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.
A/N-Happy Holidays!
Chapter Fifteen-A Way Out
"When do you think Syl and Krit will go into their new units?" Max asked. Zack shrugged.
"I hope it's soon..." he replied as they continued walking down the hallway. "I really wanna get outta here."
"Well sure, no one in their right mind would find this place warm and fuzzy and want to stick around for ever," Max said. Zack smirked.
"You do realized that almost every transgenic in this place disagrees with that, right?" he asked. Max rolled her eyes.
"I said 'no one in their right mind'. None of those transgenics have any idea what they're capable of on the outside. They only go out for missions," Max argued.
"Yeah, but..." Zack began, but Alec's voice interrupted him.
"There you are, Maxie...and Zackie," he smirked. Max rolled her eyes and Zack just glared. "We've been looking everywhere for you guys. Come on, onward to the Common room." He then proceeded to walk in the opposite direction.
"Wait, Alec!" Max called out. He turned back around. "Why were you looking for us?" Alec just smiled and continued to walk away.
"I take it that's our cue to follow him," Zack grumbled.
Common room...
"So they comin or what?" Cindy asked as Alec appeared in the doorway.
"Yup, they're coming," he answered. As soon as the words left his mouth Zack and Max entered the room.
"So what are we expecting to..." Max trailed off as she saw Syl and Krit. She ran to hug them. Zack wasn't far behind.
"Syl's going in your unit, suga, in case you hadn't picked up on that yet," Cindy said, smiling.
"Good, I was hoping she would be," Max grinned.
"What about me?" Krit asked in an innocent tone. Max's grin widened.
"Ah, you know I love ya," she replied as she hugged him tighter.
"But you just don't have what it takes to be in Special Ops I guess," Syl said jokingly. Krit rolled his eyes.
"Still the thoughtful Syl, I see," Krit said sarcastically as he gave her a light punch on the shoulder.
"Of course," Syl began, "You'd be disappointed if I were anything else." Krit shrugged.
"Doesn't hurt to find out," he replied. Syl scoffed but continued smiling.
"Aw, isn't that sweet," Biggs said to Alec, who was stretched out on the couch. Alec rolled his eyes.
"Please, they're acting like they haven't seen each other in years...we got back from the mission about a week ago," Alec grumbled. Biggs laughed softly.
"You know, you can always go and join in the fun..." Biggs began. "Possibly hug Max...possibly kiss Max..." Alec glowered at him.
"Will you stop? I'm not gonna tell Max," Alec replied.
"Not gonna tell me what?" Max's voice interrupted. Alec's eyes shot to hers.
"Um...nothing...I...um..." Alec stuttered. Max gave him a questioning look.
"You alright?" she asked as she leaned over the couch, her long hair tickling his face. He jumped off the couch before the temptation to kiss her became too strong.
"I'm always alright," he tried to sound flippant but his voice shook slightly. Max gave him another weird look.
"Alright then..." she said before going back to her siblings. Biggs laughed softly.
"Great job, man. Very smooth," he joked. Alec sighed before flopping down on the couch.
"Kill me, kill me now," he muttered as he looked at the ceiling.
"Never a good command," Krit said as he sat down next to Alec. Alec observed him warily. "Hey, did anyone ever tell you that you look a little like our brother Ben?" Alec stared at him as if he had grown a few extra heads, before he burst out laughing.
"No, no one's ever said that to me before," he replied once he controlled his laughter. Krit smiled.
"Figured as much," he said.
"Hey Max," Cindy tugged on her arm. "Can I talk to you for a second?" Max nodded and Cindy led her away from the others, out of hearing range. "You were back in Seattle for your last mission right?" Max frowned but nodded. "Did you happen to see any of ya ol' friends?"
Max tensed. "Yeah...I saw OC, Sketchy, even Normal...basically the whole Jam Pony gang...'cept Herbal and Kendra...but she didn't actually work at Jam Pony so..." she rambled nervously. Cindy smiled.
"Still reelin' from it huh?" she asked. Max smiled weakly. Time for the big question... "Did you go see Logan?" Max averted her eyes.
"No..." she muttered. Cindy bit back a smile.
I wonder why...she thought sarcastically. She then snuck a glance towards Alec, who was still lounging on the couch, talking to Krit. Guess he'll at least get one brother's approval.
"I don't even know why I didn't go...I just thought it might be too weird...Is that wrong?" Max asked, obviously hoping Cindy would say no.
"It ain't wrong suga. You haven't seen the guy in a year, it's okay to be a little nervous. I mean, you loved him right? And then ya went and got shot..." she purposely trailed off, grinning. Max suddenly looked at Cindy with a wide-eyed innocence that few rarely saw in her.
"That's the thing, Cindy...I don't know if I...I mean...I'm not sure...I..." she couldn't get the sentence out.
"You don't know if you still love him?" Cindy supplied. Max looked down and fidgeted with her hands.
"Maybe if I saw him again or something...or heard him...What do you think I should do?" she asked. Cindy quickly shook her head.
"Oh no. I'm no good with this relationship stuff. The only times I've been out of Manticore is for missions...and even then..." she shook her head again. "Sorry. I wish I could help more." Max smiled reassuringly.
"It's okay. I'll just have to figure it out myself. Thanks for listening, though," she said. Cindy smiled back.
"No prob, suga. Happy to do it," she replied. Max was about to head back to her siblings when something occurred to Cindy. "Wait." Max turned back to her. "Do you think the reason you didn't want to see Logan is that you've moved on?" Max stared at her, wide-eyed again and blushing.
"Of course not...I mean...Who would I...That's impossible," she stuttered. Cindy couldn't help it, she laughed. Max glared at her.
"Sorry, but suga...you're just so clueless," she said, trying to calm herself. Max continued to glare.
"Wanna run that by me again?" she asked through gritted teeth. Cindy sighed.
"I'm not insulting ya or nothin'. But I don't think it's my place to explain things if you haven't figured 'em out for ya self," she replied. Max narrowed her eyes but didn't protest.
"You know what? I think I need to clear my head...I'm gonna go for a walk. Anyone wanna come with?" she asked the others, looking pointedly at Alec but he was avoiding her gaze. Krit looked between both of them before turning to Max.
"Sure, I'll go with you," he said, standing up. Max smiled. "Spend some nice quality time with big sis." More smiling.
"Have fun!" Syl called out as they left.
"And he is related by blood so don't do anything that'll make me pound both of you!"
"ZACK?!"
Hallway...
"So how ya been?" Krit asked as they walked. Max hesitated.
"I'm alright. Just a lot of thoughts swimming around my head," she answered. Krit nodded in understanding.
"Yeah, same here," he said. "Probably not the same as yours though..." Max glanced over at him.
"And what would that be?" she asked. Krit shrugged.
"You wanna know what you're thinking or what I'm thinking?" he joked. Max rolled her eyes.
"I already know what I'm thinking, smart-ass," she smiled. Krit laughed.
"Isn't that Alec's nickname?" he asked, still avoiding the question. Max grinned.
"One of many," she replied.
"Does 'boyfriend' happen to be one of them?" Krit asked innocently. Max shot him a look.
"What makes you think he would be?" she countered, blushing slightly. Krit smirked.
"Just the way you keep looking at each other, the way you talk, flirt...The usual signs of attraction," he said confidently.
"I'm older than you, how do you know any of this?" Max replied, surprised. Krit rolled his eyes.
"Please, I'm 20 years old, I'm not stupid," he complained. Max smirked. "And don't avoid my question." She scoffed.
"You avoided mine first," she argued.
"Yeah, but mine is more important," Krit replied. Max rolled her eyes.
"No, Alec is not my boyfriend," she relented. Krit stopped and looked her in the eyes.
"You'd like him to be, though, right?" he questioned seriously. Max averted her gaze.
Yes, she thought. "No," she said aloud. Krit smirked knowingly. "What?"
"You're lying," he said simply. Max stared at him. "What? Just 'cause I haven't really seen you in a while or spent any time with you doesn't change the fact that I'm your brother. I know when you're lying." She continued to stare at him. "Fine. Keep denying how you feel. See where that takes you. See if Alec finds someone else. See if he..." Max suddenly shushed him with a wave of her hand. He looked questioningly at her.
"Be quiet for a second...I think I hear..." she concentrated on listening and she soon picked it up again. Logan...
"Do not attempt to adjust your set. This is a streaming freedom video bulletin. It can not be traced. It can not be stopped. And it is the only free voice left in this city..."
"Where is that coming from?" Max wondered aloud as she tried to find where Logan's voice was coming from. Krit didn't say anything but simply followed her.
"Since the early 1990s, billions of your tax dollars have been diverted from legitimate government programs to fund secret experiments in genetic engineering."
"It's coming from here," Max muttered as she found herself outside Renfro's office.
"This covert operation is known as Project Manticore. It's goal: to create the perfect soldier, genetically enhanced for superior strength and speed. These children are subjected to relentless training and propaganda. In the winter of 2009, twelve of them escaped from a facility in Gillette, Wyoming."
Max swallowed. "He's telling everyone about us?" her voice cracked. "Why is he doing this?"
"Some of them were captured, some of them were tortured, some gave their lives, fighting to stay free. Since these cable hacks began, Manticore has consolidated its operations to a secret location. Eyes Only will find it, and the people responsible for these crimes will be brought to justice. This has been a streaming freedom video bulletin."
"Oh my god," Krit said, after Logan had finished. "What the hell is he doing? Is he trying to kill us?" Max shook her head.
"I don't know exactly what he's doing but he wouldn't do that to me...us, transgenics," Max replied. It suddenly dawned on her. "But he thinks I'm dead...oh my god..." Krit still looked confused.
"So since you're dead for a year he's decided to be the cause for the death of the rest of us?" he asked angrily. Max quickly shook her head.
"No," she said softly. "He's doing this 'cause he knows I'm alive. Someone must have told him that I was in Seattle." Krit stared at her, understanding finally sinking in.
"So he's just trying to help you by endangering Manticore?" he asked. Max nodded, smiling.
"I think we just got our way out," she replied. Krit smiled as well. "Get the others, we'll meet in the Special Ops cell in an hour."
An hour later (Special Ops cell)...
"So why are we here again?" Natalie asked. Max sighed.
"We're here to discuss getting out of here," she said simply. Everyone but the 09ers stared at her in disbelief.
"And how are we supposed to do that?" Nick asked. Max grinned.
"Simple," she replied. "Eyes Only apparently has been doing some broadcasts, exposing Manticore. I'm not exactly sure what they'll do about it, but I'll find out soon enough." She glanced over at her siblings. "It's time to start acting like how they first expected me to be." They looked questioningly at her. "Time to be an 09er. Disobedient, disrespectful. Everything I've wanted to do since I got back here." They smiled slightly. Alec glanced back and forth between them.
"And what are the rest of us supposed to do?" he asked impatiently. Max grinned.
"Talk to the other transgenics. See how they feel about Manticore. We'll need all the help we can get. We'll also probably need a way to get out secretly...if it comes to that," She looked pointedly at Zack. He knew exactly what she meant.
"Basement," he said simply, expressionlessly. The others' eyes widened.
"Are you crazy?" Blake exclaimed. Max continued smiling.
"Little bit," she replied. "Just do what I asked. I'll take care of everything else...mostly." Alec's eyes widened even more, if that were possible.
"What? It's too dangerous! How can you even think of going down there by yourself?" he cried out. Max rolled her eyes.
"I won't be alone," she said simply.
"You won't?" he asked, suspicious.
"Nope, you're coming with me," she replied. He stared at her. "Soon as you get out of your shock, we're going. The rest of you, get to it. Talk to the others. And be discrete." The others filed out of the cell, closing the door behind them. "Still surprised?" Alec didn't answer. Max sighed and pulled up her cot, anchoring it to the wall. She retrieved a tool from under the bed and began to saw away at the bricks. Alec finally snapped out of it.
"What are you doing?" he asked. Max didn't look up and continued her work.
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm finding a way into the basement," she replied. Alec didn't move. "You know, this would go a lot faster if you were helping me." Alec finally walked over and proceeded to saw at the bricks as well with a similar tool.
About an hour later, they were able to pull out a few bricks to create a small hole in which they could slide through.
"I'm going first," Max said as she crawled through before Alec could protest. He sighed before following after her. They landed in the boiler room.
"Well isn't this a pretty sight," Alec commented sarcastically as he swiped at his pants. Max rolled her eyes.
"Just find a way to the outside," she replied. Alec smirked. He was about to say something when they both heard a loud growling. "What is..." before Max could finish her sentence, a man with long hair and a dog-like face rushed at her, growling and barking. Alec jumped closer to Max asshe backed away.
"Easy, easy. Relax, big fella," Max said nervously. The man looked sideways at them.
"You relax...little fella," he said. Max and Alec's eyes widened.
"Wow, it talks," Alec commented in surprise. The man looked at him in confusion.
"Wow..." he said.
"H-he didn't mean anything by it," Max quickly added. "We've just-we've never seen anyone that looks like you before."
"Yeah. What happened? They put too much canine DNA in your cocktail?" Alec joked. The man sniffed the air.
"Cat. Cat in your cocktail," he growled. The transgenics smiled nervously.
"Don't hold it against us," Max said. The man growled again. "Love the teeth. Can I see 'em?" She stepped around Alec and reached out her hand. The man snapped at her. "It's okay, I'm not gonna hurt you." He relented and she admired his teeth. "Those are cool." She smiled genuinely. Alec looked slightly taken aback.
"You're X5," the man stated. Max nodded, still smiling.
"Yeah, but you can call me Max," she said, extending her hand. The man looked at it, confused. She took his hand and shook it. "And this is Alec." She gestured to him. Alec still had a shocked expression on his face. Max nudged him forward to shake the man's hand.
"Max...Alec...Father named you?" the man questioned as the two X5s began to explore the room. Max shook her head.
"Nope. No father, just me," she replied. "I named him too." she pointed to Alec.
"Father named me...Joshua," the man replied, smiling slightly. Max whipped around.
"Who's Father?" she questioned.
"Father...Sandman," Joshua answered.
"Sandman? He's your father?" Max asked. Joshua nodded. "Where is he now?" Joshua bowed his head.
"Left me here..." he replied. "Made me, left me." Max looked a little surprised.
"That's pretty whack," she said. Joshua looked confused at her wording before speaking.
"He made us all. I was first...special. Then more like me...you...more people," he looked up at the ceiling. "Up there people. Father lost in all the people. I wait." A few beats passed before Alec broke the silence.
"It's too bad you don't have a room with a view. We're trying to find a way out. Sort of," he explained. Joshua smiled.
"Ah. Wait," he looked through a hole in the wall then opened a panel underneath. "Secret." Max smiled appreciatively and crawled through. Alec followed and then Joshua. They found themselves in a dimly lit hallway. They passed several doors with barred windows. Joshua stopped and growled in greeting at each occupant. One was a nomalie that Max recognized from her childhood. Another screeched like a monkey. Max unconsciously moved closer to Alec. He slipped his hand into hers. She looked up, surprised. He just smiled and gave it a light squeeze. She relaxed and smiled back.
They arrived in a room where large storage crates are piled by the wall, with a couple larger cans on top. Joshua removed the cans to reveal the top of a barred window.
"Room with a view," he exclaimed smiling. Max and Alec climbed on top of the crates and tugged at the bars.
"This would probably take a while," Max said to Alec. He nodded in agreement. She turned to Joshua. "Do you have anything to get rid of these bars?" He nodded and stepped forward. He was about to completely tug the bars off when Alec stopped him.
"Woah, buddy. We don't need them off, yet," he explained. Joshua looked at him in confusion before letting go of the bars. Max looked out the window.
"Crap. The sun'll be up soon. We gotta blaze," she and Alec jumped off the crates. "We'll be back tomorrow. Thanks for everything, Joshua." She smiled and shook his hand again before she grabbed Alec and they jogged away.
"That was fun," Alec commented once they were back in the cell. Max smiled. "It's always nice to go explore dark and smelly places with you." Max found herself blushing slightly.
"You too," she said. Alec glanced at her as they replaced the bricks.
"Was that a compliment?" he teased, smirking. Max shrugged, keeping her head bowed as she wiped off her clothes.
"Maybe," she replied. Stupid Krit...she thought. Now he's got me all flirty and embarrassed with Alec. Unless I already was...Crap. "Don't be so surprised," she said indignantly after seeing Alec's expression. "I've complimented you plenty of times." Alec smirked.
"Yes and I so love hearing it," he said. "Care to share a few more?" Max scoffed.
"As if," she replied. Alec poked her side and she giggled.
"Come on," he teased as he began to tickle her. "You know you want to." She began to laugh hysterically and fell backwards onto her cot.
"You'll...never...get...it...out...of...me," she gasped between laughs. He continued to tickle her before he found himself actually lying on top of her. Her face was flushed and her eyes were glittering, a smile still on her face.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered as he pushed a strand of hair out of her face. He didn't realize what he said until he saw her looking at him strangely, the smile gone. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." He tried to get up but her hand stopped him.
"Don't," she said as she traced his lips with her fingertips. "Don't take it back." He stared back at her, eyes cloaked in desire. Ah, what the hell...she thought. I guess I really do want him...She moved her hands to the back of his neck, stroking his barcode. His eyes fluttered closed and she brought her lips up to meet his. "You're beautiful too," she purred before kissing him deeply. Alec smiled through the kiss.
"Told you I could get a compliment outta ya."
A/N-Yahoo! They're finally together! Of course the story doesn't end yet, though. I wouldn't be that cruel. Please review!
willow98002-Thanks again. ;o)
Kristibella-Logan probably won't be a spanner. He and Max aren't gonna be together but the transgenics might still need him to do computer stuff, hacking and all that...like he did in the show, but probably not as much since transgenics actually are quite capable of doing it all themselves...hehe.
ontheDL-I can't get rid of him yet. ;o) He needs to continue the Eyes Only broadcasts so it pisses off Manticore.
Loralee-Of course I wouldn't bring them together. This is a MA fanfic. I'd never do a ML one...I'm not sure if I could bring Seth back...I'll think about it but it's a little doubtful. I'll add in your name though, if you really want me too. It takes away the headaches of trying to figure out names. ;o) Good luck on your story, too!
less than angel-Guess they won't be going on a mission together since the story is kinda coming to a close. But they will be figuring out the plan together and all that. ;o)
lakergirl08-I haven't decided if she'll be a familiar yet...I thought that too though so she might end up being one. There will definitely be some issues with Logan but Max'll deal with 'em, with Alec's help of course ;o)
Guest type person-Wow, you still have school? I thought everyone was on break...shows how much I know...hehe. I'm not gonna make Logan a complete bastard in this fic but he'll definitely have his moments...hehe. He's gonna have to continue the broadcasts so the transgenics are able to escape.