#2: Release from Brutality
She just kept running through the trees, unaware of where she was…in fact, she didn't care in the least. All she cared was that they had her in their gloves no longer…it was too tiring, dodging between trees, constantly getting sharp pains in her feet which occasionally she had to stop and pluck out. And that was time she would rather not have wasted. Every second spent running through this stupid forest was worthwhile, it would shake them off her new wolf tail that much the longer, make her that much harder to seek out…luckily she had a head start, they didn't know her stasis tank had faulted while they were changing shifts, perhaps they still hadn't realized…it would only be when they came for more experimenting…suddenly she heard a calm voice from above her and stopped, hoping that they hadn't heard her almost silent run, but then it was answered by another voice in conversation. Realizing how tense she was, she kept running, brushing the hair out of her eyes. The leaves crunched under her feet, sometimes jabbing, but the time it took to hop was too much. They could be following her at any moment, and it was best to lose herself in the city than anything else, it would be too easy to find her in the forest, but would it be just as easy to find her elsewhere if she collapsed from exhaustion? Whether it was worth thinking or not, those strange dark hedgehogs would be coming, and resorting to any means necessary to recover their 'specimen'…but then suddenly the ground ended and she was toppling head-first straight downward, over a rise in the earth and into solid dirt…everything went black.
Neon Chaos sat reading this new report, glaring at the grinning shark who had presented it to him. "You know where this was from, don't you?" he growled.
The blue Spiky Shark gave a slight start. "No, I don't…I received it by email." The polished walls of the mayor's office glinted into the 'Ego God's eyes, blinding him for a moment, but only for a moment.
"Well…I guess it couldn't have been from them then…go on, write the report using the information, and it'll be in the Times tomorrow…just make sure they know that the information is suspect." Spiky Shark left void of emotion.
This human…she was alive, the two-tailed fox girl realized as she tried to lift her out of the dirt and brush it off of her face, trying not to get it on her new clothes the first time she wore them. Then in an instant, they were both gone, scattering the birds around them with fright as the crack of a collapsing vacuum sent them shrieking.
It was a few hours before this human girl managed to come to. She groaned slightly, looked up, then shot bolt upright with a shriek. Within moments Foxy was there, trying to explain the situation.
"I found you in the north forest…it's not very big anymore, mind, but you were lying unconcious in the dirt, so I teleported you here." The human girl looked out the window. "You're in SoaH city."
"What now?" She said lazily. She had heard the name somewhere before…it had been spoken of to her, just recently…dank steel corridors and such…all just a blank. "M-my name is Sierra." She held out a hand for the shaking and Foxy accepted cheerfully.
"I'm Foxy."
Sierra looked around and out the window again, bouncing somewhat on the bed as she sat.
"Where are you from, and what were you doing?" Foxy inquired, glancing nervously at the window. Not getting away yet, info comes first.
"I don't know…running from something…all I can remember is a stasis tank, dank metallic corridors and strange people…I think scientists were doing something…"
Foxy glanced at the wolf tail.
"Anyway! I want to explore this place! What's the city like?" Suddenly she was leaping for the open window…
"SIERRA!" Foxy cried out, climbing out into the cold night air and flying straight down to where Sierra…wasn't.
"Do you think I'm that stupid?" Sierra called down, half giggling. "You're not the only one who can fly."
"Get back inside, Sierra! We need to sort this out!"
"Why?" Protested Sierra, a look of courageous defiance in her face which didn't want to be suppressed.
"Because if there were scientists experimenting on you, they'll want you back!"
Sierra thought for a second, hovering mildly in the air, then begrudgingly obeyed.
"By all means, get out there." Foxy suggested, and Sierra wondered for a second why she was being dragged back in here, "But first, you need to make yourself a lot harder to recognize if photos ever make the paper! They'll be searching for you, Sierra!"
A bit of contemplation was necessary, but Sierra finally agreed to Foxy's suggestions of sunglasses and new hairstyle. "Just don't make yourself too conspicuous, okay?"
Bluehawk sat slumped against the glass window of the door to the apartment building, glad that he had the two chaos emeralds which helped battle drowsiness, as well as a friend on each side, but they needed a home, a place of comfort. Minimaniac had offered, but Bluehawk had reluctantly turned it down for a reason he wasn't really comfortable sharing in the heat of what had happened the last two days. Maybe it was the fact that Mini and KK would be there together so much, and Hawk certainly didn't feel comfortable with couples romanticising right in front of him…maybe it was something to do with having recently visited his old hometown, but in any case. The apartments were being rebuilt, but perhaps that was more out of wanting the building's appearance back rather than graciousness. What Hawk needed right now was a mission to take his mind off his troubles and get him busily helping out again…people walked by, going about their daily lives, looking at the explosion damage but not really fussing over it…they weren't, why should you? Hawk tried to give that impression, although of course it wasn't working too well. "Are you Bluehawk?" Suddenly he looked up to the right to see who had spoken…a group of humans, all in…military gear? "That-that's me." He said vaguely.
"You're coming with us." And before he could even think he was unconcious.
This place was all too familiar…even in his somewhat dizzy state Hawk could see where he was…he was back here…another stupid deja-vu of his past…hadn't Koringhn been enough? He was almost like in a prison…the solitary confinement. It was all stone, the doors, the floor, the walls…had they created this near SoaH, or was he way away from home. "Before you ask to go, this is your home." Bluehawk looked to the door where a pair of human eyes was peeping through the door hatch, the only colour in the room apart from Bluehawk himself. Slowly the hatch closed, and the door clanked and opened, grinding horribly on the ground. "Last I recall, my 'place' here was a lot higher than this."
The human male stepped in slowly. "You broke ranks, kid. A wants to see you."
"Great…" Hawk muttered. The head of this secret service organization. Probably telling him that his rations were docked, blah blah blah…But Hawk obediently followed as soon as he realized that his emerald wasn't with him. The stone walls didn't last long, as they went up a floor it was replaced with polished wood (again, it was everywhere) and a few floors later, the bloke leading him saying absolutely nothing and the blue fox following suit, they reached a door that was painted red.
"Let me guess." Bluehawk muttered. "You've changed the colour coding again."
"Every five years, kid. Get in there."
Bluehawk obeyed, walking into an office with plants every here and there around the walls, a lot of coloured books in the bookshelf next to the back window, and of course the man at his desk. "Sit down, kid."
"What is that, a new ranking?" Hawk scoffed.
"You can't get away like that, kid. It's a lifetime of service-"
"Or nothing."
"You knew that, yet you tried to escape, knowing that we would track down the energy readings from that emerald you stole."
Bluehawk clenched his fists. "Stole? It chose me and I always hated this place."
The human raised his eyebrows. "Either way. We have a mission for you once you've been tested in the training rooms."
Bluehawk kicked the floor with his toe.
"What am I supposed to do?" Sierra said indignantly. The very thought of being locked up in someone else's place all day was more than she could bear.
"If you go outside, take that cell phone with you." Foxy suggested as she began to move out the door for work. "And don't go showing off or making yourself conspicuous!"
"I won't…" Sierra mumbled as Foxy closed the door. What does she think I am, a baby? She thought to herself, making her own way toward the door once Foxy would be safely around the next corner. No way I'm staying here. The hallway was empty, completely devoid of life. Certainly quiet…boring enough. She flicked the buttons on the elevator, going to B1, and walked out into a lounge positively full of people. She headed for the door, thankfully not having to push her way through the crowd because it wasn't that tight. This city was awesome during the day, at least at first impression! Better than any she had seen in encyclopaedias. It was near lunchtime, so she headed for the restaurant she saw on the corner of the Y-intersection she was approaching which looked well decorated with a big slice of plastic swiss cheese above the logo. The cheese hall…interesting enough…
Bluehawk lashed out both feet, kicking the stands up from the enemy in front of him, which tripped up and was easily thrown away by a kick to its wiry green head. They flew off so easily…he lashed out with a punch at the next one which tried to grab him from behind, and it too was knocked soaring in a yellow blur like its green friend. Suddenly the darkness surrounding him began to fade back into the light of the window, he was in a black room, but the light shined on the floor.
"Last time you did it in three minutes." A crackly voice said loudly.
"And this time?" Bluehawk groaned.
"Four and a half. You've had that emerald too long."
Hawk cursed under his breath. They never used to let up, but he hadn't expected this.
"Anyway, that's still satisfactory. Back to the office for your briefing."
Bluehawk trudged instead of walking. As far as he saw this was a total waste of time-he had better things to do than follow orders. He had thought he was free of this control over his life, that he was free to do whatever he pleased, but just when that idea sunk in they came back. Such was life really. You'd have thought I'd be used to this kind of thing… He thought to himself. It's what happens with expectation. He reached the well-polished office without even realizing it, but A was ready for him. "Your mission. You would not be aware, but recently we received word that a team of scientists lost two test subjects, mutants, humans with wolf tails."
Bluehawk shifted slightly. If he had figured correctly, Eagle…or Darkness, as he now called himself, was a similar mutant.
"One of them, we believe is near your current hometown, which is why we wanted you on the case. Yes, we are hiring you, not as one of us." Bluehawk's spirits raised, but his pride overcame him.
"What if I don't WANT to do it? What if I thought that maybe these mutants will only turn hostile if you discriminate?"
"Then we'll get the next man on the list…Saberz the Hedgeho-"
"I'll do it." Bluehawk was suddenly standing up, rigid in a salute. Rivalry was his motive for this now. No way would he let Saberz get a job specifically offered to Hawk!
"Mind if I sit here?" Sierra looked up to the red hedgehog with a dark blue patch on his forehead.
"Ha, I just got here, the more friends the better." Sierra shrugged. "And your name is?"
"Saberz." He said slowly.
"I'm Sierra. Nice to meet you." Suddenly another red hedgehog, this one with a tuft of yellow hair and a chef hat, walked up to them.
"Can I take your orders?" He asked cheerfully, almost grinning.
Sierra looked at the menu. Fried chao? Chao on a stick? Then she saw the descriptions and laughed, just a theme. "I'll have…two fried chao and a Dr. Pepper."
"And you?" The fringed red hedgehog looked to Saberz.
"Burger and a Coke."
"I'll have it ready in two minutes, thank you!"
The red hedgehog walked away. Sierra stared after him, almost as if in disgust. "Two minutes?"
Saberz chuckled. "When he gives a time, he doesn't hand it over any later."
"No way. If he gets it over here in two minutes, I'm climbing the most walked-past building and singing karaoke from up there at night!"
"Better get rid of tonight's plans, then!" The red hedgehog laughed, putting their meals and drinks in front of them. Sierra couldn't help but drop her jaw. Saberz grinned, close to laughing. "Now…I've seen…absolutely everything…" She stammered.
Bluehawk walked casually among the streets, glad that he wasn't being shoved off straight down to the most distant land mass he cared to think of. Phantom and Sama were standing outside the Reload Centre when Hawk found them close to dusk. "We're already on a paid mission, fellas." Bluehawk stated, without allowing so much as a 'hi'. "So let's not waste time. Got a newspaper, Phantom?"
Phantom's relief immediately swept out of him and was replaced by new thoughts. Bluehawk was serious about this one. "No, I don't."
"To the newsagent!" Bluehawk pointed heroically. Phantom was vaguely reminded of a Batman parody performed by Nambuk and Shima. Sama followed, laughing raucously, and Phantom was left with little choice but to grin with the joke as they ran about a tenth of a kilometre down the footpath and crossed the road, dodging between cars in the case of Sama. The newspaper thwapped into Bluehawk's hand, the change clanged onto the desk and out they walked. Nothing new-"Mutants on the Loose" Possible threat to SoaH city. No new information it seemed really, So Bluehawk tossed this aside into Sama's pack-horsing hands. Phantom glanced around, along the street. "Where are we gonna get some shut-eye?" Bluehawk almost froze. "And by the way, the emerald's owner hasn't been found yet, they haven't been traced since their apartment was blown up." Bluehawk dashed his fist across the air in front of him. He hadn't retrieved his yellow emerald from the stupid Secret Service…maybe they wanted him to earn it back, or keep it permanently…Hawk's face boiled at the thought. At least he had left the red emerald with Phantom, who chucked it over his shoulder upon request. This one was his own for now, not 'stolen' from anyone, merely borrowed. Hawk checked his wrist…they had taken his watch, too! The one Urthdigger gave to him! Another curse under his breath and Bluehawk felt strangely riled up. "Phantom, go and look for some temporary accommodation, ok? Sama and I will continue the mission…you know how to reach us." Phantom obeyed and started running off to find a phonebook. Bluehawk stopped, wondering what to do next as he realized that the sky was now completely black…time had flown, alright. "Sama, no! No breaking windows!" He scolded as Sama began to withdraw from the TV in the window. "No taking things, either!" He added as an afterthought. Sama muttered 'why?' and went to Bluehawk's side, rubbing his eyes. "Tired, huh? Well, Phantom's trying to find accommodation, so you'll have a nice bed soon." But Sama was no longer listening as he muttered in his sleep, clutching Hawk's leg, who rolled his eyes. Why me…then he heard it, a soft, echoing voice, some kind of sweet melody, which sounded vaguely familiar, but the voice certainly didn't. It was coming from…up on top of the buildings? Above the lights, that was for sure, or he would be able to place its location much more easily. Cars rushed by, distorting the noise somewhat, but it was definitely a song he had heard before.
Hawk finally reached the top of the ladder, puffing a bit from Sama's weight, as he had decided he couldn't leave him lying around. A stereo sat on the concreted roof, playing fairly loud music, and there was a microphone attached, which was where the voice was singing from…a human girl, but…was that a wolf tail? "The fudge?" Bluehawk exclaimed loudly, the girl turned around with a start, dropping the microphone. "If you're gonna busk, I suggest you do it where people can give you money." He added sarcastically.
"Who…who are you?" She bent down to turn off the music, suddenly everything sounded quiet.
"The name's Dustorm…err…first name's Bluehawk." He added, carefully sidestepping around a complete cliché. The snoring Sama began to loosen his grip on Hawk's ankle, mumbling about a candy shop and a 'shit-load of chocolate.'
"I'm Sierra." She said quietly. "What are you doing on the same roof as me?"
"I'm the cleaner." He said, again with sarcasm. "Curiosity was safe for the fox in this case." Realizing he was being completely confusing, he tried face-value. "Nice singing." He said, dropping his flailing arms to his sides. But Sierra wasn't listening, she was glancing at the clock tower a couple of blocks away on top of city hall.
"Oh no…I gotta get back to Foxy's! She'll think I was kidnapped or something!" Sierra started madly packing away her things, bending over to wrap the microphone and power cords around the stereo, her wolf tail twitching slightly.
"Foxy?" Bluehawk asked slowly. "You mean the orange fox girl with two tails? Blue eyes?"
"Yeah, her. You know her?"
"Not too well, but let's go, I'll get you back there…" Bluehawk turned to climb back down the ladder, then suddenly froze and laughed. "Of course…where IS Foxy's-B'uh!?" In Sierra's place was the view of the rooftop and the starry black sky. Hawk ran forward to the edge of the roof, making sure she hadn't jumped, he looked to the skies, to make sure she hadn't been snatched away by some psycho technicolour bird on the prowl for girls with wolf tails (you could never tell living in such a place) but no such happenings. Teleportation…Phantom wasn't the only one with such an ability.
Sierra got over her teleportation disorientation quickly, considering that this was a fairly new environment. But within seconds Foxy strode in through the door.
"At least you stayed…didn't you?" Foxy said moodlessly.
Sierra shrugged. "I'm not THAT stupid." She grinned to herself, knowing how close it had been…if Bluehawk hadn't turned up…
"I got a week to figure things out, Sierra. Vacation comes early due to exceptional circumstances."
"Tight schedule?" Sierra said with a hint of put-on innocence as Foxy walked to the apartment's kitchen. Suddenly the news flashed onto the TV and Sierra reached under where she was sitting, grabbing the remote which she had failed to observe. The screen showed the North forest and a strange craft among the trees…a big, dark teal craft that, from a bird's eye view, looked like a strangely-shaded oval shape. It stirred some kind of vague memory, it seemed familiar…but nothing came to mind instantly. She had forgotten so much, some kind of memory lapse or modification…
"It seems an unidentified craft has landed in the woods. Since little is known we want all citizens to not leave the SoaH City area till we know who the plane belongs to."
Unidentified craft…it was the scientists, scouring the area like she suddenly realized she knew they would...but then suddenly there was a rapping on the door. "Sierra! Hide!" Foxy called as she went to answer, with the tone of someone saying 'I'll get it!'.
