Apologies! This one is a little shorter than the others. I'm trying to pace out the chapters based on how the scenes throughout the movie transition from one to another. So try to pace yourselves since the next update won't be till Friday!
Everyone was now inside the security office. Amy was shown bandaging up the echidna's chest with some real bandages from a first-aid kit she found, the latter having taken off his shirt to allow her to do so, while Sonic was next to them, watching. All three of them also now had bandages wrapped around their hands and wrists as well, mimicking the gloves they were accustomed to wearing normally.
Amy – From what I can tell, you seem to have a couple ribs that are either broken or cracked.
Knuckles – I've dealt with worse.
Sonic – A tough guy, huh? Well, seeing as what happened back there, you definitely can take a punch.
Knuckles – It was custom in my tribe for all warriors to go through intense training growing up. This isn't anything I'm not used to.
Amy just frowned however.
Amy – That's not very reassuring. All that just for training? Just how tough was your tribe on you?
The echidna took in her concerned look and just gave a small resigned smile.
Knuckles – Yes, well they were always obsessively focused on strength… No matter what it took to obtain it…
Sonic's eyes widened with interest as he seemed to detect some other sort of indication from that sentence.
Amy – Well, I've done the best I can do. So don't go pushing yourself too hard.
The echidna looked down at his chest, inspecting Amy's handywork.
Knuckles – Not bad. I admit, I'm impressed.
Sonic – Yeah. You used to be a nurse or something?
Amy – Oh no, nothing like that. I've just had a little experience with treating injuries. You know, before the world ended.
Amy glanced to the side while unconsciously clenching her arm, beginning to look a little uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Shadow was shown loading up a machine gun he had found with ammunition, which there was plenty of considering the office was loaded with lockers filled with multiple weapons and other gear as well. Like the others, he too was now sporting bandages wrapped around his hands.
Knuckles – Well? Anything?
Miles and the lion mobian were shown at two computers, searching for any information that could give some insight to their situation.
Tails – No good. All that shows up is energy-related data.
Cyrus – Same here.
The black hedgehog only narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the lion mobian.
Tails – I might be able to open a backdoor if I reroute the link through the network. But it might take some time depending how strong their firewalls are.
Miles began typing more reverently as he focused on the screen. Sonic then came over behind him, looking at the screen as well.
Sonic – You sure know your way around tech, Kid.
Miles glanced up at Sonic for a moment before he refocused his attention to the computer.
Tails – Y-you think so?
Sonic – Yeah, it's impressive.
Miles then looked up at Sonic in surprise, clearly not expecting that answer.
Tails – What? You mean it?
Sonic smiled at the young fox.
Sonic – Of course! In fact, you kinda remind me of my brother…
Sonic continued to smile, though a reminiscent look washed over his eyes as he mentioned Manic.
Tails – Really?
Sonic – Yeah, he was pretty good with electronic devices too.
Miles continued to look up at Sonic in surprise before he returned his gaze to the computer.
Tails – Well, I've always like tinkering with machines and even inventing a little. Of course, everyone just finds it weird whenever they see me doing stuff like that.
Amy and the echidna turned towards Miles, Amy looking especially interested.
Sonic – Huh? What do you mean?
Miles tries to smile at Sonic reassuringly.
Tails – Don't worry about it. It's nothing.
Amy – No, tell us. People call you weird because you like to build things?
Miles then turned around to face Amy, though his expression began to turn to one of insecurity.
Tails – Oh, you know how it is… It's just unusual for kids my age to be interested in that kind of stuff. Especially when you have an IQ of 300 and can already comprehend complex theories on time and space…
Amy only seemed to grow more upset however.
Amy – So you were made fun of just because you were smart?!
Tails – I-it's really no big deal-
Amy then slammed one of her hands down onto the bench, startling everyone.
Amy – Yes it is! If people tease you just because of who you are, that's bullying!
Tails – What…? But…
The commotion finally even got the lion mobian and the black hedgehog's attention as well, especially since it seemed Amy was only continuing to get worked up.
Amy – How often did it happen?! How much did they harass you for it?!
Knuckles – Hey…
Amy – It wasn't just words was it?! They always go far enough to hurt her! Making me watch her go home covered in scratches and dirt every day!
Miles' body was now shaking, beginning to show the signs of a panic attack.
Tails – That's not…! I don't…!
The young fox then began to curl in on himself.
Tails – I didn't do anything wrong! Why are you being so mean…!
Miles was clearly not in the present moment anymore, as his words no longer seemed to be addressing Amy. Realizing the kid was beginning to have a flashback, Sonic immediately took Miles into his arms in an attempt to calm him down.
Sonic – Hey, hey…! It's okay, Buddy. You're okay.
The echidna then stood up and put a hand on Amy's shoulder.
Knuckles – Amy!
Amy suddenly seemed to snap out of her trance and her expression immediately filled with regret once she saw the state Miles was in.
Amy – Oh my gosh… I'm sorry..! I'm so sorry…! I…!
Amy's shoulders began shaking as well and she soon covered her eyes with her hands as she began to break down into tiny sobs.
Amy – Why…? Why are they always so cruel…? Why don't they ever just stop…?
The echidna rubbed Amy's back sympathetically.
Knuckles – It looks like everyone here has their own emotional scars.
The black hedgehog then narrowed his eyes again.
Shadow – Is that really just a coincidence?
The echidna looked over at the black hedgehog in confusion, only for the latter to address the lion mobian with an accusing glare.
Shadow – Well?! Mr. Engineer?!
Cyrus – Why are you asking me?
Shadow – Because you're not a patient!
Sonic and Miles looked over at the lion mobian in shock while the black hedgehog stood up and loaded his gun. The lion mobian tried to smile innocently, though he clearly looked nervous.
Cyrus – Wh-why would you think that?
Amy then looked back up, instantly glaring at the lion mobian as well.
Amy – Your pendant!
The lion mobian looked surprised and immediately grabbed hold of the necklace that was hidden underneath his shirt, the chains clearly visible around his neck.
Amy – Personal belongings weren't allowed inside the capsules.
Cyrus – I snuck it in with me.
Knuckles – There was a metal detector. I saw a couple people set it off myself.
Cyrus – Well, actually, I bribed an employee and…
Sonic thought back to when he wasn't allowed to bring his medallion with him, prompting him to glance at the lion mobian with a bitter smile.
Sonic – Yeah, you honestly expect us to believe that? You're a terrible liar, you know.
Cyrus – I-it's the truth! I…!
Shadow – Then how did you know where this office was?!
The lion mobian now looked panicked, unable to come up with another excuse.
Knuckles – Deceiver…!
The lion mobian reached back for his handgun on the desk and sent a quick glance towards Sonic and Miles. Realizing what he was about to do, Sonic reacted quickly and pushed Miles out of the way just before the lion mobian grabbed Sonic around his neck and put the gun to his head.
Cyrus – Don't move!
Everyone froze in their tracks, shock written on their faces.
Cyrus – You're the ones who decided to tag along! I have a duty to fulfill!
Back outside the office, the lion mobian shot the elevator button, still holding Sonic hostage. The black hedgehog and the echidna were both only a few feet away from them, trying to coax the lion mobian into releasing the blue hedgehog in his grip while Miles and Amy were further back, watching worriedly.
Cyrus – Listen up! Come after me and he dies!
Knuckles – We won't interfere. Just let him go.
Cyrus – Th central shaft is four blocks ahead. Take the emergency stairs there outside! Got it?!
The elevator doors opened and the lion mobian backed up into it slowly, still with Sonic in his grasp, watching the others intently. The elevator doors closed then closed just as soon as the echidna ran over to them, prompting him to pound on them in frustration.
Knuckles – That coward!
The black hedgehog immediately turned around and raced back up to the office, with the echidna following behind him. Amy and Miles continued to stare at the elevator, only while Amy looked extremely worried, Miles had an incredibly focused look on his face. Meanwhile, the lion mobian finally relaxed and lowered the gun from Sonic's head now that the two were alone, giving the blue hedgehog the chance to elbow him in the gut and scramble away to the other side of the elevator. He then took a defensive position as he glared at his captor.
Sonic – All right, what are you planning?!
Cyrus – I've met you before…
Sonic's gaze softened and his expression turned perplexed, while the lion mobian stared at him with a slightly fearful expression.
Cyrus – Just who are you?
Back with the others, the black hedgehog and echidna were continuing to load up their weapons as they each were now wearing ammo belts across their chests, holding plenty of extra bullets and cartridges.
Shadow – When I get my hands on that guy…!
Miles was shown putting on a toolbelt carrying both tools and emergency supplies while Amy was tying a piece of cloth she ripped from the sleeve of her shirt around her head to act as a replacement for her headband.
Amy – Are we going after them?
Shadow – I owe that faker one!
The echidna grinned at the black hedgehog.
Knuckles – Faker, huh? I knew you looked similar, but I didn't think you were the type to fixate on something so trivial.
The black hedgehog's eyebrow twitched in annoyance, but he said nothing to that remark.
Shadow – Besides, that lion obviously knows something about what's going on here! We're gonna catch him and make him talk!
The echidna stood up, ready to go.
Knuckles – All right! Let's go!
Tails – Wait!
Amy, the echidna, and the black hedgehog all turned towards Miles, who was now at the computer the lion mobian was searching through before, his eyes wide as a result of what he saw on the screen. The other three mobians went over to him and looked over at the screen as well, their expressions also turning to ones of surprise. On one of the files on the screen, the time and date listed read as 7:22PM, October 15th, 2015.
Amy – No way! It's only been 48 hours since we entered the capsules?!
Knuckles – That's impossible! How could all those weird monsters and thorns show up in only two days?!
Shadow – That's what that guy is going to tell us.
Suddenly, the group felt the facility begin to shake, as though there was an earthquake.
The doors of the elevator to the cold sleep capsule room were shown, opening up to reveal Sonic, with a wall of neon green and fuchsia thorns rising behind him. Inside the room, was the lion mobian, who was wearing a lab coat that had a Venus Gate ID badge clipped on the front, revealing that he was actually one of the scientists of Venus Gate; ironically, the very same scientist with the photo pendant who was staring out the window when Gerald was welcoming all the guests. The lion mobian turned around and watched in apprehension as Sonic appeared to walk into the room while two regular vines of thorns spiraled behind him.
Suddenly, Sonic and the lion mobian were shown back in the elevator, the latter now sitting against the wall as he finished recapping where he had seen the blue hedgehog before.
Sonic – When did that happen?
Cyrus – Right after the cold sleep began.
Sonic – That can't be… I was already asleep in my capsule then. Are you sure it was really me you saw? Was there anything else?
The lion mobian looked up in surprise before he turned his gaze to the floor and furrowed his eyebrows in concentration.
Cyrus – Well… I can't really be sure… But there might have been another figure. Also green… and fuchsia…
Sonic's eyes then widened.
Sonic – Wait! Green and fuchsia? It must've been Manic and Sonia!
The lion mobian looked back up at Sonic.
Cyrus – Manic and Sonia?
Sonic – My siblings. Then that means…
Sonic then smiled and looked incredibly relieved.
Sonic – They're still alive…
The lion mobian's eyes remained narrowed as he gazed at Sonic.
Sonic – Then what happened?! Where did they go?!
Cyrus – At some point they just disappeared. By the time I realized it…
The facility began to shake at that moment, startling both mobians and causing Sonic to lose his balance and fall against the wall next to the lion mobian, who was knocked to the ground. Sonic also banged his head hard against the wall, knocking him out.
Back with Miles, Amy, the echidna, and the black hedgehog, the four were hiding behind a corner as the shaking died down, out of sight from hundreds of dinosaur-like monsters that were crowding the path ahead.
Amy – Hey, are you sure about this…?!
Miles shushed Amy, reminding her to be quiet.
Knuckles – This isn't good.
The group saw that the tower with the emergency stairs that would have lead them up to the surface had fallen over and was completely covered in thorns; at best, the top of the tower was now leaning against a higher floor.
Knuckles – What do we do?
Shadow – We climb.
Amy – But there's too many of them!
Shadow – As long as we're quiet they won't notice us. Right, Kid?
Miles nodded before he looked at Amy.
Tails – It'll be okay, trust us.
Looking at everyone's reassuring expressions, a determined expression formed on Amy's face as she nodded as well. She was then shown grabbing onto one of the vines hanging from above to help climb up, only for one of the thorns to prick her hand, nearly causing her to let out a cry of pain. Miles, who was ahead of her, looked back in concern, only for Amy to wave to him in assurance that she was fine. The two continued climbing up while the black hedgehog and echidna watched them closely from the ground, holding their guns up and ready to shoot just in case.
Knuckles – All right.
Shadow – You're next.
Knuckles – What?!
A few monsters poked their heads up, having heard the echidna raise his voice. He looked over at them nervously for a moment before looking back at the black hedgehog and lowering his volume again.
Knuckles – What are you thinking?!
Shadow – Those two need protection. You're an echidna warrior, are you not?
Seeing the black hedgehog's point, the echidna grimaced and headed over to the fallen stairs.
Knuckles – I'm kicking your butt once we get outside.
The black hedgehog just grinned. The echidna began climbing up as well, following after Amy and Miles, who were just about halfway up, though the beams beneath him creaked and shifted due to his added weight, nearly making Amy and Miles lose their balance, and frightening the pink hedgehog.
Amy – What if the whole thing falls…?!
Tails – Don't worry. The density of the thorns should be enough to hold it up.
Amy – I wonder if this is what it's like going through Sleeping Beauty's castle.
Suddenly the facility began shaking once again, forcing the echidna, Amy, and Miles to hold onto the thorns to keep themselves from falling more tightly despite the sharp brambles pricking into them. Amy however, couldn't help but finally let out a yelp of fear from nearly falling over, causing all the monsters to look up and notice the three mobians before they began to start climbing up after them. The black hedgehog tried running out to stop the beasts, only for more to notice him and forcing him to back up into the hallway.
Shadow – So be it then.
The black hedgehog raised his gun.
Shadow – Take cover!
Miles and Amy finally managed to get to the top floor, while the echidna looked back down at the black hedgehog.
Knuckles – Wait! Don't tell me you're…!
Shadow – Now!
The black hedgehog proceeded to fire at a gas tank, causing a huge explosion that knocked him along with a few other monsters back down the hallway, while the rest were wiped out in the fiery blast. The echidna ran up the rest of the way to the top floor as fast as he could, managing to jump to the platform just in time before he was caught in the blast as well. He then rolled onto Miles and Amy, who were waiting for him, shielding them on the floor as they took cover from the explosion.
Like I said, short chapter, but please be patient. The next one should be quite exciting after all!
I tried to relate the trauma of the characters to their original backstories as best I could, but I had to take a few creative liberties with Amy. Also who do you think the person she was talking about is?
Since Tails was not born with two tails, he never got his nickname, hence why he is referred to as Miles throughout the story, but he was still a child genius, so he mostly got picked on because of that.
Since I saw Sonic 2, and I saw how close I Knuckles was with his father, here I think that they may have had a good relationship too, but his tribe was still power-obsessed, hence they were really hard on the young trainees. Knuckles still respects his tribe's honor, but even he knows deep down that enduring being put through the wringer his entire life has left him with some psychological damage.
(Why do I love torturing my babies?)
See you all next time!
