It had been a week and Leader was healed and back to work.
While she healed up Renegade took her place as the leader like before.
Renegade was screaming and taking down most of the Eggforcers with the Resistance.
"For a better tomorrow!" he said and swung the metal pipe, taking out two Eggforcers. "Who's with me?"
Eggforcers and Security Drones were looking around for possible members of the Resistance.
"Squad Commander Blue, this is Squad Commander Red. Initiate Operation: Cheese." Squad Commander Red said.
"Possible rebel suspect. Inspection initiated. Scanning for rebel soldiers. Resistance icon identified." Eggforcers said.
Just as the Eggforcers were going to continue their search, they heard a loud bang around them and turned about to see an Egg Drone had been shot down by a member of the Resistance.
"It's a trap." Eggforcers said.
"Now!" Squad Commander Red said and the members of the Resistance started shooting at the Eggforcers with laser guns.
Leader and Renegade were in lead of defending the members. A few seconds later, Rusty appeared and saw the Eggforcers being taken down. She ran over to where the Eggforcers were trying to escape from to see what was going on, only to find that the Resistance were taking down the Eggforcers.
"Recording initiated." Rusty said.
"Eat plasma, you dirty bots." Squad Commander Red said.
Then one of the lasers hit Leader and she fell down, hurting her but quickly got up and dodged a few lasers being fired at her, then was spun around by two of the Resistance members running past her and Renegade noticed.
"You OK?" he asked and pushed away an Eggforcer flying towards him while Rusty moved in to get a closer look.
"Yeah." Leader said and took down an Eggforcer.
Then they took down Eggforcers at the same time.
"Where's Nine?" she asked.
"I don't know but I do know we got shells to crack." he said and spin attacked all of the Eggforcers.
Leader nodded, spun on top of the heap of robots and peeled out on top of each one, tossing them to collide into airborne Eggforcers. An Eggforcer was checked by Squad Commander Red and Rebel, shooting lasers.
"Retreat." Eggforcer said and the last robot retreated.
The Resistance cheered, while Rusty left.
"Come on." Leader said and walked away followed by Renegade. "All right. Everybody scatter." she said and everyone including the Resistance scatter in various places, while a Security Drone hovered in, patrolling.
At Yoke HQ the Chaos Council were gathered around.
"First, they steal our energy crystal. Now these ants decide to stand up for themselves? How dare they." Eggman said annoyed and slammed his fist.
'That hedgehog is getting better at leading people.' he thought while Babble gibbered an idea.
"The baby is right. We won't rest until every last rebel has been sentenced to-" Deep said and slammed his fist. "oblivion."
"Or until our backup power runs out." Don't scoffed while playing a game.
Under the ground, Denizen 1998 passed a weapon to a Resistance member and Leader appeared with Renegade.
"Radio ahead and let Rebel know what's what." Leader said.
"I did." Renegade said and she nodded.
"What do we got?"
"Nine stole the Shard, right before he left us high and dry."
"He did?"
"Yeah." Rebel said. "While you were resting."
Rebel, Renegade and Rusty were sat down, cornered by shooting Eggforcers.
"After making sure you were alright." she said.
Eggman used his mech to keep the door open, observing Leader get sucked in by the Red Prism Shard. Afterwards, Nine shook off his misery and retrieved the shard with an electric grabber, which coincidentally turned off the power. Then the power turned back on.
"Backup systems engaged." the computer said.
"They have the energy crystal!" Eggman said and Don't accessed the door's code.
"Got it." Don't said and the door opened.
Eggman and Deep pass through, unknowingly passing by Nine, crawling upside-down passing the doorway in the other direction, holding the shard. He crawled around the walls, noticed by the rebels. He stopped and looked at them, until he heard a voice from afar.
"Find them. They can't be far." Eggman said.
Nine kept crawling around the walls until he found a safe place to jump off and land. He jumped over the doorway wedged open by an Eggforcer, to dramatic music and the rebels' horror. Renegade growled in anger, attacked and destroyed the Eggforcers in fury. He carried an unconscious Rebel through Yoke HQ's exit and jumped down while Rusty beeped and malfunctioned.
"Initiating system override. Chaos Council programming restored." Rusty said and moved back inside.
While Denizen 1998 was fishing inside a skip, The rebels fell with a thud, causing him to notice. The Rebels looked up at an angry Denizen 1998, then he offered them a lift and carried the two Resistance members around his arms and ran. Later many members of the resistance equip themselves with weapons.
"Word of our work spread throughout the city. Our army grew without you or Nine."
"And, tonight, we finally finish what we started." Rebel said and Leader nodded.
"All that matters right now is taking out the council while we still can." Renegade said.
"If they get that energy crystal back, we're done for." Rebel said while Leader thought.
'Tails won't let that happen.' Leader thought. 'Would he?'
Then a whirring was coming from a circular platform on the ground. The cylinder ascended and a Palm-tree appeared inside the cylinder.
"If we lose this fight, there won't be anything left to fight for." Renegade said while Leader touched the cylinder, and took a closer look at the palm tree.
"We won't." Leader said then a heavy thudding sound alerted and annoyed everybody. "It's the Chaos Council." she said and Rebel flew to the computer. "They've located us." she said and Rebel pressed a key and looked at a webcam showing Eggforcers walking along the road.
One of them landed in the middle of the camera's view and chattered to their fellow robots. He shot into the camera and disabled it.
"Secure the tree!" Leader shouted.
"How did they find us? It can't be a coincidence." Squad Commander Red said annoyed.
"Everyone up top before our location is compromised." she said and the cylinder descended and the resistance run away followed by Leader.
Overground Eggforcers marched together looking around for suspects.
"They are somewhere near. Continue the attack. We will force them out." Eggforcer said.
"Not on my watch, automaton." Squad Commander Red said hiding behind a rock and fired a laser.
It cut through and destroyed a robot. The shooting commenced. An Eggforcer shot and broke a rock. Ahead of the surprised resistance, Leader spin dashed towards her enemies and homing attacked three of them, before spinning into Eggman's Mech, however, he parried the blue ball away, causing her to hurtle to the wall. She groaned and slid to the ground. Babble arrived to battle in his mech, taking on Renegade now without his weapon. They fist into each other, but Babble that was blown back. The baby giggled and angrily deployed a large red laser back at him, but Rebel carried him away from the attack just in time and glide him to safety, only to get punched by Babble's robot, knocking them both out. Denizen 1998 defeated more robots using the metal pipe and kicking attacks. His pipe clashed with the Mech of Deep's sword.
"Surrender the energy crystal and we'll promise to make your demise quick and- painless." Deep said and pointed his sword at the cat's face.
Squad Commander Red and two other members were cornered by Eggforcers.
"We need backup." Squad Commander Red said.
Babble yelled and landed in-front of a downed Renegade who groaned and stayed down.
Meanwhile, Eggman approached Leader. He looked up at the sky as Nine swooped down through the portal gateway with his plane.
"Sonic, hang on!" Nine said.
"Nine?" Leader, Renegade and Rebel said and everyone watched as Nine swooped into the area.
All of the Chaos Council appear in five different screens.
"Wait. Was that an energy portal?" they said.
"How did he do that?" Eggman asked.
"It's the fox who stole the Shard. Get him!" Deep said and the Eggforcers shot lasers at Nine's plane.
It corkscrewed to dodge the lasers, while Leader ran, carrying Squad Commander Red and three other resistance members to safety. Nine was shooting Babble's robot. It turned around and shot Deep down. Leader went after the plane, but was confronted by shooting Eggforcers. She spun jumps and Homing Attacked some robots in a line leading up to the plane. Nine smiled and then opened the doors for her to hop in.
"Nine! Holy, man. Just in time!" Leader said and shook the back of her chair. "We could really use some backup."
"Sonic!" Renegade said as the battling between the Resistance and the Chaos Council continue and Squad Commander Red retreat.
"I'm out." Rebel said.
"Same." Renegade said, dropped his weapon and picked up a metal pipe. "Lousy Egg tech. You can't trust it."
Suddenly, Eggman appeared in his mech, slamming the ground with a puff of smoke. He, Babble and Deep confront the Resistance.
"Surrender the energy crystal." Deep said.
"Or tell us where the hedgehog went. We're not picky." Eggman said.
"We don't know where they are." Rebel said.
"And wouldn't tell you if we did." Renegade said.
"Spill it, punks, or we'll spill something else." Eggman said and put his mech up Rebel's face pointing at her.
"I got a better idea. How about you bums line up and kiss my bright red..."
Then a portal generated above them, causing them to look upwards.
"Another portal?" Deep said and Leader arrived through the gateway and hit Eggman with a Homing Attack so big that it threw and knocked all the mechs out.
She joined the Resistance, while Babble thrashed about in his mech. The Resistance were annoyed about Leader's lateness.
"Don't ask. Let's just beat these guys to a pulp." she said and the shooting started, causing everyone to duck.
The Resistance started attacking. Renegade and Rebel dodge laser fire and took out Eggforcers, followed by Leader. Babble got up and screamed, combating the Resistance. He slapped Renegade and Leader away. Leader appeared running along the wall
"Hey! Play nice." she said, Homing Attacked him and knocked him down then stepped on the button. "Isn't it past your bedtime?"
Suddenly she ducked to dodge a sword attack from Deep, then spun back to dodge another attack. As soon as she landed, Rebel grabbed her, evading her from a stomp by Eggman. Leader Homing attacked him, causing him to wobble. Renegade jumped down and threw a Ninja Rope, wrapping it around the mech's right leg. The Resistance were ready with the other Ninja Rope.
"Get ready to give it everything you got." Squad Commander Red said and threw the Ninja Rope, wrapping it around the mech's other leg. "Pull!" she said and they both pulled the ropes simultaneously.
Eggman tried to keep his balance while Leader landed back down, watching the trapped mech suit.
She joined the Squad Commanders and grabbed hold of the rope.
"Let's see what you're made of, blue. Hit the jets." Squad Commander Red said and they pulled together with Leader peeling out while she pulled.
The mech landed on its body, knocking it out. Above him, Rebel battled Deep. They glide into each other. He kept attacking her with his sword. Babble gibbered and got up, attacking the Resistance with a stomp.
"Comin' in hot. Take cover!" Leader said and she the Resistance dodge as Babble stomped and The Resistance ran away.
Leader got clubbed by Babble's right hand and thrown into the wall. She groaned and fell to the ground, while Babble clapped and sang. With more members of the Resistance running away, Renegade looked up, watching the ongoing battle between Rebel and Deep. He hit her with the sword and she screamed as she was knocked down, to Renegade's horror.
"Rebel!" he said, ran to try and save Rebel, but Deep's sword dropped into and stuck onto the road in front of him, causing him to stop.
Deep swooped down and attacked Renegade, causing him to hit the wall.
"Ah-ah-ah." Deep said and Rebel was also knocked down to the ground face down.
Babble's mech stepped on top of her and gibbered. Leader was also knocked out and Eggman picked her up and chuckled.
"A noble effort." he said and Babble grunted in annoyance.
"It wasn't noble. It was annoying." Deep said.
"Enough games." Eggman said, opened the top of his mech and looked out."Hand over the crystal, or we'll stick you in a hamster wheel and see how long you can keep the lights on before you drop." he said to Leader and Babble gibbered angrily.
"Pace yourself, Dr. Babble."
"I'd say you're more jowls but I honestly have no idea what you're talking about." Leader said.
"This should jog your memory." Rusty said and displayed her recording on a screen in front of a building.
It also recorded what Leader said during her battle with the Eggforcers.
When it was done Eggman squeezed Leader with his hand. Rebel groaned and Deep pinned Renegade with the sword.
"You will talk, cretin, or you will scream." Eggman said and Leader sighed.
Suddenly, the portal opened and Nine swooped down with his plane, almost hitting Eggman's mech but ducked.
"Did he just do that portal thingy again?" he asked while Nine swooped up, U-turned, and swooped down, shooting lasers which hit Eggman and knocked him out.
Leader broke free of the mech's grasp with a spin jump. Cross-haired lock on to Nine's plane and a beeping sound was heard.
"My scan indicates he has the Shard. There is heavy prismatic energy on the craft." Rusty said.
Babble, The prism shard, and Deep appeared in three different screens.
"This confirms everything we've suspected." Deep said.
"And more. The Shard was never just an energy source." Eggman said and the plane shot again, hitting Babble's mech and freeing Rebel.
It returned to shoot at Deep, freeing Renegade. Leader peeled out side-by-side with Nine's plane.
"Nine, you came!" she said happily. "I knew you'd come back, buddy." she said and hopped onto the side of the Tornado.
It U-turned laterally, turning her upside-down. The Chaos Council Don't playing a video game displayed below appear in five different screens.
"He's using our Shard's energy to teleport somehow." Deep said.
"He's not teleporting. That fox has figured out how to travel to other worlds. The plan has changed. We need to capture that craft. Deep, Babble, full volley at the rebel HQ." Eggman said and Deep and Babble followed orders and left. "I'll lure the fox away. Don't, Done-It, prepare the mothership." he said and moved back into his cockpit.
Don't and Done-It, the latter shook his head looking at him.
"Yeah. Fine. Whatevs." Don't said.
While the plane flew high, Leader watched the ongoing battle from a Bird's eye view.
"I'll take 'em low. You take 'em high." Leader said.
"Already on it." Nine said and she jumped off the plane and Homing Attacked three Eggforcers, followed by another three then joined Rebel.
"Let's take these clowns down once and for all." she said and they duck to dodge an attack.
Leader Homing Attacked a small group of Eggforcers while the other group ascend, but were shot down by lasers from Nine's plane. Eggman saw the plane swooping upwards, and went up to chase it, firing red lasers at him.
"What an amateur. Time to put some scuff marks on that fancy paint job." Nine said, rolled the plane 360 degrees and corkscrewed down close to the road.
Eggman's mech scraped the road and caused sparks. Nine swooped up close to the building. With nowhere else to go, he corkscrewed the plane one way and then the other way, unable to shake off his tail. They shot at each other and Nine pressed a button, while Eggman laughed.
"I've got this weasel on the run. Prepare for launch!" Eggman said.
Don't closed his game and tapped on the controls on his controller. A beep sounded and the Mothership launched.
"Time to go home." Deep said and he and Babble ascend and left.
"Eggforcers, keep them distracted." Rusty said.
Nine's battled with Eggman was ongoing. Suddenly he noticed the Mothership leaving the building. It turned upside-down and floated away, to his annoyance.
"Fox shmox, what we've got here is a sitting duck." Eggman said.
With Nine distracted, he shot at the plane, hitting and exploding one of the turbines. Nine struggled to keep control of his plane.
"No, no, no, no!" he said and the Mothership opened up a suction tube of a bright yellow light.
The plane froze and was sucked in. Nine tried to shield himself from the light and tried to get his plane working again.
"Come on, come on, come on. One more portal and I'm home free." he said and pressed a button but the plane powered down. "Nooo..." he said and the three Chaos Council mechs surrounded him, making him afraid while Eggman cackled.
"Rusty, the vermin is on the bus. I repeat, the vermin is on the bus." Eggman said.
"Eggforcers, finish them off. We have what we need." Rusty said, left and ran towards the Mothership, while the Eggforcers continue shooting.
Leader slid sideways to dodge and then prepared a spin dash from the side to knock the first robot out. Renegade pound the ground, lifting rocks up in the air. He punched one of the rocks into the second robot while Rebel jumped onto the third one and hit it on the head, knocking it down then they cheer.
"Yes! We did it! You guys good?" Leader said.
"We're good. Not sure what happened to Tails though." Renegade said.
"I don't like this. The Shard could be anywhere." Rebel said.
"You're right. I better find him before he portals out of here again." Leader said and ran in a circle around Rebel and Renegade, whom flinch along with Squad Commander Red.
The three mechs, along with Nine's plane, were sucked into the Mothership.
"With our Shard and your tech, you've just handed us the universe on a silver platter." Eggman said to Nine and laughed maniacally.
Later Leader was with the others.
"I don't know where he is!" Sonic said and started to panic.
"Calm down!" Knuckles said gently and put his hands on her shoulders.
He knew after all the things she's been through she had PTSD but didn't know how strong it was.
"What if he's hurt?" she said and kept panicking.
"Listen to me. He. Will. Be. Fine." he said and she started to calm down. "He's been with us since you took him in. He's smart and has plenty of experience with this now." he said and she nodded. "You good?" he asked and she nodded so he held her close.
"I wish they were here." she whispered.
"I know. But we both knew they wouldn't be able to do something like this." he said and she nodded.