Chapter Sixteen – Independence
With their parent's blessings, Max, Violet, Scarlet and Pearl, were finally on the road. Sapphire had actually been interested in going with them, but she realised she was actually doing far to well in Tails's Workshop to leave. But they all met up, just before they left, to talk. But Pearl heaved, looking around the workshop.
"There has got to be a way that you can help us." She wondered, looking at Max. "Didn't Sonic have Tails as his engineer and your father as backup?" She asked, but Violet just looked up, shrugging.
"Well, can you do both?" She wondered. "I know we do have the Sorcerer on stand by, but he won't be suitable for everything." She hissed. Sukko's backup was designed for hard hitting rescues, not the intimate, delicate work, such as hacking, that Violet had in mind. Sapphire looked at her, her Telepathy reading her perfectly, and she giggled with excitement.
"Yes, I can do that. My computer and hacking skills aren't bad, but they do need training, and where better then on the job, and anything for your adventure I create here on the job, in the workshop, Max can just swing around by and pick up." She beamed. Suddenly, there was excitement all around, but then Scarlet just frowned.
"But how will we communicate with each other, from anywhere on the planet? No devices I know of can reach that far." She stammered. But Sapphire heaved, deep in thought.
"I know. I have been desperately trying to work that out, myself. The only form of communication I know of that flawless worked absolutely everywhere on Mobius, was Dad's and Uncle Sonic's Psychic Link. Apparently, they could telepathically 'hear' each other speak anywhere, even across space and they never really found it's limitations. That was why their partnership during the war was so unbreakable, it was why they won. The Psychic Link was vital, as it allowed the twins to work as one against the mighty tyrant." She heaved. "But Psychic Links are exceptionally rare and only ever happen in absolutely identical twins, born from one embryo dividing. Me and Max are fraternal, born from two separate embryos, and therefore, we don't have one." She admitted, as he heart fell. Max shook his head, in agreement. He heaved.
"No and neither do our younger twin sisters, Jade and Crystal, who are also fraternal." He shrugged. But Sapphire frowned, walking to her desk in the workshop, taking the others with them.
"So, I have been trying to replicate it as best I can with a combination of technology and Chaos Sorcery." She smiled, and suddenly, she rounded on her brother. She stared at him. "Max, here, like Uncle Sonic, responds to Chaos Sorcery. He can't wield it, but through the bloodline, I can cast through him. I have seen Dad do it several times." She hissed, Max nodded, though gulping hard. The Magic never hurt him as such but was always hefty, and caused him insane discomfort. Suddenly, she grabbed two wrist strap communicator off her desk, threw one on herself and gave the other to her brother. She heaved, going slightly white.
"Truthfully, I asked Dad to help me with these." She admitted, and suddenly, she got growled at by everyone, as though she had sold them out, but she threw her hands up defending herself. "Look, I know, but his telepathy is far beyond anything I can do, so he would have found I was helping you relatively quickly. So, I figured, why hide it and use Dad's incredible powers to aid us. Besides, he'd rather we do that anyway." He smiled. In the end, they all agreed. Sapphire did have a very good point. Plus they could guarantee that Sukko, as the King of Stealth, wouldn't breath a word anyone what they were up to, just ensured that they survived the end of it.
The two wrist communicators, had black straps, either side of a curved plate, two inches square. On that, were multiply layers of delicate electronics, in a pyramid fashion, beneath a cover, combinating in a large pale blue crystal, on the top. They buzzed with Chaos Sorcery as Max as he placed it on his wrist, his sister on hers. But Max gulped.
"Whoa. Are those Sorcerer Relics?" He stammered, pointing to the crystals. Sapphire nodded.
"Yeah. Watching Dad create them was just absolutely mind blowing. The finest piece of Conjuring I've ever seen." She beamed, but then she turned to the others, who were somewhat confused. She smiled. "Sorcerer Relics are items created by a powerful Sorcerer, such as Dad, from thin air, via Conjuring, that, in themselves, contain Magic. They used to be used by Witches and Wizards in ancient times to cast, as they didn't have Chaos Sorcery present in their blood, like I do." She explained. "When I told Dad I was trying to replicate the Psychic Link, he understood exactly what I meant, and created these as a pair of heavily interlinked crystals, that I can cast down, into my brother and talk to him, from anywhere on Mobius." She bounced. But Max frowned, looking at the communicator.
"But I can't cast." He heaved, but Sapphire just smiled.
"Dad says you don't have to. Just tapping on the crystal at your end, will be enough for me to feel it and then establish the link at my end." She smiled. Max frowned, looking at the crystal on his wrist, and shrugging, he tapped it, causing Sapphire's own crystal to heavily vibrate in immediate response. She jumped a mile, then suddenly giggled.
"Yep, that works. I felt that." She grinned. Suddenly, she pushed the communicator down her wrist, towards her hand and hit it beneath her glove. Her brother mimicked her, and the devices vanished from view.
Violet smiled, as everyone began to leave.
"Thank you." She nodded. But Sapphire just waved after them. She squealed.
"Hey, keep me posted. I don't want to be left out of the loop." She beamed, and soon they were gone.
No one knew of the arrangement. Not even Tails and it was his workshop. Sukko had brain froze him before the Conjuring, and then taught the Telepathic technique to Sapphire, so that the Fox wouldn't interfere. Sapphire was surprised but when she learned of just how incredibly sneaky her father was during the war, with her Uncle, not really. Staying in a permanent bubble of protection is not how you fully experience the world. The youngsters, including herself, needed guidance, not super overbearing parents not allowing them to do anything.
That was now Sukko's job. For the youngsters to try new things first, and then to ask for help them out when they get it wrong. They may never need his help, but to have the knowledge knowing that it is there, did boost their confidence hugely.
With a fond farewell, they were all on their way. Violet, Max, each carrying their friends, Pearl and Scarlet, respectively. But where to go? Both Violet and Max looked at each other. Sukko was right, they all had unfinished business back in Station Square and a certain traffic cop who sold them out to G.U.N. and the Mobian Authorities. But this time, they weren't on a time schedule, so could take their time and think things through.
Violet, ever her father's daughter, knew exactly how to the scare him, to get their revenge and make sure he never went after then again. If the traffic cop wanted speed, then they would give it to them.
But the time they made it back to Station Square again, repairs from Max's Hyperblast in the centre of the city were well underway. He gulped. He wasn't going to doing that again in the middle of a city, learning from his mistakes. The risks just were too high. Here, in Station Square, he only just about got away it, without hurting anyone. So to do a Hyperblast again, Max needed to head to the countryside, where they were safer.
But it didn't take long for them to find the troublesome traffic cop. He found them speeding down Speed Highway again, him screaming after them from his vehicle.
"Hey, stop. I knew you were alive. But no one believed me." He scowled, This time the youngsters didn't flee, but before he could do or say anything, Max passed over Scarlet to Violet, who could just about carry them both, and went for his vehicle. Still roaring down the Speed Highway, Max pulls the door open and pulled out the squealing traffic cop, whom Max now carried in his arms, to much giggling by the girls. Max growled at him.
"Hey, do I look my Uncle, or Violet, her Dad?" He spat, indicating to the female Black Hedgehog waving, to the utterly terrified traffic op who now had laterally nothing between him and road, flying beneath them, but Max's feet. The Purple Hedgehog heaved. "You want speed, you got it." He heaved.
Suddenly, Max then sped out of the city, keeping the speeds safe, but only when he hit the wide open space of the countryside, did Max floor the accelerator, and Hyperblasted the poor traffic cop out of his brains. But this time, Max returned him back to Station Square, he was a quibbling mess on the floor, utterly frightened out of his skin. Violet grabbed him, forcing him to his feet. She hissed.
"Next time." She spat. "Leave us alone, otherwise, we will do that again." She hissed, of which the traffic cop just shook his head rapidly and ran off into the city. He was never seen again. Max felt incredibly guilty. He'd never meant to hurt him, but as Violet pointed out, he didn't. It wasn't Max's fault that the stupid traffic cop couldn't mentally cope with ultra Super-Speed, and suspected that only he and his Uncle Sonic were the only ones who regularly could. Shadow possibly could, but he had to remove his Inhibitor Rings first, and Violet genuinely had no idea. She should try it and run that fast herself, when she was ready.
Suddenly, as Max and the girls explored Station Square afterwards, just walking around, they were pulled aside, by a huge Crocodile, down a side alleyway. He eyed Max up hugely.
He was a young but tall Crocodile with long snout, new sharp teeth, small sparkles yellow eyes and a smile. He was wearing an immaculate black leather jacket, collar up, with silver spikes decorations all over it. He had a large silver chain hanging across the jacket, running from his left shoulder to his right hip, like a sash. He wore white gloves with black and silver coves, and black and silver striped boots, with grey soles. Finally, he wore a silver / grey bandana atop of his head. Max scowled at him.
"Hi, can I help you?" He frowned. But the sixteen year old Crocodile just looked back at him, hissing.
"Hey, are you the Blue Blur's kid?" He asked. There was silence from the girls as Max just folded his arms. He quickly realised that, over the next coming months, he was going to get asked that question, a lot. He smirked.
"No." He spat, truthfully. Suddenly, the Crocodile just stared. He gulped.
"But the speed you have. You have to be." He stammered. "I saw you earlier." He gulped. But Max shook his head. He heaved.
"Sorry, but Sonic The Hedgehog was 'not' my Dad." He heaved, turning his tail on him, taking the girls with them, all of whom kept their mouths shut. Max didn't know the Crocodile. Why should he trust him with the truth. But the Crocodile called after them, he gave both Max and Violet a hard look. He heaved.
"Look, I'm not originally from Station Square, I'm just passing through on my travels. I'm actually from Robotropolis." He heaved. "My name's Dexter, and I'm..." He sighed, introducing himself but Max, staring at him, just outright cut across him, in absolutely pure delight, rounding on him. He bounced.
"Your Viktor's son. My Uncle Manic's boss at the Scrapyard there. Vector, the Chaotix's cousin. I remember my Uncle Manic telling me about you, but he'd never actually met you." He squealed. But Dexter was utterly gobsmacked, as he nodded franticly. He gulped.
"Yes." He stammered. "So you are the Blue Blur's kid?" He asked again. But Max just laughed again.
"No. Uncle Sonic never had any children before he died. Sukko's my Dad." He beamed, but the Crocodile just stared at him. He blinked.
"Wait, the weird but incredible Blue Hedgehog Doctor who works at the hospital in Robotropolis?" He frowned. He vaguely remembered and now looking at Max, suddenly it clicked. He gulped and hard.
"Wait. They're twins?" He stammered to much nodding by Max and the girls.
Small world.
Suddenly, there was much introductions all round, including to Sapphire down the communicator and soon they all became fast friends. Dexter happily showed Max and the girls around Station Square, avoiding trouble, and soon it was time to be moving on. The Crocodile smiled at Max.
"So, where are you heading?" He asked. But Max and Violet just shrugged.
"We don't know. This is a our first venture out." She admitted. Dexter was a little surprised at that, considering who they were but quickly shook it off. He beamed at the Hedgehogs.
"Well, I've got a massive truck, out the back here." He heaved, indicating with his hand. "I'm meeting some friends in Sunset City. Would you like to join me?" He smiled.
Max and the girls beamed, delighted and immediately accepted. None of them had ever been to Sunset City before and to go with a seasoned traveller, was a opportunity not the be missed. A chance to exchange stories from both sides.
Max smiled. So this was what it meant to travel. Not the places you went, but the people you find. From Sunset City to Central City and Robotropolis to Westropolis, Max, Dexter, who joined them, and the girls traveled helping however and wherever they could, meeting some incredible people on the way.
Speaking of people, Max's eyes fell on Violet, her stunning Black fur coat glistening in the sunlight. He loved her more then anything, but for now, he could never tell her. She'll give him the evil look, even potentially kill him. His Uncle Sonic learned that, for himself, years ago, with her father, Shadow, that an evil look on a Black striped Hedgehog was to be very frightened indeed. But he couldn't dare do what his Uncle did, and be a complete idiot over it, causing the Ultimate Lifeform to play dodge bullet with him. He had no idea if Violet had a pair of revolvers in her quills. Max knew she is very proficient with a firearm. Did he want to find out? Truthfully, no. One generation on, and still those two families are at each other's throats. But Max's friendship was much better with Violet, then Sonic's ever was with Shadow.
Because he'd fallen for her, but she was yet to reciprocate those feelings. In fact, he'd hidden them so well, she doesn't even know. But Max was scared. What if she does have a pair of guns in her quills? Her father, Shadow, definitely does, and he was downright terrified of him. But Max smiled. He had the same heart of gold as his uncle and father, so he was sure he'd work it out, someday. He just needed time.
Several months later, everything was very quiet on Angel Island, but still bouncy. Amber was still there, and Zooey was now expecting her second child. Tails had been busy. Sapphire was doing so well in Tails' Workshop that she was nowadays running the place for him. Knuckles and Rouge were still heavily into each other, guarding the Master Emerald together, but Shadow decided to stay. He could have moved to somewhere new, but choose against it. He liked the privacy and freedom he was afforded here, as the planet below still believed him to be dead.
Violet regularly wrote home, telling him of her adventures and truthfully, he was intensely proud. Did he want to join her? No. He was retired, but also his mind was very much on something else. In the silence depths of the night, one warm summer's evening, Shadow was out in the deep woodlands, well away from everything. No one knew he was there, and he very much wanted it to stay that way. It was pitch dark, but Shadow's night vision could perfectly see.
He patiently waited, until someone tried to sneak up behind him again, except this time, the Ultimate Lifeform caught him. He immediately whirled rounded and grabbed the mighty Sorcerer, pulling him in for an enormous kiss, their bodies locking together, Shadow's hands immediately driving beneath Sukko's long black coat, past his long quills, now down to his waist. The Sorcerer had returned to him after a long shift at the hospital. Shadow smirked, as the Sukko's intensely blue glowing eyes, looked at him.
"I missed you." He hissed. But Sukko squealed as Shadow began seducing him, clearly showing his infatuation for him. He giggled.
"Oh yeah, I can tell." He grinned, kissing him again. But as Shadow dominated him and hard, Sukko stopped him. He heaved. "You do realise that if Violet and Max ever find out about this, we are both dead." He stammered. But Shadow just smirked, his eyes now glowing a deep crimson red, as he activated his dark charm, which caused the Sorcerer to completely melt in his arms. He sniggered.
"So don't tell them." He leered, coldly. Sukko, unable to resist, now very much in love with the mighty Black Hedgehog, just shook his head franticly, as they both deeply kissed again, they disappeared into the pitch darkness, for a night of deep, intense passion.
But no one ever knew. Except one person but he just didn't care. They made each other insanely happy, and that was all Sonic was bothered about. He looked at Angel Island from his Spirit Orb, completely and utterly content to watch over his friends and family, for all eternity.
Finally, the Blue Blur was home.
When the Chaotix Detective Agency, in Vector, Espio and a sixteen year old Charmy, along with Vanilla and Cream, also sixteen, all got wind of Sonic's nephew Max, as he travelled the world, they tracked down the only person, whom they could trust, to tell them the truth. They found him in his new workshop on Angel Island. Knuckles showing them where it was.
Tails.
He was thrilled to see them all again, one very late evening. He inviting them all in, the Echidna joining them, and sat in the lounge, but he and Tails just howled with laugher when they asked them about Max. Knuckles giggled.
"Yeah, We've heard." He smiled. But Vector just frowned.
"So does Sonic have family? I heard very strange rumours all over the place." He wondered. Tails just giggled, as he looked over at the very large pile of gory gothic horror books left behind by the one weird, wacky, but incredibly beloved Blue Hedgehog still left in his life. The staff he used to blow out the doors of that base, when they all got kidnapped, was now leaning against the coffee table. Sukko had rescued it from the base and gave it to Tails and now it was the Fox's most prized procession. It was pale blue, incredibly ornate, the still crystal on the end, stunningly beautiful and he still didn't believe Sukko had Conjured it, literally out of thin air. The Sorcerer's eldest daughter was fast asleep in the spare bedroom upstairs. But Knuckles just smiled.
"Settle down." He grinned, to confused looks as Tails just outright beamed, picking up the incredible Magical staff fondly. He knew Sukko wouldn't mind, him telling their old friends the truth. He knew exactly who they all were, as absolutely nothing got past that powerful Telepathic Sorcerer. If he objected, he would already have intervened by now. The Fox grinned inanely.
"Because, oh boy, do we have a story to tell you..."