State of Decay (Chapter 16: Reunion)

[Sonic races a frantic escape from Metallix through the corridors of the Death Egg. With his adversary close on his heels he doesn't want to activate the warp ring to get back to the meeting point, which would risk bringing the robot through with him.  As he dodges past squads of mobilised Combots and SWATbots his hand goes to his comm.]

Sonic: Tails, you guys near the meeting point yet?

Tails: Close, and we're bringing Fiona with us. Nothing's changed - keep going and we'll be there. What's your situation?

[The fox's voice was punctuated by gunfire and the sound of a discharging energy weapon before it was quiet enough to speak once again.]

Sonic: Metallix doesn't want me to leave, simple as. This is going to be a pinch jump.

Tails: Then let's all hope that the other four can make it out before he gets to them.

Miles: Bridge us to Robotropolis, within range of the station. We can stand by on overwatch in case anything happens. We'll be close enough to help if needed but far enough for Metallix to think twice about leaving with the others still on-board his station.

Sonic: Sounds like a plan. I'll be there as soon as I can, but he's just as fast as I am- if anything, the corridors are slowing him down. I might need some form of distraction...

Tails: Tough call; we're in his world.

Nicole: Let's just see what we can do in here...

[As Sonic turns a corner, and zips through a door, it slams shut behind him.]

Sonic: Oh, that's good!

Nicole: I aim to please. I'll pull open a few for you. He might just beat them down, but it's better than nothing. Though...Sonic, make it quick. I don't want to be here longer than I have to.

Sonic: "Quick?"

Nicole: Alright, poor choice of words. Just don't pull the "Stop to be a dick" thing again.

Sonic: I know... that caused me enough trouble in the past.

[Behind him, the door explodes outwards, and Metallix lurches through, taking to the air again.]

Sonic: Miles, Tails, please tell me you guys are there.

Tails: Almost. We would be, but Fiona's new armour has made her a bit heavier than usual.

Sonic: Just be prepared to jump for it. I'm not liking how close this guy is.

Miles: Open the portal and it will work out.

Sonic: Hope you're right...

Nicole: Hold on. The hangar has emergency blast doors in case the shields fail, to prevent decompression. That will hold him for a few minutes...

[Sonic draws near to the hangar, streaking through the entrance, as the heavy doors slam closed behind him.]

Sonic: Couldn't have cut it any closer, could you?

Miles: Don't push our already waning luck. We don't know how long that will hold him.

[Sonic catches sight of the other two entering the hangar from a separate passageway, its blast door banging shut behind them.]

Nicole: Not long enough. Get out of there. Now.

Sonic: Have you and Em got enough energy to get back, with Nic and Amy?

Nicole: Yes. Just go!

[Sonic opens the Warp Ring, and Tails and Miles, carrying Mecha Fiona's dead weight between them, as the blast door was torn apart. Metallix steps through. glaring at Sonic. The hedgehog smirks sardonically, and flashes a mock salute, before jumping back through the ring, which closed, and then blinked out of existence.]

Metallix: Very well, I have other contingencies.

[Turning away, Metallix stalks back into the maze of corridors, wirelessly connecting to the circuitry around him and the remnants of his Software Command Unit.]

Software Command Unit: Err- Err- support ring...offline. Defence matrix...rebooting. Err- Error. Connection to support ring...severed. Unable to re-stablish connection.

Metallix: Ignore. New directive: reclaim primary systems and purge foreign entities.

***

[Within the system, Nicole feels Metallix's attention, and turns to Emerl.]

Nicole: We have to be quick.

[Looking out over the city, Emerl sees squadrons of elite programs converging on their region, scouring the systems for their presence.]

Emerl: I feel it too, and it looks like he knows where we are. You want to book it now or am I going to have to start blowing stuff up again?

Nicole: Do as much damage as you can. I'm setting this thing to crash into the tundra.

Emerl: Can do.

[Jetting off away from the tower Emerl fires off down towards the patrols, scanning to analyse their attack patterns. As he does so, Nicole sets down where the command program used to be, driving her weapons into the ground to connect, violently, with the more advanced systems available.]

Nicole: Gah...

[She forces her way through, and triggers the station's engines, lighting some up while shutting others down.]

Nicole: Let's see how you deal with that. Alright Em, time to ship out!

[Emerl withdraws his fist from the caved-in face of one program, and throws it back to its compatriots, before flying back over to Nicole, and grabbing her.]

Emerl: Ready when you are!

Nicole: Hold on...finding an exit...there!

[The lynx points to a bright dot in the sky, appearing as she gestures.]

Emerl: Let's jet.

[Emerl blasts off, taking her with him, and channels Sonic's speed into himself, rushing towards it as the ground erupts into a fresh set of tendrils.]

Nicole: Amazing... as soon as we stopped, he regained some form of control...he's part of this place.

Emerl: Is this really the time to be praising him?

[The two minds barrel into the light and the world digistructs around them, bits of data exploding around them to give way to the real world. The swift change is jarring and for a moment Nicole's systems are in disarray as she readjusts to the physical dimensions.]

Emerl: Whoa...

Nicole: Ungh... it does take some getting used to.

Nic: Aight, get us out of here.

[The ground ahead of her is littered with collapsed robots and scorch marks from bullets, the clips on her belt near-empty and the weasel herself fatigued from the constant combat.]

Emerl: Sorry about the wait.

Nic: It's okay. I had plenty to keep me company.

[Nic stows her rifle, and picks up Amy.]

Emerl: Why is her head bruised?

Nic: She woke up, so I had to bash her with the butt of the gun. Maybe a little hard.

Nicole: We'll need to check for brain damage. She's already been out longer than organics should.

Emerl: Isn't she unstable anyway?

Nicole: Let's not try and make that any worse. Come on, gather round, let's get out.

Emerl: Pass pinky over here, and you go with Niki.

[Nic hands Amy to Emerl, as Nicole grabs her wrist, and the two robots engage their teleportation drives.

Nicole: Drop out where we met up with the others. Old coordinates.

[A shudder ripples through the flooring as the Death Egg finally begins to succumb to the engines' harsh pull.]

Emerl: See you on the ground.

[The group disappears in a pulse of vibrant colour, reappearing on the shores on the outskirts of Robotropolis, startling the guards still stationed there.]

Nicole: Sorry about that.

Emerl: Got a way to transport a prisoner?

Soldier: Just me. We weren't expecting to take prisoners in Robotropolis.

Emerl: Looks like I'm carrying this one, then.

Nicole: Get word out; we're done up there. Call back anyone who is still alive and head towards Mobotropolis.

Soldier: Yes Ma'am.

[Nicole then presses a finger to her earpiece.]

Nicole: Sonic, where are you?

[There is a moment of silence before Sonic answers, his voice cracking with static.]

Sonic: Robotnik is dead, right?

Nicole: Yes...Sonic, where are you?

Sonic: His old throne room in the central tower...just sorta...went with the first place that came into my head.

Nicole: Well, see if you can steal a transport, and bring our way.

Sonic: I'll see if Eggie has some old fliers bunking around. You all make it down safe?

Nicole: Yes, though Nic had to give Amy quite a whack to keep her out.

Sonic: Ames has been through worse. Go figure. Just don't let her near me, please?

Nicole: Sonic...

Sonic: Poor taste?

Nicole: Considering that she lost herself because of your death... yes.

Sonic: Sorry. We'll be right there.

[After a few minutes a heavy, quad-engine jump-jet glides smoothly round the corner, Tails at the helm in the overly-large cockpit. Behind him the others are seated in the cargo hangar, leaning into harnesses intended for Combots, hastily-liberated by the hedgehog before takeoff. The craft lands, and the hatches open, enabling Nicole's to team file into it.]

Guard: I'll stay here, and make sure the area is clear, Ma'am!

Nicole: Understood. See you at the other end.

Guard: Yes Ma'am.

Nicole: Tails, let's get back, hm?

Tails: Yeah, we've got casualties to tend to.

[The fox looks back to the controls, easing the craft into the air, spinning it, and rocketing away towards Mobotropolis.]

Miles: Speaking of, Nicole, could you take a look at Fiona for us? Perhaps you can do something about the brainwashing. You're best equipped to interface with her.

Nicole: When we get back. This is no place for it.

Miles: Fair enough.

Nicole: Besides, I'm not "interfacing", as you put it, with another woman while Em's in the room. Hacking femmebots is an awkward experience as it is.

Emerl: Well, there goes my evening.

Nicole: Funny, really.

[Emerl grins at her.]

Nicole: You're lucky that you're cute.

Emerl: It's my middle name.

Sonic: Dude, do you even have a last name?

[The banter continues on similar trails for the rest of the flight, along with run-downs of each party member's success in their task. The response is mixed but positive overall, an air of fortune for having survived and brought back the lost into the bargain. A tired silence descends on them as they land, bringing the surprisingly-nimble craft into a berth in the upper spires of the palace.]

Tails: Welcome home, everyone. I'd make an airline joke, but frankly I'm bushed, and I need to make sure Fiona's okay.

[The group stand up, and leave the ship, slipping out of the harnesses without undoing them for the most part. As they walk down the ramp, they find the remainder of the team waiting for them. Lightning embraces Nic, while Bunnie and Antoine approach Sonic.]

Antoine: 'Ow did it go?

Sonic: Finitevus is dead, Scourge is dying, and the Death Egg's support ring is out of action, and we caught Fi and Ames. We're going to need more firepower to stop Metallix, though. How did things go on your end?

Bunnie: There were a coupla robot patrols comin' back in that we had to deal with, nothin' important on the battlin' sahde o' things. But we had an altogether better kahnd o' news, though.

Sonic: Oh, really?

[Bunnie points over Sonic's shoulder, and he realises what she means. Standing in the doorway, wearing a simple white t-shirt and denim jeans, is Sally.]

Sonic: Well...

[The squirrel smiles knowingly.]

Sally: We've got some catching up to do.

[Sonic deigns not to reply, brushing past the others and lifting her off her feet in his arms. Sally smiles once again at him, returning the gesture and patting his back.]

Sally: Good job, Blue. Good job.

[The two pull each other into a deep kiss, savouring each other's presence for the first time in ten years.]