Sonic's Chaos

Chapter 3: Place Your Bets


Robotnik gazed in awe at his latest creation; it was everything he had been trying to achieve and more. Using the sample of Sonic's DNA, he managed to create a biological clone; however, through the use of technological enhancements, he had improved several key factors such as its speed, accuracy, strength and durability. This made the clone a cyborg, as many part of the body such as the eyes had been tampered with while its arms and legs had been replaced fully by machinery. As well as this, an emotional inhibitor was installed to limit Sonic's good personality traits and to make him more susceptible to his master's demands.

"My new creation," Robotnik marvelled, "Designed to destroy your meddlesome counterpart. When you wake, Metal Sonic, you have only one goal – bring Sonic the Hedgehog to his knees!"

Metal Sonic's red pupils glowed in his eyes.


In Knothole, Tails was showing Sonic a new device he had made; a storage unit for the Chaos Emeralds.

"I don't know, Tails," Sonic said, scratching his chin. "Kind of looks like any crummy old cage to me."

"No, you aren't getting it!" Tails exclaimed. "This machine is only accessible to members of the Freedom Fighters. That's because it only allows access through fingerprint ID!"

"And what if I just destroyed the device itself?" Sonic asked.

"This metal is some of the strongest around!" Tails remarked confidently. "It's gonna take more than a Badnik to break through this!"

Tails used his fingerprint to unlock the cage. He placed the green Chaos Emerald inside, shutting the cage door. "Safe in our hands! Now, let's go check on the others."

The pair entered the Freedom Fighters Headquarters, finding Sally inside. Mighty was there too, half-asleep, slumped in a chair.

"Ah, I'm glad you two showed up," Sally stated. "I've been trying to think of new ways to get recruits. Advertising in Megatropolis is too dangerous since Robotnik took over." She turned to face Sonic. "Sonic, you wouldn't happen to know anyone back home who's fit to help us out?"

Sonic thought back. Before he left home, the only people he really knew were his family. That was the very thing that inspired him to travel the world in the first place.

"No one but a couple of old hedgehogs!" Sonic joked. The conversation seemed to wake Mighty up a little.

"Hey, you could always try the Chaotix..." he said, slurring his words a little.

Tails and Sally gave each other a sceptical look.

"The Chaotix?" Sonic implored. "Who are they?"

Tails sighed. "Chaotix Detective Agency, their base of operations is in a rough town nearby. In all honesty, they're good at their work -"

Sally interfered. "Oh, come on, Tails! Those guys go in debt every other week."

Mighty was a little more alert, joining in on the conversation. "Yeah, well who isn't nowadays? Anyway, it's only because Vector's so willing to do free work." He stood up, joining the other three. "Let's face it, those guys have some solid investigation skills, whether they're in debt or not. Think of the possibilities if they were part of our team, huh?"

Sally sighed, feeling like she was scraping the bottom of the barrel. "Fine. You'll have to lead the way, Mighty."


The gang entered a run-down town, building dilapidated, streets in dire condition. Mighty led Sonic, Tails and Sally to a small office, headed by a flickering neon sign: "Chaotix Detective Agency". Sally looked unpleased.

"Is this seriously their base?"

Mighty shrugged. "It's a little worse off than the last time I was here, but hey, these are difficult times." He knocked at the door. A few seconds later, it swung open. The team were greeted by a crocodile. He took his headphones off and patted Mighty on the arm.

"Mighty! Good to see ya again! Hey, who've you brought with you today?"

Mighty introduced the others. "This is Sonic, Tails and Princess Sally. We've come asking for your co-operation."

Vector gasped. "Wow, the princess?! What you doing with these losers?"

Sally was quick to move on. "Well, I'm not exactly the princess anymore. Can we come in?"

The team were led inside, where they met a chameleon, brooding over paperwork, and a bee, buzzing around aimlessly. The chameleon looked up.

"Mighty. Long time, no see."

"Good to see you, Espio," Mighty said. "Charmie, how you doing?"

The bee stopped in mid-air. "Mighty!" he exclaimed joyously. Vector stepped past to talk to his peers.

"These guys say they have work for us!" Vector announced. Espio stood up to talk to them.

"What can we do for you?" he asked, coming across as a lot more serious than his co-workers.

"We were hoping you boys could help us out," Sally declared. "Since Robotnik took over, we've desperately been trying to reclaim control of the old Kingdom. With your investigative and espionage skills, we figured you might be a useful asset to our rebellion."

"Sounds pretty dangerous," Espio replied nonchalantly. "What is it we'd be doing, exactly?"

Tails took over for this one. "We think Robotnik's hunting down the Chaos Emeralds. We already found one of them at a chemical plant, so it's likely he has a couple of others at least, if not all of them."

"Chaos Emeralds?" Vector chimed in. "Aren't they a myth?"

"They're very real," Sally replied. "All seven used to be stored in the castle's dungeon, but when Robotnik came, we scattered them."

"You still haven't answered my question," Espio stated. "What is it you'd want us to do?"

"Help us find the others," Sally responded, not put off by how forward Espio was being. Espio turned to look at his teammates.

"Okay, we'll have a look for your Emeralds," Espio agreed. "But let's talk about payment. This -"

"Ah, come on, Espio!" Vector cut him mid-sentence. "This is the Princess we're talking about! Plus, Mighty's an old friend; we can take this for free!"

Espio sighed as the lights in their office flickered. "If you insist, Vector."

"Surely saving the world must matter more than making a bit of cash?" Sonic had noticed Espio's coldness. This seemed to put him in his place.

"Just wondering when we were gonna start taking paid work..." Espio muttered.

Vector chuckled, slapping his partner on the back. "Don't worry about ol' grumpy here! We'd be happy to take this on!"

Espio wasn't quite finished, stopping the others as they were about to leave. "Wait – surely, you must have some way of finding the Emeralds? You can't expect us to find them without a lead?"

Tails quickly replied. "I'm currently working on refining a Chaos Emerald Detector. Using the one Emerald we already have, we should be able to locate the others more accurately. Once we pick up a signal, we'll give you a call!"

The gang left. Mighty turned to Sally, "See? I told you we could count on 'em!"

Sally still wasn't quite convinced. "The only one who really seemed like he knew what he was doing was Espio; as for the others, I'm not so sure."

Sonic tried to be more optimistic. "Well, look at it this way – the Freedom Fighters have three more recruits!"


The Chaotix were called to Knothole the following day. Once they arrived, the Freedom Fighters convened at their headquarters. Tails headed the meeting.

"Thanks to some extra work on my Chaos Emerald Detector, I've managed to narrow down the locations of two other Emeralds; both in Robotropolis, or Megatropolis as it used to be called."

Uncertainty swept the room. "Well, how are we gonna get in there?" Amy asked.

"Don't give up yet. One Emerald is supposedly located in the city's Casino, meaning it's out of enemy hands. However, I'm not sure of the other Emerald's location; it doesn't show up on old maps of the city."

"So, what's the plan?" Espio questioned. Sally stepped up.

"How about this – Mighty and Ray can go with the Chaotix to look around the Casino. Me, Sonic, Tails and Amy can snoop around the city to narrow down the other Emerald's location." She paused, waiting for a response. "All clear?"

The group nodded in unison. As they prepared to leave, Sonic took this opportunity to ask Sally about Robotropolis. "So, what's the deal with Robotropolis?"

Sally looked solemn. "Megatropolis was the largest population centre around these parts. It was technologically advanced, showed real promise. But when Robotnik invaded, he captured the city. Now, it's like his own miniature kingdom; Robotropolis."

Sonic tried to cheer Sally up. "Once we get these Chaos Emeralds, we'll turn Megatropolis back to the way it was!"

Sally smiled, before going back to the matter at hand. "Okay, people; you all ready?"

The teams sprinted to Robotropolis, leaving Bunnie Rabbot, Antoine and Rover to defend the Emerald.


The Chaotix, now featuring Ray and Mighty, entered the Casino. The place was absolutely huge; it seemed that Robotnik had done some renovating since he took over.

"We'll be lucky if we get anywhere close to the Emerald!" Mighty remarked. "Look at the size of this place!"

"Don't let it take your focus off the mission," Espio said, calmly. "We'll find that Emerald. Charmie, it would help if you flew up and looked; you'd see better from up there."

Charmie nodded. "You got it!" His wings buzzed as he took up off the ground. He squinted hard, looking for anything resembling an Emerald. His eyes were drawn to the bar; he saw a weasel carrying a bag, something glimmering from inside of it. Charmie floated back down.

"Well, did ya see anything?" Ray asked.

"I think there might be something at the bar!" Charmie whispered. "Come on, let's go look!"

He sped off, leaving the rest of the group to run after him. When they caught up, they found the weasel at the bar, spinning his revolver on the end of his finger. Espio recognised him instantly, immediately blending in with the environment as to not be seen. As the other Chaotix approached, the weasel raised the brim of his hat.

"Well, I'll be damned," he spoke. "If it ain't the Chaotix. I thought you boys were long gone." He looked at Ray, then Mighty. "And would ya look at that! You boys got some new friends. Finally ditched Espio, huh?"

"I'm not interested in any old dirt between you and Espio, Fang," Vector said. "So, what you doing nowadays?"

Fang scoffed. "Me? I've only just found a one-way ticket to a life of luxury!" He reached into the bag, pulling out the Chaos Emerald. Espio's eyes widened as he remained unseen. "You ever seen a diamond this big? I'll never have to hunt for treasure again!"

Fang pocketed the Emerald. Vector played it cool. "How much would you take for it?" the crocodile asked. Fang laughed, slapping his knee.

"As if I'm gonna sell it to you boys, after all the grief you've given me! I suspect you think I stole it, huh?"

Mighty stepped up. "Well, if you won't let us buy it off you, we'll play for it. A game of Go Fish. If you win, you keep the diamond. Sound fair?"

Fang simmered down. He holstered his revolver and extended his hand. "Deal."

Mighty shook it as Fang smirked. "Okay boys, what we waitin' for? Let's play!"


Sonic, Tails, Sally and Amy searched the city, ducking into alleyways when they heard the sound of patrolling Badniks. Sonic checked on Tails.

"Tails, how's the locator? Is it showing anywhere near here?"

Tails looked down at the screen. It seemed that the location was within view. "Yeah, it should be right over that way" he said, pointing in the direction shown on the locator. The gang looked. Their eyes met a huge, brutalist tower, extending high into the sky.

"This definitely was not here before..." Sally groaned. As they looked up, taking in the scale of the building, they saw a familiar sight; Robotnik's face, built using flashing neon lights, was plastered on the front of the building, recognisable by the iconic moustache.

"Oh no..." Tails murmured. "This isn't good."

Sonic was surprised at his arch-nemesis' accomplishment, but he didn't let it get to him. "Oh, come on! Ro-butt-nik's probably cooped up in there in his stripy pyjamas, fast asleep. He won't even notice the thing's gone!" He sped off towards the building, the other reluctantly following.

A screen showed Sonic's team approaching the tower, soon smashed by Robotnik's fist, shaking with rage.

"That insolent worm!" he yelled, "Thinking he can break in to my city! I'll make an example of him!"


Back in the casino, Ray, Mighty, Vector and Fang were coming to the end of the game. Their card pile ran low, and Fang had more houses of cards than any of the others. He sniggered to himself as he saw the look of defeat on the others' face. As the final card was drawn, Fang won the game.

"Well then, boys, looks like you won't be getting that diamond!" he chuckled. "It's only fair, right? I mean, I found the thing!"

As Fang went on a lengthy monologue about his treasure-hunting skills, Espio snuck up behind. He reached his hand into the sack at Fang's feet, pulling the blue Emerald out before departing.

"Oh well! Bad luck, boys, looks like I'll be taking this home!" Fang reached for the Emerald, only to find nothing. Looking up in confusion, he saw Espio materialise next to the other Chaotix members, Emerald in hand. Fang was enraged. "Why, you!" he spoke, voice shaking, pointing his finger at the chameleon. "I should'a known you'd be skulking around somewhere! I'm not lettin' ya get away this time, sucker!"

Fang drew his weapon, but was forced to duck as Espio was already throwing Shurikens, narrowly missing the weasel's head. As they burst out of the casino, a voice spoke over Robotropolis' intercom.

"All Badniks to the main entrance of Robotnik Tower! I repeat, all Badniks to the main entrance of Robotnik Tower!"

Soon, Sonic and the gang came screeching around the corner, motioning for the Chaotix to run. Seconds later, an army of robots appeared in hot pursuit of the hedgehog. The team ran down the highway as swarms of Badniks chased them, on foot and on land. Sonic realised that their whole mission could be a failure if the Badniks caught the rest of the Freedom Fighters, along with the Emerald. He knew deep down that Robotnik only wanted him. He turned to face Sally.

"You go on with the others! I'll fight these off!"

Sally did a double take "What?! Are you crazy?"

"If they catch you, the Freedom Fighters will have no one left! Now go!"

Before Sally could respond, Sonic had already turned 180 degrees, shredding through the Badniks. Sally could do nothing but lead the rest of the Fighters out of the city, looking back to see if Sonic would return, only to see a wall of metal machines.

Robotnik laughed to himself as he heard the sound of feet dragging against the floor. He turned in his chair to see Sonic, his truest enemy, being dragged in by two Badniks.

"Throw him in the cell!" Robotnik ordered, pointing at a small, electrified cage built into the wall of his lair. The Badniks threw a bruised and beaten Sonic in. Sonic passed out to the sound of Robotnik's maniacal laugh.


At Knothole, the blue Emerald was stored inside the Emerald Container. Despite their mission objective being achieved, there was no sense of celebration in the community, but a sense of defeat. Sonic, while new, was a symbol of hope in the Freedom Fighters. His can-do attitude enabled them to catch the first Chaos Emerald to begin with. Without him, the future looked a little more bleak.