Chapter 146 - A Chaos Heart

“I know of your disobedience.” Spectre , an elder member of the brotherhood, hissed at Ekyt. He and Ekyt disliked each other, and this little incident didn’t help. “Disobedience? Pray tell, what?” Ekyt asked back, looking mockingly surprised. “You lied for that little witch, didn’t you? Well, she’s back. Congratulations. But, your treachery won’t go unpunished.” “Surprise, surprise.” Ekyt crowed. “You are to work in the chaos mines for the remainder of today. If you refuse…Little Julie and Linda will have to find a new home…I assume we understand each other…” Spectre hissed. “I get you.” Ekyt said back flatly.

“This is the place Sal mentioned…time to set these charges and motor, Rotor!” Rotor, the walrus and one of the resident handy-men of Knothole, nodded stiffly. “I can’t wait to turn that Robotnik into a can-opener!” Sonic placed a cluster of black spheres around what looked like a telephone pole. It was actually a thick cluster of cables, running to various workshops and factories and, according to Sally’s computer, Nicole, Robotnik’s mainframe computers. “Ten seconds! Hang on, we’re juicin’!”

“Man, that’s horrible! You didn’t argue that one?” Knuckles questioned Ekyt, while Julie-Su and Linda-Su flanked them. “Anything short of banishment or demotion I’m going to take in stride. I don’t have much choice. You know he wants me gone.” Julie tapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks again. That was some quick thinking.” “No problem Julie. Glad to help.” Knuckles stopped. “They blackmailed you, didn’t they?” Everyone stopped. “Blackmailed?” “They did something. You’re not the type to just…go with the flow.” Ekyt laughed at that. “No, I’m not. And, yeah, they did.” Ekyt admitted. “And how, exactly, did they threaten you?” “A day in the mines, or Julie and Linda are out a home. It’s worth my time, trust me.” Ekyt grimaced, folding his coat up and placing it behind a bush. “I’d better get at it…”

“Great job Sonic!” Sally exclaimed, giving him a peck on the cheek. “Hey, thank you, thank you. But, Rotor did a great job too. Right Rote? Rote?” “Sonic, come quick!” Rotor was pointing at the sky.

A huge hovercraft, decorated with Robotnik’s seal, was hovering over the clearing they were in. “Looks like we ticked of’ ‘Buttnik off this time! I’ll just send him packing!” Sonic motored to Robotnik’s vehicle. “I know you’re in there, blubberbuns!” Thirty swatbots answered from around him. “Here I am, rodent! And here are my friends!” “Freedom Fighters charge!” Sally ordered. It was so uncharacteristic that everyone hesitated, but ran over to the swatbots. “Get me Haven, Nicole!” Sally called into her computer. “Connecting Sally…”

“Locke.” The older echidna answered tersely. Princess Sally’s concerned face appeared on his monitor. “Princess.” “There’s not much time Locke! This is an S.O.S.! We need Knuckles and Ekyt! We’ve just been ambushed! Sonic and Bunnie can’t hold out much longer, and Tails and Rotor are down!” “Understood Princess. I’ll send them. Haven out.”

“Knuckles!” Archimedes, Locke’s friend and messenger, a fireant, appeared at Knuckles side. “Huh? Arch? (Pronounced “ark”) What’s up?” “Trouble’s up, m’ boy! You and Ekyt have to get over to the Great Forest! The Freedom Fighters aren’t going to hold out long!” “Oh man! I’m on my way. Ekyt’s in the mines, Spectre” “I heard. We had words. I’ll fetch him. If you see Linda and Julie on the way, take them too.”

Ekyt pried another emerald loose, getting progressively more angry at the situation. BAMPF! Ekyt dropped the emerald, but didn’t see where it went. “Archimedes? Something wrong?” he asked, concerned. “Afraid so. You’re needed at the Great Forest. Take the Cosmic Interstate; Linda’s going with you, she’s got your weapons!” Ekyt stood up quickly and scrambled outside, tossing his coat on as he ran. “Best of luck kid!” “Thanks Arch!”

“You ready kid?” Linda called mockingly. She tossed him a black helmet with a tinted visor. “Hang on!” she called back. Her motorcycle kicked forward, aiming at portal to the Cosmic Interstate. She raced along the checkerboard-style highway. She navigated expertly, hitting the Knothole exit perfectly.

Sonic and Bunnie were down, hit from behind. Sally was shrinking back, with a defiant look on her face. “You’ll never win Robotnik!” Robotnik smiled evily. “Once I have you, I’ve already won!” He reached a fat arm out to grab her.

“Forget that Chubsy-ubsy!” Knuckles sharp fist knocked Robotnik’s arm away. Julie-Su sailed into him, bouncing off his cone-shaped head. “OOH! I hate hedgehogs! I hate chipmunks! I hate squirrels. Now I hate echidnas!” “Well, we hate humans!” Knuckles called back. Linda-Su’s motorcycled roared through. “Present company an exception!” Julie called. Ekyt threw his helmet, hitting a swatbot, getting it’s attention. “I’m going to get Sally!” Linda called to him. “Right-o! Tin-grin is all mine!” The robot.

A swatbot, an older model, took aim with it’s crossbow. He watched as the human destroyed it’s comrad, A780945231655, with two sharpened weapons he identified as swords, Kris blades, Phillipino in origin. He took his shot.

“What the” Ekyt had time to get out before the arrow pierced him in the heart. He fell to the ground, the arrow sticking menacingly out of him. Robotnik laughed hysterically. “One guardian down! One to go!”

He stopped laughing when Ekyt sat up and pulled the arrow out of him…

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