Max looked up and smiled at the waitress as she walked away from the
table. She gave him a wink and he nodded his appreciation of not having
to call her for a cup of coffee.
"Still got the charm," Pretty said
as he slid into the seat. He was dripping in sweat and his long coat
seemed to be bulging with items. Though Max could see that Pretty was
pretty comfortable.
"Yep," Max replied, then he took a sip of coffee. "What have you got for me?"
"Something
new and exciting," Pretty said as he put a cloth bag on the table. He
pushed it towards Max. "Got it from a fallen LEGACY cell team. Got
there before the blue boys could make the scene."
Max didn't bother on opening the bag just yet. He had good judgement in Pretty's observational technique.
"You
let me know how it works," George said as he slid out of the seat.
"Sorry to make this quick but I got a deal going on the other side of
the river."
"Thanks, Pretty," Max said.
20131025
The Mission is the Key...
Twip.
The sentry didn't know what hit him as the bullet entered his skull and mushroomed out the side of his head.
He fell over faster than the cigarette that tumbled from his mouth.
"One down and about a million more to go," Mags announced over the headset. She changed targets to the next sentry.
"Stick to the game plan." The Professor's voice was crisp and clear. "No deviations at this point. Stay focused."
"Don't you ever sleep?" Mags asked the Professor.
"I don't think he ever does," Angst said. She was dressed in black like Mags, in a skin-tight spandex suit, which made her look more like an X-man than a cheerleader. "I think he should switch to decaf."
Mags chuckled a little.
"Quit the static." The Professor's voice had an severe edge to it. "You know what this mission means."
"Must be that time of month for him," Angst replied to Mags.
The sentry didn't know what hit him as the bullet entered his skull and mushroomed out the side of his head.
He fell over faster than the cigarette that tumbled from his mouth.
"One down and about a million more to go," Mags announced over the headset. She changed targets to the next sentry.
"Stick to the game plan." The Professor's voice was crisp and clear. "No deviations at this point. Stay focused."
"Don't you ever sleep?" Mags asked the Professor.
"I don't think he ever does," Angst said. She was dressed in black like Mags, in a skin-tight spandex suit, which made her look more like an X-man than a cheerleader. "I think he should switch to decaf."
Mags chuckled a little.
"Quit the static." The Professor's voice had an severe edge to it. "You know what this mission means."
"Must be that time of month for him," Angst replied to Mags.
Let Sleeping Max Sleep
"Rise and shine Max," Frank's voice seemed to echo from a distant tunnel,
rousing Max from his sleep. Fleeting memories of what was happening
disappeared like ripples in a water.
Max opened his eyes and looked around the subway car. He checked his watch and to his amazement he had slept six hours.
"You've been sawing logs for a while," Frank said.
"What's going on?" Max asked.
"Not too sure at the moment, the others are gone out to scout things around," Frank replied. "Tried to get you up earlier but you were in a deep sleep."
Max opened his eyes and looked around the subway car. He checked his watch and to his amazement he had slept six hours.
"You've been sawing logs for a while," Frank said.
"What's going on?" Max asked.
"Not too sure at the moment, the others are gone out to scout things around," Frank replied. "Tried to get you up earlier but you were in a deep sleep."
> Debashis in Plureality 4
Suki was what they called “wisely innocent”, a soul
who presented as rather young but in reality, was ages beyond others.
It’s just that she would come across as naïve.
Max never felt sorry for her, but wanted to protect her. That was hard because she had her own little chaos and Max was chaos personified. Some days. Most nights.
Suki and Max, at some star-crossed time, had this mutual-protection-unspoken-pact between them that led them both to the brink of destruction – well, while Suki tended to come to the edge because of Max, Max led himself there rather often. They’d get to the edge, get nearly destroyed, and then walk away, with some bruises and cuts and scrapes, and maybe missing a limb.
Max would recover and get into some adventure again (more likely a ‘situation’) and Suki would rise to some other level of maturity or development or awareness or consciousness or some something self-aggrandizing like that. Except she would not really see herself that way. But deep down in her versions, her selves, her plurealities, she grew deeper and deeper, older and older, wiser and wiser.
To you and me, she was just Suki, someone to watch as she negotiated her way through the stars, someone who was cute, but in that ‘little kid’ kind of way – maybe like a little sister – a little sister who could just as easily pull an Uzi or furnish a switchblade to slit your jugular.
How can you want to be near someone to protect them and yet at the same time, be a little scared of them? That’s Suki. Cute and Cutting.
Max never felt sorry for her, but wanted to protect her. That was hard because she had her own little chaos and Max was chaos personified. Some days. Most nights.
Suki and Max, at some star-crossed time, had this mutual-protection-unspoken-pact between them that led them both to the brink of destruction – well, while Suki tended to come to the edge because of Max, Max led himself there rather often. They’d get to the edge, get nearly destroyed, and then walk away, with some bruises and cuts and scrapes, and maybe missing a limb.
Max would recover and get into some adventure again (more likely a ‘situation’) and Suki would rise to some other level of maturity or development or awareness or consciousness or some something self-aggrandizing like that. Except she would not really see herself that way. But deep down in her versions, her selves, her plurealities, she grew deeper and deeper, older and older, wiser and wiser.
To you and me, she was just Suki, someone to watch as she negotiated her way through the stars, someone who was cute, but in that ‘little kid’ kind of way – maybe like a little sister – a little sister who could just as easily pull an Uzi or furnish a switchblade to slit your jugular.
How can you want to be near someone to protect them and yet at the same time, be a little scared of them? That’s Suki. Cute and Cutting.
Trio of Death
Trump waited outside the door to the building. He was sitting there
waiting; soon as the door opened he would see who was coming out.
It had been awhile since somebody stepped through the door, and he was getting a tad impatient. It wasn't like he had anything else better to do today.
He heard the splash of footsteps coming down the alley. He glanced up and saw three teenaged girls running, giggling as they did so.
He just sat there licking his paws and did a double-take as the girls slowed down and began to draw weapons. He stopped what he was doing and looked over the girls once again.
They all had stopped by the door and were positioning themselves for an ambush of sorts.
It's times like these I wish I had a cellphone, Trump thought.
It had been awhile since somebody stepped through the door, and he was getting a tad impatient. It wasn't like he had anything else better to do today.
He heard the splash of footsteps coming down the alley. He glanced up and saw three teenaged girls running, giggling as they did so.
He just sat there licking his paws and did a double-take as the girls slowed down and began to draw weapons. He stopped what he was doing and looked over the girls once again.
They all had stopped by the door and were positioning themselves for an ambush of sorts.
It's times like these I wish I had a cellphone, Trump thought.
Coffee and a Donut?
"It's gone downhill since then," Frank replied. He pushed the coffee cup
towards the waitress. She flashed him a smile and he winked back as she
refilled his cup.
Goner was sipping his cola. He wasn't much of a coffee drinker, and he couldn't fathom why anyone would drink oil from beans to begin with.
"You mean you guys tanked out?" Goner asked.
"Not really," Frank replied after he took a sip from the coffee.
"Then what?" questioned Goner.
"Well," Frank said once the waitress was out of earshot. "It's just that it just went bat-shit crazy from that point on. You know the weird stuff we encountered in the Plaza Station?"
Goner nodded.
"Imagine that about tenfold," Frank said.
"No way," Goner said breathlessly.
The doors chimed and Max entered. He spotted the two and went over to the table. He didn't even have to signal the waitress for a coffee because she was automatically pouring one. Goner looked up at Max and shook his head in disbelief.
"You told him?" Max asked of Frank as he slid into the booth alongside him.
"Well, just the basics," Frank replied. "I really didn't go into detail."
"You had to been there, Gondy" Max said.
Goner was sipping his cola. He wasn't much of a coffee drinker, and he couldn't fathom why anyone would drink oil from beans to begin with.
"You mean you guys tanked out?" Goner asked.
"Not really," Frank replied after he took a sip from the coffee.
"Then what?" questioned Goner.
"Well," Frank said once the waitress was out of earshot. "It's just that it just went bat-shit crazy from that point on. You know the weird stuff we encountered in the Plaza Station?"
Goner nodded.
"Imagine that about tenfold," Frank said.
"No way," Goner said breathlessly.
The doors chimed and Max entered. He spotted the two and went over to the table. He didn't even have to signal the waitress for a coffee because she was automatically pouring one. Goner looked up at Max and shook his head in disbelief.
"You told him?" Max asked of Frank as he slid into the booth alongside him.
"Well, just the basics," Frank replied. "I really didn't go into detail."
"You had to been there, Gondy" Max said.
The Item is the Key...
Max let himself into his room and locked the door. He reached inside his shirt pocket and put a small item on the dresser. The item was like a small ball with a few small switches on it, and lettering that seemed very archaic.
He went to the window and glanced around before he pulled the curtains shut. There was no one in the parking lot.
He poured himself a drink and then sat down at the edge of the bed, looking at the item. He took a long sip and then picked up his cellphone and dialed a number.
"It's me," he said. "I have it."
He went to the window and glanced around before he pulled the curtains shut. There was no one in the parking lot.
He poured himself a drink and then sat down at the edge of the bed, looking at the item. He took a long sip and then picked up his cellphone and dialed a number.
"It's me," he said. "I have it."
20131024
The Sound of Dreams Clashing
Mags awoke to the sound of someone entering her bedroom window; she slowly reached underneath her bed and unsheathed her katana.
"It's just me, Maggie," Suki said as she slipped into the room like an untrained assassin on her first mission.
"Suki, are you trying to get yourself killed?" Mags asked as she sat up. Mags was naked and covered in sweat.
"Just seeing if I could do that, is all," Suki said with a sly smile, like a fox who knew a secret way into a hen house. "Besides, we have somewhere important to go and I'm hungry and you're buying."
Mags thought better than to cleave Suki in half, and looked around to find her clothes.
"Do you mind if I shower first?" Mags asked.
"Well, okay," Suki replied. She was looking around Mags room and studying some of the pictures that were hung about. Nothing to show the personality of Mags, just visual items pleasant to the eyes.
"Did you dream?" Suki asked.
This made Mags pause a second, and thinking about the last few seconds before being awoken and she couldn't remember if she had dreamed or not. She presumed she did but over time just tuned out the visceral images. "No," she said.
Mags got up and stretched and headed to the bathroom.
"I dreamed I was a marble rolling through an open field," Suki said; she had leaned forward and peered at a picture. "Off in the distance there was this lighthouse. It was an old one and painted like a candy cane. You know the red and white swirl."
"Interesting," Mags called out.
"I wonder if that means anything? I really don't remember my dreams at all, just bits of images, but this one stood clear out when I woke up this morning." Suki stopped by the dresser and looked at a cameo that was there. She picked it up and looked at closely. It was old and beautiful and it looked like it had been through a hundred battles.
"Nice cameo," Suki said. "How long have you had it?"
"It's been with me for a while," Mags replied. "It was gived to me by a special friend."
"Who was he?"
"Not a he. A she," Mags replied.
"It's just me, Maggie," Suki said as she slipped into the room like an untrained assassin on her first mission.
"Suki, are you trying to get yourself killed?" Mags asked as she sat up. Mags was naked and covered in sweat.
"Just seeing if I could do that, is all," Suki said with a sly smile, like a fox who knew a secret way into a hen house. "Besides, we have somewhere important to go and I'm hungry and you're buying."
Mags thought better than to cleave Suki in half, and looked around to find her clothes.
"Do you mind if I shower first?" Mags asked.
"Well, okay," Suki replied. She was looking around Mags room and studying some of the pictures that were hung about. Nothing to show the personality of Mags, just visual items pleasant to the eyes.
"Did you dream?" Suki asked.
This made Mags pause a second, and thinking about the last few seconds before being awoken and she couldn't remember if she had dreamed or not. She presumed she did but over time just tuned out the visceral images. "No," she said.
Mags got up and stretched and headed to the bathroom.
"I dreamed I was a marble rolling through an open field," Suki said; she had leaned forward and peered at a picture. "Off in the distance there was this lighthouse. It was an old one and painted like a candy cane. You know the red and white swirl."
"Interesting," Mags called out.
"I wonder if that means anything? I really don't remember my dreams at all, just bits of images, but this one stood clear out when I woke up this morning." Suki stopped by the dresser and looked at a cameo that was there. She picked it up and looked at closely. It was old and beautiful and it looked like it had been through a hundred battles.
"Nice cameo," Suki said. "How long have you had it?"
"It's been with me for a while," Mags replied. "It was gived to me by a special friend."
"Who was he?"
"Not a he. A she," Mags replied.
The Falling Shade of Light
"You are really beginning to tick me off," Max growled as he
crossed the room and snatched Verdi's collar and lifted him off the
ground.
The little bald headed man didn't seem to be taken aback by this predicament.
"You're too late, Max," Verdi sneered. "You lose. I win."
"It hasn't gone into effect yet, you could shut it down," Max snapped. He brought the man's face close to his and sneered.
"Not likely," Verdi said with an amusing chuckle.
"Call it off," Max barked. "This is your last chance."
Verdi smiled at Max and said, "It's out of my hands."
Max dropped Verdi to the ground like a man who had touched something that was rotted and covered in maggots and he brought up a pistol.
"What, are you going to shoot me now?" Verdi asked. "Kill an unarmed man?"
Max looked Verdi in the eyes and snarled just before he pulled the trigger.
The little bald headed man didn't seem to be taken aback by this predicament.
"You're too late, Max," Verdi sneered. "You lose. I win."
"It hasn't gone into effect yet, you could shut it down," Max snapped. He brought the man's face close to his and sneered.
"Not likely," Verdi said with an amusing chuckle.
"Call it off," Max barked. "This is your last chance."
Verdi smiled at Max and said, "It's out of my hands."
Max dropped Verdi to the ground like a man who had touched something that was rotted and covered in maggots and he brought up a pistol.
"What, are you going to shoot me now?" Verdi asked. "Kill an unarmed man?"
Max looked Verdi in the eyes and snarled just before he pulled the trigger.
The Disbelief
"Oh really now?" Mags said as she left the bar. "Do you think everything would be as simple as that?"
Goner shrugged. "I'm quite sure about this ---" He pulled a pair of dice out of his jacket pocket "--- and as soon as they come up snake eyes then the portal opens."
Mags rolled her eyes. "Did this fellow happen have some magic beans as well?"
Goner shrugged. "I'm quite sure about this ---" He pulled a pair of dice out of his jacket pocket "--- and as soon as they come up snake eyes then the portal opens."
Mags rolled her eyes. "Did this fellow happen have some magic beans as well?"
Dancing Dogs
The nightclub was packed. The beautiful people were on the ground floor,
gyrating and grinding to the latest techno-beat from a mana spinner.
The magic was high and intense and Max could feel that vibe and he
cracked a little smile.
Max stood on the upper tier looking down upon the dancing beast below. His cigarette stuck in his mouth and he was listening to the music, as well. He could spot Suki in the crowd, she was having a really good time.
Max was amazed that the doormen even let her in the establishment in the first place. Since she looked like she should be at the library leafing through reference books for an essay.
"So what's up Max?" Mags asked as she placed a hand gently upon his shoulder.
"Nothing," Max said. "Everything."
"Something eating at you?" Mags asked. She turned his face towards her, and she could read it in his eyes. "Yes there is."
Max let out a sigh.
Max stood on the upper tier looking down upon the dancing beast below. His cigarette stuck in his mouth and he was listening to the music, as well. He could spot Suki in the crowd, she was having a really good time.
Max was amazed that the doormen even let her in the establishment in the first place. Since she looked like she should be at the library leafing through reference books for an essay.
"So what's up Max?" Mags asked as she placed a hand gently upon his shoulder.
"Nothing," Max said. "Everything."
"Something eating at you?" Mags asked. She turned his face towards her, and she could read it in his eyes. "Yes there is."
Max let out a sigh.
The Ritual of Gates & Portals
Max went into the bathroom and looked down beside the toilet and saw the plunger standing there. He reached down and picked it up. He searched underneath the sink and picked out a few items, glass cleaner, some all purpose cleanser and a tube of toothpaste.
He brought all these items back to the living room window. He placed them down on a coffee table and he took the glass cleaner and sprayed the front window, and he wiped it clean spotless.
He stuck the plunger against the glass. And then he unscrewed the tube of toothpaste and began drawing a swirling circle around the plunger, all the while muttering several lines from what appeared to be a Chemical Bros song.
Once the tube was rolled up, he tossed that into a waste-paper basket and grabbed the all purpose cleanser. He sprayed it lightly along the shaft of the plunger, meanwhile reciting something that could have been taken from a Fatboy Slim song.
He took his cellphone from the table and he punched in a series of numbers, as he aimed the antenna towards the centre.
"Come on baby, work," he said.
His thumb danced over the numbers pad, making a melodic tune over and over again. He stood there for several long minutes, as sweat began to pour from his forehead.
That's when he saw the window begin to go static like an old TV does when it's first turned on.
He brought all these items back to the living room window. He placed them down on a coffee table and he took the glass cleaner and sprayed the front window, and he wiped it clean spotless.
He stuck the plunger against the glass. And then he unscrewed the tube of toothpaste and began drawing a swirling circle around the plunger, all the while muttering several lines from what appeared to be a Chemical Bros song.
Once the tube was rolled up, he tossed that into a waste-paper basket and grabbed the all purpose cleanser. He sprayed it lightly along the shaft of the plunger, meanwhile reciting something that could have been taken from a Fatboy Slim song.
He took his cellphone from the table and he punched in a series of numbers, as he aimed the antenna towards the centre.
"Come on baby, work," he said.
His thumb danced over the numbers pad, making a melodic tune over and over again. He stood there for several long minutes, as sweat began to pour from his forehead.
That's when he saw the window begin to go static like an old TV does when it's first turned on.
*Carry On My Wayward Max*
Time: 5:00pm
Date: October 23, 1977
Place: a NYC Subway Platform
Max felt uneasy each time he walked down the steps to the subway. It seemed like something evil and drastic was going to happen. He really didn't know why he felt this way about it, it could have been a traumatic incident in the past that he had mentally blocked and the residues break through the cracks now and then.
He took the last cigarette from the pack and he crumbled it up and tossed it in the trash bin next to the turnstile. He dropped a token into the slot and slid through the device with a satisfying click. He spotted vending machines ahead and saw the cigarette one. He hoped it had stocked his brand in there, and he was relieved to see that it was. He slide several coins into the machine and heard the coins make their way into the belly of the beast. Then he pulled the lever and like magic his cigarettes where there.
"You know those will eventually kill you," said a young fellow. He was dressed up in a tattered long jacket that was hiding torn jeans and a stained t-shirt. The kid also had a bible tucked underneath his arm.
Great, Max thought. A holy roller.
The kid gave him a wink knowingly.
Date: October 23, 1977
Place: a NYC Subway Platform
Max felt uneasy each time he walked down the steps to the subway. It seemed like something evil and drastic was going to happen. He really didn't know why he felt this way about it, it could have been a traumatic incident in the past that he had mentally blocked and the residues break through the cracks now and then.
He took the last cigarette from the pack and he crumbled it up and tossed it in the trash bin next to the turnstile. He dropped a token into the slot and slid through the device with a satisfying click. He spotted vending machines ahead and saw the cigarette one. He hoped it had stocked his brand in there, and he was relieved to see that it was. He slide several coins into the machine and heard the coins make their way into the belly of the beast. Then he pulled the lever and like magic his cigarettes where there.
"You know those will eventually kill you," said a young fellow. He was dressed up in a tattered long jacket that was hiding torn jeans and a stained t-shirt. The kid also had a bible tucked underneath his arm.
Great, Max thought. A holy roller.
The kid gave him a wink knowingly.
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