Enlightenment pt2

by Maria656

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How is Bling told and how does he react and process the information?

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Disclaimer: My Ownership of DA is like 7up-Never had it, never will.

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Max goes to the penthouse after work and finds Logan in the kitchen, stirring a pan filled with heavenly smelling things.

"Smells good - got enough to share?"

Logan jumps at the sound of her voice, but manages not to drop the spatula he is holding. "Sure Max. How's Shrimp Scampi over angel hair pasta sound?"

"Sounds like you won't have any leftovers."

Max pours the wine Logan has out while he dishes up the meal. They chat casually about their day through dinner and cleaning up. As they are finishing the wine and playing a game of chess, Max broaches the topic of their previous discussion.

"So ... if we were to talk to Bling – and I'm not saying I agree yet ... how would you suggest going about it?" Max makes no eye contact with Logan, but she is unusually preoccupied with her wine glass.

Logan realizes that she is taking a huge step in even entertaining the possibility of a conversation. He continues to study the chess board as he begins to speak. "I really do have the anonymous report from an informant that I told you about. I could just tell him about that and feel him out. Everything we discuss relating to informants and Eyes Only is automatically held in confidence – that was a condition of him being hired. After telling him a little about the program, I could mention that some escaped and see his reaction to that. You can judge his reactions and decide from there. Most people are sympathetic to the abuse and mistreatment of children."

"Maybe, but I'm not a kid anymore. What if he is sympathetic when it is an abstract idea of 'some' children, but it changes when he is in a room with one of them? What if he doesn't want to work with me anymore and wants to quit? You need him. I would feel awful if I messed that up for you."

"I think you are underestimating Bling. Like I told you, he's a good guy or he wouldn't be here. We have had our share of unusual cases and he has handled things well." Max rolls her eyes at him. "Okay, granted, nothing as unusual as you, but he has worked with you and he knows that you help me, so that should carry some weight. I'm not saying he may not have to get a grip on it, but I don't think he would be that prejudiced. He has always been very open-minded and tolerant when we have discussed various problems with different groups being mistreated for assorted reasons. He has been cool with the fact that some things we do in the name of Eyes Only has outside of the current laws." Logan pauses and notes the myriad of expressions crossing Max's face. "I think it will be okay Max."

"What if he gives me that look?"

"What look?"

"That look like when you taste bad food – like I repulse him ... I couldn't stand that."

"I can't promise, but I don't think Bling will be like that."

"So ... when do we do this?" Max asks hesitantly.

"Come around the next time he's working. We'll handle it."

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The next afternoon, Max arrives at the penthouse when she finishing her shift at Jam Pony. "I hope you have somethin' to eat in here 'cause my slave driver of a boss had us working overtime. I skipped lunch so I could get done sooner." She rounded the corner to find Logan and Bling at the computer. She gets an uneasy feeling, but covers it with a casual smile. "What's up kids?"

"Hey Max," Bling responds with a smile.

"Hey Max," Logan adds. "I was just telling Bling about the information I shared with you ... you know, the one about the kids in that covert government program?"

"Right. How much have you been told Bling?"

"Just that there was a covert government military operation that genetically engineered groups of children and then trained them as perfect soldiers. My informant tells me that a dozen escaped in '09 and so far it looks like the program has stopped since the Pulse; else they are so far underground I haven't found any signs of it."

Bling shakes his head in disbelief. "What kind of twisted minds would do that to children? I'm surprised more didn't run away. Military training is hard enough for grown folks. Does he say what happened to any of them?"

"No," Logan answered, looking at Max. He signals to her that she should take it from there if she wants.

Max's face is blank but she is nervous. Either decision she makes will change everything. She looks at Bling and then at Logan and sighs. In a soft voice she says, "One of them came to Seattle and hooked up with an underground cyberjournalist." She looks at Bling, biting her lip. Now any second will come 'the look' and he will suddenly need to be elsewhere, she thinks.

Bling looks at Max, then Logan, and back to Max again. That explains a lot , he thinks. I wondered why Logan would send a young woman on some of these assignments on her own, but I just presumed some kind of law enforcement or military background. I guess I wasn't so far off. "May I ask you a question, Max?" he asks gently.

Max looks at him and arches an eyebrow, indicating he should go ahead.

"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

Max decides to give him the short version. "I'm basically okay. A minor neurochemical problem in my brain, but I manage. Besides the training which was brutal, they also used us for experiments – how fast would our bones heal if they were broken, how long could we hold our breaths underwater, how would different chemical and biological weapons act on us and how could they tweak us to be even better."

"What made you decide to escape?"

"It wasn't my idea. My brother, Jack, had severe seizures one night and was taken away. I wandered around later that night and saw them doing an autopsy on him. I had started having minor shakes and my big brother, Zack, and my big sister, Eva, decided we needed to leave before they took me away. They started to take me away one night when I was having a seizure, but Zack and Eva attacked the guards and Eva grabbed a gun off one of them. They were leading the group out when Colonel Lydecker shot Eva in the head. We were sent back to our room and it was decided we would go out of the window. My sister Jondy helped me out. Zack split us up and we ran. I got separated from Jondy when I fell through some ice-I never saw any of them again. I didn't know how many even managed to get out until Logan said he had heard that twelve escaped. That's kinda how we hooked up; he offered to help me find them if I helped him with his little crusades," Max finished with a slight smile. Bling didn't look totally horrified; he just looked like he was processing information. "Say something."

Bling knew there was more to this story than he is being told, but he has heard enough for now. It was hard to hear all of this information and process what the informant was telling them and the Max he had worked with. He knew that she kept tabs on Logan while he was in the hospital and in rehab. He knew she saved his life in the hospital. He knew to some extent the work she did with Logan and Eyes Only. A total conscience-free killer wouldn't do that, so either she learned when she was young how to get by or the reports weren't accurate. He also knew that Logan trusted her. Not like the government hasn't lied to promote it's own agenda before. I just need time to think. "I'm guessing they looked for you and are probably still looking for you?"

"Oh yeah. I learned early on how to blend in and lay low. That undercover training they gave us came in handy for something; just not for what they had in mind."

"Max, I've never lied to you and I'm not going to start now, This is a lot of information to take in. I just need some time to think. You have done good work with Eyes Only and Logan trusts you, so I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt. This is just a bit much to wrap my head around."

"Do you want to ask me anything else?"

"Not yet. After I process this I may have a few more questions. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Bling gets his duffel bag and heads for the door. Max catches him before he leaves. "Wait." She goes to touch his arm, but stops herself before she does. "You'll still stay here and work for Logan right? I mean, if there is a problem, you won't leave him? He needs you."

Bling puts a hand gently on Max's shoulder. "Max, I won't leave him. I'm not scared or upset; I just need to think. I'm not going to turn you in or quit working for Logan. I give you my word. You do have to admit that I got some mind-boggling information tonight, and since all of our safety is involved as well as that of my family, it's not out of the ordinary for me to consider what I've gotten myself into. We'll talk tomorrow."

"Thank you, Bling. See you tomorrow." Bling leaves and Max goes back to Logan.

"Are you okay, Max?"

"Sure, I'm fine. Aren't I always?"

"Max-"

"Hey, it's no big dealio. I'll get by like I always do; at least he didn't give me 'the look' and he said he wouldn't turn me in. That puts me ahead of the game already. Thanks for dinner and I'll see you tomorrow."

Logan sighs and goes to his spot in front of the window, wondering what would happen next in the saga of his life.

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In his car, Bling calls Maria. "Hey, Precious. Are you busy?"

"Not for you. What's up?"

"I need to see you tonight."

"Come on over. I'll be up. Are you hungry? I can heat up some dinner."

"No, I just need you. See you in a bit."

"Drive safely."

When Bling arrives at Maria's house, he greets her with a hug and kiss. She pulls him inside and he takes her into his arms and holds her close, not even bothering to take his jacket off. Maria realizes something is wrong, but she just waits for him to talk, holding him and caressing his head. After a few moments, Bling releases her and kisses her gently on the mouth. "Boy, did I need that." They sit on the sofa with their arms around each other.

"Do you want some tea?" Maria just wants Bling to relax enough to talk to her; she can tell he's upset.

"Thanks, Sweetie, but no."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I wish I could, but it's not my story to tell. I just got some surprising news and I need to wrap my head around it. I'm sorry if I worried you."

"I'm fine, I just wish I could help you."

"You are, Maria. Just by being here." Bling kisses her again, gently caressing her face.

"Do you ... want to stay?" Maria asks shyly. They hadn't gotten that far in their relationship, but it felt right when she said it.

"Yes, Precious, but I won't. When I stay, I want to be totally focused on you, not distracted by the chaos in my life. Let me just hold you a little longer and then I'll go ... Tell me about your day."

They talk about the rest of their day, at least the part that didn't include government conspiracies. After sharing a cup of tea and some kisses, Bling leaves for home.

Max ... a trained special forces soldier ... make that genetically engineered super soldier ... unbelievable. But now she's trying to be a 'regular' girl – works for a living, has ordinary friends, plays pool and rides a motorcycle. Other than the less-than-legal way she supplements her income, and now working with Logan – which can sometimes be outside of the current legal system, she's been basically a good kid; heaven knows people have been pushed to do some things they might not have ordinarily done since the Pulse. She helps and protects Logan and he trusts her like he trusts me. He certainly doesn't seem scared of her; judging by the looks she was giving him when she came in from her last assignment, the only threat she poses is a romantic one, not that Logan would even allow it. Bling chuckled at the thought. He couldn't even handle the 'talk', he certainly wouldn't believe that Max, or any other woman, is interested in him. Since everything seems to be weighing in her favor, I'm going to bet on Max. If she had wanted to hurt me she would have done it already ... She mentioned a neurochemical imbalance in her brain – wonder what that is and how she's managing. Maybe that's why she steals things; medicine can't be cheap. I'd better write down what I want to ask her. I feel less agitated now.

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A/N-There is one, and possible two, more chapters to this. The characters tend to decide where my stories go and sometimes they would rather run off with each other instead of talking to me. guess you can't blame them; B with those yummy pecs and biceps and L with the eyes in the cute little glasses – no wonder the girls can't help themselves ;-)