#the destructix: wait no not like that-

[fleetsonourgecentral]

Good that I give Royal Au so light XD

Talking about the Au Scourge's gang (Fiona and the destrutix plus Rosy) exist?

If yes imagine they made everyone VS everyone/gang vs gang XD

Rubs hands together OKAY SO. I have actually done a little bit of thinking about this, and I think both the destructix and the suppression squad are in this au. I haven't fully settled on what exactly the suppression squad's role will be - parental approved company for Scourge, perhaps? - but the destructix are the gang Scourge initially sneaks out of the castle to hang out with before he bumps into Sonic. Scourge's parents don't approve of them - they consider them ruffians, and they aren't as poor as Sonic/they're not quite commoners but they're still considerably lower on the class ladder than Scourge - hence why he has to meet up with them in secret. They're rebellious and troublemakers and Scourge is always getting into fights with other people with them, which he finds really fun

Unlike Sonic and co, however, they don't have any interest in taking down the monarchy. They're well aware Scourge is the prince, and probably hoping (most likely subconsciously) Scourge will give them powerful, high-up roles in the kingdom once he takes the throne. If they heard about Scourge's plan to overthrow his parents, they'd be down for it until they realised the next step of the plan would not be Scourge taking the crown for himself, but getting rid of the monarchy entirely and giving the power to the people. They don't want it gone, they're just waiting for the day Scourge takes the throne

Tldr they're Scourge's friends that his parents really, really wish he wasn't friends with, and they've forbidden him from speaking with them, but that just means he sneaks out to meet up with them. Trying to meet up with them without getting caught is probably why he takes to dyeing his fur whenever he sneaks out, and thus, they are indirectly the reason he eventually bumps into Sonic while disguised as a commoner - or, at least, definitely someone lower than a prince

[vendettaspathfanfic]

Chapter Seven

(Chapter Index)

(Previous)

(Next)

Toxic was overcome with an exhilaration unlike anything she had ever experienced before. For the past few days, she and the rest of the Destructix had been meticulously organizing and strategizing for the upcoming bank robbery. Her brother had assured her that the heist would not only yield substantial rewards for the gang, but also bring them closer to their ultimate goal of claiming the castle as their own.

Furthermore, she had already tasted the thrill of danger when she found herself being pursued by the police, and had even taken the life of Boomer Walrus. Like Scourge, she found herself drawn to the adrenaline rush that came with living beyond the boundaries of the law, and it was a temptation she simply couldn't resist.

And now, the sun had long dipped below the polluted horizon and the bank had closed its doors to the public. Everyone except for Scourge and Fiona gathered in the dimly lit front lobby of their musty hideout, waiting as the latter was making some last-minute modifications to a newly acquired, illicitly-gained SUV that would be serving as their getaway vehicle.

"When do we go?" Toxic asked impatiently, the frustration transparent in her tone as she slouched her shoulders forward in an exaggerated, childlike display of boredom.

"As your brother mentioned," Predator responded brusquely, "we'll leave once Fiona finishes with the car."

"And where's Scourge?" Lightning interjected, displaying his impatience, albeit in a more composed manner compared to their youngest companion.

"He's checking on Miles," Predator replied, the ghost of a smile flickering across his face as he observed Lightning's restlessness. "The wait will be worth it."

Reluctantly, Lightning released a soft sigh and nodded, conceding with a muttered acknowledgment of "you're right," his gaze drifting downward and away from Predator.

"That's hardly a revelation," Predator remarked confidently, his arms folded across his chest as he stared ahead.

"Shut up," Lightning retorted with a growl, attempting to maintain a facade of annoyance even as his mouth twitched in a battle against a burgeoning grin.

"We'll be ready soon, Toxic little girl!" Flying exclaimed, bounding off the remnants of the front desk in the lobby where he had been perched. He landed with a solid thud in a crouched position before Toxic, meeting her at eye level. "And then we'll have a grand ole time-rhyme-mime!"

A proud smile spread across Toxic's face as she declared, "I'm gonna shoot someone again," placing her clenched fists on her hips.

"Well, they've got bots instead of guards, so you'll just be shooting them if necessary," Lightning chimed in, leaning casually against the wall as he recounted a detail from his earlier reconnaissance mission at the bank to assess the security system.

"Unless the cops show up-cup-pup!" Flying interjected, wagging his finger playfully while his grin widened at the prospect of taking the lives of law enforcement.

Toxic nibbled on her healing lower lip, revealing a gap-toothed grin. "I wanna shoot them too," she mused before approaching Simon, who carried their arsenal of weapons in an ammo belt slung across his torso. She looked up at him and gently tugged on his pant leg, prompting him to shift his gaze toward her.

"What is it?" Simon asked.

"Can I have my gun?" she asked, extending her arm towards his towering figure, her hand outstretched in anticipation.

"Not yet. I'll give it to you when it’s time," Simon replied, his gaze returning to the front as he patiently awaited the gang's leaders.

"Can I just practice more though?" Toxic persisted, maintaining her stance as she tried to negotiate for access to her designated pistol.

"Nope. We have to be conservative with ammo at the moment," Simon insisted, crossing his arms firmly as he kept his gaze fixed ahead.

"That's balls," Toxic grumbled, dropping her arm and crossing it tightly with the other.

"Okay," Simon acknowledged with a nonchalant hum, his shoulders giving a subtle twitch in a barely noticeable shrug.

Scourge soon made his entrance into the dimly lit lobby, his silhouette accentuated by the warm glow emanating from the lantern he carried. With a smirk and, he lowly chuckled “whining bitch,” as he placed the lantern on a weathered end table, joining the ensemble of lights that provided just enough illumination for the gang to make out each other's faces in the dark, dank setting.

"How's our guest, green boss?" queried Flying with a curious tilt of his head.

"He's been trapped in that room going on three days now, and trust me, we're far from rolling out the red carpet for him. He's faring just as you'd picture," Scourge growled with annoyance while he fidgeted with the jacket that seemed to hang loosely on his lithe form.

"I see-hee-hee!" Flying snickered with sinister glee, his hands coming together in anticipation as he imagined the undoubtedly run-down condition of their captive, Miles.

"Fiona's wrapping up her work. I'll go see how she's doing," declared Scourge, striding towards the shadowy alley nestled next to the orphanage. It was a secluded spot where they currently kept their vehicles out of sight. As he arrived, he noticed Fiona, intent on her task under the SUV's hood, her face hidden from view by its bulk.

"How's it going, Fi?" he called out, a grin spreading across his face as he took in the sight of her, somehow still striking even with streaks of filth marking her from the day's labor.

"Just tying up the last few loose ends," she answered without looking up, her hands deftly making the final tweaks to the engine. With a satisfied nod, she packed away her tools and lowered the hood with a solid thud. "We should give it a test drive. Care to do the honors?"

"Yeah, I'm up for it," Scourge replied nonchalantly, his shoulders lifting in an easy shrug.

"Perfect. Just a quick ride down to the end of the street and back should do. I can tell you're all itching to go soon," she said, a touch of empathy in her voice as she prepared to gauge the readiness of their escape vehicle.

"Don't you know it," Scourge chuckled, the sound low and soft, as he accepted the keys she offered him and slid into the driver's seat. With a turn of the key, the engine roared to life, and he took off for the brief trial run. The vehicle performed flawlessly, and with a satisfied nod, he returned to park it right in front of the building, stepping out to greet Fiona who walked up to him with a victorious air.

"Smooth as butter," she proclaimed, her arms lifted triumphantly.

"That’s my girl," Scourge praised, wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her into a close embrace, their bodies pressed together in a moment of affection.

"Well," Fiona began, her fingers delicately holding Scourge's chin, elevating his gaze to hers, "it looks like we're ready to roll."

With a broad smile, Scourge reveled not only in the thrill of the impending heist but also in the woman before him – Fiona, the undeniable queenpin of their outfit and, more significantly, his own heart. Drawn in by the moment, their lips met in a soft collision that momentarily swept away thoughts of their upcoming illicit endeavor.

The Destructix, however, did not forget about anything. The expectant gang emerged from the building,

Their intimate interlude was shattered by a piercing, high-pitched "HEY!" that sliced through the air, accompanied by the sharp clap of hands.

"I will break you, you little shi-" Scourge snarled, his moment with Fiona abruptly interrupted, glaring at his sister in disdain.

"Are we ready to get moving?" Toxic interrupted, her impatience evident in her crossed arms and the rhythmic tapping of her foot.

"Mhm," Fiona replied, rolling her eyes at Toxic's insolence. She then turned her attention to the task at hand, announcing, "Everybody, gear up," as she popped open the trunk and began to distribute the nondescript black hoodies and balaclavas to the group.

"How long is the drive again?" Lightning asked, pulling the hoodie over his head.

"We should make it in about thirty minutes," Fiona answered, as she too donned the garment. "Simon, do you have all the equipment ready?"

“Yes ma’am.” Simion replied with an obedient nod, carefully placing a large, loaded duffle bag into the trunk.

Fiona responded with an enthusiastic agreement, enthusiastically thrusting both of her thumbs skyward as she declared, “Cool. Everyone in.”

Upon her cue, her and the rest of the Destructix clambered into the spacious interior of the SUV, a sense of tense excitement hanging in the air. Fiona ignited the engine and embarked on their route towards the bank.

“Alright, one more time let’s hear the plan.” Scourge commanded with authority, his blue eyes scanning the motley crew of accomplices from the vehicle's passenger seat.

With precision, Lightning began to recite his role in the upcoming heist, “I disarm an external security camera by the vent which I’ll crawl through and search for the security room. Once there, I’ll take the flash drive Fiona got and plug it into the main computer. The virus within it will shut the system down completely.”

“Right, then what?” Scourge prodded, his voice laced with anticipation for the next steps.

“I’ll break open the door then guard the car.” Simon chimed in succinctly, underscoring his commitment to the task at hand.

“Can Simon come with us?” Toxic interjected, her eyes wide and hopeful as she cast a beseeching look in Simon’s direction.

“Shut up,” Scourge spat out sharply, his patience wearing thin with his sister’s shenanigans.

“But I-“ Toxic began to protest, her lips parting in objection, only to be met with crossed arms and a resolved stance.

“The answer’s no,” Simon articulated firmly, as the little blue hedgehog sitting beside him grumbled under her breath, her arms folding defiantly while her expression soured by the sting of rejection.

“Go on,” Fiona encouraged, her tone now edged with impatience.

“I run in and find the vault,” Scourge succinctly stated his part of the plan, his confidence unwavering.

“Right,” Fiona acknowledged, her hands deftly maneuvering the steering wheel as she executed a sharp turn.

“We go where Scourge tells us the vault is and start loading the bags.” Predator elaborated, nodding toward the trunk where a stack of empty duffel bags awaited their bounty.

“Then after we’re rich-stitch-bitch, we haul the fuck out before the piggly-wigglies come after us!” Flying exclaimed with his typical raucous enthusiasm, his fist punching the air triumphantly.

“Damn right boys,” Fiona concurred, her lips curling into a predatory smirk of anticipation. The vehicle accelerated, leaving behind the city limits sign that marked their departure from Moebotropilis, as they steered closer to their plunder.

“My mouth hurts…” Toxic complained with a pained expression, her fingers unconsciously gravitating towards the scab forming on her healing lip.

“Then why are you picking at it?” Predator grumbled with a touch of exasperation, shooting a disapproving glance at Toxic.

“Stop picking at it, Toxic. It won't heal if you do,” Fiona scolded firmly, her gaze piercing through the rearview mirror to meet Toxic's eyes.

“I’m not picking at it…” Toxic protested weakly, her fingers betraying her as they continued their ministrations.

“I see you doing it. Knock it off,” Fiona admonished, her voice carrying a note of frustration as she shifted her focus momentarily to berate a sluggish driver ahead, “move it, dumbass!”

“Put your mask on, Toxic,” Simon interjected, hoping this would redirect Toxic's attention away from her lip.

“Okay,” Toxic responded eagerly, a spark of excitement evident in her eyes as she grasped the small balaclava and attempted to pull it over her head. However, her initial enthusiasm was met with a minor setback as she struggled to align the mask correctly, inadvertently covering her eyes instead of the intended eye holes.

“Hang on,” Simon sighed heavily, reaching over to adjust the mask to its proper position on Toxic's head.

“Does it look cool?” Toxic inquired with anticipation, her wide eyes shining with a mix of innocence and eagerness as her tail wagged in anticipation.

“Sure,” Simon replied casually, offering a nonchalant shrug in response to her query.

“Good,” Toxic chimed in happily, a giggle bubbling forth as she embraced the thrill of her first heist.

As the journey progressed with an intermittent backdrop of silence occasionally punctuated by Toxic annoying Simon with various random questions, Lightning seized the opportunity to engage in a moment of meditation. The impending task ahead demanded unwavering focus and precision, necessitating a mental and physical clarity unencumbered by distractions. With a deliberate motion, he gently closed his eyes, honed in on the rhythm of his breath, and methodically purged his mind of extraneous thoughts.

Unbeknownst to Lightning, Predator's gaze had shifted towards him, silently studying his tranquil countenance with a mix of admiration and respect. The aura of serenity enveloping Lightning belied the intense focus he maintained, his unmoving form resembling that of a poised statue, save for the subtle rise and fall of his chest as he inhaled and exhaled with measured calmness.

In this moment of profound tranquility and disciplined resolve, Predator found a poignant reminder of Lightning's indispensable role within the ranks of the Destructix. The brief period during which Lightning had temporarily departed to rejoin the Raiju Clan had underscored not only the loss of a formidable ally in combat but also the absence of a cherished friend whose presence was deeply ingrained in the fabric of their collective identity.

"Thank god he came back…" Predator mused inwardly, the sentiment reverberating within him so profoundly that he resisted the urge to vocalize it.

To Predator, the Destructix remained incomplete in Lightning's absence, a sentiment that echoed the void within his own being that yearned to be filled by the camaraderie and companionship they had shared. Lightning was more than a comrade; he was Predator's first true friend, a bond that transcended the confines of their criminal endeavors and resonated on a personal level.

Abruptly jolted back to reality, Predator's reverie was shattered by Flying's boisterous intervention, as he seized Lightning's shoulder and vigorously shook him while emitting an incomprehensible stream of excited chatter, disrupting the moment with a frenetic energy that clashed with the prevailing stillness.

"Fuck, Flying!" Lightning hissed through gritted teeth, his body taut with barely restrained fury as he glared at him.

Flying, on the other hand, seemed to revel in the tension, a mischievous sparkle dancing in his eyes. He let out a playful giggle, the sound almost musical in its lightness. "We’re here, kitty kitty!" he taunted, his voice lilting as he turned his attention towards Predator with a sly grin. With an exaggerated waggle of his eyebrows, he mockingly inquired, "Could you tell we were here, tweety bird? You seemed a lil distracted!"

The color rose rapidly to Predator's cheeks, a deep blush betraying his embarrassment. He was caught with his eyes stuck on Lightning. It was an unusual lapse for him, one that seemed all the more peculiar because he hadn't intended to stare; his mind had simply wandered down a labyrinth of thought.

"Yes I could…” Predator murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as he tried to recover his composure. He hastily cleared his throat, finding himself momentarily unable to meet the eyes of his companions. An old nervous habit was resurfacing, one he had diligently worked to quell, and he silently chastised himself for allowing it to creep back in.

Scourge cut through the banter with a voice that brooked no argument. “Everyone put the masks on,” he directed, his tone firm and authoritative. There was no hesitation as the team promptly complied, each member pulling on their balaclavas to conceal their identities in the dark fabric.

Fiona, maneuvered the vehicle into a narrow alleyway several structures away from the bank. The engine hummed to a subdued halt. Turning in her seat, she fixed Lightning with a look that was both stern and encouraging. “You’re on, my man,” she said, giving him an affirming nod.

Responding with a terse nod of his own, Lightning's fingers found the button that activated the car's overhead window, pressing it to open up his pathway. He unclasped his seatbelt with a click and fluidly climbed through the opening. Standing atop the vehicle, he surveyed his surroundings before making his move. With the finesse of a true ninja, he leaped onto a nearby fire escape, his movements swift and silent as he ascended the metal stairs to gain access to the rooftops.

Once he reached the appropriate vantage point, he paced back, calculating distance, then burst into a sprint that carried him toward the edge of the rooftop. With a powerful leap, he bridged the gap to the neighboring building, repeating this athletic feat from one structure to the next in a breathtaking display of parkour until he arrived at the bank's roof.

There, Lightning prowled across the rooftop like a shadow until he reached his target that he had noted when he surveyed the bank earlier: the security camera with a clear view of the vent he needed to infiltrate. With a deftness that spoke of years of practice, he reached out and with a swift twist of his wrist, he dislodged the camera from its perch, letting it clatter to his feet where he proceeded to crush it beneath his boot, extinguishing its ability.

With the camera disabled, Lightning yet again transformed into an embodiment of stealth and precision. He inched over the ledge, his body angled in an almost impossible inversion as he maintained his balance with the expertise of a master climber. Upon unzipping a pocket of his hoodie, he pulled out a small screwdriver, its metal glinting faintly in the dim light as he set about removing the bolts securing the vent. One by one, the screws fell away, the metal grate clattering to the ground below. Lightning's movements were a choreographed dance of finesse and strength, as he contorted his body to slip into the vent's maw.

Inside, he weaved through the ducts with a patience born of necessity, seeking the nerve center of their target. After a meticulous journey, he discovered a room bristling with technology — computers, monitors, and servers — the perfect jackpot.

But caution was paramount; security cameras lurked like vigilant sentinels. Tuning into the environment, Lightning detected the faint hum of machinery from a camera nearby, likely positioned to monitor the vent. With a swift and calculated motion, he positioned his feet against the grate and unleashed a powerful kick. The grate sailed away as Lightning burst from the vent, his feet colliding with the camera in a precise strike, its recording light flickering out as he landed deftly on the ground.

Drawing from his extensive experience in past criminal exploits, Lightning navigated the familiar terrain of the room with confident precision. Approaching the mainframe computer, he deftly inserted the flash drive containing the virus, a potent tool acquired by Fiona from a black market, into the USB port. As the malicious code took root within the system, the room's atmosphere crackled with digital tension.

Observing the monitors flicker and glitch in response to the virus's intrusion, Lightning's ears flattened at the jarring cacophony of alarms distorted by the cyber assault. Without missing a beat, he reached for his phone and dialed Scourge.

“Howzit lookin’?” Scourge's voice cut through the chaos, his tone a blend of anticipation and authority, as he answered the call after a single ring.

“It’s working. Any second now...” Lightning's response was measured and focused, his gaze fixed on the unfolding chaos as the virus's effects intensified, causing the servers and monitors to succumb to the digital onslaught. With a self-assured smirk, he announced, “You’re up, boss.”

“See you in a minute,” Scourge's voice resonated with unwavering confidence as he terminated the call, stepping out of the car to retrieve an empty duffel bag from the trunk, preparing for the next phase of their operation.

Exiting the vehicle in tandem, Simon approached Scourge.

"In case the vault hasn't been unlocked, you’ll need some sticky bombs," Simon remarked, retrieving a small duffel bag containing the explosive devices and passing it to him with careful deliberation.

“Right on, man,” Scourge acknowledged with a faint grin, shouldering the bag of volatile tools in readiness for their utilization.

“You know how to use ‘em?”

“Yeah, gotta run,” Scourge responded with a playful salute, his focus shifting to the imminent task at hand. With his signature speed, he hastened towards the bank's entrance, the weight of their mission propelling him forward like a bullet. With a swift motion, he forced open the door, splintering the lock in the process, and plunged into the dimly lit interior, embarking on a determined search for the location of the vault, where their ultimate prize awaited.

Thanks to the combination of his remarkable speed and the lack of security measures in the bank, combing the grounds of the bank wasn’t nearly as difficult or time consuming as it would be under normal circumstances for the average person. In less than a minute, he stumbled upon a stairwell hiding behind an unmarked door in the heart of the bank. Leaping over the rail, he fell to the bottom and landed firmly on his feet, he found a long hallway that led to his destination.

Upon reaching the formidable entrance of the bank's vault, he found himself wrestling with the knob. His efforts proved fruitless as the door stood steadfast, mocking his attempt with its immobility. Unperturbed, he meticulously positioned a pair of sticky bombs on the surface of the massive steel barrier and hastily retreated to the stairwell's summit. From the duffel bag, he fished out the detonator, and despite the seriousness of the heist, a mischievous grin broke across his face, impossible to suppress.

He couldn't help but muse over the irony; the bank had undoubtedly poured an immense amount of time and fortune into their elaborate security measures, yet here they were, his band of rebels, dismantling the intricate system with such ease in hardly any time at all. It was almost pitiful, he thought. Actually, it was downright ludicrous. His laughter spilled forth, a wild symphony of triumph and mockery, echoing throughout, an audible testament that the world was, indeed, at his whim.

"Godspeed, Moebius!" Scourge's voice thundered amidst his cachinnation, the words charged with exhilaration as he pressed the detonator's button, instinctively covering his ears in anticipation of the blast. The resulting roar of the explosion reverberated up and down the stairwell, and he waited patiently as the tumultuous sounds gradually diminished into silence.

Once the echoes faded, Scourge confidently extracted his phone, the screen glowing to life as he connected with Lightning. The phone barely had time to ring before the lynx’s voice came through, crisp and alert. Scourge's instructions were brief and to the point, guiding his accomplice towards the now-breeched vault. With the call ended, he surged back outside to where the rest of the Destructix were already in motion, their figures spilling out of the SUV. They rummaged through the trunk, efficiently drawing out several empty duffel bags, their interiors hungry for the spoils of their venture.

Amidst the organized chaos, Simon distributed guns amongst the crew then took a moment to address Toxic. He crouched down, reducing the distance between them, and offered her the compact firearm that had been selected with her in mind. His voice was gentle yet firm, "Remember what to do with this?" he inquired, handing the weapon to her.

Toxic's response was tentative, her voice betraying the effort she was making to recall his earlier instructions, "Don’t uhm… point it at anyone I’m not gonna shoot and only shoot who they tell me to shoot?" She locked eyes with him, seeking affirmation.

"That’s right. And don’t go anywhere they don’t tell you to go," Simon replied, his nod conveying his approval. He watched as a spark of eager anticipation danced in Toxic's eyes, her small frame barely containing the thrill of their illicit escapade.

"I won’t," she promised earnestly, her excitement manifesting in a series of small, jubilant jumps.

"Good," Simon responded, the shadow of a smile threatening to break through his stoic demeanor. He then lifted his gaze, addressing the collective as he imparted his final piece of guidance, "I’ll call you guys if I hear sirens."

"Right on, Simon," Fiona chimed in, her thumb raised in solidarity.

Without further ado, Scourge issued the command to advance, "This way!" His stride was deliberate, a perfect balance of speed and caution as he led his crew back into the bank's interior, descending towards the vault where Lightning awaited their arrival, ready to lay claim to their prize.

The Destructix charged into the vault with an exhilaration akin to children rushing towards an ice cream truck on a hot summer day.

“Dig in, guys!” Scourge's voice reverberated through the enclosed space, brimming with ebullience, as he flung a duffel bag towards Lightning before eagerly stuffing his own with stacks of pristine hundred Moebium bills.

Fiona joined in the revelry, her whoops of joy punctuating the air as she deftly packed her duffel bag with a precision that bordered on artistry, ensuring every available inch was crammed with the coveted currency.

“Make sure you get these ones, kid,” Predator's voice cut through the commotion, guiding Toxic towards the higher denomination Moebium bills that she dutifully stashed away in her backpack.

In a synchronized rhythm, they continued their plunder, the vault echoing with the rustle of cash and the palpable thrill of anticipation. With each bill added to their bags, their imaginations sparked with visions of the luxuries and enhancements that awaited them. From fine dining to Scourge modifying his newly stolen sports car, and even the prospect of additional cybernetic upgrades for the whole gang beyond Lightning's imminent enhancements for the upcoming siege, the possibilities seemed endless in the glow of their success.

However, amidst the euphoria of their heist, Predator's keen gaze caught a subtle shift in Lightning's demeanor. The seasoned ninja’s ears pivoted, attuned to a sound only he could detect, his expression etched with a steely focus that signaled potential danger lurking in the shadows.

“What is it?” Predator inquired, recognizing the telltale intensity in Lightning's countenance, pausing in his cash-stuffing endeavor, the bills frozen in his grasp.

“That hum…” Lightning's voice was low, his ears swiveling as he zeroed in on a distinct electrical vibration growing in intensity behind him. Without hesitation, he turned his head towards the source, his eyes locking onto a menacing turret descending ominously from the vault's ceiling.

“Hit the deck!” Lightning’s urgent command pierced the chaos, a stark warning that sent everyone scrambling to the floor. In a swift motion, Flying vaulted over, landing protectively atop a bewildered Toxic, shielding her from the lethal hail of bullets that erupted across the room, the deadly projectiles grazing perilously close but missing their marks by mere inches.

Scourge's gaze locked onto the menacing turret, its malevolent intent clear in its automated movements. As the turret momentarily shifted its focus away from him, seizing the opportune moment, he sprang into action, leaping to his feet with a fluid grace honed through countless escapades. With a primal war cry, he executed his signature homing attack, hurtling towards the turret with unbridled fury, his strike shattering the mechanical menace into a cascade of twisted metal. Standing amidst the wreckage, he clenched his fist in frustration, bellowing, “The system’s coming back on! I thought we toasted it!?”

“It was supposed to take down the backup files! Fucker at the black market screwed us over!” Fiona's voice rang out, a potent cocktail of disbelief and fury coursing through her veins, her mind racing to process the unexpected betrayal.

“We have to go! Now!” Predator's voice cut through the tension, his tone decisive as he swiftly rose to his feet, sealing his bulging bag with practiced efficiency. The urgency of the situation hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder that their daring heist had veered perilously off course, leaving them with no choice but to retreat before the full might of the bank's defenses descended upon them.

As they fled from the compromised vault, their footsteps echoing down the dimly lit corridor, the weight of the stolen cash dragging at their arms, a sudden swarm of sleek white armed drones swooped towards them, their menacing presence casting a shadow over the fleeing band of outlaws.

“Feed ‘em lead, guys!” Scourge's command sliced through the tension, igniting a flurry of gunfire as his comrades unleashed a torrent of bullets upon the armored mechanical adversaries.

“Ain’t this fun-run-gun, little girl!?” Flying's exuberant voice boomed above the cacophony, his shots finding their mark with precision, shattering a drone's camera and halting its aggressive advance. Seizing the opportunity, he lifted the lower half of his mask, stretched out his signature elastic tongue, and ensnared the disabled drone before flinging it unceremoniously to the ground, inflicting heavy damage upon its mechanical form.

“Ew, you licked it!” Toxic's voice rang out in a mixture of disgust and amusement, her own shot landing the final blow on the incapacitated machine.

“And it tasted goooood!” Flying's laughter reverberated through the corridor, a wild blend of adrenaline-fueled exhilaration and irreverent humor in the face of danger.

“Keep your mask down, man!” Fiona’s urgent demand pierced through the deafening symphony of gunfire.

Scourge, ever the showboat, decided that the use of a gun was a waste of time as he flung the bulging duffel bag he carried skyward. With a grace that belied the chaos surrounding him, he blurred into motion, moving in the blink of an eye. In a breathtaking display of agility and finesse, he leapt into action, executing a powerful kick that sent one of the drones hurtling towards its two remaining companions. They collided in a spectacular chain reaction, crashing into each other with a resounding clatter before careening into the unforgiving walls like a cascade of metallic dominos.

Proud of the chaos he had unleashed, Scourge continued his lightning-fast maneuvers, a blur of motion as he seamlessly returned to his starting point, snatching the falling duffel bag from the air with unerring precision before it could touch the ground.

With a smug smirk stretching unseen beneath his mask, he maintained a brisk but steady pace, allowing the others to easily follow him. His voice rang out, laced with a taunting edge as he beckoned his crew with a playful shout, "haul ass, slowpokes! Eyes up!"

Fiona's heartbeat quickened in tandem with the rhythm of their ascent up the stairwell when she felt the unmistakable vibration of her cell phone against her thigh. It was as if she had a sixth sense; she knew it was Simon on the other end before she even drew the device from her pocket. With a swift swipe, she accepted the call, and Simon's voice came through, confirming her premonitions.

The police were en route and getting closer by the second.

"No shit," Fiona bellowed back into the receiver, her voice almost lost amidst the cacophony of the bank's alarm system. Her eyes darted around, vigilant for any additional hazards. "The virus didn't fully take the system down like we thought! Guy who sold me the drive fucked us over and now we’re dealing with turrets and drones!”

There was a moment's pause before Simon's voice returned, now laced with frustration. His grip tightened on his phone, his strength inadvertently causing the screen to crack slightly, "Damn…" he muttered, the sound of his frustration palpable, "I’m out front ready to drive when you get out."

"See you in a mi—" Fiona's response was cut short as a sudden, explosive noise caused her to miss a step. Another ceiling turret had been obliterated by Scourge, its remnants clattering down the stairs.

Toxic, caught off guard by the chaos, let out a startled yelp. Her footing lost, she teetered dangerously backward until Fiona's reflexes kicked in. With a firm grip, Fiona caught her by the shirt, halting her fall.

"Watch your damn step!" Fiona admonished with an air of irritation. She then sighed, resigning herself to a solution, "Or, ugh, climb on back, we can’t have you slow us down!" Bending down, she allowed Toxic to clamber onto her back, securing a tight hold.

Simon's voice crackled with urgency through the phone, "What happened? Are you guys ok?"

"Relatively speakin’, yeah!" Fiona shouted back, her tone a cocktail of adrenaline and urgency, "Look, can't talk—there's a lot of shit going on!" With that, she ended the call abruptly, the severity of their predicament justifying the sudden interruption.

The remaining distance through the bank was a blur of gunfire and mechanical wreckage as they dispatched swarm after swarm of drones and turrets. Finally, the Destructix burst through the front doors, spilling out into the moonlight. They sprinted towards their getaway vehicle, tossing the duffel bags laden with cash into the trunk before tumbling into the SUV.

"Everyone in?" Simon's voice carried a mix of composure and haste, the wail of sirens now ominously close.

"FUCKING DRIVE, SIMON!" Scourge's voice erupted, his fist pounding against the dash with a force that echoed his impatience.

Simon needed no further urging. His foot slammed down on the gas pedal, and the car lurched forward, tires screeching as they tore away from the scene of their crime.

Exhilaration pulsed through Toxic as she threw her fists into the air, her voice ringing with triumph, "we did it!"

Fiona, ever the realist, tempered the celebration with a cautious glance over her shoulder. Her eyes widened and a string of curses spilled out as she spotted the relentless pursuit of law enforcement, "almost," she snapped back, noting the sea of flashing lights gaining on them.

"Piggly wigglies have come out to play!" Flying declared with a manic gleam in his eyes, thirsting for the violent confrontation.

Without missing a beat, Fiona barked at Scourge, "Get that scanner on—now!" Scourge, understanding the urgency and following Fiona’s instructions, immediately flipped the switch and dialed up the volume. The scanner crackled to life, and the gang leaned in as they focused on the dispatcher's voice detailing their vehicle's description and last known heading.

The unmistakable blare of the police's ultimatum boomed through their own intercom, "NCPD! Pull over or we will open fire!"

Scourge couldn't suppress a sardonic chuckle, muttering under his breath, "Is that any way to talk to the king and his men?" He then turned to the rest of the gang, his grin sharp and wild, "Get your iron ready, guys!"

Flying didn't need to be told twice. With agile movements, he vaulted over the seats, landing with a thud in the trunk. He rummaged quickly, resurfacing with a cache of assault rifles. He passed the weapons to Lightning, Predator, Fiona, and Scourge with an efficiency born of experience.

With determination, Scourge positioned himself at the window, the cool metal of the rifle in his grasp. He braced, took aim, and as the car swerved to avoid incoming fire, he squeezed the trigger. The sound of bullets ricocheting off metal filled the air as Fiona and the others followed, unleashing a hailstorm of gunfire towards the police vehicles that were in hot pursuit.

“I wanna shoot too!” Toxic’s voice rang out with a mix of eagerness and frustration as she watched the ongoing chaos from the sidelines.

“You’re gonna love this, kiddo!” Flying couldn’t contain his exhilaration, his voice booming over the cacophony of gunfire and sirens, shaking with wild laughter. In a swift, fluid motion, he lifted the lower half of his mask to reveal a wide, mischievous grin. With precision, his extendable tongue shot out, securely latching onto Toxic and pulling her to his side. Ensuring her safety, he held her steady as she leaned out of the speeding car window, her own weapon in hand. Together, they fired relentlessly at the pursuing police cars. By a stroke of luck, or perhaps skill, one of Toxic’s bullets found its mark, shattering a windshield and striking the driver. The ensuing chaos was immediate - the police cars swerved, collided, and ultimately crashed into a spectacular pile-up.

“Attagirl!” Flying’s praise was enthusiastic, though somewhat muffled as his tongue still maintained a protective grip on Toxic, ensuring she remained safe within the confines of their escape vehicle.

“Shh!” The urgency in Fiona’s hiss cut through the adrenaline-fueled air. Her focus was entirely on the scanner on the radio, the static-filled voice emanating from it capturing her full attention. “Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?” Predator’s voice was tinged with curiosity as he ducked inside the vehicle, his head tilting in an attempt to discern the message being transmitted.

“We’re completely blocked in,” Lightning’s tone was matter-of-fact, echoing Predator’s movements by also leaning into the interior of the car.

“We can’t carry all this stuff on foot... What’s the plan, bosses?” Simon’s queried, maneuvering the wheel, eyes scanning the road with steely focus.

The tension spiked as the unmistakable sound of helicopter blades cutting through the air reached their ears, followed by the invasive glare of a spotlight suddenly trained on them.

“Hmm…” Predator’s hum was pensive, the gears turning in his mind as a sly smirk began to play at the corners of his mouth, “a helicopter crashing into a police blockade could be very… distracting.”

“Sounds like there’s a blockade straight ahead in about a quarter mile,” Simon interjected, offering critical intel while his gaze never wavered from the road ahead.

Flying’s energy seemed to surge at the revelation, and with a swift, graceful movement, he released his grip on Toxic. He gently placed her in the safety of the seat next to him as he adjusted his mask back into place, concealing his features once again.

“Sounds like a party-arty-farty! Could I pretty please come?” His voice was laced with a playful wheedle as he clasped his hands together and batted his eyelashes in exaggerated anticipation.

"Fine," Predator conceded, a flicker of determination in his eyes as he prepared for the daring maneuver ahead. Without hesitation, he propelled himself out of the window, soaring around the car in a swift loop. The frog's outstretched hands snatched his ankles in a seamless motion, propelling him like a speeding bullet towards the helicopter.

"Alright!" Predator's voice boomed over the roar of the wind, his instructions clear and decisive. "I'll take the right side, you'll take the left. Glide in on my word!"

With precision honed from countless escapades, Predator zeroed in on the left side of the helicopter. As the moment aligned perfectly, he bellowed, "NOW!" The signal unleashed a synchronized assault as Flying swooped into the helicopter, swiftly incapacitating one pilot, while Predator swiftly dealt with the other.

The limp bodies of the pilots were unceremoniously tossed from the aircraft as Predator assumed command, his gaze fixed on the impending blockade and the oncoming SUV. "Jump out now!" his command cut through the chaos, urgency tinged in his voice. As the helicopter dove towards the obstruction, Flying wasted no time, gliding out to safety just in time. Predator followed suit, propelling himself upward like a bullet, his gaze locked on the impending collision below. From his aerial vantage point, he watched as the helicopter collided with the police cars, the explosion engulfing them in a ball of fire and chaos.

Below, the police were thrown into disarray, their attention captivated by the explosion which created a gap in their formation as vehicles were tossed aside. Seizing the moment, everyone in the SUV ducked down, and Simon floored the accelerator, steering the vehicle through the flames. They slipped into the shadows, vanishing from the distracted gaze of law enforcement.

Predator and Flying, now airborne, kept a vigilant watch over the van's trajectory as it wove its way through the ensuing pandemonium below. Like specters in the night, they shot through the air, their bodies silhouetted against the backdrop of flames and smoke, as they made their descent towards the now distant vehicle.

The two remained vigilant from their aerial perspective, their keen eyes tracking the van's trajectory as it weaved through the chaos. With the grace of seasoned acrobats, they soared through the smoke-filled sky, their bodies silhouetted against the fiery backdrop, preparing to rejoin their team. With a synchronized thud, they landed on the roof of the car and maneuvered themselves, finding ingress through an open window to rejoin their comrades within the confines of the vehicle.

With their hearts pounding in anxious anticipation, the team held their breath as the scanner's confirmation echoed in the tense air, revealing that the suspects had slipped away, vanishing into the chaos that surrounded them. Despite the seemingly daunting odds stacked against them, the Destructix had emerged victorious yet again.

(Hey yall sorry this took so damn long life became crazy for a min but thank u so much for waiting! Also there was gonna be more to this chapter but it would have been absurdly long but on the upside chapter 8 is already in the works! Next chapter has a lil….surprise 🫶🤍🩵)

[scourgethehedgehogshrine]

So you mentioned Scourge being self aware about the Genesis wave, and that you have your own au about that.

As someone who is also a huge fan of this concept, I politely ask that you tell me more about that.

AAAOKAYOKAY WAIT aAaAAA I LOEBV YIU So it starts off at the end of the prison breakout comic, the part where we were left on a cliffhanger but we were able to assume that Scourge had a BIG arc ahead of him if we were able to see what happened next, and once Scourge is done announcing how him and the destructix(+ Fiona) have a new set of plans, something happens. Everything and everyone freezes in place, not changing positions, not moving, not even blinking. Expect for Scourge.

At first Scourge is confused and assumes the gang are playing a trick on him and is like “Can y'all like STOP I'll kill you bro wtf r u doing” but then soon goes to realize that this happened to literally EVERYTHING. Everyone he knows isn't moving a bit, and he is SO confused. He slowly begins to actually like, understand what's happening?? But he doesn't at the same time.. Like, he has no idea why everyone is frozen but he knows they are, and he knows that time itself is probably frozen. So this dumbass is like okay whatever but then days go by and he's just alone, stuck with that haunting reminder that everyone is frozen and it can't be fixed, expect for him.

He’s forced to witness everyone ignore him, and he is unable to do SHIT. Constantly being alone.. Alone with himself.

As years go by, he starts to lose personality, going insane as the fabric of reality crumbles in on itself. Desperate to the point where he'd even want to see SONIC of all people,

Until something finally happens.

As he's miserably walking by himself, he notices something. A torn hole, seemingly in nothing. Like, he's strolling through the same forest he and the Destructix were in and he just notices that a random thing Is just floating. It starts to expand, growing like a virus as it consumes everything in its path. Scourge tries to avoid it, but due to how desperate he's gotten for a change, he gives in and goes into it.

Suddenly, he's in a black void with cyan mixed with it. Kinda like this:

And he's just FLABBERGASTED. He's walking around, stunned, and his appearance itself has changed(still haven't made a design yet, but I will soon), although he can't bring himself to muster up any care for that not only because of the fact that he's been isolated for a decade but because he notices something in front of him, a floating little box type thing that, when he looks into, has something .. SOMEBODY inside.

It's the sonic universe right now, mainly IDW, and in that box he comes across Surge. He looks at her, and suddenly everything hits like a train. He becomes self aware, finally realizing what happened and stares at his replacement, lifeless yet filled with rage. Meanwhile he's still alone, the others cannot see him and don't know that he's watching, but Scourge is there.

Observing in the black, cybernetic type void, cold and lonely, but also, deep down inside of him,

He's enraged.

[the-au-with-no-name]

✨beach headcannons since it’s still summer!✨

- Nazo usually only goes there because seelk and the others go. You can usually see him lounging on a beach chair, sketching out some cute designs for swimwear to commission later down the line. He might also be chatting it up with rouge when she tries to tan! (Girl has got stories for DAYS.) However, he can be encouraged to swim in the water or play a few rounds of beach volleyball!

- seelkadoom on the other hand, he’s doing all the physical shit on the beach. Beach volleyball, swimming in the ocean, building sandcastles with some of the others. All of it. The guy never runs out of energy at the beach, and is honestly the biggest influence while there to do fun activities!

- Iris is mostly on babysitting duty with most of the kids, as vanilla and most of the other parents trust her and nazo that they won’t end up injured when under their care. If they do, then Nazo steps in and heals them! Outside of that, she’s probably splashing around in the water, dancing her heart out to music, and swimming underwater to find cute seashells to give to seelkadoom for his sand castles!

- Sonic and crew are much like seelkadoom, energetic and doing most of the beach activities! Sonic and tails are usually on a team together for beach volleyball, while seelkadoom and shadow just team up and kick ass every time!

- Iris has a bunch of swimsuits that have been either gifted or bought herself. However, she does have a personal favorite swimsuit. It’s a genuine vintage 1950’s two piece swimsuit that is in perfect condition. Seelkadoom gifted it to her from a thrift shop he was looking at for some more pieces to add to his wardrobe, as many people were dropping their alternative pieces at that thrift. It’s baby blue in color, and the simple yet sleek design made it all the more better for her to wear at the beach!

- scourge and the destructix are usually seen at beach bars getting wasted in the summer. Nazo has to scold them constantly because of it, and boy is he reaching his limits with them.

- Amy and aeon can be seen taking photos of themselves and the others (well, except nazo.) Along with taking videos on their phones for social media. Amy is more videos, aeon is more photos!

- cream and the other kids are usually building sandcastles with Iris and seelkadoom, as Iris is on babysitting duty when they’re around, and when vanilla isn’t nearby!

- vector and the chaotix are usually the one bringing the drinks and snacks, but Nazo usually gives them the funds to do so.

- you better believe that rouge would have Amy, aeon, Iris, and all the older girls have a swimsuit fashion show. Although it’s mainly for fun, a few… icky guys try to watch for their own entertainment… so they usually have someone on standby in case they try to get handsy. It’s usually Nazo or shadow, but sometimes silver and knuckles does it!

- Sonic has little kiddie floaters due to seelkadoom and surge trying to drag Sonic into the ocean. They have a special technique to do it. Wait for him to get close to the ocean, position themselves, wait a minute or so, and then? SPLASH. They run up behind him, grab his arms, and yank him into the water! It usually gets a laugh out of a lot of them, but it does concern a few of them. Amy, shadow, and Iris specifically. (Idea from hunnieglazed!)

- later that evening, everyone brings up their favorite stories and adventures. The couples (or throuples!) all sit next to their partners, cuddling up against the bonfire before they set off a few fireworks!

- Iris would be the first to get exhausted and end up falling asleep in seelkadoom’s lap, leading to nazo and the group getting a few cute photos of them, and the three went home to get Iris to bed!

- cream, Amy, and vanilla would leave next. So on so forth. Until Sonic, shadow, tails, and Sonic remain.

-Sonic and shadow would be the ones to put out the fire, but then they couldn’t help but notice something. The skies have gotten darker and cloudier, with lightning in the distance. They think it’s a storm, so they quickly start getting home. However, little do they know of the dangers of the deep that they may have to face later down the line…

Taglist:

@hunniegl4zed @nutnbreaddo

[lo-sulci]

tagged by @itshighjuniper to share 5 songs i've been listening to recently!! thank you juni ^u^ i am not including songs that are on the playlist that plays at my work (which I have been listening to ad nauseam but not by choice) or songs from the OSTs of stuff, just because those would probably dominate the list (that said, some of the OSTs I've been listening to lately: Across the Spider-Verse, Revue Starlight, Gatchaman Crowds, fanmade g witch covers). anyways!!

- PRESSURE BOMB 2!!!! by Jhariah: have been listening to a LOT of jhariah lately, super super cool style and I always always always love narrative albums. this song in particular just makes my brain happy and also, like, vibrate aggressively. it's nice!!!! other favorites include ENTER: A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO FAKING YOUR OWN DEATH (the opening track off the album A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO FAKING YOUR OWN DEATH), Promises, Needed A Change of Pace, and Flight of the Crows

- Riptide by the Scary Jokes: been a fan of the scary jokes for a whiiiile now, and this has been one of the songs from their newest album that i've been listening to the most (other two favorites from the album probably being Forever In You and Rage). Burn, Pygmalion!!! is still an all timer to me tbh (MEANWHILE ON THE ROOF JEANNIE CONSIDERS THE VASTNESS OF THE COUNTRYSIDE THE DARKNESS OF THE MOUNTAINS-) but I am also enjoying RB and bonus points the cassette looks SICK AS HELL

- Love Me Dead by Ludo: introduced to by way of a podcast and thoroughly wormed its way deep into my brain along with Tick Tick Boom by The Hives, Electric Version by The New Pronographers, and Picture, Picture by Harvey Danger. anywhays, god DAMN that chorus kicks ass. also, the video is pretty fun!!

- Venus Ambassador by Bryan Scary: song that I actually found ages ago and only recently checked out the rest of the album for- it's really good!! i think there's a narrative going on here even if I havent quite figured it out in its entirety but in the meantime gosh the music is good and the vibes are exquisite. other favorites off Flight of the Knife include La Madame on the Moon, Mama Waits, and Son of Stab

- A Better Place, A Better Time by Streetlight Manifesto: Streetlight Manifesto singlehandedly made my opinion of ska as a genre do a 180. one day while cleaning/organizing stuff in my room I decided to listen to, like, almost if not all of their discography, and this one was my favorite. made me cry the first time I listened to it!! anyways, my personal recommendation is to do what I did and listen to the entire Streetlight Manifesto discography just fuxking do it

anyways, tagging @theclairewitch @plaintivemeow @lvnarsapphic @sg-x00-airgetlam @destructix (absolutely no pressure tho yall lol) and, like, anyone who sees this and wants an excuse to do one of these!!

[dovahkiin796]

That Time When Knuckles Was Basically God: Part 2.

OK. This is where I get serious. Still riff here and there.

We start off this issue right where the last one left off. Locke telling Sonic and Julie-Su that they must kill Knuckles. Understandably Julie-Su is not ok with this because Knuckles is her boyfriend and the two have been through so much together since their first meeting in his solo series. Though as you see in the panel Locke is super stubborn in his view that his son Knuckles is no longer Knuckles and is only Enerjak now.

Locke repeats the information of The Brotherhood making the weapon that is capable of killing Enerjak if he ever returned to the world. He then tells Julie-Su she has seen what Enerjak is able to do with all the power he wields at his fingers and how something like him shouldn’t be allowed to exist. However, Julie-Su doesn’t care and tells the older man that Knuckles isn’t in control of his actions, and they should be helping him not killing him. While saying of all this Sonic is on the background grinning to himself. Clearly thinking about something.

Locke tries to explain the weapon is most the humane way to deal with Enerjak but Julie-Su cuts him and says it is not and tries to get Sonic to back her up in the argument. However, to the female echidna’s shock Sonic actually wants to see the weapon for himself. With a victorious smirk on his face Locke pulls out his Warp Ring and says he’ll bring them as close to the ruins where the weapon is stored as possible. Angerly Julie-Su points at Sonic saying she won’t let him go through with this idea, but he winks at her saying she will. When stepping through the Warp Ring the trio are intercepted by none other than.

 The Destructix!!!

With Scourge the Hedgehog standing front and center of the group for some reason when he’s not the leader of the team yet. Regardless of that Sonic, Julie-Su, and Locke are really outnumbered.

We cut back to Dr. Eggman gloating over his totally not predictable double-crossing Sonic in helping him deal with Enerjak. He watches from a monitor as his few remaining Egg Grapes drain Enerjak of his energy. Claiming the Chaos Energy he has already sapped will be more than enough to help him with his next big project.

Snively comes into the room saying while he hates to interrupt his uncle’s mid-victorious rant. He tells the Dr that he found a stowaway from New Mobotropolis and that stowaway is none other than Dimitri. Who is now just a robot head in a glass ball. Eggman has no idea what he’s looking at and Dimitri reminds Eggman they have met before, but he looked different back then and he has come to Eggman to offer his help.

Eggman is assumed by this with Dimitri telling Dr. Eggman, he tried to warn the Freedom Fighters about the threat of Enerjak but were too slow to act. So, when seeing Eggman’s Egg Fleet swoop in and teleported Enerjak away with ease. He decided to join the Eggman Empire as Eggman is a man who usually doesn’t wait around to get things done. He mostly acts.

The floating head offers his help in de-powering Enerjak before he comes to after his sudden teleportation. But Eggman confidently tells Dimitri he has everything under control. (He actually does not.)

Enerjak wakes up and starts building up energy to escape the Egg Grapes. Something Snively takes notice of and alerts Eggman to it. Who only gets angry at his underling for doubting his invention. Then Enerjak releases all the energy he has accumulated. Pretty much nuking Robotropolis!!! (Christ. Eggman’s city he always getting destroyed. X3)

Back to Sonic and his friends who are fighting against The Destructix. With Locke ducking under a swing by SGT. Simian which ends up hitting Drago instead. X3

Drago deserves a lot of physical punishment. He’s a true scumbag.

Julie-Su and Fiona are trading blows with each other while in the background Sonic and Scrouge are duking it out in a high-speed chance. Sonic mockingly calls Scrouge sad for teaming up with The Destructix as the team is just a complete joke. Scrouge on the other hand actually sees the perks of being on a team especially more so when the joke is on Sonic who is then ambushed by Flying Frog and Lightening Lynx.

Eventually the overwhelming numbers are too much for the trio as the fight ends with Sonic quite literally eating dirt. Suddenly just then a wall of fire appears between the two groups. Separating them from each other. It’s revealed the fire was Archimedes’ doing and urges them to get inside the ruins quickly. Sonic is reminded the fire ant was an old mentor of Locke’s and Julie-Su firmly reminds the old echidna he’s also Knuckles’. 

Archimedes teleports onto Locke’s hand with the echidna greeting his old friend and asking him if the weapon is safe. He says it is, but they won’t be using it. Explaining how Knuckles’ transformation is their fault as well. Since Locke cooked Knuckles’ egg with Chaos Energy that gave him his powers to begin with. And after he was born, the two then put the weight of the world on his shoulders as its savior. So, they both are just as responsible for the new Enerjak as Dr. Finitevus is.

Locke looks away in annoyance. While all that was happening, Sonic went and got the weapon.

However, in that moment The Destructix come in and Sleuth Dog tells Sonic they were paid to keep him from using the weapon. Mockingly Sonic says if that’s the case and then proceeds to smash the weapon into pieces, much to the befuddlement of Sleuth. Who orders his team to fall back. Scrouge is mad because it was his idea to destroy the weapon in the first place. Also, he very likely wanted to be the one who smashed it. Gotta love Scourge.

Locke is super pissed at Sonic for doing that as it was their only shot at killing Enerjak.

Sonic reveals he was never on board of Locke’s plan to kill Knuckles and had come up with his own plan to deal with the situation. Julie-Su tries to ask him what plan, but Sonic says he has no time to explain and dashes out of the ruins at high speeds. He also makes sure to trip over Drago Wolf. LOL!

We cut back to Enerjak just laying waste to Eggman’s city and robot forces! Snively reports to Eggman that they lost about 90% of their ground forces and most of the outlying city. He then declares they lost. (Not sure if he means the war for control of the planet or the current battle.)

Though Eggman doesn’t admit defeat yet as they still have the massive Egg Fleet at their disposal.

All the air ships fire their missiles at Enerjak. Who simply holds out his hand, stops all the missiles mid-air, and redirects them back at the Egg Fleet! Destroying every single air ship in the process. Snively watches in terror while Eggman is almost at a loss for words. Only able to say yes at Dimitri’s idea to head for Eggman’s bunker. (Man, I love Eggman’s expression in the panel below.)

But by going Rambo on an entire city and army has drained Enerjak of his energy combined with the energy he had already lost to the Egg Grapes. So, he teleports back to the Master Emerald Shrine to recharge. Dr. Finitevus is surprised by his return and asks what happened to him. Enerjak simply answered his power is depleted and needs more so he can continue his work. Finitevus starts saying the chant from SA1.

Though before he can give Enerjak more energy Sonic comes in and spin dashes into the mad doctor right in the gut and then lands right on top of the Master Emerald. Finitevus furiously asks Sonic what he is trying do. Sonic says the same thing Scourge try to do not too long ago. Sonic assures Knuckles he’ll undo the Hex Finitevus had put on him the same way he purified Perfect Chaos. All around Sonic is green and black energy. Enerjak tries to stop this, but the pale echidna stops him by saying this might be what he needs for his plan to work.

Sonic is able to go Super Sonic and the method he used on Perfect Chaos is simply beating the evil out of Knuckles to turn him back to normal. 

[scruffyplayssonic]

Are the ArchieSonic comics actually an 80's/90's syndicated cartoon? Episode 38: Hero is kidnapped (sidekick gets to shine) 

Welcome back to my look at the ArchieSonic comic series, and how it shared a lot of the same story tropes as a typical ‘80s or ‘90s syndicated cartoon! In my last two blog posts I had a look at all the times when Tails was kidnapped, usually having to be rescued by Sonic. Today I’m going to flip the topic on its head:

Episode 38: Hero is kidnapped (sidekick gets to shine) 

Since we concentrated so heavily on Sonic saving Tails before, let’s kick this one off with Tails saving Sonic.

Do you remember how the Eggman’s Dozen arc in Sonic Universe included a flashback to the Sonic 2 8-bit game, where Sonic rescued Tails after he’d been kidnapped by Eggman? Well, Tails got the chance to return the favour almost immediately. Right after Sonic had saved Tails, the troll twins Wendy and Walter Naugus showed up and captured both Sonic and Eggman, imprisoning them in crystal and dragging them away. Tails vowed to rescue Sonic and we launched into another game adaptation, this time Tails’ Skypatrol.

…unfortunately this mostly happened offscreen and we didn’t get to see any of the action. But we can guess that Tails was successful in this rescue.

There were a few other times that Sonic got kidnapped that we can talk about, but Tails wasn’t instrumental in saving him those other times. Probably the most famous Sonic kidnapping was in Sonic #39, kicking off the Mecha Madness arc.

I’ll be talking about that one soon though, so let’s skip over the details of this one and continue to Sonic #187.

This story happened right after Mammoth Mogul had regained his Chaos Emerald and freed himself and his fellow prisoners from the New Mobotropolis prison. Wishing to humiliate Sonic further, Mogul put out a bounty on Sonic that the Destructix and Hooligans worked together to collect. Sonic was taken prisoner and dragged off to Mogul’s new headquarters in the Casino Night Zone...

...and Sally and Amy went after him to mount a rescue mission.

They succeeded in freeing Sonic with the help of Geoffrey St John, but Mogul denied any involvement and promised to send them a bill for the damage the Freedom Fighters had done to his place of business and badnik staff.

Another time that Sonic was captured by Eggman was in the 2007 Free Comic Book Day issue. Rather than roboticising him, this time Eggman stuck a control device in Sonic’s ear to take control of his body.

Just like in Mecha Madness, Knuckles was once again the one to defeat Sonic in combat, punching him in the head so hard that the control device was destroyed.

Our last story for today comes from the post-reboot era in Sonic #276. On a mission to retrieve the Gaia temple keys and rescue the kidnapped guardians of those keys, Sonic and Rotor got “captured” by the leader of the local Egg Army unit, who turned out to be none other than Rotor’s own father, Tundra Walrus.

Sonic and Rotor were conveniently locked up with the other prisoners, allowing Sonic and Rotor to chill out and have a heart to heart about the unpleasant turn of events while they were waiting for Chip to make his way through the base and release them.

Are there any other instances where Sonic was kidnapped and rescued by a sidekick that I missed? Be sure to let me know in the comments! Next time will be a pretty short entry, as we look at episode 39: babysitting hijinks!

[bitter-sweet-coffee]

🧡 for the emoji ask game

Favourite Archie character?

ough. this is REALLY hard for me, since scooping up sad pathetic characters that got banished from the timeline is sorta my thing

i guess it’s a tie between Mina and Fiona? Mina’s story was always quite sad but seeing her overcome it all and be a stronger better person and heroine even if she’s still a pop star was so epic (she’s also purple)

Fiona is like, my EVERYTHING. her story, her past with the hooligans, her abandonment issues, how she waited for her friends to save her but they never did and she got used for an experiment instead, her trying to join the FF, her dealing with tails being weird about her,!eventual sway into the destructix and dating scourge, breaking him out of zone jail… OUGH. there’s just. she’s so fuckin cool okay

(honourable mentions: eclipse, zonic, and bean even though he exists outside of archie too)

[mobtism]

10 people you want to know better (tagged ppl are under no obligation to do this <3!!)

thank u @vampireftm for tagging me ILY!!! <33 sorry it took me so long lol

relationship status: not dating anyone and not interested in a relationship rn :-)

favourite colours: red!!! yellow!!! light/neon blue!!!

favourite foods: idk... thinking about food stresses me out bc of allergies but. i love drinks teehee<33 coffee is my fav :3!!

song stuck in my head: listening to サラマンダー by DECO*27 on repeat while doing this, so :-)!

last thing you googled: was trying to see if i could find a boot of op film red... wanted to see ado as uta again... but no luck 💔

time: 1:27am oh fuck i should sleep!!!!!

dream trip: really wanna go to italy... to sight-see and to see where my family is from<3

last thing you read: uhhhh mp100 volume 4!

last book you enjoyed reading: witch hat atelier volume 1... cant wait til holiday season is over so i have time to go back to the library & read more 🥺

favourite thing to cook/bake: love baking gfdf brownies theyre so good.

favourite craft to do in your free time: bead lizards and drawing! :3

most niche dislike: uhh its not super niche but i dont like rain. i feel like most people ik like or even love rain but! i hate it.

opinion on circuses: dont rlly have an opinion! theyre sagittarius energy. but idc abt them

do you have any sense of direction: sometimes !! i think it mostly depends on if i'm paying attention to the route i took beforehand. if i'm not, tho, then i have NO clue where im going.

tagging: @destructix @vampireautism @jenivi @pathos-logical uhhh idk who else to tag but whoever wants to do it, i tag u! <3

[thankskenpenders]

To close out the issue we get a backup story narrated by Archimedes the fire ant (who we haven’t seen in quite a while) explaining how exactly Knuckles became Enerjak

As we can see, after getting beaten up by the Destructix and brought to Finitevus, Fini kind of tricks him. He’s been doing something sinister with the Master Emerald, and this is likely what causes Knuckles to turn into Enerjak. (There’s a bit more to it than that, but we don’t get into the nature of Enerjak in this issue.)

However, it’s not just Fini manipulating Knuckles. Again, I totally buy this as an evolution of the character Penders was writing. Knuckles was always lost and confused, always looking for guidance and for people to give him answers. He also had way more power than he knew what to do with, while also feeling like he’s totally powerless to do anything. It makes perfect sense that he’d get manipulated by a villain offering guidance like this

That’s what Penders tried to do way back around issue #100, when Chaos Knuckles sided with Dimitri. But that twist never made any sense. Dimitri was the villain Knuckles wanted to stop! He was the one responsible for making Echidnaopolis disappear. But here, Knuckles is motivated by a threat from Eggman. He knew there was trouble back home, but the situation is so much worse than he realized. Hearing that ninety percent of all echidnas have been wiped out in the last year and that Albion’s been destroyed is DEVASTATING to him. (It’s also another reminder of just how brutal Archie’s Eggman is.) I totally buy that, in this situation, Archie’s Knuckles would want to use any power at his disposal to fix things. And if he’s got a new mentor who says he knows exactly how to harness the power everyone’s always told him he has? Yeah, he’s gonna fall for it

So wait, is this just a stealth do-over of the Chaos Knuckles arc? Because that’s kinda what this is looking like. And you know what? I’m down

I also like the way the black border becomes wobblier as the scene progresses until it’s dominating the final page. It’s a nice touch

[roughandtumble-r]

More Issue 28 Preview pages, a cover, and Sonic Bad Guys!

Issue 28 comes out tomorrow after a long wait, and we got the final two preview pages for it today! We also got to see it’s finished Retail Incentive cover, and we also got the solicit and a probably tentative release date for Issue 1 of Bad Guys. The last bit was technically revealed a couple days ago, but I decided to wait and just bundle it with these preview pages cuz why not. First, let’s look at the final preview pages for Issue 28...

First... Zor, I think you might have some problems. Second, I noticed that one of the Zombots on the second page looks an awful lot like Predator Hawk from the Destructix in the Archie comics. That could just be a coincidence, but it would be cool if it was an actually intentional cameo.

Next, we have the Retail Incentive cover! As it turns out, this cover is actually part of another panoramic cover alonside the Retail Incentive cover for Issue 27. On the left we have the Issue 27 RI cover, and on the right we have the Issue 28 RI cover.

Finally, we have the solicitation for Issue 1 of Bad Guys!

The mastermind behind the Metal Virus isn't done yet. Ian Flynn returns to answer: What happened to Dr. Starline? The Shadowy Scientist is back to his evil antics in Bad Guys! And what better place to concoct nefarious plans than one of Dr. Eggman's abandoned bases? But that is easier said than done when badniks are guarding the entrance! Dr. Starline knows he can't do it alone, so he decides to recruit some familiar and not so friendly faces.

Unfortunately, we don’t really learn anything new from this solicitation plotwise, although I guess it might be hinting that Starline and everyone else will probably be spending the bulk of the first Issue actually infiltrating and taking control of the base instead of simply grouping there after it’s already been taken over. The current release date is also set to be September 16th, which is actually a bit earlier than I was expecting, but it’s undoubtedly subject to change.

I’ll also probably be doing another post tomorrow for Issue 28′s release, so stay tuned for that!

[mobius-prime]

232. Sonic the Hedgehog #164

The Darkest Storm (Part Three): Downburst

Writer: Ian Flynn Pencils: James Fry Colors: Jason Jensen

With Naugus and Mogul having teamed up, backed up by both of their respective groups of minions, the Freedom Fighters' task to get the Sword and Crown of Acorns back has just gotten a lot harder. Fiona calls out to Sonic that she wants to finish this quickly, and Sonic takes his chance to quip in Sally's direction that he never disappoints a lady, "present company excluded," a comment which just exasperates her though he merely notes in reply that he's just happy to see her back out in the thick of things once again. Sonic and Elias charge Mogul, distracting him and allowing Sonic to grab the crown off his head, but when he tries to give it back to Elias they're both shocked painfully by a surge of energy from the crown. Mogul gloats that the Source has been permanently corrupted to only respond to his own influence, and Sir Connery, outraged, charges forward to engage Mogul in single combat. I can't stress enough that at this point, someone's weird horse fetish (looking at you, Fry) is on full display, as Connery's clothing is strategically damaged to show off his rippling bicep muscles and the manly glare he gives Mogul as he strains to thrust his sword in his direction. It… lacks even the slightest modicum of subtlety. Sonic tries to rush forward to help, but Mogul traps him in a fist made of rock, ensuring that he and Connery can duel it out one on one. However, it turns out Connery didn't even need Sonic's help anyway, because he's got a cool magic sword and the power of righteousness on his side!

With that, Sir Connery's body disappears in a puff of ash, leaving his empty clothing tatters behind. Merlin sadly informs everyone that he used his own life force as a conduit for the energy surge that was able to destroy the sword and crown at once, eliminating the final remnant of the Source of All from this world. A furious Mogul tries to insist he still holds immeasurable power even without the sword, but a voice suddenly booms out over Knothole from the sky, claiming that it does as well. Eggman's fleet of airships has arrived, and within an instant, they blast every member of the opposing team - Mogul, Naugus, the Destructix, and Uma's children. The Freedom Fighters are left shocked at the sudden and total annihilation of their opposition, and prepare for a battle, but turns out they needn't bother.

Look at it, indeed! You would be a complete fool not to attempt to do so at this very moment, when Knothole is vulnerable and its fighting force is already exhausted. But, of course, if Eggman enacted a sudden and decisive victory over his foes right now, then we wouldn't have a comic, would we? And so, Eggman willingly falls victim to the most fatal of villainous flaws, and leaves, intending to return soon on his own terms when conquering Knothole will actually present him with a bit of a challenge. The Freedom Fighters are left to clean up the mess left behind, and give what's left of Sir Connery a proper burial in Knothole's small cemetery. Elias tries to say something in remembrance, but finds that the grief is a bit too much.

Sonic's words reinvigorate Elias, and he gives an impressive speech on the spot, stating that Knothole and its kingdom will aspire to be as brave as Connery was in his final moments, and that his Sword of Light will be passed down the Acorn line as the new royal heirloom. Man, all this would be way more inspiring if Sir Connery appeared in more than four issues and had any personality traits beyond "medieval-esque knight." Sonic, Merlin, Tails, and Knuckles all walk together, discussing how even without the Ancient Walkers, they still have their three chosen successors - Aurora, Athair, and Merlin himself. Their spirits are raised by the thought, but darker things are going down back in New Megaopolis.

…you know, the Egg Grapes may be horrible, awful torture devices and all, but I can't say I really feel bad for anyone stuck in them right now. Well, maybe Uma's children given that apparently they're all still just acting on instinct from their mother's imprinting, but hell, they threw their lot in with Naugus, so I can't really bring myself to care that much. Eggman leaves the room… which gives Anonymous some time to ruminate. You see, their plan went exactly as they hoped, with the sole exception of Sonic's survival. Eggman is now the ultimate power on the face of Mobius, poised to be able to truly win this war and take over everything. A silhouette reminiscent of Robotnik appears on A.D.A.M.'s screen… and the voice of A.D.A.M. quietly reveals himself to be Anonymous, orchestrating everything while hiding in plain sight. That's right, A.D.A.M. has been Anonymous all along! If this seems kind of out of the blue and like it wasn't really planned from the beginning, well, that's because it wasn't. Apparently Romy Chacon had originally intended for a resurrected Robotnik to be Anonymous, but clearly that didn't pan out, and Ian decided to make it A.D.A.M. instead. Far more interesting for Eggman to be betrayed from within, if you ask me, and furthermore, I'm glad that they haven't actually brought the original Robotnik back permanently. It's not often a series' main villain actually dies for real, only to be replaced by someone even worse - I feel like it would just cheapen things to suddenly bring back the original Robotnik for some more shenanigans.

(Unnamed Story)

Writer: Ian Flynn Pencils: Tracy Yardley! Colors: Josh & Aimee Ray

What? Again?! Yes, just like before, we have another unnamed story! Now, given what the name of the story preceding it in the previous issue was, we can easily deduce that the name of this story was meant to be "Sonic Riders (Part 2 of 2)", but the title never actually appears anywhere in the story itself, so out of principle (and spite) I'm leaving its name blank here. Sonic returns to Knothole after his encounter with the Babylon Rogues, battered and exhausted from having lost his fight with them. Tails and Knuckles are concerned, but he brushes them off, saying only his pride is truly wounded and revealing their plans to attack Knothole tomorrow.

Again, I have to point out how strange and out of nowhere all this is, given that in the game these three only get into Extreme Gear riding in the first place after entering Eggman's competition. Like, Tails just suddenly made some airboards at the exact same time that the Babylon Rogues showed up on boards of their own? Suuure. Well, using them to allow the other Freedom Fighters to keep up with Sonic is a good idea at least. The next morning finds the Rogues waiting in the forest outside Knothole, wondering if Sonic plans to show up, though Jet is certain he won't given how badly they beat him yesterday. However, of course he chooses that moment with Tails and Knuckles in tow, and a furious Jet begins to race with him, planning to trash Knothole purely on principle now and determined to prove that he's the fastest thing alive, not Sonic. The six quickly pair off with their respective foils, with Knuckles and Storm trading punches, Wave and Tails trying to outfly and outsmart one another, and Jet and Sonic focusing on pure speed. And then… it ends! Again with this lack of closure, Ian! The final page even invites readers to "play Sonic Riders on your favorite console" to find out who wins this race, despite such a "race" never taking place in the game.

The good news is that after this arc, Ian seemed to have realized how disappointing and odd these non-adaptions are, and in future issues dropped them in favor of non-canon pre-adaptions called "In Another Time, In Another Place" that essentially act as short ads for upcoming games. These take place, as the name suggests, in an alternate reality much closer to that of the games, and as such aren't considered canon within the preboot universe, thus this blog won't be covering them. That said, as I mentioned before, altered versions of some games are considered to have happened at some point within this universe, such as both Sonic Rush games. Sonic '06 is a particularly interesting case, as while Ian apparently confirmed that it did happen in the preboot 'verse and small references to characters and locations from the game are included in future issues, the very nature of the game's storyline means that everything that happened in it was erased from the timeline regardless. This does mean, however, that Silver, arguably the most important new character to be introduced in said game, exists in this universe, though we won't be seeing him for some issues yet. Don't worry though - when he does appear, he really shines!

[vendettaspathfanfic]

Chapter One

(Chapter Index)

(Previous)

(Next)

Before the Destructix could eagerly begin their journey of revenge and chaos, however, there was one thing they couldn’t ignore.

They needed food.

Their search led them through the grimy and confined labyrinth of neon-lit city streets, eventually bringing them to a modest ramen shop tucked away in the urban chaos. The windows looked as though they’d never been washed, the staff’s lack of hope was visually obvious, and there were roaches crawling around a man’s bowl who had fallen asleep at his table. The ramen itself, however, was listed at a great price!

Scourge found himself fighting back a rush of saliva threatening to spill from his mouth. He was typically indifferent when it came to ramen, but he was more than willing to have any somewhat edible food that wasn’t shoved in his face or stolen from him. As it stands, his jacket had gotten noticeably loose from losing at least 10 pounds, leaving the disgruntled green hedgehog to constantly adjust it.

“Here, guys.” Scourge almost blurted out as he headed for the door, his hunger pulling him forward like a magnet. The closer he got, the more potent the smell became thus causing his accelerating heartbeat to block out most noise.

Fiona Fox couldn’t help but laugh a little as she heard her tough-as-nails boyfriend quietly begin panting over some cheap ramen.

"What?" A confused Scourge turned to face Fiona, his brows furrowed in confusion.

Realizing that her boyfriend was unaware of his irregular breathing, Fiona dismissed his question with a nonchalant wave and a whispered "nuthin." Turning to the cashier, she ordered, "6 bowls." Then she instructed one of their group, "Fly, save us some seats outside,” completing the transaction and accepting the waiting number in return.

"Okay-dokay!" replied Flying Frog, hopping outside with wild enthusiasm. Moments later, the group watched through the grimy window as six startled people were flung through the air, accompanied by Flying Frog's triumphant voice announcing, "I got us the neat-eat-seats!"

Unfazed, the group waited until their food was done before going outside to an equally unfazed population.

“Uh, does nobody care that Flying threw people around?” Sgt. Simian inquired, unsuccessfully searching the crowd for any signs of terror at what had just occurred.

“If you live here, you’ve seen worse.” Scourge rolled his eyes as they sat at the table. Once the aroma of ramen sat beneath his nose, he felt his other senses fade into a blur. His movements felt automatic as he cleaned the bowl in less than a minute.

“Babe, that’s hot,” Fiona warned, watching as the green hedgehog practically inhaled his ramen.

“You fhink me eating ramen is hoht?” He asked, chewing down the last mouthful of noodles with a puzzled look.

“No, Scourge, the ramen’s hot.”

Indeed it was. But since Scourge was a tough guy, he handled it with ease. He totally didn’t want to yelp as he felt a small yet painful burn forming on the roof of his mouth. He was too tough to let that bother him. He was perfectly fine.

"Yeah, ha," he managed to say after gulping down the remainder of his noodles and guzzling his soda in a single, long swig.

“Hey, don’t make yourself throw up, hon.” Fiona gently patted his back.

“Yes, please…” Predator Hawk muttered, blowing on his food before taking a bite.

“Yeah! I bet ‘Snot’ isn’t the worst name you could be yuck-muck-stuck with!” Flying blurted out, hopping in his seat. His comment incited quiet laughter from Predator and Lightning Lynx.

Scourge feigned laughter, “Yeah, right. Now, shut up.”

"Lighten up, tough guy. We're out of prison and we've got plans ahead of us." Fiona tried to soothe him, offering a light kiss on his cheek.

"Yep." Scourge perked up, reminded of his plan for vengeance, "That kid Miles is the first on the list. The whole 'Suppression Squad betraying me' thing was his idea."

“Are we killing a kid?” Lightning asked, leaning back in his seat and sipping his drink.

“No. At least not yet.” Scourge readjusted his red sunglasses. “He’s tougher than he looks, but I’m sure with all of us we can nab him that way we can get information on the castle's security.”

“What??” Simon nearly spit out his drink as he growled, “the brat gave you hell. He deserves-“

“Yeah, yeah I know that better than anyone, man.” Scourge sighed, “but look, it’s the most fool-proof way to get the castle back.”

“Yeah, well where are we gonna keep the runt?” Predator raised a brow crossing his arms.

"Welp, that's the first part of the plan, we need a safehouse," Scourge mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Somewhere low profile, where nobody will bother to look."

"Like somewhere abandoned?" Fiona suggested, resting her hand against her chin as she leaned on the table.

“Yeah… Hell, I’m sure it won’t be too hard to find…” as Scourge pondered potential locations for their hideout, he was distracted by a disgruntled man whose food was stolen from him. The man then stormed around, demanding to know who took it.

Fiona scoffed at his behavior and yelled, “get another bowl, jackass!”

“Fuck you, bitch! I want my fucking food!” Before he could yell anything else, he was lifted by the neck and slammed against a nearby wall.

“What the hell did you say to her!?” the man heard Scourge growl in his face, sending him into a sheepish state.

“I-I didn’t mean her I-“

“Bullshit! I’m gonna fucki-“

"Babe." Fiona gently patted Scourge's back, "If he's bold enough to talk like that, he wants business with me. Let me handle it."

Scourge rolled his eyes before tossing his victim to the ground.

“Now, it sucks that your ramen was stolen. But instead of yelling in people’s faces about who stole it…” she hoisted him up by his shirt and flung him into the shop like an unwanted rag doll, "just buy another fucking bowl!"

With that, she calmly returned to her seat, smoothing down her hair.

Scourge couldn't tear his eyes off of her, and he certainly couldn't suppress the grin that was spreading across his face. He muttered an appreciative "attagirl."

Fiona winked at him, having heard him murmur before asking, "More ramen?”

“Nah, I think I’m all set for now.”

“Are we all done?” Fiona asked the rest of the Destructix, receiving a collective ‘yeah’ in response.

“M’kay lezzgo.” She said before they got up to begin their search.

As they walked among the streets of the urban wasteland, Scourge frowned as he reached for his quills, searching for signs of growth. He was disappointed by the dull texture as a result of them being shaved down in prison.

“They’ll grow back.” Fiona reassured him, wrapping an arm around his midsection as they walked.

“Not fast enough. Hey, do ya have my smokes?” The thought energized him, as he hadn’t had one since before he was arrested.

She pulled the pack out of her purse, "Not many left, but better than nothing.“ The fiery fox pulled one out and placed it between his lips before arching an eyebrow and asking, "Mind if I have one?"

“Knock yourself out, Fi.”

"Thanks." After lighting their cigarettes, she took a puff and sighed, "Oh, this would be so much better if we were on our thrones…”

“Oh, I know what ya mean, baby.” He took a long puff and fixed his sunglasses, looking at the slums around them, “we fell from grace for sure, but it’s just a setback. It’s all part of the beginning.” He turned his head to her and gently ran a couple fingers through her hair. “Besides, I’m not leavin’ the queen of Moebius disappointed.”

Warmth flooded Fiona’s cheeks as she leaned into him, unable to fight off a grin “Well, when ya put it like that…”

“God, get a room…” Lightning rolled his eyes.

“Shove it.” Scourge scoffed, flipping the lynx off, sending him into a fuming rage.

“You shove it, you son of a-“

“Looky! Nobody’s been here for a smile-mile-while!” Flying Frog hopped over to a large, decrepit, concrete building with a rusted illegible sign.

Scourge inspected the building closely. Something about it was familiar. He couldn't put his finger on it until he saw the rotting remains of a small playground.

The realization sucked all the air from the green hedgehog’s lungs.

“What was this, a school?” Lightning asked.

“An orphanage,” Scourge felt like he was being strangled as he spoke.

Fiona, who knew Scourge better than anybody, recognized his tense state and told the others to set up inside as she spoke to Scourge in private.

"This is where you put her, isn't it?" She asked quietly, her gaze drifting over the shattered windows and crude graffiti.

“Yeah,” Scourge muttered after swallowing thickly.

“Hey… You didn’t know it’d turn out like this. Besides, maybe she got adopted before it--“

'Let me see the pack and lighter," he interrupted sharply, extending his hand.

With a slight purse of her lips, Fiona handed them to Scourge, crossing her arms as she watched him light up another cigarette.

"Wanna head in?" He asked, adjusting his glasses, his words accompanied by a puff of smoke.

“Lead the way, bruiser.” Fiona replied, motioning towards the door.

Scourge knew it was useless to try and piece together what happened to her. It didn’t matter if she was dead, adopted, or gathered up by law enforcement to be forced to work in a factory. He was never going to see her again. Even still, he couldn’t help but spare a thought for her.

That thought didn’t last long as he was brought back to reality by the gentle brush of his girlfriend’s hand against his.

“You alright?” she asked, her pinky finger instinctively curling around his in a comforting gesture.

“Hm? Yep.” He replied tersely with a nonchalant nod, his hand remaining static and unresponsive to her affectionate touch.

“Okay…” she murmured in response as they stepped in to join the rest of their gang, ready to inspect their new territory.

If it weren't for the sparse remnants of cheap toys and child-sized furniture scattered haphazardly, it would be difficult to imagine this place had ever served as an orphanage. The few decorative elements that had survived the wrath of vandals were dull and devoid of life, rendering the place akin to austere military barracks rather than a haven for orphaned children.

However, the place had its advantages, offering ample space to establish a makeshift base and plenty of mattresses for their comfort.

“How long has this place been abandoned?” Lightning asked monotonously.

“I last heard about this place being active when I was 11.” Scourge peered over his sunglasses to see better in the progressively dimming evening light.

“And you’re what? 15?” Predator interjected, a look of puzzlement etched across his face, "it looks like it's been abandoned way longer.

“16,” Scourge corrected him, rolling his eyes in mild annoyance as he adjusted his jacket once more. “It was a dump then, too. But it was the only orphanage around, so…”

“So, what?” Simon asked apathetically, crossing his arms.

“Nothing.” Scourge replied curtly, clearing his throat.

With an air of growing exhaustion, Fiona slowly blinked as she raised her hand to rub her eyes before instructing the gang, “well, we haven’t slept much since before we broke out, so we should do that before we get the show officially rollin’,”

A unanimous agreement followed, and together they scrounged up an assortment of worn-out mattresses to sleep on in various rooms for the night.

As Scourge laid on a set of child-sized, rotting mattresses, sleep proved itself to be rather difficult as the oppressive summer heat not only soaked him in a sticky layer of sweat but seemed to amplify the pungent aroma of neglect that permeated the decrepit building. Upstairs, Flying had chosen his resting spot, but was struggling to wind down. He vented his restless energy through a series of thunderous hops, each one so powerful that it dislodged tiny bits of debris from the ceiling, raining them down onto Scourge and Fiona as they sought rest in the room below.

“We only slept for, like, 3 hours since we broke out,” Fiona complained, her voice heavy with exasperation. “How the hell does he have that much energy?”

Scourge merely grumbled in response, his words barely comprehensible. He sat up, stripping off his jacket and sunglasses, and laid them neatly beside his makeshift bed.

“I almost miss the prison’s air conditioning,” the fox complained, her fingers restlessly picking at a loose thread on the mattress.

"Well, at least we're not lying on bare springs here," Scourge countered, trying to find a silver lining. He let himself fall back onto the mattress with a tired sigh.

“True.” Fiona grinned, conceding his point, before their conversation was interrupted by…

THUD!

Suddenly, they could no longer hear Fly hopping around.

A moment of silence passed before Scourge ventured to ask, “he dead?”

“Probably not.” Fiona dismissed the idea nonchalantly.

Realizing the absurdity of the situation, the two erupted into uncontrollable laughter.

“Rest in peace!” Scourge wheezed out between fits of laughter.

"We need...we need lights!" Fiona managed to gasp out between her guffaws.

Their laughter continued uncontrollably for the next ten minutes, each time they managed to regain composure, one would succumb to a fresh wave of laughter, triggering a relapse in the other.

Once they had finally regained control of themselves, Fiona clutched her stomach, wincing slightly from the strain the laughter had put on her muscles.

“Okay, we gotta sleep for real,” she said, reaching out to take Scourge's hand, her thumb tracing gentle circles on the back of it.

In response, he gave her hand a loving squeeze, “goodnight baby.”

“G’night, handsome…” she replied, a soft smile on her face as she began to sink into some much needed sleep.

In the quiet darkness of the night, Scourge let his mind roam free. Of course, he thought about the long journey ahead of rising to power and reclaiming what was once his and more. However, the thought of her reappeared in his mind again. Where was she? Was she ok?

He sternly reminded himself that it didn’t matter anymore before ignoring any more thoughts and drifting off to sleep.

[vendettaspathfanfic]

Chapter Four

(Chapter Index)

(Previous)

(Next)

Just letting y’all know this is where the violence starts

Scourge's anger erupted the moment the group call connected, his voice booming through the phone, "What the FUCK!?" He unleashed his frustration, directing his fury at the remaining members of the Destructix who had failed to prevent the disastrous situation.

"She ran off!” Simon’s voice crackled with fury as he vehemently defended himself over the phone. “We genuinely believed she was taking a nap! We had no clue she had left!"

Scourge's sarcasm dripped from his words as he seethed, the tension evident in his gritted teeth, "Well, isn't that just fucking great? We should always blindly rely on that little shit to behave, shouldn't we?"

“Scourge!” Fiona intervened sharply as she paced through the narrow, dark alley, “pointing fingers won’t solve anything right now! She could lead the cops to the orphanage!”

“I know!” Scourge roared back, his hand tightening around his phone as he battled the urge to smash it into the ground, a guttural yell of frustration escaping his throat.

“We’ll clear out of here.” Predator chimed in dutifully.

"Make it fast!" Fiona commanded, her voice slightly distracted as she picked up on Scourge's indistinct grumbling. "What is it?" She queried, her voice laced with concern.

“We gotta get her.”

“Are you kidding Scourge!? We don’t need this shi-“ Lightning seethed before being interrupted.

“Shove it, Lightning. You guys and Fi split up to look and keep an ear out on the police scanner.” You guys and Fi need to split up and search. And stay tuned to the police scanner.” Scourge snapped, ending the call abruptly before shifting into a ready stance, preparing to sprint off.

“Scourge!” Fiona interjected with urgency, “you can’t run!”

“No time for jokes right now,” Scourge retorted following a dismissive scoff.

“Seriously! A green blur zooming through town could easily be spotted by the wrong people! And then, what? You’re not as strong as you used to be and the Suppression Squad could throw your ass back in jail and let me tell you, yanking you out once is hard enough.”

Despite his ego being slightly bruised, Scourge knew she was right. He had to stay incognito, under the radar. Resigned, he grumbled “fine, then what’s your brilliant plan for catching up with that kid?”

Almost as though answering his question, the distant but unmistakable roar of engines echoed through the air, a likely indication of a street race, a common occurrence in various parts of the city.

“Will wheels be fast enough?” Fiona questioned, her voice uneasy with skepticism.

“Probably not. No other choice though, sounds like they’re coming ‘round so be ready.” Scourge responded, swiftly grabbing Fiona’s hand and darting to the curb, moderating his speed to blend in.

“For what?” Fiona queried, trying to make sense of this unfolding plan as she barely managed to keep pace with Scourge.

“Shush.” Scourge raised a finger to his lips, releasing her hand as they reached the curb, his ears tuned to the escalating noise of the approaching engines.

It grew louder…

And louder…

Until…

Vrooooom!

The sleek purple sports car passed in front of them in a blink of an eye, and Scourge and Fiona-

Wait.

It was just Fiona on the curb now. Where’d Scourge go?

Unable to hear his girlfriend call for him by this point, Scourge was now lying prone on top of the driver’s side of the speeding car, his fist smashing through the driver’s window.

Before the startled and fuming driver could finish his string of profanities, Scourge leaned into the shattered window and delivered a swift and powerful punch. The driver was knocked unconscious in a heartbeat, his body slumping against the car seat.

In one fluid motion, Scourge vaulted through the fragmented window, his body twisting and turning with an incredible display of agility. He maneuvered himself into the driver's seat after swiftly unfastening the seat belt that held the unconscious driver in place and pushed his limp body onto the passenger's seat.

His hands gripped the steering wheel with unyielding determination. His eyes scanned the road ahead, his mind calculating the best course of action. With a powerful push of the accelerator and a swift turn of the wheel, he brought the stolen vehicle under his control, the powerful engine roaring in response to his touch.

In spite of the immediate and critical nature of the situation at hand, Scourge found himself immersed in a profound sense of exhilaration as a powerful surge of adrenaline coursed through his veins. It was a sensation that he cherished, knowing that only the most intense and high-stakes circumstances could elicit such a thrilling response from his body and mind.

With a sudden jerk of the wheel, Scourge executed an abrupt U-turn, skillfully weaving through the honking cars that littered the road, back to where Fiona was pacing anxiously on the curb.

"Get that fucker out and hop in, Fi!" Scourge barked as he screeched to a halt in front of her.

Without missing a beat, Fiona complied. She yanked open the door and tossed the unconscious man onto the curb before climbing into the passenger seat. She held her phone tightly in her grasp, her attention fixed on the voice of Predator Hawk as he relayed the latest directions and news from the police scanner.

"The police can't seem to apprehend her," Predator reported, his voice echoing through the dimly lit interior of the car. "She's retaliating with force against any officer that attempts to detain her." He paused, his attention focused on the crackling police radio, gathering more information about the escalating situation. "She has managed to disarm one of them and is now in possession of a firearm."

"That's just great. If we find her, she can finally put us out of our misery," Scourge grumbled, his hands tightly clutching the steering wheel as he accelerated the car, driving recklessly in the direction of Toxic's last known location.

"Wait a moment, boss… The police have received orders to retreat and establish a perimeter around the area," Predator continued, pausing to tune in more closely to the radio chatter. Suddenly, Scourge and Fiona could hear him mutter under his breath, "Damn..."

"What!?" Scourge demanded, his voice sharp with impatience.

"Some members of the Suppression Squad are moving in on her location!" Predator warned, horror creeping into his usually unflappable voice.

Scourge's muzzle drained of color at this revelation, his grip on the steering wheel tightening to the point of his knuckles whitening. His heart pounded like a wild drum in his chest, drowning out Fiona's voice. Anger welled up within him, blurring his vision and making him seethe, "SHE'LL FUCKING RAT US OUT TO THE SUPPRESSION SQUAD!!!"

"Scourge-" Fiona tried to interject.

"WE SHOULD HAVE LEFT THAT LITTLE BITCH TO DIE FROM THAT DAMN INFECTION!!!" Scourge roared, his fury reaching a frightening level that was rarely seen even in him. "I SWEAR, I'LL KILL HER MYSELF BEFORE THEY GET TO HER!!! I DON'T CARE WHO SHE IS!!!" Although he could feel his anger reaching a fever pitch, and heard his voice continuing to spew venom and hatred, he was not fully aware of his words. His jaw moved mechanically, his words pouring out uncontrollably as he navigated through the city's traffic at breakneck speed.

"SHUT UP, SCOURGE!!!" Fiona's voice cut through his tirade, bringing his rant to an abrupt end. The green hedgehog fell into a stunned silence. "I'm just as furious at her as you are, Scourge! Trust me on that! But throwing a fit isn't going to solve anything! We need to calm down and figure out a plan!"

"But how!? You've said it yourself! I'm not powerful enough-"

"I know what I said, but we will figure it out, okay!? We can't just roll over and bitch about it because the situation looks like shit!" Fiona shot back, her tone just as fiery. "Predator! Who else is out there?"

"They didn't mention any specific names," Predator replied.

"We need to know who we're up again-" Fiona's sentence was cut off as she was nearly thrown forward when Scourge brought the car to a screeching stop. "Ow!" She winced as the seatbelt dug into her torso. "Watch it, you idiot!"

"Police blockade! She's around here!" Scourge's voice reverberated through the confined space of the car, his expression contorting with discomfort as the seatbelt dug into him. "We need a diversion to clear a path..." Scourge drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, his mind racing as he pondered their next move. Suddenly, his eyes lit up with a spark of inspiration. "It's time to mow down some pigs. Do we still have bandage from when Toxic bit us?"

"Yeah, we've got plenty," Predator affirmed. "But what's your plan?"

"Cover your faces with it and make your way over here," Scourge commanded, his tone urgent. "And tell Simon to bring an arsenal!" He swiftly relayed their current location and details of their vehicle to Predator.

"Understood, boss. We're not far," Predator acknowledged dutifully.

"Keep us updated on the situation for the time being," Fiona chimed in, her voice intermingling with the electric tension that permeated the tight confines of the vehicle.

She cracked open the car window slightly, letting the sounds of the scene infiltrate the car’s interior as she watched the drama unfold. Armored police officers, their bodies encased in reflective gear, were waving away a throng of curious bystanders from the scene of action. Fiona found her attention being yanked towards the shrill sound of a loud alarm, triggered when a bystander audaciously tried to slip past a towering wall of pulsating yellow light. To her surprise, the wall flashed a harsh red as the intruder penetrated its boundaries, only to be forcefully repelled backward onto the ground by a hollering cop.

“How does it know the difference?” Fiona posed the question to Scourge, her curiosity piqued as she observed one of the policemen stepping through the luminescent wall without any issue whatsoever.

“It scans your body to see if you have clearance.” Scourge explained.

The gears in Fiona's mind began to turn as a potential idea hatched. "We used to be the rulers of this place. If we had clearance at some point, do you think it would still be valid now?" she asked, a hopeful note creeping into her voice.

Scourge, however, was decidedly less optimistic. "Not worth the gamble," he refuted, shaking his head in a definitive no.

"You're probably right," Fiona conceded with a resigned sigh. Her gaze turned back towards the ongoing scene outside.

Just then, Predator's voice cut into their conversation. "A vehicle from the Suppression Squad just crossed the perimeter. North 36th Street." He warned them, his tone serious.

"That's about half a mile from us," Scourge noted, his eyes scanning their surroundings.

"Almost there. We have your vehicle in our sights. Over and out," Predator's voice came through one last time before the line went dead.

"Ready to stir up some shit, Fi?" Scourge asked, his voice laced with a hint of playful flirtation. His heart started to pound with the exhilarating rush that only came from living on the fringe, teetering on the edge of danger.

"Waiting on your move, babe," Fiona replied, her voice carrying a teasing lilt.

The duo stepped out of their sleek, purple car, their boiling blood somewhat cooled by the fresh chill of the night air. Scourge beckoned for the Destructix, who were driving a stolen postal van, to follow them into a dimly lit, narrow alleyway adjacent to their location. Once parked, they all disembarked from the vehicle, their faces covered in bandages as they were told.

"Alright, here's the plan," Scourge said, his voice commanding the attention of his team. "I'll scale the building and throw grenades down at the cop cars, then bolt back down here. The explosions will take out the police lines, disabling any alarms. We move into the perimeter swiftly, split up, locate the kid, and communicate once we've found her. Then we make our exit. Under no circumstances should you let the Suppression Squad get wind of you. Understood?"

A chorus of affirmatives echoed through the alleyway, confirming their understanding of the plan. Scourge nodded approvingly, "Good. Anyone still got the bandages?"

"Yeah," Lightning replied, shifting his weight as he prepared to toss a roll to Scourge. "Catch."

Scourge snapped out a hand, catching the roll deftly in the air. He began to apply the bandages, pressing his conspicuous quills flat and covering every part of his face except for his eyes and nose, to minimize his visibility in case he was spotted.

Once Simon had handed him the grenades, the stage was set. The show was about to begin.

"Be prepared, guys," Scourge commanded his gang as he proceeded to climb the rusty rungs of the building's fire escape, carefully cradling the grenades in one arm. "You might want to cover your ears."

Upon reaching the rooftop, he crouched near the ledge, peering down at the unsuspecting law enforcers below. They were completely at his mercy, just as they should be. He ran this town, this entire world. His power was the only one that truly mattered, whether others acknowledged it or not. With a predatory grin, he stood slowly, savoring the moment. "Hail to the king, baby," he whispered, before using his super speed to pull the pins from the grenades and lob them down onto the police cars. A rush of adrenaline surged through him, eliciting a maniacal laughter as he sped away from the ledge and jumped down the fire escape, landing on his feet just as the symphony of explosions erupted. The ground shook with the force of the detonation, causing several power satellites and various other structures to topple.

In the ensuing chaos and sudden darkness, Simon thrust a pistol into Scourge's hand. "You never know!" He yelled over the cacophony of sirens, alarms, and terrified screams.

"Appreciated, Simon! Everyone, scatter!" Scourge commanded, darting through the alleys at an incredibly swift yet controlled speed, careful not to stand out as a green blur. His eyes scanned the shadows for any sign of his unhinged sister.

Naturally, without his supersonic speed at his disposal, the task of locating a small, elusive girl who could nearly match his pace was a challenge. During his fervent search, he unexpectedly stumbled upon two members of the dreaded Suppression Squad, known as Boomer and Miles. Reacting instantly, he swiftly concealed himself behind a nearby wall, narrowly evading their notice.

Miles, a young, yellow, twin-tailed fox, was wrestling with his malfunctioning radio, a result of the recent destruction of their communications tower.

"Damn," he growled in frustration, "without the radio, I can’t determine the cause of that explosion. Something isn’t adding up, Boomer.”

“Yeah…” Boomer, a hulking purple cyborg walrus, started to reply, “The timing of this incident is suspicious. We should-”

However, their conversation was abruptly cut short as a small blur of blue zipped past them, stirring up a swift gust of wind.

“Survey the area for intruders and try to get a signal!” Miles commanded Boomer, passing him the faulty radio before taking to the air. His aerial agility made it clear why he had been assigned to pursue her. Few could even dream of keeping pace with Scourge, and Miles was a notable exception.

Suddenly, Scourge found himself engaged in a high-stakes race against this familiar adversary. If he failed, Miles would apprehend Toxic, and if she caved under pressure, their entire plan could crumble.

He was determined not to lose this race.

The police and news helicopters were preoccupied with the wreckage from the recent explosions, allowing Scourge a brief moment of anonymity. He used this opportunity to dart through the narrow alleyways, pushing his speed to its limits as he chased after the blue blur. In his haste, the bandages that obscured his identity were torn away, revealing his true self. With his abilities pushed to their peak, he managed to swiftly apprehend the young girl without attracting Miles' attention. He covered her mouth and pressed a gun against her head.

“If you fight or scream, it's over for you.” Scourge whispered harshly into her ear before hoisting her over his shoulder. He retreated deeper into the shadowy alley and attempted to contact his team, only to discover his own signal was out. An oversight he regretted.

“You’re fuckin’ kidding me…” Scourge growled, maintaining a stealthy and controlled pace as he searched for a signal.

His efforts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of a thunderous blast, powerful enough to make him drop Toxic and send him crashing into a nearby brick wall.

Boomer had located them.

“I thought Sonic threw you to the wolves.” Boomer sneered with contempt. “You were always a stubborn shitstain, though.”

“How’s life been, big guy?” Scourge replied, dusting himself off and shifting his gaze toward Toxic’s faint silhouette. “Stay put, kid. If you attempt to escape, I’ll hunt you down.”

“Should've guessed she was involved with you.” Boomer jeered as he chuckled darkly.

“Unfortunately, that’s the case.” Scourge retorted before launching himself at Boomer in a rapid spin dash, knocking him to the ground. He reached for his gun, only to realize it was no longer in his jacket and must have fallen during the commotion. As he scanned the dimly lit ground, he was hit with a stronger sonic boom blast. The impact sent him crashing into the wall with such force that it knocked the wind out of him. As he gasped for breath, he could faintly make out Boomer's maniacal grin in the moonlight, until suddenly…

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Boomer’s grin quickly snapped into a look of sheer horror as he clasped his bloody neck and collapsed with a heavy thud.

As the shots were fired, Scourge noticed flashes of light illuminating from the hands of Toxic’s small figure.

“Damn, kid!” Scourge gasped, slowly regaining his breath as he stared at his fallen enemy. He was now weakly choking, gasping for air, and desperately clutching at his neck wound as he audibly gargled blood. The longer he struggled, the quieter the sounds of his agony became.

Before he could react to the shocking scene, Scourge spotted Miles, frozen in horror at the sight.

Without a moment's hesitation, Scourge snatched the gun from Toxic, grabbed Miles by the collar, and landed a powerful punch that knocked him unconscious.

Holding up Miles’ limp body by the shirt collar, Scourge glanced back at Boomer. In mere minutes, the once formidable adversary had been reduced to a lifeless shell. The once powerful walrus was now silent and still, his gaze vacant, a pool of blood spreading around his face.

“Damn, kid…” Scourge panted out in shock, not sure what else to say.

“Stupid bitch.” Toxic sneered, flipping the lifeless body off with her ring finger.

(Hey! If you read this far, thanks a ton! Please leave a comment and tell me what you think! Just so y’all know this is all I have pre-written before making this page (was posting bit by bit as it got more attention) so the next chapters will be taking a bit longer to come out. Again, thank you so much for reading! Oh and most likely the photo for the next chapter will be the official cover!! P.S. sorry if ur a boomer walrus fan 😅!)

[thankskenpenders]

I guess part of the problem with Mogul's "I'll just sit on the side and wait for you to die" plot is that it kind of means that he ends up being a very passive character. But I guess one avenue for stories could be the heroes trying to stop Mogul from acquiring stuff that would be useful to him, knowing that if they don't keep it out of his hands *now*, it's going to be a huge problem for someone else *later* - do we get anything like that or is that an unexplored avenue?

We don't get a ton more Mogul content just because the series is gonna get rebooted in 60 issues. He appears a few more times (and one of those appearances is very cool and makes good use of where Ian took him), but to my knowledge we don't see him make any other big moves as a villain. (I could be wrong, though.)

Ian may very well have had more plans for the guy, but he's been unable to cover most of his plans for the old continuity due to some sort of ongoing legal problem with the Archie comics that has yet to be resolved. But personally, while I would have liked to see more Mogul, I think he was left in a pretty good place, and I understand that there were tons of other antagonists to juggle. (Eggman, Metal Sonic, and Snively; Scourge, Fiona, and the evil Freedom Fighters; Dimitri, Lien-Da, and the Dark Legion; Finitevus; the Hooligans and the Destructix; Naugus and his underling (who I won't spoil); the Babylon Rogues and the Battle Bird Armada; The Iron Queen and her forces; the Sand-Blasters; the robot pirates over in the Sol Dimension; the Black Arms; Tails Doll - and that's not even getting into any NEW characters of Ian's. Even after cleaning house early in his run, there were a lot of characters to touch on! And Mogul had already made a few big appearances, so he probably just figured it was time to give other characters a turn.)