Chapter 10: Bustin' Ass and Bustin' Out
You treated me like I'm a worthless piece of shit
You think that you're in control but you make me sick
I want to watch you suffer
The way that you made me suffer
I want to fuck up everything you've ever loved
---Stabbing Westward "The thing I hate"
Nack and the rest of the crew at the breakfast table stared at my pale face. I was huddled down in my seat, my food untouched before me. I felt sick.
"What's yer problem?" asked Sleuth. "And what was all that screaming last night?"
Drago growled. "We need to get ridda Marshe. The fucker tried to grope cueball last night."
"He tried to bang him, actually," said Flying Frog.
"Nasty," said Nack.
"Did he?" Ernie asked me.
"No," I muttered.
"Guess he ain't gay," said Ernie. "Or maybe Marshe just ain't his type."
I covered my eyes with my hand. "Stop talking about it."
"Hey, this is prison, man," said Flying Frog. "Shit like this happens. At least none of us ever pulled the 'you dropped the soap' shit."
"Oh, thank you very much." I felt a little better. No one was teasing me. They all seemed a bit angry, but not at me. At Marshe.
He wasn't anywhere in sight. I don't know where he was. Drago told me after the other guard showed up, Marshe and somebody else had gotten into a huge argument. 'It was so damn loud that no one could sleep,' the wolf had growled. Of course, I hadn't heard any of it. I was too busy having hysterics.
Robotnik and Packbell had never been nice to me. I'd gotten beaten in every way imaginable. Packbell was a pervert, but even he had never attempted anything like that on me. I was a nervous wreck now. If Marshe showed his face, I knew I was going to either puke or attack him.
"Hey, if he messes with ya again, we'll help ya," said Nack.
"Yeah," said Sleuth. "If we get him alone, we'll wreck his ass."
Sure, you will, I thought. "Thanks," I said aloud.
It was shower day, but I didn't take one. I stayed in the locker room. Marshe wasn't there. None of the guards said anything. They all looked at me with slightly sympathetic eyes, and let me stay in my dirty old clothes, while everybody else showered.
For the first time, I felt uneasy in the cell. I felt trapped. Stupid, I am trapped. I've always been trapped. But for some reason, I'd always felt safe in this cell. Safe, warm, unharmed. But now that illusion was broken.
Drago was combing out his wet headfur with a small yellow comb. Some of the teeth were broken, from all the times the wolf had carelessly tossed the comb onto the floor, and then later accidentally stepped on it.
He was humming a tune, and looked over at me. "Don't mind me askin', cueball, but how come yer so damn...smooth?"
It was raining out and fog was rolling down the hallway. It was eerie in a way, and also cold. I shivered, and not just from the chill.
Drago snorted over in his cell. "Well?"
"Well, what?" I raised my eyes to glare at him.
"How come ya don't have any hair?"
"Why does everybody ask me that?" I whined. It was probably one of the most irritating questions I got asked, besides the 'how come yer so short', 'or how come yer so ugly', 'how come yer such a wimp'.
"Don't get so huffy 'bout it. It's just a conversation starter."
"Well, fine," I sighed. "There is actually somewhat of a story behind this one."
I used to have beautiful hair. I lost all my body hair before I could really fully develop it. But the hair on my head was wonderful. It was different lengths, the longest strands reaching about to the base of my neck. It was different shades of tan, from pale gold to dark chocolate brown. It was very thick, but at the same time very soft and silky...like feathers.
Well...it was sometime after the coup, and Julian, dubbed now as Robotnik, had cooked up this new experiment. It was this liquid crap...he'd already tried it on some of the prisoners we had. It made them stronger or something. He said it was 'incredible'!
Well of course, he wanted to test it on me next.
"Come here, Snively!" he called. We were in the Death Egg, although it wasn't really the Death Egg then. It was strange looking, because it still had a lot of the decorations from the castle, and the newer metal stuff that the robots were building.
I trotted down the hallways.
"What is it, Uncle...er...sir?"
There was a big tub of greenish liquid sitting in the center of the room. There was white steam rising from it. I couldn't tell if it was from the liquid being hot, or a chemical reaction with the metal of the tub or the air. But it was a thoroughly unpleasant looking substance.
"What is it?" I asked again.
"It's the liquid I've been working on," he chortled. "I've already tested it on several Mobian prisoners. It made them incredibly strong and even telekinetic! Of course...I had to kill them afterwards..."
"Yes, and?" I asked politely. I was so damn naïve back then. I didn't think he would ever hurt me. He'd startled me with that 'call me sir, from now on,' thing, but I never thought he'd get violent...
"And now I wish to test it on a human! If it works, then I'll use it on myself!"
"We don't have any human prisoners, sir." I had to look up to see him, and something in his eyes made me take a step away. The way he was staring at me... "Don't even think about it," I said indignantly. "I'm not touching that shit."
"Such language for such a young child," he said.
I was pretty young then, about fourteen...but living with my father and his abuse, plus schoolyard talk, really assured that I would have an extended er...vocabulary.
"If you think I'm touching that shit, then you're fucking nuts," I said.
"The filth you've picked up from your father," he said, shaking his head somewhat sadly. "Now, be a good lad and do as I say." He held out a towel to me. I guess I was supposed to get the liquid all over my body, so it could soak in or something, but there was no way I was stripping in front of him...or anyone for that matter.
"No," I said.
"Do it," he said. Nowadays, I would recognize that low growl and heed the warning of punishment...but like I said, I was naïve in those days. Nowadays, I wouldn't dare cuss at him, unless I was extremely angry or looking for a beating or in a drunken stupor.
"Snively, you will test that liquid."
"No, I won't."
"YOU WILL!" He suddenly screamed and he raised his fist. I cringed a little, because I had been beaten before and I knew anger when I saw it!
"I WON'T!" I cried back, but my voice trembled a little.
I was a bit shocked when he DID hit me, because I didn't really expect it. His fist suddenly shot out and connected with my face. He didn't even hit hard, now that I think back. I didn't even bruise from it.
But it was the first time he'd struck me...and I was as shocked as a virgin on their first night. DAMN! It didn't hurt so much as shock. I stumbled backwards, then regained my balance and just stared at him. He was breathing deeper and his eyes were glowing, which creeped me out.
So I obeyed his little whim, and ended up sitting miserably in the tub with my knees drawn up to my bare chest.
He poured some of the liquid over me with a metal cup. Some of it splattered in my hair, which I didn't like, because it ran into my eyes and stung bad.
"Are you feeling stronger?" he asked.
"No, I feel like I'm sitting in a tub of green goop in my underwear," I snapped.
He shook his head. "We really must change that attitude, dear boy," he whispered.
I was about to spit out a nasty comment, but then I raised my arm out of the liquid to itch it. I noticed that the fine downy hairs on my arm were literally dissolving before my eyes. I screamed.
I leapt out of the tub and raced from the room, my wet feet slipping all over the metal floors. I ran to the nearest bathroom, turned on the sink, and stuck my head in the basin. I vigorously scrubbed the goop out of my hair.
Water streamed into my eyes. Tentatively I combed my fingers through it.
I was still howling when Robotnik came into the bathroom.
"Snively," he said. "You look ridiculous."
I must admit, I did look rather stupid. I was standing in my underwear, dripping wet with green liquid, but I didn't care. I was frantic. There were long hairs in the sink. Long hairs woven through my fingers. Long hairs falling from my scalp!
"It's ruining my hair!!" I wailed.
"Hmmm...it must not work on humans," he mumbled and looked disappointed.
The stupid bastard. He didn't care. "WHAT ABOUT MY HAIR!?" I screamed.
"Your hair?" He looked at me shrewdly. "You only got a tiny amount in your hair...you shouldn't lose it all."
He was right. I didn't lose it all, but my beautiful mop was considerably thinned out. I felt old. I almost expected to see gray hairs every time I glanced in the mirror.
My poor poor hair. It lost its sheen, and became duller looking. Even the colors faded a bit, until it was just regular old tan. It was depressing. I had to be so careful with it, because the roots had become very loose. A hard tug with a comb would pull out a big chunk.
And all body hair I had was completely gone. My skin was like a newborn babies...completely smooth. Eventually, the fine hairs came back. But nothing else did.
So it was quite inevitable that I would lose it the day I met Sonic. We had launched a large ship to destroy the forest. It seemed stupid and pointless to me, but I was drinking a lot then. I had discovered a nice store of alcohol in the king's kitchen, and that made me pretty happy.
I don't know how the damn hedgehog did it. But it was him. The same Sonic. He was there that day...both of him. I guess he did some sort of time travelling trick.
One of our prisoners of the coup was Sir Charles' nephew, Sonic the hedgehog...aged five. The day I lost my hair, I met Sonic the hedgehog...aged sixteen. They were both there, at the same time. Which is disturbing now that I think about it. But I've heard myths...about ancient Time Stones. Somehow, he must have gotten them.
But I didn't even know the hedgehog back then.
So...it was the day we had just launched the destroyer, and I wandered into the command room. I had just drank some good hard whiskey and was starting to feel it, but I was relatively clear-headed at the moment.
There was a cocky-looking blue hedgehog and a girl who looked suspiciously like the baby princess coming out of the room. They halted when they saw me.
"Just who are you?" I demanded.
"What's up, Snide-ly?" asked the hedgehog.
The little bastard. I felt like smacking him, but I remained as calm as possible. "It's Snively," I corrected. But how had he even know my name? Or at least one of my rude nicknames... But it didn't matter. They were trespassers.
I gave him my coldest glare. "Nice hair," he said. And he actually leaned over and touched my hair! I jumped back...God nothing irritates me more than people touching me. It's so damn intrusive. What gives them the right...?
He laughed.
Then I remembered where I'd seen him. He was an escapee from earlier that day! I was wearing this nifty little com watch, and I called for some SWATs to come catch the little blue bastard.
The girl, who hadn't spoken all this time, said, "Let's go, Sonic!" in this bitchy tone which I didn't care for...reminded me of my math teacher, who I had hated enough to want to kill...but that was beside the point. They were getting away.
I yelled at them to stop, but it was rather pathetic attempt, because they ignored me and took off. I mean took off!! The hedgehog revved up and blasted down the hallway with the girl hanging onto his arm. He created a strong wind, which nearly pulled me off my feet. I felt a stinging all over my head and howled.
When I looked down, I saw there was brown stuff strewn all over the hallway.
"What the hell?" I crouched down. OH GOD. It was hair. I reached up to feel my head...and my hand encountered smooth bare skin.
"NOOOOOOO!!!!!"
I went a little berserk then...
"So that's how it happened, eh? That's quite a story."
"Yeah. It rocks!" said Flying Frog.
"Rocks? It's terrible!" I said.
Flying Frog eyed me with his bulging eyes. I scowled. He was just so...so damn ugly. His face made me even more bad-tempered than usual. I don't know why. Maybe because Robotnik was ugly too.
"It rocks, man, because your hair was all loose, and it just kinda blew away on the wind...like dandelion fluff or something. It's such a tripping visual, man. I can see it."
"Yeah...it's real poetic," said Drago.
I plopped back down on the bed, and half-heartedly opened the magazine. A raccoon girl, splayed out on silken cushions, smiled back at me. Since most Mobians have fur covering their privates, these girls were actually shaved around the nipples and down below... It looked incredibly stupid to me. I threw the magazine across the floor in a sudden fit of anger.
Drago, who was also reading a magazine, glanced up. "Hey, don't throw that around!"
I got up and kicked the magazine. It hit the wall, and slid down.
"Stop fighting," said Flying Frog. "You two are always fighting."
"Cueball's kickin' my nudies," said Drago. "Them's good nudies."
"They look STUPID!!" I said.
"They're hot."
"They look fake and ugly. If they were Devon..." I shut my mouth so abruptly my tongue got caught between my teeth. Devon? How'd her name pop in there?
"Devon, eh? Is that a guy Devon or girl Devon?"
"A girl, of course," I said.
"Who's she? Some kind of girl-friend?"
"No..."
"She's somethan', I can tell, the way ya said it. She's somethan' all right."
"She's my cousin," I said.
"No."
"Yes, she is."
"Did ya fuck her?"
"NO!"
Drago snickered a bit. "Don't git so defensive. It was just a simple question."
"The way he answered, ya think something did happen," said Flying Frog.
"No kiddin'." Drago nodded vigorously. "Ya did screw her, didn't ya?"
"NO! NO I didn't touch her! I've never touched her."
"Sure. Ya did her."
"No! I HATE HER!!!" I screamed. "I hate her..."
"Well, there's a big surprise!" said Flying Frog. "Snively hating someone; that's just silly!."
"Shut up," I said. "Both of you, just shut up."
I pulled the covers over my head and tried to sleep. I had a feeling I was going to dream about ole fire-hair.
Sometimes it sucks to be right.
Sleeping? Yes. I was asleep. Maybe. I don't know. Everything seems so vivid, and real. I can smell, and hear. I can feel the ground under my feet.
I'm running? It seems it. My lungs feel tired and hot, my breath is whistling in through my teeth.
Ahead of me runs a girl, long orange/red hair flowing behind her. Devon!
"Devon! Stop!"
She stops and turns around. I catch up to her. "What are you doing here? Where are we?"
"Hi, Snively!" She sounds happy. "Wow, didn't expect to see you out here." She shuffles her feet. "You won't like this, but I'm about to help the Freedom Fighters wreck one of Uncy's new toys."
I didn't like it. Devon with the Freedom Fighters. It was stupid. But at least she was safe with them. "Be careful," I say.
"Sniv'," she begins, and her eyebrows slope downwards and her eyes get anxious. "Come with us. Please. I want you to come with us."
"No. I'm not leaving."
"But Robotnik he..."
"Stop it, Devon. You know I'm not leaving Robotropolis. That's final."
"But why?!" She bursts out. Her voice is so anguished that I feel myself start to tremble. "Why?! Please, I'm begging you. I love..."
"NO!" I back away. Oh God, I can't handle hearing it. No... I can't hear it. It screws me up. I can't think, I can't reason, NO! It's impossible, no one can love me. No one. I can't hear it, because I know it's not true, and I just can't live with false words.
I hear the clanking of SWAT feet. "Devon, you'd better go."
"NO!" She nearly screams it. "I AM NOT LEAVING WITHOUT YOU!!!"
"Go!" I shove her, but she grabs my arm and holds on. I try to pry her off. "Devon!"
The SWAT rounds the corner. "HALT, Intruder."
"Let go, Devon!!! It'll shoot you!!"
"No no no!!! Not until you say yes!"
The SWAT raises its arm.
"Devon please let go!"
The red laser on its wrist powers up.
"Devon, NO!"
The shot is fired.
"Ohhhhh." She sinks down. I see her hand flutter at her heart, her bleeding heart.
"Devon oh God."
"Snively." Her voice is raspy. She reaches up her hand, the fingertips smeared with blood, to touch my cheek.
"Devon...hang on. I'll get you to the infirmary." I go to pick her up, but her hand clutches my shoulder with the last of her strength.
"No...It's too late."
"Devon, don't talk."
"Ssssh. Please...just listen...you always pushed my love away, you don't believe it. But it's true. I love you. I love you even if you never loved me back." Her eyes fill with tears, and I know her heart is hurting, and not from the laser blast.
I bite my lip and clutch her hand. "Devon..."
The truth will set you free
"...I..."
The truth will set HER free
"...I...I..."
SAY IT!!!
"...I l...o...ve...you Devon."
Her eyes are shimmering with tears, and blood pulsing steadily from her heart-wound. But her lips curve up into a smile. "I knew it," she whispers. "I knew it..." Her eyelashes flutter, her hand clutching my shoulder weakens and drops to the ground.
I'm afraid, Devon. Afraid if you go, nobody else will ever care about me. That's selfish. God, how selfish.
The blood flow is slower now, the red liquid spread out around her. She's almost gone...
"DEVON!!!"
Her eyes close, her muscles relax.
"Devon! NO! Oh God Devon don't leave me. PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME, DON'T LEAVE ME!!!"
"NOOO!" I jerked awake with a cry. It was nighttime.
I have to get out. I have to get out and find Devon and tell her...
I rubbed my forehead wearily. Tell her what? Tell her I love her? STUPID!! I don't love her!
I grabbed hold of the bars and pulled at them, but of course they didn't budge. I felt this inexplicable urge...so strong it made me crazy...to find her. To grab her hand...speak to her. DEVON!!! She was the only one...
I shuddered with a sudden chill. It's scary knowing there's only one in the whole entire world, universe even, who loves you. Loves you unconditionally and eternally. It's scary knowing that if they die, then you're all alone.
Stop it, stop!! Even if it were true (which it isn't, it can't be), I could never tell Devon I loved her to her face. I couldn't handle her reaction. I can't handle her love. It's too intense.
But still, I had to get out of this godforsaken prison. Being confined in this small space...it was making me restless. Funny, I never felt this restless before. But after what Marshe did...I can't take it. Besides, I certainly can't rule over Robotropolis in here.
The next day all I could think of was the hovercraft that I'd seen during my second escape. I remember how they were lined up side by side, their gray metallic sides reflecting one another. They were so beautiful in my mind's eye.
I was leaning against the bars, my hands hanging through. Marshe came by.
"Want out?" He laughed snidely and swung his club at my hands. I pulled them back just in time. The club smashed against the bars hard, and I knew that would've probably broken a finger or two if it'd hit me.
"Bastard," I said, glaring at him. He was too close to me. I scooted away and sat on my bed, eyeing him warily.
Then my thoughts returned to the hovercraft. I had to get into one. I had to escape again and get into one and get the hell out of here. None of these guards could match me in flying. I'd lose them in a heartbeat. Then it'd be back to Robotropolis. And Mobius would be mine.
I'm deluded, I know. I would never rule forever, but having a taste of power is worth the defeat. And unlike Robotnik, if I caught those Freedom Fighters, I'd kill them straight off. Forget roboticizing them, forget using them for bait, forget even gloating over them. I'd shoot them all personally, press that gun right against their skulls and shoot them, point blank. There would be no doubts then. They'd be dead.
Marshe came back about ten minutes later. "Ready for your potty-break, Sniv-meister?"
My eyes widened noticeably and I pressed myself against the wall.
He smiled and opened the cell. He had to drag me out, and pull me, struggling, down the hallway.
We reached the bathroom. I glanced around. We were alone.
The smile slipped off Marshe's face, just like it was glued, and the glue had suddenly lost its hold.
"Because of you, I'm getting sent away. This job paid good." He rubbed at his wrist, which was set in a splint. I guess Drago had done some damage to him. Good.
I was standing as far away from him as I could get. "You're surprised, because...?"
Marshe suddenly lunged at me. I darted around him. He grabbed the back of my uniform. I wrenched away, and stumbled against the toilet.
"I'm gonna get you this time," he growled.
I grabbed the toilet cover. The heavy porcelain felt good in my hands. I whirled around, and charged Marshe. I slammed him with my shoulder. He stumbled and I let him have it.
He fell to the ground, but I wasn't finished.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" I shrieked, suddenly furious. I hit him with the cover before he could regain his senses. Then I hit him again and again.
The porcelain shattered as I brought it down the fifth time. The pieces crumbled around his head, smeared with blood. I stood up, panting.
His skull was smashed in.
I knelt and quickly searched him, taking his keyring and pistol.
"YESS!" I couldn't help exclaiming. Then I shut up and crept back out into the hallway. There were no guards around.
I had to go past my cell.
Drago was reading in bed.
"Hey," I said.
He looked up. His eyes widened. "How the hell ya get out there?!"
I held up the keyring. "You want out?"
"YES!"
"Sshhh," I hissed. I unlocked his cell with trembling hands; I was so nervous. If another guard should come by... Wait. I have a gun.
Drago shoved the door open. "Good job, cueball," he said.
I shrugged.
Flying Frog jerked awake and looked at us with groggy eyes. "Whoa man, how'd you two get out there?"
"Be quiet," I hissed. "You want the guards to hear?"
"Nah, but you can let me out."
I did. He sprang out, bouncing all over the hallway. I shook my head. Stupid moron. But if the guards should come by, Drago was a big guy. He could hold them off. I knew one measly little pistol couldn't hold off a crew of guards.
"Should we free everyone?" asked Drago.
"No," I said.
"Yes," said Flying Frog.
"Fine," I said, thinking the more back-up I had, the better.
So we sprung some of the others. They were all bigger than me, which made me slightly nervous, but they seemed content to follow me. At least for now. I wasn't sure if I was going to be with them long...if I could, I'd ditch them in this hellhole and take off in that hovercraft myself. I mean, what did I owe them...?
I didn't even bother to hurry after that. Some of my crew were huge, bigger than three guards put together! I walked leisurely down the hall and stomped down the steps.
Tattle came running at the sound of our feet, and his mouth gaped open. Then he screamed, "JAILBREAK! JAILBREAK!"
I heard the pounding of guard's feet, and soon we were surrounded by them. Some of them had guns, some had tasers. I groaned. Great. Now we'd get herded back into our cells, and I'd get solitary or electroshocked again.
But my crew wasn't wimpy, like me. They didn't try and run, which would have been useless, instead they charged the guards. I saw Drago's fist connect with a young guard's face, and heard the crack as his jaw broke, and a few teeth hit the ground. The other escapees swarmed around me, and all was chaos!
I saw guards get taken down, heard their cries as they got brutally beaten, saw my crew get zapped and one shot. Then I got the hell out of there. I went down the hallway I'd gone down before, but this time the window was closed. I couldn't get the lock open. SHIT!
I looked around, but there was nothing to bash at the window. So I threw myself at it. I struck it hard and bounced off. "OW! God!" My shoulder ached.
I heard footsteps and tensed.
It was Tattle.
"Trying to escape, AGAIN?" he growled. In his tan hand was a club.
I backed away.
He came towards me.
Desperately, I flung myself at the window again, but the glass didn't budge. It wasn't breaking.
Tattle was closer. He swung the club. I was knocked to my knees, my shoulder aching even more. He swung again. I was on my stomach now, stars flashing before my eyes. My head screamed in pain.
I heard the club whistle through the air, and felt it impact on my back. I whimpered and squirmed away. He kicked me over onto my back, and dropped the club. With his eyes on me, he drew the taser from his belt.
"NO!"
He flicked the switch on and I saw blue electricity crackle on the end of the long black rod. He snickered.
I tried to wiggle away, but he pressed his foot on my stomach, holding me in place. Then he brought the taser down, waving it in front of my face.
"Please...don't..."
The taser came closer, dazzling my vision with electric blue...I could already smell my burnt skin...closer now...I felt the heat against my face, and then I kicked him.
He was only standing on one foot and he was knocked off balance. He fell on top of me, his knee hitting me hard in the face, his upper body thumping heavily on the floor behind me. I felt blood oozing from my nose, and I sneezed. Then I shoved his leg off me and crawled to my feet.
"You ain't goin' anywhere," he snarled, his hand clamping around my ankle. I kicked and struggled, but he held tight. I tried to pull away, but only ended up dragging him a few feet. Laying on his stomach, he reached for the taser with his free hand.
"Let GO!" I slammed my booted foot into his face, and heard a faint crack. He cussed loudly, and I saw his nose was a little mashed; broken! I kicked him again. This time my boot caught him in the eye, and I felt his fingers loosen. I pulled away hard, and was free!
I ran like hell.
I reentered the room of chaos, and was a bit surprised to see my team was winning! Some of the guards looked dead. Others were still fighting. Fighting hard now, like animals...because they knew this was going the wrong way.
I heard the whine of some weapon powering up, and I glanced to the top of the stairs. A guard was there, wielding a huge gun. I saw his finger tighten.
"No, you don't," I hissed. Even if I left the crew, I wasn't going to let a guard win. I aimed my pistol at him and pulled the trigger. He cried out, and fell forward, sliding down the stairs.
I ran again. This time I went down another hallway.
"Get that gun, there, Morrisey! GODDAMMIT, hurry it up!!!"
"I goin', I goin', man, hold yer freakin' horses!"
"C'mon, C'MON! They need help!"
I approached the opened doorway cautiously. I tried to sneak past. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a few guards arming themselves with some heavy artillery. One glanced over.
"SHIT! Get him!"
Shit indeed. I took off...them right on my heels. One of them was fast. He caught up with me, hooking his arm around my neck and yanking me right off my feet in midstride.
"Uhhh...let go! You bastard, let go!"
He did. He let go and slammed me into a wall. I looked up to see his gun aimed down at me.
"Go on, you guys, Go help the others."
The other guards ran off.
He looked down at me, with a wicked smile. "I gotta subdue this one."
I closed my eyes. Why, oh why, did everyone like to hurt me? It seemed to bring the gentlest creature some pleasure to see me in pain. I guess I was just born to suffer...
I reached for my gun, ever so slowly. But his foot suddenly kicked my hand, sending the gun spinning down the hallway. Then he pressed his gun up against my shoulder. His finger jerked back, and I screamed. He chuckled as I writhed in pain.
My shoulder...I felt the small hole through it. It was neat, cauterized by the laser beam, but that didn't make it any less painful.
I saw him smiling...felt the pain...and lost it. I kicked out, tripping him. Then I was on my feet, and fighting with him. He tried to fend off my punches, but I was going all out. My knuckles hurt...I wasn't used to punching things...but this was the second guard with a broken nose!
He reeled back, yelping. I grabbed his gun. He held on, pressing his hand against my head, trying to force me away.
I kneed him hard in the nuts, and he stumbled away. I stumbled back too, holding the gun in my hands. I quickly changed my grip on it and aimed it at him.
"You don't have the balls," he sneered.
"No..." I pulled the trigger.
He screamed and howled, the tendons in his neck standing out through his fur. His hands clutched between his legs frantically.
I laughed. "...YOU don't have the balls."
Then I ran like hell again.
I came to another window. This time I shot a few holes through it, and then bashed against it with my uninjured shoulder. The glass gave, shattering outwards. A few shards cut my head, and I blinked away blood. I climbed out, cutting my hand in the process. "Damn."
This side of the building was very close to the cliff edge. There was only about two feet of ground between me and the edge of the cliff...and I was pressed up against the building!
"It's...it's plenty of room," I cooed to myself, but still my stomach clenched up and my legs shook. The gun had a strap, so I hung it over my shoulder, leaving my hands free. With one hand against the wall, I crept towards the corner of the building.
My eyes caught sight of the ocean below...boiling and smashing against small outcroppings of rock like some furious beast. My stomach rebelled, and I leaned against the building, closing my eyes.
"Don't puke. Don't puke. Don't..."
It was hard to breathe; one nostril was clogged with dried blood. I heard the ocean...so far below...felt the air as it tugged at me...
I puked.
I must have passed out as well, because I woke to find myself staring at something concrete. At first I thought I was back in my cell. I rolled over lazily, and then howled at the sight of ocean and rocks below. I sat up, scrabbling backwards against the building. My mouth tasted foul, and I spat a few times, then got shakily to my feet.
I continued my timid walk along the building and cliff's edge, until I reached the corner. I turned it, and found that this side had much more space. And hovercrafts...
They were lined up on the clifftop's rusty red-brown surface. They sparkled like a promise...
...of freedom, perhaps? Or the leadership of Robotropolis...? The death of those Freedom Fighters...?
"Who cares?" I mumbled. "I'm outta here." I made a mad dash towards them, even though it seemed no one was around.
I was next to one. Actually touching it. My hands ran over the surface almost reverently. I could've kissed that aircraft!
I didn't; I made my way around to the door of the craft, and was reaching my hand towards the touchpad that would open it.
"HEY SNIVELY!!"
I nearly jumped out of my skin. I turned to see Drago and a few other inmates running towards me. Drago's teeth were shining.
I slammed my hand against the touchpad and the doors slid open. I bolted inside, and reached for the controls. But a hand grabbed me by the collar, yanking me back.
"Where ya goin',cueball? Ya weren't thinkin' of leavin' without us, eh?" Drago's tone was threatening, and his huge fist was clenched tightly.
"No...no!" I squeaked. "I wasn't doing that! I was just afraid the guards were coming..."
"Do we look like guards?" cackled Flying Frog, pushing past Drago and I. He hopped into the passenger seat. "Damn, anyone even know how to fly this junker?"
"I do," I said, still being held off the ground by Drago. His fist, still clenched, was making me nervous.
"Drago, put him down and let him fly." Sleuth came in, handing a cigarette and a pistol to the wolf. Drago snorted at me, but let me go. I settled into the pilot's seat, my eyes on the windshield. In it, I saw the reflection of my company. There was Drago and Sleuth, both of them lit up and puffing their cigarettes contently. The smoke made me wheeze. I saw Flying Frog, looking over the control panel in interest. Ernie was just walking in.
There were a few others I didn't recognize as readily. I usually only paid attention to the people at my table.
There was a huge gorilla, leaning up against the hovercraft wall, his arms raised lazily over his head. Next to him, a lanky hawk looked disgusted and inched away, pretending to gag. A lynx wearing dorky sneakers was yowling at me to 'start de plane, pal, c'mon let's go!', and Nack was talking to a creepy spider lady. She had six arms. Kind of kinky...wonder what she can do with those...
My eyes rested on the last of my crew, and my eyes...they nearly popped out of my head. It was Warlord Kudos!!
"Where'd you come from?"
He scratched his beard as he eyed me. "I've been here! But Warlord Kudos will have his revenge!! They will be sorry!"
I scowled. Somehow...I thought the guy would be more impressive, intellect-wise. But he seemed just as shallow as the rest of these clowns.
Oh, and what are you? My mind-voice (which sounded suspiciously like Devon) taunted.
Drago kicked my seat. "What the hell ya waitin' for, cueball?"
I started the hovercraft and got us off the ground. The inmates seemed thrilled; whooping and jumping around.
"STOP IT!" I said, because the hovercraft was tilting sharply to one side. "We have to be evenly balanced." I looked over my shoulder. "Kodos, you get on that side. No. THAT side. Gorilla..."
"Sergeant Simian," the gorilla growled.
"Sorry, Sergeant Simian, you get over on that side."
The ape stood against the right wall, Kodos against the left. The others were crowded in the middle. Now the hovercraft was even again.
"Hold on," I warned. They obeyed.
We zoomed off the cliff and sped over the ocean. The inmates screamed and cheered. A small smile tugged at my mouth, and I gave in to it.
Even if I did have these idiots with me...I was still going back to Robotropolis. I was going to finish what Robotnik started. Those little furry fools thought they were safe...they thought they were in the clear.
Well, they were wrong.
Dead wrong.
You treated me like I'm a worthless piece of shit
You think that you're in control but you make me sick
I want to watch you suffer
The way that you made me suffer
I want to fuck up everything you've ever loved
---Stabbing Westward "The thing I hate"
Nack and the rest of the crew at the breakfast table stared at my pale face. I was huddled down in my seat, my food untouched before me. I felt sick.
"What's yer problem?" asked Sleuth. "And what was all that screaming last night?"
Drago growled. "We need to get ridda Marshe. The fucker tried to grope cueball last night."
"He tried to bang him, actually," said Flying Frog.
"Nasty," said Nack.
"Did he?" Ernie asked me.
"No," I muttered.
"Guess he ain't gay," said Ernie. "Or maybe Marshe just ain't his type."
I covered my eyes with my hand. "Stop talking about it."
"Hey, this is prison, man," said Flying Frog. "Shit like this happens. At least none of us ever pulled the 'you dropped the soap' shit."
"Oh, thank you very much." I felt a little better. No one was teasing me. They all seemed a bit angry, but not at me. At Marshe.
He wasn't anywhere in sight. I don't know where he was. Drago told me after the other guard showed up, Marshe and somebody else had gotten into a huge argument. 'It was so damn loud that no one could sleep,' the wolf had growled. Of course, I hadn't heard any of it. I was too busy having hysterics.
Robotnik and Packbell had never been nice to me. I'd gotten beaten in every way imaginable. Packbell was a pervert, but even he had never attempted anything like that on me. I was a nervous wreck now. If Marshe showed his face, I knew I was going to either puke or attack him.
"Hey, if he messes with ya again, we'll help ya," said Nack.
"Yeah," said Sleuth. "If we get him alone, we'll wreck his ass."
Sure, you will, I thought. "Thanks," I said aloud.
It was shower day, but I didn't take one. I stayed in the locker room. Marshe wasn't there. None of the guards said anything. They all looked at me with slightly sympathetic eyes, and let me stay in my dirty old clothes, while everybody else showered.
For the first time, I felt uneasy in the cell. I felt trapped. Stupid, I am trapped. I've always been trapped. But for some reason, I'd always felt safe in this cell. Safe, warm, unharmed. But now that illusion was broken.
Drago was combing out his wet headfur with a small yellow comb. Some of the teeth were broken, from all the times the wolf had carelessly tossed the comb onto the floor, and then later accidentally stepped on it.
He was humming a tune, and looked over at me. "Don't mind me askin', cueball, but how come yer so damn...smooth?"
It was raining out and fog was rolling down the hallway. It was eerie in a way, and also cold. I shivered, and not just from the chill.
Drago snorted over in his cell. "Well?"
"Well, what?" I raised my eyes to glare at him.
"How come ya don't have any hair?"
"Why does everybody ask me that?" I whined. It was probably one of the most irritating questions I got asked, besides the 'how come yer so short', 'or how come yer so ugly', 'how come yer such a wimp'.
"Don't get so huffy 'bout it. It's just a conversation starter."
"Well, fine," I sighed. "There is actually somewhat of a story behind this one."
I used to have beautiful hair. I lost all my body hair before I could really fully develop it. But the hair on my head was wonderful. It was different lengths, the longest strands reaching about to the base of my neck. It was different shades of tan, from pale gold to dark chocolate brown. It was very thick, but at the same time very soft and silky...like feathers.
Well...it was sometime after the coup, and Julian, dubbed now as Robotnik, had cooked up this new experiment. It was this liquid crap...he'd already tried it on some of the prisoners we had. It made them stronger or something. He said it was 'incredible'!
Well of course, he wanted to test it on me next.
"Come here, Snively!" he called. We were in the Death Egg, although it wasn't really the Death Egg then. It was strange looking, because it still had a lot of the decorations from the castle, and the newer metal stuff that the robots were building.
I trotted down the hallways.
"What is it, Uncle...er...sir?"
There was a big tub of greenish liquid sitting in the center of the room. There was white steam rising from it. I couldn't tell if it was from the liquid being hot, or a chemical reaction with the metal of the tub or the air. But it was a thoroughly unpleasant looking substance.
"What is it?" I asked again.
"It's the liquid I've been working on," he chortled. "I've already tested it on several Mobian prisoners. It made them incredibly strong and even telekinetic! Of course...I had to kill them afterwards..."
"Yes, and?" I asked politely. I was so damn naïve back then. I didn't think he would ever hurt me. He'd startled me with that 'call me sir, from now on,' thing, but I never thought he'd get violent...
"And now I wish to test it on a human! If it works, then I'll use it on myself!"
"We don't have any human prisoners, sir." I had to look up to see him, and something in his eyes made me take a step away. The way he was staring at me... "Don't even think about it," I said indignantly. "I'm not touching that shit."
"Such language for such a young child," he said.
I was pretty young then, about fourteen...but living with my father and his abuse, plus schoolyard talk, really assured that I would have an extended er...vocabulary.
"If you think I'm touching that shit, then you're fucking nuts," I said.
"The filth you've picked up from your father," he said, shaking his head somewhat sadly. "Now, be a good lad and do as I say." He held out a towel to me. I guess I was supposed to get the liquid all over my body, so it could soak in or something, but there was no way I was stripping in front of him...or anyone for that matter.
"No," I said.
"Do it," he said. Nowadays, I would recognize that low growl and heed the warning of punishment...but like I said, I was naïve in those days. Nowadays, I wouldn't dare cuss at him, unless I was extremely angry or looking for a beating or in a drunken stupor.
"Snively, you will test that liquid."
"No, I won't."
"YOU WILL!" He suddenly screamed and he raised his fist. I cringed a little, because I had been beaten before and I knew anger when I saw it!
"I WON'T!" I cried back, but my voice trembled a little.
I was a bit shocked when he DID hit me, because I didn't really expect it. His fist suddenly shot out and connected with my face. He didn't even hit hard, now that I think back. I didn't even bruise from it.
But it was the first time he'd struck me...and I was as shocked as a virgin on their first night. DAMN! It didn't hurt so much as shock. I stumbled backwards, then regained my balance and just stared at him. He was breathing deeper and his eyes were glowing, which creeped me out.
So I obeyed his little whim, and ended up sitting miserably in the tub with my knees drawn up to my bare chest.
He poured some of the liquid over me with a metal cup. Some of it splattered in my hair, which I didn't like, because it ran into my eyes and stung bad.
"Are you feeling stronger?" he asked.
"No, I feel like I'm sitting in a tub of green goop in my underwear," I snapped.
He shook his head. "We really must change that attitude, dear boy," he whispered.
I was about to spit out a nasty comment, but then I raised my arm out of the liquid to itch it. I noticed that the fine downy hairs on my arm were literally dissolving before my eyes. I screamed.
I leapt out of the tub and raced from the room, my wet feet slipping all over the metal floors. I ran to the nearest bathroom, turned on the sink, and stuck my head in the basin. I vigorously scrubbed the goop out of my hair.
Water streamed into my eyes. Tentatively I combed my fingers through it.
I was still howling when Robotnik came into the bathroom.
"Snively," he said. "You look ridiculous."
I must admit, I did look rather stupid. I was standing in my underwear, dripping wet with green liquid, but I didn't care. I was frantic. There were long hairs in the sink. Long hairs woven through my fingers. Long hairs falling from my scalp!
"It's ruining my hair!!" I wailed.
"Hmmm...it must not work on humans," he mumbled and looked disappointed.
The stupid bastard. He didn't care. "WHAT ABOUT MY HAIR!?" I screamed.
"Your hair?" He looked at me shrewdly. "You only got a tiny amount in your hair...you shouldn't lose it all."
He was right. I didn't lose it all, but my beautiful mop was considerably thinned out. I felt old. I almost expected to see gray hairs every time I glanced in the mirror.
My poor poor hair. It lost its sheen, and became duller looking. Even the colors faded a bit, until it was just regular old tan. It was depressing. I had to be so careful with it, because the roots had become very loose. A hard tug with a comb would pull out a big chunk.
And all body hair I had was completely gone. My skin was like a newborn babies...completely smooth. Eventually, the fine hairs came back. But nothing else did.
So it was quite inevitable that I would lose it the day I met Sonic. We had launched a large ship to destroy the forest. It seemed stupid and pointless to me, but I was drinking a lot then. I had discovered a nice store of alcohol in the king's kitchen, and that made me pretty happy.
I don't know how the damn hedgehog did it. But it was him. The same Sonic. He was there that day...both of him. I guess he did some sort of time travelling trick.
One of our prisoners of the coup was Sir Charles' nephew, Sonic the hedgehog...aged five. The day I lost my hair, I met Sonic the hedgehog...aged sixteen. They were both there, at the same time. Which is disturbing now that I think about it. But I've heard myths...about ancient Time Stones. Somehow, he must have gotten them.
But I didn't even know the hedgehog back then.
So...it was the day we had just launched the destroyer, and I wandered into the command room. I had just drank some good hard whiskey and was starting to feel it, but I was relatively clear-headed at the moment.
There was a cocky-looking blue hedgehog and a girl who looked suspiciously like the baby princess coming out of the room. They halted when they saw me.
"Just who are you?" I demanded.
"What's up, Snide-ly?" asked the hedgehog.
The little bastard. I felt like smacking him, but I remained as calm as possible. "It's Snively," I corrected. But how had he even know my name? Or at least one of my rude nicknames... But it didn't matter. They were trespassers.
I gave him my coldest glare. "Nice hair," he said. And he actually leaned over and touched my hair! I jumped back...God nothing irritates me more than people touching me. It's so damn intrusive. What gives them the right...?
He laughed.
Then I remembered where I'd seen him. He was an escapee from earlier that day! I was wearing this nifty little com watch, and I called for some SWATs to come catch the little blue bastard.
The girl, who hadn't spoken all this time, said, "Let's go, Sonic!" in this bitchy tone which I didn't care for...reminded me of my math teacher, who I had hated enough to want to kill...but that was beside the point. They were getting away.
I yelled at them to stop, but it was rather pathetic attempt, because they ignored me and took off. I mean took off!! The hedgehog revved up and blasted down the hallway with the girl hanging onto his arm. He created a strong wind, which nearly pulled me off my feet. I felt a stinging all over my head and howled.
When I looked down, I saw there was brown stuff strewn all over the hallway.
"What the hell?" I crouched down. OH GOD. It was hair. I reached up to feel my head...and my hand encountered smooth bare skin.
"NOOOOOOO!!!!!"
I went a little berserk then...
"So that's how it happened, eh? That's quite a story."
"Yeah. It rocks!" said Flying Frog.
"Rocks? It's terrible!" I said.
Flying Frog eyed me with his bulging eyes. I scowled. He was just so...so damn ugly. His face made me even more bad-tempered than usual. I don't know why. Maybe because Robotnik was ugly too.
"It rocks, man, because your hair was all loose, and it just kinda blew away on the wind...like dandelion fluff or something. It's such a tripping visual, man. I can see it."
"Yeah...it's real poetic," said Drago.
I plopped back down on the bed, and half-heartedly opened the magazine. A raccoon girl, splayed out on silken cushions, smiled back at me. Since most Mobians have fur covering their privates, these girls were actually shaved around the nipples and down below... It looked incredibly stupid to me. I threw the magazine across the floor in a sudden fit of anger.
Drago, who was also reading a magazine, glanced up. "Hey, don't throw that around!"
I got up and kicked the magazine. It hit the wall, and slid down.
"Stop fighting," said Flying Frog. "You two are always fighting."
"Cueball's kickin' my nudies," said Drago. "Them's good nudies."
"They look STUPID!!" I said.
"They're hot."
"They look fake and ugly. If they were Devon..." I shut my mouth so abruptly my tongue got caught between my teeth. Devon? How'd her name pop in there?
"Devon, eh? Is that a guy Devon or girl Devon?"
"A girl, of course," I said.
"Who's she? Some kind of girl-friend?"
"No..."
"She's somethan', I can tell, the way ya said it. She's somethan' all right."
"She's my cousin," I said.
"No."
"Yes, she is."
"Did ya fuck her?"
"NO!"
Drago snickered a bit. "Don't git so defensive. It was just a simple question."
"The way he answered, ya think something did happen," said Flying Frog.
"No kiddin'." Drago nodded vigorously. "Ya did screw her, didn't ya?"
"NO! NO I didn't touch her! I've never touched her."
"Sure. Ya did her."
"No! I HATE HER!!!" I screamed. "I hate her..."
"Well, there's a big surprise!" said Flying Frog. "Snively hating someone; that's just silly!."
"Shut up," I said. "Both of you, just shut up."
I pulled the covers over my head and tried to sleep. I had a feeling I was going to dream about ole fire-hair.
Sometimes it sucks to be right.
Sleeping? Yes. I was asleep. Maybe. I don't know. Everything seems so vivid, and real. I can smell, and hear. I can feel the ground under my feet.
I'm running? It seems it. My lungs feel tired and hot, my breath is whistling in through my teeth.
Ahead of me runs a girl, long orange/red hair flowing behind her. Devon!
"Devon! Stop!"
She stops and turns around. I catch up to her. "What are you doing here? Where are we?"
"Hi, Snively!" She sounds happy. "Wow, didn't expect to see you out here." She shuffles her feet. "You won't like this, but I'm about to help the Freedom Fighters wreck one of Uncy's new toys."
I didn't like it. Devon with the Freedom Fighters. It was stupid. But at least she was safe with them. "Be careful," I say.
"Sniv'," she begins, and her eyebrows slope downwards and her eyes get anxious. "Come with us. Please. I want you to come with us."
"No. I'm not leaving."
"But Robotnik he..."
"Stop it, Devon. You know I'm not leaving Robotropolis. That's final."
"But why?!" She bursts out. Her voice is so anguished that I feel myself start to tremble. "Why?! Please, I'm begging you. I love..."
"NO!" I back away. Oh God, I can't handle hearing it. No... I can't hear it. It screws me up. I can't think, I can't reason, NO! It's impossible, no one can love me. No one. I can't hear it, because I know it's not true, and I just can't live with false words.
I hear the clanking of SWAT feet. "Devon, you'd better go."
"NO!" She nearly screams it. "I AM NOT LEAVING WITHOUT YOU!!!"
"Go!" I shove her, but she grabs my arm and holds on. I try to pry her off. "Devon!"
The SWAT rounds the corner. "HALT, Intruder."
"Let go, Devon!!! It'll shoot you!!"
"No no no!!! Not until you say yes!"
The SWAT raises its arm.
"Devon please let go!"
The red laser on its wrist powers up.
"Devon, NO!"
The shot is fired.
"Ohhhhh." She sinks down. I see her hand flutter at her heart, her bleeding heart.
"Devon oh God."
"Snively." Her voice is raspy. She reaches up her hand, the fingertips smeared with blood, to touch my cheek.
"Devon...hang on. I'll get you to the infirmary." I go to pick her up, but her hand clutches my shoulder with the last of her strength.
"No...It's too late."
"Devon, don't talk."
"Ssssh. Please...just listen...you always pushed my love away, you don't believe it. But it's true. I love you. I love you even if you never loved me back." Her eyes fill with tears, and I know her heart is hurting, and not from the laser blast.
I bite my lip and clutch her hand. "Devon..."
The truth will set you free
"...I..."
The truth will set HER free
"...I...I..."
SAY IT!!!
"...I l...o...ve...you Devon."
Her eyes are shimmering with tears, and blood pulsing steadily from her heart-wound. But her lips curve up into a smile. "I knew it," she whispers. "I knew it..." Her eyelashes flutter, her hand clutching my shoulder weakens and drops to the ground.
I'm afraid, Devon. Afraid if you go, nobody else will ever care about me. That's selfish. God, how selfish.
The blood flow is slower now, the red liquid spread out around her. She's almost gone...
"DEVON!!!"
Her eyes close, her muscles relax.
"Devon! NO! Oh God Devon don't leave me. PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME, DON'T LEAVE ME!!!"
"NOOO!" I jerked awake with a cry. It was nighttime.
I have to get out. I have to get out and find Devon and tell her...
I rubbed my forehead wearily. Tell her what? Tell her I love her? STUPID!! I don't love her!
I grabbed hold of the bars and pulled at them, but of course they didn't budge. I felt this inexplicable urge...so strong it made me crazy...to find her. To grab her hand...speak to her. DEVON!!! She was the only one...
I shuddered with a sudden chill. It's scary knowing there's only one in the whole entire world, universe even, who loves you. Loves you unconditionally and eternally. It's scary knowing that if they die, then you're all alone.
Stop it, stop!! Even if it were true (which it isn't, it can't be), I could never tell Devon I loved her to her face. I couldn't handle her reaction. I can't handle her love. It's too intense.
But still, I had to get out of this godforsaken prison. Being confined in this small space...it was making me restless. Funny, I never felt this restless before. But after what Marshe did...I can't take it. Besides, I certainly can't rule over Robotropolis in here.
The next day all I could think of was the hovercraft that I'd seen during my second escape. I remember how they were lined up side by side, their gray metallic sides reflecting one another. They were so beautiful in my mind's eye.
I was leaning against the bars, my hands hanging through. Marshe came by.
"Want out?" He laughed snidely and swung his club at my hands. I pulled them back just in time. The club smashed against the bars hard, and I knew that would've probably broken a finger or two if it'd hit me.
"Bastard," I said, glaring at him. He was too close to me. I scooted away and sat on my bed, eyeing him warily.
Then my thoughts returned to the hovercraft. I had to get into one. I had to escape again and get into one and get the hell out of here. None of these guards could match me in flying. I'd lose them in a heartbeat. Then it'd be back to Robotropolis. And Mobius would be mine.
I'm deluded, I know. I would never rule forever, but having a taste of power is worth the defeat. And unlike Robotnik, if I caught those Freedom Fighters, I'd kill them straight off. Forget roboticizing them, forget using them for bait, forget even gloating over them. I'd shoot them all personally, press that gun right against their skulls and shoot them, point blank. There would be no doubts then. They'd be dead.
Marshe came back about ten minutes later. "Ready for your potty-break, Sniv-meister?"
My eyes widened noticeably and I pressed myself against the wall.
He smiled and opened the cell. He had to drag me out, and pull me, struggling, down the hallway.
We reached the bathroom. I glanced around. We were alone.
The smile slipped off Marshe's face, just like it was glued, and the glue had suddenly lost its hold.
"Because of you, I'm getting sent away. This job paid good." He rubbed at his wrist, which was set in a splint. I guess Drago had done some damage to him. Good.
I was standing as far away from him as I could get. "You're surprised, because...?"
Marshe suddenly lunged at me. I darted around him. He grabbed the back of my uniform. I wrenched away, and stumbled against the toilet.
"I'm gonna get you this time," he growled.
I grabbed the toilet cover. The heavy porcelain felt good in my hands. I whirled around, and charged Marshe. I slammed him with my shoulder. He stumbled and I let him have it.
He fell to the ground, but I wasn't finished.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" I shrieked, suddenly furious. I hit him with the cover before he could regain his senses. Then I hit him again and again.
The porcelain shattered as I brought it down the fifth time. The pieces crumbled around his head, smeared with blood. I stood up, panting.
His skull was smashed in.
I knelt and quickly searched him, taking his keyring and pistol.
"YESS!" I couldn't help exclaiming. Then I shut up and crept back out into the hallway. There were no guards around.
I had to go past my cell.
Drago was reading in bed.
"Hey," I said.
He looked up. His eyes widened. "How the hell ya get out there?!"
I held up the keyring. "You want out?"
"YES!"
"Sshhh," I hissed. I unlocked his cell with trembling hands; I was so nervous. If another guard should come by... Wait. I have a gun.
Drago shoved the door open. "Good job, cueball," he said.
I shrugged.
Flying Frog jerked awake and looked at us with groggy eyes. "Whoa man, how'd you two get out there?"
"Be quiet," I hissed. "You want the guards to hear?"
"Nah, but you can let me out."
I did. He sprang out, bouncing all over the hallway. I shook my head. Stupid moron. But if the guards should come by, Drago was a big guy. He could hold them off. I knew one measly little pistol couldn't hold off a crew of guards.
"Should we free everyone?" asked Drago.
"No," I said.
"Yes," said Flying Frog.
"Fine," I said, thinking the more back-up I had, the better.
So we sprung some of the others. They were all bigger than me, which made me slightly nervous, but they seemed content to follow me. At least for now. I wasn't sure if I was going to be with them long...if I could, I'd ditch them in this hellhole and take off in that hovercraft myself. I mean, what did I owe them...?
I didn't even bother to hurry after that. Some of my crew were huge, bigger than three guards put together! I walked leisurely down the hall and stomped down the steps.
Tattle came running at the sound of our feet, and his mouth gaped open. Then he screamed, "JAILBREAK! JAILBREAK!"
I heard the pounding of guard's feet, and soon we were surrounded by them. Some of them had guns, some had tasers. I groaned. Great. Now we'd get herded back into our cells, and I'd get solitary or electroshocked again.
But my crew wasn't wimpy, like me. They didn't try and run, which would have been useless, instead they charged the guards. I saw Drago's fist connect with a young guard's face, and heard the crack as his jaw broke, and a few teeth hit the ground. The other escapees swarmed around me, and all was chaos!
I saw guards get taken down, heard their cries as they got brutally beaten, saw my crew get zapped and one shot. Then I got the hell out of there. I went down the hallway I'd gone down before, but this time the window was closed. I couldn't get the lock open. SHIT!
I looked around, but there was nothing to bash at the window. So I threw myself at it. I struck it hard and bounced off. "OW! God!" My shoulder ached.
I heard footsteps and tensed.
It was Tattle.
"Trying to escape, AGAIN?" he growled. In his tan hand was a club.
I backed away.
He came towards me.
Desperately, I flung myself at the window again, but the glass didn't budge. It wasn't breaking.
Tattle was closer. He swung the club. I was knocked to my knees, my shoulder aching even more. He swung again. I was on my stomach now, stars flashing before my eyes. My head screamed in pain.
I heard the club whistle through the air, and felt it impact on my back. I whimpered and squirmed away. He kicked me over onto my back, and dropped the club. With his eyes on me, he drew the taser from his belt.
"NO!"
He flicked the switch on and I saw blue electricity crackle on the end of the long black rod. He snickered.
I tried to wiggle away, but he pressed his foot on my stomach, holding me in place. Then he brought the taser down, waving it in front of my face.
"Please...don't..."
The taser came closer, dazzling my vision with electric blue...I could already smell my burnt skin...closer now...I felt the heat against my face, and then I kicked him.
He was only standing on one foot and he was knocked off balance. He fell on top of me, his knee hitting me hard in the face, his upper body thumping heavily on the floor behind me. I felt blood oozing from my nose, and I sneezed. Then I shoved his leg off me and crawled to my feet.
"You ain't goin' anywhere," he snarled, his hand clamping around my ankle. I kicked and struggled, but he held tight. I tried to pull away, but only ended up dragging him a few feet. Laying on his stomach, he reached for the taser with his free hand.
"Let GO!" I slammed my booted foot into his face, and heard a faint crack. He cussed loudly, and I saw his nose was a little mashed; broken! I kicked him again. This time my boot caught him in the eye, and I felt his fingers loosen. I pulled away hard, and was free!
I ran like hell.
I reentered the room of chaos, and was a bit surprised to see my team was winning! Some of the guards looked dead. Others were still fighting. Fighting hard now, like animals...because they knew this was going the wrong way.
I heard the whine of some weapon powering up, and I glanced to the top of the stairs. A guard was there, wielding a huge gun. I saw his finger tighten.
"No, you don't," I hissed. Even if I left the crew, I wasn't going to let a guard win. I aimed my pistol at him and pulled the trigger. He cried out, and fell forward, sliding down the stairs.
I ran again. This time I went down another hallway.
"Get that gun, there, Morrisey! GODDAMMIT, hurry it up!!!"
"I goin', I goin', man, hold yer freakin' horses!"
"C'mon, C'MON! They need help!"
I approached the opened doorway cautiously. I tried to sneak past. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a few guards arming themselves with some heavy artillery. One glanced over.
"SHIT! Get him!"
Shit indeed. I took off...them right on my heels. One of them was fast. He caught up with me, hooking his arm around my neck and yanking me right off my feet in midstride.
"Uhhh...let go! You bastard, let go!"
He did. He let go and slammed me into a wall. I looked up to see his gun aimed down at me.
"Go on, you guys, Go help the others."
The other guards ran off.
He looked down at me, with a wicked smile. "I gotta subdue this one."
I closed my eyes. Why, oh why, did everyone like to hurt me? It seemed to bring the gentlest creature some pleasure to see me in pain. I guess I was just born to suffer...
I reached for my gun, ever so slowly. But his foot suddenly kicked my hand, sending the gun spinning down the hallway. Then he pressed his gun up against my shoulder. His finger jerked back, and I screamed. He chuckled as I writhed in pain.
My shoulder...I felt the small hole through it. It was neat, cauterized by the laser beam, but that didn't make it any less painful.
I saw him smiling...felt the pain...and lost it. I kicked out, tripping him. Then I was on my feet, and fighting with him. He tried to fend off my punches, but I was going all out. My knuckles hurt...I wasn't used to punching things...but this was the second guard with a broken nose!
He reeled back, yelping. I grabbed his gun. He held on, pressing his hand against my head, trying to force me away.
I kneed him hard in the nuts, and he stumbled away. I stumbled back too, holding the gun in my hands. I quickly changed my grip on it and aimed it at him.
"You don't have the balls," he sneered.
"No..." I pulled the trigger.
He screamed and howled, the tendons in his neck standing out through his fur. His hands clutched between his legs frantically.
I laughed. "...YOU don't have the balls."
Then I ran like hell again.
I came to another window. This time I shot a few holes through it, and then bashed against it with my uninjured shoulder. The glass gave, shattering outwards. A few shards cut my head, and I blinked away blood. I climbed out, cutting my hand in the process. "Damn."
This side of the building was very close to the cliff edge. There was only about two feet of ground between me and the edge of the cliff...and I was pressed up against the building!
"It's...it's plenty of room," I cooed to myself, but still my stomach clenched up and my legs shook. The gun had a strap, so I hung it over my shoulder, leaving my hands free. With one hand against the wall, I crept towards the corner of the building.
My eyes caught sight of the ocean below...boiling and smashing against small outcroppings of rock like some furious beast. My stomach rebelled, and I leaned against the building, closing my eyes.
"Don't puke. Don't puke. Don't..."
It was hard to breathe; one nostril was clogged with dried blood. I heard the ocean...so far below...felt the air as it tugged at me...
I puked.
I must have passed out as well, because I woke to find myself staring at something concrete. At first I thought I was back in my cell. I rolled over lazily, and then howled at the sight of ocean and rocks below. I sat up, scrabbling backwards against the building. My mouth tasted foul, and I spat a few times, then got shakily to my feet.
I continued my timid walk along the building and cliff's edge, until I reached the corner. I turned it, and found that this side had much more space. And hovercrafts...
They were lined up on the clifftop's rusty red-brown surface. They sparkled like a promise...
...of freedom, perhaps? Or the leadership of Robotropolis...? The death of those Freedom Fighters...?
"Who cares?" I mumbled. "I'm outta here." I made a mad dash towards them, even though it seemed no one was around.
I was next to one. Actually touching it. My hands ran over the surface almost reverently. I could've kissed that aircraft!
I didn't; I made my way around to the door of the craft, and was reaching my hand towards the touchpad that would open it.
"HEY SNIVELY!!"
I nearly jumped out of my skin. I turned to see Drago and a few other inmates running towards me. Drago's teeth were shining.
I slammed my hand against the touchpad and the doors slid open. I bolted inside, and reached for the controls. But a hand grabbed me by the collar, yanking me back.
"Where ya goin',cueball? Ya weren't thinkin' of leavin' without us, eh?" Drago's tone was threatening, and his huge fist was clenched tightly.
"No...no!" I squeaked. "I wasn't doing that! I was just afraid the guards were coming..."
"Do we look like guards?" cackled Flying Frog, pushing past Drago and I. He hopped into the passenger seat. "Damn, anyone even know how to fly this junker?"
"I do," I said, still being held off the ground by Drago. His fist, still clenched, was making me nervous.
"Drago, put him down and let him fly." Sleuth came in, handing a cigarette and a pistol to the wolf. Drago snorted at me, but let me go. I settled into the pilot's seat, my eyes on the windshield. In it, I saw the reflection of my company. There was Drago and Sleuth, both of them lit up and puffing their cigarettes contently. The smoke made me wheeze. I saw Flying Frog, looking over the control panel in interest. Ernie was just walking in.
There were a few others I didn't recognize as readily. I usually only paid attention to the people at my table.
There was a huge gorilla, leaning up against the hovercraft wall, his arms raised lazily over his head. Next to him, a lanky hawk looked disgusted and inched away, pretending to gag. A lynx wearing dorky sneakers was yowling at me to 'start de plane, pal, c'mon let's go!', and Nack was talking to a creepy spider lady. She had six arms. Kind of kinky...wonder what she can do with those...
My eyes rested on the last of my crew, and my eyes...they nearly popped out of my head. It was Warlord Kudos!!
"Where'd you come from?"
He scratched his beard as he eyed me. "I've been here! But Warlord Kudos will have his revenge!! They will be sorry!"
I scowled. Somehow...I thought the guy would be more impressive, intellect-wise. But he seemed just as shallow as the rest of these clowns.
Oh, and what are you? My mind-voice (which sounded suspiciously like Devon) taunted.
Drago kicked my seat. "What the hell ya waitin' for, cueball?"
I started the hovercraft and got us off the ground. The inmates seemed thrilled; whooping and jumping around.
"STOP IT!" I said, because the hovercraft was tilting sharply to one side. "We have to be evenly balanced." I looked over my shoulder. "Kodos, you get on that side. No. THAT side. Gorilla..."
"Sergeant Simian," the gorilla growled.
"Sorry, Sergeant Simian, you get over on that side."
The ape stood against the right wall, Kodos against the left. The others were crowded in the middle. Now the hovercraft was even again.
"Hold on," I warned. They obeyed.
We zoomed off the cliff and sped over the ocean. The inmates screamed and cheered. A small smile tugged at my mouth, and I gave in to it.
Even if I did have these idiots with me...I was still going back to Robotropolis. I was going to finish what Robotnik started. Those little furry fools thought they were safe...they thought they were in the clear.
Well, they were wrong.
Dead wrong.