Sonic, Tails, Sally, Powell and the MPs and Constables loaded up into a small collection of vehicles: three M813 five-ton cargo trucks – including one built as a gun truck – a Cadillac Gage V-100 armored car and an M2A2 Bradley APC. They then moved on out. Sonic, Tails and Sally rode in the gun truck along with two MPs and two Constables.
"So like, who are you guys with?" asked Sonic.
"We're part of the Royal Mobian Constabulary, the national military state police force of Mobius," said an Uzi-wielding Constable.
"I mean, I've heard of the Constabulary before, but I never saw you cats dressed like that."
"This is our Deployment uniform. We wear these when we're out on tac calls. Most Mobians only see us in our patrol uniforms."
"I gotcha." Sonic turned to Sally. "So Sal, how'd ya manage to get outta Emerald City without gettin' caught by Robuttnik's forces?"
"I was on vacation in Emerald Hill Zone when I got a call from my parents telling me to stay away from Emerald City," replied Sally. "I could tell by the tone in their voices that this was really serious, so I called upon some members of the Constabulary to follow me into Knothole. Usually, the job of protecting me falls upon my Royal Protection Officers, but I got overconfident and left them behind. As for you, I'm curious about how you rescued my parents."
"So, it's like this: Tails restored this plane, and he helped me blow up Robuttnik's Wing Fortress, but that wasn't the only ace he had up his sleeve. We landed on Angel Island, and after goin' through some heavy stuff – even time travel – we discovered this space station called the Death Egg, where the King and Queen were bein' held. I had Tails bail 'em out while I planted explosives around the joint. In the process, we got the Master Emerald back."
"Wait…you two know about the Master Emerald?"
"We do," said Tails. "We also met an echidna named Knuckles who serves as its guardian."
Sally stroked her chin. "That's odd. I thought all the echidnas were extinct."
"Not this cat," said Sonic.
"Based on what you two have told me, you seem like you know what you're…"
"Enemy sighted at 2 o'clock!" exclaimed an MP.
Sure enough, a few Buzz Bombers attempted to attack the convoy, but the MP and a Constable wiped them out with the gun truck's two twin .50-cal Browning MG mounts. However, those weren't the only threats that had to be dealt with, for a bunch of SWATbots emerged from cover.
"I'll get these robo-creeps!" Sonic stepped over the gun truck's armored body.
"Sonic, get back here!" said Sally. "I don't want you getting killed!"
"Hey, I ain't been killed yet!"
Sonic hopped out of the gun truck, while Sally sighed in resignation. Meanwhile, bedlam reared its ugly head as more Badniks attempted to attack the convoy. Fortunately, none of them were a match for whatever guns the CAFM was packing. Even the 9mm Uzis and MP5s that the Constables packed were enough of a match for them, and with Sonic mopping up whatever they missed and Tails providing additional fire support with an EEA-4 blaster pistol that he stole back in Chemical Plant Zone, the convoy seemed like it would make it through all right. However, there was also an unexpected threat to contend with…
"Enemy armor at 1 o'clock!" exclaimed an MP.
Sonic's Hedgehog Sense alerted him to it, too: an oblong, dark gray hovering tank with a centrally-mounted turret and what appeared to be two missile launchers mounted atop the turret.
"I'll distract 'em!" shouted Sonic. "You guys see what ya can do!"
Sonic charged straight at the hovertank. Much to his good fortune, the machine concentrated its fire on him. Even better, all of its shots missed. He jumped up and aimed a Homing Attack at the top of the turret, thereby breaking both of the missile launchers. However, his Hedgehog Sense told him to jump aside, and he did so as the Bradley fired a TOW missile at the hovertank, which struck it in the spot where the turret met the hull and put it out of action.
"WHOO HOO!" Sonic pumped his fists before returning to the gun truck.
"How was that?" said Sonic.
Sally slapped Sonic. "You know, I ought to kick your commoner butt right now for daring to expose yourself to danger like that!"
Sonic retained his smile. "What? It ain't like this is my first rock concert!"
Sally crossed her arms. "Just stay in the truck for the rest of the journey!"
"Or what?" Sonic raised his eyebrows.
"Seriously, I'm glad you rescued my parents, but you're such an ill-mannered twit!" Sally turned to Tails. "Tails, how do you even put up with this guy?"
"I know Sonic can be headstrong, but deep down inside, he really is a good guy who would do anything for the people he cares about," said Tails. "If I hadn't found him, I probably would've had no friends."
Sally stroked her chin. "Well, I guess anyone who saved my parents can't be all that bad. I'll put up with you…for now."
Sonic put a hand on Sally's shoulder. "I'm glad ya chose to see things our way!"
Sally simply rolled her eyes.
Eventually, the motley little resistance group reached Volcano Valley Zone, located in the northwestern corner of Mobius, that is, northeast of the Great Forest. There didn't appear to be anything here but a bunch of lava fields and rock formations, so once the convoy came to a stop, Sonic called out:
"Hey, whoever's out there, come on out! We promise we ain't bad guys or nothin'!"
For a moment, there was silence. Then…
"Cloud!" said a mysterious male voice.
"Rain!" replied Powell.
Shortly thereafter, the resistance group that was rumored to be hiding here showed themselves. Unlike the MPs or the Constables, they were wearing ERDL BDUs, and their helmets had matching ERDL camo covers.
"Damn, we didn't think there was anybody else still fightin' out there!" said a brown bulldog. "Name's Bailey…Gunnery Sergeant Malcolm Bailey, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines!"
"I'm Staff Sergeant Edgar Powell, 7th Military Police Brigade. We brought somebody you might be interested in…"
Sally stepped forward. Almost immediately, the Marines snapped to attention and saluted.
"At ease, Marines," said Sally.
The Marines stopped saluting, but remained standing at attention.
"So, Your Highness, how'd ya manage to get outta Emerald City without gettin' caught?" asked Bailey.
"Long story short, I wasn't in Emerald City at the time. Now, I'd like to introduce you to the men who rescued the King and Queen. Sonic and Tails, please step forward."
Sonic and Tails did so.
"So you're the guys who rescued King and Queen Acorn?" said Bailey. "But you're just a coupla kids!"
"Hey Sarge, Sal wouldn't have agreed to bring us along if we weren't who we claimed to be, eh?" said Sonic.
Bailey stroked his chin. "That's a good point. Still, I'd like to see just what ya got."
Sonic turned to Tails. "Tails, let's show these leathernecks what we got!"
"Right!"
Sonic and Tails ran a few laps around the vehicles and the rest of the resistance. By the time they were done, the Marines were cheering.
"That was impressive!" said Bailey. "You two just might have the right stuff to become Marines!"
"Thanks, but we pass!" said Sonic. "I mean, we do well enough on our own, but we appreciate the offer!"
"Ya mean you took on those robots yourself? Tell us more!"
Sonic proceeded to tell Bailey everything, from how he defeated Robotnik multiple times – including the battle at the Royal Palace – and then proceeded to defeat the Doctor a few more times with Tails and several more times after that on Angel Island.
"…and here we are now!" said Sonic.
"Impressive!" said Bailey. "That reminds me: there's a mine south of Rail Canyon Zone that Robotnik's been usin' to mine raw materials for his robots. Problem is, we've tried several times to take the mine, and now we're down to one Abrams!"
Sonic pointed his index finger at Bailey. "Then it looks like Tails and I are gonna have to show you cats how it's done!"
Bailey stroked his chin. "As crazy as I think ya are, that sounds like it's worth tryin' out, more so since ya found some assistance for us. Marines, let's hit it!"
"OORAH!" said the Marines.
"OK, here's what we do…" said Sonic.
Criticism is gold. Negativity and nitpicking are pyrite.
