Vector glowered at the marble floor as he felt the intensity of a dozen pairs of eyes observing him. This was the first time he had been taken out of his holding chamber since his arrest, and was still just as in the dark about what happening. He looked up to the murmurs and whispers of a number of echidnas sitting in tall dark chairs in front of him as well as off to both sides. He had been in confinement for two days, asked all sorts of odd questions, and given very little food. Normally, he would have just broken out but his shackles and the tower walls were made out of some kind of mystical alloy and though he tried feverously, he had been unable to escape. He had not seen or heard anything regarding Knuckles since their arrival, and was completely lost on how he would find Charmy, Espio, or Rouge. As he stared up at the rounded off ceiling, one of the echidnas raised her voice.
"Silence, all! We will have order here!" she commanded as the room became gradually quiet. "This newcomer has trespassed into our dominions. While he is not one of the Goribes, necessary precautions must be taken. He claims his name is Vector and that he is from a place called Mobius. He was first seen with another of our kind, one who says he is from the Mobius as well. What is the council's judgment on these statements?"
Her voice echoed throughout the lightly colored room and bounced off the various windows and statues which decorated the surroundings.
"I think he is telling the truth," an older male voice came from the right. Vector looked in this direction, surprised. The voice belonged to an aged echidna with a yellow coth draped over his shoulders. Despite his elderly appearance, he was watching Vector with his shining blue eyes like telescopes. His face seemed to be one of kindness and knowledge, and the other members of the council all looked at him with utmost respect. "We are not familiar with his race, nor do we have any idea on how he got past our guards. I am told he first appeared within the city walls, completely at random! We have not shown him compassion, so why could we expect anything but aggression in return?"
His voice was soft and raspy, and if it hadn't have been for the piercing silence in the room, Vector might not have been able to hear him at all. The words which he uttered were simple, yet sounded deeply insightful. The council began to talk quietly again while Vector shifted uncomfortably. He decided it would be best to remain silent until directly spoken to.
"You're far too trusting, Phaidra," another member of the council spoke up. "These strangers will cause nothing but pain and death for our people. They should be locked up and kept under constant watch. We have enough problems to deal with already without letting these intruders roam free." The accuser was also male, but younger than the one called Phaidra. Vector instantly recognized him from the statue he and Knuckles had seen in the city square.
"Targes is right! We can't afford for things to become any worse!" another echidna called out, and others soon spoke in agreement. "What is to be done with him?"
"He can join the winged one!" Targes roared. "Prepare the arrangements for his execution! We will send a message to the Goribes and to all spies everywhere!" The room had no become incredibly noisy, with the council members shouting in support of Targes, while others argued that more consideration was needed. Vector back up a few steps, now more horrified and delirious than ever.
"Goribes"? What the hell? Vector thought. And "the winged one? Please don't let him mean…
"Take him back to his holding cell!" one of the council members ordered, interrupting Vector's thoughts. A number of guards appeared from behind him, and although he considered fighting them, it knew it would prove useless.
What have I gotten myself into? Vector put his eyes back to the floor as the guard led him out of the council room.
Phaidra hastily made his way down the narrow, cobbled street toward his home. He kept glancing back to make sure he was not being followed, although it made him feel more and more uneasy every time. The sun was beginning to set, and the sky was stained red. Phaidra recalled as a child that he loved watching this time of day with his family, but now it sent chills up his spine. Nothing was the same as before. While he was still the most respected member on the council, he felt like a traitor. He had taken it upon himself to watch over both of Targes' nieces, but was now more vocally opposing his increasing radical views. Phaidra let out a deep sigh as he slid the front door to his house.
The interior was exactly the way he had left it. Distinctive family heirlooms and ornaments were lined up on a shelf next to the wooden staircase, and the adjacent rooms were lit with strong incense. He had always lived simply, but Targes' niece had made the He could a gentle humming noise coming the basement, and he knew that Esmee was most likely entertaining their guest. He decided to head into the kitchen to prepare some tea. It had been an exhausting day, and it was only going to become more difficult in the coming weeks. Was he doing the right thing by harboring someone who could be a spy? Was he betraying his people after serving them loyally for so long? Other questions ran through his mind as he brewed the leaves and hot water, set three cups on a tray, and opened the trap door leading into the basement.
The sound of a shakuhachi flute playing a slow melodic tune filled his ears as he made his way down the stairwell into the stone underground. The basement was a bit plain looking compared to the rest of the house, as usually no one was down there. However, there already two people in the basement as Phaidra entered. One was an echidna girl dancing slowly and elegantly as she played her flute and wore a colorful headdress that was far too big for her. Most of her dreadlocks had golden braids in them , and she was wearing a long orange skirt that almost matched the color of her fur and her tank top. She had several odd bracelets and other jewelry on, and there was an entranced look on her face as she danced and played.
The other presence in the room was dressed in white boots, a black leotard, and had a pink breastplate. She was also wearing white gloves and was watching the echidna girl dance with amusement. Phaidra set the tea down on a little table in the corner, and the echidna girl stopped playing and turned around to face him.
"Oh, Phaidra!" she exclaimed breathily. "You scared me!"
"Yea, she was getting pretty into the music," the second girl grinned. Phaidra's response, however, was much more serious.
"Some more newcomers from your world have turned up, Rouge," Phaidra said matter-of-factly. "There was a hearing today for someone named Vector." Rouge's appearance quickly turned to one of concern.
"How long has he been here? Was he alone? What did they decide in the trial?" Rouge urged.
"He arrived two days ago. If I had known he would claim to be from your world, I would have informed you sooner. And he was alone during the trial, but he didn't arrive alone. He came here with an echidna called Knuckles," Phaidra recounted. Rouge looked irritated at hearing Knuckles' name, but also subtly worried. "They came here looking for you didn't they?" Phaidra inquired.
"I assume so," Rouge said. "Or they were just bored," she added, rolling her eyes.
"What will happen to him?" the girl echidna asked softly. Her eyes seemed wide and curious rather than distraught. Despite her apparent inappropriate attitude, Phaidra knew that Targes' younger niece simply had a very unique way of viewing the world around her.
"Esmee…he'll be put to death if no one intervenes," he affirmed, his voice searing with regret.
"How very horrible for him!" Esmee gasped. "I need to rescue him like I rescued Rouge!"
"Esmee, there is too much risk. You barely escaped without being detected last time, remember? We need to think of something else and fast," Phaidra contemplated. He sat down on the thin mattress that had been laid out for Rouge, and rubbed his temples gently trying to think of a viable solution. Rouge broke his silent reasoning.
"I'll get him out," she stated firmly. "Vector and Knuckles may be in this world because of me, but they will not die here if I have anything to say about it." Both Esmee and Phaidra looked at her surprisingly.
"Rouge, the council thinks you're dead," Phaidra reminded her. "I made sure they were given false reports of your execution. If the wrong person were to see that you're still alive…all of us will be in grave danger." Rouge could only chuckle deviously at this.
"Look old timer, I don't mean to brag but I'm just about the greatest jewel thief there ever was. Point me in the right direction, and I'll be impervious to all five senses," she boasted with confidence while flapping her wings gently. Phaidra, however, did not look entirely convinced.
"I don't know Rouge…I just can't afford any more mistakes. I don't want anyone else to get hurt." Esmee spoke up suddenly.
"You mustn't blame yourself for Dilek's banishment," Esmee soothed. "My wicked uncle was the one who convinced the council to do so. She'll be fine. She's very tough and resourceful, you know…and I think Rouge is too. I think she'll be able to do this. Please just tell her how?"
Both of them looked anxiously at Phaidra before he looked up and nodded weakly.
"All right, its settled then," Rouge confirmed. "Tell me where I need to go."
The steps up to the battlements of Mearyn Tower seemed longer and heavier all the time. This tower had been his sanctum for manyy years, but now he almost dreaded coming to it every day. Night had fallen, and the buildings of Mearyn were all a bright glow while the rooftop of the tower was met with a chilling wind. Targes sighed heavily as he finished he ascension of the tower and began to walk across the rooftop toward the treasury room. Being one of the three high seers on the council, he was given privileged access to the treasury along with Phaidra and Xanthe. And since neither of them ever came up here, and nor did he really, he found it to be the perfect place for a safeguard. Pressing his hand onto one of the jewels which surrounded the door of the dark smoothed extension of the tower, the entrance slid open slowly and silently. He took a quick glance around to make sure no one was there before heading inside.
The inside of the treasury was sided with bright bricks and various assortments of ancient artifacts, and now in the very back was a control board with a dark chair sitting in front of it. The chair spun around when Targes walked in to reveal a tall egg-shaped man with thin legs wearing a red, yellow and black suit. A thick mustache curled from beneath his noise while the rest of his face and head was completely devoid of hair.
"Targes!" Eggman greeted enthusiastically. "Everything went well today, I trust?"
"The crocodile is scheduled for execution. The echidna with the spiked fists is still in confinement as you requested," Targes recapped.
"Excellent, our plan is going just swimmingly!" Eggman gushed. "Once our friend here is made whole again, virtually nothing will be able to stop us!" Targes turned his head toward the side of the Eggman's control board, and saw a thin veil of mist and smoke. An ash outline of some sort of specter could be seen in the veil. It was carelessly floating with an angelic and androgynous appearance. It suddenly opened its sea green eyes at Targes, who was taken aback slightly. He turned toward Eggman again.
"Are you sure this is right thing to do?" Targes asked him. Eggman has sat down in his chair again and answered Targes without even looking at him.
"My dear Targes, you still don't fully understand, do you? The strong must eliminate their enemies by any means necessary. You'll be seen as an even greater leader than you are now; you simply have to wipe out those individuals who oppose you."
The hazy specter promptly spoke in a hissing, raspy speech.
"Every...last…one."