Sonic awoke with a burning pain in his back, ringing in his ears and a strong ache in both of his wrists. Opening his green eyes Sonic's vision steadily cleared, what he saw before him was not what he had hoped to see. The blue hedgehog found himself locked away in a high tech dungeon, he was suspended in midair by two chains shackled to his wrists. He feet couldn't touch the floor.
The thick transparent glass door of the dungeon unlocked for the other side with a heavy thud and high pitched beep. Eggman casually strolled into the dungeon and walked right up to Sonic. His own dark eyes glaring into Sonic's brighter eyes.
"Awake? Good."
"Eggman!" Sonic snarled angrily as he tried to pull his hands free from the strong shackles. "You're NOT going to win!"
"Hmph. I already have, you just haven't accepted it. Yet."
Sonic pulled harder on the chains, using every ounce of his remaining strength to break free from the thick metal bindings. It was no use.
"Don't waste your strength. Those cuffs are made of pure platinum. Virtually unbreakable by mortal hands."
Sonic glared again and attempted to kick at Eggman, who easily stepped back and out of reach of the strikes. "You'll pay Eggman! I swear it!"
Eggman just flashed a sinister grin as he looked down at the antique brass watch on his own wrist. "I doubt it. Two hours until sunrise. Until we meet again..."
As Eggman turned to leave his red cape swung around, wrapping around his body and legs before dragging along the ground behind the demented scientist. It was like watching a pool of blood following the deranged madman.
With a heavy heart Sonic watched as his captor exited the dungeon through the door, locking it with advanced electronics that couldn't be broken. Sonic's head dropped, his eyes focused on the shiny marble floor and his own reflection being displayed upon the unmarred surface.
"Miles... No, not Miles, Tails! I'm sorry. Amy, Cream, Tori..." He shut his eyes and pictured all of his friends together; happy and alive. "Knuckles, Blaze, Silver, Shadow, Rouge, Espio, Vector, Charmy, Vanilla... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry... Please, forgive me. I wasn't strong enough... I wasn't good enough..."
Miles and Amy side by side ran into the echidna temple together, their minds focused on one thing: Rescuing Sonic.
While Amy ran into the mural chamber to inform both Cream and Tori about Sonic's capture, Miles returned to the secret hangar inside the temple. Hopping into the cockpit of the Tornado III Miles powered up the plane's engine and began picking up speed to take off into the stormy night sky.
The exterior stone panel of the temple slid open allowing the plane to escape. Miles circled the temple, waiting for Amy to exit.
From the dark sky Miles could barely make sense of the jungle layout far below. Movement at the secret entrance of the temple caught his attention. Amy was leading Cream and Tori out of the temple.
The trio gathered together at the bottom of the temple steps, huddled together in attempt to keep the harsh storm from causing too much discomfort. Amy had Cream's satchel over her shoulder along with her piko-piko hammer. Cream was holding her Chao and Tori was carrying a large bag with the remaining supplies tucked inside.
"Amy, why do we have to leave?" Cream asked sadly, Cheese wrapped up in her arms and hugged against her chest.
"Because it's too dangerous. If we fail... If we can't stop Eggman, you two are our best chances of a second try!"
Tori put her hand on Cream's shoulder. "We can handle it Amy. I promise."
"Thanks guys. We're counting on you."
Cream and Tori gave Amy a nod of respect before jogging off into the jungle together. The two timid rebels would seek shelter in Willow Glen and protect the refugees who were given sanctuary in the small village.
Amy waved her hand at Miles who was circling above. She turned on her earpiece to make contact with him. "I'm ready."
The Tornado III dipped down from the sky until it was floating just inches above the ground. Miles, the ace pilot, was able to easily maneuver the aircraft through the jungle trees and stone ruins without any damage whatsoever.
Amy hopped into the plane as it passed, taking the seat behind Miles.
"Do you have what we need?" Miles asked as pulled the plane back into the sky above the treeline.
Putting her hand on Miles' shoulder Amy answered calmly. "Yeah. I have them." She pulled the satchel from her shoulder and rested it on her lap with her hammer.
"Good. We're going to need them."
The Tornado III sped through the night sky in near silence. The flight from the Mystic Ruins to Station Square felt unnaturally long for the determined heroes.
Shortly after Eggman took over Station Square and constructed Robotnik Tower no aircraft dared to enter the airspace above the vacated and destroyed city. The Tornado III would be spotted almost instantly. Stealth was the key to successful infiltration of the tower.
The storm continued to rage on. Strengthening winds made it increasingly difficult for Miles to pilot the plane, keeping it on the ideal flight path. The rain was getting colder, causing both occupants of the plane to shiver. Thunder rumbled eerily close and lightning flashes caused their fur to stand up on end.
"Hang on! I'm going to get above the storm!" Miles called back to his lone passenger.
The Tornado III climbed higher and higher, breaking through the thick storm clouds and cutting through the chilling rain. The green plane broke through the top of the storm clouds and into a black sky littered with thousands upon thousands of stars. The calm beauty of the starlight above gave the raging storm below an intimidating aura of its own.
Amy nervously clutched at the satchel. "Miles, do you really think we can do this? Time travel seems so... I don't know, unreliable. Isn't there another way?"
Miles didn't look at her, his eyes focused on the massive isolated tower in the distance. "There is another way. But even after everything that has happened... Sonic could never take Eggman's life."
Amy's eyes widened with fear. "I understand." She hugged the satchel close to her heart.
"This is it..." Miles breathed slowly, trying to calm his racing heart before it beat out of his chest. "We need to jump. Together."
"Okay..." Amy stood up slowly and looked over the edge of the plane to their target stationed below.
The Tornado III circled the antennae at the top of Robotnik Tower. The antennae was tall enough to pierce through the clouds and into the storm.
"When I count to three, we'll jump down together. We need to be fast and we need to be silent."
"Right..." Amy tried to hide her fear but it was no use.
"Everything will be fine." Miles offered the much needed words of comfort in a very soothing and honest tone. He turned on the plane's autopilot "Give me your hand."
Amy held out her shaking hand for Miles to take. He took her hand between both of his and squeezed tightly before removing the watch from his own wrist and strapping it to hers.
"What's this for?"
"If something happens, if you're in danger and you don't know what to do, press the red button on the side of the watch."
Nodding Amy tightened her grip on the satchel and the hammer in her hands. "Let's do it!"
Miles wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they stood together on the side of the plane. "One, two, three!"
Moving in perfect synchronization Miles and Amy leapt from the plane, diving into the clouds and landing on the side of the antennae. The impact of their bodies striking the metal antennae was drowned out by a sudden rumble of thunder.
"You okay?" Miles asked quietly.
"Yeah. Are you?" Amy replied in a shaking voice, her hands in a death grip around her hammer and the satchel.
"I'm good."
Miles kept his arm wrapped around Amy as he grasped one of the smaller support beams running the length of the antennae. One beam at a time, climbing down as if the antennae were a ladder, Miles helped Amy as they descended from the top of the antennae down to the roof of the tower.
"This is it." Miles kneeled down on the roof with Amy at his side. "Stay here and stay quiet. You'll be safe."
"What about you?"
Miles walked to the edge of the roof and put his hands on his belt. "I'm going in!"
...to be continued...