Chapter 10: The Ride Is Over, It's Time To Go
In the early hours of the morning, Knuckles the Echidna limps into the same hospital he left Starr and Julie Su waiting at.
He intends to keep at least one promise to the girls in his life.
The nurses try to offer medical assistance as he walks in, but he refuses their help and simply grasps his ribs to ease his pain, if only slightly.
One things' for sure: Sleuth Dogg packs a hell of a punch.
Knuckles waits for the elevator and stands behind 6 other patrons, visiting friends and relatives in the ICU. He sees them all staring at him so he speaks
"Yeah, I'm Knuckles. Yes, this is blood, most of it someone else's. Can we move on, everyone? I gotta see someone, too.."
The elevator doors open up and the crowd barely squeeze in. Knuckles pushes his floor number and stands at the door.
A nervous teenage girl taps his shoulder "I-I know you're probably tired, but would you mind signing my mom's get well soon card? She uh, ...okay WE love you - and Tails"
Knuckles looks down at her "...yeah, sure. Got a pen?"
While he signs the card, other visitors get the courage to ask for autographs as well.
This is the first time Knuckles has actually felt important to others, so he basks in this moment. Cramped in a hospital elevator.
He reaches his floor, waves to everyone and makes his way to Julie's bed, feeling much better than he has all night.
"Jules?" He asks as he pushes the curtains back
Julie Su, Vector and Espio sit around Starr's bed and the female echidna jumps to her feet once she locks eyes with Knuckles.
Julie wraps her arms around him "I'm so glad you're alright, Knux!... are you finished with Dogg?"
"Yeah. He won't be causing us anymore trouble from where he's at..."
Starr looks up at him "...did you kill him?"
The group look at Knuckles to hear his response, and he pulls up another chair for himself
"...nah. I made the better decision this time. I did break all his bones, so he won't be walking anytime soon"
The group laugh amongst themselves, then everyone gets silent when their next two guests join them.
Knuckles stands up "Sonia"
The pink hedgehog gives him a fake smile "...hi"
Her chin is bruised, right eye is bloodshot and clothes are ripped. She's clearly not in a good mood.
Behind her, A tall G.U.N agent in a grey striped suit looks around the room, counting everyone on this floor.
"Who are you?" Vector asks
"You can call me agent Warwick"
The agent hands a file folder to the Crocodile and lets him read it.
Warwick sees Knuckles staring at Sonia, so he steps between them and crosses his arms.
"You're kidding me with this, right? The case is solved! All the bad guys are caught!" Vector shouts
Warwick doesn't lose eye contact with Knuckles "Not all of them. Did you guys really think you were gonna get away with fucking over the Vace Beach Police Department? After all the lives lost, both civilian and police? The staff sargent was killed because of your incompetence and frankly idiotic decisions!"
"Luggs was a dirty cop, and those decisions saved this city, asshole!"
"And now this entire Zone is under fire from the victims' families and everyone else who no longer trust their authority!"
"We rooted out the dirty cops, and the government is throwing us under the bus?" Espio asks "That doesn't make sense"
"Liability, gentlemen. I wouldn't expect Jonathan here to understand, but you two should know damn well what that word means in our line of work... I hear all 3 of you refused to sign the waiver Detective M offered"
Knuckles sighs angrily "fuckin' M.."
"We've already gone to trial, the judge ruled us not guilty!" Vector says
"New evidence, new perspective on the matter... somebody has to be held responsible for this"
"You mean take the blame"
Julie looks at the agent "What does all of that mean?"
Warwick buttons up his suit "...I respect you gentlemen enough to give you a moment to say your goodbyes. I'll be waiting in the hall"
Warwick leaves the group and the Knuckles punches the wall in anger.
"...Can't have one moment, ONE fuckin' moment of peace. I was stupid to think I could have good things.."
Julie looks him in the eyes "You said they weren't going to arrest you"
"Yeah, well I was wrong. This whole town is ass-backwards. I'm sorry, Jules.."
"But, our child-"
"There's nothing I can do"
"Run. I'll go with you"
"No. There's no running from this one. They wanna take me, they can take me. I just want this settled"
Vector stands up "You ain't goin' in alone"
Espio nods at him "We've got your back"
They both throw their badges on the floor and shake hands with Knuckles.
He turns to Sonia next "...you got anything to say to us before we leave?"
Sonia looks at Espio, then Vector, and back at Knuckles "...I should never have given you a ride into town. None of this would've happened"
"Well, I think Angel still would've done all his horseshit, but whatever..."
"Goodbye Knuckles"
Sonia walks away from the group and exits Knuckles' life once again.
Leaving on bad terms once again.
Julie crosses her arms "Tell me why, of ALL the girls on the planet, did you leave me for her?"
"I didn't leave you for her, you told me to get out so I left. I happened to run into her at Amy's house and she drove me up here"
"...sure"
He leans over and gives her a piece of paper from his wallet "My friends from down south will take care of you until I get out. Tell 'em I'm calling in that one favor they owe"
"What if they can't help?"
"Tell 'em I'll break their fuckin' legs if they don't"
Julie knows he's kidding so she chuckles at this.
Knuckles looks towards the door "Hey Cop! Get your little pansies to stop touching each other and come take me to jail"
Warwick walks back in with 10 police officers "Oh, you're not going alone. Your friends are coming, too"
The officers push Knuckles, Vector and Espio against the wall and place them under arrest.
"The girl, too" Warwick orders
A female officer puts a handcuff bracelet on Starr's left wrist and cuffs her to the hospital bed she lays on.
Julie gives Knuckles one more kiss "I love you"
"Hey, don't worry, Jules. We'll be outta this shit by the end of the week. I'll see you soon"
The pink echidna watches the police take the father of her child away, along with Vector, Espio and Starr.
By the time the group are placed in the back of police cruisers, everyone in the neighbourhood are standing around and watching the show. Julie stands by herself and looks at Knuckles' bruised face through the back window.
"...I love you, too" Knuckles says, showing his first genuine smile since he's been here
Warwick and his squad pack everything up and the cruisers drive off just before sunrise. They now have every suspect who is still alive in custody, and the trial date will be set by the afternoon.
6 AM, DOWNTOWN PRECINCT
Mighty the Armadillo walks out of the elevator and makes his way through the cubicles on his way to his desk.
He's been promoted from Detective to Lieutenant.
Along the way, he sees his fellow officers watching the Flat screen TV in the office.
Knuckles, Vector and Espio are shown being transported from the cruisers to the holding cells.
"Those assholes finally got what they deserve" M says
The officers put their heads down, turn off the TV and a few mutter insults under their breath.
"What's with all the sappy fuckin' faces? I just got promoted, guys! Lets liven this place up!... hey, there's gonna be some big fuckin' changes around this place! Y'all better be up to the task"
"Yeah, yeah, sure boss"
M brushes this off and heads to his brand new office.
A female beat cop stops the Amadillo right at the door
"A miss Maggie Bloodmoon sent her lawyer here to speak with you about her terms of surrender. Sounded like bullshit, but that's your business" she says
"Crazy bitch must finally know what's good for her. That dipshit lawyer leave a card for me, at least?"
"He left a folder for you"
M quickly unlocks his office door "Tell me nobody opened it up yet?!"
"Course not, boss. We wouldn't ruin it for ya"
M gets in and slams the door shut as he runs to his desk. He rips open a beige folder and instantly freezes on the spot
The fuck?!
The first photo shows M sitting next to Angel in an SUV, the gothic hedgehog taking a swig of his wine.
The next photo is in black and white, but clearly shows the Armadillo taking a package from Angel.
The last photo shows M sitting at his computer deleting files on his 'nemesis'
He looks around, hoping, praying his coworkers haven't seen these yet.
But clearly someone knows.
And there's no going back for the Armadillo.
M opens his drawer and grabs a gun but when he tries to pull the trigger on himself, warm piss slapshes off his face.
His service pistol has been replaced with a water gun.
Android Shadow steps into his office, missing an arm but aiming a Revolver with his good one.
M drops the folders "I-I wasn't working for him! Luggs was the rat! I swear! I ain't a dirty cop!"
Shadow remains silent and doesn't move an inch.
"...fuck sakes-"
Shadow pulls the trigger and the crooked cop hits the floor with a THUD.
"What was that?!" An officer asks
"Shots fired in the boss' office!" another shouts
"Load up, everyone!"
Meanwhile, Shadow drags his body to a hidden safe under his desk, presses M's finger on the scanner and the door flies open.
The Android takes everything inside, grabs the photos and fires a bullet in the air as a warning to the rest of the department.
He dials a number in his cellphone "...It's done and I have your documents"
Maggie Bloodmoon laughs "Great. We have your package, if you wanna come down here to pick it up. Or, we could meet you"
Shadow hears guns shooting at him through the door and grins
"No, I'll be done here momentarily. I'll see you soon"
7 DAYS LATER
Julie, Manic, Tails, Charmy Bee, Cream, Big and Rouge all sit in the courtroom for their friend's sentencing.
Knuckles, Vector and Espio sport a few bruises from their brief time in jail, but they're ready to face Prison.
The judge calls the trio up to face him so they stand shoulder to shoulder
"Jonathan, Officer Simmons, Officer Gaspard, I sentence you to 5 years at the Hallard Maximum Security Facility. I hope you learn from this experience, gentlemen"
Knuckles steps forward "And I hope the fat bastards like you who call themselves officers of the law learn to take responsibility. Until then, you can kiss my ass"
The tallest guard hits Knuckles with his nightstick and grabs him by the arm. All three friends are shackled together so they walk in a single file line on the way out.
Manic and Tails shout to their friends and Knuckles waves back. Charmy and Cream pose together for a selfie with Vector just as he walk past them, and Rouge leans over the retaining wall to kiss Espio before he's taken away.
Julie waves goodbye to Knuckles and he gives a thumbs up, then he's taken out of the courtroom.
After it's all said and done, the guys who were called in to help are now taking the fall and going to prison.
Life is funny like that.
We got on that prison bus and lord shitface was sitting in the back waiting for us.
Asshole heals fast.
"Hope you idiots can fight as good indoors as you can outside" Sleuth Dogg says with an evil grin "Ain't nothing but concrete walls and razor wire where we're heading"
"I beat your ass before, I can do it anytime inside the box" Knuckles says
Dogg, along with pretty much everyone else, believe we're afraid of prison.
I gotta tell ya, we are not.
These next 5 years are gonna be just peachy.
But we're gonna be just fine.
THE END
Thanks for reading my story, I wanted to make this one very different from all my other fics.
Please check out my next one, titled "TRICKED"
Til then, peace!
~Menace3117