Lightning Lynx

Lightning Lynx was originally a member of the Raiju Clan but for unknown reasons he was banished. He was then a member of the Fearsome Foursome under Mammoth Mogul, and has since become a member of the Destructix. A criminal who with his cohorts has clashed several times with the Knothole Freedom Fighters and Chaotix, he has also worked under Sleuth Dog and Dr. Finitevus. After the Clan Wars ended, Lightning was summoned by the Bride of Conquering Storm to work as an agent of their clan once again. His first mission was to recruit Espio the Chameleon into the Iron Dominion by delivering a message from the leader of Espio's clan. He was again banished after his defeat at the hands of Sonic the Hedgehog and rejoined his old comrades at the Destructix, eager for vengeance.

Mogul's Minion and Devil's Gulag
Like the rest of the Fearsome Foursome-Sergeant Simian, Predator Hawk, and Flying Frog-Lightning Lynx debuted as an agent of Mammoth Mogul's, attacking the Chaotix on his orders, specifically targeting Espio the Chameleon. After being defeated and retreating from this battle, he would return to help Mogul in his bid to claim the Sword of Acorns by pitting the Chaotix and Freedom Fighters against each other. Lynx's purpose involved serving as the substance behind Mogul's illusions of Espio the Chameleon and Sally Acorn, which initially had the two groups fighting. When the more level-headed members of each team noticed the errors in these illusions, however, the scheme was blown and Lynx was captured along with his teammates. (SMM, SSS: #1)

Along with the rest of the Fearsome Foursome, Lightning Lynx was later sent to Devil's Gulag and imprisoned for some time. However, due to the actions of the then-concealed Dr. Eggman, the teammates were able to escape along with fellow criminals Snively Kintobor, Nack the Weasel, Sleuth Dog, Drago Wolf, Warlord Kodos, and Uma Arachnis. Joining the assemblage of villains under Snively's leadership, Lynx confronted the Freedom Fighters again in capturing Nate Morgan, a venture that proved much more successful than his previous encounters with the heroes. However, his success was short-lived, as he and the rest of the future Destructix were defeated and captured by the Royal Secret Service under Geoffrey St. John. (StH: #62, #63, #70)

Destructix
Following another escape from Devil's Gulag, Lightning Lynx and his teammates - which now included Sleuth Dog and Drago Wolf- took up residence in a factory that had once belonged to Dr. Ivo Robotnik, keeping Tommy Turtle as a convenient punching bag. Later, Sonic the Hedgehog infiltrated this factory to liberate his old friend Tommy, only to find the villains attempting to make a deal with Dr. Eggman to sell him the factory, despite that it was originally his. Lynx and the others were then subjected to Roboticization, becoming Robians in service to Eggman. Due to Sleuth's last attempted moment of defiance - throwing a live grenade into the room - it seemed as though the Destructix had been destroyed, but they in fact survived and were De-Roboticized by the Bem. Later, robotic doubles of their Robian forms attacked Sonic as part of a ruse to get an Auto Automaton of Tommy Turtle into Knothole. When recovered by Eggman, these doubles contained video of the Destructix making a deal with "Anonymous", a mysterious being who was eventually revealed to be to be Eggman's computer virus "son," A.D.A.M.. (StH: #117, #135, #168)

Renaming themselves the Destructix (as, with Slueth and Drago, they could no longer be called the Fearsome Foursome), they set out to recapture Mammoth Mogul's Chaos Emerald in order to release him. Lightning Lynx engaged the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix yet again, but as usual was outclassed and outnumbered and so defeated. He and the others were taken to prison, only to be liberated when Mogul escaped from the Emerald himself. When Ixis Naugus arrived and challenged Mogul for the Crown of Acorns, Lynx fought against his Arachne as well as the arriving Freedom Fighters and Chaotix. When Mogul and Naugus joined forces, the battle continued between only two sides, but then ended with the destruction of the Sword and Crown of Acorns and the capture of the villains by the Egg Fleet. Lynx and his compatriots were teleported to the Egg Grape Chamber, where Mogul attempted to protect them from the draining effects with his magic. However, as time went on he tired and reduced his protection of the others. Luckily for the criminals, Dr. Finitevus arrived shortly thereafter with Scourge the Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat to liberate the Destructix in exchange for their loyalty. The doctor called upon them for their muscle, first requiring Lynx and his teammates to play the part of reformed mercenaries by defending the helpless Echidnas of Angel Island from the Dingoes in order to set himself up as a protector of the Master Emerald (StH: #162, #163, #164, #165, #171)

The Destructix revealed their true colors soon enough by ambushing and capturing Knuckles the Echidna when he returned to Angel Island and handing him over to the Dark Legion. Following his brainwashing and transformation into Enerjak, the Destructix - now joined by Fiona Fox in place of Rouge - were set to watch over the Grand Conservatory, as hidden within was a weapon created by the Brotherhood of Guardians to destroy Enerjak in the event of his return. They were soon challenged by Sonic, Julie-Su, and Locke (with assistance from Archimedes the Fire Ant) as they attempted to claim the device, and then had their mission rendered unnecessary by Sonic's destruction of the weapon. No longer having a job and unnerved by the battle between Enerjak and Super Sonic, Lightning Lynx and his allies fled through one of Finitevus' Warp Rings, having decided to become full-fledged mercenaries. (StH: #181, #183, #184)

The group soon found themselves once again employed by Mammoth Mogul, who commissioned them to bring him Sonic's running shoes. After a brief fight with Sonic, Sally, and fellow mercenaries Bark the Polar Bear and Bean the Dynamite - whom Mogul had also hired but who had switched sides at Sally's offer of better payment - they captured Sonic and took him to Mogul's casino. They were all then defeated by Sonic, Sally, Amy Rose, and Geoffrey St. John, only for Rouge to pass the word to them that Mogul's plan all along had been to discredit Sonic by capturing him and then having him confront Mogul without evidence that Mogul had been involved. (StH: #187, #188)

Service to a New Leader
When the Iron Queen took over the Eggman Empire and became the Bride of Four Houses, Lightning Lynx left the Destructix to join the Iron Dominion. He was sent to recruit Espio, and surprisingly, he reluctantly agreed. They both then ran off to intercept Sonic and Monkey Khan. The two arrived in the ruins of New Megaopolis after a battle between Sonic and Monkey Khan against the Dark Egg Legion and Yagyu Ninja had begun. Monkey Khan recognized Lightning Lynx as a member of the Raiju Clan but could not identify him, to which Lightning said his honor had been restored before attacking the simian. Lightning was shocked and wounded by Khan's Atom-Bat, but the two heroes were forced to flee after the Iron King wounded them and chased them off. (StH: #201, #202)

Lightning returned to the Dragon Kingdom when Conquering Storm was sent back to keep tabs on the Iron Dominion's control over the other clans. The clan took up residence in the Iron Fortress, which was eventually stormed by Sonic, Monkey Khan, Tails, Sally, Fiona and the remaining members of the Destructix; their joint goal was to get the clan to break its ties to the Iron Dominion and get Lightning to rejoin the Destructix. It was decided that the matter would be settled by a duel; Storm selected Lightning as her champion to "prove his continued worth," a chance he eagerly accepted. He was surprised to find himself facing Sonic the Hedgehog rather than Monkey Khan but nevertheless unleashed a vicious, desperate series of attacks, explaining that after being taken back in by his clan, he wouldn't let anyone take that away from him.However, he was defeated and left desperately pleading with Conquering Storm for another chance; she cruelly dismissed him and expelled him from the clan once again. In desperation he blurted "Don't! Please! I love--" but Storm told him to stop embarrassing himself. He turned away, miserable and in tears, and was comforted by the Destructix. When Fiona told him that she was playing something that would ensure that everyone got what they deserved, he eventually agreed to leave with the group. (SU: #15)

Abilities
Lightning Lynx is capable of moving at high speed, rivaling that of Espio the Chameleon but not Sonic the Hedgehog. He also has highly refined senses, using these to counter Espio's camouflage.

Personality
Something of a showoff and one of the more impulsive members of any team he serves on, Lynx is nonetheless loyal and formidable. Like Espio, he has a deep-rooted sense of loyalty to his clan, and apparently considers honor to be his highest commodity. Due to his love for Conquering Storm, Lightning was elated to be accepted back into the clan and desperately sought to serve Storm and gain her acceptance, and when he failed and was once again expelled, was left miserable and shamed.

Romance
It is possible that Lightning was in love with his clan's leader, the Bride of Conquering Storm. The only possible mention is when he said "No! Don't! I love--" before Conquering Storm cut him off.

Background Information

 * Lightning Lynx is the first member of the Fearsome Foursome to have any level of his history and background explored.

Appearance
Lightning Lynx is light brown/tan with a lighter muzzle and front. He has black hair and blue eyes, as well as black ears and spiky eyebrows. His attire consists of light blue gloves and shoes/boots adorned with yellow lightning bolts. The gloves often feature spurs on the knuckles.

His usual design differs greatly from his initial depiction, in which his fur was orange, his ears smaller, his tail longer and the tufts of fur on his cheeks more prominent.