Signal Light

By PaBurke

Summary: Sequel to Twilight Waning

Distribution: TtH,

Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine, no infringement intended. Just play and more play.

Spoilers: HL and NCIS and now Dark Angel.

Rating: for language

AN: Uhm. I thought this universe was long dead. It seems that I can't even abandon the stories that are done.

***

Alec held the X-7 and led another one easily. He was following Logan. The ordinary was carrying yet another X-7. Biggs was on point and Savy, an X-5 that had been tasked with the X-7's health was on drag. Two more X-7's walked in the safety of the middle. Logan said that he had a way out of the country for the transgenics suffering from radiation sickness and he had never let them down. This time, Logan was playing his cards a little closer to his chest than normal. That made Alec nervous.

He didn't want Max involved.

Oh, Cale had been sly about it, always distracting and diverting, but Alec recognized the attempt and admired the effective execution. Alec might have been concerned about Cale betraying them, but the man had proved himself over and over again. Biggs was under directions to lead the way to the peninsula ten miles south of Seattle, after dark. Due to the police and the familiars, they had to travel it on foot. They were meeting a contact of Cale's that had a boat.

Alec surmised that the computer geek didn't want Max to meet the contact.

That made Alec all the more curious. He walked as fast as the ordinary in the exoskeleton could travel. The contact should be near.

"Light," Biggs hissed. "Morse code. Requesting counter-sign."

Logan slapped a flashlight into the transgenic's hand. "Tell'm 'Probie +6 +2'."

Biggs ran off and Alec could see the rays of light in the distance. "He's coming in," he reported to Cale.

The ordinary nodded. He made a decision in his head and stopped procrastinating and charged forward, now anticipating the meeting. They heard the motor of the boat. Alec and the other transgenics could see the grey-haired man steering the boat. The motor was shut off and the boat drifted in, perfectly lining up with the group of escapees.

Cale walked forward. "Hey boss."

The old man just glared.

Cale shifted guiltily. "Thanks for helping out." The statement sounded more like a question.

"McGee sent you a present," he finally said.

Cale brightened. "Really?"

"Left you some message on how to better protect your hacks."

Cale strode into the water to grab the boat's rope. "I bet he chorkled the whole time."

"Yes." Then the man softened. "He and Abby have four kids now and they all hack. He wants to come do his job."

Cale laughed. "Glad to hear it. And I'm glad that you and Abby didn't let him."

As soon as Cale was within reach, the man leaned down and cuffed him upside the head.

"Ow! Boss! I didn't do anything."

"You got shot."

"That was years ago."

The man was silent.

"I tried to wait for you and the team, but the trial had been moved up. The witness needed to get there."

"No excuses, ICale/I."

"Yesboss."

Alec had never seen Cale act like this and he would bet that neither had Max.

"Give me the kids," the man ordered. Savy, Alec and Biggs could Inot/I not obey. Soon the kids and Savy were loaded on the ship. (Named IKelly/I, Alec noted.) "Stay out of trouble."

"Yes boss." Cale was now holding a computer box carefully. The man kicked the motor into submission and then started off. He didn't wave, and the transgenics followed his example.

They waited until they could no longer see or hear the boat. Then they started the trek back to the Aztec.

Alec piped up. "Old friend?"

"From a lifetime ago."

*