A/n: I had to bring Alec in…that's how the chapter just flowed out, though I had been planning on bringing him in at a later time.
It has been brought to my attention that Max's rejoinders in the last chapter were very much like Her Originalness, O.C. Well…good for me! Personally, I like a sassy Max, always figured she'd be this way growing up. Since this is my story and AU, I get artistic license so there:b A big rassberry to y'all! Special thanks to Northernmoon for beta-ing this chapter.
So without further ado, I, KiaraAlexisKlay, do hereby start the Disclaimer. That said Klay has no rights to the Dark Angel franchise, despite longings to own them. That being said, here's the next chapter…enjoy!
FLASHBACKSI was never so happy to hear an alarm bell as I was that first day of school. I couldn't help the extra spurt of energy as I gathered up Nessie and what supplies I owned, making our way to the door.
Classroom doors burst open as hundreds of students poured forth like water gushing from a broken dam, cramming the halls. Their excited shouts and chatter were an offense to my sensitive ears. Grimly I shoved my discomfort back, I'd have to get used to it eventually, no sense complaining.
Our cross-country brethren joined Nessie and I; as a group, with one sullen Mara, that we forged our way through a streaming mass of pre-adolescent humanity toward the beckoning summons of freedom represented by the double hatches ahead.
"So how did you like class?" I questioned as we finally escaped into the glorious open air.
"We were supposed to like it?" Neela replied a little too innocently and Mara rolled her eyes.
The feeling of claustrophobia I'd been having receded the instant I stepped outside; I felt as if I could finally breathe again.
Unconsciously I started walking toward the pre-arranged pick up site, and the others tagged along, obviously going the same way. Nessie stuck to my right, and Scott managed to come up to my left; Glen, Neela and Mara made up the rear, fanning out behind in whatever formation they could.
I slowed up, the group in front of us stopped and chattered and spread out so that we had to make our way around them, and I carefully found us a passage out. My eyes flicked around, scanning for anything and everything and nothing in particular, just searching.
There were so many people, mostly students of all ages and sizes and colors and dispositions. The three major schools joined together had combined to form a literal mass of adolescent humanity all swarming to escape the confines of the buildings. Why they didn't have different dismissal times for each high, middle, and elementary was beyond me.
"I keep hoping someone will yell 'Eye's front!'" Glen remarked, setting us to laughter, and even Mara couldn't help but twitch her lips at that.
"They'd probably just ignore them then dissolve into chaos once more," Scott moaned, throwing his hands in the air theatrically.
I gave him a playful cuff on the shoulder out of habit while the others chuckled: I think it surprised him as much as it surprised me, but I tried not to let my embarrassment show.
What? Like he never roughhoused with his unit before. Didn't he?
I fought the urge to apologize, and just shrugged it off, hating that this was the umpteenth time I felt defensive today and I was really starting to resent that. If he'd been one of my brothers, hell even Dante or Petra, that's what I would have done. What's done is done, and what's said is said. Not like I could turn time back.
A voice in my head told me that soldiers did not complain nor look back on their decisions and actions with regret; aside from being counterproductive it was detrimental to the successful completion of the mission.
That this voice sounded remarkably like Zack and the Colonel scared me. How it happened, I don't want to know or figure out, bad enough that what it said was true. And that scared me even more than the blending of my two C.O.'s voices.
Get a grip, Max, I silently chastised myself. This is only the end of the first day of school, how bad could it possibly get?
"Incoming!"
The shout brought eight years worth of training to the fore and my body was taking action even as my mind was processing the familiar command. I found myself slapping the deck, hugging it to appear a smaller target, peripherally aware of five other bodies following my example in the space of one heartbeat to the next, having jumped into soldier mode as if someone had thrown a switch. They were doing as I was, searching for any sign of hostiles or abnormalities to warrant the command.
The trees and shrubs lining the cool walkway and sidewalks obstructed most of my view, but my quick pass showed me that my little group wasn't the only one to have taken cover. Nor were they confined to our age group; from the youngest to the oldest, they took action.
You can always tell where the family is.
I used one of the Colonel's forbidden words at the idiot who thought the combining the schools was a good idea: not only was there a large area with numerous hiding places, there were just too many damn people around.
A sound like gunfire erupted and I ducked as low as I could, gliding in a low crawl across the sidewalk toward the better cover of shrubbery.
I had a terrible flashback then, of a different time in another place at another wooded area, where I lost something very dear with sounds just like that.
-flashback-
"Noooo!" X5-732 –Vada- screamed in pain and horror.
Her eyes were wide and dilated, tears streaming unabashedly and unchecked, her mouth open and panting as she tried to take in air.
X5-751's -Ferro- eyes were rolled up in his head, and his body was limp, as the laughing X4 finished his grisly work. The last terrible crack as he snapped the remainder of Ferro's spine, his body giving spasms as muscles that didn't know they were dead yet jerked in reflex.
Shasta -X5-588- was shrieking in agony, from where she hung impaled on some sharpened branches, the wood dripping with her life's force and her chest heaving as blood and fluid filled her lungs and her mouth. Remarkably, she was still living as she struggled against her invasive restraints.
Kyle's –X5-274- torn and dismembered body was scattered across the clearing, the Fours who had done the dirty work cheering and yowling to themselves, oblivious to the heartache of their victims, we the little X5s of Unit 2.
Vada keened a wailing cry that would have put a Banshee's to shame, the sound bringing every hair on my body to attention quicker than the trainers snapping 'Eye's front!'.
"Anomalies!" X5-534 –Kane- shouted his grief and fury, and he rushed to avenge his dead brother.
"Freaks!"
Davida-X5-411- joined her sparring partner, shouting Massai obscenities. Together, the pair were some of our best fighters, and they came at the X4s with a vengeance.
It was like looking at some strange and fearsome dance, for Davida and Kane, black and white, cream and coffee, jumped and blurred and twirled to inflict as much damage as possible. The Fours seemed a bit taken aback, but mostly amused at their actions.
They managed to get in some good hits, but we were still babies almost, and the Fours were just about grown. But then Davida and Kane tag-teamed on one of the females, shattering her wrist and cracking ribs, you could hear the crunch as the bones broke. The C.O. barked a command and two of those terrible beasties raised their weapons and fired.
I screamed like Vada had done for Ferro, my voice joined by others of my group in a haunting chorus that disturbed the stillness of the forest.
The X4s had us outclassed, outmanned, and outgunned. They were older, more experienced, and less forgiving than the other X-series.
While my Unit was armed with the typical M-16 assault rifles, the Fours were equipped with sub automatic machine guns, and I watched in terrified horror what one of those could do to someone firsthand.
Davida and Kane were cut down in half by the barrage of projectiles, and even then, the Fours didn't let up until their corpses were so filled with holes and gore and blood and…and other things, and they weren't moving.
-flashback-
Juvenile laughter sounded in the sudden shrieks of protest and the sound of squealing tires came to us as a carload of teenage males with the top down came screeching out the parking lot.
"Seniors rule…. MORONS!" the whooped and catcalled as they tore off down the street in a squeal of tires and smoke and the grinding of gears.
The scent of sulfur assailed my nose and I recognized it: firecrackers. Freaking firecrackers!
My eyes glared at the retreating vehicle, telescoping in on the license plate number, noting the make and color of the car, and just who the idiots were.
I felt foolish but at the same time proud of my instant response to perceived danger. It irked me that I was fooled by some childish prank, but I was pleased that Nessie and the others had reacted so swiftly.
It didn't help that some kids were laughing, having either known of or recognized the stunt for what it was.
My eyes darkened with a feral heat and my lips thinned back into a harsh, contemplative line. I felt an intense outrage, mainly because I was still in the aftereffects of that terrible day, and I knew I was growling as I felt my chest and throat vibrate with the action. I wasn't the only one.
Nessie looked ready to kill. I mean she looked as if she was a few seconds away from literally taking off after the car and hunt the boys down.
Neela was absently rubbing the shoulder that she landed on: if looks could kill, the whole car and cargo would have exploded. Scott and Glen sent dirty looks their way, and Mara was muttering dire implications.
In this one case, I agreed with Mara. She may be an arrogant, attitude-riddled bitter girl as her name suggested, but we agreed on one thing: payback.
"Everybody okay?" I asked, taking a quick glance to inspect my companions. I rose into a cautious crouch, wary of any more pranks. So far the only activity was of students milling around or picking themselves up.
"Yeah, fine," Scott declared, disgusted.
He dusted his new shirt and trousers free of the dirt and leaves that had attached themselves to him.
"Peachy keen and all that glitters," Glen remarked with a grin.
I arched an eyebrow; I didn't think that was the correct phrase, but who was I to argue?
"So am I, just annoyed," Neela was still rubbing her arm, but she was just brushing herself off now.
She too had landed on the side with all the dirt, now a tad dirty and not looking happy about it.
"I'm going to hunt those jerks down and shove those firecrackers up their butts and see how they like it," Mara huffed, glaring vengefully in the direction the car had disappeared in.
"I take it you're fine then. Nessie?"
"Fine," she murmured in a distracted tone, her eyes glazed over, staring at nothing in the distance.
I recognized that look. I'd born that look and seen it on the faces of my family all too often. It meant that she was remembering something, something terrible. I usually got it when I was reliving the deaths of the Lost Ones, or after a particularly nasty Psy-Ops session.
"Nessie," I repeated softly but firmly, to let her know I was near and approaching.
I came in slowly and from the side so she could see me with her peripheral vision, that even in flashback mode she'd respond to.
Her eyes were still unfocused as they unconsciously tracked my movement, caught in the grip of some powerful, vivid memory.
"X5-678, snap out if soldier!" I bit out harshly, low enough passerby couldn't hear.
The familiar authoritive tone and command did the trick to snap her out of whatever memory had gotten a hold of her.
I waited several heartbeats, allowing her time enough to regain herself, and saw the almost visible return of Evanescence from the netherworld, as she pulled herself together.
"Max?" she asked, eyes wide and trembling to match the shake in her voice.
I probably did the most unsoldierly action I could have taken, opening my arms, to which she went gladly, laying her head against my chest and squeezing her arms around my waist tightly. She whimpered softly, as if only in my arms could she let out all the pain and fright, and I stroked her back in soothing circles.
Hey, when I had nightmares it worked when Ben used them to comfort me, so why shouldn't it with her?
I held her for a few moments, just rubbing her back, not saying anything else but softly humming a tune I remembered Lark singing.
Nessie continued to shake and I thought desperately, Oh, Zack, help me, what do I do?
Zack looked at me, looking over his shoulder, as if he were indeed right there by my side.
"Max? What's wrong?"
The concern in his tone thrilled me in ways I couldn't describe.
"Oh, Zack, I don't know what to do! She looks up to me as her commanding officer, but she's still shaking!"
Since this was my 'vision' self, I didn't feel the need to dock my feelings or stem the panic that flooded my voice. Besides, this was Zack I was talking to. He knew everything
My big brother and C.O. glanced around to take in the situation, noting me holding the still quivering Nessie.
"That's one of your detail?" Zack's arched eyebrow spoke volumes and I bristled.
"She's having a flashback because some idiots set off a firecracker and caught us off guard," I retorted, feeling the sudden need to defend her.
The mention of her flashback reminded me of my own and something in my expression must have given it away.
Zack's eyes softened, and the stern line around his mouth eased, and slowly he began to smile. Somehow, he knew the memory I had undergone, and he understood. I was amazed at the relief I felt, and my heart lifted at the smile and I caught my breath, waiting.
"You're doing fine, baby sister," he soothed, running a hand over my hair and my cheek, and lingering back toward my hair.
My real hair. I was proud that my hair had grown so quickly. Back home we would have reported to the barber every week in order to keep it shorn to the proper length, so having a cap full of my own hair was amazing. It was so soft, which was probably why Zack was combing through it.
"Really?"
"Your presence is soothing her and being there will make a difference. Be patient," and here Zack's smile became full-fledged at his oft-repeated reminder.
I made a face at him. So I was known to be a tad impatient. Was that a crime?
Zack chuckled.
"You're doing good, Baby, I'm proud of you. C.O.," he whistled appreciatively.
I preened at this rare compliment. Zack hardly ever praised us so openly, or with so much affection or emotion apparent. A double compliment, and my heart swelled with pride and delight.
He had smiled. He had actually smiled!
That was the last, sweet sight I saw before he started to fade away and I had an impression of someone-Zack-ruffling my hair once again.
"It's going to be okay, shh…" I murmured, rubbing her back in soft circles. The trembling had lessened somewhat, and close as we were I could feel her gradually starting to relax tense muscles.
My humming had turned into a soft, growling purr that started in my core and wound its way through my body and out my throat. It had always helped me to hear that purr, it touched more than just my human side, but went down to the animal that needed comforting just as badly as the human.
That purr more than anything relaxed Nessie quicker than I'd thought possible. I smiled gently. I hadn't known how she'd respond to my purring; as far as I knew my family and I were the only ones who purposefully indulged our animal sides. Granted it was more Ben's idea than mine, but hey, who's keeping track of whose idea it was.
I caught the look on the others' face as I turned my head toward them. Glen looked on with unabridged fascination; Scott had a quizzical look on his face, Neela looked confused, and Mara just looked skeptical.
I didn't know how to address them or the questions I could see in their eyes so I turned my attention on what I could deal with. I started to loosen my grip, keeping that soft purr going, and gently started to ease away. I kept my arms loosely around her, letting it be her choice whether to back away or not.
Petra and Dante sort of took that decision away as they came waltzing on over. They separated from the group they had been in, Dante nodding a greeting at the four, having met them already, but his grin was directed at a now blushing but pleased looking Neela.
Petra barely acknowledged the four as his eyes centered in on the still fragile Nessie, and he came to stand right beside us.
"Nessie?" he reached over and touched her arm, amber colored eyes flashing concern.
Mara gave a sudden intake of breath as she caught sight of Petra, awe and admiration of the oldest X5 in her gaze, but no one was really paying attention to her. I was focused in on Nessie and Petra.
Traitorous thing that she was, she abandoned the one who had given immediate comfort, and walked into Petra's waiting arms. He tightened his hold and brought her close, crooning softly to her and rubbing her back and shoulders much like I had done, and she purred back.
She hadn't done that to me.
Petra looked startled for a moment at the purring bundle in his arms, but that lasted only a second, as some instinct kicked in and he added his own distinctly male purr to the mix. He wore a tender smile as he mimicked her mimicking me, and I was pleased that they had caught on to it so quickly.
I couldn't hold back a rueful smile, and found myself being laughed at by Dante.
"How soon they forget those who held them up," he teased me, chuckling.
"I guess I'm not that appealing to her," I shrugged, grinning.
"Aww…come on Kat," he made an effort to call me by alias, "You're appealing…just not to most people on first meeting."
"Amen to that," Mara snorted, Neela stomping on her foot, holding and meeting the glare directed her way.
I raised my eyebrows at that, but still grinning, I replied to Dante.
"I seem to recall you thought I was very appealing at our first meeting, you ass," I laughed at him, bringing our first introduction to mind.
I'd been in the halls at night, my Shark D.N.A. keeping me awake, and I had been bored. Jondy and Zane were cuddled together and she was actually sleeping the little traitor.
So I had wandered around the silent halls of Manticore, made all the more eerie by how absolutely still the air had been. Not even the loud clomp, clomp, clomp of feet marching in sync filled the silence.
As you can imagine, I was quite surprised when I heard a noise coming softly from one of the empty classrooms. Gathering up my nerve, I went to investigate. Curiosity killed the cat.
"Hello…sweetness," a voice had drawled and I reacted without thinking, foot snapping up in a kick that caught the speaker on the side.
"What was that for?" he hissed with pain. I paused long enough to look at the speaker, who was slightly bent over, protecting his bruised rib cage.
"Who are you?" I hissed back, wary. He was dressed in the Manticore sleepwear and his hair was buzzed, so I knew he was X-series.
"In trouble, both of you!" We both winced at Trainer Webster's sudden appearance, and followed him obediently as he marched us down the corridor I knew from experience led to Solitary.
I gave the unknown transgenic a long, lingering glare, and the brat only gave me a delighted, mischievous grin in return.
"You seem to be unduly fascinated with asses," a rich, mellow voice laughed at me.
I glared at the sudden appearance of Richard, the Dick aka Alec, X5-494, into what I considered no affair of his.
"Only when they're so apparent you can't ignore them," I muttered back.
Alec gave a deep laugh and I rolled my eyes; I didn't see what was so funny. A few other kids, whom I took for transgenics since Neela and Mara obviously knew them and brightened up considerably around them, joined him and I shifted focus to assess these newbies.
"Smile, it confuses people," he joked, winking at me. He winked at me!
Alec grinned, waiting in anticipation for the next words out of her mouth. For some reason he couldn't fathom, the unusual satirical conversation they'd shared after lunch had him craving more. Something inside latched onto bugging her and took great relish in it so he couldn't resist.
"Only when they're blonde and named Dick," came rushing out before I could stop it.
One of the new females started laughing, and Alec gave her a tolerant grin. Her eyes danced with mirth and didn't seem affected by her leader's posturing. If anything, she seemed even more amused.
"Ah…. but you named me Alec, remember? So I don't count," he smirked, turning back to me.
Ha! Get out of that one, Kitty Kat!
"Ah…. But your alias is Richard, and Dick is a derivative of Richard, so it does apply."
Why does he have to look like Ben so much? I can't insult him badly enough without saying the same about Ben!
I faced him with a hand on one hip, one eyebrow arched, and my head cocked to one side; Zack hated it when I stood like this. Which was why I had started doing it in the first place and it'd developed into a habit.
Alec looked as if he'd say something but a sudden car horn honking grabbed our attention.
"Yo, foreign people, let's go!" Wes's deep, sibilant voice shattered whatever it was that Alec and I were engaged in.
"That's our ride! It was a pleasure meeting you, ma cherie," Dante bowed low to Neela, grinning at her blush.
He didn't see the inscrutable look Alec gave to him as he was already on his way to the van. I caught it, and held his look, raising my eyebrows and shoulders in a shrug.
Petra and Nessie were next, and I followed, giving a parting nod to the five transgenics I knew and entered the van.
We were silent as Wes pulled away from the curb and entered the flow of traffic, and we stayed that way for a few blocks.
"Okay…. so, how did you like your first day of school?"
This time I didn't hold back my groan.
"As bad as all that?"
"You have no idea," I muttered.
