Angst was tanning herself, laying out on a lounge chair by a huge pool and
letting the sun caress her body. She was starting to lose that "look"
due to all the shifting in location, and it was good to have
some quiet time.
Maggie climbed out of the pool and grabbed her towel that was hanging on the back of a deck chair next to Angst.
"What
is your name?" Angst asked. The question wasn't meant to intrude but it
was a curious one. "Like, we have some cool handles but you, Max and
Frank just go buy your first names. Is Maggie your real name?"
Maggie stopped what she was doing and looked at Angst. "Why do you ask?"
"I
really want to know who you are..." Angst said; she propped herself up
and stared into Maggie's eyes, trying to read her soul, but couldn't.
"Well, I am who you think I am," Maggie replied with a smile.
20130818
An Unopportune Moment
He glanced down the street from the shadows of the door. He saw no movement. He glanced at his watch; it was getting close to the hour at hand. The sound of a helicopter overhead somewhere brought back dark memories, memories he thought were buried underneath layers of hallucinogenic drugs.
The Future is coming.
Max looked down the street one more time. He unzipped his jacket and then made a dash for it. No sooner had he taken a step out than a bullet zinged over the brownstone.
I knew he'd be waiting.
He made it to the car, drawing out Joy and Pain. Making sure the ladies were dressed to kill, and they were ready to do battle. A window shattered above him, raining down broken glass over him. He knew this hunter all too well; after all, he was a student of his.
ReBoot Alpha
Max's head hurt.
He opened his eyes to find himself sitting on a bench, his mind seemed to be swimming in neurological chaos at the moment. He was trying to get his bearings, he didn't know where he was and how he got there.
This is not good.
The sun was blaring down, his tongue felt like fuzz as he tried to spit but couldn't muster up the saliva to do so. He stood and sat right back down again as vertigo made the world around him turn. He closed his eyes, took several deep breaths and then opened them again.
Better.
He was on a city street, he didn't know which city it was, but at least the sun was shining. His stomach grumbled like a dog does when it's disturbed from a deep sleep, he needed to get a bite to eat and a coffee to chase away the tendrils of the fog that seem to cloud memories of his mind. He glanced around and saw a Chinese restaurant down the street.
It will do.
Lucky Chi's Restaurant was opened for business, Max entered and sat down at the counter. He ordered a coffee from the very pretty waitress, he picked up the menu to see what meal appealed to him today. The door chimed opened and Max did a quick glance at the grungy street kid dressed in a tattered longcoat, the kid had a skateboard tucked under one arm and he was carrying a bible in the other hand. The tattered longcoat had several buttons which declared: Choose Life, Pray Hard, God Loves You (I Might Not Like You).
I should know him. Darius? His name is Darius. He's so young. Am I dreaming?
Max was about to call his name, but then he noticed the big hulking fellow sitting two seats down from him. He had cop written all over him, shaved head, mustache and a goatee to boot and dressed in a long black trench-coat. The badge on his belt didn't hide the fact, as well.
What's going on. What's happening here? Why is this happening again?
Max took a sip from his coffee cup. Memories unlocked and he knew that any moment all hell would break loose, when the woman Wraith will enter through the door and take a seat at the back of the room then the Tongs will enter moments later to demand their "security payment". The scene will play out differently this time, he knew what he was going to do, he was going to play it cool and let everyone have their moment...
He opened his eyes to find himself sitting on a bench, his mind seemed to be swimming in neurological chaos at the moment. He was trying to get his bearings, he didn't know where he was and how he got there.
This is not good.
The sun was blaring down, his tongue felt like fuzz as he tried to spit but couldn't muster up the saliva to do so. He stood and sat right back down again as vertigo made the world around him turn. He closed his eyes, took several deep breaths and then opened them again.
Better.
He was on a city street, he didn't know which city it was, but at least the sun was shining. His stomach grumbled like a dog does when it's disturbed from a deep sleep, he needed to get a bite to eat and a coffee to chase away the tendrils of the fog that seem to cloud memories of his mind. He glanced around and saw a Chinese restaurant down the street.
It will do.
Lucky Chi's Restaurant was opened for business, Max entered and sat down at the counter. He ordered a coffee from the very pretty waitress, he picked up the menu to see what meal appealed to him today. The door chimed opened and Max did a quick glance at the grungy street kid dressed in a tattered longcoat, the kid had a skateboard tucked under one arm and he was carrying a bible in the other hand. The tattered longcoat had several buttons which declared: Choose Life, Pray Hard, God Loves You (I Might Not Like You).
I should know him. Darius? His name is Darius. He's so young. Am I dreaming?
Max was about to call his name, but then he noticed the big hulking fellow sitting two seats down from him. He had cop written all over him, shaved head, mustache and a goatee to boot and dressed in a long black trench-coat. The badge on his belt didn't hide the fact, as well.
What's going on. What's happening here? Why is this happening again?
Max took a sip from his coffee cup. Memories unlocked and he knew that any moment all hell would break loose, when the woman Wraith will enter through the door and take a seat at the back of the room then the Tongs will enter moments later to demand their "security payment". The scene will play out differently this time, he knew what he was going to do, he was going to play it cool and let everyone have their moment...
> Karen in Plureality
She sat up slowly, the pounding of her head confirming it wasn’t a
dream. Had she dropped in or was it up. Hard to tell here. Max had said
“Drop in anytime, Raven.” But she hadn’t imagined it to be so literal.
I’ll kick his ass, next time I see him, she thought. Never trust a man.
It was dark and she waited for her eyes to adjust. Nope. Nothing. Damn! She fished in her pocket for her keys and squinted her eyes, waiting for the flash of light that exploded from the tiny fob. It hovered above her and she looked around in the brightness. Vast expanses of grid lay before her in all directions.
Leave it to Max. Men and their toys. She walked toward a slight dip in the grid and the light followed her. Ok Max, this is slightly boring, even for you. As she approached, a box with a set of doors rose from the grid. Oh, goodie, some excitement!
Seeing no handle or button, she stood in front of them and they opened to reveal an empty box. She stepped inside and felt the box rise quickly and then drop with a thud.
Doors opened and Max stood on the other side, smiling. “Thanks for dropping in, Raven.”
She flipped the mass of red curls, which had become tangled in the drop, and her black eyes stared at him. “You’re such a funny guy, Max. I hope whatever you have to show me is a lot more exciting than this.”
He laughed at his friend and motioned her to follow.
I’ll kick his ass, next time I see him, she thought. Never trust a man.
It was dark and she waited for her eyes to adjust. Nope. Nothing. Damn! She fished in her pocket for her keys and squinted her eyes, waiting for the flash of light that exploded from the tiny fob. It hovered above her and she looked around in the brightness. Vast expanses of grid lay before her in all directions.
Leave it to Max. Men and their toys. She walked toward a slight dip in the grid and the light followed her. Ok Max, this is slightly boring, even for you. As she approached, a box with a set of doors rose from the grid. Oh, goodie, some excitement!
Seeing no handle or button, she stood in front of them and they opened to reveal an empty box. She stepped inside and felt the box rise quickly and then drop with a thud.
Doors opened and Max stood on the other side, smiling. “Thanks for dropping in, Raven.”
She flipped the mass of red curls, which had become tangled in the drop, and her black eyes stared at him. “You’re such a funny guy, Max. I hope whatever you have to show me is a lot more exciting than this.”
He laughed at his friend and motioned her to follow.
20130816
The Prisoner of Time
INT. PRISON CELL - DAY
Light breaks through the window in a cell over the face of MAX CUBE causing him to break out of a trance. MAX is sitting in a lotus position in the middle of the cell; it is dark and musty. MAX's hair is long and his face has a growth of a beard.
MAX stands and stretches. He goes to the sink and splashes some water on his face. He reaches up and grabs a razor, holding it in his hands and glancing long and hard into the mirror. A smile cracks his face.
INT. PRISON BLOCK WALKWAY - DAY
TWO PRISON GUARDS walk down a cell block.
VETERAN GUARD:
Well kid, today is your first day on the job and you get to meet our very own celebrity on his way out.
ROOKIE GUARD:
A celebrity?
VETERAN GUARD:
The great Max Cube.
ROOKIE GUARD:
You mean Max Cube is here?
VETERAN:
Well for the next 33 minutes he is.
INT. PRISON CELL - WALL
A hand tears down a picture of MAX standing next to the Great Wall of China with a can of spray-paint in his hands.
INT. BLOCK - DAY
VETERAN GUARD
The man is considered a legend and a myth. He's been here so long that the world has forgotten all about him. You know the day he arrived there were hundreds of reporters standing out there; heck, he even had his own fan club that stood outside and waited to catch a glimpse of him.
INT. PRISON CELL - WALL
A hand takes down a picture of MAX standing on the ledge of the Grand Canyon. He is holding a pop can over the ledge ready to drop it while looking at the camera.
INT. BLOCK - DAY
ROOKIE GUARD
You mean the shanty just on the other side of the road? They are his fans?
VETERAN GUARD
They be the ones.
The two GUARDS approach MAX's cell. MAX, with his back turned, is dressed in a nice light blue shirt and funky black tie. He turns as he hears the key slide into the lock and the tumblers inside working.
VETERAN GUARD
Well Max, it's time to get that smoke you always wanted.
MAX:
It's been hell.
Light breaks through the window in a cell over the face of MAX CUBE causing him to break out of a trance. MAX is sitting in a lotus position in the middle of the cell; it is dark and musty. MAX's hair is long and his face has a growth of a beard.
MAX stands and stretches. He goes to the sink and splashes some water on his face. He reaches up and grabs a razor, holding it in his hands and glancing long and hard into the mirror. A smile cracks his face.
INT. PRISON BLOCK WALKWAY - DAY
TWO PRISON GUARDS walk down a cell block.
VETERAN GUARD:
Well kid, today is your first day on the job and you get to meet our very own celebrity on his way out.
ROOKIE GUARD:
A celebrity?
VETERAN GUARD:
The great Max Cube.
ROOKIE GUARD:
You mean Max Cube is here?
VETERAN:
Well for the next 33 minutes he is.
INT. PRISON CELL - WALL
A hand tears down a picture of MAX standing next to the Great Wall of China with a can of spray-paint in his hands.
INT. BLOCK - DAY
VETERAN GUARD
The man is considered a legend and a myth. He's been here so long that the world has forgotten all about him. You know the day he arrived there were hundreds of reporters standing out there; heck, he even had his own fan club that stood outside and waited to catch a glimpse of him.
INT. PRISON CELL - WALL
A hand takes down a picture of MAX standing on the ledge of the Grand Canyon. He is holding a pop can over the ledge ready to drop it while looking at the camera.
INT. BLOCK - DAY
ROOKIE GUARD
You mean the shanty just on the other side of the road? They are his fans?
VETERAN GUARD
They be the ones.
The two GUARDS approach MAX's cell. MAX, with his back turned, is dressed in a nice light blue shirt and funky black tie. He turns as he hears the key slide into the lock and the tumblers inside working.
VETERAN GUARD
Well Max, it's time to get that smoke you always wanted.
MAX:
It's been hell.
The Mall Moll
It was Wednesday evening and the Mall was practically empty; you could hear the music playing, echoing throughout the building. It was tuned to an 80's station and some powerful songs were being blasted from the past, like a visit from an old friend.
Mags was sitting at the fountain. Her shoes off and she was resting. It had been a hard day and she needed this time just for her. It amazed her that she could take pleasure in doing the simple things in life, like taking her shoes off and wiggling her toes in a near-dead mall.
Nu Shooz kicked on and a smile visited her face. The music was calling to her, beckoning her like a lover, making her sway to the beat. A couple of tween girls strolled past her and paid her no attention; they were off in their own universes and were oblivious to anything not involving them. But her actions were rather infectious, since one of the other store clerks who was standing at the entrance began to move to the beat of a passed generation.
Mags left the parcels on the bench and stood, letting the beat sway her. A rapture unlike anything else she had felt in a while. Mouthing the words to the song, and as if on cue, or by her sheer will, the music turned up a notch. The call of the music was too strong, and like a bagel with cream cheese it was too good to resist.
She let the beat consume her.
The Reality Show
CAMERA ON. Sound on.
MAX checking the clips in his guns. The rest of the team are preparing to move. We see FRANK scanning the horizon. GONER is picking up a shoulder bag. ANGST is leaning against a rock, with a bowie knife in hand.
Camera focuses in on Max.
MAX
(to camera)
Clean body, clean mind.
Max grins and changes his socks.
MAX
I really don't know what I could tell you at the moment.
Max balls up the dirty socks and puts them in his jacket pocket.
MAX
(to camera)
Bear with me okay?
FRANK (O.S.)
In a couple of hours they would be hard as rock and he could use them as lethal weapons.
Max laughs.
HOST
I've been meaning to ask you, why do you change your socks before battle?
MAX
It's a ritual.
HOST
Does it work?
MAX
I'm still here aren't I?
HOST
Ah. So can you recap what we are doing here at the moment?
MAX
There's a group of Quiks nestled up in the building there.
Camera pans to a devastated building. Zooms in on something peering out, but before the camera comes into focus the something disappears. The camera pans around.
MAX (cont.)
They have several hostages that they are going to feed on. What we are doing here is a little rescue.
HOST
You think it's a wise idea to go storming in the front door?
MAX
We don't have that much time. They could have already killed and eaten one or two of them already.
Camera pans to HOST who has a disgusted look on their face. The Host just points to Max as if to order the Camera back to Max.
Frank comes into the shot and up to Max.
FRANK
Maggie's in place. She's ready to rock when we are.
MAX
(to camera)
Well, let's earn some ratings now.
There is laughter off screen.
MAX checking the clips in his guns. The rest of the team are preparing to move. We see FRANK scanning the horizon. GONER is picking up a shoulder bag. ANGST is leaning against a rock, with a bowie knife in hand.
Camera focuses in on Max.
MAX
(to camera)
Clean body, clean mind.
Max grins and changes his socks.
MAX
I really don't know what I could tell you at the moment.
Max balls up the dirty socks and puts them in his jacket pocket.
MAX
(to camera)
Bear with me okay?
FRANK (O.S.)
In a couple of hours they would be hard as rock and he could use them as lethal weapons.
Max laughs.
HOST
I've been meaning to ask you, why do you change your socks before battle?
MAX
It's a ritual.
HOST
Does it work?
MAX
I'm still here aren't I?
HOST
Ah. So can you recap what we are doing here at the moment?
MAX
There's a group of Quiks nestled up in the building there.
Camera pans to a devastated building. Zooms in on something peering out, but before the camera comes into focus the something disappears. The camera pans around.
MAX (cont.)
They have several hostages that they are going to feed on. What we are doing here is a little rescue.
HOST
You think it's a wise idea to go storming in the front door?
MAX
We don't have that much time. They could have already killed and eaten one or two of them already.
Camera pans to HOST who has a disgusted look on their face. The Host just points to Max as if to order the Camera back to Max.
Frank comes into the shot and up to Max.
FRANK
Maggie's in place. She's ready to rock when we are.
MAX
(to camera)
Well, let's earn some ratings now.
There is laughter off screen.
20130815
The Feng Shui Do?
The
corner store was practically empty, except for the cashier who stood
behind the counter glancing up at the television in the corner, as
Maggie walked through the door. Chimes rang out drawing the attention
of the cashier who just gave a quick glance at the lady at the door, and
then back onto the television set.
Maggie paused at the door, scanning for what she was looking for. She saw the coolers in the back and made her way there.
The cashier was focused on the game on the screen. He had good money on his team and they were behind.
The cooler was cool and comforting, and the chilled air rushed out to greet Maggie as she opened the door. She reached for a Ginger Ale and as her finger touched the cool glass the chimes jingled.
Maggie turned in
time to see three men enter. All of them hands in pockets and scanning
the place; two of the men noticed her standing by the cooler while the
lead walked up to the counter, taking something small and dangerous
from his pocket and pointing it at the cashier.
"Why can't I just have a moment just to enjoy a soda?" Maggie muttered to herself. "That's all I'm asking."
Flashforward
I am who I am.
The fall of Saigon was nothing compared to this. His head swimming with a current of alcohol. He wasn't sure what was going on but he knew that his mind was quiet and foggy like a pre-dawn London.
Max lay in the motel room, naked and sweating, watching the ceiling fan rotating around and around and around and around. He felt like Martin Sheen filming his part in a Francis Ford Coppola movie before the big bug out.
Am I mad?
His attention diverted as an naked woman strolled from the other room. Max looked up at the ceiling fan again.
This must be hell.
In the other room he could hear the sounds of lust emanating from a half-open door. Some girl was telling some guy that she loved it like that. Max closed his eyes, his mind drifting millions of realities away.
"Yo Max."
Max's eyes flickered open. Momentarily lost in the void, he was laying on a couch with the remote in hand.
"Yes?" Max questioned Frank.
"I'm going out to grab a java, wanted to know if you wanted one?" Frank asked. He was slipping into his loafers.
"Java?" Max said; he was still trying to grasp the scene change. "How long was I here?"
"All night bud," Frank replied; he stood up and grabbed his jacket. "You want anything?"
"Ummm," Max began, he swung his feet onto the floor. "I'll think I'll tag along."
The Boots are the Thing
The next thing Goner saw were stars and then he fell flat on his ass.
The one punch was a world of pain, full of force and harmful intent. It
staggered him a bit and left him momentarily stunned before the ground
called to him.
The room turned from jovial to an icy cold silence and everyone turned to see what was going on. Max paused the game he was playing and made no move to intervene.
Maggie stood over Goner, looking down upon him, her right fist clenched and the look of anger in her eyes made Goner cringe like a frightened child. He had never Maggie this angry before and he didn't want to set her off again.
"What did I say?" Goner asked. He was rubbing his jaw and he spat out a little blood.
"Bitch boots!" Maggie said. "Do not say those words one more time because they are derogatory and have serious implications."
On that note Maggie turned around and walked out the door wearing long leather boots; the soles of the boots on the hardwood floor were the only sound everyone could hear.
The room turned from jovial to an icy cold silence and everyone turned to see what was going on. Max paused the game he was playing and made no move to intervene.
Maggie stood over Goner, looking down upon him, her right fist clenched and the look of anger in her eyes made Goner cringe like a frightened child. He had never Maggie this angry before and he didn't want to set her off again.
"What did I say?" Goner asked. He was rubbing his jaw and he spat out a little blood.
"Bitch boots!" Maggie said. "Do not say those words one more time because they are derogatory and have serious implications."
On that note Maggie turned around and walked out the door wearing long leather boots; the soles of the boots on the hardwood floor were the only sound everyone could hear.
20130814
The Messenger Summoned
FADE IN:
INT. PARKING GARAGE - NIGHT
The garage has several luxury cars in the bays. MAX is leaning up against a pillar that has a No Smoking sign on it. A cigarette dangles from his lips. He glances at his chronometer: 9:13pm.
The sound of a car pulling in from the entrance. Max sees a black sedan pull up in front of him. It stops and a GUARD from the front passenger side gets out and opens the back door.
CONTROL (V.O)
Come now Mr. Cube, we don't have much time.
MAX
I'm here as requested.
MAX steps from the shadows to reveal his face.
CONTROL
Ah Max. It's good to see you again.
CUBE
It's been awhile. But I gather we're not here to discuss old times are we?
CONTROL
Alright then. Let's cut to the chase.
CUBE
Let's.
CONTROL
A shift is in process and I need you to relay a message to me once it does.
MAX shuts his eyes in pain.
MAX
Please ...
(looks at Control)
CONTROL
It's something that needs to be done. The fates of otherwhens depends on this.
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