Chapter Text
Daddy's flown across the ocean
Leaving just a memory
Lydecker had never understood the importance of Sandeman’s interference with the X5s slated for production. Sure, they were supposed to be the first mix of animal and human DNA that did not produce physical resemblances to their animal counterpart eighty nine percent of the time. Sure, they had a few human looking X3s and X4s, but a majority ended up in the basement, locked up.
What he hated most was Sandeman’s interest in the X5s created from the genetic material of the two unknowns who had somehow managed to find their way onto the grounds, past a dozen very well trained guards and motion sensors. What disturbed him more was that a Keegan Hanson had managed the same feat a year previous, and though the British native had not been claimed by their government, it raised theories that the United Kingdom was pursuing people with…alternative abilities in their undercover operations.
In a way, they had handed Manticore the perfect specimens in which to experiment with their own genetic psychic program. Hanson’s genes hadn’t spliced with normal DNA bonding, and had been in the “destroy” pile when Sandeman had seen something that they hadn’t. He had seen the same in the two unknowns that had also gotten past the wire. All three were currently being “added” to the X5 list of base subjects. And yet, Sandeman had wanted more from one of them. He tinkered with the fourth generation of X5s, and created two more (Manticore had destroyed the sample from the other two, as the female’s was genetically unstable, and the male’s had an unidentified contaminant). Sandeman had several ‘special’ embryos…ones he tinkered with more than any of the others.
It made Lydecker nervous. These X5s were going to be unpredictable as it were. Who knew what instabilities Sandeman might be splicing into them.
A snapshot in the family album
Daddy, what else did ya leave for me?
X5-494 started walking before the rest of his birth group. He even surpassed his twin X5-493, and his older twin, X5-112. He started talking earlier too, which was difficult to manage as once he started, he tended not to stop.
Daddy, whatcha leave behind for me?
All in all it was just a brick in the wall
All in all it was all just bricks in the wall
After the escape in 2009, Lydecker had the rather distasteful task of submitting all possible trouble units to Psy-Ops, which included 112 and 494, as well as 001, 105 and 113…112 and 494 were understandable—they were genetically based with 493, one of the escapees. The others all showed signs of independent thought, a disregard for authority, and other warning symptoms that may be predecessors to another escape. And all of them were Sandeman’s special kids.
We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
“No! I didn’t do anything!” Lydecker just frowned, keeping his face blank as they dragged 494—nicknamed Tac—into Psy-Ops. The kid was putting up a big fight, and had already knocked one of his human guards unconscious. However, the moment his green eyes fell on X5-112—strapped to the chair, fighting to move his head away from the red laser baring into his right pupil—he froze. And started to hyperventilate.
They were able to strap him into the chair without any more issues.
When they removed X5-112 from Psy-Ops due to continuous seizures, 494 stopped fighting all together. By the time he left Psy-Ops, nearly a year later, he never remembered he had a twin…or an older brother.
He didn’t remember his name. He was X5R-494.
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers, leave them kids alone
Hey, Teachers, leave those kids alone
Lydecker thought they had lost a valuable X5 commander that day. Already, the Alpha X5-112 had died (he dearly wished for an autopsy, but it had happened the day of the Pulse, with his fellow unit, 113. Chaos had ruled that day) and he was counting on the reindoctrinated unit stepping up as leader of Delta Company—the company made up of all the surviving reindoctrinated units.
He didn’t realize how much he missed the rebellion in his kids until the day 494 broke his Drill Sergeant’s nose.
“My head is fine, Sir. Yours doesn’t look so good.” He had been confined to the punishment box for a full day for that outburst, but the 12 year old 494 couldn’t know that he had made his CO proud.
All in all its just another brick in the wall
All in all you're just another brick in the wall
When the adolescent 494 began to show preternatural abilities—namely the ability to sense the emotions of people around him—it was a great leap forward for the Psy-Ops department. However, his apparently limited grasp at what was happening made him as accurate as a lie detector at best, which, for Manticore, meant he was easily replaceable with common equipment and thus, not a success. Lydecker made sure they were able to help him deal with the compounded emotions. Manticore might have ruined its Psy-Operative, but they wouldn’t ruin a soldier. Not his soldier.
So he had continued with their training…
By 2017, the entirety of Delta Company, led by X5R-494, with co commanders X5R-472 and 657 was sent into training. They only lost two members. However, on their very first mission, 494, 472, 105 and 600 all actively disobeyed in order to save a child’s life.
While Lydecker secretly approved of this behavior, it was not good for a soldier, who should be ready to do anything, at any time. Instead of punishment, he decided to run on all four’s talents, rather than where the government wanted them.
By 2018, all four had completed the extra training. X5R-494 had even complete four Solo Missions above and beyond what they expected of him. What no one at Manticore could know was what was going on behind the blank faces of the X5R’s. No one could know how tightly they had bound together after the horrifying experience of Psy-Ops, of how much of a pack they had become.
They hid their feral side from their human guards by instinct. Reason would come later.
We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers, leave them kids alone
Hey, Teachers, leave those kids alone
All in all its just another brick in the wall
All in all you're just another brick in the wall
X5R-494 knew this was bad. It didn’t feel right. “Simon?”
Yet, as he turned to look at Rachael, his stomach gave a little flop. “Yeah?”
And he knew she was worried about him. “You look angry.”
“It’s nothing.” She wrapped her arms around him. Surprisingly, it made him feel better. Which made him feel much, much worse. She felt him tense, and, when she glanced up, for one brief moment, perhaps, caught sight of the panther lurking in his genetic code. “Rachael, darling, I’m fine. Really.” He smiled at her like it was natural, and it was because he was Simon and it was so much easier as him.
Underneath it all, X5R-494 wanted to bite, claw and scratch at Agent Sandoval with every claw and tooth he should have had.
I don’t need no arms around me.
He knew he had screwed up. They told him they would punish his Company for his indiscretions. They told him that one of them, X5R-105, had not survived. They told him that they would do the same to the rest of his company if he didn’t submit to the reindoctrination.
X5R-494 did not submit. He fought, cried, screamed, yelled, scratched, and even killed two lab techs before they were able to inject him with a sedative. The sedative didn’t take.
He had made it to the morgue, feet slapping against the cold floor, blurring past guards, X units, everyone, speed brought on by panic. They couldn’t have killed anyone in his—
Her scent was obvious in the cold, dark morgue. He didn’t even need to lift the sheet to know they hadn’t lied about 105. When they found him, he was kneeling by her corpse, head down, docile.
I don't need no drugs to calm me
By the time they dragged him into solitary confinement, X5R-494 barely remembered his designation. He couldn’t remember how many were in his company. He couldn’t remember why he wasn’t with his company. When a man with white hair--Lydecker, CO, SIRYESSIR--personally came to take him back to his room, he didn’t question it. He didn’t even notice when the man slipped him a gold locket on a chain…the importance was there, but he couldn’t place it.
He felt like he couldn’t trust his own thoughts.
When he rejoined his company a day later, he barely felt anything. Within a week, it was as if he had never left.
I have seen the writing on the wall
Don't think I need anything at all
No, don't think I need anything at all
“I didn’t do anything!” The words brought back a sense of déjà vu that he couldn’t remember even when he tried. And yet, here he was, being forcibly dragged back to Psy-Ops, for something his genetic double—had he known he had been twinned? He thought he would have known that—did, just to see if he had the same genetic tendencies. So he lied through his teeth. He gave them all the ‘right’ answers.
They hadn’t believed it for one second.
For the first time—was it the first time?—he didn’t trust this place. He didn’t trust the Ordinaries. He wanted his Company—wasn’t it bigger? And weren’t there a heck of a lot more pretty girls to look at? And why does that thought hurt so much?—and he didn’t care if it was against orders. He was starting to think Manticore wasn’t really on his side. But it wasn’t like there was anywhere else to go.
All in all it was all just bricks in the wall
All in all you were all just bricks in the wall
“We believe it would be in Manticore’s best interest if this Unit was euthanized.”
Lydecker stared at the report with a sense of shock. He had known that X5R-494 had a spotty record, especially after his first long term mission. He had never thought that 494 might have the same psychological dysfunction as 493—Ben—or that he was at risk for it. X5-112 had many similar qualities…but he had also died well before 493 began to show signs of psychosis. Perhaps it was late onset Schizophrenia…“I want him removed from active duty instead.”
“I don’t think so.” Lydecker spun, to see his hated fellow Committee member, Renfro, behind him, all bleach blonde hair and sharp heels. “I would like the unit placed on death row.”
“You don’t have any say in this matter.”
She laughed, and he hated her even more. “I have a signed order from the head of the program, Deck. But, I’ll tell you what. If you can figure out how to fix him in…well, let’s give it a good month, I’ll look into revoking the order.”
Lydecker almost snarled. But he had to keep his temper. After all, exploding at Renfro would only prompt her to move up the stay of execution. “Fine.”
Goodbye, cruel world
I'm leaving you today
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
Alec—X5R-494—found himself staring at the piano in Joshua’s basement, forlorn but, amazingly, still in tune. And…memories…painful, hard memories began to push up from under the reindoctrination, the torture, everything. And he played.
His Company. Rachael.
Alec wasn’t alright. He could sense every god-damned emotion that flitted through everyone’s head, and damn Max for taking down Manticore—they had been the only ones who could stop that! Life out here was torture. He had been stupid to believe otherwise.
He hadn’t realized he had company until someone laid a hand on his shoulder. Despite his over-reaction, he thought he covered quite well. And he had avoided talking about the locket—oh, he remembered, and he wished he didn’t. Lydecker should have been shot too, for giving it back to him, for letting him remember. But he held on to it.
And he’d be holding it when he finally pulled the trigger and ended his life too. It was that last straw, the last thing to tip him over the edge. The last brick in the wall.
Goodbye, all you people
There's nothing you can say
To make me change my mind
Goodbye
Max had saved his life, and he now owed her. He had a cause of sorts too.
He could never know, that in just about 6 months, he’d meet up with X5R-105—remembering her from his company, even though her death had been taken from him—and that, after finding her, he’d find his brothers, and a whole new cause to fight for.