Disclaimer: Don't own them, don't profit from them, only like to play with them
A/N: Sorry it's been so long. I actually had this story completed but before I could post it …well we all know the difficulties here recently. Anyway I lost the diskette so I've had to rewrite and retype the last chapters. I apologize and am working to get them redone and completed in the next few days.
**********************************************************************************
"That should do it." Logan turned from his computer motioning to Max to sit down next to him, out of line of camera range. Checking the time he pointed to the monitor displaying an empty room in a derelict building as he flipped on a switch that activated the audio.
For a moment there was silence as they waited to see if Lydecker would show. The closing of a door broke the silence and was followed by the sound of approaching footsteps. As they continued to watch and wait, Lydecker entered the camera's view and seated himself in the rooms only chair.
"You called this meeting. What do you want?" Logan demanded abruptly, his voice coming out harsh and somewhat mechanical as it passed through the Eyes Only voice filters.
"Exactly what I told you – your help. You've seen the surveillance video so you know what's going on at Manticore."
"Why should I help you?" Logan's answer was harsh.
"Because you're involved with my kids and if I go down my replacement will be a hundred times worse for them than I could ever be. Her only interest in them is as material for her twisted genetics experiments. She'll destroy them without blinking an eye if she thinks it will help her to her goals."
"And you won't?" Logan queried.
"I've never wanted to destroy them I want them to reach their full potential, fulfill their destiny." Lydecker responded evenly.
"But if their idea of their 'destiny' as you put it disagrees with yours, you'll do whatever you have to to convince them your way is the right way." Logan accused.
"Sometimes individual wants have to be subordinated to the greater good, son. That may require what appears to be a certain ruthlessness. "
"You have no idea how sick that is, do you?" Logan accused. Lydecker ignored the accusation and continued on calmly.
"I know you're involved with X5-452. What if I agreed to forget she ever existed in return for your help? I could wipe all records of her. She'd be free to pursue whatever destiny she wants."
Logan glanced at Max already knowing her response. Max emphatically shook her head "No." Knowing her fierce loyalty to her siblings ha had expected nothing else from her.
"I have no authority to make deals for any of the X5's. Assuming I can even contact any of them, what exactly do you want and what are you offering all of them in return?" Logan hedged his answer.
"My rival will be traveling in a military convoy from Wyoming in three days. I need a few soldiers to help me take out the convoy and eliminate her. She only has a small group loyal to her and they'll all be traveling with her. In return I'll drop pursuit of them. They can return to Manticore if they want but if not I give my word to let them go their own way."
"Why not do it with your own people? Why do you need these X5's?"
"She'll have 2 or 3 X5's with her as extra security. I need to match her firepower but I can't use any of the X5's from Manticore. She has them all under tight surveillance and my clearance to use them has been lifted." The bitterness in Lydecker's voice gave a strong sense of truth to his words. Logan and Max exchanged looks and Logan responded.
"I'll try to pass on your request. Leave the details of what you propose on the desk in front of you along with contact instructions." Logan reached over and cut the transmission from his end. He and Max watched in silence as Lydecker placed a manila envelope on the table before he left the room.
Logan turned to Max " I don't like it, Max. He'll use you all and then turn on you in a minute. You heard him, the end justifies the means certainly describes his philosophy."
"I agree with everything you're saying Logan. But I'm remembering what Tinga said about the genetic experiments. We need to contact Zack and let him know about this." Logan nodded unable to argue with her logic.
"I still don't like it but I don't suppose there's any use arguing with you, is there?" Max regarded him for a moment before replying.
:"Logan, I want more than anything to find out about this thing between us. But you and I know that will never happen with the way things are now. This might be a chance to change that. It's at least worth discussion. Tinga gave me a contact number, I'm going to use it and get Zack here."
Recognizing the truth in her words Logan nodded and proceeded to close down the rest of his equipment while Max made the call. He called Bling and instructed him to have the contact equipment picked up and Lydecker's envelope delivered to the apartment. That done he quickly checked the feed and proceeded to the living room where Max was staring out at the ever-present Seattle rain.
"I made the call, Logan. Zack should be here within 12 hours." Her voice was low and she turned to look at him as he stopped behind her. Wordlessly he took her hand and joined her at the window. Together they stared at the rain each contemplating what was to come.