James Cameron and Charles Eglee own Dark Angel. My use is in no way meant to challenge their copyrights. This piece is not intended for any profit on the part of the writer, nor is it meant to detract from the commercial viability of the aforementioned (or any other) copyright. Any similarity to any events or persons, either real or fictional, is unintended.
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Author's Note: I guess now I get to see how many readers come back to continue the story after that last chapter. Not to fear, I'm working hard in a direction that one of RagingConfusion's reviews seemed to suspect.
Anyway, sorry it took so long to update again. The thing is that since this has taken so long to write (the trilogy was supposed to have been finished by the arrival of what would have been the beginning of the third season), I've sorta forgotten some of the little things. That meant that before I posted anything else (and thus risked greater story inconsistencies than I'd already stumbled into), I wanted to edit the whole thing from beginning to end. That's finished, so here's the next chapter. (And I know what you're thinking – if it's done, then why are you only posting Chapter 13? The answer is that I want to get the third story underway before actually wrapping this one up, so that any minor changes necessary for a seamless transition can be done properly without having to post an edited version of a chapter or two. Shouldn't take long, though.) Oh, and all previous chapters have been reposted, all cleaned up with a few minor tweaks that would likely be unnoticeable to anyone who's been reading along from the beginning.
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XIII – The Price of Disobedience"Special Agent Ames White," Lillith stated as her guest walked slowly into her office. "You've been a very busy bee."
"I suppose," White answered, immediately returning the challenging stare his superior directed at him. His bravado failed to impress Lillith.
"I've heard all about the ambush that you and some of your friends set for the transgenics outside Vancouver. I was under the impression that I'd specifically instructed you to stay away from the transgenics," Lillith said venomously. "In what way was I deficient in relaying that command?"
"In no way."
"So you understood my wishes?"
"Yes." Lillith remained quiet for several moments, pondering White's resolve. In over twenty years, she had never had anyone admit to blatantly disobeying a direct order. They're made of solid steel, she mused silently.
"I'm disappointed," Lillith admitted. She knew she had very little alternative in the situation. White's disobedience demanded punishment. He would have to pay a rather serious penalty. Still, she had to know… "Why did you disobey me?"
"Because your position, by necessity keeping you isolated from some of the experiences I've had, does not allow you to see the threat that the transgenics pose," White responded. His tone made it clear he was simply expressing his beliefs, and not looking for forgiveness or desperately trying to make excuses. "It is unsafe to proceed with any plan until they've been removed from the scene. They've already averted The Coming. I know you have contingency plans, and I know you're confident that these plans will meet with success. Still, I must remind you that you and your peers were equally confident about the success of The Coming. You failed then, and I'm doing what I feel I need to do to prevent another failure in the future."
"You disobeyed me," Lillith reminded him, finding it surprisingly difficult to restrain herself from attacking him for his presumption. She had thought she had enough control to overlook such an attitude. "Do you think your intent should mitigate your crime? Or your punishment?"
"You're the one who asked me why I did it," White reminded her. "I didn't come here to make excuses."
"Fine," Lillith replied. "There are some in my position that would condemn you to death," Lillith muttered, knowing that her guest would hear her no matter how low she kept her voice. "I, however, must reluctantly admit that there may be some merit to your concerns. Therefore, I will decline to have you killed."
"I understand," White replied, Lillith noting that he didn't thank her for her generosity. Damn, he's arrogant.
"Do not think for a moment, though, that my current clemency is indicative of any future treatment," Lillith warned. "You are given this one reprieve, Agent White. Your concerns will be addressed. I will no longer simply assume that the transgenics will go away, or that we can be guaranteed of outsmarting them."
"That's all I've been asking for," White replied.
"While I refine our strategy, you will go to Seattle," Lillith commanded. "It may be necessary to make use of your experience in the near future." She saw White's eyes light up at her words, and she knew that he savored the thought of being able to have another chance at wiping out the transgenics he hated so much.
"And when I get to Seattle?"
"Arrangements have been made for you to lay low in a safe house," Lillith explained. "You will lay low, Agent White. If you try any of your loose cannon antics again, you will not find me as forgiving the next time you come before me. We won't be making our move until the siege has been lifted, at the earliest."
"I understand." White looked incredibly pleased with himself.
"That's all, Agent White," Lillith said. "Leave me. Go to Seattle and prepare yourself. I'm certain you will be hard-pressed once you're called upon."
"Thank you," White finished as he turned on his heel and left the office. He wasn't out the door for more than three seconds before Lillith had the phone in her hand, dialing a number that one of her subordinates had provided to her.
"Hello?" a raspy voice answered on the other end, sounding distinctly surprised. And of course he's surprised, Lillith decided. They probably thought there wasn't an intact phone line anywhere in the area.
"Put Max on the phone," Lillith commanded.
"Who is this?"
"Put Max on the phone," Lillith repeated, her tone clearly conveying her impatience and feeling of superiority.
"Hold on." Several minutes of silence followed, and finally a female voice spoke on the other end.
"Who is this?"
"Is this Max?" Lillith asked.
"Yeah."
"And how do I know for sure?"
"Gee, maybe if you'd get off the phone and come the hell down here, I could show you my pretty little barcode," the woman answered, leaving no doubt in Lillith's mind that she had reached the person she wanted to.
"Charming," Lillith purred. "Listen, Max, I have some information about Special Agent Ames White." Lillith remained quiet after baiting the hook.
"I'm listening."
"Your old friend is going to return to Seattle," Lillith said. "The Familiars are planning on gathering a force to hit you all when the siege finally lifts."
"Who is this?" Max asked suspiciously.
"Come now," Lillith replied smoothly, "I know you know about Sandeman and his little revolution. My people got most of us, that's true, but a few of us slipped through the cracks."
"By 'us' you mean the resistance?" Max asked. "You're one of them? You're helping transgenics now?"
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Lillith said, a devilish smile spreading across her lips. She knew that had been a favorite cliché of Colonel Lydecker. Just saying it would likely either get Max to hang up, or else cause her to buy into whatever she was told. And Lillith didn't hear the connection cut off. "Are you still there?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
"Yeah," Max confirmed.
"The Familiars won't make another move against you as long as the National Guard and the media are there to witness anything," Lillith added. "But they'll eliminate you as soon as they can."
"Why?"
"Because they're already enacting their contingency plans for the failure of The Coming," Lillith said. "They've been stopped by you and your friends once, already. They're not taking any chances this time."
"I understand."
"White is arriving at the airport Hilton tomorrow morning, after eleven," Lillith said. "My people have bought up the entire north wing on the seventh floor, and they use it as a safe house. I have no idea what room he'll be in, but he'll definitely be there somewhere."
"And what do you want me to do about it?" Max asked.
"Anything you can. There are only a handful of us left. We can't risk getting exposed, while you --"
"-- are expendable," Max finished for her.
"That's not what I meant to say."
"I understand completely."
"He's supposedly going to assemble a team once he gets settled in," Lillith continued. "You have to take care of him before that happens."
"They'll just send someone else to take his place," Max muttered. "It doesn't make any sense to risk resources on an expendable target. Besides, my people are still under siege. It's not like we can just run over to the Hilton for brunch and a hit."
"I know you could get out if you want to," Lillith said confidently. "Besides, White is the only one of them that really knows what your people are capable of. With him gone you'd be more of an enigma to your enemies."
"I'll see what I can do," Max relented, immediately hanging up the phone.
Of course you will, Lillith thought gleefully. You couldn't possibly pass up a chance to eliminate your nemesis. Lillith thought over the plan over and over, thrilled with the simplicity of it all. She had two problems – the transgenics, and Ames White. The transgenics were standing in her people's way and seemed completely paranoid of the next Familiar move against them. Ames White, on the other hand, was all too willing to give them exactly what they expected, and on a timetable that did not suit Lillith one bit.
I'll give them Ames White, she decided. Once he's dead, the most recognizable member of my people will be eliminated. He'll be replaced with someone new, someone they won't see coming so easily. And more importantly, with White gone, the transgenics will relax. They'll think they won some kind of victory, while all the while they'll simply have taken care of a dirty little chore I would otherwise have had to take care of, myself. After all, he did defy me. Such an insult cannot go unanswered.
Just get comfortable, Max, Lillith thought happily. Get comfortable, and lower your guard. Then, when you least expect it, everything you hold dear will be destroyed.
To be continued……………………………