Disclaimer: I do not own the television show Dark Angel or any of the characters. This is purely a work of fanfiction that I've created in hopes of tying up all the loose ends that the show left us with.
Alec's walking around a market, getting food, when he overhears some guys talking; the huge familiars they encountered at Jam Pony. He hides out of sight and listens. He hears them talking about a plan to attack Max and the rest of them again. Once they have cleared out, so does Alec. He sprints opposite of them, towards Terminal City.
He busts in. "Max, Max, we have a problem!" Max and the rest of the gang are taking advantage of the somewhat peaceful day and are chowing down on pizza. Joshua looks up from his latest painting. It's of Ordinaries and Transgenics living side by side: Logan, Sketchy, and Original Cindy are all in it. Max drops her slice of pizza on the box and walks over to Alec.
"What is it? Get yourself in trouble again and need me to save your ass?" She folds her arms.
Alec slightly glares. "Not exactly. Ames and those familiar creeps have come up with a new plan to attack us."
Max shrugs. "So? We'll just kick their ass like we did last time."
Alec shakes his head. "They've called in for backup. I don't know how many, but it sounded like a lot. And didn't you say one of their creepy kids pinned you up to a wall with his mind? How are we supposed to compete against that?" Rare, but worry is getting the best of Alec.
Max starts to look alarmed as she thinks about his words. Logan. They need to fill Logan in on this new information and devise a plan of action together.
Meanwhile in Canada, a biology professor is turning in his resignation papers. "Really, Dr.? But you're one of the best biology professors this university's had in years! You can't be serious?" The old man nods. "But I am. ...I'm needed elsewhere now." His words are cryptic. The slightly younger, head of the school takes his time thinking. "Did some other school offer you more money? We'll top whatever they've offered you!" The professor sighs. "No, it is... not quite like that. I apologize, but I really must leave for reasons that are personal. It is a family matter." Left with no other options, the dean reluctantly nods. "If you do get things sorted out, there will always be a need for you here." The professor pauses and then nods before turning and walking away.
Max and the rest of the transgenics have told Logan the news and currently they are all contemplating what their next move should be. One of the transgenics speaks up, the ice man. "What if we expose the familiars? We could convince Eyes Only to do a broadcast of his, exposing the familiars, the way they exposed us." Despite his conflict with the other, Mole thinks and then voices his approval of the idea. Several other transgenics then follow. Alec and Max look at each other. "Well, what do you think, Logan?" Max asks. "Could you get Eyes Only to do it?" Logan takes several moments to think. "We'd have to gather substantial evidence. Eyes Only won't move on this unless he has some kind of proof to give the people." Everyone thinks. "In that case, I think it's time we pay Sketchy a visit. He is all enthusiastic about reporting lately. Let's give him a new story." Alec smirks slightly and nods. Logan nods as well. For a brief second, Logan and Alec catch each other's gaze and share an awkward look. Even though Logan acts like he's accepting of it, there is an awkward tension between the two over Max.
On the plane to America, the professor looks like he's sleeping but he is actually deep in thought. He wonders if he ever will go back to the university, or if he'll stay in Seattle once he returns. Most of all, he wonders how things have changed. Is the government still running Manticore? From the news, it appears they've lost all control. Everything they stole from him has literally blown up in their face. But are they still running another base somewhere else? What ever became of C.J. And Ames? His two biological sons. What had their fates been? Did C.J. manage to survive or had the cult had him killed? Was Ames still so loyal to their traditions or had he renounced them in favor of protecting his little brother? The professor sighs. He needs to prepare to find answers which he may not like. But most of all, his biggest worry and fear is, if his "special one" is still alive? If she is dead, then there is no hope for the world. There simply isn't enough time for the old professor to create a new cure from scratch. The risks are endless, something could have went wrong in her DNA and caused her death or she could have been in the fire, that the U.S. government no doubt recklessly set. Damn them! If only they'd known how important she is. They have no idea what they may have done! He takes a breath to relax. He's getting ahead of himself. Though, the odds of her survival aren't great, there is a chance she's still alive. She's strong. He made her that way. Hopefully, strong enough to still be alive.
The two take back streets to Jam Pony, both of them wearing sunglasses reminiscent of the Men in Black and long trench coats with the collars turned up and hats. They can't risk being seen. As soon as they enter the door of the building, they ditch the lame disguises. Normal is a bit surprised. "Well, well, well, look what we have here. What brings our former transgenic messengers to Jam pony?" Everyone stops and looks. Original Cindy instantly runs over to Max and pulls her into a tight hug. "Missed you, boo." Given how toxic Terminal City is to humans, Cindy doesn't get to see Max as much as she would like. Max hugs her back, patting her on the back. "Missed you too, Cindy." Sketchy stops what he was doing, which is really nothing, and looks at his two transgenic friends and former coworkers. "Sketchy! Just the man we wanted to see!" Alec calls as he approaches the human, who still carries a camera around his neck. "Uh... r-really? I'm the man you came here to see?" Though Sketchy has mostly come to terms with the fact that Max and Alec aren't completely human, it's still unnerving to find out he is the reason they're here. "Sure you are, Sketch!" Max calls, a little too happily for her, as she joins them. "We got a new story for you." She adds, patting him on the chest.
"Yo-you do?" Sketchy looks at them with a mix of nervousness and confusion. "Yep. It's really groundbreaking too." Alec adds. Of course, overhearing their plotting, Original Cindy saunters over. "What is this Original Cindy is hearing about some big news story?" She looks at the three of them, hands on her hips. "You know that story that was going around for a little bit in World Weekly about an ancient breeding cult?" "Yeah, so?" Sketchy replies. "Well, it's true. That's who those bozos were who broke into Jam Pony and came after us. They're the ones responsible for exposing us to Seattle and all of the world." Max answers. Original Cindy speaks up, "Suga, you mean they're the reason all this whack business has been going down?" Max and Alec nod. "What does this have to do with me?" Sketchy asks, bewildered. "Well, you see, we thought they could use a taste of their own poison." Alec begins. Then, Max adds, "Yeah, and we figured who better than to help us out then our good friend, Sketchy, our very own neighbor reporter?" Max adds, with a smirk. Sketchy gulps, his eyes widen and he takes a step back. "No, no, no, no. There's no way I'm getting myself tangled up in that mess. It's dangerous." Original Cindy rolls her eyes. "Oh, and chasing the scoop about transgenics on the loose wasn't dangerous? I didn't see the danger stopping you then, fool." "Yeah, and you owe us for all the trouble you've caused us by trying "to get the scoop" on us." Max adds. Sketchy thinks about that for a moment. "Plus, just imagine, it's the story of the century. You report this and you're sure to go down in history, Sketch." Alec adds, slinging his arm around Sketchy's neck and looking up all starry-eyed, waving his left arm across the air for emphasis. "But I'm just a lowly reporter for some trash magazine, as you guys say. You really think I can get all of Seattle and the world to believe me?" He asks. Max's turn. "Nope. That's why we've also enlisted the help of another friend, Eyes Only." Sketchy's eyes widen, more in shock and excitement than horror this time. "You got someone as big as Eyes Only to get on board? You mean I'd be working with him on this?" Max nods, "Oh yeah. You'd definitely be helping him on this story. You wouldn't be working side by side in person, but you'd still be helping him out." Sketchy thinks. "Alright, guys. I'm in." Max and Alec smile. Original Cindy is standing to the side arms crossed and tapping her foot. "Hey! Aint nobody gonna ask O.C. to join in on this bitch?" Max thinks about that. "You really want in, Cindy?" "Boo, I've been down with chu since the very beginning of all this. Of course, I want in!" Max nods. "Then, it's settled. For the next few days or so, we're all going to be reporters. Getting the scoop on the hottest story Seattle will ever see." Just then Normal chimes in. "Bip! Bip! Bip! Last time I checked, two of you deadbeats are still employed here, unfortunately. Packages, people, packages! I don't pay you to stand around here and shoot the breeze on company time!" O.C. and Max roll their eyes, smiling at each other and waving, as the four break up. Original Cindy and Sketchy walk over to go get packages. Alec and Max begin putting on their disguises again. As the four go to exit Jam Pony, Max speaks. "We'll meet back here tonight and take it from there." Sketchy and Cindy nod and take off on their bikes.
"You really think this will work?" Alec asks Max as they duck through side streets and markets to get back to Terminal City. Max takes a deep breath. "...I hope it does." That doesn't do much to reassure Alec, but he keeps silent for once. Max is deep in thought even as she keeps an eye out for anyone who might give them trouble. Truthfully, Max doesn't exactly like the idea of putting her friends in danger like this, but what choice do they have? Ames and the cult have the advantage of having humans against transgenics. Transgenics need to level the playing field some, by showing humanity who their real enemy is, if they want a chance at beating those cult creeps.
Eventually the plane lands at Seattle airport and the old man exits the aircraft. He keeps a sharp eye out for anyone who looks suspicious. He needs to do all he can to avoid familiars, which is challenging since they are hard to pick out from a crowd. He had heard on the news that there is a large group of transgenics held up in, what is now named, "Terminal City". A worker, in the terminal of the airport, offers people maps as they pass by. He doesn't need one. He knows the way to Terminal City well. It had once been his lab, where he spent almost all of his time, years and years ago. However, now that he thinks about it, he will have to find an alternate way in. He recalls from the news images, the direct route is heavy surrounded by angry, ignorant citizens and law enforcement. He sighs. This is an error on his part. He should have planned an alternate way in beforehand. He goes back and accepts a city map from the man. It seems there is still some planning to be done before he can find out if the child he made - with the cure - is in Terminal City or not. But he does need to get out of public as soon as possible.
Every moment he stays out, he risks encountering a familiar. He pauses to think of where to go from here. He usually thinks things through better than this. The only place which comes to mind is his old house. The place where him and his wife raised their two sons for a short time, before everything fell apart. It is decided then. He will try his old address. Of course, he has no idea if it has been torn down or resold, but it is the only place he has a chance of having enough privacy and silence to think of a way to get into Terminal City.
He has gotten a taxi and it isn't long before he is at his old doorstep. It hasn't been torn down. That's encouraging. And it doesn't look like anyone has lived here since him and his family. He tries the door. It's locked. Perhaps, he locked it when he left and no one has touched it since. He takes the key out of his pocket and puts it in the keyhole. He has kept it all these years as a reminder of the life he once had. As he turns the key and opens the door he is met with a young man aiming a small hand gun directing in his face. "Stop right there and tell me who you are and what you're doing here." The man orders. Looking down, Sandeman merely chuckles lightly to himself. Raising his head slightly, he looks the other in the eyes."I believe it should be the other way around. You see, I should be asking you what you are doing here, young man. I am the last owner of this house and all."
With eyes wide as can be in disbelief, Logan takes a step back, lowering his gun. "Wait, you mean... you're...?"
"Dr. Sandeman, that's right." He pauses. "You seem to know who I am, yet I don't know who you are." He replies as he steps inside with the help of his cane. Normally, he wouldn't have given up his name so easily to a stranger, but this man already seemed to know who he was. No point in trying to hide his identity.
"Logan Cale. I've been searching for you, actually. ...Didn't think you'd randomly show up on my – or your – doorstep." He begins as goes back over to his computer chair. He is just about ready to have Eyes Only up again.
Sandeman raises an eyebrow and regards Cale. "And why is that?"
Logan isn't sure how to begin. Finding Sandeman had seemed hopeless and now here he is right in front of him. He is pretty much what Logan expected. Old, slightly taller than Logan. Logan had no idea what kind of personality to expect from him, so his seeming kindness is a pleasant surprise.
"Actually, we've been searching for you."
Sandeman looks curious but slightly dreadful. He was hoping that Logan hadn't meant "we" as in familiars and they will jump out at any moment. "We?" He asks, a bit anxiously anticipating the answer.
"Max and I."
Sandeman looks blank at that. "Max? I'm afraid you've lost me, Logan."
Logan hadn't known that Sandeman doesn't know her name. "Maybe you'd know her better by her barcode number, 452." There's a bit of resentful tension in Logan's voice as he stares as his computer, only glancing at Sandeman.
Sandeman knows as soon as the other says "barcode" that he must be referring to one of his transgenics. Then, he says the number and it only takes a short moment for the scientist to make the connection and remember exactly who Logan is speaking of. "She...? She's here!" He exclaims with excitement, joy and relief display on his face.
Logan nods, now turning his full attention to the creator of the woman he loves "And she – we – need your help with something."
Again, Sandeman looks slightly curious and then thoughtful. "Go on, explain. I'm listening."
It's a little pass 11:30 pm as the four "reporters" meet outside Jam Pony. Most of the angry citizens have gone home to their families and their beds. The soldiers, police, and federal agents are still out, but they look far more relaxed; chatting and eating. It is perfect for the two transgenics as they have the advantage of being able to see better than humans at night. They don't even need to wear full disguises this time, just jackets with the collars turned up and hats. Max, Alec, and Logan had been hard at work earlier in the day trying to find out where the cult currently is, since Logan and Max had made them leave the school. Turns out they are set up in a new, more remote town, posing as another private boarding school. Sketchy takes a seat behind Alec on his bike and Original Cindy takes a seat behind Max on hers. "Hey, why do you get Original Cindy?" Alec asked, as he looks back at Sketchy. He smells. "Because, fool, aint no way Original Cindy is getting that up close and personal with a male." Max chuckles and Alec rolls his eyes before they speed off into the night. All four carrying cameras around their necks.
To Be Continued.
A/N: And that's where I'm leaving off for this chapter. Sorry, I've been slow on updating! I have not abandon this story! I'm just busy and ideas for this story have been hard to come up with. I'm trying hard to make a believable season 3 because like a lot of you, I deeply wish Dark Angel had gotten a season 3 as well. We needed at least one more season or a movie! I will try to update again soon. I can't make any promises but I will try, since I did leave off on a sort of cliffhanger here. Until next time, all my fellow DA fans! :) Oh and to the reviewer who suggest I do something with Logan's ability to walk failing him, I will! I will! I had heard that the writers mentioned that happening in season 3, so I will include that somewhere along the line. Maybe Sandeman can come up with a cure for that too? Who knows! Also, thanks so much for the reviews, and such, everyone! :)