All of Us -- Chapter 8

Disclaimer: The TV show Dark Angel, all of the characters that appeared on it (Max, Zack, Alec, 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 (Becky/X6-405, etc.).

“Hey, Kyle,” Becky greeted. “Do you know where Jeff is?”

“Probably over in med bay,” Kyle said. “He was watching Ralph spar with someone from Seattle X6 Unit 2 and Ralph got injured in the fight. She actually won, though. The girl she was sparring with took it worse than Ralph did.”

“Good for Ralph,” Becky said. “Do you know when Jeff will be back?”

“As soon as they finish bandaging and stitching Ralph up,” Kyle guessed. “I don’t think it will be that much longer. Why? Do you guys have a date or something?”

“Yeah, pretty much,” Becky said. “I got a new pirated satellite hookup going in my apartment and we’re going to watch some TV together. Maggie said that she’d stay out of the apartment while Jeff and I are there so we’ll have privacy.” She sighed and looked out in the direction of the closest fence. “Sometimes…damn, I hate being trapped here. It’s much better than how we had it at Manticore, but I still feel trapped sometimes. Damn Ames White and whatever freaky cult he’s a part of. Damn selective breeding.”

“But all hail genetic engineering?” Kyle teased.

Becky shook her head and laughed. “Thanks, Kyle. I needed that.”

“No problem,” Kyle said. “You know I’m there when you need me.”

“Yeah,” Becky agreed. “You’ve been my best friend as well as my second-in-command for as long as I can remember. We’ve always been there for each other.”

“Like the trials for command of the X6s back at Manticore in Wyoming,” Kyle recalled. “You were always helping me polish my skills the last few weeks leading up to the trials even though I kept telling you that since I was a second-in-command, I didn’t stand a chance in hell of making C.O. of the entire squad even though I was eligible because I was an officer, even though it meant that I could potentially be taking that spot from you.”

“And look what happened,” Becky said. “Lydecker named you second-in-command of the X6 squad. All of that help paid off. You remember what he said to all of us X6s when he called us together to announce the commanding officer and second-in-command. Not only were our scores extremely high, but we worked the best as a team. We’ve been a team for eighteen years now, Kyle. That’s not going to change. You and me, brother and sister, working together.”

“You and Jeff work really well together,” Kyle observed. “I’ve seen you two spar against each other and work together helping to plan some of the supply raids that we’re going to be pulling off within the next week and you guys work great together. You work well together, you play well…” He made a face. “Gross. I really didn’t need that mental image to come up.”

Becky snickered. “Serves you right, Kyle. You’ve always had a little bit of a sick mind.” She froze and a split second later, so did Kyle. “Oh great, of all the transgenics that had to come to Terminal City, he had to show up.”

“Look who’s here,” an arrogant male voice drawled. “It’s the Wyoming Ice Queen.”

Becky turned around and faced the young man who’d spoken to her. “Hello, 224.” Her voice was as icy as it had ever been. “I’m glad to see that you made it out of the fire. How long have you been here in Terminal City?”

“I only got here about an hour ago,” 224 said. “I just dumped my things into my new apartment and I’d thought I’d take a walk around the area. It’s pretty big.”

“Yeah, it’s the size of a small town at least,” Kyle said, his expression and voice nearly as ice cold as Becky’s. He’d never liked 224 very much, either. “There’s plenty of room even for your ego.”

“Oh, hello there, 115,” 224 sneered.

“It’s Kyle,” Kyle informed him.

“Whatever,” 224 said dismissively. “So, 405, how long have you been here?”

“Three weeks now,” Becky said.

“I see you don’t have a scar from the last time we saw each other,” 224 said with a smirk.

“Very funny,” Becky remarked. “The damn scar went away within a week. That was a really classy move there, 224. Waiting until after the trainer called a halt to our fight, which I won if my memory serves me correctly, before catching me by surprise and slashing my cheek with the damn weapon. Really, really classy. Did they let you out of the brig before the fire, or were you still there when Renfro lit the match?”

“I got sprung from the brig the afternoon of the fire,” 224 said. He looked Becky up and down. “You know, 405, we’re all out of Manticore and everything, so we’ve all got a fresh start so to speak. How about we have a fresh start?”

Becky looked disgusted. “A fresh start? We never had a start! Why don’t you reach up your ass, yank your head out of it, put it back on your neck, and take a look around because I told you once and since you’ve apparently forgot about it, I’ll tell you again. I will never be your girlfriend and I will never, ever sleep with you.” She smirked. “Even if I had the slightest interest in you, it’s still a no-can-do. I’ve got an amazing boyfriend.”

“Who, this loser?” 224 guessed, pointing to Kyle.

“No, me,” Jeff said coldly. He and Ralph walked up to them. “224.”

“941,” 224 greeted. “What are you doing here?”

“I thought that it would be safer for me if I moved out of my apartment in the main part of Seattle and settled here,” Jeff said. “There were some circumstances that led me to that conclusion.”

“Did you almost get caught?” 224 mocked. “The great 941, the one who always thought that he was better than me, got caught and had to run like a scared little girl.”

“I didn’t get caught,” Jeff informed him. Not quite like the way that you wish I did, asshole. “Why are you here? Did you get spotted and almost caught?”

“No way,” 224 said, smirking.

Jeff bit his lip to hide a smirk of his own. He’s still full of shit. He did almost get caught by somebody and had to come running here. He probably let his arrogance get the better of him. As much as I hate to admit it, he did use to be better than that. He did pretty much earn his rank. But he just seems so much fuller of himself than he used to be. “Fine. It really doesn’t matter why you are here. The fact is that you are here and like I heard you say to Becky, we’ve got a fresh start here. I’m willing to make it one. Are you?”

“Yeah,” 224 agreed slowly. “You’re right. From what I’ve observed in the little while that I’ve been here in Terminal City, we all have to work together.”

“Good,” Jeff said. This isn’t going to last. Maybe it will for awhile, but I know 224 too well. It won’t last forever. “Becky and Ralph and Kyle and I have to go now. Do you have a name, 224?” I don’t mind continuing to call you asshole.

“Yeah,” 224 said. “You can call me Rob.” He turned around and walked away.

“He hasn’t changed,” Ralph observed. “I never liked him back at Manticore and I still don’t.”

“Neither do I,” Jeff said angrily. “If he tries anything, Rob will be in a world of pain so bad, he’ll be begging for Psy Ops.”

Becky put a hand on Jeff’s shoulder. “Calm down, sweetie. You have nothing to worry about.” She smiled. “Tall, dark, and asshole isn’t my type.”

Jeff managed a smile. “I know.” He gave Becky a kiss.

“I’ll make sure that Ralph doesn’t trip over her crutches on her way back to her place,” Kyle assured Jeff. “You two look like you need some alone time.”

“Thanks, man,” Jeff said.

“No problem,” Kyle said. He and Ralph left.

“I can’t stand the fucker,” Becky complained. “This truce better last. I can only imagine the bloodshed that’s going to happen if it doesn’t. Too many people here don’t like him for there to be little or no fireworks.”

“I need to be the better guy. I need to be the better guy,” Jeff said to himself.

“Jeff, you are the better guy,” Becky assured him. “You are so much better than him. You were the one who extended the peace offering to him. He didn’t extend it to you. I’m proud of you.”

Jeff grinned. “Thanks, Becky.”

“You’re welcome,” Becky said. They kissed and walked after Kyle and Ralph.

TBC