Sonic The Hedgehog #80

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Synopsis[]

In the Rainstorm Forest, Sonic and Team Chaotix are suddenly ambushed by an Interceptor Super Badnik. It tries to attack but the heroes dodge it. Sonic attacks the robot with a Spin Dash, but is unable to destroy it. The Badnik then retreats into the forest. By Vector's command, he, Charmy and Sonic stand by to watch the badnik while Espio turns invisible to attack when they come. The Interceptor comes out to attack again when suddenly Shadow appears and takes the badnik down. Rouge also appears and greets the boys, when Vector asks her what she is doing there. She responds that she was hired to look for intel of Clean Sweep Inc. after its' crimes were exposed during the Clean Sweepstakes event, which Vector comments the Chaotix should've been contacted to do so. Sonic asks Shadow why he is there as well and the latter responds it is only because he dislikes Clutch's work. Sonic then asks where Omega is, and Rouge responds she needed a precision touch, which is hard with a destructive machine like Omega. While Vector once again claims the Chaotix can handle the situation, Shadow suddenly notices something and orders for everyone to be quiet.

After a minute of silence, three more Interceptors appear from the trees. Realizing these are all the forces and the interior might be clear, Rouge flies to the operational Clean Sweep facility to look for the intel; Espio, by Vector's command, goes after her to do the same. Upon entering the facility, Espio is suddenly stopped by Rouge, who points out to security cameras on the hall. So Espio turns invisible to pass, but the cameras notice his wet footsteps, so he shots them down with his shuriken stars. Espio and Rouge head to the locket door that leads to the control room, so Rouge uses one of her heart bombs to open it. Entering the control room, Rouge puts her two flash drives into the computer to download the intel and, by Espio's insistence, puts on the Chaotix' flash drive as well. While Rouge downloads the intel into the flash drives, Espio checks on the others from another computer.

Meanwhile outside, Vector rips out an Interceptor's antenna, and Charmy takes advantage of it to take control over the Badnik, almost accidentally hitting Vector in the process. Sonic and Shadow work together to fight three Interceptor, successfully taking them down; when Sonic compliments how cool they are, Shadow even smiles a little. Back inside the facility, Espio sees on the computer that more defensive Super Badniks are coming online, but there is no one giving them orders, meaning the facility is fully automated and Clutch was telling the truth. Rouge then discovers that the database of facilities doesn't remotely match what's publicly listed. The intel is finally downloaded, so Rouge gives Espio his flash drive, with asking if all the intel is on it. She asks in a teasing way who he thinks she is and Espio responds a tricky devious spy, which she responds in a teasing and flirting way. Rouge then says the only thing she couldn't find was an override, so she can't get the defense systems to shut off; then Espio, as technique, smashes the computer's keyboard, which actually manages to put the Interceptor offline, shutting them down. Rouge is impressed by Espio's technique and runs her finger on his chin, saying she will keep this in mind for the future, leaving him stunned and confused. She then tells him they should before the others think they've been alone together for too long.

Soon everyone meets up at the entrance of the facility. While Clutch's confessions about the Clean Sweep's state are shown to be true, the Interceptor ambush seemed to have been planned, which rises suspicions on Vector; Sonic claims Clutch is a creep and believes he could've set this ambush for anyone who came too close, Vector believes this might be true and decided to consider the case ongoing for now. Rouge claims the boys will have many opportunities to investigate, as she downloaded a copy of all the Clean Sweep facilities to their flash drive, and to hers as well. Upon hearing this, Shadow snatches Rouge's flash drive from her hand and puts it on his device. Shadow decides to use this intel to track down each Clean Sweep facility and neutralize them. Vector, once again, remarks how the Chaotix are experts in investigation and offer to help, and Sonic offers too as a fun run to smash bots, but Shadow declines, much to the Chaotix's disappointment. Shadow then tells Rouge he will keep her up to date before teleporting off. Rouge is annoyed by his behavior, commenting this is why she had a backup flash drive. Exhausted from everything that's happened, Vector tells the boys it's time to go. He thanks Sonic for his help and apologizes for getting on his case earlier, which the latter jokily if that's not what they do. Vector then asks Sonic to let them know if he comes across anything, then Rouge asks if they don't want her help as well. An annoyed Vector asks how much it would cost, which she replies that if they have to ask first, they can't afford it.

As the Chaotix leave, Rouge is about to leave as well but Sonic stops her. He tells her about the Chaos Emerald that disappeared from Tails' Lab, asking if she could provide some "professional insight." While slightly offended by being accused, Rouge responds that she was safe-keeping a Chaos Emerald of her own, but it suddenly vanished just like Tails'; she has been looking for it but has no leads. Rouge then suggests for the two to tell each other if they find anything, when Sonic asks her if she return any emeralds found back to where they came from, she just runs her finger on his chin and says they will see how it goes before departing as well. Sonic then runs off at super speed, though unbeknownst to him, a Buzzer is watching from up a tree serving as a camera while someone is watching not only Sonic on a monitor, but Tails, Surge and Kit, Silver and Blaze, Tangle and Whisper, Knuckles, and even Dr. Eggman through other monitors. The person comments on how frustrated it would be if the others knew that by the time they realized things were in motion, their plan was already nearly complete, while they open a coffin with six Chaos Emeralds around it, with only one missing.

Characters:[]

• Badniks
  • Buzzer
  • Interceptors
  • Unnamed Egg Pawn-like Drones (only appearance)
• Blaze the Cat (recording)
• Clutch the Opossum (mentioned)
• Dr. Eggman (recording)
• E-123 Omega (flashback)
• Jewel the Beetle (mentioned)
• Knuckles the Echidna (recording)
• Kitsunami the Fennec (recording)
• Miles "Tails" Prower (recording)
• Rouge the Bat
• Shadow the Hedgehog
• Silver the Hedgehog (recording)
• Surge the Tenrec (recording)
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Tangle the Lemur (recording)
• Team Chaotix
  • Charmy Bee
  • Espio the Chameleon
  • Vector the Crocodile
• Whisper the Wolf (recording)

Races and species:[]

• Black Arms
• Chao (image)
• Human (recording)

Locations:[]

• Sonic's universe
  • Earth
    • Angel Island (recording)
      • Altar of Emerald (recording)
    • Rainstorm Forest
    • Restoration HQ (mentioned)

Items:[]

• Air Shoes
• Chaos Emerald (mentioned)
• Egg Goggles (recording)
• Heart bomb
• Limiter Ring
• Master Emerald (recording)
• Shuriken star
• Sonic's shoes
• Variable Wispon (recording)

Misc.:[]

• Chaos Control
• Clean Sweep Inc. (mentioned)
• Eggtech (mentioned)
• Heart Mine (first appearance)
• Homing Attack
• Leaf Swirl
• Propeller Flying (recording)
• Ninja Arts: Camouflage
• Shuriken
• Spin Jump

Continuity:[]

• Espio does the same technique Shadow uses to gather the intel from the events of Shadow the Hedgehog, though this time to shut down the base's defense systems.
• The end card of this Issue teases that the story of the comics will lead into Sonic the Hedgehog #100.