Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ Sonic Underground Reloaded 2 ❯ Taking down Robotnik ( Chapter 5 )

Sonic parked their van about sixty feet from Gerald Robotnik's rebuilt fortress.

"The remote will still work from this distance." Shadow said, handing Sonia the remote detonator. "Wait until we give you the signal through the radio or when we get back. If something goes wrong and we're still in there, don't hesitate to set it off when I tell you to."

Sonia shook her head. "But-"

"Do what I say, Sonia." Shadow said. "We'll be fine. I'm pretty sure we can get out in time."

Sonic put on his headset and handed Manic and Shadow their headsets.

Shadow put on his headset and kissed Aleena.

"You can get a room when we get back." Manic said, putting on his headset.

Shadow let Aleena go and looked at Manic. "Do you want me to tell her you got your tongue pierced a few weeks ago?"

Manic's eyes widened.

"Manic Hedgehog." Aleena scolded.

Manic sighed. "I was gonna say you just did tell her, but I know you did that on purpose, Dad."

Sonic grabbed his backpack and patted Manic on his back. "He could've made you watch that Malcolm episode where he got his tongue pierced instead."

Sonia gagged. "Shut up, Sonic."

Manic furrowed his brow. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Shadow grabbed his backpack and tossed Manic's backpack to him. "Let's go before the Swatbots find us."

Sonic discreetly set the gun back on the table.

"Don't even think about it." Shadow said, grabbing Sonic's arm. "No one said anything about you having to like guns. It's a backup."

Sonic stood there, clearly trying to figure out how to ditch it again.

"This is not a joke, Sonic." Shadow snapped. "I've watched you run. You're as careless as your brother. I'm surprised you haven't broken your leg before. Now pick it up so we can get this over with."

Sonic huffed and picked up the gun.

"Let's go." Shadow said, nudging Sonic in front of him.

Manic hacked into the access panel and opened the gate. "This is the cell block." He whispered.

Shadow, Sonic, and Manic looked in the cells as they walked down the corridor.

"We're too late." Shadow whispered. "They're all empty."

"Hello?" A male voice asked.

Sonic rushed over to the cell. "Keep your voice down." He whispered. "We're here to help you."

Shadow and Manic caught up to Sonic.

A red teenage echidna was in the cell.

"Hurry, they're going to roboticize me as soon as they're done with the last member of my tribe." The echidna said softly.

Manic picked the lock and opened the cell door. "Okay, guy, you're free." He whispered. "Sonic will take you to a safe place."

Sonic reached his hand out. "Come on, uh-"

The echidna took Sonic's hand. "I'm Knuckles."

Sonic ran off, nearly dragging Knuckles along.

Shadow nudged Manic forward. "He can track us with his watch." He whispered.

Shadow and Manic headed out, placing the bombs in the most dangerous parts of the fortress, such as the power plant and laboratory.

Sonic finally caught up to them.

"One more room." Shadow whispered.

Shadow set the last bomb in the roboticizer room.

"Swat bots are in the main hall." Sonic whispered. "Is there another way out of here?"

Manic motioned to a shaft barely large enough for either of the three hedgehogs to stand up in.

Shadow led Sonic and Manic through the shaft and made it into the security monitor room.

All the doors in the room suddenly closed and locked.

Swatbots moved to block the doors.

"Well, well." Robotnik said as his chair was lowered into the room. "The great Shadow the hedgehog turned himself in."

Shadow glared at Robotnik and raised his spines.

Sonic and Manic raised their spines as well.

Robotnik glanced at his assistant (who was a shorter human male with a big nose), then motioned to Sonic and Manic. "Who's the other two?"

"You seriously don't know who I am?" Sonic asked.

"I was talking to Snively, you blue rat." Robotnik said, pointing to his assistant.

"He's the Blue Blur, also known as Sonic the hedgehog, sir." Snively replied. "The green one is Manic the hedgehog, a petty thief and informant. They're Shadow and Aleena's boys."

Manic, who had been trying to stifle his laughter the entire time Snively spoke, burst out laughing.

Shadow and Sonic looked at Manic incredulously.

"What is so funny?" Robotnik questioned.

Manic tried to explain, but was still laughing too hard to be understood.

It finally dawned on Shadow that Snively sounded like some cartoon character Manic was watching days ago.

"He falls off of his hoverboard a lot." Shadow said.

"Lands on his head too." Sonic added.

"Roboticize the green one first." Robotnik ordered. "That'll teach him some respect."

The swatbots grabbed Manic by his arms.

"Let me go!" Manic cried as he struggled to get away.

The rings on Shadow's wrists started to glow as he raised his hands at the Swatbots.

The blasts hit the Swatbots simultaneously.

Sonic ran over to catch Manic before he could hit the ground.

"Thanks, bro." Manic said.

Shadow whipped his backpack around and pulled out a block of C-4 he brought along.

Sonic and Manic ran out of the room as Shadow dropped the block.

"Don't just stand there gawking, Snively, activate the escape pod!" Robotnik ordered.

Shadow ran out the door backwards and blew the C-4 up with a blast from his rings.

The explosion knocked Sonic, Manic, and Shadow to the ground.

Sonic quickly got up and raced off, leaving Shadow and Manic behind.

Shadow gritted his teeth and scrambled to his feet.

"Dad?" Manic asked.

Shadow knelt down to help Manic up. "Are you okay?"

Manic groaned. "No. My back…." He said. He glanced to their left. "There's Swatbots coming. Go; I'll slow you down."

Shadow scooped Manic up and raced down the corridor. He caught up to Sonic and grabbed his arm.

Sonic's eyes widened as he struggled to keep up with Shadow, who was dragging him along. "How are you faster than me?!"

"Innate ability and air shoes." Shadow replied. "You're not the only one Uncle Chuck ever made shoes for."

They finally made it out of the facility and to the van.

"Now, Sonia!" Shadow yelled.

Sonia pressed the button and blew up the facility.

Argus and Knuckles ran over to the van.

"We brought down an escape pod, sir." Argus said. "Rotor is inspecting the wreckage."

"You drive them home, Sonic." Shadow said, setting Manic in one of the van's beds. "We'll call you if we need you."

"Sure." Sonic said. He motioned to Knuckles. "Come on, I bet you could use a good meal."

Shadow caught Sonic's arm. "Wait. Not that it matters now, but why did you leave us?"

"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking." Sonic replied.

Shadow let him go and walked away. "Don't let it happen again."