Type: Plot Progression | EVENT: "There One Moment, Gone the Next"
Universe: Sandstorm
Location: Meteo-Tech Tower/Chemical Plant Island
[Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four]
The glare was practically blinding. Node was squinting, their muzzle upturned at the intense smell of all the chemicals. Their skates glided a few feet above the ground, dim yellow light bursting from their heels as they soared for the towering presence ahead.
I won't let you take him from me.
A promise to themself- to the universe. To all of them.
"Done!" Tails' voice rang out. The massive gate before them shimmered, a brilliant red light flaring to life. The group closed their eyes- rushing on as the sound of hinges groaned to life. The illumination faded- revealing the tower, the glare of its sharp edges fainter, now.
Node's chest was heaving. They weren't used to running for so long- World Grand Prix races generally lasted an hour, at worst. But this... The sun was just beginning to rise at the edge of the horizon- but it wasn't so far that Bless had transformed back. His claws were still tearing the ground- the bridge- to pieces, revealing wires under-claw. He could reduce the damage if he wanted... But tonight wasn't the night for subtlty.
"Time for answers!" Node growled between breaths. The pain in their bones had gone away over an hour ago- the feeling of their back, burning, lost ages prior. Meteo-Tech 'bots powered on as the forcefield and gate were lowered and drawn back... The main defense of the tower gone in an instant.
"BRING IT ON!" Bless' voice rang out. In a split second, his darkened arms were reaching- claws so close-
TNG!
There was no time for shock. Node didn't hesitate. They soared into the air, skate slamming into the optic of the 'bot- cracking it on impact.
"OPTICS!" The click of barrels being leveled filled the air. Shit.
Amy's hammer swung into the air. It smacked into a 'bot- denting it- and sent it careening into several of its fellows before they could open fire. Node fell back to the ground, their skates activating in the dive. Were it not for those, they would've been paste on the bridge- or worse, slammed through into the murky, chemical-laden ocean below.
The barest tinges of purple were flooding the previously-blue sky. The sun would be rising within the hour...
"C'mon--" A cloud filled the air. The 'bots that entered into it began to glitch- sparks surging from metallic shells as they essentially convulsed, only to fall to the ground- glowing red reduced to hollow nothingness. "-got it!"
The 'bots were no match for the onslaught. Bless' claws couldn't break the metal? Fine. He ripped the bridge's flooring, tossing that into the air with a quick spin. The metallic shell became a flying guillotine- slashing through the enemy before crumpling against the last in line.
The team quickly destroyed the welcome party- rushing for the main entrance of the tower.
"Tails, tell me you know the layout of this place...!" The team soared through the main entrance- and into a massive hall. On the left were massive metallic pillars- highways of iron conveyor belts connecting them. The shells of robots-to-be were shuttled down the line at a slow pace, mechanical limbs floating along the edges to add parts and fix wires- before the shells were shuttled into other pillars by the conveyors. The center of the walkway was a bright purple, glowing harshly. On other side of the purple main-line were walkways with bright blue lights around the edge- hovertrucks waiting off to the right, their backends open to receive entire lines of robots. Up above, green lights led deeper into the facility- and exhaust pipes that were big enough to be cars belched out heat and smoke into the air. Massive gears rotated to keep the conveyor belts moving.
"Got it all right here." Tails held up his watch- the small LED screen rather pitiful compared to the sight before the team. "There's a hallway up on our right- we just need to go down that, take a left, go up the elevators, and then we should be at the control center.. I'll be able to figure out what Meteo-Tech's up to from there."
"Then let's get moving!" Bless clenched his fist. "This form won't last forever, so the least we can do is get going!" If they could figure out what Meteo-Tech was up to, what the rings were about- why the 'bots wanted them, then... They could figure out how to stop the madness.
At the far end of the massive hall... A giant set of double-doors slid open, lighting up a bright green for the briefest fraction of a moment.
"Th' Hell...?!" Node stared in disbelief. From the depths of the facility, they could see three figures emerge- each carrying Extreme Gear.
"Long time no see, losers." A rather grating voice filled the air- instantly making all of the team's faces narrow. "What're you doing h-....wait...you have the Arks of the Cosmos?!" Jet the Hawk- kinda literally- squawked in surprise as sky-blue eyes landed on them all. "Well-- I- doesn't matter!"
"You know what these are?!" Bless took a step forward.
"WOAH!---and here I thought you couldn't get any uglier..." Jet murmured, shaking his head. Bless didn't react, outside of the faintest tightening of his fist. He glared down the hawk, eyes sliding towards his purple and gray feathered compatriots. "....and you bonded with some of them...damnit..."
"What do you know about the Arks of the Cosmos??"
"Oh no..." Tails' face began to pale.
"Guys, we gotta move-" Tails and Wave spoke in unison. The two techies stared at each other for a moment...
Before the alarms started screeching.
"Well, screw it." Jet waved a hand. It was only then that Node's eyes caught on the addition around his glove- a silver ring glowing white. "We need those, so we'll be taking them- one way or another."
"Jet, we really need to leave-"
"We're not leaving until we have the Arks!"
"We don't have time for this!" Bless' words were met with the lights from the alarms turning on- bathing the interior of the tower in bright crimson. Up above, the sounds of many latches letting go was drowned out by the alarms.
The ceiling opened.
Engines roared to life as Jet and his gang jumped onto their boards.
"FINE!" Bless, for one of the few times in his life, was losing patience in the crisis. Amy had summoned her hammer to her hand again. Node was floating a few inches off the ground, hands pulled into fists, close to their body. Tails was already reaching for his hammer space. Bless let loose a roar.
The team charged, as robots descended from above, and Jet's gang rushed from the front.
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