Just Another Assignment

[Max Griffiths]

*Battery City is quiet. After the upset six months ago it's been under control. Had to take out a few leftover rebels, but nothing worth breaking a sweat for. Volunteered for Drac Patrol. Perhaps the Zones will be more interesting.*

*Out of the office. Hunting rats. Please leave a message after the beep.*

[Fire Angel]

*radios* if you can hear me, come back to the tower, or at least the city. Some killjoys are planning to break into the tower, I know they're in the city. I've tried to tell people back here in the tower but they're all too busy to listen

[Max Griffiths]

*We're driving down the highway in Zone 3 when the transmission comes over the radio. The Dracs pull over, radio their superior, and get clearance to return to the city. I consider it. Don't want to go back for a false alarm. Haven't been out hunting in awhile. But another day's delay might not hurt. I stay with the patrol and we start going back*

[Max Griffiths]

*I've been hanging around the Tower for several days now, watching the surrounding streets and buildings. Some mildly interesting things have happened, but there's no sign of a raid. I head into the tower at noon on the third day and go to the employee assignment desk. I grab a form, write "One Shot: Zone clearing. Outer Zones. Will request backup as needed.", sign at the bottom, and slide it across the desk to the secretary, then take a fresh gun off the rack on the wall before heading to the parking garage. Within half an hour I'm heading back into the Zones in a regulation BLI car.*

[Max Griffiths]

*Found a safehouse in Zone 4, occupied by three killjoys. Won't take them in yet. They're heading out, all in one car. Reckless of them. I'll follow, see if they lead me to any others. If not, that's fine. Three's enough for one day.*

[Max Griffiths]

*I receive the transmission from headquarters. No killing. That's fine by me - it's more interesting when they think they can escape, anyway. I follow the car into the desert*

[Max Griffiths]

*Midway through Zone 5 the killjoys pull over by an abandoned house. Someone goes over to talk to them - another killjoy, presumably. He doesn't join them when they leave, though. Good choice. Not that he'll get off that easily, of course, but he seems to know what he's doing. Might be an interesting hunt when I come back for him.*
*I drive wide around the house, staying out of sight, then get back on the road to follow the car.*

[Max Griffiths]

*I stop the car at the top of a low hill, lean out the window and aim at the distant vehicle. I can't see any of the killjoys inside it, but I can see enough to target the wheels. I know I've hit one when the car swerves sideways. They try to keep going, but pull over after another few hundred feet. By then I'm already headed down the hill.

I park the car and get out when I'm a short ways away. They didn't even have the common sense to stop horozontally across the road and give themselves some cover. I avoid most of their shots, and my heat-resistant jacket takes the rest. Two make a break for it, heading in opposite directions. I wait until the first one is about six feet away from cover before stunning him. He hits his head on a rock when he falls. Not my fault. The other one is dodging between bushes, but I get him without too much trouble.

The third is the most fun. He's smarter than the other two. Stayed with the car. Has better aim, as well. I have to be more careful; he has a habit of moving from one end of the car to the other, trying to surprise me. He takes a shot to the shoulder, switches his gun to his left hand. Still fighting. It takes me a full two minutes to get a clear shot and stun him.

I tie the three of them up. Transmit coordinates. Pickup should be here soon.

I get back in my car, turn around, and head towards the other killjoy. My memories of the three are already fading. I don't care.*

[Max Griffiths]

*My ribs still ache from the fight, but it wasn't important so I don't bother remembering it. The killjoy was collected, and my job is done. I'm in outer Zone 6 when I get the transmission from the woman in headquarters. Her name starts with an S, I think, but it doesn't matter. Names don't mean anything, anyway.

I'm headed in the right direction, so I just keep going. Night falls but I don't stop. I like hunting in the dark, and this assignment promises to be interesting. I hardly ever get clearance to go beyond the Zones these days.*

[Max Griffiths]

*By the time the sun rises I'm far past Zone 6, and nearing my goal. I pass through a canyon with tall sides, the rocks a strange green-gray. I shift uncomfortably. There's something familiar about this place, and I don't like the feeling. I push the thought away and keep driving out the other side. There are jagged rock outcroppings everywhere. Easy to get lost. Surprised anyone found her, much less got out to tell headquarters about it. I don't get lost, though. Almost like I've been here before...*

[Max Griffiths]

*I pull up in front of an aged wooden house. The curtains are drawn shut. I cross the porch, push open the door, and see a room full of bookcases, tables, and shelves. Ancient-looking books, a variety of jars and vials, and various medical instruments are everywhere. Cluttered, but clean. The sense of deja vu hits me again. I hear movement and aim my gun at the hunched old woman I see standing at a table.* Come.

It’s rude to come in without knocking. *She looks up and squints in my direction. When she sees my mask she turns back and continues tidying up the objects on the table. Ignoring my command, she says* I am Moniker. I repair the human clockwork. I can replace faulty parts, realign the critical mechanisms, and sometimes improve certain workings. I will aid any who come to my door, but I will not teach my methods to those like you. The knowledge would do great harm in the hands of our Big Brother. *She turns to face me, her eyes milky in the dim light* So who are you, and why are you here?

[Max Griffiths]

*When I see her face I take an involuntary step back. Hazy images flash through my mind – killjoy images. That’s bad. I don’t want those memories.* Come.

*She frowns and walks around the table towards me* Is that all you can say? You should at least tell me your name. Without a name, a person has no self.

*That phrase… I’ve heard that phrase… but I can’t remember. I won’t remember.* I have no name.

[Max Griffiths]

I know that voice… *The woman steps closer, past my raised gun* Who are you? *She raises a hand towards my head and I can’t seem to move. I know her… but I don’t want to. Bad things will happen if I remember. Before I realize what’s happening, the old woman pulls my mask up. Her eyes widen in shock, then she sighs. She traces a finger along one of the scars on my face, then drops her hand. When she speaks there’s a terrible sadness in her voice.* Is that really you, Max? Is this what they’ve done to you?

[Max Griffiths]

*My thoughts are jumbled, but strangely focused. I haven’t felt like this since… I lower my gun, still staring at the woman*

You can talk to me, Max. Whatever they’ve done, I know you can. When you disappeared, I thought for sure… Where did you go?

*More memories return and I don’t try so hard to block them out. I speak automatically, my voice rough and cracked* To save them.

Oh, Maxey… *The woman – Moniker. Moniker is her name – sits down on a chair and looks up at me. I see a tear run down her cheek* But surely you knew? They sent those videos, those horrible videos!

Could have been faked… I had to try… *I look down at my hands. Can hardly tell if I’m in control of them or not. If any of this is real. I whisper* I had to hope

[Max Griffiths]

*Moniker stands up suddenly, her eyes blazing* This is why I hate Better Living Industries, Max! This is why I’ll never help them! They ruin everything that doesn’t blindly follow them! Don’t wear that mask, Max, don’t help them ruin the world!

*I hear the name and something switches in my mind. The woman in front of my is old and ugly and flawed. She is wrong.* They do not ruin. They make perfect. They fixed me. Now I am perfect.

*She must see the change in my eyes, because her shoulders slump and she seems very tired.* You’re not perfect, Max, you’re broken. They’ve broken you, and I don’t think I can repair this kind of damage. But I’m a foolish old woman, and I suppose I have to try to save you, like you tried to save your family. Even though I know it’s futile, just as you did. *She walks slowly to a shelf, pulls down a satchel, and comes back* Very well, I’m coming. Let’s get this over with.