Disclaimer: The TV show Dark Angel, all of the characters that appeared on it (Max, Zack, Logan, etc.), and everything else that has to do with the show belong to their respective owners, not to me. No money is being made off of this fic. I only own the original characters (Becky/X6-405, etc.).

Notes: Maybe a slight spoiler-ish thing for "Female Trouble." You'll probably see what I mean by that.

"Things are progressing nicely," Stephen said to White a few hours later. "It's almost like I told Carrie when she and I were baking cookies for that Valentine's Day party at her nursery school last month. When you cook, you have to be patient and let what you are making cook at just the right temperature or it will burn or not be cooked enough. When you cook it just right, it's absolutely delicious. I'm planning on this being one gourmet meal." He handed White one of the two cups of coffee in his hands. "Speaking of food, here's your coffee."

"Thanks," White said. "There's no sign of any of the transgenics, at least ones that I recognize. I guess 452 is learning something."

"It looks that way," Stephen agreed. He took a sip of his own cup of coffee. "Did our man up top check in with you when I was getting the coffee?"

"He reported all clear," White said. "The only snipers that he could spot were the two that the police put up on 1011 Baker and 1006 Baker. He's ready and waiting for when we give him an order."

"Great," Stephen said.

White looked thoughtfully in front of him. "It's very tempting to…no, I won't do it." He looked at his watch. "It's seven o'clock now. This has been going on for close to four hours now. I think the time is right for us to let everybody know just who's in there, don't you think?"

"Absolutely, buddy," Stephen said, grinning. He took out his cell phone and dialed a number. He waited for a few moments before it was picked up on the other end. "Fenos'tol. It's time to let slip that you've got transgenics. Brother White is going to make that call as soon as I hang up with you." He listened to the leader's response and added a few more instructions of his own. "Thank you. Fenos'tol." He grinned again and turned back to White. "It's your turn."

Kevin frowned from his position on the roof of the building that White and Stephen were standing in front of. He glanced around him and put a hand to his earpiece. "Max, it's Kevin."

"What is it, Kevin?" Max asked from back at Terminal City.

"Things are gonna get complicated real fast," he said. "I just overheard a conversation between White and his friend below me. They're going to turn up the heat in there and let it slip that transgenics are among the hostages that are being held in the store." He repeated their conversation to Max. "We're on the clock now. You and Alec and Riley better get over here soon and start to get into position."

"We're on it," Max said. "Do you have a pen light or a laser pointer with you?"

"I sure do," Kevin said. He knew what Max meant. "Kevin out." He reached into one of his pockets and took out a laser pointer. He aimed it at the window of the grocery store and prayed that it would be in either Zack's or Becky's of Jeff's line of sight.

"That's odd," Becky said as she turned and watched the leader leave the store area and head upstairs in the building. "Why the hell would he…oh, hell no. That better not be why he took a phone call five stories up."

"Here's hoping you're right," Jeff said. He turned and looked at the other hostages. The young boy was curled up next to one of the elderly people and was fast asleep. "The kid's lucky. He's sleeping through this."

"Here's hoping this doesn't traumatize him for life," Becky said. "This won't make us blink an eye when all's said and done, but what about that poor kid who hasn't been through everything that we have?" She shook her head. "These bastards. They just don't think about how many lives are ruined, do they?"

"Hopefully, they won't be ruined," Zack said. "If we stay cool, then things will go that much smoother when the time is finally right for us to make a move and fewer people will get hurt."

"I know," Becky said. The three of them turned their heads and watched as the leader of the group came back into the room and started making casual conversation with one of his men. "I couldn't hear what he was talking about that well. I could hear his voice a little, but he was a little too far up and there was too much interference with something or another to let me be able to make out the words. Jeff?"

"Same here," Jeff said. "I couldn't make out anything. Zack?"

Zack shook his head. "Not a thing." Something caught his eye. "Window." He focused all of his attention on the laser that was Kevin was flashing down to them. "Kevin's up there…he's doing recon and acting as sniper…there's three of us in a van nearby on comm and surveillance duty…Xavier and Felicia and Vance…Kyle's also out there doing recon and he'll move into a sniper position when the time is right…the others are back at Terminal City and are waiting to move into position to get us out of here…Max and Alec and Riley are going to be coming in…" He frowned. "This is a set-up…White and his friend orchestrated this…going to expose the fact that some transgenics are among the hostages…the leader of the men holding us hostage is one of them…they're going to demand to speak to the leader of the transgenics or an authorized representative of the leader and unless they get an answer within an hour of making the demand, they're going to start killing off the hostages one an hour on the hour until they get a response…White's going to leak that information now and it should be revealed within fifteen minutes…get ready and try to hold up until the others get here…ETA twenty-five minutes."

"That leaves a ten-minute gap between when this news hits and when they get here," Jeff murmured. "This is going to be tense."

"I know," Zack said. He held up a hand as Kevin started to signal to them again. "Going to distract them…Vance will make a call from a secure line from the van…will distract leader while Max and Alec and Riley slip in the building and make their move…all others are spread out outside…Syl in charge of them…Sasha and Brin back at Terminal City…" The laser pointer stopped blinking and Zack blinked. "At least help is on the way."

"I think I can stay patient for that long," Becky said. "It looks like Max has things pretty well in hand."

"I knew she could," Zack said confidently. "If there's one thing that you can count of Max for, this is it." He focused back on the window as Kevin started to signal to them again and frowned again. "No matter what happens, White's going to publicly reveal Max and myself and Becky and Alec as transgenic after this is over…he's going to force us into hiding."

"How nice of him to not want to blow my cover," Jeff said sarcastically. "I think I'll get him a present."

"Nothing says thank you like a bullet between the eyes," Becky agreed.

"Save it," Zack said quietly. "Let's stay alert. The clock is ticking now. It won't be long."

TBC