Dysfunctional -- Chapter 3

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 (Sasha/X5-121, etc.).

494 stopped and gestured for his group to hold position and be silent.  He cocked his head to the side and then gestured for 121 to go up ahead to spot any of the members of 908's group.  121 nodded and ran up ahead a few yards and climbed up a tree and she remained there for a few minutes.  Finally, she climbed back down and ran back over to the rest of the group.  "I don't see them anywhere.  If they're in the area, they're doing a pretty damn good job of staying hidden."

"No surprise there.  This is one of 908's strongest points," 494 commented.  "But they can't stay hidden forever.  We need to anticipate what 908's next move will be.  714, what do you think?"

"What if 511 is going to run the show for that group?" 714 muttered.

494 raised an eyebrow.  "Then we're set because I know how 511 thinks like the back of my hand.  But 908 is in charge of that group and I didn't ask for any unauthorized comments, 714.  What I did ask for is your opinion because I know that out of the nine members of this group, you're the closest to 908 and is the one that most likely knows how 908 thinks.  What do you think 908's next move will be?"

"She'll have everybody hold position for a minimum of five minutes," 714 said after a few minutes.  "When she feels that you haven't spotted her or her group yet, she'll make a move to get to her group's flag.  It will most likely be her and 786 that will make a run at the flag.  511 might be with them, but he'll most likely be left behind defending their group's flag."

"Why the hell are we even running this stupid exercise in the first place?" 665 grumbled.  "How many times have we played Capture the Flag since 859 was the last of us to join the unit from the baby training?  A million?"

"Quiet down, 665," 121 hissed.

"She's right," 494 said.  "Good work, 714.  That does sound pretty much what I would think 908 would do."  He thought for a moment.  "Here's how we're going to counter.  121, I want you to go back to our flag and switch positions with 263 and tell 263 to remain here with the middle team.  665 and 714 and I will move forward to capture the other team's flag.  All of you guys are to spread out and try to catch any of the members of 908's group that try to advance."  He saw 714 smirk faintly at the thought of her going to capture the flag and at the thought of 121 having to remain back with the flag, but when he looked over at 121, he saw that she was also happy with the orders.  She's going to love to get a shot at 908 and 786!  I'm always happy to give my friends what they want, especially when it also happens to be the tactically best thing to do!

494 made some more gestures and they split up.  He moved quietly through the forest with 665 and 714 right behind him.  He gestured for the three of them to hold and he zoomed in and saw the other group's flag and sure enough, 511 was the one who was guarding it.  He looked around and scanned the surrounding area and found another member of 908's group, 013, hidden a short distance away from 511 and the flag.  494 nodded and gestured for 665 to go around and subdue 013 and then he moved around stealthily and 714 made a move to the flag.  511 spotted her and raised his paintball gun to fire, but 494 nailed him with his own paintball gun and grabbed the flag and then he, 714, and 665 ran out of the area.  He picked up his walkie-talkie.  "Control, this is X5-494, Group A leader.  Group B's flag is secure."

"Control copies," a trainer's voice replied.  "Groups A and B, return to the rendezvous point.  This exercise is now finished."

494, 665, and 714 ran straight back to the rendezvous point just outside of the woods, the rest of their team members joining them a few moments later.  After another few minutes, the members of 908's group also joined them and 908 did not look happy.  494 had to restrain a laugh as he saw the paintball splatters on the front of the forest camouflage of both 908 and 786.  That was the color of the paintballs in 121's gun, all right.  He looked over to his right and saw the triumphant look in 121's eyes.  She's going to be in a good mood for awhile.

"That was good work, Unit 3," the trainer complimented.  He began to grill them all on how the exercise went.  "...understandable, 511.  That was good tactics on the part of 494."  He turned his attention to 908.  "908, you said that you and 786 were ambushed when you made a run for Group A's flag."

"Correct, sir," 908 said.

"I read the files on every member of this unit before the exercise," the trainer said.  He was starting to look angry.  "According to 786's file, she excels at defense.  Why did you bring her with you to make a run on the flag and left 511 behind to guard the flag instead of the other way around?"

"I believed that 494 would be at least one of the soldiers who would be attempting to grab my group's flag, sir," 908 answered.  "I thought that since 511 often works together with 494 during training that he would know best how to stop 494 from successfully obtaining the flag."

"Good point, but by the same logic that you had used, since they do work together as often as they do during training, 494 would know exactly how to get around 511, which is what happened," the trainer yelled.  "494 put 121 with the soldiers that were guarding the flag.  121 is one of the best snipers in the unit and she utilized her skills effectively against yourself and 786.  494 displayed excellent tactical sense and you did not, 908.  I am very dissapointed in you!  I expected more from you, 908.  You are still the second-in-command of this unit and that does come with standards!"  He shook his head.  "Twenty laps around the facility for you, 908.  The rest of you are dismissed."

"Sir, yes, sir!" they all yelled.  They saluted the trainer and then went back inside to change and shower before going to lunch.

"Great, she's going to miss lunch," 786 complained.  "Thanks a lot, 121."

"What, for knowing how to use a paintball gun?" 121 said.  "Shut up, 786."

"Both of you, shut up," 494 ordered.

"Sorry, sir," 121 apologized.

"I can't believe that we lost," 237, who had been on 908's team, said angrily.  "We should have won!  908 actually came up with a great strategy for once and we still fucking lost!  We shouldn't have lost.  We should have won!"

"Calm down, 237," 511 warned him.  "Do you want to get a day or two in solitary for using that word?"

"Shut the fuck up, 511," 237 retorted.  "I don't care if I get a day or two in solitary for using words.  Besides, the trainers use them all of the time.  If they didn't want us picking up and using those words, then they shouldn't be using them in front of us."

494 nodded.  "He's right.  Still, 237, cool it.  You need to learn from your mistakes--"

"My mistakes?  I was not the one who blew the exercise!" 237 snapped.

"--or whoever's mistakes and move on and win the exercise the next time that we run it," 494 continued.  "Do not lose your temper like that.  It doesn't help you and it can only get you in trouble."

"Shut up and stop preaching like you're perfect or something," 237 sneered.

"I'm not perfect," 494 said.  "I'm good, but I'm not perfect."  He couldn't help grinning and 511 and 121 laughed.  "But seriously, 237, calm down."

"I will not calm down!" 237 snapped.  He threw a punch at 494, but 494 kept his cool and blocked it and gripped 237's wrist tightly.

"I'm going to be a nice guy and not report this," 494 told his unitmate.  He tightened his grip on 237's wrist.  "But the next time that you try something like this with me, I will either report it, beat the daylights out of you, or both.  Take your pick.  Do I make myself clear?"

"Sir, yes, sir," 237 said through gritted teeth.

494 nodded and released his grip on 237's wrist.  "Thanks, buddy."  They reached their hallway.  "We've got fifteen minutes before lunch.  I'll see you all there."

They split up and went into their cells.  494, 511, and 121 stopped in front of the door to 121's cell.  "I thought 237 was really going to lose it," 121 commented.

"I can handle him," 494 assured her.

"Thank goodness that you can," 511 said.  "But you still need to be careful."

"I'm always careful." A big grin accompanied 494's statement.  "I'll meet you here when you're done changing and we can go to lunch together."

"Cool," 511 said.  121 nodded and they went into their cells.

TBC