Act III: INFERNUS

Chapter I: Devil Town

TWO MONTHS LATER…

The snow finally fell on a desolate Central City, where the only vehicles trotting through the streets were tank-like cars stolen from Hedgehog Enterprises.

Eclipse had allowed the criminal underworld to form the largest takeover of an entire city – assuming control of the metropolis in two months.

Ken Khan still hadn't been found, but many dead bodies of mob men were found sprawled across the city streets, all with bullet holes in their foreheads. It seemed Ken Khan had been busy – yet his true target, Perci the Bandicoot, was still trapped below in the tunnels. His vengeance couldn't quite be quenched yet – but Eclipse had succeeded and taking the last pure soul of the city and corrupting him completely.

Eclipse left Mephiles to decide what happened to the elite. The hedgehog convened a kangaroo court – sentencing the wealthy and powerful elite of the city to death.

The city's superheroes were still in hiding. No one, including the remaining police force, knew where they were. For all they knew – Eclipse had found them and killed them. They weren't sure.

The manhole slid open, as Sonic bent down into the snowy streets. His large, parka jacket swallowed him whole as he lowered a note down on a string. One of the policemen trapped in the sewers retrieved it, the blue hedgehog shivering as his hands shook on the string.

Food would be coming down to them. They weren't dying yet – no matter how haggard they had become.

Scourge and Fiona hobbled up the stairs, carrying a tank of gas as they walked inside one of the many safehouses in the city. Countless citizens were huddled together – including many young boys who were playing board games.

"How are the boys doin'?" Scourge asked, handing the tank of gas to an older goat.

"They're alright. Finally got some TV running for them to watch. What's the tank for?"

"The buses – in case there's a chance to evacuate," Fiona said.

Scourge patted him on the shoulder. "Stay safe, we'll try to keep you updated."

The goat nodded, before stopping them. "Just – you two be careful. They're hunting cops like dogs."

Fiona nodded, before the pair took their leave.

On the last remaining bridge connected to the city, three semi-trucks piled through. The mob-milita were standing guard, knocking on the window.

"Food delivery."

The milita man nodded, allowing the semi-trucks to enter the city. Barbed wire fences were lined across the bridge – as the men held onto weapons and explosives tightly.

The semi-trucks parked in front of the deli, a line of cold citizens shaking as they waited to get their lunch.

Bringing the food inside, the leader of the group was a blue hedgehog, walking through the back with two men.

In the back of the store stood Knuckles and the force, as well as Vector and his SWAT commanders.

"You got ID?" Vector asked, as the hedgehog scoffed.

"Of course not."

"Then how can we trust you?" Espio asked, earning a nod from Mighty.

"For all we know, you could be one of them."

"We have no choice," Knuckles said, stepping forward to shake the hedgehog's hand.

"Commissioner. Captain Rob'O the Hedge – Special Forces."

"Captain. We're glad you're here," The echidna answered.

Special forces. It worked – the federal military had men inside the city. This could be the saving grace they needed.

"It's our job, sir. Now – how many of you are there?"

"Well – inside here is everyone not trapped below," Amy said.

"Chief of Police Amy Rose?" Rob asked, earning a nod from the pink hedgehog.

"Good to meet you. So, this is everyone left?"

Sally nodded.

"And what about in the tunnels?"

"Trapped underground – I'd say around 60,000," Antoine answered.

"What condition are they in?" Rob asked.

"Well – they've been getting food and water…" Cosmo started, before Rob cut her off.

"Can we break them out?"

"Yes, sir," Scourge started, "Take out the mercenaries guarding the outflow, blow the rubble blocking the tunnels…"

"That can leave a hole big enough for 12 at a time," Tangle finished.

"Sonic has been in contact with one guy down there – they're just waiting for their day…" Bunnie added.

"Men who haven't seen daylight in two months?" Rob asked.

"Police and SWAT who haven't seen daylight in two months," Whisper corrected, pushing her mask off her face.

"And what about the bomb? Satellite isn't picking up any radiation hotspots…" Rob asked, earning a shrug from Knuckles.

"We heard it's in a truck – it must have some lead-lined roof. The-they move it constantly…"

"So, you've seen this truck?"

"It's one of three. We've been tracking it," Espio stated.

"Where the hell are the vigilantes?" Rob interrupted, earning uneasy glances.

"We – we don't know. We sent them into hiding – but we haven't heard anything for months. We're not even sure if they're alive right now," Antoine answered.

Rob sighed, shaking his head before continuing his questioning.

"Okay, and what about the triggerman?"

"No leads so far. It's gotta be a bluff…" Knuckles answered.

"I agree. Eclipse wouldn't give control of that bomb to someone else," Sally added.

Rob shook his head, "Well – we can't take that chance. For now, we track it until we can find the triggerman."

"And, what? The city lives under some maniac? Like a failed state?" Julie-su scoffed, finally speaking up with a quip.

"Dial it back. The situation is unprecedented. We can't do anything to risk millions of lives," Rob shot back, earning an eyeroll from Julie-su.

"Are you gonna tell him what's really goin' on, Knuckles?" The pink echidna asked, earning a sigh from Knuckles.

"Captain, the – uh – the situation is more complicated than you think. You need to meet our detectives. Julie and Amy will take you there."

"Your detectives?"

"Sonic and Tails. Sonic also runs Hedgehog Enterprises – it's sort of the breadwinner of the city. They do military work, and Tails runs the R&D Department there too…you just – you need to talk to them," Sally said, earning a nod from Cosmo.

Julie-su and Amy led them towards the building they had shacked up in. Walking through the large business complex, they led the special forces inside as some police, not trapped in the tunnels, stood guard.

"The people of the corporation have been living in here. Two months they've been shacked up inside," Amy stated.

"Corporation?"

"Hedgehog Enterprises. C'mon Captain – keep up," Julie-su said, before leading them across the second floor as they stepped through a door.

Below them were employees surrounded by trash cans with fires – keeping themselves warm as they were huddled in blankets and extra clothes.

It was a depressing sight seeing the most powerful business in the city absolutely rocked to its core.

Sonic and Tails stepped forward, shaking hands with the forces.

"So, you guys wanna brief them?" Amy asked.

Tails sighed, "Well – despite being lead detectives we've been doing this – and…we need to take full responsibility for it."

Rob tilted his head. "Why?"

"We built it," Sonic stated.

The hedgehog was stunned for a moment. "You…built the bomb?"

"It was built as a fusion reactor for the military. Yanno – you guys…" Sonic said.

"Eclipse removed the core from the reactor and turned it into a bomb…" Tails started, before sighing again, "The important part is – as the device's cells deteriorate – it becomes increasingly unstable…to the point of detonation."

"The bomb is a time bomb…" Sonic said.

"And it will go off in 3 days – regardless of Eclipse's mayhem or what the outside world chooses to do. The worlds been watching – but regardless, that bomb will detonate in 3 days," Tails finished.

"Do you see why we can't just wait around for the triggerman? We will run the clock out and those millions of lives you wanna protect will be gone," Julie-su spat.

Rob sighed, shaking his head rapidly before returning his gaze to the fox.

"Could you disarm it?"

"I could reconnect it to the reactor and stabilize it…" Tails answered.

"Alright – let's move away from this location and call it in," Rob said.

"Alright – let's go," Julie-su said, beginning to lead the group out before Rob stopped her.

"No – we'll take it from here. Stay here and look after them."

Rob led the Special Forces through the door as Julie-su rolled her eyes.

And in no wasted moments, machine gun fire started – soliciting screams from the employees below.

Julie and Amy hastily pulled their guns. "Someone sold us out," Amy stated, as the four began aiming their guns from above – returning fire to the mercenaries.

Immediately, the bullets lodged into the Special Forces, the firefight ensuing before Rob himself was shot in the stomach, flopping to the floor.

Sonic and Tails led the escape, shooting down mercenaries in their way as they darted through the building, aiming down for the streets.

As Rob choked on the floor, footsteps approached as his eyes met that of a black and green hedgehog, wearing a black trench coat.

"I'll die before I talk…" Rob spat, as Mephiles smiled.

"I'm on your schedule, captain!" The hedgehog replied, as he pulled out a rod – striking him in the head three times.

As Rob stopped breathing, he pushed his face over as he sighed.

"We found men living upstairs," One of the mercenaries spoke.

Mephiles sighed, cracking his neck. "Round them up for judgement – and hang them where the world can see…"

And hang them they did. As Knuckles and the force huddled around the television, The reporter continued the segment – as the entire world watched this city held hostage by madmen.

"Police have sanctioned off the entities of South and Parkland Heights, as well as Shoreline and Eastside Boulevards..."

The image showed the bridge, as five men hung on the bridge from their necks, presenting their bodies to the world.

Mephiles had truly hung them where the world could see – and in a rage, Knuckles hurled a rock at the television, cracking it as it broke down.

In the courthouse, the door was pressed open as Tails and Sonic snuck inside, their eyes darting around.

"You think this will work?" Sonic asked.

"If we pretend to be caught for judgement – we'll find our way to Eclipse. Count on it."

Sonic sighed, as two men dragged a hollering mongoose up the stairs. "There's been a mistake! Take me to see Eclipse! I wanna see him!"

The room was filled with shouting mercenaries, and shivering elite as they awaited their death sentences.

"That's Ash Mongoose…" Tails muttered, watching him dragged up the stairs.

Inside the courtroom, the army of mercenaries shouted obscenities towards Ash as they plopped him down in a chair center of the room. The mongoose looked hurriedly, begging for his life.

"Take me to Eclipse! There's been a mistake!"

"No mistake here, Mr. Mongoose!" A voice exclaimed, as the mongoose turned to the large judge's podium.

Sat on top was Mephiles, smiling at the man as he licked his lips passively.

"You are – Mr. Mongoose, Executive Vice President of Prescott Industries, correct? Who for years has been living off the blood and sweat of people less powerful than him!"

The army hollered, as Mephiles began banging his gavel.

"Call – call Eclipse. I'm – I'm one of you!"

Mephiles chuckled. "Eclipse has no authority here – this is merely a sentencing hearing!"

Yet in the back, Eclipse stood, licking his lips as he shook in excitement.

"So – the choice is yours! Exile, or death?!"

The army began shouting again, all screaming for death.

Eclipse let out a loud cackle, before he took a small group of mercenaries with him as they exited the courthouse. "Where's Kenny Khan when ya need him, huh?!"

"Ex – Exile…" Ash croaked.

Mephiles smirked, before banging his gavel. "Sold! To Mr. Mongoose!"

The army shouted in glee, before yanking Ash from the chair.

Leading him to the oceanside, Ash had his eyes laid upon the ice that had formed over the ocean water. The men had cuffed him, as Ash fought in their grasps.

The men pushed him onto the ice, the large group of mercenaries cheering as he stood on the ice.

"Follow the thick ice. Try to swim, and your dead in minutes," One of the mercenaries spat, before Ash turned to him.

"Has anyone survived?"

The mercenary scoffed before pushing him onto the ice.

Ash fought for his balance. His eyes were wide, and cold sweat drenched his fur. He turned back, as the men aimed guns toward him. The mongoose sighed, shutting his eyes tight as he began to walk across the ice.

Taking careful steps, Ash continued following the ice, minding his balance as he made his way across the frozen water.

And in no time, he plummeted through the ice and into the water – as the mercenaries cheered and cheered.