Missing Myself
Me: Those who liked and followed and reviewed, thank you very much!
Steel: have you seen Max?! MaAx!?
Me: hmm... He'll pop up somewhere, I'm sure of it.
Steel: MAAAXXX!
*Dark cackle echoes around the room*
Me: uhhh... That doesn't sound good?
Steel: *turns around* *gasp!*
Me: *turns around and smiles and waves* well, hi there!
~Author's note Cliffy! Mwahahaha!~
Warnings: Corruption, mild cursing, blood, and harm to a child;
;Disclaimer;
Please, please, forgive me,
But I won't be home again...
Maybe someday you'll look up,
And barely conscious, you'll say to no one,
"Isn't something missing?"...
Evanescence: " Missing"
Clang! Clash! Swoo! Clang!
"Again."
Clang! Clash! Swoo! Clang!
"Again!"
CLANG! CLASH! SWOO! CLANG!
"Enough."
...
Somewhere unknown, in s dark hollow room with very little light (If so, it took a dim red), stood Dredd and a very tired Max; a powerful man and a very weary boy; a demanding master and his obeying apprentice; a ventriloquist and his puppet.
Max, now a bit taller- but barely seven- stood in his crouching position, heaving breaths heavily after session due to not only the heavy blade in his tiny hand, but the fairly heavy black and red armour suit weighing down his small, frail body. The child's ruffles of hair stuck damp to his forehead and his shadowed, pale, small face beaded with tiny drops of sweat. His once bright big baby blues now were dull and empty. For nine months, it had been like that.
Ever since the day he lost one of the most important persons in his life... The day Jim McGrath lost his life due to the cold betrayal of those they referred to family... The night Max met Miles Dredd... The second Max vowed to avenge his father and turned his full trust and life to Dredd that he'd never return home until he had completed his objective.
He will destroy his father's killers.
Even if it is the last thing he does.
Dredd watched the tired and trembling boy in front of him and frowned, stepping forward. "You have improved, Maxwell. Slightly."
Max kept his gaze forward, never glancing up at his mentor/master. Dredd had told him it was rude to look a man in the eye without consent and after a few bruising yanks and pinches to his arm, Max learned quickly to not look in Dredd's eyes unless he was ordered to.
Dredd could tell the boy was growing disappointed at himself by the way his small, blistered hands tensed until the knuckles turned white. Good. He was learning at least. "Maxwell, your enemies will be more stronger than you. Quicker than you. Smarter than you... For now, at least. Once you reach your fullest potential..."
"They won't stand a chance," they both said simultaneously; Max's once bright, cheerful, heart-filled voice now carried a more dark and hollow tone. It made Dredd smile with full satisfaction. The man crouched down to the boy and placed a heavy metal hand upon Max's shoulder. Max barely flinched. He was firm and kept a straight posture, never looking into Dredd's eyes, but kept his gaze trapped on the cold floor.
"You can meet my gaze now, child."
Max obeyed, meeting Dredd's eyes. The smile had long vanished from Max's face as well as his innocence. Dredd cupped his apprentice's face, and only then did Max moved; the child leaned into the touch.
Dredd sighed and gently took the sword from Max's hand. "You have come far, my dear boy. I can bet everything that those who murdered your father will pay dearly and beg for your... our mercy," Dredd crooned. Max nodded with a firm glare. "They will... When they're bleeding at our feet," he hissed, just as dark.
Dredd grinned and stood with his hands behind his back. "Excellent..." He crouched with fists in position a little in front of his face. "Now. Let's see what you have learned so far from last session..."
With no warning, he shot his fist at Max, who barely dodged it. The child made a wobbly step back, but was then knocked in the chest by a hard foot and thrown back to skid across the floor. The pain to his chest felt like fire and tears threatened his eyes. Max quickly scrambled to his feet and charged again at Dredd.
"Come on, Max! Why let me take the first shot?" Dredd laughed, snatching the boy up by the leg and holding him upside down to his face. A smirk- not a smile- plastered on Max's face. "Because it gives you all the time you need to understand your opponent's strength," he replied. A small foot impacted against Dredd's face, strong enough to make the man drop Max, but Dredd showed no anger; instead, he showed approval.
"My, my, you have been learning!"
Dredd ran towards Max with a challenging roar, and Max leapt high; he grabbed his mentor's shoulders and used them as leverage to do a flip in the air, landing gracefully on his feet. The two brawled together and soon, through the years, the hands that gripped Dredd's shoulders as advantages grew slightly bigger, and the legs that would wrap around Dredd's back to flip the man hard to the floor as a lethal attack became for muscled and longer and agile, and the once frail, small boy Dredd would teach and train grew into a strong, but empty young boy.
"You need to move more swiftly on your feet Max."
"... Yes, Master Dredd."
The small voice that would reply back to Dredd's every command, would lower to a deeper tone.
"Max, you must watch your back, your enemies will have you pinned under three seconds!"
"... Yes, Master Dredd!"
The replies Dredd would receive back from his apprentice, became for confident and less hesitant.
"Watch your surroundings, Max!"
"Yes, Master Dredd!"
And most of all, the skills only an advance child could maintain, became of one not even a man could contain. Yes, Dredd was on the verge to creating a lethal weapon inside a broken boy.
(Eight years later)
Dredd watches with true pride as the teen in front of him continued his given challenge to succeed in taking down six of his larger Dredd Naughts. The fight had only been going on for six minutes and already, three of the bots had been viciously torn apart beyond repair.
Max- shirtless and revealing all his scars and injuries from passed years of training- dodged a red beam bullet from one of the bots arm guns, and leapt towards the damn thing. He balanced himself on the Dredd Naught's shoulders and as the bot tried to thrash him off, Max gripped the robot's arm and with a loud roar, he was able to rip the mechanic gun/arm from the metal body and use it to his advantages. The Dredd-Naught was beyond helpless when Max took an aim for its head and fired. The Dredd Naught died instantly and fell to the ground. Max ran under one of the remaining two Dredd Naught's legs and he stood with lightning speed behind the clueless Dredd Naught, shooting directly in the back.
One Dredd Naught remained. Max grinned. "Guess I'll have fun with you," he purred darkly, throwing the gun to the floor. The Dredd Naught stalked towards the teen with two gun arms aimed at Max. Max shook his head with a chuckle and darted towards the machine. He skidded under the robot's legs and swiped his leg across, tripping the robot. "My bad!" Quickly, he jumped onto the Dredd Naught's back and gripped onto the shoulder before ripping it off. Max gripped the arm and raised it in the air. With a triumph roar, he slammed it down on the Dredd Naught's back. He did it again, this time, the Dredd Naught twitched.
Max slammed the heavy arm down again and again... And again... And again. The dents grew larger and deeper until it caused the Dredd Naught to thrash in malfunction. Max jumped just in the nick of time before the robot exploded into scraps. The training room rested silent in clutters of Dredd Naughts and scrap. Max was breathing heavily and sweating, but the dark glint of adrenaline and proudness remained in his dark blue eyes.
The sudden sound of clapping bought Max's attention to his master, who stood at the other side of the room. The boy's eyes softened just a bit in sympathy when he saw the mask on Dredd's mouth and nose. The man seemed to be looking more weaker and older by the day. Long ago, Dredd had to stop training with Max due to the unexpected sickness that overcame him. Max was upset for his mentor bit continued to try to learn his combat lessons with only the verbal aid of Dredd.
He missed that feeling of a second back to watch yours. He missed training with Dredd, a man he learned to love as another father figure (though Max never dreamed he could ever look at another man with the same admiration he gave his deceased father) and trust of a close friend. They bonded equally as master and apprentice; father to son; brother to brother; and friend to friend.
But still, even though Max would smile, it would be for a dark reason, a dark thought, or for the earned pleasure he would receive when he and Dredd communicated.
Dredd might be rough on edges, but towards Max, he held a special spot.
"Good job, my boy, very well!"
Max kept his head bowed, bit smirked. "Well, not really too difficult. I did learn from the deadliest, Master Dredd," he replied with praise. Max felt a hand cup the side of his face and unconsciously leaned into the touch like always. "Meet my gaze, lad," Dredd ordered in a soft tone. Max obeyed and looked into the beating reds.
"You have grown, Max. You look like your father every day, you are like the spitting image of him. But the difference is, you will not make the same mistake in trusting the untrustworthy."
Max tensed at the mention of his father and dropped his gaze a bit in sadness. "If only he were here to see me," he whispered. Dredd tilted his chin back up. "Yes. But think of him right now looking down at you with pride. Heaven might be a place of peace and serenity, but I bet he is dying to see you drenched in his enemies' blood and to finally avenge him."
Max grinned in thought. That sweet dark thought in the back of his mind. He could imagine it. All of them with their throats slit and gasping for useless air. Each of their eyes gouched out. Their stomachs pooling with blood that dripped from his sword... And he himself, standing high above them, with his hair dripping with their blood and his face painted with their names (their blood also used for such... Fun activity). Max sighed. It would be Heaven on fucking Earth.
"Mhm. Indeed, I can't wait," Max exclaimed.
Dredd then turned from the boy and walked towards the door. "Come, my dear boy..." His voice sounded troubled, "there are matters we need to discuss."
Max quickly obeyed and followed Dredd out of the training room and into a much more different room with several large hologram computers indicating something Max could not understand. Still, it did not stop him from asking questions about it; Dredd always told him it was a soon to come surprise.
"Max, you understand how old you are?"
"Sixteen, Master Dredd. Today."
"Good. And that was not the kind of answer I wanted."
Max furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "What? I-I didn't get that..."
"I mean, I wanted you to answer with a yes or no. I do not need you to remind me that your birthday is today, Maxwell, in fact, I already know." Dredd stepped towards one of the computers and typed away, "which is why I prepared you a gift."
Max smiled a real smile, and couldn't help but to slightly bounce up and down on his tip toes. If it weren't his birthday today, Dredd would consider giving him a real beating for standing out of composure. "Really?! Oh-Oh, is it a new katana? Or-or higher power explosives?!-"
Dredd raised an eyebrow at the over excited boy, " What's wrong with the explosives we already have?"
Max shrugged with a grin, "They're not loud enough- I wanna feel my ears pop when they explode!" he replied. Dredd shook his head. "You teenagers and your repulsive screaming songs."
"Hey! First of all, it's called Metal- and it can bring you closure, the type old people wouldn't understand. Second, I don't only listen to Metal, I listen to hard rock and classical rock. And third of all, I carried the habit when Mr. Naught pressed a file from our enemies' base and the music just out blared. I was immediately in love."
"Yeah, passing over the fact it you were ear raped blindly."
"Ear rape? Gross!"
Dredd chuckled amusingly and continued his typing, then after a moment, he came across a file and clicked on it. As it slowly loaded, he turned to his apprentice. "Well, despite your fine ideas to a good birthday gift, I believe mine is even better..."
He placed a hand on Max's shoulder with a soft sigh, "You've grown, Max. Each day in strength, power, skill, age, and height."
Max rolled his eyes with a smirk, "Come on, you're making me sound old."
"I mean it Maxwell. Soon, I fear that you will end up... Leaving."
Max's eyes widened. "Come again?"
Dredd silently cursed and muttered, "This is why your type of music will get in the way of your hearing- you'll be deaf once you reach my age... What I said was, I fear that when you are old enough to make your own decisions, it will be possible for... I fear that you will wish to... Leave my care and go off into the world and... Forget about me."
Max was startled for a moment. This was rare for Dredd to be affectionate towards him; he was usually a hard core master who wouldn't shed a tear no matter how deep a wound was... If he ever had one. But, Max never thought that Dredd could be... Sentimental? "Uh... You actually fear in something?" he snorted. Dredd glared at him. "I mean it, Maxwell," he growled, causing Max to flinch back. The teenager hated when Dredd used that tone; it wasn't his mentor tone nor his friendly tone, it was a tone when Max expected a slap to the face or a punch or some sort of punishment.
Dredd, seeing his apprentice's fear, softened his glare and lowered his head on Max's. "Forgive me, my boy. It is just hard for me to talk my- guh- emotions, and for you to joke around them. It is frankly irritating."
Max closed his eyes by the welcoming contact, leaning in just at hard. He remembered Jim used to do this in a way to tell Max that even after the lectures and disappointment, he still loved Max. "'M sorry, Master Dredd... So... You think I would run when given the chance?"
Dredd stayed silent. Max sighed. "Why in Hell would I want to do that?"
Dredd pulled away in shock and stared down at the teen. "I beg your pardon?"
Max shrugged, "I mean- come on, Dredd, you raised me and I don't think I could have ever made it strong if you hadn't saved me from self destruct. You were the only person I don't regret knowing. You're like a brother to me, and if possible, the closest thing I have to a father... I don't think I could ever repay you by leaving."
Dredd stared at his apprentice for a while longer before reaching a hand on Max's head and ruffling the hairs gently. "Thank you, child."
"Besides, Dredd. I know that if I wanted to leave, you would let me, right?"
"..."
Max's eyes furrowed by his master's silence. "Dredd?"
"... Of coarse, Maxwell." The man then turned back to the computer that had long finished loading and now had a picture of a building that read 'Copper Canyon Highschool.' Max studied the photo with a raised eyebrow. "Um... Master Dredd, what is this?" he asked.
"What does it look like to you?"
"Uhh... A school?"
Dredd chuckled. "It's highschool, Max! In this area." Max crossed his arms. "Uh... Huh... And this is... Important because~?" he questioned.
Dredd walked to him with a fond smirk. "Max, I believe it is now time for you to get involved a bit in education."
Max stood frozen. "You... You want me to..."
"Go to school? Yes."
Max gasped. "You mean, I can, I can go outside the base!? I can go into the city? Go to school?! I don't have to be homeschooled?!"
Dredd chuckled at the young lad's excitement and bowed a bit, "happy birthday, Maxwell."
Before he knew it, he felt a smaller body crash into his and arms wrap around his mid section. The new gesture was a shock to Dredd. The man sputtered. "Maxwell, are you hugging me?"
Max bellowed a laugh, "Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU, MASTER! This is better than Mr. Naught's boring teaching lessons of NASA's nuclear bombing functions!" Max chirped. Dredd relaxed a bit in the hug and wrapped his arms around Max's shoulders. "Um... You are very welcome, Max..."
The moment became more silent after a minute and Dredd took the liberty of pulling away. "Okay... Um... You should get ready, there are items and outfits I had installed in your room. You start tomorrow so wash up."
Max didn't hesitate and ran off, "Yes Master Dredd! Thanks!"
Once the child was gone and Dredd was left alone, he turned to the computer with a satisfied grin. Soon everything will be placed into motion. Starting with Maxwell Miles going to this so-called Copper Canyon Highschool. Dress gazed at the timer on his arm and sighed. It read 30: 48 : 20... The remaining time he has left..
To live. Dredd groaned and sunk in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. In matter of time, he should be getting the Ultra-Link... If INTEC hasn't gotten a hold of it yet. He hasn't told Max about his death sentence and doesn't plan on telling the boy anyway. It wasn't that he cared for the boy's feelings, it was that he needed Max to stay focus on the task Dredd had ready for him. He just needed distractions out of the way for personal business. Despite his high potential of being very lethal, Max still isn't quite ready to have his 'revenge'.
Plus, Dredd needed the targets alive for now, if he was going to accomplish future plans... But if they get too much in the way, Dredd will happily take a go in killing them... Or perhaps Max. Surely the boy can survive a few rounds. Hm, maybe it wouldn't be too smart to put his top 'student' in death's way too soon. Dredd could use a second hand. He already had one, but Mr. Naught- despite his brains- can be irritating to work with.
Max was more well trained. He never argued, he obeyed, he worshipped Dredd, and most of all, he was lethal. Dredd's favorite puppet to play with. Already under corruption, Dredd was positive the boy was going nowhere anytime soon. Hell, Dredd thought of having the boy take his seat as leader of his arm while Dredd took the throne of being Emperor of the World! Yes, Maxwell McGrath will be the perfect figure of being the heir Dredd never dreamed of having.
Max even said Dredd was the closest figure to a father... Dredd never expected that, and it was a good thing Max told him. Soon, Dredd will have the opportunity to make Max into a completely, obedient son who will be hungry for his approval.
Dredd grinned at the thought.
Yes. Maxwell McGrath; son of Jim McGrath... Dredd Miles' obedient pet.
Max stood at the center of his room, staring at his outfit and backpack tomorrow with a smug frown. It will be his first day going- not only outside the base, but walking into a school in ten years. For ten years, Max had been "Home" schooled. It was not really poor teachinv, he only learned calculous, the countless nuclear functions NASA had hidden, and three of the most top secret organizations hidden deep underground...
Nothing too serious.
Right?
He sighed frustrated and walked back to his closet and pulled out another outfit- a new one that did not have body armor or hidden weapons. Max smiled, satisfied. It was a red shirt and a black hoodie with black jeans to go along. He even had an accessory to go with his outfit; a leather belt that had the logo of Dredd as the latch. Max studied it for a moment, then curiously skimmed his fingers over every inch of the belt. Sure enough, he felt a tiny screwed panel on the logo's back.
Max rolled his eyes in amusement. Of coarse Dredd had installed a tracking device. He wouldn't be surprised if he found another one in his shoes. Red sneakers that looked pretty... Beast...
Max chuckled at his use of teen slang; Another thing to bug Dreddy with, he thought to himself. Max walked back to the bed and picked up his new... Phone.
The teen sat down on his bed, staring at the item curiously. He partly remembered his parents having such a device. He worked enough on the technology here. So how hard could turning this thing on be? Max flipped and turned the object in his hand until he finally found a button on the top and pressed. Instantly afterwards, a red colored screen popped up with various apps and such. Max smiled. Red, of coarse!
He began to poke at the touch screen and flip through the apps, getting familiar with the phone; he even became addicted to an app... Crossy Road. He sat there and played it for nearly ten minutes, already growing frustrated when he died every ten seconds. Max frowned. "One does not simply cross the road then get hit by a train," he growled to himself. The game was unreasonable and unlogical, and why on earth would a pig of all things, want to cross the street?! And Frankenstein?! What the hell was a Emo Goose?!
What dumbass sets trains in random places? Why is the city's river backed up with damn logs?!
Finally, Max quit the app. He would be lying if he said the game wasn't a sense of addiction.
He continued flipping through the phone until he came by the contacts. There were only three names.
Mr. Naught (Like that'll be a day he'll call the creep...)
Mr. Naught's work (Hm... Prank call time!)
Dredd- in case of Emergencies, Max. (He's no fun.)
Max set the phone down on the nightstand and gazed up at his blank ceiling in thought. Why would Dredd want him to go to school? Why at Copper Canyon? Why now?
Max suddenly felt something pool in his gut. Maybe he was becoming too much of a handful? Or maybe he wasn't good enough of a helper?...
The thought made Max shoot up in a sitting position. What if Dredd wanted to get rid of him? Max could just think of certain people showing up at the planned area (Copper Canyon Highschool) and sweep him away from his destiny. His objective. In fact, he will have to plan sooner on avenging his father sooner if such were to happen; he needed a Plan B.
But Dredd wouldn't do that to him, right? Dredd cared for whatever happened to him. He could trust Dredd. Plus, based on what Dredd confessed a while ago, he was sentimental and would defend to keep Max under his wing.
Max laid back down a bit more relaxed, smiling a bit. Yeah, Dredd was the closest person to him... Besides his mom.
Max turned to his side with a sudden sad expression upon his face. He wondered what had become of his mother since his disappearance. Had she changed? Did she look the same? Feel the same? Talk the same?... Act the same? She must have been real heart broken.
Max held his arm across his stomach by the sudden twisted feeling. He could feel a tears beginning to burn his eyes. He missed him home, his mom, and his life. If he were to see his mother again, would she even recognise him or how would she react? Max knew how he would react. He would have to run because he was sure that if she begged him to go back with her, Max would probably do so.
He knew he couldn't. Not until he completes his objective- as a matter of fact, he does not think that he wouldn't ever be able to go back even then. This would kill her inside and she would most likely disown him. Max wouldn't blame her. He is probably a terrible son in a good way; or vice versa.
He remembered the day after he ran away. How sick he felt inside. How dreadful he was... How enraged he'd been.
He just wanted to end everything. End himself. But then Dredd told him, "You may feel trapped right now, Maxwell. But think about how free you will feel when your father's killers' necks snap one by one in your hands."
The uneasy squeeze in his stomach soothed away instantly as the image filled him. Yes. Indeed he will feel satisfied and complete once the deed was over with. He will go to Copper Canyon and he will play out his part. And hopefully when he sees his enemies, he will unleash his wrath upon him. Nothing will stop him.
Max closed his eyes with a small- sinister- smile upon his face, and he dreamed.
No one, not even his mother will stop him from at least killing his main target- his main enemy who is in no question for death...
Forge Ferrus...
*Dark cackles*
Steel: M... Max?!
Me: Holy shit.
Max: Mwahahaha!
Me: Umm..? Is that all you do? Laugh in a psychotic way?
Max: yes, because I am evil! Thanks to my master! Dredd Miles!
Me:... Okay?
Steel: *Grabs me by the face* SEE! I Told you! Satan's nephew!
Me: let go of me, you dramatic queen!
Steel: *Turns to Max* Max! You are not evil!
Max: *Grins* oh really? Hahaha! If I wasn't evil, I wouldn't destroy both of you eh? *pulls out laser gun*
Steel: *shrieks*
Me: first off, I'm the author and I can make you wear a too-too if I wanted to! So you CAN'T kill me if you know what's good for ya, pal!
Max: *aims at your computer* First off, I can and will, second, NOTHING is good for me, and last... *gazes at reader and winks* I hate a crowd.
Me: PLEASEREVIEWANDSAVEUSALL!-
*Max shoots and everything blackens*