Chapter 3: A light change of events
The morning's outcomes led to an afternoon with a clear goal in mind. Sonic, with the assistance of his buddy Tails, was going to catch the unknown thief from outside the GUN base, aiming to retrieve the stolen Light Sapphires and partake in a promising battle. Lexi also stood by through the transmitter; guaranteeing from the two that the mission should go smoothly. He was more than ready; envisioning the battle ahead as he'd stop the thief in their tracks and commit a variety of spin-dashes and homing attacks. He hasn't felt this excited to fight someone since Shadow, metal sonic or blaze, who in the past were almost good enough to best the blue blur.
Tails lands the Tornado a good 3 miles away from the base to not get caught by the officers. With the little time they had to try and catch the thief; they couldn't warn the base of the thief's plan for infiltration and thought it'd be better to sneak up on then once they escaped for the outside. Sonic still didn't want to miss any action so he grabbed Tails hand and rushed towards the outer wall of the base.
Upon a small cliffside, the two found a perfect spot just outside the wall where you can see almost everything in the middle of the base. Guards and patrols surrounded this area like an army; it was a GUN base after all so they've got to keep an eye on some of the dangerous projects and mysteries in the world. Sonic was anticipating the thief escape, that's if they could even take on these many guards. The thought thrilled Sonic even more.
"I'm guessing the jewel will be somewhere deep underground within the base, so if their fighting so many guards already, it might take a while for them to escape," Tails said. "I guess we'll just have to wait" Sonic sulked impatiently. "Still, keep your eyes peeled. They could be anywhere" Lexi said.
It wouldn't take too long however because within a few seconds of Lexi saying that the doors exploded with a big blast of light. The dark silhouette of the figure emerged; the gem at the end of her staff bigger than before. It's clear now that they have the three gems and the power that would come out of them is tremendous.
The figure built up the power in their arm to swing the staff towards the ground. Immediately, it impacted the ground like an earthquake, sending half of the men flying the other half unable to move by it's rocketing force. The remaining guards on the inner and outer walls began to shoot towards them, but their speed allowed then to Dodge the fire effortlessly. They defeated the guards not with the gem but a forceful kick to the skull, knocking them unconscious.
The rest of the guards inside the base began to recover but it was too late to stop them. The thief atop the outer wall took a bow mimicking the guards on their departure. The guards took countless shots towards the wall but by now, the thief was already over it and on the run through the trees.
Sonic looked a little gob-smacked and Tails slightly stuttered at the power he just saw. "What's going on?" Lexi demanded. "T-They just defeated the GUN officers within a matter of seconds" Tails replied. "We'd better make a move now, they're leaving" Sonic said, beginning to run. "You go ahead, I'll slow you down and you need to catch up with them. I'll see you shortly!" Tails shouted. Sonic nods and starts running faster, leaving Tails behind.
Before he knew it, he was on the thief tail with the thief not noticing his presence. They were fixated on the gem at the end of the staff, probably because of it's overwhelming power. And this was just with three Light Sapphires. Imagine what all four could do...
The pathway they both ran along started to lead them to the edge of the coast, a steep cliffside that someone could easily drop down from. The base could be seen a fair distance away meaning that they must have run really far.
"Sonic, do you see them?" Lexi questioned. "They're right in front of me, I'm just waiting to attack at the right moment," he says, eyes glued to the figure. He jumps slightly away from the pathway into the forest and gains a light more momentum. His plan; reach the same pace as his opponent and spin-dash them close to the edge, not so they can fall off but so they're halted in an area of no escape. Then the real battle can begin.
He curls up in the ball with immense speed and, from out of nowhere, attacks the thief from within the trees. The thief is pushed back from the force of the attack, stumbling to their knees on their descent down. The bracelet on their hands, which kind of looks like a ring, breaks free from their wrist and starts rolling towards the cliff edge. "No!" a husky yet reverb voice comes out from the figure, in desperation to grab the ring before it drops. They catch it, a bellowed sigh of relief from the thief. They then start to feel a numbing pain coming from their right shoulder, clutching it tightly.
"Ow! Come on, did you have to barge into my arm like that?!" they shouted. "Don't you think you deserve it after stealing those gems from the Royals?" Sonic argued back. "It still hurts! And besides, is that all they told you?" they question him, clipping the bracelet back on their wrist. A speaker rises up with Lexi's voice in the transmitter, stopping Sonic from speaking. "That's all they need to know. Now, you need to hand over those gems and hope the princess won't press charges" Lexi ordered.
A deep laugh comes out from the figure. "You really want to listen to every word that robot said?". "ROBOT?!?" Lexi screeches, clearly triggered. "Well, let me make some things clear to you then. One: the Light Sapphires had disappeared 10 years ago and have only come back within the past six months. Two: they don't belong to anyone because it's powers meant to be shared. Three... Well, I just want them all to make my own wish" the figure explains, the piercing blue eyes showing Sonic the honest truth.
It was a small bit of information for Sonic take in but still, the future of the kingdom depends on it. "They only want it back so that they can protect their home. I'm sure you only want it for selfish desires" he says defiantly. "Yer sure, selfish desires, look, it was nice bumping into you but I gotta -"
"Stop right there" a voice beckons. They both look up from the edge of the cliff side. No way. It was Rouge the Bat, this time in a more formal GUN uniform than her previous suit. A patrol of guards came in surrounding the thief, keeping them on close lockdown. The figure hoisted themselves up to look closer at her. And then, all of a sudden...
"Oh my gosh, ROUGE?! It's been forever seen I last met you! You're definitely looking as beautiful as ever" the figure lit up, a clear wink defined in their shadowy hood. "Please give up the charade Chelsea, I know it's you" Rouge uttered in embarrassment.
Hold on. Chelsea? I mean, ok, we know now it's a girl, but the other guys looked as shocked as I do, Sonic thought. "Aww come on, you had to ruin the surprise for them?" Chelsea said, lightly chuckling. "But do you really think it's a good idea for me to unmask? In front of the guys?" a more sinister, half-lidded look in her eyes as they glared at Rouge. "Just get on with it" Rouge answered back.
"Ok, anything for you Rogue-" she pulls down the mask. A soft, sultry voice now appears, "-But I warned you". The figure pulls down the hoodie.
Wow. Just wow. Sonic was taken back by what he now saw. Out of the hoodie fell a beautiful braid of brunette hair; the braid held together by two of the same rings, just like the ones on her wrist. It was now noticeable that she was a cat; with short but sharp-pointed ears and long thin yellow tail. Her figure started to make sense with a bright yellow skin tone, more curves and a slightly petite figure. And her face... Oh her face. Her cat-like eyes made her ice blue irises sparkle more, her whiskers small but cute and peachy lips that made everyone fall for her smiles.
Her disguise fooled everybody (well, the guys at least since Rouge already knew her and felt a little jealous of the attention she was getting). The mask must be able to alter her voice because she sounded like a man previously and the hoodie did well to hide her feminine features. Course now, Sonic couldn't look at her masked up without seeing those defined features. He was stuck in a daze by her sheer beauty.
The rest of the guards felt just like Sonic, lovestruck at the sight of her. It started to piss Rogue off, with Chelsea only chuckling more at her anger. "I did warn you" an evil smirk on Chelsea's face. "Well, don't just stand there, go and fight her!" Rogue orders the patrol, snapping out their love state and charging at Chelsea. "Ok, if that's how you wanna do it", her grin widened, "let's dance".
The first guard swings his batton from above and without moving her gaze from Rogue, Chelsea lifts up her staff making a crystal shield to block the attack. Without a second to think, the guard's batton breaks to the impact and Chelsea strikes him with the staff to his lower gut. He shrieks in pain, with the next guard reluctant to attack. The second guard uses a blaster instead, but her quick dodges made it harder to shoot and before he knew it she was right in front of him. The gem miraculously created a light spear knocking him off his feet and leaving him comatose. The third guard, out of pure anger at his fall comrades, just ran towards her screaming with clenched fists. She simply grabs his one punch and renders him immovable. It doesn't even faze her as she slams him into the ground.
The rest of the patrol try to fight her with various attacks and with each one, she's always the victor. She certainly has a way with the gems because of her quick wit to make inventive attacks. Tails would love to see this, Sonic thought, unaware of his own amusement at the sight of her battle royale. Sonic felt like he wanted to join along, but... He kind of wanted to go against her on his own, not just in some minor brawl. "What's going on? Sonic?" Lexi questions, but Sonic stares speechlessly.
With all but one guards defeated, she yawned and stretched her arms across to simply say that this was boring her. This guard took it as an offence and directed himself to Rogue. "I've got this one mam!" he pronounced confidently, but Rouge could only stare at Chelsea. She knew she was strong, but this power was too much for one person to have.
"Ooh, such a tough guy. Rouge normally likes a tough guy. You might get in the way" Chelsea flirts, an evil laugh hidden in her voice. These guards attacks were a little faster and movable as he utilised all the weaponry in his arsenal. Seeing how this was slightly more interesting than her previous battles, Chelsea pro-longed their fight with dodges to keep talking at Rogue.
"You know, I don't think I like your new job. I get you like to keep an eye on all the precious jewels, but ain't this overkill?". "I've always worked for GUN as a spy, I just got a better job- I thought I told you all this?" Rogue clear confused at her question and how calm she's taking this fight. Slightly bewildered, Chelsea fends back the guard by holding the staff at both ends above her chest. She then cries with laughter. "This really us a downgrade Rouge, haha! I liked you more when you were a badass spy". Chelsea knocks back the opponent and uses the staff like a baseball bat to swing the guard through the sky. A little too far out in the sky.
"Do you think I got a home run?" Chelsea smirked at Rogue, Rouge only scared because the guard might be badly hurt. "Is he?" Rouge is interrupted. "Nah, I caught him in the last second. He's just landed by the base unconscious. Save him having to walk back". She was correct as Rouge spotted the guard on the ground, the gem's power stopping their fall.
Rogue turns around with a more concerned look. "Chelsea... I know why you want the gems back. But don't you think it's time to give up?". Chelsea slightly turns her head showing no expression. "No. Not really. Not when I'm this close...". "...Then I have no other choice but to fight you" Rouge announced, preparing with her belt of signature bombs. "Oh, please don't make me fight you, Rouge. I actually like you!" Chelsea whimpers, acting upset. Rouge said nothing as she began to fly forcefully towards Chelsea.
A sigh releases from Chelsea, lifting her staff directly at Rouge's wings. This time the gems power encased Rouge's wings in a crystal form causing her to crash to the side of Chelsea. "I'm afraid I don't have time for this date Rouge, I'm a busy girl and well, I think I should celebrate my victories with a party," Chelsea said. In the blink of an eye, a portal appears after Chelsea's demand. "It was nice seeing you again, maybe we can continue this date later?" she winked at Rouge, a little flustered.
"And it was nice meeting you," Chelsea says turning back to Sonic. That twist felt like slow motion; the hair flicking over, the seductive smile, the words fluttering to Sonic. It literally took Rouge clicking her fingers at him to grab his attention, watching as Chelsea was about to leave. "Sonic, go get those gems!" Rouge orders, Sonic running before the portal could close. He almost grabbed her before realising he's run into a random portal and it shut leaving him wandering around this girl.
Tails finally appeared only to find a pile of male bodies unconscious and a Rouge the Bat temporarily wingless. He was clueless at the disappearance, Lexi also in slight shock as to the situation.
What happened to them?