(AN: "December 31/Janurary 1st, next chapter, I promise!"

*looks at the date of this being posted*

OKAY SO I CAN EXPLAIN-

So, this chapter was an undertaking of the extreme.

I'm not kidding, I was trying to get this out as quick as I could. But two things happened. One, work got heavier meaning tired which makes sense, this is a heavy season this time of year. But the second thing was, even though I had planned out the events and even dialouge almost months in advance, this became WAY longer than I realized, and I kinda didn't want to cut any of it? I wanted it to be in its raw, original form. I mean hell, I already have the longest Vecpio fic on record, might as well make sure my title doesn't get stolen.

But because of that, this is a chapter that ABSOLUTELY needs to be split in two parts, which I can promise will come this Friday.

I also will use this time to warn here that this chapter is explicitly the most political the story has gotten, and I'm sure that people aren't here for that shit, so I COMPLETELY understand if you wanna skip it. The story has been leading up to this point of trying to bring our characters into politics they never asked for, and it's not what makes up the majority of this chapter but it is a central focus, especially since there are some... rather noticble inspirations if you look hard.

To counteract this because I know a reviewer or a reader won't be the happiest bc avoiding politics in fiction or whatever gets said nowadays, I don't actively seek out discourse, I WILL make this absolute promise to you and it's a gurantee, even more than the one where I claimed this chapter would be done by New Year's:

After this chapter, there is NO more CCOCC. No more Connery, no more Monk, no more NONE of that anymore. After this chapter, we are DONE with them and with the major themes seen in this arc. That's why I kinda wanted to give them one last exit before we say bye to them, since I KNOW they had their fans...

...right?

There is a lot that happens in this chapter alone, even in just this PART alone, so I won't keep you any further. After this chapter, we should be back to greener pastures with shorter (by this story's standards anyway lol) chapters and less, but not no conflict. Let's get through this final hill together, shall we and wait no further. I do hope this chapter was worth the wait. And before I forget, this chapter is going to need some VERY major content warnings. Like, easily the heaviest this story has needed so far, but it should apply to this chapter alone. So without further ado...)

cw: heavy themes of racism and xenophobia, EXTREME homo and transphobia (including several unfiltered uses of the f slur and an attempted use of the t slur, as well as instances of misgendering and deadnaming), several csa mentions, misogyny and minor ableism

Yeah, not surprising who is responsible for what if you've followed this story so far.

Also one last shoutout to Empor, our translator for this story, this chapter couldn't have been completed without your translations. Thanks a lot buddy, it really means a lot.)


The lobby of the Space Theatre ran rampant as mobians and Overlanders all stood close together, conversing amongst each other happily and enjoying food and drink being provided by tonight's event.

All of whom had one thing in common: they were here to show their support for CCOCC and their devotion to furthering the agenda and power of the Conservative Party of Central Mobius.

Well, all except one person.

A simple Overlander woman moved out of the way, almost barely bumping into a fair skinned Overlander. She held her phone tightly to her, her eyes set on someone towards the door by Stage 1.

Standing in a gray suit and pants, Representative Craig Horse stood talking amongst his fellow political ally, Katella Huntress, alongside members of CCOCC and invited guests from conservative activist groups and organizations.

"Your son has been putting a lot of work into this group, Craig," said a mobian frog woman. "Him and the other members of his student group. On behalf of the United Federation Right to Life organization, we feel so blessed that your son reached out to invite us."

"I always did believe Connery would take after me," the older horse said. "I used to joke when he was just a foal that he could list the name of every president before he could even sing his ABCs."

There was laughter amongst the group.

"I will say, I'm proud of him too. When he came home for Christmas, he seemed very uncertain about the future of the organization and we had a bit of a father son talk about it on our way to visit extended family. Now I can see he's absolutely set to be a leader for the people."

"Perhaps he'd be able to restore religious liberties to this country and end the persecution of Solarian worshippers," another Overlander man said. "And do something about these colleges too."

"Well, CCOCC is a very diverse group in its beliefs, and unlike the left, they respect them all. Mr. Sydney here is more a part of the economic side of conservatism, which I feel is just as important as social conservatism," Katella Huntress added.

"I think you'll like my speech tonight, representative," the newt smiled. "Hopefully people will get the message and put down all the communism books. If we let the woke generation lead business, we'll spend more money we don't have on things we don't need. Besides, no one wants to work thanks to government handouts, and that would only get worse if they're in charge, encouraging all this laziness."

"Please, don't remind me, I'm VERY well aware. That reminds me, I'm getting calls to my office all week about what's going on this campus acting like it's all Connery's fault. I raised him right and never told him to be violent to anyone or anything," Craig continued. "If they think the left should be allowed to burn our cities and waste our taxpayer money on government funded drag shows, then conservative college students should be allowed to voice their opinions without fear of censorship. I think we can toast to that, shall we?"

There was mass agreement as everyone clinked their glasses.

"We're very fortunate to have Connery," Timothy, the CCOCC member who destroyed Mark's cards, added. "I think if it wasn't for him, we would have disbanded as an organization. But he never gave up on what he believed in. All of you are the same way. We voted you representatives in, and the organizations here fight for what they believe in. For the life of a child, for marriage to be between a man and woman like Solaris said in the Holy Book, to support our country first before anything else and to stop the mass invasion of illegals crossing the border, anyone who aligns with our views and our goals shall always be our friend. We'll fight for you, and we hope you do the same for us as we get closer to the election in November."

"Getting your speech in early, huh, Timothy?" asked Sydney.

"Well I haven't brought up the left yet! I mean I could, like… look at them all outside, pathetically protesting a peaceful event as if we're all some sort of cancer. I must say, Connery hiring all those security guards for tonight's event does at least assure me quite a lot. It's through people like yourselves who help fund us and allow us to put on events like these. Plus, Connery's a good negotiator too-"

"Um, excuse me, I've been… err… standing here the whole time?"

Everyone turned their heads towards the Overlander with the journal.

"Hi," the woman waved as she smiled softly. "Brenda Hernandez, I'm with The Daily Mean Bean, Mobius U's student newspaper. I was wondering if I could have a quick interview with you, Representative Craig, about the event, mainly as the son of the organizer for-"

"I don't talk to liberal news organizations," the elder horse replied.

"B-But I don't work for mainstream news… just the student-"

"Yeah, get bent," Timothy snarled. "Don't think we didn't see the latest issue. We already filed a complaint with Harvey because of your defamatory lies, and no one here is going to give you the time or energy for you to smear our words."

Brenda opened her mouth, trying to find words to look for.

"Didn't you hear them? They said they aren't interested, so why don't you make and GO!" Katella yelled at the Overlander. "You mainstream media 'journalists' can just never keep your nose out of other people's business!"

Brenda's brow lowered as she turned away, trying to find another person to interview. However, as she walked around the busy lobby, she was either told in a polite manner to go away, or was almost yelled at, sans for one person who actually bothered to give a brief interview from the Federationalist Committee.

As she turned away, Brenda looked at her phone and realized almost forty minutes had passed and she only had one interview. There was still less than two hours before the event began, but she was still expected to cover tonight's event with as much detail as possible and with multiple interviews, both filmed for The Daily Mean Bean's website and written for the paper.

Pulling up the application she used for writing, Brenda began her column like she always did,

THE DAILY MEAN BEAN

IN THE FACE OF CONTROVERSY, A CAMPUS GROUP RESISTS

by Brenda Hernandez

Friday, March 4th

"Thursday night saw the second event put on by the student organization, CCOCC (The Central City Organization of College Conservatives) in a month, a well publicized and highly anticipated event for both supporters and protestors…"


Espio squinted his eyes as he looked through the surrounding trees that neighbored the campus buildings. There it was in his sights; the Space Theatre, where his final confrontation would take place.

"I don't think I see anyone coming around the back area. Most of the people seem to be in front of the building, either heading inside or protesting," Jewel said, the sound of loud yelling and clapping in unison was heard. Still, it was of least importance to the chameleon, as he had a mission to do.

"I think it would be smarter if you head first, Espio," Gadget said. "That way, you can scout out the area…!"

The wolf suddenly began to wobble as he swayed back and forth.

"You do know you could have just let this to me and Espio, right?" Jewel asked, looking down at the giant mobian totem below them. With Gadget at the top, Buck, Mark, Manic, Bow, Thorn, Sonic, Sonia, Alan, Munch, Mighty, Rotor, and Knuckles all had someone's feet atop their shoulders, with Vector at the very bottom lifting them all up. The two could see the struggle from up in the trees, some shutting their eyes as their arms shook, with Vector having to grasp Knuckles' legs with a vein popped in his upper shoulder. Suddenly, the totem gave out as many yelped out loud. Everyone soon crashed atop one another, falling to the ground as the sound of mass pain could be heard. Jewel sighed as she shook her head.

"Figures…" she said. "But Gadget does bring up a good point. Scout the area first and make sure there's no one around, then call for us when the coast is clear, Espio."

The chameleon nodded as, unlike his friends and boyfriend, he landed gracefully on the ground from the tree branch he jumped out of. His eyes darted left and right, quickly hiding behind a tree and trying to blend in with his environments with a color that matched his ninja yorobi. The reptile breathed heavily but quietly, not remembering the last time he was expected to do a mission of this caliber. Usually, when he had to do ninja training in the form of missions, they were mock missions set up by his mother, his sensei, and the Shinobi Clan guards.

As he looked ahead, Espio saw no one on the pathways ahead, but he saw various cars in the distance driving towards the campus. It seemed from where they were positioned, no one could see the group enter through the back.

Espio soon got closer, going from tree to tree and looking behind to make sure his friends were close by. Once he was close by the end of the small tree grove, the chameleon put his hands together and recited the Chroma Camo incantation, soon turning invisible and running straight in between the grass by the Space Theatre and the trees everyone was hiding.

After a minute of examining the area, he soon turned visible and motioned towards everyone. In a flash, everyone soon came running quickly towards the chameleon as he led them towards the back that they remembered from the plan. Going from the grass, past the dock loading area and towards the storage area, everyone soon caught up as Vector moved past everyone and dug through his pockets. He grabbed the key Brawny had given him and unlocked the back door.

"Okay, once we're in, BE QUIET," Vector yell-whispered. "We know Connery has private bodyguards around, so we need to sneak in like we planned. Es, go in first and scout out the area like yeh just did."

The chameleon nodded towards his boyfriend as Vector opened the door, letting him through. He was quick but stealthy, crouching as soon as he entered the dark storage area by Stage 6. He looked around, finding only large props scattered about, but nothing else but a near empty open area.

That's when he noticed a shadow in the distance ahead. Espio's head raised up as he heard the door behind him close shut as everyone had soon entered. And then-

"Hey, HEY! You're not supposed to be here! This stage is currently being rented out for the night and this area is off limits!" a sharp voice said. Before anyone could react, five people, mobians and Overlanders, stood at the door leading to the scene shop. Without any place to hide, both groups stood only staring at each other for a brief moment, unsure of what to do.

That's when all hell broke loose.

"I-It's… it's him!" said one of the mobian bodyguards, pointing right at Espio. "The one Connery told us about!"

"What do you mean?!" questioned another of the Overlander bodyguards.

"Connery warned us! That tonight, there was a strong chance that a purple chameleon would try to attack tonight's event!"

"So… he was bettin' on us showin' up, huh…" Vector growled.

"E-Espio…?" Jewel asked, frightened.

"Freeze! All of you! Don't you move a muscle! Stay right where you are, we're calling our commanding officer and then taking you right to him! Failure to comply WILL result in force being used-"

"E-Espio…!" Jewel proceeded to grab the chameleon's elbow, tugging the cloth that held his gauntlets.

As three of the guards began to take out pepper spray and batons, Jewel became even more frantic as one of the guards who stayed behind began to grab his walkie talkie.

"Ebony, do you copy?"

"ESPIO, DON'T JUST STAND THERE, DO SOMETHING!" Jewel yelled.

"Oh, forget this! We ain't goin' down this easy!" Bow exclaimed as he positioned himself and pulled the string of his bow back. He fired one of his arrows at the guard and shot the walkie talkie out of the bodyguard's hand. In a flash, the walkie talkie fell on the ground and slid away.

"GET THEM!" the guards yelled as Espio ran forward quickly. One in particular stayed behind.

"I'll get the walkie talkie, stop them!"

But it was too late.

"Sou wa sa sen!" Espio yelled in his language, kicking one of the guards in the chest and pushing them away. Continuing to run forward, Espio attempted to grab the walkie talkie, but was grabbed by the guard first. Just as he was about to press the button to speak, Espio chopped at the arm with the walkie talkie as he bent his arm upwards. The guard yelled as the walkie talkie fell onto the floor. Espio grabbed the walkie talkie, a frantic voice saying, 'Hello? Hello?! This is Ebony, do you copy? Do you-"

This was all that came from the radio before Espio smashed the heel of his geta on the walkie talkie, cracking it in half.

"ES, BEHIND YA!"

The yell from Vector was all Espio could hear before he saw two bodyguards running towards him. The chameleon got into position as one of them began swinging at him with the baton. He dodged out of the way as Espio pushed away the hand with the baton, chopping straight at the face before slamming his geta on the man's boot. He yelped before Espio kicked him straight into the face, causing him to crash onto the floor. Another guard shook his can of pepper spray and began to spray it towards the chameleon. However, he rolled out of the way, trying to shield his eyes and mouth.

The chameleon recalled this spray, it was something Smithy mentioned. Something about how, as soon as you're sprayed with it, it stings every part of your body, especially your eyes. That's why, after rolling out of the way, Espio put his hands together and quickly recited the incantation for Chroma Camo once again. The guard was surprised upon seeing this.

"Where'd he go?!" he yelled as Espio suddenly appeared and grabbed the guard's elbow, trying to grasp the pepper spray out of his hands. However, with his free hand, the guard punched the chameleon in the chest. Espio was pushed back, and despite the chainmail taking the hit, it was enough for the guard to get another round of pepper spray in. However, from behind the guard, Knuckles punched the man on top of his head, bringing him down

"We got this from here, Espio!" Knuckles said. "They tried going after Buck!"

Espio looked to see Mighty grab one of the guards from behind, locking his limbs as Alan attempted to swing his lute by the side to hit the guard. However, the Overlander kicked with both feet at the quail, causing him to trip and Mighty to lose his grip.

"Alan, no!" Thorn yelled as she slid to the side, helping Mighty back up as she elbowed the guard's right eye. He yelped as she turned to her friend.

"Now!"

Alan nodded as he swung the lute again, striking the guard. Spit flew from the man's face as the Overlander guard fell down. Meanwhile, Rotor had the last remaining guard in a headlock, rotating him around as he tried punching him in the head, moving out of the way of Gadget, who had scuttled out of his hiding spot. The walrus tried to slam his head on one of the props, only for him to be overpowered.

"A-Argh! Someone, help!" Rotor called out as Munch came up, pushing the guard's head back and slamming it onto the prop.

With that, all five guards were left on the ground, groaning in pain and limp. Espio took a deep breath, reuniting with his friends as Mark, Jewel, Buck, and Gadget all came out from where they were hiding, soon joining the others.

"A-Are you alright?" Mark asked.

"Never better," Vector replied, wiping his lip. "Es just took on three guys by himself, we took on the rest together. These guys were nothin'. So much fer private bodyguards."

There was a groan from behind the group as they turned around.

"Do you copy…?"

That was enough for Vector to immediately rush forward and grab the guard's hand away from the walkie talkie.

As the person on the other end said, "Bravo team, this is Ebony?! Do you copy? What's the situation?! What's going on?!", Vector grabbed the man by the collar and lifted him up.

"Yeh ain't gonna tell them shit," he said. "Yeh better get on that radio and tell whoever that this was a mistake. We ain't gonna let Connery get away with what he's got planned, and that's why yer gonna forget we EVER came here, GOT IT?!"

"You… what are you planning…?" the guard replied before Vector yelled again.

"GOT IT?!"

"O-Okay! Okay okay okay! J-Just don't hurt us more! This isn't what we signed up for!"

Vector threw the guard back to the ground as they looked at the mess on the ground, from blood, to weapons, to signs of struggle.

"Sonic, yeh know the plan. We're gonna go on ahead," Vector said. "Make sure yeh patch them up too. After all, if they narc us out, I think they know what's gonna happen…"

"Alright, well, you know what we gotta do!" Sonic added as he put his arms around his brother and sister. "Let's do it to it faster than I can eat five chili dogs!"

"Sonic, do you even WANT me to tell you how fast you can do that?" Sonia asked.

"It's a figure of speech, sis!" Manic added. "Besides, you saw how fast he was with that one guy, just threw him to Rotor after I slammed my drum sticks over his face…"

But as everyone began to turn around to begin heading out, the guard that was left on the ground slowly began to get up, reaching into his vest and grasping onto his secret weapon. He smirked as he pulled it out.

"SURPRISE, ASSHOLE-"

But he could even pull the trigger of his taser gun and as soon as everyone turned around at the sound of the voice, one of the guard's batons was being thrown right at him. He was struck in the face, landing back on the ground face first. As everyone soon turned around, they saw Espio had already been staring at the man, wiping his hands as he let go of a throwing position.

"D-Did… did you just…" Mighty asked. "...throw a baton knowing that guy was getting up behind you?"

"You see everything," Espio replied. "Hear and see."

"You can see behind your head?!" Rotor questioned.

"No, he's sayin' be alert!" Munch shot back. "After 'oll, we're 'bout to head out soon, are we?"

"That's right," Vector added. "After we get past the storage dock and past the scene and prop shop, we haveta go down the hall to the doors leadin' to the tunnels to the different stages. Yeh remember where yer headin', right?"

Everyone nodded in unison.

"Alright, then let's head out. Es, lead the way, we'll follow ya behind. If these guys were here, then there's bound to be more guards. Once we split off to head to where we gotta go, call me and lemme know ya got there safely."

"Got it!" everyone said in unison as Espio headed out, looking around the shop before heading to the door leading out to the backstage hall. As fluorescent lights shined brightly above him, the chameleon looked around, closing his eyes to make sure he didn't hear a voice or footsteps. As he slowly inched his foot in the hallway, he proceeded to slam his heel on the floor, trying to draw out any guards that may have been in the vicinity. However, after a minute of waiting, there was no sign of anyone.

"Go," the chameleon said as he ran down the hallway, everyone sans the hedgehog triplets following behind. They shut the door behind them as they followed Espio, the sound of footsteps, soft and heavy, filled the entire hallway with noise. The chameleon still, however, made sure to keep his eyes out for anything he might have missed, especially after passing by doors to which he didn't know where they went.

However, he soon finally made it to the door as everyone caught up, Mark, Alan, and Gadget taking a moment to catch their breaths.

"Yeh gonna be alroight, mates?" Thorn asked.

"Yeah… yeah of course," Alan nodded his head, scratching the back of it. As Vector opened the door leading down towards the tunnels, he turned towards Jewel and dug into his pockets.

"Here's the key fer all the control booths," he said, handing the key to the beetle. "Make sure ya dun lose it. I gotta return this and the other key to Brawny once I'm done."

"I wouldn't dare to lose it!" Jewel replied, putting the key in her pocket.

"Once we head down there, we know what we gotta do," Mighty said, turning towards the echidna. "You ready, Knux?"

Knuckles cracked his knuckles. "Monk wouldn't even know what hit him."

At that moment, the crocodile turned to his chameleon boyfriend. "Es… whatever yeh do when ya encounter Connery… please come back safe. I dun wanna see ya arrested or anythin' like that."

"Vector…" Espio's face softly fell.

"I know, I know I shouldn't worry and focus on the mission but… but I'm worried fer ya, Es."

The truth was, Espio felt the same with Vector too. What if something DID go wrong and he was split from Vector? He would not only be able to not live with himself, he would have faced the one thing he hated more than anything in the world: failure.

And he couldn't do that. Not after all this planning, not after devoting this battle to so many people.

"I understand," he said. In a flash, Vector kissed Espio tightly as the others all started making their way down into the tunnels below.

"I love ya, Es. Dun forget that. This'll all be over soon. Believe in yerself, okay?"

Espio grasped his boyfriend's hand as he thought about those words. Believe in yourself…

Yes… he believed in his ability, believed in his strength, and believed in the love of those around him. Vector was right, as long as he did that, it would be over soon.

But… was it enough to stop Connery?


MEANWHILE…

Connery stood alone in Stage 1, staring at the doors leading to the exit as he could hear all the commotion coming from outside. He stood firm in his tight gray suit, extenuating his musculature as his mane and tail shined much like his black shoes did.

He couldn't believe it, tonight was finally the night that CCOCC's message would be broadcast to the whole world. No more of this liberal slander, no more of trying to claim his fellow members and followers were the terrorists the media made them out to be. It was looking to be the most important event in all of CCOCC's history.

Connery wouldn't admit it, but unlike his father, who was a natural speaker, he got a bit of the jitters before events such as this. As such, he was pacing back and forth through the stage, thinking back to the speech he wrote to start off. He passed by other CCOCC members who were either on their phone, going in and out into the backstage area, or were preparing their own speech.

"You got this, Connery," he thought to himself. "It's foolish to even be nervous. You can't show weakness. Father always said the worst sign of a leader is one who showed weakness and bowed to the whim of others. You aren't like that. You've stuck to your ideals for this long, and you won't stop now-"

As he gave himself a bit of a mental pep talk, the brown horse was suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Connery, a quick word?"

Connery looked down to see Monk below, the purple gorilla dressed in a dark navy blue suit. The horse was surprised to see the primate dressed even better than during CCOCC's first conference, but he knew that Monk was wanting to make as good of an impression as possible.

"What's wrong, Monk? Surely you don't have an issue, do you?" Connery asked.

"No, no, I just wanted you to look over my speech one more time and tell me what I should add and remove. You know, because you're better at this than me," Monk replied.

As Connery's shoes tapped the wood stage floor, he climbed down the stage steps and to where Monk was.

"You know, you really ought to be more independent when it comes to this stuff," the horse said. "You're a natural speaker, Monk. I'm sure what you have is fine enough. But if you insist…"

Connery cleared his throat as he began to skim the speech Monk prepared in its multi page length.

"Let's see…" he mumbled, moving his finger over the various sheets of paper Monk gave him. He started by clearing his throat. "Eons ago, men were revered and worshiped by fellow men. In combat and art, the ideal man has been set in stone for hundreds of years and chiseled into beautiful marble statues by artists younger than me, blah blah, however, as a result of sexual deviancy under the name of revolution, men have been under attack and disparaged as many things such as sexist… Today, you wouldn't see men who indulge in childish affairs like video games and intake soy by the daily, feminists, porn addicts, and drag queens defending our country… Okay fair, that's a good start."

Connery continued reading. "Men have lost their power by turning away from knowledge and strength, from tradition and normalcy… blah blah blah… if we take a look at the alphabet mafia, better known as the LGBT 'community', they are a cult of evil, evil groomers who recruit children into their community for their sick fetishes and to further grow their community they know can't continue unless they continue their sick art of grooming. We see how doctors and parents pressure kids as young as four to mutilate their genitals, to make Overlander children pretend they're mobians and saying they identify as such... Strong opening body... Let's see... da da da..."

"Sexual deviancy breeds sexual deviancy, and this is the slippery slope that started since we thought homosexuality not a mental illness like it ought to be. If I as a father had to see my child be groomed by these sickos, I would beat their asses until they saw nothing but red… Hmm... maybe let's TRY to avoid the violence. I'm not saying what you want is BAD or that it isn't the correct reaction, but, tonight is important to show the world that we aren't the violent people the left has brainwashed people into thinking we are."

"It's unbelievably true. A homophile does something as look at me or my son and I'd fucking knock their teeth in,"Monk snarled. "Who gives a fuck about image at that point when they wanna harm my family?"

Connery shrugged. "Fair enough. Okay so…"

He cleared his throat again and continued. "We've seen it here in this college too. A college that has mothers with children, babies even, and yet the LGBT's here put on shows with drag queens. What do you think that says about them? That they hate women so much that they have someone dress up to mock them? That they wanna confuse kids? Okay, okay, that's a strong point." Connery nodded his head.

"This is in one way the death of men occurs, by spitting in the face of biology and rejecting it for this complete mockery of masculinity and femininity that would make our ancestors roll in their graves… yada yada… they died in wars, hunted for food in the hot sun for hours, and survived disease and for what? For a freak with layers of makeup and fake breasts to parade around Central City waving dildos and flashing said breasts to children?"

This sort of 'commentary' continued as Connery skimmed the rest of the speech, with such lines as,

'A nation dies when they spend more time on their phone looking at porn than going to the gym'.

'We shove chemicals into our food, decreasing our sperm count and increasing this trend of transgenderism'.

'This constant need to coddle men acting like lifting weights isn't the cure to such scams as anxiety, ADHD, and depression, instead we provide them pills to shove down men's throats that only make things worse and therapy which does nothing.', and, 'We as a society need to be more comfortable with discrimination as a survival technique. If you wouldn't want a dentist with bad teeth or an obese fitness trainer, then why on earth would you want a male teacher who's around children all day wearing dresses and who paints their nails, even worse if they call themselves a woman? That's the only way we can be safer."

"You should add how the left wants to masculinize women and feminize men by inverting their roles. You talk about that already, but I think that would help," Connery added.

"Invert their roles huh…? Never thought of that but it makes far too much sense… Although… that group of conservative women against the transsexuals we talked to earlier did mention something like that. I just didn't understand what they meant too much. Okay okay, add that to the side, I'll mention that during my speech."

And of course, the ever so 'classic' Monk-ism, 'As a warrior and alpha male training every day to be a leader of men, in this sea of soy boys and pronoun leftists, instead of being triggered at everything, I plan to be a leader for men the world all over. To let men know that they aren't what these people say they are, that they should be proud of their masculinity, proud to be men, proud to be the next generation to fix the issue this generation has; creating fatherless, weak men… da da da… to let women know that you have to protect your identity as a women, to never sell yourself out and be virtuous and strong for the future of motherhood by being submissive to the man and taking care of the home life for the breadwinner, while making sure you marry early because no man wants a saggy hag over thirty…" Strong closing messages! Now let's see your conclusion."

The paper finished off with, "...remember my main goals for life; lift harder, protect women, and ensure a world that'll thrive with strong, correct values. No matter what people say or do to you, it's the only way we can ensure that society doesn't go extinct."

Connery looked up from the paper at Monk, who looked almost hopeful. Well, if the word 'hopeful' had dynamite hidden behind it.

"So? How is it?" the gorilla asked.

"Compared to what you've written for your classes causing you to run around for help in the locker room to shoot your grades up in the past, I'm very impressed. This feels like a well-researched, personal piece that many can resonate with. I'm proud of you, Monk. I knew giving you a thirty minute time slot was the correct choice."

Monk nodded. "Well, it's about time! Do you not know how much degenerate propaganda I had to swim through online to write this? Fucking Gaia, if I have to see another picture of men kissing each other again, I might just eat my own vomit."

"Well, don't worry, you'll have your time soon. We should be getting ready come the hour. I know you said you also brought things to help your speech too. Don't forget them."

"I left them in Stage 3. I'll get them at about… 6:30ish."

"Well, you better be getting them soon."

"Don't need to remind me twice. And Connery? Thanks for convincing me to join. Once I quit football thanks to Vector's degeneracy, I thought I couldn't make it in MMA since I'm still so new and graduation still is some time away. I thought I was going to become what I hated, a beta who's stuck in their life. But… CCOCC changed that. It gave me a purpose, it gave me a reason to no longer censor my beliefs, it gave me a reason to take action, even if people think I'm a violent brute."

"I thought you said you don't care about what others say."

"Oh, I don't! I really don't! Frankly whoever thinks that can just kill themselves like the sad people they are. I'm just reflecting on how much has changed in the past month of my life."

"Well, as we always say, no matter how many leftists you anger, you always have a home here at CCOCC. And many look up to you because of your views too, Monk. Take a look at the groups here tonight, a good majority wouldn't be here without your activism."

"And I'm not backing down. I won't until I see that degenerate group of groomers on campus shut down. And that's just the start."

"That's more like it. Now take initiative, Monk. Your time will come soon."

Connery slapped the back of Monk's shoulder like he would in the locker, but the gorilla shoved it away.

"I thought I made my thoughts clear on that," he said, walking away. Connery shook his head, continuing to think about tonight's event.

That's when he suddenly felt a buzz in his pocket. A phone call? Who was it?

Connery grabbed his phone and unlocked the screen, the display still damaged and glitched from when he threw it after learning about Espio's acquittal. There was no caller ID, but the number he recognized.

"Hello?" the horse answered.

"Yeah, this is Ebony Hare. Connery, can you hear me?"

"Loud and clear?" Connery's face hardened. "What's wrong?"

"We're having a bit of an issue… I'm trying to get in contact with the Bravo team but they're not responding to their walkie talkies."

Connery froze where he was, his blood running cold. "Wh… what?! What do you mean?!"

"We got a brief message from them a few minutes back but they just went silent from there. The Alpha team is trying to locate them right now."

It couldn't be…

"It was him, wasn't it?" Connery snarled.

"That chameleon you mentioned? Well, we've kept our eyes open like you informed us and we haven't encountered anyone that matches that description. The police also shielding the guests from the protestors also told me that he still hasn't seen him, and I'm regularly getting updates from them."

"DON'T. Count him out. If you spot him, call me immediately. I'll get someone to put a stop to him. In the meantime, find your fellow guards and report back to me. Whoever is responsible for this, chameleon or not, should be punished accordingly for obstructing law enforcement."

"Understood."

The hare hung up as Connery felt like smashing his phone in his hands.

How? How did that chameleon sneak in without ANYONE noticing? Was there a traitor in CCOCC backstabbing him? Did he sneak in through an open door? Did he blend into the crowd somehow?

"No, not like this," Connery thought to himself, shaking his head and mane. He couldn't think like this. No matter what, he WAS going to have tonight's event run smoothly. And he wasn't going to let a foreign criminal rat burn it all to the ground like he always does. Besides, with the giant crowd outside, he knew better than to cause panic. The guards could handle him.

But if they couldn't?... Well, there was one other thing he could do. One thing to bring justice if everyone around him failed once again to tame the chameleon…


The door leading to the lobby of the Space Theater opened as Buck peeked his head out, trying to hide his antlers and grasping at a bulge in his vest pocket. He squinted his eyes, focusing to see if anyone was walking towards them. He did see people, but their backs were either turned or they were walking away from the bathroom.

"Quickly, let us go," the cervid said. "Others seem to be coming."

As he hid back into the hall, the door opened wide again as Buck, Rotor, and Gadget all stood close by one another in a triangle formation and walked forward, hiding Jewel and Mark in between them all. The tapir held a laptop up close to his chest as he was a tight squeeze for the jewel beetle.

"Stop sweating, Mark! We haven't even stepped out!" she complained.

"Okay so remember, we gotta look natural," Rotor stated. "Just keep walking forward, don't look around, don't look nervous, just let's try to not bring attention to ourselves. Thankfully, I don't think anyone here should recognize us unlike you two."

"But there's that Monk guy…" Gadget said.

"That's right… if Connery or Monk show up in the lobby, we're screwed. If that happens, make a run for it. I'll take it from there."

"Rotor…" Jewel said as the five finally reached the lobby. The three visible mobians looked around as they continued to walk forward.

"Large crowd…" Buck said. "I wonder if anyone will spot us, we're moving so slow."

"Not if you talk openly like that," Mark whispered. Meanwhile, to his side, Jewel tried to peek out and see the crowd of people. She listened to their conversations to the best of her ability.

"This is a society that has accepted Ilbis worship in both its celebrities and media," she heard one person say. "Truly evil forces run this world."

"It's what happened since we took prayer out of school," another replied. "Too many young people today forgot where they came from. They worship anti-Solarian indoctrinators and would vote for abortion on demand, LGBT, casinos and brothels instead of the church, doing it because they think it's 'cool'. It's like it's a den of demons."

Buck's face softened. "It's loike… what they said about Ari…" he mumbled.

"Well, if you want some good news," another voice said. "We actually have someone in mind running for Mobius U's college board in the fall. A CCOCC alumni himself. A way to provide an alternative for the United Federation's conservative families who fear colleges. He plans to make major restructuring of the staff here, and that if this high risk goes well, we can see our party make major victories here in public institutions. Of course, I don't expect this to go over well with the overly far left students here, so either we can help them find somewhere else to go to school, or they can shut up and get over it. I couldn't care how they feel, and neither does the alumni. Our agenda matters more than anything. We need actual things to learn, not trendy activism."

"Where would you start?" another voice asked.

"Well it's called getting rid of gender studies entirely,"

The crowd laughed.

"Perhaps that person can do something about that exchange program," TV host Kragok Echidna replied. "Many people are writing to me, and Connery himself is concerned about that one student who's been causing far too much trouble."

"Hang on, get closer to that crowd," Jewel whispered as the other three did so. "They're talking about Espio. Let's hear what they have to say."

"What? But that wasn't a part of the plan!" whispered back Gadget.

"Just do it! Act natural! You never know!"

The group moved closer as Buck, Gadget, and Rotor tried to find a place where they didn't seem suspicious while Mark and Jewel listened closer.

"You mean the Yurashian, right?" another voice replied. "It makes no sense to me. Yurashians are always so docile and do anything they're told, and their work ethic is beyond anything I've seen and something this generation needs to be inspired by. And the ones that do come here are hard working and refuse handouts and come here LEGALLY. But the one Connery has told us about… it's sickening. A sneak of a criminal who refuses to assimilate and acts like he hasn't been a part of modern society ever is how he phrased it, all while benefiting from this university that the people pay taxes for. We already see how aliens destroy cities like Crisis City, and it won't be long before they start invading the suburban cities. It all starts with people like him. How could Yurashia send someone like him to represent their zone instead of someone civilized?"

"He's described what he's done too. Getting into fights, ignoring police orders. This is just a slippery slope to domestic and sexual violence. I know this place was already an ultra liberal university, but even I wasn't expecting Mobius U to be ruined by such a heathen! You're right though. Big cities like Crisis City are always the first to fall, and frankly I could tell how much this place feels the same. I didn't even feel safe walking outside and clutched my purse tight."

"He's Yurashian, of course he would ruin a university, no matter what kind," Kragok replied. "They don't even worship Solaris or even Gaia. They're either godless, or they believe in those false gods. No wonder no good comes from them. It's like he came here to teach depravity and immortality to impressionable young adults who are already brainwashed by these liberal institutions. That's why Connery's doing his part to expose him, to take a stand for Federationalist freedom. I mean goodness, he told us that he's been here since August and yet can barely speak English!"

"No doubt they're using their culture to distract us. I caught my son watching that 'animay' stuff and looking more into it, it's sickening. Such ghastly displays of sex and evil. I found that it's everywhere. In our stores, online, such Iblisian forces coming straight from Yurashia to destroy us from the inside through communism I bet. That and with Studiopolis's leftist messages, what can we even show our children anymore?"

"Oh hell no she didn't…" Mark whispered, head shaking.

"Chun-Nan's already distracting us with all this 'diversity' while they increase their global power, I wouldn't be shocked if Yurashia does the same while sending people like him. Lower Northern Mobius zones have already begun disrupting our strong economy. The idea that they would use an influence like him that hates our country to further brainwash our youth? I could see it. It's like they want to remove the United Federations as the dominant zone superpower. They're resilient yes, but they're starting to go too far if this is anything to go by,"

"I talked about it on one of my shows, that trial he was in. Apparently claiming he was a ninja-"

"Get away, I don't wanna hear anymore. Besides, we'll only get caught standing here," Mark sharply said, trying to ignore the sound of laughter coming from the group. Everyone walked away, feeling anger for their chameleon friend, but trying to hide it as best they could.

"Such nasty behaviors, all while invoking the name of Solaris…" Buck commented, head turned back. "Have they forgotten His message?"

"At least we know one thing," Jewel replied. "They still like to claim this is about general issues, but this entire event is, at its core, against Espio and him being here."

As they continued to walk, Jewel overheard one more conversation.

"...seen the protestors outside? Good Gaia, I just about laughed entering here," one person said.

"How much do you wanna bet? Single, raising Chao and not children, guzzling wine because they're miserable?" another laughed. The group surrounding them laughed.

"It's the intolerant radical left, of course," an red-brown furred echidna man in a light blue suit said. "What do you think I've been fighting since I first got into office? Always the ugly, obese, blue haired Overlander and dyed fur mobian women who rally for abortion. Frankly I couldn't care if those unloved thumb looking women get offended and neither should you. You all speak the truth of Solaris' word while having your religious freedom taken away by a government that hates you…"

Jewel's face then proceeded to sour.

"Eugh, they invited HIM?!" she said.

"Who?" Mark replied.

"Moritori Rex, another representative. A complete creep and yet somehow in the house and buddy buddy with Connery's dad and his ilk. He's a sexist pig."

"Oh him. I mean, are you really surprised when you think about just who organized this event?"

Unbeknownst to the two, they looked up just in time to see Rotor looking off to the side and grabbing a snack off a plate.

"Rotor, what are you doing?! Now's not the time to eat!" Jewel yell-whispered.

"Hey, they offered it and it looked good and fancy!" the walrus complained, putting a deviled egg in his mouth and chewing. Jewel grumbled to herself.

"Okay FINE, whatever. We're almost there anyway..."

"And not a moment too late either," Buck added. "We should thank Solaris that we managed to reach the other side."

Gadget turned around from where he was, seeing if the crowd was looking at them.

"Okay, go now!"

With that, the five scuttled into the right intersection as Rotor, Buck, and Gadget allowed Mark and Jewel to breathe. The tapir put his free hand on his chest.

"You're not tired already, are you?" Jewel asked.

"No comment…" Mark replied. "Let's just go."

Buck walked forward and opened the door ahead for the four. They all walked inside as the deer closed it behind them.

"Okay, so we have to reach Stage 2 from here," Jewel said. "It's a bit of a walk because all the Music and Drama Professor and Dean's offices are here. But it should be the first stage on the right past-"

"Get back!"

Rotor pulled the four out of the way, holding his arm up.

"What's wrong?" Gadget asked.

"There's those bodyguards again… and it looks like a few too. We can't possibly reach Stage 2 from here."

"W-What are we gonna do?" Mark asked. "If we sneak in and they see us…"

"It might be the only way. We have to make a rush for it, and as soon as we open the door, make a run for the control booth. Thankfully there's blinds there, so we just gotta close them and-

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

Everyone froze as a guard had turned the corner, looking right at them. Gadget's lips had gone dry as he shook.

"R-run… he softly said.

"What?" asked a confused Buck.

"RUN!"

Rotor grabbed the back of Mark's collar as Jewel pushed the guard out of the way, the five heading down the hall as the frantic yells of the guard could be heard.

"This is Code 212, calling Code 212, an unidentified party of five has entered a restricted area!" he yelled as he followed the five. "They've run past me and likely do not intend to listen to instruction! Calling anyone nearby the location of tonight's event to help detain five mobians and to prevent them from entering the lobby at all costs! Description is as follows…"

"We have to lose him! He's gonna identify all of us!" Gadget said, breathing heavily as he pushed his glasses up.

"We're almost there!" Jewel replied. "Stage 2 is at the right!"

"Please…" Mark wheezed, trying his best not to drop the laptop. "Hurry…"

But as they got closer to Stage 2, the door to it opened as another guard popped in the door frame.

"Stop right there!" he yelled, swiping at Buck's antlers. Though the deer could feel a brief tug on his antlers, he was thankfully able to duck at the right moment as Rotor led the group to a right intersection. Everyone looked around as they heard booming footsteps get louder.

"They went down the intersection!" one yelled.

"Check every room to see where they hid! I'm right behind you!"

The five proceeded to sneak off to another small hallway which led to Stage 3, hiding behind the wall. Gadget was hyperventilating, putting his hand on his chest as his breathing was fast and his eyes were wide. His heart beating wildly, Jewel put her hands on Gadget's out of concern, unaware that ringing was all the wolf heard.

"What are we going to do now? They know we're here and we're cornered!" she whispered.

"It's like I said, you just go on ahead, I'll take it from here," Rotor replied.

Jewel turned around. "No Rotor! You can't! We need you!"

Mark looked concerned at everything going on, seemingly overwhelmed as Buck got closer to the edge. This caused Jewel to notice.

"Bu-Buck! What are you doing?! They're almost here!" she exclaimed. "Get back!"

"I have a plan. I know how we can stop them," the deer replied, still grasping onto something in his breast pocket.

"You said you don't get violent! What kind of plan do you even have?!"

That's when the deer softly laughed. "Oh dear Jewel, it's true I may not be violent, but…"

That's when he brought out what he had been concealing in his vest; a bag of marbles.

"I enjoy m' share of practical jokes, much like the ones Solaris and His Guardian Angel's did on one another as they created this world."

As the footsteps of the guards inched closer, Buck opened up the bag and grabbed one marble. He threw it against the wall as it doinked and bounced off the wall and rolled into the floor, and sure enough…

"There they are!"

It was running footsteps being all that Buck needed as he spilled all the contents of the bag onto the floor. Marbles spilled out everywhere, and as the five looked up, they saw the two guards who chased them scream as they slid past them and tripped onto the ground feet away. As they hissed in pain, everyone got up sans Gadget. Rotor stood above him.

"You alright, man? Can you run or do you need me to carry you?" he asked, holding his hand out. Gadget shook his head as he grabbed onto the walrus' hand, being lifted off the ground. "Do you need your tablet to speak?"

"T-Thanks… Bu-Bu-But I'll-I'll be okay…" he said. Rotor patted the wolf's shoulder as everyone now quickly ran out of the intersection towards Stage 2 without a second thought. "That was ingenious, Buck, but d-don't freak me out like that!"

"Marbles though? Really?" Jewel added.

"I'm rather good at marbles m'self," Buck explained as he ran. "I always keep multiple pairs with me. It's m' personal favorite game after all."

"Who cares about that, it was funny!" Rotor also added. "Stuff like that always gets me. Like those videos of people who… who put oil on the floor and someone slides into a stove-"

"Okay okay, we're getting distracted! We're almost there!" Jewel said. Finally, the five had reached the doors to Stage 2, and knowing that no one was supposed to be here yet, Rotor opened the door for everyone as he quickly shut the door behind him.

However, he failed to realize that at that exact moment, bodyguards had seen the door close just in time.


MEANWHILE

Sonic, Sonia, and Manic all stood around the backstage hall of Stage 4, mops in hand and a bucket filled with water taken from the janitorial closet by them. Disguised in fake white mustaches, a green shirt and blue overalls, they pretended to look busy as they suddenly heard a large group of voices.

"Alpha team has them identified! Quickly, we need to reach Stage 2 before the event starts and subdue these unknown individuals!"

"They're talking about Jewely and all them," Manic said. "Act natural, especially you, sis! I can see you shaking!"

"I know! I've just never done anything so bad!" Sonia whined. "And these clothes feel so filthy!"

"Well, make do with what you gotta make do," Sonic said. "We already had to hide when those guards came by while we cleaned up, the least you can do is stay calm. Shh! Here they come!"

Sonic pushed up his fake white mustache as he pretended to act busy. Just then, a large pair of footsteps came running by as one individual, a black rabbit with blue shades, stopped in front of the three hedgehogs.

"Excuse me, but I thought the janitorial staff wasn't supposed to be here tonight?" the rabbit asked. "What are you doing here?"

"It's overtime work, dude. You ever have to do that?" Manic replied. The rabbit scowled before shaking his head.

"Never mind that. Listen, we just got a report about five strange individuals being found by Stage 2 and 3 in this theatre. Added to that, members of our guard team seemingly have vanished. Are you aware of these incidents?"

"Not that I'm aware. I'm just a janitor," Sonic replied. "Just a guy living paycheck to paycheck."

"...you don't seem very much concerned about your safety…"

"Look! When you're a janitor, you see it all and know what to d-do!" Sonia added, trying to put on the best masculine voice she could. "We haven't seen anyone suspicious, but I'm sure to let you know if we do."

At that moment, Manic began to blare out rock music from his phone as the other guards looked at the rabbit.

"I don't THINK they've seen him, Ebony. Let's just check up on Alpha team. We're wasting time here," one of them said. The rabbit named Ebony looked at the three.

"Remember, let me KNOW if you see them, and follow them if you must."

"Sssssssssure thing, Mr. Rabbit guy!" Manic gave a thumbs up as Ebony raised a brow at the three before running away with his fellow guards. The green hedgehog continued to keep his thumb up until they were out of view, then exhaled.

"Jeez, what a pain," he said. "I feel like such a dweeb."

"Well deal with it, we gotta wait for the next order from Vector or Espio or Jewel or whoever," Sonic replied. "Now help me clean up this skid mark so we can at least seem busy."

Manic grumbled as Sonia squeezed the mop.

"You know, you can probably go on ahead if you disguise yourself as someone in the Drama department if the janitor look isn't you," Sonia replied. "I might just do that too. I CANNOT keep up that voice."

"Great idea, sis! Why didn't I think of that before! In fact… I know just what kinda costume I need!"


AT THE SAME TIME...

"What do you MEAN?!" Connery angrily yelled as he slammed the doors out of Stage 1, entering the lobby as he was on the phone. "Why haven't you caught them?!"

"We-We just found some of our people laying in the hall by Stage 3!" Ebony said. "All we know is that they may have entered Stage 2!"

"Of all the…" Connery opened the doors to the left hall. "Forget about the chameleon temporarily. I'll search Stage 2 PERSONALLY. In the meantime, try and find whoever escaped and spread out throughout the theatre. We can't let them escape!"

"Understood!"

With his brow furrowed, Connery opened the doors to Stage 2, his figure darkening as he walked into the dimly lit auditorium. His shoes hit the carpeting, his head turning quickly.

"WHERE ARE YOU?!" he yelled, teeth grinding. His night was going so well, so PERFECT, and now something… no, someONE was trying to ruin it.

He wondered if the others had found them. After all, it had been a bit of time since they called and they had been hiding well.

He first noticed that the door to the control booth was open. Apparently someone was in here, and as he looked inside, he saw what appeared to be paint on the ground.

"Who did this?!" he growled. His eyes darted left and right, nothing seeming out of the ordinary besides the paint. He turned around and walked through the aisles and up to the stage, trying to see who was hiding.

That's when his phone rang again. Connery picked up quickly.

"Hello?"

"Connery, it's Ebony again. Listen, I think I was able to get some word about someone who was responsible."

"Well, isn't this a change! Tell me, who should I be looking for? All I found was paint on the ground…"


Unbeknownst to Connery as he continued to talk on the phone, sitting atop the structure holding up the stage lights was Espio. He had been sitting here for what felt like hours, hearing Jewel and her team enter the stage and into the control booth, followed by security guards pounding the door to get in, and their yells as they ran out.

The chameleon's eyes lowered as he slowly crawled forward, moving below it as he hanged from below. He felt his tail curl on the metal beams as it slowly uncurled, lowering Espio closer as he stared at Connery. His prey was in sight. All he needed was the perfect moment to strike.

"Here, I'll put it on video call so you can talk face to face. Gimme one moment,"

He wasn't sure what Connery and this other voice was talking about, but he kept his position and waited for him to move. Once he got directly under him, Espio knew that was when he striked.

His eyes widened however, when he saw his reflection from the phone.

"Alright Connery, can you see me?" a strange person Espio hadn't seen before asked being displayed on the horse's phone. Connery had stopped at this point too, no longer moving. He then proceeded to tap the lower corner of his phone, displaying himself standing with Espio in the back hanging from the beam again.

"...Connery, is there something wrong?"

"No, no it's fine. Tell me later. I just suddenly… have something very important to do quickly. I'll call you once I get back. Just hear him out and relay everything to me."

That's when it hit Espio.

Connery saw him.

There was no point trying to hide back atop the beams, no point trying to use Chroma Camo. His cover was blown because the chameleon hadn't expected this. He didn't even KNOW phones could do that!

But Connery simply stood where he was as he put his phone in his pocket, back turned away from Espio.

"I know you're there, boy. Come out! You can't hide from me anymore!" he called out.

"It's what Sensei said. Even if you're caught, if you can no longer hide, stand on your own two feet and fight until you can escape," the transfer student thought to himself. Unhooking his tail from the beam, the chameleon turned around while falling as he landed on his feet, raising himself up as he stared right at Connery with lowered eyes.

"Connery…" Espio growled, balling his fists.

"So… I was right…" began the horse. "When I started getting these calls about something going on, I was being told that it couldn't be the sole person I was thinking of. But you prove me wrong every time…"

That's when the horse turned around, staring right at Espio.

"...don't you?"

Espio didn't falter. His blood boiling, he responded as he walked forward.

"You ha-hurt Vector. You hurt everyone. You hurt me! You are e-evil!" he yelled. Connery snorted in response.

"Me? Evil? What a childish statement. As if wanting to protect my country and allies is seen as evil. I'm sure even you, a lowly Yurashian, would want to protect whatever backwater village you came from, right?"

Espio felt a twinge of guilt. He would protect Gojo and the Shinobi Clan if his life depended on it. It's what he's trained all his life to do…

Even… even if they did lie about gay people like him and hide it from the other villagers. Even if they expected him into a role he didn't want, even if they wanted him to marry a woman when he didn't want that in the first place... that's just how it was…

"What's wrong? Have you realized that all this time I've been right? And yet you came all this way by yourself to do… what? Hurt me like you did those five other football players? Maybe kill me even? Just so you could satisfy some sort of revenge you feel is justified? So you can try and make Vector happy?"

"You deshtroy my honor. The honor of my kl-clan and family! I must deshtroy anyone who deshtroys my honor!"

"Honor is it? Does someone like you even have something like honor? Would someone who sneaks in like a rat dressed like… that and confronts me by myself in a threatening manner have anything resembling honor? All I see is a fool who continues to refuse to accept reality. Haven't you realized yet that this is reality, not your little game of ninjas, dear boy? But if that's how you want to play…"

Connery put his hands in his suit pockets. "Then I'll play along with your little game. If I'm clearly the villain you see me as, then go ahead! Take your first hit! You have my permission."

Espio got into position, holding up his arms as the sides of his palms faced the horse, legs in the kokutsu position.

"I am Espio. Son of Bu-Bride of the Constant Vij-Vigil and Naga. Member of the Shinobi Clan. I shall di-defeat you!" he yelled, waiting for Connery to strike or have an opening. Both their eyes stared daggers at one another, the silence beckoning the two's ears.

"What are you waiting for? Didn't you say I hurt Vector? Wouldn't he just relish seeing me defeated by you and love you more than he already does?" Connery taunted. "Hit me! I've left myself open, 'Shinobi Clan member'! Feed into that desire I know you have!"

He was trying to anger Espio enough to get him to make a wrong move. In fact, the transfer student was smart enough to know that Connery would have been looking for an opening too. The others always talked about how strong he was, and Espio saw it in person when he watched Badniks games.

It didn't matter. He could wait here all night if he had to.

Connery's scowl only got darker as he started to walk forward, staring into Espio's eyes as the chameleon slowly backed away.

"Pathetic. You come all this way to confront me and you don't even have the 'honor' to do something. I didn't expect that a criminal like you was really a coward. Why am I even entertaining you? I should have immediately called for security."

Now standing right next to Espio, the transfer student's eyes dilated as he saw Connery reach into his right pocket, and the very moment he saw the shine from the screen-

The horse dropped the phone.

Espio attempted to push the phone away, but the horse dodged out of the way, going behind the chameleon.

"Got you!" he exclaimed as he swung the back of his arm at the back of Espio's head, almost bringing him down to the floor. However, the chameleon quickly got back up, grabbing his hand and throwing it downwards as he began to sidekick at the horse, Connery dodging out of the way only for him to be caught off guard when the chameleon swiped his leg straight down, hitting the heel of his geta on the horse's muzzle. As Connery tried to find his footing, Espio immediately struck multiple times at the horse's stomach, right and left hand going back and forth and hitting his abdomen.

Just as he was about to go back for another kick, Connery grabbed the chameleon's leg.

"Don't you even try it!" he exclaimed, throwing Espio to the ground and wrapping his legs around his right arm, raising it into the air as he locked Espio's upper body. The chameleon tried his best to shuffle out of his position, realizing there was only one thing he could do.

As Connery continued to pull Espio's arm, with his left hand, he jammed his index finger into the horse's right eye, poking him harshly. Connery cried out as he let go, which let Espio roll away and get back into position.

"You little…!" Connery growled, rushing forward and throwing a barrage of punches, all of them blocked by either Espio's hand or his elbow. "Hold still, boy!"

That's when he was finally given a hit, upon getting a block, Connery shoved his foot into Espio's chest and threw him to the ground. The chameleon attempted to get back up only for Connery to flip Espio on his back, grabbing his head from behind and punching the side of his face. Espio tried to do his same move to get back up, only for Connery to shove his head to the ground and lift it up as blood now began to trickle the side of the chameleon's face. Flipping Espio around, Connery stood above him as he began to punch at his face, Espio trying his best to block him.

"I have to get him off me!" Espio thought to himself. But Connery was far larger and heavier than any enemy he had faced, even heavier than that ox from Crisis City. He couldn't even dare try to lift him up! But as long as his body was locked, Connery would keep punching at his face!

As he blocked yet another punch, Espio realized there was something he could do.

He let go of his block, and smashed his forehead into Connery's, jamming his horn into the horse's skin. With him taken aback, Espio rushed behind Connery and grabbed him by the back of his neck since he was on the ground, using all his strength to throw him over his shoulder. He yelled as he did so, but he managed to throw the horse's heavy body over him, causing Connery to hiss in pain. As he attempted to get back up, Espio stood in front of him and proceeded to kick his chest, causing him to be thrown back to the ground.

With his chest rising up and down quickly, Connery snarled.

"I've had enough of this, boy! If you won't stand down now, then I'll do whatever it takes!" he yelled, getting up and rushing at Espio. He grabbed the magatama necklace and pulled at it, causing the chameleon to be choked. Espio clawed at the necklace to get it off, only for the string of the necklace to snap and the magatama beads to fall onto the floor, causing Espio to grasp before coughing.

"The necklace!" he thought before almost tripping. Before he could trip however, Connery grabbed Espio by the back of his collar and threw the chameleon feet away from where he was. The transfer student crashed into a cart of supplies hidden behind the curtains, immense pain shooting through his body. As he got up, he saw one in particular, a PVC pipe.

"Use whatever in your surroundings as a makeshift weapon. Remember; even the most ordinary of objects can disarm, weaken, or even kill your enemy," his sensei taught him so many years ago. But it wasn't the time to think about them now, as Connery was rushing towards him.

Realizing that there was an easy way to get the pipe, Espio stood his ground as he put his hands together and quickly recited the incantation for Chroma Camo. Just as Connery was about to strike with a punch, smoke blew out as the horse coughed. He quickly turned his head back and forth, teeth grit.

"Where'd you go?! Quit hiding!" he yelled.

But what he didn't know was that behind him, in the air, Espio had undid his Chroma Camo and kicked the side of Connery's head. As he stumbled back, Espio raised his right leg and shot off several upper kicks at the horse before he slid in between his legs. He grabbed the PVC pipe and spun it with right hand rapidly before holding it in both hands like a bo, easily his favorite weapon after the kunai and shuriken.

Getting into position as Connery turned around, he moved his right leg forward as he swung while crouching, hitting Connery's knees with immense and quick strength. The horse's left knee gave in as he crouched, supporting himself with his right hand. However, Espio rushed forward again before swinging the pipe under the horse's chin, causing his head to be thrown back.

And then, in rapid succession, he proceeded to smash downwards with the pipe at Connery's body, all while Connery tried to crawl away. Each time he tried to get back up, Espio struck at the side of the horse's neck, only causing him more pain and causing him to fall back to the ground with increasing groans of pain.

After what felt like a minute, the horse's movements had slowed considerably as his hands shook. Espio stared at the horse on the ground with intensity. How pathetic, he wasn't even stronger than the five he had taken on his own all those months ago.

"Is this what you're going to do? Kill me?..." Connery breathed heavily, clearly weakened and defeated. "Do your worst… you won't get away with it…"

Espio held onto the pipe tighter, not caring anymore for using the bo for its correct purpose. He had finally bested Connery after so much pain and suffering. All his friends, the people of this university, Vector… he had avenged them all. He was finally going to make his clan and family proud of him…!

He was finally going to make Connery taste the pain he had put him under for all these weeks.

As Espio held up the pipe, he knew how to finally put an end to this; the poke strike at the head. His sensei's preferred way to defeat an enemy with the bo. As he got into position and held the pipe tightly, Espio began to yell as he ran forwards at Connery, moving his arm backwards as he got ready for the strike, his eyes filled with hatred.

But that's when everything changed.

"NOW!" Connery yelled as out of nowhere, two bodyguards hidden in the shadows rushed at Espio, locking arms together as they ran into his neck. Espio was shocked and sputtered out as he was thrown back onto the floor, the pipe falling out of his hand as the guards grabbed him and forced him up.

"You utter FOOL!" Connery yelled. "So violent and barbaric you didn't even recognize why I was all by myself here! Why do you think I barely fought back, boy?!"

The guards all locked Espio's limbs as he struggled to free himself. Connery got up as he stared darkly at the chameleon, grabbing something from his pocket.

"Now that I know that you had all intentions to kill me," he continued, pulling out something black from his pocket and holding it up. "I have every right to use self-defense!"

That's when Connery flipped a switch, causing jolts of electricity to spark out from the device. He ran forward at the chameleon with his arm thrown backwards, pushing the device onto the chameleon's body.

In a flash, Espio's body entirely locked up as sharp, excruciating pain jolted throughout. He began to scream as he felt his nerves were on fire, unable to do anything to get away due to his body being locked. All in the while, Connery's face began to trickle into a smirk, seemingly enjoying pleasure from what he was doing.

HIs mind was on fire, only caring that Connery only had pushed the device deeper into his body. Espio's screams only grew weaker as he saw stars in his vision, the last thing he saw being Connery's grin as the guards let him go. He crashed onto the ground and limp as could be, passed out from the pain.


MEANWHILE

Monk had only walked a few feet towards the aisle of Stage 3 when he heard what sounded like people running outside. He stopped where he stood, turning around and staring at the exit.

"The fuck's going on…?" he asked himself, shaking his head. It's not like it mattered now, what mattered right now was to get his displays that were to be used for his speech and to head on over to Stage 2 to set it up before the event started.

As he began to climb the steps, the purple gorilla's smirk grew nastier as he thought about tonight's event. Tonight wasn't going to be the night that groomers and degenerates was going to get what they deserved, but if the politicians and people heard him, then finally children could stop being indoctrinated, men could finally reclaim who they once were, and he wouldn't have to worry about the future of the United Federation as frequently as he had the last couple of weeks over the declining birth rate and the increase in people 'identifying' as LGBTABC or whatever they were calling themselves now...

"Let's see that shark and hedgehog try to weasel themselves out of an excuse now…" he thought to himself, thinking of the two students most responsible for the constant promotion of homosexuality and gender identity on campus.

Well, those two, alongside a certain other chameleon.

He was glad when he was informed about it by Connery. Vector tried to play as dumb as he could while in the showers back in December, but no, he saw them for who they really were.

Yet another group of degenerates.

Who would have figured a quarterback, no, the world of football fallen so low? Then again, with how the CMFL has been, with their 'Pride Nights' and their male cheerleaders, why was he shocked?

He thought back to the kitsune on the Mobius U cheerleading squad, how he had blocked a poor woman out of their dream and ruined their opportunity. Thank goodness he was made aware of 'Kit's' "true" name, as that's all he'll ever be.

These past few months have been the most shocking displays of degeneracy and mental illness he's frankly seen in forever, but now, it was time that all changed.

It felt like it was so long ago when he was lost in this world, unaware of what his true purpose was. But all it took was a listen of a few podcasts hosted by alpha males he looked up to in High School and his entire outlook on life changed. If anything, he should be glad those same people he listened to were now helping him spread his message-

Of a sudden scream from afar.

Monk had already about to head off to the side of the stage to grab his display when he stopped, turning towards the door. There was ABSOLUTELY something going on outside, something he didn't like. What was going on?!

"Who's there?" Monk called out, his face falling to a scowl as he walked closer to the edge of the stage, trying to listen closer.

What he failed to realize was that behind him, a large tower of cardboard boxes had begun to tip forwards at him. Upon one of them falling to the ground, Monk turned around as his eyes widened.

"What the fu-" he yelled before he was cut off, being consumed by boxes.


The gorilla pushed the boxes that had fallen on him out of the way, his face now becoming angered.

"WHO DID THAT?! COME OUT AND FACE ME LIKE A MAN!" he yelled out.

Sure enough, that was their cue.

Because from the shadows, Vector came walking out, Knuckles and Mighty behind him all staring at the gorilla. Monk's expression went from pure anger to one of both anger and disgust.

"Of course…" he muttered. "If it isn't our resident quarterback, no, should I say 'bareback' and his fellow betas?"

Vector ignored the childish insult, walking forward, arms crossed. "If yeh think fer a moment we're gonna let ya show off anythin' to that crowd, ya got another thing comin', Monk," he said.

"And what? You and those two think you can stop me? You really wanna fucking test me, Vector?"

"Quit actin' tough, Monk. It's frankly sad to watch since yer nothin' more than a blight on people. Tormentin' people cause it gets yer rocks all hard… ya think a Badnik does that?"

"I know you didn't come here to try and insult me," Monk kicked the boxes away from him as he marched up to Vector, getting in his face. "Or do you wanna make this personal? Couldn't even be fucked to come by yourself so you went and got help like the beta you are? Besides, I don't have to listen to YOU. I'm NOT a Badnik anymore! Didn't you forget I quit the team BECAUSE of you?"

"At least Vector had more dignity than you ever will, Monk," Mighty replied.

"Coming from the 'pacifist'? Gold. Fucking gold."

"You frankly need to be knocked down a peg, and you've had it coming since you cornered Vector in the shower in December and January," Knuckles added. "Look at where you are now, Monk. Are you proud of scaring people into not showing their face, calling in bomb threats, saying whatever petty insult you can think and throwing anyone you don't like into the hospital?"

"Frankly I'll say and do whatever the fuck I want and I don't give a shit about how you, or anyone else thinks about it," Monk continued. "I kept my mouth shut for far too long, and it wasn't until Connery showed me that I don't have to be afraid to speak my mind did I finally stop being the pussy I was."

"So, just as I thought, yer nothin' more than Connery's little servant," Vector replied. "It's like I'm starin' at a blunt copy of him. Fer someone who goes on and on 'bout groomin', ya sure ignore how he turned ya into this, huh?"

"Connery gave me a purpose, a reason to actually get off my ass and do something! And if that means having to put an end to all this alphabet faggotry, then so be it!"

Knuckles and Mighty were taken aback by what the gorilla said, but Vector didn't budge.

"Not even gunna hide how much of a piece of shit yeh are anymore, are ya?" he asked. "Just divin' straight first into slurs, huh?"

"Piece of shit? Slurs? As if I'm not saying it how it is. Every fucking day, I wake up, I have to be exposed to all this mentally ill pronoun bullshit, all this LGBT grooming ideology, all this talk about how being a man is bad and sexist and I've gotten sick of it! And it's not helped by the people here in this university. Look at our society, Vector. Look at how depraved it's gotten. People like YOU don't help!"

"Monk, that's enough!" Knuckles yelled, holding up his fists. "We're not here to listen to your small-minded rants!"

"Enough? ENOUGH?! I'm only getting started you fucking clawed freak, and frankly, this is something that needs to be SAID! I've been standing up to homosexuality for the past few years now, and it's about time those faggots have some push back thanks to me exposing them for who they really are. They're a plague, a freakshow of groomers wanting to brainwash kids to continue their disgusting habits for generations to come. Frankly, if I were in charge, I'd send them all to an island and let them all die out since they're never going to reproduce. And frankly? Society would be better off."

"Listen to yourself you idiot!" Mighty yelled back. "How can you hear yourself and think what you're saying is okay?"

"Like I said, I don't care what you, or anyone else thinks. I'll always reject this groomer shit whenever I see it, no matter what people think about me. I don't care if I'm the most hated person in the world, I'll defend kids, men, and women from homos and trann-"

"Don't. Ya. Even. Think 'bout continuin'!" Vector yelled, interrupting the gorilla. "Piece of shit… I shouldda given ya the same treatment I gave Connery back in January…!"

"A fight? A FIGHT?! That's what you fucking want?! Tch... ha ha ha! Give me a break! I've seen you and the rest of the Badniks sit on your asses, shove junk food in your mouth and drink on off season while I've continued lifting heavier and heavier weights and taking up MMA," Monk proceeded to crack his knuckles. "What, you really think that if you kick my ass, you'll PROVE something to me? Because let me tell you something, Vector-"

He got closer. "You're just as much of the issue as that shark and hedgehog, turning a blind eye to all this degeneracy and letting Tsunami on that cheerleading team! You turned our football team from a sports league into a rainbow mafia, leftist terrorist organization that terrorizes rational people, those with faith, anyone against what you cry!"

"Tsunami?..." questioned Knuckles.

"You showed off that chameleon like he was your trophy, following you around like some sort of idol, and wouldn't you know it, you two turned out EXACTLY as I thought you did."

Vector's eyes widened.

"Wha… whaddya-"

"Don't even play DUMB, Vector. You used the Badniks as a way to shove being a faggot to the world, and now look at you. No better than those beta simps who throw money at sluts online. Are you still 'proud'? Proud that you're a failure to your family, that you're going to be diseased with stuff up your ass because you defile it? Still proud that, as a source of inspiration, you're grooming kids now more than ever? Still proud that you're not a man, but a degenerate with a disgusting lifestyle you chose instead of being NORMAL?"

"Don't even lie, Monk! You were all over the girls like the rest of the guys on the Badniks last year and NOW you act all holier-than-thou?" Knuckles growled, pointing at the gorilla.

"Because I was blindsided. Besides, I'm not talking to YOU. I'm talking to the degenerate quarterback in front of me."

Vector didn't reply, he only let Monk continue.

"You changed, Vector. Last year, you were the star quarterback, big man on campus. And I once aspired to reach your level of masculinity and stardom. But now? You've become weak. You let yourself go all while hanging around obese and degenerate beta males and overly emotional women, not even counting groomers like Tsunami… Are you proud of this being your life now? Well too bad if you think so, because we got you. We got you, and that alphabet mafia league. Your entire movement exists just to touch kids, to make people "accept" you by painting them as innocent so they can get access to kids, and that's why you're all compliant in all this horrific raping of minds. Well, no more shoving dildos into people's faces, no more destroying society, no more grooming, none of that shit anymore! I'll go scorched earth on all of you!"

Knuckles had only gotten angrier. "Listen to you. You're nothing more than a child throwing a tantrum! How can you even try to act like what you're saying is the truth when you sound like a nutcase! Gaia, even my half-brother doesn't cry as much as you!"

"Oh, I'm crying all right. Crying because all this leftist propaganda has told people it's okay to mutilate yourself, to dress like a woman when you're a man, that we've fallen so low as a society that we're letting Overlander kids identify as mobians and treating them as such. All because of people like you," Monk pointed at Vector. "But it isn't you, or the shark and hedgehog, or Tsunami-"

"Don't! Call her! That!" Vector growled, balling up his fists.

"Her? Wait… Cheerleader… hang on, Vector. Monk isn't trying to refer to...?" Mighty asked.

"Oh, is it finally sinking in who I'm talking about? You think I'll use THAT name to talk about the biological male on our cheerleading team, stealing chances away from women like they always do? It would be you to stick up for him, after all, you defend biological men dressing as women. Because it isn't just you, or that faggot club. All this degeneracy got worse when HE showed up. That fucking CHAMELEON!"

The three bounced in place as Monk held up his fist, his face getting redder.

"Always wearing those poofy, long, unmasculine clothes. Never ONCE putting a piece of meat into his mouth and instead sucking up soy foods like it was about to run out. Looking and acting constantly feminine… you know how Yurashians are like! They were once revered soldiers, proud warriors, but now, Yurashian men get surgery to make themselves look more like women and let their birth rates fall, it's sickening! And to add to that, he was always around you, Vector. Never once leaving your side… how pathetic! You know that once he arrived, so many people on campus took to being 'inspired' by him, and then men started wearing longer clothes to be like him and eating all those soy foods, even Connery did it too! Whatever children on campus all seem to be in 'awe' of how he looks! And why would they? Because he's a pervert groomer just like you and the others!"

Vector's fists balled up tighter. He was saying all this about his boyfriend, all this garbage that only seemed to get worse the more he spoke.

To Espio, this was dishonor of the highest kind. And Vector wasn't going to let his boyfriend be dishonored.

"What's wrong, Vector? Isn't this where you try to stick up for your little boyfriend?" Monk mocked. "Gonna cry now that I brought him up? I bet you would. You've already shown me how weak you are. Don't even try sticking up for that chameleon though. I know exactly who he is. Did daddy touch him at night? Or did he perhaps leave him and he didn't get over his daddy issues? I'm sure he confided in you that. One look at that degenerate and the fatherless energy radiates out. Why else do you think he acts and dresses the way he does? The sign of a true soy boy…"

How dare he… How dare Monk say that when Espio talked about his late father with the utmost respect, longing to see him again after his death! That son of a bitch… he was going to kill him!

"You're going too far, Monk. You better stand down…" Knuckles growled. Monk ignored the echidna.

"You know exactly where he's going to end up, trying fake breasts to himself, calling himself a woman and waving his fake tits at kids because he has groomers all around him! Probably reading to kids to groom them to do drag, or whatever they do in Yurashia. Hell, he'll probably steal a kid away from a loving mother and father and give it a shitty life because it only has a freak like him raising them, or even worse, do the same thing daddy did to him. Not like it matters to me, those people have forgotten their roots… What's wrong? Can't handle me telling it like it is? I see your little fist shaking. What, wanna beat me up? I bet you do. Too bad the second you throw a punch, I'm gonna beat the shit out of you, and your two little butt buddies right there. Hell, I know where your dorm is. Maybe I'll bust down that door, find that chameleon and do the same to him too. I bet all that beating would probably make a degenerate like him cum."

"You're scum, Monk! Scum of the earth! How dare you talk about Espio and Kit like that!" Mighty growled as Vector's face hardened, slowly growling to himself. No… he didn't want to give him a reaction. It was everything Monk wanted. He had to hold back, but the more he talked about Espio, the more Vector saw red.

Never before in his life did he ever want to hurt someone more than Monk.

"You're one to talk when you want society to be a bunch of weak snowflakes, Mighty," the purple gorilla continued. "Let me tell you the difference between you three and I. You all aren't men. You're weak, emotional betas. Destined to be left in the dust and unloved. Look at you, Vector. You look like you're about to explode because I'm telling the truth about your little fucktoy. But instead of attacking me like any man would, you're just standing there, seething and taking it., something a beta would do."

Monk held out his arms. "Where as I? I'm an alpha. One who'll lead this world and knock down ANYONE who even tries to talk and give shit. And I'm not going anywhere. Call me whatever phobe you want, I'm not going to let a bunch of betas control my thoughts or try to act tough. Because I'll knock you all down. One. At. A. Time-"

Before Vector could no longer control his anger, someone got in front of the two… and did the deed for him.

"That's ENOUGH!" Knuckles yelled. His face grew darker, more than Vector and Mighty had ever seen it before. "I've had it up to here with your petty, childish insults towards Vector and Espio. You call yourself an alpha, a true man as it were, but you're NOTHING like that! A true man would support others weaker than him, lift and inspire those around him, not do what you've done! You've only caused others pain and suffering, all by your ideals of what makes a man a man and your skewed views on certain people because of how they identify! You seem to think that yelling and punching will achieve your dreams. But that's not how a man acts, and because of that, you are not, and never WILL be a true man!"

"What the fuck did you just say?" Monk snarled, getting up close to the three. "Say that again, motherfucker!"

"You have no dignity, no RIGHT to call yourself a leader if this is how you act. You're a bully. A weak, COWARD of a bully! You have no honor, you only DEGRADE those you feel are below you… You are without morals, without any semblance of integrity… and without that, you are, and forever will be weak and UNWORTHY OF CALLING YOURSELF A MAN!"

"RrrrrRRRRRAGGHHHHHHHHH!" Monk roared. "I WON'T LET ANYONE TALK SHIT LIKE THAT! GET THE FUCK OVER HERE! I'LL KNOCK ALL YOUR FUCKING TEETH OUT!"

The gorilla came running at the three as Vector looked over at Knuckles and Mighty, finally finding his voice.

"Here he comes, yeh ready?" the crocodile asked as Monk held up his right fist, ready to punch.

"Don't need to ask me twice," Knuckles replied. "I'll make him eat his own words and turn it around on him!"

"I'll follow whatever you tell me!" Mighty added. "Let's go!"

This is what Vector had been saving his energy for. It was time to finally give Monk what had been coming to him all this time, and for the direspect he had given Espio. The three proceeded to run up towards Monk, ready to begin the fight of their lives.


MEANWHILE

The backstage door to Stage 1 opened ajar as Bow peeked his head out, holding his bow tightly in his hand as his eyes darted back and forth.

Their plans had suddenly changed after getting a call from Jewel, telling him and his group that Stage 2 had guards all over and that there was no way to sneak past them all. Therefore, she recommended the sparrow go to Stage 1 to hang up the banner.

"Alroight, mates, we're clear!" Bow whispered as he shot his hand forward, Thorn, Alan, and Munch all running past him as the sparrow closed the door. They had to be careful, as this stage had people occupying it according to the plans. However… they seemed to be gone.

At least, he hoped.

Following behind his friends, the four made it to the ladder on the side of the control booth and began to climb it, still trying to not make noise. Thankfully, climbing and related activities were natural to the sparrow, as it was something he enjoyed doing since childhood, playing in and around the Deerwood Forest and around Avalon.

As they all made it to the base of the walkable upper area, the four Mercian transfer students crouched onto the floor and got into position, the closest ledge by a group of lights.

"Yeh all ready?" asked Bow, getting one of his arrows prepared. "Alan, ya got the banner?"

Alan pulled out the large banner from a bag and unrolled it, handing a side to each person as well as some string to wrap around the arrows.

"Remember, Jewel said we gotta shoot at the same time, otherwise it's goin' to fall off," Thorn reminded her friends. "Let me count down, I got a good sense o' time."

"Let's get this over with," Munch added, holding up his bow and getting into position. "Ready when yeh are, mate."

With all the strings tied to the banner, everyone got ready as they aimed at the ceiling above the stage. Pulling the bow string back, the four sat in silence as they lowered their eyes, trying to get a clear view.

"On the count of three… one… two… three!"

In an instant, the four fired as the arrows shot forward, carrying the banner with it as they quickly grabbed the long strings. Holding it tight, the arrows hit the wall at the same time as the rolled up banner sat in place, being held by the strings that would unroll it upon letting go.

"Alroight, we did it!" Bow said. "Now lemme cut these down-"

The brown sparrow let go of his bow as he patted his pockets, realizing something very quickly.

"W-Wait… wait one moment!" he said, eyes widened. His frantic searching increased as he tried to not let go of the string. "Oh NO! I forgot that I don't have m' pocket knife on me! Damn those airport people… What's the big deal with 'em anyway?! Don't they know how useful they are?"

"If we don't cut the strings, the whole banner'll fall off like it's nothing!" Alan replied. "Thorn, ya got something?"

Before the lop rabbit could reply, Munch reached over and grabbed the other three strings.

"Oh toss off, all of yeh! I'll take care of it!" he said, putting the strings into his mouth and chewing it with all of his strength. The strings pressed tightly against the copper rat's left cheek as he pulled and pulled. Soon, the lower half of the strings dropped from his mouth and onto the ground as Munch held the now cut off strings holding the banner.

"There ya go! Couldda used a bit o' salt on that to enhance the taste," he said. "But anythin' works, no?"

"Good ol' Munch, nothin' like using the chompers to get what yeh need, eh?" Alan asked.

"Bow, yeh hold onto these, and Thorn, hold onto these," the rat added, giving the sparrow and lop rabbit two strings to hold on each.

"So now we gotta hang onto these until we get the clear from Jewel," Thorn said. "I hope I don't get tired…"

"Nonsense! Not under m' watch!" Bow replied.

"Now that we got that," Munch added. "Alan, it's time we help out Vector and them. Yeh ready to take on an oaf of a gorilla?"

Alan, pulling out his lute and strumming one string, looked back at the rat and smiled a toothy grin. "With yeh? Mate, there ain't no other person on this planet I'd want to smash a plonker's head in with then yeh."

Munch grinned, patting Alan's shoulder.

"Keep safe, yeh two!" Thorn said. "I know that Monk is a stupid git, but yeh heard how Vector and all them described him. Promise yeh won't do anything stupid?"

"Calm down, Thorn! We got this! That gammon wouldn't even know what 'it him!" Alan replied.

"Make sure ya get in a good one fer me, eh?" Bow added. "That'd teach him for what he did to Buck."

"I sure hope he's doin' okay…" Thorn replied.

"We 'eard 'im earlier with Jewel and the others! He's fine, Thorn! Buck wouldn't just let himself get caught loike that!"

Munch turned his head back towards Alan. "C'mon, let's 'ead out."


BACK AT STAGE 2

A strange noise that Espio had never heard before was all he could hear, blurriness in his vision. His body felt incredibly faint, more than it ever had before in his life. It almost felt like he was floating, unaware if this was reality or if this was a dream.

Espio slowly opened his eyes, groaning as pain overcame his body. He felt short of breath, unaware of what happened.

Last that he remembered, he was fighting Connery, and just as he was about to get the last blow on the horse, he was pulled back and grabbed out of nowhere. A trap… yes, this is what this was! Connery tried to get a response out of him and barely fought back because that's what he WANTED Espio to do, all to lure him into a trap that involved some device that caused him to pass out.

But where was he now?

Espio tried to get an answer, but just as he began to move forward, he was pulled back by his wrists.

And that's when Espio finally reached full consciousness.

At that moment, the chameleon turned his head to the side and noticed his right hand being held up, chained against the wall of Stage 2 by that same metal device that bound his wrists together when he was arrested months ago. If he wasn't mistaken, Smithy called these, 'handcuffs'. These however, were much tighter than the one the police had. Not only was it on his right wrist, it was on his left too.

Reality sank into the chameleon that he was now captured, held as a prisoner. One of, if not, the most dishonorable thing to happen to a soldier of war.

The chameleon tried to free himself, pulling as hard as he could at the handcuffs, but even with all his strength, the handcuffs were sealed tight on the wall. His legs were free, and the chameleon attempted to flail his legs, soon falling on his knees in an awkward position as he now began to panic. Where was he? How did he end up like this?

"Ha-hanase! Koroshite yaru!" he yelled at his capturer. Teachings of the Historic District were to commit seppuku should one be captured to not bring shame, but the chameleon refused to die. He would fight at all costs and regain it back by taking down those who wish to capture and torture him, realize the gravity of what they've done and to make them suffer.

…but he didn't know if that would be enough to erase the shame against the Shinobi Clan that he had let his guard down and was captured.

With emotions and thoughts racing rapidly, there was the sound of footsteps approaching as the only noises made were the sound of Espio trying to free himself.

"So… you're finally awake…"

Espio momentarily stopped what he was doing as a familiar pair of brown ears climbed up the steps of the stage. As if on arrival, Espio turned his head to see Connery, hands in his pocket as he stood on the stage's floor, walking towards the chameleon. He soon stopped feet away from where he was chained up.

"I would have thought you'd escape by now considering everything you've done, but it's pleasing to see you here. Finally… I FINALLY have you where I've wanted you all this time…" he said, brows lowered. Espio too didn't falter in his expression, showing clear anger and hatred as he breathed heavily.

"C-Connery…!" he said, now stopping trying to free himself.

"So you realized your predicament at last. Why can't you ever seem to understand, boy?" Connery replied. "All this is being done for the safety of this campus, this zone. You aren't the only one I would want this fate for. But you don't see the picture for what it is. You selfishly go about your day caring about yourself and thinking that the whole world is against you whenever someone has an issue with you. After all, that's how people have treated you since you first arrived here. You grew entitled, demanded that the whole world cater to you and you only. Isn't that right…"

Connery got closer to Espio's face.

"...Espio?"

He said his name. It sunk in to the chameleon that this was the very first time Connery said his name. All this time, he referred to him with these names he hadn't heard before, but now… he said it.

But there was no sincerity behind it. The name was said with pure, unadulterated venom in his voice.

Espio yelled as he attempted to kick at Connery, who dodged back and tutted.

"My my, still thinking you can do something huh? I wouldn't even try it, boy. After all-"

Connery quickly walked forward as Espio attempted to kick him again, but the horse was quicker, grabbing the chameleon's right leg and pulling up his thigh guards. The red light of Espio's ankle monitor flashed as it normally did as both chameleon and horse stared at it.

"On probation still, eh? Are you sure you want to hit me again? After all, I don't think that would look too good on you, would it?" Connery asked. He threw the leg down and walked some feet away, grabbing a rope. "Not to worry, I'll do you a favor!"

Espio shook his head as he attempted to strike at Connery again. His scales went cold as he began to scream out.

"Ha-hanase! Kisama!" Espio yelled out as Connery held both legs together.

"Hold still, boy!"

And with no way to fight back, Espio found his legs bound by rope. He attempted to struggle as Connery let go, only to find the knot he made far too tight for him to free himself.

"There we go. Now there's no possible way for you to escape your fate."

Espio attempted a bit to free himself, but soon let his body go limp as he stared at the horse.

"Why?... Why, Connery?" the chameleon asked, still breathing heavily.

"Why?" Connery turned around. He looked up at the ceiling, a sole light shining on the two. "Goodness, do I have to spell it out for you?"

Connery continued. "Are you aware that as we speak right now, mobians and Overlanders from Southern Mobius are crossing our borders from zones riddled with conflicts, domestic and political? We take in thousands and thousands by the year, not caring who they might be. We just believe them when they say they're running, and we bring them in, not knowing if they're lying straight to our faces to bring in the drugs and crime from their zone to ours. We already have those problems here, no thanks to gangs destroying big cities."

Espio couldn't help but be reminded of Smithy at that moment.

"My father, for his entire political career, has been fighting those who enter our country illegally, and I know exactly the type of people illegal immigrants are based on where they're from. Oh, but it isn't just Southern Mobius I know this is happening, it's Northern too. People relocate here for jobs, blissfully unaware that they've stolen the job of a hard working, middle class individual who was laid off. And it happens more and more each day. We call ourself Mobius' superpower, and yet our country crumbles more and more by the day. We're losing our cultural identity, our freedoms are being lost to those who want to paint our country like it's theirs and only theirs. How can we even expect them to survive without the government needing to step in if they don't even want to learn English, if they expect their government to give them handouts like in zones like Adabat? When they want to change the way people live their lives into this unnatural oriental way of life, the type of life you seem to push?"

Espio was confused more and more. What was he talking about? And more importantly…

"But… Why me?" he asked. Connery turned his head around.

"What does this have to do with you, you say? CCOCC has almost become a counterculture in its own way," the horse continued. "My parents were opposed to me going to Mobius U after I had finished High School, believing that I would come back a brainwashed liberal. However, upon learning about CCOCC, we were all appeased. I was under the belief that a college was a place where a melting pot of ideas would come to boil, and a place like CCOCC felt like home to me, especially since this campus is where they got their start. Yes, I did want to play football for the ever-so famed Badniks, and yes, I did achieve high marks to achieve good scholarships, and I even could have gone to the same university my father graduated from and joined their CCOCC branch, but none of that felt as fulfilling as walking in the doors to join the branch where it all began during my freshman year. At that time, I was seeing that Mobius U was just what my parents feared, an intellectually repressive orthodox made up of nearly every student on campus feeding into this delusion. That's why I idolized CCOCC, and worked hard to make it to where I was. You don't know how much I had to balance my academic and football life just to help mold this group into the thing it is now. That's why when I was nominated and was elected for student representative this year, I told myself I would change CCOCC for the better."

Connery continued further, "But since I first joined, CCOCC had been nothing more than a laughing stock for the students on campus. We were never taken seriously, laughed at, and our numbers decreased by the years. That's why I needed to change CCOCC. I thought this would finally be the year in which this occurred. But no… it didn't. In fact, this year alone, we only got more pushback, more ridicule, claiming us to be "racists" because we didn't walk around eggshells on the activists who wished to see us shut down just for existing, lying about who we are under the guise of liberalism and progressivism. It seemed that even under my new role, we were taken even less seriously, our numbers now dwindled to our lowest since I first arrived."

Connery stopped for a moment before turning around completely.

"It was one after another, almost like a sundae of mockery from every side of the aisle! I felt angered, lost, unsure of what I could do. And then… the cherry on top, the thing that FINALLY pushed me… no, pushed EVERYTHING over to the edge arrived on campus. Espio… it was YOU! You arrived and everything was RUINED!"

Espio was silent as Connery's face filled with rage.

"You arrived and were made to be Vector's roommate, completely unaware of everything that was going on around the world. From the first moment I lay my eyes on you in the dining hall, I knew EXACTLY who you were. A foreign alien, clueless about the entire world and trying to act coy about their true intentions; to deny those in this country an education that they worked hard for, the same education you got for free thanks to "diversity", all so you can contribute to weakening the United Federations. I hoped that the others would see and wake up to realize that's what you wanted, what with your unnatural dress, mannerisms, and culture that you felt the need to parade around. But no… soon, Vector took a liking to you and became your friend. Then he started bringing you along to our practices, and then it was Knuckles who became your friend. Pretty soon, you had the entire Badniks wrapped around your finger, all of them becoming close with you and defending you and whatever you did. But not me, I refused to be fooled by whatever charade you seemed to play, shoving your lifestyle into our faces. I thought the others would wake up and realize just how foolish and childish you were with this act. Instead, they only seemed more intent on defending you more and being okay with whatever you did, and all I could do was stand by and watch as I waited for the day I'd be proven right..."

Espio couldn't help but think back to all the times he was around Vector and the team. All this time… Connery had seen him with pure contempt? He knew that the horse wasn't his biggest fan, but this…

"And then," Connery continued. "You decided to play the hero. November 7th came, and after those hooligans from Crisis City came to desecrate our field, instead of letting the police handle it, you thought to take it into your own hands as a way for Vector to appreciate you more. Vandalism is just as much a petty crime, but this is the United Federations. We have LAWS, rules in the book for what happens and what should be done. But instead, you felt the need to insert yourself where you didn't belong. Why else do you think you were arrested? Did you think that this entire campus would idolize you? Did you think that the headmaster would personally come down to give you a reward on behalf of the university while everyone cheered your name, crowd surfing you? No, because this is real life, boy! There are consequences for what you did! I thought FINALLY the Badniks and everyone on campus would wake up and realize the truth of what you really were. A blood thirsty, savage noncitizen criminal who sees no harm in using weapons, regardless if it was justified or not. But no, they only defended you FURTHER! Calling me a one man army, saying no one else agreed with me…"

Connery held up his shaking fist, head turned away from the chameleon. "It felt futile at this point. You had practically brainwashed everyone into seeing you as some sort of foreign savior, and by now, your attitude had gone from obnoxious to purely sickening. That's why I followed your trial. Maybe, surely MAYBE, the justice system would see past this and send a dangerous criminal like you back to where you came from. But like the Badniks, they gave you a slap on the WRIST! They let you still walk on campus, let you act like you did nothing wrong, let you continue your useless existence in this zone!"

Connery had gotten closer and closer to Espio's face, and the chameleon could see the pure malice in the horse's eyes. He raised himself up, turning back towards the crowd. "That's why I had to do what I did. That's why, as CCOCC student representative, I could no longer let this slide. I had to tell the world about what you were doing to this campus. And finally…? The people listened. One by one, the people of this zone saw you for who you really were. A shrieking, whiny, psychotic, bug-eyed brat, who hates our country and demands everything to be how you want it. That's all you've ever been since you first arrived, and now, people outside of CCOCC were FINALLY getting the message. Soon, you no longer controlled this campus and its narrative…"

Connery's face slowly grew to a smirk. "I did."

He continued. "Soon, you could no longer trick the people into thinking you were just this normal transfer student wanting to study here and experience a world outside of whatever place you came from. Instead, my fellow patriots did everything they could to start raising awareness, to put pressure on the officials at Mobius U, and the one to start it all? Was me. Yes, it's true they went to other issues too, but I see no issue with that. In fact, they're issues I've had for some time, but call it killing two birds with one stone. The main bird I wanted dead? Was you, Espio."

Espio's face fell blank, his mouth slowly falling.

"And finally, everything has paid off. The leftist activists are losing support by the day, our campaign has been noticed all throughout the nation, and reports about transfer students like you have risen from other CCOCC branches. Best of all? You no longer have the safety you once thought you did. You thought all this time you were untouchable, and that just because you came from a place without law, that you were an exchange student, that you were exempt from being a hooligan. Let me explain it to you. Our crime rates are already bad enough as is, and instead of doing the right thing, we treat criminals and drug dealers with a slap on the wrist. Haven't you noticed that in some zones in Northern Mobius, ones with ACTUAL common sense, they seem to enjoy such nice luxuries because of their low crime rates? Because you know what they do to criminals?"

The horse got closer. "They beat them with canes. Cut off their fingers and execute them in public. Something you ought to wake up and realize. Just because you might not be subject to that doesn't mean that you're better off being coddled. In fact, you might even be thinking that I'm doing this to be cruel. But think about it this way: wouldn't YOU want what's best for whatever village you came from? What if someone came in and acted like you? Would you or anyone else tolerate that?"

Espio looked to the side, still confused by what Connery was saying. The horse gave a disgusted look.

"Figures. You can't even muster the brain cells needed to actually think about what you do since you've lived all your life a savage. You befriend criminals, surround yourself with those who feel the need to think that you selfishly deserve everything, and are the type of person we don't need in this zone. But no more. Tonight… that finally comes to an end…"


TO BE CONTINUED...