(I do not own Sonic X, Etc.)
Flip Card 2:
Name: The Foundation Organisation
Age: 60
Job description: A military based company that funded Prof. Gerald's research onboard ARK 50 years ago... That could possibly all be a façade for something more dangerous.
"There you go." Chuck finally said; turning off the welding torch and pushing the grad up from over his face, Metal Sonic's arm finally repaired. The robotic hedgehog clenched a fist, testing the strength of his fingers for a moment before he looked satisfied. Sliding off the table, he paused to examine his body to make sure all the damage inflicted during the chaotic battle with Shadow's mysterious ghouls was gone. "Try not to get in too many more fights, it's costing me a small fortune in repair work for the Planes as it is."
"As the Doctor orders." Metal replied. Now that he was up and running again with a clean, 100 power output reading, he could challenge Sonic either to a fight or a race, whichever his organic counterpart felt like. The trap door leading up into Chuck's apartment opened and his grand son pushed his head through.
"Chris, good to see you." Prof. Thorndyke declared as Chris made his way up into the upstairs. "How's high school been?"
"Confusing." The boy replied, rubbing his head. "I could start telling you about it, but quite frankly I'm too tired." He rolled his eyes." Not to mention I saw on the news all I missed." He sat himself down in one of the chairs near the window as Metal Sonic tested the strength of his arms by re-arranging the shape of a long piece of metal on Chuck's work table. Mr. Stuart, a federal agent posing as the Thorndyke's gardener, was just downstairs in the garage, listening to what they'd were saying, recording it all through a concealed bug he'd planted there a few days ago. It was his job to keep the Government informed of all the movements of the Thorndykes, known affiliates of the world renowned hero.
So far, all he'd been able to gather was that Metal Sonic was no longer a major threat, quite the reverse now. While there were a lot of people in Area 99 who wanted him melted down anyway, the much bigger problem of the Eggman Empire took priority, so they were prepared to let this one go. Many people were interested in acquired the technology that made robots like Metal Sonic and Omega think for themselves. Having that king of artificial intelligence could produce a lot of money for a lot of powerful people. Unfittingly for them however, both Metal and Omega were classified as within G.U.N jurisdiction and off limits to big corporations.
"Sonic tells me you have eyes for a girl." Metal put in suddenly, straightening out the metal bar and placing it back, quite satisfied with the strength of his hands. A deep shade of red crept began to glow on the boys cheeks. Chuck turned and pretended to be getting on with some work.
"Well…er…" Chris stuttered, trying to think of something to say that wouldn't make him look like a total idiot.
"What was that name again?" Metal began, looking thoughtful. "Helen wasn't it?" A frog formed in Chris' throat. "You look embarrassed. You shouldn't be. Emotions are a vital part of organic reproduction. It's necessary for your kind to create young." Metal Sonic's statement made Chris; entire face burn red. "I say something wrong?" The robot asked again, suddenly noting the look of intense embarrassment on the boys face.
"No." Chuck began with his back turned. "But next time try not to explain like it a machine."
"That's easy for you to say."
"Young Master, a girl is at the front door. She claims to know you." Stuart had had to quickly look like he was working when Tanaka turned up, putting his head up into the upstairs apartment. "Blonde girl, in a wheel chair."
"Ah, that'll be her." Metal added, eyes red eyes giving Chris a sly side glance. There was something profoundly sadistically enjoyable about watching him blush. Quickly, and with his face still red he quickly vanished after Tanaka. When Chris came to see her at the door, she hair was tied back into a pony tail. A far different hair style than the one he was used to, in some weird way it seemed to bright out the brilliance of her aqua blue eyes. She had a new wheel chair that her parents had bought. It had been created using the new technology stolen from the graveyard of the Egg Fleet. It had cost her parents a lot of money, but it provided Helen far more mobility than her old wheelchair. This new seat hovered above the ground, suspended by a magnetic force.
Along with new military capabilities, the salvage of technology had been incredibly beneficial for medical science. There were even rumours that within two years time, nano-technology might open up all kinds of possibilities for disabled people.
"Nice isn't it?" She asked with a sweet smile as Chris looked it over. The chair was silver in colour and seemed to fit her body almost like a think dress. A pair of thin arm rests out the side, the controls for the chair on the left hand side of each.
"How much did that cost?" Chris just asked.
"My parents wouldn't tell me." She admitted, suddenly looking regretfully. "But I'd image quite a lot. They were the first ones to take it up when it became available." Chris stood aside the girl floated inside.
"Mr. Thorndyke says there is a call from Tails on the line in his workshop." Tanaka said in a passing comment as he disappeared into the kitchen. "He says Tails wishes to speak to you as well." Metal Sonic had been watching from the upstairs with an amused look in his eyes.
"Oh hello Mr. Stuart." Stuart looked up, suddenly seeing Helen and Chris come out of the main house and make their way towards the garage. He quickly put his microphone away in a panicked rush.
"Good to see you again Helen." Their former teacher said, smiling.
"Not traded teaching in for gardening are you?"
"Only part time, I'll be back teaching more young people like yourselves before you know it." Chuck leaned out of the trap door and yelled down to them.
"Chris, hurry up please." He said before disappearing again.
"About time." Sonic said once Chuck's face reappeared with Chris' on the web cam. The blue hedgehog had his arms crossed and his face set in a bored frown. Tails was standing beside him "Hey Chris. I need the two of you to meet us at Vanilla's apartment as soon as you can." Chuck, Helen and Chris shot each other a puzzled glance.
"Why?" They all asked at once.
Cream had been in her room for some time. She hadn't even come out for breakfast this morning.. Vanilla had never seen her daughter like this before. She was very worried about her. Her friends had tried to call her, but she wasn't interested in talking to them at the moment. Vanilla had been upset that she'd left to go of on an adventure without her permission, but her daughter had just lost her best friend. She could hardly ground her for a year after that.
Her apartment was located on the waterfront in Station Square, overlooking the bay between the city and the Mystic Ruins. The shattered ruins of the Egg Fleet still rusting in-between. It was small space, but until they could find more a permanent residence this would have to do.
"Hey." Amy announced, poking her head around the already open front door. "Sorry, door was unlocked." Vanilla smiled as the pink hedgehog, surrounded by more of Cream's friends entered.
"I'm glad you're here." She replied. "Cream could certainly use some company right about now. Although it may take some persuasion to make her open the door. At the moment she won't speak to anyone. Not even me."
"Oh I think she will." Sonic added with a wide smirk, stepping side to reveal who was standing behind him. Vanilla's jaw dropped.
Emerl had never betrayed them. He simply couldn't control his actions. She had through such terrible things about him when, after the Chaos Emerald Tournament, the robot had turned on them. She had truly believed that he was one of Eggman's loyal robot soldiers. But, in the end, her best friend after all he'd done, sacrificed himself to save her.
Cream just felt like a part inside of her had died. She sat on her bed, her arms wrapped around her knees. Cheese sat on the end of the bed, his near featureless face set in a sad stare.
"Chao?" He asked quietly, but received no reply.
"Cream." Her mother knocked on the door. Cream didn't move. "Your friends are here to see you. Shouldn't you come out and say hello."
"I don't want to." The she rabbit yelled out through the closed door. "Tell them to go away and leave me alone." There was silence from the other side. Cream could see their shadows coming underneath the door.
"I think you should dear." Before Cream could argue, Vanilla pushed the door open. Standing there beside her were all of her friends. Sonic, Tails, Amy, Chris, Chuck, Helen and Turel, Amy's hero chao, who flew into the room instantly to play with Cheese. Standing there in front of them all was the one person she never through she'd see again.
A metallic figure, with three large blue eyes and black and golden armoured skin. The Eggman Empire's symbol on his chest plate had been removed, with Tails' double tails sign printed on instead.
Her face hung in suspension, staring with an emotionless expression at the robotic figure that stood before her. A tense moment followed and everyone could nearly taste the overwhelming emotion in the air. She slowly pushed herself off the bed and stood before the robot she'd thought was long gone.
Emerl reached out, offering her his hand again. Cream didn't move, she just stood there staring before a think trickle of tears began running down her cheeks. She looked over to all those around her. Sonic smiled and gave her a thumbs up, then she turned back to face Emerl.
In her mind flashed the memories of when she'd first met him, hiding in the bushes on the Thorndyke estate. How they'd become good friends, before Eggman's schemes pried them apart. Her tears intensified, before she, without any hesitation nearly tossed herself at the root, who caught her in his arms.
"Tails, old buddy." Sonic said with a large grin. "You're a miracle worker."
A large part of Station Square was still being rebuilt following the Metal Overlord's attack. Much of that was in ruins, due to be knocked down and the building started from scratch. Completely sealed of, the area had been abandoned for over two months now. The entangled mess of crumbling buildings and empty streets provided Shadow with an absolutely perfect training grounds.
Sliding in and out of the concealed pathways, Shadow found that this pushed his agility to it's limits, especially if he tried to travel at a comfortable speed. The black and red hedgehog had no specific reason to train his body. He had to enemies to fight and quite to be honest, he would prefer if he didn't have to fight at all. What kept him at it was the thought of beating Sonic at something. Like Metal Sonic, Shadow enjoyed a healthy rivalry with the Blue hedgehog. It gave both their existence's a little purpose.
About some time ago, when he'd skated out onto an empty high street, the only thing littering the streets apart from rubble and overturned cars being a thin lay of brick dust, it began to softly snow. Slowly at first, but as the minutes wore on, Shadow found himself caught in a thick fall. He slid to a stop beside an abandoned apartment building, even his eyes enhanced eyes couldn't see through it. The sun had already gone down, so there was no hope of using it's position to estimate in which direction he was facing.
His ear twitched when he heard a faint sound coming from somewhere behind him. He shot back to look, but of course through the falling snow he could see nothing. He waited just in chase it happened again, the howls of the wind nearly preventing him from hearing anything, but eventually that sound came again.
Any other person would have passed it off as a cat or domesticated animal, but Shadow knew full fell it was the sound of someone putting a foot down as softly at they could on the snow. Someone was following him.
He paused for a moment just to make sure, listening carefully, being careful not to make a single sound. As he waited, more sounds drifted over. One very distinct one being the sound of a gun being loaded.
As soon as he heard that, he was gone, sliding over the shoe with artistic ease, skating between the ruined buildings. He paused every now and then to listen, doing this to see exactly how good they were at following him. He could tell they were by no means as fast as he was, but they were doing a very good job of keeping up. This was amateur hunter that was for certain.
Shadow decided to see exactly how good this guy really was and vanished in a Chaos Control warp, reappearing on the top of a large storage warehouse, leaping from roof top to roof top, before sliding down a collapsed wall into a back alley. From his hiding place, Shadow listened. Like he'd expected, whoever was following him was still on his tail. No amateur that was certain now. This was a professional.
The chase with whoever was following him went on for another ten minutes before the black and red Hedgehog decided that it was time to show them exactly who they were dealing with. Intending to play on that overused saying, the hunter becomes the hunted, he shot around at a u-turn, zooming in at super speed towards the sounds point of origin. It was about then he discovered his fatal flaw.
He had been too arrogant about his own abilities, underestimating his quarry. His pursuer had been directing Shadow by purposely making noises to make him go in different directions, herding the black and red hedgehog into a dead end. He frowned, realizing his own amateurish mistake.
Sounding around, he came face to face with his pursuer, who was crouching on a support beam overhanging the alleyway. He was a mobian weasel, with bright purple fur. A leather hat on his head and a belt wrapped around his waist. His tail took an entire ninety degree turn directly in the middle. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of goggles, the eyes a bright green. Infra-red scopes. So that was how he knew were Shadow was all the time. Apart from himself, the black and red Hedgehog was the only source of heat in this part of the city.
"Hey nothing personal pal." The weasel said, raising a rifle, peering through it's lens. "I'm just doing a job." Without a single second of hesitation he fired. Shadow easily dodged the projectile, but discovered too late that the weasel hadn't been aiming for him. The bullet fired contained a powerful sleeping gas that was released on impact, coating the air in a thick green smoke. Shadow gasped for air, his strength leaving him before his eyes grew heavy and he collapsed to the floor, asleep. The weasel had already attached a specialised gas mask to his face so when he jumped down to inspect his work, he remained unaffected. He gave Shadow's body a kick with his boot and then leaned down to check he was still alive. Noting the healthy plus, he stood up again.
"This is Sniper to HQ. Mission accomplished. Target immobilised. Ready for e-vac." He said, putting two fingers to the side of his goggles, speaking into a concealed microphone. Almost immediately the sound of chopper blades began to fill the air. A search light lanced down from the sky a moment later, striking the weasel and the unconscious hedgehog. Swiftly, ropes carrying several men in swat uniform descended from above, quickly taking hold of Shadow limp body. Fang reached up, grasping the out reaching hand on one of them and was hoisted up as well.
"Target secure. Move out." One of the soldiers yelled over towards the pilots and the chopper quickly began to disappeared into the snow storm.
"You do good work Mr. Sniper." Arthur Falcon the Third, current head of Foundation operations stated through the video link as the weasel seated himself down, removing his gas mask and goggles, showing that his eyes had changed colour to an unnatural green. "I knew I could count on you."
"Just doing my job sir." The weasel replied with a wide smirk. "We'll have him back at headquarters within minutes. I'll personally be delivering him."
Are you prepared to go on the journey?
Just one more morning to come,
Put on a new shirt and,
Sneak out into the night,
Today, the city won't sleep either,
It will just watch quietly,
What you and I will start!
To be shine, to be free,
Do not be bewildered,
The waves of time are strong but gentle,
Very soon, very soon, I'm going out to meet you,
Together, our world will shine,
To be shine, to be free,
Don't be frightened,
The waves of time are strong but gentle,
We'll meet in that far and distant city,
Very soon, very soon, I'm going out to meet you,
Let's go and find our future.
(In Chris' Voice)
Emerl is back and for good this time. But what about Shadow? Where did Fang take him and why? Find out next time as the Foundation Saga begins. Episode 13: Laying of a Foundation. Don't miss it!
(End of Saga notes.
Just began this long saga is over, doesn't mean that I'm stopping. Oh no. I intend to do at least twenty six whole episodes to make up an entire new season of Sonic X. I still have three saga's in mind to make the story from here on in very interesting. Tell me what you think of this finished Saga. Enjoy the appearance of Bean and Bark? I had intended this to be a Sonic the Fighter's Saga, but I though having the Death Egg 2 around was too star wars like. I put the new black Emerl in from Sonic Advance 3 since I saw a screen shot where he and Cream becoming friends. R&R!!)