Well then, I do believe it's time for some chicken ala-carte!"
Sleet lunged at Chirps, and all everyone else could do was try and run the other direction. Even Rotor for all his strength still knew he had to get the General to safety. However, in just a few seconds, he'd discover that there wouldn't be much need.
Chirps growled as if the Earth was tearing itself apart, his hands clenching and his eyes twitching as though he were having a conniption. And then it happened. In nearly the blink of an eye, a wall of solid earth came rising from the ground, tearing the metal floor above it as it did so and blocking Sleet off from Chirps and the rest. His head crashed into the wall as he fell face first on the metal flooring; incensed, but not surprised in the least. "Well played."
"Uh, "said Porker, "I hate to ask, but what in Gaea's good name did you just do?"
"What does it look like?" said Chirps. "Things got dirty. Literally. Anyway, we don't got much time. Sleet's got his own talents; cybernetics, and it's not gonna take him long to break through this. So what we need to do is find that secret passage. I did my homework, and it should be around here somewhere."
"Think it's over here," said Tekno.
"And how's that?"
"Because someone's coming through it."
Dropping whatever they were doing as though they had just heard the Oracles of Delphi were coming to town, they looked at the wall where Tekno was pointing. Sure enough, someone or something was trying to come through, as though a buzzsaw were slowly but surely cutting its' way right through a couple of layers of solid steel. And much to their surprise, it was just about…
"Done!" With one final buzz, Sonic was finally through the wall, and Sally, Antione, Sonia, and Manic followed suit. "No fancy metal wall is gonna stop me from getting through this thing!" They rushed straight through the hedgehog-sized hole that Sonic made, and for a moment, both groups could only stare at one another as they tried to puzzle out just what was going on. At last, the long awkward silence finally came to an end when Sally suddenly recognized two of the opposite number, and every single one of the others recognized her in turn.
"Porker Lewis, right? And Tekno?"
"Uh, a pleasure your highness," said Porker, "though we don't have that much time to waste. I think we've all got quite a lot of questions, but I also think it's all going to have to wait until every single one of us is out of here safe and sound. Speaking of which, what are you even doing here anyway?"
"We're trying to save Daddy," said Sally. "He's probably in here somewhere, and we're going to find him."
"My sentiments exactly. Name's Chirps, mercenary extraordinaire, and I want to find the King as much as you do. He owes me money."
"Come again?", said Sally, eyebrow raised.
"Sorry, probably ain't a good time. Anyhoo, you're right. We need to find the king, and there's still a couple of prisoners locked up here from what I can gather. We don't get to them soon, they're gonna suffer some pretty nasty fates."
"Yeah, well," said Sonic, "just tell us who they are so we can get this show on the road!"
"Sorry about Sonic," said Sally. "He can be a bit, shall we say, insufferable."
"I bet," said Chirps. "Anyway, I looked up the records as soon I got here. Their names are Shorty and Bunnie, and—"
"Hold on a minute. Bunnie? As in Bunnie Rabbot?"
"Yeah, that's the name. Why, she mean something to you?"
Sally's eyes widened in horror, as though her best friend had just been sentenced to the gallows. "We need to get moving. Chirps, Sonic, Antione, you're with me. Everyone else, into the passage."
"Hold on a moment Princess," said Antione, "please. No offense." He noticed his father being carried over Rotor's shoulder like a throw rug. "Father?!", he yelled. "Father, are you alright?! Can you hear me?!"
"He's alright," said Rotor, "don't worry. He's just unconscious. Give him a day and he'll be right as rain."
"Are you sure?", said Antione.
"Antione," said Sally, "I'm so sorry. If you want, you can go with the others. I'm sure we could make do."
Antione hesitated for a moment. Now that he had the chance, he briefly considered scampering off to the passage like a right bloody git, but just as quickly pushed such considerations to the back of his noggin, even though his hands were shaking and his teeth chattering and his legs knocking as he did so. "Non. I love my father, but my place is here. I cannot leave you unprotected, or let the King be kept hostage, or let two innocent people suffer. Even if I have a heart attack in the process." He then turned to Rotor. "Please, look after my father for me."
"Well," said Rotor, "I'd love to, believe me, but I really think I'd be more help here." He then used his free hand to punch a hole straight into the nearest wall, leaving another fist-sized crater in its' wake. "You see what I mean?"
Antione then stared blankly at Rotor for a moment before quickly turning to Sonia. "Please, look after my father for me."
"No problem," said Sonia. "Just one thing. Sally, if you find out anything about MY Dad…"
"Don't worry. I'll be sure to let you know."
"Thanks."
Just then, they could all hear several loud crunches and crashes from the other side of the wall of earth and rock, and small cracks started to spread over it in ever larger numbers and frequency.
"He's starting to break through," said Chirps, "and if I know him, he's already sent for a squadron of SWATbots and Troopers to come after us. Whatever we do, we've gotta be quick."
"Right," said Sally. "Sonic, Antione, Chirps, uh, pink Walrus…"
"Rotor."
"Rotor. You're all with me. Everyone else, into the passage, ASAP!"
"Right," said Manic. He ushered Porker and Tekno into the passage. Once they were both through, he called Sonia over to Marcus and the two of them began to lift him up and bring him over. In short order, everyone except for Sally, Sonic, Antione, Chirps, and Rotor had made a hasty retreat.
"Right," said Chirps. "Time for some extra insurance. Not that I've ever paid for my insurance, but still." His eye twitched once more and two more walls of earth sprung up from below; one smaller one the size of a doorway over the secret passage, and another right behind them. "There we go. That should give us some time, time enough for love and I'll just stop myself right there if you don't mind."
"I'd ask how you could even possibly do what you just did," said Sally, "but we don't have the time. Right. Chances are, we'll have to fight our way through, but our priorities are saving Daddy and the prisoners, understood?"
"Yeah yeah," said Sonic, "save the King and the hostages and then kick Eggman's arse. Piece of cake!"
Sally hoped that it would be, but nothing was ever guaranteed. And as the blows became harder and harder, and the cracks grew ever larger, all she could hope was that Daddy and Bunnie were safe.
"Sir, I don't think this is a very good idea."
Snively was busy being held above the toilet by his ankles in the Control Room's (otherwise known as the Command Center's,) bathroom stall by Doctor Eggman, who apparently had a habit of keeping his promises. "Shut up Snively," he said. "Toilet brushes don't speak. Or breath for that matter."
"Sir, if you don't mind me saying so, the smell is so rank it's starting to make me noxious."
"Well, that should give you even more for that nose of yours to clean, won't it? Down the hatch Snively!" Just then, as if someone from on high had answered Snively's prayers, a loud shrill beeping could be heard from both of Eggman and Snively's wrist-watches. Apparently, there was something else other than Snively about to go down the shitter.
"Sir, don't you think this can wait a moment? If you please."
Eggman groaned like a petulant child teed off that he wasn't going to have his fun. "Oh, very well. Besides, depending on how things go, I might need someone to mind the store. You're off the hook Snively. But if you screw the pooch again, I may just decide I need your special touch after all." He lifted Snively away from the toilet and hurled him over to his chair in the monitor room, whereupon he crashed headfirst into the backseat.
"Thank you, sir," he said, barely able to retain his consciousness yet still somehow managing to stay standing by some act of Gaea.
"Right then," said Eggman. He pressed a button on his receiver as Snively did the same, as Sleet's voice resounded throughout the room.
"This is Sleet calling Doctor Eggman, calling Doctor Eggman, over!"
"Yes," said Eggman, "what seems to be the trouble?"
"Your hunch about Chirps was correct. The very first thing he did was free the prisoners, and now there's a solid wall of earth between them and us. I believe I can break through it, but having some additional assistance would not hurt. If most of my men were not assisting Axel in making preparations for the operation over in Green Hill, I would call them in myself, but you know how things are…"
"Very well. They'll be there. In the meantime, stop talking and start getting to work! The walrus is inconsequential, but the other three are too valuable to let get away! I'll be sending in a team of SWATbots AND troopers at both ends. That should be enough to handle him. Powerful as Chirps is, he's not omnipotent."
"Quite right. Still, one must not count their chickens before they have hatched. Or their roosters before they crow. If anything else occurs, I shall let you know at once."
"See that you do. Eggman out." He then pushed a few buttons on his watch before pressing the center. "I suppose I'd better see how Grimer's doing. Grimer? Grimer, are you there?"
"Ah," said Grimer on the other end, "greeting and salutations sir. I trust everything is going swimmingly?"
"Far from it. That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Things are taking a turn for the worse, are they?", said Grimer. "Well, everything is still rather well on our end. Do you want us to stop the procedure or—"
"No. For now, continue the procedure as planned. We've come this far. I do NOT intend to stop now. Not to mention, if we manage to finish them in time, we could add two powerful units to our forces. However, don't take any more risks than you need to. Understood?"
"Of course. Though I suppose I'd better start it sooner than later. Will that be all?"
"Affirmative. Though if there is, I'll let you know."
"Splendid! Well, if that's everything, then I suppose all I can say is Grimer out! Oh, and do you think you could send some extra SWATbots over our way? Just in case."
"Done and done," said Eggman.
"Much obliged," said Grimer. "Grimer out."
"Right, Snively," said Eggman. "Let's take a look at the monitor here and see just how our little friend Chirps is doing, shall we?"
"Of course sir," said Snively, still a bit shaken from his ordeal, but not yet stirred. He turned his attention to the hallway where the Prisoners had been kept and enlarged that particular portion of the screen. And one look was all it took for Eggman to spit out like a water gun the contents of that bottle of cola he had just opened up.
"Sir?", said Snively, though he already could tell just what was up.
"I know. I knew there was a secret passage. I just didn't expect those rodents to know about it."
"Your orders sir?"
"I already ordered a squadron of Swatbots and Troopers to flank the lot of them. No, this is going to require something special. A couple of somethings, come to think of it. Snively, is the forcefield dome ready for activation?"
"Yes sir, at your command."
"And, ahem, you-know-what?"
"That is also ready," said Snively.
"Egg-cellent. Snively, you get that force field ready. In the meantime, have Dingo escort the King over to the Experimental Wing. I had so hoped to use him as my precious little pawn, but now with the heir apparent on our doorstep, I can't afford to take any chances."
"If I may beg your pardon sir, why don't you just get rid of him and let that be that?"
Eggman suddenly grinned like a ravenous tiger eager for the kill. "And where would be the fun in that?" He then hurried to the door, eager for his chance to go in for the coup de grace.
"Right then," said Grimer, back at the controls for the roboticizer and Shorty's portal. "Let's get this show on the road, shall we?"
"Buddy," said Shorty, "you even so much as touch those controls and you'll find two large buck teeth shoved up your heiny toot sweet."
"I appreciate the sentiment," said Grimer, "but I"m afraid there's not much you can do. That either of you can do really. So without further ado…"
With one press of his finger, Grimer activated the controls and set things in motion. As if called, the roboticizer suddenly began whirring to life as a light at the top of the tube lit up like a fireworks display. At the same time, a compartment in one of the walls opened up and out came several pieces of Cybernik armor, hurtling towards Shorty before stopping at a hair's breath and circling him like a whirlwind. In short, things were not looking good.
"YOU DON'T GET ME OFF THIS MERRY-GO-ROUND RIGHT NOW BUDDY," yelled Shorty, "YOUR ASS IS GRASS! LITERALLY! BELIEVE ME, I'LL FIND A WAY!"
"GET ME THE HELL OUT HERE!", yelled Bunnie. "YOU AIN'T TURNING ME INTO SOME SORT OF ROBOT! YOU AIN'T, YOU HEAR ME?! YOU AIN'T! YOU—"
All sounds of protest suddenly ceased as Bunnie caught a glimpse of her hand. It wasn't much, and if it weren't for her keen eyes it might not have even been noticeable, but it was there. Several very tiny splotches of metal began to form on her arm; metal splotches where thick orange fur should have been. She didn't want to believe it, and part of her couldn't, but there she had it. This was real, this was happening, and if she didn't do something soon, she'd be spending the rest of her life, hell, maybe the rest of existence as robotic slave labor.
It was too horrifying to think about. Instead, she kept banging on the tube, trying in vain to break through, to stop the process before she became a robot altogether. "GOLDARRNIT, LET ME OUT OF HERE WHY DONCHA?! LET ME OUT!" As she banged on the glass, more and more of her slowly but surely began to be transformed, leaving every metal spot on her body a numb patch of misery. "PLEASE," she cried, "SOMEBODY! FOR THE LOVE GAEA, SOMEBODY HELP ME!"
"Alright," said Chirps, "get ready people. It's showtime!"
Chirps, Rotor, Sonic, and Antione with a fine machete he had borrowed from Manic were all ready to face the oncoming storm. More and more, the earth and stone were continuing to crack and break like an old weathered statue, and in just a few moments, as if to represent the futilely of immortality, it was…
"Brace yourselves!"
…gone. The wall of earth shattered to pieces like a candy bar, and in its' place was none other than Sleet and a horde of SWATbots and Troopers. Antoine was shivering like a ninny.
"At last," said Sleet. "I admit, this has been fun Chirps, if just a tad annoying. But it ends now. Men, take the Princess and the walrus in for questioning, will you? The boss has a number of things to ask these two. As for the others, dispose of them."
"Sonic!", said Sally, letting him know it was time to start juicing.
"Alright!", said Sonic. "Let's do it to it!"
Before anyone else could so much as blink, Sonic hit the ground running. He was dizzying around swat bots left and right, running up the walls and across the ceiling evading shot after shot and making a general embarrassment of all robots everywhere. "So," said Sleet, "this is the little rodent that Robotnik has been warning me about, hm? Most amusing."
As everyone else seemed to be preoccupied with the hyperactive blue hedgehog making a spectacle of himself, the others saw their chance. With one silent look of acknowledgment, Rotor charged towards the nearest Trooper and promptly tore his head off, while Chirps summoned up three stone spikes to tear through the floor as they impaled three more. Antione dodged the Trooper's bullets like a pro. He ducked and rolled, leaped and hid, and all that and more before he reached the heart of them. And as soon as he did so, he stabbed the most powerful of them right in the processor. He all too briefly started to collapse into a nervous heap, but this didn't last long. He kept an eye on Sally to make sure she was alright, but as she lay flat against the wall, she winked at him, giving him the go-ahead to keep on trucking. There was still work to do.
Sonic himself had one more trick up his sleeve. Racing up the wall, he bounced off it at just the just right angle and, in an act of inspiration, curled himself up into a ball and tore through a SWATbot's center like a buzzsaw. It crumpled to the ground in an instant. "Wow, now THAT was something else. You learn something new every day!" As for the robots, they tried to fire at their targets all the while, but with all of the chaos going on around them and all of the super-powered freaks they suddenly had to deal with, it was easier said than done.
Sleet was starting to get livid. "What are you all just standing around here for? Shoot them!" The element of surprise no longer a factor, the remaining bots took this to heart and began making a renewed effort to take every last do-gooder down. Meanwhile, cracks began to form in the wall from behind, with blasts of laser rifles coming from the same general direction. However, Sally still had something she needed to do.
"SONIC!", yelled Sally. Like a genie from a bottle, Sonic was there.
"What's up? Case you didn't know, I've got some more bots to trash."
"And in case YOU didn't know, we still need to rescue my father and Bunnie, and then run like our lives depended on it."
"And beat up Eggman, don't forget about that."
"Look, Chirps already told me where to go, so I need you to take me there. I don't know if I can get there in time on my own."
"Alright, alright, keep your vest on. King and Bunnie first, THAN Eggman. Fine by me."
"Whatever," said Sally, "just get us there! Please."
"No worries Princess. Just tell me where to go on the way over and we'll be there in no time!" Sonic was just about to grab Sally's arm when, panting like a madman, in came Antione, a light flesh wound on his chest but otherwise none the worse for wear.
"Non!", he said like a man possessed. "You take her, you also take me! I cannot leave Princess Sally in danger! I would be breaking the 47th rule of the sword!"
"Alright already!", said Sonic, starting to wonder if he should have just gone and beaten Eggman himself. "Everybody, hang tight!" Before Sally had so much as a chance to protest, he seized Sally and Antione's hands, darting past the lasers and the bullets and the SWATbots and the Troopers and even Sleet, and they were off. Sleet considered doing his best to follow, but one look ahead of him and he knew he had other fish to fry. Or chicken in this case.
"Just me and you Sleet,"said Chirps.
"Oh really now? What about the walrus?"
"The Walrus is standing in front of the wall of Earth in the back, ready and waiting to tear apart the trash like tissues." And indeed he was. "Any questions? Other than why the chicken tried to cross the road."
"Just one. 'What does raw Mobian chicken taste like'? And I believe I'm about to find out." And with another mighty lunge from Sleet, it was on.
