-Chapter 116-

Robot Rescue

Windy Valley

Meanwhile, Gamma was in Windy Valley, scanning the area for any sign of the E-Series bots. He followed the signal, soon coming across Delta, tied to a rock formation.

"E-103 Delta located. Commencing rescue operation."

He flew down, cutting Delta free of his confines and gently setting him down. With that, Gamma reached out, two cables extending from his fingers and plugging into an access port in Delta's head. Focusing, Gamma reprogrammed Delta, deleting Robotnik's authority and releasing the Pocky trapped inside.

"Master deleted. All data erased. Shutdown has been completed. E-103 Delta: rescue mission complete."

Gamma rose to his feet, focusing his locator.

"E-104 Epsilon located on Angel Island. Commencing operation."

Angel Island

The Chaotix were working double-time to try to find any clues on Chaos' location. Knuckles and Kat were near the Master Emerald, trying to make sense of the gem's dormancy when Knuckles looked up, catching sight of something flying in.

"Kat…" he piped up. "You see that?"

"Yep," Kat nodded.

They were on their feet in an instant, racing toward the object.

-X-

Red Mountain

The object came down near the Red Mountain, landing. Knuckles and Kat stopped short, seeing it was Gamma and immediately jumping to conclusions.

"Stop right there, you dirty Badnik!" Knuckles roared.

Gamma froze at that, slowly turning to face them.

"I mean you no harm," he informed them.

"Yeah right!" Kat shot back. "And I'm a pink and purple Flicky!"

"Dr. Robotnik is no longer my master. I, E-102 Gamma, seek to liberate his creations."

"You're joking," Knuckles deadpanned.

"Of course it is," Kat insisted. "There are no Badniks here but it."

"Negative. E-104 Epsilon resides in the mountain near here."

Knuckles and Kat exchanged looks.

"He failed his first mission, and was banished from the Egg Carrier by the doctor," Gamma went on. "I seek to rescue him."

"And what, pray tell, do you mean by rescue?" Knuckles asked.

"Erase all data and release contained Mobini," Gamma replied.

Kat blinked. "Wait… you're serious?"

"I am. I must save my friends."

"Alright," Knuckles decided. "Then show us your friend. But try and trick us, and we'll dismantle you. Violently."

"Understood," Gamma nodded. "Epsilon resides deep within Red Mountain."

He trekked up the mountain with Knuckles and Kat in tow. After making their way through the vast caverns, they came across Epsilon, battered, scuffed, and strung up by several cables.

"Whoa…" Knuckles and Kat let out.

"He was telling the truth," Kat said.

"For all we know, he's gonna try to reactivate him," Knuckles warned. "Stay on your toes, just in case."

Gamma cut Epsilon free, catching him and laying him down. With that, he inserted the cables into Epsilon's head, deleting all information on Robotnik and releasing the captive Ricky inside.

"Master deleted. All data erased. Shutdown has been completed. E-104 Epsilon: rescue mission complete."

The Ricky nuzzled Gamma in appreciation, then scampered off down the mountain.

"I'll be damned," Knuckles remarked. "He really did it."

"Permission to continue rescue mission," Gamma requested.

"Just… answer one question," Kat offered. "When you finish saving the rest of your friends, what do you plan to do?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you know there's most likely a Mobini powering you as well, right?"

Gamma nodded. "Correct."

"Are you gonna 'save' yourself, too?"

Gamma hesitated for a moment. "...The other E-Series robots are in need first."

"But after?" Kat prodded.

"When my mission is complete... I will release the Mobini inside of me," Gamma decided.

Knuckles blinked. "Are you sure about that?"

"Affirmative."

Knuckles gave a nod. "Alright. You can go. We won't stop you."

Gamma nodded, thinking over his next move.

"Remaining E-Series units: E-105 Zeta, E-101 Beta. Location unknown."

The image of Beta being dismantled on board the Egg Carrier flashed through his mind, and he straightened.

"On board the Egg Carrier. Commencing mission."

He departed at that, Knuckles and Kat watching him go.

"Huh…" Kat said at last.

"What is it?" Knuckles asked.

"I've been afraid of bots ever since I met you," Kat explained. "But... that's the first time I've met a Badnik I'm not afraid of."

"Well, to be fair, he's not like the other Badniks," Knuckles pointed out.

"No," Kat agreed. "No, he isn't."

Knuckles looked at Gamma's figure as he faded into the distance.

"Y'know, I learned something today," he mused. "If even a Badnik can change, learn the value of life... maybe there's hope for all of us."

Station Square

Meanwhile, Amy and Cream had made it to Station Square's harbor, walking through the barrels and crates.

"Where are we going?" Cream asked.

"To get a boat," Amy replied. "We need to get out to the Carrier, which is currently bobbing in the ocean."

Lily and Cheese were looking out at the horizon, trying to find any sign of the Egg Carrier. As they searched, Lily spotted Gamma flying through the sky. She let out a chirp, getting the attention of the girls.

"It's Gamma!" Cream exclaimed.

"Gamma!" Amy cried. "You're still alive!"

Gamma heard, looking down before making their way down to them.

"Recognized: Amy and Cream. Friends."

He landed in front of them, Cream hugging his leg.

"I'm glad you're okay," she said.

"This is perfect, actually," Amy piped up. "You could help us!"

"What can I do for you?"

"We're trying to find the Egg Carrier," Amy explained. "Lily's family is still on it."

Gamma looked at Lily, flashing to an image of Lily's entire family.

"Potential locations known to this unit."

"You know where they are?" Cream questioned.

"Affirmative," Gamma confirmed. "I have witnessed Mobini residing in each E-Series unit I have encountered so far. There is a 95% chance E-101 Beta and E-105 Zeta contain the Flickies you seek."

"Then what are we standing around for?" Amy questioned. "Can you give us a lift?"

Gamma picked up both Cream and Amy, carrying them under his arms before flying off.

Mystic Ruins

Meanwhile, Sonic had tracked Robotnik to the Final Egg base, a metal door built into the side of the mountain. Fittingly, the door was in the shape of Robotnik's face.

"Well, someone's been a busy bee while I've been on my world tour. Let's see if the doctor is in."

He took a few steps back before charging at the door, knocking it off its hinges with a well-placed Spin Attack.

"Ah, some things never change. Like flimsy doors."

As alarms blared, Sonic stopped at the sight of a security camera. Smirking, he blew a raspberry before picking up a rock.

"Say cheese!" he shouted before chucking the rock, smashing the camera.

-X-

From the security room, Snively saw the camera get smashed.

"Sir, he's here."

Robotnik was just laying Eggatha out on a bed to rest. He stopped, letting out a growl.

"If that smart aleck rodent thinks he can just waltz into my base like he owns it, he's got another thing coming. It's time he learned a lesson in manners."

He called in Metal with his glove controller.

"Metal, keep an eye on Agatha," he ordered. "I'm going to kill that unspeakable hedgehog once and for all."

-X-

As Sonic went along, numerous turrets emerged from the wall, all taking aim at him with red laser sights. Before long, it looked as if he had broken out in hives.

"Oh me, oh my," Sonic said sarcastically. "How will I ever get out of this one?"

He grinned, summoning his Chaos lightning as his eyes flashed blue. He then zipped along the walls, bouncing from turret to turret as they fired on him, only for them to explode on impact.

"Nice little welcoming party you got for me, Eggman," he quipped. "What's next? A fruit basket and some sponge cake?"

"How about some pound cake, spikeball?!" Robotnik jeered over the loudspeaker.

As if on cue, numerous spiked pistons started shooting out from the ceiling, intent on crushing Sonic into pulp. Sonic rushed forward as fast as he could, avoiding the pistons.

"Enjoying my hospitality, Sonic? There's plenty more where that came from!"

"C'mon, Egghead, this is child's play!" Sonic taunted. "Eggatha's come up with better stuff than this!"

The floor suddenly opened up, revealing hidden rollers that forced Sonic on the move. As hard and as fast he ran, Sonic couldn't seem to overtake them.

"Aren't you having a ball?!" Robotnik cackled. "I know I am!"

A giant steel ball came rolling at him at that. Seeing this, Sonic stopped and went into a stationary spin, connecting with the ball solidly. The force of his spin sent the ball careening away from him. Sonic shot down the rollers, stopping and dusting himself off.

"Okay, Robuttnik," he began. "This has been fun. But I'm a busy man, you're a busy man. We've got better things to do with our time. So... what do you say we stop screwing around and settle this, mano a mano?"

-X-

Robotnik watched this, sneering.

"For once in our long rivalry... we agree," he said.

-X-

Lights began powering on, illuminating a hallway to Sonic's left, a clear invitation. He headed that way, seeing a sizable open door before him.

"Let's see…" he said. "Massive armored doors. Little enclosed space. Nowhere to go but in, and nowhere to go but back. Why didn't he just put up a big neon sign saying 'This way to the trap'?"

"You think everything I do is a trap!" Robotnik snapped from within.

"And I'm rarely wrong," Sonic shot back.

"Today, it isn't a trap. It's an extermination."

Sonic headed in, looking up to see a truly massive combat mech designed after a large flying viper. It had two large red and gray spiked wheels on both sides of the cockpit. The cockpit itself was covered in thick red and gray armor and has two fins on the bottom, yellow and black hazard stripes horizontally along the middle, a single fin on top with a red and gray tube on each side, and a large gray laser cannon down the front. On the cockpit's rear were three large red and gray flap-like shields. Beneath these shields were a long red and gray segmented tail which had spikes and green spots running down it. The cannon slid back, revealing Robotnik in the Egg Mobile.

"Nice bot, Eggman," Sonic said casually. "Ready to party?"

"Listen and listen good, rodent, because I've had just about all I can take of the likes of you!" Robotnik spat. "Ever since I launched my ingenious plan to conquer Mobius, you've been nothing but a thorn in my side! You made me tear every hair from my beautiful head!"

"You were bald long before you were a dictator, and Julian didn't seem to care," Sonic retorted.

"That's not the point. The point is the utter, red-hot sizzling hatred I have for you. Every brilliant plan I've put into action has been systematically stymied by you and your little rebel friends! But no more. No more! The Egg Viper will ensure that."

He aimed the laser directly at Sonic. "I'm gonna blow your furry little head off... then I'm gonna splatter your devious little hedgehog brain from here to kingdom come!"

"Hit me with your best shot!" Sonic shot back before jumping out of the way of the laser.

"Your threats don't scare me, Eggman! You really think you can take me down?"

"I don't think I can. I know I can. If it's the last thing I ever do, I'm going to make sure you don't leave the Final Egg alive!"

"Same song, different verse!"

"Oh yeah?! Then get a load of this!"

The Egg Viper flew up and out of sight, before suddenly emerging from the ground and knocking Sonic off his feet. It began repeatedly whipping him with his tail.

"Nothing like a good game of squash, eh Sonic?!"

"I didn't even know that was a thing!"

"It is! Look it up! Oh wait, you can't. You're about to be blue paste!"

"Is that right?"

Sonic then rolled into a Spin Dash, bracing hard against the metal of the tail. He summoned his Chaos lightning as they clashed. Sonic easily tore through the tail, causing the cockpit to stumble back. With that, he launched himself at the Egg Viper, plowing through it. As it began to spark and smoke, Robotnik slammed his fist onto an eject button and was launched out of the machine and out of the hole in the ceiling.

"I HATE THAT HEDGEHOG!" he screamed in outrage as he went.

"And this hedgehog hates you too," Sonic retorted, thumbing his nose.

Egg Carrier

Meanwhile, Gamma had managed to locate the Egg Carrier, lying adrift and mostly intact in the ocean. He landed, depositing Amy and Cream on the ground.

"Okay Gamma, where do we start looking?" Amy asked.

"The Egg Carrier's main database is on the bridge. From there, we will locate Beta and Zeta," Gamma replied.

"Then what?" Cream questioned.

"Then I reprogram them to reject Robotnik as their master and free the Mobini captive within."

"And... you?" Amy asked.

"I have promised to release my Mobini as well," Gamma said simply. "Once Beta and Zeta have been rescued, there is nothing left for me to do. The Mobini must be freed."

Amy perked. "Wait, you can't-"

"Come," Gamma cut off. "Our mission awaits."

They headed for the database. As Gamma searched, Cream approached him.

"Gamma, are you absolutely sure about this?" she questioned. "If you release your Mobini-"

"I will deactivate," Gamma confirmed. "I am well aware of that, Cream, and have accepted it."

"But... you're not evil like the others. You shouldn't have to die."

"Nor should an innocent animal be subjected to a fate worse than death to sustain my existence."

Cream still looked sad, so Gamma placed a gentle hand on her head, ruffling her ears. It was at that moment a metal fist suddenly shot out from behind them, hitting Lily and knocking her out of the sky. Cheese narrowly avoided the strike himself before catching Lily.

"Lily!" Amy cried.

"Cheese!" Amy screamed.

They turned to see ZERO approaching, retracting his fist.

"Designation: E-100 Alpha, codename ZERO," Gamma remarked. "Hunter robot, prototype of the E-100 Series line."

"I remember him." Amy summoned her hammer, her knuckles white as she gripped it. "Gamma, take Cream and head for the database. This tin can is mine."

"Affirmative," Gamma replied, scooping up Cream in his arms.

"Be careful, Amy!" Cream cried.

"Don't worry. He's the one who needs to be careful."

Gamma hurried off, Cheese following as Amy stared ZERO down.

"You think you can just hurt my friends and get away with it, you piece of junk?!" she shouted. "Now you're gonna get it!"

She raised her hammer high and charged right at ZERO. He swung a second time, but Amy jumped over it before swinging down, slamming her hammer right on top of his head before letting loose and driving him into the ground. She didn't stop until the bot was flatter than a pancake and heavily embedded in the ground.

"That was for Lily," she spat, dismissing her hammer and panting before straightening up. "I needed that."

Now happy once more, she skipped down the hallway towards the database. There, she was greeted by Gamma standing before Zeta, who now made up the database. The two cables were in the bot's head, and a small panel opened up, releasing another Ricky. The cables withdrew, Zeta powering down along with the entire database.

"Master deleted. All data erased. Shutdown has been completed. E-105 Zeta rescue mission complete."

"But still no Flickies," Cream pointed out.

Amy walked over to Cheese, who was holding Lily in his nubs. "You two alright?"

Lily chirped, getting up before flying out of Cheese's arms.

"Gamma, it's just you and Beta left, right?" Amy asked.

"Affirmative," Gamma confirmed.

"Meaning you and him both have Flickies inside of you," Amy realized. "Lily's family."

Cream looked up at Gamma sadly. "Is there really no other way?"

"I am sorry," Gamma replied. "The Mobini must be liberated."

It was at that very moment part of the ceiling exploded. From it descended the fully upgraded Beta. He was now a flying bot, his lower torso having been replaced with a rudder-like black and white tail, with two thin grey and green-colored thrusters on its lower torso.. Its arms were also equipped with large shield-like gauntlets with spikes that resemble those of the Shovel Claw.

"Beta," Gamma recognized.

"E-102 Gamma," Beta replied. "Designation: traitor. Must be terminated."

Beta opened fire on Gamma, forcing him to dodge

"Beta, stop this. Robotnik is our enemy. You are my friend."

"Negative. Gamma: traitor. Orders: absolute. All those who oppose Dr. Robotnik must be destroyed."

"You are wrong," Gamma insisted. "Robotnik does not care for us. He dismantled you. He turned Zeta into the database. He left Epsilon and Delta to die. Robotnik is our enemy. Let me help you. Let me save you."

Instead, Beta backhanded him, aiming twin cannons at him as he was downed.

"The doctor gave me a second chance. He improved me, made me better to serve him. And now, brother... you will pay the ultimate price for turning on the Robotnik Empire."

"No!" Amy screamed.

She swung her hammer, extending the handle so it took out the cannons before they could fire. Cheese charged in, tackling Beta and knocking him back.

"Get away from Gamma, you big bully!" Cream shouted.

Amy and Cream's distraction bought Gamma the time he needed to get back on his feet.

"So be it, Beta. If this is the only way to save you, I will do what I must."

He leveled his gun with Beta's head and fired. The bot fell back, his head partially blown off. Gamma went over, opening his access panel and freeing a green Flicky from within.

"E-101 Beta: rescue complete."

The green Flicky flew over to Lily, both of them nuzzling one another in relief. Gamma watched them, then got down on his knees.

"E-Series units remaining... Gamma."

Amy and Cream looked on sadly.

"I guess there's no other way, Gamma," Amy said, resigned. "But I want you to know we'll never forget you."

"You'll always be our friend," Cream assured.

"Thank you," Gamma said. "And goodbye."

He plugged the wires into his own head. After a few minutes, his optics went blank, and a pink Flicky was ejected, rushing to meet the green one and Lily. Amy and Cream smiled happily at the family reunion.

"Apparently, the green one is Rosemary, and the pink one is Tulip," Amy said. "They're Lily's sisters."

Tulip nuzzled both of her sisters, then she glanced down at Gamma. She chirped sadly, nuzzling the bot. Lily and Rosemary went to comfort her, then Tulip chirped again. The two Flickies and Amy all looked shocked.

"You want to what?!" Amy exclaimed.

"What is it?" Cream asked.

"Tulip wants to go back into Gamma," Amy said. "Turn him back on."

Cheese let out a surprised squeak.

"She's gonna trap herself again?" Cream questioned.

Tulip shook her head, chirping.

"It's not trapping if she wants it," Amy said. "As a Flicky, she can't do much. But as Gamma's power core, she can help save so many other Mobini."

"I get it," Cream perked. "She wants to do what she can to help in the fight."

Tulip nodded, then flew over to where several capsules were scattered on the floor. She nudged one with her head, rolling it over to Amy. Amy picked it up and opened it, Tulip flying inside it.

"You're really brave, Tulip," she remarked.

Tulip chirped and tweeted for a few moments, and Amy nodded.

"Okay, I'll tell him."

With that, she popped the capsule into Gamma's body, closing the panel. Gamma's eyes flickered back on and he straightened up.

"I'm… back online?" he asked. "Why?"

"Tulip wanted to go back in," Amy informed him.

"She wanted to be a prisoner? Why?"

"Not a prisoner," Amy clarified. "Your partner. She agreed to be your heart, but she had a condition. You have to keep an eye on Lily and Rosemary."

"Understood," Gamma confirmed.

"There are a lot of other Mobini just like them who are trapped against their will," Cream explained. "That's why Tulip decided to power you again."

Gamma looked at the other two Flickies for a few moments.

"New mission directives," he said at last. "Protect the Flicky family, and liberate Mobini from Robotnik."

Amy and Cream were grinning from ear to ear, Cheese was cheering, and the two Flickies flew over to Gamma, settling on his shoulders. At that moment, they heard a metallic thump.

"What was that?" Amy asked, immediately on the defensive.

"It came from the laboratory a few doors down," Gamma replied.

Amy nodded. "Lead the way, Gamma."

Gamma nodded, leading them down the corridor. He blasted the door to the lab open, the sight inside causing both Amy and Cream to gasp

"Is... is that?" Cream began.

"It is…" Amy confirmed. "Gamma, we're going to need your help one last time."

Author's Note:

Yep, that's right! Gamma survived. Taking cues from his Archie version here. But what is it Amy and Cream found in the lab? Stay tuned to find out.

Please R&R. Until next time!