Sonic GeneX - The Series: Armada!
Episode 3 - Blast to the Past
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...
GUN's Strike Force, made up primarily of villains fitted with shock collars and a handful of special agents, landed at Emerald Hill Zone to begin their mission of defeating the Battle Bird Armada. Guard the gargoyle was called away on a tip to the whereabouts of the Chaos Claws, the final Chaos Relic, which Conan had stashed in Station Square before being captured and assigned to the Strike Force. Mia the cat had found the claws and tried them on, and now she could not remove them, and they were making her crazy. So, Guard fitted her for a shock collar as well, bringing her to join the Strike Force.
Meanwhile, Sonic broke into AcornCorp in search of any leads on Uncle Chuck's whereabouts. However, the Deathbringer was there! To get Sonic out of the way, the Deathbringer sent him through time, and he found himself back on the night Tails and Copter defeated the enraged Kosmo the morph. Now, Sonic must find a way back to the future!
Now, let's begin today's story!
After meeting up with Guard and Mia, the Strike Force proceeded on their way through West Side Island. Guard led them swiftly to Hill Top Zone, where they passed by that strange man in the alligator costume, Gator, as he was roasting a weenie over a pool of hot lava. "What in the name of Chaos, Gaia and Solaris are you doing here??" Spy stammered. Gator took a bite out of his burnt hot dog and glanced at them. "Um... Would you believe I'm camping?" he said with a big goofy grin. Rouge shook her head. "Let's go before he joins our group." she groaned, "We already have to babysit Guard's stray." she added. Mia huffed and scraped her claws against a rock wall. "If I can figure out what's so special about these claws, you'd stop sassin' me..." she sighed. Conan growled as he watched her. Those claws were his. How could she have found them? Gator teleported in front of Guard as he tried to lead the group away. "Hold it! Where are YOU guys goin? This looks very suspicious... And I need a story to compete with SSTV!" he said, pulling a pad and paper from seemingly nowhere, and also putting a "reporter hat" onto his gator hood. Guard looked highly irritated. "Grrrr... No paparazzi... This is an important COVERT mission..." he said. "Ooooh, sounds interesting..." Gator grinned, scribbling onto his pad, only for Omega to blast it out of his hands! "Annoying mental patient! Shall I eliminate this obstacle?" he asked. Nack, Bean and Eddie all smirked at this. "I'm startin' to like you, robot." Nack said. "I'll remove him..." Rouge sighed, flying over and chasing after Gator as he yelled in protest. "Hey! No! Bad bat! Hey, do you know who Batman is? Wait! Get back!! I'll SCREAM LOUDER!!" he yelled. Mia looked a bit nervous as she watched this. "Should we be letting him yell like that?" she asked. Suddenly, several birds emerged atop the surrounding ledges, glaring down at them. "Aha! There they are!" said Speedy, leading their group, "Blast 'em to bits!" he ordered, prompting the birds to start hurling bombs down on the Strike Force! As they scrambled for cover, Bean shook his fists as Bark carried him. "You copycats!! Tossing bombs is MY thing!!" he yelled. Nack looked up from his cover miserably, surveying the situation and how trapped they were. "All considered... why couldn't we have just asked Sonic ta handle this?" he groaned.
Sonic had slept under the stars. Now it was morning, and he was busy trying to avoid...himself. After being sent to the past by the Deathbringer, the blue blur wasn't entirely sure how to get back home, all he knew was that he should avoid doing anything that might alter the future in any meaningful way. This wasn't like one of Eggman's time-bending schemes where he was thrust into the same space as his past self anyway. If he could avoid messing with time, he knew he probably should. After all, it wasn't like he'd never seen a movie before. He knew his past self was hanging out in the Mystic Ruins that day, so Sonic headed for Station Square, at least this way he could think without running into himself. "How am I gonna get home... Gotta get home, then find Uncle Chuck..." he muttered, yawning. Looking up, he saw a billboard as he neared Station Square. It was emblazoned with the logo of AcornCorp; a giant Acorn. Sonic stared at it, and then had an idea. "Wait... maybe I find Uncle Chuck first, THEN go back to the future! Past-Chuck might be able to tell me what might've happened to him!" he realized. At this point in time, he even happened to have an office in Station Square. It seemed like fate had drawn him here! Sonic sped into the city, but hadn't gone far before he ran smack into a certain black, two-tailed fox. "Yeow!! Slow it down, Sonic! Or I'll kick your blue butt!" Copter said grouchily. Sonic backed up a step and then helped Copter up. "Sorry, pal..." he muttered. "We're pals now? Must've missed that memo. Just because I saved your butt doesn't mean I like you." Copter grumbled. Sonic nodded. "Duly noted..." he said before hiding behind the black fox quickly. Amy was across the street, and the last thing he needed was to run into her right now. "What's with you?" Copter asked. Sonic shushed him. "Pretend I'm not here..." he muttered. Copter smirked and nodded, turning around and slapping the hedgehog with his tails. "Gee, Sonic was here a moment ago! Wheeeere did he go?" he snickered. Amy's ears perked up. "Sonic?! Where is he??" she asked excitedly. Sonic grabbed Copter's arm and made him point. "That way!!" Sonic said, mimicking the fox's gruff voice as best he could. Amy jumped excitedly and ran off in pursuit of Sonic, not realizing she was right there. Copter watched her go and rolled his eyes. "No wonder you don't like her. She's dumb." he muttered. "Hey! That's my friend you're insultin'! Hmm... But I'll let it slide if you help me..." Sonic said thoughtfully. "Help you? Bah..." Copter grunted. Sonic tugged his arm to keep him from leaving. "...Okay, look. I've been sent from the future. And I need to get back to my own time. But... I don't remember much about this particular day. I kinda took it easy, didn't hang out in town much...so I want you to kinda... walk me through things." he said. Copter looked at him like he was nuts. "...My train leaves in an hour." he grumbled. "That should be plenty of time..." Sonic said reassuringly.
Unfortunately, having someone along who was experiencing that time period for the first time wasn't very helpful, either. Before either of them got far, they were swarmed by reporters. "Oooh! Oooh! Mr. Sonic! Scarlet Garcia, SSTV News! Can we get a comment about last night's drama?" one of the reporters asked. Sonic stammered nervously. "That wasn't me at AcornCorp, that was... oh, you're talking about the Kosmogon thing!" he mumbled. "Kosmogon? Is that what that dragon was??" one of the reporters asked. Copter stepped away while Sonic was busy, trying to escape, when Gator approached him. "Giseppi Gator, Gator Gazette! Are you the Batman?" he asked. Sonic grabbed Copter by the tails and sped off quickly. "Talk to my agent!!" Sonic shouted as he fled. Once they were a good distance away, Copter slapped him. "My TAILS!!" he groaned, holding them, "...That one dark furred reporter in the back was cute, though..." he mumbled. "Focus, Copter! We need to get to AcornCorp and avoid the media." Sonic said. "I don't know where AcornCorp is!" Copter protested, "Anyway, future boy, if you're really from the future... tell me something only a future you would know!" he said skeptically. Sonic shrugged. "Okay... that Gunner creep is gonna get a warrant out for your arrest in spite of the fact you helped stop Kosmo." he stated. Copter scoffed. "Yeah, like he won't get arrested for his part in that... then again, it'd be my luck." he sighed. Just then, a certain green quilled police porcupine approached them. "Well, well, Sonic and the black fox. How convenient to find both of you. I need to take a statement about the incident yesterday." he said. Sonic turned to him, growling at this officer's refusal to help find Uncle Chuck in the present...not that he felt he needed the help. "Hey, Razor... My statement is Eggman stinks like rotten eggs. He caused the whole mess, so it makes sense." he muttered. Copter shrugged. "Ummm... ditto for me?" he said. Razor nodded. "Umm... Can I get a name, blacky?" he asked. Copter scratched his head. "Ummm... Char..." he muttered. Razor nodded and watched them leave. "...Wait, how'd they know my name??" he stammered.
Copter hid behind Sonic as they circled around the city, passing Twinkle Park, where Vortex and Zipp were walking out carrying bundles of rings. "Ship needs gas, huh?" Sonic asked. "Sssstay out of our busssinesss if you know what'sss good for ya!" Vortex hissed. Zipp chuckled. "Hey, Copter! My visor seeees you! Too bad my hands are full, I'd love a rematch after that little ARK duel we had!" he said. Copter shook his fist at him. "If I ever see you creeps again, it'll be too soon!" he shouted. Sonic sighed. "Good luck with that..." he muttered. They tried to avoid any further run-ins. Fortunately, Knuckles was a bit busy as they passed him. He was still chasing Punchy around after he'd made off with the Master Emerald the night before. "Y-you can't lose me, cloney!! I can sense that emerald wherever it is!!" he shouted. "I'm not tryin' to lose you, I'm tryin' to wear you out!" Punchy taunted. At any rate, Sonic and Copter soon arrived at the AcornCorp office building. Just outside, a new face met them. It was a female ferret wearing white robes, and possessing angel wings. Copter stared in surprise. "Time travel and now angels... Will my life ever quit being weird?" he asked. "Nope." Sonic replied. The ferret pointed at Sonic. "Hello... You do not belong here, yes? I apologize. I should have arrived to bring you home sooner." she stated. Sonic looked at her curiously. "Who are you?" he wondered. She smiled. "I am Capricorn the Divine... one of the Zodiac Council of Divine Masters." she stated. "That name's a mouthful..." Copter muttered. Sonic nodded. "And you can return me to my own time?" he asked. Capricorn nodded. "Our council looks after such things... Come, Sonic..." she said, extending her hand. Sonic backed away a step. He couldn't leave quite yet. "Distract her..." he whispered to Copter. "What?? Distract her?? Sonic?!" Copter babbled as Sonic sped toward the office building. Capricorn flapped her wings in preparation to pursue, but Copter stopped her. "Chaos Whirlwind!!" he shouted, knocking her off balance. She glared at him. "That tailband of yours will not help you against a Zodiac..." she scowled, and Copter gulped. "Darn you, Sonic... If she smites me, I'll kill you..." he grumbled.
Sonic soon found his way into Uncle Chuck's lab, where he was surprised to find his uncle busily tinkering away on Metal Sonic, of all things! The robot's chest plate was open, and Chuck appeared to be searching for something inside. "Yo, Unc... What the heck!?" Sonic stammered. Metal Sonic squirmed, but Chuck restrained the robot. "Relax... Um, hey there, Sonic. Not a great time..." he muttered. Metal Sonic stared at him, and then surprised Sonic by speaking, something he hadn't done in some time. "Dr. Eggman has stood in my way for the last time... Your uncle will remove my restraint mechanism, allowing me the freedom I crave! Then... I will prove myself superior to you, Sonic!" he growled. Chuck sighed. "If you're gonna have that kinda attitude, I won't help ya! Freedom comes with the responsibility to make the right choices, understood?" he stated. Metal Sonic nodded slowly. "...I... may be able to prove my superiority... within the confines of your petty laws..." he muttered. "Close enough!" Chuck said, disconnecting something and tossing it to Sonic, "Here, make yerself useful and hold his voice chip, sonny! Gotta find his restraining mechanism under all these wires and gizmos..." he muttered. Sonic shrugged, clearing his throat after a moment. "So, uh, Unc... This the only questionable project you been workin' on lately?" he asked. Chuck shrugged. "Whatever I'm working on is company property, and top secret until it's revealed publicly...that's all I'll say about that." he muttered, "Why, something on your mind?" Sonic rubbed his head. He wasn't sure if it was a good idea to mention the future. "Well... Just makin' sure you're not into anything dangerous, is all..." he sighed. Chuck smiled a little. "Remind me of yer pop, you... You know, sonny, we don't spend enough time together..." he muttered, "Just where are you livin' now? Or do you just plop wherever your feet stop runnin'?" he chuckled. Sonic shrugged. "Well... I guess I do sorta stay with friends a lot..." he muttered, and then realized he was getting off track. "Unc, I gotta ask... You got any enemies?" he asked, grasping at straws. Chuck looked a bit concerned by that question, but he wouldn't get to answer it...
Suddenly, the back window blasted open, and Dr. Eggman flew into the room, joined by Alpha and an early, more Gamma-like model of Firma. "You think I can't track you, Metal Sonic!? GAH! Traitor! Or... Prisoner? These flesh blue hedgehogs are reprogramming you to get back at me! Well, we'll see about that! Go blast that mustachioed Sonic, robots!" Eggman shouted. "Yes, Master Sonic!" Alpha said, turning his guns on Eggman. "You are in error, Alpha. Target is blue." Firma corrected. Sonic chuckled. "Gotta say, Eggman, dunno what you were... will be thinking when you rebuild that lady-bot. She's much more feminine now." he said. Eggman scratched his head. "What are you... Rrrr... Don't play mind games with me, Sonic! I'm tired because I didn't get any sleep last night!" he growled. "I was singing! This is the song that nev-er ends!! It goes on and on--" As Alpha started singing, Firma tried to fire at Chuck during the distraction. Sonic sped over and carried him out of the way, but this mean no one was protecting Metal Sonic. Dr. Eggman launched a cable from the front of his Egg Mobile, which attached to Metal Sonic and reeled him back in. "You dug into my robot's chest cavity! Well, if he's missing anything, he'll have to go without as punishment for running away!" Eggman growled, turning and flying off. "I'll see you later, Sonic... I need to sleep off this headache..." he groaned as Alpha and Firma followed, the crazier robot continuing his endless song. Sonic sighed. "You okay, Unc? Sorry you couldn't free Metal Sonic...but maybe it's for the best..." he said. Chuck nodded. "I'd better clean up this mess. Take care, sonny." he said. "You too, Unc." Sonic smiled, turning to leave. He walked unusually slowly on his way out. "I guess I can't change the past without knowing what happened..." he reasoned. Upon arriving outside, he found Copter teamed up with Gator, both of whom were annoying Capricorn quite a bit. Gator was teleporting around, taking pictures with a bright flashing camera while Copter moved to avoid light beam attacks from the angelic ferret. Sonic dashed onto the scene to stop this. "Okay, Capricorn! I've done enough damage to the past! You can take me home now!" he shouted. Copter panted and nodded. "Good riddance! One Sonic is enough! We don't need a future-Sonic running around here, too!" he grumbled, looking up at Capricorn nervously. "We good?" he asked. Capricorn huffed at him. "I will remember this, fox... You're just lucky you are needed for the preservation of the timeline...for now." she said. "...Nice to be needed..." Copter chuckled, heading on his way. "I've got a train to catch!" he shouted. Sonic glanced at Gator, who was still snapping pictures. "What a scoop! Angels! Hedgehogs! An explosion behind that building! I have no idea what it's all about, but these pictures will be worth plenty of milkshakes!" he giggled. Sonic glanced at Metal Sonic's voice chip, which he still was holding, and grinned. "Trade ya this for your camera!" he said. Gator looked at it stupidly for a moment. "Okay!" he said, handing over the camera for the voice chip. He held it to his mouth. "I am a robot! Fear me!" he boomed in Metal Sonic's voice. "Weird... that shouldn't work like that..." Sonic muttered. Capricorn sighed. "It is time to go." she said, pointing and creating a time portal in front of Sonic. "Destroy that camera. It is best no one knows of me but those I choose." she added. Sonic nodded. "Consider it done!" he said, heading through the portal.
Back on West Side Island, the Strike Force was pinned down by the Battle Bird army. Guard was able to fly out and pursue Speedy, but for the others, the birds were too fortified in the surrounding cliffs to approach them, and the constant barrage of explosives were making it difficult to even stay safe. Nack, Bean and Bark decided to take out their frustration on Gator, strangling, punching and kicking him respectively. "Aaaack, you g-guys have a strange way of p-playing!!" he groaned. "You killed us all wit your yellin', you insane human dingbat!" Nack yelled. "Hey... don't say human like that!" Spy whined. Eddie was keeping the birds occupied blasting illusion copies of himself, Conan and Nack, but it'd only be a matter of time before their real selves were found. "Eee hee hee... These birds are good. You didn't see coordinated strikes like this with the Covenant of Despair!" he mused. "I'm glad you're enjoying it so much!" Conan snapped. Suddenly, to the group's surprise, a blue blur sped across the hilltops, knocking over all the birds and startling them into retreat! "Huh?? Bob's my uncle, I said Sonic's name and he showed!!" Nack said, mystified. Speedy watched his troops retreating and whined. "That's no fair! You weren't supposed to get backup!! Rrrr, I'll be back!" he shouted, flying off with his troops. As Guard rejoined the Strike Force, their "ally" appeared as well. It turned out to be Metal Sonic, and Rouge, Spy and Guard immediately got defensive as the robot approached, while Omega replaced his hands with machine guns. "Eggman robot! Do not think saving us earns you a reprieve! I will annihilate you!" he warned. Metal Sonic stomped over to Gator, prompting Nack, Bean and Bark to hide behind him. "Huh? Ooooh... Um... Want a hot dog?" Gator asked, holding up his half-eaten weenie. Metal Sonic glared at him. "...Only other thing I got is this microchippy thing." he said. Metal Sonic swiped it, opening up his chest plate and quickly reinstalling it. "I have searched for that voice chip for some time! Consider my saving you a finder's fee..." he said, zooming away before Omega's shots could hit him! "Curses! I hate that metal hedgehog!!" he growled. Gator grinned, pleased with himself. "Sooo... Now it looks like old Gator saved the day! Wanna make me captain of this expedition now?" he asked. Guard growled. "Go back where you came from, or so help me, I will have you locked deep in the darkest cell GUN has, grrrrrr..." he snarled. "Ditto." Rouge added. As the Strike Force went on their way, Gator pouted. "See if I help you guys again!" he said, sticking his tongue out.
Sonic related his story to Tails, telling him about his trip to the past, his visit with Uncle Chuck, and his run in with Eggman. "Sounds like you had one heck of a day. Too bad you didn't get any clues out of all that..." Tails sighed. "Nope, just the answer to why Metal Sonic's been quiet ever since the Kosmogon was defeated..." Sonic shrugged, yawning. Tails nodded. "You look like you need some rest. Maybe you should relax at home for a while..." he suggested. Sonic looked at him funny. "What home? You know I'm a drifter..." Sonic muttered. "Very funny, Sonic..." Tails said wryly. When it became apparent that Sonic had no idea what he was talking about, Tails gave him a ride out of concern that something had messed with his head in the past. They traveled to Central City, where Sonic found a blue-painted house waiting for him, his name in yellow letters on the mailbox. "...I don't understand..." Sonic mumbled as he went inside. However, a quick look around gave him the answer. There were pictures lining the tables, mainly of Sonic and his friends. One, however, depicted the day Sonic moved into this house. Uncle Chuck was standing beside him with a smile. "...He bought me the house..." Sonic realized. "Yeah, about a year ago." Tails said, "...This must be eating you up, for him to be missing and all... You two did get real close in the last couple years..." he frowned. Sonic nodded, smiling a little to himself as new memories started to come into his mind. "I gotta thank that hooded character if I see 'em again... That trip to the past wasn't a total disaster after all..." he thought.
To be continued...
