Disclaimer: All Sonic Characters © to Sega/Sonic Team/DIC/Archie Comics.
Fan characters belong to the writer of this fiction, which is me: Lynxia aka Patty Hendriks.
Life before and after Death
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Chapter Seven:
Unwanted Sights
The images across the screens make him squint his eyes. Screaming creatures, burning villages and hurt and despair are the only things visible for him. Yet others see different things among the chaotic footages.
"Oooh my, this is so wonderful. Watching this makes me feel so happy and victorious."
Bronx pulls his blue eyes away from the many screens to glance over to Snively who sits in the large chair as if he is simply watching a movie.
"If the SWAT-bots keep up on this rate, I will rule over this planet very soon."
"You…?"
Snively waves a hand towards Bronx without taking his eyes from the screens and says," no, as long as my uncle peeks around the corner, he will, of course, rule this planet. And I will help him of course…. What about you?"
The almost bald man with the pointy nose grins slightly, looking over to the dark furred hedgehog with a small grin across his face and Bronx narrows his eyes at him.
"As long as doctor Robotnik can help Jenna, I will be on his side. I am paying my debt ever since I entered this place."
"True true, very true," Snively mutters and looks back at one screen where several Mobians are being captured by a few SWAT-bots; they were helpless to begin with," just as long as you remember who you pledged your loyalty to, hedgehog. Or else things might not go according to plan."
"What ever…" Bronx scowls and turns around to leave the control room, hearing several explosions and screaming echo through the small room as Snively continues to watch the terror. Even before the doors close behind Bronx, he can hear the man chuckle at what he sees.
It gnaws on him… It gnaws on him that he just has to stand there and watch while fellow Mobians are being hurt or either killed. It is true that a lot prefer to be killed instead of robotized to serve Robotnik. Would Jenna have approved with this kind of way of surviving?
Will she forgive him for the side he choose and the things he did when she will be back alive again?
He grits his teeth in agony as the missing of Jenna becomes worse. How he misses her voice and her comfort. Here inside this base there is nothing which can take her place; not even Pepper even though she tries.
Everything is cold and made of steel and rocks; even the robots are heartless and do not care. Even if he reacts his anger at one, there is nobody to calm him down or to tell him to stop. He is growing so tired of this place and with the knowing that there are people suffering out there heavies the burden.
"Oh Jenna…" he whispers as he walks close by a wall to reach the end of the hallway," why don't you come back to me…? I am going through this all for you. My memories about you keep me going, but I am growing tired…"
He comes to a slow stop and tilts his head up to gaze towards the end of the hallway, his eyes half closed and feeling lonely. He is making things difficult for himself by thinking and wishing too much… Will there never come an end to this?
He remembers… He remembers that every time he wanted to go alone on a hike, she would follow him and join him without even asking if he wanted her company. She never had to ask, because he never did mind. If only he said no the last time… Then this would never have happened.
But her presence was always nice, so he could never say no to her.
If only he said no…
"Bronx!"
Bronx continues to stare towards the end of the hallway, not moving a muscle except for the heaving of his chest as he breathes in and out. The glance in his eyes becomes duller with ever second that passes, as if he is falling into a trance.
A slender figure suddenly appears, come running from around the corner towards him, but all in slow motion. Her steps are gracious, her dress flowing around her legs and she spreads her arms as she looks at Bronx with a scared expression across her face.
"Bronx! Help me!"
The voice echoes through his ears, but the words don't match with the mouth of the figure that comes closer and closer. Her lips remain sealed, but her expression says enough. Her eyes are wide open of fear…
"Someone… Someone is trying to hurt me!"
Bronx slowly comes to his senses and in response he slowly raises his arms to catch the creature that comes running to him with the gracious yet slow movements. He wants to protect her as he knows who she is. It feels like an eternity, but slowly she comes closer and shakes with her head, closing her eyes tightly and as soon as she can almost touch his nose with her own, she opens her mouth and screams," Stop him, please!"
Bronx stares with wide open eyes at the grey hedgehog and tries to wrap his arms around her, whispering," J-Jenna…"
Seeing her tears, he wants to hold her and comfort her, but as soon as he hopes to feel her warmth against him… she runs right through him.
Bronx stumbles back in disappointed, yet shocked surprise and falls down upon the floor. He quickly rolls over to look behind him and sees the shade of his beloved Jenna disappear while she continues to run.
"Jenna…" he stutters as he watches her disappear into nothing and quickly sits up on his knees,"… Jenna! Come back!"
He reaches with a hand out to where she went, but there is no sign of her returning. His hand starts to shake and clenches into a fist, still shaking of despair and anger. Bronx slams his fist down upon the floor and curses while fighting back the tears.
"Damned Jenna… Don't leave me again… please… Come back."
He punches at the floor again before he forces himself up and brushes the back of his fist over his nose to regain his calm. He may have dreamt and think about Jenna a lot, but she never appeared like this before him.
She seemed to be so scared… Why…? He doesn't have a memory of her being like this.
He shakes his head, the image of Jenna screaming for his help cutting through him like a knife.
Why…?
As sharp as the painful image of Jenna is, the sharper the realisation is when it hits him. His mouth slightly opens as he inhales deeply to gasp, the pupils of his eyes growing small. As if he got stung by a bee, he starts to run as if his life depends on it to where he knows he will find an answer. He has to find Pepper…
He continues to run until he reaches the familiar doors which lead to the hall where the capsule of Jenna stands and comes to a stop, almost bumping into the doors. He stares up the doors, waiting for them to open, but nothing happens. He pants and looks over to the control panel in the wall, seeing a red light upon it blinking.
Someone is inside.
Bronx shakes his head in frustration and begins to run again, knowing where he can find Pepper. If that person is in that room, Pepper is close by him; no doubt about it.
He doesn't slow down as he finds the doors he was looking for and literally barges in as the doors slide open when he reaches them. He ends up in a small control room with a large window and a few screens. A large control panel and consoles decorate the room, making Pepper look smaller than she actually is. Her hands rest upon the console, seeming to look through the large window and says as she presses in a button," systems check ran perfectly. You may proceed, doctor."
As she lets go of it, she turns her head to look at a small screen, not seeming to have noticed Bronx's presence yet within the room.
"Pepper," he carefully says as he walks further in and raises a hand to lay it down upon her shoulder.
The husky quickly looks up as she hears Bronx's voice and she looks very startled to see him. She opens her mouth to speak, but it takes a while before she can say anything," B-Bronx…. What…? You aren't allowed to come here."
Bronx grabs her shoulder and shakes his head, saying while he lets his gaze wander over the control panel," I am sorry, Pepper but I need you help. You have to—"
He stops abruptly as he looks through the large window and Pepper flattens her pointy ears, quickly getting up from her seat. Bronx's hand slips off her shoulder and he sets a step closer to the window staring through it as if he has been hypnotised.
There within the room behind the glass the capsule where his beloved Jenna is held inside stands half upright, the grey furred hedgehog uncovered for everyone's eyes. She still looks like she is asleep, but everything around her pretty face proves other wise.
Around the capsule stand machines and equipments meant for operating and research; it is a horrible sight as every sharp or dangerous looking objects glow in the bright white lights which hang above the capsule.
But what is most horrifying about the whole picture is that what makes Bronx's stomach turn around.
Jenna's chest is cut open, revealing her muscles, lunges, and ribs, the furry skin held aside with pins so the wound is clearly open and visible. A scalpel lays beside the body upon a table with more surgery equipment as if someone has just been busy with operating her.
Bronx's breathing becomes faster, but trembles as he has trouble with inhaling the air. He is shaking visibly, not even feeling Pepper tugging onto his shoulders to pull him back… with no success.
"Bronx, please! You have to leave! You shouldn't be here!"
He doesn't even hear her screaming… all he sees now is Jenna's heart lying in a silver dish on the table beside the capsule; just removed…
Bronx sets an unsteady step back, making Pepper release him and back away as well, not saying a word as she can see he is in total shock. The dark furred hedgehog pants and looks over to the screens, all close ups of the surgery. He tries to swallow but his throat is dry and he grips for the control panel to remain standing.
"What are you doing to Jenna…?"
"Please, Bronx… You have to leave," Pepper says softly and reaches with her hands out to him, wanting to take his hands to guide him out of this room.
"Tell me!"
The husky cringes at his sharp and loud voice and quickly pulls her hands back, not answering him right away. She watches Bronx who appears to break down every moment and she says," we are trying to bring her back to life, Bronx… Please, come with me… away from this."
Bronx lowers his head and shakes his head once, releasing the control panel and walking over to the doors to leave. He doesn't look at her as she continues to walk forward and says with a low voice with held back emotions," there is no heartbeat anymore…"
Pepper shakes wild with her head and wants to go after him, but a familiar voice makes her stay where she is.
"Start up power cell 6B."
Pepper looks from the speaker to Bronx and seems to be in conflict about what to do. She moves a bit uneasy, torn about which way she should go; back to the control panel or to the door where Bronx is leaving through.
"Pepper! Don't slack off on you job! Start up power cell 6B!"
"Yes sir!" Pepper quickly says as she slams the button of the microphone down and hears the doors close behind her, knowing Bronx has left.
She sighs deeply and lowers her head, whispering as she slowly sits down again," I hope he will understand… We are so close… It won't be long."
She leans a bit to the side and lays her hand across a handle, wrapping her fingers around it and pulling it down. One of the machines by the capsule comes to life and a long cyborg arm moves over the body of the grey hedgehog, casting its shadow over her.
"I am sorry, Bronx…"
-To Be Continued-