Chapter 21:

Her Last Memory of Him

Annoyed as ever before, Quazaireon paced back and fourth across the control room, passed Eggman's back many times, and ignored Ramaindna's calling, and continued to stare straight down at the metal tiled floor he walked on. His tail swishing endlessly, purple highlights glittering in multiple places at random times. Ramaindna, after several tries, then gave up, and grabbed a metal bar leaning on a computer side, and stood with it in her hands.

"Quazaireon?" Ramaindna tried the last time to call him.

Quazaireon continued to ignore her, and kept pacing back and fourth behind Eggman, Ramaindna sighed, and decided to smack Quazaireon's tail and smashed it into the tile. Quazaireon let out a loud howl, spun his head around and snarled at Ramaindna.

"What in god's name was that for?" Quazaireon growled.

"Are you def?" Ramaindna asked him.

"I'd rather be numb than def, but someone had to crash it." He glared.

"Can't you two shut up?" Eggman stared at them.

"You shut up!" The two shouted at him.

A loud clang of metal struck behind them, and the three spun their heads around to see Alexis standing by the door. His eyes pale, but fierce, and his hands had formed claws, holding the doors open, and standing behind him were Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow. They all stared at them for a moment, then walked in silently.

Quazaireon jerked his tail from underneath the bar and stood up facing them, "what is it?"

"It's Sonic." Alexis started off.

"What about him?"

"His mutant state has changed dramatically." Knuckles warned.

"Well I knew that." Quazaireon rolled his eyes.

"A no skinned mutant?" Shadow questioned him.

Quazaireon fell silent.

"It seems as if the injection is doing the same affect to Sonic as is to Espio, but much quicker." Tails mentioned.

"Eggman, got any ideas? Even though it's usually my answer?" Quazaireon looked back at him.

"I really don't know actually." Eggman said staring out, "I'm made little animals into machines, but making animals into blood thirsty mutants? That was beyond from what my eyes could see."

"Usually, the injection affects the mind midway into the mutation though." Alexis started again, "If he saved Misty without harming her, there's something that has to deal with his mutation cycle."

"Cycle?" Tails glanced at him.

"The cycle of which a mutant goes through, which has no limit." Quazaireon stated.

"So if Sonic mutates again, his mind will eventually be lost." Ramaindna said.

"Course then, how are we going to control him?" Eggman brought up.

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"Man Sonic, you look like crap." Aaron told him.

"That form of yours you just used was amazing though." Carmen commented as she handed Sonic an ice bag.

"Yeah, I have a feeling that mutant form won't be under my control the next time." Sonic stated as he took the ice bag and put in on his head, "and speaking of which, what plan do you have?"

"It's not mine actually." Conore told him, "it's really Misty's."

"Huh?" Vector glanced at her.

"Yeah! I noticed a few things, so I thought we could put it into one attack, or somewhat." Misty said.

She quickly shifted to her hedgehog form, and grabbed a large electronic board, like what they use with computers. She flipped out the lights and the screen lit up, showing a drawing of Chaos, the four others, and Carmen, Misty, and Sonic in their super states.

She began: "Okay, here's a few things, course Chaos had tentacles right?"

Everyone nodded.

"Well, this may be as our final attack I thought." Misty noted, "But, after we take down, Alexis and all of them, Carmen and I can take the tentacles, which more than likely will try and grab us, but while were inside them, and Chaos tries to make a vacuum out of those tentacles, Sonic will quickly run up and aim at Chaos' mouth, when it opens, Carmen and I will make out beam attack in the things, and Sonic will make him attack in the mouth."

The picture began to move, showing the exact thing Misty just said, she continued, "Course means Sonic's attack is in air, he'll get a head start ahead of us, and then we'll follow through, but the point is, the three beams will intersect where Espio is, which should destroy Chaos."

"But remember what that chameleon said," Marie reminded, "Espio could go down with Chaos."

"And I remember it well." Misty nodded.

"But how do we defeat the four?" Carmen asked.

"I was just talking to Lighter in my mind," Misty mentioned, "And he's more than happy to help out, he'll be bringing some ships so you guys could help. I think he's bringing in three."

"I'll go." Aaron smiled.

"No Aaron!" Lakia hissed, "Unlike some people, you have the worst of aim."

"I'll do it." Canaras stood.

"My sis and I are gonna do it the cultural way." Marie stated.

Hikarari stared at Marie for a moment.

"I've heard Mellony's gonna take one, and Lighter's in the third." Misty said, so I guess we're all set."

Vector stared at her a little "But, you said-"

"I know, I meant one extra, not three." Misty sighed.

Canaras leaned against the way beside him and listened carefully.

"Means there's four of them and nine of us, we'll be partnered, one group will be a group of three."

"Canaras can join with us." Hikarari replied.

"Okays." Misty scratched her head.

"Now wait a minute!" Vector hollered, "What about us that haven't got anything?"

"You'll be sitting in the ship, so nothing else happens." Conore answered.

Amy raised her hand, "Can't we even take a-"

"No!" Conore growled.

Amy put her hand back down.

"It's for your own safety Amy, and I agree with Conore about it." Sonic told her.

"But Sonic. You've been through a lot." Amy pouted, "We nearly lost you as a mutant, and I'm scared of losing you fully."

"Amy…" Sonic sighed.

"But it's true, I love you like you were-"

"ANYHOW!" Misty raised her voice.

Amy quickly silenced.

"Yeah, how can we defeat the four without actually killing them?" Aaron asked.

"Just keep attacking really. At some point the injection will be knocked out of their system." Misty shrugged.

"What about Quazaireon and that one other chick?" Sonic asked.

"Whatever they throw at you really, just bust through it or go around it." Misty answered, "But remember, means the amulet and the Emeralds are gonna be combined, doesn't mean we're invincible."

"But the amulet is useless." Sonic stood up.

Everyone looked at him.

"It's true that amulet is now useless. That chameleon told me."

"Probably talked to him while he was in a moment of trance." Hikarari whispered to Marie.

Marie nodded slightly.

"I'm serious." Sonic said.

"In what way is it useless?" Marie asked.

"I…don't know." Sonic lowered his head.

"Maybe to the Dark, it is." Misty concluded, "So we still have somewhat a chance."

They turned their heads to face her.

"We can give it a try, otherwise then we're doomed if it is useless." Misty said.

"Now hold on a minute!" Carmen stepped up, "Are you telling me that we're taking a risk that could kill us all?"

"Not kill us." Aaron said, "Mutate us."

"So where do we start then?" Hikarari asked.

"We start by finding Chaos and Espy." Sonic stood up.

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Quazaireon stared at Alexis for a long time now, and still he didn't speak, so he did, "Could you just TELL me what is wrong?"

"Again! We don't know!" Alexis snarled, his eyes quickly turning snake like and fangs quickly growing, "And if you want to know through fighting me, you're wrong!"

Quazaireon only stared at him with a blank face; Ramaindna then stepped in front of him, and put a black blade in front of Alexis' face with a threatening grip on it. Alexis didn't budge, but only tilt his head a little away from Ramaindna's blade.

"Don't cause any problems yet." Ramaindna warned him, "We're on the borderline of getting a head start against the Light, and if you want to ruin it, I guess I'll just take your life." Ramaindna then lightly touched Alexis' nose with the tip, but nothing happened, she smiled a little then, "Course it would be of great use against Misty."

Alexis' eyes returned to normal, and only stared at her. Ramaindna's blade then disappeared, and she let her hand down by her side, and backed off, also staring at him with a warning.

"I do though expect you all to guard Espio." Eggman directed, "For the Emeralds are gone, and may have some energy still left in them."

"What about Sonic?" Tails questioned.

"Don't worry about him." Eggman said to him, "But just in case, his lower hips are weak, attack there if necessary."

"You could've told me in the first place." Knuckles growled, holding his remaining wounded dreadlocks, "Otherwise that female echidna would have never sliced part of my head off."

"And I am sorry for that Knux." Eggman chuckled a little, "But go! For I'm sure he needs protecting."

Shadow then led the group, lastly followed by Alexis, who gave a small glare at Quazaireon. Quazaireon then glared back, but not showing of any concern, for he wasn't worried about Alexis, knowing he is the strongest out of the group of four. Tails was considered the slyest; the ability though wasn't as good as Alexis's speed and power. One thing Ramaindna didn't understand was why was Alexis the strong one, when Shadow should have been, since Shadow was infected first.

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All of the Emeralds surrounded the three hedgehogs, which surrounded the Master Emerald in the center of the circles. Sonic stared at the Master Emerald for a long time, remembering his times in the past, when no one was really so much in danger, but enough for it to be fun. Fun, to him, was basically ruining Eggman's most brilliant plans, when really they were all a test; at least that's what he thought. He did though feel bad for Shadow, even though they consider each other as rivals, and really haven't spoken to one another, he felt sorry that he became one of them.

Knuckles, the Guardian of the Emeralds, and was a definite hot-head, and always will be, no matter if even a girl enters his life, for his friendship was with not only Sonic, but the first victim of this all, tried to keep his promise, but yet was unable to keep it, though he tried. Although tempered at Marie's actions, though understood, it was for all of our benefits, somewhat.

Tails, of all friends, unaware, had to be next. Innocent at times, but fierce in battle, he had to fall, for even if Marie was to heal him, he would be more than likely attacked again, and he would've mutated later. Later, wasn't a good time either; especially with the conditions of everyone, it wouldn't be best.

His eyes slowly drifted towards Misty, her eyes shut, in a praying manner, speaking silently, silent enough for either Carmen or Sonic to hear her. The things she's done for him, and the things he's done for her and did to her, he not only felt guilty, but sad by the fact that he sensed she had a dark secret, a secret dark enough maybe she herself doesn't know about. He noticed her larger crescent shaped scar, and wondered where in her lifetime she got it, the dullness gave him two ideas.

The first would be a birthmark, one that just won't fade, and one that'll show some darkness lies somewhat in her, if any was. But if darkness did lie in her, it would be most than likely on accident, and in accident, she was held against her own will, and was forced through her. The ideas sounded a bit too drastic, but it was a possibility.

The second, course everyone gets some sort of scar on their adventures, she probably got it on one of hers, the question is though, how, when, and by what. A sword maybe? No, who would be able to make a curve like that? No one he knew at least. An animal? Wait, even though ordinary creatures live here, it doesn't mean others can't. On a mission and something well engraved it into her, they'd probably though would have to be quick to make a deep cut like that.

You're warm.

Sonic eyes blinked a couple of times startled, then realized it was Misty speaking to him. He quickly relaxed and listened to her in his thoughts.

The scar was made on a mission I took, but a person, or an object didn't cause it, it is though related to an animal, but not anything you could think of.

Sonic then had to ask, knowing he had time. What was it?

It's a long story, but I could tell some of it.

Sonic kind of then figured she wasn't going to tell much, since they didn't have time, he opened his eyes, and seen that he stood in a whole different scenery. He rubbed his eyes, and looked around, seeing that he was in an abandoned laboratory floor. Papers everywhere, doors, windows and walls somehow all bloodied up, his face grew stale, and he began to twitch, and quickly became nervous.

He spotted Misty, to his surprise, she was much younger, and equipped with guns, bullets, knives, and two whips all around her waistline, gripping around her black and red vest she wore. Same pants, same necklace and shoes, same hairstyle, but she had no scar across her eye. He was going to see how, not be told how.

She started to walk in a different direction, past a lab room more blank than to others, and disappeared. He quickly ran after her, not sure if she could hear him or see him, but just incase, he called to her just as he whipped the corner.

"Misty! Wait up!"

No reply, she kept walking a slow steady and cautious pace. He fell silent, and didn't bother trying again. He couldn't help himself though look into a lab room, seeing if anything interesting was in there. Nothing to his interest, but only computers, papers, and everyday lab stuff, he seen nothing of importance, for silence was all that sat in the air, along with the smell of blood, and strangely, water.

CRASH!!!

Sonic shrieked and jumped in fright, and spun around towards Misty. Where shattered glassed had continue to fall, she wasn't there, and he caught the sight of only a small part of a tail whip through the corner. Bullets began to burst, and bounced off of the walls like rubber balls. Sonic quickly ran around and found again a small piece of a tail whip around the corner, but Misty was hiding behind a wall.

"Misty!" Sonic cried out to her.

She again didn't respond, and ran away from him, and he followed with his heart racing rabidly, still spooked up from the loud sudden crash of glass. He felt his hands; as they were gripped tightly into a fist, shake uncontrollably, almost paralyzed by the sound. He continued to trace her steps just feet behind her as she took a corner, and pushed herself through a steel door with a small window. He quickly ran past her, and stopped, as he looked, Misty shut the door behind her, and spun around to talk to the others that sat in the room.

Sonic recognized no one except Misty, the only hedgehog in that room. In that room with her, stood a black and yellowish fox, seems like a younger male, wearing also a weapon belt. He wore a gray hoodie, and blue partly baggy jeans, and dark shoes. His ears were tipped black, and so were his Tails related bangs that hung over his green eyes.

A red-orange echidna walked up, wearing also a gray hoodie, but only had one gun and bullets on him. His fur lightly perked up on his head, blue jeans, and again, dark shoes, his eyes showed up as a dark blue.

A female wolf sat in a chair by a computer. Organic back hair, but burnet front hair that hung around her face with a bit of a flip outwards away from her face. Her glasses tinted her eyes, but barely showed them, it matched her HIM sweatshirt she wore though, along with black jeans that matched. Pretty at that, but somewhat short in Sonic's eyes, he didn't care for short, but he did like her already.

"Well? We heard shooting." The echidna spoke with a bit of a scratch in his voice.

Sonic glanced at Misty and seen she was gasping heavily for air.

"He's freakishly large." Misty told them, "At least I seen him just before he crashed through."

"I thought the glass was stronger than that." The female wolf asked her standing up.

"I guess not." The male fox stated.

"Ace, can you run a system scan and see if there's a way out." Misty asked.

"And if there's not." The female wolf that's so-called Ace mentioned.

"Check if the ventilation system is down. That then would be our only option."

Ace quickly sat back down, and began to do the system scan. And Misty slouched by the door with her right side away from the door. The echidna started walking towards her with caution.

"Stay away Josh." Misty growled.

The echidna did, and backed off.

"I know how you feel about Dallas Misty," Ace tried to support her, "But face it, we won't be able to stop him and save him."

Misty didn't moved from her spot, but she slammed her fist into the door in rage, creating a small dent in the placement of the hit. Sonic course quickly became confused, what was going on?

Misty began to bawl, he eyes flowing with non-stop tears, "I loved him, and this is how I get paid in return? Why has this got to happen!?"

The echidna walked over and kneeled by her, only staring at her while her eyes were closed shut. Ace sighed, and then glanced at the fox.

"Hey Jeff, open that door over there." Ace directed.

He nodded, and opened the door, and peeked through, for only a second he stood, he then turned to Ace. "All clear! We can go!"

Josh shook Misty's shoulder, "Come on, we have to-"

A claw busted through the metal, and made almost a 360 circle, then disappeared, then popped out through the metal higher than the first, just above Misty's head. Misty cried out in pain, grabbing her left eye in agony. Josh was able to catch her just before she landed on the ground, holding her up a little, just enough for blood to rush down Misty's face, and drip on his sweatshirt.

Sonic stood and stared, again startled, but still confused, the question was not yet answered, until Ace spoke up.

"She's infected!" She cried out.

"And we don't even have the antivirus with us!" Jeff reminded.

Josh nodded, "No time! Lets get her out of-"

Misty elbowed him in the gut, and brought herself up, leaving Josh to fall and curl up in pain. Sonic's jaw dropped a little, shocked at Misty's action. Ace and Jeff only stared at her for that moment.

Misty took her hand off of her eye, her hand dripping with blood, soaked with her own blood is what she didn't care for, for the slice across her eye was still bleeding, and continued to drip into her hand. No tears spurted, but a small growl did.

"Misty?" Ace called to her.

She stood up, and let her hand down to her side, and straightened her head, facing the scared up door, and opened her eyes. They were in one piece, but the eyelid looked like it was cut in half. Ace's eyes widened with amazement, and so did Josh's, everyone fell silent.

"Look, everyone just go." Misty directed.

"But, Misty." Ace spoke.

"I said GO!" Misty growled.

Quickly the three ran through the open door, and knowingly, shut the door behind them, leaving Misty, and the sound of the door just about to break.

"Misty! Get out of the way!" Sonic cried out to her.

Forgetting she couldn't hear him, he reached out and tried grabbing her bloody hand, but his hand went straight through hers. He heard the door crash open, and glanced over to see what caused her scar, but then his vision went blank.

Now you know how my scar came to be.

Sonic opened his eyes, but seen nothing around him, nothing existed, nothing was visible, and it was all darkness.

It was one of my most despising missions.

Sonic spun around and came face to face with Misty. She glared at him, her scar almost glowing bright red, instead of being a dull cherry color. Sonic stumbled backwards surprised to see her, then regained his steps, and stared at Misty with bewilderment.

"But, what was going on? What was your mission?"

Misty sighed, "You must have been somewhere else when this happened."

Sonic blinked a few times, confused, "Were those your teammates?"

"Not just my teammates," Misty lowered her head and closed her eyes in solitude, "They were friends I cared for."

"What happened to them?" Sonic stood up straight.

"They escaped, I happened to catch on to the train just before it left, but not quickly enough to outrun what caused this scar."

Sonic stared at the scar a bit longer, and then looked at Misty with a tilted head. "So, who's this Dalla-"

Misty quickly gripped his throat and tightened it fiercely; just before Sonic had the chance to finish, "Don't speak his name!"

Sonic's eyes widened a little, and quickly fell silent before he could finish the name. "So who is he?"

Misty loosened her grip only a little, but kept him in her hand, "He was once someone I cared for, he was once someone that I loved so dearly, I'd give my life to be with him. But that changed when my base just had to drag my friends into the mission."

"Who was all with you?" Sonic said, grabbing Misty's wrist and lowering it slowly.

"Him, Ace, Josh, Jeff, Lucas, and Anthony." Misty listed, "We became a small group that grew only a little when I entered their lives, we strangely knew one another, but that was only because of Jeff. Anyways, He, he was known for great computer knowledge, Ace was known for some better abilities than others, Jeff was definitely known for his quickness, Josh and Anthony just wanted to be part of this, Lucas, was known for some scientific things, and I was basically known for surviving any mission thrown at me, and for my great skills, and that's basically they forced me to bring them with me."

"So what was the mission?" Sonic asked still holding her hand loosely.

"The mission was to go to an underground facility, and shut down the main computer." Misty told him, "It was mentioned that some illegal experimentation occurred down there, and that something was released into the facility, killing everyone down there. I was aware that it was a virus, in this case, that wasn't."

"What was it?"

"It was something I'd never thought it was, although I've dealt with some things related to it, but it was also something that turned my only hope into my only fear." She sighed, trying to resist crying, "Of all people! He, of all people, I had to leave behind, when he was really the only thing I had to care for, not just the others. The last time I see him, is when he was all of a sudden bit by what I call a cretin, you never got the chance to see one, but he went to take care of the wound, then that was the last I see him, smiling back at me, telling me that he'll be okay." Misty sniffed a little, then raised her head up and sighed, "If I had the time, I would be able to tell you every single detail, but we don't."

Misty snapped her fingers, and she disappeared from Sonic's sight. Sonic stared at where Misty stood, and sighed, and closed his eyes for that moment. He then reopened them, to find he was back where he was standing.

He glanced at Carmen, who was a shining gold and red color, and glowing, smiling at him. He blinked a few times, and then turned to Misty, who was floating alongside with Carmen, her fur metallic black, but when shown in the light, a tint of both red and blue glimmered. Her red markings were the same way, but blue and black. The flames on her jeans were lively, but alternated between blue and red fire, as it stayed alive around the bottom. Misty also smiled back at Sonic, but with only a small smirk, nothing big.

Sonic then looked at himself, and then realized, that he too, glowing gold, still with gold eyes shining, he too was in his super form.

I should have never showed him that memory, I realized that just before I was about to allow him to see what attacked me, I felt a bit uneasy when I realized this, and course, I stopped it with the quickest second I had…

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I should've made thoughts throughout the story, but I didn't, and I'm sorry.

But, I would like to say that part of her memory is inspired by we all know as Resident Evil (My most favorite movie of all times, the game just scares me though XD) But anyways, the name Ace, Josh, Anthony, Jeff, Lucas, and Dallas, are all names of actual people, one of which is my bf, and he's very sweet, also, we both have alot of likes, very few dislikes, and act kinda the same XD kinda awsome though lol. But the CRASH thing, I wish I could make it larger, but I can't, so just imagine it just sudden, not somewhat expected.

I'm really hoping the story is of great appeal, if you guys like it so much, can you please review? I could really use it, and it's much apreciated if you did . Thanks a bunch ---MTH