Winds of Freedom

Chapter 53: Chit Chatting on Our Way

{A/N}

Oh wow been a while, whats popping? Anyways, welcome to Act 10: Pangu

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Chapter 53: Chit Chatting on Our Way

Shuigang Island – Unknown Location, Morning Hours

Inside an unknow facility, somewhere in Shuigang...

The artificial lighting flickered overhead, across the sleek metallic corridors. The air was thick with urgency.

"Make way, you incompetent fools!" Serpentine's voice slashed through the tense atmosphere, dripping with venom as his slitted pupils burned with fury. Behind him, Shade Troopers flanked his movements. Overhead, sleek worker drones zipped past, scanning and processing data in rapid succession.

A massive reinforced gurney cut through the corridor, its wheels groaning under the sheer weight of the figure atop it. Lord Brevon lay motionless, his body shrouded in a pristine white sheet, his form barely stirring beneath the fabric. His once-imposing figure was now reduced to shallow, ragged breaths and involuntary twitches of his claws.

"Vitals remain stable," Syntax announced as she processed the biometric readings. "Immediate medical intervention is required."

Serpentine's head snapped toward her. "And where exactly do you think we're going?!" he spat. "Do I look like I need a status report?!"

For the briefest moment, relief had swelled within him when Lord Brevon's signal had been detected again. The knowledge that his master had survived had been a flicker of reassurance. But that feeling had quickly crumbled into something much uglier. Seeing Brevon reduced to this frail, broken husk ignited a searing fury deep in Serpentine's core.

His tail cracked against the floor, the impact reverberating through the corridor.

"Tssyaaaa! I knew it! I should have been there! I should have ensured that blasphemous emerald was secured!" His breathing grew heavier, erratic. "The next time I see those pests—those worthless, meddling little—" His voice warped into a guttural snarl. "I'll tear them limb from limb! I'll burn every last one of them to ashes for daring to—"

"Refrain from hostile threats upon entry to the medical bay," Syntax interjected, in an emotionless yet urgent tone.

Serpentine glared at the drone, but Syntax remained unflinching. His lips curled, a furious hiss escaping him. The urge to lash out was overwhelming, but there were more pressing matters.

As they neared the heavy blast doors of the medical wing, something made Serpentine slow his advance.

His gaze flickered sideways, and in the dim corridor beyond, two figures stood in silent observation.

The glint of a pair of small, round glasses caught the flickering lights. Beside him, a sleek, metallic frame stood rigid, his red optics never blinking.

Doctor Robotnik. Metal Sonic.

Serpentine's glare hardened. He had never trusted the doctor—never would. Robotnik was an ally by necessity, nothing more. Whatever cooperation existed between them was a fragile, temporary truce. The so-called genius had his own agenda, and Serpentine was under no illusion that the man wasn't scheming at every opportunity.

But now wasn't the time for hostility. Not yet.

With one last hiss, Serpentine turned away and stepped into the medical bay. The doors sealed behind him, locking him inside with his master.