Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its characters are copyright 2001-2002 Twentieth Century Fox Studios and James Cameron and Charles Eglee. This original story is copyright 2003 Star24.
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Chapter One
Abandoned nuclear plant in Hanford, WA
The large rectangular building loomed in the distance, beyond the chain link fences topped with barbed wire. No smoke rose from any of the cooling towers that surrounded it, and the facility was black in the starlit night. The Columbia Nuclear plant had been shut down since the Pulse had destroyed the intricate computer systems necessary for its safe operation. In the initial chaos of the Pulse's aftermath, the National Guard had patrolled there, guarding against any terrorist attempts to obtain the deadly materiel that was the fuel for the plant. But as time passed and the government fragmented, there had no longer been either the personnel or money needed to maintain the patrols. Dismantling the plant had been equally impossible. Instead a series of land mines had been put in, surrounding the abandoned buildings. The hope was that someday the United States would be restored to its previous glory, and that the plant could once again be re-opened to provide power to the surrounding areas. That had been over ten years ago, and the plant now stood abandoned and almost forgotten. Locals stayed away from its deadly environs, worried not only about the very real danger of the mines, but by the fear of leaking radiation.
The dark figure stood and surveyed the plant from outside of the fence. He looked down at the map of the facility that he held in his hand, shining a small pencil light on it, studying the Xs marked on the open areas. After long moments, he folded the map and put it into the pack he wore on his back. He took a pair of wire cutters out and within moments had cut an opening in the rusting fence. Pushing the chain link aside he took a breath and stepped through onto the grounds.
Twenty long minutes later, he breathed a sigh of relief as he stood at the entrance to the containment building. He reached up and wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and then quickly set to work opening the doors to the building. No alarm greeted his entrance, they had long ago been turned off and reliance placed on the deadly mines outside of the building. A small smile crossed the man's face as he pulled out another map and then set off for his goal.
* * * * * * * * *
Seattle WA: Near the docks
A man staggered down the streets of one of Seattle's seediest neighborhoods. To all intents and purposes he looked like just another drunk, heading for a place to sleep after a night at one of the local bars. No one paid attention as he made his shaky way, going from street lamp pole to pole, using them to rest and regain his balance before he staggered on to the next one. He continued on this way for a block or two, but then, as he pushed off from one post, aiming himself toward the next, his legs collapsed under him. He fell to the ground where he laid, just another drunk in this neighborhood where the sight was more the rule than the exception. More sober patrons of the bars that lined the grimy streets stepped over him as they passed. A light drizzle began to fall and still he lay there, muttering occasionally, as the rain turned into a downpour and the streets emptied in the early morning hours.
Fogle Towers
Max stood outside the door to Logan's apartment. She took a deep breath and wiped her palms on her jeans. She thought about letting herself in, but instead she rang the bell, and then she waited. After what seemed like an eternity, she heard footsteps on the other side of the door. There was the sound of the bolt being thrown, and the door swung open.
"Hey…" she began, only to stop as she saw that it was Bling standing there.
"Hey, Max." Bling paused and she thought she saw a touch of pity in his eyes. "He isn't here."
Max's face fell. "Can I come in and wait for him to come back? Or am I banned from the kingdom?"
Bling smiled at her attempt at levity, and stepped back. "Come on in. But I have to tell you that I don't know when he'll be back." He let the door close behind Max.
"What do you mean?" Max felt a surge of panic.
"He went out of town to visit some friends for a few days. Didn't say when he'd be back."
"Oh. Did he happen to say where?"
Bling hesitated. "He asked me not to tell you. I'm sorry, Max."
She managed to smile. "No biggie. Everyone's entitled to their time off, right? Even Eyes Only."
"Max…" Bling began but she raised a hand to stop him.
"Look it's okay. You delivered the message. It's not your problem." She turned away briefly not wanting him to see the tears she was struggling to control. She felt his hand rest briefly on her shoulder.
"For what it's worth, he's hurting, Max. He didn't tell me what went down between you two, but it's not easy on him either." Bling's words were soft.
"Yeah, well, you know us. If anything was ever easy we wouldn't know what to do." Max tried to pass it off. "So how are his legs anyway?" She tried to change the subject.
"He's walking like he never stopped. It's pretty amazing actually. He told me Sam Carr checked him out and thinks this time will stick."
"At least that part came out right." Max said softly. She realized that Bling had on his jacket. "You were just leaving weren't you?"
"I stopped by to check the Informant Net for him." Bling said.
"Do you think it would be okay if I stuck around for a while? You don't have to stay."
Bling looked at her. "Sure." He paused, "This place is as much yours, as Logan's anyway."
Max looked at him, "Maybe it used to be. I'm not so sure anymore."
"Max, he cares about you. He's just mixed up right now. Give him some time."
"Time heals all wounds?" Max said. "I'm not so sure this one can be healed." Her voice held a tinge of bitterness.
Impulsively Bling reached out and pulled her into a brief hug. "It'll come right. I never saw two people more meant for each other than you two."
Max felt the tears she had been suppressing starting to overflow, and she pulled away and turned her back to him. "Guess we'll see. Night, Bling."
"Night, Max." There was the soft sound of the door closing and she let herself relax. The tears ran down her face unheeded as she wandered through the apartment. When she reached the floor to ceiling windows, she stood staring out at rain drenched Seattle.
Several days later, Seattle WA: An alley near the docks
It was dark and drizzling, a typical Seattle evening, and the young girl sighed as she rooted through the dumpster in the dim alleyway. She looked to be about fourteen, tall but skinny, with threadbare clothes and hair chopped off raggedly, close to her shoulders. A canvas sack was slung over her shoulder and when she found something that seemed as if it might be of some value, she tossed it into the sack. She had almost finished with the dumpster in the alley when there was a squeak, and a large rat ran across her foot. The girl jumped back in reflex, and hefted the pipe she held in one hand for just such a contingency. The rat however, seemed more frightened than her and quickly scuttled away into the shadows. Cursing under her breath, the girl turned to leave the alley and almost tripped over something in her path.
"What the?" she muttered as she dropped to the ground and rubbed the toe she had stubbed on something hard. She reached down and ran her hands over a metal box that was shoved up against the wall of the building. If the rat hadn't caused her to jump back, she never would have found it. Her nimble fingers found a latch on it and she tried to open it, but it refused to budge. She gave it a shove and it barely moved. A frown wrinkled her brow and she sat back on her heels thinking. After a moment she set down her pipe and began to empty the canvas bag. When she finished, she reached down and managed to lift the box into it. She placed a few light items in the bag, covering the box, and then managed to lift it and let it hang over her shoulder. It took two hands to hold it, so she left her pipe and then slowly made her way to the entrance of the alleyway. From there she headed to what she called home, planning to examine her find in privacy.
End of Chapter One