Chapter 103
Babylon Garden
Amy had never been anywhere like Babylon Garden. She had visited Little Planet, Angel Island, and had even gone to space, but as foreign as those places were, nothing quite matched the alien serenity of Babylon Garden. Waterfalls fell down steep cliffs that seemed to rise unexpectedly out of the jungle terrain. These foaming rushes of water almost all concealed hidden temples or ancient alcoves. The air itself felt different, but not as one would have expected considering their altitude. If anything Amy felt as if the air was richer and not thinner.
This sense of contradiction extended to the ruins. Rather than feeling old they seemed to not belong to the environment at all, in fact they seemed completely disconnected from the world in general. Though they were all empty and silent, there was still an electric like energy that made the entire place hum.
Upon arriving at the gardens, the Babylon Rogues had left Amy to her own devices. She had wandered out of their main hideout and took to exploring the nearby jungle. Amy had not really been trying to escape, but it would not have mattered anyway. When she reached the edge of the plateau she found herself standing at the edge of the world. Clouds hovered beneath her feet, and though she could see the extension of the terrain, it felt almost as if the Babylon Gardens floated above the world, like a twin of Angel Island.
After her day of exploration, Amy had returned to the main sanctuary that the Rogues called home. The hideout was made of bronze and, when the many lanterns and torches were lit, they shone as if they were made of gold. However, that was only a petty taste of the riches that were hoarded there. Jet, Wave, and Storm had spent their time emptying their treasury. They filled what may have once been an old altar room with stacks and stacks of gold bars, precious gems, famous artworks, and all other manners of wealth. Amy could hardly believe that they had amassed such a fortune from robbery alone. What else could they want? No one could possibly spend all that wealth in a hundred lifetimes. Yet, as Amy watched the Rogues pack up their treasures, they did so jealousy. Fights and squabbles broke out among them as they each sought to claim certain treasures.
This display only made the hole in Amy's heart feel even heavier. She slank away to an empty alcove beside a dry fountain. There was a crack in the ceiling above her, and Amy laid down to watch the stars. She recalled her dream from back in her cell. Amy yearned to return to that dream, to a time without the anxiety that currently assailed her. She felt tempted to close her eyes and let her mind wander. She could just pretend that everything was alright. In the safety of her own imagination, Amy was no one's prisoner, Sonic was always at her side, and he wanted to be with her. Amy felt her heart swoon with an almost painful thirst for that dream to become real. But then it slipped away. Amy would not let herself become lost in fantasy. Reality was cold and cruel, but she knew that she owed it to someone, though she couldn't say to whom, that she had to face it.
Nightfall at Babylon Garden was even more beautiful than the day. The stars and moon casted a silver light that was no less bright than the sun itself. Amy tried to sleep, but the sound of rushing waterfalls was too loud. She stood and began to explore the sanctuary. This must have been the heart of whatever civilization had once lived here. It was not as empty as the other temples. There were statues of fierce looking guardians, and murals painted along the walls. Amy followed the paintings deeper into the temple. She saw strange portraits of divine looking beings riding the wind with what appeared to be magic carpets.
Near the heart of the sanctuary, Amy found a set of double doors that had collapsed. The ruined marble was shattered along the floor. She tiptoed near the wreckage and peered past them. The doors led into a narrow hall illuminated by a blue glass floor. Amy leapt over the broken doors and walked inside. She felt as if she had entered an old church. There were huge stained glass windows built inside intricately carved arches. The windows caught the light of the moon and transformed the silver beams into a refracted rainbow of purple, red, and blue light.
At the end of the hall was a kind of altar set before the largest mural of all. Amy approached it with hesitation. There was a heaviness to the artifact that made her tremble. The mural displayed a hollow ringed continent that soared above the heavens. Set inside the ring was a black orb. Amy crept closer. Her breathing slowed. Slowly, she moved her hand towards the orb. When she touched the black shape she did not feel the stone beneath. Instead, her finger seemed to puncture the hole. Amy cried out as her feet drifted forward. "No!" Amy pulled her hand away and leapt backwards. She stumbled on the dais steps and fell.
"What are you doing?" Jet caught Amy easily and pushed her back to her feet.
She brushed down her dress and blushed. "Uh nothing…I just…I couldn't sleep."
Jet's eyes narrowed with suspicion, but he did not press the subject. Instead, he turned towards the mural. A somber look came upon him, and Jet frowned. "What is this place?" Amy ventured.
"I told you, this is Babylon Garden."
"That might be the name, but what happened here? Did you just happen to find this place or-"
"This is our home," Jet said firmly.
"You were born here?"
"We all were." Jet kept his eyes on the mural. His expression hardened and his eyes gleamed as if he were staring through the solid wall.
"But…where is everyone?"
"We…we are all that's left." Jet turned towards Amy. "We are the last of the Babylonians."
Amy said nothing. She did not like the way Jet was staring at her. She turned aside and motioned to the mural. Jet took the hint. "This sanctuary was once a ship that my ancestors used to traverse the cosmos." He pointed to the black orb in the center of the ring. "It was powered by an energy source called the Ark of the Cosmos."
Amy shook her head. "Wait…what? Are you saying that you…you're an alien?"
"I was born on earth. But my ancestors came here from far away."
Amy stared at him in disbelief. "But…this island, it can't be a spaceship. It's too large, that-"
"I don't understand it either," Jet admitted. "But I believe what my father told me."
"What did he tell you?" Amy wondered.
"That our people once roamed the universe. As easily as we ride the winds of this planet, we once rode the currents of the very universe. But we did not earn this power. Our people stole the Ark of the Cosmos from other beings. We thought we understood the technology, but that wasn't the case. My ancestors lost control of the Ark, and they feared that the power they had unleashed would create a black hole that would destroy them. As a final measure, they broke the Ark of the Cosmos into pieces and jettisoned it onto the planet they had been stranded on; earth. Without an engine to power the ship, Babylon Garden was left floating above earth's surface."
"Like Angel Island," Amy whispered.
"Yes, and like the tribes of Angel Island, we suffered a similar fate. My people were not built for stagnation. Marooned on earth, my ancestors returned to that ancient practice that had given us the Ark in the first place; thievery. The Babylonians were the greatest thieves in history and they amassed a stupendous fortune. My ancestors hoped that they could regain the pieces of the Ark, however, at some point the thievery became and end in of itself. They stole to steal, and to hoard wealth and treasure. This angered the gods, and Babylon
Garden was thrown down to the earth. Ever since then my people dwindled. Now…we are the only ones left. The promise of restoring the Ark, is all but forgotten." Jet could not hide the note of bitterness in his tone.
He lowered his head and sighed. "The worst part is, we cannot even stay here."
"Why not? Isn't it safe?"
"For now. But Goldstone knew how to find us. It won't be long before GUN breaks into his servers and finds us as well. Tomorrow, we will take the Primrose and take to the skies, we will take our fortune with us, but we will be leaving everything behind."
Amy wrestled with herself as she watched Jet. She knew this was a bad time, but she would not have many more chances. "Then don't run, at least, not forever. There are others who can fight GUN, we just have to find them and band together. This is your home, you can't just abandon it."
Jet shook his head. "There is no point in fighting. We are all that's left. If we die, then our entire civilization fades away."
"But if you hide, then everything that made your civilization worth something will die."
Jet's feathers ruffled as if Amy had struck him. His eyes narrowed with rage, and it looked as if he were going to start screaming at her, but then, his eyes softened and he became sad again. "Perhaps that is our fate. We usurped a land that was never ours to begin with. Everything we have suffered, and everything we have lost has been our just penalty." Jet looked mournfully at the mural. "When my father first told me the legend, I swore in my heart I would be the one to find the pieces of the Ark. I swore to restore this island, and to take it across the stars. Instead, I became just another petty thief in a long line of petty criminals."
He drew out a sparkling blue cube carved in ancient ruins. "This is the key to our return. My father gave it to me in the hope that once the Ark was restored I could power up the garden once again. That dream is dead now, it's been dead for a long time…"
Amy watched the pained expression on Jet's face and felt a rush of sympathy. "I'm not really Sonic's girlfriend."
The sudden admission caught Jet off guard. Amy didn't care, she didn't know why she was even telling Jet this, but she had the sudden realization that it didn't really matter. "I love Sonic, and I think he loves me back, but not in the same way. I thought that if I stayed around him, if I nagged him enough, then he would eventually see me the same way I see him. I didn't think it mattered that he didn't reciprocate. Loving Sonic became who I was. I…" Amy glanced down at the floor, suddenly embarrassed by what she was feeling. "I became somewhat famous on the lie that I was his girlfriend. The idea became more real than the thing itself. I wanted Sonic so badly…that I always ended up pushing him away. I've let the idea of him control my life…"
Tears fell down her cheeks, but Amy didn't care. "Even now, I'm basing my decisions on what I think he'd want me to do. I was so captured by who he was, I forgot to become someone myself. I don't even know what I believe in. I let the idea of a dream control me until I forgot I was even asleep. There's nothing more pathetic than that." She turned to look at Jet, and to her surprise he also seemed on the verge of tears.
His hand moved slowly towards hers. Their fingers intertwined and Amy felt a reassuring pressure go up her arm. "Perhaps now is the time to wake up," He said intently. "We never became who we wanted to be, but that doesn't mean that we are nothing."
Amy took a bold step forward. She was only a few inches away from Jet now. Their eyes were locked onto one another, completely oblivious to the serenity of the scene around them. "I see it in you," She said faintly. "I see the spark of someone who can be a real hero, not just a thief. Don't run away." Amy squeezed Jet's hand. "I may not know why, but I do know that I cannot sit back and let GUN take over the world. Not without a fight."
Jet looked down at her. For a moment, his stern expression broke and he seemed on the verge of speaking. But then there was a colossal BOOM! The temple walls shuddered and several of the glass windows shattered. Amy screamed and covered her head. Jet covered her with his wing and pulled her away from the falling glass.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Explosions detonated from seemingly every direction. Jet took Amy by the hand and raced out of the hall. Up head they heard the trumping of footsteps and the distant yells of human voices. Amy followed Jet as he led her back towards the main sanctuary.
When they arrived, they found the other Rogues already awake. Wave had a tablet in her hand and was typing very quickly. "I've activated the self flight controls on the Primrose. It's going to get airborne before they can take it down. We won't have time to wait, we'll have to meet it on the way."
Jet hurried over towards Storm who was busy getting their extreme gear ready. Amy watched with trepidation as the Rogues readied their boards. The boards were an already impressive piece of tech, but now the Rogues had powered them up with Sol Gems. Each board hummed with vibrant energy. "We need to go now!" Jet had Amy stand on his board while he made a few last minute adjustments.
Wave finished typing and pocketed her tablet. She rushed over to Storm and took her own board in hand. "I'm ready-"
BANG! The doors to the inner sanctuary burst open. Dozens of GUN soldiers came rushing inside with guns raised. "Put your hands up!" The soldiers screamed, but it was too late. Wave leapt onto her board and it roared to life. In a burst of pink light she shot forward and knocked the soldiers aside as she made her escape. Jet leapt onto the board in front of Amy and followed close behind.
Amy could not afford to do anything but cling desperately to Jet. She had no idea how he was managing to orient himself on his extreme gear. The board seemed to have a life of its own. They zoomed up, down and all around in dizzying circles that made Amy's stomach drop. She closed her eyes and pushed her face into Jet's back to keep from throwing up. Gunfire echoed overhead and Amy could hear the scream of the board's engine as they gained speed.
Eventually, Amy felt wind whip against her face as they left the sanctuary behind. She opened her eyes just a peek to see them zip into the forest. Jet weaved and darted through the trees without even slowing down. Amy couldn't watch for long so she closed her eyes again. A few seconds later, she heard the roar of a nearby plane. She looked up to see the Primrose hovering in the air just beyond the edge of the plateau. The gap between the ship and the edge was almost a hundred feet. Amy realized what was about to happen seconds before it did. She screamed and held onto Jet as hard as she could. The board left the ground and soared through the empty sky for two heart pulsing seconds. Jet landed perfectly inside the hangar of the Primrose.
Wave was already there. Her board lay on the floor as she rushed up the ladder to take control of the helm. The ship started to turn and Amy saw why. Military choppers were gunning towards them at rapid speed. Amy heard the whir of their machine guns readying to fire. "Where's Storm?" Wave bellowed.
Amy looked back. Storm's board was still racing out of the forest. If the Primrose waited for him to get there, the choppers would be on them. "Pull out!" Jet ordered.
The ground shifted beneath Amy as Wave turned the ship in a swift right hand turn. However, Wave did not activate the thrusters. She was going to wait for Storm. "GO!" Jet screamed. There was no choice to be made. The choppers were already in firing range. The engines of the Primrose roared to life just as Storm launched over the plateau. He was halfway towards the ship, when the choppers changed targets. Jet held out his hand and echoed a silent scream as the bullets destroyed Storm's board. The albatross fell just as the Primrose started to streak across the sky.
"NO!" Jet's hand fell as Storm and his board exploded in a flash of sparks and gunfire. The Primrose shuddered as it gained speed and height. Amy figured that Wave was attempting to neutralize GUN's helicopters by hiding in the clouds. The gambit seemed to work as the sound of whirring choppers steadily receded.
"DAMN IT!" Jet slammed his fist into the wall. His head dropped as he slowly pressed the button that closed the hangar doors. Silence fell. Amy crept back into a corner. Jet's rage was palpable.
"Where do we go?" Wave's voice was shaky and trembling as she called down.
"Just….just go…" Jet managed. "There isn't-" Suddenly an alarm inside the ship rang out.
"There is something coming!" Wave shouted.
"Lose them!" Jet leapt up the ladder, and Amy followed closely behind. Through the main view screen, all Amy could see was a dense carpet of thick clouds. However, on the main monitor, Amy could see several orange dots pinging on the radar.
"What the hell?" Jet's eyes widened with fear. "No GUN ship can outrun the Primrose."
BANG! They all screamed and jumped back as something slammed into the view screen. Amy nearly spat out her heart as she saw a crystallized metal hedgehog crawling on the glass. A pulsing pink energy illuminated its chest and it reared back as if were about to fire some kind of weapon. "DODGE!"
Wave did not need the warning. She jerked the controls all the way to her right causing the Primrose to barrel roll. Amy flew towards the ceiling and just managed to avoid crushing her skull. PRRRRSST! A blinding pink light flashed outside the view screen, but it missed hitting the ship.
"We're sitting ducks in here," Jet said as he recovered his footing. "I'll have to go out there." Without waiting to be told how foolish an idea that was, Jet leapt back to the platform and recovered his extreme gear. He punched the hanger doors open and then rode his board out into the open air. Amy watched in disbelief as Jet was lost in the clouds.
"Does this thing have any weapons?" She asked.
Wave shook her head. "Everything here is meant for speed, nothing should be able to catch us." WHOOSH! A green streak zipped past the screen. Amy looked and saw Jet circling around two of the diamond plated metal Sonic's. It seemed as if Jet was attempting to slam his board into them with enough force to knock them out of the sky.
"What the hell are those things?" Wave despaired. THUNK! Something heavy landed on the roof above them. Amy yelped and retreated back to the corner of the room. CRRRRRK! Her ears rang as metal fingers started to tear a hole through the roof. Amy screamed as a hand shot through the gap. Wave made another desperate attempt to shake off their attacker, but it was no use. Amy was flung this way and that as their attacker continued to advance. Eventually, its head was forced through the opening. Two burning red eyes glared at Amy. Set between them was a pulsing pink rock; a Sol Gem.
Wave abandoned the helm and turned around to face the enemy. She and Amy instinctively closed ranks. The Diamond Sonic finished tearing through the roof and landed with a heavy thud. Its frame was angled to the point where every edge seemed razor sharp. Its fingers were practically knives and its armor looked all but impenetrable. "If you can," Wave whispered faintly. "Attack the housing holding the gem, it's less protected." She didn't wait for the invader to initiate the fight. Wave rushed forward, but she may as well have been moving in slow motion. The Diamond Sonic sidestepped her with ease and slashed at her side. Wave moved aside, but she received several long scratches across her hip.
"Argh!" Amy blitzed and tried to tackle the steel monstrosity. It didn't move so much as move. She threw her weight against it, but it did not budge.
"Target Identified." A cold robotic voice spoke out of the machine. "Return unharmed." It rose one hand and chopped down at Amy's shoulder, striking her almost at the neck. Amy's legs gave out and she collapsed to the floor. Her vision blurred as the single strike sent a shockwave throughout her entire body.
"Take her!" Wave insisted. "Just take her and go!"
However, the machine did not leave. It stepped coldly towards Wave. "Ships' contents are to be taken. Extras are to die."
Wave sneered. Amy watched as the swallow reached behind her and removed something from her belt. "Extras are we?" Wave jerked forward, but Diamond Sonic caught her by the wrist. The pen shaped device she had just tried to stab into its face started to whir. Suddenly, a bolt of electricity shot out of the end. The sparks caught the Diamond Sonic off guard and it doubled back. Wave used her chance to strike. She tried to stab her pen into the casing where it held its Sol Gem, but the machine managed to twist and slash one of its back quills across Wave's face.
Amy tried to stand up, but it was as if her muscles didn't work anymore. The room was slowly darkening around her. No! To stay awake she dug her nails into her arm. She pushed until she drew blood. The pain anchored her to the moment.
Diamond Sonic had regained its footing. It flung Wave across the room where she flattened against the wall. Her eyes closed and Amy thought the blow might have actually killed her. Diamond Sonic strode over to tower over its prey. It seemed to be scanning her. At that moment, Wave's eyes shot open. She fired another shot of electricity out of her tool, but the same trick would not work twice. The Diamond Sonic avoided the blow and kicked her in the chest. She gasped as all the air was knocked out of her. Wave's pen flew out of her hand and landed on the floor a few inches from Amy.
With sheer force of will, Amy made her arm reach out and seize the weapon. She staggered to her feet and limped forward. The Diamond Sonic was too busy preparing to finish off Wave. It's hand reared back as it readied to stab her in the heart. "ARHH!" Amy let out a battle cry as she wrapped one hand around its head and pulled. As soon as she saw the gem she stabbed. The pen inserted right into the groove between Sol Gem and skull. Amy pried it back and there was a terrible creek! The gem ripped free of its casing and clattered to the floor.
A hand reached out and seized Amy by the throat. The Diamond Sonic lifted her off her feet. Amy was forced to stare down into a cold metal face. She could not resist the dreadful sense of irony that came over her. Amy would die staring into the apathetic, and emotionless reflection of Sonic.
"Die!" Wave was back on her feet. She tackled the Diamond Sonic and all three of them fell to the floor. What followed was a frantic sort of wrestling match. Amy and Wave wrapped themselves around the machine until it was pinned to the floor. Without its Sol Gem to power it, it was not nearly as strong. Wave wrapped one leg over the machine's neck and held it firm. She took a second pen out of her belt and jabbed it into the hole where the Sol Gem had been. Wave activated the device and jolts of electricity started pulsing through the Diamond Sonic. Its body jerked and then stopped.
Wave exhaled and rolled off of it. Amy slowly let go as well. The red eyes of the Diamond Sonic had gone dark. Bang! Amy's heart sank. They could not fight anymore of them. However, instead of more Diamond Sonic's, it was Jet. He had returned to the hanger. His right side was covered in scars and burn marks. A deep scar bled openly above his right eye. He nodded solemnly at Wave. "Let's get out of here."