(I do not own Sonic X, etc.)
S.O.N.I.C GO!
S.O.N.I.C GO!
Episode 16: Wrath of the Spider
Luckily, the Thorndykes had had more luck evading Metal X than the others. Of course, that did not mean that their journey was without its own problems. Using the X tornado's speed they had managed to clear the forest area and had rocketed north and despite Sam's piloting had collided right into a blizzard on the frontier of the ice that swept across most of the northern hemisphere. With the winds blowing at near typhoon conditions, Sam had been forced to land in the snow. There they would be forced to wait the storm out before they could go on. Actually, Chuck mused, this delay might give them time to think about what they were going to do. Finding a large bank of snow, Sam had set the plane down there and quickly all three of them had gotten to work constructed a make shift shelter out of water they could fine, branches that had been flown in from the forest not to far away or even parts of the X Tornado; although Sam made certain that when the time came he could put it back together quickly enough.
Chris had gone to try and see if could contact the others on the radio in the plane, but Chuck, had warned him against it as it might alert Metal X as to their location. Now, with nothing else to do but wait out the storm so the three of them were left stranded in the snow.
"Well…" Chuck began after a few minutes of sitting around doing nothing but listen to the gales outside. "Charades?" Sam looked up at him with levelled eyes as if to ask if that was a joke.
"I can't take just sitting here doing nothing." Chris admitted, hugging his legs to himself trying keep warm in their make shift igloo. "For all we know, Metal X could have captured them all by now."
"I know." Sam replied. "But there's little we can do for them now. Our best hope right now is to wait until either they come to us, or 'till the storm clears up."
"Or…" Chuck added ominously. "Until Metal X robots find us instead." Prof. Thorndyke never made any attempt at humouring. He went for the facts since his philosophy was that people should be told the straight truth, even if sometime they didn't want to hear it.
Almost as if it were on cue, the ice underneath them began to crack. Looking out, Chris watched as a short distance away the ice fell inwards and a large black metal object began rising from the trapped water underneath; the top of a submarine; with the Metal X emblem painted on the side. The sub didn't look like any they'd ever seen through. It was shark shaped and mostly black underneath blue armoured chest pieces. It was only when a large red eye rose above the surface of the ice that they even realized that in fact; it wasn't a submarine but an entire robot. Thos gigantic thing was the largest of the Metal X generals in terms if size, Leviathan; leader of the Navy Clan.
After his defeat by Sonic, he had been nearly constantly updating himself with technology given to him by Metal Sonic. Now he considered himself one of the most powerful generals in Metal X, maybe even stronger than Dark Oak himself.
"Attention: You are now officially prisoners of the Navy Clan." A large booming voice announced coming off a pair of loud speakers near the front of the robot. "Surrender at once or you will be destroyed." But by the time the sentence had been finished, Sam and the others where already half way to the X tornado. Even without the safety of the glass cockpit, the plane could still fly. The blizzard was still blowing around them, but that couldn't be helped right now. As they were climbing into their seats, several laser shots rang out from the turrets mounted on the top of the sub like robot, one lucky shot striking Chuck in the shoulder. Clenching his teeth against the pain, he hauled himself into the X tornado and the plane took off, Sam desperately trying to keep its flight path stable in the whirling snow around them.
Leviathan's turrets changed direction and opened fire as the plane as it soured overhead, coming dangerously close to striking it.
"Grandpa, are you ok!" Chris asked, seeing the blood begin to stain the white jacket he wore.
"I'm fine." He lied, reaching for the first aid kit underneath the seat in front of him. In fact, his shoulder hurt like hell, but he would not admit that to his grandson. Right now, there were more important things than a single wound right now; like getting out of here alive.
Curving the flight path of the plane around in an arch, Sam managed to avoid getting the X tornado riddled with laser fire. Those turrets lining the back of that giant robot were pretty good shots, some had come dangerously close to hitting their underside. And the howling winds and snow around them, it was becoming increasingly difficult to pilot.
Desperately throwing the controls to the right, Sam caused the plane head in bee line in another direction, flying in defiance of the screaming snow storm. Leviathan however was not about to let them get away without one hell of a fight. One each side of the giant robot, two colossal mechanical arms unfolded from the bottom of the hull and lanced out, helping Leviathan to pull his large head above the waters surface. Now at this vantage point; his weight supported on the ice; the third general of Metal X opened up a giant mouth, revealing the barrel of a laser beam cannon inside; the tip glinting brightly in the semi light. A load humming began to vibrate through the air as a steady glow began to gather between his teeth, the cannon culminating energy.
"I hate to be a back seat driver…" Chuck announced looking back as Leviathan reared his head back, electric like sparks lancing down his giant body. "But this may be a good time for evasive manoeuvres!" Sam looked back at the last second and in that same instant; Leviathan threw his head forward; an incredible powerful green laser beam rocketing forward with a sonic boom. Slamming his weight down on the controls, Sam forced the X tornado into a violent ascend. But it was far too late to avoid complete damage; the scorching attack ripping the lower set of the wings on the Tornado completely off. Without that to help guide them through the rough weather conditions and even with Sam doing everything he could to keep them going; their plane was sent into a dive.
"She's done for now!" Sam declared, still trying to maintain whatever control on the decent he still had. "I'm going to try and put her down as far away from here as I can, after that we start running."
Leviathan watched from the surface as the plane vanished into a cloud bank. His sensors tried to follow its flight path, but it proved far too difficult in the extreme weather conditions. Not even the satellites in orbit around Mars seemed able to track it after his inquiry. Still, they would probably come down within his jurisdiction; so until they officially passed into the territory of another General they were still his prey.
Quickly he retracted his arms and he fell back into the water underneath the ice. Since he was leader of the Machine Federation Navy, he was in his element in the water. Diving below the ice, he became a dark shape under the frozen surface, slowly following the last course of the plane north.
Despite Sam's best efforts, the X tornado came down roughly about a mile away from where they encountered Leviathan. With a sudden thrust, the tip of the plane sank into the snow and nearly tipped over. As it slid through the white, Sam helped the other two bail out. They had no time to waste. Metal X would be on their way here; their only chance of escape was to make a run for it.
"Chuck, you ok?" Sam asked, seeing the hastily bandaged wound in his shoulder.
"Don't worry about me." Chuck replied as the S-Team leader helped him along with Chris in the lead. Covering their eyes as best they could against the snow, the three of them were now forced into defiance of the howling wind.
All the while, the colossal form of Leviathan was creeping up on them from behind.
Finally, the found a point where the land reared up off the ice and up towards what looked like a stable plateau. The monstrous machine following them looked pretty much water bound, so this might be a good way of escaping it. Quickly they began an ascent up, the wind seemingly doing it's best to slow them down.
Chris looked back when he heard the ice cracking and watched as the front half of Leviathan broke through into the air again; the front turrets rotating around to lock onto them. Grimacing, he hurried his uncle and grandfather upwards.
Laser shots began ringing out; thankfully however the rough weather threw off the machine's tracking sensors off by several degrees and Leviathan would it very difficult to get a lock.
Reaching the top of the rise, the three of them found a small forest there; evergreen trees with their tops nearly coated in snow. They could hide in there for a good long time. Which was just as well, because looking back they could see Leviathan was letting troops of his main body and they were following their trail up.
By the time Leviathan's clan robots reached the top, the ones they had been tracking had disappeared. However, they left clues as to which direction they had headed. Foot prints in the snow lead off towards the left.
Following the tracks, they quickly disappeared in a white haze.
"Are they gone?" Chris asked from his hiding place in the trees. Sam's ploy to lead them away with a false trail had worked perfectly. The robots were now following a trail that ended a short distance away. Sliding down to the ground, Sam helped Chuck back to his feet.
"Come on, it won't take them long to figure out what happened." Sam replied, leading them all quickly in the opposite direction.
-
The hour Eggman promised he could get the blue Typhoon up into the air again had been slowly ticking by and by the last few minutes the engines still no signs of coming back online. All the while, Metal X's search party was systematically searching this area for their downed ship. It would only be so long before they discovered their location.
"Ok that's it." Sonic began with his patience; which in his defence had lasted far long than it usually did, elapsing.
"Sonic, hold on a second." Tails called after him realizing that when Sonic's patience ran out he often went and did something foolish and rash.
But by the time he'd called out it was too late, the blue hedgehog had already disappeared out the door.
Leaving the ship, but staying within the protective camouflage of the holographic display; Sonic paused just long enough to get a first hand view of the new Martian landscape. Having not been on Earth long enough to full appreciate how barren it had been for the past millennia, Sonic felt like he was looking at Mobius. Everything seemed like his home world so much, for a moment he was almost convinced that he had stepped back in time to before the two worlds joined into one. The sky was a different colour and the presence of two moons made him slightly nervous, but apart from that it was almost an exact reflection.
Still, right now there was no time for reminiscing. Right now he had a job to do. Sonic looked up as two Metal X drones pasted overhead, again missing them entirely thanks to the camouflage. Still searching for them? Well, the blue hedgehog thought it was about time to reward their efforts.
He remained there just long enough to stretch his muscles, before racing forward his leg a complete blur. As soon as he left the protection of the camouflage, the drones whirled around to see race past; his energy signature now standing out against their radar.
"Come on, follow the leader…" Sonic muttered under his breath, racing on with the two flying robots following close behind him.
"Has he lost his mind?" Knuckles asked from the energy chamber once Tails announced that Sonic had decided to go for a run.
"No, in fact he's gone and done us a big favour." Eggman replied, his face appearing in a holographic display on the join conversation from three points on the ship. "Don't you two see what's he's going?" The fat scientist asked, leading both Tails' and Knuckles' puzzled expressions. "Look, he's leading them away from our position. He's a division, trying to buy enough time to get back in the air." Finally the penny dropped and realization crossed both their faces.
"But he's attracting every Metal X drone in the area." Tails reported, looking across at the still operational Ship's radar.
"How many?" Cosmo asked, looking up towards the young fox, whose frown began to deepen as more red blips began appearing on his face.
"Over thirty, and more are coming." Eggman put a fore finger and thumb to his chin, looking thoughtful.
"That may be more then he can handle."
"Then let me fight." A new voice stated. Looking both, but Tails and Cosmo saw another holo-message appear just above Eggman's. It was Omega.
Using whatever he could to help provide cover, Sonic speed on as far from the landing sight of the Blue Typhoon as possible and, his plan working fine; every one of those robots searching for them were following him. As long as he kept them from heading back to their search, then he could get them the time they needed. Besides, this was pretty fun.
Grinning insanely, he dodged between the streams of laser fire as he shot through deep ridges and the undergrowth between giant trees. When he least expected it, the leg of some gigantic metal construction came slamming down in his path and he ran right into it. Staggering back with a broken nose, the blue hedgehog looked up as another of those giant spiders he'd fought in San-Francisco clambered down to the top of a large cliff face. This one seemed a new an improved version, with more armour on each of the eight legs and a nasty looking large turret on its back. What caught Sonic's immediate attention was the smaller robot standing on its head. It looked like a centaur, but with a spider's body instead of a horse's. The humanoid half of it was coated in orange, knight like armour. A pair of yellow eyes stared out at him through between a gap in a visor. The helmet around it's head had a pair of horns angled forward.
"Oh, you can't be very popular with people with arachnophobia." Sonic remarked with a grin, wiping the blood away from his nose; before dodging another leg as it came slamming down.
"I am Equinox, leader of the Machine Federation ground forces." The robot announced, letting one hand trail out to his right. Something at his back twitched and a pike flew into his waiting fingers, the blade on the end curved almost like a scimitar.
"Great, now I've had the pleasure of meeting all Metal's generals. Metal's got to be one proud daddy." Sonic remarked sarcastically, crossing his arms.
"That tongue of yours is going to get you in trouble some day." Equinox remarked, his spider mount, forcing two large legs through the gap in the ravine. "Maybe I should do you a favour and cut it out?" Sonic forged another grin.
"I thought you guys were under orders to let Metal take a shot at me first?" The blue hedgehog asked, speeding up the side of a ridge to avoid a stream of bullets that rocketed off the spider's turret. Reaching the top of the cliff, Sonic readied himself in fighting stance, with a thud that shook the ground; the spider retracted itself back up the cliff. The blue hedgehog watched Equinox rise up high on his mount before the metal insect towered over him completely.
"There are those of us who think that the Master's vendetta against you is clouding his judgement." The Metal X general explained, tapping the blunt end of his pike against the head of his spider. "Once you are out of the way, he'll start focusing on what's best for the Machine Federation." Equinox was risking a lot confronting Sonic, against his masters orders; but he was not the only one who felt that Metal Sonic was focusing too much of his attention on the blue hedgehog. Leviathan and even Dark Oak were silently questioning the reasoning behind Metal Sonic's need for vengeance.
"Really, I'm flattered. Going to all this trouble over little ol' me." Without a single moment's hesitation, Sonic shot forward and crashed a spin attack straight between the spider's jaws; where he knew from his past experience with them lay the weak spot. Almost forced of the side of the cliff, the spider scuttled around the side of the blue hedgehog; jabbing at him with its front legs. Weakening the armour enough, Sonic cupped his hands and prepared to deliver a Sonic wind straight through. Equinox however had other ideas; leaping down from the top of the spider he tried to slice the blue hedgehog right down the middle.
Somersaulting backwards, Sonic landed on the ground; his heals digging into the dirt until he came to stop. The giant spider shook off the after effects of the attack before joining Equinox's side. "Hey, tag team's not fair." Sonic protested with a mock pained expression.
"And what makes you think I'm interested in playing fair?" The robotic general asked flatly, before gesturing towards the blue hedgehog with the end of his pike. "Sick'um boy." With a loud screech, the spider strode over the general and charged against at Sonic.
"Boy these things aren't very smart." The blue hedgehog said to himself, pausing until the last moment before running to the side. To much momentum throwing its weight forward it couldn't stop itself from running straight off the edge of the cliff and into the ravine below. Sonic turned back toward Equinox with a satisfied grin on his face as the ground shook when it hit the bottom. The general's demeanour was, as ever, completely unreadable. "Gee, I guess they just don't build them like they used to."
"Correct." Equinox agreed, tilting his head forward his yellow eye glaring. "They build them far better nowadays." Sonic blinked in surprise at the remark, before something hit him hard in the back; sending him flying through the side and into the side of a tree, knocking it over.
Hauling itself back over the edge, Equinox's spider hardly had any scratched on it from the fall. The only evidence that even suggested it had taken a tumble was the dirt covering its armour. The blue hedgehog rubbed the back of his head as he stood up. That had been one painful wallop.
"Ok, the kids gloves are coming off." He growled to himself, shaking the bits of wood and bark out of his quills.
From his previous fight with over three of these gigantic insects, he knew for a fact that they were no invincible. He and Knuckles had managed to take down one each already. He knew the face part of the machine was vulnerable to attack, and so was the pint between all its eight legs. Right now however, that Metal X general was an unknown factor.
Having meet all of Metal Sonic's boys, first Lancelot; then Leviathan, thirdly Dark Oak and now this one; Sonic knew exactly how dangerous they were. Each one was at least twice as strong as any of the robots they commanded.
Running forward, Sonic leapt over a stream of bullets from the spider before coming down violently on its back; looking to the side at the last second he saw Equinox swing his pike around. The blue hedgehog had barley come into contact with the spider's armoured back before he bounced away from avoid the slash. Pausing in mid air for a single moment, Sonic caused some momentum before launching a spin attack, not at the spider but at the General himself.
Caught by surprise at this change in strategy, Equinox left himself open to attack; an attach which hit him head on and sent him sprawling across the ground and finally colliding into the side of large rock.
The spider swung its leg around, trying to hit Sonic as landed; but Sonic ducked at the land second before speeding out of range of a second attack. Equinox rose back to all eight feet, each hand grasped tightly around his pike.
He swung several times, trying to run the blue hedgehog through. Dodging through the swipes, Sonic leapt up and drew his leg back; before landing one of his strongest kick against Equinox's face. The General staggered back on all eight legs, before smashing the blunt end of his pike into Sonic' stomach and as he gagged out; used the momentum of his own thrust to swing Sonic around. At one precise moment he let Sonic go flying through the air.
Tumbling lifelessly, the blue hedgehog hit and the ground and began rolling until he reached the edge of the cliff where he stopped. Wasting no time, Equinox swung his pike down and impeded the blade tip in the ground, levering off some of the dirt and letting Sonic fall down into the deep ravine.
Scuttling over, he went to see how big an impact Sonic's body would make when it hit the bottom. Looking over the edge, he left himself wide open as Sonic came flying up with a punch and sent Equinox flying head over heals and into the side of his own spider, the two of them falling into the trees; knocking several over with a loud crash.
Holding his hands up, Sonic gathered his energy before throwing his arms forward; the twisting vortex of the Sonic wind tearing through the air. Equinox barley had enough time to put up a decent defence.
Throwing his pike out in front of himself like a protective barrier, a thin blue shield forming over his body. As the attack hit, he was forced backwards; all eight heals scrapping against the ground. His giant robotic spider however did not have the defence needed and caught the full extent of the attack. Lifting clear off its feet, thick shreds of its armour were torn from its body before it was dumped violently over the side of the cliff and into the ravine.
As the ground shook from its impact, Sonic lowered his arms; finding it hard to catch his breath. Shadow made using energy attacks look easy, it was actually quite tiring. Equinox's eyes was glaring bright yellow as he dropped out of his defence and brought his pike up quickly; nearly slicing Sonic along the stomach with it. Sliding backwards, the blue hedgehog shot to the side trying to catch him of guard.
Anticipating the movement, Equinox curved around to match the hedgehog's movement, continually slicing away trying to hit him.
Jumping over the swings, Sonic came across one last time landing the strongest flying kick he could muster against Equinox's head. Rebounding off the side of a rock, he came back again with another kick. Then he rebounded again and stuck with a punch. Several times more he passed by, landing the strongest blows he could manage against the Metal X general. When he finally stopped, he was more out of breath then he could ever remember being in his life.
Turning, he backed off in dismay to see the leader of the Machine Federation's ground clan, apparently unharmed. He just stood there with both hands on his pike, eyes glowing bright yellow.
"Just what the hell are you guys made of?" He asked, hoisting himself to his feet; his knees almost groaning in reluctance.
"Technology from the stars." Equinox replied, twisting his pike around in both hands. Sonic stood ready to fight again when two missiles rang out, passing through the trees before exploding; knocking the weapon out of the Metal X general's hands.
"New target acquired." A voice stated. Sonic looked up as a large shape came lumbering out of the undergrowth. A bulky frame, with two large red eyes and armour. The arms were long and shaped like barrels, a rim of spikes on the wrists. E123: Omega stamped a fist down, the gust blowing out the smoke caused by the explosion and revealing his full form; complete with the G.U.N emblem painted on the left hand side of his chest plate
"Ah, you must be that E100 prototype the Master told us about." Equinox began, turning to face the new entry."Codename, Omega, I believe." He trailed a hand out and nearly instantly his pike returned to his hand.
Equinox began, turning to face the new entry. He trailed a hand out and nearly instantly his pike returned to his hand."Designate stated: Equinox; General of Metal X machine Federation's ground forces." Omega replied. "Termination proceeding."
"Hey back off man, you don't know how much punishment this guy can take." Sonic warned him, but instead of heeding the advice, Omega spread his arms out wide; talons at the ready before charging at full speed.
Flip card 1:
Name: Omega
Description: Last of the E100 series, the prototype of the battle android line.