Time flew as Max pointed up to the island ahead in the pink sky. It was marooned on it's own covered in cybermiles of barbed wired fences. Fumes and other metallic smells filled the atmosphere with an unholy smell of depressed prisoners slowly perishing with hope fallen.
"Hope has been stripped from these prisoners. They have no idea that there would be anyone to save them. Some been here since the beginning to Hacker's reign." Max stated.
"Do you think Doc could be here?" Digit asked. Max shook his head.
"No. I have a feeling Hacker has him as captive." Max said. The rest of the gang sat back with pursed lips and contemplation. With no more conversation, Max landed on a lonely portion of the island, behind tall palm trees and other leaves. He switched his engine off as he eased back into the seat.
"Everyone out." Max ordered, retreating back to his old ways. Matt flinched.
"What's you're problem now?" Slyder demanded.
"This is where we draw the line." Max said bitterly, as Inez slowly remembers the truce. Hazy memories of the squad and the bitter android joining in on the musketeer cheer on a bright day as she retreated her wrist; remembering the steel, cold touch of his hand.
"You're cutting us off." Jackie's jaw tighten as she got ready to get off.
"Bingo." Max pointed.
"You're supposed to help us get to Hacker's ship."Matt pointed out. "We can't fight him from here."
Max slowly turned around fully to face his brother. "That's where you're wrong, brother. You see, this is also part of my plan. I've decided to end this little alliance here. I served more than long enough."
Digit's face paled. He glanced down as he knew more behind Max's words. Matt could feel the rage bottle him up.
"So you think you can throw us off and leave us here to get eaten alive by the prisoners?" Slyder raised his voice. "We actually trusted you!"
"And you believed me." Matt's old, bitter grin was plastered on his face. His arm unfolded into an android's: metallic, sleek, and ready to unleash havoc. The gang slowly got up eyeing the arm. Max followed, making sure they got a distance away from the ship. He lifted his arm so his palm was curled up into a claw.
"Now I just want to get this straight. I tolerated you foolish earthlings and somehow convinced you that I was almost part of your little squad. I warned you multiple times you shouldn't get involved with either Cyberspace or myself; you're only going to dig yourself into a bigger ditch. So I decided, 'Why not? Let's lead the little kids right where all the candy and galore is and then drop the steel cage so they can't escape. And that's exactly what I did." Max gritted as the squad slowly backed away from the slope of the ship and on the tall grass that reached to their knees. "And in one way or another, Hacker and I shared a common thought: how you earthlings are so full of yourself and think we're always in need for your help. The bunch of you are arrogant and foolish."
"I just thought you had a bit of humanity." Jackie spat.
"Well you thought wrong, girl." Max snarled as his aimed shifted in Jackie's direction. The blood rushed from her face.
"Get away from her!" Slyder tackled the android as he lost his footing. He held Max down with his newly attached claw as he barked at the rest to run. With hesitation, Matt dragged Jackie along as Digit hover over the tall grass, desperate of turning around for Slyder.
The gang halted to a stop when a gunshot alerted the forest. Jackie's face paled.
"Slyder..." Matt's words barely audible. Jackie frantically try to keep her stance, as Inez rushed over to help. Matt signalled to Digit to go check. The avian-hybrid flew higher up as he braced against the branch. Slyder slowly got up, standing over the unconscious android, as if he knew Digit was watching and turned to look at him. His metallic hand seems to shine brighter in the distance and seem more lethal. Did Slyder actually take out Max?
"Come back guys." Slyder said. Jackie caught her breath as she was the first of rush back. Easing out the grasses she planted herself in Slyder's arms, lightly sobbing in his shoulder. Matt glanced down at his unconscious clone.
Max laid against his ship with palms up with a sleeping face. He would seem perfectly dead if his eyes were open. Matt knelt to check him more, as he slowly unbuttoned his jacket. Inez flinched.
"Matt-" As she started. Matt stopped shuffling in his jacket to reveal the white package. He knew Max has something else in there, but it was lodge more tightly between his internal parts and the plates. He held it up, gathering the squad around it.
"This is the confidential package." As Matt felt around it. "It feels familiar."
"Are you saying you know what it is?" Jackie asked.
"I'm saying I have a hunch." Matt raised a brow slightly, rotating it. He sat it down on the ground, ready to unwrap it.
"Not now. We need him to tell us. Before it's actually a bomb he's planning on setting off." Slyder said. "And this time I will tie him to a chair."
Jackie raised a brow, "My aggressive boyfriend?"
Slyder smiled hard, "Just on Tuesdays and Fridays."
Matt got up as he held the package. He turned on his watch to reveal the map. He felt the plan formulate in his head.
"I have a plan. We split up into two groups. One stays with Max and interrogate him, as we go look for the others. Digit, you'll scout and keep us on radar with the SWKAK watches." Matt stated.
"I volunteer us to go." As Slyder stepped closer to Jackie. "I think I'll be able to handle the news to them nicer. I've been here longer than any of you."
"And just incase anything goes wrong I can always give them the Jackie treatment." As she grinned, leaning on Slyder. He blushed as he softly folded his arms. Matt wasted no time as he got up and grabbed his clone's neck collar. Surprisingly, he was lifted from the ground by his chest, and his apparel was bundled in Matt's fist. Inez stood beside him.
"Ok, one hour. And then we report back. If anything happens I'll go." Matt stated. Inez grimaced at this, seeing that there's a possibility and that she'll be left to deal with Max.
"Right." As Slyder and Jackie shortly took off and Digit levitated in the air.
"I'm kinda gettin' used to these now. Boy, I feel like a new person. I'm gonna look for a beacon or somethin' so I can see everything. But...take it easy on him will ya?" Digit asked politely.
Matt's eyes narrowed, "Digit if you know anything else about him spill it."
"See ya!" As Digit took off. Matt groaned, Inez comforting him with a hand.
"C'mon, we need to juice this guy. I'll help tying him up firmly as possibly." Inez glanced at his bullet wound to the head, "Seeing that he won't be getting up for a while."
/
Lyros was fully aware that the moment he felt the bullet penetrate through Max's cranium, his security system switched on and made Max descend into hibernation mode.
Those earthlings won't be hearing from him for at least four hours.
Max has, although, recovered physically, he was still suffering from internal damage seeing that he was undergoing the human transformation rapidly. This means he will die, if not, after he attempted to save their worlds. Though, he was more than capable of pushing himself against the change and hold out for at least three more days.
Three
Lyros? Lyros are you here?
Quite, Maximus.
What happened?
You got shot in the head. My systems went online and saved you from most of the damage that hasn't impacted you...humanely.
That fuckin' mechanic. He used that piece with his own good.
All of this hatred you've built for these earthlings is for a great cause no?
Yes Lyros. This is all according to plan...mostly. I'm just concerned about Atreides's further interference. He got me bad last time; I don't think I can face him again on my own.
You just need to protect the package. It's the only chance we all got.
Aye.
When this is over, when we die, will there be another life for us?
And will we die all over again? No. I think the next life, we'll be immortal. And you won't need to protect me Lyros. You'll be free .
Free? I yet to understand that definition.
Yet has CYRUS. Which is why we need to deliver this antivirus to him. I can't wait four hours to regenerate. I used to be faster than this...
The most we can do to pace the progress and get you to a recharging station. Which is at your pilot seat.
Where am I now?
In the storage compartment.
I don't suppose going to overdrive will work?
I can try.