Lightfox Origin Chapter 6

"There is one more thing I need to tell you about Agent Mel Lightfox."
The brown fox quickly made his way out of the building, scanning the now dark village for his fleeing companion. He spots movement towards the edge of the village near the field of flowers and makes his way there. He walks into the clearing and sees Shane moving past the field at a quick pace, making his way deeper into the forest, closer to the black smoke that Mel could see floating above the treetops. His ears droop and he starts running after the Lynx.
"Shane! Wait!" His voice carries through the thick trees and Shane stops, turning to see his friend moving towards him. He turns his back and quickly uses the back of his hand to wipe at his eyes before Mel can reach him. Mel comes to a stop just behind his friend, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Why did you run off?"
"Because... Just when I meet someone totally awesome and it seems like the feelings might be mutual, it turns out their from another dimension and are going to leave." Shane still won't make eye contact and is trying hard to not let it show that he's been crying. Before he can move, two brown arms wrap around his chest and pull his back against soft white fur. Mel places his forehead gently against the back of the lynx's black hair. They stand in silence for a moment, only broken by an occasional sob.
"Come with me." Mel whispered softly into the tan ear of his companion. Shane pushed from the hug and turned around, staring at his friend wide eyed. Mel's eyes were watery, but no tears had streaked his cheeks. "If you think that way, come with me." He held his hand out for Shane to take. The tan hand reached forward and just as their fingers brushed, a large crashing sound could be heard followed by a large team of swatbots breaking through the tree line.
"Halt! You are under arrest for trespassing. Under order of Doctor Ivo Robotnik, you will surrender or be eliminated." The mass of robots had laser rifles trained on the two. Mel was about to take offensive action when he saw the fear on Shane's face and the amount of sights pointed at them. He placed his hands above his head and nodded to Shane, who did the same.
"Subject: Shane Lynx, known Freedom Fighter, Caretaker of Mobian children. Subject: Unknown, no data. You are both to be transported to Robotropolis to await robotization." Shane paled and fresh tears started anew from his eyes. Mel moved close to him as they were lead to a transport. Once seated, he pulled the shaking Lynx against his chest, glaring at the swatbot that continued to keep a laser rifle trained at his forehead.
It was a short trip and they were soon nudged off the transport with the butts of the laser rifles. Shane stayed as close as he could to Mel, who was currently covering his face from the smell of the metallic city. They were lead to a large oval shaped metal building, where the large doors opened automatically. Small cameras with a giant lens floated towards them, Mel could feel the energy of scans going over them before a booming voice came over a loud speaker.
"Swatbots! The scanners can't get a clear reading on the fox." A grin spread across his white muzzle. "They seem to be originating from the silver devices around his wrists and boots. Remove them." They moved in close and pointed the rifles at him. He rolled his eyes and with the press of two buttons on each ring, they came loose and he handed them to the outstretched hand of a nearby Swatbot. He felt the scan again, hearing a frustrated growl come over the loud speaker. "I still can not get an efficient read on him. Tell me fox, what is causing it and I may spare your life." He let out a laugh, causing Shane to jump slightly.
"First, it's Lightfox and I'm a hedgehog/fox hybrid. Second, you won't get any readings from me due to the amount of Chaos Energy that my body naturally makes." He crossed his arms, only to have the butt of a rifle crash into his jaw. He placed a hand on the swelling flesh, glaring at the Swatbot. "Try that again rust bucket and I'll make you into an ashtray..."
"Swatbots, bring the new arrivals to the command center. I believe they both have a date with my robotizer."
Again, they were lead through the building, taking elevators to a large room with a giant platform in the middle of the room with wires extending from almost all surfaces. Two swatbots grabbed Mel's arms and held him in place, while another grabbed Shane and dragged him, kicking and screaming to the platform. As they neared, Mel could see a large cylindrical glass descending from the ceiling. The swatbot threw the small Lynx into the tube just as the glass closed, forcing him inside. Shane stood, turning to Mel and banging harshly on the glass, his words muffled. The swatbot went over to the console nearby, setting the four inhibitors in a containment unit before powering up the device. The loud hum that began was quickly drowned out by the screams of agony from the Mobian inside. Mel pulled on his arm, setting the swatbot off balance. He quickly removed his arm from it's grip before grabbing the other by the face and kicking off it's chest to get closer to his friend. He wasn't expecting a large red robot to come from a panel in the wall to grab him with its large hands. He kicked and flailed in vain against the massive robot and could only watch in horror as the device agonizingly slow process of turning Shane's legs from fur to metal.
A monitor in the room turned on and a large mustached man's face appeared on the screen, laughing hysterically. "Let's set up a live feed for your Freedom Fighting friends. So they see the power I hold." A second monitor appeared, showing a shocked Princess Sally and irritated Sonic. He closed his eyes and hung his head. "So hedgehog. How does it feel to watch helplessly as I turn some of your allies into my willing servants?"
"Excuse me, Doctor Robotnik was it?" Mel's head snapped up to stare at the screen as his brown haired creator appeared as a side by side with the Freedom Fighters. " The thing you should know about your one prisoner there is not only does his body create chaos energy for him to use, which I'm sure he mentioned, but he can also drain it from things around him, this includes the robot you currently have holding him." A broad toothy grin spread across the fox/hedgehog as he closed his eyes and concentrated, feeling the energy from the robot and drawing it into his body.
The robot sparked for a moment before releasing Mel and falling to the ground with a loud clank. He felt the energy of the other Swatbots in the room, getting ready to fire when he pulled the energy from them and sent them to the floor as well. He concentrated the energy into his hands, spreading his arms wide and opening his glowing purple eyes to look at scared brown.
"Chaos Shockwave!" He clapped his hands in front of him, sending a wave of purple energy into the robotizer. It sparked and smoked before shutting off. Mel jumped up onto the platform and balled his fist before smashing the glass holding his friend captive. As he picked up his disoriented companion from the now broken device, he could hear the door opening and metal on metal stomping. He looked at the console nearby and dodged laser fire to grab his inhibitors from the sealed container. "Hold these tight. I'll need them in a minute." He made sure Shane was holding them tightly in his arms before concentrating on the remaining chaos energy he had in reserve. His eyes glowed the vivid purple, staring at the two screens and smirking at his creator who was shaking his head. "Chaos Control." With a flash of purple, they were gone and all that echoed through the metal building with the enraged howl of the large dictator.
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A bright purple flash appeared behind the stunned Princess and Mel appeared with a very tense Shane still held tightly in his grip. He dropped hard to his knees, panting heavily with sweat drenching his body. He gently set his companion on the floor and took the inhibitors from the container, placing them back on with a press of the same two buttons. The two Freedom Fighters gathered close, but gave him space.
"That was extremely stupid of you Agent Lightfox! You could have completely drained your Chaos reserves! The people of that dimension do not have the resources to get you back on your feet. You could ha...." The Professor was about to continue his rant when Mel stood shakily and looked at him with dull purple eyes.
"Professor, everything worked out. We are safe and...." He glanced at Shane, who was sitting on the floor, staring at his metallic legs in sheer sadness. "Mostly intact. I'll contact you again when we are ready to teleport." He went to the console and ended the transmission, turning to the two that were trying to help Shane to stand on his own. "When I hit the robotizer with my shockwave. I may have also hit you. It might be a little before you gain the ability to walk again. Sorry..." He bent down and gently placed his hands on the metal knee joints. He turned to Sonic, "Can I bother you to get me a power ring? I'm a little tapped out and would rather not shut down your computers..." The hedgehog nodded and went over to a small room off to the side of the main, coming back holding a brightly glowing ring in his hands. As he handed it to Mel, it flashed and disappeared from their grasp and Sonic saw the faint glow return to the fox's purple eyes. He smiled and turned his attention back to Shane, placing his hands back on the knee joints.
"Lightfox... What are you doing?" Shane watched with wide eyes as the same purple glow from early encased his friend's hands. Small particles of it started to float into the metallic panels that made up his legs. He could feel a small tingle as Mel continued to direct some of his own Chaos energy into the wires and plates. When he finished, he was sweating and panting heavily, but he forced a grin to look at his friend. He stood and held his hands out for Shane to take. It took a few tries, but soon the Lynx was standing on his new robotic legs. He took a few unsteady steps with the help of Mel and using him as a crutch for a little.
"Mel Lightfox. I am not sure how you did it, but you have managed to put a major dent in Robotnik's plans for a short time." The Princess placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned and raised an eye ridge at her. "Your Creator, Professor Edla gave us some information about you and you used that ability to destroy one of Robotnik's most feared devices. We want to thank you before you leave."
"Your Majesty, you don't have to do that. Besides, what would the Coyote or Skunk think of you setting up a thank you and farewell party for a criminal?" He still helped to support his friend as they continued to make small progress around the room. She placed her hands on her hips and gave him a mock glare.
"It's Sally. And you let me worry about Antoine and Geoffrey. Sonic, spread the word around the village to prepare for a party like no tomorrow. I think it would be good for morale." The blue speedster grinned from ear to ear and took off out the door, almost sending the poor Lynx getting used to his new legs to the floor. A firm hold from Mel kept him upright and he stuck his tongue out at the now shut door.