Master Zik is the first to greet Zavok when the latter returns to the fortress in Lava Mountain, noticing the Conch the moment Zavok enters the command room. "I see the mistake has been made."
"Indeed, Master," Zavok confirms. "And now to ensure this can never be used against us again."
The rest of the Deadly Six watch as Zavok crushes the Cacophonic Conch with his bare hands, the shattered remains falling to the floor in a dusty pile.
"Looks like my earlier pessimism was misplaced," Zeena admits. "What happened that allowed you to get hold of it?"
"The blue pest kicked it out of the invader's hands, allowing me to take control of his robots," Zavok explains. "We now control this fortress and his entire army."
"And what of the invader and the blue pest?" Master Zik asks.
"They fled towards Tropical Coast," Zavok answers. "They are no longer a threat to us."
"We have underestimated their resourcefulness before," Master Zik reminds. "We do not wish to repeat that mistake again."
"What do you propose, Master?" Zavok asks.
"I shall test their abilities," Master Zik answers.
"With respect master, you shouldn't trouble yourself with these matters," Zavok advises.
"Do not make the mistake of thinking my advanced age means I am unable to handle myself," Master Zik cautions. "Besides, I do not intend to engage with them in physical combat; I have more creative techniques at my disposal. They are on their way to Tropical Coast, are they not?"
"They are, Master," Zavok confirms.
"Then I shall make haste and intercept them there," Master Zik decides.
"Send me instead!" Zazz requests. "I'll rip 'em to pieces!"
"You had your chance and failed, as did Zomom," Zavok reminds. "Maybe what's required is a change of tactics."
"My thoughts exactly," Master Zik confirms. "I will return in due course," he promises as he leaves the command room.
Zavok turns to Zeena. "Eggman built a machine he calls the Extractor that can drain the energy from the planet below. He was going to use it to hold the planet to ransom, but I think it would be more useful to drain the planet completely and use the energy to grant ourselves incredible power. Want to help me figure out how to turn it on?"
"Are you sure I'm the best person to help?" Zeena asks.
"Of course," Zavok confirms. "Zazz would end up breaking it, Zomom would try to eat it, and Zor would simply refuse."
"Good point," Zeena accepts. "Sure, I'll help."
Half a mile into Tropical Coast, Sonic slides to a halt in front of Tails and Eggman, and carefully deposits Clara on her feet. "Now, I know what you're thinking‑"
"That you're an arrogant moron," Eggman growls.
"That you're an idiot for ignoring me and rushing in," Tails adds, equally angry.
"Dare I ask what he did?" Clara asks.
"He kicked away the Cacophonic Conch," Eggman answers.
"I know where this is going already," Clara sighs in disappointment.
"The Zeti have an innate ability to directly manipulate the electromagnetic force," Eggman explains. "The Conch was the only thing preventing them from taking control of my badniks and turning them on me, and that idiot decided to kick it beyond reach," he adds, pointing at Sonic.
"Hey, it's not like your track record's any better!" Sonic reminds, starting to get angry himself. "Remember Chaos? You did a 'great' job keeping him in check! And then there was Space Colony ARK, Dark Gaia, and even your own creation, Metal Sonic! And who bailed you out every time? I did!"
"What do you mean, you did‽" Tails demands angrily. "If it weren't for my help, you wouldn't have even stood a chance! And don't forget about everyone else who helped! Or are you too selfish to share the credit‽"
"I didn't see you turning Super and saving the day!" Sonic snaps back.
"ENOUGH!" Clara yells. "Is this what you're all allowing yourselves to descend to, petty squabbling‽ Right now, there's a group of six murderous Zeti seeking to destroy us. If we're even going to stand a chance of survival, we need to work together!"
"The polecat's right," Eggman adds. "If we're to stand a chance of surviving and preventing Mobius from being destroyed, we need to work together."
"My name is Clara Fitch," Clara informs sternly. "And don't for a second think that needing to work together will make me forget about the damage you caused to my home, the infestations you left all over Westside Island, nor the Mobini you captured and tortured."
"I'd be less concerned about my past actions and more concerned about the fact the Zeti now have full access to the Extractor," Eggman replies. "If they work out how to operate it, it'll lead to the complete destruction of Mobius!"
"Didn't you build in any fail‑safes?" Tails asks.
"No, because I underestimated the stupidity of your blue pincushion friend," Eggman answers.
"I did advise you to refine the design and program in an emergency shutdown sequence," Orbot interjects.
"And I ordered you to never mention that again!" Eggman snaps. "If it wasn't for the moronic blue pineapple here screwing things up, I'd still have the Zeti enslaved and the Extractor under control!"
"I thought I was helping the Zeti!" Sonic protests.
"Helping them take over and destroy the planet!" Eggman growls.
"Enough with the accusations already!" Clara forcefully interjects. "Our top priority right now is preventing the Zeti from destroying Mobius. Once we've done that, then we can argue about how guilty Sonic should feel about screwing up so badly."
"But‑" Sonic begins to protest.
"I don't want to hear it," Clara interrupts. "Now if you'll excuse me, our escape sent half the desert down my top, and I'm itching like crazy, so I'm going to find somewhere private to get the sand out my fur. When I return, the only thing I want to hear is how we're going to work together to save Mobius. Understand?"
Sonic, Tails, and Eggman nod in agreement.
"Thank Gaia," Clara sighs in relief as she walks over to a nearby cluster of trees that's just dense enough for her to have privacy.
"I'd better contact Sally and Nicole and let them know what happened," Sonic decides, activating his communicator. "Sal? Nicole? I uh… got some bad news."
"What did you do this time?" Sally asks.
"I uh… I kinda kicked away the one thing that stopped the Zeti taking control of Eggman's Extractor and destroying Mobius," Sonic quickly explains.
"This is why I keep telling you to think before you act," Sally sighs in disappointment. "I just hope you can pull through like you always do."
"I promise I'll make this right," Sonic vows.
"You don't really have a choice," Sally replies before closing communications.
In their quarters on Sky Patrol, Nicole is unimpressed. "That was a little rude."
"I've lost count of the number of times I've told Sonic he needs to think more," Sally explains. "Lecturing him again would only waste time we don't have."
"Four hundred and seventy‑two," Nicole replies. "Though that's just the number of times I've witnessed."
"…is it really that many?" Sally asks, surprised.
"A stricter definition reduces the count to one hundred and ninety‑three," Nicole answers. "He'll come through."
"He will, especially as he has Tails to help him," Sally agrees. "All we can do is continue to monitor the situation. Did that diagnostic you wanted to run earlier complete?"
"It did," Nicole answers. "There were a few minor memory corruptions that needed refreshing from a backup, but nothing significant, which means…"
"Which means you were genuine earlier when you said I'm cute," Sally finishes.
"Yeah… Not sure what to do about it though," Nicole admits.
"You don't need to do anything at all," Sally assures. "The question is, do you want to do something about it?"
"I… don't know," Nicole answers, unsure.
"Then give yourself some time to think," Sally advises. "You'll figure out what to do eventually."
"Thanks," Nicole smiles, reassured. "In the meantime, we should get back to work."
"Good idea," Sally agrees. "With a bit of luck, we'll find something that'll help Sonic defeat the Zeti before they hurt anyone."
Clara emerges from the cluster of trees a few minutes later wearing a fresh tank top and looking a lot more comfortable. "So, anyone think of any ideas while I was busy?"
"We need to get to Lava Mountain," Eggman informs. "The Extractor is built into the side of the fortress at the heart of the area. If you can get me safely to the command room, I can shut the machine down and return any drained energy to Mobius."
"Why should we escort you there?" Tails asks. "I can do the same thing with one hundred percent less chance of backstabbing anyone."
"To be fair Tails, it is Eggman's machine," Sonic interjects. "He'll know exactly what needs to be done to shut it down safely."
"And then he'll turn on us the moment he can," Tails argues.
"I promise I won't stab you in the back this time," Eggman vows.
"Don't be surprised if I don't believe you," Tails replies.
"OK, simmer down boys," Clara interjects. "Let's stay focussed on the task at hand: getting to Lava Mountain. Where are we now?"
"We're in Tropical Coast, ma'am," Orbot answers.
"I don't remember giving you permission to speak," Eggman growls at his lackey.
"At least he answered my question without taking a snipe at anyone," Clara interjects. "So, we know where we are, and we know where we need to go. All that's left is how to get there."
"Good thing I have a map of the entire Lost Hex," Eggman replies, calling up a holographic projection with two points marked on it: their current location and the Lava Mountain fortress. "Hmm… Looks like we have no choice but to take the long way around."
"But what about‑" Orbot begins to suggest.
"One more word from you and I'll hand you to the Zeti myself!" Eggman threatens.
Orbot mimes zipping his non‑existent lips together and retreats into his ball form.
"What was he about to suggest?" Clara asks.
"A path that would have been far too dangerous to take without the proper protection," Eggman answers.
"I bet the Tornado could‑ The Tornado!" Tails exclaims. "We left it behind! We gotta go back for it!"
"It's too dangerous," Eggman reminds. "Sorry fox‑boy, but the Tornado's gone."
"No! I refuse to leave it behind! I'm going back for it!" Tails declares before dashing off back the way they came.
Sonic sprints ahead and blocks Tails' path. "Bud, Eggman's right: it's too dangerous," he argues. "You saw how many badniks Zavok was controlling. It's not worth the risk."
"But… the Tornado…" Tails takes a deep breath. "No, you're right: it's too dangerous," he accepts. "Just know you owe me a plane."
"Technically, the Tornado's my plane," Sonic reminds.
"You haven't flown it since we met, and you only ever help with repairs when you feel like it, which is almost never," Tails reminds.
"I helped rebuild it after it was almost destroyed by the fight between Lilac and Metal Sonic," Sonic reminds.
"You did," Tails acknowledges. "You also said at the time that even though you technically own it, as far as you're concerned, the Tornado is mine and mine alone."
"…ah yeah, I remember now," Sonic accepts. "I promise, once this is all over, if we can't recover the Tornado, I'll get you a new plane."
"Thank you," Tails replies before heading back to the group, Sonic following behind.
"I take it we're all on the same page now?" Clara asks, receiving nods from Sonic and Tails. "Good. Let's get moving."
In the fortress in Lava Mountain, it doesn't take long for Zavok and Zeena to work out how to activate the Extractor.
"Is it really that simple?" Zavok asks rhetorically.
"If I'd built something like this, I'd have designed it with something that prevented anyone but me from activating it," Zeena replies.
"Same," Zavok agrees. "Fortunately for us, it appears the invader is incapable of such considerations."
"His arrogance will be his downfall."
"And the destruction of the planet below."
Zavok pulls the red‑handled lever all the way down.