In the morning when I awoke
To the sound of someone pouring a glass of coke,
Wishing I had one more smoke,
Thinking of visiting the folks.
Young man you can't do that anymore,
You're not the same fellow from those days of yore,
Gone off to fight the wars and learn the lore,
When you return, you returned to the slamming of doors.
What do you do now, you don't know.
You have reaped the winds and the profits you sow,
Took a dip in the water and got caught in the undertow,
You have no other place to sleep, and nowhere to go.
Showing posts with label fragments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fragments. Show all posts
20160306
20160301
Nom de Doom
Trump, the mysterious talking cat that occasionally accompanies Max on his adventures, watched the news and sighed.
"If this keep up I'm gonna have to start using a code name," the cat meowed.
"If this keep up I'm gonna have to start using a code name," the cat meowed.
20160224
20160217
Portal Protocol
"And what is that?" Tatterdemalion asked, her voice echoing in the chamber.
"It's the Metaplex, represented as a four-dimensional object. That's why it appears to change shape over time but still retain cohesion."
"It hurts my head, looking at it."
"It's even worse when you are inside it. Don't you remember?"
Tatter stared at the pulsing, morphing substance hovering in the centre of the room. The colour changed, sometimes shiny, others muted.
"It's like a strange attractor..." Tatter whispered.
"Well, it most certainly attracts the strange. You'll observe three recurring patterns on the sides of the object. Interacting with it at each of these will produce a different experience."
Pattern One: Fragments
Pattern Two: Iteration
Pattern Three: Crisis
Tatter squinted. "I... I think I see a fourth pattern..."
"It's the Metaplex, represented as a four-dimensional object. That's why it appears to change shape over time but still retain cohesion."
"It hurts my head, looking at it."
"It's even worse when you are inside it. Don't you remember?"
Tatter stared at the pulsing, morphing substance hovering in the centre of the room. The colour changed, sometimes shiny, others muted.
"It's like a strange attractor..." Tatter whispered.
"Well, it most certainly attracts the strange. You'll observe three recurring patterns on the sides of the object. Interacting with it at each of these will produce a different experience."
Pattern One: Fragments
Pattern Two: Iteration
Pattern Three: Crisis
Tatter squinted. "I... I think I see a fourth pattern..."
20160213
Game Not Over
Dan drew a card from the deck and looked at it. GUN FU +10. It was something that he needed in order to take the beast down.
He looked down at the pattern of cards on the table: his Max was tapped out, he had used Cigarette Clue and Mystic Java earlier in the fight against the big boss. He knew that if he didn't get the card he needed it would be over. He had never had to depend more on the luck of the draw and he got it.
"Looks like it's going to be curtains for Max," Chance replied. His Darius card had Bible Verse of Doom, Skateboard of Protect +2, and Angelic Wings attached to the kid.
"The game isn't over yet," Dan replied.
He looked down at the pattern of cards on the table: his Max was tapped out, he had used Cigarette Clue and Mystic Java earlier in the fight against the big boss. He knew that if he didn't get the card he needed it would be over. He had never had to depend more on the luck of the draw and he got it.
"Looks like it's going to be curtains for Max," Chance replied. His Darius card had Bible Verse of Doom, Skateboard of Protect +2, and Angelic Wings attached to the kid.
"The game isn't over yet," Dan replied.
20160211
Up and Down The Dial
*click*
... and tonight on MasterCook we have three constants left....
*click*
.... and of the three there is a possible fourth that could be seen...
*click*
... on the right. Now, we know what to expect....
*click*
... for those evenings when nothing works out right there is always...
*click*
... Max....
*click*
... and the ....
*click*
...Meta...
*click*
...plex...
*click*
.... gang....
*click*
... to save the day once again...
... and tonight on MasterCook we have three constants left....
*click*
.... and of the three there is a possible fourth that could be seen...
*click*
... on the right. Now, we know what to expect....
*click*
... for those evenings when nothing works out right there is always...
*click*
... Max....
*click*
... and the ....
*click*
...Meta...
*click*
...plex...
*click*
.... gang....
*click*
... to save the day once again...
20160111
13
Max startled awake. There was a tear in his eye.
What is it? the voice asked.
"I dreamed that Ziggy died."
What is it? the voice asked.
"I dreamed that Ziggy died."
20151225
Holy Daze
Previously on the Holidays...
MAX'S XMAS PLAYLIST
(And a Shout Out to the H247 Dragons who are keeping watch over crisis transmissions during the ritual time)
20151028
FLASHBACKORFORWARDORSIDEWAYS
Max snapped a fresh clip into Joy then another into Pain. He blinked his eyes, steadied his breathing. The wall was cold against his back, and for a second he flashed on a vague memory of being in some sort of Dome, like a sci-fi underworld. Sometimes the flashes of alternate versions shook him to the core, left him dizzy and spinning. And other times they reminded him that he was a superhero after all. Max spun into the hallway and started sighting, squeezing, repeating, breathing. The guns sounded like a giant beating a drum, shattering the air, the arms and chests of the targets shattering, their black suits exploding in red, their sunglasses hiding eyes gone wide and empty. Max was graceful in the violence because he wasn’t really there; his mind was drifting in a vision of reciting poetry to a shining hologram of his one true love. The rhythm of the words and the rhythm of the weapons ended and the hallway was quiet, the LEGACY hit squad destroyed, Max breathing steadily.
Speakers imbedded in the walls crackled on. “That’s quite alright Mr. Cube. Even as you stand there reloading and no doubt indulging in some fancy psychic technique the nanofabric of the carpeting is absorbing DNA from the blood you have spilled and funneling into microtubes that will be launched into orbit, retrieved by one of our satellites, and bonded to alien-robot hybrid hunters we have in stasis. They will be set loose to track you down, all their superkilling talents infused with the vengeance of the guards you just killed.”
“That’s actually really cool,” Max said.
The speakers crackled. “… Um, sorry?”
“I said that’s really cool. How you’re doing all that stuff with all your crazy technology.”
Speakers imbedded in the walls crackled on. “That’s quite alright Mr. Cube. Even as you stand there reloading and no doubt indulging in some fancy psychic technique the nanofabric of the carpeting is absorbing DNA from the blood you have spilled and funneling into microtubes that will be launched into orbit, retrieved by one of our satellites, and bonded to alien-robot hybrid hunters we have in stasis. They will be set loose to track you down, all their superkilling talents infused with the vengeance of the guards you just killed.”
“That’s actually really cool,” Max said.
The speakers crackled. “… Um, sorry?”
“I said that’s really cool. How you’re doing all that stuff with all your crazy technology.”
“You mean you aren’t scared by it?” the speakers blurted.
“You’re going to all that effort to customize an advanced multi-type team of assassins from space just for me. I’m flattered. And slightly insecure that I won’t live up to the hype.”
The speakers fuzzed and went quiet. Just then Max’s cell rang. The Professor’s voice barged in as soon as the phone flipped open.
“Max, while you’ve been battling LEGACY in their Tower Maggie had been targeted by another supervillain! I believe the villain may be in league with Morganfokker! Her name is-“
“The Cheerleader. I know her. We’ve actually met.” Max lit a smoke.
“You’re going to all that effort to customize an advanced multi-type team of assassins from space just for me. I’m flattered. And slightly insecure that I won’t live up to the hype.”
The speakers fuzzed and went quiet. Just then Max’s cell rang. The Professor’s voice barged in as soon as the phone flipped open.
“Max, while you’ve been battling LEGACY in their Tower Maggie had been targeted by another supervillain! I believe the villain may be in league with Morganfokker! Her name is-“
“The Cheerleader. I know her. We’ve actually met.” Max lit a smoke.
“Max, this is serious! All the data I have on The Cheerleader indicates that she is an Omega Level- waitaminute… You’ve met her?”
“Listen Prof, I’m not surprised to hear Maggie’s going at it against DeeGee.” He inhaled, staring down at the carpet, imagining the tiny robots in the carpet gathering up the molecules of blood. It was beautiful in a way. Maybe when the alien-robot hunters finally caught him they could figure out a way to reprogram them or something. A way to give even a bit of these guards a second chance.
“DeeGee?!?! Max what are you talking about?”
“Maggie’s undergoing a ritual and-“
“Another one? She just got out of the Initiation Chamber?!?!”
“Calm down, Prof. She’s invoking the arcana of the High Priestess in order to attain a greater level of wisdom, self-understanding and inner peace. Sacred combat against her shadows and dark sides is part of the ritual. Maggie’s no doubt engaging the Cheerleader to serve as an iconic manifestation of that darkness.”
“Ahh…” The Professor went quiet for a moment and Max could hear the sound of typing and some beeping. “I’ve updated my file, but I still think we have a problem and that Mags might be in danger.”
Max pushed the button on the elevator. Getting out of the LEGACY tower would be a hard job, even with the initial hit squad stopped.
“Why’s that?” Max’s tone grew serious.
“Based on my readings Maggie’s psychic waveform is oscillating between her identity as Ms. Magenta and, if you can believe this…”
The elevator doors slid open. “Think who you’re asking.”
“Listen Prof, I’m not surprised to hear Maggie’s going at it against DeeGee.” He inhaled, staring down at the carpet, imagining the tiny robots in the carpet gathering up the molecules of blood. It was beautiful in a way. Maybe when the alien-robot hunters finally caught him they could figure out a way to reprogram them or something. A way to give even a bit of these guards a second chance.
“DeeGee?!?! Max what are you talking about?”
“Maggie’s undergoing a ritual and-“
“Another one? She just got out of the Initiation Chamber?!?!”
“Calm down, Prof. She’s invoking the arcana of the High Priestess in order to attain a greater level of wisdom, self-understanding and inner peace. Sacred combat against her shadows and dark sides is part of the ritual. Maggie’s no doubt engaging the Cheerleader to serve as an iconic manifestation of that darkness.”
“Ahh…” The Professor went quiet for a moment and Max could hear the sound of typing and some beeping. “I’ve updated my file, but I still think we have a problem and that Mags might be in danger.”
Max pushed the button on the elevator. Getting out of the LEGACY tower would be a hard job, even with the initial hit squad stopped.
“Why’s that?” Max’s tone grew serious.
“Based on my readings Maggie’s psychic waveform is oscillating between her identity as Ms. Magenta and, if you can believe this…”
The elevator doors slid open. “Think who you’re asking.”
“Well. Maggie, even as she is in combat with The Cheerleader, is phasing back and forth into a tiny little faerie named Misfit…”
Max stepped into the elevator. “Gotcha. I’ll give her a call.”
The cellphone signal sputtered slightly inside the shielded elevator. The Professor’s voice warbled, “Which one?”
Max flicked the cigarette through the closing doors. “Think who you’re asking.”
Max stepped into the elevator. “Gotcha. I’ll give her a call.”
The cellphone signal sputtered slightly inside the shielded elevator. The Professor’s voice warbled, “Which one?”
Max flicked the cigarette through the closing doors. “Think who you’re asking.”
20141230
Interesting Persons
"And now the character that always reminded me of the Professor is actually undercover as a professor... Oh, and their new base of operations is a subway!" Angst said.
"That's cool," Goner said.
"No," Suki frowned. "It means reality is ripping us off."
Angst smirked.
Aqua said, "I think it's more synchronicites, like Max talks about. It was like watching all the stuff with Sam and Dean and Castiel and Crowley and how much it was like when we learned about the version of Maggie that's Magriel and Lucy and all that stuff."
Frank's voice came in over the comm, "Tangos incoming. Keep it down or you're going to get our show cancelled."
"That's cool," Goner said.
"No," Suki frowned. "It means reality is ripping us off."
Angst smirked.
Aqua said, "I think it's more synchronicites, like Max talks about. It was like watching all the stuff with Sam and Dean and Castiel and Crowley and how much it was like when we learned about the version of Maggie that's Magriel and Lucy and all that stuff."
Frank's voice came in over the comm, "Tangos incoming. Keep it down or you're going to get our show cancelled."
20141225
20141217
Season Finale Style
"So what time does the portal open?" Max shouted over the sound of gunfire.
"In approximately seven to ten minutes," the Professor's voice replied on the earbud.
"And when does the bomb go off?" Mags shouted as the bullets chewed up the edges of their cover.
"In approximately seven to ten minutes," the Professor said.
Max and Maggie looked at each other, shaking their heads and smiling.
20141215
Spacetime Flies When You're
Max nestled his head in the pillow as Mags reached over and switched off the bedside lamp. "Night sweetie," she said.
Max murmured back to her and felt sleep drag him down quick.
He opened his eyes and was inside a tent, dawn light faint through the fabric, the smell of gunpowder and trees, howls and shouts getting closer.
Max ran through a mantra designed to confirm that he wasn't dreaming. Checked his chronometer; it had only been seven minutes since he had gotten into bed.
"Bugger," he said to himself.
Max murmured back to her and felt sleep drag him down quick.
He opened his eyes and was inside a tent, dawn light faint through the fabric, the smell of gunpowder and trees, howls and shouts getting closer.
Max ran through a mantra designed to confirm that he wasn't dreaming. Checked his chronometer; it had only been seven minutes since he had gotten into bed.
"Bugger," he said to himself.
20141213
Just When You Thought
"Yes we will!" Angst shouted, finishing her cheer and spraying bullets from her twin uzis into the swarm of spectres that surrounded them.
Max felt a sharp impact in his side and suddenly his t-shirt was soaked with blood.
Maggie dodged under a swipe from one of the shadowy claws and her katana flashed upwards in a counterstrike.
Max winced as a gash appeared on his bicep.
Angst kept spinning and firing and another hole tore open in Max's leg. Maggie straightened out of a combat role, growling, and thrust into another demon. Max grunted as a wound punctured his shoulder.
"Dammit," he whispered as he dropped to one knee.
Maggie saw him go down and noticed the injuries that had appeared on his body.
"Defense only, Angst!" she shouted. "We're in a Hex Warp!"
Max felt a sharp impact in his side and suddenly his t-shirt was soaked with blood.
Maggie dodged under a swipe from one of the shadowy claws and her katana flashed upwards in a counterstrike.
Max winced as a gash appeared on his bicep.
Angst kept spinning and firing and another hole tore open in Max's leg. Maggie straightened out of a combat role, growling, and thrust into another demon. Max grunted as a wound punctured his shoulder.
"Dammit," he whispered as he dropped to one knee.
Maggie saw him go down and noticed the injuries that had appeared on his body.
"Defense only, Angst!" she shouted. "We're in a Hex Warp!"
20141210
The Persistence of Presence
"It's been going on six days straight," Summer sighed.
A gust of wind made the steady downpour bend to a 45 degree angle, then it returned to falling straight down.
Aqua watched water drip from the brim of her cowboy hat.
Summer shivered. "Isn't there something we could do? Maybe that's why we are here, to figure out how to make it stop? Isn't that how this works?"
Aqua watched the crowds of miserable people scurrying in the heavy rain. She said, "I think I saw an umbrella store a few blocks from here, yesterday. Based on the signs in the window it looked like they had raised their prices a few days back. Bet they don't have much of a security system..."
Aqua winked and Summer smiled.
A gust of wind made the steady downpour bend to a 45 degree angle, then it returned to falling straight down.
Aqua watched water drip from the brim of her cowboy hat.
Summer shivered. "Isn't there something we could do? Maybe that's why we are here, to figure out how to make it stop? Isn't that how this works?"
Aqua watched the crowds of miserable people scurrying in the heavy rain. She said, "I think I saw an umbrella store a few blocks from here, yesterday. Based on the signs in the window it looked like they had raised their prices a few days back. Bet they don't have much of a security system..."
Aqua winked and Summer smiled.
20141012
The Metaplex Movie Soundtrack
aka The Chakra Secrum Project's Greatest Hits
Track One: Unidentified Foreign Ontology - Mana Junkie
Track Two: I Know You Are, But What Am I? - Mogwai
Track Three: New York City - The Demics
Track Four: Remains - Dollhouse Soundtrack
Track Five: Out of Control - Chemical Brothers
Track Six: Anvil of Crom - Conan Theme
Track Seven: High Roller - The Crystal Method
Track Eight: Stolen Child - The Waterboys
Track Nine: She's Lost Control - Joy Division
Track Ten: Ich Bin Ein Auslander - Pop Will Eat Itself
Track Eleven: Call It Off - Tegan and Sara
Track Twelve: My Dream Girl Don't Exist - Neutral Milk Hotel
Track One: Unidentified Foreign Ontology - Mana Junkie
Track Two: I Know You Are, But What Am I? - Mogwai
Track Three: New York City - The Demics
Track Four: Remains - Dollhouse Soundtrack
Track Five: Out of Control - Chemical Brothers
Track Six: Anvil of Crom - Conan Theme
Track Seven: High Roller - The Crystal Method
Track Eight: Stolen Child - The Waterboys
Track Nine: She's Lost Control - Joy Division
Track Ten: Ich Bin Ein Auslander - Pop Will Eat Itself
Track Eleven: Call It Off - Tegan and Sara
Track Twelve: My Dream Girl Don't Exist - Neutral Milk Hotel
20140918
20140828
20140827
Torque
He wandered through the city streets, looking for the symbols on the side of buildings. Letting him know where the safe haven was. It'd been three days since he had been here and he was getting to the point where he thought he would be stuck here forever.
Well, it wouldn't be a bad thing, since it was kind of nice here. The coffee was good, the smokes were to die for and the people were friendly. But he missed the adventure, his companions, and most of all he missed her.
"You look lost mister?" someone asked.
"Yeah," he replied. "I am."
"Maybe this will help," the young kid told him, holding up a map of the 'stars'.
Max saw the map that the young girl was holding and he saw the symbols on them and he cracked a huge smile; he glanced up at the heavens and said, "Thank you Universe!"
20140826
Rock Breaks Scissors
"Okay, on the count of three," Suki said to him. "Let's do it."
She counted up to three and then produced scissors; Max had brought up rock.
"Damn it," she said. "That's ten in a row! How the hell you do that?"
"It's magic," Max said. "And if I told you then I'd have to send you to another reality!"
"Well, you do that on a daily basis, lunkhead!" she told him.
She counted up to three and then produced scissors; Max had brought up rock.
"Damn it," she said. "That's ten in a row! How the hell you do that?"
"It's magic," Max said. "And if I told you then I'd have to send you to another reality!"
"Well, you do that on a daily basis, lunkhead!" she told him.
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