20150919
20150917
CD Three
Max Cube Must Die!
V.2: See You In HELL, Fat Boy!
Music From The Oscar Winning Film:
(interior artwork: Max and Maggie standing on a plain, the word 'Version' above them, the word 'Noisrev' below, an ancient tree beside Maggie, a futuristic city beside Max, a sun between them, setting or rising)
Track 1: Cypress Hill - Insane in the Brain (Crystal Method Remix)
Track 2: Crystal Method - She's My Pusher
Track 3: Booker T & The M.G.'s - Green Onions
Track 4: Blue Man Group - X-Files Theme Remix
Track 5: Blood Sweat and Tears - Spinning Wheel
Track 6: Beta Band - Needles in My Eyes
Track 7: Beasty Boys - Body Moving (Fatboy Slim remix)
Track 8: Patient Saints - On Your Mind [Omaha Mix]
Track 9: Monster Magnet - See You in Hell
Track 10: Lunatic Calm - Leave You Far Behind [Version 2 Instrumental]
Track 11: Ecoline Crush - You Don't Know What It's Like
Track 12: BT - Believer
Track 13: Africa Bambaataa - Planet Rock [Swordfish Mix]
Track 14: Korn - Adidas (Techno Remix)
Track 15: Limp Bizkit - Break Stuff
20150916
Borders
The chain-linked fences laced with barbedwire, watchtowers bookending the gate, icy light thrown into the evening darkness by spotlights. The soldiers in grey, weapons flickering, tech scanning.
"Okay, let's run it," Max whispered to his companions in the crowd that was shuffling slowly through the checkpoint.
"I have some Divinities bookmarked," Angst went first. "But if they arrive in any way much stronger than a general blessing it will attract a lot of attention."
Frank was studying the guards, the spotlights reflecting in his glasses. "This has got to be the System, right? How many of these have we seen now? It's getting harder to go anywhere."
"Too many, but this is one we can't avoid," Max said. "We need through."
"I know, I know," Frank replied. "I'm sure I can think the troops into not noticing Goner's mods if they check under the hood."
"Appreciated," Goner said. He raised a gloved hand, the one he had had replaced. "And I'm pretty sure I've figured out how this can broadcast a smartwave scrambler signal that will spoof their ID-scanners."
"Well shit," Max said. "It sounds like we have an A-plan. How about a B?"
"Panic?" Goner said.
"Violence," Frank said.
"Improvise," Angst said.
Max chuckled.
"Okay, let's run it," Max whispered to his companions in the crowd that was shuffling slowly through the checkpoint.
"I have some Divinities bookmarked," Angst went first. "But if they arrive in any way much stronger than a general blessing it will attract a lot of attention."
Frank was studying the guards, the spotlights reflecting in his glasses. "This has got to be the System, right? How many of these have we seen now? It's getting harder to go anywhere."
"Too many, but this is one we can't avoid," Max said. "We need through."
"I know, I know," Frank replied. "I'm sure I can think the troops into not noticing Goner's mods if they check under the hood."
"Appreciated," Goner said. He raised a gloved hand, the one he had had replaced. "And I'm pretty sure I've figured out how this can broadcast a smartwave scrambler signal that will spoof their ID-scanners."
"Well shit," Max said. "It sounds like we have an A-plan. How about a B?"
"Panic?" Goner said.
"Violence," Frank said.
"Improvise," Angst said.
Max chuckled.
20150914
Destinations
We could live in maybes.
Standing in the woods at night, an unspecified
age and way, but always the past.
Speaking aloud into the darkness, the trees
somehow made of sounds, implied.
The courage to speak aloud there in the woods
in the darkness alone, real words spoken
out loud, meant to be heard.
We could live in the future.
Sitting at the desk, on the chair, this
furniture all gathered and handmade from the past.
Typing onto the plastic, the smooth lines, the thin
machine. Typing into the new space, electronic
and layered and fictional. Early gray morning in winter
on the laptop computer, tired but too amazed
to let it pass without record.
We could live in each other.
The sense, the way it starts a shining
in my stomach, the barest thought of you and the
idea, the possibility, as strange and as fleeting
as words in the woods and visions of the future,
that when our eyes met we gave each other something,
even if only a shining and words to make
poems from.
Standing in the woods at night, an unspecified
age and way, but always the past.
Speaking aloud into the darkness, the trees
somehow made of sounds, implied.
The courage to speak aloud there in the woods
in the darkness alone, real words spoken
out loud, meant to be heard.
We could live in the future.
Sitting at the desk, on the chair, this
furniture all gathered and handmade from the past.
Typing onto the plastic, the smooth lines, the thin
machine. Typing into the new space, electronic
and layered and fictional. Early gray morning in winter
on the laptop computer, tired but too amazed
to let it pass without record.
We could live in each other.
The sense, the way it starts a shining
in my stomach, the barest thought of you and the
idea, the possibility, as strange and as fleeting
as words in the woods and visions of the future,
that when our eyes met we gave each other something,
even if only a shining and words to make
poems from.
20150912
"I Am The Modern Man" [version.Upgrade]
Goner pulled back the hood. The side of his head was metal. The edges laced with fine-circuitry that flickered faintly, red, blue, green.
"Okay," Max said.
Goner unzipped his jacket and took it off. His left arm was also metal, highlighted with the same almost ethereal wiring.
Max glanced at Goner's pants. "Is that everything?" he asked, lightly, trying to relieve the tension.
Goner smirked. It felt like Max hadn't seen him in a long while, but Goner somehow looked younger. It reminded Max of the time he first recruited him; or the time he first remembered recruiting him. It was a memory that they shared in most versions.
"What do I need to know?" Max asked next.
Goner cleared his throat. Looked around at the trees, leaves catching sunlight, casting shadows. They had arranged to meet outside the city, for safety.
"I chose it," he began. "It was my call." He looked down at his metal hand. "It feels sorta real, sorta... something else. Kind of like everything else has since that day."
Max smiled. The fact that Goner was remembering the same thing as him made him relax.
"I guess I never felt like I had really committed to this. Even when I was a soldier, then working for the private security teams, I was never really all in. And after I died... Well, I still don't really understand everything about that, or how I came back, but I know I was scared for a long time, that it would happen again. And now, with whatever is brewing with this whole System revelation... I know things are going to get weird and probably bad. I wanted to be ready. I wanted to be able to help. To really make a difference."
Max nodded. "Thanks Goner." He gave it a moment. "Do I need to know how you got it done? Who you went to for the work?"
Goner looked briefly conflicted. Max noted that the circuitry on the cybernetic modifications didn't flicker in sync with Goner's reactions, which was good; it would be too big of a tell.
"No," Goner said. "Not yet anyway."
"Ok, cool. Let's try and get in touch with Frank and Angst. They missed you."
"Okay," Max said.
Goner unzipped his jacket and took it off. His left arm was also metal, highlighted with the same almost ethereal wiring.
Max glanced at Goner's pants. "Is that everything?" he asked, lightly, trying to relieve the tension.
Goner smirked. It felt like Max hadn't seen him in a long while, but Goner somehow looked younger. It reminded Max of the time he first recruited him; or the time he first remembered recruiting him. It was a memory that they shared in most versions.
"What do I need to know?" Max asked next.
Goner cleared his throat. Looked around at the trees, leaves catching sunlight, casting shadows. They had arranged to meet outside the city, for safety.
"I chose it," he began. "It was my call." He looked down at his metal hand. "It feels sorta real, sorta... something else. Kind of like everything else has since that day."
Max smiled. The fact that Goner was remembering the same thing as him made him relax.
"I guess I never felt like I had really committed to this. Even when I was a soldier, then working for the private security teams, I was never really all in. And after I died... Well, I still don't really understand everything about that, or how I came back, but I know I was scared for a long time, that it would happen again. And now, with whatever is brewing with this whole System revelation... I know things are going to get weird and probably bad. I wanted to be ready. I wanted to be able to help. To really make a difference."
Max nodded. "Thanks Goner." He gave it a moment. "Do I need to know how you got it done? Who you went to for the work?"
Goner looked briefly conflicted. Max noted that the circuitry on the cybernetic modifications didn't flicker in sync with Goner's reactions, which was good; it would be too big of a tell.
"No," Goner said. "Not yet anyway."
"Ok, cool. Let's try and get in touch with Frank and Angst. They missed you."
20150911
The Beautiful Majestic Sorrow
It's been several days now and I still don't know what the hell happened. I keep seeing posts on my twitter feed but they are so random and confusing and I can't make heads or tails of any of it. Professor Mox says it's all part of the crisis, and tendrils still seep through this "reality" or "our version of it" and pretty soon it will all be part of a forgotten memory. He explains it's like having a real vivid dream and then it disappears once you are wide awake and her mind has wiped the board clean and you are struggling to remember what the dream you had was all about.
It's hard for me to explain it. But, I feel I have to write it down and get it out there. I think whatever the hell happened that "static residue" of other dimensions bleed through. Like take this buffoon of a billionaire that is suddenly a presidential contender? There's no way in hell I thought he'd be able to even run but now he's on the tip of everyone's tongue. I'm not sure that I'm in my own version of life at the moment. Maybe, I've phased into a realm that is completely similar to my world.
Like a Twilight Zone episode and maybe just maybe I'll phase back into it.
Who am I kidding?
It's hard for me to explain it. But, I feel I have to write it down and get it out there. I think whatever the hell happened that "static residue" of other dimensions bleed through. Like take this buffoon of a billionaire that is suddenly a presidential contender? There's no way in hell I thought he'd be able to even run but now he's on the tip of everyone's tongue. I'm not sure that I'm in my own version of life at the moment. Maybe, I've phased into a realm that is completely similar to my world.
Like a Twilight Zone episode and maybe just maybe I'll phase back into it.
Who am I kidding?
I think my mind will eventually accept this domain and then sweep these thoughts under a rug.
20150909
20150907
Versus
"That's not what I meant!" Angst said. "And don't you dare say 'I know what you're thinking'."
Frank rubbed his eyes. "I told you, it's off right now. Listen, I'm just concerned you're not factoring in all the variables."
"That's so patronizing, Frank. Just because I'm leading with my feelings doesn't mean I've lost all reason. I was the one who made first contact - maybe I have a better perspective on the situation?"
"And maybe you're too close to it! I'm just not sure taking action right now is going to make things better in the long run."
"So we don't do anything?" Angst asked.
"Now who's being patronizing?"
"What would Max do?"
"Who the hell knows? Some days he's X and some days he's Y."
"Okay, what would Maggie do?"
"'Haunted Warrior Maggie' or 'Guardian Angel Maggie'?"
Angst sighed. "Fine. I give up."
Frank sighed. "Okay, get your gear. We'll go."
Angst smiled.
Frank rubbed his eyes. "I told you, it's off right now. Listen, I'm just concerned you're not factoring in all the variables."
"That's so patronizing, Frank. Just because I'm leading with my feelings doesn't mean I've lost all reason. I was the one who made first contact - maybe I have a better perspective on the situation?"
"And maybe you're too close to it! I'm just not sure taking action right now is going to make things better in the long run."
"So we don't do anything?" Angst asked.
"Now who's being patronizing?"
"What would Max do?"
"Who the hell knows? Some days he's X and some days he's Y."
"Okay, what would Maggie do?"
"'Haunted Warrior Maggie' or 'Guardian Angel Maggie'?"
Angst sighed. "Fine. I give up."
Frank sighed. "Okay, get your gear. We'll go."
Angst smiled.
20150904
CD One
MAX CUBE MUST DIE!
The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(interior artwork: portrait of Max looking tired/haggard. The words 'Control, Obey, Question Mark, Plureality, Noo Media, N.E.O., Help Me, Have You Seen Me?, guns, knives, magick, chaos, mythology, space, clothes, confusion, signal, try, reject, far, robots, <anarchy symbol>, towers, complex, doubt, fatigue, hunter, shift, parallel, memory, orb, demons, computer, mix, wonder, fear, maggie, lost')
Track 1: Thomas Dolby - One of Our Submarines (Extended Mix)
Track 2: Tom Jones - Sex Bomb (Remix)
Track 3: Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby (Revised Mix)
Track 4: Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (Orb Atmosfear Version)
Track 5: Queen - Under Pressure (Rah Mix) (with David Bowie)
Track 6: KLF - What Time Is Love (Techno Slam Mix)
Track 7: The Crystal Method - Name of the Game
Track 8: The Timelords - Doctor n The Tardis (Extended)
Track 9: Sarah McLachlan - Possession (Chemical Bothers Remix)
Track 10: Richard Cheese - Baby Got Back
Track 11: Fluke - Zion
Track 12: KLF - Last Train to Trancentral (Razormaid)
Track 13: Monster Magnet - 19 Witches
Track 14: Queen - She Makes Me (Stormtrooper in Stilettos)
Track 15: U2 - In God's Country
20150901
Spilled Milk
Matt Khoob looked up from the book he was reading and over at Aggie and waited for her to speak. Her bright red hair hung to her shoulders as the sun streaked through the dark room. Providing light in the abandoned house.
"We've been here for three days now," he stated. Placing the tome on the table as he reached for the tea. "When do we move again?"
Aggie glanced at him and smiled. She had been sharpening her knife on a whetstone. "As soon as Hank and Toner return."
"Maybe they got captured?" Matt stated. "Then what do we do?"
"I guess we can cry over the spilled milk then," she replied.
"We've been here for three days now," he stated. Placing the tome on the table as he reached for the tea. "When do we move again?"
Aggie glanced at him and smiled. She had been sharpening her knife on a whetstone. "As soon as Hank and Toner return."
"Maybe they got captured?" Matt stated. "Then what do we do?"
"I guess we can cry over the spilled milk then," she replied.
20150831
Complimentarity
"Yeah, we're going to disrupt the Mayor's press conference," Dexter said into the cell. "He's been dodging questions about the school closures all week. No more."
"My sources are saying he's got a lot of corporate connections, maybe some occult ones too," Wraith's voice came back through the phone, a hint of static.
Dex's brow furrowed. "You think there's another angle to this?"
Wraith paused. "With everything we've seen, you have to wonder. And your town's not the only place where schools are being closed at an unprecedented rate."
"With a disturbing lack of public outcry."
"So...?"
Dexter sighed. "You think we should call Max. Wraith, I... I was never sure whether Max helped straighten things out or whether he just made them weirder. I know we did a lot of good, and we still are-"
"I know," Wraith interrupted. "Some days Max was Ragnar and some days he was Floki. Some days he was Longshot and some days he was Constantine. Some days he was Kirk and some days he was Picard."
"Yeah, but was he the problem or was he the solution?"
"Dexter, I still have the nightmares too, about the War. And I still wonder if any of that really happened. I guess... Well, I guess I don't really know."
Dex smiled slightly. "At least we're not alone then."
"My sources are saying he's got a lot of corporate connections, maybe some occult ones too," Wraith's voice came back through the phone, a hint of static.
Dex's brow furrowed. "You think there's another angle to this?"
Wraith paused. "With everything we've seen, you have to wonder. And your town's not the only place where schools are being closed at an unprecedented rate."
"With a disturbing lack of public outcry."
"So...?"
Dexter sighed. "You think we should call Max. Wraith, I... I was never sure whether Max helped straighten things out or whether he just made them weirder. I know we did a lot of good, and we still are-"
"I know," Wraith interrupted. "Some days Max was Ragnar and some days he was Floki. Some days he was Longshot and some days he was Constantine. Some days he was Kirk and some days he was Picard."
"Yeah, but was he the problem or was he the solution?"
"Dexter, I still have the nightmares too, about the War. And I still wonder if any of that really happened. I guess... Well, I guess I don't really know."
Dex smiled slightly. "At least we're not alone then."
20150829
“I've Got Thick Skin And An Elastic Heart” [version.Upgrade]
“I miss the Bookstore but the food here is good at least,” Angst said as she took another bite of the curry.
Max sipped on his mango milkshake.
“So...” she continued. “If everything Control told you was true, about the weapons and costumes and the subway and all that, does that mean we were working for the Counter-System all that time?”
“I honestly don't know, Angst.” He looked at her. He still trusted her and knew that she trusted him but things were different now.
Crow entered the restaurant, looking like a young black woman with short pink hair. Max waved and explained to Angst that Crow had arrived; only Max could see her. Angst slid over to make room in the booth.
“I've got news,” Crow said as soon as she was seated. “Maggie was being held in a System facility. I don't know how They got her, but it does conform to her recurring Initiation arc.”
Angst watched a serious expression come over Max's face as he stared into the air beside her. His beard made him look older, more worn out.
Crow continued. “She got out though, like she always does. Apparently she was locked in a vault of some kind but she eventually escaped. By tearing the doors off their hinges. Big doors. Metal doors.”
Angst saw Max's eyes widen slightly, the hint of a smile.
“And when the guards opened fire on her... the bullets bounced off of her. She punched a hole in a wall and leaped into the sky.”
Now Max was smiling.
“No idea if They were experimenting on her or if this is the result of all that Angel/Demon magic she used to be into. And no clue where she ran to.”
Angst watched Max pull out his wallet and gesture to the server for the bill. He asked the space beside her, “Do you have the location of the facility?”
Max sipped on his mango milkshake.
“So...” she continued. “If everything Control told you was true, about the weapons and costumes and the subway and all that, does that mean we were working for the Counter-System all that time?”
“I honestly don't know, Angst.” He looked at her. He still trusted her and knew that she trusted him but things were different now.
Crow entered the restaurant, looking like a young black woman with short pink hair. Max waved and explained to Angst that Crow had arrived; only Max could see her. Angst slid over to make room in the booth.
“I've got news,” Crow said as soon as she was seated. “Maggie was being held in a System facility. I don't know how They got her, but it does conform to her recurring Initiation arc.”
Angst watched a serious expression come over Max's face as he stared into the air beside her. His beard made him look older, more worn out.
Crow continued. “She got out though, like she always does. Apparently she was locked in a vault of some kind but she eventually escaped. By tearing the doors off their hinges. Big doors. Metal doors.”
Angst saw Max's eyes widen slightly, the hint of a smile.
“And when the guards opened fire on her... the bullets bounced off of her. She punched a hole in a wall and leaped into the sky.”
Now Max was smiling.
“No idea if They were experimenting on her or if this is the result of all that Angel/Demon magic she used to be into. And no clue where she ran to.”
Angst watched Max pull out his wallet and gesture to the server for the bill. He asked the space beside her, “Do you have the location of the facility?”
20150827
Road Trip
Stretched out on the roadside, it's relaxing.
The car about 20 feet away. We could
be victims or snipers. Laying there perhaps
after the event or before it, possibly
an effect or possibly the cause.
The car about 20 feet away. We could
be victims or snipers. Laying there perhaps
after the event or before it, possibly
an effect or possibly the cause.
You roll over onto your back and
let your head roll to the side so
your eyes fall into mine and
your hair falls over your face and
a car drives past, going down the road.
Your fingers tap the stereo when we're driving
and songs skip like stones over the water.
I've got the window cracked to ash my cigarette
and the wind is blowing your hair over your face
and you don't mind.
Eventually we take to leaving monuments,
small tokens, at the spots where we stop
on the roadside to stretch out and relax.
Once a pop can with a smiling face punctured in its side
by your penknife. Once a receipt from last night's motel
folded into a shape, improv origami. Things
like that anyway. Because it feels like that
with you. Like a fairy tale, like one
let your head roll to the side so
your eyes fall into mine and
your hair falls over your face and
a car drives past, going down the road.
Your fingers tap the stereo when we're driving
and songs skip like stones over the water.
I've got the window cracked to ash my cigarette
and the wind is blowing your hair over your face
and you don't mind.
Eventually we take to leaving monuments,
small tokens, at the spots where we stop
on the roadside to stretch out and relax.
Once a pop can with a smiling face punctured in its side
by your penknife. Once a receipt from last night's motel
folded into a shape, improv origami. Things
like that anyway. Because it feels like that
with you. Like a fairy tale, like one
of those modern fairy tales.
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