Death and destruction! Scourge
and Fleetway the Hedgehog spread chaos
as they descend on the Outer Zones.
After rescuing his brother from
despair, Fleetway and Scourge murder and
pillage at every turn. Fuelled by
rage and vengeance, they search
for meaning in their new alliance
as reports of their brutal attacks
spread across the galaxy...
On a space station a group of hunter robots were patrolling when the lights suddenly went out. They headed to the main control station "357, have you found anyone in the south passage?" one of them said but there was no answer "357, where are you?". They opened the door on the opposite side and at the end of a hallway they saw one of theirs' getting cut in half by Scourge "Intruders!". Scourge followed by Fleetway ran inside and cut through the hunters without getting hit. Fleetway looked around and saw a safe, he used his lightsaber to cut the lock and he opened it to find it was full of rings. He grinned "Look, brother, a fortune" "A true fortune will be killing Espio. Rings are meaningless without a plan to survive. The Shinobi are hunting us. We will be forced to make a stand". Fleetway didn't look worried "Then we will deal with them" "There are too many. To continue, we need one singular vision. Mine" he turned to his brother and crossed his arms. "Brother, let us share our strength. There is no need for dominance between us" Fleetway said. Scourged dismissively shook his head "There are always two, my brother, a master and an apprentice". He stepped closer to him and mockingly pushed his shoulder "And you are the apprentice". Scourge walked away but he heard a snarl before Fleetway ignited his lightsaber. Scourge was amused "I guess it's time for a lesson" he ignited his own lightsaber. Fleetway charged at him but Scourge deflected all his attacks, grabbed his wrist and spin kicked him against the wall. He put his foot on Fleetway's chest, "You have grown so powerful" the yellow hedgehog said in surprise. Scourge helped him up "And I'll complete your training, not as your brother, as your master".
Later Espio was in the cockpit of a shuttle with Erma, they were heading to the same space station "The distress signal is come from here" Espio said. "We're close to the earlier attacks" Erma told him, Espio nodded "I have a feeling it's them. They landed inside where the stations vulture owner met them. He took them to the control station where the hunters remain were lying "They ought to be flush. Rings were all unlocked. No way to trace them. All done by two of the crabbiest hedgehogs this side of the Hydian". "Were they alone?" Espio asked him, "Yeah. What were they, a couple of Shinobi gone rogue or something?". Espio and Erma looked to each other before the former answered, "They're not Shinobi" "Could you do me a favour and spark up that lightsaber?". Espio did so making the vulture nod "Well, the hunter's memory units showed theirs was red". Espio deactivated his lightsaber "They are Raiju, and we need to find them before they strike again" "Well, they took my cargo ship. The Hunter survivor said they heard something about the Sertar zone". Espio and Erma headed back to the ship, the former looked troubled, "What's in the Sertar sector?" Erma asked him. "That's where Mobodoon is" Espio answered, "You've been there? What can we expect?" "Pirates".
The cargo ship arrived a Mobodoon where a saucer was waiting. The saucer's zebra captain sat up "Get me a read out on that ship" "There are life-form aboard. The main reactor and hyperdrive generator are down. I think they're stranded" one of the bridge crew said. The zebra laughed "And their communications?" "Operational but silenced". The zebra looked pleased "We'll kill anyone on board and take the ship. Let's hope they have wealth of cargo" they attached to the ship's airlock. The crew entered the dark cargo ship, they checked the crates and found weapons and valuable spices "Manic will be pleased. We drink tonight. Now find me those lifeforms". Scourge and Fleetway then jumped down in front of them, "Shinobi" the crew fired on them but Scourged charged forward and grabbed the zebra by the throat making the others stop. "Do you want to live?" "Yes, very badly" the zebra replied through his gasps. Scourge dropped him and Fleetway went over to a safe and showed them the rings "We will make you rich". Scourge nodded "Your skills could serve us well. The choice is yours". The zebra looked confused "You're hiring us? What kind of Shinobi are you?". This angered Scourge "We're not Shinobi! We are lords… crime lords" "We work for Manic. You'll have to pay us a lot to betray him" "Money is of no object for men like us. You will have all that you desire and more if you pledge yourselves to me". The Zebra grinned "All right. I'm tired of working for Manic anyway. I'll call up a couple of the boys and see if they'll join us".
Two more saucers arrived, and their captains boarded the cargo ship. The dog captain shook his head "I am certain Manic will never throw in with you" "Manic's base will soon be ours, and he will not survive this unless he accepts the same offer I am giving you". "I'm in" most of them said except for the dog "I'm not sure. Let's see what says about that".
On Mobodoon the pirates base was destroyed, and they were now all living in the wreckage. Manic was sitting at his desk listening to a hologram of Scourge "Three of your men have already joined me". Manic seemed shocked "Traitors. Scum! I'm so proud" he smirked before faking sadness "But so betrayed". Scourge walked behind the dog captain "There is a penalty for resistance" he stabbed him through the chest. Manic was surprised for real this time but then stood up "Let me warn you, you're not the first laser sword-wielding maniac I've had to deal with, and I survive every time". Scourge glared at him "We shall see".
The Shinobi shuttle jumped out of hyperspace and saw the saucers "I have a match on the cargo ship" Erma said, "It seems Scourge and Fleetway have picked up a pirate escort". "Maybe they're unloading the stolen cargo" Erma suggested, "I'm not sure the pirate Manic would have an alliance with them". Erma looked at him curiously "So you know this Manic personally?" "Unfortunately, yes". He activated the holo-unit and saw Manic "Espio. My aren't I popular today" "Greetings, Manic". Manic looked angry "Greetings? What kind of menace have you brought to my planet now? First, you lose this system and Dark Oak comes in with his badniks and destroy my stronghold, leaving me here to just rummage through the leftovers of my once great empire. And now these two crazy hedgehogs show up. Who are these maniacs? They don't seem like normal Shinobi". Espio shook his head "Not Shinobi, Manic, Raiju. We tracked them here" "They just threatened to attack with a group of my men. My own men!". Espio nodded "Yes, we're looking at them right now. A cargo vessel is with three of your starships. They're heading for you, Manic". Manic put his hand up to stop Espio talking "More to the point, are you going to help me when you get here?" "There's nothing we can do about your men, but we can certainly do something about the Raiju". Manic nodded "Good. I'll deal with my men. You deal with the crazies".
Manic stood up as he watched the saucers landing "Well, that settles it. Those traitors are no longer my men. I want their tongues!" he yelled at the pirates who were charging with blasters. Scourge's pirates charged out of the ships and a firefight ensued between the two. The two hedgehogs walked out of their cargo ship when Fleetway saw something "Brother, the Shinobi, they've found us". Scourge looked and saw the shuttle landing on top of a hill "No, it's too soon. My plan isn't finished yet". They both ran up to the shuttle as the Shinobi exited. They all ignited their lightsabers and Espio smirked "Throwing in with pirates now? Oh, how the mighty Raiju have fallen". Scourge went for Espio while Fleetway went for Erma. They all jumped down into the wreckage of the pirate's base. Scourge's men were managing to push Manic's back. Espio and Scourge were fighting on a pile of junk "I have plans, Espio, and you won't stand in my way this time". Erma was pushed with the Force by Fleetway into a wall. Taking advantage of her disorientation Fleetway charge forward and stabbed her through the stomach, "No!" Espio yelled. He jumped down and kicked Fleetway to the ground. He was about to kill him, but Scourge jumped down and stopped him.
The two hedgehogs then attacked Espio together. He saw that Manic and his men were retreating into what was left of the structure "Espio this way!". He used the force to pull Erma's pink lightsaber towards him, he jumped down and rushed inside. Manic sealed the door before they went deeper inside. Some of his men were carrying a cannon "Take it down the hall. We will ambush those traitors there". He then turned to Espio "We could use your help. Where is the other Shinobi?" "She's… she's dead". Manic's eyes opened wide "She's de… They're too powerful than even you? I am semi-speechless". They heard the door get forced open "I'll draw the brothers away. Once that's done, blast the passageway closed" "And leave you alone with the two crazies?... Yeah. Okay". They saw the hedgehogs and pirates come across the corner. Espio and Manic ran and went different ways. The hedgehogs followed Espio while their men followed Manic who then shot the roof separating the two sides. Manic turned a corner and when his pursuers did so they saw the cannon pointing at him. They stopped and immediately put their arms up. Manic walked forward looking smug "Are you still willing to fight me? The Raiju aren't interested in helping you. They're only interested in Espio". The zebra got on his knees "They promised us wealth and power, boss. Please forgive us. Please don't kill us". Manic made him stand back up and put his arm around his shoulder "Oh, I would not kill you. Everyone, the Raiju's ship is filled with valuable goods. As your restored leader, I say we celebrate our reunification. To the landing pad!" all the pirates cheered.
Espio eventually stopped running, "Surrender. You're no match for us" Scourge told him. Espio ignited both lightsabers "You are mistaken". The two Raiju went on the offensive but Espio managed to hold them both off. He was pushed against the wall and locked sabres with both of them. He then kicked Fleetway's leg allowing him to push forward, and he cut off Fleetway's left arm. "Fleetway!" Scourge yelled in shock as his brother screamed and fell to the ground. Scourge pushed Espio down the corridor and collapsed the roof separating them. He helped his brother up "Come, my apprentice. This plan has failed. But we will have another opportunity". They ran outside and saw the pirates "Jiro, ready the men! We're leaving". Manic then walked out with a smug look on his face "My men aren't going anywhere with you. Look at them. How powerful can they be? They are running away from Espio". Scourge clenched his teeth "You will pay for your insolence". Manic laughed "Insolence! We are pirates! We don't even know what that means. Open fire!". They fired on the hedgehogs who ran for their ship "If we kill those two their riches will be ours!". Scourge's left leg got it causing a green smoke to come out as he screamed. Fleetway quickly helped him, Scourge gave him cover with his lightsaber as Fleetway got them to the ship. Espio got out of the wreckage and saw them, he followed the pirates. Scourge saw him and used the Force to grab the Shinobi shuttle and he threw it between him and the pirates. They got onboard the cargo ship and quickly took off. One of the pirates ran forward with a rocket launcher and fired at the ship hiting one of the engines.
On board the ship Scourge was struggling to keep the ship in the air "Our engines have been compromised. Get to the escape pod". Fleetway weakly turned to him "It's too late". Scourge stood up "Trust me, apren…. Brother". Fleetway got up and helped his brother to the escape pod which launched right before the ship crashed.
Manic and Espio saw the crash "Well, Espio, let's get out their and see what riches have fallen from the sky for me and you. Shall we?" he started to laugh. Espio smiled "Very well" they all got on Extreme gear and speeders and travelled to the crash site. The pirates searched the area and found the rings as well as the crates of spice and weapons. "No sign of those two, boss!" one of them said after the search. Manic shrugged "Well, thy must have been vaporized" he said as he gestured for his men to hide the weapons form Espio. The chameleon didn't look confident "I wouldn't be so sure. I cut one of them in half once and he survived" "Well isn't that interesting?" Manic said dismissively.
Later on Mobotropolis, Espio was sitting outside Solaris' office with Shadow, Blaze and Merlin. Solaris was standing in front of him "I think we have closure on this matter, Master Espio." "I disagree, Chancellor. Everything we've learned from this is that the Raiju are persistent. They will not die". Solaris nodded "I understand your reservations, Master Espio, but I am afraid we can no longer allow this personal matter of yours to be a Republic concern. It does not appear this Scourge is a direct threat to the Republic. We need to direct your efforts to the cause a hand: stopping Dimitri and thus ending this war". Espio wasn't convinced "Scourge was trying to build an army of pirates" "So let him. Let him play with the rabble. They're just petty crooks. It is of no relevance to the Senate compared to the Separatists threat. Good day, gentlemen" he went into his office. The four Shinobi stood up "Something is stirring in the underworld. The crime families have had too much free rein since we've been distracted by the war. I fear it is a fertile place for Scourge to flourish" Espio said. Blaze sighed "You may be right, Espio, but we must heed the words of the Chancellor. This is a personal matter for you. Your judgment may be clouded. In time, if he lives, Scourge will reveal himself again. Then we will act swiftly". In his office, Solaris sat at his desk and a smirk came over his face.