Sonic the Hedgehog: Climax

By: Joshua Patterson

SCRIPT

Part 10: "Departure," Part 2

SCENE ONE

The Generation of Freedom Rebel Base/Refuge of the 31st Division. ENTER Captain Bryce Shephard, leader of the GOF 31st. He is ordering panicked refugees onto convoys guarded and commandeered by GOF rebels. The underground complex, which is being decimated by NeoMech forces, is rapidly falling apart. Water bursts from cracks formed by the stronghold's compromised integrity. People, including the rebels, struggle to reach higher ground, as lower levels quickly flood. Those who were not quick enough to escape the waters struggle to swim to the inclined surface that leads to the exit, with the expert swimmers of the GOF coming to their aid.

Bryce: (Yelling) "Everyone, make your way on board these convoys NOW! It's important that we move as quickly as possible! No one gets left behind!"

ENTER Shelby Shields. Bryce turns to the tortoise, who hovers nearby in her personal combat craft.

Bryce: "Shields, how long do you think this place will hold before it completely gives way?"

Shelby: (Analyzing her scanning console) "At the rate that the NeoMechs are tearing through our support structures, I would say that we have around eight minutes to conduct a complete evacuation of everyone."

Bryce: (Gravely) "Then we're not moving anywhere near as urgently as we should be. (Opens his comm device) Oliver, how are the flood rescues going?"

ENTER Otto Oliver. Sounds of rushing water can be heard in the background of his end of the comms transmission.

Otto: (Slightly fatigued) "We've just about got everyone out of the water and headed towards the convoys. There are a handful of stragglers in need of assistance, but we're taking care of them now."

Bryce: (Pleased) "Great. From what Shields says, we only have around eight minutes to get everyone out of here. Have you heard from either Hopkins or Foxworth recently? I had ordered them to evacuate the children and caretakers of the day care, and just about everyone there has been evacuated."

Otto: (Uncertain) "Unfortunately, I haven't heard from them, and that's definitely not a good thing. The day care is very close to the flood at this point, and these waters are growing fierce, even for expert swimmers such as myself."

Bryce: (Urgently) "Oliver, I need you to make your way to the day care and see what's going on over there. If Hopkins and Foxworth have been caught in a jam, they'll need an extra hand. Please move quickly."

Otto: (Confidently) "Consider it done, Captain."

As Bryce closes the comm transmission, he watches as GOF rebels approach the remaining dry land with the last of the refugees. EXIT Otto Oliver.

Bryce: (Yelling once more) "Double time, troops! Get those refugees on these convoys NOW! (Turning to Shelby) Let Officer Mouser know that we'll be making our way to the surface in about six minutes.

Shelby: "Yes, sir!"

EXIT Shelby Shields. As she departs to relay his message to Officer Mouser, Captain Bryce is left to think about the challenges that lay before him and his division.

Bryce: (Thinking) You don't have much time to retrieve the rest of our squad, Oliver. I can only hope and pray that you and the others will make it back safely.

EXIT ALL

SCENE TWO

The Generation of Freedom Rebel Base/Refuge of the 31st Division. ENTER Jasper Hopkins and Fredd Foxworth. The two soldiers are escorting the last of the refugees out of the day care, which is crumbling and beginning to fill with water.

Jasper: (Yelling and waving refugees out of the day care) "Come on, people, move it! Get these little ones out of here!"

Fredd: (Disappointed) "It makes no sense that the children are just now being escorted. They should have been the first to be taken to the convoys."

Jasper: (Tense) "I agree. There's nothing we can do about that now, though. At least we can make sure that everyone is evacuated in time."

Fredd: (Still guiding people through the day care exit) "That's the big question, Jasper: Just how much time do we have left?"

Suddenly, a refugee approaches with a panicked expression on his face.

Jasper: "Are you the last one?"

Refugee: (Distressed) Unfortunately, no. There are still some people trapped amidst some of the debris that's fallen in the deeper areas of the day care center. I could use your help removing it!"

Fredd: (Calmly) "No problem, sir. We'll help you get those people out of there, but we need you to lead them to the exit. Is that understood?"

Refugee: (Confidently) "Yes, sir!"

Jasper, Fredd, and the refugee then proceed deeper into the day care center, where cries of help can be heard. Jasper immediately rushes to the first slab of rock that he sees and strives to pry it loose.

Jasper: (Struggling) "Nnnh! Sergeant, give me a hand!"

Fredd: (Coming to Jasper's aid) "I'm on it, son! Keep pulling!"

After a bit of effort, the slab of rock is removed. A few frightened children are huddled beneath the rubble. One young girl, seemingly the oldest of the three, reaches a hand out towards Jasper.

Young Girl: (Frightened) "Please, help us! We'll die if we stay down here for too long!"

Jasper takes the girl's hand and hauls her out of the rubble, while Fredd gathers the other two children in his arms.

Jasper: (Declaratively) "Cut that nonsense out. No one is dying on my watch!"

Jasper and Fredd then take the children to the refugee, who has just finished freeing people who were trapped under another pile of rubble.

Fredd: "Get everyone to safety. Now!"

Refugee: (Nodding his head) "Yes, si-!"

Suddenly, a small group of NeoMech Seekers crash through the walls. They look upon Jasper, Fredd, and the refugees menacingly, their glowing eyes piercing the shadows. Water begins to fill the corridors at an even faster rate.

Jasper: (Surprised) "What on Mobius…?"

Fredd: (Drawing his twin sawed-off shotguns) "Seekers. Everyone, get behind us! We'll handle this!"

Jasper draws his assault rifle as the Seekers quickly approach them.

Jasper: (Grittily) "We're going to buy you guys some time, even if it means we don't make it!"

As the leading Seeker makes its first move, Jasper opens fire upon it. He then leaps to the side as the robot nearly lunges into him, its blade fully extended. Fredd then opens fire upon the other two Seekers.

Fredd: (Fiercely) "Let's see what you chumps have got!"

One of the Seekers avoids the shells, while the other shrugs them off and charges straight towards Fredd, its claw in full swing. Fredd uses his weapons to parry the blow, and then engages in a close-quarters bout with the Seeker.

Fredd: (Grinning) "Heh, I love a good fight."

Jasper unleashes another salvo of automatic fire on the Seeker whose blow he avoided.

Jasper: "I guess the first serving wasn't enough for you. Have a second helping!"

Fredd watches as the third Seeker approaches Jasper from behind.

Fredd: (Warningly) "Jasper, check your six!"

Jasper swiftly avoids the fatal blow of the Seeker approaching from behind, draws a saber, and thrusts it through the base of the machine's skull. Sparks fly from the machine's punctured armor. Jasper kicks the robot in the back, separating its head form its minute body.

Fredd: (Still in combat with the second Seeker) "Not bad!"

Jasper: (Turning to Fredd and grinning) "I've been taking some notes.

Fredd: (Rushing towards the second Seeker) "Then watch and learn!"

Fredd avoids the Seeker's twin strikes of its blade and pincers while drawing the bayonets of his shotguns. He then thrusts the blades into the robot's chest, and subsequently blows it apart with simultaneous shots from his weapons.

Jasper: (Smiling) "Nifty!"

The two then face the remaining Seeker.

Fredd: "Let's make this quick."

With a sudden burst of speed, the robot tackles Fredd, Mobian and machine splashing into the rising waters.

Fredd: (Grumpily) "Me and my big mouth."

Fredd, struggling to rise from the ground, avoids the Seeker's blows, while Jasper lifts the robot from his comrade and hurls it into a nearby wall. Its head is crushed upon impact.

Jasper: (Brushing his hands) "Actions do speak louder than words, you know…"

Suddenly, a scream of distress can clearly be heard.

Voice: "EEEEEEK! Someone please help me!"

Jasper: (With realization) "Wait a second. I know that voice… (Looking ahead) Reneé!? Is that you!?"

ENTER Reneé Masceira. She can be seen being forced through a tunnel by a group of Seekers.

Reneé: (Distressed) "Jasper? Oh, thank goodness! Please help!"

Jasper: (Running ahead) "Don't worry, Reneé. I've got you-!"

Fredd: (Grabbing Jasper by the arm) "Jasper, NO! We're just about out of time! The water's almost up to our waists now! If we don't hurry back to the rendezvous point, we'll drown-!"

Jasper: (Pulling himself free from Fredd) "Sergeant, let go of me! I'm getting Reneé out of here, regardless of the cost!"

ENTER Otto Oliver. He approaches Jasper and Fredd from a short distance away.

Otto: (Intuitively) "Jasper, Fredd! Is that you two? I'm here to get you out of here…"

Fredd: (Following Jasper as he runs off) "Jasper, wait!"

Suddenly, the ceiling above Fredd collapses, and an overwhelming deluge of water comes with it. Fredd can barely hear Otto's voice as the otter swims to his rescue.

Otto: (Voice bubbly) "Fredd!"

When Fredd awakens, he finds himself soaked and in an evac convoy. He looks up to see Otto, Bryce, and Shelby sitting nearby. ENTER Bryce.

Fredd: (Groggy) "Unnh…"

Bryce: (Anxious) "Fredd, are you okay? Otto barely got you out of there in one piece."

Otto: (In a serious tone) "Fredd…What happened to Jasper?"

Fredd: (Groggy) "Jasper…?"

Otto: "Yes, Jasper. Where is he?"

Fredd: (Gravely) "I'm sorry…I should've stopped him. He rushed ahead of me and tried to save this, this girl named Reneé. Then the ceiling collapsed, and that's all I can remember."

Bryce and the others look to the floor of the convoy with grief, their hearts clearly stricken.

Fredd: (Sadly) "That's all I can remember."

EXIT ALL

SCENE THREE

The Courtyard of Sonic's Headquarters. ENTER Shadow the Hedgehog, Rouge the Bat, and Commander Larry Plains. They, like the Acorn Kingdom soldiers surrounding them, stand perfectly still as Requiem the Mechog and his NeoMech legion approaches. Not a single round is fired from either side. Remains of Acorn Kingdom troops and the devastated shells of NeoMech robots lay still about the courtyard, the casualties being a direct result of a conflict that was commencing hardly a minute ago. Building, streets, and military tanks lay in ruins. Smoke chokes the air.

ENTER Requiem the Mechog. He uses his dark chaos energies to hover in the air, his pupiless eyes looking down upon the brave individuals standing in the way of his path to conquest.

Commander Plains: (Assertively) "Men, hold your fire!"

Requiem: "A wise decision."

Shadow: (Muttering) "Commander, don't attack until I give you the signal."

Commander Plains: (Muttering in reply) "Understood."

Requiem: (Slowly descending to the ground) "Instead of allowing any further sparks to fly or blood to be shed, I thought that it would be nice for us to consider handling things a bit more civilly."

Commander Plains: (Doubtfully) "And you're civil?"

Requiem: (With pride) "Certainly! You see, at this point logic is practically screaming that your efforts to resist our plans are futile. The Master Emerald is in our possession, ensuring that our NeoMech forces will never be exhausted. Your military forces won't hold out for very long in the defense of just one emerald, and we're already working on recovering the rest. Oh, and that rebellion called the Generation of Freedom that was your only hope of saving Mobotropolis? They're essentially toast now, along with the last of the MPD. They thought they could hide in the network of strongholds beneath the city, but we had them flooded. It was probably difficult for you to take notice of the quakes with all the fighting going on here."

Shadow: (Angrily) "Listen, Requiem, we're not moving an inch! We're holding our ground until this emerald is secure and far away from you! You may think you've already won, but you'll pay dearly for underestimating us, and especiallyl me!"

Requiem: (Amused) "Shadow, please. You sound really silly right now, honestly, and you look even more pathetic. This beat-up militia of yours is no different. (Charging with an aura of dark chaos energy) Now get out of my way before Mobians go extinct. I'd really hate to cross the line."

Shadow: (Signaling Commander Plains with an extended hand poised to symbolize a command to attack) "Requiem, you crossed the line a long time ago. ATTACK!"

A fierce battle erupts as bullets, lasers, missiles, and explosive shells are fired. Grenades are thrown. Soldiers scream in agony. Robots erupt. Requiem, completely taken off guard, finds himself flying through a building as Shadow propels himself into his stomach. The two land on the rooftop of another building, and quickly leap to their feet. They stare at each other face-to-face, crouched down in attacking positions.

Requiem: (Bitterly) "I'll make you regret this, Shadow. You were fortunate to have survived our first encounter. Remember, I was created to kill you."

Shadow: (Charging at Requiem in Rage) "Round two, Requiem. FIGHT!"

EXIT ALL

SCENE FOUR

The launch hangar of Sonic's Headquarters. ENTER Sonic the Hedgehog, Princess Sally Acorn, and Amy Rose. Sonic and Amy continue to watch the still-unconscious Knuckles and Tails, while Sally consults N.I.C.O.L.E., her personal data retrieval and analysis device.

Sally: (Urgently) "N.I.C.O.L.E., update me on the progress of the Tornado II's power-up."

N.I.C.O.L.E.: "CHARGE IS AT APPROXIMATELY SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT, AND RISING."

Sonic: (Optimistically) "We only need a little bit more time. It shouldn't be long before we reach one-hundred percent."

Sally: (Uncertain) "I just hope that Commander Plains's battalion can hold out until then."

Sonic: (Thinking with realization) That's right…! (Speaking) "Amy, how are Knuckles and Tails doing?"

Amy: (Viewing the monitors) "It looks like they're both in pretty stable conditions."

Sonic: (Speeding off) "Great. Sally, keep in touch with me via comm. I want to stay updated on the Tornado II's charging progress. Amy, Keep a close eye on Knuckles and Tails."

Amy: (Confidently) "I'm on it, Sonic!"

Sally: "Where are you going?"

Sonic: (Stopping briefly) "I'm going to make sure that the NeoMech forces outside are held at bay. We can't afford for our defenses to crumble now!"

Sonic then speeds off towards the elevator that leads to the surface. Sally and Amy stare after him. EXIT Sonic.

Amy: "On the move again?"

Sally: (Smiling) "Of course. That's what makes him Sonic the Hedgehog."

EXIT ALL

TO BE CONTINUED…