Chapter 107: Secret Service - Part 1

Last time on Sonic the Hedgehog, Espio and Thread had confronted each other for the first time since the attack on the then Robotropolis. After explaining that she had left Eggman's army, she accomplished her intended task, leaving Espio to question a lot of things at that moment. Now, what does the story go? Let's find out...

Starring:

Queens of Secret - Secret Service of Acorn
Rotor the Walrus - Retired Freedom Fighter
King Max - Royalty Overseer

Castle Acorn; Throne Room

*In the castle throne room, King Max was meeting with one of his scouts regarding a matter of the recently discovered Eggman facility.*

Scout: "The facility was rendered completely impenetrable due to the high grade defense grid. We got as close as the walls, but could go no further. I am sorry, your majesty."

Max: "Worry not. I do have a solution to the matter. One even Robotnik will not see coming." *Stands from his throne.*

Scout: "The Freedom Fighters, sir?"

Max: *Stops mid-pace and smiles.* "...Sort of. I will be in my chambers. No one, especially my daughter, needs to know about this conversation. You are dismissed."

Scout: "Sir!" *Leaves the throne room quickly.*

*Max stares on before turning to a bookshelf in the corner and pulling out a book, revealing a keypad behind it. Typing in a series of numbers, a hidden elevator opens, allowing him to descend to a hidden facility.*

Castle Acorn; Secret Service Training Facility

*With in the hidden facility, Thread can be seen dodging various blast shots from Egg Pawns, who's been upgraded with precise shots and better aiming. As an Egg Pawn readies a blast from behind cover, it is sliced in half by a girl holding a scythe - Clove the Pronghorn. A group of Egg Pawns gather, armed with bazookas, aimed at both Thread and Clove, but from above, Nicole and Cassia land and scatter the Egg Pawns.*

Nicole: "Queens! Gather!"

*Thread and Clove reconvene with Nicole and Cassia, covering their blind spots.*

Cassia: "Man! I knew the Egg Pawns were wimps, but this takes that fact to a whole new level!"

Clove: "Concentrate, sis. We owe it to Sonic to keep the peace while he's away." *Turns to Thread, the two exchanging a glance.* "Didn't expect to be working with you though, Thread."

Thread: "...I only owe Eggman a death sentence. Nothing more. Nothing less."

*Three Egg Vipers burst from the walls, going on the offensive immediately as they shoot their lasers at the group.*

Nicole: "Heads up! Thread! Web shield!"

*Thread conjures a barrier made of webbing, obscuring their mechs' vision.*

Nicole: "Cassia?"

Cassia: "On it!" *Starts punching away at the floor before digging under the ground with her tonfas.*

*Clove and Nicole follow behind her with Thread hopping in last once the shield was breaking. Once behind the robots, the group jump out. Cassia sends Clove at one Egg Viper, slicing it in half; Thread runs at another with her thin strings ready and slashes at it, cutting it to pieces; Nicole armed herself with a sword very similar in shape to Sally's own Sword of Acorns, made entirely of nanites, slicing through the third Egg Viper without trouble. The group get back together and pose as the trio of Egg Vipers explode in a flashy way.*

Voice in the Intercom: "Good work, girls! That was incredible!"

*The group turn and see Rotor step out of a monitor room.*

Rotor: "...But boy, you went pretty crazy on the remodeled Egg Vipers... I know these are obselete designs, but..."

Thread: "No buts about it. You sent three Vipers against some of Eggman's prior best soldiers and you get the expected results."

Nicole: "Thread, please... Ahem... How goes analysis on the data she acquired, Rotor?"

Rotor: "Pretty encrypted, as expected of Eggman. Thankfully, I was able to decipher it after some modest trial and error. And it all connects to Eggman's base east of here."

Max: "Which is what my scouts confirmed."

*The Mobians minus Thread stand at attention as Max enters the scene.*

Max: "At ease. Eggman's base is currently under lockdown and seems to be impenetrable."

Thread: "The Iron Egg Fortress is one of Eggman's stronger bases. A direct attack would be ill advised since the walls are too strong and the laser blasts would just tear through armies. Even Sonic with all his speed and strength would have a hard time getting in during lockdown."

Rotor: "And it looks like Eggman's working on some super secret projects in there. If we don't strike..."

Max: "That's where the Queens of Silence come in. As Thread says, the fortress is impenetrable through a direct attack. But what of an indirect attack?"

Clove: "I see where this is going. We strike from the shadows. Kind of your department, huh, Thread?"

*Thread just turns away while crossing her six arms.*

Cassia: "So we have to be quiet? No problem!"

Nicole: "...As long as we work together, I'm sure we'll be fine."

Max: "Before you set off... I wish to remind you that this is a covert mission. Until the defenses are down, getting spotted would be considered lethal to any one of you. And while I have been calling you 'Queens' collectively, I think it's time to give you your code names. Nicole, your body is steel yet your heart is no different from your peers. You show kindness and an admirable ability to care for others. You are hereby referred to as the 'Queen of Heart'. Thread, you are an assassin of cold precision and talent. You have a practical use with your webbing and you refuse to give up the chase. You will be called the 'Queen of Diamond'. Cassia and Clove. Your sisterly bond is no doubt unbreakable. You will protect each other and die for each other without hesitation. A true testament of your loyalty to each other. As such, you will be the 'Queens of Spade'. Now with that out of the way-"

Thread: "Where's the Club?"

*Max stops, turning an eye to Thread.*

Thread: "...Heart, Diamond, Spade... Each are suites of a playing card deck. So where is the Club?"

Max: "Ah... Yes... Rotor, can you see if she's done with her personal training?"

Rotor: "Yes, sir." *Leaves to another part of the hidden base.*

Nicole: "So it will be five members. My goodness, we have quite the crew."

Cassia: "The more the merrier! We'll toss that Eggman out of his fortress in no time at all!"

Clove: "Calm down, Cassia... First things first, we take down the security system."

Thread: "Which won't be very easy. Eggman, despite his losing streak against Sonic, does put up defenses in cases of an emergency and those defenses are among Eggman's best built projects."

Nicole: "Why doesn't he use this defense grid on other bases then?"

Thread: "Too many resources is usaully his excuse." *Leans against the wall, arms still crossed.*

Clove: "And he wonders why he loses so many times."

Max: "You three, being ex-Egg Bosses, should know better than any of us just what kind of enemy Eggman is."

Thread: "You are not wrong. Eggman may have long string of losses... But even a broken clock is right twice a day. And a guy like him is still very likely to be a threat if left unchecked."

*Cassia and Clove fall silent at that, knowing Thread was right about that. As they concluded that chat, Rotor returns, a smile on his face.*

Rotor: "Alright, everyone. Time to meet... The Queen of Club!"

*The door opened and the girls, even Thread, were shocked who stepped in. Max then began to speak.*

Max: "A queen who has the ability to negotiate her way into the position. Able to speak softly and clearly, introducing the Queen of Club... Queen Alicia Acorn."

Alicia: "Hi, girls! Hope you don't mind me joining in to your fun." *Smiles and winks before pulling out a staff that turns into a large, though weightless battle axe, energy forming the blade.*

Nicole: "Your majesty! You are joining us!?"

Alicia: "Seeing my husband and daughter take on so many responsibilities, I find myself guilty over me not contributing... So I convinced Max to let me join."

Max: "Yes... Quite the negotiator... The contents of that talk not leaving our bedroom..." *Clears his throat.* "But that aside, once you are all ready..."

*The girls look to each other before smiling.*

Thread: "The Queens of Silence are ready to give Eggman hell."

Max: "Then I leave Rotor in your care. Rotor?"

Rotor: "All communications are green. And I have a full map of Eggman's base thanks to Thread's backdoor access. I'll be leading you all once you're in."

Nicole: "Then... By your command, Club."

Alicia: "Hahaha! No no. Nicole, I may be the oldest physically here... But you are the oldest Freedom Fighter..." *Places a hand on Nicole's shoulder.* "You take charge... Heart."

*Nicole stares at Alicia before nodding.*

Nicole: "Then... Queens! Let's move!"

*The girls then ran down the hall, eager to take the battle to Eggman. Of course, they are all unaware of Eggman's absence and who currently guards the base now...*

To be continued...