Love Struck Eternal
Chapter 69 - Two broken kids.
Yoga's POV, Iraq.
The last three days were rough. Raptor and Zeta both lived in this hospital now and it was getting to the point where the law of the middle east had caught up to us. We had Raptor's lawyer and that psycho's both coming to ask questions that only Maggie could answer and after hours of treatments she was barely able to talk. Seems that was enough for them.
What issues I could see being as close as I was to her were made quite obvious. Despite being able to speak, she refused most of the time. Even when she did her voice was barely registered as sound. She was a completely different person and you could see that this broke her beyond measure and in my opinion…repair. She was scared and any sign of a needle made her heart rate go too high. She would panic and we couldn't risk her moving in this state. She was okay if someone like myself was around to help her through it, but even then she wasn't the same.
As I overlooked her bedside, I got told from my earpiece by one of the guards outside the hallway.
"They're almost here Captain."
I didn't respond because even now Maggie was looking away from me with tears pouring down her face. She refused to let me hear it though. She contained all that emotion inside her as best as she could and with a gentle squeeze of her hand I said to her in a whisper.
"It's time. They're about to be here. No matter what is asked…..you just need to remember that no one is gonna be against you. We're all here for you Maggie. I know it's hard, but you need to talk to us about what happened. You tell us everything you can and I swear to all that is holy that motherfucker is gonna get what's coming to him."
I wasn't expecting a response so when my ears picked up her voice I widened my eyes and listened close as she cried to me.
"He's just…..gonna go to jail!" Immediately I shook my head and ordered her as sternly as I could.
"Look at me Maggie. Right now before they get here." She looked back at my face and without any care for sugarcoating it, I informed her of what was really gonna happen after all this legal shit went down.
"Your parents want him dead. They want him to suffer just like he made you suffer, but they can't do that right now with how the legal system is set up. We have to go public with this case and we have to make sure he's sentenced. It doesn't matter for how long. It will be for life regardless, but the public doesn't need to see the things your dad has planned. All they will know is that this was dealt with the right way and a cold blooded rapist is behind bars for the rest of his life. Once the judge makes the verdict and that man gets sentenced; he will be finished in the public's eye. After that? I'm not wishing to think about what your dad is gonna do, but he's gonna get everything he deserves for what he did to you. I promise." Maggie knew she could trust me after everything we've been through and even now she had faith in my words. She nodded her head once as she looked back up at the ceiling. It was then when the door behind me opened and in walked Raptor, Zeta and the two lawyers. The door was shut behind them and with everyone approaching the bed, I was asked by Raptor if he could take my place at her side.
"Of course." I replied to him as he now sat in my seat and took her hand. With the two schmucks standing across the other side of the bed, I listened as Raptor asked his daughter.
"I know you don't want to talk about anything that happened in that house and I don't blame you for even a second, but we need to know what happened to you. That's my lawyer Jim and Drake's lawyer Ralph." Raptor informed her as he pointed them both out. With both the men keeping quiet, Zeta jumped in from Ralph's side to ask him in anger.
"Let's be as real as we can be about this situation. Your client did this. He did all of this to her. We have countless amounts of that bastard's DNA and more than enough evidence to convict him for the rest of his life. Why are you even here to defend him? You have nothing."
Ralph was nothing more than a younger black guy who looked like he just got done law school, but even he wasn't dumb enough to try and defend what had been done. Looking at Zeta directly, the young man replied back as nicely as he could so as not to trigger anymore outbursts.
"I want to make this as clear to you all as I can. When I got the call about what had happened…..I didn't believe it. Then I saw the crime scene and now I see her." He referred to the broken wolf laying between us as she was still dripping tears from off her chin. Raptor took his care in wiping her off as best as he could with a nearby box of tissues. Looking at me, Ralph went on to state.
"I could be the best lawyer in the world and there still wouldn't be a way to defend a man like that from something like this. I'm just here for the details and to prepare a report for my client. Same as Jim. I'm not going to defend Drake like he's somehow innocent. I just want this to be over as soon as possible. Honest."
"Good. I'd hate to have to put you in one of these beds." Raptor blurted out in anger as everyone was now looking at Ralph who was stunned. Raptor's lawyer must have been working for him for a long time because he just shook his head in disappointment. Letting out a long sigh he urged the hedgehog.
"Raptor? Why do you have to make my job so fucking hard? That wasn't necessary. Ralph? I'm sorry for that. As you know the president here is an old school kind of guy. He does a lot of his talking without really considering what could happen after saying whatever he feels." Raptor just grunted to himself as Zeta made the next move by redirecting the subject.
"He's right. What matters right now is her. My daughter. Look what that man did to her. Look at her and see what really matters right now for yourselves. After you do that you should start by listening to her. Ask the first question Ralph."
Still somewhat nervous about Raptor's threat, the man inched himself slowly towards the bedside to ask the wolf in the most gentle way he could.
"How much do you remember about the experience?"
"All of it." Maggie whimpered as we allowed Ralph to keep going with his questions.
"Start from the beginning if you can. How did you and Drake meet?"
Maggie struggled to even answer that. She was clearly haunted by what she went through and she clearly didn't want to remember or verbally talk about it. However she looked over at me and with a small smile towards her she collected what little of herself she had left and replied to the man beside her.
"After my shift watching over my dad, I was stressed and I wanted to take a little break from my situation. So I went to Ron's where I figured I'd be safe to drink by myself. No one was supposed to bother me. I needed time to think. To relax."
Raptor was first to ask his daughter back in concern.
"What situation are you in Maggie? Why are you stressed?" Funny thing was she didn't even have to respond to that. Raptor had to know why she was stressed, but it seemed like he had to hear it leave her mouth to believe it. So Maggie forced herself to answer and he had to hear it all.
"I thought I could handle being your bodyguard. I thought I could stand up for myself, to prove to everyone I could handle the responsibility. But….but it's hard. It's so hard! I work from six in the morning until ten at night, seven days a week. I barely get any free time to myself. I don't have any friends! I don't have anything!"
"Calm down." Zeta begged her baby as she got in front of Raptor who just looked stunned.
"I don't understand how you do this!" She now directed towards me as I was uncertain with how to respond.
"I don't want this! I can't do this! I'll just get you killed dad!" She sobbed as Raptor was quick to stand up and turn his back on us. He walked a few steps away with his hands on his face. Zeta did all she could to settle the wolf back down as Raptor soon remained where he stood by the other end of the room. He looked back at Maggie as Ralph waited some time before asking his next question. As soon as Maggie was able he asked her again.
"How did you and Drake meet?"
She sniffled up her feelings and replied.
"I was just drinking a beer by myself at the bar and the same guy who insulted my biological dad came storming in. He saw me there alone and decided to start another fight. I didn't want to fight dad! I didn't want this!" She blurted out in disappointment as she continued.
"He punched me right in my face and I fell out of my chair. That's when Phil stepped in and started throwing back punches. He beat the guy to a pulp and threw him out of the bar in only a few seconds. Drake was the only other person to help me. He came to my side and helped me get back on my feet. He asked if I was okay and offered to share a drink with me. We introduced each other and before I knew it I was getting my second beer. Drake got it for me after Phil came back into the bar to check on me. After that we talked and I….I don't remember what happened next. I felt lightheaded and the next thing I knew I was in that basement."
Everyone was quiet now as she went on to state.
"He was there too. I couldn't move. He gave me some drug that numbed my whole body. I couldn't feel anything other than my heart beating. He said I was meant to be his…..his wife. He said he was gonna break me and how he was gonna treat me like his princess. Then he gave me something else….I don't remember what it was called, but he….he said it was gonna help me give him kids!"
Zeta now looked to Raptor for support and before much could be done Maggie cried in agony.
"He beat me every day! Said it was for my own good! I couldn't scream for help! I couldn't defend myself! I couldn't do anything! I thought I was gonna die there! I wish I did die there!"
"Don't say that." Zeta ordered her now as she looked at the mother to scream in anger.
"What do you fucking know about any of this! You don't! None of you know what I went through! None of you can fucking hope to understand how I feel! You don't know what it's like being raped every hour of the day! To be beat for just crying! He said I was strong and said he had to change that! So what did he do!? He took a box cutter to my skin and cut me over and over and over and over again! I couldn't even control my bladder! I laid in my own shit for days! For days mom! Don't you fucking tell me what to feel and say! I want to fucking die!"
Zeta was now crying as I carefully got between the bed and her. With Maggie closing her eyes from the pain she was in, I said to her as calmly as I could.
"Don't take this out on your mom. We're all here to support you. To help you. Dying now would be a waste of what your life could offer. You can get through this. You just have to calm down. Breathe." I then urged her as I looked back at Raptor to see him starting to shed tears from what he was hearing. Jim noticed and walked over to try and talk to him as Zeta, Ralph and I continued once there seemed to be a good moment. I put Zeta down in the nearby chair and without even thinking about the next question I asked her.
"Do you really want to die? Just like that? That's not who you are." Maggie went from anger back to sadness in a matter of a second. She began to cry into her own shoulder as she now refused to look at any of us. I was heartbroken and so was her family. Raptor was shaky from his own mix of emotions and it only got worse when Maggie said to us.
"I can't do this anymore. Please…..discharge me. I can't dad!"
Raptor was now in a place where he had to make that choice. He saw the condition she was in, both physically and mentally. It had to be done for her own safety. At least that's what I would think, but Raptor had other plans. Approaching my side to overlook her, he asked his daughter in a calm but teary voice.
"Are you sure that's what you want right now?"
Completely broken down, she replied back openly.
"Yes. Please. I need time. Time for me." Raptor understood that perfectly and probably even more than I thought. He looked over to Zeta for her opinion, but all she could focus on was her own mess. After a few more moments Raptor looked at me and I nodded for her. Raptor trusted my opinion and without anything holding him back he stated to his daughter bluntly.
"Okay. I'll make sure you receive the proper paperwork."
He wanted to say more, but I think her words to Zeta haunted him. The simple fact that she was right about this. We had no idea the kind of pain she was going through. We shouldn't have the right to tell her how to react to it either.
"I'm sorry dad." She said to him as he looked unsure of how to respond.
"Don't be sorry. What matters is your health and if I've pushed you too far then I have to consider this as the only solution. Especially if it's what you want. It might not mean much right now, but I'm sorry too."
Maggie now turned her head to look at him and for a moment I considered saying something about this, but with how things were going it seemed there wasn't much left to say. Maggie went back to sobbing not long after and seeing that made me ask her out of confusion.
"What's wrong?" Looking at me with wet eyes she replied.
"I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm pregnant. No one wanted to tell me, right?" She soon asked which is when I widened my eyes and looked to either of her parents for the proper response. Thankfully Zeta was on point and replied confidently and calmly to the younger woman.
"We wanted to wait at least until you were back on your feet before bringing this up."
"I know my body! I know there was no way in hell I was leaving that house without something taking from him! Do you know how much he raped me mom?!" Zeta struggled for her words again as her dad calmly urged her.
"We don't need to know Maggie. We're here to help. Just take a breath, please." He came off as begging, but it needed to be done. Maggie cried some more not long after as Zeta looked to Raptor for approval to continue. He nodded his head and as I went to take Maggie's hand back she was asked by her mother.
"It's your body. We're not going to make you do anything. You tell us what you want to do. Everyone is behind your decision no matter which way it goes. Just take a little time and consider your options."
"I'm not having that psycho's baby! You can all go to hell if you think for even a second….?!" I squeezed onto her hand and stood up out of my seat to get her attention. She stopped mid sentence as I jumped into the conversation.
"You're not going to because you have that choice, but we're gonna make sure everything else is taken care of first before we send anyone in to do anything. Once the doctors give us the all clear we'll get that out of you. Right?" I asked towards Raptor who absolutely agreed. Maggie saw that for herself and rightfully took a step backwards from her anger.
With things starting to settle down, it was about time Jim and Ralph asked more questions. Maggie continued to hold onto me as Raptor slowly retook his seat at her bedside.
Sam's POV, Iran, Five days later.
Countless hours I sat in this lab by myself in an attempt to discover the secret behind viper venom. I felt like I was getting really close but the issue was that I had no way of knowing for sure if it would work or not. Not without testing it on someone.
As my focus was on perfecting the formula, I barely paid much mind to anything else. Tika sat a few chairs away from me just reading a book. She found comfort in sticking by my side now that she was fully in control of her body for the first time. I was happy to have helped her in such a way. Riley was passed on the word and apparently she was gonna come back here as soon as she had the time to see it for herself. Apparently she had a feral user on her team that could benefit from my work. He was also crazy enough to trust me blindly. Thankfully I was a hundred percent sure it would work. It was just gonna be nice to see the reactions.
As I measured the next dose, I felt a familiar feeling enter my head. Not long after I was asked by the bubbly goddess Lia from within my own thoughts.
"Am I getting you at a bad time?"
"Not at all. What's going on with you? Back so soon?" I questioned as I glanced over at Tika to see she was still reading.
"I missed you!" She chuckled as I also smiled at the reason for her appearance. A second later she added on to her sentence.
"That and I need your help with something. Can I borrow your strong hands for something…..interesting?" She said it that way for another reason. Putting down my equipment, I questioned.
"How interesting?" I then asked her as I leaned back in my seat to let out a small breath. Lia on the other hand was quick to answer, but vague at best.
"Babysitting."
"Huh?" I now responded as my focus was now on her fully.
"Not a legitimate infant. He's an adult. At least I think he is." Lia now even seemed confused as I had to ask her now.
"Can't you just tell me who it is?"
"You wouldn't believe me. It's better if you come to me. I promise you nothing bad will happen. I just need someone to watch this guy for me for a few hours and I can't just pass this on to someone else. It needs to be my demi. Please?" I let out another small sigh and before I could ask anymore questions; I stopped myself to verbally ask the bird sitting with me.
"Tika? You can hear me right?" She smiled as the book came down and her eyes matched mine.
"I can hear you. What's up?"
Standing up from the table, I gathered and cleaned the rest of my workstation before stating to her.
"Something just came up. I have to leave the bunker for a few hours. Can I?" I asked as she seemed curious enough to ask me back.
"What happened?"
"Nothing bad I think, but my presence is needed with my master. She's not gonna let me say no. Trust me though, I'm not in any trouble. She just needs a favor."
Tika knew what I was and when she heard me mention the fact that I had a master, she asked me curiously.
"What do you mean by master?"
"It's hard to explain the entire story, but she's the reason I have my…..gifts. I need to help her from time to time and this just so happens to be one of those times. Let me leave now and when I come back we'll talk about it some more. Okay?" She slowly reopened her book and with a small nod she urged me.
"What can I say? No? Go have fun, but come back soon."
"I will. Thank you Tik." I smiled as I focused on the jump to wherever Lia was. In an instant I found myself standing side by side with the happy fox who surprised me with an instant hug.
"There you are you big lug! Thank you for making the time! I know this was short notice, but I got somewhere I need to be! Think you can handle him?" Pulling the smaller woman off my chest, I looked beyond her to see a man standing by a window. He was looking outside and kept total silence as I asked Lia with some hesitation.
"Who is he?" Grabbing me by the hand she dragged me a foot forward while shouting.
"It's better if he introduces himself! Come!"
From where I was standing this man reminded me of my father when I looked at him from the back. He was strong looking, but somehow dignified at the same time. I had no idea what to expect as Lia released my hand and took a step up to his side. Leaning up at him, she whispered loud enough for me to hear her.
"Your guide is here. She's gonna make sure you're watched after while I'm away. Please do not get into any trouble. Remember that this is a gift I'm giving you. You understand that right?"
"Mhmm." He mumbled back as he now turned to look at me. My eyes widened when I instantly recognized who this was standing in front of me. Two red crimson eyes and a thick set of black quills with natural red streaks. Staring into my eyes with no ill intent, he took a breath in through his nose and asked.
"You're young. Not what I was expecting, but I have no place to argue." I was frozen solid as his hand came up.
"Shadow Robotnik." His voice introduced him with just the right amount of seriousness as I struggled to react. Fighting my emotions, I raised my hand and marveled at the feeling of his touch. This man was dead. He's been dead for decades. He's the hero of my homeland and again…..dead. His grip was as strong as I expected and despite my fear I replied in disbelief.
"Sam." Lia noticed my shock and asked me curiously.
"You know of him?"
Releasing his hand, I replied back in disbelief.
"Of course I know him. He's Shadow. Like the real Shadow. He changed the world. He won the middle east its freedom after leading the rebellion to victory in the war. He made the first official peace treaty with G.U.N. He's…..a hero. But you died. Why are you here? How are you here?"
Shadow seemed surprised that I knew of his path and before he could answer Lia asked me.
"Do you know how he died?"
"You killed yourself." Shadow nodded once before looking away. Lia smiled and with that now being stated; she said to me happily.
"He did. But it wasn't his fault. Your father's master tricked him into insanity. Instead of using Shadow as his demi, he instead decided to have fun toying with his life. Shadow had no choice and no chance by the time things escalated. His death was forgiven by my people and out of the kindness of my own heart; I've decided to grant him one of his few wishes. He wants to revisit home. To see how things have developed since his passing. Right Shadow?"
"That's the short of it. Lia was gonna show me around herself, but it seems plans change. Are you her demi? If so, you're massive by comparison." He joked with a small smile as he tucked both his arms together.
"I'd be honored to take you around, but Lia?"
"Hmm?" She hummed as she played with her hair.
"Shadow has been dead for decades. His story however hasn't. The middle east knows him. His face is plastered across history books worldwide. How am I supposed to hide him? Is he special? Like us I mean." I asked her as she refocused and happily replied.
"Oh no, of course not. By no means is Shadow a god himself. He was never given any powers from Marcus. He's simply here thanks to me. Now unfortunately he isn't able to hide from the mortal eye; so you might have to figure something out. Or don't. I don't care. This is Marcus's error, let him deal with his own issues. Plus Shadow shouldn't cause any problems you can't handle. It's just for a few hours. I'll be back as soon as I can to take over. Are we all okay? Any more questions?" She asked as Shadow and I stared at each other.
"None from me." He answered as I took a breath and shook my head.
"None from me either. Good luck Lia."
"I'll need it." She chuckled back to me as she took a step back to vanish from our sight. The first thing I had to ask was this to the man standing before me.
"So where are we?"
"I don't actually know. Lia didn't say. Looks like a city or something. Maybe New York? It's definitely not the Middle east. There are too many buildings out there. See for yourself." He urged me as I walked towards the window to see he was right. Yet he must not know how much the world has changed since his time." Looking back at him, I stated carefully so as not to throw him off.
"You're right. This isn't Iraq or Afghanistan, but the middle east is closer to this than you think."
"Really? Well I suppose that would make sense. It's been a long time since I've been there. Care to actually say who you are now that we aren't being humbled by the almighty?" Shadow was direct and surprisingly very well put together for being a dead man. He was taking in my actions from the beginning and he knew there was more to me.
Slowly I approached the legend and replied.
"I'm Lia's demi. Once the demi of a former god of this realm. He's called Roslin. He was Marcus's master before the torch was passed."
"Do you know Marcus well?" Shadow asked curiously next as I shook my head.
"Not as well as my father who is his current demi, but I know he's not to be trusted."
"Can any of them?" Shadow questioned which was a good point.
"I think some of them can be." I admitted as I knew Roslin and Lia were both good people deep down. Shadow on the other hand was still full of questions and decided to ask the one I knew would be coming.
"You said your father is Marcus's current demi. I don't know much about the lifestyle of these gods, but I know there shouldn't be this many of you walking this earth. Who is he?"
Shadow and my father we're best friends. Brothers and comrades. He would support my dad until the end if he could, but how was he gonna take this? My dad completed his life's work and I became his worst enemy. Shadow however didn't need to know about my life. I was fighting my dad's ambitions and destroying the dream they both fought to protect. I was their biggest threat and without a doubt I'd become Shadow's enemy as well if he only knew. He saw my hesitation in answering the question, but waited patiently nonetheless. Gathering my thoughts, I said to him in a softer voice.
"Raptor. Raptor Voltz is my dad. I'm sorry….it's just hard to talk about him."
Shadow widened his eyes and instantly asked me back in shock.
"You're his daughter? Is he dead?" A smile came to my lips as I chuckled.
"No. Not yet anyway. We just don't live on the best of terms right now."
Shadow was now looking at me differently and in disbelief he took a step back to question to himself.
"You're his daughter? How is….?" Looking up until my eyes he asked on top of his shocking realization.
"Who is your mother? Alicia?"
"No. My mother is Zeta Diskov. Alicia was my dad's last wife before she was killed."
"Killed?" He questioned again in disbelief. Nodding my head, I told him the truth. He was heartbroken to hear G.U.N killed her the way they did. My dad told me the story once before and even repeating it to this man seemed difficult. After it was all said and done he asked me curiously.
"What's your relationship with your dad? You said you don't really enjoy talking about him? Why?"
"We're better than we were. I used to live with him in Iraq with my mom, but one day we got into a fight. He hit me and I hit him. We both said shit we shouldn't have and we've made up since then, but….it's hard to explain."
I was expecting him to pressure me more on the subject, but Shadow seemed understanding. Nodding his head towards what I had said, he then admitted to me in confidence.
"I understand. Raptor was always hard to talk to. He's a man of action and his luck superseeds his fate, but he's a tactical genius and a man of principles. He was always the best soldier I knew back in my time with him, but that was decades ago I'd assume. What has become of him since my passing Sam?"
"I'd rather show you. Words don't do it justice, but I refuse to take you to him. I can't be seen with you or just in general by him." I told him back as he was quick to question.
"Why not?"
"Well he got remarried for starters not that long ago to my mom. I moved to the US a year before that after our fight and only came back to see the wedding. A few days later my mom hit me and as you can see….?" I exposed my missing fang to him now.
"She took a good chunk out of me and since then I've cut ties with the family. Not to mention sir, but chances are if you get seen outside of this room you'll have everyone checking over their shoulders. On top of my issues with my family, there will be too many questions if I magically reappear with you at my back." Again Shadow seemed calm about this fact and informed me a moment later of what Lia must have said before I arrived.
"Lia gave me this opportunity to simply find answers to the questions I had before parting this world. I just want to know what has become of my home since my sacrifice. She outright ordered me to stay away from him until her return."
"You plan to visit him? Don't."
"Why not?" He asked me curiously as I got a step closer to him now to reply.
"My dad still blames himself for what happened to you. I know because he's told me countless times. But he's stubborn and also holds you at fault for not seeing the truth behind Marcus's lies. One second more and you'd still be alive. That's what he said to me." I could see that what I just said hurt the man deeply. He was showing restraint and control over his emotions however. If this was my dad he would have already been lashing out, but Shadow was really as tame as the books described him during his time alive. After a long pause to think, he looked back at me to state.
"He's not at fault for my death. I'm the one who chose to pull that trigger. He's just never believed that to be true. He needs me to tell him. I'm gonna help your father and despite whatever relationship you have with him; this will help out in the long run. I know your father very well. Trust me. He will listen."
Shadow was convinced he knew the outcome and I had no choice but to let this happen regardless. After I was ready to move on, I asked him kindly.
"I can get us to the middle east, but where are you trying to go?"
"Afghanistan. It was where I spent most of my time back during the war. I want to see the city, but most importantly, the capital and…..the cemetery." He was delayed on that last one and I understood why. Curiously I had to ask him out of respect.
"Are you sure about that?" He nodded and with a small sigh I reached out to him to urge.
"Then take my hand." Looking back up into my eyes the man reached out a moment later and the moment I felt his touch I knew he was about as real as I was. I don't know how Lia did this, but if this was all just my mind then I had to give it to her. But why make this my responsibility? I had to wonder as I focused my powers on jumping halfway across the world.
Before I knew it we were back in the heat of the middle east and in a city I haven't been to since I was a kid. Shadow didn't react at all to the jump itself which made me think he was used to this kind of travel, but if he wasn't a god like myself or Lia then what was he?
He kept his hand held around mine as I chose to jump us straight to the cemetery. I knew which one he wanted to visit without even thinking. What made this entire moment unreal was how he reacted to the moment his eyes saw the area around the spot at which he took his own life. It was dark out and when I checked my watch I saw it was running close to eight. There were maybe two other people with us in the cemetery and none of the two were anywhere near us. Shadow spun in a circle to just take in the environment. A second later he questioned out loud.
"Is this really Afghanistan?" I nodded my head as he decided to tell me some of his memories.
"This is where I did it. I don't remember any of these buildings. There were a few stores around but nothing like this. When did they build all of this? It's…..modern. Reminds me of home when I lived in the US. This city was small and covered with sand from the storms we would get."
"Yeah I mean the storms can still be a problem, but it's nothing like it used to be. The city has its own division that keeps the streets clear. Like an army of professional cleaners. All the major cities have one in fact. We haven't even had a power outage since they invested in the new lines G.U.N helped us build."
Shadow was listening but at the same time he wasn't. Looking around the graveyard he asked me sadly.
"Sam? Where am I?" At first I was gonna give him the actual answer to what I thought that question meant, but in a split second I realized he was asking where he was buried.
"I'll show you. Come on."
Shadow held my hand as I guided him deeper into the cemetery. His eyes however saw what we were approaching and in an instant he questioned.
"They gave me this?" He was stunned by the tomb they put him in. It was by far the most beautiful landmark Afghanistan had to its name. They put millions into his burial sight and even now it was a protected site. The two people in here with us were M.E.A.F guards who watched over the grave. They stood by the entrance to the tomb and I knew from my father that neither soldier was allowed to interact with the bystanders. They wouldn't bother us by oath, but the man they protected now stood right in front of them. Uncaring of this fact, Shadow whispered to me.
"They're just kids. They don't know anything outside of those books you mentioned. If anything I'm just a damn close impersonator of Shadow Robotnik. What are those uniforms?"
With his eyes going back to the tomb I whispered back.
"The rebellion dissolved after the second war. My father worked with the last G.U.N president, Hecan Moore; on reforming it into an actual military that spanned the middle east as a whole. The rebellion is now the middle eastern armed forces. Or M.E.A.F. Whatever sounds better."
Shadow went back to focusing on his deathbed and upon realizing he was being quiet I asked him curiously.
"Did you know about the second war? The one my dad started?"
"I do. Yes. I'm sorry just…..give me a few minutes please. I just want to think."
"Of course. I'm sorry. Take your time. I'll be right over here when you're ready to go."
He didn't say anything else. He just went off into his own world as I tried to wrap my head around what he could be feeling. To look at your own grave must hit different. To see the fruits of your labor from said death? That had to be a completely different emotion. One I will never feel.
Shadow's POV, Twenty minutes later.
I knew the price that came with this experience. Because of that I knew I had no time to think towards the future. I just wanted to make things right with Raptor and see what my life earned this place. One of those things would be indirect of my actions and she stood maybe twenty feet away from me.
"Hehe." I chuckled to myself as I contained my sight on my tomb.
It was amazing and for some reason that made me laugh. Raptor survived. He moved on. He had a kid. Looking at her wouldn't give anything away. She looked nothing like him, but did possess his embodiment. She was intimidating to say the least, but when I compared her to him? Well the similarities seemed a great many.
My concerns however were on the questions I didn't have answers to. Like why was she Lia's demi? Did Raptor sell her over? He wouldn't do that to his only child. No, he wouldn't. But how did she achieve the mantle of a god at her age? What were Lia's intentions with her and what did Raptor have to say about any of this? I'd have to ask.
For a moment I contemplated on going into the tomb, but I knew trouble would come if I stepped over this line. I don't know how I would process seeing my own body or Amy's for that matter. Not to mention my baby boy who laid with her. To be standing here now was a gift. I should appreciate the small time I have left. Looking back at the wolf, I stepped forward and asked her as nicely as I could so as not to seem like I was struggling.
"Can we move on? I'm ready to leave here."
"Of course. Where to next?" She asked me as I offered her my hand.
"Let's go to the capital."
"Okay, but we can't just walk in there." She informed me as she took my hand and made the next jump to a rooftop that stood tall right across the street from the place. I could still remember her father and I fighting out here in this street. God we were so stupid.
"We can look at it safely from here." Sam now claimed as I just took in the sight.
The building must have gone under some extreme renovations, because this looked ten times as nicer now then it did back then. Completely new exterior, front gate, courtyard and training ground. The security also changed. Soldiers still held positions along the wall's four sides, all armed for any trouble. From here I could even make out part of the city's walls. Nice to see it from here. I wonder if that has changed any? I thought to myself as Sam mumbled to herself while looking out at the capital.
"Security seems light despite everything." She seemed concerned and that made me curious. Without taking my eyes off the building I asked her calmly.
"Has there been trouble since the war ended?"
"Yeah. Lots. Mainly a group of people hunting down my dad and the G.U.N president." She answered which confused me.
"Why?" I asked her next as she seemed to already know the answer.
"Probably because they don't believe a word either of them say for starters."
"What things does your dad say that cause people to turn on him? I know your father. He's not a tyrant." I told her which only made her shrug her shoulders at me. After a second she said back to me with a different tone to her voice.
"You should know him, G.U.N and the Middle East do not belong together. The rebellion was invented to earn us our freedom of choice and the freedom of being able to self govern. The war goes our way and the next thing you know my dad is working on a treaty that puts us right back under them."
"You're not "under" anyone anymore. The rebellion was formed to get G.U.N to retreat from our homes. All we ever wanted was for them to release its stranglehold over our government. I died to make sure that happened and judging from what I can see it looks like it worked."
The wolf looked slightly more irritated by the conversation now that I had stood up for her dad. Keeping her distance from me she went on to ask.
"Did it?"
"What's your problem?" I now asked her bluntly which earned me her anger.
"My problem is with both forms of government. G.U.N and the M.E.A.F are cancers. They don't care about our future. They don't care about anything other than their paychecks. Both parties have grown thanks to my father and what you've done in the past, but no one person should be allowed to make choices for the common man. Even when G.U.N controlled our homes it was still a system that worked thanks to previous presidents. Hecan Moore was the end of it all the second he mentioned considering partnership with our people. Am I even allowed to say "our" people? You weren't even born here. You grew up in California. Regardless of what you've done, you're still an outsider."
"You're the only person who thinks that then. And the "system" you're talking about, it's nothing but blind judgment. G.U.N limited the middle east. They kept us down because we never proved we could handle power. WIth your dad that all changed. G.U.N controls most of the planet and we fought and died to prove we were ready. I died for that. You have no idea what we've sacrificed. Peace between both governments has changed the world for the better. There's no one out here that would disagree with that." I tried to get my point across to the young girl, but I saw how sturdy she was in her opinions. Letting out a small sigh and shaking my head, I turned away from her to look back at the capital. During which I mumbled to her out of spite.
"I can't expect someone like you to understand. You're just a kid."
Putting my eyes on capital, I tried to refocus on why I was here, but a near second later I felt a breath on my neck. Very slowly I looked over my shoulder to find Sam in my face with two red eyes. I was motionless as she asked me in the middle of a growl.
"What did you say?"
I knew those eyes better than anyone and I wasn't about to get scared. Standing up to the woman I replied back sharply.
"I said you're a kid. You don't have the mindset of a grown woman. What the rebellion was I knew better than anyone. I fucking made it. Then I died and your father continued to make it into what it is today. What did I kill people for? Why did I do it? You'll never be able to understand that at your age and judging from what I can see, you'll never be in a position to even try. You're a kid. You weren't raised like I was. You weren't even raised like your father was. We both came from violent pasts and it made us into who we are. We killed as teens. We only knew pain and suffering and we had the weight of the world on our shoulders. You think like one of those terrorists. You like what they say, right?" I asked her as she still stared deeply into my eyes.
She was a clone of Raptor. She had his glare and his emotion. She was stubborn like him and probably strong armed her way through people like he does. They think differently however and I learned that in such a short period. Sam was convincible and easily usable. She thought like kids her age do. They're ignorant and blind to the whole picture. I can't blame Raptor for this though. He has every right to raise her differently. It was just sad to see she couldn't look past all the politics and all the ideals people want you to believe about a cause or an event. The media was probably corrupting millions around her age.
Shaking my head in disappointment, I decided to say the truth.
"You're not a bad person. You're just overwhelmed with power you weren't ready to receive. The powers you have thanks to Lia are meant only for gods. I've talked to a few of them and they all say the same thing about demis. They're all pretty single minded after transcending mortals. You think you know everything and now that you can do anything; your mind has closed itself off to any other sense of truth. You'll think what you want to think and you'll do what you want to do, but if you can't think for yourself then what's the fucking point in trying to be better?"
She again seemed heavily focused on controlling her anger at this moment. Calming my voice down, I urged her respectfully.
"Take a breath. Your venom doesn't scare me. Your powers don't scare me. I've seen it all and I've been through even more. You can't intimidate me and unlike everyone who is scared of you; I'll continue to say what I feel. Especially if it's the truth."
The wolf stood down and retracted her venom. Once her eyes were back to their normal shade, I turned to refocus back on the capital. She stood idly behind me as I knew she was rethinking her position.
Sam's POV, A few hours later, Afghanistan.
"Why are we here?" I asked Shadow blankly as he decided on getting dinner at an old italian restaurant called Vespiro's. Thankfully no one was around to recognize myself or even him. Being dead for so long, people probably just thought he was a coincidence.
"You know why I wanted to come here? To sit at this table?" He asked me as he drank a little bit of water from the glass in front of him. Pointing to my left side at the next seat over, he said to me bluntly.
"That's the seat a man named Logan sat in one night we went out to dinner. My old friend Ghost was there and a few others, but we were family. That was until word got out about Logan selling information to G.U.N. He set up Ghost and his girlfriend at the time. Her name was Dove and they had a kid named Midnight. Thanks to what Logan did Ghost and Dove died that day. Do you know anyone who I just mentioned? Do the history books talk about that?"
I knew his story from my dad and without hesitation I replied.
"My father's father and Logan started the rebellion. They were leading the way up until you went AWOL as a G.U.N sniper. Your brother Dark got out and for a while they thought you were dead." Shadow now stared deeply into my eyes as I went on.
"You came into the picture and changed everything for better or worse. Logan takes bribes and gets them killed. In return you killed him and took his place as the acting commander to the rebellion in Afghanistan. From there who knows what actually happened to you, but I know Marcus toyed with you and Ghost. He wanted you to go mad and you did in the end. You couldn't trust anyone. Not even yourself by that point. You gave up and you killed yourself. My father always mentioned the part where he could feel your brains on his hands as he held your corpse over Amy's grave. You broke him." I stated with a small growl as he began to lightly bob his head towards my recounting of his tale. After a moment or two, he leaned back and said to me calmly.
"You're right. I did give up. I broke your father. I changed everything for better or worse. Somehow even though I failed; things still turned out the way they were supposed to. Your living proof. Living flesh fresh off the genetic wonderment that is your father, Raptor Voltz. You're just like him, but the female equivalent."
"I'm nothing like him." I now lowly mumbled back as he took another sip of water.
I had no motions to move on with this conversation and to be honest his next move caught me off guard as he asked with serious curiosity.
"What's your story Samantha? Never had to do the things we had to do, but somehow you're a perfect user like him. Somehow you're a demigod like him and you're not just a demi to any god. You're the demi to a founder of the attrition. A concept you're not even old enough to comprehend. You don't add up at all. Does your father know this? Does Marcus? What games are you playing behind the scenes?"
It was clear the tension in the room shifted. We were both ready to pounce if need be and for the first time in a long time I felt like I was losing the contest. Deciding to make this interesting, I put out my right hand. Looking at it from a foot out, I said to him with the same sinister tone I used back at the cemetery.
"Do you really want to know?"
Shadow now hesitated as he began to look me back in my face. He saw I now stared at him as if he was now an enemy. He realized I was now a threat and because of his position he had to decide what to consider when making his next move. I was more than willing to let him get flooded with my memories and watch as his brain would surely come to an understanding on who and what my motives were.
"Make the choice. If you value your time I'd suggest not touching me."
Shadow considered it for a minute longer and in luck the waiter came back with our food. As I thanked him kindly, the hedgehog sitting across from me witnessed just how fake I could make it. Once he was gone, he asked me as I began to dip into my food.
"You said earlier that you and him weren't on the best of terms. I'm gonna assume that's an understatement." He saw the look I gave him as he went on to stare into my eyes. After a few seconds I was asked by the man who tried to play normal as he tried to also focus on cutting his food.
"Marcus doesn't know about you and Lia. That's clear as day, but that means neither does your father. Lia has her own agenda and knowing her I'd assume Marcus has become a threat to her order or just a thorn in the side they wish to pluck. She needs him eliminated." As I chewed my food, I now shot him a small smirk as he was piecing this together.
"She could deal with him, but that wouldn't be as fun. She can't go to Raptor because despite everything he knows he still wouldn't be able to handle Marcus's power. So she's….going to you?" He came off as asking, but I knew that he knew the answer to that already. His eyes widened slightly before questioning.
"It's not just Marcus she wants gone is it?"
Everything came to a halt as he now most certainly knew I was his enemy. Not taking my gaze off of him for even a second, I said to him under the cover of a public setting.
"It's not. Both Marcus and my father have failed the attrition. Lia needs that problem resolved."
Now the man couldn't eat. He was my dad's best friend. Brother to the end. He knew he couldn't do a thing in his position physically to me so instead he questioned in some anger.
"You have no idea what the attrition even is. Lia can spin any story she wants Sam. You can't listen to her. Especially when she's talking about killing your father. There isn't anything in that for you. It's not who you are."
"You know, everyone says that about me. They all say I'm just like him." I admitted as I stopped for a moment to pick at my teeth. Shadow kept his stance at the ready as I locked eyes once more with him.
"Well I'm not. I'm better than him. I'm smarter, faster, stronger and always two steps ahead. Lia didn't have to spin me a story. All she had to do was give me the opportunity."
"This can't be just about Lia. You wouldn't try something that foolish without a better reason. Right?" Shadow asked me as I again offered him my hand.
"You're right. I made this choice over a year ago. I've worked my ass off to get where I am now and considering what I know I fully intend to carry it out at some point. Now isn't the best of times because there is still so much left to do, but I assure you that his time will come. Marcus's as well."
"What's the end goal of killing the only person left alive who gives enough of a shit about world peace? What's the end goal for you? His only daughter. Is he aware of this at all?" Shadow then asked me in anger as I shook my head slowly.
Putting both his elbows onto the table and leaning an inch forward; the hedgehog whispered underneath all that anger in his heart.
"He has unparalleled faith and trust in you. Even if you aren't on the best of terms. Your father Samantha is the only person in life who you can trust with anything. He'll love you till the day he dies, no matter what it is you do with your life. He'd give anything to see you happy. He hasn't changed since the day I met him. He gives life his all and you were his goal. He's not going to turn his back on you for anything. He never has. Not for anyone he's truly loved and cared for. You doing this? You're his legacy. You're going against everything we bled for. Even I played my part in your existence. Raptor wouldn't be here now if it wasn't because of me."
"You failed him. You left him. You gave up." I now whispered back as we stared into each other's eyes.
"I'm no one's legacy. My dad had his time. His legacy is what he leaves behind. He'll die a hero. People will know his history much like they know yours. His legacy isn't me. My legacy is my own." Shadow stood his mental ground and questioned in disapproval.
"Your legacy is nothing. You won't be what he and I are. You kill your father out of spite? Out of anger? Or is it simpler? Has Lia just taken over your mind? Or are you just this stupid and ignorant because of your age? You know nothing about life. You've only tasted a fraction of what it means to be alive. You're letting yourself go and you've accepted the fact that you've gone blind to what actually is right. Sit there and actually think for a second about what you're trying to do. You'll lose everything when the truth comes out. Everything. Your family, your friends, your life will be forfeit."
"By the time I'm done with him there won't be anyone left to stand in my way. My life starts over once this is done." I growled back in turn as his speech rubbed me the complete wrong way.
"He's not going to die to you. You can't kill your father. No matter how strong you think you are, that man will win. You'll never have what he has and it'll be your downfall. Do you know what that is?" He asked me.
"Common sense." Shadow replied as I was left to question what he meant. Thankfully he said to me next in confidence.
"Your dad has never let anyone run his life. He's never let someone make decisions for him. He's always been in control and he's always had an open mind towards any opinion that versus his own. You can't learn that. You yourself have to find it, but I fear you're too far gone."
As I chewed my food I stared at the man. I was content in just keeping my mouth shut now as he was clearly focused on something that didn't involve him. Without skipping a beat the man said to me sternly.
"You can't hide from this. When I get my chance to see you father I'm gonna tell him everything. You can't….?!" In an instant Shadow disappeared before my very eyes and it was so sudden even I looked surprised. In confusion, I began to look around the restaurant to make sure everything else was in order. After about a minute, I heard from within my own head.
"Don't be alarmed hun." It was Lia and her cheery tone chiming in now as I settled back down to continue eating where I had left off.
"I figured this would get out of hand at some point between you two. Shadow himself is quick to sniff out trouble and we can't have him going to your dad screaming our intentions. Not that I'm blaming you for this, but it will take some time for me to wipe his memory. Give me thirty minutes and I'll have him back to normal. Shouldn't even remember you." Lia claimed which is when I decided to ask her.
"Does this mean you're done doing what you had to do? Or am I still babysitting?"
"I should be able to handle everything from here babe. Thank you for helping out. Don't worry about Shadow from this point on. Go enjoy your life. I'll catch up with you after."
"Good luck." I whispered as I looked down at my plate. Chewing slowly to savor what flavor the meat had, I quickly realized just how angry I was after talking to that man.
Putting down my fork, I made the choice to expel some of that rage. Before I could begin I went into my pocket to pull out my phone. Giving Minky a call, he soon answered not long after I had stood up from the table to begin heading for the exit.
"Samantha?"
"I need a contract." I replied with.
"Ah ma'am! Wait a minute miss! You haven't….?" The waitress tried to stop me but before she could do anything I had teleported away from the area. Sending myself onto a nearby rooftop that overlooked the capital, I listened close as Minky asked me back.
"What kind of contract?"
"A bounty. Find me something in Afghanistan. Nothing too crazy. I just need to blow off some steam." My answer made him chuckle nervously. I remained patient however as he soon wondered.
"Do you care if it's another job posted by my betters? I know they'd gladly appreciate the helping hand."
"Yeah I don't care who's paying. Just send it to me and I'll head right out." I stated as I decided to jump back to base to get my things. I made sure to keep myself hidden from anyone in sight and once I had my gear I looked back at my phone to see the file coming from Minky's end.
Turns out this guy worked for the network. Sold information to the wrong hands and now they wanted him dead. I didn't care otherwise. All I saw was the man in the picture and I knew I had to uncaged my inner beast. All they needed for proof were pictures and those I could surely provide. After I let loose of course.
mT Shadow.