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It was supposed to be a normal day.
A Badnik Hub was alerted to the Chaotix, and the Chaotix decided to solve this case on their own, with some true, action time instead of being detectives. Charmy listened to Vector on what they needed to do.
Detonate, which basically meant explode, the Hub. Then, they’d get out of there once they have confirmed they destroyed all the bad robots or have all the robots inside and deactivate inside!
It wasn’t something they usually did, aside from all the detective case work, but.. they were aware of the Badnik Hub, and they should finish it. Charmy knew they’d do it, for the safety of others!
Charmy felt slight worry and fear at the thought of going on such a dangerous mission with his best friends, but.. they’d protect him—no, he’d protect! He’d be so, so strong, Vector would consider making him the leader and Espio would be all ‘How did you do it?’
Hehe, that was funny and would be so great! Charmy’s wings flapped as he listened to Vector and Espio speak. “Are you certain we can do this? I highly doubt we’ll successfully make it out.” Espio asked, his voice was a bit uncertain.
Espio was right, the HUB seemed rather dangerous.
“I hope so, kid.” Vector shrugged, crossing his arms as he gazed up at the smoke coming from the Badnik Hub-building that loomed over the three intimidatingly. “We have to do what we gotta do.” Vector murmured, his voice rough.
“You ready, Charms?” Vector asked, and Charmy perked up, immediately nodding. “Yes, yes boss! I’m ready!” Charmy exclaimed, excitedly yet.. uneasily. Despite this, the three cautiously approached, cueing Charmy to act on.
Charmy maanged to bust every security protocol that could’ve been the cause of them getting caught or kicked in the butt.
Next, Charmy pressed the button to make a noises to make the robots confirm he was an actual robot, and they’d have to open up the doors for them to enter. He did his best robotic impression and just prayed the doors would open.
Luckily, a Badnik opened the doors, and Charmy made sure to sting every single vital part, or at least a part that he assumed was vital. Entering the building alongside Espio and Vector, they had to sneakily wander through to find a perfect spot to place a button to detonate the Hub. The bomb wasn’t going to blow up everything, but it’d make a little distraction.
However, it went terribly wrong once a Badnik spotted them, alerting every Badnik nearby of their location. “Intruder. Intruders.” The Badnik monotonously said.
No! Charmy glanced around, seeing many robots approach from sections of the building. Immediately, the Badniks started to attack, four lunging towards Vector, Three lunging at Espio, and two lunging at Charmy.
The battle was filled with fierce and intense fighting, Vector kicking each Badnik away, Espio managing to get away by climbing onto a nearby wall, and throwing shurikens at the robots and sneaking up, while Charmy was stinging them.
Though, it was a losing battle on the Chaotix’s side. Although Vector’s strength and Espio’s stealthiness were a significant part of why they were even winning, Charmy was slowing them down.
Charmy was smaller, and yes he did have a paralyzing stinger, but it was only paralyzing to mobians! It was practically a punch to robots, weakening them slightly, but they’d somehow manage to get up.
The Badniks became more aggressive as determination to neutralize the Chaotix grew.
Charmy screamed in agony as his fragile wing was grabbed, and torn apart—causing him to plunder to the ground. Vector’s and Espio’s eyes darted towards Charmy, quickly going over to shield him. Charmy trembled in pain, not being able to move.
They were protecting him, and that made Charmy feel bad.
There was so many, and more continued to approach. They were going to get hurt! “Charmy, go to the escape pod and detonate the Hub.” Espio ordered, and Vector glanced at him with shock, yet nodding as if quickly agreeing with him.
What? Charmy couldn’t do that, he was going to be leaving his family behind. “Wh-what?” Charmy stammered. “You heard me, Charmy.” Espio muttered, deactivating a Badnik.
Charmy whimpered, but with the little energy he had, he managed to get up painfully and run. The pain and agony that fueled Charmy’s sides and shoulders and everything caused Charmy to not focus properly, and beneath him as he ran was the very same button to explode the area.
Charmy stepped on it, and last moment, his leg was pulled by a Badnik that managed to slip through Vector’s and Espio’s hold back. Charmy spirals onto the ground, his antenna hitting metallic force and shattering.
“CHARMY!” Vector and Espio exclaimed.
Until the blast happened.
Debris crumbling down onto Vector and Espio as they experienced the brunt of the explosion, fire beginning to ignite while Badniks either overheated or exploded as well, disintegrating into burning metal. Charmy lay there, watching it all happen.
Charmy was blown too, his overly light, tiny body blown away as the explosion’s shockwave struck him.
…
Flames everywhere, heat emitting from all directions, metal scraps on the ground.
Charmy woke up startled, groaning and beginning to cry of pain. His wings weren’t functioning properly, and he lacked spatial awareness.. why? Was it because of his ripped off antenna? It was really hot. His body was burning! He had small, black-redish patches on his arms and legs..ow.
Charmy used the smallest bits of energy to tilt his head, seeing a purplish, shadow form on the ground, something impaled through his head. Charmy gazed to his left, seeing a geeen blur at the very corner, limp against a pillar, black ash-like patterns all over his scaly body. Burns. Charmy whimpered, letting out a hiss of pain.
Charmy groaned and gasped with pain, dragging his tiny body towards the purple form, Espio. Charmy started to cry.. he was so scared. “Pio..” Charmy mumbled, but didn’t get an answer back. In his mind, he was already imagining Espio’s words.. “I’m okay. Bring me to Vector.”
Charmy whimpered. “I can’t.. I can’t..” Charmy mumbled to himself. You can, you can do it. Bring your big.. brother.. to Vector. Charmy shakily reached out, ignoring the strikes of agony and pain running through his body as he tugged on Espio’s arm, dragging both himself and Espio to Vector.
Charmy struggled a bit to sense where he was, but he did know that he had a hold on Espio, and the slightest vision of the green, large blur slumped against a pillar.
“Vec’tr..” Charmy murmured, exhaustion taking over. “I brought Espio with me..” Charmy murmured, falling limp in between Espio and Vector’s bodies. Charmy continued to cry, but he felt numb, as if the tears weren’t even there. Vector sat there.
To Charmy’s fading mind, it seemed as if he were waiting for him and Espio to come.
Charmy smiled, his tears halting for a moment. Charmy grabbed Espio’s long arms, and made it wrap around his little body, as if Espio were hugging him. While for Vector, Charmy made his big hand rest on Charmy’s chest as Charmy clung to it.
They were so warm.. Too warm. Hot. Charmy resumed crying. Charmy made Espio and Vector’s hands lay on top of each other, then put his own tiny hand on top.
“I'm just gonna..wait here with you guys. I'll stay... right in the middle.” Charmy mumbled. “Jus’ us three.. together.” Charmy murmured. “I love you, Vector.. Espio. So.. so much..” Charmy said, before closing his eyes. Feeling safe, between the warmth embracing the three different species..
The steady presence of Espio and the comforting presence of Vector.
Laying between the only family he ever knew.
—
Huddled up on the couch together, with Espio on the left, Charmy in the middle, and Vector on the right, they all were watching a childish movie that Charmy had insisted on watching.
“Really, Charmy? Tis’ the best movie you can ever watch?” Vector questioned, his voice a bit muffled, but audible. Charmy huffed with frustation. “Just watch the movie, Vector!!” Charmy exclaimed.
Vector chuckled, “Mhm.” Vector nodded, averting his gaze back at the TV. Espio remained silent, genuinely watching the movie.
A few minutes later, Charmy fell asleep, soft pants of slumber exhaling out of him. Vector glanced down, while Espio also noticed. Vector smiled and leaned back against the couch, but more towards the little bee. Vector too fell into a deep slumber. Espio did the same, leaning against Charmy a bit, and falling asleep.
Charmy stirred awake by the weight gained onto him, and noticed the chameleon and crocodile sleeping, oddly still and barely showing signs of breathing. But Charmy ignored it.
Reaching for the remote and shutting off the TV, Charmy closed his eyes.
He placed Vector’s and Espio’s hands on top of eachother on the blanket, and then Charmy put his two little hands on top as well. “I’m not gonna go to my room..” Charmy murmured. “I’ll stay right here. Just us together.” Charmy mumbled, closing his eyes.
The void pulled him under as the darkness took over.