Chapter Twenty-One
"Mayor, we've located the target! He's moving into the Eastern sector…" one of the intelligence officers said to Vector over the phone.
"Heh…looks like those homing chips Eggman planted in Metal Sonic and Omega proved to be useful," Vector said to himself out loud before answering the intercom. "Can you estimate the area where they'll end up?"
"They're heading down 16th Street. Shall we send a SWAT team?"
"No…send three teams to the corner of 19th and Ivo."
"Right, sir." The officer hung up. Vector leaned back in his chair. "Right into my clutches…like lambs to the slaughter…all I need to do is spring the trap."
-- -- -- -- --
"Master Sahka?" Espio said when he came in the back door of the old martial arts school. He heard a groan coming from one of the corners of the room. He turned on the light to see the old man bruised and bleeding…
"Espio…is that you?" the old man said. "Come, help me up." Espio did so, and the old man brushed himself off and rubbed one of his bruises.
"What happened? Who beat you up like this?"
"Vector's police…there's just been a new law that the teaching of martial arts is forbidden…I swear…we were better off with Robotnik as mayor."
"In retrospect, it seems so. Vector, so many years ago, would have protested such a law. He was such a good guy then…"
"Yes…his descent into corruption seems without reason," Master Sahka replied as he carefully sat himself down. "There are some bandages in the cupboard. Please get them for me."
Espio got the bandages, as well as some disinfectant and ice.
"Tell me, Espio…you disappeared for a while…where have you been?" the old man asked the chameleon applied a bandage.
"It's a long story…but to put it in a nutshell…we've faced great evils in the guise of former friends. I have also learned the true mastermind behind all the evil of the past decade and a half."
"Who is it, good friend? Surely it is Doctor Robotnik."
"He is a demon of great power…his name is Geddon…supposedly he came from the stars thousands of years ago to consume this planet's energy. The ancients defeated him and imprisoned him within a powerful eggshell prison…Robotnik discovered it and used it to tear my friends apart…destroying our bonds of friendship and replacing them with hatred and fear."
"You never told me what happened the day you split with Vector," Master Sahka said. "Do tell. Considering the things I have seen…I will not be surprised."
Espio sighed and began his tale…
"He'll pay us how much?" Charmy, now aged thirteen, exclaimed. "Wow! He's got a lot of money!"
Vector rubbed his hands together. "Rich is an understatement…we'll not only have wealth, we'll have power! Think of it! We'll have the city eating out of the palms of our hands!"
Espio couldn't help but protest. "Still…this is EGGMAN we're talking about…he's tried to take over the world who knows HOW many times..."
"In these hard times, we need to take any work that we can get. These kinds of offers don't come up very often."
"Very well…I'll do it, if it pays the rent."
"So…your friend has always been consumed by greed. Money is a great temptation…and a necessary evil in this world."
"Money was all Vector thought about…he even turned his back on everyone who had been his friend…and he would even kill."
"Well, well, what do we have here…if it isn't the little rabbit with the Chao," Vector chuckled when the group had cornered Cream, also thirteen years old at the time.
"What…d-d-do you want w-with me?" Cream stammered as she clutched Cheese in her arms. Even after all these years, they were still friends.
"We just want the Chao, that's all." Espio said. "So, I recommend you hand him over nice and easy…"
"No! I won't let you take Cheese from me!" Cream replied angrily.
"Vector…do you really want to do this…she's a friend!" Charmy protested.
"What? You're taking the brat's side? We have a mission to complete for the boss. He's paying us big for this job!"
"Charmy's right, Vector…this is crossing the line." Espio said.
Vector seemed repulsed. "You two sicken me…are you gonna let your emotions get in the way!" Vector pulled out a large handgun, probably a magnum, then pointed it at Cream. "Alright, kid…hand over the Chao or I'll blow your brains out…"
"I won't allow it!" Charmy cried as he put himself between Vector and Cream. "I won't let you do this! If you want to have her, you have to go through me!"
"That can be arranged…"
"My word…" Master Sahka gasped. Espio was now in tears of both grief and rage, his fist clenched.
"He shot Charmy three times…one in the head…twice in the chest…" Espio said through clenched teeth. "Then he used the other three bullets on Cream…both killed…so young…"
"Vector…you…" Espio gasped as he saw the girl, and his friend, both dead on the ground. Cheese tried to fly away, but Vector grabbed it.
"We got what we came for…c'mon, Espio." Vector said, ignoring his friend's expression of horror.
"I don't know you anymore, Vector…" Espio said as Vector walked past him.
"I said, let's go…" Vector said as he turned back to Espio.
"You go ahead…I need to spend a little time with Charmy…"
"Okay…whatever you want…I'll be sure to save your share for ya." Vector left the alleyway. When he was out of sight, Espio looked at his dead friend one last time, and took off in another direction.
Master Sahka nodded in affirmation. "No wonder you left him…anyone who would kill their own friend is surely a twisted individual." His expression turned into one of mild frustration. "How ironic that it now pays to be evil…but where does Geddon come into play in all this? I fail to see the connection."
"Even I'm not sure…maybe it was all fate."
-- -- -- -- --
"Mikoooo!" Crimsa squealed when Miko arrived at the door. She didn't notice Metal Sonic or Omega behind him, so much was she occupied with hugging him…
"Greetings, everyone." Metal Sonic said as he pushed his way through the two. "This is Miko Prower. Miko, these are Shadow, Amy, Rouge, Cadmus and Tsuko."
"Hey everybody…" Miko said, waving a little nervously. "Dang, this is awkward…"
"So…you're my daughter's little friend…" Rouge said. "I'm her mother…but I suppose you guessed that."
"It's getting a little cramped…" Amy noted.
"So…I guess it's time to prod the new guy with questions…" Shadow said.
"I know what you're gonna ask…yes, I am a member of the underground rebellion here…and yes…I think Vector is a murderous creep, and yes, I work with others. Good enough for ya?"
"Actually…what happened to your ear?" Tsuko asked.
"Gunshot…any lower and it would have been my brain." Miko replied.
"Must we talk of violence?" Rouge asked. "I've heard enough of it for one day."
Suddenly, a radio on Miko's belt began to crackle. Quickly he whipped it out, as everyone watched with curiousity
"Miko here, what's up? Over."
"Where the hell are you? Don't tell me you're seeing your girlfriend? Over."
"Look, Yakujo…I'll explain later…"
Suddenly, something popped into Amy's mind when she heard that name…Yakujo. Was he…alive? She snatched the radio from Miko's hand.
"Yakujo! Is that you? It's me! Amy! Over."
"Miko? What game are you trying to play? My younger sister disappeared years ago! You know I told you that! Over."
"Do the coincidences ever end!" Tsuko cried, throwing his hands up. "Amy's a clone…Crimsa's illegitimate and now Amy's found her older brother? Geez!"
"I'm not kidding…it's me! Remember the helicopter fan incident? Over?"
"Yeah, I do…" he stopped speaking for a moment. "Little sis! Over!"
"You…have a brother?" Shadow asked. "You never talked about him…"
"Sis! Where have you been these past…what? Eighteen years? Over?"
"Long…very long story. Here, Miko."
Miko snatched the "Okay…now that THAT touching moment is over…what's up? Over."
"We've been found out! We're in a trap! Need help! Over!"
"On my way. Over and out." Miko put away the radio. "The boys are in trouble…hard to believe they found…" then he realized his error, and slapped his face with his palm "…d'oh! This is my fault!"
"Your calls were traced, weren't they, Miko," Crimsa said, putting her hand on his shoulder. "…this is my fault then…"
Cadmus stood up. "It doesn't matter whose fault it is…Miko's our friend, and any friends of his are ours. We're going to help them out."
"You're right, Cadmus…besides, we need to see what this kid can do…" Shadow said. "Let's go, on the double!"
As everyone went out the door, Miko was stopped by Crimsa.
"Let me come with you!" she pleaded.
"It's far too dangerous…they know who I am and that we're friends…you need to get out of the city…now."
Crimsa hugged Miko one more time. "Be careful…" Miko and Crimsa stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds before he turned and left.
"You heard your boyfriend…we need to leave…now!"
"I'm afraid that would be impossible right now…" a demonic voice said...
-- -- -- -- --
"Damn it, where's that fox? And where's backup?" Aeron moaned as he hid from the barrage of fire in the restaurant.
"They've found everyone out…Miko's doomed the entire operation!" Raiden growled as he dug through his sack for a grenade. "Curse those dames…"
"It's not their fault…" Yakujo replied. "They're just kids."
"You're not exactly our age, Yakujo…" Raiden said. "Didn't you turn twenty-three recently?
"This is not the time to talk about birthdays," Aeron said. "Keep heaving those grenades, Raiden!"
Moments later, several energy blasts flew across their field of vision, blasting away about nine robots.
"Miko here…and I've got the cavalry! Over and out!" a voice over Yakujo's intercom said. He put his radio away and fired his Buster again. Sudden he was plucked up by Cadmus, and felt himself rolling around and around in his hand.
"So this is Power Formation…" Cadmus said with excitement as he smashed through several robots. "Sweet!"
"Don't get cocky…this is your first time using it!" Shadow yelled back as he dodged a few laser shots from the robots. "Amy! Get the guys inside."
Amy entered the restaurant and surveyed the scene, tilting her head to avoid a few machine gun shots.
"And you are?" Aeron asked, surprised at Amy's modest display of reflexes.
"Amy Rose…is there any place to hide here? We need to get you out of here…and I hear my brother's with you."
"If you mean Yakujo…yeah." Raiden growled. "Uh…behind you?"
Amy whirled around and punched a hole in a robot that had snuck up behind her. It sizzled and crackled as it crumpled.
"Thanks, uh…"
"Raiden."
"Whatever…we need to clear out. C'mon!" she quickly ran outside.
"You heard the golden girl…follow her!"
Meanwhile, the others had nearly finished off the robots when the others came outside. Immediately Aeron went over to Miko, who was looking quite ashamed. He opened his mouth, but Miko spoke anyway.
"Yeah…I doomed the whole thing…I'm REALLY sorry, Aeron."
"It wasn't you, actually…there was a traitor down in the South Side…he told them everything…"
"Phew…that's a relief." Miko sighed. Suddenly, one of the remaining robots whirred back to life and began to play a message.
"Greetings, G.U.Nitwits, and especially you, Miko Prower. You wouldn't believe what one of my demon minions dragged in! Maybe this is familiar to you…
"Miko!" Crimsa's voice cried.
"Kidnapping…it's a new low for him." Raiden grumbled.
"If you want to see her alive, meet me at the top of my tower at midnight in twelve days. Don't worry…she'll be perfectly fine…and bring the others." The message ended there.
"What do we do?" Yakujo asked. "This is definitely a trap."
"We can't let that mad reptile harm her…we'll have to do as he says…" Aeron replied. "If his statement about the demon is true, then we're up against something beyond our power."
"Geddon…" Shadow muttered.
"Pardon?" Raiden asked.
"Long story…" Shadow replied.
-- -- -- -- -- --
The group waited twelve days…and when the appointed hour drew near, the group all went to Vector's massive tower. About five minutes before midnight, the group came face to face with Vector, who was holding something. A foul wind was blowing, and it made everyone uneasy.
"So…you decided to come." Vector said. "I'm very impressed."
"The girl, Vector," Raiden growled. "Where is she?"
"She's safe…" Vector replied. "But first, I am something I wish to say."
"We didn't come here to chat, you cretin…" Espio said angrily. "Make it quick."
Vector chuckled. "Oh, Espio…you and your friends truly astonish me…not only at your bravery and valiant acts…but your stupidity.
"What?" Shadow exclaimed. He started forward, but found himself blocked an invisible energy field.
"Like it? This field is attuned to my brain waves. I have you right where I want you. You see…I've found a way to conquer the world…something Ivo Robotnik could never do." The moon rose higher in the sky. Vector showed what he was holding to the group.
"The egg!" Amy cried.
"Massive energy level detected…magnitude off the scale!"
Vector's expression turned to one of near insane glee. "Yes! The egg! This is the key to my victory! This is the relic that caused the Sonic Heroes to ultimately destroy themselves!
"Vector! What are you gonna do with that?" Aeron exclaimed.
"The dread hour approaches! It is time for this world to bow before me!" Vector cackled. At that moment, the moon reached its pinnacle, and the egg began to glow.
"Oh crud…" Tsuko and Cadmus muttered at the same time.
"Ancient evil from the stars…consumer of worlds…I conjure thee from the depths of your prison…thy true name shall be your freedom! Come hither to me!"
With a scream of insane ecstasy, Vector called Geddon's true name. The whole group crumpled to the ground, holding their ears in pain. Everything planted on the ground began to shake, and massive storm clouds poured across the sky, lightning arcing. The egg began to vibrate and glow even more. Great cracks opened in the ground, spewing flame and magma. Finally, in a burst of dark purple light, the egg, which had levitated several feet above the group, burst open…and an otherworldly cackle began to issue forth. When the dust cleared, there he hovered…Geddon was free.
"Master! I have released you as promised!" Vector cried to the World Eater. "Now, give me what you promised me!"
Geddon's head turned toward him. "In a moment, minion."
Shadow wasn't about to let Geddon get his chance. Drawing on all the power he could, he burst out of the barrier (which knocked Vector down), and prepared to smash Geddon in the face…but he only received a fierce telekinetic buffeting.
"Fool! You cannot defeat me with that pathetic power you have!" Geddon rumbled. He tossed Shadow back to the tower using his mind.
"Such power…" Vector muttered. "You see! Geddon is invincible! You have failed to stop his coming! Go, master! Do what you do best!"
"Silence minion!" Geddon roared at Vector. "I need to gloat at them." He then turned to the group, paralyzed with awe and fear.
"Look at you fools…quivering there with frightened mice when only weeks ago, you brashly took the lives of your former friends…to think that you are able to draw upon the powers of this world's ancients. It's a shame that you could not use it well enough to beat me…or was it your emotions that led you to your doom!"
"Love…protectiveness…friendship…these are the follies of those who call themselves good. They make you weak and cloud your mind…any reasonable person would have discarded such notions as frivolous. But then again, not all of us are reasonable, now are we? Perhaps in death you fools shall realize your utter blindness to that fact."
Espio, meanwhile, had made a desperate plan…a plan that would surely break his ties to his friends…but it was to save their lives.
"Geddon…Vector! Let me make a deal!"
"Speak, chameleon." Geddon said.
"Wouldn't it be far more fitting to force these stooges to live in your new world…to suffer under your rule? Scatter them to the winds and let them live, let them forget this day, and of their powers; and I shall serve you obediently, Vector…just like old times."
"Espio! What the hell are you doing?" Shadow screamed.
"Espio…" Amy whimpered.
"Hmmm…yes…that IS a much better idea." Vector said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Your thoughts, Geddon?"
"I like that! It is far more satisfying to the soul to see souls suffer than to kill them quickly! Yes! I'll do it!"
"Welcome to the winning side, Espio," Vector said. Espio started forward, took a last look at the group, and hopped to the other side.
"Ready yet, Geddy?" Vector asked.
"Indeed."
Geddon pointed his finger to the sky. The clouds turned the color of fire and blood...great cracks in the earth broke open, this time, hordes of winged demons poured out of the planet's interior, eager for destruction. The square below suddenly split open, and a horde of demonic hornets poured out. Entire city blocks began collapsing. Great geysers of liquid fire shot out of the city streets.
Geddon then levitated the remaining group members. "Now, fools…it is time to say goodbye to the world you once knew! The era of mortals has ended! The era of the netherworld has come! Now, begone!" With that, he began to toss each group member a great distance away. But when he came to Raiden and Yakujo, he flung them toward the ground below.
"There is the matter of the girl below…" Vector noted when all was said and done. "What shall we do with her?"
"Let her remain here. She cannot do anything. Anyway, the world is now yours. Cities across the planet are crumbling and being taken by my demon army. They will swear allegiance to you, as long as you remain a servant to me. If you need me…I'll be on the moon…enjoy your new world."
With one last unearthly cackle, he disappeared. Vector turned to Espio.
"Well…the world's ours, Espio."
"It seems so…" Espio said, lowering his head in shame.
-- -- -- -- --
And so, the world as it was known came to an end. The continents shifted greatly…entire nations crumbled. Vector quickly took control of everything, and ruled with an iron fist. The cities were partially rebuilt, and demons began to assume control of the cities. The native creatures of the surface world were terrorized, persecuted and slaughtered.
The human race was especially targeted. Six months after, a supernatural virus, created by Geddon's sheer will, spread through the atmosphere of the planet…killing off the entire human race in a matter of weeks. Over six billion humans…man, woman and child…liberal and conservative…poor and rich…none could survive the disease. Everyone else got a minor case of the flu. Some of the more narrow-minded individuals who survived the apocalpysehailed theextinction of Homo sapiens as the planet's greatest victory.
But all was not lost…for Geddon and Vector did not catch wind of Espio's plan…the heroes would fight again…The REVIVAL would take place...in time.
-- -- -- -- --
This is the end of Part 1 of the story. What? Do you really think I'm going to let evil remain the victor? Part 2, Revivalwill be a seperate story.
It will feature newand old original characters, andwill be one of the first fan fictions to feature the newestmember of the Sonic crew: Blaze the Cat!What role willthis mysterious cat play in saving the world from Geddon and Vector? And what of Lady Thorn?
What new villains will block the progress of our heroes? Expect toread of twisted demons, terrifying dragons and other freakish creatures of the netherworld! But not all the demons are evil...well, you'll see.
What powers must our heroes acquire and tap intoto defeat the nigh-invincible terror from the stars and his crocodile servant? Whatever they are, they'll be sure to blow your mind...energy blasts, flight and elemental powers are just the tip of the iceberg!
All this, and so much more...in Part 2! STAY TUNED!111one! (Sorry...couldn't help it...)