Chapter 5 - The Peddler
"How did that guy do that mister?" one of the orphans asked.
They were looking back and forth between the guard that was standing in front of them and where the last known place was of the unknown individual. Getting out of a defensive stance, he scratched the back of his head while turning around. Seeing all the younger children looking at him with interest, the older ones seemed to watch the shopkeepers go back to their tents. Glancing at the blue hedgehog boy, he could see him staring hard at a certain direction.
'Must have seen where that guy went,' he thought putting his hand down to his side.
"To be honest squirts...I wouldn't know. I have never seen anyone move like that. Almost makes me believe that old legend of the so called superspeed was true from what that guy did."
"...!?" Sonic reacted with surprise and turned his head to the village patroller. Seeing the other kids were interested too, he joined them and listened.
"The legend of superspeed?" an older orphan repeated. "Where did that come from?"
"I was told about it long ago when I was your guys' ages," he stated putting a hand on his hip. "Of course, where I was told that...was far far away from Oberi village. Anyways, my partner knows that story better than I do."
"So how about this," the guard began and gestured to the storage vehicle where the other patroller was standing next to. "If you all stay with him, listen to him, and do not go wandering off...I'll get you all something to eat from one of the shops here. Sounds like a deal?"
"..." all the orphans' mood seemed to go up as they nodded their heads.
"Alright. Let's go," the man indicated. Following the large group of kids to where his partner was, he got next to him and whispered. Seeing him nod his head and tell him to bring him back a special, the guard smirked then went down the street to the business strip.
"Okay kiddos. Take a seat and have your ears open," the older gentlemen stated. Leaning against the frame of the hover truck, he crossed his arms over his chest.
"The Legend of Superspeed...that was a myth my pop told me about as a bedtime story. Can't say that I have seen anyone that could do the feats of what the stories say, but I'll let you all know about it."
"Did the mysterious stranger that vanished have superspeed?" one of the tots stated out loud.
"Maybe squirt. Let me tell ya the story first and then y'all can make your own opinion. Alright?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. Now then...let me see...how did the myth go...mmm...oh, now I remember," the guard mumbled. Tilting his head back a little then clearing his throat, he began.
"Many many years ago, there was a great war that took place on our planet. Back then, it was called the Mobius Revolution War. It was our race fighting against the humans for our freedom. All of our kind band together all over the world to make a war effort to survive. Years transpired with constant skirmishes, guerilla warfare, and bombing happening on every single piece of land. During that time, both sides were trying to find ways to make better soldiers to eliminate the other. Both sides had a knack that the other couldn't do well."
"The humans had their technology and use of robots. Back then, we used to go by the banner that the humans named us as the Rebel Ameliorates. Anyways, so what we were better at was harnessing the power of Mobius's natural materials and using them. As the war continued, both sides would come up with newer and deadlier weapons to kill one another. Then...that is when both sides tried their hand at combining their knacks together."
"This is where legends and myths start being born munchkins. Soldiers began stating they saw wizards and witches casting destructive magic from both sides. War vehicles achieving speed and power that bulldoze through forests like they were nothing. Mechanical flying robots that would set grasslands ablaze from a single fly over. Witnesses stating that warriors on both sides had the strength of 10 men that would plow through concrete walls like they were made of straw," he continued using his hands to animate each description. Knowing that he captured the orphans' interest and attention, he then turned to the one they wanted to hear about.
"Out of all the myths stated, there was one regarding superspeed. Now from what I remember what my pa told me, the superspeed was seen from both sides. The humans had flying robots that could get from one landmass to another in just minutes. Even the ground pursuit units travelled faster than any vehicle our people salvaged or took from them. On the flip side...there were claims that we had people that could go that fast as well."
"...whoa..."
"As fast as a jet?" one asked surprised.
"From what I have been told, that is the myth," the patroller answered with a small smirk. "No one could confirm or identified the sightings. All that evidence were from soldiers who claimed to witness them. A blurring figure of adult size that ran so fast, it makes the air snap around them."
"...!" Sonic reacted with wide eyes and a parted mouth.
"Now now...I know what y'all are thinkin'...that mysterious stranger that did the vanishing trick. It must be someone with that superspeed. Y'all saw it, right?" he asked and saw many head nods. "Based on the myth though, nobody ever claimed to see that happen. Sightings from the legend say that there was always a fading trail of where the superspeed person was standing. So...if we all are basing things on that, more than likely that guy was a wizard of some sorts. A magician."
"Really!?" a portion of the kids asked enthralled.
"Ha ha ha...listen squirts...all I am telling you are just myths that were told to me. I didn't say that they were completely 100% true," the guard remarked with soft laughter. His remarked came with kids groaning in disappointment. However, the topic created enough buzz to bring the overall morale of the kids up more. Instead of anxiety, the field trip seemed to be interesting with a sense of wonder.
'...that guy can't be a wizard...' the blue hedgehog thought. Looking back at the area of where the dark cloaked person was last seen, the boy recalled all the sightings he has seen. Including the personal experience from that night a week or so ago, it painted the mysterious person more towards one myth than the other.
'From what I saw him do and felt...that was all speed and strength,' Sonic pondered. Turning back and tuning out the patroller's continued storytelling, he looked down at his small legs.
'If that guy can do it...then I should be capable as well.'
'All have to do is find him and ask him,' the child said firmly in his mind. Daydreaming of going into the cave again, the mental image did not go toward what was ideal. Instead, it had a dark silhouette seen in a poorly lit corner. Approaching it, the crimson eye ring appeared and bored at the hedgehog.
"..." Sonic reacted with feeling a chill go down his spine.
'No,' he thought frowning to himself. 'I can't coward away...if that guy killed those predators...then means he saved me...right?'
'I just need to work the courage to go find him and ask him,' the boy continued. Daydreaming again and envisioning the same environment, the dark silhouette appeared again. When the red ring in its eye socket appeared instantly, there were letters being etched into the ground. Looking down, it said "run" cruelly.
"..." the hedgehog reacted again with a shiver.
"What's wrong Sonic? You cold?" a neighboring orphan whispered to his left.
"Uh? Oh...sort of," the blue boy responded with a nervous smile and scratched the back of his head. Once the other child nodded and tuned back into the guard's telling of tales, Sonic stared back at the ground. Clenching his teeth together a little in frustration from being scared, he hugged his knees.
In a large room filled with metallic walls and machinery, the remaining empty space was filled with mechanical sounds and humming of electricity flowing through them. Near a workbench and hunched over, an overweight individual was examining an item on the table. Dressed in red and black clothes, he work a white lab coat to affiliate himself towards a scientist nature. Using a portable microscope secured with a headband, the man made grunt sounds as he observed what he was examining. Turning to the digital notepad next to him, he input a rapid amount of text. Noticing the screen monitor change on the screen to give a reading, he removed his zooming mechanism.
"Hmm..." the adult human male pondered reading it the results. About to set it down and continue, the doors to the room opened. Hearing metallic footsteps, he turned to the robot that was standing there.
[Doctor...] the humanoid combat robot began and entered. Its voice buzzed and hummed as it spoke to give a mechanical speaking tone. Walking a few steps forward, it stopped. The red visor that was part of its helmet/head glowed each time it spoke.
[Patrol Unit E-2061 reporting...scouting mission completed]
"Excellent E-2061," the man expressed with a grin. His voice was deep and had a cruel overtone to it. Crossing his arms over his chest, he lifted one hand to grab and pinch the left side of his long orange mustache.
"Give me details of your findings."
[Yes doctor...northern area scouted...documented living habitats...found 5 Ameliorate establishments...little resistance encountered]
"Those little creatures seem to live up to their nature of procreation," the man muttered with a frown. "What of the area? Is there anything worth mining?"
[Processing...] the bot responded. The visor lit up for a couple of seconds before dimming down.
[Processing complete...landscape in each establishment has little materials in earth...scans installed on unit only capable of 20 meters into ground doctor."
"Tsk...another heaping ground of parasites with nothing to offer," the scientist muttered with annoyance. Letting go of his mustache, he pointed at the scouting robot.
"Your new mission E-2061 is to scan and scout the southern sector. Do not engage with any encounters."
[Affirmative doctor...will conduct new mission...will return when finished]
"Good. You may go now," the man said and gave the shoo hand motion three times. Watching the robot turn around, it left the room with mechanical clunks with its metal footsteps on the floor. Seeing the sliding doors to the laboratory close, the scientist turned back to the workbench.
"Those animals are probably harvesting all the resources...preventing me from cultivating my army and reach of global requisition," the man spoke to himself then gave a cruel smirk. "I have been too nice lately to those pesky critters."
"I believe," he continued. Leaning forward and examining the small prone figure on the workbench, he closed the small chest plate that showed electrical and computer components. The small robot began to twitch and slowly stir to life making the doctor grin as he looked down on it.
"An extermination sweep is in order."
"Alright," Oberi village trader mentioned. In the back of the trailer, he did a secure tie on the last supplies that were put in.
"That should do it gang. Let's head on back home."
Everyone got onboard of either in the vehicle or in the back of the trailer. Feeling the truck begin to move and leave Oatisal Harbor, there was mild chatter amongst the orphans. Sitting on one of the boxes during the ride, the blue hedgehog was still locked into his mental brainstorming. He tried repetitively to convince himself to go seek the mysterious individual. To have courage to go seek and not be afraid. However, he would flinch or feel instant butterflies in his stomach when trying to conquer the imagery of the cave and the killer.
The ride back to home base never occurred to him as his focus on the individual with superspeed completely absorbed him. Feeling himself swaying a little, it made him blink and look around. Seeing the other kids starting to move and converge to the doors, he got up. Following along and exiting once the trader unlocked the doors, the secretary was amongst the people that were standing nearby. The orphanage staff was there as well as the patrol captain.
"How was the trip children?" one of the caretakers asked with a relieved smile.
"It was larger than our village," one of the younger girls mentioned.
"Yeah. One street had all these shops. Almost the same amount as the huts here," an older child informed.
"Yes. Oatisal Harbor is one of the largest cities on this land. It is considered a trading port for goods and supplies," the secretary added giving a small smile to the orphans. "Glad to hear that it was safe and exciting for all of you."
"Could we go again and explore?" one of the teens asked. Her comment generated mixed responses.
"We can talk about future field trips later," the caretaker answered with a small smile. "Have you all eaten already?"
"I got the kiddos some snacks over there," one of the guards piped in after beginning to help take out the cargo. "But no lunch."
"Alright. Thank you...come on children. Let's go eat something," she said and made a hand gestured toward the village cook.
Getting the small ones to move first, the rest of the orphans walked in the same direction. Following along, Sonic had tuned out what people were saying. Still rummaging thoughts and ideas in his head, a small headache was forming from the obsession. Unaware of his surroundings, he saw a dark silhouette in his peripheral vision. Stopping and darting his head toward it, he made the orphanage staffer jump a little.
"S-Sonic. Are you okay?" she asked concerned.
"S-Sorry," he answered and tilted his head down a little. "I am thinking too hard."
"I can see that...you are the last one in line for lunch."
"...oh..." the hedgehog responded with a blink. Looking to see that he was the last one, he turned back to the woman. Seeing that he didn't respond like he normally would, she stood beside him.
"Everything go okay on the fieldtrip?"
"Yeah. It was fun and scary."
"Scary? Did something happen there?"
"We all saw a mugging take place where a lady shopkeeper got hit," one of the teens mentioned in front of them. He had turned his head back to look at them.
"It happened in board daylight in the midst of all the people there."
"Oh my...how dreadful," she reacted with mild surprise.
"But then the thief got caught by one of the sellers...I think he was a trapper."
"Yeah," Sonic piped in feeling his headache subsiding from the discussion. "That guy was selling fur to one of the shopkeepers nearby."
"Then he moved to between the tents then did a vanishing move," the blue boy continued. Lifting his hands and arms up, he became animated.
"He re-appeared ahead of the mugger then clobbered the guy in one punch."
"Wow...you make is sound like you were nearby," the orphanage worker stated with eyebrows raised.
"It happened in front of where we were and where the supply truck was parked near the street," the teen explained. Turning back forward and stepping up to the table, he was handed a bowl of stew, a wooden spoon, and a bread roll. Walking away towards where the other teenagers were, Sonic stepped up and got his share from the cook.
"Was everyone okay? Did he attack anyone else?" she asked the child. He walked carefully to an empty spot on the ground and sat down. The worker followed and sat down nearby.
"The thief couldn't because that guy was so fast," Sonic answered looking a little amped. "After getting back what that guy stole and giving it back to the shopkeeper, he told the thief to scram with just his hands."
"Sounds like a that hunter was a good samaritan...did you get a good look at him?" the woman asked seeing that this topic was probably what the boy was brewing about in his head. More so the unknown individual.
"..." the boy responded in the midst of eating the lunch. Wiping his mouth a little, he looked at her with ponderous expression.
"...I didn't get to see his face...but he had a black cloak that covered him...it had torn marks on the bottom...only used his left hand."
"Did anyone speak to this mysterious person afterwards?"
"No one could because he did the vanishing move again," the hedgehog stated looking excited. "He was there for a second then his image faded away. I took a wild guess and saw him back between two tents to pick up his bag."
'...hmm...sounds like I will need to keep my eye on Sonic,' the caretaker thought giving a small smile to him. 'He sounds a bit obsessed with this unknown individual.'
"After the event, one of the kids asked the patrol guards how could that guy move like that. The guard started talking about a Great War and what soldiers claimed to have seen during it. He mentioned the myths of magicians and warriors having superspeed...are they true stories?"
"Hmm...well...I have heard about the myths of what occurred during the war," she commented. "Some people say they are legends rather than myths because of the positive outcome they had on our side."
"Really!?" he perked up and smiled at her. "Do you know any stories about superspeed?"
"Unfortunately Sonic, I do not," the caretaker stated noting how energetic he became. "But...I can ask around and see if anyone has a story or two."
"Awesome!"
"Hee hee...why the sudden interest in the legend?" she asked enjoying to see him smile so broadly.
"I like running and want to go faster," the boy began and took a spoonful of the stew. "...when that...stranger came...and saved that lady..."
"Sonic, don't talk with food in your mouth."
"..." he reacted with closing his mouth then swallowing. "...sorry..."
"Go on."
"...well...that mysterious guy was so fast...made me think that if someone can go that fast, then I should be able to get at his speed too."
"Hmm...but what I remember you and the other teen told about what happened...the person did a vanishing act. Right?"
"...yeah..."
"Well...the legend of magicians was stated to have done that...maybe the stranger is mage."
"..." Sonic reacted with calming down. Turning back to his bowl of stew, he looked at the bread and grabbed it. Taking a piece off and eating it, he just gave a small nod.
"I'm just saying it is a possibility Sonic...it might change based on what I can gather from stories from others."
"...okay..."
"Alright. I have to go check on the others. Make sure to finish your meal," the woman said and stood up.
"...yes ma'am..." the child responded. Eating another piece of the roll and watching her walk away, he looked back at the ground in front of him. Staring at nothing in particular, his mind began to turn.
'...he didn't use magic...he was using superspeed...'
'All I got to do is be able to face him without getting scared,' he said in his mind. After the lunch, the orphans were allowed to go play or relax. The rest of the day went on without change or events happening.
A week goes by in which not much has changed. The village and neighboring ones were still going about their business and life without anything altering it. It gave for some a sense of ease from the previous weeks' events. However, there was developing news that unsettled the village chiefs. There were reports of the northern region getting attacked by patrol robots.
To all the chiefs, the infrequency of the enemy doing raids and kidnappings was a double edge sword. It kept their people to stay in the village due to fear of being out in the forest alone. But, the no pattern of when and where the machines would be coming kept villages from wanting to do an assault on the factory. All the southern village leaders and patrol captains knew about this information. Sharing it with their people ran the risk of scaring and frightening them away.
The other unsettling aspect was the orphanage staff. Ever since the collaborated race and the field trip, one of the children was having more night terrors and nightmares. A couple of times, they would see Sonic waking up at different points of the nights. Breathing erratic and sweating, they could see the expression of fear on him. Immediately after calming down, the hedgehog would frown. There was only one instance of the boy swinging his arms and fists in the air as if to expressing frustration.
The caretaker that spoke with him a week ago shared what conversations she had with the child. Stating that he seemed to be obsessed with both the legend of superspeed and the mysterious savior at Oatisal Harbor, the others mentioned that they have noticed odd behaviors as well. Sometimes during play time, Sonic would do daredevil stunts. They weren't sure at the time if it was him just showing off or not. Now that the staffer shared her findings, all of them seemed to lean towards the boy trying to hurt himself from the stunts.
In the late morning of a weekend day, the villagers were out and about. Having a few visitors, they were shopkeepers from the city next to the coast. After discussion with Chief Oberi and his staff, they were cleared to open a stand in the establishment. Garnering attention from the citizens, they were able to generate some business of trade and selling of goods. The village supplier was leaning against one of the huts exterior walls and observing the activities.
"Hmph," he spoke and reached into his breast pocket. Getting out a small notepad device, he began searching through it to see if there needed to be an inventory refill. Noticing something darker to his left, he turned and jumped.
On the other side of the village, Sonic was playing a game along with a couple of the kids. When someone mentioned about strangers in the area, nearly all the children went to where the mobile shops were. Crowding around and watching, the hedgehog was not as eager to go where the others were. Moving to a position to see the center space of the community, he watched what was going on. Noticing that one of the visitors looked familiar from a week ago, he assumed that they were here to trade or sell stuff.
Seeing others walk towards the makeshift booths, the boy put his hands behind his head. Interlacing them and walking forward, his eyes wondered to view the surroundings. Noticing someone to the right leaning on one of the village houses, it was the village supplier. Looking away, a blurry image was seen in his right peripheral vision instantly. Darting his head, the child's eyes widen from seeing the mysterious stranger.
"What the devil!?" the steer man reacted and took two steps back. A silhouette dressed in a full height dark brown cloak with the hoodie over its head was near him. Unable to see the person's face, he reached behind him and pulled out a hunting knife.
"Who are you!?" the supplier demanded feeling his heart racing a bit.
"..." the individual answered. Moving something from inside his coat, he extended his left hand toward the frightened villager. It was clipboard with a piece of paper on it.
"Why not say something you sneaky snake? I freaking hate being crept up on."
"..." he responded with not moving and continuing to hold out the clipboard.
"What's on there? Business?"
"..." the figure said with a single small nod. The humanoid steer got out of an attack stance, but still held a guarded one.
"What kind of business? Trade? Barter? Selling? Buying?" the man asked. Watching the unknown person move the clipboard to be inside the cloak, there was a brief moment of stillness. Getting out a small bag and having it in the palm of his hand, he gestured it to the villager.
"It be real dandy stranger if you could say something...why not? Cat got your tongue?"
"..." the mysterious individual responded with a small nod. The action did not calm the supplier's nerves.
"Alright...you got a bag...is it something to trade?" he asked and saw the man nod again.
"If you toss it to me...will it explode or be poisonous?" the man questioned and saw the person shook his head no.
"...hmm...alright...toss it here then," the supplier stated with caution. Watching the cloaked man give a small nod then do under hand throw, he caught the small bag. Feeling it to have something similar to sand, it had a distinct light smell to it. Opening it up and seeing very small white grains, he looked up at the figure. Seeing him left his hand in gesture to try it, the villager pinched a little. Tasting it, his eyebrows raised up a little then looked at the individual.
"That's pretty good salt stranger...reminds me of being out to sea once," the older gentleman mentioned feeling less cautious about him. "How much do you have of this?"
"..." the man responded with bringing out a large knapsack than the small sample bag he gave. The sight of it piped the Oberi trader's interest.
"...hmm...what were you thinking of trading?" he asked. Seeing the bagged seasoning be placed on the ground, the clipboard came back out. Watching the man place it on the ground and write with its left hand, it mentally confirmed something with the supplier. Observing the person stand then hand the clipboard towards him, he grabbed it with both hands and looked at it.
"...that...might have some of that...mmm-hmm..." the older individual mumbled to himself. Looking up and still not seeing the person's face, it made him feel edgy.
"We do have what ya wrote down...but...it seems little in comparison to the amount you are trading...ya sure you don't want more?"
"..." the individual reacted with shaking his head.
"Alright stranger. I'll trade with ya. Do you mind staying here while I go gather the items?" the villager asked. Seeing the cloaked figure shake his head, the man smirked.
"Nice. Be back in a jiffy."
"..." the silhouette nodded its head.
Watching the Oberi citizen walk away, his head turned toward an area between two huts nearby. Staring, a blue hedgehog boy peered around the corner. Seeing the child flinch a little from being spotted, it seemed to be having a mental confliction of some sorts. After some seconds, the humanoid animal held a determined face and came out from hiding. Walking towards the figure, the boy's face seemed to try and mesh two expressions together.
Standing a few feet away from each other, both the boy and the trapper stared at each other. Seeing no face and just a darkness within the hoodie, Sonic gulped a lump in his throat. Opening his mouth to say something, nothing came out. Shaking his head quickly and staring a little agitated at the ground, the child hedgehog looked up again. With the determined face he had when he walked out of hiding, he curled his hands into fists.
"...h-hello..." the boy greeted sounding nervous.
"..." the unknown individual responded back. Instead of speaking, a left hand came out from the cloak. Opening his hand to show his palm, it retracted back into the inside of the outwear. The small gesture seemed to ease the child's nerves a little.
"Say mister...were you in the city near the sea a week ago?" he asked loosening his closed hands. "There was a mugging at a shopkeeper in which the thief got stopped by someone in a cloak like yours...was that you?"
"..." the trapper replied with not moving or saying anything. The nervousness the young one had came back.
"...um...why I ask...is uh...you only use your left hand when you were talking with Mr. Onel...he's our village supply trader," Sonic continued trying to not feel too intimidated by the stranger. "The cloaked stranger at...Oat...Oatisal Harbor...only used his left hand too."
"..." the person said continuing to remain silent. Tilting his head a little to the left, the unidentified being remained stoic.
"Also...the guy from the city had a knapsack...s-similar to yours..."
"..."
"..." Sonic reacted with clenching his hands into fists. Looking downcast and bending his ears backwards, the boy searched the ground with his eyes. Hearing movement and looking up, the stranger was getting something from inside. Seeing it was a clipboard and a writing utensil, the individual kneeled to the ground. Placing the board down and making a line on the paper, the person began writing.
"..." the boy responded looking intrigued. Seeing the person finish, he grabbed the notepad then looked up. Handing it to the child, the hedgehog grabbed it then turned it around.
"...I...can...not...speak..." Sonic repeated what he read. Blinking then looking back at the mysterious figure, he still could not see their face. Not feeling better or worse, the boy continued.
"Why?"
"..." the silhouette answered with holding out left hand. Giving back the document and seeing the individual write something again, it was handed back to the child. Reading what was written, Sonic's eyes widen a little in fright. What was on the paper subconsciously made the boy retract his tongue back in his mouth.