Last time on Sonic the Hedgehog, we get a gaze into what truly happened to Mighty and Lam as they reach Robotnik Island to find Ray and destroy the island. What they find instead is a corrupt Ray running the island in Robotnik's stead, leading to a lot of questions being asked. Questions that may be answered as the story continues…
On the Mobius Sea, Sally and her Team Freedom are en route for the signal Nicole picked up on Chun-nan - a distress signal from Lam and her partner, Mighty, which the girls gladly answer.
Sally: "I hope we aren't too late… From the sound of that ending, it sounds like they got caught… or worse…"
Nicole: "Regardless of the message's outcome, destroying this island would loosen Robotnik's growing control over Mobius. But I do agree… I hope we aren't too late in saving those two…"
Tekno: "So this Lam girl… Sonic helped her out on South Island, right?"
Rosie: "According to his story. Robotnik sent Omelette to gather Mobians for his attempt at a global wipe of all life on Mobius, using them as batteries."
Tekno: "Ugh… What a sick and twisted plan… If he wants batteries, just buy 'em from the store like everyone else!"
Sally: "Whatever the case, Tekno, I have a special mission for you and Nicole. Any chance you can hack into Eggman's database and find out what that mad doctor is up to?"
Tekno salutes as she responds.
Tekno: "Roger dodger, Princess S.!"
Nicole: "There is a 95% chance that those plans are encrypted… and likely guarded."
Tekno: "Let me take care of the security, Nicole. You just take care of decrypting those plans; if we can get ahead of Eggman, we'll give him a little surprise from the Freedom Fighters."
Everyone agrees to the plan before they spot their destination, Robotnik Island. The large effigy of Eggman's face looms over the group as they approach. Sally stops the boat right at the beach of the island.
Within the island base, screams are heard as Lam was tortured on a table, her arms and legs restrained as she was being electrocuted. The electrocution stops as she's allowed to breathe. Ray approaches her from the nearby lever as he grabs her by her cheeks.
Ray: "Now, you'll tell me… Where did you send that signal? Who were you trying to call?"
Lam: "I'd rather eat this island's flimsy excuse for a salad than tell ya squat, ya mangy nut eater."
Ray: "A shame. Perhaps I'll increase the power output to about 500 volts… That might make you talk."
Lam: "Why the heck are ya like this? Mighty told me ya were a sweet lil squirrel. What happened to ya?"
Voice: "I can answer that for you… But you might not like it."
Lam turns as far as her head could as Eggman himself appears on a monitor. Ray bows to him, going to a knee.
Ray: "Master Robotnik. You don't have to tell this fool. She isn't worth it."
Eggman: "Oh but why pass up the opportunity to monologue? I do enjoy having my cake and eating it."
Eggman's smile only gets more pronounced as he glares at the goat.
Eggman: "Besides… You were one of those fools who dared to mess with my plans on South Island, along with that rodent."
Lam: "Yeah and I'll mess up ya ugly mug when I get the chance! Where is my village!?"
Eggman: "Oh yes, them… We'll get to that, but one thing at a time. First…"
Two Egg Robos enter, holding a bruised up Mighty, who is tossed to the floor. One Egg Robo stomps their foot on his head to keep him pinned to the ground.
Eggman: "Is everyone here? Good. Then allow me to indulge your curiosity… After your pest of a friend overloaded the Chaos Gem chunk - an artificially created Chaos Gem chunk by your's truly I might add - this resulted in an explosion in which the negative energy of the chunk had entered your friend's system, thus turning him into a loyal minion of mine. The explosion wasn't without severe damage though, so… I gave him some… modifications."
Ray: "My limbs and organs are entirely cybernetic."
Eggman: "The outfit was a nice little addition I decided on when I was finishing my Death Egg. I call him… Dark Rayder!"
Ray: "And I hold that name with pride."
Mighty: "Ray… Y-You… Robotnik…! I'll crush your head! I swear it!"
Mighty was getting furious at this explanation, but Ray stood beside the lever for Lam's torture, setting the dial to 10,000 volts. This would instantly kill anyone if he turned it on. This forced Mighty to stay in place.
Eggman: "As for your village, my little goat…"
Eggman moves away from the camera, revealing a line of roboticized Mobians, the various sizes indicating both children and adults were converted into robots. Lam's eyes widen as she recognized them as her village.
Eggman: "They became - hehe - "willing" volunteers for my latest and greatest project, the restored Roboticizer! I tried to play nice with Mobius by giving the citizens a quick and painless death… But seeing as all of you want to go against me, I figured I'd do the next best thing… Turn all of you meatbags into my roboticized minions! Oh and don't worry… They are completely aware of their actions, being forced to watch as they capture and turn other Mobians into robots as well! And all they can say is…"
Robians: "All hail, Robotnik!"
Lam: "You… You heartless monster!"
Eggman: "Oh please. I relish in that fact. Soon, my perfect utopia will become a reality! I'll become emperor of an entire nation of robot minions! I shall rule the newly dubbed… Robotius!"
The mad doctor lets out a laugh, letting his voice echo the room. But then a Roller enters the room.
Roller: "Dark Rayder… We have spotted intruders docking at the south side beach. One intruder has been identified as Princess Sally Acorn."
Ray: "Prepare the island defense systems. I want them captured… and prepped for roboticization. If you'll allow me, Lord Robotnik…"
Eggman: "Oh, you might be my best pet yet, Rayder. Very well… I'll send a shipment of a roboticizer to the island right away. In the meantime, keep our guests comfortable…"
Ray nods as Eggman turns off communication, approaching Lam and Mighty as the eyes of his mask glow red.
As reported, Sally and her friends dock their vessel on the beach on the south side of the island, expecting that whoever runs the island - if not Eggman himself - must know they are there.
Sally: "Alright, girls, stick together and don't get separated."
Tekno: "Whoa… The ground is made of metal. This whole island is artificial."
Rosie: "Yes… And that means everything here is a robot!"
Rosie draws her bow as she shoots at a cannon camouflaged as a tree. Several other trees uproot themselves, turning their trunks at the trio. Sally throws up a dome shield, blocking the incoming blaster fire as Rosie and Tekno fire long range projectiles at the robotic trees.
Nicole: "Save your energy! I have an idea! Sally, how long can you keep up your shield?"
Sally: "For about thirty minutes before my arms get tired."
Nicole: "Then we need that amount of time to get to the base! Concentrate your Chaos energy into my circuits!"
Sally does as instructed, generating her energy into Nicole's computer. Inside, the lynx works on a stealth field using Sally's energy as the conductor. By typing in the commands, her plan becomes active as several Egg Robos fly in. The Egg Robos scan the area, detecting the damaged cannons, but oddly, don't see Sally or her friends.
Egg Robo: "Damage detected. But the intruders are missing. Search for them. They can't have gone far."
The frightened Freedom Fighters calm down as Tekno look at Sally.
Tekno: "Are we… cloaked? How'd you do that?"
Nicole: "I simply used Sally's energy as a conductor to amplify my stealth generator. It'll only hold for as long as Sally can maintain her barrier."
Sally: "And my arms can't stay up forever. While we have this umbrella, let's move to the base!"
The trio start to run for the base, being careful of any potential places to trip. Camera feed can't even pick up the heroes, a bump of the shield does knock down one of the cameras, alerting the base of how close the intruders were.
The trio make it into the base through the loading bay shutters for the land vehicles. Once inside, Sally drops the shield, sighing as she rubs her arms.
Rosie: "Are you okay, princess?"
Sally: "Yeah, fine. Now that we're in the base, we can concentrate on finding Lam and her friend. Tekno?"
Tekno: "Yeah, I've got it. Hand Nicole to me."
Nicole is passed off to Tekno, who gives her thanks before flying up to the air ducts to avoid any unnecessary fighting on her part. And just as Tekno leaves, the doors leading further into the base explode open as Motobugs, Egg Robos, and Caterkillers came in.
Sally: "Looks like the welcoming committee is here! Rosie, get ready!"
Rosie: "Of course!"
Egg Robos start concentrating on long range fire as the Moto Bugs charge in. Sally jumps over the Moto Bugs, avoiding the Egg Robo's firing. The Caterkillers start to self destruct, sending their segments flying everywhere. Rosie draws her arrow before firing a clean shot through three Egg Robos, bouncing off a Moto Bug to avoid a Caterkiller segment. The duo hop to the other side, dashing into the halls, only to be met by Ball Hogs tossing bombs at them.
Sally: "Lot of classic enemies stationed here!"
Rosie: "Must be where they were stationed after South Island was a bust… mostly."
Sally: "No time for speculation! This way, Rosie!"
Sally runs down the unblocked hall, only to find a swarm of Batbrains and Orbinauts flying at them. Sally conjures a shield in front of her as she charges at the robots, defeating them in an instant.
As the girls go about raiding the base, the alarms get the attention of the locked up, bruised, and barely conscious Lam and Mighty. They struggle their feet as they approach their cages.
Lam: "I-Is that… help…? Did my message reach someone…?"
Mighty: "...It… It sounds like it…"
As they speculate, the doors are kicked open as Sally and Rosie barge in, mostly to avoid the oncoming Badniks.
Sally: "That's a lot of bots! Didn't think we'd alert the whole horde!"
Sally blocks the opening with her barrier as Rosie pauses as she sees Lam and Mighty staring back at her.
Rosie: "...Hi. Is one of you 'Lam', by any chance?"
Lam: "T-Top to the mornin' to ya, lass."
Rosie: "Oh goodness… Both of you really need medical assistance…"
Rosie shoots at the locks of the cells, forcefully opening them as Mighty and Lam stumble out. She then helps support them as they almost fall.
Lam: "N-Never mind us… Who are you two?"
Sally: "The Freedom Fighters. Sally Alicia Acorn…"
Mighty: "Th-The princess herself!? Boy… This is turning into one kind of a day…"
Rosie: "Hold on… I should have a med pak here…"
Sally looks to Lam and approaches her.
Sally: "I know we're neck deep into enemy territory… but I want to thank you for helping a friend of mine… Sonic the Hedgehog, remember him?"
Lam: "That bloke? I know 'im… How is he?"
Sally: "Still running around at the speed of sound. Thanks to you, he made it off South Island and managed to save Mobius from the Death Egg…"
Lam: "Bah… I did nothin'... But thanks for sayin' that, princess… Makes me feel appreciated."
Mighty: "OW!"
The two turn to see Rosie using some kind of lotion to help heal Mighty's more injured spots, healing him just enough so he can support himself on his own.
Rosie: "Sorry… These healing tonics are all I have left…"
Mighty: "Nah, sorry… Thanks for the treatment."
Sally: "Once Lam's healed up, we need to secure an escape route and wait for Tekno. Once that's done, we can blow this island up."
Mighty: "Great plan. But can you hold off on the fireworks?"
Sally: "Huh? Why?"
Mighty: "Despite everything… I want to save my friend… I'm not leaving him behind, no way, no how."
Sally looks at Mighty before then looking at Rosie and Lam. She then approached him with a serious look.
Sally: "Are you sure? We're in very deep and this place is crawling with Badniks. If we don't take the chance now, we may not get another chance again…"
Mighty: "Sorry, but… If you, the medic archer, and Lam want to leave, go ahead. I'm not leaving Ray."
Sally: "...Then… Guess I got no choice…"
Sally pulls out her communicator and contacts Nicole.
Sally: "Change of plans. Set the base to blow through a button press instead of a timer. We have a new objective."
Nicole: "Sally?"
Sally: "You heard me. We're leaving… with everyone."
Sally smiles at Mighty, the armadillo looking at her with a moment of shock before he smiles and pounds his fists together. Lam gets to her feet with Rosie's help as the four get ready to charge in. With their new allies, Sally and her friends' mission becomes ever more clear. Of course, can they save Ray from himself?
To be continued…
