Chapter Text
Sonic was running in the woods with each step pounding on the ground. He felt delirious. His heart ached, and his breath was turning erratic, but he had to focus on the task at hand. He already had the emerald, he just had to do everything in his power to keep it for a while. Afterall, they already came this far, he can’t give up. It has always been hard to find one singular chaos emerald, even for him. They were both lucky that GUN found one. It just meant less work and less disappointment for whoever kidnapped them…
As for the other Chaos Emeralds, that was what was hard, especially since one particular unbearable hedgehog had one. He wondered what he would do just to steal it. Though he already imagined how it would go. First of all, a lot of insults, then more fighting till one of them bleeds to death. Although he himself isn't the kind to do that, Shadow might do it instead.
Sonic scrunches his face by thinking about it. It makes him feel unsettled in a way that he wasn't scared, but more like ‘I-can't-believe-I'm-dying-like-this’ type of thing.
He had vowed not piss him off at all costs just so both of them wouldn't fight one another. He’d rather do anything to not cause that, except it's surely unavoidable now, isn't it?
Augh, who was he kidding? It happened earlier. Well, kind of. Eggman stopped the fight before it could happen, and he was grateful that he wouldn't have to deal with that Hot Topic that fast.
Wow, he was grateful to Eggman for the very first time.
Sonic kept looking around in every direction. He really didn't know where he was going and where he should be, all he knew was that he needed to get the emerald and dip. For the time being, he might as well hide until he hears from Eggman again so they can both get far away from all of them. He should be at the base, but he didn't exactly know where it was located at all, nor did Eggman. They weren't precisely given a choice to know about it. Seems like this person was too paranoid to let them know. On that note, they weren't dumb enough to give away anything about themselves, but he really needed something, anything, about them for crying out loud. He didn't want to handle this shit anymore.
Okay, calm down.
He tightened the grip that he had on the emerald.
Thinking about it…
Suddenly, he felt like he needed to slow down a bit. At some point, he stopped running completely and looked at the emerald. Sonic had many thoughts and emotions from the circumstances he had brought himself into, and that worsened with what happened minutes ago, but there was one specific sentiment that he really felt right about now.
He was…surprised.
Every day, Eggman had many plans to defeat him. He created gadgets or machines to hurt him, allied with others to bring him down, and mocked him every chance he got just to hurt his pride. Yet, it always failed. With his friends and others who supported him behind his back, it wasn't that difficult to outdo him, and that guy wasn’t exactly…bright in the field of trying to take him down, but he would give him a D minus for the effort. Still, he’ll give him an F just because he is trying to do so in the first place.
Plus more minus points.
And more, and more, and more.
Damn, he really hated that guy.
So with this knowledge, Sonic would totally think the plan he created was bound to fail, right? Like, come on, it was so clear.
Had a huge ego that he would win, check.
Didn't actually win, check.
Other schemes also failed, check.
Therefore, the plan wouldn’t work, and he would look up to the sky and think about the decision he made about trusting that egghead and mentally go insane from that fact.
But the plan actually worked. It actually worked. Sure, some things weren't supposed to happen, like him…meeting up with him…It wasn't perfect, really.
Then again, he should know by now that the universe can't let him have what he wants. Not that he wasn't clueless about it since he got kidnapped and had to work with his archnemesis (and more other horrible things that happened to him), which he undoubtedly loathed. Nevertheless, he got the emerald, so they both succeeded. Sonic let out a sigh of relief because of that. To think this one time, he might give him credit for this plan.
Two days prior, Sonic kept his distance after falling from above, and so far, they hadn't talked to each other yet. He was just there, letting his back lean into the counter. Eggman only mumbled curse words after seeing him and didn't bother to talk to him ever since, absorbed in whatever he was doing. Personally, he was pretty glad. He didn't feel like talking to someone whom he hated after getting frustrated with talking to someone who kidnapped him, which is also, by the way, a newly listed person of people whom he disliked.
He stared down at the floor before slowly taking in his surroundings. The room wasn’t large, but it wasn’t small either, just average. Sonic didn't really care for that, but what he really did care about was that it was so dark that the light of multiple screens was the only thing illuminating the place.
He could hardly see anything, yet he didn't want to seem suspicious and snoop around. He also had a suspicion that not only Eggman would look over him, but there were also cameras watching his every move. From what he knows, these types of kidnappers would always install cameras of their captives to spy on and analyze them. That is, unless they were stupid enough not to do that.
There was a curved counter on the right side of him with multiple control panels and buttons lined up, dominating the entire space, which is where Eggman is currently working right now. Sonic didn't bother and looked somewhere else. He only glanced at it because it didn't seem to have anything special about it that caught his eye.
All he would ever see would be gadgets, technology, and machines. It was scattered and tangled with one another, and it was so messy. Far messier than his own room. He thought Eggman was the type to be organized, he didn't really take him to be the opposite. Or was it because he felt miserable staying cooped up here that he didn't have time to clean up?
Now he thought about it, he didn't know if he was working with them or working for them. Although considering he is here in this place with him, wouldn't that mean he is also held captive?
Sonic had so many questions, but he knew that in order to confirm it, he had to go with the flow and interact with him from time to time.
Oh, he hated that.
He really felt deeply uncomfortable staying here. It was too quiet, with just the sounds of wires sparking and buttons being pressed. There was nothing to get distracted with, and the silence gave more reasons for him to think about his situation, even though he’d rather not.
Sonic wasn’t used to this. He liked his freedom, and to have it stripped away from him was a nightmare. Everyone knew him as someone who was free as a bird. He never cared about others' opinions, living life on his own terms without getting swayed or bossed around—especially not by bad people, and to think there was a likelihood he had to. He was still deciding whether he should give in to their ‘request’.
It was more like a demand than anything else, hell, they even called it a bargain, but he didn't have a chance to agree to it.
Deep down, he can't help but have the urge to resist and find an escape as much as possible without doing what he was supposed to be obliged to. However, he has to face the reality that is impossible to refuse. He needs to find a way to escape while hunting for the Chaos Emeralds. He needed to do what he was tasked to escape. He needs to just have that freedom again.
There was another thing that kept spiraling in his mind over and over again. He questioned so many times why they wanted all the Chaos Emeralds. It was common knowledge that those emeralds were powerful and could grant or enhance abilities never before. It was also capable of reviving the dead.
Taking it into consideration that they wanted seven of them, and it was a possibility that he wanted to be mindful of: are they able to go super? It wasn't a weird idea to have. Sonic knew many people who could go super with all of the Chaos Emeralds combined, but he didn't know if it was limited to certain people or not. This doesn't take away the fact that they could also want it to manipulate it and harness the power it had with machinery, though. With this base, it was obvious that they were good at creating many inventions just like Eggman. Could even be a higher level than him.
Higher level…That weighed in his mind. While he was doing his usual running spree, he went unconscious. How the hell did that happen?! He was getting frustrated by just thinking about it. They were capable of doing something that Eggman was unable to do. Easily defeat and kidnap him without a single sweat.
Sonic could truly see a pattern. They’re strong, and he can't be reckless with his actions. Good thing they didn't specify a deadline, so he was relieved. Even if he was the fastest, he wasn't usually the fastest in thinking of solutions in such a short period of time, that's usually Tails' expertise.
…
Tails…his brother…his friends…
Sonic rubbed his temple, he felt his head starting to hurt. What are they doing now? Are they looking for him? Damn it, they must be worried, and he can't do anything about it. He should've been careful. He knew Eggman’s disappearance was suspicious, he should've done something with the information faster.
He let out a soft groan, pressing both palms to his face before spreading his fingers to cautiously peek at his surroundings once more. Sonic began to seriously take notice of everything he sees. He noticed there was only a single door, leading to the bathroom—something he supposed he should be grateful for at least. Then his attention was drawn elsewhere. He saw a dark corner, pulling his focus unexpectedly, and it completely caught him off guard.
Isn't that..?
It was Cubot, Orbot, and Metal lying down, broken and destroyed.
.
.
.
What the fuck.
Sonic blinked once and then twice, feeling startled at the sight of Eggman's pride and joys turned to complete utter scrap. They were severely damaged in a way that left him stunned. It was unbelievably absurd.
He turned to look at Eggman, “Hey-”
“We have to form a plan, hedgehog.”
Just his luck, he got cut off before he could speak. Eggman didn't even bother looking back at him.
Sonic stayed still and didn't reply as he turned to gaze at the three. He furrowed his eyebrows upon seeing it again, and bit his lip. A thought surfaced in his head that it might be a sensitive topic to discuss. He wouldn't exactly tell anyone he wasn't close to if something like that ever happened to him either.
He sighed, running a hand through his fur. Maybe he'll know someday.
“Alright, what’ve you got?” He replied.