RAZGOVOR
(Talk)





Victory is close at hand.

The creature can feel it, even as the trek begins. It will prevail. It will be victorious.

And it can thank one person.

It was by chance that they had met again, that fateful day on the Island. When the creature was searching for an answers to its eternal problem. He had given it an answer. In return for the creature not destroying the pathetic traitor, of course.

But it was that day which gave the chance to the creature.

And thought there are still loose ends - the letter, for one, and the girl - the creature knows.

When it is finished, the power will finally belong to it. At last.


---------------------

The wind swept forth upon the apartment building as the sun began to set. It was a strange scene, being that this apartment was one of the few in Juuban to sustain minimum damage from the crystal power. Nevertheless, it had still been damaged, and several large cracks in the cement were testimony to it.

"Is this it?"
"Yes…"

The voices began to echo into the sidewalk, accompanied by red light. Then came bodies, and Locke and Kakyuu stood, the apartment building above them.

"Let us go, then….."
"…….Locke…."

Kakyuu trailed off, and the two said nothing as they entered the building. They slowly began to descend the stairs together.

"Locke…" Kakyuu turned to Locke. "If you don't wish to do this…"
"I must."

The words were slightly reluctant of the man that once shared with him a woman whose life was in peril. Nevertheless, as he said those words his hand was on the ringer, pressing the button. Through the door, it buzzed for several moments until it was silent.
Keep calm. Just keep calm…

"Yes?" The voice came from the speaker under the doorbell. "Who is here?"
"…………………Mamoru."

When no reply came, Locke realized he needed to press another button, a red one, to speak. He did so.

"Mamoru. This is Locke and Kakyuu. Please let us in."

Releasing the button, Locke rubbed his hands together nervously. For two minutes there was no reply, no sound from the other side of the door. The loudest thing was Locke's hands before Kakyuu placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's ok…" she whispered reassuringly. "It'll be-"

She was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Both jumped back as Mamoru appeared, hastily dressed in a black wife-beater and jeans. Locke noticed that Mamoru's pant zipper wasn't up, and his hair looked soapy.

"I….did we come at a bad time?"
"No." Mamoru's voice was slightly flat. "Why have you come here…?"

------------------------

The sun barely penetrated the thick leaves of the forest.

"About twenty more minutes." Knuckles looked at Pluto. "We're close."

There was no reply from the soldier. With a sigh, Knuckles turned to Uranus.

"Not talkative today?"
"I don't know." Uranus stared at Pluto. "Somethng seems to be wrong."

As Pluto had walked on deeper into the forest, it became more and more obvious that she was becoming distracted, looking over at Knuckles occasionally.

"Pluto? Knuckles was talking to you."

Neptune's voice was no more than a whisper. Antithesis looked over at the two quizzically, shrugged it off and walked on.

"I sense something." Pluto's voice came in low. "Something powerful..."
"Here?"
"Nearby. An energy I haven't felt......"

Pluto stopped. She looked around distractedly before her mouth dropped.

"Pluto?"
".....This energy....." Pluto shook her head dazedly as she looked back down. "....Can it be...?"
"What's wrong?"
"........I sense him."
"Sense who?"

Neptune shook her head, closing her eyes as she did. Suddenl;y as if something had hit her, her eyes fsnapped open after a moment.
I can feel it too. Chaos Emeralds....But then that means....

"FREEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The attack was sudden and unexpected. Bullets rang past the group as they suddenly found themselves surrounded.

"Dammit!" Knuckles swore. "....Not this again..."
"Not what?"
"Dead Scream!"

The rod glowed, the attack causing a bush to explode. Several figures fell back, screaming.

"Duaaaah!!!!"
"Freeze!"

The group of Secret Servicemen appeared around the five, their guns pointed, locked, and loaded. Pluto grasped her rod.

"Pluto-"
"No." The soldier turned saround. "Not these guys. I was stupid this time to attack."

Knuckles simply slapped his hand to his forehead.

"Come on..."
"Knuckles," Geoffrey waved his gun. "I suggest you and Antithesis get away from these overlanders. They are now prisoners of the crown for battery and treason."
"What?!" Antithesis growled. "What do you mean?! They-"
"Antithesis."

Knuckles shook his head. The brown echidna's eyes widened.

"What? I was..."
"It won't work...not without Sally..."

Suddenly, Geoffrey's gun was pointed at Pluto, the barrel ready to fire.

"You. Drop your weapon."
"Do it, Pluto." Knuckles shook his head embarrassingly. "Just do it."

With a shrug, Pluto did as instructed. With a motion of his head, the skunk noticed Knuckles and Antithesis nearby, staring at him.

"What?"
"Back off, Geo." Knuckles' voice was low. "They're here with me."
"Oh, smart move." The gun motioned at Pluto. "And what was that your friend here did?"
"It's called 'self- defense', St. John." Pluto took a step forward. "If you were not so arrogant perhaps you would respect that."
"How dare you…."
"How did you know his name?"

A female voice came from one of the helmeted creatures who surrounded them. Knuckles looked over towards where the voice came from, looked over the person who said it.

"Hmm?"
"You just got here." The girl motioned her gun towards St. John. "Is the commander so famous that overlanders know his name?"
"We're not overlanders." Uranus looked over at Neptune. "We are humans. We don't come from this world."
"If not from this world…." St. John's voice trailed off. "No. You can't be….."
"My god…."

Pluto looked over at the female guard. Neptune and Uranus turned to face her as well, and all three got down on their knees.

"Yes, princess. This is true."
"WHAT?!" St. John screamed.
"What are you doing out here?" Pluto looked up at the princess. "Our news is heavy, and dangerous. Isn't it best for you to be protected in your kingdom?"
"I……I……….."

Sally found herself speechless. Slowly she removed her helmet, revealing herself.

"Indeed." Yes. We are close. We are very close. "Princess, where is a place we can sit down and talk without interruptions…"

----------------------

The knock on the door came swiftly.

"Who is it?"
"Your grandfather!"
"....Oh."

Rei stood up from Usagi's side and went to open the door. Usagi's hazy eyes slowly followed.

"Oh.....Oji-san..." Her voice was weak. "....I can't believe he's still alive...."
"Yes..."

Seiya looked concernedly at Usagi as she attempted to shift herself in the bed. Approximately five minutes after Luna and Seiya had completed their talk on the Creed, Usagi, thankfully, had awoken. She looked up at Seiya, a small smile on her face.

"I'm fine..."
"Grandpa, what's wrong?"
"Rei." Oji-san gave a look towards the injured girl. "I need you to help me ready some hot towels for her. We need to clean that wound again."
"......Of course,,,"

Nodding to Seiya, Fortinbras and Luna, Rei followed her grandfather to the shrine's bathroom. Slowly, she began to turn on the hot tap, her mind wandering.
Locke... She began to pile the towels into her arms. I hope you are all right....

------------------------

"Have a seat."

Locke slowly sat down, his eyes not taken off of Mamoru. He scanned Mamoru as he walked around jerkily, almost in an exhausted mode as he placed tea down onto the table.
He's tired, Locke realized. He hasn't slept in days...

"Now, why are you here?"

Mamoru's expression told Locke it was obvious that he was not welcome. It was no surpise as to why, either way.

"......Mamoru...."

Locke looked at Kakyuu nervously. He didn't want to tell him. He wanted nothing to do with it. He didn't want to break it to Mamoru.
All the while, Mamoru looked at Locke suspiciously.

"What do you want?" He repeated.

Locke gave a sigh. There truly was no turning back.

"......It's...............it's about...........Usagi."

Mamoru stopped.

"Usagi?"
"Yes...."

Mamoru stared at Locke, his mouth open. He couldn't believe it, Locke knew, but he noticed with each moment his surprise turned to anger.

"What's wrong? Is she back?!"
"Yes....she's back."
"Why didn't she tell me? How do you know?!"

Mamoru's voice became angry. He stood up and began to pace.

"I....I don't get it..."

Mamoru...
Kakyuu rubbed her chin, her head down. She knew Mamoru's suspicions of Usagi and Locke's relationship. However, she realized now that perhaps she should have told him.

"Locke, I'll-"
"No." Locke shook his head. "I must tell him."

Locke stood up, walking to Mamoru. He put a hand on his shoulder, only to have in instantly thrown off.

"There's more, Mamoru..."
"Truly?" There was a slight bit of scorn in his voice, though he tried to hide it. "I guess I know what it would be."
"No, its not what you think....Usagi....."

Locke was feeling worse and worse about the decision to tell him with every word that came out of his mouth.
Just tell him. JUST SAY IT.

"Your grilfriend....Usagi....."

Locke looked up at Mamoru, looking for words, looking for a way to tell him. It was easy enough to think of what to say. It was far harder to actually go up and say what needed to be said for real.

"She.......something terrible has happened to her."

Locke knew from the silent reaction that Mamoru was figuring out what had happened. That she had returned. That she had been hurt.

"I'm sorry, Mamoru..."
"Don't call me 'Mamoru.'"

The words came out sharply. It was obvious that he was angered.

"Sir I-"
"I don't need your sympathies."
"She's in Hikawa, injured. Iwanted to-"

*KA-POW*

"Leave me alone."

The hit came swift, square onto Locke's cheek. With a cough of blood, Locke slammed into the wall with a grunt, falling to his knees afterwards.

"Locke!!"

Kakyuu went to return the attack, but before she could move, Mamoru was already down the hall and in the stairway.

------------------------

"…………..This is unacceptable."

Sally looked at the letter, her eyes slits as they had been when Knuckles had first been brought to her. She passed the letter to Rotor, who promptly began to read.

"Well…" Rotor's eyes widened. "Whatever variant code this is that they used, they definitely hoodwinked Gala-Na."

They all sat in a tent in Knothole. The soldiers, the Knuckles, Sally, Antithesis and St. John. The tent was guarded by several Secret Servicemen outside.

"What did you say this was again?"
"Russian."
"Ruh……sheen." Sally rolled the word around her tongue. It felt unpleasant. "What exactly is Russian?"
"A language." Knuckles rubbed his feet to the ground. "An Earth language."

Sally took the paper back from Rotor and re-read through it again. Crossing her legs, she rubber her cheek as she read through it again. Knuckles looked upon her, seeing how tired and exhausted she was from her duties, only to have to deal with another threat. This time, however, he knew she would listen.

"Knuckles…you told me that humans were responsible for the massacre on the Island."
"Yes, Highness."
"And that you had….been on a journey….to stop a madman from destroying this…earth."
"Yes, Highness."
"It's true." Uranus stood up. "It is true, madam. We were there, we-"
"Silence!" St. John barked. "Show respect towards the princess!"
"What happened?"
"The Silver Crystal."
"…That again?" Sally's eyes widened. "Then….Knuckles….everything you said…"
"Yes, Highness."
"Sally." Sally turned towards. Knuckles again. "Do you know how to read this?"
"No, not really; I was taught to speak the language but not to read it."
"Julie-Su?"
"No."
"Russian is an extremely hard language, Your Highness." Neptune shook her head. "We don't know much of it. We only know differentiation of letters; that's how we knew it was Russian."
"True…" Uranus looked down at the floor. "But….we know someone who might be able to help us…"

The princess looked over at Uranus quizzically, refolding her legs.

"Someone who can read Russian?"
"Yes…" Uranus slowly replied. "We know a man who can read and translate Russian easily."
"Uranus?"
"Knuckles…" Uranus turned to the guardian. "Yes. It's him."
"Wait-"
"You might know him, princess." Uranus turned back to Sally, ignoring Knuckles' surprised reaction. "His name's Locke."
"Locke…?!"

Sally gave a gasp when she heard the name. She looked over at Knuckles, her eyes bugging.

"Locke?!"
"There is definitely a connection between what has happened to us and to your problems."
"Definitely." Rotor stood up. "Princess, I propose we bring these Sailors to-"
"No no," Pluto interrupted. "That's not a good idea."
"Huh? Why not?"
"The matter of your friends…" Pluto looked at St. John warily. "Your people would not take too kindly of us."
"….Y-yes…"

Sally was still stuck on the last point concerning Knuckles' father. Quick as she could, however, she fast-forwarded to the present topic.

"Of course…where do you operate?"
"Tokyo."
"Towa--keey-oh…. Sally repeated. "Right Tokyo. We'll go there. Rotor! St. John!"
"Highness?"
"Summon my Freedom Fighters."

Without another word, Sally left the tent, followed by St. John and Rotor.

"Hmm…" Knuckles looked over at Antithesis. "Antithesis?"
"…………………What?"

It was obvious that he had been lost in thought; Knuckles didn't blame him.

"Could you go tell the Chaotix that I'll need them to stay here and protect the king if they find out. If not, just tell them I'm going on a mission with the Freedom Fighters that requires my…." Knuckles paused. "Expertise."
"Sure…"

Antithesis slowly got up, standing up and stretching when he did. He began to stomp towards the tent flap.

"Oh yeah…Knuckles?"
"Antithesis?"
"I'm going with you too."

The tent flap closed.

-----------------------

*BEEEEEP*

Suddenly, Rei's watch began to light up. Rei quickly opened the clasp and found Pluto's face within the screen.

"Pluto...?!"
"Eh?" Oji-san looked over at Rei. "What's that, now?"
"Um...." Rei's eyes widened. "Oji-san, excuse me for a moment..."
"Huh?!"

Beforethe old man could protest, Rei was in the hall, running outside. There, she turned on her audio and looked into the screen.

"Pluto! What-"
"Get everyone ready." Pluto's voice came though hazily. In the back, there were several fuzzy figures. "We are coming to Tokyo. Have everyone go to Crown Arcade for midnight."
"Including....The Starlights?"

Rei could pick out the silhouette of a Mobian echidna, as well as Uranus, Neptune, and some other odd ones. She gave a gasp.

"Where are you?!"
"Do as I say." Pluto's image flickered. "And especiallyhave Locke come as well."
"Pluto!!"

The screen abruptly went blank.

---------------------

Sonic looked down at the Emeralds, his face blank with confusion.
Six Emeralds....but why... Possibility nagged. Why would he-

"You know why."

Sonic's head flew around to face the two-tailed fox.

"TAILS!!"
"Come on, Sonic." The fox's voice was slightly softer than it had been for the past several days. "You know why I have acquired them, don't you?"
"No, I don't." Sonic felt his face flush. "So I want an explanation. NOW."

At this, Sonic stood up angrily, his eyes flaming. Tails didn't budge.

"I am getting sick and tired of your cryptic crap." Sonic spoke through clenched teeth. "You have been feeding me nonsense since day one. And I want to know why. Why?!? Why are you DOING THIS?!?!"
".....Becuase I have to."

Tails' voice was low, almost choking, when he said that. It was the first time emotion had seeped into his voice.

"....Tails....?!"
"I'm sorry. I must be brave." Tails coughed, his emotion seemingly gone again. "Sonic, I must prepare to retrieve the last Emerald...after we meet. I'll need to pack."
"Meet? Pack?!"
"Sonic!!!"

Knuckles suddenly burst into the yten, his eyes wide.

"Sonic.....you're not going to believe this..."

I don't...and I probably won't. Sonic looked at Tails, his heart feeling heavier with each minute. The more I think.....the more I wander....and the more I see........................






........no, it can't be now......................can it?!?


------------------

Mamoru looked up to the steep steps of the shrine. It seemed dark and dreary as he began to climb.
Usagi.......if Locke is telling the truth......

"Mamoru!!"
"......Rei."
"Mamoru." Mamoru was in a sudden hug. "It's bad. Usagi's been badly injured..."
"So I've heard..." Mamoru looked at Rei. "What are you doing?"
"Getting the others." Rei huddled in her gown. "I....I have to find them.....we're having a meeting at Crown..."

Without another word, She began to walk past Mamoru.

"....My apartment."
"Huh?"
"My apartment." Mamoru's voice was dark. "He's still there, if you need him."

Without another word, he walked up the stairs, entering the shrine. His shoes echoed into the trees with a metallic sound.