Sorry about the REALLY long wait, some stuff happened, and then I went on a vacation, and then I got lazy, and the entire time a super writer's block was hitting me in the face.

Chapter 21

While Sonic and Amy were traversing Scrap Brain Zone, the rest of the gang had woken up to a less than optimal realization.

"What's that?"

"It's approaching quickly!"

"Chao, chao!"

"Cheese says it's scaring him…"

"That looks a lot like…"

"…It can't be…"

What first looked like a dark cloud coming toward the city was now separating into more noticeable shapes. It was picking up speed as well.

"It is..."

"Oh god…"

"Tails, get the Tornado III ready…"

"Sonic took it, remember?"

When Tails had first woken up, he realized that his craft was gone almost instantly. At first he thought that Eggman had took it, but after meeting up with the rest of his friends, Cream pointed out that Sonic might have taken it to find Amy, who they found was also missing. It made sense, seeing how Amy's building was half-destroyed, and Sonic was one of the only ones who could somewhat fly the Tornado anyway.

"Well guys, the Tornado II will have to do then…"

"I got my fists, I don't need that plane anyway."

"The agency isn't responding; we're basically the only defense here now."

"Chao, chao…"

"It'll be alright Cheese, don't worry."

It was now extremely apparent what the incoming threat was. It was a fleet of ships; no doubt sent from Eggman.

"Tornado II is ready to fly!" Tails exclaimed, firing up the engine.

"Bring 'em on!" Knuckles yelled, cracking his fists while standing on the top wing of the biplane with Rouge.

"Don't get too cocky, Knuckles!" Rouge retorted to her friend, more in a jokingly manner if anything.

"Why won't this madman ever stop…" Cream said quietly to herself, as she and Cheese were secured into the back seat of the Tornado II.

As the craft pulled out of the workshop, Tails issued orders to the crew.

"Alright, I'm going to head towards the fleet. Knuckles, Rouge, when you see an opportunity, jump off onto the nearest vessel or building and continue on, taking out as many of Eggman's forces as you can." The young fox explained.

"Got it!" Rouge and Knuckles said simultaneously.

"Meanwhile, Cream and I will stay here in the Tornado. Cream, when you see them jump off, signal me and we'll switch to attack mode. We'll head off the main ship and attempt to take out as many smaller ones as we can. I need you to watch the wings and our back, Cream. I can't watch everything at once."

"Alright, Tails, I'll try my best!" Cream assured her friend.

"Now, as with any battle, it might not go exactly according to plan, so don't try to exactly stick to it if you can't. If need be, use these headsets to contact me and get a quick new plan." Tails handed Knuckles and Rouge small, adjustable headsets. They fitted them on their heads, and gave Tails a thumbs up.

Tails handed one to Cream as well. "Just in case we get separated." He explained, seeing the slightly confused look she gave him.

After everything was in check, Tails pulled onto a long road.

"Alright everyone, hold on!!"

Knuckles and Rouge got down and held the edge of the wing, and Cream held onto Cheese, who was hugging Cream with slight fright.

"Throttle…Forward!!" Tails exclaimed as he pushed up on the throttle lever. "And…Takeoff!!" The fox pulled up on the controls, causing the plane to lift off the ground and soar into the air.

Tails, being the expert pilot that he is, had no trouble taking off. However, as he approached the fleet, things got a little shaky. He had to speed in as quickly as he could without bucking Knuckles and Rouge off, as well as go in undetected as far as possible.

"Tails!! On our right!!" Cream exclaimed as loud as she could.

The young fox looked to his right promptly. Approaching quickly were some small fighter craft.

"Damn! We've been spotted!" Tails mumbled to himself. "Hang on everyone!!"

He pulled up and to the right suddenly, causing the fighters to have to turn around to get to him. But by the time they did, the Tornado was waiting for them.

"Fire machine guns!!"

Tails pressed the trigger and shot down two of the 5 craft that were after him. They broke formation and headed back for Eggman's fleet.

"Everyone alright?" Tails asked into his headset.

"We're fine up here." Rouge responded.

"Cheese and I are doing fine as well, thank you Tails." Cream politely added.

"Ok! We're going in then!" Tails exclaimed as he turned to face the fleet once more, and pressed forward on the throttle.

They zoomed towards the incoming assault head-on. Tails had to dodge a few projectiles here and there, but overall, the fleet didn't pay as much attention to them as it maybe should have. All of them took this as a good thing though: less things to get in their way, the better.

"Alright guys, we're nearing the first flagship. You getting off here?" The fox asked over the headset.

"Yeah, this'll do. Me and Rouge will take this thing down and hop over to the next. We got it." Knuckles replied.

"Alright then, me and Cream will head for the main ship and see what we can do." Tails nodded to Cream, who nodded back.

"Take care, Mr. Knuckles and Ms. Rouge!" Cream said politely.

"Alright, we will." Rouge replied just as politely back.

The two on the wing jumped off in the direction of the battleship.

Both being able to glide, they had no problem making a safe landing. But as soon as they landed, they were met by many unfriendly, metallic faces. The many robot drones turned and immediately started to rush the pair.

Knuckles jabbed one right in the head, causing immediate malfunction. He turned around and upper-cutted another who was trying to sneak up on him. Rouge, beside him, kicked another robot's knees out of place, and knocked it into another in the process.

The two fought their way out of the initial wave, and then headed for the control room of the ship.

After smashing straight through the robot that was driving, Knuckles stood at the controls, looking confused.

His companion sighed and smiled. "Let me do this." Rouge took control of the ship. It was a little hard, but there wasn't any point in driving correctly. Not for what this mission was for. "Get ready to jump."

"Wha-?" Knuckles started, but it was too late. The female bat had already turned the ship 90 degrees; making it perpendicular to where the rest of the ships were going.

"LET'S GO!!" Rouge screamed, grabbing Knuckles' hand.

"RIGHT!!" He screamed back, still not completely aware of her plan, but aware at least of one thing: They were about to crash.

The two ran out onto the deck. "JUMP!!" Rouge screamed, as she jumped off the edge towards the next ship.

The echidna smirked. Now I get it…Have more ships crash into this one, cause a huge backup. Jump from ship to ship when they get close, it'll be easy! He jumped off toward the next ship, which was very close now.

--

Back in the Tornado, both Tails and Cream jumped in their seats when they heard the huge explosion. Cream looked back, and saw one of the flagships being destroyed by the others.

"Are we alright, Cream??" The fox asked hastily, not being able to look away from where he was flying.

"It looks like Mr. Knuckles and Ms. Rouge destroyed several ships in one take…" Cream said grimly.

"That's good! Now, we just need to…" Tails cut himself off when he heard Cream sniffle a little bit. "Cream…are you alright?" He asked worriedly.

The young rabbit closed her eyes and held her chao tightly. "I just wish all this fighting and destruction would stop…"

"…I know it's hard…But we have to. If we don't stop Eggman, he'll destroy everything. Everyone."

"…You're right…I'm sorry."

"No, it's ok…" Tails assured her, "I know what you mean." The young fox took a deep breath, and then pushed the throttle forward.

I really wish it would stop as well…I mean, it's tearing our world apart.

Lost in thought, Tails wasn't paying as much attention as he should have been.

"Tails, more ships are coming!!" Cream blurted out as she saw a squadron of 20 more fighters approaching.

"We'll make it through, don't worry…" He replied, not really hearing what his passenger had said.

"They're getting closer!!"

"Chao, chao!"

"It'll be alright, Cream."

"DO SOMETHING!!" The young girl screamed harshly, jolting Tails out of his trance.

"Wha-!" He immediately attempted to maneuver out of the way, but it was too late. The ships caught him dead-on and shot the Tornado II several times.

"WARNING: CRITICAL ERROR." The ship's controls yelled out.

Cream huddled into her seat, holding Cheese tightly. She screamed out in fear; they were gone as far as she could tell.

"I'M SORRY, CREAM!!" Tails yelled out as he was fruitlessly attempting to get the craft out of a spiral. "…so sorry…" He added quietly.

Another ship shot at the Tornado's wing and spun the ship even faster, causing the pair to go unconscious.

Something large was there to catch the falling ship, however…

--

After getting down several ships, the explosions were starting to catch up to Kunckles and Rouge.

"MOVE FASTER!!" The echidna screamed while running.

"I'M TRYING!!" Rouge hastily replied, jumping over a crate.

They hopped over the next rail and onto the next ship. But even as they got onto that one, it was already crashing into the previous ship. It seemed that their plan worked a little TOO well.

"WELL, WHAT NOW!?" Knuckles screamed at his companion.

"RUN FASTER!!" She retorted.

As soon as she said that, the explosions struck one of the fuel pods in the ship they were currently standing on. It flung the two high into the air, and onto the deck of a ship higher up.

They were unconscious upon landing, and many more robots were there to meet them…