Author's note, First of all, I'm sorry for the delay to this story a lot of things came up such as a new job and I actually developed a bit of a writer's block with this story, but I'm back now with a new chapter for you all.
As always I have to give a big thank you to Fanakatsuki, Reciprocate, Guest, Turquoise Triangle and Keyblade Writer of the Dawn for the reviews. You support genuinely does mean a lot to me and gives me the motivation to keep going with this story.
Also, I have to give a thank you to One Nutty Author, and samuelfoti 03 for leaving a follow. Also a thank you goes out to Reciprocate and Jet The Fox for leaving a favorite on this story. I genuinely appreciate the support.
Disclaimer I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog.
The sound of explosions occurred all around Shamar. G.U.N troops ran all over the town aiding in the evacuation process guiding the citizens out of the city while a small unit held back Eggman's robots. The humans formed a barrier allowing several citizens to breathlessly thank them before racing out of Shamar to wait outside until it was safe for them to return to their undoubtedly destroyed homes.
Sonic broke into a run hearing the roar of Metal Sonic's engine right behind him. Sonic skidded through the tightly packed streets the force of Metal Sonic slamming into him nearly knocked Sonic off his feet. Sonic got between Metal Sonic and the citizens preventing Metal Sonic from attacking any of the citizens. Screams of panic rang out through the night air, seeing the Egg Robos rushing across the skies firing of several lasers blasts scoring small holes in the carved stone walls leaving scorch marks all over the walls.
Sonic ran around the square a tight knot formed in his stomach spying a small hedgehog child on her knees in the middle of the streets calling out desperately for her mother. In the crowd Sonic, saw a flash of brown fur which he assumed was the girl's mother frantically pushing past citizens to reach her child. Metal Sonic turned in the air alerted by the child's cries.
Sonic felt his heart freeze already guessing Metal Sonic's intentions. The robotic counterpart to Sonic hovered in the air before he dove on a collision course heading straight for the young girl who looked up at the last moment her eyes wide with terror witnessing her impending death.
"Oh no, you don't Metal Sonic!"
Sonic curled up spin dashing into Metal Sonic landing a direct hit to Metal Sonic his feet kicking hard against the metallic shell, the force of the kick knocked Metal Sonic away from the young girl. Sonic stood between the girl and Metal Sonic. Sonic charged at Metal Sonic spin dashing into the robot for the second time sending Metal Sonic skidding across the dirt road leaving gouges in the soil. Sonic quickly picked up the little girl running over to her mother looking at the scene with a relieved expression her daughter was safe.
"Get your daughter to safety!"
The mother hedgehog uttered a breathless thank you. Sonic set the girl on the ground. Her mother took her by the hand running back to the safety of the crowd vanishing in amongst the panicking citizens. Metal Sonic got to his feet fixing his red optics on Sonic. The robot's aggressive stance made it clear Eggman's prized creation wanted Sonic dead.
"So I know that you're looking for me Metal," Sonic said his voice like ice. "You have some real nerve about to attack a defenseless little girl. Did you forget that I'm your true target bolt brain?"
Metal Sonic's answer was to rev his engine making a beeline straight for Sonic. The hum of a plane's engine cut through the air. The flash of red against the nighttime sky slamming through the Badniks destroying them as Tails pulled the Tornado around to provide whatever help he could to Sonic.
"Sonic, look out!" Tails' shout caught Sonic's attention. "Metal Sonic is coming at you from your left!"
Sonic moved out of the way heeding Tails' warning hearing the whoosh of Metal Sonic's engine. The hedgehog ducked out of the way. Much to his dismay Sonic wasn't fast enough, feeling the tips of Metal Sonic's digging deep into his flesh hoisting him into the air, Sonic kicked out landing several hits against Metal Sonic's fighting the iron-clad grip. The robotic counterpart turned his head regarding Sonic his fingers slackening. There was nothing more all Metal Sonic longed to let Sonic fall to his death.
"Well, Sonic it's quite the predicament that you're in," Eggman cackled. The mad genius showed up in his Egg Mobile grinning at his arch enemy's predicament. "Well then unless you want to go for a fall, you'll hand over that Chaos Emerald. I know either of you's bound to have it. Once you hand over the Chaos Emerald, I'll leave this town peacefully you have my promise!"
"Don't do it Tails!"
Sonic called out feeling the razor-sharp claws of Metal Sonic dig in even deep causing the dark red blood to flow underneath his skin the small droplets began to trickle down Sonic's arm. Tails growled in anger at the sight of his adoptive brother hanging limply from Metal Sonic's cold grip.
"I don't have all night Sonic and Tails!" Eggman called out in a false jovial tone the menace behind his voice was clear. "Your choices are one of you gives me the Chaos Emerald, or I drop Sonic to his death."
"You're sick Eggman," Sonic growled narrowing his eyes his lip curling ever so slightly. "We're not going to surrender the Chaos Emerald to you."
Without warning, Sonic yanked his arm free screaming in agony feeling Metal Sonic slice his claws along his arm plummeting towards the ground. Tails pushed hard on the throttle of the tornado diving beneath Sonic the hedgehog flipped himself upright landing on the wings.
"If you don't hand over that Chaos Emerald, you've given me no other option," Eggman chortled. "Metal Sonic do it."
Metal Sonic charged at Sonic in a speed of blue light slamming into the hedgehog knocking him out of the wings of the Tornado sending Sonic plummeting down towards the ground for the second time in a row.
Metal Sonic pursued Sonic seizing his chance to pluck the Chaos Emerald out of Sonic's hands lunging to strangle Sonic with his other hand. The blue hedgehog's lightning quick reflexes kicked out at Metal Sonic seeing a glimpse of the Tornado landing feet first onto the surface of the plane's wing. Tails breathed out a sigh of relief at having saved his adoptive brother from plummeting to his death.
Metal Sonic began another dive heading towards Sonic glaring up at him crouching down into a fighting stance, ignoring the steady flow of blood leaking from the lacerations dripping blood along the peach fur of Sonic's left arm.
"Leave him, Metal Sonic!" Eggman called out catching the robot's attention who let out a low series of beeps in protest. "We've got the Chaos Emerald, and we don't need to linger here in this dump of a town any further."
Eggman activated the Egg Mobile taking off into the air. Metal Sonic, shot one last venomous look at them both he sped off after his creator into the darkening sky heading off to parts unknown.
"Sonic, we've got to go after Eggman!" Tails said urgently noticing the steady trickle of blood leaking down Sonic's arm. "But what about the citizens of Shamar? We can't just leave them like this!"
Sonic hesitated his lips curling upwards in a scowl. Sonic turned his head spying several of the G.U.N agents were destroying several of the EggRobos. It wasn't the just the efforts of the G.U.N forces. Amongst the crowd, Sonic and Tails saw the black and white shapes of the Jackal Squad stood out amongst the crowd hacking down any robots running towards the citizens. Sonic inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
"I hate leaving them alone, to deal with the robots," Sonic grumbled clenching his fist. It was clear to Tails that Sonic wasn't happy about leaving them. "I have a feeling that G.U.N and the Jackal Squad can take care of things here. We've got to stop Eggman's plan."
It was with reluctance that Tails turned the Tornado around resuming their chase of Eggman. Sonic turned his head slightly glancing one last time at Shamar.
"I sure hope that red wolf is going to be okay. Everyone else too," Sonic said with a hint of concern in his tone.
"I hope so to Sonic," Tails responded sadly glancing back. "But we have to deal with Eggman now, and maybe we'll run into that red wolf again someday."
Sonic nodded as the Tornado shot through the cold desert night air in their pursuit of Eggman heading over the desert sands vanishing into the inky black skies.
It was carnage when Aeolus skidded to a halt in front of the entrance grasping a cobalt blue scimitar in his hands aware of his squad spreading out behind him. The albino jackal took in the scene of devastation all around him his jaw set int a tight grimace taking the sight of the screaming citizens.
"Well, Quartz, it looks like that we got here in the nick of time," Aeolus said eying the carnage the grim smile on his face. "All right, men listen up! We're not here to play around," Aeolus called out. "If we take out the Badniks, then we'll get a large sum of money for saving these people. Move in for the kill!"
Quartz moved forward with the squad hacking their way effortlessly through the few robots that remained. Quartz jumped into the air throwing out several Kunai scoring direct hits on the robots destroying them. Quartz landed on the ground his eyes scanning the area searching for any signs of his friends.
"Come on guys, where are you?"
Quartz waded into the melee destroying more robots in his path when he saw a flash of black and white fur. Quartz spied both Kaito and Zerinn fighting side by side together with Nephthys and Saber focusing their attacks on the robots. The way that all four of them moved together they were already fighting well as a team. At that moment Quartz decided it was time to make his entrance. Fenrir and Hela weren't too far away dealing with another group of robots. Quartz thought he spied a glimpse of Gadget, and Mikhail heading in the direction of the hospital.
"Leave some for me!" Quartz called out the small smirk appearing from the shadows, the wide smirk never leaving his face. "Sorry that we're so late. Aeolus decided to come back to lend a hand and get some money as well."
Zerinn looked up seeing a flash of black and white fur as Quartz appeared from the melee a small smile on his face. Fenrir and Hela let out gasps of surprise at the sight of their fellow member's return.
"Quartz! You're back!"
Kaito flung himself at Quartz wrapping his arms around the older jackal's waist burying his head in Quartz's chest giving him a brief hug. A little nervous chuckle escaped Quartz's lips reaching down to pat Kaito on the back knowing that the youngest member of the Jackal Squad was the most affectionate. Zerinn noticed the exchange the small smile lined his face.
"It's good to see you again Quartz," Zerinn said smiling. "A few things have happened since you were forced to join someone else's group."
Quartz found his gaze drawn to the crimson red shortsword clasped in Zerinn's fingers the small knowing smile spread across his face. There could only be one reason as to why Zerinn would be holding his father's sword.
"So, I take it your dad realized, that he made a mistake choosing Dune then?"
"Yeah he did," Zerinn replied not turning his head. "I'll fill you in what's happened since my dad handed over to that white jackal. For now, help us deal with those robots."
Quartz nodded running into the fray throwing several kunai the sharp blades destroying them effortlessly. Quartz briefly glimpsed the warm smiles on Nephthys' face as he fought alongside her.
Gadget raced through the streets his eyes darting back and forth attacking the Egg Robos. A dull boom sounded from the hospital as his eyes darted around spying the shape of Eggman's Egg mobile speeding away with the Tornado in pursuit.
"Well, it's clear that Eggman's got what he's wanted," Gadget growled punching a small fist into the palm of his hand. "It's just a few robots; we can handle it."
Several Egg Robos turned around fixing their visors on the small hospital. An icy pit of dread formed in Gadget's stomach. Most of the Shamarians had gone off to repel Eggman's Badniks leaving the hospital virtually undefended leaving the patients inside at the mercy of the Badniks. Zerinn wasn't too far away hacking down the Badniks with Kaito at his side the robots sliced in two.
Gadget activated his grappling hook slamming into the robots as Mikhail lunged out with a small knife hacking away at the robot's outer shell.
"Mikhail, someone needs to get back to the Hospital!" Gadget's cry alerted Mikhail getting his sibling's attention who turned his head. "We need to protect the patients, and that includes Cassius."
"Zerinn, wouldn't agree with you," Mikhail replied kicking out at one of the approaching Badniks. "Knowing him he would be happy to let his father die, and honestly I want to kill him myself for striking you."
"Well, it would be wrong to let him die," Gadget argued back fiercely clenching his fists." You know it would since I won't let anyone else die."
Gadget broke into a run ignoring Mikhail's shout racing back towards the entrance to the hospital. Mikhail broke into a run following his younger half-brother in pursuit seeing several Badniks about to storm the hospital. Gadget ran on ahead his breath coming out in short gasps. There was a flash of red and black fur running ahead of him effortlessly destroying the robots.
"Ah, thank you!" Gadget cried out skidding to a stop the smile fading from his face making eye contact with Chad, Mara, and Dune.
"Oh I'm not sure that you should even be thanking us at all," Chad grinned holding onto the long dagger the tip of it dripping with crimson blood mixed with oil landing on the cobblestones. "Besides you still owe us one, for what happened outside of Saharais a month ago. I said that we were going to go wolf hunting and prepare to die Eggman lover!"
The three of them stood between Gadget and the entrance to the hospital the small cruel smirks plastered on their faces eying Gadget with malice. Gadget swallowed nervously feeling the tight lump in his throat. In a lightning strike, Chad lashed out with the dagger slicing across Gadget's arm tearing through fur and skin. The wolf let out a pained yelp feeling the hard kick to his stomach knocking the wind out of him as he hit the ground hard.
"Gadget!"
Mikhail lunged at Chad as Dune stepped forward elbowing Mikhail in the side smirking upon hearing Mikhail's pained yelp. Mara landed a kick to his chest sending him sprawling on the ground. Everything everywhere hurt, Mikhail let out a yelp of pain feeling the dagger slicing across the back of his fur causing blood to well up along the new gash on his back.
"The Eggman lover has a new friend," Mara sneered stepping towards Gadet making sure to step on Gadget's hand hearing the pained gasp. "So then where's your other friend? I guess that he took off on you."
Gadget tried to rise feeling Mara place a foot on the small of his back. Dune had pinned Mikhail down face first on the ground his fingers wrapped around the fur around Mikhail's head with Chad circling Mara to kneel down on one knee making eye contact with Gadget.
"So, then I don't see Zeirnn anywhere, and it was fun while it lasted," Chad kicked out at Gadget's mouth prompting a pained yelp. "But sadly all good things must come to an end. Do you and that hybrid freak have any last words?"
Gadget stared up at Chad his eyes drawn to the knife clenched in Chad's hands.
"Get your damn foot of him you asshole!" Zerinn cried out running up to Chad elbowing Chad knocking him away. Dune growled viciously at Zerinn lunging for him with the small knife. Zerin sidestepped the mad charge raising the tip of his sword deflecting the crazed knife stab away from him as he sidestepped tripping Dune up sending him sprawling to the ground.
"You're not fit to be the leader!" Dune howled in anger. "It should've been me all along. You're going to end up killing everyone in the Squad!"
Zerinn said nothing pinning Dune down keeping his arms pinned to his side ignoring the thrashing howling jackal beneath him. Zerinn for once in his life wasn't going to respond to Dune. Dune struggled to get to his feet throwing hurtful words at Zerinn who ignored his older brothers' words. Quartz raced from behind Zerinn tackling Mara to the ground knocking her away from Mikhail.
"A jackal doesn't attack another jackal!"
Quartz ignored Mara's cry tackling her to the ground holding her wrists behind her back. Chad let out a yelp of pain as Zerinn wrestled him of Gadget kicking him hard int he chest pointing the tip of his sword at Chad hearing the yelp of fear coming from Chad who held up his hands in a pleading gesture. The silence fell over the area as Zerinn kept one eye on Chad, turning his attention to Gadget.
"Are you okay?" Zerinn asked softly. "He didn't hurt you did he?"
"Just a little Zerinn and is Mikhail okay?" Gadget asked in concern seeing Mikhail pulled to his feet with Quartz wrapping a protective arm around the younger jackal.
"I'm okay Gadget!" Mikhail cried out slipping away from Quartz's grasp running over to throw his arms around Gadget drawing him into a tight hug.
"That's a relief, I thought that we were both going to die," Gadget whispered drawing his sole surviving family member close to him. The brief gentle embrace was interrupted as several guards came running through the streets heading in the direction of the hospital quickly surrounding Dune, Chad, and Mara, the three of them were pulled to their feet.
"Drop your weapons now, or else," The lead guard spoke not lowering his weapon. "We'll have to put Chad and Mara on trial for murder, and it's unlikely that you'll see them both ever again and I suggest that their accomplice needs to be placed under a more careful watch by his parents."
The guards dragged a protesting Chad and Mara away from the group and Gadget couldn't believe it. Just like that his two biggest tormentors were gone. The wolf felt nothing, but relief that his tormentors were never going to harm him ever again. Gadget closed his eyes in relief feeling Mikhail gently embrace in a silent gesture of comfort.
Several hours later passed ever since Eggman's attack. Cassius lay back on the bed with Sera and Oasis who had arrived form Saharais the former looked disgruntled as always as Cassius listened to the explanation of the events that'd occurred and the small scowl formed on his lips when he'd learned of Dune's arrest. All of the Badniks lay in the streets, and Dune sat on a hard chair with his hands tied together with a loose piece of rope.
Aeolus stood there in the room his eyes darting over to Quartz who was happily talking with the rest of the Jackal Squad. The white jackal looked to be lost deep in thought having decided on something as he let out a low sigh unfolding his arms turning his attention towards Quartz returning the gaze.
"Well, then I have a feeling that Quartz will be happy being back among his friends," Aeolus spoke seeing the looks of joy appearing on Kaito's face. Quartz turned to look at Aeolus in shock. The news was unexpected.
"Wait, leader do you mean it?"
"Of course I do, Quartz," Aeolus said with a small smile. "Cassius only gave you to me because his spoiled brat demanded it."
Dune flattened his ears remaining silent refusing to respond to anyone. Zerinn glared at Dune the hatred evident in his mismatched eyes. Gadget looked over at the dejected young jackal. Dune lifted up his head before letting it sink to his chest in utter dejection.
"That old idiot's making a mistake making Zerinn the leader of the Jackal Squad," Dune suddenly lifted his head glaring at Zerinn. "He's weak and pathetic. He'll get everyone in the squad killed one day."
Everyone in the room ignored Dune's words with a few looks of disgust thrown in Dune's direction. Dune avoided eye contact choosing instead to glower at Zerinn.
"So, then we'll have to live in Shamar now," Cassius said in a disgruntled manner turning his attention back to Zerinn. "Son, what I'm about to say is that I could be wrong about your friend, but I'll tell you what happened between my former friend and I. His name was Marcus. When I became the leader of the Jackal Squad, Marcus was at first happy for my success, but as time went on, he asked to join the Jackal Squad. I refused his request, and he attacked me in return resulting in my scars."
"Gadget's not like Marcus," Zerinn rebuked. "I'm not going to repeat your mistake. We'll rest here, and tomorrow evening we'll move out. The sooner I'm away from you all, the better."
Cassius naturally settled for glaring at Zerinn letting out a low huff shaking his head from side to side. Zerinn gently tapped Gadget on the arm as the two of them left the room quickly followed by their friends.
Aeolus and Cassius were speaking in low tones with each other. The white jackal kept a moderate level tone while Cassius spoke aggressively. Sera said nothing as Dune lowered his head shooting Gadget one last glare. Gadget paused in the doorway resting a hand on the frame hearing Cassius raise his voice drowning out whatever it was Aeolus had been about to say.
"Zerinn is going to destroy the Jackal Squad with his reckless actions!" Cassius shouted raising his voice. "He will be a terrible choice for leader and that wolf will betray him. I should've killed that wolf the second I saw him. He's corrupted Zerinn as I feared he would."
Gadget hurried away from the door heading down the hallway away from Cassius' anger. Gadget trembled to wrap his arms around his chest. Cassius's words shook the young wolf down to the core.
A small grey hand gently placed itself on his back rubbing circles soothingly on the crimson fur. Gadget turned around spying Mikhail standing there feeling Mikhail s. An ugly purple bruise stood out against the grey fur on Mikhail's chest. The look of concern in his brother's light blue eyes was enough for the wet tears to slip out from Gadet's eyelids.
"Gadget, are you okay?"
"I'm not," Gadget sobbed rubbing at his eyes. "You don't think I would ever betray Zerinn do you?"
Mikhail paused to think about Gadget's question still rubbing his hand soothingly over Gadget's back.
"Ignore that old jackal," Mikhail said at last his tone fierce. "There's no way that you're ever going to turn on Zerinn. He's just saying all of that stuff to upset you."
"I know he is," Gadget whimpered the two half-siblings leaned into each other in a gentle embrace. Cassius' cruel words stuck deeply into Gadget making him afraid that he would betray Zerinn someday and the thought made him feel ill.
The next day brought a flurry of activity as the rest of the Jackal Squad made preparations for their trip into the desert to continue their training. The warm evening sunlight rose up over the horizon as Gadget, Zerinn, Mikhail and the Jackal Squad stood at the entrance to Shamar. The gentle chilly winds blew in overhead with the sun beginning to set over the horizon. Zerinn cast one last look back at Shamar with his squad behind him. Quartz had been welcomed back to the Jackal Squad as the small group stood to look out over at the setting sun beginning to sink below the horizon.
"Well, this is it Jackal Squad," Zerinn turned to face the rest of his squad. "There's no going back now, and Gadget and Mikhail are part of this squad now. Wherever we go, I promise that we will become the best mercenary Squad Mobius will have ever seen."
There were cheers at Zerinn's statement. Gadget felt nothing, but pride and happiness at his friend's speech. Perhaps he was overthinking Cassius' words. Zerinn looked satisfied, and under his leadership, the Jackal Squad was going to do well, and they would become the best mercenary Squad.
"This moment calls for a photo with all of the squad!"
The small group of jackals agreed with the statement. Roscoe held up a small camera he'd kept on him. Quartz, Saber, Nephthys, Gadget, Zerinn, Kaito, Fenrir, and Hela gathered together with Zerinn slinging an arm over Gadget's shoulder. Kaito and Mikhail pressed close to their half-brothers. Everyone posed for the photo.
"Wait why are we taking a photo?"
"It's an old tradition that whenever a new leader takes command of the Jackal Squad a photo has to be taken to commemorate the event," Zerinn explained the small smile was never leaving his face."Besides I do want to share this moment with my best friend."
Gadget smiled relaxing flashing a small smile with the rest of the Jackal Squad members the bright flash of light went off nearly blinding Gadget. Roscoe pocketed the camera away. Watching the photos slide out of the camera, Roscoe held up the pictures with a rare smile on his face. Gadget was surprised seeing the scarred jackal smiling resting his katana across his shoulder blades.
"Well, this brings me back to when Cassius first took command of the Jackal Squad," Roscoe said smiling. "At your command boss and we'll head to the nearest settlement to begin the next step of your training."
Zerinn nodded heading out into the desert. The rest of the Jackal Squad quickly followed him in a single file heading into the desert with Roscoe walking alongside Zerinn guiding the young jackal on his first few steps as a leader. Gadget, found himself laughing and joking with Kaito, and Hela, the general sense of excitement among the young members of the Jackal Squad while Zerinn maintained a stoic silence leading his squad towards a new future. Meanwhile high above in the skies the brightest star shone a little brighter and yet sooner or later the most luminous star would dim over time.
Author's note
So with that, we are now at the end of part one. The decision to have Sonic and Tails leaving Shamar in pursuit of Eggman I intended to have Sonic and Tails depart in this chapter. If anyone's wondering when Eggman's assault on Shamar took place before the events of Sonic Adventure. However, this won't be the last time we see Sonic, and Tails since I do have plans for them to return in part two.
The decision to have Quartz return to the future Jackal Squad was something I've always planned to happen in this chapter. Its a heartwarming brief moment for Zerinn and the other members of the Jackal Squad since they see Quartz like family.
Cassius has never liked Gadget ever since he met the wolf in front of Saharais. Cassius has never let go of his hatred towards wolves as his words have hurt Gadget profoundly leaving Mikhail to comfort him.
Part two is going to take place six years later following an older Gadget, and Zerinn. I can't say too much about any chapters except there will be tension as things will become complicated between our characters.
As always constructive criticism, thoughts, and reviews are welcomed and appreciated, and I will be back with the next chapter sometime within the next week.