Chapter 113: The Iblis Trigger - Part 4

Last time on Sonic the Hedgehog, Sally, Blaze, and Elise went on a hunt to find Agatha and her group after the two groups went on their own. They are sent on a wild goose chase which resulted in them being ambushed by the Childen of Ixis. Just as they eluded the aggressors, a new threat appears and catches the trio off guard. With Sally now drowning in the ocean and Blaze and Elise captured, one can only wonder if they will be okay...

Starring:

Shadow the Hedgehog - G.U.N. Agent
Tails Doll - Doll With a Heart
Amelia Tower - Voice of Reason
Jenni Robotnik - Eviler Scientist

Neo Egg Carrier

*High above the skies of Soleanna, the newly built Neo Egg Carrier, crafted from pieces of the old Egg Carrier last seen in the oceans around Station Square, flew undetected above the clouds. Onboard, Jenni looks at tablet with the Eggnet on the screen, she studying the contents as Egg Pawns piloted the Carrier.*

Jenni: "This is what Ivo has to contend with? A speedy hedgehog is one thing... But you have a two tailed little runt... A tomboyish princess... A traitorous android... A Badnik who needs a lesson on discipline... So many of these pesky little things are trivial at best. And yet, this is what opposes him?"

*She turns off the tablet before laying on the arms of her throne.*

Jenni: "Ivo, you really disappoint me. I'd forgive you if it was G.U.N. at least giving you trouble. But no. Its a bunch of kids and teens. Talk about a let down."

Robot: "Mistress Jenni, we have a report on what you asked us to look into."

*A dark blue Swatbot enters, carrying a memo from the White Acropolis Base.*

Jenni: "Ah yes, my upgraded Shadowbots. Better be good news."

Shadowbot: "Medium. Just a report."

Jenni: "Sigh... Proceed then."

Shadowbot: "Research regarding the 'Flames of Disaster' shows that it is a closely guarded secret within the Soleanna royal family. As of now, the onlt living family member that carries on the royal bloodline is one Elise the Third."

Jenni: "The princess, huh? Was she home?"

Shadowbot: "The Leon report that the princess was not present at her home. Rather she was away."

Jenni: "Great. Now I have an entire country to search for one little girl? Ugh..."

*Jenni sits up, tapping her fingers in annoyance. Then one of her navigators appears on a monitor to her left.*

Jenni: "What is it?"

Navi-bot: "Mistress Jenni. We have spotted a battle in Wave Ocean, madam."

Jenni: "A battle? On a beach resort? Put it on screen."

*Jenni's main monitor showed Sally's trio fighting against the Children of Ixis, seeing them on the losing end.*

Jenni: "Hmm? I recognize one of them... Sally Acorn, I think? But who might the other two be?"

Shadowbot: "One is confirmed to be Elise the Third based on facial recognition."

Jenni: "Oh? So the human girl is Elise? Then its time we intercepted."

*Jenni turns off the monitor before smiling. She then stands up from her throne and heads out of the room.*

Jenni: "Arm the cannons and fire on my command. I think its time to test out 'Project: Hive'."

*The events of the end of last chapter play out as before, with Sally tossed into the ocean after being hit by a missile and Elise and Blaze captured by Jenni, bring her prisoners onboard the Neo Egg Carrier. The ship then flies off, leaving the area with no one able to pursue her.*

Soleanna Train Station; Several Minutes Later...

*A train comes to a hissing stop as new passengers were exiting and entering the train. However, one figure jumped off from on top of the train, carrying a bag on his shoulders. It was Shadow the Hedgehog, an agent from the Guardians of the United Nations who's been assigned to protect Elise.*

Shadow: "We're here. That took a lot longer than it should have."

*The bag he was carrying starts to shuffle around before Tails Doll's head pops out, with a voice following.*

Tails Doll?: "Shadow. When I said 'We should take the train', I meant actually riding the train. Not stand on it like some showoff. What if you dropped Tails Doll!?"

Shadow: "No big loss to me, Amelia. Besides, I don't exactly care for your toys."

*Shadow gets met by Tails Doll getting really into his face, him having the bend back as Amelia's voice just yells at him.*

Tails Doll?: "WELL START CARING YOU HEARTLESS HEDGEHOG!"

G.U.N. Fortress; Amelia's Lab

*Amelia was sitting in front of a monitor, rubbing her head as she seemed rightfully angered by Shadow's attitude. On the monitor, Shadow was sweating a few bullets from having upset her.*

Amelia: "Look, Shadow. I get you're more of the pragmatic anti-hero type, but you needed some support for this mission. Someone is out to get Princess Elise and you are the best currently available agent G.U.N. has."

Shadow: "Since when did I need support?"

Amelia: "Since Rouge got hospitalized after her own solo mission. And I care about you too much to just let you waltz over to your own solo mission without at least some support, so I had Tails Doll modified with manual controls enabled. This'll let me be directly in the mission while I'm still at home."

Soleanna Train Station

Tails Doll?: "Besides, you don't let me join in the fun because I'd 'slow you down', so this is the best compromise I could think of."

Shadow: "And Omega couldn't join me because...?"

*The conversation gets silent before Shadow realizes why.*

Shadow: "...You're right... Never mind. But sending your toy doesn't count as a compromise. I really don't see how it could."

Tails Doll?: "Ugh... You are being impossible, Shadow. Look. Just get Tails Doll to a high enough place and let me scan the area. Using a special satellite scanner that connects with Tails Doll's gem, I can locate Elise through geometric data. Just get somewhere high so I can get a clear signal."

Shadow: "And you can't do it because...?"

*Amelia just blows up on Shadow, Shadow just seeing her frustration through Tails Doll.*

Tails Doll?: "JUST DO IT, YOU STUBBORN EDGY HEDGEHOG"

*Shadow just reels back at that response before picking up Tails Doll and speeding off from the train station to the Castle Town.*

Soleanna Castle Town

*Shadow goes to the highest point in town and holds Tails Doll up so Amelia can get a signal.*

Shadow: "Anything?"

Tails Doll?: "Patience, Shadow. I almost... Ah ha! Got it!"

Shadow: "Good. So where..."

Tails Doll?: "Huh? That's strange. It says Princess Elise is heading to... White Acropolis!"

Shadow: "That's where Eggman's base is, isn't it?"

Tails Doll?: "But why would she go there? Shadow, I have a very bad feeling about this..."

Shadow: "Then stay behind. I'll go investigate on my own."

*Shadow puts Tails Doll on a clothes hanger before jumping down onto the road to skate off on his own.*

Tails Doll?: "W-WAIT! Darn it, you butt! Get back here!"

G.U.N. Fortress; Amelia's Lab

Amelia: "GAAAAAH! Why in the heck is he being so stubborn!? He's really driving me up a wall!"

*Amelia grabs her head in frustration before panting. She looks over to see Tails Doll's A.I. head motion for a few suggestions.*

Amelia: "No, Dolly, we are not telling Dad about this and getting Shadow in trouble. Guy's just having an episode. A really dumb episode... Ugh..."

*She hears a door open, followed by mechanical foot steps.*

Voice: "Training complete. All systems are operational. I am eligible for missions now."

Amelia: "Oh! Excellent timing! Maybe you can help out Shadow then. Head to Soleanna right away and find my Dolly. And be ready for a follow up afterwards. Okay?"

Voice: "Affirmative."

White Acropolis; Landing Bay

*The capsule carrying Blaze and Elise, the latter of whom was banging against the steel walls, was being wheeled off by one of the Shadowbots as Jenni steps out of the Carrier.*

Jenni: "Be on the look out for any who dare to disturb me while I am working. I will not tolerate intruders at this given time."

Shadowbot: "We have Buzzbombers and Egg Knights stationed at the front and spotlights covering the blindspots as you requested. There is a ninety-five percent chance that our base is thoroughly secured."

Jenni: "...Only...ninety-five...percent...?"

*Jenni turns her head toward the Shadowbot, it stuttering as it corrects itself.*

Shadowbot: "I-I mean... One hundred percent. Absolutely no one will be able to enter under my watch, madam."

Jenni: "It better. The Vespi Queen is looking to be gaining new parts from scraps of metal like you."

*Jenni walks into the base, leaving the Shadowbot to just sigh as it then moves to order extra defensive measures be put in place.*

White Acropolis; Two Miles from the Base

*Egg Knights were on patrol around the base, blasters set to kill for any intruders that dare approach it. As the Knight patrolled, a snowball catches its attention. It turns toward it then towards where it flew from. With blaster ready, it approached a boulder before...*

Shadow: "Chaos SPEAR!"

*...it is destroyed by a Chaos Spear. Shadow steps from behind the rock with the blaster in his hand. He then dashes to the outer walls of the base, shooting the spot lights on the way.*

White Acropolis

*The alarms go off, Jenni looking all the more annoyed as she stands from her desk. As she walks down the halls, she carried bits and pieces of the earlier Shadowbot in her hands, passing by another Shadowbot.*

Jenni: "Get the Egg Genesis battle ready. I want the intruder dealt with. And if I have to use my Vespi Queen, then that shows how outdated you idiots truly are."

Shadowbot: "Yes, madam. Right away."

*At the courtyard, Shadow's infiltration mission seems to have went swimmingly so far, with robots unable to stop him. But as things were looking up for him, trouble comes crashing down (literally). The Egg Genesis, one Eggman's largest machines to date, makes its presence, greeting Shadow.*

Shadow: "Hmph. Brought out the big guns, huh? Too bad for you... Bigger doesn't mean better."

*The Egg Genesis fires off a barrage of missiles at Shadow while aiming a searchlight at the hedgehog. The missiles are destroyed by some cover surrounding the courtyard. However, this doesn't dissuade the Egg Genesis from charging up a laser from its core, firing it at the wall. However, this leaves it exposed to a Chaos Spear as Shadow jumps over the laser. With the core destroyed, the Egg Genesis falls.*

Shadow: "Too easy. Their defenses must've been rushed... Eggman's not normally this sloppy..."

Voice: "Oh, but he is. However, my sloppiness comes from a lack of time spent here at this particular base."

*Shadow turns to the voice, seeing a human woman exit the building to greet him.*

Shadow: "You're not... Dr. Eggman... Who are you? Another one of his Egg Bosses?"

Jenni: "Oh don't insult me by comparing me to one of his low life, flea bitten pets. I am Ivo's older sister... Jenni Robotnik."

Shadow: "...Eggman had a sister? News to me. Now stand aside."

Jenni: "Hmm... Let's see... Shadow the Hedgehog, right? Self proclaimed 'Ultimate Life Form'? My grandfather, Gerald, had quite a vision designing you. Makes you a far more unique type of Mobian."

Shadow: "Flattery will get you nowh-"

*Shadow is immediately greeted by a punch to his face, sending him to a pile of snow. He stands up and sees... Metal Sonic? No, Mecha Sonic?*

Shadow: "What? Metal Sonic? But you were destroyed back at Eggman's base!"

Jenni: "You think Ivo is the only genius in our family, Shadow? If so... Let Metallix show you why that's not the case."

Metallix: "Orders recieved. Kill protocol engaged!"

*Metallix launches at Shadow, only missing because of Chaos Control, which puts Shadow a fair distance away. Shadow revs up a Spin Dash and launches at Metallix, but gets blocked by the robot, who then punches the hedgehog away.*

Metallix: "Pathetic. You are outdated, Shadow."

*Metallix vanishes before drop kicking Shadow in the face, sending the hedgehog flying before punching him up into the air. The metal hedgehog vanishes again to grab Shadow before kicking him in the gut, causing the black hedgehog to cough up blood on the upgraded Metal Sonic. Metallix then charges up a ball of Chaos Energy before sending Shadow flying with it, a mighty explosion soon following as they impacted the snowy fields a mile away. Metallix descends back down to Jenni.*

Jenni: "Haha! Eat it, Ivo! Your previous Metal Sonic model was too weak to stand up to even Shadow, but my model? Descimation! Oh I am so proud of you, Metallix."

*Puts her hands on the head of the Metal Sonic before seeing the blood from Shadow's cough.*

Jenni: "...And you got exactly what I needed. Some of Shadow's DNA. Get some of that in a dish and get cleaned up for your next fight. Sonic is in for a nasty surprise."

Metallix: "Indeed. Sonic's days are numbered."

*Metallix enters the building, passing by two Egg Knights who come in from Jenni's command.*

Jenni: "I want to see a body. While Metallix is strong, I am not one to take chances. Go and collect Shadow. And if he's alive, kill him."

*The Egg Knights leave and scout around for Shadow's body with a squad of Egg Pawns. They search for a moment, but soon find Shadow buried under the snow, injured heavily from Metallix's attack.*

Egg Knight: "Scan complete. Condition critical. Mission priority: Finish the job."

*The Egg Knight aims a laser blaster at Shadow, ready to execute him on the spot. However, a barrage of blasts catch the squad by surprise, destroying them in single hits and saving Shadow. A robotic figure lands on the snow, a spotlight shining on Shadow and green eyes glowing. On its shoulder being a tiny doll with a glowing red gem.*

To be continued...