Chapter 29: The Big Payback
Location: Station Square
Three days later...
Though the city was still in ruins, the Knothole Freedom Fighters were surprised by how many people turning out to see them off. It had been hastily organized by Mayor Bullyani, which had succeeded in catching them off-guard.
"I know you were set to go home, Freedom Fighters. But we citizens of Station Square just wanted to express our gratitude to you," the Mayor announced to the crowd, "Your combined efforts saved our entire city from annihilation and-"
"HEADS-UP-SONIC!" a voice interrupted.
His attention drawn to the voice, he discovered a hedgehog-shaped robot hovering above the crowd. It was silver in design, and familiar to another silver hedgehog robot that he had previously tussled with.
"THE-EGGMAN-HAS-A-SCORE-TO-SETTLE-WITH-YOU-AND-I-JUST-THE-HEDGEHOG-TO-DO-IT!"
"Are you serious, dude?"
"WAY-PAST!"
Thrusting his right arm forward, Silver Sonic II fired a pair of rockets directly at his blue counterpart.
"Guided missiles! No time to get everyone to safety, but maybe I don't have to," Sonic thought to himself.
Taking off down the ruined street, the missiles automatically altered their trajectory and followed after him.
"I knew it! Ro'butt'nik's flunky has targeted me and only me...cool!"
Racing through the revolving doors of a department store, Sonic quickly zipped back out onto the streets as the missiles impacted.
"But why does everything always have to revolve around me?"
"Leave Sonic alone, you jerk!" Tails shouted, flying up to meet the android.
"GET-LOST-KID!" he warned, suddenly snared by fishing line.
Searching for the source, Silver Sonic II discovered that it was Big the Cat who was responsible.
"Going somewhere?"
"AS-A-MATTER-OF-FACT-," he said, seizing the twin-tailed fox by the leg.
"My leg!"
"YES!"
Swinging the fox, the robotic doppelganger hurled him directly into the feline fisherman. As the two collided,
"What is it, Princess Sally?" Mayor Bullyani asked.
"A message from Robotnik letting us know that he won't give up without a fight," she answered, "Well neither will we."
Joined by Bunnie and Amy, they were prepared to enter the fray and provide assistance to the hedgehog. They were immediately intercepted by Silver Sonic II, who began charging up his eye lasers.
"NO-BIGGIE!" he announced, firing off a blast.
As the ladies scrambled for cover, Sonic launched himself into the air and collided with the robot.
"I can see why you're not exactly popular with the ladies, or anybody else!"
The pair crashed through the window of an electronics store, sending television sets shattering against the linoleum floor.
"Admit it, metal head! I've got you against the ropes," Sonic declared.
"AS-IF. LET-ME-BREAK-IT-DOWN-FOR-YOU."
Launching a metal cable from his left arm, the robotic reproduction ensnared one of the building's support columns.
"ARE YOU CRAZY!?"
Bringing the entire building down on their heads, it was Silver Sonic II who emerged from the rubble.
"HASTA-LA-VISTA-MISTAH," the robot declared, taking to the air once more.
"Sonic," Bunnie cried out, rushing over to the site of the building collapse.
She was joined by her fellow Freedom Fighters, with even Chris and Chuck offering their assistance.
"Dig quickly, everyone," Nate urged, "We have to determine the extent of the lad's..."
The words quickly died on the Overlander's lips, discovering that the hedgehog had burrowed underground.
"Injuries!?...well, I'll be."
"Sonic's gone undahground," the rabbit stated, "And ah think that's gotta means that ol' chrome dome's in fer a major hedgehog surprise!"
As if on cue, the super-sonic hedgehog un-burrowed half a block away and launched himself at the replica.
"Mind if I tag along?" he asked, snagging him by the legs.
"STILL-ALIVE?"
"And soooo ready to kick your shiny 'bot six way to Sunday."
"BRING-IT-ON!"
Silver Sonic II accelerated, making every attempt to shake his organic loose, but to no success.
"YOU-REALLY-THINK-YOU-AND-HANG-HOMEY?"
"You clinched it."
The robot slammed through a building and emerged from the other side, with the hedgehog appearing no worse for wear.
"C'mon, is that the worse you can do?" Sonic questioned.
"NO-THIS-IS!" he said, aiming his right arm at the hedgehog's face.
Sonic immediately saw the laser barrel tucked inside, causing him to quickly release his hold.
"Smell ya later."
Silver Sonic II fired, the blast blowing off his own foot, which tumbled to the ground below.
"Don't worry, Sonic! I gotcha!" Tails declared, catching the hedgehog as he fell.
The dismembered foot struck the fox in the, causing him to wobble his way to the nearest rooftop.
"Tails!"
"S'okay...bud...won't...let...you...down."
"WELL-AIN'T-THAT-A-KICK-IN-THE-HEAD."
The silver robot was flying to meet them, but Sonic was too focused on his injured comrade.
"Tails..."
Gritting his teeth, the hedgehog glared at his knockoff and launched into a spin attack, decapitating him.
"BOGUS-BOGUS-BOGUS-BOGUS," the robot droned, his head bouncing across the rooftop.
"Tails, are you alright?" Sonic asked, concern in his voice.
"Uh-huh," he responded, though he was clearly concussed by the blow.
"They're up here everyone," Sally called out, joined by the other freedom fighters.
"And Silvuh Sonic is history," Bunnie added.
"True enough. But what's to prevent Robotnik from trying to take over Station Square once we've departed?"
"I think Robotnik has provided us with the means of preventing that," Nate commented.
Location: Station Square
Twenty minutes later...
"Are you sure Robotnik won't be a problem, Princess?" Mayor Bullyani asked.
"You'll be safe from here on in, Mr. Mayor," Sally replied.
"Goodbye and thanks."
Mayor Bullyani immediately departed, leaving the group to venture back to the surface.
"What about you, Big? Care to join us?" the princess asked.
"No thanks, miss. Me n' Froggy are headed back to Cat Country...Home," the feline stated.
"Best of luck, dude," Sonic said, giving him a thumbs-up.
Going their separate ways, the Knothole Freedom Fighters boarded the rail car and took it back to the surface. The Tornado had already been loaded onboard the larger craft, which waited for them.
"There she eez! Zee Freedom Fighter Special, just as we left her, eh?" Antoine stated.
"Sugah-toine, you've got a real flair for the obvious," Bunnie commented.
Less talk, more juice," Sonic complained.
The group boarded the aircraft, with the husband and wife duo taking their place within the cockpit. Starting the engines, the Freedom Fighter Special whipped around and rocketed out of the cave, heading into the cloud-filled skies of the southern continent.
