-Chapter 90-
Cat and Hedgehog
Misty Peaks
Robotnik presses several buttons on his glove controller, summoning numerous Badniks.
"Go to the Thunder Plains and retrieve Tiara Boobowski by any means necessary," he ordered. "And if any of the Wolf Pack gets in your way, you know what to do."
The badniks all chirped and buzzed in confirmation, rolling out to complete their mission. Robotnik watched them go, then turned to another robot cloaked in shadows.
"You, go and intercept Sonic and his fellow Freedom Fighters," he told it. "Pick them off one by one, and make sure they can't interfere."
The robot let out an almost feline growl before slinking off. With that, Robotnik headed back into his lab.
"Mecha Sonic may have fallen again, but I have mechanics and oil to spare."
Jade Gully Zone
Sonic and co. entered the Jade Gully, seeing it was a beautiful area, one that reminded the group a lot about Green Hill. Sonic took a deep breath, enjoying the wind through his spines.
"So Jade Gully looks exactly like Green Hill," Tails mused. "I can't say I'm surprised."
"Keep your eyes peeled," Longclaw told them. "We need to find Robotnik."
They went along, taking in the peaceful atmosphere as they looked.
"Cubot and Orbot have gotta be around here somewhere," Tekno said.
"Just keep an eye out for anything red and/or yellow," Keith remarked. "They shouldn't be too hard to spot."
"Yeah, they'll stick out like sore-" Kat began before hearing a twig snap. "Thumbs… Did you guys hear that?"
Everyone was already on high alert, looking for any sign of what could have made the noise.
"I can't see anything," Hope rubbed her arms, visibly nervous. "M-maybe we should get out of the open."
"A good idea, but one I fear is easier said than done," said Longclaw.
From the brush not far from them, a pair of glowing red eyes looked over the group. With a low, feline growl, the figure jumped from the brush, pouncing right onto Porker's back. The pig squealed as he went down.
"Porker!" Rotor screamed.
Sonic charged, kicking the figure off of him. It landed on its feet, allowing the group to take in its appearance. It was revealed to be a mechanical cat, one that was green in hue with long limbs and massive, sharp claws. It roared, revealing rotating razor blades for teeth. Its tail whipped, crackling with energy that seemed to gather at the tip. Sonic tried to land a Spin Dash, but the cat nimbly leapt out of the way and scrambled back into the brush, easily blending in with the greenery of the gully.
"This is bad," Chris let out. "Very bad!"
"Everyone stay together!" Longclaw ordered. "If you stray from pack formation, it will strike!"
"Don't have to tell me twice," Tekno agreed. "This bird ain't gonna be a cat's chew toy!"
Everyone was tense, gathered back to back as they kept an eye out for the cat.
"Can you see it?" Hope demanded.
"No, not even a glimpse!" Rotor let out.
"It's perfectly camouflaged," Kat noted. "There's no way we'll be able to get to it!"
Even in deadly peril, Sonic had time for sarcasm. "Now you know why I'm a dog person."
Nonetheless, they kept their eyes peeled for any sign of movement, or the red of the cat's eyes.
Thunder Plains
Meanwhile, at the Thunder Plains, Lupe and the Wolf Pack found themselves stretched thin fighting off a Badnik swarm. They lashed out with claws and weapons, roaring their battle cries as they fought. Lupe's children gathered all of the younger tribe members, including Tiara, Aerial, and Athena, and hid them in one of the tipis.
"Just stay quiet," Marcos assured. "Everything will be alright."
He grabbed a spear, Maria wielding a bow and arrow as they hurried out. Athena clutched onto Aerial's arms, her sister gently petting her head.
"I've got you," she assured. "We're going to be okay."
Tiara was huddled in a ball, shaking in fear at every howl and revving engine.
"I feel so useless…" she lamented. "There's gotta be something I can do to help!"
"Just stay quiet," Aerial insisted. "The best thing we can do is avoid getting detected."
"Maybe I can lead them away," Tiara pondered. "They're here for me."
Athena began shaking her head, grabbing Tiara's wrist.
"Athena's right," said Aerial. "Going out there is a bad idea. Our tribe promised to protect you, and we never go back on our word. Please, don't do anything reckless.
Reluctantly, Tiara remained where she was.
Jade Gully
The Freedom Fighters kept looking around, hearing the occasional hiss or roar from the cat, but not seeing it.
"Longclaw, you have the best eyes of all of us," Sonic recalled.
"Even I can't spot the beast, Sonic," Longclaw told him.
"We need to take away its biggest weapon," Rotor insisted. "Its color."
Porker scanned the area, then he spotted an area where the soil was incredibly wet. He grinned, getting an idea. He bolted out of the group, making for the area.
"Porker, what are you doing?!" Tekno screeched.
"Come and get me, kitty!" Porker shouted. "Nice big porkchop right here!"
There was a rustle of movement and the cat came barreling out of the bush, running at speeds akin to a cheetah. It yowled and pounced, only for Porker to hit the deck and for the cat to go sailing over him, and right into a massive mud puddle. Porker immediately scrambled away as the cat thrashed around, pulling itself out of the mud. The thick sludge clung to its body, turning it a sickly brown color that stood out among the green.
"That was incredibly reckless and potentially suicidal," Rotor mused, before slapping Porker on the back. "Good job."
Sonic grinned, tapping his sneakers on the ground before stretching his shoulders.
"Here, kitty, kitty…" he taunted.
The cat growled, its eyes gleaming with feral rage. Its tail whipped as energy crackled across it, snapping like a whip. It lunged, Sonic darting to the side as they faced off.
Thunder Plains
Tiara held Athena and Aerial close as the battle outside continued to rage. Marcos and Maria did their best to fend off the wolves near the tipi, but a Swatbot managed to get the best of Marcos. He got pinned down and when Maria went to his rescue, she was kicked right into the side of the tipi. Several of the kids cried out from the hit, which drew the attention of more than a few Badniks. One Swatbot headed for the tipi, blaster drawn.
"No!" Lupe screamed.
Her attention diverted, she was dogpiled by Badniks. Once she was pinned, a Swatbot aimed his blaster right at her.
"Unless you want your chief to lose her head, surrender!" it ordered.
They all stopped at that, freezing. The Swatbot in the tipi came out, dragging Tiara by the ponytail.
"Let me go!" Tiara screamed, struggling to get loose.
Aerial jumped on the bot's back, trying to yank its head off.
"You heard her! Let her go!" she shouted.
"Aerial!" Lupe cried.
She just kept ineffectually pounding on the Swatbot's head, twisting its head with all her might.
"Aerial, no!" Tiara shouted. "You need to run!"
A second bot came and grabbed Aerial by the scruff of her neck, tossing her to the ground. It leveled its gun with her.
"No, stop!" Tiara pleaded. "Let them live, and I'll come with you! It's me Robotnik wants, not them!"
The bots remained motionless before lowering their weapons. Lupe is forced to her feet, as is Marcos. A third Swatbot grabbed Aerial.
"Any attempt at escape, and these three will be executed one by one," one bot warned.
All of the wolves looked in horror, unable to do anything.
"I said I'd come with you!" Tiara objected.
"The deal was we'd let them live if you agreed to come," one Swatbot told her. "There was nothing about not taking them as insurance to prevent their pack from following us."
"Mom!" Maria cried.
"Protect the village, Maria!" Lupe ordered. "We will return soon! Have faith!"
"March!" the Swatbot ordered.
The four prisoners were dragged away from the camp.
"We have to do something!" Maria insisted.
"What can we do?" another wolf questioned.
Athena clung to Maria, crying silently in fear for her family.
Jade Gully
The cat whipped its electrified tail at Sonic, who was forced on the defensive.
"An electrified tail," he noted. "Now how is that fair?"
That energy gathered at the very tip, and it fired a blast right at Sonic, who narrowly dodged.
"And it's a projectile weapon. Eggman really went all out."
The cat just hissed, pouncing again, which Sonic narrowly dodged.
"And this thing is almost as fast as me, too. What next?"
"Perhaps you should stop with the banter and actually destroy it?" Longclaw suggested.
"Hey, I banter under stress!" Sonic defended. "It's my thing!"
As Sonic fended off the cat, Keith set his bag down, rummaging through it.
"I know it's in here somewhere…" he mused before pulling out the Nitro Gloves. "Perfect!"
"You have an idea?" Chris asked.
"Kinda, yeah," Keith explained.
"Lay it on me."
"We draw its attention with these," Keith said. "It'll give Sonic time to strike."
He tossed Chris one, the two slipping them on. They clapped their hands together and summoned the energy balls. Sonic continued to dodge the cat, but just barely. It managed to get a lucky pounce and got on top of the hedgehog. It roared, its rotating teeth whirring ominously. That was when an energy ball smacked it in the head.
"Hey!" Keith shouted.
Two more balls hit it, one in the side and another in the head.
"Over here, you mud-caked flea-bag!" Chris tacked on.
"It's a robot, it can't have-" Keith began.
"I don't care," Chris cut him off.
The cat hissed, turning on the boys... and giving Sonic the perfect opportunity to plow into its side with a Spin Dash. It yowled as sparks ripped from its body. It fell to the side, several wires exposed.
"My turn to pull some wires," Sonic decided.
He grabbed two fistfulls and yanked. The wires snapped and the cat's howled petered out, its teeth slowing their rotation before stopping all together. Everyone cheered as the boys shared a high five, Sonic tossing the wires aside and dusting himself off.
"And that's how it's done," he boasted.
"Excellent work, all of you," Longclaw congratulated. "Now, let's keep moving. Robotnik awaits."
Misty Peaks
Robotnik looked over his latest creation, smiling to himself.
"Now, this will certainly get the job done," he swore.
The sound of robotic footsteps reached his ears and he set down his tools, turning to see the Badniks returning, the four Swatbots with prisoners stepping forward.
"Excellent," Robotnik grinned. "So glad you could join us, Tiara. And you brought guests."
He approached Lupe, looking her over and smirking.
"How lovely to see you again, Lupe," he mused, grasping her snout with his metal hand.
"Don't touch her!" Marcos snapped.
"Or what, boy?" Robotnik shot back.
"You won't get away with this, Eggman!" Aerial declared. "Sonic's coming, and he's gonna whup you good!"
Robotnik looked the girl over, scowling. "Quite a mouth on you. If I were you, Lupe, I would seriously reevaluate how you're raising your children."
"She speaks the truth," Lupe shot back. "I won't discourage that."
Robotnik snorted.
"Foolish woman," he scoffed. "Lock her and the brats up tight."
He took Tiara by the arm. "Tiara and I are going to pay a visit to her father."
They headed to the forge. Inside, Gazebo was bitterly continuing to work on the Silver Moon Rings, hammering away on a new one. The doors unlocked and opened, Robotnik coming in.
"Oh Gazebo! Look who I brought!"
He threw Tiara inside. She stood up, dusting herself off before noticing her father there.
"Father!" she cried before running over and embracing him.
"Tiara!" Gazebo let out in relief. "Oh... Tiara, are you hurt?"
"Not yet," Robotnik grabbed her by the hair, pulling her back. "But that can easily change."
"No!" Gazebo cried. "Oh please, Doctor-"
"Now, now," Robotnik cut him off. "I'm a reasonable despot. Tiara will remain unharmed and un-roboticized... as long as we have no further delays."
Father, no!" Tiara cried.
Gazebo looked at his daughter, then sagged in defeat. "I'll do as you ask. Just… please, don't hurt my daughter."
"Good boy," Robotnik said with a smirk as he summoned a Swatbot and handed Tiara over to it. "Put her in the cell. Keep a close eye on her."
Gazebo watched helplessly as Tiara was dragged off once more. Robotnik cackled, then locked the forge once more. He turned to see the other prisoners being dragged off in the same direction, Marcos glaring at him defiantly.
"What are you looking at, boy?" Robotnik demanded. "You might wanna stop, or I'll bring up your search history."
"You will pay for this, I swear it."
"Keep telling yourself that. But I was serious about the search history."
Marcos immediately turned nervously and looked at his moccasins. Despite the situation, Lupe looked at him reproachfully as they were taken away.
Author's Note:
Oh, no! Tiara, Lupe, and her kids have been captured! Will Sonic make it to them on time?
The robot cat they fought is the Emerald Cat, the boss planned for the Jade Gully in the original game. I tweaked it a bit with Author of the Insane, giving it green color for camo and the electrical tail.
Please R&R. Until next time!
