Ch. 25
Rose and Acorn Tension
After giving Sonic and Sally the information they needed, the Baron let them go before the three of them staged a prison break to make it seem to Eggman there was no sign of suspicious activity. The royal couple sped off to regroup with the Freedom Fighters, and quickly left the Great Desert.
Sally wasn't sure where to find Grand Battle Kukku or his armada, but she knew a group of treasure hunters who would, and the likely place where these greedy treasure hunters would hang out would be the Casino Night Club.
At one time there was a certain area in the middle of the Forbidden Zone built by the original Dr. Robotnik, called the Casino Night Zone. The purpose of its design was to subdue and imprison Sonic the Hedgehog, which ended in failure. For at least two years the project was shut down and abandoned, until Mammoth Mogul, a recently escaped convict, took over as manager of the casino and renamed it as the Casino Night Club. He had also hired the many old badnik robots of the Robo Hobo Jungle as his personal staff. Since its reopening, The Casino Night Club became an international success over night. However, it would also become an attraction for other juvenile delinquents and criminals alike.
On the way, The Freedom Fighters changed into some disguises to avoid attracting unnecessary attention. The mission was to gain entrance into the Casino, locate the Babylon Rogues, and capture them for questioning. Tails wasn't allowed to go in since he was too young, Big wasn't exactly good at being subtle, and Rotor wasn't much of fighter aside from his back problems, so the three of them were ordered to stay and guard the Jet. Sonic, Sally, and Amy put on wigs and fancy clothes to help themselves blend in with the other customers at the Casino. Sonic wore a black tuxedo with a black top hat. He then, waited on the ladies to change.
As they were putting on their dresses, Amy was stoked to see Sonic's reaction once he would see her. She was still deciding on what shoes to wear with her dress. Sally was also thinking the same thing before she noticed the pink hedgehog stressing out about what shoes to wear.
"Relax, Amy. Remember, this is a mission. I doubt Sonic will be thinking about how good we look.", Sally said.
"Yeah right, that's easy for you to say.", Amy said.
"What's that supposed to mean?", Sally said.
"If Sonic considered me as his girlfriend, you wouldn't be so carefree.", Amy said.
Sally sighed. "Would you stop it with this obsession, already? I know that you love Sonic, but you need to face reality, Amy.", She said.
"You can stop right there, Princess . . . I know what you're going to say, and it won't work. Sonic may love you now, but not all things last forever.", Amy said.
"Please, try to keep your head in the game. This isn't a high school prom. You're being ridiculous.", Sally said.
Amy shrugged."I can see right through you. You're just telling me to give up, because you consider me as a threat, and you want Sonic all to yourself.", She said.
Sally became irritated. "Of all the ridiculous . . . forget it. I'm done trying to talk to you. If you can't accept it, that's your problem. Just don't scare him off like you always you do.", She said in a spiteful tone.
Amy's eyes ignited in flames. "Why that, stuck up, royal pain in the ass, I am so not losing to her!", She thought to herself.
Sonic saw Sally come out wearing a strapless white dress and a white eye mask pacing in an irritable fashion.
"Sally, wow, you look . . . where are you going?", Sonic asked.
"Are you coming or not?", Sally asked as she walked out.
Amy emerged out, wearing a strapped blue dress and a black wig. When Sonic noticed the cold stare on her face, he froze as did his other friends.
". . . Amy? . . . Is there something wrong?", Sonic asked.
"Everything's fine! Let's get this over with!", Amy said.
Sonic and the others exchanged confused looks before Sonic lastly exited the jet.
"That was scary.", Big said.
"I second that.", Rotor said.
"Uh-oh, I think Sonic might be caught in another tug-of-war between those two again.", Tails said.
"Well, Sally did say that she'd signal us if there's an emergency. If that happens, let's hope Sonic will be in one piece before they tear him apart.", Rotor said.
"I feel sorry for Sonic.", Big said.
Sonic was just yards away from the front entrance of the Casino. He was certain that no one would recognize him, but he had this strange awkward feeling. Sonic then, looked to his left and right to see Sally and Amy like walls closing in on him. The two heroines were glaring at each other as if they were ready to go at it.
"Uh . . . girls, we're about to move in . . . Are ya ready to do it to it?", Sonic asked.
Sally snapped out of it. "Oh . . . right. Come on, Sally focus on the mission.", She thought to herself.
"I hate agreeing with her, but Sally's right. We're not here as party guests, we're here as Freedom Fighters.", Amy thought.
"Ready as I'll ever be, Sonikku.", Amy said winking at him.
"Alright, let's go, then. Let's hope we'll find those bird brains once we get in.", Sonic said.
The trio was noticed by the gorilla bouncer as they entered. "Welcome to the Club . . . wait?", He said.
"What's up, big guy?", Sonic asked.
"You all look familiar, have we met before?", the Bouncer asked.
"Oh, no, we're just tourists on vacation, visiting from the other side of Mobius.", Sally said.
The gorilla gave them a suspicious look. He then looked at Amy and smiled. "Hello, there gorgeous. You can come by on my shift any time.", He said making Amy almost vomit in her mouth.
"Oh . . . that's so sweet of you to say. Is it okay if my friends come in with me?", Amy asked with a cute smile.
"Yeah, sure thing, little lady. Enjoy your stay.", the Bouncer said.
Amy gave a weird giggle. "Thank you.", She said.
As they were walked in, Sonic and Sally were struggling not to laugh until Sally lost it.
Amy glared at them. "What are you laughing at!?", She yelled.
"The two of you just look so good together.", Sally said giggling.
"What!? You watch your mouth or I'll shut it for you!", Amy said.
"Hey, stay cool, Amy. Sally was just kidding, right?", Sonic asked.
"Of course I was, silly . . . anyway now that we're here, I suggest we split up to find the Babylon Rogues.", Sally said.
"What do we do if one of us finds them?", Sonic asked.
"If you find one of them, don't do anything rash, just come back and tell the rest of us.", Sally said.
"Sounds like a plan. I'm off.", Sonic said.
"Wait! . . . Don't use your speed here. All the other villains here will know you're actually Sonic. Just walk casually, and use fake names if anyone asks for one.", Sally said.
"Okay, got it.", Sonic said before walking off.
"Whatever.", Amy said.
The three of them split into three different directions to cover more area within the Casino.
Sonic usually wouldn't let anything take his mind off a mission unless it was chili dogs. Sadly, that was the case when Sonic spotted the buffet table.
"Whoa . . . hello, my sweeties. Come to papa, blue.", Sonic said to himself before stuffing down the chili covered delights one by one.
In the meantime, Amy was searching the West side of the casino, mumbling to herself.
"The two of you look so good together.", Amy mocked Sally's comment from earlier.
"That smug chipmunk was so not joking . . . She'd look good together with the head of my hammer.", Amy continued.
As she went deeper and past more groups of customers, Amy heard a familiar voice coming from one of the game areas.
"Yeah! I'm on fire tonight!", A male voice said.
Amy was able to get a peep at the action going on at one of the card tables. That's when she saw Jet the Hawk, playing Black Jack with Storm the Albatross and Wave the Swallow watching.
"Let it rise, dealer.", Jet said.
The dealer cut the cards and dealt the hawk's hand.
Amy noticed Wave standing a little too close to Jet as if they were a couple, which was out of the ordinary for them. She knew something fishy was going on.
"Why are those two pretending to be a couple? Did they recently hook up?", Amy thought to herself.
"Hit me.", Jet said.
"But, you have twenty, sir.", The dealer stated.
"I'm a crazy guy.", Jet said, smiling.
"More like dumb.", Amy thought.
The dealer dealt the flop to reveal an ace.
"21, you win again, sir.", The dealer said.
The three buzzards cheered.
Wave kissed Jet and whispered in his ear. "You do know I'm only acting, right?", She asked.
"Da! I don't like this as much as you do, but thanks to you, we're about to hit a major jackpot.", Jet whispered back.
"Remember, when I tap your leg with my finger . . ."
"Yeah, play it safe. I get it.", Jet interrupted.
"I better find my friends, before they decide to leave with their chips.", Amy thought. She hurried off to find Sonic and Sally.
There were so many people crowded around Sally that she could hardly move at a steady pace. She looked around at the slot machine section, but found no sign of the Babylon Rogues. Although, she was somewhat captivated by the sight of the casino. The design of the interior decorating was quite beautiful. Despite Mammoth Mogul being one of their most dangerous enemies, she had to admit he had some good taste.
As the princess was distracted, a monkey in a tuxedo uniform bumped into her. It was coconuts, one of Sonic's old enemies, now courtesy serviceman.
"Oh, excuse me, sir.", Coconuts said.
Sally turned and glared at the monkey. "Excuse me?", She said in an angry tone.
"Oh . . . I mean, miss.", the monkey butler said, nervously.
"What do you say?", Sally asked him, folding her arms.
"I. . . I'm sorry.", Coconuts said before he ran away scared.
Sally then heard giggling from behind her. She turned to see Amy, trying to keep herself from losing it.
"Amy? . . . What's so funny?", Sally asked giving her a cold stare.
"Nothing at all . . . sir.", Amy said, grinning.
"Oh, shut up . . . what are doing here, anyway? Did you find anything?", Sally asked.
"Actually, yes, I found all three of them hanging around at the poker section. They won't stick around there forever, though.", Amy said.
"Which, means we need to act quickly, of course. You go back and keep an eye on them for now. I'll go get Sonic and meet back up with you as soon as we can.", Sally said.
"Right, I'll keep my eyes on them at all times.", Amy said as she proceeded back from where she came from.
"Oh, and Amy?", Sally called.
The pink hedgehog stopped and turned to face the tomboy princess.
"Don't you ever call me, sir again!", Sally said.
Amy smiled. "Oh, relax. I was only kidding, your Highness.", Amy said, jokingly before running off.
Sally sighed. "Sure, you were.", She said. She then, hurried her way to the East side of the casino in search of Sonic.
"HEY! WHO ATE ALL OF THE CHILI DOGS!?", the Chef yelled.
Sonic quickly wiped of his face with a napkin. "Uh . . . chili dogs? What chili dogs? I didn't see any.
The chef glared at the blue hedgehog until Sonic let out a loud burp, and the aroma of his breath caused the chef to faint from the stench.
The other employees noticed their chef passed out on the ground, and tended to him while Sonic just sneaked his off from the scene. He then smelt his own breath.
"Blegh! . . . I need a mint, or maybe a whole pack of mints.", Sonic said to himself.
The blue hero then, heard a whisper from behind him. "Sonic?" He turned to see Sally.
"Hmm? Sally?", Sonic said.
The princess got a whiff of Sonic, and backed up slightly as if she were punched in the face. "Oh, my goodness, Sonic. What did you eat?", She asked.
Sonic scratched the back of his head, feeling embarrassed. "Oh, I kinda made a pig out of myself at the buffet table.", He said.
"You can gargle some mouthwash later. Amy found the Babylon Rogues all the way back in the other direction. Come on, we need to be quick.", Sally said.
"It won't be easy to do that without my speed. Also these people are rude. They don't care if they bump into anyone without being courteous.", Sonic said.
Sally giggled. "That's so funny to hear dispute on manners coming from you.", She said.
"Yeah, I know. I guess I hung around Antoine a lot in the past.", Sonic said, smiling.
They both then, heard screams coming from the other side of the Casino where Amy was. Something major was brewing over there, and from the sound of the commotion, it wasn't pleasant.