Part Three: Introductions
Chrissy: Knuckles, wake up. (pokes Knuckles)
Knuckles: (snort) Huh…? Wah…?
Chrissy: (puts hands on hips) I told you we were talking to the audience today! It makes us more Like-able!
Knuckles: (whines) Do we HAVE to…?
Chrissy: Yes! We DO! Unless you want me to throw you in the rabid fangirl pit again!
Knuckles: (hides under bed) ANYTHING but that!
Chrissy: (grins) There there, love, I won't let those scary fangirls get you…
Sonic: (sweatdrop) Yeah, the only things Knux is scared of is Ghosts and Fangirls…
Knux: (narrows eyes) And you're scared of Amy's Hammer… What's your point?
Chrissy: I gotta keep these two from killing each other… R&R please!
Part Three: Introductions
Chrissy looked over at her brother as they silently crept up on Zerka. Jeremy held up a hand and extended his fingers, counting silently. One. Two. Three.
The siblings pounced onto their kidnapper, intent upon getting away and home again. Chrissy raked her claws across Zerka's face and Jeremy attempted a blow to the head. Throwing Chrissy to the ground, Zerka whirled on Jeremy and charged knocking him to the ground. Enraged, Chrissy sprinted toward her antagonist and threw him back. Zerka slammed into the control panel, and accidentally moved the switch to open the door at the side of the ship. It flew open and the resulting vacuum began to suck them toward the door. Chrissy caught hold of the pilot's chair, and Zerka gripped the panel. Jeremy was almost lost, but he grabbed the side of the doorway.
"Jeremy!" Chrissy yelled. "Hang on! I'm coming!"
"No! Stay there!" Jeremy yelled back. "I'll be fine! Just don't let go!" Almost all the sound was being sucked out, but Chrissy heard him.
And she wasn't about to listen.
Chrissy let go of the chair, and grabbed a pipe on the wall next to the door. Wrapping her tail firmly around it, she reached out into the abyss, toward Jeremy.
"Grab my hand! Quick!" she yelled desperately.
Jeremy reached for her hand but felt his other one slipping. Suddenly, the side of the door slipped from his grasp. He flailed his arms to try and catch it again, but was sucked out and sent hurtling through space.
Time seemed to slow down for Chrissy as she watched her brother being dragged away by the vacuum of space, her eyes widened in terror as she called out his name.
"Jeremy!"
"JEREMY!"
Chrissy sat straight up in bed. Sweating profusely, she put a hand to her head. The dream. It continued to haunt her relentlessly. What was worse was the fact that she knew it had actually occurred.
That was her reason for hunting Zerka.
Chrissy looked around. She was in an unfamiliar place, but it didn't faze her. What did were the unfamiliar scents. She didn't know a thing about these people.
Chrissy decided it was best to keep it that way.
Grabbing her uyita, which was on the bedside table, she dashed to the door and swung it open. She almost rushed out the door before she saw an obstacle in her path.
Looking the echidna in the eyes, Chrissy backed into a menacing fighter's stance. Down on all fours, she snarled like a savage beast.
"Who are you?!" she demanded. "Why have you brought me here?!"
Raising an eyebrow, Knuckles turned and called over his shoulder, "She's awake!"
Turning back to Chrissy, Knuckles looked at her funny. "Is this always how you react to hospitality?"
Chrissy gave him a dry half-smile. "It depends on who the hospitality is coming from. Now who are you?"
Knuckles growled. "Well, if you're gonna be pushy I might not tell you."
Chrissy looked at him, ready to pounce and rip out his throat, but suddenly she stopped growling. She smelled the air and recognized the scent.
"You're the echidna from earlier… The one who…" she said, trailing off.
Chrissy stood and dipped her head apologetically. "I'm truly sorry. You saved my life. I should be grateful."
Knuckles raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Damn straight." He laughed before continuing. "As for your earlier question, my name is Knuckles."
Chrissy smiled, grateful to know the name of her savior. "It may not seem it, but I am very pleased to meet you. My name is…"
Before she could finish her sentence, Sonic rushed forward and appeared in a blue flash beside Knuckles. Screaming, Chrissy jumped back and landed on all fours.
Sonic laughed. "Whoops! Didn't mean to scare ya there, pal! My bad!"
Chrissy narrowed her eyes and stood tall again. "You didn't scare me! You just… Caught me off-guard!"
Sonic laughed. "OK, yeah. Let's call it that." He said, teasingly. "How about we come downstairs so we can introduce you to the rest of the group?"
Chrissy nodded. The three of them headed downstairs where a pink hedgehog, two rabbits, and an orange fox sat in the living room.
The pink hedgehog jumped up and ran over to Chrissy. "Hi! I'm Amy Rose!" she said, shaking Chrissy's hand excitedly.
Sonic smiled. "Well, you already met Knuckles. I'm Sonic, that's Tails," he said, indicating the fox, who smiled and waved, "and then we have Cream and her mother, Vanilla. They're the ones who own the house."
Chrissy smiled and nodded. "I thank you all for your kindness and hospitality. It is a pleasure to meat you all."
Chrissy shot a glance at Knuckles that said not to say a word about what happened upstairs. She had to keep what was left of her wounded pride, after all.
Knuckles smirked. "You were telling us what your name was?"
Chrissy sighed. "I am Chrissy. I hail from the planet of Candmal not far from here. The man Knuckles saved me from is called Zerka. He's evil and must be destroyed at any cost."
Sonic raised an eyebrow. "So, what are you? Some sort of bounty hunter?"
Chrissy paused for a moment. What would she tell them? Certainly that she wasn't a Princess from a foreign planet. Yeah, that sounded great. Not.
"I'm a… a … I just don't want to see any more innocent people get hurt." She said quickly. Lowering her eyes.
Amy, sensing that Chrissy was becoming uncomfortable, changed the subject. "So, who is Zerka?"
Chrissy shook her head. "Not a lot is known about him. All I know is that he is evil and he was hiding on my planet at some point. He's nomadic, jumping from place to place a lot. I have no idea why he came here…"
Knuckles looked up. "I think I know." He began. "He wanted the Master Emerald."
Chrissy looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "The Master what?"
Knuckles rolled his eyes. "You know… big green shiny thing, a lot of power, maybe you've heard of it?"
Chrissy shook her head. "No, I haven't…"
Knuckles sweatdropped.
"Anyway…" said Sonic. "If you're after this Zerka guy, and he's as evil as you say, we'll help you!" He grinned. "From the looks of things, you're gonna need all the help you can get!"
Chrissy shook her head. "I'm grateful, but I must decline…" she said simply. "This is something I need to do on my own…"
"Well… You sorta can't…" Tails pointed out. "Your ship was kinda totaled, wasn't it?"
Chrissy grumbled something that sounded like a curse under her breath. "Alright… I suppose I could use some help…" she said reluctantly.
Sonic smiled. "That's more like it!" he said excitedly. "Tails, when can we have the ship ready?"
Tails thought for a moment. "Tomorrow afternoon at the latest." he said finally.
"Then that's when we'll leave." Sonic said nodding.
The whole group agreed in a chorus of voices, and seemed to wander off to do things that needed to be done in preparation of tomorrow's events. Chrissy felt slightly out of place. Everyone had a job to do, and she felt she was in the way.
The small rabbit that had been introduced as Cream walked up to her. "Miss Chrissy? My mom says you can stay here tonight if you need to..." the little rabbit said shyly and politely.
Chrissy smiled. "I thank you for the offer, but I can find somewhere. I prefer to sleep outside."
The rabbit nodded and ran off, and Chrissy smiled. She reminds me of Collette... She thought to herself, before turning to walk out the door.
Knuckles watched as Chrissy walked out the door. Sonic was watching too. "She's a lot like you, Knuckles." he said grinning. "That's just what we need. Another you." he added teasingly.
Knuckles scowled, but he knew Sonic was right. They were a lot alike. He got up. "The Master Emerald isn't gonna guard itself..." he mused as he walked out the door.
to be continued
Knux: (snickers) You need our help!
Chrissy: (glares and points to fangirl pit)
Knux: (sweatdrops) Alright, be cool…
Sonic: Well, I think we're about done here…
Chrissy: I think you're right Sonic. Knux, would you do the honors?
Knux: Righto! R&R!