1 Neutral Territory
Part 2
The True Cat
Disclaimer: Just about all of the characters and storylines belong to Fox and anyone else evolved with Dark Angel but the other things are from my own mind.
Summary: These events are similar and based on episode from season one of Dark Angel but with the introduction of my own character. Events that take place are seen in a different perspective.
Spoilers/Timeframe: Occurs after "411 on the DL".
Rating: PG A/N: Thank you for reading my story. If you enjoyed it please e- mail me at the_true_cat@hotmail.com so that I know that there is enough interest to post the following parts or so I can send them to you.
*****
Zack and Claire had been getting along well until Donald Lydecker showed up at the club.
"How do you know Lydecker and how do you know my name?" Zack began to raise his voice
"Zack, you're just going to have to trust me, Lydecker is why Max sent me to meet you here."
"What do you mean to get me, how do I know you're not just working for him! Well, let me tell you something, I'm not going back in there I'd rather die."
Zack turned and was just about to run for it when Claire grabbed him by the wrist.
"Zack, no! Max sent me because Lydecker was due back in Seattle. She sent me because I'm the only one that can truly keep under Lydecker's radar."
Zack turned back towards her with anger glowing in his eyes.
"I've kept under the radar for years, I..."
"Yes, I know," she said cutting him off. "But I'm the only person that can block his radar! You're just going to have to do what I tell you and trust me," she said more quietly. "You can't just run for it, he'll have ten guys out the front and five out the back as well as the two with him, he always does."
"It's not like I can't deal with them."
"I know that."
"How do you know that!" Zack yelled, his temper flaring
"I know, okay. Max told me everything and Lydecker has fill in the gaps."
As Zack calmed and attempted to understand what she had just said, Claire led him towards one of the back booths and sat him down.
"Okay, this is what we do, I'll distract Lydecker and hopefully be able to turn his radio off, meantime you go out the back and get out of here. Without Lydecker to give orders the guys out the front will not know what's happening out the back. And hopefully you will be long gone before they realise what's going on."
"What about you, you can't just stay here."
"Don't worry about me, like I said I can block and get around Donald's radar like that," she replied snapping her fingers and smiling. "We can meet up near Logan's place but stay out of site, okay."
"Alright, just tell me when to get going."
Claire had just stood up and had started heading towards Lydecker when she quickly returned with a troubled expression on her face.
"We have to hide you."
"How?"
"I don't know but we better think of something quick because everyone in this place is being checked over by one of Lydecker's guys"
"Well, is there anywhere I can hide?"
"No, nowhere that you won't be seen first unless…"
"Unless what?" Zack asked with deep suspicion in his voice.
The next thing Zack knew, he had had Claire in his lap and her full lips pressed up against his own. It wasn't like Zack hadn't wished this would happen, but he had dismissed it from his mind as soon as it had entered. In shock he pulled away.
"What are you doing!?" "Well, have you got any better ideas, at least this covers your face." Seeing the troubled look in his eyes she quickly added with a slight smile, "Don't worry about it , just relax and enjoy yourself." Zack couldn't help grinning back.
"What am I suppose to do then?"
"Shhh, the guy's coming over, just kiss my neck."
"Your neck! What?"
"Shut up, Zack and just do it."
"I can't believe this is happening."
"You and me both."
Just then Lydecker's man finished with the people in the booth next to theirs and moved across to talk to them. Zack had his back towards the guy and they both had their heads down.
"You two turn around, this is a government and military sweep."
Both Claire and Zack pretended they hadn't heard the soldier.
"Hey, turn around now!"
"Time to play sweet and innocent," Claire whispered into Zack ear, Zack felt strange, this wasn't funny but for some reason he had to try hard not to laugh. Slowly Claire lifted her eyes to the soldier standing over them. She recognized him as Scott Harvey, the one soldier Donald trusted above all of the others.
"What do you want, I'm kind of busy," she yelled over the music pretending not to have seen him.
"I'm conducting a sweep of these premises and.."
The soldiers eyes bulged as his speech trailed off into nothing. He had recognised Claire's face. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Miss Hayward, I didn't recognise you, please forgive my intrusion"
"Oh my God Scott! Oh my God, this is so embarrassing I...I..."
Claire put her hand across Zack's neck to hide the corner of the faint barcode that had slowly begun to show itself from under his jacket.
"This is so embarrassing, um, tell Donald that I'll be there in a second I just um..."
"Yes, I will Miss Hayward, I'll tell him straight away," and with that he turned and headed back in the direction he had come from. Zack and Claire looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.
"He was more embarrassed than I was. Anyway, you get really to run, I have to go see Donald."
Claire quickly got off Zack's lap and headed to where Scott was now talking to Lydecker. She quickly wove her way over to the bar and ordered two sparkling waters and then turned to where Lydecker was standing.
"Donald Lydecker, what may I ask are you doing in a place like this," she called above the music
Lydecker turned and then smiled when he realised who had called out his name
"You know perfectly why I'm here," he replied as he moved towards her When he reached the bar Claire gave him a warm embrace and as she did she signalled to Zack over his shoulder. Even from a distance the look of distaste--a pure hate--could be clearly seen on his face. Zack headed for the back exit.
"Long time no see."
"Yes, and Scott here tells me my girl has been very busy."
"Um, well yes but how are you?"
The bartender handed them both the drinks Claire had ordered. She took a sip of hers and started playing with Lydecker's radio, turning it off and replacing it back on the bar. While they began talking a crash was heard outside which Claire quickly covered up with the story of stray dogs fighting.
"So what have you been up to the last couple of months?"
"I got a lead on one of my kids in Florida the other week but nothing much else."
"How did it go? Did you catch up with them?"
Even though Claire knew the answer, she couldn't help asking.
"No, it was a false lead and a waste of time but every possible lead has to be looked into. And what about you? If I remember clearly you were the one that rushed out of Seattle long before I got my lead."
"Yeah, I know. I went back home."
"I got that much from the return of your accent."
Claire continued, slightly embarrassed. "A friend hadn't been too well so I went back to help them out."
"They alright?" Lydecker eyed her with friendly suspicion.
"Yeah, they're fine but I got to go so…"
Suddenly one of Lydeckers soldiers ran in from the back exit causing him to break their conversation and stand.
"What is it, soldier?"
"We were attacked at the back exit by one of the escaped X-5's, sir."
"Well, why wasn't I informed of this?"
"We tried to, sir, but we couldn't get any radio response from you, sir."
Lydecker picked up his radio and tried testing it. When it didn't work he flipped it over and flicked it back on and tried it again. Of course this time it worked. He looked up at Claire and raised an eyebrow, Claire took this as a hint to run.
"Well, I really have to go now I've got work in the morning."
She kissed Lydecker on the cheek
"Sorry about the radio, but I hope we can catch up later anyway."
With that she blew him a kiss and ran out the door. Lydecker although disappointed couldn't help laughing at her antics.
"Now tell me about my kid."
"We have identified him as X5-599, sir."
"Zack, what are you doing in Seattle," Lydecker whispered.
"Sorry, sir, you said something?"
"Never mind just find him."
End of Part 2
Part 2
The True Cat
Disclaimer: Just about all of the characters and storylines belong to Fox and anyone else evolved with Dark Angel but the other things are from my own mind.
Summary: These events are similar and based on episode from season one of Dark Angel but with the introduction of my own character. Events that take place are seen in a different perspective.
Spoilers/Timeframe: Occurs after "411 on the DL".
Rating: PG A/N: Thank you for reading my story. If you enjoyed it please e- mail me at the_true_cat@hotmail.com so that I know that there is enough interest to post the following parts or so I can send them to you.
*****
Zack and Claire had been getting along well until Donald Lydecker showed up at the club.
"How do you know Lydecker and how do you know my name?" Zack began to raise his voice
"Zack, you're just going to have to trust me, Lydecker is why Max sent me to meet you here."
"What do you mean to get me, how do I know you're not just working for him! Well, let me tell you something, I'm not going back in there I'd rather die."
Zack turned and was just about to run for it when Claire grabbed him by the wrist.
"Zack, no! Max sent me because Lydecker was due back in Seattle. She sent me because I'm the only one that can truly keep under Lydecker's radar."
Zack turned back towards her with anger glowing in his eyes.
"I've kept under the radar for years, I..."
"Yes, I know," she said cutting him off. "But I'm the only person that can block his radar! You're just going to have to do what I tell you and trust me," she said more quietly. "You can't just run for it, he'll have ten guys out the front and five out the back as well as the two with him, he always does."
"It's not like I can't deal with them."
"I know that."
"How do you know that!" Zack yelled, his temper flaring
"I know, okay. Max told me everything and Lydecker has fill in the gaps."
As Zack calmed and attempted to understand what she had just said, Claire led him towards one of the back booths and sat him down.
"Okay, this is what we do, I'll distract Lydecker and hopefully be able to turn his radio off, meantime you go out the back and get out of here. Without Lydecker to give orders the guys out the front will not know what's happening out the back. And hopefully you will be long gone before they realise what's going on."
"What about you, you can't just stay here."
"Don't worry about me, like I said I can block and get around Donald's radar like that," she replied snapping her fingers and smiling. "We can meet up near Logan's place but stay out of site, okay."
"Alright, just tell me when to get going."
Claire had just stood up and had started heading towards Lydecker when she quickly returned with a troubled expression on her face.
"We have to hide you."
"How?"
"I don't know but we better think of something quick because everyone in this place is being checked over by one of Lydecker's guys"
"Well, is there anywhere I can hide?"
"No, nowhere that you won't be seen first unless…"
"Unless what?" Zack asked with deep suspicion in his voice.
The next thing Zack knew, he had had Claire in his lap and her full lips pressed up against his own. It wasn't like Zack hadn't wished this would happen, but he had dismissed it from his mind as soon as it had entered. In shock he pulled away.
"What are you doing!?" "Well, have you got any better ideas, at least this covers your face." Seeing the troubled look in his eyes she quickly added with a slight smile, "Don't worry about it , just relax and enjoy yourself." Zack couldn't help grinning back.
"What am I suppose to do then?"
"Shhh, the guy's coming over, just kiss my neck."
"Your neck! What?"
"Shut up, Zack and just do it."
"I can't believe this is happening."
"You and me both."
Just then Lydecker's man finished with the people in the booth next to theirs and moved across to talk to them. Zack had his back towards the guy and they both had their heads down.
"You two turn around, this is a government and military sweep."
Both Claire and Zack pretended they hadn't heard the soldier.
"Hey, turn around now!"
"Time to play sweet and innocent," Claire whispered into Zack ear, Zack felt strange, this wasn't funny but for some reason he had to try hard not to laugh. Slowly Claire lifted her eyes to the soldier standing over them. She recognized him as Scott Harvey, the one soldier Donald trusted above all of the others.
"What do you want, I'm kind of busy," she yelled over the music pretending not to have seen him.
"I'm conducting a sweep of these premises and.."
The soldiers eyes bulged as his speech trailed off into nothing. He had recognised Claire's face. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Miss Hayward, I didn't recognise you, please forgive my intrusion"
"Oh my God Scott! Oh my God, this is so embarrassing I...I..."
Claire put her hand across Zack's neck to hide the corner of the faint barcode that had slowly begun to show itself from under his jacket.
"This is so embarrassing, um, tell Donald that I'll be there in a second I just um..."
"Yes, I will Miss Hayward, I'll tell him straight away," and with that he turned and headed back in the direction he had come from. Zack and Claire looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.
"He was more embarrassed than I was. Anyway, you get really to run, I have to go see Donald."
Claire quickly got off Zack's lap and headed to where Scott was now talking to Lydecker. She quickly wove her way over to the bar and ordered two sparkling waters and then turned to where Lydecker was standing.
"Donald Lydecker, what may I ask are you doing in a place like this," she called above the music
Lydecker turned and then smiled when he realised who had called out his name
"You know perfectly why I'm here," he replied as he moved towards her When he reached the bar Claire gave him a warm embrace and as she did she signalled to Zack over his shoulder. Even from a distance the look of distaste--a pure hate--could be clearly seen on his face. Zack headed for the back exit.
"Long time no see."
"Yes, and Scott here tells me my girl has been very busy."
"Um, well yes but how are you?"
The bartender handed them both the drinks Claire had ordered. She took a sip of hers and started playing with Lydecker's radio, turning it off and replacing it back on the bar. While they began talking a crash was heard outside which Claire quickly covered up with the story of stray dogs fighting.
"So what have you been up to the last couple of months?"
"I got a lead on one of my kids in Florida the other week but nothing much else."
"How did it go? Did you catch up with them?"
Even though Claire knew the answer, she couldn't help asking.
"No, it was a false lead and a waste of time but every possible lead has to be looked into. And what about you? If I remember clearly you were the one that rushed out of Seattle long before I got my lead."
"Yeah, I know. I went back home."
"I got that much from the return of your accent."
Claire continued, slightly embarrassed. "A friend hadn't been too well so I went back to help them out."
"They alright?" Lydecker eyed her with friendly suspicion.
"Yeah, they're fine but I got to go so…"
Suddenly one of Lydeckers soldiers ran in from the back exit causing him to break their conversation and stand.
"What is it, soldier?"
"We were attacked at the back exit by one of the escaped X-5's, sir."
"Well, why wasn't I informed of this?"
"We tried to, sir, but we couldn't get any radio response from you, sir."
Lydecker picked up his radio and tried testing it. When it didn't work he flipped it over and flicked it back on and tried it again. Of course this time it worked. He looked up at Claire and raised an eyebrow, Claire took this as a hint to run.
"Well, I really have to go now I've got work in the morning."
She kissed Lydecker on the cheek
"Sorry about the radio, but I hope we can catch up later anyway."
With that she blew him a kiss and ran out the door. Lydecker although disappointed couldn't help laughing at her antics.
"Now tell me about my kid."
"We have identified him as X5-599, sir."
"Zack, what are you doing in Seattle," Lydecker whispered.
"Sorry, sir, you said something?"
"Never mind just find him."
End of Part 2