At the Chaotix Detective Agency in Seaside City.

"And Sonic is infected too? Sheesh. Thanks for the intel Tails," Vector said as he finished his call with Tails.

"That sounded serious. What's the situation?" Espio asked while Charmy and the Crusaders were playing cards.

"Details were sketchy, but it sounds like Eggman is back, and turning everyone into zombie-like robots, and worse of all Sonic got infected by these 'Zombots' and has to stay on the move to keep in check,' Vector explained.

"That sounds spooky!" Scootaloo exclaimed.

"Are they coming for us?" Apple Bloom asked.

"We can't rule it out?" Sweetie Belle said.

"The world's a big place. I'm sure we're fine. it's not there going crash right through any second!"

As if on cue a Zombot kicks open the doors, followed by several more of its kind. Both Espio and Sweetie Belle threw a knife and a magic blast at them but were unharmed.

"Damn it didn't work!"

"Don't worry. I'll protect us!"

Charmy was about to go in but was stopped by Vector.

"Don't! You can't touch them! That's how the infection spreads!" He reminded them.

"If can't touch them we can we do?"

"Simple. Fall back!" The Chaotix escapes through the back entrance to hide downtown, only to discover a scene of widespread chaos.

"Hey, guys look," Sweetie grab their attention. "That has to be Eggman's newest flagship!"

"There's no we can fly up there," Scootaloo said.

"For now let's head downtown and see what can do!" Vector grabs a stop sign and whacks one of the Zombots the crocodile uses his headphones to call Amy. "Vector to Amy Rose! Do you copy?"

At Resortion HQ,

"So, much paperwork...why did I agree with to this?" Asked a stressed Amy.

"Amy!" Pinkie shouted. "You got a call from Vector!"

"Oh for the love..." Amy picks up the walkie-talkie hearing Vector's report of the Zombot outbreak in Seaside City. "I'll send a rescue shuttle right away! Hopefully Sonic will arrive in time. Be careful!"

"Well?" Espio asked.

"Help's on the way, but who knows how much or how soon. We're on our own guys."

"What the heck's the plan?!" Charmy asked while the Metal Virus spreads.

"Our best option is to get them down at the docks."

"That putting our backs against the wall."

"At least with the docks we can create choke points. It's the best defensible position we've got. Split up! Find Survivors and send'em to the boardwalk! Keep the Zombots busy, but don't touch them! Got it!"

"Got it!"

"All right on three! Apple Bloom said as everyone put the hands and hooves in. "Three! Two! One! Chaotix Crusaders!"

Each member of the Chaotix goes to work; Charmy, Scootalo, and Sweetie Belle distract some Zombots to give civilians a chance to flee, Espio traps three Zombots with his kunai and a rope.

"Pop the clutch!" Vector said as he and Apple Bloom were helping a vehicle full of citizens and ponies.

"I can only drive on automatic!" the driver said.

"Shoot!" Apple Bloom groaned. "Put it on neutral! I'll buck you guys down!"

Apple Bloom bucked the truck so hard that it went down on downhill!

"Thank you!" They all thank her.

"Nice going!" Vector said but then a horde of Zombots surrounded them, luckily, Sonic arrives to knock the infected away with a vortex.

"I heard you could use a hand."

"What is with you and the dramatic timing?!" Apple Bloom asked. "Tails said you were infected and should you not breathe on us or... ?"

"No, we're fine as I don't touch you or the others. This way I can fight the Zombots since I was already infected. However, every hit spreads the virus faster in my body."

"You've got to keep moving- got it. We're getting survivors down on the docks for evac."

"Good plan I'll cover you as best I can," Then Sonic boosted out of here.

"The next time if Eggman loses his memory? I'm throwing him in a cell!" Vector exclaimed.

Elsewhere in the city, Charmy. Espio, Sweetie, and Scootaloo guide a group of citizens down the street, with the latter warning everyone to stay alert and report any Zombot sightings. Suddenly, there is a commotion as a woman among the group is revealed to be infected; she insists that she is fine even as the virus spreads over her arm. Charmy asks Espio what to do but receives no clear answer. Vector arrives and traps the protesting woman within a makeshift cage of cars, ignoring her increasingly-desperate pleas but clearly taking no pleasure in his actions. As he moves the rest along, Charmy scolds the crocodile for being "mean", but Vector simply reiterates that they have to prioritize the uninfected for now; if they have time later, they can come back for the rest. Espio tells Charmy that they do not have time to debate and requests that they continue to follow Vector's lead. The bee agrees but says that he does not have to like it.

As Sonic helps clear the stairwell for a couple on the top of a building, he sees a Rescue Shuttle fly in overhead.

"All right! The rescue shuttle!" Sonic exclaimed. "Now that evac can begin for real. It's going to bring attention to the Zombots. I better... No, I can't help anyone if I turn into Zombot need to run this run-off."

. With a final glare at the looming Faceship, the hedgehog dashes out of the city to burn off his infection, pushing himself to go even faster in hopes of returning to help before it is too late.

"We're in the home stretch," Vector exclaimed as the group created a barricade against the Zombots so that the uninfected civilians can reach the Rescue Shuttle.

As Vector and Espio keep Zombots at bay, Charmy counts the escapees and becomes upset after seeing how few people were saved. Deciding that all of the uninfected people are accounted for, he sets off for the city to search for other survivors, despite Vector's orders to return. Espio tries to grab the bee with his kunai, only for a Zombot to bite on it and return his attention to the defense of the docks.

Charmy returns to the woman Vector trapped in the cage of cars, planning to help her; unfortunately, she has been fully turned into a Zombot. Startled by the newly-hostile woman, Charmy reels back over a crowd of Zombots, being grabbed by the foot and pulled into the horde. The terrified bee can only scream for help as he is swarmed by Eggman's metallic minions.

"Is that everyone?" Sonic asked.

"Charmy went back into the city and he hasn't come back!" Vector exclaimed. "I need to find him!"

"And if you go, you won't come back either!" Espio reminded him.

"Uh guys, we got a whole city of Zombots, we need to move now!" Sweetie Belle yelled as the Zombots closed in.

"Sweetie's right! You guys get out of here, I'll sweep the city and look for Charmy."

"All right," Vector said as join the others.

"I'll do my best to find him!" the hedgehog promised.

Next Chapter: Victims Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 13 Minutes