Sonic the Hedgehog and all characters and locations used in this story are trademarks and properties of Sega of America and Sega Enterprises. Used without permission. I am the Sacred Green Gibbon!. I can do whatever I want. So nyah. HEAVY METAL Chapter 3: No Season Like the Fall Although no trees, plants, or wildlife of any kind thrive in Robotropolis, nothing can stop the wind. And the wind flows briskly around the many tall factories and structures in the metropolis, shifting the tall pillars of smoke all into one direction. Inside the central building, Metal Sonic, along with Crabmeat, keeps an eye on the activities going on. Metal walks over to the Heavy Metal machine and glares at it thoughtfully. CRABMEAT: Something wrong, MS? METAL SONIC: What's your take on this whole thing? CRABMEAT: What whole thing? METAL SONIC: This whole "Heavy Metal" scheme. CRABMEAT: Uh...I guess it's okay. It seems really good to me. METAL SONIC: Yeah...just a little TOO good... CRABMEAT: What do you mean? METAL SONIC: I don't know if Robotnik's ready to start dealing with a power like the Chaos Emeralds yet...I don't know if we're ready to start HANDLING a power like the Chaos Emeralds yet... CRABMEAT: I don't think Dr. Robotnik would try to undertake something this important unless he was sure he knew what he was doing. METAL SONIC: There's no such thing as being sure when dealing with Chaos Emeralds, Crabmeat...the power is as unpredictable as it is limitless. CRABMEAT: So, what do you think will happen? METAL SONIC: Either it'll work, Robotnik will be invincible, and the most powerful being in the universe, or...the power will turn against us and it will be Robotnik's ultimate undoing. CRABMEAT: So, either way it's an extreme... METAL SONIC: It's a win or lose chance...one just a little too risky to take, if you ask me. I'd rather not be a part of this whole "Heavy Metal" thing. CRABMEAT: I don't exactly think we have a choice... Metal Sonic's head jerks upward and he glares straight ahead. His eyes flash red for an instant. METAL SONIC: Yeah... At this point, a red light begins flashing as an alarm goes off out of a speaker. Crabmeat runs over to the control panel and types something into a computer. CRABMEAT: Security has been breached at sector 13B. METAL SONIC: The roboticizing chamber...I'm on my way. Metal jets out an open window. Over near the roboticizing chamber; Sonic, Tails, and Antoine are standing by the big door with the alarm still going. Bots are surrounding faster than the trio can count them. SONIC: Way to go, Ant! ANTOINE: What? What? TAILS: YOU tripped over the alarm beam, moron! ANTOINE: Well, zere was zomething in my boot... SONIC: That's more than we can say for your head! ANTOINE: Mon dieu! I have been insulted! TAILS: Uh...I don't think we have time for this, guys... SONIC: Stand back, keeds! It's spin and win time! Sonic breaks a Power Ring out of his back-pack and rages into a massive Sonic Spin. He leaves all but a few 'bots in rubble, but badniks keep coming faster than even Sonic can keep up with them. SONIC: Dang! We need to get outta here! At that point, the badniks suddenly let up. TAILS: Huh? ANTOINE: Eet eez a miracle! We are being to be given zee second chance! SONIC: I would've rathered working on that first one... Metal Sonic appears overhead as his red eyes flash. ANTOINE: Eep! We are doomed! Doomed! SONIC: What are you doin' here, Metal moron? This is a two-dollar job! Metal Sonic hovers motionless without uttering a word. Back on the Floating Island; Knuckles, the Chaotix, and Archimedes are fighting a losing battle with "Heavy Metal" Scratch and Grounder. After getting thrown against the wall for about the fiftieth time, Knuckles swears and smashes the window with his fist. KNUCKLES: I don't get it! What makes these bots so strong? Archimedes slips out of the brawl. ARCHIMEDES: Knuckles, these badniks have powerful auras around them... Knuckles glances down at Archimedes, who is bruised up quite nicely. KNUCKLES: NOW you decide to mention that! What kind of auras? ARCHIMEDES: Judging from the power they're giving off, I'd say about the force of a Power Ring. KNUCKLES: A Power Ring?! Then that means Robotnik must've- ARCHIMEDES: Yes, and that's not the half of it. There's no way we'll be able to defeat these 'bots without a stronger force. KNUCKLES: But what could be stronger than a Power Ring? Archimedes gives Knuckles a serious look. KNUCKLES: No way! No way I'm endangering the Island by risking a Chaos Emerald in battle! ARCHIMEDES: It's either that or send this blimp crashing down into the ocean, and us along with it. Knuckles smirks. ARCHIMEDES: Uh, Knux...you're doin' the Lucy thing...I don't like the way you're smiling... KNUCKLES: Get set, Chaotix! We're goin' for a little ride! Knuckles turns to the control panel and pulls the control lever all the way down. The entire blimp jolts downward at an angle, lifting the Chaotix and the badniks off the ground for a few seconds. ESPIO: What the heck do you think you're doing?! VECTOR: Yo, whassup with that, man? CHARMY: What's going on, Knux? MIGHTY: Ow! ARCHIMEDES: Hold onto your hats, fellas...the echidna's gone looney tunes again... KNUCKLES: Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha... Espio walks over and slaps Knuckles across the face. ESPIO: Get a hold of yourself, man! KNUCKLES: Uh...ahem... At this point, two missiles shoot between Knuckles and Espio, who jump away just in time. Scratch and Grounder have gotten themselves back up, and do not look happy. MIGHTY: Problem! We need to get out of this blimp before we become fish food at the bottom of the Emerald Ocean, but there are two invincible 'bots in our way who want to see to it that the fish get fed. ESPIO: Well, omnipotent leader...did you manage to fit into your brilliant plan our means for escaping? KNUCKLES: As a matter of fact, I did! Keep these guys busy for a few minutes and get ready to jump out the window! ARCHIMEDES: Like I said...looney tunes...SERIOUSLY... The Chaotix resume the battle with "Heavy Metal" Scratch and Grounder while Knuckles heads back into the blimp. He runs back to the pod room where they entered, the entire blimp plummeting the whole way. He arrives in the entry room. It seems extremely large, although this could be due to the fact that there's nothing in it except the exit hatch, the hoverpod the Chaotix flew in on, and a control panel on the other side of the room. Knuckles runs over the control panel and looks at it. KNUCKLES: Hmm...whatta mess. Well, when in doubt, hit the big red button! Knuckles smashes the big red button, and the exit/entry hatch opens. KNUCKLES: Bingo! He runs into the hoverpod and stares at the control panel, and suddenly realizes he doesn't know how to fly it. KNUCKLES: Uh-oh...geez, why didn't I think of this? I should've brought Espio along... At that moment Espio steps in. KNUCKLES: Oh yes, someone up there likes me ALOT... ESPIO: I figured this was your plan...I also figured you'd forget that you can't fly a hoverpod. KNUCKLES: I forgot nothin'! I just knew that you'd come along. Take the controls and hurry. I don't know how much the others can take against those super-powered mecha-morons. Espio takes the controls, and the two Chaotix exit the blimp and fly toward the cockpit window, where Mighty, Vector, Charmy, and Archimedes are going the rounds with "Heavy Metal" Scratch and Grounder. The tiny hoverpod slips back and forth trying to keep level with the plummeting blimp. KNUCKLES: Can't you hold this thing a little steadier? ESPIO: Look, do YOU wanna come over here and try this? KNUCKLES: How are we supposed to get 'em in here if "here" keeps changing every two and a half seconds?! ESPIO: Don't look at me! This was YOUR plan, genious! KNUCKLES: Darn, this isn't gonna work! ESPIO: Brilliant deduction! How do you do it, Holmes? KNUCKLES: Look Chameleon...this situation is bad enough without your smart mouth! ESPIO: Well atleast I've got SOME smart... KNUCKLES: You're gonna REALLY smart if you don't shutup! ESPIO: Knux, perhaps we could think of a better time for this...I wager we've got about 30 seconds before we get wet... KNUCKLES: Right. Keep flying...I'm gonna have to do this the hard way... ESPIO: Huh? What are you talking about? Knuckles opens the exit hatch and jumps out the door yelling: KNUCKLES: Banzai! ESPIO: Knuckles!! What are you-?!! The echidna lunges fist-first right into the window of the large blimp's cockpit, shattering the glass. The Chaotix, Scratch, and Grounder glare at the window. KNUCKLES: Get over here! Hurry! The Chaotix glance at each other then head over to the window by Knux. Scratch and Grounder don't seem content to let them go, and begin shooting missiles, lasers, and other assorted projectiles at them. Knuckles points to the wobbly hoverpod flying several feet away. KNUCKLES: Espio is controlling the hoverpod! That's our ticket outta here! Charmy and Archimedes...you two can get there no problem...go now! CHARMY: But what about the rest of you? KNUCKLES: Just go! We've got 15 seconds till we hit the water! Charmy flies out the window and heads into the open door of the hoverpod. Archimedes disappears in a puff of smoke and presumably appears inside with Espio and Charmy. Vector ducks a laser shot. VECTOR: What about us, Knux? KNUCKLES: Vector, grab my ankles! Mighty, grab Vector's ankles! Not feeling this is a good time to question their leader's tactics, Vector and Mighty do as they are told. KNUCKLES: Now Mighty...swing Vector and me around out the window, but don't let go! VECTOR: Say what?! MIGHTY: Uh...okay... Mighty, using his incredible strength, lifts Vector and Knuckles off the ground with little effort. He waves them up and down in the same manner as though he were beating a rug, as Knuckles keeps trying to grab the opening to the hoverpod with each swing. He finally latches on, and grabs a column near the enterance. The Chaotix are now mere yards away from the water with the entire blimp still above them. KNUCKLES: Mighty! Jump! The armadillo jumps out the window, dangling under Vector who is dangling under Knuckles, who is straining to hold on to the column. Charmy and Archimedes do their best to help Knux keep his grip, but they aren't doing much good. KNUCKLES: Espio! Fly us upward, QUICK! Espio pulls down the steering stick and the hoverpod jerks upward. Mighty climbs up Vector and Knuckles into the hoverpod, then helps Vector in. The two pull Knuckles in the rest of the way and shut the door. Knux collapses on the floor. The large blimp the Chaotix just escaped from lunges head-first into the Great Ocean, and Scratch and Grounder along with it. The Chaotix are safe from the blimp, but not from the water-surface explosion or splash. While Knuckles is still lying on the floor catching his breath, the rest of the crew watch helplessly from the window as the blimp hits the water, some of the engines explode, the huge balloon bursts open with an ear-splitting roar, and the water from the tidal splash it creates races unstoppably toward the very hoverpod they are in. All is silent except for Espio's few words... ESPIO: Here it comes... The large gust of helium from the bursted balloon and countless gallons of water jolt the hoverpod from the side. It's carried along and tossed about in the chaos like hollow cork. But it isn't hollow...the Chaotix are getting brutally and helplessly tossed around inside. After minutes of what seems like hours of bouncing around, the hoverpod finally reaches the peak of the splash and helium burst...the machine slows down but still veers out of control. Espio leaps upward and gets it back on track. ESPIO: Is everyone okay? The Chaotix slowly rise from various places around the pod. KNUCKLES: Man...whatta trip... CHARMY: Whoah...I'm dizzy... MIGHTY: Now I know what the spin-cycle feels like...I will never treat dirty laundry the same way again... ARCHIMEDES: Everyone seems to be alright outside of a few minor cuts and bruises. VECTOR: Help! ARCHIMEDES: Maybe not... Vector pulls himself out from a back room along the floor, with tears in his eyes. ESPIO: My God, what's wrong Vector? VECTOR: My headphones are busted! WWAAHH!! Espio gives Vector a strange look then takes the controls again. KNUCKLES: We're all okay...but what about the hoverpod, Esp? ESPIO: The launch boost equipment has been fatally damaged... KNUCKLES: Which means...? ESPIO: Which means that we should have a smooth flight, but we'll have to crash land. KNUCKLES: Terriffic. As if we haven't had enough crashes for one day... Well...fly us up to the Island, Esp... ARCHIMEDES: You might wanna change that destination, Knux... KNUCKLES: What are you babbling about? Noone's in any kind of mood for a joy ride. ARCHIMEDES: Joy is probably the last thing we'll get out of it, Knux. KNUCKLES: Archy, I've had a bad day...I'm in no mood for riddles...get to the point! ARCHIMEDES: Didn't it seem odd to you that Robotnik was nowhere to be found on that blimp? KNUCKLES: Come to think of it, yeah! What was the point of that whole extravaganza anyway? ARCHIMEDES: It was a DECOY, Knuckles. While we were doing the rounds with the bots in that blimp, Robotnik snuck in on the other side of the island on a smaller hoverpod. KNUCKLES: Did he... ARCHIMEDES: Yes, he got one of the Chaos Emeralds. KNUCKLES: Darn! We need to stop him! MIGHTY: But why? We have a spare Emerald on the Island, remember? KNUCKLES: Yes, but with the power of a Chaos Emerald at his command... there's no telling what Robuttnik could do. CHARMY: He could very well destroy the entire planet... KNUCKLES: And the Floating Island would lead the way. ESPIO: So should I head to Robotropolis? KNUCKLES: No...take us to the mainland. We'll go to Knothole Village and get the help of the Freedom Fighters. The hoverpod flies off into the sunset...now the battle has just begun... ****End of Part 3****