Chapter 5 – Sharkinator's Last Stand

"Sir, the Master Emerald has made it to the Death Egg."

"Excellent, now we're only a step away to conquering the world!" laughed Eggman as he sat majestically on his throne. "Prepare to get the shipment of Chaos Emeralds delivered to the battle station!"

"Affirmative, sir," replied the Egg Pawn and he left the room to carry out the order.

"I suppose we'll also go ahead and roboticise Bowser, won't we, doctor?" asked Sharkinator.

"Yes, his time is now near," replied Eggman. "Soon those meddling fools will be in for a rude awakening when they find that their once loyal teammate now serves me! Get ready to give out the command!"

But then all of a sudden, the alarm started blaring, and Eggman jumped out of his chair to figure out what was going on. He pressed on the intercom which was flashing rapidly.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Sir, there's a breakout in the detention block!" the intercom reported. "The prisoner we have captured has escaped!"

"You mean Bowser? How could this be possible?"

"We don't know, but from what our intelligence tells us, a few intruders have managed to enter our laboratory and have destroyed all the surveillance cameras of the detention block."

"This could only mean one thing," said Eggman. "The hedgehog and his friends must be around here again."

"Allow me to take care of them, Eggman," said Sharkinator. "I'm all maintained and prepared for them now."

"Do whatever it takes to prevent them from leaving the base," ordered Eggman. "Crush them! Annihilate them! Disintegrate them! Destroy them! Failure is not an option, Sharkinator, so don't mess this up."

"I'm going to give them their dues," replied Sharkinator, readying his arsenal, and he made his way out of Eggman's chamber.

Eggman pondered deeply. "I also better get my army relocated to Brazil," he said to himself. "It's only a matter until Sonic and his friends total this laboratory, so it's time to get started with evacuation."

Creeping through the cargo bay, Sonic, Torden, Charonus and Axl checked the crates in the hopes of uncovering the Chaos Emeralds. They were sure that Draco, Lonnie and Tails have managed to free Bowser from his cell as they noticed the troop of Egg Pawns scurrying out of the room.

"Now it's completely safe for us to explore," said Sonic as he stood up. "Quickly now, we don't have as much time!"

"Let's hope we can find the Chaos Emeralds before the robots return," said Axl as he opened the crates.

"Euraka, guys!" cheered Torden. "I've found them!"

Sonic, Charonus and Axl looked at Torden as he broke the crate open, and inside were the seven Chaos Emeralds, all arranged neatly to form the shape of a gem. They were glowing brightly before the team.

"Way to go, Torden!" smiled Sonic. "Now let's get them out of this dump!"

"There are four of us," said Charonus. "So I guess what we could do is take two each, while one of us carries the last one."

"Good plan," replied Torden, and he proceeded to take the first two Chaos Emeralds. Axl and Charonus also took two, so Sonic was the only one to have the last emerald. With all the Chaos Emeralds in their possession, the team raced out of the cargo bay to meet with Draco and his team.

Inside the air ducts, Draco, Bowser, Tails and Lonnie hurried through, keeping an eye out for any vent leading to the laboratory exit. Fortunately for the team, Tails had a watch that featured a map, so they were able to navigate the air ducts much easily than before.

"You should have come along with us when we were attempting to get the Chaos Emeralds back then," said Draco.

"I know," replied Tails. "It just didn't occur to me that I would have been of much help."

"Try not to talk as much," said Lonnie. "We need to get out of this place without getting spotted by Eggman and his robots."

"I agree with you, Lonnie," said Bowser. "This place is very dangerous, so we must take great care if we are to escape unscathed."

Soon, the team arrived at a remote air vent. Tails checked his map and to his delight, they were just not far from the exit. He then proceeded to take out his safety goggles from his backpack and then a welding machine.

"Stand back, guys," he warned. "I'm going to open this vent. It should take a minute."

"Go ahead and do the honours, Tails," said Draco.

So while everyone turned around to avoid getting blinded by the process, Tails put on his safety goggles and activated his welding machine. He then directed the head around the vent, loosening it up from the heat. When he finished, Tails cautiously removed the vent from the opening and placed it aside and nodded to his teammates that they could jump out. Draco, Bowser and Lonnie climbed down and landed on the main room, while Tails waited until they were all out so he could join them as well.

"Phew!" remarked Draco. "We made it!"

"The exit is right ahead!" exclaimed Tails. "Come on, everyone!"

The team dashed for the opened doors to the snowy exterior. It seemed as if the ordeal was finally over, but just then Sharkinator swooped into the room and stood right in front of them.

"Well, well, thought you could leave that easily, don't you?" the robot shark sneered as a legion of Egg Pawns and Egg Knights appeared and stood from his sides.

"Uh-oh," gulped Draco. "This is really bad."

"I don't know how you miserable miscreants were able to enter the laboratory undetected, but Eggman has given me orders to finish you off," said Sharkinator. "Prepare to be terminated!"

"We'll have to fend them off, I'm afraid," said Bowser.

"But how?" asked Lonnie. "Those robots have outnumbered us a hundred to one!"

"Keep calm," said Tails, feeling somewhat nervous. "Sonic and his team are bound to show up any minute now."

"Robots, attack them!" ordered Sharkinator.

The Egg Pawns and Egg Knights readied their weapons and charged straight for Draco, Bowser, Lonnie and Tails, but just at the last moment, a blue blur zoomed into the room, knocking out the robots.

"Am I late for the party?" asked Sonic as he watched the robots collapsed to the floor.

"Sonic!" exclaimed the team. "Thank goodness you have arrived!"

"Yes, we're here and all in one piece," replied Torden as he arrived with Charonus and Axl. "We also have the Chaos Emeralds with us!"

"Awesome to hear," said Tails. "But this isn't the time for celebrating. We've got company, and those robots need to be taken down fast."

"So, we meet again, Sonic," said Sharkinator. "You may have bested me back then, but now Eggman's got me all tuned up ready to fight you again. Think you can handle the new and improved Robot Master Sharkinator?"

"Together we are much stronger!" declared Sonic. "We may not be much, but we still have courage and determination, or at least most of us."

"I will teach you to meddle in Eggman's affairs," said Sharkinator. "Get them, robots!"

The Egg Pawns and Egg Knights regained themselves and advanced on the now reunited team.

"You got your arms ready?" asked Sonic.

"We sure do!" replied Torden, Axl, Lonnie and Charonus as they cocked their laser blasters.

"Fire away!" shouted Sonic.

There was a sudden barrage of laser blasts coming from the left and right. The team fought bravely against the army of robots, with Bowser even joining in as he delivered rounds of his Fire Breath attack. At last all the robots were taken down, and Sharkinator was the last one remaining.

"Darn!" growled the Robot Master. "You've brought down the entire squadron!"

"And you'll be joining them!" declared Sonic. "I say you better call it quits and leave!"

"My dear friends," said Sharkinator. "You obviously have no idea what you truly are getting yourselves into. I have yet to show you the full extent of my power. Power which I doubt you would be able to handle due to how radical it is."

"You're full of it!" scoffed Torden. "I doubt you are that powerful, and there's no way you can scare us!"

"Some non-believer you are," replied Sharkinator. "For that, I shall make you eat your own words once I reveal my true powers! Alright, here I come!"

In an instant, razor sharp spikes protruded from Sharkinator's back, multiple laser blasters appeared out of his arms, and a pair of rocket cannons emerged, each one mounted on the robot's shoulders. At this point, Sharkinator has grown slightly larger in size, and he towered over the group who were now feeling very uneasy, including Sonic and Torden.

"Whoa! He's huge!" exclaimed Draco.

"I guess I'm going to take back everything I just said," gulped Torden, trembling with fear.

"How would you like to play a game of Missile Dance?" gloated Sharkinator, and he started to launch a round of rockets, sending the team running for their lives. They tried to fight back with their blasters and fire breath attacks, but it was no good as the robot stood strong as if they were nothing.

"Damn it!" pouted Axl. "There's nothing else we can do to stop him now!"

"Right you are," said Sharkinator. "Face it, you pathetic worms, it's all over now!"

"Not when we are here to help!" called a voice from behind.

Author's Note: Bowser is rescued and the Chaos Emeralds are recovered! Only one more chapter, and we're in for yet another intense finish!