Chapter 3: Concerns
Vector parked his truck on the top level of a multi story carpark and made his way toward agent Warwick, who was looking over the protesters marching through the downtown streets. It'd been five hours since Espio disappeared with the convoy, and he was the only one who seemed concerned about his best friend.
As the agent answered his phone, Vector growled to him, "Tell me you have a location."
"I'm not seeing what you're seeing." Warwick said over the phone before acknowledging the crocodile. "...give me a minute, would ya-"
Vector ended the call for him and put the phone on the concrete ledge. "Don't give me that shit, tell me you found him!"
"His signal cut out just before the convoy hit the highway. They're in the badlands, have to be. And you know we don't have jurisdiction out there."
"Well, I guess I'm going over there as a civilian, then."
"You're staying on this side of the border, Simmons. You're needed here."
"Espio is missing because of you, asshole. His life means more to me than this badge-"
A loud explosion rocked the carpark and panic ensued on the streets below. Both Warwick and Vector drew their weapons and looked over the protesters to see who or what was the cause.
The agent switched channels through his comm. "Rogues, status!"
Three neon-lit hover boards cruised through the night sky, each illuminating a different colour as they arrived. Jet, Storm and Wave created a parameter so they could scout the protesters from above, and the green hawk caught the first anarchist on his HUD (heads up display)
"Hostile on the intersection of 15th and 40th," He called out. "Ground unit, he's all yours."
As the anarchist raised a rifle, another of Warwick's undercover agents ripped the weapon away and easily subdued him. Falke Wulf, a reformed gun-for-hire, put the smaller man in cuffs and smirked.
"You unorganized guys make it so easy."
Storm caught the next two anarchists on his HUD around the corner attempting an armed robbery. "Stargirl, I've clocked two denim jacket-wearing hoodlums out your way."
"I see them." Starr responded. "They're mine."
The magenta hedgehog threw off the hoodie she used to blend into the crowd and conjured elemental energy through her palms as she ran toward the store. Two non-lethal blasts of magenta energy were all she needed to knock the robbers against the back wall and incapacitate them.
"All clear in the store."
Back inside the carpark, Warwick sent the Rogues to expand their parameter incase there were more hostiles, then made eye contact with Vector.
"We're going to need all hands on deck here, I don't see this ending anytime soon, and it's still early...your call."
Reluctantly, the crocodile agreed to stay put, so Warwick motioned for him to stay here and turned his back to call Jet.
"Your team is doing good work. I'm leaving Vector in charge for the time being and I want you to put that filth in the back seat of my ride. See if I can't get something out of him at the precinct."
"I'm cool with V-trigger calling the shots for a bit. I'll update the crew." Jet replied.
The agent opened the driver's side door and looked at Vector once more. "We'll bring Espio back by the end of this. I'll put my life on that promise."
They nodded in agreement and then the bigger 4x4 roared out of the carpark to collect the anarchists. This would be the first time Vector had been entrusted to lead Warwick's personal enforcer squad made up of the Babylon Rogues, Starr and Falke Wulf, he just wished Charmy and Espio were here to join. But he still had a job to do, and lives to save tonight.
BADLANDS SAFEHOUSE
Rouge was pleasantly surprised at the meal O'nux prepared for her and Dogg. Knuckles was hardly a chef in his own regard, often burning dishes so bad that firefighters were called to his apartment constantly. There was something about O'nux that didn't make her believe his story, but until she made it home, the bat would have to play along with everything.
After she ate, Rouge was shown to the guest bedroom but she couldn't sleep even if she tried. Her 'easy money' track-and-return job had been ruined and she was stuck in outlaw gang territory with two guys she couldn't trust. Espio was the only one she could, but after his threat, that was gone too. Him leaving made her realize stealing the gems wasn't worth the risk, but it might be too late to back out.
She walked down the hall of a dimly lit second floor hallway and saw Dogg sitting on the edge of his guest bed.
"What's wrong." She said, not particularly caring for his answer.
The assassin shook his head, then chuckled softly before replying. "I've had this bounty on my life for so long now that, sleep became a luxury...I just don't see myself being safe anywhere long enough to rest, 'lest I want it to be permanent."
A fake laugh was her response, but she did seem genuinely interested to hear more, so he continued.
"Tell you the truth, I'm not even tired. I just want this thing with The Chambers to be over."
"I thought you were bullshitting about that bit." She said.
"No, Slayton genuinely wants my life. I'm looking for a way to end that syndicate before they end me. And anyone I care about-"
"Now, I KNOW that's bullshit."
They both laughed, and O'nux entered the doorway. "Can't sleep, the two of you? Apologies. I haven't had time to fully renovate this house so I understand if you don't feel particularly comfortable-"
"The house is fine." Rouge interrupted. "It's just personal things...I've been doing this criminal shit most of my life, and I fully understood what I was getting myself into, but right now I'd kinda just like to go home. Maybe rethink my choices up til now."
Anti-Knuckles nodded. "That's all I've wanted to do since I landed here...I tell myself to just keep grinding away, and I'll make it back. Maybe. Hopefully. (sigh) Is there anything I can do to help you out?"
Dogg stood up before Rouge could answer. "I've got two allies, Scott and Margret. They've helped keep me alive since the bounty was put on my life, and if I can get to them, they can help rid The Chambers effectively."
The assassin turned to the bat next. "If you make sure I reach them in one piece, I'll personally escort you out of the badlands. How's that sound?"
"What other choices do I have, right. Sure."
Dogg laid on his bed. "Everyone get some rest, you'll need it once we head out. This ride could be our last. Sleep well."
Rouge and O'nux exchanged glances as they exited the guest room and shut the door behind them. While they parted back to their rooms, Espio woke up from his nap and had found a car charging port for his phone. He didn't need much sleep, so he decided to watch a new release while waiting for dawn.
Julie-Su and Amy Rose tucked Sybelle and Hazel in and once the girls fell asleep, they headed back into the living room to catch up. As they share stories here, Knuckles and Sonic stepped out to the echidna's wrap-around patio for a few drinks and stories of their own.
The blue hedgehog took the ice cold beverage from his friends' hand and looked at the label. "Since when did you switch brands?"
"Since the day I couldn't get through a six pack without chuckin' it back up." Knuckles replied. "White Ox grew stale, or maybe my liver is failing. I'm fully aware I'm doing myself no favors by drinking, but it's common knowledge that I've got problems."
Sonic sat on a chair, cracked the mixed drink open and sipped on it, while his host leaned against the railing and looked over the tall grass field on his father's land.
"My old man would backhand me if he could see me now. I was supposed to be the guardian, and that meant free of any vices."
"Hey Knux, you saved a space station and then helped save the world right after. I'm sure your father is damn proud of you up there."
"Yeah, I suppose. My momma doesn't cut me as much slack, man. Still upset I didn't save AJ's life back in Vace Beach, but she's all hugs and kisses when I bring the girls over to see grandma." He said before taking a drink. "...I wasn't ever good at satisfying everyone, why should I start now, right? I got a family to look after."
Sonic sat up to look him in the eyes. "Your family is the most important thing in your life, screw what anyone else thinks about you. But just know that we're still in your corner. Always, Knux."
He raised his can as his sign of appreciation and they both took a drink.
"So, what's Tails up to these days? He still playing with firefox?"
"Her name is Fiona and last I heard, they're still travelling Mobius."
"I haven't seen either of 'em since the kid graduated. I was still remodeling this place when they dropped by to meet Hazel and Sy."
Sonic took a moment to reminisce about the old days, while Knuckles felt a creaky board and stepped on it a few times.
"I generously give my cousins work and they do this shoddy crap. (sigh) One thing after another, blue."
"Maybe you can hire Tails to do it properly-"
"Ha, good one. As with everything else, I'll do it myself, goddamnit...what's happening with your brother? I haven't heard a damn thing about him. He finally kick it?"
"He's alive and - yeah, he's doing well."
"He's back to thieving again' isn't he."
"Yeeeaah..."
Knuckles looked to the sky. "I almost miss that walking trash can. Things were different back when the world thought you were dead and the rest of us got brushed aside. Although, I wouldn't have found Julie without their help, so I'll leave it at that."
Sonic could see how life's turned his once gullible friend into a cynical bastard, at least toward anyone not in his immediate family. His physical scars only told one part of the story of which the mental scars came from.
"Hey Blue," Knuckles started. "You hear that I've got a clone runnin' around stirring shit up?"
"I might've heard something, but I've been off-planet for the last few years so I don't know specifics."
The echidna took a swig then continued. "Warwick came by saying he had first hand accounts of me car jacking some weapon convoy, and Espio went missing chasing it. I told 'em to do his job and figure it out for himself."
Sonic put his drink down and thought aloud. "Hmm, seeing as Metal Sonic and Miles were evil, I'm gonna assume this clone is no different, based on this information. But, I could be wrong. Maybe that isn't the case."
"Whatever it is, this guy better not cause any problems for my family, otherwise Warwick won't be able to save his ass from the worst shit-kicking of his life!"
"Careful, don't let him hear you say that. He might just take you out of early retirement and put you back on the front line."
"Ah, screw him. I'm just saying...besides, he's got the new generation of law enforcement at his disposal, he should be fine for grunt work. Still, they aren't nowhere near what we were-what we ARE."
"Got that right."
Knuckles gazed out to the stars in the sky and said the one thing he and Sonic were both thinking. "...we ain't never gonna have long-standing peace. They'll always call us for help. And we'll always be there. It's just how it goes."
"We gotta trust them now, Knux. Hopefully they can avoid world ending disasters without our help. But it doesn't hurt to stay ready."
"Yeah, man."