The Creatures Neon

Chapter 6

The search for Amy had taken Jet and Storm to the dining room.

"Where did she go?" inquired Jet as he searched under the table.

"Beats me." Replied Storm as he checked behind a wall hanging. "Ms. Rose?"

Storm leaned on the fine Maplewood table, it shifted slightly under his weight, and looked over as Jet admired the Indian white marble flooring. The heady excitement of Amy's arrival in Ibiza followed by their high-speed excursion to Paris had waned (as it inevitably does with any undertaking of value) to be replaced by a sort of heavy apprehension. Maybe, a glimmer in the mind that one had misjudged things. They were silent for a while, and when next words were spoken, they were Storms.

"What are we doing here Jet?"

Jet rounded on him now.

"What do you mean 'what are we doing'? We're helping our friends, Storm."

"No not that," Storm waved a hand, "I mean what are we doing about the situation with this team? Right now, what with everyone acting so froggy, we'd be steam rolled by a scout troupe!"

Jet was listening, a smile under the eye.

"They need a leader! Someone to take charge! I'm no good with that kinda stuff, but you...? You could whip us into shape! Get some energy running through here..."

His voice trailed off.

Jet turned his back to the giant albatross and examined a hanging Rembrandt. He thought for a long time, taking in the confident brush strokes of the old master. His sapphire eye paused on a trace of saturated colour, and the effect it had on the painting echoed the processes at work in his mind. A fire light had discovered itself, a saturated blip in the night, and around it flew many thoughts, slowly coalescing into an idea.

"You're right Storm, I could lead for the sake of this team. For the sake of the here and the now."

He turned to face his friend.

"But what of life after this battle? Should we be fortunate enough to survive, would I be the one to lead Sonic Team forever?"

"Well no, not forever," Storm interjected, "That's not what I meant."

"I know what you meant, take charge until we're through these trying times, then hand them back the reigns- "

"Exactly!" Storm pressed on, "Just until this is over! Lead us!"

"No. There is an opportunity here for greatness. Amy has been in Sonic's shadow since the beginning, forever seen as the hyperactive klutz, never taken seriously. Here we have the opportunity to encourage her to take her place as the captain – for this fight, and all other fights Sonic Team will endure. I could lead for now. But Amy could lead forever."

The same passion that had overtaken the hawk in Ibiza played its hand once more.

Storm sighed and smiled.

"Well said I suppose."

He got up from the table and clapped Jet on the back.

"Let's just find her first."

They left the Rembrandt and the Indian white marble floors and continued their search.

But Amy Rose was no longer in the safe house.

She was half awake on a rooftop high above the Parisian streets. She inhaled deeply, savouring the way the cold air cut away at the disarray in her mind. How had she gotten up here? She couldn't remember anything after hearing Jet's suggestion to go looking for her. Still the icy shard of fear worked its way into her heart.

She closed her eyes. There was no escape.

Then there was Rouge.

Sitting next to her, strong arm wrapped around her shoulders, exuding warmth.

"You looked like you needed some air, sister." Rouge said, looking down at Amy.

Amy met her eyes. Far from any discomfort, she wished she could stay with the bat forever.

"What happened?" she asked weakly.

Rouge laughed softly.

"I'm not sure myself, maybe a panic attack? Whatever it was, you looked a bad way. I took you up here so you could breathe. We can't have you out of commission too!"

At this Amy turned inwards. She pulled her knees close to her chest and hid her face behind them.

"What difference would it make?"

Rouge said nothing. Far off in the distance she could make out the gleaming spike of Eiffel Tower.

Amy spoke again,

"I... I have no idea what to do... "

Rouge was silent. The warm summer wind blew gently across the moonlit rooftops. The stars twinkled above. Rouge squeezed Amy a little tighter and said,

"I think you do know what to do."

Amy made to argue, but instead, perhaps comforted by the steady heartbeat next to hers, turned her lens inward and considered Robotnik, for the first time, apart from his terrifying new-found power. A miserable specimen, tall and egg-shaped with spindly arms and legs – about as intimidating as a partially deflated pool toy.

Amy smiled remembering how harmless he had been in the past. A pest more than anything. After collecting the Chaos Emeralds though... well, that was another matter entirely. As the two images of Robotnik sashayed in her mind, time and the laws of probability eventually dictated that they meet – and so they did.

What if there was a way, Amy thought, to de-power Robotnik? The events of Attu Island flashed on her mind, and in particular, the way in which the Emeralds arranged themselves around Robotnik. An idea was coming, she stood in her mind, watching as it careened towards her like a runaway train.

Could it be...?

Yes!

She jumped up, startling Rouge, excitement rushing over her.

"Let's go back. I think I know how to beat him." The words were clear and solid.

Rouge smiled.

"sure."

Knuckles visibly sighed with relief upon seeing Rouge and Amy.

"Where have you two been?!"

"Later," Amy replied quickly, "Everyone meet up in the conference room!"

Presently, Jet the Hawk, Storm the Albatross, Knuckles the Echidna and Rouge the Bat gathered in the intimate room and sat around an impressive Bocote wood table.

Amy took her place at its head and both Jet and Storm exchanged conspiratorial smiles as they noted the confidence in her walk. She seemed at ease. Like she belonged in the captain's chair.

"I know how to beat Robotnik."

Amy's voice traveled easily. As it circled the room, it lifted the air of uncertainty troubling the party since it's inception.

"One Chaos Emerald stands above the rest; the Master Emerald. It rallies the power of the other six and, in tandem, gives Robotnik his power. If we take it out, remove it from the system, the subsequent lapse in energy would give us an opportunity to restrain him."

"Let me know if you need any help with that." A voice sounded from outside the room.

Everybody spun around. Knuckles and Storm barred their great fists, Rouge was crouched low, coiled back like a viper, Jet stood angular, a row of glistening talons on each hand, and Amy remained unflinching.

Then, time stopped.

The air was sucked out of the room.

The world ceased spinning on its axis.

And Sonic the hedgehog walked into the conference room.

Some ten kilometers beneath the surface of the ocean, illuminated by the grace of seven magnificent emeralds, the cruelest person under the sun watched on.

But he did not smile.