Chapter 8: The Handoff
Everyone gathered just outside the city, ready to meet with Red X.
"Alright… we are all on board with the plan right?" Sonic asked.
Everyone nodded.
He then turned to Tangle, who was already in her hiding spot, giving him a thumbs up.
"Right… all we gotta do is wait."
Tails looked back at the palace, and saw Cosmo, watching from the balcony with her mask on.
They had to win today… for her.
That thought was cut off when he felt a rush of wind.
Looking up, they saw a small ship lowering to the ground.
When it landed, it opened up, and he came out.
Red X.
He was large, much larger than any of them, and wearing a large, black cloak with a red X on the front… his name certainly was spot on.
"I trust you have what I asked for?" He asked.
Tails' ear twitched… why did that voice sound… familiar?
"Yes." Volcania said, stepping forward, the Planet Egg in her arms. "I trust you'll hold your end of the bargain?"
"Indeed." Red X said. "Your people shall be spared."
Volcania nodded.
"Very good… then take it." She said, reaching out to hand it to him.
Red X grabbed it with a clawed hand… and it suddenly vanished.
"Huh?! Where'd it go?!" Rouge asked.
Red X laughed.
"I simply absorbed it into my armor." He explained. "It'll be providing me power until I return to my base."
He then turned to leave.
"And with that, I make my lea-"
He was cut off by a strike from Tangle.
The girl had leapt out of her hiding spot, and landed a strong blow to his head, being careful to not stretch her tail at all…
It did nothing though.
"Tangle?! What are you doing?!" Sonic shouted.
"Not letting you throw this planet's life away! That's what!" She shouted.
Tails was genuinely impressed by the acting skills the two of them were showing.
"Oh? You wish to die that badly?" Red X asked.
He then repelled Tangle's attack with a swing of his arm, before grabbing onto her.
"Sorry, but you won't be dying that easily." He said. "I'll be taking you back to my base… and make an example of you."
"Not on my watch!" Sonic shouted, charging into Red X, but easily knocked away.
Red X laughed.
"Sorry, but this is farewell…" He said, boarding his ship with Tangle in tow.
And with that, he was gone.
"… Alright, let's move." Sonic said, turning to the group.
Everyone nodded, and began heading back to the Typhoon.
"Good luck everyone." Volcania said.
"We'll be back with the Planet Egg before you know it!" Sonic said, giving her a thumbs up.
Everyone boarded the Typhoon, and soon after, it was taking off.
"Your Majesty, let us return to the Palace and prepare for their return." Magnus said.
Volcania nodded, before looking at the Typhoon's disappearing form.
"Good luck… our heroes."
"Hey! You could be less rough!" Tangle shouted.
"Zip it." Rex X said, before putting shackles on her wrists and ankles. "Be thankful I haven't killed you yet! You'll prove a great hostage once I go after your planet!"
Tangle scoffed.
"Like they'll listen to you!"
Red X laughed at that.
"Your so called 'Great Hero' surrendered so easily! You really think the others won't?" He asked.
Tangle snarled at that.
"Now then, behave yourself as I prepare for your transport." He said, before leaving.
…
'Ok… now I just wait…'
…
"I am so bored…"
"Lavi? Are you alright?" Volcania said, opening the door to her daughter's room.
She immediately saw Cosmo, still in her spot on the balcony.
"Lavi… I know you are worried, but I am sure they'll be fine." Volcania said. "Please, come and help prepare for their victory feast, I am sure they will…"
At that moment, she put a hand on Cosmo's shoulder…
Only for her to fall over, the mask clanging on the ground.
Volcania just stared at her collapsed form in shock, but then she noticed something.
That wasn't Cosmo… it was just a mannequin wearing her clothes and mask.
"What… where is she?!"
Then… a thought crossed her mind as she looked up into the sky.
"Oh no…"
"Alright guys, there's his ship… I'm about to start the attack! Expect Red X to come straight at us right away!" Tails said.
"We're in the hangar and ready!" Sonic said through the radio.
Tails took a deep breath and locked in.
"Alright, ready? AND G-"
At that moment, the door to the bridge opened.
Tails looked over, and his eyes went wide in horror…
Cause Cosmo was there, staring right at him.
"Cosmo?! What are you doing he-"
*CRASH*
Tails' head zipped towards the noise, and was horrified.
Red X had already caught onto them, and was now standing in the bridge, the glass behind him broken.
"What? Did you really think I wouldn't figure out that you'd be coming after me?! You are a bunch of FOOLS!" He shouted.
Tails didn't hesitate, and pushed a button to fire all the lasers at Red X's ship.
Red X responded by quickly slashing the helm, destroying it and halting the attack.
Tails was thankfully quick enough to jump out of the way, and was now standing between him and Cosmo, his arm cannon pointed at the warlord.
"Your biggest mistake… was bringing her with you…" Red X said, pointing his claw at Cosmo.
"I came of my own accord… they didn't know I was on the ship." Cosmo said, staring daggers at him.
Red X simply laughed.
"WOW! So the only fool is YOU!" He laughed out.
Tails snarled at that.
"Don't you DARE insult her!" He shouted.
"Awww, did I make you upset by insulting your girlfriend?" Red X taunted.
Tails didn't respond, and began charging a shot from his arm cannon.
He fired, and hit his mark, right in his head…
When the smoke cleared… Tails couldn't believe his eyes.
"No… you… you're supposed to be…"
Red X laughed.
"Dead?! Please… like I would die to something like THAT!" He shouted.
He then took a step forward.
"Dark Oak was a fool… he wanted to destroy all animal life with the forestation plan… I will not make the same mistake."
Cosmo was terrified… she had heard stories about this creature countless times… but she never thought she'd see one… at least… not again.
"Dark Oak already paid for abandoning me… and now you all shall pay for ruining all of our plans." Red X said.
"For I… am Red Pine! The last of the Metarex, and soon to be ruler of the universe!"
End of Chapter 8
A bit of a shorter one… but next time, the big battle!
Red Pine! Yup! He's been our mastermind this whole time! The name Red X is fairly simple: RED metareX. BOOM! BIG REVEAL! I actually always wanted to experiment with the possibility that Red Pine survived his ship's destruction. After all, for being supposedly such a big figure in the Metarex, his death was VERY anticlimactic, and we never actually got to see him fight… so here we are!
This chapter is kinda short, as it is just setup for the final battle, but don't worry, the next chapter is much longer!
Anyways, see you all next time!