MLSB- Part 3

This is the third part of "ML:SB". It was released on 14.03.2024.
== Plot ==
After successfully preventing an alien invasion from turning the world into an alien metropolis, Maxwell turns his attention to another set of troubles. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of them in dark times like those, and he is always in the center of attention.
According to his superior- GM Hannah- His Majesty (The King of Avernum) has requested a team of skilled adventurers to take a suspicious box from one continent to another. He attempted to send a group of avernite scouts, but all of them were too afraid of the consequences, perhaps rightfully so. 
Teaming up with his sister and best friend, Max prepares for another big adventure. And yet, something just does not seem right. Though this seems to be a genuine mission, the air around them reeks of malevolence and uncertainty.
For all he knows, everyone's lives may be on the line.
== Story ==
Maxwell returns to his humble abode in the military's headquarters. Since their home was destroyed a while ago, his sister is also living there.
The two of them sit on the lone table in the corner, staring at each other speechlessly. They want to say something and break the silence. And yet, everything is so loud. Their inner thoughts. Their troubles. Sometimes, they feel like they are standing in the void, with no means of escaping from it.
And then, the feeling passes. Max's mind relaxes, at least for the time being. He nonchalantly stands up from the table, picks up a newspaper from a nearby box and reads it quietly. Apparently, something about it truly intrigues him.
"You know what, Maxi? I've gotta say this."- Abigail says- "Like it or not, you're just like our father. He always loved his newspapers. Always enjoyed the silence. Sure, he was a bit of a jerk, but he was a real man. Unlike many of society's fine males."
Max chuckles.
"Har-har, sis. Spot on."- He responds- "But father's work in the military was far more mundane. When he met my mother, he was a simple private. And he shall remain one for a long time... until he retires, of course."
Abigail sighs.
"He better appreciate the existence pf his grandchildren."- She says- "He never treated us well. I hope it's not the same for them."
Max nods.
"And if he causes any trouble, I'll make sure to give him a private lecture."- He says- "About how to be a real man."
Turning his attention back on the newspaper, Max sees something truly disturbing. Apparently, some passing journalists managed to catch a huge massacre, going into the fire just to show the destruction caused by a certain formerly angelic being.
"Well, this is quite surprising."- He says to himself- "God still hasn't taken this freak back to Heaven? Shame on him, I guess."
Abigail looks at him.
"Are we looking at another fresh disaster?"
Max sighs.
"I'm afraid so."- He says- "Mr. Dark Angel's gone berserk once again. He managed to attack a small port town close to Belvedere Coast. No one was killed, but his cronies turned them all into refugees. The capital's about to get more of them. And that's very bad for the economy, as well as the security."
Abigail raises her eyebrow.
"So. We should expect actual riots and protests?"- She says and nods- "Okay. I'll keep that in mind."
Max looks at his sister, visibly concerned.
"You should try to calm down for a little bit."- He says- "Jumping straight into the fire is bad for your health."
Abigail shakes her head.
"As a spokeswoman and journalist, it's my job to keep those people informed."- She says- "With the rise of this fresh problem, the men are going to become more aggressive than before. They'll blame all of their misfortunes on the women, and start to mistreat them. And that's far from cool in my book. I won't allow those brutes to ruin everything again."
Max sighs.
"Just try not to cause more trouble."- He says to her- "Last time, I had to pull you out of the hands of an angry mob. Acting as a peacekeeper and guardian angel at the same time is no easy job. You should remember that I am on your side. And I only want you to be safe and happy."
Abigail finally notices the concern in her brother's eyes. She looks down, her eyes filled with guilt.
"You're right."- She says- "Sorry, big bro. I won't be a bad gal anymore."
Max smiles and pats her on the head.
"That's my little sister."- He says- "Always the trouble solver. Never the troublemaker. Keep up the good work, dear."
At this moment, Max's phone rings. This is quite surprising, as Max is currently on a break. When he picks it up, it is even more surprising when GA Hannah is the one who is talking. Very strange, but he decides to listen to her. She is his superior, after all.
"Sorry for the disturbance, Wilson. I know you're on a vacation, but things have just gotten worse."- She says- "His Excellence, the King of Avernum, contacted us from his subterranenan kingdom and informed us that a new package has arrived. Apparently, some kind of courier insisted that it should be delivered to the king himself. The suspicious thing says that it should be taken to another continent, on the surface. I know not why, but we shall work on solving this mystery."
Max nods.
"And what is my part in this?"
Hannah sighs.
"You are to deliver this package to another continent. As quickly as possible."- She says- "I know, this is very weird. Even the council agreed that it's very dangerous. But we can't just stand here and watch as those people get hurt."
Max nods again.
"Didn't any avernites volunteer to deliver it themselves?"- He asks- "I hate to take this job from someone else."
Hannah shakes her head.
"Nope. All of 'em treat it like some kind of doomsday device. None of them want to touch it, let alone keep it for a while."- She says- "It's all up to you, general. Like it or not, the task's up to you. Your best friend's on his way to show you the strange box. The three of you shall depart on sundown. Good luck, and don't be afraid. I know you're the right man for this job."
With that, Hannah finally hangs up, leaving Max shocked and confused. If those people refused to take the box anywhere, why is he forced to accept. How can he do better than any of them?
And then, he remembers his place in the army. He is a full general- a man who is supposed to inspire his units and grant them courage, not cowardice. No matter how dangerous this job is, he can't just call it quits.
"Did I hear this right?"- Abigail says- "You, me, and Benji- all the way into the dark sea. Is this truly right?"
Max looks at his sister.
"You know Ben?"- He asks- "But how?"
Abigail smiles.
"Silly Maxi! The two of us are in love!"- She exclaims- "We met when you were on a mission to cleanse a nest of salamanders. Just like those passionate beasts, he's got a heart of fire. And, unlike the rest of those male freaks, he's actually quite nice. That's why I love him so much."
Max grins.
"Well. That explains why Ben's always got a girl on his mind."- He says and pats his sister on the shoulder- "You chose well, sister. If you decide to marry him sometime in the future, I give you my blessing. You deserve it."
Abigail's eyes light up. Like a little girl, a feeling of pure glee washes over her.
"Really?!"- She exclaims and hugs her brother- "Oh joy! This is the best day of my life! Thank you, big bro! I won't forget your kind words!"
Max smiles and hugs her back.
"I am always looking out for my little sister, even when it comes to love."- He says- "Dad's not right, Abi. You were never alone, and you will never be. Keep on believing, and good things are bound to happen."
Overjoyed, the two of them walk outside. The sun is still burning bright, and the soldiers are still running around. It is a busy day, and nobody has any time to do anything else, other than salute their superior when they get close enough.
"For a long time, I always thought that our soldiers have behavior close to that of those artificial beings."- He says to himself- "As I can see, nothing has changed. Those robotic movements are engraved in their minds. I hope that we could achieve a better type of mental training in the future, but I doubt it."
Then, his jacket gets stuck to a nearby spear. As he pulls it out, he realizes that someone stabbed a note, and placed it near the door to his home. Normally, if any soldiers wish to send him a message, they do it in the new way- via the internet.
"Well. This is quite... ominous."- Abigail says- "Are we sure that we should read it? Maybe we should just toss it in the trash and walk away."
Suddenly, the note's letters change. Glowing red letters appear on the paper, forming the clear sentence:
 "YOU ARE NOT THE BOSS HERE"
Abigail gets a little spooked, but she soon remembers one clear fact- words hurt less than actions. If she chooses to ignore them, the pain shall be minimal. So, she decides to allow her brother to handle this job.
Maxwell unpins the note and reads it. The words return to their original state, forming one brief, but very clear sentence:
 "I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU... " 
 - Sage
The brave general says nothing. Only a lone drop of sweat betrays his true feelings of concern. Apparently, someone hates him so much that he pinned a note to his doorstep. Whoever this Sage may actually be, he must be a very powerful individual. Or believes himself to be one, at the very least.
At the same time, Benjamin arrives at the precise location, carrying the precious box. Even from afar, the little object seems to be far too dangerous for an untrained set of adventurers. Maybe this is why Avernum's government decided to dump this task on the surface dwellers- to prevent another disaster from shaking the delicate peace within the lands below.
"Hey there, family! Long time no see!"- Ben says- "How's it going?"
Abigail turns to Ben and hugs him.
"Oh, Benji. Something horrible happened."- She says- "Some madman has set his sights on my big bro. He's trying to threaten him, and break his spirit. Worse, he might even be succeeding. I'm not sure what to do!"
Ben raises his eyebrow.
"What? Some crafty villain sneaked into the HQ again?"- He asks- "Max, may I see the message? I'll try to make sense of it."
As Max willingly gives the note to his best friend, Ben does his best to decipher its meaning. Immediately when he sees the name of the sender, his teeth start to grit on their own. It is clear that this is someone he knows well, and- from the looks of it- he just hit the jackpot.
"Argh. I know this filthy scoundrel."- He says- "Sage's a dirty fool whose gang has been causing a lot of trouble to our ranks. They managed to destroy a few towns, and are eager to do it all again."
Max raises his eyebrow.
"Could this event be related to the attack on our hometown a few years ago.
Ben shakes his head.
"I am in no place to make assumptions. All that I do is to deliver orders to the lesser units and write the plans for the week."- He says- "Max, you're the general of this military. Your job is to uproot dangerous individuals, and eradicate them before it's too late. It ain't my place, nor my time to give you any suggestions, but I'll tell you this- if this guy's strong enough to wipe out an entire town, then he's definitely not scared of you."
Max looks at him, trying to comprehend what he just said.
"So. Let me get this straight."- He says- "You're implying that we should thread carefully. Try not to cause another major onslaught."
Ben shrugs.
"Geez, man. I'm not thinking that far ahead."- He says- "You lead- I follow. It's the way of the true warrior, after all."
Abigail pats her brother on the shoulder and shakes her head.
"Don't stress yourself, big bro. This is neither the time, nor the place to think about it."- She says- "For now, we should focus on the task at hand. This crazy little box has to be delivered to another continent, and I fear that we don't have a lot of time to make it happen."
Max and Ben stare at each other for a few seconds. Then, they laugh, as if they are sitting at a bar.
"You know. I never thought that I would see the day when a girl would have more bravery than both of us combined."- Ben says- "It makes me feel truly motivated. More than before. I want to go out there and carry this box on foreign land, away from the safety of our humble little HQ."
Max nods.
"And so do I."- He says- "From the looks of it, this box seems to be filled with something dangerous. But our job is to deliver, not to question. Orders came from a higher circle, and we must obey them. So, onward and wayward. We'll make this dream of ours come true, sooner or later."
Max, Ben and Abigail walk toward the nearby docks. Accompanied by military officers, they arrive at the end of the southern dock. There, they discover a flimsy craft that has certainly seen better days, let alone owners. As it turns out, this adventure shall be a long and uncomfortable one.
After attaching their possessions to the vessel, the trio are saluted by GA Hannah and the soldiers, watching as they emerge from solid ground. Soon, the vessel approaches the darker parts of the sea and the soldiers lose sight of it.
"That's right, Wilson. Be a good soldier. You have a big part in this grand scheme, but your time has not come yet."- Hannah says to herself- "Be patient, my dear. All good things take time to happen. Until then, enjoy your little trip."
As the boat gets far away from the dock, Abigail experiences a sudden sickness episode. With no other choice, she turns around and pukes into the sea. Her companions watch worriedly as she lays in the boat, severely weakened.
"What is it, Abi?"- Max asks- "Is this journey affecting you?"
Ben inspects his love closer. He notes her increasingly pale skin and blood red eyes, concluding that she is suffering from some sort of dangerous infection, the likes of which both he and his best friend have not seen.
"I ain't no expert when it comes to medicine."- He says- "But I can tell one thing. Whatever kind of horrible infection is affecting Abi, it's putting shackles on her wrists. And it isn't going to let go of her easily."
Max nods.
"Now I understand why GA Hannah wanted us to work together."- He says- "Sea travel's a dangerous task, not meant for everyone. My dear sister seems to be experiencing symptoms close to those of an actual sea sickness. It's a good thing she's not alone in this. Who knows what might have happened otherwise... "
Ben shakes his head.
"I've traversed the seven seas with a boat myself. I was with my father, a young an' inexperienced teen at the time. After fighting a particularly dangerous octopus-like fiend, our little craft capsized. Only the combined efforts of me and my father, holding our boat afloat and preventing ourselves from drowning, managed to keep us both alive in that time of peril. "- He says- "On the health-related side of things, the worst thing I've suffered from is only a severe form of headache. There's a lot of action packed in this adventure alone. Others, however, may not be as lucky as me."
He leans close to Abigail and kisses her on the forehead.
"Stay sharp, my dear."- He says- "We'll be outta this nightmare in no time."
Suddenly, the walkie talkie in Max's pocket starts to beep loudly. He attempts to turn it off, but soon finds out that it cannot happen. Someone is attempting to contact him, and his only choices are answering the call... or tossing the irritating object in the sea, potentially endangering his entire group.
"I'd think twice, if I were you."- Ben suggests- "Those things are packed with high amounts of plasma energy. It may allow quick communications, but it's also a huge detriment. One wrong move, and you're going to become toast."
Max looks at him.
"But what if it's just another advertiser?"- He asks- "We've had far too many of them."
Ben looks at his friend.
"An advertiser, skilled in tinkering with top secret government objects? I'm sorry, but that seems highly unlikely."- He says- "It's like comparing a small cookie to a giant cake. A tiny baby to a massive titan. This ain't no joke, Max. Whoever's trying to contact us... must be one of the bad guys."
Reluctantly, Max decides to answer the call. When he hears who is speaking on the other side, he comes to a quick realization- the message stuck to his door was far from a mere coincidence.
"Well. Look who decided to answer."- A man's voice emerges from the walkie-talkie- "Good to hear you again, Wilson. Are you enjoying your little boat ride of doom?"
Max glares at the walkie.
"Sage! You blasted desperado!"- He exclaims- "Didn't I already tell you to leave me alone?"
Sage is the leader of an established outlaw society, based in the heart of Blackwood- one of the most dangerous regions in the new continent. Unbeknownst to him, he is responsible for the demise of his beloved wife- Leah- and is using his emotional attachment as a weapon against him. Many times, this wretched man has attempted to blackmail Max and use his own kindness against him, often hitting a nerve while mocking him and his unfortunate predicament. But the real reason for his questionable motives is- he believes that Max is capable of far more than what he knows. Pushing out his aggressive side is just one of the tasks which he is trying to accomplish.
"It ain't no secret, Einstein. It's me- your favorite rival."- He says- "And I've come with a preposition. A really explosive one."
Max shakes his head.
"Explain it already, you worthless bloodsucker!"- He exclaims- "I already gave you a portion of my income. What more do you want?"
Sage smiles.
"And I am thankful for what you did. Your money has been truly useful for me and my group."- He says- "But here's something that I have in mind. And it's an offer you can't simply refuse."
Max continues to glare.
"I am listening."
Sage nods.
"I thought you would, for you have no other choice."- He says- "You see, we recently managed to extract the location of a major training ground. I believe that it is in the western parts, far away from your beloved HQ. But here is the worst thing- many of your friends recently enrolled in the complex. Said they wanted to be brave and strong like you. And yet, those poor sods stand no chance against the power that my boys can unleash upon 'em."
As Max becomes shocked by this revelation, Sage decides to add more fuel to the fire.
"Also, the inside of your humble vessel is filled with nano explosives- to the brim."- He says- "If you refuse to comply, I'll make sure that your little craft explodes into a million pieces. While this won't be enough to get rid of you, your companions won't be so lucky."
Max shakes his head.
"You're making some bad decisions again, Sage."- He says- "Listen. I already gave you something that you needed. I complied to your demands. There's no need for us to get violent again. You know how this will end."
Sage smiles.
"And what if I told you... that some of those people want to join me? That they want to change the world, in a different way?"- He asks- "Face it, Wilson. Your mighty army's not the only powerful force in this world. Those who your people refused to help, those who were too weak to fend for themselves, they are now working for me. And the worst part is, your army is far too weakened to participate in another vicious battle."
Suddenly, Abigail musters the force to stand up and defy Sage's foolish demands.
"Don't... listen to him, big bro."- She says to him- "We... might be in a pickle here. But no one's going to get hurt. This guy, he's... more bark than bite. And we shouldn't be afraid of the one... who barks."
Max looks down.
"Abi... "
Sage laughs.
"Oh. How lovely. Your sister tries to dissuade you from saving the lives of thousands of people."- She says- "If only she knew how much worse I could be... "
Max stays silent for a few seconds. Then, he decides to speak.
"I... have made my decision."
Then, he turns to the walkie.
"Fine, Sage. You've won. You've got yourself a deal."- He says- "Same time- same place. Blackwood shall be our neutral ground. But if you back down on me, I assure you that I won't spare you or your precious renegades. You're already too far into the abyss, anyway."
Sage lets out an affirmative sound.
"Ho-ho! That's what I like to hear!"- He exclaims- "Good boy. And make sure to bring a lot of 'em. I don't want those government flunkies to threaten us again."
And then, the call finally ends.
"You just surrendered our team's entire set of weapons and provisions to a deranged madman."- Ben says- "Are you even aware of what is going on? Why are you giving him another reason to be a jerk?"
Max shakes his head.
"Don't worry. As time passed, I learned from my previous mistake."- He says- "Sage may be a crafty little bean, but he's still far from a smart person. If my plan works correctly, then Sage won't have much dignity left to ask for anything else."
Ben sighs.
"I hope that you're truly up to something."- He says- "Government law states that we shouldn't abide to the demands of villains such at this one, no matter how persuasive they may actually be,"
As Max rows the boat forward, Ben attempts to discover the mechanism that powers the explosives attached to it. Unwilling to allow their dream to be shattered, he manages to discover a small fuse box, unable to be witnessed by the untrained human eye.
"Booyah!"- He exclaims- "I just hit the jackpot!"
Max looks back.
"It sounds like you're having a lot of fun back there."- He says- "What is your reason?"
Ben smiles.
"Sage's good at extorting others, but he's horrible at hiding his terrible secrets."- He says- "Keep on drivin' the vessel, brother. I've got a plan in mind, and it won't be a pretty for our lawless friend."
Ben starts to work on the inside part of the fuse box. First, he reconnects some of the cables in different slots. Then, he crunches some numbers, managing to reverse the inevitable system that Sage set for them. Finally, with a grand slam of the fuse box's little door, he manages to create a n explosive, if not outright lethal, surprise.
When the boat finally reaches land, Sage believes that the timer will start, forcing Max and his allies to take action. Unfortunately for him, this process takes a little longer than it usually should. The beeping sound, however, manages to grow in intensity, forcing a nagging feeling into Max's mind and reminding him of his task.
"And now, for the grand finale."- Ben says to himself and smiles- "Those so-called "patriots" won't know what actually hit 'em."
As a large group of Sage's henchmen, possibly a big contingent of the forces that he armassed, arrives to collect Max's so-called debt, the young general nervously steps back on the boat to pull everything out for them. However, Ben quickly stops him, reasoning that they already did their job and that it's time for the desperadoes to do theirs.
"Gentlemen, why don't you go see the rewards for yourselves?"- He says to the outlaws and smiles- "After all, if we're the ones who bring them for you, there's a fair chance that we might scam you out of your... deserved shipment."
The guards remain nonplussed. They draw their guns and train them on Ben, who seems to be equally nonchalant.
"Oh no, you don't! We've already heard those petty lies!"- One of them yells- "Git 'em out here! Or else, we're gonna go ballistic on ya!"
Ben continues to smile as he raises his hands in the air.
"But then, you won't acquire the full value of the gold bars within!"- He exclaims- "We left some in there for you, just because you're such nice people. Maybe you could buy your freedom from the empire with that. Who knows?"
Abigail looks up at Ben.
"Benny, dear."- She says- "I know that you're forced to do this, but you're being kinda dirty."
Ben shakes his head.
"Shh. Let your feelings go for now, Abi."- He whispers to her- "Can't you see? We managed to strike the right target. With the right initiative, we might even be successful here."
True to Ben's words, the large group of outlaws falls for his trick. Rudely pushing Max out of the boat, they step into it and immediately start to argue about the gold bars within. Their leader, a burly, tall and powerful man (with a handlebar moustache above his lips), angrily pushes some of his subordinates away to claim some of the precious shipment for himself. Such a prize is far too tempting, even for a man like him.
"All hands are on deck."- Ben says- "It's time... to rock."
And then, just as suddenly as Sage's message reached them, the primed explosives finally run out of time. The entire craft explodes into hundreds of pieces, just as Sage intended in the first place. However, it is his group that just paid the price. Many of his greedy subordinates meet their untimely demise at the seemingly harmless little craft, sending their charred bodies in the air like fireworks on New Year's Eve.
As Ben watches nonchalantly, the charred body of the group's leader falls in front of him. The huge man, still alive, miraculously gets up and starts to strangle Ben for what he did to his allies. He has gone ballistic, and with a good reason.
However, just as his strong hands start to crush Ben's throat, Abigail manages to muster the strength to get back to her feet. She grabs one of the former boat's oars and strikes the man's head with all of her might, almost breaking the right side of his skull. As he gets back up and attempts to strangle her as well, she plunges the oar into his stomach, pushes him back and strikes him much harder, and then strikes him some more. To Max and Ben's horror, she continues to bash his skull in, until his soul mercifully leaves his body.
Abigail angrily throws the oar on the man's chest and spits on both of his giant arms.
"Serves you right, you greedy, filthy brute!"- She exclaims- "Consider this an act of mercy. If you made me angrier, I would've hit you much harder."
Max and Ben stare at each other, left speechless by Abigail's sudden act of bravery.
"Brother, there's one thing we both should keep in mind."- Ben says- "When Abi's angry, we should always thread carefully. Walking on thin ice's not easy, yo!"
Max nods.
"It's even worse when you have to deal with her every day."- He says- "You'll understand that when you get married."
Suddenly, Max's walkie starts to beep again. When he presses its only button, Sage seems to be much angrier than he was before. Apparently, he wasn't expecting Ben's trickery and was shocked when his subordinates actually fell for it.
"Wilson! I thought that I was perfectly clear!"- He yells- "No tricks! No betrayal! I just wanted what I deserve, but you had to make it harder!"
Ben leans close to the walkie and smiles.
"Sorry Prince Charming, but this ain't no civilian extortion."- He says- "You are dealing with some of the army's esteemed units. If we deem it necessary, we are obliged to teach you a lesson that you'll never forget. And what do you know- we just did."
Sage angrily grits his teeth.
"You're such an insolent fool, soldier. But your luck won't last for a long time."- He says- "Let my next move be a warning for ya. And if you survive, I'll make sure to meet you soon enough. Farewell for now. I hope that the sharks are kinder than I am, because you've just exhausted the last of my patience."
As the walkie starts to beep faster, Max immediately realizes what is going on. Using his fast reflexes, he manages to rip the walkie out of Ben's hands, push both of them back, and throw the raging walkie into the dark sea. The resulting impact sends a huge wave their way, and the boys are forced to team up to prevent the incoming sharks from biting off their limbs. 
Fighting for their lives with the boat's oars, the two of them notice that a water elemental is making the wave even stronger. Understanding the creature's weakness, Max grabs a large sphere of dirt and throws it at the sea warrior, damaging its delicate structure in the process. Then, when it prepares to unleash an even more powerful tempest of water and wind, Max grabs a large branch, fearlessly runs forward and plunges the wooden implement into the creature's core, forcefully ceasing its functions and watching as it collapses into hundreds of shiny rocks.
With the demise of the water elemental, the wave goes with it. Soon, the rest of the elementals realize how dangerous Max's group truly is and allow them to proceed, taking their stone bodies far away from the coast that they greatly despise. The shore quickly becomes a silent border between the lands of light and darkness, giving the group a brief respite from the madness that is happening around them.
"We may have won the battle, but we're still far from winning the war."- Max says- "Many people's lives are still on the line. And if we allow the madman to do what he wants, we're certainly going to lose them all."
Picking up one of the former ship's oars, Max motions for his team to move forward. After helping his sister get back to her feet, Max rejoins his best friend and ventures further into the treacherous lands ahead of them.
"Power. Wealth. Influence."- He says to himself- "Sage, you've always wanted them all. You used your charisma and threats to get what you want, just like a true extortionist. However, it all ends here and now. Nobody else will suffer because of your madness, I assure you."
As the trio gets further into the woods, a lone man jumps out of the nearby underbrush. He aims his staff at them, a nearly wild look gleaming within his eyes.
"You! You're trying to harm the forests again, huh?"- He says- "Well, Nature shall suffer no longer! As its chosen guardian, I shall bring an end to your unspeakable evil!"