Chapter Six: Mojave Desert (Night Time)

The moon was sighted by the broken window. A grey wolf saw two figures from the shadows. Three figures appeared behind the wolf. One was holding a gun, ready to shoot. Suddenly Sonika was awake. Her eyes turned Emerald Green to Amber. Suddenly the gun-wielding figure's arm was on fire. He dropped his gun then tries to get the fire out. Suddenly the flame died out. He looked at his arm. No sign of burns. They all heard a gun click. They looked at her. "Don't do that…" She said. Then she heard a sound. Then the two figures went to her shoulders. "Sonika!" Said the figure. "Pika!" Said the other. Suddenly her eyes changed back to Emerald Green. "Kaz, Parasite!" She exclaimed. "Parasite and I are worried about you." She said. "It's alright you two, I'm fine." She smiled. Parasite suddenly looked at the unconscious anthropomorphic Pikachu. He jumped down then went to him. "Pika, pi!" He barked. Then his eyes were opened. "Ugh… What just happened…?" He asked as he rubs his head. "Static!" Kaz shouted, "You're alright." "I'm always alright." He smiled. Sonika looked at the two. She approached them. "I'm really sorry for what I did." She said. Suddenly she remembers the hybrid. "Mitchell!" She said, "I am really sorry. Please forgive…" She starts to bow. "No need for apologies." He smiled, "According to you profile, you're just a sensitive hedgehog." She starts to blush a little. Then she looked at the wolf. "Who's this?" She asked. "This is Stella the Wolf." He answered, "I found her roaming the dark." "So this is Stella…" She said. When she turned around, she saw her friends just staring at her. "You alright guys?" She asked. "Did you grow wings?" Kaz asked. "Is this that bastard's doing?" Static suggested. She looked at her shadow. "No…" She remarked, "This can't be happening…" "What's wrong?" All asked. "This what happens when someone knows my secret, but not Kaz and Parasite they already know it." She answered, "These wings are the symbol of sorrows and pain. This only happens if my secrets are revealed by anyone." "Is there anyway for them to disappear?" Mitchell asked. She didn't respond. She just turned her back away from them. "I'll be in room seven." She cried. Then she left without a trace. "I bet they'll disappear sooner or later." Kaz suggested. "Yeah, me also." Mitchell replied.

Static starts to look around. "Where is he?!" He shouted. "Who?" Kaz asked. "That bastard who tried to kill me from the tower." He answered. "He's here?!" Kaz repeated. He just nodded. "And he's responsible for the curse." He added. "He's gonna pay for this. No regretting!" She snarled. Then he looked at Mitchell. "Do you know where he is?" He asked. "Nope, sorry…" He answered. Then he suddenly remembers something. "Static, I've got to tell you something." He said, "Sonika's friends can listen also." "What's up?" He asked.

"When night was approaching, I saw Stella then she said to me 'Go to Derick.' I just followed her. By the time when we reached his office, no one was there, only the pumas and the strikers, NMC-like scorpions. After killing them, we went in. Inside were Derick and his assistants. We just had a friendly chat until I suddenly mentioned about the shelter."

"Shelter?" Kaz repeated.

"Pika?" Parasite squealed in confusion.

"Yes the shelter… He says that the shelter is out beyond the hills. He's also confident that the NMC's were nesting there."

"Nesting?" Static repeated.

"We have to go there."

"Sorry Mitchell, we can't go without Sonika. She's the only one who can sense them."

"Oh… Well, I'll see you guys later."

He left at a flash. The four headed outside of the empty house. Parasite starts to worry. "Pika…" He sighed. Static looked at him. "What's wrong?" He asked. Then a thought appeared. "Oh yeah, Sonika…" He answered, "Why doesn't she want anyone to know that her mitochondrion powers were May's? Kaz, do you know?"

"Actually Static," She replied, "Those powers did belong to May, but they actually belong to Jinita, Sonika's deceased sister."

"What do you mean?"

"When she's nearly dying, she was a donor. Sonika had a defective eye when she's young. So they transplanted Jinita's cornea to her. Since then, her cells are symbiotic with her body, making her stronger."

"That's it?"

"There's more… There was also another girl. Her name's Alisiya Grace. When she was small, during her trip to Japan with her parents, she suddenly had a kidney failure and transplanted one of Jinita's kidneys to her. As she was growing, her cells start to take over, making her sick. When she's twenty-one, I think, she was using drugs to make her condition feel a little better. But her cells are actually the ones who made her sick and made her use drugs to weaken her immune system to take over, turning to Mitochondria MAY."

"That's a weird experience…"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, if Jinita's cells are living symbiotically with Sonika's body, why not with Alisiya?"

"………"

"Oh I see, don't tell me."

"Okay."

"Let's find Mitchell."

When they reached the opening, they saw Mitchell. "Mitchell!!" Static shouted. "He needs help." Kaz said, "Let's go!" Kaz she approached them, followed by Parasite and Stella.

Few minutes later.

"Well that was short." Static groaned, "If there's more, this is challenging." "So what're you guys doing here?" Mitchell asked. "It's was Static's idea to follow you." Stella answered. Then he looked at him. "You know, I really don't know." All collapsed. "You do have Sonic's persona." Kaz recalled. "Pika…" Parasite groaned. Then Mitchell had an idea. "Let's check on Sonika." He suggested. "Sure, why not." Static replied. He turned to Kaz. "Is that okay Kaz?" He asked. "If Sonika's a little better, I'm sure it's okay." "I'll head back to Derick and the others." Stella said. "Sure, we'll see you later." Kaz replied. Then she left then head to the shadows. The four headed to the motel.

Room seven. Sonika looked at the moon. She looked at her reflection by the window. It was faint but still visible. She still had the wings. "I just wish that I don't have this power anymore." She sighed. Suddenly tears were slowly shed. "This would never happen if I didn't have an infected left eye in the first place." She cried. Then she felt a warm presence. Suddenly two misty figures appeared in front of her. She looked at them, full of tears. "Shandic? Jinita?" She said. The two smiled. She looked at Shandic. "How did you…" She said until he placed his two fingers on her lips. "I feel your sadness. I have to come. I can sometimes wonder around without the presence of Ashley-Chan." He answered. "I feel your sadness too Sonika." Jinita answered. He lowers his fingers. "Jinita I don't want this power anymore." She said. She was shocked. "Why Sonika?" She asked. "My secret's revealed." She answered, "I vowed that if anyone witnessed my powers, I can't forgive myself." "But what happens if you don't have the powers?" She asked. She looked at her as if she never seen her little sister for years.

"This is my gift to you before I died Sonika. You took care of me well when I was still a baby."

"But why did you give Alisiya that power as well?"

"Well…"

"I knew it. I don't deserve this power…"

"Sonika, I…I…"

"It doesn't matter Jinita-Chan, I want this power gone forever."

"………"

"Sonika, what happens if Jinita's still alive and you don't have this power?" Shandic asked.

"Well… My life will be normal."

"What if your parents didn't attend you to S.S.U if she's alive?"

"Well…"

"We won't even meet each other."

"I…I never thought of that in the first place."

"You won't even meet Shadow also."

"………"

"Well if you did attend S.S.U, meet Sonic and Shadow, and had a family, what will happen if you still don't have the power?"

"It will be the same…a normal life…"

"What if you don't have an infective eye and Jinita dies, what will happen?"

"May will be born and she successfully rules the entire world. No beings or any living thing, only mitochondria…"

"That's exactly my point."

"Do you still want the power? If no, I'll remove my mitochondria from your body." Jinita said.

"It's your decision Sonika. Do you still want it…or not?"

"I…I still want this power. I still have a mission to complete."

"Do you promise not to do that again?"

"Yes… I promise, from the heart."

"That's my girl."

"That's my sister for ya."

"Thank you for not to make me give up my power."

"You're welcome." They said together.

The two disappeared. She wiped away the tears. She looked at the window again. She saw the wings slowly disappearing. "I promise I will never do it again." She said. She suddenly heard a knock. She opened the door. It was her friends. "Feeling better Sonika?" Kaz asked. "Yeah, I'm alright." Kaz and Parasite jumped on her shoulders. "That's good to know." She smiled. "Pika!" Parasite added. Then she looks at Static and Mitchell. "We just wanted to know if you're alright." Mitchell said. "I'm fine Mitchell." She smiled. "Well that's good to know." He replied. He noticed the wings gone. "I see the wings from your back are gone." He said. She just only smiles. Then she heard a yawn. She looked at her pet. "Looks like someone's sleepy…" She giggled. Then she heard another yawn. She looked at her other shoulder. She starts to giggle a little. "I guess it's time to sleep." Static answered when he looked at the two on her shoulders. Then he turned to the hybrid. "You can stay if ya want." He said. "Thanks for that Static." Mitchell answered. Everyone prepared to sleep. Everyone, but Sonika, is fast asleep. She looked at the moon from the window. She suddenly heard laughter. It was almost the same as Jinita's laughter. Then she starts to giggle softly. "Who are you…?" She whispered. She felt her eyes heavy then lay down on bed with Kaz and Parasite. As she was about to sleep, she said it once more, "Who are you…?" Then she was asleep.

--

A shadowy wolf-like figure appeared in front of the two. "Zack, who's that?" Said the girl. "May, I would like you to meet Shadow, my son." Then he approached the two when he heard his name. "Hi, my name's Shadow Zero. Call me Shade." He introduced. "Nice to meet you Shade." She greeted, "My name's May the Clone. Call me May." Then she looked at Zack and Shade. "Zack, he doesn't look like you…" She said. "I found him in the dark alley when he's just a baby." He answered, "He looked helpless. I know that his family abandon him because of his fur color." "What's wrong with his color?" She asked. "His color is pure Jet Black and his muzzle and second fur are pure white like snow." He answered. She looked at him with a curious look. "What you see on his tail, that color is Blood Red. There are a bit of Blood Red on top of his ears and on the tip of each finger." He continued, "This is why he's wearing open-fingered gloves." Then she thought for a while. "So your last name's Zero?" She asked. "Zero's my middle name." He answered with a smile on his face, "Real name's Zackary Zero Zen." "Your name had all Z's." She giggled. "My father's nicknamed Zackary Z because of his name." Shade answered. "I still like the name Zack." She smiled. "Why don't you play with your toys May." He said. "Okay." She replied. She pass to the door from the left. The two looked at her by the window. Shade looked at her with his Blood Red eyes. "This is another creation of yours isn't it dad." He said. "Yes, she is." He answered. "You know that HE wants the power of the mitochondria." He informed, "So why did you create another one?"

"Remember that journal I had with me when you're seven?"

"I still remember dad. Why?"

"That journal contains the important details about the origin of the mitochondrion mutation."

"The origin of the mitochondrion mutation?"

"Yes. It also contains details on anyone who discovered the powers of the mutation."

"I only saw info about the people who discovered the mutation. So why's that it didn't contain info about the two sisters? I know that the journal automatically puts in any data, but why can't it put that said data?"

"Well, that data was already there when I gave it to May."

"That's really strange for a journal to do that."

"It's a mystery we'll have to uncover."

"Well, all I know that the oldest sister had the mitochondrion mutation from her youngest sister when I looked at your journal."

"That is true Shadow, but…"

"But what?"

"She's the only one whose mitochondria are living symbiotically with her body?"

"The youngest sister?"

"Yes."

"Oh yeah, I remembered something. You didn't answer my question dad."

"Sorry… It's that…"

"You wanted it to be a secret? It's alright, I don't mind."

"She's really different from my other creations isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"He only wants me to create those monsters by force."

"Well, at least you had some alone time to create her. Am I correct?"

"Yes."

"Well, at least the heroine isn't the only one who can use the mitochondrion mutation recklessly."

"I know Shadow, you had that power as well but your powers aren't powerful enough."

"Hey, at least I'm practicing."

"I know you are and you're getting better each day."

"Yeah. Hey, dad. Don't you ever wonder how she looks like?"

"The heroine? All I know that she had similar details to the fastest thing alive…"

"And she's Japanese. I really wanted to see her in real life, but we have to live in this damn facility by HIS orders and we can only go out until he says so. I never had a chance to have more fresh air. It's always one hour, that's it!"

"If I don't follow what he says, I'll lose you forever and you can't face him yet, your powers aren't awake yet."

"I know dad, but what's the point? He doesn't have that power!"

"He only had a few power Shadow. By the time that he sees May, he'll get her powers as well."

"Just like the other creations you made…"

"I don't want that to happen. Shadow, promise me that you'll keep May safe from HIM and his men."

"I promise dad…"

--

She suddenly felt a bad presence and had to wake up. She sat up then looked at everyone sleeping. She lowers her head then looks at Shadow's ring he placed on her left thigh. She placed her hand on the ring then slowly rubs it. "Shadow…" She sighed, "I miss you…" She took off her glove, revealing the wedding ring and her special charm she made to Shandic. She looked at it for a while then placed her glove back. She looked at the moon. Then she saw a faint picture of the same little hedgehog from her dream. "Who are you…?" She whispered. Then it fades away. She suddenly heard a voice. "My ring will strengthen your mitochondrial powers Sonika." It said. Then she heard another voice. "But what happens if you don't have both of your rings?" It asked. "Don't worry Sonika," Said another, "he can be fine without it as long he's by my side." "I'll miss you two, especially the kids and everyone here…" It cried. "Don't cry Sonika," It said, "we'll be with you always. Just feel our presence…" Then the voices were gone. "Sonic… Shadow…" She whispered.

A sudden quake was felt then everyone woke up. "What was that?" Kaz asked with surprise. "It's coming from outside." Mitchell answered. Sonika was geared up then headed out. Everyone as well geared up then followed her. Outside, she was only staring. "Sonika what's wrong?" Static asked. She didn't reply. Parasite saw something from the distant then his cheeks started to spark and starts to growl. "Something wrong?" Static asked to the mutated Pikachu. They felt another quake. Kaz saw the figure a little clear. "Is that…another NMC?" She asked. Mitchell looked at where Kaz looked. He saw small beady eyes glowing white. "That's another NMC I'm afraid…" He answered. Everyone starts preparing loading their ammunition to their gun. "Get ready…" Static announced.

From the corner, a huge beast appeared. It trumpets like an elephant as it roars. "What is that…?" Static asked. "That might be the NMC that blows fire… Burner." Mitchell replied. The creature looked at Sonika. She looked at it. It approaches to the center then inhaled deeply. "Look out!!" Static shouted. It breaths out fire then everyone headed to the corner. They already started shooting at the creature as they dodged the fire, trying not to let it breath fire again. After a few shots, the creature stopped due to the damage it received. Then its face was bloody. It raised one of its hands then slams down, causing another quake. Everyone did their strategy again. Suddenly something was wrong. The beast slowly raised its hand then let out a powerful blow, causing the stairway to crumble. After letting out its final trumpet, it slowly melts away. "Is everyone alright?" Sonika asked. She looked at everyone. They're alright, but one's missing. "Where's Kaz?" She asked. The boys looked around. "Yeah, you've got a point…" Static replied. Mitchell looked at the horizon. "I'd better go." He said then left. Sonika starts to worry about her partner. Parasite jumped on her shoulder then starts to snuggle. "We'll find her tomorrow, I promise you Sonika…" Static whispered. They headed back to their room then went to sleep.