Dysfunctional -- Chapter 6

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.).

“So, are you guys nervous about the assembly after breakfast?” 121 teased as she, 494, 511, and the rest of the unit marched over to the cafeteria after lineup and roll call one morning a week-and-a-half later.

“Nah.” 494 shook his head. “I’m not too nervous, anyway. I’m pretty sure that I did well enough to have gotten at least second-in-command.”

“With me as commanding officer,” 511 said cheerfully. He, 494, and 121 laughed.

“Shut up,” 908 told them in disgust as they entered the cafeteria and got on the food line. “There’s no way that you could have made even second-in-command, 511, so drop the bullshit.”

“There’s also no need for your belittling everybody this morning,” 494 pointed out. “Zip it, 908.”

“Hey, 121, I heard that you did pretty damn good leading these guys while 494 and I were taking part in the trials,” 511 spoke up. “Way to go. I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you,” 121 said. She blushed a little.

714 snorted as they got their food and sat down at their table. “Please shut up. There’s no need to praise the bitch. She was only leading us by default while the two of you were running the trials. It doesn’t matter how she did.”

“Neither does your opinion,” 121 shot back.

“The day hasn’t officially begun until 121 is involved in an argument with somebody,” 494 deadpanned. Some of the unit laughed mean-spiritedly. Even 121 chuckled, though it was because she knew 494 was just being himself and didn’t mean anything nasty by it.

“I brighten everybody’s day,” 121 remarked. She ate a spoonful of her oatmeal. “It’s one of the things that I do best.”

“Please don’t make me laugh while I’m eating my breakfast,” 295 said, shaking his head. He took a sip of his orange juice. “Let’s face it, 121, you’re a killjoy.”

121 raised an eyebrow. “I’m a killjoy, 295? I think that you’re the one that needs to reach up your ass and yank out the rule book that’s jammed up there.” She sighed when she saw the looks from most of the rest of the unit. “Come on here, people. I don’t care what you’re personal opinion of me is, you’ve got to agree with me on this one. 295 is so damn anal retentive, I’m pretty sure he’s the only mission-qualified soldier here that hasn’t even thought about sneaking back contraband from a mission.”

“I never thought that I would ever hear myself say this, but 121 has a valid point,” 786 conceded. “I’m going to have to agree with her. Why won’t you even do that? It’s not that hard to sneak in contraband and it’s even easier to hide it.”

“Because it’s wrong,” 295 said indignantly. “You guys can risk getting caught with contraband all you want to, but I sure won’t.”

“Get with the program, you little snot,” 665 told his teammate. “Be a man for once in your life.”

“Yeah,” 237 agreed. “Even 107 has more backbone than you do.”

“Hey!” 107 snapped. “I didn’t do anything to you yet this morning, 237. Don’t start with me.”

“Or what? You’re going to beat the shit out of me?” 237 sneered.

“Stop it,” 494 ordered. “Wait until martial arts or edge weapons before the two of you fight each other. There will be no bloodshed at the table. Am I making myself clear?”

“Yes, sir,” 107 and 237 said reluctantly.

They all looked up as the warning bell rang and they stood up and went to put their trays away and then marched out of the cafeteria towards the lecture hall where the assembly was going to be held. “I guess this is it,” 494 observed. They found some seats and went over to them and sat down. “Now or never.”

“You’re more nervous than you thought, huh?” 121 teased.

“Okay, so I am,” 494 admitted. He shrugged and grinned. “You can’t blame a guy for getting nervous when he’s potentially up for a promotion.”

“Nope,” 121 agreed. They sat back as more of the X5s entered the lecture hall and then finally, Director Renfro herself. Renfro stepped up to the podium and waited for the X5s to quiet down before she started to speak.

“As you all know, the trials for commanding officer and second-in-command of the X5 platoon concluded two days ago,” she said. “My staff and I have been deliberating on the results since then and came to a conclusion last night.” She cleared her throat. “Seattle facility X5s, your commanding officer will be X5-494. 494, please step forward.”

511 slapped 494 on the back. “Way to go, buddy.”

“Thanks,” 494 said. He felt a little bit dazed. I thought I did well enough, but I can’t believe that I actually got it! All right! He stood up and walked over next to the podium and turned around so that he faced the other X5s and stood at attention.

Renfro nodded in satisfaction. “Our choice for second-in-command of the platoon may come as a little bit of a surprise to some of you because of his rank, but his performance during the trials spoke for itself.” Both 511’s and 121’s eyes widened and they exchanged a quick glance. Renfro took a deep breath and continued. “Seattle facility X5s, your second-in-command will be X5-511. 511, please step forward.”

511 somehow managed to restrain a grin as he stood up and walked over to 494 and stood at attention next to him. This is unreal.

“I have some more news for all of you before I dismiss you,” Renfro said. “In two days, we will begin standard evaluations for every single X5. However, at the conclusion of these evaluations, we will post not only the intraunit rankings, but the complete platoon rankings as well. The top sixteen soldiers, as well as any commanding officers and second-in-commands who rank below the top sixteen, will be granted officer status. That is all. You are dismissed.”

“Ma’am, yes, ma’am!” they all chorused. Everybody saluted Renfro and then marched out of the lecture hall.

“I can’t believe it!” 121 said happily. She gave both 494 and 511 a hug. “Congratulations! You guys did it.”

“Not in the order that I’d hoped, but I’ll live with it,” 511 joked. “Thank you, 121.”

908, as expected, looked furious. “I can’t believe that you two losers are in command of everybody.”

“Holy shit, she’s right,” 121 said, her eyes wide. “We’ll outrank the X3s and X4s once we pass our solo ops tests and are considered to be fully trained and we already outrank every X-series that comes after us. You guys will be running the show in three years or less!”

“That’s disgusting,” 714 declared. She made a face and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “I can’t believe that 494 and 511 will be—“

“Congratulations, you guys!” 849 said as she approached them. She also gave both 494 and 511 a hug.

“Thanks,” 494 told her. “I’m sorry that you didn’t make either spot. I thought you did really well.”

849 shook her head. “I guess I did, but you two earned it for sure.”

“Way to go,” 228 added as she joined her C.O.

“Shouldn’t you be leading your unit somewhere, 849?” 908 sneered.

121 and 228 exchanged a look as the same thing crossed both of their minds. 849’s an officer and 908 isn’t. 908 could be in so much trouble.

849 just kept her cool and smiled sweetly at 908. “Don’t worry, 908. My unit is scheduled with yours for martial arts next. I think that we’re going to be using weapons in that class today, aren’t we, 494?”

“I do believe that you’re right, 849,” 494 agreed cheerfully, trying not to laugh at the furious and worried look on 908’s face. “Unit 3, fall in line.”

“Unit 4, fall in line,” 849 said. They led their units to the gym.

TBC