"The Weakest Link"
Authors: Francis Tolbert and Robert Brown
Disclaimer: This story uses characters created and copyrighted by Sega of
America, Inc. and Archie Comics (except where noted, in which case
they were created and copyrighted by us). The authors hereby give
permission for this story to be downloaded and/or printed at 1 copy
per user as long as (1) no changes to the story are made without our
express written(not e-mailed) permission and (2) no attempt is made
to profit from this story. If either or both rules are violated,
it will be considered a violation of copyright law.
Author's Note: Hi! I'm Francis L. Tolbert(the other author). Let me start by
saying I hate writing Author's Notes. In fact, if it wasn't for Robert, I
wouldn't even be writing this one! And if I can help it, I won't write any
more. So let me just say this: I hope you enjoy the story, and if you have any
questions or comments, you know our e-mail address.
Peace, see ya later.
Cast of charcters(in order of appearance)
Antoine D'Coolette
Bunnie Rabbot
Rotor
Uncle Chuck
Sonic Hedgehog
Princess Sondra Acorn***
Miles "Tails" Prower
Princess Sally Acorn
Donovan###
Tanis Shi-rat***
Snively
Metal Sonic
Rosie
Dulcy
#5
Antoine was sitting in a tree, water balloon in hand, waiting for some
unlucky animal to pass underneath him. He had developed some new tricks and
pranks, but he always preferred using the water balloon. There was nothing
like it for a high surprise factor, and an instant reaction.
He glanced over at some of the nearby trees. He had rigged some tripwires
connected to, what else, piles of water balloons. But that was only the set-up.
The balloons in the trees were filled with warm water, not too uncomfortable.
But the ones he had with him in his bucket were kept in ice-water that was just
above freezing; they would sting on impact, then freeze on bursting.
A pile of balloons in the tree just to his northwest triggered. He heard
two or three pairs of feet running in his direction. He picked up a water
balloon in his other hand and waited patiently for his victims to appear.
In a few seconds, Bunnie, Rotor, and Uncle Chuck came running by, arms
above their heads. They were only slightly wet, and Uncle Chuck looked
completely dry. They stopped under the tree that Antoine was waiting in.
"Can't you get control of that boyfriend of yours?" Rotor asked, upset.
"I've tried, but there ain't nothin' I can do when it comes to his prankin'
us." Bunnie answered. "What he needs is a taste of his own medicine."
Antoine smiled. They always threatened that, whether he was present or
not, but they could never catch him. He held out the water balloons over Rotor
and Bunnie and prepared to drop them.
"In fact," Uncle Chuck was saying, "maybe he should learn that lesson...
NOW!"
Antoine saw his danger, tried to grab on to the tree, but he was too
late. Bunnie and Uncle Chuck both grabbed hold of the tree and shook it
roughly. Antoine fell, screaming, to the ground, and the bucket filled with
ice-water balloons fell on him.
Bunnie, Rotor, and Uncle Chuck all started laughing loudly. "Seems like
we caught you this time, Ant," Rotor said, wiping a tear from his eye. "You're
getting way too predictable."
Antoine got to his feet with whatever dignity he could muster. "S-S-So it
would seem," he said, teeth chattering from the cold water that was dripping
down his body. He brushed the broken balloons off his shoulders and face.
"B-B-But you will not to be being so l-l-lucky when I s-s-start using m-my new
t-t-tricks."
"Oh, c'mon Ant," Uncle Chuck said. "You've been threatening that for
almost a month now, and you still have nothing to show for it."
Disgruntled, Antoine started shuffling off toward his hut, but Bunnie
grabbed him in a close embrace. "Well," she said softly, "it seems like the
least I can do is help you dry off." She tilted him backward and kissed him
deeply. The others were wondering what she meant, until steam started rising
off Antoine.
"Let's leave these two alone," Uncle Chuck said, pulling Rotor away.
"Besides, we need to finish work on the de-roboticizer."
"True," Rotor said, walking on his own now. "Too bad we couldn't get
those parts we needed, but Robotropolis has suddenly become really active."
"Yeah, Ari and Lupe were really upset because we missed our chance, but
they understood. We can't lose sight of what makes us Freedom Fighters; and
family is definitely one of those things."
Antoine and Bunnie never noticed them leave, locked as they were in that
passionate kiss. They might have stayed there all day, and certainly neither
one would have been averse to it, but they were rudely interrupted.
Sonic and Sondra came running by, side by side. Sonic had given her
one of his old backpacks, and they looked more like each other than ever.
Sally and Tails were flying along, just above and behind their significant
others watching them carefully. Tails and Sondra had made it official that
they were "going out" and the other citizens of Knothole found it nice to have
a young couple around. So much so, that others were starting to date. It just
proved that sometimes the seeds of love can take root in even the most war-worn
ground.
Sonic and Sondra came to an abrupt halt just in front of Bunnie and
Antoine with Sally and Tails doing likewise. Bunnie and Antoine looked up
from their kiss as Bunnie brought Antoine back to his feet. "Don't stop on
our account," Sondra said slyly. "In fact, maybe I could persuade Miles to
let me do that to him."
Tails blushed a bright red. Sondra had become very open about their
relationship, once she and Sally had had that talk, but Tails preferred to keep
it between themselves. "Maybe later, Sondra," he said quickly, landing beside
her. "But we're not done with this yet."
"Miles is right, Sondra," Sonic said, laughing. "First things first."
"Sonic!" Tails yelled. "You know I hate that name!"
"But she called you it," Sonic said tauntingly.
"Well, that's different."
"Oh will you two grow up?!" Sally exclaimed as she landed near Sonic,
exasperated.
"Whaddaya expect, Sally?" Sondra asked with a huge grin. "They're boys!"
"Now Sondra, is that any way for a lady or a princess to talk?" Bunnie
asked, doing her best imitation of Rosie.
"Maybe not, but you know I'm right!"
Tails and Sonic both started to say something, but Sondra and Sally gave
their boyfriends a kiss, causing each to stop and fall flat on his face.
Antoine shook his head in mock disgust. "It eez pathetic how they just allow
themselves to be controlled like zat," he said disapprovingly. "I would never
to be allowing a woman to do zat to me."
"Oh really?" Bunnie asked, hugging him again. "Let's just see about
that." She pulled him close and let loose with one of the most passionate
kisses anyone there had ever seen. Heat started rising off Antoine again at
such a rate that they all expected Antoine to melt from that kiss.
But Antoine just took it in stride, and started tipping Bunnie backward,
kissing her the same way. Bunnie was able to keep it up for a while, but she
was soon falling limp in Antoine's arms, her metal limbs glowing a slight red
from the tremendous heat. Antoine brought her up to her feet and released her.
Bunnie's eyes were so crossed, they could barely be seen. She swayed
slightly and Antoine had to put an arm around her to suppor her weight. Sonic
and Tails looked at Antoine jealously. "How does he do it?" they mumbled
under their breath.
Bunnie shook her head, as if trying to loosen her eyes. "So, what were
y'all doing running around here anyway?" she asked, still trying to see
straight.
"Sonic and I were racing, to see who really is fastest on Mobius," Sondra
said. "This one was a tie, like the last three or so races, so now we have to
race back to Knothole."
"I see," Antoine said. "Do not be allowing us to detain you any longer.
But please let us be knowing what the income is."
"You mean 'outcome' Ant," Bunnie said gently, finally able to see
straight.
"Is it just me, or is Antoine's speech becoming more understandable?"
Sally observed.
"Oui, Bunnie haz been so kind as to teach me on how to better speech...um
...speak the language. I will not be losing my accent, but I will be made
more understanding...standable."
"Well," Sonic said, "if you can do it, more power to ya, Ant." He pushed
up to his feet. "As for me, I'm not holding back anymore!" He pulled a power
ring out of his backpack. Thanks to Uncle Chuck, Sonic found that the power
rings still enhanced his speed, even though it was already enhanced. "Now
you're gonna see some real speed!"
"Hey!" Sondra yelled. "No fair! You said no power rings!" She grabbed
it out of his hand.
What happened next amazed everyone. As soon as Sondra pulled the ring
from Sonic, she was surrounded by the same yellow glow that lit the power ring.
"What's going on?" she screamed. And then, she was off, cruising so fast she
was little more than a light blue and brown blur. She bounced like a rubber
ball off trees and rocks, all the while gaining more and more speed.
Sonic reached out and grabbed her as she passed him, nearly pulling his
arms of of their sockets. Once she came to a stop, she stood for a moment and
passed out with a soft "Unnh..." The power ring dropped from her hand, its
power spent.
All present stared at Sondra. "This is mondo weird," Sonic said, summing
up everyone's thoughts. "How can she use power rings?"
"I don't know Sonic," Sally said, "but we'd better get her back to
Knothole in case they did anything to her. Maybe Uncle Chuck will know."
Tails grabbed Sondra from Sonic's arms and took off for Knothole, leaving
the others to scramble after him. Antoine was heading there with Bunnie, but
stopped when his watch alarm sounded. "I am sorry, Bunnie, but there is
someplace I need to go right now," he said, switching off the alarm. "Pleez
explain to ze others for me."
Bunnie looked at Antoine hard. "Antoine, you been disappearing everyday
for the last week or so without tellin' anyone where you been goin'! You wanna
let me in on the secret?"
"All in good time, Bunnie. But for now, I cannot. I know you will be
understanding, yes?"
"I will be understanding, no. We promised no more secrets from each
other, remember?"
"Oui, but zis involves an ancient family tradition. I am honorbound not
to reveal it to anyone until the time is right. Do you not trust me?"
Bunnie looked down. "Of course I do! What kinda question is that?"
"Then please trust me," he said, holding her close. "You know I would
never intentionally do anything to hurt you."
Bunnie sighed. "Ok, you win. But how much longer?"
"Only a few more days, my love. I promise on my love for you."
"That's all I need to hear. You go do what you gotta. See you later?"
"Of course." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Until
later, then." He turned crisply on his heel and walked away, going in the
opposite direction from Knothole.
Bunnie watched him go for a bit, then ran toward Knothole. "One of these
days, I'll find out what you're up to, Antoine," she thought, "or my name
ain't Bunnie Rabbot!"
Meanwhile, Antoine continued through the forest, humming happily to
himself. He had not been completely truthful with Bunnie before. It was
true that what he was about to do was a family tradition and secret, but he
was able to share the secret with those he trusted. The reason he did not tell
her was that it directly involved her.
He walked up to a rather nondescript tree and stopped. Looking around to
make sure no one was nearby, he pulled down on one of the branches.
The roots of the tree moved aside, revealing a staircase leading down into
a dark cave. Antoine smiled. This was one of his family's greatest treasures.
In this cave was a vein of pure gold and an area full of high quality diamonds,
enough to match all the money the royal treasury of Mobotropolis had ever held,
and more. His family could have lived a life of ease and contentment, having
whatever they wanted whenever they wanted it.
But the D'Coolettes had placed an even greater value on the cave. For
numerous generations, the eldest son of the D'Coolette line has travelled to
this cave to mine a single gold nugget and a single diamond from its depths.
Often, he would spend days looking for the perfect ones, for he had only one
chance. Whatever fell to the ground, no matter how big or small, would have to
be taken.
That done, he would melt the gold and shape the diamond, forging with his
own hands a ring that he would give to the woman he wanted to spend the rest of
his life with the night he asked for her hand in marriage. Now, it was
Antoine's turn.
Antoine sighed, looking at the cave. Legend held that as long as this
tradition was carried out, the marriage brought about by the ring would never
be broken. But so far, he had not found that perfect diamond yet. The gold
was already in his hut, safely locked away from Bunnie's prying eyes. But all
the diamonds he had found had either been to large or small. Maybe he would
find it today; he certainly couldn't keep Bunnie in the dark much longer.
He lit a torch and started to step down into the cave when a voice from
behind stopped him cold. "So, you and Bonnie are actually getting that close?"
a distinctly Japanese voice asked.
Antoine turned around quickly and jumped up the few steps he had
descended. "Who eez there?" Antoine called, pulling the branch again to hide
the cave's opening.
"It's so nice of you to step out into the open. I mean, I really didn't
want to go after you in those caves. A guy could really get lost down there if
he didn't know his way around; and I'm pretty sure you know your way around
down there, huh Antony?" A black-clad squirrel came out from behind a tree and
leaned back against it.
Antoine stared at the squirrel before him, a distant memory reawakening.
"There eez being only one animal who ever called me 'Antony' and Bunnie
'Bonnie'. Could zat be you, Donovan?" he asked disbelievingly.
"Do you still keep your journal under the second board of your closet?"
the squirrel asked, idly tapping his boots against the ground.
"Only one animal could be knowing zat. It _eez_ you, eez it not?"
Donovan nodded. "But how could it be being you?" Antoine demanded.
"You and your family had been disappearing before the coup!"
"I hear things are going quite well for the Freedom Fighters," Donovan
said, ignoring Antoine's question. "The balance of power is heavily in your
favor."
"And what buziness is zat being of yours?" Antoine asked, an uneasy
feeling growing inside of him.
Donovan pushed away from the tree and started walking toward Antoine.
"Just call me the Equalizer," he said. "The Freedom Fighters are a very strong
chain right now. It is my job to find the weakest link of this chain and
bring it to Snive-ly. Nothing personal."
"I would never have been thinking that you could to be stooping so low as
to work with our enemies," Antoine said heavily. "We used to ze best of ze
friends."
Antoine's head jerked suddenly as everything Donovan said sunk in. "What
are you meaning, 'Nothing personal'? Are you to be implying that I am zis
'weakest link'?"
Donovan walked up until he was face-to-face with Antoine. "Indubitably.
Now, are you going to make this easy on me, or hard on you?"
"How am I to be putting zis?" Antoine asked nonchalantly. "Perhaps zis
will suffice." He slipped his right arm under the Donovan's left and launched
the squirrel over his hip. Antoine started running before Donovan even hit the
ground. "If I can make it to the church," he thought, "I should be safe."
Donovan landed hard on his back. "Since when did he learn to do that?"
he muttered. Then he noticed the direction Antoine was running. "Uh oh." He
scrambled to his feet. "Device one, activate!" Jets fired from the soles of
his boots and he flew after Antoine.
Antoine was already in sight of the church. Tanis had kept his promise
by moving the entire church to the outskirts of Knothole, but declined actually
becoming a part of the village. He preferred to maintain some level of
solitude, but wanted to be nearby in case of emergency. This seemed like a
reasonable compromise.
Just as Antoine was about to reach Sanctuary, Donovan grabbed him from
behind, under the arms, and flew up with him. He spiralled up into the air and
dropped down fast, making sure Antoine landed on his head.
Antoine yelled once and collapsed unconscious. Donovan checked for a
pulse, and found that he still lived. He picked Antoine up on his shoulder and
said, "Like I said, hard on you."
"Was all this necessary, Donovan?" asked an aged voice as Donovan readied
himself to fly off.
Without turning around, Donovan replied, "It was either this, or let him
get away, Tanis. Once he was on holy ground, I could not touch him; I have not
broken the covenant."
"Yes, I know. The covenant still applies to you; the entire covenant."
"We're not fighting now, are we? Antony is already unconscious and I
shall have him in Robotropolis before he awakens. And when we were fighting,
you did not make your presence known."
"You always abide the letter of the law, especially when it comes to
loopholes. But you are right, you are not in violation of the covenant."
Donovan nodded. "Then I shall take my leave. Device one, activate."
Donovan flew off, carrying a limp Antoine.
"And I cannot interfere, unless called upon," Tanis thought. "Though he
is technically working for Snively, he was not when the covenant was broken.
I will bide my time." He turned and walked back into the church.
Donovan soon arrived in Robotropolis and deposited Antoine in the holding
cell Snively had specially designed. "The walls and bars are titanium steel,"
he told Donovan proudly. "Diamond glass shielding will drop as soon as the
bars are touched. Electrical wires are buried in the floor, and will be
activated if he gets too rowdy."
"Whatever," Donovan said impatiently. "Now if there is nothing else, I
will be leaving."
"What's your hurry?" Snively asked. "Besides, I think I might be able to
convince you to complete the job."
"What do you mean, 'complete it'? I agreed only to capture the weakest
link and bring him here, which I did."
"True, and I can think of no one weaker than that fox. But I want all the
Freedom Fighters!"
"Wait a minute. I am concerned with only restoring the balance; I have
done that. There is no way you can convince me to do more."
"You think not, eh?" Snively said. "Perhaps you think I don't know about
this!" he exclaimed, holding up a rather ordinary looking remote control.
Donovan said nothing, but the change in his demeanor was apparent. "Ah, I
see you recognize this," Snively continued. "In one of Robotnik's old files, I
discovered what he was using to force you to help him, and then I found this.
I don't know why he never forced you to go after the Freedom Fighters, but I am
not as stupid."
Donovan's upper lip quivered slightly. "What would you have me do?" he
asked, his voice as hard and cold as ice.
"Simple. I want you to capture the major Freedom Fighters."
"And they would be?"
"The princess, the robotic rabbit, the two-tailed fox, that miserable
hedgehog, and the new hedgehog that has recently joined them."
Donovan looked startled for a second. "New hedgehog? Hmm...it seems I
have to update my surveillance," he muttered.
"Do we have an understanding?" Snively asked, interrupting Donovan's
thoughts.
"Why should I do this?"
"I'll make you a fair offer. Do this, and the remote is yours to do with
as you wish. Refuse, and I push this interesting little red button here."
Snively allowed his thumb to graze the button.
"Wait!!" Donovan yelled, taking a step toward Snively before recovering
himself. "What happens if I fail?"
"As long as you tried, how can I fault you? But, depending on how
successful you were, things may improve, worsen, or remain the same."
Donovan removed his glasses, showing purple eyes flecked with red. "Very
well, Snive-ly. I have no choice. But be warned, if anything happens to them,
and I do mean anything, you will not see the next sunrise."
"I have heard that threat before, and I am still here. In fact, your
'friend' here is the one who threatened it. You may go now, but remember, they
all have to be in that cell at the same time. I'll even help you flush them
out."
"Fine," Donovan said, placing a chip on the inside of the wall of the
cell and putting his glasses back on. "I'll get them here, but it'll be your
job to keep them here." He turned crisply on his heel and walked away.
"You don't really mean to follow through, do you Master?" Metal Sonic
asked as he stepped out of the shadows.
"Unlike the Big Round Boy, I will keep my promises, but only to the letter
of the law." Snively smiled and laughed.
Meanwhile, Antoine had been lying there, awake, but playing it off like he
was still unconscious. "Hmm," he thought, reflecting on what he had heard and
seen through half-closed eyes, "maybe Donovan is not so much of a willing part
of this after all. Patience is advised here."
Back in Knothole, Uncle Chuck had just finished using Nicole to give
Sondra a medical scan and they were all waiting for the results. "Analysis
complete, Sir Charles," Nicole said.
"And the results?" he asked.
"Unfortunately, power ring energy is completely suffusing her system,
making any scans useless."
"In English, Nicole," Sonic said, tapping his foot.
"In other words," Nicole continued, "whatever the power ring did to her, I
can't get a reading on it."
"How utterly odd," Rosie said, sitting next to Sondra and stroking back
her hair.
"Yeah," Dulcy said, sticking her head through the window. "I thought only
Sonic could use the rings."
"Well, Sondra's speed might have something to do with it," Uncle Chuck
said thoughtfully. "When I encoded his DNA into the rings to make sure he
could use them, I opened the way for myself as well, seeing as I'm his uncle.
In fact, that's what brought my mind back.
"If Sonic's super speed is genetic in origin, she may share that part of
his DNA and therefore also be able to use them. We never did know where his
speed came from in the first place."
"It makes sense," Sally said. "It certainly would explain why she could
use them."
"Unnh..." Sondra groaned, beginning to come around. "Wha...What happened?
Tails?"
"I'm here, Sondra," Tails said, hurrying to her bedside and holding her
hand. "How are you feeling?"
"OK, I guess," she said, moving her various body parts to see if any were
injured. "What happened?"
"Let's just say you need to practice," Sonic said. "Power rings are
powerful stuff, as you might expect."
"Yeah, I remember now. I used a power ring?"
"You sure did!" Bunnie exclaimed. "You went almost as fast as sugar-hog
here."
Sondra sat up slowly. "Come in, Void," she thought, "are you there?
Something has just happened that you should know about."
Nothing. Sondra tried again, but again no response. Sudden fear gripped
her. She was cut off from the Void! Whatever the power ring had done to her
had severed all communications between her and the Void. For all she knew, the
Void thought she was destroyed.
"Sondra?" Tails asked worriedly, seeing the fear spread across her face.
An idea crossed her mind. If the Void thought she was destroyed, then
she could act according to her own free will. She didn't know how long it
would last, but was sure she could keep the effect going as long as she was
around a power ring. She didn't know yet what she would do, but knew it
would be all her choice. She would figure it out later, when she was alone.
"I'm OK, Tails," she said, taking a deep breath. "My body just feels a
little weird."
"That's to be expected," Uncle Chuck said. "This is a new experience for
you; you'll get used to it in time."
"Receiving intercepted message from Robotropolis," Nicole said, startling
everyone.
"Nicole, play message," Sally said, picking her up.
"Metal Sonic come in," they heard Snively say. "We have captured that
French fox and are ready to roboticize him."
"Antoine!" Bunnie yelled. "Hold on sugar-fox, I'm a-comin'!!"
"Bunnie, wait," Sally said, grabbing her arm. "We need a plan. For all
we know, this could be a trap."
"Sorry, Sally girl, but there ain't no time to waste!" She shoved Sally
off and ran through the door of the hut.
"Let her go, Sally," Sonic said. "There ain't gonna be no reasoning with
her because Antoine is involved."
"You're right Sonic. How many power rings are available?"
"Well, I do have one here in my backpack, and one should be coming up any
time now."
"Good. When the other ring comes, we'll go after her in two teams.
You and I will be first, Sonic. Tails, you and Sondra will make up the second.
You two will leave five minutes after we do."
"Gotcha Aunt Sally," Tails said. "You feeling up to this, Sondra?"
"I guess," she said, standing up.
"Rotor and I will stay here and monitor communications," Uncle Chuck said.
"If need be, we'll head out on Dulcy."
"Is there anything I can do?" Rosie asked.
"Umm, why don't you go to the church and ask Tanis to pray for us?"
Sondra suggested. "This is likely to be an all-out assault, and we'll need
all the help we can get."
"Hmm...there's something about that name, but I can't..."
"Everyone know what to do?" Sally asked. "Then let's go do it!"
Everyone left to do what they were told to.
Meanwhile, Bunnie was carving a path of destruction through the Great
Forest, heading straight for Robotropolis. She paid no attention to anything
in her path; if it didn't move for her, she went through it. Many trees fell
by the wayside from her powerful blows, and not all of them were with robotic
parts. All her thoughts were focused on getting Antoine back, no matter what
the cost.
Donovan watched her from his hiding spot, and shivered. "Do I really
want to mess with her in her state of mind?" he thought. "Ordinarily, no.
But Snive-ly is leaving me no choice. I just hope she runs into my trap and
I don't have to lure her there."
Bunnie kept going until her body was about to give out. She collapsed to
her hands and knees, sweat pouring from her body. "I must...go on," she said
between pants. "Don't know...how much time...he has."
"Oh, I wouldn't be too concerned about that," she heard a voice say.
Bunnie sprang to her feet and looked around. Seeing Donovan standing
there, she asked, "Who are you? You seem familiar, but I can't place it."
"Oh, I'm hurt," Donovan said, feigning surprise. "You mean to tell me
that you have forgotten one of your old friends, Bonnie?"
"There's only one animal who ever called me Bonnie. I thought you were
dead, Donovan."
"Yes, well, I'm not."
"And what did you mean I shouldn' be too concerned about Antoine?"
"Because," he paused for a moment, then continued in a fair mimicry of
Antoine's voice, "I am believing that you are to be joining him soon."
Anger flashed across Bunnie's face. "You're the one who captured him and
turned him over to Snively!" she yelled, running at him. Fast and furious,
she struck out at him with chops, backfist strikes, and jump kicks.
Donovan backed up, playing the avoidance game. Bunnie always seemed to
just miss him, which made her even more furious. She lunged forward with a
punch-kick combination.
Donovan jumped up, landing on the side of the tree. He stepped on a
button disguised as a knot in the trunk of the tree.
Bunnie struck a tree with both robotic fist and foot. Bunnie pulled away,
preparing to strike again, but she was stuck fast. "What the hoo-ha-hell is
this?" she yelled, pulling away with all her might, but managing only to shake
the tree.
The outer bark peeled away revealing a tree-shaped structure made entirely
of metal. It hummed with electricity, and Bunnie now felt a slight electric
current pass from the tree to her arm and leg.
"Device two, activate," Donovan said, stuck to the tree himself. A hum
sounded from his shoes and he calmly jumped from the tree to the ground.
"What is going on here?" Bunnie demanded, still trying to get free.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Donovan asked conversationally. "This is all one
big magnet, made specifically to trap you. My boots are equipped with the same
magnets, which I've just activated so unlike you, I can get away from it."
"Maybe," Bunnie said, twisting around, "but you can't deal with this!"
She grabbed him around the throat with her good hand and started to squeeze.
"Oh, but I can," Donovan gasped. He pulled a small bottle from his vest
pocket and sprayed it in her face.
Bunnie coughed and gagged as the gas enveloped her head, then passed out.
Donovan rubbed his throat. "I really hate doing this," he thought, placing a
chip on Bunnie's arm. He pulled a remote from his vest and pushed a couple
of buttons. Bunnie was enveloped in a white light and disappeared. "Now to
prepare for the next one."
Antoine ran to Bunnie as soon as she appeared in the cell. "Bunnie?"
he asked, concerned. He hauled her up to a sitting position. "Come on, up
you go." He gently tapped the side of her face, trying to wake her up.
"Hunh...wha...where..." Bunnie said groggily. She opened her eyes,
trying to focus.
"Take it easy, Bunnie," Antoine said. "Donovan must have been using a
telephonation chip to get you here."
"That's teleportation," Bunnie said automatically, without thought. "Just
do me a favor and make the room stop spinning. He used some kind of gas on me
to knock me out."
"Ah, my little doe," Antoine cooed, hugging her close and putting her head
on his shoulder. "You just sit here and rest. Let the affects wear off. We
will be getting out of here soon enough, I promise." He started humming and
rocking back and forth, trying to get Bunnie to sleep.
Bunnie soon snuggled into him and was fast asleep. He carefully picked
her up and placed her on his lap. She seemed so unworried now that she was
asleep. He wanted so bad to believe that everything would be OK, like he had
told her.
But he was worried. "Nobody will be knowing about Donovan until he goes
after them," he thought. "By then, it will have become too late. I only hope
Sonic will be the one to stop him; he is our best hope now."
Rosie walked the short distance from Knothole to the church. She wasn't
as young as she used to be, and time had slowed her gait considerably. But
yet, she carried herself with such a dignified air that it seemed she had
chosen to walk slow, not that time had won that battle.
She climbed the small set of steps to the church and walked through the
open middle door. She walked to the front bench, removing her hood as was
proper inside a place of worship. She sat down and looked around, admiring
the many stained glass windows. Her eyes fell on the figure of Indira Shi-rat
and stopped. "Why does that face seem so familiar?" she wondered silently.
"I don't believe I have ever seen it, but maybe one similar to it."
"Is something troubling you, my daughter?" an aged voice asked from a
heretofore unnoticed doorway.
Rosie looked and saw a robed figure standing there, cowl drawn low over
his face. "Oh, you startled me," she said. "You must be Father Tanis. Hello.
I am here to pray that my friends return safely from a dangerous mission. I
know that I am not the best one to be here, seeing as I'm not usually very
religious, but.... Is something wrong?"
Tanis just stood there, staring at Rosie. "No, it couldn't be," he
whispered in disbelief. "After all these years, she can't possibly be alive."
"Father?" Rosie asked worriedly.
"Umm...please, just call me Tanis," he said, a hint of nervousness in his
voice. "I do not hold any formal titles."
"Very well, Tanis."
Tanis walked over to the bench and sat beside Rosie. "Now, what is this
mission that you think is so dangerous that your friends may not return?"
"One of our group, a young fox named Antoine, has been captured by
Snively and his forces."
"Oh, Donovan," Tanis thought, "what have you done?"
"They are going to try to save him before he gets roboticized," Rosie
continued. "But I fear that whatever has captured him, may be after them as
well."
"I understand. Now, let us offer a prayer that they shall return." He
held Rosie's hands in his own and bowed his head. "Let us pray,"
Rosie bowed her head and together they repeated a prayer she had known
since childhood, adding in the request of a safe return for the others. A warm
feeling suffused her body, and suddenly she knew that everything would work out
for the best.
"Come in, Sal," Sonic said into his communicator as he sped through the
Great Forest. "Bunnie left an easy path to follow, and it looks like she was
headed straight for Robotropolis."
"I thought as much," Sally replied. "I can see the path from up here.
Looks like she didn't take lightly to the idea of Antoine being captured. Oh
well, I guess...hey, wait a minute!"
"Sal, what's wrong?"
"The path looks like it ends a little further up. You scout ahead and
see if she's there. I'll catch up."
"Gotcha, Sal." He put the communicator back in his backpack and sped up,
pushing his top speed.
All of a sudden, a greenish-black ooze flew at Sonic. Sonic tried to
dodge, but he was going too fast to avoid it. The ooze hit Sonic and
immediately immobilized him. "Gross!" Sonic exclaimed. "I thought we cleared
up all the megamuck!"
"Funny thing about megamuck," he heard a voice say, "it just keeps popping
up where you least expect it. Wouldn't you agree, Quills?"
"Quills? Only one person..."
"Yeah, yeah," Donovan said, stepping out into the open, "I know. I'm the
only one who ever called you 'Quills' and you thought I was dead, right?"
"You must be the one who captured Antoine! But why Donovan? You used to
be our friend!"
"Times change, and so do animals," Donovan replied, looking away. "I'm
not the squirrel I used to be."
"Sally!!" Sonic called. "Get away! It's a trap! Donovan's back and
he's setting a trap!!"
"Oh, Silly's here too?" Donovan asked, looking back at Sonic. "Hmm,
maybe I can get both of you at once!"
"Highly unlikely," a dulcet voice said in Donovan's ear. Before he could
react, Sally grabbed him in a full nelson and bridged back, bringing him up
and over, bringing him down hard on the back of his head.
Donovan grabbed the back of his head, stunned for the moment. Sally stood
up out of the bridge and faced him. She grabbed his feet and brought them up
to her waist. "You used to be a good friend," she said, "now you're nothing
but a common traitor." She stepped around his left leg with her right, placing
her foot between his legs. She bent his left leg across and down, putting the
ankle above his right knee in a figure-four position. She fell back and put
her left knee above his left foot, completing the lock.
Donovan screamed in intense pain. He knew that she liked to wrestle, and
that she used the figure-four, but he had never seen it applied like that! He
tried to turn over on his stomach to reverse the pressure, but Sally rocked
back forcefully, cranking up the pressure.
"Tell me how to get to him!" Sally yelled at him.
"They are in Robotropolis," he said through clenched teeth. "I thought
you would know how to get there by now."
"They? You got Bunnie too?" Furious, Sally applied even more pressure.
"Tell me now or I will break your legs!"
Donovan blocked out the pain and Sally's threats just long enough to grab
Nicole from Sally's boot and put a chip in her place. He reached into his vest
and pulled out a remote, despite Sally pounding her fist on his already sore
knee. He pushed the button just as Sally reached for the chip.
Sally was surrounded by the same white light that had surrounded Bunnie
before and disappeared with a half-finished curse. Donovan grabbed his knee
and tried to massage out the pain. When it felt a little better, he opened up
Nicole and tried to pry open an access panel.
He received a small electrical jolt for his troubles. "Warning," Nicole
said, "unauthorized access will not be permitted to main power source."
"Authorization code: Omega-four-three-niner," Donovan gasped.
Nicole's monitor blinked. "Access granted, Donovan," she said and opened
up the panel he had been trying to. "You know that performing this act will
render me unable to operate."
"I know that, Nicole," Donovan said as he reached in and pulled out a
wire. "There," he thought, closing her up and putting the wire in his pocket,
"that'll stop that."
"Big mistake," he heard Sonic say. Raising his head, he saw Sonic free of
the megamuck and charging. Sonic grabbed Nicole out of Donovan's hand as he
ran by and put her in his backpack. "Bring Sally and the others back here
now."
"Or you'll do what?" Donovan asked, in too much pain to be civil.
Sonic picked him up to his feet, then powerslammed him. He walked to a
nearby stump and climbed it. "This," he said. He jumped off, executing a full
forward somersault before straightening for a splash.
Donovan brought his knees up at the last second. Sonic landed flush on
the outstretched knees and bounced off holding his stomach. "Impressive,"
Donovan muttered, struggling to his feet, "but this is much more effective!"
Donovan whacked Sonic across the face with a metal frying pan he produced from
somewhere.
Sonic's face turned with the impact, and he fell to the ground, knocked
senseless. Donovan studied the outline of Sonic's face in the pan. "I
always said Quills made quite an impression," he said, giving a tired laugh.
He put a chip on Sonic and pushed the button on the remote, teleporting him to
the cell in Robotropolis. "Four down, two to go," he thought, leaning against
a tree.
Sonic came to with a start, and found Sally holding him down. "Easy,
Sonic," she said, "the dizziness will pass in a moment."
"Where are we?" he asked.
"We are in Robotropolis," Antoine said, still holding Bunnie who was only
now starting to wake up.
Sonic felt his ribs, where he had felt something snap before. "Man, I
should have some broken ribs from when he nailed me, but I feel fine!"
"There must be a healing part of the teleportation," Sally said. "I
guess he wants us in perfect health when we're roboticized."
Bunnie blinked her eyes sleepily. "He got the two of you, huh?" she
asked. "Now who's gonna stop him?"
"Hey," Sonic said, sitting up. "Tails and Sondra are still out there.
They may be young, but Donovan may underestimate them."
"In ze meantime, how are we to be going about getting out of this
hellhole?"
"I've been thinking about that," Sally said. "He used some device to
teleport us here, so there must be a receiver chip somewhere in this cell."
She reached to her boot for Nicole, but her hand closed on empty air. "Oops,
I forgot. Donovan took Nicole before he teleported me."
"No prob, Sal," Sonic said reaching into his backpack and taking out the
computer. "But Donovan used some sort of access code to open her up and he
pulled out a wire. I don't think she'll be much help. Unless..."
"Unless what, Sonic."
"Hold on, Sal; major brainstorm heading my way." He pulled the power ring
from his backpack and handed it to Bunnie. "Bunnie, think you could break this
open?"
"I'll try, sugar-hog, but isn't that kinda dangerous?"
"No more dangerous than sitting here waiting for Donovan to finish
capturing us."
"He has a point, and I don't mean the ones of his quills," Antoine said
jokingly.
"Alright, but I'll have to do this slowly." Bunnie compressed an area of
the ring to weaken it and started pulling it apart at that point. Sparks flew
from the ring as it resisted her treatment of it, but slowly it gave way. In a
few moments, Bunnie had it straightened out into a rod. "How's this?"
"Perfect," Sonic said, taking the rod. He opened up the panel he had
seen Donovan open and looked for where the missing wire should be. He hooked
up one end of the rod to each connector and handed Nicole to Sally.
"Cross your fingers," Sally said, opening her up. "Nicole, perform
diagnostic program level 1."
"Performing, Sally," Nicole said. "Program complete. All functions are
at peak efficiency or better due to added power from the power ring."
Something very much like a sigh came from her speaker. "Now I know what you
meant, Sally, when you tried to describe using the Deep Power stones."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. "Nicole, scan the cell looking for a
microchip that could serve as a receiver for a teleprotation device," Sally
said, smiling.
"Beginning scan now, Sally. Estimated time of completion: seven minutes."
"Well," Sally said, sitting down, "nothing to do now but wait."
Tails and Sondra were speeding through the Great Forest, following the
paths of the others, when Tails noticed the path was ending and called a stop.
"I don't like this," he said. "We haven't been able to contact Sonic or Aunt
Sally for the past few minutes, and now the path ends."
"It would probably be a bad idea for both of us to charge in blindly,"
Sondra said. "Tell ya what, I'll circle around behind, and you keep going. If
my guess is right, we should be able to trap whatever is capturing our friends
between us."
"Sounds good. OK, be careful." Tails gave Sondra a quick kiss on the
cheek and flew on.
Sondra ran off to the left, circling around as she had said. She still
wasn't sure what was happening to her, but that wasn't important now. She was
sure Sally was in danger, and she had to find her. "The Void won't like it if
she is roboticized," she reasoned, though it rang hollow inside her mind.
Tails flew up to where the path ended and landed. He searched around for
any signs of what had happened to the others. "Hello there," someone said
behind him. "Looking for something?"
Tails turned around. "Do I know you?" he asked the squirrel standing
there.
"Oh, that's right. You weren't born yet when I left. My name is Donovan.
And you are?"
"I'm Tails," he said cautiously. Something about this guy scared him.
"Do you know what happened here?"
"Oh, you mean to Quills, Silly, Bonnie and Antony?" Donovan asked.
"Huh?"
"You know them as Sonic, Sally, Bunnie and Antoine. Simple. I captured
them and sent them to Robotropolis."
"What?" Tails screamed. "You better start doing some explaining, now!"
"How cute, the little one trying to save his friends."
Tails couldn't bear to hear any more. He flew at Donovan in a blind rage.
Donovan simple grabbed Tails as he came near and threw him headfirst into a
tree. The young fox yelped once, then collapsed in a heap, tails twitching
feebly.
"Finally, an easy one," Donovan thought, reaching in his pocket for the
teleportation chip.
"Hey Tails, you find anything?" Sondra called, emerging from the forest.
Seeing Tails unconscious, a jagged cut across his forehead, with Donovan
standing over him, she stopped and drew herself to her full height. "Who are
you, sir, and what has happened here?" she asked in a voice filled with cold
rage.
Donovan frowned. There was something not quite right about this girl, and
he especially didn't like the way her eyes almost glowed blue. "You may call
me Donovan," he said slowly. "And whom might you be? I didn't know Sonic had
any other relatives."
"I am Sondra, Princess Sondra, of the House of Acorn; second in line to
the throne of Mobius," she said haughtily, holding up her signet ring.
Donovan scowled. "This is impossible. King Acorn had only one daughter,
and I know she is in Robotropolis."
Sondra looked at her feet. "So, you must be the one who is capturing
everyone I care about. My friends, my adopted sister, and now my boyfriend."
Donovan looked around, then down at Tails. "Boyfriend?" he asked
quietly.
A single tear fell from her eye, shattering as it hit the ground. "I
neither know nor care why you are doing this," she said, her voice growing
deeper and hoarser, "but I do know one thing. It stops NOW!!" she ended in
more of a growl than words.
Donovan backed up a couple of steps, taken aback by the tone in her voice.
But when she looked up and stared at him, he almost fell. Her eyes now shone
with many colors, like sunlight passing through a crystal prism. "Who...what
are you?" he asked in awe.
"Someone you really don't want to deal with," she said, holding her hands
in front of her. Her hands started glowing with the same light as her eyes.
A mass of crystal appeared, suspended between her hands. She moved her hands
apart slowly, and the mass lengthened and narrowed until she had a long, and
very sharp, crystal spear.
Donovan watched wordlessly as she grabbed the spear with one hand and
launched it at him with a yell. Donovan threw himself flat. Trying to avoid
the spear. Sondra clenched a fist suddenly, cutting her own palm with her
nails.
The spear shattered into thousands of shards. Some of them ripped into
his vest, ripping it asunder while not actually touching his fur or skin.
The remaining shards tore into the tree behind him, devastating it instantly.
Sondra ran over to Tails and ripped a strip of material from her vest and
used it to bind Tails' head. "I didn't have to miss you know," she said,
using another strip to bind her hand. "I'm going to return to Knothole, and
make sure he's safe. If the others are not back by the time I get him settled,
I guarantee you this: I will find you, and I will not miss again!" She picked
up Tails and pulled the power ring from her backpack. She held it up, was
surrounded by a bright yellow sphere of light, and ran off with a resounding
sonic boom.
Donovan rolled over on his back and stared at the sky. "I definitely must
update my surveillance equipment," he thought. He struggled to his feet.
"Device one, activate," he said and flew off shakily toward Knothole.
"Scan complete, Sally," Nicole said, snapping the others from their
thoughts.
"Report," Sally said as the others huddled around.
"There is one chip in this cell capable of receiving a teleportation
signal." A beam shot out from Nicole and illuminated a chip on the wall.
"Let's smash it!" Sonic said, stepping toward it.
"Sonic, wait a second. Maybe we could reverse it's programming and
get us out of here. Nicole, is it possible?"
"Considering, Sally." The cell fell quiet except for the occasional beep
from Nicole and the sound of Sonic's foot tapping. "Ordinarily, the process
would take two hours to reverse the chip's programming. However, if I draw on
the power ring, I could complete it in one minute."
"Are there any risks, Nicole?" Sally asked. "You're not used to using
that much power."
"Risk calculation: 2% chance of adverse reactions. Of course, the chip
will have to be activated by Donovan to allow me to send someone back along
the signal. And the signal will only last long enough to return one of you."
"OK, we'll have one shot at this," Sally said. "Who's going?"
"I almost got him last time," Sonic said. "I should go."
"But he eez severely underestimating me," Antoine said. "He believez I am
ze 'weakest link' of our chain. Please to be allowing me to handle him.
Besides," he added, "this is somewhat of a personal issue with me."
"I agree with Sonic," Sally said. "If this is personal to you, Antoine,
you may get too involved in it."
"If I remember right, Sally girl," Bunnie interrupted, "Antoine and
Donovan used to be best friends. He knows him better than any of us. He
should go."
"We don't have time to argue," Sally said. "Nicole, access reversal
program. When the chip activates, randomize between Sonic and Antoine to
determine who goes."
"Understood, Sally."
Sondra ran through the Great Forest, bouncing off trees. She still didn't
have the hang of enhanced super speed yet, but at least she was heading in the
right direction. "Hang on, Tails," she whispered encouragingly.
She crossed the bridge to Knothole and headed straight for Uncle Chuck's
hut. But before she got there, Donovan landed in front of her, causing her to
veer off and stop. "Still don't have the hang of using the ring, huh creation
of the Void?" he asked with a smirk.
Sondra set Tails gently on the ground. "I don't suppose you're here to
bring them back, are you?" she asked coolly.
"What do you think?"
"I thought as much." Her eyes and hands began to glow again. "I warned
you, this time I won't miss, especially seeing you know what I really am."
"Yes, but will you risk everything you have worked to accomplish here?"
He made a gesture encompassing all of Knothole. "Think of your mission,
whatever that may be."
"My mission be damned," she yelled, starting to form the spear again.
Tails groaned, turning on his side. "Sondra?" he called weakly.
Sondra looked at Tails. Her hands began to tremble and the light to fade.
"So, you don't want him to know, huh?" Donovan asked. "I thought as
much." In one motion, he pulled a sword from behind his back(he had put on a
new vest), and placed the point against Tails' throat. "If you want him alive,
you'll put one chip on yourself and the other on him," he said, holding out two
chips in his free hand.
Sondra stared at the hand. "Just...don't hurt him," she whispered, taking
the chips and doing as she was told.
Donovan smiled as he pushed the button, sending them both to Robotropolis.
"Finally," he said, "the wait is over! I have won!"
"I am thinking that maybe you should not be jumping to conclusions so
quickly, Donny," a voice said behind him.
Donovan turned quickly, bringing up his sword. Antoine blocked it with
one he took from underneath his jacket and stared grimly at the squirrel in
front of him.
Donovan's expression changed from one of exultation to one of shock.
"But...how did you get free?"
"Sally found the chip you used to teleport, I believe that is what Bunnie
said, us to that cell," Antoine said, his voice cool, but full of anger. "She
used Nicole to reverse the programming when you had sent Sondra and Tails in,
and I came out."
Donovan started circling to his right. "But I disabled Nicole!"
"Perhaps," Antoine replied, turning to keep Donovan directly in front of
him. "But Sonic connected a power ring to her and she was able to do what was
needed."
"Clever," Donovan admitted. "I don't suppose you would consider letting
me teleport you back to Robotropolis, would you?"
"I do not suppose you would be considering returning my friends?"
"You know I cannot do that!"
"Then, en garde!" Antoine struck out, trying to keep Donovan on the
defensive. But he hadn't practiced his fencing in a long time, relying mostly
on his knowledge of kung-fu. Donovan weathered Antoine's opening flurry and
expertly reversed the situation, putting Antoine on the defensive.
They dueled for many minutes, during which time a crowd began to form.
The citizens of Knothole surrounded the two combatants, not interfering, but
not letting either run away.
During the duel, Rotor and Dulcy both noticed a slight purple glow
surround Antoine's upper right arm and nodded to themselves. If Donovan
noticed, he paid it no attention.
"Enough of this," Donovan said, disarming Antoine with a flick of his
wrist. Antoine fell to the ground, and crawled backward slowly. "I did not
want it to come to this, Antony," Donovan said regretfully. "But it must."
"Why will you let us not help you?" Antoine asked, staring at Donovan's
sword. "I am knowing that Snively is holding somezing above your head.
Perhaps we can help!"
"If only I could believe that, but it has gone to far to stop now.
Farewell, Antony." He drew back his sword and thrust downward, aiming for
Antoine's heart.
Instinctively, Antoine brought up his right arm to block the thrust. The
sword bounced off with a resounding clang. "Clang?" Donovan asked, looking
at the sword.
Antoine sprang to his feet and lunged forward. He clotheslined Donovan
with his right arm, causing Donovan to do a full back flip and land on his
face. "I have failed you, Fath---" Donovan said, and passed out.
"Poor Donny," Antoine said, standing over his former friend. "At one
time, I might have tried to help you no matter what you said. But I cannot to
be forgiving about what you have almost caused."
Antoine searched Donovan's vest for the remote. Finding it, he pushed
the button and held it. Bunnie appeared before him, then Tails, Sondra, Sonic,
and finally Sally with Nicole. "Well done, Antoine," Sonic said half-
grudgingly. "I still think I coulda done it faster, though."
"Maybe Sonic," Bunnie said, "but he did it!"
"So, what are we gonna do about him?" Sally asked.
Antoine pulled the chip off himself and placed it on Donovan. "How
about we deliver him to his employer?" he asked and pushed the button.
Donovan disappeared, and Nicole zapped the other chips with a laser beam,
rendering them useless. Meanwhile, the citizens of Knothole were demanding
to know what had happened. Rosie and Dulcy pushed their way through them.
"Oh good," Rosie said, "my prayers were answered."
"And thank Tanis," Sally added. "I'm just glad he was here."
"Yeah," Sonic replied. "That mouse may be old, but he still knows what's
needed."
Rosie looked as if cold water had just been splashed on her. "Tanis is a
mouse?" she asked. In an undertone, she said, "Could it be...?"
"Three cheers for Antoine!" Dulcy yelled, hoisting him up on her
shoulders and carrying him through Knothole to the cheers of everyone there,
even Sonic.
Antoine felt embarassed by all the attention. He wanted nothing more than
to let the whole thing drop and let life resume some semblance of normalcy.
But then Bunnie climbed up next to him and hugged him close. "Maybe being the
hero for a change is not so bad," he thought.
Donovan woke up on a metal bed, Snively and Metal Sonic standing beside
him. "He's coming around," Metal Sonic reported.
"I can see that," Snively said. "Well, well, well, it seems you did not
fulfill your end of the bargain, Donovan, now did you?"
"You did not keep watch on them like I told you to," Donovan snapped. "If
you had, you would've prevented them from escaping!"
"Yes, but that was not part of our original agreement. Are you prepared
to accept the consequences of your failure?"
"Just do it, Snive-ly," he said, sitting up. "Just remember what I told
you."
"Oh no, I wouldn't dream of it. Thing is, you did try, so I'm just going
to let things remain as they are, for now. But I'll also give you a warning."
"And that is?"
"Bring in the prisoner!" Snively yelled over his shoulder.
Two SWATbots walked in carrying a female bear who was roughly Donovan's
age. "If you ever fail me again," Snively said, pulling out a handgun from
a concealed holster, "this will be your punishment!" He fired the gun right
at the bear, who screamed in terror.
"No!!" Donovan yelled, looking away. He closed his eyes and fought the
urge to show everyone what he had had for lunch that day.
"What is the status of the prisoner?" Snively asked.
"You are sadistic, Snive-ly," Donovan said in a thick voice.
"SCANS SHOW 100% ROBOTICIZATION, SIR." a SWATbot said.
"Huh?" Donovan said, opening his eyes and taking off his shades to look.
The female bear had been turned into a robot. "A roboticization gun!" Donovan
yelled, now comprehending what had happened.
"Precisely," Snively said proudly, blowing imaginary smoke from the barrel
of the gun. "I had just finished its testing today. Now leave, before I
change my mind and try it out on you."
Donovan stood up and walked out the door. "Just know this, Snive-ly,"
he said calmly. "The balance of power is now heavily in your favor. Don't be
too surprised if the Freedom Fighters start getting my services."
"After what you just tried to do to them? I doubt they'll even accept
it! And, incidentally, that was my backup plan."
Donovan ran out of the door and out of Robotropolis, Snively's laughter
haunting him the whole way. He had been such a fool to believe Snively. "How
could I have been so stupid?" he thought. "After I finish updating my
surveillance equipment, I will do whatever it takes to restore the balance."
(
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