Tim said, "I'm really sorry to hear that."
Dexter said, "Please don't take it personally, my friend. I've loved every minute I've sat at this table."
"You've been a great addition to the group, Dex. Congratulations though! Getting accepted to university is a big deal."
"I'm excited. And nervous. I've always wanted to get out of this town, but I'll miss it at the same time."
"I get it. It's complicated."
Dex smiled. "Very. Very 'metaplex' as Max would say. Not being able to game is another downer."
"There will always be a seat for you here and the coffee will always be on."
*
"So, what are you going to do with Frank then?" Wednesday asked.
Tim winked. "Now that would be telling. Actually, since Frank is Dexter's character I'm going to let him decide, and I will adjust the campaign around that."
"This is maybe a bad time to bring it up, but... Well, it looks like my promotion might be going through."
"That's great news!"
"Except it means I will be travelling every other weekend..."
"Ah."
"So we may have to figure out a reason for Angst to be missing every other session... If you think that would even work?"
"We'll make it work somehow."
*
Callan sighed. "I suppose I wonder if it all still works. The overall story, I mean. If Frank gets written out, and Angst only appears occasionally... Maybe it's time we start a new campaign?"
"But what happens to Goner and Suki then? Are you tired of playing Goner?" Tim asked.
"Not at all. The new cyborg angle has been really interesting. But how many changes can you make to a story before it doesn't make sense anymore?"
"Games aren't stories, though."
Callan smiled. "And we're back to the central question, aren't we? When we get together every Saturday night what exactly are we doing? Playing a game or telling a story?"
"Or is it a magical ritual, as Max would say?"
*
Tim sipped at his coffee. "So it comes down to you, Darius. Dexter's leaving, Wednesday's only going to be able to play half as often, and Cal is having some doubts about the story continuing. What do you think? Keep going with the adventures of Goner and Suki and sometimes Angst? Start a new game?"
Darius sipped at his coffee. "Actually Tim, I have some news..."
Showing posts with label frank. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frank. Show all posts
20151221
Hyperplex: Battle Part Two
Shortly after the Dragons began infiltrating the Museum the building came under attack from a LEGACY tactical team. A furious three-way battle erupted.
The Ashen Tradition deployed their psycho-theurgic toxins, transforming infected LEGACY soldiers into ravenous human-beast hybrids that turned on each other.
LEGACY operatives fired swarms of nano-enhanced smart-rounds that used echolocation-sensors and micro-fluid architecture to course-correct in mid-flight and track their targets.
Aqua, safe in the armour of her Mech, alternated pulses of autonic energy to disrupt the AT toxin fields and quantum-chaff to destabilize the trajectories of the LEGACY munitions.
Goner fired bursts of energy from his upgraded arm and Angst evoked designer combat-spirits from Liminal Space.
And Mags jumped into the middle of it all, punching and throwing and kicking.
From the shadows, Frank scanned the minds of the Tradition Mages and the LEGACY Agents, infiltrating their psychic defences like a ninja or occasionally smashing through their conditioning like a tank.
He learned that the source of intel that had tipped off the Ultraviolet Lodge to the Tradition's portal was someone they had pegged for a System operative. Which suggested that the Tradition were in sync with Counter... Except that more hidden thoughts revealed that the Tradition had been pointed to the Hyperplex by another operative who also seemed to be serving System. And that same operative appeared to be the one who leaked the Tradition's plan to LEGACY.
Was one of the leaks actually a Counter agent? Or had the System set all of this up as a trap for the Dragons? Or did they want the Dragons to reach the Hyperplex?
The Ashen Tradition deployed their psycho-theurgic toxins, transforming infected LEGACY soldiers into ravenous human-beast hybrids that turned on each other.
LEGACY operatives fired swarms of nano-enhanced smart-rounds that used echolocation-sensors and micro-fluid architecture to course-correct in mid-flight and track their targets.
Aqua, safe in the armour of her Mech, alternated pulses of autonic energy to disrupt the AT toxin fields and quantum-chaff to destabilize the trajectories of the LEGACY munitions.
Goner fired bursts of energy from his upgraded arm and Angst evoked designer combat-spirits from Liminal Space.
And Mags jumped into the middle of it all, punching and throwing and kicking.
From the shadows, Frank scanned the minds of the Tradition Mages and the LEGACY Agents, infiltrating their psychic defences like a ninja or occasionally smashing through their conditioning like a tank.
He learned that the source of intel that had tipped off the Ultraviolet Lodge to the Tradition's portal was someone they had pegged for a System operative. Which suggested that the Tradition were in sync with Counter... Except that more hidden thoughts revealed that the Tradition had been pointed to the Hyperplex by another operative who also seemed to be serving System. And that same operative appeared to be the one who leaked the Tradition's plan to LEGACY.
Was one of the leaks actually a Counter agent? Or had the System set all of this up as a trap for the Dragons? Or did they want the Dragons to reach the Hyperplex?
20151119
The Battle for the Hyperplex Part One: E.S.P.ionage
The intel indicated that the Ashen Tradition was seeking a powerful relic called The Hyperplex.
Collateral information referenced the Hyperplex in contradictory fashion; sometimes it was described as a Staff, others a Chalice, sometimes a Sword and, of course, a Disc. Max had lots of ideas about what the Hyperplex could be, what it might mean, how it might relate to the other Plexes they were learning about; he was the idea guy, after all.
The rest of the team knew that ideas were important but sometimes not as important as taking action. So Max hunkered down to try and figure things out and the other Dragons went to work.
Angst learned from a contact in the Ultraviolet Lodge that the Tradition had a large-scale portal operation running in a secret sub-basement of the local Museum.
Angst learned from a contact in the Ultraviolet Lodge that the Tradition had a large-scale portal operation running in a secret sub-basement of the local Museum.
Frank conducted some psychic eavesdropping on people entering and exiting the Museum; he confirmed that the portal was indeed active but could not determine where it led to.
Goner was able to hack the Museum's security and Angst was able to counter the protective wards that the Tradition had set up.
They had put the call out to Aqua and to Maggie, anticipating that things would likely get hostile once they made a move on the portal.
When the team gathered, after a few minutes of warm reunion, they prepared to enter the Museum...
20151031
Happy Halloween 3
Previously on Halloween...
The Dragons' Costumes (version.Sense8)
(Max, Tatter, Suki, Goner, Frank, Angst, Marshal, Maggie)
The Professor and Morganfokker's Costumes (version.Sense8)
Morganfokker's Costume (vesrion.HalfLife)
Max's Costume (version.Multiversity)
20151007
Escalation
Marshal double-checked that the office door was locked. He turned back to the computer terminal. The desktop picture was from Serial Experiment: Lain. There were three video-chat windows open, conferenced with each other. "Ok, go."
Angst spoke in the first window. "Yeah, so. Not good. So not good. None of the contact rituals for Odin, Merlin or Kele-De are working. The Infrared Lodge and the Ultraviolet Lodge are in open conflict. And the Ashen Tradition is claiming to be on the verge of locating a relic they are calling 'The Hyperplex'."
Frank was next. "LEGACY has apparently negotiated a truce between the Manticores and the Basilisks. If that's true they will undoubtedly try and loop in the other Legend Gangs as well. There's also rumours that they are looking to recruit Lanight into the fold."
Marshal sighed, "So things are fracturing in one direction and consolidating in another. Everyone knows by now that something is happening."
Goner spoke up. "More bad news: my intel says that Throckmorton, Angus Mode, Mr. Clean, and Verdi are all bidding on an assassination contract. Maybe Nell and Ally, maybe Meelos and Legos. Or, maybe, The Future."
Shit, Frank thought and they all heard him.
"And the target?" Angst asked.
"Max," Goner said.
"Well, Max better watch out," Marshal said.
The others looked confused.
Angst spoke in the first window. "Yeah, so. Not good. So not good. None of the contact rituals for Odin, Merlin or Kele-De are working. The Infrared Lodge and the Ultraviolet Lodge are in open conflict. And the Ashen Tradition is claiming to be on the verge of locating a relic they are calling 'The Hyperplex'."
Frank was next. "LEGACY has apparently negotiated a truce between the Manticores and the Basilisks. If that's true they will undoubtedly try and loop in the other Legend Gangs as well. There's also rumours that they are looking to recruit Lanight into the fold."
Marshal sighed, "So things are fracturing in one direction and consolidating in another. Everyone knows by now that something is happening."
Goner spoke up. "More bad news: my intel says that Throckmorton, Angus Mode, Mr. Clean, and Verdi are all bidding on an assassination contract. Maybe Nell and Ally, maybe Meelos and Legos. Or, maybe, The Future."
Shit, Frank thought and they all heard him.
"And the target?" Angst asked.
"Max," Goner said.
"Well, Max better watch out," Marshal said.
The others looked confused.
20151002
C2IP Update.2
The ground shook again, dislodging more rubble from the bombed-out buildings. Shadows swept across the ground from the light of the flares in the night sky, voices hollow and fuzzy with static calling out over malfunctioning sound-systems, repeating emergency protocol directions that were very 'too-little-too-late'. Mick strolled down the centre of the cracked and scorched street as if all the lights and noise were a massive party; this wasn't his first apocalypse. In a lot of ways he felt at home in disaster zones; they were somehow more honest.
His contacts were less brazen, with good reason Mick figured, given that of the ever-increasing number of factions in what appeared to be a cold-war-turned-hot-turning-nova most likely had capture or kill orders out on them. They signalled to him with a pre-arranged series of flashlight blinks from the shadows of a ruined hotel lobby.
"Okay," Mick said, hunkered down behind the front desk. "First off, no I haven't gotten any leads on who the double-agent is. I don't doubt your intel, especially given the source, but there are so many variables in play right now...
"Second, Goner's rejoined Max, Frank and Angst, so they're active again as a cell. Plus they've gotten a lead on Mags - sounds like she's changed too.
"As for Suki, it looks like she's actually shifted along the Chronoplex - that's what we're calling it now, right? She seems to be in a much older version of herself. I know, it's not the first-time Suki's age has altered. No idea if or how she's going to intersect with the others.
"The Diner crew... Things are still different with them too... Like they're on a different frequency from the other Dragons? I dunno, I feel like something's brewing there.
"Max has got his spirit guides in play, the bird and the talking cat. Still nothing from Aqua. Oh, but get this - I found this weird urban legend about this strange warrior-monk type-guy who wanders the globe, actually walking, no planes or buses. He's this dirty bearded vagabond, stops briefly to debate about things like Confucianism or Norse Mythology. Sometimes does a bit of intervening on a street-level if there's some injustice happening, and ain't there always? There's versions of the tale where he seeks out a vision at holy places, the hidden Temple of the Sky on Everest, the sacred glass monolith at the centre of the Sahara Desert, the keystone of the Great Wall of China that contains the last essence of the demon Hrarchuta who sacrificed his immortality to save his love, the angelic Yuriti... It's great stuff; I wish I'd written it. But it's got to be our boy Akimoto, right?
"And lastly, just so I'm keeping track, so far there's the Chronoplex, the Paraplex, and the Ultraplex? Now, how about you share with me: do we know yet what exactly has kicked off this whole mess between the System and Counter-System?"
The contacts exchanged glances.
Suddenly a swarm of sirens began wailing outside and the thunder of helicopters erupted overhead. Mick sighed. "I get it, 'to be continued'."
His contacts were less brazen, with good reason Mick figured, given that of the ever-increasing number of factions in what appeared to be a cold-war-turned-hot-turning-nova most likely had capture or kill orders out on them. They signalled to him with a pre-arranged series of flashlight blinks from the shadows of a ruined hotel lobby.
"Okay," Mick said, hunkered down behind the front desk. "First off, no I haven't gotten any leads on who the double-agent is. I don't doubt your intel, especially given the source, but there are so many variables in play right now...
"Second, Goner's rejoined Max, Frank and Angst, so they're active again as a cell. Plus they've gotten a lead on Mags - sounds like she's changed too.
"As for Suki, it looks like she's actually shifted along the Chronoplex - that's what we're calling it now, right? She seems to be in a much older version of herself. I know, it's not the first-time Suki's age has altered. No idea if or how she's going to intersect with the others.
"The Diner crew... Things are still different with them too... Like they're on a different frequency from the other Dragons? I dunno, I feel like something's brewing there.
"Max has got his spirit guides in play, the bird and the talking cat. Still nothing from Aqua. Oh, but get this - I found this weird urban legend about this strange warrior-monk type-guy who wanders the globe, actually walking, no planes or buses. He's this dirty bearded vagabond, stops briefly to debate about things like Confucianism or Norse Mythology. Sometimes does a bit of intervening on a street-level if there's some injustice happening, and ain't there always? There's versions of the tale where he seeks out a vision at holy places, the hidden Temple of the Sky on Everest, the sacred glass monolith at the centre of the Sahara Desert, the keystone of the Great Wall of China that contains the last essence of the demon Hrarchuta who sacrificed his immortality to save his love, the angelic Yuriti... It's great stuff; I wish I'd written it. But it's got to be our boy Akimoto, right?
"And lastly, just so I'm keeping track, so far there's the Chronoplex, the Paraplex, and the Ultraplex? Now, how about you share with me: do we know yet what exactly has kicked off this whole mess between the System and Counter-System?"
The contacts exchanged glances.
Suddenly a swarm of sirens began wailing outside and the thunder of helicopters erupted overhead. Mick sighed. "I get it, 'to be continued'."
20150923
Gemstone
Max rolled over, hit the alarm, dragged himself out of bed.
Cut through some back streets to avoid the crowds. Hot summer weather, low-orbit satellites visible in the clear sky between corporate towers.
Friendly wave from the young woman selling occult trinkets from a stand by the intersection. He had bought a few since moving to the neighbourhood. Her name was something like Melancholy? Agony?
The sounds of traffic reminded him of dreams he couldn't remember. Billboards advertising the new action movie, MAGENTA.
Dropping some coins in the cup of the Veteran camped outside the bank. Young guy, the side of his face burned, missing an arm.
Into the lobby of the office building, pulling his lanyard from his satchel and draping it around his neck just in time for security to check it. The older guard who always wore sunglasses. It was policy at the agency that staff were not to ask the guards' names.
He gave him the nod and Max proceeded towards the elevators.
"Oh, sir?" the guard said, catching his attention. Passed him an envelope that had been left at the desk for him.
In the elevator, heading to the fifth floor, feeling tired, opened the envelope. Handwritten note, unsigned:
'Thank you.'
Cut through some back streets to avoid the crowds. Hot summer weather, low-orbit satellites visible in the clear sky between corporate towers.
Friendly wave from the young woman selling occult trinkets from a stand by the intersection. He had bought a few since moving to the neighbourhood. Her name was something like Melancholy? Agony?
The sounds of traffic reminded him of dreams he couldn't remember. Billboards advertising the new action movie, MAGENTA.
Dropping some coins in the cup of the Veteran camped outside the bank. Young guy, the side of his face burned, missing an arm.
Into the lobby of the office building, pulling his lanyard from his satchel and draping it around his neck just in time for security to check it. The older guard who always wore sunglasses. It was policy at the agency that staff were not to ask the guards' names.
He gave him the nod and Max proceeded towards the elevators.
"Oh, sir?" the guard said, catching his attention. Passed him an envelope that had been left at the desk for him.
In the elevator, heading to the fifth floor, feeling tired, opened the envelope. Handwritten note, unsigned:
'Thank you.'
20150916
Borders
The chain-linked fences laced with barbedwire, watchtowers bookending the gate, icy light thrown into the evening darkness by spotlights. The soldiers in grey, weapons flickering, tech scanning.
"Okay, let's run it," Max whispered to his companions in the crowd that was shuffling slowly through the checkpoint.
"I have some Divinities bookmarked," Angst went first. "But if they arrive in any way much stronger than a general blessing it will attract a lot of attention."
Frank was studying the guards, the spotlights reflecting in his glasses. "This has got to be the System, right? How many of these have we seen now? It's getting harder to go anywhere."
"Too many, but this is one we can't avoid," Max said. "We need through."
"I know, I know," Frank replied. "I'm sure I can think the troops into not noticing Goner's mods if they check under the hood."
"Appreciated," Goner said. He raised a gloved hand, the one he had had replaced. "And I'm pretty sure I've figured out how this can broadcast a smartwave scrambler signal that will spoof their ID-scanners."
"Well shit," Max said. "It sounds like we have an A-plan. How about a B?"
"Panic?" Goner said.
"Violence," Frank said.
"Improvise," Angst said.
Max chuckled.
"Okay, let's run it," Max whispered to his companions in the crowd that was shuffling slowly through the checkpoint.
"I have some Divinities bookmarked," Angst went first. "But if they arrive in any way much stronger than a general blessing it will attract a lot of attention."
Frank was studying the guards, the spotlights reflecting in his glasses. "This has got to be the System, right? How many of these have we seen now? It's getting harder to go anywhere."
"Too many, but this is one we can't avoid," Max said. "We need through."
"I know, I know," Frank replied. "I'm sure I can think the troops into not noticing Goner's mods if they check under the hood."
"Appreciated," Goner said. He raised a gloved hand, the one he had had replaced. "And I'm pretty sure I've figured out how this can broadcast a smartwave scrambler signal that will spoof their ID-scanners."
"Well shit," Max said. "It sounds like we have an A-plan. How about a B?"
"Panic?" Goner said.
"Violence," Frank said.
"Improvise," Angst said.
Max chuckled.
20150907
Versus
"That's not what I meant!" Angst said. "And don't you dare say 'I know what you're thinking'."
Frank rubbed his eyes. "I told you, it's off right now. Listen, I'm just concerned you're not factoring in all the variables."
"That's so patronizing, Frank. Just because I'm leading with my feelings doesn't mean I've lost all reason. I was the one who made first contact - maybe I have a better perspective on the situation?"
"And maybe you're too close to it! I'm just not sure taking action right now is going to make things better in the long run."
"So we don't do anything?" Angst asked.
"Now who's being patronizing?"
"What would Max do?"
"Who the hell knows? Some days he's X and some days he's Y."
"Okay, what would Maggie do?"
"'Haunted Warrior Maggie' or 'Guardian Angel Maggie'?"
Angst sighed. "Fine. I give up."
Frank sighed. "Okay, get your gear. We'll go."
Angst smiled.
Frank rubbed his eyes. "I told you, it's off right now. Listen, I'm just concerned you're not factoring in all the variables."
"That's so patronizing, Frank. Just because I'm leading with my feelings doesn't mean I've lost all reason. I was the one who made first contact - maybe I have a better perspective on the situation?"
"And maybe you're too close to it! I'm just not sure taking action right now is going to make things better in the long run."
"So we don't do anything?" Angst asked.
"Now who's being patronizing?"
"What would Max do?"
"Who the hell knows? Some days he's X and some days he's Y."
"Okay, what would Maggie do?"
"'Haunted Warrior Maggie' or 'Guardian Angel Maggie'?"
Angst sighed. "Fine. I give up."
Frank sighed. "Okay, get your gear. We'll go."
Angst smiled.
20150820
Mandatory Training
"Some of you may have worked together before, others will be from different departments, so let's take a moment to introduce ourselves," the instructor said.
Max was the fifth person to speak. "Marshal Montgomery," he said. "I work at the Altar Station, incoming data mostly." He was just trusting the words that came into his mind.
The others continued sharing their names and departments.
Max, is that you? Frank's voice sounded in his head. Max suddenly realized that the man who had introduced himself as Javier Alvarez from Launchpad Station was Frank; he looked different, probably in the same way that Marshal somehow looked different than Max, but it was him.
Marshal gave a questioning look to Javier. Max wasn't sure that anyone besides he and Maggie (and Morganfokker) had demonstrated polysonae before...
I'm not sure, either, Frank sent back. I was practicing with some trancework, meditating on what we've learned about the System, and I ended up piggybacking into Javier... Is this what it's like for you?
Marshal shrugged slightly. The truth was that Max had been sleeping and hadn't been entirely sure this wasn't a lucid dream. Now he suspected that this Agency was a System or Counter-System front; maybe he and Frank could learn something.
The introductions had finished.
The instructor continued, "To appreciate the importance of the Emergency Response Protocols we are learning today it's useful to understand an Emergency as a situation where there has been a loss of control; these Protocols will help to regain that control."
I wonder why they are providing this training now? Frank asked in Max's mind.
Max was the fifth person to speak. "Marshal Montgomery," he said. "I work at the Altar Station, incoming data mostly." He was just trusting the words that came into his mind.
The others continued sharing their names and departments.
Max, is that you? Frank's voice sounded in his head. Max suddenly realized that the man who had introduced himself as Javier Alvarez from Launchpad Station was Frank; he looked different, probably in the same way that Marshal somehow looked different than Max, but it was him.
Marshal gave a questioning look to Javier. Max wasn't sure that anyone besides he and Maggie (and Morganfokker) had demonstrated polysonae before...
I'm not sure, either, Frank sent back. I was practicing with some trancework, meditating on what we've learned about the System, and I ended up piggybacking into Javier... Is this what it's like for you?
Marshal shrugged slightly. The truth was that Max had been sleeping and hadn't been entirely sure this wasn't a lucid dream. Now he suspected that this Agency was a System or Counter-System front; maybe he and Frank could learn something.
The introductions had finished.
The instructor continued, "To appreciate the importance of the Emergency Response Protocols we are learning today it's useful to understand an Emergency as a situation where there has been a loss of control; these Protocols will help to regain that control."
I wonder why they are providing this training now? Frank asked in Max's mind.
20150817
C2IP Update.1
Mick opened the locker and removed the satchel, headed to the nearest washroom. The intercom rattled off train arrival and departure notifications in a bland, synthetic voice. A security drone hummed over the swarm of commuters. Mick had taken two capsules of Glamour before arriving at the station and run some invisibility mantras - he'd be cloaked from any surveillance for about an hour. Unless the Sidhe showed up, which meant things were fucked anyway.
Hunkered in a stall, Mick unzipped the satchel. There was a hardcover book, one of the sourcebooks for the Aeon Triumph Gun Messiahs RPG. A pencil and a piece of paper. Mick used the book as a firm surface to write on, scrawling notes quickly with the pencil on the paper.
Four System operations identified.
Two Counter-System activities being monitored, plus one potential.
Pretty George might be dead.
Max has made contact with Dexter, Wraith and Callan - still not sure if they've joined the System or have been recruited by Counter. No contact with Darius (he's been running on a parallel stream ever since the Millennium Incident I think, which Max doesn't know much about, either because he wasn't there or can't remember).
Max is still working closely with Angst and Frank.
Goner's gone dark. Suki seems to be missing.
Aqua disappeared with the remains of the Subway car.
I've got some rumours on Akimoto to follow-up on.
The name Summer keeps coming up...?
No confirmed contact with Maggie.
No clues yet to which one is the double-agent.
Any idea what the fuck exactly is going on?
Mick folded the paper once and tucked it inside the book. He noticed the page he had randomly opened to: the description and stats for one of the Vatars that players could summon once they reached level 13 as a Gun Messiah. 'The Void'.
He shivered. Then sneered. Mick was not the superstitious type.
Hunkered in a stall, Mick unzipped the satchel. There was a hardcover book, one of the sourcebooks for the Aeon Triumph Gun Messiahs RPG. A pencil and a piece of paper. Mick used the book as a firm surface to write on, scrawling notes quickly with the pencil on the paper.
Four System operations identified.
Two Counter-System activities being monitored, plus one potential.
Pretty George might be dead.
Max has made contact with Dexter, Wraith and Callan - still not sure if they've joined the System or have been recruited by Counter. No contact with Darius (he's been running on a parallel stream ever since the Millennium Incident I think, which Max doesn't know much about, either because he wasn't there or can't remember).
Max is still working closely with Angst and Frank.
Goner's gone dark. Suki seems to be missing.
Aqua disappeared with the remains of the Subway car.
I've got some rumours on Akimoto to follow-up on.
The name Summer keeps coming up...?
No confirmed contact with Maggie.
No clues yet to which one is the double-agent.
Any idea what the fuck exactly is going on?
Mick folded the paper once and tucked it inside the book. He noticed the page he had randomly opened to: the description and stats for one of the Vatars that players could summon once they reached level 13 as a Gun Messiah. 'The Void'.
He shivered. Then sneered. Mick was not the superstitious type.
20150815
"What A Tale My Thoughts Could Tell" [version.Upgrade]
Max looked up at the moon then back at the door to the warehouse. A moment to centre himself.
Come on in, Max, he heard Frank's voice in his mind. It's okay. Max thought that his accent sounded stronger than usual.
The building was rundown, damp, empty. Frank was sitting in fractured moonlight on a stool in the middle of the cracked and stained floor.
Max heard his voice again. I need to figure out how to turn this off. Max understood; whether or not distance actually made a difference or not, being isolated was helping Frank cope.
"Are you okay if I come closer?"
I... I think so...
"No promises, I get it," Max said as he slowly approached. "What's the knife for?"
Frank's hand twitched slightly, the blade catching moonlight. I keep thinking I might need to stab myself in the eye if this doesn't settle down soon.
"Fair enough. Can you hold out for a bit longer?'
Frank's head tilted towards Max; he wasn't wearing his glasses but his eyes were in shadow. It's like... There's still this hurricane of synesthesia all around the edges. I can't let it back in or I will drown or implode or-
"Ok Frank. We can figure this out."
You've been psychic before, haven't you?
"On occasion."
I can't - well, 'see' isn't exactly the right word, but your head... I can't tell what it happening inside it. Hm. Sorry. Maybe you were hoping I could solve some mysteries for you.
"No worries, Frank. I like my privacy though, too. Speaking of mysteries, any idea what caused this?"
Maybe it's a leftover from LEGACY? Or maybe it's related somehow to that warning you got from Control? About The System and Counter-System?
"Well, if we can keep you from sticking that knife in your head this might actually turn out to be pretty cool."
Come on in, Max, he heard Frank's voice in his mind. It's okay. Max thought that his accent sounded stronger than usual.
The building was rundown, damp, empty. Frank was sitting in fractured moonlight on a stool in the middle of the cracked and stained floor.
Max heard his voice again. I need to figure out how to turn this off. Max understood; whether or not distance actually made a difference or not, being isolated was helping Frank cope.
"Are you okay if I come closer?"
I... I think so...
"No promises, I get it," Max said as he slowly approached. "What's the knife for?"
Frank's hand twitched slightly, the blade catching moonlight. I keep thinking I might need to stab myself in the eye if this doesn't settle down soon.
"Fair enough. Can you hold out for a bit longer?'
Frank's head tilted towards Max; he wasn't wearing his glasses but his eyes were in shadow. It's like... There's still this hurricane of synesthesia all around the edges. I can't let it back in or I will drown or implode or-
"Ok Frank. We can figure this out."
You've been psychic before, haven't you?
"On occasion."
I can't - well, 'see' isn't exactly the right word, but your head... I can't tell what it happening inside it. Hm. Sorry. Maybe you were hoping I could solve some mysteries for you.
"No worries, Frank. I like my privacy though, too. Speaking of mysteries, any idea what caused this?"
Maybe it's a leftover from LEGACY? Or maybe it's related somehow to that warning you got from Control? About The System and Counter-System?
"Well, if we can keep you from sticking that knife in your head this might actually turn out to be pretty cool."
20150607
20150526
Neo Static: The Permutation Particles Polka - End
Aqua was in the middle of the tunnels; she was cut up and badly bruised but she kept swinging. It wasn't long before Suki was with her and she let her know that the job was done.
Darius, Twofeathers and Suki ran through the complex as Ul'ran zombies clambered after them. Wanting them to join the party.
Frank looked at the countdown on his chronometer. Only 18 more seconds to go before they were all aligned.
Angst, Ruffo and Angelissa sat at a table sipping tea as others walked past.
Max hovered off the floor, his fingers moving about seeing the data-streams of timelines before him and shaking his head 'no', dropping a few strings and gathering more and shaking his head 'no'.
Dan picked up the dice once again as everyone around the table waited for what was going to happen. It all resulted in this dice roll. It was all or nothing on this one.
"It's about time you joined the fight," Aqua shot at Suki.
"Sure thing, girlfriend," Suki said. "You think what I was doing was a picnic?"
"Yeah," Aqua replied. She took out a huge beastie with a punch, sending it sprawling back into its buddies. "Now, let's see if we can hold them off!"
"Madness," Twofeathers replied. No matter what corner they turned or what room they entered it seemed that the Ul'ran were already there. "This is madness."
"You don't know the half of it, sister," Suki said. She was rubbing her elbow; her arm was sore after dispensing a lot of charges with the Godhammer. She hoped Max was correct with whatever he was doing since it seemed like it was going to be the end.
Darius took out his cross necklace and gave it a kiss for luck. Twofeathers did a double-take at him and then she let out a chuckle.
Darius, Twofeathers and Suki ran through the complex as Ul'ran zombies clambered after them. Wanting them to join the party.
Frank looked at the countdown on his chronometer. Only 18 more seconds to go before they were all aligned.
Angst, Ruffo and Angelissa sat at a table sipping tea as others walked past.
Max hovered off the floor, his fingers moving about seeing the data-streams of timelines before him and shaking his head 'no', dropping a few strings and gathering more and shaking his head 'no'.
Dan picked up the dice once again as everyone around the table waited for what was going to happen. It all resulted in this dice roll. It was all or nothing on this one.
"It's about time you joined the fight," Aqua shot at Suki.
"Sure thing, girlfriend," Suki said. "You think what I was doing was a picnic?"
"Yeah," Aqua replied. She took out a huge beastie with a punch, sending it sprawling back into its buddies. "Now, let's see if we can hold them off!"
"Madness," Twofeathers replied. No matter what corner they turned or what room they entered it seemed that the Ul'ran were already there. "This is madness."
"You don't know the half of it, sister," Suki said. She was rubbing her elbow; her arm was sore after dispensing a lot of charges with the Godhammer. She hoped Max was correct with whatever he was doing since it seemed like it was going to be the end.
Darius took out his cross necklace and gave it a kiss for luck. Twofeathers did a double-take at him and then she let out a chuckle.
Frank checked the shotgun and was about to join Suki and Aqua in the tunnels.
"There's nothing you can do there," Max said to him.
"What?" Frank looked at him. "You're kidding right?"
"Frank, when have I ever misled you?" Max asked.
"The question is when haven't you misled me," Frank said. His impulse was to go and help the kids out in a overwhelming battle. But he trusted Max to the very end of his life.
"Can I get you ladies anything else?" the waiter asked.
Angst nodded and flashed him a smile and the waiter turned a little shade of red.
"There's nothing you can do there," Max said to him.
"What?" Frank looked at him. "You're kidding right?"
"Frank, when have I ever misled you?" Max asked.
"The question is when haven't you misled me," Frank said. His impulse was to go and help the kids out in a overwhelming battle. But he trusted Max to the very end of his life.
"Can I get you ladies anything else?" the waiter asked.
Angst nodded and flashed him a smile and the waiter turned a little shade of red.
"Mom," Angelissa said.
"I'm not your mother," Angst said to her, "Well, I... I could be your mother... Wait... I am your mother?"
"What are we doing waiting here?" Ruffo asked. She had a sound of agitation in her voice. She didn't know where they were and what they were doing but it was nice just to sit and catch their breath for a little while. "What are we suppose to be waiting for?"
"You will know when you see it," Angst said. She leaned over and gave Angelissa a kiss on the cheek, letting her know full well that she would be the mother she would never know.
Max's fingers were moving across like he was playing a huge harp. That's when he noticed blood on the tips of his fingers.
"Now you know how Bryan Adams felt," Maggie whispered.
Max noticed that his fingertips had thin slices like papercuts but it wasn't stinging at all.
"... and that's when you notice the cuts on Max's fingertips, each finger that he's been weaving with has left tiny droplets of his blood in it..." Tim said.
Dan's mouth dropped and everyone around the table looked up and he added, "You mean?"
"Yep," Tim stated with a sly smile. "Exactly. Now make your roll and let's just see how well the code was written."
Dan shook the dice in his hands and let them drop onto the table. They did their dance: the negative dice landed on a 1 (which was good to see) and the positive dice landed on a 6 and this meant he rolled it again and added it to the total.
Dan picked up the die to roll, Tim turned his attention to Peyton.
Aqua had taken a critical wound to the neck. Blood was pumping out due to her adrenaline being pushed to the limits, but she cracked a smile since she was going out on her own terms. She grabbed the huge beast in front of her and with all her might snapped its neck like a twig, letting out a primeval scream of victory before she staggered back.
A wall of beasties swarmed toward her.
"Nooo!" Suki screamed and that's when her face changed from a tween to a woman of rage. Mustering every ounce of strength she had she took the Godhammer in her hands and snapped it in two. "She you losers in hell!"
The explosion ripped through the tunnel.
"What is it?" Darius asked of Suki. She stood still for a second and let out a gasp.
"I don't know," she replied honestly. "It just .... I don't want this to sound corny... but I felt like something bad happened."
There was the sound of an implosion echoing off in the distance. A ripple and a wave of energy began washing through the area.
"Sweet," Twofeathers said. "Now what!"
Frank let the shotgun drop to the floor and he hung his head in shame. "Was this all for naught?"
The waiter placed another round of ice tea in front of the ladies, and they all smiled and raised their glasses in a toast.
"Ha! I win," Morganfokker whispered. "You lose, like the failure that you are!"
"Would it kill you to know that this was the game plan all along?" Maggie said with a knowing smile. "A sleight of hand so simple that you'd not be paying attention to what the other hand was doing."
"What?" Morganfokker said. "No, it can't be."
Max let the strings go from his bloody fingertips and let out a sigh of relief.
"I'm not your mother," Angst said to her, "Well, I... I could be your mother... Wait... I am your mother?"
"What are we doing waiting here?" Ruffo asked. She had a sound of agitation in her voice. She didn't know where they were and what they were doing but it was nice just to sit and catch their breath for a little while. "What are we suppose to be waiting for?"
"You will know when you see it," Angst said. She leaned over and gave Angelissa a kiss on the cheek, letting her know full well that she would be the mother she would never know.
Max's fingers were moving across like he was playing a huge harp. That's when he noticed blood on the tips of his fingers.
"Now you know how Bryan Adams felt," Maggie whispered.
Max noticed that his fingertips had thin slices like papercuts but it wasn't stinging at all.
"... and that's when you notice the cuts on Max's fingertips, each finger that he's been weaving with has left tiny droplets of his blood in it..." Tim said.
Dan's mouth dropped and everyone around the table looked up and he added, "You mean?"
"Yep," Tim stated with a sly smile. "Exactly. Now make your roll and let's just see how well the code was written."
Dan shook the dice in his hands and let them drop onto the table. They did their dance: the negative dice landed on a 1 (which was good to see) and the positive dice landed on a 6 and this meant he rolled it again and added it to the total.
Dan picked up the die to roll, Tim turned his attention to Peyton.
Aqua had taken a critical wound to the neck. Blood was pumping out due to her adrenaline being pushed to the limits, but she cracked a smile since she was going out on her own terms. She grabbed the huge beast in front of her and with all her might snapped its neck like a twig, letting out a primeval scream of victory before she staggered back.
A wall of beasties swarmed toward her.
"Nooo!" Suki screamed and that's when her face changed from a tween to a woman of rage. Mustering every ounce of strength she had she took the Godhammer in her hands and snapped it in two. "She you losers in hell!"
The explosion ripped through the tunnel.
"What is it?" Darius asked of Suki. She stood still for a second and let out a gasp.
"I don't know," she replied honestly. "It just .... I don't want this to sound corny... but I felt like something bad happened."
There was the sound of an implosion echoing off in the distance. A ripple and a wave of energy began washing through the area.
"Sweet," Twofeathers said. "Now what!"
Frank let the shotgun drop to the floor and he hung his head in shame. "Was this all for naught?"
The waiter placed another round of ice tea in front of the ladies, and they all smiled and raised their glasses in a toast.
"Ha! I win," Morganfokker whispered. "You lose, like the failure that you are!"
"Would it kill you to know that this was the game plan all along?" Maggie said with a knowing smile. "A sleight of hand so simple that you'd not be paying attention to what the other hand was doing."
"What?" Morganfokker said. "No, it can't be."
Max let the strings go from his bloody fingertips and let out a sigh of relief.
"Game. Set. And Match, Morganfokker!"
It was a sound like someone receiving a call on their cellphone, a little ding that seem to echo about the realms. Max hovered off the ground, light shining around him like beams from multiple lighthouses as cracks began to appear across his body. The ultimate sacrifice, he turned to the apparition of Morganfokker and lifted up a hand and simply waved at him, like he was waving to a friend who was moving away... and that's when Max seemed to implode on himself... creating a black hole sucking in the streams, data, and other realities with him.
Before everything went dark...
It was a sound like someone receiving a call on their cellphone, a little ding that seem to echo about the realms. Max hovered off the ground, light shining around him like beams from multiple lighthouses as cracks began to appear across his body. The ultimate sacrifice, he turned to the apparition of Morganfokker and lifted up a hand and simply waved at him, like he was waving to a friend who was moving away... and that's when Max seemed to implode on himself... creating a black hole sucking in the streams, data, and other realities with him.
Before everything went dark...
20150524
Neo Static: The Permutation Particles Polka IX
Long way from home
Welcome to the Pleasuredome
Suki slipped the flash drive into the slot. Her fingers danced over the keypad like a spider crawling across hot pavement. Aqua activated her gloves as she heard the sound of ripping and space and time began to fold down the passageway.
"Max was right," Aqua muttered. "It wasn't too long before they'd be onto us!"
"You do what you are paid to do, Aqua," Suki said. "I just need to finish coding and I will join ya."
"I got this," Aqua said as she made her way up the passageway.
Shooting stars never stop even when they reach the top
Shooting stars never stop even when they reach the top
Beads of sweat ran down from Frank's forehead as he closed the laptop.
"Done," he said to Max.
Max let a few strings go while grabbing a few more and moving them about his fingers like someone weaving a tapestry would do. Max could see the results unfolding in the infinite as his fingers were working, creating a better possibility.
There goes a supernova what a pushover-yeah
There goes a supernova what a pushover
Angst, Angelissa and Ruffo were rushing through the complex. Ruffo had thought it was her base of operations but it wasn't actually her base. It looked like everyone there was going about their business and paying no heed to her as she ran through the corridors with two cheerleaders.
It looked like they were late going to the prom. Ruffo was trying to fathom what was going on and how what they were doing was related to her own homeworld being invaded by an alien race, and how that seemed to be of no significance at all.
"Is this always like this?" Ruffo asked.
"And then some," replied Angst.
We're a long way from home
Welcome to the Pleasuredome
Suki, Twofeathers and Darius where in the middle of a huge battle with 13 foot tall mechanical robots. There was a dozen of them still left while a huge pile of scrap metal was scattered about. Suki's Godhammer made it very easy but it was still a nuisance, like mosquitoes at a summer camp as you try to enjoy the campfire.
"GOT IT!" Darius shouted. He threw the item into a rucksack and then lifted his weapon.
"It's about freakin' time!" Twofeathers said. She was tired of being swatted around.
"SUKI, WE ARE LEAVIN'," Darius shouted.
"Awww." Suki seemed saddened by the fact that she had to break from battle. "Just one more?"
20150522
Neo Static: The Permutation Particles Polka VIII
Max could see the six-sided dice through the data stream and he smiled.
Hovering about with a lot of strings he looked like a little kid holding balloons and was afraid to let go. The techno-trance song Suki was playing was getting louder as it began to bleed through the versions, realities, what-if's and what-could-be's. It was the signal he was waiting for.
"Okay Frank," he said. "Let's rock."
"Okay Frank," he said. "Let's rock."
20150516
Neo Static: The Permutation Particles Polka IV
Frank's fingers danced over the keyboard; he was coding as fast as his brain would let him. The laptop that Max had given him was way beyond the years that it should be from. But he didn't question where he had gotten it or how; he knew that didn't matter when you finally looked at the whole situation at hand. He keyed the mic.
"Aqua," he said. "You girls are in position?"
"Oh hell yeah," Aqua replied. She was knee-deep in water in a tunnel beneath a facility in some remote city. The transmission seemed to be coming from a billion light years away; there was heavy static and Frank's baritone voice was coming in tinny. It also didn't help matters that Suki, who was at a juncture box, was listening to a techno-trance track as loud as can be. "We're ready to kick the tires and start the fire, Old Man."
Suki gave Aqua the thumbs up.
Aqua didn't know where they were at the moment, just that Max had brought them here and told them to be here when the signal was given. She had given up trying to fathom just how many realities they were away from the prime. Or if there was even a prime and they were just part of an ongoing simulation.
"I'm sending you the code now," Frank stated.
"Got it," Aqua replied. She took the flash drive from her wrist device and handed it to Suki. "Here ya go, j-pop!"
"Thanks, Rhonda Rousey," Suki replied.
"Aqua," he said. "You girls are in position?"
"Oh hell yeah," Aqua replied. She was knee-deep in water in a tunnel beneath a facility in some remote city. The transmission seemed to be coming from a billion light years away; there was heavy static and Frank's baritone voice was coming in tinny. It also didn't help matters that Suki, who was at a juncture box, was listening to a techno-trance track as loud as can be. "We're ready to kick the tires and start the fire, Old Man."
Suki gave Aqua the thumbs up.
Aqua didn't know where they were at the moment, just that Max had brought them here and told them to be here when the signal was given. She had given up trying to fathom just how many realities they were away from the prime. Or if there was even a prime and they were just part of an ongoing simulation.
"I'm sending you the code now," Frank stated.
"Got it," Aqua replied. She took the flash drive from her wrist device and handed it to Suki. "Here ya go, j-pop!"
"Thanks, Rhonda Rousey," Suki replied.
20150425
Neo Static: The Permutation Particles Polka I
"... now you understand what must be done," Max said to them all. He had turned to the three-dimensional projection of Suki and Aqua hovering before them. "Time is of the essence, though the essence of time is not up for question. Comprehend?"
Aqua nodded as if she understood. She banged the battle gauntlets she was wearing together to activate them.
Suki just shrugged, lifting her hands in a 'comme ci, comme ca' motion. Her 13 year old brain was still trying to wrap around the fact of seeing herself, or another version of her, in the room with Max while he was giving them their task to do. And she was still trying to figure out if this Max was the Max.
"You got it, dude," she finally said. Then the holographic projection disappeared.
Max turned to the others he had gathered; a cup of coffee materialized before him and he took a sip of the elixir.
Suki glanced up at Max and smiled; same old Max. Then she looked at the others in the room where they had gathered:
Darius and his sidekick, Twofeathers, resting on his shoulders.
A much older version of Frank, his hair grey and his face clean shaven standing with what she had first thought was a version of Angst but turned out to be her daughter, Angelissa. Suki presumed the various strings in the plex intertwined and changed and off-shoot to various other alternatives which were endless and constantly changing like waves on a beach.
Aqua nodded as if she understood. She banged the battle gauntlets she was wearing together to activate them.
Suki just shrugged, lifting her hands in a 'comme ci, comme ca' motion. Her 13 year old brain was still trying to wrap around the fact of seeing herself, or another version of her, in the room with Max while he was giving them their task to do. And she was still trying to figure out if this Max was the Max.
"You got it, dude," she finally said. Then the holographic projection disappeared.
Max turned to the others he had gathered; a cup of coffee materialized before him and he took a sip of the elixir.
Suki glanced up at Max and smiled; same old Max. Then she looked at the others in the room where they had gathered:
Darius and his sidekick, Twofeathers, resting on his shoulders.
A much older version of Frank, his hair grey and his face clean shaven standing with what she had first thought was a version of Angst but turned out to be her daughter, Angelissa. Suki presumed the various strings in the plex intertwined and changed and off-shoot to various other alternatives which were endless and constantly changing like waves on a beach.
And standing beside them was the Angst that she knew and loved but it wasn't her Angst, or maybe it was but it was not too easy to tell these days.
And then there was the Suki and Aqua which Max had contacted, wanting them to...
"You sure you are up to this, Suki?" Max asked her.
"You got it, dude," she told him.
And then there was the Suki and Aqua which Max had contacted, wanting them to...
"You sure you are up to this, Suki?" Max asked her.
"You got it, dude," she told him.
20150415
Neo Static: What May Be, What Might Be, What It Is VIII
They were sitting around a campfire, relaxing and taking it easy. It seemed like months since they had had a break in the action, that's for sure.
Max and Maggie were lying by the fire, Maggie enjoying the summer breeze as Max sipped coffee from one of those old tin can coffee mugs they had picked up at a flea market a few days back.
Angst sat cross-legged on a blanket field-stripping the Uzis, which made Frank shake his head and chuckle. Here they were on a beach in North Carolina admiring the summer evening.
Goner was picking stones and seeing how far he could toss them into the water; well, after what had happened in North Africa with the grenade he could use a little practice on throwing.
Aqua and Suki sat on a log reading Manga and both were fan-girling on how different and vastly improved the series The Reverend was in this version of Earth.
Akimoto sat away from the group, sitting on a rock and meditating as usual.
All was quiet and peaceful for the moment, a time to catch one's breath and enjoy the scenery for a change of pace.
"You there yet?" Maggie asked of Max.
"Huh," Max replied.
"Nope, not yet," Maggie stated and she turned to kiss him.
"What brought that on?" he said, as if she needed a reason to.
"Just saying hello to an old friend," she replied. Then she saw the sparkle in his eyes, as if an ancient door was opening, letting light into a room that was completely dark.
"Dammit," Angst said as she looked around the blanket.
"What?" Frank inquired.
"Nevermind," she replied. "I think I left it in the car."
"Want me to get it?" he asked.
"No, I'll do it," she said, getting up. "Besides, I think I have a kink in my leg to work out."
"Well, considering you've been doing that for a while now it would kink up," Frank joked.
Angst stood and headed for the car.
Max had glanced over and then he looked back at Maggie and she just smiled and nodded. "You see it now, don't you."
Angst headed to where the vehicles were parked and she heard a noise and looked to see Max, hovering off the ground.
"What the hell, Max," she said. "You scared the bejesus out of me."
"Angst, you're needed," Max said to her.
"Well, no guff," she chided.
"Take my hand and we'll go," he said as he reached out. "You'll only be gone from here a fraction of a micro-second."
Max and Maggie were lying by the fire, Maggie enjoying the summer breeze as Max sipped coffee from one of those old tin can coffee mugs they had picked up at a flea market a few days back.
Angst sat cross-legged on a blanket field-stripping the Uzis, which made Frank shake his head and chuckle. Here they were on a beach in North Carolina admiring the summer evening.
Goner was picking stones and seeing how far he could toss them into the water; well, after what had happened in North Africa with the grenade he could use a little practice on throwing.
Aqua and Suki sat on a log reading Manga and both were fan-girling on how different and vastly improved the series The Reverend was in this version of Earth.
Akimoto sat away from the group, sitting on a rock and meditating as usual.
All was quiet and peaceful for the moment, a time to catch one's breath and enjoy the scenery for a change of pace.
"You there yet?" Maggie asked of Max.
"Huh," Max replied.
"Nope, not yet," Maggie stated and she turned to kiss him.
"What brought that on?" he said, as if she needed a reason to.
"Just saying hello to an old friend," she replied. Then she saw the sparkle in his eyes, as if an ancient door was opening, letting light into a room that was completely dark.
"Dammit," Angst said as she looked around the blanket.
"What?" Frank inquired.
"Nevermind," she replied. "I think I left it in the car."
"Want me to get it?" he asked.
"No, I'll do it," she said, getting up. "Besides, I think I have a kink in my leg to work out."
"Well, considering you've been doing that for a while now it would kink up," Frank joked.
Angst stood and headed for the car.
Max had glanced over and then he looked back at Maggie and she just smiled and nodded. "You see it now, don't you."
Angst headed to where the vehicles were parked and she heard a noise and looked to see Max, hovering off the ground.
"What the hell, Max," she said. "You scared the bejesus out of me."
"Angst, you're needed," Max said to her.
"Well, no guff," she chided.
"Take my hand and we'll go," he said as he reached out. "You'll only be gone from here a fraction of a micro-second."
20150413
Neo Static: What May Be, What Might Be, What It Is VII
Frank sat at the kitchen counter, reading the paper and sipping away at his coffee. The television was turned on at a low volume, just enough to provide background noise. He glanced at the clock and noticed the time.
"Sweetheart," he called. "We've got to go."
"In a minute," came back the reply.
He took the last sip from his coffee and folded the paper neatly and put it on the counter. He brought the cup to the sink and ran the water over it, gave it a good rinse out and then set it in the sink.
"How's this?"
Frank turned and his mouth fell open.
She stood before him in a cheerleader outfit and her hair in ponytails.
"Oh... my..." he stammered. Seeing his daughter, Angelissa, in her school uniform showed that she was the spitting image of her mother.
"Oh, Dad, I'm so sorry," Angelissa said. She approached him to give him a hug. She could spot the tears building in his eyes. They had lost her mother ten years ago to cancer.
"No, Angel, it's okay," he said. "I wasn't prepared to see you in your new outfit, that's all. I will be there this evening for the game. It's your first performance and I wouldn't miss that for the world."
"Dad? Whose your friend?" Angelissa said as she looked at the counter. Frank turned to see Max there on the other side.
"Jeeze Frank, just how old are you?" Max asked with a sly smile. "The grey in your hair suits you."
"Max!" Frank said. "What the hell? I thought... I thought..."
"Well, that's another Max," Max said. "Or I'm that Max but just not the same Max you knew."
"Dad?" Angelissa questioned.
"Sweet Mother of Mary, she's the spitting image of her mother!" Max said, looking at Angelissa.
"What's happening?" Frank said, snapping Max out of the flashback moment of Angst in his mind.
"I need your magic, Frank," Max stated. "Of all the Franks in the Plex you are the one with the edge."
"Sweetheart," he called. "We've got to go."
"In a minute," came back the reply.
He took the last sip from his coffee and folded the paper neatly and put it on the counter. He brought the cup to the sink and ran the water over it, gave it a good rinse out and then set it in the sink.
"How's this?"
Frank turned and his mouth fell open.
She stood before him in a cheerleader outfit and her hair in ponytails.
"Oh... my..." he stammered. Seeing his daughter, Angelissa, in her school uniform showed that she was the spitting image of her mother.
"Oh, Dad, I'm so sorry," Angelissa said. She approached him to give him a hug. She could spot the tears building in his eyes. They had lost her mother ten years ago to cancer.
"No, Angel, it's okay," he said. "I wasn't prepared to see you in your new outfit, that's all. I will be there this evening for the game. It's your first performance and I wouldn't miss that for the world."
"Dad? Whose your friend?" Angelissa said as she looked at the counter. Frank turned to see Max there on the other side.
"Jeeze Frank, just how old are you?" Max asked with a sly smile. "The grey in your hair suits you."
"Max!" Frank said. "What the hell? I thought... I thought..."
"Well, that's another Max," Max said. "Or I'm that Max but just not the same Max you knew."
"Dad?" Angelissa questioned.
"Sweet Mother of Mary, she's the spitting image of her mother!" Max said, looking at Angelissa.
"What's happening?" Frank said, snapping Max out of the flashback moment of Angst in his mind.
"I need your magic, Frank," Max stated. "Of all the Franks in the Plex you are the one with the edge."
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