If it isn't for the occasional glimmering effect off the plane's panels, the sexy airliner with its feminine shaped round edges stands beside a run-down store called Buddy's Shop elusive and only visible from certain angles and at that for split seconds. The background of orange colored rock and bright blue skies with hints of white wispy clouds gives the illusion of some tropical island somewhere, some place--just not here. Buddy's Shop is a pit stop, but a welcome one in the ocean of waves of heat that hover over the highways and biways on a desert strip in between Las Vegas and the wastelands.

The white painted brick and black wood painted roof top is pealing and reeling in the summer heat. The large garage door is open revealing a cluttered and unorganized inside that appears like an indoor junkyard. A deserted, nonfunctional set of gas pumps are stationed out front and covered in dirt. The signage is in read and the words "Buddy's Shop" are in blue hanging above the garage door. The crew of the ship stand outside of the garage door with Buddy and his staff of make-shift robots ready to make a bargain of some kind.

"I gotta admit, Buddy, I'm liking this crew a lot better than the last lot," Kate said smiling.

"Eh, well, the others got on the wrong side of the law, and I can't be having that around here. I gotta a business to run. The way I figure it, robots ain't going to do not'en more than I tell 'em to do... no more, no less." Buddy smacks his lips taking a sip of the chew in his mouth and then spitting it out.

Enrique squints his eyes from a blast of sand mixing in the wind and interjects, "Good idea, Buddy. Now, you still working with your System connections?"

The chubby man shifts his belly, slightly rolls his eyes and chuckles, "I wouldn't be getting enough to survive by if I weren't!" His shifty, beady eyes examined the three of them, "Doubt you all would be here if I weren't neither." He turns to his robots and shouts, 'Okay, you heaps of blasted metal, let's get back to work. No more gawking at the visitors. We got work to do." They emit sounds of bleeps and blurps to each other, some lowering their heads as if they were disappointed.

"So, Buddy, what is the word lately?" asked Theresa flatly.

Buddy gives an empty look of disbelief and ushers out to empty hands. "I don't know! Seems my memory deceives me at the moment."

Enrique grunts and pulls out some money and hands it to Buddy who takes it and counts it. He grins exposing half metal teeth.

"Alright, partners, the word is..I hate to say this...I ain't stone cold ya know? After the defeat of the San Deigo compound, they gained access to other compounds. Your side is scattering like ants in a windstorm."

Theresa and Kate exchange grim looks with each other.

"I shouldn't even have you all here. It is jeopardizing my business."

Enrique rolled his eyes and handed him more money which gave Buddy an even bigger grin. "Well, that was rude of me! I'm feeling a lot better about it now!"

"Mr. Buddy, is it?" asks Devin. Buddy is counting his new wad of cash barely listening. Buddy clears his throat, puts the cash in his back pocket and looks at Mr. Richardson for the first time.

"I think i know you, don't I?" Buddy squints.

"You probably-"

"You're the infamous Mr. Richardson! Well I'll be damned! Enrique, what the hell you bringing this here to my garage? You want to bring the wrath of the entire System on me," he laughs in disbelief.

"You are going to be fine Buddy, no one followed us here."

"So says you! And who is this pretty thing? Your wife?" he exclaims while picking his teeth approaching her

"Yes, and she has nothing to do with you," says Mr. Richardson.

"Oh, I disagree! She's here ain't she? She's in this here establishment then she got plenty to do with me!"

Kate charges over to him as she saw Mrs. Richardson start to stiffen in a bit of anxiety, and Devin pulls her away. "Buddy, back off. We don't have time for you to walk around cat calling people on our team!"

Devin stands Infront of his wife, "Now do you know an organization here supposedly run by me? Its a humanoid who looks like me."

"Everyone here got their undies in a wad today," he stares at Richardson like he was watching a dead man speak for the first time, "no, I know every business here in these parts. I've never seen your kind around. As far as I knew, you were back in San Deigo in cryo imprisonment with one of those plumb dummies running round act'n like they ya. Matter of fact, Enrique, you sure this the real deal? You might be hoodwinked!" Buddy turns to Enrique who is red in the face

"No, Buddy," Enrique comes to him, put his hands on Buddy's shoulders with a firm grasp and an angry smile, "this is really him."

Buddy looks at the two hands on his shoulders and removes them seperately. "You really antsy now and you all are start'en to make me a bit unnerved like. I think it's better you best be moving along. I'm not sure I can help ya under this here conditions."

Kate comes up to Buddy with a bit more charm, ""Buddy, we will leave as soon as we can get some new chips implanted in us. We will need them for the city."

Buddy examins them all again, his lips pressed together and pondering. "Chips you say? Price has risen with this crack down, you know?"

"Yeah, yeah Buddy, we'll pay," Enrique exclaims like swear words.

"Alright then, let's get crack'en then."

Later...

When Buddy recognizes the chips may be near ready, he starts picking up the pace in his rocking chair until he gains enough momentum to shoot himself out of it and stand up. He scruffs his way over to a robot that looks like it has been made with scrap parts with its joints and belly exposing bundles of wires. The robot turns to meet Buddy as it senses the boss's approach and speaks through a primitive voice box.

"The chips are ready sir," says A120.

"Good, good, we have some eager customers for them too! Alright ladies and gentlemen, follow me for a trim!" he cackles walking away with the chips in hand and deeper into the cluttered garage.

"Can we trust this guy?" Devin asks Kate.

"We don't have much of an option. Our old chips are flagged by now," she shrugs.

"Come on, let's hurry up," Theresa hollers from ahead of them, "Let's keep everyone together. This place freaks me out."

Devin reluctantly follows everyone deeper into the garage holding his wife's hand firmly to guide her. It grows darker with each passing step. The sound of machinery and metal scrapping against metal echoes off the cement walls. A light ahead seems to direct them to a new location within the clutter of tools, parts, tires and odd machines. As he enters upon the scene, Devin's stomach drops to find what appears to be part surgical lab, part barber shop all encased in this funky garage setting. Robots are milling about in the bright, white area in lab coats as though they are doctors of some kind--just not any kind you wouldn't want to have.

"Oh, honey, I don't know about this," his wife says.

"Well, remember, you don't have to have it done. It's me who has to," he replies.

"No, I am concerned for you!"

"I know...it doesn't look good does it?"

He watches as Buddy in jean patched apron moves about a working robot like an anxious mother. "So we have all the medications and tools we need. This is good and I see our customers are here and ready," Buddy replies rubbing his palms together. "Let's get this show going!"

Robots make bleeps and blurps preparing the four barbershop like chairs under direct surgical lighting. One robot from out of the darkness comes with a rolling surgical tray of tools and injections and parks it next to the chairs. Each chair at the head has something like a standing lamp with a shade or cap that could possibly be used on a patient head, Devin wasn't sure.

"Buddy, this is some weird ass shit you got going here," Kate says with her hands on her hips appalled. Devin is relieved for brass nature, saying what he wanted to say without having to bear the consequence.

"Hey, we work hard here to keep this place of the garage sanitized and up to standards for this kind of out patient surgery. I've gotten no complaints so far! Now whose our first customer? Step right on up!"

All of them stand looking at one other with a look of who is going to go first.

Later, Outside Buddy's Shop

Four flying space shuttles colored black and blue surround the garage and land kicking up dirt and debris. Their engines remain on for several moments kicking up sand into small whirlwinds. There is no sign from anyone of the shop coming, not Buddy or his robots. There is no one exiting the vehicles either. One by one the vehicles turn off their engines. The doors of one vehicle open and two men dressed in suits and ties get out. Soldiers in red armored gear with military weapons start exiting the vehicles. The soldiers wait for the two men in suits to lead them forward to the garage that stands open and unguarded.

Back Inside The Garage

The crew are heading toward the front portion of the garage having finished their surgery and Buddy is rambling on about the people he knows who have stopped by for his exclusive, illegal chips. A smaller robot follow's along side Buddy.

"We even get folks from the System. High up too!" exclaims Buddy.

Devin rubs the back of his head, "So these chips are-"

"Don't ya fret now, Mr. Richardson. I took good care of ya. That there is as good as any living person's chip out there. Just...just don't stay in one place too long."

"Why is that?"

"And how long can we stay in one place?" Kate added.

"Cuz, Mr. Richardson, you've got a dead man's chip in your head. We've configured them so the System won't catch on but longer than forty minutes in one place, you'll be pegged most likely. To be safe, make it 30 minutes."

As they finally are nearing the front, men in read armor arise from the around the clutter revealing their weapons and that they are surrounded.

"What?" exclaims Buddy and his robot lets out a long bleep and hides behind him. The rest of his robots come into the middle to join them looking confused. "Oh, great defense crew. What a bunch of metal heads." The robots heads look at each other and exchange bleeps and blurps and some shrug their shoulders.

"Fuck. We are fucked," mumbles Enrique.

"What are we going to do?" Kate whispers to him.

"They found us, how?" Theresa turns around to them.

"Everyone just halt where they are please," says a booming, masculine voice, "Don't make any sudden movements and you won't be harmed." The two men in business suits make their way in. "Buddy, you are always so busy," says Governor Randall smiling, one of the men in the business suits, "busy, busy, busy!" His hard dress shoes scrap the cement floor.

"Governor Randall and Mayor Dubois, this is a surprise. I thought our agreement was I was to made aware of your visits beforehand?""

"You have some special guests with you today, so the rules of engagement have changed," Mayor Dubois replies scratching his head momentarily with brief frustration flashing across of his face. Enrique moves to grab a weapon out from behind the back of his pants but Kate subtly shakes her head "no".

Governor Randall circles around Devin Richardson, "Well, now, Mr. Richardson, quite the historical figure here visiting a run-down garage like this one out in the middle of nowhere! After such a long journey, how odd to find you out here in of all places. Ahhh, and there is your wife! Cindy, come forward darling."

"Don't even!" Richardson starts to protest. Two soldiers immediately grab ahold of him.

"Oh, I'm not going to harm her. Mrs. Richardson...come here, dear." Cindy stands looking at everyone, scared and confused. She starts slowly stepping forward. She looks back to Devin.

"Richard?"

"What you may not have realized is she is the property of the System."

Devin starts immediately fighting against the guards but their metal weight was to heavy to make an impact. Others of the crew started charging but soldiers got ahold of them.

The Governor laughs, "You don't fully comprehend what I am saying. Closer dear. That's it." She looks at the Governor wide eyed, trying to hold her own, as if unsure what was to come next. "See, this is a humanoid. It is not your actual wife. Richardson excute 54b." At that statement, the life in Cindy's eyes went out and a shield of black replaced them, her head dropped and her arms went stiff by her sides. It is as though she is unplugged. She is stiff, still and lifeless. Everyone stops moving in the garage. Not a noise is made. The Governor seems to be soaking in the responses. Devin goes limp and for the first time the guards have to exert effort not to resist but to hold him up and his head drops.

"Did you really believe that the System wouldn't have some kind of plan when you went to 'save' her? She was our eyes, ears and tracker. Oh, you people and your emotional love fiascos. It does you in every time, every time," he cackles. The Governor stops and looks over the robots who look on confused. "Let's round everyone up. These bots and her can stay." The Governor waves the guards over and exits the garage. Buddy hurries over to the Mayor.

"Fred!"

The Mayor holds up a pudgy hand, 'I'm sorry Buddy. They have a the upper hand on the Resistant now. I have no choice," his eyes shift around as the soldiers start locking the wrists of the crew, "You should have locked the door the moment they arrived."

Enrique pulls the guard over he is forcibly tied to and asks, 'Devin, are you okay? We'll find her!"

Devin looks up at the noise and at Enrique with a look as though he almost doesn't recognize him.

"All of you, I'm just telling you, resistance is futile. You better plead for mercy at this point," Mayor Dubois announces firmly but softly. There is a momentary softness that briefly washes over the mayor's eyes and then leaves as soon as it arrives, and he takes his exit and the soldiers force the others toward the vehicles.

As the four shuttles lift off, Enrique notices Buddy looking out the rear window as if he is leaving a child behind. It is then he particularly notices one of the shuttles hovering back as if something is preventing it from moving forward. As Enrique adjusts himself in his seat to get a better look, he sees Buddy's hands cover his mouth as lasers shoot forth from the vehicle and blow the garage into a ball of flames. Enrique sits back in his seat and for the first time feels some empathy for Buddy.

"Oh no, oh my god, no," groans Buddy.

Las Vegas, Nevada

The four vehicles enter the city of Las Vegas limits through a transparent tunnel that leads through a forcefield covering it like a glass fishbowl. Red illuminated lines designate traffic lanes and as more open up the four shuttles stick to the center lane. The relatively clear lane, Devin imagines, must be set aside for either emergency or governmental purposes. Below just outside, they can see the remains of Boulder City and unrestored casinos and businesses from decades ago. A cemetery to man's entertainment and distractions that led them to this future.

The Luxor Pyramid and its hot metal material glimmers in the bright, orange setting sun as though some ancient Egyptian eye is keeping watch here. Even the four flying crafts are not able to eclipse the sun magnified on the temple walls. The shuttles land in front of the Luxor hotel before a group of palm trees causing them to wave a deceitful greeting in the manufactured wind. The soldiers walk the crew down the walkway leading up to the hotel.

Inside the Luxor Hotel Lobby

After the Governor finishes speaking to some of the guards, a few the guards take the crew over to the elevator doors separating them. Devin is taken with the Governor and one guard. The others are taken with the mayor and a few guards to a different elevator door.

"Now wait a minute, Mr. Mayor..everyone," Buddy protests, "I'm a businessman. I haven't done anything wrong. Why am I being lumped in with these criminals?"

"Not here, Buddy. Not now-"

"Why not-I'm innocent-"

The Mayor walks up upon Buddy so that his chest to nose and bends down to speak, "If you want to get shot dead right here in this lobby, keep it up. It is here, in the building. Do what you told."

"Oh-oh-okay, now," he mumbles submissively and then raises voice, "All is okay here! I'm good to go. Obedient here. Totally compliant! Let's do this," he shouts sheepishly. Devin and the others observed his change in demeanor with great curiosity and concern for themselves.

As the guard forces Devin into the open elevator, Kate moves from her guard toward him and her guard attempts to pull her back but she continues in this push and pull fight.

"Kate!" Enrique pleads.

"I don't go down easy, you know that," Devin puts on a smile, "We still have to find your father. I'm not giving up. Don't you either."

"You're relentless," she says tearfully fighting a losing battle against her guard.

The elevator makes a "ding" noise that sends a tinge of panic through Kates body and the doors start to close.

"We're going to ride this like a wild horse," he reassures her with confidence brewing in his eyes.

"We know what do on our end!"

"I'll find you." At that, the Governor who had been paying no mind their emotional banter, looks back upon Devin with concern and as the doors close, Devin bows his head ignoring the stare like a mischeivious child. The rest of the group are led to their separate elevator as the doors open.

"Give 'em hell, 'migo!" Enrique shouts toward the closed elevator doors that has carried Devin away.

"And a swift kick in the nuts," Buddy mutters and the Mayor pushes Buddy into the elevator rolling his eyes.

An Office Suite Inside The Luxor Hotel

The Governor ushers in Devin into an office suite and closes to large mahogany doors and locks them. Mr. Richardson is alone in the room with the small amount of furniture: a desk, the chair he is sitting in, an empty chair and the lamp lighting the area in which he sits. The floors are beige marble as are the walls and there are Greek accented pillars.

Devin, notices an additional light coming from the ceiling away from the desk and walks over to it. Looking up, he sees there is glass that exposes the very peak of the top of pyramid point of the Luxor and the last of the sunset light is what is shining through. When he turns to back to the desk, there is an elderly man with slicked back silver hair standing there in a violet suit.

"It would seem our paths cross again."

"Leonard?"

"Indeed. Please have a seat. We are short on chairs at the moment so I apologize it isn't a comfy one. We had a conference down below yesterday. Lots of activity here," his voice waned as he took his seat in an executive leather chair that emitted air as he sat.

Devin takes his seat as his eyes tries to pierce to the dark shadows to see if anyone else has joined him as he feels the presence others but can't see them. Bloomfield stretches in his seat putting his hands behind his head, "I must say, I never imagined finding you here, sitting across from me again!"

"I guess not. You had me locked up in cryogenic imprisonment."

He snickers, "Count yourself fortunate you are still alive. You have caused quite a stir. You look well Devin!"

"I'm alive only by a law you wanted removed. The law of recycle."

"Oh that? For heaven's sakes no," he brought his hands down and pulled out some papers out from his desk and began signing off some signatures, "Threats to the System override that law and a threat you were. No, you were spared because we have use for you. Plain and simple. Who could have pulled off that escape in San Deigo that you did!" He puts down his pen and examines Devin's face realizing he isn't fully grasping what he is saying. He stands up and walks around the desk and sits on the edge closest to him. "By escaping like you did, making your way to that compound, you got me access to it and therefore access to nearly every other compound in the Resistance! That was a treasure trove in there!" He cupped Devin's shoulder compassionately and walked sck to his seat. Devin bowed his head deflated. "No one else could have gotten me that access but you. We will annihilate them all. But not only that, we have your wife and your friends-"

"My wife? Where is she?"

Leonard holds up a shushing finger to his lips.

"Damn it, Leonard! Don't shush me! What happened to you? We worked together on this. How did you become like this... this isn't you! This 'System' isn't us!"

"Oh you and your ever thriving moral convictions? Oh yes. Always getting in the way of the progress of what the System could do. Its potential." Devin starts to notice shadows moving out from the dark. Men in black suits carrying weapons. "Your weakness is the weakness of all your kind. Emotions. You just had to save her, didn't you? And that's what brought you here, got you caught. I knew it would."

" "Your kind' what does that mean, 'your kind'.'" Devin stood up looking around. "It would make much more sense that you were a humanoid too and you are, aren't you? You aren't really Leonard." Devin starts backing away from the desk and Leonard stands up and the men in black start edging in closer with their weapons at their chest. Devin stops feeling them closer.

"I'm not doing anything here until I see my wife."

Leonard approaches Devin and smiles examining him up and down, "It seems you do catch on to some things easily enough." He grabs a hold of Devin's arm squeezing it with the force of mechanical grip making Devin wince in pain.

"Where is she? You can kill me, I'm not doing anything till I am with her."

"You may indeed die with her or apart from her. Time will tell."

"Where is the real Bloomfield? Is he even alive?"

"Oh yes," he laughs looking up briefly at the ceiling as if amazed at the outlandishness of the question, "We have him at Circus-Circus. Fitting, don't you think? A place for fools. We will soon have no use for him as we will no longer have use for you," he sneers and squeezes harder making Devin crumple to one knee hollering out. Leonard let's go and shoves him to floor. The four men in black suits and weapons walk into each other's bodies merging and melding into one being. They become the Silver Man. Eyes glowing bright with sliver light. The Silver Man briefly shakes himself like a jelly mold so that all forms into place again as one being.

"Why won't he comply?" asks the Silver Man.

"He's not like the others. We have under-estimated him."

The Silver Man looks to Devin on the floor with a curious tilt to its head and then back to Bloomfield.

"Perhaps."

"Should I kill him now?" asks Leonard.

"No, not now. I am now done with him yet."

The Silver Man moves over to Devin and as the disheveled human looks up at Silver Man in horror and dismay, it touches his forehead with silver finger. All goes black.

Luxor Casino--Evening

The casino is alive with chatter, laughter, bells, clanking, musical chimes, and sound of money exchanging hands. People in all sorts of attire and costumes walk about in a daze of joy or drunkenness. Smalling flying drones deliver shots, men and women in various costumes perform dances or deliver other drinks to tables in Egyptian garb. On one small stage a band plays Egyptian style music with jazz spin to it while a man and women in airy dress perform acrobatics to the delight of onlookers.

From an entry way to the Casino, Kyle Kelly dressed in drag stands arm in arm with Tom at the top of small staircase.

"Amazing."

"What dear," asked Kyle clearing his throat at his poor attempt of speaking at a high pitch.

"That you talked me into this. This is so unnerving, Sarg."

Kyle looks around smiling with a cheesy grin and nodding politely to passerbys who aren't even paying them to them from below. He talks through his clenched teeth.

"Do you want to blow our cover? And you're complaining? I'm the one dressed in drag here!"

"Calm down femme Nazi, no one is even paying attention. I just, you're still a men and I.."

Kyle sighs but keeps up the grin and nods to onlookers and pretends to blush and look away back to her significant other, "If I am noticed here, it's over for the both of us so I had to go drag. Get a grip, or I will grip your balls and will squeeze so tight you'll be the one talking like the girl all night, got it?"

Tom stiffens and nods emphatically. Satisfied, they both walk down the steps as though they are making a grand entrance to an award ceremony though no one is paying them mind. After reaching the bottom, Tom asks, "Where do we begin? We have no idea where they are or if they are here at all?"

Kyle sighs looking around, "No, they are here. Either those fools got themselves caught or are trying to take them down and you can only do that from here." He jumps slightly in his skin when he receives a tap on his shoulder. The two of them turn to find someone dressed as a mummy. The mummy moans and groans and hands them a card. The card reads:

TAKE A TRIP DOWN THE NILE RIVER ... IF YOU DARE!

BOATS DEPART EVERY 15 MINUTES @ EAST END OF CASINO

$25.00 PER PERSON

The mummy stumbles on and Kyle ponders flapping the card around.

"What? What is it?" Tom asks.

"I think this ride may be our way in."

East End of the Casino-The Nile Ride

Kyle and Tom are at the back end of a patoon boat passing through a cement tunnel lit by torches and outlined by fake sarcophaguses with mummies that pop that out at them. People on the boat squeal in delight fright. The boat tour guide rambles on with jokes and mentions they are almost arriving to their destination.

"It's now or never if we are going to make a run for something," Tom whispered.

"I know, there just hasn't been anything!"

"Well I hope you haven't been estimating a run through in those heels."

"Really?" Kyle gives Tom a stare, "You think I'm that stupid? Did stupid get us this far?"

"No, I'm just saying...let's be smart about this."

Kyle shakes his head. The boat winds its way around a sharp turn with a soft of hue of golden light reflecting off the wet walls ahead. The turn opens up into a bay where a replica of the Sphinx stands at the far end with three smaller pyramids in the background. The boat approaches the shoreline where animatronic characters pitch items for sales and a Pharoah talks to them about the history of the Sphinx.

"This is it! Our time to go!"

"You don't want to hear the history of the Sphinx? It's just getting interesting!"

Kyle gives a Tom a foul stare and then remarks, "Follow me!"

As the boat turns away from the shoreline, Kyle and Tom climb off the back with a few thumps and grunts fortunately covered by the noise of the animatronics. They are waist high in very cold water and make their way to a platform that they climb on. They run quickly as they are completely exposed and hide behind a set fake palm trees where an animatronic fruit peddler sells his wares.

"Okay, what now? There's nowhere for us to go!"

" Look for an exit sign or a door of some kind."

The two look around as the sound of another tour guide talking through a speaker is heard approaching in the distance.

"There! The Sphinx!" says Tom pointing. Kyle slaps his arm down. Kyle looks over and sees a small staircase running up to an exit.

"Hopefully not back inside the casino but let's take a shot. Good job, Sherlock!"

"Sherlock? Whose she?"

"Oh good lord, never mind."