They've been running through the rubble for hours. Their pursuers not letting up; keeping close proximity to them. They reached a dead end. The quick steps behind them slow down to a crawl.

With dread, they both turned and there, behind them, stood in brightly colored armor; the city's heroine. Max, the hero of Super City and beside her was Surge. A similarly colored robot wearing a pair of sharp sunglasses.

Max grinned at her prey. They were trapped and had no way to escape. Then she frowned. In the group of traitors was her trainee. The one not ready to be a hero. She shook her head in disappointment.

"I'm disappointed, Meg. But I guess it's not really your fault if they fed you lies. *Sigh* this just shows that you aren't ready to be a hero, if you believe-"

"No Max! You're the one being fed lies! You are the one brainwashed."

Max looks at Bibi, who had a strange gleam in her eyes. A lump settled in Max's throat and she shifted uncomfortably. She clenched her jaw firmly.

"What are you talking about? Starr Park has done nothing but help rebuild this city, over and over, every time some nasty villain reduces it to pieces like it is now! This time, you were the ones who did this and not some robotic dinosaur. However, like all the other times, you were affected by something that's controlling you. I'll save you, I will save all of you and Starr Park will explain everything to you."

Bibi shook her head and her grip tightened on her bat.

"Think about it Max, they're using you! We didn't do this! You did, when you wouldn't let us escape."

"If you hadn't tried to escape in the first place-"

"You're not a hero!," Max turned to Meg, who had the outburst. Her head was low and trembling.

Hurt by the accusation, she glared at her, "Meg! How could you say that? I am a hero! I save people, I keep the city safe. I keep people like you out of danger!"

Meg looked up at her, tears stinging her eyes, threatening to fall. Meg screamed, "YOU THINK YOU'RE A HERO! But you are not. You.... I looked up to you, I wanted to be you. You aren't the person I cared about anymore. Look at you, at what you are doing! I might not be you, I might not be a hero, but I will be. Because I'm going to save you from yourself and from Starr Park."

Max, glared at her more, confused and angry- she ran at her. She picked her up and slammed her down. Surge, following her lead and attacking Bibi. Bibi was hit hard and her body was tossed into a wall. She grunted, dodging the shot in her direction.

Max punched Meg in the head. Meg kicked her off and shot at her. Max dodged the incoming fire.

"Why do you keep fighting me? Why do you hate Starr park so much? They haven't done anything to you!"

"They ruined you, Max! They poisoned your mind! You aren't a hero!"

"Stop saying that!"

Max aimed her gauntlet at her and fired several rapid shots. Only two hit Meg, one on her side and one on her leg. A scream with ript from her lips, Bibi turned in horror. Angry, she hit Surge with a five times combo. He went down and she swung at Max.

Max dodged every wild swing. She used her momentum to punch Bibi to the ground near Meg. Bibi crawled to her and covered her injured body. Bibi glared at the cold expression on Max's face. Max glanced at the unmoving Surge.

"You really aren't a hero, Max. Because Hero's don't hurt the people they are trying to save. Look Max, look at her. She's your friend, she loved you like a sister and you hurt her. You hurt all of us when you became Starr Park's dog."

Max's expression softened at her friend. Meg was never a sidekick, she saw the potential and the determination she had. Max's mouth twitched into a grim line. The more she thought about Meg's honest and righteous character, the more she questioned herself. She looked down at her hands, she trembled. She ripped her gauntlet from her arm.

She lowered her head and turned from them.

"....Leave. This is the only time I'm letting you go."

Bibi didn't need to be told twice, she lifted up Meg and began to run past her. Max, did not move. Max felt someone behind her though. It was Surge.

"Surge?", she turned to him.

Silently, he used his light blade to stab her in the chest. It passed through her. She looked down and then up at him. Meg cleared her head enough to see what was happening when she found herself a long distance away.

Surge was electrocuting Max and Meg screamed for her. Unbearable fear permeating her whole being.

"MAX!"

"Buddy... Why?", Max whispered.

Max had a line of blood drip out of her mouth and tears stained her eyes. Meg was hysterical in Bibi's arms. Soon enough, their ride came to pick them up. Jessie and Penny holding Meg back from jumping out of the retreating vehicle. She watched Max fall limp as the jeep drove farther away from her sister.

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END