A/N Believe it or not Harsh Times is back. It's funny to me reading over this now and realizing how long ago I wrote it and then comparing it to what is going on now on the show. Different but similar in many ways. In my world Deck is still around and now that things are heating up for the transgenics he is making a long overdue appearance with the information they need about White and his ultimate plans.

Thanks to all who are helping and supporting the NBML Campaign. Please continue your support now – S3 story planning is in the works so your voice is more important than ever. And drop by and say hi at the Dark Angel Reflections forum. It's a fun place to talk about our mutual obsession with the show. You can find it at dafans.proboards9.com/index.cgi

*************

Logan, Max and Joshua were finishing up lunch when Alex strolled casually in the next day. Joshua grunted a greeting and Max pointedly looked at the time. Ignoring her Alec reached down and helped himself to one of the sandwiches remaining on the table.

"Nice of you to bother to join us." Max tossed at him. Alec gave her a look and turned to Logan who had risen and was clearing away the remains of the meal.

"So when do we get this show on the road?" Logan glanced at the time and answered levelly ignoring Max's glare at him.

"We need to be out of here in 10 minutes in order to make the meet on time. Max, you ready to go?"

She looked at him and nodded.

"Never readier unlike some people I know." Logan sighed wishing that Max and Alec would get over the bickering sibling stage already but knowing it wasn't likely to happen soon. They were too much alike and butting heads was inevitable. He supposed that was why he found himself liking Alec despite himself. The cocky X5 reminded him of Max as she had been when he first met her. Putting the remainder of the dishes in the sink and leaving them to soak until they returned, he grabbed the black jacket hung on the back of a chair and turned to go.

"Joshua will you be okay while we're gone?" Max was worriedly asking the big transgenic.

"Joshua will be fine Max. Logan has lots of books for me to read and movies to watch. Don't worry." Unsure but having no choice in the matter, Max nodded and then turned to join Logan and Alec who were waiting by the door for her.

Soon enough the three of them were settled in Logan's car heading to the rendezvous. The streets were quiet with most citizens choosing to stay off of them for the present. They passed through the checkpoints with ease thanks to Logan's paperwork and the absence of barcodes on any of their necks. Still, Logan breathed a sigh of relief when they pulled up to what appeared to be a deserted warehouse. Touching a remote he pulled from his car's console he waited as the door rolled up and they could pull inside. The door rolled down behind them with a metallic grinding and for a moment they all sat silently as Alec and Max scanned the area with their Manticore enhanced senses.

"Seems to be clear Logan." Max was the first to speak. Logan looked at Alec who nodded in agreement and then he reached down to check his pocket to be sure his gun was safely there. Max caught the gesture and frowned but Logan ignored her knowing of her deep-rooted distaste for firearms. Alec however caught the by play and guessed what Logan carried.

"Hey got another? I wouldn't mind packing some protection myself." Logan nodded and directed Alec to the cargo section of the Aztek where a metal box rested. Opening it Alec pulled out a gun and smiled.

"Nice piece. Loaded?" Logan nodded in affirmation and Alec slid the gun into his pocket.

"Now that you boys have your toys can we get on with this?" The emphasis on the words boys and toys made Max's feelings on the whole subject of guns obvious. At that the three of them climbed cautiously out of the SUV. Together they walked out in front of the car, Logan flanked by the two X5's. The warehouse appeared deserted and for long moments they stood there waiting. Logan didn't hear anything but he suddenly sensed Max and Alec stiffening beside him and then slowly turning. Max was in ready position and Alec had his gun out.

"No need. I'm alone." As Logan turned he saw Deck emerging from the shadows to their left, empty hands held out in front of him. He could have sworn he heard Max hiss beside him.

"So what's the deal, Deck?" Max demanded as Alec swiftly walked forward and expertly patted down Lydecker. Satisfied he stepped back nodding to Max and Logan.

"He's clean."

"We need to talk Max. There are things you need to know about yourself and about Manticore and about Ames White."

"So talk. We're all ears."

"Why don't we sit down? This may take a while." Logan interposed calmly. Max looked at him and realized the strain it must put on him to stand for any length of time even in the exo-skeleton. Glancing around she saw a stack of wooden cartons in the shadows of a pillar and pointed to them.

"Over there." Logan nodded and soon enough he and Deck were seated on the boxes while Max and Alec remained standing on alert.

"Spill it Deck. I don't like being here." Max demanded harshly.

"Always impatient, Max. A fault I tried hard to cure." Lydecker observed. Max just stared at him and after meeting her stare levelly for a few minutes, he nodded as if in satisfaction and began to talk.

"When you brought Manticore down Max I came into possession of the genetic testing Renfro ran on you while you were her guest. I found it extremely interesting because it didn't match any of the tests results we had run while you were growing up there. In fact it didn't match any genetic test results I've ever seen."

Logan and Max exchanged glances as he spoke but remained silent. Lydecker continued on.

"I knew there was only one person who could explain what the hell was going on and I knew I needed to find him. His name was…"

"Sandeman." Max interjected and Deck nodded.

"Sandeman was a genius. He was light years ahead of anyone in his grasp of genetic engineering and he was the brains behind the Manticore project. He designed all of the transgenic series up through the X5's. If anyone knew what was going on with your genetics he did. Someone had falsified the records when you were a child and he was the only one who could have done it. He left Manticore suddenly in '07 and no one had heard from him since but I had some ideas of how to find him. That's where I've been for the last few months, looking for Sandeman. A few weeks ago I found him." Deck paused.

"And?" Max pressed.

"And things are more serious than I ever guessed." Deck said simply.