Chapter 47
After Dr. Kintobor reverts back to normal some of the smaller crystals begin to break or fall apart but the solid pieces remain as Knuckles continues trying to break through the crystal imprisoning Saya. "I think I'm halfway there." Kolt said caching his breath for a moment. Amy notices Saya clench her chest as she slowly lowers to her knees looking lightheaded.
"We need to find a different way; I don't think she can breathe!" Amy said as he strikes at the crystal again,
"Shit!" Knuckles said striking at the crystal faster. The others rush over hearing Amy's alarm.
"What do we do?" Cream asked,
"I'll warp her out." Shadow said,
"Those crystals won't let you," Tails said as Shadow begins to panic as she sees Saya begin to stagger.
"Try to take slow breaths, we'll get you out of there." Alan said as She slowly nods. She puts her hand up and gives them a thumbs up but then collapses.
"No!" Shadow jumps up and Spin dashes drilling into the floor below her as she burros a path into the crystal prison next to Saya. "Saya? Saya breathe!" She yelled holding her in her arms as she slowly came to now having a line of oxygen,
"Oh hey, where'd you come from." She coughed as Shadow places her head on Saya's Chest.
"Don't scare me like that." Shadow said,
"Sorry, these weird crystals stopped me from transforming." Saya said taking slow breaths looking dazed.
"Just take it easy, Knuckles and Amy are working on breaking us out." Shadow said,
"How'd you get in here anyway?" Saya asked,
"I spin dashed through the floor, now stop talking and focus on breathing." Shadow said as Saya nods. Knuckles was able to break through the crystal prison and with Amy's help they were able to break an opening large enough for Shadow to carry Saya out.
"Uh Soph, I can walk." Saya said with a chuckle, waiting for her to let her down.
"You just passed out due to lack of oxygen, so no you won't." Shadow said,
"I can carry her if you want?" Amy said as Shadow glares at him,
"Not going to happen." She said, "Tails, let Elias know the situation is handled and that Dr. Kintobor is going to need medical attention."
"On it!" Tails said,
"We need to get you outside so people know you're safe." Shadow said walking toward the door but then seeing that it's blocked. She jumps up to the second floor and walks out with Saya.
"She seems to be in a bad mood again…" Knuckles said crossing his arms,
"She doesn't handle Saya being in danger well." Cream said,
"Elias said the Police are heading inside and that we should all head out together." Tails said flying after Shadow,
"You heard her." Blaze said as the rest of them follow as they catch up to Shadow.
The police rush up to them. "Anyone hurt?" One of them asked,
"We're taking her outside." Shadow said,
"The man is inside the other room; you'll have to go through the upper floor to get to him." Knuckles said as they nod,
"Thank you for your help." The officer said as they walk past them. Shadow looks down to see Saya covering her face,
"Stop hiding your face." Shadow said sounding annoyed,
"But it's embarrassing!" Saya said,
"We need to keep up appearances, we just rescued you remember?" She said as she moves her hands,
"Right…" Saya said avoiding eye contact. Shadow could see Saya's face was red. Her heart throbbed now realizing that she wanted to tease her again like the last time Saya covered her face from her. She shakes her head trying to ignore her thoughts.
"You're the one who wanted to do this." Cream said,
"Yeah," Saya said with a sigh as they walk outside. They are quickly blinded by flashing lights as reporters are yelling questions at them. Shadow walks towards Elias and Saya's father ignoring them. The officers move the barricade out of their way as Shadow lets Saya down and her father quickly embraces her.
"Are you hurt?" he asked looking her over,
"Nope, I told you everything would be okay." She said with a smile,
"You two get in the car, I'll meet you at your place." Elias whispered to them as they nod and climb into the car and it quickly drives off. "You should get that contained immediately." He said looking at Shadow as she nods, and they leave without saying a word to the reporters.
Saya and her father get back to their home where she sees her mother standing outside waiting for them. "I'm so glad you both are alright." She runs up and embraces them both.
"Not if you both squeeze the life out of me!" Saya squirmed as they let go. "We should get inside before any reporters show up." She said as they head inside,
"So what happened in there? That man wasn't even human anymore." Her father said.
"He was possessed by a shard of the Dark Chaos Emerald. The others were able to get it and he turned back to normal." Saya explained still trying to figure out exactly what happened.
"Isn't that what happened to you?" Her mom asked,
"Sort of…" She chuckles, "But I didn't become a crystal monster."
"But if he was possessed, why was he after you?" Her dad asked as she shrugs. Saya didn't want to worry them with what he said about wanting her back. They hear a knock at the front door.
"That's probably Elias," Her mom said going to the door.
"Can't you spend the night here?" Her dad asked, she shakes her head.
"I need to leave before the Reporters catch wind that I'm here. Eggman will definitely take any opportunity he can to get the jump on me." She said as Elias walks in.
"You feeling alright Saya?" Elias asked,
"No thanks to you."
"Dad! You can't take your frustrations out on Elias for a decision I made. Besides, there were hostages." She said, as he stops,
"Hurry up and finish this so our daughter can come home." He said as she goes up and hugs her dad trying to calm him down.
"I'm sorry to put you both through this." She said,
"Please be safe." Her mom said as she hugs her mom.
"I will." She said as she leaves with Elias.
"Did you want to stay?" Elias asked,
"No… staying too long makes it harder for me to leave." She said with a sigh, "And keeping my distance keeps them safe."
"I wish your parents could see how mature you truly are." Elias said ruffling her hair,
"Then don't treat me like a kid." She sticks her tongue out as he laughs. They climb into the car and head back to freedom HQ.
Back at HQ they quickly place the Dark Chaos shard into the container as it quickly fuses together. "Kolt, can you tell how many more pieces are left?" TK asked as Kolt looks it over,
"I can't be one hundred percent sure, but it looks like maybe two or three pieces?" He said,
"So three pieces are still out there." Brandy said,
"I don't like how we ran onto two pieces just barely twenty-four hours apart from one another." Sophia said,
"It's almost like they're trying to be found." TK said,
"Do you think it's trying to get to Saya?" Caroline asked,
"That would make sense, it's rather convenient that she's the only one that can sense it. Almost like it's trying to lure her or something." Alan said,
"We need to figure out a way to make sure this Dark Chaos Emerald isn't able to draw Saya in. TK, this may be an odd question, but would you be able to replicate my inhibitor rings?" Sophia asked as they all look at her surprised.
"A counter measure in case somehow Dark Sonic returns… I might be able to, but I'll need power rings and they take a long time to make." TK said,
"What will you need?" Sophia asked,
"I'll need a water source that we can store in the Alter room. Then I'll need Knuckles and Tikal's help creating a way to channel into it to make it a small power ring pool." She explained,
"If we have power rings all the time it would be really helpful." Alan said as they all nod.
"I'll ask Elias about it when he gets back. And we do not tell Saya about the Inhibitors. She needs to be unaware of them if we want to get the jump on Dark Sonic if they return." She said leaving the room.
"I think whatever happened with Dr. Kintobor has her spooked." Kolt said,
"You also saw what happened to Saya in the ruins. It was almost like she was in a trance." Brandy said,
"I think the more these are collected, the harder it will be for Saya to resist it…" TK said, "The rings are a really good backup plan."
"I don't like keeping things from her…" Alan said,
"We have to, Sophia's right. If Dark Sonic knows about them, we won't be able to get the jump on her." Kolt said, "I don't know about you, but I don't feel like almost getting beaten to death again." He could never forget how she moped the floor with them in Eggman's underwater base and how it almost cost him his life.
"This is all so depressing…" Caroline said as Brandy pats her back,
"Let's go grab the Chao Egg." She said as they walk out of TK's workshop.
"I know you don't like it but it's best for her." TK said as the rest of them leave the workshop as Saya walks up to them.
"All contained?" Saya asked,
"Yep." TK said,
"Not gonna lie I know plans go sideways but… that was unexpected." Saya said,
"What exactly happened?" TK asked walking up to her,
"Dr Kintobor was possessed by the Dark Chaos Emerald. I don't even think he knew what he was doing." She said, "That's not all… it said something about… wanting me back." Saya shivers as she said that.
"It said that?" Kolt asked,
"Yeah it literally said, we want you back. On top of calling me Sonic. Last I checked Kintobor didn't know my name." She said, "What did it mean by we?"
"We should be extra careful; I think you should steer clear of the workshop while the Dark Chaos Emerald in in there." TK said using that as the perfect excuse for keeping Saya away from the workshop while she makes the limit rings,
"Good idea, I don't want to risk becoming a crystal monster." Saya joked as they all head to the kitchen. Caroline and Brandy were already there, prepping dinner.
"How are you feeling Saya?" Caroline asked,
"All good," She said with a thumbs up, "Where's Soph?"
"She's talking with Elias about getting a fountain put into the Alter room." Brandy said,
"Uh, why?" She asked,
"I'm going to create a fountain of power rings." TK said,
"That would be helpful," Saya said,
"Definitely would have helped me break that crystal earlier." Kolt said helping keep up the story.
"I hope it works then," She said as they all start eating. Sophia walks in and grabs her food then quickly leaves.
"She's being distant again…" TK lets out a sigh, Caroline gives Brandy a look as they both shake their heads.
"Probably something I did." Saya looks away, still not sure why Sophia was mad at her.
"Speaking of stuff you did, how was your date with Alan?" Kolt said as Saya's face goes red, almost choking on her food.
"It was not a date!" She quickly argues with a cough,
"Wait really?" Kolt said looking surprised, "You lied to me!" Kolt turns to Alan,
"Hey! You're the one who's gullible, not me." He laughs,
"I think I'm going to turn in early… it's been a long day…" Saya said getting up to leave,
"It's hatching!" Caroline said. Saya stops as they all watch the egg begin to move as it cracks open. A small white and blue Chao emerges with small golden wings and halo above its head,
"It's beautiful!" TK said, the chao flies and nuzzles Caroline's cheek,
"Aw!" Saya said,
"I've never seen a Chao with this coloration pattern." Kolt said,
"What are you going to name them?" Alan asked,
"Their name is Hope, something that is represented with new life." Caroline said,
"That's beautiful Caroline." Brandy said,
"Mando cool." Saya said as Hope flies over to her face and nuzzles her cheek, "Hey! That tickles!" She giggles as Hope goes up to each one of them and nuzzles them.
"Looks like Hope likes all of us." TK said with a smile,
"I'm glad." Caroline smiles as the evening winds down and they all head to bed.
A few weeks pass and Saya has barely seen Sophia since what happened at the courthouse. She figured that Sophia must be really mad at her, but she won't stay around long enough for Saya to ask her about it. It's gotten to the point where Sophia was going on missions with Team Dark just to avoid her. Saya goes to talk to Kolt and see if he has any insight to why Sophia might be avoiding her. She enters the Alter room where she sees TK and Kolt hovering near the newly installed fountain.
"Hey Saya! You're just in time! We're seeing if a power ring is created." TK said waving her over.
"Oh?" She leans over TK's shoulder as they watch a golden ring float to the surface of the fountain.
"Okay Kolt." TK said as he nods and reaches his hand into the fountain and grabs the ring. It solidifies in his hand as he lifts it out of the water. "It worked!"
"We don't know that for sure," Kolt said,
"Care if I try?" Saya asked as they both nod. She transforms and Kolt hands her the power ring as she tightens her grip around it the power disperses. As the ring disappears, Sonic body looks super charged with blue electrical energy. "This is awesome!"
"You should probably go burn that energy off." Kolt said as she smiles and before they could even blink, she was gone. "How long until another one is made?
"I'm not sure." TK said,
"Well I'll keep an eye on it and bring them to your lab." He said as his phone chimes. He checks his phone and then frowns.
"Everything alright?" TK asked,
"Y… Yeah, all good. Just parents being parents." He said putting his phone away.
"I hear you; my mom keeps trying to send care packages full of stuffed animals. I asked her to stop giving me those years ago… I'm not a kid anymore." TK pouts as Sonic comes back.
"Don't tell Elias but I just ran to the other side of the continent and back." She said transforming back, "Man that's a boost. How long till the next one shows?"
"Not sure yet. But I need to get some stuff from my workshop. I'll be right back!" TK said leaving,
"Hey Kolt, can I ask you something?" Saya asked,
"What's up?"
"Do you know why Sophia's avoiding me?" She asked as he ponders,
"Sorry, she hasn't said anything to me. Not that I think she would." He shrugs as Saya lets out a loud sigh and sits against the wall. "What's wrong?" he asked sitting next to her.
"Ever since we came back from Angel Island she's been really distant and standoffish. I'm pretty sure she's mad at me for some reason but she's avoiding me so much I can't ask her what I did wrong. She's acting like she did when we first transformed." Saya said curling her legs in and resting her chin on her knee looking sad,
"I can't say for Sophia but sometimes we forget that when we met Shadow, he was trying to destroy the world for revenge. But then he helped save it… Maybe there's good in everyone." Kolt said,
"Uh… okay?" Saya looked at him confused and didn't know what he was talking about. "I don't know how Shadow going from evil to good explains why Sophia's avoiding me." She shrugs,
"Sorry, guess I've just been in my own head for too long." He chuckles, as Saya just lets out another sigh.
"I should just let it go… If Sophia doesn't want to talk to me that's her choice…" She looks down at her hand remembering how safe she felt when they walked through Angel Island and how they were able to overcome their mirror selves together. She didn't say it. but she's felt different ever since Angel Island too but didn't know why.
"Why do you want her to talk to you so bad?" Kolt asked,
"Because we're friends!... At least…I… I thought we were. I'd hope you'd want to come talk to me if something was on your mind." She said as he looks away for a moment,
"Actually…" he pulls his phone out, "I got a message… from Professor Ivo."
"At least he's talking to you." She said letting out a long sigh before it clicks, registering the name, "Wait! Eggman messaged you?" She yelled jumping to her feet,
"That's just it… I'm not sure it was Eggman." He holds out his phone as she quickly takes it, it read; please, I need your help I don't have long.
"This is obviously a trap." Saya said not looking convinced,
"You don't know that." Kolt said,
"Kolt, Eggman has used every scam in the book to trick you in the past. There's no way he wouldn't use your connection to Ivo to get to you. Especially now that he knows you can read Echidna." Saya said,
"But what if it's actually him? You broke free of the hypnotism, right?" Kolt said,
"No… I only broke free because my Chaos Emerald ran out of power." She said as his expression turns grim. "I know you want to save your friend but walking into a trap won't help him." She kneels down next to him.
"Says the person who walks into traps all the time." He said rolling his eyes,
"Wow, that was an attack at my pride! You know what, fine! Let's go see what Elias says," She said pulling him pulling him to his feet.
"Wait what?" Kolt said,
"You want to make sure it's Ivo and not Eggman right? let's go ask Elias." She said dragging him out of the Alter room.
"Everything alright?" TK asked as Saya grabs her hand,
"You're coming too!" Saya said,
"Wait! What's going on?" TK asked as she's dragged to the computer room as Saya explains everything to Elias,
"And you believe it's Professor Ivo that's messaging you?" he asked,
"There's no way to check for sure unless we see for ourselves." Kolt said,
"But it's probably a trap." TK said,
"Kolt wants to be bait." Saya said crossing her arms.
"That's a terrible idea." Elias said,
"You let Saya do it all the time." Kolt said,
"That's not a good enough reason. Besides, Sophia is on a mission and Brandy, Caroline and Alan are looking for a spot for the Chao garden." Elias said,
"The three of us can handle it." Saya said, "And now that we know the Power rings work, we have the upper hand."
"It would look less suspicious…" TK said as she sees both Saya and Kolt giving her the, we're selling you to our argument face, "But…"
"C'mon TK we can just go and check it out. And if something goes wrong, I'll run in, grab Kolt and we escape."
"That was literally the plan at the courthouse and you almost suffocated…" TK argued,
"Yeah there was weird Chaos shenanigans going on. This is Eggman, you know what he's got? Robots." Saya said,
"What's your plan?" Elias asked,
"The first message is the number of his office at the College. I think he left something there for me to find." Kolt said,
"There won't be a lot of people since it's summer, so it'll be easy for us to walk around and not draw attention to ourselves." Saya said,
"You three are going to go even if I say no, aren't you?" Elias asked as Saya smiles, "Take your tracking devices." He lets out a sigh, as Saya goes and grabs them.
"We'll let you know what we find," Saya said,
"We should see if there's another power ring we can take… Just in case…" TK said as they all head back to the alter room.
"Thanks for doing this guys." Kolt said,
"Are we sure it should just be the three of us?" TK asked,
"We can handle it, just like old times. Like when we fought Neo Metal Sonic." Saya said as they see the fountain glowing, "Cool another ring," she grabs it and places it in her pocket. "Let's go!" She said as they head to the Twin Tornado and head out.