Last Boarding Call

[Sonic]

It began with some rather powerful vibrations that would have made a clearly audible booming sound, had they not been sent out through water.

It continued with the mass of liquid at the rear of the shop beginning to gathering a swirl more quickly than before, as if it had finally found a hole in the air-tight vessel to pour itself in through.

It ended with one supersonic hedgehog shooting up and out of one of the ship's rear rocket propulsion exhausts like a missile, his Super Sonic Spin cutting through water and leaving a rough trail of bubbles in its wake.

Sonic's flight path, forced out even underwater by his highest gear of Spindash, gained him a lot of altitude from the potential underwater grave he was leaving behind. It had been necessary in order to escape the inward current he'd been forced to create in order to get outside. He also wanted to get as close to the surface as he could for the sake of his promised rescue attempt. It would be a full few seconds between the end of his spinning into rag doll form before the blue hero began to sink like the rock he was when deprived of solid ground and open air.

Well, at least he was good at holding his breath... for a minute or two... several precious seconds of which had to be used charging up his escape velocity...

... where was that rescue again?

[Tutley Sakamoto]

The chao's head formed an exclamation mark as the door began to come down, and it quickly slid through the door, only to take part in the flooding of the room. This would normally make any chao panic, but luckily it had the form of his owner, a powerful and agile aquatic reptile. Still, the chao was helplessly caught in the whirlpool, aiming for the hedgehog when..."?"

The hedgehog he tried to save poofed. Into thin air. The chao formed a brief question mark, before giving an annoyed "humph" to itself as the room filled with water, diving underwater and swimming out the ship's window rather quickly, and likely leaving the two submerged villains puzzled.

Outside the ship, Tutley was keeping pace with the ship's decent, looking for the first sign of the hedgehog. He was about to move towards the front, when... "?" A hedgehog appeared. Out of thin air. Not taking time to ponder how it happened, or why something seemed off about his hero’s looks, he pulled a 180 degree flip, speeding towards the drowning hedgie. He grabbed Shadow securely between the arms, and jetted towards the surface, again screaming past Slick, only this time, he took care to keep a few feet away from him.

The chao was swimming to the surface now, when he heard a loud pop coming from the ship beneath him. Sonic rocketed past the chao, spinning it dizzy for a moment. When the chao's head cleared, it saw the ball was indeed the hedgehog "Wait...why does he look different now?” it asked to itself as it reached the second sinking hedgie, gripping Sonic's shoulders in a attempt to lift him upwards. Sonic was falling much slower now due to the chao's struggles, but it was odious he'd need help.

[Mathias 'Slick' Greyer]

[Sorry for kind of cutting in and skipping anyone, but for the sake of speeding things along instead of waiting for people who would otherwise have little imput on the situation to post, I figure we can at least get the situation back to a place where everyone can actually have something meaningful to say in their posts]

Slick saw Tutley whip by a second time, now towards the surface with a hedgehog in tow so naturally his first thought was that Tutley had found Sonic. Therefore, there was no longer a need to still be here. He was just about to do a 180 towards the surface himself when the noise made by Sonic's rather explosive entry into the water stopped him. He looked back, thinking perhaps the sinking ship must have hit the harbour's bottom or something by now and instead saw the familiar appearance of Sonic now floating in the water and quite clearly sinking.

Slick snapped back towards him with a hard whip-lick crack of his tail to give him a rapid boost. In a moment, Slick grabbed Sonic under his arms with a strong grip around his chest and with all his might, Slick swam with all his might to break free of the ship's suction.

Slick could feel the air in his lungs being used up rapidly from the exertion but soon he felt less and less resistance until suddenly his hard swimming met none at all. Moments later, Slick and Sonic would break the water's surface. Naturally the first thing Slick did once his head was above water was suck in a huge gasp of precious air. Next he felt a moment of satisfaction and relief as he calmly bobbed in the water.

"LOOK!! OVER THERE!!!" Cutter shouted out in triumphant relief as she spotted first Tutley return to the surface, and then Slick. "They made it!!"

[Sonic]

"Was there ever any doubt?" the hedgehog answered back with a call of his own after refilling his lungs. He'd been admittedly relieved when the chao and otter both came to pick him up. tails was a good swimmer, but that scenario sure was something. Yet another experience to add to the list.

Green eyes scanned the waters around him as Sonic relied on the solder's support to stay afloat, completely unable to aid in the treading of water. A view of black spines was exactly what he was looking for, though admittedly he only partially expected Shadow to appear in the exact same position as himself. The flying escape pod looked fairly cramped though.

"Hope there's room in that thing for an unexpected guest," he said to break the tension anyone might be feeling if they'd already realized just who that second survivor was. Sonic was still pretty in shock at Shadow's return as it was, but at least he'd already had his initial exposure and the black-furred hedgehog looks like he was in worse shape from having more time underwater and a lot more distance to go carried. "Because he might need some help there."

[Jack-the-Hedgie]

Jack was startled as Tutley (mun allowing), emerged from the water as abruptly as he vanished into it. At least he was accounted for. He couldn't see the familiar blue hue of the snarky hedgehog he met some time back. In fact, when he approached the door of the ship, he was further confused. It kind of looked like Sonic... Except for the different color and the spines going a different way. Maybe the dye Sonic had to use to get that blue color washed out... which raised even more questions.

"Hey Tutley! You alright? What happened to S-...?"

"LOOK!! OVER THERE!! They made it!!"

Jacks jaw dropped when Slick came into view, this time carrying the actual Sonic. His elasticity made this motion all the more exaggerated.

"But... if Sonic is over there.... whose the hedgehog Tutley is...."

Jack shook his head before calling out to the two heroes

"Sir! Sonic! Good to see you two made it! Grab on! I'll pull you two aboard!"

With that, Jack reared back, gathering his strength. With a grunt, the hedgie threw out a fist, which stretched out to the two heroes. Before he could deck someone in the head, though, his hand opened, allowing whoever was willing to grab hold.

"Hope there's room in that thing for an unexpected guest, because he might need some help there."

"I think we can make room..." Jack said as he reached out to the otter and hedgehog duo. As he did, he threw his other arm out for Tutley and this.... other person to grab onto "So long as someone explains to me who the heck he is!"

[Edited from the ground up when I informed that Tutley would have made it to the surface first]

[Sarath Crescent]

As the last few bubbles of Sarath's air left his muzzle his expression changed to a scowl as Shadow vanished from sight. Still the look didn't last too long as he was forced to close his eyes due to the sea in the water, normally Sarath would have been able to keep them open longer. A growl would have bubbled through the water had he any air left to issue one.

Just then he felt a hand touch the underside of his muzzle and turn his head. A moment later a pair of lips met his own and he felt air returning to his body. Sarath relaxed slightly, enjoying the tender moment that Lefina was giving him. Finally he reached a hand blinding to his side and tapped the controls on his chair arm.

A vibration rung out through the water as the bulkheads sealed themselves back in place over the window. A whir then filled the air as the bilge pumps activated and began to drain the bridge of water. As the water level receded Sarath opened his eyes and reached a hand up to Lefina's muzzle. The gentle moment lasted a few seconds more before the wolf finally pulled back and gave a small smile at her Lord.

Sarath smiled back and then looked at the closed bulkheads with a scowl. "So this world refuses to simply bow down and submit does it...very well. That makes the game all the more interesting. Computer status report!"

"Commencing system check. Main power currently offline, secondary power steady at 51%. Primary shield bank destroyed, secondary shield bank currently offline. Main weapon relays currently overloaded. High concentrations of phase particles detected in local area, interference is affecting all ship systems. Main engines 1 and 2 currently destroyed, foreign organic body detected in main engine room prior to engine malfunction. Main engine 3 through 12 currently at stand by positions. Secondary thruster arrays at station keeping, operating at 74% efficiency."

Sarath scowled, the damage was quite substantial. In their current state they'd be a sitting duck for anyone who came looking for them...and he was more or less certain that they would.

"Computer, report status of primary phase power reactor."

"Primary phase reactor currently online operating at 45% efficiency. Phase weapons system currently overloaded, damage beyond current repairable parameters."

"Prepare to eject main phase reactor, bring all operational engines online and set course for deeper waters. Authorisation code Sarath 228194 Beta."

"Authorisation code approved, main phase reactor ejection systems online. Ejection in 10 seconds."

Sarath smiled slightly, this should stop any interference. "Ready aft secondary weapons, lock onto phase reactor pod and fire on my command."

"My Lord? What are you doing?" asked Lefina slowly.

"Just making it impossible for them to track us as we slip away. Computer, fire!."

Outside the ship a section of the upper hull had just opened, a round glowing object being shot upwards and away from the sinking ship. On the ships stern one of its many cannons turned, pivoted upwards and fired. The beams cut straight through the water and slammed into the rising reactor. There was a momentary pause as the beams punched through the outer casing of the reactor before the reactor imploded on itself.

For the rescued heroes on the surface a dull tremor could be felt running through the water. The vibration increased in magnitude, almost feeling like an earthquake as it ran through the water. Then, to their left a massive wall of water rose into the air as the force of the underwater explosion displaced the water around it. It looked like a massive dome of water as it rose into the air and then finally broke and and was flung outwards. The water crashed down on top of them but it wasn't going to do anything except make them all very wet.

What was of worry though was a sudden fine cloudy mist that was starting to spread out from where the bubble of water had formed. For those who had seen the explosion caused by the Retribution they would immediately recognise the colour of the cloud, phase particles. A few had been flung out by the force of the explosion, each no bigger than a grain of sand but still dangerous. Several of them shot straight through the transport, luckily missing everyone inside but leaving a pin sized hole right through the ships hull and internal systems.

[Tutley Sakamoto]

Tutley had emerged a few feet away, to the left of the ship. He took in breath and took a sigh of relief.

"LOOK!! OVER THERE!! They made it!!"


"Hey Tutley! You alright?

Tutley smiled and waved back with his free hand and nodded at Jack, before looking at just who he was holding. "What the?!", he asked himself puzzled, and slightly startled, nearly dropping the hedgehog. It was another hedgehog? And he looked a fair bit like Sonic too....odd. He swam a few feet towards the ship, taking Jack's arm and getting pulled onboard. When he reentered the ship, he scratched his head as he looked at Shadow for a moment pondering who he was, and began administering cpr to the unconscious hedgie, pushing on his belly in a timed rhythm to expel the water flooding his lungs. "Sonic or not, this guy needs help!", he said yelling out towards the others.

Meanwhile, Tutley's chao was on the surface, slightly tired from helping to pull the blue blur to the surface. It rested on Sonic's head, yarning as they were offered to come aboard. It jumped and cheered knowing Tutley was fine, and floated beside him. It's head formed a exclamation mark, noticing that it was the same hedgehog he was trying to save. It grumbled for a moment as it flew beside him, before placing its hands in front of himself, light emanating from the tips in circular swirling motion as he brought them beside the downed hedgehog.

[Refresh]

Tutley on the other hand was still trying to save shadow when. "?" he heard a loud rumble, before the explosion reached the surface, dousing him in water. "Oh....", was all Tutley could say as he wiped his face off and saw the cloud, having been near a few energy reactor explosions in his line of duty. He dived down over shadow, shell facing the blast. Luckily for him however, the shells missed, and he quickly went back to saving the hedgehog. "Did it blow?!", he shouted out loud.

[Amy Rose]

[A bit of Tails-assuming until people decide to post as him again.]

Everything had happened so fast, it almost made me dizzy. I clearly remembered yelling at Tutley as he suddenly made his move. It wasn't that Tails couldn't handle taking over. Maybe more like frustration as the turtle hit the water and was suddenly propelled forward by some jet pack-like device. Minutes passed, and for a while, I had a sinking feeling that Sonic wasn't coming back. Water was his worst enemy, after all. At the very least, Slick had to know that.

After what seemed like forever, something drew my eyes. It was a speck at first, but it grew rapidly as it tore through the water effortlessly. None other than Tutley. But who did he have with him? It almost looked like Sonic. Hedgehog in form but black in color. Black. Hedgehog. It had to be just a coincidence. I squinted my eyes, but there was no doubt. It was a black hedgehog in Tutley's arms. I shook my head, casting such a silly thought away. It was probably some poor sap Sonic rescued on the way.

Sonic...

I looked back towards the ship to notice another figure swimming towards the escape craft we were lodged in.

"Tails! Lower the ship!"

He had already been on it though and as the ship reached the thirty foot mark, Greyer was in clear view with Sonic in his arms. Relief washed over me, seeing him conscious and as smug talking as usual.

"Sir! Sonic! Good to see you two made it! Grab on! I'll pull you two aboard!"

"Hope there's room in that thing for an unexpected guest, because he might need some help there."

"I think we can make room..." Jack said as he reached out to the otter and hedgehog duo. As he did, he threw his other arm out for Tutley and this.... other person to grab onto "So long as someone explains to me who the heck he is!"

The comment Sonic had made only made me more curious, but I dismissed it then. As Jack worked on giving them a lift, I locked one arm around his waist while the other hooked around a nearby handrail. I didn't really consider what awkwardness might befall this move later. Right then, I was more concerned with giving Jack some support, in case their weight proved more difficult to handle than first assumed. I almost lost my hold out of shock as an explosion tore out of the water and shook the ship, taking a chunk of metal with it. Looking back at Tails, I hoped he'd tell me the damage wasn't lethal.

[Shadow]

Shadow coughed loudly and water poured from his mouth as Tutley's rythmic pushing forced the water up and out of his lungs. His head lolled gently from side to side, and finally the hedgehog's eyes slowly opened. "Ugh... wha... where am I? What happened?" Slowly the blur that was his vision came into focus and Shadow propped himself up on one arm, using the other to wipe the water from his mouth. "Did somebody save me...?" I guess I got that miracle after all, he thought, recalling his last thoughts before uncontiousness.

Shadow glanced around quickly, taking in the huddle of people in the small, cramped escape pod. For a moment he seemed like he would panic as he noticed the alien design of the pod, but he stopped when he caught sight of a familiar pink hedgehog holding a brown hedgehog's waist. "You!" Shadow exclaimed as he turned towards Amy, completely forgetting his savior Tutley. "You're that girl from the ARK! The one obsessed with Sonic, right? The one... that helped me remember..." for a second Shadow's eyes seemed distant, like he was in some kind of revere, but it only lasted an instant and he shook his head to clear his thoughts. "What are you doing here? Does that mean that blue nuisance is here too?" He noted the brown hedgehog she was holding, and also noted that his arm... was stretched out? That was strange. He turned his view down the length of the arm to see what he was grabbing at, and the sight of the familiar blue hedgehog in the arms of an otter met his eyes. Shadow smirked and crossed his arms. I should have known, he thought to himself.

Shadow turned his back to the water, facing into the escape pod again, his smirk fading. "Alright, I still don't know what the hell is going on here. Anyone care to fill me in?"

[Links Tyrell]

[*Points to Sarath's post* Hate to ask...but did anyone read my post at all? o_O]