(Opening Scene: Original Cindy and Max are sitting at the bar of the crash down. Original Cindy is eating some peanuts.)

Original Cindy: Another thing I love about men is that they never stop acting like little boys.

Max: You know what, girl? Sometimes it sounds like you can almost switch teams.

Original Cindy: Let's not get gross. ( chuckles )

(Sketchy breathes his alcoholic breath on Original Cindy's face)

Sketchy: Ladies. Can I offer either of you an adult beverage?

Original Cindy: No... and you might want to slow down yourself, wigga, cuz you faded.

(Max sees Herbal and a stranger talking nearby the pool tables)

Max: So, who's over there with Herbal?

Original Cindy: That's snuffy. He just got out of lockup. Him and Herbal used to be cell mates.

Max: Herbal did time?

Sketchy: He did a couple years in Avenol for slinging the herb. Miscarriage of justice.

Max: All respect to my soldiers on the wrong side of the wall.

Sketchy: Let me have a mescal neat with a worm back.

(Herbal brings over his friend.)

Herbal: Max, Original Cindy, say, "what's up?" to my boy Snuffy Wills. Um, Snuffy is needing some employment just now. So, you think maybe we can convince Normal to... help a brotha out ?

Max: You know we will.

(Sketchy lights a lighter after a failed attempt and then pours his drink into his mout as he holds the lighter to his face as the other watch. Sketchy then proceeds to breath fire as the others back away.)

Sketchy: Hey, guys, check it.

Max: I'm going to get you out of here before you incinerate someone.

Sketchy: Let me finish my worm. You're done.

(Max shakes snuffy's hand)

Max: It's nice to meet you.

(outside of the crash down)

Sketchy: I don't feel so good.

Max: You hurl, you're dead.

(A stranger adjusts an optical piece and follow Max and Sketchy down an alley. The stranger notices a kid throwing a cigarette away. He stops the boy.)

Street Sweeper: Pick it up.

Kid: Hey, let me go.

Street Sweeper: I said pick it up.

Kid: Who the hell are you?

Street Sweeper: This is where it starts. Pretty soon the streets are a river of garbage. All the windows are broken, obscene graffiti's everywhere. So, why shouldn't the girl sell her body in an alley to buy drugs? Pick it up, now.

Kid: Okay.

Street Sweeper: I know what you look like. ( shutter clicks )

(Sketchy is hunched over. He coughs and spits. )

Sketchy(says in a drunk voice): You're a true friend, Max.

Max: Just don't get it on my shoes.

(A thug and two friends try to hold up Max and Sketchy.)

Thug: Hand over your wallets no one gets hurt.

Sketchy: I'll handle this. Piss off.

(Thug pulls out a gun and points it a Sketchy's chest)

Thug: Oh, you wanna die tonight, skidmark?

Sketchy: Uh, that'd be a negative. Here.

(The thug kocks Sketchy unconscoius. )

Max: See now, you shouldn't have done that 'cause even though he's a drunken idiot he happens to be a friend and I gotta kick your ass.

(Max rushes up to the lead thug and blocks a swing and tosses him to the ground. The two other thugs rush up and meet a similar fate. The stranger is hidden nearby some boxes taking photos of Max in action. He also gets a image of Max's Jam Pony cap.)

(Max spots the stranger after disposing of the nearby thugs. The lead thug tries to make a break for it only to be knocked down by the stranger. The stranger picks up Sketchy's wallet and heads over to Max as she is reaching for Sketchy's head.)

Max: Hey.

(Sketchy moans )

Street Sweeper: You all right?

Max: Yeah. Here.

(The stranger hands Max the wallet)

Sketchy: Thanks. What happened to those guys?

(Max turns around and notices the stranger is gone)

Max: Let's get out of here. Want to give me a hand with my friend? He's kind of heavy...

(The next morning at Jam Pony. Sketchy and the others are walking down the entry ramp towards the kitchen area.)

Sketchy: All right, so we leave crash a little after midnight 'cause Max was getting tired.

Original Cindy: Like you remember anything about last night after the first nine beers.

Sketchy: Can I please tell my story? So, I'm walking her home...

Original Cindy: Please.

Sketchy: ...and we're jumped by a pack of local hard bodies. I throw a few punishers to defend our girl's honor but these dudes are large and numerous. I go down... eventually.

Druid: Hey, how much did they rip you off for?

Sketchy: Nada. This guy, I guess you could call him appears out of nowhere and takes out the entire dirt bag crew like he was some kind of shaolin master.

Original Cindy: And if you weren't on no chronic break then I got a white girl's ass.

Sketchy: If you don't believe me, ask Max. She saw the whole thing.

Max: Fists of fury. It was awesome.

Druid: So, who was this dude, man?

Sketchy: An urban legend in the making, you ask me.

Original cindy: Like original cindy always says the night holds a million secrets.

Sketchy: You got that right. I'm 90% certain that zombies walk among us.

Original Cindy: And here he comes.

Normal: I hate to break up this little cretin fest but I have a hot run to 17 clemson.

Sketchy: Na-uh. Rydin' forties turf. They still got that gang war going on with the ryddim kidz and I'm allergic to yellow tape.

Normal: You know, there was a time in this once-great nation when people actually took pride in their work rose to meet any challenge...

(Max takes the envelope from Normal)

Max: I'll take it... just so we don't have to hear how great the Great communicator was.

Normal: Yes, you kids could learn something from that man's example.

Sketchy (coughs): Bite me.

Max: Bless ya.

(Max arrives at a building to deliver the envelope. Max treads carefully through the building as she looks for the recipient.)

(A shutter clicks in the darken hallway as Max stops as a figure steps out from the shadows.)

Street Sweeper: Don't be nervous.

Max: Small world.

Street Sweeper: Not really. I figured you'd be the only one at the messenger service who wouldn't be afraid to come here.

(Max holds out her board)

Max: I need a signature.

Street Sweeper: It's for you. Open it....

(Max opens the envelope and finds a sheet of paper that has the words "Destiny" typed on it.)

Max: And this is supposed to mean what?

Street Sweeper: I can see your future.

Max: Then you've already watched me turn around and walk away cause your a whack job.

Street Sweeper: Fact is, I'm offering you an opportunity.

Max: Pass.

Street Sweeper: I saw what you did last night. Suffice it to say you have abilities that couldn't be described as "normal".

Max: What ever angle your playing, bring it on and lets get it over with.

(Max turns behind her as the sound of a man thrown out of a apartment into a wall catches her attenion. The man gets up and walks away. Another man comes out with a automatic weapon)

O.G.: Yeah. Now, you tell your set what I said. Then, maybe we can talk about trucing.

(The Gangsta from the apartment fires several rounds at the feet of the messenger. The messenger runs. The Gansta heads back to his apartment.)

(Max turns back to the stranger and notices the stranger has left.)

Max: So, what is it you want... Are you ready?

(The scene shifts to a bunch of kids playing ball in the street. The batter swings and the ball rolls underneath a abandoned car.)

Pitcher: You ready?

(A kid playing the infield goes after the ball and sees a body.)

Pitcher: Come on man. Come on let's go.

(throws the ball back to the pitcher.)

Baseball kid: Dead guy under there.

Pitcher: We know. He's the foul line.

(At Jam Pony herbal is sitting nearby the bottom of a staircase.)

Herbal: Snuffy always have my back in that terrible place. Made sure not harm came to I and I. He was my brotha.

Max: How you doing?

Herbal: I'm trying to get my head around what only the most high understand. You know. My boy is walking with the king now.

Original Cindy: You know he is.

(Normal walks over)

Normal: Heard about your friend. I'm sorry for your loss.

(All the Jamponys turn and look at Normal in disbelief.)

Normal: Did I say something wrong?

Herbal: No, man. I thank you from my heart.

Normal: Yeah, all right.

Max: If you ever want to talk or need anything...

Herbal: Just time to think about things.

(Max turns to leave.)

Max: Take care.

(Max is at Logan's penthouse pacing behind Logan while he's on the computer.)

Max: I was talking to Herbal's friend last night like I'm talking to you right now. He's dead, gone, ceased to exist.

Logan: Gerald "Snuffy" Wills. Released from custody three days ago after serving six years for carrying a forged sector pass. Preliminary crime scene report has cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. No witnesses.

Max: Seemed like a sweet guy.

Logan: After you called I dumped six more unsolved homicides-- all recent parolees killed in the last three weeks, same M.O.

Max: Let me guess, the cops couldn't care less.

Logan: Or they're in on it, or looking the other way.

Max: Either way, the law-and-order types come out on top.

Logan: Pretty much. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on a list of upcoming parolees. If past is prologue, they could be potential targets.

Max: Could you hack into records?

Logan: I've been trying. My computer keeps booting me off. Damn blackouts.

Max: What else is new? I guess I'll have to get those files for you the old-fashioned way..

Logan: Thanks.

(Max turns to leave but stops.)

Max: How about dinner afterwards?

Logan: Another time.

Max: You okay? You seem preoccupied lately.

(Max turns and leaves.)

Logan: Got alot on my mind.

(Logan flips through a notepad on his table and looks at a photo of a Young Max with blood on her face.)

(Logan has a flash back as he's looking at the photo. Images of a young Max and X-5's killing/chasing the prisoner.)

Lydecker(voice over): She's not the girl next door. They were designed to kill. All it takes is a trigger. You have no idea what's she's capable of doing.

(End flash back.)

(Max is outside her apartment building, starting her bike. She rides away as the stranger steps out and watches her from behind as shes leaving. He runs after her.)

(Scene shifts to Max lifting a metal case from a cabinet. She leaves the room and jumps down to an open lobby area. She ducks behind a pillar but a guard is alerted to her presence. Max takes out the metal case and removes the disk inside and tosses the case several feet across from her. The guard pause a moment to think and heads toward Max instead of where the case was tossed. The guard draws his side arm.)

Max: Oh, great had to get the smart one.

(The stranger rushes up screaming and leaps high into the air kicking the guard into the chest knocking th guard unconscious.)

Street Sweeper: Aaahhhhaaaa......

(Max watches the scene as the stranger leaps ten feet in the air over a fence and continues running. Max heads off to get her bike and finds a photo attached to it saying "You really do need me. OR bad things will happen." on the back. Max turn the photo over to the front as see's it's her in the fight with the thugs when Sketchy was drunk.)

(Logan is at his computer bring up the records from the disk Max stole. Max is standing off on the side looking at the screen.)

Logan: Corrections is releasing 22 prisoners next week nine of them paroled to Seattle.

Max: Maybe Eyes Only should tip them to what's going on.

Logan: I need to know who's behind it first. It's hard to believe six people can get mowed down without anyone seeing it.

Max: Especially with hoverdrones zooming around everywhere. You think they would've caught something on tape.

(Logan turns and heads to another room to get his jacket. Max follows along.)

Logan: Maybe I should talk to my uncle Jonas. His company makes the damn things. If the sector cops are sitting on any surveillance footage maybe he can help me suss it out.

Max: I thought he was one of those right-wing support-your-local- sector-police, neo- republican idiots.

(Logan puts on his jacket and heads to the front door. Max follows behind him.)

Logan: He is... but he cares deeply about money and if there's even a hint of scandal involving one of his products it could hurt his sales. Believe me, he'll want to help.

Max: As I recall, he kind of liked me. You want me to tag along?

Logan: Uh... not necessary. Run into any trouble out there tonight?

Max: Nah. Just some weird guy who keeps following me around.

Logan: Anything to worry about?

(Logan stares at Max as she leaves in disbelief and fear at her statement.)

Max: No. If he gets out of line, I'll just kill him. Later.

(Max is riding on her cycle. Max goes into her apartement as Original Cindy is in the kitchen making a cup of something.)

Original Cindy: Hey, shugga.

Max: Hey.

Original Cindy: There's soup if you're hungry.

Max: Mmm.

Original Cindy: Want some tea?

(Max heads over to a chair by a window in the living room)

Max: No.

(Original Cindy heads from the kitchen over to Max)

Original Cindy: Break it down for Original Cindy 'cause you ain't right.

Max: There's this freak.

Original Cindy: You want to be a little more specific?

Max: He's been following me around, taking pictures.

Original Cindy: You need me to put the smack down on his ass you know I will.

Max: It's not those kind of pictures.

(Max hands shows Original Cindy the photo that was left on her bike showing her figthing the thugs.)

Original Cindy: Uh-oh.

Max: No joke.

Original Cindy: What's his dealio?

Max: Not sure. Takedown, blackmail finder's fee. Worst part is he's revved up somehow. I watched him jump a ten-foot fence.

Original Cindy: Damn. What does Logan think?

Max: He's not in the loop on this. I've been getting a weird vibe off him lately like when he looks at me he sees something he doesn't like.

Original Cindy: Or can't have.

Max: More like all of a sudden he's clued into the real that I'm seriously not like other females.

Original Cindy: Like that's a bad thing.

Max: I'm beginning to think maybe he thinks it is.

Original Cindy: Hoes up, g's down, you ask me. How are you going to handle this dude?

(Max gets up and leaves.)

Max: Looks like he's got my number. I think it's about time I get his. Late.

Original Cindy: Late.

(Logan and Unlce Jonas are sitting across from one another nearby a fireplace. Uncle Jonas is drinking a martini.)

Uncle Jonas: Pretty serious allegations, junior but don't you think if this kind of thing was going on the people in charge would be doing something about it?

Logan: Not if they're in on it.

Uncle Jonas: Got anything to back up this rogue-police-death-squad theory of yours?

(Logan hands Uncle Jonas a piece of paper.)

Logan: Not yet. That's why I came to see you-- help me get access to hoverdrone surveillance. Here's a list of dates, times and locations.

Uncle Jonas: A muck raking piece like this with you by-line would be quiet a feather in your cap. Wouldn't it?

Logan: Well you got alot at stake here too uncle. If the hover drones you manufacture are being used as part of a police cover up that can't be good for business.

Uncle Jonas: Let me call Lucas Gant in the morning. He's a friend with influence and connections. If anyone can shake something loose it'll be him.

(Uncle Jonas gets up and walks to a desk to retrive a check.)

Logan: I appreciate anything you can do.

(Hands Logan the check. Logan is eating an olive.)

Uncle Jonas: On another matter... I was going to mail this to you but you can save me the postage. It's your share of the fourth-quarter earnings from the Cale trust.

Loagn: Great. Thanks.

(Uncle Jonas picks up another martini.)

Uncle Jonas: On a clear day, I bet you can really see the class struggle from that penthouse of yours.

(Logan laughs and finishes his martini.)

(Max is back at 17 Clemson where she had previously tried to deliver the envelope to the stranger. She walks down to where she had last seen him standing. She looks up and sees a hatch that leads to the roof. She sees a shack like structure on the roof and heads over to it and finds a doggie door and enters. Once inside she sees a maniquein with D.O.D. printed on it. She also finds photos of herself and newspaper clipping with pics of the dead parolees crossed out wit a red X. She notes a clipping that hasn't been X'd out yet with a parolee named Pedro Benedek.)

(Scene shifts to Logan on his computer in his penthouse as Max is talking to him on the phone. Max is at a pay phone calling.)

Max: Logan, it's me. There's a guy on that list from corrections. His name's Pedro Benedek. I need an address on him.

Logan: All right. Hold on, I'm checking. What's up?

Max: I've got to get over there. He's next in line to get greased. That whack job who's been stalking me... he's the killer.

Logan: I thought you said he wasn't anything to worry about.

Max: Turns out he was trying to recruit me as another soldier in his one-man army.

(Logan hits his computer.)

Logan: Come on.

Max: So much for your sector police theory.

(Logans computer flickers and the information shows up on the screen.)

Logan: Yep, here it is. 3117 East calhoun.

(Max is speeding through the streets. She clims up a flight of stairs just in time to see the stranger at the door of Pedro Benedek)

Street Sweeper: ( knocking ) Open up.

Max: Hey.

(The stranger kicks down the door.)

Street Sweeper: Didn't expect to see you here. You're just in time.

(Music bleeding through headphones that pedro is listening to as the stranger enters into the apartment. Max rushes up and throws the stranger out againt a wall.)

Max: The vigilante routine is over. You're done killing people.

Street Sweeper: Me? Nah, I'm not killing anybody. That thing did.

(The stranger points to the hoverdrone that just appeared next to the window. He gets his camera ready. The hoverdrone beams a red laser grid on Pedro's face.)

Street Sweeper: No!

(The stranger leaps on top of Pedro to push him down. The hoverdrone shoots through the window several time continuously and then it leaves. Max goes to the window afterwards.)

Street Sweeper: You all right?

Max: Yeah, but what the hell was that?

(Back at Logan's appartment with the stranger.)

Logan: A hoverdrone?

Max: Mounted with twin 45-caliber automatics.

Street Sweeper: And silencers.

(The stranger mimics shooting )

Street Sweeper: What do you call yourself?

Max: Max.

Logan: Can I ask? How did you know...this guy Benedek was going to be the next target?

Street Sweeper: It..it was in the newspaper.

Logan: The newspaper?

Street Sweeper: I'm a voracious reader, see, and I was reading the obits and noticed how all these ex-cons kept getting shot.

Logan: Right.

Street Sweeper: And Benedek was a sex offender.

Logan: So?

Street Sweeper: So when Benedek got let out they published his name and address in the paper, to alert the neighbors. I thought he could be a possible target and went to warn him. It turns out...I was right. Max...is that short for Maximum?

Max: Maximum?

Street Sweeper: As in maximum force? Ooh! Maximum girl? Woman. I meant maximum woman.

(While the stranger is saying all this, Max gives him a weird look.)

Max: It's not short for anything.

(The stranger spells his fingers and wiggles them.)

Street Sweeper: I've got to go wash my hands. Uh, I'm afraid our friend, Pedro, peed his pants.

Logan: Sure.

(Logan points to the direction of the bathroom. Stranger leaves and Max waves her hand to indicate the smell.)

Logan: So this guy's not a vigilante killer, he's just a nut who happens to be following the same set of leads as us?

Max: And who can jump a ten-foot fence and run really fast.

(The stranger comes back from the bathroom. His leg is acting up.)

Street Sweeper: Aw...damn, got a screw loose.

Max: No argument there.

Street Sweeper: Ah, ha...there. Hate when that happens. It's so embarrassing. Okay. So, what's the chair do? I mean...

(The stranger imitates shooting )

Street Sweeper: Or are your powers mostly mental?

Logan: Mostly mental, yeah.

Street Sweeper: You're the brains. She's the brawn. What happened? You get bit by a spider? Struck by lightning?

Max: Not that I remember.

Street Sweeper: So, what, you're a mutant?

Max: Guess you could say that.

Logan: So what about you? Uh, what sort of powers do you have?

Street Sweeper: Ordinarily, that's not something I discuss, but since we're all in this together...

(The stranger unzips his pants and turns around. He pulls down his pants. Logan and Max both have weird looks on their faces. The stranger turns around and opens his long coat.)

Max: Wow.

Logan: I'm not entirely sure what I'm looking at here.

(The stranger shows off his exoskeleton and does a 360 to show it off.)

Street Sweeper: It's an exoskeleton. This pad picks up the nerve impulses relays them to the servomotors. Enhances speed and strength, the ability to jump the ability to lift and carry by as much as 30 percent.

Logan: Really?

Max: Department of defense?

Logan: You stole that?

Street Sweeper: It was given to me for a reason. Or do you think I just happened to land a job at the warehouse, where they were mothballed after the pulse...that I just happened to lose control of my forklift, which just happened to knock over the crate it was in? No. That, my friends... is destiny.

(Now the three are sitting at the dinner table with the stranger sitting at the end eating cookies and drinking milk.)

Logan: About the hoverdrone you saw--the thing I don't get is why would the sector police deploy a sophisticated piece of hardware to hunt down ex-cons when a good, old-fashioned death squad would do the job just as well?

Max: Maybe the cops aren't the ones behind this.

Street Sweeper: Not to be an alarmist here, but can we be certain that these drones aren't being deployed from some other dimension?

Logan: I don't think we're dealing with anything quite so esoteric. I'll talk to my uncle. If the drone is a modified version of one of the company's designs, a list of customers would probably help narrow the field. In the meantime, we need proof that this thing is actually out there.

Street Sweeper: Would photographs be helpful? I got the attack on Benedek right here.

(The stranger points to the camera on his head.)

Logan: You go with him and get back here with the pictures ASAP.

(Back at the strangers place developing the pictures.)

Street Sweeper: So, uh...how old were you when you discovered you had powers?

Max: I had it beaten into my head at a pretty young age.

Street Sweeper: I was a late bloomer. My life probably would have gone in a whole other direction...if it hadn't been for her.

(The stranger points to a picture of his sister on the post.)

Street Sweeper: It's my sister, Francesca. Huh. I took that with my very first camera.

Max: You two close?

Street Sweeper: Yes and no. She's deceased.

Max: Sorry.

Street Sweeper: That's why I do this..to try and make up for what I didn't do back then.

Max: I lost a sister, too. My life was never the same.

Street Sweeper: What was her name?

Max: Eva. She was nine.

Street Sweeper: Then you understand. I just wish Francesca didn't have to be the one to show me my destiny. She wasn't quite right, see. She, uh, couldn't talk too good and had trouble walking. So when the men broke in to steal our television she got scared and wouldn't stop crying. I told them they could take whatever they wanted. The more the men kept yelling at my sister to shut up the more scared she got. Then one of them hit her and she didn't make any more noise after that.

(Uncle Jonas place. Logan goes in.)

Uncle Jonas: Logan...you're up early. I thought you Bohemian types only ventured out when the sun had set.

Logan: I need your help.

Uncle Jonas: Oh, yes...your little article. I'm afraid I haven't come up with much. Bloody Mary?

(Uncle Jonas goes across the room to refill his glass.)

Logan: No, thanks. The fact is, I've uncovered some disturbing information since we last spoke.

Uncle Jonas: Oh?

Logan: Those ex-cons-- they were killed by a hoverdrone.

Uncle Jonas: Junior, you watched too many X-Files when you were a boy.

Logan: You do build custom models for outside buyers.

Uncle Jonas: Well, yes...but with gun turrets? I think that would have thrown up a few flags down in purchasing.

Logan: Whoever bought it could've had the guns put on later through another contractor.

Uncle Jonas: Our entire company is built on the idea that hoverdrones protect people. You publish some half-assed yarn it's going to drive away business...and take a chunk out of your bottom line, too, let's not forget.

Logan: I'm not going to print anything I can't prove. If I could get you photographs...

Uncle Jonas: We'll get to the bottom of whatever it is that's going on.

Logan: Thanks, Jonas. I'll be in touch.

(Logan rolls out of the room.)

(Back at the strangers place, the photos didn't come out. Max looks at the blurry photos.)

Street Sweeper: No...they didn't come out. Hmm.

(The stranger picks up his camera headgear.)

Street Sweeper: Must've broken when you threw me against that wall.

Max: Sorry. How old were you when your sister died?

Street Sweeper: 13. A year and two days older than her.

Max: You were just a kid. You can't blame yourself for what happened.

Street Sweeper: That's what my mom kept telling me, but I didn't feel like a kid. I felt like someone who didn't do the right thing when they should've. You know?

Max: Yeah. Do you still keep in touch with your mom?

Street Sweeper: Nope. Ran away when I was 15...drifted around...then, uh, destiny intervened and... well, you know the rest.

Max: It must be pretty rough for her. She lost her daughter and her son, too.

Street Sweeper: Can't argue with destiny.

Max: I think we make our own destiny.

Street Sweeper: Too bad about the pictures.

(The stranger sighs)

Street Sweeper: We can always get some more.

Max: How?

Street Sweeper: Just wait for the darn thing to return to base for refueling.

Max: You know where it refuels?

Street Sweeper: Mm-hmm. Yeah, down by the waterfront. Uh... I followed it there the other night.

Max: Why didn't you say something?

Street Sweeper: You didn't ask.

(At uncle Jonas' place, Jonas is making a call to Logan.)

Uncle Jonas: Logan, I have something for you on this hoverdrone thing.

Logan: Great. I'm on my way.

Uncle Jonas: Not here. Can't risk being seen with you.

Logan: Bad for business.

Uncle Jonas: Glad you understand. Meet me at 354 Jorgen Avenue in an hour.

Logan: I'll see you there.

(Jonas hangs up the phone . Gilbert Neal is in the room.)

Uncle Jonas: I know my nephew, Gil. He won't stop till he finds what he's looking for.

Gilbert: That's why we're sending him on a wild goose chase--keep him occupied with some cloak-and-dagger until the field tests are completed.

Uncle Jonas: How the hell he even got wind of the half-dozen dead ex-cons...

(Jonas goes over to the side to refill a drink for Gilbert. Gilbert goes to the window.)

Gilbert: Target practice is almost over. The facial recognition technology is working perfectly. We're going to be able to market a stealth technology that can track down and eliminate anyone anywhere...from a photograph. A month from now, we can just sit back and let the bids roll in.

Uncle Jonas: Listen, Margot and I want to have you and Joy over for dinner next week.

Gilbert: Sounds great.

Uncle Jonas: We were thinking...Tuesday night we could--

(Uncle Jonas turns around and sees a hoverdrone by the window. The hoverdrone has the laser grid target on Jonas.)

Uncle Jonas: No.

(The hoverdrone starts shooting through the window and Uncle Jonas is dead. It flies away afterwards. Gilbert goes to the mantle and picks up a picture of Logan.)

(Max and stranger are looking around the waterfront for the hoverdrone base.)

Max: You sure this is it?

Street Sweeper: Seventh and Third. Or was it Third and Seventh? No, no, this is definitely it. I'm positive. On three. One... two...

(The stranger goes to the opposite side of the door.)

Street Sweeper: Get ready for three. Ready?

Max: Yeah.

Street Sweeper: A three!

(The stranger kicks down the door and they both go in.)

Street Sweeper: Good lord.

Max: Ugh.

(Max and the stranger had just walked in on two dominatrix's an a client.)

(Max and the stranger are now at another location.)

Max: You sure?

Street Sweeper: Absolutely.

Max: That's what you said before.

Street Sweeper: No, I said I was positive. Ready? On three. One... two....

(Once again, the stranger goes to the opposite side of the door.)

Street Sweeper: Get ready for three.

(Max kicks down the door.)

Technician: Hey, who the hell are you?

(Max goes to the technician and mystery man kicks down the other man.)

Max: You better bring that sucker back here now.

(There is a big screen in front of them indicating the actions of the hoverdrone.)

Technician: I can't. The target's been acquired.

Max: Do it.

Technician: Look, this isn't a test; it's a search and destroy. Anyone tries to stop it will be a target, too.

(Max knocks down the technician and sees that Logan is the next target on the screen, tracking him driving his Aztec.)

Max: Logan...

Street Sweeper: He's heading east on Jorgen.

(The stranger is reading the grid map.)

Max: Come on.

(Max and the stranger are able to catch up to Logan. They drive up next to him.)

Logan: Max, what the hell are you doing here?

(Logan is targeted by the hoverdrone with the red laser grid on his face.)

Max: Logan, get down!

( Shots firing )

(Max jumps into Logan's vehicle and makes sure they both lay low. She takes control of the steering wheel from below.)

(The stranger gets hit on the knee by the hoverdrone while driving Max's bike. Max drives the vehicle into a warehouse. Mystery man closes the door.)

Max: Take cover.

(The stranger carries Logan out of the vehicle. Max gets back behind the wheels. The hoverdrone is still attacking. Max backs out of the warehouse. The hoverdrone is following. Max drives the vehicle back into the warehouse.)

( Shots fire from the drone )

(Max rolls out of the vehicle and the hoverdrone smashes into the car.)

( gunshots cease )

( gunshots resuming )

(Hoverdrone comes flying out from the back of the vehicle.)

Max: Would you die already?

(Max goes down a pit in the ground. She spots a red light on the bottom of the hoverdrone. She decides to attack it from the bottom with a pole.)

(Max manages to stick the pole in hoverdrone and get control of it. She smashes it to the ground.)

Max: Say goodnight, Hal.

(Max gives the hoverdrone one final stab at the red light to finish it off.)

(Max rolls in a wheelchair to where Logan and the stranger are hiding.)

Max: Boys!

Logan: We're over here.

Street Sweeper: It appears we've had a small mechanical failure.

(One of the stranger's legs is going nuts. It is moving around with no control.)

Street Sweeper: I believe a bullet or a fragment thereof has lodged itself in my mid-anterior servomotor.

Max: Better than lodging into your mid-anterior actual leg. We're going to have a hell of a time hitching a ride back to the city.

(Max rolls Logan out of the wheelchair with the stranger walking beside her and his leg going all whack.)

(Logan's apartment. Logan is looking out the window.)

( Thunder rumbling )

Max: Heard about your uncle Jonas.

Logan: Multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. No leads, no witnesses. Sound familiar?

Max: Same guys who put a hit on you.

Logan: My uncle's partners.

Max: Go figure.

Logan: He swore he didn't know what was going on--lied right to my face, didn't even blink.

Max: And he paid the price.

Logan: But his cronies skate off this unless Eyes Only tells the whole story.

Max: You know what'll happen if you do that.

Logan: The government steps in, everybody acts all shocked then, they seize the assets of Cale industries in a show of civic outrage...confiscate the company, the trust.

Max: And your net worth along with it.

Logan: Well, I own my apartment. Got some art I can sell. I'll be all right. And Cale industries will be out of the murder business for good.

Max: So your idea of going to war is taking a vow of poverty. That'll show them, Logan.

Logan: This lifestyle of mine, Max...is bought and paid for with money made helping keep people under police surveillance. It took a lot of people dying for me to finally face the fact that... I've been living a lie.

Max: What about all the good things you've accomplished with Eyes Only? How you going to keep that afloat when you're broke?

Logan: Somehow.

Max: You know, only a bored, rich, liberal, white guy would piss away a fortune to prove he wasn't a bored, rich, liberal, white guy. Nobody would think any less of you if you decided to let this one slide. I would invite you not to be a dope.

(The next day at the bus depot with Max and the stranger. The stranger is buying a bus ticket.)

Street Sweeper: So you really think this is a prudent thing to do--turning my back on destiny like this and going to see my mom?

Max: Let me put it to you this way. Do you really think we just happened to hook up happened to go after that hoverdrone that just happened to shoot up your mid-anterior servomotor and bust up that exo-thingie? No. That, my friend, is destiny.

Street Sweeper: I think you're right...and, besides, I'm not getting out of the business altogether. There have been reports of an inter-dimensional portal forming under Sheboygan that could easily turn into an astral dumpsite. I might be sending for you.

Max: You have a nice long visit with your mom first. You're giving her a big part of her life back.

(Eyes Only comes on screen at the television sets nearby.)

Eyes Only: Do not attempt to adjust your set.

Man: Hey, man, check it out--Eyes Only.

Eyes Only: This is a streaming freedom video bulletin. The Cale Corporation...

Street Sweeper: Hey, Eyes Only.

Eyes Only: ...is guilty of murder. Its executives, Jonas Cale and Gilbert Neal...

Street Sweeper: I've always wanted to meet him. That guy...he's a real hero.

Eyes Only: ...into a killing machine.

Max: Yeah, he is...and a real dope.

(The stranger gets on the bus.)

Max: Hey. I never got your name.

Street Sweeper: Phil.

Max: Phil...?

Phil: Just plain Phil. Well, you and Logan take care of each other for me, okay?

Max: Yeah. City's not going to be the same without you.

Phil: I'm leaving it in good hands.

( Metal clanking )

(A guy drops a pop can on the ground.)

Phil: Hey, pick that up.

GUY: Yeah right.

(Max grabs the guy.)

Max: You heard the man. Pick it up!

(The guy picks up the can and puts it in the trash can. The bus engine starts. Max and Phil wave good-bye to each other.)

(Logan's apartment)

Max: So you did it, huh?

Logan: Mm-hmm. Sure did. By the time the banks open tomorrow morning this check won't be worth the paper it's printed on.

(Logan waves the check from Uncle Jonas.)

Max: Maybe you should go cash it then.

(Logan looks at his watch.)

Logan: Five after 3:00. Damn.

(Logan pours some wine into two glasses.)

Logan: My uncle Jonas gave me this bottle when I graduated from college. Told me to save it for a special occasion.

Max: Like financial ruin?

Logan: Why not? To my dear uncle Jonas who underneath his winning smile was a cold-blooded killer.

Max: The one thing I learned in my years at Manticore is never underestimate what people are capable of doing to each other.

Logan: My uncle, for all his privilege went right for the heart of darkness. You've lived your life trying to get as far away from that as possible.

Max: Guess that counts for something. Got to blaze. Got to meet the gang for Snuffy's memorial.

(Max gets up to leave.)

Max: Thing is...it's always there, the darkness...right on my tail.

Logan: I know...but you got moves.

(At Manticore)

Gilbert: State-of-the-art. Ideal for special ops. The recent series of field tests have proven its viability and...

MADAME X: And your sudden legal troubles are translating into a fire sale price.

Gilbert: The specs, testing data and four years of research and development. All yours for $10 million. I'm on the next flight to Belize.

MADAME X: One step ahead of the feds.

Gilbert: Do we have a deal?

MADAME X: The money is being wired to your offshore account as we speak.

(Madame X puts her hand forward.)

MADAME X: Trust is far too rare a commodity these days.

(Gilbert shakes Madame X's hand.)

MADAME X: Where's the second prototype?

(Gilbert hands over a micro-chip.)

Gilbert: Parked in a van outside.

MADAME X: Fully operational?

(Gilbert hands over the key.)

Gilbert: It's good to go.

MADAME X: And all you need is a photograph?

Gilbert: That's it.

MADAME X: Amazing.

(Madame X sits back down. Gilbert leaves. Madame X takes a picture of Gilbert from the surveillance camera outside her door. She then prints the picture and looks at it.)

MADAME X: Just amazing.

(Logan's apartment. Logan is putting his check and the two pictures of young Max through the shredder. Bling rolls in with a large crate with D.O.D. on the outside.)

Bling: Something just came for you. Need a hand?

Logan: I got it. Thanks.

Bling: I'm heading out. I'll see you tomorrow.

(Bling leaves and Logan opens the crate. Inside the crate is the exoskeleton with a typed up note from Phil. The note reads: "SORRY IT'S ALL BUSTED UP, BUT IF YOU CAN FIX IT, WHO KNOWS? MIGHT HELP YOU GET FROM HERE TO THERE. BEST, PHIL")

(Logan looks at the exoskeleton and note and ponders)