Episode 1
TO WHERE IT BENT IN THE UNDERGROWTH

Chapter One
CANDLE-LIT DINNER

Disclaimer: I don’t own Dark Angel.  If I did it would still be on at FOX on TUESDAY nights where about 10 million people see it.  I don’t own the characters and whatnot… blah blah woof woof… everything is totally from the dark recesses of Jim Cameron’s mind, FOX, and whoever the heck is involved with the show.

Caveat:  Three months after Freak Nation.

Author’s Note:  This is my first M/L fic.  At the start, I did not want to intervene with whatever story Dark Angel presents us with.  I was content on watching the show and liking it… analyzing it and stuff, but then it got cancelled…  I don’t think I’m quite ready yet to let go of such a great show.  Thus, the fic.

I did not know whether I should continue with this, but I guess I better since some people have read it.  Then it also unfolded before me that this was not just one short story, but a long one with episodes that are average – not too long and not too short.  Please Do not forget to REVIEW.  It helps me continue writing.

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After having gone through a very tedious negotiation with the Seattle Police, the transgenics were finally given a chance to stay at Terminal City… PROVIDED that they do not leave the City for whatever reasons. This meant scarcity of food, gas, and other basic necessities they need in order to survive and use for fixing the new machines that were left in the downtrodden city. In short, they were left there to die.

In her catsuit, Max sneaked out of Terminal City right from under the eyes of the police manning the fort.  She needed to get them some supplies and Alec had already gone to scrounge up some since over an hour ago.  As Max crept out, the sector police hardly noticed and she was quickly able to go right out of Terminal City towards the nearby alley.  Stopping over a pile of boxes, Max swung the big old piece of cloth and revealed her Ninja.  Walking her baby towards the end of the alley, she swung her legs over it and rode her baby towards Joshua’s.

< JOSHUA’S PLACE >

Logan sat in front of his computer trying to fix it so he could re-broadcast as Eyes Only.  It had been months since he had done any broadcasts and the City needs to know the truth.  Pounding onto the CPU to keep it running through the security test – the last test that needed to be done – the monitor came alive indicating that the security scan had already started.  Within 3 seconds the monitor flashed, “GATEWAY SECURE.”  He clapped his hands together and smiled, “This is great!”

Just then, Max stepped in the room and leaned on the frame separating the living room from the entry hall.  “Hey,” she smiled.

Logan looked up, “Max!” He stood as if to walk over to max, but stopped himself before taking his first step.  Instead, he motioned to the computer with his hands, “This is great… awesome!  I can’t thank you and the TC crew enough!” Logan sat back on his chair smiling.

“Can’t have the Logan-Cale-save-the-world-foundation dangling due to technical difficulties!”  Max mused, smiling.  She turned around and looked at the place, “Nice. You cleaned up the place.”  She nodded, “I knew this place had potential.  All it took was Logan Cale flying down.”

Logan looked up from his computer and murmured, “Thanks.” Then he looked back on his computer screen.

Max walked towards Logan and stayed behind him as she skimmed through the datum on the computer, “Came here for those stuff I left this morning?  You know – food, gas, money from some pissed off drug dealer wantin’ to double-cross his boss…”

“Ahhh…” Logan nodded in understanding.  He leaned his back on his chair as Max carefully stepped back.  “Kept them near the fridge.” 

Max’s eyebrows met to denote a look of concern.  The fridge was not exactly a very pleasant-smelling storage the last time she was here looking for Joshua.  “This is one time I would thank the world that Logan’s a cleanliness freak,” she silently thought.  Walking hesitantly through the kitchen, Max noticed the newly painted maroon walls.  Muttering to herself, “What’s with this guy and maroon walls?” she smirked.  Her usually sensitive senses prepared to gather the rotten smell of food.  Stopping dead on her tracks to scan the room, Max could smell the fresh aroma of newly-cooked garlic chicken on a plate in the middle of the table, just waiting for her to get her hands on. “Ummmm! Oh God! This sure is heaven!”

Logan looked up from his computer and towards the kitchen.  He had heard Max’s comment on the chicken he prepared for tonight’s dinner.  Smiling, he shouted, “Found it?”

“Uh… yeah… no… can I eat this?”

Logan walked into the kitchen doorway and looked at Max, “Yes.  It’s for you.  I knew you were coming when I saw those ‘packages’ this morning.”

“Oh… Thanks!” With that, Max proceeded to eat what promised to be the best dinner she has had in three months. With fingers holding onto the piece of chicken she had just pinched, Max stopped before the delicious chicken entered her mouth.  “Wait.  Have you tasted this awesome chick?”

“As a matter of fact… no.  I haven’t had dinner.  I figured - ”

“Uh-oh.” Pushing the plate from her as her face became a mask devoid of emotion Max pushed back her chair.

Logan knew she was angry.  The curse of the virus again hung in the air around them.  So, he immediately said, “Hay!”

Max looked at him, “Sorry I ruined - ”

“I still have some -”

“ – your dinner”  Max prepared to take the packages located near the fridge.

“ – here.” He opened the stove and took out another plate, smiling.  “Max.”  Max looked up at him.  “Let’s have dinner.”  Clashing emotions crossed Max’s face within seconds.  She continued on and sidestepped Logan to leave when Logan said, “Please.”

Looking over Logan’s shoulder, max let go of the things she had just held in her hands.  She sighed and mumbled a small, “Okay.”

“Thank you.”  Logan let a sigh of relief escape him as he placed his plate on his side of the table while Max walked back towards hers.  Logan looked at max and attempted to lighten the mood, “Now, this is the real reason you left these -” He motioned towards the things for Terminal City.  “- here, didn’t you?  You knew I would ‘cook up’ something, so to speak?!”  A glint of playful mischief can be seen in his eyes as he said this.

“Damn straight!”  Max smiled at Logan, “God!  I cannot believe how I missed real food!”

“You mean garlic chicken a la Cale?”  A hint of a smile that Logan wasn’t successful at hiding crept up.

“Uh-uh.  This is real good, Logan.” Max ate the small piece of chicken sumptuously. “Where’d you get it anyway?  Last thing I heard, some wacko-kind-a-disease came over the whole lot.”

Logan started eating, himself, “I have my sources.”

“Mmm… sure wished I had them as my sources too.”

Smiling, Logan asked on a more serious tone, “How’s the crew doing?”

“They’re good.  Sector cops won’t let anyone through, but the X-series do their part.  Only wonder how this ceasefire will turn out to be.” Max looked out the window.

He looked into her eyes and reached his hand to place it over Max’s to squeeze it hard, “It’s gonna be okay.”  Max jerked at his touch and stared at him only to notice Logan’s gloved hands over her own as she tried to control her reaction. 

“I know hope is for losers…” Max shrugged, “still. I hope you’re right.” Logan took her hand, opened her palm and twined his fingers with hers. 

He looked pointedly at Max, “I know so.”

As the two stared longingly at their hands clasped together, Max stood up, “Thanks for dinner. Gotta get these through.”

Logan stood from his chair. “Yeah, you better.” 

Max carried the packages towards the ninja as Logan followed with the suitcase full of cash. “Don’t forget about this.”

Max looked back at him and took the suitcase from his outstretched hands, muttering a soft, “Thanks.” She tied it with the other things she got at the back of her Ninja.  She straddled her bike, turned the motor on and looked at Logan.  “Thanks.  It was a great dinner.”

Logan stepped closer and brushed his gloved hands across her chin, “Just be careful.” They stared at each other until Max revved up the motor and sped on, Logan looking at her as she did so.

Logan entered Joshua’s place and sat in front of the computer, looking blankly on the screen.

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