Chapter 12:

No Other Way, Taking No Chance

Very little chatted, and many sat silent, after find Espio gone, again. Misty was still in shock from that night, still. Sonic sat for a moment, cross armed, and staring at a window, still wondering where Espio is.

"Guys, we need to do something about Eggman too you know." Rouge stated, "At least before he goes too far."

Sonic then spurted, "Me and Misty did it last night."

Everyone gasped, and Misty's head went down instantly. Sonic sat back for a moment, then his eyes got small, he then realized that he thought out loud.

"Um, hehehe." Sonic started to sweat, "So I guess I thought a bit loudly?"

Misty got up, opened the doorway to outside, shifted to her fox form, but with wings, and without saying a word, flew out of sight. Sonic started to sweat even more, then turned to the group, who all glared at him, except Amy, who's heart was broken, she quickly got up and ran out of sight, and into a different room, shutting the door behind her.

Conore growled, "You just couldn't help yourself? So you actually did it with Misty and not actually admitting feelings? You haven't even known us for a week and already this has happened!"

"But, honestly, she…"

Rouge came up to Sonic and slapped him across the face, "You fucking bastard, how could you not think of Amy first?"

Sonic sat on the floor rubbing his face, and he began to complain in his mind. What have I done now? It's just that she herself, she was so, sexy and, hot. I like other women, but this was unreal!

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She flew swiftly across the sky, through clouds she burst through, her head blank, after just saying what happened, she needed to get out and relax a little. She thought for a while, and kept her head low, she knew exactly what she'll be dealing with when she gets back to the Nightstar, even though she's always chickened out on many things related to these kind of situations, she sighed, and started to glide a little. A vacuum noise started to come into hearing range, she opened her eyes and listened, and the next thing she knew, she lost control of her flight, and was sucked into what looked like a giant pipe, that was connected to Eggman's ship.

Her head banged against metal, and she thumped down with the air being sucked. She tossed and rolled, her wings disappeared, and she rolled in even faster.

"Ack! eep! ow! ouch! nah! yeow!" she cried out as she tumbled, she seen a hole below her, and quickly ran down with the wind, and was able to get inside the hole, and rest from herself being banged around literally. She panted profoundly; her claws unsheathed, and gripped the floor tight, or at least tried to.

"Anymore banging around and I could've ended up loosing my memory." Misty said gasping. The winds howled behind her, and she ran forward, following the tunnel, which then soon brought her to a ventilation system. She glanced around, and seen three different paths, and as her random choice, she went right, and continued to follow the tunnel, until voices were heard. The voices were coming from a grate in front of her, and she quietly ran towards it, and glanced down. Between the grates, she seen Eggman, Quazaireon, Ramaindna, and Damion, all discussing a plan, all gathered around a computer, and Eggman held an amulet in his palms, but for what?

"That amulet is like a power amulet," Ramaindna explained, "Light or Dark, depending on the holder, great energy rises in their bodies, causing their body to grow larger, and much stronger, and if the holder has a secondary form of a mutant, they're guaranteed that they'll be even the most powerful of that particular mutant."

"A stronger formation, huh?" Eggman grinned, "Could Espio wear this and grow into something stronger than Knuckles himself?"

"He could." Quazaireon commented to him, "But first, we need to take care of Knuckles, and that will be done with the injection, and only, our next target will then be Shadow. Since he is the ultimate life form."

Misty was about to growl, but knew if she did, she'd be in for it, but even worse came, the grate she stood on creaked a little, then broke. "Aaaah!"she cried out, and she tumbled down right on top of Damion, with the grate right on his head. The other three jumped back in surprise, and then seen it was Misty on Damion. Misty looked around and started to panic lightly once and again.

"Um, hi?" Misty said while raising an eyebrow while smiling and panicking, "If you don't mind, I'll be going now, so um…bye!"

Misty quickly bolted for the door, and ended up running her head into it, not knowing it was lock. She then spun around and seen Eggman with an injection right at the throat, she then started to panic even more.

"Okay I'll talk, what do you need to know?" Misty cried.

Damion pushed Eggman aside and grabbed Misty's throat and started to choke her, "One thing you can tell us is how you got in here without being detected."

"Would you believe me if I said the air conditioning system?" Misty replied.

"Move aside you black head!" Quazaireon pushed.

Eggman held the injection back at her throat again, "How about where Espio is?"

"Espio?" Misty wondered, "You guys were the last ones that had him, otherwise I don't know, if anything, he's back at the plains that we passed over."

"What about our belongings?" Quazaireon questioned her.

"Belongings, wh-what belongings?" Misty panicked.

Eggman then stabbed her with the injection, and she screeched, Eggman then spoke fiercely "Just shift to normal!"

Misty choked, and shifted to her hedgehog form, the injection was then taken out, and she held her throat painfully. Eggman sat the injection down, and grabbed her firmly, then pinning her to the wall.

"You know what they are!" he shouted, "So where are they?"

"They've been disposed of, and at least Espio's now gone, so there's nothing you can do to recover anything that-"

"Let her go!" a voice shouted.

The group spun around and glanced over at the voice's positioning, a figure then jumped down from above, and in everyone's amazement, it was Espio.
"Help me…" Misty choked while still being held by Eggman.

"Let her go now!" Espio snarled.

Eggman then pulled Misty to his chest, grabbed the injection and started to put pressure on Misty's neck with it, and at the same time, Misty began to whine a little, "One step and she's ours."

Espio stood where he landed, and glared at the group, "Look, I've got a Chaos Emerald here, and I can trade you for her, just release her!"

"Show the Emerald!" Ramaindna commanded.

Espio revealed a silver Emerald that shined in their faces, "Now hand her over!"

"On three, I release her, and you toss it over here!" Eggman suggested, still holding Misty tightly, in return, Espio nodded, even though he had an idea in his mind.

"One…two…three!" Eggman released Misty, and Espio tossed the Emerald towards Eggman, but also followed through with it. Eggman quickly grabbed Misty back and the Emerald, and shoved Espio back away, causing him to slide on his side. He then lied there, and glancing at Misty's face, which was in distress.

"I hope you enjoy tonight if that's how much you care for her." Eggman laughed.

Espio raised an eyebrow a little, and then a striking pain hit his head, he quickly fell back on the floor and became unconscious. Quazaireon then dropped in front of his body, laughing a little. Misty's eyes started to tear, and she closed her eyes, and she also, took a hit in the head, blacked out and unconscious.

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"Guys, looks like we've spotted Eggman again!" Yorker shouted.

"Again? I thought he'd be out of our way for a while." Rouge sighed.

Conore looked through the window in front of Yorker, "He's headed right towards us, why?"

"Don't know, but I'm getting a message already from him." Yorker said as he punched in a password, then a screen of Eggman's face was shown to the group, who then all glanced over at the screen.

"I see you haven't paid much attention to your crew." Eggman stated, "Looks like you're missing someone."

"Yeah we know," Aaron rolled his eyes, "We're waiting for her anyhow."

"I wouldn't just sit there if I were you, guess what I've got." Eggman then directed the camera into a cell, which held both Misty and Espio. Misty's shirt and pants were gone, and Espio's shoes were also gone, both were tied by the ankles and wrist, then tied to one another, mouths sealed with tape. They cried in agony and misery, begging for help while struggling to get free. The view then changed back viewing Eggman's face once and again.

Mellony then couldn't help herself, "What in god's name of hell are you planning now you fucking bastard!"

"Well wouldn't you like to know?" Eggman grinned, "Besides, you can come and pick these two up if you hurry fast enough."

"You watch yourself," Knuckles warned, "One small wrong move and you'll be in for it."

"I think it's your hedgehog friend here that needs to watch herself, since she is a female…" The screen then went blank, everyone sat in curiosity, but Sonic stood in anger.

"I don't like the sound of that." Rouge commented, "They way he said that since Misty's a female, then blank."

"I don't like the idea I have in my mind right now," Sonic scowled, "But I know one thing, Eggman's gone too far with this one!"

"Wait! What are you guys doing?" Conore turned and seen both Sonic and Knuckles by the side door to outside. Sonic's eyes then started to glow; he then turned his head back to Conore.

"Tell Eggman that he has company, and not to open fire, or else." Sonic lastly reminded, he then jumped out of the doorway, followed by Knuckles, the door then closed behind them.

"Boy," Rouge sighed, "are we dealing with the most ridiculous problems, Amy's still in that room, Misty's caught, and Tails was something he wasn't…"

"After this, we need to head to Marie's." Conore stated, "Otherwise I agree Rouge. Hold on one second."

A picture of Eggman's face reappeared again, and this time, he didn't seem too happy.

"What do you want?" Eggman questioned.

"You've got company on the way," Conore told him, "Open fire, and you'll be sinking into the forest full of deadly things."

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Quazaireon stood in front of a doorway, guarding it with eyes wide open, and his ears high in alert, his nose twitched every once in a while, but he never moved from his placement, until Ramaindna appeared.

"Eggman said to leave," Ramaindna stated, "I was to do what was told now."

Quazaireon nodded, and walked off, away from the doorway. Ramaindna then quickly opened the door and entered, the door sliding shut. At the first sight, Misty started to struggle again, knowing the possibilities of what could happen. Espio then seen her and started to struggle with her. Ramaindna only laughed.

"You two aren't going anywhere, not for another hour at least, who knows, maybe not for a week." She laughed, "Though you two look so wonderful together, even though only one of you is a virgin sadly."

Espio looked over at Misty, and she did the same, both shrugged. Misty then quickly growled at Ramaindna, angered by how uncomfortable she felt. Ramaindna smiled evilly.

"Keep trying, but not too much, you'll need energy later on." She warned Misty, "But my dear Espio," She grabbed his chin lightly with her hand, "I see that you've escaped once, but I guess you're just irresistible to forget, so you're here again, this time, worth the while since we have now a breeder."

Misty's eyes shrunk. Breeder! Oh now I know what's going on, this ain't good at all!

Espio growled, his gold eyes shining in Ramaindna's eyes with rage, he knew exactly what she was saying. Ramaindna then released his cheek, and stepped out of the cell without even opening the doors.

"Enjoy your moment of hard love." She taunted them, snapped her fingers, then left. Both Misty and Espio found themselves released, and Espio ran towards the bars and tried with all of his might to try and get through the bars. It was worthless, nothing budged, and he was scared to death.

Misty bit through the tape, and spitted out a chunk of the tape that she tugged back a little. Espio seen her do so, and started to do the same, he soon then became successful.

"This is now way to bad." Misty said to herself.

Espio spun around and faced her, "You think it's bad, maybe I should've just stayed at the harbor instead of coming back here!"

"I wish the same." Misty sighed.

Espio's faced then changed to melancholy, "Y-you do?"

"Yes, you don't need this." Misty said while cuddling herself up, "We all had enough problems in our lives, especially you guys."

Espio felt guilty and sat by her, "Look, I know I've been turned into a mutant and all, but I mean hey, will that change anything?"

"Yes, it will." Misty stated while glaring at him, "I know that for a fact."

"Hmm…" Espio wondered, "What does she mean by hard love anyhow?"

Misty glared at Espio again and raised an eyebrow, Espio glanced back at her, sat for a moment and thought, then realized what it meant, and this wasn't good at all.

"We're going to rape one another." Espio said in sparse voice.

"More like being forced to do so."

"This is going to be the most awkward thing I would have ever done in my life."

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Aaron paced across the room nervously, sweating all over, his eyes looking bloodshot, and his teeth grinded together in fear. Annoyed by this action Conore stood up.

"Would you quit that Aaron?" Conore asked fiercely.

"Sorry man, it's just," Aaron apologized, "just the fact of what Eggman said could mean anything."

"Hopefully Sonic and Knux will get there in time to stop him before any further moves are made." Rouge stated.

"That's what everyone hopes." Mellony confirmed.

A door slid open, and entered the room was Amy, finally relaxed and no longer in tears. Everyone glanced over to see her, not even saying a word. Amy then finally spoke up after many moments of crying.

"Where's Sonic?" Amy asked quietly.

"Most likely in Eggman's ship by now my friend." Conore told her.

She sat down on a bench across from Shadow's bench, "What's going on anyhow?"

Aaron sighed, "If you came out a little sooner, you'd know."

In front of Yorker a screen popped up viewing Eggman again. Yorker stumbled backwards in surprise; not knowing the screen of his face came into view so quickly without warning.

"Hahahaha," Eggman laughed, "Did you guys really think that if you'd send in Sonic and Knuckles, that they'll save your other two hooks?"

Yorker complained, "Not again!"

"Why yes again, this time, not only Espio's with us in the clan, soon the other three, unless we can discuss a deal?" Eggman inquired.

"And what is it that you demand?" Shadow asked.

"To receive all of your friends, give me the Chaos Emeralds, and you'll get them back in the way they left, otherwise…"

"Otherwise?" Conore questioned.

"Otherwise all of your friends will end up like Espio, deceiving and flesh eating, on my side, never to return to you again, if you do ever happen to fight for your dear lives."

"How long do we have to decide?" Aaron asked stiffly.

"Well, for the moment, five minutes. Unless you agree to the terms." Eggman acknowledged.

The group looked at one another, concerned at what to do, they all knew, if they kept the Chaos Emeralds, they'd die quickly, but if they handed them over, they'll die in the future, and not so instantly. They knew, that they'd prefer to have what's left and restore to the fullest quickly. Conore turned to the screen.

"It's a deal." Conore told him.

"Good, you have an hour to hand them over." The screen then went blank.

"Call Lighter, and tell him to send the Chaos Emeralds up." Conore told Aaron.

"Right." Aaron then went and did what was told.

"We really didn't have a choice did we?" Rouge asked.

"Not with four gone and little left weak, I couldn't risk it." Conore said.

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Sonic and Knuckles were dragged in and thrown into the cell literally, then a few clothes were tossed at Misty. She quickly grabbed them, and stared at Damion. Damion glared back, and growled a little at her.

"How could you Damion?" Misty asked fiercely and quietly.

"It's all because of you Misty." Damion sneered, "Don't blame me for your own actions."

"Asshole."

"Bitch."

The door slammed shut, but the cell was left open, Sonic rubbed his head in pain, and Knuckles only lied on the ground. Misty quickly organized the clothing that she received, Espio's shoe, her headband, his glove, and her shirt.

"What in god's name is going on?" Knuckles asked the three.

"Like hell we don't know." Misty stated while getting her shirt on.

"I think Eggman's gone a little overboard with this one." Sonic validated.

They all nodded, Misty then found her necklace, and knew exactly what to do, and she grinned a little.

"I have my necklace, so." Misty insisted.

"So you can get us out of here." Knuckles asked.

"Not just that," Misty pointed, "The cell door, it's open."

Sonic got up and swung the door, a loud clang busted into the air, stunning him, and causing him to quickly run back into the cell and shut the cell shut. The three then glared at him, for two of those reasons.

"Well, it was open." Misty sighed, "Ah well, I still can get us out."

"How's that?" Espio asked her.

"Simple." Misty then glowed for a moment, and took another shape, a hedgehog like dog from, all of her markings were shown, and the quills remained the same, and she quickly squeezed through the bars and went out the door. The boys sat, in shock, she actually went through the bars without stress.

"Well, lets hope she'll make it to the keys and all." Knuckles said.

"No kidding." Sonic agreed.

Espio nodded, "If anything, the last thing we need is an…" Espio's voice then screeched, at the sound, he covered his mouth, eyes open in shock.

"Oh crap." Sonic cried.

"If Misty doesn't hurry up, were meat for you Espy." Knuckles pointed.

Espio nodded, and kept his mouth covered, afraid to try and speak again. His back popped twice, he then knew, he was mutating again, but he hope slow enough for the guys to escape again.

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"Yipe!" Misty cried out, she was in her fox form, with keys around her neck, and was panicking to the fullest. Behind her Damion, who also was in his fox form, was chasing her closely behind. Misty swerved every corner, sped up every straight hallway, and tried and tried to find the door she once came through, nothing appeared familiar. Damion snapped by her tail and missed, Misty quickly pulled her tail up a little, and at the same time, seen the door she was to be going through. She quickly back flipped, Damion running under her at full speed, and took a corner. Misty landed on her feet and quickly spun around and entered through the door, slamming it from behind, and locking it.

She stared at the door with exhaustion and took a few stepped backwards, panting heavily, and ignored everything around her, or at least for that moment.

"Misty! Get us out!" Sonic yelled behind her.

Misty jumped and spun around, ran towards the cell door and tried open it, and another screech broke into the air. She jumped again, and noticed Espio, crouched into a ball, lying on the floor, shaking. Sonic grabbed the keys, which still wrapped around Misty's neck, and started to figure out the keys. Misty fell over, and started to choke.

"Ack…can't…breathe! Hurry…up." Misty told him.

"Got it!" Sonic said, and dropped the keys, Misty then hastily started breathing again, but then the cell door came around and smacked her across the back, knocking her down. Sonic rushed out and waited for Knuckles and Misty, he shortly then became impatient.

"Come on now, we have to go!" Sonic said.

"Wait, Espio!" Knuckles cried out.

Misty turned to normal and removed the keys from around her neck and quickly shut the cell door before Knuckles could reach in. Knuckles quickly turned to her with anger trailing across his face.

"Open the damn door!" Knuckles demanded.

"Leave him." Misty said, "He can't escape the injection, he's that way for life now, leave him."

"No! I won't! Not again!" Knuckles cried as Misty tried to tug him out to the doorway.

"Knuckles…leave me." Espio told him harshly, "Listen to her, please."

"Espio, no!" Knuckles restrained.

Sonic came in and quickly helped Misty, "Knuckles, come on, we have to go!"

Knuckles began to cry, he couldn't leave him again. Espio gave out one last screech, and started to mutate again. Misty growled and by force, teleported herself and the boys out of sight. Nothing was left in Espio's sight, but only an open door.

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"I still don't get why you have to do this Conore." Lighter pronounced while on screen, "But if anything, he'll take the Chaos Emeralds, and keep the four, he probably now knows how valuable Misty is."

"I know Lights." Conore said, "But it's the only choice we really had. Conore out." The screen then went blank. Then flickered to Eggman's face.

"All of what we have?" Conore asked him.

"Yes, all four." Eggman nodded, then turned his head to Damion, who rushed into the doorway. Before Conore even realized it, he heard the words "escaped from the cell, they're gone." He froze, and looked down, the Chaos Emeralds were gone; he had already sent them to Eggman.

"Well Conore, thank you very much." Eggman grinned, "But from what I've been told, they've…" Conore quickly turned off the screen, already knowing what happened.

"Hey, what was that for?" Rouge asked.

"They've escaped." Conore said to himself.

"Huh?" Aaron asked.

"She teleported, near Marie's." Conore's fox ears went up, and he quickly sat down. Yorker quickly stood behind him and looked over his shoulder in question, and so did everyone else.

"What's up Con?" Yorker asked him.

"They're at Marie's, get seated tight." Conore told the group, "We're going for a ride before he fires."

The ship then began to rumble, they were being shot at from Eggman's ship. Lasers shot out from everywhere, near the cockpit, under the left wing, edging the fin above, they're now in a trap.

"Hang on." Conore warned.

He pushed a boost lever, and the engine began to roar louder and louder. The ship quickly spun around, and aimed to the right, and shortly, it boosted out of sight, only a puff of smoke was left behind to show its disappearance.

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"No! They're gone!" Eggman cried out.

"Don't worry, we do have the Chaos Emeralds." Ramaindna mentioned.

"And me, don't forget." Behind the four that spun around to see, was the same character that they've caught before. The same one who had suffered, and the same one that is now back in the clan, that one, was Espio, who laughed evilly, and also pulled out a Chaos Emerald into view. The group looked at one another, then began to laugh with him, they then soon roared with laughter, in greatness that the injection still lived in Espio's blood.

This I believe didn't happen again, and Espio was left behind, all three of us knew he'd only kill, instead of holding us all hostage. Though I know for a fact the Ramaindna will say that he needs to stick with the available resources, and not to jump ahead…