Max rocketed through the intersection nearly colliding with another car. The tires side.   Tinker watched through the rearview mirror as Weiss quickly closed the gap between them. He was so close that Tinker could see the hideously scared face, and the green eyes that bore down on them .“We better do something fast!” Max gripped the steering wheel tighter.   “ Ya need ta find a straightaway and opener up Lt,” Tinker responded.   Max swung around another corner causing the car to shudder its heavy metal frame sluggishly responding to its drivers command.   Weiss was close behind handling his car with an inhuman precision .“There! Turn left up there!” Tinker yelled pointing in the direction he wanted Max to go.Max swung the car around the left turn smashing into another parked car. The impact jarred and tossed everyone, Max kept a tight hold on the steering wheel. The road opened up and Max pressed the pedal to the floor. The car sluggishly responded leaving a small gap between themselves and Weiss.   “ Yer doin it Lt. Keep yer foot ta the floor and hang on tight ta the wheel. I’m gonna play our ace in the hole,” Tinker said.   Reaching down he slowly opened the valve to a small metal cylinder. The resulting action was quickly felt. The car shuddered and groaned and quickly accelerated. Tinker looked back at Weiss who quickly disappeared.   “Yes!” Tinker gave a victorious movement with his arm.The car groaned louder the engine noise getting louder until they had to yell to hear each other.

“I wouldn’t feel too confident Tinker,”

Susan looked back at him. “Max you better slow us down in a hurry. The cam shaft is at the point of disintegration, the tires are excessively overheating and about to fail and we’re just about. . . ,” Susan’s words trailed off.

A shuddering bang from beneath the car indicated that the drive train snapped. Tinker looked out the side window and watched the steel drive train swing around impacting with the left rear tire.

“Hang on people we’re goin over!” he yelled.

The car lurched onto its side skidding along the pavement leaving a trail of sparks.   It slowly came to rest near a small brick building the dangling sign indicating it was abandoned. Max crawled out the side window, he helped Susan out her movements very sluggish.   He helped Tinker out and they sat against the roof resting.

“What the hell did you do to this thing?” Max asked.

“Lets say Lt that I added some abnormal fuel to the cars engine. I guess they didn’t build’em as good as I thought,” he said shaking his head.

“Oh they built them well enough but they didn’t design them to use jet engine fuel,” Susan pursed her lips.

“Got us away didn’t I?” Tinker snapped. “What’s with ya anyway? Yer acting different, even movin different.” “Not enough energy,” was all she said.

“Why don’t ya recharge yerself?”

Tinker looked at her.

“I can’t,” was all she said.

She didn’t want to tell Tinker that

Capone had ripped out her only recharging cord. She also didn’t want Max to know the truth that she wasn’t human. Right now he believed she was totally human and that was something she had wanted desperately for a long time.

“Well at least we got rid of that guy or thing that was following us,” Max interrupted them.

“Don’t count on it,” Susan looked at him.

The screeched of tires greeted their ears and they watched Weiss’s car skid to a halt.

“You guys get out of here don’t worry about me none, git!” Tinker yelled.   “Sorry we aren’t leaving without you, we go together or not at all. We’ve been through too. . . ,” Max hesitated as if remembering some long distant memory.   Weiss walked up to them his face showing clearly the scars from the battles before. Max could see clearly now the metal plating beneath the skin. Weiss’s look was intense his green eye’s clearly showing in the afternoon sun. They were going to die and nothing they could do would stop it.

“Prepare to die,” Weiss said his voice cold and emotionless.

“You may think differently in a minute Weiss,” Came a voice from overhead.   Max followed the voice looking up.   Lining all the roof tops were Capone’s men pointing machine guns and shotguns at Weiss.   “Fool do you think your petty men can stop me?” Weiss looked at Capone standing amongst his men.

“Maybe my boys can’t hurt ya none but I do know somethin that will,” Capone said pulling Max’s sword off his shoulder. “Now boys!” he yelled.

The barrage of gunfire began as thousands of rounds of lead pelted Weiss ripping his already torn outer flesh. Max looked up at Capone who grabbed the sword and tossed it down from the roof top in his direction.

“ Ya have a job ta do so do it!” Capone said.

Max instinctively grabbed the sword not really knowing what to do with it. He pulled it from its sheath staring at the blades gleaming edge. His eye’s moved up to see Weiss still standing there being pelted by a barrage of bullets. Weiss removed the glove from his right hand pointed at the roof tops. Beams of light shot out from his index finger and exploded along the roof top. Capone’s men were being taken out quickly and Max for some strange reason knew he was the only one who could stop it.

Max moved forward bringing the sword to bare. Weiss quickly dodged the swords first slash. Weiss quickly removed the glove from his other hand and pointed both hands in Max’s direction.

“Die!” Weiss snarled.

Fear gripped Max as a bright light blinded him. Weiss sent a massive surge of destructive energy at Max, Susan and Tinker. Instinctively Max raised the sword in defense. The blade again glowed and a protective shield formed around them deflecting Weiss’s energy burst. Moments later there was an explosion that shook the ground beneath Max’s feet. The light faded revealing a large crater in the street. In the middle was Weiss on his knees.   Max felt the energy drain from him and he fought to stay conscious. He moved sluggishly forward the hate for Weiss clear on his face.   Jumping down into the crater he raised the sword above his head the blade glowing a dull red. Weiss raised his right arm in defense but it was to late. Max brought the sword down striking Weiss on the shoulder. The blade sliced through the flesh and titanium plating severing the arm from the body. Weiss fell backward avoiding Max’s next sweep. Max swung again missing Weiss by inches. Weiss reached out with his left arm grabbing Max by his shirt. He became airborne as Weiss tossed him over his head. Max landed on his shoulder on the other side of the crater. The sword bounced from his grasp. As he reached for it he felt the darkness begin to slip in. He tried to stop it again but found he couldn’t and let it come.

Susan moved sluggishly forward to help Max. Her power was almost completely depleted but she had to do something. Weiss picked himself up and moved over grabbing his arm.   Bringing his left hand up he fired a blast which struck Susan on her left shoulder. Her body twisted and flew backwards. She tried to get up but there wasn’t sufficient power to move her limbs. What power was left she needed to keep her main frame systems up on line, her survival depended on it. Weiss moved out of the pit and walked over toward Tinker who frantically tried to crawl away. Weiss dropped his severed arm and grabbed Tinker by the back of his shirt dragging him across the rough ground.

“Let go ya bastard!” Tinker yelled trying to remove Weiss’s hand from his shirt.   “ Your goin ta be my bait,” Weiss spoke softly.

Susan watched as Weiss dragged Tinker off to his car. Moments later her vision began to fade. The power drain from Weiss became greater. She needed to retreat into her core unit, protect it from Weiss’s energy drain at all cost.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Ultimatum

Tinker awoke, a dank musty smell permeated the air. His neck was stiff from sleeping upright in a chair all night. The ropes that bound him were very tight and his arms tingled from the lack of blood flow. He had no idea how long he had been out or for that matter where he was. The room he was in was completely barren except for some burlap sacks piled in the corner.   Rats scurried along the dark corners looking for food and eyeing the newcomer into their world.

Suddenly heavy footfalls echoed from behind the door. The knob turned and the door slowly opened. In walked Weiss wearing a long overcoat the collar turned up. The right arm was folded over and pinned up. He wore a large fedora, the brim pulled down hiding most of his face. Behind him were two of his muscle carrying machine guns. They entered the room and closed the door. Weiss moved up toward Tinker, reaching inside his pocket he pulled out a cigarette pack and pulled one out between his lips. Extending his arm he offered Tinker one. Tinker stared at Weiss the hate clear on his face. Weiss lit a match off the bare metal on the side of his cheek.   “What the hell’s a machine gettin out of smoking?” Tinker spoke his throat dry and raspy.

“More than you’ll be gettin soon enough,” Weiss spoke softly pulling another chair up in front of Tinker.

“Do yer men know what ya are?” Tinker said gritting his teeth.

“My boys are well aware of what I am, they’ve known it since before our boss O’Bannon was rubbed out. Since nobody has the guts ta go against me that makes me da boss.” “What were ya programmed ta do in this time period?” Tinker asked probing for answers.   “Programming? When I arrived in this here place I assumed the role of Weiss, then somethin happened ta my circuits. What ever I was supposed to do here was lost along with most of my memory circuits. Then I was givin the truth, my master and boss Charles Dion O’Bannon took me in and gave me purpose again.

I served him well until that Italian pig

Capone rubbed him out while I was making a hit elsewhere. Now Capone must die and nothin is goin ta stop me.”

“Do ya even know what ya are?” Tinker asked.

“I am Earl Weiss. I may be different from everyone else but I am Weiss,” he said looking deeply into Tinkers eyes.

“ Yer a stinkin killing machine. Ya ain’t human and ya never will be,” Tinker snapped.   “I am what I am, but ya better be confident of one thing, I am Weiss ain’t I boys?” Weiss spoke over his shoulder.

“ Yer da boss, an nothin can stop ya that’s fer sure,” One man laughed.

“See my boys believe in me and I treat em’ good. Loyalty is numero uno in my book, next ta goin ta church on Sunday ya see,” Weiss said taking a long drag on is cigarette.   Tinker looked into the machines glowing green eyes. Something had gone wrong in its programming. Possibly when the Repressor had been destroyed it caused a power surge and destroyed its memory circuits. Now this machine actually believed it was human. It understands its differences from the others but now looks upon them as its men. It has no idea what it was constructed for only that it wants Capone dead for the murder of its boss.   “So what ya need me fer?” Tinker asked.   “I need ta know more about your buddies, the one with da Stolic’s sword and the female machine,” Weiss tossed the cigarette butt onto the floor.

“Take a hike asshole, I ain’t tellin ya nothin,” Tinker snapped.

Weiss removed the glove from his left hand with his teeth. “Then I hope pain is somethin ya enjoy,” he said as a small torch lit on the end of his finger.

Weiss moved closer bringing the flame near Tinkers face. “It’s alright ta scream nobodies gonna hear ya.”

From down in the street the echo of pain and suffering could easily be heard.   Max’s eyes bolted open, locking onto the revolving ceiling fan that hung above his bed.   He watched it spin then felt the movement beside him. Turning he came face to face with Lana. She slowly opened her eyes and smiled.   “It’s about time you woke up big boy,” she said laying her head upon his chest.   Max rubbed his forehead, his mind was fuzzy.   Images of times and places he could not remember flashed in his mind. He knew now that he was not Jack McGurn and that a woman, a very beautiful woman had called him Max. He also remembered another person, somebody he felt he could call his brother a person the woman named Susan had said was Tinker.   “ Whatcha thinkin?” Lana said rubbing the hair on his chest.

“I’m thinkin I need ta find out who I really am and what I’m doin here,” Max said pulling the covers off.

“Your my lover, I know your not Jack, and I actually like you more this way,” she said propping herself up on one elbow.   “Listen yer a very pretty woman and all but right now I need ta find out what’s goin on,” Max said hurrying to the bathroom.   “Well I can tell you one things for sure.   You better be careful, the real Jack wants you dead. He’s a little angry at what you did to him before and the fact that your sleeping with his woman,” Lana looked up smiling.   Max dressed quickly and sat on the edge of the bed. He reached up and touched Lana on the cheek running his hand through her silky black hair.

“I need yer help Lana, I need ta remember who I am. Do ya know where their holdin the blond woman named Susan?” Max looked into her eyes.

“Why should I tell you? What’s in it for me?”

She said pulling away and laying back down.   “I can’t promise ya anything, not until I figure out who I am and why I’m here, please,” he spoke softly.

Lana looked into his eyes. “ Do you realize that your the best thing that ever happened to me?   Your so gentle and caring, your everything a woman could want and more. If I help you I could loose all that and I could loose you.   Please don’t ask me to do this,” she said reaching up and wrapping her arm around his neck drawing him down. “Forget all this, get undressed and come back to bed and make love to me.”

“I’m sorry Lana, there are people who need me now and I have this feelin that it’s the right thing ta do. If you won’t help me then I’ll just do it by myself!” Max said pulling himself from her grasp.

He rose from the bed and headed to the door.   As he closed it behind him he could hear the gentle sobs of a woman’s heartbreak.   Max strolled down the long hall not knowing where to go. Susan could be anywhere, behind any door. Moments later he felt the gentle touch of a hand on his shoulder.   “I will help you,” Lana said sniffing her eyes red with tears.

Max smiled and placed his arm around her. She led him down the hall to the elevator. Once inside they went down two floors and exited into another hallway. At the end of the hall were two armed guards standing in front of a door.

“That’s where their keeping her,” Lana pointed. Then turned to leave.   Max grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.   “I won’t forget this, trust me please,” he said wiping the single tear that rolled down her face.

She turned and headed back for the elevator.

Max felt an emptiness inside for this woman.   She wanted to feel needed and loved and most of all not alone. He could relate to that feeling especially now when he felt the loneliest. He moved down the hall towards the guards.

“Excuse me boys,” Max said trying to walk past them.

One used his machine gun and pushed Max back.

“Nobody allowed in there,” the man snarled.   The man leaned forward to push him back farther when Max grabbed the machine gun out of the man’s hands. The rifle butt smacked firmly against the mans head sending him into darkness. The other man moved quickly forward lowering his gun. Max could do nothing but drop his own weapon. There came a distinctive crack as Lana smashed a heavy vase against the mans head. She smiled at Max, turned and left.   Max kicked in the heavy door, inside was a large canopied bed a few dressers and a bathroom. On the bed lie Susan, she was beneath the covers and did not stir even though the breaking of the door was excessively loud. Max walked up and sat on the edge of the bed. He reached out and touched her cheek, then pulled his hand back quickly.   Her skin was ice cold, there was no color and no movement. He pulled back the covers revealing her naked body. Placing his ear against her chest he listened for any heartbeat, there was none. He began to pull his head way when he noticed the leg band that encompassed her left thigh. His fingers ran across the smooth metal then he looked back at her face.

“ Your a machine also!” Max said to himself.   He looked back at the leg band. Distant memories flashed before his mind. He pictured wires coming out from the holes in the band.   He then noticed the one access hole. A tiny portion of a thick frayed wire stuck out from the hole.

“And what might ya be used fer,” he said touching the end of the wire. A slight tingle tickled his finger. Then it dawned on him.   He jumped up and grabbed the nearest table lamp ripping the cord from the lamps base. Rushing to the bathroom he searched around for something sharp. In the medicine cabinet he found a straight razor which he used to expose the ends of the wire. He twisted each end to the exposed wire ends on the leg band. Then he walked over and slowly pushed the plug into the socket. He was given an instant shock which knocked him to the floor. His hand was tingling from the electrical charge that ran through his body.   He crawled over and looked for any signs of life in Susan’s face.

Her eyelids gently flickered and opened.

Her head gently turned and she looked at him.   “I knew you’d remember, I just knew it,” she said smiling.

“Just rest and recharge yourself, I’m goin ta find Capone,” Max said covering up her body.

Max looked at the cord that ran to the wall.

The outside casing smoked slightly in spots.

“Better slow down on yer draw rate lady.” Susan looked down the smoldering cord, he was right she would have to slow her draw rate down to a crawl. Lying back down she stared at the ceiling, it would be hours before she would be recharged.

Max pulled the door as tight as it would go and headed down the hall. He remembered Capone being on the top floor. Entering the elevator he exited on the top floor and instantly was surrounded by guards.   “Come with us bub, the boss wants ta see ya,” one guard said.

Moments later he stood in Capone’s office.   Capone had his feet up on the desktop a cloud of cigar smoke hung in the air.   “Been expectin ya,” he said not looking at Max.

“Is that so?” Max quickly shot back.

“First of all just who the hell are ya?   Second where exactly are ya from? And don’t bullshit me! I know fer a fact that some of the things I’ve seen in that last few days ain’t right, like walkin automobile things of that sort,” Capone turned finally to look at Max.

“Ta be honest I don’t know who the hell I am and a lot of this is as much as surprise ta me as it is ta you!” Max shot back.   “I ain’t never seen a woman as beautiful as da one upstairs there, and come ta find out she’s full of movin parts too! I ain’t never seen a man take as much lead as Weiss did the day before so ya can’t tell me he’s normal either. What are ya all some strange space critters or somethin?”

“I told ya I don’t remember. But one things fer sure I’m yer only ticket ta gettin Weiss out of yer hair that’s fer sure!” Max sat himself down in front of Capone.   “Yeah, I’ll go along with that one. I ain’t been havin to good a luck gettin this sword of yers to operate like ya did when ya fought Weiss before. How does it work?” Capone said placing his cigar back in his mouth.   “Easy, it feeds of your emotions. . . it. .   . how did I know that?” Max said staring at the floor. He looked up at Capone who sliced it back and forth through the air. “And only I can use it.”

Capone stopped and stared at Max. “I believe ya on that one also. Listen, I got a business proposition fer ya. I’ll give ya everythin ya need, men, money anythin. Only I want Weiss out of the way. You do that fer me and you and your friends there can go on yer merry way, deal?” Capone outstretched his hand across the desk.

“Deal,” Max reached out and tightly grasped Capone’s hand. Only in the back of his mind he didn’t trust a word the man said. At the same moment the door burst open and one of Capone’s guards rushed in.

“Boss! This flew through the front window,” the man held out a piece of paper wrapped around a rock.

Capone grabbed it from the mans hand and motioned for him to leave. He opened the paper then looked at Max. “Take a look.” Max grabbed the paper from his hands and began to read it to himself.

“Out loud!” Capone ordered.

“Capone, yer rein as boss is at an end. I will snuff out yer measly life like you snuffed out my boss’s. Meet me with yer men at the old abandoned leather factory on the edge of town day after tomorrow. Unless yer a gutless fat Italian pig and don’t have the guts - Weiss.

Tell yer hit man with the sword ta come too, and that hunk of metal in the shape of a woman I have somebody they want - I wish rub them all out,” Max looked up at Capone who stood with a golf club lining up a ball with a glass.

“Bad time ta be worrin about gettin a ball in a glass don’tcha think?” Max said getting angry.

Capone tapped the ball and missed the glass.   “ Ya know what I hate da most? I hate people who tell me what ta do! I hate people who think their smarter than me, ya hear!” Capone screamed waving the golf club at Max.   He was getting hysterical his face red with anger. He then began swinging the golf club smashing the plants in the corner of the room. He then attacked the desk beating it with all his might. Max sat legs crossed watching Capone’s fury. The golf club eventually ended smashing through the window and out of sight.

“Done with yer rampage?” Max said coyly.   The anger in Capone’s face became even more intense. “What ever yer name is, watch it!   When this is all over you and yer buddies are gonna be snuffed! I may keep the woman around just because she’s a nice lookin dame. I don’t give a damn about you and the cripple, so watch yer back mister!” Capone bellowed.   “Don’t worry Capone, I’ll kill Weiss fer ya then just maybe I come back and kill you! I want my sword also, and I want it now!” Max demanded.

Capone’s face looked as if it was going to explode. “You’ll get yer piece of steel when we get ta the factory and not before. What do ya think I’m stupid or somethin? I give at the steel and you run me through when my backs turned. Get out and stay out of my sight until we leave fer the factory.” Max rose from the chair and walked out the doors. He didn’t understand why he felt so defiant towards Capone, maybe it was the type of person he really was. The thought quickly left his mind as he headed back into the elevator and back towards Susan’s room. He needed to find out more about himself and the best place to start was her.