CHAPTER XVIII – THIS JUST IN
The camera was switched on Khan's cue. Sally's normally cool blue eyes turned more serious as she began to retell the events, taking no pleasure in its details. Mobotropolis's "Princess of News" wasn't sugarcoating anything tonight.
"The lack of progress regarding Sonic's pursuit of his younger brother, Scourge, has been troubling to say the least, and it is the topic for this hour of news's 'Opening Statements' segment." "I hate speaking out about against my godbrother, but why Sonic still has not captured Scourge is a mystery. Look at his track record.
"Ever since jumping onto the scene in late June, Sonic has been able to squash numerous crime lords. You might recall that before he arrived, the city had been terrorized by five criminal organizations. There was the Ancients: Lyric's gang. Just this last week on Halloween, Sonic and the MPD were able to collaborate on his arrest after Lyric was caught in the act of smuggling underaged girls into the city to be used in his organization for reasons we will not disclose, but I'm sure you can use your imagination. How long did it take Sonic to take him down? They had only met for the first time on Halloween when Lyric was defeated and arrested.
"Then you have the families that had been run by Morris Mammoth and Walter Naugus: better known as 'Mammoth Mogul' and 'Ixis Naugus' respectively. The two had been partners for years before a violent civil war broke out leading to their split back in the mid-90s. They attempted to take up the mantle of Mobotropolis's biggest crime lord since the long-time king of the city's underworld had passed—we'll get to him later. Word had been leaked out that Naugus and the Mogul were planning on ending their long-time feud, albeit temporarily, to end Sonic and the threat he presented as well as then-new police commissioner Rouge the Bat. It ended with Sonic and Rouge's reformed police tactics ending both the lords at the city's BINGO Highway Resort and Casino—the one near the interstate interchange by I-76 and I-90—on September 13th. Naugus and Mogul had gone 'all in' and lost to the 'new owner of the house,' fittingly at a Texas Hold 'em table where Sonic and Rouge defeated them.
"Finally, there was Dr. Ivo Robotnik, better known as the Eggman…."
The wolf manning the front desk rolled her eyes. As much as she loved seeing her friend on the news, relaying the Eggman saga for the millionth time in the last four months had been maddening to her (and probably to a lot of the AMG's loyal listeners). Yes, she knew Sonic brought him down. Yes, it was high profile with all the clones. Yes, Sonic helped save the world. No, she did not need to be reminded ad infinitum even if it fit with the segment in question. Though Lupe admitted to herself that the imagined scene of her being saved by the muscly, good-looking, heroic Blue Blur from the wicked clutches of the fat, disgusting Robotnik did well to indulge her deepest fantasies. Was it mentioned that Sonic was so goddamn gorgeous too? If she had her way, he'd sweep her off her feet and take her home to all kinds of wonderful things to her. But what if Shadow were there too~?
"But it isn't that kind of fan-fiction, is it?" Lupe mewled to no one in particular as she went back to her iPhone to get her bi-hourly Reddit and Twitter fixings. The newscast up on the lobby's big screen continued to play. Sally had finished her spiel on Eggman and even Fiona's team-up with Scourge.
"… So with all that, Sonic," Sally continued, "what's next for you? Even after all the things I've said about how you've not captured either of them, I still want to say that I believe in you. To the people watching this, I'm not saying this just because Sonic is practically family to me. Sonic has done the impossible before. Eggman nearly taking over the world, snuffing out the top four crime lords all before November even hit, and fighting back against those bosses who even went as far as getting robotic suits to fight him head-on; Sonic has taken whatever's been thrown at him. He has proven that he always gets his man. It may not be pretty all the time, but the job always gets done.
"Sonic is dealing with an unenviable situation right now. Anytime you fight with family, it hurts. Sonic, however, is more unique compared to a stereotypical familial unit fighting because the bills are piling up, or maybe one of the spouses is battling addiction of some sort, or anything like else you've seen in movies or television. But what about a brother who you thought was dead? How about a thought-to-be-dead brother that now wants to kill you? To say that Sonic is in a uniquely terrible set of circumstances now would be the understatement of the decade.
"I will not say that Sonic will inevitably lose to Scourge and Fiona; it's troubling for me and my parents to see both of my godbrothers fighting so hideously. Sonic is shaken when he fights Scourge. We've seen it on the video evidence that you people have captured on your phones and sent to us and the other news outlets in the city.
"Scourge has to be brought in as soon as possible, Sonic. I'm sure you and your team have been working tirelessly to do so, but the people are getting frustrated. Some are scared that there are two of you with your powers, and one of them is trying to take away the freedom and safety that you've helped usher in. Please, for the sake of the safety of Mobotropolis, no more games. Bring him down now. And with that, this concludes our 'Opening Statements.'
"Coming up at the bottom of the hour, we'll have our Mobotroplis Spectres insider, hall-of-famer David Bahk, in-studio tonight to discuss the Spectres' win last night and what to look for as they hit the road next Sunday afternoon to play the Central City Mountaineers. But before that, we do have some positive news about Sonic's heroics that will be on the other side of the commercial break, and Amy Rose will be here to tell us all the details! We'll be back from the 7th floor after a word from our local sponsors."
The wolf had tuned back in and sighed. She knew Sally was right that Scourge needed defeating sooner rather than later and that Fiona should be behind bars soon too, but Lupe was more than willing to cut Sonic some slack. It was no easy feat taking down crime lords in this town. Eggman died at the end of June. It took Sonic and company until mid-September to finally bring down both Mogul and Naugus on the same night. Seven weeks later, Sonic ended Lyric's empire. She guessed that Sonic got lucky and found a quick lead on Fiona, but bringing down that much mafia power in a four-month span? It was nothing short of impressive. And then something that no one could've predicted happens with Scourge helping Fiona out of the blue, and suddenly Sonic was somehow less than a hero because of that?
Lupe scoffed. "Sal, I love ya, but give me a fucking break. Sonic's got too much on his plate, and you know it. It's unfair to him, Tails, Amy, and Rouge. And it's not like beating Scourge is a walk in the park."
"Believe me, it isn't."
The wolf looked to her right in a panic as some guy with a black, leather jacket leaned on her desk with his back towards her. She yelped in shock and nearly dropped her phone in all the commotion. "Excuse me, sir!" she said in a loud voice. "Office hours ended at five! Only those with clearance for the nightly news are allowed in!"
"Relax," the man said in a cool voice as he showed her his pass. "I'm just here for my spot on the news."
Lupe looked at the badge in question. It had David Bahk's name and face on it, but… didn't Bahk have orange fur instead of green? And didn't his voice like that of a partying veteran that indulged in too many beers while courtside at Warriors basketball games? Lupe looked up curiously to see the jacket-wearing man putting on a… suit? Wait. Bahk was a tiger, not a green hedgehog.
Green hedgehog?
"OH, GOD!"
SHING!
The sharp, metallic end of a wing came dangerously close to Lupe's windpipe. She looked up amid the panting to see just who her unwelcome guest was. His wicked grin cemented her worst nightmares.
"S-S-Scourge!" she said in low but frightened voice.
"That's my name," he replied in a voice that was just as cocky as his brother's. "Sorry to say, but there'll be a slight change in the lineup tonight." He got a sick rise out of seeing her this terrified as she darted her eyes back and forth to each side of the room to see guards on the floor unconscious. His smirk got even wider when he followed her eyes to the clear doors behind him where a hall-of-fame Spectre was also unconscious outside but definitely bloodier than the AMG's security. He loved seeing her face lose all semblance of color. "Don't worry, that oversized putty-tat is just very bloodied. The only man I want to personally kill is Sonic."
"Th-Then w-why are y-you here?" Lupe asked as she trembled.
"I want to send out a personal message, and I couldn't think of a better place than here. Sonic has got plenty of friends here if I recall." Lupe's pupils shrunk to the size of mustard seeds. "I'm just here to tell you that you won't be calling the cops or Sonic on me."
WHAM!
With the broad side of his artificial wing, Scourge smacked her out of her seat where she fell with a THUD! Lupe had hit her head on the wall behind her, and Scourge surmised that she'd been knocked out cold as well. With that, he started to make his way to the 7th floor.
"As if they'd get here in time anyway."
"Sixty seconds!" the news director yelled out.
The pink hedgehog behind the desk was muttering small curses as the small microphone's clip was slipping off her red blazer (which paired well with her amber-emblazoned, golden wrist accessories) every time she tried to attach the device. The trick was to have it in such a way that the wire wasn't visible to the audience at home. It was something interviewers and interviewees did so that the microphone wouldn't as obvious or distracting as it already was. Hiding it was something Amy usually had down pat, but not this time with the seconds ticking away.
"Rotten, little—!" Amy remarked with annoyance peppering her tone. Then one of her brother's earpieces fell to the floor. "For crying out loud!" she shouted before grabbing it putting it back in. That still left the microphone to deal with.
"Maybe the material from your jacket isn't being friendly?" Sally offered.
"I've worn this a few times when I've been in front of the camera. I don't know why—." CLICK! "There! Yeesh."
Ken Khan from across the desk rubbed the bridge of his nose with a noticeable smirk. "Yare yare daze," he groaned with a chuckle.
"Forty-five seconds!" the directing badger reminded again.
From the far end of the studio was the AMG's green room. Normally it was a place where the news's guests would reside and casually wait for their turn on camera. The guests would always have access to small pastries and cans of soda to help ease their fears of being on televisions in domestic markets and those abroad like Central City, Station Square, and Shamar to name a few.
The green room was also home to the AMG's owners as they would watch their only daughter do the morning and nightly newscasts from that sanctuary. However, there was one guest unaccounted for, and that was why Max left the room quickly and whistled to get the anchors' attention.
"Got something, Max?" Khan asked.
"David Bahk told me that he might be running late for his interview," Max said with a little distress in his voice, "but Alicia just told me he's not answering her calls."
"So he's a no-show?" Sally asked.
"I'm not sure. Look for me after the next break. Until then, just go with the script for now, okay?" The trio of reporters nodded. "Okay." Max then turned back to the director. "Sorry about that."
"It's alright, Mr. Acorn," the bear said as Max jogged off the set. "Fifteen seconds! Quiet on the set!" As the crew began to get ready, Amy, Sally, and Khan cleared their throats and looked directly at the middle camera (AKA the main camera on set) in the set of three. "On the air in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4!" He then silently counted down with his fingers as the news's music hit. Showtime.
"Welcome back to the 6 o'clock news!" Sally greeted with cheer and a bright smile. "Sally Acorn here with Ken 'Monkey' Khan as we welcome you back on a cool Monday night in Mobotropolis! We've got sports on shortly with our man, Brett Rodgers, and hall-of-famer David Bahk to talk Spectres football.
"However, we did promise some lighter news on behalf of Sonic, and for that, we welcome in our resident 'Rascal' into the AMG Studios: the incredible Amy Rose."
As the third camera took the lead, it showed just Amy and Sally as the Rose began to speak. "Sally, it's a pleasure to be in the studio tonight. Especially with how chilly the weather's getting," Amy joked. "I hope Dulcy the Dragon can predict some warmer weather."
Sally smiled. "We all wish for that, but it is November in Mobotropolis. But enough about the weather. We need to talk about Sonic."
BUMP!
The news team paused, looking confused as they thought they heard something.
Amy cautiously resumed. "As I was saying… we need to talk about Sonic."
THUMP!
It wasn't their imaginations. Something did go bump on the nightly news. It sounded like it was coming from the hallway behind the double doors at the rear of the studio. One of the cameramen was crazy enough to turn the camera toward the action.
"What are you doing?!" the director shouted in a whisper. "Get that camera back on the talent, or you're fired!"
"We… We aren't sure what's going on," Sally said who was obviously taken out of it by the noises. "Ladies and gentlemen, this isn't part of tonight's scheduled programming."
BANG!
The doors flew open with a mighty crash as in walked a man who made needed no introduction, but he knew how to make an entrance. He was a man who could take your breath away with a simple look. Your heart would sink the moment you locked eyes with his blue daggers. And he knew how to accessorize with that black leather jacket underneath the familiar hardware of a prototype flight suit. The sharp, metallic ends of his wings were out looking for trouble, and they couldn't have picked a better time or place to do it.
The reporters and crew looked on in bewildered shock as his wicked smile was on candid camera for the entire city to see. Everyone in the studio was noticeably tense as Scourge marched his was way through the silenced room, passing the main camera on his way to the news desk. With that fear-inducing grin, he turned to the live camera and spoke. "Now this is reality television!"
The director couldn't bear to let Scourge have his moment. "Cut the fe—!"
SHING!
The room gasped and held their breaths as the right wing of Scourge's found its way to a precarious spot. Where? Oh, nowhere special. Just an inch from the director's face, and by the way the director looked at the sharpened object, it like his life was flashing before his eyes. The worst part was that the other cameramen turned to show the viewers at home the frightening scene as the bear's face went flush, his muzzle and face turning a ghostly white as he stared death right in the face.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Scourge hissed as he waved a finger at the director. "Y'see, it's always been a dream of mine to make it onto the television. And I'm not talking about those phone videos from Times Square."
SHING!
The blade was pulled back as the director sighed for his life. Scourge then turned back to the camera. With his back turned, it was Amy's chance to quickly pluck out her earpiece and hide it under the news desk. Khan and Sally quickly glanced, but Amy's eyes told them to play it cool as Scourge continued his sermon.
Scourge stopped looking at the cameras and was looking down at the floor as if to bow his head in shame. "Those crude videos can't do it justice how badly I kicked Sonic's ass," he began. "I just wished he would've drowned in that sewer." Then Amy saw how Scourge let up as he turned back to the cameras. "But maybe it's for the better that he lived. Because I'm here, and he's indisposed." Scourge then looked at Amy who noticeably froze. "You probably know where he is, don't you, Amy? Running some operation to take down Fiona while your brother is defenseless at home?" Amy's eyes widened. "I figured you might not know that part. Y'see, Tails is right now having the time of his life with some of Fiona's friends. In fact, he's probably having so good a time that he'll die a happy man!"
Amy couldn't take it anymore. "Are you saying you did something to him?!" Funny how Amy signaled to her cohorts to keep their poker faces, but Amy was so damn quick to drop hers.
"I haven't done a damn thing, pinky. What I'm doing now is passing along the news. Really, I'm doing your job by breaking the news. Tails is either dead or will be dead soon. And Sonic is with Fiona. Oh, by the way…," Scourge said as he inched closer to Amy's face, her eyes enraged but her lips quivered, "that bust of his for Fiona? There's a radio jammer at the old Union Times Building. Sonic doesn't know what's happening. He'll find out later, but just know that he's… not… saving… your… brother." Then he cupped her cheek and winked. "And there's no one to save you from me."
He was right. The police couldn't do anything to Scourge, even if Rouge was the one leading the charge. CREAM was with Tails but still without her new body, and Tails was in deep trouble.
Unbeknownst to Scourge, CREAM spoke into Amy's other earpiece. It was a needed reprieve from the intense tone of their news-crasher.
"Amy, listen to me," the android responded calmly.
"Oh, thank Chaos," Amy thought while keeping her poker face.
"Tails is going to live. He's safe now. I'll keep trying to get a hold Sonic, but you have to give me time! Do you understand?"
Amy's hands were still underneath the desk and out of Scourge's view. She quickly tapped along a reply into her free earbud.
dah-DIT-dah, DIT, DIT-DIT-DIT ("Yes")
"Good, I'll be in touch."
Amy continued to stare Scourge down. Thankfully, he didn't seem to notice the side conversation, or if he did, he wasn't letting on about it. If there was any chance Sonic could save them, she had to bet on it. It would mean that she would need to not slip up in the next few minutes, but it was very doable.
Then Scourge got in closer. She could feel his warm, unnerving breath on her cheeks. "Still with us, Amy?"
She let go of a deep breath and furrowed her brow, making sure Scourge understood loud and clear. "I've seen Sonic pull off miracles before. Who's to say he won't do it again?"
Those blade-tipped wings of his got close to Amy's throat. Not even a flinch came from the pink-furred reporter as she held eye-contact with him. Sally and Ken feared for their friend's life. The crew was frozen in place as their footage was still live for all the people to see. The same went for families at home who starred with nervous anticipation preparing themselves for the worst that could come at a moment's notice.
"You really trust that bastard too much, y'know that?" Scourge said as his smirk was replaced with a sneer. "Sooner or later, faith will fail you when you need it the most."
Then a loud noise came from the green room. The sound of a door swinging wildly came a shock to all parties involved as the reporters and Scourge saw an older man and woman come out of the viewing area and making a beeline for the news desk. The pair in question were side-by-side. The lady was looking on with tears in her eyes. Her man was sporting distressed eyes as well, though behind his tears were fire and brimstone.
Scourge raised an eyebrow and pointed his wing at the couple. Alicia and Max didn't even flinch. It was a small thing, but Scourge respected that detail.
Sally immediately got up and yelled. "Mom! Dad! Stay away from him!" The little nugget earned a glare from Scourge and him pointing his other wing in the anchor's direction.
"It's going to be alright," Max assured with determined poise as he and Alicia arrived at the news desk.
Scourge scoffed as he turned back to the couple. "Those are some famous last words," the hedgehog said coldly as he turned his attention back to them. "And who might you be? And how did you get in here?"
"Alicia and I own the building, so I'd say we're entitled to be here," Max said.
Scourge looked at the older lady and then back to her man. "I'm going to guess Max Acorn?"
The older squirrel nodded once. "Among other things, yes."
"And what 'other things' might that be?"
"Sonic's godfather." Scourge's grin slowly disappeared as he continued to stare at Max. "Yours too, Eli." A silence fell over the newsroom as Scourge maintained eye-contact. The trio of anchors watched with bated breath wondering what might happen next. Scourge still had one wing directed at the Acorns with said wing able to cut them up and the tension in the room in one fell swoop. That tension seemed to heighten when Scourge dropped his wing and start laughing.
"Hahaha!" he breathed out as he collected his thoughts. "You're my godfather? Seriously? An old fart like you—?" Then he paused as the thought finally processed. "Actually, I take that back," Scourge said as he got closer to Max. "I suppose it's not too far-fetched to think that. I mean, if he's your godson, then me being one too isn't illogical. But… I'm getting off-topic. Where were we? Oh, right. An old fart like you trying to act tough in front of his wife and little girl? It's heartwarming. No, really. It really is, but aren't you a little… old to be acting this tough? It doesn't look like you could throw a punch much less keep two girls safe from someone like me."
That line made Max ball up his fist, but the idea of fighting would only lead to bloodshed (whether it would be his own, Ali's, or Sally's was irrelevant). He had to let that one-liner slide to avoid the worst or at least bide time to prevent in inevitable.
"Is it really 'acting tough' when I'm doing it because I love them? Or how about because I don't want to see them get hurt? Is that good enough of an answer for you, Eli?"
The villain rolled his eyes. "Personally, I don't care. Even if I am your godson, I could not be bothered to give two shits." He wasn't ready for what would come next.
WHA-POW!
Scourge was expecting a reaction from Max. A verbal defense for example to defend his honor and/or family. However, he wasn't expecting his elder to strike him across the face. He had to laugh. He really did because of how out-of-left-field it was. Scourge also had to give Max respect for a willingness to stare a threat in the face and not back down. He had made a living off of doing that with Alicia and the Hedgehogs after all.
"I have to give you props for that," Scourge said with a hint of amusement as he checked for blood to which there was none.
"I don't care about what you do and don't respect, but I will not tolerate any kind of foul language on any of our broadcasts," Max spat.
"HAHAHAHA! That was what that punch was for?! That's rich, Acorn!"
"Be quiet!" Alicia spoke up. "Both of you!"
"I don't think you know how to read the room, missy," Scourge remarked in an unimpressed tone before locking eyes with her. "You're not running this program anymore! I am! Because I'm Scourge… the fucking… Hedgehog!"
"You are not!" Alicia pleaded before glaring at Max. Her husband was about ready to swing again, but Alicia knowing him made sure he wouldn't hurt himself. Scourge would've been ready for a second strike. The she turned back to her godson. "Your name is Eli Charles Hedgehog! You are our godson! And we want to help you!"
"Oh, please. What makes you think I want or need any kind of help? I'm doing alright all things considered." Then she began to walk to him. "Hey, let's keep our distance here…."
"Alicia…," Amy began with worry in her voice. Too bad Alicia didn't acknowledge the hedgehog's concern as AMG's co-owner got close to Scourge with tears welling up in her eyes.
"Eli… your parents helped build this company with us. And you just break in here and take us all hostage? What would Bernie and Jules say?!" Scourge just looked back at her with a blank expression. The only thing Alicia saw in his off-dilated pupils was indifference.
"Alicia!" Amy yelled as she raised her voice. Scourge turned and raised an eyebrow. Alicia looked on with a dumfounded mien. "We already know he's too far gone," Amy said in honest, yet defeated, tone. "For Chaos's sake. He's beaten Sonic senseless twice now. He even tried drowning him in a sewer. He isn't your godson anymore." Then Sally looked Scourge in the eyes. "He's just scum."
"Is that right?" Scourge asked as he turned from Alicia and placed his hands on the other side of the news desk, leaning his body weight forward. "Scum?"
"Did you want me to be more forward with my insults? How about 'failure?'"
Scourge's smile vanished. "A failure?"
"Yeah, a failure. Because only the worst-of-the-worst would think teaming up with the city's worst crime lord is a good idea." Scourge raised an eyebrow as his eyes started to change. "Because failures don't finish what they started. For someone who wants to kill Sonic, you are hilariously bad at it!" His scowl deepened as his breathing grew in volume. "Only a failure would go so low as going on the news to convince everyone else that he's some 'legit badass!' You think you're the guy? Dude, you are just a guy!"
SLAM!
His fists put a sizeable marking in the news desk as the wood started to splinter from the impact. It was Amy's turn to raise an eyebrow as she reclined in her chair as she watched the sparks fly out of her Scourge's ears. Ken, Sally, Alicia, Max, and the entire crew looked on in dumbfounded shock as their compatriot had the stones to speak her mind.
"YOU THINK I'M SOME POSER, BITCH?!"
"Please! Eggman was figuratively and literally twice the bad guy you are, and that fat tub of lard has been dead for a while now! At least he put his evil brain to work! Oh, and 'bitch?' I've been called a lot worse by a lot tougher, you second-rate speedster." About to blow up, he grabbed Amy by her red blazer. The sudden pulling of her body made Amy yelp for a moment, but as soon as she saw Scourge's threatening eyes, her cocky smile returned. "Sorry, did I strike a nerve?" she asked smugly.
"Don't… you… ever… call me… a second-… rate… SPEEDSTER!" he forced out. As he held her, another SHING came from Scourge's free hand as he placed the winged blade's point right under her cheek. What pissed him off even more was that she kept a cool façade the whole time. "I am faster, meaner, stronger, and tougher than Sonic ever will be! YOU GOT THAT?!"
"You're as intimidating as a baby, y'know that? You certainly whine and pitch fits like a baby. It's perfect since you're Sonic's baby brother. Oh, and how could I forget that baby brothers like to steal their big brothers' toys? And speaking of 'brothers' toys,' my brother made this suit, so I know how to turn it off."
Since both of his hands were full, Scourge couldn't stop Amy from quickly reaching across and hitting one particular button on the suit to instantly shut it down. The winged spear at her jugular instantly retracted as the forced turn-off made it vanish, but it also jerked his body around as the wings folded their way back into the suit, thus prying Scourge away from Amy. She caught herself from faceplanting on the desk while Scourge backed away in stupefied silence this this pink broad managed to not only deactivate his apparatus, but also completely embarrass him in front of the entire city's viewing eyes. No one knew it at the time, but the AMG's ratings popped another point-and-a-half from that sequence alone, and Scourge looked back at Amy with a flabbergasted expression to match the equally dazed faces in the studio.
Just as he finally processed what the hell had happened, Scourge coldly looked to the news desk. Amy was getting herself off the table and then stood behind it with folded arms and a conceited smile. Her fellow news anchors looked on in terror fearing for their friend's life as they saw the glare that their intruder was sporting.
"Do we have an update, CREAM?!" Rouge cried out. "What's going on?!" The robo-rabbit did not respond right away. She was running through the computer's programming to see if there was any way to boost the signal to get a hold of Sonic. "CREAM, respond!"
"Amy was able to get in close and turn off the flight suit Scourge stole," CREAM responded with urgent anticipation in her voice. "Judging from his look, he wasn't ready for that. I don't think Amy has long before Scourge starts throwing punches!"
"My team is headed their right now," Rouge replied with the sirens blaring in the background. "Do we have any word on Sonic yet? If it's as tense as you say it is, then time is running out!"
"I still don't have anything, and I've been trying nonstop! Whatever hardware Fiona has, its top-of-the-line. The only way I'm going to get through is if Sonic deactivates it somehow!"
"Keep trying, CREAM! We don't know when Scourge will let loose!"
Scourge then chuckled once. It got the tense newsroom's attention as even Amy's smile changed to that of curiosity. He straightened himself out and turned the flight suit back on as evidenced by the wings sprouting out from his back. After that, those in the silent newsroom saw Scourge clapping his hands slowly.
"That was very well done," Scourge complemented as he applauded. Amy noted how amused the green man sounded. "Honestly, you were able to get closer than Sonic ever could. I have to give you marks for that. Still, I have to ask: what was the point of it?"
"Maybe that I was right about you being a cut below Sonic?"
Scourge scoffed. "'A cut below,' she says," he echoed sarcastically to no one in particular. "Kind of like how you're a cut below Sally-girl here?"
As he gestured to the lead anchor, both Sally and Amy shot him confused looks. "What are getting at?" Amy asked.
"I'm just saying that Sally here is obviously the better reporter than you are since she's the one behind the camera all day, and you're the one on the streets with people worse than me." Amy placed her hands on her hips while Sally sported an odd look as if she wasn't exactly understanding where Scourge was going with this.
"My brand of news-breaking is investigative journalism," Amy defended. "It means getting my hands dirty sometimes to get the news. It means keeping a low profile when I'm undercover. I wasn't the Rascal because I was bored. I have my reasons for doing this kind of reporting. Sally is better suited for mainstream newscasting than I am. It's what she went to school for, and it's all she knew growing up because of Max and Alicia. She's better at it than me. And what are we even talking about my career for?!"
Scourge shushed her. "Easy, easy. I wasn't looking for your life story, pinkie. You're taking it the wrong way."
"And just how was I supposed to take it?"
"Like maybe there's a more personal reason you aren't the #1 newscaster. Like maybe there's a reason you'll never be #1. Maybe because of your past." Amy was about to reply that she just explained why she didn't want that role in the first place, but she stayed silent because she was too curious about what Scourge would say next. "Let's say… maybe you knew a certain crime lord very well?" Amy's eye twitched for a brief moment. "Maybe, just maybe, you were very good friends with this crime-lord-to-be when you were younger?" Scourge then looked at the live camera with a wicked smile as Amy readied himself for his next words. She knew exactly what he was about to say next. "Mobotropolis, I'm afraid Amy Rose isn't the clean-cut, no-nonsense reporter she makes herself out to be. She's got a pretty big secret that I'm willing to bet not many people know about." Scourge then got in nice and tight so the audience could hear him clearly. "Amy Rose and Fiona Fox know each other. Not just that, but they were very good friends for years. Yes, the very same Fiona Fox that her boyfriend has been trying to catch for a few days now." He then backed away from the camera so it could take in Amy's agitated face. The Rascal did her best to breathe calmly and keep her composure, taking a few seconds to ready herself. No doubt that after he had just dropped that bombshell, there'd be hell to pay later.
Amy then spoke up. "If you're gonna say what I think you're gonna say, then I'll tell you right now the Acorns know it too, an—."
"Ah!" Scourge interrupted. "So the goody-two-shoes Acorn family knows? And they're willing to keep you on knowing damn well you and Fiona were tight back years ago? How many crimes did you—?"
"I wasn't finished!" Amy barked. "Max and Alicia know we were friends growing up, but they also know damn well that I have never done anything to break the law, not even with Fiona!"
"How could they be sure about that?!" Scourge asked as he slowly made his way to the news desk with a sharp wing ready to go. Whether it was him being skeptic or just wanting to wind her up, Amy's skin was positively crawling at his words.
"Because I was up-front with them about it from day one!" Amy replied in a loud voice as she leaned on the desk again. "And if you asked Fiona, she'll tell you the same thing! When we were friends, she and I were never part of anything her family's organization did! Fiona never wanted to be involved in the family business in the first place! Her dad always kept her out of it!"
"Somehow I don't believe you. It's not nice to lie to the camera, Amy!"
"I am not lying!" Amy's screeched. "We stopped being friends after my parents' killer was murdered!"
Scourge scoffed. "Okay, let's say I believe you. Why don't you tell us what happened?"
"We were seniors in high school. Fiona was never involved in her family's empire, but she knew Tails and I were grieving because my parents were murdered. Fiona figured that I would want vengeance for what happened. She was wrong. I needed justice. I thought I'd get that when Eclipse the Darkling went to trial, but before that, she offered me the chance to have him killed because she felt she owed me that much because of our friendship. I was appalled that she asked me that. She had never said anything like that. She didn't want to take over her family's empire, but she still had the audacity to say that to me, and it led to a massive fight. We ended our friendship right then and there because she had changed. I wanted the peace-of-mind that Eclipse was going to rot in jail for the rest of his life. I might have wanted him dead, but I would never give the go-ahead to have him killed. I never would've been able to live with myself if I gave that order. Not that my peace of mind matters since Eclipse was killed off anyway. But it still didn't change the fact that Fiona suggested that horrible favor. It hurt that she was willing to do that when she didn't want anything to do with what her dad did. We haven't spoken in over six years because of it. And if you don't believe me, then you can go and ask her yourself."
Scourge chuckled. "I believe you. I really do. She told me the same thing and Sonic a few nights ago."
Amy's eye twitched. "THEN WHAT WAS THE POINT OF ASKING IF YOU ALREADY KNEW?!"
Scourge then retracted the wing so he could crack his knuckles. That look in his eye was particularly dark. "I think it's for the best that people confess their deepest feelings when they're about to die."
Scourge pulled out those wings of his again as he readied himself. Sally and Ken turned to their friend with terrified eyes and mouths agape in petrified anticipation. The sound of Scourge's suit began whirring louder and louder with each millisecond. But there Amy was just staring him down with stoic defiance, almost daring him to attack.
"Go ahead," Amy challenged. "I'm right here."
"With pleasure," Scourge shot back.
Challenge accepted.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Finally got the chance to upload the next update. Sheesh, what a day. I do apologize for how late in the day this is, but things have been hectic on my end for the last 24 hours. It's mainly personal, like the "Family" sort of personal, so I won't bore you with the details. I would've uploaded this yesterday, but circumstances prevented me from doing so, namely trying to grammatically edit a small speech for my dad who let's just say isn't the most articulate person on the planet. I love my dad to pieces, but the man cannot string together a speech with proper and effective transitions to save his life. Oh, did I mention trying to edit it around midnight when I had to be work by 4am?
Anyway, enough about that. We have a bit of a lull in the action considering what happened last time out with CREAM. Originally, this chapter and the next one (which should be out on 7/27 if all goes to plan) were one big chapter. However, you'd be looking at a chapter that would be well over 12,000 words in length. I'd feel somewhat comfortable doing a mega chapter if it were the climax or first chapter (look at SP1's and SP2's chapters for example), but we're not there yet, so a more digestible 6534 words is what you're getting. With that said, I won't be going over everything the chapter has this time out since it's basically the first half. But I will say that both the Hedgehog Brothers have an over-the-top of way of making entrances. Oh, and Amy is one no-nonsense chick. Also, if you know wrestling promos (specifically Brian Pillman and John Cena), some of these lines might sound familiar to you.
Also, this chapter, the last one, and the next two chapters were initially supposed to be split up in real-time which includes Sonic's fight at the Union Times, Scourge at the AMG, and CREAM's "resurrection" among other things. And as you might imagine, editing this entire stretch of material has been a complete and total fucking nightmare and THE biggest reason why SP2 gave me the worst case of writer's block this side of the Mississippi. This freaking set of chapters and how to sequence them! Editing, re-editing, and re-re-editing was more than a simple pain in the ass. It has been hell, and I can only hope that the way it's being published is the best and most coherent course of action.
Thanks to the usual three suspects for dropping reviews as is tradition like how the Canadian prince when he is wed must first put both of his arms into the pudding before the princess wipes the pudding off which she then rubs on her face as the prince rips off the princess's arm, as is tradition. What a glorious day for Canada, and therefore the world. Sorry, where was I? Oh, right. Thanks as always to jurrassicdinodrew, 000Marie198, and FlameShadowDragon for the reviews! Now if you'll excuse me, the Bucks will be playing Game 5 of the NBA Finals, so I got to get out of here before tip-off.
As always, the characters used in this story are the property of SEGA, Sonic Team, and Archie Comics. Everything in the story is being used strictly for entertainment purposes. And as always, I will talk to y'all later.