Chapter 72 - The Next Guardian Issue # 72

Ekyt closed his eyes and tried to concentrate. The meditation seemed stupid to him. Maybe it was because he couldn't concentrate. He sighed and got up. Knuckles and Locke were talking about the past, and were in the process of welcoming Lara-Le back into their lives. Knuckles hadn't seen his mother in a long time.

Ekyt turned to Archimedes. “You'll get it soon. It takes time, kid.” Archimedes tried to reassure his pupil. But Ekyt was frustrated. “Tell me, Archimedes, how do I protect people who despise me? They don't want me here, no matter how much I want to be here.” “Relax; you've more than proven yourself. Your few skeptics are mostly Dark Legion supporters. And you know how they are. You can't please everyone. No one can.” Ekyt stroked his chin as he thought that over. He finally smiled, defeated. “Okay, you're right. How's Linda?” Archimedes grinned at that. “She's fine, but not enough to go on some crazy mission. But Knuckles…” Knuckles interrupted. “But Knuckles will give you two of the Chaotix.” “Just…keep an eye on her…” Ekyt had to find Tails and Amy.

Amy elected to stay and help Linda-Su, as did Julie-Su and Eden (Violet_Rose). This might have been a blessing in disguise.

The group peered through the bushes, watching Robotnik's sentries. Tails pulled out the slingshot Sally had given him (Soon I'll have the lost issues of Next Guardian up, and you'll know when this happened.) and fired two shots, hitting the guards with rocks. They turned and fired on each other.

Ekyt felt a hand on his shoulder and turned, ready to fight, when he found himself face to face with Mighty the Armadillo and Espio the Chameleon, both of Chaotix fame. “Need some help?” Espio asked. “Always.” Ekyt pointed with two fingers toward the camouflaged entrance. “Metal door. Painted to match the background.” Espio frowned. “Not a chameleon's work.” He joked.

Mighty tore the door of it's hinges. Espio disappeared. Ekyt and Mighty peered cautiously through the door. They dove back as two fireballs came flying out at them. The two guns were firing rapidly, until their wires snapped off, courtesy of Espio.

The three moved in quietly, stealthily. Mighty liberally destroyed things throughout the complex. Ekyt heard a noise behind them. “You guys go on and finish, I'll handle this…OOF!” Ekyt was shot backward, but he rebounded and flew into his attacker. “Wha- you again!” He was staring down the robot version of himself. With a clang, the robot sent his counterpart flying. Ekyt rubbed his jaw. “You know, for being me, you really are an annoying little twerp.” The robot version goaded. Ekyt threw a kick into it, sending it into a console. The fire guns started firing again. It was strange.
[ulist]
The old robot parts melted away, revealing flesh. Ekyt stared into his own face. evil version of him, got a hold of a weapon, a piece of metal. He cracked it down on his counterpart's skull. Once. Twice. Three times the metal flashed, finally leaving Ekyt face down on the steel corridor, his head crimson.
[/ulist]
Espio and Mighty found Sally in a cell. “Am I glad to see you guys!” Mighty threw the door aside as Sally bounded out. “Ekyt's back there.” The three raced back to where the human was down, struggling to his feet, as someone that looked just like him pounded on him with a piece of sheet metal. Then a screw came flying in and hit his hand, causing the evil duplicate to drop the metal.

Tails soared in and tackled the human, fighting for all he was worth, but getting thrown off. Might picked up the piece of metal as Espio tapped the human on the shoulder.

CLANG!”

Mighty put Ekyt in a fireman's carry as the group ran out. Espio set some timed charges, giving them thirty seconds to escape. The explosion was movie-violent. “Mission accomplished.” Espio said softly.

Back on the island, Ekyt awoke. Linda-Su was peering down at him, concerned. “Wha…” Ekyt sprang up. “I'll rip that cheap imitation apart!” Linda pushed him back down gently. “Easy, tiger. You're not going anywhere until we get you a new shirt.” Ekyt looked down at his chest, then blushed instantly. “Did everything else work out?” He asked. She nodded. Ekyt sighed. He leaned back momentarily, exhausted. “You're a tough kid, ya know that?” Linda asked him. He shrugged. She tickled him under the chin, and had to stifle her laughter as he turned progressively redder. She stroked his hair. “How's your head?” he asked her. “Never better.” He again tried to get to his feet.

She pushed him back down. “I've got orders from Archimedes, Locke, and Knuckles not to let you get out of this bed. Now, c'mon, relax.” “I can't. That cheap knockoff is…” She kissed him. “Now, Chill.” She said. He was stiff as a board.

Knuckles came in. “How ya doing, kid?” “N-N-never better he stammered.”

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