-Chapter 91-

Riddle Me This

Misty Peaks

Robotnik stood before his latest creation, grinning widely at the sight.

"Sonic and his accursed friends are headed for the desert," he told it. "I want you to intercept them before they get any closer. You'll know what to do when you get there."

The robot bowed before departing, and Robotnik rubbed his hands together with a sadistic smirk.

"Sonic won't know what hit him," he gloated.

Red Sands Zone

Sonic and his friends left the Jade Gully behind, soon coming across a desert consisting of dark red sand.

"Ah, the desert," Sonic sighed. "By far one of my favorite zones."

"Is that because of the lack of water?" Rotor asked.

"Well, that and it's a perfect opportunity for sandboarding."

Tails shuddered.

"I just hope there aren't any Heat Seekers out here," Kat feared.

"Heat Seekers?" Keith questioned.

"Massive sandworms," Kat explained. "They're quite populous in Sandopolis."

"Good thing we didn't run into them there." Tails said meekly.

"Yeah," Sonic agreed. "No need to worry. There's no sign of sandworms here."

"Oh, no?" Hope pointed. Sure enough, up ahead was a picket sign that read "Beware of Sandworms". Chris and Tails gulped.

"I hate the desert…" the latter let out.

"Relax," Kat assured. "Worms are blind, so they hunt by vibration. So, to avoid them, we just need to walk slowly."

"That means no running, Sonic," Longclaw pointed out.

"Why not just chop my legs off while you're at it?" Sonic asked, not pleased with the concept.

"Would you rather be eaten by sandworms?" Tekno shot back.

"Like they'd be able to catch me," Sonic scoffed.

"And what about the rest of us?" Porker pointed out. "Why don't you ever think ahead? Use your brain?"

Sonic shrugged. "It gives me a headache."

Longclaw sighed. "Let us be off. The sooner we reach our destination, the better."

They went along, walking slowly and carefully. It wasn't long, however, before they began to feel the heat. The kids shed as many layers as decency allowed. The others did the same, cursing the heat.

"Let it never be said I didn't suffer for my occupation…" Rotor grumbled.

"Do you see anything?" Longclaw asked.

"Yeah," said Tails. "Sand. Rocks. Sand. A cactus here and there. And some more sand."

"I'm half afraid of seeing a mirage in this heat," Hope piped up.

"You'd have to be pretty low to the ground for that to work," Chris pointed out. "And even then, it's not like in the cartoons where you hallucinate."

Sonic had a hand over his eyes, looking ahead before seeing a structure.

"I got something!" he reported. "Some kinda structure up ahead."

"Shelter!" Hope cried. "We can get out of this heat!"

They approached the building as quickly as they dared, soon seeing it was a pyramid.

"A pyramid," Chris remarked. "Can't say I'm surprised."

"The last pyramid we entered had a rather intimidating guardian that almost killed us," Tails recalled.

"Angel Island?" Rotor asked, getting a nod.

"Your island is dangerous," Keith said to Kat.

Kat shrugged. "It's home."

"With our luck, there'll probably be another freaky guardian," Tails mused. "Or ghosts inside. Or some kinda death trap."

"I think you've been hanging around Sticks too long," Hope said. "Her paranoia is contagious, it seems."

"It would be paranoia, if we hadn't actually encountered everything he just listed," Sonic pointed out. "Watch your step. Be ready for anything."

The second the last of them stepped into the cool interior of the pyramid, the doors slammed shut behind them, effectively trapping them. Sonic spun back, testing it. He tried prying the door open, before pushing, then running back and kicking it with all his might. Through it all, the door held solidly.

"Well, I've done all I can do," he remarked.

"There's a light deeper inside the pyramid," Tekno pointed out, gesturing with her hand. "We follow that, we'll probably find a way out."

"Proceed with caution," Longclaw advised.

They all continued their slow pace, making their way deeper into the pyramid. As they entered the massive center chamber, they found themselves in what appeared to be a throne room. The ground was a beautiful mosaic of tiles in a spiral pattern. Sitting on the large throne that dominated the back wall was a large golem, one that wore traditional Efrikan pharaoh garbs. It easily towered over even Longclaw, eyes glowing a burnt ember color.

"Anyone else feel a cold draft of paralyzing fear from that thing?" Porker asked nervously.

The golem turned to face them, drawn to the sound of Porker's voice.

"I am the Sphinx of the Red Sand Pyramid," it said. "If you wish to pass through my domain, you must answer these riddles three."

"Riddles?" Sonic sighed. "Oh, boy."

"Riddles, I can do," Tails declared. "Lay it on us."

The Sphinx's eyes glowed. His voice deepened and he began the first riddle.

"When brightest, it's darkest. When darkest, it's gone. When gone forever, so are you. What is it?"

"Ugh…" Sonic held his head. "Maybe… the sun?"

The Sphinx's eyes flashed red. The entire pyramid shook and the spiral pattern on the ground opened up.

"I'm… guessing that was a wrong answer," Sonic said meekly.

"Ya think?!" Tails shouted.

"Help!" Tekno screamed.

She was clinging to the edge of the opening spiral, having been standing in the center and had lost her footing. But her handhold was disappearing fast. Before they could do anything, the handhold vanished and Tekno fell into the pit with a scream, her eyes closed as she awaited her impending doom... before they snapped open and she stopped screaming.

"Oh, wait. I can fly."

She started flapping her arms, her descent slowing before she rose out of the pit. She landed on the edge, her beak a deep crimson.

"That was embarrassing," she sighed.

"Answer my riddle, but beware," the Sphinx warned. "Your next failure may not be so forgiving."

"Sonic, maybe you should let us handle this," Tails suggested.

Sonic crossed his arms in a huff, plopping onto the ground. "Can't run, can't do riddles… I hate the desert."

With that, the Brain Trust members got to hashing out the riddle.

"Okay, let's hash this out," said Tails.

"When brightest, it's darkest…" Chris repeated.

"When darkest, it's gone…" Keith added.

"When gone forever, so are you," Rotor concluded.

"Let's think…" said Hope. "It's something that is dark in bright lights, but vanishes in darkness itself."

"And when it's gone... so are you…" Porker snapped his fingers. "You are my shadow!"

The Sphinx's eyes flashed green. "Correct."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"One down, two to go," Kat noted.

"Your next riddle is this: I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?"

They thought it over, some of them pacing.

"I think I might have the answer," Chris piped up. "Is it... sound?"

The Sphinx's eyes flashed red and the pyramid shook again. Pillars of fire began to shoot out of the ground. Even worse, more of the ground was beginning to retract, making the pit twice as big.

"I was wrong!" Chris screamed. "I was really, really wrong!"

Everyone began trying to get away from the fire, but their footholds were becoming scarce.

"C'mon, think!" Sonic shouted.

Porker had a flame end up going off right in his face. He squealed and backpedaled, losing his footing. Kat saw this and tried to grab him, but ended up off balance as well and they both went falling into the pit.

"Oh, no!" Keith screamed.

Longclaw spread her wings and swooped after them. She grabbed Porker in one claw and Kat in the other, both clinging to her legs for safety. Their screams echoed through the hole, which made Chris perk.

"Echo!" he yelled. "You're an echo! That's the answer!"

The Sphinx's eyes flashed green, and the flames cut out. Chris wiped his brow in relief as Longclaw deposited Porker and Kat back onto solid ground. Porker clutched his chest, trying to control his air intake.

"You have but one more riddle to answer," said the Sphinx.

"I don't know how much more of this I can take!" Porker managed.

Longclaw put a wing on his shoulder.

"Calm yourself," she soothed. "It'll be alright."

Keith held Kat, who was gripping the ground to try and steady her own breathing.

"You good?" he asked gently.

"I'll let you know when my heart's not beating like a jackhammer," Kat replied.

For what it was worth, the Sphinx had enough decency to wait until Porker and Kat composed themselves before telling them the final riddle. Once they were both back on their feet, the group faced the Sphinx.

"Give us your final riddle," Longclaw said. "And everyone, think carefully before answering."

The Sphinx leaned back, and spoke its final riddle.

"You measure my life in hours and I serve you by expiring. I'm quick when I'm thin and slow when I'm fat. The wind is my enemy. What am I?"

They huddled together, hashing it out.

"Alright, what are we thinking?" Rotor asked.

"Measuring a life in hours, serving by expiring…" Tails mused. "My initial thought is time."

"That doesn't take the thin and fat thing into account," Chris pointed out.

"Or the wind being its enemy," Tekno added.

"Hang on…" Hope said. "Maybe it's a fire."

Everyone thought about it for a moment.

"Seems as good a guess as any," Keith decided.

"Well, only one way to find out," Sonic said.

Hope turned to the Sphinx, taking a deep breath.

"A fire?" she offered.

"You are close…" the Sphinx's eyes flashed red, "but still incorrect."

The last of the flooring suddenly gave way and the fire sprung up. This time, everyone began falling in. While the others scrambled to get to handholds or more footing as they began to fall, Sonic just sighed, a resigned expression on his face.

"Shoot… not my day,"

And with that, he fell in as well. Shockingly, the pit was not too deep, and they all landed on large piles of sand.

"This is it?" Rotor asked. "Not what I was expecting."

"I know what you mean, Rote," Sonic agreed. "Where's the spikes? The tank of acid? The lava pit? For a death trap, it's kinda... tame."

"Uh... guys?" Kat piped up.

She pointed, revealing part of the sand rising up ominously. From the sand burst a massive earthworm-like creature, with mostly light blue skin with purple and cream yellow stripes, a wide mouth flanked with blunt teeth, and small pupil-less, cyan eyes. It roared as it looked over them.

"Ohhh…" Sonic began casually, "it's a pit of man-eating sandworms."

"I... think this is the part where we start screaming," Porker squeaked out.

The group scrambled to avoid the worm as it dove at them, seeking out its newest meal. As they did that, Tails and Tekno quickly began flying.

"We need to get back to the top and solve the riddle!" Tails screamed. "It's the only way we're getting out of this!"

"The Sphinx said Hope's answer was close, so the answer has to be related to fire somehow!" Tekno added.

They flew up, Tails glancing down for a moment to see Longclaw attempting to fight off the sandworm to protect the group. Seeing it loom over his old nanny, something in Sonic snapped.

"Longclaw, no!" he screamed before running forward.

Sonic grabbed Longclaw, tossing her aside just as the sandworm lunged, mouth open. As its mouth fell over him, it suddenly reeled back with a pained roar, revealing Sonic knelt down, his quills extended to sharp points that prevented the worm from chomping down (1).

"Like I said before, hedgehogs don't make good snacks," he quipped.

Reaching the top, the two flying Brain Trust members hovered before the Sphinx, facing him.

"Alright Tails, think," said Tekno. "Fire was close, so we're on the right track."

"Maybe it's something that needs fire to work," Tails mused. "Or an exposed flame."

"Quick when thin, slow when fat…"

"The wind is my enemy…"

They looked at one another, then the answer came to them.

"Candle!" they screamed. "You're a candle!"

The Sphinx's eyes flashed green. The sandworm lunged again, only for a stone pillar to rise out of the ground beneath the others, raising them up and causing the worm to bash its head into it, knocking itself senseless. Everyone gathered in the center of the pillar, dusting themselves off.

"Sonic, are you alright?" Longclaw asked in concern.

"I should be asking you that," Sonic answered. "I'll live. Gonna need a shower after this mission, but I'm okay."

"We're all gonna need showers," Kat clarified.

"Yeah, but I'm the only one covered in sandworm drool."

With that, the pillar reached the floor above, the pit closing back up. Tails and Tekno landed, the latter rotating her arms.

"It's been awhile since I've had to fly at all," she sighed. "I'm out of practice."

"Congratulations," said the Sphinx. "You have survived and answered all three riddles."

He rose to his feet and stepped to the side. His throne began to move, sliding across the ground to reveal a large door leading outside. "You are free to go."

They all begin walking towards the exit.

"Finally getting out…" Keith sighed. "I will gladly take the heat over all this."

Once they exited the pyramid, they heard an ominous laugh. They stopped short, looking around as Sonic sighed.

"Buddy, now is not the time to play games," he said aloud. "Just show your face so we can kick your butt and move on."

That was when something dropped down from the pyramid, landing in front of the group. It was a new Mecha Sonic, but this was absolutely hideous. It had clunky red feet, a head with triangular shaped spines going out in every direction, a zipper mouth, and a screw for a nose. It cackled, sounding like it had more than a few wires crossed, and its left optic kept flickering.

"Mecha Sonic, I presume?" Sonic questioned.

"Mecha Sonic Mark II," the Badnik corrected.

Sonic looked him up and down. "Wow. And I thought the Silver Sonic prototype was mugly."

Tails raised an eyebrow. "Mugly?"

"Monstrously ugly," Sonic clarified.

"That is a lot nicer than what I was gonna say," Kat admitted.

"I'm glad you approve of my looks, Sonic," Mecha II retorted. "Because it's gonna be yours for the foreseeable future!"

He launched himself right at Sonic, who narrowly avoided the pounce.

"Excuse me?" Sonic questioned.

Mecha II's chest cavity opened up, from which metal tentacles emerged, lashing out at Sonic. "It's time for you to join the ranks of the Badnik Horde!"

Sonic dodged and rolled, trying everything in his power to not get grabbed. Kat managed to grab one of the tentacles, crushing it in her grip. Keith and Chris both used their Nitro gloves to grab some themselves, frying them.

"No way in hell you're laying a single claw on Sonic!" Keith shouted.

Mecha II curled up into a ball, grinning before firing its metal spines in all directions. They scrambled to avoid, Sonic getting grazed on the back of the hand. Seeing this, Rotor pulled a high-tech looking chestplate out of his backpack.

"Rotor, what are you doing?!" Porker demanded. "The Iron Rotor suit isn't ready for deployment yet!"

"We don't have a choice, Porker," Rotor retorted. "Sometimes you gotta run before you can walk."

He slapped the chestplate on and it latched onto him. It expanded outward, completely covering him in yellow and grey armor with blue accents and a clear facemask

"Here goes nothing!" he shouted before firing on Mecha II with wrist-mounted guns. Mecha II rolled out of the way of the shots, cackling again.

"Nice try, lard butt!" he mocked. "You couldn't hit the broadside of a Death Egg!"

He looked at Tails before lashing out with his tentacles.

"Tails, look out!" Sonic shouted.

He darted forward, shoving Tails out of the way before getting ensnared. With that, Mecha II cackled as he drew Sonic into his chest cavity.

"I knew you'd fall for it! And now, with Sonic as my organic battery, I've reached my full potential!"

"No!" Chris screamed. "This can't be happening!"

The Badnik sealed shut with several pneumatic hisses and Sonic could be heard screaming inside. Everyone just watched in horror, Longclaw lifting her wings to shield the others. Mecha II then laughed, slowly advancing on the Freedom Fighters.

"And now... it's time to take out you cursed Freedom Fighters once and for all." He raised his hands to strike, before smirking. "Psyche!"

As they watched in surprise, Mecha II suddenly turned his own claws on himself, digging his fingers into his metallic head before beginning to pry the Badnik shell open. Longclaw's feathers parted as the others peeked through.

"Sonic?!" Tails let out. "You're okay!"

"You kidding?" Sonic replied. "There's no way I was gonna let this thing take me! I'm way too stubborn to be controlled by some tin overcoat."

He strained to rip open the shell completely, but sadly, he couldn't get enough leverage and sighed. "Well, so much for a dramatic 'breaking the bonds' moment. Could one of you, uh…"

Kat laughed before coming over, slipping her fingers into the crack. "Close your eyes."

Sonic nodded, and with that, Kat, with a small cry of effort, tore the Badnik shell from his body in halves. She then tossed the two halves aside as Sonic shook off the legs and arms.

"Thanks," he said.

"Don't mention it," Kat replied as they looked over the broken shell.

"Well, seems I wasn't needed after all," said Rotor. "Shame. I was really hoping for a proper field test."

"Don't worry, you'll get one soon enough," Sonic assured. "While I was hooked up to that bot, I was able to absorb some info from its AI. I know where Eggman's set up shop."

"Then let's get moving!" Hope declared. "We can shut down Eggman and stop his scheme!"

Misty Peaks

At his base, Robotnik perked as he saw the signal from Mecha II cut out.

"WHAT?!" he shrieked, slamming his fist onto a table. "How?! How did he resist my ultimate Mecha?!"

"You've seen how stubborn Sonic can be, sir," Snively said matter-of-factly. "How he refuses to give up no matter what. Is it any real surprise he was immune to the Badnik slave programming?"

Robotnik just slapped him aside with his metal arm.

"No matter…" he decided. "He's still a ways away from here, and one way or another, I will get rid of Sonic!"

"Oh, like we've never heard that before," Snively deadpanned.

Robotnik gritted his teeth in annoyance. "Snively, if I hear one more peep out of you that doesn't involve ways to kill that hedgehog, I'm sending you to the barbershop."

Snively immediately shut his mouth and left the room.

Author's Note:

(1): Based on Sonic's up throw in Super Smash Bros.

Well, another one down. Mecha Sonic Mark II is based on the Badnik Sonic from Sonic the Comic. The first Sonic robot in that continuity in fact. The Heat-Seekers Kat mentioned are from Archie, while the sandworms here are, of course, the ones from Lost World and Forces.

Please R&R. Until next time!