Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel so don't sue me. Thanks. :-)

A/N: I LOOOOVE all the reviews I've gotten! Thanks so much for giving up time to hit the green button and write me a few words. I appreciate it so much!

Ex Multus Familia

Chapter 4

It was nine in the morning, and sunshine, bright and unnatural in Seattle, would have been pouring into Terminal City's command center…if it had had windows. Max was sitting at a table in the common area while she went over the last of the morning reports. She had gotten about an hour of sleep last night in the cot that she had set up in her sparsely-decorated office before heading to work again.

Half of Max's job was just settling disputes between disgruntled, unhappy transgenics who were trying to live together in a small, seven block area. It seemed big, but when you had around two hundred plus transgenics and only a few renovated apartment buildings, it seemed to get a lot smaller.

Besides the shootout with the sector police, last night Max had broken up a fight between a pair of X5 mates, crashed a X6 party gone wrong (complete with stolen booze and stereo), and stopped two X4s from tricking a transhuman into doing their portion of guard duty. Yeah, sure, everyone had been for transgenic unity three weeks ago, but now old prejudices were starting to resurface, especially since only the X-series could go out of the city safely, which gave them slightly more freedom than the transhumans, psy-ops , or Nomalies. The tension was driving everyone crazy.

Another large part of Max's job was dealing with the Feds. They wanted to talk to someone, and they seemed to assume that she was the leader around here. Hell, why not, everyone else did. Max scowled. One speech, and suddenly she was running the whole freakin' freak city.

Max put the sheets of paper she had been looking at on the ground and massaged her temples. Sometimes she wished she could just go pick up Zack from that farm they had left him at and make him the leader around here. Everyone knew he was more suited for the job than she was. Damn Manticore for screwing with his brain…

She picked the papers back up and glanced over them. They were print-outs from Logan's computer, and they had all the information on Robin, Sidda, and Taylor, the newest X5s plus one baby. She needed to file these. Oh, and get someone to go show them around. They were probably awake by now.

Max looked up and surveyed the room. HQ was a lot more crowded than it had been the night before when it was just a skeleton crew staffing it. People were always coming in here for assignments and then leaving to work on them or disappearing to some other part HQ. Or hanging around HQ because they had nowhere else to go. Max wondered what it would be like to just show up and ask for something to do instead of being one of the people giving out jobs. She wasn't sure if she would like that better or not.

Hmm, Dalton was here, pestering Mole for work. The big lizard guy was ignoring Dalton like he would ignore a fly. That kid so damn dedicated, showing up for work even after running a hard, late night guard duty last night. Max smiled. He deserved a tame assignment.

Grabbing the papers, she stood up and walked over to the table Mole was sitting at, a map of Seattle spread out in front of him. She cocked an eyebrow. "I thought I told you guys no more playing Risk with the Sectors. It makes people nervous."

Mole grunted and looked back down at the map. It was covered in red X's, green circles, and blue squares. Green circles meant places that were still okay to steal from, blue squares meant places that were starting to thin out or people there were getting suspicious, and red X's were no-goes. The red X's were starting to outnumber the circles and squares.

"Hey, Max, do you have something for me to do?" Dalton asked, a hopeful smile on his face.

"Funny you should ask," Max said, "I was actually coming over here to give you a job."

"Good," Mole snapped, "Get him out of here."

"Hey, you know you love me," Dalton said. He gave Mole that wide-eyed, innocent smile that usually melted people, no matter how callous they were. Mole just stared at him.

"Stop hanging around Alec," Mole said, "It's bad for you."

Max was about to tell Dalton his assignment when someone came rushing up to her. She took a step back, nervous that the other woman was going to run into her. She was a mess of mismatched sportswear, dyed green hair, and extreme energy. Never put squirrel into a DNA cocktail.

"Max, when can we get that gym started?" Gatorade asked. "I mean, lots of people have been asking about it, and people think it'd be a good idea, and I like the idea, and I think people would really enjoy a gym."

Max sighed and broke in when Gatorade finally had to take a breath. "A gym isn't exactly at the top of the city's priorities at the moment, but I think people have decided that warehouse four on Dogwood should be fine. It hasn't been designated for anything yet, and it's pretty close to housing for everyone."

Gatorade frowned and put a hand on her right hip. "But, Max, I've been asking you about this for weeks, you could at least have something more definitive than that, than just go clean a warehouse."

"Everyone's been asking me things for weeks," Max said, "Take some initiative, grab a gang of X7s and put them to work. Happy?"

Gatorade glared at Max before stomping out of the common area, her sneakers clanging against the metal steps as she marched up the stairs.

Mole gave a huff that passed as a chuckle, and Max frowned at him. "What?"

"Maybe you're getting the hang of this, Fearless Leader," he said, not looking up from the map.

"Whatever," Max said, "And don't call me Fearless Leader."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Max?" Dalton asked, bringing her attention back to him.

"Oh, yeah," Max said, shaking her head, "Could you go over to Oak Street and show the two X5s around?" She looked down at her papers. "They're over at 215 Oak Street, Apartment 321. They'd probably be glad to see a familiar face."

Dalton smiled and nodded. "Sounds like fun. Want me to bring them by here when I'm done?"

"Sure, save the best for last," she said, irony in her voice. She was about to send Dalton off when she noticed Seth walked into the common area, a sleepy smile on his face. Mmm, he was probably going to be asking for something to do too… A smile came to her face as she watched him approach. Maybe Dalton could use some help.

"Morning, Max," Seth said, an easy smile coming to his face, "I didn't know if I was supposed to be helping the west gate crew or wait for a scavenger run tonight, so I thought I'd come by and ask to be certain."

"Actually," Max said, putting a hand on Dalton's shoulder, "I was just sending Dalton over to show Robin and Sidda around, and he could probably use a hand." She noticed the subtle change in his face at Robin's name and inwardly felt smug. She was determined that if she and Logan couldn't be completely happy right now she would at least live vicariously through over people by making good matches among the transgenics.

"That okay, Max, I can handle it," Dalton said, shaking his head. "Seth doesn't have to come."

"No, I'll go," Seth said quickly. He colored and looked over at Max. "I mean, that is, if you don't need me anywhere else."

"I don't need…"

Max's hand tightened around Dalton's shoulder, and he winced. Poor kid, so cute but so oblivious. "Good! See you around lunch then."

"All right, come on, Dalton," Seth said, walking back out the way he had just come. Dalton stood there for a minute, looking to Seth, to Max, and back to Seth as if they were in a conspiracy against him.

"Git, cat-boy," Mole said around his cigar, "Scat."

Dalton rolled his eyes at Mole and loped after Seth, his too-big jacket flopping around on his shoulders.

Max sighed, "Better put clothes on the things-to-steal list."

"Got it," Mole said, "Right behind cigars and toilet paper."

----------------------------

Sidda shook her head as she watched Robin coo to Taylor right after breakfast. It was ridiculous how happy being in the place made Robin, but Sidda could understand. She felt a level of safety here that she hadn't ever felt in Hoquiam. It was a nice change.

"Aren't they sending someone over to show us around the city?" Sidda asked, glancing out the dirty window. She was feeling antsy this morning, and having a leg injury that was forcing her to be more careful than usual wasn't helping things.

Robin nodded absently, still focused on Taylor. "Yeah, and after that's done, if we still have time, I think I'd like to make a run into Seattle, if you don't mind looking after Taylor." Robin glanced up and frowned at the bare walls of the apartment, "I'd like to pick up a few things to make the place look a bit nicer."

"I could go, and you could stay with the baby," Sidda suggested.

Robin laughed. "Leave decorating to you? I don't think so. Plus," she looked pointedly at Sidda's leg as she patted Taylor in an attempt to get her to burp, "you still have your wound there. You probably shouldn't go into Seattle until that's healed."

"I am never taking a bullet for your baby again!" Sidda growled in irritation. She rolled her eyes at Robin's hurt look. "I don't mean it like that, you goof. I love Taylor, too. I'm just irritated at everyone insisting on cooping me up."

"We were all trained to be logical in our decision-making," Robin said softly. She smiled at Sidda. "I guess you were sick that day."

Sidda snorted. At Manticore it seemed like you didn't get sick, not in the normal sense. You were either healthy or you were dying of some deadly, unknown genetic disease. The wonderful side-effects of being genetically engineered.

"It's just always easier said than done," Sidda said. They both startled for a moment as there was a knock at the door, and Sidda automatically went into a fighting stance while Robin tucked Taylor further into her arm.

"Sidda? Robin? You there?" It took them a moment to place the voice, then they both laughed a little and relaxed. They were too used to living on the edge, ready to fight or run at any given moment.

"Dalton," Robin said, supplying the name to go with the voice. Sidda nodded. The kid from yesterday.

"Yeah, we're here, come on in," Sidda called. It looked like their tour guide had arrived. When the door opened, Sidda couldn't help an involuntary glance at Robin. Robin's mouth tightened and she looked at Sidda almost desperately. Not one tour guide, but two. The second one not so welcome by Robin.

"Um, hey," Seth said, his eyes on Robin. He looked down at Dalton. "I'm here to make sure this guy doesn't get you all into any trouble," he said teasingly.

"I told Max I could give the tour by myself," Dalton grumbled. He had noticed the looks the two women had exchanged when they saw Seth, and he had assumed correctly that they were startled by the presence of two tour guides.

"There wasn't much else going on at the moment," Seth said, shrugging. He offered them a friendly grin. "I'll carry the baby, if you'd like. That way you can pay more attention to the tour."

Robin studied him for a moment. "Have you ever handled a baby before?"

"I've held one once or twice…" Seth said, shifting from side to side uncomfortably.

Robin shook her head. "We'll be fine. I'm used to carrying her anyways." Robin got up from the table, and Sidda nudged her side as she brushed by.

"Ow, what?"

'Give him a chance," Sidda hissed, watching as Seth reassured Dalton that he wasn't going to steal his tour guide duties.

Robin tapped her foot impatiently as Sidda blocked her way. "Fine. But just a chance," she said angrily.

"That's all I'm asking," Sidda answered, rolling her eyes as she let Robin pass by. Robin could be so stubborn about the most ridiculous things sometimes. It was obvious that Seth was interested in Robin, but she refused to see it. She insisted that they had only been breeding partners, and it would be rude to expect anything else from Seth.

"I suppose you can hold Taylor for a bit," Robin said, eyeing him suspiciously, "but the moment she starts crying, hand her back."

"Of course," Seth said eagerly, stretching out his arms for the baby.

Robin rolled her eyes. "Not yet. I have to get her ready for going outside."

"Babies require sooo much preparation," Sidda said, propping her elbows on the kitchen counter. It used to be that Robin was always waiting for Sidda to get ready before leaving the apartment, but now roles were reversed.

Once Taylor was bundled up Robin carefully transferred her to Seth's arms. The baby's face was barely visible through all the layers Robin had put on her. Sidda had a feeling that was more because of Robin's determination that Seth not recognize the baby than because it might be chilly outside.

"So how much is there to cover in Terminal City?" Sidda asked as they headed down the stairs. She'd heard it was rather small.

"Well, it's only a few blocks of streets on the surface, but we also have a lot of underground territory," Dalton said. He turned and grinned at Sidda. "That's where all the really interesting stuff goes on."

"All the stuff we don't really want the rest of the world to know about," Seth added. Sidda and Robin both looked at him, interested.

"What secret projects has Terminal City got going on?" Robin asked, curious despite her reluctance to talk to Seth. Seth grinned, happy that she was talking to him, but Dalton interrupted.

"Seth! That's some of the best stuff!" Dalton said, punching him lightly in the arm.

"Oops, sorry, man." Seth shrugged apologetically. "Promised Dalton he could give most of the tour."

"I can answer your question, ladies," Dalton said, pausing to glare at Seth, "We don't have a whole lot yet, but we're getting started on several new things, like research into some of the problems us transgenics have, talks with weapons dealers, etcetera. Also, most importantly, we get to the rest of the city through the sewers. We don't really want Seattle knowing about that, because as long as they think they've got us trapped here, they feel fairly safe. They still don't look too closely for us outside Terminal City."

Sidda laughed. "Is there anything that happens above ground?"

Dalton looked at Seth, and Seth shrugged. Dalton passed the gesture on to Sidda. "Living?"

"Yeah, I guess that is about it," Seth said in a tone of wonderment.

Both Robin and Sidda started laughing this time. "Two tour guides, and they still can't answer basic questions," Sidda said, shaking her head at Robin.

Robin sighed dramatically. "I must say, I am greatly disappointed with the quality of service. I may have to file a complaint."

Dalton crossed his arms in a rather grumpy manner. "Well, you're gonna have to get in line," he said, "because the one thing we have enough of here is complaints."

"They're just teasing you, kid," Seth said.

Dalton frowned up at him. "Not a kid. And hey, they were making fun of you too."

Seth chuckled. "Forgot about that."

"So," Robin said, "Are we going to stay here and talk about nothing or take a tour?"

"I was getting there," Dalton said. He jerked his thumb at Seth. "He was distracting me. See, I would have done better without you."

"Yeah, sure," Seth said, rolling his eyes. He gently wrapped the blanket tighter around Taylor and headed for the door. "Let's go."