Freedom on the inside
Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don't own anything to do with Dark Angel. They apparently belong to some guy who is most definitely in need of a brain check. What was he thinking when he decided to axe the show? Oh well, I guess when I'm rich enough I'll just have to buy the rights to the programme and then we'll finally get a third season. I wouldn't count on it though.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: M/A (eventually!)
Summary: What if Max never escaped Manticore in 'Designate This' and didn't get the chance to infect Logan? Logan and everyone else in Seattle thinks she's dead and Renfro's still alive?
Author's Note: I know there's been a lot of 'what if she never escaped stories?' but this is my shot at what could have happened. Please read and review!
Chapter Three
Ginger
Stamping down a patch of grass, Max sat down with a heavy sigh. It was a little past eight at night, the rest of her new unit had gone back inside after their field training, but she had stayed behind. Most of them had eyed her suspiciously when she had asked to remain outside for a while, but her ever so 'kind' commanding officer had granted her the permission. "Just as long as you don't get any ideas of escaping" was the catch.
Max looked towards the barbed wire fences and the X-7's that's guarded it, 'like she was going to try that again.'
Turning away, Max looked up at the sky. She would be able to see the moon, if the heavy clouds weren't in the way. Make that heavy rain clouds. "Shit!" Max hissed as the first few rain drops started to fall.
Max surveyed her options, 'Stay out here and get wet or go back in doors and die of boredom or, probably more likely, die of the ghastly Manticore dinners.' Deciding she much preferred the rain, Max just sat there, allowing the rain drops to slide down her face and soak her t-shirt.
"What is she doing?"
Alec turned around to match the voice with a face. A ginger haired, green eyed, female X-5 stood behind him, staring in the same direction as himself out of the Manticore window.
Turning back to look at the hunched figure sitting in the rain, he replied honestly, "I have no idea 269."
"Want me to drag her ass back here before she catches her death?"
Alec laughed. "She probably wants to catch her death," he paused, "but I don't think Renfro's gonna be happy if she does die on us. So yeah, if you can bring her back without her kicking and screaming, please do. It'll save me from having to get my hair wet."
"You're so full of it," the pretty transgenic said, shaking her head with disgust at the sight of her CO fixing up his hair.
"I wouldn't use what you've learnt in Common Verbal Usage on your commanding officer, 269," Alec warned.
"How about, you're a self-conceited, pompous fool?"
"That's better," he said patting her on the back and then walking out of the room. "And good luck by the way," he yelled.
269 turned back to look at the probably now very wet female transgenic, "Well I guess it's time to get to know you X5-452."
"You know, there's this rumour going round that if you sit and stare hard enough, the X7s might just smile back."
Max recognised the already familiar voice. It belonged to X5-269, the only other female X5 in her unit. The girl was slightly taller than her but with a build similar to her own. She was pretty but then most Manticorians were. Max was actually fairly surprised at the girl's comments. Soldiers weren't known for socialising.
"Or maybe the smile's just a sudden twitching caused by an ultrasonic overload," said Max with a hint of sarcasm.
"It's plausible," she said, sitting herself down on the wet grass beside Max. "I've always wanted to just sit out here in the rain and think of absolutely nothing."
"Actually, that's exactly what I'm trying to do," Max sighed.
"What, not working?" 269 asked.
"Unfortunately not."
Although curious, 269 decided it wouldn't be wise to pursue the topic any further. After all, the two transgenics hardly knew each other. In fact, she had grown up learning that the 09'ers were betrayers and couldn't be trusted. But she didn't know quite what to make of 452. Shouldn't a 09'er be dead by now after being recaptured? Manticore would obviously want to punish them right? But no, they were actually giving her another chance to pledge her loyalty to Manticore, and that raised questions that she knew she would never know the answers to.
"You do know we're missing dinner right now?"
"You can go in," Max answered.
"Aren't you hungry?"
"No, the mere thought of the food makes my stomach feel bizarrely full."
"I think we should go in anyway," she said getting up.
To 269's surprise, Max just let out a sigh and got up, "Yeah, that's probably a good idea."
"494 said you'd probably put up a fight and come in kicking and screaming," the ginger haired transgenic smiled as she watched her.
"Yeah, well, what can I say? Alec doesn't know squat about me."
"Alec?" the girl asked her forehead slightly creasing.
Max silently cursed herself for the slip. "Um, on the outside people have names instead of numbers," she explained.
"Well I know that, but why call him Alec?"
"Coz he's a smart aleck," Max answered simply.
"Hmm, Alec, it suits him," she smiled. "So what's your name?"
"Max"
"And do I have a name yet?" she sounded almost hopeful.
"How about . . ." Max thought for a while, "Ginger?" It was all she could come up with.
269 laughed, "No I like it!"
Max smiled, "Good. Ginger it is then."
Max walked quickly up the corridor towards her cell. She still hadn't had the chance to change her clothes, although her t-shirt was now starting to dry. Max had managed to avoid dinner. She had sat beside Ginger and pretended to look as if she were eating even though she knew she should have at least tried. Tomorrow was going to be another long hard day and she needed the energy, but she just couldn't stomach the food.
Taking a sharp left turn, Max found herself on a familiar corridor. It's numerous doors lead off to the gyms and observation rooms. Max's pace suddenly slowed down as something caught her attention. Stopping completely, she listened to the soft humming of a classical melody. Where was it coming from? Max followed the music to a door further up the corridor on the right.
Walking slowly up to it, she placed her ear to the cold surface to get a clearer indication of what the music was. 'Since when were Manticore interested in making us into musical prodigies?' Max thought silently. But then again, Manticore had always wanted to create the perfect soldier. Be it shooting, fighting, intelligence or even musical, sporting or culinary skills, Manticore's soldiers were designed to be overachievers.
Still somewhat entranced, Max went to open the door. The knob turned easily in her hand.
The first thing Max noticed was the dimness of the large room. It was spacious and pretty much empty, apart from a single piano occupying the middle of the room. The player hadn't noticed their audience yet and Max all of sudden felt wrong in being there. She got the strange feeling that maybe this soldier didn't want an audience, and so not wanting to invade his or her privacy, Max turned silently back to the door. Her silence, however, wasn't silent enough.
"Max?" Max was stunned at hearing the familiar voice and the sound of her name and not a series of numbers. She heard the scratch of the stool's legs on the floor as the player stood up. Max watched the figure emerge from the darkness and come to stand under the dim light. The small beams of light created shadows across his features, accentuating the seriousness on his face and in his stance.
"What are you doing here?" was all he said.
A/N 2- Hehe! I know that was a pretty stupid point to leave it at but if I continued going, this chapter may have been as long as The Lord of the Rings! Ok, anyway, thank you for all the reviews for the previous chapters. You sure do ask a lot of questions!
1)Alec is ONE of the best soldiers at Manticore. I figured that before the whole Berrisford mission, he possibly was the best soldier there but after messing that up, he probably lost his status as top soldier. Although personally, I like to believe that he is the best! :-)
2)Lydecker may make an appearance, you'll just have to wait and see.
3)Of course something's up! Renfro's evil!!! You wouldn't expect her to let them off that easily would you? As for what she has in store for them, I don't actually know! I haven't written that part yet!
4)Renfro could possibly know about Max's no junk DNA but I'm not giving too much away!!!
I hope that answered any questions (yeah I know I didn't really answer half of them) but feel free to ask more if you're confused. Let me know what you thought of Ginger and the chapter in general! SmilinStar xxx