Danger looms! Despite recent victories
in the Outer Zones, criminal minds plot
at the very heart of the Republic! The
bounty hunter Fleabyte has assembled
some of the deadliest criminals in the
galaxy and plans a daring attack to
seize members of the Senate. What can
be the aim of this despicable act?
Fleabyte was on a transport heading towards the Senate building "Here we go" he said and shadowy figures behind him ducked down. The transport landed at a platform and they heard a voice over a PA system "Attention! Attention! This is a restricted area. No landing is permitted without authorization. Violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law". Fleabyte jumped out and a group of human guards walked up to him "Put up your hands" one of them ordered. Fleabyte remained calm "I have an appointment with the Senate. How about you boys step aside" "On your knees! Raise your hands". Fleabyte smirked "Son, I wouldn't be so hasty if I were you" a sniper shot suddenly killed one of the guards. Four reprogrammed Metals came out of the transport and fired on the rest. Fleabyte ran up to one of them and snapped his neck as more were getting picked off by the sniper. Once cleared Fleabyte waved up to the tower where the shots were coming from. The Metals removed the bodies when one of their commlinks activated "Base to Platform, what was all that". One of the Metals kneeled down and spoke with the guard's voice "Protesters against the war. We've taken care of them". Another transport arrived carrying Nicolette and male mouse. Two of the Metals disguised as guards while the others followed Fleabyte inside the Senate building.
Elsewhere Tikal was in her office at her desk with Shadow sitting in a chair looking bored "You know I'm supposed to be on meditative leave. We could go away somewhere together". Tikal raised her eyebrows and smirked at him "Considering you're a war hero and I'm a well-known Senator where exactly can we go without being recognised?". "Well first thanks for the compliment and secondly I know a place far away. No one would know", Tikal didn't answer and continued working. "Come on. We could actually act like husband and wife for once and plus it'd be nice to not need Fang for Razor covering for us" "I…I can't, Shadow" she answered regretfully. "What'd you mean you can't? Its only two weeks and we both have an excuse" "You have an excuse. I have a bill I need to bring before the Senate. It's important". Shadow pretended to be hurt "More important than me?" she rolled her eyes and half-heartedly smiled "No, of course not. You're my love, my life and my everything" she said jokingly.
He chuckled and crossed his arms "You know the difference between you and me is I'm not joking when I say that". She stared at the screen in front of her and rolled her eyes again. Shadow smiled in surprise and walked up to her "You don't believe me, do you?" "Well, you do love your corny lines" she replied, although she did love his corny lines too. "Fine I'll prove it" he held out his lightsaber. Tikal stared at him for a moment not understanding, "When I made this, Espio said to me 'Shadow, this weapon is your life' and he's right. This is my life". He held it out to her, she stood up and shook her head "No, Shadow, I can't. A Shinobi lightsaber is-" Shadow took her hand and gave her the lightsaber. She looked surprised "Wow, it's heavier than I thought" "Do you believe me now?". A smile slowly formed on her face and she leaned in closer him "Just to be clear. I wasn't joking either" the two kissed.
Fleabyte and his group were at the doors of a control station with another dead guard at their feet. They entered the cylindrical that had four robots inside. They shot three of the and the fourth tried to make a run for it but was shot in the back. "You know what to do" Fleabyte said to the mouse, "I'll have it off in no time". The mouse went over to a computer terminal while the others left. "The rest of your, come with me" Fleabyte said before leaving the room.
Shadow and Tikal were kissing when "Mistress Tikal said she didn't want to be disturbed" "I'm sorry but this can't be delayed" it was Orbot and Wynmacher. "Quick hide" Tikal told him, Shadow quickly went under the desk as Tikal went to the front and hid the lightsaber behind her back. The two entered "I apologias for my abruptness" "Oh, Senator Wynmacher, how good to see you. What is it?" she tried to hide her nervousness. Orbot was looking around the room confused but Wynmacher didn't notice "A meeting has been called in the lobby before we vote on the enhanced privacy invasion bill. We must hurry if we're to stop it" "Hm, privacy invasion" Tikal said to herself amused. "Coming, Senator?" "Yes. Orbot, could you please sort my reports while I'm gone?" "Of course, Milady". Tikal and Wynmacher walked out of the office with her having to take the lightsaber. Once the door closed Orbot looked around "Master Shadow?", he stepped out "Right here".
Fleabyte and the others were sneaking through the hallway, at a corner they stopped "Wait, guard change happens now" they saw a group of guards heading into security station "Here we go" Fleabyte said amused. He armed a grenade and threw it inside before closing the door, he tipped his hat right before the explosion. "Now let's go talk to some senators" they walked past the door and Nicolette saw an injured guard crawl out "Help me" he pleaded. She looked down at him coldly before pulling out her pistol "No, plea-" she shot him through the head.
In the lobby a large group of senators were taking to Wynmacher "We cannot allow the Chancellor to move this bill forward" they suddenly heard laser shots. They turned and saw Fleabyte's group "Morning, senators. You should all consider yourselves to be under our power. Behave and this should be quick and painless. Do nothing and it will al be over soon". The group were surrounded but a lemming Senator stepped forward "I don't know who you think you are but I for one have no intention of listening to this kind of insolence". He walked past Fleabyte who then coldly shot him in the back. The senators gasped as Fleabyte holstered his weapon "Now if you all stand in the centre of this room my people will take your communication devices from you". Tikal stood next to Wynmacher "I see five of them here in the room. If we-" "What're you going to do? It's not like we carry weapons".
Solaris was in his office when Senator Alexander entered looking worried "Chancellor Solaris, you have to see this". He activated the holo-unit and it showed Fleabyte "Sorry to bother you, Chancellor but I have taken control of the east wing of your Senate building and the occupants are now my hostages. If you care about them, I'd advise you to free Mike the Ox from the detention centre". Solaris stared angrily at him "You should know that the Republic doesn't take kindly to such threats. If you have attempted a fool hardy action such as this, I assure you that it will be met with appropriate force". All the power suddenly turned off causing the doors to shut "I'm in control. I make the rules now" "They've triggered the security system" Senator Alexander said in shock. Solaris tried to change the frequency on the holo-unit "This is Chancellor Solaris. There is an emergency at the Senate. Shinobi Council, come in" "It's no use, sir. They've cut off all communication".
Shadow was still in the office catching up with Orbot "So, they were actually fooled by him wearing my robe?" "Yes. It worked surprisingly well. I was the one who called reinforcements though". Shadow chucked "I definitely didn't see any of that on the report. I wonder he didn't tell me" "He was concerned you would mock him for it". Shadow stared at Orbit surprised "But you don't care if i do that?" "Not really". Shadow laughed at his old creation when the lights suddenly turned off and the emergency lighting activated making the room red. "What the hell?" Shadow said sounding confused "Orbot, stay here" he threw the robot a commlink before running out of the room.
Nicolette and one of the Metals were taking devices from people, Tikal looked down at the lightsaber she was hiding. She looked to Wynmacher "I can't let them search me" "Why" "I have something they can't find". Fleabyte came up to her "Well hello there, little lady. Who might you be?" she stared at him defiantly "I am Senator Tikal of Albion and I demand you release us immediately. The Galactic Senate will not treat with terrorists". Tikal then noticed Shadow was on a balcony above them watching. Fleabyte saw her eyes glance behind him and he turned to see Shadow. He fired at him forcing Shadow to run "Shadow? After him!". Two of the Metals run up the stairs. Shadow hid in one of the rooms and took out his commlink "Orbot, contact the Shinobi Temple" "I can't, Master Shadow. We're being blocked". Shadow sighed "Okay. Connect the commlink to the unit. I might be able to talk to the Chancellor that way" "Yes, sir". After a minute, the commlink beeped "Chancellor Solaris, are you there?" "My dear boy. I'm glad to know your there". Shadow heard steps "Chancellor, quickly, what's happening?" "The building has been sealed. You need to get to the power control room and reboot the security system". Shadow heard the steps getting closer so he ran up next to the door and waited. Once the door opened a Metal entered and Shadow tackled it to the ground. He tried to grab its blaster, but the Metal crushed the barrel stopping Shadow from shooting it. He started beating the Metal with the weapon until its eyes stopped glowing. Shadow quickly ran out of sight before another Metal arrived and examined the body of its brother.
He re-entered the lobby "Where's the other one?" Fleabyte asked, "Gone. But his body had no lightsaber marks. The Shinobi is unarmed". Everyone started muttering, Tikal turned to Wynmacher "The lightsaber. I've got it" "What?" she showed him it. "What're you doing with a Shinobi's lightsaber?" "That doesn't matter right now. What matters is getting back to Sha- the Shinobi knight or use it ourselves". Fleabyte fired a shot to silence everyone "Quiet. I've got a call to make" he took out a holo-disc which showed Solaris. "Here's what you're going to do, Chancellor. You're going to make a pardon disc that you'll give to your friend. My ship will come and pick him up and take him to the prison. Once Mike has been released and handed over to me, I shall release your associates. Understood?". Solaris glared t him "Oh, I understand. But I feel it is my duty to warn you that you'll end up paying for this outrage" "I can live with that".
Shadow made it to the control room, but it was locked form the inside, but he then heard something behind him. He turned and saw a grinning Nicolette. She fired at him and he quickly dodged the blasts. He pulled the blaster out of her hands but the door opened behind him and the mouse jumped out. He grabbed Shadow's neck and shocked him with a device. Shadow screamed in pain before falling to the ground unconscious "Tie him up. We'll bring him to Fleabyte" Nicolette said.
Solaris handed Alexander something "Here's the pardon disc" a Metal entered "Let's go". Alexander reluctantly followed him "Sorry, Senator" Solaris said as Alexander outside and was taken to a transport.
Nicolette dragged Shadow into the lobby with his wrists tethered. Fleabyte smiled "Ah, Shadow the Hedgehog. So nice to see you again. Not so impressive without your lightsaber are you, Shinobi?", Nicolette put him with the others. Tikal turned Shadow's body around and checked if he was still alive. Fleabyte turned to the mouse "Do you have the parting gifts?", he nodded and started placing devices around the walls.
The transport arrived at the detention centre where a line of clones was waiting. Alexander walked off the transport and the doors to the centre opened revealing Mike the Ox who recoiled from the sun "Ah, it's to bright out here. Why couldn't we do this at night when it's cooler". The prisoners were exchanged, and Mike was taken to the transport "Now get me as far away from Mobotropolis as possible". It took off "We are to rendezvous at the Senate building" the Metal said which scared Mike "What?" the Metal ignored him.
Fleabyte was again speaking to a hologram of Solaris "Well, Mr Chancellor, thanks to your calm leadership the crisis had past. I got what I wanted so I return your Senate and Senators. But don't try anything until the sun has set. Understand". Solaris gave a slight nod "Yes. I understand". The hologram deactivated and the devices around the room shot laser beams "If you so much as breath near one of these lasers the whole room will blow up. Senators, I bid you all a most respectful farewell" Fleabyte told them before he and the others left.
Clones rappelled through the window of Solaris' office "All clear. Sir, are you alright?" one of them asked Solaris. "I'm fine. The Senators?" "We have gunships on the way" he then activated his commlink "Mission accomplished, sir. The Chancellor is safe" "Well done, Captain" Alexander said on the other end.
The gunships arrived at the Senator building as the Bounty hunters exited. The clones led by Commander Geoffrey exited the ships and pointed their blasters at them but Fleabyte wasn't worried. His commlink activated "You were foolish to think you could get away with this, bounty hunter. Lay down your arms and come quietly" Solaris told him. Fleabyte smirked "No chance. I'm afraid it is you who have been foolish. One false move and the east wing of the Senate building will go up in smoke". He looked to the clones "Drop them", Geoffrey glared at him before lowering his weapon "Stand down" the other clones did so. The transport arrived and the bounty hunters boarded with no trouble. As it took off Mike turned to Fleabyte "Thank you for saving me form that from that horrifying place. I doubt I'll ever recover" "How about some dead senators as payback?" he pressed the detonator.
A short time before, Shadow woke with Tikal kneeling over him, he was about to say something then noticed the other senators. He stood up as Nestor the Echidna stepped forward "The bounty hunter said we should just sit here" "I know Fleabyte. That's not a good idea. If only I had my lightsaber" he said frustrated. "You mean this" he turned and saw Tikal holding it "I found it where you dropped it" she smiled at him. She ignited the lightsaber and cut the tether around Shadow's wrists. Shadow smirked and turned to the others "You might want to prepare for a drop" he started cutting a circle around the Senators. The floor dropped them to the lower-level right before the room blew up. Shadow helped Tikal up "Another daring rescue, Master Shinobi" "I do my best, Senator".