Logan watches the activity outside of sector 6 while Alec and Biggs run covert recon within the sector. What they uncover near the waterfront is a heinous plot to expose and destroy Eyes Only once and for all. Meanwhile, up at the cabin, Max and Jondy realize that Logan will be busy in Seattle longer than expected and decide to take their road trip seriously and visit Jondy's first 'real' home in Phoenix.
Thanks to everyone that is reviewing. I keep learning things piece by piece about FFNet. It's great to have you guys out there supporting me and telling me how much you like my stories. I can't tell you guys how much your encouragement means. It's great. I'll keep these stories up as long as you keep telling me how much you like them. Sound like a good deal?
As always, I hope you read, review and enjoy.
Working Angles
Seattle, Central Checkpoint
Sector 9 departure zone…
Logan nodded. Alec stood fifty feet away. He could clearly see Logan in the dark night where he stood in the outer rim of the checkpoint lights. The guards weren't paying attention to Logan. He wasn't one of the refugees trying to flee the gang war in Sector 6 nor was he one of the fools trying to get through the lockdown. He was just a spectator.
The Central Checkpoint was always a hotbed of activity connecting four major sectors in Seattle. Sectors 3, 9, 5 and 6 were heavily traveled and the CC easily handled all of it. That was until a lockdown went in effect due to turf wars. Then it became a massive pile of frustration and anger.
Logan could just barely make out Biggs behind the mass of bodies pushing to get out of the sector. He watched for a second until he got the signal from the young but dangerous transgenic who had found a way into sec6.
"I'm in." Biggs said.
"Copy that." Logan said quietly. "Alec?"
"I've got him." Alec called over comms. "See ya in a couple hours."
"Be careful. Don't take any unnecessary risks."
"Technically, this is an unnecessary risk, buddy." Alec said.
"But it's what we do." Biggs added.
"Right." Logan smirked. "I'll be monitoring."
Alec checked the distance before taking a running leap across the alley to the building bordering sector six. He checked the perimeter and noticed two guards standing below smoking a cigarette. Scanning from the roof, he found an easy way down and could use it for cover as he crossed into the sector. A last glance at the perimeter revealed three more guards inside walking between waypoints.
"Biggs, I've got five guards near my location." Alec said. "I Won't be joining you just yet."
"Understood." Biggs called.
"I'm on it." Logan announced. Alec checked and noticed Logan was walking around the corner of a building not far from the guard's position. A loud thump followed by some crashing barrels brought all five guards to life as Logan ducked between the buildings where he just raised the commotion. Alec was down the wall and moving toward sec6 immediately. He knew a good diversion when he heard one.
"I'm in. Thanks Logan." Alec said. "Now go home before you get in trouble."
"No trouble." Logan said. "Just get the recon and get out."
Alec moved between shadows swiftly. He located Biggs waiting for him near the entrance of a small bombed out building that had recently seen some heavy gunfire and at least one or two explosives. There was no sound from inside as they moved through the sector between small bursts of weapons fire in the distance.
Biggs signaled the pattern and Alec followed the zigzag. Alec froze behind half a blown out dumpster when three gang toughs walked past just feet away from Biggs. One of them took a long look down the alley as he passed but otherwise didn't seem to care. They were laughing about something that happened a few nights earlier. Another one was grunting some old rap beat. They seemed oblivious.
Biggs blurred from view and appeared across the street, turning to signal the all clear to Alec. Alec followed quickly after and joined him in the shadows.
"Seems pretty straightforward to me." Alec said. "But I can't help thinking about Syria."
"You know, I was there about a minute ago. There's something else going on here." Biggs whispered. "I get the feeling were in the middle of it."
"Yeah. I hear gunfire in the distance but none of it tracks to the sector core."
"Where's Ridin' 40 located?" Biggs asked.
"North-eastern shore near the lake." Alec said. "There's small arms fire to the north and some machine fire to the south." He stopped when Biggs pointed out a small group of heavily armed sector cops patrolling the street they had just crossed.
When they passed, Biggs spoke up. "The cops seem to be sticking to the western part of the sector as if they know something." Biggs looked at Alec with a smile. Alec nodded.
"To the sector core we go." Alec whispered. "Follow the leader." He said. He took off down the alley toward the fire escape leading to a roof.
"I am the leader." Biggs spoke into comms.
"Not right now." Alec called back.
"You owe me a beer." Biggs grunted.
The two men made their way to the top of the building and checked the distance. They could make out one stationary guard about five buildings over but no other activity above ground. Down below, occasional groups of armed men and boys displaying varying colors moved along the streets and alleys. Biggs followed Alec across rooftops toward the sector core searching for something that could help. Eyes Only needed proof. They were here to get it.
The only strange thing they noticed was the diminishing number of gang-types as they got closer to the sector core. Biggs grabbed Alec and pointed into the darkness. A building several blocks over was capped by six armored guards with M-16s and night vision. They were not gang members. They were soldiers in full body armor.
"Logan. We've got a snag here." Alec said as Biggs scouted the area.
"What is it?" Logan asked.
"You've been monitoring our chatter, right?"
"Yeah. Gang stuff right?" Logan asked.
"Not anymore. I've got six troops in body armor on top of a warehouse roof. These guys are wrapped tight. It only seems to be the one building though." Alec said.
"The ground is just as heavily patrolled." Biggs added. "At least twenty troops down there."
"Who are they?" Logan asked. "US military? Homeland security? Is it remnants of Manticore?"
"Could be." Alec said. He did not clarify the response.
"Pick one." Biggs said.
"Thanks." Logan said sarcastically. "Let me in on the secret when you know for sure."
"Will do." Biggs said. "Hey buddy. See you on the other side." He smiled. Alec nodded.
"I'll go left." He agreed. The two men split up and went in opposite directions. They could cover more ground this way.
"Alec! Biggs! Don't do anything stupid." Logan shouted.
"Already have." Alec muttered back. Biggs laughed quietly.
Outside of Sec6, Logan was leaning against a wall in his black longshoreman's jacket. He was tapping his fingers and eyeing the large group of people fighting and struggling to get every which way without knowing where they were going. Some still wanted in even though Logan could hear occasional bursts of gunfire. He absentmindedly reached around behind him and brushed his fingers across the 9 mil he brought with him from Matt's stash. It was still there just in case.
His phone vibrated for the fourth time. It would be Max. He pulled it to see he was right. He knew he would have to talk to her sooner or later. He realized from her last message that she wasn't going to let him off so easily for ignoring her.
"Hey Max." He said.
"It's about time." She said. "What the hell are you doing? What's that noise?" She asked. Her hearing picked up the commotion.
"It's nothing…" He started but she interrupted.
"Don't give me that. I hear the shouting. You're in sector 6 with Alec and Biggs aren't you?"
"No. Alec and Biggs are getting recon in sector 6. I'm watching things outside the sector. You know, getting some intel. I'm staying a safe distance away." Logan said.
"That boy is whipped." Alec muttered in his other ear. Biggs laughed.
"Well. Just be safe and don't do anything stupid." Max said. "Do you need me to come back there?"
"No, Max. I'm fine and everything is under control here. You two have a good trip? How's Jondy?" Logan asked trying to change the subject.
"Of course Max isn't much better." Biggs announced.
"Jondy's fine. She's cooking up some food in the kitchen. I was helping until I burned something." Max laughed.
"One of these days I'm going to teach you to cook."
"I kick ass, Logan, you cook meals." Max giggled. "Hey. Be careful."
"I will Angel. I'm going home soon anyway. Alec and Biggs found something interesting and are checking it out. They'll be heading out as soon as they're finished. I'll call you in the morning and let you know what I found out."
"Promise." Max said. It was not a request.
"I promise." Logan said. "Until tomorrow."
"Yeah." Max said. "Tomorrow." She hung up.
"Yep, whipped." Alec said.
"At least I know what color her hair is." Logan said. "What the hell were you looking at?" He smiled but it quickly faded. "I've got incoming." Logan said.
"What kind of incoming?" Biggs asked.
"A military convoy." Logan responded. "There's a dozen hummers and some transports in tow. They are pulling up just short of the crowd."
"Logan. You need to disappear." Alec said. "We'll be okay in here. When we're through we'll meet you back at the tower."
"I think you're right." Logan said. "They're unloading troops for crowd control." He ducked into the alley not far from his position and turned to watch. "There's a bunch of them. All are wearing body armor."
"Homeland Security called in the National Guard." Biggs said. "We're probably scouting their base on the inside."
"Sounds like a classic maneuver. Troops inside moving out to meet the troops on the outside moving in." Alec said. "Take out everything in between."
"That could be." Logan said. "I don't think it is though."
"Why?" Alec asked.
"The troops are forming up in a wedge and pushing the crowd back from the main entrance. It looks like they are going to push through the sector and head inside." Logan explained. "There's an officer conversing with someone in the lead vehicle and one of the sector cops is walking over to them."
"Probably command in the lead vehicle." Biggs said. "A maneuver like this would be minimal risk."
"I'm going in silent." Alec said suddenly. His comms disconnected.
"Dammit Alec." Logan muttered. "Biggs."
"I'll keep my eye out." Biggs said. "Wait. Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Logan asked. He got no response. "Did I hear what?" He asked again but his comms were dead as well. "Damn."
Logan looked back up at the lead vehicle just as a small woman was climbing out of the front. She had a long black pony tail and hard but frighteningly beautiful features. She was obviously Asian, exotic. Logan felt his stomach lurch as he recognized her.
He had only seen her once before. It had only been a brief glimpse but she had been visible long enough for Logan to lock her features into his memory.
It was in the halls of Manticore. He had been sitting in the mobile command unit they had stolen from Deck's South African counterpart and his team. He was watching, monitoring Max as she rushed through the halls to stop one of her sisters from running into the explosion and dying needlessly. He hadn't learned her name until later when Syl and Krit had confirmed her identity.
As he stood enmeshed in the shadows of the alley watching he realized he was vulnerable to her. She was scanning the area looking for something. She found it when her eyes locked on Logan's position. He had no doubts in that second. He knew who she was. Her name bounced around inside his head carrying with it some horror stories about the evils of Manticore.
The small Asian woman in charge nodded as if acknowledging his presence but he couldn't be sure. He nodded back and she smiled. It was a friendly smile by appearances but Logan understood appearances. This one had just marked him. He had been tagged for future reference. Logan stepped out of the shadows and walked calmly out of sight down the alley.
Brin was alive and she was still working for Manticore.
The cabin porch roof…
The moonlight rolled in bright shimmering bursts along the shoreline of the black expanse of the deep lake. Somewhere an owl hooted a warning to its prey that it was coming. A low, barely audible rumble sounded in the distance announcing the coming storm. Two women sat on the front porch roof staring out at the night.
"I asked Logan if he would do something for me." Jondy said suddenly.
"What?"
"I asked him if Eyes Only would be willing to find someone."
"Jondy…" Max started. She knew about the conversation they had.
"I know Logan is Eyes Only. He explained it to me." She said. Max visibly relaxed. "It's just that I didn't tell him who I was looking for. Yet."
"Why not?" Max asked. "Look, if you are waiting for Logan to have some free time, let me tell you that rarely happens. Tell him what you need and he'll get to work on it. You know, mix it in with all the rest of his stuff. Who did you want him to find anyway?"
"His name is Joe." Jondy said.
"Joe who?"
"I don't know. I only know his first name. Could be his only name." Jondy said. "I was in a pretty bad situation once and he came out of nowhere and helped me. I've been looking for him ever since but I don't even know where to look."
"What happened?"
"There were some guys that decided I would make a great toy for the evening. I would have kicked their asses but they had numbers, over fifty of them and me. Joe came out of nowhere and together we took them out leaving most broken. A few dead. Joe drove me out of there and took me to his place on the Harley. I stayed with him a few days but… I woke up one morning and he was gone. No note or anything. I waited for two days but he didn't come back. So I left."
"Where did he live?"
"Phoenix."
"You were in Arizona?" Max asked.
"I was. It's a great city. They have water problems there but they get by. There are small mountains everywhere to climb. I stayed in this abandoned building that used to be a fashion mall just south of Scottsdale. It was a nice place to live at the time."
"Is that where you were before you went to Frisco?" Max asked.
"Yeah. I left some stuff down there. It's probably gone by now."
Max looked out over the lake and smiled. "Why don't we go get it?"
"What do you mean?" Jondy asked.
"Well, we told Logan we'd be here when he came up. The thing is I know Logan. He's not going to be here for a few days. Why don't we head down to Phoenix? We can have the wind in our hair and bugs in our teeth and…"
"That's disgusting." Jondy laughed. "I don't want any bugs getting anywhere on me." She smiled. "But you're right. We could make it down there and back before Logan comes up in a few days. Granted, of course, that he takes a few days."
"He will. I'll call him and let him know where we're going though." Max said. "He'd be upset otherwise."
"Does that worry you?" Jondy asked.
"No. It doesn't worry me but I'd be upset and probably kick his ass if he took off without telling me." Max said. "We've already been there and learned the hard way that we're both stubborn."
"I already figured that one out." Jondy said. The girls laughed. "So when do we leave?"
"Let's get our stuff together and I'll call Logan just before we head out."
Max and Jondy jumped to the ground together and headed into the cabin. They were moving systematically, picking up the stuff they had strewn about the secluded cabin and cleaning up the mess they made over dinner earlier.
Max headed into the main bedroom and packed her weekender carrying it out and dropping it by the front door. She checked the apartment and made sure all the windows and doors were locked. Heading back into the living room she found Jondy waiting for her.
"I'm ready. You?" Her sister asked. Max nodded.
"All set. Just let me call Logan." Max dialed his number and let it ring. He didn't answer right away and she started to leave a message. He picked up halfway through her rant about him not being there.
"I'm here." He said. "Calm down." He sounded out of breath.
"Are you okay? What happened? You're breathing's heavy. What happened, Logan?" Max demanded.
"Nothing. I just had to take the stairs up. We're under a brown out here." Logan said. "The elevator isn't working."
"What's going on with sector 6?" She asked.
"Not much. Alec and Biggs are still checking it out. I left as a military convoy pulled up." Logan said. He didn't tell Max about Brin. There would be time for that later. "The guys are running silent right now. Alec caught a break and exploited it. Biggs found something but the convoy showed up so Biggs went after Alec to get him out of there. I'm waiting for them to get back but I just got here myself. I would guess they're on their way as we speak."
"What kind of a military convoy?" Max asked.
"I'm guessing Homeland Security and National Guard." He said. "Probably moving in to secure the area and support sector cops. They shut down the grid to the sector and eventually, the surrounding sectors followed. Everything is normal here." He snickered.
"Yeah, like a bucket of crap is normal." Max said. "So you've got everything under control."
"Everything is fine for now, Max." Logan said. "It looks like I won't be able to get out of the city for a few more days though. I'm sorry."
"Somehow, I'm not surprised." Max said. "But this is actually a good thing. You see, Jondy used to live in Phoenix and she wanted to drive down and pick up some stuff she left down there. At least we're going to see if it's still where she left it." She glanced at Jondy and smiled. "The whole trip there and back should take us about three days. Since we don't sleep anyway, we should be getting back about the same time you're getting to the cabin right?"
"Sure. That sounds about right." Logan agreed. He really didn't know how long the sec6 situation would take. Maybe with the X-5 help, he could have it cleared up in three days. "I'll consider that the plan then. I want you to keep in touch though." He said. "Call me everyday and let me know what it's like out there."
"Save Seattle first Logan. Then we'll worry about the rest of the country." She laughed.
"Right." He smiled. "Be careful, Angel."
"We will." Max assured him. "I'll see you soon?"
"I promise." Logan said.
Seattle
Sector 6 near the waterfront…
Alec was hunched behind a pile of discarded barrels and old rope. He was peering out over the top when he heard movement behind him. He stiffened, readying a quick attack if it wasn't Biggs.
It was.
"Hey." Alec whispered.
"Hey. What'cha got?" Biggs asked.
"I got a shipment of guns coming in. The soldiers were moving out of that central compound when I went off comms and I followed them here. What'd you find out?"
"I got interesting information but I want to be sure before we give the intel to Logan." Biggs said. "We're dealing with Manticore after all."
"That's what I'm thinking." Alec pointed. "Isn't that 244 and one of the X-6 over there?"
Biggs followed Alec's finger. On the edge of the waterfront a tall, lanky blonde was discussing something with the X5-244. The blonde was jittery but otherwise seemed typical of gun runners. She was loaded with two weapons of her own and appeared ready for a fight. The X-5 wasn't worried about her though. It was obvious that he had already judged this woman less than a threat and saw what they were doing only as business. The X-6 was directing troops and other X-series soldiers to unload the guns and haul them back to the base. Alec and Biggs listened.
"When will you be back?" 244 asked.
"I'll be here same time tomorrow night with the same ordinance. You're order was a little hard to come by but I found a supplier unexpectedly." The blonde said.
"What do you mean, unexpected? 244 asked.
"I mean there was a glut in the market and then there wasn't. I wish I could say he was trustworthy but he sold me black market guns. There's no trust." The woman said. "I got what you wanted and you gave me what I wanted so nothing else matters, right?"
"No. It is what it is. You'll have the rest tomorrow night?"
"I'll be here, same time as tonight." The woman turned to walk away.
"What's your name again?" 244 asked.
"Asha. What's yours?" Asha asked.
"They call me Kyle."
"Kyle it is then." Asha said. "See you here tomorrow." She turned and walked away.
The soldiers finished loading the crates into the vehicle. 244, Kyle reported mission success. "This is 244. We have the ordinance and are returning to base."
"Good work, Lieutenant. 734 has just entered the sector with her people and will link up in about an hour after they settle in forward base. We will begin Operation Hunger Strike at 0700 in the morning. Cowers out."
"Yes, sir. Cap'n sir." Kyle mocked the handheld unit with a funky salute and laughed with the X-6.
"The Captain thinks this will work, Sir?" The younger soldier asked.
"He does. Unfortunately we have no other choice for commander right now." The X-5 muttered. "I hate to admit it but I actually miss Colonel Lydecker."
"Lydecker, Sir? You mean The Rogue leader, Sir?" The X-6 questioned. "I thought he was on the same hit list as Eyes Only and 452. He is still the tertiary target behind 452 and Eyes Only, right?"
"He is but at least he understood command." Kyle said. "Cowers doesn't understand how his weapon works let alone directing a full platoon of armed super-soldiers."
"But we're not here to start a war? I mean we're just here to draw out Eyes Only." The X-6 said.
"That's the plan. Cowers brought in those Asian techs to triangulate his location but I've read intel on Eyes Only. They say he came into Manticore alone to pull 452 and 599 out. They were important to him for some reason." Kyle said. "If this is true then we're dealing with more than just a hacker here. C'mon, we've got to get back to base."
Alec and Biggs watched the troops leave. They looked off in the distance to see which way the boat with the girl named Asha was heading. They looked at each other.
"Cowers?" Alec asked. "Does that make any sense to you?"
"Nothing makes much sense anymore. I want to know how the hell Captain Cowardly managed to put together a platoon of X-series and get 734 to follow along. I want to know why Eyes Only is the mission here. Why would Manticore be worried about Eyes Only before actually rebuilding the base?"
"Let's head back and report and see what he's found out. He might have some ideas on this. Maybe run some thoughts by Deck before we come back."
"You should probably call Suede and put his team on alert so they can be ready when we need them." Alec suggested.
"He'll like that idea." Biggs laughed. "Let's get out of here."
Logan's penthouse…
The phone rang for the thirteenth time when the machine kicked in with a short, shrill tone. Logan rolled his eyes as he waited for the machine's noise to stop.
"It's me. I've got some interesting information that you should be aware of. This is breaking news here so an immediate response is required. I expect to hear from you soon." Logan disconnected the call and set his phone down. He set up a search on the net and headed for the bathroom to clean up and change his clothes.
Twenty minutes later he emerged from his bedroom to an eerie presence. He listened but could hear no sound. He dropped his stance slightly and as he moved he kept his weight on the front of his feet. There was no sound at all to his movement. He moved silently past the kitchen and around the hall toward the living room. Nothing, absolutely nothing was in his apartment but as he approached he heard the barely audible click of his mouse. Dropping into a crouch, he moved smoothly around to the opened sliding door near the front of the apartment and peaked in.
"You were supposed to call." Logan said as he noticed Colonel Lydecker playing with his computer.
"This is interesting news." Deck said. He pointed at the screen. "A turf war in Sec6 that could possibly devolve into a food riot could lead to a full scale lockdown of the city. Luckily my people are out in the woods and not within city limits." The older but still shorter man turned and looked at Logan. "What's this got to do with me?"
"Everything actually." Logan said sitting in the chair near the corner of the office.
"Explain."
"Why is there a buildup of troops in the sector?"
"I don't know." Deck said.
"Oh, but you do, Colonel. You see, you know Manticore rules and regulations like the back of your hand. I'll bet you even wrote some of them." Logan smirked. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees and looked at the floor careful to keep The Colonel's hands and feet in view. "I want to know why a Manticore armored caravan drove into sec6 tonight led by Brin."
"Brin… 734?" Deck seemed stunned. Logan noticed he wasn't actually. "Yeah, well she was one of the best. The retraining she received was state of the art." He said proudly.
"I'm not going to go into the human being thing with you Deck. I know you don't look at these kids in a way that resembles, well… let's face facts. You don't look at them as kids. You see the machines you wanted to create when you look at them. Genetically enhanced prototypes and disposable soldiers."
"Believe me, son. None of my kids are disposable. Every one of them serves a purpose." Deck said. He was about to continue when Logan cut him off.
"I'm not getting into semantics with you over this. I've seen more from these kids than you could ever have imagined…"
"This is why I need you on my side. Not as an enemy, Logan. I've trained those kids as best I can. Son," Deck started. "I lost the best of the bunch that night Max, Zack and the others escaped. They were the cream of the crop and my own personal squad. I could have made them into something that would have shaped this world. Unfortunately they escaped and a few of them found their way to you."
"That's just it Colonel. You talk of making them into something. Forcing them to do things they didn't want to. You would have had better luck had you let them learn on their own." Logan argued despite himself.
"And you haven't used them?" Deck asked. "Maybe you aren't aware of the reputation Eyes Only has generated over the last few years. I know Max was working some angle for you when Seth chose death on the space needle rather than go back to Manticore. One of my men saw her. Had I known then what I learned later I would have been hunting you a long time ago."
He stood up from the chair and looked down at The Colonel. "Whatever Seth or Max had to do with Eyes Only three years ago is irrelevant now Colonel. The situation in Sector 6 and the appearance of Brin complicates things."
"Yes, it does." Deck said. Logan could see in his eyes that he was calculating something. "She had troops with her? Were they Manticore?"
"They were."
"How many did she have?"
"Twelve hummers and five transports." Logan said. "There wasn't an empty seat in the house."
"She's running a platoon in there. There were younger soldiers with her I assume." Deck asked.
"She had transgenics."
"She's running directive ten on a regroup." Deck said with a smile. "She's going to be the key. We isolate her, I can control her."
"Control her?" Logan asked. "What exactly do you mean control her?"
"I developed the techniques used to reprogram her. I've got the trigger she needs."
"You mean the trigger you need." Logan said.
"You contact your people and I'll tell them how to take her." Deck said. "We can shut down this situation before it begins." He was interrupted by Logan's cell phone ringing.
"Yeah." Logan said. "Hey, Alec. What'cha got for me?"
"I've got bad news, buddy." Alec said.
"You mean Manticore? I already know."
"That's great but you don't know this." Alec said.
"What is it?" Logan looked up at Deck. He was waiting patiently for Logan to finish.
"We were right about Manticore but we were wrong about why they are in town. Some chick named Asha is bringing weapons in off the lake and supplying an ex-Manticore Captain called Cowers."
"Asha?" Logan asked. "A lanky blonde?"
"Yeah, kind of cute but way too thin." Alec said. "You know her?"
"I do. I can handle Asha. Tell me about Cowers." Logan said. Deck's eyes widened when he heard the name.
"He's running something called Operation Hunger Strike. The plan is to start a food riot and shoot a bunch of people to get sector authority involved. He's got Transgenics working with him so he'll stay covert but here's the kicker…" Alec paused as if listening to something in the background. "Anyway," Alec continued. "He's doing all of this to get Eyes Only involved. He thinks he can pull Eyes Only out into the open and take him down. Cowers brought in a tech team to track your broadcasts."
"He's after Eyes Only?" Logan said. "This is an attempt by Manticore to take out The Informant Net?"
"Not exactly. He's coming after you, buddy, personally. He wants Eyes Only dead and gone." Alec said.