- Chapter 46 -

Crisis at Chemical Plant

Chemical Plant

As the Phantom Ruby's effect faded, the Freedom Fighters fell from the sky, landing on the ground heavily. Getting his bearings, Sonic stood up, his face falling as he looked around and saw where they were.

"...Oh, hell," he let out.

"Where are we now?" Knuckles questioned. "What is this place?"

"The Chemical Plant Zone on Westside Island," Tails replied.

"Where Sonic almost died from Mega Mack poisoning," Sally added.

Kat perked, remembering mention of the chemical during her enslavement.

"I've heard of that stuff," she recalled. "It's a highly toxic poison. One designed specifically to kill you, Sonic."

"And if Tails, Porker, and Rotor hadn't found a cure, it would've," Sonic informed her.

"A lot of slaves were killed trying to recreate it," Kat added. "They could never get it right."

"Robotnik…" Johnny spat. "Miserable bastard."

Mina looked, seeing the pink chemicals in the vat. "I'm guessing that pink water is the Mega Mack?"

Kat nodded. "Yeah…"

"Keep your distance," Shortfuse warned. "Just because it's specifically designed as an anti-Sonic weapon doesn't mean it's not hazardous to everyone else."

"You know, if this stuff is as corrosive as it says, it could eat through Megatal," Chris theorized.

"Maybe," Keith agreed. "But what if Shorty's poisoned as well? Too risky."

Chris nodded. "Good point."

Tails pulled out the Miles Electric, getting a reading.

"Nothing from the Phantom Ruby, but I'm getting a Chaos Emerald somewhere in here,"

"It's definitely here," Knuckles confirmed. "I can feel it."

Kat closed her eyes, sensing before pointing. They looked in the direction she pointed.

"Sweetie," Bunnie began, "that's the Mega Mack tub."

"No," Knuckles shook his head. "It's there."

"Then that Emerald's as good as lost," Rotor said. "Whoever dives into that vat isn't coming back out."

"I'll get it," Shortfuse decided. "My suit could withstand it."

He flew over, preparing to dive in when the stuff began bubbling. Sally gasped.

"Shorty!" she shouted. "Get away!"

The vat broke open, spilling Mega Mack into the plant. As it flooded the area, Sonic and co. scrambled to higher ground. Much to their surprise, a pink hand emerged from the chemical. The owner pulled itself up, revealing itself to be a watery pink creature with red eyes. More hands emerged in short order, along with more creatures.

"What are these things?" Knuckles demanded.

"I don't know," Sonic admitted. "Last time there was just one. Megamuck."

"Megatox!" one of them shouted. "It's Megatox, you cobalt idiot!"

"That one's the original," Sonic pointed. "The one who made this gunk."

"They're all me. Extensions of my will," Megatox glared at Sonic. "And I've been dying to see you again, Sonic."

Sonic shrugged. "Can't say the same, to be honest."

"You mind filling the rest of us in?" Knuckles asked.

"Long story short, Slimy here used to be a human scientist named Jack Napier," Sonic explained. "Eggman hired him to whip up the Mega Mack, and some freak accident caused him to melt away and end up fusing with it."

"No wonder they couldn't recreate the formula," Kat mused.

"Last time, you defeated me by pure luck," Megatox insisted, "I still don't know how the hell you survived such a heavy dose of the Mega Mack, but this time, you're dead meat."

"That so?" Sonic asked flippantly.

Megatox smirked. "I've spent the intervening time absorbing other chemicals in the plant. I'm stronger than ever. And once I destroy you, I'll leave this factory behind and flood the Emerald River."

Tails gasped. "If that much Mega Mack makes it into the island's water supply-"

"Yes," Megatox chuckled. "I will poison the rivers, the land. Westside Island will become dead, and nothing will be able to live here for a hundred years!"

"No!" Tails shouted. "We can't let that happen!"

"We won't!" Sonic added.

The group scattered as the creatures walked toward them.

"I had a weakness before," Megatox declared. "I was liquid and couldn't really touch anything. But thanks to additional chemicals I've integrated into my being, and the power of the Chaos Emerald in my chest, I can do THIS!"

Megatox slammed its fist into the ground, cracking it as if it was hit by a solid object.

"So you can dish it out now," Sonic mused. "Let's see if you can take it!

He charged right at the leader.

"Sonic, don't touch him!" Sally shrieked.

But it was too late. Sonic threw a punch, only for his fist to pass right through Megatox's face like it was jelly. He tried to yank his arm free, only for it to resolidify and trap him. Megatox shifted his body so he was holding Sonic's arm with his hands.

"As long as I can revert to my liquid state, I don't have to take it!" He declared.

"Let go of me!" Sonic demanded, squirming to get loose.

Knuckles then charged forward, Shovel Claws at the ready. The claws passed right through Megatox, much to Knuckles' irritation. However, this gave Sonic a chance to get out. Unfortunately, the damage was done.

"And here's the icing on the cake," Megatox sneered. "Every time you touch me, Sonic, you're poisoned more and more."

"Crap…" Sonic muttered, standing up and shaking his head to clear the cobwebs.

"Sonic, you've gotta get back!" Tails yelled. "If you stay too close to Megatox for too long-!"

"I know, I know!" Sonic snapped.

He immediately put some distance between him and the Megatoxes, getting the high ground.

"Alright, how the hell do we beat something we can't touch?!" Knuckles shouted.

"Die quickly," Megatox taunted. "That is my advice."

"Yeah?" Sonic shot back. "Not gonna happen!"

The Megatox clones dove back into the Mega Mack, swirling around and joining together into a single giant Megatox before spraying a jet of the gunk at the Freedom Fighters. Sonic was able to dodge, but most of the others were knocked off their feet, the toxic villain chuckling darkly.

"And behold, I shall be a blight upon the land," Megatox swore, "and everything I touch... shall wither, and die."

"Sheesh, have you been practicing that?" Sonic asked.

Sonic did what he could to fend off Megatox's attacks, but his vulnerability to the Mega Mack hampered his combat prowess. Knuckles kept charging and punching in a rage. He was soon soaked in the stuff multiple times, but much to everyone's shock, he remained on his feet and seemed barely affected.

"How are you still standing?!" Megatox demanded. "You've ingested enough Mega Mack to kill ten bull elephants! What are you?!"

"I'm Knuckles the Echidna, Guardian of the Master Emerald!" Knuckles shot back. "And there is no way in hell I'm gonna let you win!"

The Freedom Fighters quickly regrouped.

"I've got a plan," Sonic told them. "It's a long shot, but our only chance."

"We're all ears, sugar," Bunnie said.

"When Megatox is solid, we can hit him," Sonic explained. "We gotta time it just right before he turns back into liquid."

"He'll see all of us coming," Shortfuse pointed out.

"What about me?" Kat asked. "He hasn't paid a lick of attention to me, or the boys. I might be able to get a shot."

"It's our best shot," Mina insisted. "We'll keep Megatox occupied while you get into position."

"And whatever you're gonna do, do it fast!" Rotor added.

Kat hefted her club. "I got this."

"I'll set him up, you knock him down," Sonic said.

With that, Sonic ran out, getting Megatox's attention.

"Hey, ugly!" he mocked. "Over here! What's the matter? Can't you handle a hedgehog?" He pulled his eyelid down. "I think you got something in your eye! It's called fear!"

He blew a raspberry before turning around and bending over.

"Smile!" he declared before slapping his butt at Megatox and flashing him a mocking peace sign. Megatox roared, coming in for the kill. Seeing her chance, Kat jumped out of her hiding place, club at the ready.

"Eat this, you son of a bitch!" she screamed before smashing the club across Megatox's face. That was all it took; the mutant fell backwards, reverting to inert Mega Mack as he did. Kat landed, tossing her club away before the Mega Mack ate through it. The yellow Chaos Emerald bobbed in the Mega Mack. As it began to sink, Shortfuse dove in, grabbing it and quickly getting out.

"I got it!" he shouted, holding it up triumphantly.

"Good," said Sally. "Now let's get outta here."

Chris and Keith helped Sonic to his feet, Kat doing the same with Knuckles.

"Hold on, Sally," Keith said. "Sonic and Knuckles got the worst of the Mega Mack."

"Thankfully, I know what to do," Tails told them.

At his direction, Shortfuse carefully scooped some of the pink gunk into a beaker, handing it to him.

"What are you doing?" Kat asked.

"Synthesizing the antitoxin to the Mega Mack," Tails explained.

"All of us got sprayed by him, Tails," Chris pointed out. "It might be a good idea to make enough for everybody."

"I'll do what I can," Tails assured. "But let's get out of this place before Megatox wakes up."

Emerald Hill Zone

The group hurried to Emerald Hill. Tails quickly whipped up the antitoxin, passing out vials of green fluid to everyone, which they quickly downed. Keith gagged on the taste.

"Tastes like cat pee," he noted.

"That's what I said," Sonic said.

"Well, what were you expecting?" Tails deadpanned. "Apple juice?"

Chris nearly barfed at the taste, but Kat just downed hers without complaint.

"Okay, now that that's done, we need to get back to business," said Sally.

"Right," Sonic noted. "It's time to split up."

Tails brought up the Miles Electric, expanding the Emerald Radar's radius.

"No more Chaos Emeralds on the island," he noted. "They're pretty spread out this time."

He squinted. "One's in Studiopolis, from the looks of it."

"I know my way around there," said Chris. "Keith, Kat, and I will handle that one."

"It's been awhile since I've been in civilization," Kat noted. "It'll be... interesting."

"Another is somewhere in the Press Garden Zone in the Dragon Kingdom," Tails went on.

"I'll handle that one," Sally decided. "Could be nice."

Tails typed away, running a scan over the Press Garden.

"Huh, that's interesting," he mused. "Apparently, the Press Garden's become one of Eggman's bases. He's turned it into a... printing press?"

"Lousy machines," Sticks spat. "I'll smash 'em all!"

"Eggman's made a printing press?" Mina asked. "He owns a newspaper?"

"It's more for propaganda than anything," Tails clarified. "An attempt to turn people against Sonic and in favor of him and his forces."

Sonic scoffed. "Yeah, like anyone will believe that blowhard."

"Next stop is the Mirage Saloon Zone in the Southern Baronies," Tails went on.

"I know that place," Bunnie piped up. "I'll take care of it."

"This should be fun," Shortfuse mused.

"Another Emerald is in the Oil Ocean Refinery, and I'm getting two readings back on Angel Island," Tails went on. "In both Hydrocity and the Lava Reef."

"That's where I'm going," Knuckles decided.

"Where we're going," Sonic corrected. "We'll handle the Emeralds on Angel Island. Whoever finishes up their jobs in whatever Zone can take the one in Oil Ocean next."

"Right," Knuckles nodded. "Still getting used to the whole team thing yet."

"Okay, you have your jobs," Sonic declared. "The world's not gonna save itself. Let's do it to it."

They all nodded before splitting off in opposite directions.

Robotropolis

The still-inactive Hard Boiled Heavies had open panels on the backs of their head, Snively installing small items with beeping red lights inside before closing them.

"The self-destruct programs have been installed successfully, sir," he reported.

"Excellent," Robotnik nodded. "Wake them up."

Snively nodded before turning them back on. All of them wake up, turning to Robotnik angrily.

"Now, before you go attacking me, let me tell you about your new upgrade," Robotnik began, holding up his glove controller. "I installed a little explosive leash in your heads while you were out. All I have to do is press this little button, and... BOOM!"

He clapped his hands together for emphasis. "So, now do you understand your places?"

They remained angry, but didn't seem to be moving to attack.

"You've made your point, Doctor," Heavy King conceded. "Very well. We'll serve you... for now. What will you have us do?"

"My sources tell me the Freedom Fighters have spread out to try to stop me and my plans for the Phantom Ruby," Robotnik explained. "You'll go where they go, and terminate them with extreme prejudice."

"Yes… Doctor," Heavy King said hesitantly.

The Heavies departed at that. Robotnik watched them go, before pressing a button. Metal Sonic soon entered.

"Yes, Doctor?" Metal asked.

"Metal, I want you to keep an eye on the Heavies for me," Robotnik instructed. "If any of them show the slightest hint they plan to betray me, report back." He smiled. "And who knows? While you're tailing them, you might get another crack at Sonic."

If he had a mouth, Metal would be grinning. "Thank you, Doctor."

With that, he left. Robotnik went back to the computer, which was in the midst of analyzing the Phantom Ruby.

"Now for more important matters," he said. "I'm going to uncover the source and full extent of your power, Phantom Ruby, and see what makes you tick."

Author's Note:

Same thing I did with the Little Planet arc. The Freedom Fighters split up into groups and take on the different Zones that way. Give everyone a chance to shine, and make it easier for the story to flow.

Please R&R. Until next time!