Chapter Text
::Present day::
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“Repeat after me, Kitsunami, I will be the new hero of Earth.”
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“I will be the new hero of Earth.”
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“I am Surge's sidekick.”
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“I am S-Surge’s sidekick.”
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“I will do whatever I can to aid her, protect her, and to serve her for the rest of my life.”
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I… I will do whatever I can to aid her, protect her, and to serve her for the rest of my life.”
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“And kill anyone that stands in her way.”
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“And k-kill anyone who stands in her way.”
-.-
Starline lowers his hand and types on his tablet. “Good, although that stutter is annoying. We'll work on that later. Go back to your room, Kit. It's Surge’s turn for… a check-up.”
The blue fox nods and hops off his chair, still seeing colors swirl in his vision.
He never liked this feeling. He felt sluggish and dizzy, with slight pain shooting up his limbs.
He always felt like this when he saw Starline.
Every. Time.
He hates it but can't pinpoint the cause of it. Starline calls it a wellness check.
He doesn't feel well, so he has his doubts but Starline promises that he'll strengthen him so he can be a better sidekick.
So he's willing to go to thousands of them if it'll make Surge happier.
He entered his room, letting the door slide close and lock behind him.
He looked at Surge who sat on her bed, deep in thought.
They turned to the sound of footsteps, watching as the doctor walked up to their room through the glass wall.
“Surge, time for your wellness check.” He smirks.
The tenrec fought the urge to glare as she got up from her bed. Kit watched as she guided away, not missing the look she gave him.
Uncertainty.
She must've felt the same as he did.
An hour later she returned, walking stiff with a dazed look in her eyes.
“A–are you okay?” Kit asked.
Surge sat down, her head hanging low. “... I will be once Sonic is put down.” She growled.
“Yes… of course. I'll–I'll do whatever I can to make that happen.”
“... We need to get some sleep. We have a mission tomorrow.” Surge mumbled as she buried herself into her thin bedsheets, facing away from him.
“Right.” Kit said eagerly, lifting the sheets and sliding under. “Goodnight, Surge.” He whispers.
Surge looked over her shoulder before closing her eyes, planning on what she'll do once she sees Sonic again.
-.-
Starline, Surge, and Kit walked through a dark tunnel with only a flashlight to guide them.
Surge leads the way as Starline explains their mission. “I used some of Eggman's robots and a hostage to lure them down here. This is a perfect opportunity to use the environment to your advantage. Trap Sonic and Tails and cause the cave to collapse.”
“H- how will we get out?” Kit asked timidly.
Starline shrugs. “You're smart. I know you can figure it out, Kit. You're the new Tails… A better Tails.” He smirks, getting the reaction he wants.
Kit looked forward with determination, puffing out his chest. “I'm better than Tails… I can do this.” He tells himself.
“Surge.” Starline calls. “Do not fail me again. Your future is at stake. You want to live Sonic's life? Then kill him and take his place.”
Surge can already see it. Surrounded by Mobians cheering for her, lavishing her with praise and adoration.
She'll be the better hero, better than Sonic ever was.
And bring true freedom to Earth.
“Got it, Doc. I won't let him get away this time.” Surge growled as she marched forward.
“Better not. You both are putting a dint in my budget. Eggman will not be happy if you both fuck up again.”
Surge rolled her eyes. It's always about the money. Greedy platypus.
Starline stopped walking. “Go on ahead. I'll catch up.”
Kit walked close to Surge, hearing her mutter. “Don't bother.”
They walked into an enormous cavern that was filled with old machinery and flood lights.
A mineshaft.
In the middle of a cavern was a female hedgehog tied up, lying on the floor. She panicked when she saw the tenrec and fox approach.
“Huh, I see the bait but no Sonic.” She sneered.
Kit tapped her arm and pointed up.
Sonic and Tails stood at the top of a large excavator. Tails held up a custom-made gun as Sonic stood next to him with the same annoying grin as the one before.
Electricity sparked from her when her eyes met Sonic's. This blue thorn in her side will finally be removed once and for all.
Sonic grinned. “Long time no see, copycat!”
Surge growled. “Copycat? Speak for yourself. This time I'm not holding anything back when I KILL YOU!”
She jumped towards him, clashing together in blue and green.
They dart around the cavern at high speeds as Tails and Kit stare each other down.
“Tails!” Sonic calls out as he dodges Surge’s attacks. “Get the hostage out of here!”
“Got it, Sonic!”
Tails leaps down and makes a move to grab the hostage but was too slow as a tendril of water surrounded her and pulled her away.
He looks at Kit, seeing his pink eyes shine through his bangs. Tendrils surrounded the hostage making her whimper as they inched closer.
Tails lowered his weapon. “Kit, let her go. She has nothing to do with this!”
Kit looks down, seeing tears stream down the hedgehog’s face.
She looked terrified.
But Kit only shook his head. “... N–no.”
“What do you hope to gain from this?” Tails asked as the wind swept around them.
This question caught Kit off guard.
What is he hoping to gain from this?
“... I… I want to make Surge proud of me and to be happy that she has the perfect sidekick to watch over her. And I'll kill anyone to make that happen!”
He snarled as his tendrils closed in on the hostage.
Tails aimed his gun above Kit and shot at the ceiling, causing stalagmites to fall.
Kit jumped away from the hostage, allowing Tails to grab her in time and dodge the debris.
He quickly untied her and pointed towards the exit. “Go down the tunnel, there's an exit up ahead.”
She nods. “Got it. Thanks Tails.” She ran down the tunnel to safety.
Tails dodged the tendril just in time as it strikes the ground next to him.
Kit held himself up by his tendrils. “I won't let you harm Surge!”
Tails dodged the next attack, shooting at the tendril heading his way, watching it splatter to the ground.
The tendrils grew back. “It's water, Tails! Your blaster can't do anything!”
“I can see that!” Tails yelled as he flew around the cavern, steering clear of Surge and Sonic.
Tails looked around, spotting the floodlights that littered the cavern.
That's it.
Tails dodged one more attack before flying towards the floodlights.
“I'm sorry to disappoint you Kit, but we will defeat Surge again because she's nothing like Sonic! She doesn't even compare. She's just a cheap imitation.” Tails taunted.
Kit was livid. “DON'T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT HER LIKE THAT! SHE'S BETTER THAN SONIC WILL EVER BE!”
Tails flew in front of the floodlight, just in time to see tendrils fly towards him.
He dodges, wincing as he tendril grazes the side of his stomach, leaving a deep cut.
Tails crash lands as the tendrils shattered the light, causing electricity to travel through the water, back to Kit.
Tails heard a yelp as Kit collapsed to the floor. He looked up to see Surge and Sonic run on the ceiling, knocking a stalagmite loose, falling towards Kit who's still recovering from the shock.
Without thinking, Tails flew towards him and grabbed Kit, inches away from getting crushed as dust billowed behind him.
Kit wedged himself out of Tails’ arms, looking at him in shock. “W-w-why did you do that? Why would you save me?”
Tails put a hand over his wound, his glove now stained with blood. He looked up and smiled.
“Because that's what heroes do.”
The water re-entered his backpack as he stared at Tails with a puzzled look.
They are heroes… aren't they?
Surge cried out as she landed hard on a pile of rubble.
“Surge!” Kit rushed over to her side, shielding her body from Sonic. “S-stay back, Sonic!... Please.”
Tails made a move to stand up, but winced, clenching his side.
“Tails!” Sonic ran towards Tails and looked at his wound. “Shit. We need to get you out of here.”
“Wait.” He looked towards the blue fox. “Kit… let me help you.”
“Tails, what are you talking about? He hurt you.”
Tails gave him a determined look, a look Sonic wore many times when he defended Shadow.
A look that says “I want to save him.”
Sonic sighs and picks him up, watching Kit drag Surge out of the rubble.
“Not this time, buddy… Maybe someday, but not now.”
Sonic ran down a tunnel towards the exit.
Tails turned his head, looking back to see Kit watching them as they left.
-.-
Kit got Surge to the mineshaft’s entrance before she woke up.
“Let go, Kit, I'm fine.” Surge legs shook as she stood.
Kit lets her stand. “I-I’m sorry.”
She frowns. “You should be. You fucked up the mission, so now we have to deal with Starline again! Why were you just standing there!?”
Kit cowered, lowering his head. “T-T-Tails saved me. He-he saved me when he didn't have a reason to. I don't know why but all he said was ‘it's what heroes do.’”
“Ugh, Kit. He's trying to get into your head, playing you like… Starline.” Her fears were realized.
“So, you've figured it out have you?”
They turned to see Starline step forward with Eggman's robots behind him.
“Another failure to log in. I suppose more experimentation is in order.”
Kit got behind Surge as she blew up at Starline.
“NOTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US ISN'T WORKING! EVERYTHING YOU'VE PROMISED US IS A LIE!” Lightning bolts shot from her body as she glared daggers at him.
Starline glared back. “Everything I did was for both of you. To bring peace, real freedom to all Mobians on Earth. Sonic is a powerful threat to our cause, so if you want the pain to stop YOU WILL DO AS I SAY!”
Surge winces, grabbing her head as his words kept repeating in her head. She collapsed to her knees.
“Surge!” Kit laid his hands on her back to comfort her. He turned to the doctor who did nothing but watch.
“Please! Please stop! We'll do whatever you want just PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!” He pleaded, sobbing as Surge fell on her side, grabbing her head as the pain got worse.
Starline raised his right hand, snapping his fingers.
Surge breathed a sigh of relief as the voices finally stopped.
“Let's go home.” Starline ordered as the robots surrounded them.
Surge got back up, pushing Kit’s hands away, refusing to look at him.
“S-s-surge? Are you okay?” Kit asked nervously.
Surge watched Starline walk away without a care in the world. His words whispered at the back of her head.
“... This isn't freedom.”
Kit watched, devastated as she left him behind, without looking back.
She's not happy here.
She's hurting.
And Kit knows that the pain won't end unless…
“... I… I want to make Surge proud of me and to be happy that she has the perfect sidekick to watch over her. And I'll kill anyone to make that happen!”
Kit looked at Starline, seeing red. He snarled and summoned water from his backpack but the robots didn't attack as he simply drank the water.
As much as his stomach could hold.
-.-
Everything went black as soon as they made it back.
Just as Kit predicted.
But he didn't predict what would come next.
He found himself tied down to a metal table, his body stripped of his clothing. Black dotted lines went down his arms, stomach, and legs with small circles on certain parts of his body.
Kit panted as he looked around, eventually spotting the doctor preparing the needles, each one glowing with a dark red substance.
“I'm glad to see you're awake. I didn't want you to miss anything. And don't worry, I'll make sure you'll remember this. The permanent marks will be a reminder.” He chuckles darkly.
“W-w-what are you going to do to me?”
Starline grinned. “Well, since you might not survive or remain sane after this, I'll explain.” He picks up one syringe, watching the red liquid glisten from the overhead light. “This is concentrated dark chaos energy. One of the three strongest forces that make up this world. They say that this energy birthed all evil that exists in our universe, able to corrupt even the most pure Mobians and empower them to their fullest potential… I wonder if it will do the same to you, Kitsunami.”
Kit tested the restraints, pulling but finding it hopeless as he's still too weak to fight. So, he reached an ultimatum.
“If… if I do this, can I trust that you'll make it less painful for Surge? Please?.”
Starline stared at him for a moment before nodding. “I want complete submission.”
Kit nodded. “You got it.”
“Then you have my word.”
He loaded the syringes to multiple robotic arms, directing them to every circle drawn on his body, including one on his back.
“Don't worry the pain will end, eventually.” Starline says as he pulls down a lever on the wall.
As soon as those needles pierced his skin, he screamed bloody murder.
He felt the searing heat travel through his body making his mind go black.
A distant voice was the only thing he remembered before blacking out.
BeCaUse…
… IT's WhAt HeroEs Do…
-.-
He found himself back in his room.
He slowly got up from his bed, his vision blurry.
He tried to remember what happened but only remembers the voice echoing in his head.
When he tries to move, pain spreads through his body, more specifically from the marks on his skin and fur.
He looked at his paws, at the marks that will never fade.
He jumped when he heard a loud banging noise and a scream.
Surge's scream.
Kit got to his feet, standing in front of the metal door.
He was determined to save her.
By any means necessary.
He remembers the water he drank earlier. Despite the torture, it was still there.
This will be uncomfortable.
He shoved his fingers down his throat and threw up his stomach's contents, letting it pool at his feet.
He panted, allowing himself to recover before holding his hands out and watching the liquid rise with his movements.
He inspected the door. It was reinforced, built to withstand a large amount of chaos energy.
But it had its limits.
With enough chaos energy, he could cut through it.
He took a deep breath, hearing Surge’s screams as he channeled his energy to his hands.
His glowing eyes snapped open as he yelled, swinging his arm, watching the fluid cut through five inches of metal like butter. It fell in two with a heavy thud.
He looked in awe, seeing the metal glowed as if it was cut with a hot knife. He brought the liquid closer, seeing that the fluid was boiling hot.
Was this the result of the injections?
He jumped again as the alarm blared through the facility. Some of Eggman's robots ran down the hall, shooting the fox.
“I have to save Surge… no matter what.” He muttered.
He cried out and leaped towards the robots.
-.-
“Why do you keep fighting? You're only making this harder for yourself. Think of what you could accomplish when I'm done with you. Think of what I could accomplish with Eggman! I would be a legend and you could be the greatest hero Earth has ever seen!”
Starline’s tricore glowed brighter, sending more shockwaves towards Surge who was already struggling to keep herself from collapsing.
“Why? Why am I so weak? Why can't I fight back… this… this hurts so much.”
At this point, Sonic barging in to save the day would be a god-send. But that would never happen… not after everything she's done.
Her only regret now is that it took her so long, too long to see the cracks in Starline’s facade. The lies, the pain, and that damn tricore… just to use them like tools. Like weapons.
Her limbs shook as she sank lower, her memories fading away slowly.
But then it stopped.
She slowly looks up, noticing that the doctor turned towards the door.
“Kit?” the doctor muttered in shock.
Surge's eyes widened as the small fox stood there, seething with glowing red eyes. The liquid he controlled is now black with oil.
Kit ran forward, causing Starline to aim his tricore towards him which gave Surge the upper hand.
With her remaining strength, she channeled electricity to her paw and shot the doctor from behind.
He yelled as hundreds of bolts ran through his body.
Kit looked at Starline’s tricore and shaped his dirty water like a blade.
With a downward slash, Starline’s hand was cut clean off.
“AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!”
He collapsed to his needs, still shaking from the shock, clutching his bloodied wrist.
“YOU FUCKING ABOMINATIONS! I SHOULD’VE KILLED BOTH OF YOU. YOU USELESS SACKS OF SHITS!!!”
Kit ignored his screams, but didn't ignore his tricore. He surrounded the glove in the fluids, crushing the tricore before running to Surge and putting her on his back. He didn't care about where his backpack was, he just wanted to get out of here.
So, he walked away. Never looking back as Starline yelled behind him.
He walked out of the facility, ignoring the dismantled robots littering the ground, heading towards the woods where they could disappear.
-.-
Kit sat hugging his knees, his tail wrapped around himself, watching Surge as she slept on the soft grass.
He didn't know where they were but that didn't matter now that Surge is here.
He hopes to Chaos that she'll forgive him and want to be with him.
He hopes…
Surge stirred with a groan, causing Kit to jump. His tail swayed back and forth as he beamed.
“You're awake, thank goodness! How are you feeling?”
“Like my brain was scrambled and my body was tied like a pretzel, but other than that, I'm fine. Are you okay?”
“Don't worry about me, I'm-I'm just happy that you're safe.”
She smiled, something he hasn't seen in a long time. “It's because of you. I've never seen you do anything like that before. The way you cut off his hand and crushed his tricore!? That was awesome!” She proclaimed. “Just imagine what we can do together. No rules. No responsibilities. Just you and me against the world. What do you think, Kit?”
Kit wanted to cry. It's like his hopes and dreams are finally becoming a reality. Both of them together, fighting side by side.
It was everything he ever wanted and more.
He smiled and nodded. “I think that would be great!”
“I knew you would like that.” She scooted closer to Kit, holding up her fist. “Fist bump.”
Kit smiled and gave her a fist bump.
Something about this was oddly familiar, but he buried the thought.
-.-