Amy Rose (Vol. 1)

I Hate Clowns

Following the crash, Topaz woke up in a rather odd setting: lying on a pile of stuffed toys. She had landed in the prizes of a game booth, providing a soft landing. However, she was more concerned about the location of the pilot Molly or the leader Amy Rose. There was nothing in eyesight, just more booths as far as she could see. However, she was not alone.

A Piko-Piko robot stared at her from the other side of the booth. It was an unsettling clown Badnik that was rarely used by Eggman, but the location made it apropos. Unlike any of its replicants seen before, it was missing its large hammer. Seeing it as an advantage, she drew her shock blaster and shot it. The Badnik fell over, rendered deactivated.

"I hate clowns," she said.

"Oh my. What has little brother done to you that earned him such a rude greeting?" A voice asked.

Topaz climbed out of the booth to investigate. She found the culprit's voice was coming from a digital screen with a propeller flying above her. It displayed a ringleader robot with a smiling golden mask.

"Great. Another Badnik." Topaz remarked sarcastically."

"No, mon cher. I am much more than a simple automaton like the rest of these husks of gears. I am a humble entertainer wishing to share his gift with the world."

"By kidnapping them?"

"Well, a good show needs an audience. You could be a part of the show."

"Not interested."

"We'll see. I'll leave you to the big brothers."

The screen flew away. Topaz was on guard for any attacks. Within seconds, Badniks arrived. These were completely new. They were taller clown robots but with sinister, painted-on smiles. Their arms and legs were like metal tubes. Each one had a circus-themed weapon. All were emitting mocking laughter.

Topaz remarked, "Oh chaos."

She took cover behind the booth and started shooting at the robot clowns. The bolts shut them down and they would collapse on the ground. Her sharpshooting let her takedown five of them. When it seemed like luck was on her side, one of the robots snuck up and smashed the pistol with a large wooden mallet.

"Hey!"

Topaz ducked another swing of its mallet and kicked it off of the stand. The clowns chased her through the many game and food booths. She tossed popcorn carts and cotton candy carts to trip them up. One of them almost got the drop on her, but she snatched his mallet, kicked him aside, and tossed his weapon at the clowns.

She was close to the big central tent. Unfortunately, a robotic leg extended from it and swiftly kicked her into the crowd of clown robots. They grabbed her and held her down. Comitron retracted his foot and stepped out of the tent. His mask was different. It was silver with a sinister evil smile and the corners were curled up like devilish horns.

"Sorry, dear, but I can't let you ruin the show. I've worked so hard on it."

"Let me go and I'll rip every circuit from your body."

"Ooo-hoo-hoo-hoo! Such a violent little beast you are. You could join my show if you could just play along, but alas you are too... resistant. Don't worry about them don't worry about your friends. You're all in good hands. Mine."

"We will stop you!"

Comitron slowly and eerily moved his index finger to his smiling faux mouth. "Shhhhhhhhhhhh. Talking time is over. Time to sleep." He held up the palm of his hand and showed her the hypnotic disk. It made her fall into a deep slumber. "Make sure she's prepared. I want her ready for when Amy gets here. Next, we get the pilot."