Together -- Chapter 27b

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.).

“I can’t believe it,” Becky said. “I can’t believe I have a real brother.” She mentally shook herself. “Not that Kyle or Xavier or any of my younger brothers or sisters are any less real to me, far from it, they’re as real to me now as they ever were, but...”

“It’s mind boggling,” Max said. She turned to look at where Zack’s file was still up on Logan’s monitor and at the line that read ‘Siblings: X6-405.’ She narrowed her eyes as she looked at a note that had been made next to it. “’Also see Experiment 56X1B.’ What the hell...?”

“Check my file,” Becky suggested. “Maybe that has something else.”

“Okay,” Logan said. After a few moments, he brought Becky’s file up on the screen. “Here it is.”

“Birthday: October 31, 2002. Hey, I’m exactly three years younger than you, Max. That’s interesting.” Becky continued reading. “Barcode number, designation, blond hair, grey eyes, 5’8”, whoop-de-doo...’Siblings: X5-599. Also see Experiment 56X1B.’ Huh.”

“Guess that experiment has some answers that you and I’m sure Zack will want to see,” Max said. “Logan?”

“Already on it,” Logan said. He got back to the correct folder and opened the file on Experiment 56X1B. “Here it is. Looks like this was written by Lydecker himself.”

“Huh,” Becky said. She looked over Logan’s shoulder and started reading. “’It is well known that leaders should have the same qualities. What if these leaders would have the same qualities naturally by genetics without the use of cloning? After X5-599 was born, he began to show incredible promise. By the time he’d reached two years of age, when the time had come to start designing and planning for the next generation, he’d shown far more potential than any other X-series leader before him and more potential than the other X5s born at that point. It was decided to take more of the samples given to us from X5-599’s genetic donors and to use them to create the first of the X6 series. We took the X5-specific code sequencing from X5-599 and applied the upgrades to it as planned and then combined this new X6 code sequencing to the genetic material from X5-599’s donors. The resulting X6, whom we chose to be a female, was given a designation reflecting it’s status as X5-599’s sibling. As planned, this new X6, X6-405, was the first of the entire X6 generation to be born when she arrived on October 31st, 2002, approximately seven years and one month after her older brother.’”

“Wow,” Max said.

“I still can’t believe I didn’t think that you and Zack were related,” Logan said, shaking his head. “You two look a lot alike, aside from the eye color.” That and you’re a lot nicer than your prick of a brother.

“Thanks,” Becky said. She looked at Logan suspiciously. She knew he didn’t think too highly of Zack. And we’re a lot alike in other ways, too. Like how neither of us trust you completely.

“There’s some more,” Max said. “More of Lydecker’s notes about the two of you as you grew up. It more or less ends after the escape, but he still deemed the experiment a success.”

“It just warms my heart to know I was the result of a special experiment,” Becky deadpanned. She shook her head. “It explains why I got the six-month stay is Psy Ops back after you guys left instead of three months like the other C.O.’s they threw in there.”

Max looked pale. “They kept you in Psy Ops for six full months when you were a kid? I’m so sorry, Becky. I had no idea.”

“It’s okay,” Becky said. “I don’t blame you guys. I never have and I never will.” She smiled a little. “It actually explains why there were times when I could have sworn that Lydecker looked like he was a little scared of me, particularly when I was furious with him for some reason or another.”

“You must have looked so much like Zack then,” Max said. She grinned. “I would have loved to see the look on Lydecker’s face those times.”

“You would have loved it,” Becky said. She sat down. “I’ve got to tell Zack. I...”

Max had to grin at Becky’s nerves. “Hold tight. I’ll take care of this.”

Zack was on his way out of Seattle when he heard his cell phone ring. He quickly pulled over to the side of the road so he could answer it. “Yes?”

“It’s me,” Max said.

“What’s going on? Is something wrong?” Zack asked.

“Not wrong, but you need to get back to Logan’s,” Max said. “He cracked the codes for the X-series portion of the database.”

“Oh,” Zack said. “Why do you need me there?”

“Zack, trust me on this one,” Max said.

“Is it something bad?” Zack said.

“No,” Max said. “But it’s not something that should be told over the phone. Trust me.”

“I will,” Zack said. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.” He disconnected and put his phone away and turned his motorcycle around and headed towards Logan’s penthouse. As he promised Max, he was there in minutes. Max met him in the living room.

“You’re here,” she said.

“Yeah,” Zack said. “What’s going on?”

“We dug up some dirt on us. Did you know that some of us X-series have siblings?” Max said.

“Let me guess: you and Krit?” Zack guessed.

“Yep,” Max said. “The two of us are only one pair, though. Ben and Alec are obviously another, though whether they are cloned or just happened naturally, I have no clue yet.”

“So?” Zack said.

“They also gave information on how you can tell which X-series are siblings of another. The designation of the intended younger sibling is a numerical combination using the numbers in the designation of the intended older sibling. Krit was actually supposed to be younger than me.” She took a deep breath. “Zack, what do you get when you multiply the numbers in your designation?”

“Easy. 405...” Zack’s eyes widened. “Oh my...”

“Yeah,” Max said. “She’s your sister. Lydecker wanted to pull some special experiment to see if somebody could be as good a leader as a regular non-cloned sibling and she’s the result.”

“Unbelievable,” Zack said.

“Believe it,” Max said. “I couldn’t believe I didn’t think of it sooner.”

“Where’s Becky now?” Zack asked.

“In the computer room with Logan,” Max said. “She’s about as shocked as you are.”

Zack nodded and walked over to the computer room. He stood in the doorway and just looked at Becky. Becky heard him and turned her head and they just looked at each other for a few moments. Finally, Becky got up and they walked towards each other and just hugged each other.

TBC