Violet Dreams
Part II
Chapter 27: Imprints
"Fear of death has been the greatest ally of tyranny past and present."
Location: Station Square
"I disagree," Sonic retorted with a frown, noticing one of the horrid beasts from below crawl onto the building.
The beast quickly skittered over to the man standing before him, keeping its head low as it moved. Once before the shorter figure, the creature thrust its scaly, scabby arms upwards, holding the purple Chaos Emerald. Watching with awe, Sonic quickly clutched his hands into fists.
"Those don't belong to you!" The indigo furred figure grasped the gem, his eyes moving up just in time to see Sonic run at him.
A vortex of blue energy shot around the shorter figure, as embers slithered through the wind-like attack Sonic unleashed. Standing before the short figure, his partner stood with Sonic's hands held tightly within their own. The blue hero struggled against the vice-like grip, his fingers curling and uncurling, trying to overpower the man before him.
"Clean up here, Gantz," the shorter figured ordered smoothly. "We have what we came here for."
Rotating, violet portals suddenly appeared all over the park, allowing the hordes of monsters to flee the scene – as well as the cloaked leader. Grass green eyes darted past his current target, and gazed in defeat at the retreating figure holding the Emerald. The blue hero quickly tore away from the figure, who had been called Gantz, and jumped backwards just in time to escape a ring of dancing flame to erupt at the taller figures feet.
"You remind me of someone I once knew," Gantz stated curiously. "Cocky and arrogant down to the last detail!"
"Don't flatter me," Sonic snorted. "What was all that about? What are you two using the Emeralds for!"
Moving a hand into the darkness of his hood, Gantz scratched his chin in thought. "You know, I'd love to tell ya'," he admitted. "But that'd really fire the leader up!"
Suddenly a powerful wave of dancing flame launched up over the cloaked villains body. Sonic grunted in surprise, throwing his arm in front of his face to guard his eyes from the intense heat and light. Feeling the flames die down, Sonic peered up above his arm watching as Gantz walked through the flame completely unscathed. Embers rolled off his cloak, curling up into the air before turning into a cluster of sparks and ash.
"As much as talking to you has been intriguing," he spoke with a vicious smirk, his canines revealing themselves in the shadow of his hood. "I have to follow orders. Too bad, I thought for sure we could work together!"
Reacting with lightning-fast reflexes, Sonic shot his hand out in front of him, catching the fist of the figure. Flames jumped around the man's body, as he quickly tore his hand free of the hedgehog's grasp, and ducked down with a sweeping kick. Feeling his legs shoot out from below him, Sonic watched as the world spun around, only for it to come to a halt as Gantz delivered a swift punch into the hero's gut.
Embers fluttered upwards from the blow, as Sonic smashed against the hard, concrete roofing of the parking blockade. Cracks jumped out from the impact, causing the roof to indent slightly. Sonic grunted with surprise, catching another fiery punch, except this time around, Sonic quickly threw the man across the platform. The blue blur scrambled back to his feet in order to dash after the man he had sent through the guardrails, wasting no time to eliminate his target and get some answers.
"You're a lot stronger than I expected, Sonic," the blue blur spun around as he jumped from the parking structure, finding a white-hot ball of flame flying towards him from below.
"But that isn't much of a surprise," Gantz admitted with a grunt as he jumped from one of the lower levels of the structure. "You did kill the infamous Doctor Eggman!"
Using his arms to defend himself from the ball of flame, Sonic found another crushing punch land against his body. The heat exerted from these punches was amazing! Flying upwards from the impact, Sonic spun into a ball as fast as he could and bounced across the rooftop of Twinkle Park. His pursuer followed, scorching hot pillars of flames erupted from each spot he touched.
"You're persistent!" Sonic called out with a smirk, launching off of the glass building, and onto the beach.
"I'm not paid to give up," Gantz retorted casually, landing with a stomp like motion right in front of the blue blur. A vicious burst of flame erupted around the man, knocking the hero into the sand. "Come to think of it, I'm not being paid at all!"
"So why don't you leave that creepand think for yourself!" Sonic shot back as he jumped back to his feet, just in time to avoid a flaming punch.
"I am thinking for myself," Gantz replied simply, stepping to the left in order to dodge a sweeping kick from Sonic. "Just because I take orders, doesn't mean I'm being controlled."
Thrusting his elbow out, Gantz smashed it into the hedgehog's skull, knocking the blue blur back into the ground. Sonic groaned, pulling himself up from the sand, noticing his friends running towards the beach with a crowd of civilians in tow. However before he could regain his footing, the legendary hero found a sudden pressure on his back. Gantz watched as the oncoming group of people neared, his boot dug into the hedgehogs' spine.
"Looks like Surge was successful!" He exclaimed with a chuckle, and jumped back from the blue hero. "Seeya 'round."
The cloaked figure quickly stepped backwards off the dock, falling into a swirling purple vortex, only to reveal the falling island paradise of which Knuckles resided on falling through the sky. People screamed in terror, while others pointed with silenced expressions of awe. As Angel Island impacted the ocean, the entire city seemed to shake, waves rolling closer to the city, threatening to drown everyone.
"Quick, L.I.N.C!" Tails shouted, throwing the orb of Jell-O like liquid onto the beach. "Expand and keep the water from getting through!"
Flashing like a light, the orb suddenly expanded outwards in the blink of an eye into a gigantic wall, easily fifty feet high. Everyone could hear the crashing of waves against the gelatin like creation. The expanded organism shifted and wiggled from the impact of water, however it managed to hold the ocean water at bay.
"Sonic!" Amy called out worriedly, sliding to her knees beside the wounded hero. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, don't worry about me, Ames," he winked. "I can't seem to ever catch a break!"
"Who was that back there, Sonic?" Tails questioned, crouching beside his brother. "It looked like you knew them."
"Not a clue, lil' man." the blue blur frowned, rubbing his head in pain. "But I have a feeling that isn't the last we'll see of them."
"Erm, Tails," Mighty gulped, watching the shifting wall uneasily. "Are you sure that thing will hold?"
"Don't worry, Mighty," the young fox reassured. "If the volume of water increases, it's molecular make-up will tighten and kneed together closer in order to strengthen itself while absorbing the water. I should be able to take it down in about twenty minutes!"
"Shouldn't we go check on Mister Knuckles?" Cream questioned quietly, her chao resting on her head.
"Good idea," Tails nodded, causing the rabbit to blush. "Sonic and I will take the Tornado there. Mighty, can you take Amy, Cream and Vanilla back to my Workshop?"
"Sur-" Amy quickly jumped to her feet, pushing the armadillo out of the way.
"Only if you two promise to come back right away!" Amy negotiated with worry. "Every time Sonic returns, we're always torn apart."
With a smile, Sonic placed a gentle hand against the rosette hedgehog's tear stained cheek. "Wait with them at the Workshop, and I'll will be there before you know it! I wanna see that smile when I get back, alright Ames?"
The sound of a plane broke through the sound of the talking crowd, as the Tornado began to descend from the clouds. The blue hero eased to his feet, with Mighty's aid, and found his way over to the park, where the famous blue bi-plane had came to a stop. The blue hero quickly made his way onto the wing of the aircraft as usual, while Tails jumped into the front seat.
"If any more of those things come, press the big, green button on the wall by my hangar!" Tails shouted over the humming engine of the plane. "It'll activate a defense system on the workshop. I installed it after Eggman's pawns attacked when we were on the Death Egg IV!"
"Did you get all that, Amy?" Mighty questioned nervously. "I didn't get a word he just said."
With a nod, Amy watched as Tails steered the aircraft around, and accelerated down the street. The thruster below the plane launched the two brothers high into the sky, back into the clouds. The young, pink hedgehog watched as her hero once again left just as quickly as he had come. It felt like a dream in some ways. But sure enough, she would smile and wait as usual.
Location: Empire City
Walking through the rubble, Shadow noticed the unusual quiet. People murmured amongst one another, while EMT's surveyed the crowd for anyone in need of immediate medical attention. The obsidian hedgehog turned his attention to the president, who had been escorted over to a bench in order for the minor wounds on his head to be dealt with. By now, GUN had sent in military trucks filled with soldiers in order to help with the attack. Many of the agents had taken it upon themselves to help with clean up for now, keeping ready in case a second attack came.
"Agent Shadow!" The dark hedgehog shifted his attention over to the President, who had begun to wave him over calmly.
Making his way over to the President, as well as the many government officials crowding around him, Shadow could see the worried expression playing Lincoln's face. Standing calmly and respectfully in front of the President, the dark hedgehog gazed past the man, noticing his Supreme Commander stepping out of a black SUV. His appearance had been left relatively unchanged since Shadow first met the large buck. His inky black fur seemed to radiate from the teal markings across his forehead, chest, neck and arms. Unlike Abraham Towers, the former commander, Shrike preferred battle ready attire, sporting a sleeveless and torn vest, camouflage pants and black combat boots.
"Are you okay, Mr. President?" Shadow questioned quietly.
"Besides a bit scratched up, yes I'm perfectly fine," he replied, greeting Shrike with a warm smile and a firm handshake. "Good evening, Commander. It's a shame you couldn't be here before the party was ruined."
"A shame indeed," the large buck acknowledged. "However, for the intelligence of our agents, and to further keep the nation secure, we're going to have to take you back to HQ for some questions, Mr. President."
Nodding in agreement, the aging President rose from the bench, the towel draped around his shoulders sliding off. "I completely understand," he replied with a warm smile. "Shall we be on our way, then?"
"My men will escort you to the SUV, sir." Shrike nodded, and turned his forest green eyes to Shadow. "I want you to come as well, Agent. We've received a transmission from Rouge…Station Square has been attacked as well. She's already been picked up, and she's on her way to HQ now. What happened out here, Shadow?"
Shrikes facial expression turned stern, and oddly worried as Shadow shifted his attention to the ruined Town Hall, then to look his leading officer in the eyes. "I can't tell for sure, but the energy signatures were familiar. I've seen them somewhere, but I can't quite put my finger on it. And those…things, they weren't human. I don't how else to describe it, but they weren't from here."
"I'll get you to write up a report on everything, Agent," Shrike explained. "I have other issues I'd like to discuss with you once we're back. Our jobs are being compromised, and I'd like to make a change."
Walking to the SUV, Shadow spared one more look at the run down city center. Whatever those things were, and whatever reasons those two hooded criminals needed the Chaos Emerald, it wasn't going to end well. Snapping back to reality, the dark hedgehog jumped into his seat, a solider shutting the door behind him. The roar of the engine filled the cabin of the SUV, and soon, they were on their way to the HQ.
Location: Antoni Pedrera Museum, Spagonia – 7:32 am
Voices filled his head, thrusting his world back into the living. Blinking a few times in order to get used to the light, Espio groaned, rubbing his head. He shifted his eyes across the foyer of the building, watching as federal and crime scene investigation agents swarmed around the building. Yellow "crime scene – do not enter" labeled tape hung across the entrances to the exhibits, while a bulldozer moved across the lobby, clearing the rubble. The voice of a Spanish man yelling overtook the other noise present, drawing Espios foggy mind over to the entrance where Vector, Charmy and Antoni Pedrera the IV – owner of the museum – stood.
"How could you let this happen to my precious exhibits!" he screamed, throwing his arms up in the air. "I offer you a fortune to keep this place safe, and this is the work I get in return!"
"Uhm, sir, I can explain," Vector mumbled, scratching his head nervously. "We were attacked, and well, we didn't exactly prepare for that specific issu-"
"I don't want your useless excuses!" Antoni hollered. "You three are fired, and you can expect a word from my lawyers in the coming weeks! I can't believe you'd allow this to happen to my family's legacy!"
"We tried our best!" Charmy murmured, while the two Chaotix sighed.
"Sir, we're going to have to ask you to wait outside for now," a larger, rounder man asked. His Federal CSI jacket hung tightly around his body. He was easily in his fifties, judging by his grey beard and flowing, swept back grey hair.
The owner stormed out of the entranceway, pushing through a group of guards on his way out. Shaking his head, the older agent rubbed his temples, and motioned for the awakening Espio to join them. Espio winced, his chest aching like never before. The chameleon laid a hand on the bandages across his chest and shoulder, and then slowly rose to his feet. Slowly but surely, he made his way over to his teammates, earning two relieved calls of his name. Vector gently patted his friend on the back, returning to his conversation with the lead investigator.
"So you say you couldn't get a glimpse of what they looked like?" the man asked curiously, a note pad in his grasp.
"Actually, one of the disguised figures seemed to be a monkey. I noticed his tail before I passed out," Espio answer hoarsely, his throat still sore from choking on water.
Noticing the man jot down the information, Espio turned to find the whole front wall of the museum had been blown apart.
"Thank you for your time, you three," the man smiled. "Don't worry about Mr. Pedrera, he's covered by his insurance. I suggest you boys go and see a doctor, you all look pretty beat up."
With another nod of appreciation, the investigator walked away, leaving the trio free to leave. Each of them had exchanged glances of relief, before walking out of the building and along the streets of downtown Spagonia. Staring ahead almost absentmindedly, Espio couldn't help but feel those three weren't your normal thieves. Besides, the one with the red eyes felt much too familiar to him. Walking past a shop housing electronics and gadgets of all types, the trio noticed a news broadcast from Station Square.
"Barely three and a half hours ago, Station Square has once again fallen victim to one of Doctor Ivo Robotniks destructive attacks,"the anchor woman informed with an almost angry tone.
The news cast turned from the blonde reporter to showcase the damage, and then switched to amateur footage of Sonic and the others fighting off the strange threat.
"His robots seemingly came out of nowhere, relentlessly attacking the civilians partaking in the celebration being held here in Emerald Square. However, before any further damage could be dealt, legendary hero, Sonic the Hedgehog swooped in and forced Doctor Robotnik's forces back through the strange warp tunnels of which they came. More on this story later tonight. I'm Tasha Gomez, reporting for channel 5 news."
"What happened last night, you two?" Espio asked, as they continued down the streets, making room for the crowd to disperse from around the shop window. "How did they get past you both?"
"We thought you were givin' them ol' one-two down there!" Charmy explained, jabbing the air ahead of him with his fists.
"Yeah, when little shocky reunited with his friends, they gave us the slip." Vector sighed, rotating his shoulder in pain. "We didn't stand a chance. But I do have a hunch there's more to this than a theft!"
Earning a convinced stare from his teammates, Vector chuckled and cracked his knuckles. "I think we got ourselves a case, boys! C'mon, I'm sure Tails and the others are at the Mystic ruins right now recuperating!"
"Wouldn't they be asleep, Vector?" Espio questioned with a sigh. "Let's find out what leads we can get around here first, maybe the locals know who they are. Then we'll take a flight out to Station Square, and we can find out what the others know."
With a huge sigh, Charmy crossed his arms and grunted. "But I wanted to see Sonic!"
Location: Tails Workshop, Mystic Ruins – 5:45 am
With defeated expressions and upset sighs around the table, Tails took it upon himself to break the depressing silence. Standing from his chair, the young fox clicked a button on the table, bringing up a holographic image of the planet in the center. Sonic peaked open an eye, his chair rocking gently as he balanced on the rear legs, his feet propped up on the edge of the table.
"Watcha doin' bro?" he asked curiously, the others who were still awake peering at the image themselves.
"I think I've figured something out," he chirped up. "They obviously knew, or know, the Doctor. Somehow he's relaying information to those two, and their accomplices, if any. Sonic, Mighty, remember those tubes filled with that weird liquid we saw on the Death Egg? They had seven people in them, or what we guessed were people!"
"What're you getting at, Tails?" Knuckles questioned, growing impatient.
"Sonic, you said you saw two of Eggmans shuttles fly to Earth! Well, what if the REAL Eggman escaped on one of those, with Shadow, as well as his creations? The entire battle up there must've just been a big distraction! I think he only wanted us to turn our sights from the small details, so that he could escape with his real plan!"
"Why would he wait until now of all times to show up again?" Mighty asked with a moan of annoyance. "It's not exactly fair that he gets to ruin everyone's peace whenever he wants!"
"If those people we saw are really robotic creations, or maybe biologically engineered life forms like Shadow for example, then he could have used the entire battle up in space as a way to fool us all into thinking he was dead. He bought himself time to finish all of his work, and he's only showing up again now because he's only finishing now!"
"Persistence must be the Doctor's middle name!" Mighty snickered.
"Tails, there's one problem." Sonic frowned. "When I was fighting off those two creeps in Station Square, the one with all the fire said something about me killing Eggman. Even if those are his creations, there's no way he'd keep himself hidden from his own robots."
"Tomorrow we'll get ahold of Shadow," Tails pondered, staring at the holographic image of Earth. "He was in charge of security for the President in Empire City, and they were attacked as well."
"And if the Doctor is still hiding like the coward he is, I'll beat him to a pulp for taking the Master Emerald again!" Knuckles snorted ferociously. "There's no telling what he could do with that much power."
"I think for now we should all catch some Z's," Sonic explained with a yawn, motioning to Amy, Cream and Cheese, who were all fast asleep on the couch. "It's been a long day, and we could all benefit from a power snooze."
With a mutual nod of agreement, the four heroes stood up, each of them stretching their stiff joints. Watching as Mighty and Knuckles left to their individual rooms in the House, Sonic walked over to his best friend, who had wasted no time and begun typing information and data into his computer.
"Try and get some sleep, lil man," Sonic said with a warm smile. "Whatever it is that's happening, we'll tackle it. Besides, you've really grown over the last couple years since we went to the Death Egg. I have no doubt in my mind that figuring this whole conspiracy out will be a piece of cake with you leading us."
Grinning with delight, Tails nodded. "Thanks, Sonic," he replied happily. "I've really been pushing my limits, and coming up with some useful inventions since you left. I realized how much damage a great mind could do to the world, so I wanted to be the opposite of that. Seeing all the technological advancements the Doctor had made aboard the Death Egg really knocked some sense into me, y'know?"
"You've always had a great mind, bro." Sonic grinned. "But even great minds need to sleep. I'll see you in the morning, err..later."
"Goodnight, Sonic." Tails nodded, his smile fading after his brother had left the room.
In all honesty, Tails was extremely worried. If the Doctor had managed to stay alive after the conflict in space, then there was no telling what he was capable of at his best. In the back of his mind, Tails couldn't help but feel trumped in terms of thought power when put against the Doctor. He seemed so brilliant. Even after all the times he had fought against Eggman; like aboard the ARK, for example, Tails had always thought he was at his full extent. That the Doctor had no tricks left up his sleeve, and that no matter what, Tails would be able to out think him. Perhaps he had underestimated Doctor Eggman.
He truly was a mastermind, and it was time Tails stepped up to the plate.
"This time I'll let you go, but the next time we meet, you won't be so lucky!" ~ Doctor Ivo Robotnik aka Eggman – 2002, Aboard Space Colony ARK
To Be Continued
Authors Note~ Slower chapter this time, but it has some foreshadowing in it ;] Try and figure out where! This chapter was fun to write – I enjoy writing scenes with the Chaotix, they always seem to find their way into trouble! I really want to open up a couple of side-stories within Violet Dreams, because I'd like for them to branch out into the other stories of the series. I've set up 2 within this chapter already! :P Can you spot them? Leave your comments, theories and tips in a review! God bless!