Chapter VII Shattered Silence
4:15am
(This chapter has a little action but nothing compared to the next one in which there will be almost nothing but...ONE BIGGGGGGGGGGG LOOOOOOOOOONG gunfight...)
Tails had been awake for hours, he knew what he was about to do...he also knew it wasn't very smart but...he did know who to call to make sure he didn't end up dead in the process. He needed someone quiet, fast, and overall lethal, and he only knew one person that fit every one of those parameters. He kissed Kara's cheek and got dressed then headed downstairs. There was an emergency phone just in case he needed it...a cell that he kept hidden with his guns. He pulled it out and dialed a quick number...
A soft voice answered on the other end, "Espio speaking."
"Hey...it's been a while, hasn't it?"
"It's good to hear your voice Miles. Can I help you with something at this fine hour?" Espio always woke up before morning.
"Yeah...I know it's been over two years and all but..."
Espio chuckled a bit interrupting the fox, "I'll meet you on Sunset hill in an hour...do I need weapons?"
"And your stealth suit...and Espio thanks."
"It's an honor to be of assistance...especially if I get to kill something."
This time Tails chuckled, "You'll most likely have your fill...I'll see you in an hour."
Tails put together his things; the same outfit he wore when he fought Nack, after his trench coat was on he slid Dusk and Dawn into their holsters, then Requiem...he strapped a bandoleer to his chest beneath his coat and loaded it's twenty slots with specialized ammo for his rifle. He then went over his collection and pulled out two things he may need; one was an extra weapon called 'Darkside', a modified auto shotgun loaded down with exploding slugs...just in case, and several different grenades. He retrieved his eyepiece and took down a large revolver. He took his Ex-gear and headed for the door leaving behind a small note, and another kiss on Kara's warm face before leaving the house...
Sunset hill was a few miles past the far opposite end of town overlooking the Emerald coast, Espio used to visit the spot often when he was still with the Chaotix, it was a quite place to meditate and had a beautiful view, the only tree on the hill was a massive cherry tree that he planted there himself...they were always his favorite. Tails showed up a bit late, but noticed that there was a familiar purple gear leaning against the large tree's trunk. He brought his gear to a stop and placed it next to the purple one...
"Sorry...I'm a little late."
"There is no need to rush in life...or life itself will rush by." Espio's voice carried on the slight wind.
What the fuck is this guy?...a fortune cookie? Tails's conscience asked...I mean come on...who the fuck talks like that?
Tails knew where the chameleon was, a small flat rock near the edge of the cliff, as he approached it his old friend faded into view. His bright purple scales were hidden by a tight fitting black suit which consisted of a sleeveless top and a pair of tight long pants, his muscular arms reminded Tails a lot of Sonic, the two were nearly the same size. His hands were covered by fingerless gloves designed especially for making his martial arts more lethal which connected to metal bracers, his feet were equally attired, a straight edged katana was strapped to his back, and an similar, smaller one was strapped to his belt, there were many kunai and surikens hidden about his attire...the horn that once rested before his green eyes was half missing, and he had a large scar that looked like someone had attempted to claw his right eye out...
"Now then..." Espio started, "...why did you call me for this and not Sonic or Knuckles?"
"You're quiet and a better fighter than both..."
"I'll buy that...now tell me what's going on."
Tails filled him in on everything that had happened, and placed great emphasis on the dream, and everything Ivan had told him. Espio seemed intrigued by the dream but even more so about another situation...
"A girl...is that what this is about?"
Tails looked away, "You wouldn't understand."
"And why is that? You think you're the only one who's ever put his life on the line for love? If so I'm afraid you're terribly mistaken..." Espio said with a bit of heat to his voice.
"The robot...it's main program is self-preservation..."
"...And that would mean kill the technopath..." The ninja finished for him.
"Right...and it'll kill anyone that gets in it's way..."
Espio sighed, "...And if this...Kara of yours is anything like you've made her out to be...she'd definitely get in the way."
Tails nodded, "Without a second thought...the same thing I'd do for her."
"Good...if you love someone you should be willing to protect them with your life..." Espio replied grabbing his board, "...now let's go. I haven't had this kind of work in far too long."
Before Tails and Espio sped off on their gears Tails handed his friend the large .50 caliper revolver he'd taken from his collection...
"Look I know how you feel about guns...but just in case..."
Espio smiled as he tucked the firearm into his belt line, "Thank you Miles...I hope I won't have to use it."
The two sped off toward the old ruins of Robotropolis...it was quite a distance and would take some time to get there. The sun was already peaking over he horizon as the two vanished into the north woods, they'd have to pass Knothole to get to Robotnick's old base...luckily they were both all too familiar with the area...
000
It had been a bit over an hour after Tails had left when the sun shining through the living room window roused Kara from her heavy sleep. At first she didn't open her eyes until she reached for her love, only to find that his warmth was nowhere to be found. She thought nothing of it and got her clothes together then headed upstairs hoping that he'd be in the shower...but he was not. She tugged at her tail nervously as she realized that he was not in the house, and after a very brief shower she headed back downstairs, then to his lab...only to find a number of his guns were missing. She bolted for the door only to find a note tacked to it written in Tails's hand...
Dear Kara,
I hope you can understand that I had to do this, what 'this' is I'll save you the details as it would only make you worry further...but trust me when I say I'm only doing it for your safety as well as for any future the two of us may hopefully have together. I won't be gone long, and have a very strong friend with me...you may find this hard to swallow but he is a ninja and a highly trained fighter, we'll both be fine. Please don't be angry with me, though if you do, or even decide to leave I'll understand...and I'll still love you no matter what happens...don't tell Sonic or Sally, those two have enough stress to deal with already...
P.S: I swear when this is all over with...you and I'll take a nice long vacation.
Love you always, Miles...
A tear fell from her blue eyes, "I'll hold you to that Miles...just come back alive..."
000
As the two sped through the forest as fast as they'd dare Espio pulled his gear next to Tails's...
"You fully intend to kill anybody standing in your way don't you?"
"I wasn't kidding when I said I'd do anything for her." Tails shouted back over the rushing air.
The two weaved past trees that got in their way, "This lover of yours seems to have changed you for the better Miles, you should have found her years ago."
"I wish I would've..." He whispered to himself.
Espio looked to Tails, "How much further?"
"A few more miles...we'll stop at the edge of the ruins and work our way through by foot...we don't want to be seen before the fun starts."
"I couldn't agree more..."
Espio and Tails wove their way through the forest dodging trees, and flying over small streams. Within the next hour they reached the edge of the forest where everything seemed to become metal. They carried their boards out of the forest and into the sight of Robotropolis; it sent chills down Tails's spin that caused the fur on his neck and tails to stand on end...The final assault the Freedom Fighters had had launched on the technological city had been devastating, nothing was spared, what buildings stood barely managed to do so without crumbling to the ground. A tower peaked out of the rubble here and there, like giant tombstones in a mass graveyard, each one a grim reminder of the twisted mind that had erected them...the same mind that lay to rest somewhere amongst the debris. They hid at the edge of the city in the ruins of a dilapidated building...
"It'd be best if we waited until nightfall..." Espio suggested giving his equipment a second over.
Tails took a look around, "Yeah...it'll be easier to get around without being spotted. It's at times like these I wish I were a chameleon too."
"If only we were all so lucky..." Espio chuckled.
Tails handed the chameleon a small device that looked a bit like a small pill, "Put it in your ear...it's a communicator."
"Good I'll go scout the area and shadow someone if I can...from what you said earlier there's bound to be a lot of guards..." Espio said fading into the surroundings as chameleons often did, his suit was made of a specialized material that Tails created from a sample of his skin cells so that it could stealth out just as he did, the sheathes to all of his weapons did the same, "...can't thank you enough for this outfit Miles...you most likely hear it all the time but you're a genius."
"You're wasting time Espio...and you're welcome."
Tails could hear Espio's rapid footsteps as he inclined and run up the wall and through a small window; as he thought about it, every single natural ability of a chameleon seemed to fit the way of a ninja perfectly. He could scale walls and walk on ceilings, and he never really needed to hide from anyone, he could stand right in front of your face and the only clue you'd get that he was there would be the wind from his breathing. He was also incredibly fast on his feet and physically powerful, almost like a perfect mix of Sonic and Knuckles, just trained as a lethal weapon since he was very young...in fact what martial arts Sonic knew he had learned from Espio, simply because Espio was the only one with enough patience to teach the thick headed hedgehog.
While Espio was gone Tails went over his things; he was wearing a pair of bracers given to him by Espio a long time ago, when triggered properly each one produced a foot long blade from beneath Tails's wrists...he almost never had to use them but, he could never tell what was around the corner...and of course as always he could fall back to using his dewclaws if necessary, as he kept them tapered to a razored edge...a properly aimed swipe from Tails's claws was enough to be considered deadly, though each claw was scarcely over a centimeter long...that was enough by any stander make a deep cut that could result in death. He released his dewclaws from his fingers and retracted them several times...as he looked them over he realize how much he disliked using them as weapons, it made him feel like a feral beast. The last time they were used as weapons, they dug deep wounds into Robotnick's face and chest...that was also the first time he'd ever bitten someone in self defense. He instantly realized how much he disliked the taste of blood, but at that moment the fact that it was Robotnick's blood that flooded his mouth only made him bite harder, he even began to shake his head from side to side tearing the flesh from the madman's arm. Tails smiled to himself...he was always proud of what he' d done to Robotnick, even if he did attack him like a wild dog, Robotnick's screams were like sweet music to Tails and Sonic often recalled the moment laughing the whole time.
As Tails recalled the past he hadn't even realized he'd used one of his claws to carve Kara's name into the wood inlay on the handle of his rifle...he smiled...it seemed she was on his mind even when he was thinking of other things...
We should get ready...it's starting to get dark...Tails's inner voice said.
Right...lets find the sick bastard that's behind this and take him and that robot out...Tails replied...Then it can be just me and her...no more of this bullshit...
Tails waited around for about another hour before he heard Espio's feet hit the ground before him, causing Tails to loose his breath for a moment...
"You know what would be a great help?" Tails asked, "Not doing that?" He almost shouted.
"Force of habit...sorry."
Tails calmed himself down, "So how many?..."
"Stopped counting just over a hundred...lets just say it'll be a long night ahead."
Tails laughed a bit, "Damn." He said sarcastically still laughing.
Espio laughed a bit to himself as well, he did see Tails's point...two against nearly two hundred...
"You're certain about this?" Espio asked.
"Yeah...do you know where the warehouse is?"
"I came across a structure surrounded by animals...it can be safely assumed that it would be the place you're looking for. It's a few miles in, hell of a walk."
"Well then...lets get this over with..." Tails said...I just want to get home to her side...He continued to himself.
The two didn't share any more words, they simply waited until dark and headed out into the destroyed city. Espio seemed to waste no time in pulling his sword which was only about four feet long altogether. Tails held his rifle at the ready at all times, the silenced barrel would make sure nobody would hear anything if he was forced to fire. As the two approached a downed tower of some kind Espio brought Tails to a stop...
"There were several guards near this tower..." He warned the kitsune.
Tails climbed onto a small pile of debris nearby and took a look at the surrounding area with his rifle's scope. Espio was right...Two...five wow...they really are guarding something.
Espio joined his little companion, "Can you take them without being noticed?"
"...The two on the right yes...the three on the left may be a problem, but I think I can take 'em all out."
It took only a few seconds for Tails to pick out his first target; a gray walrus who's left tusk was missing...he'd made the mistake of having to use the bathroom. He moved behind a large oak tree to urinate which gave Tails a clear view of the back of his head...Espio watched the show through a small scope that he was carrying, he was a bit curious as to how powerful the rifle was. He seemed disturbingly pleased as he heard the hum of Requiem's barrel, and was awed by the impact. The single .50 caliper bullet struck the walrus between the shoulder blades, slamming him into the tree where his lifeless body slid to it's knees still resting against the tree. Espio kept quiet as he noticed Tails was lining up another shot. This time his target was another of the three on the left side; a white furred rat who was at the moment looking for his walrus friend...
"That's right...a piss doesn't take that long...he's right by the tree." Tails whispered.
As the rat found the walrus he nudged him several times until the walrus's body fell to the ground exposing the large exit wound in his chest. The rat turned in an attempt to spot the shooter, unfortunately in the darkness of the night Requiem's scope gave Tails a clear sight of the rat's frightened face...which promptly fragmented into a fountain of blood sending large chunks of gore in all directions, the body struck the ground with a force that rolled the corpse onto it's stomach. The light brown wolf that was with the two was standing clear of any others seeing him, a third shot from Requiem struck him in the side of his neck...this shot issued an impact that even Tails hadn't seen before; the explosive penetrating power of the round caused the base of the wolf's neck to burst sending a fully decapitated head soaring into the air...
Tails lowered his rifle for a moment, "Alright E..." He cut himself off as he noticed Espio was gone, "...Espio?"
When he received no answer Tails drew his sight back to Requiem's scope and set it to the other two guards that were on the right side of the small area. The two were seemingly having a friendly conversation; a brown furred fox having a cigarette, and a squirrel that looked like he could have been related to Sally. As he watched the two carry on the fox turned around still obviously talking. He didn't even notice his friend how was lifted off the ground by an unseen force, which tore a wound across the squirrel's stomach spilling his entrails. As Tails kept watching what was obviously Espio at work, his long chrome polished sword seemed to appear out of nowhere and hang above the ground. As the fox turned to face what would have seemed like a phantom sword, Espio delivered a string of fast paced slashes that removed his arms and head. Tails took this as an opportunity to make his way to Espio who he found cleaning his blade of the fox's blood...
"That's five down." Tails said making sure not to step on the fox's severed arm.
"True...only...still over a hundred to go."
000
Hours passed as the two made their way through the destroyed city. Espio took point so that he could direct Tails through the place. He wasn't kidding when he said the warehouse was far off, but as they approached a small ridge Espio lead Tails to the top of a half destroyed building and pointed about 160 yards to the north. He was pointing to a large fully standing structure surrounded by at least 80 guards...
"I can see why you stopped counting..." Tails said...107 altogether...His conscience added, "...There's 107 guards, odd number."
Any ideas smart ass? Tails asked his inner voice.
Normally I'd say kill 'em all...but, we only have so many bullets...
It took Tails a moment to formulate something, "Hey Espio did you bring any of those exploding surikens?"
"I did...but only about twenty."
Tails looked through his things, "I've got about twelve blast grenades..." He said noticing a building not that far from where they were, "...say...Espio. You wouldn't be able to get at least most of them into that half standing building would you?"
"I don't know what you're playing at but...I think I can manage."
"Good but first I need your help with something."
Tails led Espio to the still standing structure, it was actually pretty big. As Espio kept watch Tails moved about the building setting his plan into action by rigging his explosives to the building's main supports. Some of Espio's exploding surikens well placed would make sure the explosions would create a chain reaction. Espio gave him an unsure look as Tails finished and they headed back to their perch on the crumbled pile of rubble they had originally to stay hidden from the massive swarm of men...
"You sure about this?" Espio asked, "That damn sure won't be very quiet."
"It's a good diversion while we go through that skylight on the roof though."
Espio rushed off toward the warehouse...Tails made sure to use his rifle to keep an eye on his friend. Espio rushed toward them at a ninja like speed...as he came close enough he hurled a kunai which tore into a wolf's face. This instantly got the other animals's attention who swarmed toward the chameleon. Espio then ran off toward the half standing structure they'd rigged. As a particularly fast blue mongoose began to catch up with Espio, Tails fired off a round from Requiem, the mongoose's knee exploded forcing it to tumble across the ground several yards and he was moving at a rather quick pace. As Espio had a distance to travel any animal that got too close was stopped by Requiem's pinpoint precision, most of the other animals were far too busy chasing Espio to even notice that their allies were falling to the dirt most of who would never get back up...
The animal guards seemed to have no problem rushing into the building that the two had rigged...as soon as Espio was clear again Tails took his aim to one of the grenades that was placed in clear sight for his rifle. The ensuing chain of earth rattling explosions, shattered the night's silence, for the guards there was no escaping the building as it's final structure crumbled causing the building to topple in around them...their mass of screams were only heard for a fleeting few moments before the collapsing structure sent a cloud of dust and smoke into the air. Tails joined Espio and the two quickly made their way to the warehouse, they made it onto the roof in time to see about twenty more guards rush out of the building heading for the source of the explosions. Tails's gambit had paid off, if he guessed right there should now be no more guards in the warehouse at all, now whoever had started all of this would have to deal with him personally...
000
They carefully pulled away the skylight door exposing the warehouse's interior, it looked a lot bigger on the inside. Tails's long coat hindered him from flying, Tails climbed onto a catwalk that was suspended above the ground some height. From there he jumped onto what appeared to be some sort of storage capsule then to the floor. He turned to realize that this wasn't a warehouse at all...it was a storage facility. The storage container he'd used to get to the floor contained a familiar looking animal floating in a clear liquid behind a thick pane of glass...
"Nack?" Tails said in disbelief.
"That's nothing look over here..." Espio called from a few containers over.
Tails joined his friend and looked into the capsule in front of the chameleon...Espio was also in the tube, but this one had his full horn and had no scar on his face...
"Now this is creepy..."
Tails began walking down the long row of the tubes...
"Rotor, Bunny, Antoine, Sally...Kara." Tails stopped in front of the tube and read the small digital screen that displayed it's information, "Clone number 1571-6A: Kara Tennison...failure. They're all clones, Robotnick must have started with this some time ago...I didn't know he could do this..." Tails said running his hand across the cold glass in front of Kara's clone, "...they're almost perfect."
Espio joined Tails and looked at the capsule then to Tails, "Is that her?"
"Well...it could be almost everything is in perfect proportion...but...why dose she have two tails?"
"Maybe his procedure wasn't perfected...screwing wit DNA like that can have some strange effects." Espio said, he was still amazed he had a love for science...but this was beyond anything he'd ever seen before.
The warehouse was one massive cold storage chamber housing hundreds of rows of these failed cloning experiments. The two kept themselves armed as they walked from row to row. Everyone they'd ever known was here...but the most frightening of them all were the three empty chambers at the end of the fifth row...
Tails looked horrified as he read of the data, "Clone number 2711-2B: Miles Power...complete. Clone number 2711-3B: Knuckles Echidna...complete...and Clone number 2711-4B: Sonic Hedgehog...complete. They were all scheduled to be Robotisized...Oh my god...Mecha Sonic..."
Espio wasn't sure what he meant, "What?"
"Look Robotnick tried to make a perfect robotic copy of Sonic and Knuckles on several occasions right?" Tails pointed out.
"Right...but their logic circuits were flawed and could only learn within a set parameter."
"Exactly that's why they were all destroyed...the real copies were too smart..." Tails started again, "...but suppose he found a way to clone someone, but the procedure was incomplete. Then he finally gets it right and makes a perfect clone of someone powerful enough...then set that clone into the Robotisizer."
"A perfect war machine...a robot created through the Robotisization process is a lot smarter and stronger than your average swatbot..."
Tails was amazed at the lengths the doctor had gone through to end the war only to be killed by the youngest Freedom Fighter, "This hardly makes sense though..." Tails said studying one of the capsules that had been busted open some time ago, "...my clone doesn't look like it was transported anywhere, more like it broke it's capsule open and escaped...let's keep looking for that robot."
When they finally reached the end of the many rows they found what they were looking for, not one but two extremely reinforced capsules; one contained what looked like Sonic, every inch of him composed of a highly polished chromeatic metal, it had slightly elongated, thin ears, and it's eyes were simply deep black...it was obviously off line. The second was almost the exact same thing in the resemblance of Knuckles, the spikes on his gloves replaced by small blades, it was also obviously off line...A sound from the shadows caught both of their ears causing Tails to whip Dusk and Dawn in the sound's direction, Espio pulled a throwing knife with incredible speed but a gunshot sounded and the knife flew from his hand...
"Trust me the next will be on point." A familiar voice said from the shadows. "They're amazing aren't they...twenty times smarter and stronger than your average robot."
From the shadows approached a black furred, two tailed fox; his blue eyes looked vaguely familiar to Tails, he was dressed in a black t-shirt and jeans, even his shoes were black...he was pointing a large revolver at Espio and another at Tails...
"I guess the clone was a failure after all." Tails said.
"Don't get ahead of yourself Miles...I did this to myself."
"And you would be?" Espio asked.
"A much better version of your friend...you see..." The black Tails said pulling out a white Chaos emerald, "...I've already killed Robotnick's so called 'Ultimate Lifeform'...though I'll admit he wasn't easy to find. Unfortunately, for some reason the emeralds don't seem to react to me. Then again once my two friends there are free I won't need to worry about that..."
Espio drew his sword only to have Tails block his path, "No...it's either him or me, you get out of here. Even if it kills me I'm ending this here and now...if anything happens here...tell her that I lover her, and that I'm sorry."
"Miles you can..."
"Espio you told me when I was young that there are some things that have to be done on your own...this is one of those things. Just wait in that clearing we were at before, if I'm not there in 30 minutes leave without me."
"You are certain of this?" Espio asked.
"Yes..."
"Very well."
Espio vanished into the surroundings and rushed out of the building and to the place they hid when they set up their trap for the guards. He waited for the predetermined time; Tails didn't show up but, Espio refused to leave. An hour passed by and he finally accepted what he had to do...as he turned to look at the building one more time the facility went up in an explosion so great that the shock wave, despite being over a hundred yards away, threw the chameleon into a nearby tree...he blacked out...
Espio came too over an hour later and rushed to the still smoldering rubble...he spent hours digging hoping he'd find no signs that Tails was still inside when the explosion went off...but fate was not so kind. He found one of Tails's pistols with the word Dawn carved into it's handle...as well as the tattered remains of the fox's trench coat. As the chameleon look at the pistol in his hands, he felt fresh tears begin to roll down his face...he didn't look forward to the first time he'd meet Kara, especially not to tell her that Miles was dead, but he promised the young fox that he'd do it, and with a heavy heart he returned to the hollow where their Ex-gears were left and slowly headed back to the city to deliver the terrible news...
