Sonic Future 100 Origins ~Chapter 12~

Sonic Future 100
Origins

Chapter 12 - Heroes Vs. Dark Stars

In the bottom floor of the main base

   Nat sighed as he sat on the floor of the rocky cell. He was chained to the wall with clamps around his hands, just like in the last base where they drained his power. He was sure they were going to drain him dry the moment Claudius got what he wanted from Extreme. There was no chance he was going to keep his promise for long.
He noticed Darkar's statue on the table outside the cell. Nat felt awful. He couldn't help Extreme or Darkar. Poor Darkar was terrified when he was sealed back inside a statue. He wished he could have done more. He was starting to understand what Sash was feeling about not being able to go into the base with them before. Feeling useless.
Then he thought about what they all told Sash and smiled. Just like Sly, Nat had friends who would find them and help them out. He just had to trust them.
Just then, he heard a sound. Like a machine starting. He groaned, "Great." It was the machine his power was going to be drained into on the floor above. He struggled to get lose, knowing what would come once they started the draining process.
He cried out in pain as his power was sucked from his body. He struggled against it, but it was no use. He could only feel the pain, as if his heart was being ripped from his chest.
Suddenly, there was a loud explosion above, creating a hole in the ceiling not to far off from his cell. Though, some of the ceiling crumbled over the table with Darkar's statue, burying it. Nat sighed weakly as the machine stopped and he hung there, limply, as he tried to control his breathing.
Jacob fell from the hole in the ceiling and saw Nat as more things exploded above, "Nat!" He ran over and picked the lock of the cell. He threw open the door as another explosion went off above and hurried in, "Hang on, Nat." He broke the clamps and helped Nat walk, "Come on, let's get out of here before those two drop the whole ceiling on top of us. I think they still have a little trouble controlling all that power." Nat was confused.
That is, until a familiar figure flew down as the building seemed to be shaking apart, like in an earthquake. Nat had seen the dark teal and red figure once before. He was Dusk the Dark, a form created when Lark and Blade combined themselves into one being.
Dusk spoke, his voice a deep, dark combination of Lark and Blade's voices, "Are you both alright?" Blade's voice was stronger the next time, "We didn't mean for the machines to cause so much damage." The next time it was Lark's voice that came out stronger, "Hopefully it'll destroy their supply of dark energy and mystic magic."
Jacob helped Nat walk, "I sure hope so. Now let's get out of here before we get buried in here!" Dusk blew a hole in the wall so they could get out.
Nat stopped, "Wait, not without Darkar."
Jacob was confused, "Darkar? Where?"
Nat managed to walk himself, until the ground shook again and he fell. He pulled himself over the rocks until he could dig down and reach the statue. He pulled it out just as another explosion went off above. Dusk shot away the rocks that nearly fell on top of Nat. Jacob grabbed Nat and pulled him out of the way of more falling rocks, the ceiling completely caving in above them. Jacob threw himself and Nat out just in time not to be crushed.
Jacob sighed as they were safely in a metal hallway, "Well, that was close." He got to his feet and helped Nat up.
Dusk shrugged, "Sorry."
Nat looked at the statue in his hands. Jacob saw it and looked sympathetic, "Poor Darkar. I'm sure he must feel awful." He held out his hand, "May I?" Nat handed it to Jacob.
Jacob spoke words none of them understood, his eyes turning a bright red, but Dusk didn't see it since he was behind Jacob. Nat felt a powerful dark energy from Jacob, one a normal Mobian or even Magic-User shouldn't have had. Even Blade didn't have that kind of power, and he was very powerful for a Magic-User. He immediately understood the truth behind Jacob's power.
Just then, the statue started to glow brightly. When the light disappeared, there stood Darkar, standing in a defensive stance with his eyes closed. The same stance he had when he was sealed away. Nat smiled, "Hey, Darkar."
Darkar opened his eyes and saw Nat and Jacob. He was amazed, "I am... still here?"
Jacob chuckled, "Yeah, you're still here, pal. You didn't think we would let you stay sealed away another fi..." He stopped, remembering that Dusk was still there. He smiled nervously, trying to act innocent while Dusk still floated behind him, "Another time. Those Dark Star jerks won't get to use their new evil power source to seal you in this thing again. We only just found you and freed you, what, yesterday? You've got friends now, so you don't have to worry about that happening again." He hoped Dusk bought it.
Dusk spoke, more in Lark's voice, "So that's how you guys met him. He must have been a first test for the power source, that's why it put him in that statue instead of turning him evil like Aunt Veronica."
Nat smiled, "Yeah." Darkar nodded, knowing they couldn't tell the real reason he was sealed away the first time.
Dusk groaned, this time more in Blade's voice, "We have to release the form, Lark. We've already been Dusk too long, and all that power we used to destroy the machines might become a problem." Dusk nodded and started to glow bright white. In another moment, Lark and Blade were standing in Dusk's place.
Lark rubbed his head as if he had a headache, "Geez, you're right, Blade. We really did over do it."
Blade sighed, looking a bit worn out, "I don't think I'll be able to use any magic from this point on."
Jacob smiled, "No worries. I'm sure Sash and the guys can help do any necessary fighting." He gasped, "Drat! We'd better go find them!" Nat and Darkar nodded and they group hurried down the hall.
----------------------------------

In the center of the volcano

   Extreme sat in the large chair at the top of the large machine that was stabled on metal beams right over the open lava pit of the volcano. He could see his reflection in the nearby metal surface. His gold stripes were gone and so were his shades, making him look like his dad, except for being younger and a darker shade of brown.
Claudius stood next to the chair, watching the organization make preparations. Claudius grinned, "Its almost time." He glanced at Extreme, "You should feel proud, finally living up to your grandfather's name."
Extreme scoffed coldly, "Please. We both know that's not true." He glanced at him, "My grandfather would be livid if he could see what you've reduced his organization to."
Claudius looked surprised, then smirked coldly, "Is that right?" He stood in front of the chair, leaning in with his hands on the arms of the chair, and grinned coldly in Extreme's face, "Just like your grandfather. Always thinking you're so much better because you "fight for what's right"." He fingered Extreme's bangs from his face, "You think just because you're his grandson makes you better than me, boy? You think because this organization gives a flying pig about you, you're superior to me?"
He grabbed Extreme's face, but not too hard, "Don't be too sure, child. As far as I'm concerned, you're dead the moment this plan is complete. I promise to cut out that smart little tongue of yours and then stuff you in the ground right next to your grandfather, alive." He laughed, tossing Extreme's face away roughly.
Extreme stayed quiet. He could see the power was really beginning to go to Claudius's head. It was obvious why his grandfather didn't care to have him around.
Claudius stepped back and turned around, "Enjoy what's left of your worthless life, boy. After all, you get to be like a prince in your last moments. Not many young men like you get to have that." He chuckled coldly.
Extreme spoke angrily, "You won't get away with this, Claudius."
Claudius saw some men below give him the thumbs up and grinned, "I already have."
Claudius called down to them, "Start it up!" The men didn't move. Claudius groaned, "Oh right." He turned to Extreme, "Tell them to begin." Extreme was quiet, giving Claudius a mean look.
Claudius walked up to him and grabbed him by the front of his grey shirt and nearly tossed him off the platform they were on, though he didn't let go. Extreme grabbed tightly to his arm, terrified of falling into the lava below. Claudius pulled him back and spoke loud enough for everyone below to hear, "Be careful, Don. You could fall from up here." He gave Extreme a cruel look as he spoke in a low tone, "We wouldn't want that, now would we?"
Extreme glared at him, but spoke, "Start it."
The men below heard him and got to work. Some men pulled levers and pushed a few buttons and the machine started whirring up. Extreme watched at the machine shifted so a long pole could rise from the top, all the way up to the top of the volcano. Extreme noticed a platform halfway up and could see the glowing of the new power source.
It was a large black and violet stone the size of a car that seemed to pulse with power. Somehow, Claudius managed to find a large crystal to serve as the form for the power. Several cords connected to it was what filled it with the dark power and mystic magic the Dark Stars had collected.
Though, there was a series of explosions from far below, shaking the ground. Extreme sat in his chair not to fall as the machine shook. Claudius looked down at the men below, "What in the world was that?!"
Extreme noticed the screen that Claudius used to show him the machine's status, "Its stopping."
Claudius heard him and looked. He gasped. The power going to the crystal was dropping to zero, leaving the gem at only fifty-seven percent. Claudius yelled at the Dark Stars below, "You idiots go find out what happened!!"
Extreme grinned coldly, "Sounds like my friends are on their way."
Claudius scoffed, "Those brats can't stop me now." He started putting in codes on the screen, "I'll just have to make do with this. Even if I only take control over half of the world, that'll be more than enough to take over the rest in a matter of days, if not hours!" The process continued.
Extreme started thinking fast. He had to stop this, but how? He wasn't exactly in a safe location to be pulling any reckless stunts. His dad would never forgive him. But he couldn't just sit back and watch.
"Hey, Claudius!" Claudius and Extreme looked.
There stood Shade down below, all the Dark Stars beaten up by Zane and Sash. Sly smiled, "Extreme!"
Extreme yelled down to them, "Guys, get me down from here!!"
Claudius grabbed him and shoved him back into the chair, "Children are to be seen, not heard, boy!" Extreme stuck out his tongue at him as he turned back to the intruders.
Shade smirked, "I suggest you surrender now, Claudius. It'll save you a lot of both humiliation and physical pain."
Claudius laughed, "Are you threatening me, child? I have a whole army on my side!" At that, a whole bunch of Dark Stars stormed in with weapons. Claudius was surprised, "Where is that stupid robot and the bat? Even the Wolverine should have activated by now!"
Shade grinned, "Robot? You mean Alamara? Yeah, I scrapped her earlier."
Sash smiled, "And Zane wrecked your robo-pup." Zane cracked his knuckles.
Suddenly, a bunch of guys were knocked aside by a powerful blast. It was Jacob, Lark, Blade, Nat, and Darkar. Jacob grinned, "And we kinda knocked your little bat-minion into the next dimension!"
Claudius growled, "Fine, then you can enjoy one last fight before you all become slaves of our new world!" He looked over the Dark Stars, "Destroy them!!" The Dark Stars attacked and the heroes fought back.
Extreme watched them fighting, then noticed Claudius starting up the machine. He knew he had to do something, and there was no time to think about it. He saw a loose lever nearby.
Claudius gasped as he saw the readings not rising, "Wait a minute! What is wrong with the gem? Its not powering up!"
Shade laughed as Zane protected him from the Dark Stars, "You're so surprised? Honestly, you villains always manage to underestimate me." He grinned a sneaky grin, "Zane and I took care of your crystal while no one was looking. It was right after the robotic mut was trashed. I figured, just in case the "heroes" managed to mess up, we had a back up plan."
Claudius saw the readings start to go haywire, "What did you do?!"
Shade grinned, "I took a large rod from your little robot pet and gave the crystal a good few "love taps". I hope you like it."
The crystal finally burst, raining tiny shards over Claudius and Extreme. Extreme smiled, "Nice."
Claudius yelled furiously, "You little..."
Shade grinned, "Yeah, I know. I get that a lot."
Claudius started typing furiously on the screen. The pole at the top lowered, then was aimed at the heroes on the ledge. That surprised Shade and the others. Every the Dark Stars were surprised, running away in fear.
Claudius grinned insanely, "Fine then! I'll use what's left of the power to destroy you all! I may not get the world, but I will get vengeance!!"
Sash paled, "Uh, Plan C, Shade?"
Shade was worried, "I'm pretty sure that last one was Plan E."
Claudius laughed, "Goodbye, you rotten little..."
Suddenly, something smashed the screen to pieces. Claudius turned to the one responsible. Extreme glared at him, holding the lever in his hands, "I will not be a puppet! Not before, not now, not ever again!"
He paled as a furious insanity turned Claudius's eyes red. He stepped back as Claudius roared in utter rage. His red, vicious eyes fell on Extreme.
Claudius grabbed Extreme by the throat and started shaking him, "You will pay for this!! You will die, you brat!!"
Sash hurried to the path onto the machine, "I'm coming, Extreme!" Zane hurried after him to help.
Claudius continued to shake the struggling Extreme, "I will not lose to you! Not to you, you worthless brat! I already lost your grandfather's attention to your rotten father, I will not lose everything again to you!" Extreme struggled against him hard.
Then Extreme managed to knee Claudius in the gut, causing Claudius to drop him. Extreme fell to the floor, but was quickly back on his feet and running. Claudius growled angrily and chased after him. Extreme climbed up on the machine to stay away from Claudius, who kept trying to snag him with his claws. Extreme climbed higher and higher on the machine, only focused on putting space between himself and Claudius.
Devon watched them still climbing, "Hang on, Don!" He ducked from a Dark Star member that hadn't left yet, but BR knocked the guy out. BR and the others continued to fight as Devon and Sly watched Extreme climb up a ladder on the side of the machine, very high up.
Extreme gasped as Claudius caught his ankle and pulled. It took all of Extreme's hand strength to hold to the rungs as his feet were pulled free beneath him. Though, he lost his grip and fell. He quickly managed to grab a ledge just beneath Claudius. Extreme held tightly, terrified as he saw a thin ledge and lava far below.
Claudius stood over him with an evil grin, "What's the matter, boy? Afraid?" He stomped his foot on Extreme's hand, causing him to lose hold. He winced in pain as his full body weight hung from his one arm. Claudius laughed, "Die!" He stomped on Extreme's other hand.
Devon yelled as he saw Extreme fall, "Don!!"
Sly and Sash gasped when Extreme fell out of sight, "Extreme!!"
Claudius looked below and growled angrily when he saw Extreme unconscious on the thin ledge far below where no one else could see but from right above. He growled, "I'm not through with you yet, boy!"
Below, Extreme groaned as he slowly came to, "Huh?" He saw the lava only a few yards below, explaining Extreme's almost immediate sweating, and gasped.
Claudius then fell a couple feet from him with a loud thud. Extreme gasped in fright. Claudius walked over to him, "I don't leave loose ends, brat."
Extreme knew there was no escaping this time, so he could only lay there as Claudius stood over him. Claudius grinned, ready to kick Extreme right over the edge, "Say hello to your grandfather for me."
"Why not tell me yourself?" Extreme gasped as Claudius spun around in shock.
There stood the infamous Sun, in the flesh. Extreme was amazed, "Gr-grandfather."
Claudius was shocked, "Sun? Y-you're alive?"
Sun gave his cool, sly smile, "Perhaps, but you won't be." He stepped in front of Claudius with a devious grin, "Stay away from my family."
To Extreme's shock, Sun gave Claudius a shove. Claudius wasn't expecting it and lost his footing. He gasped as he fell over the edge, yelling as he fell to the lava below. Soon, Extreme couldn't hear him anymore.
Sun stood over Extreme, "Are you alright, Don?" Extreme looked up at him to see him holding out a hand. Extreme smiled and took it, letting his grandfather help him to his feet and away from the edge.
Extreme suddenly hugged him, "Thanks, gramps."
Sun smiled and pat his back, "Of course. If I wanted you involved with my organization, especially as my successor, I would have involved you myself."
Extreme let go with a mischievous smile, "Like you did with my dad?"
Sun smirked, "Your father was different. He was rebellious and hated the ground I walked on, while you don't have a bone in your body that can even dislike me. You're still naive. If I wanted you, you would have come without question."
Extreme chuckled, "I doubt that. After all, I liked you for a reason, and it had nothing to do with the awesome birthday gifts."
Sun sighed with a smile, "Maybe."
Extreme looked him over, "Are you really, you know, alive? I mean, I thought you were dead all this time."
Sun chuckled, "Well, my death certificate says I'm dead, so what's to say I'm not?" He gave his clever grin, "But there's no need for you to concern yourself over that." He pulled out a rag as he laid a hand on Extreme's shoulder, "Try to stay out of trouble from now on, would you?"
Before Extreme could say anything more, Sun pressed the rag to his face, "Farewell, Don." Almost instantly, Extreme fell unconscious. Sun caught him and laid him down. He brushed aside Extreme's bangs with a kind smirk.
He stood up and walked into the shadows, disappearing just as Devon climbed down on the other side and ran over, "Don!" Sash, Zane, and Sly hurried over too.
Devon went down next to Extreme and lifted him into his arms, "Don? Don, can you hear me?"
Extreme weakly opened his eyes. He smiled as he saw his dad, "Hey, dad."
Devon smiled and hugged him, "You had me worried."
Extreme hugged him back, "Sorry, dad."
Devon wiped a tear that escaped his eye as Sly spoke, "Are you sure you're alright? That was a pretty far fall."
Extreme sat up, "Yeah, I'm ok, man."
Sash smiled, "Come on. Let's head back up, ok?" Extreme nodded and they all headed up the ladder to join the others above.
Once they were back safely on the ledge, Shade spoke, "Where's Claudius?"
Extreme remembered what happened, "Uh, I don't know. I was knocked out by the fall."
Shade gave him an annoyed look, "Uh huh." Extreme simply grinned back.
Sash sighed, "He probably didn't make the jump like Extreme did. Extreme did land pretty close to the edge."
Devon sighed, "With how angry he was, it wouldn't surprise me he'd do something so insane and reckless as to jump and miss. Killed by his own insanity. This organization does that to you." He seemed haunted by his own memories as part of the organization years ago.
BR smiled, "In other words, we win, right?"
Extreme smiled, "Yep! I say victory is ours!" They all cheered.
Shade rolled his eyes as he watched next to Zane, "Idiots. They act like they didn't actually expect to win." Zane chuckled.
----------------------------------