Author's note. First of all, we're now at the halfway point of this story, and I wanted to thank everyone for leaving a favorite, or a follow on this story since I genuinely do appreciate the support. I can't believe that this story has over 50 reviews and over 2,500 views already. I have to say thank you all so much.
As always, a big thank you to Fanaktsuki, SpiderDom321, TheGamenguyener, Keyblade Writer of the Dawn, SharpDragonKlaw, and Guest. I genuinely appreciate your feedback and support.
As always I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega owns the franchise.
The scene after Eggman's attack could only be described in one word was chaos. Buildings lay in smoking ruins; several citizens ended up dying in the chaotic assault.
The last of the fires left over from Eggman's attack were put out preventing any more injuries. Ambulances tore down the streets of Shamar carrying several injured Mobians from the attack on the hospital. The small group of Mobians consisting of Gadget the other members of the Jackal Squad sat around in several hard plastic chairs with a sense of dread filled the room.
Gadget looked up as it had been several hours when Cassius had been rushed into the operating theatre leaving everyone to await the news if the leader of thJackal Squad would make it. It didn't look good for Cassius the doctors told them, the force of Cassius landing on the stone hard ground had broken several of his ribs one of them puncturing his lungs resulting in severe internal bleeding.
In the doctor's opinion, it was a miracle Cassius was still alive, but they cautioned the young jackals not to get their hopes high for their father to recover.
Gadget shifted uneasily on the hard plastic chairs. Zerinn sat stoically next to him as Kaito lay across his brother's lap half awake letting out a low sob. Dune sat on the opposite side of the room his black fur pale looking about the area nervously.
"So, does anyone know if our dad's going to die?"
Gadget's ears pricked hearing Kaito mumble. The young jackal child shifted uneasily feeling Zerinn release his hold on him.
"I, hope so," Zerinn broke the silence angrily. "Kaito have you forgotten about all the hell; he's put us through? That monster would slap us if we cried."
Zerinn gently squeezed Kaito's hand. "We're better off without him."
"How can you say that?!" Both Gadget and Mikhail cried out at once as Zerinn looked over in surprise. The wolf slid off his seat with angry tears running down his face his fists were trembling not making eye contact with Zerinn.
Sonic came right up to Zerinn shooting him a glare. The hedgehog approached Zerinn his quills bristling with anger his ears pinned back against his head his lips pulled back in a slight grimace.
"Tails didn't have any parents, he's an orphan," Sonic said his tone dangerously low. "You have no right to say, that. If you're going to hurt Tails, then you'll have to go through me first."
The two of them pushed back their chairs their eyes narrowing as Zerinn flexed his fingers. Gadget sensed the sudden tenseness in the room. Zerinn let out a low growl placing his body between Kaito and Sonic lip curling ever so slightly in anger. Sonic wasn't one to lose his temper with another Mobian, but hearing the jackal callously saying his father deserved to die angered him.
"Stop, it Zerinn!" Gadget cried out running up forcing himself between Sonic and Zerinn seeing the jackal curl his lip ever so slightly surprised at Gadget's sudden defiance. The wolf looked so determined, he was trembling a bit, but there was a fire in his eyes that refused to die out.
"At least, you still have a father, Zerinn!" Gadget cried out in anguish. "Mikhail and I don't have our fathers, and I know that Cassius has been an awful, father towards you and Kaito, but he's still your father."
Zerinn paused hearing Dune snort. The jackal lifted his head eying them both with disdain. Dune shifted the small cruel smirk appeared on his face. Kaito pinned his ears back, a low whimper leaving his throat.
"Oh, please your parents died just to get away from you."
Kaito and Tails let out a gasp of horror at Dune's statement. The other young jackals looked up as Gadget let out an uncharacteristic growl. He saw red, and before anyone could stop him, he lunged for Dune pummeling the jackal pup. Gadget wrested him to the ground landing several punches and kicks on Dune hearing this cowardly pup whimper and cry out for mercy, but Gadget allowed his anger to take over. He continued to punch the cowering pup in front of him repeatedly until a pair of hands gripped him around the shoulders pulling him away from Dune.
"You're awful! My parents loved me," Gadget screamed at the top of his lungs feeling a rough grip as Zerinn spun him around pressing him close. Decision made the wolf struggled against Zerinn's firm hold.
"Let, go of me Zerinn!" Gadget pounded away at Zerinn's chest not caring that that he was striking his friend's chest. "Dune's had this coming for a long time
"Shh, Gadget, take it easy," Zerinn mumbled rubbing his hand in small circles on Gadget's back hearing the wolf pup sobbing, warm salty tears flowing down his chest the small sobs escaping from the wolf.
"Dune's an asshole, and your parents didn't die to get away from you," Zerinn whispered. Mikhail seized his chance to approach the young jackal who handed Gadget to his older half-brother as Mikhail drew Gadget against him.
The nurse, a slightly plump otter, stepped into the room clasping a clipboard in between her paws shifted her gaze nervously around the room aware of the hostile tension between Sonic and Zerinn the latter lashing his tail eager for a fight.
The sound of a door opening caused everyone's attention to turn to the nurse with a name tag with the name Maria on it. Maria cleared her throat nervously catching the attention of everyone in the room.
"I deeply regret to inform everyone in this room that Cassius is dying," Maria said sadly."His injuries were too severe since his spine was broken in the fall. He doesn't have long, so he wants to see his sons before its too late."
The news hit the room hard as Gadget inhaled deeply in shock. Zerinn, Kaito, and Dune stood up in shock trying to process the information. Gadget shook his head in disbelief what he'd heard. Cassius, the leader of the Jackal Squad, was dead. The scarred jackal would never again lead his squad into battle ever again. Kaito sobbed his brother softly placing a hand around his shoulders only looking around the room.
"I'll be taking Zerinn, Dune, and Kaito to see him," The nurse said nervously. "His wife and stepdaughter have been informed about his current situation."
Zerinn trembled in emotion; his father was dying, the stern jackal he'd known all his life was dying, the reality of the situation didn't seem real, that his father who he believed could never be injured was now on death's doorstep. Zerinn felt numb all over following the nurse down the hallway heading towards a small door labeled 213.
The nurse opened the door allowing the four jackals to step into the room under the close watch of a female rabbit nurse let them in her head was bowed. In the middle of the room, Cassius rested on a small bed hooked up to several monitors.
The only sign Cassius still lived was the slight movement of his chest rising and falling his chest rose and fell in shallow breaths the heart monitor on the small stand
"As you can all see, I don't have long left to live," Cassius whispered faintly. "It appears I made an error in choosing Dune as the future leader of the Jackal Squad; he's far too cowardly to become the next leader of the Jackal Squad. From now on Zerinn will lead the Jackal Squad."
The silence fell in the room. Dune growled feeling the angry tears prick at the corners of his eyes. With a yell of frustration, he shoved past Zerinn barging out of the room slamming the door behind him the sound left Zerinn stunned.
"Yes!" Kaito shouted in excitement forgetting to be quiet at the moment hearing the nurse make a shushing noise shooting him a disapproving glare. Cassius weakly scowled in his dying state the gesture wasn't as intimidating it usually was before he weakly reached down to pick up the sword gesturing to Zerinn to come forward claiming his birthright.
"This sword is yours now," Cassius said hoarsely "It is the symbol of leadership within the Jackal Squad. Also, I want you to stop being friends with that wolf. He will turn on you sooner or later."
Zerinn hurried over to grab the sword freezing when he heard his father's bitter words Kaito paused the small smile fading away, looking up at his father frowning. The quiet atmosphere became tense when Cassius finished his speech. Zerinn turned to his father pinning his ears back.
"What do you mean that Wolves are liars and thieves?" Zerinn demanded in anger. "Gadget and Mikhail are our friends, and they would do anything to betray us."
"I was so naïve when I was your age," Cassius said so softly Zerinn strained his ears to hear what his father had to say. "I befriended a wolf just like you and I thought he would always have my back, but one day he proved me wrong by stabbing me in the back and left me to rot. If it hadn't been for Flint's father who found me that day, I would've died. Never trust a wolf Zerinn."
"You're lying" Kaito cried out the sting of tears racing down his face. "You're saying that to be horrible!"
The young jackal opened the door running out of the room ignoring his older half brother's shout to come back. Zerinn shot a venomous glare one that was enough to make an average citizen flinch, but Cassius returned the stare unflinchingly.
"I'm only telling the truth Zerinn."
"Rot in hell old man," Zerinn spat. "Gadget and I will be friends until the end of our days."
"So, you claim," Cassius said faintly. "Well, one day you'll have to face the truth then, it's a shame I won't be around anymore to see the pain in your eyes when he does betray you."
Zerinn paused for several minutes noticing his father's eyes closing hearing the heart monitor flatlining confirming his father's death. The jackal hurried down the hallway his breath coming out in short gasps of anger. Even in his dying moments Zerinn breathed in and out mentally counting to ten before he looked back at the closed door to his father's room.
Zerinn stalked to the hallway preparing to comfort Kaito pushing the doors open to the waiting room where he spied Kaito sitting hunched in a chair with Gadget passing the younger jackal several wads of tissue to the younger jackal wiping at his eyes sniffling fiercely.
"Hey, Kaito I'm here, and things are going to be okay," Zerinn said soothingly rubbing a hand in soothing circles on Kaito's back. "Ignore what dad said about Gadget and Mikhail. There's no way that they're ever going to betray us."
"Kaito told me that Zerinn's the new leader," Gadget said looking around the waiting room. "I'm happy that you're the new leader and I wanted to be the first to congratulate you. Dune stormed off somewhere. There is no way Mikhail and I would ever betray you."
"Somehow I knew you would say that Gadget," Zerinn said smiling. "In case you're wondering, my father, passed away, several minutes ago."
Ace, Flint, Saber, Nephthys, and Mikhail came over to Zerinn to offer their congratulations and condolences for the loss of Cassius. The mood in the waiting room became less tense Zerinn listening to his friend praising him. Zerinn looked over at Gadget the red wolf was smiling. Zerinn allowed the faint smile to appear on his face.
"Quartz should've been here with us," Saber spoke softly. "He would be so happy for you Zerinn."
Everyone fell silent in the room knowing that Quartz would have been so happy to hear the news that Zerinn was the leader and it was a small muted celebration in the waiting room.
Sonic let out a low huff pacing back and forth on one of the walls that overlooked Shamar with Tails next to him scanning the horizon for any signs of Eggman the fox's tails twitching restlessly. Both reassured the citizens they would keep an eye out for Eggman's forces.
"So, there's no doubt that Robuttnik will be back for the Chaos Emerald," Sonic said frowning. The hedgehog raised a hand to shield his eyes from the setting sun. He spied a round shape in the distance causing Sonic to narrow his eyes.
"Thanks for sticking up for me against that jackal," Tails said eager to change the subject. "That jackal wasn't nice though; I can't shake the feeling he'll someday cause trouble in the future for everyone on Mobius."
"Yeah, that jackal is a bad influence," Sonic said. "I have a feeling that we'll run into them in the future."
The quiet, tranquil evening turned into chaos with several EggRobos swarming the city as Sonic came face to face with Metal Sonic the weight of his robotic counterpart crashed into Sonic. The force of the impact sent Sonic skidding dangerously close to the wall's edge as he grabbed on to the ledge just grabbing on to it in time.
"Sonic!"
Tail cried out lunging out to grab Sonic pulling him back up by the arms. For a few tense moments, Sonic hung in the air suspended until Tails pulled him up his feet touching solid ground. Sonic exhaled in relief. The whoosh of Metal Sonic's jet engines alerted Sonic to noticing Metal Sonic making a beeline for the citizens of Shamar.
"Eggman is attacking!" One of the terrified guards screamed in fear. "This is not a drill and protect the citizens at all costs!"
Sonic growled hearing Eggman cackle the scientist smiled broadly enjoying the citizen's suffering.
"I'd told you would be back with an old friend Sonic!" Eggman cackled looking over at the destruction the Egg Robos causing. "If you want this to an end, all you have to do is to hand over the Chaos Emerald!"
Eggman took off laughing into the distance. Sonic and Tails exchanged a silent look before they nodded heading in pursuit of Eggman determined to stop him from endangering even more lives.
Meanwhile back at the hospital, the jovial mood ended when a sheep Mobian burst through the doors panting out of breath. The building shook with the force of the impact from the Badniks running around on the upper floors.
"Eggman is back, and he's attacking Shamar!" The sheep cried out in panic. "We need any capable fighters to deal with the Badniks. Please, we need all the help we can get."
Zerinn felt all eyes falling on him as the jackal met the gazes of his now future squad. Zerinn breathed in mentally preparing himself. In the heat of the moment, Zerinn knew that he had to prove that he could be a leader.
"Alright, Jackal Squad now is the time to prove ourselves!" Zerinn cried out catching the attention of the rest of his squad. "It's time to fight back and show that fat man we're not afraid. Gadget and Mikhail we need you two to stay here and make sure that no robots will get to the patients. Jackal Squad move in for the kill!"
The small group consisting of the Jackal Squad tore out the hospital doors heading into the streets mowing down all the approaching Badniks with Zerinn at the head of the Jackal Squad the short crimson sword in his hand destroying robots. In the heat of the moment, Zerinn was determined to prove he would be a better leader than his father.
Dune weaved in and out of the fleeing citizens from the onslaught of Eggman's Badniks patrolling the area. The young jackal hurried over to the guardhouse noticing that most of the guard's absence. There was an eerie stillness in the air his ears twitched for any more sounds. Dune heard the banging on the cell doors signaling that most of the prisoners remained trapped in their cells.
"No, no, please!"
A terrified scream split the air, the followed by the sound of something contacting the guard's chest followed by an eerie stillness. Dune crept forward pushing the door open the small shaft of light fell on the scene in front of him. Chad and Mara stood with their backs turned to him blood flecking their fur and clothes. Both of them held onto knives coated in blood, the red substance dripping down onto the tiled floor. On the floor lay the bodies of the dead guards their eyes staring sightlessly up at the ceiling.
"Heh, now that was too easy," Chad sneered kicking the dead body with the heel of his shoe the sadistic grin never leaving his face. Mara turned around noticing Dune flinching. The jackal's muzzle flecked with blood as she let out a menacing chuckle.
"Well, look who we've got here Chad," Mara snarled all traces of good humor gone from her face. "It was all his fault we ended up here in this hell hole."
Chad stalked over to Dune with a low growl the bloodstained knife held at his side glaring at Dune who backed away. The older maned wolf held the knife in between two of his fingers a hand shooting out to grab Dune with one hand pulling the jackal close to him the sneer forming on his face.
"It was your fault, that we ended up here due to your first plan failing," Chad said with a snarl holding the knife closer to Dune. "It's your last fault that the last plan you came up with caused Aster to bail on us."
Dune allowed a small smirk to form on his face. Hearing the news that Aster bailed on his so-called friends didn't surprise him. Dune got the feeling the coyote wasn't a reliable friend.
"Oh, this time it'll work I promise," Dune said with a small smile. "I can handle Zerinn, and that little red wolf will be all yours to kill. We're both going to get what we want. The deaths of both Gadget and Zerinn."
Chad and Mara hesitated for a few moments the two of them leaned their heads close to each other whispering to each other. Dune didn't have to wait long until both of them turned to Dune before Chad reluctantly nodded in agreement.
"We'll help, but this we better not end up in another prison left to rot," Chad snarled.
"It won't this time," Chad replied. "So then I think we have a deal."
Chad and Dune shook hands as the three of them ignored the carnage going on within Shamar's walls as the three of them decided to act out their plan and Dune knew that it would finally allow Dune to get rid of Zerinn once and for all.
Quartz paused spying the small clouds of smoke rising from Shamar frowning slightly in concern. Behind him lay the dead bodies of three of the hedgehog squad lay still on the ground. In the end, the Hedgehog Squad had been nothing, but a band of small-time thieves, at first sight of trouble the leader had fled along with four other hedgehogs leaving three of them to die.
Quartz fought back to keep the excited flutter in his chest. The small group would be heading back to Shamar. Deep down Quartz hoped he would be with his friends once more and the thought caused him to smile.
"Hold on everyone," Quartz said smiling. "Your big brother is on his way back to you guys."
High up in the night sky the brightest star illuminated the inky black skies offering a faint beacon of hope. The group of small jackals rushed across the desert sands heading back to Shamar.
Author's note.
I know that this was more of a cool down chapter, but it does reveal the reason as to why Cassius hates wolves. Cassius has never let go of that feeling of betrayal that was inflicted upon him by his former friend, and he fears that Gadget is going to do the same to Zerinn.
Dune is now angry and bitter that Cassius has decided to choose Zerinn as the new leader of the Jackal Squad. He now wants revenge for being humiliated. Having Gadget snap and attack him was something I've always planned for and it was satisfying for Gadget because Dune crossed a line by saying his parents died to get away from him. Mikhail is protective of Gadget, and it's the main reason he punched Dune in the first place.
Chad and Mara finally make a reappearance. At this point in the story, they have had enough of being made the fools and now that they've killed other Mobians the next time they encounter, Gadget the result may end badly for Gadget and Mikhail.
I'm aware that Sonic, Tails, and Eggman didn't get to do much in this chapter, but with Metal Sonic entering the scene in this chapter I do intend for Sonic and Tails to have another battle against Eggman. Also, Eggman lost all of his robots in the last attack on Shamar, and now Eggman is back with reinforcements and this time he is determined to take over Shamar.
Sonic and Zerinn do have a low opinion of each other due to Zerinn saying that comment about not needing a father hurt Tails' feelings since it's all, but implied that Tails doesn't have any parents and Sonic saw that comment as an attack on Tails.
As per usual constructive criticism, thoughts and reviews are appreciated and welcomed as always, and I will see you guys with the next chapter sometime next week.