Chapter 21: New Beginnings
March 24th, 2314 – 4:00 PM – Elona Wilderness
Sonic was on edge the whole time while Old Man Owl was flying the jet. He expected that the bird would accidentally press the wrong button, which would cause the engines to explode or something. Surprisingly though, no major accidents happened. Maybe Oliver turned a bit too sharply or something, but otherwise the journey wasn't so bad.
Right now they were flying across an obscure portion of Elona, which was made up of a string of floating islands rather than a part of the continent. Even though Sonic was born in Elona, he'd rarely seen this part of the country. Every time, he'd been wowed by its beauty. Small islands hovered in the sky all around them, and a sea of white clouds stretched out below for miles.
Suddenly, President Rudot pointed a pudgy finger at an island visible in the distance.
"That's it," he said, turning around to face Sonic and Tails with a smile. "Welcome to your new home."
Sonic and Tails stood up to look over the seats in front, curious to get a look at it. The island was one of the larger land masses in the area. Thick jungle covered most of the island, with a mountain peak jutting out of one side and a giant lake on the other. There was a small isle in the lake, although it was connected to the shore by what looked to be a manmade land bridge. However, Sonic and Tails couldn't spot a house or a building anywhere.
"Where's the house?" Sonic asked. "I don't see one."
The President pointed a finger at the small island in the lake.
"It's right there."
After a closer look, Sonic saw a pile of debris on the isle. He could spot the wreckage of a jet airliner, a rotten wooden boat, several train cars, a satellite dish, and even parts of a space ship. There were various other bits and pieces of wreckage there, although he couldn't tell what they were.
"This is our house?" Sonic asked with an edge of anger. "That big heap of junk right there is our new home?"
"Oh don't make a fuss Sonic!" The President laughed. "The outside is just camouflage, designed to hide what we've built underneath. Trust me! I think you'll love this place once you see the inside."
That got Sonic curious. The idea of a home hidden there sounded strange, and yet interesting at the same time.
"Is that to hide us from Robotnik or something?" Tails asked.
"Yes, exactly," the President said. "Not to mention anybody else who'd like to go poking around looking for you. That's also why this place was built in such an isolated area. It has to do with your new jobs in the Freedomian Army, if you choose to take them."
"Our jobs?" Sonic asked. "What do you mean by us working in the military? What're we gonna do?"
"Well, considering Swift Hedgehog and Kyle Prower were the two best soldiers who ever served in Robotnik War I, we figured you could do the same in Robotnik War II since you are their sons. We're just giving you more in the way of supplies, weapons, and information."
"You want us to fight in the war?" Tails asked.
"Yes, if you like," the President said. "If you accept, I'll form a special unit for you in the army called the Sonic Unit. It will be directly take orders from and report to the President. While the work will be dangerous in that you'll have to take Robotnik head on, you will be rewarded well for it with all of the equipment we give you.
The President turned to face them and looked both of them in their eyes.
"We thought you'd be up to it, considering how well you handled that Robotnik base raid a few days ago. What do you say?"
Sonic looked at Tails. The fox appeared to have a contemplative look on his face, which surprised Sonic. He thought he'd appear more hesitant. Maybe Sonic was underestimating Tails' courage. His bravery had grown a lot in a short time.
Finally, Tails nodded and said, "I want to do it."
Sonic smiled back at him, and then looked at the President. "I'm with him. We'll become your Sonic Unit."
"Most excellent," the President said, as he shook hands with Sonic. "I think this will be a great step forward in ridding this planet once and for all of Robotnik."
"Boss, we're about to land!" Old Man squawked.
"We'll talk about this later," The President said, settling back into his seat. "For now, let's have a look around your new home, shall we?"
As Old Man brought the ship in for a landing, it rattled and shook like it was caught in a violent storm. Sonic widened his eyes in terror as he saw the junk pile house filling up the entire view screen, but at the last second Old Man jerked the ship to the right. However, this also tilted the rocket perpendicular to the ground. Sonic and Tails held onto their seats for dear life, as gravity shifted towards the right wall of the cabin. Finally though, the ship landed with a hard thump in front of the house. Sonic and Tails let out a sigh of relief, as the entrance hatch opened up. Warm sunlight spilled into the cockpit, inviting them to walk outside.
"Come on you two," the President said with a smile. "Your home is waiting!"
The four of them, Sonic, Tails, Old Man, and the President, stepped out of the vehicle and onto bright yellow sand. Between the house and the lake shore was a small beach with palm trees. Sonic just knew he'd love relaxing out here, as he heard the soothing sound of small waves lapping against the shore.
Meanwhile, the President was leading them to an open hatch in the side of the crashed jet airliner. Even as they walked towards the door, Sonic found himself rather liking this place already. The place was very isolated and tranquil, not to mention it had just the right temperature so that it wasn't too hot or too cold.
They finally reached the door, and the President gestured for Sonic and Tails to go in first. While jungle foliage and mold covered the outside of the large plane, the inside was totally cleaned out. A small kitchen was off to the left of the entrance, while in front of them there was a staircase leading up to a second floor.
"Over here is your kitchen," The President said. "And up those stairs is the first class area and cockpit, which we've turned into a bathroom, a study, and a bedroom. We've been holding onto your furniture from your old house ever since you disappeared, and it has been placed up there."
"Really?" Tails asked. "Even all my toys, models, and kit robots I built?"
"That's right Tails."
"Great!"
"Also Tails, we built something else into this place just for you."
The President pointed towards the rear of the plane. Back there, Sonic saw a lab full of lots of high tech machines. Sonic and Tails walked over to get a closer look. Dozens of computers lined the walls, in addition to work tables laden with mechanical tools for tinkering with machinery. What grabbed Sonic's attention the most was a weird machine that had a glass chamber sticking out of the top. Two robot arms inside the chamber could be fitted with a variety of miniaturized tools, like a welder, so maybe it was used to assemble small machines like watches and such.
Tails eyes sparkled with joy as he looked over each of the devices.
"Oh wow! It's great!" he said, turning to President Tunod. "I can build all sorts of things in this lab! I like it a lot! Thanks for making it!"
"Heh, it's really a small price to pay for your work Tails," the President said. "Anyway, this place also doubles as a communications room."
He pointed to a transparent video screen hanging from the wall, which was hooked up to a large communications computer underneath it.
"The satellite dish you saw outside links up to these computers, so you'll be able to easily talk to us when we need your help, and we'll be able to talk back as well. You'll also have full access to our computer archives."
He stepped past the rest of the group, towards a door at the rear of the plane.
"Anyway, there's one more area of the house back here I'd like to show you. Please follow me."
At the end of that tunnel was a large underground room, which was brilliantly lit by high-powered lights in the ceiling. The central floor of the cave had been chiseled into a smooth, clean surface, unlike the stalagmites that stuck up from the ground along the walls. Large construction beams helped hold the cave's wall and ceiling up. In the center of the room though there was a large object covered by a white sheet. The President walked over and pulled the sheet away.
Underneath was the Tornado, only now it appeared to be as good as new. The exterior of the plane had been given new sheet metal, and the hole in the fuel tank was no longer visible. Also, it has been given a fresh new coat of paint, which gleamed in the glare of the lights. 'SONIC' had also been stenciled in yellow across the side of the red and white plane. Sonic had never seen this machine in better condition, unlike when they'd abandoned it in Zeraw.
Before he could ask about it though, a few familiar faces jumped out from behind a stack of fuel drums and yelled "Surprise!"
Among the people he saw were Zack and the other policemen who'd survived the attack on Robotnik's base, in addition to Dr. Skeleck, Tex, and his wife Mary. Before, they had all been beaten down and dirty due to Robotnik's tyranny, but now they were as clean as ever. Tex was especially a big improvement, since before he'd been covered in mud and even his own blood. Now he looked like a totally different person, almost.
Sonic gave a big smile, and so did Tails. Zack walked forward from the group and got down on his knees so he could talk to the two of them at eye level.
"Hey guys! How's it going? Like what we did with your plane?"
"You did this?" Tails asked.
"Yeah! I remembered you mentioning losing your plane, the first time we talked. We were riding to the police station for the first time in that truck, remember? Well, we thought we'd go pick it up and fix it for you, as thanks for helping to get rid of Robotnik."
"And I helped them arrange this surprise for you in your new home," the President said with a grin. "So Sonic and Tails, what do you think of their handiwork?"
"I think it looks great!" Sonic said, walking over to it and sliding a hand across the fresh metal. It was so shiny he could see his reflection on it.
"Same here," Tails said with a smile, looking at the group.
"That's not all Sonic," Tex said. "Mary here cooked up some food and a cake too. We wanted to have a party to celebrate your new jobs too. We've got your favorite...chili dogs!"
"Wow, thanks!" Sonic said with a bright smile.
"Well, what're we waiting here for?" Zack said. "The food is all up in the kitchen. Let's go get eating!"
There was cheering among the group, and they headed back towards the kitchen at the front of the hideout.
Elsewhere…
Dr. Robotnik paced down a metal corridor, deep in thought. Through a set of glass windows he walked past, one could see Egg City. Robotnik had conquered this place six years ago during Robotnik War I, when it was still known as Reppoc. While it had been retaken in short order by Swift Hedgehog and Kyle Prower, nobody had bothered moving back once the war was over. They hadn't even bothered to change the name of the city back to Reppoc. All of the former citizens were too afraid of Robotnik reappearing, and it turned out their fears were well-founded.
Robotnik had started constructing his new base in the middle of the abandoned city, and he dubbed his new fortress Robotropolis. While it was far from finished now, it would be his greatest headquarters yet for his campaign to conquer Planet Freedom as soon as construction was done. Right now though, his robots had only completed the basement and the lower levels.
None of that was on his mind right now though. He was thinking about something else that was a lot more pressing right now. According to what he'd seen in the news, Sonic and Tails survived the explosion of his base. While he didn't really mind the loss of his base (the truth was, he was getting ready to abandon it anyway to move into this new, better one), Robotnik was very angry that his worst enemies had escaped.
It feels like history is repeating itself. First it was Swift and Kyle, and now it's Sonic and Tails. No matter though. This time I know my opposition a lot better, and I'll remember to make special plans to dispose of them.
He finally reached the end of the corridor, where a large metal door with his emblem on it waited. He pressed his hand against a scanner next to the door, and it opened up with a hiss to allow him access to the next room. This chamber was a big control room, with a ceiling more than thirty feet high. Computer screens, power meters, and all sorts of other output devices practically covered all of the walls in the room.
He walked over to a large leather chair in the middle of the room, which was surrounded by several terminals, and took a seat. He stroked his chin with one hand, contemplating what he should do now that he knew Sonic and Tails were his new enemies. All he could think about was coming up with the fastest possible way to eliminate that terrible duo.
It looks like if I'm to keep trying to conquer Planet Freedom, I will be doomed to fight hedgehogs and foxes. Amazing how much my view of them has changed these past several years. Why, until I came here from Earth, I thought of them as nothing but insignificant woodland creatures.
Suddenly, an idea struck him.
Hmm, if hedgehogs on this world are so powerful, maybe I could get my own hedgehog to fight for me. But how would I convince a native Freedomian to side with my cause, when I'm going to destroy his home planet? I could roboticize him...
He shook his head.
No, that's ridiculous. I think Sonic is one of a kind, and the odds of finding a hedgehog as powerful as him are slim to none. What else can I do then?
A smile curled across his lips.
Why didn't I think of this before? I'll simply build my own Sonic to fight for me, only he'd be a robot. I've definitely got the resources and time to construct a powerful hedgehog robot to fight for me. Not having to worry about a living creature's emotions and feelings is also good. Since I'm building this hedgehog robot's thinking patterns from the ground up, I can have him think or believe whatever I like. It's perfect. Now, what should I call this project?
He stroked a finger across his chin a few more times, and then blinked as his smile widened.
Metal Sonic. It's not original, but it fits considering what I'm trying to do. Plus, I imagine it could send chills down Sonic's spine. His opponent would be a twin of him that can do everything he can do, only even better! Once Sonic is out of the way thanks to Metal, the world will fall right behind him.
His smile became a shark-like grin, as he began to punch commands in a keyboard in front of him to draw up plans for the new robot...
The End of Freedom Series 3: Survival
To be continued in Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie, followed by Freedom Series 4.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
This story marks the end of the "Prequel Arc" of Freedom Series. From here on out, everything will occur after the Sonic Movie. Don't worry if you haven't seen it though. It's not like there's much to say about it anyway. In fact, that was the big reason why I chose the movie universe for Freedom Series. So little is explained about Planet Freedom, that I could pretty much write these fics however I liked and I wouldn't have to worry much about contradicting the universe.
That said, I did bend a few things to make the plots work better. Like for example, Robotnik's personality in the movie was really goofy, probably even worse than his Sonic X counterpart. It was like he was hopped up on effin' happy drugs the entire show. oO I figured it would be impossible for the reader to take him seriously as a villain if he joked around that much, so I made him more evil like how he is in SatAM. Nobody seems to mind the contradiction yet, thank goodness. In fact, some people like how I've portrayed him this way.
Anyway, I'd like to thank Tocole, Stryker20, and Shadow Stalkr for being consistent readers of my story, and for dropping lots of reviews with the new chapters I post. Were it not for you guys, I would have probably quit on Freedom Series with this third installment. I hope this series will be a fun ride for all who decide to read it!
Also, a big thanks goes out to MTP for helping me out a lot with this story. He read over the rough draft for me before I started posting it here, he helped come up with the idea for the Tex subplot, and he was also kind enough to allow me to not-so-discreetly insert his characters MTP and Tifa in Chapter 9.
I hope to see you all again when I release Freedom Series 4!