Chapter 2: Anguish

Dr. Eggman, who lived on a gigantic complex on the outskirts of town, watched in glee as his troops formed into regiments of one thousand SwatBots each. They covered his entire complex. From his house to the very edge of his property, the regiments stood waiting for the signal. Other robots such as Hovercrafts—special flying robots that could transport people along with fight battles—flew overhead with blinding speed.

He looked down to a small device that he held in his hand. This device, this small remote, would initiate it all. With a press of a button, his conquest of Mobius and then eventually the world would begin. That small remote held the power to destroy millions of lives. And fully knowing that, he squeezed the remote tightly, pressing the button.

Immediately, the sound of one loud THUD was heard as the SwatBots took their first steps, completely in unison. The Hovercrafts' engines screamed as they shot forward with another burst of speed towards the distant city of Mobius.

The Hovercraft would be the first to reach the town. They would unload their payloads of missiles, decimating most of the town during the first run. Then they would double back and fly through the town, seeking and destroying anybody who they found wandering the streets or trying to run.

Then the SwatBots would reach the town. When they got through with it, there would not be a building left standing and few people alive. The few that were alive would be brought to Eggman for experimentation with a new machine he was working on.

And now through binoculars, Dr. Eggman watched with mounted delight as he watched the first Hovercraft reach the city and its missile fall from its belly and stream towards the capital building…

The floor of Dogs 'n' Chili shook violently and Johnson cursed quietly as some pots that hung in his kitchen fell and clattered loudly against the cold floor. "What is that? An earthquake?" He demanded of no one.

Eddie however who was still out in the front answered. "N-no…" His voice was shaky. Too shaky. It was as if he saw something that terrified him. Johnson looked out at them and gasped from what he saw outside the two large windows that adorned the front of his restaurant. He could easily see the wreckage of a large apartment building. Fires raged all around it and the ten-story building was now a large pile of rubble.

The buildings around the destroyed one were also hit with flying rubble and such. It was by pure luck that the leftovers didn't hit Dogs 'n' Chili. Johnson wasn't willing to risk another explosion.

"Everybody out! NOW!" He bellowed hoarsely running out of the kitchen and even overthrowing some of the tables of customers to show his seriousness.

"Dad? What's going on?" Miles asked fearfully as his eyes never left the wreckage.

"I don't know!" He ran to Miles and pulled him to eye level. "Whatever it is, son, I'm going to try to help."

"But it could be—"

"Dangerous. I know. But I have to do this! I want you to go with Eddie and—"

"But I don't want to leave you!" Miles finished, tears streaming down his face. Johnson simply looked up at Eddie. With a nod, Eddie grabbed Miles and started pulling him towards the exit of the restaurant. "No! Dad!"

"I'll meet up with you later, Miles!" Johnson yelled before running into the back and getting some wet towels to put over his mouth to protect him from the deadly fumes of the fire that raged in the wreckage of the other building.

After wrapping the towel around his mouth and nose, he ran out of the restaurant and towards the rubble.

"Come on!" Eddie yelled at Summer, who had frozen at the sight of the building.

For the first time after seeing it, she spoke. "I saw it, Eddie… It was no accident… It was a… missile. We're under attack!" Not bothering to let it all register in his mind yet, Eddie just grabbed her sleeve and roughly pulled both Miles and Summer out of the restaurant.

When outside, the trio were able to let the full horror of what was happening hit them. All around, blue egg-like fighter ships flew around, missiles and lasers blasting out from them and tearing up pavement and buildings with ease.

TSEEEW! A gigantic laser bolt slammed into the tarmac in front of them, causing dirt and tar to fly up. The three slammed to the ground on instinct and the rubble rained upon their backs. Thankfully, none of the large pieces managed to hit them.

"Come on!" Eddie said scrambling to his feet after he decided it was momentarily safe. He quickly helped Miles and Summer up. Miles had given up struggling by now, but he'd every once in awhile look back towards the destroyed building just across the street. He had seen his father go in a few minutes before but he hadn't seen any evidence of him besides that.

Suddenly another missile screamed from overhead and slammed into another building, behind the previously destroyed one. It hit the base of the building, taking out the foundation and bottom half of the building. Slowly the building tottered and Miles' eyes widened to the point where they couldn't go any further.

"No…" He mouthed as he watched the building lean further and further. It's creaking seemed to silence all other sounds. Eddie's urgent voice no longer registered in Miles' mind. The screaming Hovercrafts disappeared. Time itself seemed to slow as Miles took an involuntary step towards the crumbling building, as if he could hold it up with his own hands. He felt Eddie's arms jerk him back, but other than that he didn't even know anything else than the building. Then as another missile tore up the street in front of him, time came hurtling back at full speed and he watched in absolute terror as the building crashed down on the rubble of the first building. And then there was a huge explosion from within one of the destroyed buildings, causing a huge searing white ball of fire to erupt upward into sky full of robotic fighters.

Miles knew there was no way anybody could live through that blast. He knew that anybody left inside was now either a pile of ash or close enough. He also knew his dad probably died painlessly…

Died. Died. Died… His father had died. Miles' body shook in terror and fury. "NO!" He cried as he ripped free of Eddie's arms and tore across the street. His body was racked in sobs as he ran and one particular one caused him to fall head over heels and roll to a stop at the sidewalk on the other side of the empty street.

"Miles!" Eddie cried from behind him, but his voice didn't register in the preteen's mind. All he could think about is how his dad had to be trapped under that rubble and needed help! But he also knew that his father, the same father who had stuck by him even when his mother had picked up and left years before, was gone.

"Miles, come back!" It was Summer's voice this time, but she was partly drowned out as another ship flew overhead. Another building down the road exploded with bright fury because of it. The boy didn't even notice.

"DAAAAAAAD!" He screamed as he scrambled to his feet and ran the final stretch to the building. He began clawing at the rubble, trying to dislodge it. He only ended up ripping up the skin of his palms. Marks of blood were left on the charred metal, concrete, and brick. "Hold on, dad!"

Arms wrapped around his waste and jerked him back with such force that he was nearly given a case of whiplash. "DAD!"

"Miles, shut up! We have to go!" Eddie yelled at him roughly before trying to jerk him back another few steps. Miles simply replied by kicking up in the air. Trying desperately to escape Eddie's grasp.

He was spun around roughly and found himself looking into Eddie's brown eyes. "Miles!" He said sternly. "We have to go! It's too dangerous here!"

"But my dad…"

"Your dad is gone! You know that, Miles! Nobody could live through that blast! Now it's time to leave!" Eddie was sorry to have to use such harsh words to him, but he knew he had to try something. Miles was a smart kid, smarter than even Eddie; he just needed that brain jumpstarted.

Miles struggled for a few more seconds before his eyes locked on Eddie's once more and it finally hit him in full fury that he was now… an orphan.

With a loud sob, he wrapped his arms around Eddie and moaned into his shoulder. Not wasting anytime, Eddie lifted him (and not very easily either) off the ground and ran back to where Summer waited.

"Listen, Miles. I need you to run with us. I can't carry you for long. Can you do it?" Eddie asked when he reached her. The twelve-year-old boy nodded slowly and Eddie let him down.

He looked down both sides of the street and decided to go the direction where there was the most destruction, hoping that there would be less danger going in the part that had already been decimated than going the direction of the untouched part. After all, fire doesn't burn things already burnt. It goes for the fresh wood.

And together, the three ran down that street, each totally exhausted and running completely on adrenaline…

Heavy footfalls and the clanking of metal parts hitting each other was what caused Eddie to throw his arm out to stop the party of three. He looked around the corner of the alley they were in and then suddenly drew back in fear. Right around the corner was a large, green and humanoid robot.

He motioned for silence at the two and pressed himself as close as possible to the wall, hoping that the robot would just walk by. He wasn't counting on it having powerful sensory equipment built in.

As it walked past the alley, it suddenly stopped and turned, training its laser gun right on Eddie. "Halt." It said in a monotonous voice. "Under the authority of Dr. Eggman, you are under arrest."

Eddie's blood froze. Eggman? He wondered inwardly. The very same Eggman my dad sued…? He mentally cursed at that. It was probably bad news.

He quickly looked around for something to defend himself with and his eyes fell on a crowbar sitting on the ground. For once, I have reason to thank the high crime rate of this city. He thought with a smirk.

He looked at the robot and frowned. "What? No reading of rights?" The robot just stared at him. Eddie realized that it must not have understood humor at all. "Hey! Look! Behind you, it's a huge… huge… tank!" The robot immediately swiveled around and trained its gun on where the tank should have been. Quickly, Eddie grabbed the crowbar and swung it as hard as possible into the robot's head…

It didn't even put a dent in it. Hardly a scratch. But regardless of that, the robot spun around again and trained it weapon on Eddie again. "By the laws of Dr. Eggman, Unit Five-Seven-One is allowed to execute any and all threats without permission. You have now been seen as a threat. I will now execute you. Please do not be uncooperative."

Eddie heard the whine of the laser as it powered up and regardless of that, the robot's next words nearly caused him to burst out laughing: "Have a nice day."

Maybe they do have a sense of humor after all! Deciding to put off pondering about it, he quickly jammed the crowbar into an open piece of the robots metal covering, severing some wires in it.

The robot didn't slow. It simply stared at Eddie with its red lights for eyes and pulled the trigger on its laser gun… immediately, the gun, along with the entire robot, exploded in a brilliant flash that send Eddie, along with his posse, to the floor.

Summer yelped loudly and held her wrist. Already it was beginning to swell. "I think it's broken!" She cried as he rocked back and forth because of the pain. Miles simply stared forward, the look of absolute numbness never leaving his face. And Eddie was half blind because of the blast. They weren't in shape to make a grand escape from the city.

But the sounds of war gave them the strength to rise again. Eddie quickly tore off a piece of his shirt and using the crowbar from before (it had flown free from the blast and ended up a few feet away from him), he created a pitiful looking tourniquet for Summer. He also tore off another strip of his shirt and stuck it in her mouth to keep her from making a lot of noise from the pain.

Blinking his eyes a few more times to try to clear the colorful spots in his vision that hindered his sight, Eddie looked at the two and with a solemn nod, he continued down the road.

Summer simply watched him for a few moments and then looked down at her bandaged arm. "Who would have thought he'd make such a great leader…?" She said aloud. Miles, who stood beside her didn't answer, but instead walked after Eddie. Deciding not to risk falling behind, she tore off after the two, fighting the tears in her eyes that originated from her broken wrist.

"Summer, do you remember our little fort in the forest? You know, the one near the stream?" Eddie asked while the three ran through the back alleyways and through destroyed remains of many homes.

"Um… I think so. The one where we'd play house and—"

"You two played house?" Mile interjected. He laughed harshly, a sweet sound even if it was condescending. He hadn't been able to even smile since his father's death.

"I was six!" Eddie added with a groan and then he looked back at Summer. "Yes, that's the one." and he looked at her in confusion.

"No, I don't remember at all." Summer finished with hiding a smile. Eddie's face fell slightly and he gave her a look of confusion. She laughed, another beautiful sound… at least, it was to Eddie. "I know what you're talking about."

Another laser bolt originating from the flying ships caused a large minivan, full of members of a fleeing family, to explode with a loud BOOM! It was enough to shatter the slightest bit of humor in the group.

"What's going to happen to us…?" Miles asked softly, earning a stare from the other two. "I mean… we're under attack. By robots, none the less! How can we make it through this?"

"Miles, don't talk like that!" Summer said sternly all the while feeling the same thing. Eddie tried to reply but he found his throat dry and his eyes brimming with tears. He choked slightly but he steeled himself. He was the strong one here. He had to be.

"You'll never get away with all of this, Eggman!" Mark Wilsans yelled at the larger man. He was held back by two SwatBots, but that didn't prevent him from struggling.

Dr. Eggman simply chuckled. "Look around you. See your pitiful city. It's in ruins. The attack hasn't even been going on for a half hour! I won't get away from it? You pitiful undeveloped moron, I already have gotten away with it. One day soon I shall be crowned Emperor Eggman of the world!" He laughed manically and then grew serious again. "But poor, poor Mark… you won't be around to see it."

Mark's face paled visibly as Eggman brought a gun up to his face. "And neither will your wife!" On cue, two more SwatBots entered the room roughly dragging an unconscious brunette woman.

"No! Leave her out of this, Eggman!"

"That's emperor."

"Leave her out! I'm the one you want! Kill me, but leave her alone!" Mark finished with a pleading look on his face.

Eggman merely laughed and then trained his gun on the woman. "NO!" Mark cried desperately. Eggman simply looked at him with a look of pure hatred and then pulled the trigger, sending a laser bolt straight into her chest, leaving a smoldering hole in Mark's beloved wife.

Mark fell silent, his face pale as the moon. Suddenly with a cry of anguish, he tried to jump at Eggman, but the SwatBots held him firm. "You'll pay for this, Eggman!" He snarled while struggling again the robots.

"No. I don't think I will." And with that, Eggman laughed and leveled the gun on Mark's forehead. With a smirk, he pulled the trigger.

Satisfied as he watched Mark's body slump, he looked at the robots. "Clean up this mess and throw these two into the trash disintegrator!"

"There's the tree line! We're almost there!" Eddie cried as they exited the city. They were now running upon a crumbled highway, burning cars and corpses all around. The destruction was endless.

They kept running, and ended up running up onto a bridge that led over a deep and powerful river below. Eddie grinned as they ran and the distraction of the closing forest nearly cost him his life.

"Eddie!" Summer's voice suddenly cut through his thoughts and he stopped immediately. Directly in front of him was a gap, at least eight feet across, in the bridge. Below the river raged, carrying with it any unfortunate soul that had ventured too far on the bridge.

He turned around to face the others and smiled sheepishly. "Uh… thanks." He looked back at the bridge and sighed heavily. "We'll have to find a way across the river. We can't jump. We'll never make it."

Solemnly, the trio started walking back down the bridge and along the side of the river, looking for something to get them across.

There was a slight rumble underfoot, but they didn't pay it any attention. It was probably just a tremor from another missile. But when the dirt beneath them began to shift and cave in, they realized that the ground was opening up!

"Whoa!" Jump, guys!" Eddie yelled, but it was too late. A large hole opened up in the dirt, swallowing all three of them…