The kids gather before Lara-Su.
They were deep underground in lower Knothole where Rotor provided a secret base for the young team. They would use the upper facility as a façade while they escaped to refine their abilities. Now as the trial goes on in Knothole, the kids would use the distraction to launch their first mission.
"We finally got the go-ahead huh?" Jacques asked.
"That's right." Lara nodded.
"This is so exciting." Belle smiled. "These two months of training will finally pay off."
"Trying to keep things secret around here was already the hard part." Sonia folds her arms. "If it wasn't for this trial, my mother would have us all strung up."
"Then beaten with paddles." Manic adds.
"Couple books thrown at us." Sonia nods.
"A well-crafted lecture."
"A walk on hot coals."
"Are you two okay?" Melody asked. "Should we call someone?"
Trace put his arms around Sonia and Manic and imitated a laugh. "These two are just being dramatic, eh boss lady?"
Lara winks at Trace. "You got that right."
"Still it's no lie." Belle surmised. "It's hard to believe Rotor, Amy, and Cream went along with this, much-less provide us a way to let the Freedom Fighters live on."
"Just as long as we do things the right way." Skye replied. "I hope things are going to work out."
Rotor turns around in his chair and stands which garners the attention of the group. He looks beyond them when they turn to see Cream descending down the ramp. She pauses and looks over the group with disdain.
"You all look like crap." Cream smiled. She steps before Lara and looks her in the eye.
"You ready?" Cream asked with a bit of pride.
Lara exhaled. "I think so."
"You better be." Cream continued while stepping through the kids for Rotor. "There's a lot of eyes and ears being distracted by this trial and I gotta say it's off to a bad start. So far, they're making a defense that Uncle Chuck wasn't even considered alive to call it murder."
"What?" Manic exclaimed.
"What's worse is that your mom isn't doing the best up on the stand. Something I didn't think could happen."
Rotor hands Cream his tablet. "Check this out Cream, right on time."
Cream looks over the data then nods to Rotor. "Luckily, you're here to right the wrongs."
"This is our mess and we're gonna clean it up somehow." Rotor began. "I should have been there when Uncle Chuck was attacked so this is how we're gonna respond."
Cream taps a button on the tablet when the main screen of Rotor's workstation flips to pictures of four criminals. Then the pictures slide to the side, while a location pin drops not too far from Knothole.
Rotor explains. "While this trial is going on it's our job to apprehend the criminals that have escaped from the Devil's Gulag. Rouge has hooked us up with an agent to work with in Station Square while we work clandestine. That means this isn't for glory you guys. Take five to prepare while Cream gets ready to join you."
"Madam Cream is coming with us?" Belle asked.
"Don't call me that." Cream walks by heading to the lockers.
Lara answers. "Just as a standby, in case things go wrong."
"Already confident in us, I see." Melody smiles. "This oughta be fun."
Lara folds her arms in deep thought as Cream heads to her personal locker.
"You know it is Melody!" Sonia exclaims. "With me and Manic's speed, you and Skye's lightning, Lara's chaos powers, and Belle and Jacques weird puppets."
"They're armor!" They shouted.
"Whatever." Sonia continued.
"Maybe we should prepare ourselves for something to go wrong. Pride before the fall ya know?" Skye prodded.
"That's loser talk!" Sonia pointed to the fox.
Lara breaks from the group, anxious to speak with Cream who was done prepping for the mission.
"Why are you coming?" Lara boldly states.
Cream met eyes with her.
"You know we can handle this on our own." Lara continued. "Or are you just keeping tabs on me?"
Cream sucks her teeth. "Are you trying to piss me off? Listen. I bailed you out of certain death cause you're too chicken to face your own echidnas. You owe me! Besides, time's running out and I'm gonna stick to my word. Got it? You're my bitch until then."
Cream gently slaps Lara on the cheek and walks past her.
Lara nearly boils from containing her anger but swallows her pride. She turns to the group and sighs.
"So are we doing this or are we doing this?" Cream asked.
The group resounded in a cheery delight.
"Alright shut up." Cream steps for the SUV near the garage door. "Everyone in."
The lone house was empty.
This hidden home in the Great Forest was a getaway for family long since passed. Now it rests empty ready to accept a few new guests. Sunlight beams through the kicked open door as four derelict denizens enter the domicile. They kick around the affects of the house and instantly started snooping around.
"I'm gonna check the fridge." The amphibian announced.
The tired primate rested at the dining room table and cracked his knuckles. "Ain't this an odd place for a job."
"It's just a meeting place." The avian leader stood in the center of the living room peering at old photos. "It's just the kind of thing we need to get our legs under us, remember?"
"Oh I remember. I still don't like it."
The feline finally chimed in. "You don't like anything! C'mon Sarge! We need to get back in the game!"
The amphibian bounces back into the room with arms full of cans and condiments. "Everything is spoiled."
"You're still gonna eat that double F?"
"Obviously." The frog responded.
"Gross."
The hawk checks his phone. "He's late."
"It's been one minute." The sergeant stated.
"Punctuality is key in this business." The hawk squawked. "We're leaving."
The frog questioned his leader with many sauces upon his face.
"Leaving so soon?" Trace entered, in a tone fitting his demeanor. He stepped into room with presence and quietly observed each member of the crew. He folds arms behind his back as three of them become jumpy.
"At ease gentlemen." Trace started. "I'm the liaison you've been communicating with. You must be Predator Hawk, my name is Psion."
The two shook hands.
"Shall we begin?" Predator started. "Seeing how you're late?"
"Apologies that you misunderstood the timing of this meeting. I told you to be here on time, not the other way around."
"You think you can boss us around already?" Sergeant Simian rose from his seat. Trace nearly grew intimidated but held his act together. "Ahem. Have a seat Sergeant. You were a military man, I assume you follow protocol. This here is no different."
"I did. Until I killed my commanding officer." The gorilla stared Psion down.
He bitterly exhaled as Flying Frog and Lightning Lynx stared at the machine.
"He's a pretty cool robot, eh Boss?"
Trace nearly dropped the façade and turned to Lightning.
Flying Frog added on. "Haven't seen a good one since Robotnik was taken down. I wanna rip it apart!"
Psion turned to the pair, holding back annoyance and anger. "Boys, I am much more than just a simple… robot."
Flying Frog erupts with a knife and jams it into Psion's neck.
"Now I really wanna rip you apart!"
"What are you doing?" Lightning interrogated. Psion quickly grasps Flying Frog's retreating arm, twists, and grab's the back of his neck. Psion steps and slams the amphibian into the cans, condiments, and forcibly through the table. Psion calmly uprights himself and removes the knife from his neck. He wipes his hands free of the sauces and steps for Predator Hawk.
"You don't mess around huh?" Predator eyes Psion.
"Obviously I'll be revoking his cut. Inform him when he comes back into consciousness."
"You still want us for the job?" Lightning asked.
"Did I… did I not make myself clear?" Psion calmly moved for the rear of the house. "I will bring you to my employer. He is interested in your skill set."
They all started to follow when he turns and holds a hand for pause.
"Only one is necessary." Psion directed.
"No way," the gorilla stood erect. "You just took out my mans out in one hit. Ain't no divide and conquer bout to happen here."
Psion hesitated.
"It's okay Trace." Cream spoke to Trace via hidden communicator. "Maintain your cool. You're doing great. Just allow him back but keep Lightning outside."
Psion gathers his composure then nods. "Fine, you may assist Predator but no more."
"Stay here and watch the door." Predator commanded as he and the sergeant followed Psion back to the rear of the house. Lightning Lynx followed orders and swiftly stood in the center of the room.
"Got it boss!"
Psion takes a final glimpse of the room before leading two criminals to the outdoor deck in the back of the house. There were many rooms between the living room and the deck. Belle calculated that it would take Lightning Lynx to return to the rear of the house just under three seconds and attack in under five. Their plan gained an advantage when Flying Frog volunteered for a knockout but as a result Sergeant Simian's paranoia accompanied Predator Hawk to the rear of the house.
"I let Lara know, Trace." Cream directed. "Just follow her lead and remember the signal."
"Right this way gentleman." Psion stepped outside onto the deck as Predator and Sergeant easily followed. They eyed Psion's master who stood with back to them gazing at the massive trees of the forest.
Psion steps to the side and holds clasped hands at his waist.
"You must be…"
"How long have these trees stood tall?" Lara quickly claimed their attention.
The two criminals looked to each other and shrugged. "Uh… a while I guess?"
"Not interested in nature, Predator Hawk?"
He chose his words carefully. "Not really. No."
"A shame. We can learn a lot from nature." Lara started. "The trees for example are a metaphor of trust. A seed is feeble and weak, waiting to be stepped on and pounded into the dirt. It trusts the soil to keep it safe, feeds off its nutrients, always hoping for the wonderful rain. It's nearly useless; kind of like the relationship we have now."
Lara finally turns around and gazes at the two newcomers. "You may address me as Lady Sif."
"What do you want from us?" A fed up Sergeant asked.
"No foreplay? Hmm… disappointing. Fine alright." Lara smirked. "A job; something small in order to build trust. I understand you have a bone to pick with the Freedom Fighters of Knothole."
Predator Hawk and Sergeant Simian look to each other and shrug.
"We do," the Sergeant started. "But we're trying to move in another direction."
Cream was intrigued. "Keep it goin girl! Squeeze 'em for all their worth."
"What are your interests?" Lady Sif questioned.
The gorilla was about to let loose lips fly.
"What's the job?" Predator Hawk stepped to her.
Lady Sif smirked and turned, trying to hide her flustered face.
"The job…" she tried to remember the fake details. "Is a simple one. One that's easy. And simply easy to do."
"Knothole boss." Psion chimed in.
"Knothole is where you're headed." Lady Sif snapped to attention.
The pair of Destructix looked to each other again.
"I need you to traffic some merchandise into Knothole."
The hawk squinted his eyes and turned away. "Easier said than done."
"That Nicole program watches everything that goes in and out of that place. Especially since the old geezer blew up."
Psion and Sif eye the pair of felons.
"Sounds like you're running scared." Psion chimes.
"I didn't say it couldn't be done." Predator Hawk put his foot down. "There's always a chink in the armor.
Lady continues. "If you do this right, I could put you in league with people to reach your aspirations."
"I know that's right." The sergeant stated.
"I know all about the Destructix." Lady Sif starts. "Full-time specialists with a pension for getting things done. Mammoth Mogul had you as right-handed harbingers until your stint in the Devil's Gulag. A reputation like that can't go unnoticed. Tell me who was your last job for?"
"A bounty hunter here, a tycoon there, nothing special. Although our beef with the Freedom Fighters is bout to heat up here real soon."
Predator Hawk allowed the Sergeant to speak but kept his watch.
"You don't say?"
"Yeah. One of the guys in lockup has a real grudge for Knothole. Says he's got a vendetta. Ha! I had to look that up first chance I got!"
"Give me name and consider my interest piqued." Lady Sif stepped closer.
The gorilla started. "Com-"
"Wait a second." Predator Hawk eyed the ones present. "What kind of lady of the world doesn't have these type of connections?"
Lady Sif grew startled. "If only I was omniscient…"
"No one's heard of a Lady Sif and yet you offer top dollar." Predator Hawk crept closer. "I should have listened to that bounty hunter and sniffed out this trap!"
Lara and Trace looked at each other and took their stances.
Simian and Hawk got ready.
"No escape." Predator seethed.
"It's all on you kid." Cream relieved her team leader. "Don't die."
"Nuke it!" Lara shouted.
Trace quickly opened his wrist and slammed a button. They leap as the base poles of the deck were shredded due to a small explosion. The deck quickly fell two stories to the forest floor.
"Start the plan!" Lara shouted.
The explosion shakes the house.
Lightning Lynx's ears twitch and he instantly speeds through the house to the deck hit the forest floor.
"Guys!"
Lightning gets ready to leap when he thinks of his ally and rushes to awaken him.
"Double F!" The Lynx shouted. "The others are in trouble!"
He stirs awake. "What?"
The Lynx starts to skip to the front door. "Go to the back door and fly down to help the Sarge! I'll go around and meet you!"
The insane frog finally hopped to and sprinted for the door. The Lynx was halfway around the massive compound when he was slammed by a stiff fist. Lightning spun out and pinned against a giant tree.
"You and me, race around the world!" Manic exclaimed.
Lightning easily took the bait and gave chase for Manic.
Meanwhile Flying Frog reaches the exit to the veranda and looks down.
"What the hell happened?" Frog took a few steps back and ran toward the door when Jacques punched him from the air and into the kitchen. Plates and dishes clatter to the ground as the amphibian smoothly reveals a knife.
"Looks like I've got a houseguest." Jacques approached as his bracer plates his left arm. He lifted it and aimed for his target.
"Stand down if you don't want to be fried."
"You don't know who I am!" The frog lashed across the counter to flurry the area with dishes. Jacques dodged the projectiles and rolled to peer over the counter tops.
"Fresh meat. Fresh meat." The frog echoed as the sound of knives sharpened. Jacques caught a look at the empty knife block and ducked down.
"I've never eaten coyote before." The knife sharpening stops. Jacques started to charge his gauntlet when a knife lazily sails through the air above the counter. Jacques watches when a second knife strikes the first midair and spins it right into Jacques thigh.
The coyote grimaces in pain yet fires a blast through the island. Jacques looks and sees he missed. Flying Frog sails over the countertop and goes to stab Jacques in the arm. The knife slides from the armor and the two pause.
The frog spits a thick mucus right into Jacques eyes as the coyote aims and fires another volley. The kitchen erupts in a haze of debris as Jacques struggles to move.
"Belle!" He exclaims.
"Wounded warrior! Let me put you out of your misery!"
Jacques struggles to see through the sticky mucus. He pulls the knife from his thigh when he is kicked down to his knees and held at the throat by a knife.
"Your blood's gonna be like waterfalls!"
The frog edged the knife near his jugular and started to pierce.
Jacques powered up his bracer and blasted the floor to launch the both of them into a solid threshold post. They were quickly separated as the amphibian quickly got to his feet.
"Sneaky, sneaky. You don't play fair! I like that!"
The frog brandished a pair of knives but felt uneasy and launched one behind him. It was swatted to the ground as Belle charged up a blast.
"Another!?" The frog happily questioned.
She aimed and fired when Jacques was attracted to her sister and slammed into Flying Frog. Their bracers connected and Belle quickly tucked her brother behind her.
"I gotcha, Jacques." Belle assured him.
"He's crafty; be on guard."
The amphibian picked up his pair of knives then eyed the girl.
"Oh rabbit." The frog was upset. "I've had rabbit before."
She charged a shot when he threw a knife. It was easily shot down when his tongue wrapped around her ankle and pulled. She falls to the ground as he leaps for her knife first. She aims her gauntlet again when the frog dexterously presses against the ceiling and springs down right behind her. Belle quickly gets to her feet and dodges a swipe when another knife is thrown and stuck into her right shoulder. Flying Frog rotates his knife position and goes for the kill.
Belle catches his wrist with her left and buts her cannon right into his torso. She charges as Frog struggles to reach into his belt for another knife. He spits his signature mucus into her face when the charge completes. The blast erupts from her hand cannon and sends Frog through two walls and outside into the grass.
Belle exhales and falls to her knees.
"You alright Jacques?" Belle asked.
"D'you win Belle?"
She looks through the holes and relaxes.
"Yeah, we won." She smiles, clearing the mucus from her face.
Simian rolled on the ground in pain.
The fall was devastating to him as his own weight fully collapsed on him. He still stirred, clearly trying to power through his injuries. The backyard clearing was covered in grass with the tree line just meters away.
"I'll kill you two!" Simian said slowly getting to his feet. Trace and Lara readied their attack, still watching the air to see just where Predator Hawk had escaped.
"Just like we planned Trace." Lara instructed.
"I know, I know." Trace prodded. Their aim was to keep Simian in an open field where he couldn't grab anything from the environment. Predator Hawk would strike from the air where he was exceptionally talented.
Simian stumbled to his feet when Trace darted for the gorilla. He tensed up and reeled back his massive fist. Trace telegraphed the move when Predator Hawk swiftly slashed Trace and put him into the dirt. Lara had no clue where he came from but turned her attention to the avian adversary.
Simian targeted Trace and continued sizing up the machine for his heavy gauntlet. Predator banked and was headed for Lara.
"Now or never." Lara encouraged herself. She started to glow green as Chaos Energy manifested around her body.
Predator was talons first at breakneck speed when Skye slammed into him and threw him into the nearby forest. The small fox nearly called mayday before righting himself and giving a thumbs up.
Lara gave a sigh of relief as he went to engage the hawk. Simian quickly closed in to swat Lara to the other side of the yard. He was quickly regaining his strength and beat his chest in an uproar. Trace leapt from his back, flipped, and knocked Simian in the head. The gorilla barely flinched.
"You think you strong enough for me!"
The gorilla and the Gizoid grappled where Trace was quickly becoming overpowered.
"I'm not." Trace imitated a smirk. "But we are!"
Trace released his left and quickly flipped the gorilla onto his back. He dives away and covers his head.
"Do it! Do it! Do it!" Trace commanded.
Lara was on the edge of the arena boiling in Chaos Energy. The glowing green force flashed and then shrouded Sergeant Simian in a burst of his own energy and Lara's. The echidna tensed and revealed the Master Emerald shard.
"Goodness gracious, boss lady." Trace imitated a whistle. "He won't be slinging poop for a long time."
Lara returned the energy to the shard and relaxed for the moment.
"Good Job Trace." Lara approached.
The robot saluted in appreciation.
Skye leapt from another branch.
Predator Hawk was relentless, tearing apart each landing spot Skye was attending.
"He's not letting me set up." Skye said to himself.
Predator's sharpened wings and talons were no match for the brittle branches of the aging forest. Skye was forced to stay airborne where his speed wasn't as good as Predator's.
Skye circled around a thick tree trunk and hid. He started to build up his own electricity when Predator darted straight for him. Skye ceases his hover and falls just out of reach for the hawk's spear. Skye dropped toward the forest floor as Predator landed and flew after him. Skye began his rotations again and darted down after the boy.
Skye slams his hands together as a massive discharge of static electricity output from the fox. Predator Hawk was unaffected by the multiple sparks when he flipped his wings to reach and scratch Skye across the chest.
The sparks ceased as Predator closed in for the killing blow.
"There you are!" Melody's voice echoed throughout the forest. Predator was yanked from the air and was propelled into the tree trunk. Skye caught flight and sailed to the floor when Predator Hawk tried to right his position. He is then repelled and clipped by a stiff branch across the neck. He spins in pain then is drawn toward another tree trunk and another.
Predator Hawk was pinballing all across the forest until he slammed into the forest floor and dragged before Melody. The Hawk was still conscious but badly beaten. Melody lifted his head as she smiled.
"Release." She smirked.
The static electricity drew back from the bird and into Melody. The Light charged on her touch and when the connection was severed it blew back Predator Hawk in a massive discharge.
Skye lands next to his sister holding his chest.
"What happened to the plan?" Melody asked.
"Had to freestyle." Skye shrugged.
"You're lucky I was here." Melody inspected his scratches. "You're gonna be fine."
Lightning Lynx was down for the count.
Sonia and Manic brush their hands free of the dust.
"That didn't go bad at all." Sonia smiles.
Manic agreed. "We planned so much for this, I don't see how we could fail."
Manic dug into Sonia's pack and yanked free a collar and two pairs of handcuffs. He snapped it onto the unconscious Lynx and secured his wrists and ankles.
"Where do we go from here?" Sonia asked.
"Just a few yards west of here." Manic gestured. "Cream said her contact was close by."
"Alright, just handle the garbage will ya?"
Manic shakes his head and grabs onto Lynx's hair and drags him in his wake. The two quickly sped through the old forest. The large trees were aged and solid as it filtered in the setting sunlight. There were very few paths within the forest but the most notable was the main line to the old chateaux. Sonia and Manic said to a stop on the middle of the road when a horn honks and a military grade prison transport slowly approaches.
Sonia touches her ear."Hey Cream, we're meeting your agents now, are the others finished up?"
"Hell yeah." Cream started. "I'm picking up the last of 'em in the truck and heading your way now."
"Sweet." Sonia ended the call.
Two agents of G.U.N. step from the heavy artillery truck and approach with open arms. They were a wolf and a rooster dressed in black suits and shades. The taller wolf was the lead agent and shook Manic's hand.
"Agent Flannery. G.U.N." He happily introduced himself. "This is Agent Barnes. We've received a tip from one of Knothole's finest?"
"The Destructix." Manic stuck out his chest. "My team and I caught them."
"Your team?" Sonia smirked.
Agent Barnes laughed and stepped in closer to Sonia
"That's hilarious, you're hilarious." The rooster let his laughs die down.
"Excuse me if I'm being rude, but your Manic and Sonia, royalty of Knothole." Agent Flannery surmised. "What are you doing here catching criminals?"
Sonia started. "Doing our part for freedom. We still got gulag rejects to snatch."
"Despite some events, we still gave our word." Manic nodded.
"Commendable." Flannery smirked. "We could use all the help we can get."
Barnes approached Sonia. "I'm sorry but I don't know if I'll ever have chance to do this but you're freaking gorgeous."
Sonia starts to blush in complete surprise. "Th-Thanks?"
"Barnes!" The wolf growled.
Agent Barnes stepped in closely. "After we're through with all of this maybe we could grab a bite to eat? Just you and me? I know a place…"
"I'm fifteen." Sonia said holding embarrassment and vomit.
"Eh," Barnes didn't stutter. "It's just a number."
"Okay!" Flannery stepped in between them. "I'm here to pick up four criminals and not one more."
"I'm just saying Flannery! She'll be legal in a year!"
Manic cackles in laughter at his sisters expense. Sonia just tried to crawl into herself and die.
Flannery directed Barnes into the truck. "Go sit down! Just. Go sit down."
"Aww." Barnes slowly walked to the truck.
"I apologize for that." Flannery bowed in such respect.
Manic bowed in response. "It's cool man; just got more ammo to tease her with."
Seconds later, Cream and the team approaches in SUV. The doors opened and the three pairs of Freedom Fighter hopefuls hopped out.
"Can we get some help?" Lara asked.
Flannery quickly hopped to assist and helped yank Sergeant Simian from the cargo hold of the truck. Trace had the gorilla on his back as Jacques and Skye held up his massive arms.
"Manic, get back there and help." Cream barked. "Don't get upstaged by the G.U.N. Agent."
She stepped next Sonia as Manic took Flannery's place holding the legs. The wolf stumbled back into truck but caught himself on the jamb before falling.
"You okay?" Cream asked.
"He's a heavy son of a gun." Flannery wiped his hands. "Barnes! Open the cell."
The rooster quickly stepped into the back of his vehicle as the boys carry the ape into their custody.
"I'm glad you were able to meet us here." Cream turned to the wolf. "How do you know Rouge?"
"Rouge?" Flannery smiled. "We go way back; did an undercover mission in south side Station Square for one of our first missions."
"She spoke highly of you." Cream said, watching the other criminals get carried into United Federation custody.
"I am honored to have her well-wishes, as well as be in the presence of someone responsible for saving the world."
Cream genuinely smiled. "Well ya know, all in a days work."
"I am surprised to see the new Freedom Fighters are so young, much less be led by the crowned Prince and Princess."
"That's not really public knowledge… which is why…"
"Why we're here today." Flannery finished. "I will take the credit for their apprehension."
Cream slowly nodded. "…Right."
"Cream," Lara approached. "The Destructix is loaded up."
"Good." Cream hands a control module to Flannery. "Agent Flannery this is the actual leader of my little team here, La-"
"Lara-Su." Flannery extends his hand. "Princess of Angel Island. Pleasure to meet you. Looks like you've got all the high-profile players, Cream. Agent Barnes didn't hit on you, did he?"
Lara smiled. "No, but he did ask me for Sonia's number…"
Flannery shook his head. "He's going to get me in trouble."
"Uh, Agent Flannery." Manic approached.
"Yes, Prince Manic."
"I thought you were here to get four criminals… what are the two others in the back for?"
Cream furrowed her brow. "Is that true?"
In the back of the military grade transport, the Destructix were all chained to the sides of the cell while two unconscious criminals remained in the center.
Flannery sighed. "It is true. I stumbled upon that couple in there. They are ruthless bounty hunters bent on the idolization of greed and avarice. Fellow gulag rejects, I'm afraid."
"Bounty Hunters?" Cream asked.
"Station Square natives, Silk and Satin, I doubt you've heard of them."
Cream ponders. "No I haven't."
"Well I better be on my way. Barnes!" Flannery shouted for his partner.
The rooster popped out from the passenger side of the truck. "Yeah Flannery?"
"Don't be rude. Come say goodbye to our guests."
Barnes quickly approaches and vigorously shakes Cream's hand in excitement.
"I'm sorry for being rude. It's a pleasure to meet you." Barnes steps away and locks eyes onto Sonia and Manic. He steps closely and hugs the royal pair.
"Barnes!" Flannery barks.
"Get off me!" Sonia struggles.
"It's okay!" Manic exclaims.
Barnes releases them, and smiles. "I'm sorry I'm just huge fans."
Flannery grabs Barnes by the collar and shoves him for the truck.
"Get in the vehicle!"
"Let's do this again sometime." Cream waves.
"Let's." Flannery waves.
Sonia's skin crawls as Manic elbows her back to reality.
"He smelled like coleslaw." Sonia nearly vomited.
"Pack it up, kids." Cream stepped toward the driver's seat. "We're heading home."
The young Freedom Fighters entered the truck and slammed the doors. They head back toward Knothole as Flannery and Barnes settle into their seats.
"I liked them." Barnes nodded.
Flannery smiled. "Me too."
They watch the SUV drive from view and start their vehicle.