Max the Echidna's origins
Prologue
Long ago on the planet Mobius, the echidnas were the greatest of all Mobian races. In time they sent a few colonies across the world in order to spread their knowledge and settle in other regions of their massive world, one such colony settled in a country known today as Downunda. The colony prospered in science and peace, however a giant white comet threatened to destroy their city of Echidnaopolis. Using science and the power of twelve Green Chaos Emeralds that rained down from the skies from parts unknown, and help from the fire ant colony. The entire land mass of Echidnaopolis, was rescued but that wouldn't prevent the inhabitances of the island from having troubles in years to come. Over a century later two scientists of Echidnaopolis, named Dimitri and Edmund, came up with an idea to use a device called a Chaos Syphon. So they could drain the energy of the Green Chaos Emeralds slowly, and return their floating home slowly and carefully back down to the ground below.
The two brothers petitioned the High Council for the right to go through with their plan, but due to treachery of a selfish echidna named Menthor. The Chief Magistrate denied Dimitri and Edmund's request, enraged at the treachery and for being denied his brilliant plan, Dimitri took matters into his own hands, he in secret reclaimed his Chaos Syphon device and used its power to drain eleven of the Green Chaos Emeralds energy in one full blast. Edmund and the Chief Magistrate, witnessed this and were awestruck at seeing one Chaos Emerald was all it took to keep the island afloat in the skies. They attempted to stop Dimitri but were futile in their attempts to stop him, and witnessed his transformation into the third incarnation of Enerjak! A powerful chaos demi-god of power limited only to that of the avatar he inhabited the body of, as Enerjak, Dimitri saw a swift takeover of Echidnaopolis and punished those who had denied him his plans in the past. However with help from the fire ants Edmund attacked Dimitri, and caused his grand fortress to collapse upon him. Dimitri seemingly died... Coming to the belief that technology was the cause of their troubles, the Chief Magistrate ordered all major technology to be removed from Echidnaopolis.
At first it seemed like everything was going alright for the echidnas of Echidnaopolis, Edmund oversaw the cleanup of technology over the years and did his best to be a good father to his son Steppenwolf, the Chief Magistrate also knew that the last Chaos Emerald needed to be protected. So Edmund under oath became the first protector of the Chaos Emerald and this group was called the Brotherhood, however as clean ups of technology were going on. One optimistic echidna who happened to be the son of Dimitri, thought of keeping technology from everyone else in secret. This echidna viewed as a hero by those who felt the same way, was called Menniker, Menniker received telekinetic messages from his father Dimitri, who survived being buried due to his form as Enerjak, Dimitri reached out telepathically to his son, telling him to follow in his footsteps. Menniker, eager to avenge his father, set out in developing a force which he would lead to take over Echidnaopolis and restore the abandoned technology.
In time Menniker assembled his followers, and due to whispers from the shadows he decided to name his new group of people the Dark Legion. Edmund foolishly attempted to stop his nephew's actions, but this resulted in the his demise (but in truth he was merely searching for Steppenwolf and due to confusion the legion assumed he was trying to stop them. Ultimately Edmund died early in his career of being the first in the line of the Brotherhood). In years to come the Dark Legion grew into a great force, but the current member of the Brotherhood, Steppenwolf (who took over the role after his father's untimely death) became strong and very powerful. And using his chaos powers was able to banish the entire Dark Legion into a realm he and his people called, the Twilight Zone but they didn't know the full on truth about the realm that he banished the Dark Legion too.
The true name of the realm the Dark Legion was banished to, is a nightmarish realm called the Twilight Cage. And it housed other races who were taken into the Twilight Cage, by means they called the Argus Event because as they were mysteriously ripped away from their home worlds a word echoed in their heads that sounded like Argus. Many beings living in the Twilight Cage believe that Argus is a name, but a name to what?
The Dark Legion noticed that one group seemed to dominate all the other races, and this group happened to be an ancient clan of echidna scientists who mysteriously vanished four-thousand years ago on Mobius. The Dark Legion was ignored by all the other races because of the fact they are technologically inferior next to the other races. This enraged the Dark Legion, because they were insulted on a personal level, however this did give them some advantages. The Dark Legion decided to rob technology from their neighbors in the Twilight Cage, long after Menniker passed. His son Moritori Rex, took command of the legion by birthrights that Menniker started in the tradition that the son or daughter of a Grandmaster became the leader of the Dark Legion after their parent the current leader died one way or another. Time passed and after Moritori Rex found a way to leave the Twilight Zone, his son Luger took over. Luger was a simple man, romantic at heart and a pacifist. Many people within the Dark Legion liked him while others viewed him as to soft, being the Grandmaster of the Dark Legion, Luger oversaw the training of a lot of the legionnaires. Among the many young echidnas that caught Luger's attention was a legionnaire who followed in his families footsteps to serve in the army of the Dark Legion, Max Dunamai or Max for short. Max proved to be a promising soldier when he grew up, Luger was a busy workaholic and he knew he needed someone to help look after his precious children.
Max was appointed to take care of Lien-Da, Kragok and their half-sister Julie-Su, however in what appeared to be an assassination by the Zoah of the Twilight Cage. Luger died and Kragok became the Grandmaster of the Dark Legion after Lien-Da was mysteriously injured, this is Max the Echidna's story from the days he first started serving Grandmaster Kragok to the days he left the Twilight Cage and began his life on Mobius.
Chapter 1
The first escape
Year 3225 Planet Mobius time
It was an ordinary training session for the legionnaires of the Dark Legion, Max Dunamai was excelling next to the average foot soldiers in the legion he was training with. In spite of his youth, he proved to be a good shot with his blaster and using his cybernetic hands he proved to be incredibly strong. Kragok was overseeing the young legionnaire's training and was impressed with him, Luger may have appointed Max as a protector for Kragok, Lien-Da and Julia-Su two years back. But Kragok saw Max as only a powerful weapon that was growing and would only get stronger as time went by. After training ended, Kragok smiled as he saw Max standing, fit and ready as a true legionnaire should be. However before the Grandmaster could do anything else, the Kommissar of the Dark Legion whose his twin sister Lien-Da. Came to him, "Grandmaster Kragok, there is an urgent message from Moritori Rex. He requests our presence in the private communications room." Lien-Da reported.
"I hope he has good news regarding the plan." Kragok said to his sister as they walked down several hallways, the Dark Legion lived on a planetoid about half the size of the moon. And over the years created a fortress upon their exile home, it was technologically a fascinating and gloomy sight. But to the Dark Legion, it was home sweet home until they could find a way to finally escape the Twilight Cage for good.
As the twin echidnas walked down to the room, they noticed that guards were at the room which was a normal thing. But they ordered everyone in the private communications room to leave, except for Lien-Da's right hand woman Gae-Na who was at the comms with Moritori Rex. Once that was done Moritori Rex began to use a holographic communicator all the way from the Dragon Kingdom where he was stationed by the Brotherhood while posing as one of them, this communicator was under secure transmissions. So he could inform his grandchildren on the grand plan that they had worked on for sometime now, "greetings Grandmaster Kragok, and Kommissar Lien-Da. I'm pleased that you came." Moritori Rex said with a pleased tone in his voice.
"But of course Moritori Rex," his grandchildren and Gae-Na said with bows. "What is the status on the plan?" Kragok asked.
"I actually was calling because of the plan, I was able to convince the Battle Bird Armada to help us capture Little Planet." Moritori Rex said with a sinister grin on his face.
"Yes! And with the power of the Miracle Planet, we can free ourselves from the Twilight Zone. And then we shall claim Angel Island, then make the world bow before our might!" Kragok said with a grin.
"Exactly Grandmaster Kragok, I hope you'll have your troops at the ready for our return." Moritori Rex said, as he clapped his hands together and rubbed his hands while thinking of his plans.
"We'll need a strong legionnaire at our side for the invasion." Lien-Da said.
"But of course, and this once you shall hand pick the strongest legionnaire to help lead our invasion. I'll make sure that the Battle Lord will keep everything on schedule." Moritori Rex said.
"We will not fail, my men shall be ready within the hour." Grandmaster Kragok said in a serious tone.
"Then prepare them, Moritori Rex, out." He said as he ended the transmission.
Grandmaster Kragok quickly rallied his troops for the upcoming invasion, Lien-Da and her aide Gae-Na hand-picked Mas to be at their side when the invasion began. Max was excited, his family felt honored upon hearing this. Max assured his superior and friend Lien-Da that he wouldn't disappoint them, if you'd like to know more about Max then we'll need to take a look back at his early childhood.
Born to Tyranus of the house of Dunamai, and Hila-Re. Max was born into a family of legionnaires who served in the army of the Dark Legion. His father was colored dark lavender while his mother was red, like all echidnas he had dreadlocks, when he was old enough Max was given his cybernetic implants that all members of the Dark Legion have. Max has an older sister known as Kai-Re, she and Max both have lavender fur but her fur is dark next to his. Hila-Re was very outspoken on things, she was a politician within the Dark Legion but she was exiled from the Dark Legion when Max was seven years old. Because of her opinions on how things should be properly done and to make peace with the other echidnas on Mobius, Grandmaster Kragok exiled her to live with the slug like aliens called N'rrgal believing that it was fitting because he saw it as irony on her. Thankfully for her the N'rrgal were generally peaceful unless provoked, she dedicated herself to helping raise their young since she could no longer see her children. Kai-Re was taken under Gae-Na's wing and enjoyed her company, Tyranus is a very serious individual. He firmly believed from lessons passed down by his grandpa that you must always work hard to get anything in life, from a job to a simple cup of water you had to work hard and prove yourself. Due to the fact he lost his wife, Tyranus had to raise his children by himself. It was easier because at that time Kai-Re was 17 years old when his wife was exiled, Max was trained by his father during most of the hours he wasn't training in the army. Kragok made it a rule that every child in the legion as early as five must begin training for the army, Kragok was in truth a terrible Grandmaster and cared only for his own agendas. The Dark Legion as a whole lived in fearful awe of Kragok, and he proved his right to be Grandmaster multiple times. Max didn't have many visible cybernetics on his body, he had a pair of robotic hands visible when his white gloves were removed. And a cybernetic dreadlock on his front left side, he normally wared a pair of legionnaire boots and a belt with gadgets in it for his blaster. His cybernetic dreadlock was wired partially into the left side of his brain and he could use it to hack into computers or as a weapon scope. He also wore a standard robe that the legionnaires ware, ever since he was very little Max showed signs of a natural fighter and his father led him to believe in order to get what he wanted he had to either work for it or take it. But Max's point of view and beliefs would in time be changed for the better, for he truly had great things in store for him, when Kragok noticed the fighting capabilities of Max he ordered Max to go into training for the higher ranks which pleased Tyranus very much and he agreed to let his son train, Max pushed himself and rarely had time to play with other children he wasn't training with.
Now at present day, we see Max as he now helps lead the invasion of Little Planet. "Soon we'll show them all." Max said to his sister as he was gearing up, he was allowed some time to stop by his home and inform his family of the news.
"Max….are you sure you're ready for this?" Kai-Re asked her younger brother.
"I'm ready sis, besides within a couple more years I could be promoted to a Commander. I'm almost strong enough to protect you all…..and Luger is still counting on me." Max said to his sister as he was putting his boots on, he frowned in sadness as he thought about the time he first met Luger.
Max was having a flashback of memory on that day from long ago. "You are surely a skilled legionnaire young one" Grandmaster Luger said to the young legionnaire.
"Thank you sir, I've been learning how to be a proper legionnaire for years." Max said.
"Why are you learning such things, at such a young and precious age?" Luger asked Max.
"…because…because I want to become stronger…..I want to be strong enough to protect dad, mom and sister" Max said.
"Hmm…..what is your name little legionnaire?" Grandmaster Luger asked.
"I'm Max of the house of Dunamai sir, my family has served in the army of the Dark Legion since the founding of the Dark Legion." Max explained to his superior.
"Well young Max, I truly admire your gifts. I am Grandmaster Luger." Grandmaster Luger said as he properly introduced himself.
"An honor to meet you Grandmaster Luger sir!" Max said with his salute that the Dark Legion normally does.
"At ease young one, now! I need you to do something important for me." Grandmaster Luger said in a calm voice as he crouched down to Max's level.
"What is it sir?" Max asked.
"I need you to promise me, that you'll help look after my children. Their names are Kragok, Lien-Da and Julie-Su." Grandmaster Luger said with a smile to Max.
"Look after them? Like protect them?!" Max asked.
"Yes, Julie-Su is very little now but she'll be able to talk and play with you soon. I'm a good Grandmaster to the Dark Legion. But I'm a workaholic and I hardly have time for my children….I don't consider myself to be a good father in many ways…." Grandmaster Luger said as he suddenly had a sad look on his face. "So…..please…look after them and protect them best you can….my son." Grandmaster Luger said.
"Sir…." Max said.
"It's nothing! Us old men just sometimes get upset on stuff, now come with me and meet my family. I'm sure that your parents wouldn't mind my company." Grandmaster Luger said as he and Max walked toward his home.
Max's flashback on that day ended, he then held on to his sister's left hand when she came close to him. He then gave her a kiss on her hand and said, "I swear I'll protect you sis…" he then got up and marched out like a legionnaire.
"Farewell Max….and may Aurora please protect and guide you…" Kai-Re said to her little brother as he left, it hurt her to see such a young boy just go into military duties meant for men. He had his whole life ahead of him and she hoped he'd play like other children normally did before Kragok became the Grandmaster of the Dark Legion.
Later on Max stood by Lien-Da and Gae-Na's side, he was half a foot shorter than them but he still looked like a person of importance. After all of the legionnaires were gathered up, Grandmaster Kragok smiled as they got into their flying saucers and flew them into a portal that opened up inside their fortress. The portal led straight to Little Planet, and none of the neighboring colonies in the Twilight Cage would know of what they were doing. The Dark Legion forces soon met up with the Battle Bird Armada upon arriving on Little Planet, Max was excited that he was able to see Mobius for the first time as the small planet floated towards the Never Lake. Max enjoyed smelling the fresh air as the Dark Legion flew across Little Planet and the skies of Mobius, Max knew all too well that there was no time to enjoy the view and that work needed to be done right away.
Max was beside Grandmaster Kragok, Lien-Da and Gae-Na as they met the Battle Lord whose real name is Gureito Batoru Kukku, and his little son Speedy as well as the old Dr. Fukurokov. The Battle Lord was quite formal while talking with the higher ranks of the Dark Legion, "so the famous Grandmaster Kragok has arrived, it's an honor to have a fine leader such as yourself here on the marvelous battle fortress of the armada." The Battle Lord with a respectful bow to Grandmaster Kragok.
"Likewise Battle Kukku Number…XV was it?" Grandmaster Kragok said as he to bowed to show respect.
"Indeed Grandmaster Kragok, and who are these fine ladies." He said as he showed respect towards the two lady echidnas in the command bridge with him.
"I am Kommissar Lien-Da, and this is my personal aide Gae-Na." Lien-Da said.
"Nice to meet you Battle Lord." Gae-Na said as she and Lien-Da bowed.
"And who is this young man?" Speedy asked.
"I am Max Dunamai, I have been given the right to help command forces in the invasion of Little Planet." Max said with a bow.
"Such a young soldier, a little older than my dear son Speedy." The Battle Lord said.
"So Battle Lord, what is the status on Miracle Planet?" Kragok asked.
"Ah yes the world known as Little Planet, Dr. Fukurokov if you'd please." The Battle Lord said as he snapped his fingers.
"Yes sir." The old owl said as he activated the holographic projectors, "Now…..we know that for a very long time the people of the nearby kingdom of Mercia have protected the secrets of Never Lake and Little Planet, from what we've learned Little Planet is sometimes called Miracle Planet because of the wonders it does. It has special posts on it that are known as Time Posts or Speed Posts, using the Time Posts we can travel into the past and take over the planet so it's ready for today. The Time Posts work if we have someone touch them and then use a vehicle to travel fast enough, we then can travel through time. There's also rumored giant size magical Rings called Warp Rings. These Rings can take us to a place called the Special Zone of Little Planet, inside of the Special Zone is seven Time Stones. It is tricky but if we get the Time Stones then we can rule time itself and make our ideals a reality fuhohohohohoho!" the doctor explained.
"And what about the locals?" Max asked.
"You'll be tasked with capturing the royals of Mercia, the entire family is visiting and we will hold them hostage while we secure Little Planet." The Battle Lord explained.
"Sounds like a plan to me, I'll capture them all with my squad of troops. We will not fail the mission." Max said as he and the other Dark Legionnaires left the bridge.
"I can't believe we had to bow to that bloated bird brain." Lien-Da said.
"Relax Lien-Da, after all our true plans will be realized soon enough, and once that happens then there will be no more need for the Battle Bird Armada." Grandmaster Kragok said once they entered one of their small ships they brought from the Twilight Zone.
"Cleaver planning as always Grandmaster Kragok, but still I'll make sure we get those spoiled royals. By the way…how did the armada get us out of the Twilight Zone?" Max asked, most of the Dark Legion members referred to the Twilight Cage as the Twilight Zone because that's what Steppenwolf thought it was called.
"Because they found some technology from a man known as Dr. Robotnik, he created a few devices able to breach the barriers into other Zones and allow safe passage. When Moritori Rex, learned about this while still posing as Tobor of the Brotherhood of Guardians. He soon was able to contact the Battle Bird Armada and formed an alliance with them, but of course we plan to do away with them once we have full power because the Dark Legion is superior." Kragok said with a wicked grin.
"Ah…take care sir, I must be off." Max said as he and his squad headed down to the castle of Mercia so they could kidnap the royals.
You just got to meet Max, but what will happen when this Dark Legionnaire meets a friendly Mobian hedgehog who intends to save Little Planet? Find out in the next chapter.