Icy Knuckles is back with the fierceness

Icy Knuckles is back with the fierceness. Chapter 5 was just a plotline filler. Now, it's on to the main event.

Knuckles and Rouge parked across the street from Station Square Savings and Loans. Rouge backed into the alley so that they could make a quick escape.

"Okay, remember the plan, Knuckles?" asked Rouge. She put a gypsy rag on her head and had changed into some gypsy clothes.

Knuckles nodded. He had changed his appearance too. He was now wearing a Jamaican beanie and a Kwanzaa shirt. Lucky for him, he already had dreads. The disguises were so that they would not be recognized so easily. After all, Knuckles and Rouge were both part of the famous Sonic Team.

"Okay. Let's do it."

Knuckles entered the bank first. He eased past the two bank guards that were at the front door. He went over and stood by the ATM machine that was conveniently located inside the bank. It wasn't exactly an ATM machine because it only took debit cards that were processed at the bank itself. Knuckles pulled out his driver's license and pretended to do a transaction. He very slowly looked up from the machine and saw that no one was paying him any attention. So far so good. Now, it was up to Rouge.

About a minute later, Rouge entered the bank in her gypsy outfit. She approached one of the clerks.

"I would like to make a withdrawal. I need some cash for lunch, don't ya know?" said Rouge in her phony baloney accent.

"Sure, ma'am. Can I get your account number?" asked the clerk.

"5412346784563," said Rouge.

Knuckles watched Rouge closely as the clerk typed the numbers in on the computer.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but there's no account affiliated with those numbers," said the clerk.

"This is an outrage, child!" said Rouge in a pitch that attracted a few other looks as well. "I've been a loyal customer to this bank for years, mon. After all the money I put in here, you'd think Madam Cassandra could get a little respect as a customer!" argued Rouge.

"Ma'am, the computer says…"

"I don't give a flip what the computer says! What am I going to do about lunch money? Have you thought of that?" yelled Rouge.

Rouge was getting attention from everyone in the bank now. The clerk was clearly pissed off at the moment. The security guard approached Rouge from behind. He was a human, approximately six feet tall with a low cut.

"What seems to be the problem, ma'am?" he asked in a polite voice.

"What's the problem? Madam Cassandra needs lunch money. I only have an hour to take it, and I didn't expect it to take thirty minutes to get my money," said Rouge.

At this time, Knuckles was creeping around. While Rouge had the whole bank distracted, no one noticed that him slipping to a back room of the bank, where the manager sat in her comfy chair.

"How can I help you, sir?" she asked.

Knuckles pulled out a .38 caliber pistol and held it at the lady. The lady soon branded a fearful expression on her face. Her eyes became huge as she stared down the barrel of the gun.

"Shut up and nobody gets hurt. I need you to open the vault," said Knuckles calmly.

The manager started to shake. Knuckles could see the tears forming in her eyes. She looked like she was about to wail loudly.

"Lady, don't you yell. I swear I'll put one right between your eyes," Knuckles threatened.

"Please. I have a family," said the manager.

"Who do you think I'm doing this for? I'm trying to save my family, lady. Now, open the safe, I'll take the money, and then I'm gone," said Knuckles.

The manager slowly got up from her desk and walked over to the padlock on the wall. She entered her code, and the door to the vault swung open. Knuckles unlocked and opened the back door to the bank, which was located right in the manager's office. He picked up the empty duffle bag that he had placed there before coming in and brought it inside.

"Come here," said Knuckles, grabbing the woman by her arm. The woman started squealing. Knuckles placed his hand over her mouth. "I'm warning you. Shut up and I'll make this easy on you; otherwise, you've got problems."

Knuckles led the woman inside the vault. When he got inside, his jaw dropped. The vault was almost vacant. There were only a small number of stacks on one shelf.

"Where's all the damn money?" asked Knuckles.

"We sent most of it to the national bank in Central City to be counted and processed. A bank is not allowed to hold more than the estimated need of its customers," said the manager.

"Damn it!" Knuckles punched the wall. There was nothing more that he could do but to take the money that was there and be satisfied.

Meanwhile at the front, Rouge was giving the bank a headache.

"Ma'am, for the last time, your account is not in our system," said the clerk. "I can get the manager to double check if you want."

"Forget it. I don't need any help from your damn manager. I tell you what Madam Cassandra's going to do. Madam Cassandra is going to sue you for every penny your pathetic little bank has. So there." Rouge walked towards the exit. "You haven't heard the last of Madam Cassandra. I see a dim future for this place." She exited the bank and ran over to her car. As she ran, she took off her gypsy rag and chuckled to herself the whole way. "I hope that knucklehead is ready."

She pulled up behind the bank. The second she came up close, Knuckles burst through the door and jumped in.

"Let's go," said Knuckles.

Rouge put her foot to the pedal and sped off into the distance.

"So how'd it go?" asked Rouge.

Knuckles took off his beanie and set it on the floor. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"Why not? Didn't you get the money?" asked Rouge.

"Yeah, I got the money."

"Then, what's the problem?"

Knuckles tossed her the bag of money. It was lighter than she expected it to be.

"Where's all the money?" she asked.

"The manager said that it had been sent to the national bank in Central City," Knuckles explained.

"Is that the next place you want to go?" asked Rouge.

"Are you kidding? The two of us can't take a national bank. We'd be caught on the 'welcome' mat. Even the almighty Rouge the Bat couldn't do it," said Knuckles.

Rouge smirked. "You sure do have a way with words, handsome. Well, what do you have in mind?"

"Westopolis takes in a great amount of revenue every day. That'll probably be our best bet," said Knuckles.

"Okay. Just a reminder: My emerald had better be in my hand at the end of the week," said Rouge.

"It's impossible to forget something that is constantly brought up," said Knuckles slightly annoyed.

"I'm just warning you in case you get any knuckleheaded ideas. Hell hath no fury like Rouge the Bat pissed off," said Rouge.

"Women!" said Knuckles as he let his seat back and enjoyed the ride.

Short, I know, but R & R anyway. Thanks. Also, I'm still in the processing stage regarding the Westopolis heist; so if you have any ideas, I'm all ears.


ICY KNUCKLES