Chapter 48: Australia I
5:36 pm (USA time: 5:36 am), and our heroes are flying above Australia.
Then Amy reads a guidebook of Australia and says, "it is the 6th largest country globally, occupying an entire continent of some 7.6 million square kilometers. It has the world's 3rd largest ocean territory, spanning three oceans and covering around 12 million square kilometers. Vegetation covers nearly 7 million square kilometers, or 91 percent of Australia. The largest Greek population in the world besides Athens in Greece can be found in Melbourne, Victoria. No one cannot find most of Australia's exotic flora and fauna anywhere else in the world. The Indigenous 'Dream Time' is the foundation for tens of thousands of years of spiritual aboriginal art, traditions, legends, myths, folklore, and culture."
"Come on, Tails. Are we there yet," said Sonic, asking.
"Almost… We're almost to the Northern Territory of Australia," said Tails.
"Northern Territory? That's an unusual name," said Knuckles.
Then Amy says, "The Northern Territory covers nearly one-sixth of Australia's landmass – about one and a half million square kilometers. Picture the Melbourne Cup, but run on red dust, and probably with more beer and fewer feathers. Then swap the well-behaved thoroughbreds and carefully groomed stallions for about 20 ill-tempered, biting, kicking, and spitting camels. Victoria and New South Wales like to think they have a monopoly on upcoming music and large parties. Still, the annual Alice Desert Festival is easily equal to anything the so-called 'cool' states can dish up. Fifty thousand people converge on Alice in September each year, with dozens of upcoming local bands, dance groups, talented performers, and indigenous artists on display."
"What's our first stop," Cream, asking.
"Kakadu National Park," said Tails.
"Is that it, up ahead," said Tikal, sees the park.
"Terrific, Tikal. You found it," said Knuckles.
"I'm going to land. But it's going to be bumpy," said Tails.
As Team Sonic hikes through the Park, Amy says, "Kakadu is about half the size of Switzerland. The Aboriginal people lived here for more than 65 thousand years and are the oldest living culture. They have rock art that up to 20 thousand years old. There are 10 thousand crocs and 280 different types of birds living here. It was declared a national park in three stages, between 1979 and 1991."
"Amazing that cavemen art is here," said Tails.
"Crocs?! Snakes are my biggest fears, but crocs are my second," said Sonic.
"What about Vector? Is he scary," said Knuckles.
"He's my friend… I'm not scared of him."
"I'm guessing you have a fear of reptiles," said Tikal.
"Tails, the battery can be anywhere in this park," said Cream.
"It's at Jim Jim Falls. It's just up ahead," said Tails.
When Team Sonic finds the falls, they were impressed by the beauty of the falls that Amy takes pictures of. Then Tikal climbs on the rocks to get a 2ft battery in a 2ft plug on the biggest one. As she disables it, Zavok appeared as a shadow and was about to grab Tikal.
"Tikal! Watch out," said Knuckles, takes out a kitchen sink from his backpack.
He then throws the sink Zavok, and he falls into the water.
When Tikal goes back to her team with the battery and plug, she said, "did something happened?"
"Pathetic! Throwing a sink at me without facing me like a grown-up," said Zavok, who comes outstanding in the water.
"Wha-?! Who are you," said Amy.
"I'm Zavok…the leader of the Deadly Six."
"More like the Beatable Six. We took them out and sent them flying," said Sonic, laughs.
But then he sees a pack of crocs going into the water to attack Zavok. Then Sonic picks up his entire team and runs away from Jim Jim Falls.
"Maybe I made them ran off," said Zavok, confused until he noticed a pack of crocs in the water and began to fight them.
At Aurora Kakadu, it's 6:26 pm (USA time: 6:26 am).
Team Sonic was dining, and then Sonic says, "Man, am I glad we made it out. We could have been lunch to the crocs."
"Our next stop will be Yulara," said Tails.
"You're kidding me. The flight time will take 14 hours and 51 minutes," said Amy.
"That's why we're leaving to stay at Katherine."
"Ok. But I'm taking this food to go," said Knuckles.
It's 9:15 pm (USA time: 9:15 am) at The Stuart Hotel. The girls are already asleep in their room while the guys get ready to sleep.
"Can we just ride to Yulara," said Knuckles.
"Knux, it will take 18 hours and 11 minutes to get there," said Tails.
"And we'll have to make a few stops for lunch and dinner," said Sonic.
"Well, it's better than being in the sky for 14 hours without any stops," said Knuckles.
"I guess so," said Tails.
"Goodnight, Team," said Sonic.
"Night," said Tails.
"Have good dreams, guys," said Knuckles, turns off the lamp.
1:28 pm (USA time: 1:28 am) in Pamayu City, the jeep is getting gas while Team Sonic is having a picnic.
"You know, I wonder what happens to Zavok," said Knuckles.
Back at Jim Jim Falls, the crocs on the ground from being beaten up by Zavok.
"I will reach you, Team Sonic. And I will avenge my team," said Zavok, punches the last crocodile, and walks off to after Team Sonic.
5:41 pm (USA time: 5:41 am) in Ali Curung City, the jeep is getting filled as Team Sonic is in the jeep waiting to go.
"We're doing great, guys. We're only 9 hours and 44 minutes away from Yulara," said Tails.
"The tank is full," said Amy, takes closes the gas tank.
"Let's get going," said Cream, as Tails starts the engine.
8:13 pm (USA time: 8:13 am) in Anmatjere City, the jeep is again getting gas filled up as Team Sonic waits for it to be done.
"Come on! It's past dinner time, and I'm starving," said Knuckles.
"We must be patient, Knux. The hotel is 2 hours and 5 minutes away. We better get going. It's getting dark," said Tikal.
"All done. Let's find the hotel," said Tails, close the gas tank and start the engine.
10:18 pm (USA time: 10:18 am) at Mercure Alice Springs Resort, the guys are in their room; sleep while the girls and Cheese are eating in their bed.
"Man, we're so tired that we have to get room service to serve our dinner in our rooms," said Amy.
"Cheese is knocked out; cold," said Cream, looking at Cheese, sleeping.
"I'm stuff already. Good night, girls," said Tikal.
"Nighty-night," said Cream.
"Pleasant dreams, ladies," said Amy, turn off the lights.
1:25 pm (USA time: 1:25 am) at Yulara…at last!
The Team is still on the road, and Amy says while reading her guidebook, "Yulara is the service village for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and has effectively turned one of the world's least hospitable regions into a comfortable place to stay. Lying just outside the national park, 20km from Uluru and 53km from Kata Tjuta, the complex is the closest base for exploring the park. Ayers Rock (which we now call Uluru) was first declared a national park in 1950. In 1958, both Ayers Rock and Mount Olga (now Kata Tjuta) were excised from an Aboriginal reserve to form the Ayers Rock–Mt Olga National Park. People changed the park's name to Uluru and Kata Tjuta (Ayers Rock–Mt Olga) National Park in 1977. In 1985, after more than 35 years of campaigning, Anangu was recognized as the park's traditional owners and handed back the deeds to their homelands. The park was officially renamed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in 1993."
"Here we are at last. The battery has to be on the Uluru Rock; somewhere," said Tails, parks the jeep.
Then Team Sonic climbs to the top of Uluru Rock. They found a 2ft battery in a 2ft plug on the floor when they reached the top.
"This is simple than I thought," said Tails, disables the battery and plug.
Then Eggbots appear from the sky, and Team Sonic fights them off. Then Zavok shows up, but he falls off the Rock when Knuckles throws an Eggbot at him.
"Was that Zavok," said Cream, notice him falling.
"Yeah, but he dropped something. Great roses! It's a Chaos Emerald," said Amy, picks it up.
"We just need two more," said Tails.
1:29 pm (USA time: 1:29 am) at Outback Pioneer Hotel & Lodge, Team Sonic is swimming in the pool.
"Check out, girls! I got opal earrings," said Tikal, shows them to Amy and Cream.
"Oh! Pretty," said Cream, amazed.
"Where's our next stop," said Sonic.
"We're going to Kangaroo Island," said Tails.
"GAAAH! I love kangaroos," said Amy with joy.
"And the best part, it's only 4 hours and 22 minutes to get there by plane."
"Great. We won't have to get up so early in the morning," said Knuckles.