tick
Max glanced up at the second hand on the clock. Trying to
will the time to go back instead of inching forward. Time was of the
essence here.
tock
Maggie's hand staunched the blood flow from Frank's wound. He had been hit good and now seconds counted.
tick
Max
had counted four of them. All positioned in various places to keep
sniping at them. His brain was working in high gear and he was trying to
figure out a good survival plan.
tock
"Any sign of Trump yet?" Maggie asked. "If he doesn't get here Frank is good as dead."
tick
"I
see that little bastard's tail," Max said; he was using the reflection of a
shattered mirror to see where everyone was. He was hoping that those
snipers left the cat alone, because after all, a cat was just a cat.
tock
Frank's eyes opened and he coughed. Spitting up some blood. Maggie leaned forward with a damp cloth.
"You guys should have left me," Frank said. "I'm as good as dead."
tick
Maggie
slapped Frank across the cheek, and then added, "Once you're feeling much
better I am going to kick the shit out of you. You know we never leave a
friend behind."
20130630
Faux City Police Reports
Police reports
By Chronicle Staff
Police reports for Monday included the following:
* A business owner on Highwater Street went to his store to find it vandalized. The suspects did not take any money or items, but the four mannequins in the front window had bullet holes riddling their bodies.
* A woman was seen assaulting four men. She left the scene before police arrived. All four men are expected to recover in the hospital.
* A man living in an apartment on North Grand Avenue was shot.
* A man left a restaurant on Daniels Street without paying for his meal.
* A man stole beer from a corner store. He was caught and cited for theft.
* A business owner told police a woman kicked over a display.
* Two siblings got into an argument. The older child kicked the younger child in the face.
* Three juveniles were throwing rocks from the top of a building on Main Street. Rocks hit two cars. One of the juveniles was cited.
* A man told police the NSA had planted devices in his head and car to frame him for a crime. He told police that a talking cat threatened him. The man was taken to the hospital for observation.
* There were 97 calls for service.
By Chronicle Staff
Police reports for Monday included the following:
* A business owner on Highwater Street went to his store to find it vandalized. The suspects did not take any money or items, but the four mannequins in the front window had bullet holes riddling their bodies.
* A woman was seen assaulting four men. She left the scene before police arrived. All four men are expected to recover in the hospital.
* A man living in an apartment on North Grand Avenue was shot.
* A man left a restaurant on Daniels Street without paying for his meal.
* A man stole beer from a corner store. He was caught and cited for theft.
* A business owner told police a woman kicked over a display.
* Two siblings got into an argument. The older child kicked the younger child in the face.
* Three juveniles were throwing rocks from the top of a building on Main Street. Rocks hit two cars. One of the juveniles was cited.
* A man told police the NSA had planted devices in his head and car to frame him for a crime. He told police that a talking cat threatened him. The man was taken to the hospital for observation.
* There were 97 calls for service.
Awkward as an Eclipse
He had been shot at, thrown from a window of a skyscraper, hit by a
train, tumbled down a mountain while battling a cyborg, drugged up and
near death, but all of these minor incidents didn't prepare him for the
biggest threat of all.
"Here Max, hold her while I get her bottle," Trish said as she handed him the baby.
Max looked at the child with appalled horror and surprise, holding it at arms' length. For some reason it was a foreign sight, like a solar eclipse to feudal Japan society.
"She won't bite," Trish comforted Max. Before Max could protest and hand the baby back to Trish, she got up and headed to get the baby bag out of the stroller, which was just outside.
Mags was coming back with a couple of coffees in her hands and she let out a slight chuckle to see THE Max Cube at a loss.
"Here Max, hold her while I get her bottle," Trish said as she handed him the baby.
Max looked at the child with appalled horror and surprise, holding it at arms' length. For some reason it was a foreign sight, like a solar eclipse to feudal Japan society.
"She won't bite," Trish comforted Max. Before Max could protest and hand the baby back to Trish, she got up and headed to get the baby bag out of the stroller, which was just outside.
Mags was coming back with a couple of coffees in her hands and she let out a slight chuckle to see THE Max Cube at a loss.
20130629
Secret Society Part Last
Miranda
pirouetted in the spacious, unfurnished living room, pale walls and
carpet. Her hair gathered at the base of her neck, a pretty, white
summer-dress like gossamer. Open-concept, steps leading up to the
kitchen and the corridor leading to the bedrooms. The north wall was
glass, overlooking the lush green crowd of conifers that sloped down
and away into the ravine. A New Modern villa, reminiscent of
Frank Lloyd Wright without being derivative.
"It's
gorgeous," Miranda says. Something about it felt fresh.
"You're
gorgeous," Genevieve replied from the landing near the front
door where she was inputting the new security codes through a small,
imbedded panel. Gen was in black jeans and a navy tank-top.
Miranda
smiled shyly, playfully. "You're a sweetheart, Gen. I'm not the
girl for you, though."
20130628
Faux News of the Moment
WINTERGLEN'S CENTURY CLUB
By Nelson Tad
Winterglen Weekly Staff Writer
WINTERGLEN (AP) - Fred Strictlan still drives his car to and fro, and goes out every Saturday evening for a pint or two down at the local pub.
Not bad for a 99-year-old.
Winterglen's oldest resident turns 100 on Nov 10 and will celebrate at three parties - one given by his family, one given by neighbours and another at Century Tavern, the pub he frequents.
He says that he also eats right and has a pint a day, as well as a cigar (or two).
Strictlan drives his own car. He bought his first car for $80. Right now he's lucky if he can fill a gas tank for that price.
As for reaching the 100 mark, Strictlan says it isn't such a novelty.
"When I was a teen, there was a woman who was 112, and she didn't look a day older than 30," he says. "Her name was Maggie and she had the prettiest red-hair that I have ever seen on a woman. I guess they just raised them like that back then."
Records show that there was a Marigarnettia Madison who resided in Winterglen, but no mention of her whereabouts or what age she was.
"The funny thing is that I could swear I just saw her in town last week," Strictlan says. "She was standing by the place she used to live looking up at the stars."
By Nelson Tad
Winterglen Weekly Staff Writer
WINTERGLEN (AP) - Fred Strictlan still drives his car to and fro, and goes out every Saturday evening for a pint or two down at the local pub.
Not bad for a 99-year-old.
Winterglen's oldest resident turns 100 on Nov 10 and will celebrate at three parties - one given by his family, one given by neighbours and another at Century Tavern, the pub he frequents.
He says that he also eats right and has a pint a day, as well as a cigar (or two).
Strictlan drives his own car. He bought his first car for $80. Right now he's lucky if he can fill a gas tank for that price.
As for reaching the 100 mark, Strictlan says it isn't such a novelty.
"When I was a teen, there was a woman who was 112, and she didn't look a day older than 30," he says. "Her name was Maggie and she had the prettiest red-hair that I have ever seen on a woman. I guess they just raised them like that back then."
Records show that there was a Marigarnettia Madison who resided in Winterglen, but no mention of her whereabouts or what age she was.
"The funny thing is that I could swear I just saw her in town last week," Strictlan says. "She was standing by the place she used to live looking up at the stars."
A Nice Little Break
They were sitting around in the upper loft area of Good Tomes, Good Tomes . It was a nice little coffee shop, with a baker's dozen sofas and chairs scattered about like a little den and books lining the walls like a library.
It gave the place a feeling of home and it's where Max, Maggie, Suki and Frank sat around when they could. Max's nose was buried in a philosophy book; he was reading Raymond M Smullyan's 'The Tao is Silent'. Maggie was lounging - she wasn't much in a reading mood - while Frank had several newspapers on the coffee table before him. Suki sat there like a bored teenage kid, waiting, so she let out a huge sigh.
"What is it, Suki?" Mags asked.
"I'm bored," Suki replied. "I thought you guys did tons of stuff?"
Frank glanced up from the newspaper; he was checking up on some stock options, and he glanced over at Mags.
Mags put down her coffee and winked at Frank.
"Well not exactly, Suki," Mags said in a big sister sort of way. "This is sort of our downtime; we take it any way possible. Because who knows when the next time we'll get a haven such as this."
20130627
Morganfokker's Revenge
1. INT. MAX CUBE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
MAX sitting in the middle of the room, naked. In a yoga position, eyes closed. To his right side is a sealed envelope with MAGS written on it. To his left is a handgun.
MORGANFOKKER (voice)
You can do it. Come home. End this charade now.
CUT TO:
2. EXT. MAX CUBE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
MAGGIE is leaning against Max's door. She looks like she's been crying.
CUT TO:
3. INT. MAX CUBE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
MAX not moving. Still like the buddha. Brings the gun to his temple.
MORGANFOKKER (voice)
That's right, my son. End this game and come back home.
CUT TO:
4. INT. HAPPY HONG'S DINER - NIGHT
We see SUKI and GONER and FRANK sitting at a booth. SUKI is sipping a milkshake, while GONER is mowing down on a chicken fried rice combo. FRANK has a tea sitting in front of him.
SUKI
Now what do you think is going to happen?
FRANK
That depends on what Cube does next.
SUKI
You think he's going to do it?
FRANK
I truly don't know what he's capable of.
SUKI
We got to him before this version of Morganfokker did. Didn't we?
FRANK
I hope so. I truly hope so.
CUT TO:
4. EXT. MAX CUBE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
MAGGIE is standing facing the doorway. The metal door to the apartment has several big dents in it. It looks like she is focusing all her might on the steel door.
Shocking Future
New Boswash, 2046
The nightclub was hot and humid, like a South African jungle before the change. Mags was sitting at a table in the upper tier, sipping on a ice tea and peering down at the crowd. She couldn't hear the pounding mesh of music due to the silence dome, but she could feel the bass on the floor. It made the people down below seem like clockworks jerking around to a unheard melody.
"There you are," a voice said.
"I'm here like you asked," Mags replied without turning around. She signaled to the hoverbot floating above the crowd that she wanted another drink. It read her signal and headed for the bar.
"You're looking youthful as ever," she said. "What's your secret?"
"I wish I knew, maybe it's a curse," Mags said with a slight laugh. She turned to face the woman who was dressed a red power suit. "Let's cut to the chase. What do you have for me this time, Lucy?"
The nightclub was hot and humid, like a South African jungle before the change. Mags was sitting at a table in the upper tier, sipping on a ice tea and peering down at the crowd. She couldn't hear the pounding mesh of music due to the silence dome, but she could feel the bass on the floor. It made the people down below seem like clockworks jerking around to a unheard melody.
"There you are," a voice said.
"I'm here like you asked," Mags replied without turning around. She signaled to the hoverbot floating above the crowd that she wanted another drink. It read her signal and headed for the bar.
"You're looking youthful as ever," she said. "What's your secret?"
"I wish I knew, maybe it's a curse," Mags said with a slight laugh. She turned to face the woman who was dressed a red power suit. "Let's cut to the chase. What do you have for me this time, Lucy?"
The Ling Tia Job
Hong Kong, 1973
The communicator at Maggie’s side beeped. Which caused the other patrons to give her a look. More than being just a foreigner, she was an angelic looking one at that. She politely smiled, reached down and brought the comm to her lips. She held it close to her mouth as she continued walking down the crowded city street, dressed in a rain slicker.
"Give it to me," Mags said.
"That lead that you sent us on. We've got a situation over at the Golden Palace," a man said, his voice worried. "It's something uncanny and scary and it's got the locals spooked."
"I'll be there in a jiffy," Maggie said. She snapped the communicator closed and entered the alleyway. Dropping the rain slicker, revealing a midnight black body suit, she slung the katana over her shoulders and then jumped to a ladder to get to the roof.
The communicator at Maggie’s side beeped. Which caused the other patrons to give her a look. More than being just a foreigner, she was an angelic looking one at that. She politely smiled, reached down and brought the comm to her lips. She held it close to her mouth as she continued walking down the crowded city street, dressed in a rain slicker.
"Give it to me," Mags said.
"That lead that you sent us on. We've got a situation over at the Golden Palace," a man said, his voice worried. "It's something uncanny and scary and it's got the locals spooked."
"I'll be there in a jiffy," Maggie said. She snapped the communicator closed and entered the alleyway. Dropping the rain slicker, revealing a midnight black body suit, she slung the katana over her shoulders and then jumped to a ladder to get to the roof.
A Glitch
Max was the first to recover from the shock; his eyes flickered open
like a television set in the morning. The wave had washed over them,
knocking them off of their feet. "That hurt."
The four of them were getting to their feet. Looking around to see if they could spot anything different, or familiar.
"No kidding," Maggie adding, dusting herself off. "One would think that we should be able to get used to it."
Max grunted.
"What just happened?" Suki asked in disbelief; this was her first shift.
The four of them were getting to their feet. Looking around to see if they could spot anything different, or familiar.
"No kidding," Maggie adding, dusting herself off. "One would think that we should be able to get used to it."
Max grunted.
"What just happened?" Suki asked in disbelief; this was her first shift.
Intro the Cube, Take 2
MAX, wearing a red t-shirt with a Psycho For Hire logo, runs through an UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE. He's being chased by three men).
MAN 1: There he goes, he's rabbiting!
MAN 2: Damn you Cube, just stop!
MAN 1: (pause) Man, this is like deja vu.
MAX glides behind a corner, his mp3 player headphones showing, flings open a door and runs up a flight of stairs. He runs down a hall, gunshots fly. He dives in an elevator as bullets riddle the insides. The doors close. He stands up and straightens his shirt and presses 13. After he presses 13 he hits the stop button. The elevator stops. He hits 13 again and the doors open to a bright light. The sound of techno music fills the elevator.
CUT TO a NIGHTCLUB INTERIOR. MAX and MAGGIE sit at a table.
MAGGIE: You sure it was Big Lo Pi? He's a real scumbag. I hope you didn't lead his thugs here, or else I am going to kick your ass... but I already said that before, didn't I?
MAX gives MAGGIE a wink.
MAGGIE: Oh sweetie, don't tell me that this is just a loop we're caught in? And in seven seconds some hit-men are going to be pouring out of the elevator... again.
MAX: I played the Time Card.
MAGGIE: That was a one-time thing only, for an dire emergency.
MAX just shrugs.
MAGGIE looks towards the elevator, seeing the numbers flashing on the door above the entrance to the nightclub. Her hand reaches underneath the table just as the elevator opens and several dark-suited fully armed men enter the nightclub.
MAGGIE: Well, might as well play this out again.
Time to Kick Some
"You set?" Dex asked.
Max nodded. A cigarette dangled from his lips; he was leaning up against the wall as if posing. A gun hanging at his side and dark sunglasses on.
After all, got to look good. You never know who is watching this, he thought.
"Good," Dex replied, slinging the rucksack onto his shoulder. "Let's rock."
Dex picked up the baseball bat, his pride and joy, his signature weapon, and kicked the door open.
Max glanced back at the rag-tag crew that he had recently teamed up with; a Shaolin monk who was a tiger at one time, a stubborn ninja who killed with silent ease, a street punk with a bible fetish, and a huge street-savvy cop.
Is this my story that's unfolding? he thought. Or am I just a secondary character to one of them?
Max could see the camera angle on the shot. His mind working in overtime, he was going through an unscripted scene, but since this was only a series of movies he felt as comfortable as James Bond. Because Bond was always back in the next movie. Not always the actors who portrayed Bond, but Bond himself.
If I am going nuts, I am going to go out in style.
Dex led the way through the door, bringing that bat down on the head of the first of the Mooks. Max could hear the crack of the Mook's skull.
They always die easy. Mooks are only extras who don't even know that they are pawns.
Of Spiders and Flies
Max lay on his bed, sheets unfurled about him. He was hot and sweat clung to his body like an LA smog. His arms crossed above his head, staring upwards, watching a house fly crawl across the ceiling. He was thinking that he should get up and get going, but he couldn't remember where he was supposed to get to.
The fan by his bed was steadily blowing the air on him, cooling the body but not the mind. His brain, the size of Venus, was on standby waiting for the switch on the power bar to be turned on.
He watched the fly take off from the ceiling and head elsewhere, when suddenly it got caught in a spider's web. The fly trying to break free, its wings fluttering fast, pulling back, but in its attempt it alerted the web's creator.
Max watched the drama unfold. The spider crawled from its hiding spot to consume the blood of its victim. The fly sensing danger fluttered faster but it was a futile effort. The web held it fast. The spider began to pick up pace, but before it reached the target it disappeared.
Max, still lying on the bed, had pulled out a gun from behind a pillow. He was holding it skyward; smoke drifted from the barrel as if it had finished a sexual encounter.
"Not today," he said.
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