Washington DC, 1989
Max was munching on a hamburger when
he saw the news. It was on the television up in the corner of the diner
and was on low volume. But high enough just to make it out. He placed the
hamburger back down on the platter and looked around the diner to see if
anyone was watching the TV.
No one else was paying close
attention to the event that was unfolding on the screen. Max breathed a
little easier. It wasn't a big deal at the moment and maybe it could be
swept under the carpet if the agency worked quickly on it.
Shit's going to fly on this one.
His cellphone chimed.
"Max," Brogan said. "Have you've seen the news?"
"Watching some of it now," Max said. "What's the plan of action?"
"It's going to be hard for the boys to cover this one up," Brogan replied. "You know who they are going to shit upon for this foul up."
"Do we have a contingency plan?" Max inquired.
"Yeah," Brogan said. "But it's still going to end badly for someone."
Max signalled the waiter for the check; he took out a crisp $20 bill and laid it on the table and got up.
"Get a chopper ready," Max said.
"Already on standby, my friend."
20130925
The Trader's Creed
Iralia, Operation: Stormfront
The bunker was hot and stuffy and there wasn't much anyone could do about it. There was a poker game going on at a table with several of the troops playing off some of their paychecks.
Broom broke off from the poker game since he was tapped already and didn't want to loose what little money he had left. He saw that Pretty was up and he went to him like a moth to a flame.
"Hey Pretty, you got any cigs?" Broom asked. He stood at the foot of the bunk. Pretty was reading a western novel and peered over the book to see who had interrupted the best part of the scene.
"What kind you want?" Pretty asked Broom; he leaned over and dragged a locker out from underneath his bed.
"Le Morte's if you have 'em" Broom said.
Pretty opened the locker and moved a few things around and ended up tossing Broom a package of Le Morte's.
"Cool!" Broom stated. He tossed a couple of bills at Pretty.
"Pleasure doing business with you," Pretty called after Broom. He turned over to Max and said, "I can't see what you like about that mag."
Max glanced over from his bunk; he was engrossed in an article in the Fortean Times. Something about string theory and a paperclip.
"It's educating," Max replied.
"I've got something for yah," Pretty said. He reached inside his pocket and pulled out a zippo lighter and tossed it.
Max caught the zippo and looked at it. The design on it caught his eye.
"Well, I'll be," Max said. "Where did you get this?"
"Ancient trader's secret," Pretty said with a wink. "Besides, I owe you man."
The bunker was hot and stuffy and there wasn't much anyone could do about it. There was a poker game going on at a table with several of the troops playing off some of their paychecks.
Broom broke off from the poker game since he was tapped already and didn't want to loose what little money he had left. He saw that Pretty was up and he went to him like a moth to a flame.
"Hey Pretty, you got any cigs?" Broom asked. He stood at the foot of the bunk. Pretty was reading a western novel and peered over the book to see who had interrupted the best part of the scene.
"What kind you want?" Pretty asked Broom; he leaned over and dragged a locker out from underneath his bed.
"Le Morte's if you have 'em" Broom said.
Pretty opened the locker and moved a few things around and ended up tossing Broom a package of Le Morte's.
"Cool!" Broom stated. He tossed a couple of bills at Pretty.
"Pleasure doing business with you," Pretty called after Broom. He turned over to Max and said, "I can't see what you like about that mag."
Max glanced over from his bunk; he was engrossed in an article in the Fortean Times. Something about string theory and a paperclip.
"It's educating," Max replied.
"I've got something for yah," Pretty said. He reached inside his pocket and pulled out a zippo lighter and tossed it.
Max caught the zippo and looked at it. The design on it caught his eye.
"Well, I'll be," Max said. "Where did you get this?"
"Ancient trader's secret," Pretty said with a wink. "Besides, I owe you man."
Nothing for Money
INT. CITY FIRST NATIONAL - DAY
MAX is standing in a long line waiting for his turn at a teller. There are 14 people before him and there are 3 tellers on duty at the moment. MAX is wearing a neon yellow t-shirt that states VILLAGE and he is wearing jeans. It's a pretty busy morning at the bank.
The young girl ahead of him is chatting on a cellphone. She is a college co-ed.
GIRL: (into phone)
... like so I say to the jerk "It's your move asshole".
The man before the girl turns to face her; he sees that she has a cellphone. He is about to turn and let the girl chatter.
GIRL: (to the man before her)
What are you looking at? Line is ahead!
Max smiles to himself. Trying not to indulge in the conversation but the girl is speaking too loudly not to.
GIRL: (into phone)
Nothing Jenny. Just some doufus before me.
The man is about to say something, but Max shakes his head no. So the man turns and faces the front.
GIRL: (into phone)
So the jerk stands there gawking like he has something to say and I say to him "spit it out" but he's like stammering like an idiot.
Max shivers. He turns to see a shift occurring. The bank has changed from a brilliant beautiful building into a long abandoned building. Max is standing amongst the dust.
MAX: (as he drops his check onto the dusty floor)
Marvelous.
MAX is standing in a long line waiting for his turn at a teller. There are 14 people before him and there are 3 tellers on duty at the moment. MAX is wearing a neon yellow t-shirt that states VILLAGE and he is wearing jeans. It's a pretty busy morning at the bank.
The young girl ahead of him is chatting on a cellphone. She is a college co-ed.
GIRL: (into phone)
... like so I say to the jerk "It's your move asshole".
The man before the girl turns to face her; he sees that she has a cellphone. He is about to turn and let the girl chatter.
GIRL: (to the man before her)
What are you looking at? Line is ahead!
Max smiles to himself. Trying not to indulge in the conversation but the girl is speaking too loudly not to.
GIRL: (into phone)
Nothing Jenny. Just some doufus before me.
The man is about to say something, but Max shakes his head no. So the man turns and faces the front.
GIRL: (into phone)
So the jerk stands there gawking like he has something to say and I say to him "spit it out" but he's like stammering like an idiot.
Max shivers. He turns to see a shift occurring. The bank has changed from a brilliant beautiful building into a long abandoned building. Max is standing amongst the dust.
MAX: (as he drops his check onto the dusty floor)
Marvelous.
20130924
Systematicity
He was unable to sleep since he was plagued by bad dreams. Max Cube lay
in his bed staring up at the ceiling fan rotating. A cigarette in his
hand on his chest, lit, and the smoke rising into the air as if someone
signaling that trouble was near.
The clock on the wall ticked away, the second hand seemed to amplify in the night. Max was doing some serious thinking; remembering the past events and wondering about the ramifications of certain actions.
His room was dark and mysterious, no lights inside but the lights of the city cast shadowy images on the wall. Which triggered events in his mind and got him thinking again. He really didn't know what the whole purpose of this was, but he was glad that he was getting some self healing done.
He brought the cigarette to his lips and puffed away, and then he exhaled a dragon's smoke into the air, watching the swirling cloud as lights reflected upon it. The smoke showing him what the future might hold.
He smiled and then butted out the cigarette, and turned over on his side. Sleep might pay him a visit, but he highly doubted that.
The clock on the wall ticked away, the second hand seemed to amplify in the night. Max was doing some serious thinking; remembering the past events and wondering about the ramifications of certain actions.
His room was dark and mysterious, no lights inside but the lights of the city cast shadowy images on the wall. Which triggered events in his mind and got him thinking again. He really didn't know what the whole purpose of this was, but he was glad that he was getting some self healing done.
He brought the cigarette to his lips and puffed away, and then he exhaled a dragon's smoke into the air, watching the swirling cloud as lights reflected upon it. The smoke showing him what the future might hold.
He smiled and then butted out the cigarette, and turned over on his side. Sleep might pay him a visit, but he highly doubted that.
The Long Drive to Hellenbach
While gas fed the hungry car, Goner continued to talk about ramen
noodles. He was sitting in the passenger side and was making light
conversation; trying to stay awake. Max chuckled.
"All this talk about food is making me hungry," Goner said as he spotted a sign declaring Husky's House Truckstop to be just a mile down the road. "How about you?"
Max shrugged a little, but now that Goner had suggested it he could feel the pangs of hunger growing.
"There's a restaurant another mile or so up the road," Goner said. "To my recollection they serve the best hash browns and sausages evah!"
The car pulled into the nearly full truckstop, with several rigs lined up like soldiers ready to roll at a moment's call. Max found an empty parking space in front of the diner. He killed the engine and then turned to Goner and said, "You're buying!"
"All this talk about food is making me hungry," Goner said as he spotted a sign declaring Husky's House Truckstop to be just a mile down the road. "How about you?"
Max shrugged a little, but now that Goner had suggested it he could feel the pangs of hunger growing.
"There's a restaurant another mile or so up the road," Goner said. "To my recollection they serve the best hash browns and sausages evah!"
The car pulled into the nearly full truckstop, with several rigs lined up like soldiers ready to roll at a moment's call. Max found an empty parking space in front of the diner. He killed the engine and then turned to Goner and said, "You're buying!"
The Heist of a Lifetime
INT. A VERY LONG HALLWAY - NIGHT
MAX, FRANK and MAGS pass through a set of doors into a very long hallway. Frank does a double-take on a weird looking statue that looks like a combination of a spider and mosquito.
FRANK:
What the heck is this supposed to be?
MAGS:
Beats me.
MAX:
Looks like someone I once dated.
INT. TOP FLOOR HALLWAY
RANCOR and his GOONS appear in a cloud of sulphuric smoke, where two sentries are sitting and having a coffee. The sentries are caught off guard and have little time to react.
RANCOR:
Do something.
GOON1 and GOON2 take out the sentries.
GOON3 takes out the third sentry who steps into the room.
GOON3:
Clear.
RANCOR:
According to the teller they should be somewhere down below. It only gives us a few moments to set something up.
MAX, FRANK and MAGS pass through a set of doors into a very long hallway. Frank does a double-take on a weird looking statue that looks like a combination of a spider and mosquito.
FRANK:
What the heck is this supposed to be?
MAGS:
Beats me.
MAX:
Looks like someone I once dated.
INT. TOP FLOOR HALLWAY
RANCOR and his GOONS appear in a cloud of sulphuric smoke, where two sentries are sitting and having a coffee. The sentries are caught off guard and have little time to react.
RANCOR:
Do something.
GOON1 and GOON2 take out the sentries.
GOON3 takes out the third sentry who steps into the room.
GOON3:
Clear.
RANCOR:
According to the teller they should be somewhere down below. It only gives us a few moments to set something up.
Calling Through the Statosphere
Max entered the living room from the kitchenette. He brought with him a
cup of coffee and he slid into his computer chair. He was just about to
unwind and go on a killing spree after a hard day at the office.
His phone rang.
Unknown name, unknown number, the display read.
Reluctantly he picked it up, knowing all to well that it might be a telemarketer asking him if he had received his sample of free meat, or something silly like that.
"Max?" the voice asked.
"Yes," Max replied into the phone. He was sitting at his desk. Moving the mouse over to the Gang Us Con IV icon and ready to enter a world of violence.
"I've been trying to find you for the longest time," the voice said.
"Well," Max stated. "You have found me. And who might you be?"
"Brogan Mirk," replied the voice.
"Brogan?" Max questioned; he leaned forward in his chair. A stirring of recognition washed over his face like a panama tide.
"Yeah," Brogan said. "It's been a long time friend."
His phone rang.
Unknown name, unknown number, the display read.
Reluctantly he picked it up, knowing all to well that it might be a telemarketer asking him if he had received his sample of free meat, or something silly like that.
"Max?" the voice asked.
"Yes," Max replied into the phone. He was sitting at his desk. Moving the mouse over to the Gang Us Con IV icon and ready to enter a world of violence.
"I've been trying to find you for the longest time," the voice said.
"Well," Max stated. "You have found me. And who might you be?"
"Brogan Mirk," replied the voice.
"Brogan?" Max questioned; he leaned forward in his chair. A stirring of recognition washed over his face like a panama tide.
"Yeah," Brogan said. "It's been a long time friend."
The Troubling Effect of Waves
EXT. RIVER BED - DAY
Frank is standing on the shore throwing a rock into the river. Max comes down from the roadway and he taps the cellphone off. Frank doesn't turn; he knows it's Max.
FRANK:
Well, what's the word?
MAX:
It's going to be one of those days.
FRANK:
What kind of day would that be?
MAX:
The kind where you wished you would of stayed in bed.
FRANK:
That's not good.
Max picks up a rock and throws it into the river.
FRANK:
Not a bad shot.
MAX:
You find this comforting?
FRANK:
Yeah I do. When all else fails. Nothing says relaxation more than trying to skip stones on water.
MAX:
Symbolic isn't it?
FRANK:
Well, I never thought about it that way.
Frank is standing on the shore throwing a rock into the river. Max comes down from the roadway and he taps the cellphone off. Frank doesn't turn; he knows it's Max.
FRANK:
Well, what's the word?
MAX:
It's going to be one of those days.
FRANK:
What kind of day would that be?
MAX:
The kind where you wished you would of stayed in bed.
FRANK:
That's not good.
Max picks up a rock and throws it into the river.
FRANK:
Not a bad shot.
MAX:
You find this comforting?
FRANK:
Yeah I do. When all else fails. Nothing says relaxation more than trying to skip stones on water.
MAX:
Symbolic isn't it?
FRANK:
Well, I never thought about it that way.
Riders of the Signal
Frank sat at his station playing a game; he had been here for the past six hours waiting and observing and occasionally listening to the static. Boredom often came with the territory, and it was huge and vast like the Sahara desert. Every now and then something came on but it wasn't what he was waiting for.
He checked the instrumentation again to see if it was working. He knew that he was only second-guessing his work, but at this point he was paranoid, thinking and working overtime.
He sipped the coffee beside him and reminded himself to get a refill. He was in the middle of blasting aliens to kingdom come when he spotted the red light blinking. He rolled the chair over and turned up the receiver and when he turned it up he heard gold.
Max's eyes flickered open when he heard the alarm. Already dressed in last night's clothes he jumped out of his bunk and headed out the door. If this was what they were looking for then he couldn't waste seconds just tidying up.
He moved along the corridor and met Mags along the way. She came out of her bunkroom and smiled at Max.
"You think we found something?" Mags inquired.
Both of them entered the room in time to hear it and Max let out a whoop. Angst was standing behind Frank with a smile, nodding her head.
"We've found it," Frank said.
"Okay everyone, you know the drill," Max cracked off. "Stations!"
Mags jumped into the pilot's chair, strapping herself in and getting everything online. Angst jumped into the navigation seat and her fingers began dancing along the pad.
"Angst, we only have a few more minutes before we lose the signal," Frank warned.
"Tracking it now," she replied. She stared into the screen before her as her fingers danced. "Got it. Feeding the trail to Control now."
"Ready to dance," Mags replied.
Frank cued up the recording chip. "Ready when you are, milady!"
The spaceship turned on a dime; Mags was an exceptional pilot and she was heading back to when the song first started.
20130923
The Moment Forgotten in Sync
Max butted the cigarette in a sparkling clean ashtray. It was his first
in the diner.
He looked up at the clock on the wall and watched the second hand tick. It hit 12 and his watch chimed. Perfection. Everything was in sync again. It'd been a long while since he had felt in tune with his surroundings, a hell of a long time before he was able to sleep at night and not worry about the nightmares.
"Indeedios" a tiny voice seemed to say. Max turned to see a housefly zip past his nose fly off.
He was about to call after it but then he heard the chimes above the door. The doors had opened and a goddess walked in.
Maggie.
She stood by the door and scanned the area and spotted her intended. He reached for another cigarette and put it to his lips. He turned to signal the waiter for another cup as Maggie slide into a chair across from Max.
"Hiya," she said.
"Hey," he replied.
He looked up at the clock on the wall and watched the second hand tick. It hit 12 and his watch chimed. Perfection. Everything was in sync again. It'd been a long while since he had felt in tune with his surroundings, a hell of a long time before he was able to sleep at night and not worry about the nightmares.
"Indeedios" a tiny voice seemed to say. Max turned to see a housefly zip past his nose fly off.
He was about to call after it but then he heard the chimes above the door. The doors had opened and a goddess walked in.
Maggie.
She stood by the door and scanned the area and spotted her intended. He reached for another cigarette and put it to his lips. He turned to signal the waiter for another cup as Maggie slide into a chair across from Max.
"Hiya," she said.
"Hey," he replied.
The Unforgotten
Max walked down the alley. He was walking with purpose and meaning, a
sense of emergency in the strides he took. Time was not waiting and it
wasn't for the wasting. He was thinking of how autumn felt when winter
arrived.
His fingers felt like they were asleep, like thousands of dull needles pricking them. He glanced at the tip of his fingers and could see through them.
Damn, he thought. Not yet. Not now.
His cell phone chimed, but he wasn't in the mood to answer it. He was glancing around the walls and looking for something. He continued to walk briskly, scanning the walls and the doors. He could feel the pins moving down his fingers, and at the moment he was scared to look at them.
"There it is," Max muttered. He stopped at a wall with several graffiti symbols on it and then he tapped the wall in various places. The wall shimmered a little and Max stepped through, with a look of relief on his face.
His fingers felt like they were asleep, like thousands of dull needles pricking them. He glanced at the tip of his fingers and could see through them.
Damn, he thought. Not yet. Not now.
His cell phone chimed, but he wasn't in the mood to answer it. He was glancing around the walls and looking for something. He continued to walk briskly, scanning the walls and the doors. He could feel the pins moving down his fingers, and at the moment he was scared to look at them.
"There it is," Max muttered. He stopped at a wall with several graffiti symbols on it and then he tapped the wall in various places. The wall shimmered a little and Max stepped through, with a look of relief on his face.
20130922
A Friend in Need
INT. GONER'S SUITE - MORNING
Goner is sitting on a chair eating a bowl of cereal; he has his cellphone beside him. He is wearing a dirty t-shirt and has the television tuned to a news channel. He is keeping an eye on the news waiting to see if anything is going on.
Goner's cellphone rings and he answers it. He sees Mags' name in the view.
GONER:
Yo Maggie!
CUT TO close up on Maggie's face. She has phone jack and mic on.
MAGGIE:
Hey Gondy!
CUT TO Goner in his apartment.
GONER:
What can I do you for this morning?
MAGGIE: (V.O.)
I need a favour.
GONER:
It's your quarter.
MAGGIE: (V.O.)
(background SFX what appears to be sword swings and gurgling sounds)
I am kind of in a jam at the moment and I need someone who is close by to help me out of this.
GONER:
No need to ask. Where are you hiding at?
MAGGIE: (V.O.)
(SFX rapid gun fire)
Two blocks down from you. Near the Tunnel Gate. Go to Nexus 7.
Goner is sitting on a chair eating a bowl of cereal; he has his cellphone beside him. He is wearing a dirty t-shirt and has the television tuned to a news channel. He is keeping an eye on the news waiting to see if anything is going on.
Goner's cellphone rings and he answers it. He sees Mags' name in the view.
GONER:
Yo Maggie!
CUT TO close up on Maggie's face. She has phone jack and mic on.
MAGGIE:
Hey Gondy!
CUT TO Goner in his apartment.
GONER:
What can I do you for this morning?
MAGGIE: (V.O.)
I need a favour.
GONER:
It's your quarter.
MAGGIE: (V.O.)
(background SFX what appears to be sword swings and gurgling sounds)
I am kind of in a jam at the moment and I need someone who is close by to help me out of this.
GONER:
No need to ask. Where are you hiding at?
MAGGIE: (V.O.)
(SFX rapid gun fire)
Two blocks down from you. Near the Tunnel Gate. Go to Nexus 7.
Ticking Away
Max sat on the floor, his legs crossed and the sound of several clicks
ticking around him. His eyes closed and his breathing slow and
rhythmic, as several black-flies buzzed about the room adding to the
ambiance of the clocks.
Occasionally his eyes opened and he recited lyrics of an old song as if saying them as a chant, his mantra. Then he closed his eyes and remained quiet without moving. A sentinel on duty, waiting for the proper moment to act.
His cellphone chimed.
"Max." Mags' voice was somewhere distant. "We're in position."
Max opened his eyes and tapped the cellphone off. He stood up covered in sweat and he nodded.
Occasionally his eyes opened and he recited lyrics of an old song as if saying them as a chant, his mantra. Then he closed his eyes and remained quiet without moving. A sentinel on duty, waiting for the proper moment to act.
His cellphone chimed.
"Max." Mags' voice was somewhere distant. "We're in position."
Max opened his eyes and tapped the cellphone off. He stood up covered in sweat and he nodded.
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