Flower: Not much to say...lots of action. (grin) And don't kill me after you read the end, ok? (hides) I got 15 reviews for the last chapter! Thankees all!
N.Harmonik - Tikal used slang? Where? (confused) Well, if she did, sorry...
Tarem - Well, this chapter is much lnoger. Hope you like!
parslie - Torture Sonic some more? YES!!! Another follower! Finally somebody who won't attack meeee! I just love torturing Sonic, he's my favourite character.
Kirbs - Haha, good point. Fine, 'all hell broke loose...again!!!'
NM - Hey, did you see I've updated Breaking the Bond? Anyway, yes, Chaos looks a lot like an echidna. I'm not sure he actually was one, but he was definitely the first guardian of the Emerald, and the chao! (grin)
Tundra - See above about Chaos. Glad you like the chapter, hehe.
Kemious - Well, I would, but I don't really know their personalities. Help me out, perhaps? Anyway, flame wasn't really a flame, more of a negative comment. A bad negative comment.
Spawn - Good good. Hope you like upcoming chapters too...(looks worried)
Kurama - Well, I don't know if Knuckles can contact people psychicly, but he can in this story! But only Tikal. Yes. Don't hurt me! Sonic will live! For a bit longer! (laughs)
Mitsuka - Aaw, thanks. Glad you like - I just start writing and get ideas as I go. My idea for the last chapter was; focus on Knuckles and Amy outside the base and what they decide to do. Heehee!
tailslover - Well, I don't usually respond to review requests, and I didn't this time but- OH MY GOD your stories are great! Here's a collective thumbs-up, and keep em coming! I love the one where Tails loses his memory...(sweatdrop) Though that's probably because I did the same thing to Sonic in MofM.
Pink Shimmer - Would you rather I slowed down updating? (grin) Glad you like and are still here.
Chibi - Woah, the Tails Doll freaks me out. (shudder) Glad the cliffies are eating your brain in a good way...you'll love the next one. Or maybe you'll hate it. Ah, well...
Espina - For both your reviews, the sane one and the insane one (sweatdrop), thanks! I'm glad you're keeping up, I didn't think this part of the story was very good...and especially not the bit coming after. (wince)
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Shadow and Rouge had been snapping at each other, tempers growing shorter as they got more lost. Rouge thought grimly that THEY should've had the only map, not that fox boy.
They had rounded one more corner, shouting at each other about whose fault it was that they were lost, and how they should've helped Sonic anyway, when they almost walked straight into the hoard of robots.
They both froze for a long second, and then the robots swarmed forward like ants, brandishing their lasers. Shadow gave a battle cry and spindashed in a semi-circle to destroy the first row. In the small gap Rouge just had time to see the entire wave of robots, of which only a quarter were attacking.
She went pale and turned to run, forgetting Shadow. Two robots soared over her head, hitting the corridor floor on all fours with a loud thud. They whirled to face her, recorded snarls issuing.
They vaguely resembled cats, with long limbs and sharp claws, obviously designed to hunt down escapees. She gulped as more 'hunters' leaped over her into the corridor, effectively blocking the way.
She prepared to kick through them, when she heard a small rumbling. Looking up, she saw a security door sliding out of the ceiling, to block her path. Damn, Eggman must be watching and blocking their escape.
She darted backwards to the relative safety of Shadow, who was spindashing in a wide black circle, too fast for robots to target.
At that moment she heard another battle yell...was it from one of the front entrances. The back rows of robots, taken by surprise, were sent flying into one another like dominoes, by hammer blows. Yes, it was Amy all right.
Shadow had uncurled briefly to check, and then started to hack through the robots towards her, reasoning that they would stand more chance fighting in a group. Rouge followed, facing backwards and smashing any machines that tried to ambush them.
They were cutting a trail through a sea of robots. Or that's how it looked from above, to Tails and Mighty.
Once the pair had recovered from their shock they ran along the walkway to watch. Tails gazed down at the scene, which was oddly hypnotising, half the robots moving towards one point and the other half remaining still...so long as they didn't look towards the actual fighters.
There, everything was chaos.
The fox didn't realise the danger until a stray laser beam flashed upwards, almost destroying a camera. "Come on!" he yelled over the sounds of battle, and they raced for the end of the platform.
Tails was ahead, trying to gauge the distance to the door; they were halfway, he thought, when two thuds sounded ahead of them. Tails skidded to a halt, staring at the two robots, which had flown up to intercept them.
"Well, well, well. Going somewhere?" Mecha hissed triumphantly. The other robot was a strong contrast to Metal Sonic, bright red and built for combat, and Tails recognised him immediately from his time as a prisoner. Robo Knuckles.
He was as much a mockery of Knuckles as Mecha was of Sonic. He had a jet engine built into his back to enable flight, and his long dreadlocks stood out a little, razor sharp edges glinting. A painted white 'V' stood out on his chest, a contrast to his bright green eyes.
Tails backed away a step, and heard Mighty curse behind his ear. Mecha stepped forward, the movement shadowed by Robo Knux, and then his eyes fell upon Mighty's arms. "So...I see you found Ssssonic. Yes, I haven't finished with him yet. Why don't you come quietly and nobody needs to get hurt."
Robo Knux's long knuc-claws glinted. It was such an obvious lie that Tails didn't bother to answer. He was too busy rethinking the words anyway. 'you found Ssssonic...haven't finished with him yet...'
A murderous rage filled him. Mecha had done this? He hadn't FINISHED?! His fur bristled warningly, twin tails swishing a little too fast. Mecha took another step forward...a big mistake. Tails launched himself at the robot unexpectedly, with a howl of anger.
Surprised, Mecha fell back onto the railing, Tails kicking and punching like a demon. The railing creaked and bent with misuse, then gave way with a splintered screech, bits of metal flying everywhere.
Fox and robot plunged down to the battlefield. Up above, Robo Knux's harsh voice grated against Mighty's ears like sandpaper. "Give me the hedgehog and I will kill you quickly."
Mighty gently put down Sonic, and faced the robot with a small grin. "You think you can take me? Knuckles isn't stronger than I am, and I bet you're not half as good as he." Robo Knux did not reply, merely charged at the waiting armadillo.
Mighty grinned, eyes merciless.
Below an angry roar sounded as the real Knuckles joined the fray.
When Vector, Charmy, Espio and Cream reached the last doorway by the far wall, all the robots had moved to the other side of the room, attempting to subdue the fighters, and not succeeding.
Vector looked through first, and ducked back as a laser shot missed his face by inches. "Whew!" he gasped, "It's a war zone out there. Esp, take Cream out. Me and Charmy'll get fighting." Espio nodded seriously, stepping back and taking Cream's hand.
In a second his grey camouflaged body hid both from view. "Ready...go!" Vector cried. Espio dashed outside, keeping Cream between him and the wall. To any robots, they were practically invisible.
Charmy twirled in mid-air and shot out into the battle, Vector pounding behind. No sooner had they smashed the first few robots then they stumbled upon Tails. The fox was in an almost berserk state, sitting on top of Mecha and trying desperately to strangle the robot.
None of the surrounding robots were firing lasers; Mecha had forbidden them to, in case they hit him, but they were slashing at the fox and trying to drag him off in all manner of ways. Tails was clinging with a death grip, bashing the root's head against the floor in a frenzy.
And he was laughing.