"Well, that was odd." Jake muttered as he looked onward into the great city know as Valatise. "I wonder what moronic mindest got Kire on his assassination attempt?" He placed his finger on the inside of a new helmet he had been issued. Swirling it around as if it were some kind of a bowl.
Jake was unimpressed as of the recent happenings on Valatise. Suki had been sent to retrieve a dream crown piece from the Notorious Dr. Eggman Nega, or Eggman Ivo, Who knew what to believe? And Jake had been suspended Thanks to Kire's little exploit. Now all those who came from Artonah were under investigation, even if Jake was a special Expo captain, he only got a certain amount of "let go's".
"You know how dangerous it is to keep her in the dark. Why don't you do something?" A familiar voice spoke up.
The bird barely lifted his head to see who might be speaking. It was Ankle, one of his captains. And one he was well familiar with.
"Yeah, and mess it up like Kire did? What kind of a fool do you think I am?! Spilling details. Ha!" The crow twisted around. Arm tightly wrapping around his new head piece. Clutching it against his side. "Why do you think we should let her in?"
. . . .
Jake waited for a response, whilst Ankle looked elsewhere.
Ankle was a hedgehog. Not too uncommon for the populace of Valatise. He wore a uniform like Suki's or Jake's. The only real difference was his divisional decals and a bit more padding, particularly on the knees. Jake knew what Ankle was thinking. To kill someone who didn't know what they were being used for, or what they were enabling made no sense to Ankle. If anything, getting Suki on their side was a better option- and Ankle was right- if there even was a chance that Suki would listen.
Oh yeah. Jake thought. Try to get her to realize where she's at. Been raised by a Viasor, well kempt in high society. Indoctrinated into their cultist religion. How's that gonna turn out? Oh yeah, it's not. . . you'll get investigated for treason. That's what.
Jake just shook his head and watched upon the sky once again. Ankle wasn't done however. Changing Jake's mind meant everything. For freedom, for life, and for knowing if their mission bore success or not. He didn't want to be like the Latise who counted innocents blood as nothing so long it got the job done. "Sacrificing" it for "The greater good."
"You know that's not how we're gonna pull it off." Jake finally answered. "If we stop it here and now, then there's no further risk of our lives, or yours. We can get the blow in that we've wanted to forever and the Dream Crown. . . ." Jake started to warn. . . "Michad is closer that we think to getting all the parts." He mumbled. Explaining the situation.
"I know." Ankle answered. "We have to do something. . . . . . . but Suki. . . . " He uttered in a deep voice. Jake looked over at the mention of her name.
Ankle gazed at the floor guiltily before establishing eye contact with his commander again.
"How do you feel about her. Can we get her? To join our side?"
"No." Jake threw aside immediately. "She's been adopted into Valatise Royalty, and there's no way she'll turn against them."
"You really view her no differently from the rest?" Ankle asked in an apathetic passion.
"She's nothing special. Just a wonderfully happy girl who has no grip on reality and lives her life as she pleases. She has a good heart and that's it. Puh."
"Ha!" Ankle sputtered. Immediately changing the mood of the conversation. "You wouldn't say that to her face!"
"Of course not, she's a woman, and would blow up and never calm down enough to think about it." Jake mused pessimistically.
"Ha!" Ankle laughed. "Well, don't worry, I think I can arrange something. . . But tell me Jake. How much do you dislike about me that you wouldn't say to my face?"
Ankle smiled mischievously as he narrowed down his gaze. Jake almost seemed a little nervous, and Ankle liked that. It made him feel like the more dominant of the two. For once anyways. Even though Jake always took the reigns.
"That you're a coward, and nowhere to be seen when stuff goes wrong." He answered. Ankle began to laugh.
"Haa!" Ankle giggled. "Well, you got some spunk alright. Ha ha!" He didn't take Jake's criticism seriously. But he did value it enough to at least think about it.
"So, why Suki? Shouldn't we be worried about Michad more? He's the real instigator here. Suki's just a pawn. . . "
"No, Michad is unkillable." Jake confided.
"No one is unkillable." Ankle stated in half joking fashion, but Jake remained headstrong. Not an inch of seriousness had left the tone of his voice. Ankle knew that he was serious. Though how he meant it was far from his understanding. Maybe it was all just a catch. . .
"Michad is. . . see this?" Jake pulled out a needle, much like one would find from the doctor's office. It was filled with a white, clear liquid. But when Jake tipped it up and down, the liquid moved as it it were something thicker than water. It also had an incredibly slight yellow tint to it. The crow looked at it once before gazing back at Ankle, who was now just making his response. . .
"Poison?" Ankle questioned.
"Neuro poison." Jake corrected. "It kills within minutes by spreading throughout your bloodstream and paralyzing your spinal cord." He added seriously. "Everywhere Michad goes, he always has at least three probes hovering around him, and with these needles injected inside. The probes will kill anyone they recognize as a threat to Michad, by ramming into them. . . and injecting the serum. . . "
"Nothing can kill a mobian that fast." Ankle continued to insist. Even so, Jake's unchanging glare didn't give him a comfortable feeling. Maybe feather breath was right, and these things were serious business.
"Lasers are only so lethal in battles. Mobian skin is incredible in it's ability to uphold compared to the odd creatures they call humans who live here. . ." Jake started. "Plus protective suites. . . it makes casualties much harder to gain in any battle. . . But neuro poison. . . . "
"Will do the job. . . ." Ankle finished. "Sounds like a cruel death."
"This. . . may get it done for us. . ." Jake handed the needle to Ankle. "And you. . . . can use this for a guaranteed kill if the time comes in which we need it."
"Huh, I don't need this when I've got a sniper rifle." Ankle smiled. "I'll be far away from Michad whether he goes down or not."
"You might find his suite is more protective than you might think. . . " Jake added. "Michad was shot in the heart before by another assassin, and his field uniform blocked the entire blow. I also find it interesting that no one else's has done anything like that. . .you be careful." Jake warned.
Ankle merely shook his head and accepted the fated design.
"So. . . who is this for though?" He asked. "You haven't told me the designated target. Are we gonna make our move out at sea?"
"No." Jake answered. "And if things go bad, I don't care if you kill Suki, or Michad. Suki'll be easier."
"Not if Narabot shows up."
"You know the answer to that. . . " Jake reminded him. Ankle reflected upon a small device he had clipped to his pants. The hedgehog let out a sigh.
"You don't really mean that. . . that you don't care who I kill. You know it's Michad you. . . . We want dead. Suki never did anything wrong. . . Michad is the cause of your people's suffering."
"But not their deaths." Jake reminded. "If anything my friendships are all arbitrary. I can look like I like someone when I don't even care."
"Oh really? I'll remember that." Ankle teased.
"You should." Jake stated once more. "Cuase I really don't care. Her sin, Michad's sin. It's all the same. And one more thing. . . . a piece of advice for you. Don't look at Michad's eyes."
"Why?" Ankle thought for a moment. "It's not like he's into hypnotism now is he?"
"Yes." Jake confided. "That's what it's looking like. . . "
"Hypnotism is a power of an Eli, but Michad shows no such powers, and the Latise confirmed his genetics were not strong enough to support such physics. Why do you think differently?"
"Cause it happened." Jake remarked. "And if it happened, then it doesn't matter what we think- we've been proved otherwise.
"Okay, but back up for a minute." Ankle halted. "Maybe you're right in that Michad has been hiding a number of powers that he hasn't shown, but if that's true, then you've got one more question to answer- why is Suki so important to him? If Michad is a genetically strong enough Eli, he doesn't need Suki to find the Dream Crown parts for him! He can locate them himself!"
"Suki may be held around for other reasons. . . " Jake suggested. "As of one I can think of the most likely. . . .
". . . is breeding property . . ."
"So!" Suki asked as she sat on the deck overlooking the great, and vast sea. "What do you expect'll happen today?"
Suki was happy as usual. Her and Chryssy would be operating on the same mission field during the sieging of Black Merge. The place was a strange area in the ocean where the water suddenly became black in the shape of a giant circle. It was also infamous for creating storms, and even sucking ships under with large black arms in more of the obscure events.
Suki didn't fear the area, she of course was abosolutely excited! Chryssy on the other hand was a little bit more afraid. But she tried to keep the enthusiasm up.
"I guess we're all going underwater!" Chryssy responded. "Unless it turns out you don't sense the Dream Crown part there . . . and all." She trailed off. Suki only responded with a smile.
"Ello there ladies." Chryssy turned around. It was Michad, in his town clothes. The suite and top hat, complete with a staff of which the Phykosis Emerald was tightly applied to on top.
"Michad! What are you doing here?" Chryssy asked in surprise.
"Just thought I'd check on you two a bit before we head out to sea, neither of you get seasick now do you?" Michad asked most elegantly. At this point, Suki became a bit uncomfortable, but she knew she had to act the normally around him."
"Of course not!" Suki responded. "But I do think it'll be quite a bit of fun!" She tried to put on a fake face of enthusiasm.
"No doubt it will be after all, I've arranged for you two to be on my ship. Exciting isn't it?" Michad tipped back as if to laugh.
So fake. . . Suki thought. He didn't even let out any air when he tilted back there. Ugh.
"Okay!" Suki breezed. "We'll have a nice time!"
"Most certainly!" Chryssy added.
"Very well then!" The white fox triumphed. "I shall be on my way then. Good lucke!" And with that he walked off.
Suki never knew how to act around Michad at times. She used to be right up there and buddies with him before weird things started happening. Before she noticed all the odd things about him that so subtly put her off. Although at times she wondered if she were just paranoid- Michad had never done anything wrong to her, even though he seemed to have a few awkward moments. Once Michad was out of ear shot range, Suki decided to ask Chryssy again. A question about the same problem that she had with him. A topic they had discussed earlier.
"So, you really didn't learn much at all about the Dream Crown?" She said puzzled.
"Not really." Chryssy offered. "Just about how the Eli came from another world, and some stuff you found out on that same day. Weird though, huh?"
"Yeah. . . ." Suki looked off at the seacoast city. "Maybe it's just me, but I'm really feeling nervous about this. It's like. . . We're approaching the end of something."
"Why do you say that?" Chryssy asked with surprise. "Don't tell me you had another dream!" She wailed in surprise.
Well, maybe Suki had been a bit much out there lately. . . .
"But. . .there's all kind of opposition to Michad, and the Latise. Even on our own island. Chryssy." Suki got serious. "What happens if we're wrong? Like on the wrong side?"
"Why would you think that?" Chryssy asked.
Suki's eyes narrowed down on her younger friend. Instead of just going along with everything she had said, and usually supporting it. Chryssy had given some resistance. It was like she looked at things different. It almost sounded like Chryssy thought that idea was silly when Suki had brought it up. But she would continue. . . hoping that Chryssy would listen.
"Well. . . . not everyone who fights a war can be right. . ." Suki trailed off.
"Michad says the same thing." Chryssy smiled as she looked out over the sea. "But that's why people fight. Because things can't be resolved. But hey, right and wrong are just perspectives after all.
What.
"WHAT?!" Suki wailed. "How can you say that?!"
"It's easy!" Chryssy replied in a nearly defensive manner. "What makes anything right or wrong? 'Cause people think so? 'Cause a group thinks so? Nope. Everyone has their own perspective. That's why they fight." She said it just as if she were repeating it from someone else.
"But who's got the right perspective?" Suki asked.
"Everyone. . . I guess." Chryssy faltered. "I mean, right and wrong. . . though hard to admit, come from inside. And they change based on a person.
"That's ridiculous." Suki stated sternly.
"Well, unless there's some supernatural list of rules, looks like they're on their own!" Chryssy ceased speaking. Suki wasn't liking this perspective. Even if Chryssy did have a point, she didn't care. Suki knew who Chryssy was mimicking.
Michad.
Well, not that Michad couldn't be right, but he certainly wasn't. . . trustworthy.
From her perspective. . .
"Um. . . . but Chryssy. . . " Suki started to say. Until the Ocelot interrupted her.
"Yeah?" she asked, as if ready to immediately throw down any more information Suki might put out.
Wow. Suki thought. She really has gone out on her own, and made her own decisions. I guess. . . I'm not as big an influence on her. . . oh well. . .
"Nothing." Suki surmised is a strong manner. "If that's how you see it, I'm not gonna change your mind. And that's all." She looked out into the sky.
Chryssy chuckled a bit about this and began kicking her feet over the strong salty air.
"I see." She answered. "But don't worry. I won't forget that it's important to you. And I know you mean the best." Chryssy smiled whilst looking over at her. Suki merely smiled back, whilst keeping a frown tucked behind that grin of hers. She felt betrayed almost. That her only friend would be gravitating away from her. She was sensing a lot of pride coming off of Chryssy, that she was proud of what she had done. Aranoid MK III had been completed by her, and tested. Maybe this was the source of Chryssy's new charisma. Strange how she could feel so distant. Maybe Chryssy saw something in working close to Michad. Opportunities that Suki could care less for. If anything, Suki almost saw herself as a tool in that man's eyes, but she knew she couldn't look at it that way.
Man, that argument we had earlier really didn't help anything. Suki thought as Chryssy's words echoed in her mind from the other day.
"Well, I don't think you need to be that extreme." Chryssy added. "I mean, the Latise is all we have, and every country thinks they're right. Besides, that was a long time ago! The Eli aren't evil anymore, and the political structure even represents the people!"
Ugh. Nevermind. She'll be back to her old self in a few days, I just wish she didn't. . . think I was going a bit crazy. . .
Suki and her companion looked out into the distance.
Soldiers were loading up into the black metaled ships which would soon cruise the ocean blue. It seemed like overkill to take 16 battle ships just to one spot and to take on one strange monster nobody really knew anything about. Plus if everything was going to be going on underwater. But Suki wasn't the expert. She didn't know what to expect.
Just then, Suki's eyes met that of another. She didn't recognize them at first because he was wearing a helmet. It was Jake. Jake the crow. Divisional leader of the Dream Crown Extraction group when Omycid wasn't there. He had been staring at Suki for a few moments now. Creating curiosity, and making Suki wonder just what he was thinking about. . .
Huh. . . I wonder why Jake's looking at me. . . Suki pondered, her mind straining even further as time slowed down and she took a guess. I bet he wants to know if I still feel okay with working with him after what Kire pulled, and he probably wants to know if that makes me feel any different about him! She surmised.
Jake had his own thoughts going, or course. . .
Great. . . " Jake mused as he saw Suki looking over at him. "Now she probably wonders if I have a crush on her. Blast it. Oh well, not the worst luck in the world. He muttered mentally as Ankle continued looking onward from behind.
Aw great. Akle mused as he confused Suki's glare for being directed at him instead of Jake. Now she probably knows I have a crush on her. Dammit!
And with that, the two of them loaded on board. Suki and Chryssy getting later- by special invitation of Michad, of course. Suki couldn't possibly be more excited. Especially if Maugus had been right. . .
"Do you remember me?"
The darkened voice so familiar with Suki moved throughout her mind as she traveled within the ship. Yes was her only answer, but it wasn't satisfactory to Maugus. Traveling to their destination, was an ideal time to speak alone with him. In her mind. More broken pieces to the puzzle. With so few people giving her another perspective, Suki wasn't about to dump Maugus's voice. But she would remain wary. At Black Merge, Suki felt Maugus would appear and try to disrupt things again. Not that she was worried about it. Of course she couldn't tell Michad or Omycid, they wouldn't believe her.
But then again, maybe he would, Michad always had this attitude of "try me." when someone doubted that he might listen.
"You must count your cautions, or else you will die this very day." Maugus warned deeply, his spirit hovering above the chamber of Suki's quarters. She wouldn't deny it, it was a possibility, but really Maugus? She hadn't even come close to dying before, except at his hands, and now Maugus was feeling more like an apathetic guide.
Come on.
"Just one more question, since you've so gallantly been helping me and chasing me off and on. Who's side are you really on?" Suki questioned.
The atmosphere lingered, and Maugus let out a sigh.
"I cannot tell you what will happen, or why I am telling you these things. Even the information I am giving you is for my own benefit and not yours. Do not think of me as helping you!" He warned fiercely. "For I do not forget my enemies! And who's side, am I really on, is no one's! For this, is who everyone truly works for."
"I bet. . . you just want me to mess up something so that you can get the Dream Crown from Michad." Suki accused in teasing manner.
Maugus replied.
"Maybe you would think that I would wish for power, but I have plenty of that. Better think again little girl, for I have many secrets that you couldn't possibly know of, and I know that your willingness to do what's right will be your misleading.
Suki just shook her head as she leaned up against her chair. A silient smirk moving across her muzzle over the knowledge of Magus's folly.
Nothing could stop her if she always tried to do what's right.
"Maybe, it's kind of hard when I'm just following my moral compass." She placed back at the demon like monster.
"Believe me, that has lead many people down the path of darkness, even more so than you or I have witnessed." Maugus remembered. "But I tell you this. You have one escape from the coming tragedy."
"And what's that?"
"Run." Maugus echoed. "Run as far as you can and away from this disaster, or you will become the very instrument of enablement. Run Suki. . . for the time remaining grows smaller and smaller!"
*tttiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggg*
For a moment, the sound of an echoing hammer striking a piece of chain, and Suki saw the white being from earlier in her dreams hamming a part to the chain.
"Ruuun Suki. . . . . . . " Maugus's words were powerful, but within a moment Suki readjusted herself.
"No Maugus." Suki reaffirmed. "I won't run, because I have a family. Two parents who care about me. A people who are suppressed, and friends."
"Friends?" Maugus asked. "What friends, surely you only count one, if you're smart enough to take what you can count."
"No Maugus." Suki stated yet again. "I have more friends. I have Jake, who would do anything to keep me safe on our wayward missions. I have Chryssy, who is like a little sister to me. I have Narabot, a creation and little- big brother, who also cares about me. And I have Ankle, who I've known from a distance, but hey, we've talked a bit. There are other people I know in the Latise too. They wouldn't forget about me. "
"Surely you are joking if you count those whom thou hast barely talked with as friends!" Maugus exclaimed.
"Well, you know what? I do!" Suki affirmed. "And you know why? Because every moment of our lives we were in trouble, we watched for one another's back. And that's true for me, Ankle, Jake, and Kire!"
"Pah!" Maugus spouted. "Not that bird!"
"It is true!" Suki insisted. "He wasn't in his right mind! And Kire isn't stupid enough to take drugs. He was repossessed. Maybe he didn't like me, but that's because he didn't understand, and I didn't understand him. Them. I need to be nice to the people that he's come from. Their families had a rough life, so, waddya say?"
"I say. . . you're a fool!" Maugus offended. And with that, he left from Suki's mind. Suki lifted up a coffee mug placed in front of her and tipped it upside down allowing the last drop of chocolate to fall out.
"Oops." She said with half a frown.
"Oh well. . . " Suki decided to talk to herself. "I hope that I get some more chocolate soon. *sigh*" She complained. "It sure is boring around here. . . . "
Just at the moment, the door slid open and for a moment Suki thought she was saved. Peaking over to the edge of the room, Suki saw it wasn't a maid. It was a cloaked assassin. A bird. . .
Suki's eyes popped out as a gun was pointed at her and a needle protruded from his concealed barrel. It struck Suki's arm as the perpetrator locked the door behind him.
"OOOOOWWWW!" Suki shrieked in pain. She knocked the little table over near her window and jumped on the floor. No, now was not the time to die, quick, analyse! Suki thought as she identified her enemy. Only his eyes were revealed. They were blue. Quickly, she got herself up and jumped at the assassin. In an unfortunate collision of events, the assassin choose to jump too. Both flew by each other and landed on opposite sides to the room. Suki suddenly more pain coming from her arm, and the area she had been struck in was getting numb. In the anomaly of a moment, she glanced and saw the dart draining a strange clear liquid into her limb. Suki grasped the intrusion and ripped it from her flesh. By peering briefly into the clear container of the dark, Suki saw already more than half of the substance had been drained into her body.
As the assassin stood up and drew two glowing blades, Suki grabbed him with her psychokinesis and flung him against the window, hoping to dispose of him before she might pass out. But the glass only broke, and the enemy bounced on the floor. Briefly afterword, everything started to go fuzzy. Suki collapsed on the floor and her head started pounding. Everything was fading out as she saw her intruders feet come in closer to inspect. What had happened to her, why this? Why now? SHE WAS ON A GUARDED SHIP! HOW COULD AN ASSASSIN HAVE COME HERE!?
But before it wetn totally black, and as Suki heard the door open up behind her. The last thing she heard as she blacked out was a powerful gunshot. Everything else she would be able to tell after that.
"So you'd really put someone's life aside you know and like just because it's easier than going for the real guilty party?"
"Don't bother me about this. She's just as guilty as the rest of them. You know what I'd prefer."
"Then why not go for it?"
"Cuase it's hopeless"
Suki awoke. She saw Omycid leaning over her bed as she did so. Immediately his arms embraced her with a warm, loving hug. His mustache ticking her from his face.
"Omycid, what happened?" Suki was in shock. She never would have guess that she would be in a med bed like this. What had happened was of the utmost importance to her mind. Also, how much time had passed and where she were now that the incident was over.
"They attempted to kill you Suki." Omycid responded as he sat back in his chair and gave her a half stern look. He then let his head hang low as he looked down upon the ground.
"I was foolish to not have you extra guards since the nighttime incident. My apologies!"
"No!" Suki exclaimed. "It's okay! I hate having guards follow me where ever I go now and. . . " Suki looked around her room. In all four corners there were black suited Valatise Guardians. The highest ranking in the army. Michad, whom Suki had not noticed until he stood up- stepped forward. He seemed to be wearing a smile underneath that frown of his, but it didn't take long to surface.
"Ah Suki! Our prayers have been answered!" The Anthro beamed happily. "I was so worried about you! It would be such a pity if you died on us just like that!" He grinned. Suki was a little pale seeing him again. Omycid turned his head tot the white fox and then back at Suki. He saw what his surrogate daughter's fear and seemed to minorly react to it. . .
The guards around her. They had to be birds. No, this was bad. No, no more birds. Suki thought. She had had enough. It was the people of that race which had tried to kill her twice now. She knew why, it was to keep her from completing the dream crown. Gravia had told her. What was the Latise even DOING allowing those who believed that the Dream Crown would ensure oppression serve with them!?
"Why are they in here?!" Suki demanded.
For a moment, Michad looked mildly confused, but with a laugh he quickly threw the worries aside. "And why might that be of questioning to you?" He said in a simply a delicious tone. "I assure you this is necessity!"
"Why are they all birds?!" Suki asked more insistently. Michad closed his lips once more, placing a single finger on his mouth. With a few small steps he made it to the other side of Suki's bed. Proceeding forward, and keeping a positive attitude as best he could, Michad asked a question- of his own.
"And what might that have to do with anything. . . . ?" Michad made himself comfortable leaning over the end of Suki's bed. She did not find his actions amusing. . .
"That they believe I'm going to be a instrument of death and destruction to their people. I'm the finder of the crown! In fact, why do they even believe that?! And why is it that birds are the only kinds of creatures who have tried to kill me? It's because of their prophesy! It's because of their religion! Birds are not native to Valatise!" Suki enraged. "Birds come from Artonah, a people we subdued, and now you just let them sign up for us as soldiers?!"
Michad's sadistic smile only got wider. Suki only noticed one guard reacting to what she was saying, turning his head just a bit in the far corner of her room. Michad gazed upon them all before giving a single command- only mingled- as a phrase.
"Well, how. . . dignable!" Michad gleamed a little brighter. "It appears our. . . feathered friends are not supposed too be here! If you catch my fancy, you do know what I mean, right?" He spoke taking his hat off to show humility.
All the guards left the room. Once the door shut, Michad's ears peaked up a little more. He turned around to face Suki again, once again making himself comfortable on the edge of the end.
"You see Suki. . . " Michad began, as he dryly looked over at his fingernails. Pinching them together. "I have many- objectives and burdens as a political leader. . . . but you see. . . one of them. . . is making sure. . . our subjugates. . . are happy. Quite right, am I not?" He asked. A small chuckle protruding from this widening grin.
"Yes. . . " Suki started to say- only to be interupted
"Then you must know. . ." Michad continued. . . "That to keep a populace satisfied. . . whom knows little or nothing of foreign policy. . . you have to play by their rules to continue getting votes. . . lest you look like a tyrant. . . am I quite right?"
"Yes!" Suki answered more affirmatively. She wasn't sure what to think politically as she didn't study the stuff much, but she figured Michad had a reason. . .
Maybe. . .
"And if those uneducated people demand I treat the people of places we've conquered fairly, and a certain group of reporters say I won't allow them into our army. . . then what do I do, hmmm? After all, they say. 50 years is long enough to not worry about bad blood, and old grievances. Artonah was conquered, but it's been so long, what could those people possibly have against us. . . but you know don't you. . . . " He looked over at Suki in a saddened fashion. Suki just shook her head.
"Now, it's. . . quite unfortunate but I need good soldiers to find those pieces of the Dream Crown, and it appears our native populace is not as skilled as the ingrates which we bring in from other places. . . . and on top of that. . . we can never fully integrate them in with our imperialism if we treat them as a lower class, so. . . I'm doing my best to run things in the smiling eyes of the people." Michad smiled. "With our military, and education program, we can turn tribials into soldiers. It's quite interesting really. But don't worry. . . I assure you. . ." Michad continued. "We keep a special eye on those who come from that part of the sea. It's unfortunate what I've been forced into, but I must maintain a good image. But if you know the true way their natives view things. . . perhaps you should speak with your father." Michad put his hat back on. Moving back toward the nearby couch Omycid came closer to Suki that they may speak. Suki, however, was not satisfied with Michad's explanation- even though she knew politics made things hard on any leader to do what they viewed as best. . .
"But Michad. . ." Suki began. She didn't want to upset him. "Why did we. . . our people. . . have to go an conquer other lands? Wasn't ours enough?"
Michad let out a deep sigh.
"You think they would do any different if they had all the higher technology?"
Suki didn't answer, she really wasn't sure. She didn't know anything about the populace of the island of Artonha, but she didn't like the idea of conquering them either.
"I'll explain it too you like this. Suki." Michad spoke. "Wars happen because people do not agree, and savages in less productive lands are not the most clearly minded. We all try to get along. . . but some transgressions. . . we had better not forget. . . ." Michad trailed off. "You support your father's position?"
Suki thought about it again. Omycid had the job of keeping conquered tribes in check. He would often go to sea and make sure rebellions were not being mustered. That the populaces were in order, and even that they had a decent amount of fair treatment from the stationed garrisons.
"But. . . we didn't. . . start it?"
"What do you think Suki?"
Suki wasn't sure what to think. Now she was more confused than ever. The Dream Crown recently seemed as though it may have a dark side. Suki had spoken to someone who had explained Kire's assassination attempt perfectly. The motives and everything- as well as the last assassination attempt. But it still didn't make sense to her. Kire clearly wasn't in his right mind when it happened. So religios and historical records may only be a small part in it all. . .
"Where am I?" this is the next question Suki asked. It was answered promptly by Omycid.
"In the med ship at Black Merge, Dream Crown particle extraction has taken place as scheduled."
"WITHOUT ME?!" Suki asked in shock.
"Well. . . yes. . . " Michad confirmed. "We don't need you unless we need an exact location. The gizoids have already gotten a rough location on it. . .and the monster, it lives! ha ha hAAAA!"
Suki eyes spaced themselves in wonder.
"I"m getting right to it!" She said as she flung the covers off.
"No, you do not!" Omycid exclaimed. "You are far to ill and. . . Your arm. . ."
Suki didn't know what Omycid was talking about. She started at him in concern before looking at the arm that had been attacked. Carefully, she pulled back the sleeve. And in the center of her arm, Suki saw a large green circular web like area. Just north and south of the wound were two tightly clutching rings. Suki looked scared when she saw them. They were black, and very tight. Suki felt numb in the area she had been wounded at. Turning to Omycid for an explanation, she clutched herself.
It was a fearful thing.
"Suki. . . ." Omycid spoke gravely. "You were under no ordinary assassination attempt. The people who tried to take you out attempted to use a kind of Neuro poison. It spreads through the body, and targets the spinal cord. You should be paralyzed or dead right now. But. . . I happen to see something large and red, resembling a demon move toward your room. I decided to follow it to your bedroom door. It was locked, but thankfully I had my passcard and gave it an override order. . . ."
Suki became silent. No way that this had happened.
"You are very lucky Suki. . . . it was a bird who tried to assassinate you. We presume, as he was one of our soldiers. . . that he was repossessed. . . by the very being whom you fought in the ifrit dimension. None other. . . than Maugus the Great."
Floored.
"No. . . that's. . . not possible. . . " Suki said thinking about Maugus. The time she had spent talking to him. How he had appeared in Eggman's ship. Maugus did. . . .
Suki remembered how Maugus appeared over Kire that afternoon before he attempted to kill her.
It had to be true.
No, it couldn't. . . this was somehow strange, but Suki. . . . couldn't believe that Maugus had done it. . . . for he had never lied before. . . and he didn't seem like someone who would do this! Yet Maugus had said that his very goal was to lead her astray. He had even told her, she had no idea what was really going on.
But if. . . .
Yes, it was true.
Oh, how she had been played for a fool!
How could I let my curiosity get the best of me?! No, this. . . is just stupid. Yeah Suki, trust the strange demon that's been talking to you! You want more information, and you don't trust Michad, so what do you do? Trust the guy who tried to fry you on a stick?! Yeah! Brilliant!
"AUUUUHHHH!" Suki looked up in exasperation. She couldn't believe it! Of all the stupid, no! No, just no!
"Suki what's wrong?" Omycid questioned. Suki continued to visibly display her shock until she realized that she had blown her cover. Michad was looking at her with this. . .delicious. . . hammy. . . curious smile as she started to freeze up and wonder what she should say. But it all came to obvious to her.
No, not gonna keep anything from them. Not now. I just almost lost my life, and now I'm being hunted. No more secrets. No more holding back. Especially from my own family. Suki decided.
"I. . . I've been talking to him!" Suki stammered and then blurted out. Omycid was filled with surprise, but Michad got up and took a step forward with a grin.
"Ah- ha!" He promoted avidly. "Go on! Tell us more!" He prompted. Now Suki was feeling silly. Like she was a fool for not trusting her own chief let alone her own father. It had to come out. More of it. Just to get ahold of more answers. Anything!
"I. . . I've heard from him. . . When I'm alone! And he. . . I saw him. . .on the Eggcarrier!"
"Ha HAAAA!" Michad exploded with a clap. "There we go, I told you Omycid! You must keep a better watch on this little one! Ah haaaAA!"
*sigh* Omycid leaned forward off the couch he was sitting on and covered his mouth. Gently moving his thumb across his mustache. "It appears we have not understood just whom we have bothered with. . . " Omycid stated quietly. "When I first saw the recordings of Narabot, I had suspected, but I never imagined him. . . . coming out of that hell hole. . . "
"Who. . . who is he!?" Suki demanded to know more than ever. Who was Maugus, and what was his goal? Why did he speak to her? All these questions came together to her and against him. But now Suki would have her answers, but what Maugus was, could be nothing she ever imagined.
"It all started as a long tale. . . so long ago you see. . . " Omycid began. Suki closed her eyes and used her imagination just like Omycid had taught her too when reading bedtime stories oh so long ago. It was a special ability Suki had. Sometimes she wondered if she had a special imagination like no one else had since she could sense where the dream crown parts were. And that was probably closer to the truth than she might think.
Maugus is the embodiment of an eternal rage dedicated under a curse by the royal family of Sol. But his poweres were completely different in the beginning. Just a normal echidna. . . related the proud Nocturnus Clan.
Maugus did not approve of Ix's, nor Pachacamac. Both he thought were evil, and deserved to be punished for their wrongdoings. So he lead an insurrection against both parties, hoping to align with Chaos, if he was someone who could even be reasoned with.
One day though, Maugus's luck ran out. He was captured, strung out, and placed under the severe torture of fire. Ix's captains then launched him into a portal to an unknown realm. This portal, However, was not the end of him. It is unknown how long her floated in the gap between dimensions, but by using his special powers, Maugus came unto the Sol dimension, breaching the seal between realms.
It is said he found a piece of alien equipment and used a copied Chaos Emerald to tear the rift.
Once here, Maugus thought about all the things he had done. What he had tried to accomplish, how he had wasted an entire army of followers and how the Master Emerald would fall into the hands of those unworthy. In the midst of Maugus's thoughts, he was interrupted by the prying eyes of a Sol dimensioner. A cat, but not just any cat, a special cat. A cat from the royal family of Sol.
And indeed a special cat Mathel was . . . for he had the power of flames. These flames are what gave his lineage right to the throne and him a place of inheritance once his uncle had died.
It's hard to imagine, but Mathel was only loosely connected to his family. He wanted to know more about this strange traveler from another realm. Even helping him relocate some of his followers who suffered the same fate. You see, the followers of Maugus received similar punishment from their rivals, and were sent to the world of Sol as well, shortly after Maugus was.
But Mathel was a curious cat. He wanted the Phykocinetic powers of Maugus for himself, so that he could show as having even greater powers than his rival lords. If he showed more wisdom, and power, the king may grant him more land. Not truly valuing Maugus's friendship. Mathel cast a spell on Maugus in his sleep making him lose his powers. Of course, Maugus became enraged, but Mathel offered a solution- a special ring which would Restore Maugu's powers after a month if he wore them for most of the day. Maugus agreed to accept Mathel's gift, but what Maugus didn't know is that the ring he was wearing was really channeling his powers to Mathel. It even had the side effect of making Maugus weak.
It didn't take Maugus long to find out, but at that point he was crippled, and unable to fight the traitor- or so Mathel thought.
He couldn't have been more wrong.
Maugus and his followers stormed the fortress Mathel had sailed off to settle in. There, Maugus held the cat to his throat by blackened chagrined sword, but let him go if he would undo the spell. Mathel agreed, only to be thrown out the castle window and into the evening sea.
Maugus got his powers back. And in his malice, decided to claim the castle as his own as payment for Mathel's treachery.
However, Mathel had already sent a message to the Royal Sol family marking Maugus as a traitor. At that point, Maugus began to question the nation he had considered being friendly with. Only mildly surprised to find that they viewed him as an enemy once they had heard of only one side of the story. Maugus stole a Sol emerald and used it to cause great catastrophe, and with the help of an old companion. . . . duplicated it. . . .
The Royal Sol family chastised Maugus for his crimes. Chasing him across the ocean. Maugus claimed three more islands and killed many mobians serving under the Royal family, but it didn't last.
The Royal Family blotted Maugus off the map and his "terrorist" faction.
When cornered, they gave Maugus the chance to return the precious emerald, or face death. And Maugus appeared to comply. But what they received was merely a fake created by one of his followers.
Banished to the Ifrit dimension. Maugus made this world his home. Only five days after being warped there, the Royal family of Sol came in after him and broke his stronghold to pieces. They, together, took back the real Sol emerald and kept this world from ruin. With the Jeweled scepter, and the power of the stars, they placed a curse on Maugus and his crew putting them to sleep for several ages. Every 700 years, Maugus would reawaken and be given a chance to redeem himself. By doing a good enough deed, or number of deeds, Maugus could leave his ghostly form and pass onto the next world. But things wouldn't happen that way.
Maugus never did choose to repay his debts of evil and balance the scales of iniquity. Instead, Maugus continued fighting the decedents of those he hated. To this very day, he uses the time he has awake to cause nothing but pain and suffering for everyone. And his soul cannot pass into the other world. When his time of redeeming has come to an end, Maugus is pulled back into the Ifrit dimension for torture and punishment on account of the evil he has done instead.
In a sense, Maugus has become the essence of a God, and somehow he has gained the powers of flame. He's been put to sleep and reawakens so many times, his normal body is gone, but non of his powers cease remaining. He is the embodiment of eternal hatred and unforgiveness. A rage that never satisfies, and a fire that never dies.
He continues to cause us torment. Though it was not him who brought the Dream Crown piece into his own world. They say one of the buyers who purchased the dream crown piece brought it to him. It is unknown how he came ahold of it. . .
"But. . . ." Suki stammered. She wasted to ask another question, but she didn't. There was nothing to ask. At least nothing that could be explained. Maugus's true story was right there in front of her. And she had been played for a fool. It was sad to her that someone who stood up for what was right, allowed manipulators to make potential friends enemies. But perhaps Maugus view all of the Royal Family of Sol the same then.
Who knew? She certainly did. Now her interactions with Maugus made so much sense. He was playing on her innocence and gullibility.
. . . .
A few moments of silence passed as her superiors begin waiting for more questions.
Finally, she faltered and just looked down at her bed. Ignoring Michad and his subtle grin as he began kicking his feet in the air.
He acts just like a kid.
"Well, I guess I better get going!" Suki stated a little urgently. Quickly, she hopped off the bed.
As she started to make for the door, a noticed filed itself in the back of her mind. She was wearing a medical skirt, not her normal Uniform. And that Uniform had the dream crown piece she was hiding. For a brief moment, Suki wondered if they already knew, but maybe she had gotten lucky and they hadn't checked. There was only one way to find out- so she best not waste any time in wondering.
"Where's my uniform?" Suki asked before leaving through the door.
"It's unimportant if you are not well enough-"
"Oh, hush hush Omycid! Suki wishes to play the games! Let her play." Michad's lines sent a chill down Suki's spine.
Let her play?
"After all." Michad continued, "We can't spoil her big trip into the sea! ah hA!" He laughed just like some kind of joker. "Go." Michad continued. "You'll find it where it usually is. We've patched the spot that was penetrated, now have fun! Jake will fill you in~"
Suki opened the door and left as if a mouse. Once her presence was gone, Michad smiled and turned to Omycid. But the smile was not a comforting one, rather it looked as though Michad was having a smashing good time. Not exactly the best time to be all excited and enthusiastic, but Michad was someone Omycid was used too.
"You still haven't found a suitable replacement, It appears as though Suki will have to fill the role." He spoke mildly.
"You have no reason to become impatient. Lactawnt will serve the role much better." Omycid reminded. Staring forward with a look of slight confidence and otherwise complete neutrality.
"He will not show himself. Not until the last minute. Unless he is already dead." Michad teased.
"Just wait for him. . . . he'll show up." Omycid affirmed. Michad placed his hand underneath his own jaw and spoke gallantly as though he were some kind of masterful tactician. . .
"It would be a pity if someone certain should find out about our little secret. . . " Michad picked up an empty wineglass on the table nearby. Upwards he gazed through it as if mesmerizing how wonderful the future would be.
"I know." Omycid answered. "I will take care of it. She will not uncover what is happening."
"Good." Michad smiled as he placed the glass down and ran his finger in a circle upon the rim. "That's what I like to hear. Like always!" And with that his smile widened wider, and wider and wider.
"Time to play a game. . . . " He chuckled. . .