Maddie sprinted into the hallway like a righteous warrior. She activated a pulse ray to lift furniture up off the ground and bowl over agents! In a flash, another gizmo magnetized their weapons, pulling the blasters out of G.U.N. hands and away from danger. She even snapped out bolo whips that tangled and tripped new waves of attackers.

Free of his cage, Sonic bounced from agent to agent as Tom sprinted along in their wake, cradling Tails’ carrier. The group made their way to the exit, cut off by a final pair of burly G.U.N. agents. Maddie whipped out her last defensive device: a gumball-size black ball with only the barest hint of a switch on the outside. She pressed it but then held on . . . her first wrong choice!

“Get . . . rid of it . . . ,” Tails called, but his voice was unheard in the chaos.

Beep-beep-beeeeeeeeeeeeep!

“What’s that supposed to mean? Beeping is bad!” Maddie said as the final wave of agents ran at them. “Sorry for whatever’s about to happen to you!” she said, and threw it right at them.

Fwump!

Suddenly, the ball burst into a massive wave of goo that quickly hardened around the agents, holding them fast against the wall. “This is gross.” Maddie shrugged. “More for you guys than me, but still.”

-Chapter 13