Chapter Seventeen

Operation: Save the Queen

Deep inside the forest there were four figures and a Chao overlooking a deep crater as a large assembly operation was underway. The sounds of machines pounding away, the sounds of whips could be heard, and the shouts of orders came from the armored birds as they over saw the operation.

"What's the plan?" the green hedgehog with wild spiked hair asked.

"We need to first free the hostages and get them to safety first," the blue hedgehog replied.

"Okay, but as long as I don't have to get dirty," the pink hedgehog spoke and the green hedgehog snorted at her statement but she ignored it.

"What do you make of it Tails?" the blue hedgehog asked the twin-tailed fox.

"I would suggest stealth would be our best option since it would take an army of about a few hundred to storm the complex and free the hostages successfully. With the number we have; stealth would be our best bet."

"Okay, it looks like we first need to disable the security system while getting through unseen and stopping the assembly process. Tails, I trust you will disable the security and stop the assembly process," the blue hedgehog told his friend.

"Hold on Sonic," the green hedgehog interrupted. "How can you allow someone so young go with something like this? I like kids myself, but I couldn't live with the thought of him getting hurt."

"Easy Manic. I trust Tails well enough to get out of situations on his own and get the job done in the best way possible. You two didn't have to come along," the blue hedgehog named Sonic answered.

"We are both trained in combat and you do need our help in rescuing our mother," the pink hedgehog spoke up as she eyed Sonic at his idea.

"I've dealt with this army before and it doesn't hurt to have a little extra help. I learned that the hard way when I was on Westside Island when I fell for a trap set by Eggman."

"What happened?" the pink hedgehog asked.

"Eggman decided to use the island's tropical forest as cover for his traps. I got caught in the middle and then an explosion knocked me out. When I came to; I was soaked head-to-toe and coughing up water. I found out that Tails was the one who saved me from thirty feet below and I'm still amazed that he was able to swim that deep without the fear of drowning over him." Sonic replied.

"Sonia, we should focus at the mission at hand and we can talk later about this," Manic warned her fearing that she is not focusing on the plan at hand.

"Okay, let's put the plan into motion!" Sonic said as he held out his hand.

"Let's do it," Manic said putting his hand on top of Sonic's.

"Ditto," Sonia said with her hand on top of Manic's.

"Same here," Tails said as he put his hand on top of Manic's.

"Chao," the Chao said as he put his hand on top of Tails'.

"Okay, let's do it!" Sonic announced as they disentangled their hands from one another and they let in different directions. Sonic, Sonia, and Manic all left as they made their ways towards the east end of the complex while Tails and his Chao left for the south end.

Meanwhile as our heroes are putting their plan into motion. Deep inside the complex in one of the major buildings was the leader of the army that is present and he had the main objective of our heroes held captive as he interrogated her.

"Tell me where your Kingdom Emerald is, Your Majesty," the muscular duck spoke in a daunting tone.

"They are just a myth and they are said to be lost for centuries," she replied.

"LIAR!" he pounded his robotic fist on the table causing it to break sending splinters everywhere. "You will tell me where it is or I'll make your people's life insufferable."

"Sir," a voice spoke on the intercom. "Sorry to disturb you but our security has detected an intruder."

"Put it on the screen," the leader replied absentmindedly.

The screen came up beside them and it showed a fox-like Chao wondering through the complex.

"It's just a Chao and they are of no threat to us. Now DON'T disturb me unless it's important!"

"Yes, Sir," the voice replied and the screen vanished from sight.

"Now, where were we?" returning to her with an evil grin that was almost unbearable to look at.

If only the leader knew who was actually wondering through the complex. This particular Chao actually belongs to someone who has been a thorn in his plans since they first met years ago. The Chao made its way through the complex and it was just ignored as if it didn't exist. It went under one of the machines to find his master underneath it as he worked on it.

"What's the word Ace?" his master asked.

The Chao began to speak in his language and it also made hand gestures to help interpret what he was saying.

"Great job Ace," the fox said as he praised him, "and it's a good thing I removed your attire since you could have been shot on sight. Now let's rig the next part of the complex."

They each split up as they stealthily made their way towards the next part of their plan. Ace had to act natural since it would be too conspicuous if he went straight towards his next destination. On the far end of he complex, our three hedgehogs were hiding under an engine block as they watched the guards on their patrols.

"This looks horrible," the pink hedgehog spoke as they watch on of the guards whip a prisoner just for falling on the ground with a piece of machinery.

"I know what you mean Sonia. Let's get the lead out before Tails finishes before we can finish our part of the plan," the blue hedgehog spoke as he noticed an explosive devise hidden under the machine they were under.

They scampered out from their hiding place and they made their way towards their next place as they made their ways towards their main objective's holding place. Although they were spotted by the prisoners but they were ignored as the prisoners continued their work under the constant eyes of the guards. They finally reached their main goal but they had to stop when they heard a door open. They hid beside a fuel tank and they spotted the leader of the present army and their main objective, a beautiful pink hedgehog in an elegant dress wearing a golden tiara, Queen Aleena.

"Now Queen Aleena, you will surrender your Kingdom Emerald or else your people will suffer," the duck said as they walked passed them not even noticing them.

Just then the leader spotted something moving out of the corner of his eye. It was the same Chao he'd spotted earlier and he picked it up by its orange wings as it scurried by his feet.

"You look awfully familiar and it's not from the monitors I've seen you on," he spoke as he got a good look at the Chao.

Just then there was a snapping sound and the now once placid Chao turned into a vicious, snarling Chao as it bared its sharp, razor-like teeth. It attacks him as it viciously attacks his face as it mauled and punched his face as Queen Aleena just looked on as if lost at the sight. The nearby guards were alerted to the Chao's snarling and their leader's yells for help, but they were stopped by an electric current that went through their bodies and they fell to the ground. The three hedgehogs that were hiding nearby jumped the nearby guards as they passed them knocking them out cold.

"Return!" a voice spoke and the Chao retreated to the voice.

"Why you little brat. How dare you sic this ungrateful Chao on me?" the leader spoke as he wiped streaks of blood off his face upon recognizing the voice, which didn't take too long.

"It's your fault for attacking and kidnapping a monarch just for your own gain. Besides the Kingdom Emeralds are just a myth," it was a twin-tailed fox floating down to the ground using his tails like a propeller. "All of your prisoners have already been evacuated and all of your guards have been rendered inoperable."

The leader just growled at the statement and ignited his rockets on his feet and charged at the fox. The charged seemed like it was in slow motion to everyone else present. As the duck charged at his target; the fox jumped up into the air as he performed a forward flip. Upon reaching his vertical position again, he hits the duck in the back of the head with a back kick knocking him onto the ground.

"Sorry but I can't stay and chat. I gotta fly and I mean literally fly."

"Let's get out of here Tails!" the blue hedgehog yelled. "You get Sonia and Manic out while I get the Queen!"

Before Queen Aleena could protest, Sonic grabbed her hand and sped off his incredible speed with Tails following behind holding onto Manic and Sonia with his Chao following behind him. They made it to the edge of the complex where they had begun their plan until they stopped.

"Get ready for the pyrotechnics boys and girls!" Tails said after he landed with his load and put his hand on his watch.

"Huh?" Sonic said with a dumbfounded expression, but his question was answered as the complex started to explode simultaneously into flames due to Tails' explosives that he had rigged around the place.

After the fireworks were done, the group left the area as they quickly made their way back towards the city they were once in, but without going at supersonic speeds. It was a peaceful walk as they took the dirt path while they heard the birds singing their songs in the trees.

"I would like to commend all of you for rescuing me from that evil-minded dictator and his plans for world domination," Queen Aleena spoke as they took the left fork in the road.

"No biggie," Sonic replied, "Tails and I would've rescued anyone. No matter if they were royalty or not."
"Speaking of which, Sonic, since you are back; you are going to have to learn etiquette and how to act like a prince."

Sonic's once carefree look was now replaced by anger. "I said it once and I'll say it again. I'M NOT A PRINCE! And since when do I need to learn eti-eit- whatever you said!" Sonic turned his back on them but turned around again as he heard Tails struggle to hold back a laugh. "What's so funny, Miles?" Sonic turned his anger towards Tails as he now used the fox's given name in an effort to let loose his anger but it failed as Tails busted out laughing. "Laugh it up, Per Hour!" Sonic sarcastically remarked and Tails stopped laughing.

"Now that was uncalled for Sonic and besides; learning some etiquette might do you some got and it is not that bad."

"What do you mean?" Sonic asked as Tails snapped a nearby branch.

"I know a few things when it comes to etiquette in front of a monarch. Even after all these years I haven't forgotten how to act in front of a monarch," Tails replied in his know-it-all tone that bugs Sonic at times as Tails picked up a branch as they passed.

"Such as?" Sonic asked as Tails balanced the branch on his head.

"Learning the proper way to walk in this case; float," Tails posture changed as he began to walk with the branch on his head.

"That looks too easy," Sonic said as he grabbed the branch off of Tails' head.

"It's not as easy as it looks and it would take years to learn to do it correctly," Tails replied as he watched Sonic try and try again to balance the branch on his head before he threw it into the woods out of frustration.

"What else?" Sonic asked crossly.

"Proper manners at the table and for you. It will be an improvement with the way you eat."

Sonic turns in front of Tails halting him in his tracks, "What's the wrong with the way I eat?"

"It's a long list Sonic, and I rather not list as of yet," Tails replied as he passed Sonic with Ace on his head.

They continued to walk until they were caught into a roped net that they unfortunately walked onto and they were strung high into the air.

"What tha-?" Sonic asked in surprise and a cackle was heard followed by a voice in the bushes.

"At last! We got the hedgehog!"

"Oh no!" Sonic said in a voice reserved for someone you don't want to meet again with his hand across his head.

"Don't tell me!" Tails also said in the same tone as Sonic as he shook his head.

Out came a tall chicken robot with a black body, silver limbs, yellow legs, and he came complete with the wattle, head piece, and tail feathers of a chicken.

"Well, well hedgehog, you fell into our trap and you're not tricking us again," another voice was head from the trees and out came another robot that looked like a monkey.

He had a red head with a light bulb on his head and silver limbs. He cackled as he hung by his prehensile robotic tail.

"Won't Dr. Robotnik be proud of us for capturing the hedgehog!" a third voice was heard.

The third robot looked like a drilling robot. He had a green body, drills for his nose and hands, and treads like on a tank.

"Okay," Sonic began pretending he wasn't surprised by his previous enemies. "So, whose bight idea was it to capture me in a net?"

"Mine!" the three robots said in unison, but they turned to each other.

"Yours!" they said again in unison pointing fingers at one another.

"It's mine Scratch and it was my rope you used!" the needle-nosed robot said as he transformed his drills into a firearm.

"I'm the one who put the rope through the tree! So it's my plan!" the monkey robot said as he pulled out a coconut.

"I'm the one who covered the trap and I'm the one who saw them coming. I'm the leader of the Super Special Sonic Search and Smash Squad because Dr. Robotnik made me first and I'm his favorite!" the chicken robot known as Scratch yelled as he slapped his two counterparts along side the head.

The drill robot let loose his firearm and he electrocuted his counterparts. The two yelled in pain and the coconut the monkey robot was holding exploded in his hands. The three came out burned and they each had a look of sere revulsion as they growled at one another. The three then attacked each other as they each yelled out their own insults and cries of pain.

High in the air, Sonic was having a very difficult time holding back his laughter and he failed as he laughed until he was on the verge of tears. Queen Aleena, Manic, and Sonia each had a look of confusion as the robots continued to fight below them. Tails meanwhile told Ace to find a way to lower the net they were in so they could get out. The three robots had led their fight near the tree they were strung up and they loosened a peg that held the rope in place. By loosening it; the net fell and its occupants landed on the ground with a light thud. Ace had returned to Tails' side as they got up off the ground.

As the fighting quieted down, all that was left of the robots was rubble. They seemed to have fought each other until they tore each other to pieces. Sonic had walked over to them and he broke out in a fake sob that could fool anyone.

" Breaking up is so hard to do," then Sonic let out a laugh as he retreated from the motionless robots. "By the way. Why would Eggman want the three of you around anymore since all of your failed attempts at capturing me failed?"

"That's Dr. Robotnik to you, Sonic!" Scratch angrily replied as he tried to hop his way towards Sonic with his head.

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch, Stretch!" Sonic let loose another cackle but that was drowned out by the sounds of weapons being cocked.

Dozens of robots had surrounded them and they had their blasters pointing at them. A vile laugh was heard and it came from a bald headed man with a thick mustache sitting in a hovering vehicle. The vehicle came down until it was level with them.

"I have you surrounded now hedgehog. So I suggest that you surrender now," he said in a vile tone as he smiled with a look that anyone would hate.

The only thing Sonic could do was put his hands up in defeat since he could fight him now since some innocent people would get hurt. Tails had to hold Ace and told him to calm down. The man then turned his attention to the dismantled robots that laid not far from them.

"You three have failed again in not keeping the hedgehog in a trap! However, you did manage to keep the hedgehog still long enough for me to capture him," he activated a magnet and he picked up the dismantled robots as the rest of his armed guard led his prisoners to await their doom.

It seems that Dr. Robotnik has finally captured his nemesis, but can Robotnik really keep Sonic in a jail cell? What will await the fate of Queen Aleena and her children? Is Sonic really a prince and if he is; will he accept his fate or will he denounce his title? What about Tails and Ace? If they were both able to rig explosives to destroy a flying fortress in progress. Will they be able to escape from where they will be held captive? Has Robotnik gotten over what Tails and his Chao had done to him in the past or will a more vile fate await them? What sort of fate does Robotnik have in store for Sonic?


Preview:

Yo, this is Sonic! It seems that ol' Eggman has finally captured me again, but he can't hold me! Now he wants to turn me into a robot to do his bidding. Now where did he come up with an idea like that and I highly doubt it will work. However, Eggman took a blood sample from me saying that if the process failed; he would clone me. There is no way for me to escape and it's up to Tails and his Chao to save me; that is if they can get past the three dunderheads (IE Scratch, Grounder, and Coconuts) that are guarding his cell. Find out what happens next time!


Post Author's Note: If you're upset that I had Sonic use the pun to Tails' name; don't worry he doesn't really mean it. Best friends tend to push each others' buttons when they are made fun of and they each know each others' limits.