Author's Note: the roles of Det

Author's Note: the roles of Det. Sung, Sketchy, and Normal are currently being re-cast. We are also looking for original characters to be bad guys (Reds, government agents, etc.) Please visit the RPG folder at www.delphi.com/darkangelfans/messages for information, or contact me at jennem@bigfoot.com.

Point of View: TINGA *************************************

I returned to the kitchen almost as fast as I left it. Bling has a worried look on his face. Like he just got busted, which he did.

"Problems?" he asked blandly. I ignored him, turned from him and considered my thoughts to the matter at hand. He made some concerned noises, as if to start a conversation, but I raised my hand sharply, not looking back, and he stopped.

Max. That was definitely her in there. My "sister". She hasn't changed all that much from the little girl I knew. Though one would think she'd have been smart enough to change her name. She always was frightfully stubborn.

Once, finding my sibs had been the utmost priority out there. The only one who'd fallen back into my life had been Zack, pulling me out of a jam that I'd gotten myself into. Damn near lost my looks, as well as my life, on that one. I'd been ever so grateful and happy to find my "brother" in my life again.

Not for long. He'd pushed me away, discarded me like I wasn't worth knowing. Said it was for my "protection", and the protection of my sibs, but I knew better.

He didn't want me.

I'd wallowed in it a while, of course. Then I'd decided enough was enough. //I// wanted me. And I'd make damn sure I got whatever else I wanted. No more depending on anyone else.

Including Max.

While I was thinking this through, Logan called a goodbye as he wheeled out, Max trailing obediently behind him. Like a dog. //This// was why I never tied myself to anyone. Because sooner or later they bagged you, turned on you to serve themselves. I was through being someone's pet, dancing around, waiting only for a word of encouragement. I served my own needs, did what //I// wanted.

And right now I wanted to get out of here. Out of Seattle. This town was crazier than most of the people I knew.

And these losers just wanted to use me. No way. I do the using.

Giving Bling a murderous glance, I sweep past him and into the guest room. Time to pack it in.

Point of View: MAX *************************************

If I'm going to gather specimens for Logan, I'm going to do it my way. Starting with Normal.

As we leave the coffee shop, I notice our reflection in the mirror. Logan rolling alongside me. It just looks right. I stare for a few minutes, remembering the days when a sight like that would have made me bolt.

But now . . .

Logan pays for his cappuccino and my coffee, black like my mood. He catches me looking at our reflection. "You don't have anything on your face, Max," he teases, but I know he's got an idea of what I'm thinking.

"I was just thinking. Listen, I'm going to head over to Jam Pony and collect Normal. Got any other errands for me?" I plaster a cheery smile on my face.

"Would it be too much to ask you to take the gummies to Det. Sung?" he asks, "I'd like to get them analyzed."

"No big dealio," I shrug.

Logan and I go back to his penthouse to retrieve the gummies. Before I go, I step into the bathroom. I'm drying my hands when I hear a rustling noise. Creeping out into the hall, I go to investigate.

Tinga's there, a bag slung over her shoulder. She's looking at the statue of Bast that Logan had given me, after I stole it, and then he'd rescued it form the black market.

I hadn't accepted it the second time, but I still felt that it was my statue.

Tinga reached out and picked it up, slipping it into her bag. She had the same fascination with it that I had. But the statue was mine.

She turns, and finally sees me. I'm blocking her path.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Point of View: NORMAL *************************************

I can't believe I'm standing on this line waiting to use a phone. What is taking so long? I thought to myself. I spent fifteen minutes looking for a phone nearby Jampony in case I was ordered to go back. I didn't want anyone who worked there to overhear my conversation.

"Excuse me what is that person up front doing?" I asked staring at the head of the line.

"I think he's calling Manticore like the rest of us. We must report in or Lydecker will chew us out again." said a middle aged overweight balding man wearing a plaid blazer.

Oh great! a nut. I had to be standing in a line full of nut's! I don't know any of them do I?

Looking up and down the line I didn't see anyone that looked familiar.
A teenager ran up behind me and demanded that I tell him where Zack was.

"I dunno?" I said to him as he rushed off again asking another nearby pedestrian about Zack.

A well dressed woman carrying her small dog in one hand and a cell phone in another walked towards my direction. I decided to snatch the phone out of her hand and call Manticore and find out what was going on but before I could do it the insane teen that had been asking about Zack pushed the woman to the ground and ran away with the phone. I went over to help her up since the phone was gone anyway.

"Thank you." said the blonde haired woman smiling up at me.

"It's alright. I'm glad I could help." I said. The woman continued to smile at me in a very familiar way. Oh! no. She was hitting on me. I will never hear the end of this from Jondie or the others if they find out I thought.

"I would like to thank you. Perhaps..we...could.." she said.

"Um..sorry I've got to got to work. I'm late maybe if I see you again or something. Bye!" I said interrupting her as I headed back towards Jam Pony in case she was following me.

I turned around for a quick peek and I could see the woman ducking behind the side of the building with her dog. I use my speed to try to get out of sight but for some reason I was so slow. Something was wrong. It didn't feel right. I needed help.

Point of View: ORIGINAL CINDY *************************************

/so here I sit, in Crash, alone. My lickety chick is no where to be seen, and Max is ignoring my pages/ *smile* she's probably off with her suga daddy Logan.

It's just getting stranger and stranger out there. As is sit here, two girls break out in a fight. Thinking it's just your average cat fight in a bar, I get a little closer, trying to get a better look at the action. Only then do I realize that they are grunting and yelling names like "Max" and "Zack" and one of them is talking about having to destroy the enemy and get back to some place called Manticore to help some Lydecker guy. /that's to wacked for me/ I think as I walk away.

I go sit at the bar, and order another drink, an apple martini, and the bar tender offers me some gummie bears, I'm just about to eat one when I realize that, that's what Normal was eating before he got sick. I put it back and look around. There are 2 girls and a guy sitting at a table behind me, they are eating something, the gummies maybe? and then all of a sudden, they jump up and one of the girls yells, "Zack, Tinga, we have to report back to Manticore right away", and the 3 take off.

"no thanx, Original Cindy don't do sweets" I say to the bar tender. /this is tooo weird, I'm gonna head back to JamPony and call Max again/ I only hope I can get back with out being hit up by one of these wiggas/

I make it to JamPony with out too much trouble. Normal is nowhere to be seen, Sketchy is sitting on the couch watching TV, some news program, and Herbal is at the main desk, probably waitin for Normal to get back.

"Hey my brotha, what's the dealio?" I ask Herbal as I reach for the phone. I dial Max's pager .... hoping for an answer this time.

Point of View: BLING *************************************

I feel like crap. That look Tinga gave me… She wasn't just pissed, she was hurt.

I splash some water on my face. I catch my reflection staring back at me from the water.

Working with Logan… I'm supposed to find it easier to look at myself in the mirror.
Right now. I'm having trouble.

I hear Logan and Max come back in. Thank goodness.

I come out and see Max confronting Tinga.

I walk behind Tinga.

I look right at Max and say

"Logan finally clued you in?"

Max responds "Yeah"

I turn to Tinga.

"I know you've figured it out. You may want to stick around long enough to figure out we are the good guys."

"Like I need good guys in my life." She quips back.

"I don't think anybody really wants to be alone. Do you?"

Her head drops a little and she looks away from both me and Max.

Point of View: TINGA *************************************

Bling's words echo in my mind. "I don't think anybody really wants to be alone. Do you?"

Do I? I've tried to convince myself I do. And I've managed fairly well on my own. For the most part.

But part of me still longs to be a part of that group that got fractured that night...running in the freezing cold, feeling my soul freeze up on me with every step...

I can't. I can't risk so much on so little. They want to //use// me, this I know. Use me, and then what? I make my decision, turn and try to push past Bling...

Who reaches out, and calmly places a hand on my shoulder. I stop. I'm not sure why; it's certainly not because he can stop me. I can feel him trying to make me look at him. Stubbornly I refuse. He places his free hand on my other shoulder. Knowing what I could do to him. And stares straight at me. Finally I look up. He's staring me straight in the eyes, like nobody's done since Manticore.

"Do you?" he repeats, quietly. And suddenly I know I don't, not any more. I can tell by the look in his eyes he knows, too.

It's a long, unbroken moment. The connection between us suddenly turned real, not the playa-playa game like before. And I know that I'm going to be stuck in this crazy city a while longer...if Max and I can get on the right foot for once. I turn to her, more afraid than I've ever been, more than that night in the snow.

Point of View: MAX *************************************

I'm watching the exchange between Bling and Tinga. "Do you?" he says softly.

I know I don't want to be alone. I've learned that lesson, thanks to Logan.

Tinga's considering it. I can see she's struggling between her true self and her hard core exterior. She's dropped the playa exterior. She turns to me, and I can see the escape playing out in her eyes.

And I'm there with her. "Tinga," I whisper, "I don't want to lose you again."

Bling, sensing the change in her, releases her. She's still not sure that I'm sincere. I can't blame her, I'd doubt it if I'd been making eyes at my sister's boyfriend, er, friend.

"I've been looking for you," I tell her, "And now that I have you, I'm not ready to let you go." Reaching out, I put my hand out there. It's up to her now.

She hesitates. Could Zack have something to do with that? Then she accepts it, pulling me into a hug. There's a satisfied look on Bling's face.

Then my damn beeper goes off. I look at it. Cindy, and it's important.

"I have to take it," I tell her, "But I'll be back."

She nods. I turn around and face Logan, who has rolled in, all serious.

"Can I ask you two to leave your weapons at the door or is that impossible for genetically engineered killing machines?" he asks, "If we're going to work together on this, you guys need to declare a truce. Can we all get along for the sake of the greater good?"

"Sure." Bling returns to the kitchen.

"Fine," says Tinga, going to her room.

"No big dealio," I shrug heading to the phone.

Logan sits in the now empty room with a puzzled expression on his face. "Did I miss something here?"

Point of View: CINDY *************************************

waiting in JamPony for Max, I begin to wonder about Normal. Although he looked better when I left, he didn't look 100 per cent, /even thought that boy couldn't look 100 per cent if he got professional help/. I hope Max gets here soon, things are getting weirder by the minute.

I walk over to the couch where Sketchy is sitting. On the news, the reporter is telling everyone to get back to Manticore /again with that place!/ for a briefing of the next mission.

"Sketchy what's the dealio? Has everyone stepped over the edge or what?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, all I know is that I'm not moving from the couch no matter what" Sketchy says, looking more and more paranoid every minute.

"Have you noticed anyone eating anything, ya know, like gummie bears?" I ask him

"No, I'm not exactly paying attention to the snacks these lunatics are eating Cindy, why are you hungry?"

"well then, have you seen Normal? Boy wasn't lookin all that great, even for him"

"He left just after you took off, and he was lookin kinda spaced out."

"that's what I thought, oh well, Max'll be here soon, maybe she's got the dealio on this craziness"

/at least I hope boo's got some answers, no one else does/

Point of View: LOGAN *************************************

Something happened in this room while I was gone. And judging from the three people present, I'm not going to get a straight answer from any of them. Fine. I'll ask each of them later and hopefully figure out the truth from a combination of whatever stories they feed me.

Damn. I hate feeling left out. Tension is high enough lately, if they're all suddenly changing opinions of each other, you'd think they might clue me in.

Max comes back into the room. "Cindy called me from Crash. Everyone's going crazy over there, and they're giving out gummies at the bar. She keeps hearing my name, she thinks I'd better get over there quick."

I hand her the bag of gummies. "Fine. It's as good a place as any for you to pick up some addicts. Can you just drop these off with Matt first?"

Max takes the bag and nods.

"And Max...what just happened with Tinga? I'm assuming that you told her what you know, even after I asked you not to. Because you went from glaring at her to grinning at her, pretty damn quick."

Max gives me a brilliant smile. "We're sisters, after all. Sisters have been known to fight, Logan. Doesn't mean we can't get along in the long run."

I think carefully before phrasing my answer. I don't want her hurt again, like with Brinn, or even Zack. "Max...it's been a long time. I'm sure she wants to get along with you too....but if things get stressful you don't know how she may react."

Max's smile dims a little. I hate that. "I know. And I'll be careful. But I have to try."

I watch her face for a moment and decide to drop the subject. I'll get a better idea of the situation from Bling.

"I can understand that. Basic human instinct. But for now, you'd better get going. And Max?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful."

Point of View: MAX *************************************

Logan wants me to be careful regarding Tinga. I know he thinks I'm going to get hurt like with Zack and Brin. But thing is, I have to take that chance.

But I will be careful. I've lost both Brin and Zack. And it's my fault. Logan's told me that they made those choices themselves, but it was still because of me, or I could have done something.

I'm not going to make that mistake with Tinga.

I'm on my bike headed to Crash. I'm supposed to meet Cindy there. But I'm keeping an eye out for prospective specimens. Swinging by the police station, I drop off the bag of gummies as Logan had asked.

"Special delivery from Logan Cale," I say plopping the bag on Det. Sung's desk, "a bag of wonky gummies."

"Thank you, Max," Sung says looking up at me. He takes the bag and peers inside.

"They may look tasty," I say, "But I wouldn't wanna find out."

He smiles at me. "Tell Logan I'll get these analyzed right away."

"No praw," I reply, then turn and head off back on my way to Crash.