Together -- Chapter 28

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.).

“Hell of a view tonight,” Becky said to Zack as they sat on top of the Space Needle together later that night.

“Yeah,” Zack agreed.

“I can’t believe it,” Becky said. “I...it’s blowing my mind but at the same time, it’s like I should have seen it sooner.”

“I know what you mean,” Zack said. “Becky, I’m sorry—“

“It’s not your fault I got thrown in Psy Ops for six months,” Becky said. “The only thing you did was the right thing by getting your family and yourself out of there. Lydecker was the one who decided that I should get the longer stay in Psy Ops, not you.”

Zack nodded. “I know.”

“This is so overwhelming,” Becky said. “I’m still not sure exactly what to think. Don’t get me wrong, Zack, I’m thrilled that we’re brother and sister, but I just...I don’t know. Should I also file this fact in the ‘Things to Be Pissed Off at Lydecker About’ file because he kept us apart at Manticore and never told us? Or should I not be pissed at Lydecker because he did order me to be the one to bring you your meals when you turned yourself in earlier this year? Or should I be pissed at him anyway because he probably only did that because he wanted to see how we would react being around each other? How do I tell my other siblings? How are they going to react at this? Kevin and Kyle and Maggie and Xavier will probably be cool with it ‘cause they’ve met you already and they don’t hate you guys anymore, but I still haven’t seen 367, 570, 887, 029, and 144 since the fire. I don’t know what they’re going to say and think about this.”

“Max is happy, at least,” Zack said. “I think my other brothers and sisters will be, too. Don’t worry, Becky. If they care about you as much as you tell me they do, then they’ll not only accept this but be happy for you.”

“You’re probably right,” Becky said.

The two of them sat quietly together for a few more minutes before Zack finally started talking again. “Are you curious about our biological parents?”

“A little, I guess, but I’m in no rush to go out and find them,” Becky said. “Besides, according to the database, they’re both in the military. Our biological father is some general who works at the pentagon now and our biological mother is a colonel at Ft. Benning in Georgia. I seriously doubt that either of them would be thrilled to learn that they have two transgenic children.”

“Yeah,” Zack agreed.

Becky looked down for a moment. “I do wish sometimes that I’d had a real mother and father. It would have been nice to grow up in a normal house in a normal family. You ever think about that?”

“Sometimes,” Zack agreed. “To not have to worry about doing drills every single day, to not have to worry about running and hiding all of the time, to not be in constant fear of your brother’s and sister’s lives as well as your own...”

“...but then we wouldn’t have the people that we care about,” Becky finished. “If we did, it wouldn’t be the same.”

“As hard as our lives are, I wouldn’t want to trade it,” Zack said. “If I wanted to trade it, then I wouldn’t care about the people in my life. I’d trade some people in it...”

“Now why spoil a perfectly good conversation by mentioning Logan Cale?” Becky said.

“I don’t know,” Zack said. “I guess I couldn’t help it.”

“I don’t trust him completely either,” Becky said. “But he hasn’t done anything to either to take things too far with Max or to screw any of us over. He doesn’t like you too much.”

“So I was an asshole to him before,” Zack said. He shrugged. “He deserved it.”

Becky laughed. “I’m sure he did. Look, Zack, if you want to make a move, then make a move. Max is in love with you, but she just doesn’t want to admit it yet. She won’t reject you outright. Just don’t try to force her into anything.”

“I remember the last time I tried to force her to do something,” Zack said. “It was the morning before I turned myself in to Lydecker. She pretty much kicked my ass. She definitely doesn’t like to be forced into anything.”

“Why don’t you try just talking to her finally admitting outright how you feel about her,” Becky said. “Let her know exactly where you stand.”

“That’s a good idea,” Zack said. “I don’t know what else to do. I’m not that big of a romantic on the surface. Maybe I am way deep down, but anything that has to do with the flowers and candy kind of romantic crap is beyond me.”

“So do it,” Becky said. “Stick around Seattle for a few days this time.” She saw the look on Zack’s face and grinned. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll make sure that Cale is occupied or at least make sure he won’t be able to disturb you while you and Max talk things over.”

“Thanks,” Zack said.

“You’re welcome,” Becky said. They were quiet again for several minutes.

“Becky?” Zack said.

“Yeah?”

“Are you sure you need me around at all?” Zack asked.

“What do you mean?” Becky said, confused.

“You’re physically better than I am,” Zack said. “You’ve had a few years more training than I did. You don’t need me to watch over you.”

Becky shook her head. “I might be stronger, I might be faster, my senses might be a little better and I might have quicker reflexes, but I’m not invincible. You’re my older brother, Zack. I’m always going to need you. Nothing’s going to change that and I couldn’t be happier that nothing can change it.”

Zack put an arm around Becky’s shoulders and smiled at her. “Thank you.” Becky smiled in return and put one of her arms around his shoulders and they just sat and watched the city.

TBC