Hunter's Night
Disclaimer: I do not own Sonic; he and related characters belong to Sega. Predator(s) belongs to their proper owner(s)
A/N: Sorry people for this horribly slow update, just been very busy lately. I hope that you keep a look out for this story, because though it doesn't seems like it, I am always trying to update, I have other stories and I try to keep my story focus balanced.
Just let it be known, my eyes are basically blood shot and my brain is slightly fried from trying to see clearly and make sense of where I'm exactly going in the races you do in "Need for Speed Carbon" while going at a 203 miles an hour in a Toyota Supra; you cannot see a damn thing with the freaking blurs! (At least on 360) So I've been a little occupied and very off track, my bad and sorry, (Blame Gears of War too, that game is so vicious but really hard! I'm developing chainsaw and curb stomp habit, the bone crunch that comes after you just cut through or stomp down, popping the heads into the air too cool. Jamming a grenade in their chest is also making me stay with it for now. Bear with me, please.) I know that's a bad reason but ay, it's the truth. And I'm picking up Sonic the Hedgehog tomorrow (11/14) so that'll back up anything else on its way too but after the games are beaten, I'll have more time for focusing…I think.
Enjoy
Chapter Five — Vengeance
Painfully his lightly cut black eyelids opened. He looked up. The pain was so intense in his stomach; having a three foot dual blade ripped through your insides was not the most pleasant feeling. He gripped the torn wound below his chest; he looked at his formally white gloved hand. Through his blurry vision he could the see white glove had turn deep red. He groaned at the sight. He looked at the glass around him as he lay on grass of Tails' front yard. His mind raced as he tried to breathe from the tremendous blows the creature had struck him.
Not only a dual blade cut. It punched him in the chest, cracking something and it threw him out the window. As if leaving him broken on the cold ground wasn't enough it felt that tearing him a new arm wound had to be done. His eyes widen slightly, he still wasn't dead, sadly…now he to deal with everything…that meant everything, including what he did…
So now he gripped the staff wound on his arm. The sliced flesh bled gently, he didn't feel like staring at his own deep red blood, the wound hurt too much to ignore though. He flinched and twitched at the pain of his movement as he looked to his other hand. The black gun was still gripped in his hand. Forcibly he moved his beaten arm. It made as far as his chest and then it dropped dead across his chest fur.
"Fuck…" He groaned;
'God…that thing beat me before I even had a chance to breathe. Man…I can't move at all, everything hurts…I'm so tired and exhausted; I need to get up though…what if it finds her? Why the hell did you take the emerald Mina?'
He angrily gritted his teeth at the thought. Taking the emerald was the exact opposite of what he wanted to do. He wanted the thing to take the emerald, that way it wouldn't have any reason to chase her and she'd be safe.
…I won't…I promise…
He closed his eyes to loose consciousness. Her beautiful gleaming eyes suddenly flashed in his mind. He snapped his red orbs open at her face. The image of the deadly hunter entered his mind now. The thought of her death by that creature began forcing him to move.
Slowly he turned his sore body.
He exhaled deeply once he was finally on his stomach. The stingy pain of broke glass cut deeper into his front side wasn't really needed. Painfully he forced himself up on all fours. His arms wobbled from the weakness in his body, his legs felt like jelly from the beating he had received. The black hedgehog looked up and saw the distance ahead;
He groaned in thought, 'Man…I can feel my emerald though; its not that far away…still, man I can't even feel my legs or arms. I don't think I can even stand.'
With that thought he collapsed. His weak arms gave out and let crash down on top of the broken shards of glass below.
'This is why I hate people…' In memory he heard her giggle, 'I care about her now…and I kissed her…I knew I never should have gotten any closer than the day I saved her butt from getting killed. Now I can't let her get hurt…otherwise it's my fault.' He closed his eyes tightly and fought his pain; slowly he made it to all fours, then to his knees.
He breathed deeply as he looked around, the sharper tones slowly setting in and forming the clear surrounding around him. He blinked and looked down; he slowly moved his free hand on top of the gun. He pulled the slide back and loaded one bullet. He took out the clip and notice it was empty;
'This day couldn't get shittier, only one round left! Not only did that thing beat me into the ground, it must have used or gotten rid of my ammo!' He blindly felt around for a clip on the bottom of his shoes or near his body. 'I got one on this shoe…let's see…great…only six rounds…'
He pulled the slide on the gun and let it kick the only bullet out of the chamber. He pushed it into the clip; sucking his teeth at a rushed pain in his arm. Using his palm, he pushed it into the hollow handle of the gun. He pulled the slide back and reloaded the chamber. He wiped his mouth and cleaned off a bit of blood that had leaked from a cut.
'You're gonna regret this. You not only kill Sari but you fucked up my entire night, and you got her involved in this…what you did to me isn't shit compared to what I'm going to do to you if you even lay a hand on her. You're gonna regret this night; the night you fucked with me.'
Anger filled he gritted his teeth. His eye twitched at his pain as he slowly got to his feet. Running a hand across his face he wiped dirt and any blood on his cheeks. He ignored his feet pain and pushed his legs into a jog. He ran to where he sensed his green emerald's energy signal; it was near the temple ruins.
(3:24 am)
Sonic could see one had four emeralds. The bounty hunter had two super charging his gun and had the light blue one on his gauntlet. A light blue coat of energy coated his single blade with a deadly affect. The white one was on his other arm; a white coat of energy added deadly damage to his dual blade.
The other two cautiously moved. Their bodies tense and aware of the damage that could be dealt by the now even deadlier blades, the bounty hunter had an advantage. The assassin planned his move, knowing the elite was doing the same.
The elite wanted the yellow one double charging the gun, how the bounty hunter caught on to his discovery of the powerful crystal was a mystery to him. Four emeralds on the Predator who worked in blood money, that would make the kill a very challenging and much liked task. Not only would he gain the power to rule what ever sector he wanted, but it would send a message to his old clan, and any allied clans that planned to support his old one with more trackers, that with the death of these two, he was not worth the deaths of many more; therefore they would drop the chase.
2 on 1, he liked the odds. Something about a battle that seemed impossible to win made him want to fight more. Beneath the cold metal of his armored face he aimed at one and watched the other carefully. Experience wise, the elite should be the most dangerous.
Young and moderately experienced the assassin should be easy to take out, but from the battle before, never underestimate another, especially if they've made the rank of assassin at such a young age. The bounty hunter's eyes once again came across the three in the middle, they were frozen with fear.
They can wait; if they run off…they shouldn't be too hard to track down.
"So what's the story?" Rouge groaned as she was basically dragged behind him.
"What are you taking about?" Knuckles grunted. His wounded arm was still useless, and he still dragged Rouge on, they were still on a dirt path of the city's running tracks.
"Well if we actually get somewhere or someone finds us, I don't think they're actually going to believe us—'Oh we were just attacked by a seven foot monster with swords on his arms and gun on his shoulder that melts crap on contact.'—yeah, that's real believable." She said mockingly.
He couldn't help but smirk. Her attitude was annoying sometimes but it was funny to hear. It's the way she liked to respond to some things that made her funny. She wasn't always so careful about people's feelings, if it was the truth she spoke it, not sugar coated.
"—hey, knucklehead," She said ending his space out, "I'm slipping, pick me up more, you can't just drag me like a rag doll." He too noticed that he had been doing that; she couldn't even keep up or near him by hopping.
"Alright hold on," Rolling his eyes he sighed and stopped. He let her go and gently let her drop to the ground. It was to give his arm a rest and check the large slash wound.
"God damn," He growled as he touched his arm, "Stings like a mother-fucker…" He whispered to himself, his eyes closed tightly as he tried to flex it.
"Let me see it," Rouge said knocking him out of his concentration.
"What?" He looked at her questionably.
"Let me see it," She gestured with her hands for him to lean down, "C'mon don't be such a baby, maybe I can help with it."
"How can you help me if you can't even help yourself?" He said stubbornly.
"Listen you; I can't do anything for my legs. I already took a look, they're numb, weak and the cuts are too deep, dumass." She said harshly, making him growl with her last insult, "Now quit being such a wuss and let me see."
Knuckles rolled his eyes and took a knee, "Stupid bat…the damn cut is almost to the fucking bone, what the hell can you do?" He mumbled with barely any volume.
"You've got to be the stupidest echidna I've ever met…" She sighed and gently took his arm and held it out. "You know I heard every word you just said…"
"Whoop-dee-frickin-doo for you," He mumbled angrily.
She ignored him and looked at the deep gash on his arm. One could easily tell that it was pretty bad, the blade had ripped the skin apart until it was to point where a huge amount stitching would be need for it attach and heal together properly.
'That thing has to be seal or at least pressured together, the skin is already to a point of near dead. If it's not pushed together or something like it, a lot of his skin is gonna die, but I don't have anything!' She frowned;
"Sit down," She titled her head to the spot on the grass next to her. He mumbled something but only received a glare that shut him up.
He looked to the side; he didn't want to make eye contact with her. When he heard a tearing sound he looked in her direction. She had her left arm exposed; he gazed at her tanned skin. He had always wondered what her hands looked like. It always mystified him what her hands looked like, he could never tell by her shoulder simply because he had never see any other part of her body, she always wore long gloves. With her right hand she gripped her left glove and bit at the end of it with her teeth, specifically her sharp fangs. When she cut a small line into it about half an inch she began using both hands to tear it, she flinched a couple times from the stress on her small elbow wounds. She started using her teeth again when she tore closer to strong stitching line.
"What are you doing?" He finally asked.
"Trying…to…" She spoke in between bites of the tuff stitching, "Make…a…bandage, if we can press it together then it can heal slightly and stop the skin from dying…" She muffled with her mouth in the cloth.
Knuckles gagged as he imagine the skin rotting, "Thanks…you could have left the skin dying part out."
"Well—yes!" She stopped to admire that she finally bit through the annoying triple thick stitching of her gloves, "Give me your arm," She said as she gently went for his arm. She began tying it in a way that would bring the wound together. Her ears picked up a silent whimper at she tighten the grip of the bandage. "There, that's about all I can do." She noticed his face had a hard tone, probably due to the pain.
"Aww," She couldn't help but giggle, "Its okay, it's all over." She smiled humorously and rubbed his head as if he were a fearful child.
"Whatever," he mumbled and pushed her hand away unkindly.
She huffed, "Fine, be grateful, these were my favorite gloves." She pouted. All she had been trying to be a little bright about the situation but if he was going to be an ass and just kill any good mood, why even try?
"Yeah, let's just get out of here—" A quiet thumping sound cut him off.
They were seated on the grass next to the dusty trail that led out of the forest. Before them now walked two huge figures.
Both at least seven feet in height, their appearance gave off an aged and very experienced aura about them. The walked side by side, their heads looking at one another, as if they were conversing about something. They spoke like Rouge heard before, small and soft growls, purrs and Rwar sounds.
The one the left had one blade extended. It was a dual blade, battle scars scratched it everywhere. Blue, faint glowing green, red colors of blood stained it. His appearance was not soft or comforting. His mask had a long slash diagonally across the forehead area and two on its cheek area, one red one vertical wise on its left eye. The thing had two separate eye pieces, both a dark but glowing red. Its armor was not new like the ones from before, they had war marks. Slashes, blade markings and metal wounds of countless battles, his broad shoulders, heavily armored, held a small gun with dual chambers. His dreadlocks would be beautiful if not for their actual symbolism and dark tales. Rings cuffed each dreadlock, randomly spaced out, and made of diamond fused into stainless platinum. This one was one of two of the highest ranks, Elder War-Chief. The rings symbolized that he had been through many battles, hunts, tests and had slain more than twelve traitors/runaways. A backwards S shape parted at the middle was marked in red as well; he had completed the Warrior's Hunt.
Small skulls draped a necklace around a black material covered neck. Beads of age and blessings accompanied the killing trophy. A human skull hung on the back armor next to an alien skull that had orange blood stains; they seemed fresh from a few days earlier. His weapons were clearly visible, but what gave his appearance a grim reaper type look were two moderate sized chains, locked and gripped to his underside of his gauntlet attached to scythe type blades on the end tucked carefully into the of armor of his shoulders. The chains hung loosely from the shoulder down and back up to the wrist, one on each hand.
He had scars on his skin meaning he had been in battles and what few could not tell right away; he had defeated all of his challengers. On his back, under his long dreadlocks he was given by his elders, a dark red cape. The bottom torn and ripped from battle, small holes near the bottom from stabs and attempted leg cuts. His back had marks the showed signs of defeated assassination attempts.
His company a more sleek but still wise and experienced ally. The mask was sleek and aerodynamic, scars of war and one-on-one fighting marked his respect. His eyepieces were separated and glowing a dim yellow. A long claw slash ran across diagonally from one corner of his head to the other, colored in with white. He had other smaller slashes on cheeks, the nose area and a short one diagonally crossing his right eye. The armor was more slick and sleek but equally battle scarred. Metal alloy armor slashed, cracked slightly in some areas, he had never lost a battle, he stood firmly with his reverse S colored in white at the rank of Elder Blood-Warrior. He held a small disc in his hand, seven huge spike curved blades fanned out of the disc on the majority of one side. A small area was left clear for his hand to grip. He had a large single barreled gun on his shoulder, at rest. His blades, disc star, and staff, like his ally, had blood stained on them. On the side of his left leg, was a handle carefully hidden into the armor, the blade had to be at least one foot long and was sharp but simple in shape, that blade; was clean and spotless.
His neck had a similar necklace as his ally but some skulls differed in size and species. An alien skull hung at his side, the spine swing in the air as he walked. His dreadlocks were dressed in diamond fused platinum rings that showed that he was to be respected as an Elder. A cape of white, years of war and fighting left the bottom torn and unclean. The staff extended on its right hand had steamy green goop like blood at the tip.
As they walked by the two short figures that lay on the grass they paused and turned to look down at them.
They could see fearful expressions on their faces; skin tone was not seen by the thermo imaging. They bat took the echidna's hand and gripped it tightly, whispering something that neither really cared to listen to.
"They're gonna kill us," Rouge mumbled fearfully, "We're dead…" Her voice broke, she couldn't move her legs. She began to tear lightly, her gaze locked on the blade of the red marked fiend.
Knuckles gritted his teeth even harder. He couldn't find a thing to say. His body ached and was too weak and injured to fight back. He carefully eyed the red one's blade, the long tool slowly moved up.
The War-Chief zoomed in on the leg wound of the bat. Three little circles scanned from the mask silently and informed it was an alloy of their nets. The Blood-Warrior changed from thermo to transparent, as the echidna gritted his teeth as a show of anger or resistance, the Blood-Warrior could tell by his heart's sudden quick paced pumping the he was afraid.
Gripping his hand the War-Chief's blade extended to three feet, he let it down and crept it in the air closer to Rouge's face.
Whimpering, she closed her eyes, in her mind it was all she think to do. Upon feeling the cold metal softly run on her cheek she darted her body to the side and embraced Knuckles for help.
"Back off!" Knuckles snarled, he put his arm around her to keep her shaking down. He had never seen or expected to see Rouge so scared or clinging to him. His instincts wouldn't him show fear, not even if he felt like he could pee himself, he felt it necessary to be strong anywhere, especially if she was afraid.
The War-Chief purred quietly as it lifted its blade up again. The receding sheathing sound made the female bat flinch. He looked at his friend and tilted its head towards the trial, gesturing to continue. The Blood-Warrior nodded once and purred, agreeing.
Trembling Rouge heard foot steps, turning her head she stared at what Knuckles looked at. A long natural skin armored tail was grasped in the Blood-Warrior's hand. He dragged the dead serpent on the floor disrespectfully. The sharp teeth hid a smaller mouth in it between its two menacing jaws. A clear slime covered the dark skin-armored body, drool hung from the deadly creature's mouth. Slashes on its body and a hole from the bottom of the jaw to the middle of its long head had a green steamy blood. A long slice on his long head stopped oozing blood minutes before, its arm was missing a hand, and the wound bled gently as it was sliding across the ground. The black serpent's blood sizzled when it touched the ground; lifelessly its body was slowly dragged away.
Confirming that they were gone Knuckles spoke softly, "They're gone…I wonder what that dead thing was…" He mumbled interested slightly.
"I don't care," Rouge voice trembled, "That thing would've killed me!"
"It's okay," He lifted her from her embrace and placed his hand under her chin, he chuckled at the sight, "Don't cry, it's over." Using his thumb he wiped her cheeks of the tears that flowed down.
"That's easy for you to say, that thing was about to cut my face in two if it wasn't for—" She stopped herself, "Why'd you help me?"
"Why do you ask…again?" He didn't want to think about why, it was confusing now.
"Why are you helping me anyway?" She looked back, the feeling of those creatures being anywhere had her paranoid now. "I thought you despised me," She scolded him with a comment he made months ago during a confrontation near the shrine.
"Cause…" He mumbled, "Just…cause…I-I don't…" He couldn't get his tongue to say what his mind wanted to hide. His eyes drifted from her face, to the ground, "I-I…" He blushed as her grip tightened absently; he looked at their laced fingers and looked away.
"You…what?" She asked locking her eyes onto his purple orbs.
"I…can't see you get hurt…" He looked away and blushed even more, "Ever…"
"What does that really mean?" She asked softly, knowing there had to be a double meaning to it. What she really wanted to know, did he think of her as a weak woman who can't hold her own?
"Rouge…" He mumbled lowly, he turned his head and locked his gaze with hers, "I…I-I…I think…I think that I'm…in love with you…" He broke his stare and looked away blushing wildly, forgetting that those were spoken word, not thought like he was hoped.
A silence came over them, he flushed with embarrassment, "Uh…what now?" He asked, still looking away, "I don't think I can carry you anymore, I'm too weak…I don't even think I can stand…" He nervously looked up and turned his head. He felt like an idiot for saying what he really felt, knowing her, she would never like him.
To his surprise, when he caught sight of her face, she was blushing heavily. It was easily noticeable, her eyes look as if she had just seen a ghost, but the aqua color orbs had a pleased and bright look. He looked at his body, as if he had something on him, because her stare was a little strange;
"What?" He looked at his wound, it might be that. Stupid echidna…
Night air was brutally cold; your breath took the tone of blueish-white in the form of smoke when you exhaled. Undisturbed areas of grass had little ice crystal forming form the dew that had began. The air of the forest was calm and relaxing. It was peaceful and a usual romantic spot for couple due to the lovely views of streams and if you knew where to look you could see beautiful water falls with tree surrounded by the rarest flowers around. At this hour though, of course no one was there due to the cold and the fact that it was past at least 2:30am.
Continuing away from the Mystic Forest you'd come upon the ruins of a temple. The atmosphere here was completely different. The air was tensed from battle; the air filled with sounds of metal clashing and growling. Three creatures did their best to avoid the fight but were taken too deep in by their curiosity to run away at that moment.
A one-on-one fight was brutal, and difficult. Only a one-on-one-on-one battle could prove to be the deadliest cutthroat. No only did you have your target, but you had to survive by fighting off your competition. Using both hands in a single battle was hard, but to use both in a triple free for all was almost impossible. Alliances we're formed in mere seconds to take one out easily, when it failed; the assistance was broken and that same warrior would try to ram their blade through you.
As younglings, you may have been allies, or even considered brothers. The hunts go by, you age and gain experience, your tribes remain on good terms. Then, you reach the age where you make the decision to rise in the ranks or train in another strand of teachings. Usually allies, remained allies, but if the tribes were to battle; then that alliance, never happened. Rivalries formed between seeking to become an elder or those who wanted to become the leader of the entire tribe; others formed out of one's own clan (Family); but like the Assassin and the Bounty Hunter; this rivalry was of pure hate for one another. The Elite, was just another wealthy reward for one and an order of honor for another.
Since a youth, his goal was to become the Master of Elites; specializing in the assassination territory. How could a simple bounty hunter put up such a vicious fight? He had no real training; he lived life, hunting for his living; he did not serve the tribes honorably; yet he was admired and respected. The elders paid respects and the War-Council would always consider him as a potential tool to be used. Not that he himself, was lower. Being an Assassin as this age; he gained his own respect and was equally honored. Still; no bounty hunter should ever be honored like him; his skills recognized, but never honored.
With an old rivalry adding more fuel to the fire; the two fought to deal out an old score. Right this second; the Elite did not matter; either the Assassin or the Bounty Hunter would die.
Trembling, the cobalt hedgehog watched. He couldn't think straight, though they paid little attention to him or the others; he couldn't think to move.
For a short second, the elite was parted from the brawl. The assassin blocked a bladed upper cut; the bounty hunter turned his hand and tried the swing it down; aiming for the leg. It caught the armor; the metal sizzled as the energy charged blade melted slowly through the thick metal. Suddenly the elite took advantage of the fight; he quickly reached across to the side, on his waist. Instantly he threw it; the small circle like object expanded in mid air. Six long curved blades snapped out and cut through the air, the entire star spun viciously through the air.
Eyes went wide under the mask; they both parted and tilted their bodies, the star nicking the mask of the bounty hunter. Snorting the elite charged at the Assassin, tackling him four feet away. The bounty hunter's eyes slowly watched the trees, the snipping sound echoed quietly. The star within second bolted out of the trees and was caught carefully by the bounty hunter; slowly he reached for his own. Before he could even think to aim, the elite's body slammed into him; the assassin had kicked him off.
Rolling off of the body beneath the elite used his long blade and slid it underneath the bounty hunter and spin him face down. The movement was almost flawless; a small pebble slipped his foot making him slid one leg. With the yellow emerald glowing before him, the assassin roared and slammed his fist down on the metal casing that secured and harnessed its energy. It purred as it jumped back, starting at the powerful diamond. Before the elite could rob him, the bounty hunter spun around. Swinging his blade upwards, as he expected slashed the elite across the face.
Roaring he stumbled back. The glowing blades melted two lines on his cheek area.
Panting the stood apart; staring each other down. They were at a stalemate; no blood had been shed; it was hard enough trying to get the weapon close to skin. They studied each other shortly.
Sonic watch for only a few feet away from the entire fight, it was like they had completely forgotten about them. Now was the time to run;
"Tails!" One of the things snorted as they heard him shout, "Go now!" Sonic turned his head to see three killers looking at him.
'Okay…think…think…think…damn it…wait! It's a long shot but it just might work! Let's hope that practice round paid off!' Sonic smirked at his own idea.
When one hunter began to move, Sonic started a hand stand. The predator moved because the others moved; they were bonus gains of this fight, well at least two where…the pink hedgehog was just there. On his hands Sonic began to spin with his legs in a 'V' type shape. Ferociously he sped up his spin, the air twisting violently around him. Quickly with the vortex's powerful gusts he place his legs together and leaned them slightly side. Aiming carefully he picked his target.
Dumbfound, for the first time in his life he looked stupidly at the hedgehog. Nothing was registering on his scanner, just a tornado gust. What happened next should be recorded and filed under 'Next time, don't stand like an idiot in front of this'. Sonic's speed shoes cut a crest into the air with such force that it propelled in the air. He aimed at the closest one, the invisible crest smacked with a brutal force; sending the dumbfounded Elite back at least six feet on his back.
"Oh snap!" Sonic shouted, his quills resting with the air twister's death, "It worked!" Acting on impulse he improvised and tried another technique off the top of his head.
Crossing his legs and keeping close together he moved them as one. Using his full speed-force he did a back flip. Naturally, it wouldn't do anything but he was trying hard and with power this time. The shoes cut the air and sent a groove crest through the air. Another one caught off guard; the Assassin flew up four feet and back three. Grunting the grounded hunters got to their feet and now wanted revenge for the cheap blows.
And just like that, his bravery ended. Sonic ran to catch up with the fleeing Tails and Amy.
An escape that poorly planned was bound to fail. A steel cord wrapped around his ankle and before he knew Sonic's face was in the dirt being dragged back.
"Shit…" Groan with his face down, the blow from being slammed to the ground hurt. Sonic turned around with pain and looked to the see the bounty hunter; the one he didn't attack.
She couldn't see her beloved get hurt; she broke away from her friend's grip. Amy ran up the bounty and shouted, as if it would make a difference;
"Amy wait!" Tails shouted and carefully tried to get her before she got too close. "Come back we got to go!" It was too late.
"Let him go!" She screamed.
"—Leave—alone—pick—someone—own—size you fucking—ckass!" From his point of view, he was confused and not amused.
The short hedgehog screamed and kicked his leg and punched occasionally. He let his focus drift to the pink girl, picking her up by her shirt and level his face with hers. Angrily and tearing she struggled to drop from his locking grip. The Bounty Hunter tilted his head, she cried and cursed and tried to kick him. Fear and hate at the same time; something he had never seen. Annoyed with her, he snorted and tossed aside.
"Amy!" Sonic brushed off his pain and went after her. The steel cord followed him; the hunter noticed the he budge when Sonic ran beyond its limit. The small hedgehog was pulling this huge monster; every time he tried to get back to business, something happened that baffled him.
"You alright?" Sonic shouted as he threw himself to her side. "What are you thinking?" Amy groaned as she started to recover from the painful throw. Her eyes fluttered as she breathed deeply trying to get back in her lungs. The throw landed her flat on her back, forcing her to exhale all her air.
Too preoccupied with stronger threats the bounty hunter unwillingly cut the iron cord and defended itself. Amy was still dazed from the throw; for her small and fragile body, a powerful throw like that was a lot to recover from.
"Amy!" Sonic shouted when she wasn't responding, "Focus! Are you okay?"
"Oh…" She moaned painfully, "Huh?" She grunted and leaned forward.
"C'mon you've got to get out of here." He began forcing her up to her feet.
"What about you?" Amy said catching his choice of words.
Sonic frowned, "Don't worry, now go!" He pushed her towards Tails who had been floating in the darkness of the trees.
Sonic's wandering eyes caught the fight.
The Elite caught the Assassin by the arm and punched the face area with the side of its fist, cracking it near the bottom. Before another blow could be delivered, a whirling homing star ripped the side flesh. Charging the Elite, the bounty hunter cocked his arm back, ready to stab the face area. By a stroke of luck, the Elite caught the oncoming strike, the glowing single blade mere centimeters away from melting through his mask.
What could she do? She had her hero's Chaos Emerald, but she couldn't unlock the energy. She couldn't help at all. Behind a tree in the dark woods she flinched once as the creatures roared and growled at one another. The Bounty Hunter pushed the Elite into tree, causing it break and make him fall back. Still strong the Elite kicked him, and just as he went up in the air; a staff flew by, the longer blades of the tip cutting from the side to the front, in the stomach area.
Mina nervously began to plan a toss. Not to far away she could see Sonic, he could use the emerald. The only problem was she would have to run out in the open. She gasp went she heard gentle rustle above. She looked up, nothing. She took a deep breath; shaking once to throw off her fear. The nervous mongoose let out another sigh before she prepared to run it. She looked ahead; he was tending to Amy; who had just been thrown like a rag doll.
A twig snapped and creaking sound almost made her jump. Her nerves on edge and sudden noises were scaring the crap out of her. With both hands she looked at the emerald in front of her eyes. The jewel was absolutely amazing and beautiful…yet it brought so much evil and sins. Letting her guard down for a few moments to stare blankly at the diamond was enough time for someone else to notice the item.
A lizard like hand gripped the green emerald, the hand big enough to grab it and her hand. Standing up straight and lifting his arm up she didn't let go or try to leave the grasp. Instead she tightened her grip and tried to pull the Chaos Emerald away. The Elite growled once to intimidate her, her facial expression frowned; annoying him.
"You—an get—his emera—when yo—pry it fro—cold dead—fingers." She menacingly growled.
He didn't have time for this, if she didn't want to give it up; killing her was the only way then—not that he cared anyway. His free arm rose up slowly; as if giving her some time to change her mind. The blade shot out a short distant, Mina didn't move. There was a pink tint in her eyes from her crying and a flare in her blue-green orbs; anger rising within.
Either gravity had a sudden change in heart and decided to become heavy or something jumped on him but who?
"I'll give three seconds to let her go or someone's gonna have to clean the inside of that mask." He roared his threat. Shadow tugged back viciously on the three of the many thick dreadlocks.
The Elite felt cold metal dig through his dreads and press to his skin. The hedgehog had guts, and an advantage. Due to the bulk of the mounted gun and his other arm's deep nerve injury; he couldn't reach back there. Plus, this hedgehog wasn't stupid enough to ignore the gun; the Elite saw that he kept eyeing the device. Reluctantly he let go, but with no intention of letting the emerald get away;
His hand released and he let the mongoose's hand go. In one quick and swift movement the Elite swiped the emerald out of Mina's grasp. He yanked it so fast she didn't have time to firm her grasp; and just a quick as he took it; the Elite kicked back and rammed his back into a tree.
The sudden blow made him grunt and flinch. Shadow grabbed a hold of the metal armor of the shoulder as best he could; his gun never leaving his grip.
"Say goodnight asshole!" He growled as he stabled himself and jabbed the gun to the back of the Elite's head. Shadow pulled the trigger, but it wouldn't budge; his eyes widened with shock. In a few seconds he figured it was jammed and felt an arm reach around and grab his ankle.
Like a weightless doll the Elite yanked him down and suspended him in the air by his foot in his hand. Shadow tried to lift his gun to pop the jamming shell but a sudden blow to his wounded stomach stunned him painfully. His red orbs watch helplessly as he tried to fight with his weak body as the creature used its other hand to grab the gun. With the Elite successful in getting a good grip on the gun he slammed the black hedgehog into the ground; the strike making his prey's grip on the gun loosen and break.
Shadow groaned at he regained the air in his lungs. He slowly opened his eyes and saw it standing above him still. It held the gun by the barrel and shaft. With one rage filled grip the barrel made a metallic crack and broke off; it dropped the broken gun at his side and bent down to his level.
His brow raised beneath the mask with slight confusion. It was the same damn hedgehog that shot him in the leg. Again, it seemed to be defending the mongoose. The Elite looked to the side and made sure it was okay; the Assassin and the Bounty Hunter were deadlocked with one another's blade. He looked back down at Shadow and titled his head. He changed his thermal imaging to a transparent vision. Shadow's body became clear with his outline in faded blue, the bone tinted and line in black, signifying that it wasn't 100 percent natural bone, if it was at all. The hedgehog's entire skeletal structure was either metal or enhanced with metallic properties. His organs with colored in red with specs of black on them, they were nature but the black specs were metallic and synthetic. Upon a closer zoom; the Elite's eyes widen made a startling discovery.
Barely visible the metallic objects that worked tirelessly. Obeying an old and infinite order; the nanos worked together and with slow yet noticeable progress. The slowly regenerated his cells and only with a microscope could one notice that they speed up the production of new cells. The progress on the blade wound on his stomach was amazing the wound was a quarter of the way sealed, the newer skin without a scar or even a sign of battle. The nanos instinctively stopped any bleeding, Shadow's wounds were healing at a remarkable speed; not even the Predators had master or discovered a way to heal this quickly and naturally for that matter. Searing was quick way to keep old torn flesh from dying and therefore it was sometimes not as well as natural. And once seared, the burned flesh would usually never again be able to re-seared, the seared flesh and cells could never really attached together again, thought searing was only to be used in deep wounds or to stop intensive and excessive bleeding. Shadow could fully heal like new the most delicate parts, nerves and bones etc, nerves where the one thing that should be avoiding damage at all cost, for they could almost never be repaired.
Shadow, healed this quickly, but it was natural. His flesh could be cut and quicker than normal it would reappear like new, it was never ending process: cut, heal, cut ,heal. It wouldn't exhaust or stop for any reason; if there was a wound it would heal. If the Elite would once more suffer a blade or another bullet wound to the leg or arm, he would surely bleed to death before he could find another source of medical help.
Damaging blows from before were taking their toll on his breathing. Though in seconds he felt a lighter relief it was still very painful.
'Damn, I can't feel my left leg at all.' His eyes looked up and around to see who was in the area, 'Why is he now leaving? Stupid-ass faker…he should've left as soon as he saw something.
Sonic…you dumb ass…run while you can…
Amy…don't worry about him…he's not stupid enough to die.
Tails…for once take control and just take her by force!'
The Elite extended his single blade to about a foot. The hedgehog's attention came back with the blade's sound. He frowned;
'Not here, not now and never by this thing. I'll be damned before I let this thing kill me.'
Fighting a surging pain that rushed through his body he grabbed the gauntlet that had the blade. The mechanical frame that could gently hold a lovely girl securely in his arms now forcefully pushed the Predator's arm up. The Elite found himself matched in strength to the hedgehog, Shadow pushed its arm back and the Elite tried to push it into him, but they stalled in the air. No matter how much it hurt, Shadow managed to push his body up and sit up.
Years of battle had his skills and hearing honed to a fine point. Where the simple humming of the blade star was easily recognized. Their heads snapped to the left; three stars sped towards them. The Elite yanked his arm back, Shadow used every sore muscle in his legs to kick jump (Or hop) back about a foot and avoid the star blades.
The deadly boomerang attack stars whizzed in between them, just barely catching a foot or an arm. Two flew by and cut into the forest branches and leaves, the third caught into the Elite's blade. The shape, speed and directional rotation was used to an advantage. He twisted his arm forward and pushed his arm towards one of his trackers. The homing star spun around the blade and propelled forward, flying back to one of its owners.
Shadow watched where the others had gone. He noticed they began a U-turn, he looked at where they where heading. He sprinted, the wind cutting around him, such a full-on burst of speed left his pain behind him. The hedgehog knew later it would catch up, but this was way more important than his own pain.
"C'mon," Sonic taunted, trying to buy time, "That the fastest you can swing?" He appeared on the Assassin's right suddenly.
He could barely keep track on him. The hedgehog's unnatural speed was becoming a nuisance. The wind gust attacks were becoming a bigger threat a well. His back-flip crest attack was starting to cut through the air so deeply and powerfully it would send a groove powerful enough to dent his armor. If he had not been armored up and cutting through the gusts with a blade, his flesh would've been cut up or at least deeply bruised.
It roared, finally managing to nick him as he sped in front of him;
"Ow!" Sonic rubbed the burning cut on his cheek, "Dude that hurts!" He frowned and hoped another improvising would be just as lucky.
He sprinted for it.
The plan? Run up it and kick the face and hopefully do some painful damage using the dreadlocks. Maybe he could flip it over, not likely but if it was like them, pulling the hair hurt like shit.
He kicked off and ran full speed. He slid to the right and slid-ran back to the left, trying to keep it confused and guessing;
The blue and white targeting circles couldn't even keep up with the dust trail he left behind. They followed the heat signature so slowly, it wasn't even funny. The young Assassin growled with his mandibles and decided the go back to basics; eyes.
Sonic jumped and felt a pounding blow to his throat. He lost his breathing and regained it just as quickly;
"Whoa," He wheezed as he was held up by his throat, "Wasn't expecting that," Sonic gagged as the grip on his throat tightened. The assassin gritted its sharp teeth and tightened the muscles of its mandibles closer to its face. The hedgehog in his hand grabbed the fingers and tried to pry them off, they wouldn't move a centimeter; the Assassin chuckled evilly in his alien tone.
Raising its other arm it made a fist with that hand and the dual blade shot out about a foot. Sonic was shaking up and down, side to side violently and running in the air trying to get out of the incredible grip and away from the sharp tool. The cobalt hero felt the headache of having his skull popped out of its spinal socket triple as the thing squeezed tighter on his neck.
Visioning hummed/buzzed as it swiped across the screen changing to blue and white shading X-ray. He could see the stress being place on the muscles and it wouldn't be long before the pressure was at the neck bone.
His hearing picked up a growl/yell, "Rah!" He knew it wasn't one of his competitors, so he eased his grip and turned his head.
While the others had been occupied, the Bounty Hunter had taunted and called out the Elite for a personal match, away from the Assassin or the troublesome creature that to seemed to keep getting in the way.
Though his gun weapon was evenly matched with the Elite's, the Bounty Hunter had the advantage in blade to blade combat, so the name of the game was avoid the glowing blade and strike at an open space.
The Bounty Hunter slashed from the left, missing as the Elite stepped back once and side stepped when the Elite struck back with an uppercut. In reflex, the Bounty Hunter spun in full circle around the Elite and struck a fisted blow to the Elite's stomach. Growling the Elite elbowed and returned with double damage its spiked armored elbow, puncturing the easily inch thick armor and into the built skin, letting the green blood spurt from immediate pressure then slowly dripping.
"Raaggr!" The beast growled.
What all who watched saw was nothing short of brutal. The blow they exchanged from open palm to fisted knuckles. They felt the ground shake and the world shake beneath them as they exchange blow after blow. Armored or unsheathed they fought, not really caring to block every single weapon. Each had at least a pint of blood bleeding out there clean cut wounds.
Panting they stood a comfortable distance apart. Their hands covered in bright glowing green blood. The two titans suffered different wounds, the Bounty Hunter had blood drenched ones while the Elite suffered sizzling armor melted ones the burned some of his skin. Through the mask they saw the other's glare. Those Chaos Emeralds had to be dropped from the blades.
The intense battle had their senses hone on one another. The Bounty Hunter felt a devastating blow to his head. The strike threw his head back, the high blazing speed of metal to metal contact created sparks as the helmet refuse to break or crack. Two more clanks went off as two thick and heavy pieces of metal hit his head right after. The consecutive blows knocked it down on its back.
The Elite heard the battle cry, "Rah!"
With only time for a blocking maneuver, he felt the bladed star pound into his gauntlets. The Elite's eyes widen as the armored gauntlet make a cracking sound, followed by visible blue and white circuit brakes and electrical cracking. The gauntlet's damage led to a surge to the mounted gun and blew several fuses. A small explosion from the side of its helmet made it roar as the pain surged into its rattling head. The violent forced tilt to the right stressed and most likely pulled a muscle. When hearing finally returned the Elite noticed his shoulder gun had blown off. How he was still block most of the hits and slashes.
Shadow refused to rest as he kept slashing, tearing new wounds and gashing deeper ones and refreshing old ones. The blood started splitting out first in little streams, but as Shadow's rage fueled his attacks the blood started gushing out with every new cut.
He forced his legs to slide forward. Even though she was light, the injuries had taken deeper effects and made it feel like he had Rouge and a baby hippo on his back. He panted as she carried her as far as he could. Knuckles paused and took a quick breath;
"Rouge," He heard her moan, "C'mon, don't black out on me okay; if you pass out; it's gonna look really bad when we walk into the hospital." Shaking his back didn't get more than a moan.
Knuckles had been getting more worried about her. Yes, he admitted it, he cared for her. She couldn't walk, at all. She couldn't stand or even get to her knees. He gritted his teeth at the thought that there could have been something more to the net or a double-cross by the Assassin; it wouldn't be that much of a surprise. There was a reason that she couldn't walk; her cuts were deep; but there didn't seem to be a reason for her seriously weak state.
"All that big talk about being a stronger fighter and better than me bat-girl, what about it now?"
"Oh…shut…up…be grateful…that I'm…letting you…carry me…" She moaned softly, "Knuckles…I can't see straight…everything is blurry…"
'Ah jeez, she's losing it…what the hell do I do?' The echidna looked around and saw nothing but woods.
"C'mon Rouge, we're almost there," Honestly he had no clue as to how far he was or even where in the park area he was in! "Not damn thing changes! It all looks the same, where the hell is out of this damn place?" He began to worry more about her condition as he began seeing nothing be trees. Not even a sign or mark; it was all dirt and trees. The park was big but even easier to get lost in.
"Rouge?" He waited a few seconds, "Batgirl?" Knuckles turned his head and saw her eyes closed. He gasped slightly and tried to feel where her mouth was pointing at on her shoulder for her breath. "Damn!" Where the quick burst of energy he didn't care right now. He either ignored or felt no pain as he twisted his body sliding the bat's curvy and sluggish figure down to ground quickly, but still very gently.
'Oh damn,' He panicked mentally, 'She's blacking out!' He didn't really know what to do, shaking her gently a couple of times he failed to get a moan or even a faint response.
"Damn!" The guardian touched her knee wound and noticed the large amount of blood that had just only rubbed off. He took off his glove and bit the rim of it and pulled on it, tearing it in an uneven and unplanned line but it would have to do for now.
Carefully it jumped to the branch before its arms, as to not make too much noise. A bad fall had left its back left ankle limp and painfully cracked at the bone. That last escape was shaming but survival is more important. It sniffed the air, the air in its mouth had a heavy scent and taste of an unfamiliar blood type.
It wasn't a normal foe's, nor a fellow. The scent was probably native to this planet. Either way, food was food.
There was a terrifying roar. Suddenly as they stood in place like statues several sounds of bone cracking and flesh splitting followed. The sound was all most a horrifying as the sight. It snapped the blade out and rammed it back in. There was sudden grunt that followed as well, but it only urged him to push in further, breaking the skeletal structure of chest letting broken bone and blood fall onto the hand as the defeated one's torso relaxed drastically from the lack of support there.
The sound bellowed through battle atmosphere, stopping every warrior and turning heads. To the lower species it was terrible and bone chilling sound that made one shake, but the others, it was cursing cry.
Dark and cold eyes glared upwards, tightening a grip on the attack. Pushing up more, the fingers gripped tighter, snapping another crack into the frame.
Mina shuddered as she heard more bones snapping from her position, at least ten feet away. She gasped and felt her stomach turn as she watch the blood drip down his arm…both began to slum forward, but then the other slumped backward suddenly and the weapon pulled and tugged on the bones and tore flesh that it had cut into.
The hand jerked back as the victor stood up, ripping any tangled skin or organ attached to it or the weapon. The movement left bone and inner skin sticking out of the wound drenched in blood.
The victor kicked the body of the dead, not caring to wipe the blood of the dead covering the arm or weapon.
End Chapter 6
I'll leave you hanging for now, peace peoples! R&R it really helps!