Science centers around explaining how the world works in terms that all can find common.
Faith is about explaining WHY the world works in terms one cannot ignore.
The two are rarely compatible. And Magic's foundation is found in faith. The elements of the world, the manipulation of time and space, the healing of any and all wounds, these are possible with magic, as long as you remember...
All magic has a price.
Nothing...is free...
Episode Twenty-Four
マスターの手を噛む
Biting the Hand that Feeds You
"You're really getting on my nerves." Void said, folding his arms, frowning deeply. "I suggest you not involve yourself."
"And I suggest that you start talking. Why did you do what you did to my country?" Omega snarled, the robot apparently unaware that the Bio-Lizard was creeping up the wall and across the roof, aiming to drop down upon him. "Answer quickly, and I'll give you a swift end."
"COWABUNGAAAAAAAA!" The Bio-Lizard roared, jumping down from the ceiling, mouth wide open...
With a harsh BAKKA-THUD, Omega delivered a powerful clawed fist into it's gut, the Bio-Lizard's teeth actually flying out of it's mouth as it gasped.
"...daaaaamn." White/King said, looking at the teeth as they embedded in the wall near his head. "One hell of a right hook."
"You know what? I've decided I'm going to peel the skin off of all of you and wear you like Heracles wore the Nemean Lion's for a CLOAK." Omega commented with a faint, cheerful tone as he tossed the Bio-Lizard away.
"Wait, even ME?" Sonic asked.
"Maybe you later." Omega said.
"...uh...THANKS, I guess?" Sonic remarked, shrugging. "Whatever." He turned to Tails as Omega raced towards Metal Overlord, claws laced with dark energy. "We'd better get a move on."
"Wow, that robot's GOOD for somebody who ain't a Golem." White/King complimented. "But he doesn't hold a candle to THIS ol' body." He said, pointing at himself...
Before suddenly wheeling at Sonic, launching a high kick that sent Sonic flying through the air, making him crash into the wall. "Not bad, huh?" He inquired.
"Ah, good boy." Void said. "Now then. Obey your designer and remove the Outsiders, if you please."
"First thing's first!" Sonic yelled, launching himself out of the wall, delivering a punch towards White/King as he leapt away. "I wanna piece of you..."
He held one hand up, sparkling lightning swirling around it. "EXTRA CRISPY!"
With a crack of thunder, lightning split across the room towards White/King, who ducked down, Matrix-Style, spinning to avoid the onslaught.
"You're making me do this, King. Just give up, alright?"
"Don't go sayin' stupid things. The NAME...is...WHITE!" White growled, clenching his fist, his stolen body transforming before Sonic's green eyes. A pitch-black darkness covered his fists and feet as he grinned darkly.
"Wait...isn't that...King? The snake from our rival clan?" Marine wondered to herself as she hid behind a pile of rubble, the cries of Metal Overlord ringing through the air as Omega made him his bitch.
"A GIIIIRL!" The Bio-Lizard howled happily. "Oooh, yummy-yummy-yummy, I'll have girl in my tummy!" It sang out, popping up from the floor where it had landed, rushing at Marine, who quickly ran for her life, screaming like a...well, like the little girl she was.
"Now, now, you're RUININ' the interior." Void said as Omega held Metal Overlord's neck region, strangling him as the mighty robot's tail crashed down against the floor over and over, sending large chunks flying everywhere. "And I just WASHED the floor."
"Silence! You will be next." Omega snapped, tossing Metal Overlord away and rushing at Void, claws extended.
"Ah, mind the hair, I just shampooed with Loreal-"
CHA-CRUNK. Omega's claws wrapped around his head and the robot's red eyes narrowed as a surge of dark energy swept through his body...
Doing...nothing.
"...what...the?" He exclaimed. "What in blue blazes is wrong with your body?" Omega gasped in disgust and horror.
"Get away, get away, get away!" Marine yelled as the Bio-Lizard kept chasing after her. The camera panned above, showing that Marine had become like a little "ghost", with the Bio-Lizard chasing her down a-la Pac-Man.
"Bloop-bloop-bloop-bloop-bloop!" The Bio-Lizard called out, mouth opening and closing rhythmically over and over, scooping up dots of rubble in his mouth. "C'mon! I eat you, I'll get an extra life!"
TRIP! He promptly fell flat on his face and down a very large pit with a cry as Marine dusted her paws off. "Years of livin' out in the bush. Ha-HA." She called out as the Bio-Lizard hit the ground below, groaning in deep pain.
"You're pretty good." White/King said as he twirled around, doing a spinning kick, knocking Sonic through the air as he held up his fists, grinning. "Too bad you don't follow the rules."
Sonic rolled his eyes as his body became encased in a golden glow, and he swirled through the air, delivering a harsh series of punches towards White/King, who held his arms up to protect himself. "Don't go playin' that game with me, dude. I saw that movie." He then grinned. "Allow me to show you HOW I OPEN COCONUTS."
The Blue Blur did a sudden sweep of his leg, knocking White/King back a few feet, and rushing forward, aiming to slam his hands on the Golem's head.
BA-BONK!
White/King blocked, a shimmering chaos shield surrounding him as Sonic was thrown backwards, gasping in surprise. "You...I didn't know you could do that!"
"Neither did I." White/King commented cheerily, holding up his fist. "But apparently I can do THIS too! CHAOS SURGE!"
He launched a pinkish wave of chaos energy through the air at Sonic, who quickly ran for it, speeding along the ground as White tossed rapid-fire blasts in his directions. "ARE WE HAVING FUN, YET!" He laughed manically.
"Obviously we underestimated King's magical potential, Sonic." Tails remarked. "I mean, WOW, that's some high-quality chaos right there." He said, examining a sizzling mark that had been burnt into the wall near his head.
"Oh, that's so considerate of you! Hey, Sonic, take a closer look!" White/King remarked.
"Really, you're only making this harder on yourself." Void said as Omega jumped away in time to avoid a sudden, harsh onslaught of energy. "I mean, really. I've provided so much for the people here. There wouldn't even BE a Mobius if not for me."
"Help like yours we could all do without!" Tails yelled as he chased after the Bio-Lizard, who was approaching Marine, leering horribly.
"I'm gonna diiiiiig iiiiiiin!" It announced, mouth opening.
"HEE-YAAAAAH!" Tails's ringed wrists glowed as his tail became encased in a metallic shine and shot forward. With rapid strikes, he impaled the beast over and over in the back, making it's body shudder horribly. It let out a rapid series of gasps, falling to the ground as Marine quickly held up a slip of paper, taking some blood from a cut on her cheek and writing on it.
The Bio-Lizard leapt up, snarling at Tails. "WILL YOU STOP THAT! I'm tired of people attacking me from be-"
SHA-SLAP. A piece of paper got stuck to his feet like toiler paper as Marine stepped back, and an enormous blast of light energy swirled up from his feet through the top of his skull, it's eyes rolling into the back of it's head, collapsing to the ground in a bloody pool as Metal Overlord snarled angrily.
"Dammit, you used up all of your Chaos Emerald, you stupid fool!" It snarled.
"Stand STILL!" White/King shouted, launching itself through the air, striking at Sonic, who slammed his fist into his opponent's.
"I can't believe you're doing this!" Sonic yelled as the two of them spun around in the air, striking at each other over and over. "What about your mission, King?"
THA-TWHUNK. A fist met arm as White/King snarled angrily. "My name is WHITE, you dumb-"
"What about David?" Sonic yelled, catching the Golem off guard with a good leg sweep.
"Wh-"
"WHAT ABOUT ELISE?" Sonic roared, his fist shooting forward.
THA-THRACK.
Sonic's fist had met with the transformed snake's "nose" region...but there was inky darkness covering it...with unmistakable cold, golden eyes glinting back as White/King backhanded Sonic across the face, knocking him through the air.
A large explosion filled the air. Omega had cracked open a large hole in the wall and smoke was everywhere. Tails felt Marine clinging to him along with her koala. "HIDE US!" She begged as Metal Overlord tried to rub rubble and dirt off his face.
"Oh my. This is unfortunate." Void said as he knelt near the unconscious, twitching Bio-Lizard. "Worry not, Ignorance. I'll recreate a new body for you soon."
He lifted Ignorance into the air, onto his shoulder, heading towards a familiar area. "Clap on, clap off...the Clapper." He sang ot himself, clapping his hands. As he clapped his hands, the others moved away enormous circular pit that was rising up from the floor...
"...that seems...familiar." White/King remarked, scratching his head for a moment.
"HEY!" Metal Overlord yelled, looking left, then right, then up. "Where'd that stupid organic go?"
"You mean the fox or the rabbit?" White/King asked. "...hey, that sounds like one of Aesop's Fables."
"Just find either one." Metal Overlord snapped.
"Fine, fine, fine, I'll find, find, find." White/King said, exiting the room, dragging Sonic behind him. "Oh, FOXYYYY! I gotta present for ya!"
"Oh my GOD, what did you DO to him?" Tails exclaimed, his attempt to sneak up a manhole halted by the sight of Sonic in a VERY bad condition.
"Oh, he'll live." White/King said, rolling his eyes. "Now you gonna come with me, or am I gonna have to hurt him some more?"
"It's okay, Tails." Sonic said, grunting out.
"...Sonic?" Tails asked.
"...he's still in there." Sonic said quietly.
...
...
...
... "Believe me, escorting you to Cruelty is not high upon my list of priorities." Metal Sonic said as he walked down a long hallway, arms folded as he hovered along, White/King mutely walking behind them, looking intently at Tails and Sonic. "Now, one day painting the walls with your digusting blood, which, by the way, clashes with my nice chassis, that's another story. Oh, and it would be so interesting to see how much fur I could peel off that fox before it finally died."
"Dear LORD, you can almost hear the erection." Sonic muttered, rolling his eyes.
"...you know...this hallways is awfully...weird." Tails thought out loud, banging on the walls. "It's like a giant, metal PIPE..."
They finally walked into an elevator, Metal Sonic transforming into a military-clothed man. As the elevator finally reached it's location, they stepped out...
Realizing they were at Central HQ...where Dr. Eggman kept shop. They looked at each other. "You know...this is...this is like something from out of some sick Twilight Zone episode." Sonic told Tails. "I half expect an alien to peek it's giant head in and say "Wayne, they're onto us"."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Tails agreed, shivering.
"HEY!" Metal Sonic snapped. "Get a move on! C'mon! You need to take a shower before you're presentable for Cruelty."
So, Sonic and Tails headed into the shower rooms, Tails sitting nearby. "Hey, you doin' okay, Marine?" He asked.
"Fine, fine." She answered, clinging tightly.
"This feels weird, letting a girl into the boy's room." Sonic admitted as he washed the space behind his ears, glistening water drops sloping down his fine body as he shook his head back and forth, his well-toned frame sending a spray of water left and right. His tight-
"...hey! Hey, I see that!"
...what?
"You're focusing the camera too close on me! I don't care how many fangirls wanna see me naked, get that thing out of here...and stop talking about how I shower!"
Sorry, sorry. Just tryin' to give the people what they want.
"Uh, movin' on. Do you think this means that the entire military has ties to these guys?" Tails inquired. "...the Golems started the Shanazaran Campaign. They're most likely causing other terrible things..."
"...there is some good news." Sonic said quietly. "...I saw your body. Your real body."
Tails's head whipped towards him. "It's alright? Really?"
"I couldn't take it back with me, since I'm not your soul, but it's there, alright. And doin' just fine." Sonic told him. "...oh, and uh...it kinda smells weird."
"Like what?"
"Kinda like...oranges."
"...really?" Marine inquired, giving Tails an interested look. "I LOVE oranges."
"HEYYYYY!" Metal Sonic yelled as he banged on the door. "Hurry up! I want you to get a move on! Get out here so I can show you somewhere private!"
"So you want me?"
"Yes, of course I want you!"
"...pffffttttt..." Sonic began to snicker madly, Marine hiding in a stall as Metal Sonic angrily kicked the door down.
"YOU...ARE...DISGUSTING!" The robot shouted, dragging him out of the shower as Tails turned to the stall Marine had hidden in.
A few minutes later, Metal Sonic had led them to a door. "Come on. He's waiting for you." Metal Sonic said. "From here, we part ways. And good riddance. I hope I never see you again." He added, walking off.
Sonic and Tails turned to each other, shrugging as they entered the room...
Seeing Shadow sitting with Dr. Eggman. They blinked in surprise, turning to each other. Dr. Eggman had been a Golem after all...but Shadow? What was HE doing here?
"What's...going on here?" Sonic asked.
"...my...fellow...troops...were unfortunately..." Shadow spoke through grit teeth, hands digging into his arms, frowning darkly. "Sent to places that better required their attention. Vector is in the North. Bomb is in the South. Heavy has been moved to the West. And my lieutenant has been granted the honor..." He said the word "honor" as if it was a racial slur. "Of being Dr. Eggman's personal assistant. The situation isn't like a wolf threatening a pack of sheep...all our fellow shepherds are wolves in disguise."
So it was that bad. The entire military was in on this, Tails and Sonic realized. Sonic frowned darkly, turning on Dr. Eggman. "To think you'd be such a DIRTBAG." He growled. "Turning them into...what's the term?"
"De-facto." Tails said.
"Right. De-facto hostages!...wow, de-facto. Is that Spanish?" Sonic asked.
"It's LATIN, Sonic." Tails said, shaking his head.
"Well I thought the term "Latin culture"-"
"Different kind of Latin, I assure you." Dr. Eggman said, taking a sip of some coffee.
"I can't believe you're really a Golem. You didn't ever seem like one. You know, I thought you were a decent person...for a self-styled dictator." Sonic muttered.
"If you just do what you're told, no harm shall come to you. Believe me, I know what's best for this country."
"I'm not worried about myself. I'm worried about all those other people in Mobius..." Sonic muttered.
"The people who AREN'T "precious resources"...what'll happen to them all?" Tails demanded.
"That's on a need to know basis. And, well, you do not need to know, Metal Brotherhood." Dr. Eggman said with a hint of a condescending tone.
"The Metal Brotherhood, huh?" Sonic laughed. "That's a laugh. That title feels so disgusting now..." He turned to look to the side. "I CHOSE to work for you guys so I could get me and my brother's bodies back. But I'll bet the whole "State Metallurgist" system is just something to select sacrifices with. If you're going to use me for something even worse..."
He slammed his hand down on the ground. "Then I'll rip you to SHREDS before I'd do so much as your LAUNDRY for you, butt-nik!"
"...you wouldn't want to get me annoyed." Dr. Eggman muttered.
"Look buddy, you may be a Golem, but I DOUBT you'd be able to take all THREE of us on!" Sonic said proudly, grinning.
Dr. Eggman adjusted his goggles. "Oh, I think I could. But I don't need to." He remarked.
"Why not?"
"Let me think...what was her name?" He rubbed his chin. "Amy Rose, right?"
Sonic and Tails's eyes stiffened.
"Your childhood friend. Skilled life magic user. A sweet, charming little hog, isn't she? And I just LOVE her cute little dress." Dr. Eggman went on.
"If...you...touch...her..." Sonic snarled, his fingers digging into the table.
"You cowardly FREAK!" Shadow snarled.
"I suggest you get used to this and not disrespect your benefactors. It's the only way to survive in this world." Dr. Eggman said coldly.
"...you'll get...what's coming...to you." Sonic promised angrily.
"If you're gonna keep watch over us, can WE keep looking for a chance to get our original bodies back?" Tails inquired.
"Oh, by all means. I don't really care either way." Dr. Eggman said, shrugging. "And you, Shadow? Are you going to quit the military?"
"I'm going to become the Ultimate Life Form." Shadow said firmly. "And protect everyone in this country. I can't do that by giving up when I'm on the right path just because somebody put me on that path for reasons of their own." He said. "I'll get there...I'll get there."
"Hmm. Good. You're dismissed." Dr. Eggman said, sipping some coffee.
"But can I ask you something before we go?" Shadow asked softly.
"...yes?"
"...did you kill Mighty?" Shadow muttered.
"No." The autocrat answered simply. "And to be frank?...I hate guns."
"...good." Shadow said, getting up and leaving the room with Sonic and Tails following, Dr. Eggman scratching his head. He was SURE he'd sensed another person with them. Perhaps someone from Soleanna...but...where was she?
As Sonic and Tails and Shadow headed down the hallway, Marine shimmied around to Tails's back again. It had been hard work, hiding behind, to the side, in front of Tails every time somebody had been close to actually FINDING her, but she'd hidden herself nicely. "That guy smelled of EGG." Marine muttered.
"We'd better get going." Sonic said to Tails, and they took off with Marine quickly jumping onto Sonic, burrowing deep into his quills. "AH! Watch it!" He shouted.
"Sorry." She apologized. "Woah, you got a LOT of rings in here."
"Shhhhh!" Sonic whispered. "It's my secret, okay?" He insisted as they headed down the hall, Shadow heading the opposite way, walking outside with a quick step, intending to find Rouge...
Finding Knuckles instead, standing there, looking solemn.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"No, I was trying to find Rouge."
"Rouge happens to be right there." Knuckles said, pointing to his right. Shadow turned to see Rouge was standing right there, in front of a limousine.
"Rouge."
"I heard about...everyone else." Rouge said. "They've all been split up."
"It's a damn tragedy." Knuckles admitted.
"But I'm not leaving." Shadow insisted. "I won't give up."
"Neither will I." Rouge insisted as Knuckles opened up the door to the limousine. "...let's go for a drive."
...
...
...
... "That's my problem, Peter." Mary Jane Watson said on the television. "The reason I was vulnerable. When you live with somebody who has a double life, no matter how much you trust him, there's always that thought of "What ELSE is he keeping to himself"?"
"Preach it, sister." Amy Rose said, holding a Shirley Temple to her lips.
"Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got, I'm still, I'm still Jenny from the Block!"
"Helloooooo?" Amy laughed, picking up her cell phone. "...Sonic? Hey, whatcha doin'? I'm so glad you called! You know, there's this good documentary on TV tonight called "Capitalism: A Love"-"
"Aare you okay? Doing all right? You're not being followed by anyone suspicious are you?" Sonic whispered softly.
"Sonic, really." Amy said, giggling, rolling her eyes. "What next? You gonna tell me to be on the lookout for a man with a gold tooth?"
"...grrrrr..."
"Your concern's so cute." Aamy said happily. "It really means a lot."
"...uh...okay..." Sonic said nervously, blushing deeply. "...listen, just...just please...be careful." He said softly. "...please."
"I will." Amy said, giving him a kiss through the telephone. "Ciao!"
Sonic put the cell phone away, holding his head. "Phew. She's alright."
"You know, you gotta be more composed than that. They'll take advantage of your relationship with that girl. They're just that low." White/King said, leaning against the phone booth they were using, King's hair turned to White, pink eyes gazing at them.
"Where'd YOU come from?" Sonic exclaimed.
"Not from ABOVE." Tails muttered, rolling his eyes.
"What is it now? You wanna rumble?" Sonic growled, holding up a fist.
"No. I want you to pass on this message." White/King said, holding up a small note from his pocket. "Your friend wanted you to give it to this girl named Elise, apparently." The Golem said. "I can't read what it says, personally."
"...me neither." Tails admitted. "It LOOKS like Ancient Hebrew. I'm not good with that." He said, taking the note in his hands.
"You're not going to try and follow after us to kill Elise, are you?" Sonic asked, giving him a glare. "After all, that fat Egghead tried to take my girl...my friend who happens to be a girl..." He said quickly. "Hostage."
"What kinda asshole do you think I am? I'm not gonna fight with a girl." White/King said, looking offended. "I may lack my own soul, but I don't lack my own STANDARDS."
"And we should trust you WHY?" Sonic asked, tilting his head to the side.
"Because my motives are totally selfish...I don't believe in lying." White/King commented, shrugging as he headed off. "See you later."
"Sure...King." Sonic muttered.
"It's White." The Golem called back.
...
...
...
...meanwhile, Omega was carefully making his way through a long, metallic hallway, frowning to himself as he thought quietly, grateful he'd been able to escape.
But why...
Why had that being started that campaign? Why ravage an entire continent and make it filled with violence? It didn't make any sense.
There had to be some kind of dark ulterior motive. But...WHAT?
"Excuse me! Uh, uh, excuse me?" A fairly stupid-sounding voice called out.
Omega looked down througha grating at the sight of a purplish cat, some oil dripping down...looking red as blood. It splattered on the grating below, drizzling down slightly. "Oh, my. Yer hurt!" Big called out. "Please, please come on down."
Omega blinked.
"It's okay. The guard isn't gonna be around for a while. Plus I'm a doctor. I can look at your wounds, y'know!"
Omega would have frowned if he could have...but he needed to get a tune-up. It couldn't hurt, this man might also have some information on these strange people...and their stranger leader. He burst through the grating, landing down on the ground as Big gasped.
"That...that symbol...you're "Omega", right?" Big gasped. "The Shanazaran?"
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Omega asked.
Big blinked a few times, then bowed his head, slowly going over to his bed and sitting in it, hands holding onto his head tightly. "...my name is Big the Cat. I was a Metallurgist skilled in life magic that took part in the Shanazaran Campaign."
Omega's eyes widened to large red saucers.
"WHAT?"
Meanwhile...quite some distance away...
"She's going to be alright." Dr. Thorndyke insisted, nodding his head as Marine sipped some chicken soup. "She just hasn't been eating well lately. And all this stress has been agitating her stomach."
"Thank you, doctor. I'll have to add your soup to the "list of things I'll need to eat"." Tails said, scribbling away in his notebook.
"But the problem is that now I don't have anywhere to sleep. If SHE'S going to be on the couch, with that other girl right there on the bed-wait." Dr. Thorndyke blinked, scratching his head as Elise staggered through the doorway, panting a bit.
"Elise, you need your rest." Tails insisted. "Please, miss."
"It's fine, really." Elise insisted. "I need to be strong. For King's sake."
"This reminds me, I have a message from him." Tails said, handing her the note that White/King had given to them.
Elise looked it over. "...it reads...it reads "I've gotten what we needed". He has a Chaos Emerald, doesn't he?" She asked happily, tears brimming in her eyes as she hugged Tails with her hand still clutching the note. "Oh, THANK you, THANK you!" She laughed.
"Uhhhh...I..." Tails stuttered.
"Sorry." She said, letting go of him. "But this is wonderful news! Please, where is King, we need to get a move on right away!"
"...it's just that..." Tails murmured. "...he..."
"...he what?" Elise asked, blinking a few times in surprise, seeing Tails's pained expression. "...Tails...what aren't you telling me?"
Also elsewhere, White/King was watching as Dr. Eggman sat on a park bench. "Whatcha doin'?" He inquired, folding his arms, raising a non-existent eyebrow.
"...simply feeding the pigeons, Selfishness." The autocrat insisted, taking out handfuls of bird seed from a small brown bag, tossing it to the pigeons.
"You keep doin' that Cruelty, you know what you're gonna get?" White/King inquired. "FAT PIGEONS!" He laughed.
"So it seems you are feeling in quite high spirits. Quite the body you've got." Dr. Eggman complimented as he tossed another handful of seed out for the pigeons.
"Oh yeah, it's one HELL of a body. You wouldn't BELIEVE the magic potential in this one! He's a natural with the power of Chaos!" White/King bragged. "And he willingly let me take his body so that he could become ruler over Soleanna to boot. Ain't that something?"
"Heh." Dr. Eggman chuckled. "Stupid little idiot. He once told me that I'd never be a true ruler, because I don't CARE about my people. But if he was right and I was wrong, why is HE the one who's gone?" He laughed. "The fool doesn't know that dropping dead weight like stupid ideals and attachments to people is the only way to survive."
"But it's no way to LIVE, you fat sack of shit!" White/King snarled, his eyes glittering gold for a moment as Dr. Eggman blinked in surprise, mouth hanging open slightly.
"..."
"Catchin' flies?" White/King laughed. "You're gonna have to be careful with your words. "He's" waiting for his chance to take over. I might just let him occasionally, just to see what happens. It would be fun!"
"Heh. Willing to let even someone like YOU come along for the ride. The selfishness of naturals." Dr. Eggman remarked.
...
...
...
... "Dr. Eggman's a GOLEM?" Knuckles growled darkly, furiously as he sat with Shadow and Rouge in the limousine. "...to think...I only wanted to fight to protect the innocents in this country. And many others think the same way I do...many others want to make sure the strong can defend the weak...but to think that the military is just for...for..." He growled and punched a hole clear through the limo's door.
"OY! Watch it!" Rouge snapped. "It's a RENTAL."
"It IS disgusting, what they're doing. But if you're concerned, you could quit the military." Shadow offered.
"...no. No, I can't." Knuckles said, murmuring softly.
This wasn't right. These weren't fighters. These weren't warriors. This was a slaughter, not a fight.
"These people are CIVILIANS, sir!" Knuckles screamed, voice hoarse with sorrow and anger, holding a frail frame in his arms. "This is absolutely CRUEL!"
"You're going to disobey a direct order?" His superior snarled furiously. "Fine! We can get another State Metallurgist to replace you. Get lost!"
He walked off, leaving Knuckles alone with the body, as Knuckles howled in fury, punching the ground over and over, screaming furiously.
"All I could do back then was rage and scream after I'd run away from the fighting. I knew what they had done was wrong, but instead of turning upon them, demanding righteously that they stop, I acted like a coward and...and..." Knuckles mumbled. "...I can't run from this. If there's a chance I can stop their plans somehow...I need to take it."
"THAT'S what I want from you." Shadow said, nodding firmly. "Walk forward resolutely. Don't lose sight of your ambition, Knuckles." He folded his hands in his lap.
"Our beloved leader is a Golem. And most likey, there's somebody even more powerful BEHIND him. This is an opportunity I can't miss." He clenched his fist, eyes glittering. "I need to get stronger. I'll consider this an opportunity."
"An opportunity to do what?"
"...I need to study a new kind of magic if I'm going to defeat this new threat." Shadow said. "...do you remember who that woman was that assisted Sonic and his brother?" He asked Knuckles, who blinked a few times. "The one so skilled in Metallurgy?"
MEANWHILE...
"So it's like that?" Elise asked as she sat on the bed, looking to the side. "...he's...become one of them."
"I'm sorry. If we had tried to stop him..." Tails apologized as he sat near her, nervously hanging his head.
"Please, don't be." She insisted. "I'M the one who should be ashamed. I couldn't keep him from this. I should have been there. But it's alright...because he's still inside that "Selfishness" person, right? Waiting..."
"Yes."
"Then I can't wait any longer. I need to get my arm healed up somehow." She turned to Tails. "I need you to help me get to your friend, Amy Rose!"
"Wait, you want to get your arm healed up with life magic?" Tails asked, blinking in surprise. "...alright." He said, smiling. "I'll go call Amy up. Have her come here if she can." He said, looking up at the doorway.
"Tails?" Marine asked. "...is that woman next to you...who I THINK she is?" She asked as Tabby stood nearby her.
"Well, who do you THINK she is, Ms. Aussie?"
"...did you say...AUSSIE?" Elise asked, lifting her head up, gazing at the raccoon. "An AUSSIE, here?"
"Well, well. You know of my family!" Marine said, getting into a fighting stance. "Figures. A good watchdog of the family Rolar always knows a lot."
"This watchdog has a nasty bite." Elise said with a grin. "Let me guess. You're after the Chaos Emerald, right?"
"Aye, mate." Marine said with an equally dark grin.
"Ooh. CATFIGHT." Tabby thought to himself.
"Uh, wait, hold on..." Tails began. "Let's all calm down and-"
"WOULD YOU JUST STAY OUT OF THIS!" They shouted at him.
"...eek." Tails said, hiding behind Tabby. "Sonic was right. I can't bring logic. The only thing I can bring to a catfight is popcorn."
"Prepare yourself!" Elise growled, getting into a fighting stance as well. "Don't underestimate me simply because I've only one arm!"
"HEY!" Dr. Thorndyke announced, grabbing them by the ears and tugging them off. "What the HECK do you think you're doin', about to go bustin' up my house?"
"Hey, owwwww!" Elise whined.
"That HUUURTS, mate! Stay outta our kingdom's beeswax!"
"I don't give a rat's ASS about your kingdom! You're both guests in my house and you are going to treat each other with respect!" The doctor said, holding them up in the air, fire brimming in his eyes. "As the good book says, "Love thy neighbor as theyself or so help me, I'll SMACK you one"!" He roared.
"...he's SCARY." Marine whimpered.
With that, the doctor left the room, Tails following after. "I'm sorry they're acting like this." He apologized. "I'll bet when your family gets home, she wouldn't want to find her home a wreck."
"...my...son and daughter haven't...they haven't spoken to me in a while." Dr. Thorndyke said, sitting down in the kitchen. "...it's...it's a personal issue to me."
"...I'm sorry." Tails said sadly.
"Not your fault." The doctor said. "It's an adult issue. You're too young to be worrying about that sort of thing yet. You've got enough on your plate, believe me. Saving the world is a whole lot harder than trying to patch up relationships with estranged family members..." He sniggered a bit. "Though not by much."
Meanwhile, Sonic was sitting on a park bench, thinking to himself. "...c'mon." he mumbled. "C'mon, think."
He'd had talent. REAL talent. His mom had been so patient in bringing it out. And now he had to try and put that keen mind of his too good use.
C'mon, he thought. There had to be some way to get his and Tails's bodies back. He KNEW where Tails's body was right now.
Maybe he could sacrifice Tails's current body to...no, no, it wouldn't be a good trade. Maybe he could use a Chaos Emerald that was in one of the Golems to-
No, that was unacceptable.
He'd SWORN to not use innocent lives to get their bodies back. He couldn't treat good people as a means to an end.
He couldn't be like Void.
He frowned. "Wait. Omega...he'd been able to USE magical power. And so had Marine."
Yakin Shīru...perhaps that was the way, Sonic thought. He had to talk to them. This was a new weapon. And ANY edge they could get over these things was a welcome one.