Act II: DESCENT
Chapter XIX: Hysteria
C.C.P.D. 5th Avenue Precinct, Sunday 5:31 PM
Knuckles and the force had their eyes glued to the television.
Whatever Ray was about to reveal was sure to ruin everything they had been working so hard on – and finally, they had won the public's trust back, and now that was going to be destroyed as well.
Mighty couldn't watch – the disbelief at his best friend's actions taking over as Tangle grabbed onto his hand tight. Antoine squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.
What was to occur next was sure to shock them to their cores.
Big took the next caller, shifting in his seat. "Alright caller – who are we speaking to?"
"I had a vision – of a world without vigilantes…"
Big and Ray's faces shifted to that of shock and discomfort, and Knuckles felt his heart skip a beat.
It was Eclipse.
"The Mob grounded out some profit and the police tried to shut them down oooone block at a time!"
Bunnie grabbed onto Sally's hand as their faces contorted into rage. Cosmo shared an uneasy look with Fiona and Scourge.
"And it was sooooo…boring."
Vector cursed under his breath.
"I've had a change of heart. I don't want Ray spoiling everything – but why should III get to have all the fun?! Let's give the people a chance!"
Espio tilted his head, stepping closer to the screen. Give the people a chance?
A chance to do what?
"Citizens of Central City – now…it's your turn! If Ray isn't dead in 60 minutes – then I'll blow up a hospital!"
A collective gasp sounded amongst the force – everyone beginning to scramble, talking over each other and clamoring.
There were people on the force who had relatives, loved ones, friends – all in the hospital.
Countless citizens who had loved ones in the hospital could lose them in a matter of seconds.
Knuckles turned around sharply, waving his hand through the air.
"I need you all to call every available officer! Tell them to get to the nearest hospital and start evacuation and search!"
The officers began clamoring, stammering about as they prepared for what was to come.
"Call the transit authority, school board, prisons – get every available bus down to a hospital! The priority is Central City General! Wheel everybody outta that place now!"
Vector stepped forward. "SWAT Team! Head down to Central City General and begin bomb search preparations!"
Charmy hollered – his favorite activity.
Knuckles turned around, looking at the core crime force – pointing to them.
"Half of you with me! The other half with Julie-su! Follow our van, we're going to get Ray!"
"Move! Let's move! Let's go!" Julie-su began commanding, as they rushed off the nearest vans – preparing for the worst.
Hedgehog Family Tower, Sunday 5:33 PM
Sonic couldn't believe what he had just witnessed.
Eclipse was threatening to blow up an entire hospital.
The number of countless, innocent lives this psychopath was willing to take just for a "game"?
"We need to move out. Let's go!" Shadow commanded, before Sonic and Amy stopped them.
"No! You can't! The entire city is going to try and kill you if you step foot out of that door!" Sonic exclaimed, as Rouge scoffed.
"Blue – you need our help!"
"Let us help, man!" Razor added, as Amy shook her head.
"No – you don't understand. Every single citizen with a gun is going to try and kill you. You're not going to be able to outrun this one!"
"She's right," Silver stated, earning an eyebrow raise from Wave.
"Whaddya mean? Ain't this what we're built to do!?"
Silver sighed at the swallow, as Blaze took over. "We're no use to these people if we're dead or thrown in a cell. They're right – we have to stay out of this one."
"Not completely, though," Tails stated, pulling out his computer. "I need you all to get plugged in. Check our cops and their families."
"Wait – what are we looking for?" Jet asked.
"Hospital admissions," Tails replied, earning a head tilt from Storm.
"Wait – why are we lookin' for that?"
"If any of our men have family members in the hospital they're going to try and kill Ray – or you," Amy added, as Sonic began heading to the door.
"Alright, Tails and Amy, we're riding this one undercover. Follow the convoy to the hospital and keep Ray protected. You guys – fill us in on any cops that have family in the hospital that may wanna take the shot on Ray!" Sonic commanded, as the elevator behind him opened.
Wave began handing out ear pieces to everyone, as Sonic, Tails, and Amy stepped into the elevator.
"What the hell are you guys gonna drive?" Razor asked, earning a chuckle from Sonic.
"It's undercover – so…I'm thinking the Lamborghini."
Jet chuckled. "Rich boy tryin' to be subtle in a Lambo!"
Rouge chortled, waving at the trio. "Don't die and get bloodstains on that nice ass car now!"
Sonic shook his head, "Don't worry – we won't."
Central City News Tower, Sunday 5:44 PM
Knuckles and his crew pushed their way inside, as a large crowd had formed outside of the door – screaming for Ray.
"Give him to us!"
"He's gonna kill that entire hospital!"
"Kill that son of a bitch!"
Sally shook her head, rubbing the back of her neck. "Well – the citizens sure are pissed."
"You ain't wrong there, Sal!" Fiona exclaimed, as they followed Knuckles inside.
Cosmo turned around, seeing the angry crowd pounding at the windows as officers tried to hold them back.
Eclipse had stirred pandemonium – and it reminded her of Mephiles. It reminded her of everything Mephiles had done to the citizens.
Right when they had won the public's trust back – it was destroyed with a few simple sentences.
"Cosmo, we gotta go!" Sally cried, snapping her out of her daze as they began marching up the stairs to rescue Ray from imminent death.
Outside of the skyscraper, Sonic began pulling the car forward, him and Tails looking out of the windows at the rioting crowd that was growing bigger.
There were police scattered around the streets, all attempting to hold back the crowd that was growing more and more unruly by the second.
"Good Gaia…" Amy muttered from the back, shaking her head.
"They're gonna try and kill him," Tails stated, as Sonic stopped the car.
"Just hang back – if they need us, we'll intervene," Sonic said, sighing at the sight.
Inside, Knuckles darted from the elevator with Ray in his grasp – followed by the force.
Big and his camera crew tagged behind, attempting to interview Knuckles.
"Commissioner – do you really think an ordinary citizen would try and kill this man?!" Big asked, earning a sneer from Fiona.
"Hey fatso – why don't you look outside and get your answer!"
And as if on cue, a man from outside rushed towards the window – firing his pistol into the window as the crowd outside screamed, dropping to the ground.
"Get down!" Sally cried, bringing Ray down to the floor, as two officers outside apprehended the gunman.
"Jesus!" Ray cried, as Knuckles shot him a silencing glare.
"We need to move out!" Cosmo exclaimed, as Knuckles and Fiona began leading Ray towards the door.
"Alright – get the cars around the back! Let's go!" Knuckles exclaimed – leading the group through the back of the building. Big instructed his camera crew to keep rolling. The crowd outside grew louder, and larger by the second.
Sonic cursed from the car, watching as they led Ray through the back of the building. "Alright – when they peel out, we follow behind!"
"Got it!" Tails exclaimed, loading a pistol in his lap.
Outside, Sonic watched as riot police had been dispatched, holding guns and riot shields out to the rioting citizens.
"Wait – I see Richard and Brien!" Amy exclaimed, tapping into her earpiece. She watched as those two cops aimed their guns at the citizens.
"No family members in the hospital! They're clear!" Wave replied through the earpiece.
She turned to look outside of the window, as citizens began plowing through the streets – all holding various weapons.
"Guys…"
Sonic turned to the spectacle; his eyes wide. "Oh…fuck!"
"Tell me they're not trying to do what I think they're doing!" Tails exclaimed, as gunshots began going off.
"Alright – Sonic! Drive!" Amy cried, as Sonic slammed on the gas – the Lamborghini roaring to life.
"This isn't just a riot – this is a full-on uprising!" Sonic exclaimed, as citizens began marching all over the streets – all with weapons and items.
From the back of the building, Knuckles led Ray to the SUVs, as Ray cursed. "They're trying to kill me!"
"Well – maybe the vigilantes can save you!" Knuckles spat sarcastically, shoving Ray into the SUV.
Sonic watched the cars peel out from the back alleyway, as Sonic stepped on it again – following behind them.
Central City General Hospital, Sunday 5:45 PM
It was full unbridled, manic chaos at the hospital.
Doctors and nurses were rushing beds out, people were screaming over one another, police were attempting to speed up the evacuation process.
It was absolute mayhem.
Two officers, Davis the Wolf and Kent the Badger were in charge of evacuating Ken Khan from the hospital – hopefully finding a bus that had space for him.
Kent stood by one of the buses, watching as nurses, doctors and cops attempted to load patients into the buses. Kent shook his head at the chaos that surrounded him.
Beds were being wheeled across the large parking lot, and countless buses were parked – awaiting to evacuate every patient from the hospital.
Children, parents, loved ones – everyone was in full panic. Tears were streaming, screams of anxious horror emitting throughout the air.
Kent shook his head, looking inside the bus as he saw room for Khan's bed – radioing David.
"Alright! I have room for Ken Khan, you can bring him out!"
No response.
As the unrest outside grew louder and louder, Kent radioed again.
"David, are you there?!"
No response.
The badger's heart began to race, as he began rushing back towards the hospital – pushing his way past the enormous crowd that were clamoring outside.
C.C.P.D.:
Sonic raced after the SUVs, as they were plowing through the streets.
Julie-su's van tailed after them, as did two SWAT vans – one driven by Vector, the other by Whisper.
Amy tapped into her earpiece again, listing off the names of police they saw on the way. "I saw Zachary and Boris!"
"Nothing on them either!" Wave replied.
"Wait – there's another cop in the SUV with Ray! His name is Jack Rabbit!" Tails exclaimed.
There was a pause, before Wave's voice crackled over.
"His wife – his wife is in the hospital!"
"Shit – and he's in the car with them!" Sonic exclaimed.
Amy sighed, tapping into her earpiece. "Send the information to Knuckles!"
Meanwhile, in Knuckles' SUV, he sat with Ray and Sally, shaking his head as Ray panicked.
"So – what now? Where are we going, what are we doing?!"
"Just stay quiet while we move you, dude!" Fiona replied, earning a scoff from Ray.
Knuckles' eye moved over to Jack Rabbit, who was riding in the van with a shotgun in his lap. He bit his lip, his fingers turning white as he gripped tight onto the gun.
Suddenly, the echidna's phone beeped – as he pulled it out, brow furrowing as he read the message on his screen.
"Watch out."
Central City General Hospital:
"David! David?!"
Kent walked through the now empty hospital. He was approaching Ken Khan's room – which was situated at the end of the hallway.
Two nurses rushed by, as Kent motioned for them to go. "You guys gotta get outta here!"
They nodded, continuing their rush as Kent neared Khan's room.
"David – did you get him moved?!"
Reaching Khan's room, he sighed – pushing open the door as he was greeted to the back of a doctor.
The doctor wore a long white lab coat – sported black quills and had a mask around his muzzle.
"Sir – we need to move him!"
The doctor turned around, shooting Kent in the chest with a silenced pistol.
The disguise worked – however, despite the mask, the two black sclera's and piercing yellow eyes only made him sure in his final moments who had gotten into Khan's room.
Eclipse.
C.C.P.D.:
"Cops with relatives in Central City Hospitals."
Knuckles shook his head slightly, earning a curious look from Cosmo.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah – just…weird text."
Cosmo squinted, as Knuckles flipped to the next message.
"Rabbit, Jack."
Knuckles' eyes flickered up from his phone, landing on Jack Rabbit – as he sat in the car – sweat streaming down his face as he leaned the shotgun against his shoulder.
"Jack Rabbit, isn't it?" Knuckles asked, earning a hurried look from the rabbit.
"Y – yes sir. Commissioner."
Knuckles tilted his head, squinting at the rabbit. His eyes moved to his hands – which were gripping the gun tight to his chest.
"Are you okay, bud?"
The rabbit laughed slightly, looking down at his feet as he shifted.
Sally watched this closely, shooting a worried glance at Knuckles.
Central City General Hospital:
The doctors had tied Ken Khan to his bed with protective belts. This wouldn't stop Eclipse.
He began to raise the bed, situating Khan upright as the monkey stirred from his sleep.
"Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo! Da-da-da-da-da!" Eclipse sang as he raised the bed, the monkey struggling to recognize Eclipse behind his disguise.
Once the darkling finished, he removed the mask from his muzzle.
Khan began to writhe in anger, attempting to grab him as he was bound to the bed. Eclipse removed his wig, watching as Khan continued to try and grab onto him – the monkey's face coiled in pure rage.
Eclipse sat down next to his bed, sighing as he looked Khan up and down. The monkey made one last effort to try and grab onto the darkling – before giving up.
The darkling smiled. "Hi…" Eclipse croaked out with a shy smile.
Khan tried turning away – but it was futile. The binds had kept him locked to the bed, forcing him to look at his fiancé's killer.
"You know-" Eclipse began, rubbing his head as he licked his lips. "I don't want there to be any hard feelings between us, Kenny."
Khan's breathing was heavy, growling lowly at the darkling who beside him.
"When you and…uh-"
"SONIA!"
The shout caused Eclipse to jump, putting his hands up defensively.
"Sonia! – were being abducted, I was in Knuckles' cage! Now, I – I didn't rig those charges!"
Khan scoffed, staring daggers at the darkling. "Your men. Your plan."
Eclipse pursed his lips, squinting at the monkey. "Do I reeeeally look like someone who has a plan?"
Khan shook his head angrily, as Eclipse shifted. "You know what I am?!" Eclipse began, "I'm like…a dog chasing after a truck!"
Suddenly, Eclipse's voice raised to a higher pitch, his hands shaking crazily as his voice became unstable. "I wouldn't know what to do if I actually caught it!"
The darkling settled back down. "You know? I just – I just do things! On a whim!" Eclipse said, moving his hands dramatically.
The darkling leaned forward, watching as Khan subtly tried to fight his way out of his binds.
"The cops have plans, the mob has plans, the mayor, the politicians…they all have plans!"
Eclipse scowled at the monkey, twiddling his clawed fingers. "You know – they're scheeemers. Trying to controool their little worlds! Trying to – run everything perfectly!"
Khan was breathing heavily, watching as Eclipse snidely spoke. "I'm not a schemer. I'm trying to show the schemers just howww – pathetic, their attempts to control things are!"
Eclipse leaned forward, reaching to grab Khan's hand. "So – when I say…"
Khan began fighting back, trying to pull his hand away as Eclipse grabbed onto it. "Ah – come here. Come here."
Eclipse slightly overpowered him, grabbing onto his fist as Ken stopped fighting. "When I say – that you and your little girlfriend wasn't personal?"
The darkling licked his lips, tilting his head as he cocked an eyebrow. "You know that I'm telling you the truth."
Eclipse stood up suddenly, as he began to untie Khan's wrist bracelets. "It's the schemers that put you where you are, Kenny."
After untying his right wrist, he walked around the bed, twiddling his fingers in the air.
"You were a schemer, and you had plans!" Eclipse spat, as he untied Khan's left wrist.
"And uhh – look where that got ya!" Eclipse said, side-glancing Khan with a sarcastic grin on his face.
The moment those binds were removed however – Khan lunged at Eclipse.
C.C.P.D.:
Knuckles watched as Jack began to slowly lower his gun, the barrel aiming directly at Ray.
Sally moved her hand down to her pistol, sharing an uneasy glance with Cosmo.
"I'm – I'm gonna need your weapon, Jack," Knuckles said, as the rabbit looked at Knuckles in surprise.
"W – What?" The rabbit said, continuing to slowly aim the shotgun at Ray.
The squirrel's face was etched in terror, his eyes meeting Fiona who had already removed her pistol from her holster.
"W – why? Because my wife's in the hospital?" Jack asked, earning a nervous nod from Knuckles.
"Yeah, that – that'd be why."
Sonic pulled the Lamborghini behind Julie-su's van. The convoy was stopped now – waiting to pull into a precinct to drop Ray off.
Sonic glanced across the intersection – seeing an older vulture revving up his engine, his enraged face staring at the SUV that held Ray.
"Sonic…why's he looking at the van like that?" Tails asked, squinting at the man.
"I think you know why," Sonic whispered, revving his own engine slightly as he began pulling forward.
Amy cursed, placing a call to Julie-su.
"Amy, what's up?!"
"Julie, that truck across the intersection? I think he's gonna try to hit the SUV holding Ray!"
There was silence for a moment, though the faint sounds of whispers made their way over the line.
"Shit – alright. I'm gonna get in touch with Knuckles up there!" Julie-su exclaimed, disconnecting the radio.
Sonic stared at the man, biting down hard on his lip as he prepared to drive in front of the van.
Central City General Hospital:
Eclipse fought with Khan – grabbing onto his hands as he caught the monkey in his grasp.
"I just did what I do best!"
Khan stopped fighting, as Eclipse licked his teeth, moving Khan's hands around in playful mocking. "I took your liiiittle plan and tuuurned it oooon itself!" The darkling sang.
Eclipse leaned forward, inching closer to Khan as he gazed out of the window at the staggering city.
"Look what I did to this city with a few drums of gas and some bullets."
Khan stared at him, his brow furrowed.
"You know – you know what I noticed?" The darkling began, slithering closer to Khan's face.
"Nobody freaks out when things go 'according to plan'," Eclipse stated, using his fingers for air-quotes, "Even if the plan is aaaaabsolutely terrifying!"
Looking out of the window again, he bit his cheek. "Yanno – if tomorrow I said that, like, a gang member would be shot – or a bus full of old people would be blown up?! Nobody freaks out."
The darkling slithered closer to Khan, his voice becoming wheezy and exasperated. "Because it's alllll according to plan! Those people are 'sposed to die anyways, right?!"
Eclipse smiled wide, rows of yellow teeth taking place in his jaw.
"But when I say that oooone little old mayor will die?"
Khan stared, before Eclipse began to shake his hands around, his lips flapping. His voice raised in pitch, sounding more and more like a circus clown.
"Then everyone freaks the hell out!"
Khan stared at him hard, his lip trembling slightly. Eclipse reached into his pocket, pulling out a revolver as he tossed it into the air, catching it.
"Now – you just bring in some anarchy!" Eclipse started, before putting the gun into Khan's hand.
"You upset the system in place…" Eclipse continued, before making Khan's finger cock the gun. Guiding the monkey's hands, he pressed the gun into his own forehead – giving Khan the opportunity to kill him.
"And eeeeeverything becomes chaos!"
Khan stared at him, his eyes flickering between the trigger and the darkling. Eclipse began to laugh slightly. "I'm a soldier of chaos."
Licking his lips, he laughed again.
"Oh, and you wanna know somethin' funny about chaos?"
Eclipse leaned forward, causing the gun to be pressed deeper into the darkling's temple.
"It's completely fair. It's allllll fair."
Khan stared at him again, before his eyes moved down to his free hand. Rummaging in the bed, he pulled out his dice – holding it up so that Eclipse could see.
"Odd number - you live…"
"Mmmmmmm-hm."
"Even number - you die."
Eclipse chuckled under his breath, smirking. "Ohhhhh – now you're speakin' my language."
Khan's nostrils flared, before he tossed the dice into the air – catching it.
He looked at the result, before his eyes flickered back onto the Darkling.
But Eclipse knew – that no matter what it landed on?
His hand was on the hammer – and thus? That gun could not be fired.
Eclipse was still in complete control.
C.C.P.D.:
"Tails – get to the back seat!" Sonic exclaimed, earning a nod from Tails as he leapt into the back with Amy.
Julie-su revved the van, as the convoy began to move. She began to peel out slightly, as Sonic followed.
"Ray…" Jack began, before he aimed the gun at the squirrel.
"Jack!" Sally cried, as Knuckles dove forward, grabbing the gun and pointing it towards the window as it fired – shattering the glass.
The man in the truck began speeding towards the SUV, Sonic cursing as he and Julie-su's cars began peeling out.
The truck sped up faster, as Sonic slammed on the gas – speeding past Julie-su as the truck smashed into the side of the Lamborghini.
This caused the car to smash into Knuckles' SUV – a three-way crash caused as the Lamborghini was pancaked between the two cars.
The three cars sat idle for a moment, as Sonic hobbled from the car, followed by Amy and Tails.
Sonic sat on the ground, clutching his neck in pain as he hissed through his teeth.
Knuckles hobbled forward, looking over as cops began to apprehend the man in the truck.
"Sonic – good Gaia, what are you doing?"
Sonic chuckled dryly, grabbing onto his neck tighter. "Just tryin' to protect the van."
Tails and Amy were relatively unscathed, going to converse with the rest of the force as paramedics began swarming the scene to check for any grave injuries.
"We've been calling you this afternoon – why did you go undercover?"
"Well – it was all I had time to do, sir!" Sonic said cheerfully, watching as the door opened – Ray being led out.
Ray looked at Sonic and Tails, as the hedgehog nodded to him. The man he was trying to smear just saved his life.
Ray sighed, as the paramedics led him to the van to check him out.
"So – think I should go to the hospital?" Sonic asked, earning an eye roll from Knuckles.
"Not a great time for your jokes, Sonic."
Central City General Hospital:
Eclipse had released Khan from his bed, setting the monkey free to do whatever he pleased.
Proud of his work was an understatement. Hopefully – Central City's hero would be brought down to his level.
Eclipse squirted hand sanitizer onto his palms, rubbing them together as he began to walk down the hallway.
Rubbing them on his coat, he fished for a remote, licking his lips as he inspected it.
"Kaboom!" Eclipse muttered, pressing the button as the bombs inside the hospital all began going off.
Eclipse made his way down to the entrance of the hospital, walking away as the massive building began exploding. He walked away from the explosions, waddling around as massive blasts shook the entire hospital.
Big and his camera crew rushed into the bus, cursing as all the patients, doctors and nurses screamed in terror in their respective buses – watching the hospital being brought down by massive explosions.
As Big watched, a man in a clown mask peeked from the bus – grabbing him by the collar as he pulled him inside.
Eclipse continued skipping down the roads, as the explosions continued. However, on a dime, they all stopped – causing the darkling to stop in his tracks.
Raising an eyebrow, he turned around – inspecting the scene. He put his hands in the air, tilting his head as he looked around.
Cursing under his breath, Eclipse fished for the remote, smacking any button he could find – until the explosions resumed, causing the darkling to jump.
Eclipse darted to the bus, hopping in the back as it began peeling out. The explosions grew larger, the blasts shaking the ground as the entire hospital began to collapse.
A large black cloud of smoke began billowing from the site – as in a matter of moments, the bombs destroyed the hospital completely.
