Disclaimer:  The TV show Dark Angel, all of the characters that appeared on it (Alec, Biggs, Renfro, 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 (X5-121, etc.).

“You pathetic little bastards are the luckiest little shits alive,” the trainer snapped as he paced back and forth in front of 494, 511, and the rest of the present members of their unit two weeks later.  “You get to spar outside for a change because the weather is so damn nice.”

“I thought it was because the weirdos are going to be using the gym all day because they’re being evaluated,” 511 muttered just loud enough for 494 to hear him.

“Do you think they do anything for themselves?” 494 wondered.

“Who knows?” 511 said.

“Let’s see some action here,” the trainer declared.  “859 and 532, get onto the mats right now.  Begin on my whistle.”  He blew his whistle and the two of them began to spar.

494 shrugged as he and 511 watched their teammates go at it.  “532 is still looking pretty weak.  She’s always dropping her guard once she gets a good offense going…yeah, there goes 859.”  He had to wince as 859 knocked 532 flat on her back.  “That’s going to smart for a few days.”

The trainer blew the whistle.  “That’s enough.  859 won this round.”  He shook his head in disgust.  “How many times have I told you never to drop your guard while you are fighting, 532?  This could mean life or death in the field!”

“Yes, sir!  It won’t happen again, sir!” 532 said.

“See that it doesn’t happen again, 532, or you will be sent to the brig or solitary confinement the next time that it does,” the trainer informed the female X5.  “Both of you, get back in line.  908 and 295, step onto the mats.  Begin on my whistle.”

“You know, as much as I hate to admit it, it has been a little bit quieter since 121 went on her mission,” 511 admitted.  He shook his head.  “Of course, 908, 786, and 714 have also been acting more full of themselves since 121 left.  She does do as good a job as anybody of keeping the three of them in line as anybody can.  All things considered, having 121 here is by far the better choice.”

“No arguments there, buddy,” 494 concurred.  They watched in surprise as 295 took down 908.  “Wow.  908 can usually defeat 295 without too much trouble.  Then again, she hasn’t been having the best week.”

“That wouldn’t happen to be why you’ve been enthusiastic to get out of being in the same room as her lately, would it?” 511 teased.

“Look who’s talking, 511,” 494 retorted.  “Aren’t you the one who’s racing me to the door every time?”

“True,” 511 conceded.

“X5-908!” the trainer screamed.  “Why in God’s name did you make such a beginner’s mistake like that?  How much training have you received to this point?  Even the X8s wouldn’t make such a mistake!”  He punched 908 in the face.  “That was unacceptable!  Get out of my sight!”  He pointed back to the line.  “494 and 786, to the mats this instant!”

494 gave 511 a quick smile.  “See you in a few, 511.”  He walked out onto the mats and waited for 786 to also step up to the mats and to face him.  As soon as the trainer blew his whistle, 494 made short work of 786 and had to restrain a smile when the trainer blew his whistle at the end of the fight.

“Fine work, 494, fine work,” the trainer commented.

“Thank you, sir,” 494 said.  He saluted the trainer and retook his place at the head of the line.

“Okay, 908, I’m going to be generous and give you another chance.  Step onto the mats,” the trainer instructed.  “107, step onto the mats.  Begin on my whistle.”  He blew his whistle again, and to almost everybody’s surprise, 107 managed to defeat 908 in less than three minutes.  The trainer was clearly red in the face when he blew his whistle at the end of the fight.  “908!  I told you the first time that this was unacceptable and I thought that somebody like you would have the capacity to listen to and understand me!”  He punched 908 again, this time hard enough to make 908 stumble the slightest bit back.  “Get your pathetic ass back into line before I change my mind and punish you!”  908 saluted the trainer and quickly took her place in line, but not before 494 and 511 got a glimpse of the look on her face.  Both of them winced.

“She’s going to explode,” 511 predicted.

“If we’re lucky, she’ll at least wait to explode until she’s in the privacy of her own cell,” 494 said.

511 looked skeptical.  “Do you really think that’s going to happen?  This is 908.  Her temper is almost as bad as 237’s.”

“Call me an optimist” 494 shrugged as he watched two more members of his unit called to begin sparring.  The class dragged on.  Finally, the trainer signaled the end of the class to them. 

“That’s enough, soldiers.," the trainer ordered.  "You may proceed to whatever classes that you have next.”

“Sir, yes, sir!”  They saluted him and split up to head to their next classes.  494, 511, 107, and 304 split off from the rest of the group and headed to their Advanced Espionage class.

“Do you think that we’re actually going to learn about some new today or are we going to be going over the same old crap?” 511 asked.

“I hope that we’ll be covering something new today,” 494 said.  “I’m starting to get bored in that class.  If we’re going to be talking about the same old crap, I’m catching up on my sleep.  Wake me up if the trainer calls on me if it happens, okay?”

“If I don’t fall asleep first, sure,” 511 assured him.  “No problem.”

They reached the classroom and went inside.  107 and 304 took seats at opposite ends of the classroom and 494 and 511 sat next to each other.  “You know, I think we might not have to nap today after all,” 494 commented.  “I’m seeing different books on the desk today and the trainer is going over something else.  He only does that when we’re learning something new.”

“The trainer…why don’t you actually call the guy by his name and rank?” 511 asked.

494 shrugged and grinned.  “I—“  He abruptly stopped and both he and 511 straightened in their seats when the trainer turned around so that he was facing the class.

“Welcome, everybody,” the trainer greeted the class.  “We’re going to be covering some new material today.  We’re going to be going over advanced techniques for espionage in near-artic conditions.”

One of the other X5s in the class raised his hand.  “Begging your pardon, sir, but isn’t that the job of the artic division soldiers and not the X-series?”

“Not quite, 446,” the trainer replied.  “The soldiers in the artic division are designed for espionage in artic conditions, but we’re talking about locations such as the areas in Siberia and in Northern Canada and Alaska where conditions do not quite reach that level and where there are still enough human settlements to the point where it would be difficult for said artic division member to blend in and complete his or her job.”  He picked up a book off of the desk and started to lecture the class.  Twenty minutes into the class, there was a knock on the door.  “Come in.”  A guard opened the door and entered the classroom and whispered to the trainer.  The trainer nodded to the guard and turned so that he was facing 494 and 511.  “X5-494 and X5-511, your presence is requested in Director Renfro’s office immediately.”

494 and 511 stood up and saluted both the trainer and the guard before they followed the guard out of the classroom.  494 shook his head.  “Looks like you win, 511.”

“Yeah,” 511 said.  “Should I feel happy about it?”

“Let’s wait until we hear what Renfro has to say to us before we make a call on that,” 494 decided.  They reached Renfro’s office and after a few more moments, they were allowed inside.  They saluted her and waited until she finally told them to stand at ease.  Renfro looked at them for another moment or two before she finally began to talk.

“There has been a situation with one of your unit mates,” she informed them.  “X5-908 was involved in an altercation with another X5 at the start of their Culture class.  Apparently, 908 did not answer a question correctly and when X5-380 correctly answered the trainer after being called upon to do so, 908 attacked 380 completely unprovoked and caused some fairly serious injuries to 380 before the other X5s in the class were able to separate the two of them.”

494 and 511 exchanged a quick glance.  “What is the status of 908?” 511 asked.

“908 was taken to Psychological Operations,” Director Renfro replied.  “Based on what has occurred and also on what I’ve been told of her behavior of this past week, I’m estimating that she will remain there between six to twelve months.  The two of you will be notified when a definite punishment has been set for 908.”  She nodded.  “You may return to your class. Dismissed.”

They saluted her and left the office.  494 bit his lip.  “I’d say not to feel happy about this one.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” 511 said.  “I’m already not feeling good about what’s going on.”  He sighed.  “I never picked 908 to be the biggest loose cannon in our unit and we do have plenty of them, but wow.”

“Yeah,” 494 agreed.  He whistled.  “Wow.”