Chapter Three: Rebound
The sledgehammer was swung around angrily, however Knuckles' instincts and boxing training helped him time the attacks and dodge at the right moment. Jim Bag grew angrier with each missed shot, something Knuckles used to his advantage.
The Echidna ducked and quickly rose with a powerful uppercut punch that hit Jim's chin perfectly. The attacker was lifted off the ground and fell on his back because of the power of this punch. Knuckles kicked the sledgehammer away and waited for Jim to get up.
"That's a rookie mistake; gettin' angry in a fight and losing control. Didn't they teach you that in boxing class?" Knuckles asked.
Jim got to one knee. "I took karate in high school, dickhead."
"I ain't seeing shit. I'd love a demonstration, sensei."
"Comin' right up."
Before they could engage, Knuckles' front door was kicked open and Julie ran in. She pulled the echidna to the floor and ducked down, a quick burst of bullets were fired from across the street and tore through the apartment. The shooting only lasted 1 minute before the shooter ran out of ammo and escaped.
Julie stood up and looked across the street for a sign while Knuckles leaned down next to Jim Bag, coughing up blood and shaking violently.
Jim looked up. "Guess my date is getting stood up. (cough) ...look at that: I came here to kill you and I end up getting shot..karma, ain't that right."
"I'd go with Irony, pal." Knuckles responded. "Can you tell me who put you up to this? Who sent you out here, Jimmy?"
The attacker took a long, raspy breath before speaking. "... didn't get a name, b-but this guy said he worked for Maggie Bloodmoon ...that's all I know."
Knuckles thought about this while his old friend breathed his final breath.
Julie looked down at them. "This was a setup."
"Yeah, I figured that part out..."
"Knuckles, I'm sorry about your friend, but I-"
"Julie, I know you said you don't remember anything, but come on... since you came back here, I've been part of some shady shit, so please tell me - What the hell is going on?"
"Okay, fine.. my bosses sent me here to pick up AJ, I don't know what for, they just told me you'd know how to find him. That's all they all they said."
"They know me?"
"Well-"
Knuckles stood up. "So, they just left out the part where we were engaged and living together for a year before we got split up in the wreck?"
Julie stiffened upon hearing this. "Knuckles, I swear I can't remember any of that-"
"Right. They didn't want you to remember that shit, they just needed you to get close to me - and they knew I couldn't say no to you. Makes sense.. Jesus, I'm so stupid for falling for this.."
Knuckles walked away from Julie and punched the brick wall, causing the lodged-in bullets to fall out and hit the floor. She did her best to hide all emotions but a single tear rolled down her face, forcing her to wipe it away.
"What'd you do with him? You hand AJ over to your bosses?"
Julie cleared her throat. "No, I didn't. I called Vector and left him with those guys. I said no other cops, just him and the chameleon.. it seemed like the right thing to do."
Knuckles chugged his beer. "So you're going off-script with your bosses?"
"I guess so.."
"Well, then.. (sigh) AJ might be a little shit, but he don't deserve to be handed over to some plotting-in-the-dark assholes. Let's go pick him up, and work on a plan."
"You're gonna help me? After everything I did? ...Why would you trust me?"
"Let's call it faith. Besides, maybe this'll jog your memory." Knuckles grabbed his apartment keys. "..it is the right thing to do, after all."
Angel sat across from Maggie Bloodmoon, leader of the biggest gang in Metropolis, The Destructix.
"Listen, Maggie - I need a favor, a pretty big one." Angel started.
"You know how I deal, Angie. Favor for a favor." Maggie retorted.
"I heard about your little problem with Sleuth Dogg-"
"Who said he's causing me problems, asshole?"
Angel looked to the left, a massive bodyguard armed with a gun inched closer to his back.
"I just mean he needs to go, it's pretty clear. He's getting old and he's a liability."
"I'd love to cut him loose but he's protected by The Chambers, and you know damn well I can't cross them."
"...I also know you've had issues with some of Sonic's friends, mainly Knuckles."
Maggie smirked. "You sure hear a lot of things, you emo fuck."
"I'll cut the bullshit: I can get Dogg and Knuckles clipped tonight."
"And that constitutes a 'pretty big favor' from me? Angie, I can have them killed anytime I want. Hundreds of my soldiers can do that for me, are you kidding?"
Angel leaned closer. "I can also get you the one thing that'll end this turf war."
"Yeah, what's that?"
"The next Enerjak."
The female hedgehog brushed her blonde hair back. "..you've got him working for you?"
"Why do you think my sister sent me down here? It wasn't to check out these nasty gangland hangouts, course not.. I got him. So, what do you say?"
Maggie thought about the offer. ".. how would you set this up? You doing this alone or what?"
Angel leaned back on his chair. "Same way you get stuff done: send the bitch in to do the bitch work."
Maggie laughed out loud and handed him a glass of rum, to which they toast. The crimson hedgehog watched as Maggie orders her bodyguard to call their 'retired' hitman for a meet.
"Wicked Games" by The Weeknd played throughout the dark, grimy bar in the west end suburbs. Sleuth Dogg sat on a bar stool at the front, enjoying his brew in peace. He heard a faint ringtone going off close to him, but ignored it. Today's been a long one and this was his only chance to relax.
The ringing continues, getting everyone's attention and plenty of annoyed looks from the college kids.
The young lady tending the bar leaned over. "I think someone's calling you, sweetie."
Dogg grudgingly pulled out his phone. "It's my old employer. Told 'em a million times I ain't interested in going back, but y'know how bosses can be."
"That, I do."
Dogg answered his phone. "Find someone else for the job. Last time I'll tell you."
"Bro, chill out! It's me, Simian!"
"Sim, tell them I ain't going back."
"D, they need to talk to you. I don't know for sure, but I heard they're giving you the final job, you have to see them, bro!"
The final job was the bosses' way of letting a hitman retire. Complete one last task and he was completely free. Hitmen rarely ever live long enough to receive their final job.
"Where and when for this?"
"They said meet them at Harris' meat packaging warehouse within the hour. I'll be there, too."
Dogg hung up his phone, gulped down his mug of beer and got off the bar stool. He stood much taller than everyone in the bar, and looked as muscular as a pro bodybuilder. He put his leather jacket on and pulled out a 100 dollar bill.
"Here, honey. You been good to me when no one else was." Dogg said.
The bar tender took the cash and smiled. "How could I say no to you, sugar. See ya next time."
The wannabe tough guys made sure to get out of Dogg's way when he walked to the exit, their girlfriends look on, some laughing at their men being afraid, others just getting a good look at this massive individual.
The Hitman pulled his jacket collar up when he felt rain come down, then headed down the dark streets and into a very shady part of town. This was his way out of Bloodmoon's grasp, and he wasn't going to screw it up.
After waiting two hours for the all clear to come up, Knuckles and Julie entered one of Vector & Espio's various steak-out headquarters. They pressed the buzzer number to the apartment and Vector let them in. They walked a flight of stairs and 'Magic Man' by Heart blared throughout the entire 2nd floor. The two echidnas walked through Vector's door and saw they weren't alone.
Knuckles looked closely. "Amy?"
The Pink Hedgehog stood up. "Knuckles! Julie! Hey!"
Amy ran over to hug them both while Espio and Vector played cards at the dining table.
"They called me as soon as they heard you were back." Amy said. "Julie, I can't believe you're alive! I mean, I'm so glad you're back! Knuckles kept saying you were still alive and were missing. He never stopped looking, y'know."
Julie turned to Knuckles, who casually walked past her and over to the guys.
"So, where's the kid?"
Vector offered him a beer. "In the back room. He wouldn't shut up unless we bought him that stupid Mortal Kombat game. I didn't even have the right game console so I had to buy a brand new one! 500 bucks - gone!"
Espio chuckled then put a card down. "You have an idea what you're gonna do with him?"
"Yeah, we're gonna wait til her boss calls and see what he says."
"Yeah, well - legally, we can't hold AJ against his will so, we have to decide what to do, like now." Vector explained. "Cause otherwise, WE'RE breaking the law and that's no good for anyone here."
Knuckles took a seat at the table. "I hear ya... well, shit - I don't know what to do-"
Julie's phone then rang. "It's him, my boss!"
Amy shut off the music and everyone stayed quiet. She quickly put him on speakerphone so everyone could hear.
"Jules, I want you to know I forgive you for disobeying my commands earlier. I told Serena you'd remember the life you had with Knuckles but she insisted you had forgotten-"
Knuckles looked at Julie from across the room awkwardly, so she put her hand up to stop him from speaking.
"...and I know love is an unfortunate disadvantage for operatives in our line of work-"
"Angel, is there a reason you called?" Julie asked.
"Yes. There's been a change of plans. I want you to bring that red buffoon along to our rendezvous point. I have something for him that I think he'll enjoy if he picks it up, himself."
"Where is the Rendezvous point?"
As Angel speaks, AJ opened the back door and looked out. "Do you guys have any fruit punch- Hey, there they are!"
Amy and Espio tried shushing him but AJ started to argue with Knuckles.
"...how long have I been on speakerphone?" Angel asked.
"Huh? Speakerphone? You aren't on-"
"DON'T you lie to me. Secure this line right now."
Julie covered her phone. "Uh-oh, you guys hurt his feelings."
She walked into the bathroom and closed the door while AJ joined the group in the living room.
"Dude, why'd you leave me with these dickheads? They didn't even have anything for me to do! And her! She knocked me out!" AJ protested.
"Trust me kid, compared to what these other guys would've done to you, that's nothing. Speaking of that, I wanna know what this guy Angel has for me. You hear what he called me? A buffoon! Who uses that insult, anymore? This dork, apparently!" Knuckles growled.
AJ grabbed his coat. "Well, have fun with your new friend. I'm getting outta here."
"Kid, you need to stay here. This guy's out looking for you, and he's got some pretty nasty friends helping him." Knuckles said.
"Yeah, well I've got some pretty nasty friends of my own so, I think I'm good. And would you stop calling me kid? I'm 17, not 7."
Knuckles grabbed his arm. "You can't go out there."
AJ pulled away. "What, you're gonna keep me here against my will? That's illegal, bro! You guys are cops, do something! This whole situation is against the law!"
Vector and Espio looked at each other, then went back to their game.
"Whatever man, I'm splitting - even if I have to fight my way through!"
Julie entered the room. "Serena and Angel plan on using you as the next Enerjak."
AJ and Knuckles stopped fighting and both looked at the pink echidna with blank expressions, while Amy, Espio and Vector remained silent.
"...uh, what the hell is an Enerjak?" Amy finally asked.
AJ dropped his coat and walked up to Julie "Are you serious? Do you know for sure?"
"Wait, how do you know this?" Knuckles asked.
"Because Angel just told me."
AJ and Knuckles looked at each other, each understanding how deadly things would become.
"Shit…"
