Flames of Chaotic Fury
Part 1: No hope

“Hello, ladies and gentleman! For those who do not know me, highly unlikely, I introduce myself: I am Dr. Ivo Julian Robotnik, but you probably know me as Dr.Eggman!” Croaked the scientist's voice through the big screen placed in the central square of Station Square “Sorry to interrupt your pathetic and sad lives, commuters, policeman and employees of shopping centers, but I have a very important announcement to make: I have just completed my greatest success, the largest containment structure ever created by men… Or Mobians…” he gloated, pronouncing the word “Mobians” with contempt “Do not fear, my less intelligent human fellow-countrymen: I have no interest in your forced restraint but in that of every existing Mobian, male, female or cub! However, I must warn you… Those who dare to protect even one Mobian will be labeled as a terrorist for the Eggman Empire, guilty of aiding and transfered into a different containment structure by my new robotic guards: the Metal Chasers!” he said, showing on screen what looked like a bigger, more menacing version of Metal Sonic “To every Mobian: Don't try to run away or hide! My robots will find and capture you effortlessly! And to my old “friend” Sonic: Try and stop me this time! I challenge you!” he concluded, chuckling and closing the recording.

“This was the message that Eggman sent to SSTV exactly two weeks ago! Since then, our South Island envoys have confirmed the disappearance of two thirds of the world's Mobian population! The notorious military organization G.U.N., despite several attempts, has not yet managed to find out where they were brought or what happened to them! Moreover, any attempt to find the structure mentioned by the mad scientist has been rendered vain by multiple signal sinks placed around what should be Eggman's current position. We can only hope that the Freedom Fighters will be able to assure Eggman to justice before it's too late!” announced the television presenter to the worried residents of the city, reporting the signs of the ongoing war: palaces reduced to rubble, devastated parks and destroyed roads. Not only Mobians, but also a good number of humans had been captured by the platoons of robots, who even now were flying over the cities's skies, requisitioning those who dared disobeying their master and not caring about age, skin color or physical and mental health.

On South Island, if possible, the situation was even worse: houses razed to the ground, forest burnt to ashes and continuous lines of Mobians who were led in chains by robots to an unknown destination. But nevertheless many of them, in their hearts, still hoped. They hoped that their hero, the legendary Sonic, triumphed again. And indeed, in Green Hill Zone, Sonic was fighting, all alone, a platoon of Chasers. The more they came, the more the hedgehog broke down, showing a strenght that no human or Mobian ever saw. Leaning back on a tree, a little further up, Tails watched, his eyes full of inspiration, his best friend as he destroyed one robot after the other. He would've liked to get up and help him, but Sonic himself had told him to not move and rest as he would've made it by himself, as usual. Tails squeezed the spot where his right arm was, previously disintegrated by a laser shortly before, and prayed with his eyes closed that Sonic won. In a clearing a little further on, Knuckles fought another platoon which have captured Amy, Cream and Big “RAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!” he shouted while the spikes on his hands effortlessly squashed the robots's head like if they were made of butter. Suddenly from the metallic mess, a pyramid-shaped green robot arose, making his way through the wreckage and placed, his arms behind his back, between Knuckles and the remaining Chasers “Knuckles The Echidna” the robot uttered in a calm and primly tone “Age: 21. Residence: Angel Island. Profession: Master Emerald guardian. Strenght: Incredible physical strenght. Weak point: Embarassing brain failure” he listed with monotonous tone “Are you calling me an idiot, tin can? You wanna be recycled that badly? Well, so be it!” the echidna growled, throwing himself at the robot. Suddenly, from the latter's head, set off a series of greenish-yellow rings that knocked Knuckles on the floor, holding his head and screaming in pain as he rolled on the ground. “I do not approve of your threats, mr Echidna, nor of your barbaric methods. Luckily Dr Robotnik equipped me with the right power to subdue even an ignorant like you…” the robot said, coldly, and increased the intensity of his attack, making Knuckles bleed from his nose and mouth “Y-YOU'LL… P-PAY… F-FOR THIS…” stammered the suffering echidna before passing out “Mmm… 0.15 seconds… As expected…” the robot pronounced as the Chasers took Knuckles away.

Meanwhile, at the G.U.N. base, Commander Towers watched the screens of their recoinnasance drones, dejected. At that moment Rouge entered the commander's office with the president and made him seat in his chair. The bat spy seemed to have lived better days: her eyes, usually always wearing make-up, were dug and tired, marked by deep dark circles, her white hair were messed up and dirty with dust and a bleedong hole on her thigh made her limp badly. “Rouge! Are you okay?” asked the commander, seeing her wound “I've had better days, but I'll manage…” she answered with a tired smile “You should give her a medal, commander!” said the president while catching his breath “This woman took a bullet in her thigh to save me”. The commander looked at Rouge, who winked at him and began to file her nails “I suppose so… Please, forgive me, I need to check on something” the commander sighed and left the room. As he did the president sighed in relief “I thought he never left…” “You're right… He's a good person but sometimes he's a bit too… Talkative…” she said viciously “Now let's talk about business… I'll convince the commander to surrender…” “And I'll make sure that you have a regard place in the Eggman Empire.” He continued nodding “Strange, though! I didn't knew that you were still loyal to Eggman!” he added, wiping the sweat from his forehead “And I never knew you were in too! How long?” She asked, crossing her legs and making her tight-fitting suit creak. The president gulped down: Yeah, Rouge was a Mobian but goodness was she hot! That tight bodysuit seemed to hardly contain her prosperous curves! “Eh-ehm…” Rouge cleared her throat, calling the corrupt head of state's attention on her eyes “Huh? O-oh my goodness! E-excuse me… Uhm… I think since Eggman unleashed Perfect Chaos on the world… He lended me his technology for the repairs and I gave him what he needed for his plans. Money and everything else…” he said blushing a bit “Hmhmhmhm… Really?” she said soothingly, getting up and heading towards him, curving. Reaching him with difficulty due to the wound she sat on his lap, her generous chest mere inches away from his face “Oh, if only Eggman told me about it… We would’ve had so much to talk about…” she said, letting her fingers walk on the president's chest, which blushed harder every second as untidy thoughts formed in his mind “M-miss Rouge…?” he stammered “Baby, just call me Rouge… Or call me however you like… You know, I’ve always had a crush for powerful men...” she sensually whispered in his ear “S-seriously?” he asked, about to explode. She nodded and hugged him, nibbling his ear teasingly “I bet that your lady doesn't show you enough attention, hm?” Said the bat, not losing her sexual attitude and whispering dirty words in his ear. The president was struggling to mantain control of himself as the spy kept teasing him with… questionable proposal. “A-are you sure you want to do it?” he stammered “What do you think… Traitor?” she said suddenly “What? HEY! WHAT THE HELL?” he shouted noticing the cuffs on his wrists. Then a squadron of soldiers entered the room along with E-123 Omega and Maria Robotnik, who was found in the shape of a hedgehog in a secret wing of the ARK along with a Life Model Decoy of Gerald Robotnik who explained that it was an experiment to give new life to his granddaughter. “Took you long enough! I've been rubbing against this guy for half an hour!” she said, pointing disgusted at the president “WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS? TOWERS! FREE ME IMMEDIATLY!!” shouted the president “Mr President… With the accusation of complicity and aiding of a supervillain and treason against the United Federation, I declare you under arrest…” declared the commander, visibly disappointed “W-WHAT?! I-IT'S NOT TRUE!! I-IT WAS HER!! SHE WORKS FOR EGGMAN!!” he yelled, hysterically pointing at Rouge “Me? Working for McFatty? Eeww…” Rouge yucked “Agent Rouge has never been on Eggman’s side” explained the commander “I suspected that someone in the Presidential Council was working for Eggnan but I didn't knew who. So I told Rouge to save anyone from the council and pretend to work for Eggman to hook the mole. But… I didn't knew it was you…” he sighed, turning his head. The corrupt politician took advantage of the opportunity, jumped on the commader and took his gun then he shooted. Rouge fell down, eyes widened, a bullet hole in the middle of her skull. Omega, lightning fast, grabbed his armed hand and squeezed it hard, causing the weapon to drop, while Maria ran to Rouge, trying to cure her. She looked at the incredulous commander and shook her head “I'm sorry…” The commander clenched his fist and looked angrily at the former president “PERMIT OF OBLITERING GRANTED?” asked Omega. Abraham struggled with all his might against the impelling desire to authorize the execution and growled “Throw that pile of human junk in jail…” to which the “president” replied only with “Hail Eggman!” before being taken away. Maria approached the commander and placed a hand on his shoulder and only then he bursted in tears: for him Rouge was more than an agent or a spy, she was almost like a daughter. He closed her eyes and left the room while the blond hedgehog stared at him with compassion.

Meanwhile Shadow was also fighting robots and he was doing great: instead of getting tired he seemed to grow stronger for every robot he destroyed and in this his Chaos powers helped him significantly. Suddenly he received a call from HQ “I hope it's important…” he said as he tore the head from one of the Chasers “Agent Shadow… This is Commander Towers…” he said, his voice broken from crying “Sir? Are you okay?” Shadow asked concerned “We… We found the mole… It was the president…” WHAT? THAT SON OF A… I hope it's behind bars!” he snarled at the news “Yes… Shadow, I… I don't know how to tell you…” he said, about to cry again “What? What happened?” “Rouge… S-she is…” he stammered “No… No…” Shadow stuttered, shocked from the news and trembling, almost paralyzed. One of the Chasers took advantage from it and shot him, injuring his side “NNNGGGHHH!!!!” He growled covering the wound with one hand “Shadow?” asked the commander “G-GOTTA GO, SORRY…” he said closing the call and glaring at the robots “WHO DID IT?!” he roared. The robots looked at him speechless “IT DOESN'T MATTER!! I'LL JUST CRUSH YOU ALL!!” he screamed, throwing himself into battle again, but something was wrong: Shadow was… Deconcentrated. More slow and distracted: he was still shocked from the news and that made an impact on the fight. Of course the robots took advantage of that and mercilessly hitted him, using their weapons to rip the limbs from his body until only his head and torso remained. As they approached him for the final blow, however, Shadow sneered in pain “IF I FALL… I'LL DRAG YOU WITH ME!!” Then his body glowed red. The robot predicted the danger and tried to flee but it was too late…

CHAOS… BLAST!!!!

It happened in a second: a giant red explosion surrounded the area, disintegrating everything in its radius, robots included. Sonic, who just destroyed the last robot, heard the earth shake and zoomed up a tree to see what happened “What the? Oh no… SHADOW!” he yelled then he heard a yelp. As he got down he saw Eggman holding Tails by his tails, the latter waved his arm and legs in the air “You should take better care of your friends, pincushion… Right now they're either dead or captured…” he chuckled as Tails lowered his ears "S-sorry Sonic… He caught me off guard…" he moaned “LET. TAILS. GO. EGGHEAD!” Sonic growled, talking through his teeth “Or what?” He asked, smirking and shaking Tails like a potato sack “I'LL TEAR OFF YOUR STACHES AND MAKE YOU EAT THEM!!” he snapped and jumped on Eggman but something big and hard intercepted him and made him collide on a rock “Oh, how rude of me!” said Eggman, facepalming “I haven't introduced you to my new toy: THE EGG TITANOBOA!!” he declared as from a bunch of burnt trees came out a snake-like robot. Sonic stood slack-jawed: that thing was HUGE!! Ten times bigger than the Time Eater or than anything else Eggman ever built.

“Another bot? Do you ever learn? The bigger they are, the easier I tore them down!” the hero huffed as he Homing Attacked the robot but as he struck him he bounced away: the robot wasn't even scratched! “Something wrong, Sonic? Didn't you just said you could do it?” Eggman chuckled as Tails squirmed in his grasp. Sonic gritted his teeth and attacked again but the result was always the same: not only the robot wasn't getting damage, but Sonic was visibily and inexorably slowing down. Tails couldn't believe his eyes: Sonic tired? Impossible! The robot attacked, whipping his tail and sending the hedgehog over the trees, toring them down. Sonic tried to get up but the robot kept hitting him ruthlessly until Sonic started coughing blood. Then the snake bot wrapped Sonic in his metallic coils and started squeezing him mercilessly, using its impressive physical strenght to break the hedgehog's body. Sonic squirmed with no result, trying to free himself, and yelled in pain as his bones creaked under the monstrous robot's heavy coils. Tails was desperate and terrified: he wanted to help his friend but with just one arm what could he do? He just cried and covered his ears the best he could, not wanting to hear his friend's pained cry but Eggman grabbed him by the shoulders, forcing him to watch “Oh no, you won't! Look! Watch the great Sonic as he suffers! And you can’t do anything to help him! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!” laughed the doctor as Tails tried not to look until… CRACK! Sonic yelled louder as his arm broke due to the coils's pressure on his body and the more he struggled to breathe, the harder they squeezed him. Tails cried more, knowing that the disgusting sound would haunt his dreams forever, while Eggman gloated louder “I never had this much fun in years! Take your time finishing him!”. The snake stopped for a bit, allowing Sonic a few, short life-saving breaths. The hedgehog was crying, blood flowing from his mouth and nose and he never felt so little, weak and insignificant. He tried to at least free his arms from the coils, but despite them not squeezing him, they were still tight enough to keep him still. 

A while later the squeeze started again, only stronger. Sonic tried to yell again but no sound came out of it, leaving him with his mouth widened in a mute yell. “S-stop it… Please… I-I don't want to see…” whined the fox cub, with his eyes reddened from crying. But Eggman shook his head “No can do… This is the best part…” “W-what…?” he didn't even finished talking that he heard another CRACK: the other arm was broke too. Sonic's tears came down like a waterfall as he looked at Tails, almost imploring him to save his life, as the fox turned his eyes, terrified. He heard two other CRACK, this time the legs, and fighted to not vomit as he finally found the courage to watch: Sonic was immobile, with his head leaning forward “Is… Is he…?” He asked crying. Eggman took Tails with him in his EggMobile and flew to him. Eggman got down, lifted his enemy's head and placed a hand near him mouth “Hmm… Still alive…” he muttered disappointed as Tails sighed in relief “Not for long…” he added pointing a laser gun on his forehead “NO! WAIT, DON'T DO IT!!” yelled Tails, tumbling down the EggMobile and placing between the mad scientist and Sonic “This laser gun can kill both him and you! Stand aside! I don't want you dead!” huffed the doctor as he charged the weapon. Tails bit his lip trying to figure out what to do, then he had an idea. A rather disturbing idea but he had no other choice “Last warning: back off now or die with him!” growled the doctor “You could do that… But you'd lose from it, won't you?” he asked, apologizing to Sonic in his head “Hm? What do you mean?” he asked, not lowering his weapon.

“Well, you said that you don't want me dead… This implies you have plans for me…” “…” Eggman hesitated: Tails was right! He had a far too much brilliant mind to waste by killing him but he couldn't risk Sonic's recovery: if he did, he could destroy all of his work! Not to mention that the Chaos Emeralds were gone and it was probably Sonic who hided them. “And what if I did?” He asked, wanting to see the fox's point “Well… it's easy! You let him live and I will work with you! I won't whine, I won't run! I'll do everything you ask me! Only IF my friend stays alive!” he stated, hating himself for the awful idea he had. Eggman stood still for a second then he started laughing and put the gun away “HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I can't believe this! You're selling yourself to me just to save your life and your friend’s? I'm impressed! I didn't knew that you had the guts to do it!” he chuckled as Tails lowered his ears, fearing some doublecrossing from him “I like your style, Tails! Deal!” he said giving him his right arm, well knowing about Tails's recent loss, as the kid gave him his right tail, submissively keeping the other within his legs “Oops, my bad, kid… Hehehehehehe… Hey, you don't look so good…” Eggman stated. Tails’s face looked paler indeed and his legs were shaking “I… I don't feel nice at all…” he stuttered before almost passing out “BY THE WRENCHES!! You lost too much blood!! I haven't saved Sonic to lose you!!” he shrieked, tossing Tails on his EggMobile and ordering the robot to take Sonic away. Away, but where? Thought Tails as he watched, weak, the background moving fast as the vehicle zipped. He could hear the Mobians moaning as they saw their hero defeated and as they losed hope. Then as he lost conciousness the last thing he was was a creepy giant grey building with Eggman’s logo and he heard the doctor's triumphant voice.
“Welcome to hell… Welcome to… Robotnikatraz!”
Then everything went dark…

He woke up a few hours later and, as his sight got clearer, he saw a surgical table with various blood-soaked instruments “W-where am I?” he stuttered, placing a hand on his head. As he felt something metallic touching his fur he winced and turned his head. A shiver went down his spine: where once was his right arm there now was an ultra-technological arm! He shrieked and tried to get up but that thing was very heavy. “Please, don't panic…” said a pyramidal green robot “You are not yet accostumed to your new arm's weight, sir…” he said with a slight huff in his voice, as if it bothered him to call Tails sir. But… Why was it doing that? “W-who are you?” Asked Tails, more worried than scared. The robot bowed “I am Tribot. Dr Eggman's butler…” he said, faking kindness “And… Why are you calling me sir?” “The doctor will explain everything, but first let me show you around” he said opening the door and letting in a smaller Egg Mobile with Tails's name on it. Before getting on it, Tails saw that under his name was the name of Tribot. What did that meant? As he hopped in, the vehicle moved on his own with Tribot following and explaining that the facility had five floors: a subterranean floor, for emergency escapes, the ground floor where they were, which had an infirmary and some kind of reception where prisoners were catalogued, the first floor, qhere the powerless Mobians were, the second floor, where Eggman's office and the powered Mobians were, and the third floor “And… What's in the third floor?” Asked Tails in curiosity.

“The doctor wanted to tell you. This is his office… He shall answer all your questions…” he said stil faking kindness then he added whispering “Filthy organic…” Tails couldn't even ask that the vehicle went inside Eggman's office. It was very nicely furnished, with paintings (of Eggman, obviously painted slightly... Buffer…), bronze statues (still of Eggman), vases, an old Metal Sonic prototype and a desk with armchair, where Eggman worked. The doctor looked up and smiled at the fox, an almost… fatherly smile. “Miles! My boy! I'm so glad to see you feel better!! Like the new arm? I made it and applied it myself! He has several interesting extra functions!” He said proudly inflating his chest “Um… T-thanks Egg… I-I meant Dr Robotnik!” Tails almost immediatly corrected himself, the last thing he wanted was to upset him but Eggman just smiled warmly “Oh please! We've known each other for so long! You can call me Eggman! You're not Tribot… Deputy Director!” he said, soundly patting his back “D-deputy Director? B-but of what?” asked Tails confused by the doctor’s behavior “But of my new super prison, of course! You are inside Robotnikatraz, the biggest penitentiary system ever built!” He said, elated, proudly showing his office “My greatest success! And you, my boy, have the honor to work here as my right hand man, I mean fox! Starting today you are, aside me of course, the highest authority in the prison! In here our word is law! You can do whatever you want! Go where you want, talk to who you want! Heck, you can even order Tribot to do an Irish dance and he'd have to do it!” the doctor stated “That's… Why that robot can't stand me? Because I stole his place?” asked Tails while looking at his arm “Well… Yes. But if he bothers you, just say the word and I'll dismantle it!” said Eggman placing a hand on his shoulder “O-oh… Thanks… M-may I ask you a question?” asked the fox “Of course, man!” Eggman replied, happy to see him so submitted “What's… What's on the third floor?” At that question the doctor's eyes lit up and he smirked evily “Thought you never asked! On the third floor… There's my ultimate masterpiece! Follow me! I'll show you…” he said sadic. They flew up to the third floor, where there only was a metal door with biological scans for lock: Ocular, digital and vocal. “These locks are programmed with both mine and your biological datas! Every door of the prison is like this!” he said while he scanned his eye and thumb and said his name in a microphone.

The mechanical doors opened up, showing an immense dome-shaped room completely dark and with a metallic catwalk leading to the middle of the room “Uh… I can't see my nose in here…” said Tails narrowing his eyes and trying to focus on any detail he could see “See, it's scientifically proved that darkness is the best torture! The other inmates are locked in cells with power dampners, sound-proof walls and mirror doors, so you can see them but they can't see you. And that's already a nice torture! But for my number one inmate… I needed the number one torture!” he explained chuckling. “You mean… That this enormous chamber is the cell of…?” Tails asked. Eggman nodded and made the gesture of look up, while still chuckling. That's when Tails saw him: Sonic! He was tied at a metal bar passing behind him with his arms behind his back. He was barely breathing and was still injured and beated “S-Sonic…?” asked Tails in disbelief “Yup!” “B-but why is he still injured?” “Well I couldn't risk his recover so I asked Tribot to deal with him” Eggman said shrugging “B-but how?” “Oh right, you don't know. See, Tribot has the ability to manipulate organic brainwaves, aside ours. He's basically a telepath! He messed a bit with Sonic's brain, making sure it didn't registered the damage. If it can't register them…” he explained “It can't regenerate them…” Tails concluded, frightened at the power of that triangular runt “Correct! But don’t fear! I reprogrammed it so he can't hurt you!” the doctor said shooking him right after “Oh! Oh! Look Tails! We're right on time!” he said excited for some reason. Tails looked up and saw that Sonic was descending, the bar he was tied to kept lowering, going lower than the catwalk they were on “Where is it going?” he asked. Eggman, chuckling, told Tails to follow him and they descended a few meters until they saw what looked like a giant fishbowl filled with water “What's this thing for?” “You'll see…” he said clapping his hands. Immediatly the hook which holded the bar Sonic was tied on got loose and the hedgehog plunfed in water going down immediatly “ARE YOU CRAZY? HE ALREADY CAN'T SWIM, HE SURE CAN'T LIKE THIS!! WE HAD A DEAL!! IF HE DIES I'LL…” Tails yelled astonished by the situation but Eggman stopped him raising his hand “First: You what? I have to tell you that your arm is wired to an explosive: try to escape and BOOM…” he whispered, threatingly narrowing his eyes. Tails, desperate, could only watch as Sonic struggled undeewater, his air supply clearly running out “B-but…” he whined “And second…” added the doctor clapping again. Quickly the hook brought Sonic up out of the fishbowl and back in position, where a machine made him spit out the water in his lungs “See?” said Eggman.

“W-what… What happened?” “It's part of this torture: Every hour Sonic will be left in water for a minute for the rest of his sentence” he said like nothing happened “Sentence?” “For the rest of his life. Like the others. Only difference? They get food, he just bread and water!” he said sadic “But he won't live long enough like this…” Tails whined “Meh, he'll live longer than I expected… Remember that I wanted to kill him immediatly…” Eggman said shrugging. Tails looked at his buddy and, for a second, it felt like Sonic called his name weakly but he turned his head holding his tears “A-and I can visit him? Every time I want?” he asked resigned “24/7! 365/12! 366 in bissextiles!” Eggman said friendly as they walked out “Oh, look at the time! I'll show you your office/bedroom! Come!” he said going to the second floor and pressing a button on the wall that opened a sliding door. The insides were… Rather poor: four grey wall completely empty, a rotten table and chair and a spartan bed “Sorry for the furniture but Tribot didn't needed much. Tomorrow we'll make this place more… liveable!” he said walking him in and patting his shoulder “Smile! Tomorrow's a new day!” he chuckled closing the door. Tails crawled on bed and cried like he never did in his whole life: in a day he lost his arm,lots of his friends and now even his dignity and he had no clue of what to do. He cried himself to sleep, hoping that this was all a bad dream. But it wasn't…

To be continued...