Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its characters obviously do not belong to me. I am writing this purely for non-profit entertainment. No infringement intended, so don't sue me!

A/N: Thanks for the great reviews guys! I really enjoyed reading them, so keep them coming!

Calistra – Not really teasing you guys, it's just the way the story flowed, hehe! Thanks for reviewing.

HoneyX5-452 – Thanks for your review. Glad you liked the chapter. Yeah, Alec is a bit screwed now as you will soon see.

CrimsonReality (anon) – Thanks for your comment!

Random Rose – You finally logged in! Admit it, you like the cliffhangers, lol! Thanks for your review.

Aotearoa Hiphop Grl – What? What did I do? -:blinks innocently:- Hehe! It's not that bad a cliffie, surely! Thanks for reviewing.

W1cked angel – Thanks for reviewing. You got hell of a sense of humour! But NO that's not what she's going to say, lol!

Eden (anon) – Escape route? Nah, why would you think that? -:winks:- Glad you liked the longer chapter, I thought the last chapter needed it! Have fun reading the next one. Thanks for reviewing.

X5898 –You almost broke the record again for the longest review! Though I couldn't be sure without doing a word count, lol! Yep, I was hoping that regular updates would sooth your ruffled feather over my obsession with cliffhangers. I was trying to show that Max and Alec have this chemistry that comes when their personalities mesh, so I am glad it worked. As for Manticore, Renfro is getting antsy! Thanks for your fantastic review, I really enjoyed reading it!

Flephanie – Thanks for reviewing. Nice that I managed to surprise you with the jab, hehe! Not really an original idea though; it was inspired by one of the episodes in S1. Hope you like the next instalment.

NoAngell – Gee, sweetie, that's a very nice compliment -:blushes:- As for 494, lol, yes, you would think that he should stop lying right? But he's desperate because one followed another and now he's in too deep. Thanks for your review.

Ro (anon) – Yep, she's not aware of the twins yet, so no reason for her to suspect anything except for maybe Ben was behaving strangely. Glad you like the story enough to make it one of your favourites. I am flattered. Thanks!

Lakergirl (anon) – He have a lot of salvaging to do to fix this. Manticore will be back, as you'll soon find out. I think White will not be in this fic; otherwise too many plots running at the same time -:grins:- Thanks for reviewing.

Iridescent Twilight – Not to worry too much, we are getting there. She'll find out soon enough, you'll see. I would forgive him just because he looks so adorable, but Max? I somehow don't think so, lol! Haha! Alec does inspire lots of gutter dwelling thoughts, doesn't he? -:grins:- Thanks for reviewing!

Gamegirl452 – Thanks for your review. 494 in trouble is nothing new, lol! Max would subconsciously differentiate between them otherwise she would really be sleeping with her 'brother' -: grimaces:-

Kungfuchick – Thank you! Someone loves the cliffie! He's going to get his name in this chapter, so at least I can stop typing 494, lol! You got to keep on reading to find out how Max feels!

Sarah (anon) – Thanks for reviewing. And I must definitely do not suck, lol! Update is here; enjoy! -:grins:-

Angelofdarkness78 – Keep that thought and tell me if what you think was correct! The suspense is going to be over pretty soon -:sigh:- how disappointing, lol! Have a good break away, okay!

Aur – Thanks for reviewing! Why should Max do anything harsh to him? Hehe! I promise, no kicking and punching…yet! Yes, it's a bit sad that way; if only he did not lie about his identity…

Vkitty – Glad you are hooked! Hope you enjoy the following chapter. Thanks for reviewing!

Alana84 - Thanks for reviewing. I am glad that you found the last chapter exciting; makes me feel that all the effort I put in was worth it! As for Alec, I feel so sorry for the poor guy -:sigh:-

Now on with the story


Deception - Chapter 7

(by elle6778)

Still inside that building in Seattle

"What is this, Ben? What did you do to your barcode?" she asked in a dangerously quiet voice. She could read what was at the back of his neck, but it did not make sense to her. She did not want it to make sense to her. She wanted Ben to tell her what it meant. She wanted Ben to have a sane explanation for this.

494 knew that it was pointless to try to get out of his predicament now. Max was not stupid. He might as well come clean. He knew it was going to hurt her. And he did not think that he could bear to see her face crumple as she realised who he was and how he deceived her for so long. So he did what he was taught to do since he was born. It was the only way he could make himself go through this confrontation without breaking down.

He reverted back to his Manticore training.

He barricaded himself behind his soldier mode. The blank mask slid over his face like a glove, wiping off any expression he may have, including those in his eyes. He detached himself from the entire scene.

Without hesitation he answered, "That's my real barcode,"

She did not want to believe what she was hearing, but from the sudden stony look on his face, she knew that he was not Ben anymore. She thought back to the first time she met him in her cell. She knew something was off at that time, but she chosen to ignore it. Since then there were multiple clues which should set her alarms ringing, but again she turned a blind eye to each and every one of them. It never occurred to her to even think that he might not be Ben. But he was never Ben, she thought bitterly. Ben was really dead and this impostor had decided to take advantage of her vulnerability. She felt an almost unbearable ache in her heart at that thought.

"Who are you?" she asked with barely suppressed anger.

The man in front of her appeared to be nonplussed by her obvious anger. With a face devoid of emotion, he answered, "I am 494, 493's genetic twin," He turned to present her with a clear view of his barcode.

494. Not 493, she digested his words numbly. An almost imperceptible difference in the lines at the back of his neck. That one little number at the end of a designation which had the power to shatter everything which she believed in for the last few weeks.

And it did.

Everything she believed was shattered to smithereens.

She was furious.

She stared at him with a look of utter rage on her face. The man who she had slept with, the man she thought she was falling for, was not who he said he was. Instead, he was just someone who pretended to be a person she cared about. She should have known; this 494 behaved in a different manner from Ben. How could she have even thought he was Ben? It was hardly surprising then that she felt differently towards him, even enough to sleep with him. A small part of her told her that she fell for him not because he was Ben, but he was who he was; 494.

"So I take it this is part of Manticore's wonderful plans for me, huh? Sending you in as Ben to seduce me?" she said through her teeth. Her hands were clenched tight into fists and she held herself stiffly in anger. She wanted to lash out at him. She wanted to kill him. But for some reason, she could not make herself hit him.

"It worked, didn't it?" he said indifferently, without the slightest hint of remorse.

"I cannot believe I am hearing this!" her fragile control finally snapped, "So all that has happened in the last few weeks was a complete sham then. Everything you said, everything you did and everything we shared!"

494 remained silent at her outburst. He stared into the wall.

"Look at me, Be-, 494! Why don't you look at me? Afraid to face up to what you did?" she mocked.

He finally looked at her. The expression on his face had nothing Max could associate with the loving, funny transgenic who spent the last few weeks with her. The person she cared for did not exist. This person standing in front of her was pure Manticore; the perfect soldier.

"It was my mission. YOU were my job. I was just following orders," he finally spoke in a hard tone. His face was still set in the stony mask that Max was beginning to hate.

"How could you sink so low? Then again, I don't really know you, do I? You were not the person I knew for the last few weeks. That person did not exist. It was just YOU playing pretend! You are despicable, you know that?"

494 just stared at her. He wished that she would hit him or punch him. He did not care. Anything was better than her standing there shouting at him with her hands clenched at her side, as if she was too disgusted with him to even lay a finger on him. He wanted her to inflict pain on him; to punish him. Then maybe the pain within would not feel as if it was ripping him apart.

He had not even told her his role in Logan's death yet. 494 knew that it would be another mark against him, not that it would make any difference now. What would it achieve if he told her now anyway? She would just end up blaming herself. There was no point in adding more to her pain.

Too far gone in her anger to bother about any replies 494 might come up with, Max shouted, "I suppose you are happy now. You achieved you mission. You can go back and tell Renfro that this time, copulation was successful… How could you?" Max stared at him, the expression in her eyes a mix of hurt and anger, "You didn't even care when I called you Ben all this time, did you?" she threw at him.

Max saw a flash of anger in his eyes and the twitch in his jaw at her words. She felt strangely satisfied that something she said finally forced a response, however small, from him. Anything was better than the frozen Manticore mask. A small part of her still wanted to know if the person who was with her for the last month or so actually existed.

494's frozen expression thawed slightly and he answered, "Look, I just did what I had to do, even adopting his name," his jaw clenched as he continued; "Did you think I actually liked it when you screamed Ben's name when we were together? It was sick, damn it," he bit out, forcing down the ache he felt at that thought.

This time, Max could see a hint of pain in his eyes. Something inside her told her that he was sorry and that he did not know how to admit it, but she brushed it aside. He could have come to her with the truth, but he didn't. He chose to obey Manticore's orders blindly, unquestioningly.

She knew she obviously could not keep calling him Ben, or make herself use his designation, "So what do I call you now, huh?" she paused before continuing, "Alec. That should be your name. For the smart-aleck attitude you have. The attitude which Ben never did have. Then at least your name would remind me of how gullible I have been. How stupid and blind I have been,"

494 barely stopped himself from wincing at her assault. Her words cut him to the core. Outwardly 494 shrugged. With a disinterested look on his face, he said, "You can call me whatever you want," Inwardly, he was happy that she would not be calling him Ben anymore. Then he realised that after this, she would probably never speak to him again anyway. He shook off the despondent feeling which that thought evoked in him. He really should not care one way or another. She was just another assignment, he tried to convince himself unsuccessfully.

"So, Alec, you have anything to say for yourself?" Max spat.

"What do you want me to say, Max! That I am sorry that I was assigned this mission? Or I am sorry that I pretended to be Ben to get close to you? Or maybe you want me to say that I am sorry that I slept with you!" Alec finally yelled back at her, not able to keep his feelings in any longer. He was angry at the entire situation. He was angry that Manticore put him in this position.

Glaring at him, she said tersely, "Only if you mean it!"

For a moment, Max thought he was going to apologise for what he did. She did not know if she could forgive him for what he did, but at least it would be a start. She could see the mix of emotions running across his eyes. She saw sorrow and regret. Then Max slumped inwardly as the blank Manticore mask slid back down over his eyes. She knew what he was going to say even before he spoke.

"No…I am not sorry," he answered softly. He was not sorry because much as it pained him now, all of it had brought him closer toMax. Even for a short time. But he did not know how to explain that to her. He would not expect her to understand.

Max stared at him wordlessly.

"I think it was about time you left," she said quietly.

Alec did not even blink as he heard her words, but he felt his heart stop. It was not as if he did not expect this, but the reality was harsher than what he thought it would be. He lifted a hand towards Max's face but retracted it when she flinched. She's revolted at my touch, he thought sadly.

He walked to the door. When he reached it, he paused and said over his shoulders, "Bye, Max. Take care," and walked away.

He did not see the tears that leaked out of the corner of Max's eyes as she watched his departing back, still standing as still as a statue in the same spot.

He stepped out into the cold street, suddenly realising how lonely he felt as he started to make his way back to Manticore.


Manticore

The guards shut the door behind them as they left him and Renfro alone in her office.

Tapping her pen against the table, Renfro barked impatiently, "Well? Where is she?"

Steeling himself for the reprimand that he knew was going to get following his report, Alec said, "X5-452 discovered my real identity. She was angry and managed to escape. I tried to follow her but she succeeded in avoiding capture. She refused to listen to me when I told her of the virus. However, in doing so, Eyes Only was successfully eliminated,"

Renfro compressed her lips in a tight line as she silently regarded the transgenic in front of her. She had hoped that 494 would drag her back with him but he failed to do so. This would not do! She needed 452 back here, she fumed inwardly.

Alec was beginning to feel a bit unnerved by the way Renfro was looking at him. Did she suspect something?

"Do you mind telling me how was it that you, who had 10 years training over an '09-er, managed to let her escape?" Renfro asked in a dangerously quiet voice.

"I thought she needed some time alone after the revelation of my identity. She went into the bathroom and left through the window," Alec told Renfro his rehearsed answer. He crossed his fingers and hope that she would believe him.

Looking at him sceptically, Renfro said, "And you could not manage to track her down after that?"

"No, ma'am," he answered, face set in an expressionless mask.

Sensing that the transgenic in front of her would not say anymore, Renfro finally said, "Very well, return to your cell. We will deal later with this…failure of yours,"

"Yes, ma'am,"

Alec walked out of the room, surrounded by a feeling of dread at his impending punishment which no doubt would involve psy-ops.


Alec's Manticore Cell

Alec sat on his bunk staring unseeingly into the wall in front of him. He had just returned from his two weeks incarceration in psy-ops. It was nothing new for him. He practically did not feel anything they threw at him this time. Sure, they messed with his mind, but as far as he was concerned, he had managed fine to mess it up himself.

It has been a few weeks since he last saw Max. Yet he could not stop thinking about the time they spent together. Not to mention last time they spoke to each other.

He felt bad about the way he acted when she confronted him with his deception. Not knowing how to deal with it, he had retreated into his Manticore mode, which now that he thought about it, was probably not such a good idea. All he succeeded in doing was to drive her away. He should have explained the situation to her openly.

His inner voice mocked him, Yeah, right. What were you going to say? 'I pretended I was your brother so that I could get information on Eyes Only and the rest of your siblings. And oh, by the way, as a bonus I get to impregnate you.' He snorted. He has no doubt that that would go down even worse with Max.

After the first week of so, he had almost forgotten why he was visiting her in her cell. It was rare for him to find someone he could get along with so effortlessly. Well, almost effortlessly. He still had to pretend to be Ben. He was surprised that she accepted him as Ben considering all he did was to be himself, and just dodge revealing questions about Ben's past.

He thought back to the night they had sex. He had the feeling that he would not forget that night anytime soon. He slept with plenty of females before. So that one time should not be anything special. He had tried to tell himself that it was just his job, his mission.

Then why couldn't he get her out of his mind? Why did he feel guilty of the circumstances in which they parted ways? Why all he ever wanted to do for the last few weeks was to run back to her and ask her forgiveness?

Alec threw his pillow across the room. It hit the wall with a soft, unsatisfying thud. He clenched his teeth and banged the back of his head against the wall as he realised what he had done.

He had turned into a sap.

He had fallen for her.


Renfro's Office

Renfro sat at her desk pondering the recent meeting she had with 494. She knew that he was lying about not knowing 452's location. After all in the past few weeks, 494 has grown attached to 452. Her spies had told her that much. Based on his previous tendencies, Renfro had known that there was a high probability that 494 would come to care about 452. She was counting on it. She needed something to hold over him just in case he decided to flaunt orders as he did in the last mission.

494 was lying, but his lie stemmed from affection. That meant that he would probably try to see her again, given the opportunity. An opportunity that Renfro would gladly offer to him.

Now that she thought about it, it was a good thing that she thought of the back-up plan. It would make it easier for someone to bring her back. Finding her shouldn't be too hard so long as 494 cooperated.

This brings her to her next question.

Who could bring them both back?


A building near Jampony

The transgenic remained hidden at his vantage point from the window in the building overlooking Jampony. He has been ordered by Renfro to locate and capture 452 alive. That was his priority. The secondary objective was to make sure 494 returned to Manticore.

The transgenic felt that he has been given an impossible secondary task. Capturing the '09-er should not be too difficult, considering what Renfro had told him. 494, however, was another matter. 494 could probably outsmart and out-fight him without breaking a sweat.

He knew that his record was spotless; he had always completed his missions successfully with minimum hassle. That was why Renfro deployed him to bring them back. Unfortunately, he knew that the success of this mission would cost him 494's friendship. He was glad that Renfro was not aware of their relationship, otherwise, no doubt she would try to use it against them, like what she was doing to 494 and 452.

As predicted by Renfro, 494 had taken a detour from his assigned mission which conveniently happened to be in Seattle to come all the way here. He had followed 494 here to Jampony yesterday, but had seen no sign of 452. However, this was the only place which 494 visited apart from those to do with his mission. So this was likely to be where she was.


Jampony

For the last few weeks, she had been going about her daily routine like a zombie. The whole thing with Manticore and Alec seemed like a bad dream, but she knew it was real. She knew that Ben was still dead and Alec had deceived her unforgivably. But what she did not know was why she could not stop thinking about him. She missed him, even after all the things he did to her. A small voice inside asked her if he really did treat her that bad. Max refused to think about the answer to that question.

Max walked into Jampony, late as usual.

Normal, of course, noticed her late entrance and started shouting, "Hey, Missy-Miss! What time do you call this? Working hours started about two hours ago," He gave her a pinched look.

Flicking a glance at Normal, she replied in a tired voice, "Yeah, I know, Normal. Give it a rest will you. I don't need to hear this every morning,"

Surprised at the lack of bite in the usually feisty Max, he asked, "What's wrong with you now? Not your heart is it?"

Original Cindy who had caught Normal's words, raised her eyebrows at the concern in his voice. Turning to Max, she asked, "You okay, Boo? You look a bit peakish,"

Original Cindy had noticed that Max seemed out of sorts recently, but she had put it down to the incident with Alec. Original Cindy still could not believe that he did what he did to Max. She actually liked the lively transgenic, who seemed to have the hots for her boo. She was not a bad judge of character, so it came as a surprise when Max told her what happened. Original Cindy wondered if there was something more than meets the eye about the entire thing.

Giving her friend a small smile, Max answered, "It's nothing. Probably a tummy bug or something. I'll be fine in no time," Shifting her attention to Normal, she said, "So, where's my package?"

Normal threw a package at her, eyeing her with concern. He did not want an employee of his to keel over on a job. Particularly one who had just so recently undergone heart transplant. He said, "Look, deliver this one and if you still don't feel well, just take the day off,"

Max and Original Cindy stared at him, agape.

"What? I am human too you know," Normal frowned at their twin looks of surprise.

"Could have fooled us," Original Cindy muttered under her breath as they headed towards their lockers to prepare themselves for the day ahead.

"I heard that," Normal yelled at their retreating backs.

Original Cindy rolled her eyes.

Max was pulling out her bag from her locker when Normal started yelling again, "Hey, Nubian Princess! Over here,"

"What does he want now?" Original Cindy grumbled as she made her way to the dispatch counter.

Max noticed a dark haired guy standing beside Normal. Must be a new recruit, she though distractedly as she stuffed the packages into her bag.

Original Cindy walked back with the new guy in tow, "Hey, boo, you are on your own today. I have to show Biggs here the ropes," she pointed to the new guy beside her, who was staring intently at Max.

Max nodded, feeling slightly disconcerted at the way the new guy was eyeing her, "See you later then," she said with a small frown.

Turning around, she walked towards the exit. All the while, she felt a pair of eyes boring into her back.


A street in Seattle

She was pedalling back towards Jampony, feeling glad that the long work day was finally over. She has been feeling out of sorts all day, which was unusual. She hoped that whatever it was would sort itself out, like it usually did. She could not wait to get home and sink into a tub of hot water. She ached all over.

Caught up in her thoughts, Max did not hear the sound of another pair of wheels approaching. She fell off her bicycle when it was abruptly forced to a stop from behind.

"What the…" she started, picking herself off the dusty ground, then swung around to glare at the dark haired guy who just started in Jampony. Frowning at him, she snapped, "What the hell is your deal? Biggs, was it?"

"That's me," he said expressionlessly.

"So, you mind telling me what you were trying to do?" Max asked, annoyed at what he did and his lack of response.

As the guy stared wordlessly at her, she suddenly recognised the mask he was wearing.

Manticore.

Shit! She cursed and instantly turned and ran, abandoning her bicycle. The guy hesitated for a split second before giving chase.

Obviously Alec has betrayed her. As if all the rest of the stuff he had done wasn't enough to satisfy Manticore, she thought bitterly. At least at was not him who was sent to capture her.

As she heard the footsteps gaining on her, she increased her speed.

After a while Max realised that she could not keep running. She was already feeling tired, and no doubt her illness was contributing to her lack of breath. Her feet felt like lead.

Skidding to a halt, she turned around to face her pursuer.

The transgenic slowed as he realised she had stopped.

"452, I am here to take you back. You can do it the easy way or the hard way. Your choice," he drawled.

"Gee…Mom told me not to follow strangers home," Max said, rolling her eyes as she moved herself into a fighting stance, a rebellious look on her face.

He smirked, "Not even with a nice guy like me?" Close up, he could now see why 494 was so besotted with the girl. She was a beauty. And she has spirit. He wished that he could have known her under a different circumstance. Not that he would have a chance; 494 would definitely beat him to it.

Max snorted, "Most definitely not. So buzz off!"

"I can't do that, I'm afraid. Manticore's orders. I have to bring you in,"

"Do you do everything Manticore ask you to do?" Max mocked.

He appeared to consider the question before answering, "Yeah, pretty much,"

"Well, you are sadly mistaken if you thought I would do the same!" she said as she launched herself in a flying kick at him.

Caught unawares, the kick found its mark on his chest, sending him sprawling backwards to the floor. He picked himself up, brushing off the dirt as he eyed her warily. He was not about to make the same mistake again.

They circled each other, trying to anticipate each others moves. He attacked first this time round. He swung a punch which she easily blocked, and then he brought forth his other hand. This time he hit her in her gut. Hard.

Max gasped and doubled over in pain.

"Giving up so soon already, 452?" he taunted as he stood over her.

"Fuck you, Biggs," she spat, trying to hold herself up. She wondered why she was hurting so much. She could normally take much more than this.

Staggering, she collapsed onto the ground, clutching her stomach.

"Hey!" a voice yelled, startling Max and the other transgenic.


t.b.c

A/N: She finally found out, poor girl! So, what do you think of it? Please review and tell me. I am waiting here impatiently to hear from you -:grins:-