Life in Xenodome hadn't been what Sonic expected. Not that he had much experience in normal life considering his previous homes had been warzones. But here every day was the same as the last. He'd get up and eat, take a run around the city then learn about Xenodome's history. Just a normal life that he likely would have lived had he stayed in Knothole after coming back to life.
Then there was everything else that had happened so far.
The first week had been hell. The retrovirus they had given him easily took the cake. While it immediately adapted his immune system to human illnesses it had also increased his height at the same time. He was nearly twice as tall as before but still just a couple inches shorter than his father to whom this had happened as well. His Guardian abilities had taken care of the growing pains within an hour but getting used to being so tall was still quite a trial. He could no longer rev his legs like before; rather he had to drop his torso until it was parallel to the ground and then propel himself like a missile. It was odd but doable and even made him a bit faster.
Living with his parents after thirteen years had also been interesting to say the least. It only took a couple weeks before his father found him his own place. It was just outside the residential sector in a quiet section of forest and only a few minutes away from his family. Apparently it had belonged to an old blacksmith and the forge was still in working condition, only needing a little TLC to get it up and running full time. When he had free time he spent most of it restoring the equipment but soon realized that he didn't have the money needed for all of it, another concept he had to get used to. His father had set up something for him but learning what money was and how to use it wisely had been something of chore but one he was learning quickly. He had taken a job in package delivery and excelled at it (as expected of the fastest thing alive). Now for the first time in his life Sonic felt like a normal Mobian who just happened to be fast. It was a nice change of pace. No one trying to kill him or roboticize him, no one questioning his motives, and no one putting obscene amounts of pressure on him to save the world.
It had been four months since he had arrived and Sonic was finally starting to get into the swing of things. He was sitting in his kitchen having coffee and reading the paper, the day turning out much like the others before it. As he skimmed the articles he couldn't help but notice that another museum heist had occurred. It had been part of a series of thefts ever since the Xenodonian Artifact Reclamation Committee (A.R.C.) had discovered a massive ruin far to the north. It had made his mother's work that much more difficult and his father's much more interesting. The Vanguard had taken over the investigation after one of the recovery teams had been slaughtered, thus making this thief a domestic threat. Every story that ended with someone hurt or dead made him wish that there was something else that he could do. He clenched his fists, knowing that with his current status in the city he could never do anything without causing more grief with his father.
"There are other ways for you to help," a familiar voice said from the living room. Sonic spun up out of the chair, turning to see an all-too-familiar human. Arias sat on Sonic's couch sipping his tea, a smirk displayed on his face. "It's good to see you too, Sonic."
"What the hell are you doing here?" Sonic asked, every one of his senses on guard.
"Relax, I'm just here to make you an offer I think will interest you," Arias replied as he finished off his tea.
"I've seen how your 'offers' turn out."
"I assume you're referring to what happened to Kinos." Arias set the mug down and leaned back on the couch. "You're not under my command nor do I have any intention of putting you there. I'm here to offer you a job."
"A job?" Sonic asked incredulously. "Why the hell would you want to offer me a job?"
"The why isn't important," Arias replied taking out a cigarette. He glanced over at Sonic before asking, "Do you mind?" Sonic just glared at him causing Arias' cigarette to droop before he slid it back into the pack. "Fine. Anyway, are you interested or not?" Sonic slowly lowered his guard and grabbed a chair from the table to sit down on.
"Let's hear this offer first before I agree to anything," he said crossing his arms.
Arias smiled and pulled out a small tablet from his coat. "I know who's behind the heists as well as the attack against the A.R.C. team," Arias explained, handing the tablet to Sonic. "He goes by the name of Mammoth Mogul and is an extremely talented sorcerer. He's also obsessed with the Magan and their artifacts."
"No kidding," Sonic said as he flipped through the files to see just a fraction of what Mogul had stolen over the years. "Any idea why?"
"I honestly couldn't care less," Arias replied getting up and refilling his mug with coffee. "But what I do know is that there is one artifact in particular he must never find: The Staff of Adabat." Sonic flipped another page and saw a king-like figure waving a scepter over a sea of followers. "Everything else that he's stolen has monetary value only. But this staff would give him a font of limitless power."
"If I'm reading this right then it's a sorcerer's staff that's been passed down generation after generation of Magan rulers," Sonic said as he continued browsing the photos. "Each one poured their power into it and after they died the power remained inside."
"You catch on quickly," Arias said as he sipped the coffee. He cringed, checked to see that Sonic wasn't looking and tossed the coffee over his shoulder into the sink. "Needless to say that much power doesn't belong in the hands of a single man, Mobian or otherwise."
"Coming from you that's like the toast calling the kettle black," Sonic remarked. His face twisted into a confused look before saying, "Wait, that's not how it goes."
"Pot and kettle," Arias corrected. "I see you're still getting used to human phrases. And you're one to talk. Wiping a city out single-handedly isn't exactly an act of subtlety. Anyway, the Staff has power of its own but it was always meant to be an amplifier for something even more powerful."
"A Chaos Emerald." Sonic turned the tablet to face Arias, the page showing the staff with a large crystal held at the top. "You don't give a damn about the staff, do you? You want the Emerald."
"I see you're still sore from your fight with Kinos," the human admitted. "But no, I don't want the Emerald either. I've seen what they are capable of in the hands of those who know how to use them. Kinos was only able to use its power because he was desperate. Imagine how a skilled sorcerer would use it, one that has proven he cares nothing for the life of others."
Sonic flipped through a few more pages before closing his eyes and setting the tablet down on the coffee table. "Fine, I'm in," he said. "But I don't see how I can help. Even tempting him to take this thing could seriously backfire. What you need is a fake to lure him in."
"You live in a house that has a custom-made forge in the basement," Arias pointed out. "Why do you think I came to you? The forge is in working condition I take it?" Sonic nodded. "Good. Then all you need to get started is some material and blueprints." Arias picked up the tablet and tapped it a few times before handing it back to Sonic. On it were detailed instructions on how to recreate the Staff. Arias then tossed a small black card that Sonic caught easily. "That should cover any expenses you have. Consider it a small payment in advance." From inside his coat he pulled out what looked like a handheld version of the tablet and tossed it to Sonic. "That's paid up for the next few months. It's encrypted and secured so no one can trace it or listen in. The screen has already been bio-printed to your DNA so you're the only one who can use it. Oh, and you can keep the tablet." Sonic looked up to thank the human only to see that he was gone.
"Well this day can't get any stranger," he muttered, walking over to the coffee pot. He had seen Arias throw his cup out but it smelled and tasted fine to him so he poured himself another mug and took a long drink. Sonic had a long day ahead of him and was going to need all the caffeine he could get.
Several hours and a trip to the Market District later Sonic returned home holding a bill in his hand for the materials needed to create a Staff of Adabat. He looked up to see several boxes on his table with a note from Arias saying, "You'll need these." Sonic opened a box to see a high-end coffee maker and several other tools while the other two were filled with coffee beans. He recognized them as being a high quality brand and decided to set everything up while he waited for the smithing supplies to arrive.
It was a few days until the supplies arrived and by now Sonic was eager to get started. He had Zeta download and display the instructions Arias had given him while Volcarras offered more direct help by showing him how to make the necessary molds. As the Magan put it, "This is only supposed to look real, not be real. As long as the outside looks believable the rest you can half-ass." He was blunt but his point was valid: Sonic didn't need a work of art, just a working copy.
Sonic wasn't sure how long he'd been working when Volcarras interrupted him. All he knew is that he'd finally finished the shaft and the pieces of the Emerald cradle were cooling.
"Considering that you're creating a weapon that never existed that's a very creative design," the mongoose said leaning against the door frame leading upstairs. Sonic stared at the dead Guardian. "What? Did I forget to mention that the Staff of Adabat was just a fairy tale?"
"That have something to do with me being a 'worthless one-tail'?" Sonic replied grabbing a drink of water as he sat down. "Seriously man, what's your beef?"
"It's a very long story that can wait for another day," Volcarras said as he ran his hand over the cooling metal. "So based on what this Arias guy told you what do you think the staff was for?"
"Well, when I thought it was real it was supposed to focus the power of an Emerald," Sonic explained. "But I'm not too sure how make it do that. How do I feed it the necessary power so that Mogul will believe that it's the real deal?"
"Simple. You fill it with the necessary energies and then use those activate a sealing spell around him." Sonic looked over at the Magan, staring at him with a mixture of surprise and pride. "Don't get your hopes up. Rosemary is the only one of us who can cook up a spell like that. Well, her and Sylvanix I suppose. He once put an entire city into suspended animation."
"Speaking of Sylvanix I haven't seen him lately," Sonic said and Volcarras stared at him in surprise. "Next time you see him tell him to swing by and check out the new pad. Well, time for this 'hog to get back to work."
He had lost all track of time when the finishing touches needed to be made. It had felt like hours had passed since he'd started and now that he was near the end he could feel fatigue settling in. As he placed the first of six gems he uttered the words of the spell Rosemary had taught him, infusing each precious stone with more power than he thought possible. He knew he should wonder why he hadn't turned into an ochita but by the fifth gem he was too tired to care. By the sixth was barely conscious and as the last words left his lips he collapsed onto the floor.
When he came to he was on his couch still covered in dirt and grime. He sat up slowly, testing his joints and muscles. The smell of coffee filled the room much to his delight and his aching body welcomed being fully rested.
"Afternoon, sleepyhead," a female voice said from the kitchen. Sonic turned to see his mother cooking and his father at the table reading the paper. "We came over to visit only to find you passed out on the floor of the forge. How many times have I told you sleeping on the floor will give you a cold?"
"And there she goes with the mother clichés," Eric quipped folding the newspaper in half. Alura playfully tossed a fork at him which he caught with ease. "Why do you always throw pointy things at me?"
"At least it wasn't a steak knife this time," she replied with a wink. She filled a mug and handed it to her son. "Seriously, are you okay?"
"I feel pretty good actually," Sonic said, taking a swig of coffee. "How long was I out?"
"That we were here for? About twelve hours," she replied heading back into the kitchen. "Before that I don't know though the forge looked like it'd gone out long before that."
"It's Saturday by the way," Eric chipped in. "Just to give you a reference point."
"I started down there Thursday morning," Sonic said, trying to piece the time together. "I don't actually recall eating or sleeping the whole time."
"Speaking of," his father said as he put the Staff of Adabat on the table, "you mind explaining that and why you have it?"
"It's a really long story, dad," Sonic said as he finished off the coffee. "Let me grab a shower and I'll fill you guys in on the whole thing."
A half hour later Sonic came down the stairs refreshed and in a clean outfit. His mother put a plate of pancakes, sausage and eggs in front of him with fresh coffee, all of which he devoured and the plate was replaced by another just like it. After three plates Sonic leaned back in the chair and pat his stomach. "I don't think I've ever eaten that well when it wasn't chili dogs."
"Damn kids and their metabolisms," Eric muttered, sipping at his coffee. "Still, your mom is one of the best cooks out there and her food is always worth the wait."
"You give me too much credit, dear," she said as she gave her husband a peck on the lips. "Now, you said you'd explain why you have what looks like a Magan artifact in your possession and why I don't know about it. I had a friend come over and he was sure that it was a genuine article."
"Then he needs glasses because that thing is a fake," Sonic explained. "Just a very, very good fake. I got a tip from a...friend that knows who's responsible for the museum thefts as well as the deaths of the A.R.C. team. And from what he said this is the artifact he's been chasing. The plan was to draw him out with a high-quality fake and then capture him. I take it you've heard of Mammoth Mogul?" Eric did a spit-take, spewing coffee away from his wife and son.
"Are you out of your freaking mind?!" he shouted. "You have no idea what Mogul is capable of. Something like this isn't going to hold him for long if at all. Besides, don't you think we haven't tried tricking him? Every time we post a guard he never shows. Every time we monitor security it always gives out and when we get to the museum floor the thief and the artifact are gone. Mogul is a ghost."
"This time will be different, and yes I know you've said that every time before this," Sonic assured him. "I had some help in making a sealing spell that, once activated, will trap our would-be thief."
"Why do you think the Vanguard has never caught Mogul, Sonic?" Alura added trying to calm her husband's temper. "The man never works alone. He uses agents and diversions as his traps while he recovers the prize. Any trap you have planned will only catch the diversion and Mogul makes off with this thing."
"That's the thing. Once the trap activates the staff is just a hunk of metal whose only worth is the metals and gems that went into it," Sonic explained as he emptied another cup of coffee. "And if we catch one of his agents then we've lost nothing."
"I can't argue there," Eric said massaging the bridge of his nose, "but I still think this is a bad idea. You're getting in over your head and Mogul won't hesitate to take it off."
"And that's why I need you backing me up, dad," Sonic replied. "I can't do this alone and I'm pretty sure that the Vanguard wants this guy pretty badly."
"Fine," his father said caving in. "What's your plan?"
Monday came and Sonic delivered the Staff as planned. Tuesday the article went in the paper and Wednesday the museum received an offer for the Staff from an "unknown donor". The same night Sonic snuck into the Central Museum, with his father and the Vanguard for support, and waited just off to the side of the Staff. He instinctively wrapped the wind around him to hide both his appearance and scent, something Sylvanix had taught him to do while he'd been working with Kinos. Sonic stood in the corner for what felt like hours until he heard the almost-silent pitter-patter of soft soled shoes.
Something's not right about this, he thought. Why would a sorcerer be worried about extra noise? Couldn't he just teleport in and grab the Staff? He listened for a moment and noticed that the footfalls were far too light to be from a mammoth of any size. An agent. Great. As much as he wants this thing you'd think he'd make a personal appearance.
Sonic watched as a slim figure in black come around the corner. It expertly weaved through the laser grid with grace to land silently just in front of the Staff. From the folds of black cloth it pulled out a small gem and placed it near the pedestal, shorting out the alarms. It removed the glass casing gently and undid the security straps. The moment the figure touched the Staff it began to glow intensely, wrapping the figure in a glowing web and throwing it to the ground. At that moment Sonic felt the wind pick up around him as he and the figure landed on his living room floor.