Perky's was at the corner of 31st and Something Street. A little breakfast nook that's been in the city for a few decades at least, and it was one of Max's favourite hangouts in the mornings. He strolled into the diner and spotted that his usual table was free this morning and he made a beeline for it, pulling a chair and taking his seat.
He noticed that there wasn't an ashtray at his table and glanced around and spotted one at the other table; he reached over and snatched it. He didn't want to bother Heidi at the moment who was dishing back some attitude that was given to her this morning.
He took out his pack of smokes, his zippo lighter, a Bic pen, and put them on the table in a neat order. As if he was setting up to do some sort of ritual. He also unfolded the newspaper he had been carrying underneath his arm. His attention was diverted to a young Japanese school girl walking by the window and she held something to her ear, it looked strange, the slim device, he thought he knew the name of it.
The answer was at the tip of his tongue, or was it?
INT. ABANDONED HOUSE - TOP FLOOR - DAY MAX is lying battered and bloodied on a wooden floor. Standing over him with fists clenched is THE FUTURE. THE FUTURE: I should of just put a bullet in your head and left it at that. But my employer wants you to suffer after the trouble you caused him. MAX: Well bully for him. THE FUTURE: (kicks Max in the upper torso) Your world is about to end and yet you remain snarky. MAX: (he coughs up some blood) Would you feel better if I just bleed over your shoes? THE FUTURE: (another kick, this time to the midsection) You're a bastard. MAX: (chuckles even though it hurts) Whew. Thank goodness... thought I lost my touch.
The subway doors parted and Max stepped onto the platform, guns hanging by his side. Cigarette dangling from his lips and he was wearing a bright orange t-shirt declaring GO FOR THE HEART. "You ready, pumpkin?" Mags asked as she stepped out, her katana drawn and ready for whatever evils lay above. "I was born ready," he replied smugly. "What are we doing standing around here?" Frank questioned as he stepped from the car. "You think this is a coffee break?"
"You got it?" "You doubt me?" "No." "Then the question is moot," he replied as he slipped out a pack of smokes and took one out. He lit it and took a puff and exhaled a question. "Why do you see a need to question things that you comprehend?" "Human nature?" Max let that one slip in a chuckle.
Max butted out a cigarette with his shoe and stepped from the alleyway. He could hear the roar of the subway train speeding off below him. "Remember the plan," Angst told him. "You'd think I would forget that?" Max shot back. He had his game face on and nothing was going to change that. Frank stepped in behind him, dressed to the nines in his old LEGACY outfit. "You think this is it, sweetheart?" Angst asked of Frank. "I really don't know," Frank honestly replied. "But the dominoes have been set and are ready to fall."
Max leaned on the counter reading the further adventures of a superhero team. He was also keeping an eye on a couple of kids leafing through the role-playing section. The kids were in their early teens and talking amongst each other of what books to get since their "dungeon master" had a whole slew of books. An electronic chime went off, letting him know that the main door was opening and that someone was coming in. He saw Frank entering. Frank was carrying a tray with two Tim Horton's coffee mugs, and Max nodded. Max reached behind him and opened up a filing cabinet and took out a huge folder and placed it on the counter. "Hey Max," Frank said upon approaching the counter. "What you got for me today?" "A whole whack of special orders," Max replied as he went back to the comic book he was reading. Frank opened up the folder and his eyes widened at the first comic he saw. "Son of a bitch," Frank swore. He took the issue in his hands like a knight templar with the holy grail. "Where in the hell did you manage to find this..." "You don't want to know," Max replied.
