Max's heart raced as he ascended the steps from the medical store's basement, his eyes widening in shock as he met his chief's piercing gaze.
A cigarette dangled casually from the chief's lips, his smirking face shrouded in tendrils of smoke. "Well, well, Max,"
the chief drawled, his voice laced with curiosity. "What is it that you're hiding from us?"
Max's throat felt dry, and his trembling hand hesitantly closed the basement door behind him. "Uh um, nothing really," he stammered, his nerves palpable.
With deliberate slowness, the chief began to advance, the air heavy with tension and the scent of smoke.
Max instinctively stepped back until his back was pressed against the door. "So, what were you doing down there, huh?" The chief's tone held a hint of suspicion.
Max's retreat halted abruptly, his wide eyes locked onto the chief's unyielding gaze. "I was just tired, so I decided to take a nap in there," he stammered, his words shaky.
As the chief continued to close the distance, Max's pulse quickened. Suddenly, a forceful shove sent Max stumbling aside.
The chief's hand deftly turned the lock, and the door creaked open to reveal the unexpected scene. Aaron stood defiantly, Garry hiding behind him and Serena lay on the bed, still lost in slumber.
"Holy Fuck."
A stunned exclamation escaped the chief's lips. In one swift motion, he drew his gun from its holster, the metal glinting ominously in the dim light.
"Chief, please don't shoot them! They're survivors," Max pleaded, struggling to rise to his feet. Meanwhile, Aaron positioned himself protectively in front of Serena.
"Hand over your weapon!" the chief ordered Aaron sharply.
"I don't have one," Aaron replied calmly. The chief's brow furrowed as he loaded his pistol, saying, "Very well, then."
But just as he was about to take action, Max lunged and pinned the chief down. "I said don't!" Max's voice trembled, but the chief effortlessly shoved him aside, asserting his physical dominance.
"Step back, boy!" he commanded, rising and aiming his gun at the sleeping Serena.
"Booo!" A sudden shout startled the chief as Clara swooped in, diverting his attention. Aaron seized the opportunity, his human hand delivering a swift punch to the chief's nose, causing him to stagger. In tandem, Max executed a skillful kick to the chief's back knee, sending him sprawling to the ground.
max crawled on his back pinning him by his head.
Max wriggled onto his back, pinning the chief's head down. "Cyboy! Handcuffs, left pocket of his pants!" he urgently directed.
Aaron nodded, grappling with the chief's resistance. "What the hell, Max! Are you out of your mind?" the chief protested, his struggles unabated.
Struggling to maintain control, Max replied, "I'm sorry, Chief!" Meanwhile, Aaron located the handcuffs in the pants pocket and swiftly restrained the chief. However, a forceful kick to Aaron's chest disrupted his actions, causing him to stumble.
"Max! You'll pay for this! I'll make sure your sister rots in the wasteland forever!"
The chief's threat pierced Max like a knife. Coldness gripped his hands, and his steps faltered as he disengaged from the chief's hold, trembling with the weight of the situation.
With his hands cuffed behind his back, the chief rose and delivered a heavy kick to Max. "Fuck you, bastard!" he spat, his anger palpable. As he turned to face Aaron, he was met with the sight of Aaron's robotic hand emitting a menacing red glow, his head tilting slightly.
"Sit down," Aaron's firm voice commanded, beads of sweat forming on the chief's forehead. Slowly, he complied, lowering himself beside Max. "Okay...alright... I'm—" he began, his words trailing off.
Aaron's gaze then shifted to Max, who sat with a vacant expression, his hands lifeless at his sides. Garry cautiously approached Max, asking, "Are you alright?"
Max raised his head, a forced smile appearing. "Oh yeah, haha, I'm sorry. I just..."
Before he could finish, the chief interjected, his voice cutting through the air. "You really think you can find your sister without our help!" Max's eyes widened in fear, and the response tumbled from his lips. "Yes!" The chief's shocked expression betrayed his unexpected reaction.
"You," Max declared, rising and facing the chief. "You've used me! You bastard!" His grip tightened on the chief's collar, tears streaming down his face. "It's been more than 5 fucking years! You promised to help me find her, but all you've done is rob graves!"
The chief's retort came with a spit to Max's face. "You ungrateful brat! I took you in; otherwise, you'd have rotted like a sewer rat!"
Max's patience snapped. With a swift punch to the chief's nose, he yelled, "Shut up!!!" The punch landed again, followed by another and another, his fury fueling the blows.
Tears streamed down his cheeks, his emotions pouring out as he tore at the railings, a cathartic release of pent-up frustration.
"Please, man, stop!" Garry's voice trembled as he attempted to calm Max. Max ceased his furious assault, collapsing to the ground with loud, anguished cries.
"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!!!" he wailed, his fists pounding the earth beneath him. Aaron glanced at Max, his expression conflicted, then cast his gaze downward.
Clara hovered on his shoulder, her voice soft but urgent. "Aaron, this guy's crew will be here any minute. You have to choose whether to run or face them."
Aaron's eyes flickered to Max and then to Serena. "We fight," he declared resolutely. In that very moment, the sound of the medical store's door opening reached their ears, accompanied by the approaching footfalls.
"Chief! Max!" a voice called out.