-1Chapter 9: Jet's Fall

In Metal City, racing was a high-profitable cause that created tension between the higher and lower classes that lived there. Racers came from all over the world to compete against an elite group of racers known as the Babylon Rogues. Just two days ago, the Babylon Rogues won one of the most coveted prizes of all: the golden trophy of the Magnum EX World Cup, a trophy awarded only to the best racers in the world. Jet the Hawk was the leader of this group of rogues, and he put pride into his job.
It was unusually hot in Metal City, and there were no cars to be found, Jet, and his two companions, Wave the Swallow and Storm the Albatross had received a letter from an anonymous source requesting a meeting. Jet decided to go, seeing as they had nothing better to do, but as he saw the usually filled with traffic streets of Metal City completely empty, he began to wonder about his decision.
"I don't like this boss," Wave said, she was sweating at the forehead.
"Me neither, why'd you agree to meet these guys?" Storm asked, the huge bird was sitting under a tree.
Jet wiped sweat off his brow, "These guys said that they were willing to pay us if we agreed to see them, so why not? We're always looking for a way to get a little extra cash, and this will have to do!" he barked.
Just then four silhouettes came walking towards the Babylon Rogues, and Jet stood up, ready to greet their guests.
As they approached, Jet backed off, they were perhaps the most intimidating group of ruffians he'd ever seen.
"You're Jet the Hawk?" the leader asked.
Jet slowly nodded, gripping his Extreme Gear tightly in case they needed to escape.
"Call me Spike, Jet…I was sent here by my superior. It seems you have something he wants."
Jet squinted his eyes, "What's that? A race?" the green hawk asked.
Spike forced a laugh, "No you incompetent, your Chaos Emerald!"
Jet smiled, "Sorry to say, but you're not getting your hands on this baby, no way!" he assured.
Spike smiled, "I'm sorry you feel that way, Tank…" he said, snapping his fingers.
Tank slowly walked up, "Yes boss?" he asked.
"Take 'em," Spike ordered.
Tank smiled, "Gladly!" he said and walked fourth, just then Storm confronted the fully armored armadillo.
Tank and Storm were almost the exact same size, yet with one swipe of his left arm, Storm went down and stayed down.
"No way!" Wave shrieked.
Jet gritted his teeth, "Who are you guys?" he demanded.
"We're the Arcane Renegades of Nie," Spike responded.
Jet's eyes popped wide open, "The renegades of legend? The group that's said to have murdered more people than any other group of thugs in the world? Those Arcane Renegades?" he panicked.
Spike smiled, "I see our reputation had spread quite a ways from home, what do you say Jet? I don't want to have to cause you and your friends harm, just give me the emerald."
Jet grinned, "No way, you may be good, but you've never seen the Babylon Rogues in action!" he shouted, and leapt onto his Extreme Gear and took flight, and Wave closely followed.
"What about Storm?" she shouted, trying to get her voice through the intense turbulence that was running behind them.
Jet looked over his shoulder, "He's of no use to them, we just need to lose them and we'll go back for him!"
Back at the meeting place, Spike raised his black sunglasses, "Tank, Tick, get them!" he ordered, "And don't come back without that emerald!"
Tank and his little brother Tick both rolled into ball forms and took off at incredible speeds. Jet and Wave were already a good distance away, but as they looked back and saw the two armadillo brothers on their tails, they panicked.
"Now what?" Wave blared.
Jet spun around, "I'll catch up, keep going!" he said, and charged his opponents.
As Wave kept going, the two armadillos launched themselves off the ground and hit Jet. Tank hit Jet in the chest, which knocked him off his board, while Tick hit him in the head, which knocked the sense out of him.
Jet lay on the ground, panting in pain. Tank and Tick unrolled themselves and approached Jet. Tank lifted Jet by the shoulder and punched him in the face so he skidded at least ten feet on the ground.
The hawk got to his knees and spat blood on the ground, "You guys don't play games…" he said weakly.
"Lemme handle this…" Tick said, and coiled up into ball form. His outer shell then started to glow red with an orange tint.
"Let me explain," Tank said, "when my little bro goes into his ball form, he can raise his internal temperature up to 500 degrees," the monster laughed.
Jet gasped, "That's right," Tank added, and picked the steaming ball up. His golden hand plates prevented him from taking any damage, he then threw the ball at approximately 200 miles per hour, and nailed Jet in the face, knocking him out, and sending him crashing into a nearby skyscraper.
Tick unrolled once again, and took the red Chaos Emerald out of the pack Jet wore around his waste.
"Let's roll," Tank said, and the two Arcane Renegades took off back to regroup.