Sonic GeneX: Doomsday
Chapter 23 - Derailed
Stage 12 - Subway Scamper

Note: Sonic the Hedgehog and related characters are (c) SEGA. You knew that, right?
GeneX and related OCs are (c) 2BIT (TheGreatGator), the author.


"Catch me if you can.
There's no turning back.
Reach but never catch.
Catch me if you can.
You can't fathom that.
Wonders you can't have." - Catch Me If You Can; Sonic Riders Zero Gravity


Previously on GeneX…
The attempt to rescue Skye Prower from the Troblusk City clock tower was a trap! Once our heroes were deep inside the tower, Dr. Eggman detonated it! Fortunately, most of our heroes were able to escape one way or another, but Razor the Porcupine died from injuries sustained in the explosion, and SPOT was destroyed during the climb up the tower, ending the signal the robot was relaying for the comms devices.
Rainbow left her hiding place when it was attacked by Lost Ones. Aurora went missing during their escape, only to be captured by the Lost Ones and have her Chaos Boots taken. She was rescued by Cream and Chopper, who had been separated from their friends in the Clock Tower's destruction.
Copter, Gemini, Tails and Fera met up in Trublusk City's subway system. Bounty hunters sent by Apocalos were searching the tunnels for them, but they attempted to escape via a subway train. They were pursued by Zeke, Spiny, Nack and Bean. A bomb tossed by Bean caused the train to crash, and believing their quarry to be dead, Zeke began to consider escaping this world to avoid Apocalos' wrath...
Now, our tale continues...


Tails had to get out of the overturned train, and he had to find the others and make sure they were okay. The door wasn't budging, though. He looked around for anything he could use to pry it open. This old subway train had an old-fashioned hand brake. Perfect. He tried to remove it before remembering he had no tools. SPOT would sure come in handy right about now... But he couldn't wallow in grief right now. He removed the useless comms device from his ear. "If I can reprogram a robo-machine with a toothpick using my tail...I can do this." he said to himself, turning to the brake and smashing his communicator against it to free up the parts. Not even Eggman could likely comprehend how Tails managed to remove the brake with an assortment of smash ear piece parts, but in a few minutes, he was spinning his tails to return up to the door above, jamming the brake rod into the edge to try and pry it open! He grunted, straining, but soon the door popped open! He dropped the brake and grabbed for the edge, but his tails failed him and he started to fall! That was when he felt hands grab his wrists, and looking up, he saw Fera. "Ahh! Th-thanks, Buddy!" he stammered as the wolf pulled him up. Fera growled as they stood on the overturned train. "I'm not your buddy, and I'm not some starry-eyed rookie! That person was an illusion!" she snapped, hopping down from the train. Gemini stepped over to Tails to see that he was okay. "I didn't mean to upset her... But, Felicia was definitely real... She was what Fera could be." the fox murmured. Gemini shook her head. "Felicia was Fera without the weight of her past. No matter what, the real Fera will always carry that pain." she pointed out, "Um... wasn't Copter with you?" she questioned, peering into the train. Tails gasped. "I thought he was with you!" he said. Gemini quickly waved her wand. "Discovereva!" she shouted, sending a guiding light to show where Copter was now. To their surprise, it moved away from the train, a ways down the track. Fera saw it go into an odd hole in the subway wall. "What could be in there...?" she wondered.


"Discovereva!" Another search spell was cast above ground. Ophiuchus the snake pointed at the light as it sank underground. "Gemini is down there somewhere..." he said, glancing at Apocalos, "You should have asked me to lead this hunt from the start. Don't you trust me?" the serpent asked. Apocalos scoffed without answering. Then, he turned to the squad of Darks behind him. "Follow the light. Bring me the fennec. Kill the others." he ordered. Darkosmo stepped to the front to lead the group. "You had us at kill..." he smirked, morphing into a drill and starting to tunnel directly down underground! Punky, Raven, and the other Darks gathered around the hole to follow him down. "Prove yourself, snake. Go with them..." Apocalos ordered. Ophiuchus bowed with a smirk, but then Infinite dropped from the sky, landing behind him. "If we're hunting foxes, you'll be joined by me. There's a fox and a wolf I dearly wish to tear limb from limb..." he said, adjusting his mask as Ophi gulped.


Emily was helping Conan hobble to the Arcangel control room now that he was mostly recovered from his fatal wounds. "That being... Gideon... Now I understand that you could indeed be my Emily, only lacking memory." the raccoon said. "Easy... You should be resting..." Emily whispered. Bucky glanced at Conan as he entered. "We need to figure out our next move. Comms are down. Lend us your relics, Conan." he requested. The raccoon glanced at Emily. "I'm only here for her. Once this is over...you release her." he growled. Bucky folded his arms. "If that is her wish..." he stated. Zipp flew into the room suddenly. "Nine and Ten on deck! Should I blast 'em?" he asked. Spiny and Zeke followed the hornet into the control room. "Don't make me fry you up, squirt!" the dragon grunted. Spiny gave Bucky a polite bow. "Our creator, I know we've not always seen eye to eye, but we've decided to extend you an invitation to escape this world while we can!" he said. Vortex scoffed from the helm. "Fleeing like craven cowardsss..." he hissed. Zeke growled. "You're no longer invited, Five! But my dark power can make a portal to other worlds! I know one that's wrecked and abandoned! Lost Ones won't look for us there!" he offered. Bucky tapped his foot and hummed. "Tempting, but I must decline. If I can't encounter the Lost Ones...how will I achieve my ultimate feat of science and cure them?" he asked. Everyone turned and looked at him with wide eyes. "C-cure them??" Conan asked in bewilderment.


"Wakey wakey, Shorty..." Copter heard as he groaned, opening his eyes. The trio of Jet, Wave and Storm, the Babylon Rogues, were staring down at him as he rested on a lumpy mattress. "I...ain't short... Hey!! Where the heck is Gemini?!" he gasped, sitting up quickly and making the Rogues back up to give him space. "You're the only one we found passed out on the tracks..." Storm murmured. "Yeah, you're lucky we saved your life!" Jet interrupted. Copter ignored them and looked around. He appeared to be in some sort of underground shanty town. A far cry from Raisol Sanctuary...but it was populated. It seemed this was where the gargoyle mob hid out with...their strangely adorable families. "I got bad news for this place. Lost Ones are swarming above..." Copter grunted. Wave nodded. "We know. Battle Lord Kukku called us out to lend them a hand, but we didn't sign up for monsters." she explained. Jet scoffed. "The Armada's really let themselves fall apart! First workin' for Despair and now this! They deserve what they get!" he remarked. Storm looked worried. "The kids don't deserve it, though." he said of the young gargoyles running and playing in the shanty town. Copter looked at the kids and then looked at the Rogues. "So... The notorious thieves do have hearts." he said. Jet blushed and turned away. "Well, I mean, our help doesn't come cheap!" he huffed. "Grrrr, it better!" Copter turned to see Guard the gargoyle approach! "Whaaat are you doing here?? Shouldn't you be licking Gunner's boot somewhere?" Copter stammered. Guard glared at him. "Not since Sonic set me free. Grrr... When GUN tracked the Lost Ones here, I came to evacuate the survivors. I may not consider these gargoyles my kin, but I will aid them." he said. Copter gave him a light smile, and then groaned as he climbed off the mattress. "I think I got a spring in my back!" he grumbled. Wave coughed to get attention. "Anyway, we've got a group working on fixing an old subway train. Not the one you apparently wrecked, another one. We'll use it to get these people out. I'd help the repairs but I got Gear maintenance." she huffed. Before Copter could give that a smart reply, he found himself hugged by the next person to come up to him. "Dad!! You're okay!!" It was Chopper! "...Son, you're grounded for ditching." Copter grunted.

Chopper led his father to the subway station across town, where Cream and Aurora were actually working together to repair this train. "Aurora... Aurora? Punchy's baby? ...Well, Tails will be glad you're safe, Cream." Copter said when he saw them. He was tackled into another hug by a charging Rainbow. "Two!! You're okay! Where's One and Wanda?" she asked excitedly. "Lemme go!! Ack! What are YOU doing here, Rainbow??" he stammered. Lucky Junior popped up behind her. "I used my ProwerPhone to track Chopper and Aurora down here!" he explained. Lucky Senior was there, too. "I feel like the thirteenth wheel..." he murmured. Having been freed from Rainbow's overly friendly hug, Copter quickly explained his own situation and how he was separated from the others. Aurora looked up from her work. "No sign of dad, then?" she asked. Cream took a wrench that Aurora was holding out to her and smiled. "I'm sure they're okay. But since Tails isn't here, I'll just put what he taught me to use!" she said cheerfully. Copter nodded. "You do that...I wanna find Gemini, though..." he stated, turning and walking away a bit. Chopper looked surprised. "H-hey, wait up!" he said, following after his father. Rainbow turned to Aurora with a chuckle. "I have no idea who taught you how to tinker, Rory." she said. "Keep thinking, that's not the name you gave me in my timeline, ma..." Aurora murmured. Once Copter and Chopper were alone, the father stopped and looked to the son. "Say I actually was curious... What do you remember about your mother?" he asked. Chopper looked a bit sad. "I wish I remembered much of anything. I don't remember her face, her voice... I'm pretty sure she was a canine like you..." he said, straining. Copter rubbed his chin. "Then for all we know it could be Fera." he said thoughtfully, promptly groaning at the idea. Copter turned to resume his intended search. "Why'd you tell Gemini it isn't her?" he asked, glancing back. Chopper frowned. "I don't want her to die." he sighed, "So I...hope she's not..." That gave Copter pause. "Would you risk not being born to save your parents? Don't do that." he said, turning back toward Chopper and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Kid... You're the best thing to ever come from me. Don't do anything to prevent that." he said in a soft, gentle voice.


Tails, Fera and Gemini found some losol seeping into the tunnels from cracks in the ceiling above. Naturally, they started to fight them off, when a huge mass of slime dropped down behind them! "Thaaat's a big losol golem..." Gemini yelped. "Let's just get out of here before even more show up!" Tails said, not wanting the creatures to distract them from finding Copter. The three of them ran away for a bit, but upon seeing the shanty town that the search spell was leading them to, Gemini spun back around. "Nope! There's people down here! We have to protect them!" she shouted. "How is this our responsibility?" Fera grumbled. Tails held the brake that he'd used to jimmy open the door earlier. It wasn't much, but he'd rather hit with that than get his tails slimy. "We kinda did lead them here..." he pointed out. Groaning, Fera stood back and flicked her fingers, sending orbs of dark energy bouncing towards the losol to slow them down. Meanwhile, Tails took to smacking them away as they leapt at him using the brake, and Gemini fired powerful spells at the golem to whittle it down to size! A bit too many had gathered behind them as they fled through the tunnels, though, and the fight was proving tough, especially for Tails. He found himself surrounded, and pointed the slimy brake around nervously. "Maybe we shoulda asked for help..." he gulped. Just as the losol were about to leap at him, several energy blasts struck them, either knocking them away or rending them inert! Tails looked to see Guard flying towards him! "Rrrr!! Copter said you guys were close by!" he grunted. Jet and Storm flew in as well, lasers popping out of hatches on the sides of their boards. "Never thought we'd actually use the weapons..." Jet growled as he and Storm rained lasers on the approaching losol! "Solare!!" Gemini cast, vaporizing what was left of the golem with a huge beam of light! As they raced to the town entrance, Tails found Wave standing there smirking at him. "Impressed you're surviving, Shorty!" she said, "Your board skills up to snuff?"

It wasn't long after that Tails was reunited with Cream, and Gemini was reunited with Copter. Tails and Cream happily hugged one another, relieved they were okay. Gemini slapped Copter in the face. "Why'd you run off without us!?" she snapped. "I was essentially kidnapped!" Copter protested. "Ahh, save the fighting for the bad guys..." Chopper said nervously. "Yeah, he's right, Wanda! Two!" said Rainbow as she approached. They were all gathered back at the subway station, getting ready to leave. "Oh, hey..." Fera said to Rainbow, "Sorry I screwed up your wedding... Guess that makes us even for your husband causing my amnesia..." she grumbled. Rainbow stared at her blankly a moment. "...Okay!" she said cheerily. "That was a heck of a wedding..." Lucky murmured. An orange gargoyle named Rick walked over to the front of the train where Guard was standing. "It's a no-go. The mob doesn't trust these guys. They won't let their families board the train." he said. Guard looked a bit thoughtful, considering how to proceed. He then walked across the station to talk to Cream. "Hey, grrr... Is the train functional?" he asked. Cream smiled. "Aurora thinks so. I don't think either of us are really experts, though..." she said bashfully. Tails grinned at her. "I'll check your work! I'm sure you've done an awesome job!" he winked. The gargoyle nodded. "Someone needs to convince the gargoyles to come with us, though... Grrr..." he stated. "Dude, YOU'RE a gargoyle!" Lucky said, listening in. "I'm an android..." Guard insisted. Copter scoffed at that. "Look, Guard, it's not about you, it's about them. The last time they trusted outside their own kind, it was Despair. Guess how that worked out. You've gotta be the bridge. You gotta show that a gargoyle CAN trust people like us." he told him. Guard stared at Copter, let out an irritated growl, and started to flap away. "Fine, then..." he said. Gemini gave Copter a perplexed stare. "When did you get so smart?" she asked. "Yeah, really?" Rainbow added. Copter groaned. "Thanks, really..." he sighed. Tails chuckled at that, only to look surprised when Wave approached and handed him a board. "The train'll need guards. Who's up for it? I got three extra boards." she said. Lucky was quick to raise his hand. "I volunteer! Wait, boards?" he murmured.

Guard landed on the roof of one of the shanty homes, ready to give a speech. "Gargoyles!! I know you don't trust outsiders... I know you fear their ways, so much so that you resort to crime to survive. Rrrr... That fear keeps you living down here in caves like rats! I can't promise things will be easy. Grrr... I can't promise you'll always be accepted. I've seen hate...it's ugly. Yet... I've also seen love, kindness, compassion, from beings nothing like myself. Rrrr... You'll never know the best parts of this world if you don't open your hearts! You'll just be trapped in darkness down here...forever!" Everyone was listening to his speech, and Rick smiled and nodded along with it. "I'm ready to live in the light..." he said. Fera folded her arms. "Quite the speech. Can't say I'm quite sold." she murmured. Copter smirked. "We'll get ya on board... Speaking of, sure you don't wanna trade?" Copter said, holding up the Extreme Gear he'd somehow got stuck with. Guard's speech seemed to have done its job, because after talking among themselves, the gargoyles were starting to head for the train!

As the train was being boarded and preparations were being made to leave, Tails, Copter, Lucky, Guard and the Rogues remained outside the train, planning to form an aerial perimeter and protect it. Copter and Lucky looked awkward holding their boards. "Well, I should be fine. I mean I do own a plane." Copter said. "Y-yeah, and I co-own a spaceship!" Lucky added. Tails tapped his foot. "Well, the rest of us have actual experience..." he pointed out. Their friends watched them from the back windows. "Careful, dad..." Lucky Jr. murmured. "Well, what could happen? No one knows we're here!" Aurora smiled. Just then, the light of a search spell flew through the shanty town, passed into the train, and lit up Gemini! "If that's not Tim we're in trouble..." she gulped. The heroes outside the train mounted their boards, seeing people coming from the direction the light had come. Leading the charge was Infinite, Ophiuchus following behind, and behind him were the dark forms of the experiments! "Eeep... We're dead, aren't we?" Lucky yelped, shaking as he clutched the brake that Tails had given him to fight with. Fera could see Infinite out the window, and her eye narrowed. "Everyone keep the aisle clear... I may need to crack some skulls..." she warned. Infinite's voice boomed as he pointed at Tails. "It's time you suffered the way I suffered in Null Space, fox! And once I extract the last screams of agony that you can muster...then I end your pathetic life!" he declared. Tails gulped. "I'd say 'You and what army' but... Well, he's got an army." he said. Ophi stepped in front of Infinite. "The objective before pleasure, remember..." he said sternly. Guard let out a snarl. "Remember me, jackal!? Thought you killed me, didn't you! Grrah!" Infinite tilted his head and adjusted his mask. "Should I care who you are?" he murmured. Jet grabbed Guard by the arm, keeping him from tearing after Infinite for revenge. "Dude! Train's leavin'! Let's follow it instead of committing suicide!!" he squawked. Lucky yelped shakily as his board lifted off the ground, the other boards following. "Don't fall, we can't turn back to rescue ya!" Storm warned. The Darks started to charge after the train, Thrash barreling ahead at the front. "You ain't gonna escape from us!!" he roared. Infinite rose into the air and slowly started to follow. "The girl, then the fox boy..." he murmured, looking into the train windows. He spotted Fera as he did. "You... How fitting we should meet here. I'll have my revenge on you, too..." he sneered.

Jet turned his board around, skillfully flying backwards. "How do these guys think they're gonna catch up to us?" he chuckled, the train already entering the subway tunnels and seemingly out of their reach. Darkosmo sprouted wings and took off, with "Zapp" the hornet and "Raven" the divine following by air! The Rogues entered a battle formation with their boards, tapping the back of the boards with their heels to make the lasers pop out! "Man, I'd rather use my fists..." Storm grumbled. "Go ahead, but I'm not letting a morph near me!" Wave remarked. The Rogues and the flying Darks started a shootout, each of the Darks sending attacks based in the magic of their namesake while the birds shot back with their board lasers. Lucky sighed with relief as he looked back. "Looks like they got it covered, hehe!" he said awkwardly, a bit lacking in confidence without his key. A bright light accompanied Punky, Thrash, Vanitas and Dark Spiny's arrival on the roof of the train! "Dammit! Ophi teleported 'em!" Copter shouted, dashing into Dark Spiny quickly to tackle him off the side of the train! "Oh, COME ON!!!" the porcupine yelled. Punky leapt on Copter's board next. "Hey, bro... I hear you killed your darkness. Guess I'll take care of that other half!" he said, punching Copter in the back! "Rgh, Punchy, I'm not in the mood!" he growled, grabbing him up with his tails and tossing him off his board! "Huh... When did my tails get so strong?" he murmured. Lucky was busy flying away from Vanitas, using the broken brake to smack orbs of dark energy tossed at him by the chameleon. "You stole my girl, you pathetic cat!!" Vanitas shouted. "Meee-yow!! Whisk, handle your ex!!" he shouted. Raven heard them and growled. "Shut up, you butt-heads!! I'm not either of your girl!!" This left Tails to deal with Thrash. He leapt from his board and tail-whipped the rhino, but it was blocked and didn't seem to really bother him. "I'm gonna crumple you into a fluffy ball of trash..." he growled. Tails leapt up and grabbed his hat, returning to his board and flying away with it! "Hey!! Gimmie that!! You're just making me mad!!" he snarled, leaping for the hat...only to find no train under him. "Damn yoooooou!!" Thrash yelled as he fell. Tails tossed him his hat and waved. "Bye, whoever you are. Seriously, do I know a rhino experiment?" he wondered, scratching his head.

Following along from the rear was Infinite. He scoffed at the tomfoolery of the Darks. "They're just in the way. Still, I suppose I should make use of this diversion..." With the familiar sound of the Phantom Ruby activating, Infinite sent a copy of Chaos to the roof of the train. "Now to slip in, kill the wolf, and take the fennec..." the jackal sneered. However, Tails and Copter both jumped onto the train in front of Chaos! Most of the land-bound Darks had been left in the dust, so Lucky could occupy Vanitas. "Chaos Zero? You think you can freak me out with that again, Infinite?" Tails shouted. It was a moment of weakness, a time when the fox had been broken by the loss of Sonic and his own defeat at Infinite's hands that led him to cower before Chaos once. Not this time! Infinite chuckled in amusement. "How about this?" The Phantom Ruby whirred again, and Chaos transformed into a larger, more fearsome shape, with sharp claws, writhing tendrils, and a watery version of Infinite's mask in place of its head! Copter gulped. "Well, I'm freaked." he said. Tails took his clone by the hand. "We'll do this together!" he said. Nodding, Copter leapt at Chaos with Tails, and they both twirled in tandem, smacking the "mask" with their tails! The tendrils grabbed them as the creature's head reformed. "You can die together, as well!" Infinite declared. "Chaos Whirlwind!!" Copter grunted, managing to send a wind in Tails' direction, blowing him out of Chaos' grip and into the air! The fox spun his tails and flew over the monster, staying out of reach of its claws! "This guy's an illusion... Only way to stop it is by stopping Infinite!" he realized. "Graaah!! Good idea!!" came the voice of Guard, who charged at the jackal from behind! "Ah, I remember now..." Infinite said dryly, raising a hand to the gargoyle and blocking his scythe with a...big red block. "Grraaah!! I was waiting for you! Now you'll pay!!" Guard snarled. "I have no interest in killing anyone twice. So boring. Begone so I can finish off that fox..." Infinite scowled. "Finish off who?!" Hearing Tails' voice close by, Infinite turned to see him charging towards him on his board! He tapped the back and fired the lasers, pelting Infinite with shots and causing him to give up maintaining the Chaos illusion, freeing Copter! Infinite instead covered himself in a protective barrier, which then expanded, knocking Tails and Guard both away! "Enough! You can't stop me from...!" Infinite suddenly started to fall, and he realized the Phantom Ruby was low on power again. "Inferior ruby..." he snarled in frustration.

Despite the small victories, this was still not a battle the heroes could win. Up ahead, Cream and Aurora could see a massive portal that the train was in danger of heading into! "P-pull the brake!" Cream whimpered. The subway train screeched to a stop just in time to avoid entering the portal, or hitting Ophiuchus, the one who had summoned it. On top of that, the Darks were catching up to the train once again, furious at being knocked off. Tails, Guard and the Rogues formed up at the rear of the train, while Copter and Lucky ran to the front, finding Ophiuchus. "Commendable that you have survived Infinite! A reward is in order!" the snake shouted. "Why do I not believe him?" Lucky murmured. "Outta the way or we'll splat ya!" Copter snapped. Ophiuchus motioned to the portal. "You'll drive right into the Sol Dimension...which is now overrun with Lost Ones. Or do you need proof?" he asked. Copter gulped. He'd seen it. "Well, if you think I'm giving up Gemini, you're nuts!" he snapped. Ophiuchus chuckled softly. "Be reasonable, Aries. There's no need for you all to die here. There's children aboard the train..." he smirked. The Babylon Rogues glanced at one another as the Darks closed in. "Well, one life for the rest of us doesn't sound bad about now..." Jet murmured. "Can't help but agree at this point..." Wave added. Tails clenched his fists. "It's not our choice to make." he told them. Inside the train, Fera shook Gemini and growled. "Teleport us, you fool!" she growled. "It's too risky with all these kids and... It's too many for me to try!" Gemini stammered, "I... have to give myself up..." Her eyes were tearful as she looked at Fera, "Take care of Copter...if you can... Abra-ka-warpra!" As Gemini warped alone, Fera tried to grab her. "No!! You fool!" she cried. In the next instant, Gemini emerged beside Ophiuchus! "...I surrender... Let them go." she said, raising her hands. Copter stared in shock. "Gemini, you can't!! Gemini!! I won't let you!!" he shouted, trying to leap after her only for Lucky to hold him back! "Don't ruin her sacrifice by ticking them off!" he gasped. As Ophiuchus grabbed one of her wrists, Gemini hurled her wand to Copter with her free hand! "Goodbye..." she said tearfully, vanishing into the portal with Ophiuchus! The Darks shrugged and began to leave, and as they did, Copter dropped to his knees, clutching Gemini's wand. His eyes were wide, and he was in shock. "Gemini..." he sighed. Lucky looked at him guiltily, wondering if they should have stopped her. Copter didn't have time for that, though. He stood up, holding her wand tightly. "I'm going to save you! Dammit, you can't leave me like that!! I'm coming for you, Gemini, you jerk!!" Exactly where they'd go from here, it was hard to say. The gargoyle families would have to get to safety. After that, Tails and Copter both had reunions to make happen. Somehow, some way...they couldn't die until they saw it through...

To be continued...