Together -- Chapter 18b

Disclaimer: All of the characters that appeared on the TV show Dark Angel (Max, Zack, Logan, etc.) belong to their respective owners, not to me. No money is being made off of this fic. I only own the original characters (Becky/X6-405, etc.).

Max slipped through the side entrance that she and Becky had seen Alec come out of and ducked behind a crate. She stood up just enough so she could get a good look around the inside of the warehouse.

There are those kids Alec mentioned, she thought as she stared at the X8 and the X9 in the cage by the wall. Poor kids, that younger one can’t be older than three! Only two or three people here other than these two. The question is, when are they going to leave so I can get these kids out of here? If none or only some of them leave, this could get tricky. In either case, I’m gonna have to hope that they didn’t rig the cage with an alarm. I’d be all kinds of screwed if that’s the case. She ducked back behind the crate and waited until she heard a door open, then took another peek. Two people leaving...and the third is going into that office. Now’s my chance!

She snuck out from behind the crate and walked up to the cage and held a finger to her lips, then signaled to the kids that she was going to get them out. They both nodded silently and Max took out her switchblade and got to work on the lock. After a few moments, she heard the lock retract and the door come loose. She opened the door the rest of the way and helped the two kids out of the cage and led them to the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” a voice said.

Max turned around and saw Ames White standing in front of her. “Just picking up some friends from day care. You?”

“Charming,” White said. “You must be X5-452.”

“How did you know?” Max said.

“Some files we recovered at the Manticore site,” White said. “Director Renfro was not too happy with you.”

“I have that effect on some people,” Max said, shrugging. “Do you mind? I’m running a little late.”

“You’re gonna be running later,” White said. “We found something interesting in the files we recovered. Did you know that Renfro ran a complete DNA analysis on you shortly before the fire?”

Max shrugged. “They took blood samples all the damn time and I never knew what they were for half the time. So?”

“According to the DNA analysis, you have no junk DNA in you,” White said. “None.”

“Hey, we were supposed to be made to be better than humans, right?” Max said.

“True, but not even transgenics have absolutely no junk DNA,” White said.

“Whatever,” Max said. “Nice chatting with you, but I’m gonna go home now.”

“Not so fast,” White said.

“You and what army?” Max said.

“The one that’s coming back in through the front door,” White replied, pointing to where several of his men were re-entering the building.

Max bit her lip, then grabbed her switchblade and hurled it towards a pipe. Steam poured out of the pipe, temporarily blinding White and his men and allowing Max and the two young X-series soldiers to escape. She picked up the X9 and they blurred over to Becky and Alec. “Move! Run!” They nodded and the five of them blurred away from the warehouse.

“Thank goodness you’re okay,” Becky said.

“Yeah,” Max said. “Gonna need to get a new switchblade, but no big deal.” She looked over with Alec. “Do we need to get the device out of him?”

“No,” Becky said. “They played him. White never even implanted a device. Alec’s safe.”

“Are we clear, ma’am?” the X8 asked as they slowed down.

Max checked behind her. “Yeah, we’re clear. And you don’t have to call me ma’am. Manticore’s over. Call me Max.”

“Okay,” the X8 said.

“Should we snag a car?” Becky asked. “I know the girl’s X9, but she still has to be only three or so and it’s a long walk to Logan’s from here.”

“Good idea,” Max said. “See anything suitable, Alec?”

“Yeah,” Alec said, pointing to a minivan that was parked a block in front of them. “That one should do.”

“Can I drive?” the X8 said hopefully. “I just learned how to drive.”

Max shook her head and laughed. “Sorry, kid, but I don’t think you can reach the pedals on that thing yet. One of us will drive.”

“Darn,” the X8 said.

Becky smiled. “Don’t worry. You’ll be tall enough to drive one of those before you know it.”

They snuck up to the van. Alec picked the driver’s side lock and got in. He unlocked the doors and quickly hotwired the engine and got it running. “Seatbelts, everyone?”

Max rolled her eyes, but she didn’t say anything as she put on her seatbelt and turned around to face Becky, the X8, and the X9. “You got them settled in, Becky?”

“Yup,” Becky said.

“Hit it,” Max said. “Turn left at that light up ahead.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Alec muttered sarcastically. Max gave him an evil look and he shut up until the reached Logan’s penthouse a few minutes later. He parked the minivan in the garage and they climbed out and went inside and up to the apartment.

“We’re back,” Max said. “Everything went according to plan.”

“Great,” Logan said, relieved.

“What about that guy White?” Kyle asked.

“Still alive,” Max said. “I couldn’t just get rid of him. The guy had backup coming, plus I had to make sure these two got out safe. I just created a diversion and got the hell out of there.” She shrugged. “I need a new switchblade, but other than that everything went great. Saved Alec’s ass and we got these two out from under White’s thumb. Logan, do you think you can help with these guys?”

Logan nodded. “Yes, but their barcodes are gonna be tricky to hide since they’ll come back after they’re removed.”

“I’ll go out and get some makeup for them,” Max said. “We can make sure their barcodes are removed now and then show them how to use the makeup until they can get them removed again.”

“But makeup is for girls,” the X8 said.

“Would you rather get picked up by White?” Max pointed out.

The X8 shook his head. “No way. I’ll take the makeup.”

Becky smirked. “Kids. No matter what age or where they come from, they’re all the same.”

“I remember when we were all on that one mission a few years ago and I caught you girls putting makeup on,” Kyle said. “And then 029 threw some at me.” He shivered.

“Wuss,” Becky said. “You’re seventeen, Kyle. Grow up.”

“Like that’ll happen,” Kyle said.

“I hate it when you’re right,” Becky said.

TBC