Interlude
The mark of the damned
While theWhite Lightning traveled across the vacuum of space, Tails was in the greenhouse, removing dead branches from the rosebush ...
"Well, that was the last. You do not have to worry now you´re clean" - Tails Whispered . At that time the new rosebud that had grown before opened before him, as if the plant was telling "thank you", Tails smiled ...
"You're welcome"
RAMP was on the bridge and the droids were quiet until ...
"I detect an unidentified object approaching quickly"
"Put it on screen"
... What was on the screen was a Shuttle ...
"Unidentified ship you´re on a collision course, change your direction inmediatly" - RAMP said in transmission to the ferry, but there was no answer - "It will not stop, PREPARE FOR IMPACT!"
...And the shuttle hit the White Lightning and despite the shuttle hit the front of WL it received most of the damage. The blow shaked the ship ...
In the greenhouse:
"WHOA, what the hell's going on?" Tails said before going to the bridge ...
On the bridge:
"I demand to know, what the hell happened?"
"It was not our fault Master, an unknown shuttle came out of nowhere and hit us"
"Unknown ship?, Damage report R.A.M.P"
"Only a few dents, we're fine. I cannot say the same of the shuttle "
"Bring the ship to review it, but I want to alert all droids, we don´t know what or who is inside"
Then a couple of huge mechanical claws went out the hangar door, the WL was placed aside the shuttle and pull it inside...
In the Hangar:
…Once inside the droids surrounded the shuttle while the internal defenses pointed to the damaged ship ...
"Open the gate!" –Tails demanded and one of the cargo droids opened thegate, the droid looked inside to investigate ...
"It seems like somebody is here, but unconscious"
"Get him out of there" - R.A.M.P screamed to the droid and someone was pulled out the ship; It was Fenrir! ...
"Fenrir!, step aside let me pass!" - Tails said passing through the droids-"Fenrir, Fenrir, it´s Tails wake up!" – but no response
"You know him Master?"
"Yes, he was with Captain Grizzly, but I don´t know why he´s here. Help me get him to the infirmary! "
…A cargo droid took Fenrir to the infirmary ,while being in bed RAMP began to analyzing his status ...
In the infirmary:
"It looks very bad, his vital signs deteriorate rapidly and he suffers from a very severe stress, soon he will begin to hallucinate. Whatever has put him in this condition must have been very bad"
"RAMP, look"-Tails said pointing to Fenrir´s neck and chest -"These brands seem like burns"
"But his fur is not damaged in any way and shows no signs of physical aggression"
"So ... what could leave him so emaciated?"
"I have no idea, but I will do everything I can"
"I'll help you then"
... Both were monitoring the condition of Fenrir, without finding any solution for his condition ...
"I do not know what to do!, I have exhausted all possibilities, I used all drug samples and does not improve at all"
"But we cannot leave him like this" (Tails)
Fenrir ... Then he opened his eyes and got up from the bed...
"Fenrir!, Back to bed you're in bad shape" – Tails warned, but Fenrir didn´t hear him, his eyes were like lost in a trance or something, then he just started running and left the infirmary ...
"What's wrong?!"
"I said he was going to hallucinate"
"We have to follow him" - Tails said before go after Fenrir
"He´s going to the greenhouse!"
"TO THE GREENHOUSE?!" -Tails shouted before running off like his life was in a stake, and R.A.M.P tried to reach him - "Wait for me Master!"
... When they arrived, they found Fenrir stuck on the protective dome covering the rose, like a leech ...
In the greenhouse:
"GET AWAY FROM THERE, NONE BUT ME TOUCHES THAT PLANT!" - Tails approaching to Fenrir enraged; Fenrir then fall to the floor as he squirmed in pain and clutched his throat...
" IT BURNS ME!, IT BURNS ME!" – Then he looked a container which contained the excess water from the flowerpot and drank it, and then he fell fainted...
"But what happened here Master?"
"I do not know; help me to take him back to the infirmary"
Tails and RAMP ... Then took Fenrir to the infirmary...
In the hospital:
"Why he has acted that way?"
"I told you this would happen, Huh?" - RAMP said watching Fenrir´s heart monitor
"What happen?"
"Look, Fenrir vital signs are stabilizing"
"Have been the medications?"
"Impossible, those medications were fast acting not delayed effect" (RAMP)
"So if it was not the medications, what helped him recover?" (Tails)
"I do not know. Did he went somewhere before going to the greenhouse? "
"Not all I remember is when we found it was attached to the dome of the rose and ..." – Tails began and… - "He drank the water left in the flowerpot!" (Tails / RAMP)
... Tails ordered one of the droids to bring the container of the excess water from the flowerpot and RAMP began to analyze it ...
"Strange, the sample seems to have strange enzymes that counteract the effects of the" disease " "
"How do you know?"
"I isolated some of the enzymes of the sample and added to a Fenrir´s blood sample,the enzymes repaired the damage he had in his blood"
"Do you think you have been the earth?"
"No the enzymes are from vegetable origin"
"So ... then ..."
"Bring the rose bush please, Master"
"Fo-For what?"
"I need a sample to be analyzed" (RAMP)
"Well" -Tails sighed before going to the greenhouse for the rose AGAIN, then returned with the rosebush ,RAMP took a petal and a leaf to analyze ...
"No doubt, the enzymes come from the plant"
"How is it possible? , it is a medicinal plant"
"True, but it seems that somehow has begun to develop these enzymes, and you have told me is not just any plant"
"You're right"
"I can make a serum to counteract the disease, but need more than one leaf to do it"
"HH-How the more you need?"
" around...the half of the bush" - .P said slowly knowing the reaction it would cause to Tails -"WHAT, YOU BLEW UP YOUR CIRCUITS?!"
"Master calm down; I know the rosebush is very important to you, but if you want to help Fenrir I need those leaves"
"But ... you can´t ..., I agree but I'm going to pull them off" – Tails anwered resigned - "As you wish Master"
... With much regret and tearfully Tails began to pull off the plant´s leaves, then RAMP began to create the serum, after finish they made Fenrir drink ...
"Well we can only wait"
... Tails took half-leafless rosebush and brought to the greenhouse, as he walked sadly watching the bare branches as his tears fell on them ...
Returning to the infirmary...
"Master come here, quickly!"
"What is it?"
"The marks are disappearing, look"
"The serum ... it works"
... When the marks were completely disappeared, Fenrir awoke ...
"Arg, my ... head Where am I?"
"You're on my ship"
"Tails?, But ... How did I get here?"
"Do not you remember anything?"
"No"
"You lost control of your ship and you crashed against us, when my droids get you out , you were unconscious"
"Unconscious?" (Fenrir)
"Yes, you were in a very bad condition and you were sick"
"SICK!, Now I remember everything" - Fenrir said with a hand on his forehead)
"Speak then"
"Our space station serves as a communication center for our planet, we needed a new engine equipment for the station and my father decided to get it with other people, but two days after they returned they began to get sick, we believe that something happened during the journey but neither the doctors from the planet or the station members could help them. "
"Let me guess, you decided to go for help, alone" (Tails)
"That's right, but when I had left the solar system, my ship was engulfed by an amorphous mass of black mist, freed my ship almost instantly, the last thing I remember is that everything went dark"
"How long have you left the station?"
"I think for 90 days"
"Fenrir just for ask, your dad and and others began to have purple marks on their bodies?" – Tails asked to the confused wolf
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Because you had those marks you too"
"And how I cured?"
"We give you a special serum, it was the only thing that managed to eliminate the disease"
"How did you made it?, I thought everything was useless"
"It's a plant-based serum"
"Plant, which plant you used?"
"I think you better do not ask" - RAMP whispered to Fenrir as they saw Tails Crestfallen and covered by a gloomy aura - "Are you okay?" -Fenrir asked to Tails who just nodded
"You still have left some of that serum?"
"Yes, there was a great amount"
"My father and the others at the station are sick, if their serum worked with me, maybe work with them"
"Sure, but it depends on the Master"
"Tails help me please, Tails?"
"Boss?" - Then shaking his head ... and out of trance ... - "Ok Fenrir, but we must hurry. I do not know what side effects they may have "
"Well" – after Fenrir left the bed the three headed towards the bridge but a droid intercepted them ...
"Sir we have a problem"
"What is it?"
"Two of the droids were calibrating the flight instruments and well ..."
"Well you do not stand like a drooling moron, SPEAK!" (RAMP)
"Well,It seems that they received a discharge and they have been trying to dismantle themselves during the last 30 minutes"
"We better go see, where are they?"
On the bridge:
... The "Sane" Droids were trying to separate the crazy droids couple, because they were trying to throw each other throughout the hatch...
"Get them right, not let loose. The Master and RAMP are coming soon!"
"WE ARE DOING THAT"
"LET ME GO, I´LL DISMALTLE THAT MORON"
"I AM GOING TO TURN YOU IN A SCRAP HEAP"
They Tails and company arrived to the bridge of the ship ...
"This is too much!, All droids of the bridge are holding them " – Tails said after seeing the "Show" - "Remember, we were not designed for heavy work or physical effort"
"Let's end this, RAMP the Tazer claws"
"HAHA, I always wanted to do this"
"Release them!" – Tails ordered -"But Master ..."
"Do what he says" - RAMP said their "hands" behind his back- "Well ..."
They released the couple of droids ... and again the tried to kill each other ...
"HEY"
"WHAT?"
"If you want to kill yourselves go to cargo area"
"But I want to tear him apart now Master" – Said one of the crazy droids without noticing that RAMP scurried after them
"Well if you don´t want go for the easy way You´ll go by hard Way, RAAMP!"
... And the two droids were electrocuted...
"Does that happen often?" -Fenrir asked to the droid who warned them - "No, but it is becoming boring and tedious to control"
"Take them to the workshop and review them, there is a change of course"
"Where do we go now?"
"Fenrir, give the coordinates"
"Planet Dorios 8 quadrant 32"
... And after setting the new course the White Lightning disappeared into the Hyper Space ...
Dorios 8 Space Station, command center:
...One of the technicians was talking to the second in command of the station...
"Fenrir left the station more than a month ago and there has been no sign of him" - someone hawk-like said
"Do you think the same thing happened to him that Mr. Uther?" - Said the Squirrel technical aspect - looks like the Acorn Kingdom just black color.
"I hope not, the condition of Uther and the other decays very fast"
"Sir, a ship is coming out of hyper space and is coming towards us" – a technician lizard-like said
"What?"
"Wait, we're getting a transmission"
"Put it on screen" - ... And Fenrir appears on the screen ... - "Hello, is there anybody at home?"
"Fenrir!, Thank to heaven, we thought you were not coming back"
"No time for explanations, clear the attachment bay"
... The ships around leaved the bay while the WL was attaching to the station ...
"I hope it's not too late" - Tails said putting a vial of the serum in RAMP´s chest compartment
... Then Tails, RAMP and Fenrir went to the exit gate when it opened the hawk was waiting ...
"Mr Scoll "
"Fenrir is good to have you back, what happened to you?"
"I tell you later and what about my father?" - ... A look of concern appeared od Scoll´s face ... - "Follow me, but ... Who are they?"
"Uh ... they are my friends ..."
"Never mind, follow me"
Dorios 8 Space Station ,Infirmary:
... When they reached the Infirmary thy get scared, those who were ill had their bodies covered with a purple color and the marks were a blackish purple color. Fenrir was in shock ...
"DAD!"
"I do not like this, the disease has spread throughout their body and has get worse over time"
"Are there others who are ill?" - Tails asked to Scoll -"No; the disease does not appear to be contagious, but they have been in that condition for a while"
"Tails,the serum"
"RAMP" - Tails said then RAMP give him the bottle -"I do not know what effects might cause, the disease appears to progress more rapidly in adults than in young ones"
"What you plan to do?" – Scoll asked to Tails after see the vial - "We'll give them something that can heal them, help me made them drink it"
... Fenrir and RAMP raised the sick and Tails gave them serum. After everyone drank, Tails and company left the infirmary, when they came to the rest room and Scoll began to interrogate Tails and RAMP ...
Dorios 8 Space Station , rest room:
"Tell me, how you met Fenrir?" –Scoll asked to R.A.M.P who began to speak - "While we ..."
Tails and Fenrir . were sitting next to R.A.M.P but Fenrir looked very worried and sad ...
"Are you okay Fenrir?"
"How I could be okay when my father is dying?"
"I know this things seems horrible and I have my doubts but you must not lose hope"
"Tails, your droid told me how you met Fenrir. Are not you too young to travel alone? "
"And Fenrir was not too young to go out alone to seek help?"
"Hmmm, Touché"
At that time the black squirrel interrups...
"Sir Scoll, come quickly"
Dorios 8 Space Station ,Infirmary:
... When they arrived they met many people in there...
"Step aside, let us pass"
They noticed that patients were awake in their beds, were somewhat dizzy but were cured ...
"Uther, thank goodness you´re good"
"For now, I feel like I've been used as a door mat" - Uther said grunting with discomfort
... Seeing his father healthy, Fenrir did what any troubled son had done...
"DAD!" - Fenrir wept as he threw into the arms of his father - "Fenrir?"
"You are okay" -Fenrir whispered while his father returned the gesture, seeing this Tails smiled slightly as he walked in silence followed by RAMP ...
"Master, Are we leaving?" (RAMP asked Tails as he followed down the hall)
"Yes, We´ve helped Fenrir, time to go" -Tails said in a tone nostalgic as they headed for the attaching bay
... While ...
"Scoll, I thank you for watching my station and find a cure for us"
"Thanks Uther, but I fear that the credit of your recovery is not for me"
"Then Who?"
"I know for whom I met him when I was with the Cap ... Where is Tails?"
…Scoll ... just looked into the hallway as knowing where Tails was ...
... Tails and RAMP had come to the attaching bay and when they went to to aboard the WL a voice Froze him…
"Do not you think it's rude to leave without say nothing?"
"Mr Scoll!, What you doing here?"
"You can me Scoll, Why you helped Fenrir?"
"Well ... I could not leave him alone in the middle of nowhere"
"And so you leave without saying goodbye, do not think Fenrir's father deserves to know who helped him and his son?"
"It helped him not to be praised, he needed my help"
"That's humility, a quality very rare in our days. But we all deserve some recognition from time to time "
"Maybe, but I have a long way to go. Please I want you to keep this "- Tails said as he handed Scoll what remained of serum
"This is serum you used, right?"
"Yes, it's not much, but I want you have it. Use it if you find others with this rare disease "
"Very well"
"Oh, and please tell Fenrir I´m sorry by not saying good bye"
"I'll tell him" - Scoll said with a slight smile
…While the WL was moving away from the space station to enter the Hyper Space ...
"Master, we had to stay more time"
"No need, I have learned from experience that the pride is useless, you got it for a moment and the other moment don't got it"
"Well you're right about that"
"But you know, I keep having a rare and very bad feeling about what he accuses the disease"