Isabella Swan....Danvers? Chapter 2
Previous chapters: Prologue I Chapter 1
Both boys were relieved when they found out that we wouldn't travel in my truck or Charlie's police cruiser. Nope. Instead they were smiling when Charlie's shining black Saturn was revealed. And the look upon their faces when they took of with me behind the wheel was hilarious. Especially Jasper's when he had asked me if his siblings had been mistaken when they said I did not like speed. Charlie and I were both laughing our ass off at that point and it took me some time before I managed to tell him that I loved speed, was born for it actually, as long as I was driving or someone I trusted explicative did.
So far the drive had been without trouble and the hours had flown by while the chatter and banter easily flew back and even Jacob's attitude seemed to diminish. We had only made a few stops along the way to take care of some of the human needs and gas for the car, but there was still a long road ahead of them and I could see that both Jasper and Jacob were starting to give me confused glances when I didn't given the slightest hint of starting to get tired.
«What do you boys say about me telling you a little story?» I asked lightly, but my face betrayed how serious the matter really was and both boys stared at me curiously.
«Maybe you'll let me take wheel in the meantime? It's starting to get a little boring to just sit here listening to the three of you.» Charlie suggested and I pulled over so he could take the wheel and I start my stoy.
«Once upon a time there were these people that thought that it would be cool to engineer a perfect soldier; Someone stronger, faster and generally just better than your average soldier. These people work for a government project, so secret that not even their superiors knew what they were really doing. They worked for Manticore.» Both boys were completely silent now and sat still as two statues in their seats.
«These people in Manticore worked for a long time to reach their goal and when they finally did, it it was flawed. The creatures they created didn't even look remotely like humans. But these scientists were stubborn and a little setback like that was not enough to make them stop. No Sir. They continued with their experiments and on the fifth try they got it right...
The X-5 series; The first gene modified batch of super soldiers that looked human. They had enhanced strength, speed, reflexes, stamina, agility, durability, regenerative capabilities, immune system and metabolism. And their senses were amazing. Some also had some shark-DNA and functioned just fine on close to no sleep. But the X-5s wasn't perfect; the scientists had made a mistake and the X-5s was susceptible to seizures due to low levels of serotonin.» I grew silent thinking back to some of the seizures her 'aunts' and 'uncles' had had.
«But they didn't stop with that.» I continued when Charlie cleared his throat and brought me back from my thoughts. «The X-6s was very similar to the X-5s, the scientists had just fixed the serotonin mistake they had made.
The X-7s on the other hand was quite different. The big, bad scientists in their white lab cotes gave these super soldiers hive-DNA and they were able to communicate via sound, like bats. They were also quite a bit stronger than the former transgenics. The only dilemma was that their eyes were black as coal. So not completely humanoid and a bit scary looking.» The though about the X-7s made me shudder. I might have been used to them, seeing how many uncles and aunts were X-7s, but their eyes could still be damn scary. When they were around ordinaries they wore sunglasses, but most X-7s stayed far away from them.
«After the X-7s came.... guess what... the X-8s. These scientists had a very big imagination.» I smirked at them, but the boys far too enchanted in the story to smirk back.
«Judged by your audience I think we can say that you really know how to tell a story.» I heard Charlie in my head.
«Thanks.» I sent back.
«Now where was I? Oh yeah, the X-8s. Where the X-7s was a better version of the former X-series, the X-8s was an upgrade from them again. They had no need to speak to communicate with each other. Their eyes were not pure black. And all the enhanced abilities that I listed earlier had been enhanced even more. A super super soldier I guess you can say.»
All this talking had made me thirsty, and I hadn't hit the half way marker yet! Oh boy.
«You with me this far?» I asked the boys with a smile. They looked a little confused, but I got a confirming nod from both of them anyway.
«Since Manticore wanted these genetically enhanced humans to become super soldiers they started their training early on. It was harsh and rigorous, sometimes downright brutal. To train to hold your breath they were chained down in a pool and those that didn't succeed in holding their breath as long as they were expected to, drowned. They were subjected to powerful psychological conditioning as well as medical experiments.» At this point I was trembling in anger for those that had been put through that hell and was more than grateful for the calming wave Jasper sent me.
«The transgenic didn't have names; they had bar codes on their necks and designations. The bar codes were implanted in their DNA and impossible to remove completely. But one of the early units heard the guards and nurses talking and started to speculate on the world outside. They even gave each other names. And one night they managed to escape.» Me and my 'siblings' had this story memorized. I could almost see the unit escape.
The nine year old children with buzz cut and uniform-ish pj's, running trough the forest in the deep snow... soldiers chasing them with dogs and snow mobiles... The commander giving the order to shot on sight... Uncle Zack giving the order to separate... red blood staining the snow from those that didn't make it... the fear and despair from those that did make it and was all alone in a new strange world... victims for strange seizures that could end up killing them...
I quickly dried away the tears that had fallen before continuing the story.
«The unit of X-5s that managed to escape stayed on the run for over ten years. They stayed by themselves not knowing whether or not the rest of their 'family' survived or if they had been captured again. Only one knew where all the others where. X-5 599, or Zack as he called himself, was the unit leader and took it upon himself to track the others down and watch over them. Make sure that they were okay, but never make his presence known.
I won't go into detail what each of them did during their time in hiding, it is enough to say that they used what Manticore had taught them about being invisible and one with the crowd. But eventually the 'baby' in the 'family' was captured; Max, or 452. The rest of her unit were royally pissed and sick of being on alert 24/7 and decided that they were going to take down the big bad wolf without injuring little Red hood or Grandma. And to make a long story short Manticore is gone with minimal loses on the transgenic's side. And Manticore being so secret and all was a big plus for the transgenics. Because when all the scientists and reference material was gone nobody higher up knew what the hell they had been doing and there were nobody to tell them either.
And so the transgenics lived mostly happily ever after. Questions?» I grinned widely at my friends while drinking some more liquid.
The werewolf and the vampire looked at each other before looking back at me.
«The story is true, isn't it?» Jasper asked sadly. It would have been impossible for him not to have picked up on the mess of emotions I had given out during the story so I wasn't surprised that he had realized that it was all true.
«Yes is it. Every damn part of it.» I answered and the boys became silent again.
«Are you...?» Jacob started. «Are you one of those transgenics?»
The question made me burst out laughing. I lifted up my hair and showed them my spotless neck while giving him my answer. «I am not old enough to be one of those transgenics, isn't that right uncle Charlie?»
«Are you calling me old?» Charlie mock growled, but I could hear the laughter in his voice.
«If the shoe fits.» I teased. I also saw the curious glances the two young men threw the older man.
«Uncle, may I?» I lifted my hand up to his neck as I asked if it was okay to show them his tattoo.
«Go ahead, Bells.» Charlie answered me silently and I carefully moved the sweater away and uncovered his tattoo. «Uncle Charlie is one of the X-8s» I told my friends.
«Oh...» I heard come from both boys.
«Wait...?» Jasper started and stared at me questioningly.
«That's correct Jazz. My mom is an X-8 as well.»
«But you...?» Jacob asked.
I couldn't help but smile by their problems to actually finish their sentences. «Nope, I haven't got a bar code since I am only the offspring of an transgenic. Don't think any of the children have got a bar code.»
«Do you...?» It was Jasper's time to ask a question again. Seemed like both mystical creature had come to some sort of truce.
«Do I have any abilities? Yes I do.» Jasper only raised an eye brow at that answer.
«I've got human DNA, that's what makes all transgenics look human. But we also have feline, shark and hive to mention a few of the animals. This makes out senses extraordinary. And we can hold our breath for quite an amount of time. X-8s and children of X-8s have the ability to use their hive part of their DNA to communicate. Eidetic memory and very high IQ. We have enhanced strength, reflexes and all that previously mentioned. We are also universal blood donors. I think that is why my blood 'sings' to Edward.» I grimaced and made quote marks with my fingers when I added the last part. Then I was struck with an idea.
«Do you want to see an example of my healing ability?» I grinned like a mad man and started to take off the bandage without waiting for answers. What the boys saw when it was gone made them whistle admiringly. The only traces of the wound was a thin pink line that stood out from the rest of my skin.
The vampire and the werewolf both threw out a few more questions before they grew silent and let the story sink in.
«Are there anything else we should know?» Jacob broke the silence.
«That depends. Are you up for a new story?» I smirked at them, but the smirk grew into a big smile when I saw their hesitant, but curious nods.
«Great!» I exclaimed. «But I think I'll let Jasper start this on.»
«Me?» «Him?» Both guys said at the same time.
«Yes you Jazz. With all those times you have repeated high school you should be able to do so. So tell me, what do you know about the Salem witch hunt?»
AN: I know that this is an complete AU for Dark Angel and that we have no idea what abilities the X-8s really have and if the children inherit them. There are no normalies, I love Joshua, but it would be too hard for them to stay out sight from the public after the take down so they don't exist. And no pulse. But please don't push me in front of a bus... If you do, you'll never know what happens next!
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