-Chapter 201-

Attack on Pinball Fortress, Part 2

Lava Powerhouse

The trapdoor slammed shut as Knuckles plummeted. He quickly glided over to the wall, clinging to it with his fist spikes before looking around to see he was in a geothermal power plant. At that moment, Eggatha's voice came over the intercom.

"Knuckles!" she said cheerily. "How nice of you to drop in."

"Oh great, you inherited your uncle's sense of humor," Knuckles deadpanned. "Where am I, you little deviled egg?"

"Welcome to the Lava Powerhouse. This little area uses the volcano's magma to power my Pinball Fortress."

"Geo-thermal energy…" Knuckles began looking for somewhere to land. "And yet you need over twice the normal number of emeralds."

"Well, those are to stop the volcano from blowing. Keep it stable, y'know?"

"Uh-huh," Knuckles dropped down to a nearby platform. "Hypothetical question: Do you have evacuation procedures for destabilization?"

"Of course. Better safe than sorry."

"And now, two more questions. What's your game here, and where are Sonic and Tails?"

"Sorry, but you've reached your quota of answers for the day."

There was a click, and a set of flamethrowers activated, nearly burning Knuckles to a crisp. He yelped and dodged, just barely avoiding his clothes catching fire.

"Now, all you have to do is find the three Emeralds I have stashed here while avoiding getting cooked, and you win and can move on to the next level. Simple, right? Though I warn you, there're more than just flamethrowers waiting ahead."

Eggatha proceeded to laugh evilly, clearly mimicking her uncle… which was ruined when she broke into a coughing fit. "Wow... Uncle Ivo makes evil laughs look so easy to pull off."

Knuckles shrugged out of his shirt and vest, tying them around his waist.

"Three Emeralds, huh? Alright then."

He closed his eyes, feeling out for them. Before he could pinpoint any locations, he heard a whirring sound, a robotic tentacle lashing out at his back. Knuckles immediately hit the ground, ducking and turning to see the tentacle retract into the dreadlock of Dimitri.

"Guardian Knuckles…" he mused. "We meet again."

"That voice…" Knuckles perked. "It can't be… Enerjak?!"

"No, not any longer. After you drained me of my Chaos Energy, I ceased to be Enerjak. In fact…" He stepped into the light, revealing his heavily cyberized form. "I quite nearly ceased to be entirely."

"By Aurora…" Knuckles let out in shock.

"But Dr. Robotnik saw use in me, and insisted on the Dark Legion preserving my life."

"You're more robot than Echidna now! That's not living! Eggman should've just let you die!"

"No," Dimitri said firmly. "Not until I've completed my objectives. Not until I've had my revenge!"

He charged at Knuckles with fists raised, throwing a punch that the Guardian easily dodged, and cratered the wall behind him.

"Some strength you've got there... but all that tech is slowing you down," Knuckles pointed out. "All the power on Mobius doesn't make a difference if you can't hit me!"

"We'll see about that!"

Control Room

Up in the control room, Eggatha watched Knuckles and Dimitri face off.

"Well… this is embarrassing," she remarked.

"What is?" Robotnik asked.

"Lien-Da and her crew were so focused on keeping Dimitri alive that they didn't put much thought in actually making him mobile."

Robotnik sighed. "This is why we always leave Cyberization to the professionals."

"We literally have Orbot and Cubot running the Cyberizer."

"...Fair enough," Robotnik conceded. "In any event, I saved his life for his brains. Here's hoping Knuckles doesn't knock them out."

"With luck, his assistant should help even the odds."

Lava Powerhouse

Before the boiler of the Lava Powerhouse, two figures jumped on either side of a bellows machine, keeping the flames up before hopping off to take a break. Said figures were two Mobian kangaroos who were completely indistinguishable from each other. Most of their bodies were covered in bluish-gray fur, the exceptions being their light brown arms and muzzles. Both wore long blue shoes-to accommodate their large feet-and white gloves, along with the usual Robotnik Empire prison jumpsuit, with added name tags to differentiate them.

"Hip…" one began, "we never should've quit law school."

"I agree, Hop," said Hip. "This is worse than our summer jobs after high school."

"At least Agatha isn't as much of a slave driver as Robotnik. Reasonable breaks, food... if only it wasn't this oven she stationed us at."

"Still, maybe someone will come and rescue us. Like Sonic."

At that very moment, they heard loud pounding sounds, looking up to see a wall cracking and beginning to cave in. After a few more pounds, the wall exploded outward, Knuckles and Dimitri flying through and grappling furiously.

"Knuckles?" Hip remarked. "Eh… close enough."

"You will fall, Knuckles!" Dimitri ranted. "And I will reclaim the power you stole from me! I will be Enerjak again!"

"Enerjak will never rise again!" Knuckles swore.

Their fight eventually led them to the top of the boiler, Dimitri edging Knuckles to the opening.

"You know what they say: kill it with fire!"

Hip and Hop watched from the floor, realizing the dire situation.

"We gotta do something!" Hip cried.

"What can we do?!" Hop demanded.

Hip perked. "The bellows! Use the bellows!"

They ran back to the bellows, jumping on them repeatedly. Just as Dimitri was about to throw Knuckles into the boiler, a jet of superheated steam burst out and hit him dead-on, knocking him back with a roar of pain.

"Ha!" Knuckles taunted. "Looks like someone's getting steam!"

Dimitri stood up, his body glowing slightly from the heat. "Perhaps... but did I forget to mention I'm not alone here?"

As if on cue, Lien-Da jumped down, landing with a smirk. Knuckles perked, getting the Emerald signal from her.

"Oh, I get it," he realized. "You were just a distraction while she got the emeralds. Oh, how the mighty have fallen."

"You would do well to watch your tongue, Knuckles," Lien-Da warned, eyes narrowed.

"Yeah, I'll get right on it," Knuckles deadpanned. "But this works out for me. I had to find the Emeralds to move on, anyway."

"You want them? Come take them!"

Lien-Da flicked her wrist, an electrical whip coming out of her hand.

"Cute," Knuckles said flatly.

She lashed out with the whip, forcing Knuckles to duck. As he ran around, she eventually got a lucky hit, zapping him and knocking him down. Before Lien-Da could zap him again, another steam jet burst out, forcing her to jump back. Knuckles saw his chance and took it, tackling her to the ground before reaching for her belt pouch and yanking out the three Emeralds.

"And Amy says girls have more hiding places than boys." he scoffed.

"Wretch!" Lien-Da shrieked.

She kicked him off, creating another whip, but before the fight could continue, the Lava Powerhouse rumbled ominously, the boiler shaking most of all.

"What's going on?!" Dimitri demanded.

"Oh, I dunno," Knuckles said flatly. "Maybe the entire area is destabilizing! There's the tiny, insignificant little fact that you two snagged the Emeralds that were keeping the volcano in check! "

"You idiots!" Eggatha screamed over the intercom. "Knuckles was supposed to get them himself! He would've had just enough time to evacuate the workers and move on if you two hadn't stolen the Emeralds!"

Lien-Da winced. "That... was not my best plan, I'll admit."

"Oh gee, do you think?!" Knuckles snapped.

"Less arguing, more evacuating!" Eggatha shouted.

"Right!" Knuckles grabbed Lien-Da, throwing her into Dimitri. "You two either get out, or stay out of my way. I've got bigger things to worry about."

"This isn't the end of it!" Dimitri swore as he took off. "I'll get you next time, Knuckles! Next time!"

"If I had a mobium for every time I heard that," Knuckles muttered before raising his voice. "Everyone! Time to get the hell out!"

He threw a few Warp Rings down. "These'll get you to Green Hill! Scram!"

Hip and Hop immediately made for the rings.

"We won't forget this!" Hip cried as he jumped through. "Thank you!"

With that done, Knuckles immediately made for the elevator, riding up.

"Surely, it can't get any worse than this…" he grumbled.

As if to prove him wrong, cheesy elevator music began playing on the speakers. His Shovel Claws were out in a second, ripping the speaker box out.

"Was that really necessary?" Eggatha deadpanned. "Those things are expensive, y'know."

"Sorry, I hate elevator music," Knuckles replied. "Besides, we both know that this place is gonna come down soon."

"Yeah, fair enough."

"So, gonna tell me where my friends are?"

"They have their own missions. Now be patient," she sighed. "Now I see where Kat gets it from."

The Cyberizer

Meanwhile, Tails had managed to enter the fortress, finding himself in the robotic core of the facility. Glassy industrial pipes riddled a stage of churning pistons, electrical arc furnaces, and massive electronics systems, as well as a pen for various Mobini and cages for prisoners, with the Badnik Processing Plant in the center.

"Tails, old buddy!" Eggatha piped up. "I see you've found your way to the heart of my little evil lair."

"Yep," Tails looked over the cages and pens. "And I'm starting to see why you emailed Hope. Let me guess, your uncle?"

"That, and things have been way too quiet lately."

"Well, things are about to get real loud."

Tails went over to the wall, hitting the big, well labeled "RELEASE ALL" button. Immediately, the animals and prisoners began scrambling out. Tails quickly dropped a Warp Ring.

"Here! This'll get you to safety!"

As they jumped out, Eggatha went on.

"Now for the rules of the game. There are five Chaos Emeralds powering the Badnik Processing Plant/Cyberizer. Collect them, and then enter and smash up the plant from the inside, and you win."

"Right, sounds easy enough," Tails cracked his knuckles. "Let's get to work."

Using the Miles Electric, Tails was able to track the Chaos Emeralds powering the machine, smashing up the tubes transporting them before jumping in. Within the Cyberization portion, Cubot and Orbot were at work with one man who hadn't escaped. As Orbot began to make an incision, the man let out a pained yelp.

"Whoops," Orbot remarked. "Guess he needed a bigger dosage."

Cubot whipped out the mallet, knocking the man out.

"How do you still have a mallet?!" Orbot demanded. "I took all of them!"

In a massive dumpster to the side, there was a large pile of mallets.

"I dunno," Cubot admitted.

They heard someone's throat clear, and turned to see Tails leaning casually against the wall.

"Ah, Tails. Agatha said you'd be along," Orbot sighed. "Do you see what I have to endure, being the only one who makes any sense around this insane asylum?"

"Honestly, I'm surprised you haven't quit," Tails remarked, taking the mallet away. "I'm sure the Freedom Fighters would love to have someone like you. Shard would enjoy having a robotic companion."

"Look, I'd love nothing better," Orbot replied, "but someone needs to keep Cubot from blowing himself up. He's an imbecile, but he's my imbecile."

"Yeah, that's a good point. Well made."

Cubot hopped up, trying to take the mallet back.

"Hey, that's mine, fox boy!" he shouted. "Give it back! Let me have it!"

"If you insist," Tails brought the mallet down right on Cubot's head. He slumped back, optics dazed and making the sounds of chirping birds. "You know what I'm gonna do, Orbot. Take him and scram if you don't wanna get blown up."

"Of course," Orbot grabbed Cubot by his back joint. "Time to go."

"To get through tight spaces, press the circle button to slide…" Cubot slurred, dazed.

As they headed out, Tails planted a bomb, dropping the man down a Warp Ring before making for the elevator.

Pinball Fortress

Tails came out on what appeared to be scaffolding similar to the Launch Base Zone. Standing before them was a large, orange-colored rocket ship with teal accents. It was rectangular in shape and possessed a wing on each side. It also had active rocket exhausts on its rear. Below was the magma-filled caldera of Mount Mobius. Before he could take in anything else, he heard more dings, turning to see Sonic and Knuckles exiting from their own elevators.

"Guys!" Sonic exclaimed.

"Sonic!" Tails shouted.

"There you guys are!" Knuckles yelled.

They quickly gathered around.

"The ocean…" Tails let out. "Sonic, how'd you-?"

"The current carried me into the cave system below the mountain," Sonic explained. "Which Grimer had turned into a toxic jungle."

"I got dropped right into the furnace room," Knuckles added. "Oh, by the way, Dimitri's still alive, and is more robot than echidna now."

Sonic and Tails exchanged looks at that.

"I... can't say I'm surprised Eggman saved him," Sonic admitted.

"Nope, me neither," Tails agreed. "Oh, I destroyed the massive cyberizer and Badnik plant."

The other two nodded.

"Ah, now I get it," Knuckles said.

"Ploy to shut down something she didn't approve of," Sonic noted. "Clever girl."

"Well, not to toot my own horn or anything," Eggatha's voice cut in.

They looked up, seeing her standing in the rocket ship.

"Congratulations, Team Sonic. You've cleared the Pinball Fortress, but just one last challenge awaits you."

"Let me guess, your getaway rocket?" Sonic asked.

"Yep!" Eggatha confirmed. "Catch me if you can!"

As it began to power on, Knuckles turned to them.

"What do you think? Board the ship and take it down?"

Tails looked at the Miles Electric. "Well, the last five Chaos Emeralds she's collected are on that ship."

"And we've already come this far," Sonic pointed out.

"Right."

They made for the door, Knuckles prying it open. "After you."

They jumped in, Knuckles closing the door as the ship took off. He closed his eyes, feeling for the Emeralds.

"Engine room," he reported.

"Okay, here's the plan," Sonic began. "Knux, you take the Emeralds. Tails and I'll take on Eggatha."

"Gotcha," Knuckles headed off.

"Lead the way, Sonic," Tails said.

They headed for the cockpit, seeing Eggatha seated in a cockpit with a glass dome around it, mechanical claws on either side.

"Well, well," she mused. "So you found me."

"And it is so weird seeing someone other than Eggman in the cockpit of one of these things," Sonic mused.

"Now all you have to do is beat me…" Eggatha's voice took on an ominous tone, "if you can."

She began laughing like Robotnik again... only to break into another coughing fit. "Okay, seriously. Did Uncle Ivo take classes in evil laughing?"

Sonic began chuckling darkly, before breaking out into a full-fledged evil laugh, throwing his head back as he did. Tails and Eggatha looked on, somewhat disturbed, before he randomly cut off.

"That's how you do an evil laugh, Aggie." he declared.

"Sonic... never do that again," Tails requested. "Ever.

"What?" Sonic said defensively.

"You... actually know how to laugh maniacally?" Eggatha asked.

"Yeah…" Sonic shrugged. "Got bored, tried to mimic Eggborg's laugh from Sonic Man. Now, are we gonna talk or fight?"

The other two snapped out of it.

"Right," Eggatha agreed.

A claw snapped out, the two scrambling to dodge. At the same time, twin guns popped out of the cockpit, firing on them. Sonic immediately went on the offensive, spinning into the left claw and denting it before jumping for the cockpit.

"Hey!" she batted him away. "Get off!"

Tails flew around, pelting the cockpit with bombs.

"You can't keep us out forever!" he declared.

"I can try!" Eggatha shot back.

A claw snagged Tails out of the air, tossing him at Sonic, who caught him before dashing a safe distance away.

"Buddy…" he began, "I think it's time to break out that new move we've been working on."

"Are you nuts?!" Tails demanded. "We've only pulled it off a few times in training!"

"You have a better idea?"

"Okay, fair. But you get to explain the aftermath to Uncle Chuck."

"I'll take it."

He tucked into a ball, Tails snatching him up before flying away.

"What're you gonna do?" Eggatha mocked. "Use Sonic as a volleyball?"

"Yes… and no."

Sonic got into a stationary Spin Dash, crackling with Chaos lightning as Tails threw him up before punting him right at the cockpit. Eggatha's eyes widened behind her glasses.

"Ohhh… nuts."

The cockpit shattered on impact, Eggatha throwing up her arms in defense. An EMP surged through the ship as Sonic bounced back, thumbing his nose.

"Okay, cool," he mused. "We pulled off the Thunder Shoot without me exploding. I'd say that's a success."

"And I only have minor burns," Tails added. "Sweet."

Eggatha peeked out of the cockpit. "Okay. I'll admit that was a cool combo."

The ship shuttered, the controls sparking.

"Aaand we better start running," Sonic said.

Eggatha hit a button, popping out in an Egg Mobile before taking off

"You haven't seen the last of me!" she declared dramatically. "I will defeat you! Next time, will never rise from the ashes of your shame and humiliation!"

As she took off, she smiled slightly. "Well… that was fun."

Knuckles came running out of the engine room.

"Got 'em!" he yelled. "Let's go!"

Tails typed away at the Miles Electric as they ran, knocking the door off its hinges and free-falling a bit before the X-Tornado swooped in, snatching them up. They watched as the ship came crashing down into the Pinball Fortress, which crumbled before collapsing into the volcano.

"Well... that happened," Knuckles mused, dumping all the Emeralds he found into his seat. "So... what the heck do we do with all these?"

"Well, I say having a nice little stockpile back home should work," Sonic remarked. "Besides, if we have them, Eggman won't."

"I'll whip up something to mask their energy signature once we get back." Tails decided.

They turned around, heading for Knothole.

"So... who's up for chili dogs?" Sonic asked.

"Throw in some mint candy, and I'm game." Tails decided.

"Eh, what the hell?" Knuckles shrugged. "After this, we've earned it."

With that, the X-Tornado took off into the horizon.

Author's Note:

And that concludes the Spinball adaptation.

For those of you wondering where Robotnik went at the end, once things started to fall apart, he evacuated and left it to Eggatha to handle things. Also, Hip and Hop are from Archie.

Voice cast for this chapter:

* Hip - Dylan Sprouse (Zack Martin from The Suite Life, Yozora from Kingdom Hearts III)

* Hop - Cole Sprouse (Cody Martin from The Suite Life, Jughead Jones in Riverdale)

Next chapter is a little early Halloween filler. Please R&R. Until next time!