Wave flew the Sneak towards the planet Zeppelin "Welcome home" she sighed, "You really think it's gonna be that bad?" Tails asked. "I haven't been back to Zeppelin since before my time at the Imperial Academy, Tails. And I didn't exactly leave on good terms" she said regretfully. Tails shrugged "Well, maybe things have changed. They might be happy to see you". Wave awkwardly chuckled "You don't know my family". Slinger spoke from the back of the ship "I do. Your mother is the leader of Clan Voyance, Wave. She may be with the Empire now, but I believe her true loyalty lies with Planet Wisp". Wave looked sceptical "Even if that were true, she thinks I'm a traitor" "If you can convince your mother to help the Freedom Fighters, all of Planet Wisp might follow you and the darksaber". Wave then quickly hit a button on the console "Ah, I should let them know we're coming so they don't shoot us down". Tails laughed "That's funny, I… Wait, you're not kidding, are you?". Wave spoke a different language into the microphone and another voice answered back. "What happened?" Tails asked, "They're jamming us". G-merl beeped from the roof of the ship "Incoming. Sounds like your family just sent out the welcoming committee" Sonic said. They looked out and saw four Wispons flying towards them. They all shot fire balls at the Sneak, but Wave just managed to dodge them "Did you tell them who you were?" "That's probably why they're shooting at us". The ship was suddenly hit "We've lost the main thrusters. Brace for impact!". The ship crashed into a snowy forest. The group got out "Looks like recruiting your family will be more difficult that I thought" "You weren't easy either. We switch to plan B. Better stay out of sight" Sonic said. Slinger stayed in the ship and closed the door. The others waited until a group of Wispons arrived wearing the Imperial symbol on their masks "Now, remember, I could be related to these guys" "What do we do, Wave?" Tails asked but the lead Wispon recognised the name "Wave?". He stepped forward and removed his mask revealing him to be a male brown monkey. Wave removed her mask "Max?". Max stared at her in surprise before glancing at Tails ad Sonic "Who're the Shinobi?" "They're my friends. I'll explain everything, I promise" "I'll take you to the stronghold, but I can't vouch for how you'll be greeted".
They were walking through the forest, but Wave was glaring at her brother "How can you wear that symbol, Max? How could you join them?". He turned to her "You shouldn't have come back, Wave" "Thanks". They made it to a structure where three guards were waiting. Before they entered an older Claire Voyance walked out and glared down at Wave "So it's true, then" "Mother" "Put her in a cell. She'll be held for trial". One of the guards were about to seize Wave but she pushed past "Mother, we need to talk" she ignited the darksaber. Claire watched in shock "The darksaber". Wave put it down and cleared her throat "Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails, this is my mother, the countess Claire Voyance". Tails smiled "Hi" everyone raised their weapons to him "Okay. We're not there yet". Claire turned back to Wave "What did you expect would happen here, Wave? That'd you be welcomed with open arms? You're wanted by the Empire!". Wave nodded "Happily. I'm part of the Freedom Fighters. Please hear what I have to say" "I will tolerate the Shinobi presence in our ancestral home if they surrender their weapons" she went back inside. Wave sighed in relief "Well, that went better than I expected" "That was better?" Tails said before leaning close to Sonic "Do we hand them over or is this a fight our way-out situation" "First one" "I was afraid of that". They handed them to a guard before entering.
They were now in a throne room with Claire sitting in front of them "You friends are going to bring the Empire down on all of us. You believe the darksaber will protect you? It won't. It's only a symbol" "Yeah, a symbol that's united all Wispons in the past. Look if we stand together now". Claire scoffed "Stand together? Wave, it's everything I can do to keep the other Clans from destroying us because of what you did". Wave got defensive "I didn't know the Empire would use the weapon against our people. But you don't believe me, do you?" "Even if I did it wouldn't change all the other ruling houses from seeing you as a traitor. Your own brother now serves Akhlut to prove our loyalty and regain some small amount of status". Wave didn't hide her anger "Akhlut is a killer" "He's the Emperor's hand. The acting ruler and Governor of Planet Wisp" Max said. "And his men wiped out Fox Hound" Wave said, "Fox Hound were executed for treason, juts as Slinger the Ocelot will be when he is found". Wave took a step closer to them "They were loyal to Planet Wisp and Akhlut betrayed them!". Clair stood up "Enough! Slinger's people are dead and mine are not. And I intend to keep it that way. All of them" "Except for me, right" Wave said defiantly.
Clair glanced at Tristian then "Walk with me" she told Wave. The two left and went to a balcony outside "How could you align with the Empire? After everything they've done to our people, after what they made me do". Claire sighed "Do you think I didn't try to stop it? There was nothing I could do, Wave. Planet Wisp was on its knees before the Emperor. After he put Akhlut in power, we had a choice. Side with him or our Clan would be destroyed. Your father-" "Please don't tell me". Wave leaned against the balcony fearing the worst but "He's alive. On Planet Wisp. A captive in everything but name. But if Clan Voyance acts against the Empire-" "They'll kill him? Why didn't you try and find me?". Claire stared at her in disbelief "Find you? Wave, when you ran away, it saved you. Don't you understand? Coming back here has put you in danger. As much danger as holding that blade. Where did you get it?". Wave stared at the blade "From Scourge" "You won it form him in combat?" "Uh, not exactly, I…" "Then you have no claim to it". Wave shrugged "I'm holding it. That's a pretty good claim" "Anyone can hold the Darksaber. The trick is keeping it, along with your head. Do you even know how to wield that blade?" "You'd be surprised". Claire rolled her eyes "Always so immature, so selfish" "Yeah, and what about you? Always putting power and politics before your own family". Claire was now the one getting defensive "Everything I do is to protect my family, Wave!" "Please! You do it for control". Claire glared at her daughter for a moment before her face dropped and she held Wave's hand "And your father called me stubborn. Now I see it in you" "What do you see?" "A warrior. Not the one I'd hoped, but still…".
Wave gave a slight smirk "Well, I am your daughter. How could I be anything less? Look, the Freedom Fighters are planning something, and we need your help. It'd be the first real blow to the Empire, and we can show the galaxy that they can be defeated". Claire sighed "Please tell me these Freedom Fighters are more than just a blind Shinobi and some child" "Our numbers are growing every day. Mother, this could be the key to freeing Planet Wisp from Imperial control. I'm not a traitor. I want to save Planet Wisp, too, but it needs a strong leader. You have to trust me, just like I'm trusting you". Wave handed the darksaber to Clair. Max then came out "Mother, you're being summoned by Yacker". Claire left and Max turned to Wave "How's it going?" "You know Mum. She hasn't changed" "No. But it's nothing a little sparring practice won't work out. You game?". Wave nodded "Sure. It's been a long time since I put you in your place" neither of then noticed Slinger watching from behind a tree. He snuck around the building and used his mask to see through the walls and saw Claire enter the armoury and where Tails and Sonic's lightsaber were. A hologram of Akhlut appeared "My daughter has come home" "What of her friends?" "She's with two Shinobi". Akhlut nodded "You've done well, Claire. Keep them there" "The Shinobi are yours, but my daughter-" "Don't you worry, countess. Clan Voyance will be well taken care of". Slinger snuck inside the building and entered the armoury after Claire left. He took the lightsabers "Hey!" eh turned and saw a hawk Wispon but Slinger quickly knocked him out.
Claire was back in the throne room looking down at Sonic and Tails "You think I know my daughter better than me" "You don't know what it's taken for her just to be here. You should listen to her". Claire scoffed "She is a child" "I believe your underestimating the woman she's become". Tails stepped forward "Why would Clan Voyance ever side with the Empire anyway? Wave said that your family were true Wispons, loyal only to-" "You have no idea what you're talking about. Boy" Claire said angrily. Tails didn't back down "I know that she was telling the truth about Fox Hound before. Wave and I fought Akhlut on Terminal Velocity. He was pride that he wiped them all out". Claire was surprised by this "Wave, she fought Governor Akhlut?" "Yeah, she did. And she held her own". Wave sighed "Then I'm afraid that I have to do is unfortunate". The Wispons raised their weapons to Sonic and Tails who went back-to-back.
Wave and Max were duelling with staffs when the latter managed to knock her to the floor "You've been practicing, brother". She put her hand out, but Max didn't help her up, so she did it herself "Let me guess. You think I'm a traitor, too". He glared at her "No. But when you left, the other clans turned their backs on us. We lost everything!". He tried to hit her, but she blocked "Our power in the capitol. Our respect and our honour. If I can restore our family's name, if I can protect Father then I have to try. Akhlut promised!". Wave pushed him back "Akhlut cannot be trusted" "Mother trusts him. Enough….!". Wave was about to ask what he meant but she heard a ship outside "Mother, what have you done?". She ran out into the throne room and saw Sonic and Tails "You can't do this!" "Yes, she can". She turned and saw Akhlut enter with his squad of Wispons "Because she is loyal. Just not to you". He then turned to Claire "I believe you have something else for me". Claire reluctantly threw him the darksaber "No!" Wave yelled but Max got in front of her "Wave. This is for the best". "I've upheld my end of the bargain, Akhlut. Take the darksaber. Take the Shinobi and let my daughter go" Claire said. Akhlut looked to Wave with a grin on his face "Your mother betrayed everything you believe in to save you. It's admirable except she consorted with known traitors to do it" "What're you talking about?".
Akhlut turned back to her "Why, Countess, you are harbouring Freedom Fighters here. Clan Voyance is clearly a threat to the Empire and must be made an example of". His men raised their weapons causing Clair's to do to the same. Max got between them "It doesn't have to be this way. We are all the Wispons" "I've been fair to you; Max and you've served me well. I'll give you choice. Stand with me or die with your family". Max stared between him and Wave before pointing his wispon at the former "I choose my family" "Then Clan Voyance ends here". Suddenly Slinger burst through the window and threw lightsabers to Sonic and Tails "Took you long enough!". "Slinger!" Akhlut yelled as he ignited his lightsaber. A firefight started between the two sides. Tails saw Akhlut advancing on Claire with the Darksaber "Wave!" he threw her his lightsaber. She ran forward and stopped him killing her mother. Akhlut growled at her "You will be taken back to Planet Wisp to finish what you started, the last living member of the Voyance Clan". He tackled her through the window, and they landed outside. The others ran out to watch as the two began to duel. Tails was about to jump down to help, but Clair stopped him "By Wispon custom and law, no one can interfere". Sonic grabbed her shoulder "Are your customs more important than the life of your daughter?". Claire went deep in thought. Akhlut used his free hand to fire a laser at Wave but she threw on of her prisms in front of her causing the blast to deflect back and graze Akhlut's arm "AH!... I'm impressed. You have some skill. But not enough to save you".
Wave smirked "That's funny. I was about to say the same thing to you". The two fought eventually leading them to an ice lake which began to crack underneath them. Wave eventually got a hit on his shoulder causing him to fall to his knees and drop the darksaber. Wave picked it up and put bot sabres to Akhlut's throat "Yield!". Akhlut glared up at her defiantly "I'll never yield. You'll have to kill me". Wave looed like she was about to but then deactivated her lightsabers "That might be the Wispon way, but it's not my way. Not anymore". Wave walked away and didn't see Akhlut take out his pistol. Wave heard a blaster shot and froze; she then saw Claire holding her pistol. Wave turned around and saw Akhlut with a hole now in his chest. He fell to the ground dead. Wave turned back to Claire "Mother" "No one threatens our family" Claire said with a warm smile on her face. Slinger walked forward "Akhlut was guilty of treason against the throne, collaboration with our enemy, and the execution of Fox Hound. But when the rest of Planet Wisp finds out about his death, there will be chaos". Claire turned to him "Perhaps Planet Wisp needs chaos if it's to become strong once again. And so that we may find a leader worthy of our people".
Later the Sneak arrived being piloted by G-merl. Tails walked over and smirked "Sure, now you show when all the fighting is over". Sonic turned to Claire "The Empire will come for you once they find out what's happened here. The Freedom Fighters can help" "The same Fighters that sent you for my help? No. Planet Wisp must rise by itself. We protect our own". Sonic nodded in understanding "So do we. Wave?" "She's right". Tails was confused "Wait. You're not coming with us?" "I'm done running away. My father's on Planet Wisp. We'll find a way to get him back. And then… then maybe we can join the fight against the Empire. But right now, I can do more good here". There was a pause before "I am so-" "Don't say you're proud of me" "Me? Never". Wave quickly hugged Sonic "But I am going to miss you". She let go but before she could say anything Tails quickly hugged her "I guess you won't get to try the wispon now". Tails let go and Wave smiled at both of them "Thank you. Both of you". Sonic and Tails stepped onto the Sneak but the latter then turned around and he gave a salute which Wave returned. He Sneak then took off leaving Wave with the others. Slinger smiled at her "You did good today. All of Can Voyance saw who you've become. You could lead Planet Wisp" "No. This was about my family. I'm not Planet Wisp's leader. But I'll find the person who is".