Outcasts
[The scene opens on a shot of the sky, appearing partly cloudy for the day. It pans down to the forest where the only ambiance is the sounds of nature, birds chirping in the trees, an occasional crow being heard, and a light wind rustling the branches and shrubbery. It cuts to the cabin where Geoffrey and Drago are sitting next to each other on the porch. Neither of them says a word as they look away in opposite directions…after a few seconds of awkward silence, Geoffrey breaks it]
Geoffrey: …I had a dream last night.
Drago: Hmm…what about?
Geoffrey: …It's a bit hard to explain…you think you can keep up?
Drago: …Sure, go ahead.
Geoffrey: Um…tck, okay, so, in the dream…it was…normal at first…I was sitting here…you were there too…in fact, we were in the same spots as we are now…
Drago: …Then what happened?
Geoffrey: …Then everything went dark…and I found myself in the middle of the woods…I was alone…
[The scene transitions to Geoffrey's description of the dream, the lone skunk standing in the middle of the forest, having a greenish-blue tint to it]
…until I looked to the right…and there was a man in front of me…
[Geoffrey looks over to the right before it cuts back to reality]
Drago: What did he look like?
Geoffrey: Well…he looked average height…brunette hair…grey suit and slacks…
[The scene cuts back to the dream as Geoffrey is now facing the stranger's direction]
…the strangest thing was…he had no face…it was just…blank…
[The shot is now facing the stranger, as Geoffrey stated, there is a black void where the face would be]
And then he pointed to the left, like he wanted me to look…and so I did…
[The figure points in said direction and Geoffrey turns around. Cut back to reality]
Drago: And? What did you see?
Geoffrey: …I saw her…Hershey…looking as she did when we were together…
[Cut back to the dream. Geoffrey is now looking at Hershey, donning a content expression on her face as if the environment means nothing to her. Geoffrey just looks blankly at her]
Drago: …Did she say anything?
Geoffrey: No…she just looked at me…with that carefree smile on her face…I didn't know what to say, or if I could say anything…suddenly, I found myself looking back at the stranger…he then pointed to the right, so I did…
[Geoffrey is shown looking back at his strange company as the figure points to his right, to which the Australian obeys]
…he showed me something I didn't want to see.
Drago: And that was…?
Geoffrey: …It was myself…the day Naugus possessed my body…and in "my" hands…was Hershey, looking as if the life had been sucked out of her…
[Geoffrey is shown looking over at his possessed form, holding his former partner's lifeless body in his hands, Hershey's eyes are half-lidded and the color of her irises has diluted]
…that wasn't all…behind him were the bodies of my former cohorts…
[Behind Ixis Geoffrey are the bodies of the Freedom Fighters, visible scars, and wounds all across their figures…from one angle, there appears to be damage to some of their faces, only seen from behind so as to leave the extent of their injuries up to the imagination, although Geoffrey's shrunken pupils should give a good idea]
Geoffrey: It was almost like the stranger knew I couldn't bear it any longer, so I turned to face him again…however, this time, I did see a face…or at least, what appeared to be his eyes…
[As Geoffrey faces the stranger once more, he now has eyes…blood red eyes that stare straight ahead]
…it was then that things took a turn…my body started to change…
[Red patches begin to appear on the skunk's body, similar to blood stains…streaks of red appear on the ground around him…Geoffrey's eyes flash to the same color as Naugus' before the scene cuts back to reality]
Drago: …And?
Geoffrey: After that, I woke up…it was…surreal, to say the least…I don't know what it means…but whatever it is, it's probably nothing good…
Drago: …Well, that was…something, I suppose…though, I highly doubt dreams mean anything.
Geoffrey: How can you be so sure?
Drago: I mean, everyone has dreams, and most of the time, it's random stuff that doesn't mean anything…of course, there is the occasional sense of deja vu…
Geoffrey: …Yeah, I suppose you've got a point…still…when you have certain dreams for a while, it's…almost like it's trying to tell you something.
Drago: …Well, perhaps it might…can't really say myself.
Geoffrey: …Yeah.
[The two sit in silence once more…before Geoffrey speaks again]
Geoffrey: …Drago?
Drago: Yeah?
Geoffrey: I…I want to apologize.
Drago: For what?
Geoffrey: For…what I said to you…I might have had a point somewhere, but…the past few days have given me some time to think…you've made me realize something.
Drago: Uh-huh?
Geoffrey: You've made me realize…I'm really no better than you…
Drago: Aaaah…
Geoffrey: Yeah…I know I said I've wanted to correct the error of my ways…but I suppose you could say I tend to come off as…
Drago: Loud-mouthed?
Geoffrey: Not exactly the word I was looking for…more like…self-righteous…it's always been a…personal quirk of mine…
Drago: Hmm…well, from what I've heard in passing, sounds about right.
Geoffrey: Yeah…I know we're two different beasts, but…really, both of us have done regrettable things…and I wonder…is it even possible to repent?
Drago: …Well, depends on what you mean.
Geoffrey: Like…we've both betrayed our respective groups for various reasons…money, power, leadership, self-assurance…I myself have a…fairly checkered past…
Drago: Yuuuuuup.
Geoffrey: I will say, some details are a bit skewed, but…the general story is still there…
Drago: How do you mean?
Geoffrey: Well…you know my… "relationship" with Princess Sally?
Drago: Oh yeah, what even was that anyway?
Geoffrey: It was…complicated, to put it lightly…you could say I was a little too…forward with my interests for her…
[A flashback is shown as Geoffrey is shown behind a tree, watching Sally and Sonic having an idle chat. It then shows an animated version of the panel in which Geoffrey is placed as Sally's guard via the order of the latter's father, King Maximillian Acorn]
You see, her father; King Acorn, wanted me to guard her, keep her out of trouble, you know, that sort of thing.
[Sally's disinterest in the proposition is shown as she is turned around from the skunk with her arms crossed]
Of course, that never went according to plan, and more often than not, danger would find her like a magnet…I felt an obligation to protect her, although, of course, that meant I had to compete with her…beau…
[Geoffrey is shown looking at Sonic from behind with an ugly sneer]
I never understood her attraction for that one…and, let's just say, this led to a bit of rivalry between myself and Sonic…
Drago: Soooooo, you and the little blue shit were beefing over the princess' affections…aren't you…older than them though?
Geoffrey: Now that's the part that's a bit hard to explain…see, I'd never consider something with the princess in actuality…for one, she was taken, and two…yeah, you can take a guess for that…still, I was a little…vague with my intentions back then…in hindsight, you could say I was…perhaps too interested in her affairs…it's…not exactly a time I look back with fondness…
Drago: Huh…well, I suppose that's something we have in common…besides the obvious…
Geoffrey: Yes…well, when you turned traitor, you just kept digging the hole deeper. I at least tried to appear genuine.
Drago: Yeah, and a good lot that did for you.
Geoffrey: I…okay, I'll give you that…I do want to go back…but…can I?
Drago: Hmmmm…better luck with you than me.
Geoffrey: I'm…not so sure…I know it's been a long time, but…I've made a lot of enemies in my time…you know they'll never forgive me…
Drago: …Yeah. They'll never forgive me either…and honestly, I don't care.
Geoffrey: Really?
Drago: Yes…I've gone past the point of caring…if they still wanna hold a grudge, let them be that way, I don't give a shit.
Geoffrey: Don't you…want a sense of closure?
Drago: My closure is what I decide it to be…if I do manage to become one with society again, I'll be fine with it…if I don't…well, it's back to the woods, I guess…
Geoffrey: …Huh…that's…oddly resourceful for you.
Drago: I didn't spend years going through hell and back not to take anything from it…I'll make the best of a bad situation. And I suggest you do the same if push comes to shove.
Geoffrey: I…I don't know…I'm not sure where to go if I can't make things right…among other things…
Drago: [sighs] I suppose…you can come to me if it doesn't work out…
Geoffrey: You…you mean that?
Drago: …Yeah. But don't make a big stint of it. I'm hardly what you'd call a welcoming picture.
Geoffrey: Perhaps…but I guess…even someone like you has a decent streak in them…well, under all that bile, to be exact.
Drago: Hmph, you're an ass.
Geoffrey: And you're a right ole twat, mate.
[Another bit of silence comes between the two]
Geoffrey: So…are we cool?
Drago: What?
Geoffrey: Like, are we…cool…as in…are we…mutual roommates…acquaintances…friends?
Drago: …Yeah…we're cool…you'd be a friend?
Geoffrey: I mean, I don't have many options at this point, now do I? Same goes for you.
Drago: Hmm…I suppose I can deal with that…huh…feels nice, doesn't it?
Geoffrey: Yeah…I suppose it does…well, for a couple of outcasts, anyway…
[At that moment, the sound of footsteps can be heard approaching the cabin. Guntiver and Sleuth walk into frame, hauling baskets of fish, nuts, and berries]
Guntiver: We're back with lunch!
Sleuth: PHEW! Talk about gettin' your hands dirty, those fish are some right sons a' bitches.
Drago: Hard work musta come as a shock to you.
Sleuth: Funny comin' from you, pretty boy. What have you been doin' this whole time? Sitting on your fat ass?
Drago: You watch your tongue, pup.
Geoffrey: AHEM! Actually, we were havin' a productive chat with each other…could say we found some common ground.
Guntiver: Ah, so you two have been working it out? Well, that's good to hear, things might go a lot smoother now.
Sleuth: Yeah, sure…
[Guntiver and Sleuth make their way inside the house to put the food down]
Geoffrey: By the way, how's things going between you and Guntiver?
Drago: Huh? Oh, him, weeeeell, he's a good sort, really. Nice to have someone treating me fairly for a change.
Geoffrey: Aaaaah, yes…I can't help but notice you two seem to be quite close with each other.
Drago: Um…yeah, I guess we are…
Geoffrey: Quite close, might I say…
Drago: What are you getting at?
Geoffrey: Ooooh, nothing…just making an observation.
[Geoffrey walks up the steps into the cabin, concealing a sly grin as Drago watches with a confused expression…it isn't until the door slams shut that it clicks in the wolf's head]
Drago: …That cheeky bitch!
[The scene cuts to dusk as an orange hue can be seen from the windows. It cuts to inside of the cabin where the quartet is shown having dinner]
Guntiver: So…Sleuth? Tell us a bit about yourself.
Sleuth: Huh?
Guntiver: Well, it's just, I don't think you've told much about yourself, and…I'm fairly curious.
Sleuth: Hmph, it's not all that important.
Drago: Heeeeey, I told him my life story, the least you could do is spare yours.
Sleuth: Hmmm…well, it's pretty straightforward, really…grew up in the slums of Mobius, had to fight for survival most of my life, had a brief stint fighting against the oppression before I got wind of being paid a large sum for joining the oppression, had a few run-ins with the law, did some time with the Destructix before I went on my own and then got found out by Finitevus, joined up with some of the old crew before we escaped into the mountains and here we are.
Guntiver: Oh…that's…nice.
Sleuth: Told you, straightforward.
Drago: Baaah, that was boring.
Sleuth: Hey, I never said it was going to be all that interesting. You paid what you get.
Geoffrey: Are you sure that's it? Sounds like you're skimming a few details.
Sleuth: What do you all want, I'm no storyteller.
Drago: C'mooon, I was bunking with you that whole time, I know there's something you're not telling us.
Sleuth: [sighs] Fine, if you're all gonna beg, I might as well give you something…you see, when I was growing up in the backstreets of town, I wasn't kidding when I said you had to practically fight for survival…anything to get a bit of money…
[The scene transitions to another flashback, showing one of the backstreets of the city. It is presumably set sometime before Robotnik usurped the throne, hence why it is otherwise a normal setting. In contrast to the elegant buildings surrounding the kingdom, this corner of the city is home to those living on the poverty line, dirty buildings and apartments are littered around the area while a rail bridge hovers over the neighborhood. Three people are shown having a smoke against a brick wall; two men; a grey wolf wearing a blue shirt with brown shorts, a brown bear wearing an orange vest with jeans, and a woman; a hyena donning a black crop top with olive green sweatpants. Across the street, a calico cat mother dressed in a purple sweater and jeans is leading her three kittens down the lane; two girls wearing small pink and purple skirts, and a boy wearing overalls over a red shirt. Propped against a fence and smoking a cigarette is a younger Sleuth, sometime in his adolescence. As opposed to his grey suit and slacks, he is dressed more casually; black shirt, jeans, and a shark tooth necklace around his neck]
Sleuth: You could say I learned the ways of street life fairly quickly…needed to, given the neighborhood…
[Sleuth is shown exchanging drugs with a gang of four dogs, a Doberman, Husky, Dalmatian, and Terrier, all decked out in black jackets and jeans. The Newfoundland takes the cash from the leader and stuffs it in his pocket]
…of course, it wasn't just drug-dealing…money was tight where we were…
[As Sleuth is seen entering his apartment complex, a silhouetted figure is shown sitting in a chair, chugging down a bottle of beer in hand before throwing it at the wall. This is followed up by the younger Sleuth slipping away as the shadows of two adults can be seen arguing, presumably his parents]
…so, in order to sustain a living, you'd need to do just about anything to get a little dough…
[Within an alley, neon lights are shown hanging above the entrance to a club. Two girls in lightly colored tops; a poodle and a Saluki, are accompanied by a Rottweiler and Pitbull wearing jackets, while off to the right, a raccoon decked out in neon sunglasses with the bottom half of his shirt cut off and in jeans, and a Siamese cat decked out in a white t-shirt and shorts are leaned against the wall, presumably high from the smoke coming out from their mouths. To the left of the door, a vixen in a black tank top and short shorts is lulling a black panther decked out in a purple suit and slacks with her tail. Sleuth is watching behind a set of crates at the display and ducks as a tiger dressed in a black shirt and grey slacks passes by with a bottle of whiskey in hand]
Guntiver: Hold on…you didn't-
Sleuth: Naaaah…that came years later. Still, any sort of work back then paid the bills…of course, when Robotnik came and fucked everything up, money got tighter.
[The dictator's reign is shown affecting the people already struggling to make a living, having to hide themselves from being seen on the streets or being evicted from their homes. Sleuth is shown more towards his current age, donning his more recognizable outfit, hiding from the Swat Bots in the sewers, narrowing his eyes as they march past the open drain]
Originally, I joined up with the Opposition as everyone wanted to have access to basic rights once more.
[Sleuth is seen in the crowd in one of the villages that accommodated the people of Mobius after they fled the kingdom]
However, you could say I was…unsatisfied with the progress being made…we were no closer to getting a better living from hearing all those sappy "inspirational" speeches by the princess and her little gang of hoes. Soooooo, I took it upon myself to do a bit of…illegal activity under wraps…
[Much like Drago in the previous story, Sleuth is shown being interrogated by Dr. Robotnik, using the same promise of wealth that he used on the white wolf. The brown canine is shown with an expression of approval at the terms and shakes hands]
Sleuth: Of course, I couldn't evade the law forever and got booked.
[Sleuth is shown holding up the card for his mugshot, the camera clicks twice to show him from the front and then the side before the bars are shut over him]
Now, you'd think that would be the end of it, buuuuuut, lucky for me, I got broken out along with a few colleagues…for a while, I did some time with the Destructix, rained Hell wherever we went, hmmhmmhmm, I remember a particular outing when a little betrayal happened…
[Sleuth's breakout from prison along with Drago is shown, and the incident in question refers to the reveal of Fiona's double life behind the scenes. During the fight, in addition to alluding to his teammate's reveal to Tails, the brown canine holds the kitsune by his tails and flings him off like a helicopter, while in the background, Drago is shown landing a kick on Sonic's stomach]
Lemme tell you, seeing the Freedom Fighters lose their shit when one of their own had been seeing Scourge under the wraps, particularly when our gal laid a smack-dab on that Tails kid, hehe, the image gives me pleasure to this day…
[Fiona coyly dropping the bomb on Tails is shown while Scourge in the background gives a "LOL" expression at the display]
I mean, sucks for him, but you know. Thooough, after a while, she and Scourge went back to Moebius and did some time with their own gang before she came back and I handed leadership to her…if I recall correctly, Drago went off to join the Eggman Empire while I went off as a solo act…lucky me that I didn't end up looking like a freak of nature, am I right?
Drago: Oh, fuck you.
[Sleuth's departure from the Destructix is shown, and he "breaks the fourth wall" by smirking at his own jab through the story, leaning against a wall while tipping a fedora]
Sleuth: Sooooo, after a few years of doing work on the black market, time seemed to stop for a while…when I found myself on this island, I laid low for a while, couldn't exactly show my face when that lot was still around…it was then that Dr. Finitevus approached me and offered me a role on his little gang of misfits…with no better options, I took him on his offer…good lot that did when we were raided…
[Sleuth is shown living in the undergrounds of Toon City before the albino echidna approaches him with the offer…it cuts to a different angle from the events of "Retaliation" as Sleuth is shown fleeing from the scene under the cover of darkness before reuniting with Drago]
After that, me and Drago took to the woods to lay down for the time being…was rather uneventful till we met you lot, and…yeah, that's where we are now…satisfied?
Guntiver: …Huh, I guess that puts it into perspective.
Sleuth: Well, I never said it was the greatest story of mankind, but that's the general stuff out of the way…heh, not bad for a trip down memory lane.
Geoffrey: [sighs] You and Drago really do come from the same mold, don'tcha?
Drago: What's that supposed to mean?
Geoffrey: Oh, you know, big, brawny, don't really care, ended up screwing themselves over.
Sleuth: You know, that's ironic when I look at you two. The worst I got was a few scrapes, you got mutilated while you got possessed from what I heard.
[Geoffrey awkwardly clears his throat]
Geoffrey: Uh, yeah, um, that thing, yes…
Drago: Well, I suppose if I got my form back, his thing's probably gone too, right?
Geoffrey: Oh, of course, of course, hehe, we don't need to worry about ole Naggy comin' back anytime soon.
Sleuth: Hmmmmm…yeah…
[Sleuth casts a wary expression in Geoffrey's direction while the skunk tries to look as innocent as possible]
[The scene cuts to later at night as the lights within the house have been put out and everyone is shown to be sleeping at their respective spaces in the house…all with the exception of Geoffrey who is still awake…he looks over at his sleeping roommates and quietly gets out of bed. Tiptoeing across the room, the skunk tries to open the door as quietly as possible, before shutting it in the same manner…he walks out into the clearing and sighs as he comes up to a tree]
Geoffrey: [sighs] Still gotta be cryptic, don't I…?
[Suddenly, his eyes flash and in a blinding light, Geoffrey reels back. As he tries to compose himself once more, the shot pans out to reveal Naugus standing in front of him]
Naugus: That was a near slip-up on your part.
Geoffrey: I-I'm aware of that…
Naugus: [sighs] Do I need to remind you of the consequences of compromising my mission…?
Geoffrey: Uh…n-no, of course not…
Naugus: Good…because let me tell you, if you can't keep your trap shut, I'll have no issue with assuming full control of your body and your soul.
Geoffrey: You wouldn't…
Naugus: Pardon me…do you really want to tempt fate, apprentice?
Geoffrey: Don't call me that.
[Naugus snorts and reaches down to clutch Geoffrey's face]
Naugus: Listen carefully, you little brat…everything depends on chance, and if you don't do as you're told…you'll join the rest…six feet under…
[Geoffrey tries to get a word in, but the wizard's grasp is near choking him]
Geoffrey: I-ECK! I can't-ACK!
Naugus: Do I make myself clear…?
[With whatever room he has in his current position, Geoffrey gives a small nod]
Naugus: Gooooood, good…
[Naugus releases Geoffrey and the skunk gasps for air]
Naugus: Now…go on and get some sleep…wouldn't want to keep you all night, would we? Hmmhmmhmm…
[Before Geoffrey can get a word in, Naugus disappears in a flare of magic. The skunk's eyes flash as he tries to pick himself off the ground]
Geoffrey: Good lord…I hate it when he does that…[sighs]...just keep it dark…
[With a heavy heart, Geoffrey makes his way back towards the cabin, being as quiet as ever. After slipping back indoors, he makes his way over to the bed…the skunk sighs as he lies down before closing his eyes and slowly drifting off to sleep]
Character Guide:
Geoffrey St. John, Drago Wolf, Sleuth Dawg, Guntiver the Arctic Wolf, Ixis Naugus, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails the Fox, Sally Acorn, Fiona Fox, Scourge the Hedgehog, Hershey the Cat, Dr. Robotnik, Dr. Finitevus, King Maximillian, Amy Rose, Antoine D'Coolette, Bunnie Rabbot, Rotor Walrus, Lightning Lynx, Sergeant Simian, Predator Hawk, Flying Frog - Sonic the Hedgehog