Dr. Robotnik's volcano base was eerily quiet. Not a sound could be heard, save for the Badniks handling the toxic waste in the caves.
Count Sin, beaten up and reasonably weak, looked around the halls of the volcano's upper levels. Nothing. Dante was also puzzled by the strange silence, as was Mitch, Blaze and Slash. They held their guns close, just in case an assassin decided to visit.
"Robotnik? Sir? It's us," Slash yelled.
"Hey, we got a Chaos Emerald!" Blaze lied, hoping to get the doctor's attention wherever he was.
"I'll check the rooms. You four go search the rest of the base," Dante said. Sin nodded and limped in the opposite direction. Mitch and Slash also walked off, and Blaze scanned the area. Dante walked into one of the hallway's many rooms. It was empty, as expected.
"Damn. Where could he be?" he asked himself. He pressed a button on his communicator, searching for Robotnik's signal.
"Come on, sir. Pick up," Dante whispered. Then, his ears twitched. He could barely hear the sound of Robotnik's communicator.
"It sounds like…it's inside of the wall." Dante pressed his ear against the hard, steel covering. Sure enough, the ringing of the doctor's radio could be heard.
"But where?" He traveled alongside the wall, searching for some kind of hidden door or anything.
"I've just scanned the place," Mitch announced, walking in. Dante turned towards him.
"Robotnik designed a secret passage. No one can get in unless he let's them. The only way to open the door is from the inside," The fox explained. Dante then focused all of his strength into one fist, and smashed a hole in the wall. Sure enough, there was a hallway on the other side. He held his hand, easing the pain of his bleeding knuckles. The wall was made of metal after all.
After making the hole larger, constituting some more wounds for his hand, Dante and Mitch walked through the dark corridor, the walls decorated with various paintings of the Robotnik family bloodline. Well, technically Kintobor family, being the good doctor's original name at one point.
"Dante!" Mitch yelled. Up ahead, where the corridor turned another corner, the wall was sloppily painted with red, shining off of the steel surroundings. The two quickly ran ahead. Upon turning the corner, Dante witnessed the lifeless body of their beloved leader. Blood still dripping at an extremely slow rate, and a bullet hole in the chest and head. Although almost invisible behind the doctor's blue glasses, Dante guessed that an expression of fear still made it's home on Ivo's face.
"Mitch, go get the others. Tell them to bring a stretcher."
The five commanders sat in a circle on the floor. It came as a shock to everyone about Robotnik's death. Dante and Sin remained quiet. Blaze wore an expression of both shock and disappointment. Mitch was quietly thinking, and Lt. Slash was facing away from everyone.
"So…Robotnik is dead. Can't say I'm sad to see him go," Blaze admitted. He felt slightly ashamed, as though he had betrayed Robotnik a little.
"He's probably burning in Hell now as we speak. May he rest in peace," Dante said, closing his eyes. A few moments of silence passed. Finally, Sin spoke.
"We've mourned his death long enough. Now is the time to make a decision. We need a new leader. A new lord of the Robotnik Empire." This made them go back into thought. A good leader always needed discipline and leadership skills. But this is the Robotnik Empire. Whoever was chosen would have to be able to live up to Ivo's name, not an easy task.
"Count me out. The main reason I joined this army was to fight with Dr. Ivo Robotnik. Not control the Empire. I may actually resign," Mitch explained. He was aware that whoever wished to leave this army would be killed. That depended on whoever here was elected the new emperor.
"I do not wish to be master either. I'm much more comfortable following orders from a respectable superior," Lt. Slash said.
"Well, I guess I could rule the Empire," Blaze suggested.
"I said I'll take orders from a respectable leader," Lt. Slash said. Blaze glared at him, then turned back towards Sin and Dante.
"Well, I think it should be one of you. You're both merciless, and are hell of a lot better commanders than we are." Sin faced the other way.
"Don't choose me. I lead an attack against an old foe once…and all I got for it was this artificial suit I wear," he said. Dante smirked.
"Well, I guess that leaves me. I'd take up the position, but I'm not about to run this whole Empire alone. Which is why I propose this." He looked at Sin, Blaze and Slash.
"I suggest we run the Empire together. As a Confederacy. We share equal power and conquer the planet as one," the Tasmanian devil explained. Sin nodded in agreement, while Blaze gave a look of concern.
"One problem. Sharing power will only make us want more. Soon we'll be quarreling, and eventually we'll end up fighting each other instead of the enemy," the red hedgehog explained.
"I'm afraid there are no other options that could benefit us. We shall form the Empire Confederacy of Equal Powers," Sin announced. He raised his hand up, waiting for Blaze, Dante and Slash. They placed their hands on Sin's, making the new Empire final.
A cold wind nipped at the four commanders as they looked upon Ivo's body. It rested on the altar of Green Hill Zone. This "coffin" was made entirely out of the checkered pattern grass. There was no lid, allowing all to witness the dead body of the tyrant. Sin bowed his head before his former leader.
"Robotnik. You were an excellent leader. You never showed anyone mercy, and we shall do the same. Dante bowed as well.
"Robotnik. You've created some of the best arsenals and machinery I have ever seen in my life. I am honored to have served you. We promise we will not mislead your Empire." Next, Blaze lowered his head.
"Robotnik. You've got some bad ass mechs, my favorite being the Egg Emperor. I instantly get dibs on it, just to let you know. Anyway, I'm not terribly heart-broken over your death, but it is unfortunate. I'll be sure to take special care of your Badniks." Finally, Lt. Slash bowed.
"Robotnik. I haven't known you long enough to actually be as loyal as Sin or Dante, but I will promise this: we will find your assassin and kill him. We will avenge you." They lowered his body into the ground, never to be seen again.
"May you rest in peace, Dr. Ivo Robotnik."
