Order Regained

“Okay, Boss…” Predator Hawk announced. “Destination’s in sight.”

“Very good.” Mammoth Mogul smiled. “We are in stealth mode, are we not?”

“Since it showed up on radar.” Lightning Lynx confirmed from the co-pilot seat.

“Excellent.”

“You really think this is gonna work out?” Sergeant Simian asked. “I thought this guy was supposed to be dead.”

“Thinking never was your strong point.” Flying Frog chuckled, deftly ducking out of the way as the massive gorilla took a swing at him.

“Not to mention that the freaky fox and the hyperactive hedgehog were a dead end.” Sergeant Simian continued, returning his attention to his superior.

“There is something special about those three…” Mogul mussed. “And the rumour is that the Guardian has somehow returned from the dead. And he and Dimitri were the last ones to have access to the Blade…”

“Yeah…” Flying Frog agreed. “When Dimitri buried it in his chest.”

“Yes…he did…” Mogul nodded. “The fox may not have know where the Blade is, but I’m betting the echidna does.”

“Guy’s a tough nut.” Sergeant Simian pointed out. “How ya gonna crack him?”

“The old fashioned way.” Mogul smiled. “By threatening something he cares about.”

“The armadillo, the chameleon or the crocodile?” Flying Frog asked.

“Oh, I have someone much better in mind.”

~~~~~~

Julie-Su was standing silently in front of the mall that housed the food court that had for some reason become the Chaotix’ official meeting point.

Espio and Vector approached her, rather confused to find her alone. She and Knuckles were meeting them here, having only just returned from Haven. They hadn’t seen their friends yet, Knuckles being called upon to form one third of the Tribunal hearing the case of the Dark Legion’s former leaders. But with that duty attended to, he had been granted some free time to spend with his friends.

“Where’s Knuckles?” Espio asked the rather obvious question.

In way of reply, Julie-Su jerked a thumb at the sky above their heads.

Knuckles was weaving about the buildings, chasing magpies and general larking about.

“What the heck is he doing?” Espio asked absently of no one in particular.

Vector studied the highflying echidna for a moment. “Looks like a barrel roll…” he frowned.

“Oh, very cute.” Espio groaned.

“And that’s a loop de loop…”

The trio stood in silence for several minutes, watching Knuckles’ graceful display of aerial acrobatics.

“I never knew he could pull off stuff like that.” Vector admitted.

“He is full of surprises, isn’t he?” Julie-Su smiled.

“Yeah,” Espio agreed. “But how are we supposed to get him down?”

“What are we looking at?”

Julie-Su, Espio and Vector turned towards the sound of Mighty’s voice, but their attention was soon focused on Ray. Vector grinned widely at the squirrel.

“Ray,” he said warmly. “Just the guy we wanted to see…”

~~~~~~

It was so peaceful up here. So clear and open. There was a crispness to the early morning air, hardly surprising for the middle of winter, but it wasn’t exceptionally cold. Knuckles was pretty much oblivious to everything. He went into a lazy spiral, closing his eyes, enjoying the cool breeze on his face.

“Knuc-Knuc-Knuckles?”

“’Mornin’ Ray.” The echidna said without opening his eyes, or breaking out of his spiral.

With few options opened to him, Ray fell into step, so to speak, with the spiralling echidna.

“Wha-wha-what are you do-do-doing?”

Knuckles seemed to come to a stop in midair. “You have to ask me that?” He frowned at the squirrel. Noticing Ray’s confused expression, he added. “You can fly…”

“Yeah…?” Ray still couldn’t get on Knuckles’ wavelength.

Knuckles smiled broadly. “Isn’t it just a kick?” He asked with a laugh, twisting back into his lazy spiral.

Ray was stunned for a moment. But he had to admit, Knuckles was right.

“But…” Knuckles said with a sigh. “They’re waiting for us on the ground.”

~~~~~~

“Dude!” Mighty cried happily, lifting Knuckles off the ground almost as soon as he touched it with an enthusiastic hug. “It’s good to see you!”

“The old farts finally decided to give you some space, huh?” Vector asked as Mighty deposited his gasping friend back on his feet.

“Nah,” Knuckles smirked. “I think they just wanted to get rid of me…they ARE all bachelors…well, more or less…”

“They jealous of the two of you?” Espio raised a brow at Julie-Su.

“They had a reason to be jealous?” Vector frowned suspiciously.

The pair of echidnas exchanged a glance.

“With him?” Julie-Su asked finally, jerking a thumb at Knuckles. “He can’t even think about THINKING about that kind of stuff without turning a deep shade of scarlet.”

“Thinking about what?” Knuckles asked innocently.

“Oh, please.” Vector rolled his eyes. “You can’t possibly be THAT naive.”

Knuckles smirked wickedly in response.

“You know,” Espio commented. “Maybe we should think about finding a better meeting point than the food court.”

“Why?” Vector asked as he glanced about. “There’s plenty of places to sit…plenty to eat…plenty to see…” he trailed off as his attention was diverted by a pair of attractive young females strolling by, their arms full of new purchases.

Espio shook his head. “His got a one track mind…” he mumbled.

“Well, he IS at that age.” Knuckles smiled.

“But to get back to my former comment…” Espio said, “This place ain’t exactly private, ya know.”

“We need privacy?” Knuckles raised a brow.

“If the others weren’t here, maybe.” Julie-Su cooed as she draped an arm over his shoulder. She chuckled as she saw the colour rise in his cheeks. “I do so love to make you blush.” She whispered as she kissed him on the tip of the nose.

“Oh, jeez…” Vector mumbled. “Will you two get a room?”

Knuckles eyes widened, the colour in his cheeks growing even darker, while Julie-Su grinned like a maniac.

“It’s just that…well…” Espio stammered, returning to his previous comment. “There’s a certain…element…that’s not too happy with you at the moment…”

“Several elements actually.” Mighty added.

“What is THAT supposed to mean?” Knuckles demanded, his hackles obviously raised.

“There are those that aren’t too keen in your leniency on Moritori Rex, Kommisar and Xenin…”

“Leniency?” Knuckles questioned. “They’re still in prison. It’s not like we let them go. What? They don’t deserve a chance?”

“Hey.” Espio put up his hands in an attempt to placate his irate friend. “I happen to agree with you. And I think it was rather big on your part…considering all the crud they’ve put you through.”

“It’s just that they’re not that popular.” Mighty pointed out. “Most of the populace are kinda scared of them. Even their former troops.”

“And they weren’t too happy about what they did to their golden boy.” Vector added.

“What ‘golden boy’?” Julie-Su asked.

“Him.” Vector jerked a thumb at Knuckles.

“Some of the religious fanatics are freaked about your return from the dead.” Espio added. “They just think it’s wrong.”

“And of course…” Vector smirked. “There’s always the ‘old favourite’…” He gestured at Julie-Su.

“Well they can just kiss my furry red…”

“Knuckles!” Julie-Su scolded before he could finish.

But Knuckles was none to pleased with the information. “After all I’ve done…after all I’ve lost…what right do they have to tell me what I should do…what I should think…who I should be seen with?” He demanded. “I had no childhood to speak of because I had to learn how to look after an Island full of creatures who can’t be bothered to look after themselves. And now they’ve got their noses out of joint because I’ve made some decisions they don’t like? They’re just a bunch of useless ingrates!”

He was on his feet in one fluid movement and storming towards the door before the others could react. Julie-Su glanced at them briefly before she moved off quickly to catch up with him.

“Man, he’s ticked.” Mighty shook his head.

“I haven’t seen him that ticked since Vector dissed him about Julie-Su.” Espio added.

“Hey!” Vector frowned. “I don’t got a problem with her no more.” He was met by three rather suspicious looking faces. “I may give ‘em a hard time,” he admitted. “But I AM cool with it.” He was still met with unconvinced faces. “Really…I mean it…”

“Maybe we s-s-shouldn’t have s-s-said anything?” Ray suggested as the trio’s attention was turned from the crocodile.

“It’s better to hear it from his buds.” Espio said. “It’ll be okay…he’ll deal with it.”

~~~~~~

“Will you slow down for a second?” Julie-Su called, a little out of breath as she struggled to catch up.

He stopped, waiting for her. “I lost it, didn’t I?”

“Not without reason.” She sighed, gently taking his hands. “The citizens can be real jerks.” He sighed, smiling slightly as she rested her brows against his. “Sometimes I just wish that they’d all go to that real hot place.”

“Then I’d be out of a job.”

“And wouldn’t that be a kick in the teeth?” She chuckled.

They were beginning to feel a little better. An older, obviously well to do couple brushed past, neither making eye contact with the younger pair.

“It’s disgraceful that one of his stature would take up with one such as she.” The female said when she thought she was out of earshot, unaware of Knuckles’ acute sense of hearing.

“It’s none of our business if he wants a consort that’s beneath him.” Her partner told her. “With luck, he’ll out grow it.”

Julie-Su noticed Knuckles’ darkening countenance. She glanced at the backs of the retreating couple. “What did they say?” She asked, knowing full well that she didn’t want to know.

Knuckles sighed heavily. “And they wonder why I prefer to live in a cave…”

She smiled sadly. “You want to get out of town for a while?” She asked. “Remington and the guys can handle things…we both need a break from the bigots.”

“Some ‘advanced society’, huh?”

“There’ll always be prejudice, Knuckles,” she sighed. “But the good ones rise above it.”

~~~~~~

They sat in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Though neither had intended it, they had ended up at the spot where the Chaos Crystal had led her, not so long ago. The spot where he’d returned to the Island.

Knuckles suddenly stood, looking around, sniffing the air. Julie-Su was getting used to it, but he seemed a little more agitated this time.

“What is it?” She asked. She glanced about too, unable to sense a thing. They were a long way from the city…a long way from help. Though there was little that the pair of them couldn’t handle, Knuckles’ obvious trepidation at whatever was the cause of his concern had her more than a little worried.

“I’m not sure.” He admitted. “Something…familiar…”

A streak of blue burst through the treetops so quickly it managed to knock Knuckles to the ground. With a quick scissor kick he was back on his feet an instant later.

“It would seem that the rumours were true.” Knuckles turned to the sound of the voice, scowling at the massive form of Mammoth Mogul. “Welcome back from the dead.”

“A place you are long overdue in visiting.” Knuckles growled as he moved towards him.

“Uh-uh-uh” Mogul shook a finger at him. “You wouldn’t want your lady friend to get hurt, now would you?”

Knuckles spun to find Predator Hawk struggling to hold onto Julie-Su.

“Let me go you feathered freak.” She snarled at him.

“And she’s such a charmer.” Mogul smirked. “Whatever do you see in her?”

‘Oh great,’ Knuckles thought. ‘Now I’m getting grief from hose nose…’

“I could use a little help here, if you don’t mind.” Predator Hawk grated, still fighting to get a good grip on Julie-Su. “She’s slipperier than wart features over there.” He gestured towards Flying Frog with a nod of his head.

“Comments like that will not get my assistance.” The frog pouted.

“Nevertheless, my amphibious ally, go to his aid.” Mogul said, before returning his attention to Knuckles. “Now, little Guardian, cooperate, and I promise, no harm will come to her.”

“And if I don’t?”

“You will,” Mogul smiled smugly. “You’d never risk her. Love may be a many splendid thing…but it is also one of the greatest forms of leverage known to animalkind.”

Knuckles let out an exasperated sigh. Though he didn’t say anything, Mogul was right, he’d never endanger her in any way. “What do you want?” He growled.

“Nothing much,” Mogul admitted. “Just the Blade Of Order.”

Knuckles frowned. Julie-Su had told him about Mogul’s previous attempt to get a hold of the relic.

“You’re wasting your time, Mogul.” Knuckles shook his head. “It was lost.”

“The Blade cannot be lost, nor can it be destroyed.” Mogul insisted. “It can only be hidden…extremely well hidden…” The mammoth frowned, and began to move closer. “In the most unlikely of places…” He reached out a hand towards the red echidna. Knuckles’ eyes widened. It was completely translucent. It was as if Mogul had no real substance.

Mogul breathed in deeply. “Hold him!” He demanded of the shadows behind Knuckles.

He felt a sudden tightness about his ribs and throat, as Sergeant Simian wrapped his massive arms around him in a vice-like grip.

‘Jeez, what a rookie!’ Knuckles chided himself. ‘Forgot all about the other two…’

“That marvellous sense of smell of yours doesn’t do you much good if your foe knows to keep down wind.” Mogul said smugly as he moved closer, his hand still out before him. Knuckles kicked at him, feeling a strange coldness in his leg as his foot passed clean through the mammoth’s form.

He recovered quickly. He may not be able to damage the mammoth, but he could still have an effect on the gorilla that held him. Knuckles brought his foot down, hard, on Sergeant Simian’s toes.

“Yeow!” The gorilla growled. “Can you get his legs?” He demanded of Lightning Lynx. The orange-furred feline complied by sitting, rather daintily, on Knuckles’ feet.

“A strange sensation, is it not?” Mogul said, referring to the attempt Knuckles had made of injuring him, he moved in close again, now that Knuckles was completely immobilized. He chuckled and let his cloak fall to the ground. His entire body was translucent, with a slightly green tint, as if he were made of Chaos energy. But it was obvious he had no power, or he’d have used it. Tails had already come to that conclusion. It was almost like he was some kind of ghost. The merest echo of what he’d been before.

“What are you?” Knuckles whispered.

“Little more than a shadow.” He admitted, looking through his own hands. “But that’s about to change.”

He lay his hand on Knuckles’ chest, right in the middle of the snowy band. His splayed fingers sunk into the fur. Knuckles let out a sound, somewhere between a gasp and a gurgle, as Mogul’s fingers began to search even deeper, sinking into flesh as easily as they had sunk into fur.

He felt the tiny spines on his back flare out instinctively, as they had against Mathias Poe. But this time they were of no use, scraping harmlessly against the tough fabric of the inside of his vest.

The unexpected movement caused Sergeant Simian a moment of uncertainty. “What gives with this guy?” He asked. “It’s like his back’s alive or something.”

“Ignore it.” Mogul told him. “It’s just a little echidna defence system…made rather redundant with his change in attire.”

Julie-Su struggled against her captors, though she didn’t know what she could co if she managed to break free. Mogul’s hand had all but disappeared inside Knuckles’ chest. Knuckles looked more stunned than pained, but that could be purely due to shock.

“There are advantages to having no real substance.” Mogul admitted, frowning slightly. Knuckles flinched suddenly. “Sorry,” he smirked. “Must have hit a nerve…”

Knuckles’ eyes began to roll back in his head. He was struggling to even keep conscious. It was the weirdest sensation. Wherever Mogul’s fingers probed, he felt a biting cold. It wasn’t painful really. In fact it reminded him of when Dimitri had…

“Ah…” Mogul smiled triumphantly. “I knew it was in there.” He pulled his hand free so quickly, Knuckles didn’t have time to gasp. He barely had time to register the arch of blood as the newly freed Blade Of Order was ripped from him.

“Ooohhh.” Flying Frog winched. “That’s gonna leave a mark.”

“NO!” Julie-Su screamed.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion.

She threw her head back, cracking into Predator Hawk’s face. His pain made him release her. She twisted savagely, sending Flying Frog tumbling. She tore her gloves off and bolted across the uneven ground in a time that would have made even Sonic proud.

Sergeant Simian had released Knuckles as soon as Mammoth Mogul had pulled the Blade from his body, still concerned about the movement on his back, but somehow, Julie-Su managed to catch him before he hit the ground.

She pressed her gloves to Knuckles’ chest, in an effort to staunch the blood flow. Knuckles hissed painfully through clenched teeth.

“Come.” Mogul smirked to his companions. “We have what we came for.” He held the Blade aloft, marvelling at the effect it was having on his translucent body. The pudgy fingers that were wrapped around its hilt were already beginning to solidify.

“I do believe I’d like to test it.” He said, studying the red-stained golden weapon. “And I believe I know the perfect candidates. Warm up the flyer, Predator Hawk, we’re heading for Knothole.”

“What about those two?” The blue hawk jerked a thumb at Knuckles and Julie-Su.

Mogul glanced at them briefly.

“They don’t look like much of a threat to me.”

~~~~~~

Julie-Su heard them leave, but it didn’t really register. She pressed down as hard as she could, trying not to think of what was under her hand, trying to ignore the spreading warmth in the fabric beneath her fingers.

Knuckles’ eyelids were fluttering as he struggled to remain conscious.

“Stay with me.” She said to him, cradling his head with her free hand. “You can’t leave me again.” She closed her eyes, laying her cheek against his forehead. He was frighteningly cold.

‘Where the hell are his voyeuristic family when we really need them?’ She thought.

She let out a started gasp when she felt his hand gently touch her face. She looked into his eyes, which were surprisingly clear. He smiled, a strange, dreamy little smile, as he gently stroked her cheek.

“She has your eyes…” he said, his voice impossibly small. He sighed dreamily and finally succumbed to the call of the darkness.

“Knuckles!?” She all but screamed at him. She lowered his head gently to the soft earth and pressed her fingers to his neck. She could feel his pulse, slow but steady. He was only unconscious.

‘But for how long?’

She began searching his numerous pockets, desperately, for the communication device she knew he carried, somewhere. Finally locating it, she flipped it on, even though she really didn’t know how to use it.

“What?” Ellie-Za’s rather irritated voice answered a few moments later.

“Elle…we’ve got an emergency situation here.”

“What?” She repeated, all her irritation replaced with concern due to the tone of her friend’s voice.

“Knuckles is hurt…bad…” She stammered, the implication of her situation beginning to sink in.

“Okay,” Ellie-Za tried to remain calm for her friend’s sake. “Where are you?”

“I’m not sure…” Julie-Su admitted. “Where out in the wilds…”

“Just leave the line open…I’ll triangulate your position and be there as soon as I can. Just do what you can ‘til I get there.”

“’Kay…” Julie-Su said in a voice even smaller than Knuckles had previously. She hung her head, closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

She didn’t notice Knuckles’ eyes open, or feel the gentle nerve pinch he applied to her neck. She slumped forward, but he was ready for it. He lowered her gently to the ground, thinking how strange it was that their positions were so suddenly reversed. He cocked his head as he heard the engines of the approaching EST transport.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly to Julie-Su. He brushed her hair back and gently kissed her on the forehead. “But there are some things that you just can’t know.”

~~~~~~

“She okay?” Julie-Su heard Ellie-Za ask.

“Yeah, she’s fine.” Moni-Ca informed her. “You got an analysis on that blood yet?”

“Yep, it’s definitely lover-boy’s,” she sighed. “Awful lot of it too…and by the tone of her voice…he shouldn’t have been able to move…I’ll go get my scanner, see if I can get some readings from the surrounding area.”

“Wha…?” Julie-Su managed, struggling to sit up.

“Easy,” Moni-Ca helped to support her friend.

“Where…?” Julie-Su glanced about frantically.

“He was gone when we got here.” Moni-Ca admitted.

“But he couldn’t have…”

“Jeez!” Ellie-Za exclaimed from the other side of the clearing. She was staring at the screen of a small handheld device that Julie-Su couldn’t identify.

‘What’s she built now?’ She wondered. “What is it?”

“Dunno how to explain it…” Ellie-Za admitted. “It’s like a tear in space…”

“A portal?” Julie-Su suggested, walking up to look over her friend’s shoulder.

“Maybe,” she nodded. “But how, and to where?”

“Knuckles can open portals…” Julie-Su said, her initial fear slowly changing to anger.

“He can?” Ellie-Za asked incredulously.

Julie-Su nodded. “He’d have gone after the Blade…” she mussed.

“But you said he was in critical condition.” Moni-Ca protested.

Julie-Su frowned, as much in anger as concern.

“If he’s alive…I’ll kill him!”