-Chapter 293-
GUN Control, Part 2
Area 99
Sonic and the other Freedom Fighters stared in surprise at the lemur Tangle identified as her father. Sure enough, there was a strong family resemblance. Aside from his age and gender, Scrape was practically a mirror image of his daughter. Fur color, eye color, tail patterns. They even had similar "hair" tufts (though Scrape's were neater). The similarities ended there, however, as Scrape carried himself with an air of serious, stoic dignity, a stark contrast to his daughter's cheerful exuberance.
"H-Hey, Dad…" Tangle greeted nervously, prompting the elder lemur to turn to her sharply, startling her.
"Entanglina…"
"Entanglina?" Sonic repeated, eyebrow raised. "Not what I was expecting."
The two lemurs ignored the hedgehog, Scrape looking over Tangle with an unreadable expression. Then, much to everyone's surprise, he used his tail to pull her closer, hugging her.
"Thank Aurora, you're safe…" he whispered, voice trembling with relief.
Tangle blinked in surprise as Scrape held her tightly, his breathing uneasy and shuddering, as if on the verge of breaking down in tears.
"Are you alright? Let me look at you." He cupped her cheek gently as he examined her face.
"D-Dad, please!" Tangle said, gently pulling away her father's hand. "I'm fine, really!"
"You spent a week in an Artikan, Viking death camp!" Scrape shouted. "There is no conceivable way you are fine!"
"She's alright, sir," Sally piped up. "We had her checked out by Acorn's best doctors, along with everyone else who was captured, and she's attending mandatory therapy and counseling."
Scrape turned to Sally, giving her the same unreadable expression as earlier, causing her to flinch in surprise. He held the expression for several seconds, before nodding approvingly.
"Good. You have my thanks, Princess."
"Whoa," Knuckles whispered. "I was half expecting a repeat of when I saw my dad again."
"I was expecting a rendition of how my Uncle Colin was," Hope added.
"I was expecting St. John the Sequel: The Stickening," Sonic chimed in.
"I heard that."
The whisperers flinched as Scrape turned to them, his expression slightly softer.
"Mr. Hedgehog, I understand that you may have a negative impression of me, no doubt brought about by Tangle always growing anxious whenever my name is mentioned. And while I admit that her mother was always the more emotionally cognizant of the two of us, I do truly love my daughter and want her to be both happy and safe."
His glare returned full force.
"That being said, if you must talk about somebody, do it when they aren't in the same room as you."
Sonic blinked, thoroughly surprised and chastised.
"Huh...talk about flipping the script."
The sound of a throat clearing resounded through the room, drawing attention to Scrape's Doberman companion.
"Scrape, the mission?" she said.
"Right, apologies, Brigadier General."
With that, Scrape released Tangle and returned to his superior.
"Princess Sally, members of the Freedom Fighters, allow us to introduce ourselves properly." The canine straightened up, lifting her snout as she spoke with authority. "I am Brigadier General Sperry Doberman. Caucasus Troop. Chamber 1."
"Colonel Scrape the Lemur. Beetle Troop. Chamber 5."
"Caucasus Troop!?" Hope shouted.
"No way…" Shard whispered in awe.
"Um…" Kat looked between the various GUN agents in overwhelmed confusion. "Mind elaborating for those who aren't GUN fanatics?"
"Caucasus Troop is one of the strongest troops in the entire army!" Shard explained with fanboyish enthusiasm. "They're the best of the best!"
"They take on missions most soldiers deem impossible! They're on par with the Paladins who protect the President!" Hope added with equal zeal.
Sonic whistled. "Whoa, big time, big shots."
"It's an honor to meet you, Brigadier General," Sally rose, extending a hand to Sperry.
"Likewise..." the Doberman replied, accepting the handshake. "I've heard all kinds of stories about you and yours. You all do good work. Obvious, yes, but..."
Sperry cleared her throat.
"But, I'm getting ahead of myself." She snapped her fingers. "Colonel Lemur!"
Scrape snapped to attention. "Ma'am?"
"Get the charts."
Scrape saluted, then pulled out a holo-projector from his pocket. He pressed one of the buttons, releasing a holo-screen showing an emblem that looks like a cross between the Kingdom of Acorn and GUN symbols.
"As Commander Tower has informed you, GUN seeks to officially align themselves with the Freedom Fighters," Sperry began. "I trust you all understand the massive ramifications?"
"Yeah, we just covered that bombshell," Knuckles replied.
"Then we'll get to the juicy kibble." Sperry gestured, prompting Scrape to bring up the next screen, this one showing a bullet list
"These are the plans for what we call 'Phase 1' of GUN's contribution to our little comic book crossover…" Scrape explained. "A group of agents who will serve as GUN's 'Freedom Fighter Team'. Codename...F-Troop."
As soon as Scrape mentioned the name, the room went silent.
"F...Troop?" Tails asked.
"Sounds kinda...underwhelming," Keith added.
"Also, I think it's taken," Chris threw in.
"It's a placeholder," Scrape replied, looking slightly embarrassed.
Sperry sighed. "Anyway… While GUN already fights against the Empire, F-Troop's soldiers will be specially trained to combat their Eggtech-empowered forces. Along with other special interest targets."
Sally perked. "You mean like Naugus and other entities, like Chaos?"
Sperry nodded. "Knick-knack paddy-whack give the dog a bone."
"So, who all's gonna be in this team? Anyone we know?" Sonic asked.
"We'll deal with the roster later," Sperry continued. "Right now, we have...bigger issues to discuss…serious issues."
Sperry gave the group a very serious look, her eyes focusing on Team Thorndyke, Tails, and Tangle.
"And it concerns you lot."
Tangle swallowed nervously. "U-us?"
"Why us?" Chris repeated.
"Scape, you wanna tell them or shall I?"
"I'll do it, ma'am." Scrape turned to address the others. "Princess Sally… while GUN is prepared to offer its full resources and support to the Freedom Fighters, we do have one caveat for agreeing to the alliance. One that is non-negotiable." His expression darkened. "And one you, to put simply, are not going to like."
The mood shifted and the kids all felt uneasy. Chris took Hope's hand as Keith did the same with Kat. Tangle wrapped her tail around herself as Tails' circled each other nervously. Finally, Scrape dropped the bombshell.
"We demand that my daughter, Team Thorndyke, and all members under their species' legal age of adulthood be discharged from the organization, effective immediately."
There was a long moment of silence as the Freedom Fighters processed what they'd just heard. The Fighters affected by the ultimatum, understandably, were the most shocked. Tangle and Hope in particular looked betrayed. Tower and the other GUN personnel simply winced or held their heads in either shame or resignation.
The silence seemed to last for hours, until it was broken in the most expected way possible.
"Are you out of your fugging minds?!" Knuckles shouted. "You do realize that half of the FF are under the legal age, right!?"
"Not true," Scrape pointed out. "Except for Miles Prower and Cream the Rabbit, all Mobian members of the Knothole Freedom Fighters are 15 or older, thus making them adults by Mobian law."
"So, you want me out of the Freedom Fighters!?" Tails demanded.
"Not a chance in hell!" Sonic snapped. "Tails is the backbone of the Brain Trust! We wouldn't have gotten as far as we have without him! And Cream? She has a freaking deity on her side!"
"They're also 12 and 9, respectively," Sperry pointed out. "Spin it however you want, Mr. Hedgehog, you're sending literal children onto the battlefield."
"I was fourteen when I started this!" the hedgehog pointed out. "No one made a fuss then. So, why raise a stink, now!?"
"The Einherjar." Scrape stepped forward. "When you first began your campaign against Robotnik two years ago, he was nothing more than a lone madman wreaking havoc with a small army of robots. Since then, he's rapidly turned that small army into a global superpower. One that nearly plunged the world into Ragnium winter. With a division of bloodthirsty lunatics that murdered half the population of Artika, and tortured and enslaved countless others, including some of your own."
None of them could refute that.
"And even before that, he's been involved in or indirectly caused numerous other atrocities. Driving the ex-Robians into becoming the Dust Riders and the massacres that followed. The Near-Conflagration of Suzaku. The Efrikan Jungle Raids..."
Keith perked. "Hold on... Efrika? There's an Efrikan Egg Army!?"
Scrape nodded. "The Omni-Gang. Wanted for deforestation, domestic terrorism, and wild, reckless driving."
"Well, I know what we're doing soon…" Kat said.
"Whatever it is, you will not be a part of it, Miss Winters," Sperry cut in. "The same goes for your friends."
Hope raised her hand. "Brigadier General, permission to speak freely?"
"Permission granted."
Hope gave the Doberman the gravest, most indignant look her rank would allow.
"If you think any of us are leaving the Freedom Fighters, then you really have lost your fugging mind. Do you realize that for me and Kat, the FF is the only reason we're still alive? Why we're not complete emotional wrecks?
"I do."
"So why are you trying to take that away from us? Away from our friends!? Our family!? "
"We never said that," Scrape cut in. "You will still be permitted to be with your friends, complete with Knothole visitations. We'll even allow you to continue your research with the Brain Trust out of respect for your contributions to the war effort. But if you want the full support of GUN, you and yours are forbidden from stepping onto the battlefield until you're of age."
"Wait a minute, Dad, I'm of age!" Tangle protested.
"You also nearly got yourself and your friends killed due to recklessness and inexperience," he rebutted, giving her the look. "Twice. In a row. After you made multiple promises that you would be careful and follow orders."
Tangle winced at her father's look.
"Now then," Sperry cut in. "Those are our terms. Princess, do you accept?"
Sally thought for a moment, seriously looking like she was considering accepting. Having GUN as an ally in full would be a tremendous boon to their efforts against the Empire. But Tails and Team Thorndyke had been just as valuable, despite their age. Sperry and Scrape's reasoning also held water. Regardless of their abilities, they were sending children to fight a war against a murderous madman; one who was growing stronger with each passing day. If they weren't careful, there was a very real possibility that they would die.
She mulled it over for a good minute, and finally, she had her answer…
"No deal!"
Scrape and Sperry froze as everyone turned toward Sonic, who had gotten up from his seat, a defiant look in his eyes.
"Sonic…" Sally said.
"Mr. Hedgehog, what do you think you're doing?" Doberman demanded.
"Giving you our answer," he replied. "And the answer is no Aurora-damned deal. If given the choice between you and our friends, we're gonna pick them every time. Right, Sal?"
"Sonic…" Sally said uncertainly, but one look at Sonic's devil-may-care grin dispelled those feelings immediately.
"You're right. Tails, Cream, and Team Thorndyke have been with us since the beginning. They have been instrumental to many of our victories, and it would be a disservice to remove them from the team."
The kids all looked surprised, but grateful nonetheless. Sperry and Scrape, on the other hand, looked as if they'd bitten into a lemon.
"A-Are you serious?" Scrape sputtered.
"You're turning down an alliance with one of the strongest military organizations in Mobius with near-unrestricted access to the resources at their disposal!" Sperry argued. "And you're willing to turn it all down just to keep the children around!?"
"Those 'children' are our friends," Sonic refuted. "They've never given up on me, so I'm not giving up on them. Besides, we got by without GUN before, we can get by without them now."
"But Tangle…" Scrape began.
"Stays too," Sonic cut in. "She's still really rough and she made some big mistakes, but she survived a week in a 'Viking death camp', and she's been getting better every day since."
Sally looked the two GUN officers in the eye. "Brigadier General, Colonel, I'm sorry, but we will have to decline your alliance."
Sperry and Scrape stood there, speechless, unable to believe what they'd just heard. Then, Sperry clenched her fists and furrowed her brow as a canine snarl erupted from her lips; something that shocked everyone in the room, especially Scrape.
"Ma'am?" he asked.
"Yoooouuuuu…" she began breathing heavily, foaming at the mouth as her hands twitched frantically. "I expected this kind of bullshit from Ivo, but not you…you…yoooooou…!"
Sally and the others looked on in shock as Sperry slowly advanced toward them. Tower and his allies prepared to reach for their weapons, only for Scrape to suddenly step in and grab her by the hand.
"General! Sperry!" he called out to her. "Sperry, snap out of it! Sperry!"
Scrape's voice seemed to reach her, as the Doberman immediately snapped out of her apparent trance, which had left everyone looking at her in fright.
Realizing what had happened, Sperry wiped the foam off her lips before clearing her throat.
"Forgive me," she said, turning away in shame. "That was…uncalled for. Commander, would you excuse me?"
Tower nodded. "You are dismissed, Brigadier General. I think we've heard enough."
Sperry saluted Tower before showing herself out.
"Well, that worked out exactly as I expected it to," Tower sighed. "Princess, I apologize for wasting your time."
"Apology accepted, sir."
Tower then turned to Sonic. "And Sonic, know that I do not share General Doberman's beliefs and will continue to support the Freedom fighters as we have."
"That's…comforting," Sonic replied. "Thanks."
"And with that, I do believe this meeting is adjourned. Everyone, return to your posts."
Scrape watched as his fellow soldiers and the Freedom Fighters rose from their seats and exited the room. Soon, all that was left was him and Tangle, who just sat there, looking down sadly.
"Tangle…" he began.
"I was afraid of this," the younger lemur interrupted. "I knew you would try to get me out of the Freedom Fighters, Dad. But this? "
"Tangle, please, you almost died three times."
"Yeah…" Tangle turned to her father, her eyes beginning to mist a little. "But how many times have you almost died, Dad?"
Scrape paused.
"How many times have I had to come find you in the hospital? How many years was I left alone in that empty house, praying I wouldn't lose another…"
Her breath hitched and she hastily wiped her eyes.
"Tangle, honey…" Scrape said as he walked over, putting a hand on Tangle's shoulder. "Please, understand.I just want you to be safe. You and them."
"Maybe…" Tangle replied. "But is that really what they need?"
"Wh-What are you…?"
"You said so yourself, the world's going to shit. Eggman's bad news and he's getting bigger and badder by the day. If we want to stop him, we need all the help we can get, no matter where it's from."
"Entanglina, they're kids. They don't belong here. They belong at home with their families and doing kid stuff."
"Newsflash, Dad. Two of them don't even have families thanks to Eggman."
"That doesn't matter. They're still putting themselves in danger and Sonic and his friends are encouraging them to do so!"
Tangle narrowed her eyes. "Better that than sitting around an empty house wondering if and when they'll lose someone else."
Scrape froze at the coldness of his daughter's voice and gaze.
"Goodbye, Dad…" she said as she made her way to the door. "I'll see you when you get home."
With that, she walked out, leaving Scrape to hang his head in shame.
"Dammit…" he cursed under his breath. "Of all the things she picked up from me, why did it have to be that?"
-X-
Outside the office, the Freedom Fighters all gathered in a group, none of them happy with how the meeting turned out.
"Seriously, can you believe those two!?" Knuckles fumed. "Trying to dictate who can join our group and make us get rid of veteran fighters?!"
"It's as if our accomplishments mean nothing because of our age," Tails groused. "It's frustrating to say the least."
"Well, don't worry, little bro," Sonic said, putting a hand on the fox's shoulder. "No one's going anywhere. No alliance is worth getting rid of my friends."
Sally sighed. "Still…It could have been groundbreaking...Life changing…"
"So much for Uncle Julian's dream..." Hope said, shaking her head.
"I just hope we won't have to deal with the General again," Chris said worriedly. "Seriously, did you see how she got when you turned her down? She looked halfway ready to tear Sally's throat out!"
"She wasn't angry," Kat cut in. "At least, not completely. She was scared."
Everyone perked at that.
"You saw it too?" Hope asked.
Kat nodded.
"Plus, remember what she said?" Keith added. "She mentioned 'Ivo', that this was something he would do."
"But which one? Eggman isn't the original Ivo," Hope pointed out. "That 'honor' belongs to…my grandfather."
"The Red Devil."
At that, everyone turned to see Shears casually stroll around a corner, hands in his pockets.
"Big Daddy Ivo Kintobor. Warmonder, psychopath, and all-around big, stinky, doo-doo head of the millennium."
"Agent Shears," Sally said.
"Please, don't call him that…" Hope asked.
"Sorry, Hope-A-Dope," Shears said, shaking his head. "But this time, the evil Kintobor thing is 100% true."
Hope sighed, unable to refute his claims.
"More importantly…" Shears turned to Tangle, crouching down so they were at eye level.
"Rory…"
"Hey Stripes, I…overheard what happened with your dad and Doberman. Sorry 'bout that."
Tangle sniffled for a moment, then ran over to Shears, throwing her arms and tail around him as she buried her face into his shoulder.
"Hey, hey, it's okay, don't cry," Shears soothed as he patted her on the back. "He's just worried about you, you know that, right?"
Tangled sniffled. "I know, I just… I can't believe he did that, holding the alliance just to get me and the others kicked off the team."
"Yeah…" Shears perked. "Hey, you wanna go to my rage room and play with my Colonel 'Darn-It Dolls'?"
Tangle narrowed her eyes at him. "Rory…"
"Kidding, kidding..." Shears chuckled. "But in all seriousness, ya know you can come to me if you need to vent. If anyone will get it, it's me."
"Thanks..." Tangle replied, hugging the redheaded agent even tighter.
"Shears…" Shard began. "Are…Are you okay?"
Shears sighed in annoyance. "Shard, there's a lot you don't know about me. I know I act like… am a stab-happy wackjob, but I'm still one of Abey's most trusted agents, and he only picks ones who are as good people as they are as fighters. But, that's not important right now."
He let Tangle go and sat up.
"Listen, you may have laid down the law with those two, but they'll be back. Those two have been trying to get you kids off the team ever since you first signed on, and they're not gonna stop now, 'specially not B.G. DJ MC B-Yotch."
After taking a minute to try and translate that mess, Knuckles shook his head before speaking up.
"Why does she have a problem with them?"
"Simple, you're child soldiers," Shears replied, raising his hand to preempt any protests. "Hey, spin it however you want, they're still minors. Geniuses, a super-powered, and a superpowered genius minor, but still minors. And if there's one thing Sperrier hates more than anything, it's kids being in danger."
"Understandable," Tails replied. "But, from how she reacted, it feels like there's more to it than just concern. More…personal."
"Any ideas, Rory?" Tangle asked.
Shears looked around, making sure nobody was around.
"Psst! Robo-Sonic," he whispered at Shard, motioning him to come forward.
"Yes?" the Needlemouse asked as he stepped closer. Once he was close enough, Shears pulled a data-card out of his pocket and shoved it in his hands.
"Give this to Saraben," he instructed. "Take Hope with you. Don't let anyone know you have it."
"What is it?" he asked.
"Something she needs. All I can say."
He then turned to Sonic. "Blue, take your girlfriend down to the archives and talk to Shay," he leaned closer and whispered. "Ask about the 'Popgun Projects'."
Sonic nodded. "Popgun Projects, got it."
"The rest of you, go do whatever and meet me in the yard in about…fifteen minutes. Be sure to bring your 'toys'."
"Shears," Hope said. "Why are you helping us like this?"
"Three reasons," the redhead began. "First, I haven't met my pissing people off quota for the month, and this is gonna get Dobie and Scrape fuming. Second, while they have a good reason for it, I don't like how they're trying to keep you kids from doing what you love and helping people. And third…"
He smiled.
"I like you."
Hope thought for a minute, then nodded.
"C'mon Shard, let's go."
"Right!"
With that, the two ran off.
"Rory, what are you doing?" Tangle asked in concern.
"Sorry, Stripes," he said. "That's for me to know and you to find out. Just know that, if this works, it'll save this alliance."
"And…if it doesn't?"
"That's my problem," he said as he turned around. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to see a man about a cappuccino."
The group watched as Shears went back the way he came.
"Rory, wait!" Tangle called out, going after him. But, when she turned around the corner, he was gone.
"What the…where'd he go?"
The others joined her, searching the area, but found no sign of him.
"Weird, it's like he just…disappeared," Keith said.
"Tangle, should we be worried?" Sonic asked.
"Rory is one of the craziest agents in GUN, Sonic," she replied. "So yes, we should be very, very worried."
-X-
Meanwhile, in the lounge, Agent Stone was in the middle of brewing up one of his signature lattes. He had just finished mixing the milk and sugar, carefully stirring it as if he were working with a chemistry set. After stirring for exactly, thirty seconds, he took a small sip and smiled.
"There... perfect," he whispered in satisfaction.
Suddenly, the doors slammed open, nearly making him spill his drink.
"Bob!" Shears shouted as he lowered his leg.
"Rory!?" Stone cried out. "What are you…!?"
"Rip roarin' pissed and not in the mood for shootin' the breeze, Mistah Baritah!"
"It's baristo," Stone corrected.
"Not the point!" he shouted. "Now, do you got any coffee?"
Stone looked around the lounge, which currently had a large pyramid of coffee cans and bags of beans set up next to a line of coffee machines on the shelf, all brewing at the same time.
"Yes. Yes, I do," Stone replied bluntly. "What can I get you?"
"Mean Bean No. 19."
Stone's eyes widened in horror. Both at the mention of that particular blend and the face of the man who requested it. A face that currently bore a devilish smile and eyes that seemed to glow red with what could only be described as a devilish light. A glow that meant nothing but trouble.
"Okie-dokey," Stone replied, taking a nervous sip of his latte. "I'll uhhh…get right on it."
"Good man," Shears said as his partner got to work and he took a seat at the table.
"Alright, Stripes the Elder," Shears whispered as he pulled out his knife. "You wanna see what those kids can do? You're gonna see what they can do."
He then set his hand down on the table, spread out his fingers, and began stabbing the spaces between them to the beat of a demented song.
"I've got all my fingers / The knife goes chop chop chop…"
Author's Note:
Uh-oh...Shears is up to something.
Sperry Doberman is owned by our friend and fellow Sonic fan, JoeAdok. Used and expanded on with his approval.
Voice cast for this chapter:
* Sperry: Jane Lynch (Sgt. Calhoun from Wreck-It Ralph, Sue Sylvester in Glee, Mother Superior in The Three Stooges 2012)
Please R&R. Until next time!