Eggman Empire Downfall Episode 2: Late Night Mission Before the Big One

Late in the night at the perimeter of Megaopolis and close to the Egg Dome, Sonic, Eve, and the rest of the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix are fast asleep to wait for tomorrow to come for the final outcome of defeating Dr. Eggman once and for all. Sonic and Eve are fast asleep until they hear a tapping sound. The two begin to stir as they wake up from their sleep. Sonic even lets out a snort. They continue to hear two more taps.

Eve yawns a little and says, "I'm awake."

"What's with all the rackets?" Sonic asks, and yawns.

The two hedgehogs turn their heads with tired eyes to see Shadow outside of the protective shield.

"Wake up, you two. We need to talk," Shadow calmly says.

Eve yawns, "Shadow? Wha-What are you doing here?"

Sonic also yawns and walks over as Eve gets up to talk to her brother.

Sonic says as he places his hand on the shield, "Evening, faker. Come to join the invasion?"

"You still call him that?" Eve asks.

"Sometimes," Sonic says.

Shadow however says, "Other way around, actually. Rouge and I are on a support mission. I thought you'd want in."

"A support mission?" Eve asks.

"Yes," Shadow answers.

"I see. I'm guessing this is the mission Commander Tower needed you to go on. Sonic and I can wake up the others and…" Eve says.

But Shadow says, "No. It's a small surgical strike. This is simply a courtesy call."

"By exclusive invitation only, huh? We can work with that," Sonic says.

"Be there in a sec," Eve says.

With that, Sonic spin dashes as he burrows into the ground and comes out on the other side of the shield. Eve goes in the same hole and pops out on the other end.

"Alright! So where's the party?" Sonic asks.

"Rouge is waiting at the rendezvous point three clicks to the northeast. It's a large converted observatory," Shadow answers.

"Cool! Race ya!" Sonic says.

He then runs off with top speed.

Eve shouts, "Hey! No fair starting ahead of us!"

Eve then runs off after them.

Shadow looks ahead and shows a bit of a scowl expression with Sonic, but huffs with a smile when Eve acts kind of the same way. Shadow then speeds after them with his hover shoes.

Already ahead, Sonic and Eve are racing against each other at top speed. Each planning to beat the other in this race.

"If I win, you buy me some chili dogs," Sonic says.

"You won't win," Eve says.

Sonic and Eve continue to use their super speed and soon are able to see Rouge the bat. When they reach her, they both come to a complete stop.

"Hi Rouge," Eve says, waving her hand.

"Hello Eve. Hi Sonic. Glad to see you two are on board," Rouge says.

"We wouldn't miss any kind of adventure," Sonic says.

Eve turns to see the observatory, "So this is the telescope that Shadow told us about."

"Leave it to the doc to turn a telescope into a killer-ray-shooting-thing," Sonic says.

"No kidding. He can even make a train dangerous," Eve says.

"A high-grade one at that. As best as I can tell, this thing will vaporize your force field, your camp, and half of the Egg Dome itself," Rouge says.

"Wait, so he's planning on blasting us with that thing, but we're close to the Egg Dome? And you said it could cause damage to the Dome as well?" Eve asks, worried.

"You sure? That seems a bit over the top even for Eggman," Sonic says.

Before anyone can say a word, Shadow comes in and says, "Not anymore."

"What do you mean by not anymore?" Eve asks.

"We believe the doctor is losing his last hold on reality. This is but one more piece of evidence," Shadow says.

"Nice of you to show up, get lost?" Sonic remarks.

"You had a head start," Shadow says.

Eve says, "Let's get back on the topic you just said. You're saying that he's losing his hold on reality?"

"I think you're off, Faker. Eggman's a few chips shy of a motherboard, but he's not that far gone," Sonic says.

Eve turns to Sonic, "Are you sure about that? Cause Honestly, even I've noticed something off about him."

"Like what?" Sonic asks.

"He seems more… angry than usual. Like, something in him is about ready to snap. We might need to be careful when we're around him," Eve says.

"It's okay, Eve. He can believe what he wants. Just don't underestimate him when his time comes," Shadow says.

"But Shadow, is it… true? Is Eggman really starting to lose it?" Eve asks, worried.

"It appears so," Shadow says.

Rouge then flies in the air, "Let's psychoanalyze the doctor later and take care of the doom laser, first, hmmmm?"

"The lady has a point," Sonic says.

Eve turns to the iron doors, "First, looks like we'll have to let ourselves in."

With that, Sonic, Eve, and Shadow all kick the door down as Rouge fly from close by.

"Cover me while I hack the control, guys!" Rouge says.

The minute the three hedgehogs enter the observatory, lasers begin to zap out from the guns, trying to strike them. Sonic, Eve, and Shadow begin to dodge the attacks, while Rouge is able to reach the controls with ease. Soon, the cannon begins to move to it's coordinates.

"The cannon's moving into position, Rouge," Shadow says, and punches the laser.

Rouge types on the controls, "Working on it. Keep the lasers off me."

Sonic spin dashes one of the lasers, "Way too easy!"

Eve dodges the lasers, and they are moving pretty fast, so is the cannon

"That cannon's moving along pretty quick, Rouge!" Eve says.

Rouge continues to work on the controls until the control pads are shorting out.

Rouge yelps as she covers her face, "I triggered some kind of self-destruction on the console! I can't stop the cannon!"

"Self-destruction?" Eve asks, shocked.

Eve then brings out her sword and slashes the last of the lasers Sonic and Shadow take care of the others. The three hedgehogs hurry to Rouge who is at the control panel that is completely short circuited and wrecked.

"Great! The control pads are wrecked!" Eve says.

"You're sure we can't stop it?" Sonic asks.

"Not quietly or cleanly," Rouge answers.

"Then we do neither," Shadow says.

Shadow then calls out, "Chaos Spear!"

Then throws the Chaos Spear at the rocket. Sonic spin dashes while Eve uses her sword. However, none of the attacks are working.

"What's this thing made of?" Sonic asks.

"It's strong enough to not feel a scratch," Eve says.

The group then hurries up the stairs while Rouge flies up.

"We might have a chance if you can break the coupling locks. If you break where it all joins together, we can maybe throw off the angel of the shot!" Rouge says.

Eve uses her Chaos Energy to lift them up in the air, "I can help with that."

The four then fly up to reach the coupling locks on the telescope.

"I've got the left lock-thingie!" Sonic says.

"I'll take the right," Shadow says.

Sonic and Shadow spin dash the coupling locks, and the lock falls down. However, it ends up falling to where the cannon is supposed to.

"No. We just put it at the angle to fire!" Shadow shouts in anger.

Eve groans, "This is so not going as planned."

"What do we do now?" Sonic asks.

"We might have to destroy the cannon before it has the chance to fire," Eve says.

Just then, Shadow begins to take off his inhibitors, "I'm taking off my inhibitor rings. Hopefully that'll give me enough power to divert the laser."

"Are you sure?" Eve asks.

"It may be our only solution of stopping the cannon," Shadow says.

"Take your best shot, Shadow," Eve says, taking the inhibitors.

"Good luck, Shadow," Sonic says.

Shadow then jumps on the telescope as he charges up Chaos Energy around his body. At the same time the cannon is charging up to fire.

He holds his hands out as he shouts, "CHAOS…"

"… CONTROL!" As he fires his Chaos Energy at the nozzle of the telescope.

Shadow uses as much Chaos Energy to prevent the Cannon from firing at the Freedom Fighters. Sonic, Eve, and Rouge watch as Shadow focuses on his powers with all his might. The light is so blinding that they are unable to see anything. Unknown to the group, someone in the shadows sees what is happening with the cannon and the others are too blinded by the light to notice. The being uses a red dreadlock with some claw and secretly hides a small folded paper in Eve's pocket without noticing.

Suddenly, the light disappears as the mysterious dreadlock disappears as well. Shadow feels a bit tired from using his Chaos Energy that he almost falls off the telescope. Luckily, Eve uses her Chaos Energy to prevent him from falling to the ground. She gently carries him back on the ground, and he is able to stand back on his own feet in a few seconds.

Eve helps Shadow as he asks, "Are you okay?"

"I'm. That took a lot more power than I anticipated," Shadow says.

And so, after destroying the bomb, the sun is soon beginning to rise to start a new day. Of course, that means Sonic and Eve have stayed up practically most of the night.

"Well, between the overpowered shot and Shadow's technique, the thing is officially beyond repair," Rouge says.

"Doesn't that just break your heart," Rouge says.

Eve says, "Eggman is not going to be happy when he finds out about this mess."

"You can say that again," Sonic says.

"Get some rest, you two. You have a big fight ahead of you," Shadow says.

"Not planning on stealing my spotlight, Fake?" Sonic remarks.

Eve rolls her eyes with a smile, "Oh Sonic."

Shadow says, "No. I owe you much. The least I can do is stand aside and let you finish things with the Doctor. This is your fight."

"Wow. I appreciate that, Shadow," Sonic says.

"I do hope you both will be rooting for us. We help that we'll be able to put an end to this," Eve says.

"I'm sure you will. Good luck. Sonic. You too, Eve," Shadow says.

"Okay, we'll be heading back," Eve says.

"See ya," Sonic says.

Then the two speed off back to the others and hopefully to get some sleep.

Rouge looks with a calm smile and says, "My-my-my!"

"What?" Shadow says, confused.

"Look how far your relationship has come!" Rouge says.

"Hmph. He has my respect, that's all," Shadow says.

"Of course. Far too scandalous for you and Sonic to be actual friends. Not like how you and Eve are," Rouge says.

Then smiles, "Unlike how you are with Eve. Despite everything you've been through, and the time you both go on missions, you both never seem to lose sight of that special sibling bond you both have."

Shadow simply shows a calm smile and says, "Yeah. I guess we still do."

Sometime later, Sonic and Eve reach back to see the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix are still fast asleep.

Sonic yawns, "Well, it looks like we ended up with a warm up before we have to take on Eggman."

"Yeah. I know Eggman is not going to be happy when he finds out what we did, but uh… do you think what Shadow said is true?" Eve replies.

"What he said about what?" Sonic says, confused.

Then burrows through the hole and returns inside the shield. Eve does the same. Once they're back in. They close up the hole and make their way to their sleeping bags.

"I mean about Eggman. Do you think Eggman is really starting to lose it? And if he is… will.. Will it be our fault?" Eve explains in deep concern.

"Hmm, you know… now that I think of it, Eggman seems to be a little more extreme than usual. He nearly fried some of the Legion and they're on the same side," Sonic says.

"I agree," Eve replies, sounding deeply worried.

Sonic yawns,"I don't know about you, but I'm really tired. I'm going to go to bed before our next mission. See you in the morning."

"See you in the morning," Eve says.

Eve then lays down on her bed and is about to sleep, but feels something on the left side. She digs into her pocket and pulls out a folded piece of paper. Curious, Eve unfolds the paper and sees another message on it

The message says:

I saw you and your brothers destroyed the cannon. I suspected that Dr. Eggman will not be pleased. However, you must take warning. I've noticed that he is starting to lose his view of reality. You must be careful when fighting against him. So far, he hasn't considered using the bombs, but I'm relieved of knowing that your father and grandfather weren't involved in this, otherwise, their lives will be at risk from the bombs as well. As I said in my last letter, keep this to yourself. I suspect if things have turned to the worst, you and the Guardian will become my last resort, but you're the only one that will have knowledge of this information for now. Take care, and perhaps I'll see you in the Egg Dome

Confused, Eve wonders, "A Last Resort? And is Eggman really starting to lose it? I hate having to keep this a secret, but it feels that I need to and that he'll let me know more about what's going on."

Eve then puts the paper back in her pocket and sleeps in her sleeping bag for as much time as she needs. However, a lot is going on in her mind about what this message is saying. She wonders if who she thinks it is, has been there when she and the others destroy the cannon. Anyway, if she does see him, she wonders if she should confront him or not. Eve knows that very soon, the Freedom Fighters and the Chaotix are planning to invade the Egg Dome and stop Eggman.