Taking up the Mantle Chapter 27: Impending Doom, a sonic the hedgehog fanfic

Author's Note. I decided to split the next chapter into 2 because it would be far too long. So, I had to push back the part I kept thinking about, but it should come soon.

I find this chapter enjoyable, and I really do enjoy writing Nicole and Max's interactions. Admittedly, it feels strange to write something I always knew would happen but was so incredibly far away initially.

The next chapter (the other half of this one) is a big one I think everyone will enjoy.

An important message to all readers: I know I have stated this before, but I will reiterate it as people have tried to message me.

If you try and contact me for any reason and use the phone app. It has a separate inbox from the one I always see on my laptop. If you want a prompt response from me, use a computer browser.

Why fanfiction net decided to make them separate inboxes is beyond me because it is flat-out fucking stupid. I check the app once in a blue moon, so for those that wish to interact with me. The pc browser inbox is the quickest way to do it.

Sorry for the inconvenience, but fanfiction net should have really made both one inbox.

Legal Trash. Sonic and everybody else are copyright SEGA/Archie comics. Except for Max, Annie, and Sonia. I created them in my rattled brain; if you like my OC's, use them and let me know. It'll be fun; we will have tea.

Gregory belongs to reader Singerj199, and Hazel belongs to Anonymous. All interpretations and expansions of these characters' backstories and alterations to fit into my world are 100 percent my work, that they are free to use as they see fit.

You can read more about Gregory in Singer's own masterful story Shattered Skies, if you would like to.

Impending Doom

Gregory and Hazel took to the tunnels and were greeted by other rebels as they passed. With the letter in their possession, they readied themselves for the cold.

As they walked towards the cave entrance that was used to bring in "shipments," Hazel spoke. "I can't believe we are going to meet the prince…. It makes me nervous."

As Gregory thought, he remembered the night they watched from the miner's prison cell. They were in awe as he slayed Robbie despite being totally inebriated.

He did so to defend their ilk, and Gregory respected that someone of such status would dirty their hands for the least fortunate.

After his thoughts left him and the biting wind of the morning cold began to pelt him, he responded to Hazel. "I am looking forward to meeting him…."

Hazel hesitantly nodded, and then before she stepped out into the snow, she was stopped by Gregory speaking.

"Remember, no matter what, the letter gets there… You hear me?"

She listened, then grabbed the map to double-check it in case she misremembered something.

"…"

As Gregory watched her, he commented on the journey. "We mostly are just following the river…. Should be easy enough, so long as we can locate it under the snow…."

That said, the two stepped out into the frozen calmness to fulfill their mission.

…

Eliot walked alongside four armed rebels through the tunnels. Even since the execution of Windser and then, later on, his nagging wife. He began to feel the pressure of the rebellion's hatred.

With such violence, and all eyes looking upon him with suspicion. He was becoming ever more afraid…. He never thought Cream and the people she controlled would go so far, but now that he was in the midst of it, he had been trying to figure out the best path for him and his beloved.

"…."

He was always sent near the most dangerous parts of the tunnel to patrol, and those with him rarely ever spoke other than to affirm orders.

The small group was so far from help that Eliot saw this as an intentional act to have him killed. Whether true or not, this assumption had merit, making him bitter.

…

As the five of them rounded the dark corridor, pushing the last safe zone of rebel-controlled territory. He was roused from his hate-filled presumptions when his companions began to act out of turn.

"Would you fools stop walking? Go any further, and we will be in a Radcliff-controlled area."

The silent rebels looked at him from the dimness of the lit torch, and now Eliot realized why he was out here this particular day.

It was an assassination attempt….

When he placed his wing on his rapier, the rebels immediately drew their arms, prompting Lasil to yell.

"I see now…. You were under my orders daily so that I wouldn't suspect this! Who sent you!? Cream!? That bastard, Alistair!?"

They didn't speak and merely waited. As he began pulling his weapon, he stopped when he recognized Radcliff's knights approaching.

They were coming from the sides and front, with the rebels Lasil had with him moving back to block off any retreat.

"…."

Eliot pushed his rapier back down into the scabbard, and then, when he looked over, he was shocked to see Lady Sarah so boldly out here.

She might have been highly well-guarded, but it'd only take a stray bolt to end her. Looking back, he now saw that the rebels blocking his retreat were saluting her.

"…."

When Lady Radcliff stood close to him, she raised her hands out. "What? Nothing to say to me, dear traitor…?"

Lasil shook his head and threw his wing down in disgust. "You smug bitch, you know I have no choice, and I know you left us to die in the uprising to be rid of us all!"

Lady Radcliff smirked and then placed a finger to her mouth. "Oh, do you now? If I were you, I would watch what you say lest the only thing the rebellion finds left of you is your head."

Lasil was terrified, but he merely just spat at her feet. "What do you want? You didn't go through all this trouble to get me out here to kill me…."

Lady Radcliff laughed and eventually nodded. "Of course not, silly. I came to offer you…. A way to absolve yourself of your treachery…."

Lasil looked at her, and he then looked down. "Oh, and exactly how will you do that?"

Radcliff moved forward, and as she came within striking distance of Lasil, he felt a sharp point put at the back of his neck.

Once she stood before him, she reached into her elegant robes and pulled out a dark jar small enough to fit into just about any pocket.

"Why, be rid of my little problem for me…. Cream will succumb, and so will her army. All it takes is for you to dump this into their supplies. Then bring your lovely wife and wait with me in safety as the 'hero' that put down the uprising…."

Lasil stared at the unmarked container, and then, in a stunning surprise to Radcliff, he expressed doubt. "I… Won't that affect the civilians in the area as well?"

Radcliff frowned and then responded. "What? Taken a liking to the poor and indigent, have you, Lasil? You do realize the narrative of your 'heroics' will give you power only second to mine…."

Lasil was already beginning to fantasize about the power, the wealth. The more he thought, the more he recognized it would allow him to retaliate for his wife's pain.

"…."

When he didn't respond, Radcliff reached out her hand to offer him the jar. "So, what will it be, Lasil? Will you lose your head now, or you return to the fold a hero?"

It was at this point he recognized he had no choice. Without another word, he accepted the poison and then quickly concealed it in the pouch he used to keep his money in.

"…"

"Ah, I knew you would see it my way…. All it takes is the right…. Incentive. Don't you agree, Lasil?"

Eliot turned without response and was about to begin heading back, but he stopped when Radcliff spoke again.

"Don't even think of informing Cream or trying to rat out my conspirators… The four here will escort you for the task, and I already have eyes on lovely Lyra, should you try anything…. Foolish…."

Eliot still didn't respond and merely began to walk back the way he came. The soldiers he once thought were nothing but rebels were now acting more intimidating as they surrounded him on the march home.

Irrespective of being forced to do this, he indeed did resent Cream and the rebels…. Still, he was smart enough to know that he'd never return to Radcliff's side a "hero" and, instead, would likely be the next scapegoat for her to avoid any blame for the suffering to be unleashed.

"…."

…

Tails was working hard on the second suit with Seth's help; luckily, there was excess alloy even after molding and installing the interconnecting pieces.

Seth's measurements were more prominent than Tails, but it was an easy adjustment after working out all the kinks of building one of these.

From pre-dawn to roughly lunchtime, they worked without a break while preparing the second battery with a charge. After completing the assemblage, Seth and Tails were ready to see Snively and, hopefully, Nicole about phase II.

…

When the two reached the workshop, they were surprised to find the door damaged, and Tails immediately pointed it out. "Hey, Snively, what happened to Rotor's door?"

Snively looked over from the laptop and then wiped his brow, uncertain whether a truthful answer was warranted. Either way, he was confident the robot didn't want her dirty laundry aired, so he avoided it by taking the blame.

"I… Well, I am sorry. I got frustrated and threw my tool without thinking…. Don't worry; I can easily repair it before sleeping."

Tails was a bit annoyed, but he deemed it secondary to what he was here for. "Well, make sure you do…. In either case, did you manage to do the coding I asked?"

Snively nodded and then responded. "Yes, it took all night, but I finished every function. Furthermore…. I added an information index to make it easier to process…. You will still need to grow accustomed to the functions and using them correctly, but you should be instantly aware of everything you can do without study."

Tails looked around, and despite how elated this made him, he felt mistrustful of Snively. "I… That's good…. So, is Nicole here to initiate the process?"

Snively shook his head and responded honestly. "No, she left last night, and I have not seen her since…."

It was concerning, but Tails was in a rush…. Ultimately, he decided that if Max was willing to trust him, so would he. "Alright then, you know how to work the process?"

Snively clapped his hands and grinned. "Yep! I was the one who refined the process, the robot was using settings applicable to machine anatomy, so I tweaked the procedure to make it less harsh on biological creatures…."

With that, Tails just responded after looking at Seth, who nodded silently.

"Alright, let's do this, then…."

With that, Snively instructed Tails to sit, and once he was attached to the helmet. It was only a matter of seconds and a moderately painful jolt to his head that the process was complete.

…

The transfer now finished, Tails had a surprising and immediate understanding of the intricate functions of the suit.

This alone showed him that the idea worked. However, how long it would take to acclimate to how it functioned was another concern entirely….

"So, will it work immediately?" Tails asked.

"Yes," Snively began as Seth took Tails' place. "It will function the way you intend but will require practice to gain mastery of it."

Tails nodded and merely waited for Seth to go through the same process. Similarly, Seth was immediately granted knowledge, but he seemed more impressed than Tails by all of this.

When it was complete. He stood up and looked at Tails before flexing his arms and speaking. "Well, if it takes discipline to master, then you follow me, fox… I can have you in tip-top shape if you have the fortitude."

Tails smirked and then looked at Snively. "Thanks for the help…. We're going to go test 'em' now. Fix that door, and, er…. Get some sleep."

Snively merely waved them off as he grabbed tools from the shelf. Hearing more praise made it so pleasing that he didn't mind the menial chore.

"…"

…

When the two were back with their suits, and it was the moment of truth, Tails turned to Seth and spoke. "Let me go first… If there is an issue, I do not want both to break simultaneously… Plus, these are slightly bulky, so two moving around in this cramped space at the same time would be a pain…."

Seth merely nodded and then sat at the edge of the bed to watch. "As you were, fox."

Tails reached into the suit and unplugged the charger from the inside. From there, he pressed a hidden button on the rim of the neck hole, and immediately the front of the suit began to spread open while making hydraulic noises.

With the inside exposed, it was clear that the thing was well-built. Wires, diodes, and all manner of components were utterly absent, and the inside was cushioned and insulated well.

As Seth marveled, he watched Tails toss off his sling and then place his body into the contraption. There was a comfortable mini-seat to rest oneself on in a standing position.

With his uninjured hand, he reached into the neck hole and pulled out what appeared to be a metal tiara. Once placed on his head, it comfortably rested with wires connecting it to the suit.

After that, he put his arms out with a painful grunt and rested them inside the suit's arms, which accommodated him well. After a moment, Tails "thought" of his desire to activate the suit, and the alloy armor closed around him carefully.

It was evident during the process that the entire thing was minorly bigger than Tails as a whole. His hands didn't fully reach inside the alloy gauntlets of the suit, but with the mere thought of motion, the digits on the armor began to move like his own might if they'd been there.

Tails looked around and attempted to grasp a hammer with his now slightly bigger hand. He dropped it clumsily, but he found only minor pain in his shoulder from the motion while his uninjured hand rested comfortably away from the grasping movement of the fingers.

"Shit, this really works!" Tails beamed and then tried to walk.

The armor barely made noise and was light, but he staggered heavily, trying to control the legs with his mind.

Seth stood and stabilized him, then helped Tails move out from the hut so that he could armor up himself.

As Tails waited outside and felt the fridged breeze on his face, he was now incredibly confident in what was to come.

The severe hand injury he had received would have taken months to heal and function properly, but now, he had a suit of armor that could pick up the slack.

When Seth staggered out, it was apparent that he had more control over the contraption than Tails, likely due to his physical and mental prowess regarding discipline and exercise.

Tails looked over and then spoke to Seth. "How does it feel?"

Seth thought as he looked down at the armor, and he felt like he was in some sort of futuristic full-plate, though it was lighter than chain by his reckoning.

"It is incredible… It is warm, and the seat allows my legs to dangle so that the suit does the brunt of lifting for my body. Though, my face is cold in this weather."

Tails nodded. "Yep, we increased ourselves by a foot or so in either direction, but in exchange, we can now function in combat…. As for the cold, you know there is already a solution for that…."

When Tails finished the sentiment, the rapid sound of mechanic movement echoed, ending in a locking snap. His head was now encased inside a helmet with a clear visor.

It made a perfect seal, insulating his head from elemental danger or zero oxygen environments. With the entire suit covering him from head to toe, he looked like a cosmonaut or a futuristic superhero.

Seth followed suit and practically drooled at the heat now enveloping his face.

With the two now looking spiffy, Seth commented on Tails' previous statement.

"-Function in combat, you said, eh-?" Seth began, and his voice came out as if on a radio that picked up his breathing and the echo inside the protective helmet. "-Not yet, soldier… It is now 14:00 hours, and we have yet to start MT.

Tails looked at him and could tell he was serious. After which, he responded in the same echo. "-Alright… Lead the way into the woods away from Knothole…. The sooner we are ready, the sooner I can get to Cream…-"

Seth nodded and then took the lead, after which he shouted through the helmet. "-Alright! March!-"

Seth barely staggered as he tried hard to control himself in a presentable manner, Tails was struggling, but Seth merely shouted echoey words of encouragement.

"-That's it, fox, move it! A man lacking in skill is not a man that need be ashamed, though a man lacking in perseverance is!-"

The conviction with which he shouted only made Tails push himself, and he began to sweat, trying to control the armor perfectly.

Seth, the more he got into a rhythm, the more he seemed to be pumping himself up, and as he did so, he appeared to be less and less constrained by the suit.

Even as Tails struggled, Seth never berated him. He made him want to continue no matter how hard it felt, and as Tails picked up his own rhythm, he was surprised by how much easier it was getting the further they walked off into the forest.

With someone that had this kind of discipline, it might be mere days of strenuous mental expenditure until they were ready for full combat.

"…"

…

Eliot sat at a table in the captured social district, watching Lyra and her long-time friend at a cafe from a distance.

He had returned some time ago and was left to his own devices by his enforcers with nothing more than an implicate warning.

Still, watching his wife converse with her friend and civilians and rebels alike as they passed gave him the impression that anybody around him could be a bad actor.

Whatever one could say about him as a person, Radcliff was a piece of shit all in her own class. He was sure it wasn't hard to entice the less fortunate with promises of being risen in status, power, and wealth.

Her smooth tongue and endless reach were frightening, and there was no telling, just who was a spy or assassin waiting for the right opportunity.

Many rebels hated him, and in his heart, he knew he could easily kill Cream and any one of them with the unknown poison.

Still, his disgust with Radcliff for threatening his wife was beyond reproach, and in recognizing that, he decided he would play his own game that was separate from either faction.

Nobody made a fool of Eliot Lasil, and his first act was now decided.

He would deal with his enforcers, then expose this plot without implicating himself. Ultimately, with this action, he could keep himself around Lyra and allow Cream to snuff out the would-be assassin for him.

…

Cream sat in her old room and watched Aria read one of her many collected books. In the weeks that had passed, this room had become Aria's, and despite the animosity Cream harbored for Seth, the young girl was sweet and pleasing to be around.

"Miss Redford?" Aria spoke politely as she lowered the book and glanced back.

Cream responded and looked over at her from the spot on her old bed. "Hm? Yes, Aria?"

"What's going to happen when you become the leader of Radcliff?"

Cream was taken aback when that was said, and then she thought on it. If she somehow did conquer Lady Radcliff, she would be the de facto most powerful "noble" in the city….

It was something she had never thought about, but it being presented to her as a question made her realize she likely should.

"I… Well, I suppose I would reform everything. Make it more equitable and fairer for all…."

As Aria thought, she responded. "So, nobody would have to worry about money anymore?"

Cream looked and eventually nodded. "Yes… That sounds like a great first step…."

Aria beamed and commented on the statement. "Good! I hope you can do it, then my family will stop hurting each other…."

"…."

When Cream heard that, she felt a chill and was compelled to respond. "Hurting each other?"

Aria placed her book on the desk. "Yeah, my mom and brother always fight over everything…. I was scared when my brother left in a hurry with many of our guards. Fortunately, you saved me, though…."

Cream thought and then responded sweetly. "Where did your brother go with guards? Did you run away from your mom and get captured because she was mean to you?"

Aria frowned and then shook her head. "I don't know where brother went or why. He just told me he had urgent business out of the city and to stay away from my mom, so I did. Well, at least until the fighting happened…."

"I see…." Cream murmured.

It was odd that Seth and Lady Brinwald disappeared entirely from the city, and it struck her that Seth would not leave his sister unless it was vital, especially if he was willing to make his home unfortified to do so.

"…"

Cream stood up and was about to leave when Aria piped up again.

"Are you going to cut my mom and brother's heads off too?"

Cream paused, and they looked at each other. It was clear Aria knew what was going on the more she was with the rebels.

"I…." As Cream hesitated, Aria looked upset and then spoke before Cream could.

"I won't let you hurt my brother, but if you want to kill my mom, she is hiding in the hidden saferoom of our estate."

Cream stared blankly at the young girl and was floored. It was clear to her that Aria was tacitly asking for this and that it was not merely a slip-up.

"I… Er… You want me to behead your mother?" Cream stumbled over her words, unsure of how to even deal with this.

Aria scowled and responded. "If you do it, I won't be upset with you… Mother locked me out of the saferoom when your forces breached our estate. Even though she knew about the rebels killing other nobles…."

It was now that Cream understood just how dysfunctional Aria's family was. It seemed her mother saw her as little more than a means to an end and was willing to let Alistair behead a thirteen-year-old to save herself by waiting it out.

Most Aria's age would never give up a parent, and her doing so now showed Cream that she was more liked and trusted than a member of her own family.

"I… Don't worry about your brother… I will ensure no harm comes to him if it makes you happy…."

With the words spoken, Aria got up quickly and wrapped her arms around Cream. "Thank you, Lady Redford, you really are as kind as everyone says…."

Cream returned the hug, and deep down, she felt like garbage.

Her father would be spinning in his grave to see her offer leniency to a traitor, but ultimately, she sided with Aria's happiness over her father's.

When they broke off, and Aria returned to reading, Cream left to continue her business of leading the rebellion and deciding if, perhaps, Aria's wish should be granted in the future….

…

Tails and Seth tiredly breathed in as they forced themselves to move in the forest. The strain it put on their mind gave them a headache, but Seth yelled through his helmet to keep them going.

"-Don't stop! We can make it the hour! No pain, no gain, soldier!-"

Tails watched Seth's movements, and the snow danced around them as it fell from the sky. After another ten minutes, Tails staggered and fell over into the snow.

"-Ah!-"

When he went down, Seth stopped and then collapsed on bended knee due to his exhaustion.

"-Shit….-" Seth commented while struggling to breathe and keep the pose.

Neither were hurt much, but the motions that stimulated other injured areas had increased in pain over time.

At the very least, their armor provided them great climate control for their bodies. A feature their mind could adjust on the fly.

"-Well, I think we should rest, even if the warmth of the suit makes me feel like I could go into the night….-" Tails echoed and rubbed his helmet with the alloy gauntlet.

Seth smirked from the visor and responded. "-A good rest is part of good training…. We will eat, then get to bed early. After that, resume at 06:00 hours tomorrow.-"

Tails nodded in agreement and watched as Seth forced himself to his feet and offered his hand to him.

Tails grasped it with his own and found their mastery of holding much improved and sturdier. When at last they both stood, he spoke.

"-How's the leg?-"

Seth moved the armored leg easily and swayed it. "-The fact all my weight is not on it, and I merely can exercise it through motion alone, means I am in considerably less pain.-"

After that, he slapped Tails on the back with a clang and matched the sentiment. "-Your arm and hand hangin' in there?-"

Tails moved it, grimaced slightly, and then responded. "-The hand is doing great, given I can use the suit's hand without really disturbing the injury, but my shoulder hurts a bit from continuous movement.-"

Seth grinned visibly from the helmet. "-Good, it'll promote healing; keep at it.-"

Tails nodded, and the two began to walk with their suit arms around one another's necks. Partially because of the comradery that had been forged but also because both were sure they'd fall again without support.

…

Max slowly opened his eyes and was greeted by the wooden ceiling of the small beachside shack. It took him a moment to recognize where he was, but once he recalled the previous night, he sat up and rubbed his head.

Glancing about before him, he could see the fire had been rekindled to keep things warm through his rest. Taking another look to the side, he noticed that it was already evening, with the setting sun painting the bed frame a dim orange.

"…."

"Rest well?" He heard Nicole speak and then looked at the cushy chair to see her sitting with a book.

"I… Well, I guess I did… I slept the entire day away…."

Nicole seemed at peace and placed the book on the coffee table before her. When Max took a gander at it, he could see it was a photo album containing pictures of her "old life."

It seemed whenever she had risen, she had gone to re-experiencing things lost to time. After brief contemplation, Max spoke to her.

"I… Did you experience a dream like you were hoping?"

Nicole blinked and shook her head sadly. "No, unfortunately, nothing came of the experiment…. Though, I might consider trying this more when visiting you in Knothole…."

Max chuckled a bit and then became shy. "If I didn't know any better, I think you were asking to share my bed with you…."

Nicole smiled herself and then glanced at the floor. "Well…. It wasn't a bad experience… Though…. I…"

When she trailed off, Max was curious and encouraged her.

"You?"

Nicole seemed nervous but spoke her mind despite that fact. "I…. really do not know what 'this' is entirely, and admittedly, I want to know, but I am scared to let others know…."

Max seemed understanding and merely responded. "So? Nobody has to know; it is nobody's business but ours…."

Nicole smirked and looked him over. "Well…. I suppose we can conduct an 'experiment' between us…. Then… Analyze the data…."

The way in which she spoke the words was subtly flirtatious, and Max felt heat move throughout his body. "Sure… It's our secret experiment…."

Nicole stood up and walked before the bed he was sitting in, after which she spoke again. "Thanks for understanding, Max…. You…. Have made yesterday's revelations so much easier for me…."

Max could only grin, then stand up before her and stretch out. "You've made a lot of things easier for me… When bad things happen, I have thought about you, which has made me feel safe."

The sentiment was sweet and now easily understood by Nicole's re-established Mobian mind.

"You… You make me feel safe too… I am sorry, well, I am sorry for not understanding you yesterday when you tried to tell me your feelings."

Max shook his head and then responded. "Hey, no more apologizing, remember?"

"I, sor… Er, I mean… Thanks…."

As the two awkwardly stood there staring at each other, Max decided to initiate a display of affection.

He moved in, and when Nicole saw it, she moved in as well; then, he pressed his lips against hers.

Once the brief kiss was broken, and Max had a giddy smile, Nicole spoke.

"You… Well, you can call me Nikki now…. If you want…."

Max looked and then responded. "Is that what you want, Nikki?"

If Nicole had a physical heart, it might have skipped a beat upon hearing her name spoken like that, but at the very least, she settled for extreme emotional elation.

"I… would like to get used to hearing it again…. It can be a nickname of sorts…."

Max sat down on the edge of the bed and then began to place his boots back on. "Sure thing, Nikki…. I will use it privately with you from time to time…."

Nicole didn't say much more, and when Max was ready, she grabbed hold of the photo album and stuffed it inside her stomach with her internal components.

"…."

With that, the two began to snuff out the fire and once out the door. Nicole re-locked it, after which she handed Max the key.

"Hold this for me, will you? I want to make copies of it so you and I can come here whenever we want…."

Max took it and placed it into his pocket, and then responded. "This can be our special place…. Maybe we could come here to be alone in the summertime? Like you used to with your father."

Nicole looked surprised but seemed extremely happy by the comment. "Yes… That sounds like a wonderful experience…."

As the two began to leave the private beach and head back towards Knothole, Nicole spoke about the previous night, her father, and the book's destruction buried with the photo.

Max, while now aware the author was Ellidy and of his steep decline, never spoke on it beyond what Nicole mentioned. Instead, choosing to console her with empathetic condolences and disgust at Robotnik's crimes against him.

…

Eliot's wife limped along with the help of her friend, the boutique owner that had defected. It was difficult for Lyra to get around alone, but she was thankful to have her long-time friend still on the same side as her.

"Here you are, Lyra…." Her friend stopped just before the Lasil estate in the social district.

Despite the place being ransacked and damaged heavily, it was not wholly taken from them by Cream. This alone made Lyra thankful, as she had many fond memories here.

"Thanks, Edea…" Lyra spoke in her usual calm tone.

"Oh, worry not, Lyra. I am always happy to help you!" Edea chirped.

As Lyra turned to limp towards the stairs, she paused when she heard Edea speak.

"Uhm… I know you have much on your mind, but would you be willing to ask Lady Redford to repair the damages done to my shop? After all, it was who she allied herself with that damaged it so heavily."

Lyra nodded and grinned. "Of course, dear. I always have time to make a request for you. Just wait until next we meet, and I will give you the news."

Edea seemed satisfied and waved before heading off.

Lyra then slowly and painstakingly went up the steps by herself. Something she insisted on doing for fear of inconveniencing others to travel up so far with her.

By the time she reached the top, she felt pain and was breathless but high-spirited. After reaching out, she opened the temporary door made of cobbled-together boards.

Once inside, she was happy to see Eliot already there. They'd lost everything of value, but Lyra felt peace in that they had one another.

"Ah, dear, it is good to see you! How was your patrol today?"

Eliot looked up from one of the few tables that were not broken and smiled convincingly. "It was wonderful, my love. It was the first time in a long while that I had a conversation with my subordinates."

Lyra sat down with a grunt and breathed in. "Wonderful, I am happy to hear it. I spent the day with Edea but was troubled by the number of soldiers watching me."

"I see…" Eliot said casually and then offered his wife a drink of water.

Lyra took it thankfully and then spoke. "Yes, I hope Miss Redford relaxes on the suspicion soon. It makes me feel terrible…."

Eliot smiled back at her and placed his wing atop hers. "Worry not, love. I have a feeling; things will get better for us very soon…."

Lyra took a lengthy drink and seemed excited. "Well, I am doing my best to be in public, to show I am not up to no good…."

Eliot thought. "Why, that sounds like a wonderful idea, dear. Stay as visible as possible; that way, you are obviously not hiding anything."

Lyra placed the glass down and leaned forward to hug him. "Shall we head off to bed early, dear? You must be tired from the patrol."

Eliot merely smiled and patted her. "Unfortunately, I have business to attend to tonight but worry not. I have re-set our safe room with what little pleasantries we have left. It should keep you safe and comfy until the morn."

Lyra kissed Eliot as he stood, and they nuzzled one another to show affection before she limped off into the darkness of the estate.

He knew she was frightened to be alone and that she would stay in there unbeknownst to would-be intruders.

Now, it was just a matter of getting down to "business" and doing what needed to be done, even if he put himself in jeopardy.

"…"

…

As sunlight had left, Gregory and Hazel were now entirely sure they had lost their way.

The temperature had dropped sharply without the sun's rays, and now that the clouds had blanketed the sky to drop more snow, Hazel couldn't even use the stars to direct them.

"We have to stop; it's too cold out; we need to find shelter," Hazel said to him loudly, tired of the numbness her hands felt.

Gregory shook his head and responded. "No, we need to get on track. It might be cold, but if we can orient ourselves, we can be there in but a few hours."

Hazel had grown impatient and flustered, so she raised her voice louder. "How do you suppose we do that!? It's completely dark, and we could have gone hours in the wrong direction!"

Gregory sighed and couldn't even see his breath in the dark, after which he grumbled. "Fine, better a delay than a failure…"

Hazel's tail twitched, and at this point, she realized that there was no way they could keep warm. "Damn… I, what are we goin' to do!? There's no shelter, and all wood is too soaked to create a fire!"

Gregory glanced and shook his head before whispering to her. "Keep your voice down, would you? This is no time to panic; just follow me, and I will take care of it."

Hazel was worked up but kept her mouth shut and grabbed hold of his backpack so as not to lose him. Her hands were so numb that she was sometimes unsure if she was even grasping it.

"…."

They moved on for about ten minutes until encountering a sizable downed log. A common thing in the Great Forest.

When he glanced inside it, he saw it was hollow. With a swing of his fist, he punched it, and it held up to the hard smash.

When Hazel let go of him, he responded. "Seems sturdy enough; get in, and I will get us warmer."

Hazel followed his instructions, and once wedged halfway in, Gregory tossed his backpack next to her and entered as well.

After a few moments of removing things from his bag, he went to work. Using two medium, thick blankets, he hung them on either end by tying them to steel tent stakes he had hammered into the thick wood with a stray rock.

Once done, both sides were shielded from the harsh winds and cold, raising the temperature from zero degrees to a more manageable level. Afterward, he tossed out two large blankets and wrapped himself in one as Hazel did with the other.

After they had settled in and Gregory could feel his hands again. He reached inside the backpack and pulled out a thick candle. When he tried to use his matches to light it, he found that it was still difficult to use his digits.

"…"

Hazel reached into her pack, and after a moment or two, she pulled out a lighter she had stashed away inside of it.

Using the small lighter, she lit it for him and allowed it to cast its dim light in their little hidey-hole.

Gregory was surprised she would have one of those but figured she had her reasons. After Hazel put it away, she blew hot air into her hands to help them heat up.

As the two sat and listened to the wind howl outside, it created an uneasy feeling in both of them. Once Gregory saw the fear in her expression, he spoke to ease it for the both of them.

"Over time, the candle's heat will raise the cramped space's temperature. If you feel you desperately need warmth, close your blanket over it with yourself and create a mini oven for a bit."

Hazel nodded slowly, but she felt better now that she could feel her limbs. The candle was putting off heat slowly and raising their comfort level considerably with the seal of dark blankets hiding their position.

When Gregory brought out some stale bread, he offered some to Hazel, who took it quietly. Once they began nibbling the crunchy food, she decided to make conversation.

"Where'd you learn all this stuff?"

Gregory glanced over and then drank water from the sizable canteen with him, after which he responded. "My father was a woodsman, salt-of-Mobius kinda' guy. We used to camp often, and he showed me lots of neat tricks…."

Hazel stared at the flickering candle flame and responded. "You think he's still out here somewhere?"

Gregory handed her the canteen, and he spoke when she took it to have a swig. "I dunno', but if there was ever a wolf that could survive out here for years on end, it'd be him…."

Even though he hid it exceptionally well, Hazel could tell the conversation was painful. When she placed down the canteen, she asked one more question. "You gonna' go see your momma after we deliver the message?"

The second he heard her say that, he felt anger and shook his head. "No, absolutely not!"

It made Hazel jump, but she eventually just spoke again. "Sorry…."

Gregory glared and then chastised her. "Just focus on the mission, not about playing games in the woods…. Remember, we have an upcoming battle to return to and prepare for."

Hazel didn't speak and instead wrapped herself in the blanket and leaned against the log's wall. She would get some sleep if he wanted to be bitter.

"…."

Gregory let her nod off and watched the candle flame flicker. More than anything, he wanted to see his mother, but the terror of what reality would surely bring to him was too much to bear.

The longer he thought about it, the more regret he felt. Eventually, he just cut the thoughts off and focused on what he had to do for Cream.

Orders, danger, and missions were easy…. Dealing with agonizing emotions and uncertainties…

Not so much.

"…"

…

Sonic sat with Sonia, and for the first time in a long while, they had mutually enjoyed time together.

Once she apologized to her father for ditching him on her birthday, he didn't seem to care or take offense at all.

"…."

As Sonic stretched out in the comfort of her warm hut, it occurred to her just how hard this must have been for him. If Max could understand people and emotions so well, perhaps she should be the one to begin mending?

"Hey… Uh… Dad?"

Sonic raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Sup?"

"I dunno' I guess I wanted to say somthin', but I ain't really sure how to go about it."

Sonic nodded and then sat up from his comfortable position. "Sometimes the best thing is just to do it and worry about the consequences later."

Sonia was skeptical, and her immediate reaction was a sarcastic and bitter mix. "Like you did when you got captured?"

Sonic merely shrugged. "What's done is done…."

Sonia became visibly angry. "Whatever…. I knew talking to you like this was a mistake…."

Sonic frowned and shook his head. "Sonia…. Nobody can predict the future, so why try? You need to live in the moment and act accordingly. If you keep standing around tryin' to figure out what's gonna' happen, sooner or later you realize you haven't gone anywhere…."

Sonia could understand his point better, but it was still painful. "I guess that's true, but I still think some forethought on your part would benefit you."

Sonic smiled and began to chuckle when she said that, much to Sonia's disdain.

"What's so funny? You think I'm stupid or somthin'?"

Sonic shook his head and had trouble expressing his joy; by now, Sonia just looked confused.

"I don' get it, man…."

Sonic got his happiness under control and clarified. "Sorry, but you just sounded exactly like your mom…."

"Oh…" Sonia looked down, now visibly embarrassed. "Well, I wouldn't know…."

Sonic moved in and rubbed her back to comfort her as he spoke. "Well, I do, and I know for a fact she'd be proud to hear you using that noggin of yours."

Sonia stared at him hesitantly and then responded. "I ain't smart, Dad…. Max is smart… I just… I dunno' what I am…."

Sonic stopped touching her and spoke. "We all feel like we are 'supposed' to be something, Sonia. Look at me; I once thought I was undefeatable and would be the hero to end the war lickety-split. You see how that turned out."

Sonia looked at him and realized how down to Mobius he was. Despite whatever reputation he may have had for arrogance or confidence, he clearly had matured over those arduous years.

"…."

The more Sonia thought, the more she felt sad for him, and so, to Sonic's surprise, she inquired empathetically about his previous semi-bitter statement.

"It was hard for you… In the other world…. Without mom… Wasn't it?"

Sonic tried to keep a smile but ultimately just exhaled deeply. "Yeah…. I…. I had always hoped when I got back, I could save her…. I never wanted to think that Robotnik would destroy her."

Sonia frowned. "Yea, well…. He's done a lot to all of us…."

Sonic looked determined, then balled his hand into a fist and slammed it against his palm with a slap. "Well, all that stops once and for all…. I am goin' to end this war for you guys…. and for Sal…."

Sonia could see his conviction, and it was inspiring. He truly knew what he wanted in life and was willing to go right after it.

"Thanks…."

"Don't sweat it, kiddo… I owe you guys a lot, and I aim to pay it all back and then some."

Sonia felt love and appreciation for her father but hesitated to explicitly show it. Regardless, Sonic could see her expression, which conveyed quite a bit.

Sonic stood up and stretched, then spoke to her. "Well, I should prolly get some sleep. Need to be up early to keep Robotnik sweating~!"

The joy with which he said it made Sonia laugh, and then she reached out to grab his arm.

"Dad?"

When their eyes met, she spoke in a timid whisper. "Uhm…. Before you sleep…. You think you could tell me more bout' mom…?"

Sonic smiled, grabbed her, and helped her up to her feet.

"Sonia…. I been waitin' to hear you say that!"

….

As evening shifted to night, Nicole and Max eventually found themselves in front of his hut. The light was still on from yesterday but looked undisturbed for the most part.

His casual conversation with Nicole over the few hours was mainly about her expressing herself and reconnecting her lost mind to her new one.

As time went on, she rapidly shifted from machine learning to be an animal to an animal that had been roboticized.

It was miraculous, to say the least.

When Max approached his door, he turned to look at Nicole, who stood sheepishly in the snow. It was an adorable sight, and he could only speak to her in a caring and subtly excited manner.

"You want to come in, Nikki?" He asked.

Nicole looked down and then responded. "I… I do not want to leave you; I feel…. feel so peaceful spending time with you."

Max grinned and then responded. "But?"

Nicole moved her metal paw circularly in the snow and then spoke. "I… Do have things to do that shouldn't wait…."

Max was disappointed though understanding. "Well, it will be hard not talking to you for a little while, but you are welcome inside my hut whenever you want to come in. No need to knock like everybody else…."

Nicole had a big grin and then played with her own fingers. Many of her mannerisms seemed to be tics she once had before that were lost.

"Ok, Max. Well, thank you for listening and helping, and uhm…."

"Enough, Nikki~!" Max laughed joyously and interrupted her.

Nicole merely nodded, and as Max turned to head inside, she reached up and pulled him back around.

When Max was facing her, she glanced around with her eyes to ensure no soul could see, and then she kissed him quickly.

"…."

Before Max could speak or offer affection, Nicole turned and ran away. Her glowing eyes were the only thing visible the further she got away.

Max opened his door and felt like he might burst. To be liberated and to feel this "new love" in all its exciting glory was intoxicating.

He wanted… No… Needed to see her as much as possible, as exploring her was just as interesting to him as exploring himself.

….

When Nicole reached Rotor's workshop, she was left feeling mentally light. It was a strange sensation that dulled emotional pain.

Despite all that, she now knew and all she was now piecing together, it felt far less intimidating and scary with Max so intimately involved with her.

"…."

Upon entering, she saw Rotor sitting there tiredly and having hot cocoa.

"Nicole! There you are…! Sheesh… It's been hell. I need your help."

Nicole blinked and tried to pay attention but wanted to think about Max's company above all else.

Rotor took a sip of his hot chocolate and then spoke on. "This Fall…. It is getting worse and worse… When it actually hits, winter will likely be the most brutal one Knothole has ever seen."

Nicole looked at him, still unwilling to speak and still half listening.

Rotor just babbled on in her silence, feeling like Nicole was waiting for the whole story before responding.

"I have been out surveying everything. The huts, the power source, the storage…. Things ain't gonna' hold, and we need to do emergency repairs and take precautions to ensure we can deal with the elements."

As Nicole stared, she eventually just nodded passively and responded unconcernedly. "Sure, whatever you want…."

Rotor could see Nicole's drastic change in behavior, but since she agreed readily, he wasn't going to question it.

"Alright, I will write up things I need you to do outside in the cold while I make changes inside the huts where possible."

Nicole nodded, walked over to the laptop, and sat in front of it.

Looking slightly annoyed, Rotor shook his head and merely stood up. "Well, it was good talking to you too, Nicole…."

Nicole noticed his sarcasm entirely, but she was ill-concerned with it. When Rotor took his leave to write up the instructions for her, she could not concentrate on any task.

If it wasn't Max invading her brain, it was sentimental and emotional memories. The experiences of a life she had so quickly taken for granted.

The longer she stared at the laptop screen doing nothing, the more she was able to figure out about herself and her physical and emotional attraction to Max.

"…"

…

Eliot stood in Cream's estate. It was a place he had avoided since the threats made against him. Even still, he knew he had to come here for something.

As he looked through the messy central room, he eventually found a number of the packed weapons that used to belong in his personal collection.

Sifting through, he pulled out a rather fancy-looking Estoc decorated with jewels.

Pulling it from the loop that would hold it on a belt, he examined the point and held it in one hand to test its feel. Completely satisfied, he undid his belt and slid the hoop onto his side where his rapier usually sat.

Once done, he slid the custom-crafted, single-handed Estoc into it.

"What are you doing?" He heard a female voice ask.

When he glanced to the side, he noticed Jamie there. She was one of the few in her company to survive the assault on Windser.

"None of your business…." Eliot dismissed her, but she got in front of him with her weapon when he tried to walk.

"It is my business. I was told to guard Lady Redford, and you are the kind of scum that isn't welcome to snoop around."

Eliot shook his head and then spoke. "I am retrieving this Estoc. Believe it or not, it belonged to my family, and I figure since you took everything else important to me, I could at least take back this sentimental heirloom."

Jamie seemed unconvinced but merely moved out of the way. "Don't let me catch you snooping in Redford's estate again, cuz', next time, I won't ask any questions."

Eliot brushed past her and headed for the door; he left quickly before he could run into Cream and arouse even further suspicion.

With this weapon acquired, he could now set to doing the first part of his intended plan tonight.

…

On the rebel-controlled streets, everyone seemed to be unconcerned with him. Even still, he knew he was likely to have eyes on him. Whether Cream's rebels or Radcliff's spies, he needed to play this carefully to pull this task off.

Glancing about, Eliot noted the soldiers relaxing or doing tasks. Lynn and Alistair were busy on the front planning the inevitable clash, so now was the perfect opportunity for him to strike.

He passed through the social district until he came to a row of shops and homes that had been cleared and converted into barracks.

The rebels around him didn't even notice or care he was there; in their mind, he was no longer a noble but somebody to disregard as a disgrace.

It irritated him, but fortunately, he didn't have to focus on it for too long when he saw one of Radcliff's lackeys sitting in their barracks with the door open.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the other three were there as well, and it made him realize that they kept together for safety.

Quietly taking in the scene, he saw they were playing cards and drinking liquor. The container was a common alcohol in Radcliff that was self-produced, cheap, and stored in green glass bottles.

With all noted, he turned and began to walk away to formulate his next moves.

"…."

…

In a short time, Lasil had returned to where the barracks supplies were stored. It was guarded by two animals, who seemed uninterested in talking to him.

"Sorry, bird. No one can go in without permission." A female deer said.

Lasil casually crossed his wings and spoke with confidence. "Get out of my way. I was told to retrieve a bottle of spirits from the supplies. You wouldn't want to disappoint the men, would you?"

"Since when do you care about others, Lasil?" A female monkey laughed mockingly.

Eliot bitterly held his tongue and instead spoke calmly. "Come now, if you really do not trust me, just watch me take it. Surely, no harm can come of that?"

The two women looked at each other, and then the deer responded. "What are you up to, Lasil?"

Eliot just shrugged, causing the monkey to sigh. "Alright, fine, but if we see you do anything weird, you are fucked."

Eliot did not say anything more, and the two moved out of the way and observed him as he entered.

With their eyes on him, they watched him look around the crowded room and then quietly grab a green bottle from one of the overstocked shelves.

Just as he said, he only took the liquor and walked out. When the two women resumed blocking the entrance, the deer commented.

"You went through all that trouble for that shit? You know we have Winder's raided supply in there…. Right?"

Eliot laughed and then shook the bottle back and forth, making the liquid swish around.

"Well, ladies, I lied… I just wanted to get hammered all by myself~!" He playfully mocked them before pulling out the cork and swigging a beak full down.

The women looked annoyed but, ultimately, just wanted him to go away, and as they watched him walk off, their suspicion turned to anger.

…

Lasil passed several shops and entered one of them that was relatively quiet. When the owner saw him, he spoke out.

"What'll it be, mate?"

Eliot took a swig and then responded. "Bring me some food, quickly!"

The owner shook his head and went to make something simple for the rude bird. There was no longer any monetary exchange, and it was assumed all still in this district were allied against Radcliff.

With the owner busy, Lasil sat in a booth, reached into his pouch, and pulled out the jar Sarah had given him. Opening it, he smelled it and then shook it slightly.

It didn't smell, and it wasn't liquid….

Turning the jar on its side, he let a little fall out onto the table and could see its crystalline powder form.

"…"

He placed the lid back on the jar and re-hid it, after which he used a table handkerchief to brush the tiny bit of powder he dumped out off the table.

He shook his head with another swig of booze and grumbled to himself. "Strychnine… How original, Radcliff…."

There was enough in there to kill an army and then some. Given the lethality of it and its undetectable nature, he could quickly decimate this rebellion by himself.

"…"

He thought, and as he desired to kill everybody on both sides, he was jostled from the violent fantasy by the owner placing a plate in front of him.

Unlike what he was used to, this was a commoner's plate, and the perceived germs grossed him out. Still, the mushrooms and various bits of snackable vegetables looked decent enough to him.

As he began to snack, he waved the owner away without so much as a "thanks." Then, he coupled his eating with more liquor.

As he reached a further level of drunkenness, he stood up and left the plate on the table with a quarter left. With the bottle in wing and the handkerchief from the table, he swayed out the door.

…

As he walked back to the barracks, he grabbed the handkerchief and held the liquor bottle under his arm. With both wings free, he tied the handkerchief to one of them like one would an injury.

With that done, he reached his wing into his pouch for the poison jar and began to open it with his remiges while it was hidden in the storage pouch.

After that, he dumped the powder into it and got a good bit of it compressed into the handkerchief wrapped around his wing.

Now ready, he moved the bottle and used the remiges of his tied wing to grasp it. With poison concealed inconspicuously, he stumbled like a fool to speak to those that threatened him earlier.

…

When he arrived, he shut the barracks door with his free wing. The sound made them look over and watch as he took a giant swig from the bottle.

"Well, look who it is, Cass?" A male cheetah at the table laughed drunkenly.

None expected to see him, but the female rat named "Cass" with her own bottle of booze spoke up.

"I see him, Neil… What do you want, Lasil? Come to try something?"

Her tone was mocking, but Lasil just took another swig and spoke. "Nah… I came to talk about assassinating Cream."

They panicked when he said that out loud, and a giant bear got up and latched the door from the inside.

"What the fuck? Do you want us all to get killed, you drunk moron?" He growled deeply.

Eliot waved his wing to dismiss him and then stumbled over to the table before responding. "Hey, you're the ones that want me to do this, so I am askin' when and how. I hate Cream and want to get it over with."

As he slurred his speech slightly, he placed his bottle next to Cass's identical bottle and then waited for a response.

Cass growled and shook her head. "Tomorrow, ok? I am drunk, so I don't got time to fuck with your dumb ass. Sides, it looks like you hurt yourself. You're so fucked up."

When the bear by the door came over and sat back down in his seat. Lasil grabbed hold of Cass's bottle from the opening with his "injured" wing and, using a sleight of hand, dumped the massive dose of poison into her bottle.

As he began raising it to his beak to "drink," Cass became even angrier and ripped it away from him, causing the liquid to splash and mix. "That's mine, you twat!"

Eliot raised his wings and picked up his bottle in his untied wing. "Sorry, jeez, so testy…. Is it that time of the month for you?"

She gritted her teeth and slammed the bottom of the bottle against the wooden table. "Keep talkin', and I will kill you now and fucking poison this shithole myself."

The others laughed, and as Cass took a giant swig, Eliot felt elation watching her.

"Fine, I will go drink by myself, then," Eliot said as Neil commented.

"You do that, and remember, we got eyes on that pretty little birdy of yours, so don't get a loose tongue from the drinkin'."

As they resumed cards, Eliot watched as Neil, the one sitting close to Cass, took a swig of the drink he had dosed. Now that he was sure things would be even, he waited.

As time passed, Cass started to get restless, and she glanced over and saw Eliot still standing there. She spoke again.

"What? Why are you still here!? Fuck off!"

Her breathing was elevated, and she was in such a state of confusion from the alcohol that it was difficult to differentiate symptoms.

When Neil also exhibited the same breathing difficulty, Eliot knew it was time to strike.

Before they knew what hit them, Lasil drew the Estoc and thrust it from behind, piercing a female squirrel's neck who wasn't facing him.

She let out a gurgle of anguish as the special weapon pierced her chainmail effortlessly.

The bear next to her was about to get up to try and help, but Eliot pulled the Estoc from her, causing her to bleed out rapidly onto the table, and jammed it swiftly through his neck.

Like her, the chainmail offered no protection against the pointed Estoc.

He gurgled and grabbed his throat while the two poisoned fools tried to get their act together, but it was already apparent to them what he had done.

Neil had already collapsed and began to stiffen and convulse painfully as Cass grabbed her chest and cried out angrily.

"You! The gall…."

Before she could even get it out, she dropped to the floor.

Now that the two were helpless, Eliot jammed the Estoc through their necks, ensuring they would both bleed out and could not make noises loud enough to draw attention.

"…"

Quietly, Lasil placed his Estoc in the hoop after wiping it with a dry spot on one of their tunics, then waited to see if anybody would check over the minor elevated noise.

When nobody did, he began to tear through the room in his half-drunken stupor, looking for anything connecting himself to them.

Sure enough, correspondence between the traitors and Lady Radcliff was in a drawer by one of their bunks.

In some of the writing, he noticed that his name was used specifically and often to connect him to any treachery.

It seemed Lady Radcliff was explicitly trying to rid herself of him, should the jig be up by any other means.

Taking all the letters concerning himself, he dumped out the poison and then crammed them into his pouch, not caring if they became damaged. He dumped the ones not connected to him on the blood-drenched table so they'd be easily found.

After that, he quickly turned out the lights in the room to keep things dark.

…

Unlatching the door, he peeked out by cracking it open and could see that most of the rebels were either in their own barracks and asleep or were on duty and didn't have time to bother with rambunctious drunken noise.

"…"

Waiting patiently, when he saw his opportunity, he stumbled out the door and shut it as quietly as he could behind himself.

Now walking inconspicuously along the shops like a drunken fool, he seemed completely in line with the other off-duty soldiers taking it easy.

Once he was a safe distance away, he now knew it was time for the next phase. Let the plot unravel, separate from him, and keep Lyra safe.

With the explicit pressure no longer on him and quite a bit of plausible deniability concerning his whereabouts, he was sure fortune would turn in his direction.

…

Max was readying for bed even though he had slept most of the day away. He still needed to recover from the sheer exhaustion of the past days.

Once in his pajamas, he set Nicole's precious key inside his dresser for safe storage and then properly tended to the gash on his finger.

It was deep, but a tight bandage and some disinfectant would do for now. Once it was wrapped, he checked his grip, and though weaker, he knew he could easily wield the light energy sword with the minor injury if he was desperate.

Pulling down the blankets of his bed, he yawned and reached over to dim the bright light. Once it was off, there was nothing but the light of a candle to keep him safe.

Getting in bed, he pulled his covers up, and just as he was about to lie down. His door opened, letting a gust of freezing air in.

Hugging himself and yelping in surprise, he instinctively yelled. "Ah! Hurry up and shut it!"

When the door closed and locked loudly, he sighed and watched as Nicole's glowing eyes approached him.

"Ah… I am sorry, Max…. I didn't realize you were going to sleep already."

Max nodded. "I feel run down…. Though, I was not expecting you to be here so early in the night. If at all."

Nicole was quiet for a moment and then responded. "I am…. Having trouble…."

Max already knew her struggles, so he merely offered her support. "Well, if you need to talk about it with me, you may."

As Nicole sat at the end of the bed away from him and stared at the floor, she responded. "I suppose…. It is just…. difficult…."

Max breathed in and spoke. "I know…."

Nicole glanced over at him. "The more I recall, the more painful this all becomes to bare…. Everyone, everything I ever loved at one point is gone…."

Max frowned but spoke softly. "Yeah, that's the thing about life, Nikki… It is filled with wonderous emotions and experiences, but is also full of pain and loss…."

"…"

As Nicole looked over at him to stare, she decided to speak on what had sparked her visit.

"I was…. Thinking about Sally…."

"Oh…" Max said in a hushed tone.

When she saw the pain on his face, she spoke again. "How do you deal with her death? I remember all the years I spent with her…. It isn't until now that I realize how much it all meant to me…."

It was a difficult question, but Max decided to be honest with her.

"I… I am not sure I will ever get over it… I think about her all the time."

As Nicole heard that, her expression of sorrow was barely visible in the low light. When she hid her gaze out of shame, she spoke.

"I… It's my fault she is dead…."

Now, Max fully understood her suffering, and he merely placed his furred hand on her gently. "No…. My mother understood the risks of missions… I will not let you blame yourself when it is the last thing she'd ever want."

Nicole looked at him and seemed skeptical. "Just like you aren't blaming yourself for recent events…?"

Her words stung, and Max removed his hand. It was now that Nicole realized she had no right to say that.

"I…" She began, but Max shook his head.

"No… I don't want to hear it…."

Nicole now felt worried that she had destroyed or harmed the singular close relationship she had any longer, but as she began to internally freak out, Max could see the sheer distress she was under.

"Nikki… You're right… I blame myself for almost everything, so I have no right to tell you not to do it."

Max was upset by what she said but offered this peaceful resolution, easing her worry.

As she stared at him in silence and examined his changing emotions, it struck her that while Max had listened to her prattle on about her suffering endlessly, he did so without help of his own.

"…."

When Max seemed confused about her staring, she just empathetically opened up to allow him the space to vent.

"I… What is bothering you, Max? I can see you have been hurting for a while, and now that I can make full sense of it… I want to help."

Max was caught off guard by the kind thoughtfulness, but the offer alone made him smile. As he sat there and contemplated, he eventually was forthcoming about it.

"I… I feel like I change more every day, and I fear I am becoming something that genuinely frightens me, something I despise."

When Nicole heard that, she could tell he was on the verge of crying by the tone of his words.

As the information sank in, it became utterly apparent to her that this entire time, he wasn't struggling to "change" as it outwardly appeared; he was struggling to hold on to "Max."

Without words, she reached her hand out and grabbed his. It was still chilly against his fur, but the action brought emotional comfort and reassurance.

"Thanks, Nikki."

Nicole smiled, got up, and closed the drapes that would allow anyone to peer inside to see them. When she had comfortable privacy, she came around and sat on the other side of the bed next to him.

Max felt excitement, and the mere implication lifted him from his depressed thinking. "Decided you wanted… uhm… to continue our experiment?"

The shyness with which he said it was cute to Nicole, and she merely moved in and kissed him as an answer.

At first, it was just a brief kiss, but Max thirsted for more. So many locked-away feelings had finally broken loose, and he refused to feel shame over any of this.

Moving in, he kissed her back, but he held her in place when she tried to break it. As Nicole dropped her arms to her sides and shut her eyes, she fantasized about what this must feel like physically.

The emotional bonding was so strong that as Max became more passionate, Nicole fell over on her back while he kissed her atop the bed.

At a certain point, she reached emotional overload, and as Max pulled away to gasp for air, she grabbed hold of his pajama top and rolled on top, forcing him into more kissing.

They rolled around in bed and allowed themselves to feel passion, love, and admiration for one another. A shameless and comforting act of togetherness that ended with Max struggling for breath and staring at the ceiling from his side of the bed.

Nicole was propped on her side, quietly watching him. She felt jealous that she had no physical sensation of it all but was also fully satisfied with the result.

She was a schoolgirl who awkwardly discovered her interest in boys and the first emotional pleasure of physical intimacy.

"…."

When Max calmed down and turned his head to look at her, she seemed to be in a daze of good feelings. This "experiment" afforded them the luxury of being lost in something other than pain and sadness.

After several moments of silent reflection, Max broke it. "I… like you…"

Nicole stared and was appreciative of the reiteration and so responded. "I like you, too…."

Max was so in the throughs of passion that he wanted to tell her how deeply he loved her but was smart enough to recognize his inexperience to all of this made everything feel a hundred thousand times more potent.

When Max pulled up the blankets for them, Nicole spoke aloud. "You are… Ok, with me being here?"

Max laughed a bit and responded while lying on his side to get comfortable.

"Always…."

Nicole laid on her back when he said that and slowly lowered her power. As her eyes began to dim, she heard Max speak.

"Sweet dreams, Nikki…."

"…"

Nicole responded in a low tone. "Same to you, Max."

When she finally reached a state of low function, she shut her eyes and, once again, attempted to dream like she once did so long ago.

…

Lasil awoke with a headache and immediately noticed he had slept on the floor, and as he rubbed his face, he looked to the left of himself.

The fire he had started the previous night in the damaged fireplace was smoldering, and upon taking a moment to collect himself. He recalled stumbling home and burning the incriminating documents, his pouch with the jar, and the handkerchief, but not much else.

The peaceful quiet had clued him into Lyra's resting, so he stretched his wings out with a yawn.

Eliot then pulled himself to his feet and walked past the fireplace, wondering if his violent scene had already been discovered.

In either case, he would have to go down this morning to see the results of his work, so he decided to get a move on with it.

"…."

When Eliot reached the cobbled-together door, he was stopped in his tracks. Underneath the crack of it was blood flowing in onto the destroyed tile of his home.

"…."

As Eliot began to panic, he became terrified that perhaps Lyra wandered out while he slept and was on the other side of the door.

Reaching out, he unbarred it, then grabbed hold of the handle. Standing before the puddle, he swallowed anxiously as he pulled it open rapidly.

Once open, his expression became grief-stricken, and he felt his heart break.

"Oh no…. Please…." He cried quietly.

Sitting there in front of the door was the severed head of Edea. A rolled-up paper was stuffed into her mouth, and her blank eyes looked up at him with sorrow and fear still written on her stiff expression.

Eliot became enraged but held his tongue. The pain and suffering that this would cause his wife were beyond compare, and he understood entirely that was the point.

Bending down, he used his remiges to close her eyes so she could rest. Then took the scroll from her mouth so that he could read it.

Her maw remained open despite removing it, though it was too stiff to close.

Eliot pulled the tie from the bloody parchment and scanned over it.

"An eye for an eye.

A life for a life.

You've cost Edea.

Next is your wife."

The morbid poem was as mocking as it was painful. Now, Eliot realized that he had thought so hard about his wife's physical safety that there were other ways to make her suffer.

"…"

"Dear, are you awake?!" Lyra called sleepily from inside.

Eliot felt sick, and rather than subject her to this agony. He turned inside and called to her.

"Stay inside the saferoom, dear!"

"Why, ar-are you, ok darling?! You sound upset?!" Lyra yelled back.

Eliot shut his eyes and took a breath. "Please honey, everything is fine…. I just need you to hide inside the saferoom for now! Don't come out until I come for you!"

"But why?!" Lyra's voice was now closer.

Eliot panicked slightly but hid it as best he could. "Please darling, for me!? I… uh, we are concerned there might be Radcliff soldiers spying on us…. It is just a precaution…."

"Oh my…" Lyra trailed off and then spoke again. "Well, if it is that serious, I will not come out until you come for me!"

"Don't worry, dear, I will speak to Cream; just stay safe until I return!"

"I love you, dear!" Lyra yelled.

"I… love you too…" Eliot responded in a normal tone, then trailed off.

He stood there after that and waited to ensure she was no longer coming. True to her word, she had left, which gave him a slight comfort.

Regardless, he needed to do something and fast. Even if it meant he needed to admit to Cream what he'd known.

"…"

…

Eliot descended down to the street below and once at the bottom. He could already see the commotion.

Rebels were on high alert, and a crowd of soldiers was outside Edea's damaged boutique down the road. Walking towards it, he eventually saw that Cream was also there with multiple guards.

As he approached, Cream watched him quietly, and then she spoke. "I am surprised to see you here…."

When Eliot stood next to her, he could already see the incredible amount of blood soaked around the boutique entrance; after that, he acted as if he already wasn't aware.

"Why wouldn't I be here? This is my wife's dear friend…. What is going on here?"

Cream looked shaken but responded firmly. "It seems we had spies among our midst. Four were found slain in their barracks… Though, the death here is the most confusing part."

Eliot still felt sick but kept his act up to snuff out more information. "I… Why are you confused?"

When he said that, Cream turned and spoke gently. "Edea was murdered, but her head cannot be located; even still, there is no indication she was a traitor…. Something isn't adding up here…."

Eliot seemed crestfallen and then quit his act to be truthful. "Her head… Was left on the stairs of my estate…."

"What!?" Cream spontaneously spoke.

Eliot sighed and then offered her the parchment once stuffed in Edea's mouth. "I… was the one who discovered the traitors…. I took care of them."

"…"

After the admission, Cream didn't know what was more shocking: that he could take out four armed rebels or that he would do so in defense of her life.

"I… Why didn't you come straight to me?" Her voice was a mix of anger and gratefulness.

…

"Read the letter I gave you…." Lasil said as he looked at the damaged boutique with many rebels scouring it for clues.

…

When she did, she looked at Eliot and spoke. "I see… So, all of this is because of your wife?"

At first, he felt shame, but then, he just confirmed. "It always is…. I was never going to admit I knew of this, but I fear I am in over my head."

Cream immediately pointed to Jamie and two of her guards when he showed genuine animal emotions. "You three, you are now on detail to protect Lady Lasil at all times, do you understand?"

Jamie saluted, as did the other two, and Lasil just spoke detachedly, not believing that he was relying on Cream for help. "Please, clean up… Edea before my wife sees it… Please…"

Jamie scoffed at him and shook her head. "What do I look like, your janitor?"

Cream became angry and pointed her finger at Jamie. "Do it immediately, and show some respect for the dead!"

Jamie glared but didn't bother to protest Cream with more of her disgust towards Lasil. Now that orders were given, they went to do as they were told with haste.

"…."

With some minuscule piece of mind, Eliot walked in a stupor past Cream and into the shop. Once inside, he saw Edea's body propped up against her destroyed counter, sitting in a puddle of gore. Her head was indeed missing, as it was located at his home.

"…"

He felt pain whenever he thought about his wife's and Edea's suffering.

It was evident by the scene Edea had struggled in her last moments and was left this way to be found.

As his eyes scanned the room, he felt at a loss but still struggled to understand who could fearlessly commit such violence.

As he thought, he could not come up with an animal that didn't seem obvious.

"This… makes no sense…" Eliot eventually mumbled loudly to himself.

Cream stepped forward behind him. "Then we need to make it make sense."

Eliot looked dejected and continued, not saying a word. "…"

Lasil's grief was beyond easing, and he eventually offered his true feelings to Cream on her leadership. "I don't know what you intend to do, but Radcliff will never play fair, so I do not know why you are still doing so…."

"…" Cream looked at him and began to think. He then spoke again.

"I… Do what you think is right, but anything other than stooping to her level or below makes you a stupid rabbit…."

Cream merely stared, as he was still ready to insult her outright, even at a grim time like this.

"…."

The more Cream pondered his words and glanced about at the distressing crime scene, the more she started to pick up on the proper action that needed to be taken.

Eliot seemed annoyed by her silence and just shook his head. "Will you do something worthwhile for once!?"

Cream just rolled her eyes and just spoke forcefully. "Shut up, Lasil… For once in your goddamn life!"

Eliot was shocked by what she said, but it kept him quiet for once.

"…."

Cream, after some silence, looked certain. So, she issued her orders to everyone nearby.

"Attention everyone, we are moving our planned assault to today…. The violent plots that have been made against us make me less hesitant to pick a fight, so I will begin mobilizing the soldiers immediately."

With all that had happened, her trepidation about a frontal attack had been nullified. As Eliot put it, Radcliff would always play dirty, so Cream would attempt to violently crush the opposition and end such tactics outright.

"…"

Lasil was unsure about the success of such a bold plan, but her willingness to listen to him even a little and protect his wife was enough to humble him a bit.

"Thanks for…" Eliot rubbed the back of his head in his attempt to offer something for her consideration. Unfortunately, it was interrupted by Cream.

"Save it, Lasil… I have an assault to begin."

"…"

When she walked away confidently, Eliot shrank. It seemed she had significantly changed with such power at her disposal, but despite that, she maintained a good-natured spirit.

…

As sunrise began, Gregory finished taking down his blankets and re-packing them into his backpack with the rest of his supplies.

Hazel stood outside, looking at the sunrise as it started to dispel the darkness. There were still storm clouds in the sky, but in this brief reprieve, she could take note of the left-over stars in the sky.

Seizing the opportunity, she pulled out her treasure and began looking upwards at the stars, magnifying them to get a breathtaking look.

"…."

When Gregory stood next to her, he commented. "I am glad you are having fun, but we need to get a move on; we need to get back on track."

Hazel removed the spyglass and placed it into her stuffed fanny pack full of mysterious goodies. After that, she turned to him and spoke.

"I know how to follow the star up there to orient us…. We veered off west, and judging by the star's position, we merely need to head that way, and we will run into the river."

Gregory stared at the bright star and recalled his father doing it in his youth, though he had never learned the technique before his disappearance.

"Alright, get us to that river and make it quick. We are so far behind, it's killin' me."

With his instructions given, Hazel began following the sky like a map and orienting herself when she needed to.

…

As the sun rose higher and the stars began to fade, Gregory was getting somewhat anxious. "Where is the river? We're running out of compass here, Hazel!"

She stopped and glanced around, after which she pointed.

Gregory noticed a subtle indent in the relatively level snow when he looked. Taking a moment, he walked over and dug into it; after a moment, he reached the ice beneath.

"Great! So which way do we follow?"

Hazel glanced at the fading star and then pointed East. "Should be that way, we just need to keep track of the river, and we will run into landmarks eventually."

Gregory nodded and felt revitalized. Taking the initiative, he moved quickly along next to the indent with Hazel in toe.

…

As an hour became two, both of the animals were excited to pass their first landmark. A massive tree that had fallen was much bigger than almost all they'd seen, indicating the direction was correct.

When the two stopped to catch their breath, Hazel glanced to the side when she thought she saw something.

Looking around rapidly, she pulled her musket up and exhaled, letting the steam float before her.

"What's up?" Gregory asked.

"I… Saw something…"

Gregory looked around, and while he didn't see anything, he grabbed his slug thrower from the side of the backpack, released the lock, and pulled back the pump to reassure himself the chamber was loaded.

Clack.

When he saw the red shell, he released it.

Clack.

Hazel eyed him and then spoke again. "It was a red light… I swear…."

"Well, be on your guard…." Gregory said.

With that, the two walked further down the river, their weapons drawn.

…

In roughly ten minutes, Gregory was the one to stop as he exhaled. After that, he looked at Hazel.

When Hazel expressed confusion, Gregory merely nodded his head to the side.

Hazel began to scrutinize the area by the forest trees, and while she didn't see anything outright, she noticed ambiguous prints in the snow.

"…"

Looking around again, it became clear to her they were being followed by something unseen. The sight made Hazel remember Cream's warning.

"What do we do?" She asked.

Gregory slowly moved towards the prints, and as he bent down and inspected them, he reported back. "These don't look like any animal prints I've ever seen… So, I think we need to heed Lady Redford's warning."

Hazel quickly raised her musket to look about, and when Gregory stood, her eyes widened.

"Oh god!"

She fired with a loud bang, and Gregory turned quickly to see Hazel jump back from a distorted-looking enemy.

With a flash of blue, her weapon was cleaved in half, and she backed away in fear. "I… Stay back!"

The creature came into view, and it was some horrifying mechanical entity the likes of which neither had seen before.

Its visor was a deep red, and it carried a blue blade. Gregory didn't have time to think, so he ran forward and yelled.

"HEY! Over here!"

When the robot turned, it prioritized Gregory, recognizing he was a significant threat with the gun in hand.

At first, Gregory was happy to pull it away from Hazel, but he quickly found it was far faster than he had imagined.

BAM!

Clack-Clack!

The shot was effortlessly dodged as the swordbot gained massive ground.

BAM!

Clack-Clack!

BAM!

Clack-Clack!

Gregory fired and damaged it minorly but missed the other shot.

When it drew within striking distance, Gregory aimed directly at the hand of the robot.

BAM!

Clack-Clack!

The hand ripped off from the blast at close range, sending the energy sword flying with it.

"Hah! Gotcha'!"

While Hazel recovered, she scrambled over to her cut musket, grabbed its longer end, and began to wield it like a club.

Before Gregory could get too comfortable, the robot transformed its other arm into a lethal razor and swung it at his neck.

"Whoa! Shit!" He yelled in terror, raising the slug thrower with the steel barrel outward.

Clang!

Its swipes were fierce, and every new strike added notches and deep scrapes to the once pristine barrel. It was so quick that he couldn't lower his weapon to fire it.

Clang!

Hazel rushed up behind the assailant and swung the improv weapon. When it struck the machine in the back, it left a small dent, so she swung it again.

The robot turned to Hazel and swiped, cutting the wooden weapon once more in half.

When Hazel had distracted it, Gregory could get it in his line of sight.

BAM!

Clack-Clack!

The shot hit, and sparks began to fly out from its arm. At this moment, it began to fade, causing Gregory to panic.

BAM!

Clack-Clack!

BAM!

Clack-Clack!

BAM!

Clack-Clack!

He released a hail of fire in the vicinity around it but struck nothing as the footprints darted away and disappeared entirely. With a deep breath, he pulled back the pump.

Clack

It was completely empty, so he released it quickly.

Clack

After that, he began frantically searching through his plate carrier pouches for the ammo he wanted to use.

As Hazel panicked, she ran to pick up one of the halves of the broken musket again. It might be short, but it was at least usable as a cudgel.

"…"

The second her hand grabbed it, the metal razor shot down from above her and drove into the middle of her forearm, pinning her to the ground.

She screeched in terror as blood began to paint the snow. Looking up, she could see that the machine had taken to the trees with rapid efficiency and struck her at the first opportunity.

"Ah! G-Gregory, RUN!" She cried out.

Gregory had the letter, but his adrenalin was so high he couldn't think. Taking out a brass shell he had made himself, he loaded it into the chamber.

The second the machine recognized this, it pulled the blade from the injured red panda and darted for Gregory.

Before he could even get more ammo in, it was on him.

He pulled the pump and used the one shot he managed to insert.

"Burn, you son of a bitch!"

PFFF!

Clack-Clack!

A sound different than was produced by the gun any other time was released, and as the fiery pellets collided with the robot and the area around it began to burn.

The trees closest to him burst into flame, and the snow melted from the embers it produced. The robot stopped its assault and tried to shake the extremely high heat to which the custom immolation round was subjecting it.

Gregory wasted no time and began loading the red shells into his weapon while it was busy.

Hazel watched while she bled on the snow, and her fingers shook from the agony. When she saw the robot put itself out, it disappeared as before.

"The trees! It likes the trees!" Hazel yelled with a half-whining moan.

Her tip shifted Gregory's eyes upward, and sure enough, he could see faint smoldering above him. When the robot realized it was spotted, it wasted no time jumping at him. On its descent, he raised the steel barrel of the gun again and stopped the blade from cutting him.

"Ah!"

By now, he was on the back foot, and the robot was obviously extraordinarily strategic. It would not allow him to get a shot off, and when fatigue set in, Gregory struggled to keep up with its merciless flurry of strikes.

Hazel shakily reached behind herself and began to rummage through her fanny pack. Quietly, she picked out her lighter and held it while the top of her forearm bled.

After that, she pulled out a red stick with a fuse and began to light it.

"…"

Gregory backed away, and the robot swung at his neck, nearly slitting his throat. When he felt done for, all he heard was a loud scream.

"FIRE IN THE HOLE!"

The second Gregory heard that a red stick landed between him and the robot. When the robot realized what it was, it immediately tried to turn away.

Using the opportunity, Gregory pointed his gun low and fired at its leg.

BAM!

Clack-Clack!

"You!" The robot hissed in a feminine voice and collapsed the second its leg was ripped from it.

Gregory then began to turn and run towards the tree line with little time to spare.

…

BOOOOOOOOOM!

Gregory dove to the ground as debris began flying everywhere, and a tree fell. The robot's body was blasted into a thousand pieces, flying everywhere violently.

He covered his head for dear life and whimpered when he felt a sharp pain hit him. Still, it wasn't long before the forest quieted, and the two sat in terror.

When Gregory sat up, he saw a piece of shrapnel had grazed his hand through his glove, cutting it badly. "Ah… Damnit!"

Hazel sauntered over, shuddering from both the cold and terror she was in.

"You, ok…?" She said, nearly muted.

Gregory eyed her and then nodded before speaking. "Seriously, dynamite? You are a crazy son of a bitch. You know that?"

She just plopped down and held her arm, then spoke. "I thought it would come in handy…."

Gregory laughed as he inspected his weapon. The steel barrel was cut up and nicked to hell, but the gun was in excellent condition otherwise.

"Come over here… We will get bandaged up and keep moving."

Hazel wasn't sure if she could, and it was evident on her face. However, as Gregory tied her wound sloppily to stem the bleeding, he spoke.

"It's either move quickly or find out what else is out here…."

The moment he said that, her eyes widened, and she pulled her hand away. "L-lets go… please…"

Gregory stood up and offered her the bandages. "Just tie me up, and we're gone…."

Hazel did as asked while he slid his gun back into his bag, then slung it over one shoulder. Once he had something on the nasty cut, he put his glove back on, after which he put his other arm into the backpack strap and let Hazel put away the bandage roll.

When they began to walk, Gregory was surprised to find the robot's head intact a bit away, though badly cracked and damaged.

Despite this, it still maintained an eerie, red glow, and it only made Hazel nauseously anxious.

As they passed it, they heard the same disembodied feminine voice speak in a fractured manner.

"You sh-al- die di- e. We shall hunnttt yo-ou incessantly."

While Gregory tried to understand, the robot spoke again.

"Yo-u all, all, all, shal-l suff-fer for yo-yo-your failings…. We- we- we- a-re -n-o-w l-eg-ion…"

When the visor ceased to light, Gregory now understood. He quickly turned to Hazel and spoke loudly.

"There's a lot more than just that! Move it!"

The second he said that she panicked, and the two began to run. So far from their goal and already being hunted by God knows how many of those things.

"…"

…