Title: A Different Agenda

Author: sue

Rating: PG13

Show: DA

Genre: Angst/Romance

Type: WiP

Summary: What if Ben didn't managed to escape with the others in '09? And what happened if 493 that was sent on the Berrisford Mission instead of 494? And somehow after Manticore was burnt down, he had gotten together with Max. Both of them were working as messengers at Jam Pony when Ben's dark past started to haunt them, threatening to disrupt the budding relationship. And then, tragedy strikes..

And Max finds herself being haunted by the ghost of Ben,.. in the body of another. Will she trusts herself to fall in love again, or will she be too scared to let herself be hurt all over again?

A/N - Hello again! Well, here's the next chap. I told you this won't take long ;) But the next update won't be as fast because there's this annoying thing I have to do and I can't find a way to get myself out of it. In other words, my final exam is in less than a week. sigh

So hopefully you'll enjoy this and thanks for the reviews folks! :)

A/N2 - oops, did I mention that Alexis helps me with the betaing bit? She's an angel :D Thanks sweets!!

Chapter 2 - The Savior.. or not

The night air whipped against her bare neck; a blessing as the night's heat had been a tad too unbearable for her liking. She crouched; her gloved fingers were unconsciously rubbing themselves against the grainy dirt. The end of her ponytail whispered against exposed skin and the girl just pushed the hair aside; an instinctive reaction. The dark eyes darted around as they surveyed the surroundings and when she didn't see any immediate danger, the slight figure rose and disappeared into the night.

Moving in a speed too fast for any human to detect, the girl blurred towards one of the buildings half hidden in the gloomy covering of the night. The shadows that shimmered at the edge of the building pulled the girl into its embrace and then there was nothing.

Nothing... except the growing silence.

Again, the girl threw a quick look around her. Satisfied with what she had seen... or not, she hoisted the small bag on her back a little higher and started climbing.

Unknown to her just a mere block away, the hint of a shadow wavered before a figure stepped into the hazy light. The fingers inside the black leather glove moved slightly, the only indication that he was not a still statue and yet, he bid his time.

And let her shadow disappear from his sight.

Max was slowly unscrewing the glass ball, her dark eyes narrowed in concentration. Inside her glove, her hand was dry as she kept working on the screws. She was halfway done with this one and there was only one left. Max kept her weight carefully centered to make sure the rope stayed in place.

Her steady hand suddenly stopped as her the ghost of her friend's voice sounded hollowly in her head.

'C'mon boo, you can't keep on doing this to yourself. Ben wouldn't want you to mourn him forever. Go out, do something fun. It's been ages since you've been out of this apartment. Stop torturing yourself like this.'

'Like what OC?' The despondent answer slashed right through her best friend's heart. 'Ben is dead... He's dead! What else should I do when someone I cared about, someone I loved, died and left me alone like this?'

'You're not dead, that Original Cindy can see plain as day, so please boo, don't act like you're dead to the world as well.'

Max didn't bother with an answer as she stared at the blank wall, arms wrapped tightly around her knees.

OC sighed, a deep tired sigh and walked around her sculpture-like friend. She sat in front of her before pulling Max into her embrace. 'I know it's hard but can you do it for me? Just try, please honey.'

Instantly, the dark eyes glistened with unshed tears but Max just bit her lower lips in response.

I'm trying Cindy... I'm trying.

Her resolve hardened, she turned her attention back to the priceless baseball she had decided on as her comeback.

Suddenly, out of the blue, she heard a soft whisper amongst the thick silence enveloping the deserted gallery. Her head snapped upwards while her eyes widened in shock at the lone figure that was fast approaching. Like her, he was fully attired in a black cat-suit; black turtleneck, equally dark coloured jeans, black gloves... the whole deal.

A second later, she felt her jaw drop a little wider as the figure drew closer and she managed to see his face.

No... no... That's impossible. That is not him...it can't be him. It just... can't.

The thought ran repeatedly through her suddenly numb brain time after time again but she was in too much shock even to think of a reaction. Her glassy eyes continued to follow the stranger's descent even though alarm bells had started screaming inside her head at this sudden intrusion.

The young man thought the way her dark Bambi eyes had enlarged in her surprise had been sweet. Totally the opposite of what he had been feeling less than an hour ago when he noticed her crouching in the dark, ready to enter the gallery he had picked as his next conquest. He had been mildly irritated at the sudden infringement on her part.

But since he already knew the entire layout of the place, which also meant the layers and layers of intricate security, the thought of her making it safely inside had not been on his mind. So, needless to say he found this situation a bit surprising, but in a weirdly pleasant way, to see that she was almost within reach of the priceless reward.

'Ooops, I didn't know someone else is already on this lil baby.'

That cheery greeting snapped Max back to attention. She closed her slackened jaw with a barely audible snap before rudely turning her back on him.

'Yeah, so why don't you just go now?'

This man's resemblance to her Ben had been unnerving enough, pushing the hazy memory of the last few weeks to the surface. Ben had always been gentle; with her and with practically everyone within a hug's reach. He would hover over her, make sure she was fine. His cheeky side would only surface once in a while, but none of that mattered to her. Ben had been the centre point of her life and she had felt no need to change that. Not until he died and left her all alone in this godforsaken world.

But this stranger, who had looked like he had stepped out of the mirror to take Ben's place, was watching her unblinkingly with Ben's eyes.

No... not quite.

Ben had twin emerald pools for eyes. The soft kindness within them had always reassured her that he would always be by her side and she had someone to watch out for her back, whether she wanted it or not. Those kind, gentle orbs never ceased to amaze her. And now, the pain of losing him that will never disappear will haunt her forever.

But the pair of eyes in front of her right now, they were shrouded with indefinite layers of unsettled clouds, added with swirls of complicated emotions that were always hidden from view. So much so that she couldn't even make out what this familiar stranger was thinking.

She had always been very good at reading people; it was something she had picked up quickly for survival's sake. Something to help steer her away from Manticore and everyone that had to do with that hellhole, but this man... He had been the first that she couldn't read like an open book and she snuck some glances his way warily.

'Whoa, calm down,' he had replied, a little taken back by her hostile answer. This must've been the first time when a girl didn't respond well to his charms. His eyes narrowed imperceptibly as he contemplated the possibility of her being a lesbian. But no, that was something he just couldn't see. So, what was the problem here? He decided to try again. 'But since I'm already here, why don't we just... I don't know,' he shrugged, 'share the bounty?'

Max whipped around to face him and gaped. 'You have to be joking. Do you seriously expect me to just give you half of my take to you just because you decide to barge in and interrupt me in the middle of my heist?'

'When you put it that way,' he pursed his lips as he thought it over. But a second later he frowned as he stared at her closely. 'Hey, I know this must've sound cliché and stuff but... have we met before?'

'Not in this lifetime,' Max muttered under her breath, turning back on her priceless baseball. As her list of differences between her Ben and this insufferable jerk grew longer, it became easier for her to accept that it was not Ben who was talking to her.

'Seriously,' his frown deepened as he studied her face unblinkingly, 'you do seem a little familiar.'

'Listen Dick,' she whipped around to face him, her face was set in resolve. 'Why don't you just go and practice your lame pick up lines on someone else? And in case you didn't notice, I'm busy. So go.'

'Like I said,' he answered, ignoring her heated replies as he changed tactics, 'why don't you just let me handle it. This heist I mean. Let me take this ball to my fence and I'll give you half of what I got. What do you say? Sound good to you?'

'No, no... and let me think for a while,' she was silent for a second before glowering, 'no.'

'Aw come on,' he cajoled, 'I know I can get a higher price for that scruffy lil ball than you can.'

'For your information,' her back stiffened in anger, 'this scruffy lil ball as you put it is the Sammy Soussa 100th home run ball. It's one of a kind and I know exactly how much its worth. So... can you please go now?'

X5494 mulled over her answers for a bit. This small slip of a girl was a spitfire if there was one and even though he hardly knew her and vice versa, he had the impression that she was angry with him. Interesting.

Very, very interesting.

As a graduate from Manticore, so to speak, he knew for a fact that he could overpower this girl without much effort. Hell, he could do it even with his eyes closed and strapped in a straightjacket. But, the thought of using force on this fragile looking girl was a bruise to his ego. Plus, those huge dark eyes had told him that its owner had seen too much despair and misery in her short life.

'Well, I can be a gentleman. How about 60/40?' he asked with an arched brow, daring her to refuse his very gallant offer. For some reason, getting this mysterious girl all worked up had some interesting results. Mainly the fact that her eyes lost some of its haunted look.

'Read my lips, pretty boy, no' The word just burst out from her lips and Max glared at him before she drew out the last screw.

'Last chance, 70/30?' 494 asked sweetly but when she opened her lips to growl, his hand whipped forward and grabbed the valuable ball away from its perch. 'I'll just take this.'

'Give it back!' the enraged girl snapped, trying hard to tug it out of his grasp.

'It's mine now, lil girl,' he puffed, dodging her advances. For someone who looked quite helpless, this girl was pretty quick. And surprisingly strong as he struggled to keep his grip on the ball.

'It's yours, my ass. I got here first,' she panted as the little tug of war continued. Out of sheer frustration, her leg arched upwards, knocking the ball out of his hand.

Both of them watched with wide eyes as helplessly, the ball rolled out of sight.

There went his little prize.

'Tsk tsk. Look at what you've done,' he managed to say in a patronizing tone, even though the siren had started screaming around them.

'Shut up,' she retorted, glaring at him through narrowed eyes before quickly climbing upwards as the shrill siren continued blasting in the background. 'And it's your fault.'

'What do you mean it's my fault? If you had decided to accept my offer, we wouldn't be in this prickly situation,' he argued, climbing quickly beside her.

Max's jaw clenched in retaliation but she kept her silence. She managed to do so until they were safely out of sight, and out of harm's way. 'Let me ask you something,' she started when she noticed that he was still tailing her, 'if the position had somehow been reserved, how would you feel with me sauntering in the middle of your heist before demanding half of what's supposedly yours?'

'I'll be honoured that a gorgeous girl had indicated some sort of interest in me,' he winked suggestively, blatantly ignoring her actual question.

'Put a sock in your hormones, Dick,' she glared at him again, 'and those are not the answers I'm looking for.'

'Well,' he wrapped his arms over his chest. 'In my defense all I can say is that I have no idea that my chivalrous act in letting the lady in first would result in this.'

Max just rolled her eyes in answer. 'Whatever.' She turned to look at the suddenly bright building and knew that this was the time to leave. She walked over to her waiting bike and hopped on. Ignoring him, she patted her pockets before drawing out her Jam Pony ID, putting it around her neck and blazed off on her baby without a word.

494's eyes turned thoughtful as he digested the last piece of the puzzle he got from the mysterious girl. Something about her niggled at his subconscious, demanding to be solved. Suddenly he smiled, as if his mind had presented him with something good. He kept stock still; the hint of the smile was still lingering over his full lips before slowly he let the shadows of the night wrap themselves around him.

Then here comes the hateful words.. to be continued.. heh