Back to Chapter 37

Sonic raced through the Green Hill Zone, his feet thumping against the ground at almost unimaginable speed, his legs a blur. Last time, Robotnik had captured Sonic’s friends almost as a matter of coincidence, only really using his family against him at the very last. This time, Robotnik had decided to make matters personal from the off. Sonic’s friends, his biggest supporters, captured by the despicable doctor to… what? Get revenge? To gloat, to show that it could be done? Sonic knew Robotnik wouldn’t stop until he’d conquered Mobius. But Robotnik would have to get past Sonic first- and Sonic wasn’t budging.

Sonic rushed along one of the mountainside peaks of the Green Hill Zone, barely looking where he was going. He scarcely had time to notice the yellow-and-black “DANGER!” sign. Unfortunately, by the time he’d registered it, it was already too late. Sonic tripped and plummeted down a hole in the mountain, dumping him inside the caverns within with all the grace of a rock falling downstairs and dropping the week’s grocery shopping.

Sonic pulled himself up to his feet. He’d be lying if he said he was pleased with that outcome. Any time lost trying to get out of these catacombs was time that put Robotnik further away from him. Sonic put one foot in front of the other… and fell off a ledge.

Landing with a splash, Sonic found himself in a shallow pool of water. He was not impressed. At least the water was clean and clear and blue.

Sonic trudged through the water, grumpily. He took some small solace from the fact the caves weren’t dark, unlike the Labyrinth Zone. On the contrary, the bright orange walls made for a nicely reflective surface for the light that was leaking in through the cracks in the ceiling.

Sonic looked upwards. What was that?

A white light was… glowing? Pulsing? Emanating?... from something or other. The light shone from a hole up above. Too high for Sonic to leap to, that was for certain. He had a feeling his curiosity was going to get the better of him any moment now. But he had to check it out in case it was a trap left by Robotnik.

Sonic pressed on through the caves until he came to an opening. Peering through, he could see the sun in the clear blue sky outside. So that was the way out but… now he needed to find another way back inside to find the source of that light.

Sonic took in his surroundings. Hilly banks of rock. They’d help him get a better vantage point if nothing else. Sonic became the climb upwards. Sure enough, around thirty feet up the mountain was a hole large enough for him to enter. It was a little dark and Sonic was sure he could hear rushing water- presumably the source of the pool he’d landed in before. Trepidatiously- unusually for himself- Sonic leapt from the bank of rocks he was stood on and into the hole.

Inside, there was definitely the sound of a waterfall. Sonic figured the best thing to do was to walk in the direction of the sound.

And then he slipped through a hole in the ground, landing with a wet splat in a pool below.

“I am not having a good day,” Sonic grumbled.

Sonic blinked. The flashing white light was just off to the side of his field of vision. He turned and what he saw baffled him.

“A Chaos Emerald? But how…?”

Sonic picked up the glowing gem. It was certainly the right shape, size and weight for a Chaos Emerald. But the colour was wrong. Or, rather, the lack of colour. This gem was see-through, as if sculpted from glass. Sonic pondered for a second if this could be the elusive Grey Emerald, but dismissed the thought- this one was decidedly transparent, not a hint of grey to it.

Sonic rolled the strange Emerald around in his hands- and then, without warning, it sort of blipped away. Sonic felt strangely energised in the same way he had when Feist had granted him the Chaos Emerald before. That was all Sonic needed to be assured this was a Chaos Emerald, clear or not.

Sonic turned and walked away. Now all that remained was to—

With another wet splat, Sonic landed in the bottom of the mountain where he’d been standing before. He sighed, doing his best to keep his cool.

***

A little while later, Sonic had managed to get out of the mountain. As things transpired, he’d come to the tallest hill in the Green Hill Zone. This was his best hope of spotting Robotnik from above- if he was still in the Zone. He didn’t have to look too far.

“Finally decided to join me, eh, you blue pincushion?” Robotnik’s sneering voice bellowed from above, in the relative safety of the Egg-O-Matic.

“Robotnik, I’m going to be nice,” Sonic stated, with a tone of warning in his voice, “which is more than you deserve. I’m going to give you one chance to return my friends. In spite of everything, it’s not too late”

Robotnik gloated, “On the contrary, spikeball. It’s far too late for them and for you. You see, those wonderful gems the Chaos Emeralds have been spilled all over South Island. I’m quite the genius, you see. I discovered the frequency for the Warps of Confusion, the special portals to the Special Zone- and I simply reversed the polarity. The Emeralds were shot out all over this pitiful island. And now it’s up to me to find them”

That had to be it- perhaps the Chaos Emeralds weren’t at full power unless granted that by Feist. It was the best idea Sonic had. But if they had enough power for Robotnik to want them, they were still worth tracking down before he had the chance.

“In the meantime,” Robotnik continued, “I see you’ve come to face your doom”

“You’re bluffing,” Sonic said, confidently.

“Oh? What makes you so sure?”

“Because, egg-breath, every time you’ve been in that contraption before now, you’ve already launched whatever trap it is you had installed. I don’t see any wrecking balls, spikes, bombs, fire- not even a sound system playing crooner music. You’ve got nothing attached to your Egg-O-Matic”

There was a pause.

Sonic grinned, “I’m right, aren’t I?”

Robotnik snarled, “That won’t stop me from ramming you into next week!”

Robotnik yanked at the turbo boost lever once again and rushed Sonic in the Egg-O-Matic. Sonic was only barely able to avoid being hit as the hovercraft’s exhaust pipes belched roaring flames to accompany Robotnik’s burst of speed.

“I’m flattered, Robotnik,” Sonic called out, covering for how narrowly he’d avoided calamity, “You like me so much you wanted to make your little toy as fast as me. It’s nice to be thought of!”

“You little brat!” Robotnik yelled, coming around for a second pass. Sonic rolled to the side to dodge, feeling the heat of the exhaust flames. This was getting to be dangerous. One false step and Sonic would be a blue smear on Robotnik’s windscreen. He had to make his next move count.

“I’m going to enjoy cleaning up the mess you’re about to make, Sonic!” Robotnik bellowed, “I’ll really savour the moment!”

Robotnik once again rushed at Sonic. Anticipating the move, Sonic leapt towards Robotnik, landing on his shoulders.

“What- you little creep!” Robotnik roared.

Sonic pawed at Robotnik’s face, “Calm down, doc, you’ll bust a blood vessel!”

Sonic reached for the turbo level. It was currently set to “FAST”. Sonic slid the lever up past “RECKLESS” and into its highest setting: “PSYCHOTIC”

The engines roared to life.

“What have you done?!” Robotnik screeched.

“Just given you a little lesson, egg-features: to be as fast as me you have to be able to control it too. Bon voyage!”

Sonic deftly leapt off the Egg-O-Matic as the exhaust flames flared. Robotnik rocketed out of sight screaming “Noooooo--!!” as he went.

Sonic watched as Robotnik became a dot on the horizon. It occurred to him that perhaps that wasn’t the brightest idea as now he’d once again put space between himself and Robotnik. Still, he knew Robotnik’s plan involved the Chaos Emeralds. With any luck he’d sent the despot soaring past the next one. He’d sent Robotnik in the direction of the Bridge Zone. That would just have to be his next port of call.

Sonic ran down the hill and, to his part-surprise, part-delight, saw a Prison Egg Capsule. Vector was banging on the window. Sonic clambered onto the roof and stomped on the release catch, freeing Vector and… a bee?

“Oh, yappy-do! You saved us, yessiree! This is fabberoonie, yes it is! You’re really the bestest aren’t you Sonic, oh, yes!”

“Nice to meet you…?” Sonic paused to get the bee’s name.

“Charmy Bee! At your service, absolutely-dutely!”

Sonic glanced at Vector, “How long have you two been in there?”

Vector looked very tired, “Around seven hundred years, I think”

“Well, no time like the present,” Sonic noted, “You coming, Vector? I’ve got an appointment in the Bridge Zone and I’d not mind the help kicking Robotnik’s backside!”

Suddenly, a white flash crackled in the sky. Rather bizarrely, what might be described as an enormous flat grey computer monitor hung in the air. On the screen was a sort of face, as if made of pure energy.

“Woah, buddy!” Sonic prepared himself for a fight, “If you’re one of Robotnik’s goons—”

“Robotnik?” the face answered, before mumbling to himself “Of course this is the date of… then I’ve arrived at the right time! You must be Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog!”

“In the flesh,” Sonic replied, “And who might you be?”

“I am the omnipotent Omni-Viewer, living window through time and space. I see all. I know all. I just choose to ignore the boring bits so I can be surprised”

“Zo-wee!” Charmy squeaked.

“Ah, I see my records were correct. This is the moment Charmy Bee and Vector the Crocodile were rescued from Doctor Robotnik. Perfect timing”

“How do you know who I am, pal?” Vector crossed his arms.

Omni-Viewer replied, “Two words: Equinox Labs”

Vector was immediately calmed, “I see. I’m afraid I’ve not been entirely honest with you, Sonic. There’s more to me than I let on. But that can wait. For now, I suppose I’d better be joining you, Omni-Viewer”

“The Special Zone has need of both of you,” Omni-Viewer noted.

“Okay, but Sonic’s busy so it may have to wait”

“No, Vector,” the Omni-Viewer gave a conciliatory smile, “I meant you and Charmy”

“You’ve got to be kidding. There’s no way that can happen”

“I’m afraid there is,” Omni-Viewer continued, “As a matter of fact, judging by the records, it’s going to happen right about now and won’t stop happening basically at all ever”

“Super,” Vector huffed.

“Golly, Sonic, I wish we could stay and help you, yesireebob I do, but it looks like Vector and I are needed!”

“Not to worry, Charmy,” Sonic said, almost relieved, “I can take care of myself”

Vector clambered through the Omni-Viewer’s face as easily as one might climb through an open window if it wasn’t a window and wasn’t even there, “Best of luck, Sonic”

“Thanks, Vector. You too. Whatever it is you’re going off to do!”

“Don’t worry, Sonic,” Omni-Viewer said as Charmy flew through his face, “I’ll take good care of your keyboardist”

“See that you do!” Sonic smiled.

Omni-Viewer parted with a final message, “I’ll be seeing you again, Sonic, be sure of that”

With another white crackling flash, the Omni-Viewer disappeared.

“What a weird way to travel,” Sonic pondered, “Still, I guess it beats waiting for the bus”

Sonic sped off in the direction of the Bridge Zone, Robotnik- and hopefully another Chaos Emerald.

On to Chapter 39