Chapter 4: Escape from Capital Tower
Espio and Knuckles ran over to a stack of crates, Espio jumped to the top and pushed the top crate aside and signaled for Knuckles to follow, Knuckles jumped up and seemed to land a little funny.
Espio grinned and placed the box back where it was after Knuckles passed him, the two slowly crept through the large airshaft with fans going on at all sides, they crawled through the shaft and came out in a small empty hallway that was sealed off at both ends with large thick bolted doors. Espio leapt across the floor and clung to the wall and ripped off the vent cover and waited for Knuckles. Knuckles leapt out of the shaft and entered a glide easily landing next to Espio.
Computer Voice: Warning…prison escape in progress. All officers are to shoot at anything that moves.
Espio scowled and dashed down the vent and smashed through the first vent over they crawled to, Knuckles stayed right at his side as the two dashed across the metal floor and jumped up into the rafters and swung around the pipes over the large drop. Espio swung off and grinded down a pipe with Knuckles right behind him, the two leapt off the pipe and put their hands together and slowly floated down to the platform. Knuckles grinned and let go and spun around like a drill as he went headfirst towards the guard, the guard stood around looking at the hallways when suddenly he was ripped to shreds from above. Knuckles stood up and smiled as he looks at what was left of the guard, Espio grinned and ran down the pathway. Knuckles caught up to him in seconds and stayed behind him as they ran down a hall and dove through another airshaft this time sliding into a large armory of sorts. Espio scowled and shouted to move as the turrets in the walls popped out and began to fire in all directions in the room. Espio and Knuckles jumped high up and dove head first through the steel grate in the floor and slid down a small water shaft until they were inside a water tank.
"Take a DEEP breath we have a bit to swim." Espio said.
Knuckles nodded and took in an intense breath and dove under after Espio, the two swam down the large pipe filled with water. The filters began suddenly became active and large fans began to spin blocking the path, Espio and knuckles stalled for second and with one massive stroke they easily got through the speeding fans and continued through the dark path as small cleaner bots gave off small laser beams that would make some sort of grid in an attempt to stop the two. Swimming up the pipe the two came to a steep incline where they jumped out and slid down the wet tube until they came to a type of storage room. Espio and Knuckles jumped out and climbed the crates until they reached a small grate of some sort. Espio immediately kicked the grate out and the two jumped out and landed on the City streets. Knuckles instantly looked up at dark night sky and listened to the sounds of traffic. He gazed at the dirt city and gave Espio a confused look.
"Well…how does it feel to be a free man again? Before you say it…don't worry. We'll get Robotnik…and we'll make him pay with his life." Espio said coldly.
Espio smiled and began to lead Knuckles down the street when a old weasel in a dark blue robe and a thick dirty cane walked up to the two, he gave off a small innocent look and stood up as best he could.
"Greetings…my name is Lokor. I'm terribly sorry to bother you on such a night such as this…but I do not have the credits for the Neo Transit and I'm starving…might I ask for a few credits so that I might be able to get home?" Lokor asked while cutting Knuckles and Espio off.
"Here's a question…" Knuckles said while grabbing the old weasel, "where the fuck am I!"
"Sorry sir! He's bee having a bad night…and doesn't talk much." Espio said while quickly pulling Knuckles back.
"Well my furious friend. This is Neotropolis…or Neo City as most refer to it; a great city built by the ever so great Emperor Robotnik…the only city where we can find solace from those monsters outside." Lokor said while dusting himself off.
"Isn't that nice…I just got back from being a guest in his wondrous prison." Knuckles said furiously.
"In prison…or out of prison…we are all trapped within this damn city. Waiting to die…" Lokor stated, "No matter what he says…we all know we are losing the war…"
"Knuckles…we need to get going." Espio said.
"Oh my…I believe we have trouble…" Lokor stated as he pointed up into the night sky.
A large drop ship landed in front of the small group and its rear hatched opened allowing 6 guards to walk out and point their guns at the group. Knuckles scowled and began to grit his teeth as he stared down the barrel of the gun, Espio kept his cool and put his hand on Knuckles' shoulder.
"We got word that a prisoner has escaped. Therefore everyone within the premises is suspect to hiding prisoners from the Great Emperor Robotnik. Surrender and die!" The Guard stated.
Espio slowly walked up to the guard and gave a small nervous look. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and put one hand on his hip.
"…Excuse me sir...I don't mean to offend you…and I'm still some what new to this city…but doesn't the saying go…"Surrender…OR DIE!"" Espio asked with a hint of concern in his voice.
"Ha! Not in this city. Its much more fun this way anyways…" The Guard replied.
"Please kind sir we are not criminals we are merely traveling home to our families…" Lokor said softly.
"We'll send your families whatever is let of you…now hands up!" The Guard demanded.
Knuckles scowled and gave the guard a clean right hook; the guard's neck gave a sickening snap from the mighty punch, Espio's eyes opened wide as the sheer force of the punch could be seen.
Instantly the other guards stormed Knuckles, Knuckles ran forward and drove his fist into the stomach of a guard and smiled as he saw it come out the other side, Knuckles threw the corpse at the other guards jumped up putting his fists together, as he landed his smashed the now single fist over a guard's head completely shattering the skull leaving only a busted neck behind. Knuckles roared and grabbed one Guard by the throat and threw him forward with such force the guard's neck and body snapped as it crashed into the other guards, Knuckles jumped up and slammed his fist down on the pile crushing all the guard with one mighty blow. Espio's jaw dropped as Knuckles laughed as blood rained down on him. The drop ship's hatch opened and waves of guards came out and surrounded Knuckles, Knuckles clutched his head and suddenly his fur was rough and his eyes turned midnight black with only crimson red pupils showing. He dove into the crowd and spun around like a saw, the sound of flesh being violently ripped apart echoed throughout the area as the guards screamed in agony as Knuckles ripped them limb from limb, and drove his monstrous hands into their chests. Knuckles leapt up into the air and landed behind a guard and bit the guard's neck viciously, after ripping a chunk out he threw the guard into the rest and dove into them and spun around like a saw, 3 seconds past and the entire ship load of guards was nothing but a pile of parts in a pool of blood. Knuckles held his head and slowly returned to normal.
"I said it once…now I'll say it again…What the fuck was that!" Espio screamed.
"I…I don't know! I can't control it!" Knuckles replied.
"Such power…well my angry friend. You have my gratitude for saving me…I'll just walk home…as now the transit has stopped for the night." Lokor said as he slowly began to walk away.
"Lokor it was a pleasure to see you again. Come by in 3 days, I need to take Knuckles to a safe haven." Espio said softly.
"Very Well Espio. Do take care both of you." Lokor said as he began to fade into the distance.