Violet Dreams
Chapter 14: Feed the Machine
"It is only the dead who have seen the end of war."
Location: Training Grounds, Death Egg IV
In a panic, the three heroes ran into the next massive section of the Death Egg. Unlike the observatory they had left Knuckles in, this room seemed to take on the looks of a Colosseum, with holographic panels of light siding the entire perimeter of the circular stadium. Watching as the two blast doors leading the way in and out of the training area closed, the trio grunted with discouragement, and turned to look up as a cage formed of energy began to descend upon them.
Suddenly the chains holding the cage up snapped, allowing the cell to plummet to the ground.
The trio quickly scattered just in time for the cage to smash to the ground where they once were. Dust clouded around the crackling cage like a cloak hiding a monster from its unsuspecting prey. Coughing from the debris in the air, Tails twirled his namesakes just enough to blow away the shroud, allowing the team visibility once more. The trio regrouped around the cage, and watched as the bars slid down into the ground, allowing whatever was inside freedom. Mighty gulped with uneasiness and watched as the abomination powered up
"It looks as though your thick-skulled guardian hasn't regrouped with you yet," Eggman stated with amusement. "No matter. This next challenge is for Mighty. So if you'd be so kind to leave, Tails and Sonic."
"Cut the games, Doctor!" the blue hero hollered impatiently. "Where are you? Or are you too afraid to face me this time!"
An eerie laugh filled the loud-speakers in the room, responding to the blue hedgehog's comment. "Far from the truth, blue pest. You and I shall have our final match, but first you must make yourself worthy to see the key to your demise!"
"It's alright guys, I got this one," Mighty reassured with a smile. "I have a feeling Shadow is up here, so go get him and we can leave this creepy place!"
"Alright, dude," Sonic nodded. "But don't let this thing push you around."
"Don't go overboard," Tails stated and made his way to the opening door.
"I'll be fine guys!" Mighty yelled after them, unusually happy. "I haven't gotten in a good brawl for awhile!"
"Since your so confident, traveler," the voice of Eggman echoed. "Let's see how well you fare against the face of the one you couldn't save!"
Flashing across the visual processor of the robot sitting the cage, the face of a young squirrel with orange fur flickered to existence. Mighty's face fell pale as he stared at the image with a broken heart and sick stomach. The squirrels face was lifeless and blank, with eyes void of emotion or light. The peaceful armadillo watched in horror as the squirrels mouth opened slowly to speak, allowing blood to leak down his chin and onto the metallic structure of the EX Joker. In the background, Mighty could hear Eggman's laughing, but his mind was focused on the image before him. Was this a trick?
Finding the power to move his mouth, Mighty began to whimper. "Ray...?" he whispered while tears began to drip down his cheeks. "I-I'm so sorry..."
"You didn't come back like you promised, Mighty!" The squirrel yelled in an almost distorted voice. "You left me in the prison cell with both of my legs broken!"
"I couldn't come back!"
"Why? Because you're a coward?"
"I was taken prisoner! I wanted to come back!"
Tears had began to flow down Mighty's cheeks, as they dripped to the ground like rain. The young fighter sunk to his knees and balled his hands into fists against the rock flooring. If he could have it any other way he would have saved his best friend. He was going to go back and get him, but it was too late by the time he escaped.
"Ever wonder how long it takes someone to die when they're sitting in a prison cell?" Eggman's voice returned. "You better hurry, Mighty."
Catching onto the hint, the armadillo's eyes grew wide at the thought of being able to actually find his long lost friend aboard this vessel. Was Eggman being truthful? Did he actually have Ray locked up somewhere on the Death Egg? Sniffling and wiping away the tears in his eyes on his gloves, Mighty stood up confidently, with a enraged look on his face. He scanned over the robot once again, this time noticing that his friends dead face had been just a simple illusion. The EX Joker was a lightly armored robot. It had much more thrusters built into its legs, arms and back than any other robot built by Eggman. It's left shoulder took on the armor design of an ancient Japanese Samurai, and it's face had a demonic jester appearance. Jutting out of its forehead, Mighty noticed to long horns that seemed to be made of actual bone, rather than some form of metal.
"Now I know why Eggman brought me into this," Mighty murmured to himself. "He wants to toy with me. Well I'll show him that someone should never mess with regrets!"
With a powerful burst of light, two sharp blades wrapped in blue energy slid out from over top of the EX Joker's hands, as it moved into it's battle stance.
The EX Joker energized its unusually powerful thrusters and shot at Mighty like a rocket. Anticipating the jester styled robot, Mighty grunted and slapped the mech's destructive sword away, and flipped over top of the android with ease. A zig-zagging pattern of green patterns flashed in the spot that the EX Joker once occupied, when suddenly the final EX robot spiraled from the sky with its energy blades creating a ring of light around its body. With a grunt of discomfort, Mighty used his energy to add more density to his skin, making it rock as hard just a split second before the laser-swords sliced across his arms. As the weapons slid away from his body, the young armadillo quickly grappled one blade and used his super strength to throw the Joker up into the air like a rag doll. Using whatever time he had to attack, Mighty sent himself hurtling towards the EX Joker, his fist glowing with green light as he tailed up behind the mech.
Twin grapples attached to a rope of blue energy suddenly shot out of the androids torso, and latched onto opposite ends of the Colosseum. With a quick burst of energy from its thrusters, the EX Joker released its left grapple and swung away from Mighty's line of attack. With it's spectacular agility and aerial abilities, the EX Joker rebounded off the wall like a living being and burst through the air with another flash from its boosters. Gasping with surprise, the armadillo turned just in time to see the Joker's powerful fist smash into his chest. Within a blur of black and red Mighty smashed into the far pillar of the Colosseum, and fell to the ground.
Forcing himself back to his feet, Mighty grunted in pain as he clutched his shoulder and ripped out a chunk of metal. With a wince, the black armadillo clutched the impalement, attempting to cease the oozing blood as best he could. However the EX Joker gave him no chance to recover and sped towards the hero in a flash of blue and smashed its fist into Mighty's arm, allowing its blade to impale his muscle. The robot quickly heaved upwards and effectively swung the young traveler up into the air, leaving him vulnerable. The deceptive robot activated its thrusters suddenly, and shot upwards in a streak of light and smashed its fist into Mighty's chest, throwing him higher into the air. With blood leaking past his teeth, Mighty grunted and shifted his body around just in time to block a second punch from the robot, and in return delivered his own powerful blow to the hunters mechanical chest.
From the force of Mighty's fist, the titanium plate over the EX Joker's core suddenly indented. Then a powerful shockwave kicked up a storm of dust from the ground as the robot shot down through the air and into the ground. Using the towering pillars all around him, Mighty descended down from his position in a circle, bounding away from the pillars like an acrobat. Just before the EX Joker managed to recover and stand up, the powerful armadillo spun around mid air and snapped his leg out, and smashed his heel into the Joker's defending arm. Mighty transferred his forward motion in a spin, and flipped over top of the robot as he extended his fist down into a crushing punch against the Joker's left shoulder. Cracks quickly slithered outwards from Mighty's simultaneous blows, throwing the robot off balance.
"Now I got you!"
The instant Mighty touched the ground behind the EX machine, he snapped out his right leg in a crushing kick, but the EX Joker disappeared once again. In a flash of zig-zagged green light, the android reappeared and slashed its twin energy blades across Mighty's back. With a burst of light, a surging mass of energy exploded from the tips of the swords, and launched Mighty rolling across the ground. The armadillo bounced off the rock flooring and then threw a pillar. Segments of rock smashed to the ground as the pillar crumbled from the impact. Like a predator chasing its prey, The Joker zipped towards Mighty, closing the distance between the two in a split second. Attempting to recuperate from the previous hit, Mighty staggered forwards out of the debris, but the moment he regained his focus on the enemy, the EX Joker swung its powerful metal fist into the armadillo's abdomen, launching the hero into the air. Being so close to the wall, Mighty smashed into the wall, and bounced away from it in a cloud of dust, giving the Joker the perfect opening.
I can't let Ray down again.
A crushing blow from the EX Joker collided with Mighty's body once again, launching him across the arena, and into a pillar. Mighty yelped in pain as an audible crack sounded through the air, and then fell forwards onto the ground. Blood leaked from his left arm from the previous wound he had taken, and his chest heaved in and out heavily, as he wheezed, trying to breathe. Jutting out of his side, a pure, white bone arced through his flesh, with the tip dripping blood onto the ground.
How was he supposed to beat this thing if he could barely even stand?
His heart pounded against his chest, almost as if it were up in his throat. The same zig-zagging pattern of data appeared in front of Mighty, giving way for the mechanical warrior. Easing his head upwards, Mighty groaned in defeat just as the Joker wrapped its robotic fingers around his throat like a vice, and hoisted him up into the air. The sudden change in his position caused his rib to twist upwards, bringing even more pain than before. Through glassy, and wet eyes, Mighty stared at the flickering "face" of the EX Joker, as it morphed back into that of Ray.
"You really have lost your touch, Mighty," Ray frowned disappointingly. "Is this the power that was supposed to save me?"
"Ray..." Mighty choked through tears and blood, "I'm really am sorry I didn't come back to get you. I was taken prisoner by GUN before I got the chance to make it to upper level of the base. I wanted to come back, I really did!"
"The Mighty I knew would have fought his way back!"
"I tried, but so much has happened!" He croaked as the grip of The Joker tightened, but still he forced himself to speak, "I thought I'd have another chance when I was taken prisoner by Eggman and taken to Mazuri!"
"I'll never forgive you!"
With tears dripping past his eyes, and down onto the robotic jester's arm, a green light illuminated the armadillo's hand. Summoning up every ounce of strength he had left, Mighty tightened his right hand up into a tight ball and shifted his skins density once again to that of rock.
"I promise I'll come get you this time Ray!"
With a thundering crack, Mighty's fist smashed into the chest plate of the EX Joker, crushing it in on itself. A powerful green vortex spun away from Mighty's fist, and quickly disappeared as the grip on his throat released and the Egg-Fighter slid backwards before being overtaken by the sheer force of the punch and spun away through the air head over heels. Rock and metal bits clattered to the ground as the EX Joker smashed through several pillars and across the ground. Drained and defeated, Mighty sunk to his knees, and fell onto his back, heaving for air. The young armadillo winced in pain as he grasped his side. Mighty looked upwards at the dark ceiling of the Death Egg, listening for the EX Joker.
"I am going to save you this time, Ray." he murmured to himself.
Groaning in agony, Mighty grabbed the bone piercing his flesh, and using the same ability to harden his skin before, his rib suddenly slid back into his body like jelly.
"That's gonna have to do 'till Tails can fix me up."
Slowly the young warrior forced himself to his feet. He could feel his rib shifting inside his body, and walking was only beginning to shift it around within his ribcage. Mighty knew it was likely to pierce his lung, but he also knew he didn't have much time, if any, to find Ray. He wasn't even sure if his best friend was on-board the space vessel – but he was taking a chance nonetheless. Limping across the battlefield, the black armadillo came across his opponent, lying in a defeated heap near the exit. Its transforming-screen like face flickering between a demonic look, and that of Ray with closed eyes. Mighty growled and quickly smashed his heel into the screen, effectively crushing the EX Joker's head, and continued through the exit, and towards the sign that read "Containment Room".
Northern Sector, Death Egg IV
Running the best he could despite his injuries from Metal, Sonic rounded the final bend in the long, grey corridor. The doorway opened up to a bridge spanning across a what seemed to be endless fall. Sonic jogged across the bridge, but slowly came to a stop at the center of it, and glanced upwards to a glowing, rotating machine. However, from the opposite end of the pathway, Doctor Eggman strolled out before the blue hero. The old doctor didn't come out in any sort of machine or creation, but simply walked out opposite to the hedgehog. Eggman snickered and tweaked his mustache out of habit.
"I remember when you brought the Death Egg down on me all those years ago," he recalled. "The tides have finally turned, and now its my turn to win."
"What do you think you're doing, Eggman!" Sonic barked. "Haven't I shown you that I'm always gonna come and break all your new toys?"
The machine above the trio began to glow while sending off rays of light. Along with the powerful light, alarms began to sound through the entire base, as emergency lights flickered on and off. Blast doors suddenly slammed down into the titanium flooring on both ends of the bridge, while a loud humming sound filled the quarry.
"Sonic, be careful!" Tails warned. "That machine up there is charging up energy for something, and its coming from down below. I'm trying to read-"
"Chill, bro," Sonic assured. "We got this."
"Today is the day I win. I will finally stand above you in conquest." Eggman growled and pulled a small machine from his pocket. "I have brought the planet you hold so dear to its knees, and have left it crippled under my power. The world is in my clutches now, and I have the power to destroy everything you love with the click of one button, but know this, I won't regret anything. I will watch you break apart, just as I have every time you left me ruined! Conquering your world took no time at all, and soon it will be mine!"
"You know we'll stop you just like every other time before, Doctor!" Tails remarked.
"Oh, my dear Tails," Eggman snickered as he pressed the button on the face of the machine he pulled out earlier. "I sometimes wonder how you're considered my equal in engineering genius. You two have always been there to stop me at a seconds notice, but not this time. Sonic, in the time you've last left me in defeat, after destroying my Amusement Park up in space, I came to realize just how lightly you take me. I have brought the military to the ground, and I now have the key to the power the Echidna God's locked away for a millennium."
With a wide smirk, Sonic laughed and crossed his arms. "Has it really come to this, Doctor?" the blue hero asked. "I remember back in the day when you could take me on with no force but your own. But lately you've had to rely on some ancient evil, or prophecy or somethin' to face me. I'm impressed, but c'mon Egghead, I want originality in this relationship of ours!" Sonic grinned.
Suddenly the entire bridge began to shake, causing the alarm systems to cease, and the light to fade without warning. Noticing a sadistic grin from Eggman, Sonic spun around and tackled Tails to the ground in defense just a split second before a powerful beam of energy collided with the bridge. Cracks slithered outwards from the center of the titanium enforced structure, as the metal snapped and the center collapsed into the darkness below. The beam began to spin out of control, slowly swallowing up the rest of the abyss. Then, before the duo had a chance to defend themselves, two robotic pawns hovered above them and pulled them through the air, and thanks to an electrical barrier, through the beam of light and to Eggman.
"This is the final hour, Sonic," Eggman chuckled. "And I want you to see the weapon that will destroy everything before I take your life!"
"You're starting to sound like a broken record, Eggy," Sonic retorted, earning a chuckle from Tails.
"Come!" Eggman bellowed, and turned out the door behind him, leading into another observatory.
"What..what the hell?.." Sonic murmured.
"What is that?" Tails gulped.
Location: Northern Battlefield, Station Square
Rubble fell from the sky as though it were rain, creating holes in the already cracked and destroyed pavement. The remains of any vehicle on the street became crushed under falling pieces of concrete, creating a storm of fire in the midst of destruction. Office buildings toppled over like dominoes, smashing into neighboring buildings and bringing entire clusters of businesses to the ground. Smoke and dust shot up into the dark sky, as slowly the sun began to rise into the new day. Beams of light slowly washed across the destruction of the once great city, but only for a few seconds. Slowly a ripple of black light washed across the atmosphere, soaking up any form of light, and blanketing the world in a dark coating of energy. Silvery specs of light hung in the air, as if it were snow. People screamed as powerful beams of purple energy shot down from the heavens, and into the Earths surface, creating even more madness.
White rock then began to rotate around a central point in the sky, piecing together to form a massive circle in the air. From the center of the mass of white material and black light, a burst of white energy flashed across the horizon, blinding anyone who dared look up. Reality seemed to shift as the gravitational balance of the planet shifted, causing everything to feel two times heavier than normal. Buildings collapsed upon themselves, as smaller minerals dematerialized and spiraled into the sky. Slowly from the center of the black void, the sky became a sickly violet color, as more clusters of silver and white specs appeared across the entire planet.
Location: Central Observatory, Death Egg IV
"Since my last defeat, you've given me a lot of time to research and formulate a final plan of action," Eggman explained. "While going through my grandfathers diary, I came across a page of notes regarding something he named "the Twilight Gate". I must admit, my dear grandfather didn't leave much to go off. So I begun my research, and stumbled across the history of the precursors and the ancient prophecy of Polaris. To open the gate to the world of the beast, one must collect the seven treasures of the gods, namely the Twilight Keys."
White rock became more evident, as the gate like circle began to come together around the tip of the gigantic cannon protruding from the top of the Death Egg. Sonic's hopeless green eyes could only watch as a otherworldly beam of green energy shot out from the mouth of the cannon, and into the void of darkness, causing it to swivel and churn in the vacuum of space. White and silver specs of light twisted and convulsed around the beam the Death Egg had fired. Inside the space station, however, all was quiet.
"Later on I learned that the Keys were the holders of all the power the ancient Gods of Echidna lore wielded. However, I also learned, that together with the seven Keys to the gate, there were also five additional treasures, these were called the Cores. The creator, or the Father of the God's named Izanpheus sealed away his powers into these five spheres. But I only needed to resurrect the God of the Twilight, Polaris, and also the weapon that the precursors locked away so many years ago, the Genesis Cannon, I only sought out the Keys. But even so, that doesn't conclude my plans! You're in over your head, Sonic!" "
"You definitely know how to piss off the God's, huh Eggman?"
"On the contrary, hedgehog. I've won this time!" the Doctor howled in glee. "My army of soldiers have ravaged the entire planet and brought the capitals to their knees! I've destroyed cities, and even brought you right into your own death trap! My cannon is already in the process of releasing Polaris, and your too weak to ever hope to stop me! Check and mate, hedgehog!"
Suddenly a loud explosion blasted away the doors to the observatory, shooting the two panels making up the entrance way into the robots holding Tails and Sonic. From the dust and smoke, Knuckles roared and smashed his fist through a swarm of robots descending to defend the doctor.
"Knuckles!" Sonic and Tails yelled happily.
"So I see you've managed to make it past Metal Knuckles. No matter, that was just to slow you down!"
"Back down, Doctor!" Sonic smiled competitively. "There's no chance of you winning against the three of us!"
"Oh ho ho ho!" The doctor quickly tapped another button on his device, allowing for a multitude of liquid metal limbs and vines to wrap around his body, "I suggest you find Mighty before the EX Joker regenerates! The clock is ticking!"
Suddenly the floor around the doctor dropped out, swallowing him up. The insane laughter of the doctor echoed through the entire room, as emergency lights flashed to life alongside loud alarms.
"Tails, Knuckles, you guys go and find Mighty. We can't lose him and Shadow in here!" Sonic shouted as he slid to avoid a following support beam, and towards the hole in the ground. "I'll go find the Doctor and Shadow and we'll meet up back at the Typhoon. If I'm not back within an hour of you guys getting there, just leave without me!"
Containment Cells 10-20, Death Egg IV
Mighty slid, and quickly rolled under a descending door, and continued running through the corridors, despite the constant shaking and the deafening sounds of the alarm systems. His breathing had become choppy due to his rib, and he found it increasingly harder to ignore the pain. But he told himself he'd rescue Ray, even if it killed him. His purple eyes danced across the rooms of the prison cells, keeping a steady look out for his best friend as he made his way through the Containment corridors. Suddenly the hallway split off, one direction leading upwards, and another leading downwards. Confident in his abilities, Mighty ran down the stairs leading to the lower level, and continued running through the debris falling from the ceiling. He couldn't help but wonder what was going on with Sonic and the others.
Then, a sound he never thought he'd hear again penetrated his train of thought. He heard Ray.
"Mighty?" the young squirrel choked. "Mighty is that you?"
The black armadillo grunted, and despite slipping to turn around, the traveler scurried back to his feet and jogged back to the prison cell holding his friend.
"Ray! Dude, I told you I'd come back!" Mighty exclaimed through tears. "Now help me bust down these bars so we can get you out of here!"
With a weak nod, the orange squirrel pulled against the unsteady cage, while Mighty rammed his hard shell into it with all his might. However the second he collided with the cage, a flash of turquoise light filled the corridors, and the armadillo bounced across the ground and into the far wall of the next corner. Standing half-armored, the EX Joker ignited its sword once again, and launched across the ground in a blur of energy, while at the same time slicing through every cage in the hallway.
"Heroism is but a nature of bravery. It's the sacrifice of safety to assert justice in the face of terror. But does Justice always assure the betterment of humanity?." ~ Gerard Van Oljjeirk, Ambrosia Test Subject 002
To be Continued
Authors Note~ Hope you're all still with me! I'll be updating pretty quickly in the next couple days, cuz the next 2 chapters are all ready. Leave your comments, theories and tips in a review!