Future Shock

Thunderhawk yawned as he entered Haven’s control room. Though there was little need for the Brotherhood to continue in their constant vigil, it was true that old habits died hard.

There was little need for Haven at all, no need for them to remain there. Locke had returned to the Island, mostly to oversee the raising of his granddaughter. Sabre visited occasionally. Echidnas were a long-lived species, and families consisting of five living generations were not uncommon. But the Brotherhood stretched back eight generations. True, there were three generations missing, seeing as how they’d lost Janelle-Li, Athair and Knuckles, but the continued existence of Spectre, Sojourner and Thunderhawk could raise fear and suspicion, so they had felt it best to remain in the seclusion to which they had become accustomed.

Even though the Island was now sealed in a protective force field that protected it from invasion from outside, specifically Robotnik, they continued to keep watch. Inside, all was peaceful, but they still searched for unrest. The survivors or Robotnik’s induced holocaust had long ago put aside their differences. The Floating Island was now indeed a Utopian society.

But at what cost?

Due to its limited size and resources, population control was of the utmost importance. Any couple, regardless of species or station, was allowed only a single child. Everything and anything was reused, restored or recycled. And though the residents were quite happy with their situation, there were some who knew it was only a matter of time before the Island itself became as unliveable as the surface below…

The Brotherhood and the Fire-Ant council had searched for a solution but could find none. It would take several generations before anything started to show, but they knew they were living on borrowed time. And with their shared longevity, they would be around to see everything fall apart.

He sighed as he sat down at the bank of monitors. It was late, and for the most part, the city was asleep. The remainder of the Island pretty much closed down at sunset. He glanced at the display that showed the current whereabouts of the living Guardians…and he was forced to do a double take.

Four were located in Haven, as was to be expected. Spectre, Sojourner, Sabre and himself were all currently in residence. But there were three in the city…two in the city proper, one on the outskirts.

“This can’t be right…” He muttered to himself as he typed in the command to bring the display up onto the larger screen so he could study it more closely. A detailed list of each displayed against the individual pinpoints. Respiratory, pulmonary and brainwave activity of each was displayed. Each had a specific bio-signature, identifying its identity beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Focusing on the three in the city, he quickly identified the two in the city as Locke and Lara-Su. But the one on the outskirts…

“Great Aurora!” He whispered.

~~~~~

“Knuckles’ bio-signature…” Sabre mused. “It’s not possible…”

“It’s right there.” Sojourner jabbed a finger at the screen.

“But there’s no way…” Thunderhawk began.

“Why are you so surprised?” Spectre asked with a raised brow. “He’s come back from the dead before…”

“We have to tell Locke…” Sabre said as he reached for a communicator.

“No.” Spectre said, grabbing the younger echidna by the wrist. “Not yet…”

“Spectre…” Sabre reasoned. “I know it’s late, but…”

He glanced at the screen. “The girl is here…” he pointed to the screen. “With her aunt…which means he and his love are alone…” He looked at the others with surprisingly soft eyes. “They are together for the first time in fifteen years…”

He lowered his head. “Give them the night…we will tell the others in the morning…”

~~~~~

“Shouldn’t we be telling everybody about this?” Sonic asked as he walked beside Miles along the almost empty streets of Echidnaopolis.

“Who would you like to tell?” Miles looked at him.

“Well…EVERYBODY!” Sonic threw his hands up in the air. “Vector…Moni-Ca…his parents!”

“Sonic…” Miles began, slowing to a stop. “What do you remember of Knuckles and Julie-Su’s relationship?”

Sonic’s brows furrowed as he thought. “Well…they’re…” he looked up at the much older Miles. “They WERE pretty damned committed to each other…”

Miles nodded. “And they really hadn’t know each other very long back then. They…none of us…knew just how strong their bond was…how strong it still is. Those two really would kill or die for each other.

“Think of them the way you remember them…then multiply it by infinity…and you’ll probably come pretty close to what they are.”

“Jeez…” Sonic said softly.

“Now…don’t you think they’d want a little time for themselves before he gets overwhelmed with family and friends?”

“I guess you’re right.” Sonic sighed.

“He’ll still be here in the morning…”

~~~~~

Julie-Su awoke for the first time in fifteen years with a smile on her lips. Stretching out, her fingers searched for the warm body that she knew lay beside her…but she found nothing but cool sheets.

Her eyes snapped open and she sat bolt upright. It was a dream she’d had so many times in the past fifteen years…but this time she was so sure it had been true. She searched the room, letting out a sigh of relief when she found him standing by the floor length window, gazing out at the panoramic view it afforded.

Smiling, she pulled on a robe and padded silently across the carpet towards him. She saw him tense, inhale deeply as he felt the Soultouch as she drew close to him. She sighed as she felt it too. She snuggled in under his chin, sighing again as his arms wrapped around her.

“Good morning.” He said softly as he kissed her gently on the top of the head.

“A very good morning.” She whispered, her smile deepening as she heard him chuckle at their little private joke.

They stood in silence for a long moment, content in each other’s arms. She listened to his heart, beating softly beneath her ear as he gently stroked her hair.

“What are you thinking about?” She asked him softly, breaking the silence that had fallen upon them.

“Sonic.” He replied.

She pulled away slightly, looking up at him with a wry smile. “Not quite the answer I was looking for.”

He smiled. “You are never far from my thoughts…” He said softly as he titled her head up with a gentle finger. “And always in my heart…” She smiled as he leant down and kissed her tenderly.

“You can be such a sap sometimes.” She whispered as he broke the kiss.

“And you love every minute of it.”

“True.” She said as she snuggled back into place. “So…what do you want to do now?”

“I think it’s time you introduced me to our daughter.”

~~~~~

“I can’t believe you’re just telling me this now!” Lara-Le said angrily.

Locke turned on her. “They just told ME, Lara.” He pointed out.

Lara-Su watched them, feeling a little guilty. She had known last night, but it had been decided not to tell anybody until the morning, giving the loving couple some time to get…reacquainted.

She didn’t know how to feel. All her life she’d wanted to know her father, and now that her fondest wish had come true, she didn’t know what to do about it. She had felt a little disillusioned when her mother had stolen him away…but she could understand why she had. Everybody had always told her just how strong the bond between the two was. She’d never really believed them. She didn’t doubt that her parents loved each other, but they way everybody talked about it, like it was something out of a fairy tale…

Then she’d seen them together. The hadn’t spoken a word to each other. Well, her father had said…what was it…Kalina? She’d have to ask her mother what it meant…

“Is he all right?” Lara-Le asked. “Is he still flesh and blood?”

“I haven’t seen him, Lara…” Locke began.

“Yes…” Lara-Su said softly.

Her grandparents turned to look at her, both frowning slightly.

“He’s flesh and blood…” She confirmed, her voice still soft.

“You saw him?” Locke asked.

“I freed him…” She looked at her grandfather with sad eyes as she remembered how he looked the first time she saw him. “Robotnik had him hooked up to some bizarre kind of machine…he was using his power to…” She stopped as she saw the look she was receiving from the pair.

“So you knew about this?” Lara-Le demanded. “You knew your father…our SON…was alive…and you didn’t see fit to tell us about it?”

“Well…the way Mum and him…when they saw each other…” Locke and Lara-Le exchanged a knowing glance. “We…that is, Aunty Lien and I…thought it best if we just left ‘em alone for a while…”

Locke chuckled. “Those two never where shy about expressing their feelings for each other…”

“I don’t know where he got that from…” Lara-Le smiled as she nudged her ex-husband in the ribs. Locke just threw her a sour look. Wynmacher watched the interaction between the pair with a bemused smile. He didn’t doubt Lara-Le’s devotion to him, but there would always be a bond between them that he could never touch.

A bond forged by the child they shared…

There was a slow gathering of glittering particles in the far corner of the room, coalescing into the forms of Julie-Su and the echidna in question. Before anyone could react to his presence in their midst, his dark violet eyes locked with the startled lilac eyes of his daughter.

The pair just stared at each other, an identical look of confused uncertainty on their faces. Neither knew how to react to the other. Neither seemed willing to make any sort of move.

Lara-Su took one small step towards him. She’d seen photographs of him, and except for the ankle-length spines and the long, auburn hair, tied back in a ponytail that hung almost to his waist, he looked exactly the same. A tall, red-furred echidna, with deep, soulful eyes, and a face that was somehow intensely innocent. But she hadn’t been able to sense the aura that hung about him. A halo of both gentleness and awe-inspiring power. She could see now what others had seen in him. What they’d been unable to express in words.

She covered the distance between them in an instant, throwing her arms around his neck in a fierce hug, like she had always wanted to. She heard his startled intake of breath at her actions. He hadn’t expected her to be so openly affectionate to a male that she’d never even met, despite the connection between them.

She whimpered quietly as she felt him return the embrace. She had wanted this for so long, to feel the love of her father, she didn’t want to let him go. She didn’t want to share him with anyone…her grandparents…his friends…not even her mother…

She could feel him stroke her spines, soothing her by some kind of parental instinct. Those dangerous hands…much like her own…were so gentle…

She felt a second pair of arms enfold her as Julie-Su wrapped her arms around them both. She felt a momentarily twinge of annoyance at her mother’s invasion, but quickly realised that she now had what she’d always wanted. Her mother AND her father. Something neither of them had had in their childhood. Her mother an orphan, her father believing he was…

Lara-Le sighed as she watched the little family bond so quickly. She knew exactly how her son felt. She too had been separated from her child, only getting re-involved in his life when he was almost an adult…when he really didn’t need her anymore. But he’d never given her that impression. And the way Lara-Su cling to him…she knew her granddaughter felt the same way as her son once had…

Finally, the trio broke apart, though neither female seemed willing to break physical contact. Knuckles smiled wryly at his mother and fathers.

“You have got to stop doing things like this.” Locke said, shaking his head slowly. Lara-Le just flowed over and made it a four-way hug.

“You have more lives than a cat.” Wynmacher smiled.

“Then I still have plenty left.” Knuckles arched a brow at the older males. He frowned then. “Where’s Ash-Le?” His little half-sister was the only one missing from this little, immediate family reunion.

“It IS a school day, dear.” Lara-Le said softly.

“Is it?” Knuckles said softly. “I guess I’m a little out of touch with the calendar…” He lifted Lara-Su’s chin with a finger. “Doesn’t that mean you should be in school too?” He smirked. She looked flabbergasted.

Julie-Su giggled. “Didn’t take you long to get into the role of daddy…”

“Daddy?” He echoed. He rolled the word around in his head for a moment. “You know…I always thought being called that would freak me out…but it actually sounds kinda…nice…”

~~~~~

It was mid afternoon by the time Sonic and Miles caught up with the others. Vector looked at Miles with a face like thunder.

“If this is you’re idea of a joke…” He growled. “It’s NOT funny!”

“I’m on the level, Vec.” The fox assured him. “He was there…we brought him home.”

Vector lowered his heavy head. “And the others?” Miles just shook his head. Vector let out a low sigh, nodding sadly his understanding.

“It would seem that there is little beyond his capacity…” Kurlanga mused.

“C’mon, Dad…” Kanku protested. “How can the guy come back from the dead?”

“He wasn’t dead.” Rebe-Ca pointed out. “He was just a prisoner of old Butt-head…”

Sonic chuckled. “I see you’ve taught them the finer points of Robotnik insulting…”

“I lobbied to get it in as part of the school curriculum…” Miles smiled.

“Enough.” Moni-Ca chided them playfully.

“You know…” Vector smirked. “I think this calls for the party to end all parties!”

“You think that remembering to take out the trash calls for the party to end all parties.” Susanna said flatly. Vector looked at her with ‘puppy-dog’ eyes. She smiled. “Okay…fine…” She sighed. “But I’m not doing all the work…”

~~~~~

“You guys sure can throw a party together quickly.” Sonic said, obviously impressed.

“It’s a necessary talent when you live with the planet’s biggest party animal.” Susanna told him.

“Still…” Sonic continued. “Unless he’s changed drastically, Knuckles probably won’t really care for all of this…”

“True.” Moni-Ca agreed. “But he always put up with it for the sake of others…” She indicated to where Vector was already sampling the refreshments, little Vertice clinging to his leg.

“Nice to see some things haven’t changed.” He looked around. Several creatures had gathered now, some he knew, some he didn’t. He frowned at a familiar looking pair of young echidnas, though he couldn’t for the life of him identify either one. One was a red-furred female, the other a dark brown male. Both dressed casually, they seemed quite…chummy…laughing easily with each other.

“The boy is so different when he’s off duty I’d almost swear he was schizophrenic or something…”

Sonic turned to look at Remington. There was a certain look of pride on the echidna’s face.

“Who?” He asked, confused.

“Braun.” He indicated the young male.

Sonic did a double take. His eyes widened as the young male laughed happily at something the female had said. He tried to compare the youngster with the deadly serious EST officer he’d met the day before…was it really only a day…and found he couldn’t.

“You got that right.” Sonic agreed.

“Like father, like son.” A dark-furred female purred as she threaded her arm through Remington’s.

“I was never that bad.” He protested.

“Of course you weren’t.” She smiled.

Sonic had put two and two together. “That guy’s your son?” He queried.

“I keep forgetting where…or rather…when…you’re from.” Remington smiled. “Yes, Braun is my son…” His smile deepened as he looked at the dark-furred female. “And this is Komi-Ko…his mother…”

“Ah…nice to meet you…” Sonic said, offering his hand.

She smiled as she took it. “I have heard much about you.”

“I’ve been hearing that a lot.” He said. “So, who’s the girl? She looks familiar…”

“I’m not surprised…” Remington raised a brow. “Her name is Ash-Le. She’s the Guardian Knuckles’ half-sister.”

Sonic was a little surprised by the news, but was more interested in the way the pair were interacting. “They seem rather…friendly…” Sonic smirked.

“Yes.” Remington agreed shortly.

Sonic threw the echidna a mischievous sideward glance. “Not too keen on the possibility of becoming a grandfather?”

Remington stiffened. “I think you’re jumping the gun a bit…” He said. “He’s only seventeen…”

“And how old was Knuckles when he and Julie-Su got together?” Sonic teased. “Sixteen wasn’t it?”

“Perhaps…” Remington admitted. “But they didn’t enter their…serious relationship…until he was twenty.”

“Stop teasing the constable, Sonic.” Moni-Ca warned as she and Kurlanga approached, the twins immediately gravitating towards the younger pair. “He may be off duty, but he can still kick your butt…”

“It sucks that we have to hang with the olds, huh?” Kanku said flippantly.

“They’re not THAT old, Kanku.” Braun pointed out.

“Maybe…” He admitted.

“Hi guys!” Lara-Su said brightly as she seemed to materialise beside them.

“Aurora!” Kanku said. “Why are you so nauseatingly happy?”

“Whoa!” Rebe-Ca gasped before she could answer. “Who is THAT?”

The youngsters followed her gaze. Lara-Su’s smile broadened. The two young males arched identical eyebrows…

“He’s quite a babe…” Ash-Le agreed.

Lara-Su turned her brilliant smile on her friend and aunt. “That’s my Dad.” She informed her.

“THAT’S your father?” Rebe-Ca asked incredulously. “No wonder your Mum never wanted to find anyone else.”

“Euew!” Ash-Le shuddered. “I just called my brother a babe!”

“So?” Rebe-Ca shrugged. “It’s the truth.”

“But…he’s my brother…”

“HALF brother.” Rebe-Ca pointed out.

“And that makes it better?”

“Jeez, Ash…” Kanku rolled his eyes. “You just pointed out that he’s not unpleasant on the eyes…it’s not like you threw yourself at him and tried to get all physical or anything.”

“KANKU!” She blushed.

“That’s what you’ve got me for.” Braun added with a smirk.

“BRAUN!” Her cheeks flushed even darker.

“Looks like something runs in the family.” Knuckles chuckled softly. He’d walked over silently to see his sister and had come in on the end of their conversation.

“What do you mean?” Lara-Su asked with a frown.

“One of your mother’s favourite pastimes was making me blush.” He admitted. “Quite childish, really…” He arched a brow at Ash-Le. “You’ve grown quite a bit since I last saw you.” She looked away, feeling a little guilty. “You don’t really remember me, do you?”

She slowly shook her head.

“That would explain why you thought I was a babe.” He smirked.

Ash-Le’s jaw dropped as her friends began to laugh at her obvious discomfort.

“The whole male gender is against me…” She muttered.

~~~~~

“Man…” Vector shook his head. “You have got to lose those spines.”

“What’s wrong with ‘em?” Knuckles asked.

Vector picked one up between his thumb and forefinger. “They’re pretty damn long.” He pointed out. “You look like a girl…”

“Do you know how much air I can catch with these things?”

Julie-Su smiled as she snuggled up to her beloved. She looked up at him adoringly as he and Vector continued to exchange good-hearted insults. Just like old times. It was amazing how, despite all they’d been through, all they’d lost, all the time they’d spent apart, they had so easily slipped back into their familiar roles. It was like they’d last seen each other yesterday, rather than fifteen years ago.

But that was how it was with true friends…

Vector, of course, was deliberately avoiding discussing anything he considered unpleasant. Like they rest of the Chaotix…

They’d raised a toast to absent friends. Had a few moments silence. And then promptly dropped the subject. Vector and the others had already mourned their loss. Tonight was to celebrate Knuckles’ return.

Vector noticed the look on Julie-Su’s face. Read the body language. He leant towards Lien-Da. “Looks to me like Lara-Su’s gonna be spending a LOT of time with you…” He smirked when he saw the echidna pair bristle.

“I don’t have a problem with that.” The older female arched a brow.

“You people are incorrigible…” Julie-Su sighed. Knuckles just laughed, a deep, truly happy laugh.

Julie-Su thought it was the most wonderful sound in the world.