Heroes Chapter 4

Heroes in the Heat of Battle

"Hey Mina, how are ya holding up over there?" Sonic the Hedgehog called into the headset of his radio.

"I'm over by the prisons Sonic, and I'm doing just fine," Mina replied as she tripped up a Swatbot with a wide sweeping kick. "I know this is my first time being in a real battle, but I'm pretty sure I could kick Swat-butt all day."

"Hey now, don't you go stealin' my lines!" Sonic said laughing. He laughed so hard he almost caught a face full of Swatbot laser. He only just barely managed to duck under it and come up in a spin-dash that sent bits of robot everywhere.

"Heh, I've still got some smooth moves. What about you Shad, not too rusty after that encounter with Doom?"

Shadows deep voice came over Sonic's radio headset. "How many times have I told you not to call me that? Who came up with that nickname anyway?"

"Wooo" Sonic whistled as he sailed over an inattentive group of Eggpawns. "Someone's touchy."

"Can you just please try to concentrate? We have no idea what has happened here, I don't know but I can feel it. Something seems weird."

"Yeah, I know what's weird. What's weird is that I'm not jamming my foot into that sorry fat bastard, Eggman right now. Joking around is the only thing that's keeping me sane right now."

Shadow gave a little laugh, and there was a very audible splintering of metal in the background. "I know the feeling. Well then Faker, what would you say to a friendly wager?

"Faker, ha, I thought we were finally past that? What's your deal?"

"Quite simply that the one who destroys the most bots gets to kick Eggman, right in his nuts and bolts."

"You are so on Shadow!"

"You two," Mina giggled, interrupting their conversation. "Is there anything you guys won't fi, eek! Hey get offa me you filthy, Sonic, Shadow. Help!" The only sound that followed was static.

"Mina!" Both hedgehogs shouted at once.

"Hey guys, you're slacking." Knuckles voice cracked over the radio." Why the freak are these turrets still here? We're pinned down. Get over here."

"What?" Shadow shouted, "You guys weren't supposed to enter the city until we gave the signal."

"Whatever man," Knuckles responded, "either way we're on a clock here, Rouge is helping to distract them for us but it won't last too long."

"Damn it. Sonic go help Knuckles and the others, I'll go get Mina." Shadow ordered.

Sonic hesitated for a brief moment, he wanted to complain, but he decided that now was really not the time, and he dashed off to the western perimeter of Robotropolis. Shadow nodded and jetted his way over to the prison district.

Meanwhile, a few streets down from that very spot, Mina propped herself up against the back wall of an alley.

"Where are those guys?" The mongoose franticly thought to herself," Figures that I would get cornered by a Swatbot, while those two probably weren't even paying attention. I guess I'll have to do this by myself, or I could end up getting captured or worse."

The Swatbot in question raised its arm, intent on threatening the poor girl with it's laser." Statement; Surrender Mobian, and prepare to be roboticized, struggle and perish."

"Men suck." Mina pouted. "But it's still better then working for Butnik!" With a single hyper-accelerated move, the mongoose dashed the length of the alley and smashed her foot into the Swatbot as hard as she could.

The robot seemed almost to wince and make a strange gurgling sound, before it doubled over and fell to the ground." Whine; Right between the motor units." It beeped before the lights on its head went out. She thought, as she started walking away from the fallen bot, that it was weird that a supposed evil genius would create a robot with a weakness like that. But then again, this was Robotnik, perhaps there weren't as many changes as Shadow had feared.

As she rounded the corner, and came out of the alley, she remembered Sonic and Shadow." Heh, those two are probably still playing their little game. I should radio in and let them know I'm alright. I bet Sonic'll say something like 'That's awesome Mina.' Or something like that."

The young mongoose briefly turned bright red as she allowed herself to think of some of the other things Sonic might say, but she caught herself and shook her head to clear those thoughts.

"Right, got to stay focused." She pressed in the "talk" button on her radio unit. "Sonic, Mina here, everything is a-ok." She waited for a moment but all she heard was static. "Hello, Sonic, Shadow, can anyone here me?" She got only garbled static in return. "Hello. Rotor? Rouge? Is anyone out there?" Still only loud white noise came back.

"Great, of all the things that lousy glass-balled Robot could have broken it had to be the freaking radio." She removed the headset, and discarded the entire apparatus. "Well I guess I should just try to find one of the others, hope nothing bad happens until then."

"Statement; Surrender Mobian and prepare to be roboticized, struggle and perish.

"Damn you Murphy." Mina sighed and put up her hands and turned slowly to face the battalion of Swatbots that had gathered behind her, all aiming their arm cannon's at her small body. Mina looked cautiously from one bot to the next, trying to come up with some way to take out all of them without getting shot.

"Repeat; Surrender Mobian and prepare for. Interuption; new data, incoming new target, velocity; oh shizzle."

A sudden breeze of black and crimson swept by Mina, mussing her hair. The blur stopped as it rebounded off the lead Swatbot, seeming to hover in the air as it removed a jet shoe from the bots dome. Mina found that she could only stand in awe as Shadow the Hedgehog made his way up, down, and across the large group of robots. It seemed that no matter how many shot at him, inevitably they would only hit each other as their speedy target bounced and flourished around them. Shadow lashed out with all four limbs easily, displaying moves that only Sonic had been able to pull off, so far as she had seen. But there was something about him, no ego, no snide remarks. She had heard he was created as a weapon, but she had never really believed it until she saw the look in his eyes; the look of a calm and efficient killer. It scared her, but also she found herself getting excited at the same time.

When he had finished off the last one, he turned to the mongoose girl, and began to slowly approach her, the same cold, hateful look in his eyes. She cringed almost involuntarily, but looked up when he just passed her as if he hadn't even seen her there.

"You can put your arms down now." He said with a tension breaking chuckle.

"Err. Right." Was all that she could think to say as she lowered her arms back to her sides.

"Hey Shadow." She started hesitantly. "Where's Sonic?"

The black hedgehog sighed and turned to the young woman. "Rotor's group attacked too early and encountered the outer defenses, I asked Sonic to go help them out."

"Oh." She sounded disappointed "I see."

"He's delicate right now, and we need him in on this. I'm sorry. but I cannot allow his attentions to be pulled in different directions."

The girl only nodded solemnly.

"Shadow, we've got a problem." Sonic's voice crackled over the radio, Mina's face brightened.

"Gods, she really is mad about him, just what we need." Shadow thought to himself, rolling his eyes. He hit the respond button," Mina is just fine by the way. What's the situation over there?"

On the other end of the line, Sonic gave a sigh of relief. "I'm glad to hear she's alright, but it's getting kinda dicey over here. Rouge and Knuckles had to withdraw back to the plane, I'm not really sure why, but if I know Knux, he wouldn't leave any fight unless he was hurting something fierce. Meanwhile the brunt of Robotnik's forces seem to be right in our faces. Hey chrome-dome I'm making a call here!" The radio let out a fizzle, before Sonic's voice came back over. "Sorry about that, it's getting a little crowded up here, and we need the back up."

Shadow thought for a moment, "Damn it. We'll be there in a second Sonic." Shadow clicked off the radio, glanced at Mina.

"You think you can keep up with me, woman?"

"You know I can." Mina replied smiling a mischievous smile, and with that the two of them took off towards the west gate.

Several minutes earlier and across the city, Sonic was racing for the west gate. "Crap, why does Shadow get to play hero? Why is he getting to be mister boss man? I should be the one to lead this charge. I've done it for years now, nothing different now." Sonic slowed down, and thought about what he had just said. Finally he sped down to a walk as his mind clouded over. "Aww, who am I kidding, everything is different now. He probably doesn't trust me, figures. Well, whatever, I just hope he doesn't get in over his head. Besides I don't know if I could handle being around Mina right now."

Just as he had finished that thought a giant beam of light erupted from the street in front of him and pierced the sky above him, blinding him.

"Man," He rubbed his eyes to get the stars to stop dancing in front of him. "Rotor really loves that gun." Sonic gulped, "Probably too much."

In another few seconds Sonic almost ran right into Rotor and Bunny who were hiding out behind a building. Knuckles was across the street against the opposite building. He was breathing very heavily.

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late, what did I miss?" Sonic asked, smirking.

"Stow it hedgehog!" Knuckles yelled from the other side. "What in the name of the Master Emerald took you so long?"

Rotor sighed,"What I believe our echidna friend is trying to say, is that, we're glad you're here and we would appreciate any help you could give us Sonic."

Sonic gave Knuckles a sideways glance." Sure thing Rote, just what seems to be the hubbub?"

For an answer the purple walrus just shifted the heavy cannon to his other hand and jerked his thumb around the corner. Sonic stuck his head out around the corner, but only caught a quick glimpse as a torrent of laser-fire caused him to jump back, and fall into Rotor.

"Man, that is one B.F.G." Sonic laughed as Bunny helped him to his feet. Rotor only nodded. "But they still can't shoot what they can't aim at. One turret-buster Sonic Blast coming up!" Knuckles just shook his head, and sighed.

While Sonic was getting ready down the street, inside the turret, Swatbot A-124k turned to Swatbot A-156l.

"Complaint; stupid camper's, I hate having to wait for them."

"Agreement; they are such n00bs."

" LOL. Realization; wait, wasn't that Primary Target: Sonic the Hedgehog, we just shot at?"

"Admitting; with our luck, It probably was."

"Despairing; we are so boned."

The two bots turn back to their gun sights, but it was too late as a small blue blur jumped over the barrels of their turret and spin dashed though the both of them.

After hearing the all too familiar sound of Sonic sending Swatbots to whatever sort of afterlife they may have, Rotor and Bunny ran from behind their building, right up the street to press the attack forward. Knuckles just stood wheezing with his back against the wall.

"Darn it. Why is always that blue bastard who shows me up?" Knuckles growled to himself. "I could have taken out the turret myself, I would have too if that Buzz-Bomber not gotten in my way. Damn it!" He bashed his elbow against the wall in frustration, the heavy steel wall dented.

"Well, well, well, looks like someone's still having a bad day. All the bludgeoning of robots not enough of a vent for you anymore, have to go pick on defenseless walls?"

The guardian grumbled, that voice was the absolute last thing he had wished to hear right then. It was probable that even Sonic's incessant bragging would have been better. Then again, so would have been being caught on fire. As he was thinking all of these happy thoughts, Knuckles turned his eyes skyward. Sure enough, Rouge's winged form was silhouetted perfectly against the sun's rays.

"Yeah? And what is it to you huh?" He spat.

"Oh, don't be that way luv." She sang merrily as she glided down closer to him. " You know that I hate to see you so upset."

"You, caring about something other than money? Hah, that's rich."

"Hmph, Well then, if you're just going to shove kindness back in my face, I don't have…"

"Rouge look out!" Knuckles suddenly shouted.

"Wha?"

Knuckles kicked off the wall and flew up to her on his dreadlocks, with one spiked fist ready to strike. The bat instinctively threw up her arms to defend herself, but felt the air pass by as he flew right past her. There was a loud crash and Rouge quickly spun around to see the echidna land on a balcony on the building across the street. The crushed husk of an Eggbot impaled on his arm.

"Some super-spy you are, huh? Didn't even hear this guy coming up on you." He winced as he freed his arm from the heavy remains, letting them fall to the ground below. Rouge hovered there in the air for a moment trying to collect her shattered composure. Her mind followed the quick chain of events, until her eyes landed on the slightly darker crimson, sliming it's was down Knuckles' bright red fur. It flowed freely from deep cuts along his arm.

"Knuckles you're hurt."

"Thank you, for stating the obvious." Knuckles growled through gritted teeth." I'll be alright though, nothing broken, just some blood."

Before Rouge could respond the stubborn echidna glided down to the street below, and he fully intended to walk over to where Sonic and the others were about to take on the wave of Swatbots that was about to engulf them. However, he only managed to make it just past the landing part of his plan before he collapsed to the ground with an undignified thump.

In his fading consciousness, he saw Rouge land next to him and touch his neck. He weakly tried to swat her hand away; he didn't need her help, or her pity. He vaguely heard her say something about "blood loss", but she couldn't have been talking about him, after all he felt fine. In fact he decided that he suddenly felt damn good, just a little tired. He just needed a nap and, as he gave into the tempting call of sleep, he heard the bat radio something in, but he really didn't care anymore. All he wanted to do was sleep to regain his fading strength.

He closed his eyes, but felt his weight being hefted, over what he guessed was Rouge's shoulder. He would never admit it, but as he laid there he noticed how lovely she smelled, and how comfortable he felt against her carefully manicured fur. As he felt himself being lifted into the air, he could have sworn that he had felt something wet near his side, near where her face was, but he quickly ignored it as just an effect of him staying up so far past his bedtime. Rouge crying? No, never, not her.

During the entirety of all the commotion, two very fat eyes watched, and saw all; two very fat ears listened, and heard all. Julian leaned back in his chair and contemplated all of these developments, and how he should use them to his advantage.

Project Shadow and that yellow thing had just rejoined Sonic and his merry band of freaks. While Rouge - that traitorous whore - dragged Knuckles back to their accursed plane, for mysterious reasons. He decided that he did not wish to pursue any of the trains of thought that his gutter mind had opened for him.

So now, as he saw things he had three distinct problems; Sonic, Shadow, and that ugly purple thing's large cannon, though the gun wasn't that big of a problem. It was mechanical after all; he had destroyed it before and it would be child's play for him to do it again. The other two were going to be a bigger problem. Both of them were super fast, super strong, and had a super bone to pick with the doctor. He really didn't know why he didn't see this attack coming.

"Gods, I'm getting way too old to be keeping up with these guys." He admitted quietly to himself, after making sure he was alone. "I really wish Metal hadn't taken off. But probably just as well, since I would have turned that murderous traitor into scrap for locking me inside that closet. Forcing me to rely on those Chaotix buffoons, I mean gods I still owe them money!" Ivo sputtered in anger.

Suddenly Ivo's attention was captured by a small blinking light on his monitor. It was a message, a message from some unknown source, though it was addressed to him by his full name.

"Oho, what have we here?"

Robotnik pushed a fat greasy digit against the touch pad screen. A second screen opened and formatted itself to be a fine sheet of parchment, which appeared to unroll itself right on his screen. Across it a scrawling, archaic text seemed to appear as if it was being methodically handwritten right as he watched. As he followed the text, Robotnik's face lost it's normally rosy color. The message read as follows.

"Dear doctor Julian Kintobar

I am quite pleased to hear that you have accommodated with my request to have a member of my crew stay in your city. He has told me that he has been treated very well, and with the respect that he deserves. I do however wish to apologize for any inconveniences this might bring to you in any capacity. I understand that he may be a handful at times.

I am, however, more concerned with the present situation this message will no doubt find you in. Our scanners here tell me that you have several high level targets infiltrating your compound, and one just happens to be Sonic the Hedgehog. Another seems to have mastered the unique chaotic energies that surround this planet. And not only have they infiltrated your compound they seem to have managed to do a pretty bang-up job of doing so. I must say that this is a distressing turn of events.

For you see dear doctor, it was completely in the foreseen plans that these "Freedom Fighters" as you call them, would mount a counter offensive. It was not planned, however, that your own personal forces would be so ineffective as to assure that we would not have the time required for us to implement our own defensive programs. I must say doctor; it amazes me that this war of yours had lasted so long, if this is truly the current state of affairs on this planet.

I would humbly request that if you have any troops left in reserves that you use them to bolster any defenses you have left. And that you make better choices as far as tactics are concerned. Because if any of those individuals make it to your headquarters it would be a great inconvenience to all of here.

Thank you for your time doctor.

-Ssyrin P."

Robotnik seethed with rage. He gritted his teeth and the veins in his forehead bulged. Before he started to hyper-ventilate he reached inside his desk and retrieved a small pill bottle, and tossed its entire contents of small white pills down his throat, and followed them with the glass of WD-40 he had sitting on his desk.

"Of all the arrogant, stupid, patronizing… Gah! Damn him! Who does he think he is, insulting me like that? Argh!" Ivo tossed both the empty pill bottle and the glass behind him; he sank down and rested his forehead in his large hands.

"Damn those two. Every last Swatbot I send against them is destroyed before they even manage to get a shot off, even my entire legion of Eggpawns was reduced to only a few stragglers." Robotnik stared at his monitors, trying to collect his thoughts. Finally his head hit the desk and he wrapped himself in his flabby arms.

"How to defeat sonic, from a defensive position, with his friends here, and no time to prepare? Gods, how am I supposed to do that? I mean Sonic and Shadow; just by themselves have thwarted me countless times." Ivo slammed his large head into the desk several more times, making the cracks grow. "I've even tried copying their abilities against them, and that plan just seems to get worse every time I try it. If there was only some way I could get those two to be enemy's aga…"

Once again Ivo's 300 IQ decided to show itself in what could possibly by his salvation. When his face emerged from the folds of his arms, he wore a large grin that seemed almost too large for his fat head.

"Excuse me uncle." Snively's whining voice came from behind the large doctor. "I believe I have,"

"Silence Snively," Robotnik bellowed, giving the small, balding man an evil glare. "I'm being sinister."

Snively swallowed audibly, "Yes sir, I was just going to point out that,"

"Snively my dear man, are you familiar with the inner chamber of a roboticizer?"

"No, your roundness."

"Would you like to keep it that way?"

"Yes, your greasiness."

"Well then I'm sure there are other things you can be doing, other then wasting my time."

"Yes, uncle." With a whine Snively's small form shuffled out of the room.

"Now where was I? Oh yes." On Ivo's monitor appeared a smaller screen, completely black with a large crimson rune emblazoned in the center. A white cursor with Robotnik's likeness blinked in the corner.

"Password is; L-E-G-A-C-Y" His fingers typed out the cryptic password as he spelled it out loud. "You know what they say; The more the merrier!"