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 Seventeen-Getting Out

Back at Manticore...

Renfro stared at the televison screen as Eyes Only's broadcast continued. A cell phone rang and a man next to Renfro answered it.

"It's them," he said simply as he handed the phone to Renfro.

"Manticore's facility is located an hour southwest of Seattle."

"Dammit," Renfro muttered before taking the phone. "Renfro." She listened to the response. "Understood." She hung up the phone and turned to the man. "Lock down the barracks. We're cauterizing the site." The man nodded and headed out of the office. Renfro hurried to her desk and began to collect all her things. Just as she grabbed the disk, the door crashed open. "What are you doing here 654? 633?"

"Nothing much," Blake answered as he and Lana held tightly to their guns. "What's on that disk you got there?"

"None of your business, 654," Renfro growled. "Now go back to your cells. Unless you'd rather spend the night in Psy-Ops." Blake smirked.

"We'll go in a minute," he said.

"What do you think you're doing here? Get out now!" Renfro barked.

"We're just fulfilling one of our rights," Lana answered as she blurred to Renfro's side, taking the disk.

"Give that back 633, NOW!"

"Sorry, no can do," Lana replied. "I don't think I understand the concept, being just meat and all." Renfro's eyes widened.

"633, I have no idea..."

"Shut it, bitch," Blake snapped. "And her name's Lana."

"You named..." Renfro began but a huge explosion rocked the building. Lana smiled.

"Guess that's our cue to go," she said.

"Wait, 654!" Renfro barked. Blake whipped around and shot her square in the head. Her eyes still widened in surprise as she crumpled to the floor.

"My name's Blake," he growled.

"Sweetie I think you were supposed to say that before you shot her, now she'll never know," Lana replied. Blake's face reddened slightly.

"Let's go," he said curtly. Lana smirked but followed him out the door as another tremor hit.

"Where are the others?" Lana asked as they raced down the hallway. "Weren't we supposed to meet them somewhere?"

"Yep, right...here," Blake abruptly stopped as they found themselves standing right in front of the rest of Unit 6.

"Did you shoot her?" Biggs asked. Blake nodded. "Good, then we won't have to worry about her anymore once we get out."

"Yeah but I think there might be some other people that'll be coming after us, right?" Natalie questioned. Cindy nodded gravely.

"No doubt," she replied.

"Yeah but we can kickanyone's ass right?" Nick asked.

"Sure hope so," Justine muttered.

"Hey, where's Krit?" Lana asked. The others whipped around, searching the area.

"Dunno..." Blake answered.

Control room...

"Come on, come on..." Max muttered as she typed in commands. "Ah ha! Finally!" She

flipped a switch. Zack and Alec burst into the room.

"Come on Max we gotta go now!" Zack ordered.

"Hang on," Max replied. "I have to use the intercom to warn the others and make sure they know what exactly is going on."

"Fine, do it," Alec sighed. "But hurry!" Max nodded and spoke into the microphone.

"Attention fellow transgenics! You are being betrayed by your command! Use what Manticore taught you and go to ground! Stick together and don't let your unit members out of your sight!" Another explosion rocked the building. "This is 452 saying, haul ass!" Bits of the ceiling fell down, crushing the controls. "Dammit!" Alec and Zack grabbed her just before another piece fell in the exact place she was in.

"Speaking of hauling ass, that's what we should do as well!" Alec shouted over the deafening noise. Transgenics were running towards the exit, most packed in groups like Max had said. They avoided the fire and dodged falling debris. Alec cried out when one crushed his leg.

"Alec!" Max screamed. She and Zack rushed over to him. She heaved the rock off his arm. "Are you okay?" Alec glanced at her, biting his lip.

"Make the pain go away," he said weakly. Zack smirked and helped Max pick him up.

"You can do that later," he joked. "We still gotta get outta here." They reached the exit and dodged the oncoming bullets as they raced towards the forest, stopping only to bandage Alec's leg as quickly as they could.

"Hey Zack! Max!" a voice called out. They whipped their heads around, not wanting to jostle Alec too much.

"Krit! Syl!" Max grinned in greeting and then she noticed another person. "Joshua? Are you okay?"

"Joshua fine. Krit and Syl find me. Recognized me from Max's description," Joshua answered smiling. Alec groaned.

"This reunion is all very touching but the bones in my leg are broken and so I can't walk by myself. It makes me very cranky so can we please hurry up?" he complained. Max kissed his cheek.

"Don't worry honey, we'll be outta here soon and be able to fix your leg up properly," she replied. It was then that the others noticed she had used her shirt as a bandage and was wearing only a sports bra. "What?"

"Must be love," Syl muttered as they continued through the forest. Max blushed slightly.

"I prefer him to Logan," Zack whispered back.

"You do know we can both hear you right?" Alec grunted.

"We do," they both said, looking straight ahead. Alec and Max rolled their eyes.

"Did you see if the others left?" Max asked Krit. He nodded.

"I don't think they saw me, though. We'll have to contact them once we get settled outside," he answered. The others nodded their agreement.

"Where we going?" Joshua asked. Max bit her lip and looked at the others.

"Well...first we obviously should take Alec to a hospital or something, or at least get the right supplies to fix his leg," she began.

"And then..." Krit prodded. Max winced.

"Um...well..."

Logan's Penthouse...

Logan continued pacing around his living room. "Why isn't she back yet? She said she'd be back..." His nervous rambling was interrupted by a loud knock on his door. He sighed and went to answer it.

"Max?" he breathed. She cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Weren't you expecting me?" she asked. He nodded. "Then what's with the surprised look?"

"It's just, you never knock..." he trailed off as he finally noticed the other four people surrounding her. He recognized Zack, Syl, and Krit but the fourth...he had no idea. "Did you escape with Max?"

Zack rolled his eyes. "Why else would we be here?" he countered sarcastically.

I guess he hasn't changed much...Logan thought. Then he noticed that the fourth person's leg was bandaged and Max and Krit were holding him up. And Max was without a shirt. Logan blushed slightly.

"Can we come in or what?" Max asked. Logan swiftly stepped inside and the transgenics entered the room. Max and Krit carefully set the unknown man down.

"Who's this?" Logan asked, gesturing to him. He looks oddly familiar...Logan struggled to remember where he might have seen him.

"Oh...um...this is Alec," Max replied. Logan nodded slowly. Zack bit back a smile. Max shot him a look.

"Is he also a transgenic?" Logan questioned. Max bit her lip and nodded. Zack couldn't help it, he laughed. Max glared at him. "What's so funny?" Zack shook his head and didn't answer. Uncomfortable silence followed. Alec was the one to break it.

"Well, I guess you'd like to know what happened to little Maxie here, huh?" he joked and ruffled Max's hair. She smiled slightly and playfully pushed Alec's hand away. Logan's brows furrowed.

"Actually, yes. I am," he said. Max's smile disappeared and glanced at the others. They instantly got the message.

"Well, Logan do you have any food?" Krit asked. Logan nodded and gestured to the kitchen.

"Help yourselves," he replied. Krit grinned his thanks and dragged Syl and Zack away with him. Syl turned back just before entering the kitchen.

"Don't take too long guys. Don't think Joshua'll like to be left alone forever," she commented. Max and Alec nodded and she continued into the kitchen.

"Who's Joshua?" Logan asked, confused. "Is he another transgenic?" Alec moved his hand in a 'so-so' gesture. Logan stared at him. "Is that a no?"

"No, that's a 'he's not an X series but he's got canine DNA and kinda looks like a giant dog-man who has the strength of a transgenic'," Alec answered.

"What happened to you?"

"Rock crushed my leg."

"Right...A rock from the destruction of Manticore?"

"What else would it be?"

"I dunno...You heal fast though right?"

"No, my leg's gonna be useless for the rest of my life."

"Really?"

"No, dumb-ass. Of course I heal fast. Didn't you know Max for like two years?"

"Okay! Can I get a word in now?" Max broke in finally. Both men turned their angry gazes away from each other to look at her. "Thank you. Now Logan, I have a whole crap-load of stuff to tell you..."

Logan's Kitchen...

"Ooh, she's finally starting the story," Syl commented.

"We know Syl," Zack replied tiredly.

"Yeah, you're not the only one with your ear pressed against the door," Krit added. Syl rolled her eyes.

"Well, excuuuuse me," she snapped. Krit kissed her head.

"Sorry," he said. Syl smiled immediately.

"Will you too stop groping and help me eavesdrop, please?" Zack complained.

Back in Logan's Living Room...

"You had to go on missions?" Logan asked, shock visible. Max nodded. "You had to kill people again?"

"No!" Max snapped instantly. Logan looked slightly hurt but Max just rolled her eyes. "We almost did but Alec found a better way." Logan glanced at him but didn't say anything.

"Where did you have to go on this mission?"

"Um...Do you know the Evergem Hotel? Really expensive and all that?" Max answered, knowing what his answer would be.

"Of course. I actually stayed there a while back..." Realization suddenly dawned on him. "When were you there?" Max averted her eyes.

"Um...That depends..." she muttered.

"On what?"

"On when you were there," Alec interrupted before Max could say anything. She shot him a look but didn't say anything, waiting for Logan's reaction.

"We were there at the same time?" Logan questioned, face expressionless. The two transgenics nodded. "And we didn't see each other? Wow. Talk about bad luck." Alec smirked.

"Well, actually, I bumped into you," he said. Logan stared at him for a moment, confused. Then recognition hit.

"That's where I saw you! You looked so familiar and I couldn't quite place you," Logan exclaimed.

"CLONE!" came Zack's voice from inside the kitchen. Max rolled her eyes.

"You alright in there Zack?" she asked, tone dripping with faux-sweetness. Zack poked his head out.

"What? I'm fine. Just had something in my throat," he coughed lightly. "It's gone now, sorry to disturb you." His head was yanked back and the two transgenics in the living room distinctly heard a slap, followed by Zack's voice muttering 'ow'. Alec laughed sofly.

"It might have just been a cough but it reminded me of something. I'm Ben's clone," he said matter-of-factly. Logan's eyes nearly bugged out of his head.

"The one that k..." Logan began but Max hurriedly cut him off.

"Yeah, that one. Alec is totally different though. Get to know him and you'll see," she said. Logan still looked slightly dazed.

"Excuse me for a minute...I have to um...go to the bathroom," he eyed Alec warily before getting up and leaving the room.

"That was great," Alec commented. Max rolled her eyes. "Did you see his face when he found out who I was? Man, that'll stay with me for a long time..." Max lightly slapped his head.

"Shut up Alec. I still haven't gotten to the part where I explain how I don't love him anymore and am now thinking that I'd just like to take you home and..." Max began but stopped when Alec's lips covered hers. The kiss went on for a few minutes before both the transgenics heard a throat being cleared. They instantly broke away to turn and look at the viewer.

"Hey Log-boy what's up?" Alec questioned nonchalantly. Logan's eyes were once again bugged out of his head, his stance was rigid and his mouth was parted slightly. Max gulped. "You okay in there buddy?" Logan didn't move. Max took a deep breath.

"Well, I guess I have to tell you something..." Logan's eyes shifted to meet hers. "While I was in Manticore...obviously, I met Alec...we, uh, didn't get along at first...But something happened and now..."

"You're kissing on my couch?" Logan cut in, face still full of shock.

"Yeah, kinda," Alec replied. "Nice couch by the way."

"I...I...I...can't deal with this...right now...can't think...clearly...let...selves...out...gotta go...sleep...kill...pillow..." Logan mumbled as he stiffly walked into his bedroom. Syl, Zack, and Krit poked their heads out.

"Is it time for us to go now?" Krit asked. Max, still staring at Logan's door, nodded.

"Guess he doesn't want to find out anymore," she replied as she and Zack helped Alec onto his feet.

"Guess not," Alec agreed.

"Hey, where are we gonna stay?" Syl asked suddenly as they walked out of the building. Max shrugged.

"We'll probably have to take you to OC's and my place for now...it's too late to try and find a hide out. The sun will be up soon," she answered. The others nodded their agreement.

"Think there will be enough room?" Zack questioned. Max winced.

"Well, Alec and I can share a bed..." she began. The others laughed softly. "What? I can't be in the same bed with the man I love?" Alec's eyes shot to hers.

"You love me?" he asked quietly. Max frowned slightly and he became afraid she was gonna take it back. He was wrong.

"Of course stupid why else would I have given you my shirt as a temporary bandage until we got something better? Not even caring that it got ripped. Why else would I be lugging your pretty ass around Seattle? Why else..." she stopped when she noticed Alec's smirk. "What?"

"You finally admitted I have a pretty ass. I knew you did, all along," he replied. Max rolled her eyes and blushed slightly. "Hey Max?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you too."

"I know. I'm very loveable."

"You and I have that in common." They shared a sweet kiss. Zack turned to them and spoke to Alec.

"I'll tell you this. You are definitely a better partner for her than Logan," he clarified.

"Here, here!" Syl and Krit cried out.

"I agree," Max added. Alec smiled and they shared another kiss.

The End

A/N-Ta da!Finished! Thank you to all those who read and reviewed this story! It was my first fanfic and you all made it a great experience!Guest type person, Guari, loralee, leloo, lakergirl08, less than angel, ontheDL, Kristibella, willow98002, babe, Lotamoxie, daRkMaxG, Dark Borg Drone, kill bill rocks, alexceasar, babs08, ellenemi, XxInsanityxX, Kelly, Angel Of Darkness231, a reader, Lady Marauder, ProlificP, fanrita, daria, messymissy, candyabble, darkangel494, egyptian-godess, Wendy10, greentrees, Aur, omigodomigodomigod...Thanks again! ;o)