Fast Friends

Speed Match! Shadow vs. Sam

Everyone was sleeping peacefully. Suddenly, they were roused by the sound of a loud engine from outside.

"What's that?" Chris said.

Tanaka and Ella raced outside, the latter with a frying pan, in order to stop the intruder.

But they saw it was Sam, who blocked Ella's frying pan and Tanaka's karate with ease.

"Back off! relax! Lighten up! It's me!" Sam said.

Then Chuck appeared in the doorway.

"Blasted Sam. Don't you have any idea what time it is?" he asked.

"Sure I do! It's morning."

"It's 3 AM."

"So it's a little early."

"You're lucky I held myself back. I was just about to batter you like a chicken cutlet." Ella said then yawned and headed back into the house.

"I'm going back to bed." Tanaka said and departed as well.

"I hope you didn't wake the neighbors." Chuck said then noticed a crowd gathering behind Sam. "Nice. They're all up."

Then he saw a few helicopters flying overhead. Chris walked onto the balcony, where Sonic had also been awoken. The former rubbed his eyes.

"What's going on?" he asked and saw an even larger group of people on the sides of the street, as well as a few police cars. "Where'd all those people come from?"

"I don't know. Looks like they're lined up for a parade." Sonic said.

"Hey Sam, isn't that a new car?" Chuck asked.

I'm here to challenge Sonic to a road race!

"A race?" Sonic and Chris said.

"Hold on! This is a rocket engine!" Chuck said.

"That's the SS III Super Rocket Engine. It was designed by top engineers in the Office of Science and Technology. Over a billion dollars went into its development." Sam said and pointed at Sonic. "Sonic, I'm gonna prove once and for all that I'm the fastest guy on the planet!"

"Sonic, are you gonna race against my uncle Sam?" Chris asked.

No way." he said and headed inside.

"Hey, wait! You know, for a hedgehog, you sure are spineless!" Sam said and followed him.

Then he threw open the door to the lab, with Chuck shortly behind.

"Hey, Sonic! We have a race!" he said waking Tails, who was sleeping.

"Wha?!" Tails said. "Morning already?" he said sleepily.

"Sonic says he won't race, see?" Chuck said.

"He will race. The starting line will be in front of this house. From here we'll speed downtown, straight through the heart of Station Square. After we blast across the bridge out of the city, the competition will really heat up as we zoom through the desert and navigate the twists and turns of the canyon. A hairpin turn will lead us back to the city. The winner will be the one who reaches the stadium first. There'll be thousand of fans to cheer us on, including the President waiting at the finishing line." Sam said.

The President?" Chris said.

He's gonna congratulate the winner on live TV."

Jerome appeared in the shot.

"The coverage will increase his poll numbers. The President is sure to win reelection in a landslide!" he said.

"But why would the government let Uncle Sam use a rocket for a race with Sonic?" Chris said.

"The S3 was expensive, and they think the race will increase taxpayer support for the project." Chuck said.

"Yeah. You got it." Sam said.

"Except we're not gonna race." Sonic said reclining on Chuck's chair up to this point,

"Oh? What's the matter, Sonic? Are you afraid that when our race is over, you'll be known as the second fastest guy on the planet? I'm not gonna take no for an answer, Sonic, and I won't let up until you agree to race me!"

Chris facepalmed.

"Why couldn't I have a normal family?" he said.

"Look, Sam, you can't expect Station Square to shut down just so you two can have a race." Chuck said.

"Oh yeah? You wanna bet? " Sam said and the TV turned on, showing Scarlet.

"They're just about ready for the big race at Station Square. The streets will soon be completely clear of traffic, and an enormous crowd is gathering all along the course, waiting for the race to start." Scarlet said then Nelson and Lindsey appear on the screen. "They're cheering now for the sponsors of today's race - the popular movie star Lindsey Fair, and her handsome mogul husband Nelson Thorndyke."

"This keeps getting worse..." Chris said.

"I'll bet my nightcap that you're uncle's the one who got them involved in this ridiculous race." Chuck said.

"Well, Sonic? You're not gonna disappoint that crowd, are ya? They've been waiting for hours to see us go human-to-hedgehog!" Sam said.

"Tough." Sonic said.

"Gaaahhh! Come on!" Sam said frustrated.

In the White House Jerome was asleep and started sleep-hugging and kissing.

"Hello, my dear..." Jeromy said.

The sound of the phone ringing awakens him, shucking him out of bed. Massaging his head, he answers the phone.

"Yeah? Who's this?"

"Sonic won't race me! Do something! The President should order them to compete!" Sam shourted and hung up.

"Who is this?" Jerome asked and put the phone down. "Eh... Sonic won't race..." he said and crawled back to bed. "That's too bad. Uh, if he won't race..." he continued then had a double take. "Wha?! If Sonic doesn't race Sam Speed, my career's over!" he said and saw an angry crowd.

"The President lied about the race, so kick him out in disgrace!" the crowd said.

The President will probably be impeached before the next election, and all because Sonic won't race! ... We've got to do something! We'll call out the military!" Jerome said and envisioned the military. "The army! The navy! And the air force! Mwahahaha! That should help convince Sonic to change his mind! ... No. The Secretary of Defense will probably make a fuss about it." he said and thought of something. "I know! I'll go over his head!"

On the Egg Fort II Eggman was playing chess with a robot.

"And that is checkmate." Robot said.

"Rrrgh, you cheater!" Eggman said.

"Loser."

"Whaaat?! I built you, and I can unbuild you!" he said and grabbed the robot and started shaking it. "I'll checkmate you, you pawn!"

"I promise that I will let you win next time, Doctor."

"There won't be a next time."

Jerome appeared on his screen wearing a hat and coat to hide his identity.

"Doctor Eggman, I have a proposition for you." he said.

"Oh yeah? Who are you?"

"That doesn't matter. Now, you wanna settle the score with Sonic?"

"Yes. Maybe."

"What if I told you that Sonic has been challenged to race against a hi-tech rocket car designed by the government?"

"Really? Is that so?"

"In fact, Sonic is so scared he'll be defeated that he turned us down."

Eggman dropped the robot and put his hands on his hips.

"Oh? And so you need me to get Sonic in the race? That's it?" he said.

You convince Sonic to enter that race, and I'll get you front-row seats to an ice show.

"Are you nuts? An ice show?" Eggman said pointing.

Bocoe and Decoe raced up to him.

"I love figure skating!" Decoe said.

"Please, can we go?" Bocoe asked.

"We'll work day and night without complaining!"

"Not even behind your back like we usually do!

"All right... But how do I know this isn't some kind of elaborate trick you're playing on me?" Eggman asked Jerome.

"Uh..." he said and removed his shades and put on Bambi eyes. "Look in my eyes and you'll see I'm sincere!"

"Well... Then I'll do it. I'll need a robot to stop Sonic." Eggman said and turned to the robot he was priorly playing chess with.

"Me?" Robot said.

"I'll rebuild this one into a model that forces Sonic to enter the race."

"No! Please! Doctor! Not me!"

Outside Thorndyke Manor Sam was sitting in his car. Tails, Amy, and Chris were checking it out.

"It's cool!" Tails said.

"It does look fast." Amy said.

"My uncle Sam wouldn't drive it if it weren't cool and fast." Chris said.

Suddenly he heard the sound of Bokkun's laughing. He turned and saw Bokkun hovering there.

"Oh, brother..."

"Where's Sonic? I have to see him now. I brought a message with me!" Bokkun said.

Sonic was reclining on the railing of the balcony and Bokkun landed in front of him.

"Wake up! I have a message for ya!" he said so Sonic stood up and got ready to make a run for it. "Relax! I promise this one isn't gonna blow up in the end."

"All right... What is it?" Sonic asked.

"You better enter that race, Sonic, or else you'll have to face this!" he said and reached into his bag and pulled out the robot from earlier; but has a giant set of lips.

"Hi there!" Robot said.

Sonic leapt off the railing and ran to the opposite side.

The robot ran toward him and leapt into the air toward him.

Sonic dodged the attack, causing it to kiss the railing.

Bokkun was laughing hysterically.

Sonic leapt onto a chair, but the robot jumped onto the table right in front of him.

"Yuck! I don't wanna take any lip from that robot!" Sonic said.

Bokkun was still laughing.

Sam revved the motor.

Sonic remembered Sam's words from earlier.

"I'm not gonna take no for an answer, Sonic, and I won't let up until you agree to race me!" Sam said.

"And I'll race!"

The robot flies toward him, but Sonic leaps off the balcony, causing the robot to kiss Bokkun instead. As Sam revs the motor again, Sonic heads over to the car, where Chris and Chuck are gathered.

"Are you gonna play with that pedal all day?"

Chris and Chuck looked up in surprise.

"Or are we gonna have a race?"

Sam smirks.

The Thorndykes and Sonic's friends were now among the spectators at the starting line.

"I just don't get it. What made Sonic change his mind?" Amy asked.

"I guess he couldn't resist the challenge." Tails said.

"On your mark... Get set..." Chuck said holding the green flag.

The racers prepared themselves. Chuck waved the flag.

"GO!" he said.

Immediately Sam's car took off, causing Sonic to choke on the dust.

Sonic took off after Sam.

Scarlet was giving live coverage of the race.

"This is Scarlet Garcia reporting from News Chopper 1. We now continue out live coverage of the road race of the century as Sonic the Hedgehog takes on Sam Speed. After a delayed start, the racers left the Thorndyke Mansion and are now speeding through downtown Station Square." she said.

Sonic and Sam were racing neck and neck.

"Hey, Sam!" Sonic said.

"Yeah, what?" Sam said irritated.

"I thought this was supposed to be a road race, but your rocket car doesn't even touch the asphault! What's up? That thing doesn't even have wheels!"

The car had the appearance of having no tires.

"Yeah? Look close."

At a closer inspection, Sonic saw that the car did have tires hidden out of sight.

"You see? The wheels guide the glide."

"What if you get a flat?" Sonic asked and Sam approached the city.

"Our racers are about to enter the most dangerous part of the course as they steer through these narrow streets at super-high speed. But is the rocket car maneuverable enough to make those hypervelocity turns?" Scarlet said.

"It'll be easy." Sam said.

"Oh yeah? Then prove it!" Sonic said and raced ahead of him and easily weaved his way through the buildings.

"Great. Sonic's gone way ahead. Commence Project Straightaway now!"

"Roger." officer said.

Several garage doors opened, and Sam drove right through them and laughed.

"Sorry, Sonic, but being chief of the S-Team gives me the kind of class that allows me to open doors in this city. Hahaha!" he said.

Sonic emerged from another side street and saw Sam passed him.

"That wasn't fair!" he said and caught up with him.

"Tough luck." Sam said.

Sonic leapt onto the front of the rocket car and relaxed, completely obstructing Sam's view.

"Get off of my hood, Sonic!"

"Ah... Nice breeze here."

"Hitching a ride is against the rules!"

"Touch luck."

Hrgh." Sam said and chuckled. "Okay, you got me. But would you mind moving to the back some so I can see where I'm going? Thank you."

Sonic stood up and moved to the top of the car.

"Right here?" he said.

"Further back."

Sonic moved to the back of the car.

"How's this?"

"Great. Right there'll do just fine." Sam said and pressed a button that activated a spring sending Sonic flying and Sam laughed. "Bye, Sonic!"

"Strange. What's Sonic doing? Why is he going the wrong way? It certainly is an odd tactic." Scarlet said.

On Egg Fort II Eggman was watching the race.

"Hahahaha! That rocket car is my kind of mean machine. Have to try that spring trick on Sonic myself." he said and pulled out a notebook and wrote in it. "Okay. Go, Sumo-Man!" Eggman said.

Meanwhile the race continued into the desert and Sonic caught up.

"That can't be Sonic!" Sam said.

Suddenly, a dust cloud was seen ahead, and E-45 Sumo-Man emerged from it.

"You may not pass! Turn back!" Sumo-Man said.

"A roadblock?" Sonic said.

"Hey!" Sam said and pressed a button that rotated the rocket car's wings.

"Turn back or be destroyed! ... Take that!" Sumo-Man said.

But Sam had passed him and was driving away.

"Sucker!" he said.

Next up was Sonic.

"Stop now! ... I order you to halt and reverse your course now!" Sumo-Man said but Sonic passed him by as well. "How could I have missed Sonic?! Dr. Eggman will punish me! I had better punish myself first!" he said and slapped himself into the air.

On Egg Fort II Bokkun was crying.

"That robot kissed me!" he said.

"Bokkun, It might have been a lot worse, you know. You could have accidentally been kissed by Doctor Eggman." Decoe said.

"What a revolting thought." Bocoe said.

"We blew it!" Eggman said.

"Well, don't blame me! I did my job!" Robot said.

"Kiss off, you clown!"

Sumo-Man collided with the Egg Fort II, creating a great explosion. The robot behind kissed Eggman.

"Are you all right? Let me kiss it and make it better..." Robot said. "Mwah... Mwah... Mwah..."

Back with the race the two were neck and neck one again. Sam checked his watch.

"Wow. It's already lunchtime." he said.

Then a compartment opened inside the car, and a tray containing a burger and soda extended out. Sam took a bite of the burger.

"Hey, ya... you want a bite?"

"No thanks!" Sonic said and ran ahead. "Come to think of it, I am pretty hungry."

"Hey, Sonic!" someone said and he looked up to see the X-Tornado.

Chris was in the second seat, holding out a container of food.

"Ella sent some ham sandwiches and milk for ya!" he said.

"Wow, Chris, thanks! That looks deli-"

Suddenly Sam drove past Sonic, coating him, Chris, and the food in sand.

"My bad, heh!" Sam said.

Sonic shook the sand off of him.

"I'll pass on the sandwich!" he said.

"Sorry, Sonic. See you at the finish line." Chris said.

"Right!"

As the X-Tornado flew away, Sam and Sonic increased their speed.

"This road race is still up for grabs as our racers prepare to speed through the canyon." Scarlet said.

The two racers headed off a cliff, turn around at the turning point, and leapt back onto the cliff.

"Our racers have reached the halfway point and are now speeding back toward Station Square. Sonic and Sam Speed are still running neck-and-neck."

As photographers prepared for a photo finish, Jerome checked his watch.

"What's taking the President so long? The race is going to finish soon." he said when his cell phone rang and he answered it. "Hello? ... What? But can't the President hold his emergency security meeting later? ... All right. If it can't be changed..." he said and hung up. "I'll fill in."

Then he started imagining vain thoughts.

"It's just as well. I'm more photogenic than the President anyway. In fact, I'm more lovable than my boring boss too! I can use this race to launch my own campaign. Then the world will call me Mr. President!" he said and laughed out loud.

"What are you laughing at?" Amy asked.

"Oh, nothing..." he continued giggling, and Amy shrugged.

Back at the race. "Now, the two challengers are racing into the city, and pulling out all the stops as they speed toward the stadium!" Scarlet said.

The crowd cheered. The Thorndykes and Sonic's friends appeared nervous.

"Come on, Sonic." Amy said.

"All right... It's rocket time!" Sam said and burst ahead.

"Look out! Sam Speed is pulling away!" Scarlet said.

"Oh yeah?" Sonic said and sped ahead too and crossed the finish line.

"Well, it looks like we have a tie! That was close! The judges will examine photos to see if they can determine a winner. The results will be posted on the stadium monitor."

The big screen showed Sonic leaping over the finish line tape, posing for the camera, then heading back for a photo finish. Sonic smugly rubbed under his nose, and Sam looked shocked.

"Amazing! Sonic not only crossed the finish line first; he went back for an encore! Sonic is the winner!" Scarlet said.

"Congratulations!" Amy said and ran up to Sonic and hugged him.

"Eh, it's no big deal." he said.

"Oh, Sonic." someone said.

Sonic looked up and saw Nelson and Lindsey. Nelson clapped.

"Well done." Lindsey said and handed him a bouquet of roses.

"Thanks a lot." he said.

Then Sonic and Sam exchanged a wink and thumbs-up.

"Sonic!" someone said and Sonic looked up to see Jerome. "That was just great." he said and Sonic looked at the cameras. "Sonic! Shake my hand. Hurry up so they can take our picture together." he whispered.

Sonic gritted his teeth. Just then Jerome's cell phone rang and he answer edit.

"Hello? ... Oh, hi there, Vivian! ... What? I'm under investigation for negotiating with Dr. Eggman?" he said and the press started taking photos. "No! There's no way I'll be President now!" he said and groaned.

Sonic shrugged.