Chapter 5: The First Predicament
Nina and Bark have taken their bottle of expensive Vodka and moved to the rooftop for some privacy. She wants to hear Bark's side of the story Manic started, and after a few glasses of liquid courage, the polar bear is more than happy to talk.
The female hedgehog sits on the ledge and listens while Bark starts from the top,
the day he met Manic.
"...so, I was with that dickhead, Predator Hawk, and he's goin' on 'bout Manic. Lil Buggar use'a have this Medallion, Jade energy or somethin' would come out. Anyway, he was like Superman with that thing, nobody could beat 'em!... well, our groups had a tussle and them lil shits got us, I'll give 'em that one. Anyways, I did my time and when I got out, I knew I needed a change. I split from Hazard and got out the game, but I didn't have shit to go back to. One day I ran into the green prick, and we decided it was best if we worked together making as much money as we can. So, that's what brought us here"
As Bark takes a drink from the bottle, Nina hears the front doors creak open so she looks over the ledge to see who's coming outside. She watches Manic put his coat on and head to the nearest trolly stop, no doubt going back to Mushroom Hill.
She grasps the bottle as he passes it over "...do you trust him?"
"You can nev'r trust a thief, my friend. But this one just so happened to help me when I needed it, so he's got my favor. For now..."
Nina takes a drink and passes the Vodka back before speaking "...I know we're all criminals, but the way Manic conducts himself, that's not right. There's certain rules that even we should follow.. but not him, I guess"
Bark takes one last drink and puts it down "That kid grew up in this profession, if ya wanna call it that, so I've no doubt he knows how to exploit the system, and everyone around him, to get what he needs. But that's the biggest thing, it's for the shit he NEEDS to survive. He don't take more than that, and the prick don't steal from charities, or schools. Just from the rich bastards-"
"What, are you saying he's Robin Hood, now?"
"I'm sayin' he ain't a complete piece of shit, much as you may think. He's got some good to him. But for the most part - he's an asshole"
She shakes her head "He'll always be a son of a bitch to me"
"Yeah, I bet"
The blonde/red hedgehog stands up, looking Bark in the eyes
"...and you? What's your angle?"
He laughs "I'm just the dumb muscle of the team. Nuthin' special"
"I think you're special"
He lifts an eyebrow "Yeah?"
She slightly stumbles as she walks closer to Bark, so he catches her before she falls. Nina laughs nervously, while grasping Bark's forearms. She moves her hands and intertwines her fingers with his, then slowly but surely, Bark leans in for the kiss. It's been awhile since he's had a girl lock lips with him, so he takes a moment to get familiar. Nina's soft moans definitely tell him the attraction is genuine,
but he wonders if it's only for the night.
Meanwhile, Manic takes the streetcar back to Mushroom Hill, hoping he can patch things up with Mitzi before she goes home for the night. The ride lasts 5 minutes and he races across the park where he met Mitzi at. He runs inside the office she works at and spots her behind the counter packing up her bags. He knocks on the thick glass window that separates them but she keeps her back to him.
"Mitzi, hey! I gotta talk to you!" Manic exclaims
She continues to pack while shaking her head "There's nothing I want to talk about with you"
"Mitzi, please listen, I'm sorry I didn't tell you! Let me explain-"
"I lied to that agent for you, Manic. I could go to jail for that! Do you know how that makes me feel? I've never broken the law in my entire life, and I almost threw everything I have away for somebody I just met!"
"...I appreciate what you did for me, and I wanna make it up to you! I-"
She turns around "This is a small town, Manic. It's peaceful. We don't need any trouble from the big city. And now I know who you really are, so this won't work-"
A massive security guard enters the office and stands behind Manic, nightstick at the ready.
"...I really hope you figure things out, Manic. But, I want nothing to do with the life you're mixed up in. Please leave the premises and don't come back..."
"Mitzi, just WAIT a second!-"
Manic is knocked down to one knee by the security guard, and Mitzi lets out a disappointed sigh as she exits through the back door.
The green hedgehog raises his hands to indicate he means no harm, and he is escorted to the front door. He watches Mitzi drive out of the parking lot going back to her home, and he decides to head back to Farrell's motel room a few blocks away.
Stone's hands shake uncontrollably as he puts a few coins into a slot on a payphone and dials a number. His fingers are still red from getting his claws removed, and the pain seemingly never ends. After a few dial tones, Slayton picks up.
"Speak"
"Boss, it's me-"
"Ah, the deserter. Yeah, I was wondering when you'd grow a pair and call me"
"Slayton, I had no choice! The cops had our motel surrounded so I bolted! I thought they would've followed me when I took off-"
"Well, Rosie called me from jail, said there wasn't much of a chance to run after you. She wanted me to tell you that you are, hands down, the worst team leader she's ever worked with. Something's happened to you, Stone. You're losing it"
The Timberwolf leans against the wall "..it was a setup. Manic's friends jumped me and took my claws!... and my money to come home-"
"So, just to clarify: You abandoned your teammates AND you've failed to capture the mark? Correct?"
"Slayton-"
"You disappointed me, Stone, and I can't make exceptions for ANY Chambers' member... you'd best stay up there, at least until you find a way to make this up to me. You understand? You're exiled from here. Consider this the best outcome"
The boss hangs up and the line goes dead. Stone puts the phone back onto the receiver and leans against the brick wall which the payphone is connected to.
The Timberwolf thinks about his failure, and how he can't go home. He's stuck in a Zone he's never been to across the border. With nowhere to go, Stone finds an alleyway, curls up next to a dumpster and shuts his eyes.
3 MONTHS LATER
After pulling heist after heist, and paying bigger bribes than The Ravens were, Manic has made Mazo a much bigger asset to the top bosses than King. This means his crew have gotten the OK to expand into the former leader's territory.
And this means they'll have a lot more money coming in.
Mazo buys 5 suites inside a large luxury tower downtown and moves into the executive suit on the top floor. Bark and Nina move into a suite 10 floors below him, and Manic decided to rent a ballroom-style suite in a building across town.
As much as he misses his family back in Mushroom Hill, Manic knows he has to continue working here in order to keep them away from any trouble he gets into.
When they're not participating in Mazo's criminal activities, Manic, Bark and Nina sit inside the clubhouse, now owned by Jamie and Lucky after Mazo moved out. It's a good spot to get away from the big city, and to avoid their boss for a couple of hours.
After cleaning up the lounge area, Manic brought a pool table, 3 arcade machines and a drum set down to the renovated clubhouse. Jamie plugs in a guitar and his friend from high school, Catrina, sings.
Nina sits on Bark's lap "...Manic actually looks like he knows what he's doing"
Bark sips on his drink "The kid was a legitimate drummer, once upon a time"
"You knew him back then?"
"Nah. Just going by what his old man said. I use'a drink with 'em awhile ago"
The song ends so Nina stands up
"Good, time for a refill"
As she grabs her glass, Mazo enters the lounge and walks towards the stage
"Uh oh, boss is here and he's going right for Manic" Nina says
Bark finishes his drink "Pray for him, it's all we can do"
Lucky and Jamie extend their hands to give their boss a fist bump, but Mazo ignores them and calls Manic outside so they can talk in private.
"Wow..." Jamie says "That ain't cool, man"
Lucky shakes his head "I'm getting tired of Mazo kissing Manic's ass and disrespecting us, bro. We're the ones who got him to the top! This is bullshit..."
Meanwhile, Manic walks up the neon-lit staircase and pushes the back doors open
"What's up, boss?"
"You're never gonna believe this! The big bosses are going to make me part of the top crew! This is the highest honor they can give!"
"That's amazing, bro! You definitely deserve it"
"Well, I wouldn't have gotten it without your help, my man!... now, the coronation doesn't happen for another week, so don't tell the others just yet-"
"Oh, you haven't told anyone else?"
Mazo puts his arm around Manic's shoulder "I'm telling you first 'cause I'm choosing you to be my underboss"
Manic's eyes widen "...you want me to run things here?"
"It'll be more responsibility, for sure, but you've earned it... I gotta be honest, I was sceptical at first, but what you've done in 3 months is crazy. It should've been impossible to knock off The Ravens, but you did it. Clearly, you're a born leader"
"Well, I had a lot of help, too"
Mazo laughs "No need to be humble, Manic. I know you've got that spark and an incredible work ethic... I couldn't pick Nina because she's occupied with the big boy, and as for Jamie or Lucky, well - they're just not meant to lead. I'm not taking anything away from them, they're still good guys-"
"Yeah, well I wish the blazer thought like that..."
"I know Lucky ain't your biggest fan right now, but he'll come around sooner or later. Anyway, that's all I wanted to say, Manic"
"Thanks boss, I appreciate the honor"
Mazo gives him a friendly tap on the cheek "I know you'll do good"
The boss walks to the parking lot and waves as he gets inside a black SUV. Manic nods and goes back inside the clubhouse. He can't stop thinking about his promotion, and more importantly, the money he stands to make as Underboss.
He grabs a drink from the bar and leans against the wall behind Bark and Nina.
"What're you smiling about?" the female hedgehog asks
"...the boss seems to like me, that's all"
"Yeah, well Lucky still thinks you're a poser douchebag, so there's that"
"Haha. Yeah"
The doorbell rings so Jamie looks at the live feed of the front door on his phone
"Who is it?" Nina asks "Is it a posse?"
"Nah, just one guy"
"Do you know who it is?"
"He looks like a greaser from the 50's-"
Manic finishes his drink in one gulp "I'll go see what The Fonz has to say"
The green hedgehog slides his glass across the bar and makes his way up to the front corridor. He walks down the long hallway and unlocks the door,
standing face to face with Scourge the Hedgehog.
"What's up, shitstick"
Manic's hands begin to tremble as memories of the evil hedgehog flood his mind
"Who is it?" Nina shouts
Scourge takes off his sunglasses "Now, just hang on a sec-"
Manic throws 6 punches that all connect with Scourge's mouth, and they begin to brawl inside the long corridor.
Scourge ducks under the head kicks and tries to calm Manic down, but the green hedgehog isn't stopping.
"Just wait! Hey!" Scourge shouts
Manic kicks him in the chest and he's knocked backwards. Scourge slides across the floorboards and stands up
"Alright, fuck it"
He reaches into his leather jacket, so Manic goes for his weapon as well.
Both green hedgehogs aim their guns at each other, while the rest of Manic's friends enter the corridor and draw their firearms. Scourge is outnumbered but he doesn't back down.
Bark makes eye contact "Scourge?"
"Sup, biggie"
Nina looks up at her boyfriend "You know this guy?"
"I use'a work for this clown..."
"Oh, don't be so coy, I pretty much made you two my b-"
Manic fires a warning shot into the floorboards "Shut up"
"Give me the word, I'll drop 'em both" Lucky says
Manic looks back "BOTH?!"
"Relax, I'm not here to ruin your little operation" Scourge says "I'm here on business-"
Manic turns back to face him "I don't care what you're here for, you're going to die in a second!"
"Manic, who is this guy?"
"A piece of shit!"
"It's good to see you, too, bro. What do I gotta do to make you all calm down?"
"Drop the gun and slide it over" Nina says
Scourge grins as he complies "...I like this chick. She definitely knows how to take charge-"
Manic pistol whips the evil hedgehog and drags him inside the clubhouse. Bark ties him to a chair and Nina keeps her gun trained on him.
"You'd better tell me what you're doing here right now before my friend blows that scumbag smile off your face!" Manic shouts
Scourge laughs at this "Well, you guys are gonna love this. I have a friend outside whose got a grenade launcher aimed at the front door. If you and I don't meet him in one minute, he's gonna unload an entire ammo crate of grenades into this place and not stop until there's nothing but ash left"
"Bullshit!"
Manic looks over at Jaime "Check the cameras outside!"
Jamie's expression changes "...he's not lying"
Manic takes the phone and looks at it. He zooms in on the shooter's face and recognizes him
"What the fuck is Sleuth Dogg doing with you?!"
The evil hedgehog continues to laugh "...you're only wasting time keeping me here"
Lucky puts his gun down "Well, for christ sakes, go out there with him, Manic! You're gonna get us killed!"
Nina pushes him back "You shut your mouth, we're not giving him up to these cocksuckers!"
God damnit... time to be a team leader...
"OKAY, fine! I'll go with you. Call him off" Manic says
"Manic, don't!"
Nina grasps his arm, immediately getting Bark's attention
"It's alright, I'll be fine. Really"
He pulls away from her and unties Scourge. The evil hedgehog uses a small radio to call off the hitman, then he looks Bark in the eyes
"I gotta say, I'm glad you finally found a girlfriend, biggie. Although, you might wanna keep a tighter leash on this one, if you know what I mean-"
Manic pushes him towards the door and Scourge laughs as he exits the lounge.
Bark puts his gun away and walks past Nina, clearly upset.
Manic stops at the door "Wait for my word, don't make a move until you hear from me"
Manic walks out the door and joins Scourge inside Sleuth Dogg's silver 4x4 truck. He sits in the back and notices someone else beside him, wearing a black bag over their head.
"What the hell?"
Dogg jumps in the driver's seat and starts the engine
"Getting you idiots in the same place was damn near impossible, but we need both of you for what we gotta do"
Manic looks over "Who is this?"
"Why don'tcha take a look, yourself" Scourge says
Manic cautiously removes the black bag and Miles "Tails" Prower is revealed
"T?! Bro, are you alright? You fuckers better not have touched him!"
"Nah, we just put some noise cancelling headphones on him and let him sleep for the entire ride"
The fox suddenly wakes up "What's going on? We there yet? - Manic! What're you doing here?"
"Slime ball just showed up out of the blue and pretty much abducted me!"
"Yeah, they got me the same way..."
Scourge and Dogg slap a cuff link on Manic and Tails' wrists and handcuff them to the driver and passenger's seats.
Not this shit again...
"Thats just to make sure you don't get any ideas" Scourge says
Manic reaches for his gun with his free hand, so Scourge aims two pistols at him and Tails
"Nah-uh, don't even think about it. Give it to my associate"
Manic puts the gun on the floor "There ya go"
"Why don't you try that again"
"Hand it to me. Nicely" Dogg orders
The green hedgehog growls as he picks up the gun and places it in Dogg's hand
"Good boy. Pat on the back for you"
Scourge pistol whips Manic across the face as payback for his cheap shot inside the clubhouse
"Doesn't feel too good, huh"
"Not at all..." Manic says while covering his mouth
"...you wanna tell us what this is all about?" Tails asks
Dogg steps on the gas pedal "You two idiots are gonna help us break someone out of jail"