State Intelligence Service headquarters
Taktar, Sangheillos
Fox lay on a metal slab that served as a bed in the cell that currently housed him. It was so dark, the vulpine could barely make out his hand in front of his face.
After pondering this for what had to be the hundredth time, Fox put his hands behind his head and let out a sigh.
He had given some thought to escaping, but had quickly realized that even if he could locate Kronos, who had been taken to a separate part of the building, they would still have to fight their way out of the headquarters and escape the city, which would no doubt be on lockdown.
There was just simply too much risk of getting killed or recaptured. The best they could do was wait for Krystal and the others.
"The sooner, the better." Fox thought.
The vulpine's ears suddenly twitched at the sound of footsteps and voices outside of his cell. He sat up as the lock was disengaged and held an arm in front of his eyes as light flooded into the cell, nearly blinding him.
Squinting, Fox could just make out three figures pointing guns at him.
"Get up, prisoner." a gruff voice ordered.
Fox obeyed, sliding off the bed and trying to get his eyes to adjust to the light.
"Turn and face the wall behind you." the voice ordered.
Fox did as he was told.
"Lace your hands behind your head."
Once again, Fox did as he was told. He heard footsteps behind him and a strong pair of arms grabbed hold and cuffed his hands behind his back.
From there, the secret policeman grabbed hold of Fox's shoulder and ushered him out of the cell.
"Where to?" the vulpine snarked.
That bought him a punch to the gut. As Fox fell to his knees, one of the guards grabbed his head fur and forced him to look up.
"No questions." he growled before hauling Fox to his feet.
They then set off through the halls of the headquarters, one guard leading the way and two more covering Fox from behind. Eventually, the group came to a door.
The lead guard remained outside while the other two muscled him into the room. Along with a figure standing in the shadows, there was a pair of blue energy rings floating in the air.
The two guards dragged Fox over to the rings, uncuffed him, and then forced his arms up into the rings. The vulpine found that he was rooted to the spot.
"He's all yours, General." one of them said to the figure in the shadows.
"Thank you. Leave us." replied a voice that Fox found familiar.
After the two guards left the room, the figure walked into the light, and Fox immediately recognized him.
"General Turant?"
The commander of the Sangheilli Armed Forces parted his mandibles in a grin. Curiously, he was dressed in the field gray uniform of the Republican Guard instead of his usual white armour, something that piqued Fox's curiosity.
"What's with the new threads?" the vulpine asked.
Shade Turant simply tilted his head at Fox.
"New?" the green-eyed Elite scoffed, "I haven't worn this uniform in years."
Ignoring Fox's raised eyebrow, Turant walked up to him and pulled down his collar, showing a tattoo on his neck.
A tattoo of an inverted pentagram.
"This is also very old." the Elite taunted.
Narrowing his eyes, Fox retorted, "Too bad Hell's under new management."
Turant threw back his head and let out a laugh.
"You actually believe that? The Master really does have you all wrapped around his finger."
Turant then walked up to Fox and began ticking off points with his fingers and thumb.
"Baphomet, Satan, Lucifer, Mephistopheles, Mr. Scratch, Caterwaul. He has many names, but in the end, there can only be one Devil."
Fox stared in bewilderment.
"You lie." growled the vulpine.
Turant simply shook his head and replied, "I do not lie. Allow me to share some details with you."
28 years ago
"Take a deep breath, Drexler. This is the last fresh air you're going to be breathing for a long time."
Feldon Drexler, or at least, the man who made a great effort to think of himself as nobody but Feldon Drexler, cast his green eyed gaze on the red-furred vulpine.
"I'd be watching my back if I were you, McCloud." the Elite growled.
"You too, long ears." he added after throwing a glare at the hare on his left.
Before either of the mercenaries could retort, a squad of guards emerged from the Corneria City SuperMax prison and approached the trio.
"We'll take him from here, Mr. McCloud."
From there, James signed on a datapad that he had delivered the prisoner and then departed with Peppy.
As for Drexler, the guards took him into the prison, booked him, searched him, and then gave him a dark blue jumpsuit that barely fit him and shoes that were a size too small.
"Doesn't matter. I won't be in here for long," the Elite mused.
After escorting him through the prison, the guards stopped at a cell door, where one of them opened it with a keycard.
"Hey Clegg. Meet your new cellmate. Try not to shank this one."
"It's your world, Boss," a gruff voice replied from within the cell.
After that, the guards uncuffed Drexler.
"Don't get too comfy, Elite," one of the guards taunted, "You're both scheduled for transport offworld tomorrow."
Drexler paid him no mind and walked into the cell, listening to the door close and lock behind him. From there, the Elite glanced at the reptile on the bottom bunk bed before climbing up and laying on the top bunk.
After letting out a breath, Drexler said, "Ave Satanus."
"Ave Satanus," came the reply from his cellmate.
Drexler grinned. Soon enough, he would be free.
The next day
Drexler kept his eyes forward as the prison bus sped down the highway. It's destination was a nondescript airfield where the prisoners would be taken offworld.
"But we won't get there." the Elite mused.
Sure enough, a black hovercar on the other side of the highway pulled out in front of the bus, drawing cries of surprise from the guards.
Drexler ducked down at the sounds of gunfire and breaking glass. As quickly as it began, the cacophony was over. Looking back up, Drexler saw that all of the guards were dead and that a masked canine was clambering aboard the bus.
The mysterious man pulled a lever on the dashboard, causing the cuffs and shackles on the prisoners to unlock. Catching Clegg's eye on the other side of the aisle, Drexler sat still as the other inmates practically climbed over each other to escape the bus.
Once the vehicle was empty and there were no inmates within earshot, Clegg and Drexler got up and left the bus, soon being greeted by the masked canine and a masked crocodile. The latter handed Drexler a key fab.
"The car's in a parking garage just east of here."
"Thanks," the Elite replied, "Ave Satanus."
"Ave Satanus."
Drexler and Clegg turned and left the scene. Both of them knew that this stretch of the highway was a communications dead zone. Even when the CCPD did figure out what had happened, they'd be spread thin trying to grab the escaped convicts.
That would allow Drexler and Clegg more than enough time to perform their task and get offworld.
In the meantime, the duo entered the parking garage, where Drexler hit the unlock button and heard the beeping from a nearby hovercar. Walking up and popping the trunk revealed that there were changes of clothes for both cultists, along with blasters and a jamming device.
After changing out of their prison garb, Clegg took the driver's seat while Drexler rode shotgun. Hours passed as the two drove out of the city and into the countryside.
Eventually, they abandoned their vehicle by the side of the road and continued on foot. The two cultists were soon peering through a tree line at a rural home. The lights were still on, and shadows of the occupants could be seen moving through the windows.
"Should we wait till they're asleep?" Drexler asked Clegg, who shook his head.
"No. If the CCPD doesn't know about the breakout already, then they will soon."
With that in mind, the duo activated the jammer and left the bushes and crept across the yard. They slinked under the windows until making it to the front door and
"On my mark, we go in," Drexler whispered, the soldier in him asserting itself.
"Got it," Clegg replied.
The cultists stacked up in preparation to breach the door. After taking a breath, Drexler whispered, "Mark."
Drexler then charged forward, bashing the door open with his shoulder. As the Elite barged into the home, he found himself on the business end of a blaster. Said blaster belonged to a very angry James McCloud.
Before he could pull the trigger, Clegg tackled the vulpine to the floor. Drexler meanwhile, turned his attention to an orange-furred vixen standing between him and a crib.
"Stand aside, girl," The Elite growled as he leveled his weapon at her, "The Master only wants your welp."
Baring her teeth, the vixen snarled, "You're not coming anywhere near our baby!"
"I believe I am."
But to Drexler's shock, the woman quickly crossed the short distance between them and grabbed hold of his wrist. After twisting it to make him drop his blaster, the vixen kneed Drexler in the gut and then delivered a punch to the side of the Elite's head that sent him sprawling to the floor.
Briefly blacking out, Drexler looked up in a daze. He saw Clegg and McCloud struggling on the floor, while McCloud's wife stood by with a blaster aimed, unable to take a shot for fear of hitting her husband.
Then, Clegg managed to knock the vulpine out, only to realize that the vixen now had a clear shot on him.
Drexler didn't give her that chance. He snatched up his fallen blaster and put three bolts in the vixen's back. She let out what sounded like a gasp before collapsing face first to the floor, blood beginning to pool around her.
Both of the cultists stood and surveyed the chaos of what had been the McCloud's living room.
"We must be quick with the sacrifice." Drexler said as his eyes fell on the crib.
Clegg merely grunted in response. Suddenly, a hovercar could be heard outside.
"I guess The Master won't be getting his sacrifice after all," Clegg murmured before turning to Drexler.
"Get out of here. I'll cover for you."
"But.."
Drexler quickly changed his mind after hearing a car door slam. He quickly ran out the back door, crossing the yard and entering the tree line.
The present
Fox curled his muzzle into a snarl as he stared at his mother's killer.
"You fucking coward," the vulpine growled, "I'm gonna tear you to fucking shreds!"
"I doubt that." Turant replied with a shake of his head.
The Elite then typed some commands on a console.
"What's going to happen next is very painful," Turant gleefully explained, "You can say whatever you want. I'm not doing this for information, but because I want to."
Fox glanced upwards and saw what appeared to be flames emerging from the rings. Said flames then began traveling down Fox's arms.
Though he had suffered burns in his decade-long career, none of them compared to this pain.
But even over his own screams, Fox could still hear Turant laughing. That only increased his desire to kill the Elite even more.
After what seemed to be eternity, the burning sensation ended and Fox slumped to his knees, the restraints being the only thing holding him up. Acrid pillars of smoke wafted up from the exposed fur on his arms.
Turant walked over and tilted the vulpine's head up so that they were looking at each other.
"Feeling a little well done, McCloud?" the Elite taunted as he leaned in.
Fox took the chance to bite down on the General's hand, drawing blood.
"Gah! Blasted hairball!"
Turant promptly wrenched his hand free and delivered a punch to Fox's face. Just as the vulpine registered a copper taste in his mouth, he suddenly felt his arms being freed from the energy rings and collapsed to the floor.
Fox was in too much pain to react as Turant aimed a kick at his head. The vulpine fell onto his back, a warm sensation on his forehead. Nonetheless, Fox was able to get his arms up to protect his head as more punches and kicks were thrown in his direction.
Finally ending his attack with a kick to the gut, Turant typed a command into his wristcom. Behind him, the door opened and the two guards entered.
"Take him back to his cell. He can rot." Turant ordered.
As the vulpine was dragged from the room, both him and Turant cast hateful glares at each other.
Elsewhere
Kronos grunted as a guard shoved him into a room. As his handcuffs were removed, the Elite took note of the room's occupants.
Two of them were dressed in the uniform of the Republican Guard. Kronos recognized them as Maizner and Zarran Synn. He also recognized the black-armoured Elite seated at a desk as their father, Sangheilli dictator, Lord Madras Synn.
"Leave us." the tyrant ordered.
"As you wish, My Lord." the guard replied.
After the door closed, Lord Synn beckoned to a chair.
"Please, Kronos, sit down."
Raising an eyebrow at the fact that he was being addressed by name, Kronos did as he was told.
As soon as he sat down, Maizner grabbed Kronos' arm and forced him to lay his hand flat on the desk. Zarran meanwhile, used a needle to extract some blood from one of the Elite's fingers.
"What the hell is this all about?" Kronos demanded.
"Hmh Hmh he ha. All in due time." Zarran cackled.
The younger of Lord Synn's sons walked over to a machine and slotted the needle in. As he did so, a series of readouts appeared on the monitor.
"There's my DNA profile." Lord Synn said with a gesture of his hand.
More readouts like the previous one appeared.
"Those are DNA profiles for Maizner, Zarran, and you. As you see, they all point to the same thing; I am your father."
Kronos gave Lord Synn an incredulous stare before he burst out laughing.
"Me? Your kid? Pull the other one, old man."
Lord Synn let out a huff and leaned back in his chair.
"You do recall that your mother worked for the civil service, do you not?"
Kronos stopped laughing and warily replied, "Yes."
Grinning, Lord Synn stated, "Than I am certain you've heard that more than a few women in the service caught my eye."
The room suddenly felt a lot colder as Kronos quickly understood what Lord Synn was implying.
"You're lying." he gasped, to which Lord Synn shook his head.
"I am not, my son. Besides, some things run in the blood."
Lord Synn reached up and removed the contact lenses from his eyes. Kronos could only stare in horror, For the tyrant's eyes were the same shade of blue as his own.
As despair began to take hold of Kronos, Lord Synn let out a chuckle.
"I sent Maizner and Zarran to retrieve you during the civil war. Unfortunately, you and the man you thought was your brother weren't home."
Feeling his despair turn to anger, Kronos launched himself over the desk, only for Lord Synn to catch him by the throat and hoist him up into the air.
As he felt his airway being constrained, Kronos took note of Lord Synn's eyes. They were no longer blue; In fact, they were a colour not found on any known spectrum.
Even his voice sounded different as he growled, "Don't test me, boy!"
Lord Synn then hurled Kronos into the wall. After the Elite collapsed to the floor in pain, the dictator glared down at him.
"Maizner, Zarran. Teach your brother some respect. I have other matters to attend to."
"As you wish, father." Maizner replied before turning his gaze on Kronos.
After Synn left the room, Maizner tilted his head.
"I'm going to try not to enjoy this."
Kronos launched himself towards his half brother, only to be met with a punch to the gut. As Maizner and Zarran began kicking and stomping him, Kronos brought up his arms over his head.
The two continued their assault on Kronos, leaving him beaten and bloodied. Eventually, Maizner dragged his half brother over to the desk and held his hand down on it.
Zarran meanwhile, was holding a wrench and patting it into the palm of his free hand.
"Sometimes, you have to break things to fix them." Zarran remarked before cackling madly.
He brought the wrench down on Kronos' hand, eliciting a cry of pain from the Elite.
"Hmh, not quite enough." Zarran sarcastically remarked before bringing his arm back for another swing.
For the next few minutes, all that could be heard outside of the room were Kronos' screams of pain and Zarran's mad laughter.