Dysfunctional -- Chapter 18

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.).

Notes: I know that this fic is rated M, but in case anybody is offended by swearing, there is a little more than normal of that in this chapter, including one or two nastier words. I just wanted to warn all of you. I still hope you like it!

“Why are we having martial arts indoors today? It’s really nice out,” 532 whined as Unit 3 marched towards the gym two months later. “I didn’t see a single cloud when we were outside for lineup and roll call and it was nice and warm. This is stupid!”

“I didn’t make the decision on the location of our class, 532,” 494 said from his place at the head of the line. “We get the schedule and we follow it. It’s that simple. I’ll admit that it would have been nice to have this class outdoors, but we don’t today so we’re going to have to deal with it like the adults that we are. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” 532 muttered.

“Funny, I thought rainy weather was supposed to make people act like children when they’re cooped up inside,” 121 quietly remarked. She snickered. “Guess whoever said that one never met our unit, huh?”

“Shut up,” 786 said from her place in line behind 121. “We both know that 532 is acting like a complete brat, but you do not have to apply that tag unnecessarily to the rest of us. Do you hear me or 908 or 714 whining about how we’re going to be sparring inside instead of outside even though the weather is beautiful? I don’t know about you, but I don’t hear a thing.”

“Point taken,” 121 admitted. “Let’s take a look at who has complained, though: 532, 237, 013, 665, 967, 859, 619, 304…that’s almost half of our unit.”

786 snorted. “I can’t wait until your sorry ass is down in California.”

“You and me both, 786,” 121 assured her. She grinned at the annoyed snort that she got out of 786. “It shouldn’t be that hard of a mission and I’ll have a decent amount of off-hours, too. I think it will go pretty well.”

“It should,” 908 said nastily. “They informed you about the assignment two days ago and you aren’t scheduled to leave for another week. You have a ridiculous amount of time to go over the information that you were given and to prepare. If this doesn’t go well, we all know who will catch the blame for it.”

“You don’t have to be a genius to figure that one out, 908,” 121 commented. “In case you haven’t noticed and I guess you haven’t because you still seem to think that you’re Little Miss Perfect, Director Renfro and the rest of command always put the blame on us when a mission goes south for the winter, whether it’s actually our fault or not.”

“They did give you a lot of notice for this mission,” 304 said somewhat suspiciously. “The last mission that I went on, I got five days notice. You were given nine days.”

“That’s the name of the game, 304,” 511 reminded his unitmate. “Sometimes you get two days notice before being deployed, sometimes you get two weeks notice.”

“I think it’s safe to assume that we all know that little fact, 511,” 908 remarked.

“Yeah,” 714 said. She brushed her hair away from her face as they entered the gym. “We’ve all been going on missions for years. We’re not stupid.”

And yet you still leave yourself wide open for a good response from 121, 494 thought. Not that I’d really mind and not that you don’t deserve it, you little priss. He decided to be the mature one and head off 121 at the pass. “Nobody is doubting anybody’s intelligence, 714.” Out loud, that is. “Now, the trainer will be here at any given moment so let’s get into line and wait for him or her like the good soldiers that I know that we are and if I hear one ‘yes, daddy’ or similar remark, your ass is mine. Understood?”

“Sir, yes, sir,” the rest of the unit replied. They formed a line and stood there at attention and were actually quiet until the trainer arrived a minute or two later. He looked at the transgenics and nodded in approval.

“Very good,” he said. “Very good. Split up into pairs for warm-up and then reform the line. You know the drill.” He blew his whistle and the unit split up into pairs and went through their warm-up exercises. 511 and 121 paired up, leaving 494 with 786. Neither of them were too happy.

“Why couldn’t you have gone with 511 or 121?” she grumbled as they stretched.

Why couldn’t you have paired up with 908 or 714, you moron? “Variety is the spice of life, 786,” he said cheekily. He restrained a laugh when he saw the annoyance in her eyes. “Besides, even if I had paired with 511 or 121, that you would be paired with the one that I didn’t go with. Would you be happy then?”

786 was quiet for a few moments. “No, not really, though I wouldn’t mind being with 511.”

494 could hear the real meaning of her words loud and clear and briefly closed his eyes. 511, buddy, please restrain your girlfriend! When he didn’t see or hear 121 make any move to beat the hell out of 786, he relaxed. “Lesser of the two evils, huh?”

“Actually, it is three evils, oh-so-wonderful leader,” 786 said haughtily.

“As if I could forget about myself,” 494 agreed, grinning. 786 rolled her eyes in disgust as they finished their warm-up exercises and then they got back into line and once again stood at attention and kept their eyes glued straight ahead of them as the trainer paced back and forth.

“You have all shown some improvement over the last few weeks,” he said. “Especially you, X5-908. It seems that the problem that you’ve been having is nearly corrected. Excellent progress, soldier.”

908 would have beamed if she wasn’t in class and under the proverbial microscope. “Thank you, sir.”

“Let’s test this progress,” he said. “To the mats.” He looked at the rest of the unit for several moments while 908 stepped out onto the mats and waited for her opponent. He stopped close to the head of the line and nodded. “X5-121, to the mats.”

“Let’s not waste any time, huh?” 494 muttered, barely loud enough for 511 to hear him.

“You never know. 908 could actually play nice this time,” 511 replied just as quietly.

“Just in case you little pansies forgot, which we all know is an impossibility, we’ll go over the rules,” the trainer said. “No deliberate use of excessive force, no illegal moves. That includes head-butting, eye-poking, and shots to the groin area. The time limit for today’s sparring will be fifteen minutes per pair. The fight will end when either one soldier has won or at the time limit if the fight is still in progress.” He looked at all of them and then nodded. “Begin!” The trainer blew his whistle and stepped back as 121 and 908 began to spar. He, as well as the rest of Unit 3, watched with interest as 121 and 908 went back and forth. It seemed like a close fight at first, but it became clear enough within a few minutes that 121 was gaining the upper hand and would most likely win the round. 121 nailed 908 with a roundhouse kick, sending her stumbling back a few steps. 908 made a face and with an angry yell, rushed towards her and slammed a hard kick directly to 121’s left knee. 121 shrieked and collapsed to the ground and 908 smirked.

“Who’s so high-and-mighty now, you stupid bitch?” she said under her breath. Unfortunately for her, while the trainer might not have heard exactly what 908 had said to 121, he had seen everything.

“908!” he screamed. “Is your brain made out of Swiss cheese, you pathetic little piece of shit? Were you listening at all when I listed the rules? You were told no deliberate use of excessive force and do not give me any crap about how that was a heat-of-the-moment move. I have been in this service for many years and I know damn well what heat-of-the-moment mistakes look like!” He motioned to the guard that had been standing near the door. “Escort X5-908 immediately to solitary confinement and let them know that she’s to remain there for at least one full week.”

“Yes, sir,” the guard said. He grabbed 908 by the arm and led her out of the gymnasium.

The trainer knelt down by 121, who was sitting on the ground and clutching her injured knee. “How is the knee, 121?”

“Bad, sir,” 121 told him, gritting her teeth. She rolled up the leg of her pants so that the trainer could take a look and almost all of them had to restrain themselves from wincing.

“I would say so,” the trainer agreed. He made a motion with one hand. “494, 511, help 121 down to the infirmary and then return back here.”

“Sir, yes, sir!” 494 and 511 saluted the trainer and then immediately went over to 121. 494 went to her left and 511 to her right and the helped her up off of the mat and out of the gym. Once they were out of sight, they dropped their blank expressions.

“Oh my God, sweetheart, are you okay?” 511 asked, concerned.

“I will be eventually, but holy shit, this hurts so fucking bad,” 121 said. She hissed in pain. “I don’t know what that fucking ass stupid cunt did to my fucking knee, but it is not good. You heard the noise it made when she kicked it, right?”

“Yeah,” 494 confirmed. He shook his head. “That didn’t sound right.”

“So much for Los Angeles,” 121 said. “I was looking forward to going to the beach and actually having an opportunity to relax during my off hours.” She turned her head to 494, who had a mischievous look on his face. “And 494, one word about me sounding like 714 and I don’t care if my knee is shot to shit, your ass is toast.”

“Oh, she’s going to be fine,” 494 commented, laughing.

“I would say so,” 511 agreed. He turned to 121 as they reached the infirmary and his voice softened. “Are you sure that you’re okay, babe?”

“Don’t worry,” 121 said, smiling despite the pain from her injury. “I’ll be okay eventually. It’s just a knee injury. As long as you and 494 come and visit me here tonight, it’ll be A-okay.”

“Consider it done,” 511 promised. He leaned over to give 121 a kiss, but she quickly nudged him. He looked up with her and she discreetly motioned with her head towards the security camera that was mounted on the ceiling and 511 nodded.

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” 494 said cheerfully. “When 511 and I come to visit you here tonight, I’ll distract the nurse so the two of you can have some alone time.” The wicked grin on his face let them know exactly how he wanted to distract the nurse and the three of them laughed before 494 and 511 helped 121 inside.

TBC