Chapter 4: The madness of Tower
On top of the Little Planet's police headquarters, Vector waited for Sonic's arrival. After interrogating the robbers and receiving intel from the G.U.N., he felt he needed to get in touch with Sonic now more than ever.
"Right on time" said Sonic as he leaped unto the rooftop.
Handing him the government file, Vector said "Two helicopters were stolen from Metropolis air field. Both military class. The scum said they took orders from someone they refer to as A.T. The plan was to use the money from the bank to pay-off some greedy soldiers who would "give" them the copters. They didn't know much except whatever their boss is planing it goes down tomorrow night."
"I think I know who this A.T. person is" said Sonic showing Vector the to-do list and the scratched G.U.N. badge. "I went to the address stated on the list. Lead me to an empty apartment room where Tails' DNA analyzer showed Abraham Tower being one of the few people to enter the room in the last few days."
"I was afraid of that" Vector replied. "His lackeys said he's wearing bandages. Not letting anyone see his face. I don't what he did or why he's doing this, but it can't be good."
"I wouldn't rule out he's hurting himself. Must've been impossible to resist the compulsion" Sonic said.
"We're still talking about Tower? It's bigger than simply bringing prisoners now. You already ruffled-"
"The Witchcarts. There next on my list, but first. A target with two copters. Where would he use-" The answer came to Sonic in a flash. Looking over to the highest two connected towers in Metallic Madness.
"The Terran Life Building" said Vector.
Darkness was encroaching Metallic Madness just as two armored helicopters arrived at the fundraising center known as the Terran Life Building. Landing on both towers, the lead helicopter unloaded a tall bandaged human, who then placed a camera right in front of him. Placing the message on every television in the solar system. From the Ark to the Earth itself.
Live, the human said "People of the solar system. This is Abraham Tower speaking. I stand before the Little Planet aboard the beautiful Terran Life Building. With two bombs, ready to splinter the satellite into pieces. Colliding them with Earth and the Ark. Dooming us all. My price is two-hundred, twenty-two billion in UF currency."
The transmission then ended.
Sonic knew he had to make time on this mission before everything went to hell. Running rooftop after rooftop, he headed straight for the Life Building. Arriving on the left tower, he viciously attacked the gang. Fighting them off one by one. Victorious, he opened the copter's slides to find, much to his shock, the bomb going off.
Grabbing a nearby human criminal he bluntly asked "How do I stop it?"
"Stop it? It shouldn't even be on."
"Tower's lied to you. He wants to die and take everyone with him."
"Can you stop it" asked the crook.
"Maybe" Sonic replied.
Reaching for the bag he carried, he pulled out Talis' chromo freezer, using it to freeze the bomb. Fortunately the counter stopped at one minute and forty-five seconds. But there was still one bomb left. Using his outstretched hand he grabbed hold of the other tower's walls and started to climb. Dodging gunfire from Tower, Sonic reached the top and then, using his arms, knocked out the hired help and threw the copter with the bomb out of orbit. Watching it explode. Enraged, Tower attacked Sonic, forcing him to throw the deranged ex-commander off the building. Quickly realizing his mistake, Sonic jumped after Tower, and lunged him into one of the lower offices. Their fight was short but, using deception and his own strength, Sonic dislodged the hand gun from Tower and grabbed his bandages.
"Show me what you did" Sonic said.
Removing the bandages, he was left surprised as Tower resigned to his upcoming fate. He still looked the same when he left Rose.
"I played along as long as I could. While you all had you're joke. You got people to smile and pretend I look normal."
"You think-"
"Got it out. Just look at me and laugh. At least both sides match right?"
Sonic was even more surprised. Ark believed he had cured Tower mentally, but they weren't prepared for his reaction. As far as Tower was concerned, his whole face was burned.
Tower, more defeated than ever, then said "Who are we kidding? They couldn't fix me. Nothing can change what I am."
Sonic placed a sympathetic hand on Tower and replied "You and me both." They stood there for half an hour, before the former Chatoix arrived to pick him up.
"See that he gets more help this time" Sonic said to Vector.
"And you?"
"I've got some investigating to do."
To be continued