(EDITING) Sonic Rift

Chapter Fifty Seven : The Last Stand

Vector's POV

That thing got nastier the closer we got. It was a lot bigger than the Typhoon was. This might be harder than any of us thought. I felt a hand on my arm, that being Espio.

"Did we do the right thing?" He said aloud, "Sending Charmy away with the Sweets? It would've been easier to protect him here."

"On the contrary," I objected, "We've got no clue what we're up against here. It'd be real bad if the ship got attacked with him here."

"I guess you're right," The chameleon said, although I don't think he believed it.

My doppelgänger, Hector, said to us, "Don't worry! Valorie would do anything to protect those kids."

"And that's an understatement," Eli, Espio's doppelgänger, added under his breath.

Hector joked, "And with two of Val, they're in good hands." No doubt. But if he's me, than it was just a reassurance for himself.

Knuckles interrupted, "It's time to head out. We've got some walking to do."

Espio removed his hand, following the others in our team out the door. I looked behind me, staring at Starline out the window again. That thing really was ugly; a blob of pulsating inky black pus in the midst of a barren landscape.

"Vector! Come on!" Knuckles or Kayden said, gruffly. I shivered, leaving for the mission.

..........

The four towers all looked the same. Crooked and creepy like the thing they protected. Each of them reminded me of a lighthouse in shape but were made of some kind of steel or metal. The "beams" they produced were navy blue in color and created a shield around the blob.

Even without any features, it felt like the blob was watching me. I muttered to myself, "That Power Cannon better blow it up good."

In front of me, I heard Hector and Eli talking. Eli was saying, "This is what he meant! This is what he was buying time for!"

"I know, I know. You're right. You don't have to rub it in," Hector told him.

I glanced to the side. Espio was on guard, his kunai already in hand and half-visible. I said, "Hey. Something up?"

He didn't answer at first, too concentrated to respond. Eventually, he said, "It's too easy. It must be a trap."

Kayden and Knuckles had the same mindset, fists in front, ready to punch. I was feeling it; we were almost at the tower and nothing had happened yet--it was anxiety-inducing.

The talking slowed to a stop as we stood next to the tower. I saw a metal rungs jutting out; what a crudely made ladder. Hector touched one, and it snapped off instantly. There was, from what we could see, no other entrance.

"I don't think we'll be able to climb that," He said, referring to me as well.

"You think you could climb it, Es?" I asked.

The chameleon studied it closely, "Maybe."

We flinched at a loud creak. I looked around, trying to see where the tower was falling. But it wasn't the tower.

It was the Hailstorm, barely still flying. It was hurdling towards the East Tower. Where Ray, Marine, and Mighty were supposed to be!

"Who's flying that thing?!" Knuckles blurted.

"Doesn't matter!" I heard myself say, "We've gotta warn Mighty--!"

"Look out!!"

Knuckles punched me out of the way. Hector exclaimed at the sight, "The hell is that?!"