Chapter 27

"…huh" was all Max could say as he looked at where Kinswell had just been before making his exit.

Max…. Max must be a common Lagomorph name, right? I mean, admittedly don't remember anything about that place he mentioned so I can't deny what he said... but that doesn't mean I'm some monster that went mad and destroyed…

"AH God! Who am I kidding. The description fits me like a glove… and how many apocalypses and end of the world prophecies have I been in? Destroying one army facility when I was younger seems the baby steps to what I do now…"

Except Max found this different. This seemed somewhat personal. When fate handed him a metaphysical big red button that would lead untold destruction, which it did on far too many occasions, he would be slamming his fist down with a childish grin before anyone could read him the fine print. But being told this might have been where it all started. Where he went from normal if not odd Lagomorph to the… person he was today. He didn't like to think there was some dark hole in his past that was to blame… or to thank for what he was now.

Max was knocked out of his thoughts when he spotted Stitch looking at him. He didn't seem to annoyed in anyway, even with his body tied up he looked pretty content to just lay there.

"Um, blue boy. You all there?" Max asked, trying to wiggle he way free of the bent metal frame.

In a dopy voice Stitch mumbled "Stitch a bad person"

Max paused in mid wriggle and stared at Stitch. "I'm sorry. What?"

"Bad person. Bad people attack bunnies without warning…" Stitch said, voice slurred, almost sounding drunk.

"Really? Has this suddenly turned into a pity party" Max said incredulously

"Stitch not a good per-"

"Ok, great to hear!" Max said, cutting Stitch off. "Now you know what you can do to get back in my good books? Get yourself and me free. Sound like a plan?"

Stitch looked at Max, still with that dazed look in his eyes and with sluggish jerks, snapped the metal bars around him like twigs.

On shaky legs Stitch slowly walked over and with the same slow and somehow lazy effort, broke the metal frame wrapped around Max.

"Right. Good to be free" Max said happily as he stretched. His good mood though was shot when he saw the remains of his prized Lugar. That thing had been with him for more years then he could count. It had gone good work in its time, fatally apprehending fleeing perpetrators.

"Need to go. Go home… stop making more trouble" Stitch said, eyes glued to the floor. He looked terrible.

"Hmm, OK Stitch. I have a feeling you are still under the effects of that other Lagomorph friend of ours. I don't know how to break the effect but if TV has shown me anything…"

Stitch had just enough time to look up to wonder what Max was talking about before Max's palm slapped sharply against his face. Stitch rocked back, stunned.

"Feeling your old self, whatever that is?" Max said happily.

"Stitch need to go hom-" SLAP

"Hehe, this is satisfying. Stitch, do me a favour and don't avoid this next one"

Stitch looked lost as he saw Max's hand go slowly back and rush forward and meet sharply with his cheek. It actually stung.

"Need to… need to stop-" SLAP

"Well if you're not gonna stop me, I'll just keep doing this. No idea if this is helping you, but it's certainly helping me" Max said

SLAP

"I think that's-"

SLAP

"That is-"

SLAP!

Max reached back for another swing but Stitch's hand's reached out and violently grabbed both his arms. Max still kept his cheeky grin even as the calm passive face of Stitch transformed into one of barely restrained fury.

"You. Stop. Now" Each word came out in stone.

"You back together?" Max asked conversationally.

The anger slowly dissipated from Stitch's face as he looked around. He seemed to come to a realization.

"Kwishta!…. He messed with my head" Stitch said, sounding more himself, though still in that gnarled broken voice of him "…It turns out I don't like that"

"Oh good, you're not talking in the third person." Max said happily, still held off the air in Stitch's grip.

Stitched sighed and let go of Max. "Ok. Whatever that other bunny did has worn off. Thanks for-"

Stitch was interrupted as Max slammed his head hard against Stitch's, flooring him.

"FYI" Max said casually as he as he leaned back and looked down at the stunned experiment "That was for everything BEFORE you got hypnotised. Seriously, you ruined my carefully laid out plan. And did you hear me? Carefully and plan? I make it a point to avoid either of those words and their meanings but for this case, I made an exception."

Stitch slowly got up and looked ready to pounce on Max "You… urgh… Ok. Ok. I'm sorry. I knew a Lagomorph took Jumba… and he came here. You seemed best fit"

"Hmm. I see. OK. How about this. You go back to my apartment building and leave the actual detecting to me. How does that sound?"

"Where are you going? If you're going after other bunny I come. Need to get Jumba back."

"He's gone. And I… I need to clear my head and think. Anyway, your pals Pleakley and Bubbles are there."

"Ok, I'm going… " Stitch said, shaking his head one more time, as if to clear some residual fatigue from the fight and began walking to the exit.

It was only a couple seconds later as Max scoped up the remains of his gun that he heard Stitch say "…wait, where do you live?"

It was only a few minutes later after cleaning up at the warehouse, finding Agent Bubbles and collection of other secret service goons unconscious, waking them up, explaining what had happened and finally getting Stitch dropped off at his apartment, Max was driving passively through the streets of New York.

After multiple days in that box he had lost all bearing on the time of day. To find it was late evening though made him a little happy. More likely to find some good old criminals. A pick pocket, purse thief, maybe even a good old hold up in a conveniences store? Something simple. That's what Max felt like he needed. Something un-complicated… except.

Except I don't feel like savaging something. The universe has gone insane… or I've gone sane. Either way things are just wrong... I thought driving around would clear my head but it's all still buzzing around in here…. Think I need to make a house call

30 minutes later

Once again Max found himself inside the hallway leading to Philips office. He should have been considerate and called ahead of time. But after sitting in a box for three days, learning all this stuff just now...

He convinced himself that he was here purely to get another look at his own memories. Use that TV, apologies to the doctor and just be on his way, for the case. But honestly, he just wanted an excuse to talk. It seemed every time he came to one of these sessions either he would feel… well not better, but more content at least. The doctor was like that wise neighbour you got in those sitcoms who always gave that advice that precisely resolved whatever random problem was affecting the main character.

Wasting no time or manners, Max knocked twice on the door and without waiting for an answer, opened it and walked inside.

Thankful he hadn't caught Philips either away, asleep or with another client, Max noticed the doctor in the kitchen area of the main room making, not to Max's surprise, a cup of coffee.

Philip on his part looked mildly surprised to see Max just storm into his office.

"Max. Our session isn't until tomorrow" He said casually, leaning on the raised table and taking a sip of his coffee.

"Yeah. Bit of an emergency… is there such a thing as an urgent psychiatry session?" Max asked as he walked in.

"Usually an urgent session can be handled over the phone if a patient is feeling particularly harassed by his personal problems. And that only covers those not suffering from physiological problems that can affect their mental wellbeing" Philips said, as if listing off so description learnt in some long ago lesson. It sounded scripted.

"Well doesn't matter. Need urgent session now. Need to do the whole TV inner memory thing now. Chop Chop" Max said, not quite hiding the tension in his voice.

Philips however didn't appear to be in any hurry to do anything. He just took a long pull of his coffee and when done let out a contented sigh.

"Max. If you honestly feel the need to go through that hypnosis session again, I will happily comply… but first-"

"No no no" Max said waggling his finger to stop Philips from continuing. "No going into my feelings and talking this out. I actually NEED to get those memories. Fate of the planet involved. You know how it is"

Philips raised a single sceptical eyebrow. "Actually I don't, though I consider my work important for those I serve."

"Well lucky you Doc. You get to, in a tiny way, be involved in a plot that has the fate of the planet in the balance" Max said, raising his arms as if Philips had won an award.

"That may well be Max, but I still think if we are to have a sudden session, you should at least tell me why you-"

Philips was cut off as Max walked over to him and said, with pleading in his voice. "Ok, I'm begging now. Really begging, no jokes. I really need you to one, take me at my word and just let me use the TV to continue with that dream… and two, never tell anyone I actually begged for something. I have a reputation"

Philips sighed. "Ok" He said with a gentle voice as he walked around his counter and over to his desk, where Max remembered the TV was stored "We can go ahead with the hypnosis."

Philips leaned down, grabbing the portable screen and placing it on a stool in front of the couch.

Max, happy he was finally able to dictate how things went in his session with Philips, was about to launch himself right into the couch, but was stopped by Philips

"There is still a problem with us continuing with the hypnosis, Max"

"Oh for the love of- seriously?! What is it? What redundant task or ****ing quest do I need to do to just get a-"

"You need to relax" Philip said, breaking into Max's tirade.

"… Come again?"

"You are too emotionally stressed to be properly susceptible to the hypnosis."

"What?" Max said, a forced and rather worrying looked grin springing up to try prove his point "I'm not stressed out. Don't be silly… you're silly"

"Max, your whole body language is telling me, clearly, you are stretched thin. You're shaking hands, the twitches you've made since you got into my office, everything. If you want to have the best chance at succeeding, I would recommend calming down."

"…Ok…. OK, I can do that. I can do that…" Max said, making each statement almost sound a question.

Philips didn't look convinced. "I don't know if your work has been getting more stressful or you believe these sessions are affecting you, but my honest opinion Max, would be to just get a good night sleep. You look haggard"

"I could do that. Or I could get some of that wonderful caffeine into me? That sounds like a plan, right"

"Caffeine does not exactly induce calm. Fatigue and stress are two different things" Philips countered

"Ok. Fine. Caffeine out the window. But you know what? Nicotine sounds like the perfect alternative." Max said, suddenly aware of just how much he needed a cigarette.

"Max. As I have asked before, please do not smoke in my apartment" Philip said, all humour dropping his voice.

"Fine then. I'll just light one or two on your balcony. Won't be long" Max said, desperate for a quick solution.

For the first time Max could remember since meeting him, Philips looked something between anxious and… angry? It wasn't an expression Max really thought belonged on the jovial Doctor. But now…

Must really hate smokers, Max thought as he walked over to the double doors to the balcony.

"Max, if you insist on smoker, please take it outside!" Philips shouted. He actually shouted, Max thought as he turned in surprise, hand just on the door knob.

"Um… I am going to do it outside"

"Yes, but…. But not in my property. I don't want cigarette buds on-"

"I'll just flick the ash and the bud on random street pedestrians, so don't worry" Max said, honestly still a little shocked to see Philips turn in personality so harshly.

"But, no!"

That was all Max heard. All he heard as he turned back to the double doors, put his hand on the handle and watched in mild surprise as he hand passed through it, followed by the door, where upon his now unbalanced body followed after it.

Taking a step forward on the grab, Max felt a horrible shock pass through him as his foot went straight through the floor and he followed with it. He had just enough time to see the door be replaced with the dark city outside as he twisted violently and made a grab for something. He didn't care what it was, as long as it was real and solid.

He had just enough time to grab with his flailing right hand for a piece of something that felt like wood and stop his descent.

"What the hell!?" Mas shouted as his now swinging body was shifting so much that he could see the outside world of New York City followed by a dilapidated apartment as he fazed back and forth through the wall. The wall of the floor below Doctor Philip's office.

"Um… what's going on. And why do I have a horrible sense of Deja vu?" Max said, getting over his initial shock and already climbing up through one floor back into the clean and welcoming view of Philips apartment. Max could even see his own body pass through the immaterial floor as he climbed up.

Max got up and out and walked back, if now tentatively, onto what he hoped to be a normal solid walking surface.

That experience of falling and seeing his body pass through what was obviously supposed to be solid… and then it came to him.

"A Mental Web. That's what Yog-Soggoth called it. Why am I in a Mental Web?" Max asked, still too shocked to actually process what had just happened. He looked up expecting Philips to look just as shocked at all this, but instead he looked… resigned?

He was leaning against his desk, now giving Max an angry glare.

"Months of planning. Of preparation and rehearsal. All that effect up in smokes… because of a nicotine addiction." Philips spoke not in his usual calm, soft voice but something more refined and condescending.

"Um, Doc?" Max asked, shock finally giving way to good old detective suspicion.

"I would like to try and describing in it some way as ironic. But really it's just bad luck and good old stupidity as always."

"… who are you?" Max said simply. As he spoke, he noticed the floor, the balcony, everything around him infact start to bubble and distort. Everything was fading away, as it had done in back in the warehouse when the pit appeared. Only this one was much bigger.

Max watched as, in one sudden wave, everything caught up in the illusion disappeared. He could see in a spreading circle around him all the clean polished wood flooring turned warped and moss ridden. In fact everything was like it now. All the beige walls and the paintings littered around the room transformed into water worn and ripped wall paper and stained plaster.

It looked like the entire apartment, once the illusion had fully disappeared, had aged a few decades. A few decades containing much abuse. The only pieces of furniture inside the entire room were the stools Max had sat next to the now none existent kitchen unit, the couch, which looked like some hobo with incredibly poor hygiene problems had slept on, and the desk, which looked just as worn and run down as everything else in the apartment.

The desk which the glaring Doctor Philips was leaning against casually.

"You have no idea of the effort it took to create the place, over the ruins of this pig sty. The precision required to make this all real… and as is no surprise, only takes one idiotic move by you to destroy."

"… Ok, I've no idea why you decided to screw with me or what you did to me while I was here... Kinswell" Max said, though hardly feeling confident in his guess. Admittedly Kinswell was the only person he knew who knew how to make these god damned Mental Webs things, but something about the way Philips spoke sounded horribly familiar.

"You are truly a pathetic excuse for a detective Max" Philips said coldly.

….Oh No… Not him…. God, not him, Max thought as a resigned dread fell over him

As if to answer the sudden realisation, Philips transformed, changing from the kindly bearded human with the receding hairline. The casual shirt and jeans melted away to be replaced with a smart suit and tie. The human features and body started to shift and shrink. The ginger hair was transformed into white fur surrounding his now shorter body… a shorted body now sporting a pair of large, pointed ears.

With a patronising grin Max remembered clearly from their first meeting, his super ego, The Narrator, or simply as he called himself at the end, Walter, stood there, staring darkly at Max.

"Surprise"