GeneX Generations
Chapter 4 - Free the Flickies!
Stage - Panic Puppet - Sonic 3D Blast

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.

"Yo, put the pedal to the metal, and baby, I guarantee, 
You'll be juicin' to the tenth degree! 
Crank it super sonic! It don't take any fuel, 
'Cause the rocket's in my pocket, 
And I'm waaaaay past cool!" - Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog SatAM


Copter and Dimentime had arrived at Dr. Robotnik's headquarters, a high tech base with a massive statue of himself towering over everything. Copter grimaced at the sight. "Technology everywhere... Goody..." he groaned. "And we thought Darkegg Fortress was bad." Dimentime remarked, looking around, "We should split up. We'll cover more ground that way. Besides, I want to check something out..." he suggested. Copter glanced at him suspiciously. "Like what?" he asked. Dimentime shrugged. "I'll know it when I see it." he said, walking off. Copter watched him leave and scoffed. "Cloak goes to his head. Well, let's see what kind of nonsense I'm in for..." he thought, heading into the base. The first major obstacles he encountered were a few turrets set up in the middle of the entrance room, which rotated around and started shooting as he got close. So, Copter quickly learned to keep his distance. "That's it...? No problem..." As he started towards the exit from the first room, however, he noticed a glass container in the corner, guarded by another of those turrets. Inside the container was a blue colored bird, which was known as a Flicky. Copter looked at it curiously. "What's that doing here...? Well, if Eggman Jr. wants it, he doesn't get to have it!" he decided, running over and jumping on top of the turret before attacking the container, smashing it to pieces and freeing the bird! Copter quickly flew away from the turret and checked on the bird, which the turret seemed uninterested in shooting at. The Flicky flew over to Copter and hovered around him, looking cheerful. "Uh, yeah... Good for you. Take care." he said, heading for the next room. The Flicky followed him closely, chirping cheerfully as they went, prompting Copter to glance back. "Oh, no... It wants to follow me home now!?" he groaned, "Look, bird, I'm heading deeper into this dump. It's gonna be dangerous, and I can't protect you." he warned. The Flicky chirped playfully and flew in a circle around him. Copter had a hopeless expression on his face. "This day just keeps getting better..."

As Copter and his new companion were moving through the base, they were being watched from the upper platforms. The mantis robot, Slash, and the scorpion robot, Sting, were there, and Sting was holding a walkie talkie in his claws. "That nasty fox is sneaking around in our base!" Sting reported. "And he freed one of the Flickies, too. How dare he!" Slash buzzed. Sting listened to some chatter on the walkie talkie. "Uh huh... Right... He says we gotta stop him, Slash..." he muttered. Slash whimpered. "With his voodoo magic? Well, first let's turn on all the machinery. Maybe the booby traps will trip him up!" Slash suggested, turning around and pushing a large lever in order to activate all the mechanisms that were turned off within the base.

Copter looked around in surprise as the base suddenly came to life. Before, only the turrets had been activated, but now, various other machines were active. Fans on the floor started blowing, and were so powerful that they would likely blow Copter away if he stepped over them. Electrodes on the floor started receiving power, and conveyor belts started moving as well. The activity seemed to wake up the robots in the base as well. There wasn't exactly a variety of them: there was a four legged robot with four guns mounted on each side of its body, and a goofy looking robot with a propeller on its head and pincer claws for hands, but no legs, which flew around. Copter could also see more Flickies of different colors trapped in more glass containers ahead, and his new companion flew a short distance in the direction of some of these containers, urging Copter to free the others. "I see... Well, if I'm gonna face this obstacle course anyway, someone might as well get something out of it, right?" he muttered, looking for the nearest trapped bird. "This is for the birds..." He ran ahead, straight across some electrodes on the floor. They let out some sparks, but as long as Copter kept moving, he stayed clear of the danger. Some turrets started shooting at him next, along with a robot. He dodged back and forth and tail whipped the robot, smashing it to bits, and proceeded towards the container, only to be blown upwards by a fan on the floor! "Bwaaa!! Who put this here!?" He spun his tails and flew out of the air current, then finally landed beside the container and broke it open, freeing a chubby green Flicky, who happily joined the blue one and started flying around Copter. "I'm going to hate this place... But I knew that already." he grumbled.


Meanwhile, Dimentime had found his way to what appeared to be a control hub. There were a few guards within, robots that were apparently related to this base's original purpose. One resembled a crocodile, a pair resembled black penguin robots, one resembled a mouse on wheels, and the last resembled an orange, fanged bat. None of the five robots seemed particularly dangerous, but they immediately rushed at Dimentime as he entered, so he set about fighting back, careful to avoid the croc's jaws, which appeared to be the most dangerous thing in the room. The penguins went down easily, a swift smack with his staff was all it took, and a smack with his tails dispatched the mouse next. The bat moved around a bit more erratically, so he gave it a blast of Chaos Whirlwind to knock it out of the sky. Last, a simple jump on the head took out the croc, enabling him to avoid its jaws. Dimentime noticed that a small bird popped out of each robot he destroyed: Flickies. "Odd... The other robots we've seen so far haven't contained animals... Well, better check the computers in here for any information on that shadow Copter mentioned before..." he said, sitting down at a nearby computer, not paying attention to the fact that the Flickies were keeping close to him. He did some digging through Robotnik's database, attempting to find any information that might be helpful. "Out of date files about 'Flicky Island...' Research notes about the Chaos Emeralds... Ah, here we are... Black shadow. Strange entity sighted within White Space. Origin unknown... Status unknown... Orders: Destroy on sight. Seems Robotnik doesn't like this thing..." he muttered. He noticed another recent file on the computer as well. "What's ShArc? Wait... ShArc. Shadow Arc!" he said quickly, clicking the file and looking it over hurriedly. "I think it's time for me to get moving. Feel free to tag along, birds, but keep a safe distance from danger." he said, standing up and heading out of the control hub.


Copter had wandered onto a conveyor belt, which was moving in the opposite direction from where he wanted to go, but otherwise seemed safe. He now had a red and a pink Flicky following him in addition to the blue and green ones, and it hadn't been easy freeing them. At the end of the conveyor belt was yet another trapped Flicky, but it was being guarded by Slash and Sting! "Sorry, sucker! This is as far as you go!" Slash buzzed. "Hyah ha ha!! We've got you cornered!" Sting taunted. Copter rolled his eyes and kept moving, while Slash pushed a giant lever next to the conveyor belt. It caused a device above the beginning of the conveyor belt to start dropping odd blue objects. As the conveyor belt took the objects toward Copter, and they neared him, they exploded, sending pieces of themselves flying! Copter jumped back a bit, and the Flickies started flying all over the place in a panic! "No, don't do that, you dummies! You'll set those mines off even more!" he yelped. To make matters worse, some of the base's flying robots were coming on to the conveyor belt from behind, undeterred by it, since they were airborne. Copter growled and started moving as quick as he could. "Hold... still... you... crazy... cuckoos!!" he grunted, grabbing each of the birds and tucking them under his arms as he carefully avoided the exploding mines. The robots started to attack him, but he just took off towards the other end of the conveyor belt, passing the mines and letting them take out any robots behind him! Slash and Sting exchanged worried glances as Copter approached them. "Well, let's get the heck outta here!" Slash suggested. "Y-yeah! I'll cover us! Chaaaarge!!" As the robots fled, a smokescreen was sprayed from Sting's cannon. Copter jumped off the conveyor belt and smashed open the container to free another blue Flicky. He then released the other four he was carrying and sat down to catch his breath. "Who do you birds think I am, anyway? Sonic? Well, I hope you guys are all happy..." he grumbled. The five birds all started to sing cheerfully, and Copter watched them, finding himself calm down a little. "Okay, okay... I get the point." he said, smiling a little.

Copter went off in the direction Slash and Sting fled, and soon met up with Dimentime and his band of Flickies. They had met up at what appeared to be a dead end, where there was a strange horizontal ring floating in midair, with what appeared to be a red band on it. "So, I see you found some, too." Dimentime said. Copter nodded. "I don't know what that goofy Eggman wants with these guys. They don't seem good for anything..." he said. Suddenly, Dimentime's Flickies flew towards the horizontal ring, right through the middle! They then disappeared, creating a portal inside the ring as they did! Copter stared in surprise, while Dimentime smirked. "I believe we just found their purpose. See you on the other side!" he said, jumping and diving into the portal. The portal closed behind him, but Copter's Flickies eagerly created another portal. Copter chuckled. "Figures. Well, here I go, then..."

The portal dropped them off higher up the base, about halfway up the giant Robotnik statue. There were platforms all around the front of the statue, possibly left over from its construction, and these platforms would be their road to the top. Looking around, they found someone frozen, as Razor and Amy had been before. Copter and Dimentime both groaned upon seeing who it was. "Can we just leave him?" Copter muttered. They had found Bucky the Rat, the creator of the experiments, and Copter's "father." Despite their mixed feelings, they approached their frozen creator and caused his color to return, and his life as well. "Ahh!! Hmm... Copter. Somehow, it's always you. Uhh... And now there's two of you. Well, I guess it's not surprising. My ship came under attack from that time manipulating monster. I sent the experiments on board out to fight it, but it sucked them into portals. They could be anywhere." he explained. Dimentime nodded. "Your ship is here. Dr. Robotnik is holding it." he informed him. Bucky stared at him. "Did you say Robotnik? As in Gerald Robotnik!?" he gasped. Copter held his head. "He's still dead, you idiot." he said. Bucky crossed his arms. "Well, we ARE time traveling, and I DID just awaken from suspended animation. I think you could cut me a break!" he pointed out.

With Bucky tagging along, they started on their way towards the top of the statue. "Don't overdo it, old man." Copter teased. Bucky scoffed. "Full of disrespect as always, I see." he said. As they approached a walkway, they saw that the turrets along the side were firing electricity. Bucky pointed his fingers at the turrets and fried them with electricity of his own. "There, now let's move on..." he said. "Show off..." Copter grumbled. Overhead, Slash and Sting were watching them with wide robotic eyes. "Lightning magic, now?!" Slash whined. Sting pulled out his walkie talkie again. "Boss... They let out the rat, and he looks MEAN and MAD... What do we do?" he asked nervously. Robotnik's voice came over the device. "You two are utterly useless! Fine, just keep an eye on them! I'll handle the rest myself! And I'll put some serious thought into your replacements!" he shouted. Sting glanced at Slash. "Uh... I'm sure he's just under a lot of stress..." he said. Slash glared at him. "Shut up!" he said. Below, Copter, Dimentime, and Bucky were smashing through the turret and helicopter robots with ease while navigating the precarious platforms positioned around the statue. Fortunately, all three of them were capable of flight, though the exact method allowing Bucky to fly still puzzled both Copters. Partway up, they found a small chamber leading to a sort of high speed transport tube. "Oh, I hate these things..." Copter groaned. "Less talking, more moving! I want my ship back!" Bucky said, pushing Copter in! The tube carried them inside the statue and all around before depositing them close to the top. Copter dizzily walked out of the exit chamber. "When they ask to stamp my hand so I can get back in, punch them in the face, OK, daddy..." he mumbled. Dimentime didn't look much better, but Bucky appeared fine. "Maybe you're not as strong as I thought. Pull yourself together, Experiment 2!" he said. Copter growled at him. "Why are we helping this guy?" he grumbled. Dimentime sighed. "Because he's smarter than us. We may need him somewhere down the line." he explained.

Despite their differences, they soon managed to reach the top of the statue, where the Robotnik head seemed to be holding a cigar-like tube in its teeth. The tube was another transport tube, and it appeared to be the only way forward. Copter shook his head. "No way. Smoking's bad for you." he said. Bucky growled. "Must you waste so much time!! The world could be ending from that monster's mayhem, you know!" he warned. Dimentime scoffed. "What else is new? Well, in we go, then." Dimentime curled up and rolled into the "cigar" first, followed by Copter, and then Bucky. The tube deposited them in a small room with a large, glass tube at the back. As they looked around, Bucky suddenly let out a surprised scream as he fell through a trap door! Dimentime looked worried, but Copter couldn't help smirking. "Oh, he's so much smarter than us. Well, I for one feel safer now." he said. "Really? How about now!" came the voice of Dr. Robotnik, whose Egg Mobile lowered from the ceiling, inside the glass tube! Copter ran over to attack him, but his tails merely bounced off the tube, doing no damage! "Ho ho! This tube is made of a special glass. It is bulletproof, fireproof, hedgehog-proof, and as it turns out, fox-proof!" Robotnik proclaimed. Dimentime shrugged. "No worries. He's got to be vulnerable somewhere..." he said. A pair of robotic arms were resting at the sides of the tube, and when Robotnik started manipulating the controls, the arms rose up! Each arm ended in a cannon, and it was likely that they would shoot something unpleasant. Copter glanced at Dimentime. "Any ideas? The usual weak spot's invincible." he said. Robotnik laughed at them. "You could hold still while I pound the tar out of you!" he said, moving the arms as if preparing to throw a punch. Dimentime glanced at the joints connecting the arms to the tube. "There. That's the weak spot!" he said, pointing. Copter stared blankly. "You've gotta be kidding me." he said. "Got a better idea?" Dimentime asked. Copter snickered. "Yes. Just stay out of range and taunt the nitwit." he said. Dimentime glanced at the tight space they were in. "Where?" he said, mockingly. They would have to take a chance on those joints!

Robotnik started attacking by hurling the arms at the foxes, throwing punches, flailing the arms, and even attempting to flatten them directly, but Copter and Dimentime easily dodged them. It helped that the reach of the arms still wasn't quite enough to get all the way to the end of the small room. Robotnik growled. "Grrr, hold still!! I can't pay attention to two of you at once! Oh, fine then! We'll do this the easy way! Eat this!" He maneuvered the arms so that their guns were horizontal again, and then started firing strange, blue shots rapidly! He didn't exactly aim, but he didn't really have to, as the shots started bouncing off the walls, making it very hard for Copter and Dimentime to dodge! "Ow!! Ack!! What the heck are these things!! YEOW!!" Copter yelled as the objects started pummeling him. "Never mind! Let's get him before he gets us with those arms!" Dimentime suggested. The two foxes split up, charging each side separately. "Oh, yeah? Well, I'm bound to get one of you!!" Robotnik said, attempting to hit both of them with the robotic arms while still shooting the bouncy projectiles all over the place. Dimentime smacked some of the projectiles away with his staff and jumped over the arm as it came at him. As he landed back on the ground, he leapt into the air and struck the joint of the arm with his tails, causing some damage, but the arm started flailing wildly, so he fled to the other side of the room for safety's sake. Copter had a harder time reaching his target, and ended up holding on to the arm as it was swinging around, trying to smash him. "Why did I think this was a good idea!?" he said to himself. He finally jumped off, narrowly avoiding getting smashed, and hurried to the weak spot. Wasting no time, he struck it with his tails, causing the arm to go berserk. "I'm outta here!" he yelled, joining Dimentime on the other side of the room. However, in a few moments, the two arms stopped flailing and were back under Robotnik's control. They had smashed the bouncing projectiles, however, so Robotnik wasn't looking very pleased. "OK, foxes, you had your chance. Now you die!" he growled.

Robotnik made a quick adjustment with his controls, and the robotic arms started spewing flames at Copter and Dimentime! They gasped and tried to move, but Robotnik was cutting off their escape! "Ha ha ha ha ha! You honestly thought you stood a chance against me? Now your goose is cooked!" It didn't look good, but as they looked for a way out, they saw something moving above them. The Flickies were flying overhead! The ten Flickies that were trapped in the base had arrived, and now flew around the flames and in front of Robotnik, chirping angrily at him! "Hey!! What are you doing!! You're blocking my view!! Get out of the way!!" Robotnik shouted, his aim affected by the Flickies' meddling! Copter and Dimentime seized this chance, and ran for an opening in the flames. They each dashed towards a separate weak spot and leapt at it, using all their strength to smash the joints to smithereens! The arms started to fall apart, causing cracks to form in the seemingly indestructible glass tube as well! Robotnik yelped, and his troubles weren't over yet! The trap door burst open, and Bucky came flying out, sparks flying from him and a furious look on his face. "I wish to lodge a complaint with the owner of this fun house..." he growled. Robotnik gulped and started flying his Egg Mobile up the glass tube. "L-later! I have a Death Egg to prep for launch!" he stammered as he made his escape. Bucky fired his electricity, shattering the glass tube, but Robotnik had already escaped. His theatrics had startled the Flickies, and they were now flying all over the place in a panicked fashion. "Smooth move, dad, you freaked out the birds." Copter remarked. Bucky landed on the ground and looked around at them in embarrassment. "T-take it easy. Look, it's fine. I have no quarrel with you..." he said. Dimentime chuckled. "Well, I think I see your ship..." he said, pointing up at the hole in the roof where the tube led. From the looks of it, Shadow Arc was being held above. After calming down the Flickies, they flew up to the hole and headed for the ship. They would use it as a shortcut out of the base.

Bucky's ship, Shadow Arcangel, took off from the roof of Robotnik's base. It flew a short distance from there, but had to make an emergency landing within the white space. As it turned out, the engines had been damaged when the monster had taken the ship, and it was beyond Bucky's abilities to repair. However, the ship did serve a purpose, as a safe haven for the Flickies, which had tagged along for the ride. Officer Razor had also seen the emergency landing, and had boarded the ship as well. Bucky sat with his visitors in the control room, thinking on the situation. "Well, I suppose you can't stay in the white space... I will offer up my ship as a haven to you, and any who wish to use it... Provided you stay out of my business. Keep to the direct pathways. Don't wander. Stay out of my lab." he said, sounding somewhat displeased by the prospect. Razor nodded. "This isn't exactly my first choice either... But I can't very well hang out in the past places. Don't worry, I don't think I'll be here that much. But when I find my friends, they need a place to keep out of trouble." he said. "This is a place to keep out of trouble?" Copter joked. The Flickies were flying around, singing and tweeting, and it made Dimentime smile. "With these birds here, it might seem a bit more homey than it would otherwise. Take a load off here for a while, officer. Bucky won't be too much trouble without his creations." he said. Razor shrugged. "I guess." Bucky chuckled. "Just don't antagonize me. Copter... Do keep an eye out for the others. I would have them do the same for you." he said. Copter nodded. "Yeah... But would they listen?" he wondered.

Copter and Dimentime exited the ship and soon met up with Sonic and Tails. "Well, well, if it isn't the mushroom man. Find any to make you change size?" Copter joked, somewhat recalling the other Sonic he'd seen earlier. Sonic shook his head. "Nah, but I saw some robot mushrooms. Hey, is that Shadow Arc back there?" he asked. Dimentime nodded. "If anyone needs a place to hang out, Bucky could use some company. His experiments are missing." he said. Tails looked concerned. "That freaky monster must've got everybody!" he said. Sonic shrugged. "We'll worry about that later. We just saw another familiar place nearby. Looks like one of Eggman's old bases relating to a real nasty ship..." he said. Tails nodded. "I sure hope the Death Egg's not back..." Upon hearing Tails mention the Death Egg, Copter and Dimentime exchanged worried glances. "Why don't you let us go with you, Sonic? You might not like to listen to me talk, but I know some stuff that might help out here." Copter said. Sonic shrugged. "Tag along if you can keep up! We're on our way!!" he said, taking off for the next area at high speed, with Tails following by flight. Copter and Dimentime shrugged and followed Tails's example, unsure if teaming up with Sonic would really be the best idea...

To be continued...