Act II: DESCENT
Chapter XV: Head Like A Hole
C.C.P.D. Main Precinct, Cell Block, Friday 9:28 PM
Eclipse sat in the large cell in the middle of the room – staring straight forward as chaos ensued around him.
Police were struggling with his thugs, who were all fighting back against their grips – yelling obscenities and squirming in their grips.
The forensics placed the last knife down on the table, counting 10 knives in Eclipse's pockets in total.
"Stay away, all of you!" Knuckles commanded, as the entire crime force followed behind him.
The chaos settled down, as Eclipse's thugs that were arrested were shoved into the large holding cell with him.
"Hey! We don't want anything for Eclipse's mob lawyer to use, understand!" Sally commanded.
Amy sighed, knowing that since Eclipse was indeed working with Starline's mob – a conviction may be challenging.
They'd destroy the mob any day now…
The cops were staring dumbfounded at Knuckles – the disbelief that this entire time he was truly alive.
Only Knuckles trusted, close force members knew of his plan – but everyone else thought they had lost their commissioner.
Until he was standing in front of them.
Walking up to Knuckles from behind was Shade, pulling her black petticoat tight around her frame.
She shook Knuckles hand, a dumbfounded smile on her face.
"Back from the dead?" Shade asked, earning a sigh from Knuckles.
"I, uh – didn't want to risk anything else. I thought it was for the best."
"Seemed to work, seeing as we have a manic lizard in a cell," Shade replied.
Vector chuckled, his arm around Tangle and Mighty.
Shade turned to Eclipse, watching as Eclipse cracked his neck back and forth.
"So, what do we got?"
Knuckles looked at Amy and Sally, before shrugging in defeat. "Nothing. No matches on DNA, dental, prints."
"Clothing is custom, no labels on it at all," Cosmo added, crossing her arms.
Eclipse sat in a black dress shirt and a red suit vest, his leg bobbing up and down excitedly.
"And nothing in his pockets but knives and powder," Scourge piped in.
Knuckles stared hard at the darkling, "No names. No other aliases but Eclipse."
"Go home guys. The darkling will keep 'till morning. I gotta say though, I had my doubts about you, Knuckles. When I took office – I wasn't sure about you," Shade stated, tilting her head.
Knuckles bit his lip, stealing a glance at Espio and Whisper, who stood by the cell.
"But after all of this? The stunt you pulled? You've changed my mind. I think I've got some new ideas on how to make your job even easier. So, let's hear it for Commissioner Knuckles the Echidna!"
The room began applauding, cheering for Knuckles as Shade shook his hand again. The force smiled, nodding in approval at their fearless commissioner.
As Knuckles was about to shake Vector's hand however, the pair turned – their brows furrowed as they watched Eclipse clapping along with everyone else, a sarcastic grin on his face.
After Knuckles had left, the SWAT and force got to work throwing the last of Eclipse's thugs they had captured into the bars.
Espio grabbed onto a grey pig, shoving him into the cell. "Get in there!"
Mighty walked forward with Antoine, the pair's faces fixed with scowls.
"Look at these bastards," Antoine spat, as the pig clutched his stomach.
"I don't feel so good. I don't feel so good!"
"You're a cop killer," Bunnie spat, "You're lucky you're feeling anything at all!"
"PLEASE! PLEASE, HELP ME!" The pig exclaimed, grabbing onto the bars tight.
"Step away from the bars!" Tangle exclaimed.
"My insides – they hurt! They hurt so bad, please!"
Eclipse stared straight ahead, unamused.
Sonic and Tails' Office, Friday 9:40 PM
Sonic started jotting down his final notes on Eclipse.
"Safe to say this case is closed!"
Tails chuckled, darting forward as the pair clinked their coffee mugs together.
"Safe to say it is!" Tails exclaimed.
Sonic let out an exasperated sigh – the first breath of relief he had in a long time. It felt like he had been holding it in ever since he saw that video of Eclipse on the news.
He sat back in his chair, leaning back as he lit a cigarette. "This really has been a great night!"
The door opened, the pair glancing as Knuckles stepped inside.
Sonic hopped up, wrapping Knuckles into a hug as he clapped the Echidna on the back.
"Glad you're back, boss."
"Me too, man."
Sonic pulled away as Knuckles took a seat at their table, rubbing his forehead.
"So – what's the plan with Eclipse?" Tails asked.
Knuckles shrugged, "Not sure. Right now – keep him in there until we figure out next steps."
Sonic cracked his neck, flipping through his phone.
He had sent a text to Sonia –
Yet no response.
As small as that may seem, Sonia answered his texts in lightning speed.
Anything past an hour or two didn't sit correctly.
Sighing, he set his phone down, straightening his tie.
Knuckles and Tails' conversation was cut short as Knuckles' phone rang, scowling as he answered it.
"Yeah?"
The call went on for a few moments, the color draining from his muzzle as it went on.
"We'll be right there."
The echidna hung up quickly. earning inquisitive glances from the detectives.
"Where are we going?" Sonic asked.
"To talk to Eclipse."
"Why?" Tails asked, following Knuckles out of the door before the Echidna turned around.
"Ken Khan didn't make it home."
C.C.P.D., Interrogation Room, Friday 9:44 PM
Knuckles, Sonic, and Tails rushed into the room – their eyes meeting the crime force, as well as Vector and the SWAT commanders.
"Has he talked yet?!" Knuckles asked, earning head shakes from the group.
"Nothing. Dead silent this entire time," Bunnie said, staring at Eclipse through the window in the dark room.
Knuckles growled, cocking his head to the side as Sonic and Tails followed – the detectives grabbing two metal chairs before heading inside.
Opening the door, the room was pitch black – only two lights above the door were on, shrouding everything but Eclipse's face in darkness.
"Evening, boys."
Knuckles grunted, thundering forward as he sat down, the detectives taking their seats on either side of him.
Knuckles flicked the desktop lamp on top of the table on, moving it slightly to see Eclipse's face better.
"Ken Khan never made it home," Knuckles said.
"Of course not."
Sonic leaned forward, "What have you done with him?"
"Me?" Eclipse asked, feigning shock in his tone, "I was right here!"
Eclipse looked back and forth, before holding his handcuffed wrists up.
"Who did you three leave him with?" Eclipse asked, pointing at them as his brow furrowed. "Hm? Your people?"
Tails pursed his lip tight, his eyes bearing into Eclipse's.
Eclipse squinted hard at the trio. "Assuming that they ARE still YOUR people – and not Staaaarline's…"
Knuckles glanced at Sonic. Was Eclipse hinting at the fact that some of the cops on the force are still on the mob's payroll?
Hadn't they, along with Khan, rid the corruption in the police force? Hadn't they fixed that issue three years ago after Mephiles' attack on the city?
Eclipse licked his lips, his eyebrow raised. "Isn't it sad…to know just how alone you all are? You and your…crime force – are just. So. Alone."
Knuckles stared at him, biting his lip. His eyes were full of fury.
"Does it make you all feel responsible for Ken Khan's current…preeedicament?"
"Where is he?" Knuckles asked, cutting him off.
Eclipse's gaze flickered towards Knuckles watch. "What time is it?"
"Why does that matter?" Tails cut in.
"Weeeell," Eclipse started, sarcasm laced in his voice, "Depending on what time it is, Kenny could be in one spot, orrrr he could be in MANY spots."
Eclipse wiggled his eyebrows as he smirked, seeming to send a subliminal message to the trio, but what message that was Sonic couldn't tell.
Knuckles stared at him, his eyes unmoving as he fumbled in his pocket, fixing a key into his hands.
He twirled it in his hands for a moment, before unlocking Eclipse's handcuffs.
"If we're gonna play games, I'm gonna need some coffee."
Sonic scowled at Knuckles, until the Echidna shot him a knowing look.
Sonic had seen that look before. Knuckles had planned something.
"Well then, boys – I'll be sure to stay right here until you guys get back!"
Tails shot up, shaking his head as he followed Knuckles from the room. Sonic stared at Eclipse for a moment, before turning on his heel.
As the door closed, Eclipse cracked his neck. His eyes darted back and forth, before the lights flickered on – and Shadow, from behind him, slammed his head into the table.
"Argh!" Eclipse cried, holding his forehead as he scrunched his face tight.
Shadow stood in front of him, tilting his head at the darkling.
"Look, some advice? Don't start with the head. Otherwise, if you strike me again – I won't be able to feel it!"
Shadow, nodding, socked him in the jaw.
Eclipse grabbed his jaw, cracking his neck back into place. "See what I mean?"
Shadow sat down, eyes bearing into the darkling's. "You wanted me, I'm here."
Knuckles stood with the group, watching through the window intently.
Eclipse leaned forward, smiling. "I just wanted to see what you do. You sure kept me entertained!"
His voice dropped into a whisper, "You've let countless people die."
Shadow bit down on his lip, watching as Eclipse raised his eyebrows as his eyes darted to the left.
"After letting all those people die – you sat back as Khan took the blame. I mean – that's pretty cold!"
"Where is he?"
Eclipse rolled his eyes, "Don't you see? These Mob dorks want you all gone so they can go back to old times."
Eclipse lifted his hands into the air, his face a mocking happiness. "They wanna go back to how it all was before!"
Setting his hands down, he slithered in his seat, smirking. "But I can see it now – we ain't going back. You, and your gang, and this vigilante stuff? It's changed everything – and it's changed it forever."
"Then why do you want to kill us?"
Eclipse began laughing, wheezing harshly through his teeth. "WEH-HEE-HEH-HEH-HEH!"
He ran out of breath, shaking his head wildly. "I don't wanna kill you! What would I do if you all were gone?!"
Shadow stared at him hard, Eclipse fumbling with the top of his vest.
"Go back to rippin' off the mob? Other criminals?! No, no. No, no, no – no."
Eclipse leaned forward, shaking his hands frantically as he bit his lip.
"You all complete me." Eclipse's tone was harsh and aggressive, his mouth quivering wildly.
"You're nothing. You're just trash who kills for money. Mob money."
"Ohhhh!" Eclipse groaned, shaking his head, "Don't talk like a cop! Don't talk like – like one of them!"
Eclipse gestured to the window, "You're not one of them! Even if you soooo desperately want to be."
The darkling flickered his gaze towards the window again, cocking an eyebrow as he leaned closer to Shadow across the table.
"You see, to them? They may call you their friend, but to most of them? They think you're a creep. Just like me!"
Shadow's face scrambled in disbelief, his shocked eyes staring hard at the darkling.
"They might need you now…"
Eclipse leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a knowing whisper.
"But when they dooooon't? They'll just get rid of you."
Eclipse leaned one arm on the table, licking his lips. "Their morals, their code, their…'heroicness'? It's all one, big, bad joke."
"They drop it right when there's trouble. They're only as good as everyone wants them to be. If the world expected – no – wanted them to be who they really were? It would allll come falling down."
Shadow shook his head slightly, a soft scoff exiting his lips.
Eclipse leaned in closer, "I'll show you! When everything falls apart – all these…educated, cultured people? They'll destroy each other."
Eclipse leaned back into the chair, thudding his fingers on the table.
"See, Shadow? I'm not some…monster! I'm just ahead of my time."
Suddenly, Shadow lunged forward – grabbing him by the collar as he held him over the table, the darkling dangling in his grasp.
"Where is Khan?" Shadow hissed.
Eclipse rolled his eyes, "You have all these rules – and you reeeeally think they'll help you?!"
Shadow threw him onto the wall, battering his back against the brick as he held him up – his feet dangling in the air.
Amy and Sally turned back to Knuckles, worried looks on their faces.
"It – it's fine," Sonic muttered, unable to tear his eyes away.
"He's still in control," Knuckles added.
"Are you sure about this?" Whisper asked, earning a nod from Knuckles.
"I'm sure."
"I only have one rule," Shadow spat.
"Right – you don't kill people. When did that change? I can remember when you almost put a bullet in Robotnik's head!" Eclipse muttered, Shadow's forearm pressing down on his throat.
"That rule is for the greater good, Eclipse."
"Then that's the rule you'll have to break so that you can see the truth!"
"Which is?"
"The only way to live in this world is without rules! So? Tonight – you're going to break your one rule," Eclipse slithered, harshly wheezing breath through his mouth.
Shadow pressed his forearm down harder on the darkling's throat, "I'm thinking about it."
"Ah – there's only moments and minutes left! You're gonna have to break that rule if you wanna play my silly little game…and save one of them."
Shadow stopped, his brow furrowing.
Them?
Sonic stole a glance towards Amy, Cosmo and Tails inching closer to the window.
What did he mean them?
Sonic reached into his pocket for his phone, checking the screen.
No response from Sonia.
"Them?" Shadow asked, spitting on the darkling's face.
Eclipse smiled, wiggling his eyebrows as he licked his lips.
"You know – I wondered for a while how close you and Ken Khan were. I mean – good golly! The way you just dove after her!"
Shadow's eyes widened, a horrifying realization striking his face.
Sonia.
And if Eclipse hadn't watched Shadow dive after her…would he have been able to make a connection between Shadow and Sonia at all?
Had Shadow caused this?
Eclipse began to wheeze out laughter, Shadow roaring as he flipped Eclipse, slamming his back into the metal table – earning a loud groan from the darkling.
Sonic cursed, rushing towards the door. His sister. This monster had captured his sister.
Shadow grabbed the metal chair, dragging it towards the door as he propped it on the doorhandle.
Sonic tried opening the door – however the chair stopped it, trapping Shadow and Eclipse inside.
"Look at you go! Atta cowboy!" Eclipse cackled, hobbling off the table.
Sonic shook the door, banging on the metal surface. "Open the door! Shadow, open the door!"
Eclipse stood up, groaning in a high pitch as he cracked his back.
Shadow thundered forward, as Eclipse cracked his neck.
"Does Ken know about you and his little babydoll-"
Shadow cut Eclipse off by grabbing his head, and smashing it into the window, leaving a large crack in the window as Eclipse slid to the ground.
"TELL ME WHERE THEY ARE!"
Eclipse held his hands up, his voice shaking. "Killing someone is making a choice, Shadow! That's the choice you have to make!"
Shadow silenced him with a hard punch to the face, the bones in Eclipse's jaw cracking as he was sent to the floor.
"TELL ME WHERE THEY ARE, NOW!"
"You have to choose between one life, or the other life! Your friend the district attorney…"
Eclipse began to snicker, smiling wildly as his eyes were dazed from the forces of Shadow's punches.
"Or his pretty bride-to-beEEHAHA-"
Shadow silenced his cackling with another slam to the face, sending Eclipse to the ground.
"WA-HEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Eclipse began cackling, scrunching his face tight as he squeaked more laughter from his mouth, holding his hands up as his voice began to shake frantically.
"You have nothing! Nothing to scare me with! All that strength and those pitiful rules – you have nothing to beat me with!"
Shadow roared, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him off the ground. Eclipse waved his hands in a mocking surrender.
"Don't worry! I'm gonna tell you where they are! Both of 'em…and that's the point, Shadow! You have to choose!"
Shadow cursed, his eyes furious as he grabbed onto Eclipse's collar tighter.
"She's aaaat 300 65th Street, and heeee's at Belmont Avenue, at the Charical warehouse!"
Shadow slammed him onto the ground, storming out of the room as he kicked the door open.
"Shadow! Who are you going after?!" Sonic cried.
"SONIA!" Shadow replied with a roar, refusing to turn around.
Sonic grabbed Shadow, facing him.
"Get my sister out of there alive. Please – I'm begging you, please."
Shadow nodded, before tearing away.
Tapping on his watch, he pinged to his group – along with Silver and Blaze. They were getting Sonia out of there alive.
Knuckles led the charge, the force darting from the room into the garages. "WE'RE GETTING KHAN! 300 65TH STREET!"
"Got it! Move, move, move!" Vector commanded.
Sonic, Amy and Tails hopped into their car, Sonic fumbling for the keys as the car roared to life, slamming on the gas.
The force began peeling out of the garages, and Sonic's eyes were laser-focused on the road.
They were getting his sister and Khan out of there alive.
And next time he saw Eclipse? He would pay.
He would pay dearly.