Last time on Sonic the Hedgehog, everyone was converging onto West Island. Each team was slowly making their way toward the battle in their own way. Rosie and her team decided to head to the source of the corruption and find out what was going on, leading the charge to Hill Top Mansion. As the battle heats up and those who don't normally fight start joining the fight, the titanic fortress, Metallic Madness, makes its arrival to West Island. But as things start to turn from bad to worse, Sonic the Hedgehog arrives to turn the tables back into their favor…

Sonic stood with Tails on Emerald Hill Resort, staring off with the Metallic Madness base. Uncle Chuck was in a moment of shock, but then a smile grew as he looked on, proud of his nephew.

Sonic: "Yo, Uncle Chuck. Hope I didn't miss the 'Welcome Home' party."

Uncle Chuck: "Well, you're on time to stop one headache after a growing list of them… West Island has been completely converted into a warzone, but I cannot understand how…"

Sonic: "Don't worry. We'll deal with that as soon as we deal with this. Right, Tails?"

Tails: "Right!"

Sonic starts walking toward the large egg base as he cracks his knuckles. With a final step, he immediately point a finger at the base's control room.

Sonic: "Alright, Egg-brat! I heard you through those speakers so come out and fight like a real… robot."

Omelette: "Ugh… You are such a pain. But you know what? This is fine. I wanted to destroy you anyway!"

As Sonic stood ready for anything, he sees a bunch of ninja stars fly toward him from his right. Sonic grabs Tails as he runs out of the way before seeing a stylized Egg Robo dressed as a ninja.

Tails: "A ninja!?"

Heavy Shinobi: "Not quite. A shinobi… Heavy Shinobi!"

A ball and chain almost hits Sonic and Tails; the latter lifts them both into the air just in time, but are quickly shot down by a missile. Two more stylized Egg Robos appear, one on a Rhinobot and the other holding a bazooka.

Heavy Rider: "Kneel, knaves! For thine princess has mercy enough for ye to repent for thine sins! Boast thine apologies and forgiveness may be granted to thou."

Heavy Gunner: "I didn't get a lick o' dat! But honestly, I dun care! 's long's I keep-a blastin' dem varmints!"

Two more Egg Robos descend from the Metallic Madness base, one of them dressed like a magician while the last one - a notably taller type - was regal like a king. Even holding a staff to represent his authority.

Heavy King: "Hmph. I suggest you surrender, hedgehog. Five on two don't seem to be very good odds."

Omelette: "Oh yes~ Did I forget to mention that I've been very busy since our last encounter? Meet my ultimate, elite squad of baddy Badniks! The Hard Boiled Heavies!"

Sonic looks at the five new robots before standing back up and dusting himself off.

Sonic: "You alright, Tails?"

Tails: "Yeah. Missiles hit hard though."

Sonic: "Eh, just caught us off guard."

As Sonic helps Tails to his feet, Omelette starts shouting in anger.

Omelette: "Hey! What gives!? Where's your surrender!? Your look of absolute terror!? Where's my victory!?"

Sonic: "Lady, if your 'big bad mech' before didn't scare me, what makes you think a few upgraded Egg Robos will? They may have more personality and some new tricks… But at the end of the day, they are just robots to scrap."

Heavy King: "Hmph. So be it then. Hard Boiled Heavies! Att-"

Omelette: "Heavy King! I'm the one doing the commanding! This is my time to shine! My time to beat this worthless rodent!"

Everyone goes quiet - like, comically silent - as they stare at the base as Omelette just pauses. Sonic looks at his invisible watch as he taps his foot.

Omelette: "Ugh… Fine! Just attack already! …I'm going to make some popcorn…"

Sonic: "Alright, tin men! Let's do this!"

Sonic gives a confident grin as he launches at the Hard Boiled Heavies.

Meanwhile, at a seemingly private beach just a few miles from the Hill Top Mansion, Snively was ordering a few Police Bots to carry a boat for him so he could leave the island.

Snively: "Ugh… Of all the rotten timings… Running into Sage just as I was escaping… 'Go back to Robotropolis'... Hah! As if… If she thinks I need that fat tub of oil and metal then she can suck a d-"

As Snively was about to finish that remark, a sudden crash onto the beach startles him as he quickly hides behind a nearby rock. As he peeks, he sees the shell of a torpedo. It didn't explode so it was likely empty. But a foot kicking the hatch to the torpedo open reveals Jennifer coming out of it.

Jenni: "Ugh… The landing could have been way softer… Good thing I made these things tough. Otherwise, I wouldn't have done this…"

Jenni puts her hands in the pocket of her lab coat as she sees Snively, who was starting to look less scared.

Jenni: "Oh. So you did escape. Huh… Maybe I should've went with the isolation cell instead of the standard one."

Snively: "You think a simple prison could hold the great and brilliant mind of Colin Robotnik Jr.!?"

Jenni: "...Yes."

Snively immediately deflates from his bravado at that answer before glaring at the woman.

Snively: "Fine… Robots! Attack! Destroy her!"

Police Bots: "ALL HAIL, ROBOTNIK!"

The Police Bots take out their guns and point it at Jenni. But the lady just sighs, as if this was a minor annoyance than a threat. She then pulls out a tiny ball before flicking it at the robots. Within a second, an EMP shocked the robots, effectively disabling them as they fall onto the sand harmlessly. Snively's bravado dies at that as he no longer had any protection.

Snively: "Uh oh… This… might be a problem…"

Snively turns back to Jenni, only to see a low heel platform shoe slam right onto his face, pinning him to the rock as the doctor glares down at him.

Jenni: "I gave you something of a chance to redeem yourself and turn your life around, and you decide using my own robots against me was a good idea. Honestly, it's a wonder I still have any amount of trust in me. So tell me what I want to know… Or I paint this rock and the beach a nice form of red."

Snively starts to struggle, seeing himself in genuine danger as he tries to talk.

Snively: "Wh… Wait! I-It was Sage! She took control of the entire island! Sh-She built herself a physical body and forced me to help her! Pl-Please! Don't kill me!"

Jenni: "Sage, huh?"

Jenni thinks for a moment before looking in the direction of her mansion. She then lifts up her foot and instead grabs Snively by his shirt and lifts him off the ground.

Jenni: "Listen up. I gave you a chance at redemption because we're family. You are my older brother's son and I do like to try and see the better side of people. But you are just a stark reminder that the world is not all sunshine and rainbows. So I'm giving you a different option… If I ever see you on or near my island again… I will not hesitate to bury you myself. Your corpse will be reminder to those that dare to cross me. I can be the sweetest, nicest lady if don't betray my trust. If you do, I can be far… far… worse than Ivo. Do I make myself clear, Colin?"

Snively: "Y-Yes! P-Perfectly clear!"

Jenni: "Then… GET OFF MY ISLAND!"

Jenni reels back the hand holding Snively, then immediately tosses him across the ocean, sending him quite far. She then looks to the boat Snively was trying to commandeer for his escape before kicking into the water, letting the waves just take it. The slight adrenaline causes her to feel her chest, feeling a slight tug at her heart.

Jenni: "Ghuh… I hope… my condition… doesn't start acting up…"

As she calms down, she takes a few deep breaths before recomposing herself. Snively swims to his boat before climbing in.

Snively: "Ugh… Can my day get any worse…?"

As he uttered those words, he braced himself for something to happen. Thankfully nothing happened… Life was cruel… but not that cruel it seems…

Back at the resort, Sonic and Tails is seen dodging missiles shot by the Heavy Gunner. And by dodging, they were more so jumping from missile to missile before sending one back at the robot.

Heavy Gunner: "Consarnit! Why doncha just get hit already!?"

Sonic: "Uh, duh. The point's to not get hit?"

As Sonic taunts the Heavy Gunner as he is reloading his bazooka, Heavy Rider comes in from behind, swinging his mace. Tails grabs Sonic and carries him over the robot riding knight bot.

Heavy Rider: "Tally ho! Thine wretched trickery will be thine undoing! Prepareth ye tails for the merciless mace of the great Heavy Rider!"

Sonic: "Bro, your Shakespearen is so bad, you make stage plays look realistic in comparison."

The mace is tossed at Sonic for that comment, but Tails quickly tosses Sonic up as he runs down the chain and kicks Heavy Rider off the Rhinobot.

Heavy Rider: "Oh no! Jeremy! Cometh back to papa! Oh, a knight is only half a man without his trusty stead… I am nothing if not a failure… Oh great darkness… Please maketh it quick and swallow me whole…"

Sonic and Tails, as well as the other Hard Boiled Heavies, could only just… stare at the melodramatic performance Heavy Rider was putting on. The Heavy King, however, maintained a stoic and serious composure as he glared at his fellow Hard Boiled Heavies.

Sonic: "Boy… He'd make for a good actor to someone at least."

Tails: "He is pretty over the top though."

Heavy Shinobi: "That'll be enough out of you. I do not appreciate you messing with my brother like that."

Heavy Shinobi then puts his hands together before expelling a smokescreen from his exhaust, clouding Sonic and Tails' vision.

Sonic: "A smokescreen, huh? Tails? You think you can-"

Sonic is interrupted as he avoids a knife slash that came for his head. He kicks in that direction, but makes no direct contact. Tails attempts to blow the smoke away, but is quickly grabbed by something.

Sonic: "Whoa! Tails!?"

Tails: "Ugh! Sorry! I'm okay! One of those jerks tried to grab me in the smoke but I took care of them!"

Sonic: "Nice one! Now help with the smoke and mirrors!"

Tails then gives a sinister smile before kicking Sonic on the back, knocking him forward and into the fist of the waiting Heavy Shinobi.

Sonic: "Oof! Okay… That smarts…"

Sonic rubs his chin as the robot hides again. Getting sick of the tricks, Sonic starts running in circles before creating a tornado, dispelling the smokescreen and enabling him to see Heavy Shinobi.

Sonic: "Alright, bozo. Enough tricks. Either fight fair or-"

Sonic is then stomped into the ground by Tails. Sonic doesn't stay down, but he does scratch his head - both to rub out the pain of being stomped and in confusion.

Sonic: "Tails! What's gotten into you!?"

Tails: "Oh sorry, dear boy. But I'm not your deary little friend!"

Tails then poofs into smoke before revealing himself to be Heavy Magician in disguise.

Heavy Magician: "Quite a dolt you are~ It's almost magical how dumb you are! Hohohoho~"

Sonic: "Yeah, yeah. Lovely magic trick. How about I pull one of my own!?"

Heavy Gunner: "I wouldn't if I were you, varmint!"

Sonic turns towards the robot that spoke before his expression turned into shock as he sees Tails in his grip, a gun to his head.

Sonic: "...Oh you cheating…"

Heavy Gunner: "Put yer gloved hands on the ground or de fox gets it."

Tails: "Sonic! Keep fighting! Don't worry about me!"

Sonic was in a tight spot. The Heavy Shinobi and Heavy Magician surround him, the Heavy Gunner had Tails hostage. Fast as Sonic is, even he couldn't run fast enough to save his buddy with a gun to his head. With a defeated sigh, Sonic places his hands to the ground, much to Tails' shock and horror.

Tails: "Sonic! What are you-"

Sonic: "Sorry, bud. I can't risk putting your life in danger."

Heavy King: "Hmph. Not that it matters. Especially since you both are enemies to the Robotnik Empire."

The Heavy King approaches, standing over Sonic like a figure of superiority. Sonic could only grit his teeth angrily.

Sonic: "Oh don't pretend like you deserve credit. You didn't do anything but stand around like a statue."

Heavy King: "Fool. You never reveal all of your cards in a card game. Always save the best for last."

The Heavy King's staff then begins to glow as he raises it into the air, ready to smite Sonic on the spot. As Sonic has more or less accepted his fate, a gunshot is heard as Heavy Gunner's gun is shot out of his hand.

Heavy King: "What!?"

As the Heavy King turns towards Gunner, he is met by a boot to his face, a girl kicking off him as he is sent tumbling to the ground, with Sonic moving away quickly before he is crushed.

Girl's Voice: "A king should never just sit on the sidelines, letting his soldiers do all the fighting. My dad taught me as such and I aim to live up to that philosophy."

Sonic looks up as he sees Sally Acorn and her new ally, Julie, had finally arrived and joined the fight. Tails looks at the shocked Heavy Gunner before using his namesake to slap the robot in the face, allowing him to get free. Sonic, with Tails free, could only smirk.

Sonic: "Hehe. 'Bout time you showed up."

At the front of the Hill Top Mansion, Rosie's team arrive to a locked front door, Rosie putting in password after password before finally being electrocuted by the mansion's defense system.

Ivory: "Boy, that was shocking. I bet this is an electrifying experience."

Agatha: "Ivory. Enough of your puns. There'll be time for fun and games later."

Rosie: "I don't get it. I pressed the passwords Nicole gave me. Why are they not working?"

Voice: "Because Sage changed the passwords. Duh."

The group turned to the sudden voice, seeing a woman in a lab coat approach the mansion and them.

Jenni: "If I knew I was going to get visitors, I'd have put out a welcome mat."

Rosie: "...Oh! You are that doctor! The same one I vaguely recall seeing when I woke up briefly in my bed…"

Jenni: "Yep. Glad to see you're up and at 'em. Makes me a very happy doctor."

Jenni approaches the doors… then just kicks it hard enough to have them fall off their hinges.

Jenni: "When the password pad glitches and I don't have my front door keys, I just kick the doors open."

Agatha: "I… guess that works…?"

Ebony: "Wait… If this is the source of the corruption… And you own this house… Are you the ruler of this island?"

Jenni: "Ruler's too big a word to describe someone like me. I just own the island and most of the facilities and locations. As far as ruling goes, I just let everyone do as they please within the usual laws."

Ivory: "...Suddenly it makes sense…"

As Jenni and Rosie's team walk through the front doors, they hear a voice come from the speakers.

Sage: "Oh? Intruders… I should've expected the one called 'Jennifer' to arrive. This house's lack of defenses are quite-"

And the voice was muted by the push of a button from Jenni.

Jenni: "Villainous monologues are not my thing to listen to. Just ask my brother."

Jenni led the group up the stairs and into her private room, where Nicole's device was set up, indicating her being trapped and captured.

Rosie: "So what do we do? How do we free West Island?"

Jenni: "Easy enough. We beat the evil out of my system. …My computer, I mean…"

Ivory then looked disappointed as she goes to put away the bat she found.

Agatha: "And how do we manage that?"

Ebony: "Are you going to hack into the system?"

Jenni: "In normal circumstances, yes, that would be my course of action. Sadly, that's not going to work this time. A more direct approach is going to be necessary. And thanks to foresight, I do have a system for such an approach."

Jenni presses a few buttons on her keyboard before a nearby wall starts to slide open, revealing a hidden part of the room with some kind of bed capsule.

Ivory: "Oooo~ It's like one of those sci-fi films~"

Jenni: "This is a machine I built to access cyberspace. Rarely used; I only made it so I could give Nicole a more physical interaction. Basically my mind will be injected into cyberspace as an avatar. Once inside, I just boot Sage out and free my island."

Rosie: "Okay… Easier said, but… What happens if you lose?"

Jenni: "Simple answer: My body becomes a vegetable, my NIDS takes over, and I basically just die."

Jenni says without so much as skipping a beat or a hint of hesitation.

Agatha: "Excuse me, what, madam? You're going into cyberspace, with the potential of death hanging over you? Have you lost the goddamn plot?"

Jenni: "Nope. I'm perfectly sane. …I'm already walking towards Death's door. Why live in fear for the rest of your life when you can just live life to its fullest?"

Agatha: "But even still… Why not send one of us?"

Jenni: "Because this island was built by me. From the ground up. As such… It's my fault this happened. I tried building a paradise to cope with Ivo's megalomaniacal thought processes, only to end up creating another monster… But unlike Ivo, I won't just give up and let this mistake fester. Even if it means killing myself in the process… I AM NOT LETTING EVERYONE LIVE IN PAIN!"

Agatha and the rest just stared in shock, backing up. Not out of fear, but admiration. None of them knew the full context, yet the voice they heard was from someone who's… lived a life filled with hardships. Jenni enters the bed capsule and lying down.

Jenni: "Rosie? Mind pressing that green button on the control panel? If I do come back, let's have a little tea party to celebrate. Okay?"

Rosie looks at Jenni, almost being reminded of Sonic from that confident statement. She nods before approaching to press the button as instructed. The lid of the capsule closed as Jenni was put into a deep sleep state. The rest could only wait with baited breath.

Jenni enters cyberspace, landing on what could be called 'ground' with a tap from her shoes. She puts her hands in her pockets as she observes the landscape around her - black with a red hue. The doctor wasn't too impressed, but she then sees Nicole tied up with black chains.

Nicole: "L-Lady Jen! Behind you!"

Jenni raises an eyebrow as Sage jumps from behind cover, a scythe ready to slash at the doctor…

To be continued…