The Arrival Part 1 By Shambler: chdi@cadvision.com *All characters familiar to the Sonic Universe and Copyright of SEGA Co. and Archie Comics Co. also they are used under non profit purposes. New characters are Copyright of me and may be used in non profit methods of literature and art. Sonic The Hedgehog: Speer Legacy ~~~Part 1: The Arrival~~~ A thin glimmer of light reflected off the metallic dome that made up the central hall of Robotropolis, a small bunch of cylinders surrounded the dome each holding a barracks of SWATbots. From a distance Robotropolis could have been beautiful, but the layer of smog nearly five meters thick prevented it, also it prevented any one from seeing the empire created by Ivo Robotnik. As was the case for the craft now in orbit of Mobius. It was alien. From a standard view the craft was crescent shaped, with large rows of windows and guns jutting from each side. The craft sat in orbit viewing the scene below, the giant city of Robotropolis visible from space, as was the Great Forest which skirted one side of the megalopolis. To the other side was the Desert zone, a sandy wasteland that was un-inhabitable. The ominous ship slowly circled the planet, gazing at its many wonderful and, often destroyed by Robotnik, unique qualities. In the main observatory a being watched, her crystal blue eyes scanning the surface for anything that would amuse her. The being was a Speer, a race of anteaters. Spined, like a hedgehog, and speedy too. Blue eyed watcher stood and yawned, she had been watching the surface, uneventfully for nearly two hours. It was time to rest, she left the dark atmosphere of the obsevatory and headed for her chambers. "Hey Shanice!" shouted a male voice from behind her. "Where ya' going?" Shanice turned to see Rush approaching her from behind, at high-speed. "To rest." she said dryly. Rush pushed a quill away from his eyes. "Been up a long time?" "No, just bored out of my mind." she told him. "We came here to attack, when does it start?" "Beats me, I'm barely a joint commander, they just recruited me, I have no idea what's going on." "Well, then why don't you go find out." she grabbed the azure anteater by the shoulders and pointed him in the other direction. "Hey, no need to be bitter." he said and turned back towards her. "Just go." she said. "What's with you?" he asked. "Why do you always try to get rid of me?" "It's over between us, you seem no to think that." Shanice told him coldly. "Well you don't have to be so rude, we can still be friends." he suggested. "I just want you out of my life." she cried, and turned her back towards him. "Well," he said. "maybe I'll die in the attack, that will make you quite happy won't it?" and with that he took off down the cylindrical hall. Shanice lowered her head and cried quietly. * * * Sonic was running. Full out, a sonic boom trailing him every few steps as he raised and lowered his velocity. Breaking the sound barrier again and again. He was running in circles though, a worn down patch of grass where he sped around. Amy giggled with glee as her hero raced about splitting the air with the thunderous sonic booms. Sally on the other hand was watching calmly as her lover preformed for her. Sonic finished the act with a leap into the air performing his famous spin attack and landing flawlessly on the ground. Amy could not contain herself and leaped at Sonic, hugging him tightly. Sally scowled at Amy, all the while clapping and shouting bravo's and encour's. Sonic bowed, "Thank you, thank you. You're too kind." he said as he tried to break free of Amy's iron grip hug. Finally Amy let go and Sonic stepped away. "So Sal' what do you think? Too fast or way too fast?" he said, inflating his ego. "Well, I think I once saw one of Robotnik's SWATbots go faster." Sonic scowled. "Those slow-mo's?!" he said in disbelief. "I can out-run those hunks of rust in a single step!" Sonic waved his arms around. "Well I think Sonic is the fastest thing on Mobius." Amy said and stuck her tongue out at Sally. Sonic smiled, "Thanks, Amy." "Well," Sally said. "It's getting late, way past Amy's bedtime. We'd better head back." "Past my bedtime!?" Amy shouted as they left the field. "I don't have a bedtime, Tails doesn't go to bed this early!" Amy and Sally argued all the way back to Knothole. Sonic on the other hand watched the slow sunset for a few moments. Then turned and followed the quarelling females back to Knothole. None of them saw the Crescent shaped silhouette move across the sun, casting a dark shadow over the meadow they had previously been on. * * * Robotnik stared at the dark silhouette moving across the distant and smog blurred sun. "Snively!" Robotnik shouted into a nearby intercom. "What is the status of the object headed for Robotropolis?" he demanded. "Well, sir, the object is definitely not of Mobian origin and it is only thirty-nine hundred Kilometers from Robotropolis." Sinely reported. "It has left orbit and is headed for Robotropolis at an incredible rate. Estimated Time of Arrival nineteen hours." Robotnik slammed his fist down on the keyboard at his command console, crunching it with the blow. Keys went flying in all directions and energy arced up his clenched fist. "What is the threat assessment?" he inquired. "Threat Assessment states that it is fully armed and over ten Kilometers in length its-self. Also the source of power is unknown. We can't detect any sort of energy comging from the ship, meaning it may be impenetrable. For the first time in many years, Robotnik was fearful. He was not sure what this monlith menace wanted, nor did he know whether Robotropolis was capable of defending its-self from the ship if it was hostile. Robotnik sighed and headed for the elevator to his battle-chambers. * * * On the bridge of the Speer Battle Cruiser sat Overlord Zorjin. His green quills combed back in trditional battle dress. His armour and medal covered uniform let all on the bridge know he was commander. Rush stood at his side. "You know Rush, I am looking forward to this attack, your stratiegic ideas were what got you promoted." he told him. "Thank you, sir." "When this is over with you may be a ready commander, I am quite confident in your abilities to lead an attack force." Zorjin said, "Therefore I am giving you command of the third battle legion. It is yours to command and control. But mark my word: if you fail, there will be no place on this ship for you when the attack is through. Understood?" Rush nodded and saluted the Commander. "Dismissed." he said and Rush marched into the hall. Zorjin sat at his command chair, viewing the landscape as it flashed by, miles and miles of trees blanketed most of the land. They were headed for the industrial capital of this planet. Robotropolis. Previous data had been collected and Zorjin had memorized the name. It was one he would need to remember, for it would not stand for long. ~~~Part 2: The Attack~~~ Robotnik watched in terror as the alien ship sped towards Robotropolis. Its turrets aimed at the SWATbot barracks that lined the bottom of the command installation. The shop was there in seconds, turrets firing rapidly at the center of Robotropolis. Explosions rocked the battle chamber as Robotnik grabbed hold of the moniter to keep his balance. "Snively!" he shouted, the small balding man tumbled into the room, landing at Robotnik's feet. "What the devil is going on!?" he shouted. "I'm not sure, they're attacking with full force though!" Snively cried over the sound of the explosions. "Well I have not begun to fight back!" Robotnik announced. "Launch the Hoverbots!" At his command dozens of Hoverbots swarmed out of the hangers lining Robotnik's citadel. They buzzed towards the Speer ship firing lasers at it from every angle. Each one quickly bein shot down. Robotnik cursed at this and smashed the newly installed keyboard with is fist. "Launch all available troops, I want this attack countered in the fullest!" Droids and bots stormed out of Robotropolis engaging the Speer Battle Cruiser as best they could. * * * On the bridge Zorjin watched as the robots attacked pitifully at his ship, causing minimal damage. "Rush?" he said into a comlink, "I want you to prep the attack battalions. Counter their ground troops." Zorjin smiled, another brilliant strategy. Prep ground troops before requiring their deployment. He would surely be the victor of this attack. His attack strategies were flawless and ensured him victory each time. In the lower levels of the ship Rush prepared the troops. Each stood about nine feet tall and sported heavy mechanical armour, allowing them to best anything in combat. But they were a thick bunch, slow to think and react and were not incredibly bright when it came to attack and retreat strategies. Restreat strategies were needed since the mechanized troops could not always react and sometimes stood still while being attacked. Rush was sure he would not let Overlord Zorjin be disappointed in his actions. He would command this battalion to maximum efficiency. With the troops fully armoured and prepped for battle Rush called back to Zorjin over the intercom, "M'lord, all troops are acounted for and prepared, awaiting you command to launch." "Excellent," Zorjin relpied over the intercom. "Send the first and second battalions to the primary attack zone. Third and fouth are to remain posted and ready for deployment." Rush grew red in the face, Zorjin had said he was confident in his abilities and wanted him to prove himself. How was he to do that if his battalion stayed locked up in the hanger? What if the first and second were adequite to be victorious? He would never get to participate in the attack. Rush aknowledged Zorjin's orders and ordered the first and second platoons to launch. With a flare of their rear thrusters they flew out the main hatch and were on the battle ground, fighting and conquering other troops launched by this industrial capital. Rush walked disgruntedly over to one of the silent inactive troops and leaned against it's shiny, metallic thigh. It was at least three times his size and at least a hundred times his weight. Shanice entered the hanger. Rush was about to call to her, but refrained. He remembered how she had acted in the corridor. He looked in the other direction as she moved about the room checking troops and resource levels. Then she came over to him. Rush paid her no heed. And did not look to her direction. "Rush?" she asked softly. He did not reply. "If it matters to you at all, I came to wish you luck on the attack." she told him. "Not like it'll do a lot of good," he snorted. "Zorjin just sent out the first and second legions, they'll make short work of the defenses and I won't get to do anything." "I'm sorry to hear that..." she said. "And why's that? You were so much less caring earlier." "I'm sorry I acted that way, I still care for you, but I just can't be with you, it hurts me as much it does you it just doesn't feel right. There's something that makes it wrong for us to be together. I can sense that if we were together; tragedy would strike." "Sure, want to tell me the real reason?" Rush asked. "See, this is my point, it's wrong for us to be together, just bad!" she shouted as she stormed out of the hanger. Maybe she was telling the truth, Rush thought and turned to look at the giant battle unit behind him, "She's cute but not to pleasent to be around, huh?" The droid gave no reply. * * * Sonic stood on the outskirts of Knothole, looking at Robotropolis. His hand over his brow to keep the sunlight away from his vision. Something was going down at old Robo-puss's place, but Sonic couldn't tell what. "Can't I just speed down there and take a look?" he pleaded to Sally. "No, we already went over this, there's a lot of shooting and explosions going on in Robotropolis, he might be conducting weapons test and there would be a lot of bots in the area, it's too dangerous!" Sally told him. "Come on, I can be in and out in less than a minute." Sonic argued. "N-O, NO." Sally repeated. Sonic sighed and turned away from the scene. "Sonic, wait, look at this." Sally called to him. "You reconsidered?" he asked hopefully, Sally's look let him know she hadn't. "What is it?" "If you look real close, just slightly to the right of Robotnik's citadel there is something there, something big." "I see it." Sonic announced. "But what is it?" "I'm not sure, maybe Rotor has something that can enhance the view and we can know what it is." Sally walked down the path towards Knothole. "Are you coming?" she asked. But Sonic was not there. "Sonic? Sonic? Where are you?" she called but it was no use, he was over ten kilometeres away already. Sonic sped closer and closer to Robotropolis. His intent was not to go straight to Robotropolis, rather get closer and see what this thing was. Sonic had his answer in the next few seconds. A giant Crescent shaped Craft over five Kilometers long towered over Robotropolis. Lasers firing continously at the decimated citadel. Below at the foot of the structure, SWATbots and Hoverbots battled with large ovular black warriors of some sort. "What the-?" was Sonic's only words. In a second he was speeding back towards Knothole with the great news. Somebody with lots of firepower was finally giving the old doc a pounding. This could be the end of Robotropolis, and the end of Robotnik's rule! "Sonic! You disobeyed a direct order not to go to Robotropolis!" Sally shouted at the blue blur as he skidded to a halt in Knothole. "I didn't go into Robotrolopis!" he pleaded, "I went closer to it, and saw something that will make all of our days." he said. "What might that be?" Sally asked. "Yes, Sonic, what might that be?" Antoine repeated Sally. Sonic frowned, great, Antoine. "Okay, okay, something, some kind of ship, is demolishing Robotropolis!" "Zut Alores!" Antoine said slowly. Sally was too happy now to be mad at Sonic. "Really, Sonic?" Tails asked. "Sure is, big guy!" Sonic said and rubbed his knuckles in Tails' hair. "Don't do that!" Tails said and crouched down to avoid Sonic's assault. "Well if Robotropolis is being destroyed right now we are in luck, troops are low at this time and we have little to no resources." Sally said, "They sure have good timing." "Way past." Sonic said. "I say it's time to celebrate!" Everybody cheered. Food was brought out and music was played as the Freedom fighters celebrated the defeat of Dr. Ivo Robotnik. And they danced all night long. ~~~Part 3: Not What it Seems ~~~ The battle raged for hours on end as Robotniks forces defended his empire against the alien forces trying to destroy it. In the command facility Robotnik sat in his metallic chair, pondering what to do in this situation. "Snively, what is the current conditions?" he demanded. "Well sir, we are at minimum resources and there isn't much left of the armour you installed on this building, power plants have been attacked and there is little to no power available to keep us going. Also I estimate this structure will collapse in under twenty minutes with the beating it's sustained." "Very well than, I think it's time we regrouped and renumbered." Robotnik said and stood up from his chair. "Is the Winged Fortress on stand-by?" "It's been so for the past few months, sir." "Excellent! Then call back all functioning troops to the Mountain hanger, but I want troops left behind so they won't follow us. The last thing we need is the Winged Fortress to fall." "Very good, sir." Snively punched the commands into the new keyboard and the troops below started to exit the battle, several dozen of them remaining to keep the legions of attacking drones occupied. "I will meet you on the bridge, Snively." Robotnik said and left for the elevator. Snively entered a few more vital commands into the computer and left the room. A few short seconds later the power was cut and the room was thrown into darkness. * * * On the bridge of the Speer Battle Cruiser Zorjin watched his troops conquer all that was left of the forces. In a moment the battle was over no troops remained, only his drones. A crackle emitted from the comlink and Zorjin's basking in glory was cut short. "Good work Overlord Zorjin." the Queen said from the other side of the ship. "Your victory here will certainly aid us in victory. Now I want all other major inhabitated areas dealt with." "Yes, m'Queen." Zorjin confirmed. The queen was the leader of the Speer race. The attack had been issued by her, she was supreme master of the Speer people. "Rush?" Zorjin called into the intercom. "Reporting, sir." Rush was standing by the intercom, awaiting what Zorjin had to say. "The Queen has issued that you are to deal with all remaining inhabitated areas. Battalion four is also yours, go and conquer." Rush's face lit with pleasure, he now had to legions with which to wreak havoc on the people of Mobius. "Rush?" Zorjin called. "Did you hear my last order?" "Sorry, sir, I was a little surprised that I get command of two legions. Thank you, sir, I will not let you down." "Very good Rush." With that Zorjin was gone. Rush raced over to the main command module. "All troops prepare to commence attack. Follow me!" he said as he lifted the command module off the ground with its thrusters. "We attack!" he shouted and the entire third and fourth battle legions swarmed out of the hanger lead by Rush. * * * Sonic awoke lying on the cold floor of his chamber. The wooden walls were silent, but had only been so for several hours, the celebration had lasted several hours and Sonic had headed for his room, the last thing he remembered was his nose planting in the soil. With a bit of swift footwork he was on his feet and at the doorway. The hall was empty, most of the doors closed. Sonic trudged down the hall towards the door to Castle Freedom, it had been erected not long ago, as a memento of the destruction of Robotnik's army of Dreadbots, gaint armoured robots that could level a building in a single shot. The castle was more of a small multi-roomed hut, but it was bigger than what they had previously been dwelling in. "Sal?" he called, as a shadow streaked across the courtyard. Sonic while fast was not fast enough to react as a blast of pure energy knocked him into the wall behind him. Several more blasts fired, then millions demolishing everything in Knothole. In seconds Sonic was at the door to Sally's chamber, a knock was not needed to awake her. She was already at the door. "Sal, Robotnik's back, and he's-" Sally cut him off. "I know, we have to evacuate!" she and sprinted down the left wing of the rapidly collapsing castle. "Quickly, awake the others, we have to get out of here." "Quick? Why do you think I'm called Sonic?" Sonic mused and rushed towards the first door of the right wing. Tails' room. "Tails, Robotnik is cheezed big time, we gotta get outta here!" he shouted as he crashed down the door. Tails was awake now, as was everyone, Sonic could hear them in the halls, screaming and running for the back exit of the castle. "Sal? Is everyone out safely?" Sonic called as Sally rushed towards the back exit. "Everyone except Antoine." she told him. "Great, I'll get him, you get out of here." he hollered and shot down the hall at light speed. "Twan'!" he shouted into each open door, "Where are you?" he called. "I am being, over here." Antoine, said, huddling in the corner of an empry room. "Come on, we gotta boot it out of here!" he shouted, the wall was torn away from Antoine. "Aiiee!!! Sonic help me!" he shouted as a giant black droid grabbed him. "Hey, you!" Shouted Sonic as he leaped at Antoine's monolith captor. "Give him back!" Sonic was in a Spin Attack when he hit the mechanical menace. But the dark, glistening armour seemed to throw his attack back in his face. Sonic landed on the ground, knocked sensless by his own attack. "Antoine!" he shouted as the machine took to the skies, what ever it was going to do to Antoine, Sonic would have to think fast, and act faster, but his head was spinning. "Don't worry, Sugah-Hog, I'm here!" Sonic heard Bunny Rabbot's call as she bound at the metallic, warrior. "You, been messin' with the wrong bunch, cutie!" she said and kicked it with one of her mechanical legs, a dent formed, but did not affect the flawless performance of the machine. "Zzzzzzz-tt!!" was the cry of the droid, as it shot into the sky. "We can catch him if we hurry," Bunny told Sonic and grabbed him, in a flash she launched herself, and Sonic with her, into the clouds, following its straight path. As they got closer, Antoine's screams of terror could be heard. Sonic could not tell if it was from the altitude, or the fact that a massive robot had grabbed him. "Now!" Bunny shouted, and hurled Sonic at the robot that held Antoine. Sonic shouted out a war scream, and spun at the robot's jointed arm. If he could sever the arm Antoine would be free, of course if Bunny did not catch him, he would fall to his death, but that was chance he had to take, if he were to save Antoine. The sound of metal being severed filled the air, as though a buzz-saw were cutting a solid piece of metal in half. And almost so, was the case, Sonic, sheered through the machine's arm, and looped around, aiming for it's other arm. Antoine screamed crazily, as he plumetted towards the hard ground below. But something caught him, something metal. "Oh, thank goodness, you were here to catch me, Bun-" he said, but it was not Bunny, merely the falling arm of the droid. Rockets at the back flared and it shot towards the upper atmoshere of Mobius. Meanwhile Sonic battled the crippled robot, now both its arms useless, one gone, the other hopelessly, sliced and diced. "This will not go un-challenged, Hedgehog." the droid said in a metallic voice. "Haaaagghhhh!!!" it screamed and shot at Sonic, a fiery aura surrounding it. Sonic moved to dodge the attack, but crashed into something. The droid's arm, now carrying Antoine. "Bunny!" he shouted, starting to lose altitude. The droid hit Sonic, full force, sending him hurtling across the sky. "I'm here, sugah!" cried Bunny and shot past the droid, her leg rockets pushing her towards, the falling Sonic. "'Elp me!" screamed Antoine as the arm attatched to its previous owner and the pair continued on their original course, for the ship near Robotropolis. "We gotta get Antoine, one or all." Sonic said, "You do the same thing, throw me at the machine, I'll take out its arm, hopefully, or maybe kill it. You grab Ant'!" "Got it!" The two Freedom Fighters charged at the robot, Sonic again launched at it. And initiated his attack strategy. The robot gave a low moan, as it's bulky, rounded form seemed to collapse, pieces of it, littering the sky as it died. "Now!" Sonic shouted, as Anoine dropped from its grasp. Bunny shot towards the falling fox, if it were Tails he could fly himself, but Antoine had no such luxury. "AAAAAAAIIIIIEEEEEEEE!!!!" he screamed, and cried as he fell, yet again. Just a few inches from Antoine, Bunny was repelled, by some sort of field, or so she thought. Sonic had a better view of the situation, the falling droid was in suicide mode, and was hurtling towards the ground, thrusters at full, this pushed Bunny up-wards, away from Antoine. "HELP!!!!" Antoine panicced, as he fell from view. Sonic cried out: "NOOOO!!!" but it was far too late, there was nothing else he could do, not even Bunny's leg shocks could save someone from a fall that long. Sonic began to feel his loss of altitude again, and thrust himself towards the low-spirited Bunny. "I'm sorry, we should have tried harder, we didn't expect any of this." Sonic eased Bunny. "I guess, you're right, we'd better, all head home then," Bunny sighed. "If we have a home to return to." Sonic added. * * * Robotnik marveled at the mavelous sight before him, he had built it and yet he was awestruck. The Winged Fortress was mavelous. Wings, and turrets, and armour, and rockets, and missiles. The Winged Fortress was unstoppable. The hover-pad began to hum, and he ascended to the bridge. "Snively," he said into the com-link. "Prepare to launch." "Yes, sir." Snively, aknowledged, his voice staticy over the com-link. The bay door opened and Robotnik waddled into the command center. "Excellent." he nounced, and sat at the heavily padded chair. The thrusters ignited and the Winged Fortress was slowly lifted off the side of the mountain at which it rest, and into the boundless skies. "Snively!" Robotnik shouted, "Are the weapons online?!" "Yes, sir, they are fully operational." "Then we go to battle!" Robotnik was ecstatic, he had lost his city, and yet would reign supreme, in his in-dominantable fortress of the sky. The giant golden ship lurched to the left slightly, and pointed in the direction of the late Robotropolis. With turrets charged, and missiles loaded Robonik prepared to avenge his fallen empire. In the fullest. * * * Sonic landed softly on the green grass that lined most of the Great Forest's floor. "Sal?" he called, eyes peered from the surrounding plant-life, and Sally emerged from behind a bush, Rotor behind her. "Where's Antoine?" she asked. "Ah... we couldn't save him, the drones that attacked Knothole dropped him when we were sky-high." Sonic lowered his head, he never did much care for Antoine, but he did not want Antoine to die. "Where were you when he fell?" Rotor inquired. "There were too many clouds, we couldn't have known." Bunny told him. "Yeah, there's no way anyone could hit the ground from that height, and live. "You mean Antoine is... is..." Amy asked, peeking from behind Sally. "I'm afraid so," Sonic, bared the dreadful words. "I'm sorry." Sally brought her fist up. "We thought they came to defeat Robotnik," she announced, "but they came to invade! To Invade Mobius, our home, Robotnik tried the same, and did we let him?" "We sure as heck did not," Bunny answered. "Nope" was Rotor's reply. "Uh, uh!"; Sonic. "NO!"; Tails. "And we're not gonna let them either!" Sally shouted, and raised her clenched fist, Sonic followed, then Bunny and Tails, and Amy Rose, and the whole crowd of those who inhabited Knothole. They would fight back, and win. Mobius would be theirs. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: To be continued.