Somewhat slow chapter. DX Fear not, though, the action cometh. I figure setting dates keeps me from updating too often, so I'll update Saturday. (The... 24th? Whatever Saturday is.) So, until the 24th!

~Wolf~

I woke up the next morning tired, exhausted, and surprised I was alive. I yawned, stretched, and immediately regretted it. The tiny little pinpricks of every shred of glass I had slept on pierced my flesh like needles. I yelped and jumped to my feet, glaring at my arms as they trickled crimson. "Dangit."

Quickly, I rinsed off the blood before taking off to the base. I knew I was late, but it didn't take long to get there. Tails and Knuckles were already waiting. "There you are!" exclaimed Tails, obviously impatient. "We were wondering if you'd show."

"Tails, seriously. I'm sure she has a reason." snapped Knuckles.

It sounded like he was trying to defend me to show off. He'd never done it before. I hate echidnas.

"Knux, leave him alone. Sorry, Tails, I woke up late."

The kitsune glanced at me with a concerned expression. "What happened to your arms?"

"Uh… fell."

"And got that many cuts? Seriously, Amy."

"Okay, okay, I broke a picture frame and fell on the glass. Happy?" I didn't feel like explaining it was me being a complete idiot that gained me the lacerations. I figured I could fib my way out of it.

Tails sighed, obviously unbelieving. What can I say? I'm a terrible liar. "It doesn't matter. I've scanned the base for signs of life, and I've found three. One is really weak, so something in there is barely alive. The other two are pretty healthy. Earlier, there were multiple life signals, but they left."

"Wait a sec, how do you track 'life signals?'" I inquired.

"Easy. You see this little gadget? It sends out a signal, and it hits the animal or human in the designated area, then it determines how healthy it is by…" He went on, but I was lost in the technical babble. I didn't hear him again until he said something of importance. "Anyway, are you ready to go in?"

"If I have to be." I followed Tails' lead, and Knuckles came behind me. The base was just as I had left it: empty, cold, and dark. "What exactly are we looking for, again, Tails?"

Tails sighed, but answered me. "Anything that links Luktani to Sonic's murder."

"Okay, like what?"

"I don't know! Her gun or her blades would be nice. I could match the fingerprints from the hilt to Luktani and the blood from the blade to Sonic, and that would be pretty convincing in court."

"What about her gun?"

"Have you found it?" asked Tails incredulously.

"No."

"Then there's no point in explaining. You wouldn't listen anyway. Besides, I'd need the slug, and as far as I know, that's still in Sonic's chest," snapped Tails. "Now please, just look for something that might be helpful, alright? If you're not sure, show me anyway."

I sighed and shrugged. "Fine. Do you have a tracker on the three life signals?"

"Yes. They're in the very back of the base. I'm keeping an eye on them, don't worry. If they get anywhere near us, we'll take off."

"Could one of them be Luktani?" asked Knuckles.

"Perhaps, but we can't bring her in without proof. Which is why we're here. So let's focus on that."

I thought for a minute about what Tails had said. One of those stupid life signals could be Luktani: the one who took everything I cared about away from me. I hated her. Hate isn't a strong enough word, but I can't even think of a better one. Loathed. Despised. They don't fit either. I did know one thing: Sonic had talked about a bloodlust he'd had when he had been in his Dark form. (Which still scared him, he'd said.) I hadn't understood what he meant at the time, but I did then. All I wanted was to see her suffer, and I set out to do just that.

I heard the cries of Tails and Knuckles after me as I snatched the tracker and dashed away after the life signals. Tails was right about one of them: it was weak and barely visible on the device. The other two were beside it. All I knew was I wanted to kill Luktani, nothing more. Like Knuckles had said, the best way to deal with sorrow was to focus on something else. I chose revenge.

As I neared the signals, I lost track of where I was running, and slammed my foot right into a fallen support beam. Cursing my pain but ignoring it nonetheless, I ran on. Whoever was there had obviously heard me, because they left the weaker signal and took off down some tunnel. If I hadn't been so intent on revenge, I would've realized Luktani would not have run like these signals. Yet I didn't care; I kept up the chase.

I quickly summoned a hammer and focused on the tunnel ahead. Finally, the two were coming into view. Both were feminine in appearance. One was a red fox, the other was a cat of some sort. A cat…? I didn't even care who it was anymore. Cats were not things I liked right then. With a shriek of pure rage, I leapt into the air and swung my hammer down and around. It knocked the two into the wall, with the thud echoing pleasantly in my ears.

I let the hammer dissipate as I landed and turned to face them, drawing my gun and pointing it directly at the cat. Tears burned hot against my cheek fur as I released the safety and prepared my trigger finger. My hands shook, but I didn't pull back. I couldn't. Images of Sonic, similarly trapped against a wall, flashed through my mind: a chocolate brown feline standing above him, unscathed. A gunshot. A pool of crimson.

I threw the gun down the tunnel. It went off, but the bullet buried itself harmlessly in the wall. I collapsed to the ground and simply cried, listening to the groans of the fox and cat, who were obviously coming to. I didn't care. If they killed me, so be it. I didn't think I'd be able to kill anything again in my life, and that pretty much ruined my entire career up to this point. Why not die now, since it seemed as if everything had fallen apart?

I felt a hand on my back and glanced up to see the fox: taller, lither, and darker furred than Tails, gazing at me softly. She was still dazed, but she didn't seem to care. The cat still sat up against the wall, trembling a little. "Who are you?" murmured the vulpine.

"You first," I snapped, glaring at her.

"Sorry, but you just nearly knocked my friend and I unconscious, and then prepared to shoot us. I believe we have the right of way here," replied the fox, not unkindly.

I growled under my breath, but replied nonetheless. "Amy. Amy Rose. Or Agent 12053, if you'd prefer."

"Greetings, Amy. You mentioned you were an agent. For who?"

"G.U.N., the Guardian Unit of Nations."

"Ah." The fox nodded.

"And you work for Aeron, don't you?" I barked, laying my ears back. I still wanted to kill something, but not necessarily these two. I really wanted my bullet to find its way into Luktani's chest, not their's. Besides, I had trouble killing anything in cold blood.

The cat sighed and rubbed her head. "Kind of. We did, and technically still do, but we're against most of what Luktani's doing, anymore."

"Meaning?"

"Well, you see, Aeron used to be a highly refined group of assassins, hired by governments to get rid of hard-to-defeat criminals. We were never needed in G.U.N.'s jurisdiction, due to their equally refined agents. Anyway, our leader used to be Okemo. He was a strong, noble, gray wolf with skills Luktani dreams of having. But every reign has to come to an end, and when Okemo died, he left Aeron to his only apprentice: Luktani."

The fox picked up from there. "Yes, but Luktani didn't stick to the rules Okemo had laid. Instead, she made up new ones. Rather than wait for an assignment, she decided it was easier killing whoever she felt like killing, or those that interfered with her plans--"

"Plans for what?" I interrupted.

"She wanted to take down G.U.N. We think it was due to the challenge they proposed. They were so skilled at defeating crime on their own, she was determined to prove to them that without Aeron's alliance, they were helpless. The only way to prove that to G.U.N. was to kill their best agent, so they saw just what working without Aeron meant." The fox paused. "So she began planning how to do just that. After months of research spent finding that agent, she started killing innocent people instead of criminals. We were told to not leave a trail and make sure no one could convict Aeron of the crime. She finally gained G.U.N.'s attention when she left just enough evidence in their jurisdiction, and she knew they were going to send their best team. However, Luktani ensured they were all preoccupied so she could focus on the one she wanted. Like fools, they sent him alone. She succeeded in her mission, and now she's waiting for another chance to kill off the rest of the team."

"They tried to send more on that mission," I murmured. "He wasn't supposed to be alone."

"Huh?"

"The mission to kill Luktani? I'm on that team. I was supposed to go."

"With Sonic?" asked the feline. "What kept you back? All I remember was the kitsune was repairing machinery and the echidna was already on a mission."

"I didn't… I didn't want anything to do with him at the time. But… but I came later… too late. I saw Luktani shoot him right when I got here. I… I was beside him when he died."

The two looked and each other, then grinned. "Amy, you're wrong," whispered the vulpine.

"What do you mean, 'wrong?!' Blood was everywhere, he wasn't breathing, and his heart wasn't beating! I was there! I told him I hated him!" I screamed, forcing the shallowly buried emotions to resurface and breaking down all over again. I could barely hear footsteps in the distance. It had to be Tails and Knuckles finally catching up.

The fox gently helped me to my feet and forced me to look into her eyes. "He's not dead."

I just stared at her. I couldn't believe them, even though I wanted to. It would only hurt more. "D-don't do this to me… d-don't…"

"No, she's not lying," assured the cat. "Follow us." They led me back down the tunnel, but they stopped suddenly. The fox lifted a hidden panel and typed in a quick code before a previously-invisible door opened. Inside was even darker than outside. I couldn't see a thing, but the two Aeron followers seemed to know where everything was. Suddenly a small flame was lit on a wax candle, held gently by the feline, who was dimming the flame. The shadows cast were long and the light barely helped.

Still, I could just make out a shadowy, lithe form half-curled on some sort of home-made cot. He was so motionless, he still appeared dead, but I could barely see his chest rise and fall with every slow, shallow breath he took. His fur had returned to its azure color, as the blood had been gently sponged away. His entire midsection was wrapped in a white bandage, or one that was previously white. It was crimson now. The rest of his wounds were equally cared for, and even his backspines, which were dangerous to fiddle with, had been gingerly tended to.

"H-how? I know… I know he died," I murmured.

The cat smiled softly. "I thought he'd died, as well. After Luktani left, we went in to clean up any leftover evidence. It's our job. However, when we got there, he was delirious and screaming incoherently. Still, he was unmistakably alive. We brought him here, and we've been caring for him since then. He hasn't improved very much. In fact, he hasn't shown any signs of conscious thought since we found him. We're still not sure he'll make it, but we've been hoping."

I ignored them, walking quietly over to his deathly still form. I rubbed his uninjured ear as I cried, still in shock. He whimpered softly, but nothing more. "Why did G.U.N.'s tracker say he was dead, then? Why hasn't it picked up that he's alive?"

"About that," chortled the vulpine nervously. "Was it right below his backspines?"

"Yeah… How'd you know?"

"Well, when we were dressing them, we found a deep wound directly below. The metal kept getting in the way, so we removed it."

I was about to reply when a crack echoed from behind the door, and some distant cries from a worried kitsune. "You might want to open that before--" The door shattered and an echidna burst in, wincing and rubbing his hand. I sighed. "Nevermind."

"That used to be easier," muttered Knuckles. "Stupid guns have made me soft." Then he caught sight of Sonic, and his eyes widened. Tails simply stared, his left ear flopped down in his confusion.

"H-how on earth?!" he exclaimed.

"Long story," sighed the fox, examining the shattered door. "And thanks to you, echidna, we have to try and move him. That'll be a hard thing to accomplish when he's this severely injured. There's a room at the end of the tunnel he can stay in, but he certainly can't stay here without a door."

Knuckles grinned sheepishly. "Heheh… sorry."

"You, kitsune, grab this end. Echidna, grab the other. Amy, you can walk alongside. We'll go ahead," explained the vulpine. "I'm pretty sure everyone's cleared out to the new base, but I'm not sure. So keep an eye out."

The two Aeron members left the room, followed by Tails and Knuckles with Sonic, and me. The tunnel was dark, but the light from the candle was enough to lead us straight onwards. Tails looked shell shocked, which was to be expected, but Knuckles looked almost disappointed. I couldn't believe it. I made eye contact with him, and he glanced away quickly. They both placed their footing carefully, holding the makeshift cot gingerly.

I finally got sick of Knuckles' constant glances at me, Sonic, then the floor. "Alright, what the heck is wrong with you?" I hissed.

"Me?" muttered Knuckles. "Only the fact that a rival I thought was dead isn't. Is that not enough to shake someone up?"

"Oh, it is. But not a reason for you to be disappointed!"

"What?!"

"Knuckles, you like me. Love me, maybe. Now that Sonic's not dead, you know I'll go back to him. You're jealous."

"You're crazy!" snapped Knuckles. I noted he didn't deny anything specifically. "I have no clue what you're talking about!"

"Liar! Ever since Rouge fell for Shadow, you've been lost. I was too caught up with Sonic, but when he supposedly died, you took your chances! I wouldn't be surprised if you killed him just to have me!"

"Amy! I'd never do that!"

"How can I be sure?"

Knuckles didn't have a chance to reply, because the short, surprised cry of one of the Aeron followers interrupted him. The feline was face to face with Luktani's chocolate brown form, followed by at least twoscore assassins. "Well, well. Now you two show. And who are these three? That stupid hedgehog's allies? And… what the--?!" I won't quote her, to spare you of the string of curses she stated so eloquently. She shoved the cat to the side with her dagger, ignoring her as she crumpled to the floor, lifeless.

The fox gasped, bit back tears, and focused avoiding Luktani's other dagger. Luktani glared at the scene before her, infuriated when she saw Sonic's shallow breathing. I barely kept myself from lunging at her. Not now… not yet… you don't have a chance…

"So, you thought you'd save him. Against my direct orders, no less. Idiot," muttered Luktani, looking over her shoulder at her assassin's still form. "Fox. I assume you were involved."

"I… I…"

"Oh, spit it out! I know you were! Why else would you be leading them to the infirmary room at the end of our tunnel instead of killing them on sight, as were your orders?"

"I… Yes, Luktani… I was involved." The fox's teary amber eyes turned up and glared at the leader of Aeron. "And I am not sorry."

Luktani snarled, and for once, I noticed her fangs. She was most definitely a lynx, as they were more elongated than a normal feline's. Lynxes were a species generally left alone due to their aggressive behavior. I couldn't believe Okemo, someone supposedly wise, would leave a group of assassins to one. "You will be, fox!"

She threw the dagger, but the vulpine easily dodged it. The bullet that came from the barrel of the gun, however, was not so easily avoided. Both traitorous Aeron assassins were now dead, and I didn't know if any of the others were disloyal enough to help us. It was not a safe place to be, that much I knew. Luktani turned her head and glared at me with her piercing blue eyes. "I suppose you want to kill me. I can't say I blame you. How about we make a deal? You and I will fight, and I will assign my best fighters for your other friends. Two teams. Victory should be easily determined."

"What do we get for this?" I asked, already prepared to attack the lynx in front of me.

"If you win, deary, I'll let you take your so-called 'hero' and return to Metal City without Aeron interference. You know what? I'll even let you tell your Commander all about us. If I win, however, you're all to be executed. Starting with the blue one."

I glanced at the still, motionless forms of the Aeron followers who had tried to help us. They had died so quickly, and Luktani had been fighting them alone. I looked at Tails and Knuckles, and they both nodded. I turned back to Luktani. "Fine. We'll fight. Are weapons allowed?"

"It's a no-holds-barred fight," snapped the lynx. "Are we ready?"

I took one last look at Sonic: unmoving, but still breathing. I had to. It was the only way I could ever make things right again. "Yes. We're ready."