FicWad

Shadow, Sonia, and Manic walked down the streets of Hamarapi.
Manic spotted a few Guild assassins and sighed. “There’s-”
“I see them.” Shadow said, taking off his inhibitor bands.
Reddish-orange electricity sparked off of Shadow’s body. His irises glowed reddish-orange.
Manic and Sonia took several steps back.
Shadow spin dashed the assassins.
The blast of energy made the lights in the area flicker.
Sonia bit her lip. “He’s getting tired,” She said. “The first few blasts completely shut off the power.”
Shadow put the inhibitor bands back on. “You two have to use your weapons.”
Manic pulled his guns out of his trenchcoat.
“But you can’t bring guns onto a plane.” Sonia said.
Shadow and Manic exchanged glances, then started laughing.
“What?” Sonia asked.
Manic and Shadow held up their guns.
“You don’t know what you’re doing.” Shadow said. He turned around. “We’re getting close to Gerald’s palace.”
Another guild member landed in front of them.
“I think I can handle this.” Manic said. He stepped forward, grinning nervously. “Hey, Surge. It’s been a while.”
Surge pulled her gun out of her cargo pants. “I would say it’s nothing personal, but that wouldn’t be true.”
Manic rubbed the back of his head. “Yeah… sorry about everything.”
“What did you do?” Shadow asked.
“He wrecked my new car.” Surge replied. “Then he refused to pay for repairs because he was breaking up with me.”
Shadow looked at Manic. “Really?”
Manic sighed. “It wasn’t my fault.” He said. “That was why I wouldn’t pay for it.
Surge rolled her eyes. “But it wouldn’t have happened if you had just used your car.”
“I’ll pay you back.” Manic said. “I’ll have to pay you in installments though.”
Surge huffed. “I don’t buy it.” She replied. She raised the gun. “I guess I’ll get repaid by suing your family members for the insurance payout.”
Manic pulled out two hundred dollars from his wallet. “Here’s two hundred right now.” He said, handing the money to Surge. “There’s more where that came from if you just let us go. Other than that, there were no hard feelings right?”
Surge considered the offer.
Sonia pulled out two hundred dollars. “Here, he can pay me back later.”
Shadow handed Surge three hundred dollars.
Surge took the money. “Fine with me.” She replied. She stepped aside. “Take care of yourself.”
“Thanks, Surge.” Manic said.
“Just take care of the fossil so I don’t get a death warrant and get the rest of my money.” Surge replied.
“That’s why we're here.” Manic said over his shoulder as they walked away.
*
Shadow exhaled slowly and took off his inhibitor rings again.
Manic and Sonia stepped back.
“What is he gonna do?” Sonia whispered. “He’s on low power.”
More reddish-orange electricity sparked off of his body.
Shadow sent out another blast of electricity, shutting off the power at the palace.
Sonia furrowed her brow.
“I was holding back last time, Sonia.” Shadow said, pointing behind them.
Sonia looked behind her.
Power went out across the town.
“Huh.” Sonia replied.
Shadow tapped Sonia’s shoulder. “Come on.”
He said. He motioned to the palace. “We’re here.”
Shadow, Sonia, and Manic headed over to the palace steps.
“You have more lives than a cat, Shadow.” Gerald said, climbing down the steps off his home.
“It couldn’t have anything to do with you using me as a lab rat, could it?” Shadow asked.
Gerald grimaced. “Good point.”
Shadow slowly removed one of his inhibitor rings. “Since you created the program and oversaw my training, you know exactly what I’m capable of.” He said, taking off the other inhibitor ring. “You also know what happens when someone does something to anger me. You’ve angered me more than anyone on this planet has. So-”
“Now, Shadow, we can reason this out.” Gerald said, pressing a button on his watch.
“Shadow?” Sonia asked. “He’s giving up.”
Drones began to swarm them.
Shadow looked at Sonia. “You’ll never make it in GUN with that mindset.”
Manic handed Sonia his extra gun.
Sonia and Manic took out the extra guns as Shadow approached Gerald.
“I wouldn’t do anything if I were you, Shadow.” Gerald said. “The last I heard, you didn’t tolerate children being in any sort of danger.”
Shadow raised an eyebrow.
Manic took out the last of the drones. “What?”
“Did some digging on you, Manic.” Gerald said. “You’re very private about your personal life, but there’s ways to find things out.”
Manic scoffed. “You’re bluffing.”
Gerald pressed another button on his watch.
A few robots brought out a battered Sonic, who was doing his best to kick the robots.
The robots threw Sonic down at their feet.
“I’m sorry, bro.” Sonic said. “There were way too many of them and one got a lucky shot.”
Manic knelt down. “Are they alive?”
Sonic nodded.
“Yes, they’re still alive.” Gerald said. “If you want them to stay that way, then you’ll do as I say.”
Shadow nodded at Manic.
Manic helped Sonic up.
Shadow approached Gerald. “What do you want?”
Manic, Sonic, and Sonia snuck around the palace.
“Where are they being kept, bro?” Manic asked.
One of the second floor windows opened.
Manic looked up.
Sally looked down. “Manic?”
Manic stopped. “Sal?”
Sonic and Sonia stopped.
“I think you can climb down the lattice.” Manic said, grabbing the bottom of the lattice. “I’ll hold it.”
“How are we climbing down with your twins?” Sally asked.
Manic let go of the lattice and took his backpack off. He dumped the contents of his bag out on the ground. “With this.” He said, throwing the backpack up to Sally.
Sally caught the backpack and ducked back into the room for a few minutes. She finally walked hers and Sonic’s son, River, to the lattice.
River started climbing down with the backpack on his back.
Manic grabbed the lattice while Sonia stepped closer to catch River if he fell.
“Just take your time, don’t rush.” Manic said.
River finally made it down.
Sonia took the backpack off of River and unzipped it a little more. She pulled Nikós out and handed the backpack to Manic.
Manic tossed the backpack up again. Sally sent Lola down the lattice with Elodie in the backpack.
Everyone flinched when a gunshot went off.
Lola, Elodie, and Nikós started crying.
“It’s okay, Lo.” Manic said. “I’m sure my friend just took care of the bad guy, okay? Just climb down slowly. We’ll keep you safe.”
Lola nodded. She slowly made her way down the lattice.
Shadow finally walked over to them as Manic pulled Elodie out of the backpack.
“See, Lola?” Manic asked. “There’s my friend, Shadow. We’re safe.”
Shadow nodded.
Sonic eased Lola and River behind him.
Shadow shook his head. “You’re welcome.”
Sally and Jade climbed down the lattice.
Jade hugged Manic.
“Break it up, Manic.” Shadow said. “We have to get home.”
Manic let Jade go and started putting his stuff back in his backpack.
“When were you gonna tell me about this?” Jade asked.
Manic zipped up his backpack. “I was hoping never.” He replied. “I’m sorry. Don’t worry; it’s over now.”
“As long as it’s over with this time.” Jade said.
Manic slid his backpack onto his shoulders. “I hope so.”