Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ On the Road Again ❯ A new problem ( Chapter 26 )

Chapter 26: A new problem

Somewhere in Oklahoma, the RV arrived after a very long drive. When Sonic the Hedgehog could no longer drive, he let Shadow take over, and so the blue hedgehog rested. They had never been to Oklahoma before, but they knew it would be fascinating to see. But our adventuring team did not know they were being followed. Somewhere else in Oklahoma, Dr. Eggman also arrived with Metal Sonic and Chaos. The robot hedgehog returned to the scientist with Chaos. They entered the laboratory building that Eggman had told them of, and it was dark inside.

"Ooh, it's so dark and spooky in here, Metal." Chaos whispered, trembling.

"Look in the mirror, and if that doesn't scare you, nothing will." Metal said, quietly.

"Are you sure this is the place?" Chaos asked, beginning to doubt. Then the lights suddenly brightened the room where they were, and Eggman came in through an opened door.

"Where in the world have you been?" Eggman asked them.

Metal explained. "We found them in Flagstaff, Arizona, but difficulties interrupted."

"Yeah, but where are they now?" Chaos asked.

"They are now in Oklahoma, but they will most likely have to stop soon." Eggman said, "In the meantime, I have an announcement to make for my new plan, my new invention." He grinned.

"Oh?" Metal and Chaos asked at the same time.

"Yes," Eggman said, "After your minds became switched before, it gave me an idea that is sure to defeat the hedgehog once and for all!" He turned toward the opened door, and he called, "Predator, come forth!"

And at his command, a silver puddle entered the room. It slowly arose until it stood firm in the form of a hedgehog, a sinister silver color with glowing green eyes. It was a machine, and yet it had the form of a living thing. Predator had the abilities of both Metal Sonic and Chaos, making him a powerful liquid metal weapon. His green eyes were terrible to stare into, his arms were strong and they were each able to transform into a deadly sword to destroy his prey. He could fly, he could glide, and climb, his speed was beyond one would guess, and he was ready.

Chaos was surprised. "Hey, you know, he looks like me, but yet, he's Metal, too!" He turned to the robot hedgehog. "There, you see now we have proof that we are related somehow, in someway." Chaos said. Then Metal covered his muzzle with his hands, as if he would throw up.

"I have come as you have summoned." Predator said to the proud scientist.

"Very good, Predator, very good." Eggman said, "You will prove your abilities, as you have already." He pointed toward a cage, and there was the young girl fox called Jenean, captured.

"I remember her!" Chaos said, pointing. "She threw a rock at Metal, in Kentucky!" Then Metal silenced him with a slap. Predator silently watched the two, and he collected data all at once.

"Oh, Cousin Pred!" Chaos called him, and he came up to the Predator. "Hi, I'm Chaos."

"I am the Predator." The liquid metal form said, and Metal stared at the new invention, coldly.

"This is great!" Chaos happily cheered. "I finally have a relative, my very own Cousin!"

The Predator seemed annoyed, and he slapped Chaos on the head, much like Metal would do.

"Ouch! Oh, that's what Metal always does, but it keeps my mind going, thanks!" Chaos said, and then Predator vanished into a silver puddle, leaving the room. "He wants a puddle race!" Chaos laughed playfully, and he followed after Predator in his own puddle form.

"Well, at least maybe that water clown will leave me alone." Metal said to himself.

"Not so fast, Metal." Eggman said to him, "I have a mission, and all three of you must go, with the girl as bait. Since they knew her, the hedgehog and his crew will fall for my trap!" He laughed out loud while Metal silently stood, and Jenean closed her eyes, unable to watch any longer.

= = = = =

Location: Oklahoma City, Okalahoma…

"At last," Shadow the Hedgehog breathed with relief to finally see the city. He was the driver, so he stopped the RV, and he turned to the tired Sonic, who was in the passenger chair. "Sonic," Shadow said, quietly, and he gently shook the blue hedgehog. "Hey, Sonic, wake up."

"Red light…. green light…" Sonic mumbled in his sleep. Then he felt Shadow shaking him awake, and he opened his eyes, sat up, and then he saw the driver. "What is it?" He asked.

"You asked for me to wake you up when we reached the city. Well, there it is." Shadow pointed.

"Oh, it's so cool! Awesome!" Sonic said when he saw it. It was glorious to see.

"You always say that, Sonic." Knuckles said, "This city looks like the last one we saw."

"No, it does not," Amy said, "And I've got pictures to prove it!" She held her camera.

"Hey, aren't we low on film?" Tikal asked, and to answer, Rouge nodded her head, yes.

"We used a lot of our film when we were at Las Vegas, but I'm sure we will find some here in the city." Rouge said, and then Freeway looked outside the window, very happy to see new things.

Tails quietly worked on his laptop computer, opening his map files, while Metal-2 stood nearby. "Sonic," Tails reported, "I've got the map for Oklahoma City, and it's ready."

"Great work, Tails." Sonic praised. "But right now, we better find film for the girls."

"Wow, I wonder what this city looks like at night." Amy wondered.

"It should be fascinating." Metal-2 answered, and they all agreed.

"Okay, then it looks like we're off to Oklahoma City!" Sonic announced, and then he took control as the driver, and Shadow took his place as the passenger next to him. The RV entered the city.

Later, we find the crew touring the city, and they saw some amazing sights from a tall building as they looked out the windows. The view was stunning to the mind and the eyes, very true. When the sun was getting ready to set, Sonic and the others realized it was time for dinner. They decided to return to the RV for a meal and a rest, but Tails had other plans.

"Sonic, can I ride the elevator once more?" Tails asked before Sonic turned to leave.

"Tails," Sonic said, "I've got to take the others back to the RV. They're all hungry."

"I know, and so am I, but I wanted to go ride one again, please?" Tails asked, trying again.

Sonic sighed. "Well, all right, but as long as Metal-2 goes with you." He said.

"I don't mind, thanks, Sonic!" Tails happily thanked the hedgehog before leaving.

"Watch him for me." Sonic requested, and Metal-2 nodded his head with assurance.

"I will, Sonic. There is no need to worry. No harm will come to him." The robot promised.

"I know, and I trust you. We'll see you later." Sonic said, and then he led the others out. Then Metal-2 followed after Tails, and they both left for the elevators inside the building.

= = = = =

Meanwhile…

Somewhere else inside the tall building, where the hall was closed at the time, Metal Sonic and Chaos arrived with Jenean as a hostage, caught. The young fox tried to give Chaos another kick.

"Sonic is going to get you, slimy!" Jenean said to her evil captor.

"Quiet, you little squirm!" Chaos scolded, and he held her arms tighter, keeping her still.

"You're hurting me." Jenean whispered, angrily.

"Behave yourself, and maybe I won't." Chaos spat, and Jenean struggled again to get free.

"Control that miserable child." Metal Sonic commanded, and then he wondered where Predator had gone. The Predator hardly said a word before he disappeared from sight.

Then Jenean suddenly slipped out for freedom, and she ran from Chaos, escaping. Metal Sonic lifted his weapon toward the fox, and he fired, but Jenean had already turned, so the wall blocked the attack, keeping her from harm, but she was not out of danger yet. Jenean was very frightened after the deadly robot had almost shot her, and she ran without looking back. She lifted her eyes from the floor, and then she saw an elevator opening. Jenean panted as she ran toward the door for safety, but when she came near, something stepped out and into sight. It was Metal-2, and Jenean never saw him before, so she thought for sure it was another enemy that was going to attack her. Jenean gasped with terror and her eyes were filled with fear when she slipped to the floor in front of Metal-2, and the robot looked down at the girl fox, silent. The sight of the glowing red eyes made Jenean quickly turn away, running again as she screamed.

"Oh no!!" Jenean screamed again as she escaped from the robot, and then Tails stepped out.

Tails recognized the girl, and he called her. "Jenean, wait!" He called, and he followed her.

Jenean did not hear him, because she was so afraid. She ran down the hallway, but then Metal Sonic and Chaos caught her again when she ran into them. "NO!" She cried, struggling.

"Help her!" Tails ordered his robot friend.

"Wait here." Metal-2 said, and he came to the two enemies, which had caught Jenean. The robot suddenly caught Metal Sonic by surprise, and he threw him out the window with glass shattering.

Chaos yelped with fright when the robot turned to him. "Uh, allow me!" Chaos said, and then he jumped out, gliding after Metal Sonic, down below. He was gone, and so was Metal Sonic.

Jenean closed her eyes, unable to move, and Tails ran to her to see if she was hurt. When he saw that she was fine, only afraid, he held her trembling hand. "Jenean!" He called.

Jenean opened her eyes as if from a nightmare, and then she saw him. "T-T-T-Tails, what…what is that…that thing?" She asked, shakily pointing up at the robot as it turned from the window.

"It's okay, Jenean." Tails explained, "He's here to help, and he is my friend."

Metal-2 reached out with his hand to help Jenean up. "They call me Metal-2." He told her.

Trusting Tails, Jenean took the robot's hand, and she was gently lifted to stand on her feet. "Thank you, but there is something I must warn you of, it's awful and dangerous." She said.

"What's wrong, Jenean?" Tails asked, and before she could answer, something else did.

Metal-2 and the young foxes looked down, and they saw a silver puddle, much like the one of Chaos, and it entered the hallway through a closed door. It stopped only to rise, revealing the horrible truth that it was the Predator, and it faced Metal-2 with glowing green eyes, coldly.

Metal-2 saw this as a threat. "Go!" He said to Tails, and the young fox took Jenean, running. Metal-2 went after them, but he hardly slowed the Predator down with his blasters, firing.

"Hurry, Metal-2, come in!" Tails called from the elevator with Jenean.

Metal-2 made it inside, just in time before the door closed, and the elevator traveled down.

Predator came in front of the door, hissing sinisterly as he transformed his arms to change into swords and then he forced the door open, using the swords as tools. He looked down, and when he saw the elevator escaping with the team, he jumped down after it.

Inside the elevator, the crew heard a loud sound, like a sudden thud above them. Metal-2 armed his blasters while Tails ducked down, protecting Jenean. The girl fox screamed when a silver sword came slicing down near her, and then Tails pulled her back to safety. Metal-2 aimed his blasters upward, toward the elevator ceiling where the Predator was, and he fired. The sword was suddenly drawn back, vanishing. After a short moment of silence, the sword returned, trying to attack Metal-2, but thankfully, the robot moved away in time. He fired again, and this time, Predator was badly hit. The sword weapon vanished again and then the elevator door opened.

Tails took Jenean by the hand, leading her out. "Let's go, Jenean, run!" He called.

Jenean nodded her head, trusting Tails and yet she was afraid after what she had seen. They ran out together, and Metal-2 also escaped from the dangerous elevator. Tails ran with Jenean to the exit of the building, and it was there, they saw Sonic the Hedgehog entering.

"Tails, what are you doing?!" Sonic asked in surprise to see him running out of the building.

"I'm running for my life! What are you doing?!" Tails panted as he ran passed Sonic.

"What in the world?!" Sonic asked as he turned to see Metal-2 coming also.

"We have a new problem." Metal-2 reported after stopping next to the blue hedgehog.

"Is that a fact?" Sonic asked, filled with questions, and then Predator appeared from his silver puddle form, and he stared into the green eyes of the hedgehog. "Chaos?" Sonic said, "But wait, he looks like Metal! What is going on, and what is this piece of garbage?" He pointed.

"I am the Predator, and you are my prey." The enemy gave an answer, harshly.

"So," said Sonic, "You're working for that evil Eggman, huh? It's his latest toy here."

"I do not work for evil…I am Evil!" Predator hissed, and before he could attack Sonic, Metal-2 fired his blasters, sending Predator backward to the wall with a powerful force.

"Sonic, you must leave this building! Go warn the others!" Metal-2 said in a firm voice.

"But I can't leave you behind." Sonic said, helplessly.

"Do not worry about me! Just go, quickly!" Metal-2 gave Sonic a firm but gentle push away.

Sonic ran out of the building and he escaped outside, and then Metal-2 was knocked down after Predator suddenly attacked him. Metal-2 lifted his head from the floor, and Predator gave it a hard kick, knocking him down again. Then Predator gripped the robot by the shoulders, lifted him up only to slam him into the wall from left to right, again and again on either side of the hallway. Metal-2 did the same back to Predator, but it had little or no effect on this new enemy, which had deadly strength. Predator lifted Metal-2 off from the floor until his red shoes no longer touched the ground, and then with aggression, Predator threw Metal-2, sent him flying through a glass window. The robot hedgehog fell to the floor, on his back with glass shattered on him. People outside the building carefully approached to see Metal-2 lift his head as he shakily moved to stand up, and he victorious did stand strong again. Glass fell off him when he climbed back.

"Hey, are you all right?" An elder man asked the machine when it stood again, unharmed.

Metal-2 gave no answer. He had no time. The robot flew back into the building, but Predator was gone. Metal-2 worried for the crew, and so he decided to go look for them, and find them fast before the enemy had the chance of finding them. He could only hope he was not too late.

= = = = =

Back to the RV, Sonic the Hedgehog returned to find the others safe, and he told them the news.

"But where is Metal-2 now?" Knuckles asked him.

"I had to leave to come back here, but…" And before Sonic could finish, Metal-2 appeared.

"Metal-2, are you okay?" Tails asked him, and the robot nodded his head, yes.

"I am functional, but that was what you would call, a close call." Metal-2 replied.

Then suddenly, Dr. Eggman was heard, laughing. "HA! You're all doomed!" He said, pointing toward the RV. "This time, I have built the Ultimate Metal Sonic to eliminate you!"

"What?! No way!" Shadow said, angrily. "I am the Ultimate!" He pointed to himself.

"We shall see, black bruise, but right now, I have a debt to pay in New York!" Eggman said, "There is a certain hedgehog calling himself a Knight who will pay, painfully!" He laughed as he escaped in his ship, and then Sonic gasped when he realized what this meant.

"Oh no!" Sonic said, "He is going to send Predator over to New York, to hunt down Scott!"

"May I suggest we leave to get there." Shadow said, and then everyone quickly entered the RV.