An Unauthorized Genetic Experiment: episode two.
Author: Chippewa Livingston
Archive: Please ask
Disclaimer: I claim no affiliation or ownership of characters or material related to Dark Angel.
17. Bargain with the Devil, or someone like him
Splashes of red and blue light filtered through the trees that divided the growing traffic jam of police and armored vehicles from the dark and mostly silent parking lot that we were using for our unofficial conference. 'Roxanne's bronze curls would be right at home in a disco.
"So, tell us again what you wanted out of a locked office, at midnight?" She leaned further into Asha's personal space.
"I didn't find it. The files are in a vault in the basement. Dead storage." She shrugged nervously. "I was going to go down, but I got the call to get out."
"What files?" I asked.
"Notes and drawings for a specific government project, dated 1992, and phone logs for conversations with someone named Sandeman."
"What project?" I started to wonder if we shouldn't be going. Sooner or later someone was going to notice us, even through the trees.
Asha opened her mouth to answer, then glanced at her jacket pocket. I could hear the low buzz of a ringing cell phone.
"Never mind," I said, "I'll find out for myself."
I snagged the phone with my left hand, and thumbed it open. I tucked the little pistol into a back pocket, carefully.
"Where are you?" asked the male voice at the other end.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"A friend. Is Asha safe?" This was definitely the same guy that she'd been talking to at Nathan's place.
"She's with me, for now. Do you have a name, friend?"
Roxanne reached in Asha's pocket, and came out with car keys. She shoved the woman into the back seat, and motioned me to follow.
"Logan. It's good that you and your friend left when you did."
I slid into the back seat next to Asha, and slammed the door closed as 'Roxie' started the car.
"Things were starting to get hot. What was she after, anyway?"
"One more piece of the puzzle that is Manticore. I wanted more names, more information." Logan's voice was steady and controlled. I could tell that the man was a pro, although I wasn't sure at what.
"Why do you care? Did you light the fire?" I leaned against the car door to steady myself as 'Roxanne' burned rubber.
"No, and neither did Asha. I'd really like to know which side you and the young lady are on. Come to think of it, who are you?"
The car shuddered and bounced over a curb, and we were back on the road. Asha eyed me from her side of the back seat. I wondered if she could hear my heart pounding. Trust no one. Reveal nothing. Logan might be an ally, or I might just be kidding myself. If there is the slightest chance that he knows where some of the others are. . .
"Okay, Logan. You can call me Sharp. Someone might even recognize the name. What are you willing to offer me in exchange for some dusty old files?" A real name, but not the one I'm using now. A risk.
The man sent a short, sharp laugh over the phone connection. "What do you want? Keep in mind that I'm mostly good for information. Once upon a time, I'd have offered you cash, but I'm a little broke this week."
"Well, that makes two of us, Logan." Roxanne took one hand off the wheel, and showed me the sign for medic. "Let's test the quality of your information. Can you find me a doctor who knows how to keep quiet?"
"I hope that's not urgent," said Logan, "because I'm going to have to do a little bit of research. I promise the instant that I find him or her, you will hear about it."
"I just like to plan ahead. If that works, I'll have more questions." If it doesn't, I'll just have to hunt you down and kill you.
"I don't think you want to go back in there," said Logan. "Their security cameras are picking up lots of activity."
"So that's why the cameras never got shut down."
"Uh, yeah. I was watching you."
"What can you tell me about the building layout? And the location of all those police?"
'Roxanne' put the car in park, and whispered "I'm going in to get Nathan." She stepped out into a puddle. We were parked behind the bar.
Author: Chippewa Livingston
Archive: Please ask
Disclaimer: I claim no affiliation or ownership of characters or material related to Dark Angel.
17. Bargain with the Devil, or someone like him
Splashes of red and blue light filtered through the trees that divided the growing traffic jam of police and armored vehicles from the dark and mostly silent parking lot that we were using for our unofficial conference. 'Roxanne's bronze curls would be right at home in a disco.
"So, tell us again what you wanted out of a locked office, at midnight?" She leaned further into Asha's personal space.
"I didn't find it. The files are in a vault in the basement. Dead storage." She shrugged nervously. "I was going to go down, but I got the call to get out."
"What files?" I asked.
"Notes and drawings for a specific government project, dated 1992, and phone logs for conversations with someone named Sandeman."
"What project?" I started to wonder if we shouldn't be going. Sooner or later someone was going to notice us, even through the trees.
Asha opened her mouth to answer, then glanced at her jacket pocket. I could hear the low buzz of a ringing cell phone.
"Never mind," I said, "I'll find out for myself."
I snagged the phone with my left hand, and thumbed it open. I tucked the little pistol into a back pocket, carefully.
"Where are you?" asked the male voice at the other end.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"A friend. Is Asha safe?" This was definitely the same guy that she'd been talking to at Nathan's place.
"She's with me, for now. Do you have a name, friend?"
Roxanne reached in Asha's pocket, and came out with car keys. She shoved the woman into the back seat, and motioned me to follow.
"Logan. It's good that you and your friend left when you did."
I slid into the back seat next to Asha, and slammed the door closed as 'Roxie' started the car.
"Things were starting to get hot. What was she after, anyway?"
"One more piece of the puzzle that is Manticore. I wanted more names, more information." Logan's voice was steady and controlled. I could tell that the man was a pro, although I wasn't sure at what.
"Why do you care? Did you light the fire?" I leaned against the car door to steady myself as 'Roxanne' burned rubber.
"No, and neither did Asha. I'd really like to know which side you and the young lady are on. Come to think of it, who are you?"
The car shuddered and bounced over a curb, and we were back on the road. Asha eyed me from her side of the back seat. I wondered if she could hear my heart pounding. Trust no one. Reveal nothing. Logan might be an ally, or I might just be kidding myself. If there is the slightest chance that he knows where some of the others are. . .
"Okay, Logan. You can call me Sharp. Someone might even recognize the name. What are you willing to offer me in exchange for some dusty old files?" A real name, but not the one I'm using now. A risk.
The man sent a short, sharp laugh over the phone connection. "What do you want? Keep in mind that I'm mostly good for information. Once upon a time, I'd have offered you cash, but I'm a little broke this week."
"Well, that makes two of us, Logan." Roxanne took one hand off the wheel, and showed me the sign for medic. "Let's test the quality of your information. Can you find me a doctor who knows how to keep quiet?"
"I hope that's not urgent," said Logan, "because I'm going to have to do a little bit of research. I promise the instant that I find him or her, you will hear about it."
"I just like to plan ahead. If that works, I'll have more questions." If it doesn't, I'll just have to hunt you down and kill you.
"I don't think you want to go back in there," said Logan. "Their security cameras are picking up lots of activity."
"So that's why the cameras never got shut down."
"Uh, yeah. I was watching you."
"What can you tell me about the building layout? And the location of all those police?"
'Roxanne' put the car in park, and whispered "I'm going in to get Nathan." She stepped out into a puddle. We were parked behind the bar.