Darkstar7

Darkstar Rising part 7, Trust

Disclaimer: I make no money, nor will I make any money off of my Dark Angel stories unless James Cameron hires me. It is useless to sue someone for copyright infringement if they make no money from it. Therefore, James Cameron should hire me if he wants to sue me (since the only way I'll make any money is if he hires me). Since it is not usually in one's best interest to sue someone whom they have just hired, James Cameron should then cancel the lawsuit (since we have already established that he cannot sue me if I make no money from these stories). Therefore, if James Cameron, or his legal council, think that these stories are worth suing over, they ought to hire me instead.

You may eMail me at any time with your job offer, Jimbo. I'll be waiting to talk it over.

Author's Notes: I'm working on my dialogue. I can't think of anything funny to say. I'm too tired. So this one has less action and more character development, but very little happens in the way of plot advancement--just a retread of part 6 from Logan's POV.

Dedication: To Trey B, who's constantly keeping me laughing. And for Kim, for whom I wrote this poem. I hope you're well, wherever you are.

flicker & fade
when I am with her
you are a relentless, empty ache
a television on mute
mouthing empty promises

parched
my eyes in furtive glances seek
your sweet coolness

would I drown if I dove into
tv static dreams bathed in blue?

lying next to her
I fall
sky shattering into mirrored fragments
of your face
void below is
missed chances the color of video screens.

(02/12/00)

Darkstar Rising part 7, Trust
Bling and Logan were listening to the broadcasts over the radio. Bling was guarding the door with the pistol and watching the girl, who he had left sitting right next to the door so that he could watch both at once. Logan was typing commands into his computer, downloading the radio hack onto his laptop, so they could monitor the chase even if they had to leave. After transferring the files, Logan dropped the laptop with some headphones and an extra battery into his case. He went and grabbed a few other essentials--clothing, cash, and some extra Tryptophan that he kept around for Max. Stopping to consider for a moment, he threw a couple of bottles of wine in--pre-pulse Californian (he was after all, an American)--wrapping the bottles in his clothes so they wouldn't break.

The first broadcasts were the various strike teams closing in. Logan had the volume turned up fairly loud so that he could hear the teams in any room.

Strike team one, sir, checking in. We're in pursuit down Bellaire Street.

Strike team two checking in, Sir. Also in pursuit.

Strike team three checking in. Pursuing target.

There were six total teams--four Hummers and two vans. Each of the vans, as far as Logan could make out, carried the bulk of the communications equipment. One of the vans was the command center, where Lydecker was running the show.

Once it was evident that all of the strike teams were clear--they were apparently all still in the garage when the fight with Max had begun, so they were able to get in their vehicles and go after her fairly quickly--Logan said, Okay. Let's get out of here. Max has my car, so we'll need to take yours, Bling. Can you drive with your shoulder?

Bling touched his shoulder gently, wincing slightly. I'd rather you drive, but my car's not equipped for that.

Can you get the girl? Logan asked.

Yeah, I think so, Bling said.

Bling threw the girl over his shoulder, switching the gun to his injured arm's side. Logan grabbed his own weapon and a few extra clips, thankful that he hadn't left the HP Browning Mark 2 in the Aztek. That left Max unarmed, but she didn't like guns anyway. That was too bad. She was probably really effective with them, and she wouldn't have to do this whole escape/evade thing all the time. Now that Logan thought about it, Max almost never managed to complete a successful cat burglary. She almost always got caught and had to run, so she was always playing escape/evade games. He'd have to ask her about that later.

Logan locked his apartment as he left. He and Bling rode down in the elevator in silence. The only sounds were coming from the laptop as it updated them on the chase going on a few blocks away.

Finally, Logan said, You're coming with me, right? To get Max? He was half expectant, half questioning.

Bling said, I have no desire to get shot at again, Logan.

Neither do I. Hint of disappointment in his words.

Logan, I'm not a soldier, Bling, making excuses.

You're the only soldier I've got right now. There was a pause as Bling considered this, then Logan continued: You've done dangerous things for me before.

Nothing I've done for you has gotten me shot before.

Logan said. I don't know what else I can offer you, so I'll offer this: I'll triple your pay this week, and I'll throw in an extra week's worth of pay for any gunfights, car chases, or other hazardous events that may occur.
Bling shifted the girl's dead weight on his shoulder. He checked the Glock's slide and sights, before finally saying,Deal... but Logan?



Let's try to make sure that none of those things do occur.

Logan thought it was a joke, and almost laughed until he looked up into Bling's face. Dead serious.

With that, the elevator hit the garage level of Logan's apartment building, and the doors opened. Logan rolled out, looking around cautiously despite his laptop's assurance that none of Lydecker's men were nearby.

Bling said: Let me get the car. You watch the girl, as he lifted and gently set the bound girl on the floor of the garage.

While Logan was waiting for Bling to pull up, the elevator doors opened. Mrs. Moreno, the old lady that lived in the apartment below Logan, got out.

Logan was still holding the Browning on the camo-clad girl, who was bound, gagged, and unconscious (or at least acting that way) on the cold concrete of the garage floor.

said Mrs. Moreno, lifting her right hand to cover her mouth.

Oh... hi, said Logan, embarrassed.

What is going on here, Logan Cale? she asked, somehow both imploring and scolding at the same time. Like his mother.

This is my girlfriend. We're just... ah... doing a little role-playing.

said Mrs. Moreno, why didn't you just say so? Mr. Moreno and I used to do that all the time. We called it dress-up. That was after the sexual revolution, you know.

Logan said. Old people just aren't the same anymore, Logan thought.

Well, if you ever need anything, dear, I'll be right downstairs. Why don't I bring some dinner by sometime?

That would be nice. Thanks, Logan said, relieved.

Mrs. Moreno winked lewdly. And you two have a good time tonight, okay?

Logan said, relieved that she was finally walking away, even more so that Bling was pulling up in a Black Lexus LX 470--an SUV.

As Bling got out of the Lexus to help Logan up and into his car, Logan said, This thing's huge!

Bling, grinning, You know what they say: my Lexus flexes from Seattle to Texas...'

Bling, I don't pay you enough for you to afford this kind of car.

I... uh... I bought it before I worked for you, Bling said, not lying, but leaving something out.

What did you do before? Logan looking at Bling as he lifted him into the passenger seat.

Well, that's how I got my nickname... you know, Bling Bling, money ain't a thing.' Changing the subject.

What was your name before? Logan going along with it.

Bling now folding the chair up, putting it in the back.

And what did you do?

A long pause before Bling said, slowly, Look, Logan, that's none of your business. What I did was what I did. Okay?

I think it's my right to know, Logan was irritable, pushy.

Bling lifting the girl now, putting her in the backseat, saying, Your right? Your right?! Look, Logan. I've put my ass on the line for you more than once after your accident. I think it's my right to keep a few secrets if I want to. Especially about how I got this car, his voice indicating that it was the end of the conversation, and the end of story.

Bling got in the car, starting its huge V-8 up. The engine was powerful, but quiet. You couldn't hear it running, but you could feel it underneath you. He checked his bandage, making sure that blood wasn't seeping through.

Let's go to the hospital, Bling said.

The trip to the hospital, surprisingly, was uneventful, and both Bling and Logan remained silent. Logan was one wrong word from alienating Bling forever, and Bling was too pissed off and in too much pain to say much of anything. The girl in the back of the Lexus SUV remained quiet. So quiet that both Bling and Logan almost forgot about her, retreating into their own worlds, their own problems.

Logan was able to arrange for a doctor he knew to see Bling immediately, bypassing the emergency room altogether. This doctor was a friend and a supporter of Eyes Only. He wouldn't talk about a gunshot wound to anyone. The way it should be.

Logan called Max on the car phone of the Aztek. Having followed the chase, this seemed as safe a time as any to make a call.

Talk to me, she said. God it was nice to hear her voice.

Max... we're safe. Bling's at the hospital, and... Logan spotted Bling running up. He was out of breath.

Logan... the girl's... gone.

I'll call you back on this line when I can, Logan said to Max, hanging up.

Logan said to Bling.

She's gone. She wasn't really out. I went to check on her after they finished stitching me up, Bling said, pointing to the neat stitches that lined both sides of his shoulder.

Logan had only left the car for moments to set up this arrangement, but the girl was already gone. Great.

Let me go see, Logan said.

Bling followed him out to the car, pointing out that she had probably stolen the motorcycle--a Harley--next to it instead of taking the SUV.

Because we know the plates of the SUV, Bling explained.

And we have friends in the police that could find those plates fairly easily... Damn! said Logan. I have to warn Max. Bling, why don't you get some antibiotics and whatever else the good doctor needs you to take, and I'll call her.

Logan, Bling said, she'll never make it to Canada on I-5.



Too much traffic. The border's awful.

Do you have another suggestion?

There's a town to the east. I don't remember what it's called, but it has trails to the north that go into Canada. People used to use them to smuggle drugs. I don't know if they still do.

Logan called her almost immediately.

Logan, I want to know what's going on there, Max said.

Max... the girl escaped, Logan said, typing commands into his laptop to try to find a site with a map and directions to this eastern town. Thank God for his cellular modem.

She what?

She... she escaped, He paused and then said, You can't expect a cripple and a wounded man to be able to contain a Manticore soldier forever, Max, especially when they forget to keep a close watch on her. Well, it's not like I could've held a gun on her in the hospital, or even stopped her had she wanted to escape when the car was moving...Why doesn't that make me feel better? Logan thought.

So what am I supposed to do, Logan?

Bling just told me that there's no way that you're going to be able to get into Canada via I-5. There's too much slow-down at the border. Lydecker will be able to get out of his car, walk up, and tap on your window if he feels like it. That wasn't a nice thing to say, Logan thought. Well, it was the truth.

Great. There goes that plan.

There's a town to the east, on the border, though. It's called... Logan typed a few more commands into his laptop, waiting as the Washington map loaded, then said, ...uh... Sumas.



Logan keyed in the instructions for word based directions from Seattle to Sumas.

Once you get to exit 256, hit WA-539 going north.

I thought this town was to the east!

She could really be shortsighted sometimes, couldn't she? Well, she's still young. Logan thought. Bear with me, Max. It's about 90 miles ahead on I-5. From WA-539, you turn on WA-546. It's called East Badger road. Then take WA-9 all the way to Sumas. I'll give you more directions in a bit, after I get the rest of the story from Bling. Like why he knows how and where to smuggle drugs into Canada. You got it?



And Max?



Be careful, Logan said, genuinely concerned. He hung up.

Logan rolled up into the room where Bling was staying.

They want me to stay overnight. They say I've lost a lot of blood, and that I might have an infection.

Did they already give you the blood transfusion?



Then you're going to have to get the antibiotics to go. We're going to Canada.

This count for triple pay, Logan? joking, jovial.

No. Not yet, serious, distracted. Thinking about Max.

Logan went to talk to his doctor. Any qualms about Bling leaving were solved by a small cash donation to the Doctor's cause.

Bling helped Logan into the car. They drove north on I-5, Logan plugged into his laptop the whole way, both of them listening to the car chase as it progressed, miles ahead of them.

Bling. Do you know where these trails are? I promised I'd call Max with the details, Logan said.

No. I never made that run. I just heard about it.

So you were more local Seattle, then, huh?

Bling said, forgetting who he was talking to, then realizing his admission. I'm sorry, Logan. I never told you because I thought that you would... you know. Fire me. Make me quit. Bling paused, letting the words sink in, gripping the steering wheel a bit more tightly. Logan remained silent. Bling continued, But I don't want to quit, Logan. The words were rushing out now, Bling hadn't taken the time to consider them, You're doing good things, and you have more heart and more guts and more spirit than ninety percent of the people out there. And that's saying something for a spoiled little white boy. Bling glanced over at Logan a little apprehensive, hoping he hadn't blown it with his boss and his friend.

I know you don't want to quit, Bling. Otherwise you would have already left. You've risked yourself for me before, and now you're doing it again. Logan smiled, here. I just pulled you out of the hospital where you're supposed to be staying, and you're driving me into Canada. Why would I care if you used to deal drugs? Logan paused, smiled again, and said, We all make mistakes, and you're on the right side now. I meant what I said back in the elevator. You're my only soldier now. And you're a damned fine one, too, Bling. Damned fine.

There was a silence in the car for a moment while both men considered what had just been said. It seemed as if a critical juncture had been passed--a watershed moment that might change the two men's relationship. Trust. They had it in one another.

And don't call me a spoiled little white boy, Logan finally said, smiling, making a joke, but also maintaining the distance that was neccessary for all of his relationships.

That's when they heard Max losing the final Hummer, leaving her to contend only with Lydecker, who was yelling all sorts of obscenities at his hapless helpers.

That girl sure can drive, Bling said.

Yeah. Remind me never to let her drive my car again.

Okay...but only if you remind me not to let her drive my car, Bling said.

I have to call her, Logan said. Bling handed him his cell phone. Logan called the Aztek's car phone.

Max said tersely.

Nice work. You lost that last Hummer. Lydecker's furious, Logan smiled into the phone, thinking of her adversary turning purple with rage.

I bet he is, Max said, What do I do once I get to Sumas?

Apparently, there are off-road trails that can take you into Canada. People use them to smuggle drugs. You should be able to get into Canada without too much hassle that way.

How do I get there? Max said.

I'm not sure. They're obviously not on my maps. And Bling doesn't know where they are, either. They're going to be past the North edge of town. Keep your eyes peeled, and you should be able to find them. I hope. Once you're on them, Lydecker won't be able to follow. That van won't do well on the off-road trails.

said Max, And Logan?



Be careful.

Logan was opening his mouth to say You too, when he realized he was talking into a dial tone.

We can take I-5 all the way through, Bling, Logan said, putting the cell phone on the dash. You don't want to wreck this nice car by taking off-road, do you?

Actually, I was thinking that we should follow her. Then we will have already met up with her by tonight, if everything goes well, Bling said.

No. I think it's too dangerous. Lydecker knows what we look like, and if he spots us, all he has to do is trail us.

Then I-5 it is. And thank goodness I got the extra-dark tint on these windows. Bling smiled.

asked Logan.

What kind of drug dealer did you think I was? Of course they're bulletproof.

Logan laughed.

They listened to the laptop spout out the dialogue between Lydecker and the other cars. He was setting up a rally point in Sumas, where Lydecker would get permission from whatever was left of the federal government to pursue Max across the border. She had bought herself a day. Maybe two days if she kept moving through the night. Three days if Logan could meet up with her, and keep her out of sight in Canada. Maybe longer if they could make it to Vancouver and fly out of Canada, somewhere else. Maybe Europe, Japan, Australia. Somewhere else, where they could wait until the heat cooled off and they could come back to Seattle. If they could ever come back to Seattle.

Logan stretched his hands over his head as Bling turned the volume of the car stereo up, booming some old school Wu-Tang Clan, bobbing his head in time with the bass kicks.

It's gonna be a long week, thought Logan. A very long week.