Chapter 10: Along Came A Snake
Seven days had passed since Manic took down Starr and ditched the authorities. It took some time but he was able to make some deals with both sides of the law to try and restore order to his hometown of Metropolis, as well as get out of trouble.
The green hedgehog climbed to the top of a mountain that overlooked the whole city, and pulled out his newly purchased iPod.
"1979" by Smashing Pumpkins played into his headphones.
Police had taken control of Metropolis and either caught or chased off the remaining enforcers from The Wulf House and Starr's new Elementals.
The locals mourned the sudden passing of everyone killed in the battle. As for Starr, she no longer possessed powers so the 14 year old was charged with twenty five counts of murder and destruction of property.
An armoured police truck pulled up to the courthouse and two guards opened the back doors. Starr was dragged kicking and screaming into the courtroom for her trial. Dozens of citizens gave their heartfelt testimony before the judge and jury as many of their friends and family were disintegrated by Starr.
Then Starr's manipulative step mother Stacy arrived in court. She took to the stand and put on another fake emotional show for sympathy, while demanding Starr be locked up for life. As the 14 year old grew angrier, her fingers started to glow orchid purple but she immediately realized her powers weren't as strong as they once were.
She smiled and stood up, ready to see what these suppressed abilities can do.
Down in the east end, Mickie swept up broken glass and debris that fell from her house during the battle. Her boyfriend Thompson picked up the bigger chunks and three them in a dumpster outside.
"God damn Manic...that guy never takes responsibility for anything in his life. Just comes in, blows shit up and leaves! Bastard..." Thompson grumbled.
"I'm sure he'll come around and help out. He's our friend, he'll make it up to us." Mickie replied optimistically.
A knock on the front door got the couples' attention, so Thompson went to answer it.
"That'd better be him right now."
The door swung open but no one was there, instead a big box with a birthday card taped to the front greeted him. The tall hedgehog took the box inside and Mickie opened the card.
"To the cutest couple I know,
Sorry for sending a birthday card, they didn't have any house warming gift-related cards at the drug store I bought this at. And sorry for fucking up your house last week, it was a complete accident I swear. Anyway, I hope this is enough money to fix the damage-"
Thompson tore the box open and his eyes lit up at the sight of stacks of cash.
"...Thank you for putting up with me and being my friends. I will return when the time is right.
Your best pal,
-Manic"
Mickie smiled and Thompson began counting all the cash in the box.
"Man, there's gotta be at least half a million dollars in here!"
"Well, at least Manic never forgot about us, honey."
"Of course he didn't, he's the best! Y'know, I've always said he was a good guy, he'll never let us down!.."
Down in Southcounty, Benni Beans worked with Manic's mentor Farrell to rebuild Grounders Patch, a safe haven for reformed ex-cons trying to turn their lives around. B.B and Pops handed out cold beers to other workers and take a break to cool down.
Cassia arrived and joined the crow. "What's up B.B."
He high-fived her. "Nothing much, just working with Pops and his buddies here. This place will look brand new by the end of the week."
"Good to see you're keeping busy."
"What about you, still leaving town?"
Cassia sighed. "Yep. I gotta find a new gig. Maybe even go back to school or something. Besides, ever since the authority took over, Elementals are no longer welcome here, so..."
"I'm sure you'd be great in technical studies, I mean you got that Metallic hand to work for ya." B.B pointed to her right hand.
"Maybe I should become a machinist and work for a living."
"...I was wrong about Falke, he was a good kid. Wish he could've made it to see today."
Cass reminisced briefly. "...yeah...well, I gotta get going, Benni. See ya around."
The crow opened his arms for a hug but was met with a few pulled punches to the arm, then Cass chuckled as she sped out of town.
B.B smiled. "..aaannd you made me spill my beer...I'm taking the rest of the day off, now."
Up on the mountain top, Tails made his way toward Manic. "This place's got a great view."
Manic turned around. "I spent my whole life in the city, always being watched. Out here, this is freedom. Feels alien."
"Imagine what the mountain men think when they see city folks pop up."
The Fox shook Manic's hand and they looked over Metropolis once more. An aura of neon pink zoomed through the streets and up toward their location. Within seconds, Cassia scaled the rocky mountain and stood with the duo.
"I saw B.B and your old man, they seemed happy with the current situation." She said.
"Good because that's best deal I could've gotten from the Authority. Tails here, or should I say Tommy Trick, helped me make a deal with them: I relinquish my medallion to an appointed collector who'll keep it safe, even from me."
"And who's that?"
"My sister. Sonia."
Cassia looked at the crystal medallion she took from Manic.
"As great as these things are, I can't let you keep it."
Cassia sighed and gave the pink gem back to him without incident. He opened a metal box and placed it inside, then took his Jade Medallion off the necklace chain and put it inside the box as well.
Cassia notices there's one medallion missing from the box. "Where's the last one?"
"Could be anywhere. Green Hill, Silver Valley, The Cayon... I wanted to ask if you'd like to come along and help me find it. Might even have to break the rules and use these gems again." Manic offered.
Cassia took a moment to think this over. "..maybe I'll see you out there, but for now I've gotta figure some stuff out."
"Well, alright then. Guess I'll see you around-"
"Many days and nights throughout this whole thing, I wanted to shoot you in your sleep...but I'm glad I didn't. You're alright, Manic."
Cassia kissed him on the cheek and fist bumped Tails as she walked off the mountain side.
"You boys can text me anytime you want. I'll think about your offer thoroughly while I'm away."
Even though she no longer had the medallion, the familiar crystal aura lit up around her and she zoomed off.
"How much are you willing to bet that she still has powers." Manic said.
"I think it's best not to bet on anything related to you Elementals."
"You're right on that one, T. Feel like going on another great adventure? There'll be lots of girls this time."
Tails crossed his arms and thought about this offer. "I'm starting to think this is my calling. Threat of death is just another day, at this point. Sure, I'll go with you. It's either that or sit in the Choatix Cafe with Charmy 'til September."
Manic put his arm around the fox while they walked. "I've got a great idea, bro. It involves this Tommy Trick character you created, right? You're Trick, I'm Manny. We go down to the Casino Night Zone and we run that shit! Then finding Sonic's Sapphire Medallion will be easy! And we might even make a little extra green on the side..."
TRICK
Metropolis General Hospital
The Next Day
The chrome elevator doors opened up to reveal the green hedgehog walking behind a few nurses and some visitors. He followed the signs above each doorway to find a specific patient's bed. His hands were tucked inside his leather jacket's pockets, hiding something out of sight. He reached the patient's room, looked him over and took a seat beside the bed.
Scourge the hedgehog scanned the scruffy Wulf House enforcer, scarred from getting beaten by fifteen angry citizens with weapons.
"Lieutenant Stone, right?"
The enforcer opened his eyes and looked at his visitor. "...who are you?"
"Let's keep the focus on you, big man. I read you were Willard Wulf's last lieutenant, that true?"
Stone stiffened up. "What are you, a hero cop? The fuck do you want?"
"I ain't no pig with a badge, I assure you that. And what I want are those gems Manic took possession of. Great energy source, man."
The lieutenant looked around the room for anybody else listening in.
"Nobody's gonna disturb us, 'less they want a hole in their head." Scourge said.
"If you're going after those gems, why are you stopping here to see me?"
"I'm making an assumption here but I'm willing to bet you want a shot at Manic, am I right?"
"I'll kill that fucker!"
"Yeah, I thought so. So, I stopped in to offer you a chance at him. A little revenge scheme, if you will."
"How?"
Scourge pulled out the blue sapphire medallion from his jacket pocket. "Manic's looking for this, so that'll bring him to me, and in turn, bring him to you. See where this is going."
"...what's the catch?"
"You help me take down Casino Night Zone. The richest motherfucker there thinks he runs the world from his penthouse, and it's also where Manic has been spotted. If I can take down the zone even for 1 hour, this'll be a walk in the park." Scourge laughed.
"Oh really? Well how am I supposed to make that walk with two BROKEN legs? I can't even get out of my bed in this condition, genius! Add to that my useless set of lungs and you want me help take out an entire Zone? Dude, that's fuckin' crazy!"
"Man, you're such a downer. I already have a plan for that, just shake my hand and we can get started."
Scourge extended his hand to the lieutenant but he doesn't completely believe him.
"Come on, shake my hand, bro. You'll see."
Stone grasped Scourge's hand and a burst of sapphire energy pulsed into his system. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out while the energy healed all of his injuries. The scars on his face vanished and his broken tendons were miraculously put back in place. The IV in his arm caused a machine to start beeping loudly, angering a patient in the bed next to him
"Somebody shut that guy's' machine off! I'm trying to talk to my girlfriend!"
Scourge released Stones' hand and he looked him over. "You feel any better?"
The nearby patient stood up. "You're about to get boot-fucked, goofball!"
Stone didn't say a word as he jumped up and pushed back the curtain that divided each bed. He ducked under the first barrage of punches and dug his now razor sharp claws into the patient's stomach. He screamed out as Stone began ripping away while clawing out his eyes. Stone stepped away from the dying man and Scourge smiled as nurses screamed in terror at the violence.
"Lets go get that prick Manic."
TO BE CONTINUED