An impromptu party was being held at the Royal Estate, friends and family of the Freedom Fighters came into the mansion's living room as the TV was showing a countdown until the start of the Babylon Cup.
"I heard something about an important race everyone was keeping track of," Charlemagne said as he entered the room. "You know I was a bit of a daredevil during my misguided youth and this seems like something I would have joined in if not for the prejudices I held, you wouldn't believe how many people were surprised I was made Overlord."
"You're welcome to join us," said Jules. "While I'm definitely rooting for my son with so much at stake, we all just want it to turn out in the way that's best for everyone."
"I know my Little Bean should be able to handle herself," said King Max. "But I hear race and I keep thinking to when she five and crying because she badly scraped her knee after the training wheels where taken off her bike."
Bernadette put a hand on the king's shoulder. "She's handled a lot worse than scraped knees over the years, besides my Sonic is there to protect her."
"And Silver and Gold are there to protect Sonic," Blaze said as she came up. "We've heard Tails message, if they can get the Essence hidden in that lamp then the Order of Ixis will be forced to attack in the open it they want to get all four elemental essences."
"I'm concerned about Tails working with criminals like the Babylon Rouges," said Rosemary. "What's keeping them from running away at the first sign of trouble or turning on the Freedom Fighters if Robotnick or the Order make them a better offer?
"For one, they'd be wanted birds for the rest of their lives," said Amadeus. "Two as we have to remember that lamp is part of their heritage as Babylonians, the last thing they'd want is for someone like Specter to use it for world domination, so they'll working with us."
Rosemary growled. "Still I'd rather they would have swapped out the Rouges for someone else, you Blaze for example or Knuckles."
Blaze shook he head. "A sudden change up would attract suspicion, and even that wasn't the case the Chaotix have been putting overtime to securing Angel Island from a possible attack by the Order. As for me while I've ridden Extreme Gear during my time with the Resistance, I've had to take momentary leave from the group. I thought it was high time to help Marine develop her latent abilities as a Chaos Adept."
"I found it a little boring at first because she had me go over the how Chaos Energy works why adapts can manipulate it," said Marine. "But knowing that stuff really made the actual training that much easier. Before I could just move water around a little bit, now I'm starting to do things by using chaos energy to manipulate water in the air, check this out!" She spread out her fingers and moved her hand front of Cubot who was carrying a plate of hors d'oeuvres to a table. "Hey Cubot, heads up! AQUA BLAST!"
A spray of water came from Marine's palm struck Cubot just as he turned and yelled as the blast of water sent careening into an expensive looking vase that shattered when it hit the floor.
Marine gave a nervous smile to the king as Orbot began to sweep up the mess. "I don't suppose that vase was just a cheap replica was it?"
"It's not a problem," said Alicia. "We can afford a replacement easily, just be more careful in the future. Let's sit down everyone the race will be starting soon. I hope Sally and the others can win it then the Freedom Fighters can focus on keeping this lamp and the Black Emerald secure on Angel Island."
Inwardly Specter grinned. "Thank you for that little tidbit Your Majesty. Rest assured, no matter who gets first place ultimately I will be the winner!"
At the top of the Tower of Babel two edges had VIP seating set up on either side of the track that now went down the middle. Sonic, now sporting a pair of shades as eye protection for the race, took a good look at a few of the other competitors in the starting area, among them were the former witchcarters; Falke Wolf, Carrottia, and Bearanger; a stoic looking boar, a pair consisting of a muscular ram and a fairly young gazelle girl and even a young human man that from a section of human girls that squealed when he came out was some sort of celebrity who joined the race just for the sake of publicity. Of course, Snively, Scratch, Coconuts, Geoffrey and Lucian were there but he was more concerned about who wasn't.
"I hope that follow up call Tails needed to make is quick, the race will be starting in a few minutes."
"It's about time for one last report, I'll have him check in too." said Sally as she began working her communicator as a single piece pair of goggles now covered her eyes. "All teams check in."
"This is team one," Bunnie said over the communicator. "Twan and I are hunkered down in the old market keepin' an eye out for funny business."
"Team two," said Rotor. "Nikki, uh, Nicole and I found a rooftop with a good view of the city, we should find anyone laying in hiding here.
"Team three," said Gold. "Me, Chip and Whip keeping an eye out in the dunes in case Snivley or the Order have something nasty buried out here."
Sally nodded. "Good, Tails the deadline's coming up can you give us an ETA?"
"Just look up!" Tails shouted as he flew in on his namesakes and landed, a pair of goggles on his forehead. "Made it with time to spare."
"You had us worried," said Silver. "So, what was it you wanted to ask Doctor Quack about so much that you were willing to wait until now to get everything?"
"It had to do with what Geoff and Lucian said last night. Given Amy and Lucian's wedding had to be only days ago at best I thought it was too early to tell if Amy had gotten pregnant, so I double checked with Doctor Quack, he says it usually takes two to three weeks for a test to determine if conception happened and that's if you are actually trying and keeping track of this sort of thing."
Sonic gasped. "You're saying before they got married…"
"No, it's a lot weirder than that. Doctor Quack told me female Mobians have set times of the year when ovulation occurs, like miniature versions of Mobini mating seasons, the exact time these 'heat periods' occur varies from species to species and for individuals the exact time fluctuates within that period. According to the records he pulled up this morning the last heat period for hedgehogs ended a month and a half ago, before Amy and Lucian even met, with another month and a half left until the next one starts. The last heat period for cats was about two months ago, well before Hershey and Geoffrey were reunited, and the next isn't for another month. Even if they broke the rules neither should be having a baby at all."
"I don't see what's so weird," said Sally. "Those two out and out lied to us."
"But what would it accomplish? This information isn't that hard to get, it only took me as long as it did because the doc couldn't get into those records because his office was closed for the night, so it's an easy lie to spot. Not only that it wasn't as if them being dads would change anything about the current situation."
Sonic turned and noticed the two Ixis wizards on a communicator. "Uh guys, we may want to listen in on this."
"…We'll head home after we've watched your performance at the race today," Amy said from the comm. "The three of us will be cheering you on."
"That's good," said Lucian. "Now that we're done taking business, how are the two of you and the babies doing?"
"Take a look," Amy began to step back from the camera to get Hershey in the shot, both now had noticeable baby bumps seeming to be halfway through the second trimester. "I wouldn't be surprised if by time the two of you get back, we'll both be as big as the Master Emerald."
"Just means we get to meet them that much sooner," said Geoffrey. "We have to go, but once we get back luv I'll give you a nice foot rub."
"Can't wait," Hershey said. "Be safe you two."
The couples exchanged kisses over the screen before the two wizards approached the middle of the field, Sally turned to the team. "They didn't seem to notice us, so they were telling the truth, but not only do we have a pair of impossible pregnancies but ones that are going absurdly quickly."
Sonic's quills bristled. "This has got to be Masquerade's doing, if he's making those two have monster babies to throw at us there won't be enough left to fit a matchbook once I get done with him."
"With a minute left all entrants are accounted for!" A bull acting as the announcer said through a loudspeaker. "Racers get into starting positions; the starting gate will open in less than a minute so get moooooooooving!"
"No time to worry about that," said Silver. "We have a lamp to win."
The Freedom Fighters came went to the middle where the Babylon Rouges were waiting for them. "The gang's all here," said Jet. "Now let's get this race started so I can win the Lamp of Angelus!"
"You mean so I can win it," Sonic said with a smirk.
"You're both wrong," said Sally. "Our team is helping yours and vice versa. Make sure your radio earpieces are on the same frequency. When you're out there I want everyone to keep this in their minds first, 'teamwork makes the dream work'!"
Sonic gave a thumbs up. "You're right Sal, so let's do it to it!"
About the same time Snivley lined up with Scratch and Coconuts. "Have Grounder and Crabmeat taken up their positions yet?"
"They've been waiting since before dawn," said Coconuts. "Those chumps will never see 'em coming."
Scratch hopped on his board. "I'm ready!"
Snivley shook his head. "That's not how you start! Before the gate opens everyone will run for it then mount their gear once they pass, the trick is to time your run so you're going at top speed while reaching the gate at the exact moment it goes down. Can't you calculate that in seconds?!"
"Your uncle built us to follow orders, not be good at math," Scratch sighed as he got off again.
Snively groaned as he lowered the goggles on his cap over his eyes. "This is going to be a loooooong race."
"Ten seconds left," said the announcer. "Racers you may move about your lane!"
Some started to move backward to a position where they could get more running room, others stayed still to focus on timing while others still moved ahead hoping for a head start. Sonic ran up and waited with just enough space to take a couple of steps before the gate.
"The gate will open in 5…4…"
A line appeared at the back of the starting area that started to move to the gate while racers attempted to catch up to it.
"3…2…1…"
Sonic moved just enough get into super speed before jumping on the gear, it slightly ahead of the approaching pack it seemed like he was about to hit the force field separating him from a long fall.
"GO!"
The gate vanished as the line touched it and the next instant Sonic was already sailing past and readying himself for the drop. Jet was only half a second behind him.
Snively was just about to reach the gate when he tripped on his overly long scarf and he found himself laying on stomach on top of his gear as he plummeted down the track.
"AAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
Just over three seconds later Snivley got just enough sense to pull up the board before it crashed on the track below, getting just in time to try to make the first turn.
"Unbullievable!" shouted the announcer. "In an unorthodox maneuver Snivley worked with gravity and made himself aerodynamic enough to get a significant head start! But now everyone's gunning for him!"
Jet growled as he started making the turn. "The guy got lucky and now he's in the lead!"
"Doesn't matter who's leading at the start of the race," said Sonic as they came out of the turn. "Just who's leading at the end."
As the race turned into the pillars of the old market Lucian's eyes were glowing aqua as her trailed close behind Geoffrey.
"Left, right twice, duck, left, jump and right!"
Geoffrey followed the instructions and weaved through standing and fallen pillars as a couple of other racers hit them, one had to run and remount falling behind but the lost their gear in the crash and was scooped up by rescue drones before they hit the ground.
"Nice work," said Geoffrey. "With your future sight we should be able to see the course and events up ahead, completing this mission will be a cinch."
"Speaking of which let's put on some thrust up ahead, we have to look like we want to win!"
As the race turned into the narrow streets Snivley, now closer to the middle of the pack after being slowed down by the pillars, tapped the sleeve of his jacket making a hologram appear. "Grounder we're approaching the dried oasis; how can we evade your trap?"
"I'm sending you a map," Grounder said as it appeared on the hologram. "Just avoid the red dots and the mines won't get you."
"Wait, I know we're moving too fast for remote detonation to be reliable but the way they're spaced it would be difficult to avoid the proximity sensors."
"Which is why I turned them off."
Snively sneered. "You mean they're pressure activated?!"
"So what?" Grounder said as he looked out to the dried oasis "I don't see the problem…"
The race came into the dry lakebed and Grounder watched as every Extreme Gear hovered safely over the mines at high speed then went back into the ruins at the other side.
"…ohhhhhhh."
"We still have two laps, just set them back to remote detonate and try to get Sonic on the next pass."
CLANG!
Grounder's body went after his head after Rotor used his wrench to knock it away. He didn't get far before Nicole hacked the body still while Rotor picked up Grounder's still active head before knocking it out.
"Good plan Snively," said Nicole. "Except we'll detonate all the mines now while nobody can get hurt by them." With a press of a button on Grounder's remote a large explosion made the lakebed about a half foot deeper. "We'll be taking Grounder to the race officials to explain this, enjoy being disqualified."
Once Nicole shut off the communicator Rotor turned to her. "That was nice work Nikk…Nicole."
Nicole cupped Rotor's cheek. "I know it's hard trying to see me as both the friend you knew for years and the program you created and saw as your little girl. When I was sent back teasing your attempts to figure me out was my way of 'playing' with my dad. Now that I can remember my childhood while I still want you to respect me as an adult and a member of this team I don't mind if we also treat each other as the family we are."
"Ah," Grounder said as he was groggily waking up. "That's sweet."
Rotor conked the head with the wrench again knocking him out. "Thank you, Nikki. I'll reconnect this after we disable the body's motor functions, we should be able to make it back just in time for the end of the race."
Meanwhile the race had left the dunes and began spiraling up the tower, Sally was turning to the inside to gain a few places.
"Watch out!" Storm shouted.
Sally turned and saw a moose barreling towards her, a moment later Storm knocked into the him sending the moose off his gear where a rescue drone saved him from the fall he intended for Sally.
"To the officials it'll look they just collided trying to make the same turn, what could have happened to you" Jet said from the Radio. "The rules say we can't attack each other, but there's no rule that's been made so well someone can't think of a way around it."
"Thanks for the save Storm," said Sally. "But I meant what I said about winning fairly, too much is at stake for us to risk getting caught cheating and disqualified."
Around the middle of the pack Snively turned to the Scratch and Coconuts. "We need to get closer to the lead!"
"I got just the thing!" Scratch then extended the wings now attached to the boosters on his back. "Since Sonic can't run in this race these will make me the fastest thing here! Firing turbo booster! WHOAAAAAAA!"
Scratch got a big boost, so big he shot right off the track, then his gear and was soon a dot near the horizon.
"Looks like Scratch is way out of bounds, that makes him the third racer to drop out! But it looks like Jet and Sonic have just finished the first lap!"
"Don't worry!" Crabmeat said from Snively's radio. "Once Sonic comes into the old market again, he's mine!"
Crabmeat opened his claw and aimed at Sonic as he came down the tower. "Target locked, just have to wait until he gets to the pillars…"
Sonic and Jet were heading into the old market but Snively and Coconuts were right on their heels.
"…annnnd FIRE!"
Crabmeat launched a missile that speed toward sonic, a second later it exploded as it was hit by a laser beam.
"Uh oh."
Antione came up from behind him conked him on the head with the pommel of his sword. "Bon nuit (Good night)!"
Crabmeat shut down and fell face first into the sand just before Bunnie picked up the Badnick. "That should be all of the little twirp's flunkies," Bunnie said into the radio. "Still y'all watch your backs, he and the Order probably have other tricks up their sleeves."
"Thanks, Bunnie," Tails said from the other side of the radio. "Sonic and Jet are still swapping the lead, if we can keep the rest of the pack from getting close then the Lamp of Angelus is ours."
"In that case we'll bring this piece of seafood over to the officials while you make sure everybody in the top is working for the Freedom Fighters!"
The race was coming out of the city streets and back to the lakebed when Coconuts and Snively found the street they had taken put them very close to Sonic. Coconut pulled out one of his grenades that looked like his namesake. "I got him now!"
"Wait!" yelled Snively. "Throw now and you'll be disqualified! At least let me fall back to a safe…!"
Coconuts threw the bomb squarely at Sonic's head.
"…Distance."
Suddenly Jet moved in front of the bomb and swung his Bashōsen at it. "Nice throw, but can you catch?!" The green feathered fan created a gust strong enough to send the bomb sailing back at Coconuts forcing him to leap off his gear activating a spherical energy shield just before the bomb blew his gear to pieces.
The energy sphere was still up when Coconuts hit the ground at the field passed him. "Great, I never figured out how to turn this off. Let's maybe…" Coconuts began to roll the sphere around him like he was in a hamster ball.
"Ouch, that attack backfired!" the announcer said. "Disqualified and crashed out all in one moooove! Sonic and Jet are still battling for first, but except for Snively who had to move back to avoid the explosion the remaining racers are not far behind…" A lamb girl whispered something into the announcer's ear. "This just in we have unidentified flyers approaching the track fast and it looks like they'll be on top of the racers by the time they hit the dunes."
"Gold can you see what's coming?" Sally asked over the radio.
"One moment," Gold took out a pair of binoculars as Chip and Whip floated nearby.
"I wish we could do more to help," said Chip.
Whip grumbled. "If I only had my original body."
As gold focused the binoculars, she saw two robots and focused in on one of them. It was humanoid with white armor, yellow visor, a pair of wings on its back and what she'd describe as a feminine build. Most noticeable was a black emblem just above the chest of a gear with mechanical dragon wings with a lightning bolt going through the hole in the center. "Looks like the Robotnick Ascendancy has made a new robot, still not sure…"
Gold's eyes widened as she looked at the second robot, more masculine in build and with red armor, despite the same emblem on its chest she smiled like she saw an old friend coming down the street.
"Silver, it's Red Knight!"
"No way!" Silver said over the line. "We both saw him get wrecked in the future!"
"Maybe he followed us and got himself repaired."
"Wait," said Sally. "You're happy to see one of Viktor's robots?!"
"He was reprogramed back in our original time," said Silver. "He protected Gold and me, we can trust him."
"No, we can't!" said Tails. "Because this is isn't your Red Knight!"
"What do you mean?"
"I think I get it," said Sonic. "The Red Knight you knew that was reprogrammed was already two hundred years old! This one isn't your Red Knight because he didn't travel back in time, he's brand spanking new off the assembly line!"
The race had come back to the dunes as the two robots flew in parallel to them. "Targets locked," said the white robot. "Firing static pulse rockets!"
Several small rockets launched from the wings of both robots. They hit the gear of several racers which suddenly lost power sending their riders tumbling in the dunes. Those headed for the Babylon Rouges were deflected away when they grouped together as Jet used his Bashōsen to blow the rockets into each other and the two Ixis Wizards used their magic to take out the rockets headed form them. Snively and the Freedom Fighters were ignored by the attack.
"T-this is unprecedented in Extreme Gear history ladies and gentlemen!" The announcer said. "Half of our original participants have been knocked out in a single outside attack! We're down to just eleven racers, I don't think we can continue…" the announcer saw Breezie shake her head. "I-I don't bullieve this, but the commissioner is allowing the race to continue! At the risk of my job I have to say this is insane!"
Snively activated the communicator on his smart jacket. "Unknown robots identify yourselves!"
Red Knight appeared on the hologram above Snively's sleeve. "This is Prototype unit X-001, codename: Red Knight. My counterpart is Prototype unit X-002, codename: White Bishop. We are here on a field test of combat capabilities. New targets identified: Sonic the Hedgehog, Sally Acorn and affiliated allies. Objective: Termination!"
Red Knight extended a lance and shield from his arms and charged Sonic. Silver created a psychic shield as he moved in front of Sonic as the rest of the team moved out of their way and held it as they moved up the spiral ramp. "I know we're supposed to enemies and this is going to sound crazy but I'm from the future and if Sonic dies before this year is over your master will never rule the planet!"
Silver felt a cable wrap around his waist, it was only quick thinking and his telekinesis that kept White Bishop from pulling him off his board.
"A laughable deception," said the red robot. "You are opposed to the ascendancy, that makes whatever you say suspect."
"Thanks for the assist," said Snivley. "Now I'll win this race while leaving these nuisances in your capable hands!" Snivley speed through the gap Red Knight had made.
Sonic pointed at the overlander. "Leave these bolt brains to me, we still have a race to win!"
The race had come back to the top of the tower as the crowd began to flee from the stands. From the shadows Mammoth placed his index and middle fingers on his forehead. "Geoffrey, Lucian, you have a new mission. Place in the race like before but at the same time make sure Sonic survives, Lord Specter told me he is critical to the Grand Design."
The racers began to go down the slope for the last time as Lucian put his fingers on his forehead. "Understood".
"Wind Cutter!" Geoffrey sent a blade of air from his hand severing the cable that bound Silver to White Bishop.
White Bishop retracted what was left of the cable back to her arm and then grabbed a box from the thigh that unfolded into a rifle. "You could have lived longer if you just kept out of this."
She fired bolts of energy at the sorcerers.
"Frost Lance!"
Lucian sent icicles at the shots creating a mist just as they entered the pillars of the old market. "We can't bomb the ruins without risking Snively. We'll intercept them as they come to the dried oasis!" said White Bishop.
"I copy," said Red Knight. The two robots flew into a sniping position, Red Knight retracted his lance and shield and from his thigh compartment removed a box that unfolded into what looked like a gatling gun. "Preparing target lock, this will be like shooting fish in a barrel."
The racers turned into the city streets Sonic, Jet and Silver were beginning to catch up to Snively. Silver used his mental link with Gold. {You knew Red Knight better than I did, how can we stop him?}
{The only thing specific I can think of is how he came to join the Final Freedom Fighters. If you get another chance to speak with him, I'll relay the story for you to tell him. I do consider him a friend but if this doesn't work and it must be a choice between saving Red Knight and saving Sonic and the future, Red Knight would've been the first to tell us to scrap him.}
{I understand, but I don't like it. See you at the finish line.}
Sonic and Jet passed Snivley as they came to the dry lakebed only to brake hard as the two robots opened fire. "How can we get past that little twerp if those bots keep shooting at us?!"
Sally clenched her fist. "Since they aren't racing the rules preventing us from attacking don't apply to them," One of her ring blades activated. "Sonic Jet, focus on getting first, Silver cover them, the rest of us are going to try to slow them down!"
"Don't do anything stupid!" said Sonic.
Storm pounded on his chest. "Hey you know me!"
"Exactly," grumbled Jet.
The Sally and the others charged the two robots, as they started to fire on them. The Babylon Rouges moved ahead of the Freedom Fighters and then flipped their gear up to use as shields for themselves and the two behind them. Just before the gear were torn to pieces the thieves kicked off as Sally and Tails accelerated to climb above them. As the birds were picked up by rescue drones Sally slashed her ring blade through the barrel of Red Knight's gatling gun.
Tails moved to tackle White Bishop, but the robot fell back and aimed at the two Freedom Fighters. "You're mine!" She then fired five shots.
Sally flipped her gear to use as a shield. As Tails did the same, he instinctively threw his hand out and what looked like three power rings flew from his grasp. Two hit a couple of the rounds while the third impacted the rifle, all crackled with electricity and exploded on impact. The remaining two rounds hit the gear and as Sally began to fall Tails flew over to grabbed her as the two tried to ready a counter.
"Forget them," Red Knight said as he discarded his destroyed gun. "Sonic is our priority, move out!"
White Bishop dropped the ruined rifle as the two jetted towards the dunes.
Tails began to move after the robots. "We have to…"
"Hold it Tails," Sally said from his arms. "Given the speed everyone is moving at our best chance is to head back to the tower and wait for them back at the finish line, that's where the Rouges will be after that rescue anyway. Between Sonic, Silver and Jet they would their own until the race is over."
"I get it," Tails nodded. "We have to make sure any bystanders still there get to safety. Next stop Tower of Babel."
"By the way what was that thing you did back there? I've never seen Power Rings do that."
Tails looked like he just processed what he did. "Aunt Sally, I didn't bring any Power Rings with me. I just wish I had grenades on me, and the rest was just instinct. I don't how I did that 'Ring Bomb' thing."
"Tails, I think your Chaos Powers are starting to come back."
"But after Mammoth drained me of my turbo form, I thought those powers were gone forever," Tails shook his head. "The double of me Mammoth made he sacrificed his life to reunite me with everyone, if I'm really getting my Chaos Power back then I owe it to him to use those powers to protect my friends because you were his friends too!"
The race had left the ruins and were crossing back over the dunes the Geoffrey and Lucian shot wind and water behind them to boost both into the lead.
"That should make it look good enough for the cameras," said Lucian. "Now we just have to let whoever's back there beat us to the inside turn on the tower spiral and the stage will be set for our heroic defeat of Angelus."
Geoffrey looked behind at the remaining four racers and noticed Red Knight and White Bishop coming up fast. "There might be a complication in that plan."
Not too far behind Sonic, Jet and Silver were right no Snively's heels.
"No!" the overlander sneered. "I've come too close; I was finally going to get I've always deserved!"
Above the two robots focused on Sonic. "Target systems synced," said Red Knight. "Calculating target velocity, projecting estimated future location, firing burst rockets!"
Missiles came from both robots' wings and were making a beeline to Sonic. Silver threw up another shield that caused the resulting explosion to throw up enough sand to block any camera watching them.
"You're right Snively!" Sonic yelled. "You should get the only thing you ever deserved, THE BOOT!"
Covered by the sand Sonic kicked Snively in the backside. the treacherous assistant flew off his gear and just barely grabbed onto Geoffrey's tail before he hit the ground.
"What a blast folks!" the announcer said. "As the racers head into the final turns Colin Kintobor Jr. has been knocked out of the running, but not out of the race! This cud be a big problem for Geoffrey St. John!"
"What now?" asked White Bishop.
"Arm your saber," Red Knight said as he once again deployed his lance and shield. "I just got an idea for a surprise attack.
As the racers spiraled up the tower Geoffrey tried to shake off Snively. "Let go! The rescue drones will catch you, you idiot!" Snivley tried to regain his grip near the edge of Geoff's tail. "No, don't squeeze there!"
As Snively tightened his grip a cloud of musk began to cover him. Not far behind Lucian braked to avoid the stench while Sonic, Jet and Silver turned missing the cloud and passing the rest.
"Ugh!" Snively cried. "It's in my mouth!"
"Thanks Stinker!" said Jet as he took the lead. "Oh, and I guess the skunk helped too!"
"That should do it!" yelled Lucian. "Everything's in place!"
"It had better be!" said Geoffrey. "As much as I don't like to use my spray, I'd like to keep some as a last resort! This imbecile squeezed me dry, it'll take me over a week to replenish my supply!"
"Please just let me know when it's over," moaned Snively.
The announcer leaned over his microphone. "And coming up to the final stretch it's Jet the Hawk, followed by Sonic with rest of the pack hot on their trail! Who's going to stampede their way to victory?!"
"Looks like the lamp's as good as ours!" said Jet as he took both his fans out. "Which means I don't have to hold back to beat you to first place!"
Jet waved both fans behind him as he came to the last straightaway propelling him forward.
Sonic smirked. "You're not the only one with an ace up his sleeve!"
Sonic leapt off his gear, launched a boost and then hopped back on as the boost's momentum carried forward.
"Sonic and Jet are blazing at super speed!" said the announcer. "It's going down to wire; I think it'll be a photo finish!"
Just as they were about to come to the finish line Red Knight and White Bishop burst through the track from below, the racers were thrown forward and into the stands where Breezie, the announcer and the trophy were.
"Sonic!" the Freedom Fighters now all assembled ran to the crash.
"Jet!" the Babylon Rouges ran right by their side.
Before they could reach the stand the two ascendancy robots touched down in between them. "Time to finish this," said Red Knight.
Silver stumbled from the crash his marking glowing. "Red Knight, please you have to believe me. Sonic must live for the future to survive."
"Listen to us!" shouted Gold. "In the future a good friend of mine found your mangled body and repaired you. She was the last human you were one of the only links she had left to a history that was erased from historical record by the Mobius Imperium. You saved the Final Freedom Fighters so many times, you…sacrificed yourself so we could save our future, don't let that sacrifice, Dr. L's sacrifice be in vain. If you try to kill Sonic, we'll be forced to destroy you.
Red Knight lifted his lance to charge. "Even if this body is destroyed the Ascendancy will prevail!"
Red Knight charged, only to be halted when White Bishop grabbed his lance arm.
"Wait!" the white robot said. "Switch from verbal to encoded communication Zulu."
The two robots faced each other making after making a few beeps at each other. Suddenly they retracted their weapons and turned to Silver and Gold.
"This information must be evaluated further," said Red Knight. "We will withdraw once we have gathered all Ascendancy forces in the immediate area. Further attacks on Sonic will be withheld pending a final decision by Doctor Robotnick."
"He…listened?" asked Tails.
"But why you?" Gold asked White Bishop. "I didn't see you in the future at all."
The white robot looked at the tenrec. "…all information on Ascendancy stratagem information is classified."
The rest of the racers began to stir. "What a finish," said the announcer. "But who will take home the Babylon Cup?"
Breezie turned on a tv hooked up to one of the cameras and began playing back footage in slow motion. "And the winner is…" Breezie had a big grin. "…Sonic the Hedgehog by a quill!"
"Awwwww, shoot!" shouted Jet as he got up.
Sonic chuckled as he got up. "Mission clear."
Before everyone began to move to Sonic as the remaining crowd applauded. Sally moved to hug her hero. "Sonic!"
Before she could get there Breezie cut in between them. "And now for the awards ceremony! Any words before we give you your check and trophy?"
Sonic was annoyed. "Not really, we have places to be so I'm just going the grab both before we boogie on out of here."
Breezie began to pick the fallen trophy up. "Please for the viewers at home just give…" Breezie then gasped along with everyone else as the Lamp of Angelus had vanished from the top of the trophy.
"Where's the lamp?!" shouted Wave.
"It must have fallen off in the crash," said Geoffrey. "It can't have gone too far."
"Ugh," Snively after finally waking up tried to get back on his feet as he laid over some wreckage. As he did so his hand slipped and rubbed across the surface of a brass lamp inches from his face. suddenly the wind started to howl as purple clouds began to gush from the lamp's nozzle. "What on Mobius?"
"No," gasped Sally. "He just freed Angelus!"
As the sky suddenly darkened and the crowd began to run away in a panic Breezie went down a nearby staircase and came straight to Mammoth. "Not exactly how I planned but the job's done."
"Good," said Mogul. "Now to wait for the right moment."
The purple clouds then formed into a giant purple humanoid with a powerful chest with a feathered vest over his back, muscular arms wearing gold wristbands, a set of feathers on his head and a tornado that extended downward from his waist like a tail.
"So, this is what you cells must feel like when you're before me at my full power," said Whip. "I don't like it one bit."
"YES!" Angelus shouted. "I AM FREE! FREE AFTER TEN THOUSAND YEARS AWAY FROM THE FIRMAMENT!"
Snively cackled manically as he lifted the lamp towards Angelus. "Yes! I have freed you and as your master I demand you grant me what is owed!" Snively then looked off in thought. "I think I'll wait until after the Ascendancy has taken over Mobius before I wish to be its leader. Now for my first wish should I just ask for him to destroy the Freedom Fighters or do I give myself a full head of hair? I suppose I could ask Regina…"
"IMPUDENT MORTAL!" shouted Angelus. "YOU THINK YOU CAN SIMPLY MAKE DEMANDS OF ME?!"
Snively began backpedaling. "But I get three wishes, isn't that how magic lamps are supposed to work?"
Corva slapped her forehead. "Oh, for cryin' out loud! He's a sky god not a genie you prat!"
Snively gulped and fell to his knees. "Forgive me your gustyness! This is all a big misunder…"
"Charing power laser," Red Knight said as his and White Bishop's chests opened to large cannons. "Target locked, fire!"
The lasers hit causing the giant to reel.
"What did you do that for?!" yelled Nicole.
"Sensors indicate target is a hyper energy organism, based on gathered data the likelihood of him posing a threat to Robotnick forces is at 98.7%"
"Well given Eggman had a record of abusing them for his evil plans before they became threats then the most logical action should be to LEAVE THEM ALONE!"
"The H.E.O. is beginning to recover," said White Bishop. "Maximum attack effectiveness was been negligible, protocol states that we evacuate remaining Ascendancy forces and retreat."
"Understood," said Red Knight as he grabbed Snively who dropped the lamp in the process. "All units initiate transmat recall."
The two robots, Snivley, and the S6 in the visible area all vanished.
"Your friend is leaving us to take care of the ticked off wind spirit by ourselves!" Rotor yelled to Gold.
Gold blushed. "He…gets better in a couple of centuries."
Angelus then roared. "INSOLENT FOOLS! IN TEN THOUSAND YEARS YOU MORTALS HAVE NOT CHANGED, WHAT YOU CANNOT CONTROL YOU TRY TO DESTROY!"
Winds started whipping up and lightning crackled through the air.
"NOW A STORM UNLIKE ANY OTHER RAGES ACROSS THIS ENTIRE WORLD! THAT WILL TEACH ALL MORTALS NOT TO RISE ABOVE YOUR PROPER PLACES!"
Chip tried to fly to Angelus with Whip right behind him. "Angelus, you don't have to do this! It was just one man, the Babyl…WHOOOOAAAAA!"
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
The diminished earth spirits were blown into the air by the tornado that now surrounded the tower, Chip's plea drowned out by the howling wind.
The Babylon Rouges, Tails, Silver, Gold, Rotor and Nicole held on for dear life to the stonework against the wind. Sally and Antione had to use their ring blade and sword respectively to dig into the tower roof, Bunnie extended her arm to keep from getting blown away and Sonic moved as fast as he could but was literally going nowhere fast.
"If this keeps up civilization will be completely flattened!" Sally tried to shout above the winds.
Geoffery used his magic to create a buffer from the storm but it seemed to be taking a toll on him. "Give us the lamp! Without Chaos Emeralds our magic is the only thing that can seal him away again!"
"Even if we could get it there has to be another option!" shouted Tails. "We can't just make this another generation's problem!"
Silver spotted the lamp caught up in the tornado and grabbed it with his telekinesis.
"What are you doing!?" yelled Sonic.
"It's the only way!" Silver grunted as he fought against the wind to bring the lamp to Lucian's hands within Geoffrey's buffer. The water mage then pointed the nozzle at the great air titan and started to chant.
"Tirips ho lessev siht ot uoy dnib I Sixi fo rewop eht yb! Denifnoc rewop ruoy ot nruter latnemele uoy dnammoc I!"
Angelus' tail began to be dragged to the nozzle of the lamp. "NOOOOOOOO!"
"It's working!" shouted Geoffrey. "Just a little longer!"
Angelus tried to buffet the Ixis wizards with even stronger winds only to stop as his gaze settled on the Babylon Rouges. A look of lament came across his face as he spoke in a whisper that seemed to cut through the storm so they could hear it as if everything else was silent.
"My children only now do I see we were both deceived, his dark hand moved against us and this world from the very beginning. Just as your ancestors fell to greed my pride had blinded me to the truth that as children of the sky your people would have never been content to simply remain in a single home even if it met your every need, I realize now that desire in and of itself is not an evil thing, so long as it remains a servant and not a master. Before I am sealed away once again, I return what was never mine to take away, for you will need it in the dark days to come."
"Looc ytterp si gnitirw rorrim wonk uoy naht siht daer nac uoy fi!"
As Lucian chanted the last words Angelus was pulled back into the lamp. The Rouges fell to their knees in pain, pain that was quickly forgotten but as a set of larger feathers grew from the back of their arms and they stared on in wonder.
"No way," said Storm. "I got…wings?"
Corva stroked the new addition to her appendages, suddenly she then ran over the ledge and dove off.
"CORVA!" Storm shouted as he reached out for the crow.
The next second a black figure shot up from past the ledge.
"YAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOO!"
Everyone looked overhead as Corva began to circle above. "You blokes have got to come up here! It's even better than I dreamed it would be!"
With a few flaps of their new wings the remaining Rouges took off and began circling the swooping, diving and climbing with Corva.
"We're flying!" shouted Jet. "We're actually flying!"
"I wouldn't want to give my gear up," said Wave. "But this is something else altogether, it's like I should have been doing this my whole life!"
Soon from the ruins below other Mobian birds that were in that had taken shelter began flying up on wings of their own and for the first time in ten thousand years the skies of Babylon were filled with the people who once called it home.
Sonic smiled to himself as he looked on. "Way past cool."
Suddenly a beep came the Tail's Miles Electric. He turned it on, and Sir Charles appeared.
"Everyone there's been some sort of event, bird Mobians had sprouted wings all over the world! People are afraid it's another gene bomb attack!"
"It's ok Uncle Chuck," said Sonic. "It wasn't a gene bomb."
"Then what was it?"
Sally looked up at the Mobians flying overhead. "As far as these people are concerned, a miracle."
"Hey!" Chip shouted as he and Whip managed to find their way back. "You guys did it! You got Angelus to change his mind!"
"It wasn't us," said Tails. "I don't why but it seems like he gave the Babylonians their wings back just before…" Suddenly his face fell. "The lamp!"
The Freedom Fighters turned to where Geoffrey and Lucian were surprisingly still standing where they were moments ago. Lucian still had the lamp of Angelus firmly in his grasp.
Geoffrey still catching his breath raised his arms to the Mobians above him. "The false god of Babylon has been sealed away once again! The Society of the Great Illumination has given the descendants of Babylon a small glimpse into the paradise Ixis has promised, he gives you back the sky!"
Cheers erupted in the sky above the tower, except from the Babylon Rouges.
"That's not what happened," said Storm.
"Those dirty sneaks!" grumbled Jet. "They're taking credit for everyone's wings!"
"Well they're not taking the lamp too!" said Sonic and he began running to the wizards.
Geoffrey and Lucian were covered in wind and water then vanished from the scene.
Sonic pounded the remains of the track. "They got away again!"
"That couldn't have worked better if I did get involved myself," said Mammoth from his and Breezie's hiding place. "Specter did have the right idea in having Regina invite Snively to your little race."
"We better get going then," said Breezie. "I'm ready to see how I can use these powers to help the company."
"Then follow me," Mammoth held out his cane. "Zone Gate."
A portal appeared which vanished as soon as the two stepped through.
"How could we have done everything right and have still lost?" asked Nicole.
"I hate to add more bad news, but it looks like them having Angelus might just be the icing on the cake for them," said Rotor.
Up above many of the birds were talking about the Society of the Great Illumination and soon many other Mobians began to get excited with them.
"No!" shouted Corva. "Angelus lifted the curse! He was trying to protect from something worse comin'! Please, listen to me!"
Mammoth and Breezie stepped out of the portal to see a green light coming from the lamp on the upper left hand of the idol of Ixis out to both Geoffrey and Amy. With Iblis' eye in the upper right hand and the Gaia's ring on the lower right only the Essence of Water was missing. The light ceased and with a motion Geoffrey formed a tornado like creature with a bird's head before dispelling it away.
"Three down, one to go," Naugus said from the corner of the room.
"What about the baby?" Lucian asked. "The power hasn't effected them, right?"
"Just like last time," said Amy. "I can feel the power's in me but if anything, it's protecting our child."
Lucian hugged Amy from behind putting both their hands on her growing baby bump. "That's good, whatever destiny they have, our baby being safe and healthy is all I want right now."
"There is only one more duty required of you today," Specter said. "The initiation of the newest members of the Order of Ixis."
"I thought it would just be me," said Breezie. "Who else is getting their powers?"
"Initiates of the Society of the Great Illumination, I would request you remain quiet until the Heralds get them to see things our way. To that end I recommend the Supreme Council leave the room before Hershey brings them in."
Mammoth tapped his cane. "I was hoping to see my assistant become my apprentice can you bestow her powers first then have the others join?"
Specter turned to Mammoth but with the mask the spirit was hard to read. "If that is your desire, I suppose…"
"Actually, I need to discuss an urgent matter with the Supreme Council," Fiona said. "It has to do with my duties as Hershey and Amy's midwife."
"We should listen to the girl," said Witchcart. "It's not as if that woman is going to be your first apprentice."
Specter shook his head. "I'm sorry Master Mogul, but it looks like you'll have to skip this one."
"I'll be fine sir," said Breezie. "You go ahead and take care of business."
Mammoth nodded. "Alright Breezie, but first let me just say congratulations."
Fiona led the Supreme Council out of the room. They could hear other footsteps come in via the portal.
"I'm so glad you all could come," Amy said out of sight. "In addition to new friends I'm glad to see a few familiar faces as well."
The heavy stone doors closed behind them and the moment now sound could pass through Naugus breathed a sigh of relief.
"That was a close call! Mammoth, Regina, as much as I don't want to 'come clean' about my own activities Witchcart and I made some discoveries that complicate our plans. If we didn't pull you out of there you would have told Specter everything about our little coup."
"Are you going insane again?!" asked Regina. "Talking about that in front one of Specter's pet elite?!"
The vixen looked at Regina with purple eyes. "Fiona isn't in the driver's seat at the moment," Agunus said with Fiona's voice. "These two planned to have the three of us that formed Naugus each take a herald as a body but while I was trying to find a way to make the real Fiona give me complete control I found something that jeopardizes our little conspiracy."
"I should have known you'd betray us," said Mammoth. "But if you're willing tell me about it to my face then this must be dire. What have you found?"
"First we have to show you both something," said Naugus. "If it weren't for this, I would have thought Agunus was trying to destroy me and the remaining two parts of myself."
Regina and Mammoth were led to a room that still retained some of the cells from when the temple was a prison. Only one was occupied, by a human girl with red hair and fine-looking white clothes and a feathered hairclip, she turned away in a quiet defiance. "Oh, it's you again. I see there are a couple more here so I'll only repeat myself so they can hear, neither you nor your supposed master Specter are going to get away with this. The people of Solenna and our allies in the United Federation won't rest until I am found, so please release before more people get hurt."
Witchcart gave a mocking bow. "May I introduce her royal highness Elise the Third, Princess of the human nation of Solenna."
"And we did the most cliché plot of kidnapping a princess why?" grumbled Regina.
"This was completely an accident on the part of Fiona, Hershey and Amy," said Agunus. "We brought you here because she can verify what I can tell you safely. As I was poking through Fiona's memories I came to where she and the others had chosen to join us."
Regina moaned again. "Yes, Ixis brainwashed them, we know this."
"It's not brainwashing, at least not in the traditional sense. Once they opened themselves to him to get the power needed to expand that spell allowing Sonic to reverse the gene bombs Ixis revealed something to them, that was all. But this knowledge, because of what it represents on a primal level, compelled them to obey Ixis and Specter because they believe it is the right thing for them to do. The only reason I'm not affected is because this isn't my actual body, I don't have a genetic level for it to speak on.
"The Five Elite had been telling others through the guise of the Society of the Great Illumination, which is just a way to get people to expose themselves to it once they agree to learn more. Fiona, Amy and Hershey were doing this near Solenna today when the Princess came with some curious Overlander friends, she was the first human who went as far as exposing herself to this knowledge but it didn't have the same effect on her, since they couldn't let the truth get exposed to the world at large we were forced to capture the Princess and bring her here, Specter said to hold her until the Elemental War starts but it was a stroke of luck on my part, I wasn't able to tell either Naugus or Witchcart until she was able to verify my claims, isn't that right Princess?"
Elise sighed. "This…individual is right, the moment a Mobian or Overlander learns this horrible truth, they become willing slaves of Specter and Ixis."
"Which is why we had to get the two of you out of there," said Naugus. "Being at that ceremony would have exposed you and we couldn't have half our conspiracy do an about face."
Mammoth grabbed Naugus by the neck and pinned him to the bars of Elise's cell. "And you had me leave Breezie to become another one of Specter's pawns?!"
"If we got her too it would have looked suspicious," Naugus croaked. "Hate me all you want but I was just playing the hand I was dealt, being in the casino business you should know that."
Mammoth let go of Naugus. "This had better be the last time or you'll find you owe the house and ran out of chips."
As Naugus caught his breath Regina turned back to the possessed Fiona. "So, who else knows this enslaving secret that unaffected?"
"Me, the princess, Suguna and Nusgau," Agunus said. "On the bright side it has made manipulating Fiona that much easier, not total control but enough that I force her into a corner of her mind by blocking that knowledge. Suguna and Nusgau should be able to make use of one quirk it has, if by some chance if a person breaks away from the control it allows the knowledge is erased even though everything else remains intact, so all one has to do is be willingly exposed to it again to be brought into the fold all over again."
"Just one more question, if this knowledge could enslave Overlanders and Mobians why not just make a worldwide broadcast and get millions at once?"
"That could be jammed or turned off if a government realizes something was afoot," said Witchcart. "No I think this is why Specter wants the Elemental War, if the elite can voice this message through the elementals they'd have a captive audience through the ruse of an attack to protect oneself from and with the seven Chaos Emeralds I'd imagine they could field an endless number of messengers."
"We were going to be his slaves all along," said Mammoth. "But we still have a chance. Specter is going to need a new vessel soon and once we have Geoffrey and Lucian under our control, we'll be in a better place to interrupt that. And if somehow he escapes to try again a few hundred years down the line I recently came up with a plan to ensure this world will be safe in the future." Mammoth then began to think to himself. "And perhaps allow me to rule Mobius when once Sonic is old, dead and buried."
The Babylon Rouges sat on the edge of the deck of their airship looking around at the ruins, the feathers of their wings and the open sky above only the occasional sigh escaping their beaks. Sally and Sonic came over to them.
"The mission didn't go the way we wanted," said Sally. "But it was through no fault of your own. You fulfilled your part of the bargain you can go wherever you want now."
"We saw his face just before we lost him," said Corva. "In that moment I could tell, even after being sealed away for ten thousand years Angelus wanted to be reconciled with the Babylonians, set them on the right path. He undid the curse to give us a chance against somethin' worse coming."
"Ixis," said Sonic. "Don't worry, whatever Specter has planned for him we'll get Angelus back."
Jet stood up holding his hand out. "If you plan on stealing the god of Babylon back then we're going to help you do it. This partnership is going to last a little bit longer. Just find where Specter is, and we'll steal back everything he's taken."
Sonic took Jet's hand. "Keep this up and you just might go straight."
"Yeah, I don't see that happening. But we owe the descendants of Babylon the truth and Specter owes us some payback."
"You'll get the chance to try it soon," said Sally. "Only one of the elemental essences is left, the essence of water, but we just happen to know where it is and therefore where the Order of Ixis is going to strike next. Make whatever preparations you need then set your course for Angel Island."
Jet gave a thumbs up. "We'll see you there then."
"In the meantime, I'll see if I can whip up a few gizmos to give us an edge," said Wave.
Storm pounded his fist in his hand. "These Ixis guys are going to regret messin' with us!"
"Angelus trusted us with these wings," said Corva. "We're going to show that that trust wasn't misplaced."
They soon after they left the Rouge's airship Sally had gathered the Freedom fighters in the conference room. "I won't sugar coat things," said the Princess. "The Order of Ixis has put us on the backfoot, one we have only once chance left to stop them.
Bunnie turned to Silver. "Why did you have to give the lamp to them?! We could have tried to put that windbag back in ourselves!"
"That lamp probably used Ixis Magik to work," said Gold. "They were the only ones who could get Angelus back under control."
"She's right mon chere (my dear)," said "Antione. "If anyone we should blame Snively and zhose mechanical malcontents for making things worse."
"Still something is bothering me about that," said Silver. "We were trying to convince Red Knight to stop fighting, but it was White Bishop who decided to listen. Why would a newly constructed robot with no apparent connection to that future be willing to give our story consideration?"
"I don't know," said Gold. "But when White Bishop spoke to me there was something strange. I couldn't read her mind, not that my power ever worked on machines, but I felt something almost familiar about her.
"A mystery for another day," said Nicole. "Right now though we have to focus on protecting Angel Island."
"I guess we're going to give Knuckles a call to expect us," said Rotor.
"He's not the only one," said Sally. "I want to get in touch with the Council and inform them of what happened, then contact Big and Cream so they can join us there and I have a few more calls planned after that. The black emerald and Chaos are all Specter needs to carry out whatever his master plan is. He has been gathering followers and from the reaction Geoffrey and Lucian got it could be quite a few. This situation is going to be all hands-on deck, we're going to turn Angel Island into a flying fortress. Once we can secure the black emerald then we find Specter's hideout get back the essences he's already gathered, the Chaos Emeralds and our friends, if we can convince them to come home."
"We're really doing this," Tails sighed. "We're really going to fight Amy, aren't we?"
Sally tried to strike the best balance of honest and comforting. "Only if she forces us to."
Sonic grumbled. "Fiona, sure, Geoffrey, fine, Hershey, didn't know her that well but I'd understand staying with her husband, Lucian, I had my doubts about him, but I never thought Amy of all people would be on the other side of a fight from us."
"You ok?" Sally asked. "I thought you both moved on from how she felt about you."
"Not much for me to move on from, but I get the feeling there's still a lot that Amy left unsaid and just maybe that's what led her to making the choice she did. I just hope her still believing we're friends is how she really feels.
Sally leaned over the table and covered her head. "I hope so too, because if she doesn't then this will be one fight with no winners, only losers."
