((Combines the new comics universe with elements from the old (certain characters that were removed haven’t been, and so forth), plus adds a couple elements from Sonic Boom (actually just Sticks).))
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Death Egg…
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Dr. Eggman looked at the small vial of green liquid in his hand. “I’d almost forgotten that I had made this…” he said softly.
His two mechanical minions, Orbot and Cubot, looked at him worriedly. “For some reason, sir, you holding vials of unknown substances makes me nervous.”
“For good reason,” Dr. Eggman said. “This virus has the potential to upset the balance of power in this war. You see, it genetically alters certain Mobians, giving them great elasticity in their bodies, from the inside out.”
Orbot frowned. “Okay…”
“It also gives them a tremendous hunger for the flesh of other Mobians,” Dr. Eggman continued. “Imagine, seeing someone swallow another person whole just to satisfy their ravenous hunger…”
Cubot gulped nervously. “You… You said ‘certain Mobians…’”
Dr. Eggman smirked. “A surprisingly astute question from you,” he said. “Yes. I designed this virus TOO well. Not only is it 100% communicable and airborne, capable of spreading across the world in seconds, it works on a ‘meta’ level, for lack of a better term. Only individuals of a certain… well, ‘prominence in the universe’ for lack of a better term, will be affected. Joe Schmuck off the street wouldn’t be affected, but a Freedom Fighter would. So would my Egg Bosses…”
Orbot grimaced. “Oh dear…”
Dr. Eggman played with the sealed vial in his fingers. “Indeed. My studies indicate that even Nicole would be affected, the virus giving her enough of a physical body that she’s need to eat…”
“Sir, this sounds absurdly dangerous. If it is used, it would throw things into chaos. The madness that would result would be devastating, possibly as much to our cause as it would be to the Freedom Fighters, and oh damn it I just convinced you to use it, didn’t I?” Orbot said.
Dr. Eggman smirked at Orbot… and then ran for it.
“STOP HIIIM!” Orbot screamed, he and Cubot flying after their boss. They were far too slow, nor would any robot in the Death Egg fortress move against their creator as he got to one of the egg pods in the hanger. Orbot and Cubot got in an egg pod of their own and flew after him.
But it was too late.
Cackling like a lunatic, Dr. Eggman opened the vial and tossed it into the air. The green liquid inside spilled out, turning into a mist and flying off into the distance, spreading invisibly across the world in seconds.
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The next day…
Sky Patrol fortress…
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Sally Acorn fidgeted nervously. After a moment, Tails and Rotor both came out of the diagnostic bay.
“Did you figure out what happened to Nicole? Why she just glitched out like that?” Sally asked. Around her, Sonic, Bunnie, Antoine, Amy, Cream, and Big listened intently. The digital lynx was their friend, and when her holographic body had suddenly malfunctioned yesterday…
“Well…” Tails said, looking confused.
“She’s fine. Sorta,” Rotor said, looking equally confused.
Sally blinked. “You’re sure?”
“What do you mean ‘sorta?’” Sonic asked.
Tails bit his lip. “All of her functions are normal. She can still do everything she did before, and can still be upgraded.”
“It’s just that now, whenever she projects a body out into the real world…” Rotor said.
“It’s a real, flesh and blood body. One that can take more hits than her holographic one before forcing her back into her handheld device.
The other Freedom Fighters traded confused looks. “So… wait, she’s completely real now?” Bunnie asked.
They opened the door to the lab fully, revealing Nicole standing in front of a mirror, feeling up her newfound organic body. She felt a rush of air on her back and turned, eeping when she saw the others.
“Eheheh…” she said. “Well, I’ve just been a projection before, so I was just curious about how my body felt…”
Sally smiled at her, then turned to Tails and Rotor again. “She’s completely fine, then?”
Rotor nodded. “Oh yeah, tip top shape.”
Nicole’s stomach suddenly growled loudly. “She’s probably hungry, though,” Rotor added, everyone chuckling.
“I’ve always wondered what eating was like,” Nicole said softly.
Everyone else’s stomachs suddenly rumbled as well, creating even more laughter. “C’mon,” Sonic said. “Food sounds like a good idea. I’m starving, now that I think about it…”