Chapter 4: Chao-Kicks Chaotix!

Sonic and his friends are a group forged by friendship from surviving together from the tyranny of Dr. Robotnik during his coup. It is thanks to this friendship that Sonic is able to face his adversary, even when certain destruction awaited them. Kicks isn't familiar with such bonds. To her, she was raised to be a mountain - unmoving and prefers to be alone. One event changed this outlook though, leading to a team up she will soon never forget.

Starring:

Kicks the Echidna - Solo Guardian of the Floating Island

The Chaotix - Newly Formed Team

Mecha Sonic - Murderous Minion with a Mission

Archimedes - Schemer in the Shadows

*At the Red Mountain hot springs on Angel Island, Kicks was enjoying a nice relaxation period in the bath, sighing in relief as the stress just washes away.*

Kicks: "Whew. After dealing with Sonic and Robotnik so much, I'm glad I can take a breather. I needed this bath…"

Voice: "Um! Excuse me! Did you say 'Sonic' and 'Robotnik' just now?"

*Kicks turns her head and spots a red shelled armadillo. Not much bigger than she was standing up, but was at least a friendly face.*

Kicks: "I did. You look familiar, but I don't think we've met yet."

Armadillo: "No. We haven't had the chance to get acquainted. I'm Mighty the Armadillo. I may look small but I pack a mean punch. But I'm more than familiar with you, Miss Guardian."

Kicks: "Kicks'll do. So what's up?"

Mighty: "I'm told you're willing to help any old chum living on the island. And… Well… I need some help. It's a long story, but hopefully you'll listen."

*Kicks turns to Mighty, leaning on the edge of the spa as she gestures to him to continue.*

Mighty: "It was a couple of years ago. I was captured by Robotnik and brought on board on one of his ships. I was with other Mobians who had been captured, ready to likely be taken for Roboticization. It was on this ship that I met… a young fella who would become my dearest friend. Ray. He was a nervous twerp, but he had a good heart. After being captured, I was thrown in jail, biding my time. That's when Sonic came and rescued me. He and I started a prison riot in order to save as many Mobians as we could. Robotnik was planning something with one of the prisoners; some kind of secret robot project. Anyway, as me and Sonic were drawing Robotnik's attention, Ray, who had joined us after we started the riot, went for Robotnik's power source, a gem of some kind. Before me and Sonic could save him, he vanished in a flash. For the longest while, I thought Ray was gone but… Someone told me that he was still alive and still at that prison!"

Kicks: "And you came to me to see if I would help you break him out of prison?"

*When Mighty looked up, he saw Kicks fully dressed as she slipped on her spiky shoes. She cracks her fingers as she smiles.*

Kicks: "I don't usually leave the island unless it's an emergency. But you? I'll make an exception."

Mighty: "So you'll help me save him!?"

Kicks: "Yep, but assuming this is one of Robotnik's bases, we'll need some help. Brute force can only get you so far."

Mighty: "Are you going to ask Sonic and his fellas for help?"

Kicks: "Hah! I'll ask for a plane ride, but that's it. Last thing I need is that blue jerk to think I'm groveling, begging for his help."

Mighty: "So then… Who did you have in mind?"

*Kicks smiles before leading the Armadillo off the mountain and into the jungle. As they walked around, the two hear a buzzing sound as a tiny bee flies by them.*

Mighty: "What's that?"

Kicks: "A honey bee."

Bee: "Not a honey bee! A Charmy Bee! That's me!"

Kicks: "Charmy, huh? Appropriate name. You seen a tall reptile with headphones around?"

Charmy: "You mean Vector?"

Voice: "I might know where he is."

*The three look around before a purple chameleon makes his presence known.*

Kicks: "I knew someone was stalking me. One of the Rainbow Valley Chameleons."

Chameleon: "Correct. The name's Espio. And Vector should be here any second."

*As if on command, the two hear the singing of a tune happy crocodile approach. Vector notices the group and turns off his music as he walks over.*

Vector: "S'up!? Whatcha standin' around for?"

Kicks: "Great timing. And actually, this seems like a good team to work with."

*As Charmy, Espio, and Vector stood there confused, Kicks explained the situation about Ray to them.*

Kicks: "...And I needed a good team to help get his friend out and I don't the most confident relying on just brute strength."

Espio: "In other words, you'd like to form a capable team."

Charmy: "I'm in! I can buzz around and sting the baddies!"

Vector: "Hah! I can crank up the tunes and wipe the dance floor with some tin heads!"

Espio: "Leave stealth to me then."

Kicks: "Cool! Then we got ourselves a team!"

Mighty: "Thanks, you guys… I really mean it…"

*Kicks then starts walking away, but not before giving some instruction to the group.*

Kicks: "I'm heading off to book us a flight. Meet me at the edge of the island in an hour."

Charmy: "Okiedokie!"

*Kicks runs off to the Chaos Chamber where a computer and monitor awaited. After Robotnik's plan to use the Floating Island as a war ship failed, Kicks decided to use the left over machinery as a way to contact the world below. At least if she needed to. And this was one occasion where it might be needed.*

Kicks: "Kicks to Knothole Freedom Fighters, come in! Kicks to Knothole Freedom Fighters, are you there?"

*The monitor's staticy screen flickers a bit before making contact with Freedom Fighter HQ in Knothole Village.*

Sally: "Knothole Freedom Fighters here. Did you say this was 'Kicks'?"

Kicks: "Yes, big surprise. It's me, the Guardian of the Floating Island. Anyway, I'm not calling for a casual chitchat."

Sally: "Very well, what do you need?"

*Kicks gives a general, but vague request for a plane to one of Robotnik's old bases. Sally began to think back at one of Sonic's old missions and there was one that fit that description.*

Sally: "Strange… That base was long abandoned after Sonic and a couple of Mobians that assisted him put a stop to Robotnik's plans there. Rotor? Do you have any input?"

Rotor: "Unfortunately yes, princess. There's a strange energy signature at that old base. It isn't a Chaos Emerald, but it is enough of a signal to likely draw Robotnik's attention!"

Sally: "Then that's reason enough to help out. Kicks, I assume you heard all that?"

Kicks: "Loud and clear. So think you can book me a flight?"

Sally: "Yes. And… Though you aren't on our side, do you think we can rely on you to return the favor?"

Kicks: "...Just don't demand anything I'm not willing to do. Otherwise, sure. I guess I'll owe you one."

Sally: "Alright. Good luck, Kicks."

*Kicks nods before cutting conversation and leaving to go meet with her new team. She had no idea how this mission would go, but she suspects it will take all of them working together to rescue Ray. All she could hope for was that they could all get home safely.*

*On a cliff overlooking the prison, a metal foot steps to the edge. A metal blue hedgehog looks down towards the facility with a group of Swatbots behind him.*

Robot Hedgehog: "Lord Robotnik. Energy signature has been detected in Prison Camp 5-XX-99. Investigation is underway."

Robotnik: "Excellent, Mecha Sonic. And yes, I recall this camp. It was where I started my Auto Automaton project, starting with that useless fox! While she was a failure, I still have one trick up my sleeve. Go and find whatever is releasing that energy signature and bring it back to me! And if there are any prisoners left… Capture them and bring them to me; might as well finish what I started before I roboticize them!"

Mecha Sonic: "Yes, Lord of Lard."

*Mecha Sonic then issues the order to march as the robots head towards the Prison Camp.*

*Within the plane commissioned by Kicks, the newly formed team from the Floating Island sit in the back as they prepare to drop to the base. Mighty in particular looked nervous, which Kicks noticed.*

Kicks: "...That's a lot of thumb movement, Mighty. That much fidgeting ain't good for you."

Mighty: "S-Sorry. Just excited to see Ray is all. And… Well… I've still got rough memories of that prison camp…"

Vector: "Ah don't worry! We'll get in, get yer friend, and leave before dinner!"

Charmy: "Yeah! So chin up, guy! We're in this together!"

Espio: "Hmph. So rowdy and yet we don't know the situation yet. Still… I am excited for this too."

Kicks: "Espio's right. We don't know what we'll face so everyone? Be on guard."

*The intercom then turns on, alerting the passengers.*

Pilot: "Attention, passengers, we are coming up to the prison camp now. Drop off in T-minus ten seconds."

Kicks: "There's our cue!"

*Kicks and her team walk up to the doors and slide it open. The wind almost sucked them out, but as soon as they saw their drop zone, they hopped out one by one. Kicks caught Vector while Charmy got Espio. Mighty curled up into a ball as the team landed together at the drop zone near the prison camp.*

Vector: "A nice clean entrance. Now what?"

Espio: "Now we check on the prison itself, right?"

Kicks: "Right. It's an old Robotnik base so we need to see if the place is guarded."

*Kicks pulls out some binoculars and scouts out the base from atop a cliff. She sees several Swatbots positioned outside the building and a number of them in the prison yard.*

Kicks: "Figures. Robotnik's robots are guarding the building both inside and out. First we gotta take out the goons outside."

Charmy: "Leave that to me and Espio! We'll take 'em out like 'WHAM'!"

Espio: "Heh. As long as you're quiet about it."

*Charmy shrinks down while Espio camouflages himself as the two initiate a sneak attack. Charmy, as a bee the size of a fly, buzzes around a Swatbot, annoying the robot.*

Swatbot 1: "Ugh… Stupid bug. Away from my face."

Swatbot 2: "Stop fooling around, 627. If Lord Robotnik catches you dancing around, he will-"

Espio: "Not do anything as far as you are concerned."

*Before the Swatbot could reply with a question, the robot is smashed to pieces. The Swatbot aimed a laser at nothing his optics could find, but then Charmy grew to normal size and stabbed his stinger into the head of the Swatbot, freeing the outside of its guards.*

Charmy: "All clear."

*Charmy signals to the others, allowing them to approach. It was time for the next step of their plan.*

*Meanwhile, inside the base, Mecha Sonic was walking down the halls with a pair of Swatbots until his scanners detected two signals from the Swatbots outside suddenly shut down.*

Mecha Sonic: "Two of the Swatbots outside have shut off their signal. This will not do. You two, make sure nothing has happened."

Swatbots: "Affirmative."

*The Swatbots leave as Mecha Sonic continues on his way, entering the main lab where he sees the source of the energy signature, and a Mobian flying squirrel in what looked to be perpetual stasis.*

*At the courtyard, Vector, Mighty, and Kicks had finished off the last of the security there, Mighty tossing the head of a Swatbot away.*

Vector: "Boy, security here sure is light. No wonder prison was so easy to break out of!"

Espio: "It isn't a big surprise. This place has been abandoned for a while. I doubt Robotnik was expecting anyone to come here this soon."

Kicks: "No use dwelling on it. Mighty? You know where you last saw Ray?"

Mighty: "The main lab, up ahead."

Kicks: "Then let's go!"

*Kicks starts to dash ahead, but gets stopped as the doors burst out toward her, causing her to backflip back. A large red mechanized monster comes out onto the courtyard as it glares down at the heroes.*

Titan Mecha Sonic: "Oh there is no need to be hasty. I figured there were some intruders, so I figured a little… boost would suffice."

Mighty: "Out of our way! If Ray's hurt because of you, so help me, I will-"

Titan Mecha Sonic: "Ray? Oh. You mean the little Mobian? Don't worry. He was a little… attached to my prize."

*Titan Mecha Sonic opens his chest plate, revealing the power gem giving him his power, with Ray still attached to it, frozen in time and space.*

Mighty: "Ray!"

Kicks: "Alright… Everyone! Let's kick this thing's metal butt!"

*The team got ready as Titan Mecha Sonic stomped his large feet at the group, scattering them away. Except for Mighty, who gets seemingly crushed. However, through sheer strength and durability, Mighty lifts the giant's foot off himself and tosses the titan off balance. Vectors runs up and pulls off his headphones.*

Vector: "How's about a little music for ya, punk!?"

*Vector blasts music at the mechanized titan, disorienting him as Kicks flies in and delivers a solid punt to the chin, knocking the titan to the ground.*

Kicks: "Something tells me you weren't designed with fighting me and my comrades in mind."

Titan Mecha Sonic: "Silence, inferior life form. I will not be insulted by a puny fleshy creatures!"

*Titan Mecha Sonic swats Kicks away, knocking her to the ground as she skids to a stop. But as the robot stands back up, he notices something. There were only three rebels.*

Titan Mecha Sonic: "Error: There are only three of you. But I counted five earlier. Where did the other two go?"

Kicks: "Let's just say… You shouldn't have shown your weakness so hastily."

*Within the titan's chest plate, Charmy and Espio had snuck in. Espio finds an emergency release hatch while Charmy points his stinger at the gem.*

Charmy: "Ready, Espio?"

Espio: "Do it!"

*Charmy flies into the power source at full speed; even in his tiny form, he packed a mighty punch, smashing the gem. He then grew to his proper size as he grabbed Ray. Espio pushes the emergency release as Titan Mecha Sonic starts shrinking down to his normal size.*

Mecha Sonic: "Error! Power supply missing! Returning to normal form! Error! No longer in an advantageous position!"

Kicks: "Heh. Poor you. Mighty? Do the honors."

Mighty: "With pleasure!"

*Mighty walked up to the weakened Mecha Sonic, cracking his knuckles, before punching Mecha Sonic with such force that his splits into pieces. With the situation dealt with, Mighty looked at Ray, who fell unconscious after being released from his time displaced prison. The flying squirrel soon woke up though.*

Mighty: "Ray! You're okay!"

Ray: "M-M-Mighty? Wh-What happened? The l-l-last thing I r-remember was g-g-grabbing the p-p-power gem from R-Robotnik's machine…"

Mighty: "It's a long story, Ray. Just relax."

*Everyone smiles, happy for the reunion. Mighty looks to Kicks and extends a hand.*

Mighty: "Thank you so much, Kicks. And all of you two."

Kicks: "Heh. No problem. Honestly, I say we all caused a lot of chaos here."

Vector: "Chaos? It was Chaotix!"

Charmy: "Ohhh! That has a nice ring to it! Chaotix!"

Espio: "Hmph. I admit, I like the name."

Kicks: "Chaotix, huh? You know… I could use some help guarding the Floating Island. Robotnik does show up often and having some extra hands on deck would make things easier for me. What do you all say?"

Ray: "M-M-Mind if I join? T-T-To show my appreciation?"

Mighty: "Not at all! I'm in too!"

Vector: "Then it's agreed! From now on, we're-"

Everyone: "TEAM CHAOTIX!"

*After doing a stylized six man team pose, Kicks brings up a question that's been on her mind since the start.*

Kicks: "Say, Mighty. You said when we met that someone gave you a tip that Ray was still alive. Who gave you that tip?"

Mighty: "Oh, I think his name was Archimedes."

Kicks: "...Say what now? Archimedes?"

*As soon as Kicks uttered the name, gas started filling the courtyard, blinding the newly formed Chaotix. But as they coughed, they started collapsing, one by one. Kicks was the last to fall, but as she struggled to stay awake, she saw a small figure approach from the smoke. But everything goes dark as she falls to unconsciousness.*

Set up by the mysterious Archimedes, the newly formed Team Chaotix find themselves captured! What diabolical machinations does this supposed villain have in store for Kicks now? Will they be able to make it home? And just what is Archimedes' goal in this? Find out next time… on The Rise of Enerjak!