Realm Sagas: Story Twelve: Covert Operations By: Chandra Rooney ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legal junk {for all the legal junkies!}: Sonic & Knuckles, and all related characters are copy-right of Sega and Archie comics. KTE, ETK, and Masked Echidna are copy-right of KTE. Vampire Sephiroth is copy-right of Vampire Sephiroth. Moon the Echidna, Gabriel Shadows, k.a. Echidna, Sailor Evil, Belladonna, and all other original characters are copy-right of Chandra Rooney. All the characters and ideas presented are my own, unless otherwise noted. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter One: Vampire Home Realm "They're coming," the female silver echidna hissed. Six shadowy forms passed into the clearing. "Get ready," the red one beside her whispered. The six vampires were all in their late teens. The leader had short black hair which kept falling in her icy gray eyes. "Nissa," Star whispered. "She's the one I got in a fight with earlier." The other five were a straggly group of 2 more girls and 3 guys. "She's got a wooden fighting stick," ETK whispered. "Snakewood. Good, hard, yet resilient. We need to get that. I could stake the whole lot of them with it." She was surprised. She'd never heard ETK talk like that before. So clearly professional and utterly confident. The usual confusion was gone from his voice. "You've never even touched a stake," she told him. "You'd be slaughtered." "Go for the leader. Grab that stick of hers, and start staking. Through the heart. *All* the way through. If it doesn't penetrate through the back they might still live." "Where'd you hear this?" Star was growing concerned. It had completely stopped sounding like ETK now. "Who taught you this?" A pause. "E? Are you still there?" "I'm afraid, ETK is no longer here," a smooth voice replied. "As for your other question, experience mostly. But a lot came from tagging along with my father." A pause. "Come on, they'll have caught our scent by now." "I smell food," Nissa said. "Surround that rock people." A hungry smile. "It's feeding time." "Now you've done it," the voice told her. "Too late to plan now." Star tried to huddle back further into the shadows. Nissa moved forward. The silver echidna leapt over the rock and tackled her. She blinked. He looked like he was her age of 16 or a little older. Very nice dark brown eyes. But he had the weirdest red streaks through his hair. One running up and down the length of each dread. He grabbed the stick, snapping Nissa's wrist in the process. "Call off your gang," he hissed. "Or die." The stick's tapered end was indenting the material of her shirt, right over her heart. Nissa laughed. Then she spat in his face. The echidna didn't flinch. He simply set his mouth in a grim line. "If that's your choice..." he slammed the stick through her chest. Nissa screamed. The other five vampires attacked. He caught the first one by wrenching out the stick, and holding it in just the right position. The vampire guy ran right into it. The silver-haired girl in the black sailor outfit came from beyond the rock, waving two make-shift stakes of scrappy, weak, green wood. She staked one girl who tried to knock away the bloody fighting stick. The echidna used the stick to end the existence of the second male who was trying to bite his neck. Sailor Evil terminated the last female vampire as he was trying to stake the last male. But this guy was no idiot. He'd seen how easily the blood-covered demon had killed his t hree companions. "Look, I don't know what the hell you are..." the guy began. "But don't you come any closer to me." The echidna growled lowly. "*Idiot*. I don't have to take another step to kill you." He flung the fighting stick, easily implanting it in the guy's chest. The last vampire dropped. Sailor Evil was trembling a little. "Why him? The others attacked; it was self-defense, but he...he didn't do anything." The echidna walked over to the last body and withdrew the fighting stick. "Twas self-defense also, m'lady. First rule of the Slayer's Code: never let one of them who's seen you face live to tell about it." He looked at her, frowning. Dark brown eyes narrowed. "You're covered in blood," she told him. "You're one of *them*." His grip shifted on the stick. "No...wait..." she backed off, not stopping till she bumped into the rock. "You don't want to do that..." She paused. There was no answer. She looked; the silver echidna was gone. "Boss?" a weak-sounding voice asked. She turned. A blood-splattered ETK was looking half-dazed at the bloody wooden fighting stick in his hands. "Boss? What happened? Why are all these guys dead?" "Where did you get that stick?" she demanded. "I f-found it on the ground." She sighed. "Drop it. You'll have everyone thinking you're a Slayer. C'mon it's late." Chapter Two: Silver Echidna Home Realm Belladonna repeated the chant one last time, then she tapped the materia, placed it on the cot, and stepped back. It glowed, then vanished. The silver-haired girl in the sailor scout uniform remained. She gasped and coughed once. Then she opened dark blue eyes. "Mom?" she asked, voice strained, weak. "I'm here, Moon," Belladonna replied. "How do you feel?" "Where am I?" Sailor Moon E looked around. "The...study?" "Careful, dear, you're still weak," Belladonna cautioned, helping her sit up. "Where's Gabe? And Masked? And k.a.?" Moon asked. "Are they all right? Where are they Mom?" "Right here," the tall, red echidna said. She turned, and smiled. "Ash." "How's my little sister?" he asked, twilight blue eyes concerned. He came over, bent down, and gave her a quick hug. She accepted the hug. "I'm all right. Where's Gabe and Masked?" "Gabe stayed behind with Sailor Vega H and Sailor Phoenix F to wrap up some lose ends there." He smiled. "They're two of the other Realm Protectors we've been looking for." Sailor Moon E nodded. "That's good. Where's Masked?" "Uh...he's around," Ash paused. "Waiting for his mask to get fixed." A pair of dark eyes peeked up from under a brown hat. "Hellwo!" She blinked. "Ash...who is *that*?" Her brother looked embarrassed. "Well, KTE and I had a little accident with some gold powdery stuff..." "You spilled regression treatment on him?!" Sailor Moon E exclaimed. "KTE?! You mean he's alive?!" The small, red, five-year-old crawled up beside her. "I said 'hellwo'!" "Hello, young kte," Bella smiled. "How are you?" "Oh-kay," kte replied. He went back to playing with Sailor Moon E's long, silver hair. "I get trapped in a little orby-thingy and I miss out on everything." She muttered. "You're sure pretty," kte told her. "Why ya all dressed up?" Sailor Moon E patted his hand absently. "I'm in a sailor scout outfit, kte." "Cool!" kte announced. "Hmm, yes." Belladonna placed a hand on her shoulder. "I doubt you'll be back to full strength for a while. Yet, even though you lack the power to get back into True Form, I must suggest you at least find something a little more appropriate to wear." She nodded. "All right, Mom." "And do something with your hair..." "Yes, Mother," Sailor Moon E said through clenched teeth. "I'll call Frost, and see she helps you," Belladonna said simply. "Frost?" She made a face. "Yuck...gossipy.." "Careful, sis, you're starting to whine like Sailor Evil," Ash joked. "I'm going to be drug off soon." She muttered to him. He chuckled. "Well, I'm bailing then. C'mon kte." kte looked stubbornly at Ash. "No! I wanna stay with the pretty sailor lady!" "You know what, honey?" She asked him. "You go with Ash and as soon as I'm done I'll come find you." "Oh-tay," kte said. "Yeah, c'mon, kte. I'll introduce you to someone your age that you can play with." Ash promised. "His name's k.a." kte looked up. "Really? I like ta play!" Sailor Moon E gave him a quick kiss on the nose. "Go on with Ash." She glanced up at her brother. "Stay out of trouble." <> Ash replied telepathically, complete with a mental chuckle. "Come on kte." kte hopped down from the cot, and walked out the door with him. Sailor Evil groaned and opened her eyes. She sat up in bed. Ugh...another day. She pulled herself together and went to find out what the rest of the realm was up to. Gabriel Shadows had passed out sometime in the night. The suffocating feeling had caused him to cease to exist on a conscious level. Because he was unconscious he didn't notice how his muscles were itching...or how his fangs had disappeared... "What do you mean he's gone?" Sailor Evil demanded. "He left and didn't come back," Julie-su Echidna replied. "Where'd he go?" "Sephiroth didn't say where he planned on going. He just left." "Mother Goddess," Sailor Evil muttered. "How perfectly wonderful. When was this?" "Yesterday," Julie-su replied. "And you're just telling me now?!" "You're just asking now." Sailor Evil barely refrained from choking her. "Fine. Just tell me where to find ETK." "Can't," Julie-su snapped a pink bubble. "He's gone too. Said he had somewhere to be." Sailor Evil snapped. "He's gone too?! Where could he possibly have to go? He's a bloody clone!" Chapter Three: k.a.'s Home Realm Dr. Eugene Yadot looked at the computer screen. He scratched at his mustache. When he'd first researched how to change the appearance of a subject through genetics, he'd known he'd found his calling. Dr. Ivo Robotnik had only been too happy to finance his endeavors. He'd been part of developing many a project for the "good" doctor. Then, when her majesty vampire Queen Hecate-Chaos had inquired about his services, it had been high flattery. He'd searched out a perfect specimen, acquired the needed genetic material as reference from the bounty hunter KTE, and put his special skills to work. At the same time creating his first prototypes: Kit Fox and Ember Hedgehog. ETK, as he'd dubbed the look-alike was his pride and joy, though. He'd overcome the boy's own original genetic code to redesign it from down to his thinking patterns to his reduced age. ETK was a marvel of science. Yadot looked over at the resting clone. ETK did have a small flaw, though. He had managed to retain a tiny bit of his previous personality. But this true clone, made completely from KTE's genetic material and grown cell by cell in a monitored lab.. He looked up. He could've sworn he'd heard a noise... The red echidna walked into the lab. In his hand he clutched a piece of torn print-out. "ETK..." Yadot began. "What are you doing here?" "Queen Hecate-Chaos sent me to talk to you," ETK mumbled. He held out the paper. "About this." Yadot smiled. "Excellent." That must mean she'd accepted his offer to trade ETK for the KTE clone. The one he'd sent her late last night. "I just have one question for you," ETK began. Yadot frowned. Impatiently he snapped, "All right. What is it?" ETK slammed him up against the wall. "Who am I?" Yadot gasped. "Oh dear, you intercepted the message before it got to Queen Hecate-Chaos, didn't you?" "Answer the question," ETK snapped. "Ho now, you're being very disobedient, ETK," Yadot gasped. ETK slammed him against the wall, and put hands around his throat. "Tell me who I am!" "Why you're ETK, loyal servant of Queen Hecate-Chaos," Yadot mumbled. "Don't you remember your treatment, ETK?" "I didn't take my 'treatment'," ETK replied. He put the barrel of his beta-particle blaster against Yadot's temple. "Now, I'll give you one more chance to tell me who I am. Answer the question or die." "I'll have to report this to Queen Hecate-Chaos, ETK," Yadot told him. "You think she'll be happy about it?" ETK set his mouth in a grim line. "If that's your choice..." He pulled the trigger. Chapter Four: Silver Echidna Home Realm The white female echidna purposely sorted through the closet. She sighed, and looked back at the silver-haired girl. "Hurry up and get in there; the water's getting cold." The girl didn't move, stubborn look in her dark blue eyes. "Honestly, Lady Selene, do I have to hold your hand?" Frost asked. The girl shook her head. She disappeared into the bathroom. "So," Frost began, back to searching through the clothes. "You make a point of becoming stuck in human form every 2 years or so?" "It wasn't my fault," Selene called from the bathroom. "Not completely this time." "Hmmm," Frost mumbled. "Unlike the last time." "I thought we agreed never to talk about that again?" the sound of angry splashing accompanied the hostile reply. "My apologizes, Lady Selene. It slipped out." "My name is *Moon*." "Moon is an echidna," Frost replied. "You, my dear, are a *human*." "You're enjoying rubbing this in, aren't you?" Selene stood in the doorway, wrapped in a towel. Her long, silver hair was dripping on the floor. Frost waved a hand dismissively. "Put this on." Selene took the long, royal blue skirt and the black shirt. She disappeared back into the bathroom, and came back out with them on. "Frost, there is a silt clear up to my knee in this skirt." Frost nodded. "On both sides. Makes it easier to walk, and it looks very chic." Selene crossed her bare arms. "And the halter top? I suppose it's easier to walk in too." Frost gestured to a chair. "Stop being such a child and sit down. Let's see what I can do with this hair." kte sat on the counter, kicking his feet. Ash rubbed his knuclaws, and then turned back to him. "Now, you stay put while I go get k.a." kte nodded. He watched Ash walk off, and then went back to listening to the 'thump' sound his feet made against the counter. A tall, silver echidna came into the room. "Hellwo!" kte cried. The silver echidna blinked twilight blue eyes. "Why hello. Who might you be?" "I'm kte! Who are you?" "My name is Dimitri," the silver echidna replied. "Is Ashrire nearby?" "Nope." kte shook his head. "Mista Ash went to find k.a. We're gonna play!" As he spoke another small, red five-year-old was coming into the room. "Hellwo Daddy!" k.a. cried. "Hello, k.a." Dimitri smiled. "I hear you're going to play with kte." "With who?" k.a. asked. "Hellwo!" kte said. "I'm kte!" "Hellwo!" k.a. cried back. "I'm k.a.!" "Wanna play?" kte asked. "Oh-tay!" k.a. said. "Let's play tag!" He punched kte's arm, and ran off laughing. "You it!" "I'm gonna catch you, k.a.!" kte cried, and ran after him. Chapter Five: k.a.'s Home Realm ETK looked continued searching through the lab. Somewhere there had to be a hint as to his previous identity. He threw some more papers out onto the floor. Then, he turned and began to look through some other drawers. In the first drawer was a brown pack-sack. He pulled it out, and pulled the contents out onto the table. Inside was a lap-top, a few wooden stakes, a wallet, and a calculator-shaped device. He tried to open the lap-top but it seemed to be secured in some way. The wooden stakes held no interest to him. The wallet did. He flipped it open. A large sum of cash was inside. Also, there was a couple identification cards. He looked at the one. It was a permit to travel between realms granted to someone named Lirsage. It had a picture of a silver male echidna with red streaks in his dreads. Judging from the birth date, this guy was 17. He couldn't make out all the information on the second card, but it had something to do with a license to kill or something. "Well, this guy was a regular James Bond, wasn't he?" ETK remarked. He put the cards back in the wallet, and stuffed it back into the pack with the stakes and lap-top. Then, he looked at the last item. ETK recognized it. He'd seen Sailor Evil use something similar to this. It was a realm portal creator. You used them to open passageways to other realms. Well, it makes sense, he thought. The guy has a license to travel between realms, he'd have to have one of these things too. Or he'd have to lie through his teeth to a passageway guard to let him pass. Like ETK had done back in the Vampire Home Realm. "Merr-ow?" ETK looked up. A small, gray cat had climbed up onto the table and was looking at him with pale blue eyes. "Where'd you come from?" he asked the cat. "Merr-ow," the cat replied, purring and rubbing against his arm. "Purrrrrrrr." "Aw, cute little thing, ain't ya?" ETK asked. He reached down to pat the cat. The cat looked back up at him with large eyes. "Come with me." ETK gawked. "I must be losing it... I thought you talked to me..." The cat hopped up onto his shoulder. "I did." She licked one of her paws. "You want to go home, don't you?" "A talking cat wants to take me home?" He laughed weakly. "Well why not? It's clear I've completely lost it." He paused. "Lead on, kitty-cat." Chapter Six: Silver Echidna Home Realm "There!" Frost stepped back. "All done. And don't you look cute." Selene stared at her reflection. "What did you do?" "Well, I separated your hair into two equal sections and gathered it up on the side." Frost smiled. "You look just adorable, Lady Selene." "I look like I have meatballs on my head," Selene replied. "I think you look fine," a voice said. Selene turned to see the 19-year-old boy with the black hair and dazzling green eyes. Gabriel Shadows smiled down at her. "Feeling better, Moonbeam?" "Gabe!" she jumped up and hugged him. "Hey, whoa, easy there girl." He chuckled. "Is this a side-affect of being trapped in a materia?" "Is that what that thing's called?" she made a face. "It was awful. Worse than this hair." "Oh, stop it," he told her. "There's nothing wrong with your hair. Your mom explained how you're too weak to change. And about KTE's little accident." "Yeah, it sucks." Selene made a face again. "Just think, he's stuck like that till it wears off. And who knows how long that will take." "At least k.a. has someone to play with," Gabe smiled. "They're playing tag in the hallway." "Awww, how cute," she giggled. "I can remember when you, me, and Lir used to do that." "We were that sickeningly adorable?" he asked, disgusted. "Lir?" Selene blinked. "Yeah, you remember, me, you and Lirsage. The three musketeers." "Oh, that Lir," Gabe smiled again. "I just...haven't heard you talk about him." "Well, maybe because I haven't seen him in a while." Selene stood. "You know, I need just one last thing to feel completely at home." "And what's that?" He grinned mischievously. "To see my cat," she turned to Frost. "Where is Venus, Frost? I can't believe she hasn't found me yet." "To be honest, Lady Selene," Frost began. "Venus ran off a few weeks ago. I'm afraid she hasn't come back." "Venus?" Gabe looked confused. "You remember, silly, my cat. Small, gray, light blue eyes." Selene gave him an exasperated look. "C'mon Gabe! *Venus*. I've had her for like forever. I can't believe you've forgotten all this stuff. Jeez, living in the Vampire Home Realm must have seriously messed-up your head." "Now just a minute..." he began. "I was kidding, Gabe." She sighed. "What's your problem? Did you lose your sense of humor as well as your memory?" Chapter Seven: k.a.'s Home Realm "So, we close yet?" ETK asked. "Very close," the gray cat replied. "Just keep walking." "So where are we going?" he asked after a few moments had passed. "You'll see..." to be continued --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cast: Selene: Sailor Moon hair! ahahahaha... {sorry, I couldn't resist} She knows this Lirsage that Bella told KTE about. Gabe: He's lying unconscious in a dungeon and only VS knows it! kte: How long will it take before he returns to normal? k.a.: He's happy to have someone to play tag with. Belladonna: Will she find a way to repair Masked's mask? Dimitri: Can he patch things up with Ash? Sailor Evil: Does she know VS is up to something? Vampire Sephiroth: He's acting without SE's knowledge. Can he really fool Moon into thinking he's Gabe? {he seems to be doing an okay job so far..} ETK: He's not a clone. He killed about five people. And now he's talking to a cat. What's up with this guy? Lirsage: An old friend of Moon and Gabe. But how does he fit into the picture?