Title: Timeline
Author: Athena
Rating: PG-13
Show: Dark Angel
Genre: Drama/Action/Romance
Pairing: M/A
Summary: Max and Alec travel 20 years back in time at Metropolis, KS to rescue a friend. DA/SV crossover .
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.
A/N: The movie "Timeline" inspired me for this fanfic; I took the basic plot from it. It is set after Smallville season 4, and like 2 years after DA- FN.
A/N2: I haven't seen the season finale (the last episode aired in Mexico at this moment is 'Lucy'), so I don't know what really happen to all the Smallville characters, only what I find out in the fan websites. So any information about how the Smallville season develops in the future will be appreciated, and I will try to incorporate it in this fic if it's possible.
Part 1: Missing Metropolis, KS – 2005
Lana was driving her car on the crowed streets of Metropolis downtown, on her way to Chloe's apartment. She has just called her friend after a long time without seen each other because she needed a favor. A big one. She feels a little bit guilty about that, because she has cut off on purpose all the links with her previous life at Smallville. And that includes her best friends Chloe Sullivan and Clark Kent, especially, Clark Kent.
After graduation, she had moved to Metropolis trying to forget about all the events that went on last year, after she came back from Paris. She wanted to wipe out of her mind all the things related to her evil witchcraft-fan ancestor, Isobel Thoureaux; the woman who managed to possess her through space and time, sending her on a mad search for the legendary and fatidic Stones of Power; the very same stones that only proved to bring death and unhappiness to the people on their quest. She also wanted to put a long distance between her and her powerful and manipulating so-called friend Lex Luthor. Something she didn't think entirely possible, but sure is she will try her best.
But above all things, what she wanted the most was to forget Jason Teague, the man she once thought she loved. If someone asked her, she would say that she wanted to forget the man who made her suffer, the man who lied to her about important things, the man who used her for his own gain; but she knew in the bottom of her heart that this wasn't the real cause, even when all these things were true. She wanted to forget Jason Teague because she felt guilty about his death. Or to be precise, because she believed she killed him. It doesn't matter if she truly doesn't know what happened that day. All she knew was that she might be responsible of a man's death.
But she almost made it. Forget all, that's it. She has now a gorgeous boyfriend who doesn't have any kind relation with Smallville; she's studying Arts at a prestigious school and has a job in an art gallery that let her earn enough to live. She even rejoined with her aunt Nell and they were trying to re-build their family again.
But even when she had moved on, the guilt about her involvement in Jason's death appeared constantly in her nightmares. Even when Isobel's ghost seems to vanish, the memories of her life with Jason were still there. During the day she was happy, busy, with her mind occupied by her work, school and the new people she had met, but she was frightened to sleep because of the nightmares she can't remember but leaves her very unpleasant feelings.
Until she found out he wasn't dead.
Three weeks ago, they had run into each other in a cocktail organized at the art gallery in honor of a famous artist. He arrived along with others, with a beautiful blond locked to his arm. He looked different, like someone who's now making a lot of money and it's trying to show it to the world. So unlike the Jason she met in Paris once.
For a moment she thought she could be imagining things. This could another good-looking guy who had some resemblance with Jason. Another possibility was that he could be Jason's relative. His family's one of the wealthiest families in Metropolis and even when he didn't have brothers or sisters, he must have more family than his father and his very dead mother. But when she crossed gazes with him, she knew it was Jason. Especially when a look of horror got across his handsome face for a moment. He must have remembered the madness they were into last year; he must have remembered when he almost died.
But he quickly recovered. He walked to the spot where she was and said hello to her like if nothing had happened before between them, or at least nothing life-threatening. They started to talk like two friends that hadn't seen each other in a long time, catching up with the things that had happened to them lately. He talked her about his new job at his father's firm, she talked about the art's school; they even talked about their new relationships. The blond was looking impatient and bored, standing there, in the opposite corner of the art gallery, but he didn't seemed to care. All his attention was on Lana's.
After this strange déjà vu, they started to see each other again, like the friends they never were. They talked everyday more than once on the phone, had some coffee together, and even once they went to the cinema, to see a really bad horror movie. But they were doing all these, like friends. Both know about their new love interests. Even when she wasn't sure that Jason's talked to his new girlfriend about the quality time he was sharing with his ex.
Hell, she hadn't say anything to her boyfriend. She knew it would be weird and really difficult to explain why she was seeing again someone she claimed had hurt her so much not so long time ago. But the thing is, she was enjoying it. Besides, seeing Jason alive and happy somehow took away all the guilt she felt; she didn't have nightmares anymore. It set her free.
Until now. Three days had passed since the last day she heard something from Jason and she was worried. They had plans 3 days ago, at a café, but he never showed up. She went to his house; she called to his job, and nothing. She even called his girlfriend asking for him, but she hadn't seen him either.
She needs to find him, because somehow, she felt she was responsible for his disappearance, and she doesn't like the feeling. She doesn't want to be responsible of his death. Again.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Seattle, WA– 2024Max was pacing all over the room. Over and over. Alec considered himself as a patient man, but this was inhumanly. "Max, can you stop? Your frantic pace is driving me nuts" Max looked at him with a death glare. "I'm not." A frown appeared in Alec's forehead. Max saw it; she hadn't meant to be rude with Alec. "Sorry, it's just… I'm worried. It's not usual that Logan asks us to come to his place and not being here at the time he set. Something must happen to him."
Alec approached Max carefully, and put an arm around her, trying to comfort her. It was a risk, because she can hit him the very next second, but he knew she needed the support. The love of her life might be dead or something worst. "Logan is a big boy, Max. He can take care of himself. Don't worry. Besides, the bad news are always the first ones to be known."
He was still holding her when they heard the sound of a key on the door. Logan was here. Logan turned on the light just to see a very worried X5s standing in his living room.
"Hey guys, sorry. I lost track of time… I was looking all over the city for a ingredient for a very special pasta recipe…"
Unbelievable! Alec was livid to say the least. And he could tell Max was angry too. Here they were, totally worried, and Mr. Eyes Only was busy looking for cooking ingredients. He tried to chill out, but it was hard to say something without sounding dangerous.
"Ok, Logan, so the reason you ask us to come at 10 pm …" Alec paused and took a look of his watch… "which were 20 minutes ago, it's so important that you lost track of time buying food…. Sure… you know what? I'm leaving. I have better things to do." Without even glancing to Logan's direction, he walked some steps to the door, but he stopped before reaching the exit. "Are you staying, Max?"
"No. I'm leaving too. Sorry Logan, but call us when you have something really important to tell us."
"Wait!" Logan screamed and both transgenics stopped. "I'm sorry, ok? But what I have to say IS important. Please, just listen. If you think it's not worthy of your time, you're free to leave. But first listen."
Both transgenics looked at each other and with a nod decided to stay. They were already there, so, what are they gonna lose? Probably their precious time, but nothing more. They seated on the couch, side by side.
Logan sighed. He could tell by seeing them that they weren't very pleased with him, but he bet they would change their minds when they listened to what he had to say.
He cleared his throat and began to speak. "An Eyes Only informant gave me some evidence that an important corporation is developing a genetic project like Manticore. My informant doesn't know yet if the government and the military are involved… "
"What?" Both transgenics were on their feet. Max and Alec were outraged. "You must be kidding, right?" Max said. " Lydecker is gonna paid for this!"
"Like I said before, Max, we don't have proof that Lydecker or anyone from the military is involved", the older man said. Alec and Max looked at him with a skeptical glance. "Yeah, I know, it's hard to believe, but it seems this 'project' is a private thing. We also know that is still on its early stages. Apparently, they haven't produced a successful…" Logan stopped, trying to find the right word. A pissed transgenic was something you have to handle really carefully. Especially these two.
Alec felt the reason of the older man doubt, and it made him angrier. "It's funny that you don't know how to call us, after all these years… Do you want to say… animal-human hybrid? Freak? Or is non-human assassin the words you are looking for?" Max glared at him. "It's not Logan's fault, so chill out", she said under her breath, so Alec was the only one who could hear. Alec looked at her, and nodded, but unconvinced. "Ok, Max, if you say so"
Logan stared from one to another. What was going on with them? He knew they must be talking with each other, and it exasperate him not been able to catch any word from them. If only he knew lip-reading…
"But they are trying really hard, right Logan?" Max said in a calm way, catching both men's attention.
"Oh, yeah. Or that's what my informant said. So, the mission for you two will be to seek, copy and destroy this project's data, so we'll be sure that they won't be able to build something like Manticore in the future."
Alec flinched at Logan's commanding attitude. "Since when he's our CO?" he said whispering. "Alec, please…" Max said in a pleading tone. "Ok, Max. But for the record, I'm doing this for us, not for him." Max just nodded. She felt the same thing.
"Well, dude" he said in an audibly voice, well, audibly for Logan. "This sounds fine for me. But, can you tell me who's the new bad guy in our lives? I mean, what's the name of this evil corporation that's trying to produce more of us?"
"Luthorcorp"
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Lana was standing at Chloe's doorstep, when a doubt jumped her. What is she going to say? "Hello Chloe, I need your help to find my ancient-stones-obsessed ex-boyfriend, the one I thought I killed, but, by the way, is not dead?" Sure. It was a really good argument for a horror movie, or for soap opera, it depends how you see it. She was starting to think that probably it wasn't a good idea asking for Chloe's help.
She was thinking about going back to his apartment, when a girl, emerged from nowhere, hit her. She was carrying some books, and apparently she didn't see her. "I'm sorry", she said. It was odd, she looked a little bit out of place wearing all in black in the middle of the summer, but she was so pretty, that Lana skip that detail easily. She reminds her of someone, but she couldn't place whom. Lana was helping her picking up the books, when Chloe's door suddenly opened. And there he was. Clark Kent. The other man she wanted to forget about.
"Lana!" he said like if he had just seen a ghost. "Well, thanks, bye". The girl said quickly, running away with her books. "What a surprise! I was …, but…, well, it's good to see you", he said, apparently distracted by this beautiful girl. But then he hugged her and it felt good. She had forgotten how good it felt to be held by his strong arms.
"Yeah, it has been a long time" she said sadly, returning the hug, just to be tackled by Chloe. "Lana, I thought you weren't coming. I was afraid you had changed your mind about the help you said you needed."
"Almost, to be honest." She said, sitting in an old couch. Chloe's apartment was tiny, but she didn't pay so much attention to the room. She was more anxious about what she was going to tell them that she might think. Because she was sure Clark had plans to stay along. Sure thing was that Chloe had told him every word of their conversation.
She glanced to see Chloe's and she was surprised to see her with a very long face. Lana's answer probably wasn't the answer Chloe expected from her former best friend. Lana felt guilty again. "But now I'm glad I'm here with you, the two of you".
Chloe and Clark looked at her, like if they were expecting here to continue. And she did. "I know you're gonna find hard to believe this, but Jason Teague is alive."
They weren't expecting THIS answer, she must say; the shock on their faces just tells it. "But, Lana…" Clark started to say, just to shut up, apparently not knowing what else to say.
"Yeah, I know it sounds hard to believe. You saw him, wounded, soaked in his blood, looking so very dead, six months ago…"
"He was dead, Lana." Clark said sounding sure about what he was saying. "I mean, I check his vitals, and he hadn't any. He was dead."
Lana understood Clark's distrust, but she went on with her tale. "I know. I thought the same. In fact, I always thought I had murdered him" Lana said, trying not to undressed her emotions, but it was difficult. Chloe flinched at the word 'murdered'. It was hard for her to remember Lana as the evil witch Isobel Thoureaux. Lana continued. "You remember how Isobel possessed me, how she made me do things, evil things." She looked back to Clark, who apparently was surrounded by his own memories. "I don't remember exactly what happened that day, but what I can say is that I always had the feeling that I killed Jason."
"But even if you did, you weren't yourself" Chloe said quickly, trying to comfort her friend. Lana could say it by the kindness in her voice. "Thanks. But it doesn't matter. I felt it anyway"
"Well, but you said that Jason is alive. How do you know that? Have you seen him?" Clark said, returning to the initial point of their talk.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's alive, because I've seen him, talked to him, going out with him for the last three weeks." She said regaining the strength she almost lost talking about Jason's alleged death.
"Three weeks? That's enough time to discover if someone's impersonating him." A very surprised Chloe added. It was oddly, but she was more surprised of the 'Lana's going out with Jason again' thing, than the 'Jason's alive' thing. Odd, really odd.
"I don't know, Lana, but I feel this is not the reason you're coming for Chloe's help. Is something more you're not telling us?"
Lana turned to see Clark directly to his eyes. How could he know? But well, this was Clark Kent, the mysterious Clark Kent.
"Yeah, there's more. He disappeared three days ago, and nobody knows where's he. Not his dad, not his coworkers, not his friends, not his girlfriend…"
"Girlfriend? I thought you just said you were seeing each other again." Clark said, and it sounded almost like an accusation. Not that he was really accusating her, but he was clearly disappointed.
"Like friends… we were seeing each other like friends. In fact, I have a boyfriend myself. We have been together for the last six months. But well, the point is that Jason is missing and I need to find him. And that's why I'm looking for all the help you can give me."
"But why? Why don't you let the police take care of it? I supposed his father is seeking for him too, right? And If I know wrong, he is a very resourceful man, almost as wealthy as Lex is"
"Yeah, he is all that. But you don't understand. Jason and I are connected in a way I can't explain. And don't misunderstand me. I don't love him anymore, and I don't think he's still in love with me. It's just that I feel what he feels and I know he's in pain now. And I also know that's because of me. That it has something to do with me."
"Lana, that's ridiculous! How could you two… " Chloe was about to say something thoughtful and rational when Lana shocked into tears. "Please, Chloe! I know he's gonna die AGAIN if we don't find him soon. And I don't want to feel responsible twice for his death"
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Metropolis, KS – 2024Max and Alec were preparing themselves for the mission. Logan had hacked blueprints files of the Luthorcorp building, so they had a very good vision of the security system. Nothing they couldn't handle. Piece of cake, Alec might think. The only thing that bother all of them, Logan included, was they couldn't communicate by radio, 'cause some reaction with the surveillance system.
They trespassed security as planned and were on the CEO main office, looking for the data they were looking for. Apparently, the Luthorcorp's CEO was a very strange man, because he has the odd procedure of hard copy all the files for his "top secret" projects on a single computer without network connections which remains every moment at his office, locked in the safe when he's gone. It was so easy, even for ordinary, to unlock the safe and copy & erase the data from the computer. Something inside of him told him there was a catch, that a man with a preceding reputation like Lex Luthor's can't be that stupid.
He looked up at Max and saw in her face the same worry. Something must be wrong.
And it was. Before they could react, a wall of bars fall from the ceiling, locking them in a tiny space between the bars and the safe's wall… they must have trip a silent alarm that set up this strange mechanism; an alarm that wasn't in the blueprints Logan got for them. Shit. They were in trouble. "Max, I swear…", he started to say when a middle aged bold man appeared from a secret door, concealed behind the bookcase in front of them. He looked at them, with a strange expression on his face; it was a mix between curiosity, fear and something that Alec only could interpret as greed. Great. They were totally screwed.
"Well, well… So, I finally have the chance to see an x5 – alive. I thought I'd never have this opportunity", the bold man said, talking more to himself than to them, with an odd voice that gave Alec the creeps. Even when he wasn't a physically imposing guy, he transmitted power and danger beyond his looks. "He must be as deadly as an X5", Alec said whispering. He saw Max nodding at the corner of his eye. But this thought didn't take away the anger, or disappointment, he didn't know, he felt for been caught that easily. He looked at his partner in crime and he could tell that Max felt the same. They were pissed, royally pissed. "Who the hell you are and what do you want from us?", Max said, raising his voice aggressively.
"I wish you're comfortable there", he said, approaching confident to the improvised cage. Alec was surprised; other ordinary might put some distant between him and two very pissed X5's, but this man didn't seemed to care.
"Well, it's not a 5 stars hotel, but it at least it has a nice view", Alec said sarcastically, pointing to the wall-to-wall window at his left. The man didn't react to his smart-aleck comment. It was like he wasn't aware of Alec's presence in the room. "I'm sorry about the way I set you up, but it was necessary. I need your help, but I also know that you'll never come willingly", he said, addressing to Max.
"So, I assumed there's no secret project, uh?" Alec said, trying to get the man's attention. He just seemed to ignore him, all his attention on Max. Typical. A hot chick always caught first a man's interest.
"I used my connections to convince your friend Eyes Only that I was building another Manticore", he said, without looking at him, only talking to Max. "But I have to admit that my company under my father's direction indeed collaborated with the first Manticore, 20, almost 30 years ago. So the data you stole and then erased from my computer are data from YOUR original project. I think it might help you, so take it with you as a proof of my sincerity"
"Sincerity, my ass", Max said. Alec could say she was so pissed that she almost killed this man, if the bars weren't there to stop her. " If you wanted our help, you only needed to ask for our price, through the usual channels. It's not a secret where we are or how to contact us"
"Well, first, I didn't want to involve Lydecker or Eyes Only; you might say it's a personal affair. And I only want YOUR help, 452. Or can I call you Max?" said the guy, obviously flirting with Max. Alec felt arising his temper and tightened his fists, ready to fight.
"If you tell me your name, I'll think about it. Calling me by my name, I mean"
Alec couldn't believe it. Was Max flirting with this guy? He knew she like older guys, but this was unbelievable! This man could be her father!
The bold man smirked, like if that's what he was waiting. "My name is Alexander Luthor, miss. But you can call me just Lex", the man said seductively, approaching the cage casually, only the bars separating him from Max. Alec was outraged. But then he saw Max made him signs. "Wait for my signal". He smirked. Now he understood the game Max wanted to play.
He waited patiently seconds that looked like hours, until Max sign. He blurred for the side of the cage Max was and held with a steel grip on Lex's neck, perfectly calculated to not kill him.
"Nice to meet you, Lex. I'm Alec, by the way".
The man for the first time looked at him and a look of horror got across his face. Not exactly the response Alec expected; usually he saw fear, indignation, even repulsion, but it wasn't exactly fear what he saw. It was truly terror.
"JASON!"
The scream the man released made him and Max jumped. It surprised Alec that much that he let him free and Lex Luthor felt hardly to floor. Alec scolded himself for his careless action. It could cost them a lot. But surprisingly, it wasn't the first of his concerns.
"Who the hell is Jason?", Max inquired, reading Alec's mind. "A friend of yours?" she said anxious. I don't think so, Alec thought; seeing a friend again is never that scary.
Lex Luthor closed his eyes, trying to focus. It seemed like seeing Alec made him lost the control he usually had. Without opening his eyes, he started to speak, trying visibly to remain calmed. "I'm sorry. I knew your friend here looked a lot like him, but it was still shocking to see him this close".
"Do you know who I am?" Alec said, trying not to sound interested, even when he was intrigued about this apparently deja vu.
"I do. X5-494, who goes now by the name of Alec Mc Dowell, transgenic representative at the Seattle council." He really looked at Alec this time, not scariness or horror seemed to appear. "Also twin of one '09 escapee, X5-493, found dead 3 years ago." The man half-smiled at Alec's direction, regaining his cocky-self, "And also clone of an old acquaintance of mine, Jason Teague"
Max and Alec flinched at the mention of their dead brother. This guy knew more than what they thought. "How do you know I'm this Jason Teague's clone?" Alec asked carefully. "That doesn't matter, he's dead anyway, like your twin"
"Ok, so you did your homework", Max said sarcastically "but I ask again, what do you need us for?"
Lex Luthor stand up, and looked directly to Max's face. "This is gonna sound far-fetched, even for lab-made guys like you, but I need you to travel 20 years back to rescue someone who is stuck there".
"Whoa, whoa, wait there" Alec said, raising his hands. "Even if we believe you about the time travel thing, and that's a big if, why us? I imagine you have at your call thousands of persons, only waiting you to say it. "
"I already tried that. I send the best of my security team to extract him, but anyone came back. I can only assumed two things, that he killed them, or that Manticore have him and they killed my men"
"Manticore? So this guy … is a transgenic?" Alec raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Who's this guy you want us to rescue? "
"Someone really important to you, well, as far as I know, to Max", he said facing both transgenics. "Let me see… 09 escapee, tall, blond, with a bossing attitude?" Both transgenics were shocked. It can be…
"Any guess?" Both transgenics were speechless, truly afraid that their guess was confirmed. Lex just smiled at their faces.
"Does the name 'Zack' ring a bell to you? Or do you prefer his designation, X5-599?"
A/N: What do you think? Please, review!