Freedom on the inside
Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don't own anything to do with Dark Angel. They apparently belong to some guy who is most definitely in need of a brain check. What was he thinking when he decided to axe the show? Oh well, I guess when I'm rich enough I'll just have to buy the rights to the programme and then we'll finally get a third season. I wouldn't count on it though.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: M/A (eventually!)
Summary: What if Max never escaped Manticore in 'Designate This' and didn't get the chance to infect Logan? Logan and everyone else in Seattle thinks she's dead and Renfro's still alive?
Author's Note: I know there's been a lot of 'what if she never escaped stories?' but this is my shot at what could have happened. Please read and review!
Chapter Twelve
Terms and Conditions
Logan awoke to the bright morning light shining in through his window. Opening his eyes slowly to protect against the blinding light, he rolled to the side of his uncomfortable bed. It took a minute to register where he was and what he was doing there.
He had half expected himself to be chained to the bunk with nothing but four grey walls and a cement ceiling and floor to stare at, but his room, though not quite up to scratch in the interior design area, was strangely welcoming.
Swinging his legs out, he went to stand up almost simultaneously with the opening of the door. Logan looked in the direction of his visitor and wasn't in the least surprised when Lydecker walked in.
"Well if it isn't Mr. Logan Cale."
"Lydecker," Logan replied without a hint of emotion.
"The great Eyes-Only. I am surprised to see you here, I must say."
"Max said it was important."
"Ah love; makes us do strange things."
Logan was starting to feel uneasy about this. He instinctively took a step back as Lydecker came forward. Noticing his reaction, Lydecker laughed, "Max isn't stupid, she wouldn't bring you here if she thought it was a trap. You can relax, Mr. Cale."
Logan wasn't going to breathe a sigh of relief just yet, "What do you want with me?"
Lydecker turned and walked out the door, "Follow me."
Logan sat in a rather large black armchair studying the photographs in front of him.
"So let me get this straight," he said looking up at Renfro and Lydecker, "These familiars are a breeding cult who use the natural method of selective breeding to produce highly skilled soldiers that match the strength and ability of transgenics?"
"Actually we think that they aren't being bred for the same purposes as we create transgenics. They're completely human but also have strength and ability that far exceeds that of even our best soldiers. But what our understanding tells us so far is that they are in no means friendly to either normal humans or transgenics. Two out of three of our X5s we sent on a routine mission last week didn't make it back. The X5 that did make it out alive says their attackers matched their strength and speed but oddly had no barcodes. I didn't know much more till I found these photographs and brought in Lydecker."
Logan looked back down at the photographs, "Why do you need me?"
"Because son, we need you to work with us, not against us. If you reveal our location, we will have to cauterize the site. Manticore is our only hope of beating these familiars," Lydecker explained.
"Ok, fine I won't expose Manticore," Logan nodded slowly, "but I have two conditions."
Renfro looked at Lydecker. They both shared a moment of understanding before Renfro turned to speak to Logan,
"What are these conditions?"
"I will help you with this fight against the familiars if one: you allow me to work from home and maintain communications with Manticore from Seattle and two: that Max be set free."
Lydecker was the one who answered him, "We accept your first condition but we cannot allow the second."
Logan sighed, "Well in that case, I go ahead with the broadcast. I can't believe any of what you say unless you prove to me that what you say is true. Giving up one of your best soldiers is the only way of doing that, that I can think of."
"Mr. Cale," Renfro started, "We understand your feelings for 452 but we believe she has a very important role to play in the fight against the familiars."
"She can fight from the outside."
"She is much safer with us."
"Safer?" Logan scoffed, "You guys shot her!"
"Son, we only just found out that Max has no junk-DNA. All her genetic material has a purpose and we believe that that purpose may have something to do with defeating the familiars. The idea may seem far fetched, but I assure you; a war is coming."
"And what if I promise you that Max will not run away. She will stay and help fight this war and as long as our communication stays open, you will always be able to contact her when you need her. She can't do a lot from inside these walls but from the outside, she can do a hell of a lot more."
Renfro sighed, "Mr. Cale, why don't you go make yourself comfortable or take a tour of the base. We need to discuss this in order to come to an agreement."
Logan stood up and stepped away from the desk. He didn't offer his hand for a hand shake but instead left them to make up their minds.
Max laughed as she lost her knight to her opponent. Ginger was sat beside her groaning at her dire play, play that seemed to be leading to a miserable defeat against Alec; no less.
"Max you suck big time at chess," Alec said with his usual cockiness as he took his rook to C5.
Max was still laughing (uncharacteristically considering she was getting her ass well and truly whipped) as she moved her own rook. Looking up at Alec with a wide grin mounted on her face, she whispered the single word, "Checkmate."
Ginger whooped and Max just smiled as she watched Alec's face fall faster than a plane nose diving at 3000 miles per hour.
"So what was that about me sucking at chess, Alec?"
Alec shook his head in disbelief, "I actually said that you rocked at chess Max. Sucked? No, it appears that it's me who sucks at chess. Oh well, least I still beat you at pool."
"You are a sore loser."
"That's coz I don't lose. Normally," he added.
"Give it up Alec," Ginger yelled, "The only thing you know how to do is poke a ball with a stick."
"Actually," Alec said indignantly, "There are a lot of things I'm good at."
"Yeah like what?" Max challenged.
Alec sat and thought for a while before answering carefully, "Driving you up the wall, oh and kicking your ass too."
"Yeah right," Max snorted, "Like you've even touched my ass – not that I'd let you of course."
"Ok, let's have a little demonstration then," Alec said getting up, "and solve this disagreement once and for all."
"Fine," Max said, too standing up.
"Now it's on!" Ginger grinned as she got comfortable on the table, to watch this eagerly anticipated fight.
The two transgenics stood with an acceptable distance between them, each throwing 'you're so dead' glances towards the other.
Since Alec was being a wuss, Max decided it was her who was going to have to make the first attack. She brought out her arm in a low punch, hoping to catch him out, but Alec just sidestepped it with ease. In frustration, she tried to kick him from under his feet. Alec jumped up avoiding contact, "Come on Maxie, that the best you can do?"
Max took advantage of the fact that Alec had such a big trap and couldn't keep his cocky remarks to himself. He lost some of his concentration as he started speaking but it was enough for Max to get him on the ground. He fell with a thump as she struck him hard in the stomach. She had knocked the wind completely and utterly out of him and he lay motionless on the floor as Max towered above him,
"Looks like I found another thing you suck at."
Alec smiled sweetly up at her; which she had not at all expected and so it had thrown her slightly. Max played dirty, so the way he figured it, he could too. Using her lapse in concentration to his own advantage this time, he kicked out his legs and swiped Max from off her feet in one rapid movement. Her fall was cushioned by none other than Alec; she landed right on top of him.
"You are such an asshole!" Max spat out.
"Yeah, but you love me anyway."
The room fell into a loud silence, or so it had seemed until a small pin dropped. Or more precisely, Logan opened his mouth,
"Hi Max."
Crap.
A/N 2 – Yes I know that was an incredibly clichéd fight and end to this chapter but I just couldn't help myself, it was too damn tempting! Ok, so come on what did you think of:
a) Logan's negotiations – is Max really gonna go? What she gonna do when she finds out about Logan's dealings? You're gonna have to wait for the next chapter to find out! grins evilly
b) The little chess game, not to mention the fight (predictable as it was!)
c) Logan's timely entry! (like I said I couldn't help myself!)
Anyways, I really do hope you liked it and once again a very big thank you to all the wonderful people who reviewed:
Jade- K – Hello there! Nice to have you back! Of course you're forgiven for the lack of reviews! Not that I mind not getting any reviews (yeah right who am I kidding? I live on reviews!) Anyways, thank you for reviewing all those chapters, you really didn't have to. I'm glad that it amused. Yes it would be very funny if Logan was brainwashed and he began thinking he was a transgenic – might try that for another fic! Lol!
Kristibella – Hmmm? Renfro? For the time being she seems to have changed for the better but who knows? Only my pen does! Thanx for reviewing and I hope you liked this chapter.
SGOU – thank you! I'm glad you liked the conversation, thank you very much for reviewing.
Loralee – see you really had nothing to worry about, it wasn't that type of fight. In a way both Max and Alec won in the end, so I didn't come down heavily on one side – I hope you didn't mind.
Lakergirl – well I'm very glad you like long fics coz this is gonna be one. I will keep updating if people want me to, reviews are a great incentive! So thank you for reviewing and I hope you like this chap.
Chainedreamer – No problem! Hope you liked.
Aotearoa Hiphop Grl – oh thank you blushes Glad u liked it and thank you again for reviewing.
Messymissy – Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it and I hoped u liked this chap. Also I love your pen name!
Chaosti – Yep reviews definitely have power! Thank you for reviewing and I hope you liked! smiles
JeNsEnS wifey ChAdZ lover – thank you! Ok, I'm revealing the plot slowly, so you will find out eventually what's going on! By the way, I am totally in love with your fic, please update it soon!
Amanda – thank you! I'm very happy that you love it so much! Yes action is on the way but I warn you that I suck at writing action! Anyways thanks for reviewing.
Nelita – haha! I'm nothing near a goddess. If I was my room would be at least slightly tidier slightly tidier so that I could actually see the FLOOR! Hmmm? Logan dying? Maybe. Yes you are welcome to borrow Ginger for a chap of your story so long as you update soon!
SmilinStar xxx