CHAPTER 20
Sonic universe………
"Who doesn't know you Sonic? You're the most popular guy on the planet." Ford said.
"Pleaze don't inflate hiz ego. It'z big enough az it iz." Antoine said from behind.
"Why are you here?" Sally asked.
"If you mean here in Knothole, you're the safest place to go to and we hope that we can change the way things have been going on by helping eliminating that overweight fatass." Ford said. "If it's to know why we are here on this planet or I should say this….zone is a good word for it. Maybe that zone cop Zonic would know."
"You know Zonic?" Sonic asked slightly shocked.
"Not personally, but I have seen him."
Sally was about to say something when Rotor ran up.
"Sorry to interrupt Princess, but we have a problem. Knuckles is asking for assistance. Robotnick is attacking Angel Island!"
Oh great. Hear it comes. Ford thought.
I don't get it?
"We're going to be blamed for this." Ford muttered aloud.
"Why?" Lara asked.
Carter had already figured out why and sighed noticeably.
"They were sent to distract us!" someone said from the group Mobians around them.
Others joined in quickly yelling accusations and looking about ready to riot. Sally was trying to get this under control. John had to turn around to help keep the ones behind him from rushing forward. Things were starting to get out of hand fast. Not everyone was paying attention to the humans so Ford took advantage of it. He walked forward seeing if it would get anyone's attention. It didn't so he picked up his revolver and loaded one round and fired it into the sky. This got everyone's attention as they shut up and turned to look at him. He ejected the spent round and put it in a pocket as he dropped the gun.
"Your Princess is trying to talk, and let me say this before you do anything. We are not nor ever would be anything that would help Robotnick. Given the chance I'd rip him limb from limb."
"How can we believe that?! You kind have caused nothing but trouble!"
Ford almost exploded at the arrogant skunk, but he held his tongue. "What about Station Squares residence?"
"You should know!! You came from there to destroy us!!"
"We didn't come from there!"
"Station Square sealed off their entrance when Robotnick forced them to choose between helping us or being destroyed by a nuclear bomb. That was a year ago. Several overlanders joined sides with Robotnick thinking that they would be vastly rewarded with riches. Robotnick did experiments on them and had them attack us under the pretense of peace to help us fight Robotnick. We got lucky and were able to stop them from destroying Knothole. We don't know the exact number of those who sided with Robotnick. As such we don't plan on taking any chances." Sally said.
"I can see your point your Highness. We never intended to cause your people any trouble." Carter said stepping forward. "We ended up here by causes we couldn't control. Ford is more familiar with this world than we are so he suggested we head here. I don't know anything about this….what was his name?"
Ford said Robotnick then Carter continued.
"We would be willing to help in any way we can. We only ask that you help us find a way home, if that's possible."
"You must be the leader of your group."
"Yes I am. Major Samantha Carter. This is Ford Primus and Lara Croft. Our other friend your Doctor is looking at is Melissa."
Sally thought it strange that this Major didn't name any other ranks off for the others. She didn't ask though. They needed to get to the Floating Island and quick.
"Forgive me Princess Sally, but I know for a fact that you don't have much in the way of backup. We can help. If Robotnick gets that island, he can find this place with no trouble. Dulcy, get Dulcy! She can prove that we have no malice toward you or anyone in Knothole." Ford said snapping his fingers. Sally had someone run off to find her.
"Who's Dulcy?" Carter asked thinking it might be a problem.
She didn't know what sort of procedure they might have to go through to get that sort of information or mood or whatever. "What sort of procedure is involved?"
"Nothing. She's a mind reader. Lara, you most of all be prepared. Dulcy is a dragon."
"A what?!" Lara said. Her experience with dragons had been, troubling at best.
"Just wait."
They heard a loud flapping and soon a large pink dragon landed near them. She looked tired….cranky…..and quite angry. Probability from being woke up Ford figured. Carter moved closer to Ford involuntarily. Lara didn't move, but really wanted her guns that weren't there. Ford….well was amazed.
"What did you need Princess Sally?"
"I need to know if these overlanders are telling the truth. If they were sent by Robotnick to do anything to us or are from somewhere else. They say another universe."
Dulcy turned back to them and moved her head closer as she searched their hearts. She stared at them for what seemed like an eternity. Ford counted it off a little over four minutes when she backed up.
"They are from another place. Their scent is not familiar. Except for the Swatbot smell on him. But I heard about what he did. I don't believe that they mean us harm."
"Thank you Dulcy. Hopefully we can help resolve this problem and finish off Robotnick forever." Ford said.
Rotor touched his head where a headset was at listening in. "Princess. Our scouts report that the Floating Island has stopped moving a couple hundred miles out from here on a north by north east location. I have to coordinates. He needs our help fast."
"Are you sure you think we can trust them Dulcy?" Sally asked.
"I'm pretty sure. I don't like overlanders. They have been nothing but a thorn in the dragon's side for years. But something tells me that they won't harm us. I get the feeling more from the male anyway."
"Alright then. You may retrieve your weapons but we will be watching you. You're going to come with us." Sally said.
She turned away telling everyone to get ready for liftoff. Antoine and Bunnie were left in charge of watching the newcomers while they stayed with them until they could prove themselves worthy of Knotholes trust. They gathered their equipment under the scrutiny of Geoffrey. He didn't trust them even though Dulcy and the others might. They were told they had ten minutes to get ready to go.
"We're ready as will ever be, but what about Melissa? How is she?"
"I'm not sure ma'am. You'd have to go and see for yourself." Bunnie said.
"I'll go and get her. You get on the plane. I'll be along shortly." Ford said.
Bunnie had a guard escort him to the infirmary as the others followed Bunnie to the plane. Ford thanked her before he left. They walked through a few dense trees and came out in an area near a cliff. Part of it had been converted into a runway that was concealed as it went into the forest a ways. A large blackish plane that reminded Carter of a SR-71 Spyplane was there being boarded. She got on with the others and sat down in the back. She and Lara were still having some trouble coping with the fact they were basically in a cartoon series, game or comic depending on how you put it Ford mentioned. Since Carter had been to another planet where animals were walking and talking she coped a little better. Lara was in extremely unfamiliar territory and was partially excited. Another part of her wanted to go look around. Ford mentioned to them both that this planet was Earth, just very far in the future. Sally came on still wearing her blue vest. Lara thought it was, pathetic really, that she didn't have better protection. Several of the others also had little protection, from her point of view. Carter was about to get up when the plane started taking off.
"Aren't you waiting for Ford?"
"He didn't show up when he should have and we can't wait. If that island is taken over, were done for." Sally said. "He might make it there if Dulcy gives him a ride. She's bringing our doctor and some of his equipment just in case."
Carter radioed Ford trying to get him to respond. He replied back about hearing her, but barely. She told him the plane was leaving and what Sally just said. He replied back, but it was to garbled to tell what he said. She wanted off but knew that it wasn't possible now. So she sat back waiting since the plane was already in the air. She only hoped that he made it in time. The trip didn't take long for them to get there. Soon the large island could be seen and Carter as well as Lara was surprised to see what practically could be called a continent was floating.
"Whoa! That's incredible! The machine to keep that afloat must be huge. What power source is used?"
"No machines hold that up. A large green emerald called the Master Emerald keeps it floating. That's what Robot-butt-nick is after." Sonic said. "You really are from another planet."
"A gem stone…." she was cut off as a rumble shook the ship.
"We're under'z attack!" Antoine said from the cockpit.
Several more rumbles made the ship shake as it took more enemy fire. Carter looked out seeing strange egg shaped flying machines with laser cannons on the front. They were converging fast on their position. And firing rapidly despite the evasive moves being done by the small coyote.
Ford ran away as he was led to the infirmary. He ran in seeing a lot of moving and yelling going on. Most of the yelling was from Dr. Quack. He noticed Mel in a bed with her clothes on, luckily they had gotten that far into checking her out. He moved over to her as the other around him seemed to not even notice he was there. Mel had her head bandaged and she seemed awake.
"Mel you okay?"
"My head hurts but I'm better. Almost right as rain as I once heard your Colonel say."
"Do you think you can walk?"
"She shouldn't go but nobody listens to me. Besides you just missed your ride." the doctor said.
"What?!" Ford said when his com chirped.
Carter said something about the plane leaving and something about Dulcy. He tried to tell her to try again, but he only got static.
"Radio com units don't work well since Robotnick put that new satellite up. He's been trying to jam every electronic thing on the planet that's not his. As for Dulcy, I'm taking her to get to the island with medical equipment. You might be able to come, but I don't think she can hold three people and all that stuff I need."
"Then get out of here Doc! They need you more up there than here. Besides I think I know a way up." Ford said.
The doctor turned and walked away as he grabbed something off a shelve. Ford turned back to Mel seeing she was sitting up and getting out of the bed.
"I guess we need to get going." she said.
"If you're really up to it."
"As long as I don't get shot or have to do a lot of running."
"Nope. We're going flying."
"Cool."
Ford couldn't help but laugh. O'Neill explained what it meant once when he was talking about something to a group of Mel and her friends. He said cool and they didn't understand. Once he explained it, they even started using it, but this was the first time he had heard it.
"I need to find Tails." he said looking around.
"Tails? Why him?" the guard asked.
"He knows something that only Sonic would know about. It will save Knothole."
Tails ended up walking by them as he was headed somewhere, probably his hut. Ford noticed him several feet away with his head down. He knew why and knew how to use that so he turned around punching out the guard without anyone seeing. The two set him inside the door then ran over to Tails.
"Tails, I need your help." he said kneeling down.
"You must be the new overlanders Sonic was talking about." he said somewhat frightened but more excited.
"I'm one of them. We need to get to Angel Island. You have the only plane that can get us there. We need the Tornado. If I don't get up there, Sonic and the other's might not make it back. Not to mention Robotnick would take over the island and use it to find and destroy this place."
"Sonic. Aunt Sally." he said sadly.
"C'mon Tails. Think about it. You'd be considered a hero or at least they'd see you are a capable Freedom Fighter that can work in the midst of battle. Despite your youth."
Tails thought it over for a moment then took them to the Tornado. It was certainly a lot faster than it looked. Ford could tell from the booster rocket on the bottom. Tails put his glasses and gloves on then got in the front. Mel got in the back while Ford got on top of the wing where Sonic would. Small sections had been made for Sonic to stand and not fall off. It didn't take long for them to get into the air and finally get them to the island. They all noticed that the plane that everyone was on was under attack. Ford pulled his grenade launcher and blasted one of the egg shaped ships. Tails noticed what Ford was doing and tried to get them closer to other while trying to dodge enemy fire. Ford knocked another two out of the air as Tails did a fly by the front of the plane with their friends inside.
"Princezz lookz!!" Antoine yelled.
She was surprised to see that Tails was here in the Tornado, but more surprised to see Ford on the wing. He took out a Hovership with one shot from some weapon as they moved out of there line of site.
"He's in my spot!!" Sonic said jealously. "And taking my limelight!"
"That was Ford! What's he doing?" Carter asked. "For that matter, how's he staying on the wing?"
Ford fired taking a Hovership out as it tried to do a kamikaze attack on the plane from the back. He popped the spent cartridge out when he felt himself get hit in the back causing him to fall off the plane. He was able to catch the wheel axle in time and quickly put the launcher away while shaking the plane some. It was enough for the two occupants to notice that he was still with them. Tails fired the small laser guns that were on the plane taking another Hovership out. They were only a few miles from the island and still had a good twenty Hoverships to get through. Ford managed to get on the second wing and pulled his shotgun. Using explosive shells he took out more than eight ships with the eight rounds he had loaded. Several blast hit the large plane with Carter and Lara on it making it start losing altitude. A couple of hits caught the Tornado making Tails also have to land. The large plane landed with a slight crash as it skidded on its bottom. The Tornado hit the ground and broke the axle. As it started sliding along Ford jumped off while rolling away. He ran toward the edge as he reloaded. As the Hoverships started coming in on a strafing run he rapidly aimed and took them out.
"Damn they are stupid." he said as the last one fell away.
He didn't stay to see how they might land. He turned around running back to the crashes. Mel and Tails seemed to be okay seeing as they were headed over to the large plane. Ford was reloading again as he ran. Sally and the others got out quickly as Rotor and Antoine along with Bunnie tried to put the fire out. Carter got out looking around for enemies with the others. Ford came running around the corner with Tails and Mel. He was huffing as he leaned against the side.
"Did you get hit or something?" Lara asked.
"No……no. Just tired of running. I just came from the ledge."
"We have a major problem!!!" Sonic said yelling as he ran up.
He did a recon of the area as soon as they landed…or crash landed anyway.
"What is it Sonic?" Sally asked in despair.
She knew from his tone of voice things were bad.
"Swatbots!! Hundred's of them!!!"
Carter and her team ran around the plane to see an army of robots headed their way. Several dozen hover troop carriers were dropping off Swatbots by the loads. They were about a mile away, but it was apparent they were outnumbered.
"Oh my god!" Carter exclaimed.
"The odds are against us, yet again. If I die here…..oh well. Life was fun." Lara said pulling her guns. She twirled them a few times and they cocked into place.
"Wait Lara. Get back until I'm finished. All of you." Ford said pulling the special gun.
He walked forward as he popped a clip into place. Carter gave them the briefest explanation that she could even though they wanted to go past and fight. She covered her ears as Ford signaled through the com he was firing.
"Cover your ears!!!!" Carter yelled.
He first started taking out the ships coming in. They exploded as the depleted uranium round impacted. It took just over two clips to eliminate the flying troop ships. He spent the other four clips of uranium ammo and then changed over to normal ammo. The explosive uranium ammo did a good job of dwindling their numbers. His normal ammo just when through the ranks. When he ran out of that, he put the gun up and gathered the spent ammo quickly while using the shotgun. Carter came running up with Lara as they were shooting into the army. Sonic and the others that came to fight ran forward when Carter did. Ford continued firing his explosive shells until he ran out. That was about when the enemy began opening fire with better accuracy. Carter and Lara moved back as did Ford. Several shots that were directed at their position hit around them. Carter dropped as she was hit a couple of times. Lara fell down as she took a couple of hits. Ford dropped his shotgun and picked the girls up quickly. He felt several more catch him in the back. The others not in the fight at the moment helped Ford put the girls on the ground behind the damaged plane. He could see that already a few important members were out of the fight. Bunnie had a few parts damaged. Rotor had a few burns. Antoine was being brought over by a some nurse.
"Get them to safety. The Chaos Emerald chamber would be the best place. They can protect it." he yelled taking the sword Lara had.
Carter grabbed his arm as he started to pass by. She was hurting but not passed out like he thought.
"You better come back!" she hissed.
"I will Sam. You help keep that Emerald safe!"
He ran away and picked up his shotgun and fired taking a couple more bots out. When it clicked saying it was empty, he put it away and pulled the sword. He was buttoning the coat up and putting his hat on when Sally ran up.
"What are you doing? It's apparent you're out of ammo."
"Call off your people. Go protect the Chaos Emerald. Robotnick will be there soon if you don't hurry. I'll hold them off."
"What?!" she said in shock. "Not even Sonic with a Power Ring could take this many!"
He looked the field over seeing the army still approaching. Several of the large bulldog guards were holding their own while others were taken down. Other animals were out there helping in the fight. He caught a glimpse of Sonic spinning through several dozen at once. Despite all the ammo he spent, they were still outnumbered a good three to one. Robotnick's main shuttle was headed toward the middle of the island. He was too far away to hit since he was well behind the vast army and Ford was out of his special ammo. Ford pulled the other sword, then and looked at Sally.
This idea is suicidal.
Yes, but if it says lives, the women's lives. Then it is worth it. Ford thought.
For Major Carter then?
"For freedom." he said.
Then he rushed forward.
