Stolen worlds and cities would be in one of the zones marked 'Off-limits.' Only problem is I don't know which one it would be. Manik was using his internal navigation circuits to locate the stolen worlds and cities inside the museum. Josh just had to take the map with him. Now I have no way of knowing where Rose's collection is stored in this place.
Stand down, Unit Blue. Manik turned around to see Lara standing there with her blaster aimed right at him.
Lara, please. I can see what Rose is planning. This can't happen. Josh, Jewel, Sonia, and I won't let it become part of history.
This is the strategy. Neither you or that troublesome Mobian will intervene. You will be destroyed!
Just try it.
Once you have been decommissioned, I will seek out the other two traitors.
Then do it! Kill me!
Orders acknowledged. Just before Lara could fire her blaster, Sonia came from behind before disabling her systems. Once she was down, Sonia kneeled before inserting her memory chip.
No one hurts my little brother. Not even you.
Thanks for the save, Sonia. I thought for sure that I would be reduced to scrap metal.
Not with me around. Now I just need to find the others.
Good luck.
Thanks. Seconds after Sonia had left, Lara's systems restarted before she rubbed the back of her neck.
What happened?
Only Sonia bringing you down like a Sontaran.
Was I working for someone?
Not anymore. You wouldn't know where all of the stolen cities and worlds would be, would you?
I do. Follow me.
Lead the way. From her personal office, Rose saw the entire exchange and was quickly growing agitated.
"You want a war, Josh? Then so be it. Let's see how you last against my partners," Rose said before pressing the button placed on her desk. Underneath, several holding cells were opened and nine shadows walked out into the corridor. Once out of their cells, they crossed over to the stairs before walking out of the room.
"Come on, Rose. Your quarters must be here somewhere on this thing. I just need to find out where it is," Josh said as he simultaneously looked at the map and walked around the complex. "Maybe I could ask someone for directions because I'm getting nowhere."
"I can lead you there.
"That's great. Lead the way then," Josh said before a hole suddenly appeared in the middle of his map. "Great. Now there goes my only way to get... around." Josh stopped when he saw four Daleks through the map's hole. He then dropped his map before trying to run away only to be stopped by five Cybermen.
"Great. As if this day wasn't bad enough already," Josh said, turning around to face the Daleks.
You have been identified as Josh Hedgehog, the Mobian who has interfered in events for too long.
"So what if I have been a wrench in Rose's plans? She deserves it! She's taken too much. My home, my parents, my own sister. She has gone way too far and you're not about to get in the way. Why are you working with her, anyway?"
She has promised us the universe.
"The universe? Why? So you can destroy every single non-Dalek/non-Cybermen life-form you can find by exterminating or upgrading them?! Is that what she's promised you," Josh asked.
She has promised us the parts that have not already been claimed.
"She's promised everything else to you?"
This is correct.
"Of course. I've got it all worked out," Josh said, figuring out Rose's entire plan.
Explain yourself.
"Rose's promised both the Daleks and the Cybermen the rest of the universe to do as you please. She's promised CLU the Earth as his new system with the exception of the cities she's stolen. Scar and Zira get control over the Pride Lands. Queen Chrysalis gets all of Equestria with the exception of the Crystal Empire, which goes to King Sombra. What else? What else? Malefor, Zenoheld, and Barodius. No doubt she'll go back and turn the war between Gundalia and Neathia in Barodius' favor. She'll give Zenoheld the attribute energies Trent and his friends possess and give control of the Dragon Realms to Malefor. That's the entire alliance."
"You've figured it all out, Josh. I admire your abilities. It's a shame you won't be able to stop me," Rose said.
"Who says I won't," a voice said before the Daleks were destroyed one by one. Josh and the Cybermen turned around to see a hedgehog with brown fur, one blue eye, one bionic eye, a partially metallic face, two metallic arms, two metallic legs, a golden crown, a steel vest, and a red cape standing right behind him, wielding an upgraded sniper rifle.
"Who the hell are you," Josh asked.
"Just like I used to be in my youth. Nothing has changed at all."
"I asked you a question."
"I thought of all people you would know who I am," the hedgehog said.
"You're not..."
"That's right. King Josh Hedgehog, at your service. I'm you, only even more epic."
"I can tell. So, what's with the metal?"
"Oh. That's pretty the result of something reckless you'll do in the future. I can't tell you much about it. The laws of time forbid it," Future Josh said.
"And I become a cyborg," Josh asked.
"It's not too bad. I mean, you lose your powers but you upgrade the cybernetics to simulate that."
"To make it look like I haven't."
"Exactly. I may not be able to tell you what happens that you become a cyborg, but I can tell you that you should aim for the ocean right under us. If you don't, then your landing's gonna hurt. Seriously hurt," Future Josh said.
"Got it. So what's that exactly," Josh asked, referring to the rifle.
"This is my plasma rifle. Instead of firing off simple bullets, it fires deadly plasma bolts that can easily fry a person's brain the same way it can crack the armor of a Dalek. It's just one of my many creations."
"Well, it's definitely something, I'll tell you that."
"Yeah. Argyle's got some competition in the field of inventions," Future Josh said.
"I can tell. Maybe we can talk about everything you've created when you're done with these guys," Josh said, referring to the Cybermen.
"You're right. Hold this and stand aside." Josh simply did as his future counterpart commanded before he stood before the Cybermen.
"Cybermen! You've been a threat to this multiverse for too long. It's about time someone pulled your plugs."
Impossible. You do not have the power to stop us. You will be deleted. Josh watched as his future counterpart created a shield that absorbed the shot fired.
"I don't think so," Future Josh said. "In the words of the immortal Jack Harkness, feel this!" Future Josh then launched five streams of pure electricity at the Cybermen from one of his metallic arms. Once hit, the Cybermen fell to the floor, deactivated.
"What was that?!"
"Just a simple blast of electricity generated by my cybernetics. I aimed it at the Cybermen and they went down faster than the Commando Elite," Future Josh said.
"Well, the good thing is I don't lose my infinite collection of pop culture references at the cost of my youth," Josh muttered.
"Hold on! I'm only 39, you little prick. Have some respect."
"Sorry. You only looked old, that's all."
"I get it. I do look ancient aside from the metal arms and legs. Being a king/father will do that to a man," Future Josh said.
"Yeah. So how exactly do I become a cyborg in the future," Josh asked.
"I can't say much, but I can tell you it was necessary because of the damage you sustained from the stunt I mentioned earlier."
"What kind of damage? Or do the laws of time forbid you from telling me that?"
"Yes," Future Josh said.
"I thought as much. So which way to Rose's quarters," Josh asked.
"That's easy. Down that way, turn left a couple of times, turn right three times, then head down the dark corridor. Got all that?"
"Yeah. Down, left, left, right, right, right, and then down the type of corridor favored by the Vashta Nerada."
"Good man. You'll do fine. If you'll excuse me, I need to direct everyone Jewel's freed to the escape pods. Don't worry, I'll make sure there's one for you," Future Josh said before wheels appeared from under his feet.
"Okay, that's cool," Josh said.
"Thanks." Josh watched as his future counterpart skated away before following his directions to Rose's office. Once at the door, it opened to reveal Rose standing in the middle of the room with a sword in her right hand.
"I was hoping you would come here."
"Then you know why I'm here, then?"
"Of course. The final confrontation between the hero and the villain," Rose said.
"Exactly. They have that in almost every movie I've ever seen," Josh said.
"I know. The Lion King, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Snow White and the Huntsman, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, The Amazing Spider-Man, Transformers: Dark of the Moon. If you've seen them, I have."
"I know that because you've been observing me, trying to find my weakness. Bad news for you, sister: I don't have a weakness."
"Everyone has a weakness, Josh. You're no exception. However long it'll take me to find it, I'll find your weakness," Rose said.
"And I'll make sure you never do. The time for chatting is over," Josh said as he unsheathed his sword.
"I couldn't agree more." Rose used her telekinesis to bring down a sword placed on her wall before facing Josh. "If this isn't the end for all heroes, then I'll make sure it's the end for one," Rose said.
"Bring it on."