Sonya holds her brother's hand as he clings to life. Removing the wash cloth from his forehead, she walks over to the sink and runs water over it. As she rings out the excess water, she takes a look into the mirror and half smiles at her appearance. Her hair is a mess and her eyes red from her constant vigilance.
After placing the dampened cloth back on his head, she sits back down. As she reaches over the arm for her Glamour Girl Magazine, she hears voices in the hallway outside the door. Getting up, she catches the end of the conversation.
"I don't care! This is much more important than any meeting."
"Forgive me your highness, I sometimes forget how you feel about him." Highness, Sonya questions, then flings open the door to find Princess Sally and her top advisor Antoine standing in the hallway. Throwing her arms around her good friend, she catches Sally off guard. Sally recovers and returns the embrace. Antoine nods cordially.
"So how's he doing?" Sally inquires, following Sonya into the room.
"Not very good. The doctor says he doesn't have much time before the parasite kills him."
"My poor spikey headed hero," Sally comments just above a whisper as she walks over to his bedside. Sally leans over and kisses him on the cheek. Suddenly, Sonic opens an eye, cracks a small smile and whispers just loud enough for Sally to hear him.
"I knew you'd come around eventually." And just as quickly as the glimmer of his personality had come, it diminishes. Sally sighs.
"You look aweful," she tells Sonya jokingly. "Why don't you go home, shower and get something eat. I'll sit with Sonic until you return."
"Thanks Sally. I haven't really left his side since Tails and Knuckles left over two days ago."
"Did someone mention my name?" questions a familiar voice in the door way. The two females and Antoine turn to see the origin of the voice. With his trademark devilish grin, Knuckles disappears and reappears right next to Antoine, who as expected, jumps back.
"Did you get it?" Sonya blurts out. "I mean you wouldn't be back if you didn't would you? Answer me!" She grabs him by the collar of his flight suit, which he has yet to remove.
"Calm down beautiful. We got it." He directs his attention to Sally. "And speaking of beautiful, how are you doing your highness?" He performs an exaggerated bow. She gives him a half cocked smile just as Doctor Toad returns carrying a tray of medical implements. Trailing behind him are four others. She instantly recognizes Tails and Mario. It takes a little imagination to remember Luigi, who had as much facial hair as his older brother the last time she saw him. The fourth member of the party resembles Cloud, but she can tell he is not he.
"Okay people, I have an operation to perform and I must ask that all of you vacate the vicinity." No one objects and soon the room is empty save the doctor and his patient. After injecting Sonic with a heavy sedative, Dr. Toad retrieves a small metal device that resembles a pen. Clicking the small button on the bottom, a beam of light begins to shine as the beam changes colors from red, to yellow and finally blue, he proceeds to slice through Sonic's flesh, through the muscle, and the other tissues. Pausing, he watches as small wisps of smoke disipate, then he continues until he cuts through his sternum and ribs. Picking up another implement, he seperates the hedgehog's rib cage and places the star inside. Closing him back up, he sprays a foamy adhesive into and around the incisions.
"Now we wait."
In the lobby, the seven of them wait patiently. Two hours had passed since the surgery. In that time, Zachary(Sally knew he had to be Cloud's son) and the others had detailed what had happened to them. Sally is now thinking that perhaps this revelation ties into Sonic's ailment. Perhaps someone purposely infected him. According to Dr. Toad, the parasite cannot exist on Mobius unless it infects someone within two weeks.
"That's it!" Sally exclaims, succeeding in startling everyone in attendance.
"What's 'it'," Tails inquires, hovering over to her.
"What happened to Sonic was intentional."
"How can you be so certain?" Knuckles asks, also hovering towards her.
"Remember what the doctor said? Sonic would have had to contracted the parasite two weeks ago. It makes perfect sense. Two weeks ago, he left on that mission that turned out to be, and I hate using this cliche, a wild goose chase."
"Your theory does fit into a theory of mine," adds Zack. Replacing his sword into its sheathe, he lends insight to the group. "I believe someone is systematically attempting to destroy the three powers by taking out their most prominent personalities. First Sonic falls to this parasite and then the Mario Brothers are attacked by some shadow puppet entities. That only leaves Sony." Before further assessments can be explored, Dr. Toad bursts into the waiting room.
"Sonic has stopped breathing." Looks of shock adorn everyone's faces, including Zack's, whose face usually only shows pleasure or hatred. They rush into the room to find Sonic lying motionless in his bed. The instruments indicate that he is in very critical condition and worsening.
"Sonic, don't give up!" Sally yells, choking back tears.
"Sally?" Sonic inquires, listening to the distant cries of his friend. No much more than a friend. His life long partner. He attempts to adjust his eyes to the inky blackness encompassing him. Suddenly, he hears the sound of splashing not too far from him. It is then he notices that he is submerged up to his ankles in a viscious liquid substance. Suddenly, a dark glow (which is the best description of it) appears and a figure clad in all black stands before him.
"Sonic, you have been chosen to further my cause."
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"My name is irrelevant at this point. However, I want you to join me in destroying the three powers."
"You're out of your mind! I won't help you." Sonic strikes a fighting pose.
"Do not prepare for a battle that you cannot possibly win." Waving his hand in front of him, a gust of wind pushes Sonic back a few inches. Gritting his teeth Sonic keeps from moving any further, even as the wind picks up in force.
"Bow down to my power!" the figure yells.
"Never!" Sonic retaliates, spin dashing through the wind and striking the figure full in the chest. The figure does not budge an inch. Sonic sommersaults out of the spin dash and holds his head. What the hell is he made out of?
"My turn," he states with a sinister smile on his face, leveling one hand, palm out directly aligned with Sonic's upperbody. A blast, much faster than anything Sonic had ever encountered (he himself can move at twice the speed of light, ten if he flies in his Super Hyper mode), flies from the figure's hand. Sonic screams in pain as it feels as if his entire body is being boiled. After several excrutiating moments that seem like hours, Sonic falls face first into the liquid, much of it having been boiled away from the heat of the blast.
"You miserable maggot. I told you, you will bow to me."
"Never," Sonic answers weakly, before his head falls back into the liquid.
"You will." The figure lifts Sonic from the liquid and carries him away.
Sonic sits up gasping for air, causing everyone around him to jump back in surprise.
"Sonic!" they exclaim in unison. Sonic looks around, attempting to determine whether or not what just transpired was real or not. The sensation of drowning felt quite real a few moments ago.
"How are you feeling? Are you okay?" The questions hit him from all directions. Just as he begins to decipher enough of the questions to answer one, Dr. Toad excuses the others and tells them to let Sonic rest. After they are outside, Sonic asks the doctor what happened. Dr. Toad takes a seat and entails the story of the past few days.
Several minutes after he had awakened, Sonic exists the room. Miraculously, his body had convalesced to the point he could leave now. All he has to do is take it easy for the next three or so days.
"Nice to see you two again," Sonic addresses the Mario Brothers.
"Nice to see you feeling better," Mario tells him, extending a hand. The two shake and Luigi steps in between them. He hugs them both tightly to himself.
"Now, now guys. Sonic's just been through one hell of an ordeal. There's no shame in showing a little emotion." Luigi kisses his brother on the top of his head.
"Speaking of a little emotion," Sonic says, turning his eyes towards Sally. "Was a certain princess worried about a certain blue hedgehog?" Sally says nothing and simply walks up to him and kisses him lightly on the lips.
"I need to almost die more often," Sonic says.
"You do, and I'll kill you personally," Knuckles says with a little smile.
"I thought you guys were over that little "I'm the only one who can kill you" bit," Tails adds, hugging Sonic until he winces in pain. "Sorry."
"It's okay, Miles," Sonic says with laugh, rubbing the fox's head.
"Don't call me that!" he giggles. Luigi releases Mario and Sonic and heads over to Zack.
"What's up?" he inquires.
"What do we do now?" Mario looks up.
"We go pay your folks a visit. Tails, you stay here with Sonic in case something happens here. The rest of us will go on to the SquareSoft System. We'll inform you on anything that happens." Mario finishes his speech and the others begin getting ready.
Mario wakes suddenly, his head throbbing in pain. Damn these headaches, he tells himself, sitting up in the bed. Prying open the pill bottle, he pops two of the pills into his mouth. Swallowing, he wonders why the headaches are getting more severe. Next to him in the other twin sized bed, Luigi snores softly.
"Wish I could sleep like that," he says to himself, rolling out of the bed. Reaching into the small closet of their room, Mario pulls out his spandex shorts and a red muscle shirt. Pulling on his boots, he exits the room and walks towards the ship's gym. Walking along the corridor, he peers into the depths of space. The group had already been in space for two days.
Mario places his hand on the console to the left of the door. The door hums to life and opens with a small hissing sound. Inside, Zack is suspended by his ankles from the ceiling, performing sit-ups.
"You couldn't sleep either, eh buddy?" he inquires, lying down on one of the benches. He grips the bar above him and lifts it from the rack.
"Nope," he answers, performing one last sit-up. Holding his position, he unlocks his ankles and falls to the ground, catching himself at the last moment and landing in a hand stand. Zack walks over to one of the punching dummies and begins unloading several powerful jabs to its jaw, rocking its head back with each punch. Mario pushes the weight off his chest fifteen times, pauses, adds more weight, and resumes pressing the weight. Neither speak as they work off their nervous energies. Before long, the others join them for their morning workout.
"Let's spar," Luigi tells his older brother.
"Give me a few minutes. Why don't you and Knuckles spar for a while."
Knuckles suddenly appears in front of Luigi. "You know you'll never hit me."
"That's what you think," Luigi says with a smile. Suddenly, he disappears and reappears behind Knuckles, who is expecting him and blocks the hook kick. Knuckles swings his leg in an arc, connecting with Luigi's shoulder. The rest of the group watch as Luigi uses the momentum to perform a spin kick that sends Knuckles skidding across the room. Luigi chases him as he continues sliding towards the wall. At the last moment, Knuckles rolls onto his back and pushes his feet off the wall. Luigi is caught full in the chest with a spin dash. He is sent flying off the mats and into a pile of discarded dummy arms. Knuckles chuckles to himself and walks over to the pile. Oddly enough, he cannot locate Luigi. Out the corner of his eye, he sees Luigi sliding towards him. Jumping over him, he avoids the sliding kick attack, but not the ensuing uppercut. Catching Knuckles under his jaw, Luigi sends him flying through the air. Knuckles rebounds at the last moment and lands on a hand and a knee. Luigi wipes the small amount of blood dotting his lower lip. Knuckles watches as the man smiles and beckons him forward. Knuckles disappears and reappears behind Luigi, who attempts to hit him with a back elbow. Suddenly, Knuckles is not there. Looking up, he sees the bottom of Knuckles' shoe. Luigi crashes into the mat and Knuckles sommersaults off his face. Luigi holds his nose and flips back onto his feet.
"You're pretty good," Luigi tells him, striking a pose. "I'm liking this alot." Luigi dashes forward and both of the combatants disappear. Mario is able to follow the action, but Zack cannot.
"Where are they?" he inquires.
"Right there," Mario points in the direction of the door then traces his finger along their path.
"You can see them?"
"Yep, Knuckles is giving Luigi a handicap. Knuckles is only using maybe an eighth of his full speed. Luigi is using close to half."
"How does anyone get that fast?" Zack questions, following Mario's finger and listening for the sound of the impact of their blows.
"Well on Mobius, many of the natives are born naturally fast. Hedgehogs, Echidnas, and Foxes are naturally the fastest creatures on their planet." For a few seconds, Luigi and Knuckles are visible to Zack's eyes, panting and smiling. Mario waits for them to resume before he continues. "Something occurred during their births that made them faster than normal. Something about legendary defenders or something. Anyway, before Sonic, the fastest speed clocked for a living thing in the universe was ten percent the speed of light, which Luigi and I have been capable of for a few years now." Just then Luigi crashes into the mat and stays there for a few seconds. "Luigi and I have been training our bodies for so long that we are faster than most. In fact, that I know of, only those three are faster than us." Knuckles helps Luigi to his feet.
"I'll get you next time," he tells the crimsom fighter.
"You keep improving like you have, and you just might."
"Sonic, what the hell are you doing!" yells Sonya from the small hill. Sonic looks up from his push ups and smiles.
"What does it look like?"
"Like you want to take another trip to the hospital. And Tails, you're encouraging him."
"Don't go blaming the kid. It was my decision to come out here. He tried to stop me, saw it was pointless and decided to keep an eye on me." As this is going on, Tails is holding his head, trying to determine what had caused him to trip as he did. Sonya throws up her arms in exasparation and leaves.
So Sonic, the voice of the figure from the incident in the hospital begins, Ready to finish what you started?
"I will not hurt my friend!" he yells, grabbing his sides as they explode in pain. You will obey me! Suddenly, Sonic's pupils disappear and he begins stalking towards Tails. Tails looks up.
"Sonic, are you okay?"
"Yes Tails, I'm quite fine." His lips curl into a sinister smile and Tails takes a precatutionary step backwards. "What's wrong Tails, are you scared of me?" He rushes forward and buries his knee into the stunned fox's lower abdomen. A mixture of blood and saliva is expelled from his mouth as his stomach muscles wrap around the knee. Sonic follows up with a right cross to the jaw, sending Tails sprawling into the grass. Sonic stalks his victim as Tails pushes himself to his hands and knees. Coughing, he takes off into the air just in time that Sonic's leg only grazes him. Before Sonic's leg is finished hitting the ground, he is already in the air. Tails uses this to his advantage since Sonic cannot fly. But soon, it matters very little. Sonic's super jump and hangtime allow him to hit Tails with enough blows before he hits the ground, that Tails is forced to land. Panting heavily he watches as Sonic spreads his feet just beyond shoulder width.
"That cannot be good," he says between gasps of air. Sonic bends his knees slightly and his body begins vibrating. He then begins laughing maniacally as the veins in his forehead and muscles begin to bulge.
"Oh shit!" Tails cires, striking a similar pose. Sonic begins glowing a bright gold as does Tails. Simultaneously, they both let out a yell and their furs take on the familiar gold of their Super Forms.
"Why are we doing this Sonic?" he asks, avoiding as many punches as possible.
"Because all that do not bow to the new order must be eliminated." That's not Sonic's voice, Tails thinks, as he grabs Sonic leg and slams him into a tree. The tree cracks down its trunk and it buys Tails all of two seconds of thinking time. Taking off into the air, he uses his full speed and puts as much distance between him and his possessed friend as possible.
The splintered bark burst into flames from the energy radiating from Sonic. Enraged, he lets out a yell and shockwaves sweep the dark green vegetation around him for yards from existence. Crouching into a three point stance, he propels himself forward at full speed.
Moments later he stops. In the brief period, his speed had allowed him to circle the planet at least one hundred times at different angles. Had he been thinking clearly, he might have relied on his uncanny ability to sesne Tail's whereabouts.
"Having a bad day there tough guy?" inquires a voice behind him. Whirling around, Sonic eyes the owner of the voice. "Not quite sure what brought about the change, and believe me, I love the new you, but there's only room on this planet for one dark hedgehog. And I do enjoy my job." Shadow, Sonic's not very, but evil nonetheless, doppleganger, blurs from view.
Bruised and battered, Tails is barely conscious as pain ravages his body. Never before in his wildest dreams or most harrowing adventures had he ever experienced this type of agony. And of all people to bestow such a beating upon him, the person he loved with all his heart was responsible for it. Panting heavily, he allows SOnya to tend to his wounds.
"And Sonic did this to you?"
"Yes. He began talking in this strange otherworldly voice then attacked me."
"Do you know where he is now?"
"No."
"Well I do," Sally interjects, grabbing both of their attentions. "Come check out the t.v."
The trio watch as the female Oppossum reporter informs the viewing audience of the situation.
"Moments ago, these two rivals began a brawl that surely may tear apart many cities if not contained. The amount of power being used during this fight has been described as hundreds of warheads going off simulatenously. Currently, two of the larger metropolitan areas have been completely annihilated."
"This is terrible!" Sonya exclaims. Sally nods solemnly.
"Where are you going Tails?" inquires Sally as she catches a glimpse of him moving towards the door.
"To stop SOnic." Before either female can voice a protest, he disappears into the dimming sunlight.
"I pray that they both make it through this," Sally says softly.
End of Episode Five
PREVIEW OF NEXT EPISODE
Shadow convices Samus to accompany him to Hyrule to recruit Link. However, Link is missing and another potential ally arrives on the scene.