She awoke on the couch sometime later. Her mind and body rejuvenated from
the much-needed sleep, and her mouth was parched. She got up and headed
to the kitchen where she got a bottle of flavoured water out and took a
long gulp from it.
She looked at the phone and saw that she had 17
messages; she turned on the television and discovered that she had been
out for three days.
"Wow," she muttered to herself. "That's a first. Three days of rest and no interruption."
She raised the bottle high for a toast before she took another sip.
20131006
The Code of Painters
Max walked up to the wall and looked around and then he took out a
spray can and began to work. His movements controlled and precise
and the masterpiece began to reveal itself.
"You just about finished there, Picasso?" Frank asked him through the headset. "I just had a patrol pass through here, they should be in your vicinity in about a minute."
"Just about, Rembrandt," Max replied; he was putting on the finishing touches.
Max stepped back to admire his handiwork and smiled. It wasn't everyday that he fought battles without weapons and only words. Hopefully, this one would start a revolution.
Boogie.
"You just about finished there, Picasso?" Frank asked him through the headset. "I just had a patrol pass through here, they should be in your vicinity in about a minute."
"Just about, Rembrandt," Max replied; he was putting on the finishing touches.
Max stepped back to admire his handiwork and smiled. It wasn't everyday that he fought battles without weapons and only words. Hopefully, this one would start a revolution.
Boogie.
} Aces Up - For R.T.
"Go to black" Max said. He ejected the clips from his handguns and was in the process of slapping new ones in. He turned to Maggie and asked, "How you doing?"
Maggie looked up and gave him a wink; she was dressing a wound to her leg. It seemed like she was in a world of pain but she didn't show it. There was a make-shift tourniquet on her leg.
"We don't have much time left," Max replied. "They will be arriving in full force in a little while. You think you are able to make the run?"
"Yeah," Maggie replied as she was fighting to stand. Max held out a hand to make sure that she was steady enough. They looked into each others eyes and a smile came to their lips.
Trump jumped down from a pile of boxes. "They are coming. This time they are bringing Acers."
Max swore.
Acers meant that they were in more serious trouble.
20131005
Into the Well of Darkness...
"You sure about this?" Goner inquired. He stood at the edge of the well and looked down; he was shaking off the unsure feeling. Of all the weirdness he has been through in the past few days, this was certainly unnerving.
Max walked up to the edge of the ancient well and glanced down. "The old lady said this was the way."
Goner picked up a brick that was off to one side and dropped it over the edge; they watched the brick disappear into the darkness and neither one heard a sound.
"I hope the hell you are correct with that old lady," Goner said. "I hope she didn't lead us into a trap. You know there could be that demon girl from that horror movie I watched waiting to feed on our souls."
Max took a long puff from the cigarette; he exhaled the smoke into the air and then he flicked the cigarette off to one side. He drew his guns.
"No time like the present to find out," he quipped and then he jumped in.
Max walked up to the edge of the ancient well and glanced down. "The old lady said this was the way."
Goner picked up a brick that was off to one side and dropped it over the edge; they watched the brick disappear into the darkness and neither one heard a sound.
"I hope the hell you are correct with that old lady," Goner said. "I hope she didn't lead us into a trap. You know there could be that demon girl from that horror movie I watched waiting to feed on our souls."
Max took a long puff from the cigarette; he exhaled the smoke into the air and then he flicked the cigarette off to one side. He drew his guns.
"No time like the present to find out," he quipped and then he jumped in.
Tuff Talk
"Max?"
"That's my name," he replied. "Well, for now."
Angst chuckled at that and proceeded with the question she was going to ask, "Do you think there will come a time when we all will have outlived our function?"
Max sat behind the wheel as they were cruising down the street. His arm on the window and the Fabulous Thunderbirds blaring from the speaker. At that moment he really hadn't a care in the world.
He really didn't have an answer for Angst's question, so he turned to her and flashed her a smile. "It's hard to say at this point in time."
"That's my name," he replied. "Well, for now."
Angst chuckled at that and proceeded with the question she was going to ask, "Do you think there will come a time when we all will have outlived our function?"
Max sat behind the wheel as they were cruising down the street. His arm on the window and the Fabulous Thunderbirds blaring from the speaker. At that moment he really hadn't a care in the world.
He really didn't have an answer for Angst's question, so he turned to her and flashed her a smile. "It's hard to say at this point in time."
33 Minutes 2 Go
Suki fired several blasts from the Godhammer. Her arm was tired and she didn't know if she could keep it up. Each hit took out a target, but it was hard to miss since the whole area was infested with these creatures.
Her armed glowed an unearthly red, as sweat slipped from her forehead and down her face. If they got out of this she was going to kick Goner's arse since he had sneezed and alerted the creatures to where they were hiding.
"Hang in there kid," Frank told her.
She stole a glance to where he was and he was firing a canon in that direction. He didn't look like he was having as much fun as Angst, who was spinning madly about, uzis blazing and looking much akin to a hardened veteran.
"Easy for you to say," Suki told him. "I will be so glad when dawn gets here."
"That's another 33 minutes," Frank replied with a wry smile.
Her armed glowed an unearthly red, as sweat slipped from her forehead and down her face. If they got out of this she was going to kick Goner's arse since he had sneezed and alerted the creatures to where they were hiding.
"Hang in there kid," Frank told her.
She stole a glance to where he was and he was firing a canon in that direction. He didn't look like he was having as much fun as Angst, who was spinning madly about, uzis blazing and looking much akin to a hardened veteran.
"Easy for you to say," Suki told him. "I will be so glad when dawn gets here."
"That's another 33 minutes," Frank replied with a wry smile.
Sure Plays a Mean Nickel
Goner flicked the nickel with his finger and it spun around on the
table. He sat back and watched the coin twirl about at a mad speed. Max
caught a glimpse of it from the corner of his eye and it looked like a
steel ball.
It reminded him of something that he hadn't done in a long time and he suddenly had this urge to play one.
"Damn you," Max muttered.
"What?" Goner said as he looked up at Max. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," Max replied and he slid out of the booth. "Just got this urge to play some pinball."
Goner scooped up the nickel as he slid out the booth. "The Roy has a couple of them."
"Lead on MacDuff!" Max said as he slapped Goner's back. "And you buy the first round."
It reminded him of something that he hadn't done in a long time and he suddenly had this urge to play one.
"Damn you," Max muttered.
"What?" Goner said as he looked up at Max. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," Max replied and he slid out of the booth. "Just got this urge to play some pinball."
Goner scooped up the nickel as he slid out the booth. "The Roy has a couple of them."
"Lead on MacDuff!" Max said as he slapped Goner's back. "And you buy the first round."
Moments Before...
He was alone and in a world of pain. He counted the bullet wounds and knew that he was going to be in a serious state if he didn't get medical
attention soon enough.
Damn only one left and it's bent.
He took it out of the package and looked at it; the markings on the filter told him he might be able to use this. He crumpled the now empty pack and tossed it to one side. He fished out his lighter and lit the cigarette, and savored the smoke for a few moments before exhaling.
A black fly landed on his shoulder and he offered it a puff. The fly declined and headed off to parts unknown.
"Send help," Max called after it. Then muttered to himself, "I do need it."
Damn only one left and it's bent.
He took it out of the package and looked at it; the markings on the filter told him he might be able to use this. He crumpled the now empty pack and tossed it to one side. He fished out his lighter and lit the cigarette, and savored the smoke for a few moments before exhaling.
A black fly landed on his shoulder and he offered it a puff. The fly declined and headed off to parts unknown.
"Send help," Max called after it. Then muttered to himself, "I do need it."
At the Billboard of Broken Dreams
EXT. BILLBOARD PLATFORM - DUSK
MAX and MAGS are sitting on a billboard platform overlooking the highway. MAGS has her head on MAX's shoulder. Her katana at her side, while MAX'S pistols are at his side; he has a cigarette in his mouth puffing away. The sun is setting upon the horizon and they are sitting looking at it.
FRANK enters by climbing up a ladder.
FRANK:
I knew I'd find you guys here.
MAX:
Join the party.
MAGS:
Always room for one more.
FRANK:
(he stands and pulls out a can of beer from his jacket pocket)
So what's up?
MAX:
You are in time for the main event. The sun is about to set.
MAGS:
It's lovely this time of year.
MAX:
That it is.
FRANK
(raises beer towards sun)
I'll drink to that.
MAX and MAGS are sitting on a billboard platform overlooking the highway. MAGS has her head on MAX's shoulder. Her katana at her side, while MAX'S pistols are at his side; he has a cigarette in his mouth puffing away. The sun is setting upon the horizon and they are sitting looking at it.
FRANK enters by climbing up a ladder.
FRANK:
I knew I'd find you guys here.
MAX:
Join the party.
MAGS:
Always room for one more.
FRANK:
(he stands and pulls out a can of beer from his jacket pocket)
So what's up?
MAX:
You are in time for the main event. The sun is about to set.
MAGS:
It's lovely this time of year.
MAX:
That it is.
FRANK
(raises beer towards sun)
I'll drink to that.
20131004
Project: Backflip
"Here's your orders." Weldwood Que, LEGACY cell team leader, slid the file across the desk to Frank. "Initial observations rated him as a complete wild card. His personae is one of a fractured soul."
Frank picked up the file and began to scan through it. There sat the photo of his intended target. A spiky-haired, 30-something man dressed in a grey t-shirt that declared ASSIMULATED. His intended termination project name stated him to be: Max Cube.
"A worthy opponent. Do not judge too hastily since he is a very dangerous man," Que said as he stood up and faced the window. Clasping hands behind his back and overlooking the city like a sentinel. "Consider him your top priority."
Frank stared at the face of his new nemesis and then began to do some reading on him. Learning that on a South American mission, Max shot his mentor in the back of the skull and fled into the jungle.
"He's gathering his 'dragons'."
Frank looked up at Que who continued to speak.
"He's got a small few under his guidance. This makes him extremely dangerous."
Frank nodded. This was going to be a hard kill indeed.
Frank picked up the file and began to scan through it. There sat the photo of his intended target. A spiky-haired, 30-something man dressed in a grey t-shirt that declared ASSIMULATED. His intended termination project name stated him to be: Max Cube.
"A worthy opponent. Do not judge too hastily since he is a very dangerous man," Que said as he stood up and faced the window. Clasping hands behind his back and overlooking the city like a sentinel. "Consider him your top priority."
Frank stared at the face of his new nemesis and then began to do some reading on him. Learning that on a South American mission, Max shot his mentor in the back of the skull and fled into the jungle.
"He's gathering his 'dragons'."
Frank looked up at Que who continued to speak.
"He's got a small few under his guidance. This makes him extremely dangerous."
Frank nodded. This was going to be a hard kill indeed.
Don't U Just Know It?
The first sensation he felt was that he was chilly.
Max awoke on the subway, naked except for the bright yellow t-shirt that declared Cool. The two"oo"s in cool looked like eyes looking down. He was cold and chilly and he didn't know where the hell he was and how he'd gotten here, and he was wondering where his pants were.
"Excuse me, mister," said a old lady standing over him. She was holding up a pair of shorts with a price tag on them. "I just bought these for my grandson but I think you could use them now."
Max looked at her and took the shorts. "Ummm, thanks ma'am".
The old woman gave him a wink and then went back to her seat. "One has to be careful in the city. Especially on the subway. You know how those jokers are."
It was early morning and Max glanced out the subway window to see the false dawn. He ran his fingers through his hair trying to figure out where the hell he was and what the heck had happened.
"Wild party?" the old woman asked from her seat. She went back to reading the City Sun paper and Max could read the front page story: "Man Wanted For Questioning".
"Not too sure," Max replied. His head pounded as if some small fairy had flown in through his ear and got en lost and was now pounding to get out again. "Where am I?"
"Purgatory," the old woman replied with a smile. She folded the newspaper and put it on the seat beside her. "You know that you are not going to last too long if you don't know what city you are in."
"Swell," Max whispered as he slid the shorts on. He looked down at his legs and could see that he would need to spend a few more days in the sun. The shorts were dark in colour and the next problem was to find proper footwear.
The subway car was slowing down as it approached a stop and the old woman got up and headed for the door.
"Can I get your name and a place to contact you," Max said. "I will pay you back for your kindness."
"You already have," the old woman said. "Years ago."
Before Max could ask her another question she had stepped off the car and onto the platform. It took him a couple of moments for the shock of her answer to wear off.
He stood and stretched and that's when he saw the Jester in the next car. And the Jester just smiled at him.
"Son of bitch," Max swore. He glanced around in his car and saw another one sitting in the back. "Those bastards."
Max awoke on the subway, naked except for the bright yellow t-shirt that declared Cool. The two"oo"s in cool looked like eyes looking down. He was cold and chilly and he didn't know where the hell he was and how he'd gotten here, and he was wondering where his pants were.
"Excuse me, mister," said a old lady standing over him. She was holding up a pair of shorts with a price tag on them. "I just bought these for my grandson but I think you could use them now."
Max looked at her and took the shorts. "Ummm, thanks ma'am".
The old woman gave him a wink and then went back to her seat. "One has to be careful in the city. Especially on the subway. You know how those jokers are."
It was early morning and Max glanced out the subway window to see the false dawn. He ran his fingers through his hair trying to figure out where the hell he was and what the heck had happened.
"Wild party?" the old woman asked from her seat. She went back to reading the City Sun paper and Max could read the front page story: "Man Wanted For Questioning".
"Not too sure," Max replied. His head pounded as if some small fairy had flown in through his ear and got en lost and was now pounding to get out again. "Where am I?"
"Purgatory," the old woman replied with a smile. She folded the newspaper and put it on the seat beside her. "You know that you are not going to last too long if you don't know what city you are in."
"Swell," Max whispered as he slid the shorts on. He looked down at his legs and could see that he would need to spend a few more days in the sun. The shorts were dark in colour and the next problem was to find proper footwear.
The subway car was slowing down as it approached a stop and the old woman got up and headed for the door.
"Can I get your name and a place to contact you," Max said. "I will pay you back for your kindness."
"You already have," the old woman said. "Years ago."
Before Max could ask her another question she had stepped off the car and onto the platform. It took him a couple of moments for the shock of her answer to wear off.
He stood and stretched and that's when he saw the Jester in the next car. And the Jester just smiled at him.
"Son of bitch," Max swore. He glanced around in his car and saw another one sitting in the back. "Those bastards."
drip
drip
Max was staggered for a second; he didn't realize what had just happened until he brought his right hand up to feel his chest. Max looked up at the roofs and he didn't see anything at all. He didn't know where the shot had come from. He pulled his hand away from his shirt, the tips of his fingers were painted red.
drip
"You okay?" Maggie asked him. She tore a strip of her shirt to field dress the wound. Max held his hand up.
"It's only a flesh wound," Max lied. "I'm okay."
"Don't you die on me," Maggie told him. "Don't make me fight the forces of hell to bring you back to me."
Max chuckled and that hurt. "I know it wouldn't be a pretty sight."
drip
"We better get you to see the doc," Frank stated. He rushed over and glanced at Max for a second and then started scanning the rooftops.
"I'm too busy to die at the moment," Max said. "Remember the mission."
"Fuck the mission," Frank said.
Max looked at Frank and he stated, "We knew the risk of what we are doing."
drip
Max sat down and shook his head. "Damn. I got cocky. Acting like a rookie."
Maggie held the torn strip to the wound. "Hold it here as tight as you can," she told him. "Frank and I will be right back."
Frank looked at her in disbelief. "You sure about this?"
drip
Maggie stood up and brought out her katana. She just nodded at Frank and Frank shook his head for a second time.
"Yeah, I'd say she is sure," Max quipped.
Max was staggered for a second; he didn't realize what had just happened until he brought his right hand up to feel his chest. Max looked up at the roofs and he didn't see anything at all. He didn't know where the shot had come from. He pulled his hand away from his shirt, the tips of his fingers were painted red.
drip
"You okay?" Maggie asked him. She tore a strip of her shirt to field dress the wound. Max held his hand up.
"It's only a flesh wound," Max lied. "I'm okay."
"Don't you die on me," Maggie told him. "Don't make me fight the forces of hell to bring you back to me."
Max chuckled and that hurt. "I know it wouldn't be a pretty sight."
drip
"We better get you to see the doc," Frank stated. He rushed over and glanced at Max for a second and then started scanning the rooftops.
"I'm too busy to die at the moment," Max said. "Remember the mission."
"Fuck the mission," Frank said.
Max looked at Frank and he stated, "We knew the risk of what we are doing."
drip
Max sat down and shook his head. "Damn. I got cocky. Acting like a rookie."
Maggie held the torn strip to the wound. "Hold it here as tight as you can," she told him. "Frank and I will be right back."
Frank looked at her in disbelief. "You sure about this?"
drip
Maggie stood up and brought out her katana. She just nodded at Frank and Frank shook his head for a second time.
"Yeah, I'd say she is sure," Max quipped.
The M is for Moxie
"Max," the voice on the cellphone said, "are you ready?"
"That I are," I answered. I butted out the cigarette and fished another one out of the pack that said Smoking is dangerous to your Health. How dare they tell me something that I already know? A warning is like Dr. Phil stating the obvious. Makes me upset.
"I'll be in front of your place in nine minutes and thirty two seconds," the voice stated. "Be ready."
"You telling me what to do?" I asked.
"You want to play the game don't you?" cellphone said.
"Under my rules," I replied. "I am not your Pavlovian dog. If that's all you want then find someone else."
There was a long pause before cellphone finally said, "Sorry."
"Not accepted," I said. "I will be waiting."
I placed the phone back in its cradle; it somehow reminded me of a youtube video that I had watched when I was a few years younger. Before the opening. Before the gates of plureality opened. I laughed. I was ready.
"That I are," I answered. I butted out the cigarette and fished another one out of the pack that said Smoking is dangerous to your Health. How dare they tell me something that I already know? A warning is like Dr. Phil stating the obvious. Makes me upset.
"I'll be in front of your place in nine minutes and thirty two seconds," the voice stated. "Be ready."
"You telling me what to do?" I asked.
"You want to play the game don't you?" cellphone said.
"Under my rules," I replied. "I am not your Pavlovian dog. If that's all you want then find someone else."
There was a long pause before cellphone finally said, "Sorry."
"Not accepted," I said. "I will be waiting."
I placed the phone back in its cradle; it somehow reminded me of a youtube video that I had watched when I was a few years younger. Before the opening. Before the gates of plureality opened. I laughed. I was ready.
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