Heroes by Peter Gabriel.
~~~

"Hello?"

Dry lips parted to let a tired groan escape as previously drooping ears lifted towards the distant noise. Heavy blue eyelids trembled open to reveal deeper toned eyes, which explored the ground view (consisting of his legs spread before him and his chained hands resting on his lap). Upon acknowledging the metal cuffs his eyes sprung wide open and he whirled around, albeit awkwardly, to see a concrete wall towering behind him.

"E-excuse me?"

Noticing his misshapen quills, Charles looked to the bars opposite and peered past them in an attempt to put a name to the voice. Some scurrying later and a pair of foxes revealed themselves from the shadows. Both wore cobalt blue uniforms, one a dress and the other a tunic of sorts. Despite being torn and grimy, it was clear they were-

"Royal Army uniforms...." Charles muttered and manoeuvred closer to his cells bars.

"You're finally awake." A lower voice spoke, sounding relieved.

"How long have- who're you?" The light blue hedgehog raised an eye ridge.

"Amadeus Prower." The one in the tunic bowed his head.

"Rosemary. And you?" The fox in the dress smoothed back her large, messy tuft of hair.

"Charles."

"Thought so." Amadeus chuckled, making himself more comfortable.

"Ay?"

"You got pretty well known after the war with the Overlanders."

"Not to mention Jules." Rosemary added. "Is...is he-?"

Charles almost laughed. "Chaos no. Still out in Mobius winding up Robotnik, I bet." His head tilted upon noticing the pair shiver.

"How long have you two been here?"

"In this cell or...?"

The confusion brought the uncle to take a glance between their cells. On his right stood a door like many others he'd seen, but on his left the small hall seemed to expand into a larger room. Blinking yellow and red lights washed into their miniature holding unit and he could make out wires and robotic arms hanging from the ceiling. A table rested against the farthest wall, with various equipment scattered atop. In the apparent centre of the room stood a cylinder glass tube and when Charles angled his head more awkwardly, he could just about notice one on each side of it. Wires sinked into each one and green neon lines danced across the floor.

"We've been transferred." He breathed, moving back into his cell further. "H-how long?"

"We've been here for a while." Amadeus replied. "You...maybe an hour or so?"

The uncle's eyes shrunk and his breath picked up rapidly. Struggling to properly inhale, he watched his shaking hands and allowed his ears to flatten against his head. It was like he was drowning. His heart thundered and outer noise sounded like he was sinking underwater. The corners of his vision darkened. His breathing was escaping any control he had and-

"Charles!" Rosemary snapped her fingers and successfully gained his attention, thus her partner assisted in setting a calming breathing pace for the hedgehog to follow.

At first there was a struggle for the pair to match, but with further practise Charles was able to gain control over himself and hold onto his cells bars.

"Thank you. I-I-."

"What's got you worried?" Rosemary asked, concern evident in her tone.

"Apart from this." Amadeus joked, gesturing to their current environment.

"If I've been out for an hour...Robotnik...." The uncle swallowed. "He's reached my brother. H-he's surely got to Mobotropilis by now."

"How do you know that's where he's gone to?" The female fox inquired.

"About two weeks back, I think, he travelled there and tried to take it over. He lost, but I know he won't rest until it's his. I saw the King with Jules, hence I know Mobotropilis is where they've been."

Amadeus watched Charles drop his head and mumble something to himself prior to knocking on a steel bar. "Letting yourself drown in those worrying thoughts won't do you any good. Makes you lose your focus."

"R-right. I'm sorry." The uncle met the pairs eyes. "I recognise your uniforms. Royal Army, right?"

Rosemary shifted. "Yes."

"So...."

The male fox chuckled. "We weren't at Mobotropilis. Haven't been in years. We've been working elsewhere for sometime."

"Oh?"

"The King...he's been suspicious of the Overlanders. Not anything major don't worry. But the truce has always been...well...."

"Loose."

"Right. He just wanted us to keep tabs on them from a distance."

"We were ambushed." Rosemary intervened, her blue eyes becoming glassy. "R-Robotnik attacked the village we stayed at. We tried to fight but...." Her head sunk and she hugged herself.

Amadeus hugged his partner to his side. "He either killed us or-."

"Took you." Charles snarled. "Yeah. Happened to Knothole too. Is...is there any chance anyone survived?"

The foxes glanced at one another prior to meeting the hedgehog's gentle gaze. "Chances are slim but...we're hoping someone did."

"We have a son." Rosemary hiccuped. "We left him with someone we trust. They always helped us care for him a-and-." She cleared her throat. "We told them to run. When Robotnik arrived we told them to take him and run. As far as they could. We just don't know if...."

"Hey." Charles softly smiled. "You're hoping he's okay right? Both of them. Hope's a powerful thing to have. Neither of us can be certain our loved ones aren't okay. There's a chance they're perfectly safe. And as long as there's a chance, that's enough."

The mother wiped her eyes and echoed the uncle's smile. "I suppose you're right."

"Hey, you're the ones who told me worrying won't get us anywhere." He laughed.

"Does that happen much? Th-the panic?" Amadeus questioned.

"Hasn't that bad for sometime." Charles gripped his chest, over his heart.

The three entered a heavy silence, forced to listen to bubbling liquids and whirs. The uncle shifted to stand but merely froze from the door sliding open. The trio whirled towards it to watch a large Badnik march past them. Three others followed closely behind, yet stopped in front of the two cells.

As the cells doors creaked open, the foxes tried to escape the robots' holds and Charles was shoved into the larger room. There he watched lifeless red optics over him and concluded hope might not be enough to save him this time.

—————

King Max glowered, fists tightening. "Robotnik."

Thunder bellowed across the sky and briefly lit up the colossal spider-shaped machine. It glimmered in eerie dominance and was towering over an ocean of Badniks, vehicles and Robians. Mobotropilis had cannons at the ready, archers perched on top of buildings and soldiers gathering towards the front border.

"Well, I suppose I did expect a grand entrance." Came Robotnik's gleeful, thunderous tone.

"Plan?" Tig Stripe murmured to the King, eyes frozen on the metal arachnid.

"Find Towers. Get the archers to focus on his Badniks. We need a troop to distract the Robians- no killings. Let them defend themselves if needed, but don't kill any of them. Another group'll charge for his smaller vehicles." King Max slowly turned towards Jules.

"I need you to lead a troop straight for him. Take Chocola with you. Take out his machine."

The hedgehog father nodded. "Got it."

"Bernadette." King Max drew the lavender mothers attention in. "Get the kids to Vanilla. You find any others out there and you bring them with you. Understood?"

Bernie nodded and scooped Sonia and Olgilvie up. "Right."

"I'm growing impatient Max!" Robotnik, from beyond the castle, intervened- tone hostile.

The King drew his sword. "Alicia, you're with me. Everyone ready?"

Chocola almost laughed. "Did it look like we were last time?"

"No." Tig replied.

"Sounds perfect to me." Jules grinned and readied his sword just as a booming roar ricocheted off the spider, legs twitching.

"Alright then fine! If you won't speak up, I'll make you talk." Robotnik warned as his Badnik army charged.

Like two ferocious waves crashing into each other, aforementioned robots collided with Mobotropilis' Royal Army. Arrows (some alit with flames) rained down from scaffolding above and mixed with the cannons that began to zoom towards the
Robo-Spider. In turn, Robotnik had lasers tear regrowing trees and newly built structures apart. With the swarm of armies merging, it was highly apparent the large doctor had better numbers.

With King Max roaring and pointing towards the doors, Tig Stripe led the way towards the castle's front entrance. Already, the first Badniks were fighting their way into the vast structure. Through windows that decorated floors with glass and doors that crashed, bringing dust down from above. Bernadette and Alicia followed closely behind with the latter carrying her children too, enabling Jules and Max to cover the end of the group.

Zooming down some grandiose stairs, Badniks met them at the bottom. Tig and King Max began to create a path for them to escape through, with Jules and Chocola slicing through any that intervened. Despite their slow progress, the oppositions numbers kept increasing. Badniks crept ever closer as they manoeuvred forward and a collective managed to separate the group.

Bernie manoeuvred swiftly from three machines barrelling past her. Although colliding with a wall, more towered in front of the mother and readied their hollow arms. Sonia whimpered and Olgilvie gulped as the holes began to light up, only for a distant cry and precise swipe of a sword to interrupt. One of the badniks heads dropped off it's chassis, sending out a frenzy of electrical bolts.

"Hurry!" Tig Stripe panted and drove his weapon through another robot.

Bernie sent a powerful kick to a third, forcing it down on it's back prior to trying to find the others. In the midst of the overwhelming swarm of Badniks, Jules and Chocola were found back to back with swords raised. Alicia, neighbouring the two, ducked under what could've been a fatal blow and took off towards the King where Tig soon met her. Max was nearby, on the ground and struggled with another machine with only his sharp weapon between them.

"Crap." Bernie hissed, shifting Olgilvie and Sonia before taking off towards her partner.

"Max!" Alicia cried, Sally and Elias calling for their father.

Tig slashed and kicked down two ruthless machines and turned his back to the Queen, raising his sword to fend off any robots charging for them. Max, briefly distracted, turned to see glimpses of his family before losing his sword. He yelled and struggled against the large claw that entrapped his throat. He could feel the air rushing out of him, with vision going hazy and noises slurring together. He could feel a sudden painful ache in his arm and gasped, blearily blinking. Bright sparks washed over his view as heat washed over his face. Feeling the Badniks grip loosen, he turned to his side as a pair of young chipmunks shook his arm.

Max raised his head to see Alicia standing over him, sword driving into the Badnik before she sent it into a further three with a kick. The Queen wiped her forehead and smirked at her wide eyed partner prior to helping him stand, him doing so with a pained hiss. Giving the sword back to him, she gathered her children into her arms.

"If we make it out alive, remind me to get you one of these." Max wrapped an arm around his partner and surged forwards.

"When, you mean." Alicia corrected as they met with Tig.

"You need to get out of here." The latter gasped, elbowing a small Badnik away.

"That's the plan." Max responded.

Tig frowned briefly and pointed towards the Hedgehogs. Jules and Bernie were back to back, one with a sword and another acquired a Badnik shield. Olgilvie bounced around in a blue ball, colliding with small insect-like machines and swatting away unwanted traps. Sonia squealed as she kicked a circular, blinking device her brother had missed away.

"Bombs. Bombs!" Max bellowed.

"Exactly! Get them out of here! I'll hold them off!" Tig replied, driving his sword through a robots leg rather pointedly.

"You can come with us!" Alicia protested, yet eyes followed the tigers gesture to Max who held his arm and sword in hand.

"What is it?" The Queen asked, fear evident in her eyes.

"Ack-. Nothing. I...I think that Badnik back there got a hit on me." The King grimaced as he revealed missing fur, deep scratches and blood stained skin.

"That's why you need to leave." Tig argued hurriedly, eyes soon widening as the hilt of his sword crushed against a now broken claw. He brought the weapon back and with his lower arm shoved the machine into another.

Max hissed. "I'm fine. We can-."

"Do they look fine?!" The tiger aimed towards Chocola, who struggled to make his way back to the Hedgehog's.

"Go! You have a city to save, Sir! So save it!"

Max and Tig glared at one another as seconds ticked by. With a growl from the former, the King held Alicia's shoulder and took off towards the rest of the group. Sally and Elias' protests were drowned out by a bomb going off frighteningly close behind them and could only watch as Tig disappeared into the ocean of Badniks.

"Max!" Jules greeted, fending off a rather robust machine.

"Where's Tig?" Bernie questioned, lifting the two hoglets into her arms as Alicia welcomed Chocola.

The rabbit joined Max in assisting Jules continue clearing a path forward. They briefly conversed, asking about the King's wound but he merely shrugged it off, claiming they had bigger problems to address.

"He...he's buying us some time." Alicia didn't meet the lavender hedgehog's eyes and fell in line behind the aforementioned three.

"What does that mean?" Bernie frowned, soon gasping as she ducked under another hard swing whilst another bomb went off.

With another explosion following, it sent the vast room shaking with rubble starting to crash down from above. The Badniks froze briefly, watched the crumbling wreckage and then set out to chase the group. Claws swiped to grip anything possible, more explosives collected more material and dust, and a pillar beside the staircase collapsed.

"RUN!" Max bellowed at the top of his lungs as they began to charge, focusing more on escaping than fighting.

A wave of dust followed in pursuit and robotic limbs slid and scattered across the floor. It rained rubble and the room shook ferociously as they neared the grand castle exit. Jules glanced over his shoulder in search of Tig, but came up with nothing but fine powder. With a frown, he helped Bernie over the fallen doors and kicked back yet another machine. He then watched Alicia and Max sprint behind him, thus the blue father darted out the castle and met with those outside.

"Is everyone okay?" He panted, gripping his knees as a terrible wave of dust seeped out of the castle entrance.

"Ye-." Bernie started, only to gasp in horror once her eyes focused on their surrounding environment.

The gigantic Robo-Spider barrelled through the city violently, enabling bright blue beams to blast down to the ground below. Less cannons were firing and more people were retreating. Robians gathered their organic brethren into huddles and clawed at any who attempted to escape. Roaring flames licked at the groups faces as they reached for heavy, dark clouds. Reds and browns swirled in the sky, eating up any blue peaking through. Badniks tore apart anything Mobotropilis had left, replacing it with Robotnik Empire flags. And flowers vanished as pools of blood and oil took their place.

"Well! Glad you decided to join the fun, Max! You too Jules!" The colossal metal arachnid clattered to a stop, large crablike claws pinching at the air.

"Now, will you two come face me or shall I come over and get you?" Robotnik hissed lowly.

Jules twirled his sword, teeth grinding against each other. "Enough's enough. This has gone on for far too long."

"Then you better give him a proper send off." Max replied, holding his arm.

"I've been waiting for you to say that." Chocola grinned.

"Gather who you can." Alicia instructed.

"We need to find Vanilla and Manic." Bernie added.

"Well then, I bet I can get more hits than you." Jules challenged, looking to Chocola who laughed.

"Oh, you're on!"

"Be careful!" Alicia called after them, watching as Bernie split from the pair at the stairs ending.

Her eyes scanned the Badniks that charged towards Jules and Chocola prior to losing her balance from a vicious quiver. She could feel vengeful eyes digging into her back, thus she turned and her blood went cold. Eyes wide, Sally whimpered and Elias glared. Beside the Queen, Max took a shaky, sharp breath as his grip on his sword tightened. Perching on the wall, a robotic beetle of blacks, greys and greens peered over them.

"I've been waiting a very long time for this." A raspy voice hissed.

Max took a step closer to his family as the beetles face split apart like curtains, revealing a long nosed crazed individual surrounded by wires and buttons. He wore a clean green suit with black trousers and golden buckles, black boots to match.

"Oh no...." Alicia's ears folded back.

Max gulped, "Snively."