19 years later
Central city, a magnificent city that served as the cultural, economic, and political center of Mobius. It resembled a modern-day utopia with massive towers occupying the skyline. In the hundreds of years since the United Federation was established, people have migrated to Central city seeking greater economic opportunity. eight million people from every species and continent across the globe now resides in this city.
Atop one of its many building a billboard reside. It was advertising the newly elected president of the United Federation, John Cheng. The ad showed a standard portrait of the president smiling at the viewer. Standing in front of the billboard was a young blue-furred hedgehog. With a spray can in hand, Sonic thought to add a few extra features to the hoarding. He gave the small metal container a good shake before going to work.
In less than an hour, he was turning the boring Ad into his own work of art. Red spray paint decorated the politician image. Sonic drew devil horns on Chengs head and serrated teeth on his mouth. He also added a row of babies next to the portrait. The infants were on a conveyor belt leading into the guy's mouth. Before he could add more he heard the unmistakable sound of helicopter blades approaching.
"well that's my cue," Sonic whispered to himself. He tossed the partly empty can aside. Sonic walked behind the billboard and retrieved his extreme gear. Then he placed his feet on the board and jumped off the building. Sonic grinned as he flew down and spins with his board. The blue hedgehog landed on the streets of Metro City. He skates down the hill, passing by pedestrians and vehicles.
"Hey, there he is," a voice yelled. Sonic saw the police officer on his radio. He smirked and picked up speed on his hoverboard.
By the time he reached midtown, an entire entourage of police cars was chasing him. Come on, they gotta do better than this, Sonic thought. He gunned the board over the curb and across a local park, skidding around vacuity. Sonic jumped a fence and dodged Pedestrians. The cops were still hot on his trail. He made a sharp turn onto a side road and cut into a narrow alleyway. After a few more maneuvers the police were unable to follow him through the terrain. From an exit, he saw them go screaming by.
Sonic hit the acceleration on his board, racing back into the street. From his peripheral vision, he saw a speeding semi heading for him. He swerved around the truck, but his board plowed into a parked car at an angle. The force of the impact launched him off the board. He slammed knee first against the pavement. Sonic rolled over a couple of times before coming to a halt on his back. The impact stunned him for a moment, but quickly he started to feel the pain. Well, it could be worst Sonic though. In the distance, he started to hear the faint sound of sirens.
Sonic had been to many places throughout Mobius from the Mystic cave to Angel Island but he didn't expect to be in a G.U.N holding cell. Yet here he was confined to a cell along with other people of, waiting for their number to be called. If that wasn't a reminder enough of his situation then the shackles on his ankles were. Sonic closed his eyes and sighed letting his mind drift for a time.
Soon enough the doors opened and two G.U.N soldiers came in cradling rifles that they vaguely pointed at him. One of the soldiers had a look of disgust all over his mug. The instantly of the stare made the hedgehogs fur crawl. With a swipe of a keycard the cell door opened.
"Can't believe a little punk like you is Sonic," one spat out as the other shook his head. Their revulsion for him only made sonic chuckle.
"Don't you mean Sanic the hedgehog," the other soldier joked.
"guys, don't be star struck I always make time for my fans" Sonic commented. "so, where do you want the autograph left butt cheek, right butt cheek or both."
"And he got jokes, I got one too," A soldier lifted the butt of his gun ready to thrash the hedgehog.
"Harm a single hair on his fur and the both of will be discharged faster than sonic breaking the sound barrier!" Came a sharp clear voice.
"Ah good old uncle here to save the day," Sonic muttered watching the G.U.N. troopers straighten up in fear. Sonic watched as his guardian came into the cell wearing his usual lab coat. Chucks eyes and face were heavy with lines of long hours and grief. A thick gray mustache obscures his mouth. His once vibrant blue fur has faded giving his fur a pale blue pigmentation. Once sonic made eye contact with his uncle all he saw was the weary resignation in his eyes.
"Come on boy," Chuck said clapping his nephew on the back. "Well talk in the car."
While being escorted away sonic managed to give the soldiers one last glare. They weren't amused with sonic attuited in the slightest. In retaliation, the two G.U.N soldiers also returned a glare of their own back at the hedgehog. The feeling on both sides was mutual.
In the parking lot, Sonic sat in the passenger seat of his uncles hovercraft. The vehicle was about twenty-seven feet long with a gray color palate. It had VTOL capabilities and powered by electric and jet turbines. To the eyes of some, I resembled a futuristic model of a sports utility vehicle. Chuck punched in the destination into the crafts main computer screen. Then the vehicle started to hover in the parking lot. As hes about to place his hands on the wheel Chuck frozen in place. He withdrew his hands and pressed a button on the screen, activating the autopilot feature. Chuck leaned back into his seat and shook his head at the sight of the house arrest ankle bracelet on Sonics right leg.
"Déjà vu," he whispered to himself. "Just when I thought you could surprise me anymore, you always find some way to do it."
"It's what I do," Sonic said.
"I assure you, this is not the moment to joke around," his uncle countered. Sonic quieted down. Chucks face remained stern, pushing any further wouldn't go well. "I know you think it's funny that you vandalized president'sents billboard."
"No, hilarious."
"Sonic," he began. "I know you've been feeling restless for quite some time but don't take it out on the world. If you want to be mad at someone be mad at me."
"I'll apologize later," his nephew responded.
"Your father wasn't good at doing nothing either," said Chuck. A small smile appearing on his face. "You know you can talk to me, right."
"Even if I did it wouldn't make a difference," Sonic replied throwing his hands in the air. "Like you said you're not my father."
Sonic and Chuck shared a look of barely repressed despondency. The younger hedgehog shifted his view to the window. Chuck continued to glare at the blue blur. His mind flashed with memories of that fateful day. The promises he made that day echoed through his brain. The old hedgehog lowered his head.
"true I'm not your father," Chuck said in a cheerless tone. "And I can never be him even if I tried. Your father was a brave hedgehog. A good hedgehog."
Sonic returned his gaze to his uncle. Old memories started to manifest before his eyes. Although his childhood had been a good one there was still something missing. Once he entered his early teens the relationship suddenly changed. Between Sonics thirst for adventure and his uncle's thirst for knowledge they both unintentionally isolated the other.
"What I know indefinitely is that hed be utterly disappointed in the poor choices you've made," Chuck told him. "A lack of good judgment he would've said."
Sonic was momentarily thrown off balance by the unexpected statement. "come again."
"Incredible processing speed, exceptional performance in school and it all went belly up. Drugs, petty crime, never had a job."
"I wouldn't be caught dead working a nine to five," Sonic said curtly.
"what about your extracurricular activities. First prize regional sprinter, two years in a row. Your coach had you pegged as Olympic material."
"Yeah, well when you're fighting against someone like Eggman, you pick up new hobbies pretty quick."
"Now of course. Always someone else faults," he countered. "Whos to blame you for quitting G.U.N? You were halfway through training, doing brilliantly, but you gave up."
"Because I wouldn't be able to be with Sally," Sonic paused for a moment before he continued. "She also mentions something about fraternization between G.U.N and Knothole Defense Force."
"Are you two together now?" he asked, looking for a reaction but got none. "This has to stop Sonic. You can't continue your life thinking everything is about you. There will come a time where you must choose between what's best for you and what's best for others.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I believe the universe has a funny way of testing people. And in those moments our true character is revealed," Chuck said. "I've seen dark times turn strong people into tyrants. I just hope you never get put into that kind of situation at all.
Underneath a grim crimson sky, four hedgehogs feasted triumphantly around a campfire. Around them, where the surrounding ruins of Thoraxia. Once a thriving planet for the Blodex, an insect-like species. Now it was a mass graveyard that told the tale of their slaughter, the genocide of an entire race of people at the hands of the black arms and a handful of merciless warriors. For miles, fiery pieces of rubble decorated the lands scape, replacing the once proud cities. The barren ground was littered with the corpses of Blodex soldiers and civilians alike.
"Green Gate, huh?" Sonia Grumbled. She was a violet colored hedgehog with pink quills. Using just her fingers she could breach through a cooked Blodex arm with minimum effort. Beneath the exoskeleton, was an abundant portion of neo colored flesh. Although the meat wasn't very well prepared, it didn't discourage her apatite. "Never heard of it."
"I'm not surprised, it's on the other side of the galaxy." Said shadow, his commanding tone, and stern presence marked this Hedgehog as the leader of the group. His fur was black with crimson markings.
"I have," claimed Manic. He was perhaps the most bizarre in appearance, with wild teal spikes and a peculiar smile. Clad in the same style armor as his comrades. "Some say they are the next galactic superpower."
"What a load of shit," Scourge bellowed whilst he removes another limb from the dead Blodex. With his canine teeth, he bit through the outer shell, tucking into his second helping of meat. More of the thick neon juice spilled down his chin as he ate in a feral manner. From head to toe, this green hedgehog was covered in scars. His most prominent marks where the burn marks on both of his arms.
"I concur," shadow announced. "The hedgehog empire is the greatest force universe, we have no equals."
"Hear, Hear!" Sonia and scourge shouted. Both raising their glass in the air.
"Prost!" The black hedgehog joined his comrades. He took a generous gulp from a large bottle of green liquid which he held in one glove. "but I suggest we learn more about Green Gate before making our next move."
"Boring," scourge announced, spitting half-chewed food as he yelled. "we should head to Green Gate now and level the damn place!"
Silent fell a pound the campsite. Although Scourge was a warrior of renown he still lacked certain qualities especially discipline. Shadow had tolerated the green hedgehog's insubordination as a ploy to keep an eye on him. Besides with their people's numbers at an all-time low, every hedgehog was an asset. Conscious of this fact, scourge used it to undermine his leaders authority for his own amusement.
Aware of the growing tension Manic proposed to change the topic. "Hump... the condition of this hemisphere is pretty good." He declared. Black doom is sure to reward us handsomely, right?"
"Speaking of the devil," Sonia whispered.
Then a small creature descended from the sky. It resembled a starfish, except it had an eye placed in the center of its body. The creature levitated above the campfire, establishing its superiority over the hedgehogs. Suddenly, the creatures eye began to glow, projecting an image of Black Doom. Being the supreme ruler of the Black arms doom was unlike the rest of his kind. He had three glowing red eyes and twin horns. As proof of his status, he wore a robe adorned with spiked ornaments and jewels.
"Ah, Shadow and his cohorts, I see that you've exterminated these life forms, excellent" his deep voice presented an echoing effect. " my army will be arriving shortly."
"thank you, Lord black doom,"
"As your heralds, we serve your power."
"I'm glad to see you've all know your place, now find me a new planet."
"At once my lord."
With its mission accomplished, the Doom's eye stopped the transmission and began to leave. Scourge conjured a ball of chaos energy in his palm. Before he could launch the projectile at the creature, Shadow suddenly appeared right next to the green hedgehog. The black hedgehog held Scourge's wrist in place, preventing him from resuming his action. Silence followed as scourge and shadow had an intense stare down
Knowing that conflict was imminent Manic chewed quietly on his food and Sonia looked deeply into the green liquid swirling in the glass bottle from which she drank.
"How can you continue to sever that piece of crap?" he asked. " "its because of him our home is gone, come on, he murdered your father right in front of-"
Before he could finish scourge found himself on the floor with shadows foot on his neck. The heel of the boot was pressed against Scourge's throat. As he attempted to fight back, shadow applied more force on hedgehog's windpipe. Which caused scourge to gasp for air, as his eye started to turn bloodshot.
Sonia looked to her superior, as an expression of confusion etched upon her narrow face.
"Captain shadow..." Sonia began.
"Yes, Sonia?"
"we are going to rebel, right?
Shadow remained silent, as he continues to choke scourge. His grip the cold bottle whilst he contemplated the situation. He took another sip of the chilled liquid and gasped with satisfaction.
Manic had looked up from his meal now and was surveying the pair with an aura of confusion about him.
"Theirs, not a day that goes by where I want to tear that monster apart for what hed done to our people," Shadow began, smirking, yet as he finished the sentence, his gaze hardened and his voice took a more serious tone. "I cannot ignore the fact that his immense power and his limitless number of minions, it's too much."
"Coward" the green hedgehog managed to say.
"Silence, he retorted. Shadow applied more pressure on his foot. His eyes shot Scourge a threatening gaze. which the hedgehog took to be a stern warning, and promptly shut up.
"So... we're just going to live under his heel, Just like that?" manic questioned.
"Of course not!" Shadow barked, grinning broadly as he removed his foot from the suffocating hedgehog. The black hedgehog shook his head as his three subordinates looked towards him, eagerly awaiting an explanation.
"Listen," Shadow said his voice flecked with impatience. "Not too long ago Manic informed me about a shuttle belonging to the Ar-thur family traveled to some distant planet...before ours was destroyed."
"Yup." Manic nodded.
"Well," Shadow said, "they will be conscripted into our going rebellion."
"Ha excellent plan," Sonia bellowed triumphantly.
"And if they refuse?" Questioned the green hedgehog.
"Then we give them an ultimatum!"
"Scourge," Shadow said "As penance for your behavior it is your responsibility to obtain this alliance. If they're not with you don't come back at all."
Scourge opened his mouth to protest his punishment but decided against it. "Okay, Shadow" was all he said while rubbing his throat. He straightened his back, and flexed his arm muscles. "whatever say."
Shadow nodded in approval. He shifted his gaze to the teal colored hedgehog "Manic coordinates."
Manic hurled his meal to the side and stood. The two headed towards the green hedgehog's personal starship. which resided in an open field towards the edge of the mesa. With a swift kick to a button on the vessel, the door opened, revealing the spacecrafts cramped one-man interior. Manic leaned into the ship and began tapping commands into the onboard computer.
"Alright, its done," Manic murmured. He placed his hand over the hedgehog's shoulder. "Be careful out their brother."
"Don't sweat I'll keep in touch," scourge assured. pointing at the red visor resting on his forehead. With that, he jumped into his seat. Manic took a few steps away from the Scourges vessel. The ships system roared to life, elevating the craft a few feet into the air. It hovered for a while as the course to Mobius was being charted. With a roar of energy, the hedgehog launched towards the stars.
Once the ship left the teal hedgehog made his way back to the campsite. He took back his seat and reached for another portion of food.
"Hell be fine manic, quit looking like that," said Sonia with a reassuring grin." Right, shadow?"
The black hedgehog didn't reply. He was pacing around the campsite, occasionally stopping to practice his combat technique.
"You see nothing but confidence," Sonia commented.
Meanwhile, in the depths of space, Scourge looked at the galactic positioning system on his computer. According to the map, he will be arriving at his destination shortly. At least something is going his way he thought. He crossed his arms and looked up. Scourge snarled at the sight of space, it was a cold and life to him. Although life wasn't sacred to him he loved it when a life form fights for its right to live. Just looking in his enemies' eyes before the killing them is enough to make his day. Maybe when he gets to Mobius he could get his hands dirty with so of its local inhabitances.
As Scourge was deep in his thoughts a continuous beep went off. It notified him that he was in the solar system heading straight to Mobius. A rush of excitement was circulating inside his veins. Scourge lips curled into a smile "let the fun begin."
A/N Thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, followed and favorite this story.
Next chapter: Confrontation.