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 guess all those spankings I got for using other people's things without permission didn't do any good... HEAVY METAL Chapter 6: Power Corrupts 5:30 A.M. The crisp night air is still present, but a hint of morning dew and the first narrow ray of sunlight are beginning to show. Some of the early risers are beginning to gather in the center of Knothole Village. Dylan the Porcupine, Penelope the Platypus, Hershey the Cat, Ari the Ram have been sitting for a while, and Rotor the Walrus currently joins the group. ROTOR: Hi, guys...what's up? HERSHEY: Welcome to the Sunrise Club. PENELOPE: We should be getting payed to do cereal commercials. DYLAN: *with a chuckle* It MUST be early... HERSHEY: Give us a break...we don't start getting snappy until ATLEAST nine! ROTOR: So what's goin' on? ARI: We are awaiting the Princess' orders. ROTOR: Sally? Where is she? DYLAN: She's been up all night with Sonic and Knuckles contacting other Freedom Fighter groups. ROTOR: In the central control stat? HERSHEY: No, in the bathroom. The soap bar is actually a secret communicator. PENELOPE: Slick one, Hersh! HERSHEY: Yeah, and I didn't even have my coffee yet. DYLAN: Do us all a favor and switch to decaf. ROTOR: I think I'll drop in and see how things are going. PENELOPE: Waitaminute...I think that's them right there. Sonic, Knuckles, and Sally come from around a cluster of palm trees. They seem worn-out and tired. DYLAN: Well? SONIC: Well what? DYLAN: How did it go? KNUCKLES: Ooh, don't even ASK that. ARI: I assume this is not good news? SONIC: "Assume" makes an a- SALLY: Relax, Sonic. You'll have to forgive our moods...it's been a VERY testing night, but suffice to say we finally managed to contact everyone and MOST available Freedom Fighter groups should be here by this evening. ROTOR: Most? SONIC: For the life of us, we couldn't locate Geoffrey St. Jerk or his band of merry men anywhere. KNUCKLES: And our connection to Downunda was so bad, we're not even sure if our message to Walt Wallaby and the others got through at all. ARI: So our current orders are to? SALLY: Do whatever the heck you want and wait for further instructions this evening. SONIC: Writing wills would be advisable... HERSHEY: A bit testy this morning, aren't we? Dylan nudges Hershey. DYLAN: Give 'em a break, Hersh. They've been selflessly driving themselves crazy all night for our sake. KNUCKLES: No, we probably deserve it...which is why I think I'll do good to take a nap. I'll be in the guest hut with the rest of the Chaotix if you need me. Knuckles walks off. PENELOPE: Maybe you guys should get some sleep too, huh? SALLY: Someone has to be here when the other FF groups show up. SONIC: I'll do that, Sal...you get some sleep. ROTOR: No offense, but I think if either one of you tried to greet someone in the kind of moods you're in, they'd turn right over to Robotnik's side. SONIC: 5:30 A.M. and the walrus is making jokes... HERSHEY: Say, maybe we don't need coffee after all! ROTOR: We'll keep an eye on things and greet the other FF groups as they show up...you guys really need some sleep. ARI: We have a dire fight ahead of us. We cannot be lead into battle by leaders who are sleepwalking. SONIC: Oh, teriffic...even ARI chose today of all days to get smart... SALLY: Well, I'm not one to neglect my duties as Princess, but I am going to be responsible for leading the entire rebellion against Robotnik in what could well turn out to be the most important battle in our lives. I really can't afford to be half-asleep. HERSHEY: Yeah, go to bed. You people are cranky. SALLY: Drago and Wess Weasely are handcuffed to the wall and are asleep in the central control stat. Be sure to keep an eye on them as well. ROTOR: Will do, Princess. 9:00 A.M. Robotnik, bloodshot and baggy-eyed, taps on a control panel in the Robotropolis central tower. Snively enters the room, also appearing worn-out. ROBOTNIK: What's the report? SNIVELY: Sir, we've turned Robotropolis upside down all night long- ROBOTNIK: Nevermind that! Did you find anything? SNIVELY: Negative, sir. Not a trace of the Emerald was found anywhere. ROBOTNIK: Then, that can only mean... SNIVELY: The hedgehog, sir. Robotnik walks over to a window, lets out a barbaric yell and shatters the entire pane with a punch. Snively breaks a sweat and stands back. VOICE: Sheesh, don't have a cow, tubby! Robotnik and Snively turn around to see Nack the Weasel reclining in Robotnik's main chair. ROBOTNIK: You- NACK: Very good! Now learn the other 25 letters of the alphabet and you'll be ready for counting! ROBOTNIK: Security! NACK: Ah, ah, ah! Not so fast, blubber buns. I think I have something that belongs to you... Nack pulls a Chaos Emerald out of his backpack and grins slyly. ROBOTNIK: How did you... NACK: Nevermind the tricks of the trade, baldie. You want this stone back or not? Robotnik grinds his teeth, then sighs. Snively watches on from the corner too scared to speak. ROBOTNIK: How much do you want? NACK: *chuckling* You've dissed me more than once in the past. This time I intend to make sure that the piper gets payed...in FULL. Robotnik slowly backs over to the control panel. ROBOTNIK: Yes...name your price... NACK: That's what I came here to discuss! ROBOTNIK: Go on. He quietly pushes a large red button. NACK: I think we'll start off with the number "9"...I haven't decided how many zeros we'll put behind that yet. But there will be plenty of time for thinking about financial matters while my slave bots are giving me a rubdown and cooking some gourmet cousine...I prefer- At this point, hoverpods, Buzz Bombers, Whisps, Butterdroids, and other various flying badniks surround the windows from the outside. NACK: Hey...what's goin' on? The door opens as badniks and Swatbots begin piling in. Robotnik grins triumphantly. ROBOTNIK: It would appear, Mr. Weasel, that this time...heh, heh...you have bitten off more than you can chew. NACK: Why don't you watch where your foot's goin' before it ends up in your mouth, chubs? SNIVELY: If I hear another cliche in this cheesy dialogue, so help me... Nack holds up the Chaos Emerald. NACK: I've still got the goods, remember? I was giving you a second chance, but you have blown it! ROBOTNIK: You wouldn't dare... NACK: Oh no? Nack grabs onto the Emerald with his other hand and takes a deep breath. He shuts his eyes tightly, and in a rare moment quits smirking. Robotnik, Snively, and the badniks watch helplessly, knowing that if they try anything it could be their doom. The Emerald begins glowing, and a large flash surrounds Nack. When the glare fades, Nack is no longer there. ROBOTNIK: Where did-- A voice rings out from right behind Robotnik. NACK: Eh, what's up doc? ROBOTNIK: You-- Without any trace of movement, Nack appears on the ceiling hanging on to a pipe. NACK: I'm up, that's what! ROBOTNIK: Don't just stand there, you pathetic exuses for scrap metal! Catch the Weasel! The bots begin moving in to attack, but Nack keeps pulling off his disappear/reappear trick. NACK: You guys don't get it, do you? You're now dealing with Mega Nack! The power of a Chaos Emeralds flows through these veins! While the bots continue to make futile attempts at catching Mega Nack, Robotnik pulls Snively off to the side, and whispers something into his ear. Snively nods and walks out the room. NACK: I'm tired of this game. Sayonara, suckersans! All trace of Mega Nack disappears. The badniks search the room, confused, when a Yadrin rolls up to Robotnik. YADRIN: Your eggness, all trace of the weasel has disappeared. Our heat sensors locate no other forms of organic life in here but yourself. ROBOTNIK: Don't worry about it...if I know that Weasel, his own greed will be his undoing any minute now... Nack is exiting the building when something catches his attention. In a wide-open side room, a Chaos Emerald lies within a glass case. NACK: Whoah, Simba! My Emerald has a twin! Nack walks over to the red stone. NACK: How did I EVER pass up this beaut the first time around? Well, now you're safe with-hey! As Nack tried to grab the Emerald, his hand went right through it. Suddenly the Emerald disappears and a forcefield appears, trapping the weasel. NACK: A hologram! It's a freakin' decoy! Snively jumps out from behind a control panel. SNIVELY: Your cunning may be impressive, but your intelligence disappoints me, Weasel. NACK: Look who's talkin' about intelligence! Incase you forgot, I am glowing with the power of a Chaos Emerald! I'll trash this pathetic forcefield like thin glass! Mega Nack charges the forcefield, but gets knocked back with a mild electricution. NACK: Holy stinkin' guano! What's in this thing?! SNIVELY: This isn't a standard laser forcefield...this was created with a Power Ring. NACK: A Power Ring? How did- SNIVELY: Through a power-harnessing program known as "Heavy Metal". NACK: B-but...one Emerald equals the power of one hundred Rings! If I'm 100 times stronger, how did... SNIVELY: You're even stupider than I thought you were. Chaos Emeralds and Power Rings share an exchange of energy and rely on each other for existence. You can't have one without the other. NACK: I don't get it... SNIVELY: Why doesn't THAT surprise me? NACK: So what are you gonna do with me? I'm still pumped with Emerald power, so you can't turn me into one of those mindless robots. SNIVELY: That, Mr. Weasel, would be totally redundant. NACK: Uh...hey, that was an insult, wasn't it! SNIVELY: We're just going to suck the Emerald power right out of you. NACK: You ain't suckin' nothin' but eggs! Lemme outta here or you'll never get your stinkin' Chaos Emerald back! Snively doesn't reply but punches some buttons on a control board. Ankle clamps rise from inside Nack's forcefield container and hold his feet down. Wrist clamps fall from the ceiling and tighten around his wrists. NACK: Now what? A device falls from the ceiling within Nack's chamber and knocks his hat off. A larger head attachment lowers itself onto Nack's head, and secures itself with a head strap. NACK: Hey...you're not gonna mess with my brain, are ya? SNIVELY: You mean you have one of those, too? Well, we'll have to look into it then, won't we? NACK: Don't mind me! Don't mind me! Some small lights on Nack's head attachment begin flashing. The glow of Emerald power from Mega Nack dims. NACK: Whoah! I feel like I'm puking from the inside! What are you diong to me? SNIVELY: Mr. Weasel, forgive me. You are even stupider than I first gave you credit for. NACK: Thank you, I-hey, waitaminute! No more fast-talking, needle-nose! Answer the question! SNIVELY: That machine is sucking the Chaos Emerald power right out of you. Remember? Nack turns his head as much as he can. His eyes shut to narrow slits that home in on Snively as he walks out of the room and shuts a large metal door behind him. *** End of Part 6 ***