The death toll rises! As the battles intensify,
and threaten a growing number of Republic
worlds, planets are left to survive on their
own. While the Shinobi struggle to fight a war
on many fronts, a series of medical stations
have been established as a lifeline for those
in need, but the facilities are easy prey for
Separatist attacks. After losing contact with
the medical station orbiting Botanic,
Espio the Chameleon, Shadow the Hedgehog and
Amy Rose are sent to investigate...
Shadow, Espio and Amy are in the cockpit of a shuttle with Shadow piloting. "That's Botanic, dead ahead" "I can't find the medical station on my scanners. Wait" Amy said in surprise. A small object appeared on the scanner "Over there". She pointed to part of the planet and they saw what looked to be a satellite orbiting the planet. It suddenly opened up and released Eggrobos which headed towards the ship "Hang on!" Shadow said before taking evasive action. "Look's like we know what happened to the medical station" Espio said right before the ship was hit. Shadow entered the atmosphere of the planet "Looks like we're doing this the hard way" he said as the back of the ship started falling apart. They put oxygen masks on "How come every time you fly, we crash?" Amy said, "It's not my fault. It's the ship!" Shadow said defensively.
Shadow directed the ship towards a mountain "Now!" he said and the three of them pulled a lever on their left side of their seats ejecting them out of the ship. A shell went around them to protect them from impact damage. The ship then crashed with the Eggrobos following behind causing them to crash as well. The shells landed and released the three of them, Amy was holding her head looking dizzy when she looked around "Where on Botanic do you think we are?". "I'm not sure. We can't just wander around aimlessly. We need a plan" Espio said. Shadow pondered "I think we should go that way" he said pointing in a random direction, "No, that doesn't seem right. I think we should go this way" Espio said. Shadow sighed "Why do I even bother? You never do things my way" "We crashed the ship your way" "Very funny". Amy saw something in the distance and rolled her eyes "If you two are done arguing, I think there's some smoke on the horizon, which means people and a way off this planet". She started walking and the other two shrugged before following her.
The three of them entered a small village full of domed houses and large metal barns. Amy saw a small field full of herbs "I don't recognise those" "They're nicknamed the herb of strength. They're very valuable in the galaxy for medicinal purposes". "This place looks deserted" Amy said curiously, "I don't think so. The crops are ready to be harvested and there are tools lying about. Something's a miss" Espio replied. Shadow walked up to one of the barns and opened the door revealing a heavily armed shuttle "This is a weird ship for farmers". Espio examined it "Perhaps someone's here to pick up the herbs". Shadow and Amy went to check inside one of the houses when they heard a noise inside. Shadow searched the house and found a trap door.
He opened it and saw two scared koalas inside, Amy saw that they were scared "It's okay. We won't hurt you" she said reassuringly when she felt something touch the back of her head. Shadow turned around and saw a red female shark holding a pistol, a male human wearing red and black shirt and trousers who was pointing his pistol at Amy's head. Behind them a large robotic suit walked in with darkened glass in front of the cockpit so no one could see inside. The shark pointed her pistol at Shadow "Kindly drop your weapons, Shinobi". Shadow saw Amy going for her lightsaber "Take it easy, Snips. We don't want any trouble".
The human chuckled "We outnumber you" with the mech adding in a robotic voice "Three on one is hardly a fight". Amy raised her head "One? You mean three on two" "We don't count children" the mech said. Espio then entered with his lightsaber out "Do you count me?". Before anything could happen, another koala wearing a blue hat entered "Stop, don't harm them. Can't you see these are Shinobi?" he said to the shark. The shark looked down at him "Need I remind you, Gardon, you already made a deal with us?" "Our deal still stands, but with the Shinobi's help, we'll be safe". Amy turned to him slowly, so the human didn't shoot her "Excuse me, but help with what?".
It was now night-time, and everyone was in a dining room sitting around a table except for the mech who stood in the corner. Everyone was eating when Gardon looked to Espio "The pirates come in and demand a portion of our crops, and if we don't give it to them, they will destroy the whole village with us in it". Espio nodded "I see your dilemma" "Yes, the herbs are the only thing we can trade. Without it, we will have no money for food, fuel, or equipment". Espio stared at him curiously "And yet you can afford to pay mercenaries", the shark gave him a bad look. "They drive a far more reasonable price than the pirates" "Why don't you just fight them yourselves?" Shadow asked, "That may be easy for you. But look at us. We are farmers, not warriors. Even with the bounty hunters' help, I fear the worst".
The shark looked curiously at Espio "Why are you here anyway, Shinobi?" "We need a ship. Ours is beyond repair, I'm afraid. I did see a nice one in the barn". The shark scoffed "That's our ride, it doesn't go anywhere without us. And right now, we're busy" "Busy extorting farmers?" Espio replied. She smirked "I don't see you offering to help". Espio paused "Shadow, Amy, come outside for a moment". The three of them left the house "We have to leave" Espio said, "What? But these people need our help" Amy replied angrily. "Believe me, Amy, I want to, but we need to report the destruction of the medical station. If we stay to long the Separatists will show up here looking for us".
Amy was about to say something when Espio interrupted her "Better they get robbed by pirates than attract the attention of Dark Oak and his horde". "Pirates! Pirates! Pirates!" they saw a small Koala child running towards them looking scared. The bounty hunters came out of the house just as the pirates arrived on Extreme Gear. "That's far enough! I'm Blade the Shark and I speak for the people of this village. State your name and business" she told them fearlessly. They suddenly heard a gasp of surprise before a familiar laughing green hedgehog suddenly walked through the group of pirates "Espio, Shadow, I can't believe you came all this way to see me". "Manic" the two Shinobi said in irritation.
Blade turned to them "You know each other", Manic chuckled "Of course we do! Tell them how far back we go, Espio" "Too far, I'm afraid". Manic walked over to him "I thought we were friends" "If you're truly interested in friendship, Manic, might I suggest you stop threatening these farmers?". Manic seemed offended by this "Threatening them? Oh! Please tell me you have not been listening to this bounty hunter scum" "Scum? We're here to help them" Blade said. Manic rolled his eyes "Oh, come now. How much are they paying you. No, wait, don't tell me. It doesn't matter. Whatever it is, I'll double it and all you have to do is step aside". he put his hand on her shoulder but she pushed it off "We don't break deals".
Manic sighed and turned to Espio "What is your stake anyway?" "All we want is a ride to the nearest Republic outpost and I'm willing to pay you handsomely for it, twice what you could make selling the herbs". Manic sarcastically nodded "Well, um, how do you plan to pay me?" "A funds transfer when we arrive". Manic sighed "We've been over this, Espio. My associates don't accept Republic rings". He was about to walk away "I'm offering a deal that will benefit us all, Manic. Don't let your greed blind you to that fact". Manic chuckled "You know, I like you, chameleon, but, um, no one leaves this planet until I get my herbs". He then looked over to the field where the herbs were and then to Gardon who was watching from the window "You should harvest those soon, old man. Before things start to die" he said menacingly before leaving with his men.
Everyone was now in a small room looking over a projection of the area "When the attack comes, it will come form two fronts, the forest to the south and the ridge to the north. You must defend both sides". A young koala wearing a yellow hat looked at the bounty hunters "But there are only four of them. How will they defend against so many pirates?". The human smirked "We've been against worse". Shadow walked up behind Espio "The farmers are right. These bounty hunters don't stand a chance". Bade looked up to him "You seem to lack confidence in our abilities, young Shinobi" "You might be good at what you do but you're in way to deep". She rolled her eyes "Says the peacekeeper who fails to keep the peace".
Espio looked at her "The rift in the galaxy is not our fault. If more worlds would stand up for themselves against the Separatists, this war would have been over long ago". She scoffed "I've seen just as many worlds afraid to stand up to the Republic, and it's certainly not badniks they're afraid of" she stared coldly at him. Shadow looked between the two of them "Leaving that subject for another time, why don't we train the villagers to help us". The young koala looked sacred by this "But we're just farmers. Why are we paying bounty hunters if we're going to end up fighting" "Hush, Muzy" Gardon told him. "Trust me. We'll have you ready" Shadow told him reassuringly.
The next day the crops where being harvested, Blade was telling the koalas to put the herbs in the barn. Shadow was standing in front of a large group of villagers holding farming tools "Alright, everyone, form up" they all just looked at each other, Shadow sighed "Divide into groups of five". The crowd again was confused, and barley moved "I told you, we're not soldiers. We don't even have weapons". Shadow walked forward "May I?" he took a stick from one of the koalas and he began spinning it around him, he then smirked "This'll do".
Espio and Blade were leaving the barn that was now full of the herbs "What happens if you need the barn as a fall-back position? It'll be difficult to squeeze the farmers in with the herbs". Blade glanced at him "There's room" "I worry that you care more for the safety of the herbs than you do for the safety of the villagers". Blade coldly turned back to him "You think I'm only worried about my profit, is that it?" "The thought had crossed my mind. Am I wrong?". Blade smirked and walked inside the barn towards her ship, she opened the main door "Take a look". Espio walked inside and saw that there were three boxes of herbs on the ship, Blade looked at him "I've already been paid. I'm supposed to protect the villagers, and that includes their livelihood". She walked away and Espio watched her before smirking.
Amy was teaching a group of young villagers how to use slingshots when not faraway the mech was cutting through a tall tree. It started falling on him and he tried to hold it "Cliff! It's too heavy!" Amy yelled as she ran towards them. She pushed him out of the way, he landed on the ground and the glass began to open "Cliff?" Amy asked slowly walking towards him. She saw inside and there was an elderly yellow animal with a white beard and wearing a cowboy hat. Cliff looked away from her looking nervous "I'm having a suit malfunction" he said timidly. He made the mech stand up and Amy smirked at him. Cliff sighed "An old man isn't very intimidating, is it?" "You don't have to look tough to be tough" she said. He hit a button on his mech which closed the glass "Thank you for the help" he said in a now robotic voice before walking away.
Shadow was teaching his group how to use the farming tools when one of them tripped and threw his towards the human who was watching. He caught it and laughed "You're using our time well, Shinobi" he said sarcastically. Muzy threw his weapon to the ground "He's right. You're wasting time teaching us how to twirl poles when you could be beating those pirates" he said angrily. Espio walked up to them "And what good would that do you? Another band of brigands would inevitably come along. Or do you intent to give away part of your crop every harvest season?". Muzy glared at him "If you make us do this, there won't be another harvest season!" he stormed off.
Blade came over and watched as the training continued when she looked up at a cliff top and saw a flash of light "There, a scout!" they all looked up and saw the human watching them before he ran away. "Hunter!" she told the human who nodded and managed to climb the cliff side effortlessly. He sees the scout getting out on Extreme Gear, Hunter took out a rifle and fired destroying the board. The scout was thrown off, quickly grabbed his pistol and fired at Hunter who activated a shied on his arm. Hunter charged forward and grabbed the scout right before snapping his neck. The others caught up "Good work" Shadow said impressed. "I know, but once he fails to report in Manic will be coming" Hunter said.
Manic was near his ship playing a board game with one of his men when a lemming walked up to him "The scout has not checked in from the village. He's long overdue". Manic smirked "Well, well. So, it looks like the Shinobi are getting involved". He stood up "At least we now know we can't take these villagers for granted. But you know what I always say, speak softly and drive a really big tank" he said as one drove up behind him.
Shadow, Espio, Blade and Hunter were speaking to each other as the villagers were running around. "The farmers are getting into position. Well, the ones who stuck around, anyway" Shadow said, Espio nodded "Very well. Turn on the fence". Shadow pressed a button on a remote which activated an electric fence around the village. They then saw a squad of pirates on Extreme Gear coming through the ridge "Positions!" Blade yelled. She took cover and started firing on them while Hunter jumped on one and killed the pilot. A group of villagers riding animals charged towards them with weapons knocking them off their boards. Hunter led the remaining pirates down a rode where Cliff and Amy were waiting. Two villagers pushed the trees down stopping the pirates. One of them got through and fired on cliff damaging his mech, he jumped out and pulled out a pistol and managed to take the pirate out in one shot "Still a great shot" he said pleased with himself.
Manic drove his tank to the edge of the cliff and fired down on the village. One shot hit near Hunter throwing him back "Hunter!" Blade yelled, she ran to him and helped him up "You'll be alright. We'll get you inside". "Everyone, fall back to the barn!" Espio ordered, Blade gave hunter to one of the villagers who took him to the barn "We'll hold them off as long as we can" she assured them. Shadow ran up the cliff and jumped on the tanks. Manic got out holding an electric staff and the two started fighting. Espio was covering Blade when a pirate that was about to shoot him was killed by a spear. He turned and saw that it was thrown by Muzy. Shadow managed to throw Manic to the edge of the cliff and he held on for dear life. The other pirates saw this and retreated. "Help me!" Manic said to Shadow, he paused "Shadow, let me call off my men". Shadow hesitantly helped him up but the tank behind him suddenly turned its cannon towards him. It fired and Shadow quickly jumped down the cliff. They all looked back up the cliff where Manic was standing as his ship flew over him. He raised his arm "This effort is no longer… profitable!" he then ran away, and the ship then flew off.
Later Gardon was speaking to the other villagers "There are crops to harvest, fields to till, huts to rebuild. Now let's get to work". The villagers did so, and Gardon then turned to the Shinobi and bounty hunters "How can I ever thank you for saving our village?". Shadow smiled "We didn't save the village. Your people did" "For the first time in my memory, my people don't have to be afraid". He walked away, Blade smiled and turned to Espio "You guys still need a ride back to the Republic?", Espio smiled "If it wouldn't be an inconvenience".