A/N: Welcome to chapter 34 fellow viewers. Now last chapter, the heroes were still recovering after Eggman's attack and Naugus' subsequent takeover as king. Let's find out what will happen today shall we? Also if things seem short, sorry in advance.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Sega and Archie except my OC.
"This is gonna sound racist, but I really hate them birds..." Kor groaned as he was restocking the walled sentries. He wore his typical work goggles as he maintained one of his machines.
"Well, that technically isn't since you're talking about the Battle Bird Armada." Tails explained as he was passing ammunition to the older fox.
"Still, can't we get a break for once? I mean, it's one thing to have to watch over a small nest every minute, but a whole city? How do you guys stand it?"
"Welcome to our world." The kit smirked.
"I guess...how'd you meet those clowns again?" The engineer finished with the bullets and missiles and was now reloading the rockets.
"Well...the place I'm about to tell you is my secret. Only Bunnie and Antoine know of it since they were there too."
"Ok, shoot."
The twin-tailed fox sat on the wall as he talked. "There's a relatively large island called Cocoa Island somewhere in the ocean. I came across it during one of my early solo adventures to Downunda. Since it was uninhabited, it made a good location for me to set up a workshop and just relax."
"So a 'home from home' then."
"Yep. During the time Eggman was hiding I decided to go there to relax, but this time I decided to take the married couple with me since they hadn't had a honeymoon yet. I noticed that something was off when we first arrived though. Cocoa Island has two smaller islands around it, but a third was there this time."
"You sure you didn't just map it wrong?" The red fox shut the ammo storage.
"That's the same thing Bunnie said, and no. I mapped the entire place well beforehand. But, I was right about something being off, because as it turns out the Armada had disguised their flying fortress as an island. They attacked us on the first night, I had a run-in with Speedy, but..." Tails chuckled, "they thought Bunnie was part of the Dark Egg Legion because of her cybernetics. They didn't realize their mistake until it was too late. In the end, we damaged their ship to the point they were unable to do anything else until it was fixed." The kit boasted. "But...now we know what they would've done..."
"Well, that explained why they were more sore at you than Sonic, but what about them Rogues?"
"You'd have to ask Sonic about that. He knows more than I do...you think the Armada may come back?"
"You guys saw them crash into the mountains out west. You tell me." Kor picked up his toolbox and headed inside with Tails flying after him.
The heroes really couldn't catch a break this week. First off, while Geoffrey was found guilty, he was pardoned of all charges by Naugus. Then, hours after the trial, the Battle Bird Armada showed up to invade the city. It's only been a day since the Death Egg attacked! Many weren't sure if the attack was coordinated between the Battle Kukku and Eggman, but it became clear they were after their own goals. Overall, the invasion didn't go as planned. The sentries along the city wall prevented heavy troop ships from landing and the smaller aircraft and drones were cut to pieces by the Freedom Fighters and Tarantulas. Of course, Naugus saw this as an opportunity to spread his influence by attempting to take over the super fortress, but like the Death Egg, the ship was immune to his magic and he was promptly shut out of the whole ordeal.
What did go right for the Battle Birds, was that they destroyed Castle Acorn, but they didn't do it just to weaken everyone's morale. Apparently, New Mobotropolis was sitting on top of an ancient ship called Babylon Garden. The Battle Birds claimed it to be a lost relic of their history from what Kor heard. But, as coincidental as it was that their city just happened to be there, they didn't get to enjoy their lost heirloon for long. Sonic destroyed a key component that piloted the Gardens and sent it along with the Armada's fortress into some nearby mountains.
Nicole sighed as she surveyed the damage from within the city's mainframe. It would take days to be repaired, and she would get a jump-start on it now if it weren't for the fact she wasn't in favor of the public for the time being. Rotor said he would get on it but he was meeting with the other heroes at the moment. As much as she would like to ignore them, she couldn't even walk around without someone yelling something negative at her. Deciding to stop thinking about it for the time being, she listened in on their meeting.
"But we can't just leave! My family didn't hold the crown for decades just to be succeeded by an insane wizard!" The former king exclaimed. He already had this debate with his parents. They would join but Max went into shock from trying to comprehend the whole situation.
"While we understand your concerns Elias, you and your family are not safe here. For all we know, Naugus could be plotting your deaths right now." Rotor pointed out.
"Plus, it'd be good to get you out of ugly's hair before he decides to act." Sonic agreed.
"And don't you worry about yer city. It's pretty well defended." Kor added.
Elias sighed. "First my sister...and now I'm forced to run...I wish...I just wish I could actually do something instead of being a coward..."
"Don't fret your highness. Zis iz not an act of cowardness, but moreso a tactical retreat if you will. We will do all we can to make sure you and your family will be getting to your destination safely!" Antoine said with an assured tone.
"That we will, Ah just hope ah don't slow y'all down..." Bunnie told him in a solemn tone. While she was glad she wasn't a cyborg anymore, she was worried that she'd be too weak to fight.
"Don't fret mah wife. I never had ze powers to begin with, yet I have performed up to the upmost level!" Antoine boasted, performing a few moves with his blade.
"With a hint of wimpness added in for good measure." Sonic muttered with a chuckle. The coyote just glared at the hedgehog.
"He's got a point though Buns. Even before I got into those...accidents...no one could say I wasn't defenseless. And I don't mean by hanging around my machines. You know how to shoot right?" Kor asked.
"Sho' nough."
"Welp, I'll lend ya somethin' to use. I also plan on bringin' mah sentry incase things go sour."
Elias sighed. "...Alright, no use in arguing anymore about it. I'll alert my wife that we'll be leaving soon."
-Meanwhile on the Death Egg-
Eggman was in his office for the time being. He grinned evilly as he read the production rates of his new robot army. Since most of his egg pawns and badnik horde was destroyed thanks to Enerjak, he seriously needed new tools at his disposal. Sure, the Dark Egg Legion was a 'decent' replacement at best, but at least with robots they don't sass or questions your orders. He also made sure that they would not be able to be reconfigured so easily, an issue he was well acquainted with. Robots like Gamma, Omega, and his original Metal Sonic being prime examples.
As for Mecha Sally, he spent hours weaponizing her to to be his enforcer. Along with several new weapons installed, he also gave her a modified power ring as her main conduit. The main difference between it and a regular ring was that it would not restore her free will due to all the modifications made on her. He boasted that with it, she would have the power to defeat Sonic. That has yet to be tested however. Little did he know was that he was going to have a secret meeting of his own.
Eggman was interrupted from his meddling when his main screen started to crackle to life. Whoever was trying to make contact him must've had bad reception due to all the static. "What in blazes is this signal wavelength? Is someone there? Answer me!"
The static cleared up enough to show that it was King Naugus. "Greetings Doctor! It's been a while." The wizard grinned. He was sitting alone in a temporary office somewhere in the city, and was communicating to him through the purple emerald from his staff.
"Naugus..." Eggman said with vemon in his voice. "To what do I owe this displeasure?"
"Consider this a courtesy call, from one conqueror to another. I have information about your next best shot at the Freedom Fighters." The wizard chuckled.
"Hmm, I see. I'm willing to bet this information doesn't come cheap..."
"Perceptive. Information for information doctor. My apprentice tells me you aren't quite the man I remember. Now tell me, do you recall our first meeting?"
Eggman's face was deadpanned. "Are you joking? Of course I remember! Though, it would be useful to compare notes...anyway, it was during my younger days. Old Mobotropolis had recently fallen into my grasp, and at the time I was 'curious' about the properties of the Zone of Silence."
"Curious meaning you wanted to visit those you cast into the void?" Naugus cut in.
"Precisely. I wanted to see if Kodos and Max been done each other in. I knew the zone was dangerous, so I wasn't going to let myself be trapped in there. I thought I came prepared, but what I didn't expect was to be ambushed."
"That would have been my minion Feist. He brought you to me, and between Kodos, Maximillion, and my apprentice at the time, they were concerned about your power-hungry, treasonous ways. Also, I found out you had taken over my city." The wizard hissed.
"Well, you were out during my coup so it was fair that I claimed it first."
"Shall I point out that while in the Prime Zone you had all the power, I controlled the Zone of Silence? I remember the fond adventures we had together." Naugus gave a dark chuckle.
"Maybe for you, you demented gargoyle! I had to run for my life for most of the time there! Yet, despite your magic I was able to contact Snively so he could bring me in. Back then I could actually trust that runt..." Eggman glared off screen. Just about everyone knew Snively was a doormat when it came to Eggman, but since the Iron Dominion the short man actually started to grow a pair, and it bugged Eggman that he couldn't keep him in line like he used to. "Oh, and before I departed, I thanked you for the hospitality you gave me!" The doctor chuckled.
"I liked that thone!" Naugus retorted angrily.
"Oh please, I'm sure you just poofed up a new one. Anyway, some time later, the First Robotnik War ended, you escaped, etc. etc. You know the rest. Oh, and did you hear? Feist took over and renamed it 'The Special Zone'." The doctor replied, his head resting on his hand.
"Yes, such a travesty..."
"Now for your end of the bargain. Either maake good with your deal, or so help me I'll-!"
"Save your petty threats doctor. With those heroes out of the way it'll be beneficial for us both. Anyway, the former King Elias and his family will be leaving the city later today. The Freedom Fighters will be their escorts." The wizard hissed with an evil grin.
"Hah hah hah! And with them close to the convoy it makes a nice target for an ambush! Shall I gloat on your behalf when I attack?"
"No no. Keep this between us. I need to maintain and image for my public." Naugus grinned evilly.
"Very well then. I'll do that, as you say, professional courtesy."
"Farewell doctor." Naugus grinned as the link ended.
Eggman jumped for joy in his seat. Oh it as going to be a glorious task to ambush all of those pesky animals, and as a bonus, the former king and his family. Eggman could already imagine the look on Elias' face if Sally got a hold of him. If the heroes were to lose their precious king, it would strike a major blow to their morale and could stop them from being a giant thorn in his side.
"Mecha Sally and Metal Sonic! Report to my office! I need a word with you both." He said over the comm line.
-30 minutes later-
The Freedom Fighters, minus Rotor and Nicole, leave the city with the Acorn family. Bunnie and Antoine drove them in a modified Mobo-Cruiser that also acted as an APC. Sonic was in the lead running ahead of them with Kor bringing up the rear on his mobile sentry. Tails and Amy were in the newly-repaired Tornado for air support. Since Bunnie didn't have a weapon of her own at the time, Kor lent her a shotgun along with a pistol he kept but rarely used. The engineer also brung his rocket launcher just in case. Their destination was the Feral Forest, which was rather thick and had some backwater village the royal family could hide in.
On board the Death Egg, Eggman and Snively were monitoring their movements. "Is phase 1 ready?"
"Yes sir. They're in position."
"Excellent. They may fend off this attack, but they won't be prepared for phase 2." The doctor chuckled.
Back on the ground, Sonic speeds ahead, scanning for enemies. He was unaware of the trap that lie in wait for him, but thanks to his heightened senses, he dodges laser fire a by a split second. "Finally some excitement!" The hedgehog said, turning toward his aggressor. To his surprise, he sees robots that appear to be a mix of the Swatbots and Egg Pawns. "How did Eggman know we'd be out here?!" He didn't have long to think about it as the robots fired on him again. The blue blur easily sidesteps and spindashes right through them like a bullet through paper at a shooting range.
Back with the convoy, they hear the gun shots and are brought to full alert. Everyone scans for any enemies but find none. Only time they get a good look is when Kor's sentry suddenly jerks to the left and fires between some trees. Everyone is in shock at the newly built Egg Swats coming at them.
"Eggman's robots? What're they doin' here?!" Bunnie asked.
"How'd Eggman know we'd be out here? Wasn't this supposed to be a secret?" Kor asked as he jumped off his sentry.
"I am not knowing how, but we must defend ze car!" Antoine said as he jumped out.
By now, they were being fired at from all sides. Elias, Megan and their daughter huddle together inside, praying they don't get hit. Some lasers do strike the vehicle but do no damage. Antoine runs up to their attackers and slices through them with ease. Bunnie uses her shotgun and manages to dispatch a few, though she's struggles a bit from having to constantly avoid fire. When she had her cybernetics she could withstand a few hits and move faster, but now she can't risk it. She didn't want to say it now, but she kinda wishes she was still a cyborg.
Tails circles above, firing missiles at the robots at the given opportunity. Due to the trees it was a little difficult. Amy already jumped off to hammer the Swats to pieces. Kor used his launcher to dispatch some of them, though he had to use his sentry as cover while it fired to avoid being singed. Sonic sped back and joined in the action.
"Are these Egghead's new robots or some redesigns? This ain't even a warm up!" Kor said as he fired another rocket.
"They kinda look like Swatbots. Guess ol' Eggy is really scraping the bottom of the barrel to bring up such old toys!" Sonic smirked as he kicked a bot's head in.
"Rah!" Amy slammed a robot so hard it went through a few trees. "Now that's a homerun!"
"How are you holding up mah sweet?" Antoine asked as he stabbed a bot's abdomen.
"Good so far. Feelin' a little worn out but ah'm still goin'!" Bunnie said while she more shells.
-On the Death Egg-
"S-Sir! The Egg Swats are taking heavy losses!" Snively yelled.
"Obviously. Now we get to the fun part!" Eggman said cheerfully. "Send in the players for phase 2! On the double!"
-Back on the ground-
As the heroes finish cleaning up the Egg Swats, Tails notices something flying towards him. "Guys, we got inbound! I see Metal Sonic and...is that Sally?!"
"What?!" Sonic asked in shock.
Indeed, Sally was flying at him with the new rocket boots she was given. She dives toward the Tornado before landing on the plane's nose. "Subject verified: Freedom Fighter. Terminating." She said as a laser appeared on her head.
Thinking quickly, Tails jumps from his aircraft as Mecha Sally blasts his seat a second later. The plane's controls are damaged and it goes into a downward spiral.
"We have serious problem guys! Sally and Metal Sonic are here!"
"Don't worry Tails, I'll back you up!" Amy said as she runs to cover him. While she is intially shocked at Sally's appearance, she doesn't let it distract her for long. The hammering heroine swings her weapon at the roboticized chipmunk once she gets within range, who catches it and snatches it out of her grasp. Mecha Sally then kicks Amy into a tree. Tails comes to assist but the robot fires lasers at him to throw him off. She stops when she is alerted to her missile warning system. Dodging out of the way, she sees Kor pointing weapons at her.
"Ya broke mah arm last time we met Sal, and unlike Sonic I ain't above shuttin' ya down for everyone's safety." The engineer said in a low tone.
"Prediction of you besting this unit is 0%. Chances of you suffering more than a broke arm is at 65%." Mecha Sally stated.
"Maybe, but I got new toys with me this time." As Kor said that, his sentry shat fire at her. Sally was forced to dodge but she closes in on them.
Sonic notices and rushes to his friend's aid. "Hang on guys! I'm coming!" He jets toward the robot chipmunk, but before he could get within striking distance he was tackled by Metal Sonic. "I really don't have time to deal with you!" He glared at his robot copy.
"Hang on 'Sug! I'm comin'!" Bunnie said.
She fires a few rounds at the metal hedgehog before smacking him off with the shotgun. However, the rounds do little damage to the bot and he punches Bunnie in the face, sending her flying and temporarily knocking her out. Antoine notices this but is unable to help her at the moment due to taking care of the last few Egg Swats.
With Mecha Sally, she closes in on Kor despite the sentry firing at her. Unleashing one of her laser swords, she stabs at him. However, at the last moment, Kor fires at rocket at her point blank. The blast throws both the fox and robot back while doing some damage to Sally, but none of it is noticable aside from the scorch marks. Doing a small damage assessment, she finds herself ok, but is then alerted to the damage readings beginning to spike from getting hit by the sentry. Using her new power, she moves around quickly so that the sentry can't effectively track her. She then closes in fast, using both swords to decapitate the sentry's guns and slice its inner circuitry.
Another missile warning grabs her attention and she darts out of the way. Tails tries to help by planting a device to short her out, but she elbows the kit away before blasting him with her head laser. He lands in a tree canopy but doesn't come out. Seeing Tails no longer a threat, she darts at Kor again, but this time he rocket jumps out of the way. "I saw what you did to my work, I ain't stupid!"
"Fair point, but you will still die." Mecha Sally stated before charging again.
All the while, the crew on the Death Egg notices that the Mobo-Cruiser was unguarded. "Sir, the vehicle is currently free to attack. All the heroes are either distracted or knocked out." Lien-Da stated.
"Oh ho ho ho! Target the vehicle and bring all missiles and lasers to bear!" Eggman shouted. Unfortunately, the radars can't seem to lock onto the vehicle despite it literally being a sitting duck, and the lasers miss as well due to this.
"Uncle Julian! T-The radars! They can't seem to lock on!" Snively told him. It seems before leaving, the heroes placed a jammer on the vehicle to prevent it from being targeted.
"Of all the rotten luck! Fine then!" Eggman grabbed the communications mic with both hands in anger. "Metal Sonic! Forget the hedgehog! Latch onto the vehicle and initiate self-destruct! Mecha Sally! Stop fooling around and slow down that hedgehog!"
"Self destruct?! You just rebuilt that thing!" Snively yelled in frustration.
Back on the ground, Sally closes in on Kor again who at this point spent all his rockets, forcing him to fire from his hand. Sally pins him to a tree with her arm. However, Kor manages to nail her in one of her eyes quite a few times. Angered, she prepares to stab his chest when she receives her orders. So instead, she impales him in the stomach with one of her swords and leaves it there, leaving him stuck to the tree.
Kor coughs out blood. "Ugh!...You just gonna leave me here?"
"Cease you whining. Be a good boy and I'll finish you later." Sally stated before flying off.
At the same time, Sonic notices Metal Sonic change course and head right for the Mobo-Cruiser. He attempts to give chase but is blocked by Sally. Getting a good look at her, the hedgehog can see all the doctor did to her. Instead of being in her usual outfit when she was first roboticized, she's covered in blue battle armor. Her hands are silver and look more menacing than they were before. In general, she looked much more threatening than when Sonic last saw her.
"Please Sal. Don't me have to fight you! I know you're in there somewhere! You gotta be! Do you want your brother to be killed?!" Sonic said desperately.
"Yes. It is the order of Dr. Eggman, and his word is my will. Trying to tell me otherwise will get you no where." Mecha Sally stated, unleashing her other sword.
"I was afraid of this..." He muttered. "Someone stop Metal from reaching the car!" Sonic shouted.
"I am on eet! None shall bring harm to ze royal family!" Antoine said as he finished dealing with the last Egg Swat. In his haste, he drops his blade as he hurries to catch the robot. He manages to catch Metal Sonic by his legs to slow him down, but it's not enough to stop him. "I could be uzing ze help right about now!"
"Don't worry 'Twan, I got ya!" Bunnie yelled, running up with the coyote's blade. She jumps on top of the robot and pins it to the ground. While Antoine tries to hold it hold as he can, Bunnie lifts the blade, poised to strike its head.
"Say g'night you scum!" Bunnie yelled as she plunged the sword deep into Metal Sonic's head.
The robot jolted and crackled with electricity before it violently explodes, with the two newly-weds at the center of it. Everyone besides Mecha Sally is stunned by what happened. When the smoke clears, both Antonie and Bunnie lie deathly still. No one is even sure if they're alive.
Eggman laughs with glee. "HAAAAAAAAAH HAH HAH HAH! After all this time, I've finally taken out not one, but two freedom fighters! Mecha Sally, report back to base. We're done here." Eggman told his enforcer.
Snively was starting to get frustrated. "Wait, we're leaving?! B-But we have them on the ropes! We could-!"
"It's already good luck that we killed two of those pests instead of the former king, and I don't want to push my luck by going any further!" Eggman retorted. "Now get out of here for ruining the mood!"
Snively growled as he stormed out. "I've had it up to here with that buffoon making idiotic decisions! If I was in charge those heroes would be dead by now! Time to give that fat man a piece of my mind..." He muttered to himself.
Kor was struggling to pull the sword from his abdomen, constantly having to stop due to the pain. You'd think getting stabbed so much on his last job would make him tolerable of it, but nope. Getting shot is not the same as getting stabbed.
"First she breaks my arm, now she-argh!-fuckin' stabs me...I swear next time we meet I ain't gonna let her one up me..." The engineer muttered. He was halfway finished when Mecha Sally approached him. She walked away from Sonic while he was distracted.
"I heard you talking about our next encounter. I will keep that noted. Should you fail to impress, you die." Sally stated, easily yanking the sword from Kor, who screamed, before flying back to the Death Egg.
"I hate her...so...much..." The fox muttered, both hands on his wound. While he didn't see what happened to Bunnie and Antoine, he heard an explosion. Struggling to his feet, he staggered over to where he heard the noise, and was shocked like everyone else.
Amy was checking both of them for any signs of life, and thankfully she finds they still have a pulse. "They're alive, but barely..."
"What in Sam Hill happened to 'em?..." Kor asked.
"They...made sure Elias and his family could get away. Metal Sonic was after them, but they stopped it..." Sonic explained.
Kor sighed. "Alright...good..." He spat out more blood. "Take 'em back to New Mobotropolis and get 'em to Dr. Quack ASAP. The rest of us will finish this thing..."
"Kor you should go back too...you were impaled to a tree for Chaos' sake!" Amy told him.
"No Amy, I came prepare this time..." He dropped a toolbox next to him. "As far as I'm concerned, if Sal's gone then I don't think Eggman's gonna come back any time soon. We'll just rest here for a few minutes and I'll be good. Unlike Antoine and Bunnie, I got time, they don't..." He cast a sorrow look at them.
"...Right. I'll see you guys back at the city..." Sonic grabbed the two fallen heroes and sped as quick as he could back home.
"Their sacrifices won't be in vain...I hope they make a full recovery..." Elias said.
After sitting next to a level 3 dispenser for a few minutes, Kor's wound sealed itself shut. Soon they continued to the Feral Forest where they dropped off the royal family before quickly making their way back to town, mainly the hospital. After some emergency surgery, the rest of the heroes were shocked to learn both newly-weds were in a comatose state. Their bodies were bandaged up and laying on beds in the same room. Dr. Quack apoligized, saying there was nothing more he could do for them.
So for the rest of the day, the heroes spent their time trying to cope: Amy was off doing who knows what, Sonic was in his house strumming his guitar, reflecting on the times he picked on Antoine and now regretting it. Tails was at the airfield repairing the Tornado. Kor sent two Tarantulas to retrieve its wreckage and sent a third to the Feral Forest village to watch over the royal family should Eggman send something. As for the engineer himself, he was occupied with trying to draw up a new mobile sentry. He was going to need one that's a lot stronger to deal with Sally and other robots like her. He paced around, looking at spare parts for his sentry. Now, he may have listened to the council for the time being, but when you need to get lethal, he was willing to go that distance.
Kor's ear twitched when he heard the familiar sound of nanites configuring into a certain avatar. "I heard what happened...and I visited them in the hospital..."
"Yeah...I'm still wondering how Eggman even found out about our escort job..." Kor ccntinued to pace. "It wasn't no coincidence he found us out there and sent Metal Sonic and Sally at us...I'm thinkin' someone tipped him off..."
"That's a possibility..." Nicole stated.
"Either way, I'm gonna call in a favor for 'em...hopefully Doc ain't too busy these days."
"Are you sure his medical equipment will work? I thought it was only programmed for you and your old friends..." Nicole asked, a little confused.
"A little rewirin' wouldn't hurt. Plus when Medic first tested the ubercharge he healed us quite easily when we didn't have our uber implants yet."
"I see...I hope it works..."
"It should. Despite how insane Klaus may seem, he's as much of a genius in the medical field as I am with machines." Kor chuckled.
"After what I saw when you had your eyes replaced, I'll believe that." An uneasy silence settled for a few moments. "Sonic was too upset to say anything about it, so I want to ask you this Kor: has Sally changed since you last saw her?...I don't remember you having a scar on your abdomen..."
Kor almost didn't want to answer that, unsure of how Nicole would take the news. He also didn't want to tell her he got stabbed in the stomach but she already figured that out. "Unfortunately yes...looks like Eggman gave her upgrades to turn her into a superweapon...she knocked some of us down rather easily. I held mah ground for a bit before she pinned and impaled me to a darn tree so she could deal with Sonic...she's definitely something not to be taken lightly now Nicole, and I'm afraid to say it, but if we aren't prepared to meet her head on next time she could kill all of us..."
Nicole closed her eyes as she processed this information. It seemed there was little trace of her best friend now, and the more they let this drag on the more harm it would bring to all involved besides Sally. "Then do it Kor...do whatever you need to do to bring her down. If it comes down to that you have to...end her..." She said with a tremble in her voice. "Then so be it...just...just make sure no one else gets hurt, or worse..."
Kor lifted her chin up with his organic hand so he could look her in the eyes. "I ain't goin' nowhere Nikki...I'll admit I've been a bit rusty lately, but I'm gonna step up mah game..." He then gave her a long peck on the lips.
Nicole started to blush but kissed him back, pulling away after a few minutes. "Thank you Kor." She smiled. "Unfortunately, this will be the last time I'll be in the city for a while..."
"What do you mean?" The engineer asked.
"I'm supposed to have a meeting with the Council very soon about whether I should be exiled...I estimate an 85% chance I will be cast out..." The A.I. said solemnly.
"Well...we both knew this would happen at some point...just keep a strong head alright? You practically run this city, so I doubt you'll be gone for long."
"Possibily...I have to go now. I'll see you at Freedom HQ." Nicole stated before disappearing.
Kor sighed. "Well, at least I was plannin' on movin' out anyways. Now where's that phone?..."
A/N: Well, there's that drama for you, even thought I think I kinda suck at writing such scenes. So let's take a head count: Sally's gone, two of the Freedom Fighters are out of commission, and Rotor ain't exactly fit to be in the field. How can the heroes still work effectively as a team? Find out next chapter.