Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Dark Angel, they are the copyrighted property of the Fox Network, James Cameron & Charles H. Eglee . With the exception of any and all original character’s created by myself.

Chapter 5:

The Pedestal Falls

Max stood in the centre of TC’s HQ facing down the older and angrier transgenic; just watching him, never moving a muscle or blinking an eye. In fact it looked as though she could probably stand there all day, and not grow bored.

Mole on the other hand was beginning to sweat – well as much as his scaly green hide was able – shuffling his feet, and puffing on fiercely on his cigar, wondering what the hell was going on; and why he was just standing there taking it. “Well, whata’ ya’ gonna do then?” he snorted contemptuously in Max’s direction. Max cocked her hip, planted one of her small hands on it, and raised one of her perfectly arched eyebrows, before replying “Nothing”, she said.

Mole blinked.

And then he blinked again, before shaking his head as though he was checking his hearing. “Huh? What d’ya means nothin’”.

Max just smirked “like I said, I’m not gonna do anything. I mean, I am only an 09’er, a traitor, an inferior soldier lacking in ten years of training. So why would I do anything when it’s so patently obvious that anyone here could kick my ass”. She answered, and gestured around the room to the other transgenics. All the while somehow outwardly managing to keep a straight face; while inside she was mentally holding her aching ribs. Trying to suppress the hysterical laughter that was threatening to bubble to the surface.

Throughout HQ there could be heard murmurings of disbelief, at Max’s contrary actions; Because as a species, all transgenics whether they be X-Series, Transhuman or even Nomalie; all of them respected strength and leadership. So to see this unusual behaviour in one of their ‘own’ was disturbing to say the least.

However a few of the more observant of them, had noticed that while Max appeared nonchalant during the whole exchange, her stance was of someone preparing to defend herself. Obviously Max was not going to be the instigator of a physical confrontation; but she was more than ready to take up the challenge should it be issued.

Amongst the crowd a dark haired, talkative X5, who went by the name of Albie was happily moving through the throng, taking bet’s on the outcome of Max and Mole’s little display of dominance.

“I’m just curious is all”, Max continued as she shrugged her shoulders and folded her arms; “Just wondering, what your actual plan was. Or were you just gonna’ stand there all night and rant” she finished, whilst simultaneously taking in the mood of the surrounding crowd.

Biggs couldn’t believe what he was seeing, because for the first time since joining TC, in fact for the first time since meeting him. It appeared as though the ever eloquent Mole was speechless.

Under any other circumstances, Biggs would have found the entire thing highly amusing, but right now he was unable to summon up any of the good humour that was his usual forte.

Standing there with his mouth agape, Mole couldn’t believe what was happening. He just couldn’t understand how this small, technically inferior soldier had the audacity and impunity to stand there and somehow have him, both feeling and acting like a fool. Summoning his last vestiges of dignity, he removed the cigar from his mouth, and gestured in her direction.

“And what would ‘her Highness’, suggest we do?” he asked as sarcasm dripped from every syllable as he spoke.

A small smile graced Max’s face, as she looked out at the crowd of transgenics, and then she began to speak…

~*~

He lay on his bunk a muscular forearm thrown across his eye’s, in the vain hope’s of blocking out what little light his cells tiny window allowed in. He wasn’t asleep, hadn’t been for a while in fact. Instead he lay there allowing his body to recuperate, and regenerate the damaged areas of his anatomy. Not for the first time in his short life, was he thankful for his X5 healing abilities.

His ears pricked at the sound of feet walking towards his cell; but he didn’t move. Instead he remained in his seemingly relaxed sprawl, even though adrenaline was beginning to pump its way through his system. The footsteps grew louder until they stopped outside his door; the jangle of keys’ was then the only other sound apart from his own breathing, to fill his tiny room…

~*~

Logan Cale was as usual seated before his computer screens; the only difference now, was that instead of a comfortably central-heated pent-house apartment, he was seated in a salvaged chair, in a run down, slightly dilapidated house instead. In fact as he un-consciously wrinkled his nose in concentration, he was almost positive that he could still smell odour of ‘damp dog’. He leaned back in his chair for a moment, removed his glasses and started to rub his aching eyes. A slight shifting of the air made him turn around…

Max stood in the doorway watching the man before her, and she wondered to herself when it was that he’d started to look so tired and worn. Sighing softly to herself, she shook of her minds musings and stepped forward into the room; purposely making a slight sound as she did so. Because even knowing her for nearly two years and being involved with other transgenics, she was fully aware that he was still uncomfortable with the practically silent way with which they all moved.

“Hey” was all the greeting she gave, when he finally turned in her direction. “Hey yourself” Logan said, a small smile blossoming on his face, and for a moment erasing the tired lines that resided there.

For a moment the two of them remained like that, sharing the familiar moment, taking comfort in their little ritual. Remembering times when Max would drop by his place, simply because she wanted to. But then the moment was shattered by the simple beep of the computer; and Max was reminded why she’d come there in the first place.

“So, what can I do for you?” Logan asked as he quirked an eyebrow “I mean, I take it that this isn’t just a social visit”

For a brief second her mind was a jumble of thought’s, of feeling’s that threatened to bubble up and burst forth into the quiet room. “I need some information”, was what actually tumbled from her lips, “I need to know where you sent Ray White and his aunt”.

Of all the thing’s Logan might have expected her to ask him, that was most definitely at the bottom of his list. So for a split second all he could seemingly do was blink, as he replaced his glasses on his face.

“And why would you want to know that; I mean we both agreed that it was safer for them if only one of us knew where they were.”

Max sighed for the second time since stepping into the room, and scrubbed her gloved hand across her face. “Alec’s missing”, she said “White has him.”

For a moment Logan allowed himself to feel relief at those words. To know that his rival was out of the picture. But that’s all it was, or at least that’s what he told himself. After all he wasn’t the kind of man to revel in the misfortune of others; he wouldn’t be Eye’s Only if that was the case. But he couldn’t very well hand over such important information either, no matter what the reason.

“I’m sorry Max, but there’s no way I can let you know where they are. They have to be protected.”

“Well that’s all well and good Logan. But a man’s life – Alec’s life depends on me handing Ray back to his father.” Max snapped as her notoriously short temper started to flare to life.

Raising an eyebrow at her heated words, and ignoring the fire that was beginning to simmer behind her dark eye’s, Logan raised himself from his chair and began to pace. “I’m sorry about Alec” he said almost chocking on the words, “I really am, but there’s no way I’m going to allow you to sacrifice that boy, in order to save your boyfriend.” He said as he ceased his pacing and stopped mere inches away from her.

Max couldn’t believe it; in fact she didn’t ‘want’ to believe it. But at the same time she’d known that this is what his reaction would be; and the fact that she’d known that, somehow diminished him in her eyes.

The pedestal that he’d been placed upon had already begun to crumble, and the next words to come from his mouth, caused it to collapse completely.

“Let White have Alec, Max. Ray’s an innocent, Alec’s not. I doubt he ever was.”

Max felt a stillness wash over her at those words, an utter calmness that she hadn’t experienced since she was child back at Manticore. Any doubts or feelings of remorsefulness about what was going to happen simply dissolved into nothing. Leaving her feeling resolute and resigned to what was to come.

As soon as the words had left his lips, Logan had known it had been the wrong thing to say, the wrong tone of voice to have used. However what he hadn’t been prepared for; what he’d never expected.

Was the utter quiet that raged from Max’s frozen form. She stood before him not moving, not blinking and barely even breathing, her face a complete mask of nothing. Not a single flicker of emotion graced her impassive face. And or the first since she’d crashed her way into his life, Logan found himself wondering if he really knew her. For the very first time, Logan felt a shiver of fear in her presence.

“I’m sorry Logan”, Max apologised as she took a step backwards “I really, didn’t want it to be this way. But there’s no other choice.” And with that she turned on her heal and walked out of the room, and out of the house.

~*~

Max opened the door of the van parked outside and glanced at the individuals within. Three pairs of eye’s looked back at her, but it was the two in the back of the van that she addressed. “Finn, Cyrus you know what needs to be done?” they nodded their heads, opened the back doors and headed towards the house.