Aaaaand I'm here! New chapter incoming! :P
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or locations. They belong to Sega.
Chapter 6: Pursuit
"How's that Eggman!"
The person in question takes out a card. "Well, well. It looks like you've won. Here's the card, as promised!"
"It's about time! Now hand it over!" said an angry voice.
"What's the big hurry? Do you even know how to use the Master Emerald card? You use it like this!" and instantly a luminous glow appeared.
"What?! There's that light again!" said the voice. Within seconds the person was somewhere else.
"Dang it! Where did he go!"
Another individual comes nearby. "Her certainly knows how to run, I'll give him that… Hey, you there! Did you see that guy carrying something strange?" the person asks the other.
"Actually… he has this weird camera that changes things into cards… Wait a minute… Who are you?" the angry person states.
"What'd you say?! How did he get a hold of it?"
"You…! What are you mumbling about?"
"Got no time ton waste on you. See ya!" and they ran off. The angry person followed in pursuit. "You little… Get back here!"
…
…
…
Current time: Five years later…
"STOP! THIEF!"
A loud feminine cry echoed through the walkways of a trading market. Several pedestrians walking by turned their heads towards the source, seeing a woman covered in a hooded robe reaching out in desperate panic.
WHOOSH!
Three anthropomorphic hyena bandits blazed through their paths as the people walking either screamed or yelped among feeling the intense rush and force. They noticed the robbers were covered in black clothing with only their eyes visible, displaying expressions of joy and malice upon committing the wrongful deed. They hefted large bags over their shoulders to show that deed and though the bags looked like they held a ton of valuables, their bulky bodies were more than enough to compensate.
"Alright lads we got the goods so let's head on home!" the bandit in front of them yelled at the two behind them.
"Yeah boss I want to see what this staff does!" one of the two behind replied as he dug through the bag reaching for said item. A harsh slap across the face was given by the third member next to him, watching their teammate with a glare.
"Don't take it out just yet you idiot! You'll most likely lose it on the way back if you don't keep in the bag!" the third bandit said. The second one frowned under their mask and looked at the first bandit. "Hey boss he hit me!"
"Shut it! He's right so keep it in there! Once we sell these goods for a high price we'll be rich!"
"And then we can stop eating crumbs off the streets as well, so don't lose it!" the second bandit asked the third. Immediate glee came to the third robber as he smiled. "Yeah, I don't wanna eat off the streets anymore hehe!"
The first thief rolled his eyes as the three kept their fast pace further away from the market, not noticing three shadows jumped from one rooftop to the other…
"Looks like we found them team so ready up!" a male voice shouted.
"Don't get too ahead of yourself Spike! Don't hog all the glory like last time!" a feminine one replied back. The male smirked back at her jumping another rooftop with acrobatic precision. "Relax Sonar I'll keep myself in check this time!"
"I just want some action!" a deep male voice interrupted from behind them, pumping their large fists together as he gave chase to the bandits as well.
"You read my mind Trevor!" the individual named Spike cheered and turned his gaze towards the bandits, noticing they were directly below them. "And just in time too!"
"BOSS WE GOT INCOMING!" the second bandit shouted at the first bandit pointing above them. The leader of the group looked up and noticed three silhouettes flying down towards them, his eyes widening.
"Spread out!" he commanded. The three jumped away from one another just as the pursuing group landed, each of them looking at a specific bandit based on the direction they landed.
"Alright looks like it's one for each of us! Desert Raiders, let's take 'em down!" shouted Spike.
The third bandit attacked first, releasing his hold on the bag as metallic sounds radiated off it upon hit the floor. A first was raised by him as he quickly approached his opponent who is a large anthropomorphic mole that was quite muscular with purple fur, greyish peach skin, a black nose and long fur on his head kept in a ponytail, white gloves with green cuffs, a black neckerchief, black and white shoes with green cuffs and sholes, and more noticeably green shades. The mole simply stood there as he looked around casually and not noticing the bandit about to attack.
"Hah you're wide open dummy! Take this!" the third bandit threw a punch.
However it was immediately blocked by the purple-furred mole which stunned the bandit. "H-How the-UWOOH?!"
POW!
A heavy punch was thrown into the bandits gut and sent him flying into several wooden crates across from the group. Chickens that were contained inside escaped with several chirping around in excitement for the freedom they received. The bandit saw stars above them while making a stupid grin within their mask, immediately fainting afterwards.
"Don't think I'll take it easy on you just because you're a girl." the second bandit seethed, revealing a knife from under his clothing. His glare was upon a slender, teal-furred anthropomorphic fennec with long triangular ears, a small black nose, fluffy tail, neck-long fur on each side of her head, persian pink eyes with long eyelashes, white fur on their muzzle, inner ears, the tip of her tail, a persian pink sleeveless shirt, a black neckerchief, black shorts with white trimp, thigh-high black socks, goggles with yellow lenses and a persian pink strap, and white gloves and black shoes with persian pink soles, both with pink ring cuffs with a single black stripe.
"Okay let's take it easy and just talk it out. We don't want you getting hurt so please just drop the merchandise and we can settle this without-."
She flipped upward to avoid a roundhouse kick shot straight towards her. Just as quickly she threw her arms towards the bandit and delivered a hard chop on the back of their neck. Also just as quickly did they fall to the ground knocked out as the fennec landed gracefully.
"You really should've taken it easy Sonar." the mole asked.
"Look who is talking Trevor. You knocked the guy out with a punch that destroyed some crates while I went in for something simple and free of collateral damage." Sonar replied to Trevor. Her purple teammate merely huffed as he flexed his muscles. "What's the fun in that if you can't show off some strength hehe!"
Sonar rolled her eyes and watched the leader of their group engaged in a fight against the leader of the bandits. Apparently he was having a rough time.
"Dangit! Why aren't you doing down!" Spike complained doing a backflip away from the thief. He stayed in a battle stance ready to go at it again as his opponent stood across with a smirk under their mask.
"Don't think I'm like those two where I just rob for fun! I also train myself to fight so no goody goodies can get in the way of my plans!"
Spike growled at them and noticed his teammates approach him quickly as his sides ready for support. "We got your back Spike!" Sonar said glaring at the bandit. Trevor nodded with a grin readying himself as well.
"Thanks guys, but don't worry I know I got this!" Spike said.
"A three versus one huh? Alright try to give me a challenge if you can!" the bandit leader mocked. Spike narrowed his amber colored eyes, his orange quills flowing in the hot wind of the desert town they were in with black stripes running along the tips and peach fur on his front torso and muzzle which had cheek tuffs. Donning black-framed red goggles, white gloves with red and black cuffs, tall red and black boots with white straps and a black neckerchief, the leader of the Desert Raiders took off at high speeds towards his adversary while beginning to spin himself with arms out.
"Let's see you dodge this!" Spike barked, an orange whirlwind of punches being thrown at the thief. Unfortunately none of the attacks landed as the hyena cackled, a nod to his species. "That's all you can do porcupine?! This is hilarious!"
"He's not alone!" Sonar interrupted, blazing towards the bandit and throwing a chop at him. However the bandit sidestepped quickly and grabbed her arm, swinging the fennec around several times and then throwing her at Spike who's punches collided on her body as she yelped in pain.
"Sonar!" the orange porcupine cried in shock, stopping his spin as he held his friend. The fennec groaned with clenched eyes, immediately grasping his hand with hers. "I-It's okay Spike… I-I'm fine…"
"HOLD STILL GRAAH!" Trevor growled throwing fast punches at the bandit. The same result was him casually dodging all them while giving out a yawn. "You're much slower than the other two, but I can't have an attack from you land or otherwise I'd be toast."
"YOU'LL BE TOAST AFTER WHAT YOU DID TO MY FRIEND!" the mole yelled in anger as he increased the speed of his barrage. The hyena robber simply cackled again and upon finding an opening, the thief shot out a fist at lightning speeds which hit its target.
"GRAAUGH!" Trevor was hit super effectively, sent flying towards the other two as he collided with them and the three crashed into a clear window nearby, glass shattering upon impact. The groans of the Desert Raiders were heard from within as the hyena bandit laughed sadistically.
"That was too easy! To think that the all so great 'Desert Raiders' were all that in Shamar, but all I see is a joke in front of me!" the bandit leader shook his head as he walked away to grab the bags, watching his other teammates who were downed. "Useless mutts, I should've found better cowork-."
WHOOSH!
The hyena froze instantly, feeling a sudden wind almost blowing him off his feet from behind. Not only that… but a wave of intense fear struck throughout his entire body as he trembled violently. Slitted yellow eyes were wide open as his head slowly turned around to see the cause, sharp teeth chattering nonstop.
…
…
…
A hooded figure was seen in the distance. They were of a moderate height with a black hood that was attached to a black scarf that flowed behind them with a black muscle shirt that tightly fit their athletic body. Black bagged pants adorned their lower body with black shoes with golden cuffs around the ankles; a plated metal rested above each outer sole. Black athletic wrappings covered their arms in which their hands were covered by black gloves with golden cuffs as well. The very noticeable aspect of this was… two metal spiked knuckles were displayed on them which shined in the hot afternoon sun.
The bandit gulped. "W-Who the-."
He didn't finish.
His life flashed before his eyes as the light faded from his vision and he was knocked unconscious. The hooded figure that stood several feet away… had their fist embedded within the bandit's torso, a small pulse of air coming off the thief's back. The power was so great, so fast, that no one would be able to tell how they did it. But it happened, and the slowly recovering Desert Raiders witnessed it all.
"Woah… who's that?" Spike said in awe. Sonar couldn't believe her eyes to which they sparkled in curiosity and glee. "I dunno, but I sure do want to meet them holy cow!" she replied.
"That guy took him out in one blow! I didn't even see him move!" Trevor said in astonishment. "I have to fight him, see what he's got!"
Unfortunately that wouldn't happen as the hooded figure teleported away in a flash of light.
"Aww I wanted to meet him! He could've had info one that one guy that saved the world back then!" Spike complained. Sonar shook her head and sighed. "Well too late for that. Anyway let's round the bandits up and return the stolen items to Ara." she said walking towards the bags.
"He didn't look so tough." Trevor mumbled to himself as he followed Sonar; however Spike heard and chuckled. "I don't think you'd beat him man. He knocked him out so fast… but one thing's for sure, that person needs to cover that hole behind their hood or those red quills will stick out more…"
…
…
…
"I FOUND HIM I FOUND HIM!"
"Quiet down will you! Good, you actually found him but don't let him get away!"
"Uhh he got away though…"
"GAAHH THAT'S WHY I TOLD YOU NOT TO BE SO LOUD!"
"But boss-."
"But nothing! At least we're starting to know where he been at this whole time!"
"I agree, but even then the fact that it took us this many years…"
"Relax Espio! The good thing is that we finally have a trace!"
"Yeah man, now we can have our good ole buddy back with everyone else!"
"Charmy be quiet! Sheesh even now as a teenager you still act as an annoying child!"
"Hehe look who's talking grandpa!"
"Hey Charmy, hand me the communicator for sec. You go scout the area and see if he might still be nearby."
"Okie dokie Espio!" Charmy gave the device to Espio as they wandered off.
"… So you think by getting him back will all this mess be stopped Vector?" Espio spoke.
A small silence ran for several seconds, followed by an audible sigh.
"He's our only hope Espio. They begged us to help them find him and I told them we'd do it for free since… he also helped us before."
"I still can't believe that after all this time…"
"Yeah, I can't believe it either. Now let's relay this information back to Sonic. After what… that thing did to him and Shadow, Knuckles is the only hope this entire world has left…"
End of Chapter 4
Oh boy what'll happen next now that familiar faces are appearing?
Stay tuned and til next time! ^u^/