- Chapter 43 -
Sonic Jailbreak
Robotropolis
A few days passed after the events on Little Planet. Snively and Grimer were working in the lab when the door opened. Robotnik entered, looking much calmer than he had been before.
"Ah, Dr. Robotnik," Grimer greeted. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Robotnik confirmed. "I suppose even an evil mastermind like myself needs a break every now and then."
"Glad to hear it, sir," Snively said.
"We're working on putting the last touches on Metal," Grimer added. "We figured you'd want to punish him for his failure after he was brought back online."
"Leave him be for now," Robotnik decided, much to their surprise. "He's proven a perfect match for Sonic. And Badniks that pose a threat to him are a dime a dozen."
"As you wish, sir," Grimer decided.
"He's not usually so forgiving," Snively mused. "You don't think some of old Julian is seeping through, do you?"
"So what if he is?" Robotnik said defensively. "A momentary lapse, I assure you. So don't get used to it."
"Very well, sir," said Snively. "What are your orders?"
"I believe it's time to think smarter," Robotnik replied. "Sonic is a factor that must be dealt with. And to do that, we need to use his fatal flaw."
"And what might that be?" Snively asked.
As if on cue, Uncle Chuck appears, standing at attention.
"What is your wish, Doctor?" he asked.
Robotnik grinned ominously…
Knothole
A couple weeks later, the Freedom Fighters were relaxing at Freedom HQ, with Tails giving Chris and Keith a hand with their gloves.
"Electric Touch doesn't really work out as a name," Tails mused. "What about something like 'Nitro Gloves'?"
"Definitely an improvement," Chris agreed. "What do you think, Keith?"
"Not bad," Keith said. "I could get used to these."
At that moment, Sally came running in, holding Nicole.
"Let me guess," Sticks began, "that Kintobor Computer thingy linked up to your handheld, and they've got info on Eggman's next big Egg-what-cha-who-zit?"
"Were you listening through the chimney again?" Sally asked.
"Nope," Sticks replied. "The ventilation shaft."
Sally sighed before getting to business. "It's one of Robotnik's latest complexes. Apparently, he has an entire prison complex somewhere in the Acorn Archipelago. The Egg Dungeon, he calls it."
Sonic went pale at that. Flashes of the Death Egg flitted through his head, of the prisoners, and Kat's anguished face. He quickly shook it off, trying to sound brave.
"Don't suppose he's nice enough to lock himself in it,"
"What's with him and giving all his lairs and bots 'Egg' in their name?" Chris asked. "Never got that."
"Most likely a leftover from when he was still Doc Kintobor," Sonic said. "Eggs were his favorite food. Uncle Chuck once told me Julian had 'em for breakfast every day for the last ten years."
"If that's true, I'm amazed his heart hasn't given out," Keith deadpanned.
"That doesn't matter now," Sally cut in. "Already we're getting reports of missing people from all over the region. We have reason to believe they're in this Egg Dungeon. Unfortunately, there's no location on record."
"Then I guess we'll have to improvise," Sonic decided.
"What's your idea?" Amy asked.
The small smirk on Sonic's face was all the indication Sally needed.
"You…" she began, "you're seriously gonna do it?"
"We don't have much choice," Sonic pointed out. "Besides, you really think Eggman's gonna pass up an opportunity to catch me?"
That's when everyone else got it and gasped.
"You're mad!" Antoine exclaimed.
"Maybe, but it'll get us in," Sonic insisted. "I can bust everyone he's captured out in one swoop, and trash his Egg Dungeon in no-time flat."
"You're getting a little ahead of yourself, Sonic," Rotor pointed out. "We don't even know where the Egg Dungeon is. What if it's somewhere isolated, with no easy way in or out? Like say, the bottom of the sea?"
"I don't care," Sonic shot back. "I'll find a way out, for me, and every prisoner in there."
Sally noticed a slight shift in his weight as he put a hand to his rib. "And I mean every prisoner. I come out with all of those people with me... or I don't come out at all."
"At least take someone with you," Tails pleaded.
"No way," Sonic shook his head. "It's too dangerous. I'm not risking anyone I care about."
"Well, let's compromise on that," Porker decided. "Give me one of your sneakers."
Sonic recoiled at the idea.
"I'll give it right back, I promise," Porker assured.
Sonic obliged, slipping off a sneaker and handing it to Porker, who popped part of the sole.
"HEY!" Sonic screamed.
Porker just went about his work, pulling a small device out of his pocket and putting it in the hole before replacing the sole.
"Okay…" Sonic began, "so what was that?"
"Homing beacon," Porker explained. "We can track the signal to the Egg Dungeon. That way, we can find you and help out if things go south."
Sonic nodded. "Sounds handy."
Tails and Sally both pulled out the Miles Electric and Nicole, scanning the beacon's signal before Sonic took his shoe back and replaced it.
"Signal's reading loud and clear," Tails confirmed. "Now I'll know wherever you are."
"So now what?" Bunnie asked.
"I go to Robotropolis and stir up some trouble," Sonic answered. "Have a little fun with the bots before they get me."
"Isn't the whole point of this plan to let them capture you?" Johnny questioned.
"Yeah, but don't you think Robotnik will suspect something if I just waltz into his lair and give up without a fight?" Sonic questioned rhetorically.
Johnny nodded. "Yeah, that's a good point. Well made."
"Just… come back, okay?" Sally managed. "Please…"
Sonic nodded. "Count on it."
Before he could depart, however, Sally put a hand on his arm, getting his attention.
"If anything happens to you, Sonic, I just want you to know," she began. "I, uh…"
Sonic took her hand in his. "I know. Me too."
They stared at one another for a few moments before Sonic pulled away and took off.
Robotropolis
The 6-S were all lounging about, doing small, random things. Metal was sitting in a corner, looking particularly upset.
"I was created for the sole purpose of destroying Sonic," he muttered. "But I've lost to him not once, but twice."
"Aww, don't be so hard on yourself," Cubot offered. "Everyone makes mistakes."
"Perhaps…" Metal allowed.
Suddenly, they heard someone knocking at the window. They turned to see Sonic standing outside the window, tongue stuck out with his thumb up to his nose.
"Now that I have your attention…" Sonic said with a smirk before turning around. The Badniks could only gape as Sonic dropped his pants, pressing his bare butt against the glass and rubbing it across the window.
"What?!" Orbot exclaimed. "The audacity! The cheek!"
"And I thought we were supposed to be the butt of the jokes around here!" Cubot noted.
Metal promptly grabbed a Robocom Phone out of one of his spines, dialing Robotnik.
"Sonic's right outside our window!" he shouted. "Sound the alarm!"
"I'm well aware of his presence, Metal," Robotnik said calmly. "Go deal with him."
Sonic had already pulled his pants back up and was making a break for it as Metal took off after him.
"Oh, no you don't, Metal!" Scratch declared. "You're not stealing all the glory!"
He rushed after them, the rest of the 6-S soon following.
Sonic headed out into the middle of the metal city, waiting on the robots.
"Oh, look!" he noted. "You brought the Seven Stooges with you! Guess you need all the help you can get, Metal!"
"I don't need these buffoons to stop you," Metal snapped.
The two clashed once more, both sides evenly matched.
"You might know everything I'm going to do, Metal, but that's not gonna help you, since I know everything you're going to do!" Sonic taunted. "Strange, isn't it?!"
"Perhaps, but I have one advantage you don't," Metal shot back. "Your feeble organic body will eventually need to stop and rest. Whereas I can just keep going forever."
"You'll make a mistake and lose a long time before then!" Sonic declared.
The two clash and trade blows, the 6-S watching from the sidelines.
"Hey, quit hogging the fight!" Coconuts demanded.
"Yeah, let us have a turn!" Grounder added.
Metal whirled, glaring at them.
"Stay out of this, you fools!" he roared. "Sonic is mine!"
They all recoiled at that.
"On second thought, my hinges need oiling," Coconuts said meekly.
He hurried away, the rest of the 6-S soon following.
"Glad I don't work with you, pal," Sonic deadpanned.
"Their entire purpose is cannon fodder," Metal retorted. "Why do you think they're too stupid to tie their own shoes?"
"They wear shoes?" Sonic snarked before kicking Metal as hard as he could.
He took off running through the alleyways at that. A figure soon emerged from the shadows at that, holding up his hands, and Sonic skidded to a stop as he recognized him.
"Uncle Chuck?!" he exclaimed.
"Yes, it's me," Uncle Chuck confirmed. "I managed to break the programming. Wasn't easy."
"Oh, Aurora…" Sonic let out. "Uncle Chuck, I missed you so much!"
He rushed forward before hugging him. Uncle Chuck slowly returned the hug before starting to squeeze. Realizing something was up, Sonic tried to pull away, only for Uncle Chuck to tighten his grip.
"You fell for it hook, line, and sinker!" Uncle Chuck gloated, dropping the act. "Just as the doctor predicted!"
"Robotnik…" Sonic wheezed. "That miserable, lying snake!"
Chuck continued the bear hug, Sonic beginning to sweat and gasp for air as he was constricted; the pressure was such that he felt like his head was about to pop off.
"Don't fight it, sonny boy," Uncle Chuck said in a condescendingly smooth tone. "It'll all be over soon."
Before long, Sonic's eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out…
Egg Dungeon
Sonic's chest ached as he came to. He clutched his middle as he opened his eyes, looking around. He was laying on the ground in a small metal cell devoid of any furniture. Thick bars made up an entire wall with no visible door. He was dressed in a gray jumpsuit, a number stitched onto the lapel which he could only assume was a prisoner identification number. He had shackles on his wrists and ankles, and even worse, his sneakers had been taken, replaced with very worn, mismatched shoes that were held together with duct tape.
"Well, I found the dungeon," he said to himself. "Not quite the way I planned it."
He stood up before kicking the wall in frustration.
"Stupid! I was so desperate to see Uncle Chuck again, I let Eggman play me like an amateur!"
Sadly, his shabby shoes offered no protection from the wall-kick. Sonic immediately grabbed his foot, hopping up and down in pain as he blew on his battered toes. Once the pain faded, he flopped onto the ground, pissed and annoyed. As he did, he heard the squeal of a loud speaker going off above him, prompting him to look up.
"Good morning Sonic," Robotnik greeted. "Welcome to my Egg Dungeon. Did you enjoy your goodbye hug from 'Uncle Chuck'?"
"Not as much as I'll enjoy ripping you a new one when I get outta here. What'd you do with my sneakers?!"
"They're my latest trophy, of course. A symbol of my greatest victory... and your ultimate defeat."
"There better not be so much as a speck of dirt on them when I get them back!"
Robotnik just laughed. "'Get them back'?! My dear boy, what makes you think you'll ever leave that cell?!"
"I'll find a way," Sonic declared defiantly. "Count on it."
"Not this time," Robotnik gloated. "You see, my supersonic pest, you're in a wing of the dungeon specifically created to contain the likes of you. The walls and bars are solid Megatal. Your little Spin Attacks won't leave a scratch on them. Not that you'll be able to pull it off in those shabby shoes. Face it, Sonic. You've lost!"
He then burst into full on laughter. After a few minutes, he composed himself and cleared his throat.
"I did find our little rivalry stimulating for a time. But the truth is, I grew bored of you long ago. With you under lock and key here, I can finally engage in more worthwhile pursuits, like conquering Mobius and establishing my empire. Goodbye, Sonic. You will be neither missed nor remembered."
With that, the feed cut out. Sonic sat down in the corner, mulling things over.
"Okay, here's the sitch," he said to himself. "Locked up in a dungeon. Trapped in a cell made of indestructible metal. Power Sneakers stolen and replaced with crappy garbage. Most people would give up and resign themselves to rotting here." He smirked. "I'll be out and home in time for dinner."
As he said this, he heard a strange hiss come from somewhere in the hall. Suddenly, something fell just in front of the cell. Sonic looked, seeing it was a single key, the label reading "chains." Confused, Sonic decided it was best not to question it and took the key. He tested it, his chains falling free.
"Okay, that's better. Now how do I get out of a cell with no-" Suddenly, the bars began to lift up. "...door?"
He walked out, and the cell quickly closed. Suddenly, something grabbed him, clapping a hand over his mouth and pulling him up into the ventilation shaft. He struggled for a minute.
"Shhh!" a voice hissed. "You'll give us away!"
Sonic calmed down, and the figure let him go. Sonic turned to see it was a male Mobian flying squirrel with yellow fur and blue eyes, wearing an identical jumpsuit to his own.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"I'm Ray," the squirrel replied. "Ray the Flying Squirrel. You're Sonic, right?"
"Yeah," Sonic confirmed. "I'm here to save you and the other prisoners here."
Ray raised an eyebrow. "By getting captured yourself?"
"It was the only way to get here," Sonic pointed out.
"Fair enough," Ray conceded. "Listen, I can get you into the general population, but we'll need to disguise you. If Robotnik finds out you're out of your cell, we're all screwed."
He pulled out a can of oil. "Rub this on your fur."
Sonic took the can at that, beginning to do so. While he did that, Ray tossed a small disk in the cell. It created a small hologram of Sonic.
"You're surprisingly prepared," Sonic noted as he finished off the can, his quills now a dull, brownish black color
"You've been in here a week," Ray explained. "Robotnik was gloating."
"A week?" Sonic repeated. "And the tech?"
"Eggman makes us build his Badniks," Ray replied. "I managed to stow some tech so we could get you out."
"The cell?"
Ray just pointed to some wires exposed in the wall of the vent.
"Okay," Sonic nodded. "I'm gonna get you all outta here. But first, I need to get my sneakers back from Eggman."
"Why?" Ray asked. "Do the sneakers give you your power?"
"No, they just make my power possible," Sonic clarified. "I can't go very fast in these things."
"We'll add them to the list," Ray decided at that.
"You keep saying 'we'. Is someone helping you?"
"Yeah," Ray nodded. "Follow me. It's almost time for shift change."
Ray began crawling through the vent, taking several twists and turns. Soon, they reached an access panel, where Ray gave a soft knock. He dropped through, then Sonic did, Ray quickly replacing the vent. Meeting them was a red armadillo with blue eyes, also dressed in a grey jumpsuit.
"Good, you found Sonic," he noted, giving a two-fingered salute. "Name's Mighty."
"Nice to meet you," Sonic replied. "Thanks for getting me out."
Mighty just snorted before tossing Sonic a new jumpsuit. "Put that on. if the robots scan your number, they'll know you don't belong."
He and Mighty turned away as Sonic changed clothes.
"You guys really thought this through," he noted.
"We were one of the first prisoners here," Mighty explained. "We quickly learned how things worked."
"We've been trying to keep everyone safe, help out where we can," Ray added.
"I let myself get nabbed so I could help you all escape," Sonic explained. "My friends put a tracker in one of my sneakers so they could find this place... but I didn't expect Robotnik to take 'em."
"Good plan, poor execution," Mighty noted. "They take all personal effects."
"Doesn't change my mission here," Sonic insisted. "One way or another, I'm getting you all out of this dump."
"We'll help in any way we can," Ray assured.
"For now, we need to get to the mess hall," Mighty said. "We only get fifteen minutes for mealtime."
"I'm gonna go out on a limb and say chili dogs aren't on the menu," Sonic deadpanned.
Ray shook his head. "Not even close."
-X-
In the mess hall, egg drones are dolling out a brown slop. Everyone slowly advanced in the line. Ray and Mighty led Sonic over to their table.
"This is what Eggman calls food?" he asked. "I thought we were supposed to eat this stuff, not bury it."
"Trust me, it tastes worse than it looks," Mighty said. "But it's all we get."
"Fair warning, it tastes like butt." Ray warned.
"C'mon, it can't be that bad," Sonic insisted. "Let's see here."
He took a spoonful and put it in his mouth. He immediately winced at the taste, and narrowly managed to choke it down.
"Yep…" he managed. "That's butt, all right."
Ray chuckled as Sonic pushed the tray to the side. "So what can you tell me?"
"We work in two shifts, day and night," Mighty answered. "They keep track of us via the numbers on our jumpsuits. If you're not at your station when they come knocking, you get punished."
"How so?" Sonic asked.
"Let's just say you're not the first prisoner to wear that suit," Ray said.
Sonic winced at the thought. "Death or roboticization?"
"Depends on what Robotnik feels like at the time," Mighty replied.
"We've learned the rotations and have been able to work around them," Ray explained. "Give workers breaks and get them back on their feet in time for the scans."
"Then at shift change, we're ushered to our cells and sealed in," Mighty added.
"So, locked in a dungeon, worked to the bone to build Badniks, and fed goop that literally looks like crap every day," Sonic noted. "What, no torture chamber?"
"Why bother?" Mighty asked. "All life is under Robotnik is torture."
"Point taken," Sonic conceded.
"Everything's so well monitored it'll be hard to do much of anything rebellious," Ray went on. "We're lucky we were even able to get you into gen pop as easily as we did."
Sonic sighed. "If all else fails, my team might be able to bail us out. That is, if Robotnik hasn't found the homing beacon in my shoe."
Knothole
At that very moment, the Freedom Fighters were preparing to mount a rescue mission. Tails checked the Miles Electric.
"Sonic's signal is still broadcasting," he reported. "That means Eggman hasn't found the beacon."
"I never should have let him go," Sally let out. "Much less wait a week before going after him!"
"We had to give Sonic a chance," Amy pointed out. "He knew the risks."
"Even so, it was stupid and reckless," Sally insisted. "How do we even know Sonic's alive? Or... organic…"
"He'd want Sonic to suffer," Shortfuse said. "I mean, he thwarted four big plans of his. Drove him insane."
"Sonic's alive, Sally girl," Bunnie assured. "And we'll get him back."
Tails typed away on the Miles Electric, pinpointing where the signal is and putting it on the map.
"Okay, I've got something," he reported, showing an image of a sizable jungle island.
"There's our prison island," Rotor noted.
"Ready the Special," Sally ordered. "We have work to do."
Egg Dungeon
Ray, Mighty, and Sonic lined up with other prisoners. Their numbers were scanned and they were assigned a station on an assembly line. With that, they were all put to work assembling different Badnik parts. Sonic found his attention drawn to a few people in particular: a female mongoose with yellow fur, purple hair, and blue eyes, a purple-skinned female fish with violet eyes, and a female fox with red fur, hair a shade darker than said fur, and blue-gray eyes.
"Some of the more recent prisoners," Mighty explained to him. "The girl with purple hair's Mina Mongoose. She was captured with her mom Isabella."
"What happened to her mom?" Sonic asked.
Ray sighed. "Roboticizer."
Sonic's fist clenched at that. "And the fox?"
"Her name's Fiona," Ray explained. "There's not much we know about her. She doesn't like to talk about her past."
"And the fish?" Sonic asked.
"Princess Undina of Meropis," said Mighty.
Sonic perked at that, looking at Undina again.
"Wait a sec…" he squinted. "I saw her on a billboard at Station Square, as a model. Amy called her Deena."
His eyes widened as he realized the truth, miming his head exploding.
"As she told us, she likes traveling, but forgot to tell her parents and ended up running out of money," Mighty explained. "So she took up a job at Honey Clothing."
"And now, she's here," Ray added. "She's actually been trying to keep everyone's spirits up. You should hear her sing."
"Mina ain't half-bad either," Mighty pointed out.
"I gotta say, pretty gutsy of Robotnik to nab the Meropian princess and put her to hard labor," Ray remarked.
"Bargaining chip, most likely," Sonic reasoned. "A way for him to threaten her kingdom into doing whatever he wants."
"Shut up!" an Eggbot shouted, all three of them getting shocks to the back. "Get back to work!"
Sonic rubbed his back, muttering indignantly as he did so. Mighty just shook his head, putting a finger to his mouth. As they got back to work, suddenly an alarm went off. Everyone began looking up in confusion, but Sonic grinned.
-X-
Outside, the Special was closing in on the Egg Dungeon.
"There it is," Sally noted. "We're coming, Sonic!"
Tails gunned the engine as several bots came flying out of launch ports to intercept them.
"We've got incoming!" Antoine declared.
"Let's show these bots what happens when you mess with the Freedom Fighters!" Bunnie called out.
Rotor manned the weapons as they started fighting.
-X-
Inside, an Eggbot came into Robotnik's office.
"The Freedom Fighters have found the island!" it exclaimed.
"WHAT?!" Robotnik shrieked. "HOW COULD THEY-!" He cut himself off, realization dawning. "Sonic…" He turned to the Eggbot. "Lock down the prison. Make sure all the prisoners are in their cells! Especially Sonic!"
The Eggbot departed as Robotnik scowled.
"So that was his scheme," he mused. "Sonic let himself be captured on purpose so he could lead his friends here. He's more cunning than I gave him credit for. But no matter. He won't leave the prison alive."
-X-
As they continued to work, the Eggbot entered.
"Lockdown!" it shouted. "Everyone back to their cells!"
They began to go, but Sonic just calmly went about his work. The Eggbot approached him, irked.
"I said lockdown! Are you-?"
But the bot was cut off when Sonic whirled around, jamming a screwdriver into its face.
"Sorry, but I'm not done here," He grabbed a few more tools, holding them in his hands like weapons. "Come on robo-punks! Just try and stop me!"
Several Badniks began to swarm him, but Sonic attacked them with the tools, taking down several of them as he made his way to Robotnik's office. He promptly kicked the door down, and Robotnik jumped at the sight of him.
"Eggman," Sonic greeted calmly. "I think you have something that belongs to me."
Robotnik just looked at him for a minute, confused, before he realized he was covered in oil.
"SONIC?!" he screamed. "How did you get out of your cell?!"
"He had help, that's how!" Mighty's voice came.
"Yeah!" Ray added, the two coming in behind him.
Robotnik just laughed. "Is that so? You and what army?"
Mighty grabbed Robotnik's desk at that, lifting it over his head before crushing it with his bare hands. "Does that answer your question?"
Sonic whistled as Robotnik looked nervous.
"Well… it won't matter," he insisted. "My eggbots will soon quell this little rebellion of yours. And I'll have the lot of you roboticized!"
-X-
Contrary to Robotnik's expectations, the other prisoners had exploded into a full-blown riot, and were fighting back against the Eggbots with everything they had. Fiona was swinging a wrench like a club, bashing several bots. Mina and Undina were luring other bots towards the conveyor system, tricking them onto some of the more dangerous machinery like metal presses and wielders.
"I can't believe I was actually afraid of you glorified toasters!" Fiona shouted. "You're not so tough!"
"That's for my mom, you bastards!" Mina screamed.
"We'll need to thank Sonic for his help later," Undina mused.
Fiona perked. "Wait, that was Sonic?!"
"Clearly," Undina replied. "Some oil in his quills may fool a robot, but not me."
"He came for us…" Mina let out.
-X-
Sonic saw his Power Sneakers mounted on the wall behind Robotnik's desk. He quickly yanked off the shoes he was provided with.
"Think fast!" he declared before tossing them right at Robotnik. hitting him in the gut and nose. As the doctor doubled over, Sonic ran around him, grabbing his prized sneakers and slipping them back on. He sighed, feeling the familiar comfort and tightness.
"Now that's more like it!" he declared.
With that, he whirled on Robotnik, grabbing him by the mustache.
"This is for what you've been doing for the people here!" he shouted before jerking his head forward, headbutting him with all his might. "This is for taking my shoes!" He punched Robotnik in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. "And this is for using my Uncle Chuck as bait to put me here in the first place!" He rolled into a Spin Dash, plowing Robotnik upwards and into the ceiling. Finished, Sonic smirked, thumbing his nose as he shook off the last of the oil still clinging to his spines.
"Now, where do you keep the personal effects?"
He sped around the room, tearing it apart before finding a storage locker full of all the confiscated clothes and stuff.
"Bingo," he boasted. "Ray! Mighty! Come get dressed!"
Sonic quickly put his old clothes on as Ray came and got his. This included a white button down shirt that he just slipped on like a jacket, a long blue scarf, a pair of goggles, some jeans, and blue sneakers. Mighty just grabbed a white tank top, a pair of red sneakers, and a pair of boxing shorts, slipping them on.
"C'mon," Sonic urged. "Let's get the other prisoners and get outta here. My team's probably on their way in right now."
"Right," Mighty and Ray said in unison.
They hurried into the assembly room, seeing the girls had managed to smash all the Eggbots that came their way.
"Ah, Sonic," Undina greeted. "I trust Dr. Robotnik has been dealt with?"
"More or less," Sonic confirmed. "And I guess the oil disguise wasn't as good as I thought it was."
"For the robots, yes," Undina said. "Not us. But none of us were going to snitch."
"You came for us!" Mina cheered, running and hugging him.
Sonic patted her back at that before gently pushing her off.
"If there are any other prisoners, round them up," Sonic ordered. "We're blowing this pop stand right now."
"We already sprang the night shift," Fiona assured. "Trust me, no one's getting left in this dump. No way, no how."
"That was my plan when I came in here," Sonic said. "I'd get out with everyone who was locked up no matter what."
Fiona smiled at that. "No wonder everyone looks up to you."
"C'mon!" Mighty shouted. "This way!"
-X-
Outside, the stream of robots had slowed down to a trickle. They were easily picked off as Sally scanned the area.
"Come on, Sonic…" she whispered. "Where are you?"
"THERE!" Tails screamed suddenly.
He pointed. On the ground, Sonic was rushing out of the complex with several prisoners in tow.
"He did it!" Bunnie cheered. "By gum, he did it!"
"Tails, take us in for a landing!" Sally ordered.
Tails landed the plane, opening the main hatch.
"Hope there's enough room!" Sonic declared. "Got a lot of people here!"
The prisoners piled onto the plane, Sonic the last one on. As soon as he set foot on the plane, Sally grabbed him in a tight hug. Once they parted, she flicked him in the forehead.
"Ow!" Sonic rubbed his forehead. "What was that for?"
"Don't you ever do that again!" Sally exclaimed. "You scared me to death, Sonic!"
"Sorry, Sal," Sonic said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Eggman tricked me. He used Uncle Chuck to catch me off guard, and like an idiot I fell for it. Luckily, Mighty and Ray here were able to help me get out."
"Eh, it was nothing," Ray said, dismissively waving a hand.
"About time someone helped you," Mighty added.
As everyone got settled in and the plane took off, Amy suddenly ran up to Undina, shaking her hand.
"Miss Deena, I'm Amy Rose," she introduced. "I'm a huge fan of your work with Honey Clothing, and I hope to be as pretty as you some day."
Undina smiled as Amy continued shaking her hand, becoming visibly uncomfortable. Thankfully, Amy caught on quickly.
"I'm... shaking your hand too long, aren't I?" she asked sheepishly.
"Just a little bit," Undina confirmed.
"Sorry," Amy let go of her hand and backed off.
"We'll help everyone get back to their homes," Sonic promised. "And anyone who wishes to join our cause is more than welcomed. It'll be a chance to pay Eggman back for what he did to you all in there."
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm good," Fiona said. "I was already fighting him before he got me."
"That so?" Sonic asked.
"Yeah," Fiona replied. "I work as a mercenary on the side. He got me on a visit to my hometown. When I wouldn't agree to take a job from him, he threw me in the dungeon."
"You ever need help from us, just ask," Sonic assured.
"Drop me and Ray off at Mercia," Mighty requested. "My little sister's there. I had her hide when they got us."
"You got it," Sally said.
"Mina?" Sonic questioned. "Deena?"
"Just drop me back off at Station Square," Undina said. "I wanna see if Honey has anything she wants me to do before I go back on my journey."
"I'll stay with you, if that's okay," Mina said meekly. "I... I don't really have anywhere else to go."
"Of course it's okay," Sonic assured. "We'll take care of you, Mina."
Mina managed a smile at that. At Sally's questioning look, Sonic took her to the side.
"According to Mighty and Ray, her mom was a prisoner as well," he explained. "She ended up roboticized."
"Oh…" Sally sighed. "The poor girl."
"It's just one more thing Robotnik will answer for," Sonic said bitterly. "I hate that that monster used to be a nice guy like Julian."
"He'll pay for his crimes one day, Sonic," Sally assured. "I promise."
-X-
Robotnik, battered and bruised, emerged from the dungeon just in time to see the Special escape. He pointed, shaking his fist.
"You just wait, Sonic!" he shouted. "Next time, I'll…"
Before he could even finish, he just dropped his hands, sighing. "Ah… who am I kidding?"
He called in the Egg Mobile. Depressed and self-pitying, Robotnik just boarded his craft and departed the island.
Author's Note:
Seems Robotnik's failures have begun to take a toll on him. Who knows what will happen next?
This chapter is takes elements from the game SegaSonic the Hedgehog, and the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog episode "Sonic Breakout." The characters of Mina Mongoose, Princess Undina, and Fiona Fox are all from Archie, naturally. Of course, my Fiona is more heroic and doesn't have the abandonment issues of her comic counterpart, since Sonic saves her here, and I already did something similar with Kat during the Angel Island arc.
Voice cast for this chapter:
* Mina - Cristina Vee (Sailor Mars from Sailor Moon, Noel Vermillion from BlazBlue, Robyn Hill from RWBY)
* Undina - Alexis Tipton (Moka Akashiya from Rosario + Vampire, Lucina in Fire Emblem Warriors, Sun Seto from My Bride is a Mermaid)
* Fiona - Laura Bailey (Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket, Lust from Fullmetal Alchemist, Chun-Li from Street Fighter)
* Ray - Kara Edwards (Goten and Videl from Dragon Ball Z, Asta from .hack/Quantum, Mina Hazuki from Darker than Black)
* Mighty - Troy Baker (Delsin Rowe from Infamous: Second Son, Yuri Lowell from Tales of Vesperia, the second Greed from Fullmetal Alchemist)
Please R&R. Until next time!