Glitch

Angst sat on the edge of the bed, applying a damp cloth to Max's forehead. He was covered in sweat, and his eyes behind his eyelids moved like satellites falling from the skies.

"He's glitching again," she yelled.

Run Through The Jungle

He didn't know what the hell had happened and he didn't care at the moment. His shirt was tattered and stained, as well as his pants. He had been on the go for several hours now. The thing of it all was that he wasn't tired, no aches, no pains and forever on the go.

Over the intercom he heard voices. 

"He's over there," someone yelled.

"Here noobie, noobie, noobie," one taunted. "We're gonna get you!"

He checked Pain & Joy to see how much rounds he had left.

The funny thing is they were always loaded.

Magenta Code

1      1     0     1     0     
[  op  |  rs |  rt |  rd |shunt| funct]  R-type ii
[  op  |  rs |  rt | address//immediate] I-type ii
[  op  |        target address//insert]  J-type ii

project: initiated. send code. 

//one eight zero one//

10: activate

20: go to 10

Kentow, Africa, 1801

Usha Bu ran through the thickets, the thorns tearing at her exposed skin. She didn't care, she just wanted to get away from the men who where chasing her. There was a sound of thunder rumbling in the distance, or that could be hearing her blood pumping through her ears.

She was sure she was going to get caught.

There was a flash of light ahead of her, she stopped in her tracks, figuring the men with the torches had forced her way here. She was resigned to give up but then she noticed the light fade and her eyes widened in surprise as she saw...

ONE DOCUMENT OF ONE - 2

TOP SECRET
 
EYES ONLY
 
ONE DOCUMENT OF ONE.
 
to: DIRECTOR


BURN AFTER READING.
 
CUBE PROTOCOL INITIATED.
 
SOFTWARE SEEMS GLITCHED.

SUGGEST MAGENTA CODE.
 
UPDATE REPORT WILL BE SENT ON THE HOUR.
 
END TRANSMISSION.




ks/jl

Reflections Of You And Maybe Me

Max blinked his eyes again, looking into the mirror, slightly older, looking mature, with a week old beard and his hair thinning. He blinked again and here he was a slightly younger version of himself, looking like a 19 year old kid with a full head of hair, his eyes a pale green colour.

"What the KLF is happening!" he shouted. His right hand balled up into a fist and he slammed it into the mirror, shattering it.

Toggle

He really didn't know what was going on at the moment; his head ached, sounding like a combination of drone and static, and his nose was stuffed up and plugged as if from an allergic reaction to something, and also he had coughed up so much phlegm that he thought, just for a quick second, that he should see a doctor. The phlegm was clear and not black, which he thought was a pretty good sign.

Angst walked into the room, carrying a tray; on it he saw soup and a huge glass of orange juice. She looked angelic, he thought he could see an aura about her, through his itchy eyes.

"Frank says you've been moody lately," Angst said as she placed the tray in front of him. "I've brought you some good old fashioned homemade cure that will battle those evil germs inside you!"

"Even you," he said out loud.

"What was that?" Angst inquired.

"Nothing," he said as he propped himself up. 

He was under the impression since he woke up that everyone was coddling him, though he felt like it was more of an act than sincere. He didn't know what was different and strange about him; even the yellow shirt he had on showed a huge coin slot with the slogan Quarters Go Here.

Iris Lens Pupil Cornea

It must be spring, Max thought. His eyes itched and were red and felt scratchy when he blinked; pollen must be assaulting his eyes and it made him a little irritable. He chugged down a coffee and was still thirsting for more.

"Not purgatory, that's for sure," he muttered, remembering the sheer nirvana of the experience.

"What you say, Maxy?" Frank asked. He entered the kitchenette with several stacks of papers in his hands and plopped them down on the table. It seemed to stir up the dust in the area; Max's eyes began to water up some.

"And when did you start calling me Maxy?" he barked.

"Whoa, buddy." Frank sensed the hostility in his voice. "You better lay off the coffee!"

Those where fighting words.

Heads I Win

Dexter stepped down from the curb; he didn't even bother looking to see if any cars where approaching and for that matter he didn't care. He strolled with purpose, making a bee line for the diner. His eyes not leaving the window at all.

A car jammed on the brakes and honked the horn at him.

Dexter raised the middle finger of his right hand in the driver's direction, without even batting an eyelash.

"Dex," Angsty stated as she ran up to him. "It looks like you've seen a ghost."

No Stubble, No Trouble

The sink faucet ran.

Max had his hands on the sink, leaning forward and looking in the mirror. He turned his head sideways, his eyes maintaining contact with the mirror, and stared at his chin.  His left hand stroked his cheek and it was smooth like a baby's bottom.

"Hmmm," escaped his lips.

He had been going for three days straight with no sign of a five o'clock shadow on his face. And this was perplexing.

Breakfast of Champions

Max ate a hearty breakfast: eggs, bacon and a side order of maple syrup sausages, as well. His stomach was thankful for the meal since it seemed he hadn't eaten in ages. The waitress was in the process of bringing over a freshly brewed coffee to pour in his cup.

Frank was sipping his coffee while reading the morning paper. Max's eyes caught the headlines: KIMYE WEDS, RUSSIA PRESIDENT SAYS THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING, AMBER ALERT: TWO GIRLS STILL MISSING PRESUMED TAKEN.

"So, what's the deal?" Max asked between bites.

"Eat up and we'll catch you up on what's been happening," Frank replied, much like a father to a child who had been having a nightmare.

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

Max eyes flickered open, like the wings of a butterfly revealing the iris.

"Max-ay," Frank said as he stood over him. "Welcome back, you magnificent bastard!"

As he sat up and got his bearings once again, Frank handed him a cup of coffee.

"Knew you'd need this when you got up there, big guy." Frank cracked a smile, a genuine smile, unlike the smile of a shark. "I bet you're hungry."

And he was.

Hungry like a wolf.

Then the refrain "Do do do do do do do dodo dododo dodo" kicked in his head and he chuckled.

Angst skipped in from the other room; she was giddy with glee upon seeing Max sitting up on the edge of the cot, sipping a coffee.

"MAX!" she shouted as she tackled him and they went sprawling over the cot and onto the floor, spilling coffee about the place.

"Angst!" Frank scolded. "Come on, you know he's not one hundred percent."

"But Frankie," she pleaded. "It's him, it's Max!"

Gathering Of Dragons

Dexter stepped down from the curb and crossed the street. He headed to the Diner and saw Wraith sitting at the booth, sipping what he presumed was tea. He hadn't seen her since the Brownstone incident a few months back and a smile cracked that face of his when he spotted her.

"Dex," Angst said as she approached him. "What's going on?"

"Just got here myself, Angsty," he replied. "Don't know who put up the Bat Signal but it went out on all frequencies."

"Well, whatever it is," Frank interjected. "We'll soon find out."

Prelude

1      1     0     1     0     
[  op  |  rs |  rt |  rd |shunt| funct]  R-type
[  op  |  rs |  rt | address//immediate] I-type
[  op  |        target address//insert]  J-type

project: initiated. send device. 

//one eight zero one//

10: activate

20: go to 10

Time: March, 19, 1801
Place: London, England

Stephan du Mauriette strolled along the street when he heard what appeared to be a ripping, tearing sound.

He stopped and saw a flash of light coming from an alleyway. His curiosity piqued he approached the alleyway with slight caution.

His eyes widened in unknown discovery at the device sitting there.