RULE ONE: No filler detail. No lacking detail. Flawless imagery must be achieved always.
LAW TWO: Unwanted adverbs ending in '–ly' and the word 'was' are prohibited.
THEOREM THREE: As the number of read chapters approaches infinity, a reader's satisfaction level also approaches infinity.
FACT FOUR: Questioning Law is not responsible for the reader's ineptitude in having poor lexicon.
PROPOSAL FIVE: Read until 'Declare their Bounties'.
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Cover Image By den255 (DeviantArt)
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG © SEGA and Sonic Team
[cargo is pure mad]
[. . . .]
→→→•1•←←←
Evacuate from Base
Call it a switch of sorts. A consequence of the Time Eater eating the time stream.
He missed.
The act of throwing and aiming demands extensive physical know-how, if asked the subject. The issue did not concern the Egg-pawn on the dim lit floor in shards, stunning the man and the target in question. Neither the fact said target possessed the chaos emerald, expressing his worry as though it might explode, or worse.
Orbot's position had not changed. His mind grappled to comprehend the situation, replaying the scene locked on an infinite loop.
Eggman launches Egg-pawn at Cubot —
Cubot holds emerald away —
Projectile at one meter from target —
Projectile at thirty centimetres from target —
The error kicks in. Right before impact an altered path presents itself. Not in the sense the projectile curved to avoid the frightened robot, but rather the object disappeared, reappearing in the same instance, hurling past Cubot to the wall. The victim had his optics shut the entire time.
Orbot remained in limbo. His systems tried justifying the event as Chaos control by Cubot, or Dr. Eggman destroyed the laws of physics. By chance the doctor noticed Orbot's predicament after being bemused himself.
He marched to the robot's defensive form and initiated a manual reset. An extendable bradawl driven into the sphere, slithered through a cuff.
Cubot met a stern look from the doctor, his companion hoisted. The robot scraped behind at non-existent hair, his other hand held the stone.
"Aha... Uh... "
Eggman headed for him, the hardware tool discarded.
"Give me"—he grabbed the item—"that."
Cubot readied for the inevitable scolding, which never came. Reflections within the yellow emerald pressed an urgent matter. Bobbing, hexagonal goggles switched in action to target the source.
Orbot's diagnostics beeped in satisfaction. Its first operation called for decompression, pushing the white gloves encapsulating him. They clamped as a reply locking him in the current form. With the same tenacity done earlier Eggman whipped his arms towards the ceiling vent crates. The lines of "Don't let it escape." added to the process.
The robot's spherical body smashed through the flat cover, popping arms away to impede the hovering spy's escape in progress. Gravity took over sending the combatants into free fall. Another pair of robotic hands caught him and in turn the machine he held. It squirmed everywhere flaying its one movable part.
Retrieving his bradawl throughout the fall the doctor deactivated the entity. The trio analyzed their intruder outfitted in its new Swiss cheese camouflage.
A single turbine kept it afloat, an optical eye placed on the blade rim. An appearance of a professional bicycle helmet covered the top. The body represented an elongated octagon with a cylindrical camera mounted underneath.
One dumb-bell shaped component hooked at the rear, the exhaust vent directed above. Along the colour schemes of yellow rotor blades, combined with a blue, white and red body paint, 'G' emblazoned overhead the number zero-one on the helmet.
"Quit gawking at it. We need to move, now."
Before the robotic pair could jolt the little guy aside an arm clasped around them, and they were tossed into the departing vehicle. The Beetle once grounded had its fixed eyepiece record their departure.
They turned, flying amidst scattered Egg-pawns. Timing his movements to the keypad on the wall, sliding doors greeted the hover pod upon entering the instant descending elevator.
"How'd they sneak by—never mind. Divert them to the west side of the compound." Eggman spoke through the drive console, gunfire apparent from the other line.
A nod severed the connection, lagged behind a soldier shouting the hedgehog's position.
"We'll make our escape through the breach." The doctor swiped the telephone application to complex outline.
Although it would be beneficial to everyone if someone popped the question on how Cubot survived the prior incident another immediate issue seized Orbot's attention.
He murmured aside. "Didn't you say the lifts weren't working?"
The cube raised arms in defense. "A bunch of Pawns blocked the way. How could I'd checked?"
A ding accompanied sliding doors, the round exit spotted straight ahead. Compared to the rest of the building this floor sustained the brunt of today's attack, a robotic massacre.
Metallic cargo prisms mutilated, workers decapitated, few even hanged by random exposed wires spilt from panels.
They detoured around loader vehicles fallen sideways with their Egg-pawn drivers expired. Eggman manned plenty of bots given the surprise assault granted his Egg-walker be the singular vehicle defending himself. It disintegrated during the earlier rendezvous outside.
Lacking weapons the contraption reclassified to a glorified Segway.
A shouted whisper came from the back seat. "'Lights remain at sixty percent capacity'?"
"You said the elevators ceased functioning. I couldn't access this area."
"Shut it"—he slammed his gloved fist between them—"do you hear anything?"
Moments ago indicated a battle between a weaponized hedgehog and government forces, the lack of noise contradicting previous intel. Steady propulsion drifted them nearer to the exit creating little noise, if possible.
During the repairs on the Egg-mobile darkness had settled in the sky, starless as it were. Reaching the black hole called for the centre headlight to activate. The light shined back on itself, the cause of its repulse eying the crew. Agape expressions embraced them when Eggman veered to a full retreat.
Another towering robot climbed through the access point, the first one already firing upon the pod.
Orbot identified the threat. "G.U.N. Hunters."
The passengers peered above the rear-border edge. Airborne units had joined the fray having standard energy rifles mounted to their undersides.
A recognizable sound font came online, the elevator signified occupation.
"Halt, or else we will open fire."
Eggman strained the craft into stopping, crew members blown windward.
A boastful voice greeted the surrounded vehicle. "You again?"
Soldiers outfitted with lacklustre helmets, boots and bulletproof vests had poured from the elevator. Each person carried similar armaments targeted at the group. To the moon's direction acquainted G.U.N. Hunters and Beetles formed a concave barricade.
Their Hunters used the same patterns of the white and blue paint job, applying yellow around the arms. A pulse rifle connected to one forelimb, a claw-like hand on the other. Its venting apparatus bolted on the front chest plate, zero-two inked beside the protrusion.
One domed sensor fastened on top the structure. A rocket pack beamed present, and chunky plates fused between the joints.
"Commander Towers, is it?" An arm slid playful along the dashboard. His servant bots hid their bodies, heads and hands exposed.
A pair of individuals stood unrivalled in the sea of troopers. Ruffled grey hair and complete heterochromia bestowed the man's facial features. A grey suit, badge of authority, and sophisticated stash completed the attire.
In contrast the other carried his image as short, blue, and having an odd preference for military footwear.
"If you're going to commandeer my base at least give the courtesy for me to vacate the premises."
"Out of the vehicle, Dr. Eggman," the Commander said.
Machinery on standby hummed in the otherwise silence, charging shots. However, the subjects complied, abandoning the vehicle.
Towers marched to them, his cyan eye divulging everything he needed to know. The eye colour difference due to a genetic defect portrayed a ruse, one of G.U.N.'s own tech.
A pseudo eye.
He saw the vast array of tools tucked throughout the fat body. How the doctor's robots circuited themselves, comparing the design to their own. Even the emerald the hovercraft possessed shined into view.
A hand proceeded to reach into his pocket. "We're going to play a game. I'll ask you questions. You provide their answers.
"If I don't trust the answer, you win a prize." The safety trigger unlatched.
Eggman darted concealed eyes at Sonic, beyond doubt he would not approve of this… he hoped. At a distance the hedgehog appeared wanting to interject, but declined to jump in the conversation.
"Will I be answering to you or him?"
Towers continued. "Is it possible to create Mobian rings to be used by humans?"
A nod.
The sidearm not changing stance elicited further commentary.
"My robots can explain the concept"—he manipulated his leg to knock the cube beside the sphere, dumbfoundedness plastered on their faces—"they'd studied the file."
Despite initial impressions the explanation continued in a professional tone. Orbot the main fountain of information coincided with Cubot, injecting opinion rather than fact into the mix.
During the info dump the doctor strayed leftover cognitions to bewilder at Sonic. The hedgehog paced along the boundary of soldiers. He walked in a straight line, spin-dashed, ran, hopped, a combination of the above. The Commander paused, conversing to the hedgehog once the information started mutating to utter nonsense.
The leaders returned. "When did you gain knowledge about the existence of these Mobian rings?"
Eggman attempted again. "Why won't you ask him?"
"Answer the question."
"But he already knows the answer." Arms directed at the hedgehog for full effect. They fell when the firearm elevated to eye level.
Vacuous idiot, how would my answer make any—
The soldiers discharged their weapons, causing Eggman to hit the deck and his bots to revert to defense mode. Hunters and Beetles aided, bombarding past the Egg-mobile. An explosion materialized, and in the same instance, Towers vaulted sideways to avoid the missile.
The blue robot focused on his doppelgänger, who could not be bothered to react fast enough to dodge. Metal claws extended for the sweeping motion through Sonic's frame, bullets and energy projectiles sandwiching the rivals.
The scout had in view an anthropomorphic android when it peeked around the corner wall. Current objectives outlined base assessment on damages and to seek anything worth salvageable. This new discovery created a preliminary assignment, determine the building's occupancy.
Through the exterior ventilation shaft it flew, achieved with brute force, resulting in the sentinel to investigate the noise.
Advancing onwards the ceiling maze contradicted background information of the layout. Though the branching routes had many inadmissible sectors due to rampant debris external sensors detected light utilities active, and auditory ones, a distant disturbance. The A.I. edged deeper into the network until actual words became recorded.
"—chaos control during the battle. Sonic would be distracted attacking. It then reappears behind him. Boom. Laser to the face."
Stopping above the opening, the protruding camera shifted below.
"Or he would teleport to the rear of Sonic with the pod alone leaving both contraptions vulnerable. It's nonsensical—"
Its hard drive indicated the individuals in view as targets of interest. The broadcasted video linked to the nearest compatible receiver.
Regardless if the fortress deemed salvageable an assortment of military robots and personnel were being transported to the area for the certainty of retrieving the Egg Emperor Mark II, codenamed Operation Meow21. They would be on ground soon, the Commander leading the charge. His communicator received the video request, his other arm accepted the transmission.
"—how the doctor doesn't trust us with the knowledge of chaos control, yet allows us to know how to achieve invincible status."
"We do?"
"Are you talking about those blasted rings?"
Mentions of rings seized his attention. "Sonic, this is your expertise."
They sat in the cargo hold amongst lined seating filled with governmental force. The hedgehog settled in a groggy position against the wall, not bothering to respond.
"Sonic."
A rushed jumble of sound radiated through his muzzle containing the phrases 'sorry', 'forgot', and 'getting use to'.
The aggressor dropped incapacitated, fried circuits a buzz. And there stood Sonic without a scratch acting amiss of the aftermath. During everyone's recovery he had taken upon himself to intrigue at his metal double, sightseeing the exposed parts.
He squatted to the wreck and drawn-out a whistle.
"Now, where were we?" the Commander said.
[Fu—]
Eggman's train of logic broke and he swung his foot back, a hole penetrating the floor stealing its place. No doubt Towers captivated the masses with his sudden act. The doctor's heart rate spiked, retreating when the gunman strolled ahead.
He directed men from the line to apprehend him, neglecting his red and yellow toy ball and block.
"Without Metal Sonic to stop our departure there's no need to stay. Go get the emerald."
The hedgehog's limbs nested in its inner mechanisms.
"If I—"
At once he dashed to the Egg-mobile tending the duty asked. How convenient too since the devastated automaton abused this opportunity. Metal Sonic reactivated his internal systems and launched himself at the Commander, knocking him to the ground in a choke position.
The aperture in his chassis increased in illumination.
"Do not open fire or I will end this man."
The Egg-pod wedged into the ground when completing the teleportation, tilted at an angle. Orbot and Cubot tumbled outward.
Sounds of machinery drowned their complaints, many construction workers behind them worked on retrieving the peculiar wreckage below. The item in question emerged at the apex of the crane, a dripping barrel bearing the Eggman insignia. Interest shifted towards the newer bodies.
Air became stiff.
The stationed R7s resembling Hunter Mechs, albeit pertaining a stouter build and blatant interest in green armament, did not hesitate in starting the engagement. Beetles and armed employees followed their lead.
Hovering away from the crash site the driver made haste into the night sky, bullets and Beetles trailing. The robo-pair ran into the recent created ditch to evade the hailstorm of metal.
A thud resonated in the hole and Cubot jumped at the chance to 'hot potato' it. Time lagged midst the object ricocheting on their cover's boundary. The robots felt compelled to watch it roll to the centre.
Orbot could not help but convert his optics to blank underscores, directed at the imbecile. The succeeding detonation overloaded their sensors to supernova levels.
Eggman fled adjacent to the river streaming away from the grand entrance of his base, performing acrobatic manoeuvers. Those pesky bugs firing on the craft increased pace. Another amber pulse singeing the side metal reminded him the robots needed to get lucky once.
The waterfall ahead posed a possible escape route, this time planning to go over it compared to earlier today. He killed power to his vehicle at arrival and rerouted it into his patented chaos control. His pursuers were not discouraged to carry on the descent.
His activation switch flip-flopped in haste. "What? No. Don't fail on me now."
It denied ignition, the needle hanging in the green. He gobbled a gulp of air before plunging into the water. The Beetles avoided the backlash, and unleashed their ammunition on possible Eggman locations.
Numerous discharges later they retracted, concluding the mission a success. If they had lingered a bright light would have risen, submerged. Flashing once, it reappeared anew above the water plopping its carrier, whom coughed the liquid throughout the teleportation.
He scooped the incoming water in the craft over the rim.
"Simpleminded ring concept."
His personal space soaked the excess liquid, fenced in by the sea. The vehicle sailed in no straightforward direction, his viewing range limited to pitch-black horizons. He reached for goggles, patting around his bald head.
A tint of moonlight shines in his eye, it came from the item in question drifting on the other side of the island. It sunk afterward.
"There's no chance they can get the one object powerful enough to make the idea feasible"—he exhaled—"data's been robbed, machinery pilfered, and Metal Sonic, diced by... "
He could not express his outrage in words and instead demonstrated it by slamming the craft.
The boat tilted left, he gripped the elevated side with the wrong hand to compensate. Subsiding to a wobble the same arm committed itself in stabilization. When the crisis had been averted he shook his right side, no stimuli responded.
Further investigation announced the cause, a gaping hole through his upper arm. Nerves, blood vessels, and slices of cartilage exposed. With the adrenaline levels at before he failed to notice its inception. Hitting the injured limb tipped it past the breaking point.
Nothing worked in an electrical standpoint, panels stayed lifeless. Shoddy experiments with the emerald did not fix the problem, but its original function rebooted online. It would be hours until he could reuse it since surging the system with chaos control did its toll.
Midway through the jerry-rigged restoration the blood floodgates opened afresh, and his physique could not handle any more of the fluid being lost. Eggman began to slip into darkness slouched on the command chair.
Quick like a blown light the man collapsed, the odds of him waking again in a non-drowned state ranked slim to none. If anything, his current demise would make a great photo. The waxing gibbous moon phase accentuated his drooping auburn mustache and reflective spectacles without fault.
Faint light beamed on his face for a split second. The action repeated and diverged to a strobed pattern.
Its origin soon became stable, revealing itself to be the yellow emerald growing brighter than the sun achieving critical mass.
Author's Note:
Anything surrounded by "[" "]" is significant in solving the overarching mystery in some way. They act as hints for the readers.
Of course, there will be hints not surrounded by "[" "]". These square brackets exist because the ones surrounded by it may be harder to discover.
