Chapter 18

The Final Battle Part 1

Silver laughed at the two retreating figures. Fuck them. She would deliver the message. The whole message. Then they'd be the enemy of the Insurgency. Plus, that was what everyone wanted anyway. She quickly hit the button on het helmet.

"Activate lockdown."

Suddenly, the message for lockdown activates over the speakers, and everything went silent. He front gates were locked, and lights went off. With Niko out of the way, both Silver and Sapphire knew life would be easier. Sapphire thinking so she wouldn't be distracted by him and Silver because she thought he just got in the way.

Meanwhile, Garnet was quietly dashing towards Niko and Rouge. "Hey!" he called out in a hushed voice.

"What?" Niko asked. "I'm sick of playing patience and by a book I never read. I wanna be able to break this case open, not take it at a snail's pace. I don't need rules. I've had too many of them to know how to follow them, but the rules I was put under weren't even worth following! IF you aren't here to come with us, then why did you sneak out?"

Garnet extended his hand, in it a small business card with dashes and numbers all over it in a specific pattern. "This is the station my personal radio is on. If you need any help, contact me." He paused just a moment.

"You know, one of Sapphire's top priorities is keeping her soldiers safe, hence the strictness and rules. You have to give her a break sometimes, she's never had to lead this many people. I can imagine it's a lot of stress. I would have stayed if I were you. But do what you want." He turned and started back towards the heart of the Insurgency before stopping and looking over his solider at Niko specifically. He spoke loud enough that he was barely heard.

"When we would go over our plans, she'd tell us to keep you out of it. She only wanted to protect you, like she always has. Did it for me too. She has a funny way of showing it, but she cares. She's told me she's had nightmares where you die. And it kills her every time." Feeling he had said enough, Garnet turned and dashed off, not wanting to be caught out.

"Thanks...Garnet." Niko said walking away.

"You aren't going back?" Rouge asked.

"Nope." Niko replied. "I have to do a few things before I even think of going back."

"Okay." Rouge said confused but decides to go with it.

Lockdown went as planned. Everyone was in their respective lockdown spots, and Sapphire could get some time to herself. She knew the action was extremely greedy, but she felt like she didn't have a choice. She dug around in her desk in her office, cursing loudly when she didn't find what she was looking for upon first search.

"Niko where did you get that?" Rouge asked.

"This? I borrowed it from Sapphire." Niko replied. "I'm gonna go ahead and give it back."

With a puff of blue smoke, the device disappeared.

Meanwhile, Sapphire was having a fit not being able to find what she was looking for until it appears in front of here with a note saying "Sorry I took this...I was just polishing it. There's a recording on it that I want you to hear."

Sapphire turned her head up at the sound of a slight clang. She closed the drawer and read the note, instantly recognizing Niko's handwriting. She sighed and stood off, peeling off her armor and bringing it to its designated dresser. She then walked back to her desk and plugged the hard drive in her computer, clicking on the unknown file on it.

"Uh...oh boy, she's totally gonna rip my head off for this." Niko said. Though it wasn't him, one part of her felt like actually doing just that. The other part missed him badly.

"Sapphire...I was gonna save asking you this until the Director was caught, but I can't hold it in anymore. This message is actually ongoing, but you can't reply...well here I go."

Sapphire notices Niko and rouge are in some sort of basement. Her eyes widened to see the X Insurgents flag waving in the background.

"Sapphire, I found this place as the actually last place the Director could be hiding. It isn't a trick as the flag is flying half-staff meaning he's here inside somewhere. I'm gonna end this here and now and I'm gonna leave the camera on but video feed off for a bit."

Sapphire heard the gunshots and blasts of psi-energy and after a while, Niko returns to the screen and he's severely hurt.

"He's headed to you..." Niko said on the verge of death. "He said he wanted to settle things with his...Daughter."

"Sapphire!" Rouge says taking the camera. "You've gotta get ready to meet this guy. He's learned some new tricks and he's planning to use them on you exclusively. Don't worry about Niko he's gonna be fine. Shadow's healing him at the moment."

Niko takes the camera and looks at Sapphire his eyes glowing in pain but full of honor and respect from his friend.

"Sapphire." He said. "I wanted to ask you something. There's a ring on the inside of the hard drive. When this ends, will you marry me?"

Sapphire gritted her teeth as she stared at the screen. 'Lies.' was her only thought. The Director wouldn't go on the move. She continued to stare at the screen before abruptly standing and pushing her computer forcefully off the desk. She couldn't help herself. She was losing herself. Falling apart. She looked at her now broken computer, thinking of Niko's question. Thinking about the Director's daughter.

She had Garnet, her current love interest, and then Niko, her childhood friend.

She shook her head furiously a recovered her cyan armor instead of her previously worn black that the Director had recommended in the first place. She then spoke through her comm.

"All of my Assistants come to me. Lockdown cancel."

"I don't think she believes you." Rouge said. "Do you think she'd believe the Director going mobile?"

"No." Niko said. "To prove it, we gotta get back before the director get there."

Nodding, Rouge, Shadow, Omega, Knuckles, and Tails followed Niko to the New Insurgency base.

Sapphire, Garnet, Silver, Gold, Nickel, Alex, Gravel, and Azurite had gotten what they needed and set out on feet almost immediately. Sapphire finally thought she knew where the Director was hiding. And she intended on getting there.

Everyone at the Insurgency was busy at work, just in case the Director decided to show up. Soldiers and a few Agents stood on the scene, Medic watching from a distance. Many were tracking Sapphire and her group via Psi abilities, and others were doing other important jobs.

"Rouge I think I see him." Niko said running off.

"You heard him!" Rouge shouted. "Let's go!"

Everyone ran up to the edge to see Sapphire walking right up to the Director. Knowing it was better that they stayed hidden until she and the others needed back up, they crouched down.

"You can do this Sapphire." Niko said glowing cyan and a small pulse goes through Sapphire relaying this. "In case of a bad sitch, I'm here, but this is your fight."

Sapphire smirked and delivered a hard punch to the 'Director.' He fell instantly, and sparks came flying out. Niko hadn't been wrong, the Director had been coming: Just not the right one. But if it weren't for him, she wouldn't have made the bold move of venturing off.

"I owe you one," she murmured as she kicked the bucket of bolts to the side and trucked on, the group of original Insurgents following close behind.

'Niko,' she thought with her telepathy. 'If you made it, come to me. Alone. This is your fight, too.'

Niko landed right beside her.

"Let's go kill this son of a bitch." He said smirking.

Niko then summons a Knight, hops on, and extends his hand, which Sapphire took and they rode off. As they rode off Niko knew it was gonna be troublesome to ask this now, but he needed to see where her head was on this.

"Sapphire?" Niko began. "About the video feed…did you ever begin to think about my question?"

Sapphire's mind was in another place, she looked behind her and Niko, the original Insurgents dashing off to keep up.

"I'd rather go on foot, but the quick ride was nice," she told Niko with a soft smile, changing the subject. Suddenly then, she dived off the horse.

Niko sighed and kept going. He wanted to know her answer, but he figured she'd try to avoid the subject. Niko immediately saw the director and he checked for signs of life in this one and sure enough, it was the real one. He jumped off, grew wings, and flew towards the Director. This was gonna end here and now! He landed in front of him and got into a fighting stance.

"Alright Director." Niko said. "This ends here!"

Alright guys! The end is nigh and the battle has begun. Will Niko and Sapphire win? Find out next chappie!