(I've decided to go a slightly different route… there were three books written after the show ended. The author Max Allen Collins had been tasked by the producers of Dark Angel themselves with writing them. The books ended the series with a happy finality, whereas the tv show ended it with a suspenseful climax. If anyone wants to see what the producers gave permission to for the ending of the show, pick them up and read them. You won't be disappointed. This is in between book two and book three.)

Xander walked beside the strange group. It was weird, but there were some disturbing parallels between them and the original Slayer/Scooby gang. First, there was the messenger, or was her name 'Boo'? He shook his head. Nah, couldn't be.

Then there was the one calling herself Original Cindy. At first he was vaguely upset that she didn't seem to give him more than a passing glance. He'd had more than his fair share of females either dating him or trying for a one night stand. He might be as old as Giles was when he first met Buffy, but he still had it. Except, after looking at his dating successes, why should he be upset? That took care of the ego aspect.

When he noticed Cindy giving in depth glances at various women, he caught on. Yep, a Willow clone with an attitude, and a genius mind to boot. Then there was 'Sketchy'. Who was he to question names? 'Xander' wasn't exactly normal either. The guy had the similar goofy responses to situations that he had back in his early Slayer days. He probably had the same tendency to stumble into situations too. Looks like he'd have to train all three just so the messenger's friends would live longer. Oh yeah, nothing was ever easy.

He shook his head, drawing the eye of the messenger.

She opened her mouth. "What?"

He smiled slightly. Similar to Faith much? "I'm just lost in thought. Where are we going anyway?"

- - - - - -

Max looked over when Xander shook his head. As goofy as he was, he had the bearing of a veteran of some sort of war. There was also grief. She shook her head. It was the same as her, and Logan for that matter. The only problem was that there was that little virus thing that was tailored to her genetics and his. Thanks to the virus, if he ever touched her, he'd die, painfully.

Then Max grimaced. While Terminal city was at an uneasy yet stable truce with Seattle, they still had to buy some things. Which meant that those who looked normal had to go out and work. Luckily for her, even with the news appearances, she'd been able to change her appearance enough to be unrecognizable. And the fact that Normal was a devout supporter of Transgenics allowed her and some of her people to work for him. Then she smiled. Well, there was the little aspect of him wanting riders who could defend themselves. But who said he had to be one hundred percent selfless. He could have ordered them to stay away from Jam Pony when they needed to hole up against the police who had cornered them. Instead he stood with them. So what if he was a prick sometimes.

- - - - - - -

They arrived at the little restaurant and walked in. Xander immediately relaxed thanks to the heat coming in.

The owner was one of the few who knew Max and what she was. However, he liked cash more than he liked any form of discrimination. As long as they paid, a person could have 6 arms an elephant trunk and howl at the moon at odd hours.

"Hey Max."

"Charley. Is the private area open? Got to have a private moment or two."

"Go on in. Any menus?"

"Might as well."

He nodded. They went in.

Xander let them sit, then took a seat himself. "Well…"

Max glared. "Are you going to answer my question?"

"Yep. But I'm curious, where'd your strength come from?"

Max looked in shock. Then she just leaped on ahead. He'd already seen her in action anyway. "You've never heard of transgenics?"

Xander frowned. "Yes, but my rule is unless someone is plotting to destroy the world, sacrifice an innocent, or eat a bunch of people at a feast… it's not my concern." He leaned forward. "However… someone experimenting on children is. I'd have found a way to hurt those bastards if I'd known about it back then."

Max blinked, then stood up and walked out to the front for a minute.

Original Cindy stood up. On her way out to Max, she paused. "You've got some balls, I'll give you that." Then she walked out.

Xander blinked. "What did I say?"

Sketchy shook his head. "If she didn't slam you into a wall again, don't let it get to you."

"Right. So what would you suggest I eat here anyway?"

- - - - - - -

Max stood staring out the window. Charley saw the look on her face when she came out and went into the kitchen to find something to do. Cindy came up behind her.

Max looked over. "That was a shock."

"What, that he cared for a stranger?"

"Yes."

"Better get used to it, Boo. While the world is dangerous, it's got a lot of people like him in it too. You should know that by now. Jam Pony if nothing else is an example."

Max sighed.

"Though, if anyone had told me Normal would be a good friend… I would have laughed my ass off."

Max grinned. When they turned to walk away, they paused when the tv switched from a tv show to a very familiar look.

A set of eyeballs with a bar above and below with familiar words scrolling was on the screen. And Logan's familiar words and voice came through too. That more than anything relaxed Max. As they walked to the back room knowing that Logan would call if it was important, they listened.

"Do not attempt to adjust your set. This is a Video Free America bulletin. The cable hack will last exactly sixty seconds. It cannot be traced, it cannot be stopped, and it is the only free voice left in this city."

- - - - - - - -

Xander looked up as he and Sketchy laughed at one of the humorous situations he'd been through.

Original Cindy looked at them. "Well, I see you two are getting along. Let's get something to eat."

Charley walked in and they looked at him.

"What's actually available Charley?" Max asked.

"Not much actually… chili we've got, and hot chocolate. But the vegetables I like to put with it aren't here."

Max sighed. "Oh well."

Xander blinked. "What kind of vegetables?"

"Well, I've got the green kind… but the creamed corn isn't in."

"Corn with chili?"

"Some like it."

"Ah." Xander took out the bag Willow had given him. "Do me a favor will you, Charley?"

"What's that?"

"Don't think too deeply about what I'm doing, it'll give you a headache."

With that, he reached in for a container that had 'Creamed Corn' written on it. He took it out and handed it over.

Charley blinked in shock at the cold of it. "Wha…"

"I just need the container back. Wills is fond of it, and would probably injure me if something happened to it."

Max and Cindy stared wide eyed at Xander. Sketchy just said "Cool."

When Charley left, everyone looked at Xander.

"What?"

They stared at Xander's confused expression then burst out laughing.

When they stopped, Sketchy spoke up. "Um… how…"

Max smiled. "Very expressive there."

Xander shrugged. "Would you believe magic?"

Original Cindy stared at him. "No such thing."

Xander grinned. And proceeded to bring out huge frozen steak that couldn't possibly have fitted in a bag that size with the container… and stayed frozen even in the weather. Then he took out a jug of tea, some homemade ice cream, and a chocolate cake. "Well… have anything else to call it?" he said grinning as he put everything back.

Max got over the shock very quickly, then laughed at Sketchy. "Close your mouth, a fly might decide it wants to roost."

Original Cindy stared. "Where did you get all that?"

"Back before the pulse, my friends and I bought a farm. It was my selection… I wanted something that didn't have to rely on gas or electricity. As it turned out I chose well. Also, while my friends and I may not like taking care of animals, we do have cattle in one section and some people around to take care of them. We get our vegetables from somewhere else, except the corn."

"No, I mean…"

"Ah. The bag is linked to a small refrigerator that was set aside for travel use in the house."

Max stared. "So you were out traveling, any reason?"

Xander looked at her. "Yes, and no."

"Oh?"

"My friend Willow is a witch. She'd picked up on some kind of superhuman ability here… however, due to what my friends tend to find themselves in the middle of, we don't have access to the news. If we had, we'dve known about you and your people… and I wouldn't be here as a result."

Max glared. "Why? Don't like the company?"

Xander smiled sadly. "I do… but we know what it's like to want to be left alone in peace. Just because we never got it, doesn't mean you shouldn't get the chance."

Charley walked in at that point and set the food down.

Max blinked again.

Xander spoke. "Shall we eat? The rest of the discussion might need to wait… if I go in depth, some of it will be disturbing enough to take away appetites."

Max sighed. "Fine, but I want answers."

Xander stared cryptically. "And I don't believe in withholding information. Which is why you'll hear all of it that you think you can handle."