Metropolis City. Founded five years before the creation of Doctor Ivo
Robotnik, it had originally been intended as a settlement on the coast of
the great South Sea. After the creation of Robotnik, and his subsequent
capture of Metropolis' sister city, Twilight City, the people of Metropolis
began using Kintobor's old technology to fortify their home. However, this
all played into Robotnik's hands as he captured the city using his Robotic
Trooper Badniks, while Sonic was trapped in the Omni-Viewer. Building a
huge factory near the centre of the city he constructed the Death Egg Mk. I
in its walls. After launching the deadly satellite he left the Metropolis
City Zone for months, after the explosions on his Death Egg which
catapulted him and his precious satellite into the mythical Floating
Island. After the destruction of the Death Egg Mk. II he had a mighty
citadel built in the centre of the city, crafted in his own image. He ruled
Mobius from here until the detonation of the Black Asteroid, which resulted
in the collapse of the citadel. Since then the City has faced many threats
from the foolish D.R.A.T. organisation, and numerous take-over attempts
from the Doctor himself. However, now it will become a venue, in the
defence of Mobius from an ultimate threat.
Grand Master Quixol smirked as his Badnik army swarmed over the suburbs of Metropolis City. With an army this size, they would finally win back the great Doctor's city from the ungrateful wretches that dwelt within its winding streets. Not one of these heretic's buildings would stand after this. Every one would fall to make way for the glorious return of Robotnik! The D.R.A.T. leader ruffled his feathers and turned to a spindly colleague, who was bent over a small laptop.
"How goes the attack Brother Norman?" The spindly scientist looked up, then back down as the screen. Small yellow arrows streaked between black oblongs and spheres, while red arrows poured forth to try and halt them.
"All according to plan Grand Master." The chicken-like leader clucked quietly to himself as he returned to look at the battlefield. He smirked and ran one wing over the railing in front of the window. This old invention of Robotnik's was perfect! A burrowing metal sphere, walls lined with Metagel, the strongest metal on Mobius, or anywhere for that matter! From here they could direct the attack in perfect safety. He watched as a lone Spikebonker drifted past, a large spiked ball hovering around its form. He frowned. The Badnik was moving strangely, as if off balance. As it turned to the screen the Grand Master finally realised what was happening. With a squawk he flung himself away from the glass as the Badnik exploded, shattering the transparent material. Brother Norman cried out and fell to the floor, blood flowing from a gash in his arm. As the last shards of glass fell to the floor, Quixol staggered back to the window. Propping himself up on the handrail he could only stare at the scene before him.
Sonic laughed as another Badnik exploded, igniting its temporary battery and detonated in a cloud of thick black smoke. It had been ages since he had last fought a good old-fashioned Badnik, as Robotnik had gone mysteriously quiet and D.R.A.T. had been experimenting with new types of Badnik. Ducking under a Crabmeat's attack he kicked the crab Badnik in the face, sending it reeling. As he turned to finish it off, he felt something hit him from behind and fell headfirst into the puddle in front of him. The Crabmeat recovered and smiled at the Orbinaut that had saved it, before turning back to the prostrate form of the hedgehog. Raising one claw above its head it bean to charge another fireball. It placed one heatproof leg on Sonic's back and lowered the limb until it was hovering above his head. It smiled then began the release process.
As the Orbinaut watched, the Crabmeat was lifted off its feet by what seemed to be an invisible force, and was flung down the street. As it sailed past, a bemused look on its face, the spherical Badnik noticed the cause of its comrade's defeat. One small arrow was sticking right through the Badnik. Turning it snarled at Amy Rose as she lifted her crossbow a second time. Throwing one of the orbiting spikeballs at her it smiled at the horrified look on the pink hedgehog's face as it hurtled towards her.
An orange streak came as if out of nowhere, knocking the deadly projectile back the way it had come. The Orbinaut only had enough time to register some very colourful four-letter words before the spiked ball struck, smashing the unfortunate Badnik into tiny pieces of scrap metal.
Tails breathed a sigh of relief as he descended towards Sonic's body. Smiling he watched as the hedgehog pulled himself up, rubbing the back of his head. He was OK.
"Owwwwww. Did someone get the number of that truck?" Sonic said, dusting himself off. "Hey Tails, do we know where these Badniks are being controlled from?" Tails nodded as Porker descended in one of the new Air Cars he had created, head bent over a computer screen.
"As a matter of fact, we do Sonic," said Porker, calling up a holo-map of the city. Pointing to the map he nodded as a flashing red X lit up in the City Centre. "That's where the signals originate fro." He didn't have a chance to finish, as Sonic was already a speck on the cloudy horizon. Shaking his head, Porker activated the Air Car to pursue him as the others gave chase.
Quixol snarled and pushed Norman's corpse away, tipping it out into the bowels of the robot. He could direct the attack without him. Punching up a holo-map he snarled as he noticed four new shapes converging on his position. Sonic and his meddling friends seemed to take offence to his attack. Punching a few buttons he directed the Badnik army back towards the centre of the city. He turned to view the inevitable destruction of Sonic.
He watched as a blue streak came into view, travelling at tremendous speeds. Swivelling to look at the holo-map, his blood ran cold. The Badnik army wouldn't get there in time. Calling up another screen he roughly calculated the hedgehog's trajectory. With any luck, Sonic would hit the reinforced hull and rebound. He swore as the results came up. By some freak chance, that blue spikeball was right on course for the open vision slit. Opening up a hatch of the keypad, he lowered the Metagel screen. He'd like to see the hedgehog get through that. He smiled as he watched Sonic launch an attack on the now-covered vision slit. What a fool.
His gloating was cut short as the Metagel armour shattered into tiny fragments, sending Quixol flying under the desk away from danger. Calling up one of the cameras, his eyes widened. That hedgehog had rebounded, of course, but he had destroyed the vision slit's armour. Feeling the floor move under him, the chicken-like leader of D.R.A.T. found himself sliding towards the slit. Grabbing hold of a support beam he clung on for dear life as the craft tilted. He snarled, tears of rage in his eyes, and reached for the remote, grabbing it before it flew out the window. It was time to see what this lump of metal could do. Flipping a few switches he righted the craft then ran to the Emergency panel on the opposite wall. Wrenching the hatch open he smashed his fist into a padded red button behind it. Then he ran to the Console, sat down, and pushed a few buttons. Various cameras activated, showing the view from outside. Sonic was staring wide-eyed as the robot underwent a startling transformation.
Porker's vehicle screamed into the City Centre as the robot began to transform. Two huge arms, reminiscent of the Squeeze Tag Machine that Robotnik had used on Sonic when he had raided their hideout all those years ago. He had also kept it as defence mechanism for the Launch Base on the Floating Island. As the two huge arms rose up, two smaller and more nimble arms extended from the sides, flexing and punching the air. Two electric generators lit up, energised an electrical field which arced round the machine. And through the torn window, Porker could see the furious face of Grand Master Quixol. As he watched, one of the huge arms arced back into the field to cover the open window, while the other took a swing a Sonic. The hedgehog dodged and the limb smashed into the pavement, sending chunks of concrete flying everywhere. The two nimbler arms chased after Sonic, punching holes in the ground as they went. The conflict was soon obscured from view by a thick cloud of dust.
Sonic laughed as the arms smashed up the concrete behind him. This was just like the old days, when Robotnik had been building machine after machine after him, none of which could match his speed. As the ground rolled and buckled he circled the machine and leapt at the hull as it turned to face him. This should be easy he thought to himself. Suddenly he felt pain and burning sensation all over his body, as the electrical defence stopped him, sending electrical energy directly into him. As he fell to the ground smoking, he dimly saw one of the unwieldy arms move down towards him. Unable to move, he was helpless to stop the descending danger from picking him up. As he lolled in its grasp he was dimly aware that it was bringing him round to the vision slit. As the robot turned to face the remaining Freedom Fighters, speakers on the hull crackled into life.
"So hedgehog, this is where it ends. For the glorious Dr. Robotnik, I will end your life!" Sonic struggled weakly as the voice turned its attention to Amy, Tails and Porker. A hideously deadly device extended from its back like a scorpion's tail and hovered before Sonic's face. "Watch well! For this is what will happen to all who oppose us!" The cruel weapon activated, and began to descend.
"BANZAI!" A red streak fell from the sky, smashing into the tail-like limb and tearing it off. Falling with the writhing tail to the floor, Knuckles shouted up to Sonic. "Hey! Are you alright up there?" Quixol gibbered, then returned his attention to Sonic.
"For the Glory of Robotnik!" One of the nimble fists smashed into Sonic, winding him. Sonic gasped and turned to Quixol.
"Why do you do this? Your 'master' has gone mad. He tried to kill us all!"
"Better to die than to live in a world without the great Doctor!" The other fist hit him and Sonic coughed up blood.
"You're mad. You and your pathetic 'ruler'." Quixol screamed at him as the fists began pummelling him rapidly.
"Foolish hedgehog! You will learn respect before you die!"
Amy stared up at the sight before her, tears of anger in her eyes. Opening a box on her belt she slipped out an impact-explosive and carefully strapped it to a crossbow bolt. Aiming it at the robot she waited.
Quixol smiled as Sonic fell unconscious. He would crush his rebellious head, and then the city would fall! Opening the hand covering the window, he extended it towards Sonic, laughing maniacally.
Amy saw her chance. Aiming the crossbow, she released the bolt.
The projectile arced through the air, reached its peak, then dipped towards the waiting vision slit, slipping through the defences and into the cockpit.
To Quixol it seemed the bolt moved in slow motion as it flew in. He saw every minute detail of it, from the slivers and scratches in its surface, to the way the explosives were tied on. As he watched it flew into the console before him. Then a white light engulfed him and he felt himself rise.
His last thought was that he had died doing his duty to his Master.
Tails ran towards Sonic's falling body as the robot dropped him, light streaming out of its vision slits. Scooping up Sonic, the twin-tailed fox ran back as a horrible screech emanated from the robot's core. Then, with a horrible slowness, it fell apart, light streaming from its torn hull. Then the shockwave hit him, catapulting him head over heels, Sonic slipping from his grasp. He rolled across the street and came to a stop at Porker's feet. Helping him up, Porker turned to Knuckles, who was setting Sonic down on the pavement. Tails smiled as Sonic came round, bleary eyed. As he tried to sit up, Porker forced him back down as the last few Badniks lost power and sank to the floor.
"You took quite a pummelling back there. Just take it easy for a bit." Porker turned to Knuckles and the two shook hands.
"I found what we need guys," said the echidna. "I found a ship at Oil Ocean that we can use. It's owned by some guy named Red." Tails smiled.
"Yeah. Me and Sonic helped him disarm the Oil Ocean a while back." Knuckles nodded.
"I managed to pick up some diving equipment from the Aquatic Ruins Zone Leader. So, I guess we're all ready to go?" Porker nodded.
"Yes Knuckles. It's time to find the Floating Island."
Grand Master Quixol smirked as his Badnik army swarmed over the suburbs of Metropolis City. With an army this size, they would finally win back the great Doctor's city from the ungrateful wretches that dwelt within its winding streets. Not one of these heretic's buildings would stand after this. Every one would fall to make way for the glorious return of Robotnik! The D.R.A.T. leader ruffled his feathers and turned to a spindly colleague, who was bent over a small laptop.
"How goes the attack Brother Norman?" The spindly scientist looked up, then back down as the screen. Small yellow arrows streaked between black oblongs and spheres, while red arrows poured forth to try and halt them.
"All according to plan Grand Master." The chicken-like leader clucked quietly to himself as he returned to look at the battlefield. He smirked and ran one wing over the railing in front of the window. This old invention of Robotnik's was perfect! A burrowing metal sphere, walls lined with Metagel, the strongest metal on Mobius, or anywhere for that matter! From here they could direct the attack in perfect safety. He watched as a lone Spikebonker drifted past, a large spiked ball hovering around its form. He frowned. The Badnik was moving strangely, as if off balance. As it turned to the screen the Grand Master finally realised what was happening. With a squawk he flung himself away from the glass as the Badnik exploded, shattering the transparent material. Brother Norman cried out and fell to the floor, blood flowing from a gash in his arm. As the last shards of glass fell to the floor, Quixol staggered back to the window. Propping himself up on the handrail he could only stare at the scene before him.
Sonic laughed as another Badnik exploded, igniting its temporary battery and detonated in a cloud of thick black smoke. It had been ages since he had last fought a good old-fashioned Badnik, as Robotnik had gone mysteriously quiet and D.R.A.T. had been experimenting with new types of Badnik. Ducking under a Crabmeat's attack he kicked the crab Badnik in the face, sending it reeling. As he turned to finish it off, he felt something hit him from behind and fell headfirst into the puddle in front of him. The Crabmeat recovered and smiled at the Orbinaut that had saved it, before turning back to the prostrate form of the hedgehog. Raising one claw above its head it bean to charge another fireball. It placed one heatproof leg on Sonic's back and lowered the limb until it was hovering above his head. It smiled then began the release process.
As the Orbinaut watched, the Crabmeat was lifted off its feet by what seemed to be an invisible force, and was flung down the street. As it sailed past, a bemused look on its face, the spherical Badnik noticed the cause of its comrade's defeat. One small arrow was sticking right through the Badnik. Turning it snarled at Amy Rose as she lifted her crossbow a second time. Throwing one of the orbiting spikeballs at her it smiled at the horrified look on the pink hedgehog's face as it hurtled towards her.
An orange streak came as if out of nowhere, knocking the deadly projectile back the way it had come. The Orbinaut only had enough time to register some very colourful four-letter words before the spiked ball struck, smashing the unfortunate Badnik into tiny pieces of scrap metal.
Tails breathed a sigh of relief as he descended towards Sonic's body. Smiling he watched as the hedgehog pulled himself up, rubbing the back of his head. He was OK.
"Owwwwww. Did someone get the number of that truck?" Sonic said, dusting himself off. "Hey Tails, do we know where these Badniks are being controlled from?" Tails nodded as Porker descended in one of the new Air Cars he had created, head bent over a computer screen.
"As a matter of fact, we do Sonic," said Porker, calling up a holo-map of the city. Pointing to the map he nodded as a flashing red X lit up in the City Centre. "That's where the signals originate fro." He didn't have a chance to finish, as Sonic was already a speck on the cloudy horizon. Shaking his head, Porker activated the Air Car to pursue him as the others gave chase.
Quixol snarled and pushed Norman's corpse away, tipping it out into the bowels of the robot. He could direct the attack without him. Punching up a holo-map he snarled as he noticed four new shapes converging on his position. Sonic and his meddling friends seemed to take offence to his attack. Punching a few buttons he directed the Badnik army back towards the centre of the city. He turned to view the inevitable destruction of Sonic.
He watched as a blue streak came into view, travelling at tremendous speeds. Swivelling to look at the holo-map, his blood ran cold. The Badnik army wouldn't get there in time. Calling up another screen he roughly calculated the hedgehog's trajectory. With any luck, Sonic would hit the reinforced hull and rebound. He swore as the results came up. By some freak chance, that blue spikeball was right on course for the open vision slit. Opening up a hatch of the keypad, he lowered the Metagel screen. He'd like to see the hedgehog get through that. He smiled as he watched Sonic launch an attack on the now-covered vision slit. What a fool.
His gloating was cut short as the Metagel armour shattered into tiny fragments, sending Quixol flying under the desk away from danger. Calling up one of the cameras, his eyes widened. That hedgehog had rebounded, of course, but he had destroyed the vision slit's armour. Feeling the floor move under him, the chicken-like leader of D.R.A.T. found himself sliding towards the slit. Grabbing hold of a support beam he clung on for dear life as the craft tilted. He snarled, tears of rage in his eyes, and reached for the remote, grabbing it before it flew out the window. It was time to see what this lump of metal could do. Flipping a few switches he righted the craft then ran to the Emergency panel on the opposite wall. Wrenching the hatch open he smashed his fist into a padded red button behind it. Then he ran to the Console, sat down, and pushed a few buttons. Various cameras activated, showing the view from outside. Sonic was staring wide-eyed as the robot underwent a startling transformation.
Porker's vehicle screamed into the City Centre as the robot began to transform. Two huge arms, reminiscent of the Squeeze Tag Machine that Robotnik had used on Sonic when he had raided their hideout all those years ago. He had also kept it as defence mechanism for the Launch Base on the Floating Island. As the two huge arms rose up, two smaller and more nimble arms extended from the sides, flexing and punching the air. Two electric generators lit up, energised an electrical field which arced round the machine. And through the torn window, Porker could see the furious face of Grand Master Quixol. As he watched, one of the huge arms arced back into the field to cover the open window, while the other took a swing a Sonic. The hedgehog dodged and the limb smashed into the pavement, sending chunks of concrete flying everywhere. The two nimbler arms chased after Sonic, punching holes in the ground as they went. The conflict was soon obscured from view by a thick cloud of dust.
Sonic laughed as the arms smashed up the concrete behind him. This was just like the old days, when Robotnik had been building machine after machine after him, none of which could match his speed. As the ground rolled and buckled he circled the machine and leapt at the hull as it turned to face him. This should be easy he thought to himself. Suddenly he felt pain and burning sensation all over his body, as the electrical defence stopped him, sending electrical energy directly into him. As he fell to the ground smoking, he dimly saw one of the unwieldy arms move down towards him. Unable to move, he was helpless to stop the descending danger from picking him up. As he lolled in its grasp he was dimly aware that it was bringing him round to the vision slit. As the robot turned to face the remaining Freedom Fighters, speakers on the hull crackled into life.
"So hedgehog, this is where it ends. For the glorious Dr. Robotnik, I will end your life!" Sonic struggled weakly as the voice turned its attention to Amy, Tails and Porker. A hideously deadly device extended from its back like a scorpion's tail and hovered before Sonic's face. "Watch well! For this is what will happen to all who oppose us!" The cruel weapon activated, and began to descend.
"BANZAI!" A red streak fell from the sky, smashing into the tail-like limb and tearing it off. Falling with the writhing tail to the floor, Knuckles shouted up to Sonic. "Hey! Are you alright up there?" Quixol gibbered, then returned his attention to Sonic.
"For the Glory of Robotnik!" One of the nimble fists smashed into Sonic, winding him. Sonic gasped and turned to Quixol.
"Why do you do this? Your 'master' has gone mad. He tried to kill us all!"
"Better to die than to live in a world without the great Doctor!" The other fist hit him and Sonic coughed up blood.
"You're mad. You and your pathetic 'ruler'." Quixol screamed at him as the fists began pummelling him rapidly.
"Foolish hedgehog! You will learn respect before you die!"
Amy stared up at the sight before her, tears of anger in her eyes. Opening a box on her belt she slipped out an impact-explosive and carefully strapped it to a crossbow bolt. Aiming it at the robot she waited.
Quixol smiled as Sonic fell unconscious. He would crush his rebellious head, and then the city would fall! Opening the hand covering the window, he extended it towards Sonic, laughing maniacally.
Amy saw her chance. Aiming the crossbow, she released the bolt.
The projectile arced through the air, reached its peak, then dipped towards the waiting vision slit, slipping through the defences and into the cockpit.
To Quixol it seemed the bolt moved in slow motion as it flew in. He saw every minute detail of it, from the slivers and scratches in its surface, to the way the explosives were tied on. As he watched it flew into the console before him. Then a white light engulfed him and he felt himself rise.
His last thought was that he had died doing his duty to his Master.
Tails ran towards Sonic's falling body as the robot dropped him, light streaming out of its vision slits. Scooping up Sonic, the twin-tailed fox ran back as a horrible screech emanated from the robot's core. Then, with a horrible slowness, it fell apart, light streaming from its torn hull. Then the shockwave hit him, catapulting him head over heels, Sonic slipping from his grasp. He rolled across the street and came to a stop at Porker's feet. Helping him up, Porker turned to Knuckles, who was setting Sonic down on the pavement. Tails smiled as Sonic came round, bleary eyed. As he tried to sit up, Porker forced him back down as the last few Badniks lost power and sank to the floor.
"You took quite a pummelling back there. Just take it easy for a bit." Porker turned to Knuckles and the two shook hands.
"I found what we need guys," said the echidna. "I found a ship at Oil Ocean that we can use. It's owned by some guy named Red." Tails smiled.
"Yeah. Me and Sonic helped him disarm the Oil Ocean a while back." Knuckles nodded.
"I managed to pick up some diving equipment from the Aquatic Ruins Zone Leader. So, I guess we're all ready to go?" Porker nodded.
"Yes Knuckles. It's time to find the Floating Island."