The journey back to Alexa's home was a long one. Knuckles and Shadow were carrying Blaze and Amy respectively as they had been knocked out during the fight. The only thing on everyone's minds was the Dark Moon, since Sonic now had all the emeralds. Fiona, however, was more concerned about Alexa. She didn't trust her in the slightest, not since she had heard about her back in Spagonia. Some things just didn't add up in her mind. She then caught up to Alexa, who was talking to Tails about mechanics.
"So we decided to use a steel tank with a diamond rim in the middle of the steel to hold the ethanol used to power the cars. It was deemed a safer alternative to a titanium tank. So after that, we did a test run and they worked perfectly!" Said Alexa.
"That's amazing" replied Tails with awe, "giant cars with advanced weaponisation? Sounds cool. Can I see them?"
"Sure" said Alexa, "they are at the UNSD base, I can take you there and show you"
"No you won't" interrupted Fiona.
Alexa turned to face Fiona, walking backwards with her hands in her jacket pockets.
"Why not?" Asked Alexa.
"How do we know you won't just kill Tails?"
Alexa stopped walking. The rest of the group surrounded the two girls as their conversation continued.
"Excuse me" said Alexa, "why the hell would I kill him?"
"You seemed to want to kill Sonic-"
"Hardly." replied Alexa, "A dagger to the leg won't kill him. The Negative Energy will heal up that wound in no time. If I wanted to kill him, I would have done it last night when he broke in to my home. And besides, I asked Tails, not you."
"I just want him to be safe" said Fiona, "that and I don't trust you."
"You don't trust me?" Replied Alexa, "fair enough. But Tails is old enough to decide for himself."
"Since when did you care about me anyway?" Asked Tails, quickly getting angry.
"I have done for a long time, Tails" replied Fiona.
"I doubt it" Tails replied.
Alexa and Tails walked off, with everyone else following in their wake.
…
Dr Eggman had finally finished off his latest invention. It took him hours to complete it, but at last it was finally finished. Now that hedgehog was in trouble.
He was currently on the Egg Carrier, his massive red battle airship. He would arrive in the Northern hemisphere in four hours, which, he thought, would give him enough time to plan how he was going to undermine the UNSD air traffic technology. Something that was no where near easy, mind you.
Eggman lifted the mind-control device to take a better look at it. It was a silver headband with a ruby in the centre. Not a real ruby, mind you, but a small mind control device hidden in the red crystal. All he had to do was put it on Sonic's head and the machine would do the rest. Easier said than done but Eggman believed it was possible.
The only thing he was concerned about was the God of Darkness itself, who would be even more unruly than Sonic has been. Perhaps, he thought, I could place another mind control device on its head too, since it would be in a mortal body. Perfect.
"SNIVLEY!" Shouted Eggman.
His scrawny nephew appeared in the doorway, looking completely bored.
"Yes, uncle?" He replied in a bored voice.
"Make a second mind control headband" replied the Doctor.
"Of course uncle."
…
The group arrived at Alexa's home, exhausted. Shadow and Knuckles placed Amy and Blaze on the sofa upstairs, while the rest of the team went to Alexa's basement, which was filled with different machines and tools. The basement looked vaguely similar to Tails's workshop. Alexa then took off her golden necklace, and placed it on the work table.
"What-"said Rouge.
The necklace then transformed into a light blue emerald that glinted gold in the light. The emerald had white smoke coming off the top. It's gorgeous, thought Rouge, oh how I would want that emerald. Alexa then began to skim some of the smoke off the top of emerald, which went into a gold container. The smoke turned into golden energy.
"Like I said before", Alexa said calmly, "I can't do too much right now because of the Dark Moon, but I can, however, siphon off the excess energy from the Supernova emerald to create the tools that can help you save Sonic and Silver."
"It won't kill them, will it?" Asked Tails nervously.
"No it won't", replied Alexa sympathetically, "Silver cannot be killed that way and the most it will do to him is knock him out. As for Sonic, it'll sting like a bitch but as long as you don't hit him in the head or chest, he should be okay."
"So let's do it" came Shadow's voice as he descended down the stairs.
"It'll take a while", replied Alexa, still siphoning off energy, "the Light and Chaos energy blend will take time to set and siphon."
"What's the estimated time?" Asked Shadow.
"About an hour to get enough energy to make the weapons and another five hours for it to set. So I say it'll be around half ten tonight when I'm ready to make the weapons."
"That's not ideal" said Knuckles.
" 'Not ideal'? Are you mental?" Shrieked Fiona, "the Dark Moon is tomorrow. Tomorrow! And yet we have nothing to fight against Sonic and Venice! No doubt they will win because Alexa is absolutely useless!"
"Oh really?" Said Alexa, her temper rising, "if you really cared, you would have sought me out earlier rather than two days before! It's not my fault this happened nor is it my fault that this takes time. So how about this: instead of criticising me and wasting my time, why don't you help us fix the problem rather than acting like we've lost!"
What followed was a long and eerie silence.
"If you guys want to sleep tonight, go to the third floor. There is loads of beds in the first room on the left, okay?" Said Alexa, "There's food in the kitchen. Help yourself to whatever you want but don't go overboard."
"Very well" replied Rouge.
Everybody dragged their tired feet upstairs, either to rest or eat. All did, aside from Shadow, who remained in the basement with Alexa.
"That was…quite the outburst, Alexa" said Shadow, calmly.
"Yeah well" replied Alexa, "I can't stand people who give up so easily like that."
"How so?"
Alexa sighed.
"Perhaps it was the way I was raised but" Alexa said, not looking up at Shadow, "I was always taught that failure was never an option. Especially when lives are at stake. I can't imagine giving in to any type of evil. I always believed I would either win, or die trying. That is the only way see fights going. I win or die, simple. I know it sounds arrogant but I've never been in a fight an thought 'I'm losing so I just surrender'. That is flat out stupid. I'm supposed to keep this planet safe, since I'm the Guardian of Light. I inspire people to not give in to the darkness out there. I push my teammates and friends to fight their hardest and protect the world. If I don't, who will the innocents place their hope in? Who will inspire them to rise up against evil? It is precisely that reason that I can't stand people like Fiona. Honestly got not that much against her aside from her attitude and lack of faith in my plan. It will work. I promise you it will."
"I have no doubt in that" replied Shadow, "but I do have one question for you."
"And what is that?"
"I highly doubt that the UN didn't have any meeting regarding Sonic"replied Shadow, "so what did they ask you to do regarding the situation?"
Alexa stayed very quiet.
"Come on, Alexa. I promise I won't say anything to the others."
"You better not" Alexa replied, "it's classified information I'm telling you."
"Go on"
"The UN want me to bring him in, dead or alive. No one in my department knows about this either. I was personally asked to handle it alone."
"Why?"
"I honestly don't know why" replied Alexa, "there are some things they won't tell me about."
"I guess so"
Alexa's phone suddenly went off. A notification appeared on the lock screen of the smartphone. Shadow went to pick it up, and saw the message.
Alexa, GUN Commander Abraham Tower has sent in a request to lift the hemispheric lockdown in the North.
"Who's the message from?" Asked Alexa.
"Someone called Thomas", replied Shadow, "who's that?"
"He's my second in command" said Alexa, still siphoning energy, "he's a cool guy."
"Have a crush?"
"No"
"Okay, just asking" said Shadow.
"Anyway what does the message say?" Asked Alexa.
Shadow showed Alexa the phone. Alexa sighed.
"Great" she said sarcastically.
"What?"
"I can't lift the lockdown until Sonic is caught" said Alexa, "no doubt they're gonna be pissed. Message back and ask why they want it lifted"
"What's your password?" Said Shadow, showing Alexa the passcode screen.
"Eleven, ten, fifty four" Alexa said.
"Is that a date?" Asked Shadow.
"Yep. It's the date of my parents wedding day"
"Smart"
Shadow replied to Thomas's text. A minute later and the phone went off again.
Thepy wish to arrest former GUN Agent Shadow the Hedgehog and his associates, who have crossed through the lockdown illegally.
"Shit he's on to us" said Alexa, dramatically.
"You can't let him in" said Shadow.
"I know that" said Alexa, "but it'll look suspicious if I don't."
"But you said-"
"I can't lift the lockdown," replied Alexa, "but I can give him permission to enter."
"I'll message that to Thomas" replied Shadow.
…
Commander Tower had sent the request four hours ago. He knew the UNSD is a busy organisation, but surely it didn't take that long for the Chief to reply. But then again, Alexa always kept herself busy. It didn't matter whether it was a field mission or paperwork, she was always doing something, always.
Tower had ordered Carter to go to the hospital Sonic is in to question him. Nothing personal against the hedgehog, but some things just didn't add up in the commander's eye. Why would Sonic's own friends attack him? Further more, why not allow agents to speak to him about the attack?
Tower was finishing up on his paperwork when a knock came on his door.
"Enter" said the Commander.
Carter walked in, looking utterly confused.
"So?"
"Turns out," said Carter, "that Tails and Knuckles were telling the truth. Sonic was never registered in hospital and is behind the attacks."
"Great, now where is he?" Asked Tower.
"In the North"
"Dammit!"
Suddenly the phone began to ring. Tower answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Commander" came a male voice, "This is Thomas, second in command of the UNSD. I've spoken to Chief about your request regarding the hemispheric lockdown"
"And?"
"She cannot lift the lockdown. However she has given you permission to fly here personally. Once you are in our airspace, make sure you tell air traffic control that you are here. Only one plane is allowed. Any more, and they will be shot down, understand?"
"Of course"
"Have a good day sir"
The phone hung up. Tower looked at his second in command with a smile.
"Prepare my plane" he said, "we have a hedgehog to catch!"
A/N So sorry for the long delay. I've had a lot of assignments being piled up on top of me, so I've been busy with that. I hope this was worth the wait.
