Chapter 103: Trap
After following Zeena up to a hovering sphere made of ice and snow, she used a pair of energy beams from her hands to attract two snowman heads which she spun around. To avoid the laser beams, Sonny transformed into Sonic and leaped over them to hit Zeena a couple of times with a Homing Attack. Once this was done, Zeena retreated in anger and Sonic returned to the icy world below. There, Sonic transformed back into Sonny as he came across Robotnik and Miles examining piles of robots that had been destroyed earlier by Sonic.
"You know, I could use the spare parts from these robots to build you a new body," Miles said to Cubot whose head was placed on a snowman Orbot made in a matter of seconds.
"Ooh, that would be nice," Cubot said in response. "I'd like a big, strong body that won't break so easily."
"We'll see what Tails can do for you," Miles said and transformed into Tails as he took a massive crab-shaped robot and tinkered with it.
While this was going on, Robotnik was in deep thought while Sonny watched him.
"What are you thinking about?" Sonny asked.
"A way to get rid of the Zeti and Eggman's machine at the same time," Robotnik said.
"Then let's hear it," Sonny said.
"With Eggman's machine, I might be able manipulate the Lost Hex's gravity to the point where it will implode into itself, thus eliminating the Zeti and the machine."
"Are you crazy?!" Sonny exclaimed. "Every living thing on this hunk of rock will die, not just the Zeti."
"That's true, but how would leaving the Zeti alive be any better?"
"We're not killing anyone, or anything for that matter."
"Miles!" Robotnik suddenly exclaimed as Cubot, whose head was now attached to the crab-like robot, was about to strike Tails who had changed back into Miles with a sharp pincer. "Look out!"
Miles turned behind him just as Robotnik pushed him out of the way. Sonny in turn reacted by jumping into the air and knocking Cubot's head off with one kick. Fortunately, Orbot caught it and the crab robot fizzled out and died.
"What happened, Cubot?" Orbot asked.
"I don't know, but I just suddenly felt very mean," Cubot said nervously.
"That's probably because the Battle-Bot's function to kill anything nearby took over Cubot's mind and made him try to attack Miles," Robotnik said as he got off of Miles. "Not a very smart choice for a replacement body."
"What the heck was that?" Sonny said to Robotnik. "You saved Miles' life, right after talking about killing an entire planet."
"It's what happens when you've got the spirit of a mad scientist inside you," Robotnik said dusting himself off. "I'm not actually a bad person, but then Eggman takes over and I end up doing horrible things against my will."
"Yeah, like I'd believe that," Miles said as he got up.
"Miles!" Sonny said. "You could've seriously gotten killed if it hadn't been for Robotnik."
"I was just trying to help," Miles muttered.
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Inside the depths of a tropical jungle that lay northwest of the frozen area, Sonny Miles Dr. Robotnik and the two robots stumbled upon a metallic container with a big yellow cap on it.
"Isn't this the container Eggman used to kidnap the kids in?" Sonny said.
"Looks like it," Miles said and used the communicator which coupled as a scanning device to analyze the container. "My PAD detects several life-forms inside, but the readings seem off."
"Works for me," Sonny said and ran towards the container.
"Hold on," Miles said and immediately transformed into Tails. "Don't open it! It's a trap!"
Tails flew in front of Sonny and pushed him back as he fell into the container's side which opened up causing him to fall inside. He hit his head against the inside of the container, causing Tails to change back into Miles. Then before he could get up, the container closed up.
"Miles!" Sonny exclaimed but just before he could reach it the container vanished completely. "No…"
"The Zeti must've known we would be coming this way and so they set up that trap to capture us," Robotnik said reflexively. "But Miles knew this and sacrificed himself to save you."
"How could I have let this happen?" Sonny moaned. "I'm the fastest thing alive, next to Sonic, but I couldn't save my friend."
"Look over there!" Orbot said pointing at something beyond the foliage. "Isn't that—
"Yes, it is!" Cubot's head said as it bounced up and down for a better look. "It's Zor!"
"Another member of the Deadly Six?" Sonny said turning to Robotnik.
"Unfortunately, he is," Robotnik sighed. "He's not much of a fighter and has a terrible habit of complaining all the time."
While Robotnik was talking, Sonny ran off in the direction Orbot and Cubot were looking at and came across a teenage boy with a hunched back, medium-length purple hair, matching lips, gray skin, two black-and-blue horns that curved outward, and he was wearing a long gray trench-coat over tight black pants.
"Hey, you!" Sonny said as he approached the boy who was apparently named Zor. "Where did you take my friend?"
"Friend?" the boy parted his bangs and his eyes widened slightly. "Wait a minute, I thought we captured you."
"Well, you didn't!" Sonny grabbed Zor by the collar of his coat. "You took my best friend instead, now I want to know where he is!"
"Ugh, let go of me!" Zor said and scratched Sonny's hand causing him to let go. "I hate fighting."
"Then tell me where my friend is," Sonny said insistently.
"No way," Zor said and ran away as fast as he could.
In turn, Sonny pursued him but the foliage was so thick that he couldn't see Zor anywhere. Eventually, he found himself in a dark cave that was crawling with robots which he subsequently defeated as Sonic. Then on a floating platform made of purple stones, he found Zor who turned to him with an annoyed look on his face.
"Took you long enough," Zor murmured loudly. "And I thought you were supposed to be the fastest thing alive."
"Where did you take Miles?" Sonic insisted.
"You're starting to annoy me," Zor said as he created two shadowy clones of himself with bats that came from his hands. "Maybe I'll kill you slowly so I can enjoy every minute of it."
He then jumped up into the air and pulled a hanging switch, causing the cave's electric lights to suddenly go off. Sonic in turn responded by avoiding the shadows as best he could and pulled the switch again to turn the lights on. He saw Zor floating away, and leaped after him. After a couple Homing Attacks, Zor gave up and vanished in a cloud of bats.
To be continued…