Chapter 5 .
Celosia tapped her long nails against the golden arm-rest of her throne. Her annoyance levels were rising and in danger of boiling over if she didn't see results soon. Today was turning out to be just like the others since landing on the water planet three months ago and forcing the whole population to worship her as their new ruler. To follow her every command. Her face contracted into a frown, her other hand gripped her wooden staff tightly in warning and she was very pleased to see that her actions frightened the lowly subject kneeling in front of her.
"M-My Queen," the man stammered, crumbling the hem of his dirty tunic in his lap. " We have search non stop for days. With no food or water. Please, we must rest."
"Have you found it?" She asked, keeping her voice as clam as she could. The servant gulped nervously and then shook his head sadly. She pouted, " Then... you give me no choice." Slowly she got up and the servant's eyes widened.
"No! No, my Queen." He pleaded getting to his feet but was held down in place by the two black Elite EK's who had dragged him from the mines and brought him to her chambers. " We'll try harder. I promise! Please!" He wept.
"I'm afraid you've gone and upset me," the red gem sitting at the top of the staff glowed dangerously, she smiled at the light, at the power contained within and withdrew her arm, "and you know what happens to people who upset me."
"NO!" There was a flash of light, a loud bang and the room was suddenly filled with the smell of roasting meat. All that was left of the man was a pair of smoking sandals.
"Ugh!" Celoisa slumped back into her chair wrinkling her nose. "Can these incompetent morons do anything right! must I do it all my self?" With a wave of a hand the EK's nodded and left. Once alone she sighed running a hand over her face. A soft grumble behind her made her smiled tiredly. " Ah, my pet. Mummy needs some comfort."
From the shadows the fuzzy behemoth of Were-hog crawled to crouch by her side. Still dressed in the controlling harness and looking very fed up and sleep deprived. He lifted his head for her and she stroked the white tipped quills softly making him close his eyes and whimpering contently when she found the right spot. As odd as it was the routine was becoming a regular thing between the pair.
"Oh, my brother," she whispered to him, "I know the stories of the face changer, what he's done to so many of our kind. And I fear him. I fear the Doctor. He might be clever enough to work it out, to foil our plan. These people don't want to help us full-fill our birth right." Her lips pulled back into a snarl. "Perhaps a little persuasion. Hm?" A play-full nip from the Were-hog told her he was in favour. "Maybe you could show them the error of their ways. You were always so good at it." The beast huffed warm air into her palm, curled up and went to sleep.
It was quiet for a few moments. The only sound was the steady breathing of the beast at her feet. Listening to his rhythmic snores Celosia found her eyes drifting close. A quick nap would do no harm. Right?
"I hope the Doctor's OK?" Amy edged closer to Shadow reaching for his hand. "I wish he wouldn't do that all the time- leaving without telling anyone. Anything could happen. But..." She smiled a little, " This is just like last time. The gang together on an impossible mission in some far away place and with Extreme Gear! It's going to be great, despite the huge amount of danger that goes with it. Don't you agree, Shadow?"
"If you say so." He gave her an uncertain look. " I don't remember the last time."
"Shadow, I'm so sorry." She squeezed his fingers. " I totally forgot about your memory loss. Ugh! I'm such a ditz!" Behind them Rouge snorted, "Oh, yeah? What about you ,then? Do you recall last time?"
The bat drew up along them on her board. While Shadow and Amy had decided to walk along this part of the tunnel, she and Tails took to the hover boards searching for clues and in case Eggman or his pet made an appearance. She shrugged at the pink hedgehog, "Look, honey, the last time the wine flowed freely. I had 6 glasses of cherry wine so every thing's hazy but I do remember the infamous Cream in a Can prank involving Sonic, Tails, one of Tails' cameras and a sleeping Knuckles." At this point Shadow had let go of Amy, shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, his shoulder shook with silent laughter. "Ah, seems I'm not the only one."
"Oh, tell me you lot didn't, not to Knuckles?" Amy swept her gaze across all three of them, each wore a guilty expression. She huffed and shook her head, "You did."
Tails suddenly sat up on his board, "Hey, what's that?" The group stopped and looked ahead. The fox dismounted carefully and pushed up his goggles. " What is it?"
Rouge shrugged again, "I don't know, sugar. But whatever it is, it's pretty. Like, Chaos Emerald pretty." She added, her voice going soft and dreamy.
"Do you think it's dangerous?" Amy asked Shadow who was peering at it cautiously.
"I don't think so. If it was it would done something by now." He reached out a hand but then quickly withdrew it realising something. "I think we should follow it." He said jumping on his board.
"And why should we follow you?" Asked Rouge, hands on hips.
Shadow smirked at her, "I don't know about you lot, but I know that blue anywhere. "
Amy looked closely at the new arrival. The blue colouring did look familiar. "You don't think... You don't think it's him, do you?"
"I do. Now let's go, he might lead us to some answers."
The Doctor took a shaky breath. That last jump was tricky, he almost didn't nail the landing. Rounding the corner he spotted the odd- but so far- helpful blue light that showed itself after the group gave a big EK patrol the slip just inside the tunnel entrance. Deep down he knew he'd get it in the neck for leaving, mainly from Amy, but he had to know what- or who- was responsible for this strange light.
Looking ahead his twin hearts plummeted to somewhere by his stomach. Another jump and it looked further than the last one. Adjusting his tie, bending his knees slightly and leaning a little forward for extra speed he climbed the slope and prayed he didn't mess up. Once air borne he crouched, grabbed one side of the board and span around in a circle- a perfect 360. Now the landing he thought spying the other side of the half pipe approaching. He closed his eyes and didn't open them until he felt the underside of the hover board bump the ground as it landed. Blinking he patted himself down and let out a vastly relieved bark of laughter. While he was making a triumph gesture with his fist the ball of light floated down to bob at his side. He smiled at it and nodded in understanding, the light flickered for a second and then floated down a dimly lit corridor not unlike an underwater walkway you'd get at a sea-life center. Slightly green from his jumps the Doctor followed. Where are you taking me? He wondered.
Unluckily he didn't have the chance to find out. Emerging from the other side of the glass walkway he barely had time to act as a loud booming voice shouted, "NOW!" A split second later a laser sword came out of no where and sliced his board clean in half. The Doctor let out a surprised yelp and fell to the ground face first, his chin smacking against it with a sickening crack. "At last. The Doctor!"
The Time Lord groaned trying to quell the wave of bile rising in his throat. He groggily got up onto his hands and knees wondering what the heck had happened when he heard loud, stomping footsteps. He looked up just in time to see the point of a very dangerous and deadly advanced blade being shoved in his face. He followed the the body of the sword, up the chunky metallic arm and torso finally stopping at the head. If he squinted he could just make out a face behind the green tint of the visor.
"Ah. Oh, hello." He stood, " Have you seen a lost kitten around here? Black and white markings, answers to the name of Sola?" No reply. "Hm... Guess not. Sorry to have wasted your time. Bye-bye!" He tried to side step around the metal monster when a smaller laser sword was dropped at his feet. "You cannot be serious."
"Pick it up." Eggman flexed his arm, gripping his own sword in a tight hold. The sword glowed with intense power. His machine pawed the ground. " Pick it up." He repeated.
"I'm not going to play swords with you, Eggman. I just want Sola back before it's too late."
Eggman chuckled, " Oh-ho-ho! So you know the fate of the rodent too. Delightful isn't it? The golden ring you implanted is still losing energy and him trying to help you is only making matters worse. According to my calculations ring energy is down five more points. Sonic has 3 days left so even if you do defeat Celosia and my self- which I think is unlikely- I'll still have the last- Uugghh!" The Egg-Bot stumbled backwards from a suddenly blow to the mid-section. Looking down he spotted the Doctor and chuckled, "What's this then? Is the traveller who never wields a weapon taking up arms?"
The Doctor held his sword high with a determined look in his eyes. " Give her back to me."
"Do I detect that you care, Doctor. Sonic the Hedgehog or what ever you're calling the android...Sola, is not your next Rose Tyler. But if you do care, if you want her, you'll have to fight for her. Prepare yourself, Doctor !" With an almighty roar he charged forward.
The Doctor shouted his own war-cry and hurried to meet him. He had to time it just right. A micro-second before he reached Eggman he ducked and then jabbed upwards catching the mid-section again, severing vital circuits and connections. The Egg-Bot staggered forward, glanced at its hissing middle,turned on the spot and let loose another thunderous roar of fury.
"DOC-TOR!" Screamed Eggman.
The two of them traded blow after blow , both weapons screaming with power every time they connected. The Doctor blocked a blow to the head only for the Egg-Bot to swing out its leg, taking him down with a well aimed flick to the back of the knees. He grunted, sword flying out of his hands and skidding to a stop at the other side of the tunnel. Scrambling to his feet he saw Eggman raise his blade high above his head, ready to strike the fatal blow...
Happy- bleeding- New Year to all.
It seems Mr 10th Doctor is to marry in 2012. Yeah, well "good luck, mate" is all I say.
Might have a go at doing some thing else so next up -date could be any time. But thanks if you've read so far I appreciate it.