Once again, sorry for the wait. Finals in school—and school in general—hindered my progress. That and just plain laziness. But, if it makes you feel better, my Kingdom Hearts novel has experienced the same wait, so you aren't alone in your feelings! Hope that I have the next chapter out faster. I truly pray I'll be able to.

I don't own Sonic or co.! I just own Summer, Jason, and a few others! The story is mine too, thank you! Winks However, if you ever desire to use any elements from it—even characters—just give me a head's up, eh? So I can read the story myself!

Chapter 10: Helplessness

Sally was hysterical. She had watched him change! Right before her eyes!

"Who are you!?" She screamed, backing up rapidly. He took a step forward, a pained look in his eyes. He held his arms out in a disarming fashion. It didn't do much disarming for Sally.

"Sally, it's… it's me! Sonic! I just," He sighed and put a hand to his forehead. "It's hard to explain, but—"

"Start explaining!" Sally demanded, still backing up. Suddenly, she found her back to a tree. Sonic, or whoever he was, took another step forward. Then another. His hands were still out. The pained, sympathetic look in his eyes had not faded.

"Sally, please, calm down some and I'll…" His voice trailed off in her mind. He wanted her to calm down. To calm down! The idea seemed to her absurd. Insane! She just watched him changed before her eyes from a blue hedgehog to a human being and he wanted her to calm down! She wondered if maybe she should have brought Shadow along when offered. Another part of her noticed that his voice and Sonic's voice were the exact same. The last part of her also noticed that he was within three feet from her. He was very tall compared to her. Oh, why didn't she take Shadow with her?

"Sally, just calm down, don't panic…" He said quietly, with a nervous edge in his voice. Sally didn't answer him. Her eyes were wide and, what the human didn't know was that she was already formulating a plan of escape. Beside his feet was her pole—the man had dropped it when he changed forms. If only she could…

"It happened yesterday! My town was being destroyed and I was running and suddenly, while running, this pit under the ground collapsed and—" He stopped abruptly when Sally set Miles on the ground calmly… then suddenly dove forward, into a roll, and grabbed the stick by his feet. She ended up right behind him. Before he could even react, he felt something hard slam into his back. He stumbled forward. Stars exploded into vision as she brought the pole down onto his skull. He stumbled again and, this time, he tripped and fell. He threw out his hands to stop his descent, but, when he hit, his arms failed. He struggled to maintain consciousness.

"Don't follow me!" Sally cried. He heard her clothes ruffle as she bent down and lifted Miles up once more, and then he heard her footsteps retreating into the forest. He groaned.

"No… don't…" He pushed up with his hands and managed to rise to a kneeling position. He took the ring from his hand and slipped it on his finger. The change was now nearly immediate. Blue fur and quills sprouted from his skin. His voice's pitch rose slightly and his eyesight grew sharper. He felt his teeth grow larger. His entire mouth and nose changed shapes immediately, pushing outward, away from his face. SHLOOP! A bald, pink tail shot out from his backside, but was quickly covered with blue fur. He felt his ears move up the side of his head and grow triangular. For a moment, he had a falling sensation as he shrunk at least two feet. With the change, he felt a power surge through his body—centered in his legs.

"How in the world am I gonna fix this one?" Sonic wondered, scratching his head. He paused for a moment, then nodded. "Well, whatever. I need to get back Miles, at least." He shrugged and with hardly a second thought, he threw out his right leg. It hit the ground and within a split second, his left foot hit the ground in front of it. Then the right. Then the left. Within two second's time he was blasting through the forest at breakneck speed.

Zero to Fast in the blink of an eye. Sonic thought with a smirk as his eyes locked onto the brown-furred figure that was weaving in and out of trees a bit ahead. I like it. I like it a lot.

He moaned. His right leg twitched and his head shot up from its place, resting against the cold Plexiglas windshield. Jason Powers looked around, disorientated. Where was he? In a jet… yes, the F-16x. The Wolf. But why was he—

Powers was hit by a barrage of memories and moaned loudly as he remembered the events of the air battle. Blinking, he looked up to see what was happening, but saw that the air was still. The battle was over… and he had no idea what had taken place after his crash. He reached over and clicked the radio on.

Nothing.

He clicked it a few more times.

Silence. It was gone.

With a cry of frustration, he slammed his palm into the radio and collapsed back in his chair. His shoulders heaved and he resisted the urge to throw up. He couldn't lose it now. Regardless… regardless of everything… of Chris… of his crash… of his being alone… he had to be strong now. The time for sorrow would come later. Right now he had to get out of here—he was a sitting duck as it was.

"I wonder if…" He said out loud to no one. He reached up to a blue lever situated above his head and pulled it. The ship responded immediately. With a loud whirring, he felt the entire ship lurch and then it rose from the ground slowly. The wings folded onto themselves and then folded down, becoming canine-like legs. As the transformation continued, he reached behind his seat and pulled out a helmet that he then slipped over his head. He clicked a button on the side of the helmet and, for a moment, his eyesight went dark as a black shield dropped over his eyes. Then, in a flash of brightness, his vision was returned, albeit with a slightly different point of view. He was seeing what the Wolf 'saw' now. This allowed him to make faster reactions and gave him a better view of things in all directions. He clicked another button and the entire world brightened—new night-vision technology. To the right of his line of sight, he saw a small readout of the Wolf's conditions. There, it mentioned that the radio was out, as was the jet's magnet engine. He clicked another button it brought up a larger, 3D model of the entire Wolf, damaged areas highlighted in red. The hind legs had sustained a bit of damage each and would not move as fast as they could otherwise, but, other than that, he was good to go. He clicked the button again and his view of the outside world returned.

This won't work. I don't have the slightest clue if I'm going to be ambushed or what! With a sigh, he clicked yet another button and suddenly the world turned a reddish color. This was his heat and energy vision. It would not only pick up heat signatures from living creatures, but would also pick up the energy signatures from machines such as tanks, jets, mines, or, in this case, robots.

He looked around the area in front of him. A little distance off—maybe half a mile to a mile was a contingent of robots heading his way. He would avoid them. He turned the Wolf to the left and looked around there. He spotted many robots, but none of them were coming his way. He noticed with a grimace that he hadn't seen a single human heat signature since arriving.

He turned further to the left… and nearly let out a cry. His vision brightened to a nearly white screen and he clenched his eyes tightly shut, lest he be blinded. What could give off that powerful of an energy signature?

He waited a few moments before opening his eyes. He was relieved to find that the computer had already compensated for the brightness and dimmed his vision to allow him to look at the bright light of energy. It was near the center of the city. A building of sorts. A skyscraper. But the main energy originated near the bottom of the tower—some of it glowing underground.

That must be the main complex… If that were destroyed, maybe it'd all be over… He knew it went against his training. What he should do is regroup with his squadron and then attack as a group. But…

Chris…

His muscles tightened and he grit his teeth. Forget training. He was out for blood. Robotnik's blood. His Wolf was plenty powerful enough to take down this building. A few laser bolts and a missile or two? BOOM! Haha! Yes… he would do what he needed to do now… or die trying. And, frankly, he was no longer sure what exactly he wanted.

The Wolf began moving across the ground at a quite high speed. Its legs were a blur. The ground, rumbling at every footstep, had engaged in a constant vibration. He blew past a barely standing building and the ground's shaking mixed with his rushing by caused it to crumble into mere rubble on the ground. Immediately ahead, he saw a squadron of Hovercraft jetting towards him. He whipped his scorpion-like tail into action and with deadly lasers hit each and every one, dropping them like flies. He charged towards the smoldering heaps and leapt over them nimbly. He heard a loud crunch and, while running, he looked behind and saw that a SwatBot had stepped out of one of the downed craft and he had crushed it. But he didn't get the other SwatBots that were stepping out now.

Laser fire flew over the Wolf's shoulders. He spun around, sliding backwards about twenty feet before stopping. His opened the ship's mouth and revealed the large laser cannon within. The robots didn't have a chance to even duck and cover before the huge, orange bolt of energy lanced from his mouth and hit one of the Hovercraft. In a great ball of white fire, it exploded, causing the others with it to also explode, sending the robots flying. A few more tail shots and they were all damaged far beyond repair.

He spun around and continued his run. To his right! More SwatBots! One quick blast from his tail gun hit the leader in the legs, causing it topple. The others tripped over it. Powers continued running.

By now, alarms were going off within the city and Jason knew that SwatBots and Hovercraft would be surrounding him any minute now. This mission of his was suicidal. The robots outnumbered him hundreds—if not thousands to him one. And what startled him most was that he didn't even really seem to care.

The Wolf's head moved down into a ramming position and he braced himself as he saw the oncoming former house's outer wall heading his way. He felt a slight jerk as the machine plowed through it, destroying everything that remained of the house. He was less than a mile away from the tower now. He looked up and gasped. Surrounding the building was a sea of orange and white energy signatures. SwatBots. Hovercraft. Some tanks of sorts. Many other kinds of robot. They surrounded the building. A ring of death. It wasn't a very thick ring—but directly in front of him, he noticed it was getting thicker. Robotnik was moving most of the ring to that spot where he would breach it.

Powers thought for a moment about trying to go around to one of the weaker sides, but he knew he didn't have that kind of time. His best bet was in the element of surprise—which he was losing with horrifying speed. He then thought about turning back. And then thought otherwise. That would not be acceptable.

He flipped a few switches and his entire armament was soon ready to be fired at any time. He had many mini-missiles. Larger missiles. Laser cannons. Mines. Grenades. B-guns (guns that used bullets instead of lasers). And then there was his tail and mouth laser. Yes, if he was to do this, he had a feeling he would need every single one. Starting now. He locked onto the front, middle, and back of the line of robot ground troops he was about to encounter and blasted off three large missiles. That would greatly even out the odds—if they hit.

He saw multiple Hovercraft flying his way and shot off a dozen mini-missiles to dwindle their numbers. He clicked another switch and felt, once again, as the Wolf shuddered. But it wasn't transforming back to the jet. No. It was merely becoming better. He prayed his damaged engine had been repaired to functional status since his crash by the Wolf's auto-repair ability. He, however, did not have time to check. Jason just hoped he didn't end up exploding when he started it up.

It was time to do this. He would fight to the bitter end. Nothing would stop this desperate man. He reached the first line of robots and smiled as he found that their numbers had been severely damaged by his missiles. With the flick of a switch, his engine hummed to life. So, it did work. He felt the change in speed immediately and he blew through the first line of robots at a blinding speed. Laser fire came from all sides, most missing or being reflected harmless, but a few hitting. His screen showed a missile lock on him and he grit his teeth as he heard an alarm. It had been launched. He frantically locked onto the oncoming missile with his tail laser and fired. It exploded, but his entire ship rocked with the explosion. That had been close. Much too close.

He was in the middle of the fray now. Laser fire was coming from above and from all sides. He desperately tried to fire back, but there were just too many. He couldn't hope to defeat this amount of enemies! No matter how many he destroyed, it just seemed they were replaced two to one! And, worse yet, he was being hit more and more. He was lucky that his engine had not scored a direct hit nor any of his legs. But the second that did happen…

…And then, just as soon as it had begun, it stopped. All laser fire, all missiles, all robots merely stopped. Not a one moved. He frowned deeply and looked around in confusion. They hadn't been shut down—they all had continuing energy signatures. He kept going, firing at a few, but they stood there, even as their insides were melted by lasers.

"Don't go any farther." Jason cried out and looked around frantically for the voice. He realized seconds later that it came from his headset. His radio. His formerly thought broken radio. He grunted loudly when he realized Robotnik had probably had it jammed! "You are surrounded on all sides. Although you probably don't know it, you have over three dozen missile locks on you at this very moment. At my command, every single one shall be fired." A shiver ran down his spine and without even considering it a bluff, he powered down his magnetic engine and slowed to a stop. As one large movement, all robots directly surrounding him stepped backwards, forming a wide ring around him. He noticed suddenly that every one had some kind of weapon pointed directly at him. He was suddenly struck with the realization that there was no way he'd escape this. He would die this day, on this battlefield. He felt numb within.

There was a whining noise that filled the air and he watched as a much-larger-than-usual, deep red Hovercraft floated down and landed on the ground before him. He noticed an impressive amount of lasers on this ship. Every one was trained on him. Another shiver ran down this spine. He knew who was in this ship. A minute passed, the two ships at a standstill. Not a single thing moved. Another minute passed and a droplet of sweat ran down Jason's cheek. He quickly checked his scanners and found that still not a robot had moved in any way. All Hovercraft had mysteriously disappeared. He turned off his heat and energy vision so he could see it more clearly.

He jerked slightly as the side door to the Hovercraft hissed open and two SwatBots stepped out. These two SwatBots seemed like the commandos of robots. They each had much larger laser cannons instead of the weaker, normal ones. On their backs looked to be missile launchers. They were bigger and their eyes glowed a bright red. They marched in unison until they stood directly in front of the Wolf. Another two stepped out and stood right in front of the Hovercraft. All four faced the Wolf. Another two stepped out. And then… Jason sucked in a sharp breath as he watched as a large man stepped out behind them.

Robotnik…

Robotnik looked up at the Wolf and sneered. Jason had never seen the man in person—only in pictures at the briefing he and his wing mates were given before the mission. Then, he found the man ugly and, in some way, terrifying. Right now, he trembled. Honestly, Robotnik wasn't much to look at in any way, but he had a terrible aura of authority and evil about him. The hundreds of lasers leveled on him didn't help much either. This man was nothing but powerful. Plain and simple. He had power within his grasp of the likes the US had never seen on its own soil. He had an army of expendable troops. No amount of destruction could truly defeat his army either. If his troops dwindled, he would make more. He was probably creating hundreds more at that very moment. No nation in the world had what this ugly, portly man possessed. He had power—and the black heart to go along with it.

Jason now knew that he would die. There was no doubt in his head. He trained all weapons on the one man and smirked coldly. Robotnik may have power, but Jason… Jason now had the man's life in his hands. Robotnik had made the terrible mistake of underestimating the pilot's willingness to win. He must have thought Jason would not have the blood to kill a man unarmed.

He was mistaken.

Powers fingered the trigger button. His fingered tightened slowly. He was relishing this moment. At the back of his head, he noticed that, still, even as Robotnik had watched as every weapon on this ship had aimed at him, not a single robot had moved. Robotnik did not look fearful. In fact, he still had the same sneer plastered on his dark face.

And then Jason found out why.

From out of the ship stepped the final two Commandos. But there was a third individual with them. Christina Carmichael had definitely seen better days. She was bleeding from a few cuts on her head and along her arms. Her flight suit had been ripped and burned in some spots. She stumbled along with a limp. Her beautiful, black hair was matted in sweat and blood and stuck to her face and body. One of her hazel eyes was swollen shut from a horrible bruise. The other was barely open. She looked a though she had been drugged. One of the robots had a gun pressed to her temple. The two SwatBots forced her forward and came to a stop beside Robotnik. The laser was still at her head.

All time stopped for Jason at that moment. He realized as the cold shivers ran down his spine why all robots had stopped fighting. He realized why Robotnik knew he wouldn't be harmed. And he realized truly how helpless he was. His entire body trembled. A choked sob filled his cockpit. A tear ran down his cheek and fell to his flight suit, creating a dark splotch.

"Ahh, yes, Christina Carmichael is her name, is it not? Or, so says her nameplate." Robotnik's voice filled his headset again. "I judge by your reaction, that she is someone special to you. I figured as much with the way you've been fighting." Jason watched with hatred as the man's mouth outside moved to form the words he was hearing.

"Let her go!" Jason cried in desperation. "Take me instead, but, for Heaven's sake, let her go!" Robotnik laughed.

"I think not. She is my prisoner of war. Oh, but don't worry," He moved closer and ran his finger along her cheek. Jason flinched. "she will not be killed. She's much too useful for that. In fact, I will say now that I won't lay a finger on her if you cooperate." The air could have crackled with tension in the silence that ensued. If Jason cooperated? He had no choice. It was either do this… or lose her.

"What do you want?" Jason asked, his voice hoarse. Suddenly, Chris sparked to life.

"No, Jason! Don't listen to him! Don't do anything he asks! Get out of—" She was suddenly silenced as one of the robots at her side hit her in the back of the head with one of its metal hands. Her head slumped immediately. Jason's entire body twitched and he suppressed the urge to cry out in agony for her. He looked back to Robotnik and he knew that never before had he hated a man so much as he hated the man standing before him now. He was startled by the low moan that emerged from his lips. He truly was helpless, wasn't he?

"Good boy. Here are my instructions. Don't worry, I think even someone as stupid as you can follow them." Robotnik still had the sneer on his face. His eyes danced with arrogance and assurance. And why not? He had Jason ready to do whatever he desired. "I want you to go back to your pitiful little base… Jason, was it? Go back to your leaders. Tell them of everything you've seen today. Tell them of strengths and of weaknesses. Relay to them every bit of information you can muster. Tell them I await their attack. Tell them that, when they lose, I will be ready to be crowned king of this fine nation. Tell them I will win. And I will, dear Jason. Have no doubts about that. I have more power than you can even know. Even as I speak, thousands of robots are being deployed to various cities surrounding Mobius. Hundreds are being prepared for deployment. Thousands more are being built right now. I have at my fingertips more power than the world has ever seen. Biological and nuclear weaponry? Yes, I do, indeed have those too—although I do hope it doesn't come to that. It'd be a tragedy to lose so many subjects, no?

"Go now, Jason. Turn your little toy around and get out of my city. I grow tired of your games."

Jason shook with fury. He prepared to turn the Wolf around, though. But not before his parting words. "You won't win, Robotnik." He spoke the name as if it was a curse. "I'll make sure of it. I promise you, you will have your day of reckoning. You'll regret releasing me. I will be back."

Robotnik laughed. It was nearly a cackle. It made Jason's stomach turn. "I expect you to be back, Jason. I quite look forward to our next meeting. Although, next time, I sincerely doubt I'll be as merciful as this time. Now leave. I am sick of looking at the eyesore you call a ship. Just follow my Hovercraft and you shall leave the city and be pointed in the direction of your base."

Jason grit his teeth and closed his eyes tightly. Another tear ran down his cheek. The Wolf slowly did an about face. The SwatBots parted like the Red Sea with Moses, providing him a clean pathway out of the swarm and out of the city. He began walking out and soon the Wolf accelerated to a run. Hovercraft flew in front of him, guiding him from the city.

He never did look back. If he did, it's possible he would have seen as Chris's body fizzled out of existence as Robotnik ordered the hologram that had shaped her turned off.

The rain had ceased, yet the black clouds remained hovering miles above, blotting out the sun. Yet, now they seemed darker. Blacker. How fitting, Jason thought. How fitting indeed.

Robotnik watched as the Wolf disappeared from view. He sneered once more and chuckled to himself at his cleverness. He looked to one of his SuperSwats and spoke, "Connect with Home." The robot's eyes flickered for a moment and then it nodded, signaling Robotnik had a connection. He smirked.

"Take the girl to the Roboticizer. Do not initiate the sequence yet, though. Wait for me to arrive. I have a few specifics that I desire to be carried out this time."