..Holy crap, did that take wholly too long. O_o;;; I have no idea why it took so long, honestly. Most of this was written in the span of two days. I blame college. Evil college. And my muses went into hibernation. X_x; Oh well. Funny thing is, to wake them up, I took Katwarrior's advice in a Deviantart message to drink lots and lots of caffeine: Two days and seventeen cans of cola later (feel the pain, my liver!), THIS came out. Bwaha.
I DO read the reviews. I take advice, if you have any. If all goes well, next part will be out soon. Yeth. Mebbe. Hopefully. *pokes muses with a cattle prod*
I own NOTHING! Nothing, I tell you! Graah! @_o
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Hopeless inside, alone as I wait
Brewing inside of me, enduring this hate
Feeling my heart breaking in vain
It won't get better now
When will this end?
I can't seem to get away
I feel I'm here so you can play with my head
There's nothing I can say
I keep feeling like I'm to blame
When will this end?
Korn; 'When Will This End
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The still silence enveloped the prisoner with a seemingly cruel embrace, a somehow disturbing mirror to the shrill cries that filled the air only a short time before. The only sounds that penetrated the stale air were hardly noticeable at all, save to the being who created them; soft grinding and swallows. A tray of food had been left, and it was not going to waste.
The blood had not yet dried from the latest assault, the pain had not yet ebbed away; Sojourner had all but been forced to kneel within his own blood, taking what food, stale as it was, had been left. It seemed that Enerjak did not yet wish him dead. Somehow, he did not care.
Once the food was gone, the tray was tossed aside. With whatever strength he had left, he pulled himself towards a corner; the pain still prevented much else. After some time of simply breathing, of the attempt to simply banish thought from his current existence, Sojourner took his left glove off with motions nearing subconscious; nearly blank eyes stared at the golden band around one finger. Somehow, his wedding ring survived the situation.
An angry sob could not be repressed; he was nearly thankful that his wife could not see him now; enslaved, broken, forced to take a partner other than she.
She had died young; a vehicle accident when Thunderhawk had been less than two years old. After the depression had faded to a numb ache, Sojourner had never looked towards another. It had been a subconscious promise, he supposed, never to bed with another woman.
Enerjak, in a way, had forced him to break that promise.
Sojorner put his glove back on before wrapping his arms around himself; his gloves and boots were the only shreds of clothing he had left. Thought was forced to a minimum as the attempt at warmth within the chill cell came into play. Eventually, with the mind blanked and fatigue raised from days of abuse, unconsciousness came. However, a final thought wavered into existence, before the nightmares loomed.
How long would this go on?
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"What we know for certain is that the Brotherhood of Guardians are prisoners of the Dark Legion, that they're being tortured, most likely for information on where I am, and, oh, by the way, Enerjak is back and he's more powerful than he's ever been." The bitterness lacing Knuckles' voice rang clear; several frowns came as a response. "We know where they're being held, but, hey, that doesn't really help my family right now, does it?"
"We need a plan of attack." Prince Elias Acorn spoke with subtle regality, a slight attempt to steer command. "We can't simply leave them there!"
"Enerjak wants Knuckles, right?" Princess Sally Acorn began with a hushed tone, nearly saddened in it's existence. "Knuckles, if Enerjak gets a hold of you, he would have won. We can't risk that."
"You can't expect me to sit back while everyone else goes off to fight the Legion! It's my family we're talking about, here! My father is being tortured in there!"
"The Chaotix and the Knothole Freedom Fighters, even together, can't face off against the Dark Legion. They outnumber us, outtech us.." Elias admitted, sadness tracing his tones. "I think we need to call for help from other groups."
"We can't take too long. The longer my family is in there, the more likely it is that they'll be killed." The tone of the current Guardian calmed; his gaze moved towards the Prince. "They raised you, didn't they? Don't you care if they die or not?"
"Of course I care!" Somehow, Elias maintained a calm demeanor. "They were my parents, my teachers, my friends for nearly my entire life. I want them safe just as much as you do."
Sally glanced between her brother and her friend; she did not know what to say.
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Soft sounds beyond the realm of consciousness awoke him from slumber. Even before knowing what it was, Sojourner wished it hadn't. A soft groan escaped; he opened his eyes, despite his instincts screaming not to.
The first thing he saw were the cold, gleaming eyes of Moritori Rex. He wished he had listened to his instincts. "What do you want?" As it were, Sojourner was more angry than anything else; he did not fear the man he once thought of as his grandfather.
"You don't remember, do you?" A small, strange smile spread along Moritori's face; an emotion the former Guardian could not identify. He became wary.
"Remember what?" Came the angry bark; pain continued to prevent movement, prevented Sojourner from physically landing a blow upon the elder echidna.
Silence rang clear for several long minutes, the same strange expression lingering upon Moritori's face; wariness slowly turning into a fear Sojourner did not want to express. Suddenly, it seemed, the Legionnaire's hands were upon the ex-Guardian's shoulders, painfully forcing red fur against the cold wall, a brief second before the lips of one forced themselves upon the other.
Sojourner's mind, for the second time since captivity, literally blanked.
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The soft sounds of restful sleep gently echoed through the rather large bedroom; the creaking of a door slowly opened broke the normal routine. Two echidnas continued to sleep upon the bed, even as soft pats of feet upon the plush carpet made their way towards the bed. A snore was broken halfway, as one awoke to unusual pressure upon his abdomen.
"Daddy? Are you awake?" The voice of a small boy prodded.
With a groan, the father in question sat up, reaching to turn on the light. A yawn signified the early hour; a digital clock flashed 3:24. "Son, what's wrong?" A glance to the crimson-furred child brought about sympathy. "Did you have a nightmare?"
The boy, no older than five or six years of age, nodded sadly to his father. "It was scary, daddy.." A plush bear was clutched firmly in both hands.
"Aww, honey.." The mother cooed, awakening. "Sojourner, baby, it was only a nightmare. Was it the boogeyman?"
Young Sojourner shook his head, crawling across the blankets to reach his mother.
Spectre looked to his wife with a small smile, "Dear, you shouldn't remind him about his nightmare. All children have them at this age, it will pass."
"Is it still a nightmare if it's a memory, too?" Came a question of innocence, looking towards his father from his mothers' arms.
"A bad memory?" The parents shared a worried glance. As far as they knew, the child had no truly terrible memories that would awaken him at ungodly hours of the morning. Spectre smiled gently towards his young son. "Would you like to talk about it?"
"Uh-uh!" Sojourner shook his head quickly, a spark of fear in his eyes. "Granddaddy said not to talk about it."
True worry began to concrete itself within both parents' minds. Spectre gently grasped his child's shoulder. "Sojourner, whatever your grandfather told you, you can tell me about it."
Cerulean eyes widened in wonder. "Even if it's a secret?"
A small chuckle escaped Spectre. "Even if it's a secret."
The child appeared to think the offer over for several long seconds, expressions as clear as any innocent child's. "Well.. When granddaddy visits.."
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"Bastard!" The sound of flesh meeting flesh echoed throughout a back room of Haven, anger resonating within every tone. Nearly black fur aimed again at brown. "He's only a child!"
"Spectre! Calm down!" Gloved hands raised in surrender, swiftly dodging another blow. "Are you certain your son didn't imagine it?"
"A five year old boy, Tobor," The name was spoken as if it were a curse. "Doesn't even know what sex is! He told me what you've done!"
Tobor backed against a wall, expression stable, uncaring. "This will break apart the Brotherhood, if you let the others know."
A cry of outrage made it's way out of Spectre; however, he did not hit his father again. "Stay away from my son. I'll be watching you."
Not another word was passed from either on the situation.
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A soft groan was the first sign of consciousness; eyes slightly reddened slowly opened. Movement took several long seconds, sitting up upon soft bedding. A hand rubbed his head; an impending headache was faintly noticeable. Spectre glanced around, seeking the clock; he had only slept for three hours.
The memory-dream was forefront upon his mind; why had he remembered that? After it had come to light, all those years ago, it had never been spoken of again. As far as he had known, it had never happened again; he had kept an intense vigil whenever the man he had thought was his father was around his son. No other member of the Brotherhood had known it had happened at all.
Then why did the memory present itself, now? The stress of the situation was a likely culprit, came a quick assumption. Regardless, he quickly contacted the fireants.
"Get Archemedes and any other volunteers. I want to attempt to contact the Brotherhood again."
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Somehow, it should not have surprised him. He should have known that Moritori Rex would have eventually arrived to torture the captive Brotherhood. He should have assumed that Moritori was twisted enough to have desires similar to Enerjak.
Somehow, he was still horrified.
The man he once respected and loved as his grandfather was atop him, now, holding him against the cool floor; somehow, the pain was not as terrible as it had been before. He wondered, briefly, weather his body had begun to adjust, weather this was beneficial or not. Regardless, there was a refusal to scream or to cry out; he would not betray himself again.
A strangled cry, not his own, created a distorted notice. Sojourner glanced as much as possible with his face against the floor towards the cry. A nearly ethereal figure stood there, horror and shock so clear upon the slightly transparent features.
Was that.. his father?
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There was not much he was able to do, save to stare in horrified shock. His son stared at him, an unreadable expression across the tortured face. Vision swam, as the contact fluctuated, yet maintained a steady pulse; the fireants were performing their job well.
Father?
The voice, disembodied as it was, came as a complete surprise. Spectre, for a brief moment, was unable to answer; shock and horror struck too deep. He had spoken with his son's tortured soul before, but he had never imagined that this was the situation.
The others haven't been hurt.. Why was he worrying about anyone else at a time like this? How could he remain so calm? Enerjak and Moritori have been focusing on me, I'm not entirely sure why.
A wince suddenly spread across Sojourner's face. The disembodied voice released a slight scream. I can't handle this! I can't handle this! The tone had suddenly become frantic, frightened. They won't stop! Help me! Help me!
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A nearly breathless gasp escaped, as a dark form fell upon the ground with a pliant thud. Several smaller forms crowded around in concern and dismay, unable to help the fallen due to the sheer difference in size. After several long minutes, the difference was thrown aside; the dark figure staggered to his knees.
A nearly breathless gasp escaped Spectre's lips; breath was focus for a moment. Then, a query dark in existence was born; "Was.. Was that real?"
The smaller forms that surrounded him were silent; none knew how to react, and those that did would not dare for the moment.
"Was that real?!" Came a barked demand; desperation bordered upon his tone.
"I.." Archemedes was first to be able to form coherency. "I believe so."
The silence that rang only fortified the horror and disbelief. After some time, none knew exactly how long had come to pass, Spectre lifted himself from the floor and ran.
None attempted to stop him.
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"So, what are we agreeing on?" Came a query from Knuckles Echidna. "We're calling other groups for this? Even with, say, a dozen groups of ten each from all over the planet, we're still probably outnumbered by at least three to one!"
"Can you please be at least a little optimistic about this?" Sonic Hedgehog groaned.
"I'm being a realist! We can't afford to make any mistakes with this! We -"
"Spectre?" Elias's concerned tone interrupted what Knuckles may have said. All eyes turned to stare; most widened in viable worry.
Spectre leaned against a doorframe, eyes wide and breath short; for the first time any present could recall, his helmet was not upon his head. Horror was clearly plastered upon his face; dilated eyes only further signified the emotion.
"What happened?" Elias nearly whispered, even as Knuckles bolted from his seat to help his ancestor; only after being helped to a chair did the elder echidna spoke, albeit haltingly. "My son.."
"Grandfather Sojourner?" Knuckles frowned. "You managed to contact him?"
After several long seconds of no sound, the horror upon Spectre's face twisted into anger; a dangerous scowl that sent an alarming shock through the two that knew him best. "Moritori Rex.."
Before the statement could even be completed, both Knuckles and Elias visibly tensed.
"..has raped my son!"
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Sojourner: ...
Spectre: ...
Thunderhawk: ..At least I was mentioned this chapter. I guess. O.o;
Sojourner: Where are you getting this stuff from? O___o
Author: Who knows! ^^; My muses are frightening creatures..
Spectre: *stares into a pit of snarling muses* Lots of shiny pointy teeth. Somehow, I'm not surprised.
Author: Hehe. ^^; Viva la feedback!
