-Chapter 137-

Prison Break


Space Colony ARK

Hope had made it to the middle of the book. She stopped as she turned the page to find an old photo, clearly used as a bookmark.

"Huh? What's this?"

She set the book aside and took the photo, rubbing away some dust. She gasped when she saw who was in the photo. There were three figures, the first being Shadow. He seemed much happier, dressed in a button down and slacks. Standing hand in hand with him was a girl that looked almost identical to Hope, wearing a blue dress. Finally, there was an older, bald man that held their shoulders, smiling proudly.

"Great Grandpa Gerald…" she realized. "Then, this girl must be... Aunt Maria."

She looked at Maria, squinting before it clicked.

"The person Shadow mentioned was Aunt Maria. That's why he saved my life. She looks just like... me."

"An astute observation."

Hope yelped, hopping to her feet. Amino was standing in the doorway, smirking a bit.

"I had a feeling this is where he'd put you," he mused. "Maria's old bedroom."

Hope backed up against the wall nervously.

"Oh, calm down," Amino said casually. "Both your uncle and Shadow have made it incredibly clear that the very thought of harming you would be quite detrimental to my well being. And I rather enjoy living with all my limbs intact."

Hope relaxed somewhat before raising an eyebrow.

"Wait…" she said. "How do you know Shadow and Aunt Maria?"

"Because I myself was part of Project Shadow."

"Yeah, right," Hope scoffed. "And I'm the Queen of Efrika."

Amino rolled his eyes. "Kid, you're friends with such creatures as a supersonic hedgehog and a flying fox with two tails. Is it really that hard to believe that I was one of your great-grandfather's colleagues?"

"You'd have to be in your eighties," Hope retorted. "And no amount of moisturizer would make you look as good as you do."

"Genetic manipulation, actually," Amino clarified. "And I'm in my hundreds. Extending one's telomeres to prolong one's life is child's play for I, Dr. Nigel Amino."

"Extending telomeres? That's theoretical at best, and how would you combat the eventual cellular decay?"

"Strengthening the cellular bonds, actually."

"Holy…" Hope's eyes widened. "That could work. But why the hell would you even want it? Life is precious because it's short. Immortality would suck."

"To the close-minded, perhaps," Amino retorted. "I can do whatever I want, for however long I want. Is there no greater prize?"

"And I thought Eggman was crazy…" Hope muttered.

Amino sighed a bit.

"Miss Kintobor, what exactly do you think the entire purpose of Project Shadow was?" he questioned. "Creating artificial Mobians like Shadow so we could open a zoo?"

"Genetic research?" Hope asked. "Man playing God?"

"Uncovering the secrets of immortality. Mankind's ultimate eternal dream."

Hope gasped in shock.


Knothole

In Freedom HQ, Uncle Chuck sat the rest of the Freedom Fighters down and told them the details behind GUN's arrest of Sonic, as well as the black hedgehog.

"I can't believe this," Sally let out once he was finished. "This entire story sounds like something out of a bad movie."

"Government conspiracy!" Sticks exclaimed. "I told you so!"

"Yeah, yeah," Johnny muttered.

Sticks glared at him, then pinched the bridge of her nose.

"The problem with being the paranoid kook of the group is that nobody believes you when something's actually going on."

"I say we find these bozos that forced Tower to lock up Sonic, and pound them into the pavement!" Amy shouted.

"Easy there, Amy," Tails cut in. "We don't even know where to look, and we have bigger problems."

"Sonic's already working on exposing this conspiracy and clearing his name," Rotor added. "Right now, our priority is finding out where the black hedgehog took Hope."

"Easier said than done," Kat pointed out. "The guy used Chaos Control and took her Aurora knows where! They could be anywhere on Mobius!"

"Well, if the hedgehog is working with Eggman, I'd say Robotropolis is a good place to start." Mina suggested.

"Then that's where we'll go," Sally decided.

"Isn't that a bit obvious?" Antoine asked. "I'm sure Eggman knows that's the first place we'll look."

"And that's exactly what he wants us to think," Porker pointed out. "That Robotropolis is so obvious a hiding place that we won't think to look there."

"Makes sense to me!" Sticks declared.

"My point exactly." Antoine deadpanned.

"Look, the Citadel's our best shot," Tails pointed out. "At the very least, we can go there, talk to Eggatha, and get her to spill the beans."

"...Well, there's that," Antoine conceded.

"Maybe I can scare the 6-S into spilling if needed," Kat offered. "They're idiots, but shockingly well informed idiots."

Sally nodded. "Sounds like a plan."


Robotropolis

In no time at all, the group stormed Robotropolis. Heading right for the citadel, they came crashing in through the skylight, weapons at the ready.

"The game's up, Eggman!" Keith declared dramatically. "Let Hope go!"

The wind was taken out of their sails when they were greeted with the sight of Eggatha kicked back on the couch, watching cartoons with a bowl of chips in her lap. She looked at them with a deadpan expression.

"You could've just used the door, y'know," she pointed out.

All of them just slowly came out of their fighting stances.

"Eggatha... where's everyone?" Sally asked.

"Classified." Eggatha answered. "But I'm in charge."

She held out the bowl. "Sour cream and onion?"

"Uh… no thank you," Chris replied.

"Don't give us that!" Sam set the bowl aside, getting in Eggatha's face. "We know the black hedgehog that's been all over the news is in cahoots with Eggman! And he kidnapped Hope! So tell us where she is, or else!"

"Okay!" Kat grabbed Sam and pulled him off. "Calm down Sam, seriously."

"Sam?" Eggatha repeated. "Wait, are you the guy Hope has a crush on?

Sam blinked. "She... has a crush on me?"

"Zip it back up for now, pal," Shorty cut in. "Look, Eggatha. Your cousin is in the clutches of that crazy hedgehog and Eggman. You really just gonna keep quiet and let them do Aurora knows what to her? "

"Okay," Eggatha began. "One: I'm sorry to disappoint you, but my loyalty is to my uncle at the end of the day, even if I help you guys out once in a while. And two: you really think Hope's in any danger where she is now? We may be on opposing sides, but she's family. Uncle Ivo would never hurt her."

"Come on, Eggatha, please?" Sally all but pleaded.

"Hope's fine, and I said no," Eggatha said firmly. "Metal! We have unwelcome guests!"

Metal came in at that, glaring at them.

"Kindly escort them out of the city, if you please." Eggatha requested.

"With pleasure." Metal's optics locked on Kat in particular, narrowing.

"Just get them out of the citadel," Eggatha amended quickly. "No need for this to get bloody."

Though visibly disappointed, Metal nodded.

-X-

A few minutes later, the Freedom Fighters were all tossed bodily out the citadel doors one after the other, landing in a heap. Metal stepped out, clapping his hands together as if to clear dust.

"Consider yourself lucky Eggatha's the one in charge right now, not Dr. Robotnik," he told them. "He wouldn't be nearly as lenient."

He stalked back inside and the gates slammed shut.

"Since when is Eggatha so tight lipped?" Chris questioned.

"Well, she is still technically the bad guy," Keith pointed out. "Guess she can't help us out all the time."

"And she kept Metal from killing us, so there's that," Kat added.

"We're wasting time," Sally cut in. "Let's regroup and try to figure out a plan."


Prison Island

Meanwhile, Sonic was helping Sarah and Madonna look through several old files. Omochao was next to him, surfing the web for any information.

"Any luck?" Sarah asked.

"If you define luck as the absence of success, plenty," Sonic replied. "There's mention of Project Shadow in a lot of these files and papers, but just about all of them are blacked out or classified."

"Omochao?" Sarah asked.

"Processing," Omochao said simply.

"That's a no…" Sarah sighed.

Sonic nearly threw one of the files in frustration before managing to calm himself. It was at that moment Shard came in, carrying a coffee tray and a few donuts.

"I'd say it's time for a coffee break," the robo-hedgehog said.

"Thanks, Shard." Sonic snagged a coffee cup and a donut.

"I don't understand it," Madonna remarked. "There's not a single trace of the black hedgehog anywhere! Everything's so heavily redacted that it's basically useless! This guy might as well have just stepped out of thin air!"

Sonic let out a loud groan as he flopped onto the ground, face planting in the papers.

"It seems the only one who can answer our questions is the black hedgehog himself," Shard mused.

A few papers had gone flying when Sonic hit the ground. Intrigued at one, Shard caught it before scanning it.

"You two just might be giving up too soon." he said.

"Oh?" Madonna asked. "And why's that?"

Shard showed them the paper. "Some of the ink has faded, and I saw a name. Gerald Kintobor."

That got their attention.

"As in Julian Kintobor?" Sarah questioned.

"Wait…" Sonic perked. "Julian mentioned him a few times during the ROCC project. His grandfather, one of the greatest scientific minds in history, and his entire motivation for getting into science."

"Seriously?" Madonna raised an eyebrow. "I've never heard of him."

"Me neither," Sarah added.

"Julian said that Gerald was 'erased'," Sonic recalled. "Even he didn't know why. All he knew for sure is that it's super-rare for anyone outside of the Kintobor family to even know his name."

"Could it be possible that this black hedgehog is the reason for Gerald being erased?" Madonna pondered.

"As good a guess as any," Sonic told her.

At that moment, Madonna's comm went off. She listened for a moment and tensed after a minute.

"Sonic, get ready. Robotnik's launching an attack on the island, and the black hedgehog is with him."

Sonic was on his feet instantly. "I'm on it."

He sped off, then sped back after a second.

"Can I have my Warp Rings back?"

Madonna fished them out of her pocket and handed them over.

"Thanks."

He sped off again.


Meanwhile, Robotnik, Shadow, and Rouge were approaching the island in the Egg Mobile, equipped with two sidecars on the sides to accommodate the passengers.

"Coming back here isn't my idea of a vacation," Robotnik said. "Are you absolutely sure there are Chaos Emeralds here?"

"When it comes to jewels, Doc, I'm never wrong," Rouge replied.

"If you say so," Robotnik shrugged. "Now, here's the plan. I'll go in first and distract the troops, allowing Rouge to sneak in undetected."

He handed Shadow a handheld explosive pack bearing his logo.

"Then Shadow will enter the armory and plant my Egg Bomboms. Once that's in place, we'll blow Prison Island sky high and be out before anyone has a chance to know what hit them!"

"It shall be done," Shadow declared before turning to Rouge. "Just make sure you get the Emeralds before the timer runs out. I'm not going to waste time going back for you."

"Gee," Rouge said dryly. "You sure know how to make a lady feel welcome."

They landed within the jungle outside the base. The side cars detached as Robotnik configured the Egg Mobile into the Egg Walker.

"Now, on with the show," Robotnik declared. "We only have fifteen minutes to pull this off and only one try, so don't fail me!"

The trio all split off in separate directions.


Security Hall

Rouge made it to the base in record time, heading for the Security Hall, an area lined with safes on all sides.

"Oh boy…" she sighed. "This could be a problem."

She closed her eyes, trying to get a feel for the Chaos Emeralds in the area. She felt a small hum from one of the safes and smiled.

"Jewel thief's luck never fails."

Rouge headed for the safe, pulling out an ID card and sliding it through the keypad. The safe opened, revealing the Chaos Emerald, which the bat quickly claimed. From there, she merely repeated the process of feeling out the Emeralds, cracking the safes, and taking the other two.

"Like taking candy from a baby," she boasted.


Metal Harbor

Meanwhile, Robotnik had arrived at a harbor area consisting of many shipping yards and aircraft launch sites scattered around the area. He found himself confronted with numerous GUN robots.

"Oh good," the doctor grinned. "Just what I was looking for. Target practice dummies."

He flicked the weapons on his Egg Mobile on, laughing maniacally as he opened fire on the bots. Within seconds, there were nothing but sparking pieces of scrap metal on the ground.

"This is just sad," Robotnik scoffed. "The least GUN could do is give me a challenge."

As if on cue, he heard an engine running and looked to see a hovercraft mecha similar to the Hot Shot and Big Foot flying in.

"And it seems I may get one."

The cockpit opened, revealing an Efrikan man.

Dr. Robotnik! I'm Agent Clayton with Spider Troupe, and you are trespassing on GUN territory."

"I'm terribly sorry, sir," Robotnik said casually. "What can I do to correct this mistake?"

"Lay down your weapons and leave, or resist arrest so I can have an excuse to blow you away and rid Mobius of a psychotic piece of trash. And by all means, please choose the latter."

"How about option three?" Robotnik replied. "I send you to meet Aurora yourself!"

He fired on the bot, which quickly dodged as the cockpit closed.

"This is Flying Dog to headquarters!" he said into the com. "Robotnik found in the Metal Harbor! Preparing to engage!"

He launched several missiles at the doctor. Robotnik quickly activated his shields, laughing as the missiles exploded harmlessly on them.

"Is this really the best GUN has to offer?!" he cackled. "Pathetic! And you bozos somehow managed to capture Sonic!"

"Something you never manage to do without him escaping right out from under your hairy lip!" Clayton shot back.

Robotnik scowled angrily.

"You've done it now," he spat. "Clayton... you just sealed your doom."

He flipped another switch. A lance-like attachment protruded from the front of the Egg Walker, the tip beginning to glow as Clayton went pale.

"Word of advice: run."

A large multicolored beam of energy fired from the attachment at the Flying Dog, the recoil driving Robotnik back a foot or two.

"Woo!" the doctor exclaimed. "Well, that certainly has a kick to it."

Unable to dodge, Clayton slammed his fist on the eject button and was launched out of the cockpit just as the laser hit the Flying Dog head-on. The mech was utterly destroyed, leaving Clayton to parachute to safety.

"Well, that was fun," Robotnik said casually.


White Jungle

Deeper in the jungle, Shadow had made it to the armory. He planted several Egg Bomboms around the building, setting the timer for fifteen minutes before darting out. He jumped across multiple trees before he heard a familiar voice.

"Well, what do we have here?"

Shadow looked down to see Sonic looking up at him from ground level, arms crossed.

"You again, of all places," he sighed.

"I was wondering when you'd show your face again, faker!" Sonic declared, pointing at him.

"Faker?" Shadow scoffed. "I think you're the fake hedgehog around here. You're comparing yourself to me? Hah! You're not even good enough to be my fake."

Sonic scowled at that.

"I'm gonna make you eat those words, Shadow! But first, I have one question for you. What did you do with Hope?" He began sparking blue. "I swear to Aurora if you hurt her, I'll make you wish Eggman left you in cryo!"

"Considering you left her to get crushed, I'm surprised you even care," Shadow shot back. "But rest assured, Hope is safe with me. I will protect her."

His fists clenched. "I won't fail this time…"

Sonic blinked. "This time?"

After a moment, he dismissed it, launching at Shadow with an electrified Spin Attack. The black hedgehog managed to dodge, the two landing on the ground.

"Cute little light show," Shadow noted. "But you're not the only one who can channel Chaos energy."

He focused himself, sparking with red Chaos lightning. The two clashed in a massive cascade of blue and red lightning. They bounced all across the forest, tearing through the trees like they were made of paper, a sound like thunder ringing through the woods with every clash. They grappled violently at one point, the ground cracking beneath their feet.

"Last chance, Shadow!" Sonic yelled. "Where. Is. Hope?!"

"She. Is not. Your. Concern!"

He laid a devastating punch across Sonic's face. Sonic flew back before landing on his feet, skidding back before wiping his lip.

"Honestly, Eggman didn't warn you about what happens to moronic villains who have the guts to hurt my friends!"

"Get it through your thick skull, faker. Hope is safe with me. Unlike you, I will protect her!"

Hearing that, Sonic briefly flashed back to the first Death Egg incident. Seeing Kat's pained reaction and fury, he was set off in a major way. With a furious scream, he tackled Shadow, pinning him down.

"It's not like I didn't try, you idiot! I did the best I could! You don't get to judge me! Especially not you!"

He had his hands around Shadow's throat, the black hedgehog grabbing his wrists to try and pry them off.

"Struck a nerve, did I?" Shadow hissed.

Sonic was seething at this point. He picked Shadow up, throwing him into a tree and knocking it down. After a moment or two, Shadow pulled himself up, the two hedgehogs staring one another down before Shadow's com went off.

"Shadow, what are you doing?!" Robotnik demanded. "Hurry and get back here right now before the island blows up with you on it!"

Sonic gasped. "Blows up?!"

He took off with a sonic boom at that, leaving Shadow just standing there. The black hedgehog just rubbed his throat before turning to his com.

"I'm on my way."


At the main base, Sonic barged in, running for the file room.

"Sonic?!" Madonna exclaimed. "What the-?!"

"Eggman rigged the base! This whole island's gonna blow!" Sonic threw a Warp Ring, opening it. "Go!"

He shoved the ladies in, then Shard after shoving Omochao into his hands. Then he began running around everywhere, Warp Ringing every single personnel member out of the base. Once he was the only one left, Sonic opened a Warp Ring right under his feet, falling into the portal mere seconds before the entire island was consumed in a massive fireball...


Author's Note:

Well, things are heating up, aren't they? Also, Clayton is from Archie.

Voice cast for this chapter:

* Clayton - Phil LaMarr (Static from Static Shock, Vamp from Metal Gear Solid, Jack from Samurai Jack)

Please R&R. Until next time!