Chapter 7: A Sonic Adventure (Part One)

July 21st, 200X AD. Kingdom Valley, in the island kingdom of Soleanna.

Missiles filled the sky like hail. It was easy to tell where Sonic was from the vantage point of the multitude of missile turrets posted on the outside of Eggman's base. One needed only look slightly ahead of where the missiles were rapidly detonating against the hedgehog-free ground.

Dr. Eggman's latest fortress had been a reversal of the usual purpose. Normally, Eggman built his headquarters in secret locations, installing defences against the unlikely chance that Sonic would somehow track down his base in spite of it all. THIS base had been built as an invitation instead, with considerably more formidable defences put up with the certainty that Sonic would answer the call. In the middle of once-beautiful Kingdom Valley, the metal complex was a serious eye sore.

Beyond the missile zone lay a different peril. Sonic skidded to a halt as vulcan cannons sprang out of the ground and took immediate aim. Without a moment's hesitation, the hedgehog jumped straight up at the very last second, resulting in the two cannons on either side of him destroying each other instead of their target.

To add insult to injury, Sonic yawned theatrically in mid-air, before landing as a blue ball of blazing bombardment against the robotic cannons. Once the last one was reduced to scrap, Sonic chuckled to himself and continued his run towards the entrance to Eggman's base.

-

Dr. Pretorious didn't step out from behind the big pile of rocks until he was sure the blue airplane circling high above was too far away to spot him. Miles Prower was the only member of the heroic group of animaloids in this time period that Pretorious had actual respect and admiration for. He really didn't want to affect any of Prower's actions during this brief visit, in case he inadvertently change the fox's noble destiny.

Sonic and Eggman were far less important to him, so Dr. Pretorious made the sprint across the cleared path created moments before by Sonic with noticably less caution.

Ah, Soleanna. One of the most unimportant footnotes in recorded history. If not for the presence of Sonic, there'd be virtually no chance at all to cause damage to the timeline from this particular slice of geography, no matter when you were. Nothing important had EVER happened on the island. The only reason Pretorious was here now was due to what Eggman had stored here in his base. The villain from the future had reviewed Eggman's various documented hideouts and had eventually concluded that this specific point in time presented the best opportunity to infiltrate and snatch the prize without raising too much awareness.

As long as the obsessive Eggman kept his attention completely focused on the blue interloper, this was going to be a piece of cake.

-

The corridors leading from the entrance were now clouded with smoke from the explosions. Anyone who knew Sonic would know there was no chance whatsoever that he'd been caught by the blast. Any second, the blue blur would burst out of the smoke and lay waste to the robot guards.

See?

"Come on, Doc," Sonic said to the obvious cameras watching everything. "How about something challenging for a change?"

On cue, the floor disappeared underneath the hedgehog, sending him falling down into a vast pit lined with spikes. Sonic spun in the air, forced his momentum forward in spite of nothing to support him, and somehow managed to grab the edge of the floor that'd seemed way too far away him to reach. Sonic pulled himself up before the pit slammed shut on top of him.

"Huh. Looks like Eggman is really playing hardball this time," Sonic said to himself.

The hedgehog picked up the pace. The next obstacle was a hexagonal hallway lined with hidden laser-saws within the walls. Sonic the Hedgehog made his split-second reaction time count, as he ran, jumped, ducked, spun, and dashed through the death trap, no sweat.

Following not too far behind, Dr. Pretorious thought something unflattering as he pried open the maintenance hatch with his cane, and crawled through the narrow passage past all the deadly traps Eggman had set up for his arch-enemy. This way had to be intended for maintenance robots. Pretorious couldn't imagine the obese Dr. Eggman fitting in here.

"That all you've got, Eggman?" Sonic called out, while the unseen time traveller rolled his eyes.

Sonic the Hedgehog had arrived inside a large bay area where Eggman likely prepared his larger robot minions. Sure enough, a huge set of metal doors slid open to reveal a giant dinosaur-resembling red robot with Eggman himself sitting in the cockpit.

"Sonic! Prepare to meet your doom at the hands of my Egg Tyrannus!" Eggman shouted, shaking his fists in anger.

Sonic stroked a finger under his pointy nose. "Heh! Let's see what your new toy can do, Doc."

Shaking his head with an exhasperated expression, Pretorious slipped around the corner of the room and out the nearest door. Not unexpectedly, he ran into a pair of Eggpawns keeping guard. They were far less than a match for his pistol. Trying to ignore the loud commosion coming from the nearby battle arena, Pretorious started his search.

-

As soon as they'd arrived, Pia rudely pushed Silver away from her. Maybe he didn't really deserve to have her this mad at him, but the cat had no intention of forgiving him yet, especially considering...

"When is this?" Silver asked, looking around. Pia answered him in a cold voice, which he tried to ignore. "Let's just catch Pretorious quickly and get out of her."

"Oh no."

"Huh?"

"Forget it, mister. This time, I'm going after Dr. Pretorious and you're staying put right here."

Silver knew only one other person with a glare like that. Before all this was over, he really should ask Pia who her mother was. Now was definitely not the time. Though Silver still felt somewhat resentful towards the girl for the attitude she'd given him when he went back to help the populace of Marble Garden, he nevertheless felt the need to make amends somehow.

"Alright," he said. "I'll wait here and stay out of sight."

"Good," Pie responded with so much tension in her voice that it sounded like a threat.

-

In the next chapter:
- At least Silver intends to keep his promise. Alas, fate is a cruel mistress, or something.
- More classic Sonic the Hedgehog action.
- Dr. Pretorious continues to be vague like the professional lingo-athlete he is. Whatever that means.