Chapter Text
It’s a cool night in Central City, quiet too, however something tense looms in the air. The wind whistles against the loose litter and trees, a few animals scurry down the blockaded road, the world is at a standstill. Only one seems to be stood out at this moment, a lone man atop the tallest skyscraper in this section of the city, hands behind his back.
It’s the Good Doctor himself, Ivo Robotnik, the Eggmobile at his side. Alongside him is his vigilant right hand, Metal Sonic, hands behind his back at attention. Eggman raises a single, gloved hand, outstretched toward the city, and with a devilish grin - he snaps his fingers.
A beat passes. “HELLO?! IT’S YOUR CUE, YOU FOOLS!” Whoever he screams at is unseen, as his voice isn’t directed at Metal. He snaps his finger again, the Eggmobile suddenly lighting up with a chime of acceptance as he huffs. A sudden stream of light, a laser descends from space and collides with the street below, vaporising the buildings in its immediate vicinity! Windows shatter, concrete turns to dust, metal warps and twists. The sheer force is enough to nearly knock the mad doctor off balance, however he quickly balances himself and brushes his glove against his jacket. With but a gesture, the centre of the city has been reduced to rubble. Eggman lets out a maniacal, hearty chuckle.
“HOHOHOHO! They couldn’t possibly ignore that! Soon, everything will fall into place, Shadow! You and Sonic should be hurrying along…good.”
The night sky is suddenly permeated by thousands of tiny blue lights, his forces. They descend with haste, several fleets of badniks prepared for battle - Metal flies off to join them. Satisfied, Eggman turns to the Eggmobile, grinning widely.
“At least be punctual…before you ruin everything. BWAHAHAHAHA!”
…
Water hisses against the pristine interior of a sink, right into the drain, someone spits a bit of foam into the little puddle that struggled to form in the centre. A pair of gloved hands begin to scrub each other vigorously, they pause, before beginning again, over and over - attempting to purge something unseen, something unable to be cleansed. The tap suddenly shuts off, and the hand’s owner stares into the mirror.
Sonic The Hedgehog is getting ready to face the day in his hotel bathroom, stood on a box so that he’s able to stand level with the mirror before him, he plants his hands on either side of his sink and faces himself. He closes his eyes and shakes his head, something troubled him. He’d messed up, badly. One thing. Elise promised him to do one thing and yet he couldn’t help himself from getting involved. He had failed, and the planet is reeling from the consequences of that failure.
He opens his eyes again, forcing himself to do so.
“Let’s keep going.” He resolves to himself. He tosses his toothbrush away, missing the intended mark as if tumbles into the nearby bin. He hisses through his teeth at the blunder, before sighing and gingerly walking into the living room - closing the door behind him. Tails is already ready for the day, a news broadcast playing on the TV, which he is transcribing any relevant information from. His head immediately turns to meet his friend, and his expression shifts. Something is wrong with him, but he doesn’t know what to say.
“Morning Sonic! You’re up early.”
Sonic, still lost in thought, winces as he notices Tails once he speaks. “Uh, well…we have a lot ahead of us, that’s all. I’d figure I’d get a warm-up in early, Y’know?” Sonic gives Tails his usual cheeky grin, albeit a little more forced than he’s become accustomed to. He turns to leave, but is stopped by Tails.
“Sonic, wait. It’s just…with the curfew, the martial law, not to mention Eggman’s forces. Sure, we’ve dealt with him before…but now it feels like the whole world is up against us.”
Sonic scoff and shrugs, despite everything, it’s still a sight which brings relief the fox. “So, what’s different? You really think they can keep up with us? I’ll be fine.” He goes to the door, and swings it open, taking a deep breath. “You ready, partner?”
Tails nods, standing up to follows after Sonic.
Sonic stops dead in his tracks, noting his battered door and the bundles of papers at his feet. Chief among them, in bold black marker pen, the words “YOUR FAULT”. Tails squints at Sonic’s back, but before he can say anything, he’s off in a blur.
Sonic’s footfalls are steady split-second metronome beneath him as the hotel interior blitzes by, and with a calculated lunge, he’s out onto the streets. He pivots, using his hand to stabilise himself, running straight down the narrow streets. They’re unable to cage his free spirit, at least for this moment. He leaps up and homing attacks a section of the ground as he comes onto another turn, skidding against the ground whilst charging up a spin dash which he quickly releases, zooming down the street. He unfurls himself and spreads out to feel the air around him, before beginning to run again.
The wind is on his chest, flowing through his quills, and yet he pushes through. The streets are strewn with papers, posters and signs slandering him. However, as Sonic runs, they are swept off, sent sailing through the air in his wake - trailing behind him like a flock of birds. Nothing was weighing him down, and in this moment, he was one with the wind the blows free.
And then, the air is dirtied, choked, stifled, as dust and smoke begin to fill the air as Sonic reaches the city centre, and he skids to a halt, the papers his sprint carried with him fall at his feet. He’s quickly joined by Tails, who takes a deep breath. The pair stand on a particularly tall pile of rubble overlooking a stark sight, a bottomless hole that seems to stretch into the very core of the planet, mourners and the curious masses alike pepper its circumference. A sign, raised above it all asks, “The End of the World?”. It’s in a far worse state than even Eggman’s laser had reduced it to
“So, uh, you hear about this?” Sonic asks, trying to break the silence. “I mean, new hole just dropped, I doubt people gonna be quiet about it.”
“Yeah, it was all over the news. Didn’t you see it?”
Sonic jolts at the deep voice at his side, looking over to see Knuckles, his arms crossed as he overlooks the pit, his brow lowered - a picture of focus. He’s wearing a brown cowboy hat and brown cape which seems to fray at the edges. The cape billows in the wind as he stands there.
“HOLY SH-!” Sonic’s gaze flits over to Tails and he clears his throat. “I mean…when did you get here, knucklehead? And what’s with the new threads?” Sonic asks, a hand resting at his hip.
“I’ve been here the whole time.” Knuckles says bluntly, not addressing either of Sonic’s questions at all, causing him to shrug off the potential conversation entirely with a resigned “whatever”.
“I haven’t seen much of this, except for today’s news and what they said about Sonic in the paper.” Tails says, answering Sonic’s initial question with a shake of his head.
Sonc chuckles.
“Ooooohhh, it’s this one, right?” He says, reaching for one of the newspapers at their feet. “I’m on the front page! They called me the city’s greatest hero! I don’t get that every day.” He gives the pair a prideful smile, neither looking particularly impressed.
“Sonic, that says that the city’s greatest hero has doomed it.” Tails says bluntly, Sonic looks a little deflated as he tries to maintain this image of himself.
“Uhhh, uhhh…well, they still called me a hero in the article-!”
“Really? I suppose the article calls you a fallen hero…six separate times, Sonic.” Tails interjects, causing Sonic to sigh and look at Tails - defeated. “Tails, I need just one win today, please.”
“Enough, you two. We’re not here to discuss Sonic’s bad publicity, we need to figure out what to do next.”
“I’m guessing we’re not gonna be getting shovels and filling this thing in.” Sonic quips, scratching his chin in contemplation.
Tails looks over at the billboard, those words written so plainly seem to shake him a little. He looks over at Sonic, and he turns his attention back to Knuckles. “What do you need us to do?”
…
Far above all of this, the Egg Fleet makes its rounds over the globe, within the largest of the ships, Eggman crosses through a bulky automatic door and into a fairly large server room. Various displays and readouts line the screens on their surface, each branded with his beautiful likeness, of course. In the centre of the room, is a single egg robo stood at attention. It had a few distinguishing characteristics, namely a bow-tie and a top hat that made it resemble a carnival showman. Upon noticing its creator, it recoils before its hand snaps to its head in a salute, causing Eggman to shoo it.
“I didn’t program you to stand around, 042! Move it!” He yells, causing the Egg Robo to run off in a panic of whirring servos. “I need to pick up the pace, only three half-decent machines to show for it, and only twelve under construction…it isn’t good enough.”
Despite this, the doctor smiles wickedly. “Well, regardless 046 is ready for deployment. Let’s hope that it bears fruit. 042! Prepare at once!”
Eggman looks around for a few second before sighing. “What do I even make them for…” He grumbles, off searching for the robot whilst stroking his moustache. However, it’s not long before he manages to do so, stood in yet another control room. “There you are! Did you hear me? Deploy 046 and their troops now!” He commands, backing the shivering, clicking thing into a corner.
042 tilts its head at his words, wondering what the point of numbering it and a select few others when Eggman still had such a large armada. Was it part of a particular series? It quickly turns back to the console it was working at before Eggman can somehow register their pause as a slight, fulfilling its maker’s command, completing their message by pushing a button on the keyboard that lights up green with an audible click.
Elsewhere, in some sort of storage facility, 1008 badniks spring to life, their eyes flashing blue in sequence. One in particular begins to advance, watched by the other machines, an Egg Robo with designed to look like an old noir gumshoe, with a chassis patterned to look like an overcoat, and a big bowler hat. Its red, empty digital sclera flicker as it receives the command. “So, he’s the job, eh? Sure thing doc. I always find my guy, or maybe my guy’ll find me. Hard to tell these days. Time to hit the streets for a lead.” It grabs onto a wasp badnik, and sets off.
…
“Sonic, look!” Tails points overhead at a cloud overlooking the crater, which begins to part, revealing the swarm that has just been deployed. Tails takes out some sort of scanning device with an eyepiece and looks intently through it. “I’ve never seen this model before…they haven’t seen us yet.”
Sonic looks puzzled, considering Tail’s words, before he begins stretching. “Looks like Eggman’s making his move, it’s a shame it won’t amount to much. Let’s check it out!” The pair begin to run toward the approaching swarm, milling about the city.
“By the way where’s Knuckles?”
…
In another section of the storage facility, Eggman and 042 seem to have arrived, he seems to grumble something to the machine as it struggles to keep up. Suddenly, gloved hand yanks the visitor lanyard off of Ivo’s neck, much to his chagrin. A soldier, wearing G.U.N iconography emblazoned upon his uniform stops Eggman in his tracks. “Whoa there, I need to search you and your equipment before you speak with the asset.” He says sternly, causing 042 to make a motion akin to pulling at one’s collar, Eggman turns to him and mouths for it to calm down.
“Search what? I’ve lost count of you brutes’ pat downs and now you want to search me again?! IT FEELS LIKE I’VE BEEN IN HERE FOR THREE YEARS!” Eggman spits, growing irate at the soldier, who tries to elaborate.
“B-But the machine-“
“Bah! What about it? 042 is my personal assistant, in charge of communications and intelligence. He has no combat capabilities whatsoever! And your little faraday cages and signal blockers mean I won’t be recording any of your precious ‘classified info’. As if I want to take idea from the idiots who can’t keep their best-guarded secrets from one man; even one as brilliant as I~! So you see, I pose no threat. Now get out of my way!” Eggman shoves a finger in the G.U.N officers face, none-too-amused by the doctor’s outburst. “I’ll forget you did that and just insist that you allow me to search the machine.” He says his hand going to the pistol at his hip, patting the holster tauntingly.
“Fine, a full inventory then. Marquee.” Eggman says, the code-word causing 042 to seize up. “RECEIVING.” It speaks, and Eggman shushes the soldier so that he can speak the password. “Rotten Hedgehog.” Would it be anything else? 042 begins to monotonously list off its contents, as parts of it open up to display them. “5 Auto-injectors containing asset 232001’s prescription. Wireless Egg-Pods. Eggman-Land Large Buttered Popcorn. 1 litre of Green Island Mineral Water. Dust Particles composed of-“
“That’s quite enough, See? The worst I could do here is have a snack and indulge in my impeccable music taste. Now, please, get out my way you poor, paranoid man.” Eggman grins at the man, who begrudgingly hands his lanyard back. “Scanner didn’t pick up any harmful elements in those injectors. Enjoy the family reunion, Robotnik.” The man says, unable to hide the bitterness in his voice as Eggman and 042 walk past, 042 tipping his hat at the man before entering.
“G.U.N HOLD is as droll as ever. No sense for aesthetic or levity, these people.” He sneers, running a gloved hand across large, glazed glass window at his side.
“Haha, I can’t argue with that, Ivo…but the work they do here more than makes up for it. I’m sure you’d be inclined to believe that this work is quite beautiful.” The other voice belongs to a man, very similar to Eggman in appearance, albeit somehow much older. Gerald Robotnik, once thought dead to the world is now somehow alive and well here. He’s far worse for wear since his “execution”, significantly more aged, requiring a hovering wheelchair to move around, his legs covered with a gray blanket. It also acts as a mobile life-support and his body is riddled with rudimentary implants, G.U.N’s desperate attempts to preserve his brilliant mind. Eggman hums to himself.
“Excuse me? I read what remained of your journal, you don’t strike me as the snivelling coward who would despair at the idea of a creating a tool of war.” Eggman sneers, causing Gerald to sigh and answer his grandson. “Times change, Ivo. I’ve lost all choice in the matter. All I can do is appreciate my successes in what they manage to let me work on. What’s a few more sins to pile upon my mountain?” Gerald’s hand tightens around the arm of his chair, his expression unplaceable through his glasses.
What they’re referring to is the rows and rows of vats filled with a clear, viscous liquid that they looked down upon from the walkway upon which they stood. The pair of them alongside 042 descend a stairway and onto metal grates in order to get a closer look at their contents. The first that they pause it is a black creature with orange accents, vaguely humanoid in shape, however it resembles a reptilian more than anything. It has two short arms which end in messy, claw-like growths and it bears a long, serpentine neck which coils and twists around the vat’s interior. It’s head ends in single reptilian eye, and it appears to be mouthless, however its flexing and writing in the tank reveals that its moth extends all the way down its underside, glimpses of jagged teeth visible as the slit that acts as the creature’s maw relaxes and contracts. At the nape of its neck is a blue, translucent gem, attached to the creature through mechanical implants. On it’s back are a trio of dorsal orifices, one could only equate them to…nostrils, maybe?
“Ahh, well. These are The Horde I’ve heard so much about, eh? I must admit, you’re right in saying that they’re beautiful, it seems that you’ve stabilised the rampant cell division present in the Ark’s Biolizard. It seems to be those gems you’ve incorporated into their makeup. Incredible. Those must be artificial Chaos Emeralds. You’ve outdone yourself. They’re the compact, resilient, disposable soldiers G.U.N wanted out of Project Shadow. The United Federation will have the last word in any war…though I must ask…”
Eggman turns to a single tube in the centre of the room, the largest of them, with all sorts of cables and tubes coming off of it, leading to apparatuses manned by squads of researchers at all times. This one looks very similar to Sonic, though with its red and black colour scheme, it more closely resembles Shadow. It heavily deviates from the hedgehogs from this point in terms of appearance, as its arms and legs are longer - it would be able to stand as tall as Eggman fully erect. Its eyes are larger, almost protruding, and a long lizard tail-like appendage bursts from its shoulder like a second head. This beast’s artificial chaos emerald is in its stomach rather than its throat like the last creature.
“How is your new Ultimate Lifeform faring?” Eggman asks, arms behind his back as he observes the creature, more sedate than its brethren - likely for their safety more than its. “Well, its physical capabilities should be more than enough, equivalent to the other hedgehogs. It seems Shadow’s…run-ins with G.U.N seem to have swayed their decision to allow this one mental faculties. It’s little more than a feral animal, a blunt tool to be used at G.U.N’s discretion. It’s everything I wanted Shadow to avoid becoming.” Gerald says, looking wistfully into the soft, subtle glow of machines reflected off of the glass.
“If…if it continues to develop at its current rate, it should be able to survive outside the tank for three months at maturity. More than enough for whatever G.U.N deems necessary in current circumstances.” He continues, gesturing to the space around them as he mentions G.U.N, there was a hint of pride in his voice lost as he does so. Eggman’s gaze moves away from the abomination in the tank and begins to look around the room, and suddenly speaks up. “I have an important mission for you.”
Gerald begins to look slightly ill at ease, beginning to suck in laboured breaths and clenching his hands. Monitors behind him light up, and Eggman sighs. “But it can wait until you’ve had your medicine I suppose.” Eggman pulls back Gerald’s blanket and has 042 hand him one of the injectors, which he jabs into Gerald’s thigh and hands back to 042, who stows it away. His heavy breathing slows, however, Gerald still doesn’t feel…ok. His pupils dilate as he looks around the room, the hallways, the equipment, the space between the ceiling and the floor. It looked so much larger than it should have, sounds echo, all stimuli swelling like a pressured fluid inside of a can.
“W-What is this?”
“That would be the psychoactive I slipped into your prescription, grandfather. Just small enough a dosage to get past the scanners. It almost pains me to do this to you, but there’s something that I need that I doubt you’d ever give me with your common sense intact. Besides, I think this serves you right for taking so long with Maria. All they spoke about was her, did you know that? And I was left to the wayside, a side-show in my own home.” Eggman explains, something akin to regret nearly creeps into his tone. His words fall on deaf ears, as Gerald’s lip begins to tremble as he begins to have an episode. 042 discretely hands Eggman the pair of earbuds, which he slips into both of Gerald’s ears. “Are they comfortable? They’re meant to amplify my voice, can you hear me?” As Eggman speaks, his voice is slightly reverberated and subtly altered from Gerald’s perspective, unrecognisable as Eggman. Gerald tries to turn and face the direction of Eggman’s voice, which seems confirmation enough.
“Ahem, as I was saying, I have a special mission for you.”
“What is it?” Gerald manages to utter, gibberish and convulsing in his chair, unable to escape the nightmare he’s found himself in. “Yes, dad? What is it, d-dad?” Gerald repeats, his sense of reality beginning to fail him. “Yes, dad.” He rambles.
“The Ultimate Lifeform is nearly ready. And I’m going to need it.” He says, circling around his grandfather, leaning in to whisper, his face covered by shadows, only revealing his glasses and his villainous grin. Whatever is plan may be…
It will bring nothing but destruction.