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Thursday, November 15, 2018

Enigmatic Fantasies #5 - End To A Dream [#52]

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            Action Max was the greatest hero in the world. Many other had also risen to be defenders of truth and justice, but Action Max was the favorite among them. He has fought monsters, robots, and aliens every minute of every day for longer than he can remember. The Giant Aliens from Planet 9, the Ultradile from 10,000 below and the invincible Gigabots of Dr. Manlow. All threats which could have destroyed the world overnight. All of which were stopped by the mighty Action Max. Yet, after all his victories, there was only one feeling that remained in his mind, "exhaustion."
            Even today in the midst of his battle against the terrible Gigantidon. Between the illogically sized weapons. Explosions that leveled city blocks and clashes of force that will leave marks in history. Action Max feels no exhilaration, no excitement, only tired resignation. When the Gigantidon fell to his onslaught, another monster rose in the distance. Action Max then sighed and trudged forth with minimal energy.
            That night, as he stood on the balcony of his Hall of Great Justice, and observed the patchwork city before him. Action Max pondered how long he had fought and how many encounters he had with all the vile villains of the world. He looked out to the highest point of the city. Beyond the grand skyscrapers, bizarrely huge parking garages and randomly placed blocky buildings. There was a single structure that dwarfed all the others. Atop this location was a single bright light, that illuminated the city like a second sun.
            'Maybe one day,' Action Max pondered as he stared into the endless, dark night.
~--~
            The very next day, as Action Max prepared for another long day of the same monsters and villains, his prayers were answered. The single light upon the tallest structure in the city. Forever closed off from the world, shined even brighter than before. It called to him, it demanded his attention, and he listened. Wordlessly, the light echoed numerous ideas, "freedom," "return," and "finality." As Action Max observed the city, he realized he wasn't the only one who felt it.
            A wave of monsters, robots, and others creatures had filled the city. In something akin to a mass migration, they barreled towards the light at the center of the city. They wanted what the light seemed to offer, and deep down so did Action Max. Without hesitation, he armed himself and charged off into the horde. He would not let them reach the light first.
            Action Max zoomed forward. Dozens of weapons strapped to his body from rocket launchers to laser rifles and even a jetpack that fired missiles. He forced his way through numerous familiar foes. The Giant Aliens, the Ultradile, the Gigabots, the Gigantidon, and endless others threats took swipes at him. Action Max dared not to waste time on these distractions, as each clawed and bit at his body, he dodged. Whenever he was struck he muscled through the pain. Whenever one tried to get ahead he'd blast them with his own weapons and push on ahead.
            It was a riot, half against the city and half against him, but all centered on that bright light. Action Max knew he couldn't survive in the thick of this turmoil for long, so he got creative. With his jetpack armed and countless explosives at the ready, Action Max blew his way through the crowd. With the Ultradile as a springboard and the Gigabots as shields. The crowd was rocked with blasts that shattered the earth, and Action Max's many foes fell one by one.
            Action Max zoomed through the carnage and reached the light's structure ahead of everyone else. With a sigh of relief Action Max felt a rare shot of euphoria. His goal was within reach and nothing stood in his way. He quickly scaled the vast structure faster than anyone had any right to. Then he reached the penultimate floor and found he was not alone.
            Dr. Manlow had beat him to the structure, the mad scientist was now the last obstacle in the hero's path.
            "So we meet again Action Max," the mad doctor cackled, "for the last time!"
            "You are correct," Action Max replied, "this is the last time."
            "This time I will destroy once and for all, thanks to my..." Dr. Manlow began his usual spiel. Action Max had heard this nonsense umpteen times before and cared little for the specifics. He pulled out his laser rifle and blasted the doctor square in the chest before the speech was finished.
            "Well then, goodbye," the hero stated. He walked right past the pained scientist, who couldn't even manage a reply. Action Max didn't even bother to confirm his enemy's condition, he cared only for his goal now. He climbed up the final section of the structure and reached the top. As he entered the end of the structure, he was bathed in the light.
           "How glorious," the hero remarked. He could even see in front of himself anymore the light was so great. Yet, he soldiered on forward as the light invited him in. His exhausted body and mind were filled with a long forgotten feeling of euphoria. He almost cried as his body felt the exhilaration of his youth.
            Again the light echoed three ideas, "freedom," "return," and "finality." Action Max embraced those ideas. He closed his eyes and accepted whatever the light offered as the world seemed to fall out from under him. For a brief moment, he cracked open his eyes. What he saw could only be described as the hand of God reach down and pick him up. The hero observed the city for one last time. The light and life drained from the city until it appeared hollow and lifeless. Action Max felt the life drain from his own body which became stiff and rigid, but he didn't fight it. He just accepted his "liberation."
            The last thing Action Max felt was being placed down on a hard wooden surface, his rigid body laid flat on its side. He could see the "hand of God" pull away and leave his field of vision. The hero could barely see the world beneath him out of the corner of his eyes. He almost expected to see the city. Yet, all he could see was a small smattering of lifeless, plastic structures and equally lifeless discarded figures. As Action Max faded from consciousness the last sound he heard was a door close, and then silence.

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This was a weird story to write and I hope its meaning comes across. It was written in a stream of consciousness, so it feels a little loose structure wise, but I think that actually helps the story in the long run.
Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy.

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