Fugitive
Chapter 4: Pain and Polymer
Tails squeezed the trigger and watched as another blob of hot lead connected with the tree before him. He looked down and studied Jackie's gun.
Well, it's certainly much easier to control than mine, he thought. Pretty much what I'd expect out of a 9mm. Still, though...
The fox ran his fingers over the lightweight plastic frame.
Compared to my Eagle, this is like a child's toy.
He turned the gun over to read the manufacturer's inscription.
Springfield XD. It's a service model. Wouldn't put it past Jackie to have stolen it from a dead cop.
He raised the weapon and fired a few more shots. He sighed.
Nines just don't kick the same.
Satisfied that he had familiarized himself with the temporary replacement, Tails put it away. The barrel was a good two inches shorter than the gun the holster was intended for, but it fit securely enough. He started to walk.
Tails wasn't worried about anyone hearing the gunshots. According to the HoloScreen, the strip of forest in which he stood was miles away from civilization. Even if anybody heard, he was far enough out of the way that they would assume he was hunting stray cats.
Not that this place could support much life anyway, he thought. There isn't a shred of green in sight.
Gnarled trunks and twisted branches grasped at the sky, dark spires silhouetted against the early afternoon sun. The fox wiped the sweat from his brow. It was three more miles to Harland.
...
When Tails arrived in town, he wasn't surprised to find it abandoned. It consisted of a single main street lined with shops leading up to a large domed building that must have been the library. The smaller buildings appeared to have been looted and several of their windows were smashed, but the library seemed relatively untouched.
Chaos forbid they steal something of any ACTUAL value.
The building was an extravagant affair, built of polished marble that gleamed in the sunlight. Tails made his way past a long-deactivated fountain and up the smooth white steps to the door. It creaked open and he stepped inside.
The lights had stopped working, but shafts of sunlight cut into the cool shade from high windows. Shelves upon shelves of books lined the walls and several more large bookcases stood throughout the single cavernous room.
The fox perused the shelves. Most humans may not have been particularly hospitable toward Mobians, but they did have some excellent writers. He selected a few titles and returned to a patch of large, comfortable chairs he had passed in his search. Putting his feet up and grabbing a book off the top of his stack, he settled in to read away the evening.
Maybe I should bring some of these home with me, he thought when he reached the end of the first chapter. His own collection had been read again and again, so much so that the pages were falling out of the binding.
There was a click by his left ear. He froze.
"Don't move, dirtbag."
Tails sighed and lowered his book. He had been so engrossed he hadn't heard anyone approach. He turned, and found himself looking down the barrel of a revolver.
"You know, I'm really starting to get sick of people pointing guns at my face."
The blond-haired human male holding the weapon spoke again, his voice shaking.
"Shut up! It's bad enough you guys ran everybody out of town, why can't you just leave me alone?"
Tails thought back. He didn't recall running anybody out of any towns recently. He calmly reached over and placed his book back on the pile.
"It seems we have a case of mistaken identity on our hands," he said. "Now, I'm not entirely certain who you think I am, but I can assure you that if I wanted you dead, you would be."
The human chose to ignore him.
"I'm surprised you things even have enough brain cells to read!" he snarled.
"If you're trying to endear yourself to me, racism isn't the way to go about it." The fox sat up. "But like I said, I'm really not here for you."
"Oh yeah?" he asked, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose.
"Yeah."
"Then what are you doing here?"
Tails reached for his book again. "That's none of your concern."
There was a loud bang that echoed off the stone walls and a spray of paper flew from the fox's hand. He frowned.
"Okay, now I'm annoyed." He turned to the human. "That was a pretty damn good book you just shot."
"Tell me why you're here or the next one will be your head."
Tails glared for a moment before answering. "A thief took something of mine. I would like it back. So I followed him."
"And what the hell are you doing in my library?"
"I'm waiting for some of them to fall asleep before I go in. Dying wasn't on my agenda for the day."
The man scoffed. "You're one of them! They're not gonna do anything to you!"
Tails leaned in closer, and the human jumped back. He stared the man dead in the eyes and spoke slowly and deliberately.
"They are a bunch of spineless, unevolved idiots." Tails stood and the man began to back away. "And I am not." He snatched the gun out of his hands and quickly unloaded it. "Whatever I may be, I promise you I am not 'one of them.'"
The human looked scared. Tails sat back down and placed the empty gun on the table next to his books. He tossed the handful of bullets over his shoulder.
"If you're going to shoot somebody, just shoot them," the fox said. The human looked confused. "I'll be out of your hair soon enough. Are you the librarian?"
"I... I was."
He pointed to the shredded remains of the book. "Do you have another copy of that?" The human nodded, looking perplexed. "Would you go get it for me, please?"
"I... wait... you're really not with them?"
"No. I'm my own special breed of asshole."
Still unsure, the human disappeared to search for the book. Tails leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling. The dome was dizzyingly high.
Soon, he heard footsteps returning. He had half-expected the man to return with another gun, but all he held was different edition of the Vonnegut novel the fox had been reading.
"Thanks," said Tails, placing the book on the stack for later reading. "So the thieves ran everybody out of town? I know Robotnik doesn't typically go after human settlements."
The man sat in another chair and began polishing his glasses on his shirt. He looked to be in his early twenties.
"Yes. They came from all over - survivors of Swatbot raids. We hardly knew what hit us."
Tails nodded. "I've seen desperate people do crazy things."
The human suddenly looked angry. "They didn't do it because they were desperate!" he spat. "They did it because it was funny! We offered them food, shelter - anything they needed! And then..." He trailed off. His rage subsided as quickly as it had come. "And then..." A faraway look came over him as he relived some painful memory.
Tails decided to interrupt. "So what's your name?"
"Huh? Oh, uh... Ellison. I'm... I was the librarian."
"Miles."
"Charmed." It sounded insincere, more out of politeness than anything.
"So it's just you?" Tails looked around the room. "This place is huge."
Ellison swelled with pride. "Yep. I have a mental catalogue of every single book in this place." He paused. "That was probably a lot more impressive when there were still people here. Used to be a town full of intellectuals, you know."
"Really?"
"Yeah. That's probably why we were such an easy target. Picking on the nerds and such."
"Believe me, nobody understands that better than I do."
They sat in silence for a moment before Ellison spoke again.
"They killed my brother."
"Oh, I uh... I'm sorry. I know what that's like."
"Dragged him out into the street and shot him right in front of me. Everyone who hadn't left by that point decided it'd be a good time to split."
"But not you?"
"Nah. They never come in here anyway. Too stupid. Besides, I couldn't bear to let this place go. A home without books is a body without soul."
"Was that Cicero?"
Ellison nodded, looking surprised.
"Well," began Tails, "I have a plan that should solve both of our problems, but if it works, you'll need to clear out for a little while." He could see that Ellison was about to object, so he continued. "Only for a few days. I think I've got some people following me, and if they come crawling around here you won't want to meet them."
After a moment of hesitation, he reluctantly agreed and they sat in silence once more. The man motioned to the Vonnegut novel.
"I haven't read that one in a while. Would you mind... you know, reading aloud?"
"Sure." The fox picked up the novel and opened to the beginning.
"Oh, no - just go ahead and start wherever you left off."
Tais nodded, flipped to his page, cleared his throat, and began.
"Listen: Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time..."
...
Several hours later, the book was finished and the sun had long since set.
Tails eyed the remaining stack longingly. "I suppose I'd better go."
"You can check them out if you want, I guess."
The fox brightened. "Really?"
"Yeah, as long as you bring them back. Eventually. Is there anything else you need?"
"Actually, if you have any 9mm rounds, I'd appreciate your lending them to me."
The human nodded. He disappeared for a moment, then returned with an ammo box. After Tails had reloaded the Springfield's magazine and re-holstered it, Ellison showed him to the door.
"Do come back... you know, when you have the chance. Civilized company is so hard to come by."
He promised he would, then pushed the door open. Outside, the town had been transformed. Moonlight cascaded over the empty street, pooling in lustrous ribbons of pearly white. The library overlooked the town like a castle, and Tails was struck by a sense of majesty. They stood there on the marble steps and admired the silent spectacle.
"I get the feeling I would have liked it here," Tails mused sadly.
"I only wish you could have seen it. It used to be great."
"It could be great again someday." Tails looked at the abandoned shops. "Maybe they'll come back."
Ellison nodded. "A great city is that which has the greatest men and women."
"If it be a few ragged huts, it is still the greatest city in the world," said Tails, finishing the quote. "Whitman."
The human smiled. "I do like you, Miles."
The fox grinned. "Call me Tails."
"Alright. Your books will be waiting for you when you return... Tails."
With that, Ellison returned inside, leaving Tails alone on the stone steps. A cool breeze swept across him, chilling him to the bone. He wasn't sure whether it was the wind or the Vonnegut, but for some reason, Tails couldn't shake the feeling that he'd passed a threshold much greater than the library's door.
The building's courtyard wound around the back, lined with dead hedges. At the edge, a large balcony overlooked what had probably once been a beautiful rolling plain. Tails leaned against the stone railing and took in one last moment of tranquility before heading down a staircase cut into the side of the cliff. Things were about to get a lot more violent.
The storm drain Dimitri had referred to was a large circular outlet set into the cliff. Tails peered into the darkness and listened for voices, but heard nothing. The pitch black drain seemed to swallow him whole as he climbed inside, careful not to slip on the slick surface. He felt his way along, completely blind.
The drain widened and the walls fell away from his fingertips. The ground felt flatter here and he could see a faint light around a bend up ahead. As he drew closer and his eyes adjusted, he could see that the tunnel had become larger and more rectangular.
A laugh barked out from up ahead. Tails tensed and drew the Springfield. A pair of voices floated around the corner, coming closer. Seeing nowhere else to hide, the fox flattened himself against the wall and held his breath. A pair of thieves rounded the corner.
"Man, I fuckin' hate this place at night," complained a familiar voice.
"Afraid of the dark, Marv?" the other teased.
"Fuck you."
Tails squinted as they walked past. He could just make out the cougar from the motel along with another Mobian he didn't recognize.
Just a few steps past Tails, one of them clicked on a flashlight. His eyes widened. Their voices drifted off out of the tunnel, and he finally exhaled. Another couple of feet and he'd have been caught.
The fox peeled himself off the wall and continued, tightening his grip on the Springfield.
I must be under the main street by now.
As he rounded the corner, the acrid smell of tobacco smoke reached his nose. He ducked against the wall again as another bandit came into view. A crude hole had been blasted into the side of the tunnel - this was the source of the light - and the brown dog was seated on a large piece of rubble in front. He was facing Tails, cigarette in hand, but hadn't seen him come around the corner.
No way around. I'll have to wait.
Tails stood for a few minutes and watched the glowing red cherry float back and forth from the dog's mouth down to his side. Eventually, he crushed out the cigarette, stood, and disappeared into the hole. The fox waited a few seconds before slipping in after him.
He climbed through the short tunnel and found himself on a ledge overlooking a larger cavern. To his left, a ramp spiraled down to the floor below. He ducked behind a pile of rocks and peeked over the edge. Jackie stood in the center of a group of other Mobians.
"And then I was all, 'You're pinned down, asshole!'" the coyote bragged. "And he starts screamin' and beggin' for his life. I was about to shoot him, but then the little bitch starts crying!" The other thieves laughed. "So it's like, well fuck, I can't shoot the guy if he's crying! So I says, 'I'll let you live, but don't ever let me catch your ass around here again!' And then I stole his gun and kicked him out the door!" The thieves laughed again.
Tails remembered a slightly different version of events.
"Ha ha! 'You're pinned down, asshole!'" one of them repeated, far too amused by the exaggerated tale.
Jackie was now proudly flashing around his Desert Eagle like a trophy. Tails had to stop himself from shooting him right then and there.
Now now, there'll be plenty of time for murder later. If you kill him now, you're never getting that gun back.
The coyote raised the gun in the air and fired. A loud boom resounded in the enclosed space. The crowd cheered. He fired again. They cheered again. Tails saw the brown dog tap at the pockets on his vest.
"Ah, shit. I forgot my lighter. Hold on."
He made for the ramp. Tails bolted back through the tunnel, hoping to hide in the dark. As he raced for the corner, a pair of voices reached his ears, accompanied by footsteps moving in his direction.
Fuck! They're back!
He could hear the dog coming through the tunnel. None of the piles of rubble were large enough to hide behind. There was nowhere to hide.
The voices rounded the corner as Tails fumbled with the Springfield. He hissed as he was suddenly blinded by a flashlight.
"Hey!"
"Holy fuck, that's the guy from the motel!"
He felt cold metal dig into his back as the dog arrived.
"Don't move."
He froze. "What do you know? I guess smoking is bad for my health too!"
"Drop the gun and put your hands up."
He did so. The flashlight was lowered, but he still couldn't see. Someone gave him a shove. Disoriented, he fell to the ground. The butt of a rifle connected with the back of his head, and he blacked out.
...
Tails was beginning to consider a lifestyle change. Of the last three times he had slept, he'd been knocked unconscious twice and passed out drunk the other. It was a wonder he hadn't suffered any serious brain damage yet.
In fact, waking up to the sight of Jackie's stupid grin, he almost wished he had.
"Man, you got a lot of balls comin' here after I already kicked your ass once!" the coyote taunted.
"You know, I think I know a psychiatrist who can help you out with those delusions," the fox replied.
Jackie frowned. "Yeah, you talk a lot of shit, but I'm not the one who's tied up, am I?"
Tails looked. He was indeed restrained again, tied to a chair in another cave.
I hope this doesn't become a regular thing.
"Now I got you right where I want you..." The coyote raised the Desert Eagle to the fox's temple.
"Ugh, please don't hold it like that," Tails objected. "If you're going to shoot me, at least pretend you know how a gun works."
He heard a snicker behind him. Jackie stepped back and fired a shot at the wall. "You think I'm fuckin' playin'?"
"No, just remarkably unintelligent."
The coyote snarled and jammed the weapon between Tails' eyes. He pulled the trigger and flinched, expecting a spray of blood. The gun clicked quietly.
"Yeah, see, I figured you wouldn't have reloaded it."
Muffled laughter came from over his shoulder. Enraged, Jackie yelled and whipped him in the face with the hot barrel. Tails grunted at the sharp pain near his eye, feeling hot blood spill over his face. He yelled in frustration.
"Augh! You tore my stitches, you fuck!" he spat.
The coyote wound up his arm to hit him again.
"That's enough, Jackie," said a female voice, still laughing. The coyote looked up, fuming, as a snow leopard stepped into view.
"The fuck? You said I could kill him, Holly!"
"I thought you could," she replied tauntingly. "But you've got him tied to a chair and somehow you're still his bitch." She walked over and eased the gun out of his hands. "Besides, I think I have a far more entertaining idea." The leopard placed the gun on a table next to its holster, then turned to address Tails. "How about you fight him. Hand to hand."
Jackie was incredulous. "This guy?"
Tails sized him up.
Scrawny... probably never fought without a gun... doesn't look like he could throw a punch...
"Yeah, that shouldn't be a problem," he concluded.
"Good."
The coyote scoffed. "Whatever. When I kill you I'm takin' your other gun." With that, he left through the narrow passageway.
Holly turned back to Tails. "You've got quite a mouth on you." She leaned down in front of him and caressed his cheek with the back of her hand. Her breasts were just inches from his eyes, but he kept them trained firmly on hers. "I like that." The hand made its way lower, past his neck and down to his chest. "I'd like to see what else you've got."
"You'll have to excuse me, but I'm not really in the mood. I've been awake for about three minutes and I've already been threatened with death."
The leopard stood. "Mmm, such a shame. But you're cute, so I'm gonna cut you a deal." She motioned to his guns. "When you win, you get these back and you're free to go."
"What's the catch?"
She crouched down so she was at eye level. "First, you have to do something for me." She ran a hand over his upper arm. "Winning shouldn't be a problem for you, but I want more than that. I want you to tear his pride to pieces. Don't just beat him, humiliate him."
"I take it you two don't get along?"
Her face grew serious. "I can't stand that cocky little bitch. He walks around like he's in charge of the place, but he's not." She tightened her grip on his arm. "I am." Her expression melted into a devious smile. "So do you think you can do that for me?"
"It would be my pleasure."
"Good. Now let's take care of that." She pointed at the bleeding gash on his face. She disappeared for a moment, then returned with some stolen medical supplies and set to work on fresh stitches.
"Think you could untie me now?" Tails asked.
Holly grinned and placed a hand on his thigh. "Oh no. I think I like you like this."
...
A few minutes and several suggestive comments later, the stitches were finished. Holly held up a mirror for Tails, and he had to admit that the leopard had done a decent job.
He was untied and escorted back into the larger cavern he had seen when he arrived. The lizard's count had been accurate - around thirty Mobians of various races had formed a ring with Jackie in the center. The fox was thrust into it with him, and the gap in the wall of bodies melted shut behind him.
"Gonna fuckin' murder you, fox boy."
"Doubtful."
Holly called out from the top of the ramp. "On my mark, boys!"
The coyote fell into a ridiculous imitation of what he probably thought was a fighting stance. A strange grinding noise came from above, but nobody other than Tails took notice.
"Go!"
Jackie made a sudden dash for Tails and dove at his legs. The fox easily leapt over the attack and watched the coyote collide with the ground. He scrambled to his feet and coughed out a mouthful of dirt before lunging at Tails and throwing a punch. Tails sidestepped it and used his foot to sweep Jackie's legs out from under him. He landed on his face.
Tails moved away and allowed his opponent to stand. Jackie ran at him and aimed a kick at his head. The fox stepped back, grabbed the coyote's foot, and wrenched it upwards, flipping him onto his back. From the ground, Jackie kicked at his ankle. Tails dodged effortlessly.
Man, this guy's really got nothing!
Jackie attempted to rush him again, but tripped over his own feet before he even got close. The coyote climbed up again and shouted.
"C'mon! Fuckin' hit me!"
Tails fucking hit him.
Stepping in closer and deflecting a weak punch, he leaned forward and slapped Jackie in the face. The crowd erupted in laughter.
Jackie gave a scream of rage and reared back to throw a harder punch. Tails took the opportunity to grab the coyote's bandana and yank it down over his eyes. The sudden blindness threw him off balance, and Tails was able to easily spin him around like a child about to hit a pinata. He grabbed a handful of Jackie's earrings firmly in one fist and slammed a foot into his back. The coyote went down, screaming as the piercings tore free from his flesh. Tails jammed a foot into the small of his back and smirked.
"You're pinned down, asshole."
The thieves roared with laughter, then started to cheer. The fight was over in less than a minute. Tails looked up at Holly and found her motioning to him. The bandits parted for him as he left Jackie moaning on the ground and made his way to the ramp. He looked up. A few small stones had begun to fall from above.
Right on cue.
"A deal's a deal." The leopard grinned as she handed him his things. "Best show I've seen in a long time!" She placed a hand on his chest and smiled seductively. "I think I'd like to get to know you better."
"Right. I wish I could stay longer, but-"
The ceiling caved in. Chunks of rock rained down on the crowd, some particularly large pieces connecting with bodies and breaking bones. The thieves screamed in confusion as group of humans in riot gear rappelled down on ropes.
"ATTENTION, FREEDOM FIGHTERS:" one of them boomed through a megaphone, "YOU ARE ALL UNDER ARREST."
"-but as you can see, it's time for me to make my exit," the fox finished before slipping past the leopard and taking off down the tunnel.
Holly didn't seem at all upset that her operation had been busted. In fact, she seemed amused.
"Be seein' ya kid!" she called after him. She sounded like she meant it.
Outside, Tails dashed up the staircase and entered the library through a rear door. He called out.
"Ellison?"
No reply. It seemed the human had taken his advice after all. A camouflage backpack sat on the table with a note taped to it.
TAILS,
PLEASURE CHATTING WITH YOU. TREAT THESE WELL. YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AT THE HARLAND LIBRARY.
-ELLISON
He unzipped the bag and looked inside. The books he had chosen were neatly ordered inside, along with the remainder of the 9mm ammo from earlier. He swapped his Desert Eagle back into its holster and dropped the Springfield into the bag.
Tails chanced a look out the front door. Part of the street had been demolished, and military personnel milled about their new entrance to what they presumed to be Knothole. He exited out the back door.
Now that he was sure he was being followed, he knew a way to get them off his back. If it worked, he was positive they would leave him alone.
Surely they wouldn't follow me into Robotropolis.