Chapter 13: Abduction

Sonic stepped in front of everyone as the robot landed in front of them. It fired its laser gun again, but Alex's field blocked it. The robot fired repeatedly, and each hit was deflected by the auroral shield.

However, as the onslaught continued, Alex staggered and dropped to one knee, and her force field began to flicker.

"Alex!" said Sonic, concerned.

"I'm fine!" Alex gritted. "But those lasers are strong. I can't keep this shield up much longer!"

"Okay," replied Sonic. "Here's the plan. Alex, lower the shield and I'll attack the robot. I can distract him long enough for you all to get away."

Amy grabbed Sonic's hand. "But Sonic—!"

"Trust me, Amy," Sonic interjected. "I got this."

What Sonic didn't notice was Alex's wince, and not from the laser attacks. She looked at the Mobians around her, then at the robot, then at her hip bag. Taking a deep breath, she tightened her grip on her sword, and stood up. Using her free hand, she undid the clasp on her bag and took it off. When Sonic turned around, she shoved it into his hands.

"Hey, what are you—?"

"Take your friends and run!" Alex ordered. "I'll buy you some time! Keep the Chaos Emeralds safe!"

"Alex, wait—!"

Before Sonic could stop her, Alex transformed her shield into streams of light, and shot them at the robot. The robot raised its arms to defend itself, forcing it to stop shooting. Alex then sprinted away from the group in a streak of green and stopped behind robot.

"Hey, bolt brain!" she shouted. "You want me, come and get me!"

As soon as the robot turned towards her, Alex dashed towards the open ocean, and it immediately followed.

"Alex!" Sonic shouted, but she and the robot were gone.

"Sonic, we have to help her!" said Amy, worried.

"I know," he said, handing Amy the bag. "I'll go."

"But Mr. Sonic, you can't swim!" Cream protested fearfully.

Sonic grinned, pointing to his shoes. "Won't need to, Cream. Alex already fixed that."

"But Sonic, I have to tell you—!" Amy started.

"I'm sorry, Ames," Sonic interjected. "But it'll have to wait. Meet me at Tails' workshop. Make sure he gets the Emeralds. We'll talk there, I promise."

Amy scowled at Sonic's interruption, but quickly relented.

"Just be careful, okay," she said sharply. "I'm holding you to that promise."

Sonic gave a quick nod before sprinting towards the ocean. Amy watched until he was out of sight before turning back to Cream and Vanilla.

"You heard Sonic," she said, strapping Alex's bag around her waist. "You two go back to the city and keep an eye on things."

"What about you, Amy?" Cream asked. "What will you do?"

"I'm going to Tails' workshop," the Hedgehog stated.

"But how?" Vanilla asked. "With the city on lockdown, the trains won't be working either."

"I'll take a boat. There's a fisherman nearby Tails and I did a favor for. I can hitch a ride from him."

Vanilla nodded. "Alright, but only if you're sure, Amy."

"And if you need us, please let us know," Cream added earnestly.

Amy smiled at her Rabbit friend. "I know I can count on you, Cream. Best of luck!"

With a wave, Amy headed off in one direction, while Cream and Vanilla hurried back to the city.

On the ocean…

When she was far enough from shore, Alex spun around to face her pursuer. She took her stance and glared as it approached her.

After hearing about those girls being kidnapped by Eggman's robots, and seeing one of them attack Sonic and the others, Alex felt a heavy guilt. She was the one Eggman wanted, and innocent people were getting caught in the crossfire because of her.

"I won't let anyone else get hurt," she said to herself. "I'm the one this thing wants, so I'll fight him myself."

The robot stopped a few feet away and pointed its gun at her. Alex narrowed her eyes, focusing on his movements.

"Surrender, Mystic," it said in a flat tone. "You cannot win."

"We'll see about that," Alex snarled.

The robot raised his gun and shot at Alex, and she leapt high into the air, back-flipping as she did. As soon as her feet touched water, she raced in a circle around the robot, becoming a teal streak, and creating a whirlpool beneath the machine. Her running quickly turned to surfing, the light from under her shoes keeping her afloat, and she rode the waves of the spiral. The robot tried to shoot her, but she was too swift.

Once she was at top speed, Alex sprung her attack. She struck the robot's gun, slicing it clean in half. The bottom dropped into the water and became swept up in the current.

With her enemy's weapon destroyed, Alex took the advantage. Aiming for the robot's arms and legs, she rushed in and out, slashing the joints with precision and speed. Piece by piece, they fell from the robot and into the water.

It was working! She had gotten rid of its limbs! Just one strike to the center! That would do it!

She went back into her circle and prepared for that last attack.

However, just as she was about to make her move, something lashed out and seized her arm!

Alex let out a painful scream as she was pulled back, feeling as if her arm was going to be ripped form its socket, and was thrown off her feet. A rope that looked like it was made of light came from a hidden compartment in the top of the robot's gun, and wrapped around her arm. The robot swung his arm up, and Alex was thrown up into the air.

Seeing her sword hand free, Alex moved to slash the rope in two, but another one seized her wrist.

She stared in shock.

The other arm she cut off from the robot had risen back up from the water and reattached itself!

Soon, the rest of the broken pieces were reemerging and joining back together with the robot, each of them radiating a faint, white glow!

Alex froze.

She knew that glow!

Restoration!

But how?!

Suddenly, before Alex knew what was happening, the robot whipped the ropes, sending her straight down towards the water.

She hit the surface with a terrible force, paralyzing her limbs and shattering her senses. Her sword disappeared, becoming a ring again, and her whole world disappeared into a watery darkness.

Sonic arrived in time to see Alex slammed into the water. Her body went limp and began to sink. The robot quickly seized her around the waist before she went under and shot up into the sky.

"LET HER GO!" shouted Sonic.

With one last sprint, he jumped towards the robot, his speed giving him lift. The robot turned around and fired a laser at the Hedgehog. He moved at the last second, the beam grazing his arm, and let out a sharp cry.

Off balance, he fell back towards the ocean. The jewels on his shoes shone as he hit the surface. The water splashed up around him, but Sonic stayed above it, like he was on an invisible platform. But he didn't time to marvel at that.

He gripped his arm and looked up. The robot was now too far and too high for him to reach it. He could see Alex unconscious form swaying under the robot's arm like a ragdoll.

Sonic gritted his teeth and stood up, clenching his fists. Seeing her taken filled him with anger and regret. He promised to keep her safe, and she was captured.

He failed her.

Sonic then shook his head. Now was not the time to feel sorry for himself. The best thing he could do for her now was to get to Mystic Ruins and help Tails get the plane ready.

Without a second thought, he raced across the ocean.

He couldn't protect Alex, but he could still save her. He knew where she was being taken, and he knew that Eggman needed her alive. He just to get to her before anything happened to her.

"I'm coming, Alex," he said. "Just hang on until I get there."

Back at Emerald Coast…

Amy ran down the dock towards a white fishing boat with the name "The Pearl". A Mobian Sea Otter in a blue vest jumped off the boat with some thick rope in hand, and prepared to tie to a cleat.

"Captain Brine!" Amy called out.

The Otter perked up at the sound of his name and turned to the pink Hedgehog.

"Ms. Rose?" he said with a thick accent. "What are ya' doing here? I heard the city's on lockdown."

"Captain, I need your help," Amy replied. "I need to get to Mystic Ruins immediately. It's an emergency."

"Sorry, lass," Brine said. "But with all the chaos going on, the harbormaster ordered us to moor our boats until further notice."

"Please," Amy pleaded. "Can you ask him to make an exception? I know it's a lot to ask, but this is important. I have to get something to Tails, and the ocean is the quickest way. He's going after Eggman, but he needs a stronger plane to do so. I have what he needs, and I promised Sonic I'd meet up with him at Tails' workshop. There's something he needs to know."

"Tails, ya' say?" said Brine, now considering the request. "I do owe ya' and the lad for rescuing me in that squall and repairing my boat. I can't make any promises, but I'll talk to the harbormaster. See if we can work somethin' out."

"I'll come with you," said Amy. "And thank you, Captain."