Blast from the Past
It had been too long by any count to be away for this long. Knuckles always made it a point to visit his mother every few days and call her when he couldn't. But between guarding the Master Emerald and his other misadventures he hadn't been able to do either of those recently. So he decided to surprise her.
"I'm so happy to see you again Knuckles." Lara-Le said.
"Yea." he agreed." It's been too long."
"I want to hear everything you've been doing, tell me all about it." Knuckles knew his mother didn't like hearing about his Guardian duties so he tried to think in his mind everything he's done in the past year other than that.
Suddenly there were several knocks at the door.
"Now who could that be?" Knuckles questioned.
"Oh that must be company." Lara-Le said as if she were expecting it.
"Company?" Knuckles repeated. His mother disappeared from his sight only to reappear several moments later, only she wasn't alone.
Knuckles picked his head up to see a male echidna walking into the room. An older gentleman probably about the same age as his own father. He had a friendly smile on his face with blue eyes and a darker shade of red fur.
But Knuckles' eyes quickly went from the man to what was in his arms. A little baby Echidna with bright red fur and big green eyes. Green like his mother's.
"Oh Knuckles." Lara-Le said." This is Wynmacher." As she spoke Knuckles rose to his feet and offered his hand.
"Pleasure." He said with a smile. Wynmacher's smile grew wider as he moved the baby around in his arms so he could shake hands.
"Pleasure's all mine, son. Great to meet you. My that's a strong grip you have, haha!" Knuckles found him using the term 'son' to be odd but thought little of it, a lot of older men used it when refusing to younger ones.
"Thanks. "Knuckles replied as he sat down in his chair." So how do you know my mom?" Lara-Le and Wynmacher shared a brief glance before continuing.
"Well it's a…it's a funny thing actually." Wynmacher told. But he paused and it was that which put Knuckles on edge. At the same time he had passed off his baby to Lara-Le. Something was defiantly up. Wynmacher with both hands now free ran them across his cloths and then sat himself down in the chair across from Knuckles." We're dating actually." He said looking the young guardian in the eye.
That Knuckles certainly wasn't expecting. It took him by surprise. But Wynmacher seemed a charming spirited fellow, certainly more so than Knuckles' late father.
But the worst was yet to come.
"This is our son actually." Wynmacher told. Knuckles eyes bugged open in shock. He turned from his apparent new step-father to his new brother." His name is Knecapeon."
"Knecapeon?" Knuckles questioned. That was the dumbest name he'd ever heard, it sounded like kneecap. But his mother seemed pleased with it.
"Hmh." She nodded. "Would you like to hold him?" she asked extending the baby to him. Knuckles looked from his mother and down to the infant. He seemed and energetic little thing with a happy smile on his face and a bright giggling to go with it. He seemed very much like his father while Knuckles was more like his own.
He instead refused the baby, there was still too much he had to know.
"How did this happened?" He asked turning to Lara-Le." When did this happened?!" He said quickly standing up.
"Oh dear don't get so dramatic." Lara-Le said to him. But that did little to calm him down." After the divorce and you off running around all the time, with your own girlfriends I might add! I needed some company." She cast a shy glance at Wynmacher." And well one thing led to another and-"
"I don't need to hear this." Knuckles quickly cut in.
"Oh don't be melodramatic." She told him." His Father was the same way you know." She said turning to Wynmacher. Suddenly there were three distinct knocks from the door.
"Oh I'll go get it." Wynmacher offered as he got to his feet and headed for the door. Knuckles liked this more. Just he and his mother, one on one. His half-brother would be there too but he wasn't able to talk back, making this much better. But even then Knuckles still couldn't find the right things to say.
"What?" Lara-Le asked looking at her son's petrified face.
"I just…I don't understand any of this." Knuckles answered with a sigh.
"What did you expect Knuckles? " She asked." You've been so busy lately that we've hardly had enough time to catch up. I didn't make a fuss when you told me about your last girlfriend did I?" He let out a small grumble of annoyance.
"No." He answered." But that was different."
"How is it different?"
"It's different, you know it is!"
"Knuckles." Wynmacher said from the hallway." Look who's here." Knuckles picked up his head to see for himself. And instantly this night went from bad to worse.
"Honeybear!" Rouge the bat exclaimed from the doorway, her arms opened wide towards Knuckles. Seeing her here and now was worse than any news he had heard so far, the look on his face showed as much.
"Oh don't give me that look." She said sauntering over to him." Aren't you happy to see me? Give us a kiss." Before Knuckles could object she did just that, stepping into him to kiss him directly in front of his mother and new family. "Oh I'm sorry." Rouge said turning to her." I should have introduced myself before, my name is Rouge the bat."
"No, No." Knuckles grumbled. At the same time Rouge reached over and wrapped her hand around Knuckles'.
"And I'm Knuckles' girlfriend." Rouge finished.
"Oh really?" Lara-Le said turning to her son." He hadn't mentioned you."
"Really?" Rouge said turning to Knuckles, the rage evident on his face." I'm surprised at you." His teeth were digging into his bottom lips and his eyes narrowed as he turned to her smug smiling face.
"Please." Lara-Le cut in." Do sit down and join us."
"No!" Knuckles reached out for the nearby chair but Rouge beat him to it.
"Ah thank you darling." She said sitting down in the chair he grabbed. Knuckles rolled his eyes and grumbled his further annoyance.
"And who is this?" Rouge asked leaning forward to look at the wee baby Knecapeon.
"This is our son." Lara-Le told.
"Son?" Rouge responded as another sly smile flashed over her face. "Why Knuckles." She said turning to him." You didn't tell me you had a baby brother." Knuckled tilted his head and growled at her.
"Oh he didn't know until just a few minutes before you did, don't blame him." Lara-Le said.
"Oh I can't." Rouge said with a dramatic sigh." It's my fault. We've been so busy lately."
"And what is it that you do?" Wynmacher asked as he poured Rouge a glass of wine and handed if off to her. The bat gave a sly glance to her left and then her right. Curious both Lara-Le and Wynmacher leaned in closer.
"Can you keep a secret?" she whispered. The two nodded intently.
"I'm a secret government agent."
"Really?!" Wynmacher asked in awe.
"That's amazing." Lara-Le added.
"Hmh." Rouge nodded." I get sent to all sorts of places on top secret assignments. Sometimes my chu-chi face comes along." She said leaned over to put her hand over Knuckles' which he quickly retracted.
"Oh." Lara-Le said." So that's what you've been doing all this time." She said to Knuckles.
"That's right." Rouge said.
"Well I think it's wonderful." Wynmacher said." It's better than guarding that silly, old emerald all the time." Knuckles tilted his head and glared the older echidna down, sending him shivering back down into his chair.
"Ah yes." Rouge sigh in wonder." The Master Emerald." Knuckles turned his head and glared at her once more.
"Well I'm very happy." Lara-Le said." For the both of you. And you are welcome here anytime Rouge."
"Wonderful. I feel like part of the family." Rouge cheered.
"Alright that's it." Knuckles said with a sigh rising to his feet." C'mon" he said with a growl as he grabbed Rouge." You've got a super-secret mission to go on remember?!" he didn't give her time to interject and began dragging her to the front door.
"Nice meeting you." Lara-Le said upon the strange departure.
With one hand Knuckles pushed open the front door and with the other tossed Rouge outside and onto the front porch.
"Nice Family you got here." Rouge said as she stood up." Cute kid too." She looked up at Knuckles' glaring eyes, simmering with anger." Though I'd say he takes more after his mother."
"How did you find this place?" He barked." How did you know where my mother lived?"
"I'm a spy sweetheart, it's my job to know."
"Well now you know. Now leave!" He pointed in the direction behind her. "Before I make you."
"Relax big red." She said." I didn't come here just to spoil your evening."
"What do you want?" He outright asked.
She reached into her pockets." I am here as part of a mission." She brought out a small slip of paper and showcased it to him. The paper was almost completely blank except for a symbol in the middle of the paper." Recognize this?"
It appeared to be an ancient writing whatever it was. It looked almost like a '3' but it's ends were jagged and crooked, except the top half of it had been cut off and was more like a dash mark.
A hint of remembrance flashed in Knuckles purple eyes but it quickly blew away. But Rouge had noticed it.
"Never seen it before. "He grumbled.
"Hmh." Rouge replied with a small nod." Okay." She said putting the paper back in her pocket." Just thought I'd give it a try."
"Good." Knuckles said as he turned back to the front door." Now leave!"
Surprisingly she did as he suggested, turning into the sky and flying off. Dinner certainly was better after that but it defiantly wasn't great given the abundance of new info Knuckles had gotten tonight.
He didn't stay much longer at his mother's. He waited until after dinner making polite small talk while trying to understand the relationship his mother was in. It didn't help that they were more interested in his own.
But eventually he left his mother's house and returned to his own, the floating island. It was almost nighttime when he returned. And looking down from the sky above he could see all the island. The topmost leaves scattering from the green treetops. The waterfalls flowing down and into the rivers. And most importantly the Master Emerald shining bright from atop the pyramid. A peaceful scene to return home to and Knuckles greatly enjoyed it. But there was something on the island that would disturb his peace.
Looking down at the Family Jewel Knuckles could make out a black shadow hovering around it. And it had been a long time since any have been on this island other than himself. He quickly moved in.
No doubt it was Rouge up to her old tricks again, thinking she'd come here when she knew he was away. He didn't care about subtlety, he just wanted to make his presence known. And he did that with a big crash.
He came soaring down onto the top of it's pyramid, crumbling the stone where his feet came slamming down. Then he got a good look at this intruder, who turned around to face him. To his surprise it wasn't Rouge.
Standing across from him with their back to the master emerald was someone dressed all in black armor. A helmet that covered the entire head with what looked like two horns shooting out from the top. And right between the eyes was the symbol he had been showed by Rouge before. It glowed pink along with the eyes of this intruder.
Knuckles took a step forward.
"Step away from the Emerald." He growled. The intruder listened to him and took a step away. But now they seemed more intent on fighting Knuckles than the Emerald. It was a lose-lose situation either way. But this intruder didn't know that.
In a quick burst of speed he dashed forward and tried to take a swing at Knuckle's face. The guardian casually caught the fist then struck back with a swing of his own. And with that single punch he sent the intruder flying back and into one of the stone pillars, crumbling on top of him.
Knuckles watched as he got back up. No doubt it was that suite of armor that helped him endure that punch. But this time with a grappling hook in his hands, swinging it in the air. And he lashed it forward. Knuckles once again easily reached out his arm and grabbed it, then with one easy tug knocked his foe off his feet and face first into the ground.
"You know I don't get any real pleasure out of this." Knuckles told to his enemy face-first in the ground." Just turn around and run." But his enemy didn't seem to feel like listening. Suddenly Knuckles felt a sudden shock from his back which quickly spread through all out his body. He quickly turned around to find the source but saw nothing at all. He turned back forward and this time saw two armored black figures supporting the other. One moment they were there and then suddenly gone the next.
"What?!" Knuckles exclaimed. He moved forward trying to investigate where they once stood but found nothing. Whoever they were they were gone like the wind.
"Well." Said a voice from above." That didn't go down to smoothly." Knuckles knew the voice very well. Quickly turning his head he turned to see Rouge the Bat landing down beside him.
"What are you doing here?" Knuckles demanded." Did you have something to do with who was just here?"
"Yes." She responded. Knuckles' clutched his fist and prepared to attack her now." But not in the way you're thinking." She took a step closer to him. " You saw the symbol on the forehead didn't you?" It was hard not to." It's the same one I asked you about before."
"What of it?" He said. Rouge gave a sly little smile.
"Even you can't be that dense." She said." I think it's time you told me everything you know." Knuckles could agree with her on that. It was hard to argue now that everything was more or less out in the open.
"Alright." He said lowering his guard, now ready to tell her everything.
"No, not here." She waved at him.
"Not here? Then where?!" Rouge simply smiled at him again.
Rouge was part of a special task-force and they deserved to know the information straight from the horse's mouth just like she did. So Knuckles accompanied her back to her base and back to meet her teammates.
The military base reminded Knuckles so much of a Dr. Eggman hideout. Metal walls, floors, fighter jets, tanks and battleships everywhere. He hated the sight of it. But he kept his comments and hatred to himself while he followed Rouge from one door to the next. Until suddenly she swung out her arm and placed it against his chest, stopping him in his tracks. He looked down at the hand on his chest and then to Rouge.
"What are you doing?" He growled.
"This is top secret clearance." She said turning to him." You'll have to cover your eyes." Knuckles didn't like it he but did as she asked, shutting his eyes. For extra measure Rouge raised her hand and waved it in front of his face. In truth he didn't have to do this, she just liked telling him what to do. With his eyes closed she entered the code and the door came open." Alright." She said you can open them.
And Knuckles opened his eyes to see two others in the room waiting for them. Standing there across the room was Shadow the Hedgehog accompanied by E-123 Omega the last of Eggman's E series robot.
"Shadow." Knuckles greeted him dryly.
"Knuckles." He responded with just as much distain. Knuckles then turned his attention but to Omega who's little red eyes were glaring down at him.
"Acquiring date." He said aloud." Knuckles the Echidna, Last Guardian of the Master Emerald. Threat Level: High." At the same time both his hand disappeared into his arms and out came two missile cannons." Permission to fire?"
"Oh that's how it is, huh?" Knuckles said putting up his fists.
"Put those down before you get hurt." Warned Shadow.
"You want some too?!" Knuckles challenged throwing both his arms in the air." I don't care, I'll take you both on!" Shadow and Omega stepped forward, ready to give him just that. That was until Rouge jumped between them.
"Easy now boys." She said with a hand on both Knuckles' and Shadow's chests." Play nice now." The two glared at the other but advanced no further, doing as Rouge said." Besides we don't have to fight." She said turning to Shadow." Knuckles here is going to give us some information on our next mission." Shadow said nothing but crossed his arms over his chest." Aren't you Knuckles?" she asked turning to him.
"If it'll get me out of here sooner." He grumbled.
"Good." Rouge said." Now tell us what you know about this." She showcased the symbol to him once more. Knuckles looked down at it again, this time not trying to hide how familiar he was with it. Rouge, Shadow and Omega could only wait until he decided to speak.
"This is from the Nocturnus Clan." He told." An ancient clan of Echidnas, with as old a history as my own. And our histories entwin even before we became Guardians of the Master Emerald. For thousands of years the Echidna people thrives for thousands of years due to their advanced technology and talent for warfare. The Clan of Edmund, my Clan was the most advanced in warfare. But the Noctrunus clan were the best in technology. They've always tried to covet Chaos Energy in the hopes of advancing their power. In more recent times they used cyberbiotics to extend their lives."He suddenly went silent for a moment and the faint glimmer in his eyes made it seem as if he were in some long-lost dream.
"What is it?" Rouge asked breaking his chain of thought.
"My grandfather fought them." Knuckles told." He lost his eye fighting their Leader Dimitri. But he still managed to beat him and wiped them out. He was granted the position of Leader of the Order of Guardians for that." He paused once again and the glimmer came back into his eyes. "I must have heard that story over a hundred time growing up." Knuckles said aloud but mostly to himself.
"How very interesting." Shadow spoke up." But your history lesson doesn't help us with here and now." Knuckles gave Shadow a side-ways glance.
"There's not much I could tell you anyway even if I wanted to. After the battle with my grandfather they disappeared. And that was nearly sixty years ago."
"Well that doesn't really help us much." Shadow said. Knuckles was starting to get tired his back-talk. His fist tightened and he took a step forward ready to break his jaw. But once again Rouge stepped between them.
"It certainly does." She said." We know that their back in action. And we know that their searching for Chaos energy. The little attack on Angel Island proved both those things. Now all that's left to do is to go after them ourselves."
"Hmh?" Knuckles asked." What do you mean?"
"You didn't think this was our first run-in with them did you?" she asked turning to him." We've been trailing them for months. It was only just recently when we found out they were Echidnas that I decided to consult you."
They'd known, for months she claims. Knuckles grinded his teeth together in angered annoyance.
"Yes and we've gotten what we need out of you." Shadow said stepping up." What little of it you had. Now" He pointed to the door." Get out of here, we've got an attack to plan."
"Attack?" Knuckles repeated making no move to do as Shadow suggested.
"I was just waiting around for you to show up on your island you know." Rouge told." I did a little recon of my own." He reached over and tapped Omega on his chest. His eye s lit up and then they shot out and displayed a map of the world." We've never been able to track them until now. Something I managed to place on them while they were busy with you." That just angered Knuckles even more. Rouge traced her fingers along the map until the dot of her tracker appeared on it. And it didn't appear to be moving." There they are. Shall we get going?" She looked to Shadow and Omega but found the two were looking at Knuckles who still hadn't left yet. She turned and stepped towards him." Thank you very much big red, that'll be all-"
"I'm going with you." Knuckles told. Shadow raised a curious eyebrow.
"No you're not." He quickly responded. Knuckles took a step forward.
"Yes, I am." Shadow stepped forward to match him.
"No you're not."
"I-" But Knuckles was cut off as Rouge slapped her hand over his mouth.
"Of course he can come." She said to Shadow." Another set of hands is always welcome. And he knows the Nocturnus Clan better than any of us." That calmed things down but didn't settled them." Besides I'll need a strong pair of arms to protect me when things get intense down there."
"I'd rather go with them than you." Knuckles said motioning to Shadow and Omega.
"And I'd rather go with no one than you." Shadow responded. Knuckles opened his mouth but was once again cut off by Rouge.
"So." She said." Pairs decided, shall we get moving?"
They had to take a military jet to reach their destination. Despite the fact that Shadow could run faster than it or that both Knuckles and Rouge could glide the entire way they still had to take a jet. Go figure.
Rouge sat across from Shadow and Omega, who sat side by side cleaning their weapons while going over Intel. Knuckles on the other hand was separated from the rest of the group. Sitting himself at the far end of the jet, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes shut.
Rouge eventually decided to go over and talk to him.
"So why'd you decided to come along?" she asked. He didn't reply at first." Tell me." She said pushing his shoulder. Once he'd balanced himself Knuckles rested his head against the wall and took in a deep breath.
"My Family has battled them for centuries." He told." Now that they've returned it's my duty to do as my ancestors have done and finish the fight." Perhaps it sounded noble or heroic this family tradition, but not to Rouge.
"Is that all?"
"Hmh." Knuckles said nodding his head.
"All you do is wait for trouble to show up." Rouge said." Is that what you really want?"
"I don't wait for trouble." Knuckles quickly answered." Trouble finds me. That's why you're here isn't it."
"It's about freedom." She said." I do my part and I've got the freedom to do my own thing. I've got my job but it's not my life. Don't you ever want more for yourself?" Knuckles turned his back to her.
"Not really." He replied. Shadow broke in and spoke next.
"Approaching the LZ." He told. Rouge turned back to Knuckles noticing the quiet anger hidden about his face.
"We're going in first." She told him." Get ready to fly." Knuckles rose to his feet just in time for the doors of the jet to open, signaling for the two to begin their descent. Rouge looked over her shoulder to see Shadow and Omega still waiting inside. The Hedgehog giving her a thumbs up. She responded with her own before putting her arms out before her and swan diving out of the door, before the wind caught her and swung her up.
Knuckles took a more subtle approach and stepped out as if walking down stairs, then steadying himself to move beside Rouge.
"You're supposed to say Geronimo." She commented when he got next to her. He rolled his eyes much to her enjoyment and began looking below them. But he could see nothing but dense forest and mountaintops.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"The mountain." Rouge told." That's where the signal was coming from. Most likely a cavern beneath it." Knuckles accepted the answer and together they glided down from the sky and down to the mountain's edge.
Eventually fed up with the process Knuckles decided to make an entrance of his own. With one great swing of his fist he punched into the rock, making a hole straight through the mountains and into the caverns below.
"Your taking this breaking and entering thing way to literally?" she commented.
"Let's go." He grumbled as he jumped into the hole.
But the caverns were pitch black, making it impossible for Knuckles to see where he was going. Luckily he wasn't alone. He suddenly felt something wrap around his hand.
"Hey what the-"
"Hold on. "Rouge said." Fortunately I can see down here."
"Why not just let me walk behind you?" He suggested." I can follow the sound of your voice."
"Would you rather hold on to something else?" Knuckles said nothing after that.
So he let Rouge drag him through one end of the dark cavern to next. All the while he was trying to make an assessment of his own. He couldn't look but he could listen, and he could feel. However all he ever heard was the light crunches of their feet against the dirt and stone. But that still didn't shake the feeling he had deep down in his gut. That they were being watched.
Suddenly there came a flash of light. Knuckles looked towards it, to see that it was coming from a ledge beneath them. And as they got closer and closer it got brighter. Finally it got bright enough that Knuckles could see for himself and he let go of Rouge. Then together they approached the ledge.
Down below them was a full functioning city made of steel and iron, built into the heart of the mountain. They had not been wiped out, simply driven underground. After nearly sixty years of hiding Knuckles had uncovered the hiding place of one of his family's greatest enemies.
"Looks like we found what we're looking fo-"
"Get down!" Rouge exclaimed as she jumped forward and took Knuckles to the ground. He was knocked off his feet and pinned to the ground with her on top of him. Looking up the two saw shadows moving across the stone walls until they jumped down in full view of them. It was the black armored Echidnas again, five of them.
And standing at the head of the group was the same one as before, with the pink marking between the eyes. All the others were marked with blue.
"Get off me." Knuckles grumbled." I want to fight!" He didn't give her time and quickly pushed her off him, rising to his feet to face his foes. They came at him together, trying to use their numbers to overpower and subdue him. But he'd faced worse odds.
He jabbed with his left, sending one flying back into another. Then he swung with the right knocking another face first into the ground. The one with the pink symbol attacked with the last one. Knuckles reached out and grabbed both their heads, slamming them together and then tossing them to the ground behind him.
At this moment he wondered if this is what his Grandfather felt like all those years ago. What he really wanted was to find their leader so that history could repeat itself all over again. Sabre would have been proud of that. Locke not so much.
The five defeated Nocturnus members all scattered all around him.
"Not so bad eh Rouge?" But no answer came. Knuckles turned his head, making sure she wasn't in any danger. But he when looked he didn't see her at all." Rouge?" And while he was distracted the Echidnas took this as their chance and jumped him together.
They all raised their arms and from their wrist shot out a wire that stabbed itself into Knuckles' skin. And together they all began to electrocute him.
"Is that the best you can do?!" He growled. Then Knuckles raised his hands in the air and brought them down them great force. Enough to crack the ledge they were on into pieces, sending it to the ground below.
The rocks plummeted with them, crashing down and destroying some of the city. Knuckles himself landed just fine amongst the destruction, although he lost track of his attackers. Not that we wouldn't have to wait much longer for more while on their home turf.
And looking over his shoulder he already found maybe a hundred more Nocturnus members had turned up. Armed to the teeth with machines guns, lazer cannons and other heavy fire power. A few of them even in jetpacks.
The bullets and lazers alike started flying but Knuckles was too fast for them. And when his fist started flying the Nocturnus started rolling like pins. And every hit was strike. Quickly turning left to right, with punch after punch he knocked down attacker after attacker. One echidna tried to strike him with the butt of his gun. But Knuckles caught it in his hand and crushed it, then reached forward to grab his armored foe.
But with his back was turned one lazer blast managed to hit him and he quickly turned his attention to the attacker.
"Now that wasn't NICE!" he yelled as he tossed the enemy in his hands to the one that struck him.
Looking up at the sky he saw the jet-packed enemies moving in above him. With one good jump Knuckles went straight into the air, punching one of them into the ground. Then he quickly kicked out his leg sending another into a nearby building.
He turned to the others to do the same to them but found them fleeing, sadly not due to himself. The sky was suddenly compromised. On the ground below were anti-aircraft cannons trying to bombard him out of the sky. Several managed to hit him directly as he stayed floating in the air, but that did nothing more than further his rage.
He went from the sky and slammed down onto one of the cannons destroying it. Then he quickly turned to grabbed the second and then tossed it into the third.
But once again while his back was turned he was taken by surprise, this time by something powerful enough to knock him down. An entire tank rolled over him. But it couldn't have been on him for more than five seconds before Knuckles reached up and cracked it like an egg.
"Is that all you've got?!" he yelled stepping out of the debris. Evidently not as all the Nocturnus clan was standing before him, blasters arms. And they quickly lit up the entire spot where Knuckles was standing.
They kept firing until smoke filled the air where Knuckles stood. A commander gave the order and there was a cease fire. Certainly with an entire army of lazer fire, none could survive that.
Except the Guardian.
Knuckles emerged from the smoke, more angry than hurt. He reared his arm back and punched the first Echidna he came across. Making him see stars and sending him flying back like a bowling ball while his comrades in arms were the pin.
Knuckles turned and unleashed his fury on the next poor soul closest to him.
The Nocturuns Echidnas knew this wasn't going to end well. At this rate Knuckles would tear everything apart. Their lazers and cannons were no match for him. so now it was time to try another tactic. Biological warfare.
One dark echidna on the outskirts of the battle loaded his gun with a deadly gaz. Aiming down his sights, when Knuckles was finally in them he fired. Hitting his mark, the Guardian in the back of the head.
The green gas hissed as it began filling the air. But even then it didn't effect Knuckles right away and he kept fighting. And even when it did it just made him angrier. There were a few more unfortunate souls that crossed his path before the gas finally worked.
He couldn't remember anything after that, everything was one big black blur. And when he woke up he found himself in a white room as the glowing eyes of five Nocturnus echidnas in their black armor looked down at him. Instantly his reaction was to jump up and finish the fight.
They jumped away from him when he started to struggle in fear that he might get out. But despite his grunts and pulls Knuckles still remained bound in his place.
"I told them they had to reinforce the restraints." Said a familiar female voice. Knuckles tried to turn his head to find the source but could do nothing more than shift his eyeballs." It's the only way to keep you down." The voice said from above him. But even there Knuckles couldn't get a full look at her. His eyes shifted when whomever it was moved to his right.
And there was Lien-Da, half-sister to Knuckles ex-girlfriend Julie-Su.
"Hello darling." She said." Been a while."
"What are you doing here?" Knuckles outright asked.
"Business as usual. "she told.
"I didn't know you were Nocturnus." It was strange to think that between her and Julie-Su, two members of this 'extinct' clan had been staring him in the face all along. Lien-Da simply nodded.
"On my father's side." The echidna with the pink symbol appeared behind Lien-Da. Putting both hands on the helmet and removing it for another reveal. A echidna with peach colored fur.
"A girl?" Knuckles grumbled upon seeing her." I should have known."
"I told you I had everything under control." She said bitterly.
"Shade." Lien-Da said turning to her." So nice of you to drop by." She took a step across the room, pushing Shade out of her way as she did so. Shade ignored Lien-Da and instead walked over to Knuckles hovering over him.
"So this is the guardian?" she asked.
"Like I've told you a dozen times before Yes." Lien-Da replied over her shoulder.
"Doesn't look so tough." Shade said. Knuckles narrowed his eyes and growled at her.
"I don't know." Lien-Da smiled turning to face Shade." He seemed awful tough when he beat you down those two times." Shade narrowed her eyes at her." Not to mention half the army. Which I think your responsible for training right?" she smiled pointing to Shade.
"Why you!" Shade exclaimed turning to her.
"Shade, Lien-Da that's enough. "commanded a voice from above. The two stepped back and Knuckles turned his eyes upward to try and find the source of it.
He was nothing but a head, but not a living one. Every single piece of him from the tip of his nose, to both eyes were completely metal. They went from Lien-Da then Shade and finally to Knuckles. And he viewed the guardian with great interest.
"Have we met?" he asked. His voice sounded as metallic as he looked. His eyes brightened as he looked Knuckles up and down. And when they dimmed a smile formed across his lips." No we have not. "He concluded." But I do recognize your blood. You are a descendant of Sabre the Echidna."
"Yes." Knuckles growled." He was my grandfather."
"I concluded as much. You are too young to be his son." He hovered forward." Tell me where is 'Grandmaster' Sabre now?" Knuckles eyes lowered to the ground, answering even before he opened his mouth. The smile grew on his lips." Dead? Good, then we are rid of an enemy then."
"And you?" Knuckles said." Are you really Dimitri?"
"In the flesh." He chuckled. The Grandmaster and founding member of the Nocturnus Clan. Dimitri began hovering higher to the air, addressing all his subjects." The brotherhood of guardians is dead!" He announced." There is no one left to defy us. We-"
"Wrong!" Knuckles yelled cutting him off." You still have me to deal with."
"Oh don't be so hasty young Guardian." Dimitri responded." You see you're going to help me where your grandfather defied me. Prepare the machine!" He commanded to his subordinates.
"Sir?" Shade said stepping up." What do you mean? We cannot power the machine without the power of chaos." Dimitri only laughed at her.
"I do not need the Chaos Emeralds, I do not need the Master Emerald because now I have something just as good." He looked to Knuckles." His body is flowing with Chaos energy." He told." It's part of him as if it were his own blood. It's unlike anything I've ever seen!" Now the eyes of all the echidnas fell on Knuckles." And I will use all the power in him until it's all mine! Prepare the Machine!"
And Knuckles was moved from one room to the next. Still tied down and unable to move he watched as he was placed over what appeared to be a large tank filled with water. And surrounding this tank were dozens and dozens of needles.
"This tank will stabilize you during the process." Dimitri told."The needles will extract the chaos energy from your blood. And that blood will in turn be given to me." Evidently he'd finished talking to Knuckles and his mind began to wonder. "Look at us now Sabre!" He laughed." Your dead, your father's dead, your grandmother's dead, your son's dead and your grandson's going to be the tool to which I achieve my Ultimate goal!" He turned to Lien-Da." Is it ready?"
"Yes, sir." She nodded.
"Well what are you waiting for? Begin!" Lien-Da did as commanded and with a few buttons pushed the process began. Knuckles watched as he was lowered down from his position and into the tank. No matter how hard he fought it did little to help him. Glancing to his left he could see the outline of the tank coming more and more into view.
For a moment the lights flickered. And in a sudden moment after that they turned off completely.
"What's going on?" Dimitri demanded. Knuckles couldn't see in the dark but he could feel something up against him on his left.
"Must be a power outage." Lien-Da said." Don't worry the backups should be coming on soon." She was right, another moment later and the lights came right on. And everyone turned to see a new figure in the room.
Standing there on Knuckles left was Rouge the bat.
"Evening." She smiled.
"Who is that?" Shade questioned.
"GET HER!" Dimitri commanded. Rouge quickly undid the last lashing on Knuckles arm, managing to free it.
"Hope that's enough." She said. Then with both hands on the table she leaped over it and kicked out both legs, hitting two Echidnas in the face and sending them to the ground.
Fortunately for Knuckles it was good enough. He ripped his left arm up and over to free his right. Then with both arms free he kicked up his legs so that his feet could touch solid ground again.
Then he turned both hands and grabbed the table that held him.
At the same time Rouge knocked another Echidna out of her way, then ducked under another's swing before sending him to the ground as well.
Shade had finally seen enough. She was the Captain of the Guards and one of the elite members of the clan. She quickly donned her helmet and raced forward to attack Rouge.
The bat had been so busy knocking another Echidna down she hadn't noticed when Shade came up from behind her. And by then it was too late. Shade put both arms around Rouge and tackled her into the next room.
Knuckles raised the table over his head and tossed it forward. Dimitri had been his primary target but he watched as the floating head soared above it. But Lien-Da and half a dozen others had been trapped beneath it. So Knuckles turned his attention to the floating head and only to him.
"What are you going to do now?!" He mocked. But Dimitri seemed surprisingly calm. Knuckles couldn't tell if that was because he was trying to keep his cool or because he was a machine.
Suddenly Knuckles was knocked down to the ground by something heavy. When he picked himself up he saw a metal torso hovering below Dimitri. Needless to say it surprised him.
"Did you think I was merely a floating head? HA, what a simple minded child you are. Just like Sabre." The metal body attached itself to Dimitri's head." While my body began to grow wither and old my mind still stayed as sharp as ever. So I upgraded myself, allowing my body to be just as powerful as my mind." It's what allowed him to live for so long. He raised his hand and Knuckles could see it open up at the palm." Here let me show you!" And he shot a lazer at Knuckles knocking him onto his back.
Rouge kicked up both legs, hitting Shade in the head and pushing her away. Then she quickly jumped to her feet but found that Shade had done the same. Legs spread apart and arms raised, ready to fight.
The two stood frozen as they eyed the other, expecting them to make the first move. Rouge the more impatient of the two attacked first.
She stepped forward and swung her leg high, aiming for Shade's head. But the echidna put up her arm and blocked. Rouge then swung up with her other leg only for Shade to block once more. Now it was Shade who attack, lunging forward and punching Rouge in the face, then a second time. But before the third could strike Rouge reached out her arm and blocked, and with her free one punched back at Shade.
Knuckles landed one clean punch across Dimitri's head. But it didn't do what he wanted, which was crack it wide open. So he tried again, staggering him but not what he wanted.
Dimitri quickly raised both hands and clasped them on Knuckles head. His arms crackled one second and then the next he was pumping Knuckles with electricity. And this was ten times worse than what he'd been hit with before.
But then Knuckles swung his fist forward and punched Dimitri once more, forcing him to let go. Dimitri staggered back. But before Knuckles could attack the jets on Dimitri's back showed and he shot himself up into the air. He raised both arms and pointed them at Knuckles, firing lazers all around them room. But Knuckles was quicker than that. He easily jumped up to avoided the lazers and then glided right into Dimitri taking him to the ground.
Shade ducked under one of Rouge's punches and came up with her own, hitting her in the side. Rouge turned and grabbed onto Shade then throwing her into the wall. Then as she stood there Rouge kicked up her leg and managed to kick Shade in the face, knocking her helmet clean off.
Rouge jumped forward but Shade rolled out of the way and onto her feet. Rouge swung herself at Shade throwing a punch which she caught. Shade then moved forward with her free hand and tried to punch but was caught by Rouge. The two struggled against the other a moment before Shade pushed herself into Rouge, grabbing onto one of her arms and tossing her over her head and to the ground.
Rouge landed hard and then looked up to see Shade coming at her. Once again she kicked up both legs, hitting Shade with both and then knocking her onto the ground. And before she could get up Rouge kicked her in the head once more. Knocking her head against the ground. She wouldn't be getting up after that one.
Dimitri and Knuckles continued to struggle against the other. Dimitri had one hand across Knuckles face, which he used to pin him down. The other was hovering over his stomach burning him with a lazer.
Just then Rouge jumped on Dimitri's back, locking her legs and pulling herself tight against him. Then with her hands she began punching away at Dimitri.
"Enough!" Dimitri commanded. He raised his hand firing a lazer from his entire palm. Knuckles shielded himself from the blinding light, looking only when it was over. And when he did he didn't see Rouge, only a black mark on the ground where she once stood." HaHa!" Dimitri laughed." That'll teach 'em."
A flash of rage went into Knuckles eyes. And Dimitri had been so pleased with himself that he hadn't seen Knuckles jump up and at him. Dimitri raised his hand but Knuckles covered it and with one tight squeezed crushed it.
"MURDERER!" he yelled. And with one great swing he punch a hole right through Dimitri's metal chest. Knuckles watched as his body began to shake and spark while he tried to steady himself.
"You'll have to do better than that." Dimitri said. But despite his tough talk his body collapsed all the same. And despite the brilliant mind running it he was unable to move it after that. Knuckles walked forward and hovered over him. It looked a bleak situation for Dimitri. But he must have not seen it that way since he began to smile.
Knuckles raised a curious eyebrow at him. But that's when he heard it, a rapid beeping sound. Looking down at Dimitri's body he could see something glowing in his chest. There were numbers on it and they were counting down fast.
"You should be running." Dimitri smiled. The timer hit zero and the entire mountain went up in the explosion.
Shadow and Omega and been just outside it's range but they saw everything. They were going to wait until they'd heard from Rouge but we just about to storm in themselves when the explosion happened.
But before they had any time for questions for answers someone came who could answer it for them. Marching out from the rubble came Knuckles the Echidna, looking grumpier than usual.
"What happened?" Shadow asked as he approached. Knuckles lifted his head and faced him." Where's Rouge?" Knuckles simple breathed in a deep sigh. That was answer enough.
He wondered if this is how it felt for his grandfather all those years ago. To have defeated a mighty enemy but still end up feeling like the loser.
"Oh boys." Called a voice from above. The trio looked up but when they did Knuckles suddenly felt a heavy weight in his arms.
"ROUGE!" he exclaimed looking at her smug, smiling face.
"Knuckles!" she responded putting both arms around him. He quickly retracted his arms and dropped her to the ground.
"What happened in there?" asked Shadow as he helped Rouge up.
"Oh it was all good fun." Rouge replied." We had a fight, accomplished out objective. And Knuckie here." She leaned over and put her arm around him." Was distraught when he thought something had happened to me." Knuckles shook himself free of her.
"I'm going home." He grumbled. His work here was done and now he was ready to leave before it got worse.
"Bye Bye Knuckie." Rouge called waving at his back." I'll see you at your Mother's for dinner