Chapter 23
That night as they all slept, Sophia dreamt of a place she didn't recognize, but for some reason it felt familiar. It was a dark corridor, but it had a natural earthy ground that was a strange reddish colored rock, and the walls were the same however they seemed to be covered in a fleshy like material she dared not touch. She walked forward trying to see if she recognized her surroundings. But the further she walked forward the more the back of her mind cautioned her to turn back. After some time, she finally gives into her internal warning to turn around but the path she came down was gone, just a fleshy wall in its place.
"There you are." She heard a foreign voice she didn't recognize, but it sent chills down her spine. She slowly turns back around to see an alien like creature standing in front of her. It was much taller than her, perhaps 7 ft tall. Its form was slightly humanoid but it's skin was a dark ashy grey with sharp clawed hands and it's pupils were a deep red and the sclera were black. The form of its head reminded her of the shape of shadows spines. "So you are the one I have been sensing." He said stepping closer,
"I don't know what you're talking about." Sophia said trying to feign ignorance, but she knew what he was, Dark Arms.
"Apologies, I was just so curious that I had to reach out." He said, "I have felt you power growing, it's nothing I've felt before. I wanted to know who it was coming from." He continued to step closer,
"Back off! Chaos…" Sophia stops realizing that she can't feel the presence of Chaos around her.
"You can't use the power of Chaos in here. We're inside our heads after all." She attempts to step back but the path behind her was blocked, "Who are you?" he asked, she could hear the question scratching inside her head as it began to pound. "Ah, your name is Sophia… Or is it… Shadow?"
"Get out of my head!" She yelled as she grasps her head trying to block him out.
"But I want to know everything about you. Where are you? How do I find you?" He said. Sophia snaps hearing him say find, her eyes turn red as she breaks the telepathic attack.
"I may not be able to use Chaos, but this is still my mind!" She said getting ready to fight.
"You should not be able to resist." He tilts his head, "Fascinating, I need to know more." He said. She continued to fight against the psychic attack as the dream began to fade, "I will find you." Sophia wakes up in a cold sweat. She looks around her room not remembering her surroundings for a moment as she realizes what happened. She puts her face in her hands as she tries to calm down. He only got her name; he didn't get any information from her. She kept repeating that to herself till morning praying that was the truth.
Everyone woke up and headed towards the kitchen for breakfast, Caroline and Brandy were there along with Alan and Kolt. Saya walks in with a smile on her face. "Man that was the best sleep I've had in a while." She stretched as she pours herself a cup of coffee.
"Sometimes it's exhausting how much energy you have in the morning." Kolt said with a sigh.
"I'm exhausting all the time," She chuckles, "How's your hand feeling Alan?"
"Better, I'm going to go over to see Dr. Q to make sure everything all good if you want to join me to check on TK." He said,
"Sure!" She smiles and he quietly swoons.
"I wonder where Sophia is, she's usually up by now." Caroline said,
"Yesterday was pretty exhausting, maybe she slept in." Alan said as they all shake their heads,
"Sophia' got a crazy internal clock." Saya said,
"I hope she's okay." Caroline said,
"Maybe she got up early and is doing paperwork?" Kolt shrugged,
"That's plausible." Brandy said.
"Hey Caroline, are you going to carry the Chao egg with you everywhere?" Saya asked looking at the egg wrapped in blankets on the counter next to her.
"Of course! It needs constant love and affection of it going to hatch." She said,
"Gotcha, well you ready Alan?" She asked finishing up her coffee,
"Yeah," He quickly stood up and followed her out of the kitchen.
In the Infirmary, Sophia walks in looking exhausted and annoyed with a pounding headache. "Everything alright Sophia?" Dr. Q asked as she was finishing up checking on TK,
"Just didn't sleep well and it caused a headache. Mind if I get some pain killers?" She asked rubbing her temples,
"Sure, they're in the cabinet." She said pointing to it as Sophia walks over.
"Do you usually get headaches?" TK asked,
"Only if Saya does something stupid." She said as TK lightly chuckles.
"I heard that!" Saya said as she and Alan walk in, "You make it sound like I'm a hassle." She walks up to her.
"That's because you are." Sophia rolled her eyes as she took the aspirin. Saya could tell something was bothering her.
"Everything alright?" She reached out to put her hand on her shoulder,
"I'm fine," She knocks Saya's hand away and walks towards the door, "I have paperwork to do. I'll be in the computer room,"
"What's her problem?" Alan asked as he notices Saya looking towards the door, her expression looked as if she had been discarded. Saya couldn't help but internally think she had done something wrong to upset her.
"She's cranky when she's tired, I guess." TK said as Saya walks over to her,
"How you feeling little dude?"
"All better, I'm going to go make sure the container is calibrated correctly now that the shard piece is bigger." She said standing up, "What were you going to do today?"
"Oh… I didn't really have anything planned." She lightly smiles,
"I was going to go on a hike, if you want to join me." Alan said, as Dr. Q finished removing the bandages on his hand.
"Sure, I never say no to the outdoors." She said,
"Cool, there's this really nice rock-climbing area. We can bring lunch and make it a whole day excursion." He said,
"Sounds fun." Saya said side glancing at the door still thinking internally what was going on with Sophia and what she did to upset her, he quickly stands up with a sparkling smile,
"Great! It's a Date then! I'll go get Lunch all packed, and we can meet out in the back in an hour. I'll let Elias know." He said quickly leaving with a pep in his step.
"Uh… are you feeling okay Saya? Do you know what you just agreed to?" TK asked looking at her shocked,
"Uh I agreed to a hike?" She answered looking at TK confused,
"I don't think you heard that last part… he said it's a date. You just agreed to go on a date with Alan" TK said as she pauses for a moment.
"What in Chaos have I done?" Saya finally comes to the realization.
Alan walks into the computer room where Elias, Sally and Sophia were working on paperwork, he walks over to them with a smile on his face. "Yes Alan, how can I help you?" Elias asked,
"I was wondering if it was alright if Saya and I went on a hike? She agreed to go on a lunch date with me." He said cheerfully. Sophia snaps her mechanical pencil in half hearing him say that.
"That's so cute." Sally said,
"I don't see the problem, just make sure you bring your trackers and a distress beacon." Elias said as Alan walks over and grabs them. "And one other thing Alan." Elias sands up, getting in his face. "Keep your hands to yourself." Alan could feel a chill down the back of his spine, an overprotective aura coming off of Elias.
"Yes sir…" He said sounding terrified. Alan knew that Elias meant business.
"Good, have fun." He said as he walks back to his desk and sits back down. Alan starts to leave the computer room as he glances back at Sophia with a provoking grin.
"Sophia are you alright?" Sally asked, noticing her broken pencil.
"I'm fine…" She said watching Alan leave.
"Crap, crap. Crap! What do I do TK? I didn't want it to be a date?" Saya said pacing in TK's workshop.
"Well then you should have been paying attention." TK said shaking her head,
"Oh Chaos! This is going to be so weird!" Saya continued to panic.
"You can just explain to him that you don't want it to be a date, just two friends hanging out." She said,
"I could try that..." She said,
"Just be honest Saya, you don't have to make a big deal about it." TK said,
"You're right bud, I'm blowing this way out of proportion." Saya said with a sigh,
Alan walks into the kitchen with a backpack as he starts packing their lunch. Humming a happy tune while doing so. Kolt walks by and sees him packing. "Where are you going?" Kolt asked,
"On a picnic date with Saya." He said with a smile,
"What? How in Chaos did you manage that?" Kolt asked looking genuinely shocked.
"I just asked, turns out she's more into me than you thought." He teased,
"It's one date. That doesn't mean you're dating." Kolt said crossing his arms.
"Only a matter of time." He said finishing up packing their lunches. "Gotta go!" he leaves Kolt in the kitchen alone.
Alan gets to the outside track and waits for Saya. She slowly walks out hesitantly then sums up the courage and walks up to him. "There you are! I grabbed plenty of water, let's get going!" He said happily as he grabs her hand and leads her down the trail.
"O…okay, but you can let go of my hand." Saya said,
"Oh sorry, guess I got a little over excited." Alan said with a smile,
"About that Alan we should really talk about this being a…"
"Hey look a hawk!" He points in the sky pointing at a hawk flying overhead.
"Oh wow!" Saya said.
"TK, Cream and Kolt are so lucky. I bet it's really cool to fly." He said,
"You think so? I'd prefer to have my feet on the ground."
"That's cuz you're Sonic." He chuckles, as she realizes she got distracted.
"Yeah about that… Look I know you said this was a date but…"
"Oh that? I just said that to make you sweat." He jokingly said with a grin, "And seeing your reaction it looks like it worked." Saya's face turns red,
"What the heck Alan!" She pushes him, "Jerk!"
"Hey! You looked so sad this morning so I thought you might need a distraction." He said,
"I did?" Saya said looking confused,
"Yeah, looks like my distraction worked. C'mon the rock-climbing area is around here." He said,
"Do you come back this way often?" she asked as they continue forward.
"Yeah, it's quiet and I love hiking." He said, "There's a nice clearing by the river for us to have lunch." He said leading the way.
"Sounds good." She said following him. They make it to the clearing and sit down to have lunch.
Back at HQ, the others all congregate in the kitchen for lunch and start eating. "Where are Alan and Saya?" Caroline asked,
"They went on a picnic date…" Kolt said in a sour tone.
"What?" Brandy said sounding surprised.
"Don't sound too jealous Kolt." TK teased as Kolts face turns red,
"I am not jealous!" He yelled as the water glass in Sophia's hand shatters, they all jump hearing the sound of it breaking.
"Are you okay?" Caroline asked as Brandy quickly grabs a towel. "You're bleeding!"
"It's just a cut…" Sophia said grabbing her head, she could feel the scratching feeling again. It had been happening randomly, but she didn't want to think about what was causing it.
"That headache still bothering you?" TK asked,
"Y… Yeah…" Sophia didn't want them to know about the dream, she still hoped it wasn't real. That it was a byproduct of the trap from yesterday.
"Better go see Dr. Q that's really deep." Brandy said wrapping Sophia's hand with the towel.
"Okay…" she said leaving the kitchen,
"That was really weird…" Kolt said looking at the others. They all look at one another not sure what happened,
"I know our powers are growing but that seemed different." TK said, Caroline gives Brandy a look as they both shrug.
Sophia walked to the infirmary not knowing why she was starting to feel angry; she couldn't understand why Saya said yes to a date with Alan. "Sophia?" Dr. Q said seeing her enter the infirmary, "What happened?"
"Accidentally broke a glass in my hand and it got cut." Sophia said as Dr. Q looks it over. She winces as she grabs her hand.
"It looks like it's already healing rather quickly. Let's clean out the wound and bandage it up just in case." She said as Sophia sits down while she cleaned the wound. "How did the glass break?"
"Guess I'm stronger than I thought…" She said,
"I don't think that's all of it, what's on your mind?" Dr. Q asked,
"This doesn't leave this room, right?" Sophia asked seriously,
"Of course, Doctor Patient confidentiality." She said with a smile.
"Do you remember what I told you about Shadow. About how he was made?" Sophia asked,
"The alien species called the Dark Arms correct?" She asked as Sophia nods,
"Spira told me something before she left… that I reminded her of the Dark Arms." She said as Dr. Q started bandaging the wound,
"I thought you said you destroyed them all." She said,
"That was before … apparently in this rewrite, they exist…" Sophia looks down remembering her dream last night.
"So what has you so concerned?" Dr. Q asked,
"The Dark Arms are devourers of worlds… if they find earth a lot of people will get hurt." She said,
"You're worried the others will see you as one of them." She said as Sophia nods, "Sophia, you don't give your friends enough credit. I know it's hard opening up, but you have to let someone in."
"Yeah…" She thinks back to her talk with Sonic in the ruins and how confident she sounded about Shadow knowing who she is… but then Alan's taunting grin from earlier flashes into her mind distracting her thoughts.
"There, all patched up. Try to not move it around too much while it heals. If it starts hurting, come see me." Dr. Q said,
"Thanks Doc." She said leaving and going outside for some fresh air.
Saya and Alan finished their lunch and made it to the rock wall. Saya looks up at it and whistles. "Maybe we should have brough some climbing gear." She said,
"Na! We're both strong enough to get up there without a problem. Race you to the top?" He said as her eyes sparkle at the word race.
"You're on!" She said as they both begin to climb, they both moved quickly but were still being cautious of their hand holds and footholds. They get halfway up the cliffside as they were both slowing down attempting to be extra cautious.
"How you doing?" Alan asked,
"Fine, you seem to know what you're doing. Is rock climbing on your list of skills?" She joked,
"Yeah, sometimes to get to the areas I want to hike I gotta climb to get there."
"Have you climbed up here before?" Saya asked,
"I have, and you're going to love the view." He smiles as they continue to climb. Saya jumps a bit to reach the next handhold and grabs it without an issue. But the rock she grabbed onto breaks free from the wall face and she starts to fall, and Alan grabs her hand. "You okay?"
"Yeah, nice catch." She said as she tries to get her feet back on the wall,
"We're almost to the top, I'm going to throw you just in case there are any more loose rocks." He said starting to swing her.
"Ready!" She said as he uses his full strength to throw her up. She catches the cliff edge and gives him a thumbs up as she pulls herself over the top. "Made it!" She cheered as Alan climbs the rest of the way up. Saya holds her hand out and helps him up the edge.
"That was fun," Alan said catching his breath, "What do you think?" He asked as she looks around seeing the bed of wildflowers surrounding the ground.
"This is beautiful!" Saya said looking at the view. "We really should bring the others up here some time. Especially Caroline, she'd love it!" She smiles at him.
"Can I be honest with you for a sec?" Alan asked as she looks at him confused, "I know you don't consider this a date. But I wanted to at least tell you how I feel." He said taking her hand.
"Wh… what?" Saya said sounding flustered.
"When I first got here my feelings were all over the place. I couldn't differentiate my emotions from Amy's. I began to question if my feelings were real or not. But then I got to know you. This blinding pure light that brought a smile to others even when she herself needed that light more." He steps closer to her brushing her bangs away from Saya's eyes as her face slowly turned red.
"A… Alan…"
"Everyone keeps telling me that I'm in love with Sonic because I'm Amy. But the first time we met, and you came to my rescue you didn't even know me, but you were so concerned about me. Sure you were transformed into Sonic, but I've learned that the compassion you have comes from you. I'm not in love with Sonic, I'm in love with you, Saya." He finished as he kisses the back of her hand.
"W… Wait a minute…" Saya's face was entirely red with embarrassment completely stunned by this turn of events.
"You don't have to respond; I know you don't feel the same. But I feel better knowing that I was honest with you." He said with a smile as he lets go of her hand. He knew even if she didn't that there was someone else.
"I feel so awkward…" She said covering her face with her hands,
"Oh I'm definitely going to tease you all the time if you act like this." He chuckles,
"You better not!" She said through her hands as he laughs.
"C'mon, we should start heading back." He said as she hesitantly puts her hands down,
"About that…How are we getting down?" She asked looking down the cliffside, she was worried with the loos rocks that it might be dangerous to head back down.
"Oh, we're just going down the hill, it leads back to the trail we came on." He pointed as he began to walk.
"Wait you mean we didn't have to climb the cliff to get up here?" Saya asked looking annoyed,
"Nope!" He smiles as she runs after him.
Back at the bunker, Sophia was sitting on top of the side wall leaning against the bunkers outer wall looking towards the forest. She began to wonder when Saya and Alan were going to be coming back, but what was bugging her more was why did she even care? Saya's allowed to go out with whoever she wants.
Brandy walks outside and sees her sitting up on the wall. "Mind if I join you?" She asked as Sophia nods, Brandy jumps with one leap making it to the top. "I definitely enjoy having the extra agility." She sits down next to her.
"Yeah," Sophia said with a sigh,
"You alright? You've seemed off all day." Brandy said noticing Sophia looking conflicted,
"I'm fine." She said,
"I'll ask in another way... Though I said I wouldn't bring it up I feel you need to be honest with yourself." She said as Sophia looks at her confused,
"I didn't understand any of that…" Sophia said,
"Don't worry about it just answer the question." Brandy said,
"Where was there a question in there?" Sophia asked starting to get annoyed,
"Are you in love with Saya?"
Sophia stares at Brandy for a few seconds still attempting to process the question looking completely speechless. She blinks a few times trying to compose herself. "W… What?" Sophia asked, trying to make sure she didn't hear Brandy incorrectly. Brandy lets out a sigh,
"She was right I should have just left it." She said,
"I don't understand…" Sophia said,
"You're so dense!" She said pinching the bridge of her nose, "I don't know how more plainly I need to make it."
"How am I in love with her?" Sophia asked herself confused; she's never been in love so she's unsure how to feel.
"You're overprotective, highly observant of what happens around her and you become more relaxed when she's around you." Brandy said as Sophia face turns pale from shock. Was this why she was upset?
"That… can't be right…" She said,
"You just spent an entire day holding her hand. And when you heard Kolt talking about her being on a date, you broke a water glass." Brandy said. Sophia looks at her hand remembering earlier that morning she also broke her pencil. "You've been acting out because you don't understand your feelings. You yell and argue with her because you fear her being hurt more than anything."
"I…" Her face becomes red with embarrassment her mind begins to spiral.
"I'm not saying you have to act on it." Brandy said placing her hand on Sophia's knee. "But you need to accept that these feelings are a part of you, and you don't have to be ashamed or angry for having them."
"How do you know all of this?"
"Did you think Caroline and my relationship was just sunshine and rainbows?" She asked as Sophia nods making her chuckle. "I was actually a lot like you. I hated when guys would get close to her and I didn't understand why… it wasn't until Caroline confessed to me that I figured it out."
"Caroline confessed first?" Sophia asked partially wanting to know the story but also wanting to change the subject away from herself.
"Oh yeah, she was super straightforward about it. It actually took me off guard. Sort of how I did with you." Brandy smirks, bringing the conversation back to topic.
"If… I do…" She pauses for a moment unsure if she should really ask, "If I do have feelings for her, what do I do?"
"That's up to you, you can tell her how you feel… which I doubt you'll do. Or keep it hidden and try to pretend that you feel nothing." She said,
"Those are my only options?"
"I wouldn't just go telling her upfront. Give yourself some time to figure out your feelings a little better. If it's just a crush or if it's more." Brandy said as she turns her head seeing something in the corner of her eye. "Looks like they're back." She said as Sophia looks over to see them hopping over the wall talking and smiling. Her heart sank, as she realized this is the same feeling she had when Saya held hands with Alan yesterday, jealousy.
"That was a fun hike," Saya said to Alan with a smile,
"Thank you for indulging me, even if it was just this once." He said as he notices Sophia and Brandy on the wall, he kisses Saya on cheek. Her face turns instantly red as she pushes him away.
"Stop teasing me!" She said as he laughs,
"Not going to happen now that I know it works." He runs away back inside.
"Dangit Alan!" She yelled as she just now notices Sophia and Brandy sitting on the opposite wall. She comes to the realization that they just saw him kiss her cheek. "It's not what you think!" She ran over to the other wall.
"Oh? and what are we thinking?" Brandy asked as she glances at Sophia who looks partially heartbroken.
"A… Alan was just teasing me!" She said as her face began to get more red. In a green flash Sophia disappears as both Saya and Brandy look at the spot she was previously sitting confused. "Did she just teleport in her human form?" She asked as Brandy shrugs,
"I guess she can do that now?" Brandy said,
"Cool I guess…" Saya said feeling thrown off, she couldn't help but wonder why she would warp away? She remembers that she never figured out if Sophia was mad at her but her leaving like that proved to her that She was indeed mad.
"So what were we thinking?" Brandy asked, noticing Saya internally struggle with something.
"Alan and I just went on a hike; it was not a date!" She said snapping out of it,
"That kiss says differently," Brandy said teasingly,
"Not you too!" She whimpers, Brandy pats the wall next to her calling her to come sit,
"Come sit so you don't have to keep yelling." She said as Saya jumps up next to her, "So, how did this nondate go?"
"Well, TK clarified to me that Alan kinda tricked me into a date. But I told him at the beginning that I didn't want it to be a date and he said that was fine. But then he confessed to me and now I feel bad… on top of him now teasing me about getting embarrassed." Saya said trying not to get flustered again.
"Yikes, looks like you have your hands full." Brandy said,
"I know he's just using the humor to hide his feelings…" Saya said with a sigh,
"Hey, you can't force yourself to like someone just because you think you should." Brandy said, "How did he trick you into a date anyway?"
"I was…" Saya remembered this morning when Sophia was being withdrawn, "Distracted…Still weird that Soph just warped away like that."
"You know how distant she can be sometimes, but we'll see her at dinner. I gotta go talk to Caroline." She said jumping back down, "You coming?"
"In a bit, I'm going to watch the sunset." She said as Brandy walks inside. She heads to the kitchen where Caroline was cooking, she looks over at the Chao egg, the color had started to turn more purple,
"I had to…" Brandy said giving Caroline a knowing look as she lets out a sigh,
"You just couldn't help yourself huh?" Cream said shaking her head,
"I couldn't watch Sophia fight herself like I did." She said giving Caroline a hug, "The egg is changing colors,"
"I know! That means it's close to hatching." She said with a smile, "How did she take it?"
"She teleported away from Saya…"
"That's not good." Caroline said,
"She'll figure it out. It might just take some time." She said as the alarms sound off. "Now that's something we haven't heard in a long time." She said. Caroline grabs the Egg, and they head to the computer room.
"What's going on?" Caroline asked,
"We'll wait till everyone's here…" Elias said with a serious look. Everyone starts walking in.
"What's going on? Eggman attack?" Saya asked,
"First there's something you need to know." Elias said as everyone looks at one another. "We've been keeping an eye on Dr. Kintobor ever since Saya's parents tipped us off about him."
"Who's Dr. Kintobor?" Kolt asked,
"Crazy Doctor obsessed with Saya." TK said,
"What's up with you and Doctors?" Alan asked as Saya shrugs,
"I need you all to focus. Today was the first time he's left his lab for the past month and he went straight to Station Square courthouse." He said looking at Saya as her face turns white,
"Where's my Dad?" Saya asked,
"He's safe, his bodyguards got him out right as the commotion happened." He said as Saya relaxes a bit. "Dr. Kintobor did something to himself. He's using strange abilities and has taken hostages…"
"Oh no…" Caroline said,
"And you'll never guess his demands." Elias said looking at Saya,
"Of course he wants me…" She rolls her eyes, "Well then, let's give him what he wants." Sophia's eye twitched but she doesn't say anything.
"Are you nuts? That's a terrible idea." Kolt said,
"No it's not, exchange me for the hostages, then I turn into Sonic and beat the crap out of him. Easy!" Saya said,
"Did you not hear the part about strange abilities?" TK said,
"We've faced Chaos, this guy will be nothing." Saya said,
"There you go being cocky again." Brandy said,
"Do you always have to put yourself into danger?" Sophia said,
"Did you all not hear the part about hostages? Our priority is getting them out safely. If we can do that by putting myself into danger for a few minutes, it's worth it." Saya argued,
"Unfortunately… I have to agree with Saya this time…" Elias said as they all look at him shocked. "Time is against us to make another plan. The rest of you get ready to meet us at the courthouse. Saya and I are leaving now to stall for time." He said as Saya nods as she begins to follow Elias out of the computer room. Sophia grabs her arm stopping her.
"Try to stall for as long as possible until we can get inside without him noticing." She said as Saya gives her a thumbs up,
"I know you got my back Soph." She said. Sophia feels a throb in her chest again seeing her smile confidently then let's go of her arm and Saya leaves with Elias.
"This is so messed up…" Kolt said,
"I'm still really confused at who this guy is." Alan asked,
"Dr. Kintobor was one of the Doctors who helped Saya when she was hospitalized after the Zarkon attacked the school." Caroline said, as Sally comes over and helps take the Chao egg from her,
"I'll keep it safe till you get back." Sally said with a smile,
"Saya is capable of taking care of herself." Sophia said taking Brandy by surprise noticing the forced uncaring tone she was using, "We need to get going." They all transform before heading out,
Saya sat silently in the car with Elias, she hopes no one has gotten hurt because Dr. Kintobor was after her. "I'm surprised you agreed with my idea." She said,
"Hostage situations are tricky, on top of that. Sophia believes you're ready to rejoin the team so what better time to see if she's right." Elias said,
"Sophia said that?" Saya asked looking surprised, "I thought she didn't think I was capable."
"What made you think that?" Elias asked,
"She's always freaking out when I'm in danger, which by the way danger has always followed me in both lives." She said crossing her arms, "I am definitely not as reckless as I was in my past life."
"That's concerning," He chuckles, "We're here, try to act like a civilian." The car comes to a stop. They climb out of the car to see the courthouse blocked off with police cars and reporters. A large purple and blue glowing crystal extruded from within the courthouse.
"Saya?" She hears her father's voice as she turns and he's already embracing her.
"You're okay!" She hugged him tightly,
"What are you doing here?" He asked,
"I… volunteered." She said,
"Absolutely not!" He yelled as he turns to Elias.
"Dad stop! You'll make a scene…" She said turning towards the reporters, "Trying to not bring more attention to ourselves."
"I'm against this." He said,
"Noted. But there are a dozen hostages and if you remember correctly, your daughter can handle taking a hit. Can you say the same for them?" Elias said coldly taking Saya's father by surprise. "Let's go Saya,"
"I'll be alright, the others are on their way and won't let anything happen to me." Saya said putting her hand on his shoulder and walking past him. One of the police officers hands Elias a megaphone.
"Dr. Kintobor, we have Saya with us." He said, "As promised, release the injured." There's a pause for a moment as six people with injured arms and legs start coming out of the entrance. Right as the last injured hostage exits the building, Saya starts to feel something she was really hoping not to feel for a while.
"I think I figured out his strange abilities… You might want to tell the others to hurry. There's a Dark Chaos shard in there…" She whispered as Elias looked at her considering backing out of their plan, "We can't back out now… to many people watching. "
"Shit…" Elias said pulling out his headset.
"Now… Come…" A deep echoing voice comes from the entrance stopping Saya for a moment the voice was very unsettling sending a chill down her spine.
"Here goes nothing." Saya said taking a deep breath as she hops over the barricade. The police look at her surprised for a moment but then compose themselves. She walks to the door unsure of what she would see inside. As she passes the threshold the door behind her slams shut. "That's not normal…" she said looking around. There were more of the strange purple and blue glowing crystals as she walks in further. She followed them to a large courtroom where the crystals were all over the place. She saw the hostages cowering surrounded by these crystals.
"There you are." She looks up and slightly hovering is Dr. Kintobor, but he looked more crystal creature than human as she sees the Dark Chaos shard imbedded into his chest.
"Love what you've done with the place." She said sarcastically,
"I have been looking for you." He said,
"I've been in protective custody. But you found me now so why not let all these nice people go." Saya said. He floats down as the crystals move away from the hostages.
"Come…" he said holding his hand out to her.
"Elias to Freedom Fighters do you read me?" Elias reached out over his headset taking them all off guard for a moment,
"We read you loud and clear, is Saya already inside?" Tails asked,
"Unfortunately…" He said,
"I don't like how you said that." Knuckles said,
"Saya told me as she was walking in that there's a Dark Chaos shard inside." Elias said,
"Damnit…" Shadow said,
"How far out are you?" Elias asked,
"We're just about to land." Tails said as she begins to land the Tornado,
"What's the plan Shadow?" Blaze asked as Shadow was zoning out, her thoughts spiraled worried that Saya would be taken again. "Shadow!" she shakes her,
"Sorry, plan stays the same. We sneak in while Saya is keeping him distracted then get the jump on him." She said,
"Let's go help Saya!" Amy said as they all head closer to the courthouse.
Saya slowly walks closer to Dr Kintobor looking over the hostages as they stagger to their feet, she tries to keep a calm face for them. "Hurry up and get out of here before he changes his mind." Saya told them as they start to slowly move faster.
"But… you're just a kid…" one of them said,
"Yep!" She gives them a thumbs up "Now go!" she said as the last one leaves the room. She starts thinking how easy it would be for her to just run out before he could blink but then the doorway is covered in a large crystal. "Whoa!" She said jumping back as spikes of crystal start jetting out towards her moving her closer to Dr. Kintobor. "So, not digging the new look to be honest. Where'd you get the magic powers?"
"You know where I got them…" He said still holding out his hand,
"Funny, I didn't have any crystal powers." She shrugs as more of the crystals force her down the isle of seats towards him.
"We want you back… Sonic…"
"Oh for the love of Chaos not again..."
Shadow warps up Amy while the others fly up as she looks for a way into the building. She sees a roof access and rips off the door. "That was a little extreme…" Amy said as Shadow glares at him and continues forward, "Guess I deserve that." They all follow after her as they quietly make their way inside.
"These crystals aren't anything I've seen before. The energy they're giving off is different than Chaos energy." Knuckles said as they continue to walk.
"Maybe because of the Dark Chaos Shard?" Cream said,
"Could be." Blaze said as she kept an eye on Shadow, she was worried at how distant she was acting. She began to regret telling her.
"I think once we get in there and assess the situation, Shadow should warp Saya out of harm's way just in case and then we attack." Tails said, "That sound good?" everyone nods, they enter a hallway and continue forward.
"Look… whatever you are! I'm not interested," She said moving away from the sharp crystals but trying to keep her distance from Dr Kintobor.
"You know who we are." He said floating towards her,
"No I actually don't," Saya said,
"You just don't remember… yet." The way he said that sent another chill down her spine telling her she needed to get out of here now.
"Scratch the plan, I'm out of here." She said jumping over one of the crystals to get away from him. She runs over to a window, but they become covered in crystals, "Crap!" She looks around for another exit and sees the second-floor balcony where others can watch the court case. The Crystals begin to quickly surround her. "You'll have to be faster than that, Chaos Con-!" but as she's about to transform all of the crystals begin reverberating a high-pitched tone that stops her as she covers her ears.
"Do not fight…" he said as the Crystals surround her imprisoning her inside a large crystal. Saya yells to be let out but no sound is heard as she hits her fist against the crystal. She attempts to transform again but the sound from within the crystal blasted her ears as her head begins to pound. She was trapped.
At the same time, the others use an entrance from the upstairs balcony to get inside the room, "Your plan's not going to work Tails, he's already got Saya." Knuckles whispered peaking over, "Why hasn't she transformed?"
"Could be that loud noise a moment ago." Shadow said holding her head,
"What noise?" Blaze asked as Cream was also trying to cover her ears.
"It's coming from the crystals." Cream said,
"New plan, we distract Kintobor, Amy, Knux you two try to break Saya free." Tails said, rummaging through her pack and holding out metal claws that look similar to Knuckles' gloves, "I was going to give you these earlier, but I forgot."
"Thanks!" Knuckles said putting on the claws. Shadow and the others jump down as Amy and Knuckles wait.
"Hey ugly!" Tails yelled as he turns to them.
"Do not interfere." He said,
"Not going to happen!" Shadow said as they all charge, Cream lifts Blaze up and flies her above as she blasts him with fire. Knuckles and Amy quickly jump down and run over to Saya who was still hitting and kicking at the crystal,
"Hang on Saya, we'll get you out of there." Amy said as he strikes the crystal with his hammer, but nothing happens. Knuckles punches it with his claws, but it only chips it.
"This is going to take a while…" Knuckles said as Saya tries to say something, but they can't hear her at all. "We can't hear you." He said as she crosses her arms and taps her foot for a moment thinking. The others continued to keep Dr Kintobor at bay while Knuckles kept chipping away at the crystal. Saya waves her hands to get Amy's attention as she points at her Chaos Emerald,
"Uh, Chaos Emerald?" He said as she nods, she points at her chest as he looks at her confused. Saya rolls her eyes then points at Dr Kintobor then points back at her Chaos Emerald and then back at her chest. "Oh! Guys! The Dark Chaos shard is in his chest." Amy said as Saya jumps nodding her head.
"Chaos!" Shadow starts inducing Chaos Control as the crystal begin vibrating as her and Cream quickly cover their ears. Cream becomes too disoriented to fly and falls to the ground.
"Cream!" Blaze runs over and checks on her.
"You okay Shadow?" Tails said,
"Yeah… That sound is mind numbing." Shadow said as She looks at Dr Kintobor's chest and she sees the familiar shard. "Blaze… I'm going to strike him; I need you to try and grab it when I make the opening." Shadow said,
"On it." Blaze nods. Shadow quickly jumps and spin dashes him in the chest as the crystals around the Dark Chaos Emerald. Blaze quickly strikes clawing at the crystal causing the Shard to get dislodged and she rips it out. An echo of cries fade out of the room as the crystals around Dr Kintobor's body begin to flake off and he collapses.