As the van came to a halt, Max looked out to see a nearby formation of X6�s trying not to glance at the newcomers, one boy wasn�t doing so well and was letting his interest overcome his training. He kept shooting glances from the corner of his eye and his head was gradually turning to watch them with unabashed curiosity.
Max nudged Zan and motioned to the kid.
�3�2�1� they counted and then, in time with the commander who noticed, chorused �EYES FRONT!�
Sunny and Pix burst out laughing as the door opened and had to stifle that laughter as they came out into a line for inspection. It was instinctual for them to form lines as they awaited the arrival of their commander.
A woman walked towards them in a severe black tailored suit, sharp gold silk blouse and short spiky blonde hair. She was shadowed by a short balding man who was on the wrong side of forty.
The woman had a pinched, mean look about her as she turned to them with a fake smile
�Welcome to Seattle, I�m Director Renfro and I�m in charge around here. This is Agent Sandoval, my assistant.�
Sandoval smiled like he was in pain and Max�s lips twitched in amusement. He obviously relished being in the position of subordinate to the harridan.
Renfro looked them up and down �I�ve been told that you are the best of what is to offer from our selective facilities. I hope so.� She added sarcastically �You have exactly half an hour to settle in before we meet in room 15 for debriefing. Sandoval will escort you to your barracks.�
She walked away abruptly leaving the X series bewildered and Sandoval sighed.
He motioned for them to follow him and as they walked across the training yards Max let her gaze wander.
The Soldiers surveyed her as she watched back, their ages ranged from toddlers to twenty something and they all seemed interested in the newbies.
There seemed to be more males than females here from what she could see which had been the same at her Manticore�her Manticore? As if. She was ecstatic to be rid of the place.
She watched as a pretty blonde put her hand on a dark haired man�s arm drawing his attention back to her. Zan came up by the side of her and smiled down at her.
�What do you think of Renfro?�
�Bitch.� She whispered and he chuckled.
Max knew that she was going to like Zan, while he had the same feeling as Zack and Zane; he had a much closer sense of humour to her than her brothers had and it was refreshing to find someone to joke with.
�Catch up.� Sandoval said snidely, glancing back at them and they hurried to obey.
He led them to a big block with bars on the windows and into the insides far in the building.
�521, you are in here.� He said after glancing at a clipboard.
�Single units?� Sunny said as she peered into the room.
�Yeah we found that teens are more able to concentrate if its not co-ed.� He looked the sweet blonde up and down �Go figure.�
Max growled, not liking his tone at all as he leered at Sunny and Pix and Carrot put their hands on her arm to calm her.
Sandoval blinked unaware of how close he had come to being slammed up against the wall by a defensive X5 and pointed to the next room.
�452.�
She pushed past him emitting a low growl and walked into the room throwing her bag on the bed and ignoring his gaze as it fell on her ass.
�Oops.� She heard Zan say and Sandoval gasped �Clumsy.�
�Whoa there.� Carrot said and she heard the grin in his voice as Sandoval rubbed his aching arm.
�So much for feline grace.� he mumbled.
She sat on the bed and marvelled at the fact that they were protecting each other so fast.
So this was home. She glanced around at the Spartan room.
There was one bed with chains so it could be hooked up during the day to maximise space. A sink lay in one corner with a grey metallic desk nearby with a nightlight and matching metal chair. A desk sat near that with drawers presumably for clothes and that was it.
She shrugged, just glad that she had her own room and picked up her bag to unpack. Well the first thing was to see if her room was bugged or had a camera and then she needed to find a place for her contraband and Tryptophan.