Smoke & Mirrors by Star24
Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its characters are property of Twentieth Century Fox and James Cameron and Charles Eglee. This original story is property and copyright 2003 Star24.
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Chapter Six
Seattle Street Corner
The Seattle streets were wet from a recent rain shower and the air was dank and cold. Streetlights cast a muted glow over the deserted streets. Max stood at the pay phone on the corner, tapping her foot impatiently.
"I've located the target." She spoke softly into the receiver. She listened for a moment. "Yeah, I understand. I should be able to get the information pretty quickly and then I'll deal with him. There's another civilian with knowledge of Manticore that I'll have to deal with as well, but that one will be easy. She can wait until the primary target is taken care of. Expect me home in a day or two." She hung up the phone and walked to the Ninja parked close by. She jumped on and revved the engine, and then roared off into the night, dark hair streaming behind her.
Jam Pony Next Morning
"No way in the world are you coming back to work here, Missy. Not after leaving me flat for three months with that lame death story." Normal was adamant as Max faced him over the counter.
"Normal, I'm the best rider you ever had, and you know it."
"Hah. You were adequate when you bothered to show up. We've done just fine without you for three months." Normal turned away to look through the pile of packages behind the counter.
"Right. And how many riders you gone through a week since she's been gone? Not to mention Max is the only one who manages to get around the 'hoods 'thout gettin' ripped off at least once a week." Original Cindy joined in the fray.
"You stay out of this, Miss. Unless you want to be out on the streets with your reprobate friend here." Normal glared at Original Cindy who shrugged and headed to her locker.
"Yo, Normal, got a delivery to Canal and 20th," the dispatcher behind him called out.
"No way I'm goin' near that hood." Sketchy shook his head as Normal started to hand the package over to him. Three other messengers similarly refused, and Normal was about to toss the package behind him, when a small feminine hand reached out and grabbed it.
"Beggars can't be choosers. You got my Sector pass for me?" Max stood there, package in hand and a triumphant grin on her face.
"You are on permanent probation, Missy. Anymore tall tales and you are out of here for good." Normal continued to grumble under his breath as he reached into a file cabinet and tossed a pass at Max. She threw him a smile as she clipped it on and grabbed a bike from the rack overhead. Original Cindy was waiting for her outside the entrance, and the two exchanged high fives as they set out on their rounds.
CRASH That evening
"So tell me more about Logan." Max inquired casually of Original Cindy, as the two sat sipping beers and watching the clientele. Crash was busy and they were lucky to have found a table.
"He's your boo not mine. Not much for me to tell you." Original Cindy hedged. "Most I know's that he showed up here one night and you told me he was your 'good friend Logan Cale'. Now as to the how and why of it you never did spill the details."
"It's just weird that I can't remember more about him." A frown crinkled Max's forehead as she stared down into her mug of beer.
"Maybe there ain't nothin'much to remember. You always swore you two weren't like that." Original Cindy hedged and took a swig of beer to buy time.
"Yeah, maybe." Max didn't seem satisfied, but she let the subject of Logan drop, much to Cindy's relief. "I'm gonna go get a refill."
"I'm gonna hit the ladies."
Max nodded and grabbed the now empty pitcher, and stood up to go to the bar. There was a long line waiting for drinks, and it was clear it would take her some time to return.
Original Cindy headed to the restroom area which also was home to the public phones. When she got there, she checked to be sure Max was busy at the bar, and then quickly dialed a number.
"Hello," Logan's voice answered after only a few rings.
"Hey. She's with me at Crash."
"Has she remembered anything more?"
"She doesn't seem to remember much about you at all. And she doesn't seem to wanna talk about exactly how she split black hat central."
"Okay. Do me a favor and keep her there for a while. I'm trying to contact someone who might be able to give us some more information on her memory loss."
"Sure will, boo." Original Cindy paused, "It's gonna come right. My momma always said ya gotta keep the faith."
There was a silence and then Logan responded, "Yeah. Let's hope your momma was right." There was a click as he disconnected the line. Original Cindy sighed then turned and headed back to her table.
Fogle Towers
Logan punched some numbers into his phone, and waited impatiently as the phone on the other end rang repeatedly. Finally it was answered, but the voice was the slightly mechanical one of an answering service.
"You have reached X-Treme Training and Expeditions. Please leave your message at the tone and someone will get back to you."
"Hey Deck. I know it's been a while since we raised hell and blew up the town so to speak, but I wanted to let you know that a mutual friend is in town. I thought you might want to say hello. Her visit is a real surprise. I mean it's like she's back from the dead, that's how long it's been, a real memory teaser you might say. Anyway, I thought you'd want to know, give me a call so we can catch up on old times."
Message left, Logan hung up the phone and tried another number. This time when he heard the beep beep beep of a pager, he punched in a series of numbers and hung up. He sighed as he pushed back from his desk and rose to go get a drink.
Glass of water in hand, he wandered back to his computers and pulled up a picture on the screen. Max gazed back at him solemnly, caught frozen in the corridors of Manticore. With a sad smile he reached out to gently trace her features, murmuring to himself,
"You're back but you don't really remember me. In all my wild dreams of you somehow returning, I never even thought about this one. What's it going to take to bring you all the way back to me, Max?" Lapsing into silence he continued to stare at the screen, lost in thought.
Max leaned against one of the tables in Logan's computer room, as Logan rolled his wheelchair over to her and reached out a hand to give her an earpiece. Instead of taking it and pulling her hand back, she curled her fingers around his and looked at him as she said almost shyly, "This'll wait, right?"
She was referring to their admission of feelings toward each other earlier that night, to the long overdue kisses that had taken place just prior to Zack interrupting them bringing word of Tinga's whereabouts.
Logan smiled at her reassuringly as his fingers tightened on hers, "We've got all the time in the world." For a moment their eyes locked, exchanging messages of caring that neither one was quite ready to put into words…
Time passed as Logan continued to sit and stare at the picture of Max.
End of Chapter Six
