Act II: DESCENT
Chapter VIII: Crosseyed and Painless
Hedgehog Enterprises Tower, Thursday 9:43 PM
The punch sent Eclipse stumbling back, barrels of laughter exiting his mouth through pained wheezes, as his entire gang began approaching Shadow.
The hedgehog fought them off with relative ease, watching as Eclipse grabbed his thugs and threw them towards Shadow – only for them to be discarded by Shadow as well.
As Eclipse threw yet another thug towards Shadow – the clown-masked assailant punched him, bringing Shadow to his knees as Eclipse began to kick him in the gut – his arms flailing wildly.
Slamming his foot down, a blade retracted from the bottom of his shoe, reeling his leg back until he was socked in the back of the head by Sonic.
Behind Shadow, Bark grabbed the assailant, lifting him up and breaking his back over his knee, watching as Jet and Storm battered two masked assailants with metal pipes.
Tails and Amy had entered through opposite sides, pushing through the crowds before using batons to take down any thugs with their backs turned. Eclipse lunged towards Sonic, only for the blue hedgehog to plant a knee into his gut, sending the darkling hurtling to the floor.
Rouge grabbed two of the assailant's heads, backflipping over them as she placed two roundhouse kicks to their throats, landing on her feet as the pair of men collapsed to the ground.
As Shadow regained his senses, two gang men began rushing him. Shadow grabbed one of them, twisting their arm while ducking to dodge the other man's punches. Behind the other, Sonic whipped his gun across his face, bringing him to the ground.
Storm grabbed two men, holding them by their throats as Jet jammed the end of a baseball bat into their guts. As the men stumbled forward, groaning and pain – he and Wave shared a crazed smile, before swinging their clubs into the men's faces – bringing them to the floor.
Shadow and Sonic tag-teamed the last man, slamming him on the ground before the cocking of a revolver was heard.
Shadow and Sonic turned around, their eyes drenched in terror as Eclipse held Sonia in a chokehold, the gun pointed to her head.
"Drop the gun, now!" Sonic exclaimed, his eyes full of fury.
"Oh, sure! You just arrest that vigilante next to you and get this all over with, hm?"
Sonic stole a glance at Shadow – the black hedgehog's eyes remaining focused ahead.
Eclipse stayed facing the pair, his eyes staring into their souls as he pointed the gun behind his shoulder – shooting the glass window as it shattered. Dragging Sonia towards the opening, he grabbed her arm, holding her out of the window.
Sonic and Shadow hitched their breath in their throats, watching as Eclipse dangled her from the building window.
"Let her go, Eclipse." Shadow stated coarsely.
Eclipse squinted, raising an eyebrow as he grinned. "Well – that's one way to negotiate."
Suddenly, Eclipse let go, Sonia screaming as she slid down the windows of the skyscraper, the darkling laughing as he darted to the left.
"Sonia!" Sonic cried, rushing forward before Shadow overtook him – leaping from the window.
"Gaia, Shadow!" Rouge exclaimed, watching as Shadow plummeted after her.
Sonia screeched, her dress blowing wildly in the wind as she fell faster towards the streets, Shadow opening his wingsuit as he attempted to catch her.
The entire group watched them plummet – fear smothering their faces.
"Wait, Eclipse and his men are breakin' for it!" Wave cried, watching the group fleeing from the room.
Sonic turned around, cursing as he turned to Tails and Amy.
"Alright – I'm going down to street-level. Tails, come with me. Everyone else chase him down! Don't let any of them leave!"
"Got it!" Jet exclaimed, leading the charge as Amy pressed a kiss to Sonic's muzzle.
"Be careful."
Sonic nodded hurriedly, nodding to Tails as the pair began heading down the corridors – leading them down to the streets.
Shadow was inching closer, but the wind caught his wingsuit in a way that was utterly preventing him from making contact.
Sonia screamed, twisting, and turning as she began inching even closer to the ground.
Suddenly, a force swiped through the air, catching Sonia as Shadow darted his eyes to the left.
Seeing a cyan streak – he realized Silver had caught her, Shadow's stomach dropping slightly in relief.
To the right of him, a streak of orange hurtled towards him – Blaze catching him as they began to descend.
Killing the momentum, the pair landed – watching Silver land with Sonia across from them.
Silver released Sonia, the magenta hedgehog heaving over as she began to catch her breath, her eyes filled with relief – though the terror remained all the same.
Shadow rushed over to Sonia, his eyes full of worry. "Are you okay?"
Sonia continued catching her breath, meeting his gaze. "I'm – I'm okay. Just – let's not do that again, alright?"
Shadow sighed, turning his gaze to the superheroes. "Where have you guys been?"
Silver approached Shadow with his arms crossed, as he stared across the street. "We've been under watch after the 'fake-Silver' guy. Once we got wind of what was going on – we had to intervene."
"We're fine. No one has attempted to kill us – though I'm sure they are aware they would die trying," Blaze stated, staring at the wet asphalt as the rain began.
"Why is he targeting us of all people?" Shadow asked, his tone still breathless and hoarse.
"I don't even question it anymore," Silver said, "This isn't the first time some random guy has tried to kill superheroes. They've never succeeded before…"
"So, they won't now," Blaze finished.
"Word is that he just assassinated Judge Nephthys. He poisoned Rotor too – he's in the hospital right now. I'm not sure if he's going to live," Silver said, his eyes peeled to the ground.
"Jesus…" Sonia spoke up, her hands pressing into her back. She stole a look at Shadow. "Is Ken okay?"
"He's safe. He was unconscious in the closet."
Sonia sighed a breath of relief, shaking her head as the rain began to soak her hair slightly.
Sonic and Tails rushed over – the blue hedgehog gasping in relief as he hugged his sister tight.
"Thank Gaia you're okay…thank Gaia."
Sonia returned the hug, burying her face into his shoulder.
"Ken was the last target on his list. He succeeded with the judge, and he may succeed with Rotor. I am glad Ken managed to survive," Blaze said.
Tails shook his head, his eyes peeled onto the ground.
Behind them, the footsteps of the rest of the squad approached – led by Rouge.
"Sorry boys – they got away. Couldn't find them anywhere."
Sonic sighed, pressing his hand to his forehead.
"Yeah…sorry guys," Storm said, his arms around Jet and Wave.
"It's fine. We're learning more about how he operates as he moves – so we just have to be on alert," Tails said – his somber voice betraying his confident words.
Sonic found himself staring at the sky, shaking his head as the raindrops fell towards the ground.
Eclipse had managed to turn one, innocent night into a hellscape.
Sonic knew this was nowhere near the end of it – and he was beginning to run out of ideas.
Maybe the mob could lead him to Eclipse? Maybe someone else?
Was this a new force? Did someone know about Eclipse already?
How long has this storm been brewing?
Either way, the daunting questions had to be answered.
After all, that's what Sonic's job was.
C.C.P.D. Main Precinct, Friday 1:04 PM
Sonic sat in the conference room, a lit cigarette resting between his fingers.
Most of the crime-force was in the room, and the atmosphere was cold.
Rotor had been pronounced dead that morning. The atmosphere in the room was palpably quiet – the tension pervading the air.
"What next?" Antoine asked, gripping Bunnie's hand tighter.
"We find Eclipse and put him down for good," Julie-su retorted, her glare harsh on the table.
"How easy would that be though? He's…unpredictable. At least with Mephiles, he was playing an elaborate game with us," Cosmo said.
"With Eclipse…it's chaotic rage." Sally finished.
"Either way, now that Rotor is gone – we are really fucked," Scourge stated pessimistically.
Tails stole a glance at Sonic, who's eyes were trained on the cigarette in his hand.
"What do you think?" The fox asked.
Sonic rubbed his face, sighing. "Cosmo's right. We've never dealt with someone like this before. After Khan showed up and Mephiles was put away – we haven't had anything like this. Just some petty crimes here and there. All we really had to worry about was the Mob – and we're close to shutting them down for good."
"Right – so…" Fiona spoke up.
"We have to rethink our gameplan. We can't treat this like an active serial killer, or a mob plant, or anything like what we've done before. We have to think of this as some sort of terrorist causing havoc on the city. I can already tell that he wants to ramp things up from here."
Amy sighed, tapping her fingers on the table. "We have to avoid what happened three years ago. This city can't take something like that again."
"It could barely take it then. We've come so far…" Bunnie started.
"So, we don't give up. Not yet. We're so close," Julie-su finished, before Knuckles opened the door – followed by Vector and Espio.
"You don't understand, Vec-"
"Knuckles, it's over. It's just how it is…"
"As long as they don't get to Honey, we've cut off their funds," Knuckles replied.
"What are you guys talking about?" Cosmo spoke up.
"The mob may have no more funding left – but there is no more smoke to blow in court. Especially now that Rotor and Nephthys are both gone," Espio spoke up – addressing the room.
"So – what? The mob's gonna just – keep going?" Scourge asked, scowling.
"It's not. Without funding, they're finished," Knuckles spoke up – earning a shake of the head from Vector.
"No one is standing up before a judge right now. The prosecution is over. Now that judges and police chiefs are getting picked off – no one is going to try anything!" Vector replied.
Knuckles shook his head, crossing his arms.
"Well – what about Ken?" Antoine asked, earning a nod from Sally.
"Surely, he isn't going to lie over?" The chipmunk asked.
"If Khan is smart, he would be halfway across the country right now. He was a named target, and I imagine the darkling will not just let him go," Espio said – before the door swung open.
In walked Ken Khan.
"Where do you keep your trash?"
Scourge raised an eyebrow, pointing at the trashcan in the corner of the room. "I mean – there's a can right there."
Khan raised an eyebrow, before Sonic chuckled.
"Anywayyyys. Who do you need?"
"Honey. She's due in court."
Knuckles nodded, gesturing as he began leading Khan and the group from the room.
Leading him to her holding cell, he unlocked it, Khan stepping in.
Honey's gaze flickered to him briefly, her thumbs twiddling anxiously.
"You're due in court, Honey. I need you alive long enough to get you on record."
Honey shook her head. "You can't protect me. You can't even protect yourselves…"
Sonic groaned. "C'mon, Honey. Why don't we just get this over with?"
Honey stared at the hedgehog, before Khan spoke up.
"Either you come with me, or you go to county. You can calculate how long you'll last there, Honey."
Khan threw a bullet-proof vest to the cat, Honey barely catching it as her mouth dropped.
Amy and Sally stepped in, lifting her from the bench – as they began to lead her from the room.
Sonic turned to Tails, cocking an eyebrow. "Let's see if this works, huh?"
Tails smiled. "It will. I just have a feeling it will."
Unknown Location, Friday 3:45 PM
Inside the large high-tech warehouse, Shadow sat in front of the tech-desk, watching playbacks of Eclipse.
He stared hard at the footage, his eye flickering towards Rouge training Razor with Jet.
He watched for a moment, seeing Razor attack the punching bags with precision, earning hollers from Jet – and accepting smiles from Rouge.
Silver and Blaze were fixing some equipment in the far-right corner of the warehouse. He was grateful for their assistance – especially in dire times like this.
Shadow smirked slightly, hearing Bark approach him from behind.
The hedgehog crossed his arms, staring at the displays while Bark took his spot to his right, watching along.
"Who do you think he is?"
Shadow shook his head. "I can't be sure."
"Do you think Starline hired him?"
Shadow sighed, shrugging. "It seems likely at the moment. They want us gone. All of us. In these times, where their funds are going by the minute – it seems they would think of anything to save their syndicate from turning over."
"Then why target you? Why target us all?"
Shadow shook his head. "Targeting me isn't going to get them their money. I knew they wouldn't go down without a fight, but this is all on Eclipse. This is different, they've crossed a line."
Bark stared at Shadow, squinting. "We crossed the line first."
Shadow stood up, pacing as he continued staring at the screen.
"We squeezed them. We put the hammer down on them to a point of desperation. In that desperation, they turned to a man they do not fully understand."
Shadow shook his head, beginning to walk towards an equipment table. "Criminals aren't complicated, Bark. We know this well enough. We have to find out what he's after."
"You were complicated, Shadow."
The hedgehog stopped, pondering, before he began sorting through equipment on the table, his eyes flickering between the various gadgets as Bark followed behind.
"With all due respect, Shadow – maybe we also do not understand this man either."
Shadow turned his gaze back for a moment, before fixing his eyes back onto the table.
"When I lived in my village, there was a neighboring village-tribe that our leaders attempted to gain loyalty with. My village leaders attempted to buy their loyalty with precious gems."
Shadow turned to face him, his mouth set in a hard line.
"They had been raided by thieves from the north, so we set to look for the gems. After seven months of searching, we find no record of any man having the gems that they stole from the tribe. We believed that it was possible the tribe had lied about being robbed."
Shadow stared at him hard, pondering the bear's every word.
"That is…until we found a young beaver playing with a diamond. He was digging it into the dirt, then digging it back out. We asked him where he found it – and he told us he found many gems lying around in the dirt."
Shadow squinted, crossing his arms.
"The thieves had been stealing the gems – and throwing them away."
"So…why steal it, then?"
"Because of the sport. Because it gave him a sense of chaos, a sense of rebellion. To him…it was fun."
Shadow's gaze moved back to the computers, staring at the videos of Eclipse playing on loop.
"Some men are not looking for something logical. Some men are not looking for money, for power, for control. They cannot be bought, negotiated with, reasoned with."
Bark cocked his head, staring at Shadow coldly.
"Some men want to watch the world go up in flames. Some men…want to see chaos end it all."
Shadow stared at him longingly, before Bark turned on his heel – walking towards Silver and Blaze as they began to test the gadgets.
Shadow walked towards the computer – his eyes hyper focused on the laughing, deranged darkling on the screen.
He considered Bark's words. Was this a man who was after something…or was he a man who simply wanted nothing but destruction.
Had Shadow been looking at this all wrong? Had they all been?
Yet, as Shadow studied the darkling even closer, through the deranged smiles and soulless eyes…
He knew that Bark was right.
This man wanted to watch it all burn to the ground…and he wanted to be the one to light the match.