Welcome to Our Life -- Chapter 18: X6-334

Disclaimer:  The TV show Dark Angel, all of the characters that appeared on it (Max, Zack, Jondy, 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 (Elle/X5-164, etc.).

It’s been three days since 312 and 728 and I had returned from Seattle from that disaster in Poland.  The three of us have been in a state of shock since then.  We haven’t heard anything about the status of our missing unit mates or why that whole mess had happened in the first place.  The only good thing that I could say about the past few days was that they didn’t throw us in Psy Ops after we had been debriefed on the mission.  They had heard the evidence of the ambush and had agreed with 312’s final analysis.

The three of us stood outside in lineup, watching a pair of X5s spar.  Since we had resumed our normal training schedule, they had often stuck us with X5 units or other X6 units for group lessons since it was just the three of us from our unit.  The two X5s finished their fight and the trainer dismissed us.  We headed back towards the building.

“Grow up and get rid of those dumb looks.  It’s been a few days,” a female voice snapped.

Another female sighed in aggravation.  “Shut the hell up, 908.  Those poor kids just saw their unit shot out from under them because of an ambush.  Either grow a brain stem or go pick on somebody your own age, okay?”  The first woman gave us a nasty look but turned and went away.  “I’m sorry about her.”

“It’s okay, 121,” I said.

“But why are such pretty girls looking so sad?” 121’s second-in-command, 511 said.  He threw an arm around me and I giggled.  He was a sweetheart and he’s really cute.

“She’s barely fourteen and 728 is only thirteen,” 121 said in mock disgust.  She was smiling, though.  “Flirt with girls your own age.”

“He flirts with you all the time and mentally, you’re they’re age.  How is this different?” their C.O., 494, teased.  By this time, 312, 728, and I were laughing a little.

“Once again, 494 proves just how smart he really is,” 121 remarked.

“I am hurt, 121,” 494 said.  “I am deeply hurt that you would insult me down in front of these impressionable kids.”

A guard marched over to us and we shut up and stood at attention.  “Director Renfro needs to see X6-312, X6-334, and X6-728 in her office immediately.”  312, 728, and I saluted the guard and then we saluted 494, 511, and 121 since X5s are our superior officers and we followed the guard to Director Renfro’s office.  We lined up and stood at attention because not only was Director Renfro in the office, but Colonel Lydecker, the man who ran one of the other Manticore facilities and was in charge of the entire project, was also there.  He’d come over from Wyoming the day that we’d gotten back from Poland and had been one of the ones who’d debriefed us.  We saluted both of them.

“X6-312 reporting as ordered, ma’am,” 312 said.

“X6-334 reporting as ordered, ma’am,” I said.

“X6-728 reporting as ordered, ma’am,” 728 said.

“At ease,” Director Renfro said and we fell back into the position.  She nodded approvingly before she continued to talk.  “I have some news for the three of you.  As of 1400 hours, X6 Unit 4 has officially been de-commissioned.”

What?  They’d de-commissioned our unit?  But 941, 111, 520, and 646 could still be alive!  “Permission to speak, ma’am,” 312 said.

“Permission granted,” Director Renfro said.  She gestured towards 312.

“Why was the unit de-commissioned, ma’am?” 312 asked.

“It was decided that keeping the unit together wasn’t a viable option,” Director Renfro replied.  “We have, however, decided to keep the three of you together in the same unit.”  She motioned over to Colonel Lydecker.  “When Colonel Lydecker returns to our Wyoming facility tomorrow morning, the three of you will go with him.  You are being transferred to one of the X6 units there.”

“Permission to speak, ma’am,” I said.

“Permission granted,” Director Renfro said.

“To which unit will we be transferred to?” I asked.

Director Renfro looked over to Colonel Lydecker and he answered my question.  “The three of you will be transferred to Unit 1.  Your new commanding officer will be X6-405 and your new second-in-command will be X6-773.  You will meet them and the rest of your new unit when we arrive in Gillette tomorrow.”  He looked at us.  “And no, we have nothing further on the status of your missing former unit mates.  They are still classified at this point as M.I.A. and P.O.W.”

“Are there any further questions?” Director Renfro asked.

“Ma’am, no, ma’am,” 312, 728, and I said in unison.

“Very well,” she said.  “Colonel Lydecker will meet you outside of your cells at precisely 0500 hours tomorrow morning.  He will escort you to the transport that will take you away from this facility.  You must be ready to leave when he arrives for you.  That is all.  You may return to your regularly scheduled activity.  You are dismissed.”

We saluted Director Renfro and Colonel Lydecker and we left the office and headed for our next class.  “We’re leaving here,” I said.  “I can’t believe that we’re leaving this place.  I’ve lived here my whole life.”

“So have we,” 312 said.  He grinned wickedly.  “But if you ever get homesick, just look around the place in Wyoming!”  We’d heard that all three Manticore facilities were nearly identical.

“Very funny,” I said.

“Thanks,” 312 said.

“Seriously, it’s good that you’re making jokes again,” I said.  “I just wish that they were good jokes for once.”  The three of us laughed quietly and continued on to our class.

728’s expression grew more sober.  “Do you think that we’ll get another shot at the bastards who killed everybody?”

“I hope we do,” 312 said.  “I want another piece of them.”

“So do I,” I agreed.  “So do I.”

TBC