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 Ten-Back in Seattle

"Don't you just love how we always get the best rooms when we're on missions?" Kris said wistfully as she flopped down on a queen-size bed. Max smiled but continued to stare out the window. Kris looked over at her. "Something wrong?"

"Not exactly," Max hesitated. "It's just...I haven't been in Seattle for a while and the only reason I am is to rescue my brother who could be auctioned off to the highest bidder at any moment..." Kris frowned.

"I thought he was being sold on the black market," she said, confused. Max nodded and waved her hand in a dismissive gesture.

"Same thing," she replied. Kris's frown turned into a broad smile.

"Wanna go search around Seattle and see if we can find anything...um...interesting?" she asked. Max smiled slightly.

"If you wanna go check out the clubs and bars or whatever just say so," she said. Kris nodded eagerly.

"But I don't know where I'd be going," she said warily. "You should come with me." Max hesitated.

"I dunno, it's been a while and I don't think..." she paused when she saw Kris's hopeful face. "Oh alright, I'll show you around."

"Yes!" Kris exclaimed as she hopped off the bed and went to the closet to get their coats. "This'll be so much fun!" Max just nodded and headed out the door.

"I'm sure it will be..." she muttered.

They wandered the streets for a while and checked out a few clubs but none were very promising.

"Come on, you've gotta know better places than these," Kris said. Max winced. She did know a better place but she didn't want to go there just yet...

"Oh look!" Kris suddenly shouted. Max jumped and then immediately tensed when she noticed where Kris was pointing. "That place looks cool, let's go."

"Uh...it's not that great..." Max protested but Kris wasn't hearing any of it.

"Oh come on, look at the name, Crash, it sounds awesome. Let's go," she said happily and began dragging Max to the entrance.

"You know what?" Max said once she was free from Kris's grip. "Why don't you hang out here for a little while? You can call some of the others if you want to but I think I'm a little too tired for anymore club hopping." She followed this statement with a very lame yawn but Kris seemed to buy it anyways.

"Alright, I'll see you back at the hotel," she said before heading over to the bar. Max breathed a sigh of relief and quickly left.

Coward, she berated herself. What's so scary about seeing your friends? Just cause you haven't seen 'em in a year doesn't mean they won't accept you...God you're so stupid.

"Least I'll have time to clear my head and maybe pick up something about Krit," she said aloud.

"You're that worried about him?" a familiar voice made Max jump. She fell into her fighting stance. "Oh relax will you? I don't think me beating you will help us find the missing transgenic." Max stood with her hands on her hips and glared at the speaker.

"Why are you following me, Alec?" she demanded. "And I could kick your ass anytime. As I think I've proven in our last little quarrels." Alec laughed softly.

"Always with the ass, Maxie. Why is that?" he asked. Max smirked.

"Well it is nice," she said calmly. Alec seemed taken aback by that and didn't retort. Max laughed. "Good, I've found a way to shut you up." Then she turned and walked down the street.

"I'm glad you finally agree," Alec said once he caught up with her. Max rolled her eyes. "So what are you doing out at night on the streets in a neighborhood you haven't been to since you were recaptured?"

"Needed some fresh air," Max said dryly. Alec scoffed. "Oh shut up. I do need fresh air and you're kinda hoggin it. Care to leave a girl alone?"

"Possibly, but there's nothing on tv and I'm bored," Alec replied simply. "Can't I tag along?" He turned to her with a begging look on his face. Max bit back a grin.

"Fine, just don't talk too much," she complied. Alec feigned hurt. "Don't try it. I figure while I'm out here, I might as well see if I can figure out some info on my brother." Alec rolled his eyes. "What?"

"Another brother? We're not even sure if it is him. And why do you keep thinking of the other 09ers as family?" he asked. Max tensed.

"Didn't I already explain this? I don't feel like going through it again. But I will say that Krit actually is related to me, same traits, similar looks and whatnot," she replied.

They didn't say anything else for a while and the two continued down the street in a comfortable silence.

"Hey, remember that hotel party during our mission with Unit 6 a while ago?" Alec asked suddenly. Max nodded slowly. "Well, you never really explained why you got all freaked out." Max fidgeted nervously.

"Well...um...I saw an old...uh...friend, of mine..." she stammered. Alec frowned.

"Do you usually hide from friends?" he asked. Max winced.

"Well, he...um...it kinda didn't end well," she said.

"So he was your boyfriend?" Alec asked, surprising himself when he realized how that knowledge made him feel slightly sick. Max's head snapped to face him.

"No no no, we weren't like that," she said quickly. Alec unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. "It's just...he was with us when we blew up the DNA lab. When I was shot...he held me and I was about to say..." she suddenly realized who she was talking to and what she was about to say. "You know what? It doesn't really matter. I was captured and he probably thinks I'm dead. And I can't leave Manticore so there's no point in dwelling over it." Alec looked at her with concern.

"You okay?" he asked softly. Max laughed softly and discreetly wiped her eyes.

"Yeah I'm fine," she said, smiling wryly. "Like you actually care." Alec smirked slightly.

"Hey, I asked didn't I?" he said jokingly. Max smirked back and they headed back to the hotel.

When they entered the lobby, they didn't notice a young blonde woman sitting a few chairs away. As soon as she recognized the brunette the woman rushed in front of her. "Max?" she asked tentatively. Max looked at her for a few seconds before realization dawned on her.

"Syl?" she questioned in disbelief. Syl nodded eagerly and the two siblings embraced in a tight hug. Alec cleared his throat. Max ignored him but Syl looked at him in awe.

"Ben?" she asked softly. Before Alec could protest, she hugged him as well. Max winced. Alec was too surprised to do anything.

"Uh, Syl? That's...that's not...that's not Ben," Max said and pried her sister off Alec. He frowned at Max's hesitation. Syl's face was full of confusion.

"But he looks just like him," she said, not quite getting it. Alec shifted uncomfortably.

"He's Ben's clone," Max explained. Syl frowned but seemed to accept it. "His name's Alec. He's in my unit at Manticore." Syl whipped around to face Max.

"You mean you're still there!?" she asked incredulously. Max nodded with her face devoid of any emotion. "Why? Why haven't you escaped? I thought you came back here to find Krit on your own. Why are you here then? You're not on a mission are you? You do know that Krit's missing right?"

"If she didn't she would now," Alec replied. Syl looked at him in confusion. "She does though. Special Ops's mission is to rescue the captured transgenic, which it turns out is probably her brother so it works out well...except for the him coming back to Manticore part." Syl inhaled sharply at his remark.

"You're going to bring him back to Manticore?" she asked. Max had a sudden interest in the lobby floor. "Why would you do something so heartless to your own brother?" Max's head shot up at that remark.

"You think it's going to be easy?" she spat angrily. "I don't even know if I'll be able to do it. I doubt Zack will too. If we don't we'll most likely be sent to Psy Ops. I haven't been there in a while but I have a feeling it hasn't changed. But it does depend on his condition. Manticore might be able to help him if he's hurt in anyway, which is more than I can say for any regular hospital. If he's at Manticore at least he'll be safe until we figure out a way to bring it down." Alec's eyes flashed at that but neither Max or Syl noticed. "So don't tell me I'm being heartless. I'd do or give up anything just for the knowledge that my family is safe. But I don't think I'll be getting that memo anytime soon." Syl seemed to be thinking as a beat passed.

"So how's Zack doing?" she asked suddenly. Max looked at her suspiciously. "If he's okay with being at Manticore then I want to help you get Krit back and then we'll see about him going back to mommy dearest. I'm too worried about him to think clearly right now." Alec raised his eyebrows at that but didn't say anything. Max nodded, understanding.

"Let's go alert big brother then," she said. Then headed to the elevator with Syl and Alec following.

"So you're Ben's clone, huh?" Syl asked Alec. He glanced at her and then nodded. "You're more quiet than him." Max gave a snort of laughter at that. Alec smirked.

"Spend a day with him and you'll find out how wrong you are," Max replied after Syl gave them a questioning look.

"You'll also find that I'm not a murdering psycho," Alec added. Syl's eyes widened.

"What?!" she asked incredulously. Max glared at Alec but he seemed to have no idea what was so wrong with what he just said.

"He's just joking," Max said lamely. Syl still seemed freaked out but didn't ask anything else. Max shot Alec a warning look.

"What?" he mouthed. Max rolled her eyes.

"She doesn't know," she mouthed back. Alec's brow furrowed in confusion. But before he could question her, the elevator doors opened and they headed towards Zack and Sean's room. Max barged in without knocking.

"Hey Zack! Guess who we ran into," she called out. Zack's head popped out from his room. His eyes widened when he saw Syl.

"Syl? What are you doing here?" he asked once she had released him from her hug.

"I've been trying to find Krit and I got word that Max was back in Seattle and I figured I could use her help since Krit is her actual brother and then I found out that you're here as well and you're on a mission for Manticore to rescue Krit. Not exactly sure how I feel about the whole Manticore thing but I just want to help get Krit back," Syl explained. Zack raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything.

"Well isn't this a nice little reunion?" Alec said sarcastically. Zack and Max both glared at him. "Clearly I'm intruding so I'll just be off to bed while you guys do...whatever..." he said and turned to head out the door.

"Oh no you don't," Zack said. "Get the others here, we need to do some more research on where Krit might be. We have to find him as soon as possible. You can sleep later." Alec groaned but left to get the others anyway.

"I'm starting to get that he actually is different than Ben," Syl said.

Max was staring distractedly at the door that Alec had gone through. "Yeah," she said softly. "He really is."

A/N-Hope you liked it. I was able to update sooner than I thought. Review please! ;o)

ellenemi-Thanks. I'll try, ;o)

babs08-I hope this was soon enough for you. I usually update a lot quicker but school's getting annoying...

Guest type person-They'll definitely get closer soon, but first they gotta get Krit back and Max is probably gonna meet up with OC, Sketchy and (oh drama) Logan. Hehe.

Kristibella-Thanks, I'll try to update at least once a week if not sooner, it mostly depends on school and if my muse stays with me. Keep reviewing! ;o)

daRkMaxG-Thanks, I always try to update whenever I get the chance...;o)

Dark Borg Drone-I'm not exactly sure what that means but thanks ;o)