Chapter 47: Vanished in a Second
Amy Rose frowned as she peered up at the door handle above.
"Ohh that Sonic…what am I gonna do with you?" Shaking her head disappointedly, the pink hedgehog reached up and pulled the glass door open to reveal the scents of one of America's most prolific fast food establishments.
"Hi there, welcome to Taco Bell," greeted the employee at the front counter. "What can I get you today?"
The pink hedgehog pulled a handwritten note from her hammerspace. "M'kay, I want…four Nacho Doritos Locos Tacos, six Crunch Wrap Supremes, six Nacho Fries, a dozen churros, and a veggie burrito."
"Looks like someone's off to a party," the employee replied as he punched in the order.
"Yeah, something like that," Amy replied with an embarrassed giggle as she scratched the back of her head.
"That'll be $30.58."
Swiping her credit card, the pink hedgehog approached a nearby wall, pulling out her smartphone as she waited for the staff to prepare the order. Receiving a text message, Amy clicked the push notification to reveal a photo of Sonic and Tails sticking their tongues out at the camera, the bedroom they shared at Chuck's barn in the backdrop. While she was still upset with the brotherly duo for getting high amidst recent events, she couldn't help but smile at their dorkiness.
"Order 27 is ready," called the employee as he placed multiple paper bags on the counter. Grabbing the food, Amy watched as the employee stood at the register, a warm smile across his face.
"Excuse me, mister?" Amy asked.
"Yes?" He replied, peering down at the young hedgehog.
"How can you be so upbeat with what's happening?"
"Oh, you mean the moon getting attacked?"
"Yeah." Amy nodded. "I can't even think about returning to work, even if I could." The pink hedgehog sighed as she recalled the devastation Eggman's nefarious kitchen appliances did to the bakery where she's employed.
"Well," he replied, looking off in the distance. "There's not much we can really do. We just keep livin' our lives and hope this evil is dealt with. Besides," he chuckled, "calamities or not, the bills don't stop coming due, and people still need to eat."
"Yeah, I suppose that's true," Amy replied with a smile, turning around and waving goodbye as she left the restaurant, placed the takeout in the back compartment of her pink motorcycle, put on her helmet, and sped off.
Swerving through traffic as she left downtown, entering the busy interstate highway, Amy's focus was getting to the farm as soon as possible. Unfortunately for her, however, she didn't realize who was hot on her trail.
In contrast to Amy's pink motorcycle, the one following her from several dozen yards away was a slick black.
"Are you positive she's heading to Sonic and Tails' location?" Topaz asked, focused intently on the pink hedgehog ahead while keeping away just enough as to not draw suspicion.
"Absolutely," Rouge replied, her arms wrapped around the human's waist. She squeezed tight, making Topaz gasp in surprise, causing her to swerve the motorcycle left and right, nearly hitting the cars on either side.
"Can you loosen up?" Topaz asked.
"Wow, that's the first time you've ever asked me to loosen up," Rouge replied with a smirk, but still accepting her request, slightly reducing the grip around her hips. Topaz' blush was hidden underneath her helmet.
"Why don't you call HQ?" Topaz suggested. "Tell them we're following Amy and she's leading us straight to the fugitives."
"You've got it, chief," Rouge replied as she pressed some buttons on the side of her helmet. "HQ, HQ, this is Agent Rouge. You may begin tracking us now. We'll soon reach the location where Sonic and Tails are hiding." After an acknowledgement from the agent on the other end, Rouge ended the call.
"Seems like the discipline of having an honest job is finally rubbing off on you," Topaz teased. "I don't think I've ever seen you follow an order without a sassy retort."
"I'll show you some discipline," Rouge shot back, a suggestive comment that only served to make the elder agent blush even harder than before. "Watch the road. Looks like you're losing your grip there."
"Shut up, I've got it," Topaz replied, straightening herself out just in time to watch Amy turn off the interstate down a road that led into the country. "Now to maintain a bit of distance…" Topaz slowed down just enough to keep Amy within her sight without being so close as to raise alarm bells for the pink hedgehog.
After 10 minutes of trailing the Mobian hedgehog, Topaz and Rouge noticed Amy slowing down before pulling off to the side of the road, stopping in front of an old farm.
"Bingo," Topaz whispered as she pulled off a few blocks behind. "Time to radio HQ."
"And I'll put my hearing to good use," Rouge declared as she pulled herself off the motorcycle, removed her helmet, and fluttered her ears. "Time to get to work…"
And work she did, standing still as her bat-like ears picked up the conversation unfolding from over a hundred yards away.
Entering the barn, she found Sonic and Tails sitting on the sofa together, staring up at the ceiling while their other friends – Knuckles, Cream, Cheese, Vanilla, Bokkun, Chuck, and Helen – sat around, concerned at the sight before them. As soon as the blue hedgehog and the orange fox noticed Amy's arrival, they immediately jumped out of their seats, greeted the pink hedgehog, and grabbed the greasy brown bags in her hands before devouring the Doritos Locos Tacos within.
"Thanks a lot, Amy," Tails said with an entire taco in his mouth.
"Hey Ames, did you get the Baja Blast?" Sonic asked.
"Oh, I must've forgotten," Amy replied with a shrug, not feeling particularly guilty.
"But how are we supposed to wash down our Taco Bell without the delicious, refreshing taste of Baja Blast?"
"I think I have some soda in the fridge," Chuck offered.
"Just make sure it's not laced with pot," Sonic called as the elder scientist went to the kitchen.
"This behavior is appalling," Knuckles said, "dishonorable even."
"Relax, Knucklehead," Sonic replied, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. "Take a load off. Maybe have some of Chuck's candy to take the edge off."
"I've seen what that candy has done to you two, and I want no part of it," Knuckles replied, shaking his head.
"I don't understand why Mr. Sonic and Mr. Tails are acting this way," Cream said before peering up at Vanilla. "Hey momma, what's wrong with them?"
"Oh, they just ate some…tainted food," Vanilla replied, an anime-sized sweat droplet appearing across her forehead. "They'll be fine soon enough."
"I agree," Chuck replied, a can of regular Mountain Dew in either hand. "The effects should wear off momentarily, especially once they get some food in them."
Sonic and Tails swiped their cans from Chuck, quickly chugging down the soda as they continued devouring their meals.
"I'm surprised you're here, Helen," Amy commented. "What happened to your parents saying not to get involved anymore?"
"Well," Helen replied. "It took a lot of convincing, but Eggman destroying the moon kinda turned the tides."
"I also consulted one of my old attorney friends," Chuck added, "who advised that, as long as Helen doesn't directly aid Sonic and Tails in law breaking behaviors, coupled with the fact that she's a minor, she will likely not face any legal or educational repercussions."
"Plus," Helen said, "I convinced them that I'd be safer with the Helengelion than being defenseless at home." As if to demonstrate, the young girl threw a few air punches, pretending she was piloting her mech in the moment. "Even on drugs, Tails was able to help me make the remaining repairs after Metal Chris did a number on it. Right, Tails?"
The party turned to the young kitsune and his older brother, who were now lethargically lying back on the sofa, their gloved hands on their bellies as bits of taco meat dripped from their muzzles.
"Oh god, why'd I eat so much?" Sonic complained.
"I think I'm gonna hurl…" Tails added.
"I'll go get the Tums…" Chuck went to the kitchen once more, returning moments later with a pack of expired antacid tablets. The use by date mattered not to the brotherly duo, however, who only wanted the relief promised by the medicine. Taking a few tablets each, they chewed and swallowed the medicine before lying back once more, belching loudly in unison.
"Disgusting and dishonorable," Knuckles grumbled.
"Well," Amy began, "now that we're all here, I suppose we should discuss next steps."
"Our situation is rather precarious," Chuck said. "Not only does Eggman have all the Chaos Emeralds, but he has access to this powerful ship that can do incredible damage on a whim. Have we heard anything about the government's response?"
"Not beyond what the media's telling us," Helen replied. "President Michael K. gave a speech denouncing Eggman's terrorism, but if there's a military response or negotiations in the works, they haven't been announced publicly."
"Still, it would be nice to work with them…" Amy pondered. "With their resources, we could potentially get up into space and maybe take the fight directly to them?"
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Knuckles retorted. "The government's not really on our side right now. They've stolen my island and are actively trying to find Sonic and Tails to throw them back in the slammer."
"Yes, I'm aware," Amy replied with a scoff. "It'd be nice for them to set all this aside to work together."
"It seems humans aren't so good with cooperation," Knuckles opined.
"Generalizations aren't very nice," Sonic replied, his gloved palm still resting on his belly.
"No, no, Knuckles has a point," Chuck agreed. "And I guess I can say that, as a human."
"Human history is full of needless war," Helen added, "but it's also filled to the brim with inspiring stories of people working together to make all our lives better." She sighed. "I just hope this doesn't become an all-out war, because even if we did win this confrontation with Eggman, the casualties would be astronomical."
"Agreed," Tails replied as he raised his Mountain Dew can before taking another swig. "Unless we can take the fight to him off planet, the casualty rate would be incalculable."
A large monitor along the wall started blaring an emergency signal, flashing red with a piercing alarm.
"What's going on?" Bokkun asked, peering around in confusion along with the rest of his friends as he placed his palms over his ears.
"Looks like we've got some company," Chuck replied. "My security system is programmed to only detect intruders." He peered out the window to find several police cars piling up next to the barn. "Damn it! Looks like we're busted."
"But how?" Amy asked. "I'm pretty sure I wasn't followed."
"There!" Knuckles shouted as he pointed a finger at one of the agents. "If it isn't Rouge the Bat, betraying her Mobian kind to do the bidding of her new lover."
"Jealous much?" Sonic asked, a grin across his muzzle.
"I am not jealous!" Knuckles replied, veins appearing across his forehead. "She can be with whomever she wants for all I care! That's hardly the point!"
"There's only one thing we really can do now," Chuck concluded. "We've gotta go talk with them." He turned to Sonic and Tails. "It appears the drugs have worn off. That's a relief. Unless they perform a test, the only thing they'll notice is your Taco Bell breath."
The group filed out of the barn. There were both soldiers and police officers surrounding the perimeter. After several seconds of silence, one man in a suit exited the back of a police car and approached the party.
"…President Michael Kennedy?!" Chuck exclaimed, dumbfounded to find the leader of the nation on the doorsteps of his pot dealing secret home away from home.
Flanked on either side by multiple secret agents, Michael stopped within feet of the party, sternly looking over everyone until he slowly dropped to his knees, clasped his hands, and bowed.
"What's this?" Sonic asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"I offer my sincerest apologies," Michael said as he peered up at the blue hedgehog. "Eggman's announcement coupled with recently unearthed security footage made it perfectly clear that our initial assessment was wrong." The President sighed. "Sonic, you are innocent. Tails, too. This is the work of Eggman and that ebony hedgehog we mistook for you. All your police records have been expunged."
"Well, I'm certainly glad you're willing to own up to the mishap," Sonic replied as he extended out his arm.
Michael smirked. "I should've known you'd be so forgiving." He grabbed the blue hedgehog's gloved hand, giving it a firm shake before pulling himself up and dusting off his knees.
"Now then," Topaz interjected. "As you all no doubt know, we're up against an unprecedented situation." She pointed to the sky. "We have less than 24 hours to stop Eggman before he starts causing mass havoc. Unfortunately, our missile defense systems are simply not advanced enough to launch missiles from the surface of the planet to damage the Space Colony Ark. Even if we could damage the ship, Eggman may have fortified its defenses with the Chaos Emeralds."
"There must be a way to stop him," Helen said, tightening her fists in frustration.
"We think there may be a way," Michael replied, turning to Knuckles. "Humans are not as familiar with the powers of the Master Emerald as you and your friends, but is there a way to use the Master Emerald to combat Eggman directly?"
"Good question…" Knuckles folded his arms and closed his eyes. "The controller is the one that unifies the Chaos…" He stepped forward. "We've never used the Master Emerald in such a way, but I know the next best thing." The red echidna pulled his Master Emerald shard from his dreadlocks. "I'll need to restore the Master Emerald, but once it's been put back together, we may be able to use it to neutralize the power of the Chaos Emeralds."
"How do you expect to get it into space?" Rouge asked.
"We can have a rocket prepared in a manner of hours," Michael replied. "Knuckles, you mentioned the Master Emerald needs to be restored. How long would that take?"
"No time at all," Knuckles replied with a smirk. "I hid the shards across Angel Island, and with my expert treasure hunting skills, I can have the pieces back together within a matter of hours."
"We're pressed for time," Topaz replied. "Perhaps it'd be best for Knuckles to collect the pieces and meet us at the airport? The rocket should be prepared by the time we arrive at the Kennedy Space Center."
"Where's that?" Sonic asked.
"The Kennedy Space Center," Helen replied, "is in Florida. It's where many NASA space missions are initiated."
"Florida, huh?" Sonic looked up directions using his wristwatch communicator. "That's almost a hop, skip, n' a jump from here."
"But it's over a half a day's trip by car!" Topaz exclaimed. "And a couple hours by fighter jet. In fact, we have several jets being prepared for your entire party as we speak."
"I'll pass." Sonic chuckled. "My own two feet'll get me there faster than any plane."
"If there's anything you should've learned by now," Rouge teased, "is to never underestimate us Mobians."
"Okay then, I'll let my team know not to expect Sonic until the rocket launch," Topaz replied.
"So now that just leaves the decision over who among you will be taking the trip to space," Michael said.
"Of course I'll go," Sonic replied with a thumbs up.
"Same here!" Tails replied. "Someone's gotta pilot the rocket ship."
"And as the Master Emerald expert, I'll be coming along for the ride as well," Knuckles said.
"You're going to need a master infiltrator, so I guess I'll join you," Rouge added.
"And don't forget my moral support," Amy said, twisting the handle of her Piko Piko Hammer in anticipation."
"Ummm…"
The party turned to Helen.
"…may I come, too?"
"I don't think our rockets are equipped to handle paraplegic passengers," Michael replied. "Besides, you're much too young to be going into space. What would your parents think?"
"I've gotta agree with the President on this one," Chuck replied as he folded his arms. "I speak for your parents when I say this mission is too dangerous, even if you weren't bound to a wheelchair."
"But Grandpa!" Helen protested. "I have the Helengelion." She slapped the side of her wheelchair. "Plus, with Tails and everyone else, I'm sure I'll be perfectly fine!"
"I'm sorry," Chuck replied sternly, "but no means no."
"At the very least," Michael offered, "we can get you in a jet so you may see your friends off in Florida. How does that sound?"
"That's fine, I guess," Helen replied with a sigh.
"It should be exciting!" Tails reassured, giving her a pat on the shoulder.
"Yeah," Helen nodded, managing to crack a smile. "How many other kids my age can say they rode in a fighter jet?"
"That's the spirit!" Sonic replied with a thumbs up.
"And I'll stay behind to keep you company," Cream offered. "Cheese and Bokky, too." They nodded in agreement while Vanilla looked on, proud of how quickly her daughter has matured and further developed her emotional intelligence and loyalty to her friends.
"Everyone who'd like a one-way trip to the Kennedy Space Center," Topaz announced, "please meet me at the airport within the next two hours. We'll prepare the rocket while Knuckles gathers up the Master Emerald shards."
Everyone nodded, and once the President and his agents left, the remaining party piled into Chuck's van, save for Knuckles, who took off for Angel Island, Amy, who rode off on her motorcycle, and Sonic, who took a one-hour nap before starting his brisk jog to Florida.
Later that day…
"Heh, I knew I'd be faster than those slowpoke fighter jets."
Sonic giggled as he passed traffic on interstate highway 95, traveling down the freeway bordering the eastern United States from Station Square through Florida.
"According to the map," Sonic said as he examined his wristwatch communicator, "I'm close to the space center! I just gotta get off on this exit…" The blue hedgehog hopped over several trucks as he departed the interstate. "…and now just keep goin' for a lil' while longer."
Sonic admired the sight of the ocean, the glistening water shimmering as the sun gradually drew further away from the Atlantic Ocean, setting in the west. The blue hedgehog nearly collided into an alligator crossing the infrequently used side street, but a quick, last-minute jump saved him from running over the Floridian wildlife.
"Man, I've gotta be more careful," Sonic said to himself as he picked up the pace, keeping his eyes on the road.
He skidded to a stop right outside the space center, where a group of suited agents were there to meet him. One had a water bottle and a towel at the ready.
"Not necessary, but appreciated," Sonic replied, nodding as he grabbed the gifts, taking a swig of water before wrapping the towel around his neck. The blue hedgehog hardly broke a sweat during his journey, however, rendering it useless.
Sonic was led through the high-tech command center full of suited and armed personnel, including various engineers who were tasked with ensuring a safe launch. Minutes later, the blue hedgehog found himself outside once more, admiring the rocket being prepared a few dozen yards away with a long whistle.
"Say, you know when my friends will get here?" Sonic asked.
"The fighter jets will arrive in about another hour," one of the agents replied.
"I guess I'll just have to kill some time," Sonic replied. "Maybe see a movie or pet some local alligators?"
"Travel is not advised," said the agent. "You've been given top security clearance that expires upon leaving the premises."
"Do you at least have any chili dogs?"
"We just so happened to receive instructions to have delivered any meal of your choice prior to flight," replied the agent, "but I must warn you: chili dogs are, perhaps, the worst meal to have before a trip in a tightly enclosed space vessel with other passengers."
"And why's that?" Sonic asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"…Man, I'm not paid enough for this…" The agent shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You know what? Fine, we'll get you as many chili dogs as you'd like."
"Radical!" Sonic replied with a thumbs up. "Just make sure they come with the works! Onions, spices, and all!"
"Oh dear lord…" The agent shook his head once more before placing the order on his food delivery app.
By the time the fighter jets landed nearby, and the rest of the gang were brought to the Kennedy Space Center, Sonic was taking a nap after his chili dog feast. To ensure no passenger or onlooker would be famished during launch, and to allow a little extra time for the engineers to make their final preparations, food was ordered for Amy, Tails, Knuckles, Rouge, Cream, Cheese, Bokkun, Chuck, Vanilla, and Helen.
All were hungry beyond measure…except for Helen, who was feeling sick to her stomach. Sick of feeling like a burden to her friends. She thought of all the ways she could be helpful up on the Ark, and how much good she could do armed with the Helengelion, but, as per usual, the adults were keeping her from making any real contributions.
As Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and Rouge were saying their goodbyes to the rest of the group, the young fox pulled Helen aside.
"I have a special assignment for you," Tails said.
"Huh?" Helen replied. "You want me to help?"
"Of course!" Tails replied with a smile. "Just because you can't travel up into space doesn't mean you have to completely sit off on the sidelines."
"What would you have me do?" Helen replied, excitement growing in her voice.
"You'll need this…" Tails pulled a red scouter from his namesakes. "We'll be in contact with the flight engineers and Topaz during the launch and subsequent flight, but if anything goes down on Earth while we're infiltrating the Ark, we'll be totally out of the loop, so this is where we're counting on you to provide us with any information that may be pertinent to the mission."
"Woah, this is like the scouters used by the Saiyans in Dragon Ball Z!" Helen exclaimed.
"Heh, I thought you'd like 'em, nerd," Tails replied sarcastically, sticking out his tongue when Helen gave the young fox a gentle shove against his shoulder.
"Yo, buddy, waz the hold up?" Sonic called. "We're ready to go."
"Coming, Sonic!" Tails replied before turning his attention back to Helen one final time. He placed a gloved palm on her shoulder. "I really wish I could take you with. When all this is over, maybe our next project can be a spaceship we can pilot together. How's that sound?"
"That sounds remarkable," Helen replied with a smile. She reached her arms out for a hug. Tails reached in for the hug as well, the two embracing for several seconds before the young kitsune ended the hug and turned to face his Mobian counterparts, who were already boarding the rocket. Knuckles was carrying a bag over his shoulder full of the Master Emerald shards, which he was going to put back together upon their arrival to the Ark.
"See ya, Helen!" Tails waved back before entering the rocket.
"So long, Tails!" Helen called, waving back. "Be safe!" She was joined by Chuck, Cream, Cheese, Bokkun, and Vanilla, who were all waving as well.
They were ordered to step back a good distance before the countdown could begin, and once it reached zero, the thrusters were engaged, spitting fire out the base of the rocket, sending the contraption into the air, soon departing the Earth's atmosphere.
Once the rocket was out of sight, Helen got to work; using the basic security clearance afforded to her, she explored the NASA facility until she located an unoccupied conference room within the building. Pulling out her laptop from the side compartment of her wheelchair, she got to work researching, trying to find any news that may impact the mission in any way.
"So far," Helen said to herself after a half hour, "I've seen numerous reports of how the damage caused to the moon is impacting ocean waves, but nothing else. Looks like the government is keeping the rocket mission under wraps. Pretty smart…" Reaching for her water bottle, she took a swig before returning to her laptop, but she shuttered, feeling a presence beyond her own in the room.
Peering up from her monitor, the young girl shuttered in fear as the sight of an ebony hedgehog appeared before her.
"Hello, Helen…"
"You're…Shadow," Helen replied, her pupils shrinking in fright. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Eggman?"
"With the power of Chaos Control," Shadow replied with a smirk, holding a Chaos Emerald in the palm of her hand, "I can travel anywhere instantaneously."
"So why are you here?" Helen asked, trying to keep a brave face. "Trying to sabotage our mission?"
"I could care less about your mission," Shadow replied as she approached Helen, causing the young girl to reverse backward until her wheelchair hit the wall. "The only thing I want…is you."
"W-what do you mean?" Helen's eyes were trained on Shadow's red pupils.
The ebony hedgehog placed her gloved palm on Helen's shoulder and raised the mystical gem with her other arm.
"Chaos control!"
Moments later, the two vanished in a second.