omg; I'm so sorry about that. usually, before I post a story, I remember to post all the background information I've created to support plot twists. the way Sam figured out that they're alpha is a bit more complex, I only have that stuff in handwritten notes; basically it boils down to a certain way the alphas speak to one another. they speak in short, vague sentences with certain meanings. these were developped after the heat incidents (briefly covered in this section of my story), when the alphas were placed in command of their units. Max would have received a briefing about them when she was recaptured; being alpha herself. that's kind of a crappy explanation, but it's more along the lines of an instint that got recognized and honed when they were between 3 and 9 at Manticore.
I'm working with the assumption that female Xs as young as 11 began going into heat depending on the type of feline DNA they had.
I really hope this helps everyone who was confused about the alpha thing, at least a bit. It's only a quick overview of a lot of notes, but I think it's an okay one. I'll try to explain more through the rest of the parts in the story
ang1
July 2004
I don't look at the others in the room, but my gaze does follow Commander Lydecker as he moves between us, observing him, as he observes us.
He reaches the front of the room, and begins to speak. "Do any of you know why you're here?" he asks us.
"SIR NO SIR!" we chorus.
"You're here because you've begun to display certain traits that the others have not. We will teach you to use those traits to keep your units in line with command."
"SIR YES SIR!"
"You're stronger than them, faster than them, smarter than them." He pauses. "You also value their safety above the completion of the mission."
I regard him calmly, attempting to determine if this is a failing I should strive to overcome.
"We've been training you for three years now, separate from your units. We've taught you all you'll need to know to control your units if necessary."
"SIR YES SIR!"
"Don't use it." He states calmly.
We don't speak. For three years now, he has trained us to regard our units, apart from our units. He has taught us how to assert ourselves by our very stances. He has taught us how to make ourselves known to one another should we engage in the field.
He has taught us to step back and allow the military command to choose C.O.s who are not as powerful as we are to run our units. To allow them to properly focus on the completion of the missions above the safety of the unit.
"Your skills are for use only in the extremest of necessity. If one in your unit turns on the rest, you must re-align them. If one is endangering the mission, you must bring them to task. You must never disrupt the chain of command."
I think of our unit C.O.; 511. He is single-minded. Focused on the objective.
Weak.
He places the needs of others above those of the unit.
I regard the Commander and begin to understand that we are to be the heart. We are to be the ones for whom our units fight. We are to gain loyalty, trust.
July 2006
"You have all been briefed on your genetic makeups to some degree." He pauses.
"SIR YES SIR!"
"Your feline genetics will rebel against allowing others to command. You will consider yourselves what we term as an animal's Alpha. This will cloud you to the mission objectives. You will find yourselves unable to make decisions for the good of Manticore if you are permitted to command. This is why you do not have command."
"SIR YES SIR!"
"When you return to your units, you will not speak of this. You will not influence those in your unit. You will follow orders; you will fall in line with command. You will only use your influence if your unit members pose a threat to one another."
"SIR YES SIR!"
"You will reassemble daily, here, for continued training at 0430 and 2100. This begins tonight. Dismissed."
We exit the room, and return to our bunks. Upon entering, 511 approaches me.
"Where have you been 494?" he asks.
"Commander Lydecker summoned me for supplemental training, sir."
"Concerning what?"
"We were instructed it was classified, sir." I look at him calmly, and he nods.
"Combat in ten minutes. Let's move out."
I'm staring at the roof of the bunkhouse when I notice the scent. It's heady and sweet. I glance around the room, not wanting to acknowledge it, fearing they'll take me back to Psy-Ops.
Stupid 'Niners.
I see 511 and 737 staring intently at 217. She's wiping her brow, and shifting under their gaze. I scan the room and notice that all the males are focused on 217.
The scent is hers.
"What's new 217?" 665 asks lowly, moving nearer to her.
511 growls, and pushes 665 out of the way.
This could be bad.
I hurry across the room, shaking off the scent quickly. "Stand down." I order sharply.
"You can't have her 494." 511 grates, and a quick glance at 323 shows that she is enjoying this. I scan the room again and see that the other females have withdrawn to one side of the room.
"686, 289, 323 and 398." I clip. "Get her out of here – isolated. Guard her until further notice. No males are to approach her. Even myself." I grind.
They hesitate as they move closer, noticing her violent stare.
"Do it." I put all the force I possess behind the words, and they move silently, but quickly.
"Where do you get off undermining me 494?" 511 shouts, turning to follow the females.
"Sit down." I order. "All of you." I turn, and stalk out of the room to the Commander's offices.
The female at the desk raises her eyebrows at my presence, but allows me to enter.
Commander Lydecker is observing photos of the escapees coldly, and turns to face me. "What do you want 494?"
"Sir, X5-217 is influencing the males of the unit in a negative way."
He raises an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"She is seeking a mate, sir."
His eyes widen. "She's what?"
"She is seeking a mate, sir." I repeat. "I've isolated her from the unit and ordered the other females in the unit to keep males away from her."
"You're their alpha, correct?" he asks.
"Yes sir." I acknowledge coldly.
"You were ordered –
"Never to use my influence unless the unit members were a threat to one another. Sir." I clarify.
"217 seeking a mate is hardly –
"Sir, they were beginning to fight amongst themselves, and she was encouraging them."
"Report back to your unit. I'll have the doctors look into it." It is 0430 when we are once again summoned to the training rooms, and Commander Lydecker is walking between us, observing yet again.
"You have all been given CO status for your units. The female heat cycles pose real and dangerous threats to your unit's capability to perform. The missions are your primary objectives. You are to remain focused on them. Keep your females in line, female alphas; when you feel the signs of your own heats approaching, you are ordered to turn yourselves into isolation. Understood?"
"SIR YES SIR!"
"Dismissed."