Authors' notes: ..And, damn, but that took longer than it should have. o_O; And it's SHORTER than the other chapters too! AUGH! ..I blame reality for writers' block and a random summer flu for putting me behind in my writing. ^^; Anyway, sorry for the shorter-than-usual chapter.. I promise to make it up to you next chapter. I have plans. Oooh, yes, lots of EBIL plans..
Legalities: Don't own any of these people except for the briefly mentioned Calli-Ku. But she doesn't do anything here, anyway, so.. Eh. ^^;
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Captive Part Six
So you sit there, stuck, afraid to risk reality
Afraid to cause yourself more pain, to risk insanity
But nothing ventured, nothing gained
You see, your fear's your cage
You beg for help, but you're alone, stuck in a helpless rage
-- 'Do You Call My Name', RA
Vector had been right, came the saddened muse. The media did hound them.
A single week had passed since the Dark Legion had attacked Saint Angel Hospital and kidnapped three of the islands' protectors. Seven miserable days. Such a situation, however, could not be ignored by the media; the search had been making front page news since.
"*..In an update on our top story," Came a 'Top Bulletin' from a news station, "Chancellor Calli-Ku released this statement regarding the attack and kidnapping that occurred one week ago.*" The image on the television changed from that of the newscaster to that of a richly garbed woman surrounded by cameras and reporters. "*I assure you all that the Echidna Security Agency has been doing all that they can, and will continue in their efforts. We will do whatever it takes to find and rescue those three brave boys. The Dark Legion will not keep out heroes away from us!*"
A ghost of a smile threatened to spread across Knuckles' face. It had been true; the EST had been very helpful. The entire island had been searched and researched since the incident, and every single person who was near the hospital at the time had been questioned in order to obtain more information. A great many people cared, and it pleasantly surprised the Guardian.
Yet, depression still took hold of the young echidna's heart and mind. Nothing would make him completely happy again, he believed, until he saw his friends again, until his friends were safe.
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When the Chaotix had first formed their group and swore to protect the Floating Island, Knuckles had passed words to the new group that he claimed his father had passed to him. "A day, an hour, a minute.. Time can mean everything when your duty is to protect. A short amount of time could be an eternity, and any single second could change a life for eternity." At the time, Vector hadn't understood what it had meant. He had fought the only way he knew how. All the Chaotix had, really.
However, now he knew all too well. He knew with cruel certainty what can happen in a short amount of time to change a person. He knew how time never seemed to last long enough or to go faster when a person desired them most. The state of two of the people he cared about most was proof enough of that.
He also knew now that there is a difference between to break and to fold. Kragok had obviously intended to break them all, to crush their spirits so thoroughly, that they would never be a threat again. Vector had seemed to be the only one to realize it, but the Legionnaire Commander had not succeeded. Not completely, at any rate.
Espio, despite having had suffered for far longer than his friends, had not been broken. Instead, he had folded, had adapted; he maintained spirit and sanity. Vector hated to see it, hated to admit it, but it seemed that the chameleon teen had accepted the situation and was merely doing that it took to keep his friends alive. More than once, he had given himself so that the other imprisoned Chaotix would not be assaulted at that time.
Mighty, despite his strength, despite his earlier optimism, had not been able to recover properly from the first night. He still offered meager resistance, the only sign that he was yet to break, but had otherwise been assaulted both in the physical realm and by severe depression. On the fourth day of their captivity, only able to be told by the lights being turned off at night, several Legionnaires had dragged the armadillo to another room; neither Espio nor Vector heard from him until he was returned the following day. Whatever had happened to the teen had been so completely terrible, that he thereafter had been prone to hysteria. Seemingly random bouts of hysterical screaming and crying disturbed Vector terribly; yet, at most times, Mighty was sane. The crocodilian teen didn't know what to make of it.
This was not to say that Vector had been completely unharmed. Legionnaires had beaten and tortured the crocodile; they simply did not rape the youth. The absolute incompatibility of the two species was all that saved Vector from what the Legionnaires so cruelly enjoyed; he understood that, but did not obtain any joy from it. Pain and torture he could handle; it was the agony that his brothers' were now going through that he suffered most from.
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For Julie-Su, the media were simply a nuisance. A very annoying aspect of society she would rather do without. As it stood, they constantly harassed her for one reason or another. Granted, the latest reason for their harassment was a sad one, was one that replaced the scorned looks strangers gave her with pity and respect.
Nonetheless, despite it all, reporters were still annoying.
Trying to get anywhere in Echidnopolis was a trial within itself; they constantly surrounded her with cameras, microphones, and questions. She wished they would go away so she could get what she needed to get done.
"Miss Julie, have you had any new news on where your friends might be?"
"Miss Julie, an interview for the Daily Scope! Please!"
"Can you give us a few minutes of your time, Miss Julie?"
She took a second to give them the darkest glare she could acquire. It became silent with a suddenness that brought a tiny grin to the pink echidna's face. Several reporters actually backed away. However, it is said that a fool is born every minute, and one was bound to work with a news station.
"Miss Julie! Is it true that you and the Guardian are dating?"
The reporter went down with a single well placed punch to his face. Julie fumed for a moment, rubbing her fist. As she turned to walk away, there were fewer reporters following her than there had been previously.
"Moron." Came a final comment by the cameraman following the reporter on the ground. "Never could keep his mouth shut."
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Kragok had returned briefly, amidst internal chaotic panic within his three captives. The Legionnaire Commander hadn't spoken, had only grinned, as he nearly dragged a fearful Espio out of the room and away from his friends. Neither Vector nor Mighty had made any sounds until then; both had shouted denials and cries of protest. Within their imprisonment, all they had were each other; to be separated now was torture in a terrible new form.
No words were left to the two Chaotix still within the room. However, the Commander left words to several Legionnaires who had flanked him. Not instructions, not orders; a simple statement that he no longer cared weather their other two captives lived or died from their cruel treatment. This seemed to give the Legionnaires who delighted in their pain incentive to increase their cruelty. However, with Espio now gone and the continued incompatibility with Vector's body, all their ministrations were left upon Mighty.
That was when the screaming began anew.
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Walking through the hallways of Haven, Locke was, for the first time he could recall, alone. His elder relatives were elsewhere in the complex, doing whatever tasks it was that they did at this time. It didn't concern him either way; he needed some time to get his thoughts in order.
When Knuckles had called several hours before with what he knew, Locke had pretended to be surprised by the youngest Guardian's knowledge. In truth, he had known a great deal about what had happened to his sons' friend; with his own station and location, he had not only been able to find a great deal of information from Constable Remington, but had been able to keep a vigil on the young chameleons' hospital stay as well. Locke would never admit it to the other residents of Haven, but he cared a great deal about his sons' friends. After all, they were what brought joy to Knuckles' life.
How could this have happened? With a watchful eye all across the island, it nearly seemed ludicrous; the Brotherhood were there to protect, and they had failed. Then, it had happened again; the Legion had attacked and had not only kidnapped that same poor boy, but two of the other Chaotix as well. It seemed strange that they had attacked that single room, and no where else.
That was when a thought occurred to Locke that had not occurred to him before.
How had the Dark Legion known what room the youth was in?
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Author notes: ..Veeery sorry for the shortness. *cough* As previously stated, will make it up next chap. Yeah.. Uhm.. Bye! Viva la feedback!
Responds to reviews:
Fanfiction.net:
'Mee': ..Okay, I don't even understand what your review said. Learn to spell, please..
'Foul Mouth': I enjoy praise as much as the next person, but try to figure out why I deleted your review. Use common sense, please.
Dr. Sipp: Why, yes, I AM evil. Thank you! :D
Dark Elf/Kitty Romanova: *Cough* Uhm, I don't think that's going to happen. I just don't see it as being possible in this fic. ^^; I hope you still enjoy my writings, though!
'Neon Light' and Tsunami Wave1: You're both giving my muses very odd and very evil ideas. ^_^;
H.M. Slayne: I'm still surprised that you managed to compare Vector to a rock! *laughs* But, please, don't explode. I enjoy your feedback. ^_-
..Still no Mediaminer reviews to respond to. Bleah.