A battle of the 'borgs.
After learning that the blue Chaos Emerald they had previously lost has been mysteriously relocated, Sally and Bunnie follow leads to a ruin occupied by the Egg Army; specifically, a division run by Egg Bosses Clove and Cassia.As they split to cover more ground, they each encounter the pronghorn sisters and find that their allegiance to Dr. Eggman isn't as black-and-white as they are used to dealing with.
Tropes:
- Armor-Piercing Question: Bunnie assumed from Cassia's attitude that she was just another Egg lackey wanting power, leading to her cyber enhancements. What she hears next has her rethink things.Bunnie: Maybe you can ask ol' Eggman for a new leg. What's one more selfish upgrade?
Cassia: "Selfish"? It's "selfish" of me to not be sick all the time? I'm "selfish" to wanting my stupid eyes and ears to work again?! - Armour Piercing Response: Clove essentially has Sally consider backing off instead of fighting for the Gaia Temple. It takes a bit of thinking for Sal, telling Clove that they need to save the world but, since Lupe informed her earlier that this place isn't anything Gaia-related, she agrees to leave. Though satisfied, Clove then suspects that Sally gave up a little too easily, which has her come to this conclusion:Clove: This isn't the Gaia Temple... but maybe I don't know any better.
- Berserk Button: Cassia presses Bunnie's because of her being a fellow cyborg.Bunnie: Ah don't get you Egg Army types. Is it worth sellin' yourself to Dr. Eggman for some fancy robotics?
Clove: Uh, hypocrite much? What are you, some kind of self-hating cyborg? Seriously, what's wrong with a little self-improvement?
Bunnie: "Self-improvement"?! AH DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS!!! - Bittersweet Ending: Sally and Bunnie find and secure the blue Chaos Emerald, with the Freedom Fighters now possessing all seven. However, they express concern after meeting the pronghorn sisters, reminding them both that not everyone has become part of the Eggman Empire for power; at least not selfishly speaking. While they press on, they are unaware that Tails Doll is still hiding within the Sky Patrol, transmitting everything it sees and hears to Dr. Eggman.
- Call-Back: Bunnie had previously gone undercover as an Egg Soldier while in Metropolis Zone. She has always thought all of them had some selfish reasoning to serve Eggman, but her encounter with Cassia changes things a bit.
- Downer Ending: On Cassia and Clove's side. Cassia loses the Emerald to Bunnie, but the real downer is that she has gotten sick again. For Clove, Eggman admits that while he helped Cassia get better, it was not a permanent cure, which means that she is indebted to the Eggman Empire for a promise Eggman never kept.
- Enemy Mine: After their fight drops then in one of the ruins' tunnels, Bunnie offers to take an injured Cassia with her to find a way out.
- Five-Second Foreshadowing: Cassia asks Bunnie if she had to undergo any special or medical treatment around the time of her robotizication. This clues in that whatever Cass is suffering from hasn't gone even after whatever her enhancements or treatments Eggman supplied to her, as shown in the end of the story.
- I Lied: Eggman's exact words when responding to Clove, who told him that the cybernatics and medications applied to her sister Cassia were supposed to cure her but are not. Eggman admits he has no idea what Cass's illness even is but the enhancements and treatment are at least preventing it from getting worse. He simply capitalized on Clove's desperation to save her sister and makes a "game" out of whatever comes next.
- Locked Out of the Loop: While Sally talks with Clove, Nicole messages her that the Egg Boss likely doesn't know about the blue Emerald. They also leave out that the place the Egg Army is occupying isn't a Gaia Temple, according to Lupe, but Clove figures that part out.
- Mirror Character: Both Cassia and Bunnie learn from each other that they became cyborgs for their own health, though they never disclose the full details of why. Cassia because of a mysterious illness, and Bunnie because she was gravely wounded by Eggman's attack on Mobotropolis years ago.
- Noodle Incident: Cassia has been suffering an unknown illness that is robbing her of her sight and hearing, though it is unknown what other ailments are there. Behind-the-scenes situations lead into them joining the Eggman Empire under the promise that the cybernetics and supplies will cure her, but they simply treat her instead. She is still suffering from possible seizures, which leads Clove to believe Eggman isn't being honest about what he offered to them, all confirmed by the man himself.
- Not That Kind of Doctor: Eggman doesn't know what is causing Cassia to remain sick, and tells Clove this excuse ad verbatim. In all fairness, Eggman is a doctor of robotics, not medicine.
- On One Condition: Bunnie offers to help an injured Cassia out of one of the sealed tunnels as long as she keeps the Emerald (and make sure her sister doesn't worry about her). When they get out, Bunnie is immediately captured. Cassie offers to let her go if she keeps the Emerald, but Bunnie fights back and takes it anyway.
- Take the Third Option: Clove calls Sally out on this when often faced with a tough choice, and Sally doesn't exactly argue about it. She adds that she doesn't want to sic her subordinates on her and they can't just surrender. Under the assumption that the ruins they are ordered to guard isn't the Gaia Temple, Clove decides they both should leave it as is.
