De-Commissioned G.U.N. Headquarters
At the abandoned G.U.N. headquarters, Shadow approached the giant force field with toolkit in hand, working quickly on the fuse box on one of the large poles to disarm it. Amy, Knuckles, Espio, and Monkey Khan were completely amazed at how large the force field was. Regardless, they were ready to undertake this dangerous mission.
"Wow. Must've been some party," Knuckles remarked.
"Sonic actually did all of this?" Espio asked.
Shadow explained, "He exposed my identity as a G.U.N. agent and made me, along with Hope Kintobor, a public menace. After the One-Planet Regime completely disbanded G.U.N., they froze all of its assets and resources."
"I still could not believe he lost it this bad," Espio noted. "Even with what Dr. Eggman did."
"In Sonic's own eyes, he destroyed New Mobotropolis," Shadow told him.
"I don't follow."
"Somehow, Dr. Eggman altered Sonic's mind so he believed he was fighting the Krudzu Hybrid Hydra… But it was actually his wife, Princess Sally Acorn."
"No way…" Knuckles gasped.
"It can't be," Espio shook his head in disbelief.
"Sally is actually…" Khan exclaimed.
"Sonic's WIFE?!" Amy took it the hardest, before she fainted out of stress. It had been Amy's lifelong dream of marrying Sonic one day, but in this world… that dream never came true. But regaining consciousness should take some time.
"Dr. Eggman managed to link the nuke's trigger to Sally's heartbeat," Shadow elaborated, putting his toolkit away and reworking some more wires. "When she and the baby died, New Mobotropolis died with them."
"Sonic was vulnerable, probably for the first time in his life," Espio stated. "His morals completely shattered when his loved ones died before his eyes. It was way too much for him to bear the burden of their deaths… His fear won out," he concluded solemnly.
"My world's Espio and the Secret Freedom Fighters died trying to explain that to him," Shadow concluded his story, putting the fuse box back in place. The force field was instantly disabled, allowing the heroes entrance.
"Why is security tight around a de-commissioned military base?" Espio questioned. "From what I can tell, Sonic had already demolished the base."
Shadow questioned back, "Would you take any chances with me?"
All seemed to agree silently.
"Alright," Shadow instructed. "I need to crank up the base's backup generator." He turned towards Monkey Khan, "Monkey Khan, you're with me." He then turned to the other three, "You three secure the base's secret entrance. It's located on the main hanger bay."
"An excellent plan, Shadow," Espio nodded. "But is making your way through heavily fortified territory your specialty as well?"
Shadow explained, "Splitting up saves time. And you're best suited for camouflage and espionage, which is why I brought you here. This mission can be considered another worthy test for your ninja abilities."
"Roger that," Espio complied. "Commencing operation!"
"Right!" Amy, Knuckles, and Khan nodded with a voice of approval.
Later…
A few minutes later, in this area of the G.U.N. base, Espio had already used his ninja arts to destroy the last sentry turret guns.
"This reminds me of our last assault on New Megalopolis," Amy smiled.
"If I recall correctly, Sally led most of the assault, and not Vector," Espio pointed out with a shrug. "Then again, it's just me."
Upon arrival at the main hangar bay's closed-off entrance, Espio knew instantly something felt off. He, Amy, and Knuckles separately took one side of the door.
"I sense two souls…" Espio noted. "We're approaching danger."
Amy and Knuckles nodded, and slowly went for the door. Unfortunately, once Knuckles tried to open the door, he got knocked out by a furious explosion that suddenly burst the door open and completely flying it backwards.
"GO!" Espio ordered.
Entering the room, Amy and Knuckles charged while Espio shot his shuriken stars at whoever's in the hangar bay, but the stars suddenly were deflected by bombs that hit on impact. When the smoke cleared, it revealed Bean the Dynamite dressed in a green spaceman-like outfit and his hair sporting a Mohawk hairstyle.
"Bean the Dynamite," Espio recognized.
"S'been a long time, hasn't it, dyna-maniac?" Amy quipped.
Bean was not alone as Bark the Polar Bear, dressed in some kind of white prisoners' outfit, was beside him.
"Hey, there, boys and girl!" the crazed explosive expert smiled with a hint of wackiness in his voice. "Welcome to 'Bean & Bark's Boom Boom Fun Time Variety Hour!' Let's give a big hand for your hosts, yours truly, and my main bear, Barky! And you know what time it is, big guy? It's PLAYTIME!" On 'playtime', Bean juggles a couple of lit bombs, preparing for battle.
Bark stood in front of Espio and his comrades, smirking while cracking his knuckles. While Amy and Knuckles handle Bean, Espio goes after the silent polar bear. With his cunning agility, Espio managed to smack him with punch and kick combinations, while simultaneously appearing and disappearing in the area surrounding Bark, dodging the polar bear's attacks in the process. Espio threw a smoke bomb in an attempt to distract Bark, but he accidentally left an opening for Bark to attack.
Espio anticipated this and scooted out of harm's way with three back-flip jumps. He then resorted to throw his explosive kunai. With every kunai thrown, either at Bark's body or the projectiles Bark has thrown, small explosions flew everywhere in the room. Bark tried to run at the chameleon, but Espio, ever the expert target master, pushed him back many times with his explosive kunai, never to miss a shot. The chameleon ninja stood in front of the polar bear, who fell back whilst holding his chest in pain, and his body nearly covered in smoke.
"That was only a fraction of my ninja power," Espio pointed out. "Now I will show you its full potential!"
STAGE 1: ESPIO THE CHAMELEON VS. BARK THE POLAR BEAR (REGIME)
Bark lunged towards Espio, who jumped above him, firing off a series of shuriken stars as he landed on the other side. Bark threw a nearby computer at him, but Espio managed to use his camouflage technique to elude attacks. Every projectile was missed because Bark could not see where Espio had gone. One projectile did hit Espio, and his camouflage was worn off.
Despite getting hit by Bark a couple of times, the injuries weren't as bad as he thought they would be. In fact, because of one sample of the endurance pill he took, his strength and endurance had increased ten-fold.
As Bark rushed to knock him down with his body weight, Espio leaped from wall to wall off the computer behind him and fired an explosive kunai into the screen, causing it to blow up in Bark's face. Furious, Bark went in for a kill, but Espio punched him back with a series of punches and kicks, before taking out another kunai. Throwing it below Bark, the kunai exploded, sending the polar bear into the air. Espio slid down below Bark and threw another kunai, the blade releasing a rope that tied up Bark and pulled him to the ground with much force. Espio then leaped over Bark and threw four explosive kunai at him, knocking him out.
"It appears invisibility does have its benefits after all," Espio remarked, referring to the endurance pill he took a while ago.
Meanwhile, Amy and Knuckles were still at odds with Bean the Dynamite, who threw a series of bombs that nearly devastated the hangar bay. Espio was about to give aid when Bark quickly got up on his feet and pounced at the chameleon. But Knuckles was quick to notice it.
"Espio, heads up!" Knuckles shouted. By cue, Knuckles rushed in and threw a powerful spiked fist uppercut, hitting Bark away through the roof. "You care take of Bean! I've got Bark!" he told his friends, before he chased after Bark.
However, while Amy and Bean are at each other's throat, Bean has one trick up his sleeve. He took out a freeze ray from his pocket and froze Amy into a chuck of ice.
"We've got ourselves a Strawberry Hedgehog Supreme on a cone!" Bean cracked.
But Espio shot three shuriken stars on the ice, breaking Amy free. This doesn't please the wacky Dynamite as he kept throwing his bombs at the chameleon. But Espio managed to elude, deflect, and counter back the bombs with his ninja arts once he gets near him.
"You dare hurt my comrades, you answer to me!" Espio warned.
Bean quipped, "Wheeeeee! Purple Pants Shooting with the Stars! Let's dance!"
STAGE 2: ESPIO THE CHAMELEON VS. BEAN THE DYNAMITE (REGIME)
Espio drew the first attack by firing shuriken stars which hit Bean's bombs in his hands. The bombs exploded, sending Bean flying from where he stood to a wall. Bean recovered and threw a series of bombs which Espio managed to avoid with his ninjutsu. Espio performed a slide kick at Bean's knees, knocking him to the ground. As soon as the Dynamite got back up, Espio grabbed Bean's head with both of his legs, getting a tight grip around him, and flipped him over his back.
Bean stood up, only for Espio to slug him with punches and kicks, and throw six shuriken stars into Bean's chest. Espio then slid down towards Bean, kicking him up into the air. Espio then jumped and performed his Leaf Swirl attack, creating a cyclonic vortex of air filled with transparent leaves around him. The vortex twirled Bean all over the air and slammed him face-first into the wall when the tornado vanished. Espio slid in for another attack, only for Bean to block it after recovering from dizziness, forcing the two back away from each other.
"Wasn't very nice, Purple Pants!" Bean shouted, holding two lit bombs in his hands.
"Beware my ninja power!" Espio readied himself.
The two charged and clashed. Unfortunately, Bean managed to hit first in the chest, sending Espio back a few feet. Before Espio could recover, Bean rolled his knuckles and punched the chameleon three times with uppercuts, the last uppercut sending him upward. To finish the combo, Bean threw a rain of bombs on both the air and ground, hoping they explode when Espio comes in contact. But at the last second, Espio quickly recovered in the air and threw his shuriken stars at the bombs, and the multiple explosions set off across the area engulfed Bean instead. When the sea of flames subsided, Bean's body was all wrapped in smoke. Espio then proceeded to perform a dive kick, giving the Dynamite a good boot to the face before flipping off. Bean got back up, only to comically fall to the ground in exhaustion.
"Your training has been a waste of your time," Espio pointed out, and he turned to help Amy up.
Knuckles reappeared after his dispute with Bark, "What did I miss? Everything cool?"
Espio answered, "The situation is under control. What about Bark?"
Knuckles explained, "He's spineless. I handled that polar bear as if I'm handling my own backyard."
Amy smiled, "Nice work."
As Insurgency Shadow arrived with Monkey Khan, he simply took out what appeared to be a remote and pressed a button. In the center of the G.U.N. hangar bay, the G.U.N. logo on the floor opened up, revealing a secret elevator.
"Let's go. It won't be long before reinforcements get here," Shadow instructed, and the group followed him onto the center of the elevator. With another press of a button, they began their descent as the entrance closed above them.
New Mobotropolis
One-Planet Government Headquarters
Dr. Finitevus hated this part of the job.
He regretted the day he agreed to be the One-Planet Regime's chief scientific advisor in charge of their unlimited supply of arsenals. Admittedly, Finitevus had great aspirations all throughout his life as a scientist and considered himself to be an imaginative echidna, but this wasn't imagination. This was practically slavery.
Of course, he couldn't tell this to Sonic. Not yet anyway. He just had to hold out for the Insurgency to get the Chaos Neutralizer. One shot from the weapon is all it takes to free the world from Sonic's rule. So for now, here he was, sitting down and talking to Sonic about things Finitevus already knew about, but he had to act as if he was being told.
"So these duplicates…" Finitevus stroked a chin. "They sound dangerous. I'm surprised you didn't call for Lord Naugus."
"I actually before you got here," Sonic answered. "At first, I thought it was nothing, but these duplicates look pretty tough. Not to mention, a small disturbance from the old G.U.N. base. I sent Naugus and Julie-Su just in case."
"But that's not why you called me," Finitevus pointed out.
Sonic agreed, "Of course not. I need some way to track these duplicates. Tails was working on his own thing, but he said it's going to take a bit longer. I even asked Bunnie to help him between his shifts."
"So you need me to make some sort of scanner," Finitevus guessed. "To help identify these duplicates?"
"Yeah," Sonic handed Finitevus a red thumb drive, "This is data from the duplicate Shadow we're holding at Prison Island. Something to help you."
"That is helpful," Finitevus worked his lie. "It's going to take at least a week or more."
"You'll figure it out," Sonic said with an assuring smile. "You always do."
Finitevus faked his smile and shook Sonic's hand, "I am honored to be of service. To you, to the One-Planet Government, and to the perfect world we envisioned." He stopped shaking his hand, "Will you be joining me and my family for dinner tonight at Albion? Amanda is going to make her special recipe of those chili dogs you love so much."
Sonic chuckled. He always looked up to Dr. Finitevus as both an inspiration and a second father figure, next to Jules. Sonic had been good friends with the Echidna Tribe for a long time, and somehow, Finitevus's family and Sonic's (at least what remained of them) had managed to stay together even after everything that had happened.
"Maybe next time," Sonic smiled.
Sonic began to take his leave, but stopped. There was something bothering him about these alternate universe duplicates. Something he had to know an answer to.
"Finitevus?" Sonic asked with a hint of uncertainty. "There's something I've got to ask you. These duplicates… If they're from an alternate universe, do you think… Do you think there's a Sally where they come from?"
Finitevus was quiet for a second. He could easily lie to Sonic, and send him into that world with no way back, but that would be immoral and would jeopardize the Insurgency's mission. Instead, Finitevus decided to lie again.
"There was only one Sally Acorn, Sonic," Finitevus sighed. "Even if there was another one in that universe, we cannot determine how different she would be from ours."
Sonic sighed. He said, "You're probably right. Thanks for your advice, Finitevus."
With that, he left as Finitevus held the computer chip in his hand.
"Anytime, Sonic," he said. "Anytime." As soon as Sonic left, Finitevus's thoughts were his own. He was relieved that the prime heroes' dimension was spared from the One-Planet Regime's wrath.
He just hoped that the mission already underway had not gone off the wrong way.
De-Commissioned G.U.N. Headquarters
Underground Cave Laboratory
The elevator stopped, and the group found themselves inside an underground cave laboratory surrounded by multiple computers.
"How did you manage to hide anything from Sonic and the One-Planet Regime?" Monkey Khan asked. "It looks like he was thorough with his workings."
Shadow explained as he turned on the main computer, "The cave walls are injected with lead polymer. Plus, they have a special substance that shifts the surroundings of the contents inside it. There's no way Sonic could find what we're here for."
Amy pointed out, "You sure went through a lot of trouble to hide this. After all, you're Shadow."
Shadow elaborated, "Neutralizing the Chaos Emeralds was something G.U.N. could decide to do alone. But when Sonic took the Chaos Emeralds and use their power as his own, the threat proved more dangerous. So, Commander Tower hid the Chaos Neutralizer in a vault that only opens by simultaneously sampling DNA from Sonic's closest allies."
"Our counterparts," Knuckles pointed out.
"With most Freedom Fighters dead, and the others backing Sonic's insanity, I had to look for other options. That's when I came across your universe," Shadow explained, elaborating on the reason why he brought the prime heroes to this world. "I needed a small handful of Freedom Fighters to access the vault, including their matching DNA."
Shadow moved to an area and motioned everyone to stand back. They did so, and Shadow pressed a button on his key gadget, that caused a red energy substance to start bubbling in front of them. Suddenly, a metal table rose from within and opened up to reveal an individual hand scanner.
"Anyone a Freedom Fighter, place your hand on a scanner," Shadow instructed. Amy, who has been a longtime member of the Freedom Fighters since she was young, volunteered and pressed her hand onto the scanner. "Begin recognition."
The computer began doing that as it confirmed the Freedom Fighter's DNA. Soon enough, the top of the metal table opened a hatch to reveal a metal briefcase. Shadow opened the case and found to his relief a small weapon inside, the one weapon he's looking for: the Chaos Neutralizer.
"There we go," Shadow confirmed. "Now let's get out of here."
They were about to leave when they heard explosions from above. Shadow quickly slid the case into the shadows, before seeing who it was. Flying in from up above were none other than Regime Julie-Su and Regime Ixis Naugus. The heroes form Mobius Prime noticed that Naugus was much different from his mainstream counterpart. His beard was shaved bald, and his original costume was refurbished with a Doctor Strange-esque look.
"You!" Amy shouted.
"It's Naugus!" Knuckled pointed at Naugus.
"Surrender your guard down at your peril, or you shall face the terrible wrath of the great Ixis Naugus!" Naugus declared. "Tremble before my powerful Ixis Magicks… and DESPAIR!" He concluded his speech with maniacal laughter as he and Julie-Su throw themselves into battle with Shadow and his allies. Naugus tackled Amy aside with his magical staff, while Shadow, Knuckles, and Monkey Khan help her, leaving only Julie-Su to deal with Espio. Espio threw a kunai at Regime Julie-Su, which detonated a small explosion as it got close to her.
Julie-Su stood up after a few seconds of recovering, "Our Espio was just as arrogant."
"I may be arrogant, but I'm not foolish enough to fall victim to the dark side," Espio pointed out. "Why have you sided with Sonic?"
Julie-Su answered, "Sonic has paid for the use of my power. Working for him is a million times better than piddling around with the Dark Legion with nothing to do. As payment for my service, Sonic taught me REAL power!" To demonstrate her new powers, her hands glowed with red energy.
"Is that Chaos Energy I see?" Espio noticed. "Sonic actually taught you how to use it?"
"That's right," Julie-Su nodded. "Sonic fused my body with Chaos Energy, allowing me to control the Chaos Force at my whim." Her face made an insane expression, "Don't you see? Chaos is power, and power is everything! That is what makes the One-Planet Regime, and I fit those qualities."
Espio glared, "You allowed yourself to be corrupted with power to get what you want? Your dark heart betrays your loyalties to your Echidna Tribe, Julie-Su. Your heart is with Knuckles, not with Sonic's."
"I serve both," Julie-Su corrected. "The One-Planet Government promised to hasten the Echidnas' return to power and glory. And all shall bow before us!"
Espio prepared himself for battle, "If words won't dissuade you from the path you chose, then perhaps you shall listen to force!"
Julie-Su prepared herself as well, "Then I won't be so simplistic on your demise!"
STAGE 3: ESPIO THE CHAMELEON VS. JULIE-SU (REGIME)
Julie-Su fired dozens of energy blasts at Espio, who avoided them with his agility. He counterattacked by firing an electric kunai at Julie-Su, zapping her. Julie-Su punched him, knocking him back a bit. She then grabbed Espio by the neck and took him up into the air, spinning him around before tossing him back into the ground. Espio recovered and rushed back, giving Julie-Su a quick 20-hit combination, the last blow a hard knock in the head. The blow sent her flying back and Espio performed a Leaf Swirl Vortex, spinning her around with great ferocity. With Julie-Su still in the air, Espio delivered a series of swift blows. Finally, Espio lunged off the Regime operative, throwing a zip-line kunai at her, and pulling himself in towards her before kicking her chest. Julie-Su tried to stand, only to fall unconscious.
"And another thing?" Espio pointed out. "Our Julie-Su is much purer than you are."
Meanwhile, Monkey Khan is restraining Naugus from moving with his staff's lightning, but Naugus broke free after bursting with a massive surge of magic, knocking Khan from the impact.
"Ken!" Espio shouted, and he rushed onto the scene. He threw a rope-releasing kunai that gripped one of Naugus's arms, the kunai attached to the floor. Insurgency Shadow does the same to Naugus's other arm using a grappling hook, while Amy and Knuckles jumped and crashed onto the Ixis Wizard's body, restraining it with their arms. Eventually, Naugus lost focus and fell hard to the ground.
"It's over, Naugus," Knuckles declared. "You're done!"
Naugus smirked, "Don't be so presumptuous… I have only begun!"
In response, Naugus fired an electric spell from his staff, shocking Shadow through the grappling hook and causing the entire cave laboratory to overflow with lightning everywhere like a thunderstorm. Shadow was caught by the lightning and knocked out, followed by Amy and Knuckles. Espio was unharmed after the small thunderstorm dispelled when he was taking care of an unconscious Khan.
Espio remarked, "Your power is most impressive, Ixis Wizard."
Naugus noted, "Only one of you remains."
Espio prepared for battle once more, "Let's settle the score, then!"
STAGE 4: ESPIO THE CHAMELEON VS. IXIS NAUGUS (REGIME)
Espio made the first hit by summoning a Leaf Swirl and firing it at Naugus. Naugus effortlessly dissolved it with the wave of his magic. This distracted Naugus long enough for Espio to perform a spike kick directly to the chest, causing him to crash into the nearby wall. Espio zoomed in and slammed Naugus with a 15-hit combination attack.
Swearing revenge, Naugus unleashed dozens of elemental spells, only for Espio to dodge them all. Before Espio can deal the blow, Naugus summoned a crystal wall, knocking Espio upward. The chameleon was about to recover in the air, when Naugus summoned a fireball, a thunderbolt, and a stalagmite which hit Espio on impact and crashed him to the ground. Naugus then slammed Espio to the chest, and summoned a lightning bolt to zap him square and center. Espio screamed before Naugus took his staff and swung it, flying him to the other side of the cave. Naugus went in for the kill, but Espio managed to block and push the evil sorcerer back a few feet.
"You will fall before my power!" Naugus declared, holding his magic staff forward.
"Your ego must've gotten worse than our Naugus's," Espio quipped.
The two rocketed towards each other, both lashing out with their respective weapons. Fortunately, Espio managed to strike first, and Naugus was sent flying back. Naugus recovered, only to see Espio's eyes completely focused. Espio activated his secret ninja art: his body shot at light speed from wall to wall, like a dagger thrown to a target, and the blows hit Naugus while piercing his body at the same time in the air, one by one. At the last blow, Espio dove and slashed Naugus with a swift slash of his kunai, sending him crashing back into the ground. Naugus tried to get up, but Espio unleashed a swift assault of kunai slashes to his body at the speed of light. Finally, with the last slash, Naugus went down.
"And that makes four," Espio grinned in satisfaction with his victory.
Once Knuckles, Amy, and Khan regained consciousness, Shadow went over to check the briefcase containing the Chaos Neutralizer and opened it. He frowned at what he saw; the Neutralizer had been badly damaged.
"Blast it," Shadow growled.
"Can it be fixed?" Espio asked.
Shadow answered, "The Master Emerald's energy was still intact, but the optical resonator is beyond repair." He closed the briefcase, "We'll never be able to finish it before they find us. Even with Dr. Finitevus's help, we don't have the resources to build a new one quickly."
"Looks like we're gonna need some help," Amy suggested. "We need someone on our team who's smart enough to fix or make things, likes Tails or Bunnie. Anyone open to any suggestions?" She turned to her friends, who simply looked in concern.
Shadow said nothing, and simply took the case back to the elevator with Amy and her team following. It didn't take a mind-reader to realize Shadow was making some quick and brash decisions.
And that could possibly lead to the fall of the resistance.