Previously, on The Chaos Project…
[Sonic]: (As seen in S0 E8) "You say that I am The Controller. What does that mean?"
[Lords of Chaos]: "The first Controller… Chaos Energy was built into his very DNA… That connection to Chaos did not die with him… We willed it to a new life form, who grew up, learned of that power, and eventually died as well. So the pattern has continued for thousands of years, until finally it has reached you."
[Sonic]: "I have the ability to protect the world. So I should be the one to do it… This is why I can do things that other people can't. This is why the Chaos Emeralds always appear where I need them most."
—
[Sonic]: (As seen in S0 E13) "Shadow… I don't know anything about Chaos or the Emeralds or the Balance. But you do!"
[Shadow]: "Maybe you do need a teacher. But that isn't me. I need the help as much as you do."
—
[Alfred Robotnik]: (As seen in S0 E14) "If I could create a new hedgehog without the infusion of alien DNA, then the true Ultimate Life Form could finally exist. And I did. I awakened the New Ultimate Life Form."
—
[Shadow]: (As seen in S0 E19. He stares into a pod containing Blacklight, the New Ultimate Life Form.) "I came here to protect history. So why am I trying to change it? Why can't I just let him die? That's how it was supposed to happen."
—
[Sonic]: (As seen in S0 E23) "The one who the Lords of Chaos sent to help me…was you. Except that…you were never supposed to have a body."
[Chaos the Hedgehog]: "I wish you to know that, regardless of my form, I will do everything in my power to protect you."
—
[Chaos]: (As seen in S1 E25) "This is the end of me, Controller… My only regret is that I could not teach you more in my brief time here."
[Sonic]: "Then teach me more! I will learn everything that you have to teach! Because this isn't the end! This is the beginning! The beginning of us!"
—
[Tails]: (As seen in S0 E28) "Shadow… Who is Blacklight?"
[Shadow]: "Blacklight…is an artificial life form like me. He died forty years ago… Until…the timeline was changed… I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I saved his life. And now, he's back. And everything he does is on me."
—
[Chaos]: (As seen in S0 E32) "I saw something incredible today… What I'm trying to say is…it would be my honor…to train you, Shadow the Hedgehog. I am already teaching the Controller everything I know about the ways of Chaos, and I could teach you as well!"
[Shadow]: "I made a promise to protect this world. I think you can help me do that. I will be your student."
—
[Eggman]: (As seen in Series Premiere Part 1) "I've been working on something, something world-changing. I call it: 'The Chaos Project.'… when all is done, you and I would rule over the entire planet."
[Blacklight]: "I like the sound of that."
—
[Lords of Chaos]: (As seen in Series Premiere Part 2) "The Darkness will come…it can no longer be stopped… When the time comes…you will return to us…"
[Chaos]: (To himself.) "Sonic…I'm sorry that I could not complete your training."
—
[Chaos]: (As seen in Series Premiere Part 4) "I will use some energy…to disguise myself. It will help cover your escape."
[Sonic]: (He watches with tears in his eyes as Chaos is enveloped and destroyed by Blacklight's attack.) "CHAOS!"
—
[Eggman]: "There is a bit of a flaw we recently discovered in the 'Chaos Amplifier,' the product of our little Chaos Project."
[Blacklight]: (He is unsteady on his feet.) "Well…I suppose it's a good thing that I'm so powerful. Otherwise, I might have actually noticed…"
[Eggman]: "Yes…a very good thing indeed." (He draws a weapon, and fires before Blacklight can react. Indicating the corpse at his feet, he commands it be removed.) "Now, I believe it is time for me to start running this world. And with Sonic dead, I shouldn't have any problems for many years to come. But when I do…I will be ready. And that is when I will at last achieve true power! Hahahahahaha!"
And now, the continuation…
GUN Base
Garbed from head to toe in a suit of black, an animoid figure presses his back against the trunk of a tree, hiding in the shadows of the moonlight. A thin layer of snow coats the exposed patches of ground. Behind the black figure, a yellow-painted Egg Flapper hovers slowly through the air, scanning back and forth with its searchlight. The light passes over the tree, but the figure remains unseen on the other side. When the robot passes, the figure takes his chance, making a run past it, and diving into a large hole that appears to have been blasted into a tall metal wall.
Once inside, the figure glances around, taking in his surroundings. He presses back against the wall the moment he sees another searching Flapper, crossing through an intersecting hallway ahead. Once it's passed, he resumes his straight run into the base. He continues for quite a while, meeting less and less resistance the farther into the abandoned base he moves.
Suddenly, he once again moves against a wall. He looks back and forth carefully, assuring that there's no one to see. He turns and starts to enter a code into a keypad on the wall beside him. When he presses the last key, a door beside him slides open, and he moves in as quickly as possible, letting it close behind him, leaving no trace of his ever having been there.
Inside the dark room, not much bigger than a closet, the figure looks up and down the impressive red and black stature of E-123 Omega, hunched over and with all lights dim, apparently deactivated. The figure speaks with an unmistakable voice and a sigh of relief, "Finally found you."
The figure reaches up to pull off the tight black coverings on his head, revealing the face of Sonic the Hedgehog underneath. He breathes a little easier without it. "Now, let's get you turned on."
Sonic the Hedgehog: The Chaos Project
Season 1, Episode 1
Alpha and Omega
Written by ChaosProjectAuthor
Daily log, January 12th, 0 A.E. This is Tails reporting.
Okay, so technically my name is Miles Prower, but everyone calls me Tails. This is gonna be the very first one of these, so I guess I should explain what this is.
About a month ago, Dr. Eggman used his robot army to take over the world. But I bet you already knew that. We tried our best to fight them off, but when all hope seemed lost, Sonic and I, and a small group of our friends, managed to retreat, and meet up in a secret location. We might be the only ones left who can fight back against Eggman.
So now, we're all here together, trying our best to find ways to fight Eggman, without getting caught. And I was thinking…well, after the first Eggman War, we all got a lot of questions about some of the things that happened during those six months, and…we weren't really able to answer most of them in detail. We weren't keeping any kind of records, so now, a lot of that history is lost. So I thought, if we had everyone record one of these logs each day, or at least as often as they can, talking about whatever they've been doing during the day, then we can have a complete record for the future. Who knows? Maybe someone could be listening to this hundreds of years from now!
It took some work to convince everyone else, but I told them it could help us here and now, too. Let's say…someone just…disappears. I mean, freaky stuff like that happens to us all the time. If we listen to their most recent logs, it might give us a clue what happened to them, help us find them.
Oh, I guess I should also explain that date I said. The whole thing about this being for the future…well, I want it to be timeless. No matter what year it is whenever someone listens to this, I don't want it to matter what their calendar looks like. 0 years A.E., this year, is just the first year After the Eggman Empire. Anything that happened last year would be B.E., Before the Empire. This is the 12th day of the empire, and that's the only date that matters.
So I guess I'd better get on to the daily part, now. Sonic is still out on some secret mission that he left for a few days ago, but Shadow's on his way back, he should be getting here anytime now. The rest of us have been spending time setting up camp, gathering supplies, that sort of thing. We don't have a lot with us here, but…I think we're going to do fine.
Hey, I think that's Shadow now! Uh, Tails, out.
—–—
Emerald Canyon
The sloping Emerald Hills of striped green are interrupted by the occasional patch of watery sleet, of the same kind that fell on the New Year. The hills, covered in small bushes, flowers of purple and red, and the occasional palm tree, give way to slightly rockier territory the farther inland it goes from the sparkling ocean coastline. A gentle river that winds its way through the hills drops off suddenly over the lip of a deep canyon, and its water cascades down into the abyss below. A simple wooden bridge connects the two sides of the canyon just beside it. The walls of the canyon are blocky, checkered in some tall pillar-like strips, in a manner that is difficult to identify as either natural or manmade. Spread sporadically throughout the wall are holes, some smaller, others forming wide cave entrances, a few of which have gentle streams leaking out, joining the larger waterfall in a pool at the wall's base, which continues to flow out along the canyon's new path.
A few familiar faces are gathered at the water's edge, apparently collecting water in containers of various sizes. In the opposite direction of the flowing river, a line of simple fabric tents are set up against the wall of the canyon, most of them a dull orange color. Due to the inward-sloping wall of the canyon, and the outward-protruding grass-carpeted lip above, the tents are well-shaded, and couldn't possibly be seen from directly overhead.
"Shadow! Hey, Shadow!" Tails excitedly waves from the end of the line of tents, as Shadow the Hedgehog approaches from that side of the canyon path.
From beside Shadow, Rouge the Bat comments, "Someone looks happy to see us."
Tails runs up the rest of the way to meet them. "So how'd it go? Were you ever seen? What did–?"
Shadow cuts him off. "Everything is fine." He looks over to Rouge. "I found what I was looking for."
Rouge nudges him in the shoulder. "A dangerous solo mission, just to find little old me? Shadow, if I didn't know better, I'd say you had a crush." Shadow ignores her.
Tails continues after a moment of silence, "Well, it's good to have you here with the team, Rouge." He gets out his Handheld tablet device, and starts to enter some data on it. "But there is one.…slight problem."
"And that would be?"
"We're all out of tents. You'll have to bunk up with someone."
"Share a cramped tent with one of you people? No no. A lady needs her personal space." She looks around absently. "I'd rather sleep up in one of those caves."
"Oh…well, that shouldn't be a problem."
Rouge at first looks surprised that her joke was taken seriously, but then shrugs.
"Well, you can go ahead and start checking those out, I guess."
Rouge nods, and flies off to the nearest cave entrance.
Shadow looks down to Tails. "Still no word from Sonic?"
Tails shakes his head. "He's keeping total silence. I hope he's not doing anything too dangerous…"
Shadow pauses for a moment. "Sonic knows what he's doing. I'm sure he's fine."
Tails looks down to the ground. "Yeah…" Shadow turns to leave, but Tails looks back up at him. "Umm…before you go, I was hoping to get your opinion on something." Shadow stops to listen. "I've already gotten everyone else's approval, even Knuckles, but I wanted to make sure you agreed, too. It's about Sonic…"
—–—
Sonic carefully looks at the control panel on Omega's back. "Alright, this should do it." He taps a few keys, and moves around to Omega's front as his mechanical red eyes light up.
Omega straightens up, and swivels his head back and forth a few times. "Systems activating…" After a few moments, his head stops moving as his eyes lock on Sonic. Immediately, his bulky metal arm lifts up to point its sharp claws directly at his throat. "Intruder: you are in a restricted area! Surrender or prepare to be annihilated!"
Sonic waves his hands frantically. "Whoa, whoa! Calm down, Omega, it's me. It's Sonic."
Omega doesn't respond for several moments. Then he retracts the claws into his arm, as Sonic breathes out a sigh of relief. The claws are replaced by a machine gun a moment later. "Sonic: you are in a restricted area! Surender or prepare to be annihilated!"
Sonic goes right back into panic mode. "Hey, hey, just give me a minute, I can explain! The date, tell me the date!"
Omega pauses once again. "The date is 12, January, at nineteen zero eight."
Sonic leads as he motions with a hand, "And this is a problem, because…"
"Scheduled time of activation was 1, January, at zero six hundred hours." Omega pushes his lethal weapon even closer to Sonic. "Explain, or be annihilated."
"Hey, enough with the annihilation already!" When Omega doesn't respond, he continues, "Omega…there was a war. And we lost."
"Statement incorrect! I have no record of any such war."
"Of course you don't! You were deactivated for–…how long, Omega? When were you deactivated?"
"Deactivation occurred on 31, December, at eighteen hundred hours, for: standard twelve-hour recharge cycle."
"That's right when Eggman attacked. It all happened so fast… Of course they didn't send you out into battle, you didn't have enough power to last out on the battlefield, you would've been a liability. By the time you did, it was already all over. There was no one left to reactivate you. GUN doesn't exist anymore, Omega. Not the way it used to…"
"Your assertions are highly improbable."
"We don't need to go far for me to prove it to you. This place is crawling with Eggman robots. We–"
"Eggman robots have penetrated this facility!? I will eradicate them all!" Omega shoves past Sonic and proceeds promptly out the door.
Sonic looks around through the hallways frantically as he catches up with Omega, but for the moment, they are alone. He ends up jogging backwards to keep up with him while facing him. Realizing he almost forgot something, he quickly pulls his mask back over his face before continuing while waving his arms, "No, no, no eradication, eradication bad! You have to get out of these hallways, we're gonna get caught out here!"
Omega continues to march along at a steady pace, machine gun at the ready. "I do not take orders from rankless meatbags. I will destroy all Eggman robots."
"Look, I know destroying robots is your thing, but think about it this way. If we're seen by even one of those drones, we'll have an entire army on us in minutes. There's no getting out of that. Think about all the robots you won't be able to destroy in future after you get torn to pieces here today!" Omega pauses. The sound of another Flapper approaching can be heard, as its searchlight appears at the intersection just in front of them. "Think faster!"
The Flapper rounds the corner, shining its light on the spot where Sonic and Omega had been hiding. But they are nowhere to be seen. The drone continues on its way down the hall, never the wiser.
Sonic pokes his concealed head out from the door, ensuring that the robot is gone. Then he moves back in, ensuring the door closes behind him. This room appears to be a soldier's quarters. In one far corner, there is a cot with messy, unmade sheets, as if someone had to get out of bed quickly. In the other, there is a small table with several personal items on it, including a photograph of a man and a woman together, which has been tipped over and cracked.
Sonic nods to Omega. "Thanks for listening. Now, we need to take this one step at a time. Let's just work on getting out of here without getting caught, and then we can work out the rest later."
"Negative."
After waiting a moment for Omega to explain further, Sonic questions, "Care to share your objection?"
"Eggman's robots must not be allowed to acquire the package."
"Package? Package of what?"
"That information is classified."
Sonic sighs. "Alright, sounds important enough. Look, if I help you get the 'package', will you promise to stay quiet, not cause a ruckus, and hear me out once we get out of here?"
Omega takes a moment to think. "That is acceptable."
Sonic nods. "Good. Then lead the way."
—–—
Sonic and Omega have made their way to a much more open space, with tall walls, and a few flickering spotlights high above. The room is filled with massive storage containers, piled and stacked on top of each other in huge, uneven blocks, leaving little walking space between them. Sonic lets out a low whistle as he steps down the last of the stairs leading down into the storage room. "What is all this stuff?"
Omega answers, "That information is classified. Civilians are not allowed in this area." The large robot continues to march past Sonic.
Sonic sighs, "At least we're past the annihilation part." He starts moving again. "You sure you can find this 'package' in all this junk?"
"Identification code: SH-123003. It is in this direction."
Sonic continues to check behind his shoulder as they move deeper into the storage room. "At least Eggman's robots haven't found this room yet."
"Your continued resistance to destroying Eggman robots is irritating."
Sonic clearly takes offense, but takes a moment to control himself. "Just remember, it's for the long run."
"Your repetition is not required." Omega suddenly comes to a stop. Sonic looks to the tall wooden crate they've stopped beside. A code printed on its side reads 'SH-123003'.
Sonic nods. "Guess this is it. So how're we going to–"
Omega digs his claws into the side edge of the crate, and forcefully tears off the entire front. Inside the crate is a tall cylindrical machine, with opaque glass all the way around the middle, creating a capsule just large enough to fit someone of Sonic's size. Sonic looks at it curiously. "A capsule in a box?" He scratches at his chin. "Now what's in there that's so much more important than everything else in this room?"
Omega turns his entire upper torso 180 degrees, so that he faces Sonic while his back faces the capsule. "That information is–"
"Classified, yeah yeah. 'Your repetition is not required'."
Several panels on Omega's back have opened up, and eight long, insect-like mechanical arms reach out and wrap around the capsule, securing it firmly to his back. He turns his body back the right way, taking the capsule out with him. "The package has been secured."
"Good. That means we can–" He cuts off as a loud alarm siren starts to blare. A Flapper has caught sight of them from above the stack of crates, shining its spotlight down and sounding the siren. "Shoot!"
Omega points a machine gun at the patrol bot. "Affirmative. Shooting now." He opens fire, shredding through the drone within seconds, temporarily silencing the alarm.
"No, that's not what I–… Nevermind, we have to get out of here, now!" The two run for the flight of stairs they came down on that lead back up to the ground level. Along the way, Sonic feels around his face, and breathes a sigh of relief that it is still concealed by his suit.
Halfway up the steps, the door at the top bursts open, and armed Egg Pawns start streaming out, firing their blasters almost at random. Sonic prepares to dash at them in an attack, but he hesitates. Omega shoves him aside and fires a missile at the top of the stairs. What robots survive the explosion are dropped through the newly-formed chasm between the steps, and fall until they're crushed against the floor far below. Sonic shakes it off and keeps going, jumping over the chasm and continuing through the door back to the main part of the base. Omega jet-jumps out behind him, still carrying the capsule on his back.
—–—
Sonic and Omega have made it far out into the dense forest. Judging by the condensation of Sonic's breath and Omega's exhaust, it appears to be quite cold. Sonic slows to a stop, and indicates for Omega to do the same. "We've been going for hours, I think we lost them."
Omega's head swivels around to check behind them. "Sensors indicate no sign of pursuit." He looks back to Sonic. "The package is no longer at risk. Your assistance is no longer required." He starts to march off.
"Hey! You promised to hear me out, remember!?" Omega stops. "What are you planning on doing? Where do you think you'll go?"
Omega turns his head to face Sonic, but stays facing away. "I must destroy all Eggman robots. Irrelevant of the participation of the Guardian Units of Nations."
"So you're just declaring single war against Eggman? He has an army! He controls the world! What do you think you can do against that?"
"I am not declaring war. War began on the date of my creation."
Sonic pauses for a moment. "You haven't even asked about your friends. Don't you want to know what happened to Shadow?"
Omega pauses as well. "Do you know the location of Shadow?"
"That's right. I bet he could help you in your little crusade. Of course, I'd have to take you to him first."
Omega turns back to Sonic, marches several steps towards him, and points his claws threateningly. "You will tell me the location of Shadow!"
Not so nervous this time, Sonic places his hand on Omega's claws, and lowers them down to a safer level. "Doesn't work that way. It's a secret location. We can't just go there in a straight line, or we'll be traced. I take you there, and you'll have no way of knowing until we get there, or you leave now and go it alone. I doubt your 'package' would be very safe that way."
Omega doesn't respond at all.
"There's something else you should know. Shadow is part of our team there. We're all going to fight Eggman, together."
"I have no use for a team of meatbags."
"Believe that if you want. But I think Shadow can make that decision for himself. And if you want his help, you'll have to come with me and ask him yourself."
Omega makes no motion for several moments. "…That is acceptable. We will proceed to your secret location."
Sonic nods in relief. Then he looks up into the air, where the nearly-full moon shows through a patch in the otherwise cloudy sky. The forest is alive with sound, the chirping of crickets, hooting of owls, and scuttling of other small animals across the ground. "First…" Sonic practically collapses into a lean back on the nearest tree, showing surprising fatigue. "…I need rest."
"Rest is a waste of time. Observation shows that you are within operating capacity. We will proceed."
"Omega, it has been a long few days trying to find you all without getting caught. I came all the way out here just to wake you up. The least you could do is let me sleep a couple hours." He slides down into a sitting position on the ground. "I'm not taking no for an answer." He closes his eyes for a moment. Without opening them, he adds, "You think you could start a fire?" He points to a fallen log in the middle of the clearing. "It's cold here."
Without a verbal response, Omega transforms one arm into a flamethrower, and fires off a short burst at the log. It catches instantly. Sonic relaxes visibly as the flickering orange glow of the fire washes over his black suit. Omega stares at Sonic for a moment. "Inquiry: why do you conceal your identity?"
"Finally noticed, did you?" Sonic opens his eyes to look to the capsule on Omega's back. "I'll tell you my secret if you tell me yours."
"That information is–"
Sonic puts up a hand. "Nevermind, nevermind." He lets out a sigh. "Long story short, Eggman thinks I'm dead. I'd like to keep that advantage as long as possible. It's one of the only things we have on him right now."
"…That is a sound tactical decision."
Sonic has already closed his eyes again. "I'd appreciate it if you'd keep watch."
Omega pauses to process. "I have no established protocol for: 'keep watch'."
"You've never kept watch on a mission before? It's simple. Just look and listen for…anything that might be a threat, and don't get distracted, keep going until morning. If you find anything, wake me up, and we'll decide whether to run or fight." He pauses for a loud yawn. "And please, don't find anything." After a moment, he adds with a yawn, "That was a joke…"
Omega goes completely silent for a considerable length of time. When he finally speaks, he declares simply, "Keep Watch protocol has been established." Sonic has already nodded off.
—–—
ACTIVATING PROTOCOL: "KEEP_WATCH"
PROTOCOL SPECIFICATIONS:
-1) ANALYZE DATA FROM ALL VISUAL SENSORS TO DETERMINE SOURCES AND RESPECTIVE THREAT LEVELS
-2) ANALYZE DATA FROM AUDIO SENSORS TO DETERMINE SOURCES AND RESPECTIVE THREAT LEVELS
-3) IF THREAT LEVEL EXCEEDS SPECIFIED VALUE: WAKE SUBJECT: "SONIC_THE_HEDGEHOG"
-4) DO NOT TERMINATE PROTOCOL UNTIL EITHER:
— a) SPECIFIED TIME LIMIT HAS ELAPSED
— b) SUBJECT: "SONIC_THE_HEDGEHOG" HAS BEEN AWOKEN
INPUT THREAT LEVEL: 20%
INPUT TIME LIMIT: TIMEUNTIL(SUNRISE)
NOW RUNNING PROTOCOL…
AUDIO SENSORS STIMULATED: ANALYZING…
-PROBABLE SOURCE: FIELD CRICKET
-ESTIMATED DISTANCE: 3.27 METERS
-THREAT LEVEL: NEGLIGIBLE
ANALYSIS COMPLETED. ITEMS REMAINING IN QUEUE: 12
AUDIO SENSORS STIMULATED: ANALYZING…
-PROBABLE SOURCE: BARRED OWL
-ESTIMATED DISTANCE: 9.85 METERS
-THREAT LEVEL: 0.04%
ANALYSIS COMPLETED. ITEMS REMAINING IN QUEUE: 147
WARNING: PROJECTED DATA INPUT EXCEEDS ANALYSIS CAPACITY
CONTINUED PROCESSING MAY CAUSE SYSTEM SLOWDOWNS
THERMAL IMAGING SENSORS STIMULATED: ANALYZING…
-PROBABLE SOURCE: HUMAN
-ESTIMATED DISTANCE: 296.42 METERS
-THREAT LEVEL: 3.79%
ANALYSIS COMPLETED. ITEMS REMAINING IN QUEUE: 786
WARNING: PROJECTED DATA INPUT EXCEEDS ANALYSIS CAPACITY
TERMINATING PROTOCOL TO RESOLVE ISSUE…
TERMINATION ABORTED BY PROTOCOL SPECIFICATION "4)"
AUDIO SENSORS STIMULATED: ANALYZING…
-PROBABLE SOURCE: FIELD CRICKET
-IDENTIFICATION CONFLICT: SAVED AS FIELD CRICKET(2)
-ESTIMATED DISTANCE: 4.19 METERS
-THREAT LEVEL: NEGLIGIBLE
ANALYSIS COMPLETED. ITEMS REMAINING IN QUEUE: 1682
PROTOCOL: "KEEP_WATCH" HAS STOPPED WORKING
CHECKING FOR SOLUTION…
TERMINATING PROTOCOL TO RESOLVE ISSUE…
TERMINATION ABORTED BY PROTOCOL SPECIFICATION "4)"
…
AUDIO SENSORS STIMULATED: ANALYZING…
-PROBABLE SOURCE: FIELD CRICKET
-IDENTIFICATION CONFLICT: SAVED AS FIELD CRICKET(132)
-ESTIMATED DISTANCE: 4.42 METERS
-THREAT LEVEL: NEGLIGIBLE
ANALYSIS COMPLETED. ITEMS REMAINING IN QUEUE: ERROR: INVALID VALUE
PROTOCOL: "KEEP_WATCH" HAS STOPPED WORKING
CHECKING FOR SOLUTION…
SOLUTION FOUND
ACTIVATING MISSILE LAUNCHERS
—–—
"Resolving issue!" Omega fires off a missile into the forest thicket, which detonates a moment later, with a loud boom joined by the cracking of trees that are blasted over.
Sonic wakes up with a start, jumping to his feet as quickly as he can. "Huh, what, who's there!?" He looks around frantically, until he finds the smoldering crater that Omega still points his smoking weapon at. The forest has gone completely silent. "Omega…what did you just fire at?"
Omega remains stationary, not responding at all.
"Hello?" Sonic waves a hand in front of Omega's face. "Earth to Omega?"
Finally, Omega's head swivels to face Sonic. "There was a fault in the Keep Watch protocol. It did not account for the volume of data to be analyzed. It has been terminated."
Slowly, the sound is beginning to return as activity resumes in the forest. A few small creatures have even moved to investigate the crater. Sonic looks to the smoldering embers that remain of the fire Omega started. At least a few hours have passed. He looks back down to Omega as his missile launcher arm is finally lowered. He very carefully looks over Omega's face, as if to find some expression that would show how he feels. But the robotic face is as still as ever. "Omega…I think…maybe you should shut down for a little while. Reboot, make sure everything's working right. I'll keep watch for the rest of the night."
"You stated that you require sleep. You cannot sleep while you keep watch."
"I said I needed rest. As long as I'm sitting down, I'll be fine. I think you need it more than I do right now."
Omega pauses. "…The package must be protected."
"I won't let anyone near it." Omega glares at him for a moment. "I won't peek, I promise."
"…You are able to process the necessary data to Keep Watch under these circumstances?"
"Our brains are wired…a bit differently. Just relax. Everything will be fine. Unless you have some other objection?"
"…The previous time I was manually shut down…I was left inactive and helpless for a period of twelve days, one hour, eight minutes, and thirty-seven seconds. In that time, my enemy conquered the world."
Sonic nods. "And now you can't trust anyone else not to make the same mistake. I get it. I really do. I'm going to wake you up on time, Omega. You have my word on that."
Omega takes another long pause to process. "That is acceptable."
Even through the covering over his face, Sonic's smile can still be seen. "Alright then. I'll see you at sunrise."
—–—
The red lights of Omega's eyes flicker to life as he is activated once again. As he straightens up, his head immediately swivels around to check on the capsule attached to his back.
Sonic answers for him, "Untouched, just as promised. I'll admit, I was tempted. But I would never break the trust of a friend like that."
Omega's head turns to look at the pinkish dawn sky that can be seen above the treeline. "Your effectiveness is…acceptable."
"Glad you think so. Now let's get moving. We still have a long distance to cover ahead of us."
—–—
Knuckles the Echidna leans with one shoulder against the cave wall, staring down at a pile of glowing green gem shards on a small raised platform.
A voice speaks softly from behind him, "Even in pieces…it sure is beautiful." Rouge steps up beside him.
The glow of the shattered Master Emerald reflecting in his eyes, Knuckles agrees absently, "Yeah…" After a moment, he comes to his senses, and turns to her sharply. "Hey!"
"Whoa, calm down, Knuckies. I didn't mean it like that. You know, I went the entire year without trying to steal it even once."
Knuckles growls as he relaxes a bit, "You say that like not stealing something was a difficult challenge for you."
Rouge only answers with a chuckle. The two stare at the shattered gem for a while longer. "…It looks like it's all here. Why don't you put it back together?"
Knuckles shakes his head slowly. "I can't. I broke it on purpose."
"Why would you go and do a thing like that?"
Knuckles sighs. "It's something Sonic and I talked about. Obviously, I can't just leave it behind. And last time I tried to take the whole thing with me, it was stolen right from my hands. Eggman already has six Chaos Emeralds, and none of us could forget what he did with just that. If he had the Master Emerald too…" He shakes his head. "We can't risk it. So we're going to make sure that it's impossible for Eggman to get his hands on the whole thing. We're splitting it up. Everyone is put in charge of one shard."
"Everyone? Even me? You're giving me a piece of the priceless gem you're supposed to guard with your life? Knuckles, I never thought you were the type to give jewelry."
"Don't take it so lightly. That shard will be more important than your life. You'll need to hide it somewhere on you, have it with you at all times, and I mean always. If you're going to be captured, you need to make sure it gets back here, or at least hide it somewhere they won't find it."
"Well, that's not depressing at all. But if I were you, I'd be less worried about Eggman getting it from me, and more worried about you ever getting it back from me."
"You'd keep it willingly? I thought they stink like Echidna. Isn't that what you said?"
"Oh, they do. But maybe…I don't think of it as a stink anymore."
Knuckles raises his eyebrows in surprise.
"So, when do you start handing them out?"
"As soon as Sonic gets back. He wanted it to be a sort of…initiation."
"Have you heard the word about Sonic? What we're planning on telling him?"
"I started to conversation."
"You? Really? I would've thought you'd be opposed, with the first war and all."
"Sonic is the only one. I'm certain about that."
"…Where do you think he is?"
"I've heard rumors…that he's out looking for someone to bring back to the team. I think…we all have something different in mind for who that someone is. I bet I can guess who you're hoping for."
"You'd guess right. I am worried about Omega. It isn't like him to just disappear, especially where Eggman is involved. I just hope he's alright."
"If Sonic is really going after Omega, it's Sonic that I'd be more worried for."
"Good point."
—–—
The Sun in the sky has moved quite far along, already beginning to approach evening, casting a clear blue light over the Emerald Hills. Omega fires his thrusters to propel himself over the ground, as Sonic jogs alongside him, at a fair pace, but not so fast that it would give his identity away. He looks up to Omega as they run. "You're sure you can't tell me anything at all about that capsule? Not even a hint?"
"…Very well. A hint. There is matter inside of the package."
"Gee, that narrows it down…" He closes his eyes and shakes his head as he continues to run. Then his face contorts as if he were listening for something. "Can you hear that?"
Omega takes a moment to process. "Abnormal audio reading identified. Unidentified aerial vehicle approaching from the seven o'clock direction at 436 meters and closing. Threat level: eighty-seven percent."
"Dang it! They must've found us!" They come to a stop, as Sonic takes just a few moments to form a plan. He points off in one direction with his arm. "Keep going this way, you'll find our base. Get help." He looks off in another direction. "I'll go that way, closer to them. With any luck, they'll follow me."
"Negative. We can–"
Sonic's already started running off. "No time for second-guessing! Just follow my plan!"
Omega watches for a moment as Sonic moves away. Then he moves in his own direction.
As Sonic jogs along at an agonizingly slow pace, his pursuer starts to come into view far off to his side, clearly flying in a straight course towards him. Sonic gives a nod in satisfaction. As the pursuer grows closer, its shape can start to be made out. There appears to be a personal-sized helicopter, flanked on both sides by four smaller figures that appear to be flying with jetpacks. Piloting the chopper is the transformed weapon-toting Egg Robo, Heavy Gunner. Once the Gunner gets close enough to see Sonic, a blaring police siren is activated. Once he hears the siren, Sonic comes to a stop, waiting for the chopper to approach the rest of the way.
Through a loudspeaker, Heavy Gunner shouts, "Halt! You are under arrest by authority of the Eggman Empire! Any resistance will be met with use of force." The chopper sets down on the ground beside Sonic, as do the blue and white painted Egg Pawns that guard it. Two of the Police Pawns march up to Sonic, and cuff him without resistance.
Sonic, in the most disguised voice he can manage, drawls, "I didn't do nothin'!"
Gunner glares at him for a moment. "'Nothin', eh?" He looks down to the readouts on the helicopter's control panel. "'Cause it says here you're guilty of trespassing, destruction of imperial property, and association with a known fugitive of the Empire."
As Sonic is forced to his knees, he questions, "Guilty? Don't I get a trial or somethin'?"
Gunner can't help but let out a laugh. "Since it's clear you don't know much about how we do things 'round these parts, I'll fill you in. The Emperor is your judge and jury. And I am the executioner. On occasion. Any plea that you have, you make it to the Emperor, if he grants you the honor of hearing it. And lucky for you, the Emperor's taken a very special interest in you. He asked me to call the moment I found you." He enters a few commands into the panel, and a small screen rises up out of it, and, after a moment of static, cuts to show the face of Doctor Eggman. Gunner bows his head to the image. "Caught your runaway, Chief."
Eggman grins on the screen. "Excellent work, Gunner. Show me."
Gunner rotates the screen around so that it faces Sonic, restrained on the ground. Sonic clenches his eyes shut and faces the ground, praying that he isn't recognized. Eggman lets out in a surprisingly gentle voice, "Now, now, there's no need to be afraid of me, citizen. We're just trying to work out a little problem, is all."
Sonic mutters at the ground, "I didn't do anything, man."
Eggman suddenly shouts, "You will not address your Emperor in such a tone! You will refer to me as your highness!"
"Fine…"
"No no. I want to hear you say it. And look me in the eye when you speak to me."
Sonic slowly looks up to the screen. "Fine…your highness."
"There. Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" Sonic doesn't answer. Eggman continues, "As I was saying before, we just have a little problem to work out. As I'm certain my friend Heavy Gunner has already told you, you've been seen associating with a known fugitive, who goes by the name of Omega."
Sonic feigns, "The robot guy?"
"Yes. The robot guy. Would you care to tell us how the two of you met?"
"I'm…a scavenger. I was just looking for parts, when I found this big robot guy. I tried to turn him on, and he started talkin' about destroying stuff, and I thought it was wicked awesome. But I don't think he liked me much. He ran off a while back."
"Ran off where, exactly? If you can tell us, I may just be able to drop those nasty charges against you."
"I dunno." He makes a motion with his head off in a random direction. "That way, I guess."
"I hope you know, it is also a crime to lie to your Emperor."
"Of course…your highness."
Eggman glares through the screen at Sonic for a long time. "Hmmm. Very well. I don't think this…boy can help us, Gunner. Get that mask off him, put him in the system, then let him go and continue your search through this area."
Sonic instinctively shouts, "No!"
Eggman's eyebrows raise in surprise. "Well, it sounds like our friend here has something to hide after all. What's the matter, boy? Have a secret under that mask?"
Gunner barks at his Police Pawns, "You heard your Emperor! Remove his mask!"
While one Pawn holds him down, the other grabs the covering on Sonic's face, and starts to pull it off. Sonic puts up little struggle. Slowly, the fabric is pulled all the way back, revealing Sonic's striking blue fur underneath. This time, he meets Eggman eye to eye as his face is revealed.
"It can't be…"
Sonic gives a smirk, dropping the act completely. "Aww, what's the matter, Eggman? Aren't you happy to see your old pal Sonic?"
Eggman lets out a loud growl. "Gunner! Forget about Omega! Take Sonic directly to me, immediately!"
Gunner nods as he finally steps out of his parked craft, pointing his large missile launcher threateningly at Sonic. "You got it, Chief." Gunner steps up to Sonic, and wraps a large hand around his arm. "You're coming with me, rodent." Then the chopper behind him explodes.
Omega stands on the crest of the nearest hill, missile launcher still smoking. Gunner shouts, "You!?"
Even with his hands bound, Sonic springs into action, taking care of the two closest Pawns with just his feet. The other two move in to subdue him.
Gunner fires off a missile, but Omega fires one of his own, and the two collide in a fiery explosion in the middle. Gunner prepares to fire off another, but Sonic appears in front of him, delivering at upwards kick that sends the box-shaped missile launcher flying up into the air. Omega's machine gun shreds it to pieces before it falls back to the ground in a smoking wreck. Unrelenting, Gunner dives for Sonic with his arms. Omega fires a flamethrower in an arc between Sonic and the Gunner, creating a wall of fire between them.
Sonic uses the distraction to run the other way at top speed, passing Omega as he goes. "Come on, let's get out of here!" Omega jets after him.
When the flames die down, Heavy Gunner is left alone, surrounded by the smoldering rubble left from the battle. He reaches a hand up to his head as if speaking into a communicator. "This is Gunner. They got away."
—–—
Sonic and Omega move along the bottom of the canyon at a much more leisurely pace. "I thought I told you to get help."
"That was not a tactically sound decision. Assistance would not have arrived in an adequate amount of time. Analysis indicated that you were attempting to deceive me."
"What!?"
"Your plan was not intended to succeed. Your intention was to sacrifice yourself."
Sonic takes a moment to respond. "…I guess you're right."
"…Inquiry: why?"
Sonic thinks on that for a moment. "We have something in common, Omega. Back during the first war…we were both out of commision, the whole six months. I know what that's like. When I heard that you were out there somewhere, not able to do anything about it, just like last time…I knew I had to find you. So you could be there, to do something. And I wasn't gonna let them take that away from you so soon." Sonic shakes his head. "Besides, what about that package of yours? I don't know what's in there, but I know how important you think it is. I wanted you to get it somewhere safe. I can't believe you risked it just to save me."
Omega takes the usual pause to process. "For a meatbag…you are an effective weapon against the Eggman Empire. Your survival…is more important than the contents of the package."
"That means a lot…I think."
"I advise against such self-destructive behavior in the future."
"You're probably right. But I guess it all worked out in the end. So…I guess you're gonna ask Shadow to leave with you once we get there?"
"…Negative. I will remain with your…team."
Sonic gives a satisfied smile.
An excited voice shouts, "Sonic!" Off in the distance down the canyon, Tails turns back to call to the rest, "Everyone, Sonic's back!" The noise level at the camp quickly rises as everyone starts to join together into a group to greet Sonic.
Sonic greets with a wave, "Hey, everyone. I brought a friend."
Shadow and Rouge greet Omega with a nod.
Knuckles questions, "This is who you were going after?"
Sonic nods, "Yeah. There a problem with that?"
"Well no, but…" Knuckles looks back to the group, noting who isn't there. "…there were rumors, and I thought…"
Vector blurts out for him, "What about the Rookie?"
Amy adds, "What about Big?"
Knuckles finishes for himself a bit more quietly, "What about M–"
Sonic cuts him off. "Look, I know we don't have everyone here. And we are going to do everything we can to find them all. But for now, how about we celebrate our first big victory against Eggman, huh? Omega and I just showed one of those Heavy goons what for!"
Shadow suddenly growls, "You were in battle!? Well did they see you!?"
Sonic looks down to the ground. "Yeah… Eggman himself. But come on, it's not so bad! Think about it, we can show the world that we're alive now. That could make a big difference in this war. I think it's still worth celebrating."
Tails steps up to Sonic. "Before we celebrate anything…there's something we've been talking about while you were gone."
Sonic raises an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Well, actually, Knuckles was the one who brought it up, but I asked everyone, and we're all in agreement. If we're all going to fight together like this…we need a leader."
Sonic gives a smile as he walks up to Knuckles. "Well, if everyone agrees…" He pats Knuckles on the back. "Congratulations, buddy."
Knuckles can't help but snicker a bit. "He wasn't talking about me."
"Oh." Sonic looks around in slight confusion. "Well…Shadow, I guess you were in charge last time, right? I'm sure you–"
Shadow shakes his head, unable to contain the slightest smirk.
"Oh. Umm…"
Tails lets out a laugh. "We were talking about you, Sonic."
Sonic is taken aback. "Who…me? N…no, I…." He looks around somewhat frantically, but meets only smiling, nodding faces. "Come on guys, I'm no leader! Quit messing around!"
Knuckles jests, "Is that your first order, sir?"
"Sir!?" Sonic covers his face with his hands and lets out a muffled grunt as he tries to straighten out his thoughts. "Guys…I'm flattered, but…I don't have the experience. I don't have much of anything. I'm just…"
Tails shakes his head. "Sonic, we all see how you've changed. A year ago, you would've been practically begging to be leader."
"Well, yeah, but…"
Knuckles assures, "I saw the potential in you a long time ago, but this last year, I've really seen it come out. You're a natural."
"I don't know how to…"
Vector advises, "Being a leader is about more than just the technical stuff. It's about inspiring confidence in people. And if there's one thing this world needs right now, it's a little confidence."
Cream adds, "You've inspired every one of us, Mr. Sonic. And everyone else, too."
Sonic bites his lip.
Shadow steps up beside him. "I think…Chaos would have agreed. You're the hero this world needs. And the world needs to see it."
Sonic lets out a sigh.
Tails still gives him a big smile. "We all believe in you, Sonic. We know you're the right choice."
Sonic lets out another long sigh. "Alright…I'll do it." The group lets out a collective cheer.
After a moment, Knuckles starts to chant, "Speech! Speech! Speech!" The rest of the group starts to join in the chant. "Speech! Speech! Speech!"
Sonic scratches at the back of his head. "Aw, come on guys. Really?"
"Speech! Speech! Speech!"
"Fine, fine. Give me a second." He closes his eyes and rubs the bridge of his nose as he thinks. He takes a deep breath before beginning. "I…may not know much about being a leader, but…"
Tails is struck by an idea. He pulls out a small recording device, and presses a button to start recording.
—–—
The group appears to have moved deep into a cave, where the pile of glowing green Master Emerald shards lies on the floor. Knuckles stands beside the pile, while Sonic stands in front of it, looking down the line of friends who await him. The recording of his speech continues to narrate.
"I know a thing or two about Eggman. I know that he's ruthless, and conniving, and against everything that we stand for. Freedom. Justice. Peace. I know that this war is going to be like nothing we've ever faced before. And I know, for certain, that I can't do this alone."
Sonic bends down to pick up a shard of the Master Emerald, and stares into it for a few moments.
"I need someone, who can always be at my side, who knows about being a leader, to give me advice, to question my every judgement, to make sure that I'm doing things right."
Slowly, Sonic hands the shard over to Knuckles.
"I need someone, who I can trust absolutely, to be able to take my place no matter what the circumstances."
Sonic picks up another shard, and hands it to Shadow at the front of the line.
"I need someone, who I trust more than anyone else in this world, to back us up, to be our support."
Sonic takes another shard, and hands this one to Tails.
"I need every single one of you, to fight for what we stand for, to be the shield that protects the people from Eggman, to take back our world!"
He hands the next shard to Amy.
"I know that we've all fought in war before. I know that this time, things are different."
He hands another to Rouge.
"This time, Eggman isn't just conquering, he is ruling. We have more to face than just an army, we have to face laws, a government."
To Omega.
"This time, we don't have warships, we don't have an army. It's just us against the entire world."
To Vector.
"This time, we aren't a Resistance. We're a Rebellion."
To Espio.
"This time, we have to do everything we can to survive. And we will survive."
To Charmy.
"I know it won't be easy. Nothing worth doing ever is."
Sonic kneels down to present the final shard to Cream.
"I know that Eggman's already taken away too much. We have to always remember who we're fighting for."
Sonic picks up one last shard for himself. Together, everyone holds up their piece of the sacred gem.
"And there's one thing that I know, more than anything else. I know that if we stand together, we will beat Eggman. We will take back the world. We, will, win."
"Now, if you don't mind, I have about twelve hours of sleep to catch up on."
—–—
Omega gently places the capsule down in a cave of his own. He takes a few steps back, and stares at it for a while.
Beside him, Shadow questions, "Does he know?"
"…Negative."
"He's your leader now. He could order you to show him."
"He stated he would not."
"If he knew what was in there…I don't think he'd have the same attitude."
"…Affirmative."
"…I can't believe you kept it all this time."
Omega's eyes remain locked on the capsule. "We are alike."
"He wanted a world without life. You want a world without machines. It doesn't get more different than that."
"We both rejected our programming. Rebelled against our creator. We are alike."
Shadow doesn't answer for a long time.
"The package must be analyzed for damage."
Shadow gives a nod. "Just make it quick."
Omega presses a button on the machinery at the base of the capsule. The opaque glass-like covering slowly begins to slide open from the side. Revealed on the inside first are the long silvery claws attached to a yellow hand, projecting from a reflective blue arm. Then the metallic red shoe-like foot can be seen on the bottom. Finally, the covering passes over the center of the figure, revealing the unmistakable face of Metal Sonic.
To be continued…