Chapter Eleven – Power To The People
As the weeks turned into months and Sukko still hadn't awoken. Tangle's pregnancy was now beginning to show. She was still amazed that Sukko had gifted it to her, despite the heavy price-tag. She hated Eggman, and thought this a better use of his life-force. Many people agreed. While still being very worried for Sukko, Sonic was recovering well, and had found both his voice and his feet again. His confidence still needed work, but the Restoration was determined to have their Hero back to normal. They had done a beautiful job of taking care of him. Something Sonic knew, Sukko would have been very proud of.
But still nothing from the Sorcerer. Normally, he would have awoken, but he been unconscious for longer then other time before, for three months now. This made Sonic cry which absolutely crucified Sukko. The thing was, his mind alone had awoken up again. He watched Sonic carefully but didn't use the Psychic Link. He'd figured Sonic had got enough on his plate without having his brother's disembodied voice in his head. But Sukko never saw Tails' device again, which he did think was very odd. He'd work so hard on it. Even though Sonic was talking again, he'd have Sonic tell him down the Psychic Link, while siting with him in the Sick Bay, all about it, and how their ability to communicate they way they did, absolutely fascinate him. In fact, Tails did act a little odd, but while still stuck in bed, he couldn't check, but Sonic seemed none the wiser, so Sukko decided to drop it. He'd been watching Sonic's recovery and was proud to watch him rebuild the planet, along with the Wisps, but Sukko couldn't help to get the feeling that his time here was almost done. Not death, but something else.
As to what, he had no idea, he was still no further forward as to solving that mystery. Hundreds of people milled in and out of the Restoration, bring supplies and organising building work. It was now a full-on busy place. In the middle of it was Sonic, who signature Sonic Boom, was music to Sukko's ears.
All seemed well, as Sonic and company were unloading several vans of supplies for the Restoration, at it's Loading Bay, when a large number of vehicles suddenly arrived. Cars and vans in all shapes and sizes, all black, as well as several helicopters landing without warning. High-level officials, all in black suits came pouring out, completely surrounding the Loading Bay area. All of the had their eyes on the Blue Blur, as a mean looking Rat, with a heavily scared face, walked up to Sonic, taking the lead.
"Come with me!" He spat rudely. He didn't even introduce himself. Both Tails and Amy, immediately put themselves between Sonic and the Rat. They stood their ground.
"No." Tails spat. "Who are you people?" He growled. The Rat huffed looking very put out, but the noticed Sonic's cherry red shoes, with their famous red stripes. He spat on the floor and swore.
"Wrong brother." He growled. "Where is he?" He demanded, then he smirked. "No matter, take him anyway." He announced. Sonic growled.
"Who are you?" He asked, again, but it wasn't the Rat who answered. A beautiful, clear voice rang out across his mind, telling him his most beloved person in the world was still around.
{They have finally come for me.} He gulped. Sonic looked around seeing nothing. Sukko was nowhere in sight.
{But how?} He questioned, but Sukko cut across him. Sonic had no idea how they had found out he was at the Restoration or how Sukko was able to speak to him. His brother gulped.
{Don't!} He spat. {Otherwise you will give me away.} He pressed, but as Sonic noticed, he realised he didn't need to as someone else had gotten there first. Shadow had appeared out of nowhere, and had used his Super-Speed to jump and attack the black-suited Rat, forced him into a deadly headlock, exactly as he did with Sukko. The Black Hedgehog was fuming, as he had immediately recognised the black-suits, having dealt with them before.
"The Mobian Authorities." He hissed. "They have come for the Sorcerer." He announced, loud enough for everyone to hear. It was simple. The Mobian Authorities hadn't gone after Sukko during Eggman's reign because they left that dirty work to the Human. He'd failed and with him dead, they would now have to do it themselves. Upon seeing Shadow, the black-suits pulled their weapons, but not before Shadow tightened his grip on the Rat.
"Move, and he dies!" He spat, brutally, and the black-suits stopped immediately. Sonic was surprised, but as more and more people poured out of the Restoration to his defence, he realised that Sukko had made quite an impression here. The story of what he did to Eggman had spread around the Restoration, and all the Magic in all the world didn't change the fact that he was as selfless as Sonic himself. Potentially even more so. Working for years in secret for the Restoration, and never taking any credit. Being incredible with Intelligence, and as far was Shadow was concerned, one hell of a fighter. Everyone knew that removing the powers from him, wouldn't change anything. He would still put those he cared about before himself every time, it's just that he had the Magic to do it.
They was why his Magic never corrupted him. His selflessness, and now was the reason why he was now being trusted. Sonic was stunned as more and more people stood between him and the black-suits, making it abundantly clear, the twins were going nowhere. Soon, the black-suits were heavily out-numbered, and the Mobian Authorities knew to try and fight the power of the people was always going to end in disaster. Upon seeing this, Shadow released the Rat and the Mobian Authorities finally backed away and left, to cheering from the crowd.
With such an outpouring of solidity from the crowd towards him, Sukko suddenly experienced an enormous surge of Magic, so powerful, that even Sonic felt it straight down the Psychic Link. Sonic grabbed his head, and screamed his brother's name, which instantly silenced the crowd. The surge of Magic forcibly yanked Sukko straight back into his unconscious body, in the Sick Bay, and before he knew what was happening, he bolted upright, wide awake, panting heavily, to a brother immediately diving for his arms.
The Sorcerer was back.
But it wasn't over. The power of the people may have defeated the Mobian Authorities once, but with the law still in place banning Chaos Sorcery, with the sentence of death. Sukko would never get his freedom, and the Mobian Authorities would never stop looking for him. Sukko knew this put Sonic in very real danger, as he knew they would stop of nothing of killing the Blue Blur to get to him. Many figured Sukko was over-exsanguinating, as Eggman had failed to do exactly that. But Sukko knew the Mobian Authorities was far more subtle then Eggman ever was and far more dangerous, deploying hit men, snipers, and gorilla tactics to get the job done. He been on the run from them, his entire life.
There was only one way to win this. To get the law changed. It was the only thing the Mobian Authorities was absolutely bound by. But Sukko had no idea how to do this, and as he was finally released from the Sick Bay, perfectly fine, he didn't really get time to think about it, as every single person in the Restoration insisted on hugging him, his brother by his side. Sukko was very stunned and humbled by it all. A very typical response from him. Sonic giggled, a very proud brother.
{Your famous now.} He smiled. {Welcome to the club.} He added. Sukko gulped, he seriously wasn't used to this, and quickly vanished with his Invisibility, to get some peace. This left the crown disappointed, some hoping to see some Magic, but Sonic knew that would never happen. He brother was no show off. He may have been, but definitely not Sukko. His brother relished his peace, similar to Shadow. Sonic smirked. He, also like Shadow, could also sense Sukko's presence even if he was Invisible and soon Sonic tracked Sukko down to his favourite balcony in the Restoration. A lot had happened since the last time he was here, talking to Tangle and Jewel. How things had changed. Sonic sidled up next to Sukko. He used the Psychic Link to talk to him, that way Sukko could stay hidden.
{Are you ok?} He asked. It had been a lot to take in for his brother. Finally Sukko answered. He sighed.
{I'm really not used to this. All this attention.} He admitted. Then immediately looked up and around behind him. The weird feeling of the presence was back, and again nothing there. Was someone following him? He growled.
{What is that?} He spat, again. Sonic himself looked all round him but nothing.
{What?} He asked. Sukko sighed, as quickly as the feeling arrived, it was gone. Should he tell Sonic? He decided again, not to, as his brother had been through a lot recently. He never told Sonic anything without certainty, and decided he would go after this 'presence' himself, at some point, it did bother him but he didn't feel it to be urgent. He looked down at the people of the Restoration.
{Nothing.} He said to calm Sonic and then realised something. {I can't stay here. The Mobian Authorities will never stop looking for me. I put a lot of people in danger.} He heaved. Sonic was stunned, but knew that Sukko was correct.
{Well, I'd like you to stay.} He admitted. {But how do we stop them?} He asked. Sukko heaved.
{Not the same way as Eggman, that's for sure.} He sighed. {The Mobian Authorities runs on bureaucracy. They will never stop until the law is changed.} He growled. Sonic frowned.
{How do we change the law?} He asked. Sukko gritted his teeth.
{I've been looking this up. Laws are only changed through complex legislative mechanisms. But the most effective way to secure a change is by demonstrating huge public support. As the Mobian Authorities was bound by the people, then they will have no choice but to change it.} He said, disheartened. But Sonic giggled.
{But you've already done that.} He smiled. {Power to the people.} He sniggered. Sukko looked at him.
{No, that was just one Restoration, maybe a hundred people at most.} He spat. {Which I'll admit, I was hugely honoured by. But I'm talking thousands and thousands of people backing your cause. I'm a Sorcerer. With our history, there's no way i'll drum up that kind of support.} He cried. Sonic raised an eyebrow. Sukko was right but Sonic grinned.
{Yes, except you've forgotten something. Your the last of your kind. I know that sounds brutal, but there are no other Sorcerers left hiding the woodwork, it is just you.} He asked. Sukko looked up at Sonic. He nodded.
{Yes, it's just me. If there were others, I would know.} He shrugged. Sonic very easily believed that, knowing how powerful his brother was. He smiled.
{Thats means that there no hidden extras and with the history of Sorcery, we don't want those.} He added. Sukko frowned, very confused.
{Yes, but what are you getting at?} He asked. Sonic was getting excited.
{With it being just you, it means that there's no nasty corruption issues. You've proved time and again, you will never go there.} He said, very proud. Sukko sighed. Sonic was right, but it had been incredibly hard work. The temptation had been huge and it will always be there, but he'd never give in to it. As he and Sonic had proved, it was not the Blue Hedgehog way. Sukko sighed.
{Do you think that the people will follow that?} He asked. Sonic grinned.
{Sure.} He piped up. {That and the fact that your my brother and that you destroyed Eggman, might also help.} He laughed. Sukko himself also laughed. Sonic was not being full of himself there. As the Hero of Mobius, he had a huge amount of sway with the people. They believed in him that much. Perhaps it was time for Sukko to play on that fact, and be the brother-of-the-Hero whose just destroyed Eggman. To be himself and prove his trustworthiness. Sonic raised an eyebrow at Sukko, and grinned.
{Show yourself.} He asked, again, as Sukko was still Invisible. Sukko smiled. Time to stop hiding, and stand from the crowd. He was more then powerful enough to deal with anything the Mobian Authorities could throw at him. As for the dangers, that was for the people to decide, they were not stupid. To stand by him, meant taking them on to. He sighed and reappeared, in his full royal blue glory, and was immediately spotted.
"Sukko!". She called. It was Tangle, who ran to him, and embraced him in an enormous hug. She was getting spherical now. The pregnancy was progressing fine, and she was in very good health. She still couldn't quite believe it though, and seeing the twins together again at last made her the happiest girl on Mobius. He hugged Sonic too. Her favourite Hedgehogs ever.
As the days wore on, and Sukko got to work in the Restoration, he noticed that Sonic had a point. The people were following him and looking up to him, exactly as they did with Sonic, a Hero in his own right. So the twins decided to spread the word, about getting the law changed, and about how Sukko would be killed if caught by the Mobian Authorities. This horrified everyone, even after what he'd done for them. Sukko decided to spread the word the old fashioned way, no Telepathy. He figured the less Magic used here, the better. He wanted the people to follow him as a person, rather then as a Sorcerer.
But Sonic really spread the word. He travelled all over. Him, having a brother was now worldwide knowledge, and upon hearing he was in danger, people immediately wanted to help. The Chaos Sorcery almost taking a back seat. People seemed to no longer care. Just as Sonic had predicted. Soon the Restoration was being inundated with so many messages of support, it drove Jewel mad. She called Sukko to the Main Control Room.
"What going on?" She asked. Sukko smiled.
"We are trying to get the law changed, to get the Mobian Authorities off my back." He sighed. She knew the history. Jewel suddenly got extremely excited.
"With that level of support." She said, pointing to computer console. "You might just have something. I have experience at that level of legislation. I'll get a petition going. You know, leave it with me." She added. Sukko frowned.
"A petition?" He asked. "Would that work?" He shrugged. But Jewel shooed him off.
"I said, leave it with me. They could do with your help at the Loading Bay. Heavy supplies." She added, indicating his hands and more specificity, his Magic. He sighed and left. He hadn't used is Chaos Sorcery much at all recently. It had simply not been needed. But when he got to the Loading Bay at the back of the Restoration, he had to use his Telekinesis to stop a serious accident. Jewel wasn't joking when she said heavy supplies. They were new engines for the Machine Room, and even for Sukko's Telekinesis, they were heavy. Silver had long since got back to his own time, Sukko was the only one left with the power to lift them.
It took a team effort of Sukko's Magic with the muscles of a further ten people, helping and guiding him, to get the engines to the Machine shop. After the last one was in place, Sukko was heaving.
"What was Jewel thinking buying those things?" He panted. It was true that the Machine Shop did desperately need them, that was besides the point. A nearby Cat overheard him.
"That's simple." He giggled. "Your here." He added and immediately left, leaving Sukko somewhat stunned. Sukko had indeed stayed at the Restoration, while Sonic had gone out into the world to help rebuild. Some of the Wisps, however, stayed at the Restoration too, but said nothing more to Sukko. Just chatted amongst themselves. He wasn't used to that level of trust in him, but thinking about it, he expected nothing less of Jewel. He stood tall and proud. The Restoration was under his protection. Time to get out there and show his worth. He returned to the Loading Bay, looking for more jobs.
But on the way, walking back through the Great Hall, there was a shout of "Stop Thieves!" from one of the shopkeepers. Three large Birds were flying away, on what looked like air boards, but Sukko recognised them as Extreme Gear. His brother has been into them for a while, even tried to get him involved to epic failure. He was just not interested. But seeing those thieves fly away with that shopkeeper's hard-earned takings, caused Sukko to growl. It was cowardice, in his opinion, from people who didn't have the balls to earn the money themselves. As for the Birds, he had no idea who there were, and making for one of the tunnels that lead to the Loading Bay and the exit. Sukko smirked.
'Not today!' He thought, and immediately charged the Chaos Energy inside of him, and throw the Magic right across the length of the Great Hall, sending bright blue luminescent vaporous hue everywhere and created a Force-Field right in front of Extreme Gear riders. Throwing Magic at distance was easy for Sukko. It was something he'd practiced a lot, especially working in Intelligence. The Birds swerved and missed it by a matter of millimetres. Frustrated, they tried for another exit, to the same results. Sukko getting there first. The commotion and the use of Magic, had again attracted a crowd, and Jewel had come down to the Great Hall with the Restoration's security. With shops, there was always the possibility of crime, so Jewel had had a security team put together. She stood side-by-side with Sukko, who had made his way to the centre of the Great Hall. She was impressed that he'd trapped them in the Great Hall, but she too was growling at them. She recognised the Birds. They were the Babylon Rogues, consisting of Jet, a green Hawk, and a superb Extreme Gear rider, Wave, a pink Swallow and a excellent engineer and Storm, a pale grey Albatross, the muscle of the group. They were all very well known thieves, and had kidnapped Jewel in the past. It was accidentally, but still very unpleasant.
Angry, they had rounded on Sukko, Jet smirking evilly, with a bag of money still in his hand.
"Come on, Speedster. If you think you can get this off us, then guess again." He leered, indicating the bag. Jewel giggled, and Sukko looked at her, giving her the nod. Sukko never really did the talking during confrontations, so was giving her permission to take the lead. She very quickly caught on, she nodded in return, to allow Sukko to use Telepathy on her. Jewel smirked, standing her ground.
"Wrong Blue Hedgehog. You morons!" She spat, and snapped her finger. Sukko who had dived into her mind, got a very clear message. An order to take out the Extreme Gear the Birds were riding. He smirked himself, and was more then happy to oblige. The turned over both his hands over, so the palms were showing. He clawed his fingers and immediately send huge streams of bright blue electricity straight out of the ends, sparking everywhere, across the Great Hall, and to each of the Extreme Gear boards in a matter of seconds. Illusions, but with enough power behind them, effective.
With the Extreme Gears completely fried, they all collapsed to the ground, the Birds aboard them, absolutely stunned. Confused and frightened, they tried to run for it. Angry, Jewel growled under her breath.
"Sukko!" She spat, and the Sorcerer, again, more the happy to oblige, grabbed all three Birds, with his Magical grip and threw them up again the wall. The bag on money falling to the floor. Jewel picked it up and gave back to the Shopkeeper. The Birds were struggling unsuccessfully against Sukko's incredible Magic. Jewel giggled.
"Don't bother!" She hissed. "Only the great Blue Blur himself can break from that grip." She added, to Sukko's mild amusement. That was entirely true. Only his brother had ever broken free from him. He was just about the let them go to security when a second shopkeeper came up to them. He was very angry.
"I know these three." He growled. "They raided my warehouse, just last week, and broke into my safe. They stole all my earning for a month and some jewellery. I doubt they would have had any time to spend it, so I very much would like to know where they have stashed it." He declared. Jet, still wriggling in Sukko's Telekinesis, laughed evilly.
"Like we'd ever tell you." He spat. But Jewel smirked a grin even more so.
"That is not a problem." She hissed. "Sukko, would you mind?" She asked. Sukko looked up. Was his Telepathy actually being requested? This was a first and a total surprise, but quickly he got back to the task in hand. Sukko himself smirked, disliking these Birds more by the second. His lip curled.
"Sure." He agreed. "It would be my pleasure." He added, to a very frightened Jet. Sukko immediately dived into his mind. The Bird moaning in extreme discomfort, Sukko quickly retrieved the relevant information, and promptly dumped it on Jewel, who quite surprised, took a little while to process it. She perked up, turning to the second shopkeeper.
"You'll find your missing money and goods in a back room at an abandoned warehouse at Winterburg. In there, you'll find a locked locker with a key code. 68724." She announced, and then gave the second shopkeeper the very specific address of said abandoned warehouse, to the total astonishment of the Babylon Rogues. The Shopkeeper immediately left, with several friends. Now the Birds were all really frightened. This Blue Hedgehog definitely was not Sonic. He was something else. Something way out of their league. Jewel walked up to the three of them, still in Sukko's almighty grip.
"If I catch you in my Restoration again, you'll have the likes of him to deal with." She hissed, indicating Sukko. As if to make a point, Sukko closed his hands and caused his grip on the Birds to tighten, causing them pain. Not enough to seriously hurt them but enough to make the point. This was where he and Sonic definitely differed. Sonic would never hurt anyone, ever, but Sukko would caused some pain as a means to an end, especially in an intelligence and undercover situation. He'd never seriously injure someone, but if it made a point, enough to say, to frighten someone, then that was acceptable in his opinion. Anything to get the information he needed, short of actually torture.
Truthfully, extremely deep down, he hated doing it. He didn't like to hurt people, but he knew that when push came to serious shove that need's must, especially in full temper, and he wanted to make absolutely sure these three Birds never came back. He felt the fear on them. They had gotten the point. With Jewel's go ahead, he let them go, and security grabbed them. They marched them out of the Restoration and threw them out, being told very bluntly, to not return. They fled and Sukko never saw them again.
Jewel went a bit mad as the tension lifted, to Sukko's complete amusement. He smiled at her, and yet remained as cool and calm as anything. Nothing fazed him anymore. She grabbed him and hugged him to his surprise.
"Wow." She praised. "Your really good at this." She smiled. "Do you want a job?" She asked, indicating the security. Sukko looked at them, and thought. That was not what he was after. Policing was more Sonic's forte, not his. It was too front and centre with the public. He was looking for something more in the background. He sighed.
"Actually I was heading back to the Loading Bay, to look for more work there." He sighed. Jewel huffed, somewhat disappointed, but accepted Sukko's decision. She wasn't going to argue with a powerful Sorcerer. He helped Jewel clean up the Great Hall, and soon he was sent on his way, to the Loading Bay.