Act II: DESCENT
Chapter II: House of Cards
Hedgehog Family Tower, Monday 8:55 PM
Sonic tightened the tie around his neck.
Since the downfall of Central City, Sonic made a mission to himself – to repair the wrongs done by his father and mother. Even if they had done little compared to who they were surrounded by – Sonic knew he could make all the difference if he desired too.
He was still lead investigator – that much hadn't changed.
However, the family fortune was inherited by him, Manic and Sonia – though the latter two chose not to do anything with it.
The Hedgehog Family Foundation could not sit untouched.
If they weren't going to do anything with it – Sonic would.
Two arms snaked around his waist, a familiar frame burying herself in his back.
"Lookin' good, Detective."
Sonic chuckled, turning over his shoulder as Amy wrapped her arms over his shoulders, nuzzling her nose into his neck.
He pecked a kiss on her forehead. A lot can happen in three years.
"Why, thank ya, Chief of Police!"
"I am only one of them, remember," she said, chuckling.
In the three years, Knuckles had promoted two Chiefs of Police. Amy was one, and the other was a man named Rotor the Walrus.
He had come in from Knothole as well – assisting with the mess that had racked up during the three-year time period.
"Right – only ONE of them."
Amy snorted, stepping back as her phone buzzed. Taking it from her pocket, she saw a phone-call from Knuckles making its way across her screen.
"Hm – you may need to ditch this fundraiser tonight. Knux is on the phone."
Sonic sighed, nodding as she answered.
"Hey Knuckles, what's up?"
"Hey, I need you and Sonic to get down to Central Bank. Big robbery – all the marked-mob bills are gone. Someone's robbing the mob."
Sonic cocked an eyebrow, listening as Amy finished the conversation – before hanging up.
"Mob bank? Jeez – I thought that would've died once we locked Nazo and Robotnik up."
"Shoulda known the mob will never rest in this city," Amy muttered, clutching her forehead as she grabbed her keys.
Sonic followed, changing his jacket to his uniform blazer as he walked behind her.
"Well – let's get this show on the road then," Sonic added, shoving his hands into his pockets.
10th Avenue Parking Garage, Monday 9:03 PM
Two vans pulled to a stop, the engine cutting as the back doors opened.
Across from them, a white van accompanied by two other SUVs pulled in.
Stepping out was Nack and Bean, fixing their jackets as two other mobsters followed behind.
In front of them, two men in brown jackets were accompanied by an cyan ocelot in a suit, clasping his hands together as they approached the mobsters.
"Your compound was a bust, Slinger," Nack spat.
Slinger scoffed, the men beside him tightening their grips on their guns.
"I told you my compound would take you places. I didn't say you'd want to go to those places, however."
Bean snickered, rolling his eyes. "We are the mob in this city, it's our business!"
"You can feel free to buy from someone else. I'm sure Starline won't mind," Slinger retorted, crossing his arms. "That is – assuming the cops and Silver and Blaze left anyone to buy from."
Behind him, a shot rang out – a bullet piercing the side of the van.
The group whipped their heads around, seeing a hooded figure with a shotgun pointed towards them.
"Who are you? Lemme guess, new vigilante?!" Nack exclaimed.
The figure ran forward, his next shot interrupted by an explosion from the left.
Through the smoke, Shadow stepped through – followed by his usual gang.
Rouge, the Rogues, and Bark.
"Party times over, boys!" Rouge stated, whipping out dual-wielding pistols.
"Oh great, ex-mob is here!" Slinger said, darting behind his van as the hooded-man started apprehending the mobsters, Bean and Nack taking cover behind the SUV and returning fire.
From the top of a car, Jet hollered, firing an assault-rifle through the side of the car as Bark thundered towards the van, grabbing Slinger's head and thudding it into the side of the van, before kicking it towards a group that were standing on the other side.
Shadow thundered forward, catching Bean and Nack off guard as he slammed the butt of his shotgun into their guts, as a lower-level mobster whacked him in the back of the head.
Pointing his gun towards Shadow, Storm placed a kick to his back, the man stumbling into Wave, swinging a bat into his skull – knocking him unconscious.
"Teamwork makes the dreamwork!" Storm exclaimed, enticing a snicker from wave.
From the side of the parking garage – a wall exploded, causing all the assailants to look towards the source.
As the dust settled, a flurry of flames ignited three cars – exploding them as Blaze thundered onto the ground, followed by Silver as he telekinetically apprehended Bean, Nack and two mobsters, slamming them into the stone pillars around them.
"This really is a drug-deal gone wrong now," Rouge stated dryly, hands on her hips.
The mobsters began to fire – Silver blocking their bullets as Blaze twirled discs of fire towards them.
Slinger hopped into the van, peeling out as the hooded figure thudded down onto the roof of the van.
Slinger attempted to throw him off, but the man stabbed a small blade through the roof, slicing it open as he dropped down, kicking Slinger through the door.
He wrapped a zip-tie around Slinger's body – looking up as Bean and Nack were breaking for it in the van.
Cursing, Shadow unloaded a clip at the van – as Jet and Wave tied up Slinger's men.
After lining them up for the police, Shadow crossed his arms, staring daggers into them.
"What makes you so different now Shadow?" Slinger asked, smirking.
"We had a change of business," Shadow stated, rolling his eyes.
Silver and Blaze sighed, watching as the hooded-man crawled from the van.
"Hey! Who are you?" Silver exclaimed.
The hooded man approached slowly, pulling his hood down to reveal a shark, with his fins pierced and his eyes yellow and vibrant.
"I'm Razor. Sorry…for intruding."
"New to the vigilante world, ay Razor?" Rouge asked, chuckling.
The shark rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess you could say that."
"Always room on our team!" Jet exclaimed with a snicker, resting his elbows on Storm and Wave.
Blaze nodded, tossing her hair over as he examined the mobsters.
"I will place a call to Amy – inform them of the capture. It is a shame the other ones got away, however," Blaze stated.
Shadow shrugged, tucking his shotgun behind his back. "Either way – that's one more operation stunted."
"City can't heal if these scumbags are still on the streets," Silver added, rubbing Blaze's back.
"Either way – let's get headed back. We will find more mobsters tomorrow," Bark stated.
"Not unless the new D.A. gets his hands on them first," Wave chuckled.
Rouge turned to Razor, cocking an eyebrow.
"Whaddya say, sharkboy? Wanna roll with us?"
Razor sighed, fiddling with his knife.
"I – actually, need to get going. I'm sure I'll see you around, though…"
Rouge nodded, as Razor hopped off, jumping onto the ledge and grappling down.
"New vigilantes show up everyday…" Silver muttered.
The smile on his face said it all, however.
Central City Bank, Monday 9:15 PM
Sonic and Amy flashed their badges, as the crowd of news-reporters yelled questions behind them.
City never sleeps.
Sonic and Amy walked through, eyes first meeting Knuckles, Tails and Sally – all conversing as evidence was being gathered around them.
"There you two are," Knuckles stated, shaking Sonic's hand.
"Here we are! Heya, bud!" Sonic exclaimed, ruffling Tails's head.
"Hey hey!" He replied.
"So – what's the situation?" Amy asked.
"They're checking the vault now, here follow me – I'll take you guys back," Sally stated.
The two hedgehogs nodded, following behind as they approached the vault – stepping inside.
Turning to face them were relative-newcomers Scourge, and his girlfriend Fiona.
"Look familiar at all?" Sonic joked, earning an eyeroll from Scourge – as he looked at Fiona.
"He's never gonna let it down."
"Well – how could he?" Fiona retorted, ruffling Scourge's hair.
Knuckles picked up the printout photo, showing it to Sonic and Amy. "Here's who did it, we think."
Sonic squinted, his eyes meeting a picture of a red-and-black being, with black sclera's and donning a red-and-black suit.
"Hm. That dude again? Some weird, deformed lizard?"
"Looks like it," Tails stated, jotting notes down.
Knuckles's eyes flickered up, as Sonic and the group followed his gaze.
Standing in the doorway was Shadow, hand places on his pistol.
"Well well well – if it isn't new city-defender, Shadow the Hedgehog?" Sonic asked.
"Ain't we 'sposed to arrest him on sight?" Fiona asked.
"Not if I say not too," Knuckles responded, throwing the stack of bills towards Shadow.
He caught it – looking at it as he sighed. "These are the mob-marked bills I gave you?"
"Those are them," Sally replied.
"That makes five now," Tails added, inspecting the bills. "Five mob banks in total."
"Then we have to move in," Shadow replied.
Amy sighed, "We'd have to hit them all at the same time. SWAT backup, whole nine yards."
"That – and what about this…what's the lizard's name?" Sonic asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Goes by Eclipse the Darkling. And Sonic's right – what about him, Shad?" Knuckles asked.
"One man, or the mob? He can wait," Shadow stated dryly, eyes unmoving.
"Look – when the new District Attorney hears about this, he'll want in," Sally stated, eyes scanning over the images of Eclipse.
"Do you all trust him?" Shadow asked, a glint of distrust in his eyes.
"Well – he's as stubborn as you are, Shad! But – we're doing pretty well with you, don't 'cha think?!" Sonic exclaimed, patting Shadow on the back.
Shadow grumbled, rolling his eyes – though the faint smile gave him away.
"It'll be hard to keep him uninvolved," Tails stated, crossing his arms with a sigh.
Shadow nodded, as Bunnie and Antoine walked into the room – handing a phone to Knuckles.
"It's Julie-su, she has some eyes on the other banks with mob drops," Bunnie said.
Sonic chuckled, eyes pointing at Knuckles. "How's it goin' in the department of bat or echidna?"
Knuckles grumbled, taking the phone.
Shadow gave them all a curt nod, turning on his heel and walking out.
"Never one for much socializing," Sonic stated.
He was happy to have Shadow on their side. Even if he and his group were all vigilantes now, it was much better than him being a mob-leader.
This felt more like home.
Sonic turned to the group, putting his hands on his hips.
"Well – I guess we better get to work, huh?"
Unknown Location, Tuesday 12:05 PM
Shadow watched the computers in front of him, stitching up the cuts and gashes he received at the garage the night before.
This line of work suited them all more. Running the mob was just an excuse for Shadow to get vengeance for something that he didn't need revenge for.
He wanted to live for Maria – and that meant giving citizens a chance to be happy, and to be safe.
Rouge approached from behind, inspecting the hedgehog's wounds.
"Bit banged up, huh?"
Shadow scoffed. "It is nothing I have not handled before."
"This city's still hurtin'. Think you can afford to know your limits?"
"I can't have limits, Rouge."
"Things have improved, Shad. You can afford to relax," Rouge stated, placing her hands on her hips.
"This is what Maria had in mind for the people. Inspire them to chase change, freedom and happiness. Consider that shark…Razor. He was inspired by us. That is why I cannot afford to relax."
She sighed, kicking her leg over her other as she plopped into the seat adjacent from him.
"The cops got all of this under control – and how about that new District Attorney? Have you been watching him?"
Shadow sighed, tapping the computers as a video of the new D.A. came onto the screen.
Ken Monkey Khan, a monkey who was way too attractive for his own good, giving speeches in expensive suits as he inspired the city.
"I have been, closely. I need to know if he can be trusted."
"He's inspiring people. Y'know, Central City might have the hero they need."
Shadow sighed, crossing his arms – looking unmoved.
"Besides, are you interested in his character or who he associates with?"
Shadow's eyes moved, seeing footage of Sonia walking hand-in-hand with him, smiling and parading through the streets.
Right, the old flame.
Before Shadow joined the mob, he had been seeing Sonia. It was – going quite well.
But then everything changed. She told him she couldn't see him if he was leading a syndicate. He tried to tell her she didn't understand – but she wasn't having it.
As long as he was a mob leader, they couldn't be together.
Maybe, she said, maybe when he gave it up – and things changed…that is when they could possibly be together.
Shadow shook his head, pushing the memories out of his mind.
"Who she spends time with is up to her."
Rouge rolled her eyes with a smirk, nodding along as Shadow pulled the jacket across his frame.
"Look – just…take it easy, alright? You got me, you got Bark, those crazy birdies – you got all the help you need. We'll do what you need us to do."
Shadow sighed, finally nodding as he smiled.
"I know. Thank you."
Rouge hopped up, winking to Shadow as she walked off through the large base – situated on the outskirts of the city by the shipping docks.
Watching her walk off, he sighed to himself – his eyes meeting a picture of Eclipse that was on the computer.
Walking up, he scowled – examining the reptile on the screen.
Whoever this was…and whatever he wanted?
He was not getting in the way of Shadow's promise to Maria, and his father.