Chapter 5 - What happened to the Chaotix crew - Sonic faces his fears
The gang looked over at the machine fortress known as scrap brain. The pollution was thicker than ever before. It was producing more badniks than ever before and Sonic knew it was more dangerous than ever before. He began to shake a little.
"This is it, let's go", Said Tails. The gang moved forward yet Sonic just stayed still, frozen with fear.
"I can't do this", Said Sonic.
"Oh come on Sonic don't be a wimp", Said Knuckles.
"This is our great hero, what a Joke", Said Mighty
"Hey! Leave off him. Half of him almost died here. You just stay here Sonic, we'll do this one without you", Said Amy.
"I want to help…I…I…Just can't", Said Sonic.
"You just stay here and keep a lookout. If anything happens that you think we should know about tell us on the radio", Said Tails, "Eggman may have prepared for Sonic but I bet he's totally forgotten about the rest of us"
As soon as the gang, without sonic of course, took 5 steps towards Scrap Brain the chaotix crew began their merging.
"Hey guys whatever happens remember we don't want Eggman to know we're here", said Tails, "aim for their communication tower"
"Right", Said Espio before he and the rest of the crew disappeared.
"Amy and Big look for a spaceship. Knuckles and myself will plant the bomb on the shield generator", Said Tails.
"Right", The rest said splitting up.
Just like the previous missions this one was smooth as quick. Knuckles and Tails found the shield generator alright. The Chaotix crew quickly reported their new knowledge over the radio. There was a spaceship within Scrap Brain but it was in the depths on the labyrinth beneath. Just like the first time Scrap Brain was built over a vast labyrinth, which was also flooded with water. There was no way of getting through this dungeon without passing through the water, and then it was a question of finding oxygen to breathe. They may be super heroes but they still need to breathe air.
Anyway Amy and Big arrived at the spaceship site only to be confronted by a massive machine, and it was operational. It quickly attacked Amy and Big knocking both unconscious. Meanwhile Tails and Knuckles joined up with the Chaotix crew.
"Nice job guys. Amy, Big come in", Said Tails over the radio. The silence was deafening.
"Er guys come in", Said Tails. Another silence passed as they began to sweat in fear for their friends.
"This is not good. They way Scrap Brain is built means it would be ages before we could catch up with them", Said Tails.
"However Sonic could…" Said Knuckles
"Could what? He's too scared to enter this place", Said Mighty, "Some hero"
"Hey Sonic and I have stopped Eggman on more occasions that you can count. Sonic is not himself. Sonic has shown amazing coolness under extreme pressure, but everyone has a fear. He's done so much for us we owe him more than you can imagine. Sonic is my best friend and there's no way I would want to put him through this", Said Tails.
"Guys, I'm going for it. You make you way down but I'll be there before you", Said Sonic over the radio.
"You don't have to Sonic", Said Tails
"I can't let my friends down, no matter how scared I am. I have never let fear get the better of me before, this time is no different", said Sonic.
"Good luck Sonic", said Tails, "You heard him, let's go"
Sonic looked down the entrance of Scrap brain, took one big breath and ran down the tunnel as fast as he could. The traps had been softened by the others but it was still one of the hardest things he's ever done, both physically and mentally, but he made it. The grey walls of the labyrinth below scrap brain, the purple polluted water, it just got harder and harder. He eventually made it to the machine. It was a giant octopus, guarding the springs leading to the heart of scrap brain, and to where the spaceship they needed to get to Death egg lay. Sonic's heart pounded faster and faster, here he was stuck in the belly of the beast, putting all his effort into conquering the fear that had consumed him after his failure.
The mecha octopus raised its 8 tentacles and smacked Sonic in the face, knocking him out in one go. Sonic lay unconscious beside the wall of Scrap Brain's labyrinth basement. The octopus moved towards Sonic and held his tentacles up high, as if aiming to crush Sonic.
"By order of Emperor Robotnik, Trespassers of Scrap Brain will be executed", said the Octopus before slamming its tentacle down towards the fallen hedgehog. Suddenly the tentacle bounced back up by some mysterious object. It was mighty.
"Finally, some real action", Said Mighty. Mighty held on to the tentacle, doing all he could to hold it back. Espio and Vector suddenly appeared keeping two more tentacles busy. Charmy was next, distracting another tentacle that kept smashing down trying to crush the small bee. Knuckles and Tails deflected two more tentacles from crushing Amy and Big who had just woke up. Big quickly got up and sat on the 7th tentacle, leaving one for Amy. All tentacles were being taken care off leaving only the head.
"Sonic! It's all up to you now. His head is exposed, which is probably the weak spot. Come on Sonic I don't know how long we can keep this up", Said Tails grabbing hold of his tentacle with all might.
"It's no good, he's out cold", Said Knuckles.
"Don't give up guys. Sonic's always come through for us when we've needed it", Said Amy, "Come on Sonic, get up, we need you".
Then, at the exact same time, each tentacle threw off its attacker, before blowing up. Everyone was surprised until they saw Sonic standing in front of this machine beast's head.
"Was there any ever doubt?" Said Sonic
"Way to go Sonic", Said Tails.
"Very Well done", Said Knuckles
"Huh, took your time didn't you", Said Mighty. Sonic just smiled and rubbed his head where the tentacle hit.
"Well I didn't want to take all the glory. Besides that tentacle really hurt", Said Sonic, "So come on lets get on this spaceship". Sonic ran off ahead.
"That's Sonic for ya. One minute he's scared stuff, the next he's running off ahead after destroying another one of Eggman's machines", said Tails quickly following. The others followed, all the way inside the spaceship.
"Come on Tails get this thing started already", Said Sonic. Tails went straight to the cockpit. He pushed some buttons and the roof opened.
"Ok before we get started, Toxic tower, communications tower", Said tails
"Check"
shield generator, check, Preciousstone copy, check.
Little planet, communications tower, check, time stone copies, check, shield generator, check.
Angel Island, communications tower, check, shield generator, check, Master Emerald copy, check.
Scrap Brain, communications tower, check, shield generator, check, Chaos rings copies, check.
"Time to finish this. Next stop Death Egg, the last shield generator and the chaos emerald copies", Said Tails. The rockets of the spaceship fired and the ship headed towards Death Egg, the final of the five. With that one down the crystal palace shield will be down and they could finally finish this nightmare and return the world back to the way it was.