Amy was surrounded on all sides, but she didn't take her eyes off Scourge who was staring at her "Amy… Rose, is it? I can't say yours is a name familiar to me" "Well I know you". Scourge had his hands behind his back and began walking around her "Yes, I imagine we have several mutual friends" "I wouldn't put it that way" Amy kept him in sight. Scourge shook his head "Of course not. But I'm afraid your way of thinking is behind the times". Amy subtly pressed a button on her commlink. Back at the entrance to the tunnel Fang's activated "It's her. Come on! We'll trace the signal". Back with Amy, Scourge looked disappointed "I was sure that Espio would have come himself. And bring his Sandopolis slave, Shadow, was it?" "Master Espio had a more important engagement". Scourge's eyes opened wide, and he began to look scared "Oh, it may be happening soon. Something I'm still unclear of is why you? Why did Espio send you?" "Why don't you surrender, and then we can both go and ask him?". Scourge scoffed "That would be pointless. If I'm right, soon the Shinobi, Republic and the Separatists will no longer be the great powers in the galaxy" "And who will be, you?". Scourge was amused but then quickly looked terrified "No. Lord Mephiles". Amy stared at him curiously when clones suddenly appeared and shot at the Wispons. Scourge ignited his double lightsaber and blocked an attack by Amy "Not yet" he grinned and pushed her back. He grabbed Fang with the Force and threw him at Amy. Scourge and the remaining Wispons ran. Amy and the clones chased after them but lost them in the maze of tunnels.
Everyone was now in the throne room, Amy, Fang and Whisper were showing a hologram of the city to Espio. Whisper pointed at different spots in the city "There are a small number of firefights still happening in sector 11. But for the most part, your clones have been as effective as promised. Still, without Scourge in custody, this could all fall apart quickly. We must capture him before he escapes". Amy turned to Espio "Scourge mentioned a name, Mephiles", Espio's eyes shifted, "Who is this Mephiles?" Whisper asked. "I don't know much, but I will share with you what the Council suspects. Lord Mephiles is the Raiju who orchestrated the Clone Wars and played both sides of it from the beginning. I first learned the name from Dimitri, though any chance of learning more about Mephiles from Dimitri has been lost" he looked troubled. Amy glanced at him curiously "Why?" "Because Dimitri is dead. Shadow killed him while rescuing the Chancellor". Amy's eyes opened slightly in surprise, "With Dimitri gone, we've lost a vital link to understanding the mystery of Mephiles. If you can capture Scourge, he may be able to provide the missing pieces to this puzzle". Amy nodded "Then send me more men" "Unfortunately, I cannot. I'm being sent to hunt down Dark Oak on Mova" "What about Shadow? Maybe he can reinforce us?". Espio glanced away from her "May I speak to Amy alone for a moment?", Fang and Whisper nodded and walked away. Espio turned back to Amy "Shadow is on a special assignment by order of the Shinobi Council" "What kind of assignment?" she asked suspiciously. Espio hid his guilt "He has been instructed to observe the Chancellor and report his findings". Amy crossed her arms "Observe? You mean spy. They told him to spy on the Supreme Chancellor? Why?" "The Senate has allowed the Supreme Chancellor to remain in office long after his term has expired. The Council wants to know what true intentions are". Amy clearly disapproved of this "The Chancellor has been a great friend and mentor to Shadow. I can' imagine he is happy about this". Espio shook his head "No. He is not. So perhaps it's best that you do speak with him". Amy defiantly turned away from him "And what? Defend the Council's actions? I hardly think I'm the best person for that". Espio sighed "Amy, the Council isn't always right. That's why I'm asking you for help". Fang ran back into the room "Sorry to interrupt, but there's been an attack". Espio turned to Amy "You had best go". Amy nodded "Tell Shadow…" "I know", Amy ran out with Fang.
They were at one of the tunnel entrances and there were dead clones everywhere "We got ambushed on our way to reinforce the entry port on C-deck" "Make sure it's fortified". Amy went over to an injured walrus clone who was coughing "Commander" "I'm here, Trooper. Sterling, isn't it?". She kneeled down in front of him, "Yes. You need to know. Scourge, he… he went right through us, one by one. He was asking about you. The ARC Trooper, Jet. Scourge realized he was older, somehow, looked into his mind… and he took him. He took Jet alive!".
At one of the tunnel intersections, Vale was restraining Jet while Scourge was standing in front of him "You're wasting your time. I won't tell you anything" Jet said defiantly. Scourge grinned "How charming that you actually believe that. Haha. Clones, bred for combat. All part of the plan". Jet struggled "What plan? What are you talking about?" "The plan. The only plan that matters. I don't even know it's full design, but I played my part". He started to look angry "And do you know what happened to me? I was thrown aside. I was forgotten. But I survived, and I can thrive in the chaos that is to come. Akhlut, information is very valuable. See to it that our Prime Minister doesn't share any to our enemy". Akhlut nodded "Yes, my lord" he left. Scourge stepped closer to Jet "Now, there are some things I need to know, and you're going to help me". Jet struggled "We can go round and round in this circle if you want. I'm not telling you anything" "It's not up to you. Your mind will speak, or it will break". He held up his hand and Jet began to grunt in pain, "Tell me. Who is this Amy Rose?" Jet started to scream.
At the prison, Whisper, Fang and Amy entered Menniker's cell. He sarcastically smiled at them "I'm flattered that you could find the time to see me" "What's Scourge's plan? How is he going to escape?". Menniker chuckled "Scourge is not trying to escape because he sees no point in doing so" "He thinks he can defeat us?" Whisper asked. Menniker shook his head "No, that's not it. For weeks now he's been consumed by a strange sense of dread" "Why did he want Espio here?". Menniker crossed his arms "He did cut off Scourge's legs. But it wasn't just Espio he wanted" "Who else?" Amy asked. Menniker rolled his eyes "If only I could remember the name". Amy raised her eyebrows "Whisper" she stepped forward and Menniker put he his hands up "No, wait. It was-Ah!". Two laser blasts hit him in the chest, he fell to the floor as the others turned and saw Akhlut on one of the higher-level railings. He ran and Whisper put on her mask and chased after him. Amy kneeled down in front of Menniker "Fang, get a medic". Menniker tried to speak through his pain "Scourge had a vision. A dream. The name came to him… Shadow" he fell to the side dead. Akhlut ran to a lift door and blew it up with his Wispon. His Wispon turned green, and he slowly descended down. Whisper chased after him, the two landed on a lift and fought. Akhlut turned his wispon orange and he shot up and went through another door. Whisper followed and ended up outside where she saw him flying away.
Akhlut returned to the tunnels and saw Scourge speaking to holograms of the crime lords, he went next to Vale "What's going on?" "Scourge just told them to go into hiding". The holograms disappeared, Scourge sighed and turned to the two of them "You once liberated me from my imprisonment by Mephiles and his apprentice. At the time I thought Dimitri was an old fool. But now, now I see that he was like me. Always a step behind. The dark side has never been stronger". Vale stepped forward concerned "My lord, what does it mean?" "Soon… the galaxy will be remade, and in the chaos, we must seize what power we can". All the Wispons surrounded him as he continued "It's not the way of your people to hide, here in the gutters. If you die, I promise you it will be on the field of battle. And if you die…. You will die as warriors" they began to cheer.
That night the clones were directing civilians to safety, they however weren't happy "Come, that's it, keeps moving" "We don't take orders from clones" "You can't hurt us" "You need to leave". Amy and the others were watching this from the throne room balcony, Whisper was saddened by the sight and walked back inside. Amy and Fang followed "This occupation cannot last much longer. The people will not stand for it. I will not stand for it". Fang looked irritated "You asked for our help. My men don't want to be acting as a police force". They headed towards the throne room entrance "The Republic forces will depart once we have Scourge. Then you will have your opportunity to lead" "I agree". As they entered the throne room, they saw Scourge sitting on the throne with Jet kneeling next to it with binders on his wrist. Whisper charged forward firing lasers at him, but he casually threw them aside with the Force before freezing her in place "My lady, is that any way to treat your rightful ruler?". He released her and she fell to her knees panting. Amy and Fang ran up and made sure she was okay. Scourge smirked "And now, as a show of good faith, I return your comrade in arms to you". He used the Force to release the binders on Jet. He slowly stood up as Scourge watched "Run along. There you go. Back to your brothers" he said mockingly. Jet slowly walked up to Amy and Fang "Are you alright, Jet". Jet sighed "I'm sorry Commander. I couldn't help it. I told him everything" "It's okay. Fang, get him out of here".
Suddenly they heard multiple explosions outside "Uh, one of you might want to deal with that" Scourge said casually. They saw Scourge's Wispons flying into the city "You should go. Your people need you" Amy said to Whisper. Scourge stood up and sighed "Don't stay on my account. We'll be fine". Whisper hesitated before putting on her mask and leaving the throne room. Scourge walked over to the window as Amy watched and he watched his Wispons engaging the clones "Look at them. So ignorant" "Care to tell me what this is all about? Or would you rather save it for the Council?". Scourge chuckled and turned to her "Oh, no. You are the one that I wish to speak with. Your clone friend told me you were thrown out of the Order" he walked back to the front of the throne. "I left voluntarily" Amy said, "Yes, but you wanted to leave because of the hypocrisy of the Shinobi Council". Amy just glared at him which was enough to answer Scourge "We were both tools of a greater powers" "I'm here to bring you to justice". Scourge chuckled "Republic justice? From what I've seen that's not going to be around much longer" he started to look scared. Amy stared at him curiously "And Mephiles is behind it?" "He is behind everything. In the shadows, always. But soon, very soon… he will reveal himself". Amy didn't look worried "With your help, the Shinobi can stop Mephiles before it's too late".
Scourge looked angry "Too late for what? The Republic to fall? It already has and you just can't see it! There is no justice. No law, no order, except for the one that will replace it! The time of the Shinobi has passed. They can't defeat Mephiles. But, together, you and I can". He put his hand out hopeful. Amy was deep in thought; an explosion went of near the window shattering it but neither of them reacted. Amy eventually raised her head slightly "I will help you. But you must answer one question". Scourge smiled "You only have to ask" "What do you want with Shadow the Hedgehog?". Scourge lowered his hand "He is the key to everything" "To bring balance to the Force?". Scourge shook his head "To destroying the Shinobi. He's been groomed for his role for many years as my master's apprentice". Amy's eyes opened wide and shook her head "You lie" "I'm afraid not. In fact, I'm so sure of it that I wanted to lure him here with Espio to kill him. Delaying Mephiles' plans". Amy stood defiant "I know Shadow. Your vision is flawed" she ignited her lightsaber. Scourge growled "I see the apprentice needs one last lesson" he ignited his lightsaber. The two fought and seemed to be equally matched. Scourge was on the offensive, constantly trying to hit Amy while she kept blocking. Amy smirked and backed away "You're lucky Shadow didn't show up. The way you're fighting you wouldn't have lasted long" "Oh, you have Espio's arrogance" "You'll find I have many qualities for you to dislike" she jumped forward and tried to strike. Scourge threw her to the ground and struck down, but Amy blocked it and kicked him back into a window which he cut through and escaped. Amy stood up heavily breathing.
Akhlut was in the city, he was in a firefight between his group and Fang with he clones. They seemed to be at a stalemate, but more gunships arrived along with Whisper and her soldiers. Scourge's forces were getting overwhelmed, Whisper landed in front of Vale and shot her. The other Wispons were surrendering. Akhlut took cover and got on his commlink.
Scourge had climbed up to the ceiling of the city dome and was walking on the rafters "Lord Scourge! We need backup. Our forces are falling. We need your support". Scourge didn't look bothered "No. I think not. Any minute now my ship will be arriving. Die well, Wispon" "No! Wait-" Scourge turned off his commlink. He then heard lightsaber behind him "Espio was right. You are difficult to kill" Amy ran at him and continued their fight. Scourge pushed her back "We could have destroyed Mephiles together" "Only for you to take his place!". Scourge knocked her off the rafter and she held on. A light then shined down on them "Lord Scourge, we must depart immediately". Scourge ran up and started cutting through the dome, but Amy managed to get back up and tackle him down to the rafters. Scourge cut one side of the rafters and jumped to her other side. Amy was about to move forward but Scourge held his lightsaber right next to the rafters, threatening to cut it. On the ground Fang has captured Akhlut and saw he two of them at the dome "Get the gunships!". Scourge stared at Amy "I give you one last chance. Join me or die". Amy stared defiantly "Never", Scourge cut the rafter causing the one Amy was standing on to fall but she quickly jumped onto another one behind her and used the Force to pull Scourge off, He started falling but Amy caught him with the Force which angered him "No! Let me go! Let me die!". Three gunships arrived and surrounded the mid-air hedgehog "You're all going to burn! We're all going to die!". The gunship doors opened and three Wispons fired electric whips around Scourge restraining him. He desperately tried to escape "You don't know what you're doing!", Fang fired a stun blast at him knocking him out "We'll take it from here, Commander".