Chapter 24: Now or Never: Saving the World Part 2
Eggman's ultimate plan has failed. His plan on wiping out the Resistance and G.U.N with Infinite's eclipse and blizzard trap has failed. It is all thanks to the efforts of Sam the Rookie Dog. With the eclipse gone, it's time to make a plan of their own.
"Towers. We need you to hold these guys off as long as possible. Vector, you Charmy, Rouge and Omega stay and help him up." Knuckles said.
"You got it!" Towers acknowledged. "All soldiers on the ground, we're on the offense. Those in the sky stay on defense and help the Resistance out. We must buy time for Knuckles and Sonic."
"The following are with me: Shadow, Silver, Amy, Espio, Gemerl and Sonic. We need to get those Chaos Emeralds back and take out the Zeti and Metal at those seven towers. They're acting as shield generators. No emeralds, no shields. Once the shields are down, we need to buy Sonic enough time to beat Infinite while he's weak. Let's go!"
The seven of them move out to confront their enemies at the towers. Thankfully, most of them are fast enough to fight the enemies while the others hold the line. Sonic helps Amy make their way to Zazz and Zeena. Gemerl and Knuckles go off to fight Metal Sonic and Zavok respectively.
Zazz and Zeena are waiting for them.
"Oh, look. Sonic is back. I'm gonna bounce you like a volleyball until you go POP GOES THE HEDGEHOG! WAHAHAHAHAH!" Zazz gloats like the crazy zeti he is.
"And someone's about to be schooled. I'll kick you around like a soccer ball!" Sonic said.
Sonic puts on a serious face as he begins to spin dash after Zazz. Zazz hops onto his small, yellow menacing moon. It glares at Sonic as it begins spitting sharp stars from its mouth and fires at the young hedgehog. Sonic spin dashes into the air and knocks the moon away from underneath Zazz's feet. Zazz falls down, allowing Sonic to spin dash him into the air and does another spin attack in the air, hitting Zazz in the back. The evil moon comes back and rescues Zazz, who is now angry.
"Grrr. I'm sending you home in PIECES!"
Zazz roars and rolls the moon like a bowling ball at Sonic. He jumps over it and he does a charge in the air, much to Zazz's confusion. All of a sudden, Sonic unleashes his homing attack and hits Zazz right on the head, making him dizzy. Sonic does another spin dash and scoops him off his feet and Zazz is sent to the air before he hits the ground, knocked out cold.
Sonic waves a finger to him and smirks at him to mock him. He dashes towards the purple Chaos Emerald and grabs it. One down, six to go. Amy confronts Zeena.
"Wow. A zeti whose hair looks like mucus. Picked your nose much?" Amy mocked.
"Coming from the girl with a bland, ugly color of pink and short hair. Gross. You should feel ashamed of yourself." Zeena shot back. Zeena should not have said that. Now Amy is beyond mad and her blood is boiling in her head.
"How. DARE. YOU?! I'M A LADY, YOU JERKBAG!"
Amy summons her hammer out of thin air and prepares to fight Zeena. The pink hedgehog feels her blood boiling. Zeena summons a wrecking ball connected to a green energy beam and starts swinging in place while attempting to hit Amy. Amy quickly backs up and barely avoids it. Amy sees this as an opportunity to jump and swing at her gut, sending Zeena back. Zeena gets back up and swings her mace at Amy, scooping her off her feet and Zeena hits her with a projectile, sending her back. Amy gets back up and was not gonna go down that easily. Amy swings her hammer at the mace, and it was powerful enough to knock it out of Zeena's hand and destroying some robots in the process. Amy then jumps and swings her hammer down on her head, sending her down and then swinging it at her face like a golf ball, sending Zeena back, defeating her.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I win? Did I ruin your ugly, mucus-green makeup?"
Amy gives her a mocking smirk and looks at her own nails before she proceeds to grab the green Chaos Emerald. Two emeralds down, five to go. Next was Shadow vs Zor.
"Oh joy. A edgy-looking hedgehog. You make me sick. You look even worse than Sonic and sure don't sound like him." Zor said.
"Coming from the emotionless hag who sounds like a failed poet writer. Careful of who you spite, Zor." Shadow warned.
"Ehh. I suppose we're gonna have to fight."
Zor hops onto his giant, robotic owl and fires owl-like missiles at Shadow. He easily runs and dodges them as he homing attacks and jumps off of them harmlessly before attacking Zor and knocking him off the owl. Shadow boosts into Zor and knocks him even further back. The giant owl flies towards Zor and scoops him up and puts him back on his head. The owl's eyes begin to light up before shooting eye lasers at Shadow. Shadow dashes and dodges as he runs, trying to find a way to Zor. He sees a pillar, bounces off it and boosts into the air. He zooms through the owl robot, creating holes in it and bringing the owl down as it explodes with Zor jumping off.
"Man. We're all doomed anyway. So hold still, will ya?"
Zor's eyes widen when he sees Shadow already holding the grey Chaos Emerald in his hand. Zor jumps and dives in at Shadow, head first.
"Chaos Control!"
Time slows down and Zor slowly but surely bounces off the ground with his hands and is right-side up in the air. Shadow goes behind Zor and roundhouse kicks him in the back of the head, knocking him down. Zor gets back up and sees Shadow glaring at him.
"Okay. Whatever." Zor shrugged.
Zor just shrugs it off and willingly falls down and goes unconscious, not even caring that he lost one bit. Shadow looks at the Chaos Emerald and smirks.
"It's good to be back. This is more like it."
With three Chaos Emeralds down, There are three more zeti as well as Metal Sonic to deal with. Silver is going up against Zonom.
"Wow. You look weird. Your color….. It looks so weird. Maybe it's the color of fish? Or maybe an onion or garlic? I don't know." Zonom said before burping.
"Okay? I don't even know what the heck you're even talking about. Do you even hear what you're saying sometimes?" Silver asked.
"Umm, I don't know. But doesn't matter. I'ma gonna have you for dinner to celebrate. I'll have you on a tasty sandwich!"
Silver continues to fight Zomom. Zomom jumps to try to stomp Silver, but he easily flies back and dodges. Silver flies back in and uses his powers and does a palm strike to his stomach and backflip kicks him in the jaw. Zomom giggles like he was tickled and burrows into the ground. Silver is confused and tries to look around for him. Zomom pops from the ground and spins in the air and swings his arms, hitting Silver in the back, nearly sending him into a wall. Silver regains himself and hovers in the air.
"Hey, Zomom! I got some snacks! Are you hungry?"
"Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! Yum! Gimmie gimmie gimmie!"
Silver smirks and throws three psychic waves at Zomom and they all hit his stomach, causing Zomom to burp out loud. Silver gets close and slams his hands to the ground, shocking Zomom.
"Oh, I don't feel so good. I think I'm gonna take a nap. Good night."
Zomon falls backwards and falls asleep, defeated and outsmarted by Silver. Silver uses his powers to grab the yellow Chaos Emerald.
"Hehehe. Doofus."
Espio engages Master Zik with his ninja weapons while he deflects them with his stick.
"You may be a skilled ninja, insignificant chameleon." Master Zik said. "But you don't know much about me. Pain will be the best lesson for you. Followed by your own failure."
"Experience can come in many different ways. I study them as I go. A wise fighter knows where to strike." Espio said.
"Then fight me further if you dare. I warn you I will not hold anything back. I have taught Zavok everything he needed to know. But your lessons will be different."
Master Zik jumps in the air, throws his staff down near Espio. He avoids it, only for Master Zik to swoop Espio from behind, kicking him the back, then get in front of him and grab his staff stick and swing it at Espio's chin, knocking him backwards. Espio gets up, only for Master Zik to swing his staff at his chest and the side of his head. Espio once more recovers and throws ninja stars, which Master Zik blocks, with one of them sticking to the end of it.
Master Zik and Espio clash with their respective weapons and Espio camouflages and kicks Master Zik in the head, sending him into the air. Espio grabs him with his long tongue and slams him into the ground. Master Zik throws his staff at Espio who dodges it and this time, blocks Master Zik's attacks. Master Zik was about to use his telekinesis to summon his staff, but Espio grabs it first and karate chops it in half and throws both halves at Master Zik. Master Zik dodges them, but Espio dashes, runs under him, does his ninja tornado move in place, sending Master Zik in the air while hit by numerous projectiles thrown at him. Master Zik falls down, defeated.
"It is not too late to learn from a student who just defeated you."
Espio bows his head to him out of mocking him and uses his tongue to grab the blue Chaos Emerald. With five zeti down, now there is only one more zeti left, and that is Zavok himself.
"For a gullible echidna, I respect your fighting style, but you are running out of time. Crushing you will be sweet. I'll deliver you to Eggman myself along with that fool Sonic. You have humiliated us for the last time."
"At least I'm not not an incompetent jerk with a short-sighted ego. I was hoping to fight you head on in a battle."
"To be honest, so have I. I have a liking for fighting brutes. Let us see what you are made of."
Zavok does a jump punch, only for Knuckles to dodge and do a punch across the chest and an uppercut. Zavok stumbles backwards, but he does a charge punch at Knuckles. He blocks it just barely and slides backwards. Zavok smirks and whips Knuckles across the chest with his tail and backhands him across the face followed by an uppercut. Zavok jumps to slam Knuckles into the ground, but he grabs Zavok's fists and throws him down instead. Zavok hits the ground back first while Knuckles lands safely.
Knuckles glides and tries to attack, but Zavok blocks, grabs his face and slams him into the ground, head first. He lifts him up and punches him away. Knuckles recovers and burrows into the ground. Zavok cracks his fists and slams both of them into the ground, sending Knuckles out and into the air. Zavok jumps and slams both fists onto Knuckles and sends him down again. Knuckles manages to recover and knows he needs to finish this as the commander of the Resistance. He charges up energy from the ground and his body starts glowing purple. Zavok and Knuckles charge at each other and their fists collide with each other, sending a shockwave. Zavok is sent flying very, very far away. Knuckles pants and falls to a knee. He chuckles and smiles, having fought and defeated Zavok. The commander makes his way to the red Chaos Emerald and grabs it. The shield is weakening more and more.
"That's it. Only one more. Sonic, this is for you." Knuckles panted in exhaustion.
Last but not least, Metal Sonic was left. And he is currently facing Gemerl for the final Chaos Emerald. Assiting the metal robot are the roboticized Jackal Squad. They are equipped with hand guns that shoot lasers, retractable swords, jetpacks.
In the Jackal Commander's case, all of them.
"Make this easy for yourself and surrender the Chaos Emerald. Do not make me use big force." Gemerl warned.
"We only take orders from Infinite! Our leader and biggest brother! You're no match for us!" The Jackal Commander said.
The Jackal Squad all attack the gizoid. Gemerl scans their laser attacks just as they were getting close. They fire at him, but Gemerl flies in the air, and fires the exact same laser and makes a circle around three of them, causing a minor explosion that sends them in the air, incapacitating them. Four more run at Gemerl with their swords as he landed at a safe distance. They all swing their weapons at him at all directions, but he easily avoids them as he scans their movements, copying them completely. One does a vertical swing, but Gemerl grabs it with both of his hands and twists them, shattering it and kicking the first one. Two more swing, but he creates his own sword that looks just like theirs and blocks them. This allows the gizoid to shock and stun the two before he grabs the last one by his wrists, kicks him in the chest, defeating him.
The Jackal Commander tackles Gemerl as they both fly into the air. The Commander punches Gemerl across the face two times, but the gizoid hardly felt any pain and punches the gizoid followed by a headbutt. He grabs him from behind and thrusts his hand into the jetpack, pulling out dozens of wires, disabling it before kicking him down, defeating him. All that's left is Metal Sonic.
Metal Sonic remains silent and dives at him head first, sending Gemerl back. He regains himself by hovering in the air.
Metal Sonic comes in for another dive attack, but this time, Gemerl counters him with his own moves. Gemerl backflip kicks him in the metal chin. Gemerl flies up and does an eagle kick, sending him down to the ground. Metal quickly recovers, grabs Gemerl by the head, throws him to the ground and drags him into the ground. Gemerl kicks Metal Sonic off of him as Metal then launches forward with a corkscrew attack. Metal swings his sharp claws at Gemerl's right shoulder, damaging it and kicking him in the chest and head, sending Gemerl back. Gemerl examines the moves Metal throws at him and copies them down. As Metal stops, Gemerl kicks him twice in the air and does the same corkscrew move on him and an elbow strike to the head.
Gemerl does a spin attack to Metal's head and rolling on it, sending Metal forward and hitting the ground. Before Gemerl can execute a slide punch, Metal activates his black shield, electrocuting Gemerl and sending him back. Metal Sonic flies forward and goes for another kick, only for Gemerl to grab his foot and throws him backwards. Metal Sonic and Gemerl both fire beams from their cannons within their chests and they collide. Neither are beginning to overpower the other. Gemerl shoots missiles from his wrists, forcing Metal Sonic to put up his black shield. The smoke clears and Metal Sonic lowers his shield…. But Gemerl is nowhere to be found. Metal looks down and sees Gemerl come out and uppercuts him. Metal Sonic is sent into the air and Gemerl grabs Metal Sonic and throws him down to the ground, back first. He is finally defeated.
With that said and done, Gemerl walks over to the spiked pillar and removes the cyan Chaos Emerald. Now all seven of them have been recovered.
"Peace will be brought back to this world, Cream. No more will you fear anything." Gemerl said. "Knuckles. Chaos Emerald secured. Returning to the field immediately. Shields shutting down. Empire Fortress is left open for the taking."
"Good! Now we can start our attack approach! All ships move in and intercept any ships coming at them. Distract them and the cannons. We need to buy Sonic time to defeat Infinite! Move out! The rest of you, fall back with me with the Chaos Emeralds!" Knuckles ordered.
"Yes sir! You heard him! Move to the fortress! All hands on deck! Make sure no one leaves, not even one. " The Fox Commander ordered.
"Alright, Sonic. This is your big chance. Time to take down Infinite once and for all." Knuckles said.
"Ha! Like you even had to ask! I've been waiting for this moment for six months! Let's do it to it!" Sonic said.
Sonic dashes into the main entrance of the fortress while the Resistance ships will go on offense. Tails flies in his Tornado 2 with Sam as his passenger to help the ships.
"I got your back, Sonic! I always have and always will!" Tails said.
"Thanks, buddy!" Sonic gives a big smile and thumbs up. "Love having my best friend around all the time! Time for a showdown!"
Sonic grinds on a rail as he begins his way towards the center to confront Infinite with Tails coming in with some detail.
"The Phantom Ruby should be severely weakened because of that eclipse and blizzard. But you must hurry, Sonic. We don't know how long until Infinite recharges. It's our only chance to beat him." Tails warned.
"All ships. Provide backup to Sonic and the others. Draw the enemies attention and shield them from damage." Knuckles said.
Sonic runs down a huge, steep hill, but not enough to make him lose his footing. Sonic runs as fast he normally does so he could get to Infinite. He jumps over three Egg Pawns, homing attacks four Bomber robots and stomps down to avoid being sliced and diced by giant buzz saws. He runs and avoids laser sentry guns aimed at him and boosts past more Egg Pawns and armadillo robots. He hops off the platform, jumps off the wall and lands on a rail and grinds around in a loop-de-loop fashion.
"All hands! Maintain a tight formation and altitude. Sonic's team is our best hope. Don't let anyone get near." Fox Commander said.
"Enemy forces are beginning their assault. We're under attack." Bird Commander reported.
"Keep it together! Keep them at bay! We must buy as much time for Sonic as possible! Let's go!"
Sonic runs down another hill while knocking away Egg Walkers attempting to shoot him with missiles. Sonic steps to the side, slides under one of them, jumps on the second one and rips a missile from its head and jumps and throws the missile down on the third one before he moves forward. Up ahead, Sonic sees a large gap filled with dangerous red lasers and more lasers shooting down from the sky. Sonic goes to the left path and homing attacks several cluckers, chicken-like robots that shoot explosive eggs. Robot to robot, platform to platform, nothing could stop the blue blur. Sonic jumps on top of an Egg Launcher shooting cannons and stomps on it and destroys it before continuing forward. Two Egg Pawns with lance swords both try to attack Sonic, but he ducks and does a split kick, knocking both of them off the platform. Sonic manages to reach the other side and jumps over a small laser gate, runs down another hill and avoids small bombs dropping on him, slides under a small laser gate and boosts past a giant laser before it could hit him.
"Ship 3 just took a hit to the bridge and are forced to fall back. Ship 7 took heavy fire and is going down!" Wolf Commander said.
"It's alright, guys! You did great! Leave the rest to us!" Sonic assured them.
Sonic boosts past dozens of different robots, jumps over a gap filled with lasers and reaches the other side and avoids bombs being dropped on both of his sides by Egg Hawks. Three Egg Guardians with shields and cannons charge up a beam to stop Sonic, but Tails uses his Tornado 2 to take them out. Tails flies away in the Tornado 2 with Sam as Sonic sees no one up ahead. No one else but Infinite himself.
"I caught you! Right where I want you! No where for you to run now!" Sonic said.
"Pathetic hedgehog. Your friend has only delayed the inevitable. Even with the Phantom Ruby weakened, I still have enough strength to crush you into blue jelly. You're outclassed." Infinite said.
"Hey. I'm in a class all my own. Time to put up or shut up, Infinite!"
Sonic jumps forward and lands on a huge, linear platform, ready to face Infinite and finally put a stop to it, once and for all.
"What would you like for your epitaph to read? How about "here lies the blue buffoon?"
"Why not "here doses the masked clown?" Might as well make it for the one who needs it, right?"
Infinite throws five red crosses made from the red cubes at Sonic as they spin in place. Sonic boosts past them. Infinite throws motobugs, metal debris and spiked balls at Sonic. Sonic avoids the metal stuff and kicks the spiked ball back at Infinite, who blocks them, but receives three homing attacks from Sonic, who proceeds to do a dive kick to the head, stumbling Infinite. Sonic lands and continues to chase him. Infinite summons cannons with his powers and they all shoot at Sonic all at once. Sonic slides under them and leaps forward and does a kick straight to Infinite's gut, followed by a punch to the right side of the mask and a swing kick. Infinite hovers above Sonic and chuckles.
"You're even stronger now. But you're done for. The Phantom Ruby's energy is recharged. You first, Sonic!"
Infinite sends out a shockwave, stumbling the hedgehog. Before Infinite can charge up an attack to hopefully finish him, he suddenly sees a wire zoom right past his face and he swiftly turns to his right and sees that wire coming from Sam the Rookie Dog, who glares at him.
"You! You have been a thorn by my side long enough, child!" Infinite said in annoyance. "You wish to die with your friend? Fine. Friendship is for the weak anyway. It sickens me."
"My friends got me this far and I helped them as well. And together, we're gonna kick your butt!" Sonic replied.
"That's right! So bring it on, Infinite!" Sam added.
Infinite grows larger in size with the Phantom Ruby as Sonic and Sam continue to chase him. He throws ten spinning crosses made from the red cubes and throws red spheres at the duo, but they dodge side by side together. Infinite growls at this and uses more illusions to summon lasers from the ground to kill them. Sam sees this and he and Sonic nod to each other. Sam and Sonic jump off the platform and Sam grabs his hand as Tails comes out of nowhere and Sam grapples onto the Tornado 2 as they spin and dodge the lasers. Sam swings Sonic at Infinite as Sonic does a light speed attack, sending Infinite backwards as Sam locks onto him and does a wire attack, a spin attack and a kick, and Infinite goes backwards. Infinite teleports in random places before appearing in front of them.
"Sonic! I know what this is! Let me handle it this time!" Sam said.
"If you say so, just be careful!" Sonic said.
Sam summons his Drill Wispon and taps on the trigger as much as he could as Infinite charges up an attack. Infinite begins to unleash Metal Sonic's signature move, the Maximum Overdrive. He dives in and charges at Sam and he launches himself with the Drill Wispon and they both collide. They are evenly matched until Sam overpowers Infinite's attack and he is sent backward even more. His masked is cracked.
"Awesome! Let's finish this!" Sonic said.
"When we join forces, the sky's the limit!" Sam quoted Sonic.
Sonic and Sam do another high five and spin in place before launching forward.
"DOUBLE BOOST!"
Sonic and Sam's speed doubles as Infinite tries to escape as fast as he could. His eye widens when their suddenly keeping up with him and overtake him. Sonic and Sam jump and hit Infinite straight in the chest, right where their prototype is. Infinite is launched close to a dead end as he falls to the ground. His prototype is cracked and he lands on his chest. Infinite is finally defeated.
Sonic and Sam catch up to Infinite and stop right in front of him. Sonic and Sam yell to each other as they fist bump each other.
"No… no! This should not be possible! I am supposed to be unbeatable! I am inevitable! I cannot possibly be defeated!" Infinite said. denial of his defeat.
"That's where you're wrong, loser! Do you even know why you lost? Because you're all alone. Eggman was never your friend. I have tons of friends. And I stick together with them. We have heart, soul and the bonds of friendship. Something that you and Eggman will never have." Sonic said.
"Sonic changed me for the better. I am not the guy you once knew. You sparing us to fulfill your own ego is what cost you to lose. You're finished, Infinite. Give up now, or face the consequences." Sam tells him.
"Y-you're wrong. Eggman is my master. He made me! Made me who I am today! I have not, did not and will not back down!" Infinite said. Before Infinite could even attack, his chest started hurting and his prototype glows on his chest. Then he started glitching out like a robot program. "Wait. What are you doing? I can't control my powers! Master, no! Don't do this! I can still fight! Master! Wait! S-S-STOP!"
Infinite starts to disappear within his own prototype as said prototype begins flying towards the Iron Fortress tower. Sonic and Sam were watching the whole thing and are confused by what just happened. Then they see Eggman coming down.
"You never fail to surprise me, Sonic. And that kid too. I didn't believe Infinite could lose." Eggman admitted with some reluctance. "But don't even think this is over, you blue nuisance! Because I'm just improvising! You want me? Come get me!"
Eggman flew off back to the tower. Where Infinite was transported against his own will. What is he doing now?