AS 2.07: Devil's Waltz by Star24 (2003

Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its characters are copyright 2000-2002 Twentieth Century Fox Studios and James Cameron and Charles Eglee. This original fiction is copyright 2003 Star24.

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Chapter Three

Rich Seafood Warehouse, Pier 52

Max parked her Ninja in an alleyway a block away from the rendezvous point set by Lydecker. Slipping through the shadows as silently as the felines she owed her physical abilities to, she reconnoitered the area. There were no vehicles to be seen, and as far as she could tell there was no surveillance in place. A niggling anxiety teased at her but she brushed it aside.

After long minutes watching the warehouse where they were to meet, she finally used her speed to dart across the open street and flattened herself against the wall of the building next to the boarded up entrance.  Rather than trying to find a way in through the front, she slipped along the side of the building until she reached its back which bordered on the greasy looking water of the port. As she had suspected there was a wide open bay in the back of the building. Access to it was from a pier that jutted out into the water and that had long since rotted away. She glanced around and then pulled out the rope and grapple she had brought with her. With a swift motion she sent it flying onto the roof of the building. The hook caught with a faint thud and she pulled hard on it, seating it firmly. With a grim smile on her face she looped her hands in the rope and then took a running start, leaping off the edge of the asphalt into the air over the water. As she caught air she twisted, sending herself swinging in the direction of the gaping black opening in the building. Within seconds she was inside, releasing the rope as she dropped to the ground, taking the shock of the landing.

The inside of the warehouse was dark and silent, but Max wasn't fooled. She wasn't alone.

"I'm here. Can we dispense with the games now?" she called out softly, calmly rising from the crouch she had landed in.

There was a soft snick and a lighter flame illuminated the face of Colonel Donald Lydecker. He was leaning against a support pillar regarding her calmly. "No games, Max."

There was a silence as they took each others measure. Max waited him out, wanting to keep whatever advantage she could.

"You asked me here," the Colonel finally said. "You had a reason other than wanting to talk about old times?"

"I need something that you have." Max paused. "I'm willing to make a deal for it."

Lydecker chuckled softly. "You must be desperate indeed, Max. To offer a deal to me. What makes you think that I need anything that you have?"

"You chased after me for years. You're saying now it was just for the fun of it?" Max parried.

"Are you offering to come home to Manticore?" Lydecker raised his eyebrows. "Somehow I find that hard to believe."

"I'm offering to work for you for one mission. In return for some…technology that I know Manticore has access to."

"How do you know I can get Manticore technology for you? I became a renegade, remember?"

"And my mother is the blue fairy." Max retorted. "You and I both know you're back there."

A silence fell as the Colonel seemed to be considering Max's words. "Do I get to know what technology it is that you need so desperately?"

"Do we have a deal?" Max demanded. "My services for one mission in return for what I need."

"How do I know that what you need is something that I can afford to let you have?"

"It's personal. It's nothing that will compromise any of your lovely little science experiments. You have my word. That's the best I can give you for now."

Lydecker smiled. It was the smile of the cat that has the mouse right where he wants it. Max had the feeling that he knew exactly what she wanted and why she wanted it.  "It's a deal."

Max let out the breath she hadn't known she was holding. "When and where do you want me to report?"

"That won't be necessary."

Max felt the trap closing in around her. She cursed herself for her carelessness even as she felt the tasers hitting her from all directions at once. The last thing she heard before the convulsions induced by the tasers took over and she fell into unconsciousness, was Lydecker's voice giving instructions for securing and transporting her back to Manticore.

Metro Medical Center, Early Evening next day

Logan put his cell phone down in frustration. He had been trying to reach Max since the morning with no success. The cell phone he had given her had satellite capabilities so there was no way she was out of reach of his calls. At least one of them should have gotten through by now.  Unless she was ignoring him, which he conceded was entirely possible.

"Hey. I promised my boo I'd stop by and check that you weren't hittin' on the nurses while she was out of town." Original Cindy's voice broke into his abstraction.

Logan looked up and tried to smile. "Have you heard from Max today?" he asked getting right to the point.

Cindy dropped down into the chair next to his bed, looking curiously around the private room. "Not a peep. Nice digs for a hospital. Guess it pays to have the cheddar when you gotta let the men with the knives at ya."

Logan shuddered at the visions her words conjured. "Can we not talk about my medical issues? And have you heard from Max today?"

Cindy gave him a stern look. "My boo told you she was goin' out of town on family business. You doubtin' on her about that? Maybe she can't get through or maybe she's just busy with her sister girl and brother. You may be important to her, but it ain't like she can do anything for you by sittin' here holdin' your hand right now."

Logan felt sheepish at Original Cindy's words.  He sighed. "I know. It's just that I…worry about her. Since last year."

Cindy relented. She reached over and placed her hand on Logan's. "I know, boo. But you need to chill. Max'll be back in a few days and then she can come back over here and play nurse for you every night. Until then you got me though and sulkin' around ain't something Original Cindy has any patience for or will tolerate. Capite?

Logan smiled in spite of himself. "Capite."

Cindy smiled back. "So what have you got around here to pass the time? Or do we just sit and stare at the clock ticking?"

"You play poker?" Logan asked.

A wide smile crossed Original Cindy's face. "You ready to lose your shirt, white boy?"

Logan laughed and pulled a deck of cards from the drawer next to his bed, handing it to Cindy. "The deck is yours. Deal."

End of Chapter Three…TBC…