-Chapter 94-

For the Moon and Back


Misty Peaks

In the prison holding the unfortunate quintet, the doors to their shared cell opened. Everyone looked up as Kat was shoved in, landing hard on her stomach as her hands were still cuffed behind her back. She sat up as the door slammed shut, the bots heading in the opposite direction.

"You could've at least uncuffed me first!" she shouted. "Douchebags…"

"Kathryn?" Lupe piped up, getting her attention.

"Lupe…" Kat scanned the room, taking in everyone. "Aerial… Marcos… is this everyone who got grabbed from your village?"

"Yep," Marcos nodded.

Kat let out a sigh of relief before turning to Tiara and Gazebo.

"Hey, Tiara," she greeted. "I guess that makes you Gazebo."

There was a metallic snap and Kat brought her hands out from behind her back, offering one. "Nice to finally meet you."

After a moment of surprise, Gazebo shook her hand, while the others looked at the broken cuffs in awe.

"How did you-?" Aerial began.

Kat shrugged. "I drink my milk and eat all my veggies. Now, what do you say we get out of here?"

She went over to the door, looking it over a bit before shaking her head. "Flimsy hardware. The Legion's prison was better equipped than this."

She grabbed the bars and braced herself.

"Cover your ears," she warned.

They all did so as Kat, with a small amount of effort, ripped the door off its hinges. She tossed it aside before stepping through. "C'mon, let's go."

As they hurried out, Tiara turned to Kat.

"You let Robotnik catch you, didn't you?" she asked.

"It was the fastest way to find you," Kat replied.

"Halt!" a voice suddenly called out.

They stopped short, seeing the 6-S squad standing there, ready for a fight. Gazebo and Tiara froze, Lupe put herself between them and her children, and Kat just rolled her eyes.

"Seriously?" she asked. "You seven are gonna stop us?"

"We'll take you down and drag you back to the cells ourselves!" Cubot extended his arm, his hand straightened. "Heil Robotnik!"

Kat mockingly imitated the salute. "Hang Robotnik!"

She then charged forward, grinning maniacally.

"Go on and get out of here! I got these bucket heads!"

As she clashed with the bots, the others quickly hurried out.


Galaxy Fortress

Meanwhile, Sonic and the others had arrived at the top of Misty Peak, stopping short to see a large building resembling a cross between Citadel Robotnik and the Death Egg, but colored black with a star pattern against the sky, seemingly built into the back of Gazebo's forge.

"Eggman sure has lousy taste," Sonic mused. "Does he have to plaster his face over everything?"

"At least it makes finding his hideouts easy," Tails pointed out. "Just look for the tackiest, tasteless building and that's your mark."

"C'mon," Keith cut in. "If Kat's following her plan, she's probably busted out by now."

"Relax, kid," Tekno soothed. "Your girlfriend's fine."

Keith turned beet-red. "She's not my girlfriend!"

"Suuure she isn't," Chris teased.

"Please focus," Longclaw cut in. "Lives are at stake. Robotnik cannot be allowed to continue this."

They hurried for the base, creeping along slowly. As they did, they heard footsteps ahead and froze. They all hugged the wall as they saw Eggatha walking down the hall with Metal.

"It's okay to feel hatred, Metal," Eggatha told him. "You don't have to like everyone. It's normal."

"I'm a machine, Agatha," Metal reminded her. "I'm not supposed to have emotion. It's irrelevant."

"Maybe, but your Power Gem may be causing you to evolve," Eggatha pointed out. "You're gaining true sentience. A soul, if you will. And with that comes emotion."

"Then perhaps that GUN knockoff of me wasn't too far off after all…" Metal mused.

"Eh, don't sweat it," Eggatha said. "Most people hate Snively anyway. I'd be more concerned if you didn't."

As they walked, Metal tensed. He activated his scanners and everyone went still. He slowly looked every which way, the Freedom Fighters holding their breath. His eyes then rested on the hiding spot and his optics narrowed.

"Metal? What is it?" Eggatha asked.

There was a tense moment, then Metal pointedly turned away.

"Nothing," he said at last. "Come. let's go to the anti-grav chamber."

"Yes!" Eggatha cheered.

They departed at that. Once they were gone, Hope slowly peeked out.

"That was a close one," she sighed.

"He saw us, I know he did," Sonic insisted. "And he ignored us."

"Maybe he's upset about all the Mechas the doc's been sending," Porker theorized.

"So what?" Rotor asked. "He just let us go to spite Eggman for not sending him out?"

"I know that's probably what I'd do in his shoes," Sonic admitted.

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth," Longclaw insisted. "The next robot who comes along may not be so generous."

As they went along, they heard cooing noises. Sonic stopped short, opening a nearby door to see multiple capsules filled with Mips.

"Looks like there are more of these little guys to free," Sonic noted.

He popped his neck and launched himself across the room, smashing the buttons on each of the capsules. The sides popped open, and the Mips bounced out, cooing gratefully.

"Go on and get out of here, little guys," Hope urged. "Trust us, you do not want to hang around here."

The Mips all began bouncing away at that.

"That's our good deed for the day," said Chris. "Now to find Kat, Tiara, and Lupe's family."

They began hurrying down the hall, rounding a corner while unaware that the very people they were seeking were doing the same until they collided head on and landed in a heap. Everyone began groaning as they sat up, before the groups locked eyes.

"Sonic!" Aerial cried, the girl rushed forward and hugging him.

Sonic patted her back before turning to the rest, seeing someone was missing.

"I see Kat's plan worked," he noted. "But where is she?"

They heard a crash down the hall, which was when Bocoe came flying out of a door, smacking against the wall, followed seconds later by Grounder. Coconuts came flying out next, followed by Scratch flying away with a terrified squawk. Kat then came out from the door, holding Cubot by his back hinge and kicking a dented Orbot out the window.

"Hey guys!" she greeted before tossing Cubot back down the hall, where they heard him collide with Decoe, who let out a pained sigh.

"I should never have quit dental school…" he wheezed.

Kat dusted herself off and walked over to the group, grinning.

"Are you sure you're human?" Longclaw asked.

"Jury's out," Kat replied.

"Good work, Kat," Sonic congratulated. "Now we just gotta make sure Eggman can't get his grubby paws on the Moon Emeralds or Rings."
"Luckily, I have something that could help," Keith piped up.

He reached into his jacket, pulling out a strange device that looked like it was cobbled together from pieces of Mecha III.

"Is that what I think it is?" Tails asked.

Keith nodded.

"After Sonic scrapped Mecha III, I salvaged some of the scrap. Including his Ring Magnet," he explained. "And guess what?"

He clicked it on. "It comes with a Power Ring sensor."

Hope grinned. "Keith, you are the man."

Keith shrugged. "Well, one doesn't like to toot his own horn."

"Alright," Sonic nodded. "Longclaw, mind helping these five get out of the compound? They've been here long enough."

He gestured to the recently freed prisoners.

"Yes, of course," Longclaw assured.

"Pelt him good for us, Sonic!" Aerial declared.

Longclaw led the five prisoners away, while Keith looked at the Ring Magnet.

"I've got a solid reading," he reported. "Everyone follow me."

Chris nodded. "Lead the way, cuz."

They all followed Keith deeper into the facility.


It wasn't long before they reached the forge. Sonic stopped short, jumping back as a laser blast hit the ground before his feet.

"That's as far as you go, Sonic!"

They looked up, seeing the latest Mecha Sonic incarnation. He looked almost identical to Metal Sonic, but had red shoes, yellow decals across its body, and light blue chrome lining his ears and spines.

"Mecha Sonic Mark V?" Sonic asked. "Good to see Eggman finally at least tried to make you look like me."

"Did you honestly think the doctor would fall for your little game?" Mecha V asked. "He saw through your pathetic ruse instantly. He was fully aware that Winters let herself be captured on purpose and could escape at any time."

Kat rubbed the back of her neck. "I thought that felt too easy. I mean, they sent the 6-S to stop me."

"Let me guess," Sonic began. "He sent you here to make an effort to kill us while he breaks out his Silver Moon Ring powered superweapon?"

"Clever boy," Mecha V confirmed. "Even if I fall here, Dr. Robotnik will triumph, and have a nice new hedgehog skin coat to show for it."

"Right," Sonic shrugged. "Keith, go get the rings. Chris, Hope, Kat, go back him up. Everyone else, let's scrap this faker."

Mecha V landed, two small hilts extending from his inner forearms and being deposited into his hands. With a swipe of his arms, they extended into pink energy swords similar to Sally's Ring-Blades. Rotor powered on his suit, Tekno slid into a fighting stance, Tails did the same, and Porker let out a snort.

"Bring it!" he declared.

Mecha V charged at them while Keith's group made a run for the forge. Sonic dodged multiple slashes from Mecha V before the bot threw his swords at him. Sonic ducked, the blades landing in the ground before they suddenly began levitating and swinging at Sonic on their own..

"Look, Ma," Mecha V smirked. "No hands!"

Sonic barely dodged, yelping as he did. "Yikes!"

As this went on, Mecha V began flying, firing on Sonic with lasers from both his forearms and eyes.

"Laser swords, and now laser guns and eyes?" Sonic demanded. "Overkill much?"

"Against the likes of you, it's just enough kill!" Mecha V shot back.

"That's-!" Sonic shrugged. "...Okay, you got me there."

Rotor then blasted at Mecha V.

"But you're not the only one with lasers!" the walrus declared.

"But can you do this?"

From Mecha V's shoulders emerged a set of launchers, which then fired numerous missiles at the group.

"Okay, now that's overkill!" Tails cried as they were forced on the run.

As they ran, another launcher extended from Mecha V's left shoulder, firing a bundled net that rapidly expanded upon leaving the barrel. Before Rotor could react, the net lashed around him, hurling him across the room before pinning him to the wall.

"Rotor!" Porker cried.

"Go get him!" Tekno ordered.

She pulled off her earring, chucking it at Mecha V. "I'll cover you!"

Porker ran for Rotor, who was struggling against the net. He gasped as he saw the net was beginning to tighten around the trapped walrus.

"What can I do?!" the pig demanded.

"Cut the net!" Rotor ordered.

Porker began searching for something to use to cut the net.

"Here!" Tekno shouted as a pocket knife came sliding across the ground toward them.

Porker grabbed it and began cutting, the others continuing to battle Mecha V

-X-

Inside the forge, the kids finally made it inside, barring the door

"Well, isn't this nice," Robotnik's voice called out. "Let me guess, class field trip?"

The kids whirled around, seeing the villainous doctor gathering a pile of Silver Moon Rings

"Eggman!" Hope shouted.

"Robotnik!" He screeched. "I'm your uncle, Hope. Show me some respect and address me by the right name!"

"We're giving you all the respect you deserve, Eggman," Keith jeered. "None."

Robotnik gritted his teeth.

"We'll see who's deserving of respect once my Galaxy Fortress is empowered by the Silver Moon Rings. And I have a special surprise prepared for Sonic as well."

"Is that so?" Keith asked before pulling on the magnet and flipping it on. It began sparking and rippling, the Silver Moon Rings Robotnik hadn't already gathered beginning to float over to them.

"You plagiarizing little brats!" Robotnik roared. "Using my own inventions against me!"

"This coming from the guy who stole the Roboticizer from Sonic's uncle," Chris scoffed.

"I'll have you know I helped him with it while I was Julian Kintobor!"

"Still stole it," Keith shot back.

Chris caught the rings in a few of Keith's pods, which Keith quickly pocketed.

"We'll take those, thank you," he said.

"Bah!" Robotnik scoffed. "I still have enough for my surprise. Now, if you'll excuse me…"

He turned before running off with surprising speed. They all watched him go.

"...Wow," Kat said at last. "For a fat guy, he's pretty quick on his feet."

"Well, Uncle Julian always had an extensive cardio regimen," Hope mused. "Guess Eggman kept it up."

They heard the sounds of clashing outside, followed by laser blasts.

"More on that later!" Chris exclaimed.

"Right," Keith nodded. "Let's get outta here."

-X-

Outside, the fight continued to rage. Porker managed to cut Rotor free of the net. Aside from some grid-like cuts on his suit, he seemed largely unharmed.

"Close one," Porker sighed. "You were almost blubber nuggets."

"Thanks," Rotor said, standing up.

Seeing how close Rotor came to getting chopped up, Sonic scowled before whirling on Mecha V, who had recalled his blades.

"That's it," he spat. "Now I'm mad!"

Mecha V launched another net at Sonic, ensnaring him. It began tightening, but Sonic just started sparking before tucking into a stationary Spin Attack and cutting himself loose.

"That all you got, tin can?!" he shouted. "'Cause I'm just getting started!"

He charged at him, leaving a trail of blue lightning as he went. He plowed into him, tearing right through Mecha V. Chris, Keith, Hope, and Kat came out just in time to see Mecha V go to pieces, Sonic stopping in his tracks before clapping his hands together.

"Is that the best you can do, Eggman?" he taunted.

It was at that moment they heard a familiar laugh, and Robotnik himself came swooping down, donned in the Eggs-O-Skeleton he used during the Westside Island incident in Robotropolis.

"Sonic, you know this is your fault for saying that," Keith deadpanned.

"Yeah, I know," Sonic nodded.

"Remember this little beauty, Sonic?" Robotnik tapped the chest plate, in which sat a few Silver Moon Rings. "With the power of the Silver Moon Rings, I'll send you to the moon!"

"You think that'll stop me?" Sonic shot back.

"As a matter of fact, I do," Robotnik retorted. "Especially when I do this!"

He slapped the Moon Rings in the chest, and the suit began glowing, though this time, it was a silvery color matching the rings. "This is the end for you, Sonic! Prepare to DIE!"

"Hey Egghead!" Keith cut in. "Forget something?!"

He held up the pod of Moon Rings. Robotnik looked as Keith popped one out, throwing it at Sonic, who caught it with ease. His mustache drooped at the sight.

"Shit…" he let out.

The power flowed into Sonic, who began to glow. His body shimmered as stars appeared across his fur. His quills took on a deep midnight blue hue, stars swirling across them. His clothes became an ethereal purple with similar starry accents. Silver moons appeared on the lapel of his coat, boots, and on his shirt.

"And you thought I was flashy before," he quipped.

He got into a fighting stance, Robotnik doing the same, incensed.

"Etch this into your skulls!" Robotnik snapped. "I am the supreme dictator of Mobius! The likes of you are only fit to grovel at my feet! Or better yet, to die... in disgrace... at the hands... OF YOUR MASTER!"

He and Sonic charged, clashing violently.

"You're no master of me, Eggman!" Sonic shot back, rolling into a ball before launching at Robotnik, leaving a trail of glittering stars in his wake.

He plowed Robotnik back, before the doctor swatted him aside. As he approached, a set of wires extended from the wrist of the exoframe's left hand, connecting to the knuckles before letting out a hydraulic hiss. He swung, the blow utterly demolishing the wall where Sonic's face was mere seconds before.

"Cute toy, Eggman!" Sonic teased. "But it's useless if you can't hit me!"

"Then watch this!"

Robotnik thrust both hands of the suit out before firing a powerful beam at Sonic. Sonic was immediately forced on the run to avoid it. It was several seconds before the beam stopped, and they saw the Eggs-O-Skeleton smoking, Robotnik trying in vain to move.

"Come on!" Robotnik snapped. "Get up, you damn machine!"

"Your toy run out of batteries?" Sonic asked. "Too bad, 'cause I've got juice to spare!"

He revved up, all of his power swirling around him as he charged forward, yelling the entire time. He connected solidly with Robotnik, the Eggs-O-Skeleton exploding and sending him skidding back. Sonic stopped, thumbing his nose as Robotnik got up, furious and not willing to give up the fight.

"You know what?!" he screamed. "Fine! I'll tear you apart with my bare hands!"

He charged Sonic in a rage, cracking the ground with a punch before Sonic knocked him back.

"Give it a rest, Eggman. I win, you lose. So just beat it."

Robotnik punched the ground,

"This isn't over, Sonic! As I said before, you're my greatest enemy, and I'll never rest until one of us is dead!"

Hope stepped forward, glaring at her corrupted uncle.

"You're wrong!" she exclaimed. "You could be a good and kind ruler if you wanted to, Eggman, but you chose to be evil! That's why you'll always lose! Sonic isn't your greatest enemy! You are!"

Robotnik seemed genuinely affected by Hope's speech, before shaking his head and standing up.

"Believe what you want to, Hope. But sooner or later, Sonic, your winning streak will come to an end."

He called in the Egg Mobile, boarding it and taking off. The kids watched him go, Keith rolling his eyes.

"You know, everytime he goes into one of those megalomaniacal speeches, all I hear is 'chitty-chitty-chat-chat'."

"Me, all I hear is 'blah-blah-blah, yackity schmackity.'" Sonic admitted. "Anyway, let's get to smashing this place up."

"First, let's look around for any tech we can salvage," Hope insisted. "Especially Roboticizer parts."

"Right," Tekno nodded. "The sooner we do that, the sooner we can get a De-Roboticizer working."

They got to work doing so. Keith went back into the forge with Kat on his heels, snatching up one of the remaining Moon Emeralds.

"Mom'll make better use of these than Eggman will," he mused.

"Right," Kat nodded. "I get the feeling that Gazebo won't want anything to do with them."

-X-

Later, with the Galaxy Fortress in ruins, Gazebo and Tiara returned with Longclaw in tow. Gazebo bowed to them respectfully.

"I have no words to express how grateful I am to you all," he said.

"All in a day's work," Sonic replied. "Sorry it took us so long."

"You came. That's all that matters," Gazebo's eyes drifted to the Moon Emeralds in Keith and Kat's hands. "And please, feel free to take them. For now, I'm going to stick to normal Power Ring smithing."

"We promise they'll be put to use in the proper hands," Keith assured.

Kat nodded. "You can count on us."

As they departed, Longclaw turned to Sonic.

"I sent Lupe and her family back to the Thunder Plains. They told me to send you their gratitude as well."

Sonic just nodded.


As they took off in the Special, Kat kicked back in her chair, sighing in resignation.

"Is it bad that I'm sad this is over?" she asked. "I mean, I'm glad we won and all, but I really don't wanna go home."

"Why do you stay if you hate it?" Hope questioned.

"Knuckles," Kat replied. "If I leave, he will, and he just got his family back. Besides, it's the only home I got."

"So what if he leaves?" Sonic asked. "Locke's a capital-A asshole."

"But Lara-Le isn't," Kat pointed out. "And frankly, I'll take him over the foster system. Heard enough horror stories about it."

After a moment of debate, Chris turned to her.

"If he ever gets too bad, you can always swing by my house to get away and cool off," he offered. "My door's always open."

"Same with me," Keith added.

"And me," Hope included.

"Thanks, guys," Kat said with a smile. "What did I ever do to deserve friends like you?"


Station Square

Later that evening, Keith was examining the Ring Magnet at home, looking over some ideas Hope had texted when a Warp Ring opened up behind him. Kat came stumbling in, red faced and grim. Keith immediately abandoned his work, guiding her over to the couch before heading into the kitchen. After a few minutes, he came in with a bowl of popcorn and two cups of hot cocoa.

"Want any marshmallows?" he offered.

She nodded, curling on the couch and taking a mug.

"He screamed at me for two hours," she recounted.

"Yikes," Keith sat next to her, picking up the remote. "How Knuckles is related to a selfish, high-maintenance old fart like him is beyond me."

"I wish I knew," Kat leaned on him.

Keith channel-surfed for a while before coming to one show in particular.

"How about Comedy Chimp?" he asked. "You look like you could use a good laugh."

"Yeah…" Kat nodded. "I could."

Keith smiled at that. The rest of the night was spent with the two kids sharing popcorn, drinking hot cocoa, and laughing at Comedy Chimp's antics.


The next morning…

Laura returned home from the lab to the sight of Keith and Kat out cold on the couch, leaning on each other with Kat's head on Keith's shoulder. She smiled at the pair, taking a blanket and laying it over them. She then walked off, letting the two get some much needed rest.


Author's Note:

Awww, now wasn't that a cute note to end on?

Mecha Sonic Mark V was based on Mecha Sonic, the roboticized form of Sonic from Archie. The RC swords were based on Metallix from Super Mario Bros. Z, and the contracting net, along with Robotnik's super-punch gadget, were taken from Aliens vs. Predator.

Please R&R. Until next time!