A/N: I should have mentioned at the start of the story that this fan fic is written as a continuation of the Max Allan Collins books, the books have been unpopular wtih some Dark Angel fans but I didn't mind. Hopefully everyone including those who did not like the books will enjoy this fan fic.

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Another Mission

Terminal City, Seattle
December 27 2021

Joshua was wondering around aimlessly checking in on all the different colonies of transgenics around Terminal City, he usually kept himself occupied as Max's personal bodyguard but since she hadn't got back yet he didn't have much to do. So he headed to the control centre in the main building where Mole, Dix and Luke spent most of their time.

"Why are wasting so much time on him, he made all of our lives hell at Manticore now you want us to protect him!" one of the nomalies was arguing with Mole

"Hey take a number, who doesn't want to see the guy get what he deserves, but until Max is finished with him it's not going to happen so get over it" Mole puffed at his cigar, it was getting increasingly difficult to find someone to guard Lydecker that didn't pose a bigger threat to his health than a potential intruder. The transgenic stormed out of the control room almost running into Joshua.

Joshua looked stunned as he walked into the control room "Whats up big fella" Mole asked

"Nothing. Is Max back?" Joshua missed Max and he got more and more dreary every hour that she was gone

"Haven't seen her"

"Oh ok"

-

Logan's pad wasn't as luxurious as his penthouse but it was a huge improvement on Joshua's old house, where Logan crashed for awhile after Ames trashed his penthouse. They managed to salvage some of the furniture from his old apartment and made the first floor of the derelict Medtronics building look vaguely like home. Max carefully opened the door, they didn't want a repeat of the events that occurred there less than a week ago when Logan was abducted.

"All clear" Max swung the door open and flicked the lights on, there were a few broken bits and pieces but other than that everything was how they had left it.

"Ah its good to be back to civilisation" Logan dumped the bags just inside the door and set to work.

Max walked over to the answering machine "Looks like you forgot to tell the world that Eyes Only was on vacation" she said as she saw the light flashing 'full' on the machine

"Yeah I bearly had time to pack" Logan shouted from the kitchen

"Well I'll let you catch up on your work then"

"Sure you don't want to stay, Eyes Only can wait" Logan poked his head around the corner

"Don't tempt me, besides I have to make sure Mole hasn't made to much of a mess of things"

"How about dinner then, I'm making pasta"

"Dinner it is" Max smiled and went down the stairs to the tunnel

-

Joshua was just about to leave the control room when Max walked in "Hey big fella, why so down?" he still looked unhappy thinking Max wouldn't be back for a few days

"Max!" Joshua's face lit up like a christmas tree, he almost crushed her in his huge arms "not down, now that little fella is back"

"Ok big fella chill" Max choked trying to wriggle out of Joshua's iron grip "whats happenin"

"Well while you've been off gallivanting around the country side with loverboy the hard working citizens of Terminal City have been managing quite well without you" Mole said dryly

"Nice to know that you missed me"

"I missed you too Max" Joshua said eagerly

"Had any trouble Dix?" Max walked over to the wall of tv screens the surveyed the entire border of Terminal City

"Nah, it's been pretty quiet on the outside" Dix replied

"Well then you won't miss me when I go out tonight"

"Gee Max I'd love to but you know how busy I am with the council" Alec walked in

"Oh, what a shame" Max rolled her eyes

"Sorry to break up the party but there are a few business matters I need to discuss with Max before the next council meeting" Alec sat down and dumped the massive pile of papers on the on the table

Logans Apartment, Medtronics
December 27 2021

"Anybody home" Max crept out of the tunnel into the dim living room

"Yeah, in here" Logan was sitting at his computer staring at a screen full of text

"Whats Eyes Only up to now" Max lent over to get a closer look

"Oh nothing that can't wait"

"You sure?"

"Positive" he turned and smiled "The pasta is almost ready, it should be done in a minute" Logan got up and went to the kitchen

"I bought some wine, it's not exactly the pre-pulse vintage that you're use to but it is the best I can do"

"I'm sure it's fine"

"You sure know how to treat a girl" Max saw the trouble Logan had gone to.

The table was beautifully set with candles and cutlery, "Make yourself comfortable" Logan walked in with the pasta and set it on the table.

"So what were you working on when I came in?" the curiosity had been killing Max since she read the first few lines on the computer

"Oh I don't want to spoil our dinner and besides I'm sure you have enough on your mind with Terminal City"

"It's ok, I saw something about orphans..."

Logan smiled "Couldn't help yourself could you. Well Detective Sung tipped me off about the Director of the orphanage in sector seven"

"Yeah I know the one"

"Well they have been taking care of kids since before the pulse and the government has been giving them regular funding of quite large sums to make sure the kids are getting enough to eat and all that. Well it seems that a lot of the money is disappearing before it gets to the children and the director is living quite well on the small salary he is earning"

"So the kids are going hungry while he's living high"

"Not only are they going hungry but they're also going missing. He's covered his tracks well and the law can't touch him" Logan sighed

"Why not?"

"No proof"

"Damn, so is Eyes Only gonna help"

"I wish I could but this guys good, I can't trace where all the money is going. Everything seems fine, the government puts the money into the orphanage account and there are several small withdrawals every week but then at the end of the month the remainder of the balance just disappears"

"The world's best hacker finally met his match has he?"

"Well when I say disappears, I mean on the books it is written of as payment for rent of the building and staff"

"So it hasn't disappeared"

"Ah but the person that owns the building isn't receiving all the money. I had a check done on all their personal and business accounts and they are receiving a small amount for rent but nowhere near as much as the director claims. I still have to do checks on the employees"

"So the director is paying the bills and pocketing the rest"

"Yeah but no one can prove it"

"And what about the missing kids?"

"I'm still working on it"

"So I guess you want me to swing by his joint and check things out"

"No I wouldn't ask you to do any of my dirty work now that you have a whole city to oversee"

"Nothin like feeling useless"

"What... I thought you had heaps to do at Terminal City"

"Well it seems that they can cope fine without me and so can you"

"If it makes you feel better I could really use your help"

"Good, I'll pay him a visit tomorrow night" Max started to clear the table

Jam Pony
December 28 2021

Red eyed bike messengers hung around the entrance of the Jam Pony building, Max walked inside getting a few reassuring smiles

"Hey missy seems like you spend more time here than you did when you worked here" Normal was busy sorting packages behind his desk

"Hey Normal, got get back to my roots every now and then to keep it real"

"Don't want all that fame getting to your head, hey buddy holidays over get moving bip bip bip" Normal glared at two lazy messengers lounging on the couch

"Hey Boo I was startin to get worried, I haven't seen your ass since you went loco on Logan" Original Cindy appeared from the change room

"Yeah sorry to keep you hangin', had some urgent business to tend to"

"Heard somethin bout you kickin some White ass ... again. So whats going down wit my girl, you and Logan patch things up"

"I guess you could say that" Max grinned shyly

"You go girl. I knew you had some sense in that dumbass head of yours"

"Lets just say the last few days put things in perspective"

"Cindy hot run" Normal yelled from his desk at the door

"You'll hafta fill me in later, Crash tonight?"

"Sure, catch ya later"

-

Crash was a funky bar with manhole covers for table tops and crash debris decorating the walls, the bar was the favourite hangout for the bike messengers of Jam Pony. Alec and Sketchy were duelling it out on the pool table while Original Cindy and Max watched on in amusement

"I'm tellin ya Alec I'm on the fast track now New World Weekly today the Seattle Times tomorrow"

"So I bet you have the girls lining up now" Alec smirked as he pocket the blue '2' in the far right corner

"Not exactly but give it time, I mean what girl could resist the charms of a successful journalist"

"These two sittin right here for a start" Original Cindy rolled her eyes, Sketchy wasn't exactly the catch of the century but he was a nice guy

"Ain't that the truth" Max agreed

"Hey your shot buddy" Alec was getting impatient, he was one ball away from kickin Sketchy's ass

"You guys don't count, I mean what guy has a chance with Max unless he's Logan and what guy has a chance with Original Cindy unless"

"He's a she" O.C. finished

"Yeah" Sketchy took his shot, the orange 13 he was hoping would find the pocket missed by a good two inches, Alec pocketed the black ball with ease in the middle left. Sketch was no match for Alec who had an aim that could shoot a fly off a wall 100 feet away.

"How many games is that, 5 to zip?"

"6 actually" Sketch corrected him "so I suppose the next round is on me"

"Sure is. I'll give you a hand" Alec and Sketch headed for the bar

Max looked at her watch "It's getting late, I better blaze"

"And leave a girl alone with those two doosh bags" OC looked surprised

"Even genetically engineered killing machines need their beauty sleep"

Original Cindy didn't believe her for a second "This coming from the girl who didn't sleep for days and still looked as fresh as a daisy. Well whatever you're up to you could at least stick around for the next round, how often does Sketchy buy"

Max smiled "Can't, I promised Logan I would check something out for him"

"Now my Boo's makin some sense, I thought you were done doin his dirty work"

"I don't mind, it gives me something to do"

"I thought you had plenty to do, havin the whole of Manticore on your doorstep"

"That seems to be the common belief, but surprisingly I'm not as popular as everyone thinks. I gotta go, see ya Cin" Max got up and put her leather jacket on

"Be careful Boo"

"Always" Max smiled and left

Alec and Sketch came back with four drinks "Where did Max go?" Alec asked

"Had some business to attend to"

"Anything I should know about" Alec looked at the four drinks as he put them down and thought about what he could do with the forth

"You know Max, I'm sure she can handle it" Sketchy was eyeing off the forth drink

"Yeah, ooo look at what just walked in the door" Alec nodded his head at a tall blonde woman that had walked in

"Thats a fine bit of woman" OC turned, before Sketchy could get a word out Alec had taken his drink and the spare one and was heading towards the blonde. Alec never had trouble attracting the girls it was his ego that prevented him from keeping them.