-Chapter 72-

Cracking the Death Egg

Death Egg Mark II

The minute the Sky Fortress went down and he lost Metal Sonic's signal, Robotnik gritted his teeth, realizing what had happened.

"Again?!" he shrieked. "How does that blasted hedgehog keep doing this?! It's like I'm in some kind of story where I always lose no matter what because Sonic's the hero!"

"Sir, perhaps we should use the prisoners," Snively suggested. "Roboticize them and-"

"And let Sonic go ballistic on me again?" Robotnik demanded. "Not a chance! Lock them down. Lock them all down. I will not have them rioting and giving that damned hedgehog any help."

-X-

Just outside, Sonic was closing in on the Death Egg.

"Don't see an entrance. Guess I'm gonna have to make one!"

He scanned the Death Egg, finding the hangar doors and grinning. "Bingo."

Sonic flew in, blasting at the doors and weakening them before ramming the Tornado right through the doors with a massive explosion. The plane came crashing down, Sonic leaping out and wincing as he surveyed the damage.

"Tails is gonna kill me," he sighed before shaking his head. "Okay, gotta focus. Time to track down my buddies."

He began speeding around, trying to think. "Engine room first. Some of them have to be there. They can lead me to the others."

He sped into the engine room, knocking down the door. Knuckles, Amy, and Kat all jumped, turning before dropping their shovels at the sight of their savior.

"Sonic!" Amy cried in relief.

"Guys!" Sonic exclaimed.

He curled into a Spin Dash, then sped through the Egg-Robos guarding them. Once they were gone, he rushed over, Kat throwing her arms around him.

"You came…" she let out. "You really came…"

"You bet I did," Sonic told her as he patted her back. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Knuckles grabbed the shovel, using it to stab through the chains. Once they were shattered, he tossed it aside.

"Okay, first things first," Sonic said, gently pushing Kat away. "Do you know where Robuttnik is keeping everyone else?"

"Bunnie and Shortfuse are lab experiments, but the former's with Eggatha," Knuckles replied. "Sticks is in the cells, and the others are working in the factory."

"Sally was led off away from us," Amy added. "None of us know where she is."

"Well, maybe Eggman will tell us," Sonic said. "If we…" He cracked his knuckles for emphasis, "persuade him."

"Gladly," Amy declared. "I did promise him a rather unpleasant experience with this shovel."

"I get first crack, Amy," Sonic insisted.

"Leave the others to us," Knuckles said. "You focus on the labs and Eggman."

"Yeah," Kat nodded. "We got this."

Sonic nodded. "Be my guest."

He darted off at that, leaving Amy, Kat, and Knuckles to head for the Badnik processing plant.

-X-

In her lab, Eggatha was loading Bunnie into her cage.

"Sorry, I'm under orders to lock you down," Eggatha told her. "Apparently there's a nasty pest on board."

"Pest?" Bunnie asked.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Eggatha called.

"Housekeeping, ma'am!" came a familiar voice doing a bad falsetto. Bunnie perked.

"Sonic?" she whispered.

Raising an eyebrow, Eggatha went to the door, opening it... and immediately backed up as Sonic pushed his way in.

"Really?" she deadpanned. "Housekeeping?"

"I was on the spot," Sonic replied. "What'd you expect?"

"Sonic!" Bunnie cried.

"Hey, Bunnie," Sonic greeted. "The little egg being a good host?"

"Actually, yes," Bunnie confirmed.

"Look, don't hurt me," Eggatha said nervously. "Take her. Take the Chaos Emerald. Just don't hurt me."

"I wasn't planning on-" Sonic perked. "Did you say Chaos Emerald?"

Eggatha nodded, opening a safe to reveal the gray Chaos Emerald.

"You can take it, just please leave me alone."

"I don't harm children, Eggatha," Sonic assured her as he took the Emerald. "You've got nothing to fear from me. Your uncle, on the other hand…"

"They're okay," Eggatha promised. "He insisted on not hurting them. I don't know why."

"I've got a pretty good idea," Sonic mused, pocketing the Emerald.

Eggatha opened the cage door, allowing Bunnie to get out. Once she was out, Eggatha crawled in, Sonic closing the door.

"I'll make sure someone knows when to find you," he assured.

"Oh, before I go..." Bunnie piped up before snagging a strange, circular device off the lab table. "Souvenir."

She stuffed it into her jumpsuit.

"Hey, I was planning on giving that to you guys anyway," Eggatha smirked at Sonic's look. "Don't worry. Uncle Robotnik will never know it was me."

Sonic nodded. "Alright then."

"Thanks for not treating me like a test subject," Bunnie said gratefully.

"You're wasting time," Eggatha cut in. "Get going."

Sonic nodded before grabbing Bunnie and taking off.

-X-

Meanwhile, Knuckles, Kat, and Amy had managed to reach the Prison Hall. A chorus of the "Eggman's got us breaking stones" chant greeted them.

"Hey!" Kat called out.

Grimer and the 6-S, who were guarding the prisoners, were met with her and Knuckles.

"Let them out," Knuckles ordered. "Now."

Kat took her old shovel, bending it in her bare hands. Grimer and the 6-S looked at them nervously., and Orbot was the first one to pipe up.

"Oh, hell no. I'm outta here."

With that, he pressed the button to open the cells, the group scurrying away. The others came running out of their cells.

"Finally!" Sticks declared. "I was getting stir-crazy in there! And that's saying something!"

"Legs out," Knuckles told them. "We're snapping those chains."

They all offered their legs, Knuckles getting to work.

"If you're all loose," Tails began, "then that means-"

Kat nodded, smiling. "Sonic came."

Keith grinned. "Knew he would."

Everyone was freed from their chains.

"Where's Amy?" Rotor asked.

"Looking for Mina," Knuckles replied.

"Sonic's got Bunnie and Shorty," Kat added. "But we still need Antoine and Shorty."

"And Sally." Chris pointed out.

"We'll need to talk to Eggman about her," Porker said.

"Then it looks like we're storming the throne room." Hope mused.

-X-

Meanwhile, Amy was looking around. Eventually, she heard a scrubbing sound, along with Mina humming the anti-Eggman chant.

"Mina?" she called out. "Mina!"

"Amy!" Mina got up, groaning slightly. "Man, I have been on my hands and knees for far too long…"

Amy ran over to her. "Sonic finally made it. We're getting outta here."

She looked at the chains, wincing.

"Sorry, I don't know if I can break them," she said.

"I'll be fine." Mina assured before perking. "Hang on. Your hammer."

Amy blinked, then slapped her forehead and held out her hand, the Piko Piko Hammer appearing. She swung down, smashing the chain.

"Thanks," Mina tilted her head quizzically. "Question, why not do that earlier?"

"Because my friends were threatened," Amy said matter-of-factly. "But with Sonic here, I got nothing to fear."

-X-

Elsewhere, Sonic and Bunnie had found another lab door, this one reading "Cybernik R&D." He busted down the door, seeing Shortfuse strapped to a table.

"Sonic," the Cybernik greeted. "Where the hell have you been?"

"Chasing after the Death Egg," Sonic replied. "Enduring blistering winds, scorching deserts. Or as we call it, Tuesday."

"Right," Shortfuse nodded. "Oh, Snively's hiding in that closet over there."

He gestured to a closet off to the side.

"Nice," Sonic noted. "Leave him be."

With that, Sonic looked for a switch, trying to find a way to open Shortfuse's bonds, but found nothing.

"Damn it! I can't find the release switch, Shorty."

"Alright, stand back," Shortfuse ordered. "Let's see what I'm made of."

Sonic did so, and Shorty snapped the bands like they were twigs. He got up, pulling off the remains.

"I have been wanting to do that for the past week." he declared.

Sonic blinked. "You mean to tell me you could've gotten loose at any time?"

"But then Eggman would've taken it out on the others." Shortfuse pointed out.

Sonic nodded solemnly. "Yeah, that sounds like him."

They hurried out of the lab just as the others ran up.

"Sonic!" Tails exclaimed. "I never doubted for a minute you'd find us!"

Sonic just grinned. "Well, if you can't count on a friend to save your butt when a mad scientist has you prisoner on his big space station of doom, what kind of friend are they?"

"How'd you get up here?" Rotor asked.

"Yeah, about that…" Sonic rubbed the back of his neck. "I… kinda had to plow the Tornado through the hangar doors to get in here. Sorry, Tails."

Tails shrugged. "Small price to pay for freedom. We can always repair it, or build a new one."

"Hey, focus," Knuckles cut in. "We're still down three people."

"Right." Sonic snapped to attention. "Where are Antoine and Johnny?"

"Eggman's throne room," Chris answered. "He's been keeping Johnny close by as his personal butler."

"And Antoine?" Sonic asked.

"Don't know," Bunnie replied. "We haven't seen him.

"Yeah, they made sure we didn't know what was going on with the others outside of our group." Porker added.

"Well, let's go get 'em," Sonic declared. "Time to scramble some Eggman."

They made for the throne room, kicking the door down. Antoine and Johnny jumped, seeing them arrive.

"The cavalry's finally here!" Johnny declared.

Sonic stopped short, looking over Antoine's attire and fighting back laughter and tears.

"Ant…" he let out. "That hat, and the costume…"

"Nailed it, I know," Antoine said flatly. "Thank you. Moving on."

He ripped off the hat as Knuckles and Kat came over, snapping the chains.

"Hey Knux, check the display case on the side." Johnny informed him.

Knuckles did so, grinning to see his hat resting there unharmed. He smashed the glass, grabbing the hat and putting on.

"Just one more for a full set," Amy noted. "Where's Eggman?"

"He didn't tell us where he went," Antoine replied. "Just tethered us and vanished."

"Well, if history has told us anything, and he knows Sonic's staging a breakout, he's probably preparing his next big mech right about…" Rotor began.

The area began to rumble. They hurried to the core of the Death Egg, seeing it tethered to the Little Planet within by numerous chains. Robotnik began floating down, piloting a bizarre medical contraption resembling a human heart, half blue, half red. It rested in the center of four ring-shaped barriers that occasionally sparked with electricity.

"Sonic, my old nemesis!" he greeted. "Welcome to the heart of the Death Egg Mark II!"

He chuckled, while everyone else just rolled their eyes or looked annoyed.

"Not funny, Eggman," Sonic growled. "I'm done with jokes. I'm done with your games. Give me Sally, and maybe I'll let you live."

Everyone looked at him in shock, including Robotnik, who cleared his throat and composed himself.

"Empty threats, Sonic," he claimed. "I know you lack a killer instinct."

"I'm not feeling myself right now." Sonic retorted, his voice deadly calm.

"Then allow me to refresh your memory!"

He fired on the group, all of them scattering. Sonic scowled before smirking.

"Guess what time it is, Egghead!" he taunted.

The Chaos Emeralds floated around Sonic, and Robotnik gasped.

"No, not that!" he screamed.

"Yes! THAT!"

The yellow light engulfed Sonic as he grinned. "Time to cut out this monster's heart."

He darted forward, smashing through the Egg Heart's electric rings before landing right before it, grabbing Robotnik by the collar.

"Now you listen to me, you fat lard!" he ranted. "I've been stranded in the Special Zone, ran through the creepy Sylvania Castle, fought through a freezing-cold amusement park, got caught in a sandstorm, fought a giant pile of scrap metal, engaged in a dogfight with Metal Sonic, and despite it all, I still made it to the Death Egg to save my friends! So if you don't let Sally go before I count to ten, I WILL DO SOMETHING NOT NICE!"

-X-

Meanwhile, Snively came running into Eggatha's lab.

"Snively!" Eggatha exclaimed from the cage.

"What the-?" Snively sighed before unlocking the cage. "Grab what you can and let's bolt."

"What's going on?" Eggatha asked.

"Super Sonic's on the warpath!" Snively snapped. "We have to get the hell out of here!"

"Uh-oh…" Eggatha let out. "Help me grab my stuff!"

"I don't have time!" Snively shot back.

"If you don't, I'll tell Uncle Robotnik you're the one who encouraged the Eggbots not to taser the prisoners for singing!" Eggatha threatened.

Snively winced, sighing. "Fine. Don't say I never did anything for you.

Eggatha smiled innocently. "Thank you."

-X-

Meanwhile, Sonic still had Robotnik by the collar.

"N-now now, Sonic," the mad doctor stammered. "There's no need for this!"

He gagged as Sonic grabbed him by the throat.

"One… Two…" He tightened his grip. "TEN!"

He squeezed so hard that, much to everyone else's horror, Robotnik's head popped right off his shoulders. The only thing that kept them from going off on him was the fact that the now severed head began sparking.

"Another Eggbot?!" Sonic shrieked. "Eggman! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

The screens turn on, forming a massive image of Robotnik.

"Getting away with my consolation prize, of course." he gloated, stepping aside to reveal Sally's capsule on the Egg Mobile.

"You are a miserable creep, Robotnik!" Sally spat.

Robotnik grinned. "Why thank you, Princess."

"Let her go, Eggman!" Sonic demanded.

"Sorry, Sonic." Robotnik shrugged. "But take heart: she will live. But I can't say the same for the rest of you. Activate self-destruct program!"

A countdown began as Robotnik laughed. "With Sally in my clutches, King Max will do anything I say!"

He boarded the Egg Mobile, beginning to fly away. Sonic ran forward, looking at Sally as they went.

"Hang in there a bit longer, Sal!" he yelled. "No matter how long it takes, I WILL FIND YOU!"

"We need to free the Little Planet and get off this thing!" Knuckles shouted.

"Right…" Sonic took a breath. "I'll handle the tethers! Get to the escape pods! If I'm not back in time, go without me!"

"What?!" Tails shrieked, but Sonic was already charging at the tethers.

"You heard him!" Amy called. "Let's go!"

"We can't leave him!" Tails objected.

"And we're not!" Amy retorted. "We're preparing for when he gets back! Now let's go!"

They hurried to the escape pods as Sonic sliced through the chains, removing segments of the Death Egg Mark II from the Little Planet bit by bit. Once the pieces were off, the planet shimmered, disappearing back into the Special Zone. Sonic then flew as fast as he could towards the pods. He stopped short, seeing everyone standing there.

"What are you just standing around for?!" he demanded. "Let's move, people!"

They nodded, rushing for the pods and launching themselves. They looked out the windows, seeing the Death Egg pieces exploding.

"We made it…" Mina sighed.

"We all made it." Kat pointed out.

"Not all of us," Sonic said, clenching his fists. "The minute we land, we're storming Robotropolis. We're saving Sally if we have to tear Eggman's city apart with our bare hands to do it."

"Damn right, we will." Knuckles agreed.

Author's Note:

Well, Robotnik got away with Sally, but are the Freedom Fighters gonna take this lying down? Hell no!

Please R&R. Until next time!