Chapter 2: Squeaks on Board

(Sonic's house)

Sonic was sitting on the couch in the living room with his feet up and holding a chilidog in one hand. Just as Sonic was about to take a bite, he heard Tails come down the stairs while still looking half asleep.

Sonic- Oh…good morning, Tails.

Tails- Isn't it a little early for chilidogs?

Sonic- Of course not! It's never too early for chilidogs in my opinion.

Sonic took a bite out of his chilidog while Tails put two slices of bread into the toaster.

Sonic- And besides, I could use one after returning from Popstar.

Tails- How was Kirby's birthday?

Sonic- Asides from that Jamba Heart commotion crashing Kirby's birthday…I'd say things went alright. But I also can't believe Eggman thought I'd be too tired to send another one of his robots to the scrapyard after we got back home. But I guess some things never change.

Suddenly, Sonic and Tails heard two familiar voices calling from outside.

Amy's voice- Cream! Cheese! Where are you?!

Blaze's voice- This is no time for hide and seek! If you can hear us, tell us where you are!

Tails- What's going on out there?

Sonic- Not sure. Want to see if they need our help?

(Outside Sonic's house)

Amy and Blaze were walking along the road as they were calling out for Cream and Cheese. As they passed by Sonic's house, Sonic and Tails walked outside and moved up to them.

Sonic- Hey Amy! Hey Blaze! Any reason you two are shouting out?

Amy- It's Cream. She and Cheese seem to be missing.

Blaze- We haven't heard from them in hours and we fear something might've happened to them.

Tails- That does sound like a reason to worry.

Sonic- Maybe I can find her. If she's nearby, I can find her and Cheese lickity split.

Amy- Thank you, Sonic!

Then Sonic dashed off to see if Cream and Cheese were anywhere around.

(Somewhere in space)

The Egg Carrier was moving through space, possibly far away from Earth and closer towards Popstar's location. Eggman was watching Orbot and Cubot grab this glowing black rock from the control room of the Egg Carrier.

Orbot- Ok, we've found the next piece of Dark Matter.

Eggman- Good, now return to the Egg Carrier and we can move on to searching for the next.

Orbot- You heard the boss. Let's get back to the ship.

Cubot- Doesn't this…uh…Dark Matter…seem odd to you?

Orbot- What do you mean?

Cubot- It seems familiar to that giant eyeball that that Star Warrior, Kirby, destroyed and Tabuu resurrected to work for him.

Orbot- Just not argue with the doctor. I don't think I need to remind you of what will happen if we make him angry.

Cubot- Guess you're right.

Just as Orbot and Cubot were moving the piece of Dark Matter back to the Egg Carrier, Cubot thought he saw something moving from behind the surrounding asteroids through his peripheral vision.

Orbot- Is something wrong?

Cubot- I thought I saw someone else here.

Orbot- That's impossible. We're in deep space and no one can be outside here without a space suit. And Sonic doesn't even know we're here. And Eggman captured Cream before she could warn Sonic.

As Orbot and Cubot were moving back towards the Egg Carrier, a figure that resembles a small rodent was seen hiding behind one of the asteroids.

Mysterious figure- I believe I found our quarry…time to get to work, Squeaks…

(Inside the Egg Carrier)

Eggman was piloting the Egg Carrier as it was flying through space. Eggman pushed a button to open the airlock to allow Orbot and Cubot to return with the piece of Dark Matter. Eggman also turned on the intercom to speak with Orbot and Cubot from the airlock.

Eggman- So far, we've got an impressive haul. Now we should see where the next piece of Dark Matter is hiding.

Cubot- Again!

Orbot- Isn't those four pieces we've found enough?

Eggman- My radar is picking up a fifth piece of Dark Matter in this area of space. I think I'd like to get that last piece before we use them against Sonic.

After Eggman turned off the intercom, the then turned his attention to Cream and Cheese. Cheese was locked up inside what appears to be a birdcage. As for Cream, she was sitting on the floor, all tied up in ropes with her wrist and ankles tied together as well as some rope coiled around her arms and torso, and a piece of white tape placed over her mouth. Cream struggled, but to no success.

Eggman- You might as well accept defeat. No one knows you're here and there's no way you'll be able to warn Sonic before I use my new discovery to…

Just then, Eggman heard some noise coming from the intercom. At first, it sounded like something was breaking on the other end. Then it suddenly sounded like the squeaking of a rodent.

Eggman- Uh…what's going on…

Cubot- Well…it looks like we got mice. Several of them on the Egg Carrier.

Orbot- I don't think they're mice! They appear to be much taller than any mouse I've seen!

Then Eggman heard the sound of something heavy thumping, like something large making footsteps.

Cubot- And now…it looks like there's a super huge blue rat with them with an eye patch on. And now he's heading this way and…HEY! Put me down right now! I'm telling you to…

Then the sound was cut off when Eggman heard the sound of metal being smashed and compressed, like a garbage compacter.

Eggman- This looks serious!

Then Eggman rushes to the airlock while leaving Cream and Cheese all alone. But before Cream could wonder what was happening or what she should do to get out of her predicament, a mysterious mouse creature dropped from the ceiling and into the control room.

Daroach- Not bad. A well-done executed plan. Storo and Spinni should be keeping that fool busy long enough for us to get what we came for.

But just then, Daroach noticed Cream and Cheese.

Daroach- Huh…?! What's a kid doing here?

Cream cried under her tape gagged and struggled against rope bindings when Daroach tried to approach her.

Daroach- Hey, calm down. I'm not gonna hurt you.

Daroach kneeled down towards the little rabbit girl and quickly removed the strip of white tape that was placed over her mouth.

Doroach- Sorry if that stung. But are you ok?

Cream- I'm fine, but who are you?

Doroach- You can call me Doroach. Leader of the Squeak Squad. But what were you doing on this ship?

Cream- I saw Eggman find some strange material. Possibly to do bad things like he's known for. But he captured me and Cheese before we could warn our friends what Eggman was up to.

Just then, Daroach heard a beeping sound from a small device on his ear. Daroach reached for his ear and pushed the button on the device.

Daroach- Find something, Doc?

Doc- Yeah, the Squeakers and I have just broken into the cargo. And we just found four large chunks of Dark Matter!

Daroach- Dark Matter?! Oh shit! That idiot! What was he thinking gathering those?!

Daroach took a moment to calm himself down.

Daroach- Ok, new plan, Doc. Tell the Squeakers round up all that Dark Matter onto the ship. I know from experience that we can't let any Dark Matter fall into those stupid enough how dangerous that stuff is. And tell Spinni and Storo to quit their distraction in the airlock and get to the ship. Since I'm going to activate the self-destruct sequence.

Doc- Yes, boss!

Then Daroach typed on the controls and initiated the Egg Carrier's self-destruct before swiping his claw at the controls, preventing anyone from canceling the self-destruct. Then Daroach grabbed the cage Cheese was locked inside with one claw and picked up Cream with his other claw.

Daroach- Oh, and one more thing, Doc. Have an extra seat ready on the ship, because have another passenger coming on board.

Just then, Eggman managed to return to the control room. However, he barely got a glimpse of Daroach making off with Cream and Cheese before he instantly vanished, like he did in Kirby's Squeak Squad. However, Eggman noticed that the self-destruct was activated and about to go off.

Eggman- Oh ****…

Just then, there was a massive explosion coming from the Egg Carrier that could be seen even from Popstar.

(Back on Mobius)

Sonic, Tails, Amy, and Blaze were still looking for any leads to where Cream and Cheese are. However, they were having no luck.

Sonic- Damn! Can't believe we haven't found Cream and Cheese yet!

Tails- And unfortunately, this suggest that they could be in trouble!

Amy- I know! She could be hurt!

Blaze- Wait a minute…we haven't seen Eggman anywhere either…

Amy- You don't think…

Sonic- Now that you mention it…I agree with you. Eggman wasn't seen anywhere, even in the Mystic Ruins jungle where one of his bases is located. Coincidence?

Just then, Sonic's phone began to ring and Sonic saw that Kirby was calling.

Sonic- Sorry Kirby, but this isn't a good time and…actually, we were looking for…oh…I see…ok, we'll be right there.

Sonic hung up the phone and turned to look at Tails, Amy, and Blaze.

Tails- What did Kirby want?

Sonic- I believe Kirby has found out where Eggman is.