Sonic GeneX: Doomsday
Chapter 49 - Hyper-Peons
Stage 23 - Despair Castle
Note: Sonic the Hedgehog and related characters are (c) SEGA. You knew that, right?
GeneX and related OCs are (c) 2BIT (TheGreatGator), the author.
"Better fear me better run away,
Cause this battle's just begun.
Enchanted whisper in your evil ear.
Can you hear the words I've won... I've won, I've woooon." - Through the Fire, Sonic & the Black Knight
Previously on GeneX…
In search of the final Chaos Emeralds, Knuckles met up with the Freedom Fighters at the old Resistance HQ. They worked out that the emeralds were located on Demon Island, likely inside Despair Castle. With Violet to lead them into the castle, Knuckles set out with Shade, Rouge, Sally and Rotor.
They got lost in Despair's training maze, at the end of which Loscream attacked them! While Knuckles and his allies fought past this trap, Howler started up an experiment, supercharging Wisps using the two remaining Chaos Emeralds, and setting the result upon his underling...
Now, our tale continues...
Booster the reindeer flew over Despair Castle, carrying Lara on his back. They looked down at the ominous structure, the reindeer gulping nervously. "You sure you want me to let you off here?" he asked. Lara looked around the island. "Aurora, Starr, Chopper, Juice and Lucky are on this island. Seems like my father is here, too. This is probably the right place for me to be." she said. Booster lowered to the front of the castle, dropping the echidna off at the main gate. "I hope you'll be alright. There's something very not right about this place..." he murmured. Lara hopped off his back and looked at him seriously. "If I can ask you for one more favor, I'd like you to find the rest of my friends. If Skye's time travel plan doesn't work, we'll need to be united to save our future here." she requested. Booster rubbed his head awkwardly. "You want me to transport a group? That might be a bit much to ask for one reindeer..." he mumbled, "Ah, but you're a good kid! I'll see what I can do! Stay jolly...ah, if ya can!" he said before rising into the air and flying off, leaving Lara on her own. She glanced at her ProwerPhone briefly, thinking about calling someone to meet up with her. "They're all with their parents... I'll make do." she sighed, glancing at the castle gate. She was sure walking in the main entrance was probably a bad idea, but the castle didn't even exist in her time, so there was no way she could be aware of any alternate entrances. "This is the only place I could see worth checking out, so no sense putting it off. Let's see if I can get this gate open..." she sighed, hoping that there would be friends rather than foes waiting beyond it...
While making their way through the castle, Violet happened to pass by her old room. Though her life here was over, she couldn't help taking a look inside. Nostalgia can be a complex emotion. It can make a bad situation feel comfortable in its familiarity, or a less bad situation seem terrible based on how you were feeling at the time. Since the castle had spent time underwater, all the objects and furniture in the room had been displaced and waterlogged. Her mattress leaned against the bed frame, her old uniforms were tattered and smelly, and a picture frame was on the ground, broken glass surrounding it. Violet carefully lifted the frame, seeing a picture of herself with Patch, Daisy and Simon after a day of training. Sally was glancing over her shoulder. "Do you...need a moment?" she asked. Violet placed the picture on the nearby desk calmly. "My life was very dark, and I was vulnerable enough for Howler to take advantage. I'm glad I've moved past the hate I used to feel back then. It is a shock to see my room like this, though..." she said. Knuckles silently nodded, and they were about to leave when a shadow of Howler appeared at the door! "Your life was dark, and I gave you family. Your betrayal will be your destruction!" the shadow declared. Shade wasted no time sending a blast from the Chaos Gauntlets through the shadow, but Howler simply laughed as the shadow vanished. "Well, he knows we're here. His dumb cloak reminds me of the guy who killed my tribe!" she growled. Rotor poked his head in from the hallway, looking a bit frantic. "G-guys, I think I've found some of those Wisps that went missing! Get out here quick!" he stammered. Knuckles let out a growl. "Alright, time to relive MY memories of this castle...and kick some Despair butt!"
Returning to the halls, they glanced where Rotor was pointing to see Despair agents fleeing from Wisps. Something definitely seemed off about them, and when the Wisps caught the agents, it became more apparent. Their bodies burst into colorful energy, and though retaining their Mobian shapes, they started to move in erratic, crazed manners, as though controlled by the Wisp powers! "I take it this isn't supposed to happen?" Rouge asked sarcastically. "Something's focused and concentrated the Hyper-go-on energy, and it's making both the Wisps and their hosts go nuts!" Rotor concluded. "Turning those guys into Hyper-Peons..." Knuckles mused. "So, now we know what the Darkseeker did with the Wisps he kidnapped..." Shade growled. They didn't really have time to gawk over this any more, as the "Hyper-Peons" came charging towards them! Violet had to warp herself out of the way quickly as a blue one charged her way at the speed of a laser, passing where she'd stood and smashing through the door to her former room! Violet reappeared behind Knuckles. "Any idea how we stop them??" she yelped. A darker blue peon stomped towards them, his feet and fists morphing into cubes periodically, leaving square imprints in the stone floor as he approached! Knuckles clashed his Chaos Claws against his cubed fists, straining against the transformed Mobian. "Unnngh!! Tough guy, huh?!" he growled. An orange Peon rocketed wildly into the cube-fisted one, and the Peons repelled each other and smashed into the walls, cracking them worse than they already were! "Move! Let's hurry before they collapse this hallway!" Sally shouted, leading the group in fleeing past the crazed Mobians as fast as they could go!
Unfortunately, just running past the Hyper-Peons would not be an option. The hallway was a bit long, accommodating quite a few Despair Agent rooms, and the tight space made it hard to keep avoiding the fiends. Shade turned back and attacked the weak walls with carefully aimed blasts from the Chaos Gauntlets, deliberately collapsing the ceiling behind them to discourage Peons from following and surrounding them. "That's great, got any ideas to get past those??" Rouge grumbled. A burning red Peon approached, as well as a yellow one sparking with electricity, and more in various colors were coming behind them! Sally grabbed the Meteor Wispon out of Rotor's hands, aiming it along with her Burst Wispon. "Same energy, so let's see if this works!" she shouted, clenching her teeth as she charged ahead, firing meteors and blasts of flame at the oncoming enemies! It certainly seemed to have some form of effect, as they swerved to avoid the blasts, crashing against the walls as they passed Sally! Knuckles charged in to protect the others, blocking the lightning-peon's approach with his claws, though it meant he'd get a bit jolted! "Aaaarghh!! Get back!!" he yelled, fighting to repel it! This left the fire-peon, and Violet tried to hold it back by striking it with dark lightning! "We gotta...get outta here!" she grunted. Sally turned and zapped each Peon with her Wispons while they were held still, and the energy seemed to stun them, causing them to collapse! "You got any more of those guns, tusk-face?" Rouge asked Rotor. He chuckled awkwardly. "Kinda had to leave most of the weapons with our forces on the ground..." he murmured. It didn't matter, Sally was more than willing to cover their escape. "Just keep moving! I'll knock them out as we go!" she shouted.
After escaping the hall, it wasn't too difficult to get to the castle throne room. In fact, it seemed a bit too easy from there, as though enemy forces were deliberately held back. When they arrived at the throne room, it quickly became apparent why. Upon what was left of the throne sat the Darkseeker, and close by was a capsule full of crazed, supercharged Wisps. In the center of the room, tied to a chair, was Lara. "...Hi, Dad." she said a bit awkwardly. Knuckles looked over the scene with a raised eyebrow. "Dad? Excuse me?" he grunted. Rouge's attention turned to the machine in the corner, which the Wisp capsule was once inserted into, and the Chaos Emeralds were still attached to. "Keep 'em busy, guys, I'll be riiiiight back..." she smirked. Standing up, the Darkseeker pointed between Rouge and the emeralds, sending a powerful bolt of black lightning crashing there to get his point across. "How disappointing for me. I'd hoped to see more emotion once your daughter reunited with you. It will feel hollow when I mold her into one of my servants!" he said to Knuckles. Lara struggled against her bonds, growling. "You're nuts! I'm gonna kick your ass!" she shouted. "She IS my daughter!" Knuckles stammered. "Well, let's untie her, then!" Violet said, caring little for the Darkseeker's plans. The hooded wolf stepped to the capsule, opening up the top and guiding a single Wisp out using jolts of dark energy to keep it under control! "Such insolence. You all should thank me. The merging of Chaos and Wisp energy should destroy the Lost Ones." he stated. "Before or after you kill everyone else on Earth? We know all about you now, Howler!" Sally pointed out. Howler sneered at them. "Enough pointless chatter. We've a family reunion to witness!" he cackled, sending the Wisp off toward the captive Lara!
A crazed Black Wisp flew into Lara, and she started to change into an echidna-shaped mass of black energy herself! An explosion followed, destroying the chair under her as she gave an agonized shriek! "The black Wisp is a Bomb Wisp! The transformation is unstable!" Rotor shouted. Lara staggered toward them, holding her head, apparently trying to resist exploding again. Howler watched with a sadistic smirk. "The power I've given her will destroy her. Consider that my revenge, guardian!" he said darkly. As Lara approached, Sally and Rotor moved away. "I could stun her, but I don't know it'll help..." Sally murmured. Lara exploded again, letting out an agonized scream as the Wisp energy reconstituted her body. It wouldn't be able to restore her too many times. Shade looked to Sally. "Do it, try to knock her out!" she said desperately. Knuckles was taking in the situation, trying to come up with a solution himself. Obviously punching the Wisp out wasn't going to work. The Chaos Relics wouldn't be much help either. He saw Rouge attempting to sneak over to the Chaos Emeralds again, and he realized that the emeralds had to be involved in the unstable transformation. He pulled out the Master Emerald. "Howler's been up to his old mad science again. Maybe the Master Emerald can nullify the Chaos energy involved!" he suggested. Sally had struck Lara with her Wispons, but that only seemed to detonate Lara faster! "Do it, Knuckles! We're low on ideas, here!" she cried. Nodding, Knuckles set the Master Emerald down and looked to his struggling daughter. "The servers are the Seven Chaos... Chaos is power, enriched by the heart. The controller serves to unify the Chaos... Master Emerald! Please! Stop the Chaos energy that's bonding my daughter to that Wisp!!"
"Hello, gorgeous!" Rouge purred, reaching out for the Chaos Emeralds inserted in the machine. She was too preoccupied with the gems, but Howler was much more vigilant, and his black lightning zapped her, sending her flying and tumbling away from the jewels! "Next time, I will make it a lethal strike!" he growled, turning his attention towards Knuckles next. He wasn't about to let him ruin his plans for the Wisps. But before he could get too close, Violet stood in his way. "Where are you going? Don't you want to watch the family reunion you set up?" she asked, glaring at him. Howler's glowing red eyes gave her an even more intense glare. "Stand down, worm. You think yourself capable, trained by the mighty Fera. But I was the one who trained her. And my teacher was time itself. Centuries. You will fare no better than your friend there." he growled, motioning to Rouge, who was struggling to get back to her feet. Violet frowned. "True, I probably can't beat you..." she admitted, "But I only have to delay you!" she added, firing a beam of dark energy from her hand, which Howler just seemed to catch with his own hand! "Good luck with that!" he snarled, his hand giving a little push, and turning the beam back on her! Violet jumped back as the beam crashed at her feet, and then started to run as Howler followed up with his dark lightning! Meanwhile, Knuckles was focusing as best he could, trying to guide the Master Emerald to do what he needed. Cracks started to form as the emerald strained. "Knuckles! I-it's no use! The Master Emerald can't deal with alien energy!" Shade warned. "If she's my daughter... I won't let her down!!" Knuckles grunted. The Master Emerald flashed with bright light, and another explosion came from Lara! When the dust settled, the Master Emerald was in pieces! However, the black Wisp flew free, and Lara collapsed on the ground, quite exhausted, but alive.
Knuckles ignored the broken Master Emerald, rushing to Lara's side. "Hey, kid? You okay?" he asked with concern. While he was distracted, Howler wasn't letting up in his attack on Violet, cutting off her escape with jolts of black lightning from each hand, striking at either side of the echidna! Before he could hit her directly, Violet tried warping out of the way. "Predictable responses. Your training was pitiful!" Howler snarled, turning around and grabbing her by the throat as she emerged behind him! "Agh!!" she choked, struggling in his grip! "Maybe you were just a pathetic leader!" Sally's voice caught Howler's attention, and he turned while still holding on to Violet's neck. "Fancy yourself a leader? How are you doing, girl? Have you managed to gain any ground? Or are you struggling to just protect your own?" he growled, making Violet gag as he strangled her. Sally's eyes narrowed, and she pointed the burst Wispon at him. "We're about to take this castle." she said with conviction. Howler scoffed, and threw Violet straight at Sally, taking her off guard! Both girls tumbled to the floor, and with Rouge looking a bit battered as well, Howler seemed poised to take them all out. "No one can defeat me! Do you have any idea how long I prepared for every possibility? I will destroy you, the Lost Ones, everyone!! This world will belong to me!!" he snarled, gathering dark energy in his hands in preparation for a lethal attack! It was then that Knuckles rose back to his feet. "Hey, Howler!" he shouted, drawing the wolf's attention, "You still gotta go through me, first!" he smirked. Rotor had taken Lara out of the way so she'd be able to recover safely, and Knuckles was free to focus his attention on the Darkseeker. "Alright then, guardian!" Howler snarled.
Howler unleashed the dark energy he'd built up as a powerful beam, and to get out of the way, Knuckles used the Chaos Claws to climb the air itself and rise above it! He then deactivated the claws and went into a glide as Howler chased him with the beam for a moment. The wolf stopped firing and growled. "You have the final Chaos Relic that I was never able to locate! Its power surprised me, but that is the end of your advantage!" he shouted. "We also have this one!" shouted Shade, rushing up to give Howler a direct strike from the Chaos Gauntlets! It knocked him back a bit, but he retaliated with a quick burst of darkness, knocking her back as well! "I never needed the Chaos Relics! The powers of darkness are more than enough!" he snapped. Knuckles landed between him and Shade, and gave Howler a couple clawed jabs to the gut! "You tried to kill my daughter, you tried to kill my friends, now shut up and see how you like it!" he furiously growled, his claws stuck in Howler's chest. The wolf groaned, but grabbed Knuckles' arms and forced him back, jolting his body with dark lightning! "This flesh is already dead, you fool. My soul housed in the Despair Seal keeps it going. I am, as always, immortal!" he sneered, letting the illusion cast over his body fall away for a moment to reveal his rotten corpse holding Knuckles' arms, eyes glowing demonically as he stared down the echidna. Knuckles stumbled back, looking at the zombie Howler with a bit of shock. "So, you're as ugly outside as inside now!" Violet grunted, joining Shade at Knuckles' side. Sally and Rouge approached as well, helping to surround Howler. "You overplayed your hand, wolfie!" Rouge smirked. Sally nodded. "Now we know your weakness!" she stated, glancing at the Despair Seal on his wrist. "And we've got you too outnumbered to beat us, now!" Knuckles grinned.
Howler looked around, defiance in his glowing eyes. "Pitiful creatures, clinging to your belief that you can actually come out of this day alive. You've overlooked a key detail...but I haven't." he said, slowly starting to smile in a very unsettling manner. Knuckles raised an eyebrow. "What detail? Ah, never mind! You're just trying to get in our heads!" he growled. "Let's get him!" Shade shouted, and as they moved to go after him, Howler responded by warping out of the way, reappearing next to the machine with the Chaos Emeralds! He picked up the emeralds and started towards the Wisp capsule while everyone looked around for him. "I'll explain it to you, since it makes no difference now." Howler stated, drawing their attention, "You see... You've lost the ability to stop the Chaos Emeralds!" They gasped, and Rouge glanced back at the broken pieces of the Master Emerald. "Hurry up and fix it!" she shouted. "I can't fix it right now. The Master Emerald gave everything it had to power through the Wisp energy, stopping both it and the Chaos energy." Knuckles explained. Howler smashed open the Wisp capsule while clutching the two Chaos Emeralds. "Right you are! Which means there is nothing you can do to stop me! I...will be a god!!" he declared as the emeralds glowed, drawing in the crazed Wisps, all of them flying into Howler's body! Lara rubbed her head and stood up slowly at this moment. "What happened? ...What's that light?" she murmured. Rotor was watching Howler's transformation with shock and horror. "Not good, not good! No one's ever absorbed multiple Wisps before! Let alone Chaos-crazed Wisps! Who knows what'll happen now!" he stammered. Howler was starting to grow as the Wisps gave him power, and Sally knew what they had to do. "Retreat! We can't stay here! Hurry!" she shouted, leading the group in fleeing the throne room. But would it even be possible to escape Howler now?
To be continued...
