Reaching for The Moon by ThePekingNoodle
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Chapter Sixty-Eight: A Dangerous Game
Our hero walks a dangerous line with the Colonel…
"I'm not in the business of finding missing persons. Wouldn't you want to hire someone who specializes in that kind of stuff?" Logan hedged. "I'm just a businessman who happens to be interested in technology."
"Don't think of the X5's as persons, son. Think of them as technology. Very expensive technology that has gone missing."
"I don't understand what you're talking about." Logan said, not looking at Max, for fear of what her reaction was to all of this. He just prayed she'd manage to keep quiet until he could end this call.
"I can't tell you more unless I have your word that you're in on this. The information is highly classified."
"I still don't understand why you think you can trust me with this."
"You're a businessman. You come from a family of businessmen. I can understand and appreciate that. You understand the power of money and what it can do for you. I'd rather deal with a pragmatist than an idealist any day. Idealists are dangerous; you never know what they might do. They can become uncontrollable."
Logan was quiet. "I need to think about this. I also need more information about what I'd be getting into, what the dangers involved are."
Lydecker hesitated, "If I give you much more information you won't have a choice. You'd either be in or…I'd have to deal with you. I can't take the chance of giving this out to someone who hasn't committed to me."
"Let me sleep on it. I'll let Sebastian know my answer in the morning and he'll tell you. That's the best I can do." Logan said.
Lydecker nodded. "Fair enough. I'll wait to hear from you. Rest assured that if you do take this on I'll make sure it's worth your while. Not only monetarily. I'm sure there are some technologies I can arrange to let you and your companies in on as well."
"I'll let you know. Now if you'll excuse me, my wife is waiting for me. She wasn't very happy about my taking a business call and if I don't get back to her…well you know women."
The Colonel chuckled. "Give her my regards." There was a click as Logan reached out and disconnected the call. He swiveled the desk chair to look at Max. She was staring at him with a strange look on her face.
"You aren't going to do it."
"I don't know."
"What?" Max was incredulous.
"Hear me out. If I pretend to go along with him, I get in on every move he makes in his search for you and the others who escaped. Maybe I can use his information to locate some of them, and then I can direct him away from them."
Max looked at him doubtfully. "I don't like it. He's dangerous. It's too risky."
Logan looked at Max suddenly serious, "I'm dangerous too, Max. If playing this game with the Colonel is what it takes to keep you safe, I'll play. And there's more to it. I want to know what exactly Manticore is. Who set it up and why. That's even bigger than you."
Max suddenly shivered at the coldness she saw deep down in Logan's eyes. She realized how little she really knew about this man and what demons drove him. All she had to go on, was that her father had known and trusted him. At that thought she suddenly felt better. Her father had been the best judge of people she had ever met. He had had an internal radar for those who were not what they seemed. He had trusted Logan.
"I still don't like it."
"I don't either but we may not have a choice."
There was a silence and Max sighed. "So now what do we do?"
"I'd take you out but we're supposed to be in the South Pacific. We could watch a movie here if you want."
"I'm not in the mood for a movie." Max was pacing restlessly around the room.
"Are you in the mood for some chess?"
"Are you in the mood to have me beat your ass?"
"Are we talking about chess or something else?"
"Logan!"
He chuckled. "I couldn't resist. So…chess?" His eyes swept over her.
"It'll do for now…" She looked him over in her turn, refusing to let him intimidate her.
Logan laughed as he pulled out his chess set and began to set it up.
"What's so funny?"
"Just thinking that my life has certainly become interesting since a certain person came into it."
"Like embezzlers and gun runners weren't very interesting? I seem to recall you dragging me into those little escapades."
Logan gave her a look of innocence. "I tried to keep you out of those escapades."
Max shrugged, "Whatever." She sat down at the table and sent him a challenging look. "You ready to get your butt kicked?"
"By you?" He winked, "I'd rather you do other things but if that turns you on…"
"Max handed him a chess piece. "Make your move."
"Anytime, Max, anytime…"
Max laughed. "Bring it on."
End of Chapter Sixty-Eight…TBC
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AN: Sorry this is a bit short and I've been a bit slow on the updates… Real Life has been intruding on the Noodle Factory in the form of feeling a bit under the weather. Rest assured there is more to come…our hero and heroine won't let the Noodle stop…
PN
