Violet Dreams

Part II

Chapter 46: The Fallen

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress."

Location: Typhoon Plains

An unholy scream shook the planet. The beast from which it came loomed above the cities of the United Federations, it's titanic jaws ready to pry apart the Earth, and leave it asunder. Soldiers of all nations fought back the creatures that had spawned in every major city centre. Madness had ensued, and it had swallowed the planet whole in but a few days. Little did humanity know that this was just the beginning.

Two figures burst free from a portal in the sky, dropping them to the grassy plains below. First, Vector tumbled through the windy prairie, then, Espio came. Despite the destruction the planet had been experiencing, this one stretch of land seemed untouched. As though a divine force protected it for a reason unknown by any mortal.

What was left of the Chaotix stammered to their feet, still shaken up by the death of their comrade not even a minute prior. A great gust of wind pushed through the prairie, bending the long, wave like bundles of grass and wheat with it. Espio remained quiet, staring up into the sky at the beast that would devour the world as they knew it. He felt deprived of hope.

"I'm starting to get the feeling we're done for," Espio remarked, sitting down amidst the sea of green and yellow. "That guy who killed Charmy...he probably split us all up to buy himself time for that thing up in the sky."

"Do you think he's really dead?" Vector asked, catching his comrade completely off guard.

For a moment, Espio had no idea what to say, or what to even think. "I don't know, Vector. It looked pretty convincing to me. Galaxy doesn't seem like the kind of person to fool around."

With a gentle sigh, the purple chameleon sat down, his desire to fight completely diminished. Vector stared quietly at the once always battle-ready Espio, and for the first time ever, he didn't know what to do. He always had a solution, or scheme, to get his team through a tough spot. But, right now he was unsure if anyone could do anything to save them.

"I guess Havoc was wrong about Galaxy, after all," Espio commented sombrely. "All we can do right now is wait and hope that Sonic and the others can figure this out from over there."

Listening to his partner quietly, Vector snorted, anger beginning to well up within him. "What are you saying?! You oughta be ashamed of yourself! Charmy was just killed by those maniacs!"

Vector stormed over to his partner and glowered down at Espio. The chameleon quickly jumped up, meeting Vector face to face, anger rising in them both. "Even now...you think we can find a way out of this? Vector you have got to be the most stupid -"

"I can't believe you, man. You're a Chaotix, and no matter what, we get the job done. Right now, that job is to stop these freaks gallivanting around, acting like they're tough shit!"

"Vector, it's too late to get back and try to do anything..."

"When has that ever stopped us? We just lost a friend...a brother. We're not going to disrespect his death like that. We're going to hand those freaks what they've got coming!"

"Oh really?" Replied a third, nasally voice.

The Chaotix realized who it belonged to and spun around to face their foe. Sure enough, standing a couple yards away, Hurricane stood with a defiant smirk, his cloak flapping violently in the prairie wind. The monkey quickly unclasped the cloak, allowing it to rip away from his shoulders and disperse into a burst of fire.

"You guys look as depressing as ever, hehehe," he exclaimed playfully, but his expression spoke of only anger. "That ninja dude sounds like a little girl! This'll be easier than I thought!"

"Why are you here, you dirty primate?!" Vector scowled as he balled his fists.

"Oh, well, Galaxy is sayin' that if we don't kill ya' guys we won't be allowed back with him to our leader. He'll say we all died 'er somethin'." Hurricane replied casually, walking towards the duo. "I really don't wanna be the only one left out!"

The sound of his words had just barely rolled off his tongue, when suddenly Hurricane lunged towards Vector, his hands spread open and ready to try and strangle the crocodile. The detective grunted as the Dusk agent pounced on him, a fist colliding with his throat on the way down to the ground. Vector choked and coughed as Hurricane rolled to his feet, only to jump and spin around in the air. A blur flung around towards Espio, who just barely managed to block the ferocious roundhouse kick.

With a smirk, Hurricane back flipped away from the duo, creating a powerful whirlwind in his wake. Taking up a martial arts pose, Hurricane cackled and cracked his neck. "I can't wait to kick yer asses!"

Suddenly a vortex of wind erupted around Vector and Hurricane. The force of the whirlwind pressed against Espio, slowly pushing him away from the rivals within. "Espio, I'm okay! Just figure out a way to stop him! Look for a weakness!"

Driving his clenched fist into Vector's cheek, Hurricane snickered at the sight of his foe tumbling to the ground. "Joke's on you! I have no weaknesses!"

"You sure are cocky!" Vector retorted gruffly, wiping the blood from his mouth.

Madly scrambling back to his feet, Vector prepared himself to tackle the monkey in front of him. His legs tensed up, and in the next moment the large croc lunged through the air, ramming his skull against Hurricane's. The monkey yelped dangerously, his hand flinging up to caress the bruised and bleeding spot on his forehead. Wasting no time, Vector reeled his arm back, and in the next instant crashed his clenched fist into Hurricane's cheek. Blood spewed free from his mouth, creating a trail in the air as the monkey crashed to the ground. Immediately, the powerful detective crouched over and grabbed the monkey by the throat, his vengeful eyes leering deep into Hurricane.

"That all you got? I thought you said you have no weaknesses?" Vector remarked, his chest heaving in all the air he could manage in the vortex.

"I was just giving you a head start, heh," Hurricane quickly plunged his knee into the hero's gut, then rolled to the side.

The young monkey swiftly rolled to his feet, and in the blink of an eye delivered a bone shattering punch down into Vector's spine, sending him down into the ground. However before he could even process the sensation of the vegetation on his skin, his body was heaved away from the earth and thrown up into the air. Hurricane watched the crocodiles body twirl around in the sky, the cyclone surrounding them carrying the detective further upwards in the process. Hurricane then punched the air in Vector's direction, a bullet of condensed wind shot free from his fist, and in a split second collided with the croc's body. Blood oozed from the hit, but Hurricane continued his relentless assault. Four more bursts of air shot free from his fists, each pummelling Vector higher up into the vortex.

Suddenly, the wind surrounding the fighters died out, allowing Vector to fall to the ground in a bloody heap. The crocodile groaned and turned onto his back, trying to pull himself up. However, Espio quickly rushed into the battlefield, aiding his comrade up.

"After all I've been through, I'm not gonna let you two nimrods take away my salvation!" Hurricane barked, the vortex once again erupting around them. "I suffered at the hands of the military for far too long! I was treated and used like an experiment!"

Flashback

Location: Ayalaham, Northern Mazuri

Snow swished past the group of cloak clad men, their lone prisoner shivering and shaking between them. The narrow, winding path that hugged the side of the Avalon mountain range blanketed with a thick coating of white powder and ice. A young boy surveyed the looming trees above him, plotting a means of escape from his village elders. The long, grey beards extending from each of the elder's hoods seemed to wave with each gust of wind that attempted to sweep the group into the canyon that separated them from the forest they lived in. Taking small, gentle steps, the young boy let out an exasperated sigh, glaring at the two soldiers holding him in line.

He hoped for a distraction, or a miracle to free him from their grasps.

Finally they stopped walking, coming up to an entrance embedded into the rock walls of the mountain. Two golden lions sat on guard, their raised paws covered with snow. An elder rose his staff, tapping the centre of the stone door that blocked their passage. Light crawled across the exterior, inching over the intricate carvings like a snake in the grass. Then, a turquoise glow illuminated the group.

"The boy goes first," one of the men mentioned, standing beside the opening with a menacing look.

Grumbling, the young village boy stumbled forwards, a soldier thrusting him towards the elders. His feet slid through the fresh snow, and soon he stuttered into the shadowed and cold maw. The unrelenting scent of mold and musk attacked the boys nose, forcing him to bury it in the scarf wrapped around his neck in disgust. Curious eyes scanned the walls as he descended, taking note of the strange mosaic positioned down the tunnel.

"Why is the wall covered with pictures of tree's...?" The young boy wondered, annoyance swelling up in his chest.

Feeling an elder shove him forth with their staff, the young boy realized he had stopped absentmindedly. Staggering through the dark channel, the monkey then came to a stop along a flat stretch of stone beneath his feet, it two designed with a elegant picture of a tree. Shuffling his feet, the boy stared at the strange picture on the ground, realizing it was meant to depict a demon.

"Light the lamps," one man demanded, thrusting a flaming stick towards the monkey. "Hurry up. Don't waste time."

Grasping the torch gingerly, the prisoner dabbed the orange flame against metal semi-circles beside the door, igniting the wicks inside. Two small flames lapped the side of the door, illuminating it. A final picture came to life, this time of a brilliant tree being held up by a demonic beast. The young boy gulped, feeling his body being nudged towards the opening door.

A powerful gust of wind exploded from behind the blockade, pressing against the group like a train. Soon, though, the door had lifted into a crevice in the mountain, allowing a blinding light to engulf the tunnel.

The elders rushed past the young boy, and onto a beautiful glass walkway. Behind them, the soldiers pushed the monkey through after them, to which the door slammed shut, locking them in.

Rushing waters, the squawks of exotic birds and the overwhelming scents of long lost fruit overcame their senses. They stood on a small canopy, attached only to a staircase leading down to a circular formation of rock. All around them, water fell from incisions in the mountain, while branches of a titanic tree reached through the water and over the abyss they stood over.

Countless remarks of the beauty rang through the quiet, divine space. Slowly the group descended down to the garden, where a tree surrounded by a small pond lay. In front of it, a white, glass alter stood untouched for what the young boy had to assume to be a millennium. Upon closer inspection, the child noticed small amounts of golden fruit dotting the healthy green foliage of garden.

"What is this place?" he asked his captors. "Where are we?"

Finally filtering out onto the circular garden, the boy was shoved in front of the elders as they lined up behind him. "The Tree of Life, my boy. We stand in what theologists throughout time believe to be the cradle of life. Where everything started. Some say a man named Adam and his wife Eve ate from this tree and were outcast by the Christian God. Others say it's a piece of a wondrous city called Shambhala. However, what we know for sure, is that the water flowing in this place contains a special mineral that grants immortality."

"You guys are kiddin', right?" he retorted with a dubious scoff. "Shit like that don't exist!"

"On the contrary, my child. If what our research says proves to be correct..." one of the elders approached the monkey boy, gripping his wrists before sliding them into handcuffs. "With this water, we'll be able to sell our Intel to GUN. No longer will our small nation be vulnerable. The United Federations will pay handsomely for what we've just uncovered!"

"Why'd you need me then...?" He wondered, examining the sturdy, rectangular alter suspiciously.

"Because, Hurricane, you are the sacrifice necessary for the water to be effective. Lore revolving around this ancient chamber speaks of many things. But one of the keys to awakening it's secrets is the blood of a child. You see, it's based off of the order given to a man in the Christian Bible by the name of Abraham to kill his son Isaac."

"You're gonna kill me?!" Hurricane shouted, fear exploding into his words like a bomb. "What did I do to deserve this?! Why me?!"

The young boy pushed, shoved and struggled against the four elders surrounding him, but found it to be of no use. Suddenly, one of the soldiers stepped forward, the gleaming GUN insignia on his jacket catching the boys eye. Looming over the boy, the soldier set a muscular hand on Hurricane's shoulder, his eyes glaring down.

"Your village views you as a monster. The power you hold, they see it as demonic. Either face exile in your own home, and risk torture-"

"Torture?! From who!?" The boy screamed, beginning to cry as he fought the grips of the elders, only to fall helplessly to his knees.

"The government ruling your community want you dead. Now, would you rather benefit the pure that live amongst you, and sacrifice yourself for a noble cause...or die a filthy maggot in the belly of the prisons you'll be sent to?"

"I don't want to die!"

Turquoise light began to creep along the monkey's body, emanating from the strong hand of the military general. Soon, the boy found himself unable to move, and only able to cry for his tortured life.

"General Shrike," an elder commented quietly, unwrapped a knife from a golden cloth. "Do the honours."

With the help of the four men, Hurricane had been effortlessly laid across the alter, his arms tied against the golden rods extending down into the ground. Standing above the weeping child, the general sighed, pressing the knife against the child's abdomen.

"Why are you doing this to me?" he stammered, choking on tears and saliva. "Why..."

Blood oozed past the sharpened edge of the dagger, pooling around Shrike's hands as he plunged the weapon deep into the boys body. A gentle yelp echoed across the quiet walls of the forgotten garden, as crimson liquid trickled down the limp body, and onto the alter. One of the elders scurried past Shrike, taking the golden cloth to soak up the blood before it had the chance to clot in the wound. Then, without any regard to the dead child, the man crouched down to dip the bloodied material into the crystal clear pond, allowing the scarlet to cloud the untouched water.

However, nothing happened.

"Odd," the elder remarked, stroking his beard, his eyes fixated on the water. "There's no change. Unless the water absorbs the blood? Shall we inject him with it now?"

Standing back, Shrike watched intently, holding the dagger in his hand tightly. "You had better make this work, old man."

Using a syringe to suck up a small amount of the water, the old man trotted over to the lifeless boy. Quickly plunging the needle into the boys chest cavity, the elder injected the liquid, watching for any signs of change.

"Alexander, something is happening to the water!" one of the other men yelled, stabbing a finger towards the pond.

Bubbles began to form on the surface of the crystal clear pond, only to pop and expel a blood like substance into the oasis. Sludge dripped from the tree hanging above the body of water, it's fruit rotting and falling into the liquid as well. The chamber shook, the cascading falls suddenly ceasing, only to pour out blood from the walls. The putrid scent of rotten flesh filled the air, forcing everyone to hold back their vomit.

The same liquid oozed up through the ancient floor, it's sickly color starting to snake over the feet of the elders and GUN officials. Shrike quickly jumped away from the alter, narrowly escaping a hoard of vines which swooped the dead boy away into the air. Rock tumbled down from the opening in the mountain above, the soldiers aiding Shrike getting caught up in the chaos, only to be crushed. Growling, the GUN agent darted up the crumbling pathway, abandoning the village elders and his men as a vicious storm of vine and branches erupted through the garden, ripping everything apart with an effortless rage.

Crumpled remains of the garden descended with the tainted water into the pit that surround it. Shrike, however watched from the entrance clutching the syringe filled with the mystified water. A subtle growl left his mouth, and as the rest of the chamber crashed down on itself, Shrike disappeared through the stone door of which he had come.

End Flashback

"They left me to die there!" Hurricane howled between sobs, tears cascading down his face. "All my life, I've been nothing but a lab rat – a tool. But y'know what? I'm not lettin' anyone take advantage of me, anymore! Never again!"

"I don't believe that one bit," Espio remarked, his hands moving to form a string of mystic hand seals. Upon finishing, embers seemed to drip from his mouth, only to erupt outwards into a great ball of fire.

"You're being controlled by the guy leading your group! He's not going to give you guys shit! He's just trying to succeed in his own goals, don't you all realize that?" Vector barked as he blocked a powerful punch from the primate.

The grey monkey quickly exhaled a condensed bullet of air into the ground, shooting him into the sky in order to dodge Espio's attack with little difficulty. However, the skilled ninja retaliated by sending a barrage of shuriken hurtling towards the Dusk agent. The stars of metal sailed through the air, some striking the dirt, while a few plunged deep into Hurricane's flesh.

Hurricane tumbled from the air and into the ground, where he remain on his knees, blood dripping from the multiple wounds strewn over his body. "You turds don't know shit about what suffering is.."

Rows of ancient text crept across the man's face, while also tainting his eyes to black. The marks shone brightly as the monkey darted towards the Chaotix, his fists ready to strike. Hurricane threw one fist straight at Vector, whom quickly ducked to the left. However as he did so a burst of air erupted against his body, sending him bouncing and tumbling across the ground. Jumping past his ally, Espio bounded into the air above Hurricane, forming the same seals to fire off another ball of flame.

"Nice try," Hurricane sneered.

The grey primate inhaled quickly, and in the blink of an eye a great windstorm struck the flaming comet coming from Espio. Each opposing force struck, and as they did a shockwave rippled the waves of wheat and grass the trio fought within. Embers scattered across the field, burning up chunks of the plains and igniting everything on fire.

"Vector, are you okay?" Espio called out as he landed beside his pal, whom groaned in reply. "We have to figure out a way to distract him. He's too quick for us to fight him head to head. We gotta trap him so he can't move around."

"Any suggestions? Coz' I'm fresh out of ideas, Espio," Vector replied with a sigh and swept the grime from his forehead. "We can't keep running around without a plan, or we're gonna wind up six feet under!"

Another wave of pressurized air swept across the plain, ripping the vegetation it encountered to shreds. Espio and Vector quickly rolled out of the way, unaware of Hurricane who had been in hot pursuit. A firm punch met Espio's cheek, and the chameleon tumbled away, smashing into and destroying the only tree in the area. Eager to land a hit for his comrade, Vector hurtled his fist into Hurricane's cheek.

Blood and saliva splashed to the ground, followed quickly by Hurricane. Vector quickly lunged downwards to grab the monkey, and hurled him into the sky. The crocodile heaved in a deep breath, his chest puffing out to an outrageous size, then came a massive, churning explosion. The ball of flame, smoke and energy swallowed the primate, cloaking him with a mushroom cloud of debris.

"Think I got him, Espio?" The Chaotix leader asked with a deep sigh, and helped his comrade up to his feet. "I didn't see him fall to the ground..."

A dazzling blue glow then lit up the battlefield. It engulfed the burning flames, snuffing them out and finally it expanded around the Chaotix, forcing them to cover their eyes due to the brightness. Within, Hurricane laughed, the earth now trembling at his foot steps. His eyes shone a deep golden color, though, they were still colored black. Vector swallowed the lump in his throat, feeling strangely terrified by this new Hurricane.

"You can't kill me, idiots," he snorted, watching as his arm pieced itself back together from the charred stub it had been from the last attack. "When that disgusting GUN officer took me up to that garden, I found something."

The air fell silent, and the light receded back into the grey monkey, causing his body to lurch and twitch.

"I found the key to immortality, y'know. I can't die, and whenever my body is injured, it'll just repair itself! I'm invincible, you see!"

Three sweeping blades of turquoise light shot through the field, decapitating the monkey in the blink of an eye. Espio and Vector stared in disbelief, neither of them sure of what to do, or say.

Hearing a set of foot steps behind them, the Chaotix spun around to meet the one who had killed Hurricane. "The Chaotix, correct?"

"That's us...who're you?" Vector questioned curiously.

"GUN Supreme Commander, Shrike Errgon. It seems you've found my little science experiment from a couple years ago. Or was he collaborating with the group of terrorists that have been running around?" The muscular buck loomed over top of the blank eyed head of Hurricane. "It seems to me he thinks I'm an idiot..."

Shrike grasped the blood soaked head, and heaved it up so he could look it in the eyes. "I never thought I'd see your ugly face again." Hurricane scowled, his body beginning to piece back together.

"I didn't think you'd have survived after that cave collapsed. So I see my hunch was right, that water did contain the secret of immortality. It's about time I've come to sow the fruits of my labour!" Shrike howled with a ballistic look in his eyes.

"Wait, how do you two know each other?" Vector called out, unsure of who was on whose side.

"This brat was chosen as a test subject for a special project led by me about ten years ago. I was certain that Doctor Gerald Robotnik had more than just the blood of the Black Arms to help him out, and it didn't take me long to hunt down that extra variable nestled away deep in the mountains of Mazuri. There, I found a spring that offered the gift of life. It required a sacrifice, according to legend, but after we killed this boy everything crumbled apart. I never got to retrieve a sample of the water..."

Hurricane pried himself away from Shrike, and jumped a good distance away, a vicious look in his eye. "Since I failed to collect the water, I need the next best thing...the blood running through your veins, kid!"

"I don't have the time or patience to deal with you, ya' military hound!" Hurricane snapped, and pointed to the Chaotix. "Right now, they're my main concern!"

Glancing at the heroes, Shrike smirked and readied an attack in his hand. "You two don't plan on helping that man, do you?"

The Chaotix paused, and looked at one another.

"What do we do?" Espio wondered.

"The way I see it...both of them need to be taken care of...I feel like if we don't try and stop Shrike, something bad may come from it. Listen, I'll distract Shrike, and you finish off the primate." Vector concluded quietly, and then the duo jumped towards their respective targets.

"Poor decision, Chaotix," Shrike snarled, swinging his arm downwards. A beam of light extended from his fist, forming a large mallet in the air above Espio.

The young ninja quickly slid to the ground, narrowly avoiding the hammer as it crashed into the earth. The ground shook violently, as slabs of rock and dirt shot upwards behind Espio. Two battle knives shot through the air, each connected to an ignited explosive. Each knife pierced the soil on either side of Shrike, then exploded into a flurry of smoke and flame.

Shrike jumped back through the debris, just in time to meet Espio's heel kicking down at him. The GUN Commander grabbed the hero's ankle, and then slammed his palm into Espio's gut, blasting him away and crashing into a cluster of rock nearby.

Meanwhile, Vector and Hurricane had engaged in a fierce display of hand to hand combat. Fists had become blurs, and with each impact Vector felt on his body, he could feel the additional force from his competitors affinity with the wind. Gusts of air bolted against Vector each time Hurricane attacked, as if he were the wind itself.

The monkey then ducked to the ground, and spun on his upper back. His legs kicked out in each direction, and as he spun, his heels cracked against Vectors neck and jaw, knocking him down. Hurricane quickly rolled back to his feet, and then jumped to deliver an air-charged fist to Vector's face. He was more than ready to crush the crocodile's skull.

Suddenly, Vector released a storm of black ash from his mouth, and then clamped his teeth together to ignite it into a devilish ball of flame. Hurricane screamed within it, his flesh beginning to melt from the intensity of the attack. The monkey stumbled out of the smoke, and dropped to his knees, clumps of flesh and hair falling into the grass. The stench of burning flesh filled the once sweet air, while Hurricane's unholy screams of agony bellowed across the plains.

Vector cringed at the horrific sight before him. Hurricane screamed more, clawing at his skin as it bubbled and blistered.

"What have you done to me?! What is this?! Aghh!" His screams echoed across the quiet plain, until finally Shrike began laughing.

The GUN Commander dropped a battered Espio to the ground, and kicked him to the side. Slowly the military officer walked up to the man writhing in pain on the ground, and plucked Hurricane up. Holding the monkey up by his throat, Shrike stared deep into the primates eyes and smirked.

"It's about time I take back what's rightfully mine," he whispered maliciously. "Any last words?"

"Fuck...you!" Hurricane replied, seething in pain between his words.

Shrike raised his free hand, a blade of energy forming around his fist. Then, in a flash of light, and a splash of blood, Shrike plunged the blade through Hurricane's throat. The murderous GUN Commander then pulled his hand free, watching as the blood dripped to the ground. Hurricane's body slumped to the ground lifelessly, his eyes becoming a hollow grey color.

Pulling a syringe from his belt, Vector could do nothing but watch in awe as the cold-hearted buck plunged the syringe into the wound he had inflicted on Hurricane, and collected the primates blood.

Vector stared in disbelief at the bloody mess Hurricane had become, and then moved his gaze to the grinning buck standing above his victim. The GUN Commander slowly turned towards the crocodile, and smirked deviously.

"I've already shed enough blood here. So, I'll spare you. But don't think you'll be safe for long from the changes I'm going to be making, Vector. Let that delusional monkey boy be an example of my fury. Let him be an example to not get in my way."

To be Continued

Authors Note ~ Took forever to get this up. Not sure if anyone's still reading, but if you are, enjoy.