Slyder and Jackie became impatient with waiting on their other friends. They were either concerned that something happened to them along the way to the rendezvous or...a possible detour.
"Let's call them." Slyder said as he brought his watch to where his mouth would be. "Call Matthew." He told his watch. It dialed, and Matt picked up the called.
"So lovebirds, seem in tip-top shape what was it that's been holdin' ya back?" Slyder grinned.
"Funny you ask Slyder." Matt chuckle muffled, "So maybe I decide a little detour wouldn't hurt with my love."
Inez scowled as Jackie shook her head.
"Hey should probably look up." Matt suggested as the call ended. Both Slyder and Jackie lifted their heads ans saw their other two teammates approach them casually. They all slapped five as they spend no time to lounge anymore and sprinted towards the Hive.
"Digit, Red Baron. We'll meet you up there." Matt told the avian-hybrid, pointing up as he nodded.
"Be careful you guys." As he escalated altitude to reach the apex of the tower.
The squad no longer attempted to stay undercover as they deactivated their masks and equipped their weapons. Jackie and Matt felt more comfortable with the rifles as Inez and Slyder with the metal rods. They entered the Hive as a swarm of soldiers charged them.
"There they are!" Said the front man as they all aimed and fired. The squad retreated behind crates and barrels as shots fired. Slyder threw a spare frag grenade and made a way for them across the dead soldiers. They followed Matt, that had the place memorized back to front in his head. They skidded to a stop when Matt suggest a hard turn left. Relieved because more soldiers were coming their way and they just made it out.
He stopped when they reached the stairs.
"What is it?" Inez asked.
"There's someone here...and he's moving fast." Matt said with his eyes shut tight.
"What is he? Can you see?" Slyder asked.
Matt's eyes flew open as he didn't respond and climbed the stairs hurriedly. He was fast, he was big, and he was going to get them if he didn't cut some shortcuts. The squad was thirty floors below their destination, and with a pursuer after them; things were more stressful.
Matt halted to a stop, his eyes shut.
"What now?" Jackie groaned.
"Quiet." Matt hushed the gang. The pursuer was right beneath them. He seemed to be looking left to right; unable to hear them anymore. He snorted and growled. Matt got a better view of the monstrous intruder that was part-wolf cyborg. And he seemed like he's been few wars and never ending manhunt for someone.
"I WILL FIND YOU MAX!" He roared. Matt's eyes flew open as he spun around to stare at the squad.
"Holy shit. He thought Max was-" Was all he could say before they were interrupted by the groundbreaking quake by the monstrous beast. His red, beady eye glared at Max as he howled.
"RUN!" As the squad sprinted down the hall as the beast Atreides pursued the four earthlings.
/
Max jolted awake from his slumber as he stared at the Hive from his stealthcraft. Behind him was an army of thousands of civilians, waiting for a signal to go. The power outage seemed successful, but he awaited the earthlings to meet him at the apex of the tower.
Until his AI Lyros materialized before him. He sat up.
"Lyros? What is it?" Max demanded.
"Atreides found the earthlings." Lyros grimaced as Max teeth gritted. He began to get up when he ordered:
"Lyros you wait here with the craft. When I give the signal you signal the rest to charge." Max grimaced. "If they see us first and attack you are free to retaliate. Watch out for Alvin."
Lyros nodded, cracking and outing. He sighed.
"Hang in there buddy." Max whispered as he ejected from the ship and flew towards the Hive. He did not want to leave part of his intelligence behind to look after an army of thousands. And he hoped that the idiotic soldiers below him won't mind until they launch an attack first. His plans were always on point...even his back up ones.
"No, you just had to come back didn't ya?" Max growled as he scanned the floor for the squad. He saw four sprinting human beings and one giant cyborg clawing his way through the floors; planning a trap. Max activated his weapon system as certain sections of his body unfolded and revealed machine guns and missiles. He aimed for Atreides's feet, as he blew up one side of the building. Immediately it caught green fire and smoke. This attracted attention from down below.
"Up there!" He heard someone say as he could feel their armed forces aim their fire at him. He activated his turbo boosters and torpedoed through the 18th floor and tunneled up to the 24th floor, knocking Atreides off his feet. The squad skidded to a stop as they saw Max.
"What are you-" Matt started.
"Just go!" Max growled as he leveled his gazed at Atreides. "I have a plan."
The squad nodded as they fled away; Atreides not sorry for letting him go. He had better plans to fulfill his revenge by destroying Max.
"Are you ready to die Maximus?" Atreides snarled.
"Don't worry old buddy 'ole pal." Max shrugged as his glare never left his eyes and they circled the area between them, "My time is soon up. If you just let me kill Hacker, we can both settle this once as for all."
"HAH!" Atreides cackled, "Stupid boy-"
"Andrrrooiidd.." Max said annoyingly.
"...Atreides is not that stupid. I know you have the microchip. You are stupid for not giving it to earth boy Matt, knowing you are going to die." Atreides said in glee.
Max grimaced, "After four years Atreides, what is it worth? If I don't stop Hacker, Alvin will finish the job. And not for anyone's sake: everyone will fall at his hand. He's ready to march in when Hacker wakes up and launch the invasion."
Atreides roared as he slammed the ground. Max didn't flinch.
"Hacker is in hibernation because he's gaining full power so that no one will stand in his way. He will throw all of his allies away like pawns and wreak havoc. Alvin's attentions are just the same, except when he march in with hundreds and thousands of more men than him, he will have no more mercy than Hacker. He will kill everyone." Max tried to convince the cyborg.
"Why are you trying to convince me, you fool? Have you no dignity anymore? Have you soften?" Atreides snarled.
Max growled at the words that hit him low, "I'm on no side Atreides, but the one that wants to live. If I can stop this, you will never be in this wretched place again. I know what Hacker and Alvin has done to you...you've been brainwashed by him as have I."
Atreides snorted.
"If there was something other than to wish for my death, what would it be Atreides?" Max asked, his harsher eyes softening. Atreides's eyes followed as they became more relaxed the longer he contemplated. A glare across his beady mechanical eye suddenly read a different expression on his face. As if a spirit has touched him.
"I...wish for...my freedom...from...this wretched body...of mines." As he clutched his chest. "My time has long gone. I want to go where my lost piece of soul is."
Max smiled, approaching the cyborg as he placed a hand on his shoulder; ending the four-year long rivalry, "My dear friend, I'm afraid we're on the same plate."
/
"Crap, is Max going to be okay?" Jackie asked. Slyder, once again, raised his brows.
"Again, are you concerned about him?" Slyder asked.
"Cut it out Sly'. He's not going to be around any longer so just put the bitterness aside." Inez stook up for him. Matt said nothing as the gang followed him up the stairs. They were five floors from the top as they jogged; worn and sweaty.
"Is it me, or has this been...a bit too easy?" Matt whispered. The squad exchanged glances.
"Max being here, dumbass soldiers downstairs..." Slyder thought carefully.
"You're right." Inez grimaced. "I expected an...ambush." As her mind formulated possibilities, Jackie reached for the door handle to the rooftop. Matt, trying his best from yelling yanked her back.
"OWW!" Jackie scowled.
"What was that Matt?" Slyder's brows furrowed. Matt's eyes were closed.
"Shit." He swore. "Do not, open that door."
The squad became silent. And it was silent for a whole two minutes.
"There's at least twelve of them...one got Digit...and-." Matt eyes flew open as his head began to hurt, badly. Inez clutched his head in hope of comforting him. He groaned as he managed to say:
"Hacker...he's...right there." He shuddered as he was held against Inez. Slyder and Jackie stood up grimacing. Standing up, they slowly made their way to the door, saying nothing as they clutched their weapons. Inez stared at them in horror as she couldn't believe what they were going to do.
"See ya later guys." As Slyder saluted them as Jackie gave them a wicked smile.
Slyder equipped three frag grenades as Jackie flew the door open for him to throw them outside. They exploded, killing eight of the twelve men, followed by a hail of fire from either side. Slyder equipped his pistol as both he and his girlfriend jumped in and began to shoot at whatever came to them.
At that moment, they were invincible.
At that moment, their hearts stopped at the same time.