Chapter 6

The Demon in Our Midst

Section II

Outside of the massive courtroom was a smaller library filled with all history of every existence. The Vivliothi̱kários was in charge of maintaining the books and obsequious mementos of time. Even if the cathedral was taller, the library still had humongous cream colored pillars that extended to the very most top of it. Not many came in here anymore, since the scares started. The timeless woman thought that sad, it was her job to keep the books, but if no one read them, then what was the point of having any? The ancient woman was tired, her hands had started to shake again. She looked around to see a familiar face.

"Ah my boy, it has been too long." Her face gladdened, but she could not smile for she had no mouth. Pushing her silver robes out of the way. She extended her arms to the great Mercy. Mercy greeted her, but it surprised him, as always, that the Ancient One was hugging him, beings never did that, she did that all the time.

"Thank you Vi." The Anthropomorphic being lightly pushed the librarian away.

"What is the matter my boy," The librarian looked concerned.

Éleos took a deep breath, annoyed at the old One's words, and sighed. "Vi," he sighed again. Now the librarian really was worried, she motioned for them to sit down near a pillar of books. She pulled up two granite chairs and he started again, "Vi, I have to make a decision, a very important decision."

"Yes, well, what is it?" The librarian focused all of her attention and feelings on her friend. Mercy started, but thought hard on what to ask exactly, he stopped himself multiple times. "When you were alive…" "Here we go again," The librarian had heard this before. "But listen. How, how were you chosen?"

The librarian looked over past Mercy, and then back at him. "That's the question everyone wants to know, but it… isn't right."

"Please, I need to hear this."

The librarian looked at her friend in sadness but in trust. "All right. Sacrifice. That is all it takes my friend." The librarian embraced herself by putting her long, pointed hands and fingers on her chest. "I caused the Death of countless innocents. My very own people, and I was in a semi-conscious state. I tell myself so often, that I, that I could have done something more. I should not have been chosen to begin with."

Mercy looked terrified, "And how did you pass to the other side?"

"Luckily I had taught my student well." She embraced herself again, there was a big scar on her chest.

"So the decision was already made for you. How did your student know what to do?"

"You weigh the outcome in an instant, you act, not foolishly, not rashly, but strategically." A being like the librarian interrupted them, he had similar robes only he was taller. "Master Mercy," the being bowed lightly, "Filanthro̱pía has requested an audience with you."

"Thank you, Enóti̱ta." Mercy bowed back in respect, and left them both hurriedly.

The librarian spoke, "It is wonderful to have you visit too." Enóti̱ta was happy. "How is he?" The Librarian continued.

"Your student?" He teased. "I can't see him anymore, but I can feel him still. He is under much duress. Do not worry, he will always be a part of me. He will do great things." The librarian tried to find consolation in those words.

Filanthro̱pía had been waiting for Mercy right outside the cathedral.

"Master Mercy," She bowed graciously. "You did well in there." She also smiled devilishly.

"Are you insane?!" He grabbed her and they hid in a corner. "If they found out about us…!" She reached for Mercy and they both shared in an intimate kiss. She stopped, "It was last minute, besides I wanted to see you." "It's not safe anymore." "I am to advise you that all preparations are made ready."

Mercy looked at his lover with longing. "Fi, I thank you." They started another session again. When they had enough of embracing each other.

Fi broke the silence again,"What is your decision, oh generous One," she teased, "If I may inquire."

"I am troubled by my thoughts and possible outcomes, I can't see far enough."

"You haven't failed us yet oh mighty One."

"Stop."

"What is it?" She asked impatiently. "There is no one here."

"I thought we were going to do this together."

She was annoyed with him, "This is the only way your counterpart, or whatever you want to call him, will fill Moíra's old spot. If my counterpart succeeds, I won't have to go anywhere."

"I understand that, but, I can't do this without you."

She responded,"I thought this is what we wanted, if anything happens to me, it's worth the wait."

"You don't understand. I've been weakened by that so called time traveler. And when you and I bond I become stronger, being away will just slow that process."

"Don't you see," She began to tease again, "This is a test. We are the lovers from the Augury, Agapó̱ and Misó̱, Love and Hate, we will endure."

Mercy rolled his eyes," I can't believe you believe in that nonsense."

"I think it's adorable. Our love is undoubted and Inexorable and we will succeed."

"I hope you're right."

"I know I'm right." She smiled as they kissed again. "Then when will you proclaim your coming?"

"It all depends. When is the next council meeting?"

"Actually, it's been postponed."

"What?! Why wasn't I informed?"

"No one was. But I can feel the Master's presence."

"You mean He is coming? Oh no."

"Duck!" The gang narrowly missed a part of debris, unfortunately Chris was not so lucky. The debris had hit him square on the head. "Chris!" Since he was concussed he did not move. "Quick, Vector help him!" They made their way through the doorway, following an injured Tails to Gods know where. They were all frantic when Tails stumbled over something, they did not want him to injure himself even more. They stopped in a white hallway and hid under some stairs. Tails tried to show them a map of the typhoon with his hands, but was more than unsuccessful. It hurt Tails to crouch so he stood, and they continued forward not knowing if Tails was too delusional to guide them. Tails might as well have been but what he did know for sure is that the ship had three different panic rooms, and he was getting close to one.

Sonic did not scout ahead, he only helped Cream with Tails to move along. They still kept hearing explosions, smaller than the ones before. And what caused them lay up ahead. All that was left to tread was a hallway that lead to the reactor room.

They heard the others, so they ducked around another set of stairs, others inside rooms. They spoke in tongues heard of by only the deceased. Their eyes shined only with deathifying stares, soulless they were. They moved in shadow and in darkness. Some were different though, they walked and had shades of carmine splattered across their faces and bodies.

"Knuckles and I can handle them, you get Chris and Tails to safety." As Sonic gave the command, others agreed and waited for their go. But really they were waiting on Tails, wondering if he could handle himself, considering that there was a huge chunk of metal stuck on him. It was strange that it hadn't even phased him till now, he only barely started to bear the weight of it on his body.

"Don't look at me like that! It's just a scratch," he whispered loudly. It obviously wasn't a scratch, maybe Tails still hadn't figured that out yet. "This is it, people. Get ready to run." The opportunity finally opened itself through the distraction Knuckles and Sonic had made. "Go!" Quickly they sped down the hallway and into the spacious room. When they entered, all eyes were on them. The creatures even stopped attacking Sonic and Knuckles, and they charged at Tails and the gang.

"Quickly! Into the wall!" They sped rapidly to the closest wall. "Uh, Tails? This is just an ordinary wall!" "Out of the way!" Tails bumped the wall a few times in a pattern.

"Stay back!" Espio pulled out a few stars from out of nowhere. Directly hitting one of the slithering shadows headed for them, only the shadow absorbed them. Rouge joined the fight as well standing alongside Espio. "Get back here cowards!" The echidna yelled, but the creatures paid no attention to him, twisting in odd shapes and hitting and biting at Espio and Rouge.

A keypad emerged from within the wall, Tails pressed '26766' and the wall opened revealing a small white room. "C'mon guys, we don't have all day!" Tails looked over to Sonic, he took a blow and was on the ground trying to get up. Espio chopped his way through some shadows and Rouge managed to knock out some of the meatier monsters. "We don't have time for this!" Tails ran as fast as he could and helped Sonic up. Tails looked around, a medium sized monster was in between them and the panic room. "Tails go, I'll hold them off." Tails looked at his friend. "I'm not leaving you here."

The creature swung, luckily they both dodged. It tried again, same outcome. "Tails no!" The fox looked over, it was Cream making her way towards him. Oh no. The creature swung again and hit Tails where his wound was, dislodging the metal from his body. Everything stopped for a moment, now Tails could feel all the pain he should have experienced a few minutes ago. He spat out blood when he landed on the floor. Cream laid her hands on her mouth, she gasped loudly. "Tails?!" Cream stopped mid-battle. With one hand around his stomach and with the other trying to lift Tails up, Sonic stopped, and looked at the creature, who had an even crazier look on his face. A face of horror, the creature's eyes widened and looked up at Sonic, it ran as fast as it could down the hall. "Wha...? Uh,... Uh... Cream! C'mere!" She would not budge, and another creature approached her. "Cream!" She only looked at Tails in dismay and disbelief. Only a second closer and the creature would have her, only Knuckles got there first and punched the creature out of sight. "Let's go! You guys! We'll find another way!"

"That's my queue," Rouge grabbed Espio and she slammed the door controls making them disappear in the walls." The remaining creatures hit the wall, trying to find a way in. Knuckles grabbed Cream, and Sonic carried Tails which made him bleed all over him. "Where to Tails? Tails?! Stay with me buddy." He coughed, "C-abin." The boy whispered.

Knuckles responded,"Great, that's only an elevator away!"

"You're doin' fine buddy, we are almost there."

They made their way out and in the hallway again, Sonic in the front and Knuckles in the back, giving Cream a view of the dying fox. "T-Tails?" She would ask often. However he could not respond. The only thing that made its way out of Tails' mouth was red, sticky saliva, which stuck to Sonic's fur.

"Too Late!" The monsters had made their way in front of them. "How many of these are there?"

"Quickly in here!" Sonic signaled Knuckles to enter an unoccupied room filled with miscellaneous objects. Sonic slammed the door with his body, "Mind giving me a hand Knux?"

"Sure thing," he slid a table across the room to bar the door-that gave Sonic a chance to lay Tails gently next to Cream. The other two sat in front of the barred door.

"Phew, what now?"

"Tails."

The boy did not move, Cream lifted his head and placed him on her lap. Sonic crawled to where he was, and wondered if it was too late to apply pressure. "Look." Knuckles observed, Tails was moving his hand and pointing at something on the wall. Sonic looked over,

"Perfect, that's convenient." He got up and grabbed a first aid pack that hung from a rung on the wall. He opened it and grabbed a few rolls of tied up gauze, undid them and applied a bunch on the massive wound, which started from his right side and ended in the middle of his stomach.

"Ahh!"

"Take it easy."

"S-Sonic?"

"Yes Cream?"

"Is- h-he going to make it?" Cream asked between sniffs.

Sonic was not so sure, but he tried to stay positive. "Yes Cream."

As tense as they all were, they took a moment to relax. "Hey," It was Knuckles, "What happened back there?"

Sonic responded, "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. You hesitated."

"I gave it my best."

"I've seen your best pal, that wasn't it."

"Maybe, Knuckles." There was a slam on the door, they knew where they were. All manner of noises surrounded them, even outside the ship.

"What's the plan then?"

"Let me think." Knuckles was pushed forward from them slamming on the door. "Think faster!" A sharp tentacle flew past near Knuckles head and then another sliding across his arm. He growled and managed to roll out of the way before the door was blown into. The creatures eyes glared at Tails, they swept in the room, uninvited, malignant horrors. Just then there was a loud crackle and a pop. The beast closest to Tails hit the floor with another crack. The remaining shadows made their way through small cracks out of the room. But the tangible creature that was left stood helpless as another crackle went through his body, making this one shriek in pain and fall, revealing their rescuer: a bright, minted-colored hedgehog.

"Hurry, there's no time!" He waved at the others in the room to follow. They looked at each other and nodded in agreement. They quickly followed the stranger to the remainder of the hallway and around the corner which there was, the elevator. They both stared at their savior in confusion. Ding. The elevator door opened and they climbed in, and with the push of a button it sent all of them flying up. Who is this guy? Sonic thought, however he was grateful. Another ding. They made their way out of the elevator and scanned the room, no enemies here.

"Tails where to now?" The boy pointed at his captain's chair and they set him on it. He painfully pressed his thumb on a pad near the arm of the chair, smearing blood on it. Cream watched from the sidelines as Tails did that, still shocked.

Swiftly the floor where they stood opened up and swallowed them whole, sending them down a tube that lead to the panic room. They all landed either on their faces or behinds. Regrettably this had opened Tails' wound even more and he bled profusely on the white floor. All members of the Blue Typhoon helped in some way to help Tails, and make him feel more comfortable. But he just lay dying. Amy had her hands on his stomach and she looked up, "He's lost way too much blood." "What do we do?" Just when all hope was lost, a spark of hope remained. And this spark motioned to the others to step aside as he kneeled in front of Tails. The stranger looked at the light that remained in Tails' eyes, he saw that it faded, that he had already given up. The stranger slapped him across his face making everyone else jump. "Listen! Your friends still need you!" The boy's eyes narrowed, he could only see the stranger in front of him. "Your time is not now." The stranger made a quiet promise, his eyes met with Tails'. Promptly, the stranger's hands began to glow immensely, some stared until the light hurt their eyes and they looked away. And before long the light diminished, and it showed a coughing Tails next to a bright stranger.

"Tails!" The friends cried, and embraced the boy. The only one that stayed out of the love circle was Rouge, who only looked at the stranger. He was smiling, even a tear trickled down his face. "How did you..?"

"How can we ever repay you... uh?"

"No need. Call me Éleos."