HURT…
Author's Note: Hey, I didn't disappear after all! Sorry it took so long to get this up. Had trouble finishing it, and then there was a bug or somethin' on the site. You all forgive me, right? Cool (Or not, depending on your answer). Well, here you go. Enjoy!
"I don't know what to think anymore. I'm so scared now. So much has happened in such a short time. 'Sob' Just when things were going to be perfect…'Sniff' I'm getting ahead of myself. I should probably start from the beginning. It all started when he disappeared…"
"This is ENN: Echidna News Network. It's been two days and still no word or sign of the Guardian. The EST has been searching since he was declared missing yesterday morning after going unseen for twenty-four hours. Many of the citizens believe that he has simply abandoned his duties and has fled into seclusion. Constable Remington, chief of the EST, has failed to issue a statement just yet, but assures that the EST are doing everything they can to find the young Guardian. In other news…"
"This is Shadow calling in. No sign of him yet. I'll give it one more look over, then I'll head back and rendezvous with you," Shadow said into a small walkie-talkie watch. "Alright, Shadow. Don't take too long," Espio's voice said. Shadow broke contact, then looked out at the wilderness around him. The Floating Island amazed him. It was like the Garden of Eden, floating in the sky above the unworthy planet of Mobius. However, he hadn't been given the opportunity to become better aquatinted with his new home. Knuckles went missing the day after they arrived back from Station Square. "Knuckles…where are you, my friend?" Shadow whispered to himself as he dashed into the forest to continue his search.
Mighty sighed as he shut his cell phone. Espio had just relayed Shadow's message. 'I don't get it! Where could he have gone?" Mighty asked Vector, who was sitting next to him on a park bench. They had been searching all day and decided to take a short break. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the sound of children playing could be heard all over. "I dunno, man. It's weird. We saw him the night before. He didn't seem like he was gonna split on us. 'Seemed happy to be home if ya ask me," Vector replied with a long sigh. "Julie-Su hasn't been taking this too well," Mighty said, receiving a raised brow from his alligator amigo. "Huh? Why's that?" he asked. "Rouge was telling me that she wants to be back with Knux," Mighty replied, "They were talking about it the night we got back, right before he went MIA on us." "We'll find 'im. We just gotta get a clue, or a hint, or somethin'" Vector said, trying to be optimistic. Mighty sighed again as he stood up and said, "Well, we won't get anywhere sitting around like this. Let's go check his place again and see if we can find anything."
"Julie-Su! Where'd you go?" Rouge yelled out as she walked down the pier. She turned a corner to find her echidna friend sitting on the end of a dock, staring into space. Rouge quietly walked up and sat next to her. "You okay?" she asked. Julie-Su was silent for a moment, then responded, "This is where I first kissed Knuckles a few weeks ago." Rouge looked at Julie-Su sympathetically and said, "Don't worry! We'll find him. I promise." "Everything was so close to being perfect. We could have been back together and happy again. I don't understand why everything between me and him needs to go wrong," Julie-Su said as a tear fell from her eye. Rouge put her hand on Julie-Su's shoulder and said, "Come on. Maybe Sally and the other's have heard something." Julie-Su wiped the tear away as she nodded and the two friends hurried off.
Sally and the Freedom Fighters had finally accepted the fact that nothing ever goes their way. They just get back from Station Square and don't even get to enjoy coming home because their friend goes missing. "Well, he isn't in Robotipolis," Sonic said as he came in the door. "Sally sighed in frustration as she slammed her hands on the desk next to her. "Come on! Where the Hell did you go, already!!!" she yelled as she started crying. Sonic came over and hugged her as he said, "Sal, come on. It's gonna be fine. He probably just wanted some time alone to get his head straight and figure things out for himself. He hasn't exactly been himself lately." Sally nodded in agreement as she broke the embrace. "That's true. I just hope he isn't hurt. Or what if the Legion-" "What Legion?" Tails asked sarcastically. "Little guy's right. There is no Legion anymore. All those Legionnaires are jailed, Dimitri is dead, and the rest are probably calling it quits!" Sonic boasted. Sally smiled a little, but she was still unsure.
"Sally! We got a transmission from the Floating Island!" Rotor said. "Patch it," Sally responded as the monitor came on, revealing Julie-Su's worried face. "Hey, Julie-Su. How are things over there?" Sally asked. "We still can't find him. I guess you've had no luck, either," Julie-Su muttered. Sally sighed and said, "To tell you the truth, we don't have the man-power to run a quick, thorough search. The only ones searching are the Freedom Fighters. No one else wants to help. Especially after the Eclipse thing. A lot of people still hate him." Julie-Su's head drooped. She knew it was no use. "Hey, there! Don't look so blue! That's my job!" Sonic said with a smile. "Yeah. You're looking really shaky," Sally commented, before the screen started wavering, "Actually, you are shaking up. We're losing your signal." "It is your equipment? We're using Haven's, and theirs is hi-tec," Julie-Su asked. "No. Our stuff is fine," Sally said before losing the signal and receiving static. "That's odd…What's wrong?" Rotor asked himself as he and Tails got to work to seek out the problem.
Suddenly, something came up on the screen. It was a dark room with dim lights. In the middle of the screen stood a silhouette, and the only sound was the sound of a voice chuckling. The chuckle caused the Freedom Fighters to quiver in fear, for they knew that laugh, and at this point, it was a chilling memory. A memory that left many scars. "I…I thought he was gone…" Amy muttered as she hid behind Bunnie. "Me too, Amy. Me too," Bunnie replied.
They weren't the only ones receiving this strange signal. On the Floating Island, Julie-Su and Rouge, along with the Brotherhood, were watching the same signal. And they were not the only ones, either. In King Acorn's castle, in Echidnapolis, everywhere. Every screen was turned on to this same broadcast. The purpose, unknown.
Station Square was just getting over the havoc caused by the Dark Legion's assault on the city. Many were taking time to enjoy the finer points in life…
"WOOO!!! YEAH!!! SUPER BOWL!!!" Todd yelled as he jumped over the couch. The rest of the Ravagers ran in, screaming and yelling as they all sat down. "We got the stuff?" Steve asked. "Fifteen bags of pork rinds, soda-drink hats, and foam pointing fingers! We are SET!!!" Ken exclaimed. Todd picked up the remote and turned on the television as they all screamed, "YEAH!!! SU-PER BOWL!!! SU-PER BOWL!!! SU-PER BOWL!!! SU-" They stopped when the strange signal came up on the TV. "This isn't the Super Bowl," Nick said. "Yeah. Damn infomercials," Todd replied as he clicked the remote several times, only to find that the channel wasn't changing. "It's on every channel?!?! What evil from Hell doth cause this injustice?!?!" Luke yelled. They all had a mind to whine and complain, but the voice silenced them instantly.
"Greetings, citizens of Mobius. I am…the great Dimitri," the metallic echidna exclaimed as he stepped into the light, revealing himself. So many were in shock. He was supposed to be dead. "This is DEFINITLY not…the Super Bowl," Todd said. Randy slowly turned his head and yelled," We established this…TEN MINUTES AGO!!!" Dimitri went back to speaking, so they turned their attention to the screen. "I suppose you are wondering how I am alive. Well, the Dark Legion is the most technologically advanced organization on the planet, so teleporters are well within our limits. Now, I am guessing you wish to know why I am speaking to you all today. Yes, I said all of you. This is being broadcasted on every channel on every screen on this planet," Dimitri said with a proud chuckle. However, his chuckle vanished, and his humored mood became angered. "Unfortunately, this is a stretch for the Legion at this point. My empire crumbles around me! I am left with nothing but a handful of loyal troops! I have lost almost everything!" Dimitri paused for a moment, then chuckled again. "But, I am able to get the satisfaction of my revenge, and, at the same time, I can bring satisfaction to those on Mobius who have sought justice over a very serious matter. To explain, let me first introduce you to…Knuckles the Echidna," Dimitri said as he stepped aside and revealed Knuckles.
At first, no one was sure what to think. They couldn't be certain that he was even alive. His wrists were clamped together, and a strong chain fastened the restraint to the ceiling, which he hung limply from. His feet were also clamped together as they hung about two feet from the floor. He just hung there in silence. "Wake him," Dimitri said as a Legionnaire walked up to Knuckles and punched him across the face. Knuckles stirred as he moaned and opened his eyes. "Wh…where the h-heck am I? D…Dimitri??? N-no…it…it c-can't b-be," Knuckles muttered. Dimitri chuckled and said, "Yes. Glad to see you too. As I was saying, it was this young echidna that destroyed your homes, killed your families and friends, and threatened your very lives! And after all that, King Acorn releases him free of charge! This injustice will not go unchecked. He shall pay for his crimes," Dimitri said as he walked next to Knuckles. "And I have nothing to fear from him. We are using the same drug from Station Square to nullify his powers and make him the weak coward that he is!" Knuckles chuckled slightly and said, "F-funny…I re-remember you hi-iding behind Sh-shadow back in St-tation Sq-quare." Dimitri frowned and snapped his fingers as he stepped away. "Now, Knuckles…you shall receive the punishment you deserve. And all of Mobius can watch and be pleased with your suffering."
Several Legionnaires surrounded him and began to pound away at him. Knuckles grunted with every blow. Some came in kicks, others in quick jabs to the stomach. He was being used as a punching bag. Dimitri smiled in new satisfaction, and turned back to the viewers. "I am sure you are wondering how Knuckles came to be in our hands. We'll, let us turn to the tape and see," Dimitri said with an evil grin.
The screen turned to a city street, lit only by the streetlights on it. Knuckles stepped out of an apartment building with an odd expression on his face. There was a smile, but his eyes read great regret. Suddenly, a voice began to call for help, and Knuckles sprang down a dark alleyway. He short stopped at the sight of Xenin, who said, "It's been a while, hasn't it?" Knuckles growled and said, "I don't know how you survived, but-" "No, no, no! I wouldn't do that. You are going to come with me and my troops, or else," "Or else what?" Knuckles spat. "Or else Julie-Su will die. Right now. By the hands of one of our snipers." Knuckles froze. After a few seconds, he lowered his fists and his head and muttered, "…Go ahead." Xenin waved his hand, and five Legionnaires ran over and grabbed Knuckles, who didn't even bother to defend himself. They punched him in the stomach, held his chest against the wall, and clamped his wrists together as they injected a needle into his arm. They backed away as he slowly staggered, wavering around, and fell to the ground, his hat floating off to the side.
Julie-Su looked down at her hands, where she held his hat. She found it the day he was declared missing in an alley about a block away from her apartment. "And that, fair people, is how this all began," Dimitri said as the Legionnaires continued to beat Knuckles behind him. Dimitri snapped his fingers again and they backed away as he stepped up to Knuckles. Knuckles was panting heavily, and under his red fur dark bruises could be faintly seen. "This is going to continue. Every day, at this time, on every channel, on every screen on the planet. I will see revenge for my Legion, and the world will see it's revenge for the evils you have done," Dimitri said, as he came up to Knuckles' ear and continued, loud enough for the audience to hear, "You know what I mean, right? All those people you killed…all those children. You are lower than dirt, you twisted, demented monster. You will pay." Knuckles flinched as he heard this. He shut his eyes tightly as he moaned to try to block Dimitri, but it wasn't working. He shuttered as he lowered his head, and Dimitri chuckled. "So see you tomorrow, then," Dimitri said with a malicious smile as the screens went blank.
All across Mobius there was silence. No one knew what to think. Sally began to cry as she threw her face into Sonic's chest. Sonic was mortified, and couldn't find words to calm her. Tails was trying to comfort Amy, but she was scared out of her mind. Rotor stared at the screen as Antoine put his arms around Bunnie. On the Floating Island, not much was different. Julie-Su began to cry onto Rouge's shoulder as Rouge shed tears of her own. Locke felt tears trickle down his face as the Brotherhood stood in silence. Lara-Le had fainted, and Wyn was on the phone calling a hospital. Mighty, Shadow, and the Chaotix continued to stared at the big screen TV in the square. Mighty cringed as Shadow put his hand on his shoulder. Vector and Espio looked at each other with shocked faces. Ray had turned away from the screen, not wanting to look.
The Ravagers sat on their couch in silence. Nick clenched his fists, growled in frustration, and flipped over the coffee table in front of them, startling the others. He turned to them with a look of great anger on his face. There was a deep, almost dark hatred in his eyes. "Todd, get the Floating Island on the line! Everyone else, suit up! I don't care what we have to do!!! We'll check every club, every warehouse, beat up every two-bit punk in this city if we have to, but we are gonna find him!!!" Nick turned and began to run down the hallway to his room to get his costume as the others stumbled behind. They had never seen him like this before. Not since Gramps died. He had even scared Randy, which took a lot to do. But he was right. They had to find him.
Sally and the Freedom Fighters burst into King Acorns throne room as the King stood to greet them. "Dad! It's Dimitri! He-" "I know! I know! Don't worry. I will assemble my secret service and my troops. We will fan out and find him. This madness will not be allowed to continue!" the King announced. Sonic turned to Rotor and said, "Call up our pals on the Floating Island. Tell them to come here so we can figure things out." "Sure thing!" Rotor replied as he hurried out of the room.
Not too long afterwards, Shadow, Julie-Su, Rouge, the Chaotix, and the Brotherhood exited their vessel to be greeted by the Freedom Fighters. The Brotherhood were accompanied by Lara-Le and Wyn. Sally ran up to Julie-Su and hugged her as they got off, saying that everything would be okay. She opened up Nicole and played back a message they had received a little earlier.
On Nicole's screen, the familiar face of DJ popped up. "BZZT-Hey! Sup, y'all! It's nice talkin' to ya, though I wish the circumstances were better. Look, we're doin' everything we can over here. We've already searched most of the city. Nothin's comin' up, though. If we find anything, we'll give you guys a holler. Gotta go. Later." The screen went blank, and Sally flipped Nicole closed. "They did say they'd be there for us when we needed them," Rouge said with a smile.
King Acorn had called for a gathering of the people of his kingdom. In front of Castle Acorn, there were thousands of creatures awaiting the King. The King stepped out from the front doors of the castle, accompanied by the Freedom Fighters and their allies from the Floating Island. He stood before the people, took a deep breath, and began, "My people…an atrocity is taking place. One of our allies is being held captive, and being subjected to brutality. You have seen it yourselves, and so I ask of you…please aid us in our search."
There was a dead silence. The King expected this. "I am aware of what has happened in the past few weeks. What he has been involved in. But still I ask of you, help us set him free." Still silence. There was a strange atmosphere around them. The people were still angry about Eclipse. After all, who wouldn't be? He had threatened to kill them all. The King sighed and lowered his head. He couldn't force them to do it. He felt a tapping on his shoulder and turned to see Lara-Le, who requested to speak. He bowed and stepped aside. Lara-Le looked out at the huge masses before her and said, "Please…help find my son. He's not evil. He's not a killer. He's a good boy! It was Dimitri that wanted to enslave you, and now he has my son, my child, and he's hurting him…" Lara-Le began sobbing as she began begging, "Please…I beg of you…as a mother…help find my Knuckles."
"Look no further, m'am," a voice called out from the crowd. The crowd cleared to reveal the Ravagers, standing as defiantly as ever. "He's not in Station Square, so we figured we come play hide-and-seek over here instead," Freezie said. Lara-Le smiled, but frowned when she looked out at the crowd, tears in her eyes. "Is there no one else who will answer a mother's cry for help?" Once again silence, but finally, people began to clap and cheer. Lara-Le smiled at their sudden change of heart. "Now…let us find your son," King Acorn said to her.