Sonic eXcluded
I do not own Sonic, Tails, Amy etc. Douglas Smicktor is my character, so you no use.
Intro
"Sonic, I need to ask you something."
"What's that Doug?"
"Is it just me or does today really suck?"
"Why?" Knuckles butted in. "Because nothing's happened for a long while?"
"...Pretty much." Douglas said, staring blankly at the sky.
Douglas, Knuckles and Sonic were all on the roof of Chuck's lab, just looking up at the sky.
"Why don't you just do something then?" Knuckles suggested.
"Like what?" Douglas shrugged. "I'm fresh out of ideas."
"I've gone almost everywhere I can go..." Sonic thought aloud, almost 'inspired' by the topic of conversation.
Douglas looked over at the blue hedgehog. "You mean, around here right?"
"Yeah."
"There's other places on this planet you know. You could try going abroad."
"As long as there's no water to cross." Knuckles pointed out, referring to Sonic's fear of water.
"Oh yeah..." Douglas frowned. "Hmm... I'm gonna grab somethin' from the kitchen, you guys want anything?"
"I'm fine thanks." Knuckles stated, standing up. "I'm going to investigate out of town for a while. There might be an emerald there."
"I'm cool." The blue hedgehog answered. "You guys have fun out."
"All right, I'll catch you guys later then."
Walking into the living from, Douglas found Cream and Cheese watch a kids TV show. To him, it looked like some weird looking monster with a huge smile was waving on the screen.
"Bye-bye kids!" It said. "See you next time!"
"Goodbye!" Cream said, as it the creature was actually in the room.
"Chao-Ao!" Cheese said.
"Hey Cream, hey Cheese!" Douglas spoke.
"Hello Mr. Douglas." Cream greeted happily.
"Chao chao!" The Chao added.
"Cheese wants to know how you are Mr. Douglas." The rabbit translated.
"I'm fine, you know, just looking for something to pass the time with."
The other door opened into the room, and Ella walked in carrying a tray with cutlery and pie on it.
"What's this I smell?" The maid said with a smile. "Why, it's a freshly bake pie for my special little rabbit and Chao!" She put the tray down on the table in front of Cream and Cheese.
"Wow Miss Ella, it smells delicious!" The rabbit said.
"Chao! Chao chao choa, chao chao!" Cheese exclaimed.
"We interrupt your regularly scheduled programme to bring you a breaking news story!" The TV announcer's voice suddenly stated. "We go live to the presidential house, with our reporter Scarlet Garcia."
The TV picture changed to a packed pressroom, with Scarlet Garcia talking directly to the camera.
"The announcement of this event was only made barely an hour ago, and there is no indication as to what the subject matter is going to be... Wait, the statement is about to be read out!"
The President's Aide walked onto the stage, and stood behind the podium.
"Firstly I would like to that you all for attending at such short notice. The statement reads as follows: We, as law-abiding and peace-seeking people, who have worked so hard for so many years for the freedoms we now hold, refuse to back down to any form of terrorism, or live in fear of it. It is for this same reason that our country cannot, will not, and shall not surrender to Doctor Eggman!"
"What does he mean?" Cream questioned.
"I know trash-talking..." Douglas stated, "And I know fighting-talk, but that sounds to me like someone's thinking about startin' a war..."
Episode 12 - All Out War (Part 1)
Chaos Theory
Eggman leaned back in his command chair, regarding the press conference with interest. To his left, stood Decoe and Bocoe, his loyal servant robots. To his right, the newly restarted Scratch and Grounder, who had been two of the earliest robots created by his father, Doctor Julian Robotnik.
"Excuse me, but does the government have any strategy to deal with Dr. Eggman?" A reporter asked.
"I cannot go into any details, but after several meetings between top ranks of our armed forces, a number of plans have been..."
Eggman switched off the display, laughing.
"You have to admire their courage in not backing down to me!" The doctor said. "But what can any 'general secretary' think they can do to stop me?"
"The people on planet are strange Scratch..." Grounder stated. "I don't like it!"
"You get used to it." Decoe said.
Fang looked up at the TV screen, watching the press conference.
"How can you watch that?" Rouge asked, checking the tips of her gloves.
"It pays to keep an ear to the ground." The weasel answered.
"All work and no play... I might start to dislike you Nack." The bat teased, before walking out of the room.
Fang snorted, unimpressed.
"Sir, can you give us any information on the new landmass that's been discovered?" Another reported asked.
"I'm afraid that information is only available to secret service and top government officials. Next question."
Fang smiled. "Ear to the ground..."
"Master Douglas, a package has arrived for you." Mr. Tanaka stated, handing it over.
"Funny, I wasn't expecting anything..." Douglas said, opening it up. "...Huh? Dog tags?" He held up the tags.
"The card says they are a gift from Mr. Stuart." Tanaka held up a card.
"Guess he isn't mad about me fallin' asleep the other day."
Douglas shrugged, putting the tags on around his neck.
"Hey Douglas!" Amy called. "Tails has the Tornado X ready!"
"I'm on my way!" The human answered.
Knuckles effortlessly climbed up the side of the cliff, quickly driving his fists into the rock as he travelled upwards. Reaching the top, he pulled himself upwards and stood at the top.
Looking around him, he could see the whole of Station Square.
'City life...' He thought. 'So strange, it's driving me crazy!'
He knelt down, scooping up some dirt in his glove.
'It's been so long since I've seen the Master Emerald... Since I've seen the Floating Island...'
His fists clenched up, grains of earth slipping out and back onto the ground.
'What would my ancestors think of such a thing? Unable to carry out my duty as Guardian, trapped in another world...'
In a car park outside a shopping mall, Mr. Stuart sat in his green car, watching the display screen of the GPS tracker.
Fitting a tracker inside of some simple dog tags had been very simple, and the system was working perfectly. He could tell right now that Douglas had to be flying over the city in the Tornado X. But it had been a stroke of genius to also fit a bug in the other tag, so he could listen in to what was being said.
"You know, there's bound to be a Chaos Emerald around here somewhere." Stuart heard Douglas' voice say.
"Of course there is!" Amy stated. "We just need to find it first."
"That's easier said than done Amy." Tails pointed out.
Stuart checked the display, and noticed that the tracker showed that Douglas was fate approaching his position. A second later, the Tornado X flew over head and into the distance.
Starting up the car's engine, Mr. Stuart pulled out of the car park and began following the craft as best he could.
"This is Eggman's base?" The President asked, pointing to the tower on the scale model of Eggman Island.
"That is correct Sir." The Captain confirmed.
Sat around the model were the President, Rouge, Topaz, Fang, Christina Cooper, and the Captain. Also in the room were high-ranking generals of the army, navy, air force, secret service and G.U.N.
The Captain leaned forward, and carefully removed the tower from the model.
"Here, in the base of Eggman's tower, is the engine drive room."
The President nodded as the Captain put the tower back in place.
"Its location was confirmed by agents Topaz and Rouge after our reconnaissance mission."
The President smiled. "Good to hear the operation went well, and that you worked together peacefully. It's good to have you as part of the team Rouge."
"Not a problem Sir." Rouge said. "But I couldn't have done it without my good friend..."
Topaz looked over at the bat.
"...Fang the Sniper!"
Topaz sighed, guessing she should have seen that coming.
Fang smirked. "I do what I do."
"Excellent." The President said. "Now, shall we discuss the plan?"
"Of course Sir." The Captain agreed. "Would you like to take over General?"
"Oh, so you did all the work yourself?" Topaz directed to the bat.
"Certainly all the hard work..." Rouge replied, not even bothering to look at her.
The army General stepped forward, pointing to the model.
"The navy and air force will mount an initial frontal assault on Eggman's base directly towards his tower base."
"Won't Eggman be able to detect the incoming forces?" Christina asked. "He'll easily be able to launch a counterattack."
"Exactly!" The General stated. "While Eggman concentrates his forces on dealing with the attack..." He tapped the area of sea behind Eggman Island, furthest away from the tower. "...Special forces troops will infiltrate from the rear, making their way into the tower itself. Once there, they will destroy the engine room, and that will leave Eggman helpless against us!"
"The Special branch have requested that Rouge and Fang be a part of their team." The navy general stated. "They already have insider knowledge of the location and the enemy, so would be invaluable to the operation."
Topaz leaned over to the Captain. "Does that include us?"
"I can't be sure. It seems we don't have as much of an impact around here as they do." He looked over to the bat and weasel.
"What of Sonic?" The President asked.
"Sir, it seems that there was confusion the last time, and Sonic was unable to..."
"Well, no matter. It just so happens I've sent an envoy to take care of it."
"Just remain calm men..." The President's Aide said as he pressed the front doorbell of the Thorndyke mansion. "Nothing rash, just take it nice and easy."
"Just a minute!" Ella called out from inside. Shortly after, the door opened and she answered the door. "Good morning Sir, can I..."
The man standing in front of her seemed familiar. In fact, he was the man speaking on the TV earlier today.
"You... You're the President's Aide!" She said, shocked to see him.
"Excuse me, my name is Jerome Wise. Is Sonic here?" He asked.
Ella remembered that she saw Sonic having a rest on the roof of Chuck's lab just a moment ago, but she was very suspicious as to why someone working directly for the President would want to speak to him. Plus, Douglas mentioned that this man was talking like a war was going to happen soon.
"I'm sorry, I don't understand." Ella replied, folding her arms. "Who are you looking for? What is a Sonic?"
"Uh... I think you misunderstand me, I'm here to speak on behalf of the President himself with Sonic. We hope he will be able to help us in an upcoming battle against the tyrant Eggman, and in return the President gives his word that Sonic and his friends will become honorary citizens of our country, with the freedom to travel where they want!"
"I am sorry, but I don't understand a word you're saying!" Ella shook her head, acting as if this was all unknown to her.
"Please, don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about... Uh..." He took out a small book from his suit pocket, and flicked through a few pages. "Ah yes, Ella."
"What? You know my name?" She wasn't expecting that.
"We know all about you, the echidna, the little rabbit, all of you." Jerome said.
"I... I... You're a crazy man, I told you, I dunno what you're talking about!"
"Now see here, I'm being more than reasonable with you..."
Ella had had enough, and slammed the door shut, locking it.
"...Hey!" Jerome began knocking on the door. "Enough of this nonsense! We know Sonic's in there!"
The door opened again, and Ella threw a whole bucket of cold water right in Jerome's face before slamming the door shut again.
The two bodyguards looked at the President's Aide, then each other.
Jerome's eye twitched. "Aren't you two... Supposed... To protect me?"
"There was nothing at the training school about attackers with buckets..." One of them started to say.
"YOU CALL YOURSELVES BODYGUARDS?"
"Ella, who was that at the door?" Tanaka asked as he came down the stairs.
"Some President Aid he is!" She stated, storming past the butler as she went up the stairs. "Good for nothing! The sky will fall on my head before I answer to the likes of him!"
Tanaka stood on the stairs, pondering what he'd just been told, before deciding that he had better just ignore it and hope that it would go away.
"Oh, is that so? Well, thank you." Christina put the 'phone down. "It seems he was unable to contact Sonic directly." She said, speaking to the President.
"Ha! There's your 'hero' hedgehog for you!" The Commander of G.U.N. said. "Just as I predicted it up to ourselves to eradicate this Eggman scum ourselves."
"That's easy to say now that there's no other options left..." The President said, looking down at the model of Eggman island.
"You need to chill Sir..." Fang said, propping up his hat with the barrel of his gun. "We're just as good as that hedgehog, and there's two of us."
"Nack's right." Rouge said, standing up, "We're on your side Mr. President."
"Of course! Excellent!"
Rouge smiled.
'That Chaos Emerald I saw...' Rouge thought, remembering the last battle at Eggman Island. "This may be my only chance to get it!'
A junior agent then entered the room, looking very out of breath.
"Mr President, Sir!" He saluted. "We've just received word from agent Stuart that the Tornado X is leaving the area of Station Square, we at least Douglas Smicktor-Thorndyke on board!"
"...Repeat, the Tornado X is leaving the city. I will continue monitoring its flight-path as best I can, over." Mr. Stuart said into his radio.
"Roger that, continue mission as planned." A voice replied. "In addition, do not jeopardize your cover at any point. Remain at a safe distance at all times, you cannot be detected by Smicktor or the animals. Over and Out."
Stuart hung up the radio, glancing down at the GPS screen, then at the Tornado X in the sky.
'Where are you heading to Douglas?' He thought to himself.
"Hey guys!" Tails said. "Look! The Chaos Emerald's picking up on something!"
Amy leaned over, looking at the gem. "Hey, you're right!"
"Where's it coming from?" Douglas, in the rear seats of the craft, asked.
"The radar says... South-East!"
"Which way's that?" The human asked, looking over his right shoulder.
"Hold on guys, I'm gonna make a turn!"
Hitting a quick boost from the engines, the Tornado X sharply turned around, head back in the direction it had been travelling in.
Stuart checked the display again, then had to do a double take on it.
"They're heading back this way?" He questioned. "I'll have to head off the main highway..."
He hit the brakes, turning the car around as he did so, making the car face the other direction and heading back after the Tornado X.
"It's around here!" Tails announced. "I'm coming down to land!"
"What, in a cornfield?" Douglas questioned.
Expertly, Tails brought his 'plane down to land in an empty track made in the middle of the cornfield. As he did some last minute checks, Douglas opened up the glass around him and looked around.
"Man, you mean to tell me there's a Chaos Emerald hiding out amongst all this stuff?" The human shook his head.
"Don't you like corn?" Amy asked.
"KoRn, sure, but this is a bit much..."
"Don't worry about it!" Tails said, pressing a button. "Watch this!"
A burst of steam shot out from underneath the craft, and it's rear engines raised up, along with the rear passenger seats. The engines them selves became covered up, before their frames split open. Sliding and locking into place, the engines now acted as huge legs for the rest of the craft's body, that was now raised up high above the ground.
"This is AWESOME!" Douglas shouted, leaning out and looking down at the field below. "Like a real life transformer baby!"
"What's going on Tails?" Amy asked.
"This is Tornado X's alternative form: the almighty robot 'X Whirlwind'!" The kitsune rubbed his nose. "I designed it myself."
Douglas pulled a six-pack of beer from under his seat, pulled a can free and opened it up, letting the froth splash onto the side of the X Whirlwind.
"I hereby name this machine 'The Hyper Bitch'!" He shouted, before necking the beer.
"All right everyone, now we'll find that emerald!" Tails announced, pushing forward on his controls, making the machine walk forward through the field.
"They've stopped..." Stuart noticed, looking at the GPS display. "Have they found a Chaos Emerald?"
He grabbed his radio, speaking into it. "Attention home base, do you read me?"
Flip Card 1 - President's Aide
Full Real Name: Jerome Wise
Nickname(s): n/a
Gender: Male
Age: 41
Likes: Press conferences, classified information, meeting foreign dignitaries
Dislikes: Being upstaged, not being in control of a situation
Identifying features: Always smartly dressed in a suit, short brown hair, blue eyes. Usually seen on official business at the Aide to the President
Flip Card 2 – Christina Cooper
Full Real Name: Christina Cooper
Nickname(s): n/a
Gender: Female
Age: 37
Likes: Files in order, a peaceful atmosphere, general law and order
Dislikes: Confusion, depression
Identifying features: Takes great pride in almost perfect appearance. Long dark hair, wears glasses. Works as a secretary/consultant for the President
Part 2
"You think the emerald's here?" Douglas asked, looking down at the patch of earth he, Tails and Amy were standing around.
Tails nodded, rubbing his nose as he thought about it.
They'd managed to find the spot where the most reaction of Chaos energy was coming from, but when they climbed out of the X Whirlwind; there wasn't an emerald to be found lying amongst the tall corn.
"But if it's buried underground, how do we get it out?" The pink hedgehog asked.
"Well the 'obvious' solution is to dig the thing out!" The purple-haired human answered. "Unfortunately I've left my non-existing mining equipment at home... If Knuckles hadn't taken off to look by himself, he could dig it up no problem I bet..."
"Hey, why don't we use the X Whirlwind to dig it out?" Amy suddenly had an idea.
Tails suddenly froze; his eyes becoming wide as if he'd just witnessed a horrific murder, or the script for the Sonic OVA movie.
Douglas smacked himself in the forehead. "Bah! Of course! That thing is an ass-kicking super-power Megazord of a robot! Just shifting some dirt should be a breeze for it!"
The kitsune went very pale as he talked. "That would be true... If it could dig..."
"SAY WHAT?" Amy and Douglas exclaimed, sweat drops appearing on their heads.
"You mean to tell me..." The human said. "That your machine can change from a jet aircraft to a walking robot, can fire missiles and lasers, has huge friggin' surround-sound speakers and TV screens, BUT you can't use it to dig a little emerald out of the ground?"
"...Yeah..." Tails said sheepishly.
"...Meh, can't be helped." Douglas shrugged, causing Amy and Tails to face-fall. "I mean, it's designed to be an aircraft, originally. Not a drill..."
"So what'll we do?" Amy asked, talking through the ground.
"Maybe there's some tools in the farmhouse just over there." The human pointed in its direction. "I saw it as we were flying over. I'll go check and see if there's anyone there who can help out."
"Mr President!" Christina said. "Agent Stuart reports that Douglas and some of the animals have located a Chaos Emerald in farmland a few miles out from Station Square!"
"...Has Eggman left his base?"
"No Sir." The air force general stated. "No activity has been noted from Eggman Island."
"Good, it means one less of those things in the hands of that villain."
"Sir!" The army general stood up. "This is the chance we've been waiting for! Eggman is after those emeralds as well, so if we lure him out after it, then we can attack his base while he away!"
"That isn't such a crazy idea when you think about it..." The Commander said.
"What do say Mr. President? Shall we seize this moment?" The general asked.
The President turned and looked out of the window, as if looking at the sky for answers.
"Mr. President?" Christina asked, unsure if her was listening.
The army general's hands twitched, eager to get out and start the battle. The navy and air force generals looked at the President, hoping also to get the command to begin.
The Commander of G.U.N. watched the room carefully. Although his organisation was not going to be directly involved in this conflict, its outcome would greatly effect it.
Christina stood nervously by the telephone. The idea of an All Out War frightened her, and she was beginning to question (as she had when Dr. Eggman had first appeared) her choice of career.
The Captain and Topaz also watched the President, both anxious and nervous to know his decision.
Rouge just looked down at the model. She wanted the President to agree, so she could get that Chaos Emerald that Eggman had.
Fang wasn't paying attention to what was happening in the room at all. He'd just finished reading some classified reports on the new landmass that had been found, and from its description it was a very familiar place.
The President breathed in deeply, before exhaling. He turned around and looked at the room with a serious expression on his face.
"Begin the assault."
Knuckles' ears twitched the sound of a siren catching his attention. Jumping off the cliff, he pushed his fists forward, catching the wind and gliding across the treetops before latching onto a rock face and beginning to climb up.
Upon reaching the top, the echidna found himself looking down at an army base in scramble mode. Troops were running out and climbing into fighter 'planes, while others were preparing craft for takeoff.
"All units prepare for take off, I repeat: All units prepare for takeoff." A voice ordered over the noise of the siren. "This is not a drill, repeat: This is not a drill."
Knuckles stood, his arms folded over his chest, looking down at the scene.
'What is the meaning of this?' He thought.
"Agent Stuart this is home base, do you copy?"
"Rodger that." Stuart said, picking up the radio.
"All Out War is now in effect, repeat, All Out War is now in effect."
"They've begun the attack already?"
"Negative, preparations for deployment have begun. Your mission objectives have now been modified; your mission is now Operation Chaos Theory. We are about to tap into Eggman's communication line, informing him of Chaos Emerald located by Smicktor-Thorndyke. Once lured out of his compound, the assault will begin. You are to continue to monitor Smicktor-Thorndyke, the animals and, upon his arrival, Dr. Eggman.
You must remain undetected, but keep a track of any activity, specifically their departure and any sight of the Chaos Emerald. Over and Out."
"Now I just want you to take a look at this tablecloth ladies and gentlemen..." The infomercial host said, holding it up. "It's just covered in all kinds of nasty spills and stains! We're talking coffee, homemade spaghetti, some red wine, and little Billy left his boots on it as well, so there's some mud on this as well!"
"They dedicate a whole TV channel to showing dirty items?" Eggman was confused, watching the TV screen.
"It's so confusing!" Bocoe said, rubbing its metallic head.
"These people are crazy." Scratch added.
"But look! Just a quick spray of our brand new Cinos cleaning spray..." The host sprayed the tablecloth with the bottle. "And a quick rub with the Eso-Reh cleaning cloth, and..." The host rubbed the middle of the large stain with the cloth in his hand, before revealing the stain had gone. "Even though it's still the same old thing you've seen over and over, you'll be easily fooled into thinking it's brand new!"
"Amazing!" Decoe stated. "He just wiped it all away!"
"Wow, I want one!" Grounder said. "No, one of each! Then I can have one in each arm!"
"Ha!" Eggman laughed. "This is the latest technology they can come up with? I bet they still think digital watches are a pretty neat thing!"
"But... Lord Eggman, the stain..."
"I am supposed to be surprised by such things? If these people weren't so clumsy then they wouldn't have to clean up any mess!"
"You can pick up this must-have item for just 50 easy payments..." The host started to say, before the TV picture started to get all fuzzy, the sound breaking up into static.
"Oh, uh, what's that I hear?" A voice, attempting to imitate that of the host said over the distorted picture. "A Chaos Emerald's been found in the cornfields outside of Station Square?"
"What? What did he say?" Eggman suddenly became very interested, as the TV picture changed to a map, clearly marking the cornfield in question.
"Yes, that's right!" Another voice said. "I've heard little foxes with big jet 'planes are looking for it!"
"Oh, how interesting! Now, uh, back to the show!"
The picture snapped back to the original infomercial.
"Remember, you home may be at risk if you fail to keep up the payments..."
"Get me my cards!" Eggman demanded, pressing a button. "So Tails and his Tornado X have found another Chaos Emerald have they? Well that's just fine!"
"You mean another pretty stone?" Grounder asked.
"Hey! A built-in slot machine!" Scratch said, pointing to the three slot reels now on the display screen. "This is way better than the old Robotnik!"
"Here are your cards Sir!" Decoe brought the pack forward to the Doctor, who took them and shuffled them out before putting them into the slot in the machine.
"Let's go!" He said, pulling the lever and starting the reels.
"I want a go next!" Grounder said, excited.
"Don't disturb Lord Eggman at his work!" Bocoe said to the SSSSS robots.
"Shut up, short-stuff!" Scratch threatened.
"Yeah, short-stuff!" The green tank added, even though he was the same height as Bocoe.
"A-Ha!" Eggman exclaimed as the reels finally stopped. "E-35 will do just right!"
"It's a big fat bird!" Grounder said.
"HEY!" Scratch exclaimed.
"Not you, birdbrain!" Decoe pointed to the pictures of the large yellow bird-shaped robot with a large engine in its stomach on the reels.
"Mr. President!" Christina said. "Intelligence has just reported that Eggman has departed from his base, along with another of his machines!"
"The generals will already know..." The President mused, finishing off the cup of coffee, one of many he'd had since giving the order to begin the operation. "...Iacta alea est..."
"All units move out immediately! Operation All Out War is in effect!" The loudspeaker of the army base announced. "The assault on Eggman Island begins now!"
"Eggman Island?" Knuckles questioned, grabbing a hold of the fence surrounding the base. "They're attacking Eggman's base?"
"Attention Agent Stuart. Eggman and one of his machines have just departed from Eggman Island. It is unknown how long it will be before he reaches the emerald. Be vigilant, over and out."
Stuart said nothing, concentrating on the road ahead. The GPS showed that Douglas wasn't that far way, but he wasn't worried about that. The news that Eggman was on his way meant that All Out War was about to begin, something far more troubling.
Douglas panted, wiping the sweat off his forehead, before digging the spade deep into the ground and tossing the dirt out of the hole he was making. The farm he reached only had a single spare shovel, so he had been digging by himself for a good while now.
"You're doing great Douglas!" Amy encouraged.
"Yeah, you're nearly there!" Tails added.
"That's what you said five minutes ago!" Douglas said, glaring at the animals.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew over them, as dark shadow briefly covered them.
"What the hell was that?" Douglas demanded.
A large robotic yellow bird with a huge jet-engine in its centre landed at the other side of the field from them, squashing corn under its 'feet' as it landed.
"Oh-hohohoho!" Eggman laughed, bringing himself and his Eggpod down by the machine's 'head'.
"Eggman!" Douglas exclaimed, recognising the Doctor.
"Quick, do something Tails!" Amy said, getting very worried.
Tails nodded, flying up and sitting in the pilot's seat of the X Whirlwind.
"So, where's this Chaos Emerald that I've heard is around here?" Eggman demanded, watching as the X Whirlwind turned around to face him and E-35.
"You're not getting your hands on this one!" Tails stated, staring up at the Doctor. "I won't let you!"
"Ha!" Eggman laughed. "You dare stand before me? You don't have your hero Sonic here to save you I see!"
"Sonic... He should still be at home." Douglas said. "I need to call Chuck and get through to him!" The human tosses the spade to the ground, before turning and heading through the corn.
"Go get him Tails!" Amy shouted up.
"Here goes!" Tails said, pulling up on his controls. As he did so, the engines of the X Whirlwind's feet burst into life, lifting the machine up while locking back into their regular position, returning the craft into the Tornado X. Once in the air, the craft raced forward, heading straight for Eggman's machine.
"Fun-Fun! Show this insolent kid what you've got!" Eggman commanded, pointing at the incoming jet 'plane.
In response, E-35's huge engine roared into life, spinning around. But instead of taking it into the air, it was using the engine as a huge fan, blasting air straight out in front of it.
"AH!" Tails exclaimed, trying to keep the Tornado X in flight as it shook violently against the force of the air coming at it. The craft remained in the air, but seemed almost to be stuck where it was, despite the fact that its engines were still providing forward thrust.
"HEEEEEEEEEEELP!" Amy screamed, caught up in the wind and sent flying back into the air before landing deep in the corn of the field.
"AMY!" Tails shouted back, suddenly realising what had happened. But in that moment of distraction, he lost control of the Tornado X, and it was forced down to the ground by the air force against it.
"That's it!" Eggman encouraged. "We've got him down now!"
The force of the air coming from E-35 was now so strong that it ripped the corn out of the ground, clearing a straight path in front of it.
Running as fast as he could manage, considering her was worn out by the digging; Douglas looked behind him to see what looked like a tidal wave of corn chasing him.
"OH SHI...!" He exclaimed, before being caught up and swept away by the wave.
Moments later, the wave of air came right at the old farmhouse, ripping the old wooden barn and fixture right from the ground and away into the distance as if they had never existed at all.
"What's going on?" Tails said in frustration, trying to force the controls so the Tornado X would get back into the air.
It wasn't working. In fact, E-35 was pushing the craft back away from it along the ground, scraping the jet 'plane along the cleared path.
"What's the matter Tails?" Eggman mocked. "Are you having fun with Fun-Fun here?"
Someone who certainly wasn't having fun was Douglas, who was sprawled on the ground just away from the field, knocked out and bleeding from the forehead thanks to the spade he had been using before, which collided with his skull when he was caught up in the wave.
Even worse, the force of the air had ripped his dog tags off his neck, and was carrying them far away into the distance.
"I'm almost there..." Stuart said, before glancing down at the GPS screen. "What?"
The screen showed that Douglas seemed to be moving very quickly away from where he had been, in a completely new direction.
"Have they found the emerald already?" He questioned, quickly turning his car around. "I need to get after them and find out!"
He sped back down the way he had come from, following the tracking signal to its new location.
The convoy of navy battle ships and air-force fighter craft were coming up over the horizon, heading towards the small island that was the base of Doctor Eggman.
"This is squadron leader one calling in to all squad team one members." The pilot of the leading fighter 'plane said over the radio. "We are now in range of the target. Fire at will."
With that, he hit the fire button, unleashing missiles directed at Eggman's tower. Shortly after, the rest of the 'planes in the front pack did the same, along with the navy ships leading the sea forces, all targeting the base of the evil genius.
"I don't get it." Scratch said, looking at the pack of cards. "Why does Lord Eggman name them with numbers?"
"Weren't you given a number?" Decoe asked.
"Robotnik called us all kinds of names..." Grounder said. "But a lot of them weren't very nice, and he always shouted them at us. Usually when we failed to catch the hedgehog."
"You know, there's two cards missing from this deck!" The robotic chicken stated. "E-99 and..."
Suddenly, the whole tower was rocked as the missiles struck into the outside, causing the four robots in the command room to fall over onto each other.
"AHHH!" Bocoe screamed out. "What's going on?"
"Hey! Look!" Grounder said, pointing a drill out from the bottom of the pile he was under at the display screen. "Strange clouds of smoke with things on the end of them!"
Scratch squawked in fear. "Missiles! Lots and lots of vicious exploding missiles!"
"We're under attack!" Decoe got out of the pile, running up to the control panel. "The human army of this planet is attacking us!"
"What? They dare to try and destroy the home of the great Eggman?" The robotic chicken stated.
"We must counter-attack!" Bocoe stated, raising a fist in the air.
"Oh-boy, oh boy!" Grounder said excitedly, changing his drill arms into rockets. "Eggman's gonna be proud of us when we smash those guys up!"
"For the glory of Eggman!" Decoe declared.
"EGGMAN!" The robots called in unison.
A hatch in the side of Eggman's tower opened up, and two robots flew out of it into the air, followed by a turret like robot that landed on the sand at the tower's base.
Raising its missile launcher up to the sun, it fired off three long missiles into the air.
"This is squadron leader one calling in to all forces!" The pilot of the leading fighter 'plane said over the radio again. "A counter-attack is being launched! Use extreme caution when proceeding!"
The missiles fired came crashing down into the ocean on either side of the leading gunship, before a final missile stuck down hard on its deck, leaving a flaming explosion.
In the air, a flying E-13 was unleashing it's guns as it perused one of the fighter jets, striking the engines and sending it spinning out of control down to the ocean below. At the same time, two air-force craft were trying to gun down an E-11 that was coming straight at them. The bird-like robot was too quick, out flying the bullets and smashed straight through one of the 'planes just before the pilot ejected safely out of it.
"Anyone order a dogfight?" Fang stated, looking up at the explosions in the sky.
"That's our cue to start." Rouge said, pulling the black material of her 'stealth' body suit over her mouth, just leaving her eyes uncovered.
Fang looked back at her, not understanding the purpose of it since it had a similar pink heart over the chest area like her usual attire. He then looked to the troops of the squad, which included Topaz, before back to the tower.
They'd snuck onto the island no problem, but would it be as easy getting into the tower again?
'I swear Fang, if any of the Freedom Fighters heard you were fightin' against Eggman by doin' this stuff they'd have a heart attack!' He thought to himself, pulling his gun out and cocking it, ready to fire.
Rouge flew up into the air, over the rocks they were hiding behind, and Fang climbed up after her. Topaz looked back, giving the signal to move out, before also following.
"We're nearly all set up Mr. President." The cameraman said, making some final adjustments to his lens.
The President was worried, and not because this could effect his re-election. How could anyone be calm when they are about to announce they've started an All Out War?
"It's a cloudy day today..." The President looked through some of the prepared speeches given to him. "No, no good... Never before have so many given... No, too old fashioned... Four score and seven..."
"Excuse me, Mr President?"
He looked up at Christina, who handed her another script. "Perhaps you should start formally."
He nodded, pushing the others aside and straightening his tie in preparation for the most important announcement of his life.
"We'll have to go back to that news story another time, I'm being told that we're going to a live statement from our President." The news reporter stated.
"Hey sis!" The green hedgehog stated, pointing at the TV screen. "This might be interesting!"
"If it's another programme about catching small animals in balls, I'm not watching!" The purple hedgehog answered.
"People of our great nation, this is your President speaking." The President said. "As of a few moments ago, the fighting men and women of our navy and air force began an all out assault on the headquarters of the tyrant known as Doctor Eggman."
"Did he say Eggman, Manic?"
"You've got ears Sonia! He said it all right!"
"Eggman, who has not only threatened the peace of our country, but has attempted to destroy our cities and enslave us all to his so-called 'Eggman Empire'.
"We have to tell Mr. Sonic!" Cream said in alarm, quickly jumping off the seat of the living room sofa.
"Chao!" Cheese said, climbing down off it and chasing after the rabbit, but fell face first onto the carpet as it did so. "Chao-Chao!" It said, picking itself up and going after her again.
"He has made it clear that his goal is nothing short of complete world domination over us all."
The fierce dogfight raged on, as army jet 'planes engaged Eggman's defensive machines, while the navy ships continued to launch missile assaults onto Eggman's tower.
As bravely as they were fighting, the human troops were clearly being outmanoeuvred and overpowered by the machines. E-11s were driving themselves straight through jets as E-13s blasted others into fireballs.
"That is completely unforgivable, and unacceptable!"In the midst of the conflict, a small bomb planted at the base of Eggman's tower exploded, leaving a large gaping hole. Rouge flew down and into it, as Fang climbed down on the rope to the hole.
The weasel looked to the bat, who gave the all clear for him to follow in. He in turn looked up to the human troops and signalled for them to come down as well.
"There are some that have said that Eggman is too powerful a foe for us to defeat, that he is far superior in strength, intelligence, and technology. I cannot say that I have not thought the same."
"All available offensive and defence aircraft prepare for launch!" The loudspeakers announced. "All available weapons are to be loaded up, and ready to fire!"
"You heard him!" The lead technician said. "Get those missiles on them, and fix that loose panel on that fighter!"
"Yes Sir!" A young engineer said, screwing the panel firmly into place.
Knuckles watched from inside the small space that he'd hid himself in as the screw was put back in, sealing him inside the fighter jet.
'These people can't possibly beat Eggman.' He thought to himself. "As dangerous as this is, it's my only way to get out to this battle!"
"Second wave of offence, move out!" The echidna heard the loudspeakers announce, and he felt the jet he was in move out onto the runway.
"But as a man, who lives and breathes the freedom and the rights that we have struggled to maintain, I truly believe that there is no robot or machine from any planet than can defeat the spirit of our great nation."
"Hurry Mr. Sonic!" Cream said, holding a tired Cheese in her arms.
"Tails!" Sonic called, bursting into the garage of Chuck's lab. "Get the Tornado X ready to..."
The rabbit gasped. "It's gone!" She squealed.
At that moment, Chuck walked down the stair holding a cup of tea.
"Looking for Tails?" He asked, sipping the tea. "He, Amy and Douglas went out in the Tornado X a few hours ago, and they haven't come back yet."
"Where could they have gone?" The blue hedgehog demanded. "And why now?"
Chuck laughed a little. "Now you know how Douglas felt all the times you ran off!"
"No form of terrorism, violence, or even bullying on any scale can be, or should be allowed to exist in any form."
Mr. Stuart scratched his head, bending down and picking the dog tags off the grass.
"This is strange... How did these suddenly land here?"
He stood up, putting them in his pockets.
"I should go back and check out the field..." He said to himself, walking back to his car.
"I speak from the heart when I say that I truly, and I mean deeply, wished, hoped and prayed for a solution other than this."
Amy panted, running with her hammer in one hand, and a number of pegs that she had been using to escape from the air of E-35. Douglas didn't seem to be moving, and she getting worried about Tails as well.
"Come on Douglas!" She said, moving the shovel off his body and turning him over.
She stood back and screamed in shock at what she saw. Douglas' face was a crimson mask, coated with his own blood. She looked at the shovel, and it too had drops of his blood on it.
He groaned, sitting up slightly.
"A...Amy?" He questioned; wiping whatever was in his eyes away so he could see. "What happened?"
"Doug...Douglas! You're...!"
The human looked at his hands, and noticed they were now stained with a red liquid.
"...Bleeding?" He looked up at her.
She simply nodded in reply, unsure what to say or do.
Douglas smiled. Not a friendly smile, or a happy smile. But a smile more befitting of a complete psychopath. One identical to the one the government had of him on file, and that Topaz carried around in her chest pocket.
Grabbing the spade, he stood up and asked only a simple question, as if the fact that the blood running down his face was irrelevant.
"Where's Tails?"
"But against an unreasonable foe such as Eggman, who will stop at nothing to achieve his goal of world domination, we must fight fire with fire, and be burned if necessary."
Tails was gritting his teeth, straining his arms as he pulled back on the controls, bringing the X Whirlwind up to it's feet, and turning it to face Eggman and Fun-Fun.
"I will NOT lose to you Eggman!" Tails roared, looking at the Doctor with such intensity that he had never used before.
Eggman stood up in his Eggpod, smiling with his hands on his waist.
"You impress me Miles Prower." He said. "Here I was thinking you'd be forever a sidekick for that annoying hedgehog, but it seems since we've been on this planet you've found a backbone." He stroked his moustache for a moment. "It's a shame you won't be able to make something of yourself, as you can't possibly beat E-35!"
"What did you say?" The kitsune demanded.
The Doctor chuckled for a moment. "Sorry to crush your hopes, my intellectual rival, but my machine isn't even at all full strength just now!" He snapped his fingers. "Have some 'fun'!"
E-35's engine spun into a higher gear, and Tails instantly felt the effects of an even stronger air force than before as the wind battered against the X Whirlwind.
"Let's see how long you can stand up against THAT!" Eggman taunted, grinning at the straining machine in the wind.
Trying as best he could, the X Whirlwind was being forced back, it's 'feet' scraping along the dust of the ground. Eventually, the pressure was too much, and the machine buckled to its 'knees'.
At the same time, another tidal-wide of corn and earth had built up, rushing towards the craft. Tails could only scream out in despair as the X Whirlwind was sent flying high into the air.
"I had hoped not to see any kind of major conflict during my term as President, but I have seen during these few short months since Eggman's arrival so much destruction and violence, that it was almost inevitable that this day would come."
On the mainland shoreline, a lone cloaked figure stared out at Eggman Island, and the battle going on around it.
"Such bravery in this face of impossible odds... Scenes not seen since the fall of Julian Robotnik..."
He looked up to the sky, his old face smiling. It was only a matter of time now.
"I am by no means a warmonger, and I strongly disapprove of any form and type of violence. But it is clear that the likes of Eggman can only see things in black and white, so it us up to our fighting men to force some colour into his eyes."
Mr. Stuart's car speeded down the road, heading back to the original cornfield.
'Hopefully I can get to it before...' He started to think, before noticing a shape in the distance. 'Is that the Tornado X?'
Suddenly his windshield was struck by a large amount of corn and leaves, forcing him to slam on the breaks.
"What's going on?" He exclaimed, suddenly realising that although he had stopped the car, it was going backwards thanks to a hurricane-like wind coming at it.
He grabbed a hold of his mobile 'phone, dialling a number up, while pulling another device out of his pocket that looked like a strange voice-recorder and switching it on and holding it to his mouth.
"Hello, is this the house of Douglas Smicktor-Thorndyke?" His now distorted voice asked down the 'phone.
"I do not exaggerate when I say that we are facing an All Out War here, and one that we are willing to fight to the bitter end."
"Yes, this is Chuck Thorndyke speaking." Chuck said, a little confused by the strange sounding voice on the other end of the line. "...What? Douglas is in grave danger? The Cornfields outside of Station Square? What do you... Hello? Hello?" Chuck threw the 'phone down.
"Who was it Mr. Chuck?" Cream asked.
"He hung up, but that's of no importance right now." He answered, before looking at Sonic. "Douglas went with Tails and Amy in the Tornado X. With this All Out War going on, they might be in grave danger!"
"I've run past those fields before." Sonic stated, standing up. "I'm save them!"
The blue hedgehog then rushed down the stairs, out of the Thorndyke Estate, and onto the main road heading out of town.
"I only ask you all to hope and pray that victory comes at little cost to the lives of our fighting men and women. Thank you for your time."
"...My... My princess? What are you making of such things?"
"...Get the Freedom Fighters together. It's about time we introduced ourselves to this planet.
Next time on Sonic eXcluded: All Out War Part 2 - The End of the Beginning.
Don't miss it...
