Part 4

First thing Max saw was rock. He blinked several times and tried to remember where he was. But when he heard the soft breathing next to him, Max remembered everything. He smiled and turned to see Angel laying on her side, facing him, her luxurious brown hair cascaded down her bare shoulders. One arm was laying on his chest and her face looked so peaceful. He yearned to touch her and gently traced a finger down her cheek. The skin was so soft under his fingertips and he moved his hand to her hair, feeling its silkiness on his skin.

The movement awoke Angel and her eyes blinked several times, trying to grow accustomed to the dimly lit room. The candles had grown lower as the night had gone on and now only a few were lit. She smiled when she saw Max looking at her.

"Morning." he whispered to her, leaving his hand in her hair.

"Morning." she whispered back. Just seeing his face again made her relish the feeling she had last night. "How's your side?"

"Still stiff, but better." Max said, for the first time remembering that he had been hurt since she had come into his room.

"Good." she said softly and leaned forward to kiss him on the forehead. She trailed soft kissed down his face until their lips met.

"Very good." he murmured between kisses and Angel giggled. Just being with him made her feel like a new and different person.

They lay there in each others arms for several minutes, each taking in the other's beauty. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Angel lept out of the bed and quickly shoved on her clothes, which were still laying in a heap on the floor. Max was also putting on some pants under the sheets. As Angel went to answer the door, their eyes met and each smiled back.

"Rocky! Jeez you scared me."

Rocky cocked his eyebrow and smirked. "You two were thinking it was one of those monks, huh?" When neither answered, Rocky chuckled and shook his head. "Had a good time? I assume you're feeling better, Max?"

"Much better," Max said, smiling as he sat up in bed, pulling on a shirt.

"Well, you two better get up. Breakfast is ready and we need to talk about our game plan."

When Rocky left, Angel and Max burst out in laughter. "We'd better do as the man said." Max whispered, his blue eyes twinkling.

An hour later all three were full from the wonderful breakfast. The monks were good cooks. Now they sat together in a small room alone. The candles sent ghostly shadows dancing on the stone walls and it gave Max the shivers.

"Now, we all know we can't stay hidden forever down here." Rocky began, pacing the floor. "Vadar is bound to be looking for us."

"But why Rocky?" Max spoke up. "He got my dad, what else does he want?"

Angel looked with concern at Max. Last night, Max had confided in her how close he had been to his father. Angel knew it still hurt him to even think about him.

Rocky's face grew grim. "He wants you, Max."

"What? Why?"

"Because of what you hold, in the palm of your hand."

Max looked at his hand, the candlelight hitting the golden edges of the circle in his palm. "But, I don't understand. I was born with this. There's nothing special about it."

"But there is. Your father told me right before the troops got him." Rocky stepped closer to the table. "That thing in your palm is a key, Max. A key that if connected with another symbol of its kind will rejuvenate the world and kill all that's bad. That's why Vadar is after you. He doesn't want you to use it or he'll be destroyed." Rocky then withdrew a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. "Your dad gave me this when we separated. It explains all about the sphere in your hand."

Max took it and read over the type. His face grew pale and he bit his lip when he was done. "That can't be right. I mean, I've never felt this thing in my hand paulse or anything like that. It's just a legend Rocky."

"It may be but Vadar sure does believe in it. And that tells us that we should too."

Max remained silent, clenching and unclenching his hand. This was all happening too fast. He was now the suppose savior of Earth? Did his dad die because of him? Because of this legend?

"I've got to get some air." he muttered and flinging the paper back onto the table, he lept up and walked out of the room.

Angel started to follow him but Rocky stopped her. "Leave him be for now. He's got alot on his shoulders and just needs some time to figure it out."

Angel nodded and bit her lip. She hated seeing Max like this. She wanted to hold him and comfort him like he did her last night. She knew that she loved him and anything that hurt him hurt her. She couldn't escape this news no more then Max could. "I'm going to get something to drink. You want anything?"

Rocky shook his head and watched her leave. So much was happening. Could they all withstand it?

~~~~~

"Send a call out to the Ecrons. I want this boy found!"

General Jack Manns cringed inwardly. Vadar was mad now to call on the Ecrons. They could never be trusted. "Are you sure sire? I mean, they might kill the boy."

"Sure? Of course I'm not sure!" Vadar yelled, turning on Manns. "But seeing as your troops haven't done shit, I have to turn to that alien race. They'll find them. Maybe if I offer them some reward for the captors alive they'll decide to obey. Now stop arguing and call them!"

Jack bowed his head and walked out of the room. This boy must be very important for Vadar to call upon the Ecrons help. Jack didn't look forward to calling them either. They weren't very sociable and Vadar was lucky to have them on his good side. Earth would probably have been destroyed by now if not.

~~~~

A few hours passed and Angel still hadn't seen Max. She found him in sitting in a corner, head bowed. "How are you feeling?" she asked softly, walking up to him.

"Like I have the world on my shoulders. Oh wait, I actually do." Angel frowned at the sarcasm dripping from Max's voice.

"You're not alone, you know. Both me and Rocky will be there for you."

Max ran a hand through his tousled blond hair. "I know that. I wish my dad was here too. He'd know what to do."

Angel bit her lip and turned away. She didn't know what to say. She had lost her parents also yet for some reason her loss didn't compare to his. She noticed Max looking at his hand and saw the gold ring. It was so shiny. "Where did you get the ring?"

"My dad. He gave it to me before..." Max bit back the rest of the sentence. Just remembering that night made him want to throw up and wallow in his tears.

"But your dad is here." Angel said, pointing to the ring. "He gave that to you and it's been with you the entire time."

Max looked at Angel, sudden understanding in his eyes. "You're right. I remember him saying that it would link us together." Max stood up and walked over to Angel. "You know," he said, putting his hands on her shoulders and drawing her close to him. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Angel smiled and closed her eyes as their lips met. "Me either," she whispered when they broke apart.

Max smiled and ran a hand through her hair. "Your so beautiful." He bent down to kiss her again when all of a sudden the wall exploded sending rocks flying everywhere!

Angel screamed and Max pushed her down, covering her from the flying debris. Max quickly looked up and he could see three blue figures immerging from the dust and debris. His heart stopped and he grew cold in fear. It was the Ecrons!

~~~~~

'What exactly did this caption mean?' Rocky thought as he reread the piece of paper over and over again. How would they ever find the second sphere? It could be anywhere.

He sighed and shoved the paper into his jacket pocket. They couldn't hole up in here all of their days. They should leave today. He couldn't put these monks in danger. Standing up, Rocky left the room, wondering where they had put his guns. No one was around in the meeting area and Rocky wondered where Max and Angel had gone off to. Certainly they wouldn't have gone outside. Not with Vadar's troops watching and waiting for them.

He found a locked door and, after quickly praying for forgiveness, kicked it open. There was his guns laying on the table. "Sorry guys." he muttered, grabbing the guns and walking out of the room. Now to find Max and Angel and get out of here. For some reason this whole atmosphere was giving him the chills.

Suddenly the walls and ceiling shook and an explosion could be heard from down the hall. A scream followed it and that sent Rocky running. "Max! Angel!" he yelled, coughing as the dust arouse choking him. What had happened?

He rounded the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. Max and Angel were on the ground and in front of them were three huge Ecrons. They looked like giant metal insects and were very dangerous.

"Rocky!" Angel cried.

That's when the Ecrons saw Rocky. They raised their guns and Rocky knew he only had a second to react. "Run!" he shouted and started shooting the gun at the aliens. The laser didn't hurt them much but it did bother them, giving Max and Angel time to get up and run towards Rocky.

"Get the hell out of here!" Rocky shouted, pushing them in front of him and after shooting one more shot followed the two teens down the hall. They could hear the blue machines already after them. One had started shooting at them and a blue laser shot right past Rocky's ear, barely missing him.

They turned a corner only to be met with two more Ecrons, guns already aimed in their direction. "Shit!" Rocky shouted, pulling Angel and Max away from them and turning them in the other direction. But the other three Ecrons had already found them and now they were cornered!

Max pushed Angel between him and Rocky. He knew they were trapped. Now was the end. "Rocky, what now?" he whispered.

"I don't know kid." Rocky whispered back. He was waiting for the machines to fire on them and kill them all, yet they didn't. They stood there, looking at their prey. Them one of the Ecrons said something and the other four suddenly raised their guns. 'This is it,' Rocky thought just as the rays were fired and it all three humans.

What was that god awful noise? Was this what dying sounded or felt like? Every bone in his body ached like he'd run a mile. Finally Rocky was able to pry open his eyes. The first thing he saw was ceiling. Rock and stone surrounded him. Where was he?

Groaning he sat up. His guns were gone and he noticed that the front of his shirt was burned. His skin was black and blue where the laser had shot him. The Ecrons had shot him but they didn't kill him. Where was Max and Angel them?

That's when he heard a feint groan and turning he saw Angel's petite form a few feet away. "Angel." he said, crawling over to her.

She opened her eyes and blinked several times. "What happened?"

"The Ecrons must have stunned up. They certainly didn't kill us." Rocky said, looking around.

"Where's Max?" Angel asked.

"I don't know. He's not in here with us." Rocky muttered, noticing the handleless door that was off to the right. Aside from the door, they were in a solid rock area. No windows or peep holes anywhere. "And I have a bad feeling that he's alive."

"What?"

Rocky recognized this place. The old fort that Vadar had taken over as his new palace. "Vadar has him."

~~~~~

Max was just coming too but he was in a different room then Rocky and Angel. He shook his head to clear his vision and wished he hadn't. His head ached just like his body. He blinked several times and took in his surroundings. He wasn't in the monk's caves anymore. He was now in a huge room with a dozen machines and beeped and blinked. Bright lights shone down on him, blinding him. He then noticed that he was chained to some sort of platform, his wrists handcuffed to the sides of the metal stand. He tried to stand, yet his legs felt like jelly. But after several tries he finally got to his feet. The bright lights were hurting him more and they made it hard to see the three people that walked into the room.

"Well now, I see the Ecrons brought you to me unharmed. Maybe a little bruised but hey, considering their an alien race, I'm surprised they kept you alive. Of course with the amount of money I had to pay them to keep you alive, they shouldn't have bruised you."

"Who are you?" Max asked. All he could see where dark figures, the light blinding him of their faces.

"Why I'm the one that killed your father. You may know me as Lord Vadar."

His heart clenched at Vadar's words. His dad was dead. He vowed himself to not cry. He had known it deep down in his heart that his dad was dead but he didn't want to believe it. "Why?" he choked out.

"Your dad was always a fighter. And a good one at that. Hey he saved my butt plenty of times in the old wars. But he believed in the old ways and that's where we parted. Then I learned about you." Vader walked closer and then Max could see the handsome dark face of John's old friend. Several scars dotted his face and his dark hair was now gray with age but he still stood proud and regal.

"Oh how your dad tried to protect you. He was strong. I never got anything from him, not even after all of the pain I put him through."

Max felt the tears in his eyes. He couldn't force them away. His dad had died for him. He knew it and it brought more pain to his heart then anything he felt physically.

"But I told him he'd have his freedom. I gave him the chance to go free and without pain. But no, the General wouldn't have any of it and he died a broken man. I'm hoping I'll get more cooperation from you then I did him."

Max had his head bowed. Every word hit him like a ton of bricks. He couldn't keep the tears at bay and one escaped and slid down his cheek.

"Now, if I get your full cooperation, I won't do to your friend and girlfriend what I did to your father."

Max jerked his head up, his blue eyes defiant. "Don't hurt them."

"I see. You have feelings for those two. Well, I can't promise I won't hurt your big friend Rocky. I have a bone to pick with him. But I can assure you that the girl won't be harmed, if you obey me."

“Now, I want to know what you did with the key. And don’t try to fool me. I know all about this key and you.”

Max clenched his teeth. He remembered the legend. The only reason Vadar wanted the key was to destroy it because if it was used Vadar and everything he had built up would be destroyed. Yet Vadar didn’t know where the key was located and that gave Max more strength to defy this monster. He can be strong like his dad was. “I don’t know.”

Vadar smiled and shook his head. “Wrong answer. But I’ve got something else up my sleeve. Guards!”

Max turned to see three guards pushing a tall figure into the room. He recognized the muscled man as Rocky immediately and his heart jumped to his throat. He met Rocky’s eyes and the Lieutenant winked at him. That gave Max a little bit of strength. Rocky was with him. He watched sickened as the guards slammed Rocky against a pole and handcuffed his hands around the pole. As the guards stepped back Max could see Rocky already trying to work his way out of the steel handcuffs.

“Now I’ll ask you one more time...Where is the key?”

Max turned to Rocky but Rocky shook his head, his silent expression telling Max what he should do. Max turned back to Vadar, blue eyes defiant. “I don’t know.”

Vadar frowned. “You have the same defiance that your father had. But I’ll fix that.” He turned to Rocky and brought out a steel rod. “You know Johnson, you should talk some sense into the boy. He’s going to get himself hurt.” Suddenly Vadar whipped around and slammed the rod into Max’s ribs!

Max cried out in pain as the rod hit the spot where he had been injured before and his whole side went numb, causing him to nearly lose his footing and use the railings for support.

As he gasped for breath, Vadar turned back around to see an angry Rocky glaring at him. “I know what you’re trying to pull. You want me to torture you. But no, I’m playing it different. I’ll torture the kid until you make him or you yourself give me an answer to my question.”

Vadar turned his back on Rocky and advanced towards Max. Rocky was outraged. He was hoping Vadar would hit him. He would have been able to stand it. But Max wouldn’t hold out against the beating. Rocky quickly took in his surroundings, noticing that the guards had stepped away from him and were standing a few feet away. If he could get free, he could ambush the guards and free Max. Rocky turned back toward Vadar and started pulling at the handcuffs. Nobody noticed his arm muscled bulging with the effort. All eyes were on Vadar.

“Now once again, where is the key?”

Max sucked in his breath and looked at Vadar. “I...don’t know...” he gasped out.

The rod hit him much harder and this time his legs crumpled to the ground. His side was on fire and Max knew that it was probably bleeding again. He could feel the hot stickiness of blood down his side. The handcuffs bit into this wrists and Max wrestled to his feet, determined to stand like his father did.

Rocky was mad now and each jerk at the cuffs got stronger. He could feel the metal bending under the pressure. He ignored the sharp pain as the metal dug into his flesh with each yank. The blood flowed from the open wounds, seeping into this hands on onto the floor but that just fueled Rocky and made him stronger. He had to free Max. The kid wouldn’t hold up much longer.

“What do you say Rocky? End this and tell me where the key is.” Vadar said turning to him.

“I say why don’t you stick that rod up your ass!” With one huge lunge, Rocky broke the cuffs and went after the three guards, who were unprepared for the attack.

“Guards!” Vadar screamed as Rocky took out his security. Rocky managed to put down all three and grabbing a gun pointed it at Vadar.

“Free the kid or get blown away.” He shouted.

“Oh you are too much Johnson.” Vadar growled. Suddenly he pulled out a small gun from his back and fired at Rocky.

Rocky was barely able to move out of the way and he felt the hot laser burn part of his arm as he dove away from it. By the time he got to his feet, he saw Vadar escaping into another room. “Time to split.” he muttered and ran over to Max. “Come on kid, lets get out of here and find Angel.”

“Is she all right?” Max asked as Rocky quickly and expertly fired the gun, shooting off the cuffs.

“For now.” Rocky said, helping Max off of the platform. He noticed Max was limping badly and who knew how bad his injuries were on the inside. “Just stay with me kid.” Rocky said as he saw Max grimace in pain.

Part 5