Back to Chapter 42

Sonic wasn’t entirely clear on how exactly one went about founding a Zone. It seemed to him that Robotnik had constructed a city and declared it to be a Zone. Now he seemed to have constructed an additional base in the sky and called that a Zone as well. It was definitely cheating the “world conquering” system to simply invent new bits and say you owned it. I mean, you wouldn’t build a house and claim each room was a different home, would you?

The fumes from the Scrap Brain Zone were reacting violently in the air up above. A thunderstorm was brewing and a nasty wind had kicked up. Sonic didn’t usually feel the cold but he was feeling it now. Rain began to precipitate- which, when you’re in a huge area up in the clouds like Sonic was, means you’re going to get very wet indeed. Sonic sighed. This was supposed to be a great day. It really hadn’t gone as he’d planned.

Sonic walked along a metal walkway. It seemed to be a sort of scaffolding, like you might see on a construction site. Sonic wondered what Robotnik had been building. He didn’t have long to find out. The wind kicked up and blew away some of the clouds in front of Sonic’s vision. There in front of him was an enormous airship: the Sky Base Zone.

Sonic was certain Robotnik would be aboard the ship by now. Sonic wasn’t keen on the idea of Robotnik piloting an untouchable airship above the planet, able to swoop in and command his Badniks from any point he chose. There was no question about it: Sonic had to get on board.

Up ahead were a group of Badniks doing construction work. Bomb Badniks blasted areas clear with self-destructive explosions, while other Badniks set about building new parts of the scaffolding. Sonic had no intention of getting into a fight right now as it would only slow him down. He reasoned that any Badniks doing menial work such as this couldn’t have a hostage inside them if they were working with Bomb Badniks. An exploded prisoner was no use to Robotnik, after all.

Quietly, Sonic headed towards an automated platform marked in yellow and black chevrons. The platform had a motor on the back, giving it the appearance of being propelled by a fan. Sonic hopped on board and was raised off the ground towards the airship.

The platform began to slow in the air and Sonic realised it was only programmed to follow a simple path. Another platform descended to meet him and he stepped onto that. He could only assume Robotnik had a jetpack to hand as there was no way he’d be able to hop from platform to platform in midair.

After a series of additional platforms, Sonic spotted something that simultaneously filled him with delight and horror.

Delight for it was the last Chaos Emerald.

Horror because it was clinging to the nose of the airship.

Sonic had to get to the emerald, he knew it. He couldn’t risk it dropping to the ground and being found by those construction Badniks. But one false step would see Sonic plummet to the surface of the planet below. From this height, he’d be dead before he hit the ground.

The last platform met Sonic. He stepped onto it and waited to be drawn level with the airship. Hopping off, Sonic headed towards the nose. This wouldn’t be easy. Bomb Badniks protected the Sky Base Zone- as did countless cannons. If he attracted the attention of any of them, there was a pretty decent chance he wouldn’t live to tell the tale.

With not a small amount of concern for his own safety, Sonic lowered himself off the walkway of the airship and onto the metal of the nose. He climbed out onto the metal pole at the end of the airship’s nose and slowly scooched his way towards the emerald. If the wind decided to pick up now or if he slipped, the emerald was as good as gone.

Sonic carefully dragged himself closer.

Closer.

Closer.

He reached for the emerald. His fingertips touched it- and knocked it off!

“No!” Sonic yelled.

In the blink of an eye, Sonic swung himself under the metal pole, holding on tight with his right and and just managing to capture the emerald with his left. As he dangled 40,000 feet above sea level, Sonic rather hoped for the energy boost he’d gotten use to receiving from the emeralds.

The Chaos Emerald blinked out of sight and, sure enough, Sonic found himself feeling energised. He used his momentary increase in inner-strength to help him climb back to safety, gripping the metal pole and clambering on it like monkey bars at the playground.

Pulling himself up back onto the walkway, Sonic took a deep breath of relief.

Then he stood back up.

He wasn’t done yet.

Sonic eyed a door which read “CAPTAIN” Surely that had to be where Robotnik was. Only he’d be so pompous as to call himself the captain of an airship of his own construction, designed with the express purpose of organising the conquest of the planet.

Sonic crossed over to the door, took one more deep breath and entered.

***

It was dark inside.

Dark and quiet.

Sonic walked down the small corridor and came face to face with- well, who else?

“Can’t you read?” Robotnik asked, exasperated, “This room is for the captain!”

Robotnik was inside a glass tube, presumably to protect him from Sonic. Sonic walked towards him.

“This ends. Now”

“You keep saying that, but you keep being wrong about it,” Robotnik smirked, “Doesn’t that bother you?”

“If I’m wrong, that doesn’t matter to me, because I’ll keep on fighting you, Robotnik. I’ll fight you until my last breath- then I’ll give that breath to fight you some more”

“A stirring speech, I’m sure. Let’s put it to the test, shall we? I hope you’re prepared to give that last breath right now!”

As Sonic approached Robotnik, a motion sensor activated. Two parallel metal rods balls, one on the floor, one on the ceiling, sprang into life, firing electricity at one another, serving as a lightning rod for one another at the same time- almost like a weaponised pair of Tesla coils. The balls slid towards Sonic. Sonic knew Robotnik didn’t intend to give him an all-over tingle massage with the electricity.

The electricity crackled and sparked in the air. Sonic looked behind him for a moment- just as Robotnik activated a panel which slid shut over the corridor. There was no way out. He was about to get zapped.

As the electricity danced near him, Sonic began to sweat with fear. And then… the electricity faded out to nothingness.

“What… I don’t…” Sonic sputtered.

“Yes, bit of a design flaw, I’ll admit,” Robotnik shrugged, “Unfortunately the electricity dissipates after a while so as not to overload the system. Still- while it recharges, let’s heat things up!”

Pressing another button, Robotnik revealed three turrets in the floor- which began shooting flames upwards. Sonic once again had to move fast to avoid being toasted.

Robotnik howled with laughter, “You must be so worn out- I wish I could say I had pity for you, but I really don’t! I’d rather like it if you’d keep on dancing for me, actually! Come on, put on a real show, spikeball! Let’s see you move- before I finally catch up with you and burn you, either from the inside or out!”

Sonic clenched his fists. He was getting tired, Robotnik wasn’t wrong. But he couldn’t give up, not now. Surely Robotnik had nowhere left to run. Robotnik thought he had Sonic cornered- but the reverse had to be true as well, didn’t it?

Sonic leapt over the flames and threw a Spin Attack at the glass tube. Then another. Then another. Then another!

Robotnik sneered, “Nice try, Sonic, but this glass is reinforced- you’ll have to do better than that! Oops- here comes the electricity!”

With an angry roar, the electric weapon fired up again and slide towards Sonic. Sonic didn’t know if he could dodge all of this for much longer. He leapt at the glass tube once more- then again. Then again. The electricity was coming closer. Another Spin Attack. He had to keep trying! Another Spin Attack!

The electricity faded and Sonic was forced to leap to the other side of it, knowing the beam would chase him but that if he stood still it would get him and no mistake. Sonic only just dodged the flame turret furthest from Robotnik.

“Ooh, that was a close one! You’re slipping, brat!” Robotnik laughed.

As the beam weapon began to kick into life once more, Sonic decided to be reckless. Just before it activated, he leapt between the balls, surprising Robotnik as now the beam was sliding away from Sonic. Another Spin Attack.

Sonic was furious now.

Another Spin Attack.

Sonic roared an enormous yell from the pit of his insides, crouched down and leapt at the glass tube with all his might.

The glass shattered everywhere.

Robotnik panicked.

As Sonic stood back up, Robotnik did the only thing he could- he ran.

Sonic took a moment to brush the shards of glass off of him. He’d been fortunate not to be sliced to ribbons, in truth, but now wasn’t the time to worry about that. He couldn’t let Robotnik get away. Sonic pursued.

Sonic found Robotnik pressing at a control panel, “Sorry, Sonic, I’m a real sore loser. I’d sooner blow this whole place up than let you take me in!”

Robotnik slammed his fist onto the control panel and a message appeared on a nearby computer screen, reading “SELF-DESTRUCT INITIATED”

“So, what, we both die here?” Sonic asked, “If you think I’m going to beg for my life from you, Robotnik, guess again. I’ve had an amazing few months. Made some incredible friends. Got a family. And if I have to go out to protect those people from you, then I can go out with pride”

A bright pillar of light lit up behind Robotnik.

“Sonic,” Robotnik shook his head, “did you really think I have such little self-respect as to not prepare an escape route for myself?” Robotnik stood in the light and begin to fade from view.“I’m not done- but I think you are!”

Robotnik disappeared from view, teleported away.

“Oh no you don’t, not today!” Sonic shouted determinedly and leapt into the light, just as the Sky Base Zone exploded spectacularly.

On to Chapter 44