Disclaimer: Dark Angel belongs to Fox et al. I claim any original characters, should they decide to present themselves.
A/N: Yes, it's been a long time since I posted, and it may be awhile before I can again. Spring break's coming up, so I might have time to write then. (Then again, finals and graduation also approach.) Hopefully this isn't too much like other stories out there. I have a plan, but we'll see how long it takes to get there :) Reviews are appreciated; I'd like to know what you think.
Chapter 4 - On Restriction
The group seated around the conference table looked up expectantly as Max approached them from her office. Word of the morning's murders and the evidence trail to White spread fast around Terminal City, and its residents anticipated action.
"I presume you all know the reason for this meeting," Max began. "Now we have to figure out what to do. Dix, any conclusions from the local authorities?" She took an open seat beside Alec as the transhuman flipped open a manila folder holding the latest information.
"Nope. They ran the symbol through their database, but got no hits. I think they're content to let the government—or whoever claimed to be the feds and took the bodies—figure out the rest of it. Besides, their autopsies only got them as far as the bullet wounds, the barcodes, and the cuts." He pulled some pictures out of the file. Max passed them around the table, not bothering to look again.
"It's a calling card," Alec spoke quietly.
"Huh?" Max gave him a puzzled look.
"The snake. It's White's calling card. He wanted us to know it was him."
"Why?" she asked.
"I'm not sure. Scare tactic, maybe, so we know he's still hunting us. Or so proud he couldn't stand not taking credit." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
Max tapped a finger on the table as she thought for a moment. She addressed one of the others, "Trace, any news that the media know what's happening?"
An X-5 shook her head, brown hair almost brushing her shoulders. "Not yet. Someone leaked the photos showing the cuts to the press, though. Most of the stations are speculating it's the symbol of a new anti-transgenic group."
"Great, so now people can gather behind it," Alec commented sarcastically. "Gives the Familiars a good reputation with certain sections of the population."
"Yeah, just like Nazis with the swastika," Mole grunted.
Alec nodded, "And they managed to control a country for a while and start exterminating people. White definitely sees himself as the superior race. If they got civilian support it wouldn't take long to exterminate us before we can organize. Then he could turn on the ordinaries."
Before anyone could speculate further, someone tapped Max on the shoulder. "Excuse me, there's a phone call for you."
"Take a message, I'll get to it later," Max answered, slightly irritated.
"It's Logan, he said he urgently needs to talk to you about confidential information."
Alec snorted and rolled his eyes. "Everything's urgent to him. The guy's gotta learn how to prioritize a little. And his past relationship with Max is hardly confidential."
"Tell him I'll call him later," Max ordered.
The messenger shifted slightly uncomfortably but made no move to leave. "He says it's about White."
"Fine," Max resigned herself to the interruption. "Take a break everyone, we'll meet back here in ten minutes." She gestured an invitation for Alec to join her and called over her shoulder, "I'll take it in my office."
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"Promise you won't give away that I'm letting you listen in," Max requested as she shut the door. Alec shrugged, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. Max dropped into a chair and punched a button on the phone with her finger. "Hey Logan. What's up?"
"Max, how are you?" a voice responded through the speakerphone.
"Well, kinda in the middle of a meeting. What's going on?" she asked.
"Oh. Look, I got some information that may lead to White." Logan paused.
"Yeah, that's what I was told. And?" Max prompted, trying to keep the conversation rolling at a brisk pace.
"One of my contacts told me quite a few unmarked vehicles have been passing through a checkpoint at the south end of Seattle." The disembodied voice began to list hours of travel and the number and make of vehicles. Max only half listened, jotting down the information on a scrap of paper but paying more attention to what Alec signed silently at her. She nodded in response.
"But no actual confirmation that it's White or his groupies?" she interrupted.
"Not yet. I can hack the satellite feed of the area, but I thought you might decide to send out some scouts or something," Logan answered.
Max wrapped up the conversation, ready to start processing the new information. "Great. Thanks. I'll give you a call tomorrow morning, ok?"
"Say hi to Asha for me," Alec piped up from the corner, grinning wickedly. Max slammed the button, ending the call, and glared at Alec.
"You idiot! Like I need a few more issues between Logan and me." She blurred over and blocked the door before he could leave the office. "What were you thinking? How am I supposed to start our conversation in the morning?"
"Aw, com'on, Maxie. You know you wanted to ask the same thing," he appealed. In response she punched his shoulder.
"Ow, like I need more bruises for the day." He grimaced but continued, "Do you think he'll even notice? I bet he was setting up the satellite hack while he yapped at you. Just tell him I walked in at the end of your conversation to drag you back to the meeting."
"Fine. But you're on restriction from listening to tomorrow's call," she snapped at him.
"Because I'd even want to hear about Logan and Asha's date tonight? I think not." She hit him again. "Hey, you're not allowed to hit the same spot twice in less that half an hour!"
Max narrowed her eyes and tried to suppress the grin that tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Gimmie a break. Let's go, chatterbox. We've got a meeting to finish before it gets any later."
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Tires screeched as a black van careened around the corner. Finding an impossible grip in the cracks between the bricks, fingers flexed and propelled the shadow up the wall.
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The group gathered again around the battered conference table. Max wasted no time in resuming the meeting. "We've got a lead on White. How much have we monitored the South Seattle checkpoint?"
Dix glanced through his notes before responding, "Um, we've noticed a pickup in the movement of unmarked vehicles in the last week or so. Nothing conclusive."
"We got a tip that White's henchmen use that entrance and exit to access the city." Mole grunted, and Max gave him a stern look before continuing, "We need to confirm that this isn't bogus and check it out with own sources. Dix, can you get someone to review the satellite footage and see if we can get any more clues? Also, start scanning for any locations south of here that could be used for a base of operations."
"Hack the government sites to compare our list to theirs," Alec interjected. "White may use an official cover, but at least we'll have some we can rule out."
"Trace, keep monitoring the news to see if anyone else picks up on the snake symbols. No one leaves T.C. at night without express permission from Command." As the words left her mouth, Max cringed internally, remembering the real reason behind their meeting.
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First one hand, then the next gripped the rough cold surface of a metal pipe. Arm, shoulder, and back muscles burned with fatigue as they pulled harder, higher. Feet scraped the wall, trying to push off and quicken the ascent. One more heave, a sharp crack, and the straining ceased. Muscles instantly relaxed.
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Alec saw the morning's memories cloud Max's eyes and picked up before her pause became noticeable. He addressed someone at the opposite end of the table, "Bren, we need a couple more sentries posted around the perimeter. Mole, get a weapons inventory and start organizing materials for an attack mission in case we locate White's base."
Max waited for the lizard-man's nod before continuing, "Alec, you better start going through our contact list to see if anyone has confirmation that White uses this access regularlyor recently. Anything else?" When no one raised other issues, Max concluded the meeting. "Ok, we'll all meet back here tomorrow morning at 07:30 to go over stuff before I call Logan."
Max and Alec stayed seated as all the others gathered their papers and dispersed throughout the building. She tried to smile at him. "Be sure to snag a couple hours sleep tonight."
"Of course. I've gotta give my body time to heal from all the abuse it's taken today," he teased gently. She smacked his arm lightly. "See? There's another half-hour in bed, right there. Now, if you're boxing practice is over, I've got some phone calls to make." She nodded absentmindedly, other thoughts claiming her attention.
He stood and rested a hand briefly on her shoulder before leaving. "Try to snag a couple minutes sleep yourself."
Max stared at the tabletop. Unbidden, the scratches and gouges rearranged themselves to form a design. The snake emblem became distinct when red liquid seeped in and filled the crevices. Max glanced at her hand and saw blood oozing from the identical sign on her body.
A sharp intake of breath, a blink, and the vision evaporated. Max stood and backed away from the table before it could show her more waking nightmares. She walked to the window and wearily leaned her forehead against the cool glass. Rain began to trickle down the outer surface again as she searched the darkness blanketing the city for answers.
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Headlights swept over piles of debris when the van backed around a corner. The noise of its engine faded into the distance, leaving only the sounds of dripping water in the blackness.
