When he saw Chuck being confused on why the door was open, Max realised that someone was inside, probably by breaking in. Max immdaitley rushed to Chuck's side and placed his palm on his shoulder. Chuck stopped and turned around.
When Max focused his hearing, amidst the darkness near the entrance, he could see a shadow. This was achieved by his glowing blue eyes which enhanced his eyesight.
Max: There is someone inside. I can hear them.
Max whispered it to Chuck who was on his right. Chuck looked scared, so it was up to the adult to check what it was. So, he started walking towards the unlocked door.
Max vaguely remembered a memory from his past. When he was ten, he was terrified of a monster in the closet. His scream brought attention to his dad. The dad had to come with him, despite him thinking that ghosts and monsters aren't real.
He would accompany Max, holding his hand and opening the closet to reveal that no one was there. They found out years later, that it was just Alicia and David, trying to instill fear in their brother. Or so they said. And they had a hearty laugh together.
Max in this situation, somewhat behaved like the parent, going in, even though he was terrified of spirits and ghosts. After all, he can't let kids go and die alone. He trusted his Godly eyes to help him when the time comes.
Max: Who are you????
Max whispered a bit louder at the shadow behind the door. He moved a step closer to the door and realised that this person was about the same height and size as him, making him feel lucky. Maybe if things went south he could handle them.
But when he stepped in, even though it was dark, he caught movement on the far side of the house. Someone else was also here, and was hiding. There were two strangers! And before Max could investigate, the person behind the door, used their weapon on Max. Max immediately sensed it and stopped it with his left arm, even though the enemy was on the right.
The enemy was aiming for his right arm nonetheless, probably to decapitate him, but missing in the process.
???: That arm....it can't be....you!!!
Max immediately pushed away the familiar Kukri blade and stood on his feet. He stepped backwards and went out of the house. He also recognized the voice that he had heard a little while back.
Max: Lin...?
Out of the shadows of the house came out a certain black haired, serious looking tough guy. He was wearing blue patterned armour over his black leather clothes. Or atleast looked like it was made of leather.
Lin: It's you...Maximus...you know...I thought you were dead.
Max: Well, sorry to disappoint you.
Melissa: Is Max here...???
He heard a sweet voice behind Lin and out came a red-haired girl in a white jacket that she had worn in the Dome. The cute woman smiled immediately at seeing Max.
Melissa: Oh my God!! Max you are alive!! Thank God!!!
Max just showed his index finger and middle finger, shaped like a V, to say that he was lucky. Chuck stood behind him and watched in awe.
Melissa suddenly looked like she was filled with guilt. She bent down her head and apologised.
Melissa: I'm sorry Max. That we had to leave you. We just didn't feel like we had a choice.
Her expressions showed that she felt remorseful. Lin was giving her a side eye as if he was annoyed. Max then noticed Lin's wrist which was all tied up and bandaged.
Max: No, it's okay, Melissa. I was pissed off, but I understand.
Lin: So...did you beat the Samurai or did he go easy on you..?
This was also a question that Max had.
Max: I'm pretty sure I beat him...but I guess a bit of both happened.
Lin: Ya I'm never believing that you defeating a man of his caliber.
Max: Why you...!!
Max was mad. But then he calmed down. He had no time to be picking fights with them anyway.
Max: What's the deal with that guy anyway? Why was he chasing you?
Melissa: We have no idea...he is supposed to be a guardian of peace, but this one has been pretty violent...
Max: Wait...how many more Samurai are behind you then??
Lin: What, are you crazy? There has been only one Samurai for ages. It's always been that way. One Samurai per era.
Max was confused and baffled with that information. As far as he knew, the samurai were a bunch of people in the history of Japan. They weren't a single person.
Max: What do you mean..?
Melissa: Well, you see....the Samurai is a title given to the wilder of the Excalibur, until they pass it on to the next weilder. The one that chased us is called the 123rd Samurai.
Max looked shocked with this information. There was so much stuff wrong in here, that he didn't understand and so many wrong things too. Samurai in this world or future was a title for only one person. Somewhat like a Shogun. And they wielded the Excalibur, which was a British artifact, and not a Japanese katana.
Max: The Samurai from where I come from are all just a bunch of people and not a single person.
Lin: Well, the people from wherever you are from are just plagiarizing the real Samurai I guess. Sucks to be them.
Max was pissed for him mocking the real Samurai and calling them fakes even though he had no connection to them.
Lin: And what's the deal with you anyway? Why don't you know some basic history??
Max knew that the answer to the question was that he lived inside a rock, quite literally.
Melissa: I think I know...
Lin: What..?
Lin turned back and snapped at Melissa. She raised both her palms and defended herself and smiled awkwardly.
Melissa: I saw the letter in that place where we found Max. Inside the Dome.
Lin: The dome??
Melissa: Yes, that's what we are calling it now. Inside the Dome, I found a letter that Max read. It was in a language that I didn't recognize, but I did understand the numbers. It said 2025.
Lin: So what does that mean..?
Melissa: How many years were there in the previous Age??
Chuck: 2025 years!!
Chuck interrupted them and answered the question. That was when they both noticed the little guy behind Max.
Lin: Wow...it's you...that kid we met.....Chet right..
Chuck: It's Chuck actually...
Lin: I don't care..
Max was already annoyed that he didn't understand. They did say that this year was 1807...but he had no idea what it meant.
Max: So what...I was born in 2005 anyway...
As soon as he uttered those words, all three of them were shocked. Max had already gone through this phase so he wasn't shocked enough and he was ready for the bombshell.
Lin: Wait...what does he mean 2005?? We are still in 1807!!
Melissa: I knew it....Max is not from around here...he is from the ...past!! There were only 2025 years in the previous Age!!
Chuck: So, you are telling me that Max is from the Age of Advancement??
Melissa: I've heard about things staying the same when it freezes...it's a hypothesis....could he be....
Max: Yes....I was born in 2005.....A.D.
Max didn't understand what the Age of Creation or even the Age of Advancement meant. But he knew for a fact that this was the future. For some reason the previous Age, called A.D. ended in 2025, and the 1807 was the years in this new era. And he was in a cryo freeze state and woke up now almost two thousand years later!!
All three of them were shocked and stood in silence looking at an ancient being. Max still had unanswered questions, like those missing four years, and why the world went to shit and also his Godhood and abilities. But he knew he will have to find out soon anyway.
[Maximus Augilleris Steefan: 71 days till Erasure]