Disclaimer: Nope, last time I looked in a mirror I wasn't James Cameron or anyone else lucky enough to own Dark Angel.
Summary: Sequel to "Then it comes to be." The cult loonies are gone but the transgenics have other problems to deal with, not to mention a whole civilization to build. M/A
Rating: R because of occasional violence and sex.
A/N: The NC-17 version of this story is posted at http://nunswithpens.hyperboards.com/.
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Max's cell phone rang just as she and Alec made it back to HQ.
I just saw you on the news. Why were you at the senator's house? What were you doing there? Logan demanded to know.
Max flinched when she heard Logan's voice. She was not ready to have this conversation with him. Especially not when he was angry and upset. She hurried into her office and shut the door. Uh, the government called us in she said evasively, hoping he would just drop it.
The government called you in, he repeated, confused. *Why would the government ask the transgenics for help with a police matter, even if it was a politician's son?* And then it hit him. Hold up. Is that the deal you made? The government gets to call you in whenever they have a situation they want you to handle? Max! Do you realize what kind of missions they're going to send you on?
Well yeah, I'm not stupid! But Logan…
He cut her off before she had a chance to explain. How could you agree to it Max? he yelled into the phone. What the hell is wrong with you? He felt betrayed that his angel would even consider making a deal with the government. This wasn't the Max he knew. *How could she do it? How could she agree to be a hired killer for them?*
Don't you know how much I hate this? She was angry that he would misjudge her so easily.
You should've found another way, Max. Anything else would be better than this.
That's the point! she said, furious at how condescending he sounded. There isn't another way. If we're not useful to them, they'd just find some way to kill us all.
So that justifies murdering people for them? he asked, incredulous.
Under certain circumstances, yeah, maybe.
Like what, exactly? You think you can only go after people the world can do without? Well guess what Max, you make a deal with the devil, you're gonna lose your soul.
Which is why we need help from Eyes Only.
He didn't think anything else she had to say could hurt him more than she already had, but he was wrong. Pain stabbed through him. *So this is why she called me the other day. Because I'm useful to her* he thought bitterly.
Logan, please she cried, desperate to make him understand. Don't you see? The only way I can live with myself is if I can be sure we're only going after the bad guys. We need your help on this. I need your help. Please. He stayed silent and didn't answer.
Max closed her eyes and forced the words out. You said you'd always have my back, no matter how things were between us. So help me now, the way you promised you would. She hated herself as she said the words, but she didn't know how else to get his cooperation.
*I bet Alec has no problem with this,* Logan thought angrily. *I bet he pushed her into agreeing to it. Bastard. I have to get her away from him before it's too late. Before he makes her a killer like the rest of the freaks in TC.* Max needed him to save her. He was the only one who could, and she knew it or she wouldn't have asked for his help. He would make her see that she belonged to him, not Alec. He sighed dramatically. I suppose I could get the information you need through the informant net he said reluctantly.
Thank you she whispered, relieved. Logan, we had to take the deal. We didn't have a choice. And I have to make it work. I pushed them out in the world. I owe it to them. But I can't do it alone. I need your help.
Logan was pleased to hear the remorse in her voice. She would come around to his way of thinking. He just needed to be patient. Yeah, you do he said and hung up.
Max collapsed in her chair and buried her head in her hands. She felt guilty for pushing Logan into agreeing to help. He didn't want to be involved and she'd got him to do it by playing on his feelings for her. Emotional blackmail. *End justifies the means. All that matters is getting the information,* she tried to tell herself, but she didn't really believe it. She was using him and she knew it. *And I still have to tell Alec.*
----*----
Max slid her key into the lock and gently eased open the door. It was still early in the morning and Original Cindy wasn't up for work yet, so Max puttered around in the kitchen making breakfast. The combined smells of bacon and coffee finally roused OC. She stumbled sleepily into the kitchen and blinked in astonishment at the sight of Max flipping pancakes.
"Boo?" OC said in confusion as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.
Max gave her a lopsided smile. "Sorry, the bacon got a little burned." She held out a plate. The bacon was charred and the pancakes looked lumpy. Cooking was definitely not one of Max's better skills.
OC laughed and set the plate down on the counter and gave Max a big hug. "Good ta see ya boo. What'cha doing out and about?"
Max pointed to her bag on the floor by the door. "Supply run. Joshua ran out of Mac and cheese."
OC grinned. "How's doggy dog doing?"
"He's happy. He's got friends and a job now. Alec put him in charge of supply distribution. No one argues with him cuz he just looks at you with those puppy dog eyes and even the hardest soldier melts. It's hilarious."
"And how's your boy?" OC asked, curious to see if Max would continue to deny the obvious.
Instead her face lit up. "He's my boy," she agreed with a huge smile.
OC's mouth dropped open. "Seriously? Well it's about time girl!" OC cocked one eyebrow. "So, is he as good as he looks?"
Max's smile got even bigger. "Ohmigod, you have no idea. He's…" Max searched for the right adjective and settled for the obvious. "He's yummy."
"Oh, yeah" OC agreed with a grin. "Straight up, if any man could tempt Original Cindy into swinging the other way, your boy'd be it." Both girls giggled.
"Good to see ya smiling, boo. You deserve it, after all the shit you put up with." OC gave Max a questioning look. "You tell Logan yet?"
Max's smile faded. She nodded "Yeah. He left Terminal City. He's back at Joshua's house now."
"He go all squirrelly on you when you told him?"
"Yeah. He's so hurt. He just doesn't get it."
"And now you're feeling all guilty and conflicted for letting the man down."
Max sighed. "Kinda. But you know what the worst part is? I was relieved to see him go. A year and a half of dreaming about being with him, and all I wanted was for him to leave." She glanced away.
OC brushed a stray section of hair off Max's face. "Life's like that sometimes, boo. But you gotta choose what's gonna make you happy. And I ain't never seen Logan make you smile the way Alec does."
Max turned back to face OC. "I know. I'm done living a lie."
"Alec's a good man. And he's crazy 'bout you."
"Yeah," Max said with a smile. "It's mutual." Just then her cell phone rang. She gave OC an apologetic look and answered. Yeah.
Taking the boy out through the front door was not part of our arrangement Witherspoon said in a stiff voice.
Max rolled her eyes. He was scared. Seemed like the quickest way to reunite him with his parents.
Your so-called act of compassion exposed your involvement.
Look, we were just trying to help get the job done.
I've been informed that you and 494 used to work with the photographer who so conveniently managed to get a picture of 494's barcode. I should hate to think that 494 deliberately compromised the security of this operation in order to provide his friend with a scoop.
Totally an accident. We didn't even know he was gonna be there. We're not that close.
The press is demanding to an explanation for your presence there. They will be informed that your aid was requested by the mayor as a sign of good faith. You will NOT contradict that story.
Now why would we be talking to the press? Max asked innocently.
Precisely Witherspoon snapped and hung up.
Max sighed and quickly dialled Alec's number. Hey.
Alec was reading the special edition of the Weekly World News when Max called. On the cover was Sketch's picture of his barcode with the words "Mutant Freak Saves Child From Masked Terrorists!" in huge type.
Sketchy delivered. Guess who's the lead story of the Weekly World News?
I know. Witherspoon just called. He's not a happy camper right now. You might want to detail some X-6s to keep an eye on Sketchy for awhile.
Alec grinned. One step ahead of you, Max. They were in position last night.
She laughed softly. You are so good at this.
Yeah, but I'm even better at other things, he said cockily. And I bet you've been telling OC all about it too.
No way, Max denied. She ain't interested. You're not her type, remember?
But I'm definitely yours, he said with a laugh. I think I've still got the scratch marks on my back to prove it.
Are you complaining? Cuz I could stop doing that you know.
Oh really? Is that a challenge, Max? Cuz I'd love to see how long you could hold out. I'm betting it's not as long as you think. His voice was thick with desire and temptation.
Max felt her face turn bright red. OC gave her a knowing look. "Do the two of you need some time alone, boo?"
Alec chuckled. Listen, I hate to intrude on girl time Max, but I got a job for you. We've got an unconfirmed report that a group of X-6s are being held at a secure location 30 klicks north-northwest of Seattle. I want you to take a drive, see if anyone's home.
I'm on it.
Hold up. Not so fast. This is surveillance only, Max. Do NOT approach. I want your word on that.
Yeah, yeah she said impatiently.
I'm serious Max. Don't even think about doing this solo or you won't be going out again. Alec tried to mask his concern for her, but Max could hear it in his voice.
She sighed. Fine. I'll be a good little girl and play by the rules, ok? No contact. Just get the cavalry ready. She hung up and turned to face OC.
"You gotta go" OC said, making it a statement not a question.
"Yeah. We got a report someone's snatched a bunch of X-6s. You think people would learn by now that messing with transgenics is not a healthy thing to do."
"Promise Original Cindy you'll be careful, boo. Lot of nasty people out there, still after your ass."
Max grinned. "Always. Later." She snatched her bag off the floor and rushed out the door.
----*----
Max left the Seattle border control gate and sped down the highway, enjoying the wind whipping through her hair as she flew along on her Ninja. She called Alec when she was halfway to her destination, about 15 miles out of the city. So where is this place exactly?
There'll be an access road coming up on your right. It's not marked but it's barricaded so it should be easy to spot. The compound is nearly 10 miles down that road. Find someplace to stash your bike and go cross-country.
No, I thought I'd just drive up to the front door and ask if they've seen any transgenic kids lately she said sarcastically.
The road ahead twisted into a sharp switchback curve. Max had only one free hand to steer with because she was holding the cell phone in her other. She concentrated on keeping the bike on the road at the speed she was going, and didn't notice the soldiers in camouflage hiding in the ditch until it was too late. They jumped to their feet, machine guns at the ready. She swerved but not fast enough. The bullets hit the front tire and the bike spun out of control and tipped over on its side. The asphalt rose up to meet her, and everything went black.
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A/N: Please read and review. It makes me happy.