Eulogy

The day dawned clear and warm over the southern continent of Mobius, but nobody seemed to notice. They had gathered together for the most disheartening of occasions.

They had gathered to say goodbye to a loved one.

Lara-Le sat silently, her eyes glassy, her tears spent. In her hands she twisted a small, threadbare baby blanket. Wynmacher sat beside her, trying to comfort her as best he could.

Locke glanced at her with shinning eyes. Of all those present, perhaps only he could truly understand how she felt. They had both lost the one thing that was dearest to them. He remembered how it had been when he told her. It had been as if her whole world had been pulled out from under her. Her grief had re-ignited his own. They had cried together for what seemed like hours. In truth, it probably had been. He sighed heavily.

She heard him and glanced at him. His expression was quite stoic, but she knew him better. She could see the cracks in his façade, the tears in his eyes. The loss was almost too much for him to bear. She knew, even though he may have had a strange way of showing it, how much he truly loved his son.

Julie-Su sat apart from all others. Nobody knew how she was feeling, she wasn’t even sure herself. She still felt numb, unable to truly accept what had happened, that he was truly gone. It was like some important part of her had died with him. She knew he’d died nobly, unselfishly, for a purpose, but somehow, it offered little comfort.

She held the green oval crystal in her hands. She remembered how it had glimmered, with some kind of magical light, when he’d given it to her. Now it was cold, lifeless. She sighed.

It was all she had left of him.

Of all the friends he’d made in his short life, only Sonic and Sally were absent. He, because he was in critical condition, and deep in a coma. She, because she refused to leave his side. There were mixed feelings about the princess’s decision not to come. Most understood her need to be with the one she loved. There was fear that Sonic too, might follow his recently departed friend to the world beyond. She wanted to be with him, for it may be the last time they got to spend together.

But Sally was also his oldest friend. Some saw her decision as the ultimate snub, both to that friendship and the sacrifice he’d made on behalf of all that dwelt on the planet. But out of reverence for him, no one said a word against her. And the rest of her family was in attendance.

With the traditional echidna service over, the mourners were invited to speak a few words, to express their feelings. Many of the echidnas present were surprised, some displeased, when General Stryker rose to speak. But a disapproving look from Locke towards the dissenters silenced any complaints. He nodded respectfully towards the massive dingo as he approached the small dais, set up for the occasion, encouraging him despite the looks he was getting.

"I know that there’s no love lost between the echidnas and the dingoes," he said in a surprisingly gentle and reverent voice. "Our differences run too deep, and for too long. But the Guardian never saw those differences. He didn’t differentiate between ANY species. To him, all were equal. If we could all think like that, maybe the world would be a better place. Despite the fact that he was an echidna, a member of a race I was raised to view as an enemy, he earned my respect, something that I don’t give out freely. Even though he was an echidna, I will always think of him as a friend." He returned to his seat amongst the bowed heads.

Vector stepped forward, accompanied by Moni-Ca. The lilac echidna carried some kind of computerised device. Vector looked uncharacteristically mellow, his dark eyes conveying his loss, which he wasn’t even trying to hide.

"I’ve never been very good with words," the crocodile said softly, "most even call me obnoxious." He smiled briefly, glancing at Julie-Su, but the young female’s head was bowed, her eyes fixed on the ground beneath her feet.

"But, if there’s one thing I know, it’s music. I believe that this song speaks far more eloquently than I ever could, about how he felt about us, and how we feel about him." He nodded to Moni-Ca, who had set up what she’d been carrying while he spoke. It was an electronic keyboard. She began to play the introduction to the song Vector had selected.

"Look into my eyes, you will see,

"What you mean to me,

"Search your heart, search your soul,

"And if you find me there you’ll search no more.

"Don’t tell me it’s not worth tryin’ for,

"You can’t tell me it’s not worth dyin’ for..."

He blinked furiously, his voice catching on the word ‘dyin’. He took a deep breath, and continued.

"You know it’s true,

"Everything I do, I do it for you."

He lowered his head, clasping his gloved hands against his chest.

"Look into your heart, you will find,

"There’s nothing left to hide,

"Take me as I am, take my life..."

Again, he paused briefly, closing his large eyes, taking a deep breath...

"I would give it all, I would sacrifice,

"Don’t tell me it’s not worth fightin’ for,

"I can’t help it, there’s nothin’ I want more.

"Ya know it’s true,

"Everything I do, I do it for you..."

He glanced at the assembled mourners, unable to maintain eye contact for more than a few seconds, fearful that he’d be unable to finish his song if he took in their tear-filled eyes a moment longer.

"There’s no love, like your love,

"And no other, could give more love,

"There’s nowhere, unless you’re there,

"All the time, all the way."

He tilted his long face to the sky. His hands were clenched tightly at his sides. He stood that way, motionless, while Moni-Ca played the musical break. He mumbled a few words, lowering his head, his eyes closed, as the bridge came to its end.

"Oh, you can’t tell me it’s not worth tryin’ for,

"I can’t help it, there’s nothin’ I want more."

His voice full of grief, his eyes brimming with tears, he all but screamed the next few lines.

"I would fight for you, I’d lie for you

"Walk the wire for you, yeah I’d die for you..."

He paused again, as the connotation of the words sunk in. When he continued, his voice was barely a whisper.

"Ya know it’s true,

"Everything I do,

"Oh, I do it for you."

There was a stunned silence when he finished. Those who knew him had never imagined he could express himself so beautifully. He smiled sadly at the appreciative applause he received, and returned quickly to his seat before his quickly deteriorating composer failed him completely. Mighty and Espio looked at him as he took his seat, but he refused to meet their eyes.

"Never thought he had it in him," Espio murmured.

~~~~~

Julie-Su sat in silence, her feet dangling over the edge of the cliff. She wasn’t sure what had drawn her to this spot, high above the crater that had been created by his somewhat violent departure. It was secluded, quite some distance from where they’d held the service. In many ways it reminded her of the times they’d sat together on the very edge of the Island, watching the planet’s surface pass by so far below. It was also much like the bluff back near Knothole where she’d last spoken to him.

She sniffed the air, suddenly realising that she was no longer alone.

"Come to ease your conscience, Mr St John?" She asked without even turning around.

"How did you know it was me?" He asked, his surprise evident in his voice.

"Echidnas have a highly developed sense of smell," she explained. "And skunks are renowned for their odour."

"I’m sorry about..."

She held up her hand, silencing him. "There’s no need to apologise. What happened isn’t your fault. He would have done it anyway. It’s how he was raised. Always putting the needs of others ahead of his own."

"But, if I hadn’t chased him off..."

"I said it wasn’t your fault."

"Is this guy bothering you?"

The pair turned to see Vector, Mighty, Espio, Ray and Charmy, the apparently reformed Chaotix. The crocodile was glaring at the skunk. Julie-Su smiled gratefully at her would-be saviours.

"It’s okay guys," she said. "Mr St John was just leaving."

"Uh, yes," he said, more than a little intimidated, not to mentioned out numbered, by the echidna’s self-appointed bodyguards. "Or I’ll miss the transport back to Knothole." He brushed past the Chaotix without looking back.

"I guess he feels a little guilty about what happened." Mighty noted.

"Good." Vector snarled.

~~~~~

Locke and Max were saying their goodbyes. It had been a long time since the pair had seen each other.

"It was good to see you again, old friend," Locke said.

"Yes," Max agreed. "I only wish it could have been under more pleasant circumstances."

Locke nodded. He frowned. "Max, I was thinking. About what Stryker said."

"The large dingo chap?"

"Yes. About how Knuckles saw us all as equals. Dimitri attacked us individually. If we had been united, the Island, Knothole, all the nations of Mobius, then Dimitri would never have had the power to defeat us."

"Are you suggesting our two realms form an alliance?"

"Yes, but not just us. We should invite all the nations of Mobius. The whole is far greater than the sum of its parts. If we could work together, support each other, no one faction could ever come to power."

"United nations?" Max mused. "It sounds good...in theory..."

~~~~~

"Come on, Julie-Su," Ellie-Za said to her silent friend. "It’s time to go home."

"I’m not going." She said softly. "There’s nothing there for me now." ‘Only memories.’ She thought sadly.

"And what are we, chopped liver?" Mighty put a hand to his chest to indicate not only himself, but all the Chaotix.

"Yeah," Vector protested, "you’re one of us." His own expression was as surprised as anybody’s by the fact that he was the one that said it.

"And there are others who might need you," Ellie-Za said softly, glancing towards Lara-Le.

Julie-Su followed her gaze. She hadn’t thought of that. "I need some time," she said. "I’ve already squared things with Elias and Bunnie..."

"You’re joining the Freedom Fighters?" Espio asked.

"For a while," she looked at Ellie-Za, and added softly, "I think Sally might need me more." The tall echidna nodded.

"I’ll keep an eye on her." She indicated Lara-Le. "You just take care of yourself. I promised Locke I’d help get Haven up and running again, but if you ever need me..."

"Any of us..." Mighty added.

"I know where you are." Julie-Su smiled, grateful that they hadn’t made a scene.

~~~~~

"I hear you’re not coming with us."

Julie-Su looked up to see Locke. ‘Jeez, I wish you didn’t look so much like him.’ "Not right now," she said. "There’s too many memories. And I think Sally might need a shoulder, especially if the worst happens."

"I wouldn’t worry too much about Sonic," Locke said. "He’s pretty stable, and I’m sure the Walkers wouldn’t take them both." There was a noticeable crack in the former Guardian’s voice. He sighed.

"I know you two never made it official..." Julie-Su looked at him, a little confused. He smiled gently. "...but I will always think of you...as my daughter..."

Her eyes widened a little, surprised at what he’d said. She knew the Brotherhood didn’t care for her any more than the citizens of Echidnaopolis. For Locke to come out and say that indicated that he was siding with her, even if it meant going against centuries of tradition and protocol.

She smiled sadly as she took in his glassy-eyed countenance. His tears were long spent. Though there was a lump in her throat and a tightness in her stomach, her own eyes were dry. She was a little concerned that she still hadn’t been able to shed a tear.

She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around the male that would have one day been her father-in-law. He was a little taken aback at first, but soon began to stroke her hair in a comforting manner.

Just like any parent and child.