GeneX - Shatterverse
Chapter 10 - Escaping the Shatterverse
Egg Memo X10
"Doug Stone, BOMB, the whole lot of them... They're making me miss Orbot and Cubot! They can't do a thing right! Well, I did gain a Chaos Emerald from them. All this for one Chaos Emerald... Fine. It'll power my robot factory...and then I'll get the other Chaos Emeralds, then the Phantom Ruby, the Cacophonic Conch, the Chaos Relics, magic wands, Wisps... Every source of power this world has to offer!
...Hm, sounds like a lot of effort. Work smarter, not harder... I'll grab the other Chaos Emeralds, sure... Then the Paradox Prism. The most likely place for it to exist, based on all the data Sage has collected, would be buried deep within Green Hill...
I should use the Chaos Emeralds to power a device to stabilize it. Don't want to create another Shatterverse. I never did learn much about the Shatterverse, nor the consequences of creating one. No, I want to harness all that energy...and harness it I shall!"
"And that was the last clip we got..." Detective Doyle said as Tails, Gemini and Ridley listened to the Egg Memos that had been gathered by the efforts of himself and Team Chaotix. Sonic was pacing around in circles nearby, while Punchy and Guard glanced at one another uncertainly. They were all gathered in the old Resistance HQ. "So, Eggman was behind everything?" Ridley questioned. "It would appear not to be our Eggman, but one from another dimension." Espio explained. "Like Eggman Nega... Without the Nega. But what exactly is Sage?" Tails wondered. "Robot? Alternate Firepaw virus? Who cares! Copter needs me!" Gemini said urgently. Fera walked into the room, arms folded. "Well? Have you people found BOMB headquarters yet?" she asked, having been listening in from outside. "Rrrgh, Shadow and Rouge should be in touch with the location, soon." Guard grunted. "What're we waitin' for, then?! We gotta take out this new Eggman, BOMB, and Sage, and rescue our friends!" Sonic said. The heroes were almost ready. But could they bring Copter and the others home safely?
Copter and the group were stuck on their escape plan. "The big problem here is unlocking the cell door. Any ideas? Galahad? Color-free Sonic? ...Gentlewoman badger?" Copter asked. A version of Sticks wearing a top hat and a monocle responded. "I'm afraid we're quite stuck, old bean. It's a sophisticated locking mechanism despite its quaint appearance." she said. Suddenly, the guards outside the cell grunted and fell over, the door swinging open with a flash of light! Keyblade master Zeke stood there, motioning for them to hurry out. "You?! But we killed your partner!" Libra stammered. "Not your fault. Besides, I've been waiting for a crew strong enough to help make our escape!" the dragon stated. "You got a plan?" Daisy the skunk asked, stepping out of the cell to retrieve her katana from a confiscated weapons shelf. Zeke held up his keyblade. "There's a door beneath the main arena. I won't go into too much detail, but once I unlock it with my keyblade, it should take us out of this world. From there, we'll be able to return to our own worlds!" he said. Vortex stepped out to retrieve his guns, checking them for bullets. "The problem is security. If such a door exists, it'll be well defended." he pointed out. Toon Sonic zipped out of the cell, leading Sticks, the literal Egg Man, and Sir Galahad behind him. Copter looked to Libra and nodded. "Leave the ass-kicking to us! You make sure you can open that door!" the fox smirked. All the while, the escape was being observed through security cameras. Fera scoffed as she watched the scene. "Idiots. Inform the Ringmaster! I have to mobilize the guards!" she said to a robotic lackey, hurrying after the escapees!
In no time, the escape attempt had evolved into an uprising, the guards of both flesh and metal standing in the path of the prisoners. The chaos led several members of the group to break off, leading some of the guards away. Copter was one of them, leading a batch of gladiatorial Egg Pawns on a chase through the Ring's holding cells. "Chaos Whirlwind!" he shouted once he'd tricked the bots into an open cell. He blew them out of the cell, causing explosions that opened another cell, freeing some prisoners. "That's how it's done!" he grinned, turning to look around. He found someone chained to the wall, and to his surprise, it was the robotisized Fred! He scrambled to him, slapping his face to get his attention. "Fred, hey, listen to me. I need you to tell me what happened to your Gemini... Gwen! What became of her?" he asked. "Why do you care?" came a female voice. Copter turned to find Sage floating in the cell doorway. "It's a world without me... I want... I want to know that she'll be okay...if I don't make it back." he told her. Sage floated over to the unmoving Fred, touching his head. A red glow went from her fingers through the wiring of his body. "In this instance, she falls under the control of a Zodiac Council. They very nearly take control of time and space, but are defeated by Sonic. Gemini is killed by her master as punishment for failure..." she said in a cold voice. "No!! You're lying! She'd never..." Copter growled, holding his head. "My Gemini would never turn dark... No way..." he huffed. Sage floated back into the doorway. "Someone believes you have great power to impact the world. I am under orders to delay you while Cancer completes his trap for your friends." she informed him. Copter clenched his fists. "I'm not afraid to hit a lady." he warned her. Sage raised a hand as if intending an attack, but suddenly stopped. "Father! What is happening?" she gasped, suddenly vanishing from the area! Copter looked around for her, then glanced back at Fred. "I will protect Gemini. It won't happen again!" he vowed.
The main force of the escaping prisoners reached the arena basement, where Doyle stood guard at the door. "You'd better step aside!" Daisy shouted while Vortex cocked a rifle. Doyle calmly opened the door for them. "I'm rootin' for you, but there's no escape..." he told them. Behind that door was a large chamber, at the end of which was another, grander door with a large keyhole. This was the door Zeke needed to open, but Cancer was waiting in front of it. "You ungrateful maggots! I am your Ringmaster, and you will get back in your cages...or die!" he warned. Vortex raised the rifle. "Nah, you will!" he said, firing just as a massive creature dropped down from above, blocking his shot! It appeared to be some sort of black hydra creature, but instead of full heads, its multiple necks ended in a large, bulging eye! "I-it's a Doomling! A huge one!" Libra gasped, backing up a step, "Don't let it touch you! You could die instantly!" she warned. Below its necks, the creature revealed a ravenous mouth with sharp teeth, roaring as it lumbered towards the group! Guard robots were also closing in, making the situation pretty dire. "You want to know how Stone-Fist Knuckles and Power Punchy really died?! They wouldn't kill each other even after three days of battle, so after the sun went down on the third day, I fed them to this beast!" Cancer laughed, the vulture flapping his wings to stay high above and safe from danger! While a desperate battle was starting to unfold, a portal opened up next to Doyle, through which the schoolgirl Gemini and Garen emerged, followed by Chet, Tommy and the Razor from the Backwards World. "More castaways?" Doyle questioned. Chet ran a quick circle around him, leaving him in handcuffs. "No time to figure if you're friend or foe!" he said quickly. Gemini pulled out Copter's ProwerPhone, which she had repaired to the best of her ability. Tails was on the screen. "We may have reached the world where Copter is." she reported. "Great! We'll do what we can to help from here!" Tails reported. Razor looked into the doorway, seeing the Doomling. "Better stay back, Tommy..." he said. "Maybe we BOTH better stay back..." Tommy gulped.
Sage appeared in the Paradox Prism's containment room, where Eggman was shouting at his troops via a microphone near his security monitors. "Push back that hedgehog! Stop those GUN mechs! No! You idiots!!" he yelled. "Can I assist, father?" Sage asked. The doctor glanced from her to his security monitors and back again. Sage was supposed to be keeping Copter and the others from escaping. "Blast it! Agent Stone and his friends are useless. Sage, I need you to turn the tide!" he ordered. "As you command!" she replied. Outside, Sonic was zooming around the exterior of the facility, taking out Eggman's robots while the Tornado flew overhead for support. GUN had also arrived, with Guard commanding their robot forces while Shadow and Rouge looked for an entrance to the base. Amidst the chaos was Gemini, Violet, Fera and Team Chaotix, all providing support as needed. Sage flew past the heroes on the front lines, racing for the GUN army at the back. "Huh? What was that??" Sonic questioned as Sage passed him. "I think she's with Eggman!" Charmy shouted. "Or against him?" Gemini considered. However, once she reached the first Bigfoot mech, it became clear enough what she was. With a touch, her AI infected the machine, and as she flew about, she rapidly infected more of the robots, turning them against their allies! "Grrrr! What is this?!" Guard grunted, "Ridley? We may need support!" he said through comms. Sage approached him, and he tried to strike back at her with his scythe, but she spinned out of the way and touched his head, her AI starting to take over the android gargoyle! "This just got bad!" Tails said from the air, "GUN's been turned! They're helping BOMB!" Fera growled as she jolted some approaching hunter robots with dark lightning. "Damn them! They just can't help but be my enemy!" she snarled. "They're being controlled!" Vector pointed out to her. "Don't care. They're in my way!" the wolf growled. The situation was looking grim, but Gemini decided to press on, warping past the defenses in front of her and catching up to Sonic fast. "Copter's still in there! I'm not stopping!" she said. Sonic smiled and nodded. "Right. I'll zip around and find 'em!" he said. "Wait!" Detective Doyle called to them from an open door. "Huh? How'd you get there?!" Gemini stammered. "Followed some clues, found a short cut. I can lead you to Eggman, but he'll be well defended." he stated. "...Yeah, I think I'll do it my way!" Sonic snickered, zooming past the human. "You can lead me." Gemini told him.
The Hydra Doomling was proving quite difficult to fight without touching. Galahad was doing his best, but the beast's extra heads kept swinging about, trying to hit the others. Gemini, Chet and Razor headed into the chamber while Garon and Tommy stayed back with Doyle. "Distract it, and I'll destroy it with my magic!" Gemini suggested. "But who will save you from me?" snarled Cancer as he dropped down from above, joined by Buzzbombers that helped him catch the trio off guard! Razor and Chet were knocked down by the robots' attack, while Cancer slapped the wand out of Gemini's hand and lifted the schoolgirl up by her throat! "I've seen you die in my own world before... And more than once in this world. But you know, choking the life out of you myself will be much more satisfying..." he sneered as he tightened his grip on her neck, her legs dangling as she flailed helplessly! Chet and Razor tried to go to her aid, but the Buzzbombers blocked them, starting to fire lasers! Libra also caught sight of the scene. "G-gem, no!! Agh!!" she gasped, the distraction allowing a robot guard to smack her with a big hammer! She and the others weren't able to help, the robots and Doomling proving a bit much for them. It looked like Gemini would die, but a furious voice caused Cancer to loosen his grip in his surprise. "Put...her...down!!" Copter had arrived, and he was charging at Cancer with rage in his eyes! The Buzzbombers attempted to block him, but he didn't slow down a bit, leaping and spinning between their laser shots, his tails striking them down! Cancer dropped Gemini onto her knees and turned his attention to the fox. "Who do you even think you are? You're nothing, a footnote in this Shatterverse! Killed or doomed to obscurity in every world!" he shouted. "Forget those guys... I'm Copter Prime, asshole!!" he shouted, smacking Cancer hard with his tails, knocking him onto his back! He then hurried to Gemini's side, holding her in his arms as she gasped for breath. "N-no...time... L-look!" she huffed.
The Doomling was killing their allies. The Egg Man had been shattered into a million pieces, Sticks was face-down on the ground with her cracked monocle beside her, and several of the other prisoners that had joined their escape attempt were scattered around the beast, just as dead. Galahad's sword had been knocked away, leaving Zeke and his keyblade as the best defense the group had against this monster now. "They need my Chaos Whirlwind." Copter said, "Chaos and creation energies are the only way to kill a Doomling!" Chet brought Gemini's wand back to her, and she waved it at Copter. "Go, do your thing!" she said, warping Copter closer to the action with magic! He couldn't get too close, however, and when he appeared, Zeke crashed down at his feet, his keyblade broken in his hand! "Shoot! What do we do now!?" Copter gasped, hurrying to see if he could aid the dragon. Zeke's breathing was labored. "Y-you... so busy trying to save everyone, you got here late..." he chuckled weakly, "I'm dying. Take this... take my key in hand..." he said, holding the handle to Copter. "H-hang on, Gemini'll heal you!" he stammered. "Take it!" Zeke snapped. Copter took the handle while Zeke held the blade. "In your hand, take this key... And so long as you have the makings, through this simple act of taking... It's wielder...you will be..." Zeke grunted, struggling to keep his eyes open. His keyblade vanished, and a new one appeared in Copter's hand, a black blade, with the teeth of the key resembling Copter's twin tails! The keychain resembled a Chaos Tailband. The power of the keyblade had been passed to Copter! "W-wait, I don't... ZEKE!!" he shouted, the dragon going limp in his arms. The heroic version of Zeke was dead.
Doyle led Gemini to the Paradox Prism containment chamber, where they quickly noticed the pods containing Copter and the others! Gemini raced to Copter's pod. "What's he doing to him? And how can he be here and in another world at the same time?" she questioned. "His mind could be in a simulation...but that doesn't explain the calls we've been getting..." Doyle stated. "That's because it's not a simulation, exactly!" The pair turned to see Dr. Eggman, piloting a BOMB-ified Flying Dog mech. "We used Cyberspace technology to aid Sage in entering the Prism, but these pods are actually used to transfer the hearts of your friends into the literal Shatterverse contained in the Paradox Prism!" he declared. Gemini looked at Copter in the pod. "What if I were to break the pod?" she growled. "His heart would be trapped in the Shatterverse! Fortunately for him, my Cyber tech lends him a body just as it does for Sage... Why am I telling you all this? I don't know you and I'm about to kill you!" he growled. "Not today, Eggface!" shouted Sonic, who zipped past Gemini and smacked the BOMB vehicle with a homing attack! Doug Stone rushed into the room, out of breath. "B-boss, Sonic's here! ...Oh." he whimpered, watching as Sonic and Eggman were at it once again, lasers and missiles zooming around the room while Sonic dodged and struck back as he could! "Wait! Bad idea! The P-paradox Prism!!" Stone shouted. "Look here, a Chaos Emerald..." Doyle murmured, finding the blue gem contained in a sort of battery device attached to both the pods and the Prism containment unit. "No! Leave that alone!!" Stone cried, only for Sonic to break the battery with a quick smack and grab the emerald! "Sweet! Now you're in for it, Eggman!" he smirked. Stone screamed and fled the room, and Doyle grabbed Gemini's hand to do the same. "I think he's leaving for a reason. Look at the Prism." he said. The Paradox Prism was glowing bright, the facility seeming to overload with its energy. Gemini pulled away from the detective. "No! I can't leave Copter! Or Chet, or Tommy!" she cried, only for Doyle to snatch her in his arms just before she could touch Copter's pod. "It's too late!" he cried. "NO!! C-copterrrrr!!" Gemini screamed.
Copter clutched the keyblade, stepping past Toon Sonic, Galahad and the others with rage in his eyes. Cancer flapped behind the Doomling, glaring down at the fox. "You pathetic waste! Are you angry over these copies dying? The multiverse is infinite, their lives are meaningless, easily replaceable!" the vulture shouted. A wind started to whip up around Copter as a light glow came from his keyblade. "You're wrong! Even if very similar people, with the same name, similar experiences and similar memories exist, even if infinite of them exist... They are still people! Their differences, however small, make them unique... They have their own hearts!" he yelled back. Cancer scoffed as the three-necked Doomling lumbered toward Copter. "Of course a filthy clone would think that." he sneered. Copter charged at the toothy maw of the Doomling, blade in hand. "You wouldn't know anything about that, because you HAVE NO HEART!! Chaos Whirlwind!!" Cancer laughed as Copter launched his attack. "You think your little wind can move my Hydra? ...W-wait, w-whoaaa!!" The Chaos Whirlwing blew stronger than usual, and Cancer strained to keep his position in the air as the wind hit him. The keyblade's power was added to Copter's attack, and the whirlwind blew so strong that the Doomling was lifted off the floor, soaring right towards Cancer! "St-stop! Wait! Noooooooo!!" The beast smashed into Cancer, crushing him under it as it fell to the ground in a heap! The Ringmaster was dead, and as Doyle and Fera witnessed it, they slipped into the shadows, escaping. Copter hurried to the door, pointing the keyblade to open it. "This door will take each of us home, according to Zeke..." he said, gasping as the door opened to reveal a chaotic void, with lightning crashing through the doorway in many colors. "Are you sure that's safe!?" Razor asked. The world shook around them, and Tommy stumbled as he and Garen hurried to catch up. "What's happening?" they questioned at once. "Our very universe appears to be coming undone!" Galahad shouted. "Is it because we opened the door?" Daisy wondered. Copter peered through the doorway. He could see the pods they were sleeping in through the chaos. "Something's haywire, but there's no time to think about it! Everyone, let's go!" he shouted, taking Libra's hand and leaping through the door with her! He awoke in his pod, seeing Gemini above him, banging at the glass. Before he could escape the pod... The Paradox Prism shattered!
The Galestrom, the Gummi ship used by Lucky the cat and Whisk the divine to explore many worlds, was currently on the way back to their home world of GeneX Prime. Lucky sat casually in his seat while Winston the Moogle was piloting. "At least we know Sora's probably okay. Not that I get what a Quadratum even is..." the cat murmured. As they were nearing GeneX Prime, a massive flash of light caused Lucky to let out a shocked "MEEE-YOW!!" and Winston hurriedly turned the ship as something that could only be described as a "big bang" occurred! Whisk gasped as she witnessed new worlds seeming to fly out from GeneX Prime, soaring into space in every direction, becoming new stars in the sky. "What in... Are we seeing the birth of a new universe??" she stammered. "Well, it appears we won't be landing in your world, kupo..." Winston gulped, pointing out GeneX Prime. The world was obscured by a haze of darkness and lightning, a sort of chaotic storm making it too dangerous to land. "...You get the feeling we missed something big?" Lucky whimpered. "Look, there!!" Whisk pointed with a shocked gasp. Outside the ship, floating unconscious in space, was a person. A certain black fox with two tails. It was Copter! He held something tight in his hand, and Lucky stood up from his seat, looking with amazement. "A keyblade!!" he cried. Whisk quickly teleported out of the ship, grabbing Copter and warping him inside, where she laid him carefully on the ground. He coughed a bit as his eyes slowly opened. "Whoa, he's okay!" Lucky said with relief. Copter was a bit woozy, and he had only one thing on his mind. "G-gemini... Where's Gemini??!"
An Oath to Return
Chaos Hearts II
(Coming soon...)
