What's Next? -- Chapter 27

Disclaimer:  The TV show Dark Angel, all of the characters that appeared on it (Max, Zack, Alec, 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 (Becky/X6-405, etc.).

“Nervous?” Maggie said to Becky a few weeks later as Becky practically flew around their apartment, getting ready for her first day at her new job.

“Not really. I’m only starting a job where I’ll be teaching people my own age,” Becky said sarcastically. “It’s not like I’ll be trying to parachute out of a helicopter in hurricane-type conditions on my way to rescue P.O.W.s or leading a group through a desert to wipe out some gun runners or anything fun like that. Nope, I’ve got to deal with a room full of ordinary college students.”

“Cheer up,” Maggie said. “Wayne aside, I’ve got to deal with a boatload of arrogant doctors who think that despite the fact that I’m a transgenic and I’ve got an IQ in the 180s I don’t know shit because I’m only seventeen and I’m female. I’ll bet you that I’ve got the more aggravating group of people to deal with at work.” She took a look at the clock. “Speaking of which, we’ve both got to get going if either of us wants to be on time. Do you need a lift?”

“No, I need a car,” Becky deadpanned. She grinned when Maggie laughed. “In the mean time, Alec is actually going to be giving me a lift to work. The art department is looking to purchase a painting or two from the gallery that Alec works for and he’s got the honor of being the one to negotiate a deal.” She reached down and picked up her new messenger bag and slung the strap over her shoulder.

“Couldn’t let go of the Jam Pony days, huh?” Maggie teased.

“These things beat briefcases any day,” Becky said. “I’ll see you later.” She turned and left the apartment and the building and walked through Terminal City to where Alec was standing near the main gates talking with an X4. “Hey, I’m ready to get going. Thanks for the ride.”

“Not a problem,” Alec said. He said good-bye to the man that he’d been talking to and he and Becky left Terminal City and walked over to his car and they got in. Alec started the car and pulled into traffic. “This is going to be interesting for you today, huh?”

“Oh yeah,” Becky said. “Nothing like teaching a group of kids my own age the basics of how to write a paper.” She rolled her eyes. “Lucky me.”

Alec couldn’t resist. “You weren’t complaining about the classes that you’re going to teach back when you were told what they were.”

“Very funny,” Becky said. “I’m just nervous. Yes even me, the Ice Queen herself, is nervous about her first day at a job that could conceivably become a career.” She shrugged. “I guess it’s understandable. It just annoys the hell out of me.”

“I guess I can understand that,” Alec said. They were silent for the rest of the drive there. Alec pulled into a parking lot and the two of them got out of the car. “I believe that this is where we say good-bye.” He grinned wickedly. “Are you sure that you’ll be okay walking to the English building all by yourself like a big girl?”

Becky rolled her eyes. “Yes, Alec, I’ll be just fine.” She turned to walk off in the direction of the English building only to stop short to avoid running into somebody else. “I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, right,” the other woman snapped. “Why don’t you grow a brain stem while you’re here getting an education?” She paused. “Do I know you?” Becky scrutinized the other woman. She was about Zack’s age, an inch or two shorter than Becky, had blond hair was a shade or two darker than Becky’s and Zack’s, and she had brown eyes that seemed to be set in a permanent glare. Becky started to reply, but was cut off.

“Well, look who we have here,” Alec said, grinning at the angry expression on the older woman’s face. “Hello, 908. Long time, no see. Where have you been all this time?”

“Around,” 908 said. “Why the hell are you even here?”

“I’ve got business here,” Alec said. He frowned momentarily. “I’m guessing that you’ve checked in at Terminal City and have been given your birth certificate and all of that crap, so why wasn’t I notified like most of the present C.O.s…” He trailed off and nodded. “…unless Melanie was the one who was checking people in that day and helped get your papers processed, am I right.”

908 smirked. “You’re right. It’s great to be in contact with Melanie and Diane again. You, on the other hand, can just as soon go jump off of a cliff for all I give a shit.”

“You haven’t changed much,” Becky observed.

“Now I remember you,” 908 said. She made a face. “The famous X6-405.”

“The one and only,” Becky said coolly. “I’m going by Becky these days. Do you have a name? The only ones that I know are the ones that Sasha, you know, 121, has called you in casual conversation.”

908 grimaced at the mention of Sasha’s designation. “Great, and if she’s around then that means that 511 is somewhere nearby as well. Fantastic. And not that it’s any of your business, but my name is Brandi.”

“Well, my name is Alec and it’s been such a pleasure to see you again, Bran,” he said.

“It’s Brandi, not Bran,” 908 said.

“Got it, Bran,” Alec said. “I’ll see you guys around.” He walked off.

“What are you doing here?” Becky asked. “On this campus.”

“I have a job in the bursar’s office,” Brandi said. “I’m pretty much in charge over there. What about you?” She smirked. “What could you be doing here, 405? Cafeteria?”

“Nope, professor in the English department,” Becky said. “And the name is Becky. See you.” She walked off, shaking her head. What a bitch. I hope Alec’s warning Sasha that she’s around because I can only imagine the potential fireworks there! She made her way to the English building and went inside and to the classroom and took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. You can do this. She opened the door and walked inside. “Good morning, everybody.”

“Who the hell are you and where’s the professor?” one of the guys near the front asked.

“To answer both of your questions, I am the professor,” Becky said. “To start with, you guys can call me Professor Murphy.” She turned her head so that she was looking at the students that were seated in one corner of the room. “And yes, I am a transgenic, which means that you will not be able to get away with shit in this class. I can hear everything and see everything.” She smirked a little. “Yes, you in the second row, I’m flattered that you think that I’m hot, but I do have a boyfriend and if he heard what you had just said about me, he wouldn’t be all that thrilled.”

“So…how old are you, anyway?” another student asked.

“Nineteen,” Becky said. “So, if things had been a little bit different, I’d be sitting where you guys are now.”

“Hey, I know who you are!” another guy said. “You’re one of those two chicks that had their pictures on TV almost a year ago!”

“Yeah, that’s right,” Becky admitted. “I made a bad guy angry and his way of showing his appreciation was to expose my ass.” Most of the students laughed and Becky grinned. Maybe this will be better than I thought. “Okay, I’m going to hand out a copy of…”