_Chapter 6: Team Chaotix _

Location: Planet Cobalia

Target: Jomundar Teffaroy, #10

Deep in the rain forest of Cobalia, a beige, brown-striped Lombax rested under a thick branch in an attempt to stay out of the pouring rain. He shivered as he spoke to himself, "Stupid rain water! Why did you even agree to this, Jomundar? I don't know why I even agreed to this station!"

"Well, this is the rain forest," a voice said. At first, Jomundar thought he had said it. But then a large bee about a meter tall appeared and continued, "If you don't like it then you shouldn't live here. So why do you?" The bee's sudden appearance surprised Jomundar so much that he fell from his perch and into the fast-flowing river. He was out of the water and on the riverbank in a flash, shivering from either cold or fear. "Now answer me this," the bee called down. "Are you afraid of the water itself, or are you afraid of what's actually in it?"

Jomundar glared up at the strange bee and yelled to it, "That depends! who wants to know?"

"Him," the bee said smugly, indicating to someone behind the wet Lombax. That's when he heard it: the blood-chilling growl that began to increase in volume. Jomundar looked around warily until he saw a shadow on the murky water. He whipped around to find a large crocodile glaring down at him, sharp teeth bared menacingly. Jomundar recoiled and showed his own sharp teeth in a hiss, his ears flat against his skull.

The Lombax stood straight and began to back away when he felt a sudden force twist his arms behind his back, driving him to his knees. "Nice job, Espio," the crocodile said. Jomundar looked behind him and saw a chameleon about his size coming into view.

"Thank you, Vector," it said to the crocodile. "You didn't do too bad yourself." Then he called to the bee, "Same for you, Charmy." The bee let out a little squeal of joy at his praise.

Jomundar shook himself and said, "Who the hell are you and what in Hell's name do you want with me?"

"We are Team Chaotix," Vector answered. "And by the order of the Intergalactic Forces, we are placing you under arrest."

"What?" Jomundar asked, baffled by his words. "What the hell for?"

Vector showed him a pocket screen with nine names on it. "Do you recognize any of these names?" Jomundar looked at the names with curiosity at first.

Then his expression turned to shock. "Oh dear spirits. By the Time Keeper!" He looked up at Vector. "I haven't seen these names in almost eight years."

"Uh huh. What about it? How do you know these names?"

"Er…well," Jomundar stammered.

"Go on, spit it out!" Charmy demanded.

Jomundar sighed. "We were the Rouge Force against the Guard and the Order."

"Well that wraps this up," Vector said. "You're coming with us, Lombax."

"Fine," Jomundar sighed. "I'll come quietly."

The four of them walked through the forest in the pouring rain as Espio used his katana to cut a path through the vines. Oddly enough, every time the chameleon cut a vine, Jomundar winced as if he was in pain. Espio looked back at the Lombax as he hissed and said, "What's up with you?" Jomundar looked away, but clenched his vine-bound fists in anger. He looked behind him to see Charmy swatting branches and leaves away, occasionally breaking them; this only caused him more pain and his anger flared higher.

"Have you no respect for nature?" Jomundar said desperately.

"I have had enough of your whining!" Vector yelled, hitting a nearby tree. He hit it with such a force that the tree was broken on impact, causing Jomundar to cry out in pain and fall to his knees.

The Lombax's breath was heavy and came out in short gasps; he was drenched in sweat as well as the rainwater. He felt white-hot pain rush throughout his body and the blood rushing quickly to his head. Then he felt a soothing sensation in his mind as the forest took over, using him as a host.

In a multitude of voices, Jomundar said, "We have had enough of thy disrespect for Our kind. It is time We taught the three of you a lesson." Two vines snaked from a nearby tree and carefully released the Lombax from his bonds. He stood, and, chanting under his breath, the other three watched as the plant life made a type of protective cocoon around him. Then he crossed his legs in a meditation position.

Vector, Espio, and Charmy looked at each other with obvious worry as Vector said, "I have a really bad feeling about this guys." They looked around in surprise as trees uprooted on their own, vines came to life; the grass wove in and out of the slick bark, forming an armor-like coating. The trees twisted, strengthening with each turn.

The cocoon in which Jomundar was in was gently placed upon the highest wooden platform. As he unfolded his legs, it came apart, wrapping around the wood and his ankles, anchoring the Lombax firmly to the platform. His eyes now glowed a deep, dark green mixed with black and red. "You shall pay for your injustice!" The forest proclaimed through Jomundar. All the while, the thick vines had braided tightly and had wound their way around, over, under, and through the skeleton-like branches. "And We shall make sure you do." Then he disappeared as thorned twigs wound around him to created a type of dome.

All in all, it looked basically like a robot they had all come to know so well.

All of a sudden, Charmy started laughing. "And what dost thou find amusing, child?" The Forest asked.

"We already know how to defeat you," Charmy taunted.

"Oh, really? And how wouldst that be, sky-flier?" Without a word, Vector jumped up and struck the wooden giant just below where Jomundar was kept, splintering the left arm.

Jomundar turned to stare at it for just a moment before he said something unintelligible. As easily as it had broken, a new set of branches created a new arm. Then he laughed. "Thou dost not understand. We are the Forest; this boy is one with nature! You cannot defeat Us!"

"Well then," Espio said. "If you are a tree, I am a lumberjack." He then pulled out his katana and slashed at the vines.

He stumbled backwards slightly at the surprisingly strong force of the blow, but recovered a moment later, saying, "We shall show you what the Forest is really capable of." With a wave of Jomundar's hand, giant carnivorous plants with red flowers atop them sprouted from the ground.

"Yippee!" Charmy shouted as he jumped up into the air and, using his stinger, he hit the flowers on the plants, killing them instantly.

"Laeta," Jomundar murmured. Then in a shriek, "Laeta!"

Then all three of the team pulled out instruments. Jomundar watched with confusion as the three of them played high-pitched notes, destroying the supports of the platform Jomundar stood upon. As the Lombax plummeted down to the ground, the forest created a vine net, which caught him and encased him in a shield of protection. "As long as I live, so shall the Forest," the three heard Jomundar whisper. Vector grinned with excitement.

"We'll just have to kill you then," Vector said. "I do so love my chili peppers!" Then he pulled out a few and ate them, releasing a jet of flame from his mouth a second later, setting fire to the case that held Jomundar.

Jomundar felt the heat even before it impacted. I have been outmatched, he thought to himself. He didn't have time to scream, he didn't need to. He knew the forest would die with him, but he would be released from their control on him. At last, I am free.

As the ashes settled, Vector pulled out a pocket vid-screen and sent a transmission to the Planetary Defence Center where Quark was awaiting his call. "Team Chaotix to Planetary Defence Center; are you there, Quark?"

Quark appeared on the screen, shock obviously shown on his face. "You guys are alive? You did it?"

"Well, we're standing here, aren't we?" Espio asked.

"Of course!" Quark exclaimed. "You three come on back to the Planetary Defence Center and wait for the others. I expect to hear from them soon."

"On our way; over and out!"

I had a lot of help on this from my companion. I'm not too brilliant when it comes to fight scenes.

I would really like to thank those who have read and reviewed on this story. Hopefully I'll get more feedback so I can improve.

Anywho, my inconsistency shall continue until...most likely next year, after Christmas break.

Anyways, laters, peace, whatever y'all like to hear.

R & R please!

TTFN!