Ch. 55

Death Egg's Destruction

The most deadly weapon of mass destruction known on Mobius had now turned into a bomb, for the Death Egg was 30 minutes away from crashing into the planet's surface. An alarm echoed throughout the station, constantly to no end. Amy and Rotor immediately got on board the FF-Special to wait for their other friends to regroup with them. Espio, Hope, and Fiona did the same as they prepared the Black Phantom for take-off. Nothing, but fear, and intensity was felt through all of them as they worried for their friends' safety. Sally, Tails, Rouge, and Snively were already running for their lives to the hangar area, so they could leave this horrible place.


Sonic, Bunnie, and Omega were either too worn out or injured to run. Even if they could, they wanted to stay, so they could see what was going to happen next. Gust and Shadow had Dr. Eggman backed into a corner. The Death Egg had lost its power supply from the chaos emeralds he had previously stored, and all remaining power had been transferred to the ships life support systems, meaning that Eggman no longer had any power linked to him through the Eggsokeleton. The mad doctor was vulnerable, and had nowhere to run and no place to hide.

"What? How? How did this happen!?", Eggman yelled.

Gust smiled before he started laughing. " . . . I'm assuming you found the chaos emeralds, didn't you, Shadow?", He asked.

"Yes, I did, and judging by the pathetic state Eggman is currently in, I'd say Rouge has them now.", Shadow said with a grin.

"No, that's impossible!", Eggman said.

"It's over fat man, you were careless. As I suspected from the start of our little chess game that your overconfidence would be your weakness, and as usual I was right . . . this is checkmate.", Gust said as he pointed his sword at Eggman's torso.

"Whatever you want to do with him now, you better make it quick. We're running low on time.", Shadow said.

"Not just yet, I still have some questions I'd like to ask him . . . Sonic, Bunnie, and Omega need help though, take them back to our rendezvous point. Make sure Hope and the others are safe. Once you've done that come back here, then we'll go.", Gust said.

Shadow was hesitant in allowing Gust to stay behind away from his sight. He didn't like him that much, but he was their leader.

"Don't worry . . . this won't take long. We all entered this hell hole together, and we're going to leave it together . . . understand?", Gust asked.

The Ultimate Life form was certain that Gust knew what he was doing. Also there was no time to argue. What needed to be done had to be done quickly.

"Alright, I understand. I'll be back soon. ", Shadow said.

The back hedgehog ran over to Sonic, Bunnie, and Omega. "Hurry, let's get out here!", He said.

"No . . . not like this.", Sonic said.

"What!?", Shadow asked confused.

"I need to be sure that Eggman doesn't escape this time; juice on outta here if you want to, but I'm staying here.", Sonic said.

"Ah reckon ya may wanna reconsider, sugah hog.", Bunnie said.

"My injuries have already healed enough. I can still move on my own . . . I know Sally doesn't like it when I do this, but I wanna to see this to the end.", Sonic said.

Shadow smiled at Bunnie. "There's no point in talking him out of it. He's made up his mind.", He said.

Bunnie grinned. "Ok, I guess ya'll right . . . but, both of yall better come back alive, ya hear!?", She asked.

"Yeah, we'll be back.", Sonic and Gust said in unison, rolling their eyes.

Shadow gathered Bunnie and Omega before raising his stashed chaos emerald. "Chaos Control!", He yelled before they teleported out, leaving Sonic, Gust, and Eggman alone.

As he had his sword still pointed at Eggman, Gust raised his foot at the scumbag, and drove his foot into his gut.

Eggman groaned in pain, and more followed as the Shinobi Overlander twisted his foot in Eggman's stomach.

"Please . . . stop! You have no right to do this to me. I'm a helpless old man!", Eggman said.

"Shut up! A fat bastard like yourself doesn't deserve any rights; not after terrorizing the world the way you did including not just the Mobians, but my own race as well. You tried to destroy Station Square, the last of the human race, our people! YOU DON'T EVEN DESERVE TO LIVE!", Gust yelled.

"Sorry, Eggman, I tried to help you the last time you were broken down the way you are now, but you wouldn't let me. You're gonna pay for your crimes.", Sonic said.

The now weak and defenseless evil tyrant began to quiver. He was now completely at the mercy of Gust.

"There are two ways we can do this . . . I can either end your life quickly . . . or in the most horrific and painful way imaginable. That'll depend on whether or not you answer my questions.

" . . . You can't kill me!", Eggman yelled.

Gust then, stabbed the evil doctor in the shoulder, making cry in agony.

"Like I said, I can make this fast or slow for you. It's your choice.", Gust said as he twisted his sword making Eggman scream even louder.

"Hold on, Gust! If you inflict too much pain on him, he'll just pass out, and you won't get any answers at all.", Sonic said.

Gust sighed at Sonic's logic. "I suppose you're right.", He said as he pulled his sword out of the pudgy one's shoulder, making him cry in more pain.

Eggman panted as he held his wound. "You son of a . . ."

"Watch your mouth!", Gust interrupted with a cold glare.

"Earlier you grumbled something about the Raiju Clan failing to eliminate me. What did you mean by that?" Gust asked.

The evil doctor didn't respond. The only thing on his mind was how he could escape with his life.

"I'm giving you one last warning. You start talking right now, or I'm going to carve you like a turkey.", Gust said.

Suddenly, a strange phenomenon appeared from behind them. It emitted a bright light, and its interior swirled like a whirl pool.

"What the hell is that?", Gust asked.

" . . . Uh-oh, is that who I think it is?", Sonic said to himself.

Gust shifted his attention to the hedgehog. "Who!? What!? If you know something about this, then tell me!", Gust demanded.

At that moment a small object flew from the swirled form right at Sonic and Gust. A strange gas substance dispersed into the air, taking the two of them by surprise.

Luckily, Gust held his breath as he leapt into the air away from the gas. Sonic however, wasn't so fortunate. The blue hedgehog fell flat on his face before he passed out.

As soon as Gust was at a safe distance, a group of Mobians in strange uniforms came out of the strange swirl form, giving Gust the indication that it was some sort of portal, and these unknown Mobians intentionally tried to incapacitate both him and Sonic with what he assumed to be knockout gas.

"Who are you people!? Whoever you are, if you get in my way, I'll cut you down!", Gust yelled.

The Mobians didn't respond to his threats.

Eggman quickly returned to his feet, and began to run.

"No! I can't let him escape!", Gust thought as he chased after the chubby coward.

Just when Gust was about to catch up to him, the uniformed Mobians tackled him from behind into the ground.

"DAMN IT! GET OFF ME, EGGMAN'S GETTING AWAY! LET ME GO, YOU BASTARDS!", Gust yelled as continued struggle.

"Do not resist! We are federal patrol officers, don't test us or we'll use aggressive force if necessary.", One of the patrol officers said.

"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM!? I'M . . ."

Gust was silenced by a knockout blow from a blunt object to the back of the head.

Eggman quickly opened an emergency exit with a button on the wrist of his eggsokeleton, and made his getaway.

The Mobian patrol officers hoisted Gust and Sonic up and dragged them through the portal.

One of the patrol officers switched on a communicator on his wrist. "Mission accomplished, sir. The hostile has been neutralized and apprehended.", He said.

"Job well, done, soldier; as soon as they arrive, prepare them for interrogation.", A deep voice answered.

"I copy that, sir.", the officer replied.

The party vanished into the portal with Gust and Sonic held captive.


Hope, Fiona, and Espio were glad to see that Shadow had made it back, but now wasn't the time to have a touching reunion. The clock was till winding down for the Death Egg as it continued to descend from the sky towards the ocean.

Sally and her group had just arrived in the hangar area, and made good time.

"15 minutes until destruction . . . repeat 15 minutes until destruction.", the computerized voice stated.

"Sally!", Shadow called as ran towards them.

Sally, Tails, Rouge, and Snively panted.

"You're right on schedule. I assume you got the chaos emeralds?", Shadow asked.

Rouge smiled as they held the emeralds. "Piece of cake as usual.", the Lustrous Bat said.

"Where's Sonic?", Sally asked.

"Both Sonic and Gust beat Dr. Eggman, so they're fine, but they told me to go take role call to make sure that everyone's accounted for when we escape.", Shadow said.

"What? they're not here! This whole place is about to blow! What are they doing!?", Tails asked.

"I'm not sure. Gust said something about having questions for Eggman, and Sonic chose to stay to witness his last moment alive, which was 15 minutes ago. I'm not sure why they're taking so long.", Shadow said.

"Go back, and find them . . . please!", Sally said.

"Don't worry, I told them I'd be back as soon as possible. I'm leaving now; just be ready when we get back!", Shadow said before he chaos controlled out of sight to retrieve Gust and Sonic.


More time passed as the Freedom Fighters and the Underdogs continued to wait for their friends to return to them. Each time a minute passed, their nerves grew tenser. When Sonic was a young boy, he would scare Sally when they played hide and seek in scary places by pretending to put himself in dangerous situations. Sally would come rushing over to aid him, only to be tagged by him as he was seeking. Then, Sonic would tease her, and Sally would blush because of the fact that she always fell for the same trick revealed to the blue hedgehog how deeply the Princess cared for him. This time however, was no joke, Sonic hasn't made it back yet, and each time that computerized automated voice would state the amount of time left, Sally grew closer to pulling her own hair out.

"5 minutes until destruction . . . 5 minutes until destruction.", the computerized voice said.

"SHUT UP!", Sally yelled as she started to breath heavily.

Amy quickly got out of her seat and tried to comfort the Princess. She placed her arms around her.

"It's ok Sally, calm down. Sonic will come back to us . . . I know he will, and we'll all get out here together.", Amy said.

Sally took slow deep breaths as she quickly began to relax. She then smiled. "Yes, of course. We have to have faith . . . thank you. I needed that hug.", She said.

Amy smiled back. "Sure, anytime.", She replied.


Hope and the rest the Underdogs were just as nerve wrecked as the Freedom Fighters. However, being second in command, Espio had to keep things under control.

"Are we set for launch, Fiona?", Espio asked.

"Yeah, but Shadow better hurry up; otherwise . . . "

"Don't say another word! Shadow and Gust will be back! They just have to make it back!", Hope interrupted.

Rouge placed her hand on top of Hope's. "Don't worry, Shad and your boyfriend will be back before you know it.", She said with a smile.

Hope sighed. "I wish all of us could just leave now and . . . WAIT MINUTE! GUST ISN'T MY BOYFRIEND!", She yelled.

"Don't deny it. Me and Shadow see the way you look at him. You don't have to feel embarrassed.", Rouge said.

Hope blushed. "It's . . . It's not like that . . . I . . . we're just friends . . . and . . . CAN WE NOT TALK ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW!", She demanded.

"Look it's Shadow!", Espio yelled.

The Black Hedgehog appeared outside and quickly boarded the Black Phantom.

"EVERYONE, MOVE ASIDE!", Shadow yelled as he made his way to the cockpit.

He contacted Sally on the FF-Special.

"Shadow! I just saw you get back; what took you so long!? Where's Sonic?", Sally asked.

"And where's Gust!?", Hope asked secondly.

"There's no time to explain! Gust and Sonic have disappeared. They're nowhere to be found. We have to leave now!", Shadow said.

"No, we're not leaving . . . not without Gust!", Hope yelled as she rose from her seat.

"We have to leave right now or we're all gonna die!", Shadow said.

"NO! WE CAN'T JUST LEAVE HIM BEHI . . .", Hope was cut off when Shadow knocked her out, not too violently, but just enough to incapacitate her.

The black hedgehog carried Hope back to her seat, and securely fastened her seatbelt. "I'm sorry, Hope.", Shadow said.

Espio took over communications with Sally. "We don't have a choice in the matter. I know this is difficult, but we have to leave, immediately!", He said.


Sally didn't respond. She was so scared right now, she couldn't speak.

Tails interrupted. "It's ok, we understand! Everyone get in your seats and prepare for take off!", He yelled.

" . . . Tails?", Sally said puzzled.

"I hate this just as much as you do, Aunt Sally, but Sonic would want us to live, not throw our lives away trying to save him, understand!?", Tails said with tears in his eyes.

Sally was still speechless until she finally gave the order. "Alright . . . just go already, before I change my mind!", She said as she ran back to her seat.

"We're ready to go when you are!", Tails said to Espio.

"Alright, it's time to move out, Fiona?", Espio asked.

"Right, buckle up, everyone!", Fiona yelled to her teammates.


Both the Underdogs and the Freedom Fighters launched and fled the Death Egg at maximum speed. They all barely just got far enough away before the Death Egg crashed into the big blue, and unleashed a devastating explosion that shook the entire area within miles from it. The people of Station Square felt the tremendous tremor that shook beneath their feet as they noticed from countless televisions throughout the city that the Death Egg had been destroyed. They all cheered out of relief and happiness that they were all saved. However, our heroes weren't in a celebrating mood. They had won the battle, but at a tremendous cost. Sonic the Hedgehog and Gust didn't make it. All they could do now was mourn their losses as they returned to Station Square, unbeknownst to them that Sonic and Gust were still alive.