Woo! I managed to get another chapter done!
Only goes to show, I have no life!
Anyway, I've beetled down the country and am visiting family for the Easter Hols.
That said, I might be able to give you two updates next week!
Fingers crossed...
Anyway, enough of me jibber-jabbing.
On with the Chapter!
He wanders slowly through the new thick jungle growth. The sounds and smells that assault his senses are both new and strangely familiar. Running a hand over the trunk of a nearby tree, he looks over the path he had forged.
Chaos and Tikal had both returned to the confines of the Master Emerald, stating that it was best he find things out on his own. Questions burnt through his mind, questions which he needed answered. He was heading in the direction of the large stone ziggurat, as for some reason he was more drawn towards that then the black obsidian fortress.
At the snap of dry wood, the young Guardian spun into a crouch. Growling quietly he slowly turned, eyes scanning deep into the jungle thicket. All was silent. The twin moons of Mobius were shining crescents in the sky and the only sounds that could be heard was she soft rustling of leaves on the breeze.
Suddenly, there was a clap of air rushing into a single spot, and in a flash of light he was surrounded by three armoured warriors. Their armour was jet black and scaled, and concealed any indication as to whom or what they were. Two had blue glowing symbols engraved into their helmets, with the same blue glow emanating from their eyes. They were wielding strange curved, yet wickedly sharp looking blades. The other, wearing a slight variation of the same armour, had a different symbol glowing on their forehead, this one pink in colour. They lacked the blade and instead wore a pair of bracelets with a ring of the same pink glow etched around them.
A rush of footsteps and more appeared from behind trees and undergrowth, all wearing similar armour and armed with silvery black energy rifles.
"You are trespassing in Nocturnus territory!" Said the one with the pink symbol in a clearly feminine voice. "What is your name and business here? Speak quickly!"
With a flex of the wrist, a pair of purple energy blades appeared from her bracelets. Knuckles clenched his fists and a growled rumbled from his throat.
"*Knuckles don't fight! They're too many!*" Cried Tikal's voice in his head. Reluctantly, he unclenched his fists and stood tall.
"Give me your name, and I'll give you mine." He growled. The leader laughed.
"That's not how things work here." The energy dissipated from her bracelets and she motioned to two of the others. "Take him to the Procurator."
"Yes High Praetorian." They said in unison. Sheathing their blades they each grabbed one of Knuckles' arms and began leading him back through the jungle.
"Maybe she'll get something useful out of him."
The Guardian didn't struggle as he was lead slowly towards the obsidian fortress. The Nocturnus clan was alive! The clan which history dictated began the war which led to the release of Perfect Chaos and cause the Great Calamity. He looked up at the technological monstrosity, questions flying through his mind. Mainly, how he was going to get out of this.
His footsteps echoed loudly as the brown coyote rushed down the marble hall. He pushed his way through the thick set of doors, the two armed guards just inside snapped off a quick salute as he past. He half-jogged up the red carpet and dropped to his knee, bowing his head.
"Antoine, how many times must I tell you? You do not need to bow to me my friend." Antoine D'Coolette looked up at the young man who addressed him.
The young squirrel stepped down the small flight of stairs, his red cape hanging regally from his shoulders. The clink of his metallic boots were softened by the red velvet carpet underfoot, his royal blue shirt was embroidered with gold, his gold gilded belt glinting in the light of the electric lamps.
"King Elias, I have news." The young King's smile faltered. "The Commander of G.U.N wishes to speak with you."
The coyote's French accent was still there, but it had diluted over the years. He still wore the same army uniform he had worn during his time with the Underground, but now it was decorated with several medals of bravery and the 'Acorn's Trust', the highest military honour which could be given.
King Elias Acorn rubbed at the slight stubble growing on his chin, his eyes narrowed in thought.
"It's not often G.U.N gets in contact with us." He mused to himself.
"He said it was in the utmost urgency Sire." King Elias nodded. He didn't like having to deal with G.U.N, but since his sister had reached a prominent position within the organisation, he was willing to see what they wanted.
"Very well. Nicole!"
A moment later a side door opened and in walked a brown furred lynx with short black hair braided into two ponytails, a flowing purple robe and curves in all the right places.
"Yes your Majesty?" Her silky voice still had a slight tinge of the electronic synthesiser, but apart from that, no-one would have guessed that this lynx used to be the Artificial Intelligence programme from Sally Acorn's old handheld computer.
"Patch the G.U.N Commander through to the throne room." The King of Mobotropolis returned to his throne and sat down. A moment later, Nicole had created a thin screen from her countless nanorobots and the face of the grey haired Commander appeared before them.
"King Acorn, there is a pressing and dire matter I must bring to your attention." The Commander sat behind his desk with his hands clenched, a serious look in his eyes.
"What is this pressing matter Commander? I have important business to attend to." King Elias made no attempt to hide the contempt in his voice.
"During a recon mission, one of our Agents found the location of Dr. Robotnik." Elias sat upright, suddenly extremely attentive to what the human had to say. "Needless to say, we launched an immediate operation to capture him. The operation is still ongoing; however we have reason to believe that the safety of your Kingdom and its people is threatened."
The screen flickered to show the latest satellite image of the missile launched from the Death Egg, and its predicted destination. Several intakes of breath sounded from the guards and various servants around the throne room, and King Elias' eyes widened in horror.
"All our attempts at deactivating or intercepting this missile have so far failed. I must therefore urge you to ready yourself and your people should the worst come to the worst." King Elias turned to Nicole, whose eyes were flickering as she analysed all the information being downloaded.
"Nicole, what do you think?"
"Mobotropolis is indeed the destination of the projectile; however I am unable to get a true reading of it or its payload."
"Neither could we." Cut in the Commander. "There seems to be some sort of shielding around the missile blocking even our most intricate and advanced scanning mechanisms."
King Elias rubbed her forehead. "Sound the alarm, and send everyone to the bunkers."
He pointed to the lynx. "Nicole, help G.U.N and continue your attempts at getting through to that thing! Antoine, rally our forces and make sure everyone gets to the bunkers safely. Drag them if you have to!"
"I want to assure you your Majesty that we have our best working on this problem. Your own sister is leading the attempts at bringing this threat to heel." King Elias Acorn nodded his thanks to the human Commander.
"Thank you Commander. I truly hope we can avert this crisis and speak again on more civil terms."
The Commander, along with the screen vanished leaving King Elias to contemplate the human's words as the throne room was filled with a semi-panic bustle.
Cassie Rahna stepped out of the elevator and walked towards Shadow's office. Despite the lateness of the hour, she was surprised to find dozens of Agents rushing from office to office. She overheard something about a missile launch but didn't pay attention as she neared the office door. Taking a deep breath she entered, closing the door behind her.
Shadow had his back to her and was staring out of the window. She saw the sling around his left arm and the weariness he held himself with.
"Shadow?" She said softly, circling around his desk to stand by his side. She looked at his face; his eyes were staring down at the streets below. He looked tired, his eyes were lidded, his lips downturned and his ears drooping.
"Shadow?" Cassie laid a hand gently to his shoulder. At first he didn't move, but slowly he turned his head to face her. His eyes met hers and a glimmer of recognition flashed through them. A ghost of a smile graced his lips.
"Hey Cassie." The sadness in his voice was almost enough to break her heart.
"What happened Shadow?" He turned and looked out of the window again. A silence grew between them, with Shadow occasionally opening his mouth to speak, but closing it again every time, without uttering a single word.
Cassie decided to remain silent and let him tell her in his own time, once he had found what to say. Eventually the ebony hedgehog found his words and returned his gaze unto her.
"I've been thinking about what I've done with my life, and I've realised something." Cassie's heart began to beat slightly faster and a fluttering feeling assaulted her stomach. "For years I have dwelt on the past, let my anger and loneliness drive me forward and push others away."
He looked out at the sky. "I'm quite certain that if it wasn't for certain events or the efforts of… someone…"
He looked deep into her eyes and continued, his voice barely a whisper. "I'd still be angry and… lonely."
Another silence stretched on into the evening as both anthro digested what had just been said. Cassie's hand, which had been resting on Shadow's shoulder slowly slid down his arm. When her fingers touched his gloved hand, Shadow's eyes darted down to see what she was doing.
Cassie half-expected his to flinch away, but with a small smile, Shadow took her hand gently in his. Just then the moment was broken by the door opening.
Cassie quickly stepped back, a red hue blooming on her muzzle. Shadow turned to whoever had walked in unannounced and glared.
"Agent Shadow Sir! The Commander wants to see you in his office, immediately!"
The Agent left as quickly as he had come, leaving the two anthro standing in an awkward silence. Cassie rubbed her arm as Shadow ran his hand through his quills.
"Well, I'd better go see what he wants." He headed towards the door but stopped abruptly when Cassie appeared at his side.
"I'm coming with you." The look on her face convinced the ebony hedgehog that he wouldn't be able to talk her out of it. He nodded and they both left.
They walked in silence until they were stood outside the Commanders office. Sally wasn't there, leaving the secretary's desk empty. Shadow faced Cassie.
"Could you wait here?" He asked hesitantly.
"Sure." She replied.
Taking a breath to prepare himself, Shadow opened the door and strode in. The door swung closed behind him and Cassie was left alone.
Three plotlines at once, I must be mental...
Still, most of what I write is planned out at least two weeks in advance, so the only person I can blame is myself...
Kinda redundant really...
Got a few more things in store for our heroes, but we're just gonna have to wait and see.
Till next time
-Corrupt TE-