a/n: Let's get it. #herewego
Revolutionary Operation, Type Zero
Kinetic Sky
24. The Suns of Liberty, Act 7
Elise brought Kiriko into a relatively small, secure room inside of the castle. A small window at the far end was angled to fill the room with the sun's light. Elise sat at the single wooden table and Kiriko followed. A square bottle with dark liquid and two small, square glasses sat on the table in front of them.
Alice locked the door from outside and placed the key into her pocket. Elizabeth stood quietly beside her with a stopwatch in her hand, finger on the button.
"Go."
She clicked it in, and the hands started to move.
"Our time is limited," Elise said. "But we're not completely constrained. Drink," she urged as she poured from the bottle and into the small glasses. Kiriko nodded and gulped down the liquor in one smooth motion. Soothing warmth went through her body and loosened her up.
"My father sealed Iblis inside of me as a last resort. It was one of his last acts on this planet. Iblis on its own is a mindless monster, indestructible, supremely powerful once it matures. Its flames cannot be quenched once they are released. In the midst of my father's research, he determined that I was the perfect vessel for Iblis' power, and by extension that of Solaris. I do not know what he meant for me in his grand scheme." Elise knocked back the liquid in her glass before pouring more. She did the same for Kiriko. "But suffice it to say, it was nothing good."
"Why would he try to call back Solaris? To tamper with the powers of a god...it sounds foolish," Kiriko said.
"It was foolish. Nothing more. He...wanted to bring her back using the power of a god. My mother who had died of illness when I was very young. My name came from her, as her name came from her mother. Elise Solaris the Third."
"I see."
"It was the last of many attempts. The remnants of the royal flames...he used them as the basis for his experimentation. Iblis was safely stowed inside of me and Mephiles was caught before he could do any sort of damage. But I found myself drawn to his container...the Scepter of Darkness. Sometimes I would hold it in my hands and have visions. I would see his form, a twisted reflection of myself. But still I would go back and touch the Scepter. Still I would be curious as to the power inside of me. After the death of my father...I learned much from Mephiles. And it was those teachings that gave me a reckless idea."
"Reckless, Elise?"
"I came upon a Chaos Emerald. I tired of Mephiles and his taunting...Iblis' flames were stoked inside of me with each meeting we had. I secluded myself and drew on the power of Chaos, bit by bit in secret." Elise downed another glass of liquor and poured from the bottle again. Kiriko followed and held out her glass to be filled.
"And then?"
"I confronted Mephiles in a dreamscape of my own creation. He almost killed me, but I had a trump in mind."
"Iblis."
"Yes," Elise said with a small smile. "I controlled Iblis for long enough that I could fatally wound him in my world. He became frightened, Kiriko. So very frightened...he told me that he didn't want to disappear. So I pledged not to kill him."
"Because you needed him."
"Yes. I wanted to become one with him, my personal shade. I took him into myself...and I made that stupid beast Iblis submit before I drew him into myself as well."
Kiriko drank from her glass and set it down. Her golden eyes stared into Elise's blue, reverent and understanding.
"You did what your father could not, My Queen."
"I did."
"You've become a goddess."
"Yes. I have. This barrier around the country is thanks to the power of Solaris. My power."
"What does it consist of?"
"Purely space-time manipulation. The dark power outside has no chance of penetrating it as it is. But this shell of mine..."
"It is limited."
"For now, at least. I fear that...if I should cast it off, I will have no way of going back to what I was before. I will no longer be able to dwell among my people. And I love them dearly."
"I can see that clearly, Elise. It must be a hard decision..."
"But one that will have to be made soon. The power of this barrier can be partially replicated by the power of Chaos, in Chaos Control. From what I can sense, one of the causes of this terrible darkness is Chaos Control itself."
"It's sealing the essence of life away," Kiriko said. "Inside of several containers."
"I see." Elise stood up and sealed the bottle. "We will begin a counter attack immediately."
"A counter attack?"
"Yes. I will use my power to assist the military in terms of long range strikes from here. I must remain in the kingdom in order to protect it with my power."
"Elise...I know he will be coming here."
"Do you really believe so?"
"Yes."
She nodded and gently placed a hand on Kiriko's cheek.
"Then we will prepare for war at once. Will you stay by my side, Kiriko?"
The hedgehog placed her hand over Elise's.
"I shall, My Queen. I place my life in your hands."
"Bless you, Countess."
They both heard the click of the lock and started towards the door together. Alice opened it as they walked through, and Elizabeth clicked her stopwatch.
"Right on schedule," Alice said.
"Quite," Elizabeth replied.
"Alice...prepare for combat operations. Kiriko, give her all the access she needs to plan against Metal Sonic."
"My Queen," she said with a bow. Alice gave her a nod and the two started on their way.
"Liza, escalate to Alert Level One. Activate Solar Flare immediately."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Before that, take me to Pulse Operations."
"Of course." She adjusted her glasses with one hand and turned swiftly. "Follow me, My Queen."
"Hey, listen! It's no big deal in the end, right?"
"I told you that I didn't want to talk about it!"
Knuckles growled and adjusted his hat as Vector crossed his arms. They were at the Wanderer's main bridge, arguing as Tails directed the plane towards another Master Emerald piece.
"If you keep it all bottled up-"
"I said to cut it out! And why do you even want to do this here, of all places?"
"Because I know how you get, Knuckles. You get real distracted," the crocodile stated.
"There's nothing to talk about. Tails, how far out are we?" Knuckles asked.
"Ten minutes or so."
"Can't this thing go any faster?"
"It can but-"
"Then pick up the pace!"
"You and I both know that stopping in mid-air on a dime is harder than it looks. If I'm gonna get you to the right location, it has to be at a reasonable speed so we can actually stop near the Emerald shard. Got it?"
"Don't get smart with me, kid..."
"Get smart? I think I know a bit more about flying planes than you," Tails shot back.
"What was that?"
"You heard me. I said that I'm running the show here, and just because you're upset that Vector's grilling you doesn't-"
"I oughta-"
"Hey, there's no need for you two-"
"Knuckles, please stop."
"Vanilla, I don't mean to be rude but you need to stay-"
"Leave her alone, she's being reasonable."
"This has nothing to do with her or you, Tails."
"It has plenty to do with all of us, and you know it."
"Tails has a point."
"Butt out, Espio."
"Why is everyone fighting?"
"Chao!"
Tails just barely caught the flash of light. He tilted his head upwards to see a familiar black form, and shoved his way past a disgruntled Knuckles to see what was going on.
"Shadow?"
"Kid. I need your help. Now."
He didn't hesitate as he saw Rouge cradled in Shadow's arms, Omega standing beside him.
"Nobody else follow," Shadow said firmly. He walked off in another direction, Tails moving quickly after him. "Get us a secure room."
"Take the first one on your left; I'll lock it from the inside."
"Omega, the door."
"Affirmative."
The three ducked inside of the first room the saw as the door slid open. Omega stood in front of it as it closed, and Tails punched numbers into a keypad to keep it that way. Shadow set Rouge down on the nearby bed.
Tails felt his heart chill once he looked at her.
"What...what is...?"
"I think Metal Sonic got to her. I had a feeling Westopolis was a trap, but I didn't realize how big a trap it was..."
The light had disappeared from her eyes as she lay quietly, stuck in a stupor.
The right side of her body was coated in black metal.
"It shouldn't be progressing this quickly..."
"Emotional distress...it's disrupting her focus. She would be able to resist it easily if she were in a proper frame of mind. I should have addressed it earlier...but I-"
"You can't think a million steps ahead all the time, Shadow. Don't beat yourself up."
"..."
"But...I know what I've gotta do. Get ready to stabilize me. Knock me right out if it comes down to it. I think I'm gonna have to go for seven, if the last time was any indication..."
"Right. The Doctor mentioned it in passing. Rose...she released the seals?"
"Yeah. Said it was the only way." Tails grit his teeth as the energy inside of him started to stir. "Here we go. You've got ten seconds to get ready, Shadow."
"Understood."
Tails placed his hands on Rouge's side, feeling her shake like a leaf. Tears slid down and sideways on her cheeks.
This is gonna hurt...but it'll hurt more to watch you die. That's not gonna happen on my watch.
Wisps of flame streamed off of his back.
"I'm ready," Shadow growled.
Tails nodded, his eyes shifting to a fiery red.
"Let's go."