The late autumn air was chilly, making his fur stand up. However, that wasn't the only reason as to why his fur was on high alert. From his vantage point Zephyr could see almost the whole camp. Tents lined up in rows and the area lit up with bright stadium lights. Guards were either posted at the entrances, on patrols or just mingling. And why Zephyr wouldn't have minded listening to gossip of the evil minions he had more important things to focus on.
The hedgehog reached up and adjusted the settings on the spy headset he had borrowed from sparky. Tightening the scope gave him a better close up and he was able see the details and begin to recognize some landmarks from his vision. The medical tent. The yard where the heavy equipment was stored. And there it was. The entrance to the underground tunnels.
It was carved out of the side of the small hill at the back of the camp. Resembling a hovel, nothing that could be noticeable in the day time. However, at night it was far easier to spot. The lights set up in side of it shown out through the cave mouth, like a giant dim flashlight. The only thing that might make someone think that it might be important was the pair of guards posted at the entrance.
Zephyr, leaned into the commlink on his wrist, "I found it."
"Where?" Sparky asked through the group call.
"Back of the camp."
"You mean behind all those guards and structures?" Angie chimed in, a lot of static coming through along with her voice as she was currently watching from the air.
"Yep."
"We might have to rethink this." Mari said.
"Getting cold feet Mari?"
"No, I'm just saying that we need to think this through. There's at a minimum of 100 people down there, all of them armed and unknown skill level. Not to mention the possibility of a chaos user nearby. We need to play this smart," Mari stated.
"She's right," Angie said.
"We're going to need a way to sneak in there."
"Or maybe a distraction?" Sparky suggested.
"What are you thinking Spark?" Angie said.
"If Mari could create a blast of chaos energy away from the camp, not only will a large amount of the guards will have to go investigate, but there's a chance that it could also draw out the Chaos user," Sparky explained.
"How would a giant explosion draw out a chaos user?"
"Chaos is an interconnected magic. Most users can sense large amounts of the energy or other users if their well-trained. I doubt the rabbit has the same experience with me, but if she is connected to the chaos stream, she would still sense a vast amount. Besides a large explosion tends to be kind of noticeable by itself," Mari said.
"But if you make the explosion from a distance away, how would you get inside with me and Angie?"
"I can teleport Zipper."
Bonnie gazed at her creation with a passionate pride. The shiny plastic like plating that encased the outside acting as armor. The delicate intricate internals that pushed and pulled giving the metallic limbs the ability to move. They had to be planned so perfectly for it to work. Math, measuring, designing engineering. It was beautiful.
She sighed, satisfied.
"Happy darling?" Her favorite voice purred.
She chuckled curling into the hold of her lover's arms, "Oh, yes. I am. It's beautiful is it not?"
"A mechanical marvel."
"Something that will forever serve our lord Scourge."
"Yeah, there's just one thing I can think of that is more beautiful."
"Me?"
"Well, yeah, but I was thinking of you, dressed in a pretty white dress and diamond on your finger," his hand ran through the fur on her head, that was had already regain its greenish hue.
"Leo?"
The golden rabbit pulled out a thin golden ring, the diamond in betted on it as big as a small strawberry.
"Leo!" She squealed, "How long were you…?"
"Ever since the last time we saw each other."
"That was over three years ago."
"I knew what I wanted, and I knew you were that," He pulled her close.
She cupped his face, "You're lucky your what I want."
"So, is that a, yes?"
"Are you stupid or insane? How could I ever say no."
Their lips pressed together long enough, that they were gasping when they finally parted.
"You know," Bonnie purred, "I still have some pull with the main army science guild I could get you reinstated."
"What about Griz? I know that I can't go anywhere without my best man."
"Already planning the wedding? We just got engaged."
"I want everything in our future to be perfect, how can we do that if we don't have a plan?" She smirked playfully.
"Well, I don't have as much influence on the soldier part of the main army, but I'm pretty sure that I could get him a rank in security detail."
Leo laughed, and slipped the ring on to her finger.
Or he would've if the sudden boom hadn't rocked the facility. The sound of the explosion crashed like close thunder, and the tremor nearly sent the pair of lovers tumbling to the ground. It didn't last long but the alarms and warning lights, began to ring and flash. Bonnie heard Leo swore and thank everything under the sun that he didn't drop the engagement ring.
Like clockwork, Griz ran into the room, "What happened?!"
"You think we know?" Leo said.
Bonnie's eye trailed the room, as she slowly glanced around. She could sense it. Power. Chaos power. The staticky buzz of chaos power. It bubbled in her mind, made her stomach flutter, and her fur stand on end. She knew. There was another user nearby. Excitement swelled in her chest and the green glowing aura began to flow off her body in waves.
Bonnie smiled, and began to laugh, "They're here."
"What?" Griz said.
"Who's here, darling?"
"The rebels," She gushed, the idea of battle sending a thrill through her.
"The blue streak? He's here? Already? How?" Griz said.
"Not him. Another chaos user. I can feel them," Bonnie said.
"Another user? How do you know they're part of the rebels?"
"Our lord, is very careful with his users, keeping only one at a time in each sector. I would've never been able to sense them if they were working for the crown," Bonnie explained.
"So, we're under attack?" Leo said.
"Don't worry, my guards are already in pursuit," Griz stated confidently.
"Don't bother with them Griz," Bonnie said taking off her lab coat.
"What do you mean?" Leo asked.
"If there is one of them, there are bound to be more. I'll handle the Chaos User, waste the guards on others," Bonnie said.
Zephyr's ears flicked back and forth, the camp's reaction to Mari's distraction, had been mixed. Some soldiers were trying to get defenses set up, while other were just running around screaming and bumping to the soldiers who were somewhat calm. It was a hilarious image of perfect chaos. Also, perfect MFV (Mobius's funniest videos) material. Too bad he didn't have a camera in the headset.
"Hey."
Zephyr jumped, quills frizzing out in surprise. A startled squeak escaped him.
"What?" Angie said, from where she sat next to him.
"Where did you come from?" Zephyr said.
"Uh…up?" She pointed to her wings, "How did you not hear me?"
"You're half bat."
"I'm also half echidna. They're not really known for stealth."
"You're a spy."
"Okay, fair point. We're going to need work on this. I could've been a guy with a gun and you'd would not have known I was here."
"Let's survive this first."
"Good idea. How's things looking down there?"
"It's a mess."
"Good, now all we need is to wait for Mari to get-"
The com-link suddenly opened, "Continue to next objective! Continue with the mission! Repeat continue with-AHHHH!"
The call was cut off…with the sounds of the echoing start of an explosion coming through it just before it went to static. The finishing sound of the blow being heard in real life, as a rumble and flash in the distance.
"Alright let's move," Angie said her voice shaky but determined.
"Whoa, whoa, wait!" Zpehyr grabbed her arm, "Aren't we going after Mari? She's probably being attacked."
"That blast was chaos energy. I would recognize it anywhere. The explosion most likely attracted the attention of the Rabbit user. Meaning they're not in the base so we need to move."
"We're just going to leave Mari to fight off a chaos user?"
"Mari has had the gift of chaos for far longer than that rabbit has, they won't stand a chance. Now if we're going to use the guards' panic to sneak in, we need to go now."
"I'm glad you are a spy because I don't know what I'm doing!"
"Don't worry I'll show you."
Mari smirked; a small flutter of pride buzzed in her heart. A smoking crater was engraved into the ground below her. It was pretty decent sized hole for a single chaos shard. Still no matter how impressive the damage she didn't have the time to marvel at her work.
The cross-breed turned on her heel, starting towards the others. Why she didn't just teleport? At first, she didn't really know, it just didn't feel right.
She stopped.
The night air was cold. The autumn crispness almost completely faded into the winter's frosty bite. No chorus of crickets greeted her ears, just small twinkles and chimes from her chains and the whispers and trills of the wind. The wind. It played with her fur and quills. Fluttering her black coat, and tickling her ear. It flicked to get rid of the sensation, but then she froze.
That didn't sound like the wind…
Battle instinct took over. Mari dropped to the ground, rolling forward towards cover in the nearby brush. The fluttering of her fur wasn't fluttering. It was buzzing. Buzzing with the feeling of a foreign chaos signature. And for a good reason. The moment she dropped a rush of ablaze chaos blasted over her curled up body. It sent a small wave of staticky tingles through her fur and skin. Once her feet hit the ground and she could steady herself. She didn't wait, and teleported away, finding comfort in the familiar squeeze of warping space.
She reappeared in not far off, crouched at the base of a large pine, hidden underneath the vail of evergreen needles. Keeping her breaths short, but quiet and opened the com-link.
"Continue to next objective! Continue with the mission! Repeat continue with…"
Mari never got to finish that call or even sentence, as the tree above her head erupted in green flames that began to fade to orange and gold once the heat started to feed off the remaining wood. Smoking branches and showers of embers rained down on her head. Heat swelled above her, clinging to her fur. She ducked her head down shielding her face and eyes.
She teleported away once more, feeling the cold tendrils of autumn's grasp seize her once she was fully materialized. But she didn't have much time to catch her breath. Another blazing chaos spear was sent flying at her. Nothing was above or behind her for it to hit, so she just rolled to the side letting the blaze blast passed her.
"I know you're there!" the rabbit called out, "I can sense you! And I know you can sense me! Come out! Or are you a coward!?"
Mari's ears flipped back. Coward? No, no she was not. Smart? Yes. Yes, she was. Meaning while the rabbit would try to goat her into acting out of anger, she wouldn't succeed. Mari was born a crossbreed, and while she could pass as a hedgehog if no one paid much attention, that didn't mean no one didn't pay attention. And she had been called every name under the sun that the purists could think of. Still, no matter how good it would've felt, she never lashed out at them on purpose. This rabbit's words were worth nothing and never struck true.
"You call me a coward?" She called back, before teleporting once more.
Mari rematerialized behind the other chaos wielder, standing a few feet away. The tight red body suit and sickly green fur that had unstable energy wafting off her in waves fully visible. Mari grimaced with discomfort at the sight. When the rabbit turned around to face the crossbreed, it revealed the changed eyes. Red, feral, and hungry with greed. It made Mari's stomach churn.
"I can't help the color of my fur," Mari said, "I tend to hide no matter what I do when the sun goes down."
"No, no you can't," The rabbit smirked, "I guess I shouldn't call you a coward then, no you're more of a fool."
"A fool? You call me a fool, yet look at what you've done to yourself."
"Oh, you don't like it? I guess anyone who's lucky enough to be born like you wouldn't approve of sharing your wonderful gift. So selfish to keep this power to yourself, especially when it could belong to anyone."
"You don't want this. You're new and fresh, but you'll soon realize there's a price you pay for this power."
"Oh, and what would that be? Your freedom? You'd still have it if you just register as one with the empire."
"I know how your glorious leader treats his users. They're separated, and kept out of combat until he needs them to die in his stead because he's too bored to do the job himself. You're nothing but a tool left on a shelf to collect dust. You're not a person to him."
"You're lying."
"Oh, how do you know?"
"I'm useful to him. I'm a scientist by trade."
"And you tainted your mind with chaos? You'd think as a scientist you'd be a little smarter than that. There was a reason as to why the departed Doctor Eggman was so scrambled."
"Who even are you to speak of my use of chaos? You are a trader to the crown and the chaos league!"
"A traitor? To the League? Are you trying to insult me or make me laugh?"
"The league control all of the relics of chaos, they guard the emeralds in this time of great peace until the world needs them again. All users are to follow their will."
"Then you should listen to me when I tell you to stand down."
"You? A rebel? A member of the league? Now who's trying to make who laugh?"
"I'm more one then you. Working for their murderer."
"Murderer? What lies has this rebellion told you? King Scourge disbanded them due to the peace."
"Just the things my aunt has told me. And disbanded? That's a nice way of saying he killed them."
"You have to no proof to this outrageous claim of yours!"
"No, I just have gravestones."
The Rabbit growled, and flung a hot festering green chaos spear at Mari. However, the crossbreed wouldn't run this time. Faster than the eye could see, Mari unsheathed one of her blades and flung it across her. The sharp edge of the crystal knife sliced through the solid magic, absorbing it in a flash of light. Mari's wrist gave the chain a harsh tug, calling the blade back into her hand. Her brown eyes glanced down at the now crackling green dagger in her palm, unimpressed.
She looked back to the Rabbit, "Cute. My turn."
Mari zipped to the side, skates activated, and leaving a trail of gleaming purple light behind her. Her thin but strong legs sprung her forward, flipped through the air, and bouncing off a nearby tree. She flew through the air, high above the enemy chaos wielder. Mari flung both of her blades. The first one the Rabbit managed to jump to the side but, the second blade, the one that charged with sparkling chaos, hit its target. Striking the armor on the Rabbit's forearm as she tried to block the incoming attack. the stored energy released in a violent green shockwave, blowing its target backward.
Mari rolled in the air, slowing herself before her feet kissed the ground. Dust and rubble being kicked up and dragged at she slid to a halt in a crouched position. She slowly stood up to her full height. the chains spun and twirled as she rewrapped them around her forearms and once finished letting the leather handles fly snuggly into her palms. Mari sheathed one of the daggers, and then traced one of her claws up the spine of the remaining blade.
These blades held significance importance to Mari. Uncle Tails might have been the one to actually physically craft them, but it was her mother who chose the materials and designed them. Uncle Tails knew a lot about science, but he could only interoperate magic as that. Another Science. However, Mari's Mother saw magic differently, understanding it as a being and not just a collection of memoizable facts; something that was understood and not explained. Mother had picked the crystals due to their ability to absorb and disperse chaos, trying to make both a regulator and weapon for her child with growing powers. They were the last gift mother had ever given to her.
The Rabbit picked herself, with a hiss and growled. The festering green aura flowing off of her fur raged far wilder and more angered. The green glow concentrated at her left hand, forming a set of long jagged claws. With almost unnatural speed the Rabbit dashed forward, claw outstretched and raised ready to strike. The claw was brought down with the intention of smiting Mari but it never touched the crossbreed. There was a flash of pale blue light and the claw crashed into the dirt, upturning the soil with an explosion of green. Mari reappeared less than a second later behind the rabbit roundhouse kick into the back of her head.
"AHHH!" the Rabbit screamed.
Mari vanished once more in a flash of light, hiding herself back into the saturated shadows of the surrounding forest. However, she didn't run away.
"You weren't expecting that?" Mari called out, using the wind to echo her voice outward.
"Gah! Where are you! Why can't I see you!" The Rabbit screamed.
"How bad your head hurt?"
The ribbit pressed a hand to her head, "You concussed me, didn't you?"
"Little knock to the head tends to throw the chaos senses off."
"I figure that out when I hit the ceiling for the first time."
"So, scientist, huh?"
"What?"
"You were a scientist?"
"Am! I am a scientist. And why are you asking?"
"I just wonder how a scientist ends up as a weapon."
"If you must know. Funding wouldn't pay for anymore test subjects, after all our failures. I had to improvise."
"Failures?"
The rabbit sighed, "We were given experimental DNA. We were told that if we managed to decode and clone it, the species it belonged to would already have a connection to the chaos stream."
Mari held back a growl, she knew what that DNA was and how it all ended, "You were tasked with making soldiers?"
"People like you are always trying to take what isn't yours."
"Like me?"
"Born with powers. Gifted. I know you weren't the product of science. Your fur and eyes are your own, not mutated. I marvel at you, but I doesn't stop me from despising you. You are always trying to take control of everyone else. You want power, despite already possessing so much. And you take it. Leaving the rest of us to struggle. We have to adapt or be left in the dust."
A bright purple streak blasted out of the forest shadows and brush. Mari rolled up into a spin-dash. Striking the monologuing rabbit like a violet comet. The rabbit was thrown into the ground, as Mari bounced back. Arching high in the air before unrolling and falling back onto her feet.
"And yet you seek power and evolution through chaos. Why else would you have done this to others or yourself," The crossbreed stated as she walked up to the other chaos wielder.
"It's not the same," The rabbit said trying and failing to pick herself up.
"Is it?" Mari raised a brow, "You shouldn't try to get up. You're most like concussed and have a broken bone or two from getting thrown into the dirt."
"Showing concern for me, traitor? What an honor."
"It isn't an honor. It just means your injuries are obvious."
"How can you live with yourself? Even now you're standing over me. Oppressing me. Acting as my superior. Go on, kill me like the monster you are."
Mari looked over the rabbit. The raging red body suit, sickly green fur, and burning eyes, but it was the tiny diamond on her finger that caught Mari's eye. The crossbreed could kill her. In fact, Mari had all the reason she needed to, but she wouldn't. Because somehow, someone somewhere would mourn her death.
Still, that didn't stop her from glaring.
"I'm not a monster and I'm not going to kill you. But let me ask you this. If you believe that I stand over you, oppress you as a chaos wielder? Then how am I any different then Scourge? He keeps you separated from others like you. He monitors where you are. He calls you into battle even if you might die. He controls your every move. That sounds like oppression to me."
And with that Mari vanished into the night. Bathed in a flash of blue. Leaving the Rabbit behind.
The sound of laser fire echoed throughout the hall. It was a noise Zephyr would not soon forget. Especially considering that the guards were firing at him and Angie.
They were pinned behind pipes and barrels that were shoved to side walls. The guards stationed at the end of the hall were mindlessly shooting a barrage of deadly sideways red-hot raindrops. The hall end that they need to go through. Wonderful.
"So, is this part of the plan?!" Angie shouted out from her side of the hall.
"I kinda didn't think this would happen!" Zephyr called back.
"You didn't think this couldn't happen?!"
"You're the spy! I've only ever infiltrated the silo! And no one shot at me in there!"
"That's because Mari killed all the guards on duty before Sparky sent you in!"
"Oh, Chaos!" Zephyr slammed the back of his head against the pipe that was his cover.
"I probably shouldn't have told you that, huh?"
"I mean I assumed something got to all the bloody bodies in the hall, but I didn't really need it to be confirmed that it was Mari!"
"Yeah, she doesn't like to do it, but do what you gotta do."
"So, what do we gotta do here?!"
"We need to figure out how to get to them, without getting full of laser burns and puncture wounds."
"How do we do that?"
"I have no idea; I haven't been pinned down much and usually it's with Mari and she can teleport."
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize it isn't your fault."
"So, we need to get behind them?!"
Angie nodded. Her plum eyes searching around her. Zephyr watched as she froze, her eyes pinned on one of the containment barrels next to her. The metal cylinder was just a little shorter than them, and maybe half a foot wider. She looked back at Zephyr, and when they locked eyes, her purple to his green. They knew they shared the same thought.
"Do it!" Zephyr shouted.
Angie didn't nod nor hesitant. She gripped the barrel with both of her spiked hands and hurled it sideways into the blasts. That was the opening that Zephyr needed.
The world slowed down once more for the young speedster. The laser blasts were no longer quick flashes of death that if you were to blink you would've died without realizing it. They became glowing bars that crackled and sparked slowly, Zephyr leaped out from behind the pipe and started to run behind the barrel. He raised his foot, aiming for the center of the barrel.
Then the world sped back up again the second the soul of his shoe touched the barrel. The barrel shot forward taking out two of them middle guards and stunning the others. The firing stopped and Zephyr took his chance. He zipped to the right landing a sucker punch to one of the guards, and then bounded backward striking the last with a kick from a handstand position. In the end the hall was quiet and Zephyr stood in front of four unconscious guards and one crackling containment barrel.
Angie's heeled boots clacked on the tile floor as she ran up to her comrade, "Nice."
"I did good?" Zephyr looked at her.
"Four guards out in five seconds flat," Angie nodded, "Think you can do it maybe twenty more times."
"Maybe…" Zephyr trailed off, as his eye caught sight of the barrel. Said cylinder was now sparking wildly with his blue lighting and shivering on the floor.
Zephyr leaned towards Angie, but never took his eyes off the now convulsing barrel, "Hey Angie?"
"Yeah?" She said her fully attention now on the sparking object as well.
"What do you think was in that thing?"
"Well, judging by the tight seal and thick outer layer of metal possibly some form of collected energy."
"So…that form of collected energy wouldn't happen to be explosive if overloaded with electricity, would it?"
Angie never got a chance to answer that, as the barrel, or rather the battery, sputtered loader then burst into flames. Sending out a flash of light and shockwave that knocked both Angie and Zephyr away from it, and from each other.
Zephyr struck the ground once and skipped like a stone on a still lake before rolling to a stop. His ear rang and vision swirly. The cold tile was unforgiving as he tried to pull himself up from the laying position that he felt stuck in. When his ears decided to work again, he could hear a faint crackling, but it wasn't like his lighting.
It sounded like flames.
He looked up feeling his breath getting caught in his throat. The hall in front of him was glowing gold with hot fire. The plasma clung to the walls and floor dancing in a manner like that of swarming snakes. They hissed and crackled like vipers ready to strike, fangs poised and sharp ready to hunt.
"Angie!" Zephyr called out, stumbling to stand, "Angie!"
Only the roar of the blaze answered his cries.
Then there was a clicking noise. It came from above. Zephyr barely had anytime between looked up and running back wards to avoid the wall that was crashing down. There was the heavy thud of the wall as it hit the ground, and with it did his heart drop. The wall cut him off from the fire, but it cut him off from Angie. He rushed to the door, thrusting his gloved fists against the hard metal even though he knew that it wouldn't do anything.
His mouth was dry and his throat was aching, still he swallowed against the rising panic. He jumped when his com-link buzzed to life.
"Zephyr! Zephyr! Come in! Zephyr!"
"Sparky?" Zephyr answered the call, his voice cracking slightly with fear and adrenaline, "Is that you?"
"Yeah, yeah, it's me. Are you okay?"
"I am b-but Angie…the wall it fell and separated us…the fire…"
"Calm down. Angie's fine. She got blown down the other hall. She's okay."
"The fire?"
"The walls are part of the emergency fire suppression system, they cut off dangerous areas to keep anyone inside away from hazards."
"That was the main entry and exit way in your map. How are we going to get out?"
"I'll have to rework some things. In the mean time you just need to keep moving forward. Prison blocks got to be down there somewhere."
"Okay."
The com-link cut.
"Just keep going forward," Zephyr mumbled before running deep into the jaws of the underground.
The metal wall dented underneath the strike of her fist.
Angie all but growled. Nothing was going according to the plan. Granted it wasn't a very thorough plan, but that was beside the point. They weren't supposed to get separated. That was the one rule to follow in any mission that required someone to sneak into somewhere. Stick with your partner.
One person could get distracted. Distracted means you don't watch their surroundings. Not watching your surroundings meant you could get caught. Or worse killed. Two people however, were much harder to kill. Two people could watch each other's back. Sure, it was easier to get caught the more people you had in a building at one time, but it significantly raised your chances of getting out alive.
And now she and Zephyr were now separated in enemy territory. Sure, Angie knew that she could probably make it out of here. This wasn't the first time she had been in an underground death maze…That probably shouldn't be something she was happy and proud about…but Zephyr…oh being a rookie was not a good thing in this situation. Sure, Sparky had said that he was alright, but who knows what could be in these tunnels.
Angie bit her lip and turned away from the door. She wasn't going to find him just standing around. Her boots clacked on the tile floor as she ran. The explosion had taken out many of the nearby lights, leaving the halls covered in glass and drenched in darkness. However, it didn't take long for her to wander back into the glow of undamaged lights and bare halls.
Find Zephyr. Find Zephyr. Find Zephyr.
That was the only thought going through Angie's mind. Well, it was, until she ran into a black furry figure that appeared in front of her in a flash of blue light. Both Mari and Angie crashed into each other, tumbling and rolling over on the floor a few times.
"Mari?" Angie said picking herself up.
"Yes?" The black mobian said, flatly.
"Sorry! Are you okay?" Angie said picking her friend up.
"You know I've been run over by worse."
Angie hugged her sister, before abruptly pulling away and looking Mari over, "What happened? You just suddenly cut off the call, and…"
"I'm alright," Mari said firmly, before explaining, "The chaos user intercepted me."
Angie's plum eyes drifted over to Mari's arm, the small birthmark just underneath the crossbreed's shoulder gleaming with a blue glow. For a moment Angie was confused. Mari always covered up her white markings with black paint if she was going out at night. Mostly due to the very attention-grabbing blue glow, but also to keep her heritage a secret. Mari's mother had similar markings that would also glow when the moon was out. It hurt enough to wear the symbols of her mother's magic. Watching them light up with power that she couldn't use to connect with a late parent. Angie didn't want to think about that type of pain.
"Are you really, okay?"
"Physically? I'm fine."
"Mentally?"
"Intrigued."
Angie would ask what meant later.
"Where's the hedgehog?" Mari asked.
"We might have set off a type of battery and blew up a hallway."
"You were separated?"
"Do you see him with me?"
"Fair point."
The girls dashed down the halls once more. Falling back into habit. Watching each other's back, getting in fights, and pushing forward. Until Mari suddenly stopped.
Angie skidded to a halt looking back at her friend, asking an unspoken question.
"This isn't a wall," Mari said.
Angie followed her friend's fixated gaze on to the right side of the hall. The walls of the maze were made of large metal plates that stretched from ceiling to floor. Each identical in size and shape. Mari walked over to the plate closest to her and rapped her knuckles on it. The knock echoed. Hollow. The girls shared a look.
Mari pressed a palm on to the metal, and Angie covered the slits in the side of her head that she used to hear, knowing what was coming. The metal around the cross-breed's palm gleamed green before exploding inward. Revealing the hidden hall inside of it. It took a small chaos shard to break a large enough hole to let the girls slip through.
"How'd you know?" Angie asked, as they ran into the unlit hall.
"The wind."
"The wind?"
"There was a small crack between the floor and the fake wall. I could feel the draft."
"You felt a draft?" Angie let the silence settle for a moment, "Did he tell you?"
Mari nodded.
"I thought he left when your mom died."
"He never left."
There was a bang. Something heavy slamming against metal, and followed by the struggle grunts of a male. Someone was here.
It wasn't hard to find the captive in the hidden prison block. He was loud. His struggling echoed through the empty chamber, sound bouncing against the heavy walls. The fact that he had been left in here by himself only made it easier.
Angie had to repress a flinch when she first saw him. The elder peachy raccoon was strung up. His hands bound above his head with shackles and chains that were attached to the ceiling. His feet couldn't reach but his tail dragged against the cold floor.
"Hold still," Mari said.
The crossbreed unsheathed on her blades and gave it a light charge. She threw the gleaming green dagger at the link between the chains and ceiling tile. There was a quick shower of sparks, and Angie rushed over to catch the raccoon.
"Are you okay?" Angie asked, breaking the cuffs on the Raccoon's wrist.
"I'll…I'll be alright…who…" the raccoon blinked, astonishment in his gaze, "You're an echidna."
"Half," Angie corrected lightly.
"Half…That means you…you're… You're with them. The league."
Angie hesitated for just a moment before nodding.
The raccoon huffed an amazed gasp, "So, you are here…"
"Is there anyone else in here?" Mari suddenly cut in.
"Uh…no," The raccoon stuttered, "It was just me. Stupid I know, but I needed to see what was going on down here."
"Your actions and the motives behind them can be explained at a later time in a more stable environment," Mari stated, and starting for the exit, "Come on we need to get out of here."
"What about Zephyr?" Angie said, "We need to find him."
"And we can't bring a civilian in a possible hostile zone, as soon as we get him outside, we can look for Zephyr," Mari said.
"Then just teleport him out, while I look for Zephyr," Angie said.
"Zephyr?" The raccoon started, a vague look of familiarity coming over his face, "Is he a friend of yours?"
Angie nodded.
"Blue hedgehog, with pink frosted quills and dark green eyes? About ten years old?" The raccoon said.
"Wait you've met him?" Mari asked.
"I drove a young blue hedgehog from the countryside over to the city a few months ago." The racoon said.
Angie and Mari shared a glance, "Have you told anyone about this?" the half breed asked.
"Besides telling my wife I picked up a hitchhiker? No."
"Keep it that way," Mari said.
The lights shut off. Angie let out a surprised yelp. Despite being half bat, a creature of the night, she didn't do too well in the dark. Sure, echolocation was something bats had, but Angie only got the wings and expensive taste in shiny things from her mom. Not the lifesaving ability to navigate in the dark sadly.
Thankfully, while she couldn't see in the dark, someone else nearby could. Angie felt a firm, familiar grip on her forearm.
"We have to go, now," Mari order.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
For the last couple minutes? Or had it been hours? All Zephyr could hear was his footsteps. The soles of his shoes striking against the hard metal floor. The lights blown to bits, leaving the halls in pitch
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The heavy thick walls boxed him in, pressing towards him, closing in. Zephyr shook his head, and the walls stopped creeping, but the trapped feeling didn't leave. The many dead ends he found himself hitting weren't helping much either.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
He felt alone. Angie and him separated by a wall of fire, Mari engaged with a danger foe far away, and his commlink with Sparky shorted out once he reached the lower leaves of the underground labyrinth.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Darkness. Trapped. Alone.
The young hedgehog swallowed. It was like one of the nightmares he had when he was little. Exactly like one of his nightmares. Though, maybe it had never been a nightmare in the first place. Zephyr just hoped tonight ended differently than his dream. He was not in the mood to get crushed to death.
He nearly cried when he finally saw a light…but those tears wouldn't be ones of relief. The chamber at the end of the tunnel was large, round, and empty. White walls, lined with cold white lines in the ceiling. It felt sterile, at least near sterile, and intimidating, like if a gladiatorial arena was mashed with an operating theater. And well, that's not all entire untrue
"Well, well, if it isn't the blue blur himself…or rather an imposture?"
Zephyr's ear perked up on high alert. Head turning almost fast enough to snap his neck. A piece of the wall slid out, forming a platform with out railings, a golden Rabbit and forest green jackal standing on top of it. Both dressed in the red imperial uniforms.
"I thought he'd be taller? Wasn't he taller?" The jackal asked.
"The one from the old tapes was," the rabbit said, "but you're not him, are you?"
Zephyr swallowed, silently thanking that fact that Mari and Angie insisted on the raccoon make up. Keeping his face fully hidden wasn't and option in here, not with all the lights. Hopefully when this was all over, he could still go outside without it and not be recognized.
"Not a big talker, is he?" The jackal said.
"Good thing, we don't need him to be," The rabbit said.
Oh, that wasn't good.
"We just need him to be still," the rabbit hit a button on a remote he pulled out of his jacket.
The bright white light shifted, dimming and taking on a yellow hue. Like an emergency light system. The far wall split down the middle, the now two panels separating slowly, hissing like snake poised to strike. Out from what was formally a wall, walked out a giant mech. The heavy sound of artillery metal came with its each single movement. Headless, rounded plating, thick strong limbs and heavy hammers for fists. All of it butchered together with welding that resembled thick ropes or distended veins. As it came into the light, from its belly came an unholy roar.
Zephyr swallowed. Okay, this definitely wasn't apart of the plan.
The jackal laughed manically, "Doesn't this make you nostalgic? The blue hero against an evil robot?"
"Too bad this fight will be his last. When this whole place comes down…"
The platform was sucked back into the wall both imperial army members slinking away with it. Zephyr didn't have much to wonder about that very ominous last sentence, there was the lot scream of servos overhead, and within the next second a hammer arm came crashing down. The young hedgehog barely managed to roll out of the way. Becoming a blue rocket, he zipped around the room; the hammers weren't fast enough to catch him while running. However, that giant white laser that was charging on the robot's chest was a completely different matter….
Mari took a deep breath of the fresh night air, teleporting three people (including herself) was something she needed to practice in. However, she could worry about the oncoming migraine later. The team was still one member short. Not mention, she had a bad feeling in her stomach. As soon as she could clearly analyze her surroundings there was one very obvious fact that didn't feel right.
The base was evacuating. Soldiers darted in large quantities. Their manner somewhat organized, heading for transports, some with large bags and storage containers. The purpose of the operation clear as glass.
"Oh, that was tingly," the raccoon said as he stood up.
"Yeah, teleportation gets some taking get used too," Angie said dusting herself off, "Something wrong Mari?"
"They're leaving," Mari stated plainly, never taking her eyes of the seen below.
"Good riddance," the eldest mobian grumbled.
"Why are they leaving?" Angie said.
"Does it really matter, let them go," The raccoon said.
"They spent over two years here, you don't leave a project that has that much effort put into it unless there's a very good reason behind it," Angie said.
Mari's brow creased in thought. Something wasn't right here. Nothing here had been since they arrived. It felt different than that last mission they had on this ground. In the back of her mind there was this humming. One she recognized, but dismissed after remembering that there was another chaos user here. A user who was probably long gone by this point.
She clenched her jaw, and opened the comm-link, "Sparky, do you still have the specs of the underground?"
"uhh…yeah? Why?"
"Check for any hotspots of Chaos energy below ground."
There was a short pause, "Oh whoa…"
"Whoa? Whoa what? What whoa?" Angie said.
"There are several hotspots connecting to the underground tunnel systems."
"Generators?" Mari asked.
"No, I don't think so. It doesn't look like they're connected to anything in the main system."
"Then what are they?" Angie asked.
"Based on the evacuation protocols being sent through out the base, placement of the hotspots and their rising energy levels, they're most likely…"
"Bombs," Mari finished for the young fox, "They're a failsafe, a way to destroy any evidence of their work here."
"Not just the work. If my calculations are correct, and they usually are, the explosion these will create will damage not only the tunnel system underneath but the resulting cave-in will destroy everything for a half a mile beyond the edges of the labyrinth. If anyone is left inside…"
"Zephyr…" Angie said.
"Are you at a safe distance?" Mari asked.
"Me? I might feel a strong earth quake but I'll survive."
"How long to we have?" Mari said.
"Off the top of my head? 15 minutes, max."
Mari cut of the call and walked over to their civilian guest, "I'll teleport our friend here to the safe zone with Sparky, set a timer on your communicator, and head back into the tunnels. I'll join you when I'm done."
Angie nodded taking to the air to get to the entry way.
And Mari, now holding onto the Raccoon's forearm vanished into a flash of blue.
Right. Left. Up. Down. Forward. Backward. This was getting old.
Zephyr skidded to a halt, as a giant hammer collided with the metal floor in front of him, leaving a deep dent in its wake. Zephyr swallowed, nervously wondering what that kind of strike could do to him. The metallic click of moving servos came from above, and the young hedgehog zipped away before his morbid question could be answered, another dent visible in the floor after the dust of his dashing escape cleared.
The mech set its stance into one of stability, a heavy and ominous humming coming from its body as white light built up inside of its chest plate. A bright beam of hot light shot out of the metallic mammoth with a shriek. Zephyr barely manages to out run it. The wall behind him becoming a hot sticky goopy mess of melted metal.
What does he do? How could stop this thing? Now was not the time for him to be drawing blanks on fighting giant robots! Calling for help was out of the question, his communicator cut off the moment he entered the chamber. Alright, what was it that Mari said about fighting giant robots, again? Find a weak point? Was that what she had told him? That's all his head gave him to go off of right now.
Zephyr jumped away from another hammer strike, dashing forward and running up the side of the closest wall. Time slowed, the feeling of wind playing with his quills lingered, from his sideways position he could see the now frozen machine. The blue metal platting was thick, surrounding the torso, and the stiff parts of the legs and arms. The joints, specifically the inside of them, were more exposed. The chest plate also had that giant hole in it when the laser wasn't charging.
Time caught up and the game of cat and mouse started again.
Zephyr swallowed; he would have to spin-dash. While he could remain in a ball and throw himself, he had never actually hit any of his given targets. But he always worked best when underneath pressure. Just ask his Ma, when he accidentally dropped a full jar of cinnamon in the sweet potato stew and still managed to make it into something edible for the dinner rush that started in 15 minutes. If Zephyr took out the limps it would leave the robot immobile, however he didn't know how strong the metal was, and which angle would best destroy the joints. The chest cavity would be and easier target, but he would have to get the timing right if he didn't want to blow himself up. He decided on the latter.
The laser needed to charge. The best time would be just after it was shot to strike. The hot beam screamed once more as it flew over his head. Zephyr swallowed; now or never. He was already on the opposite side of the room, so he ran forward. His feet slamming against the hard metal floor as he picked up speed. He jumped before he through about it, leaping high into the air and began to curl up. Throwing his motion forward and down, whirling his body around and around. The wind stopped pushing against him, his body spinning and sliding through it. He kept his grip on his leg tight because it felt like something wanted to rip his body apart.
The blue hedgehog thought he would feel the smack of hard cold metal against his staticky quills. Instead, he began to drop. Losing speed and falling downward. He stayed curled until the cold slick dusty floor brushed against his quills, and then he uncoiled. Sticking out his feet, letting the rubber soles catch grip.
He swallowed; his throat dry. Okay, round two.
The hammer came flying down once more.
Another escape, another dent in the floor.
The scream of another blast.
Keep moving.
Zephyr set up another shot, sucked in a breath and launched himself forward.
Flying.
Pulling.
Contact.
Zephyr almost uncurled with surprise, when he felt the hot vibrating metal against his quills. In response to that he tightened his body, forcing to hold his form tighter. If he broke now, his body would splatter. Metal buckled and bent, screaming in a cracked pained voice as he struck the chest plate. Force reversed itself quickly, redirecting Zephyr back the way he came. Finally letting his body relaxed as he landed, or more accurately smacked into the back wall.
The young hedgehog slid down to his knees, panting. His face felt hot, cheeks flushed, throat dry mouth wet with a metallic taste. Green almost turquoise eyes looked up. The robot was down, laying slump against what was left the far wall. He had done it. He had actually hit the damn thing. A disbelieving and exhausted laugh slipped out through his heavy breathing.
He jumped when his comm-link suddenly opened.
"ZEPHYR! Zephyr, can you hear me?!"
Angie?
Zephyr swallowed thickly, "Yeah. Yeah. I hear you Angie," he coughed, "What's up?"
"Why haven't you been answering?"
"Something-" Most likely the robot "-was screwing with the signal. I couldn't get through to anyone."
"Doesn't matter now. Where are you? We need to get out here."
There was a hollow groan coming from the other side of the room. Metal scratched against metal as the robot's legs began to move, trying to stand.
"Uh…Yeah…Uhm…I'm kind of in a giant chamber with a killer robot…"
"What?"
The metallic blue beast stood tall, sparking spurting out of its chest. At least Zephyr took out the laser. The hammers, suddenly split open. Jagged sharp edges began to spin, turning into saws. I just had to look on the bright side, didn't I?
"Angie, I'm going to have to let you go…Robot is getting up again."
Angie's heart stopped beating….
"What no! Zephyr the Hedgehog Don't you dare hang up on me!"
There was the sound of ripping metal…No answer from her friend.
Angie started running, tracking Zephyr's comm.
Her heels clicking on the ground.
Click. Clack. Click.
Her timer going off.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
A hand gripped her shoulder, pulling her back as she screamed…
"NO!"
…and vanished into a thunderclap of pale blue light.
Zephyr didn't have time to think.
The saws shrieked and screamed; the blades hungry for spilt blood. It wasn't the same as the hammers. The hammers were slower, with less direct attacks, but the saws were the opposite. Fast and coming for him, nearly shearing off his fur and quills.
Then the ground began to shake. Zephyr bounced off the wall, feeling the floor below him rumbling. A distance sound of explosions, muffled by the walls echoed in his ears. A sinking feeling carved a home into his stomach.
The ceiling cracked and then caved in. A heavy metal beam falling through the white tile, and striking down the robot. However, Zephyr couldn't be grateful for that rare stroke of luck. Debris tumbled down on him in all directions. The heavy sound and heat of explosions surrounded him in a suffocating smog.
He couldn't see.
He couldn't hear.
He couldn't breathe.
Rubble twisted his feet. The ground rushed up to his face. The pounding heart in his throat began to choke his breath.
The last thing he remembered was a burning pain in his leg…and then it was over. Darkness took over his vision and all when silent.
A/N:
I LIVE! So, sorry this took so long. Another semester came and I'm currently on a short break from school so I finally got back to this! I might up load one or two spot light one-shots of my OCs, but other than that all that's left of this part is the epilogue. A sequel will probably be down the line, but I'll need to at least sort out the main plot point and time-line before I post that. Just so it doesn't take me so long.
Peace yall, see you in the epilogue!
