Chaos: Sorry for the long wait - I was on holiday for a week, if anybody noticed. Anyway, next chapter. Not much to say, except that I can't write any more on this story. It's very annoying, because I know what happens, but I can't write it well. (sigh) So, about 8 more chapters before we get to the Writer's Block. (gulp)
Flower: Hmm...well, I'm not sure about this next bit. Rouge seems just a bit OOC. Tell me what you think!
Pink Shimmer - Hmm, yeah, maybe Shadow's battle cry was a bit OTT. Hmm. (grin) but you're right, it is funny.
Spawn of 84 - (shrug) Hey, at least you reviewed.
NM - You do know Breaking the Bond is finished, right? I stopped getting reviews after I wrote - as a joke! AAARG! - then Yugi died. The end. (sniffle)
parslie - Oh, I am far from done with Sonic. (grin)
el - Yes, I would say so. I think he's winning for almost the entire fic...
Tundra - Yes, lots of people are saying that. Hmm...more maniac Tails! (laugh)
N.Harmonik - Oh...yeah. (sweatdrop) Oopsie. Well spotted. At least there aren't...many...others. (nervous laugh)
Kurama - Hehe, steady on! Mecha's already being killed by Tails! (laugh)
oracle - Everybody likes Tails the beserker! (grin)
Mitsuka - Actually, I had to make a list so I wouldn't forget anyone. Hehehehe. But thanks anyway! I just write the entire thing and base chapters on where the good lines are. I LOVE THE FANARRRRT!! (glomp-tackle-hug)
Tarem - I don't think Tails knew he was so strong either...(gulp)
Kemious - Well, err...Robo Knux can speak now! . Since he's never shown up in SegaSonic...has he?...then I'll just say he can speak. It makes it easier anyway. ....can Mecha talk?
SD - Haha, better run before Tails becides you look like a good victim! Still...glad you like. (grin)
Kirbs - Wait, come back! The story isn't finished! Nooooooo! (giggle)
Rockfox - Well...here's more! Nice to see a new reviewer! (grin)
Bunnierabbot - Wow! I'm glad you like it so much. Oh, and I can't thank Mitsuka enough. Thanks to you, for the review! (It rhymes, w00t!)
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Vector stared for a second, in pure shock, Charmy hovering by his side and just watching the fox. Tails had always seemed such a gentle type, but this…this wasn't Tails at all.
With one more crack against the floor, a nasty clatter was heard in Metal Sonic's circuits, and the robot began slashing more wildly, desperate to rid himself of the demon.
Vector sprang into life and began to smash away the robots, which were still busy hacking at Tails. Charmy followed suit, and soon there was a clear circle around them.
On the other side, the destroyed circle was far larger than the amount of robots left. The fighters were standing around the edges of the circle, preventing the robots entering to attack them from behind. It was a good strategy.
In the control room, Eggman was tugging at his moustache almost frantically, wishing he hadn't used all his tranquillizers capturing the animals. He unlocked the door and ran for his last chance, the fighting robot he had built.
It was very large, with two long legs that held it high off the floor - much like the Military's walkers - and a cockpit buried right in the middle. Two long arms were folded in alongside, ready to unfurl at any moment.
He would take those freaks out if it was the last thing he did.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
With a crash Mecha went offline. With another his body sparked warningly. With one more, the control panel fell away, revealing sparking circuits. With one final hit, the circuits were shredded, making the robot almost irreparable.
And still Tails hit the dead robot against the floor, reason almost having left him. It wasn't until Vector turned from the last few robots, and picked him up by the scruff of the neck, that the madness left him. He went limp, panting, feeling for first time the sting of the cuts he had received.
Vector lifted him higher to look into his face. "You ok, kid?" Tails nodded briefly, and Vector shrugged and released him. Tails sat down and drooped. He had just regained his breath, when something landed beside him with a crash.
After he recovered from a near-heart attack, he looked at it. It was red and smashed. Curious, he rolled it onto its back and nearly screamed. Robo Knuckles. The robot was smashed almost to the point of being unrecognisable, 'V' scratched off, dreadlocks twisted, circuits ripped where his shell ended.
Tails looked up, suddenly remembering about Sonic and Mighty, and a cheery armadillo waved back. He smiled, whirled his tails, and managed to summon the energy to lift himself to the walkway.
Mighty looked at him in shock, and said, "Woah, kid. What happened to you?" Tails' smile faded, and he looked over the edge to where a smashed blue heap lay beside an equally smashed red one. Mighty followed his gaze and whistled quietly.
"Stronger than you look?"
"I…don't remember doing it…" Tails' voice was full of sudden fear. Mighty decided to drop the subject and turned to Sonic. After a quick pulse check he nodded, turned to Tails, and said,
"Let's get Sonic outta here, kid. They," he gestured below, "Don't need our help now." Tails nodded distractedly, still watching the remains of Mecha. Mighty shook him by the shoulder.
"Tails! Come on!" Tails jolted back into it and ran off down the walkway, Mighty following. Within minutes they had reach a gentle slope down, and emerged by an exit. Tails ran over to some bushes, and beckoned to Mighty.
Safely shielded behind the foliage, he slid back the cuff of his glove, and starting tapping madly on a small control pad strapped to his wrist. Within minutes a faint roaring became audible, and then the Tornado 2 floated down to land smoothly beside them, tracking onto its master's DNA signal.
Tails sighed in relief; he had spent long hours in prison worrying that, if he escaped, the Tornado would be locked in his garage and unable to fly to him. He vaulted into the front seat, feeling a rush of joy at the sight of his plane.
Mighty hopped up and placed Sonic next to him, and then nearly fell off the plane when a shrill scream sounded inside the building behind them.
"Ok, I'm going to go help. Get to the hospital as fast as you can, ok?" Tails started to speak, when Mighty grabbed him by the shoulders and said, "It'll be fine! Just. Go. Now!" Tails nodded and prepared the plane's engines.
Mighty hopped down, landing on the soft grass with a thud, and waved his new friend off. Then he dashed for the door, disappearing into the darkness of late evening. The Tornado rocketed into the sky, and Tails automatically relaxed.
This was his element.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
It was Rouge who had screamed. Several robots had managed to isolate her, and one had swiped her so hard she had rocketed into the wall with a crash. She slumped down weakly, feeling pain stab at her like knifes.
As the robots advanced she wondered if Sonic had felt this way, and felt another stab...this time of guilt. She should've tried to save him...too busy thinking of her own skin as usual.
Knuckles wiped his forehead, looked around, and saw her plight. Diving imbetween two robots, which ended up shooting each other, he dashed towards her. A hunter robot jumped into his path, snarling, and was almost immediately crushed to the floor by Shadow's homing attack.
Shadow uncurled, saw Knuckles, and yelled, "Go!" before dashing away again. Shadow was dealing with the hunters single-handed, and Knuckles didn't think he'd be able to keep it up much longer.
The echidna continued, reached the far wall, and saw Rouge half-roll to the side as a robot stabbed at her, its blade striking the wall instead and showering sparks in every direction.
Knuckles held up both fists and charged.
Rouge unshielded her eyes a moment later to see Knuckles panting and stumbling towards her. "You...ok?" he gasped, and she nodded dumbly. Knuckles looked around momentarily. The last robots were quickly being disposed of, so he dropped against the wall to rest.
Rouge was staring at the floor quietly, and then muttered, "You shouldn't have helped me."
"What?"
"You could have got hurt. This...was my punishment."
"What?! Punishment for what?"
"I killed Sonic!" Rouge suddenly wailed, letting out all her guilt. It had seemed ok at the time, an impulse decision, but the things Shadow had said, and her own doubts, had inflamed it into an act of malice.
Knuckles was astounded. "You did what?" Rouge hid her face in her hands and burst into tears. Knuckles was startled, even a bit scared. He had never seen Rouge break down like this, ever, not even when things were despairing.
She killed Sonic? Surely not. But, come to think of it, he hadn't seen Sonic anywhere. He hadn't even noticed the hedgehog was still missing! He put one hand on her shoulder and said quickly,
"What did you do, Rouge? What did you do?"
Rouge only cried harder.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Flower: Phew, long chapter. Anyway, just here to say; don't think Robo Knux is out yet! He is built for battle, remember. Just a little note for Robo Knux fans. (I'm looking at yoooou, Sipp!) Hopefully next chapter will be up soon.