Payne and Punishment Chapter 3 Outta the Frying Pan...
"Alright Mr Payne, You are now a free man. I don't know how the hell you got this, but I've been around long enough not to ask why."
The guard grumbled this as Max was handed his clothes and wallet. Despite everything that had happened, all the records of Winterson's betrayal was enough to drop the charges against him to manslaughter. But with all his other crimes, it didn't really make much of a difference except one, they didn't foreclose on his bank account.
It had been insane after the incident with Vlad. Both he and Mona were sent to the ICU at the Hospital and stayed there for a long time. Separate rooms and they wouldn't let them talk to each other. The new Lieutenant at the station house came to question him, Lt. Drazen was his name. Max knew him from the station.
Since both he and Winterson were no longer available to take the position, the highest ranking officer below him had taken Bravura's job. Max had always been wary around him, and told him little of the actual events surrounding his second rampage.
Soon after, Lt. Drazen testified that Max had told him he was after Vlad because he double-crossed him out of a position in the illegal weapons business. Max vehemently denied it, but because of his reputation as a gunslinger, he didn't really have any credibility.
In the end, he had been charged with 52 counts of murder in the 2nd degree, and a score of manslaughter charges. Because of his testimony, and the little evidence he had kept this time, he was given a sentence of 25 years to life with a possibility of parole in 20 years. Mona on the other hand, was deemed too injured to stand trial and was remanded to a hospital till such a time that she could.
She was still in that hospital where they had originally been. Now she had 2 bullets stuck inside her. Vlad's .50 cal shot had nearly broken her spine, by pure luck it hadn't severed any spinal cords but it had somehow lodged itself between vertebrae and any attempt to dislodge it could cause more damage. Max was amazed at her ability to survive, and keep others around her alive as well.
She had saved him from a fiery death before all hell broke loose. Vlad had shot him in the head, Luck struck again and his thick skull absorbed most of the shock. He had the most frightening nightmare while he was unconscious; slowly dying with no hope. He remembered parts of it like a vision... wandering the many halls he'd always fought in. Then the final feeling of acceptance as he could see a red sky above. Ever since then he'd been sure that when the time came, he'd be going straight to hell. All those other Near-death experiences had been about the light at the end of the tunnel, not the feeling of resignation.
The only reason he survived was her, she had braved the fire around him, and dragged his near-carcass to safety.
Now it was 2 years later, his wounds had healed, his body was strong from the prison weights and avoiding the gang rapists in the house. But his mind was shattered, broken like so many pieces of a fallen mirror. He put his clothes on and silently left the prison office.
Outside the office, he could see a long corridor to the exit. there were several guards waiting there, expecting him. Like so many things before him, the guards signified a fight, whether mental or physical. They wanted one last chance to break him.
He started walking, a normal pace at first, then a more determined stride as he neared the guards.
"Hey Payne! Got yer mob buddies to get ya out huh? Hahahaha."
"It figures they'd get you out, with Vladimir gone you own his mob, you fucking traitor."
"Look at him! he'll be back here before next week!"
Max ignored it all, nothing mattered anymore. Things had meaning sure, but none of it meant anything to him. All he knew now were bullets... and Mona.
Right as he reached the door, a guard dropped his billy stick in front of him, blocking the way. Max knew the guard, he had used to be a cop and hated Max for killing Winterson who had been a partner.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Max carefully thought.
"I've been pardoned, I can leave."
"Oh really? They pardoned you for killing a cop? Wow, you don't look tough enough to bully a pardon out of the system."
"I don't know why I've been pardoned, As far as I know there's a car waiting for me outside."
"Yeah, Full of mob, You fucking traitor, may you rot in hell."
The guard finally lifted his club, Max pushed open the door and didn't look back, He could feel their gaze pierce his back and drill into his soul. He forced himself not to pay attention.
Up ahead he could see a Limo, obviously with his benefactor. He didn't know his name, but he had a very arrogant look to him. Almost sleazy he was so dressed up. He simply gazed up at him though, Max had almost expected a hug.
"So Mr. Payne, I see you've found me."
"Cut the Crap, just tell me what I have to do and we can get this over with quick."
The man became very agitated, he motioned Max to quiet down and whispered.
"Quiet you fool, you never know who's watching."
He opened the door to the limo and waved Max in.
Inside was a comfortable leather couch, a bar, and even a built in computer with what looked like universal access. Max chuckled at the difference from prison.
The man came in and sat across from Max. he opened the bar and pulled out a bottle of what appeared to be Smirnoff Vodka, not the new one, one of the original bottles.
"Vodka Mr Payne? I know that in jail one cannot enjoy the true essence of Alcohol, only the filthy bits some of them brew."
"No thanks, I don't drink anymore."
"A pity..."
"Look Mr..."
"My name is not important. But in the interest of communication, you can call me Ivan. "
"Alright, but isn't the man you want me to take care of Named Ivan as well?"
Max felt a bit threatened. He was being manipulated and he knew it. But unlike Pinochio, he didn't want to let his controller know.
"No no no... his name is Ivanov. It's a popular name. We don't have any leads on him, but we have a lead on someone who does."
"Frank Castle."
Max was deep in thought, In another time he could have called Frank Castle a friend. It had been published so many times even the newspapers stopped paying attention to him. 'The Punisher' he called himself. Fighting the scum of the corrupt, Max had admired him. But now he was just another killer. Still, he felt apprehensive about approaching him.
"Yes, 'The Punisher' usually has leads on a variety of people. However you also know what he means to us."
"You want me to kill him after I find out what he knows?"
"I'll leave that in your hands."
"Alright, so what now?"
"I'm going to drop you off at the Punisher Task Force office, For the moment, that will be your job. We were able to convince the commissioner to give you that position."
Max was surprised, he'd known the commissioner was dirty but not that dirty. He wondered who's job he'd be taking.
"Will I have any partners or co-workers there?"
"Just one, and he's leaving at the end of this week. You might like to have a chat with him in order to catch up."
"Good, three years in the Pen and I'm a little behind the times."
As Max said this he could see another car through the window, a Mercedes S-500. It was only a concept car when he got put in jail. He really was behind, it'd take a little getting used to not have his Badge with him.
He sat silently for another 5 minutes as the limo made it's way through the city. He noticed places he'd been, places he'd heard about. He wondered if they had rebuilt all the places he had torn apart in his quest for Vlad. The restaurant Vodka, The construction site, Vinnie's Car lot, the old amusement park, and finally Woden's manor. As an afterthought he wondered what had happened to his old Apartment.
"So Ivan, where am I going to be staying?"
Ivan turned back towards Max, he'd been looking out the window as well. Almost longing to exit.
"Oh we haven't provided you any permanent lodging, but we are supplying you with a briefcase with enough supplies to last you for at least a week. Here."
Ivan opened the seat next to him, A hidden compartment. He pulled an armored leather briefcase out. He could tell it was armored by the sheer size of it. Almost a half more wide than most normal briefcases. Ivan passed it to him.
"The code hasn't been inputted yet, you can do that later if you choose."
Max opened the briefcase, Several things were inside. Most prevalent was a .50 cal Desert Eagle. Max recognized it, it was Vlads. The one he used to put a bullet in Vlad after he put one in Mona... and himself. He pulled it out.
"How the hell did you get your hands on this?"
"Never you mind Mr. Payne. Let's just say it's to confuse the CSI's who may be after you."
Max snorted and put the gun back inside. The whole top layer was a foam cut out that had the Gun, a laser sight, and 2 loaded clips. There was also a small vial with some strange green fluid inside. Max pulled it out and looked carefully at it. He was reminded of another green fluid he knew.
"Is this V?"
"In a way yes, It's the Purest form of V our scientists could concoct. in other words, it's exactly what Horne wanted, a super soldier in a vial."
Max pondered over it, all his life... all his life that mattered anymore had revolved around this. this tiny green vial that held so much hope, so much agony, so much suffering. he fought the impulse to shove it down Ivan's throat to see how he'd like it.
"Why are you giving it to me?"
"Well forgive me for saying so, but if bad goes to worse, you can at least be our first human trial with this superior form. Perhaps it could be your last ditch effort to succeed."
Max remembered the time Horne had caught him, she injected him with low grade V. The stuff junkies would kill over. He didn't like the idea.
"So I'm a guinea pig now am I?"
"No, Guinea Pig trials went exceptionally well. They became incredibly strong and were even resilient against the nerve gas used to eliminate them. We can only assume it would be even stronger in humans with our more advanced immune system."
Ivan kept his face as solid as possible. His every effort was to keep Max from doubting him. If things came to worse and Frank Castle had beaten him. At least the Barbarossa inside the vial would keep Max from speaking during one of the "Punisher's' Interrogations. He fought back a wince at his friend, Slobodan.
"So you've finally perfected it? Wow. Horne would be proud."
Ivan kept his face in check. He'd told him the truth, but not the whole truth. They really did perfect V, but only a small amount and that had been given to a certain Russian with a vendetta. That Russian was now inside a solid Titanium panic room in the Former Senator Woden's manor. Awaiting the time of his release.
Max continued going over his briefcase, there were a lot of papers. Mostly paperwork and ID for his new job. A passport with a Canadian origin was in there as well.
"So I'm a goddamn Canuck now?"
"Eh."
Max rolled his eyes and leafed through the rest of it. Mostly requisition papers for the NYPD police department. Enough resources to last for a month. Either he was going to be using it all right away, or Ivan wanted people to think he was staying. There was also a bio on a man called Soap. "The Punisher Task Force." he was replacing. He quickly deduced that this was a man broken. He'd have no problem talking to him.
Just as he put all the papers back into the briefcase, the limo came to a slow halt.
"Well Mr. Payne, here we are. I hope we can come to a quick and mutually beneficial agreement soon."
Max pulled himself out of the Limo. The sun shone on his face forcing his eyes shut. Deep in his mind he wanted to relish it, but his experience forced him to disgust it. It had been a long time since he had seen the sun, his pale skin attested to that. He looked at his hands, white like the rest of his body except where a bullet had left a discoloration.
He rubbed his temple where Vlad's bullet had gone through, a reddish brown mark would stay there for the rest of his life, a testament to his fight. He couldn't even look in a mirror anymore. Maybe there was some truth to that superstition, he had broken a mirror and now they broke him, slowly and meticulously tore him apart,
He went over his mind all the times he'd been under the clouds, fighting for his life, fighting for his loved ones, fighting for justice... fighting fighting fighting... always fighting. He sadly remembered the last sun he could clearly remember, the day his family had died. He cursed the heavens for granting him life and shut the door.
Right as he reached the step, Ivan called out to him. Through the open window a brown parcel flew out towards Max. He caught it with his right hand fumbling it a little.
"That's the last bit of your Package! I'll come by later to see how you're doing! Good day Max!"
Max couldn't help but laugh, he'd finally called him Max instead of Mr. Payne. He opened the parcel and fished through the contents. Two ten thousand dollar bricks and a badge... his old Badge. Polished to a new shine.
Max again couldn't help himself. He smiled. Maybe the Inner Circle finally grew some wisdom. He put the badge in his pocket and walked into the last precinct he ever would. To meet with Martin Soap. "The Punisher Task Force."