FREEDOM - A ZONERUNNERS STORY
By Michael Maynard
The figure sat, motionless, watching the Troopers guarding the Prison Egg.
His clumsy friend tried to move closer to where he sat, but tripped over a shoelace, landing face-first on the floor.
The figure cringed, waiting for the Troopers to react to the sound… but nothing. They hadn’t heard it.
The young fox picked himself up off the ground and began to tie his shoelace.
“Sorry, Skai… it was an accident.”
The hedgehog sat, not taking his eyes off the Troopers.
“It’s alright, Dash. Just try to be a little more careful. And I thought you were looking out from that tree over there.”
“Um… yes, well… There wasn’t anything happening there, so I thought I’d see if you needed any help.”
Skai knew what this meant. Dash had gotten afraid in the tree.
They sat, still watching the Troopers, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Skai felt something in the air… a kind of pulse… one he knew very well.
He raised his gun, ready to charge, and spoke into his Microputer.
“Get ready… on my signal…”
The leader of the Trooper patrol received an incoming transmission, and all the Troopers turned to face him.
“NOW!!”
Zonerunners charged from the bushes all around the Troopers, seven in total.
The four Troopers were easily destroyed within a few seconds, and the Mobians trapped in the Prison Egg were freed.
The Runners all began to celebrate their victory, except for Skai who immediately began sifting through the wreckage, looking for parts that could be sold or traded.
“Skai? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Dash. But I don’t see the point in celebrating.”
“Why?”
“Because this is just a minor victory. Four Troopers and one Prison Egg containing five citizens. Sonic fights dozens of Troopers at a time, saves hundreds of citizens… We may have saved a few, but it’s nothing to get excited about.”
“Well… at least we’re trying…”
“Sorry, Dash… I just… never mind.”
Skai pulled out the circuit boards, armor and weapons from the Troopers and began to share them out amongst the other Runners.
The Runners each went their separate ways, except for Dash and Skai, who followed the path to the next Zone… and their next adventure.
MOBIANS, PRISON EGG Ó SEGA ENTERPRISES
‘Zonerunners’, ‘Microputer’ Ó Mark Eyles, Egmont Fleetway Editions
Dash Prower, Skai the Hedgehog Ó Michael Maynard