Dysfunctional -- Chapter 34

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.).

121 played with her spoon as she stared into her empty oatmeal bowl at breakfast the following morning. First couples go up today. I hope I’m not one of them and if I am, please let 511 be my breeding partner! I won’t say a word if that happens. Please, please, please! She looked up and made a face as 494 slurped the last of his cold cereal straight from the bowl. “That’s disgusting, 494.”

“Affirmative,” 494 agreed. He laughed and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Just trying to loosen you up, 121.”

121 managed a smile. “I know. Thank you.”

“I wonder if the lists are going to be up after we’re done,” 967 mused. “They weren’t up when we left for lineup and roll call. Do you think they’ll be up by now?”

“Well, Director Renfro did say that they would be up early this morning,” 511 pointed out. “I’d say that there’s a good shot that they’ll be up by now.”

714 smiled and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Who here is looking forward to this? There are so many hot guys here. Personally, I’m hoping to get this one guy that I spotted yesterday when we were outside running the obstacle course. I think his designation was 557. I don’t know where he’s originally from, but I wouldn’t mind having sex with him! How about you, 786? Got any preferences?”

“None in particular,” 786 replied. “I’ll be happy with whomever they assign to me.” She raised an eyebrow when she heard 121 snort. “Yes, 121? Do you have something to add to this discussion?”

“Me? Not really.” 121 looked over at 786 and sent a smirk in her unitmate's direction. “It’s nothing that any of us don’t already know.”

“Whoever’s going to end up being your breeding partner is going to he the unluckiest man on this planet,” 786 declared. She smiled sweetly. “What the hell, since we are having this conversation, do you have any particular preference as to who the unlucky son-of-a-bitch might be?”

“511,” 121 said automatically and then she and 511 both winced at the same time. Oh, shit! We’ve managed to keep it under wraps for the past few years and the whore asks one question and I just had to answer honestly. Great.

“Excuse me?” 786 shook her head in disbelief. “You’d actually want 511 to be your breeding partner if you had a say in the matter?” She sighed. “I always knew that you were completely fucking crazy, 121, but I didn’t know that you were that far gone.”

121 looked next to her at 511, who nodded slightly and gave her a quick smile. “If that’s true, then I must be a complete nut case because I love the guy and we’ve had a relationship for the past few years.” She couldn’t help grinning when she saw the shocked looks on some of the faces of her teammates. “What? We’re adults.”

“You’ve actually had a serious relationship with somebody?” 295 said dubiously.

“Yes, I of all people have had a serious relationship somebody and yes, I know what you were going to say, I don’t think Director Renfro would be throwing a party to celebrate if she ever found out,” 121 confirmed. “If you ever think about snitching, then I’m going to make sure that you won’t be able to perform up to standards for the breeding program.” She smirked. “Though from what I’ve heard, you weren’t able to perform up to standards in the first program.” 121 put an innocent look on her face when she saw 295 clearly getting angry. “Hey, don’t look at me like that, 295. This was only something that I heard in passing.”

“You…and 511…” 908 shuddered, unable to finish her sentence. “That’s horrible.”

“Actually, it’s the most incredible thing that’s ever happened to me, 908,” 511 countered. “I can’t change your opinion, but 121 is a wonderful woman.”

“Shut up before I puke all over the table,” 714 said in disgust. “I really don’t want to go through the entire day with vomit-breath.”

“Personally, I think vomit-breath would be an improvement over that bubble gum mint crap that her breath usually smells like,” 494 commented to 511 and 121, but he made sure to speak just loud enough for 714 to also hear him.

“It’s bubble gum spearmint and it’s called mouthwash,” 714 informed him irritably.

786 put and hand on 714’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, 714. 494 is just being his usual asshole self. Ignore him.”

121 looked mildly surprised. “Wow, 786, I’m almost impressed. If you weren’t insulting my best friend, I’d actually call that good advice.” 786 started to reply, but the warning bell rang and everybody got up and went to put their trays away. 121 took a deep breath as she followed 494 and 511 out of the cafeteria. Don’t let this be to bad…don’t let me be on it today. I’m not ready!

494 looked up as they approached a bulletin board. “It looks like the lists are up.” They quickly crowded to it. “Twenty-five pairs are going to be starting things off tonight.”

“Twenty-five pairs total or twenty-five pairs among the X5s?” 511 asked.

“Among the X5s,” 494 replied.

“Oh,” 511 said. He looked up at the X5 list and couldn’t help the shudder that ran through him when he saw who was listed as a participant. Damn, why now?

“511, what’s going on? What’s wrong?” 121 questioned. 511 pointed to the lists and 121 turned to look. Okay, X5s…pairs by females…X5-035 paired with X5-781…X5-104 paired with X5-933… She felt her heart sink into her stomach when she read the next pair listed. X5-121 paired with X5-591. Fuck! No, why now? Why not with 511? She hung her head as she moved away from the bulletin board. Her voice was barely above a whisper when she could finally speak again. “One damn digit. One stupid fucking digit.”

“I’m sorry,” 494 said sincerely. “I’m really sorry.” He looked at his two best friends with concern. “Are both of you going to be okay?”

“I don’t know,” 121 confessed, her voice shaky. “How the hell am I going to do this tonight? My God, my cell is right next to 511’s. How can I sleep with somebody else when he can hear the entire thing? I can’t do that to him!”

“I’ll wear earplugs. I’ll do something,” 511 promised. He wrapped his arms around 121. “Don’t worry. Remember, you won’t be cheating on me. This isn’t cheating in any way, shape, or form.”

“I know,” 121 conceded.

“How about you scream out 511’s designation when you’re copulating?” 494 suggested with a wicked grin.

121’s jaw dropped. “That is absolutely evil…”

“So?” 494 said. “If it really is that evil, then only shout out 511’s designation if 591 is really bad in the sack.”

“…and that is why you’re one of my best friends,” 121 finished, finally cracking a smile. “I don’t think that’s a bad idea.” She shrugged. “This is going to be the hardest thing I’ll ever do in my life. I might as well get some fun out of this.”

“That’s the spirit,” 494 declared.

“That’s my girl,” 511 said. He gave her another hug. “Here’s hoping 591 will not be as good as I am in bed.”

“Oh, nobody can be as good as you are in bed, baby,” 121 assured him.

“He’s even better than me?” 494 said, pretending to be hurt.

“Much better than you,” 121 told him. They turned around and started to march off to their first class of the day and 121 felt her mood start to slide downward again. Yeah, I should get something out of this, but the fact still stands that this will be harder than anything that I’ve ever done in my entire life. It was different during the first breeding program because I wasn’t in love with 511 or at least if I was, then I wasn’t aware of it. Now… She felt 511 reach behind him to take her hand and give it a reassuring squeeze and she couldn’t help smiling again. At least I have his support and 494’s as well. Thank goodness for their support. Maybe I will get through this somehow. Maybe.