Throughout the night Max worked on the Interceptor the stock shocks leftover from the Opus fit like a glove. He also had to replace tie rods, springs, some other pieces, and of course the breaks. He examined the rims and tires. The tires themselves had very uneven wear and the sides were severely cracked. He chose not to put them on, instead, he got out the four-slot rims and tires, or as Chum used to call them Deep Treadies. All he had to do was bleed the brake lines. He pressed the button on the lift lowering the Interceptor to the ground. He pumped the brakes a few times then sealed the lines.

With a splutter and a roar, the V8 awakened once more. The workshop doors opened the Interceptor despite all its wear and tear scars and abuse, it still had a menacing presence. A sole survivor of its class, all others long wrecked and dead but both it and Max, relics of the M.F.P remain. Laika went to check on Max.

She noticed the change mainly with the rims, tires, and slightly lifted appearance. Max saw a small scowl on her muzzle. "Did I do something wrong?"

Laika raised her brow and then smiled. "You gave Puppy a bit of a startle she's used to the sound of dirt bikes not the death throes of a dying V8."

Max nodded. "I understand hey if you need me, I'll be going for a test drive got to make sure the death wobble is gone also tell Zooey the broken parts pile on the left are hers."

Laika watched Max drive into the wasteland. She went back to Where We Dream. Puppy laid in the recliner groggy. "You ok honey?"

Puppy yawned. "Mommy is Max going to be, ok?"

Laika asked. "What do you mean?"

Puppy replied. "His car its so worn covered in scars and it sounds like it's in pain I have never seen you're bike like that?"

Laika sat in the recliner as Puppy crawled into her lap. "Puppy, Max is alone from what I can tell he's a nomad it's why he came here for a place to stay. When you're constantly on the move with no home you don't have time to fix things when they break. In that case, it can catch up to you like it has Max. Jakob and Poochie told me how the car's constant shaking scared them. As for me, I have the backing of our tribe and we have our home to sleep in. I can fix my Bike when stuff gets worn or breaks. Max, lives in that car or what's left of it. Now please stay away from him until I say so and especially stay away from his car, I don't want you messing with something you shouldn't.

Puppy nodded and went back to sleep.

In the Wasteland.

Max continued the test drive. He was pleased. The death wobble was gone the ride was smoother and the turning was far more responsive. He then saw a dust cloud to the right of him heading for Where We Live. Instead of trying to hide Max floored it and went on the offensive. When he got close, he saw what it was. It was some sort of weaponized bulldozer. Sticking out the top were sixteen screaming shrieking bird skulls. Max fired at the heads with his quad barrel shredding three in the blast. The beast no longer had any interest in Where We Live. It now focused its full attention on Max.

As the two played chicken Max stared into its mass empty sockets. At the last second, he dodged seeing the back had two giant wheels he fired heavy shrapnel shells and shredded the first tire causing the monster to lose control. It regained control, its remaining heads screeching in rage. Max went to the other side destroying the other tire. Now heavily slowed down Max threw a thunderpoon head like a grenade landing it on one of the tracks. A massive explosion rocked it sending chunks of track and roadwheel flying. Max had to weave to avoid the shrapnel. He drove to the other side and repeated. Now a literal sitting bird Max stayed away from the machine guns. Shooting the remaining heads off from the rear of the monster with impunity.

With the final head dead Max got out to further examine his kill. He wished he didn't.

"That was no hydraulic fluid nor is this a robotic vehicle they fused flesh and machine together. Either I didn't see the signs, or it was wishful thinking. Either way, I'm heading home."

Disgusted and confused Max got in and drove back to Where We Live. He passed Laika riding on her Bike giving her a casual nod and two-finger salute. Laika could only stare in surprise as the kill Max scored.

Max returned and said nothing of it, he went right back to his workshop refueling the Interceptor. One thing everyone noticed the past two days was how closed off Max was. For some, it was worrying, especially for the empathetic ones. Everyone thought Laika was an anti-social shut-in from time to time, but Max was several levels above her. He only interacted, when necessary, then would drive off to scout scavenge, or hunt. Even so, some noticed a few hints of affection from a causal nod and wave to helping with chores and errands. He just never spoke much besides a nod, a grunt, a yes or no. Only speaking full sentences when needed.

Didn't take long for news to spread when Jakob talked about Max's kill. This raised a lot of questions.

"Why didn't you tell us about this?"

"How long did it take to kill?"

"Are there more out there?"

The questions started to blur over one another. "ENOUGH!" Roared Max.

"I have a job to do and that's to keep you safe. I can't do that job if you keep pestering me with questions now scram."

There was one more question, but it was firm and polite. "You holding up Max?"

Max nodded. "Yeah, just wish people would quit swarming me about it."

Laika asked another question. "You want to come with me? I know you're already looking for the smallest excuse to get back on the road."

Max nodded. "Alright, what did you have in mind?"

Laika answered. "Zooey needs more materials besides metal, and I need to gather ingredients for Puppy's supper my bike can only hold so much but with your car, we should have a more fruitful hall.

Max nodded again this time with an affirmative grunt. Both Bike and Interceptor started in unison. On the way, Max and Laika tore through the meager Bird forces stationed across the roads and paths. Some places Max couldn't go so he found other ways of getting there. Often crossing longer plains and more guarded paths. Even so, one way or the other he kept up with her. They stopped for a break when they found Kai.

"Kai! Who did this to you?"

Kai answered while Qwota kept saying my bar. "Well, I got this gig playing in a bar." "My bar."

"The birds burnt the place down." "My bar."

"Qwota here got my ass out of the debris." "My bar."

"I learnt how to play the guitar missing limbs and all." "My bar."

"And Qwota's learnt to play the only things that were salvaged from the fire." "My bar."

"The guy's a bit traumatized as you may have noticed." "My bar."

Laika asked. "Why don't you come back to Where We Live?"

"Since The Wastelanders split up and left we're desperately in need of music." "My bar."

Kai replied. "I'm not going anywhere near Beicoli."

Laika said. "Don't worry about her. She left too."

Kai smiled. "Good but we can't play in public my guitar strings are too worn but I must ask who's your new friend?"

Laika answered. "Kai this is Max he's been with us for two days he's already been a major help."

Max spoke. "I'll get you new strings."

He got in the Interceptor and took off. A few miles down the road he came across a gas station. Kally the shopkeeper was surprised at Max entering he had never seen a species like him before. He shook his head ignoring it a customer is a customer.

Max put his arm on the counter sliding over four shotgun shells. "I need guitar string."

Kally nodded. "You're buying that junk? I was about to throw it away well it's yours but if you throw in two more shells I'll give you this Cassette."

Max thought for a bit. "Deal." He slid over two more shells walking out with the strings and cassette. He made it back to Kai handing the strings. "Thanks, Max. Live show at Where We Live tonight."

The rest of the day was gathering ingredients and resources. Both Bike and Interceptor roared back packed with resources and food. Max found Jakob and hit the brakes. "Hey, Jakob got a cassette for ya."

Jakob's tail wagged as he read the title. Overthinker by Beicoli. "Thank you Max I'm going to listen to it right now thank you thank you."

Max gave a casual two-finger salute. His Interceptor sputtered and growled into the workshop no sooner than he closed the doors Laika knocked. "Max, you helped me get supper. The least I can do is let you stop by and enjoy it with us. "

Max shook his head. "Sorry Laika but I'm busy."

Laika pinched her muzzle. "Max sulking in here isn't going to help you. Look would you rather eat that gruel you've had for two days, or would you rather have a home-cooked meal?"

Max relented. "Alright, what time?"

Laika smiled. "Now."

She opened the door to Where We Dream. Puppy's eyes widened as she saw Max. Her tail wagged. She hugged Max's leg. "THANK YOU FOR SAVING POOCHIE AND UNCLE JAKOB!"

Max showed a small smile. "You're welcome."

He knelt to her level and ruffled the fur on her head accidentally getting dried oil in her fur. "Sorry, I didn't mean to."

Laika laughed. "I've done it before after working on my Bike no worries."

She grabbed a warm wet rag cleaning Puppy's head. "Get your gloves off and take a seat it should only be a few minutes. "Supper's ready.

It was rice sausage. Laika ate slowly while Puppy munched away. Max though had to control every fiber of his being not to wolf it down all in one go. Part of it being an instinct, the other not having real food in decades. He savored every single bite and chew.

"So, Max, can you tell us how you got here and why you came?"

Max said. "Well, best way to put it a friend of mine found a portal I came through for two reasons I wanted to help and to find a new life. Back in my world, there was nothing left for me."

Laika asked. "Anyway to go back if you wanted to?"

Max shook his head. "I'd rather die in battle than go back. My friend told me it was a one-way trip, so I packed up and drove the Interceptor straight through."

Laika nodded. "So what species are you?"

Max said. "I'm human at least I used to be. Been alone for so long that I don't know what I am anymore. So how's your day been?"

Laika answered. "Well, Max you should know that you were with me."

Puppy answered, tail wagging at the speed of light. "Mine was great I won a game of tag with Poochie."

When supper was finished, they asked Max more about his world. Max told them about the oceans drying up completely and the only way to get water was to collect dew droplets. They then asked about food.

"The only things to eat in my world are maggot gruel and if you can find it canned food. The more depraved groups are cannibals the other two things I eat often are little lizards and rats um feral ones not sentient."

Both Laika's and Puppy's ears folded to their skulls. Laika was beyond appalled. "So that gruel you've been eating is?"

Max nodded. Laika shook her head. "Throw that out I will not let you eat that."

Max answered. "It kept me alive through my travels. It's always good to be prepared. It doesn't have any flavor you just have to get past the squirms and slimy consistency."

He paused, looking at the grimaces on their muzzles become more profound. "Sorry, it's just been so long since I had real food. Wait here, I have something I want to show you."

He ran back in with a photograph. It was a human diver in the ocean. "This was one of the last photos taken before the ocean dried up."