Chapter 9

Fiona sighed as she put some of the few belongings she had accumulated during the short time she had been living in this hole in the ground. Across the way, she could hear Judah moaning softly in his sleep. She had taken upon herself to change his bandages before he nodded off. It was the least she could do for him, after all, seeing as it was her own fault he got hurt. Her fault that the Founder's Day celebration had been ruined. Her fault. All of this was her fault.

…………………………

Several Hours Earlier…

Fiona's jaw hung loosely as she stared at the green hedgehog lounging on the dinner table amongst the ruined feast. There was a cloud of murmurs hanging over the crowd, and Fiona felt as though she were standing under a microscope. She tried to ignore the eyes no doubt at her back, but she trembled none the less when Scourge addressed him herself.

The hedgehog jumped down from the baby, and he started to strut over her way. Fiona felt like a deer in the headlights, and she wasn't sure how to respond when he stopped in front of her.

"How about a kiss for old times sake, babe?" he chuckled.

He leaned in and puckered up. However, he received a much different kind of smack. Perhaps it was a reflex, but Fiona had reared back her hand, and she struck the smug prince of Moebius cleanly on the cheek. Even he hadn't expected it, and he seemed to gobsmacked to be angry about it. The sudden paused helped Fiona to regain her gumption, and she mustered up the angriest sneer she could muster.

"You've got a lot of nerve, you creep! Strutting in here like you own the place, ruining the food for everyone, and, worst of all, you think you get to kiss me after that stunt you pulled back in the forest?!"

Scourge was still blinking away the shock while rubbing his face, but then he took on what he considered to be a flattering smolder.

"Babe, come on, you ain't still hung up on that, are ya?"

He had to duck a second swing from Fiona.

"You called me worthless! You said I was nothing without you, and that you, quote unquote, didn't need me anymore. Like I was some sort of trash to be kicked to the curb. Then, to top it all off, you abandoned me there in the forest after I had worked my butt off to gather a team, break into the most heavily fortified prison in the multiverse, and break you out. I was nearly eaten by wolves, you jerk!"

"Surely your overexaggerating just a little." Scourge chuckled.

"No. She's not."

Scourge looked up in time to see Judah trudging up and standing next to Fiona.

"And you are?"

"Judah. I'm Fiona's friend."

Scourge eyed the lion up and down a couple of times, and then he threw back his head in a bout of explosive laughter. After a few moments, he composed himself, and he quirked his brow.

"So this is what you're trading me in for? This loser? Come on, Fiona, I know you're pathetic, but surely even you can do better than this."

"Now that's enough!" barked Mask as he made his presence known. "Young man, I don't know where you're from, and I don't really care. But, we have rules down here, and we don't appreciate people that like causing trouble. A lot of good folks put effort into that feast, and you ruined several hours of work. If'n you need a place to stay, fine. We accept all folks. But if you expect to stay then you need to follow the rules, starting with offering an apology."

Scourge's smile fell into a sneer, and he fixed the old man with an evil eye.

"An apology, huh? Yeah, I might have one of those on me. Let's see, where did I…Oh, yeah. Here ya go!"

In the space of a blink, Shade had buried his fist into Mask's gut, sending the old man flying into the crowd. Judah gasped, and then he angrily charged towards Scourge.

"You monster!"

Scourge grinned, and he vanished in a green blur. An instant later, he intercepted Judah's punch, grabbed his arm, spun him around, and then hurled him into the flower portrait of Fiona's mother. Judah came up again with a reef of flowers sticking out of his mane, looking angrier than hurt, and he charged again, this time lunging upward into the air. Scourge vanished again, and Judah crashed to the ground. As he got up, Scourge spun dashed into him, grinding his spines against the lion's face before following up with a devastating kick. Judah hit the ground hard with a heavy thud, and Scourge planted his foot firmly on his face to hold him down. But as he was about to gloat, another competitor attacked him from behind.

Boris had seen enough, and he had decided to end things quickly. He seized the hedgehog in his infamous bear hug, and he proceeded to squeeze him tightly in an effort to make him pass out. But Scourge was having none of it. He began to churn his legs in a figure eight, which delivered a flurry kicks to the bear's stomach. Though Boris tried to hold fast, the repeated strikes plus the vibrations they sent through his body loosened his grip, and the next thing he knew Scourge had slipped loose, grabbed him by the arm, and flipped him over on top of Judah.

Next up was Nicolette, whom drew her pistol and opened fire on the hedgehog. But this proved ultimately fruitless as Scourge all but danced around her, dodging her shots effortlessly before diving in and kicking her prosthetic. It shattered like it was made out of cardboard and glass, and Nicolette crumbled to the ground.

Fiona stood there stiffly, feeling as though she were in a dream. The eyes on her back were now on her front, too, as well as her sides, her top, and her bottom. This was on her! Scourge had to be here because of her. There was no other explanation, so that meant that those getting hurt, these people that had wronged no one, were all on her as well. Fiona could see that Scourge was going in to kick Nicolette while she was down, and she immediately went running over, skidding and falling over the fallen weasel just in time to take the hit in her place. The pain was terrible, but she bared it and willed herself to remain where she was. As for Scourge, he was a tad surprised by Fiona's sudden appearance, and he actually backed away enough to give Fiona a chance to rise. She clutched her side, fighting back tears and coughing away a cry that had started to build in her throat, but she stood to her full height, and she looked Scourge in the eye.

"Go away, Scourge." She demanded, though the pain kept her from shouting. "These people haven't done anything to you. You have no quarrel with them. If you want something, then just say it. Let it out, and I'll do it. Just leave them alone."

Scourge studied Fiona carefully, searching her features and weighing his thoughts. He then snorted.

"Geez, you really are pathetic. You're telling me that you actually care about this mudhole? It would make for a perfect hideout, make no mistake, but rather than taking over the joint you decide that you want to be apart of it?"

He leaned in, and he leered down on Fiona.

"Is that it? What do you want? To sit on some old porch like a spinster? You'd be about as useful as you are now, that's for sure."

"Then what does that make of you?"

Scourge looked up, and his brows did a little spock maneuver as he took in the shape of Blade.

"Geez, lou-freaking-ise, how many characters live down in this dingy little hole? Who are you supposed to be?"

"None of your business." Blade snapped. "But I think Fiona asked you a question. She's the one you came all this way looking for, ain't she? I sincerely doubt you found this place by accident. So just what is it this so-called worthless person could do for someone that can defeat opponents twice his size?"

Scourge snorted, and then he straightened.

"Not that's it's any of your business, but I just recently came up with a chance to rid both me and Fiona of a shared problem. Namely, the zone patrol."

Fiona's brows shot up, and she studied Scourge more closely.

"That so? Just what is this brilliant strategy someone else definitely came up with for you."

"The sarcasm ain't appreciated, babe." Scourge hissed. "As for the what, I'm afraid I don't feel comfortable telling you here. Too many goody-goodies with prying ears."

He shot Blade a scathing look, which Blade returned in kind.

"So, here's the skinny. I'm gonna give you four hours to meet me up top at the base of the mountain. If you don't show up or decide to ditch me, well I might just come back, but this time I'll bring the boys with me. You know them: Sgt. Simmian, Lightning Lynx, Predator Hawk. They've had something of a grudge against you, and they'd very much like to pay you back for us getting split up. Especially Lynx. Something about screwing up his tussle with my ugly counterpart."

He turned about, and he started to walk away, but he stopped short to give Fiona one last look.

"Remember, girl. Four hours."

With that, he disappeared in a blur, and the entire underground went into a silence. A silence ever so deafening and made worse by the hundreds of eyes placed upon Fiona.

……………………………………

Fiona sighed sadly as she placed the duffle bag over her shoulder. She walked over to Judah, and she carefully pulled the covers over him. He shuddered as his wounds became agitated, but he didn't wake. She then knelt down, and she whispered a curt, "Thank you", into his ear, and then she started for the door.

Nikki and Aqune were waiting for her outside, both women looking understandably worried. Fiona tried to muster up a smile for them, but it just didn't feel genuine. Nikki hobbled over to her on a cane, her leg prosthetic still damaged, and she looked the fox in the eye.

"You sure about this?" she asked.

Fiona shrugged.

"Not really like I got a choice. These are good folk living down here, and Scourge is my mess. He wouldn't even be here right now if it weren't for me. I have to do this."

"You could just come back when your done, then." Aqune suggested. "Maybe he'll leave you alone, and…"

Fiona shook her head.

"If I know Scourge, whatever he's about to do is only going to make my situation worse rather than better. Besides, I was planning on leaving anyway for this reason. I'm bad luck, and I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you guys."

"Oh." Aqune said.

Fiona put a hand on the spider's shoulder, and she gave her a friendly nod.

"Whenever you do find a man, kid, I guarantee he's gonna be a good one. You deserve only the best."

Aqune sniffled, and she offered the fox a true smile.

"I don't have many friends. Not even down here. I'm glad I got to at least know you."

Fiona felt like she was gonna cry, so she just nodded and she swiftly started out, but as she left she could hear Nikki calling after her.

"If he hurts you again, you come straight to me, ya hear? I'll unscrew his head and staple to his back side so that he can see it every time I kick it!"

Fiona didn't stop running until she was climbing the road that led back up to cottage. From her place, she looked down upon the ransacked party as several mobians worked to salvage something from it. Some were working on the flower portrait of her mother. Of all the things Scourge wrecked, that hurt her the most without a doubt. Eventually, she came upon the cottage again, and this is where she stopped. Despite the short time she had been here and the lesser amount of time she had spent in the cottage itself, she knew she would miss it. Though it was only a pile of wood and nails, it held an air of safety and happiness within the sanctity of its walls. It gave her peace, which was something she had not truly experienced in some time.

She continued onto the front porch, and that was when she heard the sound of creaking. There was Mask sitting in his old rocking chair, quietly whittling a piece of wood. He didn't seem to notice her at first, but then he coughed as she made her way down the steps.

"So that's it, then. You're just gonna run head long into that mess, knowing full well just how trouble it's going to be for you?"

Fiona turned back to face him.

"I don't have a choice, Mask."

"Like heck you don't!" Mask roared as he rocketed to his feet, tossing aside his rocking chair while also startling Fiona. "Darn it, child, is this some sort of fox thing, or is your entire family line dedicated to just jumping into the fire without a safety rope to yank them back?"

"I have to do this, Mask." Fiona insisted.

"NO! You do not!" Mask snapped. "Darn it, Fiona, you don't have to do anything! We've survived the entire campaign Robotnik threw against us. You really think your exboyfriend and a few of his rowdy friends can do much against us?"

"Look what he's already done." Fiona countered. "Judah's beaten badly, Nikki lost a foot, I don't know what happened to Boris, and it's a miracle you can even stand after a punch like that."

"I'm built of sterner stuff, kid." Mask retorted.

"That's beside the point, gramps." Fiona shot back. "The long and short of it is that you have no idea what the Destructix are capable of. I am, and I won't let them destroy what you and my mother worked so hard to build. This is my mess, and I have to clean it up, one way or another."

She fell quiet, and she turned to leave. She didn't dare look Mask in the eye, but she could almost see his pleading gaze in her mind's eye.

"You don't owe me anything. My mom did some terrible things, but you still made her out like she was a hero. That more than makes us square. So don't worry about me and just do your own thing. You've been doing it for years now, anyhow. Goodbye, Mask."

With that, she took off into the forest, blocking out the hundreds of thoughts that were screaming at her to not go. To stay where it was safe, and not have to worry about her problems. But she supposed there was no running anymore. She had to face the music, and whatever sour note came was hers to play. So onward she went back into the forest. Up ahead, through the tree line, she could see the mountain, and the dry feeling of rot in the pit of her stomach grew heavier and heavier. Eventually, she came upon a clearing, and the remnants of a campfire could be seen.

She had only stepped into view for barely a second when, suddenly, she was pounced upon from behind. A gloved hand shoved her face into the dirt, and she could hear a shuriken being drawn.

"I've been waiting a long time to take a stab at you, Fiona." Hissed the angry voice of Lightning Lynx. "This is payback for interfering with my duel with Sonic."

Fiona braced herself for the coming blow, but a moment later the weight on her back was lifted. She dared to rise, and she saw that Lightning was clutching his side while rising to his side.

"Butt out, Scourge! You promised me my revenge!"

Fiona rose to her knees, and she could see Scourge, Sgt. Simian, and Predator Hawk emerging from the forest. Scourge snickered a bit, and he offered Lightning a shrug.

"What can I say? I lied. Besides, we need her if my plan is gonna work."

"I care nothing for your hairbrained plans!" Lightning snarled. "Had I of been allowed to defeat Sonic that day, Conquering Storm would have let me back into the clan, and with our union with the Iron Dominion the entire world would have been ours!"

Is he seriously blaming the entire fall of the Iron Dominion on me? Fiona thought cynically.

"No point in whining over spilled milk." Scourge retorted before taking on a more sinister air. "I mean, we know what happened when Flying Frog whined, right?"

Fiona made a face.

"Wait. Where is Flying?"

The remaining two of the Destructix looked towards the extinguished camp fire, and Fiona could barely make out what remained of the manic amphibian's head gear.

"We don't talk about Flying Frog." Predator Hawk said as Sgt. Simian removed his helmet in respectful silence.

"Enough with the mushy stuff!" Scourge declared, redirecting all attention to himself. "Now I'm sure you're all curious as to why I brought you here."

"Not really." Hawk grumbled. "You lied to Lynx, and you threatened me and Simian. Probably did both with Fiona."

Scourge shot him an aggravated look, but he continued on.

"As you all know, we've got ourselves some pretty sizable targets on our backs. Those zone cops are a prideful bunch, and they prided themselves especially on their supposedly inescapable prison. Naturally, to save face, they're likely gonna hound us regardless to whatever world we go to hide in. So, I've come to a decision. We're gonna strike first."

Fiona blinked, and she looked to the others. It seemed they shared her thoughts.

"Let me get this straight." She said carefully. "Your brilliant plan, this masterful strategy you came up with all on your own, is to go and attack the millions of armed zone cops that are out there right this minute trying to hunt us down?"

"In so many words, yes." Scourge said with a nod.

Fiona rolled her eyes, and she clapped a hand to her forehead.

"Geez louise! You really did come up with this plan yourself."

"Because it's ingenious?" Scourge asked with a smirk.

"More like suicidal." Lightning Lynx replied dryly. "Make no mistake, Scourge, we all want to never set foot in that stupid prison again but taking on the zone cops is the living definition of stupidity. Just what would we do, anyway?"

"Simple." Scourge said with a smile.

He disappeared in the woods for a few moments, and he came back again carrying a bag. Contained within were some powerful looking explosives, and Fiona immediately recognized the design.

"You didn't take those from Finnetivus, did you?" she asked.

Scourge chuckled.

"I figured he helped you break me out thanks to his warp rings, so I went to see what kind of goodies he had in his little lab. He wasn't there, don't ask me why, but these beauties were. I'd wager he was plotting to blow up angel island with them or something pointless like that. So, I pulled my alter ego and liberated these little beauties. Lynx is right that fighting the zone cops is suicidal, so I figure that we'll do the next best thing and hit them where they live: zone patrol headquarters."

Sgt. Simmian ape walked over, and he picked up one of the devices for study.

"Time sensitive explosives. These look like they got some kick to them, and if you put them in key points you could probably bring down even the most heavily fortified fortress."

"That's the idea, monkey boy." Scourge said with a grin. "While you guys draw the bulk of the attention of security, I'll speed through the main building and set the explosives. Once the charges are set, I'll ring you on the comms, and we'll all watch the fireworks from a safe distance."

"Cute plan." Fiona chimed in. "But I've got a couple of questions, though I don't know if I want to know the answers. One: how are we getting in? One look at any of us and they'll be bringing out the cuffs. Two: how will we even get there? I've tried using warp rings, but they've all stopped working for some reason."

Scourge looked at Fiona, and she immediately didn't like the look on his face.

"No worries, babe. I can answer both questions with one answer: Zonic."

He walked back into the woods, and this time he threw out the body of Zonic the zone cop, whom came to rest at Fiona's feet. At first, she thought he was dead, but she quickly relaxed when she saw he was breathing and only unconscious.

"Found him snooping around a couple of days ago." Scourge said as he reappeared. "Looking for me, no doubt. Guess the clean up after that fiasco with Eggman Nega was going well enough where they could send their so-called best agent after me. But that was actually a move in our favor."

He removed Zonic's helmet, and he put it on himself. With the exception of his teeth, there was almost no distinguishing between the two.

"See? This'll work. He's got some kinda car keys, so I'm figuring he used a vehicle if warp rings ain't working no more. The way I see it, I can go in posing as this loser with Fiona as my prisoner. A splash of blue paint, a quick wardrobe change, and poof! Dynamite City and clean slates all around. So who's with me?"

Hawk, Simian, and Lynx all exchanged glances, and they appeared to be having a silent conference amongst one another. Finally, Simian looked to Scourge, and he nodded.

"Not gonna lie, Scourge, none of us actually like you, but we're mercenaries first and foremost. We can't go about our usual business if the zone cops decide to try and arrest us at every turn, so, the way I see it, we need each other."

"Simian's right." Hawk said. "This bird don't do cages, so I guess I've got to sing for you just a bit longer. Much as I'm loath to say it, your plan might actually work."

"I just want my revenge against Fiona." Lynx spat bitterly. "If this brings me a step closer to obtaining it, then fine. But when this is all over, Scourge, I never want to see your face again. The resemblance between you and Sonic is enough to make my stomach churn."

"It shouldn't." Scourge muttered. "I'm leagues handsomer than him. Strip the clown down and stuff him somewhere. I saw a cave not far off, so you can just leave him there. Try not to wreck the suit. I'll need it for the op."

The Destructix all offered their nods, and they made their way off with Zonic in tow. Fiona looked after them, but she stayed where she could see Scourge, and she immediately recognized that wicked sneer on his lips.

"Let me guess. You plan on ditching those three for the cops to capture."

Scourge chuckled as he looked her way.

"Duh! I don't need those chumps. Once we get this messy business behind us, I'm going straight back to Moebius. I've got unfinished business with Miles and Alicia after they stabbed me in the back. Hopefully they at least had the good sense to get rid of Rosy, because that is not the kind of crazy I want to get in on."

He then started to saunter over to her, and he wiggled his brows.

"You know, maybe you should come with. I mean, once I throw out those losers, it's gonna be kind of lonely in that big old castle. Maybe you'd like to sit on my right hand? Rule by my side?"

Fiona scowled.

"Do I really look that stupid?" she hissed. "You ditched me! I literally broke every rule imaginable, and you left me high and dry to be eaten by wolves!"

"Wait? You were serious about that part?"

"I was serious about every part, you jerk!"

"Hey, hey, Fiona, ease up, girl."

He glided around her, and he slipped past her defenses, carefully placing his arm around her neck. She couldn't resist trembling again as his sudden contact brought back some happier, warmer memories such as that first time they met in Knothole. That first time they had kissed.

"Babe, I realize I was rotten." he whispered sweetly in his ear. "I know I did you wrong, and I'm sorry."

Fiona shivered, but she managed to slip out of his grip.

"And…and you think that makes it alright?" she said. "I literally could have died."

"And that just tears me up inside." Scourge replied sweetly. "I mean, what would I do without you, babe? Alicia and her crew kicked me out, but you were always there to support me. You believed in me when nobody else did, and I was a fool to let you go. I shouldn't have done you dirty like that, and I am truly, genuinely, hand towards heaven sorry. Maybe you can never forgive me, but I promise to do everything in my power to make it up to you. I will not eat, sleep, rest, or even take a leak until I've fulfilled your heart's every desire."

Fiona knew she was being baited, but, at the same time, she felt like she was drawn to him. Those days she spent with Scourge were genuinely the only happy times she could remember following her separation form Nikki. Scourge may have been rough around the edges, but he had been there for her…most of the time. Truth be told, she had ditched him first, now that she thought about it. During that whole failed attempt to conquer mobius she had slipped away shortly before Alicia and Miles banished Scourge back to Moebius. Perhaps she had deserved to be abandoned.

She gave her head a shake.

No, that wasn't right. She had escaped to eventually help Scourge later. How could she have known about Sonic winning and sending him to jail before it was too late? But still, what other choice did she have? Scourge was her only option. Even if this plan worked, those that remained of the zone cops would no doubt come looking for them. Scourge could protect her, of that she was certain. Of course, this meant betraying the Destructix, but what did that matter? They were a bunch of has-been losers that Mogul had left out to dry. So what if they went down with the ship?

She straightened up, and then she looked at Scourge.

"Then promise me." She said. "Promise me that…that you'll take care of me. You owe me that much, Scourge."

Scourge flashed her a goofy grin, and he got down on one knee and took Fiona by the hand.

"My dear lady, I promise you. When this is all over, you will be taken care of."

He tenderly kissed her hand, and Fiona could feel herself melting inside. She managed to hold he footing, though her knees did wobble. Scourge arose, though he still held her hand while maintain his smile.

"This is it, babe. The last round up. You ready?"

Fiona took one last deep breath, and then she nodded.

"Yeah. Let's get it over with."