Chapter six –
A Link to the Past
Knuckles and Rouge had taken the triplets to the 'Memorial Wall' located in the bottom quarter of Freedom Headquarters. The wall stretched across some twenty metres and was plastered from head to foot with photographs, floral tributes, candles and cuddly toys. It represented those that had died since Robotnik had come to power, those from the Green Hill incident and those who had given their lives during missions as freedom fighters. It was about as close to a church in terms of atmosphere and presence in the entire complex. There were few neon lights, everyone preferred it that way with the small yellow flames of the candles burning brightly.
In the centre but amongst the others given no higher importance were two photographs. Knuckles knelt down and prayed silently whilst Rouge and the children bowed their heads. Every year the children did this remembering Sonic and Amy their biological mother and father. Knuckles was determined that they would never grow up without some form of connection to his old friends.
Summer stared at the photograph and then looked to Rosie and Sonic, she felt strangely empty inside. Her sister kissed both photographs and then hugged Rouge who was lost in her own thoughts.
Sonic once again swore revenge in his own mind against the man called Robotnik or the Eggman as he was known. He watched Knuckles get up and led them away from the memorial wall back into the unnaturally bright lights of the upper sector. No one spoke until they reached room 54 were they all sat down around the makeshift table Tails had knocked together for meal times.
Tails and Cream joined them soon afterwards and then during the meal Knuckles indulged the triplets with countless tales about Sonic, Amy and the gang when they were younger. Summer was in deep thought, as the others laughed and enjoyed themselves she was thinking about a conversation she'd had with Mr Shadow earlier that morning.
When Rosie came to collect them to visit the memorial wall, Summer watched Sonic and her younger sister walk away.
"Why don't I look like them?" She whispered softly, she hadn't meant to say it aloud but it caught Shadow's attention enough to warrant a response.
"Do not look like whom?" He asked the black hedgehog looked intently at her, his ruby eyes shining. Over time she had finally gotten used to Mr Shadow and his teaching methods, she felt stronger and more in control. The super sonic spin accident she'd had previously was a distant memory that made her smile.
"Mr Shadow, I think I'm adopted."
Shadow was slightly taken aback, of course she was adopted Knuckles and Rouge had looked after them and brought them up.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Every year we go to remember Mum and Dad but I don't look anything like either of them. I'm yellow and I've got these really jagged ugly spikes - Sonic and Rosie haven't I was just wondering why I looked so different. I thought maybe it was because they're not my real brother and sister."
"You are definitely Sonic the Hedgehog's daughter of that I have no doubt whatsoever," he looked at the confused six year old girl and wondered if he should just keep his mouth shut. He didn't want to admit that he had grown attached to his female pupil and was always amazed at her speed and agility as she manoeuvred through the obstacle courses. She didn't miss a trick and had that same cocky confidence as her father. Sonic Junior was more cautious and inclined to scout ahead and plan his route before diving in.
"What do you mean, Mr Shadow?"
"You are Sonic as he would be in super form, that is why your spikes and colouration are different to those of your brother and sister."
"Super form?" Summer's eyebrows rose slightly.
"The form given when one has acquired and used the power of the Chaos Emeralds…" He turned to look at Summer, who suddenly looked very intrigued. "Knuckles has told you of the Chaos Emeralds I presume?"
"Momma Rouge has." She lied trying to keep her voice even.
"Hmm yes thought she might… Knuckles was the original guardian but Sonic used the Chaos Emeralds to change into Super Sonic and looks as you do now. I myself have the ability change into super form in fact we both have, once or twice changed form together to beat a common foe."
"Where are the Chaos Emeralds now, Mr Shadow?"
"Still on the Floating Island I expect."
"The Floating Island…"
"Yes, Knuckles does check on them from time to time and the Master Emerald. He's a fool to be living down here whilst such power is unprotected, a damn fool…You are in many respects Summer superior to your siblings take care not to sell yourself short."
Summer said nothing but blinked at the black hedgehog, what had he meant DaddyKnux lived on a floating island? What were the Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald? DaddyKnux was the original guardian – what was he talking about? She bowed to her teacher and asked to be excused.
After such revelations the yellow hedgehog's head was bursting with questions, she wanted to know more about the Floating Island and why DaddyKnux had never taken them there. So, here she was thinking intently whilst the background noise washed over and she ate her meal absently.
"Summer, are you okay sweetheart?" Rouge asked concerned.
Summer nodded, she vaguely heard Sonic's voice and then the whole table suddenly erupted into laughter. This burst the bubble and she looked up suddenly surrounded by smiles and Sonic nudging her with a wicked smile.
"See I told yer she has a crush on Mr Shadow…"
"WHAT!" She realised quickly what her brother may have said in her absent state and hit him smartly on the head, "I do not Sonic. I only said he knows a lot of cool stuff the rest is in your sad little mind!"
Knuckles that very same day had decided to make a brief visit to Angel Island to check how things were going. The problem was Summer was following his every move, he looked for an opening to disappear unnoticed but the hedgehog was always one step behind. It began to worry him the most when after a trip to the bathroom he nearly tripped over the small hedgehog as she was waiting outside.
"Summer, are you sure everything is okay?" She nodded and scuttled off towards Rosie, who was showing off some of her new Piko Piko hammer moves to Rouge and Tails. Knuckles shook his head.
He checked once more and then made a hasty exit running towards the security hatch. He looked over his shoulder regularly to confirm he wasn't being followed, it appeared to be quite safe. He took the mobile teleport from its protective case ready to use immediately when there was a signal outside. The hatch closed roughly behind him and as before the echidna advanced looking for a suitable spot in the Green Hill Zone.
It was now winter on Mobius, a bitter wind was blowing and the sky was a dull grey consumed by clouds. He tapped the device with increasing irritation he had walked several metres and still there was no signal. He looked at the glass orb waiting for the bright violet glow but it remained colourless.
"Damn it, come on!"
"Target identified as KTE1, Knuckles the Echidna to be captured alive execute." A cold computerised voice spoke from thin air. It flashed briefly before disengaging stealth mode and moved towards Knuckles silent as the deadliest assassin.
Knuckles was still unaware of his predicament concentrating solely on the orb trying to get it to work. Evidently six years of bringing up the hedgehogs in the relatively safety of Freedom Headquarters had given him a false sense of security. Robotnik had not stopped his campaigns of death or his search for the secret stronghold which housed the remaining Freedom Fighters. If Knuckles had known how determined the good Doctor was and the extreme lengths he would go to in order to reach that goal, he would have thought twice about going outside alone.
Sonic Junior hid behind the large rock trembling, he could see DaddyKnux just ahead and the robot lurking behind ready to pounce. It was possible that this was the creepiest robot Sonic had ever seen in his life. It was a carbon copy of his Dad, Sonic in metal truly a 'Metal Sonic' of the tallest order. Had the little hedgehog known the full potential of the metal beast he would have run as fast as he could away from it.
The Metal Sonic had two blood red eyes that could shoot laser beams at will, jagged spikes that replaced its fingers were homing missiles, its body could produce an electric force field with the intensity of over 10050 volts, rocket boosters enabled controlled flight and speed and to finish off its stomach had a gamma ray capable of frying its target and leaving a smoky mess. This was the power of Metallix.
Metallix moved quickly lifting into the air and dashing from place to place soundlessly in the blink of an eye. The sight made Sonic's skin crawl. The robots eyes glanced to the right were the blue hedgehog was hiding for a micro second then returned. The robot raised its large metal palm ready to bring it crashing down on top of the unsuspecting echidna.
"DADDYKNUX!!" Sonic yelled in terror, he ran towards the robot curling into a spin before taking off and pummelling the Metallix on its head sending it momentarily off balance. The robot was desperately analysing the new target, its circuits were confused and the internal memory was trying to find a suitable explanation for the data showing on its scanner.
"Target identified as STH 1, Sonic the Hedgehog does not compute. Target deceased error within log, correcting error…"
Knuckles knew exactly what the trouble was and made the most of the Metallix's confusion. He grabbed Sonic who was a little stunned from hitting solid metal with his head. They needed to get back to the base but if the robot followed them he would be leading Robotnik to Freedom Headquarters! He kept looking towards the orb but there was no response. He could hear two powerful rocket engines erupt into life the Metallix was now airborne hunting for them both.
The monstrous machine fired several missiles into the air Knuckles jumped and dodged each missile, but he knew the bastard had plenty of other ideas to play with. Sure enough a familiar sound rang in his ears it was an electric hum gathering pace and high pitch – the gamma ray. He glanced back and then rolled to the left out of harm's way, instantly back on his feet Knuckles threw Sonic and the orb behind cover and continued to run on ahead.
Metallix looked from the echidna to the blue hedgehog cowering behind the rock. The echidna was the most recent target Doctor Robotnik had requested and so with the decision made it began to chase Knuckles once more.
Sonic Junior uncurled slowly and looked about him DaddyKnux was nowhere to be seen. He wrapped his arms around himself and breathed heavily what was he going to do now? He tried to close his eyes and blot out the image of Metallix but even in the dark he could still see those haunting red eyes. He picked up the glass object, whirled his young legs into frenzy and then sped off towards the mud pits at top speed.
Knuckles prayed the boy had enough sense to get back to Freedom Headquarters. He was lucky the Metallix could very easily have changed targets and gone back to get Sonic instead. This way Sonic, his family and the Freedom Fighters were safe – if only he do something for himself! He ran on leading the machine away towards the milky blue mountains of the Marble Zone. The gamma ray charged again and released a green pulsing ray directly in front of his chosen route. He turned right sharply narrowly missing a heat seeking missile. He leapt away twisting left and right he knew there was no way he was going to be able to keep this up. He stopped abruptly and turned to face the Metallix.
"Bring it on…" He growled.
By the time Sonic had reached Freedom Headquarters he was fighting back tears and shaking uncontrollably.
"Let me in, DaddyKnux needs help there's a robot after him! Is anyone there? PLEASE! LET ME BACK IN PLEASE!" He screamed at the top of his lungs.