"Everything proceeding smoothly, Snively?"

Eggman and Grimer were still standing in the center of the Control Room, with Snively sitting in his chair and monitoring his calls to make sure that his boss didn't have a good reason to turn him into kibble. Though he had to wonder why he was working for such a man in the first place. Perhaps he was a glutton for punishment?

"Yes, sir. Everything appears to be going according to plan."

"Egg-cellent." Eggman folded his hands together like a fiendish mastermind, which appropriately enough was what he was.

"Indeed," said Grimer. "Though I do have to ask. Where on earth did you come up with such a brilliant plan to place a tracker in that general's skull?"

"Oh, that's simple. I didn't."

For once in his life, Grimer was just a tad puzzled. The same could have been said of Snively.

"Really now? Well, if not yours, then whose?"

"Sleets'."

"Sleet?" said Snively. "You mean you're actually giving credit where credit is due? Shall you alert the media or shall I?"

"The only thing the media will be alerted about is a local homocide if you keep that up. Understood?"

Snively nodded his head profusely, as though he were attempting to give Eggman every single speck of understanding he could. "Yes, sir. Perfectly sir. Quite clearly, sir."

"Good. Anyhoo, where was I? Ah, yes. Originally, I was going to have that sorry excuse for a general hogtied and sent to the roboticization chamber, but Sleet had something else in mind. In the event that poor Marcus was rescued, we'd be able to track his body down in an instant and crush all who stood in our way like stepping on anthill. All thanks to one little device. Which as it turns out was quite the act of foresight on his part."

"I see," said Grimer. "I suppose we shall have to commend him, won't we?"

"Quite right. In any case, providing those morons don't mess this up, all we need to do is wait for the convoy to reach its' destination. And then it's show time."

"Just one question, sir," said Snively.

"Yes, Snively?"

"You did say there was only one tracker, correct?"

"Yes, Snively. Yes I did. Out of curiosity, why do you ask?"

"I believe it would be better if you took a look for yourself, sir."

"Hm?" Eggman had been looking towards Grimer who in turn had been looking towards Eggman, but it was only then that they decided to take a good look at the giant monitor sitting straight in front of them. And what they saw would've been enough to give anyone the willies. It was apparent from just a glance that there was more than one tracker present on the screen. In fact, as evidenced by the multitude of bright blue dots, there were about one hundred different signals altogether, all spread over Knothole. Which was enough to cause Eggman to become absolutely livid.

"Well now," said Grimer. "You don't see that every day.

"How. Did. This. HAPPEN?"

"I don't know, sir," said Snively. He was starting to become very much afraid, but he had learned not to show it. If such a thing was possible.

Eggman pinched his brow like a CEO whose hard work had just been undone by sheer incompetence. "This shouldn't have been possible. The only way they could have possibly accomplished something remotely of this caliber would be if they possessed a hacker with skills surpassing even my understanding. And no-one surpasses Doctor Eggman. Snively, see if you can—"

Just as Eggman was about to finish giving the order, the computers speakers suddenly boomed to life as Thunderbolt's voice filled the room, albeit with none of her usual swooning.

"Doctor Eggman, come in, Doctor Eggman! First off, hi there, sweedums! Sorry, my bad! Just had to say it! Second, I REALLY hate to ask because I know you have far better things to do with your valuable spare time that doesn't include lonely little chinchillas like me, but, uh, do you think you could send reinforcements? I mean, I'm sure we could take them ourselves, but, uh—"

"'Them'? Just who is 'them'?

Just then, static started to fill the room, its piercing interference nearly wrecking the earbuds of anyone within earshot.

"Thunderbolt? Thunderbolt? Thunderbolt! Come in, you sorry excuse for a chewtoy! COME IN!"

Silence.

Eggman began to fume as though his grand masterplan was slowly starting to unravel at the seams. He then began to breathe in and out, lest he start to unravel in kind. After all, where there was a will, there was a way. "Snively, contact Axel. Assuming that he isn't experiencing the same technical difficulties."

"I've already tried, sir."

"And?"

"Nothing, sir."

"I see. Snively?"

"Yes, sir?"

"I believe I'm beginning to hate that hedgehog." And as Eggman hurled a nearby spare chair at the nearest wall, both Snively and Grimer could genuinely believe it.


TWO MINUTES AGO

Thunderbolt was continuing to ride the leading truck of the convoy on her booster seat. She didn't particularly care for it, but she was willing to do anything for her eggy-poo. If only he would let her. She dreamt of being held within his tender, loving embrace; of feeling his soft caress; of hearing a rather rapid beep coming from the truck's radar—

"Wait, what now?"

Thunderbolt glanced down at the radar sitting next to the wheel. There was a small blip appearing right at the edge it A number of small blips in fact. And they were getting closer. Alarmingly close. If she hadn't known any better, the only way they could be getting towards them this fast was—

"THE HEDGEHOG!" She then pounded a small red button sitting on the opposite side of the radar, and a loud shrill beep like a bat out of hell resounded throughout the truck and through the rest of the convoy. She reached up and pulled out a speaker and began spreading the news.

"ATTENTION, YOU SAD SORRY EXCUSES FOR DOCTOR EGGMAN'S MOST GLORIOUS CREATIONS! We have a number of high-speed signals coming right this way! It's probably the hedgehog and the mongoose with their little friends, so if you don't wish to be sent to the Scrap Brain Zone for scrap metal—"

Just then, the entire truck was sent hurling through the air like a soccerball. It was twisting and turning and twisting again, and as Thunderbolt began screaming at the top of her lungs, she could feel that very same sensation in her stomach. Before she knew it, the truck finally stopped, but only after crashing right onto its' side like a dead animal.

"Report! I said, report! REPORT! Thunderbolt tried to contact the rest of her truck, but to no avail. The truck was offline no matter how many times she tried to restart the engines, probably due to being tossed around like a ragdoll. Thunderbolt didn't like this one bit. She knew she wasn't the last one still aboard the truck. Sir Logik was still there. Those three imbelices were still there. Every single bot that should have been onboard should still have been on-board. But that wasn't the problem, was it?

Thunderbolt took out a small phone from her suit. This was an independent cell phone with its' own battery and internet connection, meaning it was capable of reaching out to anyone within a certain radius if necessary. And as far as Thunderbolt was concerned, this was very necessary.

"Doctor Eggman, come in, Doctor Eggman! First off, hi there, sweedums! Sorry, my bad! Just had to say it! Second, I REALLY hate to ask because I know you have far better things to do with your valuable spare time that doesn't include lonely little chinchillas like me, but, uh, do you think you could send reinforcements? I mean, I'm sure we could take them ourselves, but, uh—"

Thunderbolt could hear a sharp slicing of metal like a buzzsaw, cutting its' way through what was the top of the truck before it was toppled altogether. From what Eggy-poo had told her, she knew exactly what it is, but she still needed to make sure.

She hopped to the door. It was a struggle to open it what with it being on its' side and all, especially seeing as she was probably the shortest being in the room. In the end, she had to hop and turn the knob herself, which wasn't easy with her tiny little hands. Still, with a few grunts and a near broken back, she managed to make it. And what she saw was most disconcerting.

About two thirds of her forces were still up and standing. This was good. What wasn't good was that the other third had either been disabled due to the crash or were merely waiting for the right moment. Which as things turned out may have been about to come. The 'buzzsaw' kept on trucking, and there wasn't any real way to stop it until it reached its' destination. Or wanted to go home. Whichever first.

"Enough of this!" Just as the mysterious intruder was about to finish up, Thunderbolt finally saw fit to take action. She fired a blast of electricity from her palms straight towards the buzzsaw's way, and it seemed like that would be an end to that.

It wasn't. Just as the blast was about to hit, the intruder managed to finish up carving a path, leaving the blast to be just a smokey and soon to be distant memory. As the smoke cleared, it was obvious just who it was. "Hey there! Miss me?"

For a moment, Thunderbolt was flabbergasted, as though realizing the grim reaper was upon her. But it didn't last long. She turned back to the surviving bots, who were all standing around as though they hadn't a clue.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Fire at the hedgehog! FIRE!"

Meanwhile, Scratch, Grounder, and Coconuts had finally come to, and Grounder suddenly had a rather pressing question. "Fire? What fire? I don't see a fire. I see a blue hedgehog, but no fire."

Scratch promptly bonked Grounder on the head. He may only have had half a bit in that noggin, but it was still more than his colleague. "Bolts for brains! She wants you to fire!"

"Oh! Right! Uh, fire at what?"

And all Coconuts could do as he started to sulk was wonder why he was saddled with such a pair of utter nincompoops. "Oy vey."

Meanwhile, Sonic was still standing in front of the self-made entryway. He was lazing against the nearest wall, half asleep and yawning like he could care less. "Yeah, I hate to say it, but we're kind of on a tight schedule here." He then called out to the side. "Porker, you wanna get us movin' here?"

Sonic zipped out of the truck in a flash. Before Thunderbolt and the others could so much as take a single step, they began to feel something rather… odd.

"Hey, Scratch?" said Grounder.

"Yeah?" said Scratch.

"Is it just me, or do you feel like you're flying?"

"What do you mean, flying? Of course I do! Though now that you mention it, that's probably not a good thing. Maybe they put in the Unleaded?"

While the ignoramuses were sorting things out, Thunderbolt hopped over to the open hole, desperate to capture that blue hedgehog and get in the good graces of the love of her life. She knew that Eggman was the one for her. He was so intelligent. So dreamy. So… high as a kite?

Looking down, Thunderbolt saw the problem. For whatever reason, they were floating a good two hundred feet above the ground, suspended in midair like being held within two opposing magnetic poles. Which was exactly what it was.

Standing a good ways away from the truck were a small cadre of Freedom Fighters. Sonic was there of course, but so was none other than Porker Lewis. He was wearing a couple of large metallic gauntlets, and by the strained expression on his face akin to pulling a gasket, it was clear that he had something to do with this.

"Oh yeah!" said Sonic. "You go, Porker. Those fancy doodads of yours really came in handy!"

Indeed they had. Normally, harnessing the power of magnetism wasn't something anyone would be capable of doing. However, where there was a will, there was a way...


ONE DAY AGO

"This is it, Porker?"

Tekno was observing a pair of large gauntlets sitting on a small table in the workshop. Porker was standing at the other hand, and as he saw Tekno admiring his baby, he couldn't help but show her off. "Yeah, that's it."

"Impressive. So then, these gauntlets will allow you to control any metallic object you wish?"

"Sort of. More generally speaking, these will let me create and harness magnetic poles. There's a number of things I could try, but for our purposes, you're right. This will let me control nearly any metallic object I want, within reason. And providing that Eggman hasn't already taken precautions. Which he might."

"And just how did you accomplish this? If you do not mind me asking."

"No problem. With Tails, we were able to whip up a device that filtered Cream's energy signature so that she couldn't be tracked. We were able to get it up and running, but that was when I started to wonder. What if we could make a copy of Cream's energy frequency and copy it? Use it as a base to create weapons and tools that wouldn't normally be possible."

"Yes, that was my thought as well. The only problem would be that I am not sure how Cream would react to her powers being used to create more weapons. She is distressed enough as is."

"I know. And I already asked her."

"And?"

"She said that she wasn't really sure of anything right now. And with that being the case, that I might as well do what I want."

"Poor child," said Tekno.

"I know,' said Porker. "Here's hoping she never has to go on the frontlines. In any case, with that out of the way, I was able to get to work making these things."

"I see. Here is hoping that they work."

"Same here."

"Zounds! We're under attack! Quick, mount the calvary, alert the guard, check for the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow and, and, and oh my giddy aunt, what in Gaea's name am I even saying?"

Sir Logik had at last come to, though after recalibrating his circuits and a taking a quick peek out of the whole in the wall, it didn't take him long to grasp the reality of the situation. "Ah. It would seem that the enemy has us within his grasp.

"You think?!" shouted Thunderbolt. "That pig's somehow causing this truck to fly as high as a kite!"

For whatever reason, this caused Grounder of all people to break into song. Though to be fair, he did have a rather lovely singing voice. "Let's go fly a kite! Up to the highest heights!"

And before he knew it, Stratch had quite promptly bonked him on the head like whacking an ignorant child. "Quit it! You wanna get sued?!"

"In any case," said Logik, "as thrilling as this is, this is a most precarious situation. They might well have the other trucks in the convey within their grasp."

"You think?!" said Thunderbolt. "And not to mention, but there's now a giant hole in the truck, and I would not be surprised if they did the same to the other ones somehow. Superspeed, superstrength, a blast of energy, or any other sort of underhanded bullcrap."

"But why'd they do that?" said Grounder.

Logik almost couldn't believe the words coming from his mouth. "Think, you simpleton! If they so much as tilt our trucks toward the ground below—"

Just then, the trucks began to slowly tilt downwards, as if being bobbed down in the water and kept there. The side with the hole in the wall steadily became that much closer to the ground. And when it did, there wasn't going to be much stopping a large chunk of bots from falling straight through. They began attempts to the clamor to the wall, to keep themselves from going through as much as possible. It was like stacking a large pack of toys together only to have them inevitably start to fall down and go higgilly-piddegdly in short order.

"Quick, hold me, Scratch!" said Grounder. "I don't wanna die!"

"Oh, quit your bellyachin'!" said Coconuts, doing his best to sidle the wall as much as possible. "You aint' gonna die! If anything, it'll be an improvement!"

"Indeed!" said Sir Logik, standing tall and not afraid to be disassembled in the least. "In any event, you should stand proud! If destruction is inevitable, then it is inevitable! There is even a strang, morbid sense of beauty in such a thing. All you can hope for is that your life has meant something and for—"

"QUIET!" screamed Thunderbolt. "Do you feel something shaking?"

It started small. Almost a minor vibration, in fact. And then it became bigger. More noticeable. And then it became bigger still, and each time it did, the increase in vibrations and shaking was greater than the last. Until in a riveting climax, all of the trucks were shaking so fervently that it was like a child trying to empty his biggy bank.

Back on the ground, Sonic was starting to get a mite board. "Look, Porker, I don't mean to complain, but couldn't you hurry this up a bit? I mean, I get this is your first time using these things, but we don't got all day!"

"You're right there, Sonic. This is his first time using this thing. So maybe you wanna ease up a little." Johnny was standing next to Porker, his right hand carrying a brand new shiny double-sided metallic mace. And judging by the buttons in the long handle, this looked to have a few more extra features to it. "How you holding up there, Porker?"

"Well as I can. Which is going to have to be good enough." Beads of sweat started to drip from Porker's brow, and it was obvious that lifting up three trucks right out of the gate and shaking them no less was taking its' toll. Nevermind all of the robots stuck inside. Not that they would be for long. "Don't worry. I won't give up that easily. Not this time."

You know, Porker, if you ever want to move up in the world, you have to learn to stick to your guns.

"And that's a promise."

The trucks began shaking ever more and more intensely, the vibrations building and building until at last, it started. One by one the robots began to trickle out of there until, like a flood, they began pouring out en masse.

"I still think just smashing the trucks together would've been easier," said Sonic.

"It also would've been wrong," said Johnny. "There might still've been Mobians on board."

"You've got a point."

Meanwhile, Porker was attempting to keep himself from busting a gasket. "Look, it's nice to have something to keep my mind off things, but could the both of you quiet down for just a minute? No offense."

Meanwhile, hordes of robots continued to flow out of the trucks, smashing against each other and crashing to the ground one by one, their circuitry breaking apart or otherwise being rendered defunct upon impact.

"You know," said Sonic, "this is kinda hilarious. In an ironic sort of way. I thought this was gonna be a whole lot tougher what we got."

"This is just weeding out the weak links," said Johnny. "The real deals are probably gonna be a whole other kettle of fish."

"If you say so. Still, from where I'm standing, I'm not sure we're even gonna need Mina and the others."

"Don't forget. They can always call in reinforcements. All we're doing is holding them off for Nicole and Quack to do their thing."

"Right, right. So when do we get to kick some badnik booty?"

As if right on cue, a a small furry fist shot out from underneath a gap between a couple of bots. Thunderbolt immediately came bursting out in a blast of electricity, almost gasping for air and a tad battered, but still very much alive. "Good. GAEA."

Sir Logik came soon after, slashing his way out with his sword. The three ninnies quickly followed, with Grounders' drills-for-hands leading the way as they carved a path straight through. "This is actually kind of fun!"

Naturally, Coconuts and Scratch took issue with such a declaration. "STUFF IT!" And from the other piles, a select assortment of various SWATbots, Troopers, and badnicks followed, climbing they way out of the wreckage and forming a sizeable crack squad.

Thunderbolt was somewhat worse for wear, but as though she didn't know any better, she was itching for a fight. "So. You're the Freedom Fighters, aren't you?"

"Some of them anyway." Porker was still sweating lik ea banshee, but the heavy breathing started to subside now that he was done emptying out the trucks. Which he couldn't have been more grateful for.

"I see. Well, you may have managed to trash most of this scrapheap, but you've still got us with to deal with!"

"Does he?" Grounder rubbed his shiny green head with one of his drills like a simpleton.

"YES. HE DOES. IMBECILE." Thunderbolt then turned back to Sonic and co, as though she hadn't missed a beat. "In any case, all you accomplished was ridding us of any distractions. Besides, there are only three of you, and quite a few more of us. I wouldn't say you ever had a chance."

"Oh really now?" Cause I think we do." Johnny then gave a loud whistle. As if waiting on speed dial, a yellow blur then whizzed onto the battlefield, zipping around Thunderbolt's forces like a bolt of lightning.

"And so the plot thickens," said Sir Logik. "A most fascinating twist to add to our marvelous tale! This will be a battle to remember."

Coconuts could not have given less of a crap. "Assuming we're still around to remember it."

All at once, the blur stopped. Standing in its' place was none other than Mina Mongoose, with Big, Amy, and Chirps all standing right beside.

"Made it!" said Mina.

"Missed me?" said Chirps.

"Hey, that's my line!" said Sonic.

"I just knew he missed me!" said Amy. She nearly ran straight into Sonic's arms, only stopped by Big holding her up by the hem of her dress as she ran in midair like flailing through the stratosphere.

"Time and a place, kiddo."

"Oh, you're no fun! But you're probably right." She let herself down and readied her crossbow, which as evidenced by the new fancy model was upgraded to the nines.

Thunderbolt couldn't help but be taken aback by the sudden influx of reinforcements from the other trucks. Still, that gave her an idea. If she could just get enough time to contact Eggman on her phone, that might have given them enough room to turn the tide and order in some reinforcements. Of course, the trick was doing so in a way that would leave the phone intact.

"Not bad," she said. "Unfortunately, we still outnumber you. Are you sure you want to try those odds?"

Sonic couldn't help but scoff. Surely they did jest. "Oh, I'm not gonna try anything. I'm gonna do. Because we can blast you away to next Sunday."

"I see. Fine. If that's how you want to do this, then so be it. Everyone, ATTACK!"

And attack they did.


"You okay, Ant'?"

Sonia and Manic were sitting with Antoine on a bench outside the operating room. As requested, they had been guarding the hallway, their new high-powered gear at the ready. On the one hand, you had Sonia with a souped-up keyboard held in front of her chest, capable of firing off blasts of various intensities depending on how hard the keys were pressed. And on the other, you had Manic wielding a sharp drumstick in either hand, and both were perfectly capable of busting some balls. They were ready to kick ass if need be, but right now, that wasn't their chief concern.

Antoine was busy trying not to have a heart attack. His legs were knocking like a doorknob and his teeth were chattering like tiny hammers. His hand was held over his chest as though he were attempting to keep his heart from busting loose, and even with his new sword resting in its' scabbard at his side, he wondered if he would make it to tomorrow.

"Yes, Sonia, I am 'okay.' I am just peachy. How can I not be?! My father is in part responsible for bringing a potentially unstoppable horde to our doorsteps, and the only way to save us all is to operate on him! And the only I reason I have the luxury to worry about all this is that the Princess decided at the last minute to keep me here instead of sending me with the others to the front lines. Of course, I would have preferred to stay here in any case, but it does make me wonder if, considering my father's situation, whether or not the Princess currently considers me a liability, and that I may only be fit to serve once this matter is resolved. Regardless of HOW it is resolved."

"Don't say that, ! Sally only wanted to make sure you could look after your father! I'm sure of it!" Cream placed a hand on Antoine's shoulder, having chosen to stay behind instead of partaking in the battle at hand. Granted, she wasn't technically a Freedom Fighter, nor did she particularly wish to be one just now, but she still helped where she could. And if that meant comforting others in need, then so be it.

"Yeah," said Manic, "don't worry about it. She knows that nothing could stop you from going to the frontlines and kicking robot but. Even if you were screaming your lungs out while doing it."

Antione raised an eyebrow, like a man who knew a backhanded compliment when he heard one. "I appreciate your confidence," he said, sarcasm dripping from every syllable.

"Seriously, man. You've got it where it counts. And don't think for one minute that Sal' thinks of you any less."

"Same here!" said Sonia. "Sonic already told us all about how you saved Bunnie back in Eggman's lab. If that wasn't being brave, I don't know what was. So don't you count yourself out, you hear me?!"

Antoine was taken aback. Up until now, he had always considered himself little more than a coward, always attempting to simply do his part as well as he could. But he certainly hadn't counted on being hailed as some sort of hero. And that was the one thing he knew he could never truly be.

"I appreciate your kind words, mon amies. Truly. Still, what I care most about just now is my father. Doctor Quack said that if all goes well, he should be able to pull through, but if not…"

"Please, ," said Cream, "don't worry. I'm sure your father will be just fine! All you have to do is keep hoping for the best! That is what my mother always said to me, and I still abide by them."

"Thank you, ," said Antoine. "Although, I cannot help but be amazed at your persistence. Especially seeing as you have problems of your own."

Cream's perky ears drooped like a wilting flower. Cheese was sitting right next to her, and his floating yellow ball slowly started to fall in kind. "Oh. Well, I try not to think about them too much. It's just a lot to take in. If you do not mind, I would rather not think about all of that right now."

"No worries, Cream," said Manic. "You just tackle it when the time comes. Besides, right now, we've got bigger fish to fry."

As if right on cue, the door to the Operating Room was flung wide open, and Quack with Nicole in hand was standing right in the doorway.

"We've got a problem."

Antione almost couldn't bear to ask. "What 'problem' are you referring to, Doctor?"

"A VERY GRAVE ONE," said Nicole.

Quack pinched his brow, almost as if he couldn't believe it all himself. "Let me get right to the point. Remember when I said we'd probably be able to save your father?"

"Yes?" said Antoine.

"I was wrong. We take out that transmitter, he's a goner."

"You can't be serious," said Sonia.

"WHEN WE ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE TRANSMITTER," said Nicole, "IT BEGAN TO EMIT A SERIES OF STRONG ELECTRIC PULSES. AND WITH MARCUS IN HIS CURRENT STATE…"

"…he wouldn't be able to take it," said Manic.

"I CAN ATTEMPT TO SHUT IT DOWN REMOTELY BEFORE REMOVING IT AGAIN, BUT THERE COULD STILL BE FEEDBACK. EVEN IF I DID, ACCORDING TO MY CALCULATIONS, THERE IS NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO A CHANCE OF SUCCESS. WHEN QUACK SAID THAT YOUR FATHER WOULD BE A GONER, HE WAS NOT EXAGGERATING."

Cream held her hand over her mouth as she gasped, scarcely able to take it all in.

Quack then looked Antione square in the eyes, his stern gaze nearly piercing into his very soul, as though everything that came next depended on him. "Let me make this plain to you. There is a tracking device in your father's skull, and if that isn't deal with ASAP, most of us are likely going to die. Or, you leave it alone. Maybe try and keep your father going. Not that I'd recommend it for a number of reasons, but it's your choice. The question is, just what choice do you want to make?"

And as Antoine sat there, dumbfounded, he wasn't sure if he could come up with an answer.