-Chapter 168-

It Came From Above

Knothole

In the Freedom HQ lab, the group stood before a capsule similar to the Roboticizer. The entire Brain Trust was gathered before it, the anticipation in the air so thick you could cut it with a knife.

"For over a year, we've poured all our blood, sweat, and tears into this project," Tails began, "But finally, we've managed to whip up a De-Roboticizer prototype with the help of Uncle Chuck."

"I just seriously hope it works," Hope let out. "The only real question is who we'll test it on."

Uncle Chuck stepped forward at that.

"I will," he decided. "This all started with me, both when the Roboticizer was created and when I was the first victim. It's only fitting I'm the test monkey for the cure."

"Unc, you don't have to do it," Sonic told him.

"Yes, I do," Uncle Chuck insisted. "I will not let anyone else suffer anything that may go wrong."

Seeing there was nothing they could do to convince him, Sonic reluctantly stood back, and Chuck stepped into the machine.

"Ready when you are, Uncle Chuck." Tails told him.

The machine slowly closed over Uncle Chuck.

"Activating de-roboticizing sequence in five, four, three, two…" Nicole listed off.

The machine powered on, bathing Chuck in bright light. He cried out in pain as the light engulfed him, obscuring everyone's view. After a few minutes, the machine opened, clouds of smoke/steam billowing out.

"Uncle Chuck?" Chris called out. "Uncle Chuck!"

"C'mon, talk to us, man!" Keith pleaded.

He stepped out, shaking slightly.

"Ugh…" he groaned. "Must've been one hell of a stag party."

He looked at himself, flexing his fingers.

"Unc…" Sonic began, "how do you feel?"

"Little woozy, to be honest." Uncle Chuck felt his face, feeling warm skin and thick fur where there was once cold steel. "The important thing is it worked."

"Yes!" Sonic cheered. "It worked!"

-X-

Sometime later, the group discussed the situation.

"It's finally happening, isn't it?" Mina said eagerly. "We can change my mom back, all of Eggman's other victims and-"

Uncle Chuck let out a stifled grunt. Everyone turned to see him clutching his shoulder, his fingers spasming as something seemed to be moving beneath the flesh of his arm.

"What's happening to him?!" Sonic shrieked. "WHAT'S HAPPENING?!"

"I require- NGH... some privacy," Uncle Chuck managed. "Everyone... get out of here… please..."

"But-" Sonic managed.

"JUST GET OUT!" Uncle Chuck screamed.

At the usually collected and kind Uncle Chuck's outburst, the group cleared out en masse. And just in time too; the minute they were gone, wires and circuitry burst out of his skin, electricity surrounding his body. He screamed in pain, writhing on the ground and absolutely howling in agony. Sonic was leaning against the door, clinging to Sally, knowing exactly what was happening.

"He's changing back...!" he realized. "It didn't work!"

"Sonic, I'm sorry," Sally said softly.

They all flinched from a rather nasty scream.

"It did work," Tekno pointed out. "It just... didn't last."

"And how does that make it any better, Tekno?" Amy demanded.

Tekno blushed. "It doesn't. I just like to be accurate."

Eventually, the screams petered out. Sonic tentatively looked in, seeing Chuck on the ground, a full Robian, and trembling.

"Uncle Chuck...?" he asked warily.

Uncle Chuck managed to compose himself, shakily standing up and sighing.

"I was afraid of this."

The others peeked in.

"I don't get it," Rotor said. "Everything was wired perfectly. We had each component slotted where it needed to be. Why'd he revert?"

"Because it's missing a key part," Uncle Chuck said. "A Bio-Analyzer."

He sat them down, explaining in greater detail.

"It's a crucial component in all Roboticizer models. When a being undergoes roboticization, the Bio-Analyzer scans and records their physical and genetic makeup.

Knuckles got it. "So for the De-Roboticizer to work permanently, we need a Bio-Analyzer."

"Alright then, all we have to do is just snag a Bio-Analyzer from one of Eggman's Roboticizers," Amy insisted. "Problem solved."

"I'm afraid it's not that simple," Uncle Chuck told them. "Robotnik has used more than a dozen different Roboticizers, with more than a dozen Bio-Analyzers. And I'm afraid that with the number of those machines you've destroyed…"

"The Bio-Analyzers might be lost forever…" Keith realized.

"No... no, that's not fair!" Sonic cried. "We've spent all this time, gotten so close!"

He kicked the wall in a rage, breathing heavily as Sally came over, grabbing his shoulders.

"Sonic, we haven't come this far to give up now," she insisted. "If we need to rummage through Eggman's scrap to find all the Bio-Analyzers, then we will."

"For now, I suggest we all take a break," Uncle Chuck said. "After... that, I could certainly use one."

Sonic pulled away, running a hand through his quills.

"Yeah…" he agreed. "Everyone take five. The Fire in the Sky Festival's gonna start tonight anyway."

"Oh yeah!" Chris exclaimed. "I forgot that was tonight!"

"The Black Comet's showing up for the first time in fifty years," Hope remarked. "I already made plans to see it together with Shadow."

"That's right…" Mina recalled. "The last time it passed by would've coincided with his creation."

"Yep," Hope nodded. "I'm hoping that maybe, just maybe, he watched it with Maria back on ARK. If he did, this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to actually restore his stolen memories."

As evening fell, the Freedom Fighters, Chaotix, and Cream's family gathered in Knothole, setting up multiple blankets as Tails set up a telescope. Coco and Vanilla sat down next to Uncle Chuck, who was still visibly shaken.

"I can't even imagine how that must have felt," Coco remarked. "And yet here you are, wearing a brave face."

"Let's just say I haven't been in that much pain since my last kidney stone." Uncle Chuck replied.

"You know, you don't have to keep punishing yourself like that," Vanilla told him. "We've all forgiven you."

"I wasn't punishing anyone, Vanilla," Uncle Chuck said. "I knew the risks and I accepted them. I'd rather take the hits than let anyone else do it for me."

"I see now where Sonic gets it," Coco mused.

Shadow and Hope sat on their own blanket, looking at the sky. Shadow had a newspaper in hand, the headlines reading "Fire In The Sky Festival Celebration! 50 Year return of Black Comet".

"Black Comet…" he muttered. "It sounds so familiar."

"So I was right," Hope remarked. "You were around when it came the first time."

"Maybe... or this Professor Gerald may have mentioned it," Shadow mused. "Who knows?"

"Either way, it's a memory," Hope pointed out. "In time, you'll remember everything."

She took his hand. "And I'll be there to help you through the harder memories."

Shadow gently squeezed her hand as the group looked into the sky. Cream squinted, looking closely as what appeared to be a shooting star shot across the sky, seemingly getting closer.

"Look at that!" she cried, pointing.

They all looked there.

"A shooting star?" Saffron asked.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say it's heading straight for us!" Charmy remarked.

Keith perked. "Because it is! DUCK!"

Everyone hit the deck as the "star" went sailing overhead, crashing down in the woods just beyond Knothole. Sonic and Shadow looked at each other, sharing a nod. The latter pulled Hope onto his back, then both hedgehogs took off for the crash site.

-X-

They soon found the impact crater, seeing the "star".

"That's no shooting star," Shadow noted.

The object was indeed not a shooting star, but a crashed spaceship. The pilot lay unconscious nearby. Sonic slid into the crater, flipping the pilot over to reveal the face of a young alien girl with pale skin, a head of green hair, and two little rosebuds sticking out of both sides like buns. She was donned in a green and white dress with long sleeves, white leggings, a red amulet on her chest, and green slippers. Sonic felt her wrist for a pulse, before placing an ear to her chest to listen for a heartbeat and/or breathing.

"She's alive," he reported.

"Your shack's closest, Sonic," Hope said. "We'll take her there."

"Go," Sonic urged. "I'll put out the fires and make sure no one comes looking."

Shadow scooped up the plant girl in his arms, Hope wrapping her arms around his chest as he took off back for Knothole.

-X-

Later, the group converged on Sonic's shack. Coco was making hot chocolate on the stove while Sticks was going on with her usual conspiracy theories.

"I'm tellin' you, she's the vanguard of an alien invasion! A mean green mother from outer space who's gonna cocoon us in pea pods and plant seeds in our lungs that'll burst outta our chests!" "Yeah…" Shorty let out. "Sticks, let's just keep that idea between you, us, and the string of therapists who won't be able to help you."

"Don't worry, I got her," Kat declared.

She grabbed Sticks, picking her up by her scruff and carrying her off

"Fine!" Sticks shouted indignantly, crossing her arms as she was dragged away. "But don't say I didn't warn ya!"

"Oh shut up," Kat told her.

Sally looked in on the plant girl, concern written across her face.

"She looks like she's barely older than Tails," she remarked. "What is she doing all alone?"

"We won't know until she wakes up." Sonic decided.

-X-

The plant girl had been knocked to the ground by monstrous black-and-red creatures. As a fire blazed, a plant woman similar to her with long blue hair and a white flower atop her head got the girl to her feet, hurrying her over to an escape pod and placing her inside.

"You need to hide, Cosmo," she insisted. "No matter what happens, you mustn't leave! I need to find Galaxina. I promise I'll be back."

"Mother, no!" Cosmo cried. "Don't leave me!"

Her mother took her face in her hands.

"I know this is hard. You must listen to me. Be strong. Be brave, Cosmo. I promise, you will not be alone for long. Now wait here."

She embraced her daughter.

"If I don't return, launch the pod. I've programmed in the coordinates for Mobius. There, you'll find the hero Sonic and his allies. They'll take care of you, I promise."

She gently kisses Cosmo's forehead before disappearing from sight.

"Galaxina?!" she called desperately. "Where are you, Galaxina?!"

The last Cosmo heard was a scream of pain and terror from her mother, followed by a diabolical laugh…

-X-

...and that was when her eyes snapped open with a gasp. She looked around frantically, then felt a gentle hand on her back.

"Easy there," Vanilla soothed. "Just breathe. You're alright."

Cosmo recoiled, frightened, before hiding under the covers, trembling. Vanilla decided to give her some space, going out to report to the others.

"She's awake," she told them. "But the poor thing's scared to death."

"Alright then," Sonic decided. "We'll try and talk to her gently."

"I suggest going in one at a time," Vanilla advised.

Sonic nodded. He went inside, Tails lingering at the door as he made his way to the bed. As he approached, the girl let out a frightened squeak.

"You don't need to worry," Sonic said gently. "You're fine. We're not gonna hurt you."

Coco tapped Sonic on the shoulder, passing him a tray with some oatmeal cookies and hot cocoa.

"Perhaps this will help ease the tension," he suggested.

Sonic nodded, taking the tray before setting it down on the stand next to the bed. A moment passed before one of the blanket's corners lifted up, Cosmo peeking out with one blue eye.

"You hungry?" he asked.

Her stomach let out a growl, and she nodded. She reached out, taking one of the cookies. She took a bite, her eyes lighting up before the cookie practically vanished. Sonic chuckled at that before deciding to ask his next question.

"What's your name?"

"It's… Cosmo," Cosmo replied. "Tell me, is this the planet Mobius?"

"Yeah, it is," Sonic confirmed.

"Then I made it…" Cosmo realized. "Please, can you tell me where I can find Sonic?"

Sonic raised an eyebrow. "Sonic the Hedgehog?"

"Yes!" Cosmo nodded. "Do you know where I can find him?"

Sonic snorted. "Of course I do. He's me."

Cosmo gasped. "You are? Then you can help me!"

"Whoa, whoa, slow down," Sonic held up his hands. "How do you know about me? You're not exactly a local."

"Of course we've heard of you," Cosmo replied. "The hero of Mobius who stopped the destruction of his home, who vanquished the falling ARK."

"Yeah, I suppose that would've made the rounds up in space," Sonic mused. "But I didn't do it alone. I had help from people just as brave as me."

"Really?" Cosmo questioned.

"Yeah," Sonic nodded. "Would you like to meet them? They're all anxious to see you and make sure you're okay."

Cosmo thought for a moment, then gave an affirmative shake of the head. One by one, the rest of the group came in. When Tails and Cosmo looked eyes, they stood there for a few minutes, something seeming to click. Shadow was the last one in, and at the sight of him, Cosmo gasped in shock, recoiling.

"Keep away from me!" she shrieked.

She grabbed a pillow, throwing it at him

"Hey, what the-?!" Sonic let out.

Vanilla came in, grabbing Cosmo's shoulders.

"Take it easy. Calm down," she soothed. "He's a friend. He helped us get you here so I could treat your wounds."

"He… he's not a Black Arm?" she asked.

"Uh, what's a Black Arm?" Sonic asked. "'Cause I don't think you're talking about the color of his spines."

"I'm a hedgehog, born and bred," Shadow remarked. "You have my word on that."

A few tense moments passed before Cosmo composed herself, relaxing.

"I'm sorry," she sighed. "But the resemblance is uncanny."

"Again, I ask," Sonic began. "What's a Black Arm?"

"Not a what, a who," Cosmo clarified. "A vile race of marauders that traverse space, traveling from world to world consuming entire populations. They attacked my homeworld of Greengate, necessitating many of us evacuate to avoid a war."

She sighed. "I've never even seen my homeworld because of them; my earliest memories begin with me learning to walk on a space colony."

"And why would you think Shadow is one of them?" Rotor questioned.

"His coloration," Cosmo answered. "Black Arms come in a variety of different shapes and sizes, but one thing is consistent with all of them: jet black and crimson skin."

Shadow looked down at his hands. He ran a finger along the red stripe on his arm. After a minute, he took up a spot on the far side of the room, enough to make Cosmo comfortable as she went on.

"A small squadron of them tracked down our colony, intent on finishing the job. My mother got me in an escape pod, went to try and find my sister, and... and…"

She couldn't go on. Cosmo straight-up broke down in tears. They all looked on sympathetically as Vanilla took the plant girl in her arms, petting her head gently.

"That's it…" she said soothingly. "Just let it out… We've got you. You're safe."

Some time passed before Cosmo got herself under control. Just as she pulled away from Vanilla, she saw the newspaper Shadow had been reading earlier talking about the Black Comet resting on a stand. She got up, grabbing the paper and looking it over.

"No…" she gasped, "the Black Comet is coming here?!"

"Well, yeah," Sonic replied. "It passes by Mobius every fifty years, and tonight's the night. What's the big deal?"

"What's the big deal?!" Cosmo repeated. "That comet is the Black Arms' mobile homeworld!"

Everyone let that sink in, Shadow looking the most horrified. His hands were shaking as he looked down at them again, then he took off.

"Shadow!" Hope cried, running after him.

"Hey, where's he going?" Sonic questioned, confused.

Keith perked as he connected the dots.

"Guys... think about it," he began. "The Black Comet passes by Mobius every fifty years. The last time it was here was around the same time Professor Gerald enacted Project Shadow. And they did mention rumors that he made contact with aliens to finish it."

"Keith, please tell me you're not suggesting what Hope would have to kill you for suggesting," Chris said.

"There are just too many coincidences, Chris," Keith pointed out. "Hope can hate me all she wants, but the proof's all there."

"Uh, for those of us still a little lost?" Sonic questioned.

"Sonic, he's saying that maybe Shadow's connected to the Black Arms," Tails clarified. "That maybe, they had a hand in his creation."

That was when it clicked for Sonic. "Ohhhhh…"

"We can worry about it later," Sally cut in. "If the Black Arms really are going to attack, we need to get ready."

"But what about Shadow?" Knuckles asked.

"He's in good hands," Sally insisted. "For now, get in contact with GUN and my father. They need to know what's coming."

"Y-you actually plan to fight them?" Cosmo stammered. "It's suicide! No one can defeat the Black Arms! Everyone who's tried has failed!"

"You'd be surprised how often we hear someone or something is unbeatable before we beat them," Sonic said flippantly.

"You don't understand," Cosmo stated. "They have destroyed countless worlds, assimilating whatever they want and destroying the rest! Each world thought they could beat them, and they all died! Worlds with whole armies and powers beyond your wildest dreams! What makes you think you will fare any better?"

"We don't," Sonic said bluntly. "But when the only options are to fight a hopeless battle or lay down and die, I'll choose to fight to the bitter end every time. One little piece of advice my Uncle Chuck gave me when I was a little boy on his knee: never stop running, and never give up without a fight."

Cosmo stared at Sonic in awe and disbelief, watching as the other Freedom Fighters filtered out to prepare for battle.

"So what are you gonna do?" he asked. "If you want to hide, go ahead. We'll help you find a shelter and you can wait it out. Or you can stand up and get justice for your people."

He held out a hand. "The choice is yours."

A few moments passed before Cosmo took the offered hand.

Author's Note:

Yep! Cosmo joins the crew. Her origin story here ties in part with the Black Arms; for those who remember Sonic X, it's mentioned the females of her race fled Greengate when the males insisted on continuing a war against an unknown enemy. Here, said enemy was the Black Arms.

Next chapter, the Black Arms begin their assault as Sonic and co. fight to save their world.

Voice cast for this chapter:

* Cosmo - Stephanie Sheh (Yui from Sword Art Online, Orihime Inoue from Bleach, Kyrie from Devil May Cry 4)

Please R&R. Until next time!