Chapter 28- Grit

 The shot zipped right past the fox's head, trimming one of the small
extensions from his face and causing him to cry out.

 "That's it!" Nate said angrily as he lifted a finger to let out a 
powerful
blat from his eyewear.

 Before the overlander could even do that Sotsu had unleashed a swift 
blow
to the side of his head knocking him out.  As Tails brought about the
Tornado, Boomer decided to hide in a far corner of the room.

 Sotsu turned toward the walker and pressed the muzzle of his gun into 
the
one of the legs and pulled the trigger, the bullet pierced though the 
leg
and took out the knee joint, paralyzing one of the Tornado's legs.  
Tails
hit the Vulcan Cannon trigger and unleashed a salvo of fire on Sotsu.  
The
echidna merely leaped on top of the walker and pushed the muzzle of the 
gun
to Tails' forehead.

 "Give it up Tails.  You've lost," Sotsu said holding no emotion in his
tone.
 "No matter," the echidna said.

 Sotsu spun and he leapt off.  As he turned about he kicked out with 
one
foot, the hit ripped the other leg from the Tornado clean off.  The 
thing
tilted over and landed lob-sided with a loud clang.  Then as the 
echidna
leveled his footing he brought up the Sword and shot a single shot 
toward
the Vulcan Cannon.  The bullet ripped across the turret and cut it 
straight
off.

 Tails hit at a few buttons.  A blue light came on at the front of the
walker and quickly built.  It was Tails' Energy Ray Attack.  The bright 
blue
beam blazed fourth and ripped across the floor in a brilliant display,
intending to hit Sotsu, but instead merely causing a large dent into a 
wall.
Sotsu leapt to the side, seethed the Sword and drew his two pistols 
while in
air.  As soon as he tumbled over and leveled himself he unleashed two 
shots,
each were to the middle part of the hull.  Each went deep inside and 
cut the
connection cords for the controls.  The beam dissipated, Tails hit 
futilely
at the buttons, nothing happened.

 Tails began to sob as he still tried to hit at the buttons.  Sotsu 
didn't
smile, he just grimaced at the fox.  Boomer was now watching behind, 
Sotsu
didn't bother with the walrus.  He would be nothing more then a waste 
of
time.  Sotsu took a piece of scrap metal from the torn section of the 
floor
into his hand.  He drew his arm back and threw the piece at Tails.  The
small projectile slammed into the fox's head, drawing a little blood 
and
rendering him unconscious.

 Sotsu looked over his shoulder at Boomer who recoiled at bit when the
echidna's gaze fixed onto him.
 "If you can. tell Sonic I'm coming," Sotsu said coldly as he walked 
out of
the door to a new room.
 Kragok no doubt wouldn't be happy that he didn't kill the three but he
wouldn't be angry for at least Sotsu had got them out of the way for 
the
time being.

 The echidna made his way toward the door that lead away from the area.  
It
led to another small hallway where an elevator resided at the end.  
Sotsu
took this to get to the middle floor where the Console Room waited.  
Once
the elevator stopped Sotsu walked out.  He walked along a long hallway 
that
curved as it went along.  Eventually it ended at the Console Room.

 Shadow was inside looking out the window.  Amy was pacing rapidly near 
the
back of the room.  Sotsu wondered what happened with Shadow.  This is 
what
Sotsu knew of from the game. but for some reason since it was different
here.  Shadow was suppose to be doing something else, remembering 
hearing
Robotnik order him to hold someone. or something.

 Sotsu merely shrugged his shoulders and walked out from the enclosed
hallway area.
 "Sotsu?" Amy questioned.
 "What are you do.?" she stopped and gasped as she noticed the Dark 
Legion
patch on Sotsu's left sleeve.
 "Yes that's right.  I'm here to destroy the ARK and kill everyone on
 board," Sotsu replied, taking up the Sword and cocking it.
 Amy let a loud scream as she began to run toward Shadow who was just
turning toward the echidna.
 "Here to kill everyone on board eh?  Well I don't know who you are but 
you
must have some guts saying that," Shadow snapped, slowly approaching 
Sotsu.

 Sotsu merely turned his emotionless gaze toward the black hedgehog, 
looking
down on him in a degrading fashion.  Amy was watching from the back of 
the
room.
 "Arrogant rodent.  I certainly hope you're not challenging me," Sotsu
replied.
 "What?  I'll show you," Shadow said getting into a fighting stance.
 "Ultimate life-form?  Gerald was a fool to think you could be such a 
thing.
Anything with emotions could never be ultimate.  Such things can cloud 
the
mind," Sotsu said seething the Sword.
 "Who are you?  How do you know about me?" Shadow demanded.
 "Maria. what a wasted existence.  Nothing more then imperfect garbage. 
just
like me. but unlike you," Sotsu persisted.
 "Shut your mouth echidna!" Shadow shouted clenching his fists.
 "Yet still. this is only a matter of opinion.  I'd never consider you 
the
ultimate life-form," Sotsu said slowly raising an open hand.
 "Never." Sotsu breathed as he flicked his notioned with his extended 
hand
toward a wall, sending Shadow toward it using telekinesis.

 The black hedgehog meet the wall with a loud whack.  Sotsu merely 
turned
his head to face Shadow who was attempting to level himself.
 "What was that?" Shadow asked.
 "A mere fraction of the power I have.  I'll only leave you operable so 
you
can take care of the Biolizard," Sotsu looked deeply into the hedgehogs
eyes.
 "Yes. I must keep my promise to Maria.  And you," Shadow found himself
saying. Sotsu had managed to screw Shadow's brain up enough to think 
that
what had happened in the game had just happened.  Sotsu smiled as he 
watched
the black hedgehog run off.

 "What'd you do to him?" Amy asked in a frightened voice.
 "Hmm?  Nothing really don't worry about it.  I just made it so he'll 
help
Sonic stop the ARK.  Don't worry I'm not going to hurt you.  Please if 
you
want. leave," Sotsu said politely to the cowering Amy.
 "No get away from me!" Amy whined, Sotsu just gave her a confused 
glance
then shrugged his shoulders.

 The black echidna looked over to the main console.  He didn't have to 
jam
the device really.  Everyone knew he was here now, he didn't really 
wanna
bother with Kragok's stealthy plan. it'd take too long.  He only wanted 
to
get here to copy a map to the engine room.

 "Please use this time wisely to get to an escape pod or something.  
This
place is going to explode after I get through with it," Sotsu said 
coldly as
he typed a few buttons on the console to access the map.  He hit a few 
more
buttons and got a printed copy then headed for the door Shadow just 
left
through and began to follow the map.

 "I hope Sonic gets you real good," Amy shouted at him after the door 
had
closed.
 "Why should you hope him to meet up with me?  Do you wish him dead so
 soon?" Sotsu called back before heading down the hallway and back to 
the
elevator.

 Compassion for another. why is it?  Why have I subjected myself to be 
a
hypocrite so I can argue against it?  Perhaps it's merely to strike 
further
into the heart of my opponents, but if I am unsure of my purpose to do 
so.
then why do I continue?  The only person who has, or is able to, 
recognize
this hypocrisy though is myself.  If only myself then I can still 
account
for it against my assailants... therefore questioning or concerning 
myself
with it really isn't necessary.  That is at least until I finally make 
my
mark, when I can tell Skara.  Which even then. most relevance this 
tactic
has with is Kevin.  I know it's wrong to think of such a thing. but 
what
must be done to achieve something, must be done.  It is my mission to 
rid
the Dark Legion of their adversaries.  Kevin being very powerful, means 
I
must work at a weakness to be able to attack him.  One very apparent 
and
easy weakness is his compassion for Nikki.  Just as with Sonic. I can 
slow
him down, making him nothing more then a target.

 Sotsu found his mind wandering to Skara as the elevator made it's long 
trip
to the lowest floor where he would be able to find the engine room.  He
wondered what would await him when he returned.  He wondered if Skara 
caught
on from the little bit he had gotten though to her.  He wondered if 
she'd
try to avoid him because she didn't like him.  He wondered what the 
future
would hold for the two. if any at all.

 The elevator stopped and the door slid open.  The bottom-most floor of 
the
ARK was in horrible condition.  The place had very little lighting and 
was
cramped with several marks, dents and bangs along the walls and floor.  
It
reminded Sotsu of something from Aliens perhaps, or maybe a Space Hulk 
from
Warhammer 40K.

 Sotsu looked at the print out, the whole bottom floor was just full of
these cramped corridors all of them criss-crossing the whole level.  
Sotsu
drew a finger about the route he was planning to take.  It was not the 
most
straightforward route, but that's because Sotsu didn't want to trek 
through
the sewage areas and the toxic holding facilities.  So Sotsu chose the 
route
that would be safest yet most efficient.

 As the echidna walked through the shadowy corridors he began to hear 
some
footfalls.  His glasses showed Sotsu what direction they were coming 
from
and approximately how far away they were.  Sotsu positioned himself 
flat
against the edge of a wall where the corner turned, and where Sotsu 
hoped
his victim would walk out from.  He heard the footfalls become louder, 
they
echoed about the place.  A normal person would have been probably 
confused
by the sound's feedback, but with the aid of the sound-detecting device
built into his glasses he was able to pin-point out the source.

 Sotsu seethed the Sword and drew his pistols.  Then just as the 
sound's
originator neared a few yards from the corner Sotsu pulled out with his 
guns
pointed toward the victim.  There standing clad in a green vest was
Julie-Su.

 "Sotsu," she gasped.
 "Heh didn't expect me did ya'?" the black echidna replied.
 "I got word of you over the intercom.  You're after us. I can't let 
you
stand in our way," she said drawing her pistol.
 "Fine then. you shall suffer," Sotsu snapped.

 Julie-Su pulled the trigger of her large silver double-barrel pistol 
over
and over, sending green energy rays toward the black echidna.  Sotsu 
ran
back into the corner and avoided the shots, as he heard Julie-Su 
pursuing,
he decided to make this an interesting fight by making use of the maze 
of
corridors.  Sotsu rounded another corridor and tried to trek back in an
attempt to get behind his opponent.

 Sotsu went down a few short corridors and found himself within earshot 
of
Julie-Su.  He rounded a corner to find himself standing no more then a 
few
yards away, she was facing toward him as well.  Both of them raised 
their
pistols and took shots off.  Sotsu knew Julie-Su to be a trained and 
worthy
gun-fighter, and he knew an error in this fight could prove fatal.

 Sotsu dived to his left side and Julie-Su jerked quickly to her right, 
all
of the rounds were avoided but both of them keep the guns blazing.  
Sotsu
got into a crouch with his back toward the wall, as Julie-Su backed a 
little
ways.  Sotsu caught sight a pipeline near the other echidna.  He 
quickly
diverted his aim slightly and sent a shot toward the metal connection, 
it
hit home and released a jet of hot steam at Julie-Su.

 She recoiled back only getting stung slightly from the jet, but she 
stopped
firing in the process.  Sotsu popped a few shots but with luck on her 
behalf
they had merely struck Julie-Su's metal cybernetics and bounced off.  
In
reaction to the fire she dived about the corner and into another 
corridor.
Sotsu cursed having not struck a wound when he had that chance.  Then 
the
black echidna decided to take to the other corridors as well.

 Sotsu struggled to keep Julie-Su within earshot but eventually she got
smart and stuck to a slower yet quiet pace.  So Sotsu relied mostly on 
his
electromagnetic senses to try and search here out now.  The gloomy 
abandoned
surroundings made the search all the more unnerving, especially if 
Julie-Su
decided to camp out in a single location.

 Sotsu was quickly confirmed of Julie-Su's location as he heard the 
hiss of
a door opening.  Sotsu quickly took a firm grip on his pistols and 
headed
for the sound.  Upon reaching and opening the door he discovered she 
had
entered the Toxic Waste Storage.  He entered to find himself on an 
extension
over a pit of toxic sludge that resided far below.  His opponent stood,
pistol drawn and ready, on the other side.

 Sotsu quickly took to the ground as a green streak passed over head, 
then
he strafed to his right as another green energy blast passed right by 
his
left shoulder.  His actions were sharp and with an unrealistic 
quickness.
He smiled as Julie-Su began to back away slightly upon discovering 
Sotsu was
closing ground every time he dodged a blast.

 As she backed toward the end of the walkway, she saw a short ladder 
that
would lead to a lower platform.  She shot off an quick few rounds 
before
jumping the lower platform.  Sotsu saw his opening as he took off 
several
shots at the opposing echidna.  The dark blue energy zipped by her. all 
of
them falling off aim slightly.

 Julie-Su hit the ground rolling, the pulled her pistol about and got 
into a
crouch facing toward Sotsu, and took a few good shots off.  Sotsu 
decided
not to wait up to be hit, so he simply stationed his left foot on the
railing along side the walkway and leap over to land on his feet on the
platform below with a loud thud.

 Julie-Su somersaulted to her right as Sotsu unleashed a barrage of 
fire
form his pistols.  She shot back, the green energy zipped across his 
cheek
and drew a little blood.  Sotsu dived to his right and took off several 
more
shots at his opponent who was now zipping back and forth to avoid the 
shots
and to close in on Sotsu.

 Sotsu righted himself and began to charge toward his gunfighter 
assailant.
Both of them were running straight ahead, and at the same time both
unleashed a single shot aimed head level.  In the same action both 
rolled
forward under the shot and came up with weapons ready, and landing in a
crouch.

 Sotsu now found himself starring down the double-barrels of Julie-Su's
pistol, as with her, the same of Sotsu's pistols.  Both were breathing
heavily, anticipating the others action.  The air held still and heavy.
Sotsu now decided to stop messing around and use his psychic powers.  
As he
tried to use the psychic hold on Julie-Su he found it wouldn't work.  
Then
it hit him. they had been prepared.

 "Clever," Sotsu said bring up a slight smile.
 "Hmm.  So you now just figured out," Julie-Su replied.
 "How?" Sotsu questioned, the two not relaxing or taking off their 
locked
gave from each other.
  "When the Brotherhood informed us on you had joined the Dark Legion 
we
only needed to pick up on your brain signal before we could develop a
nullifying device," Julie-Su explained.
 "If you guys had known then how come Amy and some of the others seemed 
like
they didn't?" Sotsu asked, thinking back on his few previous 
encounters.
 "We only told the main of our group since it was very hard to produce 
even
one such device," Julie-Su said, her finger was shaking, she knew Sotsu 
was
merely using this time to compensate a plan, but she didn't wish to 
make her
knowledge apparent.  Sotsu's face turned to one of seriousness, 
Julie-Su
knew he was about to make his move.
 "What are you waiting for?  Pull the trigger," Sotsu simply said, not
showing concern toward the large weapon gazing him down.
 "Why so you can have the satisfaction of knowing that you won't have 
to
serve the Dark Legion?" Julie-Su snapped back.
 "No. because." Sotsu stopped as he made his move.

 Sotsu quickly jammed his forearms into Julie-Su's extended arm.  Her 
pistol
flew from her hand and across the room, she wasn't even able to look 
over to
where it had went before she found one of Sotsu's feet slamming her in 
the
chest and pinning her to the ground.  She looked up to find herself 
starring
into the two barrels of Sotsu's akimbo.

 ". if you don't act then I'll have to," Sotsu finished.
 "Do you think I'm gonna give up that eas." Julie-Su was cut off as 
Sotsu
butted her head with the bottom of one of his guns, knocking her out.
 "No. that's why I just did that," Sotsu said to the unconscious 
Julie-Su.

 Sotsu uprighted himself and hoisteled his pistols.  He took up 
Julie-Su's
large double-barreled pistol and stuck that in his equipment bag.  Then 
he
slung Julie-Su over his shoulder and slowly made his way up the ladder 
and
out the Toxic Storage door.  He didn't want Julie-Su to get sick from
exposure to the waste.

 Sotsu, still carrying Julie-Su, continued for the Engine Room.  
Finally the
black echidna found himself in the long and large room.  Several large 
round
containers held to one wall, those were the engines.  They were silent 
now,
indicating Sonic and Shadow had defeated the Biolizard.  Sotsu leaned
Julie-Su against one wall.  Sotsu then reached into his equipment bag 
and
pulled forth half a dozen Vibro-Mines.  He placed one on each of the 
engines
and set them to go off at a certain temperature.  That way they'd only
explode if the engines heated up enough, Sotsu plan was to make the 
engines
over-heat themselves.  Then the vibro-mines would detonate, shatter the
engine stabilizers and cause a chain-reaction throughout the gas lines 
in
the ARK, and blow the whole thing up.

 Sotsu now found himself back-tracking to the Console Room, he was 
carrying
Julie-Su and didn't intend to have her awaken before he got there.  He 
got
to the elevator, and went up. now it was only a matter of getting out.  
No
doubt the whole group would be up there though, it had been a good 
amount of
time and Shadow and Sonic had no doubt done their work.  He'd now put 
on a
good show, only being able to use his physical techniques.

 He now approached the Console Room.  Everyone was there, the Freedom
Fighters, the Chaotix, even Robotnik, who was in his walker.  Sotsu 
entered
with Julie-Su over his shoulder, Knuckles was the first to notice the 
black
echidna.

 "There's Sotsu!" Knuckles shouted, approaching the Dark Legionnaire 
with a
hellish look in his eyes.
 "Here take her," Sotsu said pulling Julie-Su off his shoulder and 
pushing
her toward Knuckles.
 "You bastard you hurt her!" Knuckles shouted as he noticed the small 
blue
notch on her forehead.
 "That's what happens when you pull a gun on someone I guess," Sotsu 
replied
coldly, though he knew he had been the one to first pull a gun.

 "I'm here to kill everyone of you," Sotsu said walking toward the 
center of
the room, he intentionally made it so they could surround him on all 
sides.
 "Hah!  You think you could beat all of us?" Eggman gloated.
 "Zurely you are kidding," Antonie said.
 "Don't underestimate him guys.  He might not be able to use his 
psychic
abilities but he can still use his Chaos Powers," Knuckles explained 
setting
Julie-Su in a safe location at the back of the room.
 "Well then. are we ready?" Sotsu asked, he extended his tail upward 
pulling
lose a chain hanging from the ceiling.  He yanked it down hard and 
flung it
about with his tail, causing the chain to wrap about it until there was 
only
a little slack left.  Then he drew both pistols, his LED in his frames, 
and
his feet pivoted. he was ready.

 The first of the Freedom Fighters and the Chaotix rushed in.  Sotsu 
sent a
swift kick to Antonie's face, a swift shot found Boomer's shoulder, 
Sotsu
whipped about his tail sending the chain whacking and downing Mina and
striking out Espio.  Sonic dashed in only to find that the echidna had
jumped up to avoid the attack, his reaction speed was faster then 
anyone
would have expected.  Knuckles was charging forward along side Vector, 
only
to find the air-borne Black Knight sending a swift kick to both of 
their
noses, causing them to reel back and give Sotsu some landing space.


Tails came in for an aerial attack at Sotsu who's feet were just 
touching
the ground, he found the tail whip coming about.  Sotsu dodged a punch 
from
Knuckles by simply stepping to the side, then he lifted his knee into 
the
Guardian's stomach, taking out his wind.  Mighty came in with a single
strong punch that Sotsu nearly was hit by, but managed to lean back 
enough
that it slipped by him, then the Black Knight jammed his right 
gun-nozzle
into the armadillo's shoulder and fired.   Tails flew low, but the 
chain was
quickly flopped around and struck his back hard and grounded him.

Sotsu back-flipped over Robotnik's Vulcan Cannon fire and while in the 
air
he whipped about his tails and smacked Sally's gun right from her hand.
Then since he was turned the other way and running right for the 
charging
Sonic, he pressed one foot into the hedgehogs forehead and lifted the 
other
to send himself upward and causing the blue hero to fall down.

Once in the air again Sotsu spun, fired one shot into the supporting 
shaft
that held up Robotnik's Vulcan Cannon, the laser cut through the metal 
and
the gun fell off, then he whipped his tail about causing the chain to 
strike
and knock out Geoffrey whose aim had been trained on Sotsu.  Sotsu 
quickly
sent a swift kick to Amy to cause her to fall backwards and slid across 
the
floor in a comical fashion.

Sotsu landed and rolled to face the group now.  Sally was running to 
regain
her lost pistol, Sonic was leveling himself and rubbing the back of his
neck, Knuckles was getting up and wiping away a good amount of blood 
that
was running from his nose, Tails was charging in another air-borne 
attempt,
Robotnik was working at trying to get his missile-launcher to work and 
Nate
was helping out the wounded Boomer and Mighty.  Amy had gotten back up 
and
drawn her hammer, and Vector was still slightly dazed having received 
the
more forceful of the two kicks Sotsu pulled off earlier.

Sotsu brought up both of his pistols and blazed forth a hellish salvo 
only
matched to that back when he saved Skara.  Drawing on the Chaos Energy 
being
emitted from the Super Emeralds which were being held in the shuttle 
the
group was planning on taking back to Mobius, a fatal error on their 
behalf.

Tails got two shots, one in each shoulder, Sally got one in her left 
leg,
Nate got on that braced his chest, Robotnik's walker got enough to the
console to claim it un-repairable, one shot to Vector's left arm and 
three
shots to Amy's hammer to totally demolish it.  Now only Sonic and 
Knuckles
stood.

"What a disappointment.  I could have easily killed you all as well," 
Sotsu
said twirling the two smoking pistols then hoisteling them.
 "You'll pay for this Sotsu," Sonic shouted, Sotsu smiled coldly as he
thought back on all the times Sonic had held that arrogant smirk on his 
face
when he was against Robotnik.  But now his eyes threatened to leak 
forth
tears of sorrow and pain.  Knuckles held a determined and hurt look, 
ready
to attack Sotsu and try to defeat him at whatever costs.

 "Why don't you two change into your super forms?" Sotsu asked, 
returning to
his serious look.
 "Think you're up to the challenge or something?" Sonic asked.
 "Yes. yes I do.  But I guess it's only because I want to give you guys 
a
chance," Sotsu replied.
 "You must be stupid or something," Sonic said drawing his smirk across 
his
face.  Sotsu thought little of Sonic in truth, his arrogance and
incompetence would prove his own demise eventually.  Perhaps if Sotsu 
were
in a less forgiving mood he would end the great Mobian hero's life this
instance.  But he preferred fighting the hedgehog's ego down.  Much 
like
when Goku had allowed Freiza to power up to his full extent.

 Sonic produced fifty rings that he had stored somewhere. then the two,
Sonic and Knuckles glowed brightly as they took on the forms of Hyper
Knuckles and Super Sonic.  Sotsu watched the great energy running from 
the
two, the bright energy reflecting off his glasses, casting the place in
their glow.
 "We should take this into a different room.  You don't wish to cause 
the
demise of your own friends do you?" Sotsu asked notioning toward the 
exit.
The two nodded and headed out with Sotsu leading.

 The three now found themselves standing in a wide and vast pentagon 
shaped
room.  Metal sealing all side.  The tension held as the combatants 
starred
each other down.  Sotsu no longer held with the chain, his pistols 
weren't
drawn and neither was the Sword.
 "This'll be a piece of cake," Sonic replied.
 "This is the end of you.  The rising of the Dark Legion.  After you 
two are
dealt with I shall kill everyone else," Sotsu spoke, the later of the
sentence was slowly spoken to bring in effect to his two opponents.

 Sonic dashed forward with such a blazing speed it tore the metal tiles 
from
their resting spots, his gold form flashed as nothing more then a gold
streak.  Knuckles rushed forward a little ways behind.  Both were 
intending
on taking out the black echidna as soon as possible.


 Sotsu quickly brought himself to the side and around the gold blaze, 
before
Sonic could even pass Sotsu the black echidna brought around his right 
leg
and smashed the shin shielding into his face.  Sotsu was surprised that
action didn't take off his leg.  Sonic's body flipped upward and he 
fell to
the ground.  Sotsu quickly slammed one foot onto Sonic and used him to 
get
himself into the air.

 Knuckles was charging in quickly, Sotsu brought one foot toward the
Guardian who was anticipating the attack and blocked, but to his 
surprise
the other foot was also coming toward him, and found home in his right 
eye.

 Sonic was already coming toward Sotsu as he landed.  Sotsu quickly 
turned
and side-kicked Sonic in the stomach, but the force of Sonic's speed 
pushed
Sotsu toward Knuckles with a great shove.  Sotsu used this momentum as 
he
gripped Knuckles' shoulders and flipped over his head.  He then brought 
his
foot around to the side of Knuckles' head as the Guardian began to 
turn.
The kick caused him to fall side-ways.

 Sonic who had already recovered jumped over the falling Knuckles and 
spun
dash toward Sotsu.  The ex-earthling drew a vibro-mine and set it for
proximity by simply hitting the default on button.  Sotsu had stored 
the
mines for easy access in case he needed them quickly.  He tossed the 
mine in
a frisbee like fashion at the gold blur.  Sotsu dived backward as the 
mine
set off sending a concussion wave about a ten foot radius catching 
Sonic and
Knuckles in the blast and sending them flying across the room along 
with
metal debris.

 Sotsu then took the given time to draw the Sword and set in a metal 
slug.
Just as Sonic and Knuckles were regaining themselves Sotsu had taken 
the gun
up and aimed it toward Sonic.  Sonic looked up to Sotsu, but didn't 
have
enough time to register what was happening before Sotsu sent the metal 
slug
speeding toward him.

 The projectile slammed into Sonic, had he not been in Super form he 
would
have died horribly.  The projectile sent Sonic into a wall shortly 
behind
him.  As Knuckles began to charge forward Sotsu quickly emptied the gun 
and
began to press another slug into the barrel.  Knuckles ran ever harder
trying to beat Sotsu.  But the black echidna had the weapon trained on
Knuckles, though they were now in close-range.

 Knuckles dived to the side as Sotsu pulled the trigger, but 
unfortunately
for him Sotsu anticipated the move and had already brought a swift kick 
to
the echidna's face.  Sotsu didn't stop for a second as he kept pounding 
away
at Knuckles with kick after vicious kick.

 Though Sonic had quickly recovered as was coming toward Sotsu with a 
great
charge.  The black echidna didn't have enough time to move as the gold 
ball
slammed into his chest causing him to tumble forward several yards.  
Sotsu
used his momentum to roll back up, on the way locking the Sword with AP
Rounds, and opening fire as soon as he landed in a crouch.

 The two super-charged warriors dived off to opposite sides to avoid 
the
fire.  Sotsu tried to bring the weapon about to Sonic but the hedgehog 
kept
in front of the fire and rounded toward Sotsu.  Sotsu quickly seethed 
the
Sword and changed for his pistols, but his action had cost him the 
fight.

 Sonic came about and slammed into him, forcing him into a hatch.  A 
door
closed on the hatch as Sotsu found himself having fallen inside an 
escape
pod.  Sonic was waving to him as the hiss of the pressure lock was 
released
and the pod was shot off toward Mobius.

 Sotsu only smiled as he pulled a silver remote trigger from his bag.
 "Those fools think they've won.  How arrogant of Sonic to think that I
wouldn't have a back-up plan," Sotsu said as he lifted his thumb over 
the
red button on the hand-held device.  It was the manual trigger for the 
mines
he had set, now he'd be able to watch as the colony blew, Sonic had 
actually
won Sotsu the fight, a fatal error having thought an opponent such as 
Sotsu
wouldn't have thought of a more cunning way to win.

 "Now Lord Kragok. they are dead," Sotsu said coldly, standing to look 
out
the window of the pod at the large semi-sphere looming in space.  He 
had
succeeded in his mission.  He had won the Dark Legion the war.  It now 
all
comes down to this.  He hit the button.

-Nicholas D. Wolfwood-