Chapter Five:

Crux Stone

Nack revved the engines of his air skiff as he shot across the expanse of the Great Ocean, leaving Robotropolis behind. His shoulder was giving him alot of hurt, but at least he wasn't bleeding so bad. Wildfyre'd seen to that.
"This is making me nervous," Chronic said as he looked back at the smog filled metropolis.
"Why? We escaped without any opposition! I'de call that a lucky break!!" Nack replied.
"That's just it," Estri said, putting hir still-healing arm in a sling made from hir cloak. "Why didn't Robotnik try to chase us down?"
"He's got something up his sleeve," Raven said definitively. "We'de better get back to the Tavern and soon."
"No, if he's planning something, we'de better go someplace else," Chronic said. "We don't wanna lead Robotnik straight back to Hal. That's the only safe haven alot of furs have."
"Good call, Chronic," Nack said. "That's why we're heading back to my bungalow to lay low for awhile."
"That'll give me time to get in touch with the Princess," Ashe said from the back. "She needs the information I have if she's gonna prepare any kind of defense for the coming attack."
"What attack?" Wildfyre asked.
"I'll explain when we get back," Ashe said soberly.


*****

Raven couldn't believe his eyes. "What happened to the place?"
Nack grinned. "Wildfyre happened."
Chronic laughed. "Now I know why you went back for her. A good housekeeper's hard to find!"
Wildfyre chuckled and teased, "I wanted to stay in a clean prison rather a filthy one."
Estri went to the office and got some medical supplies, and the group began tending to various wounds as Wildfyre and Chronic prepared something to eat. Ashe got on the communicator.
"Princess Sally Acorn, do you read?" Ashe sent.
"Reading you loud and clear, Mecha Sonic....what happened to you?" Sally came back, her face showing surprize at his tranformation.
"Robotnik's work, Sally. He's messed with my DNA as well as the others I mentioned. We got them out safe and sound," Ashe answered. "And by the way, it's Ashe now."
Sonic appeared on the screen. "We got word back from Uncle Chuck. You're right Mecha--er, Ashe--We found the plans for the Bio-Terminator."
The others in the hut got quiet.
"How far along is it?" Ashe asked. "It'll be ready to fire in two days. This is catching us totally off guard. But we should have seen the signs--the increases in robotization, the fortifications of bases..." Sonic sighed. "But we do have good news. They don't have a power source strong enough to run it planet-wide. Not even a Chaos Emerald has that kind of power..."
"But I know of something that does, Sonic...." Ashe said mournfully. "The red crystal we found in that cave. We have to keep Robotnik from learning about it, at all costs."
Sally came back on. "Right. Ashe, I went back to look at the writings on the walls in that temple. We can't even let it be moved. I've gotten a band of Freedom Fighters to seal the cavern--I'm hoping that'll be enough."
"I'm the only other creature that knows about it's location. And if I get recaptured, I'll self-destruct," Ashe said solemnly.
The others blinked. "Ashe, it can't be that important!" Estri said, agast at the thought of Ashe killing himself.
"Estri," Ashe said, turning back to the white echidna, "If it saves the lives of our world--and two others--I will willingly go to my grave."
"Good luck, Ashe," Sally and Sonic transimitted at they signed off.


*****

Snively paced back and forth, chuckling maliciously. By now, Robotnik was venting his impotent rage on some poor creature because of the loss of his Hunters. But this time, Marcus Kain Snively had been prepared.
"Idiot. Memory repression is the worst way to try to take over a mind--the memories can come back in a snap, as it did with Kaxta V," Snively said as he turned a few dials on the control panel in his private lab. The huge static-sealed mainframes snapped to life, their robotic arms swiveling back and forth to various memory banks as they gathered information. "No, leave the memories there....only alter them...a change here, an emotion there...."
The computer screen lit up as the program was loaded. A satelite dish on the roof above turned, seeking targets. "Computer: Run program Snively Beta-Three," Marcus grinned, cracking his knuckles.
## Accessing. Sending Transmissions to Z and V. ##


*****

"Good night everyone. I'm going to get some sleep," Nack said as he headed towards his bed. The day had really taken its toll on him, and he was near exhaustion.
"I'm coming with you," Wildfyre smiled. "I'll get your wounds re-dressed before you sleep. It'll help you get comfortable." Nack smiled wamly and accepted.
Raven chuckled. He doubted Nack would get much sleep now, not from the look in Wildfyre's eyes.
"I'm taking one of the hammocks in the workshop," Chronic yawned. "There's another one in there, if anyone can stand my snoring."
Ashe chuckled. "I can just shut my ears off for the night."
Raven looked at Estri. "I guess that leaves the couch....for us." He gave hir his most stunning smile.
Estri smirked. "I think there's something you oughtta know about me, Raven."
Raven got a bit closer to Estri. "I can stand it if you snore...." His green eyes were lit up with attraction. Estri knew exactly how to handle this. Sie took Raven's hand in hir own and put it against hir belly. Raven looked a bit surprised but drew closer, anticipating a night of passion with the beautiful white echidna. Estri moved Raven's hand lower, a wry smile creeping up on hir face as sie placed it right over hir groin.
Raven's eyes nearly bugged out of his face and he jumped back about five feet, letting go of a string of suprized curses.
Estri unfolded the couch and made up the bed. "Now, which side do you want?" sie grinned wickedly.
"I think I'll just, um, go sleep on the couch in the office," Raven stammered, quickly moving out of the room, and closing the door with a slam. Estri laughed and jumped onto the bed, snuggling under the covers.


*****

## Sleep mode detected in subjects Z and V. Beginning Program Snively Beta-3. ##
Snively tapped his fingers together in a grim parody of his uncle. "Excellent."


*****

Estri got up out of bed, blank eyed. Sie walked to the door of Nack's room and opened the door. Wildfyre's eyes snapped open and she looked up at Estri. Quickly, she slid out of bed and out of Nack's arms and grabbed her clothing and armor. Estri got hirs and they both dressed silently. They froze as Nack moaned in his sleep; he rolled over and resumed his needed slumber. Estri's arm was now completely healed, and sie untied hir cloak and wrapped it around hir shoulders. With a nod between them, they snuck out of the bungalow and outside.
"Returning to base," Echidna Z spoke into hir com-unit.
"Hurry home, Hunters," Snively's voice came back, sounding rather pleased. Kaxta V unfurled her new wings. They were as crimson as her fur, with golden tips, shaped like a falcon's, but made only of flexible skin and a thin layer of muscle. She took hold of Estri underneath hir arms, flapped her powerful pinions and shot off into the midnight sky.


*****

The skylight in Snively's lab opened and the *whoosh* of wings indicated V and Z had arrived. Z touched down, then V as she folded her wings tight to her back.
"We have arrived, Master Snively," Z said, tossing hir cloak back over hir shoulders.
"Good to have you back," Snively grinned, looking over them with sickening lust. The doors *shooshed* open and Packbell walked in, rather taken aback at the sight of Z and V back in control.
"I came to see who it was that flew into the Death Egg," Packbell announced, hand near his blaster. "What is the meaning of this, Snively?"
Snively smirked. "I have succeed where Uncle Julian has failed, android." He slammed the wall panel with his fist and the doors sealed shut.
"Snively..." Packbell growled warningly, "You have some explaining to do...."
"I'll give you a choice, android," Snively smiled, folding his arms. "Join me, or die."
Packbell snarled and drew his blaster. "I'de sooner fry you, you little wretch!"
"Get him!" Snively commanded the Hunters. Z unholstered hir rifle and unloaded several rounds into Packbell's legs, blowing them cleanly off his body at mid thigh. He fell back, his blaster shooting wildly. V shot off his arms, leaving him lying helpless on the floor.
Snively walked over to the prostrate andriod and leered over him. "I warned you, Packbell. Now you'll have to be put away. Perhaps I'll get back to reprogramming and rebuilding you after I've taken care of that bulbous moron. Z, put him in the storage container in the corner. We have work to do."


*****

"Snively! Where is Packbell??" Robotnik roared as Snively entered the War Room. He blinked as Kaxta V and Echidna Z walked in. "How did you--??"
"Shut up you bloated sack of fecal matter!" Snively growled at Robotnik. "I've had enough of your incompetence! I'm taking over!!"
"You little bastard...do you think that I didn't suspect this was coming!" Robotnik growled, getting up out of his chair. Z and V cocked their rifles and stood near Snively protectively. "SWATbots! Come to the War Room immediately!" Robotnik barked.
## Voice not recognized. Summoning defense system, Lord Snively. ##
Snively laughed, a viscious grin smeared across his oddly-shaped head. "It's time to take a bow, uncle."
Robotnik's face paled as Z and V opened fire.


*****

Nack awoke slowly. His arm flopped across the bed, looking for Wildfyre. She wasn't there. Nack got up and stretched. He grabbed his gloves, boots and hat, strewn across the floor from last night. His shoulder still hurt, but he could use it if he had too, and it wasn't too sore. He went out to see if Wildfyre had gotten up before him.
"Hey, anyone seen Estri?" Chronic asked as he and Ashe came out of the work shop. Ashe turned his ears back on. Raven came out of the office, looking a bit pained from sleeping in an odd position on the office couch. "Isn't she on the couch in the living room?"
Nack shook his head. He was beginning to get worried. "Where's Wildfyre?"
No one knew. A quick search determined that the two were gone, taking nothing but their clothing and weapons.
"This is not good," Ashe said, pacing the floor. "I'm gonna check with Sally, maybe they know what's happened."
"Ashe, I was just about to call you. Something's happened in Robotopolis! Snively's taken over, and both Packbell and Robotnik are missing--and probably dead!" Sally said, both visibly and audibly shaken. "And that's not the worst of it--take a look at this video footage Sir Charles took!"
Ashe watched in horror. Estri and Wildfyre were back in Robotropolis, working for Snively.
"We don't know how it happened," Sonic explained. "But thing's have gotten bad. Wildfyre knew the Downunda Freedom Fighters--and because of that, she knows the location of both their base and Knothole. And Estri knows the new location of the Wolf Pack FF's. We stand to take heavy losses. We're moving as many as we can now."
Ashe nodded and looked at the others. "Guys, I have to stop them. I pledged fealty to Sally, and I have to do whatever it takes to protect her and the Freedom Fighters. I can't ask any of you to do the same, but if you want to join me, you're welcome."
Nack's eyes were fixed on the image of Snively in the video. He grabbed his biggest gun. "I want him dead."
Raven stood next to Nack. "We have to stop this, or there won't be any Mobius left."
Chronic punched one gloved fist into the other. "I got the urge to rumble."
Ashe's ice blue eyes flashed. "Then let's go to it."


*****

"Show me the video again."
V ran the video over the view screen once more. There, in the transmission, was a bright red crystal, glowing with power.
"This could be just what we need for the Bio Terminator," Snively mused. "Do you know the location of this stone?"
"No Sir," Z replied. "But we can track it using a spectral scan of the video. It will show us the wavelength of energy radiation. The rest is easy."
"Go to it, Hunters. Bring me back the crystal."


*****

Sally hugged Ashe. "I'm glad you're here. We've got more bad news." Ashe, Raven, Chronic and Nack followed Princess Sally into the Knothole meeting room. A few questions were raised about the wisdom of bringing Bounty Hunters into Knothole, but in such dire circumstances, those doubts were quickly put down.
"NICOLE finished the translations of the runes on the pedastal where we found the Crux Stone," Sally began.
"NICOLE: Play Message G-4."
## We, the Elders of Worlds, have come to a decision. Our noblest tool, the Crux Stone, is feared to fall into the hands of evil. To prevent this, we have split the stone into three segments, and placed them in the corners of three worlds: Earth, Mobius and Elhorn. ##
## To those who find the Crux Stone, we leave a warning: Do not move the stone from its place. If one stone is moved, it will radiate power. If two stones are moved, they will have the power of Adaptation. If all three stones are moved, they will seek to merge into one, and the planets they inhabit will merge as well. ##
The room was silent for about three minutes.
"Two stones have been moved--we've seen the power of Adaptation in Ashe MechaSonic. We must stop Snively from getting his hands on the Crux Stone here!" Sally pleaded.
"Then let me and my friends go to the cave and guard it," Ashe said. "We will stop them--even if it means killing Wildfyre and Estri to do it."
"I hope it never comes to that. But we're not letting you go alone. All of the Knothole Freedom Fighters are going to make a stand at the cavern," Sonic said. "We don't have any time to loose. Let's jam!."


*****

"We've finished blasting through, Sir!" V called to Snively.
"Excellent!" Snively said, walking through his brigade of SWATbots. "I'm coming in!" V and Z stood in awe of the crystal cavern. There, on the pedastal, was the glowing red Crux Stone. Snively reached out to take ahold of it....
*KABAM!*
"What the hell??" Snively snapped as he spun around. SWATbots were falling by the dozen outside. Z and V got their guns and stood ready to defend Snively.
Sonic dashed in. "DON'T TOUCH THAT STONE!!"
Snively laughed. "Try and stop me!" He ran towards the crystal....
Sonic lept at Snively and flew through the air, tackling the small human and crashing into the pedastal....and the Crux Stone fell.
** THE PLANET ELHORN, CASTLE ZEBULOUS **
<Chunk!>
<Tink>
<Changk!>
<Skrrriiinnnnkkchangtink!>
"Give up Sparkster, this time I have the advantage!"
"Never! I will defend Elhorn with my life!"
"Then that will be the price you pay for your stupidity!"
Two enchanted swords crossed, sending blue flames and sparks flying into the stormy air. The two Knights, locked in mortal combat, circled each other on the dangerously small precipice two hundred feet above the moat below; one in purple and red, the other in orange and steel blue. Rocket packs flared, mimicking the fierce hatred between the two combatants in heat and intensity. The grey sky thundered and blasted the ground with angry lightning, swirling the clouds into a destructive funnel. Sparkster arched his arm back, curving his sword over his face in the ways his teacher and foster-father, Mifune Sanjulo, had taught him. Axle Gear charged his rocket packs and blasted towards Sparkster in a spinning ball of fire and steel; with light-fast movement, Sparkster swung and threw his weight into his sword, cutting open Axle's rocket packs and knocking him off the ledge. Axle clawed the ledge with one hand, gripping it will the desperation of a doomed man.
"Surrender now, Axle Gear! You have lost, Black Knight!" Sparkster commanded as he pointed his blade at Axle's helmeted head. Axle glared at him with cold jade-green eyes partially masked by long red hair. He panted a bit a groaned; he was too weak to pull himself, armor, sword and damaged rocket packs up on his own strength. He stealthfully pulled a red crystal out from under his chest plate with sword still in hand.
"All right! I surrender!" Axle snapped. "Pull me up!"
Sparkster grabbed his Axle's hand just as it slipped, and began to haul the Black Knight up. Axle kicked against the stone walls and jerked Sparkster over the edge, sending them both over.
"WE WILL DIE TOGETHER!" Axle snarled, eyes wild with suicidal insanity. The red gem began to glow, and as Sparkster tried to free himself, only to be hampered by stalling rockets.
"Not today!"
Seemingly out of nowhere, Lieutenant Genevieve flew up and grabbed Sparkster and Axle, straining her rocketpacks to full and grabbing the Crux Stone with her tail....
** EARTH, YEAR 20XX... **
MegaManX moved the rubble away, pushing stones, twisted smouldering metal and fragments of glass away, digging in the wreckage for the energy source Dr. Cain had found. Zero was assisting him, making the effort take less time.
"What is it we're looking for exactly, X?" Zero asked as he tossed a boulder away. "Dr. Cain didn't tell me."
"It's an energy source, crystalline in nature," MegaManX explained as he ripped off the metal fuselage of a fallen repliod. "It's just a few feet further down..."
MegaManX picked up the red crystal. It wasn't very heavy, and it fit nicely into his robotic palm.
"This is it?" Zero asked, looking at the gem.
"Apparently so--" X stopped as the gem started to glow.
"I'm getting some intense power readings off of this crystal!" MegaManX said as he adjusted his optics to the glow.
Zero felt uneasy. "X, maybe you'de better put that thing down, there's not telling what it will do..."
.......The universe gave a silent scream.
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