Sonic the Hedgehog

Last Resort

Leaving his friends to fend for themselves was one thing Sonic did not enjoy doing. In fact, he had to muster up every single ounce of willpower within him to do so. He knows that staying to protect them from Team Dark would not be a heroic act, but rather, a betrayal. A betrayal of everything they've worked for to get to this point. Throughout this entire adventure, each of them has gone above and beyond to just grab ONE of these mysterious emeralds. As he makes it up the elevator shaft and now through the empty building surrounded by empty bleachers, he knows he has to trust that Tails, Amy, and Knuckles can protect themselves. He has to have faith. The same faith they have for him to make it to Station Square.

In two seconds, he finds himself outside the large fighting arena and on the sidewalk of a semi-busy street. To his right are streetlights lit up green that a pink vehicle is just passing through. About three pedestrians are on the same sidewalk Sonic is on, one of which is occupied with their smartphone. All along the street on both sides are too many stores for one to count, each drastically different from the other. The nightly breeze sends shivers running up the hedgehog's fur, but truthfully, nothing can quite compare to Ice Cap. After getting his bearings, Sonic quickly gets in his running stance, ready to make a day's trip to Station Square. He's run longer.

Slicing through the coldness of the night air, like a shovel through snow, is a laser. One that warms the flesh on Sonic's leg before its abrupt collision with the ground, creating a small but heat-filled explosion with enough impact to blow Sonic away like a leaf. With intense velocity and speed, his back meets the side of a parked blue convertible, completely shattering the window and caving in the side door. His adrenaline pumping, Sonic looks to the sky, eyeing the culprit he suspected.

Metal Sonic stays suspended in the sky, its red, glowing eyes coming across more as searchlights. The metal clone begins descending to get a better look at its weakened prey, its hands balling into unquenchable fists. Even with the lack of any real expression, one thing is clear. He's been looking forward to this.

"Found you."

Despite his body's protest Sonic manages to just barely get to his feet. He looks up at Metal Sonic and forces a grin.

"We really gotta stop meeting like this," he says. "In fact, we should really stop meeting at all."

"I'm sick of playing cat and mouse," Metal Sonic replies. "You've escaped my clutches through the incompetence of others, and you've wasted each opportunity to keep your fleeting, miserable life. You won't be getting another chance. I promise you that, my cheap copy."

"Never thought I'd have to trademark my name," Sonic mumbles, holding onto the emerald tightly. "Last one to Station Square is a rotten egg!"

As soon as those words leave his mouth, Sonic is no more but a blue trail of speed leading through the now deserted street, with those who were wise enough after hearing the laser fleeing from the sight. With speed greater than that of a bullet, Metal Sonic speeds after his organic twin.

"Fleeing from a battle?" Metal Sonic observes. "In your words... Glad to know I've made an impression. You can't run. And you can't hide."

"I see Robotnik didn't shy away from programming his habit of evil monologues," Sonic says as he cuts through the wind, with the sound barrier long since broken.

Annoyed, Metal Sonic diverts from the organic hedgehog's trail. Something he takes notice of. He almost doesn't stop until he hears a shriek. Immediately, he slows to a halt, taking a cautious look behind him. Hovering in the air once more is Metal Sonic, except this time, he has a guest. A Mobian female cat, dressed in a yellow T-shirt with blue jeans. Her casual clothes and dropped shopping bag full of beauty products and snacks amplify the reality that this is some random civilian, having nothing to do with this conflict. Sonic grits his teeth, seething as he watches the petrified expression on the woman grow more fearful of her situation.

"I've come to realize a lot of things about you, rodent. Machines learn, adapt, and evolve. You organics are destined to repeat the same failures over and over. A slave to your cognitive functions. Empathy, regret, fear- emotion. Nothing but a hindrance."

"LET HER GO!" Sonic yells.

"Oh, but you know I can't do that," Metal Sonic responds, loosening his grip on the woman enough to let her slip. Her screams grow louder as she desperately clings to the android's cold, metallic arm. "How about we make a deal? You give me the emerald, and if I'm in a good mood, I won't bring a premature end to this pathetic Mobian's life."

The intensity of Sonic's beating heart increases. It's almost certain that his cybernetic doppelganger WON'T keep his end of the bargain. And even if he does, that's another emerald lost. Just two more before Eggman holds all the power in the universe. Out of ideas, the hedgehog notices something. A saving grace. One last chance. One last, desperate resort.

Parked on the side of the road is a garbage truck. Both of the Mobian drivers have yet to take notice of what's unfolding. They're getting back into the vehicle after having emptied another dumpster. All of its content... now inside the large compacter, waiting to be crushed into nothingness. Sonic takes a deep breath.

"I'm sorry Knuckles," he says, before he reels his arm back as far as it'll reach, and chucks the bright gem into the compacter. Metal Sonic's attentive eyes follow the emerald's trail, watching as it just barely enters the bottom of the compacter, with the machine inches away from completely destroying all remaining items in its path.

"NO!" Metal Sonic yells, letting go of the woman.

She once again lets out a frightful cry, but it ends once she falls into Sonic's arms, which carries her down a block in seconds. Realizing the mistake he made, Metal Sonic is unsure of what to pursue, until he reluctantly speeds toward the emerald. However, the brief moment of hesitation might have cost him everything. The compacter has fully lowered and is now on top of the ancient gem. Except, it's no longer moving. Actually, it had stopped right as it touched the emerald. A loud, metallic whining noise comes from the machine. It's jammed.

It makes sense. Each of the chaos emeralds has been around for centuries. If they were destructible, then they would all be gone. After all, they have likely endured much harder conditions than two-thousand-and-seven-hundred-and-fifty pounds of pressure. He swipes the emerald from the compactor, allowing it to fully close. The Mobia drivers, at first, concerned due to the metallic wailing, are now put at ease, and they resume their drive around the block.

With the emerald secured, the metal hedgehog flies high into the sky, overlooking the vast ensemble of bright lights and establishments to find his target.

"SONIC?!" Eggman asks through the built-in communicator in the android's head.

"Yes, my master?" Metal asks.

"Team Dark isn't responding, and they haven't checked in for hours! What's going on down there?! Have you found my rightful emerald?!"

"Of course, my master," Metal Sonic confirms, unknowingly putting a giant smile on his creator's face. "Right now I'm just surveying the area for my clone. He couldn't have gotten far, we were just-"

"Leave him," Eggman dismisses. "What matters is the emerald! With five, we're even closer to winning this drawn-out battle."

"But sir, I can finish him! What sense is there running when I can prove my superiority and identity as the superior Sonic right now?!"

"I didn't build you to question MY authority, Metal..." Eggman says. "You may lack the ability to think bigger, but I don't. That hedgehog is just a distraction! He's not our primary concern. Now get back here and deliver me my emerald!"

The communication shuts off.

"GGGGGRRRAAAAAAAH!"

***

The terribly long car drive was enough to bore the Jackal to tears. But he has finally made it. Starlight City. He's wanted in almost every area, including this one, so a low profile is a necessity. The gas tank to the car is nearly depleted, so he won't be going anywhere anytime soon. He's no stranger to robberies, so if need be, he can get his own food and clothing. Though, that'll have to be long after he's adjusted.

...