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“”
“Queen to g5.”
“”
“Rook to g6.”
“”
“Queen to g1. Checkmate.”
“”
“And that’s your problem, Shard.”
Nicole gave Shard a friendly smile.
“You need to stay aware of what’s happening across the board. Don’t overfocus on one thing.”
Shard winced at his mistake, but he asked anyway, “”
“Just a moment. I’m getting an alert.”
Nicole lifted a hand and a shimmering blue rectangle formed at her fingertips.
An image formed on the rectangle and a concerned look crossed her face.
Shard walked over to see. “”
Nicole gestured to a silver shape in the image. “This is surveillance from the western coast. Silver Sonic landed near the abandoned Eggman base there. Eggman might be trying to reclaim it.”
“” Shard disconnected himself from the digital world. As he returned to his body, he found himself in the computer lab of the Freedom Fighters’ base. A map on one of the screens zoomed in. Silver Sonic’s location was marked on the map.
Nicole’s voice filled his head. “You can contact me remotely anytime. Be careful Shard. I don’t want you almost getting killed again.”
“”
“Will what?”
A loud roar drowned out the answer, if there even was an answer.
Shard was throttling his engine before he even left the base. He shot up into the sky, following the coordinates Nicole had provided.
He enjoyed flying as fast as he could, although the circumstances could be better.
He scanned as he went, trying to see if any other threats were present. A large cluster of badniks was up ahead. Predictably, they were following Silver Sonic. The way the metallic giant gleamed in the sunlight was like a beacon. Shard circled the site from a distance as he reported back to Nicole.
“”
“Silver Sonic’s a high level badnik. Tread carefully. I know a cautious approach isn’t your typical method.”
“”
Shard decided to hide in the forest. He dropped himself to the ground a distance from the badniks and moved toward them stealthily. He climbed into a tree and watched the badniks wander around the clearing. It seemed like they were searching for something. Silver Sonic directed the search, while the Buzz Bombers kept watch. Shard had the element of surprise. He might as well make the most of it.
A sudden blast downed a Buzz Bomber, drawing the badniks’ attention. From his hiding place, Shard began to pick them off and thin out their numbers. He didn’t have long. Silver Sonic would be looking for the hidden sniper.
He could see the giant metallic hedgehog begin to move toward the gathered badniks. He kept firing.
“Don’t push your luck, Shard,” Nicole chided.
Heeding the advice, Shard backed off. He slipped back into the forest and made his way toward the abandoned base. Silver Sonic would probably resume his search somewhere here, assuming the base was what he was looking for. Either way, he still hadn’t detected Shard. Whether he came to Shard or Shard came to him, there was an opportunity to ambush the mechanical colossus.
The robot swept its claws at the forest as Shard made his retreat. Shard risked a glance back at the clear-cut trees.
“”
“Shard, pay attention.”
“”
“I’ll be ready for it.”
Shard found the base, but it took a moment for him to recognize it. It was in terrible shape. It more closely resembled a scrap yard, but there was obviously something still there that Silver Sonic wanted. Shard scanned the ruins and picked up an energy signature. Was that what Silver Sonic was after?
Looking back at the badnik behemoth, Shard saw it approaching. He wasted no time in scanning it and uploading the data. Then he disappeared into the ruins.
Silver Sonic returned to his search. The badniks began sifting through the scrap.
One wandered away from the group, following the energy signature. Exactly what Shard wanted. He sniped at it and the badnik exploded.
Silver Sonic looked up and moved toward the noise. A powerful blast struck it in the back, melting and warping some of its quills. The robot turned to face its attacker.
Shard stood proudly. “”
Silver Sonic was enraged by this inferior model attempting to defeat him. He prepared to go after Shard with its characteristic buzzsaw spin dash. But Shard was ready. He aimed his arm blaster and unleashed another attack. The burst of energy struck the badnik directly in its eyes, blinding it.
He’d have to thank Uncle Chuck for the upgrade.
Silver Sonic wasn’t going down without a fight. He rushed at Shard, a whirling mass of razor-sharp spines. Shard darted out of the way and took to the sky. He was out of the motobugs’ reach and Silver Sonic wasn’t going to find him anytime soon. He shot down as many Buzz Bombers as he could as he reviewed the situation.
“”
“Yes, I’ve parsed the scan. This is Silver Sonic 3.2. He hits hard and he’s faster than he looks. He’s heavy, so that might be an advantage.”
Silver Sonic suddenly turned his head toward Shard.
“”
“Let me check. Yes, he can hear. He also has a radar system and the ability to scan for energy signatures.”
“”
Shard could be quiet. He could slip past a radar undetected with the right technique. But Shard couldn’t exactly stop his emerald battery from emitting chaos energy without knocking himself out in the process.
Maybe that could work in his favor.
The massive machine swiped at Shard. Shard tried to dodge but a talon caught his foot and knocked him to the ground.
He reminded himself, pay attention!
The badnik charged at him and Shard ducked beneath a metal panel scattered in the ruins.
The rusty panel creaked and buckled as Silver Sonic tried to push through it. But it would buy Shard enough time to plan. He took stock of his environment, searching for an advantage.
The make-shift shield seemed to screech as a set of giant claws tore through it.
No more time to think! Time to go!
Shard darted out from beneath the panel and hovered above a cliff.
“”
Silver Sonic zeroed in on Shard immediately and ran at him.
Nicole was right, it was much faster than its size would suggest.
As Shard had hoped, the badnik ran toward the edge of the cliff. But it stopped short. Shard made a hiss of frustration and shot at the cliff edge. It crumbled and down the mecha went.
And so did Shard. Once again, he had failed to account for his opponent’s reaction. Silver Sonic had a last resort attack prepared.
Silver Sonic launched one of his quills at Shard. Shard wasn’t expecting it and reacted seconds too late.
The spike grazed him just enough to knock him from the sky. Shard could feel it drag against his head. Paint crumbled away in chips.
Shard didn’t even have a chance to celebrate the fact that he hadn’t been skewered. He crashed into the water below.
He managed to force himself back to the surface. Silver Sonic wasn’t so fortunate. His weight dragged him beneath the waves. At least one problem was dealt with.
Shard was ready to head back to base. When he started his engine, it only gushed water. He was stranded.
Thoughts of doom filled Shard’s mind. Would he fill with water? Would it short his circuits? What would the saltwater do to his joints? How long before he sank? Would he be able to resurface? Would anyone find him?
Shard called out to Nicole.
Her voice calmed his panic. ”What’s wrong? Is Silver Sonic still active?”
“”
A tone of concern crept into Nicole’s usually controlled demeanor. “Sonic and Tails are nearby. I’ll send them right away.”
All that was left for Shard to do was wait. He had no idea how long. He had no idea if he’d be found at the bottom of the ocean. He could only wait and see.
He busied himself with examining the data he had collected. He compared the data he had collected from the base and Silver Sonic with his preexisting knowledge. He sorted through the data and started preparing his mission report. He still wasn’t sure what Silver Sonic had been looking for, but hopefully the information he had collected would help his team find out.
The sound of an approaching engine gave Shard a rush of relief. He lifted his arm cannon toward the sky and tried to fire a flare. The cannon popped and hissed. A small spark sputtered out. That was all he could manage. The water damage had incapacitated his chance to escape.
Shard yelled into the sky. He gripped his head in his hands and thrashed in frustration as the last of his hope was crushed. First a volcano. Now the ocean. He sure had a knack for getting trapped in the worst places.
He slid his hands down his face. Bits of paint chipped off his head. He’d have to get that fixed. He didn’t want to be a shiny beacon like Silver Sonic.
He froze. An idea formed. He desperately hoped it would work.
Shard began thrashing wildly. He shook his head like he was trying to shake something off. He hoped the sunlight would reflect well enough for Tails to notice.
The Tornado circled overhead. Suddenly, it fell into a dive. Under Tails’ precise control it skimmed the water. A wing dipped down and Shard clung to it tight. He was out of the water. He was going back to base. He was going to survive.
Tails brought the plane back up to altitude and started toward home.
As Shard settled onto the wing, Sonic couldn’t hold back a laugh. “You jamming?”
“”
“It’s just that you really looked like you were jamming out.”
“”
“By rocking out.”
Shard rolled his eyes as Sonic began to sing.
“I’m fallin free!
In the wind!
In the wind!”
“”
Sonic was undeterred.
“If you’re strong,
You can fly!
You can reach the other side
Of the rainbow!”
He gave Shard a grin.
“It’s alright!
Take a chance!
‘Cause there is no circumstance
You can’t handle!
When you use your mind!”
He tapped his foot on the wing.
“Sonic boom!
Sonic boom!
Sonic boom!”
To Sonic’s delight, Shard caught on.
“”
“Sonic boom!
Sonic boom!
Sonic boom!”
“”
“Sonic boom!
Sonic boom!
Sonic boom!”
“”
“Sonic boom!
Sonic boom!
Sonic boooooom!”
Shard started drumming on his arm cannon and tapping his foot.
By the time Tails landed the Tornado outside of the base, they were engulfed in their song.
Sonic jumped and danced on the plane wing.
“Sonic boom!
Sonic boom!
Sonic boom!”
Shard was bouncing and kicking to the beat.
“”
Sonic added an air guitar to his dance routine.
“Sonic boom!
Sonic boom!
Sonic boom!”
Shard was shouting the lyrics to the sky.
“”
Sonic jumped off the plane wing.
“Sonic boom!
Sonic boom!
Sonic boom!”
Shard added a spin to his dismount.
“”
Sonic continued his air guitar with a dramatic finale.
“Sonic boom!
Sonic boom!
Sonic boooooom!”
“” Shard pumped his fist in the air.
He noticed Nicole nervously waiting for him. He started toward her and she met him halfway.
“Shard! You’re alright!”
“”
“How did you survive?”
“” he smiled smugly, “”
The look on Nicole’s face was glorious.
“Go to the Repair Bay,” she deadpanned.
“”
“Now please.”
“”
He had to admit it. What would he do without her?