Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Phantom Heroes. Enjoy the 1100-word chapter. I don't own Sonic; Sega and a few others do.
(Green Hill Zone, Resistance HQ.)
Zero examined the helmet he had made in the 2 hours he had been allowed to rest at the Resistance Base, it resembled the mask his former boss wears but it was black and red instead of the sliver Infinite wore.
The eyes also were red and black instead of the one red eye that Infinite had on his, he placed the helmet on his head as Knuckles walked.
"Zero, the briefing is about to start soon, are you ready to-…. Whoa, you look a lot more different now… What's with the mask?"
Knuckles asked as Zero walked past him, his voice sounded more metallic and deeper due to the mask.
"I'll explain at the meeting, just get everyone assembled, sir."
Zero said as Knuckles just watched him before following.
(5 minutes later, Resistance command center.)
"Alright, settle down, I know your all wondering why I look like this and why I wanted to talk to everyone…. First things first… Blaze is here, and she's said that the Sol Emeralds were taken…. If Eggman is going after her, it means he has help."
Zero said as Amy, Knuckles, Tails, Sonic and the Resistance soldiers looked at Blaze as she looked nervous at the crowd before nodding.
"Eggman Nega has taken the Emeralds… He said something about him and his 'allies' building some kind of weapon to destroy us all… Zero was kind enough to fill me in."
Blaze said as she looked at Zero, he awkwardly scratched the back of his head, not used to the praise, especially from someone he had learned was a princess.
Tail noticed the glowing object on Zero's back as he turned to look back at the board behind him.
"Zero, what's that thing on your back?"
Knuckles asked as Tails got up from his spot as he went to touch the glowing gem.
"Tails, wait, I don't know-…."
Zero started to say before the gem sparked, tossing Tails away from him as he finished.
"What the gem will do…. Sorry, Tails…. Anyway, as I found out from one of Eggman's transmissions… This is the Phantom Ruby…. The same thing that makes Infinite stronger then Sonic… I found it at the jungle base that Sonic Fought Infinite at…. That was the main reason I wanted to talk to you all… The Phantom Ruby seems to be bonded to me… I can't remove it and I believe if I did, it would kill me…"
Zero said as the Resistance soldiers and Sonic and his friends exchanged whispers and looks as Zero continued to speak once they quieted down.
"If Tails or any of the Resistance's scientists want to examine the gem, they're more the glad to…. But this Ruby doesn't have to be a curse… It isn't to me… I see it as the spear to break Eggman's shield."
Zero said as Knuckles raised an eyebrow at what he guessed the Jackal was suggesting.
"Zero, you can't possibly be suggesting you'd like to go to the frontlines, you aren't ready, neither is someone like Blaze since she doesn't know just what Eggman has in store."
Knuckles said as he saw Blaze and Zero glare at him, Zero looked ticked as the eyes on his mask glowed.
"Excuse me, Knucklehead, but who the hell are you to say we aren't ready for something? I helped break Sonic out of the Death Egg, helped co-lead an assault on Eggman's jungle base and helped burn down Eggman weapons factory… And Blaze has helped kick Eggman's oversized butt before, she's as much a hero as Sonic is…. So, don't you dare say we aren't ready to fight on the frontlines, I'm just as capable as any of our soldiers."
Zero snarled as Blaze blushed at Zero's words, Knuckles held up his hands and backed out of the room, knowing he wouldn't win a verbal argument ant having more military meetings to have.
"Zero, since you're the most experienced of our officers right now besides Sliver, Rouge and the others, why don't you and Blaze head back to the city? Our forces there are engaging Eggman's army and evacuating the citizens… I'm sure they could use the backup."
Amy said as Zero nodded as he hovered into the air before flying towards the door.
"Sonic, I'll catch up to you when I'm done, Infinite is going to come after you after the jungle, he hates losing."
Zero said as Sonic nodded and gave his friend a thumb up before Zero flew out the door and Blaze followed as Zero easily kept up with her as he flew.
"Eggman's taken over 90% percent of the planet like I said…. If he's teamed up with Nega and others, it means he's become far more dangerous than before… If he stole your Sol Emeralds, it might mean he's also stolen the Chaos Emeralds… And without those, the Phantom Ruby on my back might be the only chance we have of matching them."
Zero said as Blaze turned to look at the masked Jackal, she couldn't see Zero's eyes due to the mask covering them with black lenses but she was good at reading posture due to her royal duties.
"Zero… You wanted to be like Sonic when you were young, didn't you? You grew up with him as an idol and joined Infinite to live up to him… Didn't you?"
Blaze said as Zero blinked under his helmet, he didn't expect Blaze to be able to read him like an open book.
"Yeah…. I looked up to Sonic when I was a kid, Blaze… I didn't know how Infinite was until I was 12 and by then, we were already deep into the squad… When I found out how horrible Infinite was? I left… I never regretted it… I also heard a lot about you… You might be a princess but you're as cool as Sonic… You kicked as much butt as he did, Blaze… I'm really glad that you're here to help me."
Zero said as Blaze turned away to blush before shaking those feelings away as they continued to run towards the city as Blaze as Zero picked up Blaze and flew her to the top of a building as they looked at the burning city.
"I used to live here after I ran from Infinite… Eggman's army is probably in the more crowed areas in the north… Lets split up and cover more ground."
Zero said as he flew off, leaving Blaze with her thoughts.
Author notes
Phew, another chapter done! I wanted to show that Knuckles doesn't trust Zero while others do and how he and Blaze are starting to become closer… Next chapter will have him and Blaze rescuing citizens from the town. Next chapter will not be on next Sunday but the Sunday after that. Until next chapter, Lighting Wolf out!
