FSE

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Facil was seated at the long dining hall table with the rest of the mining crew. Baso had definitely looked better, holding an ice pack against his head and another hand over his stomach. The crocodile left his meal alone, not finding much appetite past the pain. The hedgehog however gorged himself, not having eaten in years. He nearly coughed up a lung when the boss had surprised him with a few hard slaps on the back.

"So what are you doing with your cut o' the fortune, boy?" The tortoise asked, waiting for Facil to recollect himself from nearly choking on his food. The hedgehog never really thought about it, he didn't even know how much he would be able to buy with his share. Perhaps time machines were fully functional this time around and not just a one way trip. He could go back in time and reverse all this mess... He even thought of bringing Baso with him for laughs!

"...I'm not really sure yet..." He replied sheepishly. He had that one idea, but it was far from realistic. He decided to ask anyways, what was the worse that could happen? "Are time machines a thing yet?" He asked the wrinkly tortoise, who paused for a moment before bellowing out in laughter.

"Ohh! That cracks me up! You can have nearly anything your heart desires and you want to go back?!" He scoffed, trying to cool himself down. "Come on now, you can have rides, women... Hell even men, I don't care! Mansions on a deserted island- Your own island in fact!" The options were enticing, Facil never owned his own vehicle, let alone got his license to drive... And getting a girlfriend wouldn't hurt. He never managed to get things going with Myra at all, his shy tendencies had kept them as friends, even when Myra was the one persisting.

"I... I was kinda dumb just rushing into all this, I left a lot of people behind without a proper goodbye, even my mom and dad." He held back the tears the best he could, but the tortoise could tell the hedgehog really needed an outlet to let his emotions flow free. It wasn't healthy to keep all of it pent up inside. But there was no way Facil was going to cry in front of all these strangers... Maybe in front of Baso, but if he he dared catch the crocodile laughing, he would have his head.

"Doesn't mean they still didn't love you, boyo... And if you need a family to come home to, my house is always open!" His offer struck up a kindling hope inside of Facil. Being adopted didn't sound too bad, but how far could he really trust this wrinkly, old tortoise? "Baso came here almost the same way, no parents and nothing to prove himself. I gave him some tools and he ended up becoming my hardest worker in the business!" The boss bragged Baso up, his own surrogate son... Even though he looked like he could be the crocodile's grandpa at his age.

"I don't see you give Baso any special treatment though, how can he be family when he's treated like the rest of your workers?" Facil shared his observation with the boss, who was unfazed by the hedgehog's question. The tortoise took another swig from his glass before answering.

"I treat all my workers the same on the job, but every morning and evening is off-time for me and Baso. We share our meals together along with our thoughts and dreams... It's a nice break from the daily grind, almost makes me wish I would have settled down and had a kid myself sooner," the tortoise rambled about his wishes.

"Geez... I bet my parents wish they had more time too, now that you mention it..." Facil's gaze dropped down to his plate, finding his appetite dwindling as it made room for regret to fill in. It was hard to shake the guilt of his actions, and no amount of fortune could cover up the mental scars it created.

"If anything, if your parents could see you now boy, they'd be proud! I'd bet my shell on it!" The boss remained on the positive side of the situation. "The first day on the job and you and Baso find the mother lode! That's not something everyone can brag about now is it?" He smiled, praising the hedgehog for his spectacular accomplishment.

"Well... My parents always wanted me to get a job... Dad kept hounding me about it on some days," Facil recalled the golden days. The boss did bring up some good points, maybe they would be proud of him... It took him a handful of years, but he finally gotten a job and retired all in one day. He bet that news would make them soil themselves! He held back the laughter while indulging in the thought.

"Well you got that and more, boy! Now all ya' need is a fine lass by your side and you can give them the grand kids they always wanted!" The tortoise's next step had stung a nerve in the hedgehog. Facil's parents never talked at all about wanting a grandchild, let alone pressuring him to get a nice girl... Maybe they always thought he would finally work up the courage to go out with Myra and eventually tie the knot together... It was another disappointment to dwell upon.

"How am I supposed to get a girl?" Facil felt fairly lost in this age, unable to relate with anyone, let alone the opposite gender. His question had gotten a heartily laugh out of the tortoise, who wondered how dense this hedgehog could be. "I'm serious!" Facil added defensively, feeling a little ashamed to have the boss having a laugh at his expense.

"You've got the world in the palm of your hand! ...Well sorta, but what I'm saying is, with your cut of the fortune, you don't have to try hard to get the girl you want, eh?" The boss nudged the hedgehog with a prodding elbow. "Take her out to eat somewhere nice, give her a ride on your fancy new wheels, show her your mansion! Women love material things!" The tortoise said with another boastful laugh.

"Isn't that a little... Um, sexist?" Facil mumbled, a little timid to bring up such an issue to a burly looking fellow. Facil could admit some of girls back home were gold diggers and home wreckers, but they shouldn't spoil the whole bunch. Myra was perfectly fine... Then again she already had her life set from day one, not needing anything from anyone.

"You haven't seen the women of Sand Runner City then have you?" The tortoise chuckled, admiring the hedgehog's innocence. "I'm planning a one way trip outta this place as soon as possible... Maybe seek out a modest forest village and live out the rest of my days there," his comment had one of the workers nearly choke over their food.

"Oh come on boss! You got at least fifty years left in ya, fifty years of that is flat-out boring! Treat yerself!" A raccoon ranted over the conversation. His response made the Tortoise snicker, shaking his head with his eyes closed. Facil wondered if they had any sort of good old fashioned Empyrean civilizations. "Y'know Empyrean's workin' on a super city not too far off from here! They say it'll put the Sand-Runner's to shame! Wouldn't hurt to check it out now would it?!" He suggested before returning to stuffing himself silly.

"I suppose not..." The boss thought upon it for a moment. "What about you Baso, what do you wanna do?" He turned to face his foster child, willing to take his opinion into consideration. The crocodile groaned before giving his answer.

"Hot spring bath..." He leaned back in his chair, imagining himself soaking in a tub of steamy water. The idea was great to the aging tortoise. He turned back towards the raccoon before firing off his next question.

"Empyrean got those hot springs?" He asked with a furled brow, but before the raccoon could even swallow his food down, Facil took the initiative himself to answer the boss' query.

"Empyrean's got everything!" Facil boasted, proud and sure of his origins. "Anything you can imagine, Empyrean's got it!" A moment of silence had passed before the whole table erupted in uncontrollable laughter, the scene had Facil fairly embarrassed and feeling slightly awkward.

"Boy..." The tortoise began, "Empyrean's the whole reason we're in this mess to be honest... I mean they do have everything, yer right, but that's the problem! We were fine before all that garbage!" He sighed before continuing, "But if you say it's good, maybe I'll check it out... No promises though," the boss compromised.

"Also, my name's Facil... Not boy," Facil scowled, getting a tad fed up with how the boss was addressing him. The boss stared at him for a few moments before releasing a guilty sigh of defeat. Facil was shocked, expecting to get another lecture, but here he was, getting the total opposite.

"After what I saw today... You're not a boy. Not anymore, you're far from it, you're Facil, my wonderful son who makes me proud!" The boss' praise had the hedgehog blushing red all over under an awkward smile... Though his words had an equal effect on Baso, making his pain more intense as the comment had scratched through his ego slightly. Luckily, he would live, nothing kept the crocodile down for good.

"Heh heh, wow... I, I don't know what to say," Facil was at a lost for words, unable to cope with the sincere commendation from his boss and now father. The tortoise's hand fell upon Facil's shoulder, smiling at him with great approval. It was a moment that could have lasted forever for Facil. However, it was shortly lived as a barrage of heavy knocking rapped upon their door.

"...Who could it be this time?" The boss grumbled, turning to face the door. "I swear if it's the Burrow looking for more protection insurance I'll make it where they need the insurance..." He pulled his chair out, but before he could even stand, the door burst open, frightening militant troops pouring in. All of them were faceless, hidden by full cover helmets. "...Empyrean? Isn't it a little too early for you guys to be showing your mugs around here?" The boss glared at them, knowing something was a little fishy. The tension was shared by everybody in the room, even sore Baso was on edge.

"Actually, we're a little late," the frontmost soldier spoke up, a woman by the sound of her harsh voice. "We're here on the account of a Facil Cinaed, his cryochamber was released two days ago and we're here to collect him... You wouldn't happen to know his whereabouts... Would you?" Her sinister tone had crawled under the boss' skin, rubbing him the wrong way.

"I-" Facil went to speak, only to get hushed instantly by the tortoise's muzzling hand. The hedgehog immediately had gotten the message that speaking up would jeopardize what they just established during his time here.

"...Don't know who you're talking about," the boss played dumb, hoping to get the Empyreans off his back. He knew they wouldn't leave so easily, they always had a way of sticking around like flies on dung until they got what they wanted... They were a real parasite to say the least.

"You sure?" The same soldier took a few steps off to the side, trying to spot the hedgehog obscured by the large tortoise. "...Y'know, housing Empyrean property is a crime," she added as a warning. "And we don't take so kindly to criminals around these parts," her team had raised their firearms directly at the group of miners.

A few quickly retaliated, raising their mining rifles in response towards the threat against them. Facil trembled in his seat, fearing the moment might turn ugly fast. He was tempted to speak up against the boss' wishes, just to save them the bloodshed.

"I'm sure..." The tortoise stuck to his guns, not letting the Empyrean weaponry intimidate him. He had stared death in the face on multiple occasions, what was a few dinky guns in comparison? Unfortunately, the soldier wasn't buying it in the slightest. She tapped a finger across a touch panel on her wrist, bringing up some statistics to throw at the boss.

"According to the details given to me, Facil should be the hedgehog sitting right behind you, he matches the description on the form." She paused for a moment, "I'll overlook the offense, if you relinquish the hedgehog to us immediately... Otherwise we will take him by force." She lifted her pistol up at the group as well.

"Grrr...!" The boss slammed his fist against the top of the table, teeth clenched in frustration. "Maybe you should be taking care of your property better! Facil is part of my family now! I'm not gonna give him away just because a few punks have their guns pointed at me!" He argued, the soldier scoffed.

"Oh how touching..." She chuckled dryly before glancing back at the panel once more, "Facil's parents are Rhonda and Terrance Cinaed... Both Hedgehogs... No turtles seem to be in relation of the Cinaeds, nice try though." She gave him a feigned congratulations through the thick sarcasm.

"Dammit..." The boss muttered, there was no easy way out of this. "Don't take my boy away from me Empyrean..." his fists twitched, holding his anger back. "What do you want!? Money? I'll give you all that I got, there's no price I wouldn't pay for 'em!" The tortoise scrambled for the bucket of golden crystals on the table, all Empyrean guns pointed at him.

The soldier gazed at their fortune for a few moments before humming a low laugh. "You run a hard bargain... Perhaps I can return empty handed in exchange for the crystals..." She nodded. Facil panicked, seeing the boss give away their recent spoils, their future was being handed away without a fight. It wasn't fair, he knew his friends didn't need to suffer just because of him... He decided to turn himself in.

"No!" The hedgehog shouted, shaking the tension even more. "I'll go peacefully, just leave everyone else alone!" The boss turned back instantly, his eyes bulging in fury. His patience couldn't be held back anymore.

"Facil!" He muttered angrily, quiet enough for Facil's ears only, "what are you doing? Don't mess this up for us! Do you have any idea what they'll do to you within Empyrean?!" The boss feared for his son's safety, but Facil would have none of it as he wasn't intimidated in the slightest by the tortoise's warning.

"No!" Facil pushed him away, marching straight for the soldier. The opposition had all their guns directed at the hedgehog, except for their leader. "I won't stand here and let them rob you because of me!" he shouted back, soon facing himself at the leader.

"Don't be stupid!" The tortoise grumbled, "it's not about the money! Your life is more important! Do you have any idea what they'll turn you into? You'll be just like the-!" Before he could finish his words, the squad leader took a pot shot near the tortoise's feet, getting a jump and a curse out of him.

"Speaking out against Empyrean is a crime too, keep it up and you'll be coming along for execution!" She remained cold hearted. Facil could imagine her smiling behind that helmet, he wanted to smack it right off of her face, but he was well aware of the consequences. Patience was a virtue as he would bide his time for the perfect moment for escape... Or revenge, whichever came first.

"Baso go too!!" The crocodile yelled out, stumbling out of his chair and onto the floor. He was a complete mess, unable to work much of himself around, still incredibly numb from the accident. The boss had picked him back up and shook him.

"No! You're staying here Baso!" The tortoise was losing his nerve by the second, already losing one of his sons, there would be no chance in hell that he would let his closest leave as well. He held on tight as Baso struggled for freedom, finding it near impossible at his current strength.

"Facil... Mine! Baso go to Facil!" He continued to fight. His only option to get free was to sever any ties with his surrogate father he could. The crocodile spat into the tortoise's eyes, getting him to recoil just enough to loosen the boss' grip and wiggle his way out... Onto the floor. Back at square one, Baso wormed his way across the floor.

Wiping off the spit, his father didn't bother to go after the duo, they had made up their minds. They were stubborn as ever. The two had surrendered for very different reasons, both explanations were impossible for the tortoise to wrap his mind around. He wasn't ready to let them go, not until his dying breath. Baso wiggled his way to Facil's feet, reaching out for a helping hand. The hedgehog went to reach only to get his hand swatted away by the leader, who pulled the crocodile onto his feet, holding onto him for his own support.

"As for your crimes," she marched towards the table, Baso forcefully in tow, "I'll overlook them for a price..." She grabbed three of the golden shards from the bucket. "And as for the extra luggage," she shook the crocodile in her grasp, "that's gonna cost you extra!" The leader nabbed three more crystals, stuffing them into a pouch on her armored vest.

The crocodile's eyes met with the tortoise's for a brief moment, the anger and disappointment in his father's eyes had him unable to meet him fully. He was ashamed for what he did, but he couldn't deny himself of his own heart. Facil was his most prized discovery of his entire career, he wasn't going to let the hedgehog go so easily.

The Empyreans had made their exit with the duo without another word. The boss had followed them silently from behind, a few of his workers had the gall to tail along. Outside, a large vehicle was stationed just a few feet beyond their door. It was a fortress on wheels. "Load this one onto back of the carrier!" The leader shedded off the crocodile onto one of her underlings. Baso struggled to find his balance in the middle of the transition.

The leader unclicked and removed her helmet, taking a deep breath of the warm desert air. Facil caught her face for just a mere moment and was mesmerized for longer. Soon enough their eyes had met, the leader didn't look too happy with the attention. "Something on my face, needlenose?" She harassed the hedgehog for staring. To Facil, she looked like a long lost friend, was this Myra in the flesh? Had she came back to find him?

"M-Myra? ...Is that you?" He asked timidly, fearful of the glare in her eye. His words had only made it worse, as her intimidation grew to anger. She stomped over to him, swinging the helmet across his face with zero hesitation. The impact sent him straight into the sandy floor, completely dazed.

"The name's Miracle! Emphasis on kill!" The red wolf growled at him as his senses quickly dulled, delving into unconsciousness. It became obvious to her that the hedgehog wasn't going to get up. In a huff, she grabbed him by the leg and dragged him into the back, tossing him in carelessly with Baso. The crocodile was propped up against the inner casing, scared of what would become of them, The sight of Facil's condition hadn't made things any easier. He trembled as the doors closed in on them.

Only the long slit windows near the top had offered them little light for the journey. As dim as it was, he could still see the hedgehog, drooling over himself as he began to snore. The noises he made were a little funny to the crocodile... If only for the moment. The engine engaged with a roar, almost giving Baso enough energy to jump out of his scales. "Let's move out!" Miracle shouted as they whipped into motion, sending the duo flying into the back doors. Little did they know the boss had ran after them, crying his heart out. He gave them chase until they were completely out of sight.