Realm Sagas: Story 24: New Alliances By Chandra Rooney ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legal stuff: Sonic & Knuckles, and all related characters are copy-right of Sega and Archie comics. K.T.E/Jack, and the Masked Echidna are copy-right of KTE. Vampire Sephiroth is copy-right of Vampire Sephiroth. The Green Gibbon! is copy-right of GG! and I guess so is Jared Matte. Delphine Kimunsu, Dimitria, Comet, and related other original characters are copyright of Delphine Kiminsu. Moon Echidna, Ashrire Guardian, Lirsage Mamoru, Tonia Hedgehog, Leslie Prower, Sailor Eclipse, and all other original Realm Sagas characters are copy-right of Chandra Rooney. All the characters and ideas presented are my own, unless otherwise noted. All of Delphine's characters are used with permission. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- eeeeep...looks like I'm going solo this time around...I apologize ahead of time Del. Now, where were we? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter One: Local: The Great Forest "Hold up," Jack whispered. "Someone's coming..." Eight SACC bots flooded the clearing with Metal Sonic in the lead. "Goddess," Jack leapt back, hand going for his sword to draw it from it's side sheath. "Just what we didn't need," Ash hissed, still clutching his side, but his grip on the Blade tightened. Metal Sonic looked at Jack and Neo. "Target subjects located." "Target subjects?" Tonia repeated. "I don't like the way that sounds." "Play time's over," Ash looked at Jack. "Let's get down to business. Straight through the middle, and don't give em any slack." "Watch your back," Jack called to Neo. There was no telling if he was going to be a help or a hindrance in the fight. Tonia kicked one of the bots. Ash finished two off with a blast of Chaos energy. Jack sliced another one in half. Neo just kinda dodged the attacks, not really very aggressive in fighting back. But since he didn't have a weapon that was understandable. <> Jack sent as he sliced through another bot. <> <> <> Two more SACC bots dropped from Ash's energy attack. Jack sliced through a third. Just then Tonia screamed. Jack and Ash turned to see Metal Sonic had clamped a metallic arm around her. "I'll be taking her with me." "I don't think so," Neo snapped. He grabbed a disregarded SACC bot part, and tried to slam it into Metal Sonic, but the bot shot up into the air, and the swung didn't connect. "I'm taking your ally to Master Peter. If you want here, come to Pitopolis and get her." Then Metal Sonic flew off. "Goddess dammit!" Ash cursed. "Cheap hunk of scrap!" Neo added a few more descriptive words under his breath. "I coulda had him!" Ash looked at him. "Next time you will." He started to say something else but winced in pain, and stumbled. He had to brace himself against a nearby tree. "Dammit...maybe all that showing off wasn't such a good idea..." "Now what?" Neo asked. Jack turned to Ash. His face was pale, and his breathing was drawn. "We need to get to a village...or something." They walked off in one direction. Ash and Jack were in the lead, and Neo followed a short distance behind. "Kind of an odd one, ain't he?" Jack asked. "Are you sure about bringing in an outsider? I mean...how do we explain ourselves to him?" Neo looked up at the two boys ahead of him. Jack seemed okay. But the other guy was a mystery. First he'd been all hostile, then he'd been friendly. Strange...he looked down at the green orb in his hand. "Strange...all that trouble from that chick for a crystal ball? I wonder if they know anything about it-" The green crystal began to pulse. Neo paused to look at it. It was flashing more intensely each second. "C'mon, stop that." He reached for the crystal, but its surface was burning hot. He dropped it, cursing. "Ow..." he rubbed his hand. "What'd I ever do to you?" The was a final brilliant flash of green light... "Agreed," Ash nodded. "Knothole...assuming it exists here, is probably our best bet." "Yeah...let's just hope this isn't some whacked out place." "Goddess yes...the last thing I want to do right now is have to deal with myself." "I never want to have to deal with you," Jack muttered. "Especially when you're like this." "Where's that Neo clown?" Ash asked, looking back. They were alone. "Goddess only knows. He'll show up." "After he crawls back out from under the rock he's hiding under?" Jack sighed. "You do realize that you're doing it again, right?" "Doing what?" "You don't look well, Ash," he changed the subject. "You're paler...moving slower. Not to mention your fuse is damn short." A nod. "I know. I need time to recover. Most wounds, if they even occur, heal right away. But wounds from the Blade...and then I used all that extra energy to attack." "I don't get it. I thought if you have the energy of a complete chaos emerald in you, how can you feel drained?" "Lately I've begun to wonder if I do...or if it's another line that my father's fed to me." Jack let the remark go unresponded to. "Probably best we approach as echidnas. We don't know how they feel about humans here." "We don't know how they feel about echidnas either." "True, but echidnas *are* Mobians." Ash nodded. He clutched his side. "Can't -gnyah- argue with you there...invincible my tail..." He handed Jack the Blade of the Guardian. "Let's do it before someone comes." Jack nodded, taking the dagger. He closed his eyes, and concentrated. k.a. was waiting for him when he reopened them. "Hellwo KTE!" the five-year-old cried. KTE dropped beside him. "Hmmm, so you've dropped the 'mista' business have you?" "Ouchie," k.a. rubbed his side. "Yeah. You remember how you got that?" "Nuh uh." k.a. shook his head. KTE nodded. So it still worked that way. k.a. didn't recall anything beyond being five years old. He adjusted his hat. "Any idea how to get to Knothole, kid?" Chapter Two: Local: Knothole Village Delphine Kiminsu checked her watch again. Her blue eyes with the green tints looked worried. She tugged on a piece of coppery hair. She was dressed in her standard white baby tee, blue baggy jeans, and light green wind-breaker. "He's been gone a long time." Dimitria cleared her throat. "If you're so worried about him, why don't you go look for him?" "Jared doesn't need a babysitter." "Del!" Tails flew over to them. The young kitsune was panting, eyes wide. "I've been looking all over for you!" "What is it, Tails?" Del asked. "It's Jared! I found him in the woods, knocked out!" "What?!" she exclaimed. "We got him to Dr. Quack," Tails told her. "But he still hasn't woken up!" "Okay, I'm coming," Del replied. She looked at Dimitria. "I think this would make that something coming you predicted to be bad, don't you?" Local: The Floating Island Moon looked up. Blocking her path to Knuckles was Vampire Sephiroth. He looked down at the blue crystal in her hands. "So *you're* Sailor Lunar Eternity," he sneered. "How appropriate." "I don't know what you're talking about, Stephy," she snapped. "But get out of my way. I don't have time to deal with your mind games." "Oh, but this will only take but a minute, my dear Moon." He drew his masamune. "Now hand over the Eternity Crystal and I'll let you be on your way." "What Eternity Crystal?" "The one you're holding in your right hand," he gestured to the blue crystal. "Oh this little thing? You really want it that badly?" "Don't play games with me," he began. "You don't realize the power of that crystal. Best you hand it over to someone who can use it properly." "Someone like you?" she laughed. "That's funny. I can think of someone who is much more suited to use it." "You know how dangerous it is to mock me..." Local: Sebrina's Island Lirsage motioned for Leslie to stay back. He started walking, but stopped. There was a stirring opposite of him. He spun, and a small light flashed in front of his face. It hovered there, and once his eyes focused he could see what it was. "I'll be damned..." Lir whispered. "A sprite." The pixish creature hovered inches away from his nose, rattling off in some fairy talk that probably was only comprehensible to the Goddess herself. But whatever it was saying, one thing was clear. It was not happy. The sprite's hair was a mass of pink locks, her eyes a reddy-gold. She was about five inches tall, and wearing a tunic. The presence was still there...beyond the hovering little sprite. But who knew how long it would remain. So, he reached up, and brushed the sprite out of his face. Big mistake. She flew about him, calling out little sprite curses. He reached up to swat at her again, and realized he could see all four of his fingers. "Damn," he cursed. "You little pixie-witch..." She'd turned him human. Worse...he'd lost his fix on the presence. The sprite smiled triumphantly and sat on his head. She continued fluttering her golden wings for a few seconds, and then settled. Someone burst out laughing. Irritated he turned to snap at Leslie that it wasn't funny, but stopped. The laughter wasn't coming from Leslie. It was coming from a white hedgehog. Local: Unknown Ember Hedgehog dumped the boy on the ground in front of Sailor Eclipse. "I brought the Green Gibbon!." Sailor Eclipse smiled. "Very good, Ember." She walked over to the boy. She drew back her hand, and slapped him across the face. "Wake up!" She slapped him again. He groaned and opened his eyes. "Hey- OW! What's the big idea?!" "You tell me," Sailor Eclipse crossed her arms. "I trust you have a good story concerning your whereabouts for the past day." "Look, I think-" "You think?" she laughed. "Really, Green, when I want you to think I'll tell you." "Green? Look, you've got me confused with someone else." She smirked. "If you're being naughty in hopes of getting another slap, you can stop. I'm not in the mood to play your little sadist games. At least not right now." She paused. "Now, there's a lot of work to be done, GG!, and since Kit's...dismissal from the team, there's less people to do it." "Who the hell is GG?!" he demanded. "Look, my name is-" he spotted Ember. "Hey, you're the crazy chick who beaned me over the head! What was up with that?!" Sailor Eclipse looked up at Ember. "You 'beaned' him over the head?" Ember shrugged. "He refused to coorperate, Sailor Eclipse. I did what I had to do." "So, our dear Green Gibbon! is being a bit difficult, is he?" She uncrossed her arms. "Green Gibbon?" he muttered, a puzzled look on his face. "Come, Ember," she turned, silver hair swirling around her. "There's work to be done. Now, you can come or you can stay, GG!. I really don't care. But if you stay...I'll see to it you have a nice chat with Sephy once he gets back." "Sephy?" "Vampire Sephiroth." She opened the door. "Are you coming or not?! You're going to make us late for our appointment." He stood, and followed her to the door. "Where are we going?" "Why, to Pitopolis, of course. We're going to talk to one Peter Matte." Local: The Floating Island Moon raised the Eternity rod. Vampire Sephiroth lowered the masamune. But only long enough to cast an Ulitma. She moved the rod in a quick motion. The Ultima became harmless static. "Is that all you have, Sephy?" He sheathed the masamune. "An excellent counter-move. I applaud you." She paused. "You're giving up?" He walked over to her. "Why not? I just don't have it in my heart to fight you...Moonbeam." She took a step backward. "What...what are you talking about?" "Moon...it's me...it's Gabe." He looked hurt. She didn't believe Sephiroth's face to display such an emotion. "Hey, I know I looked a little different, but looks aren't what's important, right?" He moved to put a hand on her shoulder. Moon flinched, and drew back. "Gabe? " She shook her head. "No, it can't be you. How can it be you? It's a trick...I won't fall for it...Vampire Sephiroth!" He put a hand to his head. "You know, just *once* I would like it if you took me at my word, Moonbeam. You don't *always* have to contradict me." "Gabe? But how is this possible?" "Look, it will take longer for me to explain than I have to spend with you right now." She smiled. "What?" he demanded. "Your hair!" she laughed. He frowned. "I cannot really help what my hair looks like right now..." "Well at least tell me how you're doing this! Did you...possess Sephiroth?" "I don't have time to tell you right now! Can't you just have some faith? Your mother would have never questioned divine intervention." She turned away from him. "*Never* compare me to my mother, *Sephiroth*." He flinched. "That hurt, Moon. It was a slip of the tongue." "Likewise." "Goddess! I did not risk my immortal soul and sanity to come here and fight with you!" "And what exactly did you risk them for?" "To tell you who the seventh Protector is." "You know who it is?" "Of course I do." A pause. "And no doubt *he* knows too." "Gabe, who is it? Will we have to travel far to find them?" He laughed softly. "Oh, Moonbeam. How I've missed your innocence! You don't have to look at all. The last Protector is Lirsage." Chapter Three: Local: The Master Realm Belladonna looked up. "Any news?" Dimitri shook his head. "The Enforcers haven't been able to find any traces of them." He paused. "That doesn't mean-" "Of course not," she looked up sharply. "Don't you think I-" "Of course I do. It just means that-" "I want to go look for them." He blinked. "Bella...I-" "Are you or are you not the one in charge of this search?" Dimitri reached up, and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well..yes...eventually they all report to me but-" "Dimitri." "It's not that I *don't* want to...but, Goddess, love, you're the-" Bella closed her eyes and laughed. "You want to go yourself, don't you, love?" "Well I am-" "All the more reason you should stay." "All the more reason I should go," he corrected her. "And you did you last time." She sighed. "Mortals..." "Who's mortal?" he raised an eyebrow. "Can't win with that argument." "Not any more." She turned away. "Don't pout, love." "Fine, go." She waved a hand. "Get out of here, Senshi." "And you think she gets it from me." Dimitri told her quickly. "I'll send word as soon as I can." Local: Knothole Village Delphine looked at Jared Matte. His eyes were squeezed shut, but his breathing seemed normal. Then she looked up at brown-skinned boy beside her. "What happened to him?" She asked. "I have no idea," Devon Comber replied. "Tails and I found him lying there. I don't even know what he was doing off by himself." "Del!" Lisa Baerry rushed into the hut, her blue eyes wide, and her blond hair flying about. "You have got to see this! Knuckles is here! And he's got some kid with him!" Del looked up. "Knuckles is here? But that's funny...I didn't know he was coming." She stood. "Watch Jared, Devon. I think I need to look into this." Local: Pitopolis Metal Sonic returned to Peter after putting the captured female blue hedgehog into a cell. Peter was waiting for him. His dark blond hair was messy, and fell into his purple eyes. "Did you find the three humans I told you to?" He demanded as soon as he saw Metal Sonic. "Yes, sir," the bot replied. "I have film of them up close so that you may identify them." Peter snatched up the offered disk, and slipped it into the appropriate slot on the consul. A shot of the echidna wannabe flashed onto a monitor. He looked like he was Peter's age of 14 at least. He had green eyes, and freckles dotted his nose. Above his left eyebrow was some sort of scar. The green sword gleamed in his hand as he effortlessly cut a SACC bot in two. "What the hell kinda of metal is green?" Peter wondered, and he froze the frame to get a closer look at the weapon. "Is it some sort of laser?" "Analysis can only match the element of the metal as that of the same chemical make up as a Chaos emerald," Metal Sonic replied. "How do you make a sword out of a Chaos emerald?!" Peter exclaimed. "Now I definitely want to talk to this guy." "There is more," Metal Sonic ahemed, and Peter unfroze the disk. The image changed views to show the guy who was dressed in a green t-shirt and blue jeans. He had slightly long dark brown hair. "Well, well. If it isn't my older brother, Jared," Peter sneered at the screen. "Sorry about that, bro, I didn't recognize your new clothes." The image switched again. He got ready for another look at the sailorette, but was thoroughly disappointed. It was a guy with spiky white-blond hair, and dark blue eyes. His green sweater was bloody in a spot, and his blue baggy jeans were torn. "Who the hell is this?!" Peter demanded. The blond guy sheathed the dagger that had been in his hand, and cast some kind of energy blast attack that leveled two SACC bots. "Jesus. If it wasn't bad enough that you made friends with some echidna wannabe, Jared," Peter told the screen. "But where'd you managed to find the Cloud Strife clone? This just gets more screwed! How am I supposed to find out what's going on?!" "There is a prisoner, sir." "There is?" Peter spun in his chair. "Why didn't you say so?! Bring them up here!" "Yes, sir!" Metal Sonic saluted. Peter reached for a com-link. "Return to base, Metal Knuckles. Metal Sonic has captured the humans." Chapter Four: Local: Sebrina's Island "What are you laughing at?" Lirsage demanded. "You look so funny!" The hedgehog laughed. "Pixie on da head!" Leslie stepped forward. "My name's Leslie Prower, and this is my friend Lirsage." "Ah'm Sebrina," the white hedgehog replied. "Ah dis is mah island." "Well, isn't that just per-" Lir stopped. Pain flooded his senses, and he sank to his knees. "Lir? Lirsage?" Leslie exclaimed. Maybe she said more but it was the last thing he heard before he blacked out. Leslie dropped beside Lir. He'd slumped to the ground, holding his head. "Does ya friend does dis often?" Sebrina asked, coming forward. "I've never seen it happen before." Sebrina knelt beside them. "He got da strong spell on him. He bein'...what dat word? Oh...controlled. Yah, dat's it. He bein' controlled by someone." "Indeed he is." Leslie stood. "I know that voice..." The tall young man walked into the clearing. His silver hair fell long behind his back, and his bangs were pushed up high to bend over and fall back down. Cold, sharp, green eyes showed no joy as he smiled. His dark trench-coat flapped open to reveal his slim form clothed in black, and the elegant, deadly masamune at his side. "Vampire Sephiroth." "Please, don't get up, Miss Prower," He replied, smiling slightly. "You're an added bonus, but not my primary reason for being here." His eyes fell on Lirsage. For the briefest of seconds they softened, and showed something gentler. "Perhaps I've been too hard on you; expected to much of you..." Then he trailed off, and his eyes returned to possessing only the icy glare they usually held. "Who is dat?" Sebrina asked, drawing her dagger. "You better not be here for-" She stopped, when he drew his masamune in response. "Do you really think it's wise to fight me?" Sebrina gluped. "You better not cause no trouble, or..." "Don't involve yourself in this. It's of no concern for you," Vampire Sephiroth told her. "All I'm interested in is the boy. Allow me to take these unwanted guests off your hands." He bent down and slung Lir over his shoulder. "Uh...I guess dat's a good idea," Sebrina replied. "You can't trust him Sebrina!" Leslie told her. "He's evil!" Vampire Sephiroth nodded to Sebrina. "I knew you would see it my way." He vanished, taking Lir and Leslie with him. Sebrina stared at the empty space where the three visitors had once been. "Dis is why I don't like no visitors. I always get dem weirdos." Local: Pitopolis Leslie rematerialized in a cell. "Leslie?" A familiar voice asked, then gasped. "How'd you get here?!" She turned and saw the blue female hedgehog. "Tonia?!" They laughed. Then Tonia turned serious. "Are you the only one?" Leslie nodded. "I was on this island with Lirsage, and then Vampire Sephiroth came. And...now I'm here." "Where's Lirsage?" Tonia asked. "I don't know. Vampire Sephiroth must still have him." "I was with KTE, Ash and some guy named Neo that KTE found. We were attacked, and I was captured by Metal Sonic." "Where are we?" Leslie asked. "A cell in Pitopolis." "Pitopolis?!" Tonia shook her head. "Don't ask me." "But," Leslie smiled. "They must be coming for us. Ash and KTE wouldn't just leave you here!" "Of course," Tonia agreed. "I bet KTE is on his way right now." Local: Knothole Village "Look, I've told you three times already," KTE repeated. "I am here because I'm supposed to meet my group in Knothole if we ever get separated." Dimitria looked at him skeptically. "So, you're not Knuckles the Echidna then." "I'm not the guardian of the Floating Island! How many times do I have to-" "I didn't ask if you were the guardian. I asked if you were Knuckles." KTE rubbed his hands over his face, and tried to stay calm. "You're not very nice to KTE," k.a. told her. "You're a mean nasty lady!" "I'll admit Dimi has her moods like anyone else," Delphine said as she walked in. "But isn't that going a little far, kid?" "Delphine Kiminsu!" KTE exclaimed, and jumped up. "Am I ever glad to see a familiar face! Tell her I'm not a spy!" Del regarded him carefully for a minute. He sure seemed to know her. At first she might have thought he was Knuckles, but he had too many battle scars. And Knuckles didn't wear a hat...and he certainly didn't have any need for a sword sheath. "Do we know each other?" She asked. KTE groaned. That was right. She didn't know *him*. "No, but you know the other members of my traveling party." "I do?" A skeptical look. "Yeah, uh, I'm Moon's friend. I also know Ash," he told her, after shooting a quick look to make sure k.a. hadn't show any response to hearing someone say that name. The little echidna was looking up at Delphine in a confused way. As if he knew her, and was now trying to figure out why. "You met them in the Green Hill Zone," KTE reminded Del. "Oh." She replied, then looked at him carefully. "You're Ash's friend?" "Hai," he nodded. "And my brother. You might remember him." "Your brother is...?" "Hai, Lirsage. He's just a little taller than me," KTE continued. "Um, he has these streaks his dreads..." "Oh, yes. I remember, in the Green Hill Zone." "Green Hill Zone?" Dimitria asked. "I'll explain later, Dimi," Del told her. Then she looked back at KTE. "All right. I believe you. But what are you doing here?" "We were attacked, and got separated," he explained. "Moon and I agreed a long time ago that if we were ever separated to go to Knothole Village and wait for the others to come." "I guess there's no problem with that," Del replied. "You'll have to excuse the place, though, we've all been through a lot recently." "Did you want to put the little one in a bed?" Dimitria asked KTE. "You look like you could use some rest yourself." KTE tipped his hat. "That would be very kind of you, ma'am." "You can lay the little guy down in my hut for a while," Del told him. "And-" "All I need is a place to hang a hammock," KTE told her with a small grin. "I travel a lot." "Oh, I'm sure we can find a place," Del replied. "Come on, my hut's this way." Chapter Five: Local: The Floating Island Knuckles looked at the silver echidna in front of him. She was slender, and had large, dark blue eyes. Her black halter top was snug, and her blue skirt seemed to have awfully long slits. Her boots clung to her legs, and her hair was hung in two loops with a single long dread draped through each. "You want me to do what?" he asked. "Take me to Knothole Village," she repeated. "It's very important, Guardian." Knuckles shook his head. "I don't even know your name." "It's Moon, Guardian." He noticed, again, the small crescent moon on her right cheek. "Of course. Now, Miss Moon, I can't just simply take a complete stranger to Knothole." "It's very important I go there to meet my friends! We've been separated. Please rethink it!" Again, he worried about her sanity. She seemed sweet enough, there was something unnerving about her naieve nature, and how she seemed so detached from the world. Didn't she realize that he couldn't just up and go to Knothole? There was an island to protect! What if Peter came back? "I'm sorry, Miss. Maybe you'll find someone else. There's some people you can talk to in the Rainbow Valley," he turned to climb back up to where he'd left Vector waiting after he'd gone to see who it was staring up at them. "Maybe find that guy you were talking to before." She bit her lip. "Oh dear. I really didn't want to have to do this, but you've left me no choice. I'm sorry." "What?" he braced himself in case she turned violent on him. He knew there had been something wrong with her. But she just grabbed both his hands, and stared up into his eyes. Those eyes of hers were really fathomless. They seemed to be impossibly deep, as if they went on forever... The guardian was under control without him even realizing it. Moon sighed; disgusted that she'd had to do something so deceitful to get his help. "Let's go to Knothole now," she told him. Knuckles nodded. "Of course." Local: Knothole Village Devon looked back at Jared. He was still out cold. Devon sighed, and went back to dozing. He jerked when something furry brushed against his hand. He pushed at it, without opening his eyes, and yelped when a mild electric shock raced through his fingers. "What the hell?" he wondered, opening his eyes and looking over at Jared. Only it didn't look like Jared anymore... Local: Unknown Vampire Sephiroth smacked Lirsage across the face; drawing blood. "Wake up." Lir opened his eyes, and moaned. Then he saw his captor. "Sephiroth!" "Spare me the dramatics," Vampire Sephiroth sneered. "I trust we can at least talk in a civilized matter. But if you try anything I will have to restrain you." Lir looked down, and noticed he wasn't bound in any way. "What do you want?" Vampire Sephiroth frowned. "I would hope you'd treat me with a little respect. That's no way to talk to me." Lir growled slightly, and muttered something. "It's not bad enough you had my mother? You have no claim on me, Sephiroth. None at all. She gave you herself in exchange for my and my brother's freedom!" "I have a claim on you that goes beyond your mother's deal." Lir glared. "And just what is that supposed to mean?" "Lillian's great secret." He smiled. "I think it's time someone let you in on the joke." Local: Knothole Village Del waited outside as KTE set k.a. on the bed. She tried to think of what she was going to tell Dimitria. And what you'll do when Ash shows up, an annoying voice in her head whispered. "I don't have any reason to think about him," she told herself fiercely. You should have told him about Knuckles, the voice continued. Oh just shut-up! Del told it. I don't owe Ashrire anything. "Del!" Devon came running up. "What is it, Dev?" she asked, glad for the distraction. "Jared..." he panted. "What happened?" Del's stomach did flip-flops. "Oh no," Devon waved her towards the infirmary. "This is something you have to see for yourself!" Chapter: Six Local: Pitopolis Peter was waiting for Metal Sonic to return when the sailorette walked into the room. She just strode in like she owned the place. "What the hell do you think you're doing? How'd you get in here?" Peter yelled at her. "Who the hell are you anyway?" "I'm Sailor Eclipse," she tossed her silver her. Peter burst into laughter. "Oh tell me another one, sister." "You're Peter Matte I assume." "What if I am?" "I'm interested in forming a temporary partnership with you." He thought about this. The chick was obviously completely insane, but easy enough on the eyes. Certainly that short skirt and tight top helped. Might as well let her talk. "Go on," he said. "First, allow me to introduce my associates." She gestured to a purple hedgehog. "This is Ember Hedgehog." Next a pink echidna with purple tipped bangs. "This is Julie-su Echidna. And finally, the Green Gibbon!." The last figure hesitantly stepped forward. Peter's eyes narrowed. "Well...isn't this interesting?" to be continued...