Sonic GeneX - The Series: Countdown to Doomsday
Episode 2 - The Lost Chaos Relics
Note: Sonic the Hedgehog and related characters are (c) SEGA and
Sonic Team. You knew that, right?
GeneX and related fanchars are (c) 2BIT (TheGreatGator), the author.
Previously on Sonic GeneX - The Series...
The curse of the Chaos Claws began afflicting Knuckles more and more, causing him to go into fits of uncontrolled rage. In order to lift the curse, it was determined that they must go to the source and acquire a piece of Loscream, as the claws were cursed when Luna became Loscream while wearing them.
During the Tournament of Chaos, the Chaos Relics were each passed to new owners. Lospecter escaped with Illusi's old Chaos Key, while Conan left with the Chaos Wing. During the battles with Eggman and Infinite, Conan also reclaimed his Chaos Sword. Meanwhile, Fera is currently in possession of Lospecter's old Chaos Cards.
Now, resuming the countdown to doomsday...
As Gemini prepared to embark on her mission to take on the Lost Ones and acquire the means to break Knuckles' curse, Illusi stepped into her room within the Raisol Sanctuary. "You're sure I can't talk you out of this? You need a better plan than charging in wands blazing." he warned her. Gemini picked up and pocketed her wand. "First of all, it's a stealth mission, so the wands won't be blazing... And secondly, Knuckles doesn't have time for us to figure out a better plan." she insisted. Illusi crossed his arms. "A stealth mission in a hot pink sweater?" he asked. Gemini rolled her eyes and took her wand back out. "Pigmentiakazam!" she said, twirling her wand at her clothing to turn the color black. Illusi chuckled softly and nodded. "Alright, since there's no stopping you, I have a request. While you're there, try to get the Chaos Key back from Lospecter. You've already seen the havok he can wreak with it." he said. "Is this about me?" Copter said as he stepped in, "Or rather, Dark me? But yeah, he's right, but it's suicide." he grunted. Gemini nodded. "This place needs locks on its doors. What if I was getting changed, boys?" she asked grouchily. "Then you'd probably use that wand to wipe our memories." Copter said cutely. Gemini was quick to get back on topic. "Dangerous or not, we should try to get ALL the Chaos Relics back safe and sound." she said. "Who was the idiot who scattered them in the first place?" Copter grunted, glancing at Illusi. "I'm the idiot who brought them all together in the first place, shut your mouth Dark Fox." he said. The three of them left Gemini's room and soon found Shade waiting at her front door. "We drew straws for who would keep an eye on Knuckles. When that led to arguments, I volunteered." she said. Illusi chuckled. "I'd do it, but his clone is enough of a handful." he said. Copter rubbed his chin. "So, uh... The other Chaos Relics are in Conan's grimy hands, eh? Well, and Fera, but let's focus on Conan for now." he said. Gemini glanced at him. "You don't think he'd join our training group, do you?" she asked. Copter sighed. "Yeah, he'd join for a chance to steal the rest of the relics... I think I'd better find a partner of my own and go after him. We gotta try to get the cape and sword away from him." he stated. "Wing. It's the Chaos Wing, not a cape." Illusi said. "Looks like a cape..." Copter grunted. Tails and Timothy stepped into the door next. "Ready to go, Gemini?" Timothy asked. "Tails! Just the man I wanna see! Can I borrow your robo-mutt?" Copter asked.
Outside Gemini's house, Tails started configuring SPOT's sensors to track the Chaos Relics, with a specific focus on ones they didn't already have. As he tinkered away in the open hatch on the robo-puppy's back, Violet the echidna approached him and Copter. She had been visiting her new niece, but Illusi had just gone over to inform Punchy of Copter and Gemini's plans. "You two want to go after Conan? He's got two Chaos Relics. He'll torture you for information and kill you, then come after our relics." she said. "That's a possibility." Copter sighed. "We wouldn't tell him anything. I'm not bringing my tailbands either, so he can't get them." Tails added. Violet shook her head. "You two need a power hitter. I'm going." she said. Copter scoffed. "I thought you'd like to see me killed." he said, making Tails shrink into his work with a shudder. "Awkward..." he whimpered. Violet crossed her arms. "Copter...you see what Punchy and Rainbow have? We coulda had that." she said with a scowl. "I know... I'm sorry, okay? I wasn't ready to let go of the power of the tailband... I'm past it now. I'm just trying to be useful without it." he said. Tails closed the hatch on SPOT and stood up. "Can we save the fighting for Conan?" he asked. Gemini and Timothy walked past them, and when she saw Violet, Gemini let out a light gasp. "Oooh, she's going with you? Good luck, Copter..." she murmured. Copter glanced at her with a smug smirk. "Good luck yourself, FRED." he said, noting that her blacked-out clothes made her look like her teacher's fennec form. Gemini looked down and blushed. "Very funny..." she sighed. As the two groups started to leave, they passed Shade tying Knuckles to a chair. "This is for your own good, Knuckles... Once those claws are off you, you'll be free to go." she told him. Knuckles struggled with a look of rage on his face. "How'd this even happen! You let me out of this right now or you'll be sorry you Nocturnus scum!!" he shouted. Shade backed up a step as he writhed in his bonds. "I'm gonna pretend that you said that because of the claws, because otherwise, I'd be taking advantage of this situation to kick your..." As Tails passed by, he waved to them. "Good luck, you guys! Try not to hurt each other!" he said. "Tails! Come back! Get me outta this! Tails!! Get back here you little nerd!!" Knuckles yelled. Violet turned and stuck her tongue out at him, which didn't help. Timothy turned to him as he passed with Gemini. "Snorozika!" he cast, putting Knuckles to sleep. "THANK you..." Shade sighed.
Gemini and Timothy's magic led them on a path to where the Lost Ones were now hiding. They were a bit unsettled by what they found. The Lost Ones were building their nest on Angel Island, in a secluded area. It was nearly complete, too. A dark, foreboding temple composed of hardened slime. It was...the same nest that they'd gotten too close to in the future. The same one that led Timothy to be seemingly killed. It shouldn't be there so soon, but there it stood. "We've messed up history. The Lost Ones built that thing early..." Gemini whispered. "So, we're not gonna talk about you dressing like our teacher?" Timothy said to try and cut through the tension with jokes. Gemini glanced at him. "It was for stealth. And he wasn't really a fennec." she huffed, "Now, let's be serious. How do we go about this...?" she murmured. Timothy looked around. "Man, this nest looks huge. Well, I say we go invisible, sneak in, and pray the invisibility doesn't wear off..." he muttered. Gemini sighed. "Fend them off with ice magic if they're liquid-based. If they're more solid, go for light magic." she suggested. Timothy nodded, "But the plan isn't to go to war with them." he pointed out, "And what do we do when we find Lospecter?" he asked. Gemini started towards the temple. "Grab the Chaos Key and use it. We can warp out of there quickly with the Chaos Key. It's how Illusi used to get around." she said. "Why the heck did he give that up? Well, let's split up and look for Lospecter and Loscream..." Timothy suggested. Gemini turned and stopped him. "Have you seen any movie ever?" she asked. "Yeah, they always split up." he smirked. Gemini rolled her eyes. "Our future movies are too feel-good. You gotta watch some classics..." she sighed, and waved her wand, "Cleviso!" Using the invisibility spell, she was able to get herself and Timothy to the door without being spotted. "Alright... We split up. But Tim... If things get dicey, warp yourself out of here. Keep a tight grip on your wand!" she told him before giving him a tight hug. Timothy hugged her back and nodded. "You, too, Gem..." he said. They then entered the temple, finding things eerily quiet and empty, the only sound being distant echoes of that familiar whisper, "Lossss... lossss..." They couldn't see them yet, but they could feel the presence of the Lost Ones everywhere. They both gulped and started off in different directions. This felt like a tremendous mistake...
SPOT tracked a pair of energy signatures to Troblusk City. It sure seemed similar to Chaos energy, probably because people who didn't know about the creation aspect of the relics did in fact use them to harness Chaos powers. "Here we are back on the wrong side of the tracks..." Tails murmured as he looked around the dark and ominous streets of the city. "Hey! I used to live here!" Violet snapped. "Err...sorry?" Tails sighed. Copter raised his hands up as he walked between them, slowing them both down. "Shh, there he is..." he whispered. Conan was standing rather conspicuously at a street corner, hand on the hilt of the Chaos Sword, ready to draw it at any moment. "Tell me you brought the tailbands, foxes..." he said without looking at them. "We're smarter than that!" Copter scoffed. Conan turned to them with a frustrated grunt. "Then what use are you to me? Don't try my patience, pups! I've searched far too long for the Chaos Relics, and I won't be delayed by the likes of you!" he grunted, tightening his grip on the sword. "Try something, I dare you!" Violet warned, her hands glowing with black energy. Conan laughed a bit. "Need the Covenant of Despair to fight your battles for you, now?" he smirked. "Ex-Despair! Like you..." Violet pointed out. Tails' eyes darted back and forth. "Uhhh, yeah. Well, I also brought SPOT, don't forget. He's armed, too. You're outnumbered, Conan!" he said, trying to sound tough. Conan didn't draw his sword yet. "You're here for my Chaos Relics, but you're delusional if you think you can take them from the master of Chaos!" he sneered. Copter raised his fists. "Well, I trust your relics in our hands more than you in our training group, so we're doing this!" he said. "Copter!!" Tails gasped. Seeing Conan smirk, Copter realized his mistake. "Training group? What are you saying? You're gathering the Chaos Relic holders and training them? Is that why you've tracked me?" Now was the point where he drew his sword, and pointed it at them. The trio backed away a step. "If you think we're telling you where the relics are, you're the delusional one!" Violet warned. The gold cape on Conan's back glowed, and a pair of wings formed in its place, flapping to lift the raccoon into the air above them. "We shall see... Ohh, I'm going to enjoy this... Now, Copter, die! I'll interrogate your friends!" he laughed. As Conan charged down with his sword, SPOT jumped in front and erected a barrier, blocking him from stabbing Copter! "Oh, I'll get through this..." he smirked, and Violet looked at Tails and Copter with concern. "Take cover, boys. I'll handle him..." she said. "Don't tell me to take cover! I kicked your butt without my tailband!" Copter snapped. She slapped him for that. "You asked for that one, Copter..." Tails sighed.
Moving carefully through the maze-like corridors of the Lost Ones' temple, Timothy soon found a chamber where Loscream appeared to be sleeping. The massive pumpkin's vines snaked around the room, seemingly trying to clutch at invisible victims in his sleep. Timothy crept carefully inside, and moved towards the tip of one of the vines. "If I cut this off, it should be enough for the cure..." he said, clutching his wand tightly, "Slibeam..." he said, attempting to slice at the vine with magical energy. It didn't appear to be working. "Hmm... Maybe if I freeze it first? Chillazim!" he said a bit louder, icing over the tip of the vine as he pointed his wand at it. A shadow was cast over him as he reached out to try and break off the vine. "This is a curious place to find a living soul... Surely you did not come alone..." Timothy felt his blood run cold as he heard the familiar voice of Losipher! He tried to spin around and cast a spell, but vines suddenly wrapped around him, covering his mouth! "I'll snap your neck and feast on your bones!" Loscream bellowed as his pumpkin face stared at him with a frightening wide grin. Big black wings grew out on Losipher's back and extended out in a way that seemed intended to intimidate Loscream. "Not yet, you bloodthirsty fool! Get him to lead us to his accomplice, first. Then we shall feast on both their souls." he said with a fang-filled grin. Timothy shivered in Loscream's grip, and tried to struggle. The vine slipped away from his mouth, allowing him to speak. "I won't lead you to Gemini! ...Ooops!" he yelped, realizing they hadn't had any idea who was with him or how many allies he had yet. Losipher crossed his arms and laughed demonically. "I can taste your fear... But it was obvious that you were here with that foolish mage girl. Does she not realize the hopelessness of trying to defeat the Lost Ones yet? Her error in judgement will cost her everything... As mine did thousands of years ago..." he said, turning to leave. "Bring him, Loscream. We'll find the girl..." he growled. Loscream lifted Timothy up as he began to slither after Losipher using his vines to move. "Always whining. He's such a baby. Just because he had to spend five thousand years as a writhing puddle... I was trapped in suspended animation and I don't whine!" the pumpkin grumbled. If Timothy wasn't so frightened, he might find his oddly human banter humorous. Instead, his mind was bent on figuring a way out of this...
Gemini wondered why the temple seemed to be lacking in guards as she wandered. When she found Lospecter in a deep chamber, it began to become clear to her. He floated in the center of the chamber as though he was waiting for her, and behind him was Dark Copter! The chamber was dimly lit by ghostly blue flames, but she could tell it was him. "Welly welly well, Gemini. You wouldn't be here looking for this, would you?" Lospecter said, holding up the Chaos Key, "Honestly, when I saw you were starting to train people with these relics, I knew you'd come knockin' to get mine sooner or later. You must feel left out without your own!" he grinned. "You've done enough damage with that one!" Gemini snapped. "You callin' me damage? Huh?? I've not begun to do damage!!" Dark Copter snapped, clenching his fists as his body became surrounded by dark energy. Lospecter let out a gleeful laugh. "I'm just gonna hang back and watch you fight your boyfriend! Oooh, will one of you kill the other?" he smirked. Gemini held her head in aggravation before pointing her wand angrily at Dark Copter. "He's NOT my boyfriend! Your mind games won't work, Lospecter!!" she shouted. Lospecter twirled his key and glanced at Dark Copter. "I hate boring 'will they-won't they' dramas. End the suspense, will ya?" he ordered. With that, Dark Copter charged at her, his tails glowing black as he whipped them in her direction, dark shockwaves shooting from his tail whip and knocking her backward a few steps! "Aaaack! D-dark Copter! He's just gonna turn you into a Lost One when he's done using you!" she shouted. Dark Copter cracked his knuckles and sneered. "One prison for my soul or another, what difference does it make? As long as I can sate my appetite for destruction!" he snarled, lunging at her! Gemini pointed her wand at him and cast a spell. "Proplasmar!" she called, erecting a barrier that shattered against his attack, but also slowed him down! "C'mon, Gemini! Fight him back! Boy, I'm glad I didn't sell tickets to this, I'd have an angry crowd on my hands!" Lospecter complained. Gemini took a breath. This was distracting from her mission. She had to get to that key. "Snorozika!" she cast, trying to put Dark Copter to sleep! She then ran after Lospecter, expecting that would work, only to feel her tail yanked. "Yaaah!!" she gasped. "I won't be tranquilized! Darkness fuels me!!" Dark Copter snarled, twirling her by the tail and slamming her against the ground as Lospecter clapped. "Now THAT'S entertainment!" he smirked. Gemini sat up grunting. She had to fight back...this whole mission really felt like a mistake at this point.
As Conan slashed his sword at Violet, she vanished in a burst of dark energy, appearing behind him! However, his wings glowed and sent a gust of wind backward to keep her off-balance. Tails hopped on SPOT's back and gripped his tail as it became a handle, the robo-puppy turning into a hover-scooter. "Over here, Conan! Try and catch me!" he taunted, flying circles around him. "Cute. But one of you is completely lacking in power now...!" Conan smirked, lowering down towards Copter and pointing his sword at him. "So why don't I deal with you first?" Copter jumped to the side and tried to hit him with a tail whip, but Conan zapped him with a Chaos Spear and grabbed him by the throat! "Copter!!" Violet gasped. "Hang on!" Tails cried, turning in his direction. Conan held the blade to his throat. "Uh uh... If you want him in one piece, you will tell me where the tailbands are, fox boy..." he sneered. Copter grunted in the raccoon's grip. "H-hey, Conan..." he smirked, "Not all my powers came from the tailband..." he snickered. Clenching his fist, he mustered his energy. "Chaos...blast!!" he growled, his body erupting with chaos energy and flinging Conan off of him! Violet and Tails both hurried straight into the blast, intent on seeing if he was okay. Copter was lying on the street with a cut in his chest, but it wasn't too bad. "Gaah... I hate Conan..." he winced. Tails hopped off SPOT, and the robot transformed back to normal. "SPOT, first-aid mode, stat!" Tails said. The tip of SPOT's tail popped open, revealing medical ointment, while a hatch on his underside opened up, giving Tails access to bandages. "Is there anything that mutt isn't prepared for?" Copter asked. Violet sighed and looked around for Conan. He was across the street, picking up his hat and placing it back on his head. "Conan!! Stop right there!" Violet shouted, running after him. Conan aimed his sword at the ground and made a slashing motion, sending out a cutting beam that tore up the asphault and made Violet trip over it! "Gyaaa!! S-since when can you do that!?" she stammered. Conan smirked. "You're not the only ones looking to unlock the secrets of the Chaos Relics. I must be the master of chaos... If I'm to save Emily..." he said solumnly, the wings on his back flapping and carrying him into the air. "I'll find you next time, heroes!" he said as he made his escape. Violet tried to stop him by tossing balls of dark energy at him, but the Chaos Wing carried him away too fast. "We shoulda brought Sonic..." Tails sighed, to with Copter rolled his eyes. "Yeah, maybe. That's on you, scout." he said as Tails bandaged his wound. "I don't wanna bother him for every little thing. We need to learn to survive without him... In case something like Infinite comes along again." Tails sighed.
Conan landed a few blocks away, close to the borders of the city. Not too far from Troblusk Plateau. "I should have trashed that robo-mutt. That's how they tracked me..." he growled. "Troubles, Conan?" a familiar voice said from the shadows. Looking, Conan saw Anubis approach him. "What could you possibly want? First aid for that bendy ear? Try back that way..." he scoffed. Anubis grunted. "I want revenge. Revenge upon Infinite, and the obese human who set him off his leash... And I want my Covenant of Despair back." he growled softly. Conan chuckled. "You want a lot of things, but I don't see why I should care." he said. As he turned to leave, Anubis continued speaking. "Fera is back. She hears the voice of the Darkseeker calling through her Despair Seal..." he said. Conan glanced back with a calculating stare. "Fera is back?" he asked. He remembered the Tournament of Chaos well, and the events of Eggman's invasion of the world. Fera held the Chaos Cards, relics so powerful, they could hold the key to saving Emily. He turned to Anubis and crossed his arms. "Well, if it's not just you, that changes things a bit..." he mused, "Does our new Despair have a plan yet?" he asked. Anubis glared intensely at Conan. "I see right through you, vermin... Oh, I remember how you used the old covenant... but Fera does not. If I bring you back with me, keep your personal goals in check for now... But if you put your trust in me, you may just get what you want...when I get what I want..." he said. Conan adjusted his hat and smirked. "Oh, but you want so many things. Not sure I can wait that long..." he said smugly. Anubis held up a fireball in his hand. "What other options do you have?" he asked as the flame seemed to take the shape of the face of Emily the Squirrel. That's what Conan got for carrying her picture with him at all times. Anubis must have seen it at some point, and figured him out. He growled softly and batted the jackal's flaming hand away. "Fine. I guess we're partners now, dog boy. I'd better get what I need, or mark me, you'll die..." he said, grasping Anubis' hand in a tense handshake. The jackal smirked with a light grunt. "I've been dead before. But it's the dead that heed me..." he said as black mummies clawed up from the ground around him to illustrate his point. Conan looked around and smirked. "This isn't going to be quite like old times, is it? Maybe it'll be more fun..." he grinned.
Back at the Lost Ones' temple, Gemini had risen to her feet, and tried flinging some spells intended to deter Dark Copter, but he simply kept coming after her, hitting back with dark blasts and gradually wearing her down. "Come on! Why don't you fight him with all your might? Huh?" Lospecter smirked. Gemini huffed and glared at him. "I won't fall into your trap... You can't make me hate Copter like this..." she huffed. Lospecter shrugged. "Silly girl. That wasn't the trap. The trap was tricking you into NOT fighting back! Oooooh, oooor waaaas it!!" he said ominously, taunting her, "Haha! But it doesn't matter. Check the door." he sneered. Gemini heard activity behind her, and turned to see Losipher and Loscream enter, with Timothy in her clutches. "We'll make this simple for you, mage... Surrender yourself and your wand, or watch your friend die...for real this time!" Losipher said darkly as Loscream pulled at the fawn's limbs with his vines. Gemini looked on in horror, feeling utterly defeated. "I... I..." she murmured. "Don't give in, Gemini!" Timothy shouted, "I-if you surrender to the Lost Ones... Who else will keep fighting them?" he grunted, looking at her with tears in his eyes. "But...what can I do?" Gemini sniffled. "Learn to lean on your friends more, my child..." a voice sounded through the room. Lospecter looked around and narrowed his eyes. "Oh, you gotta be kidding me..." he growled. Green check-marks with eyes burst into the room, flying around the Lost Ones and zapping them, annoying Loscream into dropping Timothy! "Rightos!!" he babbled. Lospecter swatted one of the creatures away and growled. "Illoser! Show yourself!" he called. Illusi the shrew emerged from each entrance, most if not all of him clearly illusions. Dark Copter charged after one, only to pass through it! "I wasn't going to come, but I don't say no to a lady older than myself..." Illusi smirked. Astra the fennec stepped in from the main exit, beckoning Timothy her way. Gemini fired icy shots from her wand to delay Losipher and Loscream as she ran to join Timothy. Lospecter floated after them, his key raised in a violent stance, but Astra stood between them. "Spiro... Are you going to attack me?" she asked. Lospecter stopped short. "Out of the way, old lady!" he snapped. "You could have killed me right here, Spiro..." she stated. Lospecter scoffed. "Still can! I got no feelings for you anymore! I got no feelings at all!" he snapped. "Galaporta!!" Gemini cried, taking Timothy and Astra's hands as she warped them all away. Astra was able to see Lospecter through the magical light for a moment before warping. "There's good in you, Spiro..." she whispered. Once they were gone, Illusi's illusions faded as well, leaving the Lost Ones alone with Dark Copter. "Lame! No one died! I'm outta this dank place!" Dark Copter snorted, running off. Losipher glared at Lospecter furiously. "Astra doesn't have a hold on your heart... Does she?" he snarled. "Gunny, Gunny... Shut up... Spiro is dead. Just like the world will be..." Lospecter murmured, clenching his teeth.
Returning to Raisol Sanctuary, it seemed as though both missions were utter failures. Knuckles was still tied to the chair as Shade sat beside him looking exhausted. "He's on his fifth rope here, he keeps breaking free..." she groaned. "I'm gonna be stuck like this?? I can't be stuck like this!?" he groaned as Gemini and Tails looked at him uncertainly. Timothy cleared his throat. "Umm, actually... The trip wasn't a total waste, because I might've managed to..." With a flick of his wand, he levitated a severed piece of Loscream's root. It was small, but it might suffice. Astra's face lit up upon seeing it. "Someone get me vials and a place to, uhh, cook..." she grinned. "You couldn't show anyone that before freaking me out!?" Knuckles groaned, "Wait, what's she cooking?? Am I gonna have to EAT that thing!?" he groaned. "Don't be such a baby, Knuckles..." Copter grunted, clutching his bandaged chest as he walked. Violet smirked and poked him there hard, making him yelp.
Knuckles was led to where Astra had a bubbling cauldron of...something. Knuckles gulped. The substance looked green and goopy. "Don't worry, Knuckles." Gemini said, "The curse is in the claws. You just gotta soak them." she said. "Aww, good..." Knuckles sighed. Astra doused the flame under the pot, and then glanced at Knuckles. "Straight away. Sorry, your fingers will get burned a bit. We have spells for that..." she said. Knuckles inhaled sharply and stuck his hands in the boiling pot, clenching his teeth to avoid screaming. Astra then held up a sort of fuzzy root thing. "There is a bit of curse in you, too, so you have to eat this." she stated. "NOW YA TELL ME!!" Knuckles screamed as his hands burned. Astra stuffed the root into his mouth, making him eat it. Outside the door, Copter and Punchy were listening and chuckling. "Cut that out, you two." said Tails as he stood nearby. Finally, Knuckles removed his hands from the cauldron, and Astra was able to slip the Chaos Claws off his hands with ease! "I'm free! Haha... Agh!! My hands!!" he gasped as he saw how blistered they were, "What happened to the gloves I had under those claws!?" he yelped. "Sorry..." Gemini said sheepishly. She then waved her wand over his hands. "Streeze..." she said, blowing air on his hands first to cool them off, "Recoveration..." she added to heal them. Knuckles sighed with relief once his hands were back to normal. "Thank you, Gemini... Astra... I hope I never need anything from you again..." he chuckled softly. Gemini giggled. "Yeah... Well, now we can train you with the claws properly, so get ready!" she said. Knuckles nodded. "No offense, but I'm gonna just not touch those things for a week or so... And I'm gonna go glove shopping, too. And make sure the Master Emerald is still on Angel Island. See ya!" he said, opening the door and knocking Copter and Punchy over. Hearing them groan, he scoffed. "Don't be such babies, guys." he said before leaving. Things were finally getting back to normal... Or, what passed for normal with this group...
To be continued...
