Chapter 26: Who is Evil?
Morning time, 9:22 AM
The rebels are asleep as the truck finally halts to a stop at a large wall with an enormous black gate at it's center. The walls are barb-wired at the top to keep things from getting in or leaving out and seem to stretch out miles on either side of the vast, hazy desert.
"Despite your damn assaults, I've managed to make it to Korubia." Merciless says on the wrist comm. to D.R. "The only damages are the trucks sides are filled with bullet holes and the auto pilot might have been damaged from the heat.
"Bah, all you do is bitch, bitch, BITCH! The doctor said once you get there to bring your ASS right back here on the double using the method he told you beforehand!"
"My ass, huh?"
"Yes, your sexy, tight, delicious, AS-!" Merciless shuts off the radio and sighs in disgust.
"Damn bastard will get his one day!" She examines the gate for a moment then leaves the truck. "I don't remember barb-wires on the wall on my previous visits here…Eggman must've planned ahead of time?"
"Is this the place? You don't seem too sure." asks a deep calm voice behind Merciless. She jumps, pulls out a pistol and quickly turned around and is shock with who she sees.
"Oh? You!"
Inside the truck, the rebels have all awakened and Flare notices Shadow's disappearance and gasps.
"Shadow's gone!" she cries. The truck doors open.
"Relax," Merciless assures her. "He's right here." When they all exit the truck, Shadow is outside waiting with his arms crossed.
"Shadow!? Thank goodness! Something seems different about you…"
"He's regained his memory, just as I'd hoped." says Red with a slight smirk.
"Yes." Shadow replied. "Thank you for that, Red." Red nods in response.
"You remember anything that happened so far?"
"It's all slowly coming back to me, I wasn't myself during those times so excuse my behavior from then. It was those chips attacking my memory cells but since my memory isn't gone I believe there was a purpose for that: to keep my strengths while making me feeble. Either Eggman fears me or he was planning on using me."
"That makes a lot of sense."
"Do you remember when you were bugged?" Merciless asks.
"I don't." Shadow replied in a low voice. "There's so many questions I have for him."
"How about your fall through the atmosphere that was on the news? I'm sure no one can survive that unless they had enough chaos energy running through them. I think yours ran out." Red asks. Shadow reaches beneath his quills and pulls out a green emerald. "Ah, of course! A chaos emerald!"
"This emerald protected me…that's all I know…" Shadow glances at the sky. "Maria…thank you..." Suddenly numerous transport helicopters fly in an land on nearby.
"Sure as hell, I knew I was right." Merciless announces. "He's captured rebels from other areas too!"
"There are other rebels!?" all except for Sonic, Shadow, and Red ask in surprise.
"Well, it only makes sense." said Sonia. "I mean, it's not like everyone would just sit around and let Eggman do what he wants." A violet calm-looking cat escorts an angry navy blue cat out of one of the helicopters.
"…and he on'y sent me here 'cause I rocked his bitch ass in da jaw before he flamed ma ass up! I'll do it again too! Crown me KING! CROWN ME KING BOY!" brags the blue cat as he starts dancing around even though he's handcuffed.
"Shut the hell up already! Damn! You been talking since we left there!" shouts the purple cat as he adjusted his sunglasses.
"Make me, son! Whatcha gonna do!" The purple cat shoves him to the ground and the blue cat flails wildly. Everyone sweat drops at this.
"AAAH! YO! THE GROUND IS MAD HOT! AH! DAMN IT! TOO HOT! I HATE THE GODDAMN HEAT! AAH!" The violet cat helps the fallen one up.
"Now shut up and wait."
"Man this freaking desert is mad hot, yo." He glances around. "Why I gots to be da only one witta hoody!? Ya'll need to get me something cooler like shorts and a tanktop man, but not none of them cheap ass suburban ones or I'll run 'round here butt-naked, for real!"
"An ice element." Red immediately noticed. More rebels are escorted out their helicopters and the gate finally opens. A convoy of desert military hummers and armored jeeps comes rolling out through the gate and surrounds the helicopters in an orderly fashion.
"Whoa, nice entrance." Manic and Sonic both complimented then they share a chuckle. Armed camel guards come out of the hummer and dismount from the back of the jeeps and aim their guns at the rebels, some while some search the immediate area. After exchanging words in camel language one of the soldiers speak on a walkie-talkie and an oversized hummer drives in from the gate and stop right in front of Merciless' truck. After a brief pause a few soldiers step out the hummer and escort out a tall extremely muscular camel who is about 7 feet tall. His cold expression and white mustache shows that he is in his early 40s though he wears sunglasses. He slowly approaches Merciless. Shadow somehow feels as if his presence matches his own.
"Good morning, General Mulaza. These are-" Mulaza holds his hand up to signal silent from the gray fox.
"I know who they are." states the general indicating Sonic and Shadow. "I want to see the one called Flare." Merciless looks at the bronze-eyed hedgehog and she steps forward. He examines her briefly with a grim expression. "I see. Well, I'm sure you've noticed the change, Merciless?"
"What's it for?"
"For the new battle domes created here. They've been finished for about a year now."
"Battle domes…?"
"They are stadiums created so people like us can fight freely without the fear of dying. Dr. Eggman told me to start registering any good fighting rebels just in case he needs them."
"Needs them!? You mean he thinks they'll just help him after being captured!?"
"Nah man, not me! Eff dat." cries the navy blue cat. "By the way, moose dude, you play b-ball? I bet you be dunkin' on MAD heads all day! YEAH!" Mulaza chants something under his breath and suddenly a shadowy aura surrounds the blue cat and he gets muted which shocks everyone.
"I am a camel, not a moose. Speak only when spoken to, feline!" The blue cat stands jaw-dropped in awe and tries to speak but no words come out. "Now, I have no idea what the doctor has planned but I do know, however, that Sonic, Shadow, and Flare must participate or I am forced to kill them on the spot. With that, the Mulaza points a pistol at Shadow's forehead.
"I don't care for your threat but I have no problem." says Shadow. Sonic and Flare nodd in agreement so the General withdraws his weapon.
"Sounds like fun!" exclaims Sonic.
"Good then that's all I need to say before I announce who are going to be fighters or not. Don't worry as the only bad thing about Korubia is the weather if you're not used to it as desert creatures such as me are. If the fighters decline they will be put to work mining in rocks all day and won't enjoy as much luxury as a fighter does. Fighters can walk about freely on non-battle days but to a certain limit and all fighters and workers are paid for their deeds as long as you all FOLLOW THE RULES! My secretary will explain more after my judgment." He looks at N. "The arenas aren't made for humans but you do get to serve at the Grand Dome where you will be treated with the utmost respect." He glances at Mighty. "Hmm. You seem like an armadillo that relies mainly on weapons. Though there are weapon matches here, it's no good for you to keep showing up in the same type of matches all the time." He looks at Manic and Sonia. "Nope, not good fighters at all." Both hedgehogs are quietly offend while Mighty shrugs.
"Hey, that's not right! How is that a good standard of selection? You can't just tell by looking!"
"Unfortunately I'm a very busy camel and I have nothing else to go by. We must quickly-" The general gets interrupted.
"Sir, LOOK!" cries one of the soldiers looking through binoculars. The general takes a look through the binoculars. In the distance and approaching fast are the same hover bike riders that wear white desert clothing and veils.
"Great desert hell, speak of the devil! Someone must've leaked that I was coming out here!" All the soldiers get into their battle ready positions. "Ok men, it'll take too long to retreat! Fire once they are in range!" He points to a yellow desert fox wearing a suit. "Razine! (pronounced Ray-zee-ne) Quickly escort them to the houses! I'll not run from these traitors again!"
"WOOT! Dis is what's poppin'~!" shouts the blue cat. "Hey, I got ma voice back!" Razine quickly moves some the rebels into the large hummer.
"In ya go! We wouldn't want to see anyone hurt so early now would we?" jokes Razine. He's a short yellow fox whose eyes are always seemingly close and wears a perpetual friendly smile.
"AHH!" screams a soldier who gets shot in the chest. "They…they're using sniper rifles…!"
"UGH!" Another soldier is shot and one by one soldiers slowly fall.
"Grr! Damn! Everyone, take cover!" shouts Mulaza as he takes cover behind a vehicle. Razine, what's talking so long!? Get out of here now!"
"But sir, I don't want to just leave you here!" cries Razine, also taking cover. A bullet pierces the jeep they're taking cover behind. "On the second thought, orders are orders!" Razine flees with the rebels he's escorting. Finally, the enemy comes near and hovers above all of them. Mulaza draws his pistol.
"Don't be so hasty, general!" says a woman's voice. Mulaza pauses. "They weren't aiming for you now were they?"
"Hold your fire!" Mulaza orders the remaining men. FLASH! Suddenly in a white ghostly flash, a female jackal with long black hair appears riding a hover bike with the other enemies. Unlike the rest, her identity is revealed. She stares down the general with cold, calculating, cobalt eyes.
"Mia! (pronounced Me-uh)" Shouts Mulaza angrily. "What you're doing is dishonorable and unjustifiable, stop this at once!"
"All I'm doing is clearing our beautiful state of the evil shadow element." replies Mia with a grin.
"What a smokescreen remark! You know I figured you out already!"
"You may have, but not the rest of Korubia did they?"
"…"
"I wonder what this is all about." ponders Red who managed to escape the escorting of the rebels and hide behind a jeep.
"You know I am the heir to the mayor of the state, you can't harm me can you?" the jackal taunts.
"Not until I can expose you! Your foot soldiers are already marked as rebels but they won't listen to me when I tell them you're behind it!" shouts Mulaza!
"Oh you won't be able to do that, nor will I allow it! In Korubia's eye soul is good and shadow is evil, everyone remembers what element assassinated the previous mayors, right? These supporters are no more of a devil than yourself. SOUL LIFT!" She raises her hand up, which now glows blue, and all the soldiers began to rise into the air with blue auras around them. They all yell in horror and confusion. Red tenses up but keeps hidden.
"When did you lock onto them!? STOP THIS!"
"Sorry General, we can't have anymore false rumors being spread. SOUL BURN!" FLASH! All of the soldiers drop to the ground motionless, their uniforms badly burned while Mulaza's pistol just bends out of shape and lands on the ground. Mia laughs at their misery and suddenly cocks back and holds her head, nearly losing her balance.
"What the...she burned them? But how?" Red thinks to himself. Mia takes out a device that fits on her top right temple and a red eye piece extracts from it. "That's...!" She looks down at Mulaza. "Damn, it isn't here. I had a feeling you wouldn't travel with it. Oh well, I'll let my men take over from here, I think I want your head as a trophy. Goodbye evil one, SOUL TRANSPORT!" She vanishes in a white ghostly flash again leaving her men behind. They fly towards the helpless general with their scimitars drawn.