Victor John Foxfire(Ch75): Did Jack have something to do with the Second Carrier showing up? Maybe, maybe not. He doesn't like the Legion or robians. Did he go out of his way to try and help Johan, no. Johan will drive most of the big story events this arc, so they'll lean more into Johan.
Victor John Foxfire(76): Sonic laughing at Hamlin? I mean he laughs at everyone, so why not? As for Sonar, I have plans for her. Johan is mad for so many reasons, and you nailed most of them. Johan has a bit of a philosophy that has been defied, and that upsets him to no end.
The Sand Blasters, however, are used to the style of leadership, although some don't necessarily like it. Most are choosing the lesser of two evils between the legion and the Sand Blasters. Johan might be offering a third option in the future…
As for the dream, there is a lot to be inferred from it, and all will be revealed in time.
MerendinoEmilano: Yeah, Jack is not a nice guy, but neither is Johan. There is a difference in courage and commitment that distinguishes the two.
/*-*/
Sonic laid in bed and stretched. Thank goodness the tube was gone. Unfortunately, he was stuck with a salt clam chowder and crackers. Sonic was not exactly a fan, and would much rather have a nice, juicy, saucy chilidog. Still they were "worried his digestive track wasn't ready for more complicated foods".
At least he wasn't alone. Sally walked in, back from her trip to Freedom HQ and was sitting there telling Sonic all about the world he'd want to run in. "Antoine and Bunnie had a wonderful date night, or so she told me. Antoine can apparently cook. I think he's nervous about someone's personal chef." Sally gave Sonic a sly smirk.
"I'll have her make you something sometime." Sonic laughed, his chest feeling perfectly fine. He honestly felt fine a couple days ago. He still wasn't sure why he stuck in bed, outside of the casts.
Sally grinned at him, "Is she really that good?" Sally's grin turned soft, she seemed to stare into Sonic's. Her eyes were clearly affectionate. Sonic returned her gaze, knowing she made his life…amazing. She was perfect, oh how he loved her. Yes, he had his troubles, but if Sonic learned anything from being so hurt by her, it was because she was closest to his heart.
Sonic smiled, "I'm really glad you are here." He leaned up and she leaned down, they brushed their foreheads against each other. Sally's lips met his, and Sonic felt a fire in his belly. She was amazing, and he loved her. He loved her so much. Sally, on the other hand, was left his lips breathless. She was panted as he could see her heart beating against her chest.
Was it really that good? She held a hand to her heart as she pressed her forehead against his again, giggling. Sonic tried to move his arm to hold her, but yet again the cast got in his way. Sonic was more than fed up with his inability to move. Sally leaned in, and gave him a tight hug, but he still felt so angry Sonic wasn't able to return the hug.
Doctor Quack came in, looking rather troubled by something, "Ah, you're here. Well, Your tests came back, Mr. Hedgehog, and I have to say you seem…. Completely healed." The Doctor didn't exactly sound confident or joyful from that. He sounded confused.
Sonic didn't really care though, "Alright, so I am good to go and I can get out this stupid cast?" He was so hopeful. The ability to run and go and be free. To going up the hills and mountains, and run across the plains.
But the Doctor had other plans, "Actually, I would like to run a few more tests." Doctor Quack grumbled, sounding even more confused and disoriented. Sonic had to register the words. He was trapped in the hospital for… how long? And the Doctor wanted to keep him there for even longer?
Sonic growled, but Sally was faster than him, ironically, "Are you serious? He is fine. He wants out, why are you keeping him here."
"I need to be sure that nothing bad will happen once he leaves." Doctor Quack explained, but he was still frustrated.
Sally grit her teeth, "You said he was fully healed? What possible problems could come out of this?" She was still keeping herself in check. She didn't rule out the possibility, which would have been good for Sonic if he felt there was an actual danger.
"… Can you and I step outside? I would like to talk to you about something." The Duck sighed, holding up his clipboard.
Sally looked at Sonic before turning back to the doctor, "Very well."
They went outside Sonic's room. He waited there, still not sure what was wrong. He also wondered where Tails was. Did he turn himself in? Sonic hoped not. Where was Fiona? Sonic thought about her in his time there. She seemed to grow more distant.
Sonic was afraid of what that meant. Did she decide there was nothing here for her? Perhaps she left, and went back to Scourge. That name still burned inside him. Sonic hoped he never had see Scourge again. That would be a bad day.
Sonic's mind then went back to Fiona. If she wasn't going back to Scourge, what was she doing? Sonic wasn't sure he wanted to know that either. He had a slight hope that she was out there, waiting for him.
The Door opened up and Doctor Quack walked in with Sally, the two of them looking slightly nervous, before the Doctor nodded, "Alright Mr. Hedgehog, I would like for you to assure me that you will remain calm throughout my explanation."
Sonic nodded, "Yeah Doc, is it really that bad?" Sonic died, he knew that, but still, the Doctor sounded… really concerned.
Doctor Quack nodded slowly, "Very well, Mr. Hedgehog, you were dead for… hours. Not simply a few seconds. Your bodily bacteria was running rampant, I'll be it at a suspended rate due to our cold morgue chambers." The Doctor explained in what might as well have been a foreign language.
Sonic looked at Sally who sucked her lips in nervously, "Your body was eating itself. You were dead for that long."
Sonic blinked, now no longer confused, but also slightly disturbed, "Um…Ok, I kind of guessed… a bit."
The Doctor did not seem amused with his response, "Right, Well typically, no medical invention every created could bring you back from death. Yet, here you sit." Did he have to sound so upset about it?
Sonic apologized, "Well, I'm sorry I keep making your life hard by living." Sonic slumped, feeling…disappointed in the doctor.
Quack saw what Sonic was Say, "I apologize. I do not mean to sound ungrateful. I am frustrated. You are the only thing truly stopping Eggman from coming here and roboticizing all of us. I am frustrated that you keep trying to throw your life away."
Sonic… didn't have a snarky comeback or a good counter for that. He was getting injured a lot. "I am too."
The Doctor nodded, before flipping his beak, "Mr. Hedgehog, I believe I have to explain just how badly you were injured." He held up a picture which was clearly of an Xray of someone's body. It was fine, the liver and lungs were all there, everything seemed to be in place.
"I look fine, Right?" Sonic smiled, not liking where this was going.
"This was your body." Doctor Quack handed Sonic a second Xray, which was…less appealing.
Everything…. Kind of looked there. There hundreds of splotches over every organ, some white, others dark. He also noticed a lack of bones. "W-What happened?" Sonic felt the smalls hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He could feel his breathing getting ragged.
"Mr. Hedgehog, are you ok?" Doctor Quack asked, in a very calm, concerned manner. Sonic realized he was starting to panic, and shut it down. He knew he was hurt badly, and he was better now.
"Yeah, I'm…good." Sonic gulped, feeling Sally grab Sonic's hand. He found comfort with her warm grip, as the Doctor took a moment to examine Sonic.
"Are you sure? People who have been injured have had panic attacks over their injury, I understand if you do not wish to continue." The Doctor explained, seeming to watch every move from Sonic.
"You're good." Sonic panted out, feeling Sally lean against him, letting her warmth calm his heart.
Doctor quack nodded, "Very Well, You ribs seemed to turn into shrapnel. They tore into your lungs, kidneys, pancreas, heart, Stomach, intestines, all of it. There was more mush than actual organ within you."
Sonic began to rock his leg nervously. There was something unnerving about it, hearing his own death.
"Your spin was split into three parts, and your shoulder blades were cracked and chipped. Your own quills pierced into your legs resulting in muscular damage. I have to ask: What happened to you?" The Doctor demanded.
Sonic frowned. If he told them about Johan, Johan would tell them about Tails. So… he had to stay quiet, "Nothing big. I can't really say anything."
Sally was the first to look outraged, "What? What do you mean? You can't expect me to-"
Sonic winced and sighed, "Sally, please, I need you to trust me. I can't really explain it, but trust me."
She saw his determination and Folded, thankfully, "Alright, but you will tell me in private."
Sonic was about to protest, but her eyes burned in a way that scared Sonic. He would have to tell her eventually. "Alright."
Doctor Quack cleared his throat, "I know I can not keep you here, I am well aware that you'll run off, but I have to understand how even in this world full of magical rocks and weather changing monsters, how did you come back from the Dead?"
Sonic smiled, "I can't remember. It's very fuzzy, heck most of that night is a blur. I… I really don't know." Sonic was pretty sure the Chaos emeralds had something to do with him coming back, but he wasn't sure of anything.
Doctor Quack nodded, "Very well, I will sign your release forms. You are healthy and good to go, but please, try to… you've heard it all before." The Doctor dismissed, and left the room.
Sally turned to Sonic with a prying look that he recognized all too well, "Alright, who did this to you? Was it Johan?"
Sonic felt the words in the back of his throat, "Yes, but don't do anything."
Sally glared at Sonic, "Sonic, What's going on?"
Sonic felt his throat caught. Still, he might as well tell her, "I Need you to promise me this will stay between us. No throwing people in Jail."
"Sonic, what is this about?" Sally glared, looking both worried and frustrated from Sonic's stubbornness.
"I need you to promise me." Sonic re-demanded firmly.
Sally opened her mouth to protest, before looking away. She seemed to be very upset with Sonic's stubbornness, but she finally gave in, "Fine, I Promise that no one will go to jail over this."
Sonic sighed, "Thank you." He then prepared himself to retell the story.
/*-*/
Fiona climbed the mountain, rising higher and higher. Her teeth were grit, she was angry, and depressed, and furious, and outraged. She didn't know how to describe it.
The Jewels weren't working. Fiona had… liberated several piece of silver, gold and rare platinum. These metals encompassed sapphires, jades, garnets, emeralds, and diamonds. Those platinum emerald rings were Fiona's prize. And yet she didn't feel better.
Fiona had worked out a sort of deal with herself. She would pull amazing scores, and feel amazing afterwards. So why was she so down? It was ridiculous.
She kept her sorrow to herself. She knew full well if Sally found out she'd been stealing that Fiona would be thrown back in prison. Sally would love that wouldn't she? Sally was threatened by Fiona, and with Fiona out of the picture, she could rub her hands all up and down Sonic's chest, give him all the sweet little kisses he needed.
Fiona scowled as she kept climbing. She needed to be alone. She needed to think. To think about how Sally was probably hugging and kissing all over her prize that Fiona lost so long ago.
Fiona paused her climb. She sighed, "I guess she won, fair and square." That was hard for Fiona to admit, but she knew it was true. That painful truth was that Fiona probably never stood a chance.
Sally had history, she had years with Sonic. She had a pretty spotless record outside of a couple of angry words and the big break up. Most of all, Sally gave Sonic a purpose.
Fiona stopped at that thought. Sonic really did need Sally. She gave him a focus point that kept someone like him from going crazy. Sonic needed Eggman, an enemy to face, to exhaust his powers.
Was that where Scourge went wrong? A lack of authority to reign him in, a lack of an enemy to direct his fury? If Eggman had attacked their world, would Scourge have been a good Sonic?
Fiona resumed her climb. Was destiny a thing? Was Scourge always destined to be a fiend? Was Sonic destined to be a hero? Was it choices or fate?
Was it Fiona's fate to keep making mistakes? Her fate to be alone?
"Why are you on my mountain?" A gruff, angry voice growled.
Fiona jerked and saw a Wolverine standing over the ledge of the mountain, "Johan?" She mumbled softly.
"I am not my king, my king is at home, in our dimension." The Wolverine growled, "You are in my territory, you have not taken the road, which makes you a scout, or a threat. But I am feeling the shame of mercy in my heart, and I will permit you to explain yourself." He growled, looking down at Fiona.
She finished her climb, and sat on the ledge, panting, "I…I'm wanting to be alone."
"Do so elsewhere, or come to my monastery." The Wolverine grumbled.
"Can I just… sit here? I won't do anything to you?" Fiona gasped, realizing jus how much energy climbing took from her.
The Wolverine eyed her for a moment, "Very well, What troubles you?"
"Are you offering therapy?" Fiona asked, almost laughing. This guy was very different from Johan.
"I want you away from my home. If I help you, then you will leave." The beast growled.
"Can I get a name?" Fiona asked, laughing slightly.
"Ceawlin, Gedriht of Johan." The Wolverine stated, watching her carefully.
"Fiona, Lady of Apalsa." Fiona replied, giving a light bow to not show any disrespect.
Ceawlin's ears flicked as he seemed to listen.
Fiona sighed, "I don't feel like I have a lot of control over my life. I hurt a boy I liked… loved, and now I think I've lost him for good. My rival for my boy has him now, and I don't know what to do."
"You control your life well." Ceawlin grumbled softly.
Fiona raised an eyebrow at the wolverine.
He explained, "You made your choices. You have complete control over your life. You want to control others' lives. To do that, you need to have immense strength to force your will on them."
Fiona shook her head, "No, I don't want to force this boy to love me. Or maybe I do?"
"Indecisiveness is the mother of failure." Ceawlin growled at her.
Fiona felt her hairs stand on end, "I just… I want him to leave her and come to me." Fiona explained moving her hands around nervously, "To come to me without strong arming."
"Do you draw your value from this boy?" Ceawlin pierced her shell and walls.
Fiona licked her lips. That honestly sounded pretty close, "I guess. Not all of it, but I feel like I need him in my life."
"In your life, or as a husband?" Ceawlin was really pushy.
"As a husband… I guess." Fiona sighed, growling.
"Well, if you are a simple bride, then you should draw value from him. He is a testimony to your worth, and you are a testimony to his power." Ceawlin explained. That didn't really help.
The beast continued, "But, if you were a Saxon, the easiest way to charm a man is to find value in yourself. Alliance marriages are useful, and bountiful breasts and loins are prized, but we love women who can stand their ground against us. If they can stare us down, they can stare down our enemies."
Fiona blinked. Find value in herself? That sounded poetic, but how did that work? Fiona glared at the beast, "Can you be less poetic?"
"There is nothing poetic about it. God did not make you to be puppet to others. He made you to take pride in yourself. He forged you with your purpose, not theirs." Ceawlin growled.
Fiona didn't like that answer. Not because she didn't understand it. She was supposed to be the best could be. That was easy to understand. It was difficult to do.
Fiona sighed, "Well, thanks for the advice, but I don't think I am going to get anywhere with this."
"You seem to be stuck in a foolish cycle." Ceawlin growled at her.
Fiona turned to him, "What?"
"You think you can change what has happened, instead of trying to change what will. You need to leave your past, and focus on your future. What happen yesterday, happened. Pay no more mind to it." Ceawlin turned and walked away, before stopping, "Saxons can not die of age. We had an eternity, but our happiness was not found in planning, but in living every day like we had no other. You do not have an eternity, yet you think and ponder forever."
Those words sounded familiar, but Ceawlin was gone before she could ask any further. Fiona supposed that was her cue to get off the mountain.
She had a lot to think about.
/*-*/
Johan felt the cool sand as the Sand Blasters and his brigade marched. Stoix walked with a happy skip while Roht and Touborn seemed less reserved. Stoix was a warrior by nature, but Roht and Touborn seemed to be softer with their nature.
Still, Johan found that the Huscarls were more than enthusiastic. They were the killers of these lands, and thus they had no qualms with fighting.
Johan felt the glare on his back. Jack was quickly becoming useless, and he was threatened by Johan's presence. This was Johan's plan, after all. They were marching, not to a base that would likely be re-enforced, but to a different area.
They saw the pipelines which carried the precious fuel across the desert. While the enemy was quick to guard their carriers, those carriers were useless if they could not leave the ground.
That was where the army was going. To secure the refinery which pumped the precious fuel to power the Egg Carrier were so devastating to the Freedom Fighters. Johan would likely have to face one, or two if both bases were out fitted properly.
But, the bright side shown, that with the launching of the previous Egg Carrier, it would not be able to fight at full power. Thus, Johan's only concern was that the second potential Egg Carrier would be ready to fight.
He would think of something if the carrier would show up, but while they marched across the desert, Johan was more concerned about the enemies which lay closer.
Jack seemed to forget his fear of Johan, and begrudged him. Johan could feel his eyes always burning as the night came, and the Sand blasters set up in their cars. Jack seemed to go to each of them, talking and eyeing Johan up. He seemed rather content from his results, but Johan did not notice an immediate shift.
As the men laid down to sleep, Stoix came over and spoke to in Saxon Johan, "He's asking about their confidence in him. That hare's hair is puffed. Do you want to get rid of him?"
Johan growled in his throat while he evaluated the option. Perhaps Johan would humble himself for the sake of pragmatism. No, Johan almost felt ashamed to even consider that. He was the best fit to lead. Johan had courage and wisdom.
Still, if there were problems with torn leadership, the results could be worse than if Johan had fought alone.
"How much did you hear?" Johan asked his native tongue, pondering.
"Just a few squads. Some are spooked. They are a weakness to our attack." Stoix complained skipping her feet in the sand.
Johan tapped pulled his paws out from under him, and stood up, "Mark the ones you believe to be cowards. Each one with a different symbol."
Stoix nodded, and reached into Gewis' pack as he slept. She ran out to the jeeps while Johan slept.
When morning came, they finished their approach on the large refinery.
Stoix ran ahead, her nimble movement was a great boon to them. Her hood was covered in sand when she returned to them, "Several hooded guys in towers around the base. There also appeared to be some sort of air guns to shoot down flying objects."
"Yeah… Blue boy and the rabbit made a mess a things." Jack grumbled, scraping his tongue across his teeth. Johan, however, saw an opportunity. If they could secure the air cannons, then the Egg carrier's would not be much of a problem.
Sonar turned to Johan, "Alright, what's the plan?"
Johan felt the burning anger of Jack as he realized how many turned to him for leadership. This was a serious problem. One he would have to fix, much to his anger.
"I turn to you, Jack? Lead us through this fight with a plan." Johan submitted. He hated the idea, but it was needed. If they were split, then no one could accomplish anything.
The men got the message, and looked at Jack with expectations. They certainly seemed surprised, but they fell in line. Jack seemed slightly thrown off, but proud enough to not focus on Johan's generosity too long.
"Well, ah'm thinkin we storm the gate, deal with the guards, and cut off the fuel." Jack grumbled with a half-confused voice. Did he not have a battle plan prepared for this?
Still, it was straightforward, honest, direct. Johan could easily respect it. He had nothing to fear, but it brought unnecessary risk for the men who followed him. Still, if that was the plan, Johan had to honor his offer.
"Very well." Johan resigned, Roht and Touborn looking at him confused, and slightly angry. They held their tongue, though, out of respect.
"What? That's a terrible plan, we could use surprise to our advantage, you have to see that!" A voice shouted. Johan saw the Green Fennec began to shout at Johan. She was right, it was a terrible plan, but her voicing clearly violated a sense of Seniority among the Sand Blasters, as they scowled at her.
Sonar shrunk down, as Jack barked, "Fall back in line!" She seemed to realize that Johan had thrown his support behind Jack. That support, however, was not absolute.
"What would you have us do?" Johan asked cocking his head, stopping the berating calls from her peers.
Sonar was already looking so small, and Johan's focus seemed to break her down even more. Still, she gulped, "What if we used their guard against them? I could pretend to capture Spike, and get inside the gate. I'll shut down the pipes and communications arrays, and We can open the gate and hit them in their sleep."
That plan had more thought, and it impressed Johan. He saw the Sand Blasters looking at him, trying judge his reaction. How quick they were to submit to his will.
Jack growled, "Why would they believe yah, they'll be lookin for tricks. Ya gonna get two of my boys killed?" He sounded personally attacked. There was no insult in Sonar's statements so Johan ignored his displeasure.
"Bec-…Bec-…" Sonar slumped down, her ears drooping as she became quickly scared. What was so terrifying that the she would not reveal it preserve her honor.
Spike, the Copper Garden Defender, placed a hand on her shoulder, "You might as well tell them."
Johan found himself torn between not caring about her past, and desiring what would scare her so much.
Jack snarled, "What's up?"
Sonar slumped, "I…I was a member of the legion."
Jack blinked a couple times, while Johan almost laughed at the idea. What an odd discovery.
"You! I'll send ya off in the desert!" Jack drew a revolver, and aimed it at her.
Johan moved towards her, and began to sniff at her. He was growing tired of the cloak and dagger motions.
"Hey, big boy, move out of the way." Jack called from behind Johan.
Sonar shivered nervously. She was scared, terrified of him. It was making life harder for him. Johan roared in her face. The Fennec's eyes shrunk down, and she fell back, her chest rising and falling like a leaf in storm.
Her fear peaked, as Johan sniffed. Her feet were machines. Her terror… was bottled out. She was no liar, at least, not a traitor.
"I am returning a debt. She came for my aid when I needed it. Though she did not succeed in her warning, it is more than I have got from most. She will not die for this deception." Johan growled, and the sand blasters stood down.
"Yeah, but like hell we're gonna let an ex-legionnaire take our boys into the enemy base." Jack snarled, balling a fist.
"I'll go, I trust you." Spike told Sonar. She smiled softly back at him.
"I said no!" Jack shouted. It was clear that there needed to be a tie breaker. The Sand Were watching Johan. They needed his support behind one or the other.
"I do care for deception. A coward relies on it." Johan stated, causing both heads to turn his way. Jack seemed rather happy with Johan's response. "But in this land, there is no honor. Thus, I support that which would allow us to win most effectively. Sonar, your plan has my support."
She smiled softly, but nervously at him. Jack looked frustrated, "Come on, We could storm it and rough 'em up good."
"We are weaker than our enemy. We must conserve our men." Johan growled firmly.
Jack seemed especially frustrated with Johan's response, "But do you really trust her? She's a Legionnaire. Once a legionnaire, always a legionnaire."
"Who ever betrays me, I will deal with personally, and bloodily. Do not waste energy worrying about me." Johan growled, clutching a fist in the air.
Sonar came back looking especially hostile. She wore a dead Legionnaire's hood, and brought Spike over. Johan looked over them, "We shall stand back. If they discover your deception, support will not be immediate."
Sonar nodded, "I know. Spike, last chance to bow out."
"I trust you; we'll do great." The Copper Garden defender smiled at her. She gave him a tight hug. How peculiar, they were close. That could be good, as that Saxons took the policy of having warriors personally know each other. It led to more courage warriors, not leaving their friends behind.
Johan thought about the other side of the policy as she walked over the dune that shielded their vehicles, pushing Spike along. If Something were to go wrong, it was her plan, and she would hold herself responsible for his death. Johan's mind briefly wander to the extent of their relationship. Were they friends, or lovers? The greater the connection, the greater the trauma and response to the loss.
Johan used sand on a large hood to serve as a useful camo. He kept watch as her figure blurred into a splotch on the sandy plane.
She stopped at the gate, and the guards were still, red splotches.
"She's a Legionnaire. She gonna get him killed." Jack growled next to Johan.
Johan ignored him as he turned around, and slid down the dune. He was not keen on losing her, and if he could avoid her death by being alert, so be it.
The guard splotches seemed to grow, likely from hands being raised. Sonar's splotch seemed to shift, as if she was turning around. Johan remained calm. His desire to go in and destroy everything had to be checked.
Suddenly, his ears betrayed a sound. An engine. Johan turned and saw two of their own cars zipping over the dunes. Jack's voice called out, " DIE FILTHY EGG PAWNS!"
Johan saw the flash of light before the strangest level of peace over took him. He didn't like being quiet anyway. Johan roared, and signaled the attack as they stormed the gate.
/*-*/
Alright, I'm leaving a pin right here for next chapter.
I will say, that we are going to be flopping back and forth between Johan heavy and balanced chapters now.
We broke 100 reviews, and I feel like I should celebrate with something. I don't know. Go ahead and tell me what you all think a good celebration/reward would be for 100 reviews.
I guess you all can tell me at the bottom of a review or something.