Chapter 2: The Singing Bird

Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel.

Each bird loves to hear himself sing.
- Native American – Arapaho

Brown eyes snapped open instantly. At first the moments of the previous night had faded into the background of her mind. She glanced around expecting to find herself surrounded by her husband's computers.

Logan would be waking up soon and then the day would begin again. Max's days had followed into a steady pattern.

She would cook Logan breakfast as he questioned her about her prenatal medication and her upcoming doctor's appointments. If it was her time of fertility, Logan would plan out their sex. The majority of the day would be spent taking her temperature and Max finding herself under Logan's ministrations.

Days when she wasn't fertile were spent with her working on the informant net. For long hours she would bend over the computer imputing information or hacking recording information. Sometimes Logan would send her on missions where she would be expected to pick up information or obtain a document. She would do whatever errand or mission Logan needed her to do.

Her days were monotonous and she knew now what normalcy was.

Logan had sold her baby.

Her Ninja no longer belonged to her. It didn't matter what she had wanted.

"Max that thing is way too dangerous for you. Besides Bessie is better and safer. We only need one vehicle."

It was like everything in Max's life. She made her sacrifices for Logan while he didn't expect to have to give up anything. His life was Eyes Only and that was what her life ad also become.

She glanced around the room. It reminded her of the old apartment she had shared with Cindy. The walls were white but there were windows and a cup of coffee near her.

It wasn't that Starbucks coffee either but coffee that came out of a pot. Probably instant but that was better than nothing.

She jerked at the door. It was locked and even with her superior strength she couldn't make it move. The windows were locked down and if she broke the glass she would be in the middle of a busy intersection. So that was a no go. There was no access to the roof either and she wasn't aware of what street she was on.

She glanced at the TV. It was better than nothing while she waited for this kidnapper to show up. She laid back and watched back.

"Breaking news: enterpuner and independent journalist, Logan Cale's penthouse apartment has been broken into. Both Cale and his wife Eva Neave Cale are both missing. Several valuables are missing. This story is on going."

Max felt herself stiffen. What the hell was going on?

-

Logan Cale couldn't contact the police. His wife was missing and he couldn't find her anywhere. There was no evident forced entry but he knew Max wouldn't run away. Their life was perfect with the exception of their child.

Max was everything he wanted in as a wife. He didn't have to hide himself from her. He could be Eyes Only and he didn't have to hide it in the shadows.

With Valerie he could never told the truth. He would have always been hiding but with Max he was free. Max loved being part of something larger than himself. Eyes Only was her life. She was happy except she couldn't let go of her "family."

Her siblings—she just couldn't see them just as other kids. He had never liked them. Never really cared for any of them especially not Zack or Seth. Both of those men were enough trouble and as he had told Max before her family consisted of liars and thieves.

Max had simply given him a look and pointed out he didn't understand that it was survival. She didn't think he knew she was searching. He didn't really care as long as she didn't find anything. Of course she'd soon forget about them.

As soon as there was a child their lives would be perfect. The baby would make Max happier. She would stop her worthless searching.

He glanced at the apartment. Something was very wrong.

He moved to the safe house without saying anything. Even if Max was safe and had just gone out for a walk he needed to be sure.

He dialed the number.

"Lydecker, I thought we had a deal."

-

Lydecker was sipping his coffee. He had sent the best he had to do the necessary job. He had to bring in 452. After bringing her in he could spend more time tracking down the other 09ers and finally the escapees from that hellhole the transgenics had dubbed TC.

He hadn't found a location of for them. They were good at hiding but then again 494 was very talented. Bringing him back was another priority. But "Alec" was just a clone while "Max" was an original.

Sandeman had created her for a specific realize.

At least now the plan had been set in motion. He called in the next soldier.

"Sir?"

"Sit down 353. I want you to debrief me on your unit especially your SIC."

"You sent him out to look for 452, sir, and you requested information from me before he was assigned the retrieval mission. Are you thinking of assigning another unit member?"

He glanced at the brown eyed young man. "No, though I was surprised you recommended 417."

"He's the most analytical thinker I have available even though he's not the best fighter."

"Do you not trust your SIC?"

"I trust him with my life. He does his job. He's the perfect soldier."

"Then he won't disobey orders."

353 didn't say anything. He had been SIC before the escape and he had always thought that their straight-arrow CO, 599, would never disobey orders. He couldn't say what would happen.

Lydecker dismissed 353 barely nodding. He glanced at the called id as the phone rang. This was just about right.

"Look what the cat dragged in."

"Lydecker, I thought we had a deal."

"Deals are made to broken Cale."

-

He had his orders. 'Deck trusted him to do this and that meant a lot considering the hell he had been through. He had been through reindoctrination and everything else.

He glanced at the photograph in the file. He had been a long time since had last seen 452 or Max as she liked to be called.

The picture showed a relatively young woman dressed to the nines. It was a recent photo taken at some party. So Maxie had gained money. The clothes looked so out of place on her as she smiled that all-too-fake-smile at the elderly woman she was talking to.

Her make-up was done expertly and her hair was done up. The hat on her head was so gussied up that it looked like an old lady's hat. The dress was prim and proper and she was even wearing gloves.

It made him want to hurl. This wasn't Maxie at all this was some creature. He looked closer at the photo.

So Maxie was married. Now that made her change understandable. Still this fake Max would be exchanged for the real one.

He'd make sure of it. After all Max was a soldier just like he was.

-

Max watched the TV bored out of her mind. She had been sitting there for three hours. The apartment had food and entertainment but it was boring. Baywatch remained her too much of Alec. CSI was a remainder of Logan.

"This is an Eyes Only, we cannot be stopped, we cannot be traced, we are the only free voice in this city. This message will last for exactly one minute. Julio Sanchez, a lead investigator for the Seattle police, has been brutally murdered. Sanchez had evidence on city corruption including a case involving Mayor Albright and embezzlement of city funds. Sanchez was a hero, one of the city's last true heroes."

She snorted at the end of the message. He probably hadn't even noticed her missing.

"Obviously, Cale can't think past his own 'mission.'"

She turned to gaze at her kidnapper.

"Zack, what the hell is going on?"

To be continued…