Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its characters obviously do not belong to me. I am writing this purely for non-profit entertainment. Yada, yada! No infringement intended, so don't sue me!
A/N: More actiony stuff coming up in this chapter and the next. After that, we are back to life as teenagers in Manticore, and the budding romance between you-know-who! Thanks for all your reviews, you guys are a great encouragement to my writing!
Mel11 - Yes, I did try to seek help but they told me to go get a life! Lol! No more waiting, the next chapter is up! Thanks for reviewing.
Kungfuchick – Good guess, girl! Glad you liked the chapter. Thanks for your review.
Angel Of Darkness231 – Thanks for your review. Fast update? I still need to think of something to write, lol! Me? Evil? Surely you don't mean that!
EnIgMa (anon) – Erm…I'm not sure, but I am trying to aim as close as I can for the legal age! It will probably happen earlier, like in half a year to a year when Max is 16. Not exactly together, but they will at least stand the sight of each other soon. Thanks for reviewing.
Kelzaa – I know you like all the cliffies -:grins:- Yup, you got it right!
Angelofdarkness78 – Thanks for your review. I take it you are a Zack fan? Lol! As if I don't know from reading your stories! Testosterone – what else do you expect from 16 year old males!
HoneyX5-452 – It is going to be a bit hard to write a romance with Zack in it, because the story will grow to be too long! But I'll see what I can do. Currently, Max is 15 and 494 is 16. Thanks for you review.
Iridescent Twilight – -:Phew:- Thank goodness you are not that dedicated, lol! I fear for my life sometimes when I hear your threats. Fye? Hehe, you'll find out in Chapter…let me see…15. Hey, I like testosterone driven males -:winks:- And I am sure you guessed correctly who the speaker was! Thanks for your lack of threats this time! -:grins:-
L80bug – Thanks for your review. You will find out soon who it was. Yup, Max is a bit torn, but it was not a hard decision for her in the end.
Toniboo – Ah…I can't promise you that! But I will continue to update -:winks:- Thanks for your review.
Aria-Chan – Thanks for the compliment on the story. As you can see, update is here!
Cora (anon) – I wish that it was true…but sadly, I do run out of cliffhangers -:sighs:-. Read on to see if the familiar voice is who you think it is. Thanks for reviewing.
Lady marauder (anon) – Me? Mean! Why, what did I do? -:grins:- Identity of the familiar voice is up next! Thanks for your review.
GuestTypePerson (anon) – You are back! -:hugs:- I was beginning to think that I had a hand in your demise with a book cart. Glad to see you her anyway, hope you like the way the story is going so far. Thanks for reviewing.
Alana84 – Thanks for you review. I am so glad someone spotted that MA moment. It was going to be the catalyst for something later. Nah, cliffhangers are great, not mean! -:grins:-
Gamegirl452 – Glad you liked the reintroduction of Zack and Jondy. I needed them in for a part of the overall plot! Good guess on the voice! Thanks for reviewing this and also for reading my other stories -:grins:-
Lotamoxie – She is torn, but the choice is obvious at that moment, I suppose. I am slowly getting into the main plot now…Hehe! Well, you'll see what happens in the next chapter. Thanks for your review.
NoAngell – Don't worry about him He will not play that large a role, but I need him to do something for the overall plot later. I shouldn't be introducing more characters, I hope. But I could remove some –:grins evilly:-. I doubt that Max would abandon her unit, so no, she's not leaving. Thank you for your review, and I hope you will keep on reading.
Sarah (anon) – You read it all in one go! Anyway, I took your suggestion and put the names beneath the pictures. So hope it's less irritating now, lol! I keep telling everyone, my cliffhangers are really not that bad, they are always quite tame -:grins:- Thanks for reviewing.
Onwards with the story…
RETRIEVED - Chapter 13 - Integration
(by elle6778)
"You should have asked," a familiar voice suddenly said.
Zack turned around slowly, heart beating frantically at the familiar voice from his childhood.
"766 had a gun pointed to me, 599. I had no choice," the familiar voice continued.
Lydecker.
Max froze. They were so engrossed in their argument that they did not notice Lydecker approach.
"Nice to see you again 599. We have been looking for you," Lydecker said. The camp was suddenly surrounded by TAC soldiers. "Restrain him!" he said to the TAC team.
"No!" Max choked out as the TAC team converged on Zack. She did not know what she was going to do but she needed to do something. She started to step forward when Lydecker stopped her.
"You don't want to do that, 452," he warned, sounding almost regretful. Max stopped, her eyes observing as Zack, realizing that he was outnumbered, decided to stop fighting. Zack threw murderous look at 494 which said that it was entirely his fault. 494 remained impassive.
Satisfied that Zack was secure, Lydecker turned his attention to 494, "494, we heard you over the comms earlier about 735 and 422. Report!"
494 told Lydecker all he knew. By this time, Gab, 511, 480 and 501 had joined them. Lydecker listened to each of their reports, including Max's. He just stood there digesting the information, while the transgenics waited for his response.
"Alright, listen up. They would have stepped up the security in the area after all that had happened. Now, they are likely to start sweeping the area for you all. We need to evacuate the area now," he paused at the flicker he had seen in Max's eyes as he said that. He knew that Max did not want to leave without her unit mates. He heard them over the comms.
A little too late now, Lydecker was beginning to realize that some of the transgenics developed deep attachments with their unit mates. This explained Unit 2's behaviour after the unfortunate incident with 766. In all their research, Manticore had neglected to consider something painfully obvious – these transgenics were also part human, with human emotions. He continued, "We have the intel now. And we will analyse this back in Manticore. Hopefully it will tell us what we need to know. Once we have an idea of what we are dealing with, we will send out another rescue team for 735 and 422,"
Max did not want to be left out of the rescue mission. Steeling herself, she spoke, "Sir, permission to join the rescue team. I believe that I could be beneficial to the mission from my experiences today, Sir!"
Holding her gaze as he looked at her searchingly, he said "I'll keep that in mind. Now we need to go before our position is compromised,"
Max, Gab, 511 and 494 sat silently in the same SUV, all of them subdued. Max and Gab was thinking about Fye and Val. 511 was wondering how to lighten up their moods. And 494 was replaying the nights events in his mind.
494 meant every word he said to Zack. Fye was not around, so he was 452's CO. So he was responsible for her at least until they got back to Manticore. He could not believe that Zack was foolish enough to want to escape in the state he and Jondy was in. Just how far did he think they could get before they were caught again?
He snuck a surreptitious look at Max. She was unseeingly staring straight, deep in thought. He suddenly decided that he had enough of the silence.
"Hey, 452? Care to share your thoughts," he asked.
Max looked up, startled. She frowned suspiciously when she realised that 494's words lacked its usual bite. Warily, she asked, "What is it to you?"
494 shrugged. With an innocent face, he said, "Just making conversation. I like a bit of noise once in a while,"
Before Max could reply, 511 snorted and said, "Come off it, 494. You can be as quiet as a mouse for days if you put your mind to it,"
"Maybe he could teach Gab here something then," Max said, poking Gab in the ribs.
Flinching away, Gab gave her a mock frown and said, "Hey, watch where you put that finger of yours. I got bruises from the fight. And, for the record, I be quiet too, if I wanted to. Just that when I am near you, you wouldn't let me shut up,"
Gab was glad that 494 broke the silence; it was getting to be uncomfortable. At some point during the mission, he realised that 494 was actually not as bad as Max made him out to be. He was a good CO, Gab would give him that. And he seemed alright so long as he was not near Max. Max, for some reason, seemed to bring out the worst in him. Gab felt his lips twitch as a thought occurred to him. They say there is a fine line between love and hate.
"Right," Max muttered under her breath, oblivious to her friend's thoughts. She looked up to see the twinkle in 494's eyes and the amused twitch of his lips. Her lips compressed, he's laughing at me, the jerk. She was about to open her mouth to say something biting. Then she remembered the way he looked when he bent over her after he saved her. She thawed slightly. Perhaps he was not so bad after all, she thought. They rarely remained in such close proximity without her having to think up sharp retorts to throw at him. Now as she studied him, she realised just how good looking he was. Granted, she thought the same thing in the woods during her first heat, but she put in down to her hormones.
"What?" he asked defensively, feeling unnerved by the way she was studying him.
"Look, 494. I know we have not been on good terms for a long time. But I just wanted you to know that I appreciate what you did back there," she said softly, hoping that he would not throw it back in her face.
Her words surprised him, so 494 just nodded.
Looking back and forth between 494 and Max, Gab felt the urge to say something he knew he would regret when Max got hold of him alone. Opening his eyes wide in a look of innocence, he asked, "Isn't it tradition for the damsel in distress to reward her knight in shining armour with a thank you kiss for saving her life?"
Max gave him a look of horror and proceeded to smack his arm. Hard. Gab yelled in protest.
494, who was initially stunned at 547's remark, started smiling as he realised what the other transgenic's words meant. It meant that perhaps they were not that close after all.
With a mischievous gleam in his eyes, 494 said, "So, any chance of me getting my reward, 452?"
"In your dreams, 494!" Max retorted, alternately pinning Gab and 494 with a glare.
The guys laughed at the look on her face.
It was just dawn as the transgenics arrived back at Manticore. 494, Zack and Jondy were herded into med bay, while the rest of them returned to their dorms to join their unit.
The seven remaining transgenics from unit 4 woke up when Max and Gab entered the room. Max could see them searching for their CO. Noting the tense, expectant look on their faces; she knew that they suspected that something was not quite right. Even Zip and Speed the two clowns of the unit look subdued. She saw Speed reach out for Cass, offering her comfort. Matt had approached her as she emptied her kit onto her bed to be sorted out. Numb with tiredness and helplessness, she sat on her bed, sorting comms kit from the weaponry. She heard footsteps approaching her.
"Max, is everything alright? Where's 735 and Val?" Matt asked apprehensively, his hand reaching out to touch her shoulder. He glanced over at an uncharacteristically quiet Gab who was also unpacking next to Max.
Max sighed. No way to avoid telling them what they want to know. Might as well get to the point, "They were captured. We couldn't get them out. Lydecker will send out another rescue team once he analysed the intel we gathered,"
Matt felt his heart stop as he registered Max's words. Although all of them grew up together, Val was his best friend, his confidant. She was the one who always knew what he thought even before he realised it himself. Granted, her ability to read him so well was partly contributed by her special empathy skills. Matt refused to think of what life would be like without her around. They needed to get Val and their CO out. There was no other option.
The silence in the room was deafening. No one knew what to say to the unexpected news. Fye was respected by her unit, and her plight was a blow to morale. Max could see the light in their eyes dim.
Not able to bear the silence any longer, Max spoke, "Listen up, guys. We need to keep going strong. Lydecker will get them back. Manticore would not let any of us remain captured by a hostile force. There's also a chance that they will send us out to get them. They are analysing the data as we speak, so maybe we'll hear something soon,"
"But it might be too late," Matt exclaimed. His jaw was clenched tight in the effort to remain calm.
That thought also occurred to Max. What if they were too late? We really need to get back out there quick, she thought. An idea suddenly clicked in her head, "Or, maybe we should offer our help now. Not much use in us sitting here waiting,"
Her words sent a buzz through the room.
"She's right," Matt said, "We need to do something – and what could be more helpful in data analysis than a bunch of transgenics with off-the-charts IQs?"
A ripple of agreement wentaround the room.
"Yeah, so long as we get permission to do it. So…who's gonna approach Lydecker to volunteer our services?" Gab asked pointedly.
Seven pairs of eyes zeroed in on Max and Matt.
Max and Matt marched purposefully towards the door at the end of the corridor. Two armed guards were standing nearby, watching their approach rather apprehensively. Till this day, they were not too comfortable dealing with these transgenics unless armed with tasers.
"We would like to see Colonel Lydecker," Matt said in a commanding tone to one of them.
Giving Matt an assessing look, the guard replied, "Let me find out if Colonel Lydecker is available," He walked into a door, closing it behind him. A few moments later, he emerged and nodded the two transgenics through.
"Sir! X5-452 and X5-481, Sir!" Matt snapped out. Both him and Max saluted.
"At ease, soldiers. What brings you here?" Lydecker looked up from his desk with a suspicious expression on his face. It was extremely rare for his kids to come knocking at his door. He only got these sort of behaviour from his kids when there was an emergency.
"Permission to speak freely, sir!" Matt said, his eyes stared forward expressionlessly.
"Go ahead, 481," Lydecker said. What could possibly have happened for them to need to speak to him this way? He was beginning to feel a bit worried.
"We were made aware of the status of X5-735 and X5-422 earlier this morning. X5-735 is our CO and X5-422 is an essential member of our unit. We heard about the mission outcome from X5-452 after her debriefing. We understand that one of the teams succeeded in gathering important Intel on the enemy. We also understand that this information has a direct impact on a possible rescue operation for X5-735 and X5-422. As the 2IC of Unit 4, I would like to offer our assistance in analysing this information. We believe that our help would be beneficial to the operation," Matt explained succinctly. Outwardly, he looked every inch the emotionless Manticore soldier, but inside, he was shaking with nerves. What if Lydecker decided to throw them into reindoctrination for speaking out of turn? Steeling his jittery nerves, Matt awaited Lydecker's response.
Lydecker appraised them in silence. This was not what he expected when the two transgenics came into his office. This is a first, he thought. It never occurred to him or anyone in Manticore that one day, his kids would come offering Manticore help. Granted, they did it to help save their unit members. But still…
He looked at 452 suspiciously, "452, this happened to be you idea?"
Max froze, not expecting to be addressed directly by Lydecker. They had agreed that since Matt was 2IC, he would speak for them all. Her flickering eyes belying her nervousness, she answered crisply, "Affirmative, sir,"
Lydecker considered the idea. It was a good idea. Although they were still in their mid-teens, his kids would definitely do a much better job than Manticore's usual analysts. He wondered why they never thought of doing that before. He knew why – because they did not trust them. They did not trust each other. He thought back to his conversation with the visitor six years ago. The transgenics were only trusted with missions which does not involve the internal affairs of Manticore. The Battle Processor Unit who was currently undergoing training for these sorts of work would be ideal analysts but Manticore never intended to use them for internal works.
Well, things have to change. Starting now.
"Who's your handler today?" Lydecker asked, seemingly changing the topic.
"I believe it is Sergeant Hales, Sir. He is in charge of our morning drills," Matt answered.
"452, inform Sergeant Hales that I want a word with him. Unit 4 will skip the morning drills. 481, prepare your unit and get them into Logistics Room 1 at 0730 hours. I'll see you there,"
"Sir, yes, sir!" the two transgenics snapped out, and turned to leave.
"452, you stay,"
Max stopped at Lydecker's words. Turning around in apprehension, she shut the door behind her.
"Sir?" What have I done now?
"I just wanted to say that you came up with a good idea. Now, I know you don't like Manticore much. But I am hoping that we could start working together from now on. It would be beneficial for both of us,"
Max just barely stopped her jaw from dropping. I did not hear right. He can't possibly have said that, she thought. She remained silent.
Lydecker looked at the teenager in front of him, a picture of a perfect soldier. He could see the distrust in her eyes, confirming the visitor's words. Deciding that he had to try to gain her trust for anything to improve, he continued, "599 and 210 as you probably know, will be sent for reindoctrination after they have recovered from their injuries. For your information, they are fine, just malnourished. They just needed some rest. Then they will be introduced to their new unit. At this point, I don't think it would be feasible to re-form Unit 2, seeing that there's only four of you in here. I was thinking that after the rescue operation, you may like to pay your siblings a visit?"
"What?" Max couldn't help herself. The entire conversation was getting way too weird. She finally gave in and gaped at Lydecker as he smiled. He's up to something, she thought suspiciously.
"Why the surprise, Max?" he said, noticing her eyes growing bigger at the use of her name, "You can't seriously expect us not to know what you are up to all these time. We heard you over the comms too. Anyway, I knew it even before you escaped. Yes, I know you have names... Look, contrary to what you think, all I want is the best for you kids, alright,"
She couldn't stop herself, "Right, that's what you thought when you were cutting us up, shooting us and hunting us down," Mortified at her own words, she clamped her mouth shut. Stiffening, she prepared herself for the punishment she knew would surely come at her outburst. Stupid! What have you done? Couldn't you have waited till AFTER the rescue? A voice in her head chided her.
Lydecker stiffened. In a hard voice, he said, "You are not in the position to challenge my actions, soldier. But to set the record straight once and for all, let me tell you this. Firstly, 417, your brother Jack, was already dead when we operated on him. His seizure was so bad, we couldn't do anything to save him. Cutting him up, as you put it, was necessary if we wanted to know what was wrong to prevent similar things happening to you. Secondly, as I said to Zack, Eva pointed a gun at me. What did you expect us to do? And thirdly, you actually expected us not to search for you? You are a prototype resulting from millions of dollars of Research and Development. And you are different from the rest of the humans out there. What do you think they would do if they find out what you are? You are not safe out there. This facility is a secret government facility. No one out there knows what you are,"
Stunned at Lydecker's answer, Max just stood there, not knowing what to say. She just couldn't admit it, not just yet, but his words had a ring of truth in it. She knew that her outburst has crossed the line into insubordination and resigned herself to be punished.
Better get it over with, she thought, "I was out of order. I accept any punishment as you see fit," she said, not being able to keep the dread in her voice.
Lydecker shook his head in amusement, "Max, just as hot-headed as ever. You need to learn to keep it in check. It's not a good trait for a soldier. I'll let you off this time. See that it doesn't happen again, understand?"
"Sir, yes, sir"
"Go get Sergeant Hales for me. You are dismissed,"
Max snapped a salute and left.
Max found Hales and passed on Lydeckers words. She didn't relax until she got to her dorm. There, she sat down on her bunk and exhaled her relief. Phew, that was close. I wonder why the sudden change in Lydecker.
Maybe he has grown soft, Max chuckled.
Unit 4 spent the entire morning deciphering the data from the disks copied by Fye and her team. It was midday when they had enough information to plan an operation. Lydecker was pleased at the speed the results were achived. After a concise discussion on the mission parameters, which involved Lydecker's input this time, a decision was made.
As there was one other possible location for the enemy base, all agreed that it was better to send out two teams at once. The information had indicated that both bases are highly guarded by enhanced humans which have some unknown implants at the base of their necks. Making them stronger. Fye and Val's tracer told them that they have been moved to the second base. Presumably the first base, the one they visited last night, would be on alert waiting for them.
"I suggest 481 to lead one strike team, and 452 to lead the second. The rest of you could split yourself between the two teams," Lydecker said.
"No disrespect, sir, but there's only four or five of us in each team. The odds are not good," Matt said to Lydecker. Lydecker had told them all to speak frankly in this mission briefing. He did not want them to hold anything back, at the risk of jeopardising the mission, just because they were afraid of him.
"What do you suggest then," Lydecker asked, pinning his gaze on the teenage transgenics in front of him.
"Are there any other X5s available?" Speed asked, thinking that they could increase their numbers by borrowing from other units.
"Still would not be enough, I think. Some of them are exhausted, not to mention injured from last night's mission" Gab said, rubbing his head. Shark DNA or not, he still needed a couple of hours of sleep, especially after a mission. He practically had none last night.
"It's tactically unwise to deploy so many of the same series all at once. The committee would not allow it," Lydecker added. The committee would not want to put all their eggs in one basket.
They sat quietly, thinking.
Deciding to break the silence, Max suggested, "How about the X6s? There are many of them, and numbers are what we need. What if each team deploys with four X5s and add a few X6s?" she looked around, noting the look of surprise on her unit's faces. She knew that the X6s were considered young, but if they had been through the same training she had before she escaped, there were no reason why they could not operate well on a mission.
"The X6s are young, and relatively inexperienced," Lydecker said with a concerned frown, "I am not convinced that it will work,"
"If we bring in some X3s I have in mind, it may work?" Max insisted. She had an idea that she thinks may work.
"The X3s are not active military units, 452. They are more experimental. Who do you have in mind?" Lydecker asked curiously. As far as he could tell, the X3s were not exceptional.
"There are a group of X3s in the basement with enhanced physical capabilities which I think could rival the enemy forces. I was under the impression that they were locked up in the basement cells because they did not measure up to some sort of testing." She hoped that no one thought to ask her how she knew about the basement residents.
Zip stared at Max, "You can't be serious. You mean the anomalies?"
Gab muttered under his breath, "As if we are much more normal than they are,"
Max shook her head side to side, "They are not really anomalies. They do look like normal humans, just a lot taller and much more muscular,"
Lydecker nodded in comprehension, "I know the ones you mean. They were designed as front-liners, big, strong and fast. But then Manticore realised that it was hard to send them out due to their size. They attract too much attention. And their behaviour was somewhat unpredictable,"
"Well, I think they would be beneficial to the mission," Max said, trying to convince her unit and Lydecker. She could understand their hesitation. The basement freaks, or anomalies, were feared by many of the younger transgenics.
Lydecker deliberated the idea in his head, then nodded, "Well, if you take the responsibility of ensuring that the X3s follow orders, then you may include them," Looking around at the rest of his kids, "So, is everyone in agreement?"
A short pause, then, they answered in unison, "Sir, yes, sir!"
494 has been thinking. He was not able to shake the strange feeling within him. 452 always had the knack of doing this to him. He knew that he was not completely without blame. He could not seem to stop himself from saying all those stuff to her. And as his remarks were always disparaging, he was not surprised that she always treated him with antagonism.
He let his mind wander back to the mission. When the enemy soldier had her in a chokehold earlier, he was surprised at how scared he felt. He did not understand why she evoked such a strong reaction from him, but he could not help it. He also wondered at his own reactions when 547's remarks in the SUV brought him a feeling of relief.
He had watched the interaction between 452 and the two others from his unit during the mission, and wished that he could be included. He knew that unless things change between them, it would not ever happen. Making up his mind, he decided that there was only one thing he could do to repair the damage.
He would call a truce.
t.b.c.
A/N: See! No cliffhangers! -:(elle twitches violently from withdrawal effects):- So, please send me a review to let me know how you feel about it. Can I bring the cliffhangers back? Please?
A/N: Pictures in my homepage have names under it now, thanks to Sarah for pointing it out.