Chapter ten: "Complications"
"So..." Sally asked the group, as they sat around their small camp fire outside the
Amazon tribe's borders where Rotor had been repairing the vehicles. "Who to choose...?"
"Well, we all know who's got speed." Sonic said confidently.
"I have to admit," Sally said, "You are our best bet in that department, Sonic. You'll
take the speed event."
"And I," Antoine said unsheathing his saber, "Will take the sword event, no?"
"Right." Sally said. "Hmmm... Any other volunteers?"
"I'll take the shot event," Shelia spoke up, patting her laser pistol in it's holster on
her belt. She brought it in case of an emergency.
"Good idea." Sally said, "Well, I suppose I'll take wisdom, if no one else minds... Now
we must find someone for strength..."
Knuckles looked up to find everyone staring at him again. He looked unsure.
"Well, Knux? What d'ya say?" Clawz asked.
Knuckles frowned. "I'm sorry, but I can't. I must leave to go back to the island... I'm
sorry."
"But Knuckles," Shelia asked, pulling on his arm, "We're doing this for you! You can't
just up and leave!"
He looked down. "It is an obligation I cannot turn away from. Although I know this is
important, my duty as guardian of an island is more important. The stones can wait, while the
safety of hundreds cannot. Please understand." He explained sadly.
Shelia frowned at him. "I hate it when you talk like that," She muttered.
He just sighed. "Sorry. Maybe I can come back later... But I have to leave. I
promised..."
"... And we all know how good you are at keeping promises." Shelia said, just loud enough
for him to hear.
He winced.
Sally was frowning, too. "Well, I guess we'll have to pick someone else..."
"Ah'll do it." Bunnie said, holding up her robotocized left arm. "If this thing is
good fer anythin', it's strength."
Sally looked relieved. "Good." She said, smile returning. "So it will go like this:
Antoine with sword, Shelia with shot, Sonic with speed, Bunnie with strength, and me with
wisdom. We're likely to at least win the majority of the events. I suggest we all get a good
night's rest. Tomorrow their allies will be here, and we'll see what we're up against. We
have to get off with a good start."
Everyone agreed, and headed off to their tents and sleeping bags. After a few minutes,
Shelia and Knuckles were left alone in front of the fire.
"So, when are you leaving?" She asked, a tad bitterly.
He looked over at her and sighed. "Come on, don't do this to me again Shelia. It's not
like I want to leave you here fighting my battles. It's just something I have to do. Besides,
I will be back. I just have to check on the island, that's all."
She looked up at him slowly, her anger fading. "I know... It's just... Frustrating
sometimes. But I know... I'm sorry about what I said earlier... About your promises..."
He smiled a little. "Yeah, well don't be. It's true isn't it?" He said.
She leaned on his shoulder. "No it's not... You never really left me... You're here
with me now..."
He rested his chin on the top of her head. "I guess..." He mumbled. "... I think I'll
leave tonight."
"Tonight?" She said, looking up at him.
He kissed the side of her face, through her hair. "In a while." He mumbled.
She leaned on him, and turned to meet his face and his lips.
Maria wrinkled her nose, as she watched the goings on through the trees from her
hiding place. "Gross..." She whispered to herself. When she suspected her sister and the
guardian had something going on, she hadn't thought they were _that_ close. 'Talk about tonsil
hockey...'
Suddenly a hand clamped down on her shoulder. She almost screamed and was about to
pummel her attacker, when she realized who it was.
"Look who's spying now." Tails said, frowning down at her.
Maria scowled. "Shut-up! They'll hear you!" She whispered through her teeth, pulling
him down beside her.
"What are you doing?" He asked, "What are you sneaking around here for?"
"Shh!" She hissed, "I just wanted to see my sister, but when I came... They were...
Like that." She nodded through the brush toward the Knuckles and Shelia in their embrace.
"Oh." Tails mumbled, blinking at them. "Man... Can they breathe?"
She had to laugh softly. "Heh, really. How can anyone kiss for that long?"
"Gross." He said, wrinkling his nose in the same fashion she had earlier.
"We better get outta here before they come up for breath and find us watching." She
suggested, slowly crawling backwards out of the undergrowth. He followed suit and they
backtracked to the Amazon village.
* * * * * * *
Julie-Su sat in the middle of the jungle beside her small cook-fire feeling miserable.
The last few weeks had been absolute hell. She missed her tiny cell-like room and her
board-hard bed. It was better than sleeping on the cold, wet ground in her robes. Weeks and
all she had to eat was roots and the occasional fruit pod from the trees. Right now, the Dark
Legion's mess hall was sounding awfully good. She'd be shoveling down her food like nobody's
business, and Lysander would be ordering her around and telling her to use better table
manners before the commanders got onto her. She sighed.
Suddenly an intoxicating aroma drifted under her nose. She sat up straight. What was
that wonderful smell? She took a long breath, her stomach rumbling. It smelled like... Like
cherry pie! Cherry pie?! She hadn't had cheery pie in ages! Years! Centuries, it felt like.
She stood up and pulling her thick black cloak on and putting the hood over her head, she
headed towards the source of the delicious aroma...
* * * * * * *
"When did Knux say he'd be back?" Mighty asked, as he was laying in front of the
fireplace staring idly up at the ceiling.
"He said he be back by tomorrow." Espio said, sipping his tea calmly.
"I hope so." Charmy sighed, "I don't want what happened last time to happen again..."
"None of us do, Charms." Vector said. "But until then, we get to hang at Knuckles place.
A lot mo' comfortable than back in the lake, or in the ole burnt-down HQ."
"...We really should fix that place up." Espio suggested, "Tomorrow we could get some
supplies from the freedom fighters."
"That's a good idea." Charmy nodded as he poured some honey into his tea and stirred
it in absentmindedly. "I kinda like having the freedom fighters here..."
"Yeah, they're aw'ight." Vector said, "'Specially Shelia..."
"Plus, the Dark Legion isn't gonna set foot around this place with all of them here."
Mighty said, scratching his back, "... At least I hope not."
"Cut it out Mighty man," Vector growled, "Yer gonna jinx us."
"Hey Charmy..." Espio asked nodding to the fireplace and the small pan overhanging the
little fire, "Do you think that pie is done yet?"
"Smells done." The bee said standing up and hovering over to it. "I hope I did it the
way Miss Shelia said..."
"Oh, I want some!" Vector and Mighty both said simultaneously.
Charmy shook his head at them as he picked up the handle with a towel. "Not yet, not
yet. Miss Shelia says you gotta put it on a window sill and let it cool first."
"Aww, man." Mighty grumbled.
"It'll only take about fifteen minutes." Charmy said, setting the dish on the
sill of the nearest window.
"But I'm hungry nooooow..." The armadillo whined.
"Well, you'll just have to wait. I'm gonna do this the right way, just like Miss Shelia
told me too." The bee said walking back over to the group.
"How about some tea guys?" Espio offered.
Mighty stuck out his tongue. "Ech. No thanks. I don't do tea." He muttered.
"Ditto." The crocodile agreed.
Meanwhile, outside a dark shadowy figure crept along the side of the small dwelling
with it's back against the wall. Slowly it crawled up under the window. There, sitting on
the sill was it's prize. Inside the Chaotix continued to chatter meaninglessly. In one quick
grab the black-cloaked figure had the pie off the sill and in it's hand. The only complication
was that the pan practically seared through it's gloves, causing the figure to yelp in pain
and drop the dish into the grass, splattering cherries and crust everywhere.
"Hey!" Mighty said, sitting up. "What was that?"
Charmy looked over a the window and saw the blank spot where his pie should have been.
"Somebody stole my pie!" He yelled.
They all rushed over to the window in time to see the figure sprint into the forest.
"A Dark Legionnaire!" Espio exclaimed.
Vector turned and punched Mighty in the shoulder.
"Hey!" The armadillo yelled, "What was that for?!"
"For jinxin' us!" The croc answered simply.
* * * * * *
"Do you really have to go now?" Shelia asked softly, as she and Knuckles stood in the
clearing in the cool evening moonlight.
He nodded sadly. "Yeah I do. I need to get there before morning. With these updrafts I
can reach the island by myself faster than one of those hoverthings..."
She hugged him. "I'll miss you..."
"I'll miss you too." He said, returning the embrace. He leaned down and kissed her. It
was several minutes before it ended.
He regained his breath. "Good bye..." He said reluctantly.
"Good bye." She said, then kissed him again before he could leave.
Another few minutes passed.
He stood up straight, parting them softly. "I really have to go now." He mumbled.
"All right. Good bye." She whispered.
He took a few steps, but she held onto his arm. He looked back at her, and her shining
green eyes. Why did she always have to make this so hard. He smiled a little. "Okay, just
one more..." He said, pulling her into another fond embrace.
She laughed softy as their lips met, but her emotion seemed the opposite when they
split. She gave him one last stubborn hug, sniffling back tears.
"Shelia..." He whispered, "I'll be back for you. I promise... What ever that's worth,
I promise. I'll be back for you."
"Oh Knuckles..." She whimpered, "I know you will..."
He hugged her tightly, afraid to let go. "I... I will really miss you."
"I'll miss you more." She sniffled.
"I don't think that's possible..."
She shut her eyes, emotion running through her. "I love you..." She said softly.
For a moment, there was silence. Then he leaned away from her and looked down at her
with uneasiness mixed with confusion. She was surprised with his expression. They stared at
each other. She waited for a return.
"...Yeah, well..." He mumbled almost fearfully, "I gotta go now. Good bye."
Rather quickly, he let her go, turned, and practically ran out of the clearing.
She just stared after him, blankly and unbelieving.
* * * * * *