Disclaimer: Characters courtesy of Dark Angel; no profits made.
A/N: There's something perverse in me that when RL prevents me from doing much fic, I get to a point where I have to write something – and it always seems to be some new little idea that has been banging around in my head since exile (faster than updating a pending story, actually.) Apologies to those getting tired of waiting for other stories to be updated.
This one will be fast; I suspect only another installment. Maybe two. (More famous last words...)
As always – reviews appreciated! I would really appreciate hearing any and all comments – it's the only way I know if these stories are growing tiresome...
The Only Free Voices
It had been a good five weeks since Eyes Only had last broken into Seattle's airwaves, and his public was growing nervous: over the past four years, since his first broadcast, Eyes Only's break-ins had gradually become more and more frequent, so that it had become unusual that the city didn't find itself updated by its avenging angel at least every other week.
But he'd gone quiet. After three weeks, the rumbles began in earnest; after four, nearly everyone admitted that they were curious, many even anxious, about what had happened to him, as speculation grew that the "one free voice" of the northwest had finally been silenced, too. At five weeks, more public recognition of his absence was heard, and a real concern for the crusader spread along the Pacific coast. A surprising number of voices found their way into the public, by underground papers or pirate radio stations, to express the truth that, no matter his methods or targets, Eyes Only never failed to have the good of the public at heart. Whomever, and why ever, the vigilante had taken on his crusade, the entire northwest had been the beneficiaries. And the longer he was absent, the deeper their fears ran that his enemies had finally caught up with him.
The reports, the rumors, all swirled though greater Seattle, and the self-satisfied bleating of politicians assuring the public they were better off without the outlaw sounded thin and impotent against the re-emerging confidence of the black market profiteers. A new thread of fear began to take hold as the population started to realize just how much Eyes Only had done to keep the underworld at bay, willing to meet them on their own terms, just as willing to operate outside the law as they were.
So when the familiar red, white and blue masked eyes suddenly interrupted broadcasts up and down the Pacific coast one drizzly fall afternoon, cheers literally could be heard around the city – in seedy, dark bars, in tiny apartments and crowded shops, in the riders' waiting room of Jam Pony messenger service.
"This is a streaming freedom video bulletin. The cable hack will last exactly sixty seconds. It cannot be traced, it cannot be stopped, and it is the only free voice left in this city.
"As a famous man once said, 'the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.' The pledge of Eyes Only has not changed; this hack – and this voice – cannot be stopped. Eyes Only may be quieter but is no less present..." At that, the masked eyes faded, replaced with photos of two city councilmen on the screen, followed quickly by videotaped scenes of Seattle police raiding their offices and removing the councilmen in handcuffs.
"Terrence Bateman and Randall Montalvo have been diverting city funds into their own bank accounts for many months now. They will no longer do so. They will be tried and their assets used to pay back the citizens of Seattle for their crimes.
"To those who would use their power and position to rob from those they govern – you are on notice. To those who would try to use intimidation and threats to control those less strong – Eyes Only has not left and has not retired. You will be found and held accountable. Never doubt that Eyes Only will make certain that you will pay for your crimes.
"This has been a streaming freedom video bulletin via the Eyes Only Informant Net. Peace. Out."
People were relieved, buoyed, happy; a few added in their consternation that Eyes Only had been gone so long without letting them know. All babbled about what he'd said, the promises he'd made.
But two were surprised.
One, a slim brunette beauty who stood puzzled, amid the chaos around her, wondered that Eyes Only was back at it so soon, given the givens.
... but that was nothing compared to the shock felt by the man back in his hospital bed at Metro Medical's rehab unit, miles away from his silenced computer array, still recovering from gunfire and surgery...
"Mr. Cale?"
One of the unit's staffers rapped lightly at his door and stepped inside. Glancing up at the TV screen on the wall, she was momentarily distracted by the news report following up on the story of the hour, the arrest and public humiliation of two long term councilmen – and the dramatic return of their accuser, Eyes Only. Looking back to see that her patient stared at the screen, paler than usual, she frowned a little. "Are you feeling alright?"
He blinked and swallowed, managing, "I, uh ... yeah. Fine. I just..." He looked back at the screen, feeling helpless to know what had just happened, knowing it was impossible to think he could find out anything about the hack from a hospital bed.
The young woman smiled softly, mistaking his reaction for just another version of the relief and enthusiasm on the faces of everyone in the unit. "It's a good feeling, isn't it, to know he's okay, and still looking out for everyone? I wonder what he's been up to – some big investigation, maybe." She turned to him, and Logan was a bit relieved to see that she was more swept up in her own reaction to the news than to his. "Anyway, this was just delivered for you."
She handed him a box not much larger than a shirt box, but far heavier. It was unmarked. He looked up at her. "Who was it from, did they say?"
She shrugged. "No – just a guy, mid thirties, maybe, dropped it off. He just asked that we give it to you."
He nodded, vaguely, and offered his thanks as she left. No marking at all, no card or delivery message...
He turned it over to pull at the tape, first thinking of the fit Peter would have, his opening an unchecked package like this ... then feeling another stab of pain and anger that Peter was gone. Taking out his flash of anger on the tape and wrapping, he ripped it off quickly and inside found a box, as unmarked as its wrapper. Opening it, he found inside a power cord, a set of slim ear-buds –
... and a laptop computer.
He knew the danger – it could be a powerful bomb, triggered by simply hitting the power switch; it could serve as a homing device if someone had wanted to find him. But in the circumstances, he didn't care – it was a computer, and the perfect way to tempt him, especially in light of the broadcast he'd just seen.
And he knew, deep down, its appearance at the moment the hack was done was not just a coincidence...
To be continued.
A/N: If you're thinking if I'm repeating myself, give yourself 2 points for catching me rehashing something I used before – someone posing as EO. I promise this is a very different takeover of EO, with a very different story line, length, and flavor than the other story I have pending with the same basic plot point. Sorry, but I can't help myself – for some reason I'm intrigued with the idea of others usurping Logan's territory!