Chapter Six

"Tie 'em up and let's get going."

"Kane, don't do this. Let him go." Maria was suddenly punched in the stomach, which caused her to bend over coughing.

"Maria!" The worst thing Espio had ever felt, the worst pain, was standing there, knowing that Maria was being hurt and there was nothing he could do to help her. That was the worst thing he'd ever felt in his life. The men were tying Espio and Maria's hands behind their backs as their boss had ordered. He was not about to deal with rebellious prisoners.

"Now, Maria. Don't think he'd enjoy it? I know your sister would greatly appreciate the company." With those words Maria was suddenly stronger than ever in her speaking. She stood straight up and leaned as far in towards Kane as she could, but he did not move a muscle.

"What the hell have you done with her you god damned bastard? I swear, if you've harmed a single hair on her head, I'll--" she was cut off by him raising his voice.

"Maria, I really don't believe you're in the position to be giving threats. Do you?" She just sneered at him and dropped her head again. "Let's go." He turned and walked off.

Maria and Espio were then pulled behind with the ropes still attached to their hands. There was no escaping from the present predicament. Espio watched, as Maria seemed to mumble to herself like she was insane. He would hear certain words or unfinished sentences that stood out. Things about her sister, names mentioned that he had not recognized, things about time, space, water, and life. They all seemed random and jumbled together. Espio needed to have her there, with him. He had to know what she knew, be aware of what she was aware of. He needed information.

"Maria," he paused and looked around, lowering his voice but moving a little closer to her, he spoke again, "Maria. Maria, talk to me."

"Espio, I am so, so sorry. I never meant for this to happen. This is all my fault."

Then they reached a large steel door. Kane was up front and unlocked it. He pushed the ton heavy door open and they were forced into a very dimly lit corridor. After about 20 yards, the long corridor opened up to a large, cold room. Metal machines and steel walls surrounded them in every direction. Maria got the chills and she started to shiver. They suddenly heard Kane's voice come from in front.

"Cozy, isn't it?" He spun around holding his hands up then looked at Maria who had stopped, still staring at her feet, shivering. He walked up to her and Espio watched worriedly as he seemed to just invade her. "Oh come now Maria. You always loved working with metal. As I recall, you carry a gun with you, still don't you?" He suddenly shot down, pulled up the leg of Maria's pants to her knee, and dug in her boot. Out of nowhere, he pulled out a black handgun. He took the clip and unloaded it, only followed with him throwing the device backwards letting one of his minions catch it.

"Kane," she looked up at him with those piercing eyes. "You're still the same pathetic jack ass you were back then. You haven't changed, at all."

"I haven't, have I?" He let out a startling fit of evil laughter. He then waved his hand and ordered to his men as he walked off. "Chain 'em up and leave 'em be. We've got bigger things to do before I deal with her." The large guards once again pushed Maria and Espio off in one direction as Kane exited to some other unknown area of the facility.

Once they had reached the dark room, they were untied...but no later locked in metal cuffs, which hung from the wall. Maria was too short to reach the floor. Therefore, the pain in her arms was almost unbearable. She groaned in immense, torturous agony.

Espio felt terrible. Maria actually reminded him a lot of himself: stubborn, impulsive, always taking fault. He had to do something to comfort her.

"Maria, you okay?"

"Depends on how you define okay. If having every bone, muscle, and tendon stretched to snapping limits is okay, then yeah. I'm just peachy." She let out another agonizing moan.

"Well, just think," he paused and she looked at him confused, "It's one way to get taller."

"So what now you're calling me short?"

"I'm sorry. I meant no offense, just trying to avoid the wrong conversation."

"Yeah, not exactly right conversation either."

"Does it hurt?"

"No." She looked down and winced as all her weight shifted to her feet. Now, she was dangling from the cuffs like dead weight. He could tell she was lying. The untruthful statement just lingered in the air above them for the longest time.

"You're really not like other girls."

"Now where did you get an absurd idea like that?" She spoke with immense sarcasm. He could only continue conversation. If time was now limited for her, and him, he wanted to know who she really was. What she had to say. He would listen.

"You know most girls, have problems with their hair, and matching clothes, and getting boyfriends. You, you're something completely different. Why?"

"Not everything has a reason. Not everything carries a purpose. I just never had, a normal girly, 'let's go shopping and find some guys' life. It's just never been me."

"But why not. I mean, something must have led you into the person you are."

She sighed and struggled to regain the feeling in her arms, being unsuccessful. "It's how I was raised alright? After my parents died, I had nowhere to go. No choices to be decided. I grew up with..." she paused and debated whether or not to say anything about her past. She had never talked to anyone, except him…only...him. "Eli. I grew up with him. He raised me, trained me, and taught me everything I know. And then some."

"So why did you leave?"

She turned away as far as she could without putting too much strain on her body. She was going numb from hanging there so long. Her eyes were falling half lidded with a sensation of blood rush.

"Maria?"

"Because I'm a stubborn dumb ass, that's why. And because of it, I got them killed." Her eyes started filling with tears. "It was a mistake. It was all my fault, my big mess-up. Okay? You happy now?"

"Maria, I didn't mean t—"

"No you didn't mean to. That's exactly why I'd rather not talk about it since you know." She sighed and looked away. "Besides, all that is going to change."

"How, why…what are you planning on doing?"

"I'm gonna make things right. I'm gonna make the hell that I caused to change. I'm taking the responsibility for my fault."

"Maria, this is not your fault, but you need to tell me what's going on. I need to know what you know."

Maria sighed and looked forward. Then she looked at Espio, who stared back concerned before she looked back down at her feet. She began very quietly.

"His name is Kane Emit. There is a legend within our culture that talks of two children born. Born of time and life. In our culture water is the sign of life, and there is only one source from which it is proven...the Eibik Spring. In the legend, on the night of the 4th new moon of the year, every 4 hundred years, on the white shore of the spring, they come together...as one. When the legend is fulfilled, it talks of the Lebnzeit Eibik Medallion. Possession of it lone is useless, but, with the life sources of both time and life, the power is immeasurable. It is literally playing God." She paused and took in a heavy, wavered breath. "16 years ago, tonight at midnight, the legend began."

Espio took it all in, rather, he tried. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. It sounded like complete nonsense. She began knowing that if she did not explain everything, he would just ask away and waste the little time they had.

"When the forces of time and life are combined while wearing the medallion, the individual is able to control all time, space...life itself. There is no stopping it without the destruction of the person's soul. In other words," she paused and he finished her thought.

"They perish. But that's all just a legend right? It's not proven, never been acted on."

Maria was quiet for a minute and Espio caught the hint. She continued without a word from Espio. "Espio, I am the life force. He is time. My powers Espio, it's my control over water. All he needs is the medallion and all he needs to find it...is me."

Espio was speechless. If the legend were true, if he really was finding himself in this situation, what was she saying, that there was no stopping it? That couldn't be...could it?

"So you came looking for it? In search of the truth about it?"

"Yes, I came looking for it...but," she paused and looked at him. Those bright yellow eyes were piercing. She could do nothing but tell him everything. "I did not tell you earlier, everything I should've. I'm not looking for answers. I've been looking for way out, a way back, a way to life. When I discovered the legend I had no choice but to go after it. I have to bring back what I lost, even if that means losing myself. I look for a way to fix what I did."

"Maria, I don't get what you're saying. What do you have to fix?"

"He killed my parents, Espio. He killed my best friend. And now he's got my sister, the only family I have left, right where he needs her to get rid of her as well. I'm not going to let that happen."

"Maria, you can not plan on bringing back those people. You can't use that power to tamper in the time stream, in life's plan. Why do you have to fix it? It doesn't make any sense."

"He killed everything I'd ever known Espio. The only reason they are gone is because of me. When there's opportunity, people take it. It's the defect of being mortal. With life comes death. With happiness comes sorrow. With eternity...comes an end. People believe that to be the one and only truth, but Espio, with power such as that, why has no one come to the idea of a cure. Real immortality. It's all anyone wants right?"

"Maria, you can't just--."

"You told me before that no one deserves pain, sorrow, death. I said you were wrong, I said you wouldn't understand, and I don't expect you to...but it doesn't matter, because he does...he deserves every second of torture he gets." Tears started to swell in her eyes and she did not attempt to force them back. They trickled down her cheeks one at a time.

"Maria, listen to me. There are people out there that have the same idea as you. Immortality is not something to fool with. People live as long as they do for a reason. You can't interfere with time itself. That power could destroy you."

"Espio, mortality is the one and only cause of real pain when you come down to it. You're saying no one deserves it? It's just a load of bullshit. But what would you know about that, right? You've never lost anyone."

"Maria, that is not true and if you took one second to be logical about this maybe we could figure this out."

"No, I am being perfectly logical. You've never felt the pain of letting someone down. Knowing someone so close to you was torn away. Someone that was so close that every waking minute of your life you hear that person's voice in your head. Laying out every single mistake, problem that happened...that you made. You don't know what it's like." She looked away and Espio just stared. "You have no idea what it's like." He didn't know what to say. There wasn't anything to say. He had lost all train of thought from then on out. He had to figure this out.

◊◊◊

The time passed slowly and silently. After a while, it seemed to Espio that Maria had lost consciousness. She wasn't speaking, her eyes were not open, and she wasn't moving. He worried. He tried speaking to her, but all he got was a small moan every so often. He was curious about the fact that maybe the blood was being forced to her lower body and her brain was unable to keep hold temporarily. Somewhat the same effects of a sleeper hold.

Espio alerted himself when he heard faint footsteps from outside the door then a key in the lock on the large metal door. He went into his cloaking mechanism and from there out just had to wait.

The guard walked in slowly and then shut the door behind him. When he turned around to face the opposing wall, all he saw was a small girl hanging on the wall and an empty pair of cuffs.

"What the hell? Where'd he go?" He looked around in a scramble then walked up to the cuffs and stared at them. Suddenly, he bent downward at his stomach and looked at the floor gasping for air. He was attempting to cuss at the unknown force but couldn't because of his lack of air.

Espio's still invisible tail found the key on the large guard's person and brought it up to his wrists unlocking and freeing himself. When he gained his footing on the ground, he went behind the guard. Taking a stiff arm to the crevasse on the very back of the guard's neck, Espio cracked the guard's spinal cord and the man was flat on the floor.

"Well, now that that's taken care of." He smirked a bit. "Way too easy." He hurried over to Maria's limp body and stretched up slightly the unlock the cuffs that were holding her to the wall like a dead body. She was so exhausted that she just fell and Espio caught her in his arms. He held her up slightly but laid her straight enough so the blood could start to circulate regularly again. While he was waiting for her to come to, he noticed that her breathing was short and shallow. Also, the gem in her forehead was acting strangely. Cycling through every color in and between the rainbow.

After a few quick minutes her eyes finally became slits of slight consciousness. Espio was relieved. Maria opened her eyes to see Espio's large golden irises.

"Wh-what happened?"

"Welcome back."

"What the hell happened?" She rubbed her forehead and winced. "Geez my head. Where are we?"

"You fell unconscious for a while. Thought I'd let you go and wake you up." She sat straighter up and studied the room. She took in the situation. She saw that the guard was lying on the cement ground, not breathing. She noticed the holding cell and then the memories suddenly rushed back to her.

"Oh no. Shit we gotta get out of here."

"Well, no kidding?" Espio stood and held out a hand to her helping her up.

Maria automatically made her way to the open steel cell door with Espio right directly behind her. As Espio was readying to turn right towards the exit, Maria turned immediately left. When Espio noticed he turned around and yelled after her.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm not leaving without Amethyst!" With that she was gone around another corner. Espio was unsure of if he should leave and wait outside or wait there for her. He decided in a quick instant that he would stand right there until she returned. He waited somewhat nervously looking around him cautiously as to make sure of his own safety for the time being.

◊◊◊

Maria reached a large room, like a cave or something that had just been coated in metal and machines. She saw a small cage and inside, to her horror, was her young sister. She looked cold and hungry and just miserable.

"Oh no." She whispered to herself and then scanned the area around her to make sure none of the enemy force was near. She crept silently over to the small barred box where her sister, unbelievingly slept. She figured that Amethyst was so exhausted and weak that sleeping was the only thing she had any energy to do. She took the key that she had retrieved from Espio and slid it into the lock. Luckily, it unlatched and she opened the barred doorway. Reaching in, she gently picked her young sibling from the frozen cold steel bottom and cradled Amy in her arms.

"M-Mar-ria?" Her eyes barely opened and Maria just quietly 'sushed' her and told her not to worry.

"Don't worry. Just, hold on." She silently and hurriedly walked back towards where she knew the exit was.

There was a knock at the door and Vector heard the slight noise through the booming of his headphones. He stood, moved the headphones to his neck, and walked over to the door. Upon opening it, he was greeted by none other than Knuckles.

"Hey man, what's up?"

"Hey, Vec." He walked in and shut the door behind him. "Hey, you know anything about a shuttle crash recently?"

"Oh yeah. The other day." Vector turned and walked back over to the couch where he was previously sitting before being disturbed by Knuckles' company.

"You know anything else about it? Who it was or from where?" He made his way to a seat kitty-corner from Vector on another couch.

"Yeah, some chick from Cyrzadii. That's what she said anyway."

"So wait, you met her?"

"Yeah. Espio and Mighty decided to go check out the crash site and came across her. So much for being so hurt. Geez. Up this morning with no problem man. I swear Espio's got some nerve. I oughta –" He couldn't say anymore before Knuckles cut him off.

"Cyrzadii huh? That's all the way in the Helix Sector of the galaxy."

"Yeah I found it whack too. Who knows though? I'll tell ya man, she was one weird chick. I mean real strange."

"How so?"

"Just, there was something about her. She was way different from people 'round here. Oh and did I mention that she has some gem in her forehead that helps her control water? That's the weirdest part."

"Control water? Are you serious?" His eyes widened slightly. Sure, he knew that everyone around there had powers, but nothing that evolved. Sonic's speed, his ability to fly, nothing as extensive as hydro control. He found it odd.

"Yeah no joke. Friggin' weirdest thing I've ever seen too man."

"Where is she now?"

"Not too sure. Went off somewhere. Espio followed I'm assumin'"

Just then, Mighty came through the door with Charmy right above him nagging at him for something.

"Just admit it. You know it's true. Come on. It's not hat big of a—Knuckles!" Mighty shot his gaze up and walked over to the echidna.

"Hey man. 'Sbeen awhile. Where ya been?" Mighty walked over and gave him a fist pound and some strange personalized handshake as he plopped down beside him.

"Around. Guardian duties and all ya know. Same ol' same. What about you? Vec here tells me ya turned into a boarding house."

"Vector just doesn't like the chick. That's why he's so ticked."

"Mighty does." Charmy smiled and Mighty rolled his eyes.

"She's annoying and for heaven's sake she's a feline."

"So what now you hate cats?"

"Not important. Where's Espio?" Knuckles interjected the conversation that he knew would've soon turned into a full on argument.

"He followed Maria I'm assuming."

"Which Mighty didn't." Charmy once again got in a short word causing

"Maria? The girl right?"

"Yeah."

"She's really pretty and nice." Charmy was such a child. Knuckles let a smirk creep across his face at the young boy's comment.

Mighty sat in thought for a moment. Shouldn't they have been back by now? Espio wouldn't just let her leave and he'd more than likely force her to come back. He shot up off the couch and walked to the kitchen and stared out at the water through the window above the sink.

Knuckles exchanged glances with Vector who just shrugged it off and Charmy who hovered in the air just as confused as Knuckles himself if not more so. He shot up from the couch and walked after him. Vector returned his blaring earphones to his ears and Charmy floated downward to sit on the chair across from Vector's still form.

"Hey Mighty. What's the problem?" Knuckles walked up next to him and leaned back against the countertop.

"Knuckles," he paused and looked at him. "They should've been back by now."