Hey everyone and welcome back Sobari. I've missed your reviews. I also miss Sensitive Girl as well...
Also, I will say immediately that Drew is NOT Isaac, Indee, or Mike. Keep trying!
So, enjoy this new, exciting chapter, everyone! And once again, thanks for the reviews.
25. Under New Management
It didn't take the Shadowed Raposa long at all to reach the station where rockets would depart and arrive, landing in a loud thud followed by a small quake from the force and speed he had been using. The two S.P.U.D. guards that stood by jumped in surprise, before approaching the now mass of Shadow Goo. Before they could ask about it, the mass suddenly changed into the form of a male, ponytailed Raposa. The two S.P.U.D.s jumped back again in surprise when this happened. The Shadowed Raposa only cackled at their fear, even when they raised their guns for self-defense.
"Whoever or whatever you are, don't take another step!" one of the S.P.U.D.s cried out, almost ready to fire. "We won't hesitate to shoot!" The Shadowed Raposa only cackled more, finding their little display of defense amusing. He simply crossed his arms with a wicked grin, two fake arms coming out of his Shadowed back. Before the S.P.U.D.s could react to this, he started to walk toward them, the fake hands lifting them both off the ground, their guns being swept out of their paws. In one good throw, the S.P.U.D.s were sent flying into the walls, while he pressed onward.
The one who was conscious managed to make his way to an emergency lever, pulling it down as soon as he could, then passing out when the alarms rang. The Shadow Raposa paused with perked ears when the noises commenced with bright red flashes of light, but shrugged it off and kept on going.
"Stop where you are!" Another S.P.U.D. cried out, around ten more of them following behind. "Just who do you think you are? And where do you think you're going?"
"Why," the Raposa sneered again, then getting out more and more fake arms as well as remolding his normal ones, "I am Sly Hazard And Design Of Wilfre. But just save your breath and refer to me simply as Sly."
"Well Mr. Sly," was one of the S.P.U.D.s reply, "You're under violation of various URSF codes, including 14a, 63b, 70c-" Sly simply rolled his glowing eyes, before his arms charged at them all, grabbing each and throwing them against each other before they had the chance to attack. Then, using two of the arms, he planted them firmly on the ground, using them to lift his own body up and leaping over the pile of now unconscious S.P.U.D.s. When on his back paws again, he looked back over his shoulder, then snickering from the sight before continuing onward once again.
"There he is!" More S.P.U.D.s announced firmly when Sly began to quicken his still casual pace, charging toward him but failing to even make one scratch on him as his arms provided such excellent defense. Grabbing onto one in particular, the S.P.U.D. even began to beg for mercy, which caused Sly to cackle.
"Very well, I will spare your fragile conciousness," he replied to the S.P.U.D, before dropping him to the ground roughly, "As long as you let Click know that I'm coming to visit him." Without another thought, the S.P.U.D. nodded vigorously and took off. Ignoring the other S.P.U.D.s and even Sly himself as the latter wreaked more havoc with his apparently new 'toys', he made it to an elevator, hopping inside and quickly pushing a button to take him to Click's personal floor. The S.P.U.D. waited impatiantly, hoping to get to the floor soon or else something really bad could happen to him or others.
From the aforementioned floor, two Raposa were in a room, the room belonging to the Mayor of the lunar city of URSF, Click. Click was sitting in his chair at his desk when the other Raposa, a ginger-fur with large glasses, had padded inside the room with him. In his paws he carried a large box, though it seemed like both him and Click knew what was inside.
"It took me a while to get it just right," the Raposa began, setting the box down onto the table, "But your Honest And Nimble Digit Simulator commission is finally finished and ready for use." After saying this, the Raposa dusted his paws off with an accomplished expression.
"Oh Isaac, I knew you'd be able to come through for me," Click replied with a grin, bringing the box closer to him, before getting up from where he sat. "And as promised, your payment will be well worth the effort, as we agreed before your arrival."
"Oh yes," Isaac nodded with a chuckle, watching as Click made his way to a secret hall, then following, "I can't wait to get home, too. I feel like I've been here forever."
"My apologies, Isaac," Click sighed a bit to himself in empathy, getting over to a door and pulling open a panel to scan his DNA into the newly found black square, "I never intended on keeping you from your family and friends for this long. I'll tell you what; I'll not only pay you for your time and effort for my commission, but I'll also coordinate your ride to your home's exact location. Does that sound better than trekking all the way back to our ancient home and across the sea on Turtlerock?"
Isaac's eyes glimmered with a wider smile at that idea, nodding again. "Yes, that sounds wonderful!"
"Alright, then it's settled, just as soon as I-"
The sound of rapid pawsteps and rushing into the door stopped both Isaac and Click cold, both turning to face the source of the noise and finding a S.P.U.D, panting for air and seeming to be in quite a hurry.
"S.P.U.D. ranger Hoaka!" Click cried out, abandoning the DNA scanner and rushing to the desheveled S.P.U.D.'s side. "What is the matter? What is the meaning of thi-"
"An inky Raposa..." Hoaka panted, then only managing out a little more before he collasped, "He wanted me to tell you that he is coming to see you." Isaac followed Click, bending down near the now fallen Hoaka. Meanwhile, the news shocked Click immediately, of course knowing too well what the S.P.U.D. meant by those words.
"But that's impossible..." he couldn't help but mutter bitterly to himself in anger now, "I completely locked out that meddling Wilfre! Both at the bulletin board AND with all of the speciallized rockets to get here!"
"Wilfre..." Isaac repeated to himself a little, then sighing as he added only in a thought. He never learns, does he...?
"Maybe I should go to him," Isaac then continued, as if to allow Click to calm down, knowing of his past with Wilfre.
"No," Click simply replied, heading to his desk once again, with a more offended glare but not at Isaac. "Your work is done here, and just need payment and a ride home. There is no need for you to be involved in this." As he said this, he reached under his desk, pulling out a pair of unusual boots, then slipping them on. After he had done so, Click opened the box that was still on his desk, pulling out the pair of what appeared to be giant, metal hands. "You did say that my H.A.N.D.S. were ready for use, correct?"
"Yes, but..." Isaac started in reply, but stopped when Click didn't listen to any more, slipping the mechanical hands over his paws like they were gloves, even flexing the fingers out and in again in a bit of practice.
"Then I think it's time to take them for a spin," Click replied, clinking his boots together, which caused them to expel some kind of fuel as he was lifted off the ground. "I want to make sure our Shadow Gooed guest is treated in the best way possible. After all, the URSF is VERY well known for it's hospitality..."
Sly chortled in glee as he heard the cries and screams of various S.P.U.D.s as he juggled them in his fake hands, them being fairly away from the ground. He picked up another, and another, and another still, adding them all to his juggling collection. He laughed harder, watching them all while the hands worked tirelessly. "You call yourselves defending rangers of the URSF?" Sly said while he did this, then laughing again at the position he had placed them into, "Please. Even a lowly BAKI could defend this place better than you!"
"Set them down NOW, Wilfre!" Yelled out a Raposa from a small distance, which approached quickly as well. Sly paused a bit, now only grasping the S.P.U.D.s in his fake hands, looking back behind him toward the source of the noise. "They are NOT your toys, you putrid fiend!" Sly looked at the approaching Raposa more, seeing that he was making his own entrance on a pair of jetboots, and also wearing a giant pair of metal hands that were also under the mustached Raposa's control. Sly simply chuckled, but did as he was told and letting the S.P.U.D.s flee for their lives, along with some stray villagers whom had began to panic long before.
"Your so-called S.P.U.D.s are incompetant fools," Sly replied when the approaching Raposa was soon near him, though still floating on his jetboots, "Especially the one I had sent to tell you of my presence. Honestly, didn't even tell you who I was?"
"Hoaka didn't need to tell me who you were," the Raposa sneered bitterly, narrowing his eyes in discust, "I could never forget how badly you betrayed us all, Wilfre. And now, I won't ever forget the upcoming memory of me pounding you down into Shadow dust for even showing your discusting face here!"
"My, such a violent-speaking Mayor," Sly replied again with crossed arms, not at all intiminated by the threat, "Also, I'll have you know that I am not Wilfre. Sly Hazard And Design Of Wilfre, also known as Sly, if you will. Though, I still can't believe I need to repeat myself."
"You can't fool me again, you manipulative little freak," Click scowled as his mechanical hands clenched tightly from his rage, "Whoever you want to call yourself, it's still the same to me." All but two of Sly's fake hands disappeared into his back again, while the remaining two cracked their knuckles while he huffed in triumph.
"If you're so smart, then you must know why I'm here," Sly simply answered, his fake arms appearing more menacing now, "So if you do, I suggest you simply surrender now. Let's face it Mayor Click; your forces are weak; even thirty of them couldn't even touch me! In the end, there is no outcome where I lose against you..." Click stared at the hands, a little fearful at what they were capable of.
"What ARE you planning?" he finally asked, his voice low with hatred, "Why couldn't you follow the instruction and stay away?"
"Let's just say my empire on the Raposa planet is having... Difficulties," Sly answered cooly, ignoring the other question entirely however, "So I need your futuristic city to help make it strong again, is all. Yeah sure, all of your little inhabitants, including yourself, will become corrupted, Shadowed Raposa; but you'll all be stronger beings that way. Now, do you want to settle this the easy way, or the hard way?"
Click growled at this, clenching the mechanical hands into tight fists at this point. He immediately denied such an atrocious offer. "I would rather die than hand over this city and everyone in it to a monster like you."
"That COULD be arranged..." Sly cackled as he said this, but afterwards tsked a little, "But I think you would be more worth being a Shadow Raposa. You'd still be in control of the city, you know. Not all is lost..." When Click only shook his head more, Sly sighed warily, shrugging before adding "Well, I tried to be diplomatic; but you fools never listen. Very well, force it is." Click had no time to react to the words, as suddenly the fake hands lunged at him. He let out a gasp, using his jets to fly out of reach. Once collected, he growled again, becoming defensive now as he flew back down at Sly to attack.
Sly used the fake arms to shield himself, but then let out a shriek of pain as Click yelled out a battle cry, followed by one of the mechanical fists tearing right through them. The broken in half fake arms fell to the metal ground, molding into mere Shadow Goo while Sly afterward tried to overcome the intense feeling of pain. Click however didn't even give him the time to recover, shooting downward more and landing more strong punches against his Shadowed body with the hands, not planning on stopping for anything. Soon Sly had hit the ground, dazed from the relentless attacking. Click wasted no time in grabbing him by the chest, then throwing him across the area in the city, Sly crashing against a habitarium.
Around him, the remaining villagers cheered Click on as they watched, meanwhile Sly soon finally recovered, getting back onto his backpaws, hissing in rage. Click merely continued to float in the air with his jets, staring the Shadow Being down. Soon Sly struck again, charging forward and even jumping into the air, right toward Click. As planned, it caused Click to fly back in defense, actually hitting him once more with the hands, sending him crashing straight down to the ground again, but unfortunately nearby the Shadow Goo. Letting out a wicked laugh, Sly stuck a paw into the Goo, absorbing it into his body, regenerating his fake arms, and actually making them stronger than before. After this was done, he got up onto his backpaws again, looking right up at Click.
Click could only watch as this occured, before trying to fly back more with widened eyes as the hands lunged at him again. This time however, they didn't stop lunging, due to Sly beginning to fly after him. Letting out a gasp of fear, Click continued to flee in his flight, higher into the air now and trying to outfly the chasing arms as they reached for him. Sly began to cackle as he continued to chase, before Click changed plans, looping in a large circle suddenly. This caused Sly to become a bit confused, his arms finally stopping as he searched for the now disappeared Mayor.
Then, Sly let out another yelp of pain from Click's attack from behind, punching not only against Sly's body but also the arms; and to his surprise didn't even budge or break apart like last time. Sly recovered quicker from the barrage, attacking Click in return and using his fake hands to grab onto him. With another gasp, Click immediately struggled, before lifting the jets into Sly's face and using the ejected, hot fuel against him. Sly yelled out in pain from the burning sensation on his face, letting go of Click in hopes of it ceasing. Sly soon growled deeply now, actually getting pretty irritated by how well this Mayor was defending his will off.
Oh, but I have the energy resources of two Raposa, he thought to himself, the growl turning into a snicker, Click does not. It's only a matter of time; he will tire out...
Click flexed the fingers of his mechanical hands, his nerves tense and adrenaline pumping in his veins, keeping him alert and focused on what could be Sly's next move. When one of the fake hands lunged for him again, he slammed his own mechanical one against it, sending it flying back. This process began with another, and another, and another still. Each hand rebuttal caused Click to move backward slightly, while Sly came forward. Once he felt Click was distracted enough, Sly suddenly came at him with full force, two actually grabbing onto his mechanical ones. With a gasp of surprise, Click did all he could to pull the hands off of his own, but it failed and he was left flailing like crazy.
Sly laughed from the pitiful sight of him doing this, until eventually the force Click had been attempting caused the hands to be removed, Click's paws becoming freed. Click found himself letting out a yelp of fear, followed by a gulp as Sly simply absorbed the mechanical hands into his body with an evil chuckle.
"Not so strong now, are you?" he simply stated, while Click suddenly took off on his jets, attempting to flee. Sly cackled, quickly following after him and soon using a fake hand to encase the Mayor into it's grip, yelling out "Oh no you don't! You're mine now to control, and you're going to have to accept it..." While Click struggled violently in the grip, Sly pulled the hand back towards him, until the two were face to face.
"You sick, twisted demon..." Click seethed even though he was afraid for his life. Sly only put one of his paws to his hip, scoffing lightly until a small ball of Shadow Goo appeared in the other. Lifting the ball up, he pressed it firmly against Click's forehead.
"It wouldn't be the first time someone called me that," he simply replied, and whatever else he would say next was cut off as Click let out the loudest, most painful scream made in his entire life; unable to fight against the force of Shadow Goo as it covered his body in it's black ink. It soon muffled and died away abruptly when the Goo covering him became in control, the glasses lens of his eyes becoming a pair of glowing white ones, and coupled with an equally glowing white grin. It became a wicked laugh, and soon Sly found himself releasing the now corrupted Click. His facial expression changed into a soft, kind smile as the once absorbed mechancial hands came out of his body again, in his paws now.
"Take these and make others join you," he instructed, as Click placed them over his Shadowed paws, soon enough the metal coating being covered in the Shadow Goo. "Make your new leader proud."
"I won't disappoint you, Sly," Click replied eagerly, before taking off, oddly enough going straight back where he was once before. But Sly didn't mind this one bit, believing Click knew what he was doing now. So instead of following, Sly decided to take his leave.
Meanwhile, from where they remained in the building, Isaac was lightly nudging a paw against the fallen S.P.U.D. ranger, hoping he would get up soon. "Hoaka, please!" he said as he did so, sighing a little to himself with drooping ears, "You have to get up! What if something bad were to happen?" Eventually, the ranger seemed to stir, opening his eyes a bit and looking at his surroundings.
"What... What happened?" he asked Isaac, while he was a little relieved now, smiling a bit.
"Wilfre happened," he said at first, before adding in assurance, "But Mayor Click is dealing with him, and I'm sure he knows what he's doing. But either way, I think we need to evacuate, just in case." Hoaka nodded, starting to get up with Isaac. "Um, do you know how to pilot a rocket, Hoaka?"
"Of course!" Hoaka replied, a bit prideful but not too much so, "All S.P.U.D. rangers get trained in flying a rocket. So I could easily get us somewhere on the planet that's safer... But where should we go?"
"Hm..." Isaac thought about this, before he replied more, "Well if it's Wilfre up to his evil things, the Village where I come from probably isn't so safe to go to. A shame, really, because I was looking forward to getting home to Mya and Cindi..." Hoaka rose an ear and drooped the other, raising an eyebrow as well in confusion. "Err, my wife and daughter," Isaac added, to which Hoaka understood this time.
"If Wilfre was able to get here, he probably passed by the ancient city of URSF," Hoaka soon replied with the thinking, "And probably butchered the place up as well... Isaac, right?" Isaac nodded a little after the pause. "Have you heard of Watersong? Or Lavasteam?"
Once again, Isaac nodded, sighing a little from the memories. "Yes, I know those places. Are you suggesting we go to either? It might work... Maybe even visit both and spread the news about Wilfre's return. That is, if they haven't already heard or done something about it..." The train of thought was interrupted when a glass window shattered apart, followed by a thud sound as another Raposa entered the room from there. Flinching, both Isaac and Hoaka turned to face the newcomer; and seeing Click, but now corrupted in Shadow Goo.
"C...Click?" Isaac started, then gasping and taking a pawstep back and shaking his head, his face falling in dispair. "No... Wilfre... What did Wilfre DO to you?" Click simply padded over to the two, one of the mechanical hands flexing slightly. Isaac began to shake like a leaf while Hoaka reached to pull out his gun to defend both him and Isaac.
"Stop where you are!" he cried out, making a brave face as he pointed the gun at Click, "I know you're our Mayor, but it doesn't give you any right to... To... Do whatever it is you're doing!" Click sneered from the idle threat, turning his attention to Isaac instead. Noticing this, Isaac's mind worked as fast as it could to come up with some sort of plan. At long last, he realized that for it to work, he'd need to be bait, a distraction; meanwhile Hoaka would be free to evacuate. So with this in mind, Isaac stepped back once more, reaching into a pocket and pulled out what looked like an ordinary hammer.
"Hoaka, get out of the URSF," Isaac tried to get out, glaring at Click now, "Don't worry about me; I'll be alright. Just go."
"But-" Hoaka butted in, but lowered his weapon a little as Isaac interrupted him by repeating the last two words but in higher volume. From this, Hoaka turned and left the room, as swiftly as he could. Isaac held the hammer firmly, pressing a button on the handle and then weilding it in both paws as it changed form; now it being a much larger hammer than before, but still fairly light in weight.
"Isaac, Isaac, Isaac," Click scoffed this time, his voice tainted. "Don't resist what I'm about to do. It's a lot less painful to just accept your fate." Isaac shook his head, holding the hammer tightly as he drew it back to attack defensively. Click rolled his eyes at the sight, before stepping back himself.
"Why do you hate Wilfre so much?" he suddenly asked, in a calm tone. Isaac wasn't sure how to respond to this sudden question, looking away for a moment then back at Click. When Isaac didn't answer, Click continued, "It wasn't even him, by the way. It was his Shadow Goo child, Sly. Actually, do you have any idea what it was like to be him at that point of time? Being covered in Shadow Goo?" Isaac refused to answer at first, still stepping back, his instincts overriding any emotion he felt at the moment; the only focus being survival. Suddenly, Click decided to use one of the mechanical hands, gripping the hammer being weld by Isaac, then roughly pulling it away from him and tossing it across the room.
Isaac gasped from suddenly finding himself defenseless, starting to pad away more but was soon against the wall while Click padded forward more, until he was inches from Isaac. "All these years, and you still hate him. Will you hate him forever? Perhaps it is your lack of forgiveness that made him this way. Your hatred scars him, Isaac." Isaac stared fearfully into Click's pools of white, his body shaking terribly and also wondering why Click would even suddenly bring up a topic like this. Isaac never even mentioned to him the past he and Wilfre shared...
"Click, stop...! It's not like y-" Isaac began but was interrupted when Click pulled him by the overall straps, the other mechanical hand forming a ball of Shadow Goo on a finger.
"Now you'll finally be able to understand his pain and suffering, Isaac," he only replied, firmly placing the ball against Isaac's forehead as he afterward began to wail in fear and struggle madly. "Maybe then, by learning the hard way, you'll come to forgive him at last. Then the true healing between you two can begin."