Design

by aegean

Max, after finally learning to settle into a somewhat stable life with Logan is forced to deal with Manticore's original intent for her.

6.

Title: Design

Author: aegean

E-mail: aegean11@hotmail.com

Genre: Story Angst, Romance, Action-- Max/Logan shippery

Rating: R

Summary: OK here it is. The conclusion..

Disclaimer: Dark Angel is a Fox /Cameron/Eglee vehicle. I get no money. I do it for fun/practice Please don't sue me.

****Notes: Sorry this has taken so long. I intended to have it out sooner, but I was taking in the news of the engagement. I mean, how could Michael have let them announce it on my birthday. I needed to take a day to recover. Just Kidding. Best of Luck to the Happy couple!

Honestly, I spent so much time partying (roughly Friday-Monday) for my 22^nd b-day, I didn't get the chance to proof this chapter until Tuesday night. I hope you like it. I just wanted to thank everyone who has read and reviewed. I get so excited to hear what people have to say. Please R&R. Good/Bad whatever. Advice. Anything works for me.

And now, without further ado…

Chapter 5

Father?

Logan didn't know what Max's status was when he was abruptly cut off. She could have been dead for all he knew, and it was killing him. To make matters worse, the streets were crawling with guards, and Bling was having a hard time evading them. They couldn't stay any longer, so they retreated back to Logan's penthouse to regroup and figure out what they were up against. He had to figure out what the connection was between Max and CFT. At this point, he could only think about Manticore. The number and skill of guards seemed to point him back in that direction.

He was still searching through old Manticore files when it happened. He was looking for any reference to CFT. It was going to be a last ditch effort since he couldn't figure out what the company could have to do with Manticore. He was sitting in the room with Bling when the computer finished its search. There on the screen in front of him was all he needed to know about it.

He knew he had seen the names before and there clear as day they were displayed on his screen. He had scanned hundreds of sub directories in his search for her siblings but there had been firewalls that he hadn't had time to break. The nature of this mission forced him to focus all his efforts on getting into those hidden directories and it paid off. He cross-referenced the data with all of Max's information and was now staring at a classified file named ZEUS. It contained a list of all the male donors for the x-5 project. They were broken into categories ranging from athletic prowess to heightened intelligence. The men, Robert Christianson-age 42, Daniel Franklin-age 36, and Geoffrey Tisch-age 16, were listed by order of age in the intelligence quotient category. Tisch was by far the superior, but they were all geniuses in their own right.

The attached psychological profile listed Christianson and Franklin as stable Type A personalities, with no noteworthy breeches in conduct. However, Tisch's file had been red flagged. Logan was disturbed by what he saw on the screen.

Geoffrey Tisch

Donor X-5 series

Entered Manticore- age 14

IQ- 182

Assessment:

Displays an overdeveloped sense of self-worth, which often crosses into megalomania. Secondary personality disorders evident. Strong aversion to authority.

/They used a sixteen year-old boy as a donor? A child prodigy with delusions of grandeur reaching adulthood guided by Manticore values…my god. Lydecker probably wanted to adopt him./ The rest of his profile had been encoded. Logan would have to worry about it later.

After a few more clicks of the mouse, he found the information he had been half expecting and half dreading. Christianson and Franklin were donors for the X-3, X-4, and X-5 series. Tisch had only participated as an X-5 donor due to his recruitment date. Logan continued to cross-reference the names with all X-5 barcode numbers. Three were a match, Jace, an unidentified X-5 male, and Max. He had final confirmation, and, in that moment, Logan knew that Max was somewhere alone in a room with her fathers.

**************************************

Max had never had an actual father. She still didn't, but for an instant felt more human being able to see the people she came from. No longer just a mixture of a few random cats and some other ingredients.

"Well," Tisch continued, "perhaps we should continue despite her shock."

"I'm not in shock, I'm just reassessing the situation," she said straightforwardly. "You have five minutes before I turn and walk out of here…and father or not, I will go through you if I have to."

"Then we'll get to the point," Franklin began. "To the best of our knowledge, you and Jace are all we have. The process that was used to enhance and harvest our 'material', rendered us sterile." He paused. "We believe that was Lydecker's doing. So…we've come to claim what is ours."

"Claim me?" One could almost see the waves of anger rise from her brow. "No one claims me."

"We want you to come with us," Christianson said speaking for the first time. "Living outside of Manticore has actually brought you and Zach closer to our vision of the project. He protects you and makes decisions in your best interest and you keep him in line."

"Enough Robert," Tisch was curt. He had been standing with arms crossed a few feet away staring at her and gauging every reaction. "I believe Max wants us to cut to the chase...so I will." He began to circle her as he spoke. "We want you to finally realize your design and restore order—admittedly no small task. But, with you and Zach together, we can surely get the other x-5's to assist. You'll start by returning stability to the larger metropolitan areas. Once they're under control again, we can radiate out from there. It will be difficult, but it is within your capabilities."

"You must be out of your mind to think I would help you. And Zach would sooner kill you than take part in this. He'd never have anything to do with people associated with Manticore." She had tried to sound convincing in veiled refusal, but deep down inside she knew that she wanted to hear more-- and not only just for a full disclosure of their plan.

"Zach will come if you come," Franklin answered. "And as for wanting nothing to do with Manticore, well… Zach is Manticore." There was enough merit to his statement to worry her. She had to be very careful with any response.

"Even if that were true," she began slowly, "the others won't fall in line." Max knew there was truth in what he had said, but never wanted to admit it. Manticore was deeply ingrained within Zach

"They were trained well," Franklin countered. "If you two convince them of it, they will come to understand that it is a prudent decision."

"It seems you've accounted for everything," Max said as she paced before he fathers. "Unfortunately you're relying on the false assumption that I would want to set everything in motion? And don't rely on altruism." At last, she thought she had taken the upper hand.

"True," Tisch replied. "We assumed you would want something. Based on your deal with Eyes Only, we figure the information we're willing to provide about Manticore, your mother, your exact genetic code…yeah that should about do the trick." Max tried to hide the shock that crossed her face, but failed. "Don't look so surprised…we know that Logan is Eyes Only." He walked behind her and brushed the hair off of her shoulder, revealing her barcode. "Barcodes, brilliant idea don't you think Robert?" Christianson said nothing. Tisch let her hair fall. "Where was I, ah, you and Logan. You two have a very interesting relationship." His eyes darted to Franklin. "What did you call it Daniel…oh yes… mutually beneficial. Don't worry we approve of him. But his cause…now that's something we're going to have to discuss."

"Thanks dads. All my life I've been searching for parental approval. Hell today I get that and I find my purpose in life. It's been a busy day wouldn't you say."

"Ahhhh… the sarcasm has returned. I was wondering where it went." Tisch countered. His knowledge of her personality traits made her uncomfortable. "But back to the point," he began as he turned to lean against the table, "we will bring down Manticore for you. We could have done it by now, but its existence affords us a certain leverage over our children."

"Holding your children's lives as leverage…that's really very paternal." She paced again. She had learned enough in the past few days to know that they were probably in the position to follow through with their offer. "How would you do it," Max asked minutes later after considering her options. She had spent so much time trying to eliminate Manticore, and even though the personal price was extremely high in this instance, she had to consider their offer.

"We spent twenty years inside Max, we know all of its secrets. If you take down Lydecker, you remove all the drive behind the institution. It can't survive without his agenda driving it."

"So I follow your agenda and you destroy Lydecker's? Is that it?"

"Not exactly," Franklin began. "We can't have your loyalties torn between two lives. If you come with us, we will do as we promise, but you must cut all other ties. We know that they have gotten you into trouble before. You must be prepared to lead without interference. You must give up the life you have lead here."

"Leave for good—you sound like Zach. Same damn tag line."

"Then he would be right—you have to leave Seattle and Logan," Franklin responded knowing full well what her hesitation signified. "He may be a good man, but his crusade often times conflicts with our plans. Your ties are to be to Zach." His last words held as much conviction as any order from Lydecker. Max waited for more, but Franklin seemed to be finished. They were now waiting in eerie silence for her answer.

Her eyes were locked intensely on a spot on the floor as she took some time to run scenarios through her head. Not all of them were bad. She would be with family and she would be helping people everywhere. /Damn him for giving me a sense of civic responsibility./ "I need time." She hadn't meant to say it, but her resolve had weakened. She didn't want to admit it to herself, but she was intrigued by the proposal. However, before any decisions were made, she had to see Logan.

"The offer expires at eleven a.m. tomorrow." The others looked at Franklin with surprise, they had wanted an answer immediately. However, he knew that pressing Max was the fastest route to a flat refusal. "Let her through," he said as he signaled the guards blocking the door.

--

It was four in the morning when Max left the company of her fathers. It took an hour to get back to the penthouse, due to the quick stop she made to check in on Cindy. Everything was alright.

Max walked into Logan's apartment and found Bling at the computer. He was continuing to research while Logan rested. Max walked in and tapped Bling's shoulder. His body whipped around in surprise. It took him a few seconds to shake it off before he realized who it was. He hugged her. "You should go back to your place for some sleep tonight. Everything's under control till morning." He broke the embrace and looked at her. "Come back then…he may need you." There were so many questions to be asked, but he read her eyes and realized he should leave it alone. He put his gun in its holster, grabbed his jacket, and left.

Max took a look around the penthouse before going to Logan's bedroom. He was lying in bed with a sheet draped over his legs and his back partially pressed against the wall. Without a word, she climbed beneath the sheets next to his warm body. For the first time all evening, she felt she was in the place where she belonged. She started to touch his chest, first with her hands, then with her lips. The sensation roused him from his sleep forcing him to open his eyes. He looked down to find the woman he loved safely nestled against him. He gently stroked her hair and she brought her body higher onto his and locked eyes with him. She lightly brushed her fingertips along his hairline and removed his glasses, resting them on the nightstand. He opened his mouth in an attempt to speak but was successfully silenced by a single finger as it crossed his lips. He understood and pulled her face closer, kissing her with the force of months of pent up emotion.

She held him tightly, needing the full weight of his body to fall against hers. After some time, she rolled on top of him and slowly began to kiss his chest again. Her hair falling against him sent a wave of shivers down his spine. A sensation Logan never grew tired of. He took both hands and ran them beneath her shirt, removing it in a single fluid motion. Max quickly found the waistline of his boxers, and copying his movements, removed them with equal dexterity. The fear of injury, which had existed only days before, had been forgotten.

Logan turned to be above her one last time removing the skintight black pants she wore. Only a thin piece of material now separated them. He looked into her eyes and placed his hand on the waistband of her panties and without breaking eye contact, slowly began to remove them. She arched her back for him. When that was done, she pulled his body in for a kiss, wrapped her legs around him, and was above him once and for all. They groped for each other in the darkness. Her hand grasped his back so tightly, her fingertips left a whitened impression on his flush skin.

They made love aware of little else but the others touch. Never once breaking contact, no questions were asked. The ever present element of fear that act carried with it had been forgotten. She went first, followed shortly by him. At the fateful moment, he pulled her down against his chest and held her tightly, and there they remained, listening to every sound the other made --connected on every level. Breathing in rhythm unwilling to separate for fear that it would signal the end. Neither knew whether it was to be their last time. Max hadn't made a decision, and Logan without knowing the details knew she had no answers. So for that night, they decided to let all questions go, refusing to risk what could be their last chance to be together. They fell asleep in each others arms.

When Logan woke in the morning, he turned to where Max should have been lying, knowing that she was gone.

--

Max arrived at CFT five minutes to eleven without a decision. There were no guards in sight. She entered the building climbing slowly to the third floor. The doors were open and the three men were waiting. When she walked through the threshold, the doors were closed behind her.

"Sleep well," Tisch remarked snidely as he sat on the boardroom table.

"Geoffrey, stop," Franklin said interceding. "Max, its time."

"I know," she said.

"Well?"

"You've made me an offer that I had to consider. Re-unite with my brothers and sisters, destroy Deck, stop running…It's rather tempting when you lay it out like that." He cadence was irritatingly slow.

"Yes, to the point," snapped Tisch.

"But why would I trade one overbearing father figure for three. At least I know what I'm up against with Lydecker, but you guys…well Deck always said 'know your enemy' and I have no idea what you're gonna want from me later."

"So, Logan does mean more to you than understanding your design and being with the others?" It was Franklin's turn to manipulate her now.

"Logan is not my weakness. I suggest you stop trying to use him. As for the others…just give us time, we'll figure out a way to be together. This is about you three and the tactics I've already seen you employ to get what you want. In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, I can't even believe I gave you the five minutes yesterday. Nothing that was said could have really convinced me." She absorbed each stare individually. Christianson and Franklin seemed to be easing off, but Tisch met her eye to eye without moving so much as a muscle.

When he realized that she wasn't going to break, a grin crept across his face. "You do realize that we have enough information on Logan to destroy him. He'd be dead in a week. Better yet we could just put him back in the chair. He'd off himself." She didn't flinch, and holding her ground, she returned his grin.

"I see you like to throw threats around. Well here's one for you. If anything even looks like its about to come down on Logan, you'll be dead in a day. Somehow I don't think Deck knows about your current status…ie. you're still breathing. He wouldn't have just let you out of Manticore, which tells me he probably thinks you're dead. That can be changed."

Franklin rose from his seat and placed his hands firmly on the table. "You do realize what you're giving up."

"I realize what you wanted me to give up. You know, if your agenda conflicts with Logan's crusade, then it was flawed from the start. You know what I'm leaving now. I've said my piece and quite frankly, I've had enough." She turned to leave.

"Let's not worry gentlemen, Jace should be more willing to join us. After all, she's ours as well Max. Perhaps not as perfect as you, but she could be useful and her condition will certainly make her more easily swayed."

"Not likely." She wasn't completely certain, but hoped Jace would see through the offer as she had.

"There's always Zach." Tisch knew exactly which buttons to push because she stopped near the doors but didn't turn to look at him. "We may be able to offer him a good enough reason to come with us. We can help him understand the draw he has to you. We'll be there to tell him it's alright to want you." She headed for the doors again and stopped right in front of them. /Zach wouldn't…would he. No he's too smart for that. They're obviously desperate and pulling at straws. Just keep going Max./ She just shook her head, opened the doors, and walked away.

--

Max slowly made her way back to the penthouse. She had no idea what she would find there. She hoped Logan would still be asleep. At least that way, she could avoid an explanation. But, for some reason she knew that this would not be the case.

She stood in the hallway outside of his apartment and pressed her ear to the door. She needed to know what to expect. She was scared that he wouldn't understand. She didn't know whether she had done irreparable damage to their relationship and wasn't really ready to find out. So, instead of walking through the door she doubled back and left the building. She climbed up to the adjacent roof to look inside of his apartment. From her vantage point she wasn't able to see Logan inside. She wasn't even sure that he was actually home. She waited for a while and then decided to go in.

She jumped in through the skylight and landed in his living room. Her movements had been effortlessly silent. She rose from her crouched landing. "I thought you'd gone." Max spun around to see Logan sitting his couch. He was working on something that she couldn't see. He didn't even look up at her when she spoke.

"I did. I'm back now." His presence had startled her and the words just poured from the void of her mind. She realized that she couldn't see him because his head had been partially obscured by the wall. When he spoke to her he had been so withdrawn. For a moment, she thought things were over between them. His withdrawn nature seemed to point in that direction.

"For good?" He was still unable to look her in the eye. Logan's intent was not to be callous but, he knew he wouldn't be able to keep himself together if her answer was 'no'.

"Yeah."

Her words were the shock that started his heart beating again. He realized he had been holding his breath waiting for her answer. He finally sighed and the remaining tension in his body was lifted. "How do your fathers feel about that?" He looked up as he spoke and then waited for a response.

All at once, a wave of confusion and relief passed through her. She realized that he knew, at least in theory, what had happened. She allowed herself to take her first deep breath since entering the room. "Like you'd expect, tantrums…threats." She slowly moved toward the coffee table in front of him and sat down. He watched her every movement. "When did you find out?"

"Late last night."

"You could've told me you knew."

"No I couldn't—and not just because you didn't give me the chance. When you can back last night, you obviously didn't want to talk about it. It was then that I knew that whatever happened in that room with them was going to be your decision and yours alone….and probably for the first time in my life I truly respected that. I knew you'd make the best choice possible and that one way or another you'd deal with them. Besides, you already knew what I'd say. No point in making things harder for you on this end."

Her head slowly fell as all the emotion that had been stored within her body drained. Logan moved the pad of paper laying it to his side. He leaned forward and brushed the hair out of her face.

"You have a remarkable amount of faith in my decisions." It sounded sarcastic, but he knew that she really meant it. He smiled and took her hand. They sat in silence for quite a while.

"So, Logan…I gotta ask…explosives?"

"One of us had to. You hate guns and bombs, but they are a necessary evil. I figured that would just have to be my department." His voice took on a momentary element of detached coldness. She just silently nodded in understanding, knowing that he was thinking about the blood bath in Cape Haven. He pulled her onto the couch and wrapped his arm around her. He had spoken about it only once, accepting the fact that what he did needed to be done. However, in the weeks following, Max would often times find him staring at his gun.

"So, are you worried about what'll come next week…hell, what'll come tomorrow for that matter," Logan asked.

"Yeah. It was some pretty heavy stuff that went down. They made it clear that this wasn't the end." She stared off into the wall beyond Logan. "I…we're gonna have to find the others…find Zach, and warn them. There's gonna be a lot for us to do." He smiled when he heard her words. It was the first time she had actively included him in any of her missions as something more than a passive information gatherer. He began to get up. He had every intention of starting the research at that moment, but a hand reached out and pulled him back. "But…it'll have to wait until tomorrow."

Max fell asleep in Logan's arms while he gently stroked her hair. A half hour later Logan drifted off. While they slept, the Seattle skyline darkened and it began to rain. The first several claps of thunder made her restless. She finally opened her eyes and looked at Logan. Her movement roused him from sleep and he caught her staring.

"What?"

"You knew that I might have left for good and you said nothing. You would've just let me go."

"Never Max." He shifted his body to face her. "I probably should have told you this sooner. Do you remember the week that we were apart after that banquet? Remember how we fought?" She nodded. "Well sometime during that week, I realized that I had to get my act together and fast because I didn't want to waste anymore time without you. I knew we were going to be together no matter what. I like to believe its one of those truths in life that I'd just rather not argue with. Everything that had happened before the fight, led me to that conclusion and everything that has happened since has only confirmed it."

"You could've told me all this back then. As I recall, I was the one that came to you first with my feelings." She relaxed back into his arms.

"Yeah, that's true, but I still think that back in the day, that level of resoluteness coming from me would've scared the hell outta you. I mean lets face it, I've always been the more emotionally stable one in this relationship. I could handle my epiphany…you seemed to need to take things slow after we made up." She rolled her eyes in utter disbelief and tried to hit him with a sofa pillow, but he blocked the attack. He laughed and she followed suit. It was the Logan Cale standard method of lightening the mood.

"But seriously Max," he said after settling down, "if we're ever forced to part, I will always be with you." He pulled out the pad of paper that was now wedged into the couch and handed it to her. "And you will always be with me." Tears welled up in her eyes when she saw what was there.

OK so this is the end. I've left it like this because hopefully you guys know what was on the paper that would make him say that to her. Hint ;) Hint;) OK…So my real question (cue dramatic music--dum dum dum) Should I write a sequel? I have an idea rolling around in my head and I'm beginning to flesh it out on paper. I have the story arc in my head. But, I want to know if I should just leave this story alone. Let me know. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed. The support is really important. They make me go over the story over and over again until its good enough to show to others. Thanks again and please review.

**** Special thanks to

pepper2, jiwon, and kaiyen. I wanted to say thank you to my friends for my b-day present. They printed out this story on nice paper and had it bound for me. It looks so good. So I just wanted to thank them here.