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: Hey, what's happening to all the reviews? The numbers of hits had gone up but reviews had gone down. (Wails mournfully) What did I do? The story can't be THAT bad right? Anyway…enough of my mumblings…a longer chapter this time, so enjoy!

Kungfuchick – Oops! Did I not make it clear? Sorry! No…they didn't have sex, they just…erm…fooled around! It will happen eventually but not just yet, you'll understand at the end of this chapter (grins). Thanks for reviewing!

Roxyroo – Thanks for your review. I think Alec is going to have more to worry about than punishment at the moment (sighs). You'll see soon.

Toniboo – Thanks for reviewing. I know, the story is going into an angsty mode. Uh, yeah…there's trouble ahead for Max and Alec, unfortunately… (quickly hides from Toniboo)

Angelofdarkness78 – White vs Max in denial? LOL! Loved your comparison. Zack had been talked into returning to Manticore not by Max, but by Sandeman! Hehe! Interview went well. I'll start a new job in March, yay! Oh, don't forget to update your Jack/Eve story! I loved it! Thanks for reviewing!

Amelya – Glad you liked the chapter. Hope you enjoy this one as well. Thanks for reviewing!

Darkangelgirl262 – Thanks for reviewing! Well, yeah, it's not his fault really, but you'll see what's going on in Alec's mind soon, and Max's too. I can't tell you just yet what Sandeman told Zack, but you'll get the idea after this chapter (winks). And guess what? Gab/Jondy/Biggs coming up too! Enjoy!

Calistra – Heh, Alec had no choice…he had to deal with things somehow. As for being hard on Alec, when have I ever done that? LOL! Thanks for reviewing!

Eva – No, don't cry! But I've got to tell you that this story is going into an angsty mode for a couple of chapters…so be prepared! These people have issues to sort out! Thanks for reviewing!

Pixie Wildfire – Alec catching a break? Hehe! He and Max will always have some form of drama or other in their lives (grins). I'll make sure of it! (rubs hands together). Thanks for reviewing!

Sakura (88hainesde) – Thanks for reviewing. Jondy's reappearing in this chapter, you'll be glad to hear! More drama and angst coming up!

Lakergirl08 – Okay, okay…I'm typing as fast as I could, but what could I say? It's never fast enough, lol! Anyway, you guys will find out more about Manticore in this chapter, which would set the background to the Coming, familiars etc…Thanks for reviewing!

Alana84 – Thanks for reviewing. Glad you liked the action scenes – it was quite difficult to write, so I'm happy someone likes it (hugs)! Alec's just not used to failure, and it's really bugging him (sighs). But Zack could see it from an outsider's perspective, hence able to make sense of it.

Nina430 – Alec's troubles are just starting, I think! And yes, it's about time Zack and Alec stopped fighting, lol! It's getting a bit tedious. As for the ending being depressing…I think the trend is going to continue in this one (winks). Thanks for reviewing.

Spanishwon2123 – Hehe! You'll find out hopefully in the next chapter what Sandeman told Zack, but you should be able to guess the gist of it from this chapter (grins). Thanks for reviewing.

W1cked angel – Thanks for reviewing! Jensen could give anyone the shivers, he's so hot, hehe! Yeah, I'm watching Supernatural…a delayed version since it's not out on tv in the UK!

Retrieved - Chapter 33 – Manticore

(by elle6778)

Lydecker sat silently in the SUV with Max, Alec and Dani as one of his soldiers drove them back to Manticore. A small frown graced his face as he mulled over the situation they were in.

Sandeman's abduction was a blow to them. Lydecker did not realise how much he had been depending on Sandeman, who had been pulling the strings from behind the scenes for so many years now. But at least Sandeman had finally told him why he had pushed for a change in Manticore in the recent years.

Manticore had been founded by Sandeman and two of his friends. The transgenics had begun as an experiment of sorts; to create a more resistant, stronger and more intelligent human being. At least, that had been what it had appeared to be outwardly. Sandeman had his own agenda, but he had not confided in his co-founders for the fear of ridicule.

The first few batches had not been acceptable in terms of social integration, but Sandeman had persevered and finally created those who could fit in with the general human race.

These were the X3s and the X4s. Unfortunately, the genetic instability in them had meant that most of them did not survive past childhood. Those who had survived tended to have extreme traits such as overgrowth and exceptionally high level of animal DNA which made them display much more of their non-human traits. Only a handful of X4s had been considered acceptable in public.

Then Sandeman had continued his research to the next level, mixing up the genetic cocktail which had created the X5s. Much to Manticore's elation, the X5s had exhibited none of their feline traits as far as physical appearances were concerned, but were as strong and agile as their feline counterpart. Sandeman had finally found what he had been looking for. In the X5s' early growing years, Sandeman had been personally involved in their education and training, ignoring his co-founders' disapproval.

But by this time, the covert government agency which had supported Manticore had had enough of Sandeman's approach and decided to put their foot down by forming an independent committee of directors. Sandeman's power had been ripped from him overnight as his so-called friends switched sides.

Manticore had then become harder, more of a military establishment than a research facility. The earlier series had been put under training for manual work and technical skills, and the younger ones who could pass as ordinary humans had been allocated as soldiers. The committee had simply locked up those transgenics who they had not been able to control or deemed useless. They had called these transgenics anomalies, and had treated them like animals.

Sandeman had watched the exploitation of his project with a heavy heart, completely helpless to do anything. So he had done the only thing he could do at that time; he had left Manticore, but not before he had found an ally.

Renfro.

The woman had tried to continue Sandeman's work under the cover of her position as an assistant director in the committee. She had worn her tough façade like a weapon, convincing the committee of her dedication to their cause; to create the perfect soldier, the human weapon. The transgenics had been trained as fighters. Unbeknownst to the committee, they had aided Sandeman in his cause, just in a much harsher method.

As a reward for her diligence in the project, Renfro had been promoted as a director.

Lydecker had been brought in when he had been at a very low point of his life. He had been in and out of alcohol rehabilitation after the death of his wife when he had been offered a position to train the transgenics. When he had accepted the offer, he had not known what to expect. But never in a million years had he thought that he would be training genetically enhanced soldiers.

Manticore had given Lydecker a purpose in life when he had none. He had approached his new role with enthusiasm, teaching the children everything he knew about military skills. In the process, he had developed an almost possessive feeling towards them, calling them his kids. Interference from what he considered outsiders had been not tolerated.

Renfro had recognised this and had informed Sandeman of his performance. After further observations and careful deliberations, they had decided that Lydecker could be trusted and had brought him into their small circle.

Lydecker had asked Sandeman for the reason behind all that they had been doing, but Sandeman had steadfastly refused to tell him. For some reason, Lydecker had decided that the old man could be trusted. Since then, Lydecker had been helping them to keep an eye on the transgenics.

In the meantime, through her contacts, Renfro had been gradually sifting out one after another of the committee members. She had even managed to stage 'accidents' for the other two co-founders of Manticore who had betrayed Sandeman. A year before Renfro's assassination, she had managed to achieve her goal while keeping her cover. After ten years of transgenic exploitation, committee was no longer ruled by those who were power and money-hungry, but those who were more moderate in their approach.

Lydecker had almost given up on asking Sandeman for the reason behind their plans when one day, a few months ago, Sandeman had finally told him the truth.

Sandeman had belonged to a cult, one which thought that they were the superior beings. They called themselves familiars and possessed super-human strength. The members of the cult were a product of hundreds of years of selective breeding. Part of the selective breeding required the first-born and second-born child to be killed, and the third child to be initiated in a ceremony involving a type of potentially fatal snake venom.

After the death of his first child, Sandeman had not been able to commit the same act on his second child. He had hidden the child away and since then, had researched ways of creating something to make his child as strong as any of the familiars without subjecting the child to the ceremony. He had managed to create an artificial antibody for the snake venom, and then found that the human body would not accept it. Something had been missing. Sandeman had finally realised what it was.

It needed to be synthesised in a human body.

His attempts had escalated when the familiars announced their ultimate plan to conquer the human race. The familiars had listened with rapt fascination to their High Priestess as she announced that she had seen the signs of the Coming. The Coming would wipe out the inferior, normal humans. The familiars, with their superior make-up would live to rule the planet.

Sandeman had thought that they were out of their minds. But as time went by, the world domination plan had become more and more prominent, much to Sandeman's incredulity. He had realised that normal human would not have a chance at all to defeat the familiars. And he did not have a few hundred years to selectively breed an opposing cult.

That had been when he finally came up with the idea of Manticore.

It had not been hard for him to obtain enough samples of the familiars in order for him to study their genetic make-up, seeing that they had been quite casual about slashing themselves in various cult ceremonies. With that, and the knowledge he had on the Coming, Sandeman had managed to find out more about them. And that was what he had included to the blueprint of the transgenics without his co-founders' knowledge.

To his satisfaction, those transgenics had shown enough resistance to keep themselves safe when he had tested them.

To his disappointment, their resistance had been non-transferable.

Sandeman had returned to the drawing board then, refining his design. The genetics of the transgenics and its results were unpredictable, so one after another series followed, and Sandeman still had not reached his goal.

Until he created the X5s.

The X5s had shown larger promise in the ability to transfer their resistance to others, but Sandeman could only confirm a select few who could do it. However, in his tests, he had found that one transgenic had something a little different from the rest of them. When he had finally realised what it meant, he could hardly believe his luck.

However, before he could do anything about his findings, Manticore had been taken over.

Lydecker let out a sigh, wondering what he was supposed to do now that Sandeman had been captured. From what the transgenics had told him, the kidnappers sounded like these familiars Sandeman had been talking about. Lydecker knew that he needed to retrieve the old man, but what he knew about them made him wary of doing so.

He could send the transgenics out, but he would not send them before they understood what was at stake. And he needed to ensure that this plan had no flaws, because this was one mission they could not afford to lose. It was going to take time.

Time which they might not afford.

Biggs looked up from his position on the couch when the front door swung open. His eyes rounded and a smile spread across his face when he noticed Jondy and Gab standing there. They had been away for almost two weeks now and Biggs was beginning to worry. He had missed talking to them.

The two of them stepped in slowly, each carrying a rucksack. As soon as they spotted Biggs, both of them stilled. The smile on Biggs' face dissipated as he noted the look of discomfort on both their faces. He did not need to be psychic to know what they were thinking. That incident with Jondy had been on his mind too.

Clearing his throat, Biggs said, "Hey, finally back, huh? How was it?"

A moment of silence followed and then Jondy spoke. "It went quite well, I thought. We caught the scammers and the ring-leader had been sent to prison."

Biggs grinned. "That's great," he said, trying to catch Gab's eye.

The other transgenic had managed to avoid looking at Biggs ever since he had stepped into the room. The last time they had been in the same room was when Gab caught him having sex with Jondy. They had not spoken to each other since then.

Tentatively, Biggs ventured, "Hey, man. How're you doing?"

Stiffening slightly, Gab turned to face Biggs, his expression unreadable. "Been better, but surviving," he said shortly. Picking up his rucksack, he continued with a small wave, "Well, catch you later. Need some shut-eye." Without waiting for an answer, he walked into his bedroom and shut the door.

Sighing, Biggs raised his eyes to Jondy, who was still standing near the door staring at Gab's door. "I take it he's not dealing with it too well," he said tightly. He pinched the bridge of his nose and then continued, "The weird thing is, it wasn't as if you two were together when it happened. If it was that, then I suppose I can't blame him. Also, can't he understand that I didn't do it on purpose? So why the hell is Gab still so pissed off with me?"

Jondy shook her head wearily. "It's not like that, Biggs. It's not anyone's fault. Gab knows that. It's just that he didn't realise that he felt something for me until he saw us, so he's taking it a bit hard."

"I guess. If it had been the other way round, I would probably have punched the day-lights out of him." Biggs said wryly.

Raising an eyebrow, Jondy said, "Oh, yeah? You don't strike me as the possessive type."

"Then you don't know me very well," Biggs countered with a small smile.

"I think getting to know you better would give others a wrong impression."

"Others as in…Gab?" he asked, shifting around to find a more comfortable spot on the couch. Patting the empty spot beside him, he said, "Are you going to stand there all day or what?"

Jondy walked over to him and sat down with a sigh. "It just felt a bit funny just now, you know? The three of us feeling so uncomfortable around each other?"

"You didn't answer my question. You guys an item now?" Biggs asked, and then tried to swallow past his dry throat. What the heck was wrong with his throat, he thought irritably.

"I guess you could say so," Jondy said softly.

"Right," Biggs said, smiling stiffly, suddenly feeling edgy. "At least something good came out of all this, huh?"

Noticing Biggs' expression, Jondy gave him a look of concern. "Are you okay? You look a bit…I don't know. Pale?" she asked. She laid her hand on his forehead to check his temperature.

Biggs swatted her hand away with a grin, but he could feel the imprint of her fingers like it was still there. "Transgenics don't get sick, Jondy."

Jondy rolled her eyes. "Of course we do!"

"Yeah? When was the last time you got sick then?" he challenged.

Jondy's brows drew together as she tried to think. A few second later she gave up. "Okay, fine. You're right. I can't remember when I actually got sick. Apart from the seizures when we were kids, of course."

"That's different. That's a genetic flaw. And anyway, Manticore fixed that so many years ago that it doesn't count anymore."

"Oh, whatever. I'm too tired to even think of arguing with you," Jondy said. Pushing herself off the couch, she yawned and said, "I think I'm going to join Gab."

Biggs stilled.

Noticing the look on his face, Jondy laughed. "Get your mind out of the gutter. I meant that I was going to get some rest. Shark DNA or not, the mission had been tiring and I need some sleep."

Giving her a sheepish smile, Biggs said, "Okay then. See you later."

Returning his smile, Jondy turned and walked to her room, leaving Biggs to stare at her retreating back.

Gab leaned his head against the door as he squeezed his eyes shut. He now knew what they say about eavesdroppers not hearing anything good.

Facing Biggs had been harder than he thought it would be. When Gab had walked through the door, he had every intention of behaving normally to the other transgenic. But the minute he had taken a look at Biggs and the couch, flashes of what had happened the last time he had been in that room came back to haunt him.

Feeling slightly ill, he had decided that it would probably be better if he had sometime alone. Once in his room, he had instantly felt foolish. He could not face Biggs just yet, but Gab felt bad for treating his fellow transgenic that way. Biggs had made an effort to talk to him, and he had not even responded.

Determined to fix thing before it was too late, Gab had been on his way out to apologise when the sound of Biggs and Jondy talking filtered through the door to him. He had paused when his name came up. Curious, he had stood on his side of the door and listened.

And now, he wished he had not done it.

It had not been obvious, but from what he had heard, it seemed to him that Biggs had taken an interest in Jondy. That bastard, Gab growled inwardly. As if what he had done was not enough, and now Biggs wanted more from Jondy?

There was no way Gab was going to apologise now. Biggs did not deserve it.

And if Biggs wants Jondy, he would have to go though me first, Gab thought savagely.

Alec laid on his back in his cell in Manticore, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.

They had been back since yesterday and since then, he had been expecting to be called to Lydecker's office. But it had not happened. Everything seemed to have gone quiet on Lydecker's side, much to Alec's confusion. After asking him if he had taken command of the operation, Lydecker had not said a further word to him or asked him to elaborate on the events which had led to Sandeman's capture.

And that worried Alec. Mission failure had always meant punishment, and although he dreaded what Manticore might dish out to him, Alec had been prepared to take it. He had failed the mission, and so punishment was what he expected.

Not this silent treatment.

His mind was filled with images of Sandeman and Kelpy being tortured and it made him feel cold to the bones. He wanted to do something, to be on a rescue mission, not sit here with only his thoughts for company. Maybe this was the punishment; not being told what was happening. Leaving him in his cell to wonder, slowly driving himself insane.

Alec smiled bitterly. It was definitely working. Any punishment would be better than lying there, feeling like the world's greatest failure and being completely hopeless. He wondered if he should go out and break some Manticore rules to get himself punished on purpose.

Before he could make up his mind, a familiar scraping sound distracted him from his thoughts. He turned to the wall just in time to see Max pulling herself through the hole in the wall between their cells.

Standing up, she dusted herself and gave him a small smile. "Hey, you okay?" she asked with concern. She had not seen him since they had returned to Manticore yesterday and was beginning to worry. Alec would normally not let a day pass without talking to her if he could help it.

Alec's lips twisted in a self-mocking smile. "Of course. Why shouldn't I be?"

Max looked at him sceptically. "Right, and I'm supposed to believe that you're okay?"

Turning away from her, Alec returned his stare to the ceiling said, "You can believe what you want to."

Max's eye narrowed at his reply. "What's up with you? I know that things are bad, but I'm just trying to help, Alec."

"Don't need it," he said shortly, still staring at the ceiling.

Max threw her arms up in exasperation. "Alec, if this is about your so-called failure in the mission, then I think you should try to put things in perspective. It's not your fault that Sandeman got caught. Even Zack knows that. You being in command of the mission didn't mean that everything that went wrong was ultimately your fault. There's only one of you, so how could you possibly keep track of what each of us were doing?"

"Even if I didn't keep track of everyone, I should have at least watched out for Sandeman. I mean, we knew that he was the target and yet, White had just walked in and dragged him out practically in no time."

"We put up a good fight, Alec. And they were strong. White and his men were nothing like ordinary soldiers," Max pointed out.

"And we're meant to be the ultimate human weapon, purpose-build soldiers. That should count for something, right?" Alec snapped.

Irritated at the way Alec was carrying on, Max said, "You got to snap out of this, Alec. Blaming yourself isn't going to help."

"You don't understand, Max."

She gritted her teeth. "What don't I understand? I'm a CO too, don't you remember? I have to deal with things when the X6s' missions go wrong."

"Look, Max, it's hard to explain, especially when you didn't even go through the basic training back at the start of our teens. You don't know the sort of training we had to go through, especially the COs. All the COs had additional training because of all the extra responsibility they have given us. We were trained to take the lead and be responsible for the outcome, no matter good or bad," Alec explained impatiently.

Max took a deep breath, trying to keep calm. She could not believe that he thought that just because she had not been formally trained as a CO, she would not understand what it was like. "So, just because you've got extra training on me, that means that you're doing the right thing by sitting here and moping? What sort of CO behaviour is that?"

Her words struck a nerve. Alec sat up abruptly, throwing a glare in Max's direction. "What? So now you have a problem with my behaviour as a CO?" he questioned tightly. That was all he needed; Max going on at him about his behaviour. As if he did not feel bad enough.

Her patience waning, Max snapped, "I call it like I see it. Right now, all I can see is that you're sitting there moping and blaming yourself when there's absolutely no need for you to do that. How are you supposed to lead your team when you're like this?"

Alec seethed. Not only did she not understand, she had the gall to challenge him. Again. "Did you come in here to make me feel worse than I already am?"

"No, I'm trying to help you get out of this funk you're in."

"You're doing a great job, Max. Carry on and I think I might end up in psy-ops for psychological evaluations," Alec said sarcastically. "I hope you're done now, 'cause with all these help, I might even give myself up to them voluntarily."

Max fell silent. It was obvious that Alec did not want her help. She had thought that with what they had gone through to get to where they were now that he would feel close enough to her to at least talk to her. That, apparently, was not the case, Max thought bitterly.

She supposed that now she could be sure that whatever fun they had together, it had been just that; fun. When it came to something like this, something like a mission, she would be always second. When it came to a mission, it would seem that they could never see eye to eye.

Thinking back to their mission to retrieve Zack, she remembered that it had been Alec who had suggested that they went their separate ways first, not her. Her mind replayed what had happened that day.

"Where are you going?" she had asked, staring at him when he had turned to walk away.

He had ignored her question and had said instead, "Look, Max, it's very clear to me that we'll never see eye to eye on this. And since Lydecker gave you one order and me another, I suggest that we should just try to carry it out without stepping on each other's toes."

"What do you mean?" she had asked quietly.

Alec had not bothered to look at her when he went on, "I hate to say this but I think it might be better if we just do this separately."

He had said it in such a flat tone that until now, Max could remember how much effort it took her to refrain from crying. It had saddened her that he could say it in such a toneless voice. Never in a million years had she thought that he would rather go their separate ways than try to work things out together.

His treatment of Cammy had been another thing Max could not bear to just stand there and watch. But when she had spoken to him about it, he had not even bothered to try to understand why she had brought it up. In his view, Cammy was a soldier, and hence had to repress all her feelings outwardly. Personally, Max did not think that that was healthy at all. They were soldiers, but they were still humans.

It was as if Alec was two different persons; the soldier and the normal guy. And right now, the soldier part was in charge. Alec had gone into his Manticore soldier mode, and there was no way she could talk to him now.

She knew that it was probably not Alec's fault that he was this way. Manticore had obviously trained their COs to be independent, self-sufficient and not to rely on anyone else for anything. In the process, that had made them isolate their hearts from others. It was something that was so ingrained that Max did not think that she could do anything about it.

Alec was wrong; she understood what was going on. But that did not mean that she agreed with it.

Although she knew that she could not do much to help him now, Max felt her heart clench painfully as she made her way back to the hole in the wall. She had half-expected Alec to stop her from going, but when she did not hear anything from him, she slid through the hole back into her cell without a backward glance.

It was only when she had the block in place that she allowed her tears to fall.

t.b.c.

A/N: (Sighs) Yes…it's angst time! So what do you think of the chapter? Any guesses as to what might become of the couples? Please review...