Chapter 49: International Incident
Location: National Assembly
One hour later...
The entire Assembly Hall gave her a standing ovation following her speech, and it took great effort for Godheim to get order restored.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we will take this moment for a short recess and reconvene in twenty minutes for debate."
The Assembly Chamber was beginning to empty, the MPs heading out into the rotunda before they were required to head back inside. Letting out a sigh of relief, Sally allowed herself a chance to relax now that the hard part was finally over and done with.
"Ignes Fatui," Godheim muttered under his breath as he walked past.
Sally immediately felt her very consciousness being shoved aside, her body reacting on its own as she reached into her handbag. Her hand wrapped itself around the grip of something that hadn't been there earlier, planted during her security screening. She withdrew a pistol, one that had been 3D printed out of hardened plastic and aiming it in the direction of the Prime Minister.
"Mon Dieu!" Antoine exclaimed.
Whirling around, Geoffrey saw what was about to unfold and immediately attempted to stop the Princess. He could plainly see that she was trying to resist pulling the trigger, judging by how the firearm shook wildly between her hands.
"SHE'S GOT A GUN," someone screamed from the far end of the chamber.
Those remaining within the Assembly Hall immediately turned to see what all the commotion was about, including the Prime Minister himself.
"Run...Please run," Sally pleaded, though no words emerged.
Carmichael registered a look of confusion on his face, which was quickly replaced with one of pure terror. She pulled the trigger, striking the Prime Minister in the chest, blood blossoming across his white shirt. As he stumbled backwards, Charmichael tripped and struck his head on one of the tables.
"VICTOR!" Corbin Phash cried out.
He pulled off his suit-jacket and pressed it against the wound, hoping it would be enough to keep him from bleeding out. Looking up, Corbin watched as the Ambassador was forced to the ground by multiple members of Parliamentary Security. The Princess let out a blood-chilling scream, one that was inhuman, and insanity laced. Her escorts were also being apprehended, manhandled by the some of the more overzealous guards. Apart from the immediate, the worse thing to come out of this was the fact that it had been broadcast for the entire Terran Republic to witness.
Location: Government House
That same time…
Sonic stared at the television screen in disbelief, not quite believing what he had just witnessed. UNN had immediately cut away, leaving the viewers without context to what had just transpired.
"What the hell just happened?" Sonic demanded.
"S-she just gunned down the Prime Minister," Tails stammered.
"I know that! WHY!?"
"I should've done more," Rotor lamented.
"What are you talking about, Rotor?" Chris asked.
"I noticed she had been behaving strangely since the kidnapping," he explained.
"You knew something was up and chose to say nothing?" Sonic said accusingly.
"I didn't want to bring it up until I had concrete proof," Rotor answered defensively, "That's why I had Sticks watching her."
"You were?" Amy questioned.
"Yep. She talks a lot in her sleep," the Badger stated.
"Fantastic," Sonic muttered, slapping his face with a hand.
"Do you have any idea the political fallout that could result if the Prime Minister dies?" Chuck stated, "This could result in war."
"God knows we can't afford to divert resources away from combating the threat of the Eggman Empire," Rotor stated.
"We need to warn the King and Council," Amy said.
"Someone should go upstairs and see if Aunt Sally didn't take NICOLE with her when she headed down to the National Assembly," Tails suggested.
Bunnie stood up and quickly exited the room, racing up the staircase to the second floor of the estate.
"W-what're we g-going to do?" Muttski stammered.
"Nothing," Chuck said, "If any of us run it'll immediately make us look guilty."
"But Grandpa…," Chris began.
"I know that it might seem uncaring, but right now that's the best option."
"We can't do nothing," Sonic snarled in anger.
"I'm sure glad the Prime Minister's family isn't here," Tails sighed.
"Yeah," Rotor agreed, "I feel like we've been getting enough dirty looks from the estate's staff."
"Bad news," Bunnie informed, re-entering the room, "Ah can't find NICOLE anywhere."
"Great. That means all the sensitive information she contains could compromise the security of the Kingdom of Acorn," Rotor muttered.
"You know that NICOLE won't allow anybody to access to her databanks," Amy stated, "She'll make them work for it."
Still needing to report what had transpired to the Council of Acorn, Tails immediately rose from his place on the couch, and headed for the front door, intent on retrieving the Miles Electric from the cockpit of the X-Tornado. The young Freedom Fighter didn't even reach the doorway when the window shattered, an object landing on the floor in front of them. The flashbang detonated before anyone could register what it was, leaving the group blinded.
"AH! I CAN'T SEE!" Chris screamed.
Pandemonium ensued, with the sound of the front doors being kicked in by unknown individuals. At first, Sonic was concerned that an angry mob had managed to force their way into the building, instead it was much worse.
"SECURE THE PRISONERS," a voice ordered.
Rising to his feet to meet their attackers, Sonic was immediately downed when the butt of a rifle was slammed into his chest. His vision slowly returning, the blue Hedgehog realized that soldiers had entered the room. Their Powered Combat Suits weren't the standard model, possessing a sleeker design and with a more formfitting helmet.
"THIS IS DELTA UNIT; WE HAVE THE PRISONERS."
They were all being rounded up and arrested, through there was no way to know if it was for their own safety.
"YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!" Sticks shrieked.
Without warning, the Badger broke free of her captors and threw herself through an unbroken window, gunfire filling the air.