CHAPTER 3

All right! Another chapter! This took forever, because I'm working on two FanFics at the same time. And my 'idea train' wasn't very straight. And I was playing Sonic Heroes and failing miserably.

Oh, well. Here we go. Chapter three…

"Come on," I stood in a fighting stance. "bring on your worst."

Before I knew it, I was lying flat on my back, my left wing pinned under Sonic's foot. He laughed slightly at the look of shock on my face. "Want to see my worst now?"

"I'm scared to." I got up, cracking my back as I did so. "How did you do that?"

"I'm just fast. You can fly…I can run." He was suddenly to the right of me. "I think we're a good team."

"If the rest of the flock was here, Max, we could be unstoppable!" Angel cheered.

"So…how did you get the wings in the first place?" Sonic asked awkwardly.

"We've had them ever since we've been born." I said, sighing. No better place to start than the beginning. "The whitecoats grafted avian DNA into our own. We were born and taken away…they lied to our parents and said we died…it was truly awful."

"Same to be said for Wolfman out there? The ones that attacked us?" Sonic asked.

"For the most part, yes. Their leader is named Ari. He's only seven years old…only seven. And they did this to him behind his father's back." I plucked a few feathers from my wings. "We need to escape as soon as possible."

"I have an idea." Angel said.

"Let's sure hope it's good." I said.

But before she could start on her brilliant plan, the door of the cell was opened and Ari entered, a tray of food balanced on one hand. He wasn't morphed into an Eraser, which struck me as odd. But what really got me was the apologetic look in his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I really am." He placed the tray down and left.

"Sorry for what, exacally…?" I managed to shout before he got too far down the hall. The sudden kindness he had shown…what the heck?

"Max…Sonic's friends…they're in trouble." Angel whispered when Ari didn't respond. "I could see it in his mind. They're taking their power."

This worried me. As did the looks on Angel and Sonic's faces.

Voice? Any tips here?! I 'yelled' inside my head.

But the know-it-all, freakishly freaky, abnormal Voice was silent…

XxXxXxXx

Ari knelt to peer into the padded cage that held one of the offworlders. The creature inside didn't look harmful at all…just scared and hungry. Two golden orb-like eyes locked with Ari's dark, menacing ones and a tiny voice sounded in his head. Much like Max's little winged friend's ability…

Who are you?

Ari blinked a few times. "I'm Ari. This is the School."

The creature tried to push itself into a sitting position, instead its shaking arms gave out and it collapsed back on the thin mattress. What are they going to do to us? I'm scared.

"They're going to take your power. Drain you to within an inch of your life, let you recover and then repeat the process. They're using your energy to track some mutants that escaped. What's your name?"

I'm Silver.

"Well, Silver, if this makes you feel any better…your blue buddy is, for the moment, safe. Apparently the whitecoats can't use him at the moment. But there's no guarantee they'll ignore him in the future."

His name's Sonic. Where's Shadow? Is he here too? Silver glanced over Ari's shoulder. I can tell he's nearby…but…Is he in that tank thing?

"It's called an isolation tank. And yes, that's where he is. The whitecoats didn't know how to control him so they thought that would take care of their probablems." Ari growled.

So what happened to you? I mean…you're not exacally like the others…you're not evil like the other wolves and you're not cold-hearted like the whitecoats. Can you help us? Silver grabbed one of the bars on the cage and pulled himself towards the Eraser until he was only a few inches away. Please?

"I don't think I can…" Ari trailed off as Jeb walked into the room, closely followed by a team of whitecoats, most of which were carrying strange equipment. Ari could only imagine what Silver was thinking.

"Ari, what are you doing here? Did you get him to talk?" Jeb asked, his voice emotionless.

"Not a word." Ari lied. He cast a final glance at Silver, who reached between two of the bars towards him as if pleading for help. Ari squeezed his eyes shut and backed away from the cage.

Ari! He could still hear Silver. ARI! PLEASE!

I can't…not now…Ari thought back. Silver, hang on. I'll do what I can.

Jeb unlatched the cage and removed it from the bed's frame, placing it to the side. Silver tried to leap away, but Jeb and a couple other whitecoats pinned him on his stomach.

ARI! I CAN SEE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO TO US! PLEASE! HELP ME!

Ari realized with a sudden blow that this situation had happened multiple times over the years. Only he was like Silver, trapped and pleading for help while Max; who was him, stood and watched. And never helped. Just watched as he was neglected and mistreated…by his own father! By everyone! Finally to the point where they mutated him into something more 'useful'…and he still was ignored!

Ari felt his lips curl around his fangs. This is payback, Max. He thought. Always had a chance to help me, but you never did. Now I will return that deed. This creature can die and you will only blame yourself.

Ari? Please!...No! No! Silver's thoughts interrupted his own. Ari was wrenched out of his twisted plans to watch Jeb hold Silver's left arm down as another whitecoat slipped a restraint over it, pulling it tight and keeping him from moving it. As Silver was grasping towards the release, they grabbed his other arm and did the same. NO! NO! PLEASE NO!

He kicked out at Jeb as he tried to grab his leg, catching him in the face and knocking the glasses away from his face. One of the whitecoats grabbed Silver's leg and twisted it so hard that a muffled crack resounded through the room, meeting Ari's ears like cymbals. But his hatred for Max was stronger than Silver's cries.

"Why did you do that?" Jeb shouted at the whitecoat. "That was completely unnecessary!" He put his glasses back on his face, wiping away the small flecks of blood on his lips as he did so.

Silver didn't struggle against him as Jeb tied his last free limb down. When he penetrated Ari's thoughts, he brought some of the pain with him. Ari…please…

Ari grinned again, feeling triumph fill him. Think twice next time, Max. he snickered at the thought, turning and leaving the lab.

"ARI!"

Ari stopped a few feet into the hall. Silver genuinely needed his help…and he was denying it? Max always helped anyone no matter what.

…except him.

Ari gripped at his head as painful memories and wails pierced his mind. He felt his nails dig into his scalp, drawing blood. He could be like Max. He could save the offworlders. He and only he could do it.

Ari turned just in time to have the thick, soundproof door slammed into his face.

Now no hope for their survival remained. Ari sunk to the ground and howled.

XxXxXxXx

Jeb helped the other whitecoats ready the equipment while the creature continued to never take its eyes off him. It had shouted Ari's name…had they been conversing without him knowing it? He would have to speak to his son later about that.

Jeb…you're Jeb? Don't hurt me.

The lead scientist stared in shock at the creature, who's eyes were even wider than before. Don't hurt me, please!

Jeb shut its voice out of his head and continued to ready the experiment. He slipped two ring-like devices over the creature's wrists, wires spilling from each of them back towards a large machine. Before long, it was ready.

"Begin." Jeb said.

The machine started with a soft hum. The creature cast a frantic look back at him and began struggling with all its might against the restraints. But it began to weaken almost immediately.

"20 percent of its power collected so far, sir." A whitecoat reported.

The creature's eyes dulled. The vigor that had been in it earlier was gone. It began to lie still as the machine sucked the energy and power out of it.

"40 percent,"

It was fighting to keep its eyes open and focused. Jeb almost felt sorry for it.

"60 percent,"

It wasn't moving at all now, save the small gasps it took. Jeb motioned to stop.

"75 percent power and energy taken." The whitecoat reported. "We were cutting it rather close."

Jeb unlatched the rings from its wrists and undid its restraints. It wouldn't be moving anytime soon.

"Let's get the other out of the way for now." He said, crossing over to the isolation tank. He deactivated it and the top slid away.

The dark creature inside defensively took dangerous swipes at his face, fighting its way out of reach and falling to the floor hard. It struggled to its feet, staring at the scientists though blurry eyes. When one made a move towards it, all hell broke loose.

It downed three whitecoats even in its weakened state before turning its attention to the door, blasting it out of the way with hardly a glance. It began to run down the hall, more than once colliding with the walls.

Ari heard the noise but refused to believe it.

XxXxXxXx

I pressed my finger to my lips again. "There. Another crash."

"Max, it's nothing." Angel protested for the fifth time. "You're imagining it. There's nothing out there…"

She trailed off as a louder crash sounded along with a shout. "I guess you're right." She whispered.

It took me a total of two seconds to realize what was going on. I raced over to the small window set into the door of the cell and shouted, "OVER HERE! HEY! LET US OUT! WE'RE ON YOUR SIDE!"

Both Angel and Sonic contributed to my calls, our shouts growing louder than the smashes. I saw someone pass the door…and then the metallic sound of a lock being unlatched.

The door opened and I more or less burst out of it, knocking our savior to the ground. As soon as Angel and Sonic were out, I re-latched the door, hoping to buy a few minuets before they realized we were gone.

"Who are you?"

The dark creature from earlier was slowly rubbing the place on his head where the metal door had smacked him. Confusion, pain and worry were clearly on his face, but it all lifted slightly when he caught sight of Sonic. "At least I know you're alive." He muttered.

"Ok, Max…Angel…this is Shadow. We'll work on getting to know one another later. What's the plan?" Sonic demanded as the shouts from down the hall began to get louder.

"That way." I pointed down the opposite way. "It'll get us out of here."

"What about Silver?" Shadow stumbled to his feet.

"I'll come back later. But right now we all need to get out!"

Whitecoats and Erasers were beginning to gather together, coming towards us in a huge mob. We put on speed and made our way down the hall only to run into a blank white wall.

"Crap!" I growled, slamming both fists onto it in frustration.

"Max, turn around. Slowly." A voice commanded. I directly disobeyed it and instead pounded on the wall harder, as if that would get me anywhere.

Another voice said calmly and evilly, "Do as he says."

Ari. The apologetic note that was in his voice earlier was gone completely. I turned around sharply, almost knocking Sonic to the ground with my wings. A group of whitecoats and Erasers were gathered at the end of the hall, unmoving. It was as though they dared us to try to escape.

Challenge accepted.

I darted at them, shouting a battle cry the entire way. Ari stepped out from the crowd and swung his huge fist at me.

Before it could connect with my face a streak of blue crossed my vision and Ari was suddenly flying across the room, hitting the opposite wall hard. Sonic stood in front of me, panting slightly. "He's bigger than I thought." He muttered.

"Get them!" Another Eraser commanded, and suddenly the whole crowd was onto us.

I struck out, smacking one across the face. Beside me, I could see Sonic, Shadow and Angel fighting for their lives. We were beginning to be pushed back…back towards the blank white wall.

When my back brushed up against it I knew we were in trouble.

"Yep, this isn't going to end up well." I sighed as the Eraser I was fighting drew back for the death blow.

I ducked under his arm and his hand went right through the wall. When he pulled his bleeding fist from it, I could see wires…mechanics…pulleys…and some hinges.

It clicked. Duuuuuh. Why didn't I think of this sooner?

I glanced towards the corner of the room while at the same time dodging the Eraser's attacks. There, set into the wall, was a fire alarm. And there were some deliberate cracks in the door around it.

"Get to the fire alarm and pull it!" I shouted. "NOW!"

I smacked the Eraser upside the head and darted for it, Angel and Sonic close by. Shadow was still a few meters down the hall, trying to keep the biggest Eraser I had ever seen at bay.

With one final punch, he managed to sent it sprawling. Shadow ran for us, or more like stumbled. Either way, he reached us.

"Pull it, Angel." I said, turning to face the entire crowd of whitecoats running at us, looks of desperation on their faces. We had found our escape.

Angel pulled the fake alarm and the entire wall moved. It was dark on the other side…almost too dark. When the sunlight pierced the small platform we were on I was nearly blinded.

"MAX!"

Something hit me and hugged me. I awkwardly rubbed Gazzy's back, blinking hard to get the giant green dots out of them.

"Are you all right?" Fang demanded.

"Get out of here! They're going to be right behind us! We need to fly!" I let go of Gazzy and jumped off the platform as it began to sink.

"Who?" Iggy asked.

"WHO DO YOU THINK?"

"But I can't fly," Sonic said awkwardly.

"Hey, Fang! Merry Christmas! You get to carry one of our new flock mates!" Before anyone could do anything, I grabbed Shadow's arms and lifted up into the air. He wasn't actually that heavy, so I guess that was easier on me.

"What?" I heard Fang growl, but the next thing I knew, the entire flock was up in the air. We instantly began to gain altitude.

"Oh, man…this isn't good…" I heard Sonic groan. "Do we have to go so high?"

"If you want to live!" Nudge said. "So what's your name? I'm Nudge. Actually, my real name is Monique, but I like Nudge too. Except when we're trying to blend in with normal people I'm Krystal."

I glanced over at Sonic's face and almost dropped Shadow on account of holding back laughter. He cast me a creeped-out glance and said lamely, "I'm Sonic the Hedgehog."

"That's a good name too! So…can you run or something? Is that why you're Sonic? Like supersonic?"

This was going to be a long flight.

XxXxXxXx

We had to land sooner or later to avoid Shadow's and Sonic's arms from numbing to the point of falling off. And besides, Fang and I were dying for a break.

We began our journey again in a slightly different manor. I found out that if Shadow held tightly onto my shoulders and hunkered down between my wings, it was a very effective flying option. Same for Fang. We were now flying silently over some large city.

"Max?" Angel flew up next to me. "When are we going to save their friend?"

"I don't know." I said. Our two new companions had fallen asleep long ago. I don't blame them. I myself felt like I was sleep-flying.

"Soon, right? I mean…we're not just going to leave him there, are we? The whitecoats will hurt him."

"We'll go back, Angel. Soon." I promised. Although even I didn't know when 'soon' would be.

"I just realized something." Fang was suddenly where Angel had been seconds before. "We found a golden ring nearby where you had been taken. Shadow has three similar rings around his wrists and ankle. I think he lost this one."

"Hold onto it until we land somewhere." I said. "Aw, screw this. Let's land now. I see a place that looks pretty deserted."

We slowly circled the area a few times and then touched down in the middle of a small forest. Angel and Gazzy curled under a few bushes together while us bigger people went to find different shelter. A couple low hanging tree branches were perfect.

XxXxXxXx

More on the way. Writer's block has sort of kept me from updating more…I'm working on it, though. Review, please!

If these later chapters are lame…I'm sorry. Ideas are running out…

Until next time,

Hasta la Vista, Readers!

Lordoftheghostking28