Ch.2: A Chat Between Enemies

Two days after the Blue Typhoon had took off from the volcanic planet, the tension aboard the vessle had not decreased. Zelkova was now lying on top of a bed in the medical chmaber, still recovering from his burns.

Tails was greatful that, through all the treatment, the Metarex hadn't awakened to seek vengence. Not like he could anyway, since he would still require a few days of rest to get used to his legs again.

Knuckles popped in once every four hours check on Zelkova's condition. Sonic and the others made Knuckles swear that since he brought the Metarex on board, making sure he behaves was the echidna's responsibility.

Knuckles would have told the others off if Cosmo had not agreed to help him watch Zelkova. Tails offered his assitance too, in order to keep an eye on Zelkova, as well as Knuckles and Cosmo.

Secretly the twin-tailed fox was a little jealous of Knuckles. Ever since thier adventure on planet Zeco, it felt like Knuckles and Cosmo were getting to close for comfort. However, Tails just forced those jealous thoughts aside. After all, there was only one girl around who could make Knuckles blush, and she was working for Eggman right now.

A sudden groan from the medical bed jolted Tails from his thoughts. Zelkova was finally awake. His drowsy eyes scanned the room, taking note of his surroundings. His gaze narrowed when he spotted Tails.

"Where am I?" asked Zelkova.

"The Blue Typhoon" said Tails " we've been waiting for you to wake up,"

"Am I your prisoner?" asked Zelkova.

"Right now you're my patient" said Tails " it's a good thing Knuckles pulled you out of the lava pit in time. A few seconds longer and you would have been dead,"

"Knuckles?" Zelkova thought " that porcupine pipsqueak saved me? Why?"

The doors to the med bay suddenly flew open, allowing the subject of Zelkova's thoughts to enter the room.

"Hi Knuckles," greeted Tails.

"Hi" Knuckles greeted back, then turned to Zelkova " glad to see you're finally awake. How's his condition looking Tails?"

"The lower portion that had been severely burned is healing up nicely" said Tails " it won't be until he is able to walk again,"

"Good" said Knuckles " could you leave us alone for bit? I think Zelkova has some questions he wants answers to,"

"Sure," said Tails, leaving the med lab.

"What do you want?" said Zelkova, his green eyes glaring at Knuckles once they were alone " a thank you? Intel about about the Metarex? Because, I'm not telling you anything,"

"A rematch," said Knuckles.

"What?" asked Zelkova, confused.

"A rematch" Knuckles repeated " an honorable fight. Unarmed with everything but our fists,"

"Your on" Zelkova grinned " but you'll have to wait until I heal first,"

Knuckles nodded, accepting Zelkova's promise, then continued the conversation.

"Why are you doing this?" asked Knuckles.

"To remake the universe the way it was born to be" said Zelkova " no more animals around to cause us harm. Plants will soon be the ultimate life forms. Whoever doesn't join our cause will perish,"

"Ridiculous" said Knuckles " you really think that you're going to revive your race by eliminating all life from other planets? Cosmo told me the whole story. If there was anyone responsible for the death of your world it was your leader Dark Oak,"

"How dare you speak that way about our Master" yelled Zelkova " the only way for us to rule this world is for us to eliminate all organic life!"

"That's the same way Sonic and the others feel about you Metarex!" shouted Knuckles, getting angry " if we said the world would have been better without you and your kind, would I have saved you from that lava pit? You're not the only one who lost something you know!"

Zelkova's eyes widened in shock as he saw Knuckles cringe his eyes, trying to keep the tears from falling out.

"I'm the only one left of my kind" said Knuckles " my father and the rest of my race was wiped away from a huge disaster. I can still feel the life-drianing force of the smoke and flames. Their screams of terror still echo through my nightmares. I am the only one left to carry on the Guardians legacy,"

Zelkova hadn't known it before, but this echidna had suffered through the same pain the Metarex had. Invaders had come to take over thier planet, and thanks to Dark Oak, they now had to power to eliminate any threat that stood in thier way. That power helped them recliam thier home, but it also resulted in the loss of many lives.

The only way this was any different from Knuckles story, was that the echidna was the very last of his kind. How awful would it feel to be the last?

"If others caused you such wrong" said Zelkova " then why didn't you kill them? Why didn't you let me die? I caused this universe just as much pain. You do want your revenge, don't you?"

"Of course I want my revenge" said Knuckles " but if I surrender my heart to my anger, then that leaves me no better than you,"

With that said, Knuckles turned his back and walked to the door, but before he left he said one more thing.

"You have hard decison to make Zelkova" said Knuckles " will you let go of your anger or let it consume you?"

With that last parting shot, Knuckles left the med lab, leaving Zelkova to stew in his own thoughts.