A Dark Angel Story: A Moment’s Respite20:02 Jun 15 2005
Times Read: 1,094
A Dark Angel Story: A Moment’s Respite
[Set shortly after ‘Freak Nation’]
He crouched on the pebbled shore-line, occasionally skimming small pebbles on the waters surface, his mind whirling with all that had occurred since Manticore had spawned the young woman who had turned his world upside down when she’d escaped with her siblings. Max - She had been the culmination of years of work, a genetically enhanced human prototype with attitude to spare.
Since she had found freedom, everything had changed and still continued to do so.
But, he hadn’t realised, back then, just what he been chasing.
Yet now, as he worked freelance, Lydecker knew much more.
She could be the saviour of all humankind, whilst she saved her own people.
It was all within her, pre-programmed into her genetic code.
Max was the answer.
He smiled. ‘Renfro wouldn’t like that, if she were still around.’
Yet his nemesis wasn’t around anymore, White had seen to that.
Ames White, a puzzle wrapped within a conundrum.
There was more than that man than he knew and that frustrated Lydecker, although not for long. It wasn’t worth thinking of.
He drew back his arm and let fly another stone, smiling as it hit the surface of the water and bounced, several times.
It was sunny. The air stunk here at the rivers edge.
But, it was sunny and he was dead.
Well, as far as anyone knew he was dead, which hadn’t been that hard to fake. After all, he’d helped others disappear before in a similar manner. It was simple. Provide enough clues and leave them to form their own conclusions and they would.
People wanted answers. He knew that.
He also realized that if he stayed dead, he might finally find some peace.
And then, Lydecker’s smile abruptly left his face and he grimaced, as he heard a ringing.
He wished, just for a moment that it came from inside his head.
But it didn’t and, he knew it.
The ringing came from inside his windcheater jacket.
And, no-one knew that number.
“Correction,” he mused, rubbing his chin; ‘someone had got my number.”
He wanted to answer.
He did.
But, dead men didn’t answer the phone, did they?
Still the ringing persisted.
And, Lydecker was relaxed no more.
He took the small mobile from his pocket and snapped it open.
Pressing call received, Lydecker barked, “Yes, who is it?”
No-one should have this number. He knew that.
The only one who’d had it had died, at his hands.
“Lydecker …?”
He knew the voice: it was “Eye’s Only.”
“You’re needed in Sector Four.”
“What!?!” Lydecker retortd, thinking ‘just who the hell does this man think he is. I’ve done enough.’
Instead he said, “Go on, why?”
“Max needs your help.”
Now he said it: “I’ve done enough. If they’d had their way I’d be dead now.”
“But you’re not.”
“Yes,” Donald Lydecker replied humourlessly, “And I want it to stay that way.”
“I told you, Max needs your help, in Sector Four.”
It was a simple statement.
Lydecker thought, for a second, before saying, “I can’t see why I should I help her, or anyone else. I’ve done my bit, Manticore is no more: and, I’m dead. I want it to stay that way.”
“You want it to stay that way, do you?” Logan queried, “Well, put it this way …” Logan Cale, the voice of ‘Eyes Only’ began, “I have your number, as you’ve noticed. Just think who’d be grateful to know you’re alive: as well as where you are?”
There was a brief pause, as Lydecker thought about that.
Before he could make comment, Cale added, “I could do that, you know?”
From Logan Cale the remark would have been considered flip.
Coming from the all-seeing all-knowing “Eyes Only” it could be perceived as a threat.
Yet Lydecker appreciated the question more as a statement more of a statement of fact: an intriguing one, but still a fact.
“Eyes Only” could trace him and easily contact him, as the phone-call testified; yet he had left it until now to do so.
That was a puzzle.
‘Why now?’ Lydecker mused and was too slow in answering for Cale’s liking.
“Remember there are new players in town. Well, Max is part of it, I’m sure. That’s why we need you.”
“Run that by me again, simply?” Lydecker asked tersely.
“Manticore made her into something more than human, like the others. But, she’s the key, I think, to something far greater.”
Cale paused a moment before adding, “A lock to open a genetic code? Truth told Lydecker, I don’t know. I do know a lot of people have died though; and more will die if some form of resolution from the chaos in Free-City. You are needed. It’s as simple as that. All those who were liberated need you. Max needs you.”
“Fine words Cale,” Lydecker drawled, “but, again with the ‘we’ … why?” Silence. A long pause.
“I told you … you’re needed,” Logan repeated simply.
After his loss, Colonel Donald Lydecker had found purpose with Manticore, yet Max whom he had hunted was the catalyst for so much – even his own redemption.
‘Yes,’ he thought. ‘Manticore made her … different.’
But, his hunt for Max and her siblings, although infuriating, had almost been invigorating.
Again he recalled the words he’d heard just minutes earlier,
“Manticore made her.”
‘That was true,’ he considered.
‘But, in a way, knowing her remade me into who I had been a long time ago. And, I quite like it…’
“Yes Cale.” Lydecker replied, “I’ll be with you in a few hours, okay?”
Max might be the saviour of humankind, but she needed him, now.
And Lydecker smiled, he liked to feel needed …
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