Mechanical Monstrosity
Chapter 1: Resurrection
By Chibi Trunks
A Sonic the Hedgehog/Starcraft Crossover Fanfic
I would like to thank the following people for inspiring me to create this fanfic: Persona, for that wonderful peace of work on the Alien Conflict (that was the worst fic I've ever read!) Blizzard Entertainment, for creating Starcraft, Brood Wars, Diablo, Hellfire and the Warcraft Series! SEGA, for the creation of Sonic, Knuckles and Tails (Mecha Sonic, too! He's wicked). Archie Comics, for the addition of Sally, Amy and the rest of the gang! Japanese Animations, for the creation of such great cartoons such as Gundam Wing, Dragonball Z and Escaflowne. Vegeta (from the show), since he's cool and has a great sense of humour! Alien Conflict, for giving me something to harass and flame until my computer breaks down from overuse! Whose Line Is It Anyway, for providing the funniest TV show on Earth! My final thanks go to the author who decided to MiST this fanfic (a friend of mine). Can't wait to read it! Also, I'd just like to mention that Redwall has allowed for another TV series, based on Martin the Warrior. Not that anyone cares, but I just happen to like the Redwall Saga, and I'm only missing a couple of books altogether! It's on Saturday, at 7:00 PM, and Monday at 6:30, just in case anyone wants to know.
Now, to begin Mechanical Monstrosity! Prologue
Knuckles looked down, past the steel panels and pipes that made up the wings of the Tornado, and watched the explosive fury of the bombs that he'd just released. Orange and red clouds of superheated napalm caused the black, skeletal features of the xenomorph infestation to burst into fire themselves, spreading the chaos and destruction throughout the final hive, which had formerly been a bustling, highly-populated city, nicknamed the Metropolis because of its heavy activity.
With a sigh of satisfaction, the crimson echidna gunned the engine, unlocking the trigger on the newly-installed chain gatling cannons. With a grimace of concentration, the muscular, gloved hand gripped the button on the modified control stick, unleashing a lethal hail of supersonic steel projectiles, a strangled humming rhythm that cut through the fleeing aliens' exoskeletons like a stone through water. Acidic blood slowly melted the earthy ground away, giving off the characteristic sulphurous fumes of corrosive liquids, and suddenly there was no movement anymore.
Knuckles landed, running over several leathery pods and cutting up a white something that resembled some grotesque hybrid between spider and snake. Before any of the surviving xenomorphs could move to intercept the intruder, Knuckles pulled out a very impressive-looking, futuristic rifle from the back seat of the biplane, and let loose on the stunned infestation with a wave of intense thermal energy, burning away half of the dark population with a single, superheated blast of power.
With a quick flick, the war-bred echidna opened a compartment in the gun, and faster than any eye could follow, removed a glowing red emerald from the hidden space, and installed a golden jewel, crackling with energy. Then, with a grin of anticipation, Knux ducked down and swept with his feet, knocking down one of the xenomorphs that had gotten too close. With a heave, the red wraith of vengeance tossed the creature by its tail, the writhing alien slamming into a large group of advancing monsters.
Before they could get up, Knuckles thumbed the trigger again, this time producing a solid beam of energy, frying every molecule of their existence in one concentrated ray of electrical power. Before the last of the lethal attack had exited his weapon, Knuckles checked a monitor attached to the side of the firearm. Only one left! That'll be the Queen! Knuckles thought, once again changing the emerald, this time inserting a crystalline blue emerald, off of which immense amounts of steam were rising.
Knuckles then proceeded to run straight into the heart of the decimated alien lair, turning passages and corridors through the slime-covered core of the Metropolis, before coming to a gigantic chamber, filled with weird mists that stank of death. With a smile of one who has waited forever for this moment, the echidna fired his gun again, this time letting out a cold tidal wave of sub-zero energy, freezing anything it contacted with. Most of which were alien eggs, leathery pods which spelled death for those who came too near them.
Nodding with dutiful purpose, Knuckles once again switched his source of power, activating a green emerald, which didn't emit any glow or shine. With a quick leap, Knuckles shot upwards, landing on the Alien Queen's tubular head and jumping up again as its claws rent the air where he had stood. With a quick twist in mid-air, the echidna hit the trigger of the weapon, causing the barrel to emit a wave of sonic power, which ripped the earth apart behind the hideous matriarch of the infestation.
Before he had landed, Knuckles loaded the purple emerald, and ducked as the Queen's tail lashed towards his head. With a flipping hop, the heavy feet of the ruby fighter landed solidly on the extended weapon of the evil creature, cracking bones and snapping it in an awkward way, and causing it to pull back in pain. With a deft movement, the echidna launched a galestorm of unbelievable force at the Queen, sending it flying backwards into the abyssal chasm that the previous attack had opened. With a shriek of rage, the insect-like behemoth plummeted downward, falling straight into the very core of Mobius, incinerated in an instant.
Knuckles laughed with relief: the nightmare was finally over, with the death of the Alien Queen and its spawn. With a yell of joy, the echidna raced out of the rumbling hive, holding a silver gem in his gloved hand. With a flash, the mighty warrior's crimson body became as metallic as the exposed walls of the Metropolis, and with little effort he smashed through the thick steel barriers, making his way towards the biplane.
A few weeks earlier, Sonic the Hedgehog, leader of the resistance, had destroyed a larger alien hive, the master hive at Mechanopolis, where the crazed killing machine, Mecha Sonic, had enslaved the relentless alien species for his purposes. Sonic had committed the ultimate sacrifice, destroying the entire hive at the cost of his own life. Knuckles wiped away the white tears that trickled down his charred, scraped and bruised face.
"Finally, it's all over! Peace can now be restored!" With a weary look on his scarred and battle-worn face, the only survivor of the most grisly war in the history of Mobius flew off to Floating Island, his home, to enact the final phase of the beginning of the Mobian rebirth...
*****
Elsewhere in the universe, an evil presence was making its way towards the planet. A destructive force of unimaginable, ravenous darkness was about to make itself known to the galaxy. Close behind, a second, enigmatic power pursued the strange forces with grim determination. Another war was brewing, but this time, it would rage across the cosmos, and would bring out hidden sides in every soul. Fear & hope, rage & calm, love and hatred; all would soon collide in a cataclysmic battle of destiny and fate. The stars would cross paths, and some would be absorbed by the cold emptiness of the void, but times of great happenings were fast approaching, and none would be prepared for the ordeal ahead.
----------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1: Resurrection -----------------------------------------------------
Oftimes I ask myself if this war is necessary, why we all must suffer such pain for the sake of a world that has been wrecked beyond repair. We have suffered through mechanical and stellar threats, and at times I feel that we'd be better off leaving, to explore the stars and planets of the universe until we found peace. Then I see the one I was destined to be with forever, standing proudly in the gardens of our desecrated home, weeping for our lost friends, and I realize we are not stying here for the planet. It is because we keep the memories of our lives closest to the place we call home, and that we can never leave, because this is where we lived, and died, and lived again.
Excerpt from the journals of Sonic the Hedgehog, leader of the Mobian Resistance.
Knothole had finally emerged victorious over the alien forces that had overrun the planet. Knuckles, having fought the creatures alongside the Freedom Fighters, had managed to collect the Chaos Emeralds from the remains of the Floating Island, where the first battle had taken place.
Knuckles, his crimson fur blackened from the continued use of flame- throwers and grenades, placed the gems in their respective slots, a solemn, faraway look in his eyes. Then, with a wild roar Knuckles released an explosion of energy, as the power of the Emeralds was unleashed, engulfing the planet in glowing white light. Wherever the light touched, buildings were restored to their old condition, and those who had lost their lives in the war had regenerated. Soon enough, everyone on Mobius who had been killed by the creatures were taking stock of their surroundings and rejoicing!
Miles 'Tails' Prower rose up from the floor of his hut, looking around quickly and not believing he had survived. Then, with a shout of joy, he flew over to see where the others were. Eventually he caught sight of the Floating Island, where he began his search for the other Freedom Fighters. Within a few moments, Tails entered the mystical land of the Emeralds, and immediately caught sight of Knuckles, nearby the Tornado.
"KNUX!" Tails yelled out in joy at seeing the Echidna sitting on the wings of the red bi-plane. "What happened?" The fox asked as he entered the old plane. Knuckles grabbed tightly onto the wings as Tails took off at full speed, flying high in the air. "I've revived everyone with the power of the Chaos Emeralds. They should be close behind!" Knuckles had barely finished answering Tails as Espio, Charmy, Mighty and Vector came racing up on personalized hoverboards [excepting Charmy, 'cause he flies]. They quickly caught up with Knuckles and Tails, and Knuckles immediately gave directions to Tails. "Head to the Acorn Royal Palace. That's where the final confrontation took place, between Mecha Sonic and the last three of us!"
Sally Acorn dropped her gun and stood up, seeing only the old capital where her family had ruled. Tears streamed unbidden from her eyes as she ran towards the palace, shouting out Sonic's name as she seeked the creature she was fated to stay with!
Amy Rose woke up almost instantly, feeling cold, as if she had been frozen for some time. She laid on the ground, unable to see in the dark, unlit chamber, shivering for an unknown reason, meekly calling out one word.
"Tails?"
A gloved hand rose slowly, twitching slightly from fatigue. Discarding the weaponry and gear he'd been wearing over the deep blue fur that was his trademark, the leader of the Freedom Fighters slowly picked himself up off of the marble floors of the Royal Palace of the Acorn Family. With a quick eye, he managed to take stock of the situation: Sonic the Hedgehog was back to life! Also, he noted with interest that he was standing in Sally's former home, the Royal Palace itself! Sonic immediately raced around the halls, using every bit of speed he could muster without damaging the area, to find the rest.
"Hello? Anyone?" Sonic heard a voice in the distance. It sounded remarkably familiar: Sally Acorn! Sonic now lost regard of the scenery: he raced full speed towards the sound of Sally's voice. "SALLY!" Sonic yelled at the top of his lungs, as he burst into the throne room. Standing in the center of the room, tear-stained and decidedly more mature-looking, was Sally Acorn. Sally whirled around and grabbed hold of Sonic, holding him tightly as if she would never let go!
"God, I missed you! How are we still here? What happened to the land?" Sally simply squeezed him tighter and sobbed, caught in between a laugh and a cry. "Let's not question a good thing!" Sally managed to smile as her face neared his. Just as their lips met, though, a huge whooping cheer rang out throughout the chamber, echoing off of the intricately patterned walls. Tails, Knuckles, Rotor, Antoine, Bunnie and the Chaotix stood in the doorway, cheering wildly as the couple kissed. Sally blushed deeply, and Sonic's hair went a lovely crimson, as Knuckles went up and congratulated the two, supported by Mighty. "Old memories are the best! Even after all we've been through, we all managed to get back together again!"
Sonic looked quizzically at Knuckles, as Mighty explained. "Sonic, Knuckles invoked the power of the Chaos Emeralds, and has restored the lives lost during the wars, and the planet's been restored. Knuckles is also quite exhausted: it took most of his life force to control the power needed." Sonic shook hands with the Echidna, and Sally embraced him as a brother. Then Tails piped up, after a moment of thought.
"Hold on! Where's Amy?" Before anyone could answer, Tails shot off through the corridors to the west, flying at full speed. Sonic and Sally immediately got a plan set. "Alright! Sonic, you go catch up with Tails and search the west wing. Me 'n Charmy will take the east wing. Mighty and Vector can search the North Wing, and the South Wing can be checked by Rotor and Antoine. Knuckles, you stay here with Espio and Bunnie, in case Amy passes this way! Got it?" Everyone nodded, and needed no second bidding. They all raced off, excepting Knuckles, Espio and Bunnie, who passed time by comparing the events each had gone through, and the odd feeling of passing on.
"What's it like, being dead?" Knuckles asked Bunnie, as they watched Rotor and Antoine leave to search for Amy. Bunnie thought for a bit, then answered in as straight forward a manner as possible. "Well, for me, it just felt really hot, almost like I had been thrown into the sun. Then, it just became incredibly cold, and I found myself back in Knothole, without my robotic parts. Sally, Sonic, Tails, and the rest of the gang were all there, too! I couldn't reach them, though"
"That's what it felt like for me, too!" Espio exclaimed, then continued, "But, I saw Mighty, Vector and Charmy instead." Knuckles contemplated this revelation, then wondered what his own death would feel like...
"So, what happened to you, Rotor?" Antoine said, not entirely trusting the mechanic after the betrayal. Rotor shook his head and removed a small steel bolt from one of his pockets. "See this?" Rotor waved the small machine in front of Antoine's face. Rotor continued on. "Well, it's a neural robotic link. Mecha Sonic fired it at Sonic after he shot Snivley, and I happened to be in the line of fire. While this thing was attached to my head, Mecha Sonic had complete control over my actions!" Antoine nodded and understood, still a little disoriented from his lethal experience.
Sally walked around her former home, checking every room and hiding place she knew of. As former princess of the palace, she knew the entire area, inside and out. Charmy flew close behind, keeping an ear open for instructions. "I sure hope Amy's alright!" Sally thought aloud to Charmy. Charmy agreed as they searched the vast royal garden. "She's quite sensitive, so recent events may have her scared and isolated." Both of them called out Amy's name again, the walls echoing the voices uselessly around the east wing.
Sonic found Tails in the stateroom of Acorn Palace. The fox was searching rather thorougly, checking every column, chair and table for Amy. Sonic thought for a bit before calling out to him. "Yo, bro! I think I know where she might be!" Tails immediately grabbed onto Sonic's hand as Sonic revved up and blasted full speed through the long corridors, eventually reaching a locked door, with a crest bearing a glowing blue sapphire. Tails then heard a faint voice, which barely escaped through the thick wooden gate. Before Sonic could say anything, Tails rolled up into a ball, revved up to full power, and let loose a Tails Tornado Spin, blasting the obstacle into timbers and splinters. Sonic rushed in shortly after, and followed Tails to a small corner of the room.
"Amy? What's wrong?" Tails was huddled close to a shivering figure, almost as small as the fox cub. The youngest of the Freedom Fighters rocked Amy's head in his lap, trying to comfort the frightened hedgehog between tears. Sonic stood silently, watching his best friend cradling the person he had always secretly considered his little sister, and blinked back a tear of joy.
"Those two are just like Sally and me." Sonic thought as he watched them quietly. "Tails would do anything to protect Amy." He was jarred out of his thoughts by a sudden scream. Turning back around, Sonic saw Amy leap up and suddenly notice the presence of Tails, as if she had been stirred awake from some incomprehensible nightmare. Tails backed away, giving her room to breathe as Sonic came into view.
"Where am I?" Amy asked, with a frightened tone in her voice. "What is this place?" Before either of them could answer, Amy swooned, passing out as if she had just seen Death. Tails lifted her and cried softly, and Sonic sped back to the others, telling them where Amy was. Sonic was back in little less than a minute, and the others followed after a while. Amy still laid in Tails' arms, shivering in her dreamless sleep.
Sally and Bunnie helped Tails carry the unconscious hedgehog into a nearby bedroom, and went to work taking stock of their medical supplies. Sally and Rotor, being the most educated of the team, worked in the libraries and studies to find out the cause for Amy's sickness. Knuckles was put in another room, where the Chaotix kept themselves occupied by answering Knuckles' questions and enquiries about the afterlife, and their own experiences. Bunnie and Antoine helped Amy in any way they could, frequently bringing in damp cloths and warm blankets to keep her comfortable.
Sonic and Tails, not able to help much, walked around the palace, sharing their own experiences and feelings with each other. "So, little bro! What'll you do with your life, once we all go on?" Tails thought for a bit, unsure of how to answer that. Finally, after a brief silence, Tails thought of the words to say.
"Well, Sonic, I've always had something of a soft spot for, well..." Tails blushed, unable to speak his mind through sheer embarrassment. Sonic simply shrugged and smiled, ruffling the fox's shock of hair as he finished the thought. "Amy, right? I noticed when we found her earlier. You would do anything for her, just like I'd do anything for Sally." Tails nodded, relieved and glad to have someone as understanding as Sonic as a friend. "Anyways, I'm thinking that Amy needs someone to lean on. She's sensitive and, yet, assertive. When we get back, I'll fix up a couple of dozen chili dogs, and a banana split, and I'll see if I can help you with Amy."
Tails laughed aloud, for the first time in months. "You still can't get your mind off of chili dogs, can you? I betcha Aunt Sally'll probably give you a right telling-off about weight loss, something along the lines of "SONIC! For god's sake, lay off the chili dogs! You're gonna end up looking like a blue Robotnik within a couple of weeks." Sonic burst out in uncontrolled hysterics, holding his sides from the sheer thought of it.
"Yeah, I can see it now!" Sonic managed to gasp between chuckles. "She'd probably beat the bulk outta me in five minutes flat!" Tails and Sonic laughed for a while after that, exchanging cracks and thoughts, when Sonic's watch beeped. His laughter cut off by the loud alarm, Sonic tapped the receiver, inwardly surprised that the connection in their equipment was still working. "Yeah, what's up?" Sonic was caught off guard by the emotion in Sally's usually level tone.
"Sonic, you & Tails better get back here quick! Get back to the infirmary, quick!" Sonic grabbed on to Tails, and raced towards the infirmary, meeting up with Sally in front of the main ward. Sonic immediately gave her a 'what's goin' on, Sally?' look. Sally did her level best to keep her voice calm and ordinary, but the tears in her eyes were making it difficult.
"Knuckles. He passed on just a few moments ago." Sonic brushed past Sally, and his eyes watered at the sight. Vector, Mighty, Charmy & Espio all wept silently around their only true friend, who lay in the bed with a calm, peaceful look on his face. Sonic turned around, trying to hide his sadness, but though the Chaotix didn't see him, Sally and Tails did. They all held hands, sitting together as Sally continued her report.
"Amy's fine. She's just in shock. When she was killed, she did not join our spirits in our idea of heaven. Her soul was seperated from us, and sent someplace different. Amy was isolated from us, and her older memories of loneliness after the disappearance of her kin returned with serious effects on her." Tails then decided that he had to tell them about his own experience.
"Sally. I know how Amy feels now. When I died, I wasn't with you guys, either. I was in a different place, a strange land. There were sounds of battle: explosions, screams, and wierd, alien growls. I think that it may have been some kind of message, but I didn't want to mention it around Amy." Tails went quiet for a while, and they all thought deeply, until a synchronized cry of alarm broke their silence.
"What in Chaos..." Sonic managed to yell, as a bright light emanated from the Chaotix' room. They burst in to find Knuckles enveloped in a pure beam of light. The Chaotix backed away, pushed to the wall by some unknown force. Before Sonic could dash forward, or Tails could jump in to help, Knuckles disappeared, and the light rose upwards, fading from existence. Everyone present immediately ran towards the window and gazed at the sight before their eyes.
In the sky was a gigantic monolith of steel, almost twice the size of the Acorn Royal Palace. The huge object hovered above the sun, blocking the light for miles. It was almost like some huge sea vessel, pill-shaped and built from some golden metal that did not shine. Around it flew several smaller ships, which resembled miniscule claws. They all flew remarkably fast, swarming around the larger ship like some pack of wasps around their hive.
They converged on another flying object, a bulbous living sac of flesh, which might have been some flying beetle, excepting the fact that it had almost twenty different appendages, and was carrying at least half-a-dozen creatures, similar in look to the aliens that had infested Mobius, only they had no legs, and their claws represented long spikes. The mechanical aggressors unleashed a flurry of blue energy bolts, which burned the larger creature in a matter of moments, causing it to drop its live cargo.
Before the bestial forces could recover, a second wave of machines was sent, but these were far different from the aerial fighters. These robotic creations were like gigantic steel spiders, with a strange glowing orb that might have been its head, if it hadn't been for the fact that the sphere was unleashing blasts of pure destructive energy into the ranks of the offending creatures. One of the creatures disappeared as it was hit full force by a stray blast, vaporized in an instant. The rest of the creatures began their own attack, opening compartments in their durable exo-skeletons to reveal an uncountable array of long, dense spikes.
The spider-mechs continued to pummel their enemy with odd energy blasts, even as their prey unleashed a deadly hail of lethal spines from afar, puncturing several of the modern war machines and piercing the large ship severely. A couple of the walking tanks exploded in a ball of blue energy, which dissipated harmlessly after a short time. Eventually, though, the numbers decided the outcome of the battle, and the creatures had all been wiped out.
Sonic, Tails and the rest all watched in fascination as the victorious robots simply disappeared, similar to the way Knuckles had, and the flying fighters simply flew into huge bays in the larger ship. Then, before they could blink, the carrier glowed with a blue light and seemed to expand, the strange energies crackling as they accumulated. As Sonic and the rest ran towards the Tornado, the anomaly seemed to burst into white flame, disappearing almost instantly.
Sonic, Sally and Tails, along with the Chaotix, just stood there for a while, attempting to take in the events that had just taken place. They didn't ponder long, though, as a gigantic behemoth of a monster burst through one of the thick outer walls, shattering it to rubble in seconds. The creature might have been some form of oversized beetle, except for the thick bone sickle blades protruding from either end of its monstrous head.
Reacting rather quickly, Charmy and Tails took to the skies, as Sally leapt into the Tornado's pilot seat. "Right, hold on!" She yelled, as Sonic, Mighty and Espio latched on to the wings. With a little coaxing, she got the plane off the ground, as the gargantuan beast slashed at the ground where they had been, driving its arm blades deep into the earth. It gave off a deep rumble, the ground underneath it cracking from the pressure of its stomping legs. Sally immediately executed a horizontal turn in the compact bi-plane, the wings barely missing the grass-covered floor as she streaked past the hulking berserker's head.
"We've got to get the others!" Sonic yelled above the roaring engine. "There's bound to be more of them!" As Sonic finished this statement, Bunnie, Rotor and Antoine ran out of the palace, holding the still- unconscious Amy between them. Tails & Charmy swooped down and lifted Amy clear, as a wave of vicious-looking aliens came towards the three on the ground. They were fast, covering ground quickly and leaping huge distances towards their prey. They resembled large dog-like insects, with four powerful legs and a deadly pair of razor mandibles. They also sported a pair of mean-looking serrated claws.
Rotor grabbed the other two and jumped, catching the wheel-bar under the Tornado as they flew overhead. The creatures in front jumped incredibly high, their jaws barely missing Antoine's leg, as the Freedom Fighters flew off towards Floating Island. Those who had jumped skidded along the ground towards the first hulking behemoth, who retaliated by stepping on the first four and slashing the remainder of them to bits with its horrific weapons.
"What do we do now?" Tails asked, still carrying the stunned hedgehog. Sonic grimaced and thought for a while, then climbed into the seat behind Sally. Sally smiled grimly, and slowed down the plane, her knuckles cracking audibly as she piloted towards their destination. A fire was in her eyes, one that everyone understood. Death was coming to call on them, so they'd have to break his skeletal arm once again. Only this time, the limb is thicker and more experienced, from past encounters.
"Well, since the palace is infested, we'll have to go and get some equipment. Then, we can go perform some extermination." The rest nodded and braced themselves for whatever fate would bring in store for them. Destiny had laid another heavy hand on the Freedom Fighters of Mobius. This time, though, the greatest weight of that hand may be pressing against any of them. Who will be crushed, and who will slip through the grasping fingers of veiled destiny
*****
Back at the palace, a pair of eyes flickered for a moment, then strobed into life, giving off an eerie neon glow. Steel plates shifted, and rubble blasted in every direction as the being stood up, bending and flexing its metallic limbs and head experimentally, and nodding in satisfaction. "The self-repair mechanism had worked perfectly." The lone entity thought to itself. Before long, though, it heard the sounds of the alien infestation approaching. Without a second glance, the iron fighter leaped into the air and unleashed a blast of pure light, sending sparks everywhere as its titanium-plated body became sheathed in a golden layer of armor.
"Right! About time I wasn't here!" The shining robot yelled, and from his spiked steel boots a jetting stream of energy was unleashed into the ground, incinerating the aliens that burst through the door and creating a gigantic crater in the area, knocking over walls and sending anything nearby flying through any obstacles, and Mecha Sonic burst through the thick ceiling, laughing maniacally as he streaked mechanically towards the signature of the Master Emerald.
The End
So, after the passing on of Knuckles, the evil Zerg have attacked Mobius, and though the mysterious Protoss managed to delay their efforts, and also kept Knuckles' body from falling into their hands, an evil presence has made itself known in the Royal Palace, desecrating the beloved home of Sally Acorn. Barely escaping the deadly assault on their home, carrying in tow the unconscious Amy Rose, the remaining Freedom Fighters (Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles 'Tails' Prower, Sally Acorn, Rotor, Antoine, and Bunnie Rabbot) along with the Chaotix (Charmy, Espio, Vector, and Mighty) have agreed to return to Floating Island to arm themselves for another war. But with Mecha Sonic, charged with the power of one of the emeralds, hot on their trail, and the ravenous Zerg rampaging around the planet, will they succeed? Read the next chapter of Mechanical Monstrosity to find out: Sacrifices!
A Sonic the Hedgehog/Starcraft Crossover Fanfic
I would like to thank the following people for inspiring me to create this fanfic: Persona, for that wonderful peace of work on the Alien Conflict (that was the worst fic I've ever read!) Blizzard Entertainment, for creating Starcraft, Brood Wars, Diablo, Hellfire and the Warcraft Series! SEGA, for the creation of Sonic, Knuckles and Tails (Mecha Sonic, too! He's wicked). Archie Comics, for the addition of Sally, Amy and the rest of the gang! Japanese Animations, for the creation of such great cartoons such as Gundam Wing, Dragonball Z and Escaflowne. Vegeta (from the show), since he's cool and has a great sense of humour! Alien Conflict, for giving me something to harass and flame until my computer breaks down from overuse! Whose Line Is It Anyway, for providing the funniest TV show on Earth! My final thanks go to the author who decided to MiST this fanfic (a friend of mine). Can't wait to read it! Also, I'd just like to mention that Redwall has allowed for another TV series, based on Martin the Warrior. Not that anyone cares, but I just happen to like the Redwall Saga, and I'm only missing a couple of books altogether! It's on Saturday, at 7:00 PM, and Monday at 6:30, just in case anyone wants to know.
Now, to begin Mechanical Monstrosity! Prologue
Knuckles looked down, past the steel panels and pipes that made up the wings of the Tornado, and watched the explosive fury of the bombs that he'd just released. Orange and red clouds of superheated napalm caused the black, skeletal features of the xenomorph infestation to burst into fire themselves, spreading the chaos and destruction throughout the final hive, which had formerly been a bustling, highly-populated city, nicknamed the Metropolis because of its heavy activity.
With a sigh of satisfaction, the crimson echidna gunned the engine, unlocking the trigger on the newly-installed chain gatling cannons. With a grimace of concentration, the muscular, gloved hand gripped the button on the modified control stick, unleashing a lethal hail of supersonic steel projectiles, a strangled humming rhythm that cut through the fleeing aliens' exoskeletons like a stone through water. Acidic blood slowly melted the earthy ground away, giving off the characteristic sulphurous fumes of corrosive liquids, and suddenly there was no movement anymore.
Knuckles landed, running over several leathery pods and cutting up a white something that resembled some grotesque hybrid between spider and snake. Before any of the surviving xenomorphs could move to intercept the intruder, Knuckles pulled out a very impressive-looking, futuristic rifle from the back seat of the biplane, and let loose on the stunned infestation with a wave of intense thermal energy, burning away half of the dark population with a single, superheated blast of power.
With a quick flick, the war-bred echidna opened a compartment in the gun, and faster than any eye could follow, removed a glowing red emerald from the hidden space, and installed a golden jewel, crackling with energy. Then, with a grin of anticipation, Knux ducked down and swept with his feet, knocking down one of the xenomorphs that had gotten too close. With a heave, the red wraith of vengeance tossed the creature by its tail, the writhing alien slamming into a large group of advancing monsters.
Before they could get up, Knuckles thumbed the trigger again, this time producing a solid beam of energy, frying every molecule of their existence in one concentrated ray of electrical power. Before the last of the lethal attack had exited his weapon, Knuckles checked a monitor attached to the side of the firearm. Only one left! That'll be the Queen! Knuckles thought, once again changing the emerald, this time inserting a crystalline blue emerald, off of which immense amounts of steam were rising.
Knuckles then proceeded to run straight into the heart of the decimated alien lair, turning passages and corridors through the slime-covered core of the Metropolis, before coming to a gigantic chamber, filled with weird mists that stank of death. With a smile of one who has waited forever for this moment, the echidna fired his gun again, this time letting out a cold tidal wave of sub-zero energy, freezing anything it contacted with. Most of which were alien eggs, leathery pods which spelled death for those who came too near them.
Nodding with dutiful purpose, Knuckles once again switched his source of power, activating a green emerald, which didn't emit any glow or shine. With a quick leap, Knuckles shot upwards, landing on the Alien Queen's tubular head and jumping up again as its claws rent the air where he had stood. With a quick twist in mid-air, the echidna hit the trigger of the weapon, causing the barrel to emit a wave of sonic power, which ripped the earth apart behind the hideous matriarch of the infestation.
Before he had landed, Knuckles loaded the purple emerald, and ducked as the Queen's tail lashed towards his head. With a flipping hop, the heavy feet of the ruby fighter landed solidly on the extended weapon of the evil creature, cracking bones and snapping it in an awkward way, and causing it to pull back in pain. With a deft movement, the echidna launched a galestorm of unbelievable force at the Queen, sending it flying backwards into the abyssal chasm that the previous attack had opened. With a shriek of rage, the insect-like behemoth plummeted downward, falling straight into the very core of Mobius, incinerated in an instant.
Knuckles laughed with relief: the nightmare was finally over, with the death of the Alien Queen and its spawn. With a yell of joy, the echidna raced out of the rumbling hive, holding a silver gem in his gloved hand. With a flash, the mighty warrior's crimson body became as metallic as the exposed walls of the Metropolis, and with little effort he smashed through the thick steel barriers, making his way towards the biplane.
A few weeks earlier, Sonic the Hedgehog, leader of the resistance, had destroyed a larger alien hive, the master hive at Mechanopolis, where the crazed killing machine, Mecha Sonic, had enslaved the relentless alien species for his purposes. Sonic had committed the ultimate sacrifice, destroying the entire hive at the cost of his own life. Knuckles wiped away the white tears that trickled down his charred, scraped and bruised face.
"Finally, it's all over! Peace can now be restored!" With a weary look on his scarred and battle-worn face, the only survivor of the most grisly war in the history of Mobius flew off to Floating Island, his home, to enact the final phase of the beginning of the Mobian rebirth...
*****
Elsewhere in the universe, an evil presence was making its way towards the planet. A destructive force of unimaginable, ravenous darkness was about to make itself known to the galaxy. Close behind, a second, enigmatic power pursued the strange forces with grim determination. Another war was brewing, but this time, it would rage across the cosmos, and would bring out hidden sides in every soul. Fear & hope, rage & calm, love and hatred; all would soon collide in a cataclysmic battle of destiny and fate. The stars would cross paths, and some would be absorbed by the cold emptiness of the void, but times of great happenings were fast approaching, and none would be prepared for the ordeal ahead.
----------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1: Resurrection -----------------------------------------------------
Oftimes I ask myself if this war is necessary, why we all must suffer such pain for the sake of a world that has been wrecked beyond repair. We have suffered through mechanical and stellar threats, and at times I feel that we'd be better off leaving, to explore the stars and planets of the universe until we found peace. Then I see the one I was destined to be with forever, standing proudly in the gardens of our desecrated home, weeping for our lost friends, and I realize we are not stying here for the planet. It is because we keep the memories of our lives closest to the place we call home, and that we can never leave, because this is where we lived, and died, and lived again.
Excerpt from the journals of Sonic the Hedgehog, leader of the Mobian Resistance.
Knothole had finally emerged victorious over the alien forces that had overrun the planet. Knuckles, having fought the creatures alongside the Freedom Fighters, had managed to collect the Chaos Emeralds from the remains of the Floating Island, where the first battle had taken place.
Knuckles, his crimson fur blackened from the continued use of flame- throwers and grenades, placed the gems in their respective slots, a solemn, faraway look in his eyes. Then, with a wild roar Knuckles released an explosion of energy, as the power of the Emeralds was unleashed, engulfing the planet in glowing white light. Wherever the light touched, buildings were restored to their old condition, and those who had lost their lives in the war had regenerated. Soon enough, everyone on Mobius who had been killed by the creatures were taking stock of their surroundings and rejoicing!
Miles 'Tails' Prower rose up from the floor of his hut, looking around quickly and not believing he had survived. Then, with a shout of joy, he flew over to see where the others were. Eventually he caught sight of the Floating Island, where he began his search for the other Freedom Fighters. Within a few moments, Tails entered the mystical land of the Emeralds, and immediately caught sight of Knuckles, nearby the Tornado.
"KNUX!" Tails yelled out in joy at seeing the Echidna sitting on the wings of the red bi-plane. "What happened?" The fox asked as he entered the old plane. Knuckles grabbed tightly onto the wings as Tails took off at full speed, flying high in the air. "I've revived everyone with the power of the Chaos Emeralds. They should be close behind!" Knuckles had barely finished answering Tails as Espio, Charmy, Mighty and Vector came racing up on personalized hoverboards [excepting Charmy, 'cause he flies]. They quickly caught up with Knuckles and Tails, and Knuckles immediately gave directions to Tails. "Head to the Acorn Royal Palace. That's where the final confrontation took place, between Mecha Sonic and the last three of us!"
Sally Acorn dropped her gun and stood up, seeing only the old capital where her family had ruled. Tears streamed unbidden from her eyes as she ran towards the palace, shouting out Sonic's name as she seeked the creature she was fated to stay with!
Amy Rose woke up almost instantly, feeling cold, as if she had been frozen for some time. She laid on the ground, unable to see in the dark, unlit chamber, shivering for an unknown reason, meekly calling out one word.
"Tails?"
A gloved hand rose slowly, twitching slightly from fatigue. Discarding the weaponry and gear he'd been wearing over the deep blue fur that was his trademark, the leader of the Freedom Fighters slowly picked himself up off of the marble floors of the Royal Palace of the Acorn Family. With a quick eye, he managed to take stock of the situation: Sonic the Hedgehog was back to life! Also, he noted with interest that he was standing in Sally's former home, the Royal Palace itself! Sonic immediately raced around the halls, using every bit of speed he could muster without damaging the area, to find the rest.
"Hello? Anyone?" Sonic heard a voice in the distance. It sounded remarkably familiar: Sally Acorn! Sonic now lost regard of the scenery: he raced full speed towards the sound of Sally's voice. "SALLY!" Sonic yelled at the top of his lungs, as he burst into the throne room. Standing in the center of the room, tear-stained and decidedly more mature-looking, was Sally Acorn. Sally whirled around and grabbed hold of Sonic, holding him tightly as if she would never let go!
"God, I missed you! How are we still here? What happened to the land?" Sally simply squeezed him tighter and sobbed, caught in between a laugh and a cry. "Let's not question a good thing!" Sally managed to smile as her face neared his. Just as their lips met, though, a huge whooping cheer rang out throughout the chamber, echoing off of the intricately patterned walls. Tails, Knuckles, Rotor, Antoine, Bunnie and the Chaotix stood in the doorway, cheering wildly as the couple kissed. Sally blushed deeply, and Sonic's hair went a lovely crimson, as Knuckles went up and congratulated the two, supported by Mighty. "Old memories are the best! Even after all we've been through, we all managed to get back together again!"
Sonic looked quizzically at Knuckles, as Mighty explained. "Sonic, Knuckles invoked the power of the Chaos Emeralds, and has restored the lives lost during the wars, and the planet's been restored. Knuckles is also quite exhausted: it took most of his life force to control the power needed." Sonic shook hands with the Echidna, and Sally embraced him as a brother. Then Tails piped up, after a moment of thought.
"Hold on! Where's Amy?" Before anyone could answer, Tails shot off through the corridors to the west, flying at full speed. Sonic and Sally immediately got a plan set. "Alright! Sonic, you go catch up with Tails and search the west wing. Me 'n Charmy will take the east wing. Mighty and Vector can search the North Wing, and the South Wing can be checked by Rotor and Antoine. Knuckles, you stay here with Espio and Bunnie, in case Amy passes this way! Got it?" Everyone nodded, and needed no second bidding. They all raced off, excepting Knuckles, Espio and Bunnie, who passed time by comparing the events each had gone through, and the odd feeling of passing on.
"What's it like, being dead?" Knuckles asked Bunnie, as they watched Rotor and Antoine leave to search for Amy. Bunnie thought for a bit, then answered in as straight forward a manner as possible. "Well, for me, it just felt really hot, almost like I had been thrown into the sun. Then, it just became incredibly cold, and I found myself back in Knothole, without my robotic parts. Sally, Sonic, Tails, and the rest of the gang were all there, too! I couldn't reach them, though"
"That's what it felt like for me, too!" Espio exclaimed, then continued, "But, I saw Mighty, Vector and Charmy instead." Knuckles contemplated this revelation, then wondered what his own death would feel like...
"So, what happened to you, Rotor?" Antoine said, not entirely trusting the mechanic after the betrayal. Rotor shook his head and removed a small steel bolt from one of his pockets. "See this?" Rotor waved the small machine in front of Antoine's face. Rotor continued on. "Well, it's a neural robotic link. Mecha Sonic fired it at Sonic after he shot Snivley, and I happened to be in the line of fire. While this thing was attached to my head, Mecha Sonic had complete control over my actions!" Antoine nodded and understood, still a little disoriented from his lethal experience.
Sally walked around her former home, checking every room and hiding place she knew of. As former princess of the palace, she knew the entire area, inside and out. Charmy flew close behind, keeping an ear open for instructions. "I sure hope Amy's alright!" Sally thought aloud to Charmy. Charmy agreed as they searched the vast royal garden. "She's quite sensitive, so recent events may have her scared and isolated." Both of them called out Amy's name again, the walls echoing the voices uselessly around the east wing.
Sonic found Tails in the stateroom of Acorn Palace. The fox was searching rather thorougly, checking every column, chair and table for Amy. Sonic thought for a bit before calling out to him. "Yo, bro! I think I know where she might be!" Tails immediately grabbed onto Sonic's hand as Sonic revved up and blasted full speed through the long corridors, eventually reaching a locked door, with a crest bearing a glowing blue sapphire. Tails then heard a faint voice, which barely escaped through the thick wooden gate. Before Sonic could say anything, Tails rolled up into a ball, revved up to full power, and let loose a Tails Tornado Spin, blasting the obstacle into timbers and splinters. Sonic rushed in shortly after, and followed Tails to a small corner of the room.
"Amy? What's wrong?" Tails was huddled close to a shivering figure, almost as small as the fox cub. The youngest of the Freedom Fighters rocked Amy's head in his lap, trying to comfort the frightened hedgehog between tears. Sonic stood silently, watching his best friend cradling the person he had always secretly considered his little sister, and blinked back a tear of joy.
"Those two are just like Sally and me." Sonic thought as he watched them quietly. "Tails would do anything to protect Amy." He was jarred out of his thoughts by a sudden scream. Turning back around, Sonic saw Amy leap up and suddenly notice the presence of Tails, as if she had been stirred awake from some incomprehensible nightmare. Tails backed away, giving her room to breathe as Sonic came into view.
"Where am I?" Amy asked, with a frightened tone in her voice. "What is this place?" Before either of them could answer, Amy swooned, passing out as if she had just seen Death. Tails lifted her and cried softly, and Sonic sped back to the others, telling them where Amy was. Sonic was back in little less than a minute, and the others followed after a while. Amy still laid in Tails' arms, shivering in her dreamless sleep.
Sally and Bunnie helped Tails carry the unconscious hedgehog into a nearby bedroom, and went to work taking stock of their medical supplies. Sally and Rotor, being the most educated of the team, worked in the libraries and studies to find out the cause for Amy's sickness. Knuckles was put in another room, where the Chaotix kept themselves occupied by answering Knuckles' questions and enquiries about the afterlife, and their own experiences. Bunnie and Antoine helped Amy in any way they could, frequently bringing in damp cloths and warm blankets to keep her comfortable.
Sonic and Tails, not able to help much, walked around the palace, sharing their own experiences and feelings with each other. "So, little bro! What'll you do with your life, once we all go on?" Tails thought for a bit, unsure of how to answer that. Finally, after a brief silence, Tails thought of the words to say.
"Well, Sonic, I've always had something of a soft spot for, well..." Tails blushed, unable to speak his mind through sheer embarrassment. Sonic simply shrugged and smiled, ruffling the fox's shock of hair as he finished the thought. "Amy, right? I noticed when we found her earlier. You would do anything for her, just like I'd do anything for Sally." Tails nodded, relieved and glad to have someone as understanding as Sonic as a friend. "Anyways, I'm thinking that Amy needs someone to lean on. She's sensitive and, yet, assertive. When we get back, I'll fix up a couple of dozen chili dogs, and a banana split, and I'll see if I can help you with Amy."
Tails laughed aloud, for the first time in months. "You still can't get your mind off of chili dogs, can you? I betcha Aunt Sally'll probably give you a right telling-off about weight loss, something along the lines of "SONIC! For god's sake, lay off the chili dogs! You're gonna end up looking like a blue Robotnik within a couple of weeks." Sonic burst out in uncontrolled hysterics, holding his sides from the sheer thought of it.
"Yeah, I can see it now!" Sonic managed to gasp between chuckles. "She'd probably beat the bulk outta me in five minutes flat!" Tails and Sonic laughed for a while after that, exchanging cracks and thoughts, when Sonic's watch beeped. His laughter cut off by the loud alarm, Sonic tapped the receiver, inwardly surprised that the connection in their equipment was still working. "Yeah, what's up?" Sonic was caught off guard by the emotion in Sally's usually level tone.
"Sonic, you & Tails better get back here quick! Get back to the infirmary, quick!" Sonic grabbed on to Tails, and raced towards the infirmary, meeting up with Sally in front of the main ward. Sonic immediately gave her a 'what's goin' on, Sally?' look. Sally did her level best to keep her voice calm and ordinary, but the tears in her eyes were making it difficult.
"Knuckles. He passed on just a few moments ago." Sonic brushed past Sally, and his eyes watered at the sight. Vector, Mighty, Charmy & Espio all wept silently around their only true friend, who lay in the bed with a calm, peaceful look on his face. Sonic turned around, trying to hide his sadness, but though the Chaotix didn't see him, Sally and Tails did. They all held hands, sitting together as Sally continued her report.
"Amy's fine. She's just in shock. When she was killed, she did not join our spirits in our idea of heaven. Her soul was seperated from us, and sent someplace different. Amy was isolated from us, and her older memories of loneliness after the disappearance of her kin returned with serious effects on her." Tails then decided that he had to tell them about his own experience.
"Sally. I know how Amy feels now. When I died, I wasn't with you guys, either. I was in a different place, a strange land. There were sounds of battle: explosions, screams, and wierd, alien growls. I think that it may have been some kind of message, but I didn't want to mention it around Amy." Tails went quiet for a while, and they all thought deeply, until a synchronized cry of alarm broke their silence.
"What in Chaos..." Sonic managed to yell, as a bright light emanated from the Chaotix' room. They burst in to find Knuckles enveloped in a pure beam of light. The Chaotix backed away, pushed to the wall by some unknown force. Before Sonic could dash forward, or Tails could jump in to help, Knuckles disappeared, and the light rose upwards, fading from existence. Everyone present immediately ran towards the window and gazed at the sight before their eyes.
In the sky was a gigantic monolith of steel, almost twice the size of the Acorn Royal Palace. The huge object hovered above the sun, blocking the light for miles. It was almost like some huge sea vessel, pill-shaped and built from some golden metal that did not shine. Around it flew several smaller ships, which resembled miniscule claws. They all flew remarkably fast, swarming around the larger ship like some pack of wasps around their hive.
They converged on another flying object, a bulbous living sac of flesh, which might have been some flying beetle, excepting the fact that it had almost twenty different appendages, and was carrying at least half-a-dozen creatures, similar in look to the aliens that had infested Mobius, only they had no legs, and their claws represented long spikes. The mechanical aggressors unleashed a flurry of blue energy bolts, which burned the larger creature in a matter of moments, causing it to drop its live cargo.
Before the bestial forces could recover, a second wave of machines was sent, but these were far different from the aerial fighters. These robotic creations were like gigantic steel spiders, with a strange glowing orb that might have been its head, if it hadn't been for the fact that the sphere was unleashing blasts of pure destructive energy into the ranks of the offending creatures. One of the creatures disappeared as it was hit full force by a stray blast, vaporized in an instant. The rest of the creatures began their own attack, opening compartments in their durable exo-skeletons to reveal an uncountable array of long, dense spikes.
The spider-mechs continued to pummel their enemy with odd energy blasts, even as their prey unleashed a deadly hail of lethal spines from afar, puncturing several of the modern war machines and piercing the large ship severely. A couple of the walking tanks exploded in a ball of blue energy, which dissipated harmlessly after a short time. Eventually, though, the numbers decided the outcome of the battle, and the creatures had all been wiped out.
Sonic, Tails and the rest all watched in fascination as the victorious robots simply disappeared, similar to the way Knuckles had, and the flying fighters simply flew into huge bays in the larger ship. Then, before they could blink, the carrier glowed with a blue light and seemed to expand, the strange energies crackling as they accumulated. As Sonic and the rest ran towards the Tornado, the anomaly seemed to burst into white flame, disappearing almost instantly.
Sonic, Sally and Tails, along with the Chaotix, just stood there for a while, attempting to take in the events that had just taken place. They didn't ponder long, though, as a gigantic behemoth of a monster burst through one of the thick outer walls, shattering it to rubble in seconds. The creature might have been some form of oversized beetle, except for the thick bone sickle blades protruding from either end of its monstrous head.
Reacting rather quickly, Charmy and Tails took to the skies, as Sally leapt into the Tornado's pilot seat. "Right, hold on!" She yelled, as Sonic, Mighty and Espio latched on to the wings. With a little coaxing, she got the plane off the ground, as the gargantuan beast slashed at the ground where they had been, driving its arm blades deep into the earth. It gave off a deep rumble, the ground underneath it cracking from the pressure of its stomping legs. Sally immediately executed a horizontal turn in the compact bi-plane, the wings barely missing the grass-covered floor as she streaked past the hulking berserker's head.
"We've got to get the others!" Sonic yelled above the roaring engine. "There's bound to be more of them!" As Sonic finished this statement, Bunnie, Rotor and Antoine ran out of the palace, holding the still- unconscious Amy between them. Tails & Charmy swooped down and lifted Amy clear, as a wave of vicious-looking aliens came towards the three on the ground. They were fast, covering ground quickly and leaping huge distances towards their prey. They resembled large dog-like insects, with four powerful legs and a deadly pair of razor mandibles. They also sported a pair of mean-looking serrated claws.
Rotor grabbed the other two and jumped, catching the wheel-bar under the Tornado as they flew overhead. The creatures in front jumped incredibly high, their jaws barely missing Antoine's leg, as the Freedom Fighters flew off towards Floating Island. Those who had jumped skidded along the ground towards the first hulking behemoth, who retaliated by stepping on the first four and slashing the remainder of them to bits with its horrific weapons.
"What do we do now?" Tails asked, still carrying the stunned hedgehog. Sonic grimaced and thought for a while, then climbed into the seat behind Sally. Sally smiled grimly, and slowed down the plane, her knuckles cracking audibly as she piloted towards their destination. A fire was in her eyes, one that everyone understood. Death was coming to call on them, so they'd have to break his skeletal arm once again. Only this time, the limb is thicker and more experienced, from past encounters.
"Well, since the palace is infested, we'll have to go and get some equipment. Then, we can go perform some extermination." The rest nodded and braced themselves for whatever fate would bring in store for them. Destiny had laid another heavy hand on the Freedom Fighters of Mobius. This time, though, the greatest weight of that hand may be pressing against any of them. Who will be crushed, and who will slip through the grasping fingers of veiled destiny
*****
Back at the palace, a pair of eyes flickered for a moment, then strobed into life, giving off an eerie neon glow. Steel plates shifted, and rubble blasted in every direction as the being stood up, bending and flexing its metallic limbs and head experimentally, and nodding in satisfaction. "The self-repair mechanism had worked perfectly." The lone entity thought to itself. Before long, though, it heard the sounds of the alien infestation approaching. Without a second glance, the iron fighter leaped into the air and unleashed a blast of pure light, sending sparks everywhere as its titanium-plated body became sheathed in a golden layer of armor.
"Right! About time I wasn't here!" The shining robot yelled, and from his spiked steel boots a jetting stream of energy was unleashed into the ground, incinerating the aliens that burst through the door and creating a gigantic crater in the area, knocking over walls and sending anything nearby flying through any obstacles, and Mecha Sonic burst through the thick ceiling, laughing maniacally as he streaked mechanically towards the signature of the Master Emerald.
The End
So, after the passing on of Knuckles, the evil Zerg have attacked Mobius, and though the mysterious Protoss managed to delay their efforts, and also kept Knuckles' body from falling into their hands, an evil presence has made itself known in the Royal Palace, desecrating the beloved home of Sally Acorn. Barely escaping the deadly assault on their home, carrying in tow the unconscious Amy Rose, the remaining Freedom Fighters (Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles 'Tails' Prower, Sally Acorn, Rotor, Antoine, and Bunnie Rabbot) along with the Chaotix (Charmy, Espio, Vector, and Mighty) have agreed to return to Floating Island to arm themselves for another war. But with Mecha Sonic, charged with the power of one of the emeralds, hot on their trail, and the ravenous Zerg rampaging around the planet, will they succeed? Read the next chapter of Mechanical Monstrosity to find out: Sacrifices!