Disclaimer: The TV show Dark Angel, all of the characters that appeared on it (Max, Zack, Jondy, etc.), and everything else that has to do with the show belong to their respective owners, not to me. No money is being made off of this fic. I only own the original characters (Elle/X5-164, etc.).

Chapter 31: Alec (X5-494)

I'll be willing to admit that I've been on pins and needles since I got up at 0630 this morning. But can you really blame a guy who is about to see his twin brother again for the first time in about a year? Then there's Biggs, who's really got it bad for that one woman Tinga. Not that I can blame the guy, she is beautiful just like all of the female X-series transgenics. And hey, if I'm excited about seeing Ben again and Biggs is counting the seconds until he sees Tinga, they you're going to have to scrape Sasha off of the ceiling. Not only is she looking forward to having Rena around, but she's excited about finally getting something going with that guy Kenny. I knew that they, as well as the rest of the threes, fours, fives, sixes, sevens, and Psy Ops group from Wyoming were scheduled to arrive at around 900 hours our local time with the same series' from Syracuse scheduled to make it here at about 1300 hours. Yeah, things are going to be lively around here no matter how you slice it.

"Thank goodness that's done and over with," 786 said in disgust. We'd just spent most of the morning leading a unit of X8s through an exercise in the west woods. I actually don't mind it when we're asked to do something like that. Having the rest of our time until lunch free is an added bonus. "My God, could those children have been any more hyper? They obviously haven't heard the words 'calm down' before."

"And you obviously haven't heard the words 'shut up' before," Sasha remarked. "Those kids were curious. We were all that curious when we were that age, remember? I'm pretty sure that the trainer that was taking us through this one exercise in those same woods about, oh, fifteen years ago had to threaten to send you to solitary to make you shut up."

"Oh, big freaking deal," 967 said. "We all know that 786 couldn't keep her mouth closed when she was a kid." Why, oh, why do they keep leaving the door open enough for Sasha so that a heard of cattle could come stampeding through? It never fails.

Sasha didn't fail me, either. "That's true, 967. She couldn't keep her mouth closed when she was a child and now she can't keep her legs closed as an adult." She turned her head so that she was looking directly behind her at 786 and smiled. "I bet that you're happy about all of the soldiers being transferred here from Wyoming and New York, huh? That's got to be at least a hundred and twenty or so fresh targets for you and that's only the X5 guys. I'm not even taking account the X3 or X4 men from those facilities or the X6s that have at least started their horny teenage male phase."

"Gee, look where we are," Biggs said in exaggerated surprise. Thank goodness he can keep his head together. "We're at our block!"

"Okay, people, we've got about forty-five minutes until we have to be in the cafeteria for lunch," I said. "You can do whatever whenever until then." I nodded to them and they all scattered off in small groups. I turned to Biggs and Sasha. "Do I even need to ask?"

Biggs motioned off towards the nearest stairwell and Sasha and I followed him. "I heard that they were randomly assigned to the block that 941's old unit used to live in." He frowned for a moment. "I meant Jeff. I forgot for a second that he picked out a name before he and Christian came back with us for that one day so that they could get their gear."

"This has got to be interesting for him and those guys," I said. We reached the block where Ben and his crew were living. I could hear at least some of them in their cells, so I knocked against the wall near cell number one before leaning against the same wall and grinning. "Welcome wagon."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Ben's voice said from down the hallway. A few moments later, one of the cell doors opened and Ben came out of the cell and walked up to us and gave me a quick hug. "Hey, Alec. Great to see you again. I missed you."

"Missed you too, bro," I said.

"Hey, Biggs," Ben said. He reached out and shook Biggs' hand. "Yes, Tinga is here. With the fact that we had to get up so early this morning and the last-minute packing and then unpacking and other settling in crap when we finally got here…anyway, she's over there in cell number eight." He had that same smirk that I have a lot that usually ends up with Sasha slapping me upside the head. "In the shower. Personally, I think that's a good thing. I know how girls complain about us after we have just put in a good round of exercise, but have you smelled any of them when—ow!" He turned around and saw Max standing behind him. "Hey, Maxie. Have you come out to greet our visitors?"

"I officially hate you for bringing out the you in him," she said to me.

"Good to know," I said. "It's also good to see you again."

Max smiled. "Likewise. Hey, Sasha. Hey, Biggs. How have you guys been since the last time that we all saw you?"

"The usual," Biggs said. "Training, missions, you name it. Went on two or three pretty good solos in the past year including one that took me outside Manticore for close to four months. I had to tag around some executive that was part of a Canadian-based company that apparently is one of Manticore's suppliers and right up until the last moment of the mission they couldn't decide if I was supposed to be her bodyguard or the person who'd personally set up a meeting for her with the Grim Reaper. They ended up deciding on the former and as far as I know, the woman is still alive." He turned to see Zack coming out of his cell. "Hey, Zack! How have been things?"

"Pretty decent," Zack said. "I got to tag along on a Rangers mission out in western Africa a couple of months ago. It was good to get some straight-up military action. Had a few other missions as well over the past year. Krit's going out on one in two days so grab him when you can and Jace is scheduled to get back from a solo in three days."

"Sounds like fun," I said. "I got to play along on a mission with some S.E.A.L.s one time about two years ago. I had a blast then, plus those guys were really cool. I think you would have liked them."

"Maybe," Zack agreed.

"Hey, you!" a voice said happily. I looked over and saw Tinga emerge from her cell, her wet hair pulled back into a high ponytail. She approached us and gave Biggs a big hug. "It's so good to see you guys again!"

"Well, it's a good thing that you guys have individual cells instead of group barracks now," I commented. That got me slaps upside the head from both Sasha and Max. What is it that compels them to hit me?

"Did I ever say that I want to…make use of either my cell or hers in the way that you are implying?" Biggs said.

"Oooh, watching your language in front of the lady? I'm impressed with you, buddy," I said.

"There's more than one woman present in this hallway," Sasha pointed out.

"Yeah, but I said lady and the last time that I checked…" I ducked out of the way of Sasha and Max before either of them could hit me again and I laughed. "I rest my case. No further questions, your honor."

"Excuse me, prosecutor, but I have a question for the leggy redhead over there," Kenny's voice said. He came around the corner and picked Sasha up and spun her around. "I can't believe you're here!"

"Hey, I'm the one that's lived here for my whole life," Sasha said, laughing as Kenny set her back down on her feet. "I should be giving you that line." She threw her arms around him. "I missed you so much."

"Ditto," Kenny said.

Ben coughed. "PDA alert. PDA alert." Biggs and I snickered.

Kenny flipped us off. "Yeah, yeah, yeah."

"Don't I get a hello, sis?"

"Rena!" Sasha said happily. She moved away from Kenny and went up to her own twin and hugged her. "Welcome to Seattle!"

"It's great to be here," Rena said. "I was so excited to get here today that I barely slept last night. It's a good thing that Max and Jondy are usually up all night because I would have been bored out of my mind otherwise."

"You know, I was trying to have a nice moment with Sasha," Kenny teased Rena.

Rena just smiled sweetly. "Yes, I know. I live to make your life difficult."

"That's m—our Rena," Ben said. He walked over to her and threw an arm around her shoulders. "I couldn't be prouder."

"Anyway, where's the rest of the gang?" I asked.

"The kids are in their own block getting settled or just hanging out until lunch," Zack said. "Jeff, Wes, Ralph, Christian, and Layla have already taken them on a tour of the facility. Zane, Reese, Elle, Brin, Krit, and Gale are still in their cells doing the same and the others are out exploring the grounds. We don't have any official classes until after lunch and even then it's a fairly light schedule from that point on until lights out. We don't really get into the swing of things here until tomorrow."

"We still have plenty of time before lunch," Biggs said. "Tinga, you want to go with me to check out the rest of the facility?"

"Sure," Tinga said. "I'd love to." She and Biggs walked off and I couldn't help smiling. My best friend and brother has really got it bad. Maybe I'll be that lucky one of these days.

"So, Alec?" Ben said, interrupting my thoughts. "What do you say that I re-introduce you to Zane, Reese, and Krit?"

"Sounds like a plan to me," I said. After Max, Zack, and Rena had gone back into their cells I looked over at Ben and grinned. "It really is great to see you again, bro."

"Same here," Ben said. We exchanged a high five and grinned.

TBC