- Chapter 22 -

Sky Chase

Robotropolis

The Freedom Fighters had just made it out of the citadel when they saw the big door in the ground open up. They gave it a wide berth, gaping as they saw the Death Egg emerge from underground.

"No…" Sonic let out. "No… no way!"

"That… is one big egg," Sticks remarked.

"That's gotta be the Death Egg!" Porker exclaimed. "He finished it!"

"He must be using the Chaos Emeralds to power it," Tails theorized.

"Damn it…" Sonic cursed. "We have to get up there and take that thing down!"

"But what about collateral?" Bunnie asked. "There's gonna be a lot of creatures in this thing's wake!"

"Maybe we can lure it somewhere where it can't do any harm," Sonic mused.

"Leave that to the rest of us," Sally assured.

As the Death Egg ascended into the sky, the top of Citadel Robotnik opened up, from which flew a massive yellow battleship.

"Two giant aerial death machines?!" Johnny shrieked.

"Oh, great," Rotor groaned. "As if we didn't already have enough problems."

"The Wing Fortress," Shortfuse informed them. "That's what some of the Badniks back in Emerald Hill called it. It's a second base, and how Robotnik's gonna stock the Death Egg with food and supplies." He turned to Sonic. "It's your ticket onto the Death Egg, Sonic."

"Perfect," Sonic said.

"But the Special will never catch it before it reaches the Death Egg!" Antoine pointed out.

"Then we'll take something a little faster," Tails decided.

Sonic grinned. "You thinking what I'm thinking, buddy?"

"You bet," Tails confirmed. "But we better hurry."

"Hurrying, I can do," Sonic assured.

He scooped up Tails, rushing off with him.

Emerald Hill

A door opened up in the side of the Freedom Fighter Special as the Tornado wheeled out, Tails at the controls.

"It's been a while since we've taken the Tornado for a flight," he remarked.

"Well, there's no time like the present," Sonic said, jumping onto the wings.

Tails sighed. "Why can't you sit in the cockpit?"

"More fun up here," Sonic replied.

Tails rolled his eyes, pulling his goggles down. "You never change."

With that, the two took off.

Death Egg

Snively and Grimer oversaw several enslaved humans, the former residents of Robotropolis, toil away in the engine room.

"Faster!" Snively ordered. "Dr. Robotnik does not tolerate laziness!"

Men, women, and children were all working nonstop, trying to keep up with their demands. A girl with short red hair paused for a moment to catch your breath.

"Did I say you could stop?!" Snively roared.

The girl glared at him defiantly.

"We're not one of your robots, Needlenose," she spat. "We can't work all the time, so get off my ass and let me breathe."

"She's not wrong, Snively," Grimer admitted.

"Quiet, you!" Snively snapped before turning back to the girl. "Alright, fine. You can sit down for five minutes. But get back to work afterwards, or else."

The girl just nodded, wiping her brow. "I'll take what I can get in this hellhole…"

She took a seat, panting while Snively and Grimer went to a communication screen, showing Robotnik in the cockpit of the Wing Fortress.

"Work is progressing splendidly here, Doctor," Grimer informed him. "How are things on your end?"

"I'll be docking on the Death Egg within the hour," Robotnik replied. "I want everything running smoothly when I get there."

"Will do, sir," Snively assured.

Robotnik was about to say more, when something caught his eye.

"What's this?" he let out. "Something's approaching on radar."

"Uncle?" Snively questioned.

"I'll call you back." Robotnik said before ending the communication.

Wing Fortress

Robotnik checked the radar, seeing a small, fast moving blip approaching. He pressed a few buttons, revealing a video screen.

"Zoom in," he ordered.

The screen did so, and Robotnik's jaw dropped at the sight of Sonic and Tails on the Tornado. After a minute, he let out a growl before slamming his fists on the handles of his chair.

"How many times do I have to kill that hedgehog before it sticks?!" he roared. "All units, open fire on that plane!"

-X-

On the Tornado, Sonic and Tails were rapidly approaching the Wing Fortress when they saw several chicken-like Badniks emerge from the sides, all of them manning turrets before firing on the plane.

"Incoming!" Sonic shouted.

Tails quickly swerved to avoid the shots, activating the Tornado's weapons.

"Two can play at that game!" he declared before opening fire on the Wing Fortress. Several of the Badniks went up in flames, plummeting down to the ground below. More Badniks fired on them, soon forming a wall between them and the Wing Fortress. Sonic squatted, putting his hands on the wings.

"Keep going, Tails!" He insisted. "Trust me!"

Tails put the plane into overdrive, not breaking his course. Sonic focused, closing his eyes and channeling his power. Blue lightning danced around him, running down his arms and into the plane. Its speed suddenly increased tenfold. The Tornado rocketed forward at the speed of sound, blasting through the Badniks. Once they got close enough, however, a lucky shot clipped the Tornado's wing. The plane began to lose altitude.

"Sonic, you gotta jump!" Tails screamed.

"What about you?!" Sonic demanded.

"I'll be okay! Just go!"

Hesitantly, Sonic leapt onto the Wing Fortress. He turned to watch as the Tornado went down, Tails with it.

"If you don't make it, Tails, I swear I'm gonna kill you," he muttered.

With that, Sonic made his way into the fortress.

Emerald Hill

On the ground, the rest of the Freedom Fighters were busy urging the Emerald Hill Folk to take shelter.

"Come on, everyone!" Sally ordered. "Keep moving!"

"Trust me, you do not want to stay here!" Antoine added.

"Come on, people! Keep it moving!" Rotor yelled.

"Move it!" Sticks shouted. "You wanna get crushed under a giant metal egg?! Of course not!"

Porker looked up, seeing a familiar sight.

"Look!" he shouted, pointing. "Up in the sky!"

They looked to see the Tornado plummeting. An ejection seat launched out as the plane crashed into the ground, Tails floating down safely. He landed, letting out a sigh.

"Tails!" Sally ran over. "Are you okay? Where's Sonic?"

"I'm fine," Tails assured. "As for Sonic, he's on the Wing Fortress. He jumped off just before the Tornado was shot down."

Sally looked up into the sky, hands clasped. "Please be careful, Sonic."

Wing Fortress

In the sky, Sonic was out for blood. He was smashing through every Badnik in his way, headed for the cockpit of the fortress.

"EGGMAN!" he screamed before smashing down the door to the cockpit. Sonic glared at the chair, its back to him.

"It's just you and me, fat boy," he declared. "So why not turn around and fight me, man to Mobian?"

The chair turned, Robotnik glaring at him.

"You just don't know when to give up, do you?" he spat. "Wake up and smell reality, Sonic! The Chaos Emeralds are mine! The Death Egg is fully operational! You. LOSE!"

"As long as I'm still breathing, you'll never win!" Sonic spat.

"A situation easily remedied," Robotnik swore.

"Well, bring it on!" Sonic shot back.

With that, Sonic charged forward, punching Robotnik straight through his own chair into the far wall. Robotnik slowly rose, wiping his mouth.

"So, you want to play rough, do you?" he questioned.

"Only if you're man enough for it," Sonic retorted. "Maybe this time I'll give you a leg to go with your arm."

Robotnik batted him aside with his cybernetic arm. "Admittedly, this arm has its benefits. It's all the better to strangle you with!"

Sonic picked himself up, wiping blood from his lip.

"I'm taking you out, Robuttnik," he vowed. "For my Uncle Chuck! And for Dr. Kintobor!"

Robotnik chuckled. "Oh, Sonic. You just don't get it, do you?"

"Get what?" Sonic demanded. "That you're a heartless, evil monster running around wearing Julian's skin?"

"Idiot," Robotnik scoffed. "If I'm heartless, it's because Julian was. If I'm evil or ruthless or lacking in morality, it's because he was! I didn't just spawn myself out of thin air! I wasn't just conjured by the ROCC explosion! I am Julian Kintobor, and he is me! Two sides of the same coin!"

"So what?" Sonic spat. "You think that changes anything? If what you say is true and you are Dr. Kintobor's inner demon, then it just makes me respect him more."

"Oh?" Robotnik said with a raised eyebrow.

"He had all that darkness inside him and he suppressed it. He fought you every moment of every day, acting like the kindest man I've ever met. If anything, it makes me respect him more. I gave in to my darkness without a second thought, but you had to wait until Julian was gone before you could surface."

"Inspiring speech, Sonic," Robotnik admitted. "But pretty words won't save you."

"I'm done talking anyway, Eggman," Sonic retorted. "You're going down!"

The battle began anew. They held nothing back; it was nothing but one punch after another, each matching each other blow for blow. The cockpit was pandemonium as the two combatants duked it out, with Robotnik and Sonic fighting so fast that it was difficult to keep up. Finally, Sonic knocked Robotnik into the control panel, causing it to spark.

"Whoops," Sonic said flippantly. "That looked important."

"You fool!" Robotnik shouted.

As alarms blared and the panel smoked, Robotnik got to his feet. "Another time, Sonic!"

With that, he took off running towards the interior of the fortress.

"Oh no, you don't!" Sonic yelled. "You're not getting away from me this time!"

He took off after Robotnik, making it to a hangar where a space shuttle was docked. Robotnik had just boarded it and was taking off. With a mighty leap, Sonic sprang out of the hangar, grabbing onto the side of the jet as it took off toward the Death Egg…

Author's Note:

Another cliffhanger? I'm so bad…

Robotnik being Kintobor's dark side was inspired by Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, of course. Essentially, Julian always had those dark desires and attitudes hidden within; the ROCC explosion just released him from his restraints and inhibition. Everything Julian fantasized about and kept under control, Robotnik does the instant it occurs to him.

Also, Sonic boosting the Tornado was a reference to the Tornado Boost move from Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, as well as the fact that he could channel his speed into stuff like mine carts in Sonic Generations.

Anyway, next chapter: Sonic and Robotnik's showdown on the Death Egg! Two men enter, one man leaves. Place your bets, people.

Please R&R. Until next time!