Max stared into his eyes trying to recall ever hearing that name.   “So you have a another name, so what?” Max said trying to sound as if he didn’t care.   “I am confounded that you never have heard of me. I guess my role in history is a small one,” Mcbain said looking defeated at Max’s indifference of who he was.

“You commanded the north center army in the Kursk battle,” Susan said recalling her memory on WWII history.

“Ah! The machine knows! I am impressed,” Mcbain smiled.

“In the Kursk battle you were forced back by the advancing Russian armies. Supposedly you and many of your troops were killed but bodies were never found,” Susan added.   “Of course not that is why I am here along with a vast majority of my troops. We spent the last ten years reorganizing and rebuilding. We needed to adapt to this time periods culture and it took time,” Mcbain said looking at Max.

“If your from another time then how may I ask did you succeed in time transportation?” Max asked not really wanting to hear the answer.

“I was wondering when you would ask me that.  You see as the war whined down my organization foresaw the eventual collapse of the Reich due to the insanity of our great leader. We went underground waiting and hiding, our intelligence operative in this country happened to stumble upon your fathers experiment in blocking radar for allied shipping. He also witnessed the disappearance of the destroyer, when your father first discovered time travel. The armed forces scraped his project with the end of the war.  His equipment was taken from the ship and stored in mothballs to be forgotten. My operative managed to have all of it shipped to our position in Europe where we reassembled it. We eventually learned how to control it, though we lost many good men,” Mcbain said staring off into space as he reminisced.   “That’s what’s in your basement shielded by lead?” Susan asked.

“How did you know that?” he looked up surprised. “Another of your many abilities? That may be something we could use,” Mcbain said rubbing his chin.

“You’ll get nothing from me!” Susan snapped.

“Maybe, maybe not, but we will learn a lot.  The choice is yours Max Storm, your life and your friends life for the possession of your mechanical friend,” Mcbain said rolling his chair around turning his back to them.   “The answers no, Mcbain,” Max flatly said.   “You are foolish Storm, I will give you one hour to decide. My guards will accompany you to your room where you may ponder your situation. Oh, and please don’t try to escape, my guards are armed with the latest in state of the art weaponry and you wouldn’t make it to the front door,” Mcbain softly said staring out at the snow covered mountains.   Four heavily armed guards moved in motioning them to move. They were taken back upstairs and put into Max’s room, the door locked and bolted.

“It’s OK to talk Max, I’m jamming their monitors,” Susan said as soon as the guards left.

“What now Lt? We ain’t all gettin out of here in one piece,” Tinker said rolling closer to them.

“And if we do then what? Who can we trust to tell, they could have hundreds if not thousands of infiltrators spread throughout the U.S. government and armed forces,” Susan said drearily.

“Well first of all we have to get out of here. What do we have for weapons?” Max asked.

Tinker reached below the seat of his wheelchair to what looked like a battery box for an electric wheelchair.

“People automatically think this here chair is an electric wheelchair, they never bother ta notice there ain’t no controls. So I keep some goodies in a battery box beneath the seat.  They may have taken our guns but we still got some stuff,” Tinker said opening the box.   He pulled out four hand grenades, two flash grenades, two knives, and two Smith & Wesson snub nose revolvers with 16 rounds of ammunition on speed loaders.   “My God Tinker you never cease to amaze me!”

Max said looking over the weapons.   He walked over to his duffle bag and pulled out his sword. “They must think this is no threat,” Max said pulling the sword from its scabbard.

“We may just have a chance Lt, a slim one at that,” Tinker smiled slightly.   “One thing is definite, we can’t allow Susan to be captured,” Max said walking up to her.   He placed his hands upon her shoulders and looked into her black eyes. Watching them Max could see tiny flashes of energy burst every time she blinked. He cupped his hand behind her head and drew his lips to her kissing her passionately.

“Your no machine,” Max whispered to her.

“What’s that massive rock on yer hand lady?”

Tinker asked already guessing.   Susan looked away from Max smiling. “We’re going to be married Tinker.” “Well congrats, It’s about time the big dumb oaf here came around,” Tinker said smiling.   Max looked back, he knew he was trying to make light of the terrible situation they were in.  Max looked back at Susan then Tinker.   “Are we ready? I think we should do exactly what he doesn’t expect us to do,” Max said chambering a round into the pistol.   “What’s that Lt?” Tinker asked curious.   “Go right out the front door,” Max looked back.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea Max. I wouldn’t underestimated this man. He was or is a military genius that Hitler never listened to. If he had Kursk would have been won by Kluge,” Susan added.

Max opened the window and looked out.  They were five stories up and it was a strait drop to the frozen ground below. A little to the left was a gargantuan fountain being fed by hot water. Steam rose high into the morning air.

“Well we can’t jump from here. Maybe though if we can get about five rooms over and two or three floors down maybe we can make it to the fountain if Susan slings us out far enough,” Max looked back shutting the window.  “ Yer crazy Lt, what if below the steam there is solid ice?” Tinker looked back worried.   “Then we won’t have to worry about the overthrow of the U.S. government will we?  Susan do you think you can throw us that far?”

Max looked at her.

“I can get you directly into that pool but I won’t be an easy landing,” she shook her head.

“Well it’s the only one we got, so lets get going,” Max said grabbing his sword and slinging the scabbard over his shoulder.   “There are two armed guards standing directly on either side of the door,” Susan said scanning the whole upper floor. “There are two by the elevator and there are two by the stairwell,” Susan said.

“ Lets do it!” Max said softly.

Tinker spun around and over to the door.  He looked back at Susan pointing with his finger to where he thought the guard was.   “Here?” he looked back.

Susan nodded, as Tinker quickly brought the pistol up letting a round go. The plaster splintered. Susan quickly moved up to the other side driving her fist through the plaster and sheetrock directly through the wall. Her hand locked onto the back of the guards neck and she ripped him through the wall killing him instantly. A massive gaping hole opened to the outside hall and they stepped out to see the other guard slumped forward onto the ground a pool of blood around his head. They dashed to the stairwell figuring it would be easier to overcome the guards.

When they reached the end of the hall

Max peered around the corner. The guards stood there cradling automatic weapons of some European design. Max drew back and looked at the others.

“As soon as we step out there we’re Swiss cheese. It all has to happen quick from here, we use a grenade and everybody and their brother is going to come running,” Max looked concerned.

“Well we ain’t got a choice Lt,” Tinker said pulling the pin on a grenade and tossing it towards the guards.

The explosion was deafening, the concussion blew down the hall taking with it plaster and part of the hall. They leapt from around the corner and rushed over the debris into the stairwell.

“You can’t tell me that’s an ordinary hand grenade Tinker,” Max said as he ran.   “It’s the latest in NATO issue,” Tinker said as Susan carried him behind Max.   They went three floors down before opening the door to the hall. As soon as Max entered people scattered. Most looked to be vacationing guests, their screams helping to create more chaos. Max turned as three guards rounded the corner bringing their weapons to bare. Everything happened in slow motion. Max raised the pistol dropping to one knee. The booms echoed but he didn’t hear them, bullet casings flew through the air and one by one each guard fell their blood spilling on the expensively carpeted floor.

“ Lets move!” Max yelled.

They raced down the hall trying to find a way to the corner of the building.   “This way Max,” Susan yelled.   Max turned following Susan, she stopped at the end of the hall and looked at the door.  Moments later the palm of her hand impacted with it ripping the door and its casing molding inward.

They rushed inside, a woman instantly began screaming as she lay in bed with her husband. Susan rushed to the window then looked back at Max.

“This will do, but I need a larger opening to give you momentum,” Susan said.  “Hey, out of bed and inta the bathroom!” Tinker barked waving the pistol in the couples direction.

They quickly leapt from the bed and into the bathroom slamming the door and locking it.   “Into the hall!” Max said moving away from the window.

Susan scooped up Tinker and they raced into the hall. Max pulled the pin on a hand grenade and rolled it into the room. It bumped against the wall under the window and exploded. From outside the mansion people gasped as the wall exploded sending fragments of debris and smoke into the morning air. Susan grabbed Tinker and rushed forward heaving him through the window.  He was unprepared and he yelled as he sailed through the air landing with a splash in the fountain.

“Max your next hurry!” Susan yelled.   Suddenly over the sounds of screaming, troops could be heard quickly approaching. Max looked back at the door then at Susan.   “I’m staying and fighting with you!” Max yelled.

“I can handle myself, you have to get out of here now!” she said looking back to the door.   At the doorway guards could be seen, Susan grabbed Max and heaved him out the window. Max hit the water and quickly turned looking at the mansion.

“Come on Susan jump!” he yelled.   Susan back up and began to move forward. A guard lunged forward impacting with her knocking her off balance.

“There!” Tinker yelled pointing at the opening.

Susan tumbled forward the guard locked around her waist. Her forward momentum couldn’t be stopped and she toppled through the window.  Max yelled as he watched them both fall from the gaping hole to impact on the hard frozen ground. Max climbed from the fountain and rushed forward. Neither of them moved their bodies still.

“Dear God no!” he yelled.

From the hole in the mansion a guard quickly drew his high-powered rifle up firing a shot. The bullet drove itself deep into Max’s side spilling his blood onto the virgin snow.  Max collapsed to the ground the gaping wound spewing blood.

“Lt! No!” Tinker screamed raising his pistol and fired hitting the guard square in the forehead.

Max crawled his way toward Susan who’s body remained still and motionless. A red streak trailed behind him. He compressed his hand against the wound trying to stop the flow of blood but it was no use. The guard had used to large of a caliber of bullet. Slowly ever so slowly he moved closer to Susan.   “Susan, Susan, dear God answer me!” he coughed.

Tinker climbed from the fountain and crawled his way after Max. People screamed and scattered in all directions. Max had crawled about fifty feet from Susan when the guards began pouring from the mansion.   Suddenly a silver gray Mercedes skidded to a stop just behind them. Sandy leapt from the car rushing around and grabbing Tinker dragging him to the car.

“ Git yer hands off me lady, that’s my friend there!” Tinker yelled in anger.   “Get in the car! I’ll get him, don’t worry!” she yelled rushing forward to where Max was.   Bullets began to zing and ricocheted off the ground near their feet. Sandy grabbed Max pulling him by his shirt.

“Come on, we got to get out of here now!” she screamed.

“No! I’m not leaving without Susan, leave me!” he choked.

“You stupid jerk you’ll be killed, she’s already dead!” Sandy yelled still tugging.   A bullet zinged by skinning her arm. She fell backward onto the ground. Max looked up as dozens of guards streamed out. He felt faint as he painstakingly reached over his shoulder and grabbed the sword pulling it from its scabbard. Sandy stumbled to her feet moving forward again until she saw the blade beginning to turn a crimson red. She stopped and dropped to one knee forgetting her wounded arm.  Max screamed as the sword grew brighter, suddenly a protective field surrounded him, Sandy, Tinker and the car. Max’s emotions raged unchecked his mind slowly loosing consciousness. Suddenly he stood up gripping both hands on the sword. Bullets pinged off the field hitting the side of the mansion.   Sandy moved forward awed, not understanding what was going on. She looked into Max’s face, his head was tilted down and his eyes looked blank and distant.

“Mr. Storm, Max?” she said softly.

His stare never faltered, instantly

Sandy watched as some force impacted with the guards driving them to the ground and crushing them. She felt nauseous, seeing all the corpses scattered over the cold ground. Max turned and grabbed her by the arm dragging her back to the car. He forced her into the drivers seat and climbed into the passenger never releasing his grip from the sword which still glowed a crimson red.

“Lt, we got ta save Susan, we got ta go back!” Tinker nudged him.

Max turned his head looking at Tinker.  It was at that moment that Tinker realized it was not Max looking back at him. His eyes were black with black rings surrounding them. He sat back in the seat saying nothing as Max looked back at him.

“It is too late, she has already gone inactive,” a deep demonic voice said rising from Max’s throat.

Tinker stared out the window as they headed swiftly away from the mansion and wondered if he had just gone from the frying pan and into the fire.