Chapter 19 - Combative, Pt. 2
'...whoa...' Sonic thought.
Immersed in watching the fighting, the aspect that Speed was not using his superspeed even when handicapped was thrilling. How the amputee could dodge attacks when they were coming from behind was a tense-relief experience. Even when there was one point of where he wanted to go help, the shop owner had put a hand on his shoulder. Feeling the grip being firm, the boy remembered how he couldn't move his shoulder. Concerned when looking back at the trader, he couldn't tell what face the individual was making with the gas mask on.
[Do you doubt your friend?] the man's voice echoed in his head.
'...' the young hedgehog responded with a pause. Blinking and shaking his head slowly, the shop owner's hand let go of him.
Hearing it again in his mind made him stay put and continue to watch. When the one-arm hedgehog did the sudden sprint rush to the last two gangsters, the boy saw what the man's top normal dashing speed. It rivaled the fastest runner when the four villages had the games. Knocking the guys out and seeing him return to where he stood, the stare down at the gang leader continued. Counting the downed men with his fingers, the child was only excited. It gave him a new perspective on that anything was possible regardless of one's physical state.
'...holy shit...' Chiara thought ambivalent while staring. From watching the one-sided gang fight, the amputee was controlling the brawl. Despite being slightly afraid of the amputee hedgehog from last night, him taking on the local gang with only one arm was more than impressive to her.
'He hasn't even used his signature moves...or even that superspeed that squirt was talking about,' she continued in her mind. All the blows he gave looked brutal and held nothing back. The aspect that from doing all the fighting and dodging, his expression never changed. A part of her could feel her fur slowly stand on end. The rush of observing the beatdown and the sign of no fear made her feel a part of fight.
'Just...god damn,' the stoat said mentally being captivated. Seeing punches being thrown and making contact made her do a small fist pump as if she was participating. Blinking and shaking her head a little, she saw much movement around her.
'There's even a crowd watching...which must mean the gang here is a thorn for everyone,' she contemplated. Turning back to the battle, she saw the last two minions go down. Knowing this was turning into a showdown at this point, she looked for a better spot to get closer. Seeing it, she moved to go around behind the crowd.
'W-Who the hell is this freak!?' the gang leader thought in his mind.
The smug and over-confident attitude he had about robbing the two hedgehogs was replaced with uneasiness and caution. Never encountering anyone handicap to take on 10 people solo and not get hit once was daunting to witness. Now unsure about how to go about the situation, the intimidating gaze from the amputee made his back start to perspire a little. Recalling the hidden piece that he had, his ego felt lifted a little. Giving a smirk, he stood up straight and put his hands on his hips.
"Gotta say...for a freak like you, ya know how to handle yourself," he began then lifted his right arm to point at the hedgehog. "Tell ya what...you join the gang and talk to my boss...and I can get ya all the food, clothes, money, territory, and women you could ever want. What ja say? Deal?"
"..." Speed responded with not changing his expression. Instead of answering, he began to walk towards the mobster.
"Appreciate if ya spoke man...you ain't gonna go far with a cat getting ya tongue act."
"..." the one-arm man continued with proceeding forward.
'...that is more of a predator approach...' Chiara thought. She had still moving through the sporadic crowd to get closer. As she was moving, she heard the murmurs from the spectators.
"Who is dat hedge-man?" one man spoke.
"Dunno...never seen a man as cut up like that," another stated.
"He better knock the shit out of that wild dog," an older woman stated harshly. "He stole from me for too long."
"Yeah...I'd rather see 'em get killed," another person agreed with crossed arms over their chest.
"Freaking coward...asking for him to join when they couldn't lick a one armer."
"..." the female stoat responded passing by them. Stopping at a spot with a good vantage point, she watched Speed continue to walk at a calm pace. The crowd saw the coyote change from pointing to showing his palm as to signify to stop. Between the gangster and amputee, it was a couple of meters away from each other.
"That's far enough. Continue and I'll..." the man began.
Trailing off a little, the gray ash hedgehog did not stop. Scoffing at the one-arm man's approach, the mob commander reached into his jacket. Pulling out a roughly J-framed object, it had a distinctive barrel with an opening and a notch on top as sight. Pointing up in the air, he pulled the trigger. With a blast flare coming out of the muzzle, it made a loud crack that echoed in the alleyways. Everyone in the crowd froze from staring at the mini-cannon in the leader's hands.
"Now that, my friend, is a warning shot," the coyote began. Pointing the weapon at the incoming anthropomorphic, his smirk increased from seeing the other man stop. The space between the was only some feet. The canine man knew that at this range, he can easily pop anyone off. Chuckling at his fortune, he rotated the weapon to be sideways.
"Now dat you're close friend, how about you tell me the right answer. Eh?"
"...if you are...a big man..." the amputee spoke. His raspy voice along with the never changing faint scornful expression seemed to stiffen the gangster a little.
"...pull...the trigger..."
"..." the coyote reacted with a blink and pause for several seconds.
"...what's wrong...?" he spoke and began walking forward again. "...cat got...your tongue...?"
"Heh...either ya got balls bigger than your brain," the gangster stated and pulled the hammer back on the weapon. "Or ya just plain stupid."
Pulling the trigger, the image of the hedgehog suddenly vibrated at the same time. When the handgun blasted within a yard distance away, the bullet went through the other's head. However, no body fell back or slumped to the ground in front of him. Instead, the one arm man vanished. Seeing the crowd cringe still from the loud blast, there was no trace of the cybernetic eye person.
'...did...did I ghost him?' the coyote thought then looked at his gun. 'Don't remember being told this thing could do that.'
Blinking and looking up, the onlookers were staring in his direction. Strangely, a lot of them were looking as if surprised or seeing something of odd wonder. About to open his mouth and assert his dominance, a strange feeling coursed in him. Feeling it appear in his belly, it was slowly twisting, turning on itself, and getting more uncomfortable. Thinking how poor of timing it would be to have to go to the bathroom, it wasn't the same sensation.
"...!?" the man reacted with his neck furs standing on end quickly.
Recognizing what he was feeling, his body was not responding well. Clenching all of his muscles and forcing himself to move, he spun around to look behind him. Trying to aim the firearm, it was punched out of his hand hard. Seeing it tumble away from him to his left, he slowly looked back at who did that. Seeing the adult hedgehog standing in front of him, he still had the same expression on his face. There wasn't a bullet wound from being shot at.
"H-Hey...l-listen f-friend," he stammered and took a nervous back step. Feeling sweat dripping down his back, the hedgehog walked forward to keep the same close distance between them.
"...I'm...listening..." Speed responded evenly and slowly.
"Y-You...you should r-really...c-calm down," the mob leader stated.
Tripping on his feet and taking several steps backwards to recover, he looked up and flinched hard. Still at the same closeness as before, the amputee was still in his personal space. Glancing quickly around him, all of his minions were still injured on the ground. Noticing residents staring at him, he was in the center of all of them. Surrounded and feeling like there was no way out, he dropped to his hands and knees.
"I-I give up! Y-You win man-ggrrrrrnnnnnn!?" the canine spoke looking up.
A hard and fast boot rammed into his left shoulder. Cringing loudly in pain and grabbing the muscle, a quick and furious left hook slammed into his right-side jaw. Falling down to his left side and groaning in pain, another swift kick came into his stomach. Coughing hard and wheezing, the crowd were giving murmurs of approval of his beating. Clenching his teeth and trying to get up, he tried to speak.
"Listen you...you are making a-gaHAARRRRR!?" he bellowed from getting slugged in the face again.
Dropping to the ground, the coyote felt blood starting to pool in his mouth. Breathing harder and having a harder time focusing on what he was seeing, an ungloved and rough hand snatched at his head. Feeling the fingers curl and dig into his scalp, a handful of fur was gripped painfully. Feeling it get pulled up, the mob lead grunted and stumbled into a semi crouched position. Getting turned around, he began stumbling forward while being in tow by the one-armed hedgehog.
"...who...who is that hedgehog?" one spectator asked intrigued.
"It's like...he vanished and reappeared behind the mobster."
"Yea...like...in a blink of an eye fast."
"Ya think he's part of that superspeed legend?"
"Superspeed legend?" a few of the nearby people questioned and looked at the person confused.
"Ya know...like th'em stories from da Great War and stuff."
"Aren't all those fairytales? My dead folks use ta talk about it as bedtime stories."
"..." Chiara spoke eavesdropping on the conversation. Staying in the background and moving to get closer to where Speed was dragging the gangster, it was the tent shop where Sonic was standing next to. The shop owner never moved from his seating position as he stared like a statue. Blinking from seeing movement all around, the crowd began to converge towards the joint.
"..." Sonic reacted with seeing the onlookers move towards where he was standing. Viewing all of their faces, a majority of them looked to be pleased at what Speed did. Him taking out the ruffians and roughing up the leader, it seemed to garner praise from everyone. Even the stoat from the apartment complex was in the crowd and moving around to get closer to the action.
'If I am able to go as fast as Speed and do similar freedom fighter stuff like this...then I'll get this too,' the boy reasoned in his mind.
Feeling firm in wanting to get the same type of acknowledgement and the feeling good from helping people out, it got him more enthusiastic about learning from the adult hedgehog. Turning his attention to the amputee, he had reached the table of the trader. Lifting the thug's head, the gray ash male pushed it onto the table hard. Making the coyote drop to his knees, he coughed out a little blood and had staggered breathing. Looking up at Speed's face, it had changed to his normal neutral expression while staring at the shop owner.
"...his head..." the amputee spoke. Feeling the gangster try to move, he pulled the man's head up then striked it into the furniture. A thud was heard followed by the canine gasping in agony.
[Heh heh...I be damned] the trader spoke in mild humor. [Now isn't this...a pleasant surprise Coyt?]
"...huh?" the coyote asked feeling too weak to get out of the hold.
Looking up, the masked man stood up and moved his hands upward. Grabbing the face contraption and pulling it off, it revealed a semi-burned face. Revealing a sea lion's head, the eyes and nose were undamaged. The mouth and portions of his noggin were red and lightly scabbed. Even the neck looked blemished from its dark grey, black skin tone.
"...you!?" the mobster spoke startled from the reveal. "How are ya not dead!? You were burned alive!"
"Yes...you and your little party set my turf a blaze," the trader began then leaned forward. Having a callous small smile on his face, there was nothing harmless from staring at it.
"Some of my boys were nicked and did died in that inferno. Me and others got lucky...I've been waiting till I was healed up before hunting you down," he informed then looked up. Seeing the crimson ring eye slowly look up to stare at him first, the normal eye then looked up as well. Letting out a small mirth of air, he smirked.
"But now...someone beat me to it."
"..." Speed responded with not changing his position or face.
"Killing me...will be da worst mistake ya could make Bryson," Coyt irately stated.
"Who said I'd be killing you?" the seal asked with a smirk.
Looking up at the hedgehog, he withheld himself from showing a reaction. The amputee's normal eye moved by itself and stared down at the coyote. The cybernetic eye remained its position to continue staring at him. It gave the impression that it either had a mind of its own, someone was controlling his eye, or the hedgehog gained independent eye movement. The last aspect seemed the most improbable of the others. Regardless of the reason, it produced a good enough level of ominous aura to make him tense.
"...you only said...his head...not murder..." he spoke evenly.
"Ha ha ha! You are being technical. I want him dead...that's the trade," the trader informed then crossed his arms over his chest. "Kill him...and you'll get much more than ratty clothes and rations."
"Don't...listen...ta him!" the injured man stated through clenched teeth. "I can...double what...he's offering if ya kill him."
"..." Speed spoke continuing to stare at both of them. "...what's stopping...you two from...killing each other?"
"..."/"..." both men responded. Feeling the strongarm let go of his head, the coyote felt able to breathe a little easier. Still injured from all the body blows he received, he moved his head off the table. Sitting on the ground, he heard movement from in the shop.
"Why do you care of the details? It is just a deal trade. We agreed to it," the sea lion stated annoyed.
"Your words ain't worth shit," Coyt snapped at the other man. It caused both men to glare at each other.
"Damn thugs. Just kill both of them one-armer!" a person shouted from the crowd.
"Yea! Their damn gangs have made everybody's lives here miserable!" another piped in.
"They destroyed my home!"
"They robbed my family!"
"They killed my friends!"
"They kidnap and sell children for slavery!"
"They don't deserve to live!"
"Kill them! Kill them! Kill them!" the crowd began chanting over and over again.
'This turned into a shit can,' Chiara thought seeing how the crowd was slowly growing into an angry mob.
Seeing the looks of agitation on the citizens' faces, the wanting for blood to spill seemed to seep into the air. Looking at the child hedgehog, his expression of looking enthralled and determined shifted quickly to apprehension. Seeing Sonic look around and slowly backing away, he stopped and became conflicted looking at someone. Turning towards where Speed was, his eyes stopped looking in two directions. Never changing his demeanor, he slowly did a 360. Thinking the spectators would continue to chant for death, they slowly began to quiet down under the amputee's gaze.
"..." the handicapped man spoke after completing his revolution in place.
Staring back at the two mobsters, both looked more concerned than angry at each other. Figuring the sight of the people converging and chanting to kill them changed their behavior, small movements were seen nearby. The blue orphan appeared to be afraid and was backing away. Blinking and observing more moving around, he saw the female stoat was slowly inching closer to the orphan. Hearing faint sounds of rumbling to the north, his ears lifted up and turned to the right. Confirming that something was heading to this location, he assumed it was the security force of the city.
"...if you all...want blood..." Speed spoke loudly. Catching people by surprise, his raspy voice did not break as he only turned his head to look around.
"...take a weapon...and spill it yourselves..."
"..." the crowd reacted with silence. An awkward pause occurred until someone spoke buried in the crowd.
"Coward," a man spoke back out loud.
The people in front of the person saw the one-arm hedgehog slowly turned to their direction. The intimidating gaze and seeing his abilities immediately made those in his line of path shuffle out of the way. When a clearing was formed, a male jack-rabbit did not move. Seeing everyone shift their attention onto him from remaining where he stood, he stared back at the amputee. Being put on the spot, he crossed his arms over his chest.
"H-Hey. You all saw what that hedgehog can do. Him not killing them for us after taking out the gangsters is just his sign of weakness."
'Weakness!?' Chiara reacted with instant irritation. 'That bastard is the real coward here. I'm gonna beat the snot out of him if he continues."
"Speed ain't no coward!" Sonic spoke out loud. The sudden outburst made people turn to the blue boy as he ran from where he stood near the tent. Stopping in front of the amputee, the child had a look of being outraged.
"He took out the gang single handedly when they ganged up. You never stepped in to help!"
"Shut up kid. You don't know what you are talking about," the man stated which caused instant negative approvals from nearby people. "I saw you just standing there near the mob leader's tent. Why didn't you step in to help?"
"I...I was afraid!" the child responded with anger. "If it were 3 or 4, I would have fought them! I can't fight a dozen adults at once!"
"Ha...you tell a good lie k-GAH!?" the male jack rabbit began before getting slugged in the face. Falling to the ground to his right, he sat up and cupped the left side of his face. Looking up in anger, it was immediately replaced from caution seeing a female stoat with an eye patch. Others in the crowd recognized her and stepped back to get more space away from her.
"You piece of shit...you can't even fight one thug," Chiara retorted and bared her teeth at him. "I've seen the sport fight and take out knifer racoons. He's more man than you are dumbass."
'This is getting out of hand,' Bryson thought. Seeing that everyone was distracted, he glanced down at the rival leader. Still on the ground, he was gingerly trying to escape on hands and knees to the right of the shop. Hearing rumbling in the distance to the north, he frowned.
'...great...the gendarmeries are coming,' he said in his mind.
Going to the left side wall of the tent shop, he opened a slit that was pre-formed. Going through and stepping out, the crowd was still looking at the confrontation that was opposite of his direction. Knowing the nearby alleyway would be his escape, he turned to the one north-west. Seeing a figure within a couple of feet from him, he flinched hard and took couple of steps back. The image of the one-armed hedgehog was in front of him but seemed off. His silhouette was strobing in and out. It was as if his figure kept constantly trying to solidify itself yet it would not due to some interference.
"...run...ning...aw...ay...?" the missing arm limb man spoke. Sounding as if his hoarse voice was glitching, it gave a haunting tone to it. That aspect made the unsinged fur on his neck stand on end.
"...wha...what's going on?" the sea lion questioned cautiously. Seeing the person begin to walk towards him, it made the seal go backwards to keep the same distance. Hearing the sounds of someone stammering and crawling in pain, he glanced to his left nervously.
Coyt was backing up as well and staring at something that caused him fright. Looking at what it was, another glitching figure of the gray ash hedgehog was in front of him as well. Murmurs from the crowd suddenly changed from being rioting to apprehension and cautiousness. Glancing around then seeing what they were witnessing, another was spotted behind the child. Everyone began to back up more from the unnerving triple ghost images.
"...?" Sonic reacted from feeling something off.
As if there was air movement behind him, it did not flow in one direction. Instead, there seemed to be equal pressure coming at him as there was pulling away from him. Tilting his head in confusion, he turned his head to the right a little. Going wide eye from the sight, he took a few steps forward before turning fully around. Staring at the amputee's split images of himself, it reminded him of the ambush battle with metal heads at Zorn's village.
'...freaking hell...' the female stoat thought. Both in wonder and fright, she lost the agitation at the jack-rabbit's untasteful statements.
'...how...is he appearing...in three places at once?' Chiara asked herself. 'Is this a hidden trick he had using a device? Don't think this is magic...and there is no way in hell that this is just pure speed.'
"L-L-Look f-friend...j-just c-calm down f-for a m-minute," the canine thug stammered.
The sight of slightly ghosting image of the hedgehog plus the other two pushed enough of his buttons. Not wanting to get hurt anymore or killed, fear was eating at him. Not caring about the gripe with the other rival leader, he just wanted to get away from the threatening one arm man. The sound of rumbling followed by a siren would have normally made him frown and flee the city. Instead, it was an escape to get away from this person.
"Listen you monster," the seal declared irritated from hearing the security force get closer. "I ain't getting taken by the gendarmes for this. Let me go and I will personally make su-!?"
"..." Speed responded with punching his face.
It happened so quickly that the crowd never saw the attack. Blinking and wondering why the other gangster fell down, the amputee's image never changed to show he attacked him. Deciding that he had enough, he stopped moving. Appearing and solidifying to where he was standing before the image split, his other two silhouettes vibrated violently then faded into nothing. Breathing deeply through his nose, he forced himself to act calm. Giving the same mild glare at the two mobsters, he tilted his head to the right a little.
"...!?" the crowd reacted with astonishment and mild doses of fear.
An awkward silence proceeded until two van sized dune buggies roared in coming from the southside. Turning around and seeing the red flashing and rotating light on top of the vehicles, the Oatsial Harbor Patrollers (OHP) came to a stop outside of the group of people. Seeing four individuals dressed in green and tan leather armored uniforms approach, the slum citizens immediately got out of their way. It caused all four to stop and survey the scene. Their immediate attention was what was the center of everyone.
"We got word that a gang fight was happening here," one of the announced and saw he had the attention of crowd. About to speak again, he saw that the faces from all were a blend of relief and anxiety. Seeing one of the four step forward, the female chief headed straight for the three individuals of immediate interest. Seeing who the two mobsters were and recognizing them, the gray ash hedgehog made her take caution.
"Coyt and Bryson...what's the occasion?" she asked putting her hands on her hips. Her voice was not pleasant or sincere.
"Finally ran out of steam? Both of you are making this arrest too easy."
"Chief Darcia," the sea lion began and held up his hands. "We did not cause this ruckus."
"Hmph," the female cat leader reacted with amusement. Looking at the two OHPs to her left, she gave both a head movement towards the roughed up gangsters. Both moved and approached the two.
"That's a good one. I'm make sure to quote you on that when putting you and your rival buddy in the slammer."
"He's tellin' da truth chief," the coyote claimed and winced from his injuries. "We didn't cause any trouble."
"Tell that to someone who cares," Darcia stated with a frown. Seeing both men get handcuff and shackled, she felt a little relaxed. Turning to the last person, the adult hedgehog had turned to face her. Blinking from seeing two haggard body stumps for his right arm and top quill, the robotic eye made it appear he was a victim of some kind. Clearing her throat, she spoke.
"Are you okay?"
"...yes..." he answered without blinking.
"...what exactly happened here?" she questioned and felt tense. Her instincts were telling her to be cautious around the one-armed hedgehog.
"...tried to trade...mob appeared...fight commenced..."
"That's...a little vague...what were you trying to trade for?"
"...knives...for clothes...and coins for food..."
"I see. Can anyone collaborate your story?" Darcia asked crossing her arms over her chest. Her pulse elevated from seeing the cybernetic eye move by itself to something to her right. His normal eye remained staring at her. The action also made the other policemen wary of him.
"I-I can," a boy spoke and stepped forward.
"..." the female cat said turning to her right a little. Seeing a young blue hedgehog walk forward and pass her, he turned around and stood next to the amputee.
"And you are kid?"
"I'm Sonic."
"From where?"
"...well...Oberi village...but it was destroyed by the metal heads."
"...okay..." Darcia spoke. Glancing at the gray ash fur man, his crimson ring implant slowly turned back to her.
"...what's your relationship to...?"
"This is Speed," the orphan spoke and gestured to him. "He's my...um...uh..."
"Guardian," a female spoke. Turning to the person that spoke, a one eye patch stoat approached the center area of the gathering.
"...Chiara...what are you doing here?" the cat officer asked only turning her head to the left. She darted her eyes back at the one arm person seeing movement. Her fur began to stand on end seeing that his normal right eye had blinked and looked at something to his right. However, the black-red eye continued to bore at her unblinkingly.
"What's it to ya where I go? I'm allowed to breathe air not filtered in my place."
"Who's running it when you aren't there?" the female sentinel questioned keeping her arms crossed.
Seeing the other woman walk towards the two quilled species, both of them were not talking to each other. Speed had split his sight with keeping one eye on her and the other on the stoat approaching. The blue boy was turning his head a little back and forth between the amputee and the manager of the apartment complex. Instead of getting beside them, Chiara stopped a few feet away. Turning to the chief, she put her hands on her hips.
"Ain't none of your business or concern."
"It is my concern if crime goes on there."
"I can take care of it myself Chief kitty."
"I see you keep up with your nickname on the streets," Darcia remarked with a cold smirk. It caused a reaction from the female as well as silent amusement from the crowd. Seeing movement again, it was the young child. He had grabbed Speed's arm and pulled a little. Grabbing the adult male's attention, both of his eyes shifted toward the orphan while kneeling on one knee.
'...this guy must have been the one that beat up the gang...my instincts are flaring as if he were a predator,' the cat officer thought feeling still on edge. Glancing back at the two handcuffed gang leads, they were staring hard at the one arm hedgehog with frustration.
'Despite him being handicap, Chiara is keeping her distance from him. She is usually forward and breaks personal space with people. I can conclude that-'
"...excuse me...officer...?" a raspy voice came to her left.
"...!?" she reacted flinching hard. Blinking and staring at who materialized next to her, it was the gray ash male. Seeing him closer, his rough looking appearance and unwavering aura was intense. Reacting to a threat through training, she immediately drew her compact firearm. Aiming it, the barrel of it stopped in front of the cybernetic eye.
"..." Speed spoke staring and remaining silent. He didn't even flinch from having a gun pointed in his face.
"...don't...do that..." the feline said quietly and evenly.
"...you were...distracted...not responding..." he countered.
"...yes I was...don't do that method...of getting my attention."
"...I see..."
"Do you understand?" she asked still not removing the gun pointing at his eye.
"...yes..." he answered with a voice of stoic indifference.
"...okay..." Darcia spoke. Lowering her firearm and taking a step back, she held it while pointing it down.
"That's good."