DISCLAIMER: All DARK ANGEL characters belong to James Cameron and Charles Eglee (Cameron Eglee Productions) and DARK ANGEL itself belongs to FOX.

ARCHIVE: No

Artwork courtesy of Valjean & JensenAckles.org

Alec's flight to New York was 40 minutes long. He was somewhat surprised that Lydecker accompanied him. Usually that sort of escort would have been performed by the Unit's handler.

"I know what you're thinking about, 494," the Colonel said as Alec stared out the window at the dark sky. "Her."

"And what good would that do," Alec replied quietly, glancing at the man in the seat next to his and daring to speak freely. "If it's not part of the mission objective, it's irrelevant, right? Isn't that what I was taught?"

"This mission is what's irrelevant to you, 494," the older man said. "I know that as well as you. What you're really thinking about ... constantly ... is a way to escape."

Alec made a derisive sound in the back of his throat. "If escape was all I wanted, then I've got this." He touched the Glock 45 pistol in its holster beneath his black leather jacket.

"Suicide?" Lydecker said. "You'd really rather die than be part of Manticore?"

"Apparently not," Alec said dryly, "or else I doubt the psy-ops boys would have cleared me for missions."

"You'll be with her again, you know," Lydecker said. "I plan on bringing Max back into the fold just like I have you. If you cooperate, I'll see to it that she's assigned as your partner."

"So we can live happily ever after in slavery together?" the X5 said, shaking his head with disbelief. He looked out the window again. "I'll be with Max on my own terms, or not at all," he said.

Lydecker sighed, then checked his watch. "Your last injection was twelve hours ago," he said. "You need to accomplish your mission and be back at base within sixty hours."

"What if I need more time?" Alec asked, chewing on his lower lip.

"Call base," the Colonel said. Then he added, "You're not completely hung out to dry, 494. You're still a very valuable military asset. There's no reason for you to die unnecessarily. That would be a waste of resources."

"I'd feel better if I had a dose of that antidote on me," Alec tried one last time. "Just in case."

The Colonel's smile was cruel and chilly. "Keep pushing, soldier, and maybe I'm going to have to re-evaluate our little deal, as in maybe I'll put you through reindoctrination again anyway."

"Yes, sir," Alec said softly, the two words bitter in his mouth as the plane began its descent.

*****

Alec's job was really relatively straight forward. Manticore had intel that Robert Berrisford was going to be attending a genetic's conference in Los Angeles two days from now. The retired CEO's private jet was scheduled to take off from a small terminal adjacent to the main airport later this morning.

There would be ample opportunity to make the hit. His orders were then to then make his way into the city and rendezvous with his handler at a downtown hotel. If all went well, this time tomorrow he'd be back at Manticore -- in plenty of time to receive his injection.

The enslaved X5 had performed his previous missions flawlessly, both because he needed to establish some semblance of credibility with Lydecker, and also because he knew that eliminating Breeding Cult leaders could only help Max and his family in the long run. In fact, those assignments were something he and his cohorts might have done anyway.

However, Robert Berrisford was different.

Alec had known all along that two things were going to happen with this mission. One, he wasn't going to kill Berrisford; and two, he wouldn't be returning to Manticore -- at least not alive. If Lydecker was sending him after innocent civilians now, there was no way in hell he was going to keep working for them, even though it undoubtedly meant his own death.

His job now was to salvage what he could of this situation ... maybe even give himself an outside chance at reaching Max.

And then what, idiot! a little voice inside the X5's head chided. Get back to Max just so you can die in her arms? How romantic, not to mention cruel to her.

"Shut up," Alec muttered to himself. I'll die in whoever's damn arms I wanna die in. Which suddenly made him think of his brother, Ben, and the way he'd pretty much died just that way ... by Max's hand ... in Max's arms ...

"Sir!" a skycap said, touching his arm.

Alec jumped, having been so lost in thought he hadn't noticed the boy's approach.

"Can I take your luggage?"

"I don't have any luggage," Alec said, suddenly acutely aware that he was carrying a gun inside a well-monitored, secure facility, having traveled here on a military transport but now out in the main terminal area. "I'm just here to meet a friend," he lied, walking away from the lackey.

"Only passengers are supposed to be in this part of the building," the boy called after him.

A security officer was looking their way now. Great, Alec thought. All I need is to attract attention to myself.

"I know," Alec said quickly. "Sorry. I, uh, took a wrong turn. Restroom?"

The skycap pointed toward an obvious his/hers alcove up ahead, and Alec nodded his thanks. However, as soon as he knew he wasn't being watched, he switched directions and headed for the front entrance. The hangar where Berrisford kept his private jet was about two-miles from the main airport, and the kernel of a plan (albeit a crazy one) was beginning to form in the captive X5's mind.