Chapter 118

Argus

Argus Smith stood in front of the view screen and watched the battle unfold. His right hand was stuffed into his pocket and was busy fidgeting with a crumpled piece of paper. The other hand was staunchly placed upon the pistol he had holstered onto his belt. His jaw was clenched, and he munched the inside of his mouth as he observed the fighting.

The initial assault of the Diamond Metal Sonic's had not gone at all as he had hoped. Somehow, the rebels had managed to hold a defensive line. So much for all those promises. His engineers and scientists had assured Argus that the Diamond Metal Sonics were unbeatable, that a single unit powered with a Sol Gem could decimate an entire army.

That is what I get for trusting. Argus had thought he had learned that lesson already. You could not trust anyone as they were always destined to fail you eventually. His scientists had underestimated the resolve and power of Sonic's friends and the remnants of Eggman's old empire. Not even Argus had anticipated the sudden assault upon the fortress. He had assumed that the location of the Eclipse Cannon was still a secret.

When the rebels command ship decloaked and began the assault, Argus had quickly made a call to his other military stations. The creation of Diamond Metal Sonic's had been heavily neutered by the loss of their arctic base, but the schematics had been shared to facilities across U.F territory. Only one of these stations had managed to create a sufficient number of prototypes and it was to this station that Argus had placed his hope.

Damn them. He thought bitterly. Argus had expected his threat of using the Eclipse Canon would be enough to stop the attack, but instead, it only emboldened the rebels. Worse still, the threat proved vain as somehow the rebels had managed to deflect the blast. The Diamond units, the Eclipse Canon, and the Hooligans, all of Argus' contingencies had fallen apart one by one. Diablon had been his last and best hope, and he had even gone so far as to pilot the mech himself. Yet in the critical moment, even Argus himself had failed.

Damn them. Argus resisted the urge to strike the glass ahead of him. He hated what he had been forced to do, but he had no other choice. Once the fortress had been breached and Diablon had been destroyed, he had no other option but to retreat. As his private jet left the canyon, he had hoped to at least witness the victory of the Diamond Metal Sonics, who had arrived too late to save the Eclipse Cannon, but seemingly just in time to destroy the terrorists.

Yet even this solace was denied him. The first wave of Diamond Metal Sonics were being thrown back. More reinforcements were set to arrive, but Argus could not stay to watch. His own safety was too important. This is not the end. He promised himself. He had worked too hard, sacrificed too much. Once Eggman knows what has happened, he will launch his invasion. The U.F had to be ready, GUN had to be ready. This war with Sonic's friends was a mere trifle compared to the war to come. As far back as when president Alexander had told Argus about the Sol Gems, Argus had known that there would have to be a war. That would be the price for humanity's future, their final test before establishing a new world order.

"President Smith." A voice spoke over the intercom. Argus turned away from the viewscreen. The bridge of the ship was empty. None of his soldiers were brave enough to stay in the same room with him anymore. "There is a problem with Area 99, we've lost contact."

"What?" Argus snarled. A vein on his forehead started to bulge. Rage filled his body and his blood started to boil.

"I'm trying to patch through, but I can't pick anything up…"

"Where are those other battalions? We need those Diamond units here now!"

"Sorry sir…there has been some kind of explosion. The facility it's…it's gone…"

Argus felt as if he might fall over. The ground beneath him started to drop at a steady incline. He lurched onto the captain's chair to support himself. "Get me in contact with someone…anyone…"

The intercom turned to static. Slowly, the channel stabilized, and he heard a voice through the other end. "Mr. President…" Argus stiffened. He recognized that voice.

"Bill, is that you? What the hell is going on over there? Where are those Diamond units-"

"I'm sorry sir….the other units were still inside the facility…they're gone…"

"What the hell happened-"

"You made a really big mistake the day you sent your goons after me, mr. hotshot."

Argus closed his eyes. Blood was pumping in his head so intensely he thought his veins might burst. It couldn't be. It was impossible. "You should have known better than to mess with Amy Rose," The voice continued. "I'm nobody's bargaining chip."

The room seemed to swim out of focus. Argus grappled for something to hold onto. His mind felt as if it were physically tearing in two. Another failure. The transmission died, but the lingering sound of that girl's voice remained. How? How had the least of Argus' concerns come back to bite him so severely? How had his trained marines, his mercenaries, his machines, his unlimited resources failed so spectacularly to capture a moronic pink hedgehog?

Argus tried to massage the knot that was forming behind his temples. Why was all this happening? How much more failure would he be forced to endure? Absent-mindedly, Argus withdrew the piece of paper from his pocket. He folded it open on the chair and stared at his daughter's final words to him. His mind could not take in their meaning, and the lines started to jumble together.

"Sir," The intercom came back on. The voice behind it sounded as if it were presiding over a funeral. "The battle is lost."

Argus didn't feel anything anymore. His body felt completely hollow. When he spoke, he did so in a tone of complete indifference. "Take us back to the capital. I must speak to the press. Prepare a statement blaming Metal Overlord for the attack."

"At once, sir."

He resumed his attempt to read the letter. However, it was as if something had snapped inside his brain. The letters seemed to move around the page and frustrate his ability to form them into words. BANG! Argus snapped to attention, his eyes darting to the door. He waited half a second before he heard another gunshot. BANG! He heard doors open and shut and footsteps rushing across the room.

"Sir, there's an intruder its-" The feed died and a low buzzing sound filled the room. Argus drew his gun. He felt completely calm as he strode forward. The door to the bridge opened with a soft hiss. His special service agents lay unconscious in the hallway. Their guns lay in scattered pieces on the floor. Beyond the door at the opposite end of the hall, Argus could hear groaning and a stifled yell.

Argus held his pistol up and crept forward. The door opened automatically. In the center of the main control room stood Rouge the Bat. A dozen service agents lay unconscious around her. "I knew you would try and run away." Rouge had her back to him, and when she turned Argus noticed a glinting steel katana connected to a belt around her waist. "It was a simple matter of stowing myself on board and waiting for my moment." Rouge did not smile. The agent Argus had known before would have taken this moment to gloat over her prey. Instead, her expression was icy cold and full of hate. "I had to be the one to get you," She said softly.

"So you have," Argus growled. He extended his arms to expose his chest, but made sure to keep his pistol in his hand. "Why hesitate to strike?"

Rouge didn't move. Her blue eyes were icy shards that glared back at Argus. "I want you to know why you failed. I want you to know the names of the heroes who beat you."

"Freaks and monsters," Argus replied casually. "The very vermin I was attempting to save this world from."

"How often we make the monsters that we come to dread. I helped make GUN what it was, so I share some of the blame. The ghosts that have come back to haunt you are the ones that you put in the ground. Charmy, Vector, Espio, they all died on your orders, but because of them everything you have built will crumble." Rouge took a defiant step forward. Her eyes were locked on Argus, but her hand had moved over to the hilt of her sword.

Argus didn't move. He knew that Rouge's reflexes were leagues faster than his own. When he did strike, he would not be afforded a second chance. "And what about what you've built? What will rise in my place? Once GUN is defeated, who will protect the world?"

"Humanity will have to take care of itself for a change."

Argus sneered. He slowly drew his arms back in, but kept his pistol aimed at the floor. "You do not know humans. Most prefer to live with their heads buried in the sand. It has always been our way to cede control and authority over to a few. Take me down, but another will take my place. I offered the lesser of two evils, but you have chosen to uphold your virtue over the bitter reality of life."

Rouge took another step forward. "I once said something very similar. I told Espio that to protect the world you have to be willing to do anything. I believed in GUN, I believed that your way of viewing the world was the correct one. But then I saw where that kind of thinking leads. If you are the indispensable shield, the indispensable truth, then not only must you be willing to do anything no matter how unjust, or cruel or evil, but you have a moral obligation to do so." Her eyes narrowed, Argus knew the moment of truth was drawing near. He readied himself to act. His hand was slick against the metal of his gun.

"We claimed to be protecting the world, but that was never the case. Everything we did was in the pursuit of our own power, of our own essential place in the world. We were too afraid to face the truth, the real truth." Rouge stopped. She was about six feet away from Argus, just beyond the reach of her sword.

"And what is truth?" Argus spat. "All that matters is whether you can get me with that sword before I get you. That is all life is. It is a test of wills, an arena."

Rouge smirked. "No repentance then? Even here, at the end?"

Argus answered by firing his weapon. The bullet flew straight and true and seemed destined to strike Rouge directly in the heart. There was a flash of silver. She had drawn her sword and cut the air. The diagonal slice carved the bullet in two.

"Impossible…." Rouge dashed forward. Argus' second bullet glanced harmlessly off the ceiling as Rouge kicked him in the stomach. The air was knocked out of his lungs and he lurched forward. SMACK! She struck him in the face with the butt of her sword. His cheek bone felt as if it had shattered. Argus tumbled to the ground, but Rouge did not let up. A flurry of punches and kicks riddled his body. Argus could do nothing but groan and attempt to cover his head. The room swam out of focus. All Argus knew was the pain that was erupting all over his body.

Rouge dropped down on top of him, and rolled him over onto his back. She straddled him and started to rain down a storm of punches. Argus could not even protect himself. Tears streamed down his face that mingled with blood that was slowly coating Rouge's gloves. He did not know how long it lasted. Eventually, Rouge paused and staggered away from him. Argus groaned and wept. He was bruised everywhere and the skin around his eyes had swelled up, making it almost impossible for him to see.

He heard the clatter of steel as Rouge recovered her weapon. She lowered the point of her sword and pressed it onto the back of Argus' neck. "Do it…" He spluttered. "Have your revenge…it won't mean anything…" Argus turned back. The room was blurry but he could see Rouge's face quite clearly. Tears stained her makeup and came pouring down her cheeks.

"No…" She said softly. Her expression hardened. "We need you to admit what you've done. You must stand before everyone and admit everything."

Argus spat out a glob of blood. A few of his teeth went with it. "They won't let you kill me. I will go to prison or face the justice of the courts. This is your only chance…"

Rouge hesitated. Her eyes darted to the point of her sword. Argus could practically feel the conflict raging inside her. Then suddenly, a voice spoke over the plane's intercom. "President Smith, a ship has just appeared over the capital….it…" There was a rush of static. Both Rouge and Argus turned towards the source of the commotion. It was coming out of the plane's radio. "Sir, there are ships decloaking all over the place, Station Square, Westopolis…."

"What is that?" Rouge demanded. She pressed the sword point deeper into Argus' neck. She sounded terrified.

Argus smiled grimly. "He has come…The emperor is here."

Rouge drew back. She rushed over to the radio and picked it up. "Put it on the screen!"

"Who is this?" The voice on the other side of the line asked.

"Do it!"

The viewscreen behind Rouge lit up. A dozen camera feeds displayed huge flying

fortresses hovering above all of the U.F's major cities. Clunk. Rouge's sword fell to the floor. On each ship was a single slogan; the face of Dr. Eggman.

"I told you," Argus said slowly. Blood drizzled out of his mouth as he laughed faintly. "This is what I was protecting you from and now-" BANG! The plane jerked violently. Rouge looked around in surprise. Suddenly, there was a roar of a huge engine burning just outside the walls of the plane. Rouge scooped up her sword just as another sound reverberated throughout the room. Something heavy had just connected to the outside of the plane. There was a loud bang! And then a storm of footsteps.

Rouge gave Argus a final look before jumping into the air and slipping into an air vent. Mere seconds later, the doors opened. Argus turned to see a squadron of wolves in red armor file into the room. The leader pointed at Argus. Immediately, one of the soldiers rushed over to him. Argus tried to speak, but the last thing he saw was at the bottom of a black boot, and then everything went dark.

When Argus woke he felt something slick against his face. He recoiled from it and sat up. The movement made him see stars. A room of vivid blue blurred into focus around him. He sat in what appeared to be a highly advanced control room. Sleek looking machines operated a dozen consoles set in a ring around a raised dais. A large man sat in the cockpit before a viewscreen the length of the wall. Beyond the screen, Argus could see the smoke filled ruins of a destroyed city.

Argus groaned and had to resist the temptation to collapse. His head was bleeding and he could see a dark stain of blood in his shirt. He had no idea how he managed to survive, but now that he had, Argus intended to stay that way. His rustling caught the attention of the man in the cockpit. Doctor Robotnik rose and stepped awkwardly down the dais steps. His time away from earth had led to Robotnik expanding in size, his physical body as well as his ego. It was clearly difficult for him to even stand beneath the weight of his ornate cloaks, crown and golden scepter.

"You followed my directions admirably Commander. The earth was nearly in your grasp." Robotnik smiled, stretching his lips to menacing proportions.

"What have you done?"

"Me?" Robotnik pressed his hand to his chest and acted confused. "I have simply liberated the earth from GUNs tyranny. As we speak the public is learning the truth of what you have done, of who is really responsible for firing the Eclipse Canon. All of your forts and facilities are currently under attack and shall fall to my forces within the hour."

"Was that your plan all along you disgusting freak?"

Robotnik leaned onto his scepter and sneered into Argus' face. "You were more clever than I initially supposed. Claiming the Eclipse Canon for yourselves was a stroke of genius, and not one I had suspected. Then you went and made your own little army of Metal Sonics. I must admit, I was impressed. But you overplayed your hand. My return has always been inevitable."

"What the hell was the point of all this? Why come back here at all?"

"This is my home, my birthright. What kind of emperor would I be if I didn't control my own homeworld?"

"You're no emperor. You're a sideshow freak. A circus clown. Everyone on this planet hates you."

Robotnik brushed the insults aside. "They will hate you more. Once they know what their military did, how it controlled their innocent President, how it murdered him in cold blood when he tried to stand up for them. You will be the devil to them, and I will be the savior." Robotnik reached into his cloak and drew out a Sol Gem. "I will give out the Sol Gems freely. As you should have done from the start. I advised against it, because I knew it would play into your suspicious and greedy nature. Under my guidance you have turned yourselves into the perfect villains, and I emerge as the perfect hero. Sonic cannot restore what they have lost. Only I can rebuild the U.F and transform it into a nation of the future. The rest of the earth shall follow and be absorbed into my cosmic empire."

Argus spat a glob of blood onto Robotnik's shoes. "No one will ever believe you. You don't know the first thing about duty, about sacrifice. I gave everything I had to this country, to ensure its safety."

"You have been a pawn," Robotnik snapped. The diplomacy in his voice switched in an instant. His natural voice was harsh and metallic, lacking any kind of human warmth. "Your legacy on this earth is nothing but death and violence. You will die unmourned and no one will remember your name except as a curse."

"My army won't betray me. G.U.N will keep fighting-" Robotnik interrupted him with a cackle of viscous laughter.

"G.U.N has already surrendered. The capital fell to me as soon as my ship entered its airspace. Your soldiers hate you. It is over. You have nothing left, everything you have ever built or strived to build is dead. Your family is dead, your works are destroyed, and your legacy will be corrupted."

Argus couldn't think of anything to say. Rage had been shielding him against despair, but he felt those walls crumble. Horrible regret thundered inside him. He thought of his daughter and the grandson he had never gotten to know. His whole life, all those hours in the office, all the people he had deemed expendable…what was it all for? It could not end like this, he could not let his entire life be drowned in the wake of the monster standing before him. There had to be something left, some vestige of his life he could hang on to.

"You can keep your dignity," Robotnik said quietly. "I could take you back to Arvana and let Mesto have you. He would break you down and reveal you to be the worm that you are. I am more merciful. I will let you face your death with courage. Though it is a false courage, let it be the one thing you carry with you into the great abyss." Robotnik reached to his side and drew Argus' own pistol. It fit strangely in his hand, almost comical. Robotnik wielded it clumsily as he held it up. "I rarely do this kind of thing, but in this instance it feels right. This is for my cousin, for Maria."

"Maria?" BANG! Argus felt the bullet strike him in the chest. He fell backward and gasped as all the air shot out of his lungs. His view was obstructed by Robotnik who towered over him. His small beady eyes glinted with malicious triumph. Argus' legs twitched as he struggled to breath. Every second that passed was an agony. Dark spots appeared at the corner of his eyes that grew steadily larger. Argus struggled to remain conscious. Fear was possessing him. Darkness was slowly pulling him downward while Argus fought to remain above ground. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, the darkness spread over him. Argus twitched a final time before slipping through the earth and vanishing into nothing.