Sonic GeneX - 10th Anniversary
A Retrospective - BONUS! - Part 3

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


In part 1, we looked back on the early stories in the Sonic GeneX series of fanfiction. In part 2, the rest of the main stories from before this year were examined. Now, let's see if I got any other juicy tidbits to share from some side-stories!

SONIC ANNIVERSARY SPECIALS

Project 20 and Dimensional Clash were two pretty fun projects. I think with Project 20... I wanted to highlight the rivalry between Sonic & Eggman initially... then I just said; "Fuck it, I wanna see the battle where Eggman kills Sonic."

I suppose I got a perverted high out of writing that excessively dramatic death scene, with 20 strikes before Sonic gets beheaded. However, I naturally couldn't end it like that, so... it was a fantasy Eggman was having. Ha ha ha.

Side note: the way to get views on a clean project is to kill Sonic. Even fake-kill him, it works. This is the single-most viewed clean story I ever wrote.

I've got nothing special to share on Project 20. I thought to share its outline, but that's pretty massive in itself. So, let's talk about Dimensional Clash.

I have just one deleted line for it.

deleted line: I don't even
Sorry, Sonic, but I'm just not interested in our usual game of cat & mouse today
2BIT's musings: Why'd I even bother to save this if I wasn't going to use it? I saved nothing else.

That's probably from the opening. The opening was the toughest nut to crack here. I thought to start it in the AoSTH universe first, with that world's Robotnik being the catalyst for the events. I also considered more interactions between the different versions of the characters...but my new mantra is SIMPLIFY, so I just focused on Sonic, Tails and Eggman. I really wanted Kosmo to meet Dingo or someone, though... Something like that... I don't remember all my cool ideas.

GENEXXX & ADULT STORIES

To be honest, adult stories have typically been a seat of the pants operation for me. Oh, some have been outlined before being written, but many have not. I tend not to take them incredibly seriously, as evidenced by the characters in GeneXXX typically just being straight-up sex crazed with half their personalities sucked out. Maybe I'm too harsh on it. I don't know. But I know I could improve.

My files on the earlier adult stories are all in a flash drive, so only more recent writings are readily available to me. I did some crazy note-taking for the first GeneXXX storyline, I know that much, and in the end I wiped everyone's memory of it because...I couldn't remember much of what I'd done.

I do have some never completed chapters...even a full chapter that I never posted! This mostly relates to GeneXXX's "Lost Episodes", a series that I expected to be easy to do that instead proved tough and fairly dumb.

So, why don't I show off what I got for an unfinished Lost Episode? Unfortunately, no smut, but it's a peek at something that might have been, set early in Sonic's adventure during "GeneX - Knuckles the Echidna"...

---
They passed by Tails's old lab, which he closed down when he set up a new workshop in the city. Amy wondered where Tails got the money for all these buildings; He even still owned the lab. It was being used for storage, mostly. She sighed as they passed the building. "Sonic... How come we haven't done anything romantic since the GeneXXX Wave thing?" she asked. Sonic stopped short. "What do you mean? I took you to that mushy festival..." he stammered. Amy pouted slightly. He had some nerve even bringing that up, honestly. "You left me after Eggman's attack without so much as a hug or a handshake! It's obvious you just went because I made you..." she frowned. Sonic turned toward the old lab, slowly opening the door. "You're right, Amy." he said. "Yeah... Wait, I'm right??" she stammered. Sonic motioned for her to follow him. "I freaked out a bit... probably because Eggman showed up, and it was supposed to be a fancy-pants festival, and I knew it was already ruined for you... So I freaked. That didn't give me the right to run off, though. So come in here, and I can try to give you the ending I think you wanted..." he said, smiling slightly. Amy blushed a bit. "But... What about Alpha?" she murmured. Sonic shrugged. "Eh, Prof. Pickle already made me lose him, I'll bet. Not to mention the GUN robots. Might as well take it easy for a bit." he reasoned. Amy couldn't believe this was happening, but she decided not to question it, and followed Sonic inside.
---

Oooh, that's a tease, ha ha! I often make adult story plans and fail to follow through on them. I'm pleased as punch that I got through a yaoi arc, even if it was short. I even took its plot semi-seriously, introducing our first gay couple to the GeneX universe, Razor & Ridley.
Maybe these writings can be worthwhile in the long run? They're certainly the best-liked.
Unfortunately, you can't un-ring a bell. Perhaps THE most popular chapter I wrote was the one where Tails took Cream's virginity. There was something honest about that one, I guess...I was pretty new to the adult world myself. I simply can't replicate what made that work so well...

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Fun fact: Bucky is Jewish. When asked to appear in a Christmas special, he told me something I should not repeat in civilized conversation.
I'm joking. I don't talk to my OCs. That would be crazy.

I've always wanted to do another holiday special, but I can't crack the storyline for one.

Copter's First Noel is a nice little story where our largely adversarial cast of characters takes some time out to be nice for the holidays...except Copter doesn't know what Christmas is, and has already decided he hates it! I should re-read this sometime, because I recall it being fairly cute. I have no deleted scenes, but I'll share the outline.

Christmas Special 2012 Scenes
Scene 1 - Sonic & Tails discuss their plans for the holidays. Tails & Amy are putting together a Cristmas Eve party this year, and Tails wants to invite Copter. Sonic thinks it's a bad idea, but realizes that since he's going to have similar trouble getting Knuckles involved, maybe the same Christmas spirit should be extended to Copter.
Scene 2 - Copter, meanwhile, is getting annoyed by the inexplicable chaos surrounding the mysterious Christmas season. Decorations, shoppers, traffic, and such are all causing him grief as he simply searches for a quiet place to get out of the cold.
Scene 3 - Tails meets with Amy and they start prepping for the party. Amy is getting crazed over the little things, and Tails and Cream both feel she is missing the point. Cream takes over for Tails as he goes off to look for Copter.
Scene 4 - Sonic arrives at Angel Island and has his annual argument with Knuckles about leaving the island to spend the holidays with friends. Knuckles is more concerned about leaving the Master Emerald than ever with Punchy around, but Sonic insists that the Christmas spirit will keep thieves at bay.
Scene 5 - Copter finds Punchy and Rainbow getting some shopping done for the holidays as well, and he grows even more aggravated. Punchy seems inclined to agree, but Rainbow is excited to spend Christmas with friends this year, and Punchy gives her the benefit of the doubt. Copter, however, continues to grow more annoyed as the hustle and bustle around him continues to grate on him.
Scene 6 - Sonic and Knuckles arrive in the city and run into Rouge, who notes that the Master Emerald is unguarded and would make the perfect gift. Knuckles gets worried, but Sonic tells Rouge that Santa is watching her... which she laughs at.
Scene 7 - Copter encounters Amy searching for emergency mistletoe(or something), and her lunacy grinds Copter's last nerve as Tails catches him. Though Tails tries to invite him to the party, Copter denounces Christmas as a time of frenzied shopping, blinding decorations, and general hypocrisy. He storms off as it begins to snow and Sonic arrives, only to get tackled by Amy.
Scene 8 - Tails pursues Copter through the snowstorm, but it rapidly worsens, and he winds up cold and lost! Copter is also cold, resting under a bridge, when officer Razor appears! Copter growls, but Razor asks why he is freezing outside instead of being somewhere else on Christmas Eve. Copter questions why he cares, and Razor tells him it is because he has the Christmas spirit.
Scene 9 - Realizing that Tails was following him, Copter has Razor take him back and search for him. They find Tails buried in the snow and dig him out, and Copter apologizes. Sonic and Knuckles arrive with SPOT moments later, saying they'd became worried when Tails didn't come back. Copter admits it was all his fault and starts to leave, but Sonic calls him back, saying they've got a party to go to.
Scene 10 - Copter helps get Tails to the party and comes in out of the cold, watching everyone for a bit. Rouge came to the party, much to Knuckles's relief (and annoyance). Amy keeps trying to chase Sonic to the mistletoe. Cream and Cheese are playing together with SPOT. Tails explains the meaning of Christmas to Copter, and he decides to spend the holiday with his real family.
Scene 11 - There is a knock at Rainbow's door, and Copter appears. Copter has come to share Christmas with Punchy and Rainbow. Rainbow hugs her friend and invites him inside, showing the tree she and Punchy decorated together. Copter finally feels it might be a Merry Christmas.
Scene 12 - Extra scene depicting other cast members holiday celebrations. Razor has a modest Christmas with Tommy. Shadow sits on a lonely rooftop with Omega. Dr. Eggman rings a bell while dressed as Santa, smiling at passing children. Bucky lights a manorah while Crash and Zipp carry in a pine tree.

Of course, the following month Copter moves into Darkegg Fortress, chronologically.


THE NIGHTMARE ZONE

The grande finale! The Nightmare Zone is my macabre masterpiece! An annual killing floor from which there is no escape for anyone but Gator... I did two continuing storylines and several one-offs under this banner, and one of these years I'm likely to return to it... After all, I'd always intended to cross over GeneX Necros with GeneX Prime at some point... It was just taking too long to find a conveniant occasion for that, so I ended the Necros plotline.

The Necros plotline was the original plotline. I gave it 2 endings, and chose the one where everyone died to continue from. That's the mentality behind the Nightmare Zone. Now, for this series... I actually DO have deleted content, so let's go through some, starting with Necros-based scenes!

The Nightmare Zone-Add Some Atmosphere!
On top of that, a sinister music theme began playing in the background. (Take a moment to turn on some appropriate music if you like.)
2BIT's musings-I try not to break the 4th wall like that too often. Still, such a prompt might not have been a terrible idea...

The Nightmare Zone-Sad Rainbow is Sad
It was difficult, because with the loss of Punchy, Rainbow's will to live had vanished. If she could just have a chance to rest and come to terms with it, they felt she would be fine, but such a chance seemed unlikely to come. Ultimately, they managed to talk a little sense into her, but she was still very upset as they headed up the tower. Occasionally, they would see or hear signs that the monster was nearby, but they managed to avoid it for the most part.
2BIT's musings-Depressed Rainbow is too much. I see why I pulled her out of the story around this point.

The Nightmare Zone-Familiar Spell
Luna Morbidise!! Nightmare Chaos, rise! We'll ensure that Sonic dies!!!
2BIT's musings-I used a variant of this spell in the fangame. It was used to call a horde of zombies. Long story.

Spell of the Shadows-Well, I find this funny
Spiny was the first to run. 
2BIT's musings-What a douche.

Spell of the Shadows-What's with the Elevator?
As it turned out, the elevator taken by Team GeneX was haunted! 
"Relax. Eggman built this elevator, remember?
2BIT's musings-There isn't much coherent stuff saved for this story. What is saved are single lines, mostly. Still... these guys are idiots for even getting into this elevator.

Spell of the Shadows-It was me!
We're not sure who wrote this book,
2BIT's musings-They must be talking about the Dos & Don'ts book. I don't think I have 100, much less 3000 entries...

The Black Curse-Downgrade
Tails looked shocked as he realized something. "Oh, shoot! I spent so much time on SPOT's upgrades, I forgot to repair the Tails Tracker! We could've used that to find Copter!
2BIT's musings-The Mark 2 is better than 2.0, hands down. I think. Probably.

The Black Curse-MVP SPOT
SPOT reacted fast, running over and catching the book before it hit the ground! Tabitha fired spells at the robot, but they bounced off its improved armor. "How DARE you!!" Tabitha yelled, firing a more potent spell at SPOT. 
2BIT's musings-Okay, maybe 2.0 IS better...

Title ideas: The Black Curse, Tabitha Returns, Tabitha's Revenge, Night of the Werehog, Curse of the Werehog
2BIT's musings-Ooooh, Night of th- oh, wait...

The Heartless Machine Plot Ideas - Team Lucky arrives at GeneX Necros during "The Black Curse", and encounters Bucky at the Nightmare Zone. Tabitha comes after them, as part of her plan from that special. Eggman Nega may make a return appearance. Heartless resembling dead characters may appear. Lucky must seal this world's keyhole, but it may be unsealed after he leaves. Members of the "Seven Chaos" may also appear. A few more characters may die, including Necros Lucky.
2BIT's musings-I think the "Seven Chaos" was something like Organization XIII. I didn't use that.

2012 Special- I took the entirety of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" as the outline for the story "Nevermore." Along with "The Devil & Sonic", I selected these from a list of ideas. Here's the rejected concepts...
Masks(title pending) - During Halloween traditions, one of Sonic's friends/rivals, desiring to scare everyone, ends up purchasing a cursed mask. The mask takes over the character's body, and more cursed masks may come into play as well.
Macbeth - The cast of GeneX takes on the roles of characters from the classic Shakespeare play. Tabitha, Fera, and Gemini play the 3 witches. Other roles to be determined should I choose this story...

Lord of Nightmare-By this story I had all but stopped saving deleted lines & scenes, but I do have an interesting tidbit on this one. The epic conclusion to the decade-spanning tale was split into 4 parts, each with their own subtitle in the outline: EPISODE 1 - TROBLUSK CITY, EPISODE 2 - DEMON ISLAND, EPISODE 3 - HEROES UNITE, EPISODE 4 - LORD OF NIGHTMARES. The song sung during the story was supposed to be the song from Futurama's "Robot Hell", but I was too lazy to look it up, so I used something I could actually remember.

This is running long, so I'll just look at Paranormal Chaos real quick before closing this out!
Paranormal Chaos was a pair of stories that were breaks between the Necros arc. More comedic in tone, this was a parody of both Ghostbusters and Luigi's Mansion, set in a universe based on SatAM.
Actually... I have a grand total of 1 deleted line from each Paranormal Chaos special. However, an interesting fact: Paranormal Chaos 1 beat out a couple other ideas I was considering. There was an idea to do something based off "Clue," and there was a story featuring the Black Arms that I actually made an outline for. I'll share that, but first the two deleted lines, for chuckles.

Paranormal Chaos-Cruel Ghosts
Copter turned to help Antoine, but a large ghost grabbed him by the tails! "Oooooww!! Not the tails!!" he screamed.
2BIT's musings- Probably took the scene in a different direction, I guess.

Paranormal Chaos 2-Too...Much...LOGIC!!
Bunnie looked excited. "Hoo-wee! A mission! I was gettin' bored all cooped up 'round Knothole!" she said. Sally frowned. "Uh, actually, Bunnie... I was planning on leading the mission into the Dark Swamp. And since Knuckles took the seventh PCD, that means you'll have to stay behind, along with Punchy." she said. Bunnie glanced around. "Wait... Why does Antoine get to go on a mission ahead of me!?" 
2BIT's musings- No, no one gets to question why Antoine goes on the mission! He goes because...because I say so, that's why!!

All right, now as a final treat for listening to me ramble and reminesce, a look at something that could've been, but was left to rot in a pile of scrapped ideas instead.

2010 Concept - Black Abduction
Scene 1 - Disappearances have struck Station Square! Sonic, Tails, Shadow, and Razor are investigating these disappearances, when Gator shows up and claims aliens are behind it. It seems silly, but soon the whole group minus Gator are abducted! Gator: Told ya so!
Scene 2 - Doom's Eye informs the prisoners that they have been selected for a "vacation" on beautiful planet Diami. Black Arms stare at them hungrily as the prisoners plan an escape.
Scene 3 - Before the escape plan can be put into action, they are dumped in the jungle, where they meet the other abductees. It is soon revealed that this is a hunt... and they are the prey!
Scene 4 - The group decides that there must be a ship that can take them home somewhere. They begin searching, and along the way, Razor is drawn to what sounds like a call for help. It turns out to be a trick, and Razor is first to be hunted!
Scene 5 - It grows colder as they continue, and soon they find a lake frozen over! They begin to cross, when an aquatic alien grabs Knuckles through the ice! His shouts call the attention of the Black Arms! Shadow remains behind to give the others a chance.
Scene 6 - Gemini uses a "binocular" spell to see a ship not far away. It's being guarded by Black Bull. They attempt to sneak around it, but aliens find them and start shooting! Whisk is shot dead, and the aliens are distracted grabbing at her carcass.
Scene 7 - Black Bull is after them now. Copter attempts to fight it, and gets eaten! They run for the ship, but Blaze is caught and killed. The survivors board the ship, where Shadow is already waiting.
Scene 8 - The ship begins to take off, and Black Doom's voice warns that they cannot escape. They split up to find the bridge. Tails is soon caught, but Gemini escapes.
Scene 9 - The trio meet up in what appears to be a boneyard. Soon, they find the remnants of Tails, only bones! Black Doom appears, determined to devour them all! Shadow recommends they find an escape pod and flee.
Scene 10 - Sonic and Gemini battle through a team of Black Arms to reach an escape pod. As they exit via the pod, the ship explodes behind them! The Black Arms are gone, but there's a new problem: how do they get back home!? The tale ends with their fates up in the air.


And on that ominous note... Thanks for everything, readers!
Keep watching for more Sonic GeneX stories!

Retrospective...End!