-Chapter 221-

Get Cracked

Emerald Coast

At Emerald Coast, various beachgoers were going about their day... only for things to take a terrifying turn when Akhlut emerged from the water, an intimidating expression on his face. Immediately, several people were sent fleeing for their lives before the cyberized orca, who took a moment to close his eyes and listen to the sounds with a smirk.

"Those anguished screams…" he mused aloud. "I can't help but find some satisfaction in them."

His eyes were snapped open when he heard a different kind of screaming, this one screams of joy and happiness. He turned to see several swooning, heart-eyed fangirls, both human and Mobian, gathering around him.

"This is amazing!" one cheered. "The GlacialGod himself has graced us with his presence! Oh, my God!"

Akhlut ws immediately confused, mortified, and furious at this development, as the girls – and even a few men – showered him with praise and adoration, asked him for the secret to his incredible physique, before several even began fighting and arguing with each other over who got to be his mate. Akhlut finally lost his temper, blasting them back with a psychic wave.

"SHUT UP!" he shouted. "Get away from me before I tear you apart!"

Rather than be scared off by this show of power, the fans just seemed to redouble their screams. More than a few were beginning to question his mental powers, commending him for being strong physically and mentally.

"What the hell is wrong with you people?!" Akhlut exclaimed.

Fortunately, at that moment, Eggatha came flying in on her Egg Mobile, getting between him and them.

"Alright, that's enough!" he shouted. "You heard the man, give him some space!"

"Who the hell are you?" One girl demanded.

"I-"

"That's Dr. Eggman's daughter."

"No, that's his niece."

"Oh yeah, what was her name again? Omeletta? Yolkie-Dolkie?"

"It's Eggatha," Eggatha replied.

"Thank you!"

Eggatha sighed before pulling out a megaphone. She turned it on, then set the volume for high. "Attention, all beach-goers! Emerald Coast has been temporarily seized for official Robotnik Empire business for the rest of the day. Unless you want to be captured, cyberized, or killed, please vacate the premises immediately! We apologize for the inconvenience, and hope you have a nice day."

This had the exact opposite effect she hoped.

"We're not going anywhere, you little peanut-head!" One girl snapped.

Eggatha gritted her teeth. "Peanut?"

Eggatha and Akhlut watched as the fangirls talked and acted like idiots, becoming increasingly angry and annoyed the longer it went on. Their discussions spiraled from being angry at Eggatha for "coming between" them and Akhlut to wondering if she was his adopted kid and going on about how "strong and sensitive" he was. Finally, they snapped, unleashing a barrage of psychic energy and blaster fire at the girls.

"Remember, I gave you the chance to just leave!" Eggatha snapped. "Now beat it, bitches!"

Akhlut just roared, giving into his primal instincts as the beach goers finally ran for the hills. Even so, one particularly airheaded fan paused long enough to wave at Akhlut.

"Call me!" she urged before being sent running by a warning shot from Eggatha.

By the end of it all, both villains were out of breath, and completely out of patience.

"Freaking idiots…" Eggatha spat.

Ahklut turned to her, crossing his arms. "You do realize it's your fault for beginning the #GlacialGod shit in the first place, right?"

"Yeah…" Eggatha nodded. "That one's on me.

-X-

Meanwhile, Sonic had made it to Emerald Coast, and immediately had to step aside to avoid being trampled by the fleeing beachgoers and fangirls. After a confused blink, he followed along, until coming across Akhlut.

"Sooooo... what was that all about?" he asked.

"You don't want to know," Akhlut replied.

"Seriously, you don't," Eggatha agreed.

Sonic did a double take, his jaw dropping when he realized which Robotnik was sitting in the pilot's seat of the Egg Mobile. "Eggatha!?"

"Hi Sonic!" Eggatha waved. "Long time, no see. I take it you all enjoyed my little Flickee posts?"

"Some more than others. Honestly, I'm surprised he hasn't splattered you all over Robotropolis."

"Not from lack of trying." Akhlut admitted bluntly.

"Yeah…" Eggatha rubbed the back of her head awkwardly. "I admit, this joke got way out of hand, way too quickly. But that's what we're here for. I think beating Mobius biggest hero 50 shades of black and blue, humiliating the Freedom Fighters, and the SSPD should fix your reputation, wouldn't you agree, Akhlut?"

Akhlut grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Oh yes…"

Sonic gasped before scowling. "That's what all this is about? You attacked Station Square and hurt the Donut Lord just so you could get Akhlut's villain cred back?!"

"That, and he wanted a rematch for what happened during the Egg Carrier retrieval mission," Eggatha tacked on.

"And this time, things will be different, hedgehog," Akhlut swore. "I'm not the same orca you faced in Meropis. This time, I'm going to win, and splatter you all over Robotropolis."

Sonic smirked. "Fine. But could you keep your clothes on when you do it? I know your fans would probably think it'd be hot, but…"

That set Akhlut off. As he charged, Eggatha immediately got out of the blast zone, getting her camera ready and live-streaming the brawl on Flickee. Much to Sonic's surprise, despite being on dry land, Akhlut was putting up a much better fight than before, matching him blow for blow. He jumped back, focusing and entering bullet-time before charging forward at full speed, planning to attack him from behind… only to get another shock when Akhlut, despite everything else seemingly frozen around them, slowly turned his head to face him and knocked him on his back with a clothesline. He was on his feet quickly, landing a few Homing Attacks only to be caught in a green halo, Akhlut's outstretched hand glowing.

"Gotcha!" he declared before blasting Sonic back and into the sand. Sonic got to his feet, spitting out sand.

"What the…?" was all he managed before Akhlut grabbed him by the collar, lifting him up so they were eye to eye.

"You're fast, hedgehog," he noted. "But not even you can outrun the speed of thought, and as I told you before, I'm no muscle headed brute."

"What the hell's going on?!" Sonic demanded. "You weren't this strong the last time we fought!"

"That's because I've been training, you imbecile," Akhlut retorted. "All day, every day. From the moment I woke up after you trounced me in Meropis to now. What do you think I've been doing for the past few months, sitting around in a fish tank all day?"

"Well, considering what Eggman usually does…yes."

That just got him thrown into a rock with a loud crash.

"Honestly, I'm grateful. Before we faced off, I hadn't had a proper challenge in years. I'd grown sloppy. Soft. Arrogant. And weak. I knew I had to fix this problem before we faced each other again. So, I left Robotropolis and wandered the oceans, training and meditating until I'd honed my body and mind, not only regaining my former glory, but surpassing it!"

"Glad to hear I could help," Sonic wheezed, wincing in pain. "Ow…"

"You have. You've set me back on the proper path and given me something I haven't had in a very long time: a reason to grow stronger." His jewel glowed as he assumed a combat stance.

"In gratitude, I bestow you the Orca Pod's highest honor and greatest gift..." he smiled savagely. "A warrior's death."

Sonic smiled awkwardly. "Can I return it and get a Chiga Pet (1) instead?"

"No."

The two clashed once more.

Station Square

Meanwhile, the rest of the Freedom Fighters battled Kage and his Egg Troopers. Though the dingo had an advantage in numbers, the heroes' better skill and equipment allowed them to be evenly matched. However, things took a dark turn when an especially jittery Egg Trooper tried to shoot Hope in the back, only for Kat's bat to smash his blaster and break his hand. Kat turned on the Egg Trooper, bat in hand.

"Attack from behind, will ya-?!" Kat cut herself off as she saw the trooper was on his feet, clasping his hands in a begging position.

"No, please!" he pleaded. "I have a family! I'm only doing this because Robotnik captured and cyberized me! I'm begging you, don't kill me!"

Both Hope and Kat were understandably horrified by this turn of events, the latter dropping her bat in an attempt to try and soothe the Egg Soldier. However, before the girls had a chance to try and clear up what they could only pray was a misunderstanding, Kage locked eyes on his cowering subordinate. The soldier began sparking with crimson electricity as the dingo approached.

"You spineless worm!" he shouted. "Begging for your life like you have no dignity… now, get up and kill those brats, or get cracked!"

The Trooper froze in horror and almost immediately picked up his broken weapon. With tears in his eyes, he rushed at the two, Kat quickly getting between him and Hope while futilely trying to calm him.

"Stop this!" Kat shouted, blocking the soldier's desperate bludgeoning attempts with her arms while continuing to retreat with Hope. "I'm not going to fight you! Just drop your weapon and I promise nothing will happen to you!"

"I don't have a choice! Please, just give up! This only ends one way!"

Finally, Kat grabbed his arms, reluctantly throwing him to the ground and knocking him out before turning at Kage. Her hair began glowing as she ripped her bracers off, flaring with fiery chaos energy before charging at the vile dingo in a rage. He managed to evade, if barely.

"Cyberization; never fight crazy empowered humans without it," he said in mild relief. As he jumped back, he pointed to Kat. "All of you! Kathryn Winters is your priority target! Take her down!"

Much to his surprise and anger, two people stepped back.

"What!? No way!" one objected.

"Sir, are you out of your damned mind!?" another added.

"I'm giving you an Aurora-damned order is what I am!" Kage snapped.

"That's 'Wild' Kat Winters! She's a freaking psycho!"

Kat winced a bit, realizing just how infamous she had become.

"She's the one who got me exiled from the Dingo Regime!" Kage shrieked.

"I don't care if she was Abyss the Squid!" the first insisted. "If you think we're gonna throw our lives away fighting 'Wild' Kat Winters in a bloodrage for your daddy issues, then you're- ACK!"

Kage pressed part of his index finger with his thumb, like he's triggering a detonator, causing the Troopers to begin sparking like the other one, only more violently, grabbing everyone's attention.

"What the…!?" Hope gasped.

"Oh Aurora…!" the second soldier gasped. "No, Captain, please…!"

"SHUT UP!" Kage roared. "I gave you express bloody orders to slaughter that little bitch like the filthy animal she is!"

"We will! We swear! Just turn off the…!"

"I said SHUT UP!" Kage kicked the trooper in the face, breaking his goggles, revealing a heavily damaged cybernetic eye.

"No! Nonononono...!" the second pleaded before being grabbed by the scruff of his neck.

"You disobeyed a direct order…" He walked by the downed trooper and grabbed him too. "Insulted a superior officer… and attempted desertion!"

"We're sorry!" one pleaded. "We're sorry! Dammit, we're sorry!"

"We'll do whatever you want!" the other added. "Just please don't…!"

"TOO LATE!" Kage roared. "You know what happens to filthy, chickenshit cowards like you!" He bodily threw the Troopers at Kat. "They get cracked!"

Kage performed the detonation motion with both hands. Kat could do nothing but watch and brace herself as the Egg Troopers began to spark and glow brighter, screaming in pain and terror. Sensing what was about to happen, Bunnie used her Extendo-Arm to pull Kat out of the way, and everyone, Freedom Fighters and Egg Troopers alike, stood in horror as the Egg Troopers exploded in a big ball of fire. As the smoke and dust cleared, a helmet flew out and landed near Kage's feet. The dingo looked down at the helmet in contempt.

"Idiots..." he spat before turning to address the rest of the Troopers. "Listen up, you useless, shit-eating, pissants! I'm only gonna say this once, so dig the corn out of your ears and pay attention! I will tolerate no insubordination! no surrender! And no quarter! You so much as even think about it, THIS will happen to you! THIS is your punishment! THIS is your example! So unless you want THIS to happen to you…" He stamped down on the helmet, crushing it like an empty soda can. "You'll shut your mouth-holes, follow your orders, and you. Will. LIKE IT! Do I make myself clear!?"

"Sir, yes sir!" they all intoned.

"I can't hear you!"

"SIR, YES SIR!"

"Good answer!" Kage declared. "Now get out there and KILL. THEM. ALL!"

With that, the Egg Troopers resumed their assault with renewed gusto, throwing themselves into the fray with no regard for their safety or those of their comrades. The Freedom Fighters were quickly overwhelmed as they tried to stop them, a task made near-impossible without killing them. Kat and Hope were still trying to process what happened, the horror overwhelming them.

"Eggman… he put explosives in their cybernetics," Hope realized. "Kage set them off… they begged for their lives, and he slaughtered them! By Aurora…"

She let out a choked sound, a hand going to her mouth. "Kat… I think I'm gonna be sick…"

"Me too, Hope…" Kat agreed, just trying to keep the soldiers away from the pair, her glow long since faded. "This… Aurora, this is all my worst nightmares at once…"

Seeing a moment of weakness in the two girls, Kage grinned maliciously. He began approaching them, claws at the ready to rip them both apart. Before he could get to them, a fist slammed into his face, knocking him into the wall. Hope and Kat jumped, looking up to see Knuckles stand before him.

"You want a fight, Kage, focus on me," the Echidna informed him before turning to Hope and Kat. "Get outta here. I've got this heartless mutt."

Neither of them argued, Kat practically pulling Hope onto her back before taking off towards the coast, leaving Knuckles to face off against the deranged Dingo.

Author's Note:

(1): Mobian Chia Pet.

Oh damn! Shit have definitely hit the fan... and there's more to come.

Please R&R. Until next time!