Taking up the Mantle

by Rinpoo

Much has changed in the past decade since the defeat of Sonic the Hedgehog and Princess Sally Acorn. Robotnik's absolute power and cruelty are left unchallenged as the war escalates to greater heights. Can the youth of Knothole change the fate handed to them? Or will they fall victim to this vile, decadent world of brutal tyranny?

18. All That's Left

Authors Note. I am recovering slowly while writing this chapter with an eyepatch for the past few months due to a medical emergency. This chapter is fun, and it feels good to finish it despite the pain I feel.

To the guest that asked if this was on hiatus, there is no hiatus for this story. I always write it no matter what is happening in my life, even if it is slowly.

Legal Trash. Sonic and everybody else is copyright SEGA/Archie comics. Except for Max, Annie, and Sonia. I created them in my rattled brain; if you like my OC's use them and let me know. It'll be fun; we will have tea.

Chapter 18. All That's Left

Endless green beauty as far as the eye can see. Once proud and full of abundant life. Tails could see it; he could smell it. It is as if he'd returned to a place that could no longer exist.

Tails' eyes peered up at the setting sun casting its orange glow on the land below, and he took in a deep breath. His lungs filled with the precious clean air, long since corrupted by pollution and abuse.

"Hey, little buddy, you look troubled." Sonic's voice pierced the quiet serenity.

Tails looked back as he stood atop the endless green of Emerald Hill and could offer no explanation as to why this apparition was speaking to him. He turned his body towards Sonic out of respect, and he merely shook his head, feeling despair instead of hope as he looked upon him.

"I don't know… I just feel like the war is lost, and all truly is hopeless." Tails older, tired visage responded while looking upon his ageless hero.

Sonic shook his head and smirked. "Now, if you start thinkin' like that, then, of course, it is lost. When the goin' gets tough, you just gotta' keep running."

Tails blankly stared at Sonic. By this point in his life, he was much older than the image of the person he looked up to and adored.

"What do you do when you are too tired to run, and your breath struggles to fill your lungs?" Tails asked the ghost standing there, feeling even in this beautiful place that the end was nigh for the Freedom Fighters.

Sonic gave a gentle smile and walked over to place his arm around him. It felt so real to Tails that he almost started crying while standing there.

"Well, little buddy…"

"That's when you begin to jog."

….

….

….

….

….

….

….

….

….

"Sonic…" Tails moaned out as his eyes began to adjust to the world when he opened them. The room was well lit, and he felt as if he had been beaten within an inch of his life.

"Ohhh…." He moaned as he pushed himself up, only to find that the pain radiating from his left hand was incredible. When he turned his gaze to look at it, he saw that there was a crossbow bolt going directly through the center of it.

"Ah…" He whimpered as he held his wrist. Then turned his hand to look at the pointed end of the projectile.

The wound's leakiness concerned him so much that he didn't wish to see it and averted his eyes.

He cast his gaze upward and could see that he was in a thick steel cage fixated to the cavern-like stone wall. His belongings were stripped, and the crossbow bolt was left embedded into his hand for some reason.

Tails was in a lot of pain, and after some brief thought, he decided that he needed to address the injury himself no matter how uneasy it made him.

He reached over and pulled a somewhat dirty blanket from the left side of the floor, put in there for prisoners, and placed his injured hand over it.

Then, he used his thumb to bend the pointed end of the bolt. After applying pressure, he started to feel pain shoot up his injured hand and through his entire arm.

CRACK!

"Ahhh! Shit!" He yelped as he quickly snapped the head off of the bolt.

Once it was just a wooden stick through his palm, he yanked up as hard as possible, releasing the thin pole that was deeply embedded. Blood spatters came with it, and once the hole in his hand was free of its clog, it began to bleed profusely.

He quickly pulled off his ruined leather glove with a cry of pain and then tossed it to the side. He then grabbed the dusty blanket and wrapped it around the wound, applying as much pressure as he could. It hurt so incredibly bad, and he had lost all use of it. It was so swollen and inflamed.

"Goddamn… Radcliff bastards." He choked as he breathed in and out heavily to try and control his pain.

The stabbed arm was throbbing with his hand now, and he determined that the sword had only pierced the meat and not connected with the bone. It had a dirty cloth already tied around it as if haphazardly treated to keep him from bleeding out.

"…"

He sat there for over twenty minutes, gathering himself until he eventually managed to lift to his feet. Once there, he bit into the blanket and ripped the chunk of cloth that was wrapped around his hand.

Tails spit out the nasty tasting dirt-covered cloth and then placed the wrapped hand against the cage's bars. He used it to hold the dressing closed until he could use his right hand to tie it.

It took a moment to get the knot on it, but he bent over and used his teeth to pull it as hard as he could so that it pressed firmly against his bleeding wound.

"Ah…" He winced when he was done.

….

….

….

"I see you have made yourself comfortable." He heard the unmistakable voice of Lady Radcliff echo out to him.

Tails looked over through the bars and could see her standing there with a smirk on her face. It made him wonder if she had stood there and watched him try to treat himself.

"…."

"Speechless! Just like our dear little prince. It must be a thing with you forest animals." She looked at his bandage and put on a sad face. "Ohhh, that looks like it hurts quite a bit. I am sorry for that. I instructed the knights to leave that in at least so that you had something to entertain yourself with when you woke up."

"To hell with you, raiding scum!" Tails shot back from his place behind the bars, still unable to let his rage go.

"Tsk, Tsk… Such a mannerless cur you are. I would have expected more from someone who works alongside royalty."

Tails shook his head and grabbed hold of the bar with his right hand. "How could you do this!? How could you betray your own people!? Why!?"

Sarah walked forward and got just barely out of his reach. "Why? Why not? I have merely provided for my citizens and given them a life they deserve."

"At the expense of the war effort! Of your own kind!" Tails shouted angrily.

She shook her head. "You look down on me? I find that laughable. The war was already lost over twenty years ago, if you fool animals would have accepted Lord Robotnik's rule, if you would have worshipped him as he deserved, then things might not be so dire as they are now."

"You're completely delusional if you think that!" Tails yelled.

"Am I? What life have you led, boy? My people are fed and safe, my people live in blissful ignorance of the miserable world outside these stone walls. You, are you saying you, no… all the young children, aren't raised to be soldiers in this war without choice?"

Tails stared at her in silence.

"Yes, I know of your kind. Struggling endlessly against those more powerful than you will ever be, then crying when you are bested." She said as she crossed her arms in front of herself.

Tails knew she had a point, and while fighting this war was never a choice for him, it still didn't mean that her motivation was correct or not transparent at all.

"You're full of shit… You highroad me when it is blatantly obvious your motivations are self-serving. It is all about you and what you will gain. I know you did something to Severa, and it is no doubt in my mind you had everything to do with Cream's misfortune as well. You are entirely selfish!"

Lady Radcliff laughed a bit. "I, like any other animal. Don't think you are any different, coming here trying to benefit from our fine city." She paused and looked at her neatly trimmed nails. "As for Severa and Cream, I felt bad that everyone had escaped or were killed due to your interference, so I sent at least one of them to Lord Robotnik as compensation."

Tails felt his heart sink at the evil thing that had happened. Severa was home and excited to be so, but now, she was in the clutches of that tyrannical lunatic. "Severa…."

"Don't feel too bad, she wasn't the first, and trust me when I say, she won't be the last…" Sarah smiled brightly at Tails.

Tails could see her intent for him, and it grew ever puzzling to him how such a grotesque alliance ever formed. It was unreal and uncharacteristic of Robotnik.

"None of this makes sense..." He eventually said.

Lady Radcliff just stood there and placed her hand to her chin as if thinking, then she posed him a question. "Do you know who my father, Conwell Radcliff was?"

Tails stared at her blankly and in a state of confusion. He didn't understand why it mattered at all in the slightest.

She just smirked and put her hands down at her sides. "Of course, you don't. Otherwise, you'd of never come here."

"…"

"Conwell Radcliff was a scumbag, a criminal, a swindler, and a con artist. One of the best this side of Mobotropolis before the war, and he was the only one who ever convinced Robotnik to let him and another animal free after capture."

"You're full of lies… Robotnik would never…" Tails said, feeling like all she did was talk falsehoods.

"Oh, it is true, and because Sirus Redford had credibility. So too did Conwell gain it, in a world ready to forget his sins." She said.

"Redford?" Tails said.

She eyed him and kept her smug smirk on her face. "It was through pledging the defeat of the Freedom Fighters and his most hated enemies that my father and Sir. Redford lived, and it was when they delivered their first village to their new lord that Robotnik realized their usefulness."

Tails looked visibly hurt, hearing this information as he put the pieces together in his mind. Sarah not only killed her own sister for her self-interest but so too had Redford betrayed his knighthood for his life.

"That's right!" Lady Radcliff became louder, seeing his discomfort and sadness. "It was Sir. Redford that had the idea to use the old signal emitters to draw in fools and then loot their villages once they were decimated. It wasn't hard for them to build a new society when they had much to offer. Feed the ignorant masses some bullshit, kill or ship those off who don't buy it."

Tails became ever more horrified that this had taken place for so long, and undetected for that matter. He felt a sickness overtake him as he thought of Cream and just what this all meant for her.

"Cream…" He blathered out audibly, much to Lady Radcliff's amusement.

"This world, it has no place for animals like her, and because she became Redford's 'daughter.' She ended up being just as much an obstacle as my idealistic younger sister to those of us that know how things really work in this world." She said.

Tails shook his head, knowing full well now that Cream's adoptive father was the main reason her mother was taken from her. Killed or Roboticized, he couldn't be sure, but he felt despair with the understanding of how much she came to love him.

He looked at Lady Sarah weakly and simply made the only defense he felt he could. "Cream is smart… You underestimate her and what she can do…"

Lady Radcliff blinked and then let out a rather spontaneous laugh. "Cream? Face it, you know it as well as I do the girl's an idiot. The only reason she has anything is that Sir. Redford spoiled her so, if she hadn't been protected from protocol, she would be worshiping the long-dead royal family like the rest of the young dolts." She moved closer to Tails and placed her hand on the bar.

"As long as I resented Cream, she has succeeded at one thing, and that is bringing me a prince to mold into my image…" Her hand slid off the bar, and she looked like she was trying to bait Tails into making a grab for her.

He just continued to hold onto the bar with his right hand and rest his throbbing left one at his side. "Max will never side with scum like you. You're even crazier than I imagined if you think so."

Lady Radcliff just shook her head. "Why, I already have. He is considering staying here as we speak, and once he comes to me like a good boy, I will have the most precious resource in the animal world. If he doesn't?" She looked at Tails mockingly. "Then I am sure Lord Robotnik would be overjoyed to be given a member of the 'royal family' on a platter."

Tails was silent, but the gravity of the situation was beyond serious. It seemed like either way, Max was in great danger, and who knows what they would do with someone expendable like Annie. Her intent to ship him off to Robotnik was assured, and he felt utterly helpless.

After a moment of silence between the two, Tails eventually said the last thing he could. It came out low and extremely venomous. "Robotnik will come… He will tear you the fuck apart…"

Sarah blinked, not expecting him to say that, and the tone at which he spoke almost made her shiver. After another moment, she just shook her head. "Hardly, Robotnik knows not where we reside, and we merely communicate safely through drop off and pick up coordinates." She stopped and returned to her cheery disposition.

"Though, don't think you will get the opportunity to speak with Robotnik about us. We send all of our 'gifts' to him in various forms of 'incapacitated.'"

Tails just stood there looking defeated because he and his kind essentially were. Even had he not lost his mind to his emotions, doom was always looming over them the minute they decided to come here.

It made him regret ever saving Cream's life, even if it were the right thing to do. Her death would have spared the last of the Freedom Fighters from extinction, at least, for a little while.

"Now that is the look I like to see… That is why I had this chat with you, dear fox. There is nothing you can do, there is nothing you could have done, and there is nothing you will do. Radcliff will live on and prosper, and you will be erased from this world as you should have been so long ago." Lady Radcliff said as she turned and left Tails to sulk in his cage.

"Now if you will excuse me. I have a prince to wait for." She taunted him again as she began walking away from her prisoner.

She was quickly replaced with two armor-clad knights to guard him until his eventual departure to Robotropolis.

...

Max quietly sat in a shop that served freshly cooked food, and he had not moved or returned to Cream's in a few hours.

A commotion had stirred in the time since he entered, but not soon after it had happened, a Knight had come and demanded all stay inside while she blocked the exit.

Even after all this time had passed, the knight refused to let patrons leave, so Max had set himself into a torn-up booth as the commotion came and went.

Everyone in their hushed whispers talked about what it could possibly be until eventually, a second knight had stepped in and started quietly conversing with the door guard.

They both shot Max a subtle glance and then began to speak to the patrons.

"Listen, everyone! There is no cause for alarm! It has come to light that faulty support structures have caused a massive collapse in one of the shops. Nobody has been killed, and only three knights were injured in the initial incident." She stopped talking to stand out of the way of the door.

"You may now go about your business as usual, but we have barred entry to the area where the incident took place until further notice."

Animals that had been stuck there scurried out, while Max continued on quietly, lost in his thoughts.

He didn't believe it for a second, and while he had not witnessed any sign of Tails in this timeframe. He was sure that the earlier commotion and Tails' snooping were connected.

He looked over at the shopkeeper who was gently cleaning a cracked plate and asked him a question. "Do you happen to know the time?"

The animal behind the counter shook his head and placed his hands atop it. "Sorry, my lord. I have no idea. You have been sittin' around for quite some time, and I apologize for everything that has gone on, are ye ready for somthin' ta eat?"

Max thought and then eventually shook his head. "No… I think I will be on my way. I… Well, I need to see what my companions want to eat."

The owner just raised his hand a smiled. "Aye, as ye would have it, my lord. I do look forward to seein' more of ya."

Max turned away, and though he had lied to a kind man, he was not feeling the least bit guilty. His plans of eating had gone with the rising sickness within his guts. He felt deep in his soul that Tails' prediction had to come to fruition, and the direness of the situation was all but apparent to him.

Max walked out the door and traveled along the wooden sidewalk area. The entire district was crawling with knights, and it was clearly on some sort of lockdown. There was a blockade of them towards the hospital.

When he passed the armor-clad animals, they all stared at him. They weren't smiling like before and seemed to be disconnected from him, unlike the citizenry, which were still pleasant to him. It was just Jonathan and his squad earlier, but now it was everybody with a weapon.

Max eventually made it to Cream's home and walked through the iron gate. Once he did, he shut and latched it as if it would do anything to protect him.

His boots carried him up the first set of stairs, and he paused when he heard the sound of rough shuffling and whispering coming from above.

"Shit…" Max whispered as he gripped the hilt of his blade tightly and looked around himself suspiciously.

His thoughts went to Annie and her wellbeing. She and Cream had been left alone and unguarded all this time. It definitely sounded like a desperate struggle was taking place.

He was extremely quiet now as he drew the blade with his right hand and placed his metal one at the base to give it incredible force was he to use it.

After listening to the two male voices laughing, and the struggling intensifying, he cautiously moved upwards with apprehension—one set of steps, then another. Everything became louder and more audible until he turned for the next flight of stairs and saw a horrific sight.

Lynn was there, blood running down her face, as a fully armored knight was using a length of rope to strangle her from the neck. A second one watched on with amusement as he let out another laugh.

"Don't break her neck yet. I want to enjoy this." He raised his hand.

She struggled still, but it was apparent she was weak. With a terrible cut by her eye, she bled profusely, leaving what can only be described as a small puddle at her feet.

Max raised his blade almost immediately, and rage came over him that could not be put into words. He guided the sword with his right hand, but with his left one, he put his force behind it, so that the blow had maximum strength.

In an instant, the sword tore through the iron breastplate and wedged itself seep into the side of the laughing animal. Like ripping through a piece of aluminum, it was entirely effortless for him.

A blood-curdling scream of agony came, which forced the other Knight to turn his attention away from Lynn.

"My god!" He shrieked.

Max pulled the blade from the Knight's side, doused in blood, and took one other swing before the knight could even orient himself to the attack. The second strike was just with his right hand, and it connected with the neck of the victim.

Death was not instantaneous, and the knight dropped as he bled out profusely. The second knight by Lynn pointed his spear at Max, and his hands were shaking violently.

Max felt like he had so much power over him. The fear in the knight's eyes and the shaking of his lance told him that the damage he inflicted upon his companion was both brutal and unexpected.

Max raised his sword again and knew he was at a disadvantage against the long weapon. Still, in the short time that the knight had let go of Lynn, she had taken the opportunity to free herself from the noose and grab hold of him.

"No!" He struggled against her.

Like a vicious animal, she opened her jaw and sunk her teeth into his neck, and with her free hand, she grabbed hold of the spear he intended to assault Max with. He tried to pull away out of fear, but when he did, she tore his flesh and fur with her canines.

He grabbed the wound on his neck and desperately made a clumsy attempt to head down the stairs, where he was pierced callously from behind by Lynn.

Despite the blood in her eye, she struck the vulnerable point of his armor effortlessly, and it connected with his soft flesh beneath. Once downed and writhing in agony, Lynn finished him off quickly to not leave room for him to attract attention.

Silence now returned, and carnage was running down the steps of Cream's beloved estate. Lynn collapsed on the dirty stone floor, finally willing to catch a desperately needed breath.

Max gazed at his blood-soaked blade, and after the brief shock had worn off, he swung most of it off and sheathed it.

Moving to Lynn, he held onto her gently to check her, and it was apparent she had been beaten badly. A nasty deep gash was right next to her only eye, and it was evident to him that they likely had tried to blind her at one point.

"Lynn! What is going on?" He said. His mind was unable to keep up with the amount of adrenalin in his veins.

Lynn held her sore neck where she had been strangled and gasped while pointing a finger towards the knight Max had dispatched, hoping that the answer lay with them.

He went to the corpse with haste and noticed a bloodied parchment lying by his side—something he had been holding with a string attached to it.

Max picked it up and shook some of the crimson off and then slowly unrolled it to reveal it in its entirety. It looked clear to him, unrolled, that it was a sign of some sort to be hung by the string.

He lowered his eyes to the text and started to read what it said.

"We know this cripple lied for you, so we give her back to you in a way fitting of both of your crimes."

Max looked at Lynn as he processed everything and then realized this was something Jonathan was likely doing. He understood that Max was untouchable, yet needed to obtain retribution for his friend somehow.

The lack of value Lynn had to the people here seemed to be a convenience for her suffering, and he just happened along when cruelty took precedence over duty.

Max walked over, his boots slapping against the puddles of blood as he went, and he reached his gloved hand down. With little effort, he pulled her to her feet, much to her surprise, and held her close to him.

At first, she tried to break away but stopped as soon as she found standing easier against his frame. She held on, and Max looked over at her.

"I need to get to Ann… Just come with me, and rest. I will have this sorted out…" He tried to assure her.

Lynn just held on and followed his movements weakly while climbing the next several flights of stairs. Max was overly worried about Annie's safety now, and he wondered if Cream was still located within her home as well. If she was, he really was not sure if she could handle the brutal slaying of her people.

In truth, Max didn't feel bad. He didn't even care any longer. He was fully aware of his violent impulses now, and rather than reject them as he once might, he decided to finally let go of control.

When the two reached the top of the stairs, he noticed that Cream's door had some damage to it.

They seemed to have possibly planned to slaughter Annie and Cream, or at least capture them, though there was no way to be sure…

Max's anger was rising again, imagining the horrors they intended to inflict upon his friend. Still, he held hope that since the door had not been breached because of Lynn's arrival for her post, Annie was safe and sound.

Max held Lynn upright with his right hand, and with a quick, powerful swing of his left, the door let out a loud cracking sound. It swung open and sent splinters of wood flying, as well as the couch that had been moved to press against it.

When he entered, he could see that things had been arranged to blockade the door, with a makeshift set of cover at the balcony area.

Max let Lynn down on the sofa gently and shut the door behind himself. He then pushed the couch back in place to seal it. After a moment, he heard shuffling from the other end of the room and looked as Annie emerged from beneath the cover, holding her pistol in her hand.

"Max!" He heard her call excitedly.

She rushed from the balcony area and looked a mix of terrified and elated. "What the hell is going on? I wake up, and everyone was missing. Tails, you, Cream… People began trying to bust down the door! Then, all of a sudden, there was a huge commotion with a lot of noise and screaming from below."

Max felt an immense relief wash over him and then walked immediately over to the frantic girl and gave her a spontaneous hug. She widened her eyes and felt warm as her heart begin to race.

"I'm glad you're safe," Max said quietly, almost as if he didn't listen to what she'd said.

She struggled to speak for a moment, and he pulled out of the hug and slid his hands gently onto her shoulders. "Ann… Some serious stuff is going on. Go in Tails' room and check the clock there."

Annie stood there dazed for a moment, and then nodded once she snapped out of her rush of good feelings. She ran into the dim hallway, and after a few seconds, she called out. "It says it is about six."

"Damn…" Max said, turning towards Lynn, bleeding and watching him quietly from her place on the sofa.

Annie came back and began to speak. "Damn… Is she ok? What the hell happened?"

Max shook his head and quickly moved over to the bag of medical supplies. "Help me with this, and I will explain everything."

Annie nodded and started pulling out supplies from the bag while Max examined Lynn in the dim light.

After the brief exam, the two of them began working in tandem and started to clean Lynn's wound so they could next stop her bleeding.

Annie was the only one who had ever tried to sew, and though not good at it, she knew the responsibility fell on her to suture the wound on her face.

Lynn didn't even wince or make sounds of pain while Annie worked with unsteady hands.

As she patched Lynn up, Max began to explain all of the things that happened up to this morning. Omitting the details of his drunken escapades the night before and only touching on Lynn's assault.

Lynn kept an emotionless face while Max talked, and around the time he finished explaining what Tails had instructed him to do. Annie finished sewing the wound closed for dressing.

"Geez… I…" Annie stated, somewhat crestfallen. She actually liked the shops and fun, but to hell with this place if Tails was in danger.

Max wrapped bandages and medicated gauze around the face wound and pulled to make sure it was tight, after which, he moved over to the fridge and brought Lynn some water.

Lynn downed the water the minute it was handed to her, and after she was finished, she merely tossed the plastic container on the floor and wiped her mouth.

She seemed to be doing better, though how Annie had treated her was sure to leave yet another scar on her face.

Max began to pace anxiously, unsure of himself or what to do. It was beyond dangerous for the three of them, and Tails, along with Cream, were missing in action. Annie was watching him, and it was only making her nervous.

Max eventually stopped suddenly, in thought about the bag and kindness they offered all those valuable supplies. Then, he immediately dropped to the floor on his knees before the open bag.

He quietly began rummaging through the medical supplies, and the longer he did it, the more frantic he seemed to become.

"Max, what are you…?" Annie began.

Max ignored her, and then he started to run his furred fingers along the sides of the tote bag. Annie watched him intensely until eventually, he stopped moving his hand and pinched the bag.

"Hand me a knife." He stated.

Annie stood up and went into Cream's kitchen and returned with a small cutting utensil as he asked. He took it and began to cut the bag's inner lining, which caused a tearing sound to emit into the room.

Once done, he tossed the knife to the floor and reached his hand into the hole. A few seconds later, he pulled out a small circuit board with a small antenna attached to it. With it in his fingers, he brought it up to his face to examine it.

"Max?" Annie said again.

Lynn watched suspiciously as Max stood to his feet.

All the corruption and deception had honed his sixth sense for it. As soon as he actually considered leaving as Tails told him to, he recognized that their "gift" was not one to Knothole, but one to themselves.

He clenched it in his furred hand and looked at Lynn, who was now sitting upright on the couch. Her expression showed an understanding of what he had found.

…

The room was silent for a moment, but then Max broke it.

"You need to leave now, Annie." He said.

"What!? Without you or Tails? No fuckin' way!" She became indignant.

Max placed his left hand on her shoulder and stared into her eyes. "No, Ann… We need to do what Tails said, and this medicine is more important to Knothole than anything… I need to talk to Lady Radcliff, or else she will be extremely suspicious."

He paused briefly to eye Lynn, and then placed the small circuit board into Annie's palm. "Please, once you get outside, attach this to an animal and send it away from the direction of Knothole."

There was hesitation, but the whole picture was becoming clear to her. Whatever he had to do, it would make less sense for them all to stay together for an easy roundup. The small board's purpose told her that things were far more insidious than she had ever imagined.

She shut her hand, then her eyes, and after a moment, threw her arms around him, pulling him close for comfort.

"Promise me you will be ok?"

Max said nothing, and while it made him feel good to have her close, now was not the time for exploring such feelings. He released her and tried to smile.

"Tails and I will both be fine. You'll see… Just don't wait around for us, Ok? Once you do as I requested, take to the trees and hightail it to Knothole. Let Bunnie know Tails is missing and to be ready for an emergency."

She nodded sadly, knowing he was trusting her to fulfill this task. Despite her negative feelings of herself, there was a certainty she would not fail in her mind this time.

Max turned to the kitchen counter and grabbed the sack of coins he had gotten from Windser. Returning to where Lynn sat, he tossed the bag of coins on her lap.

"Lynn... I need you to make sure she gets out of here, no matter what." He said.

Lynn looked at him and then stared at the bag. After a moment, she opened it, and the minute she poured the high denomination coins into her hand, her one eye widened with shock. She quickly placed them all back into the sack and held it up to him.

She shook her head "no" as it appeared unacceptable to her, but Max moved over and closed her hands around it.

"It means nothing to me, but it will help you greatly in whatever it is you need during this time. Please… Get Annie out, and do as I request." He sounded as if he was begging to his servant.

She hesitated, and then looked at Annie, the two didn't really know one another, but it was apparent this meant a lot to her lord. So much so, that he was paying her a king's ransom to do it. She knew her life was in incredible peril, but such a fortune would likely allow her to slip through many a greased palm.

After she contemplated, she shook her head "no" and pointed to Max directly, and then towards the door of Cream's estate.

He was confused at first but then tried to articulate her emotions into words. "Only if I leave also?"

She nodded, pointed to Annie then the door, after which she pointed to herself and then him.

Max caught on and reiterated her stipulation. "You'll do as I ask, so long as you come to escort me safely after?"

She nodded with a smile. Despite her damaged and battled appearance, she looked sweet when she did so.

Max turned to Annie, who nodded in agreement and spoke. "I'll get the supplies to Knothole and inform my mother. You get Tails if you can and get the hell out of here."

Lynn stood up with the scheme set in motion and tied the fortune of coins to her belt around her light chain armor. She started to take the lead, and Max used his metal arm to pull the couch from the broken door.

With one last look at Max, Annie zipped up the medical bag and slung it over her shoulder, moving off into the stairwell with her personal guard. She was terrified for all their sake, and her mistrust of Lynn was only quelled by Max's apparent trust in her.

The two walked down the stairs slowly, and the minute Annie saw the grotesque brutality that lay a few flights down, she looked back up towards Cream's abode where Max was.

Lynn's injuries and him holding her as he came in painted a picture of what had occurred. In truth, she didn't want to believe Max would ever do such a thing to other animals, which made her feel disgusted in a visceral way.

Lynn didn't seem to care at all and bent down to loot the bodies that lie there. She ripped one of the cleaner helmets off and placed it onto her head, after which she re-grabbed the spear that had been embedded into one of the Knights.

Annie watched as Lynn used the cloth of one of their capes to clean the blood from the spear tip, after which she pulled the visor of the helmet down to conceal her damaged face.

As the moment passed, it was clear that Lynn was hiding who she was as much as possible, given the circumstances they found themselves in.

A nameless guard would not draw scrutiny, and Annie came to feel that the bodies belonged to the aggressors in the fight with Max and Lynn.

She stepped over the corpses out of some sort of respect, but couldn't help but have her boots dirtied by blood. Lynn took the lead and headed down the flight of stairs, keeping her armored body in front of Annie at all times.

When they arrived out in front of the estate, the swath of knights moving about the streets was alarming. Annie could now see this distressing situation with her own eyes. It gave her bad feelings all around, especially when her mind went to Tails.

Lynn quietly moved outside the gate, and the passing patrols didn't seem to notice her. They did, however, notice Annie and sneered and scoffed in her direction. She could sense their disdain, but for crimes, she could not fathom.

What exactly was going on? Why the shift to hostility? Tails had been snooping, or so she had heard, but what else was there to this? Her mind swirled with thoughts while she followed the silent knight before her.

The residential district was vacant, or at least appeared to be. Not a civilian was seen outside, and the knights themselves were not seen either. They seemed to all be concentrated in the social district as if protecting it from something.

When they reached the tunnel from their earlier arrival, Annie could see it was partially collapsed. There was substantial damage to the support structure. It was clearly no cave-in, and the distinct burn marks were instantly recognizable to her.

"Tails…" She whispered under a frightened breath.

He had attacked them, such a revelation almost made her want to turn and go running back to Max. There was blood to be spilled, and the dead in the stairwell showed that. Still, Lynn ushered her along with hand signals, and the two avoided going through the office of Lady Radcliff entirely.

Instead, they took one of the non-damaged tunnels straight through. The lights were dim, and it felt eerie compared to the more well-lit areas, but the two could hear the commotion and banter of animals along the other end.

When they reached the end of the long stretch, torches were burning along the walls, and they were back near the entrance of Radcliff itself. Knights continued to bustle about, both in training and as the first line of defense against possible intruders.

One female knight dressed in gilded armor held up her hand and began to speak.

"Hold soldier. What is your business? I have not received word of any guarded personnel passing through. State your business."

Lynn just stood still and stared, not speaking a word or making a sound. She was almost like a statue, with the butt of her spear firmly planted against the dusty ground.

The female knight appeared angered and slammed her spear against the stones, sending out a clanking sound. "What's a matter, soldier? Cat got your tongue? Or are you too good to speak to your commanding officer?"

Lynn remained silent and still, and Annie popped her head out from behind her. "Uhm… Pardon?"

The knight eyed Annie suspiciously with her two bags and then responded. "And just who are you supposed to be?"

"I am…" Annie started weakly, then cleared her throat to sound bolder. "I am Annie Marie D'Coolette. The confidante of Prince Maximillian. I have been instructed to return to our home with the gift given by Lady Radcliff. This knight was instructed to keep his mouth shut, for I grow bored with hearing from underlings." She said arrogantly.

The commanding knight looked over Lynn, then at Annie's black tote bag. A smile came across her muzzle. "Why, certainly milady. Forgive me for my ignorance, I will allow you through immediately."

There was an awkward pause, and then Annie pushed her and Lynn aside to take the lead. "Good, I am weary of this conversation and have better things to do." She continued to put on airs. "This way Buckethead. We must be off."

Lynn merely nodded from beneath the helmet and then followed past the commanding officer. There was no sense of relief having gotten through scrutiny. Almost every knight along the stretch to the iron door to freedom was staring at the two with suspicion.

Eventually, they reached the door, and after a moment, the guard in front of it unlatched it and opened it. Lynn grabbed a torch from the wall and moved her hand to wave Annie to continue on from behind.

When the two exited, they heard the door slam and latch behind them, and it was now that Annie knew there was no turning back for her.

She didn't know any longer why she let Max talk her into leaving him and Tails behind, but another part of her felt relief she wasn't trapped. It made her feel guilty and terrified all at the same time, but regardless, she knew her mother needed to hear of this, and if that was her role to play, so be it.

The once dark and claustrophobic tunnels were now substantially easier to navigate through with the light of the torch.

Annie crept through the narrow tunnels carrying both her bag and the tote bag full of medicine. It was a tight fit through the corridors, but she eventually began to see the opening all the way at the end. The sound of rushing water from the waterfall was echoing through to her ears now.

Lynn squeezed through first, and then when Annie reached the end, she handed Lynn her bags through the crevasse. After she made it through, she reclaimed them and quickly tossed them over her shoulders so that they hung from both sides.

Lynn looked back at the tunnel and silently slid the torch under the running water so that it snuffed out entirely. The night's shadows quickly took over, and Annie was curious about why she was getting rid of their light.

Never the less, she pushed the thought aside and stopped to orient herself, as she had not been out of that mountain for a few days.

The light that the moon provided was exceptionally bright to her eyes now, and perhaps that was why the torch was unneeded. Lynn ushered her further into the clearing, and they walked hastily until they were approaching the forest trees.

Lynn pointed towards them as she ceased her movement and turned her visor towards Annie. The metal reflected the moonlight off of it, and it was almost beautiful.

Annie hesitated at first but then began walking towards the trees. When she got near the edge of the tree line, she stopped to speak to Lynn.

"I… Well, thank you. I don't really know you, but if Max trusts you, then so do I."

Lynn merely moved her helmet back to look behind herself in the waterfall's direction and then just pointed to the forest again.

Annie could see that Lynn wanted her gone, so she merely said one last thing before she was to take off.

"Make sure Max and Tails get out. Please."

She took off into a quick sprint, and as she ran, she pulled the small circuit board from her pocket and disappeared off into the darkness of the trees.

Lynn turned and sauntered back to the center of the clearing. She then held her spear down next to her so that the point was facing the soil.

After a few seconds, the clanking of armor was heard. Then, three heavily armored soldiers came from around the side of the mountain. Two were wearing full plate armor, the third was in full decorative mail, all had their weapons drawn.

Lynn just stood there silently, watching from behind the helmet visor.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't, Blah. It seems like you're playing dress-up! I had a feelin' those amateurs couldn't handle you, and the fact that you are too mute and dumb to be adequate in disguise, well. It was rather easy to suit up and come after." The knight in decorative mail said while taking the lead.

After a moment, Lynn lifted her helmet off and tossed it to the ground. The clanking metal sounded as it toppled, and the knights, they had a laugh.

"Ay, you look better with that on. Your body is something to look at, but you definitely need a bag for that face of yours. Pity, though, I got here too late. That young rabbit was quite a looker." He chuckled while he held up his sword.

Lynn just stared with her one eye, emotionless. She held the spear in one hand and then began to lower her body closer to the ground so that she took on an almost feral stance.

The knights were amused even more, as they had never seen such a ridiculous stance. She was low to the ground and holding herself up on just her free hand and her toes, while she held the spear loosely in her other hand.

"Blah, it will be a pleasure to tear your head from your shoulders and bring it back to Jonathan. All the crimes committed against your brothers in arms shall find retribution tonight, there is no 'Lex' to protect you any longer."

With the point of his sword, the two heavily armored soldiers carrying spears and shields moved forward. Their heavy footsteps pounding into the dirt and the clanking of metal echoing through the plain.

Lynn waited, and when the two were in striking distance, she rapidly poked the spear forward. It caused the first knight to hold his shield up, and the second attempted to pierce her during her thrust.

When the strike was hurtling towards her, she rapidly shifted position into a roll and landed back on her hand and two feet.

The knight with the sword watched, and he was surprised at her mobility. Now it made sense to him why she always chose to wear a light chain. This fighting style was utterly alien to him, and it was likely that this is how she had slain the cadets in the mine some time back.

The knight with the shield raised attempted to thrust at Lynn, but the second he had his armor exposed, she evaded the attack and brought the spear into his leg.

Her attack was so precise that she had pierced the joint of the plated armor, sending him toppling to the ground screaming in agony.

"Oh, god!"

The second knight appeared to be hesitant and backed away slightly. Lynn saw the opportunity and quickly brought herself up to a standing position. She swung her foot and kicked the visor of the downed knight open. Without hesitation or mercy, she plunged her spear directly into his face.

Now that he was silenced, the second knight came forward, but Lynn had already removed the spear and was lowering herself to the ground once more.

The third knight issuing the commands began marching forward, sensing the increasing level of danger she was posing.

As the second knight closed in on her, the commander was inching closer as well. She was pincered between them, and she seemed to be waiting patiently.

The second knight attempted to smack her with his shield, but she once again rolled, and this time, it was forward. With the shield having missed, the knight was caught off guard when Lynn barreled towards him.

He attempted to back up to get a distance to use his spear effectively, but Lynn was already on her feet and holding her spear in both hands. She rushed at him as he backed away and sent all the force of her body into him. The metal handle of the lance made a loud noise as it connected with the chest plate.

The knight tried to get away, but his armor was so heavy that she merely used all of her weight topple him. Now that he was off-balance, it was easy for him to fall to the ground. Once he was there, he attempted to shield his face by dropping his weapon and shield.

Panic had overtaken the animal, but Lynn showed no mercy. She kicked his hand away, and just as the other knight, slew him while he was defenseless on the ground. She turned to face the final knight, and he stood before her, clenching his sword.

"Pretty impressive, but I am more skilled. If you think I will fall to your primitive nonsense. You have another thing coming."

Lynn just stood her ground and waited. When he reached her, she made a thrust at him, and it was so precise that he had to knock it away with his sword or risk having one of his joints pierced.

For someone with only one eye, she was incredibly precise. Despite her lack of depth perception, she could gauge distances with impeccable accuracy. It was baffling, and it made the commander a bit nervous.

With a swing of his blade, he attempted to retaliate before she could defend herself. Still, the lightness of her armor made dodging even quick swings relatively easy.

Once she had a distance, she had the advantage. They both knew that her spear could kill him before he could even get into range. Still, he pressed forward.

Lynn made several jabs as the knight took most of them to the chest. The armor was so strong in that area that it did absolutely nothing against him.

The commander swung his blade multiple times after the volley of thrusts against him. Lynn dodged two of his swings, but the third hit her chain armor. The blows did not draw blood, but she was winded by the force against her stomach.

She backed up, holding her midsection and struggling for breath as he continued his onslaught of swings. His weapon was lighter than hers and could be handled more efficiently. She had reach, but he had speed when it came to attacking.

She held the spear up and let the sword clang against it, sending painful vibrations through her hand that coupled with the fatigue and pain she was feeling.

When the knight felt his arm grow weary, he backed up and took a more defensive stance. Lynn gasped air into her lungs and reset, as she began to lower herself to the ground once more.

She waited for him as she had the others, and the knight took a step forward now that he had his stamina back. He stomped along the ground and was surprised that she made a piercing thrust for his joint once again the minute he came in range.

He blocked the blow, but it was now evident that it was not sight that was driving her strikes, but sound and vibration. His bulky, heavy armor made it easier for her to tell where exactly he was distance-wise, and it almost shocked him. She was utilizing such a thing to her advantage.

Her ability to memorize all the weaknesses of plate armor was concerning. She was like a war machine, utterly confident in her blows and decisions.

He readied his blade again and thrust it at her exposed head, but she nimbly dodged it without much effort. He brought his sword down to compensate and just barely grazed the top of her head with the sharp weapon.

Lynn pushed up and smacked him with the spear, but it had little effect. She made the distance between them, and a small bit of blood from her cut scalp was beginning to run into her fur and face. She breathed heavily and kept herself by the corpse of his companion.

The commander pushed forward, sensing she was tired and swung his blade in her direction despite the tiredness of his own arm. She blocked once, blocked twice, and then as his swing came slower than the others, she did something unexpected.

With the change in her hand's position, she threw her spear directly at his head with force. The shock and uncertainty that it could pierce his helmet caused him to franticly try to dodge out of the way in his moderately heavy armor.

Once he moved to the side and had his sword, not at the ready, Lynn quickly picked up the fallen knight's spear and used it to forcefully knock the blade from his extended hand.

With a clang, the sword was sent sailing into the air. It made a splash when it landed in the water by the falls. Disarmed, he held his hands up and backed away from her.

"Blah… Now… now don't do anything rash… You have disarmed me. Let's have a talk." He tried to sound calm.

Lynn moved forward with the spear pointed at him and then pointed at his helmet. He stood confused for a moment, then realized that she wanted him to remove it. With hesitation, he did as he was asked, revealing his fox face from beneath.

Now that she had easy access to his skull, she pointed to herself with her free hand and made motions as if she was pulling off her armor. As soon as he got the message, he began to dis-armor himself. Piece by piece, it fell to the ground until he was in nothing but his knight's tunic.

"All right… I have done as you have asked. What… what is it you intend to do now? Surely you cannot return to your old life after what you have done today." He said.

Lynn didn't seem to care for his words, and without answering, brought her spear up.

"Blah. I am unarmed." He reminded her, with his hands still in the air for her to see.

Lynn merely nodded without a hint of emotion, and with a quick thrust of the spear, pierced his exposed chest. There was a horrid yell and visceral attempt to grab hold and try to pull it from himself, but the second Lynn yanked it back, he was on the ground.

Death came rapidly with his heart ceasing to function, and Lynn began to toss off her own armor into a pile. Once she was down to her plain tunic, she began strapping the commander's pristine armor to herself. Part by part, it attached to her quickly, then once she had the full helmet on, she walked over to the edge of the water and stuck the fancy glove in.

After a minute of feeling, she pulled the sword from the water and sheathed it into the scabbard she had strapped to her belt. With little thought or reflection, she used what strength she had to march in the moderately heavy metal suit. She wasn't quite strong enough to have an easy time in it, but she sure pushed through it through sheer power of will and determination.

Barely fitting into the cramped hole and back through the darkness, she went, leaving the corpses of her "brothers" to rot in front of the mountain. Her concern now was reaching her lord, and hopefully, finding time for his subordinate within the city.

With the time that had passed since his meeting with Lady Radcliff, Tails had found himself full of anxiety and pain. He sat with his back against the stone wall, and his throbbing, broken hand resting in his lap.

His eyes settled on the guards that stood before him. They had not moved from their post, and his time was spent in silent contemplation of the things to come.

Worried more so about the teenagers than himself, and still scared for Cream's sake. He now understood truly what it must have been like for Aunt Sally and Sonic to be overly concerned with him as a child.

He lowered his eyes, remembering their faces and her darling funny kiss before bed. Her stories… He wished he could move time and be that child again, now more so than ever.

As the sound of clanking metal echoed, he cast his gaze back towards the guards but found it was not them making that racket. Instead, a female knight had stepped into the room, and she pointed directly towards him.

"It's time to take our offering to the drop zone. Lady Radcliff has made it specifically clear to incapacitate him, painfully, if need be." Her voice was strong and stern.

The two guards saluted, and the female walked to the bars and scoffed at Tails.

"Pathetic… Did you really think you would get away with your assault on our proud city?" She paused as she waited for an answer, but when Tails remained silent, she continued.

"What's a matter? Can't you speak, or are you like the Rabbit?" She taunted with implications eluding to unsavory things involving Cream.

The subtle remake made Tails pull himself to his feet using the bars and his right hand, then he stared her directly in the eyes.

"Leave Cream out of this. She has nothing to do with me."

The woman laughed and shook her head. "Oh, he speaks, perhaps I will have to cut that tongue of yours from your maw after all."

Tails scowled and responded once again. "If you hurt her, I'll make you regret it."

The knight was amused and placed her gloved hand to her breastplate. "Do you hear that, boys? He thinks he is the prince now!" She bowed disrespectfully. "As you command your highness!"

There was a bit of laughter between the three of them, and she eventually pulled a set of keys from her belt. After a second or two, the barred door swung open, and the two guards approached him on both sides, grabbing ahold of his arms.

The female knight in the middle reached her hand back, and with all the might she could muster, she punched Tails directly in the stomach.

"That's for your disrespect!" She yelled as he doubled over gasping for air. He was only still on his feet because he was being held.

"This is for your crimes against our city!" She yelled as she whacked him in the stomach again.

Tails began to cough and gasp while spit dribbled out of his mouth.

"This is for my enjoyment!" She smiled and brought her hand up to punch Tails directly in the face.

Blood began seeping from his nose immediately, and the two guards let him drop to the stone ground. With a thud, he landed on his chest and struggled for breath.

"And this… This is for Robbie." She said menacingly and filled with disgust.

She lifted her boot up and, as hard as she could, smashed it down onto his injured hand. Tails felt it as the already broken bones shifted more, and he let out a wail of agony.

She moved her foot along it, smooshing it against the stone, and then removed it. Tails cried out and rolled about the floor, attempting to stop the pain, but he was defenseless.

The female knight hocked up and then spit a giant wad of phlegm onto his head.

"Blindfold this scum. I will be escorting him to the drop coordinates with my squad. We will incapacitate him there so that we don't have to carry his sorry ass." She said.

The two knights nodded and took a piece of cloth that was hung on a rack. Tails barely had time to register anything or recover before it was forced upon his head.

Black and smelling of death and decay. It eventually dawned on Tails that it was a hood of some sort, and by the smell of it, it was likely used during some kind of torture or possibly beheadings.

He focused his mind, but his pain was so immense, and his breathing so labored, that he found he could do nothing but be pushed and pulled like a ragdoll by the knights in the room.

To his wabbly feet, and then forced and pushed forward. The more he walked, the more he got the hang of it again, but the knights were rough and pushing him into things as he stammered.

The pain of his hand scared him to the point that he wondered if he'd ever be able to use it properly again. It was so severely damaged, and he could feel the blood flowing from it beneath the wrap.

He felt a powerful kick to his back, and he flew forward, then his side hit some sort of wooden wall.

"Here, he is. Ready to go?"

There was some back and forth chatter, and then Tails was ushered along again. The sounds of knights, banter, and taunting were now in abundance, and it was clear to him that he was being walked along the wooden tunnels.

"Dirty Fox."

"Freak."

"Rip his arms and legs off for me!"

Tails could hear the animals' vocal disdain, and every so often felt a stone hit him, or the wetness of spit as it flew onto some part of his fur.

By the time he heard the knight that had crushed his hand, it was silent save for her voice.

"Ready to head to where you belong?" She asked, and then he felt as a spear point jabbed him in the back slightly, after which the pole side of it was thrust against his spine, sending him forward.

"Ah!" He cried out from all the abuse.

Laughter roared as the clanking of metal echoed out. It sounded big, like a giant cave that carried sounds well. He knew he was likely already on his way out of the mountain, but this couldn't be the claustrophobic way he had gone when arriving.

There were many footsteps around him, and he could tell numerous knights were escorting him. Too many to count even though he tried. Their constant insults and abuses of him never ceased, and they used every opportunity to knock him around with their metal weapons and armor.

Tails tried to remain strong and silent, but the pain they were causing him only increased the longer it continued. Even had he some trick or gadget to help, the sheer number of them on all sides ensured he would be slain if he tried anything funny. The longer the walk dragged out, the more clearly he recognized if he didn't do something, he was in for a horrid fate.

After an endless walk through the caverns, eventually, the sounds, breeze, and smells of the outside assaulted the senses he had. He was pushed along even faster and knew that his time was short. There was nothing he could do for the people he cared about any longer, let alone himself.

Cream, Annie, Max… They were on their own. Despite his misfortunes, he hoped against all measures they would survive and escape, even though it was definite by this point and time that he would not.

With another laugh and a kick to his back, he was pushed forward through bushes. No telling how long or horrible this process would be. He only truly feared what lay at the other end for him.

Robotnik…

Max sat in Cream's estate quietly. He was hoping against all the odds that Cream or Tails might show up at the last minute.

He wanted them to be ok, and he felt that gathering Cream meant that it would somehow lead to Tails. Tails himself showing up would make him feel better about leaving.

Unfortunately, though, the longer he wanted, the more he was sure neither of them would be returning home now, if ever.

After standing and skimming through the rooms, he resigned himself to the fact that he would have to move on as Tails requested, and change his tactics.

He might have to leave for now, but he knew Bunnie and the others would not abandon Tails, even if it meant fighting a losing war on two fronts.

Max sighed in exasperation and decided to wait no longer. He effortlessly moved the couch set against the broken door and entered the stairwell once again. Moving down, the sight of the slaying surprised him at first glance.

It was brutal, more so than he realized. Even so, he felt no remorse for the deaths, and he rationalized it as a kill or be killed situation.

He callously trampled over them and tracked through their coagulated blood. He knew they would be discovered eventually, and now only had a desire to be out of here before that occurred.

Once downstairs and out of the stairwell, he made his way through the gate and shut it so as not to draw undue attention. The city was now as eerily vacant as it was quiet, and the scant few knights that were still prowling about all gave Max suspicious looks as he passed.

Looks, that in truth, he no longer felt bad about. He knew deep down, killing them would be effortless, and through his attack on the animals in the stairwell today, he learned their armor would not protect them from the sheer force of his blows.

The residential district seemed to be on lockdown, and there were few soldiers along this stretch. Max quickly made it to the tunnel leading to Radcliff's office and slowed as he walked towards it.

He knew he had to deal with Lady Radcliff, though he had no desire to even look upon her because he was deathly worried for Tails.

Tails was smart, strong, and surrogate son to his father. Max couldn't help that it felt like quite a disgrace that he was about to leave without him. Requested or no, Max found this an unforgivable act of cowardice because Freedom Fighters stuck together.

The longer Max walked, the more his thoughts of Tails disconnected him from his task. He moved along the damaged tunnel and all the way to the Radcliff office in somewhat of a stupor.

Upon entering, it made the dear secretary jump, and she seemed to be wary of him the same way most knights were.

"A-a yo-your Highness! I-Uhm, well. That is, Lady Radcliff has been waiting for you in her office. She said you would be stopping by."

Max looked at her coldly, which made her shrink a bit, and when she moved out of his way, he merely walked to Lady Radcliff's door. To his surprise, her office was a complete mess, and parts of it had been damaged.

He knew this involved Tails and his disappearance instantly, but as he approached Lady Radcliff at her desk, he put on a faux smile in preparation for the conversation to come.

"Ah! If it isn't my darling young prince. I was getting worried you'd left without telling me." She beamed.

Max felt anger and disgust talking to her, but he hid it well by making his tone pleasant and comforting. "Now, why would I do that? I just needed time to think over the things you said… You made a rather compelling offer."

Lady Radcliff smiled and leaned forward, almost teasingly. "Do tell, and what was most compelling, dear prince?"

Max immediately appealed to her ego, knowing it was a considerable weakness of hers. "Why… you, of course. Power and luxury are one thing, but to learn from someone as sophisticated as you, well, that would be the most pleasureful."

Radcliff leaned back and smirked. Her cheeks a bit rosy, and her hand on her chin. "Oh, if it is pleasure that you are seeking. I have much to… Teach." She said in a manipulatively flirtatious manner.

Max merely smiled like a dolt, though he felt seething rage building beneath it all. This facade was painful, but a real test of his social ability.

Lady Radcliff leaned forward and then began writing onto a piece of paper. "So, I will just do the paperwork on your behalf, so that when you return, you will already have a penthouse sweet worthy of your name. At least, until we have a whole new place built for you."

Max paused and acted as if he were coming. "Sure! I cannot wait." He said gratefully.

She looked up from the paper as she eyed him up and down, and then placed the pen on the desk. "Well… I notice you have forgotten your gift from us… Was it not to your liking?"

Her tone was prodding and almost suspicious. Max knew that she was no idiot, and decided to double down on his act.

"Why, my most trusted confidante Annie, already left to our village with it. I had her move on ahead so that I could return with my personal guard, Tails." He pushed the name out as if implicitly challenging her to a battle of bluffs.

Radcliff seemed surprised at first but merely lowered her head to continue writing. "That is good to know, I do hope our gift is a sign of our good intentions and strengthening allegiance."

Max stared at her and boldly pressed the issue. "You haven't seen Tails, have you? He was supposed to arrive for our departure, and hasn't shown up."

Lady Radcliff stopped writing, and their eyes met one another's. For but a second, she sensed his suspicion, and he sensed her knowing.

"Why…" She began as she leaned forward confidently. "How would I know what your subordinates get up to?"

Max merely smiled innocently and nodded. "That is true, but I find it strange that Cream never returned home either…" He trailed off as he pretended to inspect her destroyed bookshelf.

She immediately looked up, and when he looked at her, the anger on her face was unmistakable. After a few seconds, she seemed to return to her normal pleasantness and stood up to stand before him.

"She has taken on her responsibilities as Lady Redford, and she is quite un-used to the demands it entails. You will have to forgive her for that."

She walked over to Max and put his right hand in both of hers. "I am sure Tails is fine. He likely met up with your little friend Annie and went ahead of you. If you would like, I could send some of my own men to not only escort you to your home but to take a look around for him."

Max merely patted her gently with his glove and removed his hand. "I suppose you are correct that Annie and Tails met up, especially carrying such important supplies."

There was a brief silence, and then Max turned his back to her. "I appreciate your offer for escort, but I really must be on my way. I think I can handle myself."

The second he started to walk, Radcliff rushed to the front of him and barred his exit. "Nonsense. I… I insist. I cannot allow our precious prince to run into trouble."

Max looked at her, and it was now he realized she didn't trust him at all not to snoop about for Tails, not only that, but she likely didn't trust that he had taken the bugged bag.

He kept his gaze on her face as she smiled pleasantly, trying to hide her insecurities. "I know Jonathan has been missing all day, but surely I can find somebody to replace him for your escort."

Max merely shook his head and responded. "No, I am quite fine. I will leave on my own and hope that you will deal with Jonathan abandoning his post when you get the chance."

Radcliff seemed briefly hesitant as if she had no control of the situation and then cleared her throat. "Yes… It seems he has not done as I have instructed, and he will be punished for that." Her voice was quiet and trailed off near the end.

Max smiled and turned away. "Worry not for me, for I will be back happily with my companions." His words were cheery and filled with life.

Lady Radcliff exhaled a slight sigh of relief. "Thank you for being so patient, your highness. You will love living here. I can promise that much."

Max nodded quietly and started to walk out of the office. "Farewell Lady Radcliff. I will return within a few weeks once I have convinced the others to come."

Lady Radcliff waved gently as Max left her sight, but once he was gone entirely, she slammed her hand down on her desk furiously.

"Goddamnit Jonathan, you are fucking this up for me!"

…

Max merely sauntered out the door and down the now imposing tunnel. Many options lay before him, but quite a few he knew were the wrong ones to take.

Thankfully, he had the walk to himself, and he contemplated in silence how to go about things. While lost in his own mind, he lowered his eyes to the ground, and he was on autopilot.

Out of nowhere, as he neared one of the corners leading down a separate corridor. He felt someone grab hold of his body and quickly cover his mouth with their hand. After that, a rough yank happened, and he was pulled entirely around the corner and subdued.

At first, he thought he'd been had for what he'd done, then he speculated Lady Radcliff had gotten cold feet, but when he was turned around and faced towards a helmeted knight. He knew instinctively who it was and that Annie had made it through.

The warrior put a finger up and placed it where their mouth would be, demanding silence. Max merely nodded and shifted his gaze from around the corner he had been pulled behind. There was still nobody there, and so he turned back to look at the knight.

"Lynn…" He whispered. "I know it's you. I, I need to look for…"

Lynn interrupted by shaking her head "no" and pointed down the hallway leading towards the exit.

"We can't… I need… I can't leave without Tails." Max eventually finished what he started saying.

She once again shook her head and pointed to her hand as if she were wearing a watch, then pointed to him.

Time was short, and Max was getting a clearer picture of the stakes. Radcliff had definitely let her façade slip a bit, and since Lynn was in different armor than when he had last seen her. He knew that Jonathan's knights sent to the stairwell weren't the only ones out for them.

He took one look back and then grabbed hold of her armored shoulders, still unable to let the issue go. "Tails, what about Tails…?"

She merely moved her hand as if she had shackles on, and then shrugged.

Max looked down sadly. What was the right thing to do? Leave Tails as he demanded he does, or try and find him? After some brief thought, he felt he could make a compromise if anything.

"We have to find Cream then… I… Even if I have to force her from here. She might even know where Tails is."

A few knights clamored by towards Lady Radcliff's office in a hurry, and the franticness of the running made Max fear that their victims had been found.

He looked at Lynn hopefully, and she merely shook her head "no" again.

"Goddamnit, why…?" He seethed, almost becoming loud.

Lynn kept her stern posture and merely lifted her pointer and middle finger, placing them together. After which, she ran the fingers along her throat as if it were a knife.

The mere gesture made Max feel sick, and after a few seconds of taking it in, he merely resigned himself to fate.

"We need to leave… if… if that is the case. Mark my words though, we will be back for Tails."

Lynn put her hand on his shoulder and patted it, after which she turned and began leading him towards the entrance. As they went, the knights and recruits kept their hateful looks, and it seemed as though they might rise up and attack at any moment.

When they reached the entrance, the guard opened the door almost immediately, allowing Lynn to grab a torch as she had previously.

"Goodbye to you, Milord, and may you protect our dear prince, Commander Kain."

Max could not fake a smile and just nodded on his way out, while Lynn merely dropped a coin into his lowered palm. When the door inevitably shut behind them, Lynn immediately removed her helmet and placed it on the ground to the side, wanting to keep it pristine for return.

Holding the torch, she pointed with her free hand and then made hurried motions towards the narrow rock tunnel. Quickly, the two were off into the darkness together—the adrenalin pumping through both of them as they carried themselves away to freedom.

The torch flickered and danced while they moved, and then, when they were about halfway through the tunnel, they came out into a small opening that provided them room to move about.

Max thought the stop here was strange at first, but then he could see the silhouette of a lone knight blocking it when he looked towards where the continued path would be.

"?" Lynn drew her sword with her free hand while keeping the torch raised in the other.

"I had a feeling you would try and escape justice." Jonathan's voice echoed out.

Lynn stepped in front of Max, and Jonathan walked close enough so that his features were easily discernable in the torchlight.

"Hiding behind her skirt, boy? I'd thought a royal god such as yourself could take care of his own affairs." He frowned while spitting on Max's boot.

Max just glared at him and felt his anger rising once again. Lynn pulled her sword forward to get ready to defend her lord, but before she went, Max grabbed hold of her sword arm, and when she turned, he stepped forward.

"Ah, so you fancy yourself a man after all? Reckless child, con artist. Your slaying of my dear friend will be paid in blood this day." He pulled his longsword from his scabbard and held it defensively.

Max drew his blade, and when Lynn tried to step forward once more, he put his hand out to bar her from helping. She shrunk back, knowing full well Jonathan's experience, and that he was no easy foe to defeat.

"That's right boy, don't let a woman fight for you, worse yet, a crippled one." He said while he moved forward as an intimidation tactic, but when Max failed to flinch, he let out a laugh.

"I can tolerate many things, but Robbie knew you were false, and so you had this mutilated pile of garbage murder him! I care not what Lady Radcliff wants nor says, your blood is impure, and I shall relieve you of it!"

The more he talked, the more it set in that he had gone rogue. This was personal and deeply troubling to the young animal. There would be no talking, nor heading back.

Lynn backed away, fearful for her lord, but bound by his commands. Max lifted his blade in his right hand and held his left slightly out, much to Jonathan's amusement.

A rank amateur, his stance was pitiful and pathetic, and how easy would it be to simply swipe that left hand from his body. The longer he stared at Max, the more he determined he wanted to play with his food.

When Jonathan stepped forward, Max stepped back unsteadily, but un-nervously. Jonathan swiped his blade quickly to Max's left, but the clanging of steel indicated a successful block.

"I'm impressed, you can actually fumble a block." Jonathan taunted.

Max used his right hand and swung at Jonathan, but it was so pitiful that he easily dodged it without even using his weapon. The difference in training and skill was more than apparent, and every moment, Lynn contemplated jumping in.

"Tell me the truth, boy, you are some rat from the woods? Did you think you could get away with trying to con our great city?" He swiped again, and Max barely covered his mid-section.

Jonathan continued his verbal assault as he took another swipe towards Max, but this one was blocked with more confidence. "Your mother was some whore, wasn't she? I bet you don't even know your father, you bastard half-breed!"

Max felt anger but could remember Antoine's advice from that first day of real training. Fighting a real person was different than fighting a prop, and it was clear that Jonathan was trying to unhinge him to force mistakes.

"What's a matter, lose your tongue? Or was it cut out like that disgusting creature." Jonathan made a jab toward Max's leg, but Max jumped to the side, staggering slightly before regaining balance.

Jonathan was having his fun, this was no challenge, and he found it funny that he thought Max to be divine for any moment. He observed Max's motions and decided to give him his first real taste of pain.

When Max swung the blade to hit Jonathan, he sidestepped it and quickly brought his own steel against Max's right arm. There was a loud yelp, and Max staggered backward, grabbing hold of the side of his arm just below the shoulder.

Lynn fidgeted, but at this point, she knew the distance was too great between her and her prince. If she tried to intervene, it would be easy for Jonathan to slay someone so inexperienced.

Max removed his gloved hand from the wound and saw blood leaking profusely out of the tear in his coat. He kept hold of his sword and raised it despite the pain, which somewhat impressed Jonathan.

"And here I expected you to drop it! Lucky for you, I didn't cut your arm clean off… yet." He twirled the blade in his hand in a display of dominance.

Max heaved and pushed through the pain. His body had felt sheer agony, been to the brink of death, and he considered this to be beneath him.

While Jonathan gloated, Max scowled. The anger still building from deep within. A hatred so intense that he was beginning to lose focus and concern.

"I did it," Max said abruptly, in a threateningly low tone.

"Did what? Fool everyone but Robbie and I? You sure did!"

Max stepped forward with sword raised, and blood dousing the coat sleeve. "I killed Robbie. I listened to him gasp and cry, I watched him die, and I enjoyed it."

Jonathan's jovial gloating turned to a glare, and he held up his blade. "Shut your goddamn mouth right now!"

"He died pathetically, wishing someone would come to save him, but all he had was me there to watch," Max stated coldly.

The tables had turned, and Jonathan was becoming ever more outraged. "You've signed your death warrant, child. Time for you to burn in whatever hell you belong in."

Jonathan quickly went on the assault, his blows so precise and robust that Max could barely block them. Sparks shot out into the darkness, and the dim torch flickered against their faces.

The clashing of steel was inevitably ceased when Jonathan made a swing so fierce that it knocked Max's sword from his grasp. His arm was too injured to continue the defense.

There was a stillness, and Lynn readied her blade. If she had to try to jump in and be slain for Max, she would do so.

Jonathan moved himself to a position where if Lynn tried to assault him, it would be so easy for him to swipe at either of them. Max just glared at Jonathan, who seemed beyond pleased for having bested the "prince" of Mobotropolis.

Max simply held his left hand up as if it was his last pathetic defense against the cold steel of Jonathan's wrath. Jonathan looked so happy as he raised his blade, intending to cut through that pathetic left arm, and hopefully, have enough force to embed his sword into Max's neck.

"Die pauper, may your deceit end here!" Jonathan swung his blade at Max's left arm.

Lynn was about to jump forward and take the hit's brunt but stopped the moment Max brought his hand into the sword willingly. With the loud sound of a ping, the blade completely halted, and the force of the blow rocked the sword all the way down through the hilt, sending painful vibrations up through Jonathan's arm.

"What?" He said in sheer befuddlement.

Lynn's eyes widened in shock as she watched the prince's fingers wrap around the razor's edge of the blade, and with one mighty yank, pulled Jonathan's sword from his grasp.

The loud sound of popping echoed out as the sheer force from the pull dislocated every one of Jonathan's fingers. He held onto his wrist and stared at his bent fingers in shock, then he looked up only long enough to see Max putting his left hand behind the hilt of his own blade.

His mind couldn't even process the switch, it happened so fast, and without realizing it, Max had impaled him through the top of his left shoulder. The armor did nothing against the force of the pierce, and Jonathan found that he wasn't even on his feet for the rest of the impalement duration.

CRACK!

The loud sound came, as the sword imbedded itself into the stone wall. Jonathan screeched in horror, finally realizing that he had been pierced and pinned against the stone. Agony radiated through the whole top half of his body as he cried out, flailing his free right hand in futility.

Lynn was so surprised, and in awe, she couldn't help but feel fear watching the mighty display of otherworldly strength.

After a moment of crying and flailing, Jonathan looked up and peered into the unfeeling expressionless face of Max. Half of it was marred in shadows, while the other half flickered as if he was a demon coming straight from some hell.

"Augh!... Please…" Jonathan whined desperately.

Max cared not any longer and moved in near to the pinned animal. He wrapped his gloved fingers rightly around Jonathan's throat and began to cut off the airway. Jonathon tried to grab hold with his crippled fingers and flailed and thrashed, desperate to save himself.

Max kept the grip steady, and though it would be so easy to end his misery, end his suffering. To snap his neck and finish his opponent. However, it was no longer about that any longer.

"Merc…" Jonathan choked out.

"Merc-mercy, please…" He thrashed, banging his arm against Max's unmovable hand.

Max refused to give, and held tighter, his uncaring expression terrorizing Jonathan as he looked up into his eyes. The last thing he would ever see would be those eyes and the flickering of orange against his fur.

"…."

"…."

Silence now, but Max still held his iron grip against Jonathan's throat, long after the breathing and choking had ceased.

With satisfaction, Max pulled his mighty hand away and stared at the knight, limp and hanging from the wall like some grisly decoration.

The silence continued, and then eventually, he felt the gentle touch of Lynn's hand against his shoulder. It snapped him out of his void-like staring, and he seemed to flinch slightly.

Lynn just patted his back and handed him the sword that had flown from his grasp during the dual. He sheathed it but kept staring at his victim against the wall.

…

Lynn pulled Max, and she tried to usher him forward. After a few tries, she eventually managed to get him to move his body. Max was distant and quiet the whole rest of the way, seeming to not care about anything other than what had just occurred.

It really didn't take long for them to reach the outside, and here Max found the carnage that Lynn had left. Death at every turn, none were robots, and all were supposedly his kind.

With the fresh air filling Max's lungs, he felt as if he wasn't in his own body, so detached from his own pain and his own actions that it took Lynn forcing him to look at her to bring him some grounding.

She frantically tossed the gloves she wore aside and ran her bare fingers along Max's left arm. Her expression was perplexed, and then she knocked against it with her knuckles, feeling out the hardness.

Eventually, Max had enough and pulled his sleeve up to reveal the shimmering metal beneath. Her maw opened, and she could only stare at him. It was almost a connection, as she recognized his empathy for her came from a place of knowing.

After a few moments of standing there, Lynn pointed towards the woods, telling him to flee as fast as possible after what had just happened.

As Max took in her gestures, he merely placed his left hand on her shoulder and spoke numbly. "Come… You need to get away…" He started.

Lynn just shook her head and placed her finger to his lips to silence him. There was a long stare between the two of them, and eventually, Max turned away from her.

"If you must stay here. Then please be safe, because no matter what, the Freedom Fighters will come."

Lynn made no gesture and watched as Max turned, then as he disappeared off into the woods by himself. She turned to look towards the tunnels and knew what had happened was more significant than just betrayal.

She would have to find allies, and quick, to locate the fox and keep her skin on her body would mean civil war between the city's factions.

With dread filling her, she marched back into the lion's den. Mind set, she was against all the odds, and knew what she needed to do to buy time for herself, and what was left.

Max pushed past the bushes and barreled his way through without care or concern for his safety. His coat arm was doused in blood, but the injury was of little concern when contrast with his volatile feelings at the moment.

His anger never left him, and his sympathy for the cruelty he had unleashed was nonexistent. The longer he marched through the woods, the more he felt like he was at odds with his duties to his "people."

Somebody had to be blamed, anybody, and he felt as if all those animals were scum, were trash. Still, he knew their corruption had stemmed from a source beyond just their nature.

Robotnik…

Max's blood boiled, thinking of that name, as his pain only fueled the rage more. That tyrant's decadent poison on the world was beyond reproach, and he felt as if through imitation, his people had become tainted.

The more he walked and fanned the flames of his burning soul, the more he realized he could no longer be some whiny crying child attempting to shield those he loved from harm.

Strength… He tasted it, he felt it, and he knew now he would pay any price to have more of it.

There was no turning back, and if animal or machine stood before him, he would become a merciless sword by which all would be rent asunder.

Tails, he would be found, and Robotnik…

He would be torn apart and feasted on by the animals he so gleefully subjugated.