I'm back and so is the next installment, I hope you enjoy the action as its not something I normally write. Thanks
yet again to all you perfect people who review, if you are enjoying this and not reviewing for shame, naw I'm not mad but I hope you review
anywho I do not own Sega or Sonic all rights and characters belong to them. PS. Poll on my profile, doesn't meen this is ending soon and I would like your input.
Max pondered the role he was forced to play, he likened it to a puppet being made to dance, and when the strings were finally cut he continued dancing all the same, his face showed none of his inner turmoil, it was a conversation he had with himself far too often to show pain anymore. He was viewing the horizon from the large window of his fortress, his fortress he chuckled was an odd term, he had complete control of it and had since the death of the real Robotnik almost a full year ago, Max had no trouble tracking him, he knew precisely where he would be and when he would be there, things were too easy for one who could see the future. Max was waiting, he knew the now vampiric Sonic and Tails would be coming over the horizon momentarily, he knew just how they would attempt their rescue, and he knew precisely how they would fail, it was a scene he had viewed almost a century in advance, and besides Max said aloud to the empty room. "Once there gone I'll finally have the future I desire, everyone will be happy, everyone will be equal, no war, no suffering, no illness, it'll be a perfect world with me at its hear for all eternity." Max smiled, the world he had seen long ago in his visions, the world he had carefully directed events to flow towards was finally within his grasp, he regretted many of his actions, but it was all for the best, after Sonic and Tails were gone he would release everyone else and the world everyone wanted could finally begin, and all that stood in its way was a hedgehog and fox.
Sonic and Tails were rocketing towards the fortress, Sonic was having the time of his life, he was faster than ever, the burning aches that rippled across his legs when he ran were gone and the wind against his spines brought feelings of joy, if his friends hadn't been endanger he would have already run off to enjoy the feeling of the wind. Tails wasn't nearly as happy, he was struggling to keep up even at his top speed, he was still overjoyed that Sonic was with him but did he really need to go that fast? They finally reached the fortress and streaks of flame signalled their braking, and when the dust cleared their eyes went wide as they saw standing in front of them, arms crossed behind his back Max with a smile on his face as he waved to them. "I'm glad you made it, sorry about the whole shooting you bit Sonic, but it was just business, I hope you don't hold it against me. But we have a good deal of work to do so let's get started ASAP, your friends are in the dungeon at the bottom of the fortress, my robots should take you to them rather quickly and your all free to leave." Sonic's mouth was wide open, he saw an orange blur suddenly rocket towards Max, Tails met only empty air, and Max stood almost ten feet away grin still on his face. Sonic curled into a spin-dash and charged at Max with his now enhanced speed, he felt the ground rip beneath him and reached where Max was standing in less than a heartbeat, but to Max a heartbeat was eons and he was already sitting on the balcony a good four stories above where he had been. He called down "It's pointless, get your friends out of the dungeon or I might do something we'll all regret" He left an open ended threat, he honestly had no idea what he would do to them, but it was enough motivation for Tails and Sonic to run head first into the fortress, Max sighed, he hated playing villain, couldn't the others understand he just wanted what was best for all of Mobius, still, he had to kill Sonic and Tails, it made him sad, he genuinely liked Tails, he had since he saw the vision almost eighty years ago, and twenty years after that when he first encountered him. Sonic was rash, but heroic, two qualities Max would have killed for, instead he was relegated to planning and sorting through thousands of possible futures and events which led to those futures to carefully select the path that led to his desired goal, the problem being the goal lay beyond the two brothers, he sighed again and started heading down the stairs, preparing for what he full well understood would be his final encounter, the beginning of his new world.
Sonic was uneasy being led through Robotnik's fortress by one of his, as he phrased it. "Tin Cans" Tails was worried beyond measure, how had Max dodged, what was he and how could he have been faster than Sonic, it made no sense, nothing was faster than Sonic, and now being a vampire he was still able to dodge just made it all the more unbelievable, still Tails walked on, as long as he had Sonic he knew they would get their friends, plus it didn't seem like Max wanted to fight, maybe it would be easy after all. The entire building had a dark aura of foreboding running through every hall and crevice, the tapping of their feet as the heroic duo went on echoed in an eerie manner, and as the doors to the elevator they had taken finally reached the bottom most floor and the doors opened up they were greeted to a sight unexpected, a large cavernous room with a single cage positioned directly in the center. The room was well lit and not a shadow was visible, Sonic and Tails had to squint as they approached the cage, and just as Max had promised sat all their friends completely unharmed, Tails quickly ran towards Rotor and attempted to rip the bars straight off, he was stumped when he was unable to, Sally spoke up. "Sonic, its good to see you, what's going on? We were riding to Robotnik's fortress when suddenly everyone started passing out in the transport, then we wake up and were in this cage, I mean I thought Robotnik would have already tried to roboticize us by now?" Tab and Mike both spoke up as well, and both voiced the same question. "Where's Max, he was with us in the transport and he's gone now! You don't think Robotnik got to him do you?" Sonic and Tails shared a look and Bunny the last to speak in the cage spoke up. "Now I know your hiding something sugar hog, and if yall don't tell us I'm gonna bust out this cage and wrangle the truth out of you."
Sonic went to open his mouth but was interrupted by a loud piecing whistle, everyone turned to find its source and saw Max walking slowly towards the cage, a grim look set on his face, Tab and Mike each brightened and were about to yell out when they noticed the look on his face, it wasn't a look they were used to seeing and it caused them to hold their tongues. Sonic and Tails got in a battle stance ready to face off as all manner of questions were being whispered to the duo through the cage bars, all questions were cut off and silenced as Max started. "It's nice to see you Mike, you to Tab, I'm sorry for deceiving you but this is something I have to do, I know you'll forgive me later but for now I'll just have to deal with your anger. Princess Sally I have good news for you, Robotnik is dead and gone and all of Mobius is finally about to be free and enter into a new era. Bunny I have already prepared a de-roboticizer for you and Rotor, I have the most advanced technology for you to work with so we can start curing all of Mobius's ills. There's just one small problem." Like a whip exploding Max vanished and held Sonic and Tails by their throats each in a single hand as he spoke, a now depressed tone in his voice. "These two need to go, I'm sorry it's just the way it is, I need you in there to see it, to know that this is the last of the Freedom Fighters, that you don't have to fight anymore and to prove it, I'm going to give them a fighting chance." He lowered them to the ground and they both rubbed their throats, neither had need to breathe so it hadn't been as devastating as it had looked, the both charged as Max put one hand behind his back and vanished in the air was sent flying across the length of the massive cavern as Max had reappeared behind him and delivered a devastating kick before vanishing again, Tails spun his namesake furiously as he approached the wall and managed to rebound off of it just in time to receive Sonic's form ploughing into him knocking the both of them down, Max stood above them and looked down on them. "I am truly sorry. But this is the end, face it with courage my friends" He kicked them both into the air and swung them about with his one hand and tossed them full strength into the cage, the ground rumbled and blood spattered the cages occupants as they looked on in horror as Sonic and Tails rolled off the cages and collapsed onto the floor unmoving.
This was it Max thought, the moment when everything became solidified, when they died in front of the others the spirit of the Freedom Fighters would be broken, they wouldn't fight back as Max slowly set about crafting his new world, so engrossed was he in this thought he didn't even hear the cocking of the rifle, though he heard the thunderous yell it let loose as a bullet flew directly at him. The minx had been close when she fired, she had hid in one of the doorways that led from the room, she had been close enough that even Max had only been able to reduce the kill shot to a shoulder wound, and Max spun awkwardly before landing on one knee, his expression was of shock, unimaginable shock, something had changed. Tails and Sonic had seen it, and it had given them all the strength they needed to pull their bruised and broken bodies off the floor, Max had his full attention on the Minx and was covering his shoulder wound with one hand blood trickling onto the floor, Tails noticed the key now lying loose in the sand and quickly snatched it, Max hearing the noise turned to but was forced to leap clear as another bullet flew towards him. Tails had already unlocked the cage and was rushing everyone to the elevator as Sonic carried them utterly ignoring the state of his body, Max rushed again but the Minx had guessed what he was going to do and fired a shot to intercept him, he veered off path, he had given up on the prisoners, the minx had ruined everything and she was going to suffer for it. The others were already in the elevator and heading to safety, Sonic stayed with them to protect them on the way out, but Tails had stayed, he needed to help the Minx and stop Max before he did more damage. Max was counting shots, she couldn't have many left were his thoughts at the exact moment he felt something rip across his back, he let out a snarl and sped off. Tails had used his tails as a saw blade and hit him in the back, things were going well at the moment, but the moment ended as Max let out a roar of pure rage and hatred. "YOU'VE RUINED EVERYTHING! I WORKED FOR CENTUREIS AND YOU FOLLS THINK YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, ILL RIP YOU IN HALF AND FEAST ON YOUR BONES!"
the ground exploded as he ran and the Minx exploded in a red cloud as her form fell to the ground screaming in agony and her body flew in Tails direction landing with a sickening thud, Tails lent down to offer aid, but she quickly pushed him away and yelled at him to run. As he ran full sprint he caught a glimpse of Max, he had turned and was revealed, his Eyes were red and his fangs were long and sharp, his claws were pitch black razors, Tails recognized the features, Max was a vampire, it was obvious now. The minx was lying there bleeding to death, the world moved in slow motion and she saw Max charge Tails eyes swimming pools of madness and hate, she whispered to herself or perhaps only imagined it, she asked forgiveness as she pulled a small package she had concealed and pulled the pin as she yelled. "CLOSE YOUR EYES!" Tails obeyed and the flash was monstrous even through closed eyes, he heard Max's screams of bloody murder as he rushed into the elevator, climbed through the top and flew directly up the shaft. Max was a mass of hatred, he had failed, his plan that he had pieced together over centuries was dust, and it was all this minx's fault, he walked up to her eyes barely able to perceive her as he approached claws already outstretched and prepared for the kill, the Minx spoke out her last words. "Fucking do it, you bastard, whats…." She was cut off as Max had torn her throat out and was shaking in his rage, where had he went wrong, she was supposed to have been killed by Tails, how had he missed something, it only angered him further as he looked down and witnessed the smug grin forever plastered on the minx's face, he swore into the air as he prepared to move on, Fuck the plan he would not lose, he would have his world and he would cut down anyone in his path. The minx lay their cold and dead, a grin of utter defiance laid on her now calm face, it was a grin that wouldn't fade, it would last in the Minx's mind, her last thought forever frozen, until the end of time.