Stolen secrets! Villainous mercenary
Fleabyte was hired by Mephiles
to steal a chaos drive from the vaults of the
Shinobi Temple. After fleeing the scene of
the crime, Fleabyte hunted down and captured
Master Thunderhawk, who has a shard
which holds the secrets of the Shinobi Order.
As a Separatist fleet arrives to help the
bounty hunter, Shadow the Hedgehog races in
to cut off their escape and stop Fleabyte from
delivering the stolen drive.
Shadow was on the bridge of a cruiser watching two Egg Carriers be destroyed. Gerald entered "General, we're receiving an urgent transmission form the planet". He walked to the holo-unit where Fang and Amy were waiting. A hologram of a lemur clone who was in the middle of a battle appeared "General Shadow, our base has been overrun. There's no possibility of evacuation. Ah!" he was shot in the leg but he fired back. "They've taken General Thunderhawk and the chaos shard" an Egg pawn charged forward but he managed to push it away and shoot it. "Do you know where they've taken them?" Shadow asked, "Sorry, sir. We tried to stop them, but they left the outpost" another Egg pawn grabbed him from behind and snapped his neck. Shadow looked away as the hologram cut off before quickly turning to Gerald "We have to find out what ship Master Thunderhawk is on". They then saw the command ship beginning to flee "It's that one. Admiral, intercept them before they can jump to hyperspace. I'll ready the troops for boarding". Gerald turned to him with a confused look "Boarding? We have no boarding craft. We were prepared to land on the planet, not on another ship". "Trust me, target their hyperdrive, We don't want them getting away" the cruiser did so and managed to destroy the engines.
In one of the Egg carriers an unconscious Thunderhawk was being dragged into a cell where Fleabyte was waiting. They threw him into a beam of light which suspended him in the air". A Metorex guard activated his electric staff and hit Thunderhawk with it, the pain woke him up screaming. An Egg pawn ran in "Sir, they've damaged the engines. We can't go into hyperspace". Fleabyte began to ponder "Hmm, I wonder what the Shinobi is planning".
Shadow and Amy entered the hanger where Fang was waiting with a group of clones "I've rounded up three brigades, sir. Where are we going?" "We're going to board the Separatist frigate, rescue Master Thunderhawk and recover the chaos drive". Fang looked confused "We have no assault craft, sir. Only a couple of fighters and the Terios". Shadow glared at him which made Fang stand straight "Waiting for orders, sir". Amy turned to Shadow "And the plan is?", Shadow looked across the hanger and saw a line of walkers. Gerald then came over "I came down to see if I can be any help, General Shadow", Shadow smirked "Actually, you can. Activate those walkers, Admiral". Gerald's face dropped "You're not thinking of using those as boarding craft", Amy smiled "Well, they are pressurized", Fang nodded "And they're equipped with magnetic feet. Good call, General". "Master, you're a genius" Amy said, Gerald shook his head "Those walkers are designed for terrain, not space". "Let's go, Snips" Shadow said ignoring Gerald, Fang started directing the battalions to their walkers.
An Egg pawn turned a dial on a control console which caused electricity to pass through Thunderhawk making him scream in pain. Fleabyte stepped forward and held up the drive "Simply open the drive so I can get the information and your suffering will come to an end". The electricity stopped and Thunderhawk's head fell forward "You will never get me to unlock the chaos drive" he said weakly. "Unfortunately, I don't have time to argue with you. Hit him again full power" Fleabyte said coldly. It started up again causing Thunderhawk to scream even louder thn before. A pawn walked forward "I'm not sure how much more of this he can take". Fleabyte turned to him "Are you a medical bot?" "Uh, no, sir" "Then step back and shut up". The pawn did so "Roger, roger". Eventually Thunderhawk stopped screaming and he fell as far forward as the beam would allow. "We've lost all vital signs" the pawn controlling the machine said. Fleabyte turned to the Metorex "Check" it stepped forward and hit the body with its staff but there was no reaction. "Drop him" they did so, and a pawn checked with a scanner "He's dead" "Looks like we'll have to find another Shinobi to open the drive. Next time, I'll try a different method".
The Republic cruiser flew over the Egg carrier and dropped the three walkers onto the hull. Shadow and Amy were standing on the lead walker in space suits. They both leaped forward lightsabers ignited and began taking out the turrets that were firing on the walkers allowing them to advance.
Fleabyte was back on the bridge talking to a hologram of an angry Robotnik "When Lord Mephiles asked me to loan you the Federation fleet, he didn't say you were going to war. You've already lost four of my ships, Fleabyte. I hope you can pay for all of this". Fleabyte smirked "One authentic Shinobi drive and the chaos shard I was after. When my benefactor gets this, he will compensate you for your puny fleet". The ship shook "Sounds like the Shinobi want it back". A pawn walked up to him "The Shinobi are overwhelming our defences, sir. Should we send out reinforcements?" "No". Robotnik got even angrier "What are you doing? The Shinobi will board the ship and get the drive back. Transmit the information and close the deal immediately". Fleabyte rolled his eyes "I can't. Only a Shinobi can access the device. Fortunately, there are two on the way to help me" the transmission cut off. He turned to the bridge crew "Wipe all the frigate's memory banks and destroy every record of our mission. Initiate the self-destruct sequence and transfer all ship functions to my wrist-com. I want control of the doors, gravity generators, everything". He started walking towards a panel "Stay here and defend the bridge" "We're defending the bridge alone?" one of the pawns said in surprise. Another turned to them "Against the Shinobi? I hate this job". Fleabyte opened the panel and quickly went through it.
"Emerl!" Shadow yelled and the gizoid jumped out of one of the walkers. He went over to a hatch and used a control panel to open it and they all went inside. They were in a corridor "The bridge is this way" Shadow said as they ran through the ship. They made it to the door and the clones managed to shoot most of the badniks before Shadow or Amy could get close. There were only two pawns left "Don't shoot! I'm not the commander. He's the commander" one of them said pointing at the other. Fang shot the other one "Guess I'm the commander now" the remaining pawn said before Fang shot him as well. "Emerl, see if you can find Master Thunderhawk" Shadow said. Emerl connected to the control panel and projected a hologram of Fleabyte "One authentic Shinobi drive and the chaos shard I was after". Shadow sighed "Fang, send a squad to lock down the hanger bay and destroy the escape pods. No one gets off this ship" "Yes, sir". The ship suddenly shook "What was that?" Fang said, Shadow's commlink then activated "General Shadow, one of the engines on the carrier has just exploded. I caution you to avoid the aft section and immediately evacuate". "Not until we get what we came for" Shadow said.
Fleabyte was in a large room that and three large ship cannons at the wall. He was surrounded by badniks "Spread out! While you take on the clones, I will separate the Shinobi and lead one of them away". Fleabyte then walked out of the room.
Amy was walking through the cell bay when she opened one of them and found Thunderhawk's body "Master, I found him" Shadow ran over and saw it. Amy solemnly closed her eyes, Shadow turned to Fang "Have some men take Master Thunderhawk back to the Resolute". Amy turned to him "We might not be able to find the chaos drive in time, Master. But if it's destroyed with the ship, Robotnik won't get it either" "Maybe, but I'd rather return it to the library personally". The ship shook and the lights went out "Emerl" the gizoids eyes lit up allowing them to see "Use your torches" Fang told his men. They went through the dark corridors of the ship when they saw Fleabyte run down one of the corridors "There!" Amy said. They ran after them through the halls until they eventually entered a large room. The lights suddenly turned on revealing thehy were in one of the gun turret bays with an army of badniks, Fleabyte smirked "Welcome, Shinobi. We've been expecting you. Kill them!".
The badniks started firing and the clones returned with Shadow and Amy covering them. Shadow charged forward, Fleabyte grinned "Let's make this a bit more interesting. Lockdown" the magnets on his and the badniks' feet activated. He then pressed a button on his wrist which turned off the gravity. The clones and the Shinobi started floating. Shadow tried to get to Fleabyte while the clones began magnetizing themselves to the ceiling or the floor. Amy turned to Emerl "Emerl, find a way to turn the gravity back on" the gizoid activated his jets and tried to find a panel. One of the clones shot a pawn into a railing holding shells for the cannons knocking one of them into the air. "Check your fire. If one of those shells goes off, then it's over for all of us!" Fang said. Emerl activated the gravity causing everyone to drop to the floor except for the clones on the ceiling. Fleabyte made a run for the door and Shadow chased him but he then fired at one of the clones on the ceiling causing him to drop. Shadow stopped to save the clone and while he was distracted Amy ran past him "I'll get him, Master!" "Amy, wait! It's a trap!" the door closed behind her before she could hear. Shadow was about to cut through the door when one of the badniks accidently hit a shell causing it to explode. Parts of the room began to collapse.
Amy chased Fleabyte to a door which he stopped at "You thought you could get away?" Amy said confidently. "You're not much of a challenge, youngling. I got you right where I want you" he fired at her, but she deflected hit back into his arm causing him to groan in pain. Amy lunged forward but he dodged her attack and hit the lightsaber out of her hand. He tried to punch her, but Amy grabbed his arm and threw him to the ground "I'm not impressed". She used the Force to retrieve her lightsaber but while she was distracted Fleabyte grabbed her by the ankle and she was suddenly shocked. She screamed before falling to the floor unconscious.
Shadow used the Force to lift debris off him "General Shadow, can you hear me? Are you alright?" Shadow could hear Fang. He looked over and saw a wall of debris separating them "Yeah, I'm fine. Get back to the hanger. Find a transport but wait for us as long as you can" "We're on it, sir". Shadow activated his commlink "Amy, do you copy?" there was no answer. The ship suddenly shook again "General, the ship is too unstable. You must abandon ship!" he heard Gerald on the other end. "I don't have the chaos drive, and I seem to have misplaced my apprentice" "The ship is tearing itself apart" Gerald replied sounding annoyed. "Move off to a safe distance, Admiral, and await my signal for evacuation". Shadow cut through the door and went through the corridor were three Egg pawns saw him "You said we'd be safe back here" one of them said before running to the door.
Another raised his blaster "Come on. There's three of us and only one of him" "It won't matter" the final one said in a defeated tone. Shadow cut through the first two easily and the other went to the control panel "Sir, a Shinobi is coming. He looks very unhappy. Ah!" Shadow cut through him. Shadow entered and saw Amy inside a shielded airlock with restraints on her wrists. Shadow advanced on Fleabyte "You have nowhere left to run, bounty hunter". Two Omegas in the corners of the room suddenly raised their arms. Fleabyte raised his wrist and smirked "If I activate this, the outside airlock will open, and she will be sucked into oblivion. Do you think you can kill me and then save her before she's pulled out into space? It's a horrible way to die". Shadow stopped and stared at Amy and then deactivated his lightsaber "What do you want?" "This drive carries information I've been paid to collect. I can't unlock it, but you can. We don't have much time. Do it or she dies". Shadow looked to Amy "Don't do it, Master!" she said.
Fang and the other clones along with Emerl entered a hanger bay that had a waiting shuttle being guarded by a group of badniks. A shootout started "All units, move forward!" Fang ordered. His commlink activated "Captain, the main reactor is exposed. It will implode any moment" "Yes, sir. We're trying to make our way to the shuttle now". He turned to a lion and a tiger clone "You two find the General and help him. This carrier isn't going to last. We have to get out of here" "Yes, sir".
Shadow was now on his knees with the drive in front of him, he closed his eyes, and the drive began to hover. The slots on the top and bottom of the drive released, Fleabyte then put the crystal in the middle section before Shadow attached the three pieces together again. Fleabyte smiled as he took the drive "My employers will be pleased". Shadow opened his eyes and pulled his and Amy's lightsaber to him. He quickly took out the Omegas but Fleabyte then pressed the button on his wrist opening the airlock. Amy grabbed onto the side to save herself and Shadow opened the shield. He started getting sucked out to but tried to reach for the control panel. Fleabyte activated rockets on his boots which allowed him to fly back through the corridor. Shadow managed to press the button, closing the airlock, and saving them both. He handed Amy her lightsaber which she used to cut her restraints off.
Fleabyte made it to a balcony in the hanger talking to a hologram of Robotnik "Fleabyte, did the Shinobi cooperate with you?" "With some encouragement. I have access to the drive and all the information inside. I only have to get off this ship". Robotnik innocently smiled "Maybe you should transmit the information to me. Then I could send another ship for you" "No thanks, Doctor. I have a plan of my own to escape". He deactivated the commlink before looking down at the battle at the hanger. "Hold it right there!" he turned around and saw the two clones from earlier.
Shadow and Amy were running through a hallway "Fang, I hope you found us a ride off this bucket" "We've got to leave now, sir. The reactor's gonna blow. We cannot wait". Shadow didn't stop "You'll have to. I'm going after that bounty hunter". Amy stopped "Master, wait! We have to get to the hanger", Shadow then stopped "I can't let Fleabyte get away" "Patience!... Master". Shadow hesitated before sighing "You're right" he said before the two of them headed to the hanger. They entered and saw the rest of the clones in the shuttle, they ran but then saw Fleabyte fighting the tiger clone. They saw the clone shoot him and his body fell over the balcony and into a pile of crates. They entered the shuttle which then took off and flew next to the balcony to let the tiger clone on. He seemed to have and injured arm. "Trooper, did you get the drive?" Shadow asked as he helped him on "No, sir". "I'll get it, Master" Amy said but Shadow stopped her "No time. Fang, get us out of here". The doors to the shuttle closed as it left the hanger just before the reactor blew up taking the carrier with it. Amy looked to Shadow "Well, at least the drive was destroyed, the Separatists won't be getting it" she said looking on the bright side. Shadow however looked troubled "Fleabyte's dead, but I can still feel him". The shuttle entered the hanger of the cruiser. Amy turned to Shadow "Master, I'm sorry I let that mercenary get the upper hand". Shadow put his hand on her shoulder reassuringly "It wasn't your fault, Amy. It was mine, start to finish". The doors opened and the two of them walked out to meet with Gerald "So, did you manage to recover the chaos drive or capture the bounty hunter?". Shadow didn't look him in the eye "Um, no and no" "I see. So, the mission was your usual version of success, then?". Shadow shrugged "If by success, you mean I won, then, yes". Gerald sighed and headed back to the bridge. "So, what now?" Amy asked, "First, we get the wounded to the medical bay".