Sonic GeneX - Infinite Crisis
Part 3 - Passing Days
Sonic Forces & all related characters, scenarios and elements are (c) SEGA and Sonic Team.
GeneX and related characters belong to 2BIT.
Previously on Sonic GeneX - Infinite Crisis...
As Sonic was rescued and began helping the Resistance, the Freedom Fighters had their own missions to worry about: seeking out the plans for Eggman's robotisizer so they could build a de-robotisizer. During the mission to GUN's old fortress, the group was exposed to Virtual Reality in the form of Firepaw and Mephiles. Lucky messed up things once again, zapping Uncle Chuck with the Chaos Sword and causing Eggman's programming to return, but Sally managed to fix him with Nicole's help. Meanwhile, Tails learned of Eggman's plan to end the Resistance in 3 days.
Tommy & Ridley joined up with the Freedom Fighters after having spend time searching for Razor, who'd gone missing during an evacuation of Troblusk City. Gemini also joined the Freedom Fighters after failing to find Copter or Libra. She joined a mission to recover the robotisizer plans, and on the way, discovered that Aries was in fact Copter, now working for Cancer. Aries wounded Rotor before leaving, but the mission was still successful.
Rainbow escaped from Illusi's watchful eye, only to stumble into the Babylon Rogues' debt...
Felicia met up with Tails after finding an odd gemstone. It was soon after that the Freedom Fighters learned of the three day time limit and the full extent of Infinite's powers. Now, Knuckles seeks to take Eggman's capital city with "Operation Big Wave", and Punchy and Kosmo have volunteered to join the attack.
Now, on to the next chapter...
"Nothing's real, it's all a game.
We will win, make no mistake.
You must trust your heart, not what you see." - Capital City, Sonic Forces
Word had reached the Babylon Rogues that Metropolis was undermanned, and likely to be invaded. As such, they began flying around the outskirts of the city, planning to steal what they could take. Eggman had to have tons of valuables stashed in his capital, right? Metropolis was a very modern-looking city, where even the trees were robotic. Rainbow was nervous as she wandered behind the rogues. "This can't be a good idea. Don't you think Tubby will still have lots of security?" she murmured as they proceeded into the city. "Don't be a coward! We'll handle anything dangerous. You just grab stuff!" Jet squawked. "Looks like the attack is underway." Wave pointed, seeing squads of animals charging into the city ahead. Felicia had swung across the sky with a grapple hook the Resistance had supplied her with, and gritted her teeth as Infinite flew by her. "Infinite! Activate the Phantom Ruby! Make them wish they'd never been born!" Eggman ordered over his own comms. As strange energy erupted from Infinite, the entire city seemed to transform! Giant monsters wearing Infinite's mask began to rampage through Metropolis, and gravity itself turned topsy-turvy in places! "Wh-wh-whoooa!!" Storm stuttered, flying out of the way as an enormous clawed foot stomped down on the spot he'd been hovering! The rogues scattered in the sudden chaos, and Rainbow fell back from the shockwave caused by the monster's stomp! "Eeeek!! Wh-what is that thing!? Someone help meeee!!" she cried, covering her head in her hands as she shivered before the horrific creature. Suddenly, she heard blasts whiz past her head, and the monster lifted its foot away in response to apparent pain. Rainbow looked up to see Shade the echidna, wearing the Chaos Gauntlets on her hands! She glanced at Rainbow. "You okay? Where's your Wispon, soldier?" she asked. Rainbow stuttered nervously. "Uhhh, I'm n-not a soldier..." she said. Shade nodded. "I see... Come with me, then. I'll keep you safe!" she offered. Rainbow nodded. "Thanks, Nocturna!" she smiled. Shade tilted her head. "Ohh... I remember you now... Greeeeat..." she sighed.
"Snake Squad, requesting reinforcements!" Punchy could tell over comms that the battle wasn't going well. "This is Fox Squad! We can't hold out much more!" Kosmo looked at him grimly as they walked on the side of a building thanks to a change in gravity. "80% of our Forces have been wiped out! We've lost contact with the rest!" Amy reported in panic. "One flip of the Phantom Ruby switch, and everything falls apart on us!" Vector added in frustration. Punchy and Kosmo nodded and switched off their comms at that moment. "On our own..." Punchy grunted. "You mean on my own..." Kosmo sighed, spotting Infinite flying around. He morphed into his gargoyle form and took off after the jackal while Punchy took off into a run, hoping to find a way to catch up. "Let me know if you need a big chunk of building tossed at him or something!" Punchy shouted. Infinite noticed Kosmo headed his way, but he was focused on following Felicia. "You bore me... Fight with something more your league..." he murmured, activating the Phantom Ruby again. Kosmo suddenly found his progress halted by his exact duplicate, even mimicking his gargoyle form! "Real creative! If you're gonna use me, you could at least use a different form! Like this!" Kosmo said, morphing into a feral eagle and starting to peck viciously at his copy. The copy morphed its hands into saw blades and started to slice them in his direction! Punchy stopped running and stared in shock at the scene. "Infinite can copy Kosmo... Yeah, we're screwed." he said, and then dashed out of the way as a giant Infinite monster slapped its hand into the building he was standing on. "Your big wave washed out, Knux..." Punchy groaned before turning on comms and hearing Knuckles say the same thing. "Damn, I am his clone..." Punchy groaned.
Infinite stood bored as the attack continued, but was fizzling out. "More ants to crush. I wonder if this world can offer me a real challenge." At that moment, Felicia caught back up to him. "And as if to answer, the world sends me a trembling child." Felicia certainly looked rattled. The trip had been nightmarish. Infinite sped over to her. "Are you going to fight and die here? Or run away in fear again?" he whispered in her ear. Felicia backed up, but began to remember some encouraging words Sonic had said prior to their missions. "...Sonic... You're right... I can't be scared." she thought, and made a fist. "Fine. I will teach you fear, then pain." Infinite stated, rising up, "And then... well, at least the fear and pain will end." he sneered.
While fleeing in a panic, the Babylon Rogues flew directly into the path of Silver, who held them still with his powers. "You guys didn't come with us..." he stated, "You with Eggman?" he asked. "Oh, please, Eggman's only in it for himself!" Jet squawked. "Kinda like us!" Storm added. "That's not helping, Storm..." Wave groaned. Tails and Classic Sonic were there, too. "...You're lookin' short today, Sonic. But hey, I heard you were dead." Jet muttered. Classic shrugged, and Tails sighed. "We'd better keep an eye on these three. They're not exactly trustworthy... Hey, guys, where's the Rookie?" he asked through comms. "We've lost contact." Espio stated. "Oh, I hope Eggman didn't get her..." Amy sighed. "Why didn't we bring Sonic and Shadow again?" Charmy asked. "More fake Shadows were spotted in the city..." Knuckles groaned, "I wonder if Eggman DID know we'd try this. Sally was right. It was a trap..." Tails nodded. "Then we'd better retreat... Hopefully the Rookie will meet us at the rendesvouz point..." he sighed.
Felicia had been fighting Infinite. During the battle, one thing he said stuck with her. "Those eyes...I feel like we've met before..." But she couldn't linger on anything too much. Her special Wispon, equipped with the Chaos Cards, switched between spouting flames to take out oncoming robots to firing "asteroid" projectiles to fight back against Infinite. Ultimately, though, he began to gain the upper hand as Felicia dropped the strange gem she'd found earlier. "I remember you!" Infinite declared, "You ran from me before. You survived then, but you throw it all away now. Curious." he said as Felicia picked up the gem again. Infinite created a ring of turrets around Felicia, ready to finish her off. "This will be good bye." he said. However, as the shots fired, and Felicia tried to duck, clutching the gem, the bullets fizzled and went through her, causing no damage! "What? How is this possible? It can't be... How did you?" Infinite babbled in shock. He tried to fire again, but Felicia managed to jump out of the way, only for Infinite to smack her back down! "No matter. They only have two days left. Let them contemplate the inevitable until I end this once and for all." Infinite said before leaving Felicia alone. Realizing the mission was failed, Felicia slowly stood up and started to retreat, clutching the odd gem. "...How DID I do that?" she asked herself. A strange memory flashed in her head, one she didn't recognize. "...Illusions..." she babbled, rubbing her head.
Elsewhere, a think-tank of scientists were gathered around a metal tube in Shadow Arcangel's lab. Bunnie Rabbot sat inside, looking nervous. "Don't, uh, worry. No harm will come to...me." Dr. Nammad said, his small glasses replaced with huge safety goggles. Rotor sat back in his wheelchair and sighed. "We're sure you won't robotisize further if this goes bad, Bunnie." he assured her. "Well, we've calculated the best we could. I think the Phantom Ruby might be involved with Eggman's final design, though...possibly." Bucky murmured, looking over the blueprints. "No time for checkin' our work now, Stein! It's testing time! Let 'er rip!" Uncle Chuck shouted, throwing a switch. Sally and Gunner watched as well as the metal tube shut, and the ship experienced turbulence as it drew power to try and de-robotisize Bunnie. Sadly, as the tube opened, all Bunnie had was a bad case of static electricity and the same robotic limbs. "Y'all can be the guinea pig next, Chuck..." she coughed. Bucky groaned. "It's like I said. Our power source isn't compatible!" he stated. "Well, uh... Not like we can get a Phantom Ruby." Nammad grumbled. "We can't give up..." Chuck sighed, "There must be an alternative." Gunner scoffed and began to walk away. Outside the lab, he found Guard casually standing with Heather, who was cheerfully chatting with him. "Stand away, feathers. I have personal business with my guard." Gunner snapped. "He deserves a real name, you know." Heather scoffed as she stepped away. Gunner smirked at her. "Ridiculous. But Guard... You haven't forgotten your feline friend, have you?" Gunner asked. Guard looked at him with curiosity. "Grr... Why do you bring her up?" he grunted. Gunner held up a smart phone. "I received this image via intel... You need to see it." He seemed to take sadistic pleasure in showing Guard an image of Mia...robotisized, and marching with Eggman's troops. Guard's normally gruff face showed a flicker of emotion...of sorrow, even. Gunner nodded. "We need a power source for the de-robotisizer. I can count on you to do ANYTHING to get it, right?" he smirked. Guard nodded. "Anything..." he said, turning. Heather was behind him. "...You're not going alone." she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. Gunner nodded. "Whatever..." he grumbled, turning away, "Anything to wreck Ivo's army..."
Resistance HQ was turning into more of a hospital after Operation Big Wave. Shade had gotten Rainbow there in one piece, though, and the pair soon found where the Babylon Rogues were being held prisoner. "Serves you three right for ditching me." she huffed. Shade nodded. "Cowards. What good will looting be after Eggman kills everyone?" she snapped. "Hey...That's a good question..." Storm mumbled. "We don't answer to these guys!" Jet squawked. Rainbow nodded. "Of course you don't. But this is your world, too. How can you just let it die?" she asked. She yelped as a sudden hug from behind startled her. "Rainbow! You're alive!!" Punchy cried, cuddling her in his arms as she blushed at his unusually affectionate reaction to finding her. "One! Y-yeah, I'm okay. I came to find you, actually! Lucky you were here!" she giggled. "Lucky about a lot of things!" said Illusi as he stomped over. Punchy glared at him. "You... You kidnapped Rainbow, didn't you!?" he growled. "You're lucky I did or she'd be dead! How could you let her out of your sight during an invasion!?" Illusi snapped, "And you! It's not MY job to guard your crystal!" he said to Rainbow. "Mousy, quit trying to control things. We can't hide in your tower when there's a war going on." she said. "What's all the yelling?" asked Felicia as she walked by. Illusi looked at her in surprise. "N-nothing... Y-you're..." he babbled. "Felicia. Are you okay?" she asked, noting he was looking rather pale. "Y-yeah..." he said, turning to see Rainbow talking to Jet. "Alright, girlie. We'll help out here. You talked me into it..." he sighed. Illusi blinked a bit, and Rainbow turned with a smile. "...Fine, maybe... I have been a bit shortsighted. In that case, how can I help?" the shrew asked. "Any medical training?" Shade questioned, "As you can tell, that operation went BAD." she stated. Illusi nodded. "Herbal medicine, mostly. I'll see what I can do..."
Tommy was training with his lightning Wispon as Ridley watched, when Guard and Heather passed them on the way out of the ship. "Hey, sis and bro, got a mission?" Ridley asked them. "We're...not related..." Heather grunted, glaring at him a little. Ridley sighed. "Still cross about my history with Despair, are you? I've been a cop for about a year, what have you done lately?" he asked. Guard grunted. "We're headed to Angel Island. Grrr... The Master Emerald may suffice to power the de-robotisizer." he said. Tommy looked at him curiously. "Did we ask Knuckles first?" he asked. Guard grunted and resumed heading for the exit. "H-hey! You two can't go alone!" Tommy stammered. Heather glanced at him. "I'd hate to see you get hurt..." she frowned. Tommy cracked the lightning whip at a bottle set up across the room, shattering it. "...I'll be fine." he smiled. Ridley nodded. "I'll watch the kid." he grinned. "Hey!" Tommy chuckled. Guard rolled his eyes. "Fine. Grrr... Don't slow us down anymore!" he grumbled.
The Resistance came to the conclusion that the Phantom Ruby had to be dealt with in order to defeat Eggman and Infinite. In order to learn more about it, Classic Sonic and Tails ventured to Chemical Plant to check out Eggman's database for information. This left the rest of the Resistance with little to do...except deal with the reappearance of Metal Sonic. Sonic and Felicia had gone to check it out, finding a powered-up Phantom Ruby duplicate of Metal Sonic. Together, they defeated it at Red Gate Bridge. While Felicia caught her breath, Sonic was looking a bit excited. "Hey! That was great! We were like a well-oiled machine...fighting a well-oiled machine." he said, looking at Felicia and giving her a warm smile as he extended his fist. She smiled back and gave him a fist bump. "Thanks, Sonic... You're really making me feel like a member of the team." she giggled. Sonic chuckled in response. "Well, that's 'cuz you are...partner!" he winked. He never thought he'd be such friends with Fera...these were strange times, but they were bringing out the best in everyone, it seemed.
Guard and company took a re-purposed Eggman shuttle to Angel Island, but they didn't get far before they found the path blocked by fighting. Eggman's forces were trying to contain a very angry Shadow Chaos, while Anubis watched the robots get trashed with irritation. "How did they conquer the world if they cannot capture a puddle of dirty water?" he growled. Freeze the Gizoid stood beside him. "I'd deal with it myself, but I'm only here to keep you in check... Eggman doesn't trust you." the robot hissed. Heather pointed Guard's group down a different direction. "Let's go around. No sense wasting time fighting if they're busy." she stated. After some walking, they found themselves starting to feel chilly. "I th-thought we weren't going into the snowy region?" Ridley complained, wishing now he at least still wore his uniform for a little extra warmth. Guard grunted. "We weren't... This isn't IceCap..." he stated. Looking around, they saw the frozen remnants of ferris wheels, colorful barrels, and deflated balloons. "A... carnival?" Tommy stammered. They proceeded through the frozen carnival, careful where they stepped so as not to fall through the ice into frigid waters. Soon, they heard an angry roar ahead of them. "Uh oh... Someone's here." Heather muttered. One of the colorful barrels was suddenly smashed aside as a black echidna emerged... Dark Punchy!? He flickered before them, apparently a Phantom Ruby duplicate. "Grrr! So, Eggman acquired data on him, too?" Guard grunted. Robots were approaching as well, but Guard remembered Mia's robotisized face. "...Whatever it takes!" he snarled, flying up and ditching the others! "G-guard! Wait!!" Heather shouted, dashing after him! Dark Punchy tried to catch her as she passed, but Ridley hurled a Chaos Splash attack at him, which shattered as an ice ball as it hit! "...Dang, it's cold here!" Ridley remarked.
Tommy started lashing his lightning whip at oncoming Phantom Pawns while Ridley tried to keep Dark Punchy occupied. "Put a Knuckles clone to guard the Master Emerald, real funny Eggman!" the coati grumbled as he dodged a dark energy blast tossed from Dark Punchy's fists! "I'm even better! I'm free of any of those other echidna's self-righteous ideas of morality! No one will stop me from killing you...not even the child!" Dark Punchy sneered, turning in Tommy's direction. "Hey, you leave him alone! Chaos Splatter!!" Ridley's explosion of water turned into an explosion of icicles, forcing even Tommy to do a little dance to dodge them. "Ridley!!" he whined, and hastily lashed the whip at Dark Punchy as he approached. The dark echidna caught the whip, and sent dark lightning coursing back through it, zapping Tommy and making him yelp in pain! "N-no!!" Ridley gasped, unsure what to do. Suddenly, bolts of light rained down from the sky, systematically taking out the robots before piercing through Dark Punchy, making him vanish! Looking around, they saw a figure standing on the frozen ferris wheel. He jumped down, letting them get a better look. It was...Razor the porcupine! He had a great bow strapped to his back, and a very serious expression on his face. "Bro! Y-you're alive!!" Tommy cried, running over to hug him, but Razor backed up a step. "...I am Sagittarius. You need to leave this place. It's not safe." he said. Ridley rubbed his head. "Aw, Razor...Don't tell me you've been brainwashed like Copter? Please, come back with us!" he said, hoping his partner was still in there. A pair of angelic wings spread out from Razor's back. "I haven't seen Copter. And I'm not brainwashed. Get safe." he said before flapping his wings and flying away. Tommy stared sadly. "Did... Did he die?" he asked.
Guard arrived at the Master Emerald's shrine, and Heather wasn't far behind him. "You can't just ditch your teammates!" she cried. "Grrr... I work alone." Guard grunted. "Like fun you do! You work for GUN!" she snapped. "And GUN is no more!" Guard snarled. As they argued, Shadow Chaos emerged before them, heading for the Master Emerald. "Gr? Stop!" Guard stammered, moving to chase it, only to find Aries suddenly in his path. "I'm not here to make your resistance fail..." he stated calmly, "Just to weaken you... to draw out our true enemies." he said, pointing his staff at Guard. "Grrr... I know you're Copter. Your friend told everyone." he growled. Aries opened the front of his helmet, glaring at Guard. "Then think of this as payback...old 'friend.'" he said, preparing to fire at Guard, only for Razor/Sagittarius to land in front of him and parry the blast with a bolt fired from his bow! "You wanted our attention, Aries. You got it!" he said, the Deathbringer also landing beside him. Aries smirked. "I've been dead before. Good luck making it stick..." While the three of them started fighting right in front of Guard, Heather noticed Anubis and Freeze coming their way. "I think Eggman's on to us! We gotta get the emerald!" Heather stammered. Guard flew around the conflict and found Shadow Chaos sinking INSIDE the Master Emerald, disappearing within. "Grr... I hope that isn't a bad thing..." he murmured, moving to pick the emerald up. "Guard, look out!!" Heather shouted, leaping between Guard and an errant bolt from the Deathbringer! She collapsed with a hole in her chest, her body bursting into flames as she began to revive. "Grahh!? H-heather?!" he gasped, watching her writhe in pain as the flames were bringing her back from death. "...You...saved me..." he murmured. "D-don't gawk. Let's go!" Heather stammered. As Anubis' mummies surrounded Aries, Sagittarius and the Deathbringer, they began to fly away, Aries using his twin tails now that all knew who he was. "Cancer sends his regards to your master!" he shouted, retreating for now. Guard lifted the Master Emerald along with Heather, and took off into the sky to flee as well.
It had now been months since Tails sealed Cream and others into the hidden bunker. "So hungry..." Big whined, their food rationed so that it would last hopefully until Tails returned. "And I'm bored. All the TV shows is the Alpha and Metal Eggman comedy hour... I don't get their jokes." Gator mumbled. Cheese, Chocola and Froggy sat hunched in a corner looking sad, and Bill, Dave, Agent 77 and Talon the griffin were playing poker to pass the time. Cream sat with her mother, but she was getting fed up with all this. She got up and walked to SPOT. "Tails hasn't been back yet. Our food supplies are starting to run low." she said. "You have not been authorized to leave." SPOT's monitor read. "What about when our food runs out?" she asked. "I have not been instructed for that outcome." SPOT replied. Cream knelt down to the robo-puppy's level. "It's been so long since Tails was here. He could be in danger. He could be hurt or..." she stammered, tears in her eyes, "Sh-shouldn't we help him?" she asked. SPOT looked up at her. "Processing..." Cream stood up and sighed. Tails was just like Eggman, it seemed. His robot was as cold as any of Eggman's machines... Or was it? SPOT stepped forward and nudged Cream's hand. "Acknowledged. Tails gone too long. New directive: Rescue!" Cream looked at the message and smiled. "Thank you... Okay, everyone! Listen!! We can leave now!" she shouted. "Thank goodness. I've had to tinkle for a month..." Dave whimpered. Cream pointed to the door. "Somewhere out there is Tails. He put us here to protect us. Since he's not back, I guess Eggman... still has the world. But we can't sit here and leave our friends behind anymore! Will you all come with me to fight?" she asked, a tad nervous. Cosmo looked awkwardly. "I've witnessed my world fall before..." she sighed, bringing down the whole room for a moment, "...But I won't watch this world meet the same fate! Let's go!" Talon looked around nervously. "Was I the only one happy to be locked up?" he stammered. "Yes. Now come on, help carry the food!" Gator told him. Cream looked to SPOT. "Fire up your Tails Tracker, SPOT! We've gotta catch up to our friends!" she winked. "Yes, ma'am!" The robo-puppy replied. There was just one day left until Eggman's plan went into motion. Could they make it in time to help?
Guard's group soon arrived back at Shadow Arcangel with the Master Emerald. Felicia was on the monitor, giving a report to Sally and Uncle Chuck. "Tails has an idea about how to weaken the...Phantom Ruby, he called it? Anyway, we've launched an attack on the Death Egg. Hopefully Sonic...the other Sonic...can bring it down and cut the power supply! ...I still have no idea how that works. But we should be ready for a final assault on Eggman's capital if this succeeds!" she announced. Chuck nodded. "Keep us posted, kid! Stay safe!" he said. Bucky was watching from afar while Lucky stood next to him, clutching the hilt of the Chaos Sword. "You should stay out of the assault. Every one of your missions has gone poorly." Bucky told him. Lucky looked up with a frown. "I'm sure I can make a difference. I just...need to keep trying, right?" he murmured. Bucky snatched the Chaos Sword from his hand with a scowl. "We can't afford any more screw ups! You're done, Lucky! This sword should be used by one who can wield it!" he said, walking away as Lucky stared in shock. Conan watched from the shadows with a grin. "Finally..." he whispered. Meanwhile, Sally had been talking to Guard about the Master Emerald. "It was reckless to run off like that without telling anyone...but hopefully this'll work. Chuck! Get this emerald to Rotor! We need that de-robotisizer now!" she ordered. "Yes, ma'am!" Chuck said, running over to grab the emerald. Tommy and Ridley watched the emerald get run out of the war room, their minds on anything but. "...Think Razor's alright?" Tommy asked. Ridley shrugged. "I dunno, kid. Who gives people those wings?" he mumbled, rubbing his head nervously. Antoine nudged Bunnie as the Master Emerald went by. "Will you be testing le de-robot-izer again, Bunnie?" he asked. Bunnie growled at him. "Maybe y'all should test it, Ant. Your hair could use a retouchin'" she remarked, making Antoine pat his hair insecurely. "Umm... How am I needing to touch it?" he mumbled.
The Freedom Fighters spent some time preparing, hoping that the Death Egg would soon explode and they'd get the word to move in on Metropolis. However, while they were busy, a sudden explosion rocked Shadow Arcangel! Vortex stumbled awake in his seat at the control room. "Sssshoot! What?! We're under attack!" he shouted over the PA. Bucky scrambled into the control room as well, to see an Egg Carrier before them, enemies launching from it in droves! "Get off your butts and fight!" he shouted. Zeke and Dulcy were quick to exit the ship and fly out to meet the aerial forces, while others headed for the entrances to hold off enemies as they came in. Lucky held a hover Wispon, hoping to blast anyone that entered right out the door. He wasn't prepared for who he saw. He was robotic-looking now, but Crash the rhino entered the ship. A robotisized Spiny was also with him. "Me-YOW!! I-I can't toss them overboard!" he stammered, tossing aside his Wispon and running away. "Well, we can't ignore them!" Ridley grumbled, tossing Chaos Splash attacks as Crash charged towards him! Zipp was on his way out to join Zeke and Dulcy, and passed Crash. "So, there you are! I'd say the metal is an improvement, but you're still a pain in my stinger!" he said, pistol-whipping him briefly before flying out of the ship! Guard hesitated as a robotic Mia stomped in from another door. "Grrr... Eggman!! This is beyond low!!" he growled. Heather tossed fire at the robotisized people as they came. "War is war! We can't hold back!" she said, a scared look in her eye. Sally shared her sentiment. Her father was among the robotisized entering. "This is why I started this..." she growled, grasping a Wispon. "Hi, dad..." she grunted through tears. As Bucky and Vortex manned the Arcangel's weapons from the control room, something crashed through the windshield! "Ssstop breaking that, people!!" Vortex groaned. Bucky looked to see the Deathbringer...but with a flicker, her hood was removed, revealing her as a phantom of Hope. Bucky breathed heavily. "Dr....Eggman... You pit my love against me?" he grunted, his fingers sparking, "NOOOOOOOOOO!!" he roared, unleashing massive jolts of electricity at the false Deathbringer! She flew out of the way and sped past him, into the ship! "I will KILL you, Eggman!!" Bucky snarled, breathing heavily. "You go, bossss." Vortex smirked. "Try not to zap us out here!!" Zeke shouted from outside. "Sorry I burned the toast, ma..." Dulcy grumbled shakily.
In the chaos, Conan found the Chaos Sword unguarded on the map table. He reached for it, but Shade the echidna slapped his hand aside. "I knew I was right to transfer here. You have a relic. They're split up for a reason!" she warned. Conan smirked at her. "You have two." he pointed out. The gauntlets were a set though, and he knew it. Shade raised her fists. "Want a demonstration?" she asked. Who but Gunner arrived to stop them. "Cease this, idiots!" he shouted. "You want to rephrase that, old man?" Conan growled. Gunner motioned around them. "There are bigger things going on right now! We've no time for infighting! ...And I have a file on you. You can use the sword. So use it!" he ordered, glancing at Shade, "I'm aware how this could backfire, but damn it, it's war! If I won't make the tough calls, you freaks damn sure won't!" he told her. Shade backed up a step. "O-okay... But the consequences are on you." she told him as Conan lifted the sword. "Oh, I know it..." Gunner sighed. "I'm back, my baby..." Conan said to the sword, before stabbing it right through an incoming robotisized animal! "C-conan!! We could save these people!!" Shade stammered. Conan scoffed. "Save ourselves first!" he grumbled as Gunner smirked, assured he'd made the right call.
Lucky had fled to the lab, where wheelchair-bound Rotor was tinkering on a special Wispon. "Robotisized mobians! Robians!! We can't fight back!!" Lucky babbled. Rotor glanced at him. "Mobian? ...Oh. That term hasn't caught on in Spagonia where I was working before all this. Never mind. Try this!" he said, handing Lucky a gray Wispon. "Were you listening?" he asked. Just then, Spiny burst into the room, snarling like a "Robian." Rotor gasped. "Don't stand there! Zap him!" he cried. Lucky shakily pointed the Wispon and fired. Light surrounded Spiny as he fell to the ground, and in the next instant, he sprung back up with a pleasant yawn, startling Lucky. "Meee-yow!! It's alive!!" he yelped. Spiny was smiling. "Of course I am, and such a great day it is to wake up in a world where Sonic the Hedgehog is dead!" he grinned, "Thanks for getting me outta...hey, what's with the look?" he muttered. After that, Lucky ran through the ship, de-robotisizing Robians as he went, though none were as peppy as Spiny as they woke. Mia, Crash, Sally's dad and others escaped back through the doors, though, leaping clear to the earth below as Eggman's forces began retreating. "Graah! Mia!!" Guard grunted, trying to chase her, but stopped by Heather. "Guard...WHY are they leaving?" she asked. "Because a copy of my departed beloved is heading for the engine room!" Bucky said as he passed them, "BRACE YOURSELVES FOR CRASH LANDING!!" he cried. He'd tried to catch Hope, but she was too fast for him. And now, with a sickening explosion, Shadow Arcangel began to plummet out of the sky!
The crash landing was rough, leaving everyone aboard rattled. Punchy, Rainbow and Kosmo were just arriving after having spent the previous night at Resistance HQ, and they immediately set to work helping anyone who needed medical attention to the lab. "Wh-what do we do now?" Tommy sighed, beaten up but mostly okay. "We got a de-robotisizer working, but now we can't move." Lucky sighed. "How'd they fit the Master Emerald in that?" Heather asked. "It's a Wispon. Wisp energy. Sorry, but they didn't use the Master Emerald." Uncle Chuck stated. Antoine was holding his foot while Bunnie consoled him. "It's okay, darlin', the crash is over..." she sighed. Even Bucky and Sally looked grim. "That Egg used my lost love to cloud my emotions..." Bucky growled. "And my father... He's been a step ahead of us all the time..." Sally sighed. Gunner stepped to the nearest usable door and pried it open. "All luck. Listen, I know Ivo. He just wanted to hit us. He didn't know or care who was here, or what their relationships were. He probably tracked his own tech to find us!" he said, pointing at Chuck and Bunnie. "I... I'm sorry..." Chuck sighed. "Never mind, because if all goes right, he'll be too distracted to watch for us now..." Gunner smirked. "But I can't even walk!" Spy whined, laying it on a little thick. "Then stay, Spy." Gunner scoffed. "I don't get it." Sally stated, "How are you saying we'll get there?" Nicole beeped as she said this. "Signal approaching, Sally." she stated. Gunner stepped outside, leading the Freedom Fighters out with him. "You freaks didn't think I'd throw all my eggs in this dilapidated basket that Stein calls a ship?" he said as something was coming over the horizon. Something big. "Colonel- I mean... Mr. Gunner... It took some doing to procure this, but I've arrived!" came the voice of former Sergeant Drol over the comms! Before the Freedom Fighters flew the GUN Assault Carrier, the most impressive of GUN's Warships! "Now... You freaks want a ride, or should I leave you here?" Gunner smirked. "Stop being smug and admit you need us!" Punchy shouted. Gunner frowned. "Gah... Fine! ...I can't pull this off on my own. Are you happy!?" he strained to say. Kosmo smirked at him. "That wasn't so hard, was it Richard?" he chuckled. Sally turned to the group. "Alright, everyone! We have a chance! I know we're rattled, but time is short! Let's defeat Eggman and get back our world! Let's do it to it!!" she cried. The final battle was surely nearing. With the tides turning, could the heroes keep it up and defeat Eggman before it was too late?
To be continued...
