Disclaimer: Dark Angel is not mine. It belongs to the PTB (a.k.a. James Cameron and Charles Eglee.) I am just using them for the time being to entertain you.
Summary: Max has layered secrets. Slowly, events and actions of her and those around her reveal those secrets. And each one is more frightening than the last.
Spoilers/Timeframe: Takes place after "Red", and goes a little bit differently than what actually happened.
Rating: R
A/N: This is a semi-crossover between Dragon Ball Z and Dark Angel. What's a semi-crossover, you ask? Well to get an understanding, this story has Dragon Ball Z ideas, but with Dark Angel characters. You'll see as you read. Jordan and Evan belong to me until they show up as an X5. Evan is from the story Manticore Gathering, which can be found under Evil Gets a Delivery. Jordan is from the story Lost Family, which can be found under Family Innocence.

*****

The next morning found my siblings gathering around the sleeping form of Zack and I.

"Shhhhh.." Jason quipped to the others.

Krit knelt down at our side and whispered, "Awwwww......they look so cute!"

"Guys, we should leave them alone. Let her rest." Evan spoke as Krit stood back up. They nodded in agreement and filed out of the room.

The group gathered in the next room, each wondering what to do now. Evan had begun to make something to eat for all of them ... with the help of Jace and Erin.

I awoke and shot up, which woke Zack. I realized where I was and calmed down. I feel a body next to me and look down to find Zack smiling at me. I,unable to resist, smile back. I lean over and we embrace and kiss, "Good morning." I mutter. When the smell of breakfast enters our room, we get up to dress and investigate.

We enter the room where the others are, hand in hand. Everyone smiles at us.

Bobby stood up, "Took you long enough." He spoke, referring to last night, and Tinga slugged him in the arm. "Ow." He rubbed the spot and stuck his tongue teasingly at Tinga, in which Jace slugged him for that. "What was that for?" Bobby turned to Jace, who just laughed.

"Jace, Bobby, Tinga, cut it out." Zack spoke to them as he took a seat. I moved over and sat in his lap, and he wrapped his arm around my waist, and rests his chin on my shoulder.

I leaned back into him and spoke to Evan, "What you cooking, Evan? Smells good." I smile as he brings over a plate.

"Sausage links...for everyone!" He spoke. "It was all I could find." He passed out some to everyone. And we all started eating.

Zack and I playfully nibbled on each other's link. He then decided to put one in his mouth, tempting me to snatch it from him. The others watched on as we teased and flirted with each other.

When breakfast had finished, we had picked spots in the room to hang and mingle with each other. Zack and I picked a corner of our own, and we started making out and cuddling.

Soon, it's time for everyone to leave and start lives. One by one, they leave after saying goodbye to everyone and getting my number to keep in contact. They also include a few congratulatory words about Zack and I. Then it is just Zack and I. We stand in the doorway, looking at each other.

"You'll see them again, Max." He gently speaks as he spots the sadness on my face. I nod and he pulls me into his arms. He moves me aside to close the door, and tugs me toward the couch.

"Wait one second." He speaks and walks over to my stereo. He flips it on, and turns the dial to find what he is looking for. There is no need for him to ask as he pulls me close to him and we start rocking to the rhythm. I lay my head on his chest as he leads the dance.

Suddenly I bolt upright as my eyes dart around the room. Something doesn't feel right. I sense wrongness in the air. Zack steps back, looking at me, sensing my edginess, "What is it, Max?"

I am eerily quiet as I cautiously approach the window. I reach the window and gaze toward the streets below. My eyes catch a man leaning against a pole; he looks up at me and menacingly grins. I don't recognize him, but something about him doesn't feel right. Our gaze is locked so I don't hear the door crashing in.

"MAX!" Zack screams for my attention as he assumes a fighting stance. Four men with death in their eyes enter the room. They notice me (the backside of me), but seem confused about Zack.

"Max Guevara, come with us." One speaks. That gets my attention, and I face the men.

"What do you want with her?" Zack speaks, standing by my side.

"Our quarrel is not with you, stand aside or die." Another one answers. I recognize the tones of the voices. The Red Series. Two more walk in. I recognize the one to be the one from Logan's penthouse. The one I let go.

Well, I guess he got my message to the others. Looks like they want to play. My look to Zack tells him to stand down. He returns a look of refusal, then acceptance. He lowers his fists and steps aside.

I step closer to the group, grinning from ear to ear. "I'm surprised to see you came back." I speak to the one I recognize. He seems to slightly tremble at my voice directed at him. Probably doesn't want another broken arm, I muse to myself.

"Ignore her, Zeke!" Kani speaks, entering the room. He comes forward to get a better look at me. When I see him, I recognize him as the guy by the post. He pauses in front of me to look me over.

"So...do I fit your approval?" I speak mockingly to Kani.

He looks at me, "Silence. You are to speak when spoken to. Or weren't you taught that?"

I shift legs to avert the need to chuckle in amusement, "I'm a slow learner."

He has his men surround me, cutting me off from Zack. He then walks up to me to examine me better. I stand still and let him have his fill.

As he caresses my cheek, he speaks, "You are quite the funny one. I'll have to add that to the list about you."

I gaze at him, "What does the list say about me?" I notice that Zack fidgets as he shows that he wishes for me to quit playing around. But I am curious about Kani, so I ignore Zack.

Kani smiles, "It says that you are beautiful, inspirational, sociable..." He closes off the distance between us and continues, ".... Sexy..." He drifts off and plants a kiss on my lips. His advance throws me off and he wraps an arm around me to deepen the kiss.

Zack, sickened by the scene, makes a move forward. Two Reds block his path and they throw him back against the wall. "Max, why?" Zack cries out in disbelief. His heart and stomach tumble as he watches the kiss.

Kani eventually pulls away. He takes a step back and gazes at me in awe. I gaze back at him, breathing heavily. "Join with me, Max, in my crusade to right the wrong." He speaks, giving me offers that 'I can't refuse'. I stand there as he goes on, I am unsure of what to do. He steps to me again, cupping my chin in his hand. He draws me in to his vision for me. "You would be a great asset to my team, Max." He concludes his speech. He holds out his hand for me, "Join me, Max." He requests again.

I gaze at his hand, and pull my hand up to my side. My gaze shifts up to him, and hesitancy fills my expression. I hear the scuffle between Zack and the Reds behind me, and my gaze averts to them. "Max, don't do it!!" Zack shouts, before a Red blasts him in the gut. Zack grimaces but doesn't fall.

"Join me now, or loverboy gets it." Kani speaks tired of my hesitancy.

"Zack?" I mumble in question. Kani uses the moment of my broken concentration to snag me.

"Let's go!" He shouts to his men as he retreats toward the door. They pull away from Zack, and he collapses to the floor, calling my name. Kani's men then assist him in helping me to their van.

We reach the street when I manage to break from their hold. A Red manages to grasp a hold on me, and we tumble to the ground in a battle. I snap his neck and stand up. I gaze to Kani, "You shouldn't have brought them." I speak before destroying his men.

Kani gasps in shock at my swiftness. He is stunned when I destroy his men so easily. As I am about to right hook to finish the last one, Kani grabs my arm, and forces me to face him, "Now, now, Maxie.... we can't have you killing my men." He traces his finger over my lips, causing me to remember his gentle caresses from not so long ago. I close my eyes and shudder. He has found my weakness, my inability to resist luscious men, heat or no heat. I caress his cheek, suddenly eager to taste another kiss.

I soon feel pushed away. When I look, it's Zack. He is upset and laying punches on Kani. Zack manages to twist and break his arm before I intervene. Kani chuckles and decided to retreat and try again for me later. Before he hops into his getaway vehicle he beckons to me, "I'll be back for you soon, Maxie!!"

Zack keeps watch on the vehicle until it disappears. He turns and finds me slumped against the wall, confusion showing all over me. He wearily approaches me, "Max?"

I look up at him, I want to run to his arms, but I am unsure. He sees this and scoops me into his embrace, "It's ok, Max. He's gone."

"Please don't be mad at me." I cry. Zack hushes me and leads me back inside.

Zack enters the apartment after returning from gathering dinner. He walks in to find me sitting on the couch, staring at the window. He immediately knows what's wrong. He sighs and sets the dinner on the table and walks over to me. "It's him isn't it?" He asks, breaking the silence.

I don't answer, but avert my gaze to the floor. But Zack is right. I am thinking about Kani. He approached me so intriguingly, and I fell for his game.

"Please, Max. Don't shut me out!" I hear him plead.

I finally answer him, "I'm sorry, Zack. I don't know what it is." A tear escapes my eyes and travels down my cheek. Zack reaches for me, but I move away. "Zack, please...." I know I've just hurt him, but he lets me go. He watches as I retreat to my room and shut the door. He then slowly moves over to the table and eats dinner alone.

It's the middle of the night and I'm still awake. A glance at the clock tells me it's almost 3 in the morning. I have been crying off and on all night. A rustle at the door catches my attention. Zack enters holding a plate of food. He doesn't bother to turning on the light. the moonlight shining in through my window assists his already enhanced sight.

"Thought you might be hungry." He quietly speaks. He sits next to me and hands me the plate. I sit up to accept it, but I instantly set it aside.

I turn to him, reaching for him, "I need you Zack."

He allows me to pull him to me and we begin kissing. Soon our bodies our rubbing against each other as he massages my insides. I am unsure if he is thinking that our lovemaking tonight is just to wash away Kani's violation. He is caressing me and pumping me the same as the night before, when we first gave in to each other. Though, it works. I am no longer thinking about Kani. Only images of Zack fill my head. I am his yet again. Only the feeling of Zack fills my body. He must've sensed my full attention to him, for he began stroking harder and faster. I realize that now, as I scream out in ecstasy, no man could take Zacks place. I shudder and moan at each of his thrusts. He hungrily looks at me and licks his lips before tasting mine. The sweet taste of him is addictive to me and we use our lungs to our advantage and remain liplocked for several periods each time.

A lone figure enters my place. He crosses the room slowly having to wheel the chair around furniture in the darkness. The man is about to call out my name in search of me, but hears me in the bedroom.

When he enters my room, he instantly notices my figure. He blinks again to see another figure, on top of me. When the two figures move and I shout out, "ZACK....!" Logan freezes dead in his spot. He becomes pale and horrified at the sight. Logan then starts to leave the room and as he turns, his chair collides with the doorframe.

Zack and I freeze. "What was that?" Zack asks and I sit up. We cover our exposed bodies and investigate.

I instantly recognize the figure in the chair, "Logan...?" Zack stares at Logan, upset at the interruption but says nothing.

"How could you, Max?!" Logan spits at me, moving to escape the madness.

I run after him, blocking his exit, "Logan...I can explain!" I plead.

He stops and looks up to me, "Oh, really? Now I know why you didn't call. Too busy screwin’ your brother, Maxie?"

I step back, "That hurt, Logan."

"Oh, yeah. Well so did that!!" He screams back, pointing to the bedroom as Zack walks out of it. Zack leans against the doorframe deciding to stay out of this argument.

"Please, Logan." I cry, kneeling down in front of him. "I didn't mean for you to find out this way. I was gonna call, gonna tell you." I pause to let him respond he just looks at me. "Last night, all that had been building up between Zack and I came crashing down. Especially after watching Jondi and Brin die." A tear falls at the mention of their names.

That causes Logan to speak, "Max...I'm sor-"

I shake my head. His stubbornness puts a strain on my emotions. I begin shouting, "NO!! It was my fault!" More tears fall as I lose control. "I could've saved them, but I held back!" I was starting to rise.

Zack saw this and pulled me away to try and calm me down. Logan watched as Zack held me close to him. I closed my eyes, breathing heavily, "I don't want to lose you as a friend, Logan." I plea. Zack rocked me and began averting my anger.

Zack spoke to Logan, "You're very important to her, Logan. I can't deny the friendship you have with her." I pull away from Zack to be able to face Logan. Logan sees that my expression confirms Zack's statement.

Logan looks to me, "You really love him, don't you?" I nod and Logan sighs. "I thought we had something." He states nonchalantly.

I step toward Logan, "I couldn't deny my feelings for Zack. That night, alone with him, at your cabin...he opened up to me. I was scared at first, but it made me realize exactly what I felt."

Logan nods defeatedly, "Maybe I should've opened up to you first." He looks from Zack to me before speaking, "Well, then...congratulations." I smile and give him a thank you hug. "So, exactly what happened at Manticore?"

Kani enters his facility. "Is the team gathered?" He asks, shifting his sling that holds his arm.

Zeke nods, "Yes, sir!"

"Good!" Kani smiles, then turns to a monitor. His smile widens as he watches the screen. A very powered up Young Max kicking the snot out of Manticore's finest. Kani watched as the man on the screen told a group of kids not to trust those innocent young eyes. The man gave the word, and the group moved to attack Max at once.

"X6s. They were made to be better than an X5." Zeke explains to Kani, who nods. "And she defeated them without receiving a scratch."

"Impressive." Kani speaks. "I will have her!!"