Previous Chapter Recap: Last time on Sonic Forces! While attempting to shut down the security system for the Death Egg's detention center, Rouge found herself captured by Zavok and set to be executed along with Sonic. Now our story takes us to the Resistance as they attempt a daring jailbreak.
Author's Note: Once again, I must apologize to you all for the radio silence on my end. 2020 was a shit year and it's been seriously hampering my motivation to write. But I just want to let you guys know that I'm not dead and the story's still going. My New Year's Resolution is to try to upload chapters faster. I pray we all have a much Happier New Year than this one.
It is said that in space, no one can hear you scream. Then no one could probably hear the sounds of a fierce battle going on in the Death Egg's hangar bay. Realizing that Eggman anticipated their plan, Knuckles decided that the direct approach was the best approach. The moment their stolen spaceship flew inside the Death Egg's hangar bay, all hell broke loose as the Egg Fighters immediately opened fire on them. Vector, Silver, Storm, Jet, and Knuckles went on the attack. Knuckles led the charge by leaping into the air and punching the ground, the shockwave pushing the Egg Pawns back.
"Remember the plan, everyone!" Knuckles said, punching one of the attacking Egg Fighters. "We don't need to win! We just need to distract them!"
Vector found himself surrounded by a group of Egg Pawns. Inhaling deeply, Vector breathed out a stream of flames as he spun in place, incinerating them all in a single go. When one of the Egg Fighters leapt at Vector with sword in hand, Vector lunged at the robot and crushed it between his powerful jaws, tearing it to pieces. "Assuming that they can make it there in time." Vector said, spitting out a piece of the Egg Fighter. Meanwhile, Silver cut through a swath of Egg Fighters using his Psycho Knife. "They'll make it!" Silver shouted, sending a group of Egg Fighters away with a pulse of psychic energy. "They have to..." Riding on their Extreme Gear, Jet and Storm fought the robots from the air. Jet cut through the robots with his twin fans while Storm was blasted them away with dual orange rocket Wispons.
Meanwhile, running down a winding path, Jason, Wave, and Espio raced to the location of the tracer Rouge left for them. "How much closer to the signal?" Espio asked.
"Shouldn't be far." Wave replied, riding on her Extreme Gear and looking at her wristwatch, taking note of the blinking light signifying the location of the signal. "The prisoners are kept in a sort of interment facility. Sonic is probably there too."
"Though Knuckles and the others are keeping Eggman's robots busy, there might still be security." Espio said. "Stay alert." Jason didn't speak, but nodded in reply. It was all he could do to swallow his anxiety. He knew they would be breaking Sonic out of prison, but actually participating in a jailbreak? This was more than he bargained for. At the end of the path, they reached a spiral staircase. Traveling down the staircase, they reached the prison hall. "The signal is just ahead, let's move!" Wave said.
"Vector, we're at the prison hall." Espio said, tapping the communicator. "How are things on your end?"
"They got us pinned down, but we're holding our own!" Vector replied, his voice heard over the roar of the battle. "Don't worry about us! Just get to Sonic!"
"For a prison, this looks kinda... empty." Jason remarked, taking note of the vacant prison cells.
"It appears many of our brethren were held here." Espio replied. "They were likely executed."
"That's just one more thing Eggman will answer for." Silver said.
"We're almost to the signal!" Wave said as the three made their way through the prison, winding through the twists and turns. Eventually, they turned left and reached the computer room where the signal was. "Alright, we're here." Wave said as she jumped off her Extreme Gear and ran to the computer. 'Alright, I'm going to try to shut down the security system." she said, putting a flash drive into the computer. "You guys cover me." As Wave began typing on the computer's keyboard, Espio and Jason stood guard at the door. Jason was fidgeting about, hands idly toying with his Wispon. "I sense a lot of nervous energy within you." Espio said.
"That obvious, huh?" Jason replied with a mirthless chuckle. "This is just...so overwhelming. I knew we'd have to save Sonic sooner or later, but to actually being doing a jail break of all things... I just can't help but feel that-"
"Don't." Espio sharply cut him off. "You can't think like that. This will work. It has to."
"But... how can you be sure?" Jason asked. Espio fell silent for a moment. "To be honest... I'm not sure." he replied. "Six months ago, I couldn't see ourselves pulling a stunt like this. Like everyone else, I had resigned myself to thinking that Sonic was dead. But seeing him alive again, knowing he was okay, sparked something in me, something I haven't felt in months: Hope. Maybe this won't work. Maybe this is a long shot. But I believe we can do this. And in the end, maybe that's all we need."
Jason listened intently at Espio's answer. Honestly, he was surprised. In the six months he had gotten to know Espio, he was always so quiet and reserved. So it was truly something to see Epsio bare his heart and soul like this. But before their conversation could continue, the sound of the computer got their attention. "Alright, that should do it." Wave said. "Now let's find Sonic and-" The air was soon filled by the sound of metallic screeching as dozens of robotic spiders descended from the ceiling.
"Should've figured it wouldn't be that easy!" Wave said as she brandished her wrench. Jason readied his Wispon to fight when Espio grabbed his shoulder. "We'll hold them off!" he said. "It's up to you to find Sonic!"
"But Espio-!" Jason said.
"Don't argue, just go!" Espio said, throwing one of his Kunai at the robotic spiders. "Saving Sonic is all that matters!" Jason was about to protest, but ultimately nodded and ran out the room. As Espio watched him leave, he whispered to himself, "Good luck, our hopes ride with you now."
As Jason ran down the winding hall, a myriad of emotions swam through his mind, chief among them being fear and anxiety. "What if something goes wrong? What if I mess up? What if I can't save Sonic in time? What if, what if, what if..." Again and again the "what ifs" repeated themselves. But he pushed them all down. There was no time for fear, no time for doubt. Everyone was counting on him! He couldn't let them down!
Meanwhile, in the heart of the prison...
Sonic and Rouge stood in the middle of a floating platform composed of numerous hexagonal tiles. The two had their hands bound by energy cuffs. Rouge also had a ring of energy covering her mouth to prevent her from using her sonic shriek. Surrounding them were Egg Fighters with their blasters pointed at the duo. Floating above them was Zavok, who was riding on a colossal wasp-based robot that bore a striking resemblance to the Buzz Bomber. It had a black head with four red eyes, a small mouth, a pair of orange spikes on its forehead for horns, and a white collar around its neck. It also had an orange thorax with six orange and black legs with red claws, an orange and black-striped abdomen with four engines attached to it, and a massive black stinger. On its back were two pairs of yellow insect wings. Zavok lovingly called this robot the Death Queen.
The walls were lined with numerous cells filled with prisoners watching the whole thing unfold. At Zavok's command, the prisoners were moved here so Zavok could have a captive audience to watch Sonic's execution. "You know, Eggman wanted to have you launched into space." Zavok began. "But I figured a circular firing squad would be more fitting. What can I say? I have a thing for the classics. So, any last words? Do feel free to beg. Though I think it would be hard for the bat." Rouge shot Zavok a glare in response.
"Yeah, begging's not my thing." Sonic said. "So here's a gesture in response." Sonic gave Zavok the middle finger. The Zeti leader raised an eyebrow. "Charming." he scoffed. "Let's get this over with." Zavok snapped his fingers and the Egg Fighters readied their guns. But before they could fire, the lights began flickering off and on. "What's... going on?" Zavok asked as he looked about in confusion. That's when something extraordinary happened: the prison cells began unlocking themselves. Shock and bewilderment filled Zavok as he looked about. Then he saw the energy cuffs on Sonic and Rouge deactivate.
"Dammit! Shoot to kill! NOW!" he commanded. But it was too late. Before the Egg Fighters could react, Sonic used his signature Light Speed Attack, smashing through all of them at once. "Sorry, Zavok." Sonic said. "But it looks like we get a stay of execution. So, wanna take us on yourself? Or are you gonna hide behind your tin cans?"
"Honestly a firing squad would've been mercy." Zavok said. "But if you want to suffer at my hands, I'll gladly oblige!" Zavok leapt off the Death Queen and punched the ground. Sonic and Rouge moved out of the way and Sonic retaliated with a Homing Attack. Zavok blocked the attack with his arm and attempted to punch Sonic, but Sonic dodged the punch with a midair flip, delivering a kick to the back of the Zeti's head. However, Zavok used his tail to grab Sonic by the leg and slam him to the ground. Before Zavok could attack, Rouge flew in with a roundhouse kick to his face.
The kick staggered Zavok and it took him a bit to regain his bearings. With a wave of his hand, Zavok used his magnesis to command the Death Queen to attack, the robot firing lasers from its legs and chasing Rouge away. With Rouge distracted, Zavok was free to focus his attention on Sonic. The Zeti began tossing fireballs at Sonic, but the hedgehog's superior speed allowed him to dodge all of Zavok's attacks. Sonic then ran around Zavok, using his speed to create afterimages of himself. Using the afterimages as cover, Sonic struck Zavok again and again, overwhelming the Zeti warrior with relentless Spin Dashes. Zavok could do nothing but defend himself against the onslaught.
While Sonic battled Zavok, Rouge faced off against the Death Queen. Fighting it was somewhat difficult. Not because the robot was particularly powerful, but maneuvering was hard as Rouge was doing her best to avoid getting the prisoners hurt by the Death Queen's attacks. The wasp robot attacked by lashing out with its stinger. Rouge tossed a few bombs at the Death Queen but they had little effect. The Death Queen turned around and fired lasers from its legs. Rouge flew about to avoid the lasers, taking care to avoid letting the lasers hit any of the prisoners. When she saw the Death Queen ready its stinger, it gave Rouge an idea. Rouge waited until the Death Queen charged at her, then dodged out of the way at the last second, causing the Death Queen's stinger to get stuck in the wall. With her target immobilized, Rouge used her Drill Dive move and pierced a hole through the robot, destroying it on the spot.
Meanwhile, Sonic continued to batter Zavok with repeated Spin Dashes. It seemed Sonic had the upper hand, but then Zavok suddenly lashed out with his tail, knocking the hedgehog to the ground. Zavok then leapt into the air, his fist lit ablaze with flame as he prepared to deliver the final blow. But suddenly, Rouge blasted him away with her Black Wave attack, firing a wave of black energy that sent him to the ground once more. "Thanks for the assist, Rouge." Sonic said. "Guess I'm a little rusty. Mind giving me another assist?"
"Gladly." Rouge replied. Sonic curled up into a ball and jumped into the air as Rouge spun in midair like a top, using the momentum to deliver a powerful kick and sent Sonic hurtling towards Zavok like a soccer ball. Sonic hit him dead square in the face, knocking him out cold. "Well, that takes care of him." Rouge said. The whole prison erupted with jubilation as the prisoners cheered Sonic and Rouge on. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, you're far too kind!" Sonic said. But that's when he saw something weird happen to the unconscious Zavok. His body began glitching out like a faulty hologram before it dissolved into red cubes and disappeared.
"Okay... that was weird." Before Sonic could dwell on this, the prison was rocked by a tremor caused by the fighting. "Uh-oh. Less talking, more running!"
"I'll get the prisoners to safety." Rouge said. "You go find the others. I'm pretty sure they're waiting for you."
Sonic gave Rouge a thumbs up and sped off. As he raced through the prison hall, he thought, "I knew you guys could pull this off. Hang on, everyone. I'm on my way."
Next Chapter Preview: Next time on Sonic Forces! Now free, Sonic races through the prison to reunite with the others. Along the way, he rescues Jason from a sticky situation. How will Jason react to seeing his idol in the flesh? Find out on the next exciting chapter of Sonic Forces!
Author's Note: I heard that Roger Craig Smith will no longer be voicing Sonic. While he wasn't my favorite voice for Sonic, he did grew on me over the years and I'm kinda sad to see him go. I'd love if they'd bring Jason Griffith back, but they'll most likely have Ben Schwartz voice him.