Chapter 14: No More Words
Frederick stared at Roman, agog that the man that until now he had thought to be nothing more than a well trained young man was actually a Jedi. Then, the fear started overcoming his reason, and he pointed at Roman, shouting at every one of his men not otherwise engaged: "Kill the Jedi!" At this, he also drew his blaster and began shooting.
Those men, knowing better than to disobey Frederick, immediately turned their weapons on Roman, instantly opening fire.
Roman deflected every single one of them while beginning to converge on Frederick and Alec, the former of whom began shooting. Roman deflected all of the oncoming bolts, and seeing an opportunity, sent the bolts back at Frederick, all of them hitting their mark: One grazed him across the head, the other hit him in the shoulder, and finally, two hit him in the abdomen.
Frederick doubled over at the last couple, allowing Ashley to break free and run at Roman. "Get her!" Frederick ordered Alec.
Alec obeyed and sprinted after Ashley, managing to catch her with ease and drag her away.
"ROMAN!" Ashley shouted at the top of her voice.
Roman looked and saw what was going on, making to go after her, but then, several guards blocked his path, opening fire. Roman blocked the oncoming bolts, and redirected two to one of the guards, and closed with the other two rapidly, slashing one across the torso and separating the second's upper half from his lower half. As he turned to face any more, he felt a slight stab of pain from his gut wound. Looking down, he saw it still bleeding. Placing one hand over his wound, Roman began deflecting bolts as best he could, but knew he couldn't keep it up. His wound would need attention, and would need it soon. Hearing a loud cry, Roman looked to his right and saw a mercenary armed with a vibro-sword charging at him. Sidestepping the following slash, Roman cut the guard's hand off and kicked him away. Turning to see Sally and Bunnie fighting back-to-back, he made his way towards them, cutting down several guards as he did before standing with Sally and Bunnie. "Took your sweet time!" Roman said as he deflected a blaster bolt.
"Sorry, but gathering up the Freedom Fighters takes time, you know." Sally retorted as she cut down one guard.
"Guys, Ah know yer both havin' a heart to heart, but can it wait? We got bigger problems." Bunnie said.
"I concur with Bunnie." Roman said as he got back to cutting down enemies around him.
After a few more minutes of this, all the mercenaries lay either dead, wounded, or injured.
Sally turned to face Roman, who was standing among quite a few dead mercs, and walked over. "Everything okay?"
Roman nodded. "Yeah fine." He grimaced, probably a result of his stomach wound.
Sally gestured towards the wound, which was still bleeding and asked: "Want me to take a look at that?"
"There's no time for that." Roman said as he made for the compound entrance. "I'm going back in there. I'm not leaving here without Ashley."
Sally's eyes widened. "Are you crazy? In your condition-"
"I'm going in, Sally." Roman interrupted. "And I'm not coming back out unless I have Ashley, or if I'm dead." Beginning to walk towards the compound entrance, he said: "If anyone but me or Ashley comes out, kill them." With that, he made his way back inside.
With Frederick, Alec and Ashley…
"Damn-fucking-nation!" Frederick cursed as they approached the elevator that would lead up to Frederick's office. Whirling on Alec, he demanded: "Did you know Roman was a Jedi? Did you?!"
"No sir." Alec replied. "I didn't know Roman was a Jedi."
"Don't lie to me. You spied on him for a week! And you still didn't see anything?" Frederick snarled.
"No. He did look cautious about a few things though. I never found out why until now." Alec answered.
Frederick turned away, nearly tearing some of his fur out as he shouted: "FUCK!" Turning back to Alec, Frederick said: "If I'd known Roman was a Jedi before now, I'd have ordered his immediate death. But then again, no use crying over spilled milk." As he said this, a lone guard approached:
"Sir! The Jedi has entered the compound! He's slaughtering everyone!" The guard declared.
Frederick's angry scowl was replaced with a laugh as he said: "Is he insane? In his condition?" Chuckling to himself, he said to Alec: "Contact Argo. Tell him to intercept Roman and take care of him. That should brighten his day."
"Yes sir." Alec said as he did so: "Argo, this is Alec. Are you alive?"
"The fuck do you think?!" the ill-tempered rhinoceros snapped on the other side of the comm.
"I have a job for you. Roman is currently inside the compound. Find and deal with him." Alec ordered.
Argo's fury dissipated into a laugh as he affirmed: "Yes sir."
Alec cut the communique and turned to Frederick. "That'll solve the problem." Alec said.
"Remain here and call a squad of any remaining mercenaries here in case it doesn't." Frederick commanded as he seized a pugnacious Ashley and dragged her into the elevator.
Alec turned his back to the elevator and made to contact the mercenaries, hoping there were some yet alive.
Back with Roman…
Roman let out an infuriated roar as he tore his lightsaber free from the guard in front of him, letting the corpse fall to the floor. Taking a minute, he surveyed the surrounding area, allowing the Force to try and locate Ashley. His concentration was broke by a brief stab of pain from his gut wound. He somewhat regretted not listening to Sally and getting medical attention first before heading in. But he was here now, so now he had to do what was necessary. Switching off his lightsaber, Roman attached it to his belt as he trudged on, stepping over the dead bodies of the mercenaries he had just killed, using the Force to direct him to Ashley. According to his Force senses, Ashley was some way above him. Shrugging, Roman thought: Has to be an elevator somewhere. Suddenly, a sound came to his ears: a loud roar, occupied by the repulsive stench of shit and piss. Turning around, Roman found himself getting grabbed, and then thrown through the wall next to him. Forcing himself to his feet, Roman saw Argo step through the hole, towering over him. "Argo." Roman said. "I knew I smelled something shitty."
"Enough jokes, little foxy." Argo said, moving closer. "Now, you die."
"What is it with you and saying that?" Roman said: "For all I know, I could die of fucking blood loss during this. So, why not just walk away, take a bath, and just retire? Certainly better than having to either fight me and have me die during the fight, or do what I said earlier, except with me killing you?!"
Argo chuckled as he growled: "I don't think so."
Roman sighed. "So much for trying to pacify a rhino."
Argo instantly charged, tackling Roman through yet another wall and slamming him down of the floor.
Roman found himself dazed by the sudden attack before regaining enough sense to roll out of the way of Argo's next attack, which would have flattened Roman's head. Getting to his feet, Roman threw a punch that found its mark, catching Argo hard on the jaw.
Argo let the blow hit, but it didn't faze him, save for loosening a tooth, which he promptly spat out before looking back at Roman.
Roman now knew he was in trouble. "Oh shit." Roman said as Argo closed in.
Not too long later…
Roman grunted as Argo tossed him through another wall. "By the Goddess dude, what is it with you and tossing guys through walls?"
"It's fun." Argo said before making a grab for Roman.
Roman ducked and rolled out of the way before turning to face Argo again and went for a kick to the gut.
Argo caught the leg before the kick could land and swung Roman into the wall that was still intact. Luckily, the wall stayed that way, and Roman was only dazed by the attack. Getting dazedly to his feet, Roman found himself grabbed around the head, but before Argo could throw him through that wall, Roman went for another kick, which connected, briefly breaking Argo's hold on him. Acting fast, Roman applied a tactic he had often used when facing off in hand to hand combat against someone larger than him: Get them in a sleeper hold, and use it to wear them down. Wrapping his right arm around Argo's neck and grabbing his left arm with his right hand at the elbow, Roman then placed his left hand on the back of Argo's head and began to apply pressure.
Argo realised his predicament, and reached back, trying to pry Roman off, but Roman's grip, once locked in a submission hold, was like steel, unrelenting in its pressure on Argo's windpipe, despite the big rhinoceros' considerable strength. Now turning his attention to anything that could possibly help break the hold Roman had on his neck, Argo looked around and saw a wall that looked hard enough to be able to hurt Roman enough that the fox might be forced to break the hold. Staggering towards it, Argo turned his back to it, and picking up enough speed, sandwiched Roman between him and the wall.
Roman felt the hit considerably, and let go, sinking to the floor, dazed.
Argo circled Roman like a predator circles wounded prey until the vulpine got to his feet. Promptly, Argo soccer-kicked him in the side, hard enough that he felt at least two ribs break.
Roman shouted out in pain as he felt the blow, and nearly flew across the room, where he continued to try and get to his feet. But currently, he was in too much pain to.
Argo advanced on Roman and picked him up, now throwing him through a fourth wall, making sure that Roman landed hard.
Roman groaned as he got to his feet, spitting out blood as he got to his hands and knees before kicking out at Argo's leg as the rhino stepped into the room, knocking the rhinoceros down. Lunging at Argo, Roman dragged Argo's head towards him, tucked his left shin underneath Argo's chin and against his throat, draped his other leg over that, and used on hand to hold Argo's head in place, and his other hand to hold the overhead leg over Argo's head, locking in a gogoplata submission hold.
Quickly realising he was in another hold, Argo responded by using the arm he had between Roman's legs as a result of the hold to grab Roman's waistline, and then used his free arm to grab Roman around the other side, he mustered enough strength to lift Roman up and then slam him back on the floor, jolting Roman's already injured ribs.
Roman grimaced as fresh pain from his damaged ribs shot through his nervous system, but he held on, determined not to let go this time. After nearly ten minutes, and two more attempts by Argo to break the hold, the rhinoceros finally went limp, passing out from the hold. Letting go of Argo and forcing himself to his feet, despite his battered ribs, Roman ignited his lightsaber and made to kill Argo, but then, he thought better of it. He's beaten, Roman told himself. Let it go. Switching off his lightsaber, and using the Force to guide him, Roman staggered towards the elevator, thoughts of Ashley filling his mind.
Fifteen minutes later…
Roman rounded the corner to find exactly who he expected waiting for him: Alec. "Figured I'd have to go through you to get to Frederick and Ashley." Roman said as he ignited his lightsaber.
"Your pretty little laser sword doesn't impress or intimidate me, Roman." Alec replied as he drew his sword. "This blade is made of cortosis alloy, the only known material that can resist blows from a lightsaber. And, I know how to use it."
"I gathered that." Roman said as he readied himself. "Otherwise, why would you be using it in the first place?"
Alec scowled at the jab before readying himself. "Are you sure you wish to face me? You failed to even at full strength. And now here you are, hampered by wounds and injuries. How can you possibly fight someone such as me now?"
"The Force will give me what I need." Roman replied.
"Ah yes, the mystical energy from which Jedi draw their power. Unfortunately, that will not help you here."
"Now who's underestimating their opponent? I admit, I underestimated you in our last encounter, but I learn from my mistakes. Unlike Argo, who's now conked out because I choked him out."
"Enough of this banter." Alec snarled. "Time to finish this."
"I'd have it no other way." Roman said as he and his adversary charged each other.
Meanwhile, with Sally and the Freedom Fighters…
The waiting was driving Sally crazy. She'd been waiting for Roman to return for the past forty five minutes, and it was making her tense. Roman could be bleeding to death somewhere within the compound, and she'd have no idea unless it was too late. Soon after Roman had entered the compound, Sally had called in G.U.N, telling them what was going on. They had responded immediately, and G.U.N forces, led by Shadow, were on the way. Meanwhile, the Freedom Fighters had set up a command post outside, waiting for Roman to return, with Ashley, or dead in her arms.
"Sal?"
Sally turned to see Sonic standing there, concerned. "Something up, Sonic?"
"Just noticed you were looking a bit worried. Is it about Roman?" Sonic asked.
Sally nodded. "I'm worried he's biting off more than he can chew with this one. He's gone in there, with a wound that could well kill him, and facing expertly trained guards alone." She sighed. "I'm scared he won't survive."
Sonic walked over and sat next to his girlfriend, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry, Sal. You know as well as I do that Roman has survived worse than the wound he's currently got. Remember the story of his duel with Grievous? The time he lost part of his right ear?"
Sally grimaced at the reminder. "Don't remind me."
"Roman survived four lightsabers in his gut simultaneously." Sonic reminded her anyway. "That goes to show just how tough Roman is. As for those guards, he's faced worse odds. It's the guards we should be sorry for."
Sally smiled weakly. "Thanks for the encouragement, Sonic."
Sonic cupped her face. "Sally, I'm your boyfriend. If I didn't offer support, then I wouldn't deserve you. I love you above everything else in this world." He punctuated this with a gentle kiss.
Sally wrapped Sonic in her arms as she returned the kiss in full, before breaking it and saying: "Regardless, I'm sending someone in to check on Roman."
"You can count on me, Sal." Sonic said, getting to his feet.
"I wasn't talking about you Sonic. No offense."
"None taken Sal." Sonic said, sitting next to her again.
"I'd rather have you with me then in there putting yourself at risk." Sally said. Turning away she called out: "Tails!"
The twin-tailed vulpine was there in seconds. "Something you need, Aunt Sally?"
Sally nodded. "I need you to go into the compound and find Roman. When you do, regardless, report to me. I want to know if he's okay."
"Will do, Sally." Tails said as he sprinted off towards the compound entrance, using his namesakes to increase his speed.
Sally watched him go before turning to Sonic. "Now, where were we?" she asked with a coy smile.
Back with Roman and Alec…
Roman gritted his teeth as he parried an oncoming strike from Alec and spun away, using the momentum to slash at Alec as he came out of the spin.
Alec jumped back to avoid the blow and crosscut for Roman's chest.
Roman rolled under the attempt and slashed at Alec, hoping to catch him from behind and cut him down that way.
Drawing one of his tonfa-shaped blades, Alec blocked the blow and slashed at Roman, catching the vulpine Jedi across the leg with his sword.
Roman grunted as he pushed Alec away, spinning his lightsaber as he did.
Alec sheathed his tonfa-shaped blade and held his sword two handed once again.
"Guess you weren't lying when you said you were good with that thing." Roman said.
"I've always wanted to kill a Jedi." Alec said. "You're the best chance I have to achieving that lifelong aim."
"I'd like to see you try." Roman said as he advanced, launching a probing jab at Alec's right flank before twisting around and slashing at Alec's throat, hoping to cut it open.
Alec blocked the blow before jabbing at Roman's belly, suddenly flicking the tip of the sword in the hopes of catching Roman at the chin and stabbing him through the throat.
Roman sidestepped the attack and landed a kick to break Alec's focus for a brief time, using a move that his friend Anakin Skywalker had taught him to disarm Alec of his sword. Pointing his lightsaber at Alec's throat, Roman said: "It's over, Alec. You're beaten."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that." Alec said as he ducked Roman's forward thrust and drew both of his tonfa-shaped blades, slashing Roman across the back.
Roman grimaced as he felt the cold blades bite into him, turning around and meeting Alec's next attack.
Alec used his weapons to defend and attack at the same time, keeping Roman guessing as to which angle he would next attack. He opened a fresh wound on Roman's right arm, and another across the leg he had previously wounded.
Roman fell back under the onslaught, allowing Alec to gain more and more confidence as his attacks gained momentum, before then spinning away and using Alec's momentum against him, kicking Alec forwards and sending the human sprawling.
Getting to his feet, Alec saw his sword nearby, sheathed his tonfa-shaped blades, and rolled underneath Roman's next slash, grabbing his sword as he did and managing to draw more blood with a slash to Roman's left hip.
Roman winced at the fresh wound, and then held his lightsaber in a defensive stance.
Alec watched Roman carefully, considering Roman's body language.
The two adversaries stared at one another for a matter of moments before both closed with each other.
Roman launched himself into a spinning slash, intent on beheading Alec.
Alec went for an overhead slash that if successful, would cleave Roman's head in two.
Their strikes met in mid-air, their blades pushing against each other.
Roman used his strength to push Alec back, using the same manoeuvre he had used earlier to rid Alec of his sword. Alec tried to punch Roman, but the vulpine Jedi hit him with a judo throw, and, keeping hold of Alec's arm, twisted it behind the human's back, doing so violently enough that Alec's arm broke under the force of the attack.
Alec screamed in pain as he grabbed at his broken arm, which was still in Roman's grip.
Roman let go of Alec like a forgiving spider, placing his lightsaber on his hip and heading over to the elevator, pressing the button for it to come down. Then, he waited.
With Tails…
Tails quietly made his way in and around the dead bodies Roman had left in his wake, surprised at the sheer carnage. Roman had left none alive in his rampage, with many of the dead sporting mutilated limbs. After a few minutes of this, Tails sighted a wall with a rather large hole in it, as if someone had been thrown through it. Suspecting Roman, Tails stepped through the hole to find no-one there. Following the clear carnage of whatever had come through here, Tails chanced upon a brutish looking rhinoceros, lying unconscious on the floor. Grabbing a nearby piece of rubble, Tails slowly moved towards the rhino, gently nudging the brute with his foot.
All of a sudden, the rhino shot up, roaring in rage as it lunged for Tails.
Tails yelled in surprise and fear, smashing the rubble over the rhinoceros' head.
Promptly, the rhino toppled to the floor, again, K'Oed.
Tails allowed himself to catch his breath before gathering himself and moving on. He was startled to noticed that there was a trail of blood moving in the direction in front of him. Stepping slowly over the unconscious rhino, Tails followed the trail until he found Roman, just about to enter an elevator.
"Roman!" Tails called out.
Roman turned to face Tails, surprised. "Tails?"
Tails stepped forward, stepped over Alec, who was still clutching his injured arm, and walked up. "Sally told me to come in and check up on you. Everything okay?"
"Few fresh wounds, but nothing I can't handle." Roman said as he entered the elevator.
Tails followed him, contacting Sally: "Sally, this is Tails. I've found Roman, he's alive and well. Few more wounds though."
"Stay with him for now, Tails. He may need help." Sally ordered.
"Will do." Tails said. Turning to Roman, Tails looked him over. "You're gonna need a medic after this, you know that?"
"I'm aware of it." Roman said as the doors closed. "But for now, I ain't got time to bleed."
Tails smiled at the saying, as the elevator began its ascent, heading towards Frederick, and Ashley.
Not long later…
The elevator doors opened as Roman stepped into Frederick's inner sanctum, lightsaber in hand, and Tails at his side.
Frederick stood in the middle of the room, his blaster in hand, expressionless.
Igniting his lightsaber, Roman demanded: "Where is she?!"
Frederick said nothing, standing aside to reveal Ashley standing there, her hands bound.
"Ashley…" Roman said.
Ashley started forward, but Frederick grabbed her violently and held his blaster to her temple. "Drop the lightsaber, or she dies."
Roman's grip on his lightsaber tightened. "How do I know if you'll keep your word?"
"Roman, please. I'm a businessman. Of course I keep my word." Frederick replied, his expression now growing angry. "Now, drop, the fucking lightsaber!"
"Roman, don't." Ashley pleaded. "He'll just kill you."
"Better me than you, Ash." Roman said as he started forward.
"Take another step, and Ashley will join her mother." Frederick warned. "Now, do as I say, and drop the lightsaber."
Roman glared at Frederick, and reluctantly, he turned off his lightsaber, throwing it to the side.
Frederick smirked as he said: "Did you really think I would kill my own heir?" Promptly, he levelled the gun at Roman and fired.
Roman closed his eyes, ready to become one with the Force, when suddenly, he found himself pushed to one side, and then, heard a grunt, and a thud. Opening his eyes, he saw Tails lying next to him, a blaster bolt in his shoulder. "Tails!" Roman said, moving to his friend.
"I'll be fine, Rome. Just a flesh wound." Tails said.
Roman nodded before rising up and facing Frederick, hands in the air. "Okay, Frederick. I've done what you want. Now let. Her. Go."
Frederick smirked. "Now, why would I do that? I only said I'd let her live if you dropped your lightsaber. I never said anything about letting her go."
As her father said this, Ashley quickly stood on his foot, making him loosen his grip on her. Taking advantage, Ashley turned round and punched her father in the face, grabbing for his blaster. Father and daughter struggled over the weapon until the sound of the blaster firing rang through the room.
Roman had taken the chance that Ashley had bought him to check on Tails, when the shot rang out. Looking up, Roman saw Ashley stagger back, turn towards him, and walk a few steps before toppling to the floor. "NO!" Roman shouted as he ran towards Ashley, catching her as she fell. "No, no, no, no, no…" He muttered as he held her in her arms. The blaster bolt had hit her square in the abdomen, around her stomach area.
Ashley looked up to the man she loved and ran her hand across his cheek. Then, she gestured towards Frederick as if to say: "Go get him."
Roman eased her to the ground before looking up at Frederick, whose surprise at what he had done gave way to fear as he saw Roman's expression.
Through the Force, Tails sensed an emotion rise up in Roman's consciousness like a volcano. His eyes widened when he realised what it was: Rage.
With an almost feral snarl, Roman charged Frederick, who raised his pistol to fire. Summoning his lightsaber to him and igniting it, Roman blocked the oncoming bolts as he approached Frederick, his pace quickening.
Frederick began to back off now, snapping off several shots, all of which were blocked by the blue blade in front of him. One discharged at Frederick's feet, sending him sprawling. Quickly getting to his feet, Frederick managed to fire one last shot.
Roman blocked the bolt with ease, and then slashed at Frederick's blaster, cutting it in two. The second stroke followed through from the one that had destroyed Frederick's blaster, slashing into Frederick's face and through his right eye.
Frederick roared in agony as he fell to the floor, covering the right side of his face.
Roman advanced on the gangster, his lightsaber at the crime boss' throat. "I swore to Alec that if Ashley was harmed, you would pay for it. And now, you die!" With this, he raised his lightsaber, and would have beheaded Frederick, had the crime boss not seized his bowie knife, slashed it across Roman's already wounded leg, and then stabbed it into the same leg just above the knee. Roman cried out in pain as he dropped his lightsaber and fell to the floor, clutching his leg.
Frederick ripped the blade free, and climbed on top of Roman, landing a punch to Roman's face, saying: "Look at me! Look at what you did to me! You son of a bitch!" His right eye was gone, and a long slash now stretched across the area of Frederick's face that Roman had slashed him. "Looks like I'll have to settle with a quick death for you, Roman. See you in hell!" At this, he raised the knife over his head.
Roman yet again shut his eyes, awaiting death.
But before Frederick could do anything more, he heard the sound of a lightsaber igniting, looked up, but all he saw was a flash of blue, and then, his arm came down. Except it was now on the floor, no longer attached to his body. Then came the pain, which shot up what was left of Frederick's arm as Frederick fell off of Roman, clutching the stump.
Roman opened his eyes, and looked upon his saviour.
Tails stood over him, holding his lightsaber in his hand. Switching it off, Tails knelt down and helped Roman up, helping him over to Ashley, who had propped herself up against one of Frederick's office decorations.
"You alright?" Roman asked his girlfriend.
"Well, I'm certainly better off than you." Ashley said. "You look like hammered shit."
Roman looked over himself and replied: "Meh, I've had worse." He suddenly stumbled, and would have crashed to the floor had Tails not caught him again.
"Looks like somebody needs medical attention." Tails said.
"No shit." Roman said, drawing laughs from both Tails and Ashley.
Ashley got to her feet and followed the two friends, taking one last look at her maimed father before spitting in his general direction and continuing to follow Tails and Roman.
Later, outside…
"Unhand me! Do you have any idea who I am?" Frederick demanded as several G.U.N Soldiers dragged him into a transport headed for jail.
"No, and we don't care. What you should be concerned about is how you're gonna protect yourself in jail. A military jail, might I add." Said one of them, as they shoved him in. Argo and Alec were both already inside the transport, both meeting his glare guiltily.
All this, Roman was watching from nearby with a smile. The majority of his body was bandaged, due to him having his gut wound, and three injured ribs; two broken and another cracked, as well as the wounds he had sustained in his duel with Alec, and he had two strips of scotch tape holding the wound on his head together from when Argo had been beating him up prior to Roman's attempted execution at Frederick's hands. His left leg was heavily bandaged as well, a result of the many wounds that had been dealt to it. He would be confined to crutches for several months, as when Frederick had stabbed Roman through the leg, it had cut his Anterior Cruciate Ligament, or ACL for short, in two. Roman would require surgery to repair the damage done, and then take several months to rehab the knee. Not that he minded. With Ashley around to 'play nurse' as she had joked shortly after they had emerged from the compound building, he didn't need anything else. Tails was nearby, getting his shoulder looked at. The sound of repulsorifts drew his attention, as the transport carrying Frederick, Alec, and Argo sped off to somewhere unknown. Bowing his head, Roman thought: We did it. We actually took down a crime lord. For a second, Roman seriously considered jumping up and shouting "Yes!" but he knew no-one would like him doing that. He was driven from thought when he heard a familiar voice:
"What are you thinking about?"
Roman looked up to see Ashley standing there, her blaster wound now bandaged. She had shed the ruined top she had been wearing, exposing the top half of her goddess-like figure for all to see. The only thing she had on was her bra. Roman smiled. "Just can't believe we actually did it. We took your dad down."
Ashley smiled and walked over, sitting on Roman's lap, making sure to avoid Roman's injured knee and his ribs. "Anything can be done if someone puts their mind to it." Ashley said.
Roman smiled and took Ashley's cheek in his left hand, saying: "True. But I had you to keep me going the entire time. You and Tails."
Ashley sighed. "I know. But truthfully, it's me who should be thanking you. You stood by my side, even though I never told you the truth about my father. You accepted the task of taking him down even though it was my fight. Even more so, despite all that they did to you, you came after me, took all of the punishment they gave you, and visited it back on my father." At this, she adjusted the way she was sitting so that she was straddling him.
Roman, whose hand had not left her cheek, now ran down her left side, until it ended at her hip. "Ashley, when I started dating you, I made you a promise that as long as it was within my power, I'd never let anything happen to you. That promise will stand until my dying day." He sat up a bit more as he leaned in. "The same applies to my love for you."
Ashley smiled and wrapped her arms around Roman's neck, kissing him as he kissed her, the two lovers wrapped in a moment of bliss. No matter what came their way, nothing would tear them apart.
This chapter, hands down, has to be one of the chapters I enjoyed writing the most. Especially when it came to the fight scenes. However, this fanfic is NOT over yet. Still one last chapter, and then that'll be all for now. At least until I can get my next Transformers and Sonic the Hedgehog Fanfic up.
On that note, please leave your reviews, and May the Force be with you. Always.
T-Rock14