Final Rush

His brown eyes were closed shut. In his, now robotic mind, he saw only images of his daughter. The brown furred rabbit would be heartbroken when she saw him like this. Not to mention his wife. It was a thought he didn't want in his head, but one that remained nonetheless. He couldn't feel anything, not a touch, not a taste, not a smell, only hearing and sight. Sure, his body was at a level of superiority beyond anyone elses, but that meant little to him. So what, he could do things better than any other mobian? If he couldn't feel or taste or smell, living wasn't worth it. He'd never be able to feel the warmth of his family again, or be able to properly enjoy a hug, or a kiss, or anything, for that matter. And why? All because of Maria. She made him take this form, just so he could deal with her. And then, she took away the only person who knew the cure for roboticization, Samantha. If he ever wanted to return to a normal life, it was all wiped away thanks to that singular action.

Funny, it seemed as if, only a month ago, he was telling his superiors how keeping Maria was a bad decision. He swore up and down the halls of the bases of Maria's eventually treachery, but no one listened to him. And now look at them, with egg on their faces. The blonde agent was now in control of a floating laser aimed down upon the Earth. She could hold the entire planet ransom if she wanted too, and there would be nothing anyone could do to stop her. If she wanted to wipe out a place like Green Hill Zone, or hell, all of South Island, she could do it. Not to mention the fact that she was in cahoots with her insane dictator cousin, the very same one that hated mobians with a passion. He hated the position he was placed in, he hated all of it. He would change it, however.

His robotic eyes opened. The now mechanical bunny gazed down to the photo in his hand. It was one of a certain rabbit girl. Vanilla was written on it. If he could, he would be smiling at the sight of his daughter. She gave him hope, that all of this would end happily. End with Maria's capture, Ivo's capture, Samantha's return, and finally, the destruction of Space Colony Ark. Then he heard a tapping on his shoulder. Slowly, he turned, seeing the sight of one of his space suit clad soldiers.

"C-C-C-Captain C-C-C-Coffee..." he stuttered.

"What is it soldier?" the robotic hare inquired.

"The Eclipse Cannon... I-I-Its... Charging..."

Since his face was now cold, and held only one singular visage, the rabbit showed no emotion as he turned his head away. Gazing out the windshield before him, he saw it. Ark's familiar face, of a certain professor, began shinning. Coffee focused his eyesight one the nose in the middle. The triangular metal pieces that made the nose started to part and separate. If one focused hard enough, they'd notice a peculiar construct appear within the nose. A moment later, it began surging with green energy. One that formed an orb. And that orb was growing bigger.

The Eclipse Cannon was operational. And it was aiming directly at them.

"C-C-Captain?" that same soldier called, "Wh-Wh-What do we d-d-d-do?"

He had every right to be scared. The Eclipse Cannon, the most powerful weapon in the known galaxy, was charging, and it was aiming directly at them. And there was little they could do. Staring up at the oncoming surge of death, they couldn't move or anything. And worst of, Coffee had absolutely no idea what to do.

…

Cannon Countdown: Twenty-three minutes, 56 seconds.

Maria walked down the halls silently. She said nor did anything, as she strolled calmly beside the window. Gazing to her right, she peered out the glass porthole to the vastness of space. The G.U.N. rockets were still making their way slowly over. It would be all for not, however. With the Eclipse Cannon charging, they would have no way of reaching the space colony in time.

But that mattered little to Maria now. All she cared about, was the treachery being given to her. As she traveled down the halls, she saw many discarded bodies of dead G.U.N. soldiers, surely stricken down by Ivo and his Badniks. He made good on his promise of holding them off as the cannon charged up, but she didn't care. He was going to regret lying to her. Dearly.

She turned a corner. Standing there, his red eyes peering out the window, blood staining his already red body, was Gamma. What a peculiar robot. The only one who seemed to exhibit emotions, it appeared. Well, all of the E-100s show emotions, but his were the only ones that weren't violent or evil. She walked up to Gamma, and his head spun around to meet her. After a while, however, he gazed back out the window, toward space and the Earth.

"Return to the Silver Fish, Gamma..." Maria suddenly ordered, while tapping him on the back, "Your mission's over..."

He looked at her shortly after, before giving a nod. Then his feet started walking once again, heading in the direction of Ivo and the rest of the E-100s. Maria followed shortly after.

…

Ivo scanned the G.U.N. robot before him. While the mainframe was amazing, especially given the time, the robot was just too old for his tastes. Granted, the robot he scanned now was the same ones used to guard the Ark twelve years ago. Honestly, the doctor wasn't sure if G.U.N. improved over the years or not. Dropping the arm he held, he shifted his attention back to his Egg Walker's command console. It was filled with crumbs of pork rinds, unfortunately. He grinned as he dusted the crumbs off, only to turn his attention back to the bag he held. Digging his hand into it, he pulled up a clump of the greasy substance, and began shoving them in his mouth.

"Really, Eggman!" Orbot said, flying up, "Your eating habits are horrendous!"

"I made you to be helpful!" Ivo yelled, grabbing the spherical robot, "Not to comment on my eating habits!"

"Such baboonism as well!" Orbot commented, flying away, "You know, you can learn a thing or two from Madame Maria! Unlike you, she actually works out a bit. If you continue down this path, you'll be fat within the coming years!"

"Why you little!"

The doctor lunged out of his seat in an attempt at grabbing the white and black machine, only for Orbot to fly out-of-the-way, making the action pointless. As he leaned back in his seat and groaned, the door to the docking bay opened. Stepping in was Gamma, which confused Ivo. It was only until Maria walked in after the robot, that the doctor knew what was going. Well partly.

Scanning Maria's face, he saw this cold visage gazing back. It made his heart freeze, for he knew something bad was going to happen. Specifically, something bad to his nose.

"G-G-Gamma?" the doctor stuttered, gazing away from his cousin, "Why have you come back?"

"Maria said the mission is over," Gamma commented, "So, the mission is over..."

Ivo swallowed his spit, as he shifted his gaze back to Maria. She was getting closer, and her fist was growing tighter. The sight of it sent chills down the doctor's spine. As he peered into her blue eyes, he saw a storm brewing within. And that only showed him one thing. She knew.

"Madame Maria!" Orbot yelled, flying forward, "You have returned!"

She gave no answer, as she peered into his eyes. Somehow, that one singular stare quieted down the robot. His hand reached forward, and brushed blonde haired from her blue eyes. If he could make facial features, he would probably be concerned.

"Madame Maria?" he whispered.

His blue eyes suddenly turned green, as peculiar sound escaped him. She had been around Orbot long enough to know one thing. He was scanning her. Then it stopped.

"Madame Maria? Are you okay? Your bio features are..." he grew frail, if that was possible for a robot, "Daunting, to say the least..."

"Just move, Jeeves..." she commanded, "I have to talk to Ivo..."

The Doctor froze up in his chair, as he mentally watched all of his carefully laid plans fall around. Maria eventually nudged Orbot out-of-the-way, and started walking toward her cousin. The sight of it made him think about the biggest flaw in his plan. Thinking Maria was stupid. She was a Robotnik, after all, meaning she held genius intellect as well. Of course she'd figure out his plan of using her to commandeer the Ark, it was too blatant to miss. And now he was going to pay for it.

"What's wrong Ivo..." Maria said, though it was more a statement than a question, "You don't look too well..."

"Maria, aren't you supposed to be at the Eclipse Cannon?" he instead asked, trying to change the subject.

"I was there, but I left, obviously..."

She now stood before him, and act he failed to notice. He could hear his heart beat even through his chest, and it terrified him. Then she reached forward, and grabbed a hold of his collar. Ivo gasped out in fear, and so did Orbot. Before the doctor knew it, he was in the air like a doll. He gazed down toward Maria's face, seeing a visage of pure malice stare back. Then, using her superior strength, she slammed him down into the floor, causing a loud 'BANG!' noise to echo out. The doctor groaned in pain, but he grew quiet real quick when Maria's pistol muzzle slid its way to his heart. He stared at the silver weapon, which only made his eyes stroll up to his beloved cousin. Her eyebrows were bent inward, as her blue eyes were now stormy seas. It made him swallow his spit, and think carefully on his next words.

"Maria..." he whispered.

"WHY!? IVO!?" she yelled, "Dammit! I trusted you! And this is how you repay me!?"

"I mean nothing by it!" he stated, "I was even going to give you a piece of the Eggman Empire!"

He heard her pistol make a clicking noise, which quieted him down quickly. Obviously, she didn't enjoy his words.

"That damned Eggman Empire!" she yelled, "You'd do anything for it, wouldn't you!? Even use me, your only living family! Was this the plan the whole time, huh? Were you always planning to just use me? What was I, Ivo? Just another asset in your doomed idea of a world ruled by you?"

She grew quiet, and her eyes closed. Ivo let out a gasp for breath, as his heart rate increased exponentially. He was sure that, at the rate this was going, she'd kill him by way of a heart attack, let alone a gun shot. Maria's grip suddenly tightened on him, however, and her eyes reopened. Not to mention the fact that her gun pressed even harder against him.

"I thought I could trust you, Ivo," she whispered, and so callously as well, "All those years I looked the other way while you escaped, or let you get away with something stupid. I helped you even when I worked at G.U.N. But the one moment I need your help, you can't help but to use me even more than before. G.U.N. used me, you used me... Everyone just uses me, and I'm sick of it..."

Then she stood up tall, releasing her hold on Ivo, and allowing his fear to fade away. As she stood up tall, she reached her hand forward. He grabbed it, and she violently yanked him up onto his feet. Honestly, he was sure this would be the point in time in which she shot him. That's what he would have done. But she didn't. She instead gave him a stern and hard look, while her head shook in a disapproving motion.

"Leave, Ivo..." she suddenly ordered, "And never returned. If I learned you ever stepped foot on Ark again, I will kill you myself, do you understand?"

He remained silent, making her grab him by his collar. That action made him growl.

"Oh please Maria!" he yelled, "You and I both know that I'll return the next chance I get..." then he smiled, "But because we're cousins, and I love you so much. I'll give you this win today..."

She smiled too.

"That's all I ask..."

"But riddle me this, Maria. What are you planning on doing? I assume you aren't coming with."

"I have... business to attend too, Ivo..." she turned around, and faced the door, "Now get moving..."

She started walking off for the door, but stopped right as she reached it.

"I'm keeping the Emeralds as well..." she heard him growl, something that made her chuckle, "Sorry Ivo, but they're just to powerful to be in your hands... Oh, and one more thing..."

Suddenly, she turned around, gun drawn, and pulled the trigger. The loud noise of a bullet being fired echoed out, as Maria's attack struck Ivo square in his shoulder. He fell almost immediately, raving in pain as well. His jacket was slowly dyed a crimson red, as he squirmed on the floor in pain. And Maria just stared at him in pure indifference.

"Don't ever use me again, Ivo. I'm not in the mood for your foolishness..."

The door suddenly opened, and Maria began walking. She stared out the window to her left, seeing the G.U.N. rockets continue their space trek. Some of them had begun turning, obviously because of the impending doom of the Eclipse Cannon. It was fruitless though. They'd never escape the blast in time. They were as good as dead.

Cannon Countdown: 17 minutes, 45 seconds.

"MADAME MARIA!"

She turned around, seeing a black and white robot flying toward her.

"Jeeves..." she whispered.

He was her only friend, it seemed. The only one who hadn't lied to her about anything, and actually seemed to be trying to help her. He actually cared for it. She wasn't sure if it were his programing, or his actually fruition, but she didn't care. He was her friend.

"Madame Maria... Where are you going?"

And she had to let him go.

"I'm finishing things, Jeeves." she answered.

"Well, I'm coming with you then!" he stated whilst swiping his finger through the air.

"No, you're not, Jeeves..."

To be honest, saying those words were a more painful than she originally thought.

"Wh... why Madame Maria?" he asked with a crestfallen demeanor.

"Listen, Jeeves..." she laid her hand upon his back, "As much as it hurts me to say this... We have to separate here, okay? Over the years, you've been a good friend, one of the best but... I have to end this, and alone..."

"But Madame Maria! I won't do anything to get in your way!"

She chuckled.

"I know you won't but... I have a very important mission for you, okay?" she brought him closer, "Stay with Ivo. He's my only family and... he's an idiot. He might end up dead one of these days, and I just can't have that so... Stay with him, okay? Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid, and I promise I'll see you again..."

Her words brought him back to his usual cheeriness.

"You will, Madame Maria?"

"Yes Jeeves," she then pointed off, "Now go! Ivo needs treatment for that bullet wound I gave him."

"Yes Madame Maria!" he then started flying off, but he stopped suddenly, turned around, and faced her, "And... Good luck, Madame Maria..."

She merely waved goodbye. Her eyes watched him as he disappeared through the door, and returned to her cousin. That just left her now, alone. She closed her eyes, and breathed in deeply. Years of working was finally going to come to an explosive ending.

One of the devices on her person suddenly started beeping. Reaching into her blue vest, she brought out the PDA like device she owned. It showed the map of the entire Ark, but there was something odd going on. Someone was tampering with the Eclipse Cannon's control. She squinted at the sight, thinking it was some random soldier that got lucky. In the end, it didn't matter. She dashed off in a blue blur to deal with this foe.

…

"DAMMIT!" Abraham yelled out, slamming his hand on the console before him.

Someone locked the controls it seemed. The Eclipse Cannon was going to fire, unless someone entered a specific code. And the soldier hadn't the slightest clue what that cold could have been. He needed to stop the firing, or else thousands were going to die, G.U.N. Soldiers, prisoners on Prison Island, hell, all of Prison Island was going to be nothing but a crater unless he did something. The lives of thousands were in his hands. And he couldn't do anything about it.

"Dammit!" he yelled again, staring at the screen before him, "What's the password!?"

He heard the door in the room open, making his eyes widened. Turning around, he saw blinding light enter the area. But that all changed when he noticed the blonde clad in blue step up.

"The password is Ma-Ri-A, Abraham..." she squinted, "I thought you'd know that..."

He swallowed his spit, as this all-encompassing fear took over him. Maria was walking closer and closer down the metal walkway, with this visage that induced terror. She really was angry, anyone could tell. But she told him the password, that's all he needed. He quickly spun around, and started tapping again. He entered bits of it. 'MARI'- A gun was fired.

A bullet hit the panel beside him, making his tapping stop. He spun around, facing Maria who stared at him, gun drawn.

Cannon Countdown: Nine minutes, 57 seconds.

"Just stop, Abraham..." Maria commented, lowering her gun, "I won't let you do it..."

"You have to Maria!" he yelled back, "If you don't, thousands will die!"

"Don't you think I know that...?" she commented, almost heartlessly, "That's what I want to happen, you dolt..."

Abraham couldn't believe Maria's words. Was this not his sister? The one he watched age and grow into the greatest soldier G.U.N. had to offer? He knew she had gone rogue, and was trying to destroy G.U.N., but looking at her actually now, with this soulless face on forced it in his mind that, yes, Maria was trying to destroy G.U.N.

"Just move Abraham, and let me do my job..."

"No Maria!" he yelled with this great bravado, "You move, and let me do my job!"

The blonde chuckled, before gazing over to him.

"And what is your job exactly?" she inquired.

"Saving the world, Maria... Like you used to do..."

Her chuckles became full on laughs once those words left his lips.

"Oh yeah," she commented, "I used to save the word..." her glare intensified, "I'm saving the world now Abraham."

"What!?" he yelled, glaring at her, "How is destroying G.U.N. saving the world!? They are the very providers of justice and defense for this planet!"

She shook her head.

"A world without G.U.N., is a saved world, Abraham... You just don't know it, or refuse to acknowledge it..."

"I see..." he whispered, glancing down, "So everyone was right..." he then looked up, "You are crazy, Maria!"

"I'M THE CRAZY ONE!?" she barked, "Abraham! All my life, everyone lied to me! Samson, Samantha, Coffee, even you! And you have the right, to call me crazy!? Don't you know what happened to everyone on the Ark!? All the killing, the murdering!?"

"Your grandfather was insane, Maria!" Abraham retorted, "I watched him make that hedgehog! He made a deal with some kind of... demon! Using its blood to power that infernal hedgehog!"

"That infernal hedgehog was my cure!" she yelled, "He was my ticket to a nice long life! But no one told me the boat ride would be one filled with pain, misery, and lies! I'm sick of lies, Abraham! I want them all to end! And they end now, when the Eclipse Cannon fires, destroying those forces in space, as well as all of Prison Island! G.U.N. will be left in ruins, everyone will know of the Eclipse Cannon's firing, and the president will have no choice but to eradicate the army. The planet will finally be freed, all with the death of a few thousand soldiers..."

"I won't let it happen..." Abraham called.

"You won't?" Maria asked.

"Not now, not ever... I'm stopping you Maria, one way or another..."

She nodded and glanced off, seemingly accepting Abraham's words.

Cannon Countdown: Seven minutes, 32 seconds.

"Okay..." she stated, "Okay..."

Then she was in his face, in a sudden blue blur. He pulled back in fear as her hands reached forward, and procured the weapons on his person. He struggled against her grip, but Maria's superior strength and training made his efforts moot and pointless. Before he knew it, his vest and weapons were on the ground, while Maria held him in a full nelson. He continued trying to fight her off, but she merely increased the hold she held on him. Then she struck his leg, forcing him to his knees. A moment later, she lifted him up over her head, and brought him to the edge of the Eclipse Cannon command room. They were on a floor, that was elevated over another. A moment later, Abraham found himself falling, where he landed painfully on the second floor of this room.

It was a wide circular shaped room, with a great tube like machine in the center, obviously the same machine that held the Chaos Emeralds now. Abraham glanced at the beating machine, before shifting his gaze up to Maria. She stood on the floor above, gazing down upon him, her blue eyes shining. He was sure this would be the end. Maria had the higher position, all she had to do was shoot him dead. But she didn't.

Instead, the agent gripped the edge of her vest, and removed it from her body. Next, she removed the brown gun belt on her waist, as well as all the other gadgets and items she had. She now just stood above him in her white shirt, and blue vest, along with her blue boots, and coveted blue band in her hair. He really wasn't sure what she was planning. He had never seen an action like this before. Then she leaped down from the metal walkway, and down to the floor he laid upon.

Standing up tall, she patted down various parts of her body. She wasn't armed, and nor was he. Slowly, Abraham got to his feet, though with a stagger. He knew exactly what was coming now.

"Now," Maria called, looking up at him, "I'm going to teach you the one thing G.U.N. never taught me, and would never teach you as well..." she squinted, "How to handle a proper ass whooping..."

Cannon Countdown: 6 minutes, zero seconds.