Hinged Joint 3 part 2.


Blaze's eyes rounded as Infinite homed in on his target: the shooter's rifle lined up with him. "Silver!"

His faint voice carried through the forest, "On it!"

Earsplitting shot. Infinite's ear tore. Blaze's heart pounded.

Move you idiot!

The enveloping flames around her cackled and whirred as she closed the distance between her and the shooter.

Blinding flash before Infinite stumbled and flickered.

What...is he?

She panted, Silver's aura caught the corner of her eye before she transfixed on Infinite.
Rifle to his gut, she raised her splayed, wavering palm as energy hummed. Too close.
Blaze clenched her teeth. He'll die either way. Her stomach wrenched.
Flash of light. Deafening gunfire. Blood splattered. Too late.
The shooter punched Infinite and he flung to the ground.
Blaze steadied her hand as Silver disarmed the shooter.
Fire jetted from her hand while it split them apart.
The shooter vanished in the dense vegetation.
Rasp wheezes and gurgles violated her ears.
Her body numbed, she shuddered.
Putrid iron encroached her nose.
Bile shot up her throat.
She gulped.

"Silver, get the bombs, I got Infinite!"

Please don't look.

"Yes, ma'am." His glow dissipated into the distance.

Blaze stepped in a slick pool of blood. Her sweaty palms quivered.
She knelt, adhesive crimson soaked her pants and gloves while it clung to her fur.
The keen scent of iron invaded her nose as she shuddered while her skin crawled.
Blaze raised Infinite's chest. She glanced his ruptured gut: His entrails spilled.
She shut her eyes while her baited breaths lacerated her throat.

Finn whimpered like a frightened dog. "G-gad..." His voice rasped, "Save him."

One...two...three...

Her eyes crept open, she fixated on the profusely bleeding gash.
She held her breath as her quivering, glowing hand loomed over it.

"No."

Blaze blinked before their eyes locked. Her chest tightened while her breaths ebbed.
"I need to sto-"

"Don...t" He gargled and hacked up blood before he wheezed. "I..." He caught his breath. "I'm...okay." The luster in Infinite's eye diminished.

A twinge tugged on her heartstrings. Pity?

Blaze's mouth hung while her lip quivered. She shook her head. "You're bleeding out."

Why...am I caring?

Her ears shot up while she glanced in the direction of the thundering detonation.

Infinite's voice whispered like a hurt child, "...So?" He grinned as he flashed a sliver of his fangs.

Blaze's body numbed, her eyes darted back and forth from his face to the wound while her distorted, darting mind deciphered the situation. Nothing. "Where's Gadget?"

His body shivered and convulsed while his limp hand dragged before it ceased: he whimpered. "Be...hind."

She craned her head over the brush while she examined the area before she fixated on something scrunched up under the grass. Gadget! Her heart ceased when Infinite gasped for air...Gadget...

Do you understand why I want to save him?

Blaze's eyes stung and glisten, the frigid, repugnant air lashed against her windpipe while she held her breath before she glanced at the gash until she averted her gaze as blistering bile crawled up her throat: she gulped the realization.

She extended her right arm beneath his knees before she cradled him by her chest.

Blood soaked into her gloves. She clenched her teeth while vomit flooded her quivering maw. She gulped and shuddered. Keep calm.

The repugnant stench violated her flaring nose.

Blaze pivoted and trekked through the mud towards Gadget.

Finn's arm dangled and swung as he coughed blood.

Her heart ceased when Gadget peeked from the brushes. Blaze's chin quivered while tears streamed down her face. Why do I feel like this?

Gadget's eyes widened as tears poured down his quivering cheeks. Failure.

You can't uphold the code, always a runt.

Blaze stood in front of Gadget while he reached for him like a raving mother for her dying child. She eased him into his chest while he hugged Finn.

Her body numbed. She watched his life drain. The blood-stained her fur.

Finn dissolved into flecks of cubes as they gathered like bubbles in water before they shot into the dull stone.

Gadget's quivering hands loomed over it.

They're right, I'm not cut out to be a hero.

The air lashed against her throat while her words snagged.

Blaze leaned towards him as she extended her stained glove. "Sor-" Her eyes rounded and ears shot up.

Distant gunfire reverberated.

Silver cried, "I need help!"

Her skin crawled and blood chilled. She swiveled and stormed towards Silver's voice.

Fire enveloped around her as her boots thrashed against the mud. Branches clawed her face.

Blaze's damp attire clung to her skin as she panted.

Earsplitting eruptions.

The forest illuminated in a hue of yellow.

Silver's contour darted from a bulky stark figure like a bear and another like a duck: One is missing.

Blaze careened towards him while her eyes darted for the shooter.

Her gut knotted. Chest clenched.

She bolted towards Silver.

Duck from the branches. Weave from the brush. Her eyes widened.

Something metallic and blunt collided into her stomach. Bullet? No.

Blaze lurched forward as her body bowed: her lungs begged for air. Her eyes locked with glowing blood red ones like a digital clock:

A badniks in the shape akin to Sonic.

It plunged her into the ground. Sharp blunt trauma to her spine and cranium.
She winced as the world spun. Vision flashed black. Her eyes rounded.
Its boot cocked back, it hurled it towards her face.
She caught it, her arms quivered from the force.
It encroached towards her as she shoved back.
It didn't budge: her arms bowed.
Muscles tense and tore.
Bones cracked.
She smirked.

Gotcha!

Her palms melted the boot but:

Its smoldering steel crept towards her muzzle.

...Right...

Air hissed through her clenched teeth while its eyes judged her incompetence.

Children laughed at her within her mind.

Muscles quaked: a fucking joke.

Amy yelled, "Get the fuck AWAY FROM HER YOU HUNK OF JUNK TAMPON!"

Its head shot up as it fixated on something before a mallet collided into its chest and flung it into a tree.

Blaze's eyes widen while she gazed at Amy, who cocked the hammer back over her shoulder.

Amy panted, her arms flexed. She winced. "You okay?" She halfway turned to Blaze.

She nodded, her eyes rounded and heart pounded when it flew towards Amy.

Blaze's hands ignited. She launched herself in front of Amy and hurled balls of fire at it. Missed.

It reeled back and propelled itself into the void.

She slid her foot back as she arched her chest inward while she scanned the area.

Trees, nothing.

Branches rustled. No.

Fire crackled.

"You okay?" Blaze's furrowed forehead twitched.

Amy coughed. "Y-yeah."

Twigs snapped. Behind.

Blaze pivoted, she swung Amy in her arms and pulled her into her chest as she cocked her hand back and launched three lines of fire: it scorched trees and grass. Missed.

Where?

Gunfire. Silver shrilled. Heart pounded.

You'd do anything to save him?

Her blood boiled, bitter rage stoked within her mind. She pulled Amy into her chest.

"Behind!" Amy shouted.

Blaze eyes widened. She cocked her hand back while flames bloomed in it.
She swung herself in its direction. She lined her arm up:

Too close.

Amy pulled her to the ground whle it careened over them before it recuperated and faced them.

"Thanks!" Blaze slipped her arm from under Amy and kicked herself upright.

The machine and Blaze's eyes locked.

"Help!" Silver cried out. "Someone help!"

Blaze's fur stood.

Its fingers splayed like claws.

She glanced at Amy.

Grueling silence.

Her skin crawled.

Inhale. Hold it. Strike.

Blaze careened towards it with her palms splayed out.

It anchored its legs into the ground and leaned its chest forward.

She hurled balls of flames while she stormed towards it.

The machine ducked and flew to the side as her flames trailed behind it.

Blaze extended her left hand and aimed towards its flight path: A cone of flames shot out and engulfed it.

It staggered back while sparks skirted across its body.

Sweat trickled down her forehead as her dull body swayed and each grueling breath struggled to reach her lungs. Just a bit more!

The flames ebbed.

Come on!

Blaze collapsed onto her fours while her lungs pleaded for air.
Her searing eyes wilted as she dragged her head up. She transfixed on it:

It trekked towards her. Body charred and smoldering like brimstone.

Her heart ceased when it bolted towards her while she stood upright. It stopped in front of her.

Nerve-wracking silence.

Blaze raised her hands by her chest and angled her body like a boxer.

It lunged. Claws grazed her stomach.

She clutched its wrist and elbow while her hands erupted in flames.

A potent, putrid scent of smoldering metal flooded her nose.

Its limb severed from its elbow before it lunged with its claws.

Blaze recoiled her chest to the side.

It pulled its severed upper arm from her grasp.

She extended her wavering hand out as a flame bloomed.

Something impaled her left palm.

A visceral, keen twinge bolted through Blaze's hand:

Blood steamed. Her fingers twitched from the synapses. Her vision blurred.

Her hand jerked forward: its limb spun like a drill as it tugged it free when it thrust its scorching shoe into her gut.

"Blaze!" Amy's boots rapped against the ground.

Blunt force to her back as mud dragged her down before Blaze raised her wavering hand while the void crept in the corner of her eyes: sparks fizzled and smoke plumed from her palm.

Never learn runt!

It loomed over her.

Blaze's skin crawled.

Rocks pelted the back of its head. "Get him, Mrs. Amy!"

It rotated its head like an owl and jerked it up.

Amy's hammer slammed into the back of its head while metal and plastic cracked as it decapitated.

Sparks danced from loose wires while its limbs flailed until it collapsed towards the ground.

Blaze rolled aside as its body plummeted and electricity hummed. "Thanks." Her arms quaked while she lifted her chest before she collapsed onto the ground: her palm throbbed and burn. Each sharp breath stung her lungs.

"I gotcha!" Amy shouldered her hammer. She knelt and lifted Blaze's chest upright. "Can you move your fingers?"

She nodded.

"Good, good." Amy clenched her teeth while she hissed.

"Are you okay?"

Cream jogged towards them with a medical bag.

"I'll be." Amy's lopsided smile warmed Blaze's heart.

"Lift her hand ple-"

Gunfire rang out and Silver shrilled.

Blaze dragged her chest forward before she collapsed in Amy's arms.

"Hey, it's okay, I'll get him."

"We have to retreat!" Cream slipped medical gloves on and poured a clear liquid on a cotton ball.

"Where's Gadget and Infinite?"

Blaze winced and hissed while bubbles frothed as the gash burned. Her words lumped in her throat. "...Fin—Infinite is dead."

"And Gadget?"

"...Somewhere..." Her leaden eyes transfixed on an orange blur with a blue glowing object as it bolted through the woods. Gadget?

Rapid gunfire and explosions thundered.

"You got her?" Amy eased Blaze into Cream's arms.

"Got her!"

"Good, you two stay down, I got Silver." Amy stepped in the direction of the cacophony.

Blaze hauled her quivering hand towards Amy as her vision blacken. "W-wait."

Amy rotated her shoulder and alternated between them. "Don't worry." She glanced over them at her and wink. "I'm a tough bitch." She smirked.

. . .

A keen, sharp twinge shot through Amy's ribs while she leaned her arms against the tree as she doubled over. "FFFFF—ouch."

Tough bitch my ass.

Amy groaned. She scanned the area. Darkness.

Come on Silver, give me an opening.

She pursed her lips as she dragged her feet through the mud.

Branches, brush, and biting bugs.

Amy shuddered. I'm lost...

Silver's meek voice whispered, "A-Amy, he...here!"

She swung her head to the right, the left, and she swiveled to check behind. She glanced at Silver, whose head poked from the lower end of a tree. "Why ar-"

"Shh!" His eyes rounded.

Amy jogged to him before he scooted aside as they both hid. "What happen?"

A strand of blood sheened as it trailed down his lip. "A...alive." His body quivered.
"Oh...ugh." He leaned forward and clutched his forehead. "Umm..." His eyes wavered.

She studied his bruises, black eye, and scattered wounds like pockmarks.

"...Can't think..." Silver curled up as his quivering hands grasped his forehead.

Boots rustled leaves.

A nasally voice carried, "Think the boss is 'kay?"

Silver whimpered.

Amy held her breath.

Silence.

"I know, it's unbearable!" The nasally voice said.

Amy peeked behind the tree but Silver tugged her back.

"Think he ran out of ammo?"

Their footfalls drew near. Twigs snapped.

"Or..."

Someone sniffed the air like a dog.

"Smell something?"

He huffed.

"What is it boy? Is someone hiding?"

Silver's body trembled as he curled up into a ball.

Amy rested her hand on the hilt of her hammer.

Silence.

Sweat trickled down her forehead.

Amy's heart raced. Her breaths faltered. She extended her arm out to halt Silver.

Droning silence.

Someone snarled and groaned.

"Nothing, eh?"

Their steps stopped. Close.

"Should we..." The nasally voice paused.

Amy's heart froze. Her fingers curled in and out. Her knees bent.

A fuse hissed.

"Run!" Silver yelled as he bolted from the tree.

Amy reached out. "Wai-" She shielded her face while she leapt away from a rolling bomb.

Shit!

The ground quacked while her ears rung.

Muffled voices.

Amy blinked, her eyes adjusted before she shook her head. Her chest stabbed within.

Can't stop.

She halfway turned her body to see the assailants.

A yellow bear and a green bird pursued Silver.

That's who it is.

Her head spun.

Silver cried for help.

Amy's eyes widened, she dragged herself upright while she stumbled. She bolted towards them with her hammer drawn.

Silver ran into a clearing before Bark tackled him.

Bark detained Silver against the ground while he pummeled his face in with his brick-like fist. Their backs faced her.

"Did he say he'd pay us for each one captured or murdered?" Bean said.

She grinned as she cocked her hammer back.

"Hold the thought, another walkin' paycheck!" Bean pivoted around like a pitcher from a baseball game and hurled a bomb towards her.

Shit!

Amy skidded across the ground as she slammed her feet into it."OH FUCK!" Her eyes rounded while she held her breath: her heart pounded.

The fuse snuffed. The bomb rolled on the ground by Amy's boots.

Silence besides the pounding strikes against Silver's skull.

"What did you do to my baby!" Bean clutched his forehead. "Bark, they killed my BABY!"

Blaze yelled, "Get away from him!"

Amy glanced over her shoulder.

She held her wavering hand up while she aimed.

"Mrs. Blaze you-" Cream gasped as she covered her mouth.

Amy faced the assailants. Her eyes widened as her skin crawled:

Blood dripped down Bark's cocked back knuckle. He stood over Silver before he glanced at them.

"It's the bullies again!" Bean darted behind Bark as he peeked his head out.

He rotated his shoulders. His head lowered by his chest as Blaze's flames illuminated his red devilish eyes that locked with Amy's narrowed ones.

Amy readied her hammer while its head extended out. Her ribs nicked her flesh.

Bark raised his bloody fists by his chest.

Fire crackled behind Amy while Cream pleaded for Blaze to rest.

He skidded his foot against the ground as he jerked his body forward to faint movement.

Amy stared him down as she glanced at Bean's shifty movement.

She'll keep the bombs off, but...for how long?

Sweat trickled by her furrowed brows. Her gut gnarled. Blaze's flames snuffed.

Bark rushed Amy before he lunged in the air with his fist cocked back.

Rouge plummeted from the canopy like a bullet: her steel heel collided with Bark's cranium as he crashed into the ground. She somersaulted from him and landed beside Amy.
"Missed me?"

"Where the fuck have you been?" Amy glanced at her.

"Bus-" Rouge sprang back as she yanked Amy by the collar of her dress as Bean flung bombs at them.

Each spark of the fuse died.

Bean stepped in front of Bark with his hand behind him to shield him.

Bark crawled to his hand and knees. His arms wavered while he lifted his head up and crimson oozed down his forehead. He snarled.

"Surrender or diem" Amy said.

"Like you did to Nack!"

"What?"

"I saw what ya did."

She blinked. "What?"

"One of ya went after him."

Bark stood up but stumbled before he recuperated.

Amy glanced at the others while they stared at her confused.

Was it Gadget?

"Were they a red wolf?"

"The fuck if I know!"

Is it Knuckles?

Bean's fingers twitched.

"Just surrender and you'll live."

No reply.

Amy glanced at Blaze, who nodded at her. She did the same with Rouge too "Last wa-"

Bean tossed a volley of bombs at them.

Bark snatched Bean and bolted into the woods.

"Stop him!" Amy chased after them as she passed underneath the bombardment.
She panted before she hunched over and winced from the keen twinge in her chest.
Damn it! She dropped the hammer's head on the ground while she leaned on the hilt.

"Mrs. Rouge, carry Blaze for me, I've got Silver."

Amy clenched her teeth. Phlegm flooded her throat as she coughed.
She peeked over her shoulder at them. Amy fixated on Silver's motionless body.

Cream knelt beside him and tilted his head back as she rested her fingers on the depression of his neck and chin.

Some leader I am...

Amy sighed.

Rouge assisted Blaze beside Silver as she limped towards him. She sat Blaze down before she strolled towards Amy.

Ugh, great.

Amy faced the woods.

Rouge's heels pattered against the grass. "Hey."

She clasped her lips.

"Are you o-"

"Why didn't you help?"

"Hm?"

"Earlier and with them."

"Wasn't paid to."

"Fuck you."

Rouge chuckled. "Always jumping to conclusions."

Amy rolled her eyes before they narrowed.

"Sheesh, lighten up. I di-"

"Lighten up?" Amy turned to her. "After all this? You want me to fuckin' lighten up?"

Rouge stared at her with a blank face.

Amy's temples throbbed as a searing rush clutched her mind.

"Could've been worse." She rested her hand on her hip.

"Could've been better."

Rouge's eyes squinted, she quirked her lip.

That's what I thought, bitch!

Silence.

"What do you even want?" Amy turned away.

Rouge sighed. "Doesn't matter now." She paused. "Anyway, your wolf friend...what's his name?"

"Gadget."

"Yeah, he seemed to...hmm, be using the ruby."

Amy blinked, she rested her hand on her chin. Could it be his plan?

"He went after...the purple dog?"

"Huh?"

"The ones with the guns."

"Nack?"

"Yeah."

"What happen?" Amy raised a brow.

"Somewhere in the woods."

"Are they working together?"

"Doubt it."

"How do you know?"

"What do you think I've been doing?"

"Letting us die." Amy glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes narrowed and brows drew together.

Rogue leaned forward and raised her hands by her chest. "What?"

"Yeah, you left us."

"No, I kept tabs on Infinite."

"Bullshit!"

Rouge rested her hand on the side of her head as she shook it. "I did what you asked."

"You left."

She extended her hand and jutted her thumb out. "One, Infinite ran as Gadget chased after him." Her pointer shot out. "Two, Blaze chased after him while Silver tried to stop her."
Her brows knitted. "Three, they're attacked by these fuckos. And four, I lost him in the woods." She paused. "So, how am I suppose to help you? Hmm?"

Amy turned to her and crossed her arms. "You could've helped with Metal."

"Who?"

"Metal Sonic."

"I was watching Gadget."

Amy huffed. "Sure."

"What the hell is this?" Rouge rested her hand on her tilted hip.

"You bullshitting!" Amy's knuckles tightened and popped.

"How!"

"Blaze and Silver almost died!"

"And...that's my fault." Rouge rested her hand on her chest.

Amy stared at the ground for a second before their eyes locked. "We needed you."

"And I'm here."

"Here too late!"

Rouge shut her eyes as her jaw hung before she sighed. "I made a choice."

"To run."

"No, now shut up and listen."

Amy clenched her teeth while her blood seethed.

"I could've chased after Gadget. But. I didn't." Rouge averted her gaze.
"I helped, sure, I was late, but I helped, okay?" She shook her head.
"But when we need help." She rested her hand on her chest.
"No one ever does." Her ears pinned back.
"No one helped Shadow or Omega."
"No one ever has our backs."
Rouge crossed her arms.
"It's bullshit."

"Tails helped Ome-" Amy jolted her head back.

"I had to ask because no one else did."
"I had to help Shadow because no one else did!"
"I had to go alone in enemy lines because no one else did!"

That's complete bullshit.

Amy shrugged.

"And this is how you treat me after everything?"

Silence.

Rouge shook her head. "This is why I ask for payment."

"Cuz you only care about money."

"You're as bad as Shadow."

Amy chuckled. "Pfft."

Silence.

"You want to know why I came?"

"Not really, but whatever." Amy shrugged.

"I know how you're feeling. Stressed, pissed, and distancing yourself from everyone."

Amy snorted. "Ugh, no. You're kinda projecting here."

"Projecting what?"

Amy shrugged. "I don't know, your lust for Shadow or someshit."

Rouge's lips receded as she blinked while her brows parted. "Wow. Umm." She shut her eyes. "I've got nothing." She threw her hands in the air and strolled off towards the others.

Fuck you bitch.

She stopped a few feet away and raised her pointer finger in the air before she turned to Amy. "Last time I ever check up on you."

Amy extended her hand as she raised her middle finger out. Never asked. Her arm collapsed by her waist. She didn't do shit, lazy ass bitch. Me, Blaze, and Silver did everything. She turned to her hammer and lifted it onto her shoulder.
Don't be mad at me for being lazy! I do everything. She huffed.
Hurdy-durdy durr, I just watch people, it's so hard.
Amy chuckled before her lips wilted when she noticed Silver.
It's her fault, she could've helped! Her ears and shoulders sagged while her heart pitted. Or...

...Maybe I'm just bullshiting myself...