Spoilers: Set after Hello, Goodbye - so anything prior to this
episode is spoiled and as the story continues, it may impinge
slightly on other episodes after unintentionally.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters that we owe
thanks to James Cameron, FOX and anyone else associated with
Dark Angel.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
"What's that on your back, suga-boo?"
OC's voice drifted into Max's thoughts, pulling her away from all the craziness in her mind.
"Huh?"
"It's.like a Chinese symbol or something. You get a little bored one day whilst lasering at the tattoo parlour?"
"What are you talking about?"
Max strained her neck in an effort to rotate her head to look at the symbol residing on her shoulder blade.
"What the hell? What is that?"
"You means to tell me that ain't our doin' baby girl?"
"No, I don't know where that came from.but I don't have time to deal with it now."
Original Cindy shook her head at her roommate, her index finger following the movement,
"Honey, you gonna make time. I know you gots friction wid Logan, but he's the only one who'll be able to explain that for you. Alec's gone baby, I know it hurts, but I ain't gonna let your pale transgenic ass sit around here no more, so don't give me lip about 'I don't have time'. You got plenty and you gonna make some."
Max shrugged indifferently and pulled on her gloves and denim jacket, slapping on a beanie to cover her ratty, uncared for hair,
"Later girl."
* * * * *
Logan's exoskeleton whirled as his outstretched arm pointed the gun at the transgenic seated on the couch. He half expected the soldier to disarm him, but he had been assured that 494 was apparently not the type to disobey his commanding officer.
*Not at all like the Alec I knew and hated.*
He thought wryly to himself, before speaking,
"What would you say if I said that I wanted to kill you soldier?"
A blank face with cold eyes was all the reply he received.
"I intend to, I hate you that much."
494 shuddered uncontrollably as another memory flooded his mind.
Flashback:
A cemetery. A headstone - Rachel. Beloved daughter. An older man,
"I wanted to kill you. I hate you that much."
* * * * *
Logan cracked the gun across his face, drawing him back to reality,
"Listen to me when I talk!"
He waited for an apology, yet 494's stone face stared back. Logan raised the gun again and smiled gleefully as he saw a shift of movement in the transgenic's eyes. He shot it quickly so as not to lose his nerve and fell backwards from the recoil. The shot plummeted into 494's chest, just below a dark tattoo like symbol on his collarbone. His head fell back and was out of the game seconds later, his body unable to fight it.
* * * * *
Max paused at the bottom of Foggle Towers, unsure of whether to go up and see Logan. She hesitated, considering the options, before deciding on leaving. Her sensitive ears heard a gunshot sound at the top of the building and she found herself climbing up the side of the apartment complex by the drainpipe like second nature. She crashed through Logan's window in full battle mode to see him kneeling by a body, drawing blood from a young male and injecting in himself from a young male. It was Ben.
She rushed over, kicking Logan square in the face, sending him flying backwards and knocked unconscious, his nose snapping and caking his face as it profusely bled. Max bent over and scooped up Ben's body, clutching it to her, revelling in it's rapidly disappearing warmth.
"I'm sorry.",
She mumbled, as she carried him downstairs. Spotting Logan's van, she opened it and placed her brother gently inside,
"What person loses her brother twice. And both times it was my fault!"
She turned away, sobbing, before returning inside for her ex.
* * * * *
"Lydecker sir."
The CO turned to regard the X6 soldier panting nervously before him,
"Yes?"
"494 is missing. As is Eyes Only."
Lydecker grinned to himself, whispering beyond even the transgenic's hearing,
"Max!"
"Sir?"
"It's not my problem soldier. I'm going to lunch, I suggest you join the others in the mess hall and do the same, forgetting that this conversation ever took place."
* * * * *
Logan stirred, slowly adjusting his blurred vision to study his surroundings. It was some sort of empty warehouse, cold cement floor and several chairs. He budged slightly and the chains restraining him to the wall clanked loudly. Max stood from her cross-legged position on the floor gracefully, to face him, her hands resting in her hips in an aggressive stance.
"Morning sunshine. Beginning to wonder how long you were gonna be out."
"What do you want?"
"You know, it's funny that since the Pulse, no one makes television programs anymore. Well aside from those whacked out music videos that used to give Alec attention deficit. So I've been at home, stuck watching Buffy repeats for the last few days. And it struck me that her life is very similar to mine. Evil boyfriend. Crazy friends. Constantly having to save and kick people's asses. Etcetera. But I guess the character I identify most with is Angelus."
"Angel?"
"Well I don't think that I'd be describing me as that, if I were you."
She paused pointedly and although Logan had no idea where she was leading with this, he questioned her again,
"What do you want?"
"Well duh! If you watched the show, you'd know. I want to torture you."
Logan's eyes widened in horror and he desperately struggled to break free of his shackles,
"Max, please don't do this! You know it's wrong to kill, you're not that kind of person."
"You know what's wrong? That it wasn't enough that Alec was killed, you hd to live it out, going so far as to murder his clone."
"Murder? I didn't kill anyone!"
Max laughed bitterly and spoke ice,
"Tell me a story Logan."
He sighed; he supposed he should just confess if he wanted a fighting chance.
* * * * *
"I don't get it."
"Have your runes appeared?"
"My what?"
"That."
Logan gestured at the tattoo like picture on her wrist and she looked down at it in alarm.
"So Alec is."
"He's what is known as the prodigal son. The one who will avert the apocalyptic plague threatening mankind by shedding light and protection on the human race. He has been prophesised for generations. He and his chosen mate will stop the destruction of humanity."
"His mate?"
"You. I knew it had to be you the moment we met. I hadn't known it was Alec. For the longest time, I was convinced it was Zack.but I was wrong."
"But Alec's dead, you killed him."
Logan stared at her, not daring to speak.
"Why would you do this? Why stop what is so good?"
"You know, transgenics are supposed to have phenomenally high IQs. I wonder about you sometimes though."
"Not the best idea to piss off the one who holds you life in the palm of her hand." "Don't you get it Max? I did it to cleanse humanity, to wipe out the scum that coincides within society. Transgenics."
She winced at his words, the anger and spite that filled his voice.
"Your kind tainted the bloodlines. Made human blood impure. You're all animals. I did what was in the best interests of humans."
"So what now? The apocalypse arises like foretold because you killed the guy destined to overt it. Basically, you've just screwed humanity. People will be looking for someone to blame. It will cause chaos."
"I did them a favour and I can regulate how they react, I have all the times in the past. You never heard of subliminal messages Max? What I have done is made the ultimate test. The survival of the fittest, only the strongest will make it."
"And you think your strength is a match for a transgenic's? Look.none of your reasoning makes sense. Give me the Layman's version."
Logan sighed and wiggled again in his restraints, stopping as Max kicked the chair out from underneath him, causing it to splinter and shatter.
"Okay. You and Alec were destined to save the world somehow. By taking him out of the picture, a crisis will occur, to be stopped by yours truly."
"What makes you think you'll be able to stop it?"
"By taking some of his blood, I figure I should be able to take his place."
Max's eyes glinted in realisation, though Logan mistook it for admiration
*I've finally made her realise, how amazing I am*
*The idiot doesn't realise that he killed Ben, not Alec*
"I will be the hero, not some undeserving jackass."
He fell quiet briefly,
"I did it for my father. My real father. It isn't what he wants, but it is what's right."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
"What's that on your back, suga-boo?"
OC's voice drifted into Max's thoughts, pulling her away from all the craziness in her mind.
"Huh?"
"It's.like a Chinese symbol or something. You get a little bored one day whilst lasering at the tattoo parlour?"
"What are you talking about?"
Max strained her neck in an effort to rotate her head to look at the symbol residing on her shoulder blade.
"What the hell? What is that?"
"You means to tell me that ain't our doin' baby girl?"
"No, I don't know where that came from.but I don't have time to deal with it now."
Original Cindy shook her head at her roommate, her index finger following the movement,
"Honey, you gonna make time. I know you gots friction wid Logan, but he's the only one who'll be able to explain that for you. Alec's gone baby, I know it hurts, but I ain't gonna let your pale transgenic ass sit around here no more, so don't give me lip about 'I don't have time'. You got plenty and you gonna make some."
Max shrugged indifferently and pulled on her gloves and denim jacket, slapping on a beanie to cover her ratty, uncared for hair,
"Later girl."
* * * * *
Logan's exoskeleton whirled as his outstretched arm pointed the gun at the transgenic seated on the couch. He half expected the soldier to disarm him, but he had been assured that 494 was apparently not the type to disobey his commanding officer.
*Not at all like the Alec I knew and hated.*
He thought wryly to himself, before speaking,
"What would you say if I said that I wanted to kill you soldier?"
A blank face with cold eyes was all the reply he received.
"I intend to, I hate you that much."
494 shuddered uncontrollably as another memory flooded his mind.
Flashback:
A cemetery. A headstone - Rachel. Beloved daughter. An older man,
"I wanted to kill you. I hate you that much."
* * * * *
Logan cracked the gun across his face, drawing him back to reality,
"Listen to me when I talk!"
He waited for an apology, yet 494's stone face stared back. Logan raised the gun again and smiled gleefully as he saw a shift of movement in the transgenic's eyes. He shot it quickly so as not to lose his nerve and fell backwards from the recoil. The shot plummeted into 494's chest, just below a dark tattoo like symbol on his collarbone. His head fell back and was out of the game seconds later, his body unable to fight it.
* * * * *
Max paused at the bottom of Foggle Towers, unsure of whether to go up and see Logan. She hesitated, considering the options, before deciding on leaving. Her sensitive ears heard a gunshot sound at the top of the building and she found herself climbing up the side of the apartment complex by the drainpipe like second nature. She crashed through Logan's window in full battle mode to see him kneeling by a body, drawing blood from a young male and injecting in himself from a young male. It was Ben.
She rushed over, kicking Logan square in the face, sending him flying backwards and knocked unconscious, his nose snapping and caking his face as it profusely bled. Max bent over and scooped up Ben's body, clutching it to her, revelling in it's rapidly disappearing warmth.
"I'm sorry.",
She mumbled, as she carried him downstairs. Spotting Logan's van, she opened it and placed her brother gently inside,
"What person loses her brother twice. And both times it was my fault!"
She turned away, sobbing, before returning inside for her ex.
* * * * *
"Lydecker sir."
The CO turned to regard the X6 soldier panting nervously before him,
"Yes?"
"494 is missing. As is Eyes Only."
Lydecker grinned to himself, whispering beyond even the transgenic's hearing,
"Max!"
"Sir?"
"It's not my problem soldier. I'm going to lunch, I suggest you join the others in the mess hall and do the same, forgetting that this conversation ever took place."
* * * * *
Logan stirred, slowly adjusting his blurred vision to study his surroundings. It was some sort of empty warehouse, cold cement floor and several chairs. He budged slightly and the chains restraining him to the wall clanked loudly. Max stood from her cross-legged position on the floor gracefully, to face him, her hands resting in her hips in an aggressive stance.
"Morning sunshine. Beginning to wonder how long you were gonna be out."
"What do you want?"
"You know, it's funny that since the Pulse, no one makes television programs anymore. Well aside from those whacked out music videos that used to give Alec attention deficit. So I've been at home, stuck watching Buffy repeats for the last few days. And it struck me that her life is very similar to mine. Evil boyfriend. Crazy friends. Constantly having to save and kick people's asses. Etcetera. But I guess the character I identify most with is Angelus."
"Angel?"
"Well I don't think that I'd be describing me as that, if I were you."
She paused pointedly and although Logan had no idea where she was leading with this, he questioned her again,
"What do you want?"
"Well duh! If you watched the show, you'd know. I want to torture you."
Logan's eyes widened in horror and he desperately struggled to break free of his shackles,
"Max, please don't do this! You know it's wrong to kill, you're not that kind of person."
"You know what's wrong? That it wasn't enough that Alec was killed, you hd to live it out, going so far as to murder his clone."
"Murder? I didn't kill anyone!"
Max laughed bitterly and spoke ice,
"Tell me a story Logan."
He sighed; he supposed he should just confess if he wanted a fighting chance.
* * * * *
"I don't get it."
"Have your runes appeared?"
"My what?"
"That."
Logan gestured at the tattoo like picture on her wrist and she looked down at it in alarm.
"So Alec is."
"He's what is known as the prodigal son. The one who will avert the apocalyptic plague threatening mankind by shedding light and protection on the human race. He has been prophesised for generations. He and his chosen mate will stop the destruction of humanity."
"His mate?"
"You. I knew it had to be you the moment we met. I hadn't known it was Alec. For the longest time, I was convinced it was Zack.but I was wrong."
"But Alec's dead, you killed him."
Logan stared at her, not daring to speak.
"Why would you do this? Why stop what is so good?"
"You know, transgenics are supposed to have phenomenally high IQs. I wonder about you sometimes though."
"Not the best idea to piss off the one who holds you life in the palm of her hand." "Don't you get it Max? I did it to cleanse humanity, to wipe out the scum that coincides within society. Transgenics."
She winced at his words, the anger and spite that filled his voice.
"Your kind tainted the bloodlines. Made human blood impure. You're all animals. I did what was in the best interests of humans."
"So what now? The apocalypse arises like foretold because you killed the guy destined to overt it. Basically, you've just screwed humanity. People will be looking for someone to blame. It will cause chaos."
"I did them a favour and I can regulate how they react, I have all the times in the past. You never heard of subliminal messages Max? What I have done is made the ultimate test. The survival of the fittest, only the strongest will make it."
"And you think your strength is a match for a transgenic's? Look.none of your reasoning makes sense. Give me the Layman's version."
Logan sighed and wiggled again in his restraints, stopping as Max kicked the chair out from underneath him, causing it to splinter and shatter.
"Okay. You and Alec were destined to save the world somehow. By taking him out of the picture, a crisis will occur, to be stopped by yours truly."
"What makes you think you'll be able to stop it?"
"By taking some of his blood, I figure I should be able to take his place."
Max's eyes glinted in realisation, though Logan mistook it for admiration
*I've finally made her realise, how amazing I am*
*The idiot doesn't realise that he killed Ben, not Alec*
"I will be the hero, not some undeserving jackass."
He fell quiet briefly,
"I did it for my father. My real father. It isn't what he wants, but it is what's right."