Chapter 134

The Resistance

The light faded and a room of cold metal walls solidified into focus. Sonic stood in the center of a destroyed lab. Glass and discarded paper littered the floor. A majority of the tables and benches had been knocked over. There was dust in the air and the smell of smoke. Dislodged bullet casings peeked out from beneath the corners of fallen stools, the remnants of a messy cleanup job.

Sonic walked forward wearily. His movement did not set off any motion detectors, but Sonic still remained as quiet as possible. Beyond the lab, he met a long dark hallway. The electricity to the building had been shut off. His only light source was the distant spill of moonlight streaking in through a distant window. Sonic could hear nothing but his own restrained breathing. What happened here?

At the end of the hallway Sonic entered a modern pavilion. The glass roof had been shattered allowing the whirling wind to rush inside. All the furniture had been knocked aside and there was clear evidence of a battle. Scorch marks blackened the walls and there were heavy black boot prints on the once pristine marble floors.

Sonic exited the pavilion and followed an ornate set of stairs outside the building. He was surprised to find a shoreline within only a few meters distance. Sonic turned around and saw that he had just left a tall stylized skyscraper. The metal building had a funky shape to it, the kind of building that looked as if it belonged to a hip marketing company. Sonic caught the words "Goldstone Incorporated" above the entrance.

I made it. Sonic had returned to earth. More than that, he had confirmed that Amy had been working with Goldstone after all. Sonic frowned as he walked around the edge of the building. In the distance, he could see the skyline of a small beach city. Based on the size, Sonic guessed that the entire island was owned by the Goldstones who probably used the other highrises as apartments for their employees. So what happened to them?

There had obviously been a battle, and based on the shoddy cleanup and bullet casings he discovered, Sonic doubted that Eggman had been the perpetrator. Was it GUN? Amy mentioned that the military had been Jeffery's main concern. If so, had Amy been caught in the middle, or had she managed to escape?

Sonic shook his head and walked over to the beach. The sand whipped against his ankles as it was moved up by the wind. Above him, Sonic could see the half destroyed moon shimmering in the dark canopy of the sky. Some trick of the light made the moon appear red instead of white. An ominous shade of crimson played across the sky and reflected against the ocean making the water appear like blood.

Sonic shivered. He could not stay on earth long. If his friends were still alive and fighting he had to find them fast. But first I have to know. He pictured the floating paradise Angel Island and the image filled his heart with grief. Sonic could hardly imagine that a world so grand and full of mystic energy could be destroyed. Without means of navigating himself, Sonic would have to just race around the world until he found a familiar landmark. He couched down into a sprinter's stance and prepared to run. It had been a while since Sonic could unleash the full throttle of his speed on an open track. Without Caliburn slung over his back, Sonic felt light and jittery.

Pop! Sand exploded behind him as Sonic bolted forward. The red waves split apart as his feet cut right through the water. Pop! Pop! Pop! Sonic felt the wind scream across his face as sound itself failed to keep pace with him. His feet moved before the friction of the liquid could give in, allowing Sonic to run across the water as if it were solid ground.

Despite his worries, despite the danger, despite everything, Sonic could not stop the smile that spread across his face. Running defeated all. The thrill of pure, unthrottled speed was pure bliss that pushed aside all other concerns.

In minutes, Sonic saw the heights of blurry mountains and he soon reached the

distant shore. Sonic had apparently been transported to an archipelago of mostly uninhabited islands. However, the sky became his guide as Sonic found the north star and followed after it.

An hour later Sonic reached a true shoreline and emerged onto a shaded beach. Sonic raced down the shoreline until he found a highway. He did not go far on the road, as he quickly found a sign that told him all he needed to know. Emerald Coast, 300 miles.

With that direction in mind, Sonic knew how to reach the Mystic Ruins. In less than half an hour, Sonic reached the top of a ridge overlooking the jungle. He zipped through the trees and arrived at a high cliff overlooking the sea. Sonic stopped short. The sky above him was empty. Sonic stared at the vacant expanse and felt his heart drop. He did not know what he had expected to find. Amy was unlikely to get her facts wrong, but seeing it for himself made the truth solid beyond any refutation.

Rapid memories flashed through Sonic's mind. He thought of his and Tails' first adventure to Angel Island, how Knuckles had thought them enemies and had constantly imbedded their pursuit of Eggman. Sonic had thought the spikey red guardian a bit of an idiot, and it wasn't until their final confrontation had the two of them been able to see things eye to eye. Of course it had been too late by that point and Eggman had managed to steal the Master Emerald.

It all seemed so innocent before. Sonic and Knuckles had both used to laugh at the entire ordeal. In Sonic's memory there had never been any real danger. Though now, as Sonic thought back, a shadow covered his memory. There had been danger. Eggman had escaped with the Master Emerald and used it to power one of his death egg machines. Had Sonic made the tiniest mistake in that battle amongst the stars, Eggman would have mechanized the entire world.

Sonic closed his eyes. Had he been wrong about everything? Had he really failed to recognize Eggman for the threat he was? Was his love for adventure so strong he had blinded himself to the real danger? Sonic looked at his hands. He could not shake the feeling that he was responsible for everything that had happened. All those close calls in the past, were those demonstrations of Sonic's heroism or merely warnings that Sonic failed to heed?

He turned away from the sight. Angel Island was gone, and there was nothing Sonic could do about that. He needed to find Tails, to make sure he was alright, and then return to Arvana as soon as possible. The sense that he was already transgressing on his mandate filled Sonic as he took off in a dead sprint.

Moments later, he reached the waterfall near Tails' workshop. Sonic stayed in the shadows as he approached the house. Lights flashed inside and Sonic stopped and laid flat in the grass as he saw movement. The workshop had been heavily damaged. The windows were shattered and the front door had been torn off. A dozen figures were moving in and out, taking machinery from inside the lab and tossing it into the grass outside.

It was difficult to make out in the dark, but eventually one of the figures walked out into the moonlight. Sonic grimaced as he saw the red glint of imperial armor. Tralajian soldiers encircled the house, and a moment later, Sonic saw that the group was reinforced by a host of Sentinels.

Sonic tried to keep himself from panicking. Of course Eggman knew where Tails' lived. It only made sense that he would send a strike team to take him out. However, Tails would not be so stupid as to wait at home. All the same, Sonic's heart began to race as he stood up and wondered where he should go next. Any of their usual haunts were likely to have been first targets by Eggman's forces.

Without anything to go on, Sonic left the Mystic Ruins. He ascended up to the train tracks which connected the natural preserve to the city of Station Square. Sonic ran along the tracks until he could see the skyline of the city. Huge ominous clouds hovered above the buildings, covering the city in a dense darkness. Sonic shivered as he pressed forward. The train station was just up ahead, but he stopped short long before he reached it. At a closer view, Sonic saw that what blanketed the city were not clouds at all. Huge battleships hovered above the city, each one as large as Titan. Shining upon every hull was an illuminated insignia; the face of Eggman.

Sonic shivered as if he had just been doused with a bucket of cold water. His worst fears had been realized. It felt as if lead had been injected into shoes. Sonic tried to run, but he felt slow and sluggish as he approached the train station. Most of the tracks appeared to be operational. The station itself seemed to have been shut down. Sonic crept towards the main building, ensuring that he kept to the shadows. Behind walls of plane glass, Sonic could see that the station was now full of imperial soldiers.

However, the Tralajian invaders were not alone. To Sonic's surprise, human police officers fortified their ranks. Sonic watched from the cover of the empty tracks as the soldiers and police officers conversed briefly before moving on. Once the way was clear, Sonic climbed onto the terminal. He tracked the group of officers to the end of the walkway and saw that a large group of people had been herded into one of the station's rooms.

The trains to the Mystic Ruins were out of order, but other vessels were being boarded. Sonic watched through a window as dozens of people were forcibly packed into the train cars. A child was separated from their parents as the officers filled every square inch of the car. Then a horn sounded and the train roared to life. Sonic watched as it left the terminal.

Once it was gone, the police officers and imperial soldiers returned to the station. Sonic slipped in behind them and followed. The human police separated from the imperial soldiers and took a break inside a conference room. Sonic waited behind the door as the soldiers vanished around the further turn. Once they were gone he pinned his ears against the door and listened intently.

"That should be the last shipment tonight," A gruff male voice said in between sips of a styrofoam cup of coffee.

"Who knew GUN had so many agents in the city?" This time the voice belonged to a raspy female.

"There had to be loads of them," A second male interjected. "How do you think they got so deep with the government? They never fooled me though. I knew something fishy was going on right after that incident at Emerald City."

"You didn't know squat," Mocked the first voice. "You swallowed all of their lies hook line and sinker, don't pretend any different."

"So it was all a lie?" The woman asked timidly. "All of it? Metal Sonic, the attacks all over

the planet?"

"Every bit," Said the second man confidently. "Just a parade of false flags so GUN could gain more power. They wanted to scare all the other countries into joining the U.F."

"Says, Robotnik," The gruff man clarified. "Who's to say that he is telling the truth?"

"Look at the evidence!" The second man argued. "Argus admitted everything in those recordings. All those talks of a new world order, sounded like a right psychopath to me."

"I don't deny that GUN tried to take over the world. But look at who actually pulled it off." Sonic's curiosity got the better of his caution. He lifted himself up to the narrow window in the door so he could look inside. The three police officers were huddled beside a pitcher of hot coffee. The gruff voiced man stood at the far end of the room with his hands folded in front of him. The other two were looking at him cautiously, almost as if they were afraid of what he might say next.

"Robotnik hasn't actually done anything," The scared man said, his voice shaky with uncertainty.

The woman jumped to his aid. "Right, he's just revealed what GUN did. He only brought his forces to the city to counter GUN's offensive."

The gruff man shook his head. "So what's he doing now? GUN is finished, but Robotnik's forces don't seem to be going anywhere."

"The fight's not over!" The second man said hotly. "GUN's agents are stewing up violence everywhere. Once we've restored order to the city, I am sure Robotnik will give control back to the municipal government."

This made the gruff man let out a bark of derisive laughter. "O you are sure are you? Are you really so stupid as to believe that? Has that business with GUN not taught you anything?"

"That was different, with Metal Sonic, that was all just the news and propaganda. This, Resistance or, whatever they call themselves, is real. I've seen them. They do their little attacks at night and then escape back into the sewers." The second man was getting more and more angry as he spoke. The woman had to stand by him and hold him by the arm.

"There's no point in getting upset Lucas, I am sure Henry didn't mean anything by it." She fixed the first man with a withering stare. "Robotnik saved us all from global catastrophe. It would be ungrateful to mistrust him now."

"So you think he's turned a new leaf have you? Did you forget that he's tried to take over the world half a dozen times? If you have, maybe you should take a look outside and look at the moon that he blew in half!"

"SHHHH!" Both Lucas and the woman silenced their colleague while shooting nervous glances at the door. Sonic managed to move away from the window just in time. He waited nervously for their voices to resume, but it appeared they were now speaking in whispers. Sonic sighed and moved away from the door.

So Eggman was framing his invasion as liberation? Sonic moved covertly through the station, slipping from shadowy corner to shadowy corner. He did not know how to feel about this particular piece of information. If Eggman is guising as a hero, then he is unlikely to have done too much damage. Sonic clung to that idea like a drowning man at a raft. It was his one source of light in all the darkness.

He managed to reach the end of the station without tripping any alarms. He slipped out the front doors and into the downtown square. A silent, watchful night awaited him. Floodlights flashed from above, spiraling down from large slow moving ships. Sonic crouched down and flung himself into cover behind some bushes. The hotel resort next to the train station had been boarded up. Humans in black riot gear guarded the entrance.

Station Square was completely locked down. No one moved on the streets except for imperial soldiers and human police. A P.A system rained down cryptic messages, warning the citizens to stay in their homes. "GUN's Agents are still active. They attack mostly at night. For you and your families safety please remain at home from the hours of 8pm to 6am. Curfew is now in effect, return to your home or report to your nearest imperial office."

Sonic wondered what he should do. He had no means of contacting Tails or Amy. Were they the leaders of this so-called Resistance? Sonic thought back to what that man Lucas had said. "They do their little attacks at night and then escape back into the sewers." Sonic had to make a choice then and there. He emerged out of the bushes and streaked down the street in a blur of speed too fast for any camera to track.

Sonic knew Station Square pretty well, and as fortune would have it, he knew a secret way into the sewers. He sped down a few main streets before diverting down a side alley. Much of the roads were blocked with imperial barricades, but that wouldn't even slow Sonic down. The closer he got to downtown, the more pronounced the imperial presence became. Soldiers had built watchtowers in the middle of the road, flanked by large military tanks. Blimps with Eggman's face on them hovered eerily in the sky, the eyes of the face shone with spotlights, searching tirelessly for traitors.

City hall had been completely taken over. The entire district was filled with imperial garrison vehicles, Sentinel repair stations, and more tanks. Sonic stuck to the dark spots of the street as he crept towards an abandoned building. Wooden boards covered the doors and the dusty windows were plastered with faded signs that read Out of Business. Sonic tried the door, but wasn't surprised when he found it locked. Gritting his teeth, Sonic punched through the rotted wood, reached through the gap and opened the door.

He entered a dark shop packed to the brim with shelves. Dusty antiques, faded wrapping paper, and mounds of mold covered the floor. Sonic covered his nose as he trudged through the mess. At the corner of his eye, he saw the lush pillow that used to cushion a golden chao egg. A wistful smile spread across Sonic's face as he remembered the peculiar set of circumstances that had brought him to this very shop.

Behind a tower of old boxes, Sonic found a door locked tightly with a metal chain. He broke the lock with a rusted hammer he found on the floor and pulled open the door. The rusted hinges screamed as it moved away, revealing the back room of the shop. More unsold merchandise and trash had been hastily stacked here. Sonic managed his way towards the center of the room and pushed away the stack of boxes that covered a circular well. With an effort, Sonic managed to push away the stone cap and reveal the hole that led down into the city's sewers.

Sonic peered into the dark expanse. He could see nothing, and all he could hear was the faint drip of water far below. Sonic climbed onto the lid and prepared to jump down. He never knew why the antique shop had this sewer entrance. Perhaps the building had once been used by the city maintenance crews and had been forgotten when municipal data was transferred from paper to computer. Either way, Sonic had never known anyone who knew about this secret entrance, aside from the store owner.

Sonic closed his eyes and prayed fervently that no one had placed anything in the space beneath him. He would be making a blind jump in the dark and didn't want to shatter his feet against anything. With his stomach fluttering, Sonic let go and fell into the darkness.

He landed on a cold slab of concrete. A faint buzzing filled his ears as he adjusted to the darkness. Vague outlines of walls materialized on either side of him. Sonic groped forward until he found a wall and followed it deeper into the sewers. Memory told him that there was a turn coming up, but orienting himself in the dark was nearly impossible. His foot slid off the concrete and splashed into murky water. Sonic cringed as he felt his feet submerge into the muck.

However, his disgust quickly turned to fear. In the distance, he could hear faint movement. "What was that?" A voice called from ahead. Sonic crouched down and tried to remain as silent as possible. The echo of movement drifted from somewhere ahead of him. He could then hear the distinct sound of two sets of feet. Small beams of light flashed up ahead. Sonic crept back as two figures rounded the corner. One was a feline with dark fur. They wore a gas mask on their head with a flashlight crudely taped to the center. The second was a human in tattered clothes.

"I could have sworn I heard something," The cat said, in a low, raspy voice.

"It could have been a bug…or a bat," The human stammered.

"No, I distinctly heard footsteps." The cat directed its flashlight directly down the shaft Sonic was hiding down. Sonic quickly darted to the side, but the splash he made gave him away.

BANG! A bullet flew past him. The cat held up a rifle and stormed forward. "I SAW YOU! Come on out!"

Sonic drew back wondering if he should try and jump back up the well and escape. Before he could decide he heard an ominous click! "Come out with your hands up or this generade will blow you into pieces." The cat sauntered forward with his arm raised, a grenade held in his hand.

"Just hold on!" Sonic raised his arms in a sign of surrender and walked over. He blinked as the cat targeted his face with the beam of his flashlight. To Sonic's surprise the human accompanying him was only a teenager. Their clothes and rugged appearance made them appear older, but the face and fretful eyes gave them away.

"Who the hell are you?" The cat demanded. He jabbed the point of his rifle forward threateningly. "How did you get in here? Answer me?"

Before Sonic could reply, the boy rushed forward and pushed his companion's weapon aside. "Bolt stop! Don't you see who that is?" The boy was staring at Sonic in wide eyed disbelief. "That's Sonic the Hedgehog."

The cat removed his gas mask. Scars and black soot covered its whiskery face. Its vertical eyes narrowed with disbelief and amazement. "How can you be sure?"

"I'd know him anywhere!" The boy shouted jubilantly. He reached into his pocket and withdrew his cellphone. He flipped it open to reveal his screen background; a picture of Sonic.

Bolt looked from the picture on the phone back to Sonic. "I suppose it looks like him."

"Are you the Resistance?" Sonic ventured.

"Resistance?" The cat repeated. "Is that what they're calling us now? I'm not sure I'd go that far. I'd call us the desperate remnants."

"We are the resistance!" The boy shouted suddenly. "We've been fighting against Eggman! We know that he really isn't here to save us! We-" Bolt struck the boy in the ribs.

"Enough of that," He snarled. "We aren't much of anything, just a bunch of nobodies too stupid to see how the winds are blowing. All those who couldn't swallow the "emperor's" lies have come down here to hide."

"But there are more of you?" Sonic asked hopefully. "Like around the world?"

The cat shrugged. "Probably, but we haven't been able to mobilize. There are a few people who've made outside contacts, but it hasn't resulted in much."

"Can you take me to your base?"

"Of course!" The boy exclaimed. "I mean, that's why you're here isn't it? You're going to lead the fight against Eggman! You're the only one who can beat him!"

Sonic's stomach twisted. He did not know what to say to this, but he was spared from responding as Bolt agreed to take him to the base. "I'm Bolt, as you heard. And this here is Christopher." Bolt jabbed his thumb towards the boy.

Bolt didn't say anything more and led them through a dizzying maze of twisted tunnels. Sonic didn't even try to remember the way, and wondered if Bolt was intentionally leading them on a meandering path. This was confirmed when Chris complained that they were taking the "long" way. Though Bolt had recognized Sonic, he was weary enough not to trust him completely.

"I've been telling everyone that you would come back," Christopher said triumphantly. "When all that stuff with Metal Sonic was going on, everyone was wondering where you were. But I bet you were never fooled. You knew it was GUN pulling the strings the entire time didn't you?"

Sonic said nothing, but it didn't appear as if Christopher needed his input to continue the conversation. "Some worried that Robotnik had already gotten to you, but I knew that you were just staying undercover until the time was right. Do you know what I wanted to name us, before the imperials started to call us the Resistance? Sonic Team, and that's still what a lot of us use."

Sonic felt as if he were being torn in two. Christ's youthful optimism was such a dynamic contrast to the situation he found himself in. His clothes were ragged, he lived in a sewer, and by the looks of things had missed more than a few meals recently. Yet, here he was, boldly ready to face the next challenge because he still believed in his hero. What would happen when he found out that Sonic wasn't here to save them, that he wasn't here to take charge of the rebellion and lead a spirited fight against Eggman?

That concern would have to wait, as they finally reached the end of the road. A chain fence blocked their progress. Bolt used a key to bypass the gate, and they entered a spacious cistern. A series of catwalks created a kind of crisscrossing web along which the Resistance had made their home. The underground cavern was illuminated by space heaters and glow sticks. In the dim light, Sonic could make out nearly a hundred people cuddled up in blankets, watching him wearily.

"I'll get the Boss," Bolt said. He walked forward and Sonic was left standing awkwardly. Suddenly, Chris went to the guard rail and started shouting.

"EVERYONE COME HERE. IT"S SONIC!" At this sudden pronouncement there was a rush of movement. Everyone drew out from the shadows to see what was happening. There was a brief delay before another child's voice screamed out.

"MOMMY LOOK! IT'S SONIC!"

Cheers echoed up to the rafters. People started to scream and then chant his name. They piled onto the catwalks, causing the metal scaffolding to groan as everyone rushed to get a better view of him.

"SONIC!"

"IT'S REALLY HIM!"

"WE'RE SAVED!"

Sonic couldn't bear to look up into the crowd and see those expressions of hopeful longing. His stomach twisted into even deeper knots. He felt as if he might throw up. Suddenly, he was seized by the arm. A hulking figure loomed over Sonic. "Not here," The voice came from someone standing beside the large figure.

Without argument, Sonic allowed himself to be led away. He was taken into a room that may have once served as a foreman's office. It overlooked the cistern and was slightly more furnished. A service light flickered above them. Now that Sonic could see, he recognized the hulking figure. "I know you, you're Big the Cat. Your frog ate Chaos' tail."

The large purple feline nodded his head enthusiastically. "Froggy used to get lost down here sometimes. When everything went bad I came down here, and some people followed me." Big's slow, slightly oafish voice earned a snicker from Bolt who was standing by the door.

"Don't laugh." The one that had brought Sonic here threw back her hood. It was a woman with dark skin and tightly braided hair. She wore a military-esque jacket beneath a bullet proof vest. A scar traced between her left eye down to her chin. Her intense expression softened as she shot Bolt a stern glare. "Big's done more for this group than you've ever done." She then turned to Sonic, her hands pressed against her hips.

"Are you really Sonic the Hedgehog?" Her large amber eyes were narrowed with mistrust.

Sonic quickly dashed across the room, vanishing and reappearing in an instant. "I'm not sure if that proves it but-"

"Where the hell have you been?" Her yell shook the room and caused all the others to jump back in surprise. "You're supposed to be some kind of hero, but you've been missing for weeks!"

"Amber…" Bolt stared cautiously. "Let the man speak, he may have a perfectly good reason-"

"He'd better!" Amber rounded on Sonic. "Do you have any idea what's been going on?"

"Yes!" Sonic answered. "I've been gone, but I haven't been doing nothing. I can't explain everything right now, and I really can't even stay long."

"What? You're leaving?" Big looked down at Sonic in shock. "I thought-"

"Listen to me," Sonic interrupted. "I am fighting Eggman too, on another planet, but I can't explain all that right now. I have to get back soon. I just wanted to make sure that Eggman hadn't conquered the planet yet, that there was still a chance."

Amber looked taken aback. "Fighting Eggman…on another planet?"

"I know it sounds crazy, but you just have to trust me."

Amber pressed her lips together. "So what did you want to know? Are there still people fighting? Like hell there are. Not everyone is so stupid to eat that drivel of lies he tried to feed us."

"But who's leading the fight? Do you know if Tails is still alive?" Sonic could feel his heart thumping hard inside his chest. He had reached the point this had all been leading up to. He watched the expressions of the others, searching for the faintest hint of comprehension.

Amber smiled faintly. "Tails? Yeah, he's alive."

Sonic felt such a pronounced sense of relief he nearly fell over. "Have you spoken to him?"

"Not personally." Amber turned and pointed to an old school radio that was mounted on the wall. "We've made contact with survivors of the U.F government. They are apparently held up with Tails somewhere completely secure and unknown to Eggman."

Sonic's heart skipped a beat. "So…you haven't heard from him directly?"

Amber shook her head. "But I just spoke to one of his friends a few hours ago. "

"Can I try and contact him?"

Amber nodded. "But he may not-"

Sonic rushed over to the radio. A man with a great black beard took the receiver and started fiddling with the nozzle. "This is SS to Green Hill. Repeat, this is SS to Green Hill. Please respond."

Static issued out of the radio as the old man continued to try and focus the receiver. "Green Hill, do you copy?" The static peaked before sounding suddenly clear. A voice answered.

"This is Green Hill, we copy."

Sonic fumbled for a name to match the voice, and then remembered who it was. "Cream, is that you?" He took the receiver from the man and held it gingerly. His hands were shaking.

There was a long pause. "Mr. Sonic…is…is that you?"

"Yes, it's me. Is Tails there, I need to speak to him."

"O…I'm sorry Mr. Sonic you just missed him. Tails left on a mission."

Sonic was so flooded with nerves he nearly dropped the receiver. It was the best news he could have dared hope for. "Cream, I need you to give him a message from me. Tell him to keep fighting, tell him…tell him I will be back soon. Can you do that?"

"Yes."

Sonic handed over the receiver and stepped away from the radio. A barrage of emotions swelled inside. He felt an overwhelming desire to throw Amy's bracelet away. To stay here on earth and help in the fight against Eggman. But then he thought of Blaze, and all the warnings she had given him. His friends were fighting, they were managing without him. Sonic had already risked much by coming here to clarify his own doubts. He could not stay any longer.

"So you're leaving then?" Amber asked, her hands folded tightly across her chest.

"I have to," Sonic said. "But I will return. Protect the planet for me while I'm gone." Sonic was about to activate the bracelet when he noticed that everyone was staring at him. Their battle hardened faces looked grave and uncertain. "Don't give up hope," He said. "I promise I will come back." With that, Sonic activated the transporter. There was a flash of white light, and he was gone.

Sonic materialized back in the streets of Mestopolis. The sun was setting behind the mountains. It's only been a few hours.

"Argh!" Sonic was shocked as the Sol Gem on his bracelet sparkled. With a faint crackle the stone started to vibrate. Sonic quickly removed the bracelet and dropped it onto the floor. He was just in time, as a few seconds later, the Sol Gem and bracelet exploded, and dematerialized into dust. The energy required for two interstellar jumps had pushed both band and gem to the absolute limit.

Unnerved, Sonic turned aside and began to make his way through the city. He wanted to get back to the estate as soon as possible. As he went, Sonic noticed that the streets of the city were almost empty. An eerie silence drifted between the open roads. Sonic felt a sudden chill down his back as he hurried onward. He had the strange sensation that something bad had happened.

The mountain road to the estate was in view when Sonic came to a sudden stop. He felt a faint tremble in the ground beneath him. Sonic's nerves leapt to attention as he had the sudden anticipation of danger. BOOOM! Two things happened at once. The ground beneath him seemed to split apart as a violent tremor shook the world. Sonic staggered and looked up just in time to see a flash of white flame shoot into the sky followed by a plume of swirling smoke. The explosion looked as if it had come from near the Church.

Sonic's teeth rattled. He had to fight to remain balanced on the shaking ground. A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind. Had Blaze and the others been attacked? His first instinct was to race in that direction, but he stopped when he considered the others left at the estate. Blaze had commanded him to stay there and protect them. He could not leave without ensuring that they were okay.

The tremor subsided, allowing Sonic to regain his balance. Aftershocks followed as Sonic raced towards the mountain road leading up the gardens. To his immense relief, Silver arrived at the same time. His face was pale and he looked terrified.

"Where's Blaze?" Sonic asked.

"She's safe, Gawain took her to the hideout."

Without any more words, the two hedgehogs started rushing up the mountain road. As they got closer, they saw wisps of smoke rising up from the buildings. Burn marks scorched the ground and one of the estate walls had been shattered.

Silver readied himself for battle by encasing himself in a pulsing shield of green energy. Sonic instinctively reached behind him, but Caliburn wasn't there. They crept forward, listing intently for signs of movement. Sonic's heart was racing. He hadn't been here. Whatever had happened, it was all his fault.

The overbearing silence grew louder. They paused at the doors leading into the main house. The great stone doors had been ripped asunder. Something stronger than fire had seemingly melted away the hinges. Silver raised his hand. Green mist coiled around the doors. With a push of his hand, Silver sent a shockwave which blasted them backward, clearing the opening.

They rushed inside. The room had been torn to shreds by a recent battle. Heavy bronze scones had fallen to the floor and scratches ripped apart the hanging tapestries. A body was just visible beneath a partially collapsed ceiling. Sonic drew near and found Ivan crushed beneath the weight of the stone. Guilt boiled inside Sonic like acid. He only looked away when a sound drew his attention.

Rayne rested on the floor with his back to the wall. A huge red gash spread across his chest. The knight sat in a pool of his own blood. His sword was broken at the hilt, the shards of its steel were scattered all over the room. However, the Knight of Grounding was not dead yet. He breathed in slow shallow gasps.

"Rayne!" Silver raced over to his friend and crouched beside him.

"It was him…" Rayne muttered. Blood and bile oozed out of Rayne's mouth as he spoke. "Infinite…he took Jasmine…there was…nothing…nothing I could do..the others…dead…"

"It's alright," Silver insisted, his voice quivering. "We will get you somewhere safe, you're going to be alright."

Rayne blinked slowly. The gash across his chest was deep and he had already lost a lot of blood. Rayne tried to move. His body shook as he moved his hand behind his back. With a tremendous effort he withdrew Caliburn and its belt. He had been using his own body to conceal the weapon. Rayne passed it over to Sonic. "Don't leave it again."

Silver seized Rayne by the shoulders. "You're going to be alright. Listen to me, Sonic can take you back to the Sanctuary. The healers will look after you."

"Yeah!" Sonic exclaimed, wiping away his own tears. "I can get you there in just a few minutes, just hang on."

Rayne's eyes flashed with hope. He groaned as Silver attempted to heave him to his feet. Sonic made to assist when he heard an ominous pulsing sound behind him. Sonic turned as a pool of swirling darkness materialized into a tangible mass. Infinite hovered out of the portal with his arms outstretched.

"What have you done?" Silver raged. "You had no right to attack us like this."

Infinite laughed. His voice echoed throughout the room as if issuing from a disembodied demon. "I have the only right that matters, the right of power." He raised his hand and two cubes of red and black energy rushed towards Silver and Sonic. Silver countered with an energy shield. Sonic managed to draw Caliburn just in time to protect his body from the attack. Despite their best efforts, they were both thrown backward into the wall and pinned.

"You thought you could trick my master with such a simple deception? The princess is not here, but we will find her soon. I hope you did not care for the girl who took her place, for she will surely suffer the penalty of lying to the empire."

"Bastard!" Sonic pushed with all his might and managed to break free. He landed and flipped Caliburn around to aim its steel point at Infinite.

"Rage if you wish," Infinite mocked. "We both know that you do not have the power to fight me. I destroyed that pesky little rock of yours. Today marks the final sunrise of your rebellion. My master's plan has worked to perfection. His Hive has gone out into the city and captured one thousand Thirteens suspected of treason. They will all die, and the rest will have no choice but to blame the princess for the bloodshed."

"Why?" Silver shot back, his voice shaking with rage.

"Because the princess used the emperor's appeal at peaceful negotiations as a disguise to sneak her agents into the city. While my lord hosted her in an honest attempt to reach a settlement, her nefarious spies infiltrated the city and attempted to steal a payload of Sol Gems."

Sonic's heart fell into his shoes. The dark aura around Infinite swelled, energized by Sonic's feelings of despair and guilt. "Blaze came to this city on false pretenses and does not care for the well being of her people. All she wants is to rule with complete sovereignty, no matter the cost." Infinite could not keep out the relish in his voice.

"No one will ever believe that," Silver snarled.

Infinite laughed, relishing the irony of the situation. Sonic's hands were shaking. The corners of his vision narrowed, the outline turning a vengeful red.

"It is time the Thirteens recognized their princess for what she really is, a deceiver and a fraud. Once Lord Mesto has finished his work, she will be stripped bare for all to see, her weakness exposed to shame and mockery."

"ENOUGH!" Silver pulsed with neon green light. The energy knocked Sonic and Infinite backward. Sonic rolled when he hit the ground and sprang instantly to an attack. Infinite was waiting for him, and parried Caliburn's edge with a blade of his own, created by his own demonic red energy.

The two drew back and then exploded into a lightning quick flurry of strikes. Each blow sent a shiver racing down Sonic's arm. Silver used that delay to gather more energy. He encased every object laying in the room within his green aura and lifted it in the air. "Sonic, get down!"

Sonic drew back with a backward handspring, but Infinite was just as quick, shielding himself in a barrier of dark matter. That managed to shield him against Silver's projectiles but left him vulnerable to Sonic's frontal assault. Sonic used the threat of his sword as a feint, intentionally swinging it high so that Infinite would counter by covering his head. Once the opening presented itself, Sonic lurched forward with a crushing knee that slammed right into Infinite's chest. He let out a groan of suppressed pain and rocketed into the far wall. Now that he was off balance, Silver and Sonic both attacked in unison. They each scored hits to Infinite's head and body with rapid speed. Infinite recovered himself just enough to avoid serious damage. "DIE!" Infinite pushed Silver away and lunged at Sonic's neck. He was an inch away from clawing his dagger-like fingers into Sonic's flesh when Silver used an energy blast to move Sonic out of harm's way.

Infinite ignored Silver completely and continued his assault on Sonic. Confined to the close quarters of the room, it took all of Sonic's acrobatics and twitchy nerves to simply stay alive. Infinite's energy sword left an ominous red hum wherever it struck.

"Don't turn your back on me!" Silver hovered in the air. His energy swelled and he launched a two handed blast at Infinite. Mesto's lackey was too focused on Sonic to dodge. The ray of green light struck him in the back and Infinite seized up, his arms pinned to his sides. "Now!" Silver screamed. "Do it, finish him!"

Time slowed to a stop. Sonic stood facing Infinite. His opponent was completely immobilized by Silver's attack. Sonic's arm dropped. Suddenly, Caliburn felt as if it weighed a ton. The moment was passing. Sonic urged his body to move. At last he managed a slash, but it was already too late. Infinite broke free and caught Sonic by the wrist. "Pathetic!" Infinite drew back his own blade in preparation for a stab.

Sonic closed his eyes. Wham! Something hard drove into Sonic's shoulder knocking him aside. "NOOOOO!" Sonic looked up to see Rayne standing in front of Infinite, the villain's red blade had punctured the echidna's chest and broke out of his back. Infinite twisted his plasma sword and tried to rip it free, but Rayne seized Infinite by the arm, locking him in place. With a guttural roar Rayne reared his head back and slammed it into Infinite's face! The impact cracked the spiral mask.

Infinite groaned in pain as he managed to pull his sword away. Rayne gasped as a spark of black fire surged out of the hole that blade had left. The Knight of Grounding staggered for a moment before falling face first to the ground. His eyes were completely white. He was dead.

"No…"

There was a brief pause in the battle as Infinite tried to recover. Shards of broken mask fell through his grasping fingers. Infinite hissed menacingly as he looked up at Sonic. Behind the cracks, Sonic could see the vengeful red glow of Infinite's eye. "Now you."

Resentful courage raised Sonic to his feet. He knew he could not engage Infinite directly so he started sprinting in a circle around him. The room was too small for Sonic to whip up a cyclone, but he hoped the gambit would give him an opening to attack. Sonic poured all his energy into his speed. If he could go fast enough, he could make himself invisible to the naked eye. However, something was slowing him down, preventing him from accessing the true depths of his speed.

"No more games!" Infinite suddenly slashed to his right, perfectly timing Sonic's movements. A heavy kick sent Sonic spiraling back into the wall. His back struck the brick and all the air shot out of his lungs. Sonic gasped as Caliburn was knocked out of his hands. He lay on his knees, his eyes darkening as Infinite strode towards him. Only the room wasn't getting darker. A strange light was filling the room. Am I dying? Sonic wondered.

"YOU!" Silver had changed. His eyes had turned completely white. White bolts of lightning crackled all around him. Silver's arms were bare, as he had removed the golden bracelets he always wore. A heavy pressure filled the room as if gravity itself was responding to the output of energy Silver was generating. Infinite immediately turned his attention to this new threat. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

Silver surged forward encased in a ball of silver light. Infinite tried to block it, but he was launched backward. Sonic struggled to his feet and watched in amazement as a battle he had never seen the likes of before unfolded in front of him. Infinite and Silver both launched projectiles of pure energy, each blast exploding on impact. However, Silver was clearly on the offensive, he moved through the air with serene grace, darting past Infinite's attacks. He spun like a top and then unfurled a deadly kick which smacked Infinite to the ground. Silver immediately followed up by blasting a bolt of white energy.

Infinite rolled upright and attempted a quick shield. The blast exploded on the barrier, narrowly missing Infinite. However, the protection had not been perfect. The blast broke apart the cracked section of Infinite's mask, revealing the scarred and blackened face beneath. Infinite pushed himself onto one knee. Sonic could see his left eye now. It was black, lidless, with a red iris that dripped with hatred. Infinite had been injured, but he was nowhere near defeated. Silver on the other hand, had dropped to the floor. The white aura around him was starting to fade.

Sonic quickly rushed to Silver's side. If they were going to die, then they would die fighting together. Infinite laughed at them. "Is this it? Is this all the power of the fabled Knights of the Roun–" BANG! A red laser bolt struck Infinite straight in his exposed eye. He gasped in pain and fell backward.

Sonic whirled around. Gawain had arrived, accompanied by a dozen of Silver's scouts. They quickly stormed into the room, aiming their rifles at Infinite. "Fire!" Gawain and his soldiers unleashed a barrage of blaster bolts. Infinite recoiled, covering himself with his shield.

"Now is your chance!"

Sonic seized Caliburn. He raised it over his head and charged. He would not hesitate this time. Infinite could not escape, he was too pinned down. He looked up and Sonic saw his face. The exposed eye had been completely blinded by Gawain's sniper. Sonic brought Caliburn down with all his strength. CLANG! Caliburn struck the empty stone floor. Infinite had vanished in a puff of black smoke.

Sonic drew back and turned towards Silver. The hedgehog's aura of light had vanished completely. His entire body trembled from the effort of keeping himself standing. Suddenly, his eyes crossed and he fell face first to the floor. Gawain rushed to him and lifted him onto his shoulder. "Come on!" He said to Sonic. "We must get back now!"

However, that was easier said than done. No sooner had they left the estate, did they hear the sounding of imperial warhorns. At the base of the mountain, imperial troops were setting up a barricade. The previously quiet city had suddenly erupted in activity. "How do we get out?" One of the scouts asked despairingly.

"I got this." Sonic seized the nearest scout by the arm and zoomed down the hill. His speed allowed him to bypass the barricade and disappear into the crowded streets. Cries of dismay and panic reverberated from every direction. Sentinels and soldiers were rushing every which way while frightened citizens hastened to clear the roads. Sonic rushed towards the safe house and dropped his charge off. In a blink, he zoomed back to the estate. He took Silver from Gawain and hurried the injured hedgehog back to safety.

Blaze awaited him at the false entrance. She said nothing to him, but quickly carried the wounded Silver inside. Without waiting, Sonic returned to the garden to find Gawain all alone. He had carried Rayne's body out of the house and slung it over his shoulder. "I can slip away on my own. Get out of here while you still can."

With that, Gawain soared high into the sky until he vanished behind the low hanging clouds. Sonic did not leave right away. His heart was still racing from the previous battle. He could hear the rush of footsteps as an imperial legion raced towards him. "Sonic…."

He flipped around. Priam came limping out of the house. His robes were stained with blood. Sonic raced over to him. He leaned the great boar onto his shoulder. Sonic would not be able to run fast carrying Priam's weight, but he refused to leave him behind. "Sonic…" Priam mumbled faintly.

Sonic kicked his feet, revving up his legs for a desperate surge. Just as the imperials came storming up the hill, Sonic unleashed a burst of speed. He slipped past them and rumbled down the ridge and back into the city. By the time Sonic reached the safe house, his legs were throbbing. He staggered to the door and Gawain came rushing out to help pull him and Priam inside. No one spoke as they climbed through the trap door.

Sonic collapsed as soon as he got inside. His chest heaved and all his muscles seemed to cramp up all at once. The room was packed now. All of Silver's scouts and Blaze's guardians were crammed into one space. Sonic rolled onto his hands and knees and looked up. The Thirteens had all gathered in a circle at the far end of the room. Between their legs, he could see that they were looking down on the bodies of Rayne and Silver. Neither were moving. The ground seemed to lurch upward. Sonic felt a wave of exhaustion rush over him. His eyes darkened and he knew no more.