Notes: It's time I got caught up

Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Ch. 7: Deep into enemy territory

Sonic and Tails had come to an impressive oil rig. Unfortunately, it looked to be in disrepair.

"Was this place always here, Tails?"

"Pretty sure, Sonic, and I'll tell one thing I know for a fact. They never let it get so bad that the oil leaked out into the ocean,"

True enough, all the water surrounding the rig was covered with oil.

"This has to be Eggman's doing. Only he could be careless enough to create an Oil Ocean."

"It also looks he redesigned everything."

"Not to mention deploying his Badniks."

There was a pink octopus Badnik called Octus hovering around and firing missiles. There was also a blue seahorse Badnik called Aquis flying around erratically. Swarms of the two Badniks were heading in the heroes direction.

"Here comes the welcome wagon. Let's thank them, Tails."

"Right, Sonic."

The mechs began firing, raining down blasts at the duo. Sonic and Tails dodged the shots over and over again.

"All these shots are making it hard to hit them."

"I have an idea, Tails."

"Does it involve smashing them?"

"You're learning. Now let's go!"

Sonic and Tails charged towards the Badniks.

Ten seconds later…

Remains of the Badniks were scattered around the duo.

"Sonic, that was an epic brawl. If this were a movie, it would've looked even more impressive."

"But if this was a TV show, buddy, it'd probably cut away from the fight and only show to aftermath in order to save money."

"That sounds really cheap."

"That's just how it is. Now let's keep moving."

"Sonic, watch out for that…"

A platform launched Sonic into the air.

"…never mind."

"I really need to watch where I step!"

Sonic landed somewhere dark.

"Now where am I? Hey, wait, is this a…?

*Boom*

Sonic screamed as the cannon shot him out, only to have it done by yet another cannon.

"Sonic always has all the fun," Tails said, half-jokingly.

Sonic ended up landing in the oil.

"Sonic, are you okay?"

"Well, the oil broke my fall…so, no. Help me out before I sink."

"We better get you a hose."

"Yeah, sure. I wonder when Eggman's gonna show up?"

"Did someone mention my name?"

They looked around.

"Where did that voice come from?"

"It could only be one place, pal. Under his Oil Ocean."

Sure enough, a small submarine emerged from under the oil.

"You're getting closer to my base, Sonic, but do you think you'll survive?"

"I know I will. Bring it on!"

"Then try and dodge this!"

The sub sank beneath the oil. Suddenly, a long robot arm with a spike on the front launched out of the oil towards the heroes.

"Didn't see that coming," Sonic said as they dodged the attack.

Then another robot arm emerged, this one armed with a laser, and fired a few shots.

"The nerve of Eggman. It's almost like he's avoiding us."

Just then, the sub surfaced.

"Fun time, little buddy."

Sonic and Tails immediately began to wail on the submarine.

"I'm getting sick of this double team business, Sonic."

"Well, you better get used to it, Eggman."

"My sub is taking too much damage. You win this round, Hedgehog!"

The sub sank back beneath the oil and didn't come back up.

"Well, that's that."

"I only hope they can get this place cleaned up later," Tail said, looking over the oil rig.

"Don't worry, buddy. I'm sure they can. Now let's keep moving. I have a feeling Eggman's base is just up ahead."

As they traveled inland, the sky grew dark. A city lay just ahead of them.

"Finally, some civilization."

"I'm not so sure, Sonic."

As the thunder and lightning loomed overhead, the duo walked into the city…it was abandoned.

"Oh you have got to be kidding me!" Sonic shouted, as he sat down to grumble to himself.

"This place is in ruins." Tails said, "What happened here?"

"That's an excellent question, fox boy!"

Sonic leapt back up and said, "Eggman! Where is he?"

"This is my territory now, Sonic. I have cameras and speakers everywhere. Welcome to Genocide City!"

"Genocide?! What did you do, Eggman?"

"What do you mean? Oh, right, the name…I actually just thought it sounded cool. This city is old, and it's been abandoned for some time. Why else would I have fired on it? I have standards, you know."

"Whatever. This place is so gloomy. Let's get out of here, Tails."

"Yes, go right ahead and leave, Sonic. Out of the frying pan and into the fire."

The duo quickly left the dilapidated city.

"What do you think he meant by that, Sonic?"

"It could only mean one thing: we've made it to his base."

Sure enough, there was a massive fortress just ahead. Once they stepped inside, they saw it was an enormous factory.

"Welcome to my newest evil lair: Metropolis!"

"Looks like you're stepping up your game, Eggman."

"You don't know the half of it, Sonic. Just try and get through my factory. I'll be watching to see how long it takes you two to die horribly. I just need some popcorn…"

"Never mind him, buddy. It can't be that bad."

Out of nowhere, a pair of blades flew through the air at Sonic.

"Oh geez!

Sonic barely managed to duck. They watched the blades circle through the air and return to a praying mantis Badnik called Slicer.

"Take a swipe at me, will you?"

The Slicer sent its blades flying at Sonic again. Sonic spin-dashed into the body and disposed of the Badnik.

"That was close, Sonic. You know, if we head higher we can get a better view…of what exactly, I'm not sure."

"Right, Tails. Hey, look at this; a giant nut on a screw."

"I suggest spinning it. I should take us to another path."

Sonic hopped on the nut and started running. The nut spun up the screw towards the top of a platform. Just as Sonic stepped off, something came shooting at him. He barely avoided it.

"That was a cheap shot."

It was a fiddler crab Badnik called Shellcracker. Its right claw was much bigger than its left. It extended the arm with the larger pincer to attack again.

"This guy might be worse than the Slicer."

"Careful, Sonic, or something worse might appear."

"Duly noted, buddy," Sonic replied, as he smashed the Shellcracker.

"Sonic, this piston should get us up further."

"That was a creative thought, Tails."

They stood atop the piston, and it shot them high up onto a conveyor belt.

"This place is too crazy for my tastes…figures Eggman would build it this way."

They jumped from the conveyor belt to a giant rotating gear. Then they platform hopped over some lava.

"Strange place for lava, Isn't it, Sonic?"

"Not too surprising considering who we're dealing with."

As they worked their way past some steam pipes, a trio of starfish Badniks began hovering around them. As they kept going, three more arrived. They were yellow in color, with a single red eye in the center of their body.

"Still alive, Sonic? How annoying!"

"What's annoying is your commentary, Eggman."

"Say hello to my next Badnik: Asteron. You thought Slicer and Shellcracker were bad? Well…"

The Asteron began to spin around.

"Time to go, Tails."

Sonic grabbed Tail's arm and ran. At that moment, the Asteron exploded, sending their five star points shooting like spears.

"Sonic," Tails said, "I think this is gonna hurt."

Sonic grabbed Tails and maneuvered him in front. But then, there was a golden flash.

"What in the world…!?"

Super Sonic was back. The spikes did nothing.

"Is this the power of the Chaos Emeralds?" Robotnik muttered to himself.

"Alright, Sonic!" Tails cheered.

"Let's get out of here, pal. Hang on tight."

Sonic practically flew past all the dangerous machinery, until they came to a safe spot. Sonic went back to normal.

"That was amazing, Sonic…well, again."

"I was getting sick of this place."

"That's too bad, Hedgehog, because you're not out of the woods yet. You should have stayed in your super mode."

The Eggmobile was surrounded by seven small spheres, circling it like a shield.

"Try and hit me now, Sonic."

"Okay."

*Smash*

"I don't need to be super to kick your butt, Eggman."

"Lucky shot!"

Just then, one of the spheres broke off and popped open. Out came a small copy of the doctor and his Eggmobile.

"Just what we need: more than one Eggman."

"It's just a balloon, Sonic. No need to panic…or is there?"

*Pop*

"No, there isn't," Sonic replied, having popped the decoy.

"Just you try that again, Hedgehog!"

*Bash*

"Why doesn't this barrier help any?"

"Maybe if you didn't deploy those clone things…"

"Nix that, Tails," Sonic muttered, "Not that he'll listen."

"Nonsense, my strategy is brilliant!"

"Told you so."

"Maybe it was rhetorical?" Tails asked.

Each time Sonic hit the mobile, a copy was deployed, until all seven spheres were gone.

"No more shield, Eggman."

"Shield this, Sonic!"

He lowered the mobile and fired off a laser.

"Okay, I shoulda seen that coming."

While Sonic distracted the doctor, Tails gave the mobile the last hit.

"No, no, no!"

The Eggmobile began smoking, so the doctor pressed a button. From out of nowhere came a brand new Eggmobile. Robotnik quickly hopped into the new one.

"I always keep spares."

"At least he's thinking ahead," Tails said.

Sonic gave Tails a look that said 'really?'.

"Sorry," Tails replied, with a sheepish grin.

Robotnik, meanwhile, was making his escape.

"Much as I'll miss it, I don't need Metropolis anymore. My ship is waiting for me."

"What? After him, Tails."

The duo gave chase until they were all outside. Suddenly, the sky grew dark.

"The doctor has been very busy, Sonic."

It was an enormous flying fortress.

"Behold, Sonic, my Wing Fortress. From this, my plans can continue. Good luck trying to get on board though. Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!"

With that, he took off and disappeared onto his fortress.

"He thinks he's so smart. Tails?"

"I know. If only we were close to the Tornado."

"We're about to be. Just hang on."

"Wait, are going super again?"

*FLASH*

Tails couldn't help but scream as Super Sonic sped around to the other side of the island. Once they reached the Tornado, Tails collapsed.

"Tails, snap out of it. We're here," Sonic said, gently slapping Tails' face.

"That felt faster than usual."

"Well we are in a hurry. Get the Tornado ready. You can do it."

"You're right. We have to move now. Give me a minute."

Tails prepped the Tornado for launch.

"Ready when you are, Sonic."

"Then let's take off. Eggman and his fortress are going down."