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 Eight-Special Ops
"It's been almost two weeks since we got back from our mission and we weren't sent to Psy-Ops. What did you do?" Max asked angrily. Alec winced slightly at her tone.
"I thought I told you..." he said lamely. Max narrowed her eyes. "Guess I didn't."
"Yes but you were just about to, right?" she said. Alec sighed.
"Fine but don't think I've gone soft or anything," Alec began. Max rolled her eyes.
"Oh no, you're a hard-headed black-hearted son of a bitch who doesn't care about anyone," she said sarcastically.
"Damn straight," Alec replied. When Max raised her eyebrows he realized what she said. "Oh, I mean...never mind. Anyway, all Biggs and I did was explain what we knew and stuff...he won't be bothering Manticore anymore and that's just what they wanted. So we're home free." Max just looked at him. "What?"
"Nothing," she said quickly. Alec narrowed his eyes.
"Don't you try out for Special Ops today?" he asked. Max shook her head. "Tomorrow?"
Max nodded. "Get to leave you behind and join the best of the best." She smiled smugly. Alec put his hand over his heart in a pretend gesture of being hurt. "Oh please, you won't miss me that much."
"Of course I won't miss you. Not one little bit," Alec answered. For some reason Max felt a little disappointment. She shrugged it off. Good, she doesn't know, Alec thought. I won't miss her because I won't have to.
"Well, see ya later," Max said and turned to walk away.
"Wait, where are you going?" Alec asked. Max just smiled and waved.
Max headed for her cell to join the other Unit 6 females.
"Hey suga. What took ya so long?" Cindy greeted her. Max told them about her conversation with Alec.
"He's such a liar," Justine commented. "Of course he's gonna miss you."
"Yeah," Natalie added. "We all will."
"I'll probably still see you. Sometimes Special Ops gets to do missions with regular units. And why are we talking like I'm already in?" Max asked.
"Whattya mean?" Cindy replied, confused.
"I mean I haven't even tried out yet. Everyone just thinks I'll be a shoe in," Max answered. Lana laughed.
"It's 'cause you are a shoe in. And don't try being modest we all know you think so too," she looked at Max pointedly. Max smiled.
"Hey, I have an idea for you to feel more confident," Justine said suddenly. The others looked at her questioningly. "You can spar with some of us in the gym! And then do some of the exercises. Pull ups and whatever." Max seemed to consider this.
"Well, if you all don't mind..." she trailed off. The others quickly said they didn't and they all headed for the gym.
"So who wants to get beaten first?" Max asked smugly as she started to stretch.
"God you sound just like Alec," Lana joked. Max smirked. "Guess I should see if you fight like him too." She dropped into a fighting stance and waited for Max to do the same.
"Here we go," Max said and threw a punch at Lana's jaw and quickly followed with a swift kick to her stomach. Lana grinned.
"Is that the best you can do?" she asked and swung her right arm into Max's chest. Max didn't answer and instead focused on grabbing Lana's arm to flip her. Lana moved out of reach and Max jumped over her head and kicked her back. Lana quickly turned her fall into a somersault and came up in a fighting stance. "This is fun," she said, smiling. Max dropped and kicked her ankles. She didn't react quick enough to jump and fell over. Max put her foot to her chest so she couldn't get back up.
"I win," Max said happily before offering her hand to help Lana up.
"Who wants to go next?" Lana asked as she dusted herself off. Cindy stepped onto the mat. "Your funeral."
Max smiled and went into her fighting stance. Cindy did the same. She blurred to Max's side and kicked. Max stumbled slightly but let out a series of punches on Cindy's stomach. Then she grabbed her arm and flipped her over. Cindy jumped back up and swiftly kicked at Max's ankles. She flipped over Cindy's head to avoid falling over.
While the two females were fighting, they didn't notice a small group of people watching. Renfro and the males in Unit 6.
Cindy did a roundhouse kick, which Max blocked. She retaliated with a left hook aimed at Cindy's jaw, followed by a right. Cindy then managed to drop Max but she ended up on the floor soon after. Max stood up and offered Cindy her hand, she took it and they both dusted themselves off.
"Wonderful job 452," Renfro said. Max nearly jumped in surprise but knew it wasn't 'soldier-like' so she just stood at attention. The others followed suit.
"Thank you, ma'am," She replied. "I was just warming up for the Special Ops appointment tomorrow."
Renfro nodded. "I don't see any point in having you go to that appointment. I've seen enough," she said. Max waited anxiously for her to speak again. "I think you're perfect Special Ops material. Congratulations."
"Thank you, ma'am," Max replied, struggling not to smile. Renfro nodded and left the gym. Max was soon bombarded with hugs.
"Now I told ya you'd make it now didn't I?" Cindy said happily. Max grinned and hugged her tightly.
"You're gonna be leaving tomorrow aren't you?" Blake asked as he hugged her. Alec felt his eyes narrow. Max's smile faltered slightly.
"I guess," she answered sadly.
"Just remember what you said earlier," Natalie replied after a beat passed where everyone realized Max was actually leaving. The males looked confused at that remark but the females all nodded and hugged Max more.
"And what did you say earlier?" Biggs asked. Max replayed her conversation about Special Ops sometimes working with regular units. Biggs smiled. "Good. Hopefully that means we'll still see you a lot." Max nodded.
"Alright people, it's my last night with you. What should we do?" Max asked.
"Truth or dare?" Justine suggested again. A beat passed before the others burst into laughter. "What?" Justine asked angrily. They just continued to laugh.
The Next Day...
"Okay, in about an hour, you're gonna leave our unit and join good ol' Special Ops. Time for some more insight into your past life," Cindy said. Max smiled. They were playing pool in the Common room.
"What else do you need to know?" Max asked laughing. "You already know about who you're named after, about my relationship with Logan, the fact that I saw him at the hotel party and freaked out. What else is there?"
"I wanna know more about ya friends and what not, anything you feel like talkin about I'll listen to," Cindy replied. Max sighed.
"Well, besides OC, my friends were Sketchy and Herbal. Sketchy was a kind of pathetic drunk at times but he has a big heart. He was always trying to show off for the ladies," Max laughed softly at the memory. "Herbal was a Rastafarian and was always finding the good out of any situation. 'All good, all the time' he used to say. I wish I could see them..." Cindy rubbed her back reassuringly.
"Sorry ya had to leave without saying good-bye suga. I'm sure you'll see 'em again soon, though," she said. Max nodded and they continued to play pool and talk about Max's old friends.
Out on the Training Field...
Alec was walking back from his Special Ops try-out, feeling very pleased with himself for making it when he heard a voice calling his name. He looked around and spotted Biggs jogging over. "Hey Biggs, what's up?" he asked happily.
Biggs didn't smile back. "When were you planning on telling us that you were joining Special Ops?" Alec winced. He had forgotten.
"Now, I guess," he said lamely.
"Why are you leaving Unit 6?" Biggs asked.
"I just felt like I needed to be in Special Ops. If it makes you feel any better, I'm sure you'll be made new CO..." Alec said. Biggs smiled sarcastically.
"Yeah sure. Best moment of my life. My best friend decides he's gonna leave to go baby sit a girl," he said angrily. Alec raised his eyebrows.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not babysitting any g..." he began but Biggs cut him off.
"Yeah, I'm sure you don't...Just promise me one thing and I won't bring this up again," he waited for Alec to nod before continuing. "You have to tell the others and if you ever get to pick which unit to go on missions with, you'll always choose us, alright?"
Alec was quick to agree. Anything to get him off my back, he thought. What girl was he talking about? He walked with Biggs back to the Common room to tell the rest of the unit.
Common Room...
"So you're joining Special Ops?" Max asked in disbelief. Alec nodded smugly. She punched his shoulder. "You're such a jerk for not telling me." Alec rubbed his shoulder tenderly.
"Right, sorry. Forgot I have to run everything by you," he said sarcastically. Max narrowed her eyes.
"You know that's not what I meant," she said. Alec just rolled his eyes.
"So when do you guys meet your new 'unit'?" Justine asked, trying to stop another argument from happening.
"I dunno, hour or so," Max answered, still glaring at Alec.
"Well, guess we best be sayin' byebye," Cindy remarked. Max finally let a smile form on her face. But before Cindy could hug Max, Blake stepped in.
"Aw, Max, you better visit," he said as he hugged her tightly. Alec scowled.
"You know Blake, I may be a transgenic but I definitely still need to be able to breathe," Max choked out. Blake quickly let go. Max took a deep breath and ruffled his hair. "Anyone else wanna say good-bye?"
"Don't you know we already did this?" Alec asked.
"Yeah, for Max," Biggs began. "But not for you." Alec's eyes widened slightly.
"No no no no," he exclaimed. "Not one for sappy byes, so talk to you later." he turned to walk away but Lana grabbed him and gave him a hug. Max felt her eyes narrow. Lana let go quickly.
"First and last time I ever touch you," she said. Alec nodded, still in shock. The others Max and Alec.
"Now we leave, correct?" Max said, smiling. Alec smiled back and they left for Renfro's office together.
Somewhere else in Manticore...
"So 45...I mean Max," 605 began. "Is your sister?"
"Not exactly biological but yeah. We were in the same unit back in 09," Zack said. The Special Ops unit were walking back to their cells. They were told that two new members were joining them. Renfro hadn't said who.
"Must be nice to have a close family," 664 said wistfully. Zack nodded.
"I don't know what unit she's in though. I keep hoping I'll just run into her but..." he said.
"Hey, but didn't you say she was gonna be trying out for Special Ops sometime soon?" 512 asked.
"Yeah, but I don't know if she actually made it," Zack answered. Then he smiled. "I bet she did, though."
"You do realize that she might be one of the two coming today, right?" 605 suggested. Zack stopped walking. His face lit up and he blurred the rest of the way to the cells. The other transgenics just smiled and continued at their own pace.
Renfro's office...
Max and Alec stood at attention. "Well, I'd first like to congratulate both of you for making it into Special Ops," Renfro said. Neither Max or Alec said anything. "I hope you know that the training will be more difficult and the missions more extreme. But I think you two can handle that, am I right?"
"Yes ma'am," Max and Alec replied. Renfro nodded.
"Good. Time to meet your new unit. Follow me," she said and then led the way towards the Special Ops cells. She stopped just outside them. "I have some other business to attend to, I trust you will introduce yourselves?"
"Yes ma'am," the two transgenics said. Renfro nodded and left. Max and Alec looked at each other.
"You ready?" Max asked.
"Always," Alec answered. Max smirked and knocked on the cell door. A second later the door opened to reveal a young man with blonde hair and dark blue eyes. He didn't have any expression on his face at first but when he saw Max and Alec, a dumbfounded look appeared.
"Max?" he said breathlessly. Alec's brow furrowed and he looked at Max to see if she knew how the guy knew her. He felt his stomach clench slightly when he saw the same breathless look on Max's face.
"Zack?" she said softly. A beat passed with the two siblings just looking at each other and Alec looking uncomfortable. Then Max flung herself at Zack and they embraced one another in a tight hug. "It's really you, right?" Max's voice came out muffled as she had her head buried in Zack's chest.
"Of course, baby sister," Zack answered smiling. Max pulled away to look at his face, also smiling.
"Thank god," she simply said before hugging him again.
Alec stood off to the side, so did the other Special Ops members. While they each looked moved by the sight in front of them, Alec had yet another frown on his face. Alright we get it, he thought heatedly. Lots of sibling love going on here. For god's sake just pull away... But they didn't consent to his request. So he coughed discreetly. Max lifted her head to look at him, as did Zack. A look of surprise and confusion passed across Zack's face. Alec groaned. "No, not Ben," he said. Zack raised an eyebrow but then turned his attention back to Max, who was glaring at Alec.
"Zack, this is Alec. Clone of Ben," she said. Zack nodded, understanding. "I guess both of us are joining Special Ops. Which works out pretty nice since you're here, too." Zack smiled again and pressed a kiss to Max's head. Alec felt himself almost growl. He shivered.
What's with these weird reactions to Max's behavior? He pondered quizzically. It's too confusing...
"Well, Alec, welcome to Special Ops," Zack said, smiling slightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
Why is he looking at Max like that? Zack wondered. Well he's not getting anywhere near my baby sister. Although he would be better for her than that roller boy. Hell, anyone would be...But that's not the point...For now I'll just be happy to be back with Maxie.
"So what is Special Ops like?" Max asked. She was oblivious to the thoughts of the two males. She wanted to ask Zack more about what happened to him after being captured but she didn't think right in front of the other transgenics was the best place. Zack seemed to know what she was thinking, though.
"It's alright. Why don't I introduce you to the rest of the unit and then you and I can catch up," he suggested. Max nodded and cocked her head for Alec to follow inside. Alec rolled his eyes.
Like I didn't know I was supposed to follow...he thought stubbornly.
"Alright, this is X5-605," Zack began. Max turned her head to face him, confused. "And this is X5-664..." Zack tried to continue but Max interrupted him.
"What? No names?" she asked sardonically. Zack gave her a sheepish grin.
"Said he couldn't think of any yet," 605 spoke up. Max's face lit up and an amused look appeared on Alec's face. He knew what was coming.
"Well, I think I can help with that..." Max said proudly.
A/N-Yay! I finally got Zack back in the story. I hope you liked it...Zack and Max will talk more in the next chapter about what happened. I'll try to update soon. My computer got a little messed up and it lost the reviews for the seventh chapter...it said it didn't exist or something...so I can't respond to them but I will respond to the rest of the reviews for the coming chapters. ;o)