Path of the Hunters [PART 5] (NSFW)

"Yeah, that's why I'm doin' this free of charge."

"Well, that's mighty noble of you, Xavier."

"Bite this."

*

"Yeah..." It was almost like a dream to her... This shouldn't be happening, a voice in the back of her mind said. She was barely five years old; she shouldn't be feeling this way!

*

"...A brothel," Crescent answered grimly. "I remember this place..."

Snickering, Sunny nipped his neck. "So there. Now where's that damn human...?"

*

He sighed quietly. "I think I love you," he whispered. "Like I love Mom and Dad, but really different."

*

She frowned. "No wonder Kane and Nova are staying back..."

"If you'd lead the way, hedgehog, I could keep up with you up to speeds of 34 mph. That's my top speed, though. I ain't Kelly..."

He didn't know nor care who Kelly was, but made a sudden detour. "Fine. Can you duck?"

He did so. "Any particular reason why you seem to hate and distrust me even though it's obvious that I'm non-hostile and trustworthy?"

"You're a human who came here with weapons. With men who had more weapons. That is not a sign of hostility and untrustworthiness?" Face stoic, he went down a hall that was a bit shorter than Damien stood and sped up a bit.

"If I was hostile and untrustworthy, do you really think Cross and co would be going out of their way to help me? Honestly, I'm good, but I'm nowhere near good enough to be a threat to them or high-level Sangheli except at extreme range. Even then, I wouldn't be able to have Sangheli in my ranks if I wasn't trustworthy, they're a proud warrior race that places honor above all else." He shook his head, "The weapons are a precaution in case you became hostile. I live by the reasoning that if you don't trust me, I don't trust you."

He shook his head. It didn't matter to him what he said. He didn't trust humans. "We're nearly there."

Sol sighed, keeping pace with them easily (his wind powers enabled this). Then, his com came on. "Yeah?... Take a walk? You're almost outta... okay." He grumbled slightly, he did not want to relay this...

*

She gasped silently. Did Trip really just say that? Her mind all but shut down, her gaze never leaving his eyes for a second. "I... I..."

*

Crescent didn't seem to hear her. "This is the place where..."

"...Amile?" Aurore said quietly.

She shook herself out of her stupor. "Baudoins in business are not updated on 'unting targets, to keep them focused on the clan's revenue. These guys will not know of our status."

Shadow glanced over. "What?"

*

He blushed deeply. "S-s-sorry..."

*

Aurélie slid an arm around her waist. "It will be all right, ma cousine. We will go through quickly and we will be all right."

Sol groaned, giving in. "...Cross is taking a little walk. He'll be there to finish the job shortly."

*

Acting on instinct, she cradled his head in a hand, drawing him close. "...You apologize too much." She closed her eyes, feeling their lips touch.

*

"Of course we will," Aurore said. "They are always looking for new girls."

Damien raised an eyebrow, he was certain there was more to that, probably concering Cross' 'condition'...another question for another time, though.

He frowned. "Fine. If he isn't quick, we'll finish the process without him."

*

His eyes sprang wide. She was kissing him. It was short and chaste seeing how neither of them had seen ten years, but it was still a kiss and it still made him turn bright red.

*

"Of course they are..."

"Of course..." He wasn't about to tell Shadow the full reason behind Cross' "walk." He just hoped that he could pull it off, let alone make it back in a timely manner...

Outside the ARK, Cross looked out at the planet below. Though his body sparked dangerously with electricity, he stood strong. The dark memories of the past took hold of his mind: the man that captured him; the excruciating process; the combat with Shadow and others. It was almost too much to bear...

Then an aqua hedgecat shone in his mind, followed by flashes of other great memories: The team that was his friends; the family he now had; his loving wife... His eyes opened, shining a heroic blue.

"I'm in control."

*

She pulled away, opened her eyes. She smiled at the boy's beet red face, her own blush going bright. "Um... Sorry?" She laughed sheepishly.

*

"I'll lead," Aurore said, striding up to the front door.

"Madame Aurore!" The beagle greeted. "We did not realize you returned!"

"It was a long flight. I was 'oping to surprise Lord Baudoin with my two friends."

He glanced at the other two girls-he did not recognize them for who they really were-smirked. "Oui. Lord Baudoin is going to like this very much so."

"I am sure. Please keep this from 'im, non?"

"D'accord. Come right in." He opened the door for them, stepped aside.

Shadow led the way into the room Katherine's new body lay in.

*

"I... I... Oh my gosh... You just kissed me!"

*

Aurélie went in with Crescent and Aurore, trying not to twitch. A brothel. How disgusting.

Briggs looked up when the door opened again. "'Bout time you showed up. Cross went AWOL on us."

"Yeah, he told me," Sol said, rubbing his temples. "Well, there hasn't been any explosions yet, so things must be going okay."

*

Her blush brightened further. "Oh, I know! I'm so sorry! I didn't know what I was doing! It just, y'know, happened!"

*

"Try not to think about it," Crescent said in undertones. It was easy to see it made her skin crawl as well.

"This way, ladies," Aurore directed, rounding a corner.

He glanced over at her new body that was covered by a sheet. "Hmm...I forgot to get her some clothing..."

"...Gee, thanks."

Sunny rolled her eyes. "Way to go."

*

"I-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-" It continued for a few minutes until he collapsed in the water.

*

"Oui..." The dog followed, keeping an arm around Crescent's waist.

"An easily solvable problem. Just be glad I picked the Sangheli and not any marines."

"You can't just-"

"Nah, Shadow has trust issues, so we'll just get you clothed back on the Redemeption."

"God damnit...I didn't want to use a thin-ass hospital sheet as a robe the moment I got a body just because you forgot to get me some clothes."

"Oh quit whining." He replied with a chuckle, "So, is it ready?"

"Yeah, it's all set. All we have to..." Briggs trailed off, looking out the window, where there seemed to be a lightning storm going on. "What in the hell?..."

Sol moved over to the window, eyes narrowed. "Shit! That's Cross!" He moved back to go out the door, which opened before he got to it. On the other side, Cross was standing there, eyes closed. "...Cross?"

The echidna opened his eyes: they were not their normal violet, but not the violent green either. Instead, they were a heroic blue, which reverted back to normal. "I hope I didn't keep you guys waiting."

*

"Trip!" She pulled his head out the water, panicking a little. "Aw, man! I really did it, now! C'mon, Trip! Wake up! Speak to me! I'm really, really sorry!"

*

Aurore led them down to the end of the hall, to a pair of double doors. "Okay, ladies," she said, turning to them, an air of authority around her. "You are about to enter Lord Baudoin's private suite. 'E will be 'ere shortly, and when 'e does get 'ere, I expect you to show 'im the utmost respect, and make sure you show 'im an especially good time. Understood?... Just play along," she added in undertones.

"D'accord," Crescent said respectfully.

"Impressive, so, how do we go about doing this?"

"Yeah, Katherine, don't be so mad. He just wants to see you naked," Sunny added.

The hedgehog rolled his eyes, saying nothing. When Cross re-entered the room, he lifted a brow. The echidna was fine - good.

*

Star sighed, wading out to them. She'd seen the kiss, sighed over how cute it'd been, and had seen her son collapse. "Hi, Yue." She lifted tyhe kit out of the water, smiling. "We'll just give him a few minutes to wake up, okay?"

*

Aurélie nodded. "Et moi, madame."

He pulled off his helmet and looked up at one of the cameras, smirking. "...I won't deny that."

She didn't say anything.

Cross walked over to a console next to the table where the body lay. "Let's get started. Briggs, get ready to ignite the body. Mani, prepare the neddle. Damien, I need her core."

*

"Aw, Auntie Star!" she whined, still upset. "I really messed up! I didn't mean for all that to happen. we were just saying stuff, and I..." She blushed brightly. "Oh, what was I thinking!?"

*

"Bonne. Make me proud, ladies." She opened the doors, stepped through them.

He pulled it out of the back of his helmet and handed it over to Cross, a slight amount of hesitation. "Just...don't screw up, ok? I've never had much faith in back-ups of smart AIs, and I have no desire to see how reliable they are..."