Sonic GeneX - The Series
Episode 1 - The Lost Zeti
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.
"Sonic? Something bad's happening..." Amy said with concern as she spoke into Tails's custom-built tablet device. "Whoa, what's goin' on?" Sonic asked from his end, high above on Lost Hex. "I don't know..." Amy replied, "It's like something in the sky is draining the life out of the world... Plants, animals, even the air feels cold and dead." she explained. Sure enough, everything around her and Knuckles was going pale as the life was being sucked into a vortex above. "OK, you guys stay safe down there. I'll try to figure out what's going on and stop it!" Sonic replied before ending the transmission and resuming his adventure to defeat the plans of the Deadly Six...
This was happening far away from Station Square, where most of the rest of Sonic's friends live and go about their day-to-day lives. The people here were going about their normal business, completely unaware how close they were to yet another devastating event. It was coming up on the news hour of the day, and many TVs in the city turned to that now-famous news-hound that had survived several of Eggman's recent attacks, Katie the Coyote. "Brace yourselves, Station Square! Today on SSTV News, I bring you live coverage of yet another press conference called by Richard Jackson Gunner, the GUN Colonel whose recent exploits of heroism both on the battlefield and through time itself have left the nation in awe..." she said, with a bit of a strain to keep from laughing at her teleprompter. "Sorry, that was unprofessional. Anyway, let's hear what he's got to say now." she announced.
Of course, many who knew the Colonel were watching the news at this moment. On an island housing a certain tower built by Dr. Eggman, known as Darkegg Fortress, a two tailed black fox watched the show. He wore a gold band on his left tail, and above his right eye some white hairs jutted out from his black fur. He wore blue pants, and blue & white shoes. He was known as Experiment 2, but called himself Arthur "Copter" Prower. His history with Gunner was quite rocky, to say the least. "He's not even on yet, and he's got Katie lying for him. Yeesh. What's next?" he sighed. Somewhere underneath Station Square, a female echidna with yellow fur and multicolored quills watched on her own primitive TV. She wore a green shirt & skirt with a red ribbon tied around her neck. Her name was Rainbow. "If Gramps is up to something, I hope One's safe. I wish he hadn't skipped town at a time like this..." she sighed, thinking of her best friend, Punchy the Echidna, who she referred to as "One" because he was Experiment 1.
Gunner came on the TV in moments, his dark grey hair shining in the sun and his uniform looking to be a bit overly-ironed. He stood proud, with medals of honor pinned to his breast, likely awarded after some heavy embellishing of his activities during the recent Time Eater incident. Agent Spizzweld, AKA Spy, was standing behind him, his sunglasses shined nicely, and holding up a sign with his phone number on it and the word "available." Gunner smacked the sign aside before clearing his throat to speak. "My fellow citizens... Many events have rocked our nation of late, and these events have been swiftly responded to. However, they have slowed the tying up of loose ends related to the war with the Covenant of Despair. Some agents of the organization are still out there, for example. However, that is not why I speak to you today. During the battles with Despair, my personal agents discovered something...impossible. Something that has been hidden right under our noses for generations... An ancient city! Hidden several feet beneath Station Square! I brought this to our leaders, and they suggested this be handled 'delicately,' by archaeologists. I say different! We learned that a key component of Despair's doomsday plans was uncovered down there! What else is down there? The hiding agents of their organization? More weapons?? An active volcano!? These answers CAN'T wait! So, I'm asking you, the people, while no law has been passed on this... To go forth! Root out any hidden dangers! Flush out any hiding outlaws! And... My lawyer says for me to ask you to handle the artifacts delicately. Thanks for listening. I know our people will do the RIGHT THING!" he smirked before bowing out of the spotlight.
While the news show continued, Copter went pale. "...I knew this day would come. This was my fault, and now Punchy's gonna kill me." he gulped. Rainbow, however, actually lived in the now-no-longer Hidden Ruins. "Six did this!! I'll sue!! What... what am I supposed to do now??" Rainbow stammered. Suddenly, she heard rumbling above. The people were coming already! "Relax, Rainbow... They never found the secret entrances before. They won't now!" she sighed. Suddenly, the sound of an explosion made her jump! "How'd they get dynamite!?!?" she screamed.
Meanwhile, a small, blue creature with green horns was scurrying between fire hydrants and telephone poles. It chuckled impishly, looking around with a big, toothy grin. "So, this is a peeple place. I bet Zavok would be impressed with how easy I snuck in... but some well-done chaos will impress him more. Time for Zim to prove he's got what it takes to make the Deadly Six into the Deadly Seven!" he chuckled. As a nearby door opened, he dashed behind a fire hydrant to hide. Someone was tossed out of the doorway, the tosser yelling "And don't come back, unless you learn how to pay rent!" Landing face-first on the pavement was a white-furred fennec wearing a pink sweater and blue jeans. She had light blue fur on the tips of her ears as well as covering her muzzle and the tip of her tail. Her name was Gemini, and before she could get up, the door reopened and a small, black stick was tossed at her, bouncing off her head. "Take your dumb doodad with you!" the man yelled. Gemini grabbed her "doodad" and sat up, rubbing her head. "Thanks for tossing me my wand, anyway..." she sighed, "This is getting troublesome. I can't change the past if I can't live in the past... So what am I gonna do?" she sighed. Zim had stopped paying attention to her, and was examining the hydrant with a curious smirk. "Hmm... What if I do this?!" he said, grasping the bottom of the hydrant and somehow effortlessly pulling it up from the ground and tossing it into the air, leaving a spout of water behind it! Gemini stared at him in surprise, and he winked at her as he started down the street in search of more potential mayhem! "What...the heck...was that?" Gemini wondered.
While Station Square was starting to go through chaos, Gunner was not finished his business for the day. He'd been invited to White Base, the President's home, for a mysterious meeting. There, he met up with GUN's Commander, the "Noble Knight" Sergeant Drol, and Dr. Nammad, along with the President himself. They were all seated in front of an odd machine, and spent a while talking amongst themselves. "What is that? Did you build it, Nammad?" Gunner asked. Dr. Nammad shrugged. "I'm as, uh, in the dark as you are..." he said. Suddenly, the door opened, and someone quite unexpected walked into the room. A brown rat, wearing a tatty old lab coat and purple shoes. It was Bucky Stein, creator of the GeneX Experiments and fugitive from GUN! Gunner started to stand, fury in his eyes, but the Commander raised a hand to hold him back. "Dr. Stein called me personally. Let's hear what he has to say." he suggested. Bucky bowed politely. "Thank you, sir. Leaders of the United Federation... I am honored to be given this chance... After many years on the run, I am hoping to finally end this bad blood between us, and put my scientific prowess to use for the good of all." he began. "My foot..." Gunner mumbled. "Shhh!" the President grunted. Bucky nodded toward Gunner knowingly before continuing. "I have perfected a device that can solve a multitude of our problems. That war with the Covenant of Despair was an example of how... outmatched humans are against animals. We have a natural predisposition towards superpowers, meanwhile there are NO powered humans. At all. It's very unbalanced." he stated. "Get to the point, Stein!" Gunner growled. Bucky crossed his arms. "I myself was born a human. I guess I am the ONE powered human on earth. But I digress. Powers are a divergence in natural GeneX energy..." The President raised his hand to interrupt. "GeneX energy?" he asked. "Ah, yes. GeneX is the source of life that I discovered, which I use to create my Experiments. Anyway, I discovered that the divergent energy can be separated out... Powers can be REMOVED. Allow me to demonstrate." he stated, jolts of static sparking from his body as he levitated into the air for a moment! "As you can see, I have powers myself... I will be my own guinea pig right now..." he said. His machine consisted of two large tubes, one big enough to enter, connected to a smaller one. Bucky stepped inside the larger tube, and a motion sensor activated the process. Brilliant lights shot into his body, making him groan with discomfort as clouds of green and yellow smoke passed through filters leading to the smaller tube, a containment canister of sorts. Bucky stepped out a moment later, jumping a couple times to illustrate that he could no longer fly. Gunner scoffed. "We're to believe that your power is gone?" he grunted. Bucky smiled. "Another application of this device is moving the powers into other bodies. Want to see?" With that, he motioned Experiment 8, Crash the Rhino, to enter the room. Bucky held Crash's yellow derby while he stepped into the machine, and Bucky touched a button on the containment canister. In moments, the canister emptied, and Crash exited. He soon showed off his new levitation power for the astonished GUN officials before him! Nammad in particular wore a devious smirk, while Gunner soon joined him in enthusiasm. "Could this be applied to robots?" Gunner asked. The Commander clapped heartily. "Never mind! Just removal of powers is enough to render super criminals harmless! This is a breakthrough worthy of recognition!" he applauded. Bucky then powered down the machine. "My gift to you... With the inclusion of the powers of myself and my team, so you'd be assured of our domestication... But only with conditions." he stated. "Here we go..." Gunner said, rolling his eyes. Bucky scoffed at him before continuing. "Expunge the criminal records of myself and all my experiments. Give them a clean slate. Second, you may search Shadow Arcangel, but the vehicle remains my property. I will park it in the city and use it as a lab. Third... My beloved Hope... she did not die where Gunner believes she did. She died fighting the Covenant of Despair... I suppose you'll find out if you look into it; She was the one known as the Deathbringer. Despite her criminal activities, she died a hero. There is no body... but I wish a proper grave for her. She deserves it." he said. The President looked a bit put upon. "These are steep terms... But with the Covenant of Despair still out there, national security may come to rely on your machine... Clean slate, Dr. Stein. But if you or your experiments break the law, you can lose parts one and two of your deal here quite easily." he warned. Bucky sighed. "Good enough..." he said, shaking hands with the President. Gunner glanced at Nammad. "I've got plans for that machine..." he whispered, smirking.
Back at the ruins beneath Station Square, Rainbow was busy having a panic attack. She'd grabbed the Chaos Crystal, the mystic gem she was charged with protecting, and hidden herself in a closet while humans were busy ransacking her city, looking for treasures, as well as looking for fugitives like her to turn over to the police. "Ohhh... Where's One when I need him? Watching over Red's dumb gem because he had to go on some adventure, too... What about MY dumb gem??" she whined, opening the door a crack and peering out. No one was there at the moment, and she decided to step out and try to calm herself. "I might as well give up... My home's done for... My best friend and my sister both ran out on me... Nobody cares..." she sniffled. "Now, Rainbow, that's just not true!" came a familiar voice. "...Mousy?" A dark gray shrew in a blue cape was coming from the next room, and accepted Rainbow's eager hug. It was Illusi, the illusionist who watched over her and Punchy. "Calm yourself, young one. You know that your friends and family would be heartbroken to learn anything had happened to you. Out of anyone involved in recent events here, you are by far the one who deserves punishment the least..." he said. "Don't you think that's exaggerating a bit?" Rainbow sighed. Illusi chuckled. "Run for the surface... I will cover your escape. Don't fear... I foresee that your problem will rectify itself." he advised. Rainbow picked up the Chaos Crystal and glanced at him curiously. "...You don't just foresee..." she said. Illusi raised his hands and forged some illusion robots, such as motobugs. "Trust me... And follow the path of my illusions..." he said.
The motobug illusions frightened any looters out of Rainbow's path, and soon she reached the surface, where a different sort of chaos was playing out. She found Gemini busy slinging spells at a target that was evading her with ease, and picking up heavy objects to toss back at her with similar ease! Of course, this was Zim the Zeti! "Eeek! Wanda, what's going on??" Rainbow cried. Gemini glanced at her briefly and shrugged. "This little guy... I think he's lost, and rather than try to get back to his own planet, he's... smashing things." she grumbled. Zim looked at the Chaos Crystal with wide eyes. "Oooooh, shiny! I bet Zavok would reward me big time for that thing!" he said with a wide grin! He tore after Rainbow, tossing aside cars in his way without effort! "YIKES!! Helphelphelp!!!" she shouted, darting toward Gemini! The fennec warped over to Rainbow's location, startling the Zeti! "Hey! I'm tired of you! Outta the way, magic lady!" he shouted. She pointed her wand at him, but he jumped back, pulled up a manhole cover, and hurled to at the two girls like a big, heavy frisbee! They dove out of the way, but not before Gemini could cast an explosive spell in Zim's direction! "Abra-ka-blastra!" An explosion knocked Zim off his feet, but that only delayed him for about an instant, while Gemini and Rainbow had to climb off the floor! Zim charged at them, when suddenly, another attack blew him aside! "Chaos Whirlwind!!" Copter had arrived on the scene, and quickly helped his friends up after his wind attack had blown Zim for a loop. "How you holding up, Rainbow? I take it you're homeless..." he sighed. Gemini glanced at her. "You, too?" she asked. Suddenly, the wall of a nearby building snapped off, held up by the diminutive Zim! "I'll flatten you PUNKS!!" he yelled! Copter stared in surprise. "Cool... And yikes." he said.
Suddenly, the air went cold. The life in the surrounding area started to drain away, sapping the energy of all living things along with it. Copter, Gemini and Rainbow all fell to their knees and started gasping for breath. Even Zim was not immune, and he dropped the wall segment back where he got it before collapsing. "Agh!! M-master Zavok... What about... me??" he panted. The plans of the Deadly Six had spread this far, and time was running out to stop them. Copter pointed to Gemini's wand. "Y-your magic... D-do something!!" he gasped. "Can't... weakening... too fast..." she panted. Rainbow grasped the hands of her friends, tearing up. "I w-wish... One was here..." she cried. Then... just as suddenly as life had begun to drain, it stopped. Sonic had done it!
After defeating the Zeti and Dr. Eggman, Sonic was watching Tails working at the computer that connected to the energy-draining machine that caused all this trouble. "You know you never needed Eggman, right?" Tails said, "I could've turned this thing off myself!" he pointed out. Sonic looked apologetic. "Sorry about that, Tails. I'll never doubt you again." he said. "It's cool. Oh, and here's something that even Eggman couldn't do! I just reprogrammed his machine to return our world's stolen energy! In your face, Eggman!" Tails shouted to the nearby doctor. Eggman sat up with a growl. "I'll be back, Sonic!" he yelled, "I'll find another conch, and the Zeti will be mine once again! Only next time, I'll make them stronger!" he said, running to the nearby ledge and pressing his suit's button to activate a jetpack. However, it didn't take off. "Hmm, funny..." Eggman muttered, "Why isn't my jetpack working?" he wondered. "Maybe because I... borrowed the exhaust hose?" Sonic taunted, holding it up as Eggman started to fall. "Sooooonnnnniiiiiiiiiiiiicc!!!!" the doctor screamed as Orbot & Cubot followed after him. Tails finally finished his work with a few button presses. "Here's your energy back, world! Bon appetit!" he said cheerfully, activating the machine. It blew the life energy it had drained back to the planet, restoring everything back to normal at an impressive speed. Eggman's latest plot was foiled, as usual.
With life returned to the world, Copter was quick to pick up the tiny Zeti by the horns, keeping him from moving much. "Hey! That is RUDE! Put me down!! PUTMEDOWN!!" he yelled. A certain green gargoyle swooped down and took Zim off Copter's hands before he could wonder what to do with him. "Guard? What're you doing here?" he asked. Guard held onto Zim with difficulty, but grunted his reply. "Grrrr... On behalf of Bucky and GUN, I am here to inform you that your criminal record has been expunged. You're a free fox... However, your friend's accomplice record remains. The boss was all too pleased to leave that wound open." he said, glancing at Rainbow. Rainbow sighed. "Can you pretend you didn't see me?" she asked. Zim's struggling and shouting was getting on Guard's nerves. "Grrr!! I need to get this... THING... into custody. It may be connected to that life-draining event just now." he growled, flying off. Gemini sighed, and was about to leave when Copter loudly cleared his throat. "You both need a place to stay? I happen to have... A lot of space..." he said, trailing off.
Days later, a helicopter carried Col. Gunner and his special guest, Bucky, to an island off the coast of the Mystic Ruins. "What is this you wanted to show me, Gunner? Keeping in mind... I still don't like you, and I know full well you don't like me." Bucky grumbled. Gunner chuckled softly. "Let us put our petty squabbles in the past, Stein. I had my people prepare a bit of a peace offering. Because we ALL want peace..." he said, perhaps a bit TOO sincere, like it was thoroughly rehearsed. The helicopter passed a multistoried building that had recently been renovated. Gone was the sinister veneer of the prison that it once was. It was a sterile, white building now, with lovely flower gardens planted around the grounds. A big sign on the front read "Hopebringer Center: for the criminally insane." Bucky stared down at the sign with a mix of shock, awe and horror. "You used Hope's name for your new prison?!" he stammered. Gunner laughed, a genuine laugh that was unusually lacking in malice. "Prison is such a limited term. This WAS Death Row, but not anymore. No longer is it, or Hope, a bringer of death. This is a place of rehabilitation... I am not in the business of capturing your little friends 'dead or alive' any longer. My warden, Dr. Nammad, assures me that all inmates will be cared for and treated for their criminal tendencies, so they may reintegrate into society..." he announced. Bucky frowned. "Nammad? A warden? I don't know what your game is, Gunner, but kindly leave me out of it. My record is cleared. I just want to live in peace now... And I intend to, whether you like it or not." he growled, as if issuing a veiled threat. Gunner nodded. "Good..." he said in the same tone. Deep inside the Center, the first inmate had been locked away. Zim was railing against his cage, which had been thoroughly reinforced to withstand his strength. Dr. Nammad stood outside his door with a smirk. "Be a good boy, Zim... We are going to be very good, uh... friends..." he snickered.
Around this time, Punchy had found his way to Darkegg Fortress, where Rainbow and Gemini had spent the previous couple nights, but had not yet fully worked out the living arrangements. Punchy, a green clone of Knuckles, had been guarding the Master Emerald in Knuckles's absence. He was honored to finally be trusted with this task. He was also furious to learn that Copter had given away Rainbow's secret home, forcing them to move to Eggman's former base. "Copter... do you honestly think this dump passes as a house!?" he growled after a pointed conversation. "Yes. I've lived here for quite some time." he pointed out. Gemini was looking around at the dingy windows with a groan. "We're going to get curtains. Definitely." she nodded. "How do you work indoor plumbing?" Rainbow asked, coming out of a nearby bathroom. Copter groaned dejectedly. "I don't know why you people are upset... I'm the one who's gonna have to live with all of ya..." he sighed. Copter's robot-beaver-mechanic, Hoover, scurried into the room next. "Oh, no! Y'all can't be here! This here's still Eggman's base!! I won't allow it! I... I'll shut off the oxy-gin!" he protested. "How can you shut off the oxygen? We're not in space." Punchy pointed out. "Eh? Rrrr... Right." he mumbled. Rainbow scooped up Hoover and snuggled him, much to his chagrin. "This is awesome!! I always wanted a family! I'm gonna call you Scooter!" she giggled. "Errr... What's a schkooter?" Hoover mumbled. Gemini turned around with a smile. "Yes... A little cleanup, and I think this will actually work. Thanks for letting us move in, Copter!" she said, walking over and shaking his hand. Rainbow added her hand to the ball as well, and motioned for Punchy to do the same. He grumbled, but put his hand in. "Trial stay." he sighed. Copter nodded, and they followed Rainbow's lead as she threw her hand up in the air. Though Gunner would try anything to bring them down, they had only come out stronger, and now a new chapter had begun the lives of our heroes...
Episode End!
