Back to Chapter 79

The Frozen Zone was one of the most harshly uninhabitable regions on Mobius. Explorers had found it tremendously difficult to bear the cold in order to map the Zone and not even species which liked the cold could withstand the constant snowstorms and buffeting winds. The North Cave was one of the only places it was possible to get your breath.

And that is where Sonic, Tails, Sally and the rest of the Freedom Fighters visited before departing for home. The Metropolis Zone Badnik swarm had been largely fought off, though the small group of fighters had been unable to stop some of the robotic menaces from fleeing. With any luck, King Acorn’s army would be able to deal with any remaining Badniks on West Side Island.

The Freedom Fighters gathered around a large pool of icy cold water which had formed in a crater.

“So, this is the coldest spot on the island, huh?” Sonic asked.

“According to all available data, Sonic, yes,” N.I.C.O.L.E. confirmed.

“Then with any luck, based off what Feist told Tails and myself, the temperatures here should stop the Chaos Emeralds from freaking out and disappearing. It’s not a perfect solution but it’s better than risking them falling into Robotnik’s hands. And we never know when we might need them”

Sally stepped forwards, “Maybe one day we’ll be able to harness the power of the Chaos Emeralds for good. But for now we have to neutralise them. They’re too powerful for us to use right now”

Sonic concentrated and the emeralds appeared in the air around him. Tails, Sally, Johnny, Bunnie, Antoine and Rotor each reached out and plucked an emerald each from the air. Porker, nervous and familiar with the worst possible results, elected to stand back and observe.

“Our turn to share the burden, sugah-hog,” Bunnie noted, “Even if only for a short while”

Sonic smiled. He watched as his friends slowly placed the emeralds in the pool of water. This mad adventure was finally over. Yet part of him was sad. He’d been unable to save Robotnik. And shouldn’t a hero find a way to save someone in peril, no matter how bad the person is?

As it turned out, he wouldn’t have to feel sorry for long.

***

“I’m so sorry things didn’t work out as planned, sir,” Snively said in as comforting a voice as he could manage.

“Nonsense, Snively. As a matter of fact, I’m quite enjoying this moment, in a strange way,” Robotnik grinned.

“Sir?”

“I’m sure it’s weighing on that hedgehog’s conscience right now that I died in that horrible fiery explosion. Well, it’s not my fault he didn’t listen to me, is it? Of course I couldn’t survive that explosion. But I’d already fled! It’s the Death Egg Robot, not the Death Egg Sit In The Cockpit And Get Hit”

Snively chuckled, “You were already well on your way back to the planet’s surface as he fought the machine- no doubt he thought you were inside! Especially as you were shouting at him through the radio, very convincing acting, sir!”

“Egg-sactly,” Robotnik scrunched his face into a sadistic smile. “Still- can’t let him think I’m gone for too long, can I? We have more plans to put into action”

Grimer entered the room, a rolled up blueprint under his arms, “Good afternoon, doctors. I trust you’re both well”

“Oh, very well, Grimer. Your generation of Badniks have been a marvellous success- and Robo Sonic, how remarkable!”

Snively tilted his head, “Forgive me, sir, but… the Badniks were all defeated”

“Snively, you’re a man of science,” Robotnik reclined in his chair, “Experiments aren’t always about finding what works. They’re about discarding what doesn’t. And with each new Badnik Sonic smashes, pushing him to his limits though they hopefully will, we come closer to finding the perfect design to destroy him once and for all”

“To that end,” Grimer smiled, unfurling the blueprint, “I thought you’d like to see my latest idea, based on the data collected from Robo Sonic”

“Oh, now,” Robotnik was impressed with what he saw on the blueprint, “Oh, that is good”

“Remarkable design,” Snively acknowledged.

Grimmer rolled up the blueprint once more, “Then I take it I have your permission to get to work? It may take some time”

“Take as long as you need, Grimer. In the meantime, I have a few plans for Sonic and his little furry friends that should buy you some of that time…”

On to Chapter 81