GeneX - Entering Despair
Chapter 2 - Entering Despair

Note: Sonic the Hedgehog and related characters are (c) SEGA and 
Sonic Team. You knew that, right?
GeneX and related fanchars are (c) 2BIT (TheGreatGator), the author.

The story thus far:
Violet is an echidna haunted by the memories of her parents' murder at the hands of GUN's Sergeant Murten, Gunner's predecessor. She is the sister of Rainbow. One night, Fera, an agent of an anti-human organization known as the Covenant of Despair, came to Violet with an offer to join their organization. Violet initially refuses. Meanwhile, the covenant is plotting something with mobsters. That night, Violet has nightmares, and the next morning, scared of her vengeful thoughts, Violet throws away the beacon given to her by Fera.
Now, on to the next chapter!

Troblusk City is never a bright place. Morning, noon, and night, there seems to be a slight veil around the city, making it darker than other cities in the United Federation. Some attribute this dark atmosphere to pollution, but visitors believe it is simply a reflection of the overall demeanor of the city. As Violet wandered through the town, the morning sky looked more like an evening sky, save for the position of the sun. It was less crowded than usual, since it was a Sunday morning, and the criminal element of the city was mostly indoors, not for religious reasons, but because there were no places open to commit their crimes at. Violet was walking down a residential area, which was mostly quiet, except for a human child playing with a ball in the street. The child wore the trademark outfit of the city, a black tee shirt, jeans, and a black baseball cap. Violet stopped to watch the child, frowning with annoyance. Kids were always unsupervised in this city, often playing in the street without regard for the vehicles that never obeyed speed limits. A prime example of this began to play out before her eyes, as Violet spotted a car speeding down the street toward the child, whose back was turned! Horrified at what might happen, Violet dashed into the street and pulled the child out of the way! As she did, the ball the child was playing with fell to the ground, and the car passed over it seconds later! Violet sighed with relief, then proceeded to scold the child. "Do you realize how close you just came to being killed!? You should know not to play in the street! What would your parents say if they were here!?" she said sternly. She was about to get her answer, as an angry voice was heard behind her! "What are you doing to my kid, you animal!?" Turning around, Violet saw the child's father, who was glaring down at her in a very unpleasant manner. "Your kid almost--" Violet started to say, when the child's mother ran over with a baseball bat. "What's going on here!? Did you touch my kid!?" she yelled. Violet stared at the parents in disbelief. "Are you serious?" was all she could manage to say. "You better get the hell outta here!" the father threatened. "And if I EVER catch you around here again, I'll kill ya!!" the mother added. Violet now had no pity for these humans. She walked away in a huff. "You're welcome, ingrates!" she mumbled as her pace quickened to a run. It was disgusting to her. They wouldn't teach their kid to watch for traffic, but they'd threaten her, who just saved the child's life! Yes, it was best to suspect everyone in Troblusk City, but even so, it just didn't seem right to Violet.


Though the criminals were mostly inactive that day, some were quite busy. Mitch the Weasel was seated at a table inside a construction site. It was an abandoned project, and the first floor had only three walls. Mitch was surrounded by gargoyles. They were rough customers, every one. A few were dressed in black suits, similar to Mitch's. There was a map laid out over the table, depicting a large building. Mitch pointed to the main entrance with a ruler. "Now, this job should be cake. The only guards on Sunday nights are posted at the main entrance, here." he said. A brown gargoyle with a black suit and hat stood across from Mitch, and growled at him. "That's not how I hear it. Word is they got guards at the back doors, and some patrolling around the more... interesting exhibits. Are you settin' us up, Infin?" he said. Mitch grinned at the gargoyle. "Now, who told you that? 'Cuz I'm tellin' you, the MUSEUM don't got any extra guards..." The brown gargoyle raised an eyebrow. "Just what do you mean by that? If those guards aren't museum guards, then what..." He was interrupted by Mitch. "Listen up, 'cuz I'm only gonna say this once..."

Meanwhile, Violet was walking past the construction site. She heard voices inside, and at first just ignored them. Suddenly, the voices became louder. Violet, having nowhere in particular to go, decided to investigate. She walked over to the opening in the wall, standing just out of sight, and listened to what the voices were saying. "Calm it down, goyles, I got a plan. Don't worry about it. You'll all get your cash." It was Mitch's voice. One of the gargoyles spoke next. "Grrruh... I don't know. You sure robbin' the museum will be worth all the trouble?" Violet gasped at what she'd heard. She'd never actually caught any of the criminals in the city plotting their crimes before, and it startled her a little. Unfortunately, she gasped too loud. "Hey, what was that?" one of the gargoyles asked. Realizing what was happening, Violet backed away from the wall, and since she wasn't watching where she was stepping, she stepped on a discarded soda can, making a loud crunching sound as she crushed it. "Grrruh... Someone’s out there! Get 'em!!" shouted a gargoyle. Violet froze for a moment, shocked. As Mitch and a pair of the gargoyles found her, she snapped out of it and started to run away. The gargoyles started to chase her, but Mitch grabbed them by the tails. As Violet ran out of earshot, Mitch explained himself. "Don't worry none about her. I recognize that one. I know where she lives... Besides, I don't think she'll squeal on us." he said. The two gargoyles glared at him. "Grrruh... Did you have to pull our tails!?"

Violet had run towards the police station, but stopped before she reached it. Since the gargoyles had stopped chasing her, she felt safe enough. Still, the upcoming robbery worried her. "Should I tell someone about it? The museum's run by humans... And I'm not so sure I want to help THEM..." she thought, turning to head home. Her thoughts turned to that morning, when those parents were shouting at her. "Humans don't deserve to be helped..." she thought, growing enraged by how she was treated before. However, her thoughts soon turned to the child. She had helped that human, without a second thought. "I guess it would still be the right thing to do... To help them..." she thought. It was later in the afternoon now. Violet had found the gargoyles after she had eaten her lunch. People were out and about now. Almost all of them were humans. As she passed by some stores, she watched the people coming and going. They didn't seem quite as bad as she always made them out to be, they were just normal creatures going about their usual business. Looking inside a shop's window, she saw some TVs on display. A news report was shown on each of them. Since she was outside the shop, she couldn't tell if there was any sound, but a familiar blue hedgehog was soon shown onscreen. No doubt the report was covering some of Sonic's recent heroics. Violet smiled a bit. Like many, she admired Sonic. "I bet he wouldn't give it any thought at all. He'd stop those crooks before they knew he'd found them! No thought about whether he's helping humans or animals. I guess that's what being a hero's all about!" she said to herself. This line of thought helped her make up her mind. "He's got the right idea, too! I can't just let those bad guys get away! I mean, I can't stop them myself, but I can warn the police!" she thought, turning back toward the police station. "I just hope they'll listen to me..."


Meanwhile, back at the building that contained Violet's apartment, Mitch was using the secret knock on the door to the room he'd been in the night before. "Come in." came a voice inside the room. Mitch opened the door to find Fera inside. "I see you got my message." Mitch said. Fera was sitting on the table, but hopped down as Mitch entered. "What's the problem, Mitch?" she asked. Mitch crossed his arms. "Infin, please! The code name exists for a reason!" he said. Fera tapped her foot against the floor impatiently. Mitch sighed and explained the situation. "That echidna chick you were plannin' to recruit was at the construction site. I think she overheard some of the plan." he said. Fera grinned at this. "Really... Interesting coincidence... I'm thinking... This could be helpful. Call the inside man, Mitch. Tell him to look out for her..." she said. Mitch scratched his head. "You want she should be... removed?" he asked. Fera shook her head. "Not exactly. The inside man will know what to do, don't worry." she said. Mitch nodded, turned to leave, but hesitated. "Is there something else?" Fera wondered. Mitch turned back towards Fera. "The goyles are gettin' very suspicious. Me lettin' that echidna go didn't help. I'm thinkin' they might cause problems." he explained. Fera shrugged. "Mobsters are always trouble. Don't worry though, I'm thinking they won't trouble us for long. Just be sure to do your job, and everything will be fine, Mitch." she told him. Mitch lit a cigarette. "My name's Infin. Later, Fera." he said, turning to leave. Fera quickly stepped past him and snatched his cigarette. "Smoking kills, whoever you are!" she said, leaving. Mitch lit another cigarette and headed for the exit slowly. "That cur sure is expensive. Seems she throws away as much as I smoke." he muttered, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a phone. He dialed, and in a moment, someone answered. "Hello, pal. Our mutual acquaintance, the wolf, told me to tell you something, so listen up..."


Razor the Porcupine was sitting in the police station, looking over paperwork from behind a desk. He'd placed his hat on the desk, and next to it was a can of soda. It wasn't long ago that he was protecting witnesses in Soleanna, and it seemed almost as soon as he got home to Station Square, he was transferred here, to Troblusk City. He very much hated it, but he remained without complaint, because he felt he could truly make a difference in a place like this. As Violet entered the station, Razor glanced up at her briefly. He didn't know what it was, but she seemed familiar to him. Violet started talking to an officer seated at the front desk, when an old man with a droopy gray mustache approached them. It was the chief of police of Troblusk City. "What's going on here? Are you here to waste the department's time? Out with it!" he said, clearly having no patience whatsoever. The officer Violet was talking to spoke up first. "Ah, Chief Paynson! This echidna says she overheard something." he explained. Paynson glared at Violet, as though he recognized her. "Something? What is something? Out with it, animal!" he shouted. Violet spoke up. "Some gargoyles are planning to rob the museum! I heard them!" she said. Paynson scoffed at her. "Nonsense! Do you have any proof? We can't go wasting the department's time based on the suspicions of a talking hairball! Good night!" he yelled, stomping off. Violet attempted to follow him. "But it's true! Listen to me! When they saw me listening, they came after me! They..." she was interrupted as the chief turned toward her and stomped his foot loudly. "You are wasting my time, girl! There are a thousand reports of actual crimes in progress coming in as we speak! This is Troblusk City! Now, get out of our way, or you will be removed from the premises!" he shouted. Razor had stopped what he was doing and was watching this with disgust. "Why won't he listen to her?" he said to himself quietly. Violet was growing frustrated now, and couldn't help shouting at Paynson. "You call yourself the chief of police!? You're as crooked as the crooks!" she shouted. Paynson had had all he would take. "Remove this ANIMAL!!" he screamed. Several officers started moving towards Violet at once, carrying police batons and glaring at Violet in a very unpleasant fashion. Violet began heading for the door. "All... right... I'm leaving..." she said nervously. "Get that miserable beast!" one of the officers shouted. Shocked and terrified, Violet started running, and Razor watched as the officers chased her, hatred burning in their eyes. Razor stood up suddenly, as though he was going to say something. "Officer Razor?" Paynson questioned. Razor realized that it was probably best not to anger the chief further. "I... uh... I'm going to step out for a bit, if that's OK.... I feel a little... sick." he said. Paynson nodded. "Go on. We don't need officers throwing up in here." he grumbled. Razor picked up his hat and headed for the door. "I'll check that museum out, even if the chief's too stupid to." he thought.

Violet was running as fast as she could, crazed police chasing her with batons. It was insane, but it was happening. Unfortunately for Violet, some of the officers had piled into a police car and skidded it to a halt in front of her, cutting off her escape! She tried to run around the car, but soon she was surrounded by the police. "L-look... I'm sorry... I... Wait!" Violet shouted as the police approached her. One officer behind her clubbed her in the back with his baton. "Furry fool! We'll teach you a lesson!" he shouted. Another officer clubbed her right arm. "Ow!! Owwww!! W-why are you doing this!? I only..." before she could finish speaking, another officer clubbed her across the face! "You animals should learn your place! Get on the ground, rodent!" the cop said. The scene was beginning to draw a crowd, all of them humans. Violet tried to push past the cops and appeal to the crowd. "H-help me!!" she shouted, only to be pulled back into the crowd of police and beaten some more. "Crawl, freak! Animals belong at our feet!" an officer yelled. The humans in the crowd began jeering at Violet as well, and it became clear to her that there was probably no way out of this. The officers began treating this like a game, taking turns hitting her like a living piñata! Violet attempted to fight them off, but it was useless. The more she struggled, the more violent the police became, and the more violent the police became, the louder the crowds encouragement of their behavior became. Soon, Violet fell to the ground, and the police continued their brutality anyway. She gazed up at the crowd, hatefully shouting at her. Cheering the police on. Even the children among them. As she looked around, Violet even thought she saw the child she saved earlier that morning, not speaking, but mimicking the behavior of the police, swinging an invisible baton. Seeing this, Violet shut her eyes and endured the abuse bitterly. Now, she was just hoping that the humans would stop playing around and kill her already, so it would all just be over with.


While shouts of hate filled Violet's ears, at the museum, it was silent. The front guards were standing in front of the entrance, drowsily watching for any signs of intrusion. Soon, a pair of gargoyles walked up the steps of the museum towards the entrance. The guards immediately woke up. "H-hey! You can't be here! The museum is closed!" one of the guards said. The gargoyles did not speak, they simply pointed guns at the guards and shot them in the heads! As the two guards fell to the ground, Mitch emerged from behind the gargoyles. "Very subtle, boys. Excuse me a moment..." he said, walking up to the front door with explosives under his arms! The gargoyles flew up high as Mitch prepped the explosives, then ran down the steps with the detonator in hand. "Time to start the fireworks! I wish all jobs were this straightforward..." Mitch muttered, detonating the explosives! The blast could be heard from rather far away, but in this city, it didn't much matter. Across the street from the museum, Razor's car pulled up, and seeing the explosion, Razor gasped with alarm. "Criminals sure are bold around here!" he said, grabbing his police car's radio phone. "This is Officer Razor. There's been a break-in at the museum! The suspects have explosives! Requesting backup! Repeat! Requesting backup!"


Razor's call was heard through the car near where the police were beating Violet. One of the officers, hearing it, responded to Razor's call. "On our way, officer!" he said, running to the crowd of officers with a megaphone. Before using the megaphone, he addressed the officers. "Guys! Break in at the Troblusk Museum! We'd better get down there!" he said. The officers stopped beating Violet and turned to leave. One of the officers glared at her before leaving. "Let this be a lesson to ya, animal." he sneered, spitting on Violet before leaving. The officer with the megaphone used it to speak to the crowd. "Citizens, disperse immediately! There's a crime in progress at the museum, and we need the street clear to drive there!" he said. The crowd began leaving right away, none stopping to even look at Violet, much less help her up. As the police drove away, Violet was left alone, battered and bleeding, but nothing was broken. Still, she was in such pain, she found herself forced to crawl as she began to attempt to get home. "Those humans... I guess they're happy... I'm on the ground, where I 'belong.'" she thought, sobbing as she crawled off the street and sat down on the sidewalk, feeling more alone than ever.


The gargoyles, with Mitch in tow, were making their way to the back of the museum. They were heading for the area where new artifacts and other such things were brought into the museum. The guards that the gargoyles mentioned earlier were absent, due to arrangements Mitch had made beforehand. As they went, the gargoyles would occasionally stop to steal something they thought might be valuable, but aside from that, the mission was proceeding without delay. However, the gargoyles' path of thievery was easy to follow, and soon the police arrived, with Razor among them! "Freeze! You're all under arrest!" Razor shouted. Mitch turned around slowly. He was carrying a briefcase, and now he held it up. "Bomb, officers! Here, catch!" he said, tossing the briefcase and causing the police to scatter in panic, as well as the gargoyles. In the confusion, Mitch ran for the loading area, hoping to get what he came for before it was too late. The briefcase, however, did not explode. A member of the bomb squad, who came with the other officers, examined the briefcase. "There's no bomb in here..." he said, opening the case and revealing nothing but bricks, likely taken from the construction site! As both sides realized that, they quickly drew their weapons, and the first shot, coming from a gargoyle, killed the bomb squad member! As a gunfight began, Mitch reached his goal and found the object of his search. Opening one of the crates stored in the area, he found it full of weapons! "Stupid military, thinking to hide their weapons in a museum shipment! I wonder just what kinda stuff they got in here, anyway..." he said. Reaching into his pockets, Mitch pulled out his phone. "Found 'em, pals... And lost the goyles, too!" he said. A garage door at the back of the loading area suddenly exploded, and some furries in the same black uniforms as Fera entered the area, each uniform bearing the same red symbol: the thirteen pointed star. Mitch motioned to the crates of weapons. "Help yourselves, and let’s go before the police finish with the goyles!"


As Violet began nearing her apartment, she tripped over something. Looking at her feet, she found the beacon Fera had given her the night before! She recalled what Fera had said the night before, and thinking about everything the humans had done to her, both that day, and throughout her life, she came to a realization. "I... hate the humans!" she said to herself, leaning down and picking up the beacon. Gone were any questions of what was right and what was wrong. Violet was fed up with the humans, and she wanted revenge. Wasting no time, she made her way to Troblusk Plateau, the place Fera had spoken of the night before. By the time she reached the place, it was nearing midnight. From the plateau, one could see all of Troblusk City, in all its dirty, hate-infested glory. As a clock tower near the center of the city struck midnight, Violet held the beacon over her head. "Fera... I will join you! I will see the humans pay!!" she shouted as the beacon activated, the lantern within it emitting a bright, red light that seemed to pierce the dark clouds overhead, a signal that could easily be seen. As Violet gazed at the light, awestruck, she didn't see Fera approach. "Welcome, Violet. I've been expecting you! The humans will be made to pay, I promise you! Now, it will soon be time for your training to begin! You have entered despair, so now, you will learn to use that power against those who inflicted it upon you!" she proclaimed. Violet gazed at Fera, and found herself smiling gratefully. Nothing else mattered to her now. Her loneliness was leaving, and her vengeance would soon begin...

To be continued...