Disclaimer: Dark Angel is not and never will be mine. But in this chapter, Dodson is entirely of my own creation.
Summary: This chapter lets you into other people's minds, mainly Logan's. And the plot thickens...

Logan Cale hung up his phone in disgust. How could Max have ever trusted that cocky jerk? Alec hadn't even seemed concerned for Max in the slightest! "If she returns in a few more days, it's safe to assume she's either been punished or tested." And that horrifying statement delivered like a weather report. Logan's fists clenched at that thought.

He couldn't help but have a natural dislike for the man. Alec was never kind to Max, and he was a constant source of trouble for her. Logan couldn't for the life of him understand why Max kept the arrogant transgenic around at all. Alec had screwed up too many times to count. If it wasn't for him, Max wouldn't have that damned virus. The thought of never being able to touch Max ever again was a violent blow.Logan knew that the day he was told by a trusted doctor that he could never see or touch her again would be the day he would die, instantly, of heartbreak. The virus was, first and foremost, the main source of his problem with Alec.

Oh yeah, then there's that small matter of the time he tried to kill Max.

OK, these angry thoughts were doing him no good at all. Besides, what could he, Logan Cale, the man who couldn't even naturally walk on his own, possibly do to a muscular, Manticore-trained killing-machine soldier transgenic with heightened abilities? Send him a computer virus? Logan laughed bitterly at his own weakness when it came to protecting people he cared for. He couldn't save Max from getting captured. There was no way he was going to be able to save her from Alec, should she need saving.

He doesn't deserve her trust! Why does she constantly put her faith in him?

The thought exploded from a dark corner of his mind, and he pounded his fist on his desk with his emotions. This was petty. He couldn't mope about with pangs of jealousy clouding his thoughts. He had nothing to be jealous of! Max trusted Alec, true, but she had never had an intimate relationship with him. They were barely beginning to consider each other friends when Max was captured. It was nothing like what she and Logan had been through together. He and Max were soul-mates, he was sure of that. Nothing could keep them apart. Not Manticore, and not even that horrible virus.

These calming thoughts of reassurance were finally starting to take effect. Logan was considerably less angry than he was before, and he decided to log on to his computer to run another check on the new Manticore facility's layout. He had just brought up a window with a bare-bones blueprint of what he imagined the inside would look like according to the structure outlined in some confidential photographs when his cell phone began to ring. Logan's breath caught as he read the number on the call ID, the number belonging to one of his many informants in the network he had through Eyes Only. Hope alighted in his mind.

"Hello?"

"Hullo, mister Cale, this is Dodson. I have some information you might wanna hear... if this is a good time, that is."

"Any time is a good time, Dodson. Now, what word on Max?"

"Well, she was seen inside the facility walking with one of your boys from Terminal City."

What? "I'm... afraid I don't understand..."

"You know, one of those transgenics running the sector. Male, tall, early twenties, dirty-blonde hair, etc. Y'know who I mean?"

He couldn't be talking about... "N-no, I... don't. A name would help. A barcode, anything."

"M'afraid that's all I got. Hell, I don't know their names. You don't know him? I thought you checked in with them every day, keepin' tabs on 'em."

Logan hesitated. "Do you mean Alec McDowell? The leader of Terminal City?"

"Yeah, that's him! Yup, he's the one."

"Dodson, if he's running Terminal City, what makes you think you could possibly have spotted him at Manticore?"

"Hey, mine's not to question my information, I just deliver. 'Sides, I'd know that face anywhere. Man, I'd kill to look like that! I'd have to beat the girls off with a stick!"

Logan bit back the venomous remark on the tip of his tongue. "Well, was she alright? Did she look healthy? Is she safe? He wasn't hurting her, was he?"

"Woah, woah, woah, slow down, man! Easy! Don't worry, your little girlfriend's alright. She was safe, he wasn't messing with her, they were just walking. They looked like they were just havin' a casual conversation. As for how she looked..." he trailed off, with a little reminiscent amusement to his voice, suggesting that Max looked fine as ever.

"Anything else?" Logan said, trying to keep impatience from entering his voice. Impatience was never a good tone to take with people, especially with those who were helping you protect the treasures of your heart.

"That's about all for now. Man, that place is one tough safe to crack! Guards everywhere! I got lucky to spot her at all through that miserable little window over the basement. You should count your blessings for any scrap you get on her, 'cuz they're keepin' her under lock 'n' key, y'know what I mean? I just figgered you'd need some hope. So there ya go."

Logan felt slightly disappointed, but he was relieved to hear that Max was safe... well, at least that she was healthy. "Thanks a lot, Dodson. You've done great. And if you hear anything more, feel free to give me a call. It's always a pleasure."

"Pleasure's mine, mister Cale. I'll call ya soon as I get more," he said just before hanging up.

Logan placed the receiver down slowly as he thought about that interesting news. "No, definitely not Alec. Impossible. He has way too much on his plate with Max gone," he mused aloud. He really wouldn't put it past Alec to monopolize tidbits on Max, let alone time with her all to himself, but that line of thought was unreasonable. The man simply could not be in two places at once. Terminal City would most certainly feel the loss of it's leader, even for a few hours, what with the turmoil going on there these days. Thanks to his fine management skills entrusted to him by Max. That wasn't fair, and he knew it, but Logan's thoughts always turned bitter at mention of Alec.

So, it wasn't Alec. That much was absolutely true. But that left only one other option, one possibility that was extremely unsettling. If it wasn't Alec, that could only mean that it was Ben, Max's dead brother whose name lured her back to Manticore in the first place.

Does this mean that there was some truth to that phony message? Can Manitcore really raise the dead? It was a question that was worth considering. It opened up numerous scary possibilities that Logan didn't even want to consider. But that left another matter nagging on his mind. Why do they need Max then? He had to rescue her before anyone found out the answer to that one.

Logan knew that this was important to the transgenic sector of the city, but one conversation with Alec was more than enough for one day. Alec would be told when Logan had something more concrete to go on. Until then, Logan would keep looking for signs of hope. Ben or no Ben, Logan was determined. He would get her out of there, or die trying.

After three months of training and re-indoctrination, all signs at last pointed to a complete success.

452 was not the rebellious girl they had captured three months ago, without an ounce of respect for authority or self-discipline; she was a soldier. She was improving at an alarming rate. It was fantastic.

She had exceeded all expectations, even after years of missed training. Sure, she was attempting to make up for it now with extra work, and she still had a long ways to go before catching up with her fellow soldiers, but the extra work didn't seem to be dragging her down very much or taxing her energy. Shark DNA probably aided her to that end, but it was more than DNA alone could account for.

She was strong, fast, and agile in fighting, and best of all, she was totally loyal. She never presented any behavior problems, and about a week into her re-indoctrination, she never complained, but rather became the pristine image of a well-disciplined soldier. She was Manticore's finest.

Of course, they never let her know that. That would be foolish and would go against policy. Give 'em an inch, and they'll run with it for sure.

It had been a risk well-considered to test their new methods of re-indoctrination by placing her in a cell with her 'brother' Ben, one of the X5s she had escaped with so long ago. The very sight of him should have triggered strong memories or emotions, since just dropping his name to her had convinced her to throw caution to the wind and come to see him, but she hadn't so much as blinked when she saw her new cellmate. Surprising, to say the least, but very much welcome. Ben wouldn't trigger any memories of himself or of his twin who was running loose about that abominable Terminal City place.

Disgusting to think that their precious creations had chosen to expose themselves to the whole world, and all because of that remarkable little transgenic, 452. She was dangerous, and yet so necessary. Only she possessed the precious DNA that contained no junk whatsoever. They just had to find a way to recreate it! They had to know more.

Plus, they could easily put her fantastic skills to good use. They could always use a good soldier. They were perfect for removing problems. And they certainly had a problem that needed removing right now.

"But, … are you sure it's safe?" a man in a black suit asked tentatively.

"Yes. I'm sure. We can trust her."

"But -"

"I said 'Yes'. She can handle it, now that she's been properly broken."

"Alright, alright. I'll send her in first thing tomorrow morning."

"Good."

Renfro smiled. 452 would be all but putty in her hands.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it! Please review!