Robotnik jr's Arc

Chapter 3 of 3

The metal caterpillars lunged. Their hooked mouths snapped at Robotnik jr's legs. He yelped and jumped back. His round sunglasses slid down his nose. He pushed them up and looked around the shining lab. He had come too far to run now. The huge red gem still glowed on its stand, close enough to touch. One caterpillar shot forward on its rows of legs. Its yellow eyes flashed. Robotnik jr threw himself sideways. He hit the polished floor and slid. The hooked mouth clacked shut where his shoe had been. His heart pounded against his yellow and red shirt. He scrambled behind the gem's stand. His hands searched his pockets. He had built things from his father's tools before. He remembered the small device in his coat, the one he had rigged that morning. It froze water in a cup for testing his shirt battery. He had made it stronger since then. Maybe strong enough. The caterpillars circled the stand. Their legs clicked on the metal floor. Robotnik jr gripped the device with both hands. He aimed the nozzle at the nearest machine. His thumb shook over the button. "Stay back," he whispered. He pressed the button. A blast of white frost sprayed out. It struck the lead caterpillar full in its yellow eyes. The machine froze mid-step. Ice crawled over its silver body. Its legs locked. Its hooked mouth stuck half open. Robotnik jr swung the nozzle across the others. Frost hit each one in turn. One caterpillar tried to leap, and ice caught it in the air. It dropped and cracked against the floor. The rest stiffened where they stood. Their yellow eyes dimmed under white frost. The clicking legs went silent. Robotnik jr breathed hard. He stood among the frozen guards. Not one of them moved. His plan had worked. He almost laughed. He stepped to the stand and wrapped his arms around the gem. It was heavy, taller than his arm, and cold against his shirt. He lifted it and staggered toward the open door. Real power. Enough to light his contest shirt without burning him. Then a hum filled the lab. The frost on the nearest caterpillar dripped. A drop of water fell from its eye. Robotnik jr stopped in the doorway. Behind him, ice began to melt. The device had frozen them, but only for now. Their bodies still held warmth inside. One frozen leg twitched. Then another. The yellow eyes flickered back to life. The guards were waking, and now the gem was gone from their stand. They would come after it. Robotnik jr did not wait. He clutched the gem tight and ran for his craft outside. He had the power at last. Now he had to fly home before the guards broke free and chased him across the sky.