Sonic Pandemonium
Written by Crystal Crazyshot and Mike Wolfskin (a.k.a. Team Icon)
Issue six - Turnabout Heroes
By the outskirts of Robotropolis, all the Freedom Fighters have gathered to make their attack on the grossly polluted city. Every individual seemed prepared as they went through months of training. The only sad thing was that the System Outcast alliance was not able to come due to their own problems in their own nations.
Amy begins walking around and screaming frantically "Has anyone seen Tails?!"
Knuckles answers " Nope! Can't say that I have."
"Nope. Me neither, but I feel a song coming on!" was Mike's reply.
"Me too!" the read echidna adds "Care to join me partner?"
The then begin to whistle that same theme song from before. Amy just stares at the two before saying "Where's Manic?"
Mike and Knuckles then begin to whistle even louder.
"You two are sure happy tonight" Sally said as she walks by.
"I don't know maybe it's the mood of the night" answers both of them, bursting out into laughter.
"Who could be happy about attacking Robotropolis at this time of night?" she thinks to herself.
After the laughter starts to subside, Mike whispers into Knuckles' ear and says "By the way, was the package delivered?" Knuckles then stares at Mike and says "OH yes! Sign, sealed and delivered."
"Where is everyone?!" Sally said "First Tails, then Lily and Manic. Now Amy's disappeared! And where is Sonic? He's late! It's not like him!"
Again, Mike and Knuckles burst out laughing hysterically.
"I think he went to his private 'hedgehog restroom'"said Knuckles.
Meanwhile back in Knothole village, we found two Freedom Fighters far away from the planned out launched attack. We find Crystal pounding on the bathroom hut door.
"Sonic, are you alright?" she asked "you've been in there for quite awhile! If you don't hurry up, we're gonna miss this mission's launch!"
"I'll be out in a......." he said as a loud noise came out from the room. "Minute!"
"I'm leaving," Crystal said "I'll see you there!"
"DAMN MIKE! DAMN KNUCKLES!" Sonic yelled from the lavatory "YOU"LL PAY FOR THIS!!!"
"Oh, Sonic. You should've known, you should've kept your guard up better." Crystal thought "but I gotta hand it those two. Super Ex Lax in a can of chili dogs in a can!"
Meanwhile, Mike and Knuckles stopped laughing, but are still grinning from ear to ear. Mike then looks at Knuckles and says "Different dimension or not! You haven't changed a bit." They then walk off, talking about different things. The last thing that could be heard was Knuckles saying "I could just hear him now!"
One could just barely hear Mike say "Don't you mean you could just 'smell' him now?" and lots of laughter.
The groups all began to assemble as Tails walks up and Sally scolds him.
"It's not like I'm a young kit anymore!" he then snaps back "Leave me alone! Who am I paired up with anyways?!"
Amy then comes running up with a shrill cry of delight "There's my partner!"
The orange fox then says in anger "Oh no you don't! I'm not baby sitting! I'll pair up with Lily!"
"But uh....."Sally said speechlessly as Amy starts to cry like a seven year old.
"Period! End of conversation!"finished Tails.
He walks towards Knuckles and gets a pair of rings that have bound together with some kind of rubbery substance. He gets these because he doesn't want to be split up from Lily during the attack and a set of bows and arrows. Tails then goes back to meet with Lily.
Suddenly, Sonic appears right as Sally was about slap Tails for his outburst.
The blue hedgehog gets the hand across his face instead.
"Sally!" Sonic said astonished "What on Mobius was that for?! No.... um......oh no! Not here!" He then begins to moan as he grips at his stomach. Suddenly, a big loud fart comes from him. From atop one of higher trees, Knuckles says "Hey, Mike!" Mike said from another tree not so far away "Yeah?!"
"You smell that?!" the red echidna called back. "Yeah? What about it?!" Mike called back.
"Smells to me like the sweet smell of victory!!" said Knuckles in a loud thunderous voice.
"WAY PAST COOL!" Mike said in the same tone and voice.
Amy then comes running up to Sonic. "My........." she begins to say "ew! You're smelly!"
The setting sun then signals the start of the attack on Robotropolis as everyone marches on to the city. In a nearby pine, a white fruit bat lights and hangs upside as she watches. "Hm." Rouge thought "Wonder what everyone is so serious about?
It's like walking into a funeral or something."
With a bored sigh, she then flies on the next updraft as she follows the largely assorted group of Freedom Fighters. "Doesn't matter!" the bat said decisively "I'm just going to go see what this city has to offer this treasure hunter."
Soon, the attack on the city was underway as the pairs of Freedom Fighters slit up for their individual jobs.
Crystal was polishing the brass knuckles on her hands until they shone as she looked at the sentry Swatbots changing their shifts.
"Bunnie, what's the status on that supply depot?" she asked looking towards the cyborg rabbit.
"The third shift hasn't arrived yet, Sugah-Crystal" replied Bunnie Rabbot.
"So the plan is that we attack it when the third shift changes and destroy the supplies kept in that storage area?" Crystal double checked.
"Yep. That's the plan, sugah!" she replied "I do declare! Y'all shore have good memory!"
"Yeah. Too good of a memory at times," Crystal trailed off as she recalled a similar mission like this. It wasn't as big, but she and Sonic were paired up.
They were both trapped and then the explosions. At that point the flash back ended.
"Ah.Y'all still sad about that mission, Crystal?" Bunnie asked sympathetically "That was three months ago and Sonic is still here."
"It's just that I feel that there was something I could've done to save his life is all," she said "Something that could've gotten both of us out alive."
With her Mobian arm, she then dried the tears away from Crystal's eyes.
"We all felt then both of us out alive."
With her Mobian arm, she then dried the tears away from Crystal's eyes.
"We all felt that way at some point in time, hon'" Bunnie said "Like you, it just take longer to get over it."
At that time, their watches that had been synchronized at the start of the mission beeped the signal that the third shift of Swatbots had begun to take guard at the depot.
"Show time!" Crystal said in the exact same manner that Sonic does. "Lets juice them and reduce them!" they both said at the same time as they exchanged the Freedom Fighter handshake.
Bunnie did a flying leap into the first set of Swatbots as Crystal tore through the other half with her armored fists. It was just like old times again.
With a placed punch with her robotic arm, she opened it enough for her and her partner to get through.
Inside a conveyor belt carried boxes of what appeared to be microchips.
"I always thought that Robotnik was behind Dell!" Crystal said jokingly "Now here's proof!"
Search lights covered ninety degree radiuses every twelve seconds, exact timing was required to pass them without detection.
Crystal ran in between and around the gaps that these lights missed with little effort. Often silencing the techbots with a slender sword she took from the sheath at her side. After placing it back, she went up to the catwalk where the light were being operated by Swatbots. Then one by one the searchlights went out as if the bulbs were broken in flashes of light that ended in total darkness.
"Y'all sure made short work of those lights, Crystal," Bunnie said surprised "Where on Mobius did ya learn timing like that?!"
"A certain hedgehog taught me for about a year or two!" Crystal said "C'mon. Before the bot brigade decides to check out what happened to their buddies!"
Meanwhile, Tails and Lily were working on disabling a set of lasers that spread across a door way.
"Can't you work any faster?!" said Lily. "Give me a break!" Tails said in a rushed voice "I'm doing this as fast I can!"
The small panel on the grid flashed several random numbers and letters as Tails hacked into the security system. One row had already stopped as he started work on the next one.
"Maybe this will help it go faster," Lily said as she kissed him directly on the lips.
Unsure what brought about this sudden action, Tails stared at her for several minutes.
"C'mon." the blue fox said "we'll hold everyone back if it isn't finished on time."
"Just about there!" he said "There!"
A series of beeps, the lasers faded until the path was clear. "Sonic!" Tails said into his communicator "The laser trap has been disable! It's clear!"
"Cool! Great job, T-2!" Sonic's voice said on the radio "Proceed to the next area!"
Just then laser fire begins to fly in their direction as they lead the Swatbots away from the area. During the chase, Lily falls and sprains her ankle. She is about to be captured when Tails shoots an arrow through the Swatbot. It explodes as he has her lean on his shoulder for support.
They just barely avoid the shots when someone pulls them around the corner.
"Real smooth move, fox-boy!" a voice chews him out tartly "You almost blew my cover!" Standing in front of the two, was Rouge with a hand full of precious gemstones the size of Chaos Emeralds while she stuffed the remainder of her heist into a duffle bag. That had conveniently been found laying around in a certain other treasure hunter's living quarters.
"Hey!" Tails said "Doesn't that belong to Knuckles?!"
Giving the two foxes a false look that lead them to believe that she was thinking really hard. "I'm just borrowing it." she said "so don't tell him. I'll give it back when I'm finished with it."
"Shameless treasure hunter!" Tails said under his breath.
As Rouge flew off, Lily and Tails ran to their next target.
In a darkened section of Robotropolis, Sonic and Sally went through a hidden passage way that lead to a secret underground passage. Coming out by a large machine being tended to by tech bots and worker bots.
"This definitely reminds me of heading through the Death Egg zone in my dimension," Sonic thought "Even then he used those he turned into robots to do his dirty work."
"We're almost to the targeted area, Sonic," Sally said quietly as to not alarm the robots working in the immediate area "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, Sal'" the blue hedgehog replied "It's just that this kinda reminds me a lot of what the Robotnik in my dimension is doin'! It just angers me to see what he's doin' here!"
A low but deep growl then issued from his throat as he clenched a fist tight enough to turn white.
"C'mon!" he said "Let's do it to it!" "Take this disc and slip it into that computer system over there." Sally said as she handed Sonic the computer disc "The laser overlapping each other will burn anything that they come in contact with. Think you can do it?"
Pride shone in his bright, emerald green eyes as he walked up to the security system. "Those lasers?" Sonic said with a thumb pointed over his back and towards the computer behind him "I can handle those lasers! No prob'!"
In series of vertical, horizontal and diagonal Spin Dashes, he made it past the lasers guarding the computer without even getting singed.
"Yeah!" he said "And the crowd goes wild!"
Seconds after the disc inserted into the computer, the lasers faded and the systems began spark electricity from every corner and crevice. Sonic blocked his eyes from the brightness and potential harm of the explosions with his arms as he backed away from the flames.
Meanwhile a certain needle nosed individual walks towards the main hall.
"Sir! SIR!!" in a strange yet fearful voice.
"What IS IT, Snively?!" Robotnik growled "Don't tell me that the Doomsday machine is in need of more oil!!!!!" "Yes sir....no sir......." Snively said "You'll never believe this sir!! Um....uh uhm..." he then picks up a remote and activates the monitors one by one, one of many monitors flash on with a very familiar blue
on the screen. Robotnik is still staring at Snively and still has no idea of the attack on his city nor the fact that his arch nemesis is alive.
"This had better be good, Snively!" Robotnik said "You're interrupting my Sierra Mist hour!" He then begins to sip from the can of the horrid drink .Then what would a tastebud less fool would call a lemon lime drink slowly goes down his throat. The foul bio begins to fill the room with its chokingly unpleasant smell.
Snively then contemplate the words he could say as a joke comes to mind, but he stutters. He dares not say those words. For if he did he would lose the last strand of hair on his balding head. Two small figures appear above him, both resemble a smaller version of himself representing the good and dark sides.
The dark side looks like him, but it has tail that points upward like a spade as it is holding a pitch fork. While the other is in a white kilt with a halo over its head.
"What did you do?!" the dark side said to the light "Get a sex change?!" "Haven't you heard of kilt before?!"said the light side.
"Dang Gays and lesbians" the dark said "Power to Bush! I hope to Hades that the amendment passes! If an other gay stares at me I'll...... I'll........."
"Didn't we come here for a purpose?" the light said.
"AH yes! Snively, say it SAY IT!" the dark said "Show that over bloated bastard who's boss!"
The light side then floats lightly on to Snively and twirls the last remaining strand of hair. "If you want to keep your hair, I wouldn't"she said.
Snively then begins to think that he's hallucinating as he realizes that he might be because of the rancid, mold like stench coming from the Sierra Mist.
Then from out of nowhere, Robotnik spews Sierra Mist everywhere including on his lackey. The tyrant then realizes that his city is under attack, but more importantly - he's still alive. The one he had thought to be dead three months ago, Sonic the Hedgehog was alive!
"YES! It's kind of like THAT!" Snively said as the dark side grinned from ear to ear and the light burst out in hysterical laughter. They both then disappear in a poof of light.
In a maddened rage, Robotnik starts to push every button he could find on every console in the room to deal with this new yet old threat.
Inside the ventilation pipes, Mike and Knuckles make through this area for their part of the mission.
Unfortunately, this would be quite difficult due to the fact they would have to turn off the power generator at the right moment and time. They couldn't be a moment too soon nor too late or others would get hurt. Not to mention the fact that it would be an extremely difficult task to accomplish for the renewed treasure hunters. Knuckles comes down from the hole in the grating and steps onto a loose plate on the floor that triggered a pressure sensitive trap. As Mike comes behind him, he notices flames start to fire up on either side of the walls.
"Oooh NO" the red echidna exclaims "MIKE! Behind you!!!"
He looks back to see this and they both make a run for it as the flame throwers shoot out fire hot enough to melt metal.
"RUN NOW!" Knuckles yelled as they dodge the fire traps "Or we'll be burned alive!!!"
As they run, wall mounted weapons start shooting bullets at them. He then glides to each one as he destroys them with his powerful fists. "I got you covered!" he shouted over the noise "Keep going!"
"Right!" Mike said running as he kept up with him.
The traps then start to get tougher as stone pillars start to fall along side the narrow hall way. Running as fast as they could, they ran past these as the threatened to crush the two intruders.
"Is that it?" asked Knuckles. An ominous square shaped shadow then starts to hang over them. Without warning, they find themselves holding up a stone ceiling that is only a yard or so away from the generator.
"I can disable the power generator from here, Knux!" said Mike. "With what?!" he exclaimed "you're holding up this big slab of stone too!"
Though it was hard to see from Knuckles' view point, Mike activated a laser on the I.R. and blasted the generator with a laser blast. Then the lights started to dim out and the ceiling stopped enough for the red echidna to push it up and join him.
The next minute, it then continued to lower on inertia rather than the power used to power it. They both flew out of the hall and barely made it as the whole room went totally dark.
Looking back Knuckles could almost see the ceiling crumble into pieces as if something had hit with a lot of force.
As the dust settled something tackled him to ground. In the dark two digital blue eyes flashed as this was the only light in the room.
"By orders of master Dr. Ivo Robotnik," the robot said "You shall be destroyed!!!"
"Sorry, pal!" Knuckles said as he punched his attacker "but I don't play that game!" In the dim light of the robot's eyes an echidna-like figure could be seen that was a shiny metallic red in color and looked like Knuckles. It's claws were two sharp spikes on either hand and its dread locks were made of cords that are encased in a light metal. The visor was a bright neon blue as it flared at its targets.
"Targets acquired." it said "Priority one- Freedom Fighters"
/TARGET ONE/ = Mike Wolfskin
Status/ previously inactive for duration of three years
System Outcast Freedom Fighter
/TARGET TWO/= Knuckles the Echidna
Status/ presumed dead =ignore in favor of new information.
PROTOCOL ......./ ACTIVATE ATTACK MODE
ATTACK MODE ACTIVATED
external audio target one "looks like Robotnik's been busy."
target two "sure looks that way. Lets take out this look alike!"
Both Knuckles and Mike dodged out of the way of Mecha Knuckles' laser blasts that it continually strafed them with. Knuckles then came up from behind and slammed his fists into its back. The robot was disoriented as it received an elbow to its mid section. In the next second it retaliated by swiping its razor-like claws at the red echidna. These narrowly missed as the last one cut his shoulder.
"This thing almost as tough as that Mecha Sonic robot that Eggman sent after us on the space colony," Knuckles thought "no wonder Sonic had such a hard time fighting it!"
He then punched Mecha Knuckles as it was sent against a wall with a loud CLANG!! Several sparks of electricity flickered over it.
"HAHAHAHAHA!" it laughed "You fools have no idea just what you're dealing with here!"
Mecha Knuckles got up as if it weren't damaged at all and began to glow a bright green.
"Don't tell this thing has a piece of the negative Chaos Emerald too!" exclaimed Mike.
"No it's not a Chaos Emerald!" Knuckles said "Its power feels similar. That's it!"
Pointing to Mecha Knuckles, he then said "It's the Master Emerald of this dimension's Angel Island. Sonic and I fought Metal Sonic when it tried to take it and power itself up in the same way!"
"That's right, Freedom Fighters!" Mecha Knuckles said "with the power of the Floating Island's Master Emerald. I will crush you like insects!!"
"Oh YEAH?!" Knuckles and Mike said at the same time "You're the fool for not realizing who YOU"RE dealing!!"
The robot then found itself on the receiving end of several attacks from both treasure hunters. This it guarded against quiet well, until Mike punched it in its visor.
/VISUAL STATUS LOST/
switch to infra red/
"You'll be seein' red alright!"Knuckles said "When we're finished with you!!"
In a flurry of fisticuffs, he hit Mecha Knuckles with everything he had. Then the Master Emerald which was supplying its power fell out from one of the stronger hits.
"Who's gonna crush who like an insect?!" Mike said "Let's finish off this sorry excuse for a robot, Knuckles."
Knuckles' eyes then shone brilliantly as he replied"RIGHT!"
In the darkness of the control room only lit by the light of Mobius' twin moons, emerald green eyes shone iridescently as they reflected off of this light.
Dodging laser fire, strafed at him, Sonic Spin Dashed the laser blaster out of Robotnik's hand and landed hand and knee as he skidded back several feet.
He then came at his arch enemy at full speed as his legs became blurry spinning wheels. The tyrant caught him off guard and threw him into a consol that ran on an independent power source and was electrocuted as the raw voltage coursed through him. With a Spin Dash, Sonic freed himself and punched Robotnik hard enough to bounce him back across the room and in to the next area. He didn't let up and continued the onslaught. In the dim light of the moons, his eyes made him look like some kind of phantom. This unnerve Robotnik as he saw him approaching. The familiar figure of his enemy, whom he thought had finally died not too long ago.
"What's the matter?!" Sonic said sarcastically "You look like you've seen a ghost!"
Without a reply, he was then shot in the right shoulder with a concealed weapon on Robotnik's robotic arm. He hollered from the pain and surprise of the sneak attack. Renewing his own, he then did a spiral uppercut powered by the Super Figure Eight Peel out.
His breathing had now become slower and labored as a fraction of his energy went towards his hurt shoulder.
Beads of sweat formed at Sonic's forehead and ran down the side of this face. He was about to deliver the finishing blow when all the lights started to come back on.
He was nearly blinded as his eyes had to adjust to the sudden brightness.
"Well, hedgehog!" Robotnik sneered "Looks like you forgot about the back up generator!"
Still getting used the light around him, he found himself held against a wall by two Swatbots. "Hey!!" the blue hedgehog exclaimed "What kind of trick is this?!!" "The best kind!" answered Robotnik as he ordered the Swatbots to take Sonic to the Roboticizer. Only inches away from the dreaded machine, when a large explosion blew up almost the entire room.
"Hey, Knux!" Sonic said "Great timing!" "Need some help, Sonic?" Knuckles asked "You looked a little banged up."
"More like 'a lot'" he replied "now that you mention it, could you get these walking tin cans offa me?!"
Knuckles then took the Swatbots apart like they were toys.
"Thanks, Knux..." Sonic said as he held a hand to the laser shot.
"Hey you alright?" th red echidna asked concerned "It looks really bad."
He just sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth as he looked towards his companion with faint emerald eyes.
"I'll manage," Sonic said "It's probably not as bad as it looks ...or feels."
At that moment they were joined by everyone else except for Shadow and Nike who had somehow gotten to the wrong side of Robotropolis.
"Well, this looks like a fine mess" Shadow thought "How did we get lost? This place isn't like Station Square."
"Some 'Ultimate Life form!'" said Nike. Shadow's ruby red eyes shifted towards the black and yellow echidna that had spoken. " I could've gotten this done by myself, echidna," he said "but I agreed to LET you be paired up with me for this mission!"
The black and red hedgehog then regarded his reluctant traveling companion with fiery red eyes and walked away several paces. He then stood silently for about two or so minutes before shouting "CHAOS CONTROL!"
In seconds they appeared in the same room that Sonic and the others were in earlier. At that time, large reddish purple clouds started to fill the surrounding area.
"Fall back everyone," Sally called to the whole group "Return to Knothole!"
Later that night, Crystal visited Sonic by the Power Ring grotto as he stared towards the clear water reflecting the moonlight.
"How's your arm, Sonic?" she asked as she sat beside him.
Sonic's emerald green eyes fell upon his shoulder which was bandaged and held in a sling. "Okay I guess," he sighed "It's healin' and doesn't hurt as much as it did at first." He then placed his good arm behind his back.
"What is it like where you come from,"Crystal inquired "I mean in your dimension"
Again, the blue hedgehog sighed deeply as if he had a lot on his mind.
"It's not that much different from here, I guess" he answered "Mobius still has the same twin moons or at least it did before Eggman blew one of them up."
For awhile, they talked about stuff that had been on each others' minds until they both fell asleep against the tall oak tree.
The wind blew several leaves across the lake as scene shifts to another pair of Freedom Fighters inside a certain treasure hunter's hut.
"What happened to the Floating Island in this dimension anyways?!" Knuckles asked "If this Master Emerald was in Robotnik's possession then that must mean that he destroyed it somehow!"
Holding the Master Emerald he found in his large, gloved hand, he looked at it with curiosity and confusion. If the Knuckles of this dimension failed to protect the bright green gem then something must've happened to Angel Island.
"It's a long story, Knuckles," Mike said "that is if you want to hear it."
"Don't worry I have all night," the red echidna replied as he laid back on the bed with one hand behind his back "There's no hurry."
Then something came to mind of the treasure hunter, he then reached over to his duffle bag as he found it empty. Reaching into it almost frantically, he looked for HIS Master Emerald. The whole bag was empty with the exception a letter written in very fine cursive letters with his name on it.
Dear Knuckles,
I sort of used your bag for swiping jewels from that city you guys were attacking.
Oh just let me get to the point! You still had some treasures in there and I couldn't discern them from my own. So..... I just took them all. Sorry.
See you later guardian, Rouge ^_^ 3
Through out Knothole, everyone could hear Knuckles cry- screaming "NOOOOOOOO! MYYYYYYY PREEEEECCCCCCCIOUSSSS!"
Written by Crystal Crazyshot and Mike Wolfskin (a.k.a. Team Icon)
Issue six - Turnabout Heroes
By the outskirts of Robotropolis, all the Freedom Fighters have gathered to make their attack on the grossly polluted city. Every individual seemed prepared as they went through months of training. The only sad thing was that the System Outcast alliance was not able to come due to their own problems in their own nations.
Amy begins walking around and screaming frantically "Has anyone seen Tails?!"
Knuckles answers " Nope! Can't say that I have."
"Nope. Me neither, but I feel a song coming on!" was Mike's reply.
"Me too!" the read echidna adds "Care to join me partner?"
The then begin to whistle that same theme song from before. Amy just stares at the two before saying "Where's Manic?"
Mike and Knuckles then begin to whistle even louder.
"You two are sure happy tonight" Sally said as she walks by.
"I don't know maybe it's the mood of the night" answers both of them, bursting out into laughter.
"Who could be happy about attacking Robotropolis at this time of night?" she thinks to herself.
After the laughter starts to subside, Mike whispers into Knuckles' ear and says "By the way, was the package delivered?" Knuckles then stares at Mike and says "OH yes! Sign, sealed and delivered."
"Where is everyone?!" Sally said "First Tails, then Lily and Manic. Now Amy's disappeared! And where is Sonic? He's late! It's not like him!"
Again, Mike and Knuckles burst out laughing hysterically.
"I think he went to his private 'hedgehog restroom'"said Knuckles.
Meanwhile back in Knothole village, we found two Freedom Fighters far away from the planned out launched attack. We find Crystal pounding on the bathroom hut door.
"Sonic, are you alright?" she asked "you've been in there for quite awhile! If you don't hurry up, we're gonna miss this mission's launch!"
"I'll be out in a......." he said as a loud noise came out from the room. "Minute!"
"I'm leaving," Crystal said "I'll see you there!"
"DAMN MIKE! DAMN KNUCKLES!" Sonic yelled from the lavatory "YOU"LL PAY FOR THIS!!!"
"Oh, Sonic. You should've known, you should've kept your guard up better." Crystal thought "but I gotta hand it those two. Super Ex Lax in a can of chili dogs in a can!"
Meanwhile, Mike and Knuckles stopped laughing, but are still grinning from ear to ear. Mike then looks at Knuckles and says "Different dimension or not! You haven't changed a bit." They then walk off, talking about different things. The last thing that could be heard was Knuckles saying "I could just hear him now!"
One could just barely hear Mike say "Don't you mean you could just 'smell' him now?" and lots of laughter.
The groups all began to assemble as Tails walks up and Sally scolds him.
"It's not like I'm a young kit anymore!" he then snaps back "Leave me alone! Who am I paired up with anyways?!"
Amy then comes running up with a shrill cry of delight "There's my partner!"
The orange fox then says in anger "Oh no you don't! I'm not baby sitting! I'll pair up with Lily!"
"But uh....."Sally said speechlessly as Amy starts to cry like a seven year old.
"Period! End of conversation!"finished Tails.
He walks towards Knuckles and gets a pair of rings that have bound together with some kind of rubbery substance. He gets these because he doesn't want to be split up from Lily during the attack and a set of bows and arrows. Tails then goes back to meet with Lily.
Suddenly, Sonic appears right as Sally was about slap Tails for his outburst.
The blue hedgehog gets the hand across his face instead.
"Sally!" Sonic said astonished "What on Mobius was that for?! No.... um......oh no! Not here!" He then begins to moan as he grips at his stomach. Suddenly, a big loud fart comes from him. From atop one of higher trees, Knuckles says "Hey, Mike!" Mike said from another tree not so far away "Yeah?!"
"You smell that?!" the red echidna called back. "Yeah? What about it?!" Mike called back.
"Smells to me like the sweet smell of victory!!" said Knuckles in a loud thunderous voice.
"WAY PAST COOL!" Mike said in the same tone and voice.
Amy then comes running up to Sonic. "My........." she begins to say "ew! You're smelly!"
The setting sun then signals the start of the attack on Robotropolis as everyone marches on to the city. In a nearby pine, a white fruit bat lights and hangs upside as she watches. "Hm." Rouge thought "Wonder what everyone is so serious about?
It's like walking into a funeral or something."
With a bored sigh, she then flies on the next updraft as she follows the largely assorted group of Freedom Fighters. "Doesn't matter!" the bat said decisively "I'm just going to go see what this city has to offer this treasure hunter."
Soon, the attack on the city was underway as the pairs of Freedom Fighters slit up for their individual jobs.
Crystal was polishing the brass knuckles on her hands until they shone as she looked at the sentry Swatbots changing their shifts.
"Bunnie, what's the status on that supply depot?" she asked looking towards the cyborg rabbit.
"The third shift hasn't arrived yet, Sugah-Crystal" replied Bunnie Rabbot.
"So the plan is that we attack it when the third shift changes and destroy the supplies kept in that storage area?" Crystal double checked.
"Yep. That's the plan, sugah!" she replied "I do declare! Y'all shore have good memory!"
"Yeah. Too good of a memory at times," Crystal trailed off as she recalled a similar mission like this. It wasn't as big, but she and Sonic were paired up.
They were both trapped and then the explosions. At that point the flash back ended.
"Ah.Y'all still sad about that mission, Crystal?" Bunnie asked sympathetically "That was three months ago and Sonic is still here."
"It's just that I feel that there was something I could've done to save his life is all," she said "Something that could've gotten both of us out alive."
With her Mobian arm, she then dried the tears away from Crystal's eyes.
"We all felt then both of us out alive."
With her Mobian arm, she then dried the tears away from Crystal's eyes.
"We all felt that way at some point in time, hon'" Bunnie said "Like you, it just take longer to get over it."
At that time, their watches that had been synchronized at the start of the mission beeped the signal that the third shift of Swatbots had begun to take guard at the depot.
"Show time!" Crystal said in the exact same manner that Sonic does. "Lets juice them and reduce them!" they both said at the same time as they exchanged the Freedom Fighter handshake.
Bunnie did a flying leap into the first set of Swatbots as Crystal tore through the other half with her armored fists. It was just like old times again.
With a placed punch with her robotic arm, she opened it enough for her and her partner to get through.
Inside a conveyor belt carried boxes of what appeared to be microchips.
"I always thought that Robotnik was behind Dell!" Crystal said jokingly "Now here's proof!"
Search lights covered ninety degree radiuses every twelve seconds, exact timing was required to pass them without detection.
Crystal ran in between and around the gaps that these lights missed with little effort. Often silencing the techbots with a slender sword she took from the sheath at her side. After placing it back, she went up to the catwalk where the light were being operated by Swatbots. Then one by one the searchlights went out as if the bulbs were broken in flashes of light that ended in total darkness.
"Y'all sure made short work of those lights, Crystal," Bunnie said surprised "Where on Mobius did ya learn timing like that?!"
"A certain hedgehog taught me for about a year or two!" Crystal said "C'mon. Before the bot brigade decides to check out what happened to their buddies!"
Meanwhile, Tails and Lily were working on disabling a set of lasers that spread across a door way.
"Can't you work any faster?!" said Lily. "Give me a break!" Tails said in a rushed voice "I'm doing this as fast I can!"
The small panel on the grid flashed several random numbers and letters as Tails hacked into the security system. One row had already stopped as he started work on the next one.
"Maybe this will help it go faster," Lily said as she kissed him directly on the lips.
Unsure what brought about this sudden action, Tails stared at her for several minutes.
"C'mon." the blue fox said "we'll hold everyone back if it isn't finished on time."
"Just about there!" he said "There!"
A series of beeps, the lasers faded until the path was clear. "Sonic!" Tails said into his communicator "The laser trap has been disable! It's clear!"
"Cool! Great job, T-2!" Sonic's voice said on the radio "Proceed to the next area!"
Just then laser fire begins to fly in their direction as they lead the Swatbots away from the area. During the chase, Lily falls and sprains her ankle. She is about to be captured when Tails shoots an arrow through the Swatbot. It explodes as he has her lean on his shoulder for support.
They just barely avoid the shots when someone pulls them around the corner.
"Real smooth move, fox-boy!" a voice chews him out tartly "You almost blew my cover!" Standing in front of the two, was Rouge with a hand full of precious gemstones the size of Chaos Emeralds while she stuffed the remainder of her heist into a duffle bag. That had conveniently been found laying around in a certain other treasure hunter's living quarters.
"Hey!" Tails said "Doesn't that belong to Knuckles?!"
Giving the two foxes a false look that lead them to believe that she was thinking really hard. "I'm just borrowing it." she said "so don't tell him. I'll give it back when I'm finished with it."
"Shameless treasure hunter!" Tails said under his breath.
As Rouge flew off, Lily and Tails ran to their next target.
In a darkened section of Robotropolis, Sonic and Sally went through a hidden passage way that lead to a secret underground passage. Coming out by a large machine being tended to by tech bots and worker bots.
"This definitely reminds me of heading through the Death Egg zone in my dimension," Sonic thought "Even then he used those he turned into robots to do his dirty work."
"We're almost to the targeted area, Sonic," Sally said quietly as to not alarm the robots working in the immediate area "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, Sal'" the blue hedgehog replied "It's just that this kinda reminds me a lot of what the Robotnik in my dimension is doin'! It just angers me to see what he's doin' here!"
A low but deep growl then issued from his throat as he clenched a fist tight enough to turn white.
"C'mon!" he said "Let's do it to it!" "Take this disc and slip it into that computer system over there." Sally said as she handed Sonic the computer disc "The laser overlapping each other will burn anything that they come in contact with. Think you can do it?"
Pride shone in his bright, emerald green eyes as he walked up to the security system. "Those lasers?" Sonic said with a thumb pointed over his back and towards the computer behind him "I can handle those lasers! No prob'!"
In series of vertical, horizontal and diagonal Spin Dashes, he made it past the lasers guarding the computer without even getting singed.
"Yeah!" he said "And the crowd goes wild!"
Seconds after the disc inserted into the computer, the lasers faded and the systems began spark electricity from every corner and crevice. Sonic blocked his eyes from the brightness and potential harm of the explosions with his arms as he backed away from the flames.
Meanwhile a certain needle nosed individual walks towards the main hall.
"Sir! SIR!!" in a strange yet fearful voice.
"What IS IT, Snively?!" Robotnik growled "Don't tell me that the Doomsday machine is in need of more oil!!!!!" "Yes sir....no sir......." Snively said "You'll never believe this sir!! Um....uh uhm..." he then picks up a remote and activates the monitors one by one, one of many monitors flash on with a very familiar blue
on the screen. Robotnik is still staring at Snively and still has no idea of the attack on his city nor the fact that his arch nemesis is alive.
"This had better be good, Snively!" Robotnik said "You're interrupting my Sierra Mist hour!" He then begins to sip from the can of the horrid drink .Then what would a tastebud less fool would call a lemon lime drink slowly goes down his throat. The foul bio begins to fill the room with its chokingly unpleasant smell.
Snively then contemplate the words he could say as a joke comes to mind, but he stutters. He dares not say those words. For if he did he would lose the last strand of hair on his balding head. Two small figures appear above him, both resemble a smaller version of himself representing the good and dark sides.
The dark side looks like him, but it has tail that points upward like a spade as it is holding a pitch fork. While the other is in a white kilt with a halo over its head.
"What did you do?!" the dark side said to the light "Get a sex change?!" "Haven't you heard of kilt before?!"said the light side.
"Dang Gays and lesbians" the dark said "Power to Bush! I hope to Hades that the amendment passes! If an other gay stares at me I'll...... I'll........."
"Didn't we come here for a purpose?" the light said.
"AH yes! Snively, say it SAY IT!" the dark said "Show that over bloated bastard who's boss!"
The light side then floats lightly on to Snively and twirls the last remaining strand of hair. "If you want to keep your hair, I wouldn't"she said.
Snively then begins to think that he's hallucinating as he realizes that he might be because of the rancid, mold like stench coming from the Sierra Mist.
Then from out of nowhere, Robotnik spews Sierra Mist everywhere including on his lackey. The tyrant then realizes that his city is under attack, but more importantly - he's still alive. The one he had thought to be dead three months ago, Sonic the Hedgehog was alive!
"YES! It's kind of like THAT!" Snively said as the dark side grinned from ear to ear and the light burst out in hysterical laughter. They both then disappear in a poof of light.
In a maddened rage, Robotnik starts to push every button he could find on every console in the room to deal with this new yet old threat.
Inside the ventilation pipes, Mike and Knuckles make through this area for their part of the mission.
Unfortunately, this would be quite difficult due to the fact they would have to turn off the power generator at the right moment and time. They couldn't be a moment too soon nor too late or others would get hurt. Not to mention the fact that it would be an extremely difficult task to accomplish for the renewed treasure hunters. Knuckles comes down from the hole in the grating and steps onto a loose plate on the floor that triggered a pressure sensitive trap. As Mike comes behind him, he notices flames start to fire up on either side of the walls.
"Oooh NO" the red echidna exclaims "MIKE! Behind you!!!"
He looks back to see this and they both make a run for it as the flame throwers shoot out fire hot enough to melt metal.
"RUN NOW!" Knuckles yelled as they dodge the fire traps "Or we'll be burned alive!!!"
As they run, wall mounted weapons start shooting bullets at them. He then glides to each one as he destroys them with his powerful fists. "I got you covered!" he shouted over the noise "Keep going!"
"Right!" Mike said running as he kept up with him.
The traps then start to get tougher as stone pillars start to fall along side the narrow hall way. Running as fast as they could, they ran past these as the threatened to crush the two intruders.
"Is that it?" asked Knuckles. An ominous square shaped shadow then starts to hang over them. Without warning, they find themselves holding up a stone ceiling that is only a yard or so away from the generator.
"I can disable the power generator from here, Knux!" said Mike. "With what?!" he exclaimed "you're holding up this big slab of stone too!"
Though it was hard to see from Knuckles' view point, Mike activated a laser on the I.R. and blasted the generator with a laser blast. Then the lights started to dim out and the ceiling stopped enough for the red echidna to push it up and join him.
The next minute, it then continued to lower on inertia rather than the power used to power it. They both flew out of the hall and barely made it as the whole room went totally dark.
Looking back Knuckles could almost see the ceiling crumble into pieces as if something had hit with a lot of force.
As the dust settled something tackled him to ground. In the dark two digital blue eyes flashed as this was the only light in the room.
"By orders of master Dr. Ivo Robotnik," the robot said "You shall be destroyed!!!"
"Sorry, pal!" Knuckles said as he punched his attacker "but I don't play that game!" In the dim light of the robot's eyes an echidna-like figure could be seen that was a shiny metallic red in color and looked like Knuckles. It's claws were two sharp spikes on either hand and its dread locks were made of cords that are encased in a light metal. The visor was a bright neon blue as it flared at its targets.
"Targets acquired." it said "Priority one- Freedom Fighters"
/TARGET ONE/ = Mike Wolfskin
Status/ previously inactive for duration of three years
System Outcast Freedom Fighter
/TARGET TWO/= Knuckles the Echidna
Status/ presumed dead =ignore in favor of new information.
PROTOCOL ......./ ACTIVATE ATTACK MODE
ATTACK MODE ACTIVATED
external audio target one "looks like Robotnik's been busy."
target two "sure looks that way. Lets take out this look alike!"
Both Knuckles and Mike dodged out of the way of Mecha Knuckles' laser blasts that it continually strafed them with. Knuckles then came up from behind and slammed his fists into its back. The robot was disoriented as it received an elbow to its mid section. In the next second it retaliated by swiping its razor-like claws at the red echidna. These narrowly missed as the last one cut his shoulder.
"This thing almost as tough as that Mecha Sonic robot that Eggman sent after us on the space colony," Knuckles thought "no wonder Sonic had such a hard time fighting it!"
He then punched Mecha Knuckles as it was sent against a wall with a loud CLANG!! Several sparks of electricity flickered over it.
"HAHAHAHAHA!" it laughed "You fools have no idea just what you're dealing with here!"
Mecha Knuckles got up as if it weren't damaged at all and began to glow a bright green.
"Don't tell this thing has a piece of the negative Chaos Emerald too!" exclaimed Mike.
"No it's not a Chaos Emerald!" Knuckles said "Its power feels similar. That's it!"
Pointing to Mecha Knuckles, he then said "It's the Master Emerald of this dimension's Angel Island. Sonic and I fought Metal Sonic when it tried to take it and power itself up in the same way!"
"That's right, Freedom Fighters!" Mecha Knuckles said "with the power of the Floating Island's Master Emerald. I will crush you like insects!!"
"Oh YEAH?!" Knuckles and Mike said at the same time "You're the fool for not realizing who YOU"RE dealing!!"
The robot then found itself on the receiving end of several attacks from both treasure hunters. This it guarded against quiet well, until Mike punched it in its visor.
/VISUAL STATUS LOST/
switch to infra red/
"You'll be seein' red alright!"Knuckles said "When we're finished with you!!"
In a flurry of fisticuffs, he hit Mecha Knuckles with everything he had. Then the Master Emerald which was supplying its power fell out from one of the stronger hits.
"Who's gonna crush who like an insect?!" Mike said "Let's finish off this sorry excuse for a robot, Knuckles."
Knuckles' eyes then shone brilliantly as he replied"RIGHT!"
In the darkness of the control room only lit by the light of Mobius' twin moons, emerald green eyes shone iridescently as they reflected off of this light.
Dodging laser fire, strafed at him, Sonic Spin Dashed the laser blaster out of Robotnik's hand and landed hand and knee as he skidded back several feet.
He then came at his arch enemy at full speed as his legs became blurry spinning wheels. The tyrant caught him off guard and threw him into a consol that ran on an independent power source and was electrocuted as the raw voltage coursed through him. With a Spin Dash, Sonic freed himself and punched Robotnik hard enough to bounce him back across the room and in to the next area. He didn't let up and continued the onslaught. In the dim light of the moons, his eyes made him look like some kind of phantom. This unnerve Robotnik as he saw him approaching. The familiar figure of his enemy, whom he thought had finally died not too long ago.
"What's the matter?!" Sonic said sarcastically "You look like you've seen a ghost!"
Without a reply, he was then shot in the right shoulder with a concealed weapon on Robotnik's robotic arm. He hollered from the pain and surprise of the sneak attack. Renewing his own, he then did a spiral uppercut powered by the Super Figure Eight Peel out.
His breathing had now become slower and labored as a fraction of his energy went towards his hurt shoulder.
Beads of sweat formed at Sonic's forehead and ran down the side of this face. He was about to deliver the finishing blow when all the lights started to come back on.
He was nearly blinded as his eyes had to adjust to the sudden brightness.
"Well, hedgehog!" Robotnik sneered "Looks like you forgot about the back up generator!"
Still getting used the light around him, he found himself held against a wall by two Swatbots. "Hey!!" the blue hedgehog exclaimed "What kind of trick is this?!!" "The best kind!" answered Robotnik as he ordered the Swatbots to take Sonic to the Roboticizer. Only inches away from the dreaded machine, when a large explosion blew up almost the entire room.
"Hey, Knux!" Sonic said "Great timing!" "Need some help, Sonic?" Knuckles asked "You looked a little banged up."
"More like 'a lot'" he replied "now that you mention it, could you get these walking tin cans offa me?!"
Knuckles then took the Swatbots apart like they were toys.
"Thanks, Knux..." Sonic said as he held a hand to the laser shot.
"Hey you alright?" th red echidna asked concerned "It looks really bad."
He just sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth as he looked towards his companion with faint emerald eyes.
"I'll manage," Sonic said "It's probably not as bad as it looks ...or feels."
At that moment they were joined by everyone else except for Shadow and Nike who had somehow gotten to the wrong side of Robotropolis.
"Well, this looks like a fine mess" Shadow thought "How did we get lost? This place isn't like Station Square."
"Some 'Ultimate Life form!'" said Nike. Shadow's ruby red eyes shifted towards the black and yellow echidna that had spoken. " I could've gotten this done by myself, echidna," he said "but I agreed to LET you be paired up with me for this mission!"
The black and red hedgehog then regarded his reluctant traveling companion with fiery red eyes and walked away several paces. He then stood silently for about two or so minutes before shouting "CHAOS CONTROL!"
In seconds they appeared in the same room that Sonic and the others were in earlier. At that time, large reddish purple clouds started to fill the surrounding area.
"Fall back everyone," Sally called to the whole group "Return to Knothole!"
Later that night, Crystal visited Sonic by the Power Ring grotto as he stared towards the clear water reflecting the moonlight.
"How's your arm, Sonic?" she asked as she sat beside him.
Sonic's emerald green eyes fell upon his shoulder which was bandaged and held in a sling. "Okay I guess," he sighed "It's healin' and doesn't hurt as much as it did at first." He then placed his good arm behind his back.
"What is it like where you come from,"Crystal inquired "I mean in your dimension"
Again, the blue hedgehog sighed deeply as if he had a lot on his mind.
"It's not that much different from here, I guess" he answered "Mobius still has the same twin moons or at least it did before Eggman blew one of them up."
For awhile, they talked about stuff that had been on each others' minds until they both fell asleep against the tall oak tree.
The wind blew several leaves across the lake as scene shifts to another pair of Freedom Fighters inside a certain treasure hunter's hut.
"What happened to the Floating Island in this dimension anyways?!" Knuckles asked "If this Master Emerald was in Robotnik's possession then that must mean that he destroyed it somehow!"
Holding the Master Emerald he found in his large, gloved hand, he looked at it with curiosity and confusion. If the Knuckles of this dimension failed to protect the bright green gem then something must've happened to Angel Island.
"It's a long story, Knuckles," Mike said "that is if you want to hear it."
"Don't worry I have all night," the red echidna replied as he laid back on the bed with one hand behind his back "There's no hurry."
Then something came to mind of the treasure hunter, he then reached over to his duffle bag as he found it empty. Reaching into it almost frantically, he looked for HIS Master Emerald. The whole bag was empty with the exception a letter written in very fine cursive letters with his name on it.
Dear Knuckles,
I sort of used your bag for swiping jewels from that city you guys were attacking.
Oh just let me get to the point! You still had some treasures in there and I couldn't discern them from my own. So..... I just took them all. Sorry.
See you later guardian, Rouge ^_^ 3
Through out Knothole, everyone could hear Knuckles cry- screaming "NOOOOOOOO! MYYYYYYY PREEEEECCCCCCCIOUSSSS!"