Sonic RPG 9 - Paradise Lost

"Lord Screech, there's something unusual about Armageddon."

"Now what is it?"

"Some of the drainage pipes have opened without their scheduled times."

"Is it a malfunction?"

"No my lord, the only error message I'm receiving is the error code 3941. This only occurs if the unit has been opened forcefully. Either something hit us, or something is on it."

Screech nodded. "Send a three man scout team to investigate the anomaly. If they find nothing, we'll have engineers repair it."

"Yes sir." The machine hopped on a radio frequency. "Scout team 163, forceful removal of drainage coverings detected. Check the area and report any findings. If something goes wrong, activate your SOS beacon."

Polly: I can handle those two. All they are doing is collecting scrap right?
Al: Yes.
Polly: I can keep them in order.

Al goes up to where Spritz and Francine are. Francine has the mask and blow torch while Sptriz is holding the metal up.
Al: I didn't know you could weld.
Spritz: She's better at it than me.
Francine: It takes a woman's touch. I think we got enough. You can have the two idiots come back. The rest of the metal we can have Polly use to make us some better armor. Did she ever come back?
Al: Yes, she just got back.
Francine: Good, I've been wanting to talk to her about something.

Francine heads down the stairs.
Francine: Al wants us to get started on using the extra metal to make better armor.
Polly: How much can you carry?
Francine: Not as much as you can with that armor.

The two grab what they can and head into the workshop.

Danial sighs to himself, pacing about an thinking. "I honestly don't know what to do. Parasites, Screech still being a potential foe, and now this Magna. This is not how I wanted to raise my son."

"Neither of us wanted this, but none of us expected it. Remember, when we got here, everything was peaceful. Then that dragon thing went ape s***. That's when this all started."

"Damn Screech. Took the worst possible time to attack us."

"Still, better now than later. If he did it years from now, we'd either be too old to stop it, or dead. I know that power suit makes you superhuman, but even a suit has limits to who it can power up, and I doubt it would help an old man."

Danial sighed. "I guess, but I still would have preferred peace for once. I've killed too many people in my lifetime. Not the rep you want your child to know."

"I didn't get a normal life either. You were partially why my kingdom is gone. Everyone I used to know is dead, even my parents."

"Must you always remind me? I still don't understand how you could stay with me if I managed to kill everyone. I only brought you with to spare you of death, because Knothole would have killed you if they knew you were a citizen of their foe. I saved you from execution, but I didn't think this would be our future."

"You sound upset."

"Not exactly as upset as you think, I did kill everyone, but you keep me going. After everything I've done, you still stick by me. A woman who's family and friends were murdered by the assassin she now birthed a child from. That's a story not many people hear."

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Francine finally speaks.
Francine: About earlier.
Polly: What about it?
Francine: I'm sorry.
Polly: Don't be. I've been so focused on work I haven't had time for anything like that.
Francine: Being constantly surrounded by men trying to show off how manly they are, I wasn't ready for someone to listen to me.
Polly: Put two men in a room and they'll always try one-uping each other.
Francine: They only time I had a date, the guys scared him off.
Polly: They are just protective of their "sister." That or they were jealous of him.
Francine: He was sort of a nerd. They didn't like nerds.
Polly: Who doesn't?
Francine: Didn't, the ones that bullied him were killed by the robots.
Polly: I am one nerd they wouldn't want to try anything with.

Francine gives Polly an odd look. Polly walks past her to grab some more robotic parts. On her way, she kisses her on teh cheek and gets back to work.

Yeah... about that... getting there...

------

Tomas was watching his army make it's way through Knothole to it's capital when his security system alerted him that two cars had pulled up. "Ah," he said, leaving the computer room after hitting a few buttons on its massive keyboard. "My guests must be here for the show. Perfect, they are right on time." He ventured off to the front door of his base to greet his first, and probably only, guests.

Outside, Peter was standing by the front door with Rana in his arms when he noticed a second car pull up to the old warehouse. "Well, at least I won't be alone with Tomas. Rana's in no shape to help out at all..." Peter's eyes widen when he saw that Grace- that jade cat walking up the the warehouse he had met just the other day. He was surprised that she, of all people, would have anything to do with Tomas and would be here.

"Oi! Hey there! Fancy meeting you out here in the middle of nowhere." Peter shouted at Jasmine as she got closer to where he was. If it had not been for the door in front of him opening, Peter would of tried to talk to her a little bit more to find out what she was doing here, but now there was more important matters at hand, like a mastermind mutant that wanted him out of the way.

Standing in the door way, Tomas stared at his guests. There was more then he thought there would be, but he didn't mind Peter's girlfriend tagging along since he knew about her powers. Maybe, he thought, she'll come in handy. Once Jasmine was standing side by side with Peter and Rana did he wave the two mutants still sitting in the car that brought Peter and Rana here away. "Come in, come in! We have much to do and there's not much time left. Plus, I'm sure you're all hungry and would like some answers, or more of them depending on the case you're in."

Peter let Jasmine go in front of him since dragging Rana would slow him down. As they walked down the hallway, Peter could see a number of rooms, some looked like they were newer and had been added on. The hallways were nothing special, very bleak and gray. It was almost depressing to walk through them. Some of the room he could see in looked just about the same. A number of them looked empty while other looked full of papers and computer hardware. Peter felt almost creeped out just being in the place, but he didn't know why.

Eventually, the four of them walked into a rather large room that wasn't as depressing. It was light up well and the walls were more of a dark blue then a gray. Then there was the long table that looked as if a company five times what was there could fit at and still have room for more people. Half the table was filled with food. It made one wonder how it all got there since Tomas hadn't left the computer room, except to get a sandwich, since dropping Annie off in her room until now. Bu, then again, Peter didn't know that.

"Have as much as you want and feel free to ask me any questions you have," Tomas said, staring at Jasmine the entire time. "Oh, and you can let your chao out of its bag, dear. I'm sure it'd like some more room to move about."

Since Peter was one to think with his stomach and not his brain, he set Rana down in a chair and began digging into the food. He looked at Jasmine and asked "chao?" with a face full of food, but it was hard to understand.

Heeeey, I remember Kyson.

--------------------------

"Anyone detect the problem?"

"Not yet Lord Screech. We did detect a strange energy spike though."

Screech growled. "Something is here. I don't like it."

Godden and Hideo were finishing up the repairs.
Hideo: You ever feel like you are being watched?
Godden: This place is under constant survelience.
Hideo: It is almost as if someone else is in here with us, but the goons are off busy with other projects.
Godden: There is.
Hideo: What?

Godden picks up a hammer and throws it at the wall. Hideo was expecting the thud of it hitting the wall, instead a thunk of metal against bone sounds out. The thunk is followed by a grunt of pain.
Godden: Reveal yourself to me, or to this war machine. Your choice.

A chameleon reveals itself, it is wearing a Bestian uniform.

Godden: State your name and rank.
"How did you know I was there?"
Godden: I've spent enough time staring at that wall to know something was off. Your camoflauge was good, but not good enough. What is your name and rank?
"Scout Robert Prize."
Godden: Of Beastia correct? I may not have been in these lands long, but I've had enough down time to do some research on the primary factions. What is a Bestian spy doing here?
Robert: Inspecting the damage Screech caused.
Godden: You are not lying, but not telling the entire truth either. You aren't inspecting the damage to see what aid to send are you?
Hideo: Sizing us up for the rest of your army right.
Robert: I don't know what you are talking about.
Godden: They wouldn't send a ninja for a diplomatic matter. Give me a reason to not press this key and activate my robot.
Robert: The Lamarian commanders are welcoming the other scouts with welcome arms. Stating something about a prophecy being fulfilled.
Hideo: You are lying.
Godden: I wouldn't put it past them actually. They believed Polly was Rethledine and Newton was possessed by someone who was framed for killing part of the royal family. I should have just taken Dem back to Calradia when I could.
Robert: Once our forces arrive, your robot will be our robot.

Godden press the button, activating Dem's K Drone. The scout runs and goes invisible, but the drone easily tracks him. It shots him in his lower back, crippling him. Dem goes and collects him and throws him on the table.
Godden: If you think for one moment I am giving up my robot to the likes of you, you are more foolish than I imagined. The only way I am giving up this robot is death. Something you will experience a very painful version of.

Dem grabs the scout's fingers and begins ripping them off one by one. Hideo leaves the room to avoid puking. After the fingers are gone, the hands follow, then the forearms and upper arms. Dem puts his hands into the empty parts that arms used to be and picks the scout up. His tail goes upwards into the scout, slowly impaling him until. Dem steps outside so all can see the Bestian scout impaled upon his tail. He tosses the corpse into the streets.

Long tail is long.

------------------------

"Lord Screech, something is being broadcast. Apparently there was a spy of another faction that was murdered by Dem."

"I see. Something is not right. Alert all our forces, tell them to look for anything out of the ordinary. I want all subjects taken prisoner. If that cannot be done, lethal force is authorised."

Hideo: If the Lamarians are surrendering to the Beastians, they will take Dem without question.
Godden: Perhaps all is not lost. Looking at the footage, Screech and his army are damaged but not defeated. Screech and Dem fought against that Magna as a team. Perhaps we could work out a deal. The only strong resistance to his forces is Dem. Perhaps we could work out a deal. They aren't within range of the castle's raddar, which means we have enough time for Dem to act as an ambassador and work out a deal.
Hideo: ...What? You want to make a deal with the machines?
Godden: Dem is powerful, but alone he is not strong enough to fend off all of their forces. We need reinforcements. It is worth a shot.
Hideo: I hope you know what you are doing.
Godden: So do I.

Dem is sent off to meet with Screech. He is ordered to fly as fast as he can. While he flies, Godden calls the pizza parlor.
Al: I'm sorry, we are not taking orders right now. We will inform our custom...
Godden: I am not a customer. I wish to speak with Polly.
Al: Professor, I will get her at once.
Polly: What do you need Professor?
Godden: The Bestian forces are invading and the Lamarian government is welcoming them for some reason.

Some time passes before he arrives. He lands a few feet away from Screech (a good chunk of stuff has gone on since the Magna fight).
Dem: Professor Godden has proposition for you. The Beastians are coming to attack the castle. The Lamarian military seems to be welcoming them with open arms. The Professor knows that they will force him to give up control of me to them. He asks for an alliance. His Lamarian employers have fled and no longer has a stake in your fight with them. His demands are that he keeps the lab and control of me. In return I shall assist in defending the castle and help keep the populace from rebelling. 

Dem: Agreed.

Dem hurries back to Godden. He radios the castle to inform Godden, but only gets a hold of Hideo. Hideo tells Godden.

Godden: Screech has agreed to assist us.
Polly: Screech?! Why are you allying with him?
Godden: To ensure Dem remains under my control. If the Bestians take control of him, the evils that will be done will be unfathomable. If Screech goes wrong, Dem is strong enough to beat him.

"Two alliances in one day my lord?"

"Silence you, all in good time will we get what we want. You must climb the ladder of success before you reach the mountain of triumph." Screech said.

"Never heard that metaphor before."

"Has the disturbance been detected?"

"Not yet, our scouts are still looking. You don't think they did it do you?"

"No, Dem's arrival was too soon between now and before. If he was attempting something, he would not have negotiated with us, but instead attacked or retrieved what he sent."

"You think Bestia did it?"

"I'm not sure, but I wouldn't doubt it."

Al: I'll get her.

Polly: So all those people died for no reason then.
Godden: Situations change.
Polly: How do you know Beastia will take control of him?
Godden: There was a Beastian spy in my lab, he told us everything.
Al: Polly, that cat you were with when you first came here is here.
Godden: Keep your cats out of the fight, that is all I ask.
Polly: We will see.

Polly follows Al to were Newton is.
Polly: What is it you need?

"Lord Screech, we've detected a disturbance."

"Speak!" Screech said.

"One of the drainage pipe coverings we found. It was ripped off. After closer inspection we discovered very tiny claw marks, that of something small but very sharp."

"Natural claws?"

"No, there's a metallic residue around it."

"Then we were invaded by a machine. None of our units are that small, and none of them use any form of melee weaponry that small either. The rest of our units are armed with firearms. That means the machine that did this is not one of ours, and it most certainly wasn't Dem."

"Do you know of any units that small?"

"Only one. I saw him very briefly when I first assaulted Shadow with those human assassins. I detected his energy signature as I tracked down my prey, and came into contact with him before. He is the smallest machine I've ever seen, so it has to be him."

"What should we do?"

"It's no doubt he's attempting something, but I don't know if it's sabotage or reconnaissance. Either way, I want Armageddon completely locked down. No one goes in or out except those with the proper clearance. Activate all of it's weapons systems and place sentries around it's parameter. No one is getting close without getting holes placed in them."

Tomas hadn't sat down like his guests had. He was leaning against the wall with one leg on it and his arms crossed. He had been listening to Jasmine try to explain what a chao was to Peter and couldn't help but laugh as she danced around the subject. Then, after Jasmie had her little out burst, he could see that Rana was starting to wake up and join the rest of them. This time, he couldn't keep his laugh to himself. He figured that she'd be the one to start demanding things.

"Alright, now that everyone is wake, we'll do introductions. The green echidna is, of course, the super mutant, Peter McCullaugh. While he tries to hide it, he knows a thing or two about computers, enough to hack into Lamaria's top secret main frame and find the files I planted there. The lovely brown echidna is Rana Brooke. She is an old friend of the mutant spy that watched over Peter when his family moved to Fluvial Village. They were at one point dating, but that's of no concern to you. She is an archaeologist that was simply dragged into this because she had a car and money."

Before Tomas could keep going, Peter had yelled "Mr. Floyd is a mutant?!" when he didn't have too much food in his mouth so that people could actually understand him.

"Yes, now shall I continue?" asked Tomas with a glare that told Peter to shut up.

Peter nodded and went back to stuffing his face.

"Good!" Tomas pushed himself away from the wall and then leaned on a chair next to Jasmine. He stared right into her eyes and flashed her a wicked smile. "And you're Jasmine Ruba, the stunning computer programmer fresh out of the Knothole Academy for the Development of the Technically and Intellectually Gifted. Before that, though, you lived in a small town on outskirts of Knothole were you had a hard time passing simple classes. A few years after you joined the Academy, you joined Team Trig as Jade in the Dark Masquerade games. This is were you first met your old boyfriend Newton Shayron, who was known as Arcyne at the time. After you graduated, you and your friends had plans on making and selling gadgets, but then that changed at the festival while you were snooping around Knothole's castle and ran into Lara, the Bestian Secretary of State."

Tomas paused for a moment as he pushed away from the chair he was leaning on, but he kept on staring at Jasmine. He moved over to where the chao was. He noticed that Peter most of got his eating habits also from them. "Along the way to the capital, you stole this little one away. Chaylee the chao. It looks like you gave her your ears." All of a sudden, Tomas stopped starring at Jasmine and moved to Peter.

"Chao are an ancient race of creatures that have a special ability locked away in their DNA. Upon touching someone, they can take scan over their traits and take what they want for themselves. Of course, the process isn't perfect and they grab more then they asked for, like Jasmine's ears on Chaylee. As Jasmine was trying to explain, this is how mutants were made. Their DNA is perfect to to create beings with powers. Of course, that wasn't enough for Bestia, they wanted the perfect mutant, one that could take out all of the others. One that could copy the abilities of the other mutants and used that against them and they couldn't do anything about it because they no longer had control over their own abilities. You. Thy didn't just make DNA like the chaos, you're the closest being out there that is like them. In fact, if you weren't a green echidna, we might as well call you one. Of course you have limits to your abilities, as do they."

Then there can another pause as Tomas scanned over his guests. "And I'm Tomas, your host. Son of Achilles, old head of the mutant mafia. That covers everyone in the room."

Tomas moved to back to his place against the wall and wait for a moment as he let is all sink in, how he knew so much about them. "Now, as to why you're all here, I have no clue for any of you besides Peter. He's the only one I want. I'm guessing that those mafia member that brought Peter and Rana here thought they might was well bring Rana as well, but I didn't order them to do so. All I said was for them to bring me Peter. As for you, Jasmine, I sent you to that warehouse in Chase Long Beach so you were out of the way, but alive. That was the request of your friend Jericho, to keep you alive. Hell, if it were up to me, you would be dead right now, but because Jericho has been so nice to me up to this point, I keep you alive. I gave you coordinates because I knew you'd try to find me, no other reason. If you want answers to why you're here, you better start asking yourself that."

Peter had finished eating about the time Tomas moved back to the wall. He let it all sink in and was relieved that Jasmine wasn't an ally of Tomas', which meant he had help in the room, besides Rana, if they needed it. But Tomas had a point, if she wasn't he upon his calling, why was she here? He stared at her with a bit of concern because he had no idea what was going to happen next. If Tomas had plans for him, they weren't good ones.

Screech's elite guard land inside Lamara and begin observing about. They see the occasional citizen, but nothing of threat. The elites continue to march about, seemingly searching for someone.

"Dracko, do you see anything?"

"Not a thing Slerg. Apocalypse, how's your end?"

"There isn't anyone that I can see. Just more people we aren't allowed to blast. Where the hell is Specter anyway?"

A machine, previously cloaked, appeared in front of the three. "Specter here, all is quiet, but I did get a reading up North. Shall we continue there?"

"Yes, let's."

Apocalypse groaned. "This would be easier if we still had Gegin. He had the gadgets for these kinds of things."

"Yes well, Sonic somehow managed to destroy Gegin. He isn't repaired enough to join us, so we have to make due." Slerg replied.

The group moved North.

Silly people thinking I will actually attack Lamaria- I mean...

You see nothing here. Oh look, RPG content:

-------

"She's not with us at this time. Let's just say that she had a long night last night." Tomas' voice was ice cold now. He really didn't like the fact Jasmine wanted to talk about Annie. "If she decides to join us, she will."

Peter stared blankly at Chaylee as she started to talk his ears off. Rana couldn't help but giggle as the chao talked and Peter stared at her, it was a pretty funny sight. Once Chaylee had finished, Peter shook his head and blinked a few times. He took in a deep breath just took make sure he wasn't in some kind of trance after all of that. "Um, where do I start? I was like you for a while, I was pretty much locked up in my parents house for most of my life. After I turned eighteen, I started to travel the word, so I guess you could say that I've been living on edgy edges. Every day is pretty much an adventure since I'm dirt poor. I try not use use my powers, though, since you can get in trouble where I'm from. My kind isn't that welcomed, you see. And yes, I can tell you're hyper after eating."

He waited for the mini him to ask a few more questions when he head bolted up and he found himself pointing at Jasmine. "Oi!" Both Rana and Tomas gave him a strange look and then Peter realized what he was doing and brought his arm down. The only time he did this was when he could sense someone with powers in the room. For a while, he had control over it, which is why he hadn't done it when Tomas met them at the door, plus he knew he was one. Or why he didn't do it with Rana.But this caught him by surprise, as if her powers we starting to develop inside of her. Last time he did this was when he first met Mr. Floyd the first time, but Peter thought nothing of it. He thought someone else had entered the room behind him and that's why it happened, but it turns out that was wrong.

"Sorry, I... um..." Peter wasn't sure what to say. He didn't know if Jasmine wanted Tomas to know, or if he even knew she had powers. Now he probably did, but he didn't want to confirm it, just in case. "My arm has been twitchy all day. Sometimes it just pops up like that... hehe..."

Rana gave Peter another strange look. "Um, no you- OW!"

She was cut off by Peter who jabbed his arm into her side. "Oops! Sorry about that."

Tomas blinked as the two of them went at it. "Eh..." He started to tap his figure. He was starting to wish Annie would actually wake up and join them. He needed to see if the take over was done and so that he could place a call. There was no way he was going to leave them alone, or take them to the computer room. And their robot wasn't going to cut it for watching them.

Silly people thinking I will actually attack Lamaria- I mean...

You see nothing here.

kjhg53

Totally called it. All out war, just the way I like it.

-------------------------------

Soon, the elites started making some progress. Their destination was fast approaching, which was always a good thing.

"Alright, engines off. We don't want to look like we're charging anyone."

"Yes Slerg." They all said in unison.

The elites had stopped in front of a pizza parlor. Screech had sent them out to secure his newfound allies, and perhaps get some info from them. If he was fighting a war, he needed to know the sides. He's known Knothole for years, but he needs to know about Bestia's army as well.

Francine: We could dress Polly up as Rethledine again and have her explain what really happened. That would turn the Lamarians against the invaders again.
Al: We couldn't hold off Bestia, Knothole, and Screech.
Polly: Perhaps we don't have to. Godden already made an agreement with Screech, so we could have the Lamaraians to fend off the Bestians while Screech takes care of Knothole. But that would mean convincing them Screech is their savior and handing this place over to him.
Al: It might be better for us to wait until each side has had its turn and then bringing the people against the remnants of the victor.
Polly: Only flaw with that is during the fighting there will be a lot of collarteral damage. We likely won't have much to fight for or people to join us.

Clark and Johnny were on their way back with some scrap when they saw the robot elites approaching the parlor. Johnny runs to the alleyway to go into the rear door of the parlor while Clark tries to distract them.
Clark: Hey metal morons, your mama was a snow blower.

Johnny gets inside.
Johnny: There are some robots outside and they don't look friendly.

Apocalypse immediately grabs Clark and squeezes him in his hand. "What did you say, mortal?"

"Apocalypse!" Slerg shouted. "What did I just get done telling you?"

With a bit of a growl, he put Clark back on the ground, and grumbled to himself. "Out of my way." He stopped in front of the door and got ready to kick it in. Of course, all he hit was an invisible Specter, who caught his foot and flipped him on his back.

"Are you trying to get them to attack us? Do I need to tell Screech of your hostilities?"

"Screech is a big blow hard. We are the elite guard, why do we follow him?"

"Because," Dracko started "Screech is a lot more powerful than us, heavily armored, and is smarter. He calls the shots because he knows what he's doing, which is why he chose Slerg to be our commander and not you. I'd prefer a smart commander who can keep us alive than a muscle man who throws us to death."

"Is that why we lost Gegin?"

"That was a fluke, Sonic got lucky." Slerg replied.

Polly: With those robots outside, discussing the finer details could be hairy. Francine, think you can keep him busy while we talk tactics in the upstairs?
Francine: Sure, I can keep them down here.

Polly drags Newton upstairs while Johnny, Al, and Francine stay below.
Polly: I know Godden would be able to assist with the paralyzer and cryo knife, but I don't know how much he can be trusted. His main interest is in perserving control of his war machine. His friend Hideo could be what we need to convince him to help us. It does risk him telling our plan to Screech though.

@phc: No clue where Knothole is at the moment, but they are far enough from the capital that they wouldn't be able to stop the mutants. From what mariostar has said, it would seem they are just outside of Lamaria and are waiting till tomorrow to attack. The mutants are about 4/5 of the way to the capital and should have control of it fairly soon, which means Tomas better make his call soon...

@mariostar: For Tomas and co. I'd say it's fiveish or something since they just had dinner or something like that.

------

I have a post on the way, but I still have to finish up Peter's story.

Specter was staring at the conversation for quite a while now. "I don't like that cat Slerg. There's something I don't trust about him."

"Why is that?"

"That one is a schemer, I'm sure of it. Considering the kinds of gadgets he has, I'd say he is as much of a thinker as Screech is. Though the goggles are a bit primitive."

"I say we blast them all and be done with this. If you have a problem with that cat, why don't I just crush his puny body in my hand?" Apocalypse stated.

"As amusing as that would be to watch, it would not only disobey Screech, but would cause everyone here to be hostile to us." Slerg responded. "I will have to plan this out. If all goes well, you may just get your wish."

"Slerg agreeing with Apocalypse?" Dracko said bewildered. "I'm shocked."

All the elites have the same features as Screech, hence elites. They are using X-ray visors.