CHAPTER 8 KAOtic Comms
"I vead every report I could find on KAOS." Von Graf continued his story. "Und vunce I reached a position vith sufficient authority, I ensured dat I had sufficient intelligence assets in Bucharest und all over zer vorld, monitoring zheir activities at all times. I saw zer possibility of an alliance vith zhem for zer var. Vith zheir netverk und infiltration capabilities, supported vy zer resources of zer Reich, I saw a whole new theatre of engagement.—" the Oberführer paused focusing his flashing monocle on the CONTROL agents. "—Vith KAOS cooperation, abilities und resources, ve could strike at Amelika's cities, factories, shipyards, powver plants, reservoirs! Ve could cripple zheir economy und lay vaste to zheir homes vhile owver troops continue to engage zhem on zhe battlefields, thus crushing zhem on two fronts!"
Von Graf then straightened and sighed shrugging.
"Vut alas, my superiors had less vision und believed it vould be a vaste of time. Alzhoug, late in zhe var, vhen it vas too late, mein Führer did launch such an oparation as I had proposed earlier, vut vithout zhe knowledge, expertise und alliance of KAOS, it ultimately failed." Von Graf then brightens shaking the silver endcap of his baton as he kept talking and pacing while Max and 99 listened on. "Vut my superiors reticence from early on, did not stop me from carrying out my own arrangements..."
"Oberführer, ve should transmit now." Maritta spoke up. "Ve risk being detected every minute ve vait…"
"Ja, ja, ja ve have time." Von Graf gestured with his baton hand dismissively. "As long as zhe scrambler verks ve are not in danger. Vhere vas I…ah yes! Utilizing missions vhich required me to travel zhe vorld to inspect our intelligence assets in place, I took the opportunity to travel to Bucharest vhere I made contact vith zhe top executives und leaders of KAOS. Ve spoke at length und it seems, zhey und I vere of the exact same mind! Zhey vere in full agreement to an alliance. Now even though zhe Reichssicherheitshauptamt did not approve of any collaboration vith KAOS, I secretly began to help zhem in zheir oparations, utilizing my own skills und knowledge in zhe intelligence field. I obtained for zhem vital information on locations of diamond mines in Africa vhich zhey could exploit to finance zheir oparations, I helped zhem set up untraceable Swiss bank accounts to launder money in vays even zhey did not know about. In other vords, I showed zhem zhat I vas invaluable to zhem in an alliance."
"Oberführer, there is…" Hensel said.
"But what was the point?!" 99 pressed on.
"Gees Ninety-Nine I never knew you were THIS interested in history?" Max frowned
"I'd like to know Max!" 99 insisted
"Und I shall tell you!' von Graf declared happily. "You see, long before zhe disastrous Oparation Vatch on zhe Rhine, as early as 1943, I had known zhat defeat vas a high possibility despite our Führer's valiant attempts to turn zhe tide und his stoic front before his officers. And I knew zhat vunce ve lost zhe var, I und every officer of zhe SS vould be hunted as criminals. So like any good intelligence oparative, I had my escape route planned. I alveady had dozens of passports of various countries, bearing different identities as vell as large sums of different currencies hidden avay for such a situation. So at zhe beginning of zhe year in 1945, as zhe Allies neared victory over our troops at zhe Rhine, I enacted my plan and escaped Germany in zhe night, ensuring zhat I had destroyed every record zhat I could of my existence within zhe Reich, as vell as all records of Maritta's existence, knowing zhat she vould be an invaluable asset to KAOS as vell, along with—a select others. I travelled to Bucharest und zhere, KAOS velcomed me into a long overdue alliance. Less zhan six months later, zhe var vas over. I remained safely hidden vy KAOS from the self-righteous crusades of zhe Allies. For zhe next tventy years, I aided KAOS in augmenting und developing zheir espionage, communications und intelligence gathering abilities making zhem eento zhe formidable force you know today."
"Alliance?" 99 frowned her delicate brows. "But you said you were their President of Espionage and Communications. That sounds like you work for them!"
"Ja! Ja!" the Oberführer nodded "Owver relationship evolved vith zhe times. After zhe virst five years, as much as I hate to admit it, I came to vealize—KAOS pays MUCH better zhan zhe Third Reich! You canNOT beat zheir benefits package! FULL dental plan including FREE dentures und..."
"Oberführer!" Hensel called out "Zumsing is vrong! I couldn't detect it bevore vut…our scrambler! Eeet haz veen compromised!"
All the KAOS agents snapped to a dangerously alert state while von Graf froze in his recounting, light flickering off his monocle as he held his baton. After a second, he pointed an endcap at Maritta.
"Maritta schnell! Go!"
Without a word, the aged KAOS agent ran to the stair case and raced up to the door, unhindered by age or her voluminous skirts, clunky shoes hammering the steps. As the door at the top opened and slammed shut behind her, von Graf shook his baton at 99.
"You ARE clever." He declared, with a chilling calmness. "Keeping me engaged avout a subject sooo dear to me to allow time for CONTROL to find us. Vhere is it! Zhe device you are using to disrupt our scrambler!"
"Her purse!" Riehm declared pointing to 99's purse which now lay on the nearby table along with an uneaten bag of sandwiches due to incorrect condiment accompaniment.
While his men kept 86 and 99 covered, von Graf stalked over to the table and searched the purse. It took only a second for him to come back with a small device which he shook at 99.
"Vhat is this?"
When 99 did not answer, von Graf tossed it to Hensel who caught it in his right hand without taking his eyes off the console and working the controls with his left.
"Vhat is it?! Ees it vhat's affecting the scrambler?!"
Hensel turned the object over in his hand examining it.
"No Oberführer. It's too small. It's not a homing or communications device ezher. I…I think it ees some form of remote control."
"Shut it off!"
Hensel clicked on the buttons.
"I can't! There must be some kind of security sequence! Even if ve destroyed it, vhat ever command it sent out earlier vould still ve unaffected!"
"Vhat ees zhe sequence?!" von Graf demanded and when 99 still refused to answer, he swung back his baton.
99 gasped turning her head and closing her eyes awaiting the baton to crash down on her. Max leaned over shielding her with putting an arm.
"All right von Graf! The girl doesn't know anything! I'M the one who activated the remote and put it into her purse! And you're right! There's nothing you can do to stop it! It's over!"
"Not quite Shmart!" von Graf growled. "Hensel! Can ve still transmit!"
"Jawohl!" Hensel confirmed "Vut vithout zhe scrambler zhey could track us und know vut ve are transmitting!"
"No matter! Do it!"
"Ja Oberführer!" Hensel acknowledged, his hands racing over the switches and buttons.
At the Sunbeam Tiger, a dark brown 1965 Chevelle Malibu SS396 Hardtop Coupe and light blue Renault 4, pulled up next to it. The Chief jumped out of the Chevelle Malibu with Agent 34 and two other CONTROL agent in fedoras and suits while Professor Carleton climbed out of his Renault 4 with a 4th agent. The Chief and Carleton ran up to the robot arm that still had the KX-A1 aimed at the KAOS house, the latter with another stainless steel attache case in one hand and a black rectangular plastic toolset case in the other.
"Is that the house?" the Chief asked and the robot arm 'nodded' with the KX-A1. "Alright, keep the KX-A1 trained on it! Profession Carleton! Get to work!" As the mechanical hand nodded again, Carleton set both cases on the bonnet of the Sunbeam Tiger, opening up the briefcase to reveal another KX-A1 and the toolset to display its pockets of sophisticated tools.
As the professor used a screwdriver from the toolset to begin adjusting the circuitry of the KX-A1 he bought with him, the Chief instructed the raiding party.
"Men! On foot! Thirty Four and Granger, you're with me. We'll take the front! You two, the back door. When you hear me whistle twice, we all burst in!"
The CONTROL agents all nodded and the group ran down the street using the other houses along the way as cover, Agent 34 armed with a Thompson submachine gun.
"You've had it von Graf!" Max insisted in the basement. "Our agents will be here any moment. Whether you succeed in transmitting Project Phalanx or not, you're through! Finished! Kaput! You're gonna spend the REST of your life in PRISON!"
"All zhe more you should not live to see zhat happen!" von Graf said signaling with his gloved hand so both Storch and Riehm raised their weapons at the CONTROL agents.
99 closes her eyes squeezing Max's left hand while he raises his other hand to the KAOS leader.
"On the other hand, there's no need to be so pessimistic."
"Do not let zhe harmless external appearance of our hideout fool you." Von Graf smiled coldly. "Ve vill haf enough time to make our transmission und escape."
Outside the Dutch colonial house, the two CONTROL agents assigned to the back, arrived, running onto the rear porch and flattened themselves on either side of the back door, with their snub-nosed revolvers ready.
Unfortunately what they did not know, was inside the house at both front and back doors at shin level, next to the door jamb on the side opposite the hinges where the door would open, was a modified M24 Stielhandgranate resting in 2 steel rings riveted to the wall, holding the stick grenade by its long handle with its dull green charge head pointing upwards. The modifications to these M24s consisted of a 1 second fuse instead of a 4 second one and the pull cord that ignited the grenade's fuse, which ran inside the hollow handle and emerged through the base, replaced by ones at least 2 ft long which now were stretched taut across the door just above the floor line, the other end tied to nails hammered into the edge of the door at the hinge side.
At the front door, the rest of the group arrived with the Chief and Granger taking up position on the right side of the door while 34 with Thompson submachine gun ready, on the right. Granger, snub-nosed revolver in hand, looked through the nearest window and shook his head at the Chief confirming he does not see anyone. The Chief nodded, his 4 inch light barreled, S&W Model 10 in hand, put his fingers to his lips and emitted two sharp whistles.
34 and one of the agents at the back, kicked in their respective doors, shattering the locks. As the doors swung open, they yanked on the pull cords stretched across them which in turn, dragged the rough steel rods they were attached to inside the grenade, producing unseen spark and flames that lit the fuse.
The two agents at the back proceeded along the north and east walls, revolvers at eye level while in the living room, 34 was the first one in submachine gun pressed to his shoulder, sighting down the barrel as he proceeded along the west wall towards the staircase while Granger led the way along the southern wall, revolver aimed at eye level as the Chief followed closely behind him aiming his revolver at the wall with the chimney flute.
It was the Chief's experienced senses and sharp peripheral vision that made him turn to see the Stielhandgranate in the steel rings at the door jamb.
"Grenade!" he barely had time to yell as he leaped forward knocking Granger down just as both grenades erupted thunderously, shaking the walls and blasting every window on the ground floor outwards, showering the surroundings with thousands of glass shards and splinters.
The two agents in the kitchen closer to their grenade were thrown through the air, bones in their bodies shattering from the concussive shock wave which also reduced a section of the northern wall on the side of the grenade to a 8ft by 5 ft gaping hole while the table in the center of the kitchen simply turned into a blossom of wooden splinters which flung in every direction including out the open door on the left of the chimney breast, into the living room. The agent at the east wall crashed down into the overhead kitchen cabinets there along with showers of wooden fragments from the northern wall and the kitchen table, his already shattered body smashing them to bits and spilling ingredients stored inside which followed his lifeless body as it struck the counter and rolled off dropping to the floor while his colleague struck the protruding rectangle which housed the doorway to the basement, breaking more bones in his fortunately already lifeless body before hitting the floor with wooden fragments and splinters showering down on him.
At the same time in the living room, as a gaping oval shaped hole appeared in the side of the door on the side of the grenade, the shockwave reduced one of the heavy arm chairs to an expanding mass of wooden and cushion fragments and bits while the other arm chair slightly further away had its entire back disintegrated and the table in between them shattered into splinters, all showering the entire living room while the sofa rocked as layers of its cushion were ripped off by the force. 34 flew through the air, submachine gun flying out of his hands and landing near the west wall just before he landed on the staircase with wooden fragments, glass shards, cushion stuffing raining down on his inert form.
In the basement, Max and 99 looked up at the ceiling in shock at the sound of the explosions.
In the living room, 34 laid on the staircase unmoving, trench coat spread about him covered in debris while the Chief on the floor slowly turned over onto his back, fragments of furniture fabric, wood and cushion sliding off his back. His eyes were closed while agony contorted his features together with disorientation. Granger at the east wall and farthest from the blast gets up, debris falling from his body, revolver in hand just slightly stunned thanks to the Chief's reflexes in knocking him down. He looked around at the shattered windows, fallen comrades and devastation. Before he could move to their aid, a movement caught his eye and he turned, revolver raised to see what appeared to be a sweet old lady, with silvery hair pulled back tightly in a bun, shawl draped over her shoulders appear from behind the sofa which was still largely intact for some reason.
"Hello deary." The sweet old lady quavered and smiled where she crouched and Granger realized too late she was aiming an MP40 submachine gun at him.
Granger's trigger finger did not have time to tighten before the MP40 roared continuously, muzzle flashing. 9mm Parabellum rounds shattered Granger's chest, erupting from his back in multiple bloody star shaped explosions that painted a large spot on the east wall as he convulsed under rain of metallic death.
Across the street at the Ackleberries, Claire and her husband Roger sat in wide armchairs both staring at the television, showing a rerun of an episode of The Tonight Show with starring Johnny Carson. As the roar of the machine gun fire reached them, 78 yr old Claire said without taking her eyes off the tv.
"Roger. Now there's machine gun fire coming from Mary's too."
Roger at 85 years old, sagging in his armchair and staring at the t.v through thick glasses replied in a similar fashion.
"I hope it doesn't put holes in that sweater she promised me."
"Or the apple strudel I gave her earlier." Added Claire. "That way I can still give it to Sal and Betty up at 10th avenue if she don't need it anymore."
99's face turned pale as she looked at the ceiling while roar of the machine gun fire permeated into the basement.
"You know you guys have a LOT to learn about being neighborly!" Max declared with a decisive nod at his captors.
"Transmission in progress!" Hensel reported.
"How long till completion?" von Graf asked
"Four minutes Oberführer!" answered Hensel the lights and readings on the control panel reflecting on his glasses.
At the Sunbeam Tiger, sparks burst out of the circuitry of the KX-A1 still in the briefcase which Carleton was working on and he yelled in pain dropping his screw driver and shaking his hand.
"Dammit! The polar resistances are too high!" Carleton exclaimed and the robot hand 'nodded' quickly flicking the KX-A1 it was holding up and down, its servos whining excitedly.
"You're right!" Carleton exclaimed. "Quick! Lemme hold onto that!"
Carleton took the KX-A1 the robot hand was holding and he aims it in the direction of the house, keeping his finger on the trigger switch while handing the robot hand another screwdriver. As the mechanical hand began making adjustments to the second KX-A1, sparks kept bursting out but the robot hand continued working, unaffected.
"Vell Shmart." Von Graf said turning to his captives. "I vould like to say parting is such sveet sorrow but I vould be lying." A maniacal grin spread across his face and light flashed off his monocle while his other eye glittered with cold menace as he declared. "In this case—I am absolutely—EUPHORIC!"
Max leaned forward and turned his head slightly to cast a sidewise glance at the Oberführer as he asked.
"Enough to let us go with a stern verbal warning?"
"Nein."
"How bout' a written reprimand?"
"Max!" 99 exclaimed pouting and stomping her kidskin go-go boot on the concrete floor. "This is just absolutely ridiculous! It's time you put your foot down on the matter!"
Von Graf squinted at 99's strange comment while Storch and Riehm awaited their orders, weapons primed.
"Ninety-Nine!" Max hissed "These KAOS agents have GUNS and they're about to SHOOT us! I think we need a little more than a strong assertion of our position to dissuade them NOT to!"
"But Max!" 99 insisted with a lowered voice but intense glare of her mesmerizing blue eyes. "I really THINK you should try putting your FOOT down! Maybe it might work!"
"Ninety-Nine!" Max rolled his eyes. "Would you listen to yourself? When has…"
Max stopped in mid eye roll and brought them into focus.
"Yes! Yes Ninety-Nine!" Max declared turning to von Graf. "That's it von Graf! This has gone far enough! I am putting my foot DOWN on this!"
"Shoot zhem." Von Graf ordered with flat satisfaction. Storch and Riehm's fingers tightened on their weapons triggers just as Max lifted his left foot and stomped his shoe hard onto the concrete floor.
A soft dull boom sounded making the KAOS agents halt reflectively to see what was happening and their eyes popped as thick white smoke billowed out from the heel of Max's left shoe. The startled agents took a step back in reflex and Max immediately kicked his left foot out flinging the shoe off and sending it flying in the air.
Again, the three closest KAOS agents gawked at the bizarre sight as the shoe flew into the air, tumbling end over leaving a curving trail of billowing white smoke with von Graf and Storch actually turning away to see where the flying footwear was going out of a mixture of disbelief and concern over their precious shortwave equipment—which gave Max the opportunity to launch out of his seat at Storch's back, his right knife hand landing in a loud thud at the base of the KAO's agent's neck on the right side then again on the left. At the same time, the flying shoe landed on the top of the base cylinder of the shortwave and bounced off, still pouring out white smoke which immediately began to flood the enclosed northern end of the basement. Hensel and Arnheiter yelled out in alarm, coughing and fanning in vain at the smoke as they could not see the controls.
As Storch convulsed in agony sinking to his knees, Riehm swung his Walther P38 at Max only to have 99 swing her arm out to her left, cringing at the sharp pain in her side. Her forearm slammed into the angular jawed agent's ribs doubling him over and allowing 99 to leap to her feet.
"Max! Look out!" 99 yelled as her own knife hand strike landed on the back of Riehm's lowered neck and he crumpled to the concrete.
Max froze turning as he reached for Storch's fallen MP40 to see von Graf unbuckling the flap of his holster, baton still gripped in his left gloved hand. Realizing the MP40 was on the floor trapped under Storch's heavy body, Max swung back and grabbed hold of the chair he had been sitting on by the sides of the chair's back, sweeping the furniture off the floor in a smooth continuous movement, building up the momentum to smash it into von Graf's back just as his Luger cleared its holster. The chair exploded with the force into a dozen fragments and the Oberführer was hurled forward to land face down on the concrete floor with a loud frump, dozens of pieces of broken chair raining down on his leather tunic and the concrete around him.
As 99 snatched up Riehm's fallen P38, Storch pushed himself to his knees shaking his head to clear it and immediately grabbed at his MP40 on the floor below him.
"Ninety-Nine! Upstairs! Help our men!" Max yelled as he lunged over and stomped his right shoe onto the MP40's receiver, pinning it and Storch's fingers to the floor. As the KAOS agent roared in pain yanking his fingers out, 99 responded as she dashed for the stairs at the western wall.
"Right Max!"
Storch launched to his feet grabbing Max by his jacket front and shoving the smaller man back a few feet before Max managed to bring his own arms up, knocking the KAOS's man's grip loose before ducking under a right cross and delivering a right hook into the bigger man's solar plexus just as he heard 99's go-go boots thumping swiftly up the stairs.
Storch staggered without doubling over and followed up with a left punch which Max blocked on his right forearm and countered with a left cross the jaw that snapped the man's head to the left. Max's right fist whipped through the air hammering across Storch's jaw from the other direction and the taller KAOS agent twisted around, head leading before falling face down to the concrete in an unmoving heap.
Max lunged for the MP40 but this time shots rang out and bits of concrete exploded out from around his feet, one just missing his sock clad left foot forcing him to back away from the weapon. Arnheiter came stumbling out from the smoke, Walther P38 in right hand, still firing wildly eyes closed and his other arm over his face to shield him from the smoke.
As the KAOS agent was still aiming roughly at the MP40, he could not risk going for it so Max ran at Arnheiter delivering a knife hand strike to the KAOS agent's wrist, sending the P38 falling to the concrete. Immediately Arnheiter lunged out grabbing Max by the shoulders and the two agents struggled.
In the living room, Maritta's clunky shoes crunched over the fragments of wood, leather and armchair stuffing to see the Chief about 10 ft away on the floor on his back, eyes still closed but arms reaching weakly in the air as though he could find some miracle handhold with which to pull himself up.
"Zhis vuns for zhe master race." Maritta uttered as she aimed her MP40.
The door to the basement flew open and 99 emerged into the kitchen. Immediately she found herself looking through the open door that was on the left of the chimney breast which they had been brought through earlier and saw Maritta in the living room taking aim with her submachine gun.
Without any time to take in the carnage in the kitchen itself, 99 dashed over the 10 ft of space between her and the door to the living room, P38 in her raised hand, her kidskin boots crunching the wooden debris strewn all over the kitchen floor. But Maritta saw her in her peripheral vision and again with speed that belied her age dropped down and rolled towards the sofa as the P38 in 99's hand flashed twice, the bullets speeding through the space occupied by Maritta just a fraction of a second ago to hit the southern wall.
99 reached the kitchen door and dropped down into a crouch to the left of it just as Maritta came up at the front of the sofa using it as a cover, one knee on the seat as her MP40 droned away. Fragments of brick from the chimney breast bordering the door on its right exploded outwards. 99 jerked further away from the door jamb as bits of brick flew through into the kitchen spilling over the floor, bricks mingling with wood fragments.
In the basement, Arnheiter growled holding Max by the lapels of his suit jacket and whipped him into the control panels on the west wall. Max could feel the control panel surface buckling against his back and agony shot through him as he pushed back at Arnheiter.
Storch regained consciousness again to see Arnheiter still struggling with the CONTROL agent, Riehm still unconscious along with the Oberführer.
Arnheiter grappling with Max looked over his shoulder at Storch and yelled.
"Geh hinauf! Töte das Mädchen!"
Max pinned against the control panel, trying in vain to break Arnheiter's grip felt his blood ran cold as Storch responded to whatever Arnheiter said by grabbing up his MP40 and charging back to the staircase. The KAOS's agent's boots hammering the wooden stairs made his heart stop with every thump.
Maritta's MP40 roared on and the continuous hail of 9mm Parabellum sent chunks of bricks showering out from the chimney breast near the door. Abruptly the bricks stopped blasting outwards as a loud click ended the death song of the MP40.
"Scheißen!" Maritta cursed pulling at the charging handle.
99 hearing the metallic clicks swung around the door jamb in a crouch, pain squeezing her ribcage. Maritta was hidden by the couch but 99 fired 3 times at the sofa's back which was facing her, expecting the 9mm Parabellums to penetrate the furniture easily at that range.
She was shocked to hear a combination of a dull thud and a metallic thump as the bullets impacted. Focusing on the sofa's back, 99 saw the thorn fabric where the bullets hit and the grey plating beneath it!
"Armored furniture pretty!" Maritta cackled coldly as she tossed aside her MP40 and pulled out her Luger. "KAOS' most popular product!"
With that, she came up again, Luger P08 flashing repeatedly and 99 just barely had time to duck back behind the wall as brick fragments exploded off the chimney breast.
A loud repeated thumping drew 99's attention to the basement door just as Storch arrived at the top of the stairs. His MP40 levelled as he placed one boot into the kitchen but 99 already had her P38 aimed. Storch rocked on his boots as the first bullet struck his chest, drilling his lung, collapsing it and 99's P38 flashed twice more. The blond KAOS agent wheeled back as the 9mm Parabellums slammed into his heart and his other lung, exploding in bloody fountains out the back of his vest as he toppled backwards and hit the wooden stairs, rolling head over heels back down to the basement, MP40 dropping off the side of the stair case to the concrete floor below.
99 turned back to the door and saw Maritta running out in a flash of grey shawl and skirt, firing her Luger as she dashed towards the west wall. The bullets struck the door jamb sending wood splinters hitting 99 as she shielded herself with her arm. She then heard the clicking of the empty Luger and swung out again aiming her P38 just in time to see Maritta reach her objective—34's fallen Thompson submachine gun.
Maritta tossed aside her empty Luger and grabbed for the fallen submachine gun and 99 squeezed the trigger. A similar clicking from the P38's chamber stopped 99's breath and she found herself running into the living room towards Maritta.
The KAOS agent's hand right hand closed around the receiver of the Thompson and 99 gripping her empty Walther P38 by the barrel, threw the weapon at her as she ran. The makeshift missile, spinning end over end, struck Maritta's right hand making her hiss a curse jerking back reflectively before grabbing the pistol grip of the weapon in her right hand and the stock in her left. But her reaction had already given 99 the split second she needed to reach her.
Maritta straightened swinging the weapon to her right in the direction of her target but 99's left gloved hand reached out and grabbed the stock of the weapon in an underhanded grip near the barrel pushing it up. The KAOS agent squeezed the trigger and a line of bullets raced up the west wall all the way to the ceiling as 99 kept pushing the barrel upwards while grabbing the stock of the weapon in her right hand.
As Maritta snarled like a feral animal, 99 pressed against her realizing again the woman was more solid than anyone her age could be, but managed to force her to pivot her body so that both the Chief and 34 were out of the line of fire.
Maritta tightened her grip on the weapon but before she could force the barrel back down, 99 pulled with her left hand on the barrel and her right hand on the stock, turning the weapon counter-clockwise like a boat's wheel by its handles. The Thompson blazed all the way as Maritta's finger still jammed the trigger, bullets raking a line up the southern wall next to the door up to the ceiling. 99 continued to turn the weapon even as the chamber clicked empty midway across the ceiling, till the barrel was pointed back at the north wall causing Maritta's arms to cross over one another before she was lifted off her clunky shoes. The KAOS agent was thrown in a clumsy cartwheel through the air and landed hard on her left side on the debris strewn carpet, her feet pointed towards the north wall.
99 switched the empty Thompson in her hands to a proper hold with the pistol grip in her right gloved hand and stepped back, taking time to breathe deep as the ribcage throbbed in protest. But again, she was stunned at Maritta's reaction as the seventy-nine year old spy, instead of being knocked out by the impact of the impact which most normal people would have been, lunged up from the floor in a blur of flapping grey shawl and white blouse sleeve.
99 barely jumped back in time at the silvery flash of steel that appeared from nowhere in Maritta's long fingered hand and she heard a sharp rending of fabric. Maritta leaped to her feet and her right arm slashed at 99 rapidly with the 9 inch knife. 99 held the Thompson up horizontally above her head, blocking the constant downward slashes of the knife, noticing as she did, the horizontal slit that had appeared across the front of her pleated brown flare skirt revealing her lean thighs.
Maritta's face was a visage of vicious, cold bloodlust, eyes glittering like a predator, thin lips peeled back to reveal white teeth as her arm under her shawl hacked repeatedly with a speed that made her hand and the knife in it a blur of white and sliver. The constant metallic clang of blade on the Thompson's receiver rang through the house, sparks flying sometimes upon the impact. As 99 kept blocking and fought to breath with her ribcage singing in pain with every breathe, she could not help but notice that the knife Maritta clutched in her right fist had a simple flat handle, with 2 curves on one side to facilitate the grip of the fingers while the 9 inch blade was a symmetrical spear point. She knew if Max was here, he would make some joke about holding on to the past for she recognized the weapon as the Kampfmesser 42 which served as the dual purpose fighting knife and bayonet of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS all through World War II.
This was all the time she had for reflection as Maritta with shocking agility kicks out her left leg and 99 had to bring the Thompson down to block the slashing foot and protect her ribs. Instantly Maritta slashed down again and 99 took a step back and felt her boot touch the west wall and managed to catch the blade for a 7th time on the receiver but this time turned the Thompson vertically to the right and push the knife aside. Maritta twisted to her left with the momentum giving 99 the time to side step a few times to her own left as she moved past the KAOS agent to prevent herself from being backed up against the west wall. Maritta was back in an instant attacking, her arm slashing downwards again and again in a blur. 99 blocked the downward slashing Kampfmesser 42's blade repeatedly on the receiver, careful not to let the blade strike her fingers as she kept backing away towards the kitchen door, past the staircase with 34 still lying motionless on it.
99 back pedaled quickly, her kidskin boots kicking up wooden fragments and armchair stuffing as she tried to reach the door to the kitchen on the left of the chimney breast but Maritta must have guessed her intent. The elderly spy hacked viciously 5-6 times with the Kampfmesser 42, sending sparks flying from the severely nicked receiver, each strike producing a soft whipping sound in the air due to the speed. Her shawl shrouding her shoulders and arms almost made 99 miss the shift in trajectory of Maritta's hand on the 7th hack as it suddenly changed into an underhanded thrust at her ribs. Pain blasting in her ribs at the effort, 99 yanked the Thompson down to block. Maritta's blade just barely touched the Thompson but instead, her right foot swung up and struck the lowered submachine gun with a force that threw 99's arms up and tore the weapon from her gloved hands.
As the Thompson flew into the air, arching behind her, 99 devoid of her parrying weapon barely twisted her upper body on time, pain shooting in her ribcage to avoid the down slashing blade again which swiped downwards through the space where her right shoulder had been a millisecond ago. Maritta charged forward making 99 back away now in the direction of the chimney breast and her arm swept in a whistling backhand. 99 leaned back but not far enough as she heard again the sharp tearing of fabric, this time accompanied by a searing sharp pain tearing a yelp of agony from her.
99 staggered back, her boots crunching over broken wood fragments as she noticed another horizontal slit, this time on the blouse portion of her brown dress, just beneath her breasts and she saw the red line on her firm skin beneath seeping blood which trickled down her flat stomach and turning the dress a darker color.
Arnheiter's eyes glittered with cold predatory intensity as he kept Max pinned against the dented control panel at the west wall while Hensel continued to work feverishly at the controls of the shortwave. Max pushed at the KAOS agent but realized Arhheiter had too much leverage. So, Max thrusted his right arm straight up inside of Arnheiter's left wrist and brought it down sharply, landing a knife hand strike on the KAOS agent's left bicep.
Arnheiter cursed his numbing arm dropping and Max pushed forward and delivered a right cross that twisted the enemy agent's head to the right and sent him wheeling, breaking his hold on the CONTROL agent. Max followed with a left cross that sent Arnheiter flailing to his left back to the shortwave equipment till he slammed into the west console on the base cylinder causing it to explode slightly, sparks flying along with the billowing smoke.
Riehm on the floor began to stir trying to push himself up, flexing his head at the agony in the back of his neck.
Max charged in grabbing Arnheiter by his black vest only to have the KAOS agent's arms sweep up, knocking his hands off. Arnheiter's right smashed across Max's jaw followed by a left cross that partially bent the CONTROL agent sideways. The KAOS agent grabbed Max by the shoulder and his knee came up into his ribs. Max doubled in pain but managed to charge forward slamming his shoulder into Arnheiter's ribs and ran pushing him back till his opponent slammed again into the damaged console.
Max straightened and threw a right cross that Arnheiter blocked on his left forearm and hooked a right into Max's solar plexus. Max staggered slightly and Arnheiter's right to his jaw next dropped him to one knee. Arnheiter's knife hand whistled down towards his neck but Max reached up block it and drove his right into Arnheiter's ribs staggering him standing and right hooking him in the jaw, snapping his head back. As Arnheiter staggered arms flailing, Max grabbed his vest, yanking him back. Arnheiter again struck Max's hands off and launched a right cross which Max blocked successfully on his left forearm and right hand punched the KAOS man cross the jaw. As Arnheiter swayed from the punch, Max hooked a left into his solar plexus doubling him over, slammed a knife hand strike down on the base of his lowered neck and brought his knee up into his face. The mustached KAOS agent flipped back up and over, dropping to the concrete floor on his back in an unmoving heap.
Max turned seeing Hensel still working on the console. He realized now the low constant hum in the basement must be some form of highly effective hidden ventilation fans as the smoke was clearing quickly. A quick look found Arnheiter's fallen Walther P38 on the floor and he swept it up and dashed over to the young KAOS agent.
"Alright! Hands off the controls!" Max snapped as he reached his quarry.
Hensel immediately sat up straight, snapping up both his hands, eyes wide behind his round spectacles. But a movement to his left caught Max's attention and he saw Riehm crouched next to his unconscious leader, yanking the Luger P08 out from the Oberführer's holster.
The angular jawed KAOS agent whipped up the Luger P08 but Max turned and fired the P38 at hip level twice. Riehm's upper body was flung back as the 9mm rounds struck his chest, exiting in crimson fountains out his back before he struck the floor. Max turned back to Hensel only to have the young man turn his swivel chair and swing his right leg in an arc and knock the P38 from his hand with an outside crescent kick.
Max had no time to retrieve the weapon for Hensel's right hand was already coming out of his vest with his own Walther P38. The CONTROL agent lunged forward grabbing Hensel's gun wrist and wrapping his other arm around the man's neck in chokehold. As they struggled, Max yanked Hensel's gun hand down, slamming the KAOS agent's gun fist into the control panel on the base cylinder. Hensel's hand popped open sending the P38 flying away and Max kept hold dragging the struggling KAOS agent away from the control.
As Max tightened his chokehold, Hensel with surprising strength, stiffened this right arm and despite Max holding onto his right wrist, pulled his arm back down, slamming his elbow into the CONTROL agent's ribs. Max shook, his chokehold loosening and another elbow strike to his ribs made him loose his grip on the KAOS agent's wrist. Hensel lifted his left foot up and stomped his boot heel down onto Max's left socked feet. Max's eyes popped in agony as the boot heel mashed into his unprotected toes and metatarsals. Hensel's left elbow slammed into his ribs knocking him off completely sending him reeling.
As Max caught his balance and hopped on his right shoe clutching his left socked foot, Hensel stalked towards him. Max grimaced, shaking his head and whined.
"Now that's just playing dirty!"
Maritta's Kampfmesser 42 continued flashing through the air in horizontal and vertical slashes and 99 fought the sharp pain that gripped her with her every twist and jerk she made to avoid the 9 inch blade as their struggle continued now in front of the chimney breast.
99 was continually stunned at the speed and ferocity that the elderly spy moved and worst, realized that she herself was moving slower than she usually did, due to the stabbing pain in her ribs and the burning cut across her midriff. Her brown dress over her ribs were soaked in her blood becoming black and she could feel the warm dampness seeping downwards soaking the waist of her skirt. She jerked back as the blade flashed at her throat, ducked as it returned in a back hand only to have Maritta slashed down diagonally forcing her to twist her upper body again, leaning her head back, pain lancing in her ribs as the blade cleaved the air in front of her just brushing her breasts.
Maritta continued again with a backhand, turning to face 99 as the young agent leaned back again with visible agony and a few inches of the buttoned down scarf on her dress flew off, sliced cleanly and opening up another short horizontal slit in her dress where the scarf had been, revealing her left bra cup.
99 crossed her forearms just time to block a round kick at her ribs from Maritta's left leg and the Kampfmesser 42 slashed downwards while she was bent forward on the block. The CONTROL agent jerked backwards still with impressive speed arms out to the sides, the tip of the spear point blade just missing shoulder and curve of her breast.
Maritta however smiled coldly at the pained expression that locked on the young girl's face and skipped forward whipping her arm back, blade whistling in a back hand at her throat. 99 grimacing in pain did not jerk back but stepped forward blocking the slashing knife hand on her forearm, grabbing the wrist before slamming her left forearm into the back of Maritta's fully extended elbow.
Maritta snarled at the pain as her hand popped open dropping the knife but 99's eyes widened in shock as the former Amt VI agent's left hand swept in to catch hold of the falling Kampfmesser 42 in an underhanded grip. 99 was forced to release Maritta's arm and lean back as the knife came sweeping across again just missing her ribs. Turning slightly with her underhanded swing of the blade, Maritta lashed out with a side kick and 99 cried out as the KAOS agent's clunky shoe slammed into her injured ribs.
99 staggered back further along the northern wall, chimney breast on her right and realized she could not straighten. Maritta danced forward, and her visage chillingly transforms back into the sweet old lady they first saw along with her accent and quavering voice despite the knife in her hand with the 9 inch blade dripping with 99's blood.
"Now, now my dear. I know how much you've been hurting. Don't worry! Come now and let Mary make it stop forever."
And her face transformed back into the cold, emotionless mask with the chilling smile as she charged in thrusting her right foot out in a front kick as she tossed the Kampfmesser 42 back into her right hand. 99 forced herself to respond blocking the kick and the impact on her forearms jarred her to her shoulders and something moved in her ribcage which shouldn't. Maritta slashed horizontally at head level with the knife in her right hand now again in an overhand grip. 99 ducked and as the fighting knife whipped back in a back hand, she jerked her head back and the tip of the blade sliced through her bangs sending dozens of raven strands fluttering into the air and falling like dark snow.
99 drew in a deep breath pushing away the grating pain in her ribs and the burn across her midsection and stepped in. Maritta thrusted with the knife, arm extending and contracting like a striking snake and 99 twisted and knocked aside the arrowing blade with knife hand blocks against the KAOS agent's forearm a few times to the right and left.
As Maritta found her 4th thrust knocked aside to the right by a knife hand on the inside of her forearm, she switched to a forehand slash, stepping in as she did. 99 jerked her head back again, turning to the right and felt a cold kiss of the spear point tip against her neck followed immediately by a burning pain and warm dampness pouring over her skin to soak into the round collar of her brown dress and the attached scarp. But she ignored it to turn her body sideways counter clockwise, putting the chimney breast just 2 feet from her back, just as Maritta's sidekick thrusted in again, the toe of her clunky shoe brushing past her abdomen just missing its target. Maritta did not stop, bringing the knife back again in a backhand but this time, 99 was close enough to catch her slashing forearm and pushed at her backing her a few steps crunching steps over the wooden shard strewn floor, keeping her knife arm bent.
Before Maritta's left could hook a punch to the ribs, 99 stepped back slightly to the left side holding Maritta's right forearm in her left hand and brought her gloved right fist down in a hammer blow to the back of Maritta's clenched knife hand, popping it open.
Again as the knife fell, Maritta's left hand swept low catching the Kampfmesser 42 in a reverse grip and 99 lashes out with her right go-go boot, kicking the inside of the KAOS agent's forearm sending the weapon flying towards the west wall.
A blood curling snarl emitted from Maritta's throat as she swept her empty left hand up between them knocking away 99's grip on her right arm. 99 blocked a right knife hand strike to her neck and ducked under a left cross only to come up to see Maritta's fists shooting in one after another in rocket straight punches to her face.
99 braced herself against the increasing agony in her side as she weaved left and right avoiding the punches, her shoulder length bob flying with her movement. As Maritta's 4th left hand punch shot in, she dodged to her right, knocking it aside with a left knifehand block and the KAOS agent leaned back and delivered a whipping right legged low round house kick. 99 luckily managed to lift her left leg absorbing the impact against the side of her bent knee and Maritta lunged forward while the young woman was off balance, with a right fist.
99 just barely threw her head to the left and as Maritta's fist shot past her ear, brought up her right had to grab the former Amt VI operative's wrist while her left arm thrusted in under her enemy's extended right arm to clamp her hand onto the back of her neck.
Before Maritta could even snarl, 99 pulled on her wrist and hauled on the back of her neck at the same time turning clockwise forcing the KAOS agent to run with her head bent slightly under her control. 99 grunted against the pain in her side as she kept turning and pulling Maritta along, making her run in a circle with increasing speed and momentum. Upon completing the second round, as Maritta snarled viciously in her grip, and as they came to face he chimney breast again, 99 redirected her, yanking her arm past her outwards and shoving at the back of her neck to launch her at the wall, just before releasing her.
Maritta was sent running straight with her head forward, out of control, arms flailing wildly and with the full force of the momentum that had been built up by the circling, slammed forehead first into the brick chimney breast with a loud sharp thud followed by the rest of her body. She appeared plastered to the chimney breast for a heartbeat before sliding slowly sideways, leaving a faint arcing blood trail on the chimney breast from her forehead like a compass inscribing a curve in the brick until she landed sideways with a loud frump on the floor in a grey heap.
99 staggered back and would have fallen if the sofa had not been there for her to lean on. Taking a moment to fight the agony and nausea that swept over her, she turned to see the Chief on his side trying to push himself up on an elbow and a groan came from 34 on the staircase. Then her own knees buckled and she dropped down onto the floor, legs folded beneath her holding onto the sofa's back.
Max blocked two snapping left legged round kicks from Hensel to his ribs before delivering a right cross to the young man's jaw, snapping his head around. He followed with a whipping left cross which Hensel ducked under tilted to his left swinging a high right legged round house kick. Max turned to the left to block the swinging shin on his forearms and Hensel followed with a left to the jaw but Max ducked this and then blocked a right punch from the KAOS agent before hooking a right cross to the stomach. But Hensel's left forearm swept down stiffly to block the low punch while he rotated his right arm swiftly out of Max's block and stars exploded in Max's vision as Hensel's right elbow slammed him in the jaw.
Max staggered back blinking to clear his head all the while hearing the transmission tone getting louder. Hensel charged in delivered a jumping round house kick with his left leg to the midsection but Max managed to block this and duck a left cross before bringing his right hand down in a knife hand strike to Hensel's left shoulder staggering him, enabling him to follow up with a left cross that spin the KAOS agent around.
But Hensel used his counter-clockwise spin to build up momentum and as he faced Max again, jumped, left leg coming up bent before shooting down and swinging up his right extended leg in a counter-clockwise arc. Max was fast enough to duck under the spinning inside crescent kick but as he straightened, he had no time to counter as Hensel was already facing him again and snapping out waist high left legged roundhouse kicks to his hip.
Max managed to block both kicks, his elbow and shoulder joints jarring with the impact and Hensel leaned further to the right to snap the third kick up to the head. Max again blocked it on his forearms staggering slightly. The fourth kick was low again and Max managed to absorb it once again on his forearms and Hensel without stopping jumped again, his knees cycling for a moment in mid-air before his left leg shot down and his right leg lashed out in a roundhouse kick that connected with Max's hip.
Max's eyes popped again and his cheeks puffed as the air was knocked from him while Hensel spun counter-clockwise, his vest turning into a flying black disc around him due to the speed and his body tilted slightly again to his left while his right leg swept up off the floor in a reverse roundhouse and the back of his boot heel slammed into the side of Max's head twisting the CONTROL agent to the left and dropping him face down to the floor.
Max, head spinning and feeling warm dampness flowing down the side of his head over his temple, rolled instinctively to put some distance between him and Hensel before pushing himself up to a crouch just as the KAOS man charged in kicking at his face. Max managed to dodge to the left and catch Hensel's slashing right boot and jumped up keeping hold of the leg and pushing at it. Hensel was thrown back, off his booted feet but his body arched backwards into a C shape to land in a handstand before flipping over back onto his feet only to have Max charge him. 86's right smashed across Hensel's jaw followed by a left that turned him around.
Hensel again used the momentum to spin counter-clockwise and faced Max again, swinging his right leg up in a high roundhouse kick. But Max lifted his arms and blocked the shin and foot, grabbing hold of it and pulling it down to his hip where he lifted his right to strike the leg. But before he could, Hensel's right fist swiped in hitting his jaw sending him reeling back.
Max blinked shaking his head and his vision cleared just as Hensel attacked with a left legged swinging front kick which he blocked only to have the KAOS agent yank his leg back and tilt his body to snap the leg out again up to the head. When Max blocked that too, Hensel jumped, again his knees cycling before his right leg lashed out in a roundhouse kick to the hip which was again blocked. Max stepped in to close the gap, fist raised and Hensel again spun counter-clockwise, vest flying with his speed and his right leg whipped upwards as he tilted his body in a reverse roundhouse kick. Max ducked feeling the boot heel whip the top of his hair but as he straightened, Hensel continued to spin again, dropping down into a crouch with no drop in speed and his right leg again extended, boot sweeping the floor to slam into Max's shoed and socked feet knocking them off the concrete into the air.
Max felt himself airborne for a moment before the concrete met him, jarring every bone in his body. He forced himself to sit up but Hensel was upon him, right foot lashing and snapping at him hitting his chest and face repeatedly. Max brought up his arms to take the impact of the lighting fast kicks that never ceased. The dull impact of the snapping front kicks on Max echoed through the entire basement. Again and again Hensel's shin and booted foot struck his raised forearms and head till Max realised he was going to pass out soon. As his face took another partially blocked kick, Max could not be sure but he thought he saw something he could use and as Hensel's shin pulled back for another kick, Max threw himself flat and rolled forward with all his might at Hensel's legs. This forced Hensel to dive forward over Max's rolling body. As Hensel hit the floor, neatly tucking in his shoulder and rolling his back to the floor, Max lunged towards von Graf's prone form and Riehm's body. Hensel on his feet again realised Max was going for the fallen Luger and dashed in. He kicked Max in the side rolling the CONTROL agent away from the weapon. As Max rolled over into the unconscious van Graf, Hensel swept up the fallen Luger only to have 86 whirled back to face him, swinging the Oberführer's black and silver baton in his right hand. The heavy ornate silver endcap struck Hensel's gun hand shattering metacarpal bones and he yelled out as the Luger went flying. Max in a crouch brought the baton down again and the endcap smashed into Hensel's left booted foot with such force that along with the audible crunch of shattering metatarsals, over a dozen of the brilliant, clear diamonds decorating the endcaps, broke loose in a glittering fountain before scattering over the dark concrete.
Hensel hollered, yanking up his left leg and hopped about on his right foot while clutching his right hand. Max stood and with a final tapping blow, struck Hensel on the back of the neck with the baton.
As Hensel's eyes rolled with hallucinatory birds chirping in his mind and flying in his vision and his head swayed from side to side, he remarked in a groggy voice.
"Vhat appen to playing nice?" before he fell backwards and hit the concrete with a loud clump.
"Sorry bout' that." Max said flicking the black and silver baton at the unconscious KAOS agent. "But as a representative of everything wholesome and good in this world, I am bound by solemn duty, irrevocable principals and uncompromising honor to fight for goodness, niceness and the lives of every man, woman and child by being the most irresponsible, dishonorable, unprincipled, cheater I can be!"
Again Max frowned as he finished his sentence, trying to comprehend what he just said and it was the transmission tone which called his attention back to the shortwave. Tossing aside the baton, Max ran over to the shortwave array, half-limping on his socked feet. He turned the switches and knobs quickly but it would not turn off. He looked at his watch and realized they were nearing the 3 minute mark of Hensel's declaration of the 4 minutes it would need for the transmission to be completed. Desperate, Max climbed up onto the base cylinder and grabbed the antenna yanking and pulling. But it was sturdy as a tree.
Looking about, Max finally saw his only chance. Leaping down to the floor, he ran and limped over to the staircase where Storch's body laid at the first step. He grabbed Storch's fallen MP40 which laid next to the spandrel and ran back to the shortwave equipment. Aiming the MP40 at the thinnest portion of the antenna he could find, Max jammed down on the trigger. The MP40 thundered endlessly and bullets pummeled the antenna rod repeatedly just a foot below the ceiling, sending sparks flying.
Von Graf finally regains consciousness groaning and shaking his head wondering why there was constant thunder in his ears. He pushed himself up on wobbly elbows, monocle dangling by its string from his leather tunic's lapel, to find all his men out of commission and the source of the thunder in his head—Smart blasting an MP40 at the antenna. Before he could react the antenna rod began exploding as the casing ruptured and the wires inside were sliced to shreds.
The Oberführer growled, gloved fist clenching but realized there was nothing to be done. Grabbing his baton, he rose and under the roar of the MP40 dashed back to the stairs, aching from every bone in his body. He dashed up the stairs towards the door at the top.
In the living room, 99 had managed to get over to the Chief and now knelt among the debris next to him supporting his head, an opened shoe phone on the floor among the furniture remnants. The pounding of heavy jackboots on stairs coming from the kitchen drew her from her concern for their superior. Laying the Chief's head back down carefully and looking about her frantically, she saw Granger's fallen snub-nosed revolver. She bit down on the pain coming from her body as she snatched it up and stumbled over to the door on the left of the chimney breast. But when she got to the door, it was all she could do to slump against the spandrel of the staircase just in time to see von Grav's black clad form disappear out the back kitchen door. She tries to run after him but only managed one step before the pain in her ribs buckled her knees again, sagging her to the floor against the spandrel. She took a few deep breaths to recover during which she heard the sound of a car engine and screeching of tires as a vehicle sped off. After that, she finally heard the machine gun fire emerging from the basement door.
In the basement, the antenna finally fractured under the pummel of the bullets and the broken portion fell back down from the chimney. Max stepped back as the dipole studded end came back down through the hole in the ceiling to crash down onto the cylinder base. Sparks blasted out from the devastated components. The transmission tone finally broke into static and faded away.
"Max! Max are you alright?"
Max turned at 99's voice. He ran back to the staircase to see her halfway down, holding onto the railing a snub-nosed revolver she must have gotten from one of the CONTROL agents in her hand.
"It's ok! I'm ok! Stay there 99!" Max said stepping over the Storch's body at the bottom of the stairs to run up to her.
99 slowly sank down to sit on the stairs leaning against the railing. As Max pounded up the stairs to her, she had just enough strength to spare for modesty and placed a hand over the cut in her dress over her bra cup while her other arm covered the horizontal slash on her skirt to hide her exposed thighs.
"My god Ninety-Nine!" Max exclaimed as he reached her, placing down the MP40 and removing his jacket to drape it over her shoulders. "Are you alright?"
99 nodded weakly as Max crouched on the steps next to her.
"The Chief and 34. They're hurt badly. I used the Chief's shoe phone to call an ambulance. More CONTROL agents will be here in a minute or two. Max! The transmission! Did you stop it?"
"All taken CARED of!" Max declared confidently with a sweep of his hand. "I destroyed the antenna right on time!"
99 gasped in pain and concern, her alluring eyes widening.
"Max! When did you stop it?"
"Just before you came down the stairs." Max confirmed "Hensel said it would take four minutes to transmit, I stopped it with a MINUTE to spare! Nothing, absolutely NOTHING went through to KAOS International!"
99's face remained concerned.
"Max! Hensel didn't mean the transmission would START in four minutes but it would take four minutes to COMPLETE the whole message! It was already transmitting for three minutes! They could have at least eighty to ninety percent of Project Phalanx!"
Max frowned at this latest revelation before saying with an air of misplaced confidence.
"Well we don't have to tell KAOS that!—" then looking up the stairs first to check if anyone is there, whispered to 99. "—And while we're on that subject, no sense in worrying anyone else about it either. ESPECIALLY anyone recently hit by say—a grenade."
99 sighed rolling her eyes to the right.
"Oh Maaaax!"