-Chapter 196-
Information Excavation
Practice Track
At the practice track, Wave and Jet were waiting for Storm to return. Wave is nervously pacing around for him to come back, while Jet is lying down to take a nap.
"What's taking Storm so long?" Wave pondered aloud.
"Just sit down and relax," Jet said calmly. "Chill, Wave."
Wave spun to face him, annoyed.
"Really, Jet! How can you be so relaxed at a time like this? Don't you see? As the leader, you've got responsibilities. Some you understand, but you-
Little did Wave know, Jet was tuning her out. As she continued her rant, Sonic came out onto the practice track, his board tucked under his arm. He spotted the two birds and approached.
"Hey!" he called. "Mind sharing?"
Jet shrugged. "Eh, why not?"
He stood to the side, allowing Sonic to begin a practice run.
"Jet!" Wave snapped. "Are you listening to me?!"
She sighed, already knowing the answer. "Why do I even bother? Unless I take charge, nothing ever gets done here."
"Right, because the last time you 'took charge' went over so well," Jet deadpanned. "How are your repairs coming along, anyhow?"
"I'm almost done."
"Then why don't you get back to that and stop nagging me? I know what I'm doing, and you've already done enough damage for one day."
Wave stormed off at that, muttering to herself. Jet watched as Sonic flew off a ramp, pulling off a midair 1080. He flipped off his board, caught it, then landed on the ground.
"Not bad for a rookie," Jet complimented.
"Like I said, I'm a quick learner," Sonic replied. "My feet aren't the only things that move fast."
"Clearly," Jet agreed. "I'm glad Wave's sabotage failed. You'll actually be fun to race."
"So you really didn't know…"
Jet shook his head. "I'm a sore loser, I admit that much. But I'm no cheater."
"Well, don't be too hard on her. One of our own already made sure she paid."
"So I've heard," Jet picked up his board. "One word of helpful advice. I admit you're pretty fast on your feet, but it's a whole different story when riding an Extreme Gear. You see, to be the fastest on a Gear, you have to become one with the wind. Otherwise, well... you might as well kiss the ground and go home."
Sonic shrugged. "Well, we'll see who the wind favors at the end of the prix, won't we?"
Jet smirked. "Sounds like a plan to me."
MeteorTech
Meanwhile, Kat, Chris, and Keith had made it into the MeteorTech building. As they headed for Von Koiti's office, Chris split off from them, making a beeline for the computer room.
"Alright, just let me do the talking," Keith insisted.
"Right," Kat nodded. "I just look intimidating."
They reached the office door, Keith knocking.
"Ja?" came Von Koiti's voice. "Who is it?"
"Keith Kent and Kat Winters," Keith replied. "Mr. Von Koiti, may we have a moment of your time?"
"Trust me, we have a lot to discuss," Kat added.
"But of course. Anything for my racers."
Von Koiti opened the door, allowing them in.
"I must say," he addressed Keith, "I'm surprised your father didn't register."
"He wanted to, but couldn't find a Chaos Emerald." Keith explained.
"I see. Can I get you two anything? Soda? Coffee?"
"I'm not allowed caffeine," Kat answered.
"Mr. Von Koiti, we want to talk to you about some allegations that the Freedom Fighters have recently been informed of." Keith said, getting to the point.
"My my, such a vast lexicon from one so young."
"I've been told that. Anyway, we've heard rumors lately that you've been doing business with... a certain egg-obsessed bald guy."
Von Koiti raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you've been told?"
"It is, yes," Kat confirmed. "So, is it true?"
"There is some truth to it, I'll admit that much," Von Koiti confessed. "I bought the Egg Factory from the doctor directly."
Keith blinked. "He sold it to you, just like that?"
"Well, he's not made of money. And considering you thwart his big schemes on a weekly basis, he was... hurting for income."
The two let that sink in.
"That… actually makes sense." Kat admitted.
"Indeed. How else is he supposed to take care of his niece, or his Chao, without the funds to do so?"
"That, and keep carrying out his evil plots." Keith added.
-X-
While the two continued to talk with Von Koiti, Chris made his way to the company's server room.
"Okay, Von Koiti…" he cracked his knuckles, then his neck. "Let's see what digital skeletons you have in your closet."
He got to work, typing away. He began sifting through slogs of data, graphs, finance reports, journal entries, and-
"Wait, hold on."
He went back to the journal entries before pulling one up, finding what appeared to be a diary entry under Robotnik's name.
"Now why would Von Koiti have a copy of Eggman's diary on his hard drives?" he pondered aloud. "Unless... Weasely was right. MeteorTech is an Empire front."
He pulled out a flash drive, pressing a button to download the data. As he began the download, he was unaware of a figure coming up behind him. Once the file downloaded, Chris ejected the flash drive and made to leave. However, he almost immediately ran face first into Storm.
"What the-?!" was all Chris managed to get out before Storm grabbed him by the collar.
"Sorry, kid. Nothin' personal."
The last thing Chris saw and felt was a big meaty fist colliding with his face, then everything went black…
-X-
At the same time, Keith and Kat were exiting Von Koiti's office.
"Well, that didn't really go anywhere," Keith muttered. "Here's hoping Chris had more luck."
"Let's hope," Kat agreed. "Because we need some freaking-" They saw the server room door ajar. "...answers."
They hurried inside, stopping short to see Chris knocked flat on his face, out cold.
"CHRIS!" Keith screamed before quickly rushing to his cousin's side.
"Please be okay, please be okay," Kat let out, joining him. "Keith?"
Keith rolled his cousin onto his back, quickly taking stock of the massive bruise over Chris' eye.
"He's got one hell of a shiner, but he's okay." They both breathed sighs of relief at that, then Keith gently shook his cousin. "Chris, Chris, wake up."
Chris groaned, then hissed in pain before clutching his face.
"Okay... ow."
"What happened?" Kat questioned as Chris sat up, wincing.
"That Storm guy from the Babylon Rogues jumped me. Knocked me flat, and…" he took a quick look around, seeing no sign of the flash drive, "apparently stole the data I just downloaded from the hard drive."
Kat's gaze hardened, her bracers glowing slightly as she went to get up. Keith quickly caught her arm.
"I know that look. Don't even think about it."
"He hurt Chris," Kat argued, her voice even.
"And he will get his comeuppance, but right now, we need to get back to the others."
Chris shakily got up. "Yeah. You won't believe what I found."
Pit Stop
Storm went flying at full speed back to the pit stop, where Wave and Jet were waiting.
"Boss!" he called. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
He came to a grinding halt, which knocked him off his board, sending him faceplanting to the ground.
"So…" Jet greeted casually, "how'd it go?"
Storm got up, holding up Chris' flash drive.
"Got this off the Thorndyke kid. Seems we're not the only ones who smelled somethin' fishy about Von Koiti."
"Well then, let's see if the Thorndyke kid lives up to his reputation," Jet decided.
He took the drive, which Wave plugged into her computer.
-X-
Meanwhile, at the Freedom Fighters' pit stop, Chris nursed his black eye as he explained what happened.
"Storm attacked you and stole the data?" Tails questioned. "What would the Babylon Rogues want with it?"
"My guess?" Chris began. "What I found on the hard drive."
"Ain't gonna do us much good if we don't have a copy," Knuckles pointed out.
Chris smirked.
"Dude, I have an eidetic memory. I remember everything... especially the fact that MeteorTech had a copy of Egghead's diary."
That floored everyone.
"That doesn't make sense," Sonic insisted. "What would Von Koiti be doing with Eggman's diary?"
"Unless…" Hope suggested, "Von Koiti really is working with Eggman."
"That's my guess," Chris concurred. "Not only that, but Eggman's the one who put the Rogues up to the grand prix in the first place."
"But why?" Sonic asked. "What does he possibly have to gain from this?"
-X-
Jet looked over the computer screen, reading the diary entry aloud.
"Heh heh heh! I got those birdbrains to believe that Babylon treasure was just a gem. I can't believe they fell for it. What fools! Can you believe the real treasure is the ancient, but advanced technology of the Babylonians? What irony! I've found a story about a boy who received an Angel Wing from the Babylonians as a gift. The story says that with it, the boy was able to rule the world. And this was just a gift! I'm anxious to find this technology as soon as possible. Imagine the vast possibilities of the technology they must have kept for themselves. Hehehehehehe!"
"Then... the treasure of Babylon isn't a gem after all?" Storm questioned.
Jet let that sink in for a moment, then just gave a half hearted shrug.
"Oh well. Guess this was just a wasted effort. Too bad, really. I haven't the slightest interest in world domination or advanced technology."
"Hold up a second," Wave insisted, putting a hand to Jet's chest to stop him from walking off. "If Eggman's after the treasure of Babylon, then it's definitely worth something."
"Are you saying there's profit in this?" Jet questioned.
"Think about it. It may be more valuable than finding silver, or gold."
That got Jet's attention. He immediately began imagining himself standing amid piles and piles of gold coins and bags containing said coins while laughing hysterically. He quickly snapped to.
"Alright, we'll see this through," he decided. "And when it's over, we'll make sure the doc learns not to use us."
-X-
Meanwhile, Chris was telling them much the same.
"According to the entries, Jet and his crew stole the key to Babylon Garden when they defected from the Battle Bird Armada. When powered by the Chaos Emeralds, it'll reveal Babylon Garden's location."
"So that's it," Tails realized. "Eggman set all this up so he could get ahold of the Treasure of Babylon!"
"What is it with that rotten egg and stealing long protected treasures?" Knuckles pondered.
"Well, whatever this treasure is, we need to get it first." Hope decided.
As if on cue, Omochao's voice came over the loudspeakers..
"Your attention, please! The semifinal race will begin in ten minutes! Please convene at the gate prior to that time."
"Well, guess I'm up," Keith remarked.
"We both are," Sonic noted. "Good luck."
"You too."
Green Cave
Ten minutes later, the racers were lined up at the start of Green Cave, a racetrack set up deep in the jungles of the Mystic Ruins, with vines for grinding rails and a few spider webs here and there.
"Here we are in the deep, dank jungles of the Mystic Ruins for the semifinals!" Omochao announced. "What will happen now? Can our brave racers make it through the critters and bugs that lie in wait within the trees?"
Everyone exploded into cheers.
"Now, let's welcome back our hopefuls from the very first race, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Jet the Hawk!"
"Hey, what about me?" Robotnik demanded.
"Oh, and Dr. Eggman."
That was just met with several boos, as well as a thrown hot dog that hit Robotnik square in the face, covering him in various condiments. He wiped it off with an annoyed growl.
"When I rule the world, the first thing I'm going to do is ban all hot dog products."
"Hey!" Sonic objected. "You mess with the chili dog, you're gonna be sorry!"
"And now, let me introduce you to the last, but definitely not least, member of Team Thorndyke!" Omochao cut in. "What happens when the Speed King and the Queen of Scientific Discovery come together? The Prince of Speed, the Duke of Detection, the master of mechanics, Keith Kent!"
The crowd exploded with cheers, Sam and Laura in particular.
"Queen of Scientific Discovery," Laura murmured. "I'm so putting that on a coffee mug."
"Now, let's get this show on the road! Are you ready?"
All four racers lined up.
"Hey Keith, just make for the finish line," Sonic told him. "Don't let anything stop you."
"I won't, I promise," Keith assured.
"Get set!" Omochao called, everyone waiting with bated breath. "Go!"
They took off at that. Keith and Robotnik were neck in neck, facing off.
"We know your stake in this, Egghead!" he shouted over the wind. "Like hell you're getting Babylon Garden's treasure!"
"I don't know how you found out, but it doesn't matter!" Robotnik shouted back. "Everyone deserves what they've earned. And I've earned this!"
"No, you've earned this!" Keith summoned a ball of energy from his Nitro Glove, aiming it at the front of Robotnik's Gear. Robotnik managed to veer to the side, avoiding it just barely. "If anyone deserves the treasure, it's Jet's crew! They're the rightful heirs!"
"Are they really?" Robotnik questioned. "Last I checked, the Rogues are just a bunch of thieves digging around where they shouldn't, and their ancestors were no different."
"I'd take thieves over obese despots like you any day!"
He threw another Nitro Ball, this one striking home and sending Robotnik spinning out.
"Yes!" Keith cheered before shooting ahead.
Meanwhile, Sonic caught up to Jet, dodging a blow from his fan.
"I know about your deal with Eggman, Jet!" he told him. "Whatever he promised you, he lied! He's gonna stab you in the back the first chance he gets!"
"I'm not stupid, pal," Jet retorted. "I'm well aware he's after the treasure of Babylon. But if anyone's gonna get it, it's me!"
"So you know you're being used."
"Yeah. By the way, sorry if one of your team got hurt. Nothing personal. Storm's not known for being delicate."
"So I've been told. Now then…"
He tucked into a Spin Dash and launched forward, knocking Jet off-balance before righting himself and taking off. "See you at the finish line!"
Jet recovered, then laughed. "Not if I see you first!"
Sonic didn't get too far before a massive black worm with a tan underbelly and orange markings burst out of the ground. He barely had time to react before it snapped him up in his jaws, swallowing him whole and getting a horrified gasp from the crowd and other racers.
"Oh, merciful Aurora!" Omochao exclaimed. "Could this be the end of Sonic the Hedgehog?! Gulped down by a ravenous Colossal Worm?!"
Suddenly, the worm began to buck. Its skin began to bend outward, and the worm shrieked in pain. They heard whirring sounds, and loud thumps from inside, as well as an unmistakable, though muffled voice.
"You're so gonna regret this! Hedgehogs don't make good snacks!"
The worm coughed and gagged before reeling back and spitting Sonic and his board out. He quickly righted himself before taking off again.
"I'm gonna need a bath after this one…" he muttered before making for the finish line.
"Sanitation stations have been set up in the event of nasty spills," Omochao chimed in. "Or in this case, narrow escapes from the bowels of Mobian-eating worms."
Sonic made it in first place, immediately making a beeline for the aforementioned sanitation station. Jet came close behind, cursing as he realized he was second.
"He got eaten by a worm, and he still beat me?" he spat.
"Yep," Keith said casually as he came in third. "He does that. Oh, and one more thing." He punched Jet hard in the stomach. "That's for hurting my cousin."
Jet winced, rubbing his gut. "Hey, that was Storm, not me. Delicacy isn't really his specialty."
"He's still your lackey and was there on your orders." Keith shot back. "Besides, you should consider yourself lucky. Kat wanted to do that."
Recalling what Kat had done to Wave, Jet just nodded, deciding to drop the subject as Robotnik skidded into fourth place.
"Last place again?!" he exclaimed.
"Yep. Another failure, Eggman," Keith smirked. "An almost perfect record."
Robotnik growled, reaching out to grab Keith, but Jet caught his hand.
"Now now, Doc," he said. "Don't be angry with the kid. Unlike you, he knows how to ride."
Robotnik said nothing before storming off, muttering to himself.
Pit Stop
He headed back to his pit stop, where the rest of his team were waiting.
"It appears our chances of winning the prix are... lacking, doctor." Metal Sonic remarked.
"He's right," Eggatha said. "Fourth, third, fourth, and fourth."
"It doesn't matter," Robotnik declared. "Whoever wins, Jet will undoubtedly use the key. And when that happens... the Treasure of Babylon is as good as ours."
Author's Note:
We're on the home stretch, baby! Who will win the EX World Grand Prix and bring home the gold?
The Colossal Worms are an enemy type from Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, just FYI.
Please R&R. Until next time!