Max was talking to Dix, her back to the door when they walked in. She knew the moment they walked in, the hair on the back of her neck stood up, her muscles tightened instinctively. This had been happening a lot recently, this hyper awareness of those in her old unit. She had yet to figure out why Alec fit into this category.

"Max!" Alec called out, and she slowly turned around. Standing next to him was a girl she hadn't seen in years, but part of her recognized as easily as looking into a mirror. Jaia. Max crossed the room quickly and hugged her hard. Jaia was slightly taken aback by this and was slow to respond, but when she did her hug was just as fierce.

"You guys are okay!" Max breathed softly. She sighed and stepped back. Max looked up searching for Alec. Jaia turned with her to see Alec leaning against the doorway.

"Hey ladies." He said and pushed off the doorway to walk towards them. Max's eyes shined with gratitude.

"How are you doing?" She asked. Her face darkened and one hand reached to his face. "What happened to your face?"

Mole, who had been watching from his chair stood quickly as he felt the tension in the room. "Ah, don't worry, he was always that ugly." Mole said. The cigar Max had given him was clenched unlit between his teeth. He had seen the upset look that had passed briefly over Jaia's face and realized that she had played some part in it.

"Anyways as much as I hate to interrupt this tearful reunion we have work to get back to." Mole said gruffly. "We've got a room available down the hall from you Max. Not much to look at right now but we can get it fixed up nice in no time. Why don't we put Jaia in there?" Mole asked as Alec shot him a grateful look.

Alec reached for the bag Jaia was holding, wincing only slightly when she flinched before letting him take it. Mole saw the look of hurt cross his face before it fell into the blank Manticore mask Alec had perfected so well.

"I think I know which room. 26 right ?" At Mole's nod he started walking. "It's a good building he said lamely. His mind worked furiously when he realized she would be staying only two doors down from him. Closer to him than Max actually. He could tell from the expression on Max's face that her thinking was along the same line as his. He hoped it wouldn't be a problem.

He walked Jaia to her new home and opened the door for her smiling at her shocked expression. "We don't need locks here." He said shrugging. "Well, you have the basics. If I remember correctly the toilet works but for a shower you'll have to go down the hall, last door on the right. Be aware that mostly everyone on this floor shares them and hot water is scarce."

With that bit of wisdom he left her and went to find a few people and call in some favors.

Jaia sighed. Her apartment was now more or less organized. Alec and a few x6's had pitched in on the cleaning effort. She could still see the wry smile on his face when she had opened the door earlier.

"Thought you could use a bed. I know it's not much but it's better than the floor or this couch." He said kicked the couch lightly.

Before she could say anything he had ushered his ragtag team in and they had got to work. Her floors were clean and it didn't smell too bad anymore. Exhausted she decided to take a shower.

She got halfway down the hall before she realized she didn't have a towel. "Damn." She sighed yet again. She turned around and headed to Max's apartment to beg one. She knocked lightly. She waited patiently then was raising her hand to knock louder when she heard Alec's voice behind her. He was coming out of an apartment across the hall two doors down from hers. "You won't find her there." He called to her.

"Oh, well do you know where she is?" Jaia asked.

"Probably at HQ. What do you need?" He asked smiling.

"A towel. I wanted to take a shower."

"No problem. I've got a couple extra." He said. Before Jaia could protest he ducked back into his place and returned with two blue towels a few seconds later. "There you go. Have fun." He said grinning.

Jaia nodded and walked back towards the community showers pausing to toss one of the towels in her apartment.

Later feeling better, Jaia walked down to HQ to see what everyone was up to. She found Mole sitting in the corner cleaning a gun and Max and Alec poring over a map.

"I'm telling you Alec, our best shot is coming in from the South, here" She pointed to an area on the map. "Walking two miles and entering through the drainage system."

"What is it with you and the sewers Max?" Alec asked grinning. "If we come in from the west, through the woods we would have good cover and the guards on this side are fewer. If we go through the drainage system we come up through boiler rooms and have to pass five barracks. Going through the woods you pass through all of that.

Shaking her head Max sighed. "Okay Alec, you're heading it up. It's your call." Alec stepped back and pressed his hand to his chest. "Did you just give in to me Max?" He looked over at Mole. "Did you hear that? Please tell me you heard that." He begged.

Mole grinned at their antics. "Nope. Sorry didn't hear a thing." He lied.

"Oh, the humanity." Alec whined. Then he smiled. "Or lack thereof."

Max just shook her head again and smiled as she rolled up the map. "You are such a drama queen Alec."

Alec looked at her suspiciously. She hadn't hit him. Hmm, something must be wrong. Max looked up and saw Jaia. Her face lit up and she headed over to her sister quickly. Both Alec and Mole took notice of this.

"The boss lady has been a lot nicer since I got back." Alec said.

"Umm hmm. If you can call it that." Mole replied.

"Just look at them. Haven't see each other in over ten years and they are gossiping already, what's next shoe shopping?" Alec said in amazement shaking his head. This was a different side of Max that he had never seen.

"You never know." Mole replied. He looked at Alec, taking careful measure of his mood. "X5 females seem to have a way of surprising you."

Alec clapped his friend on the back. "That's all women buddy, not just ours."

"Got some of that brew you like." Mole said casually. "Thought we'd knock back a few."

"Just may have to." Alec said nodding. "But first I have to run a few errands."