Act I: CATACOMBS

Chapter VII: Disposable Heroes

"The murderer rises before it is light, that he may kill the poor and needy, and in the night, he is like a thief." – Job 24:14

The hot air was still, and the tensions between the two hedgehogs were high.

Rouge and Knuckles watched with bated breaths, as the stare down between Sonic and Shadow intensified. The harsh air was broken by a loud scoff from Robotnik.

"Do you see now?! These two sinners would rather kill each other than rid this town of evil! They are not saviors, no, they are leading us to damnation!"

Sonic whipped his head around, pointing the silver revolver at the preacher. "Hey, just for once in your life, shut it maybe?! I got a duel to win here."

Robotnik grumbled, as Nack began stepping forward, chewing on a cigarette.

"You betta' watch yourself, outlaw."

Sonic cocked his head with a grin. "If I ain't scared of this 'fella, what makes you think I'm so scared of you?"

Sonic's eyes danced over to Bark, who was sharing a sympathetic glance with Shadow. Sonic looked back at the hedgehog, raising an eyebrow. He shook this off, stepping forward towards the gunman.

"So? Old fashioned duel? Hope you're ready to get your tail beat."

Shadow grumbled. "Hardly."

Soon, footsteps began approaching the crowd, earning a shuddered sigh from Rouge.

Removing his hat, Zero the Jackal approached, holding a small bag by his side. He nodded to Shadow, before turning his attention to Sonic.

"Are you the challenger?"

Sonic whistled. "Sure am. Who are you?"

"Zero. I'm sure you and I will be well acquainted soon. I'll be moderatin' this one."

"Like hell you will!" A voice commanded, causing the crowd to turn as they saw Espio approach on horseback.

Behind him was his team of marshals, all holding revolvers by their sides. Espio grumbled, sliding off his horse.

"You two will call this off before I call it off for you."

Sally, Bunnie, and Mighty approached at his side. Shadow nodded to them.

"Good to see 'ya, Shadow," Mighty remarked.

"Really wish it was under better conditions…" Sally added, earning a loud grumble from Robotnik.

"Arrest them this instant! We have service starting right now!"

Rotor approached, fixing the hat on his head. "He's right. Sorry boys, we can't be doin' this here."

"No. He challenged me. I want a fair duel," Shadow spat, earning a nod from Sonic.

"He's right – fair duel. That's it."

"Call it off. Don't make this any more difficult you two," Nicole added.

Suddenly, a shuffling of feet picked up behind them. Sonic caught Amy and Tails' faces fall. The hedgehog turned around, seeing that the Undertaker had stood up from the well. The crows atop the well began to squawk quietly.

Suddenly, the air felt even more still than it had before. All eyes were locked on Mephiles. Slowly, he raised his hands, before pointing a finger gun right at Espio.

He squinted, before making a "pew" noise from his mouth, pseudo-firing the finger gun. The townsfolk gasped, slithering back to protect themselves. Mighty and Antoine instinctively pulled out their revolvers.

Sonic held his hand up. "Wait! Wait…you know that ain't gonna do a darn thing."

Knuckles grumbled, whipping his head towards Espio. "Espio, you have to stand down. He's threatening you."

"We make sure this town is safe. I'm not backin' down on my orders, Knuckles."

"Espio, please!" Tikal cried, shifting her gaze back to Mephiles. The hedgehog smiled widely, keeping his finger-gun pointed at Espio.

Antoine glanced towards the chameleon. "Boss, we – we may have to let this play out. It seems the 'Taker wants this to happen."

"He's not the boss of us," The chameleon retorted.

"With all due respect, sir," Ray started, slithering by Mighty's side, "I think he is."

Sally approached his other side. "Sir, if this gets us one step closer to gettin' rid of him, we're gonna need to take this chance."

Espio stared at the Undertaker for a while, an unreadable expression contorting his face. The Undertaker never stopped smiling.

With a sigh, Espio took a step back. "Fine."

Sonic tilted his head, sending a wink to Shadow. "Seems like we're on."

Shadow grumbled, pulling the revolver from his belt. "Let's get this over with."

The bank had been emptied out due to church. The plan was going perfectly. That Shadow was a right genius.

Jet pulled the bandana over his beak, whistling a tune as Bean goose-stepped his way towards the vaults in the back, a bag of dynamite slung over his shoulder.

Scourge had an arm around Fiona, letting out a sigh. "So, do we get their money, or what?"

Wave turned her shoulder, shrugging. "Don't ask me. We take it, and we run to the place Shadow told us with it."

"That's all we were told!" Storm added, laying the shotgun over his chest.

Fiona rolled her eyes. "I said there better be money involved…"

Jet turned around, giving the fox a mock-curtsey, "Sorry darlin', the world just ain't revolvin' around you now, is it?"

Scourge chuckled, earning a sharp elbow jab from Fiona.

Jet continued whistling, knocking over barrels of cash and gunpowder as Wave and Storm began scarfing it into sacks. Scourge pulled out his revolver, standing guard.

"Alright, so, y'all just want me to watch the front door?"

"Yep! No one gets in!" Jet exclaimed from the back, lighting a cigarette as Bean set down the bag of dynamite by the vault. He stuck the cigarette in his beak, watching as Wave and Storm continued ransacking the bank.

Fiona turned to watch, cocking an eyebrow. "Is all this ransackin' part of the plan?"

Storm shrugged. "Nah, but we don't wanna come back too empty handed now!"

Fiona shrugged, standing guard at the back entrance to the bank, watching intently for any intruders.

Jet huffed a cloud of smoke, watching Bean pull out his matches. He pulled the bandana down, flashing a crazed smile towards the hawk.

"Ready to blow this shit?"

Jet chuckled, shaking his head before he began taking steps back.

"You heard the woodpecker! Y'all take cover now!"

Suddenly, Storm and Wave jumped for cover behind stacks and stacks of barrels. Jet pulled his bandana up, holding his cigarette between his pointer and middle finger.

Bean cracked his neck, before lightning the first stick, and rolling it towards the vault.

And as he leapt backwards, the flame ran down and down the fuse…

The crowd had parted now, watching intently as Shadow and Sonic stared each other down.

Amy stood behind Sonic, shaking her head. She handed the hedgehog's revolver to him, staring at him coldly with her shining green eyes.

"I didn't think you were this stupid, Sonic."

"Amy, the Undertaker wants this to happen. I gotta go through with it."

"If one of you two dies, I'm gonna lose it."

Sonic chuckled, "I'll make sure to shoot him where he can heal."

Behind Shadow, Rouge shook her head in annoyance.

"You come back and get yourself caught up in some stupid pistol duel. I thought you were better than this."

"You think he can win against me?"

"I think you're ridin' high on emotions, so yeah, at this point I think he's got a good shot."

"Not as good of a shot as mine."

Zero cleared his throat, signaling the two hedgehogs to step towards each other. Shadow had a cold, grim expression, while Sonic had a smug smirk that never left his muzzle.

"Y'all know the rules. Ten paces, turn, fire," Zero stated.

Sonic shrugged. "Hopefully that's enough paces for slowpoke right here."

Shadow didn't show the slightest hint of emotion, unnerving Sonic slightly.

"Have your seconds negotiated?" Zero asked, but Sonic pointed back at the Undertaker.

"Even if they did, there ain't no backin' out with Hats McGee back there."

Zero stole a glance at Mephiles, who was sitting honorably at the well.

The jackal tilted his head, before holding his arm out. "Begin paces."

Sonic and Shadow obliged, each taking one step at a time. The air was thin and harsh, and the sound of the hedgehog's boots slapping the sandy roads were the only sound in the town. The crowd held their breaths, all looking on with anxious faces.

They continued pacing, each step filling the crowd with one more dose of dread. Only four more paces now…

Three…

Two…

One…

Stop.

Sonic and Shadow whipped around at the same time, both firing a blast from their revolvers, causing the crows to squawk in loud protest as they took flight from the well.

Sonic lowered his revolver, a shocked look on his face as Shadow stumbled back.

Rouge's hand flew over her mouth, taking steps towards Shadow as he continued stumbling. His teeth were clenched, his lip was pursed tight, and his legs were shaky.

Knuckles, Tikal, and Shade stared harshly at him, the red Echidna's gaze flickering over to Amy and Tails, both sharing a shocked gaze.

Robotnik began to smirk, earning a soft chuckle from Starline.

Yet Shadow's hand flew to his chest, fumbling for his shirt. Reaching inside, he moved his hand around carefully, before he pulled out a pendant.

Sonic took hurried steps forward, his eyebrows furrowed as he inspected what Shadow had grabbed hold of. Shadow began to approach him, tearing the necklace from around his neck.

Julie-su and Honey were raising eyebrows now, and Rouge softened when she realized what had happened.

Shadow held the necklace in the air, causing a gasp from the crowd, a loud scoff from Robotnik, and earning a shocked gaze from Sonic.

A cross necklace, with a bullet pierced right into it.

The crowd murmured loudly, as Shadow stared ahead at Sonic – the blue hedgehog scanning the bullet lodged inside of the cross.

The Undertaker allowed his head to fall back, a soft chuckle escaping from his lips as he beckoned for his donkey. He stood up, sending a devilish smirk at Sonic, sending chills down the blue hedgehog's spine.

Robotnik thundered forward, rage in his gaze. "He wears a cross?! How dare he! He is NO man of the Lord!"

Espio shook his head in disbelief, as Mighty, Rotor, and Antoine all chuckled in utter shock.

Sonic turned to Robotnik, smirking slightly. "Guess you might be wrong about this one, Egghead."

Amy couldn't help but smile, yet the murmur of celebration and anxiety were interrupted by the sound of a large blast.

A scream was enticed from the crowd of townsfolk, everyone's head whipping towards the direction of origin. Sonic scowled, yet his ear flickered at the sound of Shadow's footsteps retreating from the site of the duel. Rouge watched him leave perplexed, before the sound of Espio's bellowing voice commanded the townsfolk.

"Everyone! Go to your home! Church is cancelled for today while we investigate the source of the blast!"

Sonic watched the townsfolk quietly agree, as Robotnik stared daggers at the chameleon.

He turned to see the well empty, and a shudder of realization flew down his spine.

Mephiles knew this would happen.

He knew that cross would stop the bullet.

There's something poetic about the legendary gunman wearing a cross necklace with a bullet lodged right in the middle…

And Mephiles knows it.

Jet tossed the bags on the sand, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Whew! I'm beat!" Storm exclaimed, as they managed to escape with their grabs just before Espio and the police could make their way across town to the bank.

"Well, we managed to get everything Shadsy wanted! That'll be a plus!" Bean cried, laying against his bag of dynamite.

"So, he just wanted us to hit Robotnik financially? Seems like an odd place to start," Scourge stated, rubbing Fiona's back.

"No money, no rent on that church. I'm seein' his vision, it's a pretty one at that!" Jet spat with a scrawling chuckle.

Wave shrugged, "Either way, I'm glad to hit big man where it hurts. He always rubbed me the wrong way."

Fiona scowled, pointing into the distance. "Heads up, y'all."

In the distance, the silhouette of Shadow began approaching. His coattails blew lightly in the wind, and he removed his hat as he approached the bag.

"How did it go? I heard the blast."

Jet whistled. "Oh, just peachy! We got what you wanted!"

Shadow bent down, rummaging through the bag. He inspected the goods, a glint of satisfaction in his usually lifeless, crimson eyes.

"Good work. I hope y'all took some for yourself."

"Oh, we sure did!" Storm bellowed, rubbing his gut.

Shadow stared back at the town in the far distance, tucking his revolver back into his belt.

"You seem troubled, big guy!" Bean noticed, as Shadow shrugged.

"Lost a duel."

Jet cocked an eyebrow. "Lost a duel? How? You're alive and well."

Shadow cracked his neck, before tossing the necklace on the ground. Scourge swiped it, inspecting the bullet in the center.

"Damn. Who got this shot on you?"

"His name's Sonic."

"Sonic? That outlaw 'fella? Oh yeah, we've heard of him! He's around, is he?" Jet asked with a sly grin.

Shadow nodded. "I think he's here for a reason too. I just 'gotta figure out what."

Scourge whistled, "I think I might have an idea."

The group followed his gaze, all looking off in the distance before Shadow looked himself.

Strolling by, on his decrepit donkey, was the Undertaker. He sat upright, not a hunch on his back as he rode by, like a shadow of death passing through a valley.

The Undertaker turned his gaze to Shadow before he offered him a blood-curdling grin.

And Shadow only stared back, a longing rage in his eye.