Act I: AWARE

Chapter XIII: Raging Lung

The Chemical Lounge, Tuesday 10:05 PM

Sonic and Tails had the computer started – watching through Cosmo's eyes as Amy and Sally drove her towards the club.

Bunnie, Antoine, and the Chaotix team stood behind Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. Silver and Blaze were posted atop an apartment tower across the club – keeping watch.

The three women made conversation – getting to know Cosmo, as well as teasing her about Tails.

That was all Sonic's doing – and Tails knew that with the dumb, cheeky look on the hedgehog's face.

"You just haaad to tell them, huh?" Tails asked, earning a small chuckle from Sonic.

"I think it's cute, Tails!" Tangle cheered, Whisper giving a nod in agreement.

"Wait – they are stopping." Espio said, immediately calling all the eyes onto the computer.

Amy and Sally gave Cosmo another quick rundown, before she stepped out of the car.

"Wait, Cosmo." Knuckles called through her ear-piece. "Look at Amy and Sally – I want to double check that the ID system works."

"Sure thing, boss." Cosmo stated, before turning her face to Amy and Sally.

Unsurprisingly, their names "Amelia Rose" and "Sally Acorn" were on the screen – connected to the girls faces.

"Perfect. You're all set." Knuckles said, as Cosmo gave her goodbyes to Amy and Sally.

The group watched as Cosmo entered the club – crafting a very careful fake identity.

They dressed her in club-esque clothing, and her current name was "Petunia Birnbaum", the name of a regular waitress who had served there in the past. This earned no grievances from the two guards, letting her in without question.

Helps that Petunia was also a seedrian girl – so the ID went off without a hitch as well.

Cosmo made her way through the club – the dance pit packed as strobing lights pulsated the room – loud, thumping rave music controlling the atmosphere.

Tails directed Cosmo through the club – leading her to the elevator where she once again showed her fake identification, leading her right into the elevator. It descended for a few moments, before reaching its destination, the gold-plated doors sliding open.

Cosmo stepped out into a bottom bar/strip-club area, full of men in suits and ties.

Knuckles immediately recognized some of them, his brow furrowing.

"Alright, Cosmo – this may be a bit uncomfortable, but I need you to slow down and look at their faces so we can make ID's." Sonic said.

"You got it." Cosmo whispered, looking at the men that were of course looking at her.

Gross.

The ID's came in alarmingly quick – and they couldn't believe what they were reading.

City councilors, politicians, police-force members, DA office workers, Charical members.

All the powerful, elite political figures were here. All of them.

"Good Gaia – all of these political figures, these powerful people, they all have mob ties?"

Spike was right – this was so much bigger than they imagined.

It seemed Shadow and Robotnik had such massive amounts of control in the city, and the serial killer on the phone wished to destroy it all.

This corruption was staggering, it made Sonic sick to his stomach.

Even so many of their own men were there. Knuckles had to turn away at times.

Mordred had told him before in confidence that many of the boys in blue had mob ties – before Knuckles was promoted to commissioner.

Knuckles had sworn to uphold values of purity, justice, and honor in this city – but it seemed the damage had already been done.

He was leading the corrupt.

Vector looked at Knuckles, taking notice of his greening face.

"Knux, why don't you sit down. We got this handled." Vector said, earning a nod from Knuckles as he took a seat.

Cosmo continued walking, ignoring the face of a certain individual.

"Wait – Cosmo, turn around. I need to get that one." Sonic said.

"If I turn around – he's gonna ask me to sit with him." Cosmo replied, stopping in her tracks.

"I know this is- uncomfortable. But we have to make those ID's." Sonic said carefully, as Cosmo obliged – turning around.

It was Chief of Police Mordred Hood.

There was a sharp, collective intake of breath, as Mordred stood up.

"Hey – sorry, I saw you walking – and was wondering if you wanted to get some drinks with us?" He asked.

He was at least polite.

"Sure – sounds great." Cosmo said, as he led them over.

He began introducing the men he was with, and all of them were either city politicians or other government officials.

All in the mafia club. Somewhere they didn't belong.

It made Sonic feel disgusting.

"You know – this guy who's killing people has got me scared. He knows so much." Mordred said, worry in his eyes.

"He doesn't know shit", one of the politicians he was with spoke up.

"Either way – it just scares me, you know? I don't want to be next." Mordred said, panic laced in his voice.

Cosmo grabbed his hand, smirking.

"What's this about a rat?"

Mordred turned to his friends, before swallowing. One of his friends told him not to say anything – but he didn't listen.

He was clearly enamored with Cosmo.

"When we had the Finitevus case – you know, before we brought his operation down – there was an informant. I guess the killer is calling him a rat. He paid off Spike and the DA's not to prosecute the case off of the information. This put me, and all of these people on Shadow and Robotnik's payroll. But – then there-"

Mordred stopped speaking, as his eyes flicked up. Cosmo followed, watching as Shadow, Rouge, the Rogues, and Bark all began walking by – people clearing a path for them.

There was a collective murmur in the police station, the ID's coming up with their names.

"Jesus – Shadow and them are all there." Vector said.

"Should Cosmo follow them?" Charmy asked.

Sonic just stared ahead as they all walked by, a pit in his stomach forming.

He just could not believe any of this.

Cosmo got up, prompting Mordred to attempt for her to sit back down – but she ignored them, trailing behind.

"Wait – what is she doing?" Antoine asked, Bunnie's brow furrowing.

"Cosmo – you need to go back to Mordred." Sonic said.

Cosmo said nothing, posting behind a door where Shadow and they were meeting.

This girl was masterfully stealthy.

"Boss – we got a bit of an issue." Wave said.

"Hm? What is it?" Shadow replied.

Wave turned to Rouge, though this was tricky to make out with Cosmo's vantage point.

"Seems like Honey is defecting. I had a contact who said there's a big drug shipment going on with Robotnik at the Charical warehouse by the shipping docks. She's gonna turn on us." Rouge stated, crossing her arms.

Shadow cursed, before turning to Jet, Storm and Bark.

"Alright – let's go. We have some skulls to crack." Shadow said, before they thundered out of the room.

Cosmo watched – her eyes narrowing. "Do you guys know what that is?"

Sonic turned to Knuckles, who had stood up.

"We know exactly where that is. Alright – Sonic and Tails are coming with me. Have Silver and Blaze meet us there. Everyone else assure that Cosmo makes it back safely – and try and get in touch with Mordred." Knuckles commanded, everyone nodding and going about their tasks.

Sonic stood up, tapping into the microphone.

"Alright, hey Cosmo? We got everything we needed. Get out of there – I'll tell Amy to pull the car up."

Cosmo replied with agreements, as she hurried out of the club.

This could be it.

Outside of The Chemical Lounge, 10:20 PM

Cosmo rushed outside, holding her arms tight to her chest – only for a voice behind her to snap her out of her daze.

"Hey – must have missed you in there! You leaving?" Mordred Hood asked, as Cosmo turned over her shoulder.

"Yeah – gotta work in the morning. My ride's around the corner." She replied.

"Oh, you sure?" He asked.

Cosmo didn't respond, opting to hurry down the street as the unmarked SUV pulled up.

Mordred would have been more suspicious, if he wasn't drinking already.

Watching the SUV roar away, Mordred sighed – the breath from his mouth visible in the cold night air.

He began trekking back to his car, which was parked underneath an overpass.

He situated inside, putting his head in his hands for a moment, before fiddling to get his eyes.

Turning his head to the passenger seat however, he noticed that the headrest was popped out of place, laid out on the seat.

Mordred's heart began to pick up slightly, before turning around – only to be met with a shadowy figure.

He had no time to react – the metal rod slammed down into Mordred's face repeatedly, the blood starting to collect on his head.

Mordred's face was slammed down into his steering wheel – drifting in and out of consciousness as the horn blared loudly.

The figure whispered incoherencies, beginning to wrap Mordred's head in the same wrapping that was on Spike's.

Slowly wrapping, and slowly stealing the air from Mordred's lungs.

Charical Shipping Docks Warehouse, 10:45 PM

Sonic, Knuckles and Tails sat idly in an unmarked car – having intercepted the soon-to-arrive gang that would no doubt be here momentarily.

Sonic looked through the sunroof – eyes meeting the silhouettes of Silver and Blaze atop the warehouse roof, keeping watch.

Thank Gaia they were obscured.

Soon, three vans pulled up – stopping in a circle before the warehouse doors, as Honey the Cat stepped out in a business suit, three guards following her.

Her demeanor seemed that of a paranoid teenager – constantly fiddling with her thumbs, as Dr. Starline and Robotnik stepped out of the first SUV.

"We need to make this quick – or Charical executives are gonna be on me." Honey said.

"Do not fret, Honey. We will make this shipment process as quick as we can." Starline spoke, as Eggman – clad-suited stepped next to the platypus.

Sonic still could not believe even Honey was wrapped into this world.

It's so much bigger than you could ever imagine.

"And – you need to promise me Shadow doesn't know about this. He – he can't know." Honey said, a small shake in her voice.

"Honey – you must relax. Shadow has no idea of your involvement with our operation. You can rest assured." Robotnik said.

One of the guys who stepped out of Robotnik's SUV's was a major shock to the three of them – however.

"Mimic? What the hell is Mimic doing here?" Knuckles spat, eyes bearing.

Mimic was an octopus who was the head of the Narcotics division at the CCPD. So – being the head of Narcotics works if you are actively involved in the Narcotics world you are serving to eliminate.

Go fucking figure, Sonic thought.

"Why would Mimic be working for Robotnik?" Tails asked, in a hushed whisper.

"I'm not even gonna ask," Sonic replied, "I'm just going to assume every cop is."

As sarcastic as it was, it was also true.

To Sonic, it seemed that there was absolutely no one left to trust.

"Mimic, if you would direct the movers inside the warehouse as to what is needed, while we discuss with Honey her payment." Starline said, earning a nod from Mimic as he led the men into the warehouse.

"Now Honey, we are willing to offer you double then what Shadow is currently paying you. Charical would be a vast amount of help to our operation, and with more pay, why would you stay with that hedgehog?" Robotnik asked, earning a chuckle from Nack and Bean – who had stepped out from the back of the SUV with Zero.

"Well – that is promising. But you have to swear that no one will know – that I stay protected. I can't have this getting out – it would sink me." Honey said, shock in her voice.

Starline put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, a grim smile on his beak. "Honey – would I leave you to be eaten by the wolves? You will absolutely be protected – as much as we can If you continue directing our shipping operations." Starline spoke slyly.

Honey's eyes averted to the ground for a moment, before they flicked back up to them.

"A deal is a deal." Honey said, shaking their hands.

Nack felt off during this. Something was not right about this – and with his stealth senses kicking into overdrive, his eyes peered nervously to the top of the warehouse.

He squinted, attempting to see if anyone was there – but a small faint cyan glow tipped him off.

"Boss! Up there! We're being fuckin' watched!" Nack cried, as their heads all whipped to the top.

Silver and Blaze immediately ignited, eyes bearing down onto all of them.

"Shit, shit, shit!" Honey cried, immediately darting into the warehouse.

"Pests! Dispose of them!" Robotnik cried, as the screeching tires of SUV's arrived.

As they swerved to a stop, Shadow and the mafia all stepped out, guns aimed.

"Robotnik, you're done! This operation is not to continue." Shadow slammed.

Silver and Blaze landed on the ground, hands up as their wrist-gauntlets began whirring to life.

"You're all finished here." Blaze spat coldly.

Silver's eyes flickered to Shadow, a grim gaze on his face.

"Shadow, good to see you. You all as well…" Silver spoke, hurt lacing his voice.

Shadow merely squeezed his eyes shut, as Jet and Storm's guns trained between them, and Robotnik's men.

"Alright Shadow, I think this is the prime time for a compromise, don't you think?" Robotnik asked shakenly.

"I have had plenty of your compromises. Seize the shipment to us, and bring Honey here, and while we're seeing each other, you will tell me where my plans are, Ivo."

The stare down lasted for a few moments, before the cop's car roared up, the three kicking their doors open.

"Police! Drop your weapons!" Sonic cried, taking careful steps next to Silver and Blaze.

"Oh, how fucking amazing! Sonic and his boyband is here!" Robotnik spat, as Bean trained his gun onto them.

"Drop your weapon Robotnik, and you can walk away," Knuckles said, eyes peering into Robotnik's.

"The SWAT team is on their way too – you don't want this to get ugly!" Tails cried out.

Shadow's eyes flickered to Rouge, who huffed a sigh. "This may be a bust, Shads." Rouge said, eyes dulling.

Shadow considered her words for a moment, before cocking his shotgun.

"I'm done chasing him. He dies tonight."

Shadow began firing off rounds – Robotnik's men all opting to take cover. The mafia followed, in what turned into a large-scale shootout.

Silver and Blaze flew about, attempting to apprehend whoever they could – but this was a warzone. There were bullets flying, cars being riddled with bullet-holes, Sonic, Tails and Knuckles all taking cover and firing back.

Bullets flung into the windshield of the police car, glass hitting Sonic in the face as he scrunched his eyes, firing back blindly.

Nack and Bean were posted behind the SUV's, shooting wildly at Jet and Storm, who had taken their own cover.

They were dodging blasts of fire from Blaze, as Silver attempted to stop the bullets telekinetically, attempting to locate the gunmen to apprehend their weapons.

Robotnik lept into the seat of a SUV, some of the shipment secured. Sonic saw this, eyes widening.

"Hey! Robuttnik's making a break for it!" He called out, Silver and Blaze whipping focus.

"Not if we have something to say about it!" Silver cried out, telekinetically grabbing onto the SUV and lifting the car into the air.

He tried his best to hold it, but a bullet shot right into his gauntlet, earning sparks and a yelp from Silver.

"Love! Are you alright?!" Blaze ran up to him, clutching his wrist.

"Y-Yeah. No – I'm good. Just don't know how much help I'll be without one of my gauntlet's functioning."

Shadow saw this, holding his hand in the air to cease their fire. He started walking slowly to Silver – but the look in his eyes wasn't hatred, nor anger.

It was worry.

Sonic, Tails and Knuckles watched this closely, guns still trained – until the sound of screeching tires shook them all out of their daze.

Robotnik's SUV roared away, followed by another with Nack and Bean.

"Hey! He's breaking for it!" Tails hollered, watching the smoke from the tires litter the air.

"No – I'm done waiting for him." Sonic said, before hopping into the car. "We're catching him, no matter what!" Sonic shouted.

Knuckles nodding, placing his walkie to his mouth. "Vector, I need the SWAT vans to converge on I-75, we are about to enter a highspeed chase!"

"Roger that! We're on our way!" Vector called back, as the three hopped in the car.

Shadow watched them – turning to the mafia.

"We need to leave before the heat picks up. Take the back-route." Shadow stated, earning a nod from Rouge as they all hopped in their SUV.

Blaze turned to the police, eyes cold and furious.

"We will attempt to catch Shadow, you three follow Robotnik!"

Knuckles nodded, calling out for Blaze to get Silver down for the station for an examination, before the car rolled off, Blaze soaring into the air with Silver.

The police car roared to life, flying out into the night as they began to tail the two SUV's.

They drove wildly and sporadically, weaving in and out of lanes – trying to lose the car on their tail.

"Christ, he's trying to run us off!" Knuckles cried, his grip tightening on the wheel.

Sonic's eyes studied their movements, his eye flickering to the ramp that would lead onto the interstate.

"They're gonna head for the interstate!" Sonic cried, while he reached up and flicked the cars siren-lights on, in hopes that all civilian drivers would steer clear of what was about to occur.

The SUVs took another sharp turn, heading right into oncoming traffic, the shining headlights gazing into the trio's eyes, as the SUVs took a sharp turn into the other side of the street, Knuckles whipping the wheel to follow.

The SUVs began to climb onto the interstate, beginning to pick up speed.

"Come onnn, come on!" Robotnik cried, stealing crazed glances in the driver-side mirror.

The SUVs began weaving fast on the interstate, Knuckles slamming the gas to keep up.

"Vector, ETA!" He called into the radio.

"We're approaching the onramp, we're not too far behind! My van has Espio and Charmy, the one behind us has Mighty, Whisp and Tangle!"

"Are you guys armed?!" Knuckles cried back.

"Of course we are! We've been waiting for action like this!" Vector responded with a laugh, as the sight of the SWAT vans roaring up the ramp and onto the interstate approached the car's view.

Sonic smirked, rolling his window down and grabbing his handgun.

"Well – who says they get to have all the fun?!" Sonic cried, reaching his handgun out the window and squeezing an eye shut, before firing rounds into the SUVs ahead of him.

The car weaved at the shots, bullets whizzing past the car and some landing into the exterior. Knuckles sped up, as the two lanes beside him became occupied by the SWAT vehicles.

The top of Vector's van opened to reveal Espio, holding an AR as he began unloading rounds, his goggles fixed over his eyes.

The other revealed Whisper, a rifle in hand as she pulled her mask down, doing the same as Espio was.

Sonic hollered, popping off more rounds as they gained in speed.

The second SUVs window rolled down, Bean firing back wildly as his bullet sliced the passenger-window off, Sonic whipping his head back.

"Close one!" He cried, as Whisper added fire back to the car.

"Jesus Christ! Keep firing! Don't let those pests catch us!" Robotnik cried loudly, gaining speed as he darted down the interstate.

Cars were parting to the side, the rain was pounding the windshields harshly, as the trio's car began to slightly hydroplane.

"Damnit!" Knuckles cried, grasping the wheel and gaining control of the car. Tails rolled his window down, popping shots off at the SUVs ahead of them.

Overwhelm them and they have to stop eventually.

Knuckles gained speed, attempting to control the car from weaving from the water on the streets, the vans passing them slightly to get closer shots.

Espio took out the driver's side windows of both SUVs, earning cries from Robotnik and Nack.

The sunroof opened, and up rose Metal, jets blasting as he soared onto the hood of Knuckle's car.

"Fuck!" Knuckles cried, as Metal punched a hole into the windshield, grabbing Sonic by the collar, and tearing him out.

"Sonic!" Tails cried, attempting to land shots on Metal.

Metal closed his fists around Sonic's throat, as Sonic gasped for air. He felt the robotic claws grasping tighter, his robotic feet planted firmly into the hood. Knuckles and Tails tried shooting Metal off, to no avail.

It wasn't until the saving grace of Mighty, hopping forward with a baton slamming into Metal's head that knocked him off his balance, Mighty grapping onto the hood of the car as he battered the baton into Metal's chest, flinging him off the car as the tires of the police car ran Metal over.

"Nice!" Sonic cried, as they climbed in through the windshield.

"Damnit! Curse that stupid robot!" Robotnik cried, as the SWAT vans began ramming into the back of the SUVs.

In a last ditch effort, Bean reached into the backseat, loading the grenade launcher.

"Bean! You sure about this?!" Nack cried, eyes flicking between the road and the woodpecker.

"Ohhh yeah! I've been waitin' to blow some shit up!" Bean yelped, before pushing the grenade launcher out of the window.

Knuckles's eyes widened, a sharp gasp, picking up his radio. "Bean has a launcher! I need the vans to coverge ahead!"

"Got it!" Vector cried, as Charmy popped up from the top.

"Two can play at that game!" The bee cried, hoisting his own launcher up.

Bean shot two off, causing explosions that grazed the side of the vans, Whisper head whipping to the side as she fired blindly, landing a shot through the back window of the SUV.

Charmy responded by firing off a grenade, watching as it rolled across the street, and…

Boom.

The SUV was caught in the blast, spinning into the back of Robotnik's, causing both to turn over, flipping across the interstate.

Knuckles roared the car to a halt, the SWAT vans stopping.

Robotnik struggled to open his eyes, glass littered his vision as blood grazed his head.

He forced his eyes open, as he saw the silhouettes of his pursuers approaching his car.

The fire raged behind them, and everything felt slow-motion to Robotnik.

As Sonic finally approached his car, he bent down through the smashed-out window, his eyes furious and mouth set in a hard line.

"Time for you to talk, Ivo."