Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel or any characters featured in either of the seasons.

Orphan Past

After that day in his apartment, Alec rarely had a one-on-one conversation with Max. As an un-mentioned agreement, neither of them brought up what they talked about that day, nor did they ever discuss Manticore or their memories of the place. And Alec himself was fine with that and was able to live with this agreement. Going to school and working together at a local messenger business, they became friends. Not the type with a friends like they both shared with Sketchy or O.C. but they were friends, who shared a dark secret in the past. Thankfully Sketchy or O.C. never pushed about he himself or his past, or the fact that he was identical to Max's brother. Others at their school didn't really question it either, and that in it self was a blessing.

3 months after settling into his life in Seattle and at Seattle Public High School, Alec got another shock of his life, and that agreement that was unspoken suddenly going to be unbroken. Fellow Manticorians, as he had dubbed his fellow Manticore mates, had enrolled at Seattle Public and other schools in the area. "Max!" He shouted over the hussle and bussle of the high school halls. Turning around, Max saw Alec waving her down, and something about the way he looked told her he didn't need help getting out of trouble with some girl he finessed his way into her pants.

"Whats up?" She asked reaching her friend.

"Manticore," was all he said in a hushed tone as he grasped her upper arm and ushered to the courtyard away from listening ears and bumping bodies.

"What?" Max had an alarmed look on her face.

"I was just in the office, 6 new students just enrolled here and they are Manticore. I saw 4 of them."

"How do you know?" Alec took his hand lightly ran over the back of her neck, barcode. Another way Manticore branded their wards, and another thing she and Alec never talked about. "They have them?"

"Yeah," Alec nodded as he withdrew his hand from her neck. It was kind of awkward. They had never been touchy feely, except for Max slapping him for doing or saying something stupid. That was about the extent of their physically relationship.

"Do you know them?"

"Not personally. I recognize them from Manti- from "home."" He corrected as some students walked by and looked weird at them. They were trying to see what they were talking about. Max caught the drift and nodded. This was huge, first Ben and Alec, now more. Since Alec knew them, it was likely she didn't know them, but still they were Manticore; more people who knew, or understood what she and Alec had been through.

"Well, lets go introduce ourselves," Max was about to walk back into the school when Alec once again grabbed her arms.

"One more thing I need to mention, after you 12 escaped, and things got harder, we were told to hate you. And a lot of wards from Manticore did and likely still do."

"Why?"

"Because you guys got out and we were left with the aftermath of rage and torture from Lydecker and the handlers. Things got worse as the years went on, so don't expect a big open arm hug from these guys." Nodding her head ever so slightly, Max walked back into the school with Alec. As fate would have it, immediately two of the new students walked by the due, oblivious to them as they tried to find their way around the school.

"Biggs?" Alec said out loud, one of the two, a guy, turned around at the name. Seeing the source of his name being said, Biggs' face broke out into a huge grin.

"Alec!" The laughed and embraced each other in a hug and slap on the back. "I didn't know you were here in Seattle, last I heard you were still in New York!" Biggs commented.

"I came here bout 3 months ago, hoped I'd find some familiar faces floating around. Where have you been?"

"Was in Cali for awhile, but like you, decided to head back here to find some familiar faces." Biggs finally noticed that Alec wasn't alone, "who's this?" Biggs asked finally realizing his old friend wasn't alone.

"Biggs this is Max, Max my friend Biggs we were roommates at Manticore." Max held out her hand to Biggs, while Biggs looked shocked that Alec was open about the past with this girl. "She's Manticore," Alec added simply finally looking at Biggs' companion. "Lola?" The girl was grinning widely and jumped Alec. Alec was a few moments late in reaction but eventually returned the hug.

"Wondering when you were going to notice me you big oaf!" Lola chastised when she and Alec pulled apart. Looking at Alec's face, Max saw that there was history with these two, and she felt herself resent that. Why she did, she had no clue. "I'm Lola, nice to meet you." Lola held out her hand to the quiet companion of Alec's.

"Max." She offered simply. "So where you guys headed?"

"English room 104," Lola read off her paper.

"History room 205," Biggs said at the same time, this was just great, Lola had English with Max.

"Max don't you have English there?" Alec asked, oblivious too the immediate dislike between the girls. Yes, Lola held resentment to Max, and it seemed that both girls knew it too.

"Yeah, I'll show you the way," Max offered sweetly, gritting her teeth. Lola smiled at Max and was ready to follow her when she first pulled Alec into a big hug again.

"Great seeing ya smart-ass!" With that the girls were off to English, trying not to kill each other.

Alec showed Biggs to his history class, the entire way the two catching up on the time spent apart or away from Manticore. At the end of the day when Max went to meet up O.C. she saw her friend walking to Alec, Biggs, and Lola. Taking in a deep, calming breath she walked up to the group. "Hey Maxie!" Alec greeted, only to get punched in the arm by Max, "What was that for?"

"Don't call me that!" She reprimanded, feeling at ease going through their daily, almost hourly routine. Alec just grinned cheekily. "So you guys wanna meet up at Crash?"

"What's Crash?" Lola enquired, to Alec.

"It's a local pub hang out that we all hang at after work. You guys should definitely meet us there, around 5?" Biggs and Lola nodded. "Where you guys staying right now?"

"We're sharing an apartment about 5 blocks from here, we need to get some jobs soon though." Biggs replied making a face.

"Normal's lookin' for some more dead beats," O.C. offered causing Biggs and Lola to look offended, "His words. Some girls quite the other day because of "differences" that couldn't be settled," O.C. explained looking pointedly at Alec who just pulled a completely believable face of innocence.

"Why O.C. are you insinuating something?" Alec asked while acting offended. O.C. just raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, "Time to go!" When she got that look, Alec knew to run. He felt like keeping all his body parts. "You guys wanna follow me to Jam Pony?" Biggs and Lola nodded.

"So Max you gonna let your girl in on the tension between you and that fine honey?" O.C. asked as the biked to Jam Pony. Max just continued to look straight ahead. "Max."

"Nothing! I don't even know her," Max answered, unconvincingly.

"You so wound up about pretty boy's little Lola for it to be nothing," Cindy commented as they walked down the ramp of Jam Pony.

"Well, well, well, Missy-miss decided to grace us with her presence!" Normal shouted seeing the duo.

"Can it Normal and give me some packages." Max quipped not wanting to hear today's ranting a raving.