-Chapter 85-
The Color Sonic
Gene Gadget Zone
In the lab, Robotnik, Snively, and Grimer looked at the monitors, stiffening to see that Sonic and the others were approaching,
"Sonic!" Snively exclaimed. "He's here already?!"
"The perfect specimen still isn't ready!" Grimer objected.
"Then get off your butts and get him ready," Robotnik snapped. "I'll deal with Sonic and his friends. Hopefully, it'll buy you the time you need."
"We'll work posthaste," Grimer decided.
Around that time, Sonic and his friends entered the facility, looking around. The area seemed to be a power plant for the base, featuring many mechanical gadgets including tubes, electrical conduits, cables, fuses, and round flasks containing an unknown yellow liquid.
"What is this place?" Amy asked.
"According to the sign, the Gene Gadget Zone," Tails looked around at the various machines. "Machines related to biology, anatomy, genome analysis… It looks like a genetics facility."
"Genetics?" Knuckles questioned. "I thought Eggman was just a robot guy."
"Guess he's branching out his evil," Sonic mused.
"Yeah, and that's not a good thing," Sally pointed out. "Aurora knows what kind of horrible creature he's growing here."
Suddenly, Amy screamed, getting everyone to jump.
"What is it?!" Tails demanded.
They turned to see that Amy had looked into one of the tubes. Inside was a lookalike of Sonic, but with messier fur, smaller non-conjoined eyes, humanlike teeth, and bare white hands (1).
"Okay…" Sonic winced. "That's just wrong."
"The design, or the fact that Eggman's cloning you?" Knuckles questioned.
"Yes," Sonic said bluntly. "Just… yes."
They went further into the lab, seeing different Sonic clones in tanks, each having different degrees of deformity and no signs of life. There was one that looked like the personification of a child's drawing of Sonic (2).
"Oh, this is seven kinds of creepy…" Amy let out.
"Yeah," Sonic agreed. "As if shoddy robot knockoffs of me weren't bad enough."
"Where did he even get the DNA for this?" Tails pondered.
"A quill, maybe?" Sally offered.
Tails shook his head. "No. Eggman would need his blood."
"Why that specifically?" Knuckles asked.
"Blood contains the most secure samples of a person's DNA," Tails explained. "He wouldn't be able to make all these, let alone biologically viable ones, with just a quill."
That got him odd looks.
"What?" Tails defended. "I'm a scientist too, remember?"
"You scare me sometimes, Tails," Sally remarked.
"Question," Sonic perked up. "Where did Eggman get my blood?"
"All the times you've fought him and you never suffered a cut or anything?" Knuckles questioned.
"No, I've always been careful, too fast to catch. The only time I've ever bled was-"
He trailed off as it hit him.
"When Kat beat you to a pulp at Mushroom Hill," Tails realized.
Everyone let that sink in, waves of horror washing over them.
"Oh man…" Knuckles let out.
"Yes, indeed!" Robotnik's voice declared, causing everyone to turn and see him exit the lab up ahead. "Her escape from the Death Egg that day... who would think it'd be the best thing to ever happen to me?"
"You sick, twisted bastard!" Knuckles ranted. "Just when I thought you couldn't sink any lower! First you take Sonic's uncle from him, and now you steal pieces off his soul?!"
"Oh please, Knuckles," Robotnik scoffed. "Keep your silly spiritual beliefs in Angel Island preschool where they belong."
"I don't care where you got the blood, since it's clear you failed," Sonic shot back.
"Yeah," Tails agreed. "Can it really be the 'best thing' that happened to you when every clone you've made is a dead, deformed mess?"
"From what little of my grandfather's notes I managed to retain, I believe I've done quite well," Robotnik retorted. "And I've been getting better as I go along. Want to see?"
He went back into the lab at that. The five exchanged looks before following after him. Once they entered, Robotnik displayed the six tanks from before. They cleared up, revealing six clones of Sonic that were practically the spitting image of him, except each having different fur colors. Red, yellow, purple, green, orange, pink... basically every color except blue.
"The fur may be off, but they're fully stable, unlike the mutants you saw out there," Robotnik gloated. "A perfect way to beat you at your own game, Sonic!"
"Like Metal Sonic keeps trying and failing to do?" Sonic said flippantly.
"Indeed," Robotnik replied bluntly. "I believe the correct term is 'fighting fire with fire'."
"When'd you decide that?" Sonic questioned. "Last time you were on fire?"
Robotnik gave him a dirty look at that.
"And why is it none of them are blue?" Tails questioned. "Could you just not manage it?"
"What do you want from me?!" Robotnik snapped. "I did what I could with the research notes I had! When was the last time you made a fully biological clone of someone, fox boy?!"
"I don't want to," Tails shot back. "Because what you've done here is a crime against nature!"
"Says the mutant with two tails," Robotnik quipped. "Anyway, I'd say it's time to take the Sonic Rangers out for a test drive."
He held up a button, preparing to press it.
"...Sonic Rangers?" Amy repeated.
"Eggatha's idea," Robotnik clarified. "Based on the teens who wear multi-colored tights in those Sentai Rangers shows Breeze Media likes to make."
"Why do we care?" Knuckles demanded. "And what's stopping us from smashing the vitrine (3) machines?"
Robotnik smirked before pressing the button. One by one, the clones' eyes snapped open, revealing their eye colors matched their fur.
"That," he declared proudly.
"...Shit," Knuckles let out.
"My sentiments exactly," Sonic agreed.
One by one, the clones smashed out of their tanks, facing Sonic. The red one, apparently the leader, smirked.
"Hello… brother," he greeted.
"Hello, Red," Sonic replied. "I don't suppose you'll just stand down?"
"Of course," Red answered before scoffing. "NOT!"
The clones attacked, forcing Sonic on the defensive. As this happened, Sally looked up at Robotnik.
"You're delusional if you think this'll work, Eggman!" she declared. "Metal Sonic should've proven to you that no copy can live up to the original!"
"These 'copies' are the genuine article," Robotnik retorted. "Flesh, blood, everything! They're as much hedgehogs as Sonic himself! They share his speed, his intelligence, everything! And there are six of them!"
He watched with glee as the clones landed several good hits on Sonic, soon forcing him on the run when he proved unable to take all six of them at once. Before long, the doctor was munching on popcorn as he kicked back.
"The suspense is terrible," he declared with a smirk. "I hope it'll last."
However, that's when things started going sideways for the clones. The ground began to shake, causing Eggman and Sonic to turn, seeing Knuckles and Amy smashing the ground.
"They may be designed to fight and handle Sonic, but let's see what they've got against us!" Knuckles shouted.
"Do it!" Amy cried out.
Sally came running in, sliding along the ground and slashing at the Power Sneakers on the clones. As the ground crumbled, several clones lost their footing. Sonic immediately seized the opportunity and went on the attack. Tails swooped in, grabbing some of the clones and throwing them into the machines. By the end, the clones were laid out flat and unconscious, and Robotnik was left dumbfounded.
"H-how did you-?" he let out.
"We've seen what an out of control Sonic can do, and it nearly cost us," Sally informed him. "So, we came up with a plan to ensure that if it ever happened again, we'd be ready."
"Is that so?" Robotnik smirked. "I wonder, Sonic, how does it make you feel, knowing your closest friends have devised ways to defeat and imprison you?"
"Who do you think told them to do it in the first place, Egghead?" Sonic shot back, much to Robotnik's shock. "I hurt one of my friends. I don't want that to happen again. That's why I told them to stop me. Not that you would understand, since you don't have any friends."
"Who needs friends when you have an army of robots to do your bidding?" Robotnik snapped. "Machines do what they're told! They follow their programming! They don't need time off to get drunk and put the boat in the water!"
Just then, Grimer came running out of a different lab.
"It's done!"
Robotnik smirked. "Just in time. Prepare to meet your match, Sonic! My perfect clone!"
A blur ran out at that, standing before Sonic. This one had a round head and an equally round torso. He had blue fur, although in a slightly lighter shade than Sonic's, that covered most of his body, peach skin that covers his arms, muzzle and torso, and black eyes. He had six quills on his head, which were shorter than Sonic's, two spines protruding from his back, and a short tail. When he blinked, his eyelids were the same peach color as his arms and belly.
"Perfect, huh?" Sonic snorted.
Robotnik gritted his teeth. "Grimer, you and Snively said it was the perfect clone! You lied!"
"It was the closest we could manage!" Snively called out from the other room. "At least we got the color right!"
"So, we have a tiny Sonic on our hands," Sonic remarked, cracking his knuckles and neck.
"Hey! Size doesn't matter!" Tiny Sonic snapped.
Amy snorted. "He even sounds tiny! Like a little kid!"
Tiny scowled before charging at Amy, slamming into her gut with a Spin Dash and plowing her into the wall.
"Still think it's funny, Pinky?!"
"Okay, that's it!" Sonic snapped. "No one hurts my friend! You need a time out, buddy!"
They clashed, seeming an equal match. Sonic looked around at the lab equipment as they grappled, and got an idea. He and Tiny started violently clashing and throwing each other around. Each time, they ended up smashing up part of the laboratory. It didn't take long for Robotnik to realize what was going on.
"No!" he shrieked. "My lab!"
"You're not making any more mes, Eggman!" Sonic declared.
He tossed Tiny into the main console at that. It sparked, dislodging the Chaos Emerald inside, which Sonic quickly snatched up. Robotnik took the opportunity to make an exit as Sonic approached Tiny.
"Fine," Tiny said, resigned. "You win, I lose. You're the better Sonic. So spare me the big hero speech and just finish me off."
"Hmmm…" Sonic pocketed the Emerald. "No."
That threw Tiny for a loop.
"What?" he demanded. "Why not? Am I not worth it?"
"Not that," Sonic clarified. "It's because you're not a Badnik. Regardless of how you were born, you and your bros are just as much living things as me. Clones are people too, y'know."
Tiny was left completely confused. "I… don't get you."
"You're made from my DNA," Sonic reminded him. "Maybe in time, you will."
Tiny pulled himself up, rousing the other clones and directing them to depart.
"This isn't the end of it, Sonic," he swore. "Your compassion will be the end of you."
And with that, he took off himself.
"No," Sonic said. "It's what'll save me."
"We're seriously just letting them go?" Knuckles questioned.
"Sonic's right," Sally insisted. "They're basically him. They're organic life forms like you and me, Knuckles. In time, maybe they'll realize they don't have to follow Robotnik."
"Sure," Knuckles said sarcastically. "And maybe Sonic will stop scarfing chili dogs."
"Have some faith," Sonic told him.
Tails emerged at that. "I found the blood sample. Amy, will you smash the rest of the equipment?"
"On it." Amy replied.
She started taking her hammer to the rest of the gear, as Tails came over, holding up a tube filled with blood marked with the words "S.T.H. Sample", along with Robotnik's insignia. He went over to a Bunsen burner, turning it on. He dropped several papers in, making the fire larger, before tossing the vial into the blaze.
"Well, that's that," Sonic declared. "One more Emerald to go, and we can chase Eggman off Flicky Island."
Panic Puppet Zone
They went further into the base, soon coming across a massive military/industrial complex bristling with conveyor belts, turrets, and trapdoors. All around were Flickies in capsules rather than Badniks. Sonic looked, seeing a sign reading "Panic Puppet Zone".
"Panic Puppet?" Sonic read, "Wow. And I thought Scrap Brain was a cheesy name for a base."
"What are we gonna find here, demented Muppets?" Knuckles questioned.
"I don't think so," Amy insisted, pointing at the capsules. "Look at the Flickies. Seems like Eggman hasn't had time to load them into Badniks yet."
"He seemed pretty focused on the clones," Sally admitted."
"Makes our job easier," Sonic said.
He darted around, popping open the containers and freeing the Flickies. They all began flying around the group, landing on them and nuzzling them.
"Do you guys know where the last Emerald is?" Amy asked.
They tweeted for a bit, before flying away, gesturing for them to follow. With a gesture from Sally, they did just that. They soon arrived in Robotnik's throne room, seeing him leading a fishing line of some sort into a giant ring.
"Ah, Sonic!" he greeted. "You're just in time to witness something interesting. The secret of Flicky Island!"
After a bit, he withdrew the line, revealing a Flicky on the end.
"W-what is this?" Tails demanded.
"All over Mobius, people have wondered where the unique breeds of Flicky go to," Robotnik remarked. "Why we only ever see them on this island during the Great Migration every year. Well, I found out. The rarer Flickies hail from a different dimension entirely. A Flicky Zone, if you will."
"Another Zone?" Sally asked.
"A pocket Zone," Knuckles clarified.
"Precisely," Robotnik said. "You've seen how much stronger they've made my Badniks. And now, they will power my latest weapon of destruction!"
He pressed a button, and his throne slid back, a panel opening up to reveal a gray, egg-shaped mech about twice Robotnik's own size, containing a cannon in its chestplate and extendable arms with hand-like manipulators.
"Behold, the Egg Shell!" Robotnik sauntered over and opened the panel, revealing a capsule filled with numerous chirping Flickies. The doctor placed the last one inside before closing it and climbing into the cockpit. "Powered by two hundred Flickies in total, it's invincible! So I'd say it's been nice knowing you, Sonic... but that would be a lie."
"It's over, Eggman!" Sonic declared. "I'm getting those Flickies out and chasing you off the island!"
The Egg Shell fired a laser from its chest, which they all scrambled to dodge.
"I think this is one of those 'easier said than done' instances!" Tails exclaimed.
"I'll keep him busy!" Sonic declared. "You find the last Emerald!"
Everyone nodded, scrambling to move. Sonic faced off against the Egg Shell, doing what he could to fend off its powerful attacks. The others looked around, before one of the freed Flickies flew up, gesturing to the machine Robotnik's Flicky rod was attached to.
"In there!" Amy cried. "That's where it is!"
"I'm on it!" Sally said. "Knuckles, watch my back!"
Knuckles nodded, running after her as she hurried to the machine. Protruding her Ring-Blades, she hacked and slashed the machine apart until she found the gray Chaos Emerald inside. She ripped it out at that.
"Sonic!" she yelled. "Catch!"
She tossed it to Sonic, who caught it skillfully.
"It's Super Sonic time, Eggman!" the hedgehog boasted. "Get ready to-"
Before he could finish, the giant ring began sparking and glowing.
"Hey, what's going on?!" Tails exclaimed.
A bright light flashed from the ring, forcing everyone to cover their eyes as a mysterious figure stepped through. When the light cleared, they saw a large fishlike being, one that was wearing technological armor of various shades of green. The only visible part of his skin was a bluish face that was crinkled into an expression of rage, superiority, and a lust for conquest. In his hand was a hi-tech staff.
"What… who…?!" Sally managed.
"I am Prosecutor Davros!" the fish-man declared. "I come here in the name of the great eternal Drakon Empire! Speak. Which one of you has unlocked the secret of the Mobius Ring? All of you remain motionless, or face the consequences!"
Instead, Sonic took advantage of the distraction to land a powerful Spin Dash, knocking the Egg Shell into the wall.
"You cheap-shotting little-!" Robotnik began.
"SILENCE!" Davros roared. "You will remain motionless, hedgehog. That was not a request!"
"What're you gonna do?" Sonic taunted. "Shoot me with that gizmo? I'm too fast for ya, pal!"
"I do not need to hit you, Mobian," Davros replied. "All I need to do is increase the gravitational field in the room... like this!"
He waved the staff in his hand, and suddenly, Sonic, his friends, and Robotnik's device were all slammed into the ground. Struggling against the gravity, Knuckles looked up, seeing something familiar about the Drakon's face.
"No way…" he let out. "I know you. You're the men from the stars."
"Indeed," Davros confirmed. "And now, I have returned to reclaim what is rightfully mine!"
Author's Note:
(1): Yes, Sonic's horrific design from the first trailer of the movie.
(2): A reference to the Sanic meme.
(3): A glass-paneled cabinet or case, especially for displaying articles such as china or fine merchandise.
Well, this just took a major twist, didn't it?
The multi-colored Sonic clones, and the final Classic Sonic-styled one, are all taken from an issue of the Archie Sonic X comic. The Drakon Empire is from Sonic the Comic. And yes, Davros' name is taken from the villain in Doctor Who.
Tune in next chapter to find out more about the Drakons, and what's going on here.
Voice cast for this chapter:
* Tiny Sonic - Jaleel White
* Davros - Khary Payton (Cyborg from Teen Titans, Aqualad and Black Manta from Young Justice, Azrael from Batman: Arkham)
Please R&R. Until next time!