o3o: Sonic and Clove's conversation will leave marks on the two, but who is marked by what remains to be seen. The big reason for that conversation was to introduce everyone to this version of Clove the Pronghorn, with both how and what she thinks. Eggman has a lot of commanders, with various motivations in his army. Not everyone in the army is there for ideological reasons.
Fiona and her teams are going to have some thoughts passed back and forth, maybe some trust-trials. I thought just a journey of moving and dodging through a completely hostile territory would be boring.
The battle for Echidnapolis is getting ready to rage, but it wont be an easy fight, I will say that much. Knuckles and Johan won't talk much for the next few chapters, but they will have some conflicts…
Anonymous: Eggman is gloating and teasing. He wants to make Sonic suffer in every way possible. He has Sally, someone Sonic has known almost all of his life, and is using that against him in every way possible. He's also not going to give Sonic the satisfaction and relief of a straight answer.
Mecha Sally can see Sonic had lost the will to fight, and she is reacting to it. Sonic is as you have described: Hopeless and lifeless.
Fiona and Johan are both moving to their respective battlegrounds, ready to do what needs to be done. Both will have interesting trials to deal with…
/*-*/
Sonic waited as he received his intermission from torture. He still hung there, and was really starting to smell. That said a lot coming from him, that he noticed his own stench. Sonic chuckled to himself as he hung, finding the briefest bit of joy in the peace. He knew one thing: Eggman wasn't winning any battles, because there wasn't a big screen in front of him.
Sonic actually struggled to know where Eggman was. If he wasn't torturing Sonic, then he might actually be doing something useful.
"Alright, I've had it!" The Female Echidna who was watching him stood up, her quill pony-tail flopping in protest.
The male turned to look at her, and stood up himself, "Where are you going?"
"To get a buck and some soap. I'm not dealing with his stench any longer. I should have been shuffled out by now, but I guess that got hung up, so I'm making this job bearable." She growled, sarcastically and bitterly.
She walked out of the room, leaving the male Echidna in the room. He seemed a little nervous at first, but a few seconds passed and he shrugged, before going back to his station.
"You're not talk to her about work or anything?" Sonic asked with a light chuckle.
"No… you really stink… no offense." The Echidna retorted, before looking off to the side in an awkwardness.
"You've seen me get my legs and chest stabbed, I don't think being offended is the biggest problem I have right now." Sonic snorted, leaning forward and waiting.
The door opened once again, with a sound of sloshing and swaying. Sonic looked up and saw a large buck being carried by the Female Echidna along with a sponge.
"Dish cleaner and water. That's the best you get, hedgehog." The Female Echidna sighed, before dropping the sponge into the water, and grabbing a step-stool to go over to Sonic.
She set it up, and set the bucket under him, before starting with his head. She had used warm water, which made it feel less shocking when it hit his wound. Unfortunately, the soap was not in the same category. Sonic's cuts and bruises flared up where ever the soap went.
He gasped as she worked her way down his neck and chest, rubbing extra hard as she went. Sonic's head hung down, and saw the water below turning brownish-red from the scabbed over cuts.
"Sheesh, you can smell the rotting skin." The Female Echidna complained, scrunching her nose before pushing it into her jacket.
Sonic… was getting some basic maintenance done on him, and it felt… nice. "Thank you… Thanks for everything." Sonic gasped as she started working her way down each leg.
"Well… it's my job to keep you alive. You might not thank me later. You know he's going to hurt you again." The lady echidna sighed, shaking her head, and pulling away.
Sonic gave a silent nod as she returned the tools she borrowed back to where they went. Sonic continued to hang, but at least he smelled better.
The Echidna's weren't too bad. They brought him food and water, and did little things to make him more comfortable. There were worse hosts.
Sonic almost felt relieved by their presence. Almost.
The door suddenly opened, and the Echidna's stood up to find… Mecha Sally, standing in the doorway alone. The room seemed to get darker with her presence, her cold metallic, blue eyes locking onto Sonic as she stepped into the room.
"Leave us." She commanded, before confirming, "The Doctor has given this order."
The Echidnas stood up, and shuffled out of the room, with the two passing Sonic a sorry look as they left. That meant that Mecha Sally and Sonic were alone, in the room. Maybe there was a camera in the room.
Mecha Sally simply stood in front of Sonic in silence.
Sonic slumped forward, and decided to close his eyes. If she was going to do something to him, then he wasn't going to give her the satisfaction on seeing his fear.
"Why do you keep fighting to survive?" Mecha Sally demanded at Sonic.
He sighed, keeping his eyes closed, before humorously joking, "I don't really have a choice."
Mecha Sally went silent again. Sonic kept his eyes closed, but felt uneasy. She was quiet, and she wasn't torturing him.
Sonic opened his eyes to look at her, "is that all?"
"Do you still believe you can save me?" Mecha Sally asked, her metallic voice sounding strangely desperate, if that were possible from a monotonous voice.
Sonic's eyes opened sharply and looked down into the eyes of his roboticized girlfriend. Her eyes were still cold, but there was something about her form that made Sonic feel… sad… and hopeful.
"I want to help you… but I can't do it alone. Come on Sal, we can beat him if you can work with me." Sonic offered, pleading with her.
Mecha Sally stood there her metallic hands closing into a tight fist, "I can not resist his orders or policies. Loyalty must be absolute."
"No, but you can find ways around them. Come on Sal, you're smart." Sonic pleaded, his throat growing scratchy as he grew weaker. His body was really worn out, and it still ached, despite being cleaned up by the bath earlier.
Mecha Sally stood there for a moment, raising her arm and closing a fist. She then turned back to Sonic, and reached behind herself. She pulled out a… chilidog, "There are no directives which prevent me from keeping you alive and healthy."
Sonic opened his mouth. Mecha Sally passed the dog into his mouth, and he ate it. Sonic felt tears rush to his eyes as it tasted so… good. Distance absolutely made the heart grow fonder, and the fact that Sally was in that metal husk only gave him hope.
She fed him the dog, before turning around, and walking out the door, before passing him another cold, metal glance over her shoulders.
There was a chance, he just needed to play his cards right… right?
/*-*/
Things were not good. Fiona and the Team dispatched had slowed down a lot. They currently sat underneath some branches as the patrolling badniks moved by, scanning that red search light that threatened the entire operation.
Fiona felt the mud continue to stick to her body as the murky swamp continued to push scum up and down her body. The search lights eventually passed, and Sticks gave the chattering sound, signaling the boys to come out.
They walked out from hollowed out trees, the packs on their backs, which was clearly wearing on them. Sticks drew her sword, "Now, we move! Lets go!"
Renault nodded, holding the attack beacon on his back. Oscar was less keen on moving. He growled and hoisted the larger pack over his shoulders. Still, they started moving through the night. That was their plan to get through the Eggman Empire. Move at night, and hope for the best.
Of course, it meant that they were making less progress each day… or night rather. The swampy terrain was also not helping, as every step seemed to take a ton of energy.
Fiona watched Oscar over her shoulder as they moved through the wooded swamp. He was tired, the thing was heavy.
Sticks carried that large sword on her back, but didn't seem to mind. It wore down on her, but she simply kept pushing.
They were exhausted, and if this kept up, they weren't going to be of much use. As if by a miracle, Fiona saw a dry patch in the swamp.
She cleared her throat, "Hey, let's take a break, get some food and water in us." She pointed over to the small clearing.
Sticks growled, "We don't have time. We're behind schedule… I think." She put up a stoic face that prevented any sign of weakness from showing. She was fierce, Fiona knew first hand, but even the fiercest people needed to take a break.
"Yeah, let's just keep going." Oscar growled weakly, the pack on his back sagging a bit.
Fiona groaned, "Alright, quit being so stubborn. We all know you two are big and strong, but we can't go any further if you two drop dead from exhaustion. It won't be long, just enough to get some food and rest our muscles."
Oscar gave her a silent nodded of approval, but Sticks was less supportive of the idea, "We can keep moving."
"Look at him. He's half awake." Fiona pointed at Oscar, who's eyes were almost closed, and his breath was labored.
Sticks looked at Oscar, before sighing, "Fine, We'll rest and get some food. I'll gather some firewood."
Fiona was skeptical that they would find anything dry and abundant enough to burn, but Sticks somehow found the good wood, and the fire began to kindle. They pulled out the small pot and began to boil the water slowly.
Everyone sat on the ground, with Renault, Sticks and Fiona watching Oscar carefully. He seemed to be a bit of a loose cannon. They all knew they couldn't afford a snap from him again.
"I was sixteen." Oscar stated, catching everyone off guard. Fiona was confused by that statement, but Oscar elaborated, "She was pretty, and I really liked her. I really did." He exasperated that last statement with grit teeth and frustration.
Fiona blinked, before realizing he was talking about Lanolin.
"We actually were on pretty good terms…and I wanted her. I really thought we could be… we could make something…" He struggled to find the words, his fists tightening in frustration.
"Um… Are you ok?" Renault asked, rocking his knees back and forth nervously.
"No… I'm not. I made a stupid mistake…. I got drunk at a tavern with her. I didn't read the signals right, and I did things to her… things she didn't want." Oscar's knuckles turned white as he continued on, "I hurt her, and I ruined her life."
The rest of the team was silent.
Sticks groaned and lifted the water off the pot, "What did you do? Stop being so sneaky."
"I… I took her against her will." Oscar softened the words again, as if afraid of saying it directly.
Sticks seemed to understand what he said, and frowned, "Hmmm, Then you were punished?"
"I know, according to your laws I should be dead or something." Oscar crushed his hands over his forehead, and began to scratch violently.
"Laws? We don't have laws." Stick grumbled, scooping up some more water, "We have a simple code: Do what you want but be ready to pay for what you do. If you rape a girl, be ready for the wrath of her family, because they can kill you if they want."
The word hung in the air like a violent plague. Sticks was like Johan, so Fiona shouldn't have been surprised when she heard the badger say it, but still…
Sticks also didn't seem to care too much, or least that was how she appeared. Fiona saw the Badger take glances at her sword, so maybe there was more going on in the badger's head than she let on.
Fiona reached into her pack, and then felt something terrifying. Or rather, a terrifying lack of something. She pulled out her last hardtack and dried meat. They were almost out of food.
The others saw her face, and Oscar asked quickly, as if eager to change the subject, "What's wrong… I mean, I promise I won't do anything to any of you." He quickly defended, shrinking down in defeat.
Fiona gave him a quick nod of note, before gulping, "This is my last ration."
She shook her bag… and heart a light sound, "No, wait, I have one more…"
Sticks frowned, before smiling. Then she grinned a very disturbing grin. Fiona could see the eagerness in her eyes. Fiona dared to ask, "What?"
"Then We'll go raiding. Those machine fools have to have a camp somewhere, so we can plunder it for food and loot!" Sticks pumped her fist proudly.
They looked over their supplies. They had a total of two days worth of rations. Fiona actually found herself grateful for the ones who only packed food. Still… two more days, with very little knowledge of where they were going or how long it was going to take to get there…
"I think it's a bad idea if we try to fight the legion with only a sword." Renault complained, with his posture sitting up and a scowl on his face. He made a very valid point.
"But if we don't, there's no way we're getting to the base." Fiona grumbled. They couldn't not at the rate they were going. Even if they rationed the food out and distributed the work, they were going to be too weak to carry the large beacons the rest of the way.
"We won't do well in an open fight. They'll out number us… I wish we hadn't left our armor back in Roja." Oscar mumbled, tapping the ground with his foot.
"We don't have to fight them head on. Surprise is more deadly than any weapon." Sticks grinned eagerly, lifting the large sword.
"We can't win in a battle of numbers!" Oscar growled at the badger, growing frustrated. The two stared each other down for a moment.
Fiona finally stepped in to be the peacemaker, "Alright, that's enough… what if we snuck in and took what we needed. No need for bodies, just take the supplies from a station somewhere and get out."
The team passed each other glances, before nodding. Sticks was less enthusiastic than Fiona wanted, but she still agreed and nodded. They were ready to go.
They slept there in the dry part of the swamp, curling up in their sleeping bags. Fiona's stomach churned, possibly from the dried meat and hard bread, and possibly from the water.
She curled up and winced in pain as her stomach continued to ache. Her eyes felt tired, and she lost consciousness as sweat began to pool around her forehead and her eyes began to sting.
Suddenly, Fiona felt herself… floating. Did she get some drugged meat? Perhaps some bad bread?
Fiona felt herself over a glassy land as she left her body. She wished that there was some semblance of ground beneath her feet, but instead all she had was a winding and twisting that came with her floating apparition body.
Her body had turned into a wispy red diamond on the ground. She felt herself pulled higher, over the camp, over the woodlands, and she was pulled north, flying relatively fast.
Fiona wasn't exactly scared of the speed and height, but it also wasn't pleasant. It operated in a weird middle ground that Fiona wouldn't quite endorse, but also wasn't deathly opposed. Her form jerked towards a set of small buildings with walls which appeared to guard the road. It was a checkpoint.
Moreover, the checkpoint had boxes around it, with fruit bustling out of them, and there were only a few shapes nearby. Fiona realized that what she was being shown: A place to get supplies.
Then she felt her form jerked north east, to another check point. This check point was bustling with lightning all around it. Fiona… didn't know what was going on, but she knew it was important.
Then her form was jerked even further north, where a large fortress remained. Fiona saw swords all around it, but there was a path without them. The path went between two piles of stone, where the area was clear and fine.
Then Fiona heard a voice above her, and a golden light shined down on her, "Go now, for I am with you."
Her eyes opened, and she realized that for the first time since the trip began, she was up before everyone else. Another thing she realized was that she was not tired at all.
She sat up and gazed around the camp. She was fully rested with a remarkable amount of energy. Her night vision kicked in and she looked around. There was nothing nearby, which made the morning boring. She could get up and start moving, Fiona knew the way to the fortress judging by the what she saw… if she could even consider dreams to a reliable source of intel.
What was she doing? Fiona was out in enemy territory with nothing to go off of but a dream. She was a total fool. Fiona laid there and pleaded to God. Please, if this is a sign, tell me. If it's not, then make them stop.
Fiona's energy still remained strong, and she was ready to move. She crawled out of her sleeping bag and stood up. She began to pack up, getting her supplies and putting them into her pack. Once Fiona had packed up, she stood up and started to walk north.
"Where are you going?" Stick's voice sent a brief shiver up Fiona's spine.
Fiona felt stunned, before turning around and smiling, "I'm scouting ahead." Fiona lied instinctively. A lie that was clearly spotted by the badger.
"With out us? You are deserting, aren't you!" Sticks climbed out of her sleeping bag and pulled her large sword out from under her.
Fiona should have taken it from her in her sleep. That didn't matter now as the badger and the fox were at a stand off. Fiona could try to run away, but the pack on her back was heavy and sluggish. She'd have to drop it.. not that it would be too much of a problem in the immediate future.
Fiona's real problem came with Sticks knowing that she left without saying anything. Fiona would have to work her way back to the kingdom without an easy recovery method, which was a challenge to say the least.
She could try fighting, but Sticks was already really powerful, and the issue of rebuilding trust would still be the same.
So Fiona went with the only option she had left: Honesty.
"I'm… going to get Sonic… he's out there, I know it." Fiona Stated, waiting for Stick's scolding.
"Sonic is dead. That is what we know." Sticks kept her sword up, and took a step closer to Fiona, "Do you have a reason for us to believe that he is alive, or are do you lie again?" She hissed at Fiona with a look of hatred.
Fiona took a step back as Sticks came closer slowly.
"What's going on?" Oscar stood up out of his sleeping bag, and took a wide stance.
"She's a deserter." Sticks growled, glaring at Fiona. Her blade was stead, and the badger was fully ready to slice Fiona to pieces. She would kill Fiona and not lose any sleep over it.
"What?" Oscar looked at Fiona with a betrayed look. His face scowled at her.
"Who's a deserter?" Renault stood up and looked at the situation.
"She claims Sonic is alive." Sticks growled licking her lips in anticipation. She was waiting to kill someone, Fiona knew it.
"What? She must be in denial…" Oscar actually came to her aide, "He's gone."
"I saw him in a dream! I felt God pull me from my body and take me to him!" Fiona pleaded. She hated being at the mercy of a desperate request, but it was the only way she was going to do anything and come back alive. Sticks stopped.
Oscar shook his head, "He's gone… you need to move on. We all lose something in this world."
Renault actually looked at Fiona with pity, "Was he really close to you?"
"You don't get it! It felt real! He's suffering!" Fiona pleaded once again, but the boys only shook their heads with pity, "He showed me a fortress, and Sonic was inside. He showed me food and places I have never been to!"
The boys sighed, and walked towards her slowly. Were they going to try and tie her up?
Then Sticks pulled her sword back with a growl, "Alright, let's go."
The boys turned to her, "What?"
"I am not one to deny God a request. If he demands something, let us listen." Sticks growled.
Fiona relaxed finally, "Thank you."
"If you are a liar, and God punishes us, I will make sure that I kill you myself." Sticks glared at Fiona.
Still, it was better than being tied up or being treated as crazy. Fiona could only hope that she wasn't.
/*-*/
The men rushed through the soft plants with rifles at the read. Johan led at the front tip of the spear. The city was in the middle of battle, or it would seem as such from its loud sounds from within the city.
"Johan, What are we doing? The city is under attack, and we're rushing straight for the action." Gewis complained rushing forward with his rifle.
"We are moving behind the buildings, they shall not see us coming." Johan growled back as they ran closer.
"We shouldn't be running into the bullets!" Gewis barked back at Johan as if he planned to get his entire army killed. They arrived at a large building which towered into the sky. They should have remained out of sight.
The army caught up, along with the heavy equipment crews who moved rather swiftly to keep up. Many were panting as they carried the crates of weapons.
Johan turned to his men, "We will split into teams, and move through the city. Strike the broken armies. Kill them with your knives, and use your guns when needed."
The men looked at each other as though Johan were not clear with his orders.
"There are sewers that go under the city." Ezra huffed as she caught her breath, "You can move around… under the city, and can… appear anywhere."
Johan growled at her, "You should move more. It is not good that a leader is so weak." He slowed his response again before nodding, "Very well, my hunters. Go hunt, and destroy our enemy. I will find their leaders, and deal with them. We will meet at the center of the city, or in the sewers. NOW GO!" Johan barked.
Ezra showed them to a large tube that was at the edge of the city. The army crawled through, and split up as the tube split. Johan caught the scent. There was mostly dung, but there was also something strange. A smell very different from the other beast-people he saw.
Johan continued down the tube as more of his men split up and climbed the various ladders which led to the surface. Johan realized that the holes that the soldiers were climbing out of were far too small for him. While he had no issues with showing force, Johan did not want to reveal their position to their enemy.
Johan continued to move through the brown water as his men continued to leave him. Eventaully, Johan was alone, but he kept walking. He wished to find the a way to get to the battle. Johan's nose then lit up as he reached another cross-way.
There was something strange, twisted nearby. It made Johan angry, and his body instinctively moved to attack the threat. However, Johan didn't hear or see anything down the large pipe that the scent should have been coming form, so he kept moving.
Johan continued to march through the sludge until he made it to an exit… a rather unclean exit.
Johan looked out and saw that he was far away from the fighting. Johan saw no reason to stay there, as the battle was already waging.
He jumped out of the tube and swamp through the waste before crawling out on shore and continuing to rush towards the inside of the city.
The city was truly massive, and likely rich with plunder if he were to sack it on a day of plenty. Still, there was no time to loot abandoned homes or make the noise. The city's people would keep the enemy from spotting their attack.
Johan saw a patrol moving through the streets on the east side, both looking bored as though they would rather be at the front lines. They would get their wish, these strange golden dog people.
Johan would quickly kill them, and he approached them by crawling across the sturdy ground, hiding his steps from the enemy ears.
The two were snarling and tapping their weapons on the ground, before they continued moving. Johan hated that they got away, but he would not pursue. There were bigger, more important enemies to deal with.
He was here to strain the command lines. The enemy could not work without clear orders from highest authority. If they were truly worthy of lead, then they would be able to impress him.
Johan ran up the light slope. Ezra's claim that the city would not be devastated was a lie, or an overestimation. The outskirts had destroyed and plundered buildings, along with bodies of soldiers with varying clothing. There were many Red Garden Defenders, but there were also yellow Shepherd hounds in the mix.
Still, it did not matter to Johan if it did not matter to his enemies. All he needed was the city, if it was destroyed in some places, so be it. They both needed the center, and he knew they would not give up the possibility of destroying the current leader's only claim.
Johan prowled through the destroyed buildings, and heard some voices. Three, which appeared to be on patrol, securing their rear. If they were not, then Johan was likely to run into a scouting party that would foreshadow a coming army.
Regardless, Johan found himself eager for blood and battle. He bounded towards the sound, where a new scent began to take root.
Johan, turned around and snarled, letting out a beastly hiss to alert the new creatures that he was there, and not happy with their presence.
"Hey, I heard something… Someone leave a radiator on?" One of the patrol members asked.
Johan jerked back around and jumped up into the line of sight for the patrol, before rushing them down. He quickly closed the distance as they began to shout and fire their energy weapons.
Johan's hide absorbed the heat with light pain, before biting into the closest one's hand, crushing it in his maw. Johan pulled back, drawing the red Garden Defender into his chest before slamming his arms on the target. He then twisted his arms to slammed another Garden Defender into the ground.
The third was fleeing rather quickly. Johan gave chase, with an angry hiss at the craven display. He caught up to the target, and bit down on his enemy's leg, before pulling the creature back and slamming his fist on the Garden Defender's skull, making a cracking sound, but not fully destroying it.
Johan solved the problem with another blow. Johan was disgusted by the lack of power his body was giving him. He would work harder, be better.
Johan jerked around as his ears picked up movement.
"Whoa, whoa, friendly!" A bear called out rather loud, before shrinking down.
Johan recognized him. He was with the attack force, and split off closer to Johan in the sewers. Johan growled, "Where are your bodies?" He expected his men to be breaking the enemy flanks.
"I got a couple down there." The bear pointed behind himself at a building that was still standing, and was on the outskirts of the remaining city, "Listen, we aren't the only ones trying to deal with the Dark Egg Legion, and we also aren't the only ones who want the city. There are Dingo's who are trying to get the city, and apparently there is some bad blood between them and the Legion."
Johan took those words carefully. Could they be turned into valuable allies or clients? Johan would have to consider the option. Manpower was always welcome… he would need to meet them first.
Johan growled, "Our target is the same. Destroy these "Legionnaires" and crush their attack. We will deal with these new warriors later."
The bear pulled out his rifle and nodded, and they moved closer into the city.
"Hey, friendlies, coming out!" A voice called out from behind some rubble, and two rifles were raised up. It was rather clever, showing the weapons that only Johan's warriors had. They stepped out, a boar and a wolf.
Johan growled, "Move, follow us!" He gestured with his snout and the men moved along with him.
They pushed up to the city center where machines were moving up. They rested between two large buildings in a rather undamaged part of the city.
The wolf growled, "They have badniks too."
"Steel or flesh, we will cut through them and we will win." Johan growled back, before he saw a large four legged machine which housed a Garden defender. It appeared to have a turret and a large cannon which fired a laser from it.
"DIG IN!" Gewis shouted from the center of the city, as the sound of rifles rippled through the air as they fired at the large machine.
"THE ACORN SOLDIERS ARE HERE!" Shouted one of the Red Garden Defenders, likely a Legionnaire, "WHY ARE THEY HERE? HOW ARE THEY HERE?"
Johan realized that they had stopped next to a field camp. They appeared to be talking with the large fortress which sat back.
Johan shuffled back, before jumping through the window of the building that made the alleyway. He smashed the systems as the enemy scrambled for their weapons. Then, as each one picked up his or her gun or blade, Johan would kill them. Once they were armed, all was fair.
Johan then burst through the door and rushed at the large walker weapon, slamming into it as he did.
The operator quickly panicked and tried to swing the gun around to face Johan, not realizing that Johan had grappled the turret.
Johan smashed the controls and dragged the operator out with claws in his throat, pulling him to the ground where he hung limply.
Johan had turned, expecting a more of a fight, but instead, his enemy quickly scrambled back, with a few turning to fire, but ultimately giving up and rushing back.
Johan heard gun fire and rocket fire from inside the city. It was not a ready concern, and so he let it be. Johan turned back to Gewis, "Are you ready to pursue?"
Gewis shook his head, "We're still getting everyone back together. I guess we caught them off guard. Still, There is someone you need to meet."
"I don't believe so." Johan growled. Anyone he needed to meet, he would know about.
Gewis shook his head, "This is Remington. He's the leader of the Echidnapolis Security Team… although I guess it's the Echinapolis Militia now." He gestured to a rather unimposing Red Garden Defender.
This "Remington" seemed shocked by Johan, "A wolverine, I thought they were all whipped out."
Johan growled and turned around, "Gather your men and help me take this city."
"What? No, My men are exhausted as it is. Most of us are out of ammo if we have a weapon at all." Remington counter argued.
Johan growled and turned around as the walker behind him exploded, "Prepare those who are ready, and-"
"I think we need to stop and get our plan sorted out." Gewis interrupted, looking up to Johan, "A lot of things are different, and we need to take a moment to figure out how to proceed. That's my contribution as a general."
Johan cocked his head for a moment at that last word. Was he trying to assert authority over Johan?
"I mean as one of your generals." Gewis corrected quickly, to the fearful and confused look of Remington.
Johan weighed his words carefully, before nodding, "Very well, give the order to the men to look the battlefield and give our new… allies, the weapons."
Gewis nodded and began to repeat the order to the men.
Remington stepped forward, "You're the leader of this team?"
"I am." Johan clarified, and the red Garden Defender nodded.
"Well thanks. We'll talk in the city hall." Remington gave Johan a nod.
Ezra came out from an alleyway across the road, "Hey, I found you… Wow, a model XF-442…. You brought it down?"
Johan turned to Ezra, then looked back at the walker, "Yes."
"That's a Legionnaire!" Remington readied his small gun.
"She is here for this city. I have given her orders. If you attacker, I will kill all of you." Johan growled, and the Red Garden Defender lowered his weapon.
Johan walked back towards the center of the city. He had no more time to waste talking. There were battles to be fought and blood to be spilled.
/*-*/
Twisting, turning, churning, burning.
So much chaos to be had. Sonic has something to fight for once again, right as his spirit was waning. Fiona is on probation with Sticks and the group, and Johan has saved the last remnants of the Echidnapolis Security Team. Everyone was scattered throughout the city, and the fighting looks like it will be more complicated than everyone thought.
So, Please leave a review as we are getting into the action. Tell me what you loved, or where you think this is going, or that I need to work on something( Please give an example or a line if you do see something that needs improvement). If leaving a review seems too public for you, PM me, and I'll respond as soon as I can. It will stay anonymous if anything from there is made public.