Ok, I know I've been slacking off on this series, but alot of things have happened: I was stuck, then Orin accidentally delted her works-in-progress, which really got me depressed, partly because she really loved writing, and it seemed that the incident just *WHAM!!!* killed the muse, and partly because i was worried that my barrage of emails were getting her all annoyed(and that would've really been the wrong time to annoy her O__O;;). But she started writing again, and I'm so glad that she is. I just hope that she doesn't ever become a work-a-holic, and I'm praying that she will always have a little time for things like friens, recreation, and fanfiction, of course ^__^. It would just be horrible if Orin would really never be able to write fanfics again, or if she really permanently lost the desire to write, because she's one of the most talented writers in this fandom, or any other. You really should read her fics, because they are some of the best on the net.
And there's college. I can't just live off my parents forever; i have to get a job.
Also, a net-buddy of mine has recently gone through a very difficult operation, where the rods that were in her spine for three years were removed. If you ask me, the insurance-companies shouldn't consider removing spinal-rods 'elective' or 'unnecessary'. They are very restrictive, from what she told me, and caused great discomfort. The only reason they were removed was because one of them broke, and they weren't replaced because she didn't need them. And her recovery was very hard, because this was a very serious procedure. I spent alot of time instant-messaging her, comforting her, and giving her some much-needed company, and she now consideres me a good friend, which I am honored to be.
And I'm in two radio-plays that I intend to see through, because the producers are very nice, and they write their plays well. There's another one that I may finish, and it's the first radio-play I was in, but I have put it at the very last on my list of priorities. Want to know why? It's because the writer is a big jerk, who in the beginning, has made the female characters all gay, even though he agreed not to. He would keep on putting Xena-ish inuendo in the scripts, which made several actors mad enough to leave. I haven't officially left, but one more push from him, and I'm leaving. Just a word of warning: avoid Tuxedo-Mark, aka, Mark Moore, at all costs! He is extremely obnoxious, and has, in the past, turned people against each other. I'm guessing he's just being immature, but maybe he also likes watching people fight with one another. Frankly, he doesn't impress me.
Just to let you know, that I'm going to probably be taking this a little slowly, depending on my inspiration.
And this is for all my reviewers and friends, including:
Orin, the one who was nice enough to let me do this story in the first place, and loved it! She reviewed it, and even painted a picture(one of my favorites) of it. Orin, if you are reading this, I really, really want to know if "healing hearts" survived the fire. Please tell me, because if I ever meet you offline, I would love to see it up-close, and even touch it. If it didn't, oh well... at least I have it with me on several CD R's/RW's. And she has helped me out when somebody flamed me for a fic that had rape in it. She told me that I did nothing wrong, and that I portrayed rape very honestly, and that there was no shame in it. Thank you, Orin ^___^!
RockChick, a very talented comic artist I met almost two years ago, and really gave me a self-esteem boost from her comments on my fics. I didn't know they were that good back then^___^. And she has been a very good friend to me. I've enjoyed emailing her, and hopefully, she'll be able to get an internet-connection in her dorm(flat), so we can email each other without her potentially getting in trouble(it's her first year at the university, and the uni-computers are for 'academic-use' only, so she has to sneak). Also, I hope we can meet offline someday, because she has been a real friend, and very supportive.
Elise, who gave such nice reviews for my fan-art on her manic the hedgehog fan-site, manic-panic. She has really encouraged me in everything that i've been doing, and has helped me look at art in different ways. You should see some of her critiques, because they are very eloquent. She knows alot about art, and if you want a good review on your art(she never gives negative reviews), go there. Elise can always find something positive in artwork.
Starlet Angel, a sweet and funny author who has gone through alot of pain in her life. She recently had an operation that took the rods out of her spine, and is still recovering. I hope you recover mentally, as well, Starlet, and don't be afraid to cry. Sometimes, even the strongest people cry, and you have been through enough pain and hardships to last alot of people a lifetime. Keep working on "Escape From the Light" and your other fics, and I'd love to see some of your poems, and more of your pictures. Don't let anyone tell you you can't draw, because that's a lie. Anyone who wants to draw and is capable of using a pencil or some other writing-implement can draw!
And I would like to thank all the other reviewers who gave fics like "May and December" and "Harley Quinn's Tragedy" such positive reviews. "Harley Quinn's Tragedy" is no longer on ff.net, due to the ban on NC-17 fics.
You may disagree with me, but I think the new rule is in place partly because alot of the 'NC-17' submissions actually should've been rated X, or even triple-X. Some even portrayed consentual sex between nine and ten-year-olds, from what I heard, which appalled me. Yes, I believe in freedom of expression, but we must draw a line somewhere, simply because, as that one Creed-song goes, "what goes through your thoughts controlls your life". I do not want to think about children having consentual sex, because I don't want to start liking it, and become a mollester. It can happen to anyone, and I don't want to invite a monster like that into my life. The banshee has spoken.
On another note, I probably won't be on the 'net every day, or the computer for that matter. I will be getting some kind of job soon, and I can't just be attached to the computer all the time, because it will get me nowhere. I need a job, so I can get the stuff I want, not to mention what I need to get by on my own.
And in my story, I think I might make the psyonic-bridge stop working after awhile. Knuckles might not be able to ever walk again afterwards, but weather he does or not, he will be happy. And this has turned into a crossover, with a certain British program that I used to watch, untill they stopped showing it. It has to do with a certain half-alien man who travels through time, and never reveals his real name... I bet you know who I'm talking about... ;)
________
Latifah sat under a tree, as she watched Knuckles and his friends. It was good to see them talking again, instead of fighting, though some part of both guardians did enjoy being the enemies.
She looked at Snively, who was asleep, and had wet his pants. Neither guardian let him go to the toilet, or cross his legs. He had to walk at the pace everyone else was walking, regardless of the intense discomfort and repeated pleas for mercy.
"I REALLY HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM!!!" Snively had yelled.
"So do I," Knuckles replied, taking perverse delight in Robotnik's nephew's pain, "But you don't hear me bragging about it"
Knuckles was unable to feel the discomfort associated with the need to relieve himself, as long as he and Latifah's connection wasn't strong enough to form the psy-bridge. One of the few upsides of his condition. His paralysis didn't bother him much when he was around the young bansh-echidna, who would give him the contact and love he had missed for so many years. During the short recovery in Knothole, Knuckles had changed, what with being cared for so lovingly when he thought he could only look forward to more pain. The two just needed each other.
Latifah looked up at the sky, and thought back at everything that had happened. For most of her life, she had been the good girl, trying to even avoid thinking about things that went against her mother's teaching... as if it was possible to prevent something from crossing her mind, once she thought of it. Now, these thoughts, some of them sinister, others gross or funny, were beginning to proliferate in her mind. She would entertain them, but her love for Knuckles would prevent her from following them, particularly the more violent ones.
Then her thoughts went to sex... Latifah knew what went where, but guessed that it could also go other places, that there would be other variations of hetero-sex alone... and maybe it would be possible to engage in some of these variations with Knuckles. Latifah, after all, had started getting a weird feeling while walking, and while washing. Perhaps it was natural... maybe it wasn't, but there was no 'mother' to tell her "no", no 'mother' to punish her. Maybe it was time to see if her hypothesis was correct... but only if Knuckles was willing. It would be a terrible crime to force herself upon a cripple who couldn't escape her advances.
Knuckles... he was so beautiful, so perfect... those slender legs, free of the ugly splints he had to wear back at Knothole, those muscular arms... and that chest... The guardian's pectoral muscles were bigger now, thanks to the therepy. Latifah wanted to kiss them, as well as the biceps... she wanted to feel his body next to hers, his furry chest, naked... she wanted to lay naked with him, and hold him so close, kissing his wonderfully hairy muzzle. Latifah wanted him bad.
Something inside her had started awakening about a month after reaching Knothole, something that scared her, but now the bansh-echidna was not going to hold it back. To hell with the restrictions of the past. She was free. Free to engage in that thinking. Free to feel what she wanted to feel.
And nobody was going to stop her. Nobody was going to order her or Knuckles around. They were going to get the Master Emerald, and they were going to get it on their own terms. Anyone standing in the way would regret it.
Again, she thought of everything she had left behind... her computer, the network, those little games and toys she had played with to take her mind off the unbearable loneliness... the bansh-echidna didn't miss them, after getting used to being without them at Knothole, knowing she could never return to them.
She didn't belong in that world. Never had, never would.
Latifah walked over to Knuckles and put her hand on his shoulder. He turned to her, and smiled as she sat down next to him. To Sonic and Tails, the bansh-echidna was just an aquaintance, but still a stranger. After all, she hadn't mind-linked with them, or shown them mercy when they were totally helpless(not that she wouldn't).
The bansh-echidna picked Knuckles up and sat him down on her lap. Even though he couldn't feel it, sitting on rough ground for too long would do as much damage to him as it would to someone who wasn't suffering from his affliction. The echidna rested his head on her chest, and snuggled closer, with some difficulty due to his condition.
Knuckles felt so secure and complete, even forgetting about the home he was supposed to guard, despite his attempts to stay focused. There had been no tidal-wave, no sign of Floating Island falling... it was as if someone else was holding it up... but who?
Latifah kissed his muzzle, and stroked the crippled echidna's back. For now, at least they had a little paradise, just a little happiness before returning to business. And both echidnas valued every moment. Just the cool wind, birds and insects going about their business, and the pond that would supply drinking-water as well as water to bath in. So simple, so quiet. Moments like this were so rare, nowadays.
Just then, a sound startled the guardians. They turned to see a humanoid, and a very familiar one... the streak in the hair... and those green eyes...
"Jarad!" Latifah spat, "What the hell are you doing here? I'm not one of your people! Not anymore!"
"You will come with me," the man said, his face expressionless.
"Make us," she hissed.
"I can arrange that"
Knuckles grinned.
"You and what army?"
Jarad laughed.
"Oh, I don't need an army. Not when I'm dealing with a disobedient little girl and a crippled native!"
Then he took out an emerald and lifted the two astonished guardians into the air.
"Now what are you gonna do? Eh, you little cripples! You who can't even move small rocks!"
"That's because my so-called 'mother' was damping my powers!" Latifah yelled, "As soon as I got out of range, I was able to use them!"
Jarad laughed again, and used his powers to start pulling Latifah and Knuckles apart.
"And use them you did," he said, "To interfere with the daily lives of the Mobians! You actually rescued one and did a rather shoddy job on his spine! He may need more surgery, just to correct the damage you have done!"
"We'll worry about that later," Latifah said, "Now please leave me be! Why do you want to just ruin my happiness? Why? Can't you just let me alone, and be rid of me? Then you would never have to worry about the poor little cripple again!"
"Oh, because your real mother has gone mad!" Jarad answered, "And she might be the one who has been stealing our powers! Including your own!"
Latifah gasped. My... real mother???
********
Back at Knothole, Porker went to check on Maria, only to find out that she was missing. And so was Julian... this was bad. If Julian were to get his memory back, then the Freedom Fighters were in trouble. The annoyed pig activated his comm.
"Tekno, Rotor, we have a situation. Why haven't you been watching Ro-I mean-Julian?"
No answer.
What the hell was going on?
Now thouroughly ticked off, Porker decided to search the hospital-hut, and after finding nothing, Tekno and Rotor's huts. After a long and fruitless search, he started looking in broom-closets and other places, surmising that the two were occupied with... other more pressing matters... whatever they were doing, Tekno and Rotor were in big trouble. Really big trouble.
********
Meanwhile, Julian was starting to feel disoriented. Something was not right. His head was aching, and disturbing memories were coming back. Memories of trying to... 'roboticize' the Mobians...? What was going on?
Julian didn't like those thoughts, because he didn't want to think about hurting the ones who rescued him from his mean master Snively. He wished that those thoughts would go away and leave him alone.
Those memories... so terrible... he was a monster. Why would he do those things? Why would anyone want to harm these creatures?
"I would expect that from grandpa, and maybe Maria, but... why would I do something like that?" Julian wondered.
It was like waking from a bad dream, yet now, he was in another one, one which would probably only get worse as it progressed, and ultimately end in his death. Then again, he thought, maybe I deserve it. I know what I did, and I know that I deserve no mercy. I just hope they don't do anything to hurt poor Maria. I'd rather they kill me than my sister...
He kissed Maria on the forehead, and continued running, despite the weariness from his ponderous bulk. Julian found that he had put on alot of weight, and had completely changed, and he knew why. Years of just sitting on his bum. That was the price he was paying. He had all his memories, but it was like they were all happening on the holo-viewer, and he was watching them, like he used to watch the news. But the news was all about him. Julian had done many terrible things, and there was no trying to deny or hide what he did.
Julian was paying for his crimes, yet it was like he was paying from someone else's misdeeds. Why did he have to suffer like that? Why did he do these things, and then have his memory wiped so he would be sane again, only to remember them and know that he had raped a planet and its people? Why?
********
"Will you please let us go?" Tekno demanded to the strange human.
"I can't. I need your help," the human answered, "The TARDIS is damaged, and I need someone to fix it. The confounded Council has made me unable to control what year or era I can travel to, all because I wanted to help people. This is getting exceedingly annoying, and I will not tolerate this any further!"
"Look," Rotor said, "If you wanted our help, you could've asked"
"Oh yes," the human said, "You would willingly help me? I know how your people hate those who look like me, and frankly, I wouldn't blame you. I have met more than my share of the likes of Julian"
"We'd help you," Tekno said, "But how are we supposed to know if you're telling the truth? I mean, you did kidnap us"
"Yeah, and you didn't even introduce yourself!" Rotor added.
The man smiled.
"I am the doctor," he simply stated, "That's all you need to know"
"Doctor?" Tekno wondered, "Dr. who?"
The strange human just smiled at the two animals, and untied their bonds.
"Now get to work," he said.
********
Perfect... just perfect... a certain someone thought, as she surveyed the area. Knothole was vulnerable, since Sonic was away, along with Tails, and Sally was in no condition to fight.
The prowler laughed to herself, and watched the Freedom Fighters as they went about their business, or looked for a few missing members.
"Yes..." she whispered, "Just try to stop me... hehehehe"
She had stealth, cunning, and a hunger for anything of monitary value. And some of the stuff the Freedom Fighters had, not to mention their skins and fur, would make her even richer on the black-market. Skins of sentients... rare inventions from a far-off planet... yes... Lady-luck has struck again.
"Go ahead... Go about your business you wretched balls of fur! Soon I will have it all! It will all be mine! All mine!"
"All yours?" a voice startled the prowler.
She turned around to see a dark shape, with parts that shone like metal.
"I don't think so. If you dare lay a finger on my birthright, I swear I will kill you. I have the Sword of the Acorns, and I am not afraid to use it"
"And who the hell are you, you mangy flea-bag?" the prowler, now feeling not-so-sure of herself, demanded.
"Oh, questions, questions..." the other being laughed, "Just stay away from what doesn't belong to you, my sweet little freak, because otherwise, I will have to resort to some very drastic measures. And you do not want me to have to do that, now do you?"
"It depends," the prowler said, trying to keep from sounding afraid, "Do you really want to fight with me? Because I am more than willing to take on a native who is too chicken to show himself"
The prowler regreted those words the instant they left her mouth. What was this Mobian capable of? What would happen, now that she had provoked him?"
The Mobian just paused, as if to think for a moment. Then he spoke again.
"I will take care of you soon enough, little slut. And I don't know exactly what you mean by 'chicken', but i'm sure it was some kind of insult, and I do not take too well to insults. You have just made a very grave mistake"
Then, he turned to leave, looking back only to say "Just remember: you can run, but you cannot hide"
********
In her hut, Sally was suddenly getting some very bad vibes. What was going on? Was she starting to turn into a psychic, like the ever-annoying Pyjamas? Or was Omochao, one of Tekno's experiments, sending some weird radio-waves that were making her feel that something wasn't right?
"Sally-girl, what's goin' on? You spaced-out or somethin'?"
She woke up to see a worried Bunnie looking down at her. The pregnant squirrel turned over in Bunnie's bed, and sighed. Something was definitely up.
"I... don't know... and I doubt you would listen to me... after all, nobody listens to Pyjamas..."
Bunnie gave her friend a quizzical look. What on Mobius was Sally talking about? Pyjamas?
"What? What's this about? And what's that crazy ol' psychic gotta do with the price o' beans?"
"It's just... I don't know..." Sally said, rolling her eyes, "I just... have this... weird feeling..."
"What kinda feelin', Sally-girl?"
"I don't know... I just... oh hell! Something bad is gonna happen, and I don't know what!" Sally blurted out, "I just know that, if we don't do something about it, Knothole is history!"
Bunnie chuckled.
"Ok... then forget that Ah asked..."
********
Meanwhile, someone else was watching Knothole, and scanning the area with her mind. Thanks to the weakened state of this old banshee, the woman now had a remote. With this remote, she could more easily scan the area, and appear totally harmless... nobody would have a clue.
Just then, a dark shape jumped out of the brush. The remote turned around.
Ebony... the remote had memories of a... cat... an earth-creature... earth... which the banshees were exiled from after the Great Scream of Belfast... ungrateful currs! The mundanes had expelled all those who screamed after the ancient city went up in a mushroom cloud, which was the product of a long and pointless turf-war. The humans could never just share their land... and most had no tollerance for religious differences, or so she heard in the stories that she heard in school.
The screams that resulted from the many burnings caused the people to fear the banshees, and all psychics. There was no room for beings that could potentially mind-control the people, so they had to leave. Luckily, there was Mobius, the destination of some other beings with super-human abilities. These beings had found a way to hide themselves in plain sight, since they were paranoid that the mundanes, or norms, would find them.
The banshees, however, had taken this idiotic 'leap of faith', and stayed, believing that the mundanes would eventually accept them. No such luck. Several thousand banshees were killed, before the governments of the world decided to stop the killing and round up the survivors for the first planetary-deportation ever. They were hearded into a ship filled with the bare minimum of supplies, and earth was finally rid of what they saw as a 'threat'. The mundanes actualy believed that the banshees had helped destroy Belfast... idiots...
And the Great Scream would have never happened, had the banshees kept taking their silence-gas, as they had during the holocaust and the destruction of the World Trade Center. But they were under the impression that the killing would end. Oh, how wrong they were. So many banshees were lulled into a false sense of security, and they payed dearly.
But now, the banshees would reclaim what was rightfully theirs. The bastards who called themselves 'humans' would pay for what they did.
The woman laughed through her remote.
"Ebony, is it? Have you come to show me one of your parlor-tricks?"
"Come with me, Orin, and don't give me that. We both know you disobeyed"
"Orin? Ha ha ha ha! She is weak and stupid! But this body makes for a wonderful disguise, don't you think?"
Ebony glared at her.
"I know who you are, you whore! Remove yourself from her body!"
"And why should I? If you try to kill me, your little doggy-friend gets it"
Doggy-friend...
Ebony gasped. She must have meant the real Pyjamas... but how?
"Oh, how indeed..." the Mobian laughed, "My remote is psychic, like myself, and most psychics can read minds, you know"
The cat grabbed the remote and backed her up to a tree. Then, she kissed the Mobian remote on the lips, in an effort to confuse her and put her latant telepathic powers to use.
{Orin... are you there...?}
{...?...}
{ORIN!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME?} Ebony mentally yelled.
{...fail... ...I... .............}
{ORIN!!!}
{......................................................}
{ORIN!!! PLEASE ANSWER ME!!!}
{...?...?...?...?...?...}
{...?...}
{...?...}
{...?...}
{...?...}
{...?...}
{...?...}
{...?...}
{...?...}
Pulling in... mind... fading... no... can't make me no can't make me no can't make no can't make me no can't make me no can't make me no can't make me no can't make me no can't make me no can't make me no can't make me no can't make meeee.e.e..e....e.e.e..e.....eee.e..................................................................................................................................................................
.............?...............................
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.............................................................................................................................................?????????????????????????????????????????????????
No thought no mind no will no thought no mind no will no thought no mind no will no thought no mind no will no thought no mind no will no thought no mind no will no thought no mind no willllllll...............................................................................................................
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.........................aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!wake up wake up wake up wake up now comeone wake up now wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up........................................../////////////////////////////////////////////????????????///////
"WAKE UP!!!"
Ebony snapped back into reality, dazed. What had happened? Right... the cat thought to herself, the remote... she tried to mind-control me through the remote...
"Idiot!" she mumbled to herself.
The cat looked around, and saw that the remote was gone. This was bad. A spy, possibly being used to reclaim... earth? Something she remembered from what Orin said... earth... Ebony needed rest, as her brain was still buzzing from the attempted takeover, but there was no time for rest. Somehow, she needed to contact someone who could help... but who? Lightmare? Daughter and accomplace to Lord Sidewinder, a very dangerous Psychic-criminal from Mobodoon, and still at large? No. She would have to go directly to the bansh-echidnas, the ones who were transmographied so they could survive on banshee-milk... maybe they could help... but where were they now?
"Latifah..."
********
And farther off, still in deep space, Sera watched the view-screen intently.
"We will be approaching Mobius shortly," one of the officers announced, before going back to his station.
"Good," Sera said, grinning at the prospect.
Soon, she would make the bastard who raped and disfigured her pay.
"You will wish you never existed," she mumbled, concentrating all her anger on that one person who had made her life a living hell.
Then, Sera decided to go back to her room, to the creature who was quickly becoming her lover. She had had many lovers, but none so sweet as the one that awaited her in her room. This innocent one, so un-touched and fresh... he would be gentle and make it so enjoyable for her... not like the others, rough and only out for one-night-stands. No. This one was a definite keeper.
She stepped inside her room, and saw the small form of her lover laying on her bed, asleep. Tentatively, Sera climbed onto the bed, making sure that she made as little noise as she could. Her lover was a little jumpy when it came to noise and being startled, and kept on mumbling about a kiss... she would give him a kiss soon enough, when he awoke.
Sure enough, his eyes opened, revealing the eerie red glow, and she embraced him hungrily.
"Obsidion," Sera whispered seductively, "You were a very good boy today, so I have a little surprise for you"
"I like surprises," the creature whispered, "What is it?"
Obsidian was biologically eighteen, but seemed to have suffered amnesia, or maybe he was a clone, and a very young, childish one at that. Sera felt a little twinge of guilt, but shook it off as she gave him his first taste of a deep tongue-touching kiss.
"Obsidion, my dear, when two people love each other very much, they do this," she told him, with a sweet, lascivious smile.
And she kissed him again, before turning out the light.
________