messy brown hair with brown eyes. Average Joe.

"How did he get all his money?" Nick asked curiously, studying the picture.

"I'm guessin it ain't from modeling," Cindy replied. Max smiled.

"Nope," Alec agreed. "He got it the old fashioned way. Working for it, saving it, and selling or stealing anything else he needed."

"Ah, so just a regular patriotic citizen?" Max wondered. Alec nodded, smiling.

"So what are we gonna do first?" Blake asked.

"We gotta figure out what room he's staying in don't we?" Lana said. The others nodded. "So that's first. How are we gonna do recon?"

"Well it says here he's not married," Alec replied. He looked at each of the females. Max got it first.

"Nuh uh, no way. One of us has to throw ourselves at him? I don't think so," Max argued stubbornly. Alec smirked.

"Ah, my dear sweet self-centered little darling," he said as Max scowled. "Who said anything about you doing it?" Max pursed her lips.

"Well who then?" Natalie asked impatiently.

"That'll come later," Biggs answered. "First we have to figure out which room he's in."

"Great," Alec said. "Why don't you and Max go do that now?" Max just looked at him and Biggs inhaled quickly. "Is that a problem?"

"No," they both answered.

"Good," Alec said as he continued to study the folder. Biggs and Max looked at each other and then headed out the door.

"Was that smart?" Nick asked uncertainly.

"Well, if they have any problems, it's best they work them out before it gets in the way of the mission," Alec said without looking up. The others just looked at each other worriedly.

"So what should we do?" Biggs asked as he and Max reached the lobby. Max shrugged.

"You're 2IC. You tell me," she said. Biggs scowled.

"What? So I do all the work?" he argued. "Figures."

"I didn't say that. And what's 'figures' supposed to mean?" Max said angrily.

"Figures means it figures that you would dump the work on someone else," Biggs replied. Max tensed.

"You don't even know me," she said coldly.

"Yeah, and I don't plan to. You're an 09er, you don't even deserve to be on this mission. Why aren't you in Psy-Ops where you belong?" Biggs said through gritted teeth.

"I may be an 09er but I sure as hell don't belong in Psy-Ops anymore than the others. You may need to take a little trip though," Max retorted.

"Oh please," Biggs argued. "You're the ones who ran away when you got too scared. You're the ones who decided you only wanted to save your own asses and left without a second thought for what they would do to us."

"You don't know what we were going through. You don't know why we left. You don't know us," Max replied softly but then she exploded. "SO DON'T PRETEND THAT YOU DO!" Everyone in the lobby turned their heads to look at the two young people arguing.

Max's eyes were blazing and her fists were clenched. Biggs knew a warning sign when he saw one. But he didn't care. Before she could react, Biggs pulled Max into the vacant game room. "Well why don't you tell me then? Why was it so hard that figured you should just run?"

"We didn't run! We escaped! There's a pretty damn big difference!" Max had lost all will to be calm. "We were losing our family and we couldn't take it anymore!"

"Family? You mean your unit. You're soldiers, you can't risk feeling like that. You lose a member, you move on. That's how it works," Biggs said. Max's eyes flared even more, if possible.

"Unit equals family, dumb-ass!" she yelled. "And that is not how it works! You've barely ever been on the outside, you don't understand how it works! You never will if you keep listening to Mother Manticore! Open your eyes to the damn world! Haven't you ever noticed that if someone dies, people don't just leave 'em to rot, they grieve?"

Biggs didn't say anything but what Max was saying was slowly sinking in. Was she right? He thought. God, I'm so confused!

"How do you know that's not how it works?" he asked quietly. His voice had lost it's venom and Max calmed down.

"Ten years on the outside can teach you things that Manticore can't or won't," she replied softly. "They aren't big on humanity."

Biggs nodded and smiled slightly, finally accepting what Max had said. "I'm sorry I didn't give you a chance," he said.

Max smiled as well. "Don't worry about it. You weren't the first and you aren't the last," she replied and softly punched his arm. Biggs nodded again and they left to find out which room Callaway was staying in and get a key.

Back in Alec/Bigg's room...

"You don't think they killed each other do you?" Nick asked after 20 minutes had passed. Alec just shook his head.

"If they aren't here in 10 minutes or less I'm gonna go find 'em," Cindy said. The others agreed. But Biggs and Max entered the room a few minutes later.

"Geez, what took so long?" Blake asked. Biggs and Max just looked at each other.

"Just took a little longer than expected," they answered at the same time.

"Right. Well did you find out what room he's in?" Alec asked. They nodded.

"Yup," Biggs said.

"Got a key, too," Max replied and Biggs handed the key over to Alec.

Alec nodded appreciatively. "Great. This will make breaking into his room a little easier," he said.

"Good. Now who's gonna 'distract' him while someone searches his room?" Natalie asked. Alec grinned.

"Max," he replied simply.

"What?!" Max yelled, shocked. "You said it wasn't me!"

"No I didn't," Alec replied calmly, but he was slowly backing away from Max. "I asked 'who ever said it was you?' right? I never said it wasn't you."

Max growled and slowly walked to him. "I'm so gonna kick your ass," she said. Alec just grinned.

"Always the ass, Maxie," he said, sighing. "But don't worry, Lana, Nick, and I will all be down there with you while the others search his room." Max didn't stop advancing on him.

"Where is 'down there'?" Lana asked curiously.

"There's a party tomorrow night for all the guests in the hotel. So Max will be 'distracting' him then," Alec replied. Just as he finished talking, Max launched herself at him, sending them both to the ground.

After a bit of struggling, Max came out on top, straddling Alec's chest. "Ha, I kicked your ass again," she said proudly. Alec smirked and flipped her over so he was on top, in the same position.

"Nuh uh," he said. Max growled and flipped him over again. The others just watched with amusement.

"Please, can you people just get a room already?" Cindy said, rolling her eyes. To her surprise, the two transgenics blushed slightly and Max got off Alec.

"Guess I better figure out if I have anything to wear to the party tomorrow," Max said, still blushing. "Cindy and Lana, come help?" They nodded and headed to the room they shared across the hall.

The others all mumbled excuses and went to their rooms, too. Leaving Biggs and Alec.

"So, did you two work things out?" Alec asked, hoping Biggs wouldn't say anything about his flushed face. Biggs just smiled.

"Of course," he replied. "We'll be getting along just fine now. Probably not as well as you two do, but well enough." He added, winking. Alec whipped his head around.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said stubbornly.

"Sure you don't," Biggs smirked and went into his room, leaving a very confused Alec to ponder his thoughts. Which included only one person. Max.

A/N-Hope you liked this chapter. It'll be easier to write Biggs now that he and Max worked things out...Next chapter is the party. Review please! ;o)

Angel of Darkness231-Lol, thanks again. You give great reviews ;o)

darkangel494-Thanks, I try to update whenever I can.

candyabble-I very much agree with you but some people don't so I try to do half and half. So please keep reading and reviewing, I'll be thankful for any kind of feedback.

XxInsanityxX-Don't worry, I promise he'll be in more of the story soon...they just have to do the mission first.

messymissy-Thank you ;o) Max's Special Ops try-out is right after they finish the mission, and that's also when Zack will be back in the story.

less than angel-Thanks, I had to think of something to help them bond a little more and tickling seemed perfect...hehe. To find out what happens when Max finds Zack just keep reading and in the next few chapters she does.

lakergirl08-I completely forgot about Brin...If I can fit her in the story someway I will but for now don't her expect her to be. Max's other sibs will probably come in after she's been in Special Ops for a little while. Keep reviewing and I'll update as soon as I can ;o)

daria-Thanks. They might end up playing it in a different chapter...I'll keep writing if you keep reviewing ;o)