Author:
Catherder
Disclaimer:
Dark Angel is owned by Charles Eglee, James Cameron, and Fox. I claim no rights
to these characters, alas, although I like to play with them.
Summary
: Continuation of "Encounter." Renfro
grabs Logan for experimentation and Lydecker has to deal with the consequences.
Spoilers/Timeframe: Between Pollo Loco and Hit a Sistah Back
Rated:
PG for language
A/N:
This is in response to the reviewers who asked me to continue the story. Great
thanks to a fan for reviewing and making excellent suggestions. Reviews are
appreciated.
Encounter, Chapter Four
"Well,
well, small world," Logan said.
"Hello,
Mr. Cale," Lydecker replied. "I didn't expect to see you up and dressed."
"Apparently
not. What's going on here? Where am I?" He already had a good idea of where he
was, which explained the bars on the window. Why he was there was another
matter.
"Never
mind where you are. You're here by mistake." Lydecker made it sound almost like
an apology. He sat down on the metal chair.
"Great.
Then I can leave?" Logan ran a hand through his hair.
"Well,
it's not as simple as that. The crazy bitch I work for decided that you would
be an excellent subject for some experiments I've been conducting. She had you,
ah, snatched for that purpose."
"I
didn't think I had passed out at the market. 'She' wouldn't be very blonde with
long legs and an icy smile, would she?"
"Yeah,
that's her. Doctor Elizabeth Renfro."
"Ah,
Doctor Elizabeth Renfro," Logan
repeated. "Doctor of what if I may
ask?"
"Biogenetics,"
Lydecker replied simply. "She's very eager to take this project to the next
stage, human testing."
"Terrific.
And I'm the human guinea pig, I suppose?"
"She
didn't know who you were, or how well known. It was stupid."
"So
what's this project? And why me?' Logan leaned over and looked at Lydecker
intently.
"It's
a nanotechnology experiment. We've
designed cell-like nanochips to incorporate themselves in the body's cellular
machinery in order to stimulate metabolic activity and enhance neuromuscular
function. It's supposed to give soldiers the ability to heal their own wounds,
and regenerate tissue and nerves."
"Ah."
Logan nodded, beginning to see where this was going.
"And
why you? Because she wants to see if the nanocells can regenerate your spinal cord
and cure your paralysis. You're young, strong,
and in good health. She thought you'd be the perfect candidate."
Oh God, thought Logan, I've been through this before with
Max's blood. I don't know if I can do it again, physically or emotionally.
"So,
what do you think?"
"
You're an excellent candidate, in my opinion. But I'd certainly prefer to
experiment on someone I didn't know."
That
statement startled Logan, who'd been regaled with various instances of
Lydecker's brutality by Max. He also couldn't forget that Lydecker had
personally shot Doctor Vertes, his one hope for regaining his ability to walk,
in cold blood.
"Why
is that?"
"Well,
under most circumstances, I wouldn't care. But this is very risky. The
technology isn't as far advanced as I'd like it to be before moving on to human
testing. One more round on animals would be my preference, but Renfro is hot to
trot on this."
"So,
there's a risk. Tell me about it. What could happen?"
"Bottom
line, it could kill you. I'd kind of hate to see that happen. You've got a lot
of guts and I'd hate to see that go to waste. I remember what you did at that
genetics conference, how you traded yourself for the hostages. I've got to
admire you. Not many people would have done that, and the fact that you were in
a wheelchair made me admire you more."
"Thanks."
Logan said. Lydecker admired him? That was a scary thought. "And if it worked?"
"You'd
be able to walk."
"So,
what are my options?" Logan figured he wasn't going to get out of Manticore
unscathed, so he wanted to minimize his risks if he could.
"You don't have options. I do." Lydecker reminded him. "One, I
can do the experiment. If it kills you, it kills you."
"Happy thought, that," Logan muttered under his breath. Lydecker pricked up his ears.
"Two,
on the other hand, if it works, you'll probably be able to walk. You do want that, don't you?"
Logan
nodded silently. More than you'll
ever know, he thought.
"Three,
if it doesn't work and it doesn't kill you, you probably won't be any worse off
than you are now."
"Probably?"
"Since
I haven't used the technology on humans, I don't know what could happen."
"What
are the odds that it would work?" Logan thought he would seriously consider a deal with the
devil if it would give him his legs back.
"It
worked about a third of the time on rats. The other two-thirds died. The rats
that survived realized at least a partial recovery of sensation and movement."
Logan
rolled away from Lydecker and turned toward the barred window. He looked out at
the barren landscape, considering the odds.
"Four,
I can tell Renfro that for some reason, you're not a suitable candidate. If
you're lucky, she'll let you go – probably the same way she brought you
here. Although, knowing her, she won't
be inclined to do that."
"Great."
"Five,
I can get you out of here somehow. Frankly, you'd be a lot more useful to me
alive and healthy and somewhere else."
Logan
wheeled around to face Lydecker again. "Number five sounds like a viable option
to me. But how could I be more useful to you?"
"You're
a journalist. You have contacts. I'm sure I can think of some way to take
advantage of that."
"You
don't like her very much, do you?" Logan stated the obvious. "How come?"
"I
think she's ruining this outfit. She's hurrying experiments along too quickly.
Destroying the results of previous ones that
didn't work the way she wanted them to…."
Logan
shuddered at the thought. How many of the X series had she eliminated? Would
she kill him if the experiment didn't
show the results she wanted? A chill ran through him.
"…
Really good at blaming others and covering her ass." Lydecker was saying.
"Turning my people against me. Yeah, I hate the bitch. Anyone would."
"Well,
she's certainly at the top of my list
of 'never want to see again'. Creeped me right out," Logan agreed. "Is there
some way we could continue this conversation elsewhere. Barred windows always
make me claustrophobic." Besides, he thought, a guided tour of Manticore could
come in handy.
"I suppose we could go to the lab. After all, you'll end up there sooner or later."
