Chapter 3: Back to Square One, Return to Floor 77!

Year 2059, Robotnik Enterprises Security Hub.

Sonic: Sky, there's nothing left here to trash! You still there?

Sonya fell to the floor due to the Death Egg Robot on her end vanishing due to the effects of Quantum Causality. She catches her breath and stood up just as the bigger robot was turned into several smaller, but more manageable robots.

Sonya: Yeah, for the most part…

Sonic: Did those sentries turn into something else? Like, I dunno, kittens?

Sonya: Yeah. Small. Metal. Robotic. Killer kittens.

Sonic: Awwww…

Sonya got to work, dashing around the room and punching the crap out of the robots, nearly getting grabbed a few times, but she was too quick for them, quickly reducing some to scraps in moments.

Sonya: Thanks for getting me out of there! Guess that proves Quantum Causality is a fact, not a theory.

Sonic: Just tell me who wins the next 10 World Series and we'll call it even.

Sonya: The world what?!

Sonic: You're KILLING me, Sky!

Sonya: I'm not. But YOU will if you go to the 77th floor!

Sonic: 77th floor, I know, and we both know I'm gonna kick ass and take names!

Sonya: … Okay, fine. If plan A, keeping you out of danger isn't working, then I need to go to plan B. I get back to my own 77th floor, and we try to solve this thing from there.

Sonic: I'll try not to die in the meantime.

Somya sighs in frustration as she finishes clearing the room, then she Spindashes through a malfunctioning door. She looks around and sees some new Drones, and one of them chased a rat, blowing up next to it!

Sonya: Jeez! Overkill much?!

She zips through the room but then Quantum Causality kicked in and blocked her way forward!

Sonya: Shock it! Sonic, slow down! Wait for me to get to my 77th floor!

Sonic: Instead of my slowing, how about YOU hurry?

Sonya: … Screw you.

Sonic: Nah, sorry, I'm married!

Sonya: Wha– Dammit, the reason I'm saying that is because a hallway just changed!

Sonic: Oh! Wasn't me, maybe Valkyr smashed a wall or something, I'm just trying to stay alive!

Sonya: If you were, you would clear out. But nooooo, you gotta prove your bravery.

Sonic: … Excuse me??? Listen lady, there is NOTHING I would like more than to just high tail it out of here!!

Sonya: Then why the shock don't you?!

Sonic: Because what I do MATTERS! Okay?! Beyond changing hallways and whatnot, it matters! And THAT'S just something that I have to live with, even if it means I die for it! Do you get it, Sky?!

Sonya: Whatever… (Thinking) He is DEFINITELY the Sonic everyone knows, and that's both a good thing, and a bad thing…

Sonya zips around the room, trying to find a alternate route, then she stops just as she enters the main elevator shaft of the building.

Sonya: So, where are you now?

Sonic: Nearly where you don't want me to be.

Sonya: Slow down, would'ja?!

Sonic: How about YOU speed up?! You're a speedster Hedgehog like me, right?

Sonya: Yea, I'll get RIGHT on that! (Thinking) Quickest way to floor 77 is down the elevator shaft… (Out loud) Shortest distance between two points is a straight line. On my way, Hedgehog… Hedgehog? … Oh that's not good…

Sonya takes a deep breath then she jumps into the elevator shaft, going straight for a dive down it. It didn't take long for her to have to start avoiding elevators and other obstacles in her way, but for the most part, it was smooth sailing. So she engaged her mid air Boost to try and get down faster, only to end up smacking her head against a large bulkhead door, which nearly knocked her out cold, but she recovers and then resumes the dive.

She landed on the bridge that linked the elevators with floor 77, and just before she could do ANYTHING, it suddenly gave out under her! The impact must have shaken loose the support columns! She falls further down the shaft but then engages her Grappling Hooks with the Magnet Hook, latching to a wall!

Sonya: Shock it, I gotta get back up there, fast! Sonic, I'm running behind, I fell down the elevator shaft farther than I planned!

Sonic: And this is MY problem, how?

Sonya: Do you want my help to solve this issue and prevent you from dying or not?!

Sonic: Sorry kid, but once I start, I don't stop, and since I'm right at the end stretch, I am NOT slowing down for you! Sorry!

Sonya: SHOCK IT, SONIC, JUST LISTEN TO ME!

Sonic: Maybe I will if you can get here at the same time as me!

Sonya: (Thinking) I'm starting to see why people think he's a jerk with a huge ego… I gotta move it!

Sonya got into a crouched position while stuck to the wall, then her body began releasing sparks of light blue and rose pink lightning. Her eyes turned the same color pink before she sprung off the wall, wall jumping her way up at high speeds and making it back to the 77th floor. She hadn't needed to go at THAT high of a speed in a long time, so doing so nearly knocked her off balance!

Sonya: Whew… That was close. Hedgehog, I made it back to floor 77. Where are you? Is Valkyr still hiding?

Sonic: I'm face to face with her. Valk! Are you okay?!

2023, Robotnik Enterprises Time Research Lab.

Valkyr was standing in front of the door leading to the Time Research Lab, and she was NOT looking good! Her hair was a mess, and she looked like she had hurt herself!

Valkyr: Trying to…! Blow you up…!

Sonic: If you were really trying, you would have done it! What's wrong Valk?!

Valkyr roars and she crouches down!

Valkyr: KILL YOU…! NOW!

Sonic got ready to throw down, and he leapt into action first, trying to kick Valkyr, but then he got grabbed and pinned to a wall, and then the unthinkable happened: Valkyr was draining Sonic's powers!! Sonic grabbed the nearest object and smacked Valkyr with it, causing her to flinch. She backed off, grabbed her head, then ran away!

Sonya: What's happening there?

Sonic: … Valkyr is fighting herself more than she is me!

Sonya: Mind Control Chips would do the job… How dangerous is she right now?

Sonic: She drains my powers on contact, AND she doesn't trigger my danger sense.

Sonya: Great. Where are you, and can you avoid her?

Sonic looks around.

Sonic: 77th floor. And yeah, I COULD avoid her, but if I do, her explosions will bring the building down and kill people for blocks around!

Sonya: … Okay, yeah, that is a HUGE problem, but honestly, I'd trade one building for keeping you safe.

Sonic: Okay, that is IT! Why are you so obsessed with making sure I'M safe?! What about the people in the future, huh?! Do they not matter?!

Sonya: What do you–

Sonic: No, don't try to play coy with me, kid! You're a speedster, right? So why do you not care about others?! Why aren't you using your powers for good?!

Sonya: I never said I didn't, now did I?!

Sonic: Yeah well, from the way you talk, you sure don't seem like you do!

Sonya: I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE FUTURE ISN'T SCREWED! Why is that so hard for you to understand?!

Sonic: So, what, you're just trying to save your own skin by saving mine, is that it?! Cuz I got news for you kid! The needs of the many will ALWAYS outweigh the needs of the one!

Sonya: I'm not saying that that isn't true, but what I'm trying to say is that YOU are a lot more important than you think, Sonic! It isn't just MY future that's at risk of being erased forever, but YOURS is also at risk, and I swore to yo– I MEAN…! I swore to my mom and dad that I would do anything to make sure that doesn't happen!

Sonic: Yeah? Well, news flash kid. One often meets their destiny on the road to avoid it. So if I have to die today? I'll do it knowing I saved a few more lives!

Sonya: YOU STUBBORN OAF!!!

Sonic: I'm DONE arguing about this with you, Sky! I HAVE to do this!!

Sonic huffs angrily and then begins his chase, trying to find Valkyr. It didn't take long as she was in a room full of electrical lines on the floor.

Sonic: There you are! Valk! You're being controlled! Fight it!

Valkyr: FIGHT YOU…! INSTEAD…!

She roars then throws a small red orb, causing an explosion that knocks Sonic back and causes the floor to become a big hazard.

Sonic: She took off again.

Sonya: If only you'd do the same.

Sonic: Sky, if you can't handle the fact that I can't turn my back on danger, no matter what the cost, then you have NO business calling yourself a hero!

Sonya: Woooow. I'm hurt. Guess what else I am? STILL ALIVE! Let's hope YOU get to keep saying the same thing!

Sonic: (Thinking) I REALLY wish I could just shut this time travel communications thingy off…