Angel Island
Mecha Sonic's feet are on jet power, as Knuckles uses that superhuman gliding. They're flying to that "floating" island in their own ways. The echidna's spider sense kicks in. "Something is wrong.."
"What is your concern?"
When it hits Knuckles, he seethes. "Humans."
They touch down. Mecha's left arm turns into a blue cannon, ready to take down the first human he sees. This journey for metal has turned into a dangerous heist. "Whoever beat us here, is planning steps ahead." Knuckles notes.
"They can't plan for a shot to the skull. Follow my lead."
Mecha keeps moving, without fear, but Knuckles won't let him charge in brazenly. "You don't know the island. Follow MINE." He says, walking the opposite way. Mecha stands there for a moment, but in the end decides that experience will help him fulfill the doctor's orders. Even though he was made to be a machine, he'll adapt to the situation.
Knuckles scales a tree, peeping through the leaves. Mecha has to cramp in. "They want to strike the Doctor down. Even after jailing his minion…I smell corruption..and body odor. They are stinking up my island."
"If they choose to stand their ground, we'll shower them with reality."
"That was a clever phrase, robot. For now, we get intel.."
As those two hide in a cramped tree, the humans, decked out in vests, guns, and protective helmets, split into little groups to track down an object of some kind. A brown haired male with sunglasses, and a brunette take a look at their surroundings.
"It's strange the metal's here of all places." The brunette notes, picking up a black piece. "Do you think this is deliberate, commander?"
"Not the first time Robotnik's pulled his sick tricks. Keep a look out for any robots." He orders. "I'd love to avoid them, but if any want to show their faces, you could get quick training out of it."
The brunette's not paying attention, spotting an ancient mural in the distance. "They say this placed used to float. How'd it get all the way down here?"
"We can talk about the folklore after our mission." Rather stern, Commander.
While Mecha tracks their conversation, Knuckles is fixated on the big truck. There's a sold "G" on there, surrounded by the red circle. Just like the one from that warning Robotnik got! "G has invaded.."
"Look closer." Mecha advises, using his visor to pull up basic information inside. "Guardian Units of Nations. A military organization based in the United States. Bad for us, worse for the doctor's goals."
"G..U..N..Knuckles is straight-faced. "That is not a clever phrase."
"Clever or not.." Mecha loads his cannon. "They'll regret their involvement."
One group of four are looking at any branches, or holes in the dirt. The size of that metal varies. It can either be a big chunk, a tiny piece, or somewhere in between. "Out of all the teams to get the s,all one, it had to be us.." one whines.
"Get over yourself. We don't need EVERY piece.." the second critiques.
"But.." another starts. "What if Robotdick gets another one?"
The second snaps his head at him. "Don't overthink it. If he gets a sliver of metal, he still won't have shit. We can all go home and get out of this dump."
"DUMP?" The fourth asks. "Have you SEEN the waterfalls? I'd take my kids here if the natives let me."
They walk past a patch of dirt. Knuckles sticks his eyes out, irritation in those eyes. First, they trespass, and now they want to diss his home? Someone's paying the price. He throws a rock to get attention of the third soldier. His legs get yanked beneath him! He calls out for help, but Knuckles drags him into the bush too quick.
THUD.
THUD.
The complainer of the group aims his AR at the bush. "Todd? Where'd you go?"
"THERE IS NO TODD!" Knuckles yells, hopping out! He disarms the soldier before he can even fire, and hits him with the butt of the gun!
"My nose.."
Knuckles throws him at the fourth soldier! That just leaves number two: the main slanderer. That soldier slowly backs away, bewildered at what he's seeing. Knuckles cracks his main attractions. "You dare insult my home?"
"I meeean.." the soldier gets another look around. "It's just a forest."
WHACK!
.
Another group of soldiers scan the area. No whiners, no traitors, just people looking to get the job done. The shine of a metal chest plate gets their attention. They swarm around. Two focus on getting the scrap, while the others cover them.
"GRRH..heavy." One grunts.
"Put your back into it."
A red circle rolls in. A smart soldier books it, but gets caught in the shockwave! The group of four is down like THAT, all because of a little shock. Mecha Sonic swoops in to snatch the metal away.
"Next target.."
.
.
Knuckles runs through his home, carrying a boatload of metal in his hands. It's starting to obstruct his vision, but due to his super strength, it's not an issue. His path to his partner gets cut off by a giant mech.
Green, with red lines marking each part of its body. It's hands are retractable, two missile sticking out. The voice of the Commander booms out. "Stand down, echinda. Don't do anything stupid."
Knuckles comes running forth, so those missiles are fired! Knuckles drops his metal and catches BOTH!
"What?!"
He throws the first missile back, wrecking the Commanders mech! He dodged gunfire, before targeting the next mech!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Knuckles fought missile with missile. There's one mech left, staring him down. Mecha Sonic blasts through its head, ripping the driver out too!
"The mechs defenseless. Finish the job. Harvest its resources." Mecha schemes, letting Knuckles tear the mech up, all while he pins the last solider left under his foot.
"Let me go! I won't tell anyone, I promise!"
Mecha tazes the man with his electricity. "I am not letting you live. I'm only keeping you alive. Tell the Nations what happened. Warn them about our presence. If they get involved, I WILL do worse. Whether I'm ordered to..or not."
Knuckle's got both hands full of metal. He can't even pick up his old pile. "Make sure the doctor comes here, Mecha Terrorist. That was a slip."
Mecha stomps the man into a slumber. "Your slips don't bother me when there is bigger business to get to." The improved copy's visor lights up. "Doctor, come in.."
Christmas Island
A drone scans the island with its red light. It tracks the same footprints, from a random entrance, all the way to the top of the mountain. The outline's familiar enough to it, sending images of the print to its database.
Processing…
Processing…
Processing…
DING!
The doctor's voice comes through. "Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
The picture on the drone, seemingly moves to the doctors big screen. Typing can be heard through the little speakers, and a loud "EUREKA!"
"Nobody climbs a mountain just because they can. That's a fool's goal..but that blue scatstain's the textbook definition of one."
SLAM!
"Like a scab, you just keep coming back. If my new weapon couldn't teach you a lesson, I'll just have another force it into you.."
The drone flies away, on the hunt for a blue hedgehog once again.
Westside Island
Mystic Cave
Instead of plain darkness in the background, purple rocks take its place, offering little light, but a weird visual. Instead of stone and concrete, there's wooden architecture leading to a path at the end. Unfortunately for our heroes, it's not a straight line.
Tails clutches his flash, in a new, eerie atmosphere. He just tries to look forward. The Tornado couldn't fit, so he has no choice but to advance on foot. As for Sonic, he's just whistling to himself. Dude's unbothered about the zone.
"Sonic…"
"We'll be fine." Sonic assures, treating this like a morning walk. "There's light all around us."
The lanterns beside them offer little comfort. It doesn't even cover the uneven trees peaking out, nowhere close to in line like ones in a jungle, or heck even a forest. The floating boxes, moving left and right like slugs, don't give much assurance. Sonic takes the lead, scaling them UP for their next location. Tails uses his special weapons to get up, not looking down at all.
"Mind givin' me a hand?"
Tails grabs hold and carries him up. The lights clear at the end of the tunnel. "Thanks, buddy. I would have been waiting for days." The two head forward..
Five spikes pop up! Sonic shoves Tails behind, and gets a cut on his arm! There's a red line buried under all that fur. Fortunately for him, there's no blood yet, but it's starting to sting. There may be soon.
The fox's heart pounds, clutching it seeing MORE spikes pop up below. There's some free space between them, but getting to the end requires extreme caution. "Sooner we get out, the better…"
Sonic's covers his mouth with a finger. "Huh. Any ideas, pal?"
Tails, despite his fear, notices the repetition. They pop up once every few seconds. All he needs is the specific time. "If you go too early, we'll get stabbed."
"How long do we have between?"
One..
Two..
Three..
Spikes!
One.
Two.
Three.
Spikes!
"Almost every four seconds." Tails calculates. "Right when they sink in, we have to run."
Sonic grabs his hand. "Don't trip."
One.
Two.
Three.
Spikes.
SINK.
Sonic makes a run for it, Tails in tow. They're SO close to the light! Right when the hit it, the spikes pop up again, nearly impaling someone's tails!
Flash…
.
.
Land at last.
Tails feels his weapons, and luckily no fur was lost. He almost did though, and If they ran a milisecond later, then he'd need medical stat. Doesn't everyone just love life-threatening traps?
Sonic brushes his hand over the grass, gazing at the horizon ahead. "Looks like we took a shortcut."
"I've never seen this place.."
Sonic runs across the hill, spotting a fresh sign. He smacks it over, and it reads: "Hill Top."
"Gee, I wonder where we are."
Tails stares blankly. "Are..you messing with me?"
"Sarcasm, Tails!" He smacks his friend on the back. "Once you get that power, life's really worth living."
Tails yawns in response, rubbing an eye after.
"Spicy today?"
"No..I'm tired." Tails collapses onto the grass, and it doesn't take long for him to start snoring. They aren't obnoxious, but moreso tinier one's. One of Sonic's legs wobbles around. He slaps it just to stay up.
"Good idea."
He lays down for a little nap. "Now..for some nice, uninterrupted shuteye.." his eyes close, and he lets himself rest. That cave was just the first destination on the journey. It's been a decent run through Westside, as they approach some new territory. Well, Tails at least. Sonic's a real journeyman.
As Sonic drifts off, the fox's tails cover the hedgehog, like an extra blanket. They do their job, warming him up inside and out.
Egg Bunker
Mecha Sonic and Knuckles make their grand return, needing aid from Badniks, and even Stone, just to toss some metal down there. It almost clogs up the entrance, so Mecha and Knuckles practically force it inside.
"Mission was an overwhelming success." Mecha drones.
"Isn't that wonderful?" Robotnik spins around, legs crossed, and a mustache twiddled. "You both have done your part. There is still work to be done."
"Is it another exercise?" Knuckles asks. "We did well on the offensive."
"When you both work together, you're the worlds best hitmen..but I need one of you to do it alone. Guess who I have eyes on?" Robotnik asks, waiting for the—
"Who?" Knuckles steps forward. "I volunteer."
"There's no choice in the matter. You are a powerful force on your own, but I need to see if my precious baby boy can do the same." Robotnik explains, focusing on the copy. "Give him hell, Sonic! Make Sand Shower look like a fluke. I'll transfer the coordinates for your revenge."
"Will do." Mecha says, turning to leave again. Knuckles gets a hand on him.
"Are you comfortable going alone? This mission may be too dangerous for one machine."
Mecha removes his hand. "Have faith in me, Echidna." Mecha basically gives him a cold shoulder, using those thrusters below to dodge the metal, and leave the desert again. It's all about that crushing redemption the doctor sees. There's a reason Robotnik's confident enough in him.
He can't fail.
Right?
As he takes off, Knuckles turns to his old ally. "Sending one against two is a mistake."
Robotnik can't stop his offended look. "Don't tell me what is, and isn't a mistake.
Knuckles crosses his arms. "A good leader listens to those who serve them. I will not leave an alliance behind."
"Oh, Knuckles. Sweet, naive Knuckles.." Robotnik bends down. "I'm testing his loyalty. Make sure he doesn't rebel.
The Echidna has to take a few seconds. "..maybe you are right..but again. I leave no one behind. My honor demands it." He makes his way through the metal, and climbs up the entrance. When Robotnik is SURE he's gone, he throws up in his mouth.
"Honor this, honor that. BLEGH!"
As Knuckles glides away, more thoughts come in from above. Maybe Robotnik isn't the honorable leader he thought he was. Yet, he was still flawed. No Echidna in his tribe was perfect, and it took time for some to actually learn.
Maybe Robotnik will work on himself..but it's just bad faith.
This chapter was basically a setup for the coming chapters. Robotnik got his scraps for some new toys, Knuckles and Mecha showed off more skills, and Sonic and Tails got to bond a little more. Confidence helps carry.
Next chapter, the main characters take the spotlight back. Plus, peeks at what Mecha Sonic and Knuckles are doing on their respective "missions."
Until then, you have a great week. Summers beautiful this time of year!