-Chapter 82-

Recycled Traps

Rusty Ruin Zone

After clearing the Green Grove Zone, the Freedom Fighters headed into a set of dark and gloomy ancient ruins, parts of it drenched with fog and rain.

"How do we go from 'happy and cheerful green paradise' to 'rainy and dreary ruins' in the blink of an eye?" Sonic questioned.

"Honestly?" Tails asked. "Nature is just weird."

"Just stay on your guard," Knuckles warned.

They crept along carefully, looking around.

"These must be the ruins of Atlantium," Amy deduced.

Sonic, Tails, and Sally looked around, noticing something familiar about the Roman-esque buildings and structures around them.

"Now where have we seen this architecture before…" Tails pondered.

Sally snapped her fingers. "It's almost identical to the Aquatic Ruins back on Westside Island."

"I'd say it's more like Hydrocity on Angel Island," Knuckles replied. "But then again, I've never been on Westside Island, aside from the Chemical Plant."

"Huh," Tails mused. "Now that you mention it, the resemblance is uncanny."

"So three different islands have identical ancient ruin styles," Amy remarked. "Think it's just a coincidence?"

"I believe in coincidences, Amy," Sonic said. "They happen every day. But I don't trust coincidences."

"Well, if there's one thing I know from diving in Hydro City, it's that we need to watch our step." Knuckles warned. "This place could be swarming with-"

There was a loud crash.

"-booby traps," Knuckles finished.

A small squadron of bizarre figures emerged, facing them. The Freedom Fighter quintet found themselves confronted by a group of ancient stone-like robots, closely resembling Roman centurions with mohawked helmets and Roman-esque armor and skirts. All of them wielded a variety of weapons, most commonly scythe-like staffs that glowed with energy at the tips.

"Those don't look like Badniks…" Amy said nervously.

"They're way too old," Sally pointed out. "They must be sentinels that came with the island."

"Ten chili dogs says Eggman cleaned them up," Sonic theorized.

The lead Sentinel pointed at them threateningly.

"You are trespassing on the city of the ancient ones," it warned. "Leave now or pay the price."

"Ancient ones?" Knuckles repeated. "What, like the Ancients?"

"I doubt it," Sonic replied. "Doesn't look like any Ancient crap I've ever seen. Less sophisticated, more brutal."

Seeing they wouldn't leave, the lead Sentinel pointed its staff at them, firing a burst of energy that they quickly scrambled to dodge.

"Ancient tech or not, these things pack a punch!" Amy exclaimed.

"We need to take these things down, now!" Sally insisted.

They quickly sprang into action, fighting off the Sentinels and managing to destroy several pretty handily.

"Definitely not Ancient tech!" Sonic declared as he kicked one back. "They'd be harder to take down. These rockheads aren't much tougher than a garden variety Badnik!"

"Yeah," Knuckles agreed. "Think that could be because of Eggman's tampering? Or age?"

"I think a bit of both," Tails piped up as he examined one of the Sentinels' remains. "Fascinating."

"What have you got?" Amy asked.

"I'm not sure, but Sonic was right," Tails replied. "This isn't Ancient tech. It's something else entirely."

"What other ancient culture on Mobius is capable of making technology like this?" Sally asked.

"There isn't one," Tails said simply. "Something tells me these things aren't from Mobius…"

Before they could muse it over further, they heard a crackling sound, and looked to see a statue that had seemingly come to life, slowly breaking free from the wall it was encased in. As the wall crumbled, it rose to its full height, standing as high as a Death Egg Robot, if not a bit bigger.

"Oh, boy…" Sonic let out. "That is a very big robot."

The giant Sentinel began stomping after them, smashing through everything in its way.

"We have to stop that thing!" Amy shouted.

"We're barely bigger than its little finger!" Sally pointed out. "How can we stop it?!"

"I've got an idea!" Sonic exclaimed. "Tails, Knuckles, follow my lead!"

He ran around the giant Sentinel at full speed, whipping up a Blue Tornado that grew progressively larger and larger until Tails and Knuckles were drawn in, floating around and attacking the massive stone bot with each pass. Knuckles smashed his fists into every joint and crack he saw, Tails whipping his titular appendages in a similar manner.

"C'mon, Sally!" Amy shouted. "We have to help!"

The two girls rushed forward, attacking the legs to try and topple the behemoth. At the peak of the Blue Tornado's size, Sonic jumped into the whirlwind himself, letting it carry him up to the Sentinel's head before landing a slew of Homing Attacks, knocking it back. While still functioning, the Sentinel was visibly damaged, with chipped armor all over and a missing chest panel, exposing the mechanisms inside its torso.

"Tails, get me inside that hole!" Sonic ordered. "I'll take it down from the inside!"

"You got it!"

Tails grabbed Sonic by the arms, flying into the air and giving Sonic a toss at the hole. However, the Sentinel raised his hand, flicking him away. Sonic hit the ground rolling, shaking his head.

"Oh, good," he deadpanned. "For a second there, I thought this was gonna be too easy."

About that time, they heard the sounds of several Flickies chirping. Suddenly, dozens of the colorful birds came flying out of the bushes and trees, right at the Sentinel's face. The Sentinel swiped at the birds, trying to bat them away, which gave Sonic and Tails the opening they needed.

"We're so giving those birds a pound of birdseed. Each," Sonic declared.

Tails grabbed Sonic, flinging him into the hole. At lightning speed, Sonic ripped out the mechanical parts inside the robot's body, coating the ground with nuts, bolts, and circuitry. Before long, the Sentinel seized up and topped over backwards, crashing down on the ground. Sonic hopped out of the hole, clapping his hands together and grinning.

"Now that was fun," he gloated.

Knuckles raised an eyebrow. "Nearly getting killed by a giant robot is your idea of fun?"

"What can I say, Knux?" Sonic said with a shrug. "I'm a thrill-seeker. I like to get wrapped up in as many crazy adventures as I can. And if I help people along the way, then that's even better. It's a win-win scenario."

The Flickies flew down, surrounding the quintet and chirping happily.

"Yes, yes, you were a big help," Amy assured them. "Thank you so much."

Some more flew in, carrying the blue Chaos Emerald in their little feet.

"Oh, they found another one!" Tails exclaimed.

Sonic took it, grinning. "Make that two pounds of birdseed each. You birds are the best."

A few Flickies blushed.

Sonic pocketed the Emerald. "C'mon. Let's go on to the next Zone and see what kind of trouble we can get into."

As they went along, Knuckles turned to Sally.

"He really enjoys stuff like this, huh?"

"Sonic's always been one for thrills," Sally explained. "Saving people, fighting bad guys... he enjoys doing good and having a good scrap here and there." She looked over how much Sonic's mood had improved. "And it looks like he really needed to blow off some steam."

"Guess so," Knuckles allowed. "And if this was any indication, he's gonna have plenty of opportunities to do so before the mission is over."

Panic Puppet Zone

In Robotnik's lab, the good doctor was seated before the giant Ring they found the Flickies emerging from, wearing a fishing hat with his name on it as he loaded a hi-tech fishing rod-esque device into it. With that, he kicked back, popping a can of Chao Cola while he waited for a bite as Grimer set up small capsules for any Flicky captures.

"Never thought I'd be enjoying a peaceful fishing trip," he mused.

As he waited, Snively opened the door, walking in.

"Terrible news from the Rusty Ruin Zone, sir," he reported.

"Let me guess," Robotnik deadpanned. "Sonic destroyed the ancient Sentinels I went through all the trouble of refurbishing."

"Unfortunately, yes," Snively confirmed. "The Flickies appear to be aiding him in his endeavors."

Robotnik sighed. "Why am I not surprised?"

Before he could explode with rage, he felt a tug on his rod and snapped back to attention.

"I've got one!"

Robotnik focused, reeling with all his might, and before long, the line emerged from the ring, a red Flicky trapped in the crane-like claw on the end. The Flicky chirped, trying desperately to get out of the claw as Robotnik held it up to eye level.

"Hello, little one," Robotnik greeted as he picked up a capsule, placing the Flicky inside and snapping it shut before handing it to Snively. "Another for Badnik processing."

"Right away, sir," Grimer assured.

"But what about Sonic?" Snively asked.

"Once he gets out of the ruins, he'll have to get through the Spring Stadium," Robotnik answered. "And he'll have one killer time."

He chuckled before dismissing them with a wave. "Now leave me. I have Flicky fishing to take care of."

The two departed at that as Robotnik kicked back once more, ready to catch more of the helpless birds.

Author's Note:

Well, things are getting complicated, aren't they? What are the Sentinels, and where'd they come from? Stay tuned…

BTW, the Sentinels are from Sonic the Comic.

Please R&R. Until next time!