Sonic GeneX - The Series
Episode 15 - The Fastest Thing Alive
Note: Sonic the Hedgehog and related characters are (c) SEGA and
Sonic Team. You knew that, right?
GeneX and related fanchars are (c) 2BIT (TheGreatGator), the author.
Previously on Sonic GeneX...
Having investigated the Hopebringer Center, Tails determined from the energy signatures inside that he had to capture Sonic before GUN.
A gang of Sonic's friends tried numerous attempts to catch him, but it wasn't until Sonic had seemingly triumphed over every trap and took some time to gloat that he was caught in one final trap! With Sonic held in his workshop, Tails secretly put in a call to GUN, letting Col. Gunner know that he'd captured Sonic! Has Tails turned against our hero??
Now, let us begin today's story...
Tails stepped through the halls of the Hopebringer Center, moving Sonic's cage with the aid of a pushcart. Sonic looked at him with shock as the fox was delivering him to their enemy. "...Don't look at me like that..." Tails said. "I can't help it." Sonic managed to reply. Tails stopped the cart briefly and let out a sigh. "This is the only way to end Gunner's chasing you..." he said, yanking out a small gadget concealed between his tails, "I came prepared. I'll disable that power-stealing machine, you'll finish it off, and we'll escape! Easy peasy!" he explained with a smile before hiding the device again. Sonic smirked back. "You should have led with that, buddy. I'd have played along!" he said. "It had to look good, Sonic. We're trying to fool GUN, here!" he replied quietly as he resumed walking. They soon arrived at the lab, where Gunner and Dr. Nammad were waiting. "Finally! The, uh, culmination of my experiments!!" Nammad said with glee. Gunner sneered at Sonic and Tails, raising a hand to halt them. "...Search that fox!" he snarled. "Huh? I was searched at the door!" Tails stammered. Spy led some agents to Tails and grabbed him, quickly discovering his invention while he struggled! "S-stop!! That's mine!!" he cried. "Let him go!!" Sonic blurted, their ruse utterly shattered. "I'm not a fool!! Sonic, turned in by his own little stooge?! You think THAT little of me, freak!? Well, now you'll pay for it! You're next!!" he shouted, smirking triumphantly. Spy quickly maneuvered the cage in front of Bucky's power-draining invention, which had been modified with two pods, likely for sending the power directly into a new host. "You're deceptively heavy..." Spy mumbled as Gunner stepped to the restrained Tails, holding a gun to his head. "Step inside... Or watch your friend die!" he barked. Dr. Nammad checked on the other pod, smirking like a kid at Christmas. "Techno is secure and ready... We've never, uh, tried this on a robot before... I can't wait to see the, uh, results!" he said, stepping over to a nearby control panel. Sonic reluctantly stepped into the pod. "Techno Sonic, huh? ...Should've known..." he sighed. Gunner nodded. "I did promise your speed to whoever captures you... Well, from where I stand, I'M the one who has you captured! Ha ha ha!!" he cackled. Nammad threw a switch, and Sonic let out a shriek as the light from the machine enveloped his body, sending his power across tubes as blue and red smoke before reaching the other pod, lighting up the inside of it! Once the power was cut, Sonic dropped to the floor, panting. "Ugh... I don't feel right at all..." he grumbled. Suddenly, the other pod's door was blasted open, and the latest model of Techno Sonic stepped out! Gunner growled softly. "No one programmed you to wreck government property!" he snarled. The robot's eyes flickered and flashed, and then he let out a roar, startling Gunner into dropping Tails! "Th-that bot's going nuts from the power! I gotta get Sonic out of there!!" he stammered, heading for the machine! Techno Sonic started dashing wildly around the room, snarling as it tore through the power-stealing machine, causing it to explode!! Sonic tumbled back out into his cage, and watched from the floor as Techno Sonic sped off to rampage through the Hopebringer Center!
Gunner grasped Dr. Nammad by the collar while Tails helped Sonic out of the cage. "What happened, you quack!? Where is my Techno Sonic going!?" he shouted. "Uh...umm...errr..." was all Nammad could manage to say before the power suddenly went out. "Uhh... I-I'll get the circuit breaker..." Spy babbled, eager to get out of there. "That won't work!" Tails said urgently, "Obviously, Techno Sonic's taken out the power!" he stated. Gunner snarled angrily, while Dr. Nammad whimpered in his grip. "Uh, boss? This is very, uh... not good. Without the power, our supervillain cages are just...cages." he warned. "Well, at least we have Sonic!! ...Huh, what!?" Gunner stammered, spotting Tails flying Sonic out of the lab as quickly as he could! "CATCH THEM!! CATCH SOMETHING!!! And get the DAMN power back on!!!" they heard Gunner shriek as they fled.
When Tails got tired of carrying Sonic, the hedgehog tried to run, but he found his stride had become slower than his companion's. "I haven't felt this useless since Eggman switched my shoes...somehow." he muttered, "And with that machine wrecked... how can I get my speed back??" he whimpered. As they headed for the exit, they soon came across several GUN Agents facing off against escaped prisoners, including Eddie the Hyena, Spiny the Porcupine, Zeke the Dragon and the Zetis, Zim and Zazz! "RAWR!! No more poking and prodding us!! Time for MY experiment! Fire plus humans equals...?" Zeke shouted, blowing his flames at the nearby GUN agents! "What...?? Their powers are intact!?" Tails gasped. Zazz and Spiny both glanced past the Agents, spying Sonic in the hallway. "Well, well!! Look who's here!! I'm gonna REALLY have some fun on the way outta this dump!" Zazz shouted, while Spiny smirked fiendishly. "Could it be...? Were you caught? Oh, this is just delicious!" he chuckled. Zim shoved both of them aside. "Outta my way! I'm gonna smash up EVERYTHING in the name of Zavok!" he laughed. "Gah!! GUN Agents, fall back!!" one of the agents stammered, prompting all but one to flee. The remaining agent had purple hair, and as he lowered his sunglasses, he revealed glowing yellow eyes. "They're gone? Good... Get yourself out of here, Sonic!" said the agent before he transformed, taking the shape of Kosmo the Morph! "What!? What're you doing here!?" Sonic gasped. "Eeee hee hee!! Look! I found a traitor! I'll drag you back to Despair for punishment!!" Eddie cackled. Kosmo glanced back at Sonic briefly. "Gunner with a power-sucking machine. Only a matter of time before he would come for me. Now, go!!" he shouted, morphing into his dragon form to force back the villains with his flames! However, there were too many of them, one actually being a dragon!
Tails had been busy messing with his Tornado remote during all this, and soon the plane came charging down the hall in its Cyclone walker form! "Sonic... I'm gonna stay and help Kosmo! You get in the Cyclone and get yourself out of here!" he said urgently. Sonic carefully climbed his way into the cockpit, but had no intention of leaving. "Why don't I just use this thing to help out? I can't just leave you here!" he stated. Tails looked as though he was considering it, but then a nearby wall exploded, revealing Bean the Duck on the other side, accompanied by Bark the Polar Bear and Nack the Weasel! "Heeheehee!! Looks like this is where the fun is!" Bean chuckled, while Bark simply grunted impatiently. Seeing this, Tails turned to Sonic with a look of seriousness, and held up the Tornado's remote. "This is all my fault... The least I can do is make sure you get out safely... Even if I have to sacrifice myself to do so!" he said, pressing some buttons that first caused a windshield to extend around the cockpit, sealing Sonic inside! The hedgehog banged his fist against it, panicking as the walker started to carry him away from his best friend. "Tails!! T-tails, don't!! Override this autopilot, now!! TAILS!!!" he shouted, looking back only to see Tails get surrounded by Nack and his allies before the Cyclone turned a corner and left him unable to see any more! "...I hope Kosmo can keep them both safe... Never thought I'd say that." Sonic sighed, sitting dejectedly in the seat of the Cyclone and waiting to see where it would take him.
The Tornado's path had been set by Tails before it left, and it took Sonic out of the building before transforming back into a plane and heading for the mainland, returning control to the hedgehog at the outskirts of Troblusk City. He could see from the distance that the city was partially in flames, and despite not having his speed, he headed closer to find out why. As it turned out, Techno Sonic had beaten him there, not satisfied with simply rampaging at the Hopebringer Center. The city wasn't defenseless, though. Copter, Shadow, Knuckles and Team Chaotix were present and trying to fend off the crazed robot. Knuckles charged at it, fists first, but those fists were caught in Techno Sonic's hands and he was thrown aside! "Gaaaah!! He's tougher than I remember!!" he yelped. Shadow and Copter approached the robot next. "Bah, we faced down a 'Super' version of this guy! We can take him!" Copter boasted. "...We? You didn't help." Shadow grunted. As Techno Sonic came at them, the pair launched their Chaos Whirlwind and Spear attacks, respectively, but Techno Sonic simply jumped aside and smacked them both down with homing attacks! "Hang in there, guys! We're surroundin' him!!" Vector announced, making Espio roll his eyes frustratedly. "Don't TELL the enemy what we're doing!!" he shouted. Before they could act, Techno Sonic sped around in a circle, faster than could be seen, and left Espio, Charmy and Vector sprawled on the street, groaning! "We need the real Sonic..." Charmy groaned. This was all Sonic needed to see, and while Techno Sonic was lifting Knuckles by the throat, planning on making sure none of his adversaries could recover, Sonic transformed the Tornado back into the Cyclone, landing it right beside the robot! "Put...him...down!!" he growled, firing lasers straight at the robot to show he was serious! Techno dropped Knuckles, but shrugged off the lasers, going into a spin dash and chasing after the Cyclone as Sonic fumbled with the controls, trying to move the walker in time! The robot smashed clear through the Cyclone, forcing Sonic to abandon it as quickly as he could before it exploded! "No... Now what do I do...?" Sonic gasped as his metallic doppelganger turned toward him with a cold stare.
By this point, the news media was arriving on the scene to cover the unfolding struggle. Among them was Katie the Coyote, who looked genuinely nervous as she reported what was happening for those watching at home. "Here in Troblusk City's business district, a powerful robot has appeared. It's difficult to believe, and harder to watch... but this robotic copy of Sonic seems to be overpowering not only the real Sonic, but a full collection of our nation's greatest heroes!" she said as the cameraman pointed the camera back at the unfolding battle. Amy happened to be watching at Cream's house, and ran up close to the TV in a panicked fashion, blocking Cream's view. "Wh-what's Sonic doing there!? Tails was supposed to have him safe!" she stammered, quaking in fear of what might happen. "Um... Do you see Tails there, Amy? I... can't see for myself with you standing there..." she murmured. Amy turned and shook her head, and Cream held onto Cheese tightly while she whimpered a little. "I hope he's all right... But why wouldn't he be there?" she squeaked. Meanwhile, at Darkegg Fortress, Punchy stood up after having seen enough of Katie's report. "I gotta get over there and help Copter out!" he growled. "You'll never make it in time, One..." Rainbow pointed out as she remained seated near him. Gemini walked into the Chao garden where they kept the TV, glancing over at the echidnas curiously. "What's Copter up to now?" she asked, looking at the TV as she approached and seeing Techno Sonic lift Copter up and hurl him into the window of a building! The worst part was that the window didn't break; Copter fell to the ground, looking quite battered. "Wha!? H-he's in trouble!?" she gasped, jarred by the sight. "Don't worry, Wanda. Speedy's there. It'll all be okay..." Rainbow said, hearing footsteps heading away as she spoke. They turned to find Gemini gone. "...Wanda?" Punchy called with a dumbfounded expression.
As Techno Sonic looked around the battered and beaten heroes as though deciding who to finish off first, the sky was suddenly darkened by something flying overhead. Copter grunted as he looked up, relief in his eyes. "S-shadow Arc!! Bucky's actually here to back us up!" he cried. Techno Sonic shrugged off the ship's arrival and turned to the news media, charging at Katie as though deciding to kill her first! "Eeeek!! Why is it always me?? Why not the lady from Channel 5??" she stammered, bracing herself. However, before Techno Sonic could strike, an orange streak sped by, taking Katie with it! She slowly opened her eyes to find herself being carried to safety in Chet's arms! "You... You ARE alive!!" she choked, tearing up. "Saw you from the ship. What are you doing so close to danger?? ...Never mind. No time to catch up..." he sighed. Techno Sonic was watching them, apparently surprised, and while it was distracted, Bucky the Rat came floating down from the ship above, swiftly zapping the robot with lightning and stopping it in its tracks! Sonic jogged as quickly as he could without his super speed to where Bucky was landing, staring at him in surprise. "You have your powers back, too?! You need to get MY speed back!" he panted, tired from what little running he'd been doing. Another shadow from above blotted out even more of the sun at this point, and the voice of Col. Gunner could be heard blaring over a GUN Warship's PA system. "Attention, civilians! That robot is military property! Stand aside and allow us to retrieve it... Or suffer the consequences if you get in our way!!" he warned as Beetle and Hunter robots swarmed out of the warship, grudgingly joined by Guard the Gargoyle. Vector helped his teammates to their feet and glared up at the warship. "This bot's too dangerous to let Gunner have!" he pointed out. Shadow and Knuckles both nodded. "Agreed..." Shadow said. "Hopefully Bucky can finish it off while we stall GUN!" Knuckles added, cracking his knuckles before running to take on the robots. Bucky turned to Sonic quickly. "That robot will recover fast. We need you, blue streak." he stated. Sonic nodded. "Yeah, but my speed is IN that thing!" he pointed out. The rat smirked back at him. "Your speed could never leave you, Sonic. We can move GeneX energy around, but the secret to that superior speed was, and is, inside of you. Like myself with my lightning, YOU can make your speed return... All you need is conviction... the conviction to be the hero you've always been!" he explained as Techno Sonic started to move again, "So, go, Sonic! Show us just who the fastest thing alive is!" Sonic looked over at Techno Sonic, then around at the pain and damage the robot had caused using his speed. "...You're right. There's only one Sonic. And that's me!" he said with determination!
Most of the heroes moved to battle GUN's robots, with Shadow facing off against Guard in particular. "Grr... Stand down, hedgehog... My orders are to retrieve Techno Sonic." the gargoyle said with an obvious lack of enthusiasm. Shadow hurled a Chaos Spear past his head, a warning shot. "I have about as much desire to fight you as you seem to have in carrying out those orders... so reconsider it." he grunted. Guard simply growled and lunged at Shadow with his scythe! "I cannot disobey!!" he snarled as Shadow sidestepped his attack. "Then I pity you... This will hurt." the hedgehog replied, ready for a fight.
While GUN was occupied, Sonic stepped toward Techno Sonic. "I don't know if there's a thought in that metal head of yours... but if there is, why not stop this random rampage and settle which one of us is the best Sonic?" he shouted, raising his fists and gritting his teeth. Techno Sonic had regained its composure, and glared at the real Sonic briefly, giving a cold nod of understanding. Then, before Sonic could do much to react, the robot sped to him and punched him hard in the gut, and proceeded to speed all around the helpless hedgehog, launching metal fists and feet at him from seemingly everywhere at once! Sonic raised his arms defensively, groaning in pain as he took this abuse. Soon, he fell to his knees, and Techno Sonic stood over him, glaring down darkly. "Get up, Sonic!!" came the voice of Bucky, watching but not interfering, "Show him what you're really made of, or die here!" That wasn't particularly encouraging, but quickly, more voices joined in. "Fight back, Sonic!" shouted Katie as she stood with Chet a good distance away. "Don't give up, Sonic!" came another voice as people watched from windows and sidewalks, and gradually these spectators started to cheer him on. "Go, Sonic! So-nic!! So-nic!!" Techno Sonic glanced around at all the cheering people, rage in its eyes, and Sonic used the distraction to get back up. "...My turn, Techno..." he grunted, backing up to get a running start at the robot. He started slow, but as confidence and determination filled his being, his feet found their quickness again, and soon he leapt into the air and struck Techno Sonic with a homing attack! The robot tumbled forward, and turned with a robotic snarl. "...I'm still faster than you!!" Techno growled, speaking for the first time. Sonic chuckled. "Oh? Let's race, then!"
Hedgehog and robot took off around the area at high speed, tearing through any remaining GUN robots as they went! Their speed seemed about equal, which made sense considering they both possessed sonic-speed. Techno Sonic growled in frustration, firing lasers in Sonic's direction to try to trip him up, but Sonic slid under them and kept running, closing the distance between them again quickly. "You're quick, buddy... but that speed comes with responsibility! I'm gonna have to take it back!" Sonic shouted, stopping on a dime to put Techno Sonic in front of him. Then, he started to spin in place at high speed, building up energy as he went! Techno Sonic turned and tried to catch Sonic before he could finish what he was doing. "...Light Speed... Attaaaaaack!!!" Sonic cried, zooming at Techno Sonic faster than anyone could ever recall seeing him go! His curled-up body smashed through Techno Sonic's chest once, then turned back and knocked its head clean off its shoulders! Techno Sonic's body exploded, and its head landed at a battered Guard's feet. The gargoyle picked it up and glanced at Shadow. "...My mission is concluded... Grrr... Good battle." he smirked, flying away. "...I've fought better..." Shadow said, glancing at Sonic with a smirk.
Troblusk City erupted in cheers as Sonic and his friends successfully repelled the robots. The fires that Techno Sonic had started were already being put out with the help of Ridley, now fully reformed by the local police force. The GUN Warship started to fly away once Guard was aboard, and Gunner growled as he held Techno Sonic's head in his hands. "I'll see all those freaks locked up for this... You can't just trash government property and get away with it!" he growled. "It WAS tearing up the city." Spy pointed out. "...Shut up..." Gunner groaned.
While Shadow and Knuckles headed off, satisfied that the threat was over, and Team Chaotix tried to get fifteen minutes of fame from the press, Copter rubbed his back as he stood at the sidelines. "And... I'm chopped liver again." he grumbled. Across the street, Gemini had arrived and just spotted him. "...He's okay!" she gasped with relief. Copter was about to walk away when a female voice called to him. "There you are!!" However, it wasn't Gemini. The fennec watched as Violet the echidna ran up to Copter, hugging him excitedly as she reached him! "I saw you on the news! I'm so glad you're all right!" she said. "Now, how could I not be, and let down my girl?" Copter replied with a smirk. Gemini backed away with a gasp, and clasped her chest as tears started to form in her eyes. "...I was too late, after all..." she whispered, turning to leave with a sniffle.
Though it was a moment to celebrate, Sonic couldn't look at the wrecked Cyclone without worrying. "...Tails... You sacrificed yourself so I could be here to stop that robot..." he sighed. As he thought about his friend, he swore he could almost hear his voice. "Soooonic!!" In fact, it sounded very real. Sonic turned and jumped as he saw Tails, flying over on the back of Kosmo's dragon form! "Now I've seen everything! Great to see ya, buddy!" Sonic shouted. Tails hopped down and ran to give Sonic a hi-five. "Ha ha! You did it, didn't you, Sonic?" he chuckled. Kosmo scoffed. "You had it easy. We were only able to get Eddie back behind bars, and that's 'cuz he got too cocky." he said. Bucky smirked at him. "I'm proud of you anyway, Kosmo." he said. Chet and Katie approached as well. "I gotta go back, Kate... I... I'm not the same as I was. I don't know if I ever will be." the cheetah sighed. Katie stroked his cheek and nodded. "I'll be waiting when you're ready to come home... my Chet..." she said, smiling. Bucky groaned and pointed up at Shadow Arcangel. "Let's go before GUN sends the warship back to chase us out of the town's airspace." he said. Chet sped off, not revealing exactly how he planned to get up there, and Bucky started to levitate his way up with his own powers. Kosmo took off as well, leaving just Sonic and Tails. "You're okay!! Soniiiiiiiic!!" Or so they thought, as Amy pushed past the paparazzi and sped after the blue hedgehog with single-minded purpose. Sonic backed away a step before turning to run. "Feet, don't fail me now!" he said, dashing off as Amy gave chase!
There was no stealing it and no duplicating it anymore; Sonic was now and forever, the fastest thing alive!
The End ... ... ... BZZ BVZZZ ZZZT!!!
Inside a hidden laboratory, Dr. Eggman turned off his TV with a sigh. "I should get the Metal Sonic concept patented... If I ever go legit." he mumbled, and then turned back to the project he was working on, which featured a hedgehog with a gray mustache trapped in a glass tube. "Thanks for waiting. I do appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to share your research with me, Dr... the Hedgehog." he said with a smirk, as he placed some papers on a nearby table. "We both know I'd never share anything willingly with you, Dr. Robotnik!!" the old hedgehog growled defiantly. Eggman let out a chuckle, approaching a control panel attached to the glass tube. "Not true, you'll do plenty for me quite willingly... Once our little experiment is finished!" he said, pressing some buttons to start up his machine. The hedgehog inside groaned as lights shot into his body, starting to transform him! "You won't get away with this, Robotnik! S-sonic will stop y-yooooou!!" he shouted before jolts of electricity struck him, and his body was rapidly transformed into metal! "Oh, but will Sonic dare to fight YOU, Chuck? My first true robotisizer success..." Eggman sneered before breaking out into a symphony of laughter! The robotisizer had been perfected, and Eggman would surely be making good use of it until the next time he and Sonic crossed paths...
The End?
