Chapter 10: Brand New Gear

Roman, Silver and Blaze's safehouse, Spagonia, 15:30 pm

Roman stepped into the room to find Blaze waiting for him. Silver was also present, leaning against the door, looking at him. Looking about, Roman asked: "Pretty serious atmosphere. Any news?"

Blaze scowled. "Have you listened to anything we've ever said about keeping the news of your survival to yourself?"

Roman groaned. "Blaze, look, I-"

"Um, no!" Blaze said. "That's not going to cut it. Despite us telling you time and time again to not give any hints as to your survival, you go and do it anyway. Hasn't anything we've said about things being better off if the Empire believed you were dead sunk in?!"

"It has, Blaze. But that's been your go-to argument for two years." Roman said, folding his arms. "And personally, I'm getting tired of all this sneaking around."

Blaze got to her feet as she placed her hands on her hips. "For your information, all this 'sneaking around' has kept you, and us alive these past two years!"

"That's something I'm well aware of." Roman said calmly. "But there's a time and a place for such things. And in my honest opinion, that time has passed. If the Empire deduce it to be me, then fine. So be it. But at least they know that the Freedom Fighters aren't their only problem."

Blaze sighed. "So that's why you left that message? To take some of the pressure off of the Freedom Fighters?"

"Yes." Roman replied. "They've got too much on their plate already. So far as I know, they have only one person that can wield the Force, and that's Tails. But Tails isn't fully trained. So all we've been doing up to this point, has only piled more pressure on the Freedom Fighters. This is what I've been saying ever since the Spagonia hit."

Blaze scowled. "And it's only been two missions we've-"

"Hold on. 'We'?" Roman asked. "There has never been a 'we'. It's always been me doing all the missions. All you and Silver have been doing is fuck like a pair of drunk, horny Zeltrons."

Blaze made for Roman, snarling: "Why you-" Just as Silver got in the way.

"That's enough! Both of you!" Silver snapped. Turning to Blaze, Silver said: "Head for the room and cool off! I'll see you in there later."

Blaze glared at Silver and barged past him and Roman, making sure to barge past Roman really hard.

"Yeah, go cool off!" Roman called out after her. "Before you really start living up to your name!"

"Roman, that's enough from you as well." Silver said, pushing Roman against the door.

Roman shoved Silver away from him hard, saying: "Get the fuck off me!"

Silver clenched his fists, the patterns on his gloves and bracelets beginning to glow. "Roman, calm down. There's no need for this." He said forcefully.

Roman remained where he was standing, clearly not intimidated. "If this is your idea of intimidation, it isn't working. I'm sick and tired of hiding." Turning and walking out of the door, Roman said: "It's time to step out of the shadows, Silver. You're just too reluctant to let me loose."

Silver watched him leave, saying: "Great!" Before heading to his and Blaze's room.

"Make sure you have protection, jackass!" Roman shouted as he heard Silver walk past.

Silver stopped, considered walking in and serving Roman a cold glass of 'Shut the fuck up', but decided against it, merely choosing to shake his head and head to his and Blaze's room. Anything more would merely incense Roman further.

Several Hours Later, 18:15 pm

The sound of loud knocking on the door drove Roman from his restful doze, forcing his eyes open as he turned his head to the door. "Who the fuck's there?"

"It's me." Came the voice of Blaze.

"Then fuck off!" Roman shouted. "I haven't got time for this."

"Time for what? To hear me apologise?" Blaze asked.

Roman sighed and rose from his bed, walking up to his door and opening it, revealing a dishevelled looking Blaze, who blushed as she realised Roman was topless. "You look like you've been busy."

Blaze folded her arms. "If you're just going to make remarks about how much me and Silver get physical, you can forget my apology."

Roman raised his hands in a placating manner. "Geez. If I knew I'd pissed you off that bad, I'd have apologised right there and then."

Blaze's expression softened. "Okay. Well, I guess now's a better time than any other: I'm sorry."

Roman folded his arms now. "I'm sorry too. But, you know I'm right; don't you?"

Blaze frowned as she nodded. "Maybe you are right. Maybe it is time we got out of the shadows." Looking up into Roman's eyes, Blaze closed hers, saying: "I wish I wasn't so protective. It's just, I guess I didn't want you to end up like we found you again: Barely alive. Or worse, dead."

Roman rolled his eyes and said: "Blaze, I'm sure you know this, but, I've proven time and time again how hard I am to kill. When you found me two years ago, I proved it to you and Silver."

Blaze smiled. "You were still barely alive. A few more minutes' maybe, and we would have been too late."

Roman nodded. "Maybe. But you weren't, and for that, like I've said numerous times, I'm grateful." He leaned against the doorway and folded his arms. "But, I'm not entirely sure that you just came here to apologise. And judging from the state your attire is in, I can attest only one particular reason."

Blaze seemed surprised. "What do you mean?"

"The back of your dress. It's unzipped. Now, that normally means you want something particular."

Blaze blushed and zipped the back of her dress up, quickly saying: "Sorry. If I'd noticed earlier, I'd have done it earlier. I guess I forgot after earlier."

Roman smirked and said: "That's what you get for having sex every night."

Blaze folded her arms. "You can be such an ass, you know that?"

"Takes one to know one." Roman retorted with a mischievous smirk.

Blaze slapped Roman lightly on the arm before saying: "Just come with me, Roman. Me and Silver have something to show you." At this, she turned and walked off.

Roman's eyes narrowed in interest as he followed Blaze, throwing on a shirt as he did.

Basement of the safehouse…

Stepping into the basement, Roman was met with a sight for sore eyes. "Damn." He remarked.

"Isn't it a beauty?" Silver said, gesturing towards the very thing Roman was staring at.

Roman merely smiled and folded his arms.

Stood up with the help of a mannequin was a set of armour bearing stark similarities to that of Mandalorian armour Roman had seen before, especially when dealing with the Death Watch during the Clone Wars. The only difference was, this armour was completely black, devoid of any other colour. It didn't have the traditional gauntlets a Mandalorian had, but instead, those of a Stormtrooper's, which didn't look too shabby. And instead of a helmet to cover the face was a large hood, sewn seamlessly into the underclothing. It didn't look at all out of place amongst the armour that surrounded it, merely gave an air of mystery to the person wearing the armour, which Roman suspected would be him.

"I'm guessing this stuff is for me." Roman said.

"Damn right it is." Silver said, folding his arms also. "Have you any idea how much it cost us to have a friend make this for you?"

"Don't tell me: Several grand?" Roman asked.

"Damn right." Silver said.

"Don't tell me the exact amount." Roman said. "I'd rather not know. Otherwise, I'd feel indebted to you, despite the both of you clearly having done this out of the goodness of your hearts."

"I guess we did." Silver said, sharing a smile with Blaze. Turning back to Roman, Silver said: "Go try it on. We're certain it'll fit."

Roman shrugged and approached the set of armour, beginning to undress, but not before he turned to Silver and Blaze, saying: "At least let me have some privacy. I let you have yours most of the time."

Silver and Blaze obliged, leaving Roman to himself, and his new gear.

Later, 18:25 pm…

Blaze snuggled against Silver and gave a low purr as she felt her hedgehog lover wrap his arm around her, pulling her ever closer as they both found themselves dozing off. And they would have, had they not heard a loud banging noise, alongside a gentle clearing of the throat:

"Ahem."

Both were instantly alert, looking up and towards the doorway, both smiling at what they saw.

Roman stood adorned in his brand new armour, the hood of it down, but he still looked like a force to be reckoned with. His body filled up the armour remarkably well, and he looked like a warrior incarnation of the Grim Reaper, come to take the souls of those who would try and cheat death.

The vulpine Jedi gave Silver and Blaze a three-sixty turn, saying with a cocky tone: "How do I look?"

Blaze sat up in her seat, folding her arms. "Like the warrior you always have been. With a few differences."

Roman shrugged. "Guess you raise a good point." He pulled up his hood, which covered the majority of his face, save for his muzzle, which stood out like lightning during a storm.

"Now you look like a common street thug. A very well armoured street thug at that." Silver remarked.

"I'll keep that in mind." Roman said, lowering his hood and sitting next to Silver and Blaze. "So, have you any idea where you want us to strike next?"

Blaze lay back. "Roman, we've just finished a strike last night. I think we can do with a few days' rest before starting to plan the next attack."

"Plus;" Silver added, "we need to make sure our next strike coincides with that of the Freedom Fighters. That is, if we're going to reveal ourselves."

Roman folded his arms. "A good chance of accomplishing that is heading to Angel Island. That's where me, Sally, and King Acorn planned to evacuate who we could if Mobotropolis ever fell to an enemy like Eggman or the Empire. It's likely where the Freedom Fighters will have set up their base as well."

Blaze sat up, looking Roman deep in the eye. "So what you're saying is that me and Silver should talk to the Freedom Fighters to see if our plans coincide."

Roman nodded. "And if possible, get Sally alone. Then, give her this." At this, he handed Silver and Blaze a holo.

Silver and Blaze eyed the holo suspiciously, Silver saying: "Is this a message for her from you?"

Roman nodded. "I at least want her to know what's coming. She deserves that much."

Silver and Blaze looked at the holos and nodded, saying: "We'll show this to Sally, Roman. We promise you that."

"Make sure you do it quickly." Roman said. "Tomorrow would be best."

Hedgehog and cat nodded understanding, promptly rising from the sofa, and saying: "We should get to bed then. Long day tomorrow." Before heading to the stairs.

"Remember to wear protection!" Roman called out teasingly.

Blaze turned to face Roman and playfully flipped him off. "Cheeky." Blaze muttered as she ascended the stairs, following Silver.

Roman eased himself back, waiting for sleep to come. He too, had some things to do.

So things are finally falling into place for the final few chapters. What I'm doing currently is set up the final few chapters chapter by chapter, so that everything flows well.

Moving right along, please leave your reviews (NO FLAMES!), and May the Force be with you. Always.

T-Rock 14