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Dark Obsession	By : jracklesfan77 Category: 1 through F > Dark Angel Views: 5004 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Angel, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Chapter Eleven

Ben glanced
down at Logan. He was lying half on his side in what seemed to be a very uncomfortable
position.

"You look a
bit cramped there, old man. Need some help?"

He smirked
when Logan cringed and burrowed deeper into the sofa, wiggling his shoulders and lower body
in the process. All he succeeded in doing was lodging his head between the seat cushions.
Logan's muffled moans were music to his ears.

"You sure
about that?" Ben chuckled. "Wouldn't want you to suffocate, now would we?" He walked over and
raised Logan to an upright position. He noted the older man's obvious fear and sneered,
grinning.

"Not yet,
in any case."

Ben hadn't
planned on having to deal with Logan. At least not to this extent. But the man had made
a fatal mistake; he'd dug and probed and stuck his patrician nose where it didn't belong and
now he had to pay the consequences. Consequences in the form of elimination. This whole
situation was unfortunate, especially given the relationship between Logan and the others.

"Pity," he murmured, moving to the computer terminal to begin the erasure of all data that might
possibly be connected to himself or his siblings. This entire operation
had to be perfect. All records, any traces, hints to an association between Logan
Cale and his Transgenic counterparts had to be removed or not only would he be
screwed, but his family could also be implicated. Ben
painstakingly combed through the files, permanently deleting them as he went.

Performing another
action, he began to itch with impatience.
Ben sighed and drummed his fingers on the desktop, silently urging the processor to
hurry up. The silence was killing him. The clock on the wall announced the passing
minutes, the slow ticking echoing in the
quiet room. Ben whirled in his chair, halted and snapped his fingers.

"You
want a drink? I want a drink. I'm gonna get a root beer." He stopped suddenly and
glanced sharply at Logan. "You do have root beer, right?" Hopping to his feet
he didn't wait for a reply as he left to retrieve the drinks.

Ben
exited the kitchen already in the process of uncapping the first bottle. He handed
the softly fizzing beverage to the battered Human who jerked away from the drink in terror.
An amused and almost apologetic smile crossed Ben's face when he considered Logan's reaction
and he slapped him on the thigh encouraging a pained moan from the defenceless man.

"Hmm,"
he nodded thoughtfully. "I suppose the bubbles might irritate your mouth. Forgive
me," he said insincerely and smiled, sitting back down in the swivel chair. He propped his feet up on the
desk and drank heartily. They fell into silence, with only the odd whimper from
Logan until the Ordinary's thoughts and pain overwhelmed him
into darkness.
*****

Colonel Donald Lydecker strode into the precinct with purpose. He was a man on a
mission; the mission being to curtail all involvement of the Seattle Police
Department in the search for the serial murderer. It was imperative that they ceased
investigations or Manticore would be in danger of exposure and their projects, and
more importantly their funding, would be terminated. The government had, had one
major stipulation when they'd signed the agreements to produce and train the X
series soldiers: absolute secrecy. Lydecker's job and future was on the line and
under no circumstances would he let a two-bit cop from Seattle ruin him.

"Can I
help you, sir?" enquired an, eager, uniformed man who looked barely legal.

Lydecker flashed his Military I.D. and stared stonily at the young officer who was
suddenly blustering and fumbling like a fool, tripping over himself in an attempt to
suck up to a superior.

"Oh,
I'm sorry, Sir! We weren't expecting you, Sir! What can I-"

"Save
it," Lydecker cut him off curtly. "I'm looking for Sung."

"Yes,
Sir! Right away, Sir! If you'll take a seat...?" the policeman hurriedly picked up
the phone and dialed the internal line, announcing their surprise guest. After a few
mumbled words and a quick nod and a glance in Lydecker's direction, the man smiled
at the Colonel.

"Detective Sung asked me to escort you to his office. If you'll follow me, Sir?"

Lydecker followed silently, inwardly sneering at the frightened young man playing
fetch and carry.

After
a time they reached their destination. Lydecker dismissed the young cop with a wave
of his hand, knocked on the door and without waiting for a reply, entered the
detective's private office.

Sung
seem surprised, but from past dealings with the Military, he knew better than to
voice any objections. The Armed Forces would do things their way and Lydecker's
jurisdiction superseded Sung's own.

"Colonel Lydecker, I presume?" Matt Sung reached his hand out in greeting. After a
quick, firm shake, Lydecker pursed his lips and crossed his arms. "Please, take a
seat," Sung offered, a bit miffed at the rude stance of his guest.

"I'll
stand, thanks. I need all your files on the serial killer - what was it you boys are
calling him," he grimaced, "The Artist?"

Matt
Sung hemmed and hawed. "I can show you the files, but I can't release
evidence."

Lydecker chuckled darkly. "Oh, but you will, Detective. You see,
my department is taking over this investigation - all aspects of this
investigation. The Seattle PD is no longer on this case. You will only be as
involved as I see fit and at this moment in time? I don't see fit to include your
people at all. Now, the files?" He smiled condescendingly and added, "If you
please."

Sung
glared at the older man before rising from his seat and making his way over to his
filing cabinet. He gathered all the folders and information he had on the case,
making a mental note to notify Eyes Only of the change in command and to warn the
cyber-journalist to watch his step now that the Military had taken over.

"Sung," Lydecker addressed the detective sharply, causing the other man to meet his
gaze and seeing the obvious dislike for himself in his eyes. "I know that you've
been sharing classified information with a civilian. Very careless of you,
actually."

Sung's
eyes widened in fear.

"Oh, I
won't rat you out and get you canned, if that's what you're worried about." Sung let
out a sigh of relief but turned cold at the Colonel's next words. "If you
keep me happy. I may need your...expertise somewhere down the line and I'd
like to know I can count on you."

Sung's
shoulders slumped in defeat. It was either play Lydecker's game or end his career.
There really was no debate. "You can," he replied quietly.

"Good
to know. You see, Detective, your little slip to Logan Cale, also known as Eyes
Only? It may have cost him his life. He's been compromised and last seen in the not
so pleasant company of the suspect." Seeing the shock in his eyes, Lydecker pursed
his lips and nodded. "Yes, we've been following them both for some time. And as you
and I are partners now, in a sense, I can assure you that we will do everything we
can to bring Mr. Cale back alive, but given the killer's M.O. we're more likely to
recover his remains.

"I
trust you'll keep a low profile and refrain from discussing my department's methods
and actions?"

Sung
nodded wordlessly.

"Very
well. I have an investigation to run, Detective Sung. Do make certain you're
available when needed. Oh, and if you find any other information regarding this
case, forward it to me immediately." Lydecker gathered the files, placed them in his
briefcase and walked to the door. He turned slowly and cast a parting word to stress
the importance of secrecy.

"The
suspect is a serious threat, Detective Sung, make no mistake. His existence is
supposed to be one of the biggest, most well kept State secrets of our time. The
very fact that you know about him and aren't dead is a miracle. Don't make the
mistake of running your mouth off - it might well be your last."
*****

A
while passed before Ben pulled himself from his private thoughts. There was still
some time before all the directories and files would be erased and Ben grew
increasingly frustrated. He'd spent too long thinking about his relationship with
Max and Alec and his feelings for them both. He didn't understand why he couldn't
measure up in Max's eyes. He was just as good as Alec, wasn't he?

The
more he thought about it, the more depressed he became. Ben didn't like feeling
depressed because it meant he was vulnerable and when he was vulnerable he could
slip up, make mistakes. He had to end the
self-doubt and go after what he wanted. Ben needed...something. He needed
reassurance that his initiative and methods were with merit. He needed validation.

Without warning he shook Logan awake, demanding his attention. Logan struggled to
open his eyes and refrained from exclaiming his pain at the sudden movements. He
blinked into focus and kept a relatively steady
gaze on Ben as the Transgenic rested the now, almost empty and surely flat root beer on his thigh and addressed the older
man with a contemplative look on his face as he began to speak.

"You know, I
dated a girl before I came to Seattle to find Max. I liked her 'cause she was this
Bohemian type. You know? All free spirited and thinking and stuff. I stayed with her because it was easy.
No strings, no responsibilities; just do who and what you want and what you please and all that. But one day
she came home and told me that she couldn't take it anymore. My...idiosyncrasies," he
sneered, "annoyed her and that I should see a shrink 'cause I needed help." Ben chuckled,
smirking at Logan.

"I've never
been in a position to see a shrink; I never wanted to, either, but even so... Exposure, and
all that. Only, right now I find myself in the perfect position. Take a look around. There's a
couch, a sullen guy with a stick up his ass who can't say anything constructive but can
grunt and nod, and a willing 'patient'. So tell me, Logan, will you listen politely and help me
deal with my issues? I got time to kill waitin' on this file search," he smirked, "and I'm bored."

Logan stared
incredulously at the X5 leaning back in his chair, swivelling from side to side as if he
hadn't a care in the world. He grunted in disbelief at the gall of the man. I've been shot,
mutilated and scared shitless and the guy wants me to listen to his problems?!

Ben noticed
the tear tracks on Logan's cheeks and grabbed a tissue from the side table, making his way
to the other man's side. He wiped the wetness from his face and even looked a bit hurt when
Logan shrank back upon contact. He shook his head.

"Look, if I'd
wanted to kill you, I would have done it already," Ben said amicably, the lie rolling
easily from his lips. "Relax."

The smile he
flashed the older man wasn't the least bit reassuring. Logan pressed back against the couch
and closed his eyes, trying to block out the constant, dull-throbbing pain. He almost wished
Ben would get it over with and just let him die in peace, but so long as there was hope...
Logan opened his eyes again and settled his unwavering gaze on his tormentor.

"You knew,
didn't you?" Ben stated. Seeing the silent question in the hacker's eyes, he clarified, "How
I feel about Max?" Ben took a moment to fiddle with the computer again, and once
satisfied he turned back.

"Max and I
always had a connection. We understood each other without needing to say the words. She's
the only one. Will only - ever - be the one for me. I knew it, Zack knew it. Hell, even Lydecker
knew it. We were meant to be together and there was something about us that just," he
paused, searching for the best way to explain, "clicked."

He fell silent
for a few minutes, contemplating what should have been and dreaming of what he wished would
happen. Ben wanted nothing more than for Max to be with him, to be the pair they were meant
to be.

When he
finally spoke again, his voice took
a bitter tone. "But then Alec came along. Alec. He's me, only one bar off the code. A cheap
knock-off! And for some reason, she loves him! Everything I've ever done was to make
things better, safer. At first, I was misguided. I know that. The Blue Lady was a
stupid, childish belief and I let it get one up on me. But not anymore. Now I have
the power. I know I'm better. Stronger."

The volume
escalated and his words became heated. "I'm not that scared little boy trying to prove
myself to the Lady. I'm not him. Anymore." His eyes narrowed and he hissed
venomously, "I'm. Not. Weak!"

Ben sprang to
his feet and started pacing angrily. Logan watched with wary eyes, hoping not to attract any
unwanted attention from the deranged young man just feet from his vulnerable self.

"I can be who
she needs, right?," Ben continued almost at a babble. "Now that I've learned from my
mistakes and grown as a person? Fuck!" he exclaimed, kicking the coffee table in his
frustration, "It's
what all those stupid self-help books tell you. All I have to do is be honest, share my
feelings. Make her see that I love her and that I can be as good as Alec; I can be better
than Alec!"

The computer
begged attention with a sharp beep, interrupting the irate Transgenic's tirade, and Logan let out a silent sigh of relief. Ben quickly composed himself and sat down to view the
results.

"The obvious files were easy. But the hidden ones? Three hundred and thirty seven
files." Glancing over his shoulder he inclined his head and raised a brow. "You've been
a busy little beaver. And I just bet you thought you were safe,"
he snorted.
Ben's brow furrowed in concentration as he stared intently at the screen. "But you're not the only one with
decent hacking skills." With an abrupt keystroke, the progress bar flared to life. A moment
later, he was pleased to see the 'Directory deleted' message.

Logan stared
unblinkingly as years of his life were purged from his hard drive. Had he had the voice to
declare his outrage, it would have denied him anyway. There would have been speechless
hysteria. He had to settle for staring wide-eyed as the unthinkable took place before his
eyes.

Ben stood up
slowly and deliberately began gathering Logan's computer paraphernalia and in a few short
trips had deposited all of it in the bathtub. A quick rummage unearthed some lighter fluid.
Pulling a lighter from his back pocket, Ben flicked the top open but stopped when a loud
peal sounded from the doorbell.

Quickly making
his way back to Logan had hopeful eyes raised in direction of the door, he put a finger to his lips and whispered threateningly, "Don't even
think about it." Logan's face fell.

Ben waited,
head cocked and ears straining to catch any sound, movement or words. There was a quiet
rustling and then another short knock followed by a few calls of Logan's name and then fading footsteps. Finally, he heard the
chime of the elevator and let out relieved breath.

"Nobody's
coming to save you, old man. Get that idea out of your head and fast. As soon as I've
disposed of all of this," he continued, waving his hand in a sweeping motion over the
hacker's computer equipment and data, "you an I are going to play a game. One that I'm going
to win." Logan shuddered violently and Ben couldn't help but chuckle in amusement.

Taking the
last of the printed files and photographs, Ben tossed them on top of the pile already in the
bathroom and set it alight.

He then wiped down
the surfaces he'd touched but didn't bother with the blood. It wasn't his anyway.

"And now,
you're comin'
with me, buddy."

He yanked
Logan up roughly by the collar and let out a surprised gasp when the older man faltered, moaning,
and stumbled backwards. Looking down, he noted the bloody knee.

"Sorry, old
man. Shoulda shot you somewhere less inconvenient. What a drag," he lamented as
he shifted, moving
to support Logan and manoeuvre him out of the penthouse.

Ben urged and
prodded the now-crippled cyber-journalist out the door, not noticing the manila envelope
that had been swept aside in his preoccupation.

"Now, where's
your car?"
*****

Lydecker and his men spent some time analysing the surveillance feeds. He'd had
Cale's apartment bugged weeks before, when the cyber hacker had first attempted to
contact him. Wanting to know more about the man who'd been prying into top secret
sources, Lydecker had put a priority alert out and his team had been on the man's
case ever since.

Lydecker
rewound the video footage for a second time, a thoughtful look on his face. What's the
plan now, Ben? he wondered, tapping a finger against his lips.

Peter Sandoval
was a bit green around the gills from the repeated viewings of X5-493's brutality and
shuddered as the current scene replayed. He wasn't the only agent upset by the mutilation of
Logan Cale, a.k.a Eyes Only. Peter wanted out, the sooner the better.

"The target
and his hostage are still in the building, Sir. If we moved in now, we could be home in time
for dinner," he suggested hopefully to his superior.

Lydecker shook
his head. "No. We wait and see if he leads us to the others. I will not lose them
again." Sweeping his hand in the general direction of his subordinates he added, "Continue
surveillance of the target and report back to me at regular intervals as before. Timing is
everything, gentlemen."

TBC

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thoughts! Drop me a line on

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