AN: I'm baaaaaaaaaack~!
I'm…sorry for the long long wait. Well, I had more focus on publishing the first half of my Bad Guys story, but I stopped for a while. I wanted to focus more on my university work alongside some personal issues.
If anyone asks, no, I don't have withdrawal symptoms.
However, I am making my return after finishing my last university assessments! It'll take a while, but this chapter should be a taste of what will come soon! At least a promise that it's not over yet.
I want to thank Shadgirl2 for some of the recent reviews! You're awesome. ;)
Now, sit back and enjoy!
Chapter 31
Despite throwing Dave and his minion out of the circus tent, Agatha was still required to have the G.U.N investigate the place. Unfortunately, that meant she needed to postpone Part 2 of her circus show for a later date. It was already dark when we went out, but fortunately, it didn't seem that people would need to wait until midnight to leave.
Agent Stone was already away, probably in another space, to look for the two robbers. Fiyero decided to wait outside as I recognized a few G.U.N agents guarding the tent. I was surprised that they didn't ask me to look around for the robbers.
Maybe it was because they had no time while Agatha and I were slowly getting caught up with each other's misadventures. Or maybe they wanted me to keep an eye out for Agatha. They were staring at us for too long.
Anyway, well, I wasn't sure if it was probably from the revelation of seeing a fellow jackal again or the ruby's energy of fear of her worrisome robots, but I was giddy in bubbly energy by the story she shared as we came out of the tent.
"And that's how Fender and Ryder came back looking like a sandwich," she narrated, fiddling with her hat brim as she recalled THAT memory. "To put it simply, the guy said, 'It ain't chummy if you don't have a slimy salami between them'."
I covered my mouth, trying to suppress another barking laugh. "Oh-ho-ho-ho! So that explains why they could not separate themselves from each other for the next two days. I honestly thought that bakery's oven somehow got them glued together."
"That's impossible. It was only a few egg yolks sticking them together. Nevertheless, that's why Zero didn't want to go to that bakery again or me planning birthday surprises."
As she said that, Agatha pulled down her hat as if sheepish. She giggled while her cheeks blushed at the likely bashful memory.
There was the former mercenary I knew. The sunny aura she displayed. Whenever she looked back on a mistake, she was quick to laugh at where it went wrong.
I was glad to come here. Wouldn't expect seeing an old friend to be working around at this spot.
After walking further away from the circus tent, something stirred in my mind as Agatha talked. I was still processing the surprise and words from last night echoed in my mind. I didn't mean to feel worried about them.
My smile faded from my muzzle. Despite the pep talk from Fiyero, I couldn't help wonder what Agatha might have thought.
Yes, she was only with the squad for six months, but what kind of impressions did she have in the end? She got along well with the others. We all shared the same weariness and bond with Zero. If you ask, I see Agatha as a good member of the team for her determination and optimism.
But did she share the same sentiment as Ice towards me? About how I seem to be ignorant at times? Was everyone on the team frustrated with me?
"I'm telling you!" chattered Agatha without stopping. "You got to try the hair dyes! I know you guys like to man up your personalities, but at least have fun with how your hairstyles are shaped."
"Hey, Agatha?" I mumbled, sounding distant.
"Yes?"
I bit my lip to remind myself not to let any vulnerability get to me. "Weird question, but do you know how the squad thought of me?"
Agatha's smile faded, concerned. "What do you mean?"
I adopted a neutral stance, telling myself I could still make up if things were unresolved. "My run-in with Ice wasn't good. He knew that I was a mess. He claimed I never cared about anything. He got it from Phoenix. I'm fine, but I'm curious-"
Agatha just snorted. "Obsidian, Ice was probably being funny. Get your mind out of a gutter, soldier."
My eyes narrowed. This was serious. "It's just that I haven't been thinking much about my squad until lately and I'm sorry for not being so considerate in honoring their memory. There was the possibility I might have done bad things to them. Like not being a good friend back then. Or forgetting to do the right things for them."
Her soft eyes widened, a little bit in fear. It took her a few seconds to respond. "You're gonna sound like you're talking nonsense. First, what did Ice say that sounded like what Phoenix would say?"
A lump formed in my neck, but I swallowed it down. "My head was in the clouds for too long."
It took every willpower for me not to let my stoic face crack. But I flinched when Agatha opened her mouth and looked sideways as if familiar with that statement.
"God, I remember that time," she said to herself. She directed her glowing yellow eyes back at me. "I…saw what happened. He wasn't spiteful when he said it. You have to understand he wasn't in the right mood. He didn't mean it. It was at a bad time when he lashed out at Ice."
I nodded. "Phoenix might still hold a grudge whenever that quirk of mine flared up again."
Agatha sharply exhaled. Disbelief was written over her face like I was some stranger. I froze. This was suddenly the reaction I feared to confront. Did I say something wrong?
"You sound like Zero," she said finally, sadly. "You are a good friend and definitely are. I've seen you play around with Paz and Ace. Like doing sword-fighting. Having the zoomies." When I raised an eye, Agatha looked embarrassed. "OK, forget that word. But the point is, we are alright with each other. I don't know how 'forgetful' you are, but it wasn't a problem."
There was the urge to grimace, but my ruby stepped in the way. My body jolted a little from the ruby's zapping. And from there, it told me not to take this in disdain.
"Nobody didn't see the problem with you 'having your head in the clouds'. Maybe one or two times, but they aren't THAT bad. And, well, you know that we sometimes forget to take things seriously."
That would also be something Fiyero would say: being with the people you love without placing yourself above. And this confirmation made a lot of sense. In my grieving, I nearly looked past the good things. Thinking back to the memory I shared with him, even though me, Ace and Paz were being risky with sharp weapons, none of us held hard feelings for each other.
I shrugged off Paz accidentally stabbing me in the shoulder and even found it funny. Paz nearly freaked out when Ace didn't listen, but he quickly forgave him when the latter obeyed. Nobody was trying to be perfect and even when we had a problem, it didn't…last long.
I felt stupid when I thought that. Is that me having my head in the clouds? Not seeing the good things from my previous life? Did I block them out and focus on every mistake I might have made?
Despite feeling more stoic, I couldn't help wincing in embarrassment and regret. "Well, crap. I should have thought about that. I'm sorry for overestimating. It…" It felt like a curse beating me down. "...was selfish."
Agatha's eyes softened again, patting my shoulder in empathy. "Don't overthink it. I can understand why since you've been working through a lot of guilt ever since…" She didn't finish that sentence. With a wistful look, she decided not to bring up my squad's death. "But the last thing any of us want would be one of us drifting away like this."
Holding onto those words, she grabbed my collar firmly and pulled me close to her. Her glowing eyes were brighter, intimidating. I couldn't blame her since she was probably frustrated for a good reason.
"Just swear, Obsidian, that you WON'T forget that we're all part of the same screwed-up family, no matter who we are," she said.
My ruby hummed warmly in my chest. I didn't need to ask what it was thinking because I was thinking the same thing too. And we would know it was a stern reminder not to forget how much I would mean to my friends. I gave Agatha a nod with a returning smile. She returned the smile and rubbed my hair.
"Good," she said, grinning. "You know, you still have the best intentions. It's a good start. Just next time, don't say it like it's the end of the world, OK?"
A young voice cleared his throat near us. The two of us turned our heads to find a young yellow fox. I nearly mistook him for the fox animatronic until I saw that his eyes were white and not black. He was shorter than us, wore a brown trench coat to battle the cold night and have two tails idly waving around from his back.
In his left hand was a work case of a sort.
When he lifted up his right hand to reveal a professional-looking booklet in his fingers, Agatha's face went paler than the cream in those fried butter sticks. I squinted my eyes and the front of the booklet read 'COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK LAWS'.
The moneymaking Agatha reacted about how you would expect.
"Well, now I have to handle the end of the Scrumptious + Rambunctious Circus!" she said with a broad, faux grin. "There's no tomorrow for my art!"
It was either her joking or being silly, but it didn't bother her when she turned to me one last time with a chipper smile.
"I have to cancel all of my appointments with clients, so I'm only available next Wednesday. Let me know if that's a time when you want to meet with me again."
I grinned and playfully ruffled her hat. "I'll look forward to talking with you again, sister."
The rest of the night was spent walking around the park before I met Fiyero at the exit of Twinkle Park. Just walking around with a happy ruby, a bright smile and a rested composure, the park felt like a well-deserved trip with the greatest lights, frights, and rides I could ever take on. And still, seeing many people around in groups or families was telling of how these parks were meant for the whole family to enjoy.
You might never know what your favorite would be here. Whether it's food, an attraction or a ride, Twinkle Park was a great fantasy to explore.
My only grievance was that I didn't get to look much into the castle, but later!
I said this as much to Fiyero once we were out. Looking up at the colorful sign at the front entrance. A testimony to what kids could find in this wacky land that would keep them guessing.
I was comfortable to let Fiyero wrap his arm around me. The tiger was purring, equally relaxed.
"I had fun tonight, Obsidian," he said in gratitude. "You got an interesting story like many."
One look at him brightened my day two times. After getting to know him and having fun together, I also felt grateful to have him over. A lovely companion to hang out with. Even my ruby was beeping away when in his comfort. Doubled when I saw his bright smile.
Our date didn't even end disastrously! I didn't even feel too shy around him.
"Same here, Fiyero," I said with a cosy blush over my muzzle. "I'm glad that it has been a peaceful night."
"Yeah." When the tiger looked down to see who was occupying the front entrance, he looked more serious. "Let's just hope that they find those club wannabes. They should be lucky they weren't the ones to leave a slash on Agent Stone."
Agent Stone was currently outside with us, giving his reports to the backup agents he called. None of them were wearing armored gear. That was a bit of a downside for Stone since, as he talked about his findings, two medics were checking his left leg to see if it was broken. He looked tired. Not too broken, but exhausted.
Agatha might be more busy following this night.
Poor Stone, I thought. It didn't help that Dave and his minion weren't seen again tonight. Someday, we'll catch up to them. At least Agatha's animatronics did try to subdue them for long, though I wouldn't want to test that.
Imagining those puppets squeezing Dave until he exploded wasn't a pretty picture…
Wait.
My ruby audibly gulped. It felt sick.
I focused on my stomach. Empty.
I didn't feel sick, even after the high energy and the graphic image in my head.
"Wait a minute, are we still on a bet?" I asked. "None of us threw up!"
Fiyero shrugged. "Mmm. Strong gut, strong body!" At this, he flexed an arm as if wanting to show off a striped bicep. His tail curled up as well, confident with his guts. "The only true special thing is-"
His eyes widened.
No words could describe what he spewed out when he bent over and vomited into the nearest gutter hole.
At first, I didn't know how to feel. The ruby flared up in worry. Despite it buzzing, I patted Fiyero on his back and said a few comforting words that should help as he hurled.
"…OK, OK, take it easy," I said softly. "Maybe after this, you can cough the dollars up and no one needs to know." Fiyero coughed up something else and it splattered into the gutter hole before anyone could take it. "W-Wha-Not that!"
Minutes Earlier at the Local Garbage Stop
It was an awful ride to the dumpster for Dave and Scott.
The whole time, underneath those drooling jaws made from shark teeth and black holes, they were praying that they could be set free. But their heads close to the growing heat of their breath told them there was no way they could escape without being handled by those animatronics.
Scott, in particular, CRIED the whole way, knowing he was a munchable chicken nugget.
It didn't help how tight Sonic-EXE and Akrasiel were holding them. Stiff fingers crushing their waist. They wouldn't be lucky if the animatronics have claws to give the final crunch.
Eventually, both members of the Lightning Bolt Society were thrown away. At first, they thought they were free.
Until their faces hit the soft material of rubbish bins with a healthy dose of rotten banana scent. Again, Scott got the worst out of this with his sharp beak poking right into the bag.
As the crow internally screamed, Dave immediately hurried up to his feet. Only to fall flat on his face. When he looked up, he managed to see where they were.
The central dumpsters for the trucks to attend to at the back of the amusement park. Right at the staff parking lot. The two bulky animatronics were already marching away, their backs facing the two humiliated teens.
Scott managed to pull his beak out of the trash. He could smell the stench around them. He then detected the flies resting on his dark feathers. He squealed, squirming. But as he tried standing on the slippery bags below, there was nearly no point trying to keep moving.
With a resigned and childish sob, he turned to the observant Dave.
"W-We failed!" squawked Scott miserably. "Why didn't you tell me there would be a Part 2?"
"You didn't have enough time to hack into the security system," muttered Dave. "And the animatronics know our weak spots through those cameras. Enough time for Agatha to find us during the break."
"...so now what? What are we going to do? Stone knows we're-"
"It won't be long," said Dave, his voice suddenly monotonous. "Those animatronics will still crumble tonight."
"But we don't have anything on them-"
This time, there was a definite loud crunch. Scott looked up to see Sonic-EXE's arm, showing its exoskeleton, shooting Akrasiel in the head. Scott's beak went wide in shock. The fox animatronic fell to the ground. The person wearing the hedgehog animatronic continued shooting Akrasiel multiple times in the head.
The crow whipped his head to Dave. There was no longer fear in Dave's eyes. Instead, there was victory and satisfaction towards the cathartic beatdown, matching his calm grin.
Finally, the person in costume simply stomped on Akrasiel's face. It was hard to see, but judging by the head splitting in two, the damage was done.
The Sonic-EXE performer turned around and removed the head…a smirking Chameleon underneath.
Scott had a full-body twitch, unprepared for such a surprise.
Dave was smiling away at the wild card they managed to pull off.
"Y-You knew?!" shouted the twitching Scott.
"Kinda," admitted Dave, shrugging. "Chameleon has been killing it with his disguises. His name should have told you how much he hid behind your back."
The crow felt upset and, if only, betrayed. "So you lied to me on this?!"
Dave wasn't smiling. "Well, I'm not sure how strong of a liar you would be. And honestly, after seeing Stone kicking down the original Sonic-EXE, I forgot that it was Chameleon acting as the cursed hedgehog for the rest of the night."
Scott wanted to call out how ridiculous this was when he felt something slapping against his face. He immediately caught it. In his palm were six new robotic chips. He looked up to meet the sweating Chameleon close to the dumpster they were in.
"It's called psychology," said Chameleon simply. "Let Akrasiel had his fun and then I caught him by the brains when he was off-guard."
Dave chuckled darkly. "You did a good job, Chameleon. You're getting better at carrying weight around."
"Was me bashing your head OK?" asked Chameleon a bit too casually. "I was a bit worried that it might not look convincing, so I ended up going too hard."
The cyan nutria decided to give his criticism. "For the record, I do NOT appreciate having one of my best friends drilling me to the floor. You do not have to make it convincing." Eventually, he shrugged it off coolly. "Oh well. We have ice packs at home, Chameleon."
Scott grimaced, glaring at the robotic chips. "You still could have told me. I'm your teammate."
Chameleon patted the crow on the head. "How about this, CoolBoy19? We stop by the nearest MacDonalds to fix up that bump on your head. Would this help?"
On one hand, Scott was outraged that he was mostly kept in the dark about this. The condescending pat was not helping at all. On the other hand, well, maybe some burgers would patch his frustration. Scott's childlike nature really wanted a treat after going through a lot tonight. And on another side, he was…speechless.
He wouldn't want to take this as an inspiration, but it was one of a true mastermind. No wonder why everybody was going all out lately, especially when facing a veteran mercenary building machines meant for the war.
However, one thing remained unclear. He stared at those small robotic chips. Shiny, crisp and brand new, all made by Agatha.
"When Agatha finds out that we destroyed her bots, then what?" asked Scott, raising an eye. "Don't you remember what Stone said? 'Are you actually working with Ice and Agatha?' That could mean G.U.N figured out Agatha has a few contacts under her sleeve, doubling our problem."
Dave took this as surprisingly normal. "Well, it's a good thing that it's time now."
Chameleon's eyes widened as if in realization. "You mean…?"
Scott opened his beak again. Slightly surprised but not really a big shock. There were words about this…plan, but nobody started thinking when would be a good time to execute it. He looked down at the robotic chips. Some of the few parts they would need.
And with everybody hunting for different things to steal, they might have what they need soon.
It was telling how far they came, given Chameleon's flawless acting and Dave's critical thinking on outlasting Agatha's ground.
The crow shuffled, ruffling his feathers. A sense of cold, cool empowerment flooded over him. He completed a dream come true. His destiny that benefited their society greatly. And there was no looking back from there.
"Yes, ma'am!" confirmed Dave, getting back up on his feet. "The sooner we get started, the lesser their chance of catching us. G.U.N will have full front seats when we start the show like an action movie!"
At this, he lifted up a leg…and fell right out of the dumpster bin on his head. Once flat on the parking lot, he let out a small 'ow'.
Though, as silly as Dave could be, he kept his word.
'Dear Mr. Ghost,
I found out that Agatha and Lance were staying near Central City. You know, the two jackals who once attempted to use weed as stuffing for the roast? They must have been staying in the city for a long time. I still feel crappy that I didn't get to see them earlier. Though, I heard they do not often meet since they are busy with their jobs.
Agatha is one of the leading directors of a popular yearly circus. I couldn't see this year's, but Fiyero managed to find a video of last year's. I could see why she remained at the circus for a while. It was amazing!
One thing that surprised me was that she could handle many positions for the company. Well, technically, I did many chores for my community service, but it wouldn't amount to working as a show director, choreographer, machine technician and story artist at the same time.
She is doing alright, thriving well. At the moment, she has a bit of trouble processing Ice's death lately, though she thought it was for the best. I didn't have the heart to say otherwise.
Lance is starting a family business of his own! I'm surprised that he found a partner and they are expecting their baby next month. And his business is for a small cafe. I'm a little speechless with what he's doing, but I'm happy that he decided to put behind his ruthless mercenary ways for a humble life. The elderly of the desert might appreciate the atmosphere he provided for the cafe.
Lance is a different person now. He's funnier and happier. He doesn't seem too hard on himself now that he settled down.
If you ask, no. It's too early for me to think about what I want to be. I have a ceiling of gum I need to worry about soon today. I hope that you're alright back home.
Until then, good day,
Obsidian.'
"Congratulations," mimicked Mr. Ghost, pretending to be talking with the young jackal. "Now you know what being a thirty-year-old feels like. You're lucky you're not scraping dried dung from the toilet huts."
The maned wolf was resting on the rooftops of the beige-colored homes. It was a cloudy day, so he didn't need to worry much about the glaring sun. It wasn't raining either, so he didn't need to worry about the papers he was reading getting wet. Just as long as there was a nice breeze in the end, then he could call it a good day.
Obsidian's weekly letters always surprised Mr. Ghost. From starting a healthy relationship to keeping in touch with his mercenary expertise to meeting his former teammates, the young jackal seemed to have found his place in the glamorous city.
Of course, Obsidian did complain a few times that the city wasn't as glamorous as he thought, but what could he do about it? Maybe Mr. Ghost would have handled some of the challenges better, considering his apathy occasionally. Nevertheless, it seemed that the city brought the best out of Obsidian ever since his official departure from the Jackal Squad.
It brought out the best in Agatha and Ice as well. The maned wolf might not have talked with those two before, but they were in good hands. Obsidian might follow similar paths given the chance G.U.N sustained for him to take.
Mr. Ghost smiled to himself, feeling his ears and tail wiggling a little. He tenderly placed the letter in his basket backpack lying next to him. He was starting to have a good feeling about the letters he had been receiving lately from his allies. He pulled out another one. His eyes quickly scanned the name written on the front.
The name transfixed his gaze, his golden eyes widening.
Humming, Mr. Ghost shrugged. Probably just some favor to collect from the market for…well, him. Maybe asking for some supplies for exclusive toasts in the market.
The maned wolf opened the stained letter, held it above his head and read the scribbly words in messy ink.
'Dear Rusty Ghost,
While searching for my son, I discovered a noticeable drop in the number of local towns where squads would usually rest. Mysterious as it is, I have a feeling that the culprit for their destruction should be obvious, but I cannot put my finger on it. The last two surprised me than they should.
I could not blame the recent destruction of the Black Hallows for its proximity to an Eggman Empire base, but the aftermath damage reeked of burnt ends. Not the good kind too. I suspect it does not have to do with the notorious Eggman at all. There are no laser marks or significant craters where bombs would land. It was like someone planted a tactical nuke underneath the entire town.
My following visit to New Acropolis was mostly unsurprising after my observation of the Black Hallows. Well, if it surprises you, there is no one there anymore. It is a ghost town now. Most of the distracting decorations are gone. Maybe it is due to the leadership change after Emperor Sleet left, but I knew that the town's culture wouldn't die out easily. Someone must have executed the mass population of New Acropolis.
That being said, right before I left, I spotted a line of strangers donning crimson robes. Their heads were covered by their hoods, resembling a cult. They were marching into a hole in the ground I couldn't see from afar. I even think I might go insane since their underground entrance disappeared the second I tried following them.
I can only explain further once I arrive back home. It is jarring to see so many people disappearing or leaving their homes in debris. It never happened at a rapid pace before this month.
Until I reach you, I trust that you will keep an eye on suspicious activity that could devastate our entire community. I have a feeling that advanced preparation could only save us from the unspoken danger that will occur.
If not narrower enough, look out for those donning crimson robes with hoods. They might appear skinny like a twig, but they must hold a lot in their hands.
Sincerely yours.
Uno.'
Mr. Ghost raised an eye. Uno never sounded this concerned before. Yes, the maned wolf heard about the recent drop in many towns, but Uno was not someone who would be bothered by strange occurrences. At the very least, he wouldn't continue the conversation on the belief that it did not affect the strongest in the desert.
That being said, the fact that Uno detected something unnatural from his explorations of those abandoned, wrecked towns was…chilling. A nuke was involved? A cult laying waste on an entire civilization?
Though, crimson robes with hoods were too common. A cult would use a specific type of uniform, right?
Lowing down the letter, Mr. Ghost contemplated the situation. The many towns disappearing or becoming empty were far from his town. Yet Uno considered it as a threat. The maned wolf's eyes widened, anxious yet guarded. It couldn't be possible that the same danger would arrive in their hometown soon. He felt safe, knowing the tight security and guards well-trained for anything.
Eventually, the maned wolf shrugged with a nonchalant huff. Since the squads here were usually the strongest in this country, it might not be a severe escalation. Even so, Mr. Ghost wasn't freaking out about it. Maybe finding out the cause and the likely culprits would be simple.
A squeaky yawn escaped his dry lips, his mind feeling slightly heavy. "I'll see around every corner in town. Once I get a better disguise so that the kids won't recognize me."
There was a loud rattle from the west wall of the building he was resting on. The maned wolf grumbled to himself before slowly pulling himself back up onto his feet. Old man always had his complaints. And trusty spears. Though, when he held onto the spear, he stopped for a moment to realize how tight his grip was now.
OK, maybe Uno's words carried some weight, thought Mr. Ghost to himself.
Just as he was about to grab his basket backpack, he picked up on voices that were kept at a whisper.
"Hey! Not out here. Not yet. We don't want any acquaintances of his to know."
"Oh, my bad. I just didn't expect Obsidian to have a gem on his chest now."
Intrigued, Mr. Ghost slowly lowered to all fours, crawling towards the roof's edge. Carefully, he peeked over and his eyes caught two people in the dim alleyway, hidden from the rest of the town. One was a young wildcat. The other wore a reddish-purple robe with the hood removed to reveal their messy hair. They seemed to be holding up their robes slightly to reveal something underneath, a likely photograph.
The wildcat suddenly backed down from her surprise. "Wait, are you sure that's him?"
"Of course so!" hissed the robed person.
"That doesn't explain this thing attached to his chest."
"Well, he's been showing that off for a while. If you ask me, maybe it's because Eggman doesn't have control over that ruby."
Mr. Ghost could feel something tightening inside him. All his mind could process was a 'ruby'. 'Attached to his chest'. That was Obsidian, right?
After coming back from being 'tortured' by Eggman Empire?
The maned wolf thought back to his last time talking to Obsidian. He could feel Obsidian's flame, so powerful. Even if Obsidian wasn't doing so, Mr. Ghost could feel that much power and intimidation from him. He thought he was going crazy since the young jackal was more solemn than angry or menacing.
Hang on. Mr. Ghost briefly drew back, confused. This couldn't be right.
One, what kind of ruby? Was it just a necklace? It couldn't be possible that a 'ruby' would give Obsidian that much power…
Two, the Jackal Squad wouldn't be that desperate to work with the notorious Eggman. Zero would have cut his face vertically the second a bounty was placed on that egg-shaped head.
But then, Eggman was known for his infamous hunting for magical stones. Across the world, sometimes trying to find what was buried in this expansive desert. He DID discover a few new things that weren't a danger to the world before, such as the Master Emerald, Time Eater, the Lost Hex. It wouldn't be a surprise that the power-hungry doctor would try to find a powerful weapon any bounty hunter would sell for a warehouse of gold.
And that would mean, during the Jackal Squad's time working with Eggman, he gave Obsidian this ruby.
The maned wolf felt a lump in his throat. No wonder why Mr. Ghost felt some kind of power coming from Obsidian. How long did he hide this 'ruby' from everyone?
And worse, was Eggman actually responsible for the death of Zero's and Obsidian's Jackal Squad?
But…that couldn't be possible as well. Zero and Obsidian might have encountered him when they were the only survivors.
"I don't know about this," said the wildcat. "Aren't there rumors that Zero has been training in different places? Nobody saw a ruby on his chest."
"I don't know about that," said the robed person calmly. "But I heard that Zero has plans of trying to 'reunite' his entire squad first."
"But his Jackal Squad is dead! A new one will form later this month."
"Well, I think he is referring to those he worked with before. He acts like he is still the boss of everyone. He has a ruby for all."
The wildcat didn't seem to be happy with this. "Sure…"
"You seem skeptical."
"Why wouldn't I be? Zero can act immature for his age. I don't personally think he's fit to work with Eggman. Or have the same thing as Obsidian."
This confirmed that Zero was next to have a ruby on his chest. But what was this matter about with him 'reuniting' with his past coworkers?
Mr. Ghost frowned. There were mostly rumors surrounding Zero's disappearance. Some thought he was dead or he became a wanderer. The robed person sounded like he was still in cahoots with Eggman Empire. If that were true, what would Zero need from his former teammates if he let Obsidian go easily?
The maned wolf had no idea whether he should be concerned about this, but the news of Zero's potential plans sent a chill down his spine. It didn't help that his father was too late to find where he was. May God help them all for whatever fury Zero would rain down on them…
Mr. Ghost didn't even have the time to react to these deep thoughts when a loud sound ripped through the town. Without losing his cool, the maned wolf slowly turned his head to where it might be coming from.
It was from the market. Strangely, he couldn't see the usual cooking smoke or the taller tents from bigger businesses.
The two young people in the alleyway flinched at the loud sound. Yelping, they ran, comically bumping into each other before turning in the right direction.
The sound was played again. Mr. Ghost pointed his ears upwards. This time, he could hear it clearly. It was of a horn. The usual sound that sent people into alarm for an emergency or a huge announcement. What was exactly going on?
Nevertheless, the maned wolf found it easier to remain quiet and return to the ground level, joining the rest of the civilians gathering around at the town's square. Almost everybody was attracted to the sound, trying to see who was making the call. Through the sweaty crowd, Mr. Ghost took a moment to look around for anyone else joining in.
A couple of the guards on the wooden towers on the town's borders were also watching. They didn't seem to expect this, glancing at each other in looks of surprise and concern. What was going on?
When Mr. Ghost looked in front, his eyes widened and he could see Uno's warning really clearly now.
There was a wooden stage set up in the middle of the local shopping market. Many of the tents were gone, making space for the stage. And on that stage were a couple of people dressed in reddish-purple robes and red fez hats on their heads.
That was the 'cult' Uno was referring to.
Though, they didn't seem to act like one. Only one person had their hood over their head with a shadow over their eyes. The rest had their hoods off to reveal their youthful appearances. Mr. Ghost would be forgiven if he thought they were fifteen years old. They were even grinning cheerfully, swinging their arms casually.
Uno's thought of them as a cult suddenly felt ridiculous.
Mr. Ghost gaped a little at the people he was supposed to investigate. What was their crime?
All eyes were then turned to the person blowing the horn. It was a female crow who was done with the instrument.
Lowering down the horn, she scanned the crowd in front of her. A mix of wild animals and worshipped criminals in this town. She must have picked them up on a good day. They didn't seem to be hostile. More confused with what was going on.
"Greetings, everyone!" said the crow, lifting a fist in the air. "I am, well, you don't need to know my name. But I come from the Lightning Bolt Society and will be speaking on their behalf!"
Lightning Bolt Society? Mr. Ghost blinked a few times. And then, it hit him. A stupid grin formed on his face.
Of course, THIS was the group Obsidian referred to long ago. Those robed children must have known him from their encounters. Obsidian didn't mention them again after the first letter since no one could provide information about this club.
If Mr. Ghost wanted to raise his hand, then he would ask if he was supposed to take them seriously. The smiley crow on stage looked like she just had her morning coffee.
"How could Uno be afraid of those kiddies if they were just having a secret club meeting?" muttered the maned wolf sardonically.
One unseeable kid at the front of the crowd raised their hand.
"So when will the Lightning Bolt Society appear?" they asked dumbly.
A minute of silence and the crow's grin barely cracked.
BANG!
Even from far away, the sound of the kid's body dropping to the ground caught everyone off-guard. In the crow's hand was a smoking gun.
Everyone was understandably quiet, shocked.
Mr. Ghost immediately dropped the smile. "...how long did she have that gun for?"
"ANYWAY!" shouted the crow with a maniacal smile, her gun mysteriously disappearing into her robes. "We are also speaking on behalf of Eggman Empire and Zero the Ultimate Mercenary!"
Nobody spoke further, even if there were many in number. The addition of the crow, apparently speaking with Eggman and Zero's permission, arose reactions of confusion, astonishment, and disbelief. Even the toughest bounty hunters in the crowd glanced at each other with alarmed eyes.
This stranger here casually mentioned both Eggman and Zero as if she knew them longer than they did. Zero would usually never let anyone speak for him unless it was someone he could trust. That being said, with him working with Eggman, an unlikely alliance must have occurred.
Mr. Ghost stood with a numb look. Inside, he was close to having a full-blown spasm.
This confirmed his theory. But how could Zero be fine working with Eggman if it led to the death of his squadmates and Obsidian running off? Such a thought paralyzed the maned wolf. Mr. Ghost didn't know if he should feel betrayed or angry.
One thing for sure, teaming up with Eggman was set for bad news given his constant attacks on the world. Zero would be one to agree with him.
What would Uno think of Zero then?
The crowd remained silent for a while, giving the crow the hint to continue.
"Soon, we will reveal our main project that we have been working on. With the iron fist of Eggman Empire and the blessing of the Ultimate Mercenary, this will be a huge breakthrough for all criminal-kind!"
Nobody would understand what she meant, but the crow slammed her right fist into her left palm as she said this. An audible crack was heard from her hands with no pained reaction from the crow. A sign of her young enthusiasm for the likely success of this 'project' she and her cronies were involved with.
"The power of criminals will never be the same as before!" she continued. Then, she lowered her voice to a gentler tone. In turn, the crow reached out a hand to the entire crowd, opening her palm in a welcoming manner. "That being said, spots are still open. So, we encourage any of you to join us and reach a higher level of power than you could ever dreamed of!"
A muddled rabbit raised his hand for a question. "And why should we be attracted to what you offer?"
The crow scoffed childishly. "Well, don't you see? Zero is on our side! He would immediately cut my head off if he didn't allow me to speak for him. He wants his hometown to join our leagues. I promise that all of you, yes, EVERYONE, will get a piece of that global victory! I promise that what we work with will earn the respect and fear of the entire world. Being at the top of that food chain!" She was then quick to act like a soft-spoken professional, brushing up her robe to dust off some dirt. "And our policy at Lightning Bolt Society is that we accept anyone. As long as we all work together to win!"
Naturally, everyone was too quick to oppose. For who could trust those strangers in cheap outfits, yapping about their association with people not even an ant could reach?
There was no immediate aggression. Instead, the crowd began muttering to each other as if the mini group of the Lightning Bolt Society wasn't there at all. An overlapping conversation of doubt and suspicion filled the once-quiet air.
"I call that malarkey."
"I would rather accept a bounty from a monkey."
"Seriously, when are we going to see the Lightning Bolt Society? Or are we talking to the actual guys behind this mob gang?"
Mr. Ghost couldn't help voice his uncertainty, even when he was hung up on Zero's alignment with the Eggman Empire. "Does Eggman even know these guys are alive?"
The guys on stage were displeased by such disrespect from their audience. The crow, in particular, pouted and crossed her arms. The way she did so made it look like an extra shadow covered her eyes without the hood. The rest of her crew stared on with disappointment with at least one looking like they might snap from the pressure.
One tired, annoyed hyena hunter stepped to the stage, getting close to the crow.
"I suggest you reconsider your words, missy," he hissed. "You're looking at half of the finest mercenaries you can find in this world."
Something clicked inside the crow's head, her eyes fluttering open in surprise. She looked back at the crowd with a careful gaze as if trying to search for someone. Once done, she turned back to the hyena with a confident smile.
The crow slowly pulled out a long sword from her robes.
Wait, thought Mr. Ghost. That lapis stone on it looked familiar…
The crow's voice was suddenly hoarse in comparison to her lighthearted smile. "No, I'm looking at cowards who need their perfect Jackal Squad to be the face of their town."
There was a sharp gasp from the crowd when the crow threw the sword forward. The hyena didn't flinch and maybe that was a good thing. The red cutlass sword landed miles behind him in the middle of a large clearing made by the cautious crowd. The hyena remained standing.
There, stabbed into the dirt, was Zero's sword. A curvy, thick sword with a lapis stone. The one Paz crafted for his boss.
If the crow did, then no one could escape the famed sword.
The crow kept her sickly, sweet smile, but it was different now. Instead of bubbliness, it was replaced with an unsettling sharpness. One that would prompt any thoughts of her suddenly pouncing on the hyena glaring at her. Her smile remained forced as she continued talking.
"And your town will not survive if you don't have an 'Ultimate Mercenary' looking after you lot," she teased, now with a sly, venom-tinged voice. "Is he even with you? Any ultimate mercenaries managing this town? Without being distant?"
Mr. Ghost sharply inhaled through his teeth, his equally sharp canines nearly tempting to poke right into his lips. Not only was Zero unavailable to stand for them, but Uno was too far to lead them. It never came to him that the Jackal Squads always represented this proud community. That and they never came up with a firm leadership structure WITHOUT the Jackal Squad unless the strongest fighter returned to watch over the market.
The returning silence amongst the crowd actually spoke volume. A few were tempted to say they led the town themselves, but it was merely a lie. The crow might not even believe them since she had solid proof that this Lightning Bolt Society collaborated with the latest Ultimate Mercenary.
Without the Jackal Squad, the town could fall into disrepair with many competing for leadership. It would have been a bloodbath if they were set loose with such democracy.
The crow gave a victorious smirk at the now-seething hyena. However, she was not out of the woods yet.
"But what about Zero?" asked a coyote, tilting her head. "Wouldn't he be YOUR manager?"
The crow rolled her eyes. Though, she paused to consider it. After some thought, she nodded alongside a new argument to make.
"True, but he misses all of you!" Her smile somehow became friendlier and genuine. "He thinks very highly. And he wants us to provide you with the same opportunities he had. Don't you see? Accepting his and Eggman's offer not only allows you to dominate the battlefield without sacrificing much but also carries a similar title to his. We're not exclusive. That's our updated motto."
The crow was trying to put up an act that Zero did miss his hometown. To heart, she wasn't sure herself if the unhinged jackal thought dearly of his former neighbors resting here. To her disappointment, it didn't further affect this town. The crowd already returned to their gossip, speaking their criticism to the great Lightning Bolt Society.
Slow, ungrateful oldies, she grumbled to herself.
Her sweet smile was gone as she took a few steps closer to the edge of the stage. As she spoke, her voice sounded different.
"Put it this way," she explained calmly. No longer was the intimidating present in her voice. It was as low and husky as it could get. "Eggman is more merciful to all of us. The rest of the world doesn't care. And in case you didn't notice, a few former members of the Jackal Squad have retreated to the pompous cities. Who knows if they'll bring enforcers to your homes just because they want to?"
It wasn't just a warning. It was a threat itself. The crow didn't need to emphasise it. So many of the best jackals in their town have already retreated to a life in another place. If the papers were true, the privileged civilizations would have the largest resources to hit them back without trying.
The desert wasn't born of mercy, but neither were the glamorous cities they heard of.
"It's only a matter of time before G.U.N reaches you."
One of the robed people hopped off the stage, marched to the sword and picked it up. Nobody dared to steal it. When they saw the widened eyes of deep thought and fear, the robed person smirked before turning their back, walking away.
It was clear that Zero wouldn't be standing by this town due to his goals with Eggman. The town never acted without an 'Ultimate Mercenary' by their side in the face of danger. Times were already changing.
"But the offer still stands," said the crow. "Eggman won't try to punish you brutally. Helping hands are always appreciated. Is that too much for all of you to find in your endeavors? Your ambitions to be the greatest? If there isn't strength in numbers, then I don't know where to find a sustainable strength."
Mr. Ghost couldn't believe this. Why would any of the former mercenaries report their location? Send armies to wipe them all out? Lance, Agatha and Obsidian would be among those who oppose such a feat. It would be unthinkable for them to advocate the recent destruction of towns, including the Black Hallows and New Acropolis.
He would rather pack his stuff and run before anything could hit his home. However, his people would be too proud to run away. At the same time, they were unquestionably powerless without the ferocious Jackal Squad.
The maned wolf waited in his spot, slightly shaking. There was an unspoken battle inside his stomach. He felt sick. He wanted to do something, but he knew his place. He never engaged in any criminal activity. Mr. Ghost felt stumped. There was nothing he could do that would steer off the Lightning Bolt Society.
This must have been what Uno was trying to warn him about.
But if he raised the issue that they were spotted in the abandoned New Acropolis, the Lightning Bolt Society could make the excuse that they were helping the survivors. Nobody would take a disposable letter seriously without the writer, Uno, being here to prove what they saw.
Eventually, after some time, the crowd relented.
One person slowly stepped forward, his head bowed down in shame.
Another person came forward, her head lifted upwards and her fists clenched tightly.
One by one, they all came closer to the stage, now trusting these strangers to save their lives.
It wasn't everyone. At least half of the crowd refused to move, but a significant number of people still took the offer.
The crow grinned, now properly victorious. "Nice! Now, let's get into recruiting here! I promise you that this won't be fake."
Her crew came forward, taking out large, fat piles of paper in their hands. Likely contracts. The crow immediately called for everyone to join to talk with them. Business was starting as many lines formed near them to sign their souls to the Eggman Empire and the Lightning Bolt Society.
The crow rose her beak highly and proudly rubbed her hips with both hands. Maybe a bit too comfortably. In this pose, she felt like a statue nailed to this very land. This speech was going really good…
While she beamed arrogantly, a few questions bounced around her. Curious bounty hunters and younglings now turned to her for answers.
"Do you have an exact lair?"
The crow laughed, nearly sounding maniacal. "Oh, we have many, including one under Eggman's surveillance. It won't be long for G.U.N to find our previous bases, however. We just need to blow them up when they get inside!"
"Any other dumb plans you have?" asked someone unimpressed. "Like assassinating specific enemies and obstacles? Speed-running and invading Area 99-?"
"No, no, no, that's for later."
This was emphasized with her winking at an invisible camera.
Little did she know that those who did not choose to join were already walking away, not giving the Lightning Bolt Society the attention they needed. Those who refused were the ones who willingly placed their faith in common sense. There would be no greater award in joining two leagues that might inflict more harm on all the communities in this desert than good.
And one of those who refused was the missing Mr. Ghost, now scrambling to safety to alert those he could contact.
'To whom it may concern,
I'm deeply concerned about the Lightning Bolt Society, the group you mentioned to me some time ago. Just moments ago, they unexpectedly arrived in our town. We didn't have time to form a new Jackal Squad to oppose their offer to join them. Our current leading mercenary is out of town.
They formed an alliance with Zero and the Eggman Empire. I believe Eggman might have something to do with you and Zero. It's OK that you weren't in the mood to tell me months ago. I thought the details of the squad's deaths would have been revealed by a third party or discovered by G.U.N by then. What's important now is that they recruited some of the best bounty hunters and mercenaries, planning for a 'breakthrough'.
I didn't hear a word about their plans, but they seem to be involved in blowing up their secret lairs, attacking certain targets and invading this 'Area 99' place. I don't know why. It could be nonsense. But whatever they are doing doesn't look good.
Nobody can trust Eggman. I don't trust his empire, especially now that I know what he did to your squad. The same, unfortunately, goes to Zero. Judging by what we were told, Zero's been really dismissive about what might happen to our town. I don't know, it seems like he just wants us to join him without reason. Worse, the Lightning Bolt Society convinced nearly everyone that you and the other former members of the Jackal Squad would tattletale G.U.N about our destination. I know that we aren't exactly the cleanest people, but I don't think anyone wants outside law enforcement to demolish our town.
You are one of many who will receive this warning. I suggest that you and the other jackals in Central City be careful. They will have more mercenaries looking for you, even familiar with your faces. Just please try to do something. Alert G.U.N about this. I don't care. The Lightning Bolt Society seem to be taking their words seriously and will become an army to destroy those in their path.
I'll be fine. I just need to find our town's current strongest mercenary. You probably know who I am talking about, but he's our best choice in protecting those who oppose the alliance. DON'T LET ZERO KNOW ABOUT THIS. This would give him the urgency to target the rest of us who are not part of the Lightning Bolt Society.
Thank you for reading this letter,
Mr. Ghost.'
AN: Boy, oh, boy. A lot of things happened here.
Long story short, Chameleon waited until Agent Stone shot down the Sonic-EXE animatronic. Because of how badly damaged it was, Chameleon then wore a disguise of the hedgehog animatronic and only at the last moment did he finish the job by destroying Akrasiel and taking some additional A.I chips.
And yep! That's Tails who approached Agatha with a 'COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK LAWS' case!
Due to my hyperfixation, I haven't focused on Mr. Ghost for a while. Well, hopefully, this isn't overdue, ha ha ha. In any case, this should help with addressing a few plot holes and missing details, such as Zero's sword that Obsidian stole. I kinda had an idea of what to do with it since Obsidian neglected the sword for too long.
"Big oof." - Sonic the Hedgehog
It would also help that recent news of Obsidian and Zero would finally reach the desert wastelands. I checked back and the first time, Mr. Ghost had no idea about Eggman's involvement or the Phantom Ruby. I decided to address this, fill it in for him and have him witness the Lightning Bolt Society making their move.
Everything you see in this chapter is a foreshadowing of their ultimate project. Make your plans now before I consider rewriting my plans, lol.
Thank you for reading this chapter! If you enjoy this story, be sure to follow or favorite to get updates. If there is any feedback or constructive criticism you want to share, I would very much appreciate.
The next few chapters are going to be REALLY good…