"A Hedgehog Captured"
Authors: Robert Brown and Francis Tolbert
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: Hey again ppl! Well, this is another one of those times where I
really don't have anything to say. This is our ninth story, and so far the
response we've received is tremendous. Thanx to all fans out there for your
support. We'll keep writing 'em as long as you keep reading 'em.
Something has come up since I've started typing this. It seems
that in our third story, "Princess Sondra Acorn", we identified Sally's hair as
brown. Since then, I've found that Sally's hair is red. I don't know, but it
always looked brown to me. Anyway, from now on, we will refer to Sally's hair
as being either red, reddish-brown, or auburn. That also goes for Sondra's
hair-quills, which you should remember as being a couple of shades lighter than
Sally's. Till next time, happy reading!
Cast of Characters (in order of appearance)
Sonic Hedgehog
Antoine D'Coolette
Princess Sally Acorn
Bunnie Rabbot
Princess Sondra Acorn***
Miles "Tails" Prower
Dulcy
Rotor
Snively
Metal Sonic
Donovan###
#9
Sonic stood by his stove, waiting for the pot of sauce in front of him to
come to a complete boil. Some hot dogs were cooking on a nearby indoor grill
his uncle had whipped up for him, and his mouth watered at the prospect of
scarfing down a few chili dogs on this bitterly cold winter day.
Sonic glanced outside his window at the blizzard that raged on. Today was
the kind of day where Sonic wanted nothing more than to crawl back under the
covers and sleep till the next morning. The storm had already dumped another
foot of snow, and Knothole was half-buried in white. He knew he'd have to
spin his way out, if he went out, but he'd just as likely have to spin his way
in. If it kept up much longer, he might even need Sondra's help.
He thought back to when he had fiddled with the power ring generator to
make her bracelet. He had often thought to make himself one, or maybe one
that was small enough to wear on his finger. But Uncle Chuck had warned him
against doing that too often. "It might explode the generator," he had told
his nephew. "When I first created it, I didn't conceive of a long-term charge
on one. It might not be a good idea to create more than one a year."
Sonic knew it made sense. Besides, he had come up with another way to
get a long-term charge on a power ring, and it would take no more time or
power than usual. But he was saving that for something special. Or more
accurately, someone special. But that wouldn't be for a long while yet.
Sonic grabbed a can of beans and started opening it up. He was glad he
had made sure to stock up on supplies the last time they had raided
Robotropolis. Uncle Chuck had clued them in to where Snively kept his stores,
and Sonic made sure he got what he needed, especially seeing that crops had
been poor that year.
As he finished opening the lid, something shot out of the can. Sonic
dropped the can in surprise, falling backward. When he landed, he saw a couple
of spring-loaded snakes lying on the ground beside the can. "Man, that's an
old one," he thought, getting to his feet.
One of the "snakes" had landed in his pot of sauce, and another on the
grill. "Great," he grumbled, trashing everything and shutting off the stove
and grill, "there went lunch!"
Sonic heard a soft laughing outside his hut. "Antoine!" he yelled in
anger, recognizing the voice. He grabbed his coat and opened the door as he
heard the muffled sound of boots hurrying away. He spun through the piling
snow and looked around. He spied Antoine running by Sally's hut and headed
in that direction.
Antoine stood calmly in front of the recently shoveled walkway to Sally's
hut, smiling as Sonic came closer. He waited until Sonic was only a few feet
away, then stepped deftly to the side. Sonic tried to change direction, but
lost his footing on the unusually icy walkway. Sonic went down and slid toward
Sally's door. "Oh man, this ain't good!" he yelled, trying vainly to put on
the brakes.
Sonic hit the door headfirst, causing some snow to drop on him. Antoine
laughed again, and Sonic noticed he held an icy bucket as he ran away, snow
crunching under his boots. "He's getting better, I'll give him that," he
muttered, standing and brushing snow off his coat.
The door opened and Sally stood there, silhouetted against the light.
"Sonic?" she asked. "What are you doing out there?"
"Long story," he answered, rubbing his freezing posterior. "Can I come
in?"
"Sure," Sally said, moving out of the doorway. Sonic walked into the hut
and noticed Sally was in a bathrobe with a towel over her hair. "I just got
out of the shower," she explained, tying her robe more securely.
"Oh, 'kay," Sonic said nonchalantly, trying not to stare at her. He sat
down gingerly on one of the chairs. "It is cold out there!"
"I know," Sally said, rubbing her hair with the towel. "There's nothing
like a hot shower on a cold day." She sat down on her bed and pulled the towel
off her head. "So, mind telling me why you were out?" she asked, pushing her
hair back out of her face.
Sonic just stared at Sally, trying to hold in a laugh. "What?" Sally
asked, touching her face. "What's wrong?"
Sonic's face twisted as he tried to stifle his laughter. "See for
yourself," he managed to squeeze out.
Sally picked up a mirror, checking her face for whatever Sonic saw. But
nothing seemed wrong. She put the mirror down and was going to demand that
Sonic explain himself when she caught a glimpse of her hair. "YAAAAAHHH!"
she yelled, snatching up the mirror. "My hair is purple!"
"Looks like Antoine got you too," Sonic said. Then he burst out laughing.
Sally ran her hand through her hair. "Me too? What did he do to you?"
"The ol' 'snake in the can' bit. Ruined my chili dogs, though."
Sally put down the mirror and looked Sonic square in the eyes. "Bunnie
did mention something about Antoine working on some new pranks," she said,
"but that was so many months ago, I forgot!"
"Seems he is finally putting them into use," Sonic said when his mirth
subsided. "And he's following up on them!"
Sally leaned forward. "What do you say to getting him back, after I get
dressed?" she asked conspiratorially.
Sonic smiled again, a different kind of laughter lighting his eyes. "I'll
wait outside," he said, standing and walking to the door. "By the way, where's
Sondra?"
Sally shrugged. "Last I heard, she was off somewhere with Tails. Why?"
"Just wondering, that's all." Sonic walked out the door and closed it
behind him.
A few minutes later, Sally joined Sonic outside her hut. "Where do you
think he went?" she asked, nearly slipping on the ice.
Sonic caught her. Though the snow was letting up, it remained very cold.
"Easy, Sal, it's slippery. Another of Antoine's pranks."
"Are you two lovebirds to be talking about moi?" Antoine asked, peering
over the top of a mound of snow.
"Let's get him!" Sonic and Sally yelled, holding hands and running toward
Antoine's hiding place. They jumped the mound and landed easily on the other
side, but Antoine was nowhere to be seen.
"I'm suddenly getting a really bad feeling about this," Sally said
uneasily, looking around.
"I wonder why, Sally girl?" a voice asked from behind another mound of
snow. Bunnie and Antoine poked their heads up above the top of the snow,
smiling.
Sonic and Sally dived behind a snow bank as Antoine and Bunnie let loose
on them with snowballs. "We've been set up!" Sally said, wiping snow from her
face.
Sonic gathered some snow into a small pile of snowballs. "What say we
give them some of their own medicine?" he asked, tossing one up and down in
his hand.
Sally made some snowballs herself. She grabbed one in each hand. "Return
fire!" she yelled, standing up and throwing in Antoine and Bunnie's general
direction.
Soon, an all-out snowball fight erupted between the two couples.
Snowballs flew fast and furious, and Knothole rang with their laughter. The
fight continued for some fifteen minutes when both sides noticed they were
getting hit from two other directions and called a truce. On one side were
Tails and Sondra. The other side had Rotor and Dulcy. "Is this a private
party, or can we play too?" Tails called.
The four exchanged quick glances, and soon all eight of them were throwing
snowballs around. No one team had any clear advantage, but all were having
fun.
Finally, Sally called an end to it. "Enough," she called, standing up and
waving her arms.
Sondra tried to stop her throw, but she had already released the ball.
It smacked Sally right in the face, knocking her hood off her head. "What
happened to your hair?" she asked her sister as Sally cleared her face.
"He happened to it!" she yelled, pointing at Antoine. "He's starting his
new pranks, and we were his first victims.
"Don't be too sure of that," Bunnie remarked innocently.
"All of a sudden, things are starting to make sense," Tails grumbled,
glaring at Antoine.
"Please do not be overly concerned about your hair, my princess," Antoine
said, walking out from behind cover with Bunnie. "It will not last long. In
factual, it should be back to normal by the next morning."
"Wow, Tony, you've really come a long way in your language studies,"
Dulcy remarked, impressed.
"Oui, and I am owing it all to this beautiful doe here," he said, kissing
Bunnie soundly.
"So, why'd you stop us, Sally?" Rotor asked. "I mean, we haven't had
much opportunity for fun lately."
"Well, since we all seem to have so much energy, how about we go on a raid
tonight?" Sally suggested. "Last time we were in Robotropolis I found a
hallway that's not on any of the maps I have. There was a door at the end of
it that was guarded by at least half a dozen SWATbots. I want to know what's
in that room."
"Sounds good to me," Sonic said, shivering as some melted snow dripped
down his neck. "But I think we could all use some hot chocolate before we go.
Race to my hut; last one there gets no marshmallows!"
Later that night, they snuck into Robotropolis. "OK, you all know what to
do," Sally told them in hushed tones. "We meet back at the usual place in
thirty minutes."
"Gotcha, Sis," Sondra said. "Well guys, let's do it to it!"
Everyone bumped fists in the secret Knothole handshake. Sondra, Tails,
Rotor, and Dulcy left then, setting up a diversion at one of Robotropolis' main
generators.
"Let's get in position," Sally said. They hurried to where Sally had
indicated the hallway was and waited.
"What's on your mind, Sal?" Sonic asked, watching the SWATbots carefully.
"Huh? What do you mean, Sonic?" Sally asked.
"Nothin'. It's just that you've seemed distant since that snowball fight.
What's up?"
"Oh, that. Just something that Antoine said, that's all. Sonic, do you
think Bunnie's beautiful?" she asked abruptly.
"Say wha'?"
"Do you think Bunnie's beautiful?" Sally repeated.
"I never really thought about it," Sonic said. "I mean, yeah, I guess so.
Getting her normal parts back don't hurt."
"Oh, I see," Sally said, looking away.
"Even though I must admit that my taste runs exclusively to seventeen-
year-old vixens who wear blue vests and have red hair that turned purple,"
Sonic remarked. "Especially when it comes to love."
Sally wiped away a tear. "Thanks, Sonic. I really needed to hear that."
She kissed him on the cheek and gave him a quick hug.
"Come in, Sally," Sondra's voice came over Nicole. "The diversion is
about to begin. Are you in position?"
"We are," Sally said. "Any time you're ready."
"Understood. Sondra out."
They waited in silence as the call for reinforcements came in over the
SWATbots' comms. One of them sent three of their number to help.
"Bunnie, Antoine...go!" Sally directed after the SWATbots left. Bunnie
and Antoine walked across the intersection, and Antoine tripped, making a lot
of noise. The SWATbots looked up as Bunnie helped him stand. Antoine yelled
in fear and he and Bunnie ran.
Sonic and Sally watched from the shadows as the same SWATbot sent the
other two after Bunnie and Antoine. "Antoine sure is a great actor," Sonic
commented. "I still can't believe he had me fooled all these years."
"That's weird," Sally was saying, not paying attention to Sonic. "It
seemed that SWATbot was ordering the others around. Look at the red marks on
its arm."
"Yeah, I see them," Sonic said, his mind back on the business at hand.
"Maybe it's a higher rank than the others?"
"Well, we got to get inside. Can you lead the other one away?"
"I don't like leaving you by yourself," Sonic said, troubled.
"I'll be fine," Sally said with false bravado.
"But we don't know what's on the other side of that door! For all we
know, it could be another dozen SWAT-butts or a broom closet!"
"You have a point," Sally admitted grudgingly. She opened up Nicole.
"Nicole, can you scan behind that door?"
"Scanning now, Sally," Nicole answered. "It is a small room with only a
wooden table in its center. No robotics, machinery, or lifeforms present."
"Satisfied, Sonic?" Sally asked.
"Oh, all right. Juice time!" Sonic ran out from the shadows until he
stood in front of the SWATbot. "Did anyone ever tell you you're ugly and you
dress funny?" he asked, ready with his usual comeback.
But the SWATbot surprised him. "Yeah, hedgehog," it said in an unusually
normal voice. "But you're uglier, and all you got is sneakers, so whatcha
sayin'?"
"Say what?!" Sonic asked, surprised, scratching his head.
The SWATbot grabbed for him. "PRIORITY ONE, HEDGEHOG ALERT," it droned in
a more recognizable voice.
"Now this I can relate to," Sonic said, revving up his legs. "Outta
here." He ran backwards until out of the hallway then turned around, always
staying just out of the SWATbot's grasp.
Sally waited until the hallway was perfectly quiet before coming out of
the shadows. She hurried to the door and opened it. As Nicole had said, the
room was completely unoccupied, except for the table. She walked to the table
and poked around some papers that cluttered it. Nothing caught her eye until
she came across a folder marked "TOP SECRET" in big red letters.
She opened it up and skimmed through the contents. The folder contained
about ten pages of schematics for an unbelievably complicated piece of
machinery. She looked it over for a couple of minutes before it dawned on her
exactly what she was looking at. "Oh my gosh," she said slowly. "These are
the plans for the roboticization gun! I gotta get these back to Knothole."
Sally closed the folder and ran out of the room.
Meanwhile, Sonic was enjoying annoying the SWATbot. "What's the matter,
can't keep up?" he called tauntingly. He was so wrapped up in his taunting
that he never noticed he had entered a rather unfamiliar area of Robotropolis.
In fact, it almost seemed like the SWATbot was herding him toward a particular
pile of snow. But that was impossible; after all, SWATbots were only mindless
robots....
Sonic neared the pile, intending to merely run around it and continue on
his way. When he got within a few feet of it, though, he felt as if he passed
through an energy field. "Whoa," he said, stopping because of the dizziness he
felt, "that was mondo weird."
The SWATbot stood just beyond the energy field. "What's the matter, can't
handle it?" Sonic asked when the dizziness passed. But the SWATbot continued
to stand there. "Whatever," Sonic muttered. "Time to end this game anyway."
He pulled a power ring out of his backpack. He was surrounded by its light and
took off for Knothole at full speed.
At least, that's what he planned. In reality, he ran a few feet, then got
stopped in his tracks by an invisible energy barrier. The force knocked the
power ring from his hand, which flew through the barrier and into a nearby pile
of snow. "What gives?" Sonic demanded, pounding ineffectually on the barrier.
"'What gives', pincushion, is my newest invention," a nasal voice said
from behind him.
Sonic turned to look and saw Snively and Metal Sonic standing there,
smiling. Sonic rushed at them, only to come up against another barrier just in
front of them. "Oh, come on, bro," Metal Sonic said sarcastically. "I know
you're stupid; you don't have to prove it to me."
"Oh yeah, well try this!" Sonic ran the other way and went into a Spin
Attack just before he contacted the barrier.
Nothing happened. Sonic hit the snow covered ground, exhausted. "My, my,
that was amusing," Snively said. "You see, Sonic, the shield that surrounds
you exerts whatever force you use against it right back at you to keep you in.
It let you in, but it won't let you out."
"I'll take this!" Metal Sonic said, grabbing Sonic's backpack and ripping
it off as he passed.
"Hey!" Sonic yelled, standing up and going after Metal Sonic, only to
bump into the shield again.
"One other thing I forgot to mention," Snively said casually. "The shield
only affects living things." He motioned to the SWATbot who reached in and
grabbed Sonic by his neck, squeezing painfully.
Sonic fought to free himself, but the robot pulled until Sonic was against
the shield and only its hand remained inside. In seconds, Sonic blacked out.
"Drop him," Snively ordered, pushing a button to release the shield.
"Why don't you just roboticize him now?" Metal Sonic asked as his organic
counterpart hit the ground.
"I should, but I want to try something. If we roboticize him, it will
either break the Freedom Fighters, or make them more dangerous than ever. I
prefer to use this one as bait to capture the others, then make them watch as
he is roboticized, helpless to prevent it."
"I just hope you don't make this into a mistake like your uncle did,"
Metal Sonic remarked, picking up Sonic.
"I won't. Besides, even if this plan fails, it'll give me a chance to see
how my new Artifical Intelligence SWATbots act during a rescue attempt. Take
him to the roboticizer and keep him there."
As they left, a shadowy figure detached itself from a patch of darkness.
It crept off to the snow pile where Sonic's power ring had fallen and dug it
out of the rapidly melting pile. It placed the ring under its vest. "Device
one, activate," it said, flying off through the chill air unseen and unheard
toward Knothole.
"Cannonball!" Sondra yelled as she shot out of the chute and landed in
the snow covered hay right beside Tails. She felt herself getting pulled out
and placed on her feet. She looked around and saw that one of their party was
missing. "Hey, where's Sonic?" she asked, pulling a few stalks out of her
hair-quills.
"Actually, we were hoping you could answer that," Rotor said. "Sonic's
never the last one to show up, and we haven't heard anything out of him."
"I hope he's OK," Sally said, sounding worried.
"Sonic's fine, Aunt Sally," Tails said, smiling. "There wasn't anything
Robotnik could throw at him to stop him, and Snively can't do any better."
"I hope you're right, honey," she said, shaking her head slowly. "You
know, I have to keep reminding myself that you're only eleven."
Tails' smile broadened. But before he could say anything, Sondra spoke
up. "Tell ya what, Sis. If it'll make you feel better, I'll take Miles and
search for any sign of Sonic between here and Robotropolis."
"Thanks, Sondra," Sally said, forcing a smile. "I'd appreciate it. Just
don't actually go inside Robotropolis."
Tails grabbed on to Sondra's waist and she juiced up the chute to the
top. "OK, Sonic can come down one of two paths. I'll take the left one."
"Sounds good," Tails agreed. "I'll take the right one then. Just take
care, OK?"
"Of course!" Sondra said brightly. "Meet ya back at Knothole!" She
revved up and ran off.
Tails watched her go, then flew down the other path. He thought back to
what Sally had said. "Aunt Sally's right; even I forget that I'm eleven
sometimes. If Sondra and I really were sixteen...." He let his thoughts trail
off.
"Sonic!" Sondra called, running down the path. "Yo, Sonic! Where you
at? Man, this snow makes everything seem so quiet. It's almost as still as
death out there."
Suddenly, Nadia started beeping. "What's up, Nadia?" she asked, stopping
and taking Nadia from her boot.
"Incoming transmission from Donovan," Nadia said as Sondra opened her up.
"Wonder what Squirrel-boy wants."
"Ease off, Nadia. Put it through."
"This is a pre-recorded message," his voice said. "Greetings, Sondra.
This recording is to inform you that Quills has been captured by Snive-ly and
his robots. Apparently, he has developed new artificially intelligent ones,
so be careful. He has elected not to roboticize him, yet. Instead, he will
use him to lure the rest of you into trying to save him. I am currently in
Robotropolis scouting for the best way to reach him and setting up necessary
diversions to allow you an opportunity to effect the rescue. Contact me on
the frequency on Nadia's screen when you are ready to act. End of message."
Sondra stood there, stunned by the news. "Oh man, Sally's not going to
like this one bit! I better go get Miles and get back as fast as I can!" She
turned around and juiced back the way she had come, calling on her bracelet to
aid her speed.
Sondra, as might be guessed, understated the case. "WHAT??!!" Sally
screamed when Sondra told her of Donovan's message. "This can't be!!! Not
my Sonic!!!!!"
"Calm down there, Sally girl," Bunnie said, trying to restrain her
physically. "Donovan did say he was gonna be used as bait. We can still
save sugarhog."
"Oui, my princess," Antoine added, helping Bunnie hold her down. "I may
not have always liked that blue bundle of quills, but I have always knowing
that he is a survivor."
Sally forced herself to take a few deep breaths and calm down. "I'm OK,"
she said finally.
"You sure?" Bunnie asked, letting go slowly and motioning Antoine to do
the same.
Sally nodded. "What we need right now is to keep clear heads in order
to plan our rescue. I'm just a little stressed out right now. Sondra, contact
Donovan and have him come here. I don't want him acting on his own after what
just happened to Sonic."
"Nadia, open channel on Donovan's frequency," Sondra directed.
"Stand by...channel open."
"Donovan, this is Sondra. Are you reading me?"
"Yes, Sondra," Donovan answered. "Are you ready to act?"
"No. Sally want you to come here to Knothole so we can better coordinate
our efforts."
Silence met Sondra's words. Then Nadia spoke, "Connection terminated by
Donovan."
"We'll give him fifteen minutes, then we go after Sonic. With or without
Donovan," Sally added, with special emphasis.
Five minutes later, Sally and Sondra were in the War Room discussing
various routes of attack and possible areas where Sonic could be held. "I'm
telling you, he's probably being held in the prison cells," Sally said,
indicating the location on the holographic map Uncle Chuck had built.
"I don't know, Sis," Sondra said doubtfully. "Snively knows no cell can
hold Sonic, no matter how many new SWATbots he has guarding him. I think he's
being held in the main command center."
"You are both in error," a voice said close behind them. "Quills is being
held in the roboticization chamber."
Startled, the princesses turned to look, and saw Donovan standing there
smugly. "I really wish you wouldn't do that, Donovan," Sally said.
"I cannot change my nature, Princess," he answered simply. Then he stared
at Sally. "It is just me, or did someone use your head to crush grapes?"
"Right now, what Antoine did is the furthest thing from my mind," Sally
said.
"The roboticization chamber?" Sondra protested, just now realizing what
Donovan had said. "But I thought you said he would not be roboticized."
"I did. However, Snive-ly plans to have you watch as Quills is
roboticized. Seems he has developed a sadistic streak."
"Over my dead body!" Sally swore.
"Over many, many dead bodies, if we are not careful."
"Please, Donovan, you'll overwhelm us with confidence," Sally said
sarcastically. "So, what else has your scouting found out?"
"First, please have Nadia scan the area for anything unusual."
"Umm, Nadia's busy right now," Sondra said, indicating the computer on
a nearby table with some papers in front of her.
"I'll have Nicole scan," Sally said, taking Nicole and opening her up.
"Even though I don't know why and don't have time to find out. Nicole, scan
area for anything unusual."
"Scanning now, Sally," Nicole said. In a few seconds, Nicole spoke again.
"There is nothing living or mechanical within five meters of this hut."
"Good. The best path, in my opinion lies through here," Donovan said,
tracing a path with his finger. "At the right times, it will be nearly devoid
of SWATbots, though there are a few obstacles."
"What kind of obstacles?" Sally inquired. "And don't hold anything back
this time like you did when Bunnie went for her wish."
Donovan removed his shades and fixed Sally with his purple eyes. "With
all due respect, Silly, I am helping you of my own accord today, an occurrence
you should not become accustomed to. What I say and how I choose to say it is
not your concern. Is that understood?" he asked, eyes starting to shift to
red.
If Sally was intimidated, she did not show it. She continued staring at
Donovan until he replaced his shades. "There are two that I have been able to
identify," he said, returning his attention to the holograph. "In the hall of
the main building is pressure-sensitive paneling that will react if it records
a weight that does not belong to either a SWATbot, Snive-ly, or Metal Sonic.
What it will do, I am not certain. The main door of the chamber has been
computer locked with a multi-level access code. It will take time to break."
"Is that all?" Sally asked, still intimating that he was holding back.
"Easy, Sis," Sondra said, laying her hand on Sally's arm. "I know you're
worried about Sonic; we all are. But you got to keep it together, for his
sake."
"I suggest you listen to your sister, Silly," Donovan said. "You'll
never reach Quills in that state of mind." He pulled the power ring from his
vest and threw it on the table next to Nadia. "If Snive-ly found a way to
counter Quills using a power ring, we must use extreme caution."
Sally glared at Donovan, but then her gaze softened. "You...you're right.
It's just that, well, if it wasn't for the fact that I--"
"I do not wish to know any more than is absolutely necessary to save him,"
Donovan interrupted. "The final decision is yours."
"All right, we'll follow your suggestions. How long do we have until the
next window of opportunity?"
Donovan checked his watch. "I'd say approximately twenty minutes.
Marshal your forces, I will await you in Robotropolis. If you will excuse me,
device one..."
"Analysis complete, Sondra," Nadia spoke suddenly from where she lay on
the table. "These plans do not make sense. High chance of forgery."
"Damn!" Sally swore. "It was all for nothing!"
"Plans? What plans?" Donovan asked, turning to Sally.
"Our latest raid was because I found a hallway not on any map," Sally
explained. "That's when Sonic...but that will be for later," she amended,
catching Donovan's frown.
"I can guess what happened. You found plans marked 'TOP SECRET' and
after skimming through them saw they looked like the plans for the
roboticization gun. But Nadia's just identified them as a fake."
"On the nose, Squirrel-boy," Nadia said.
"Stop calling me that," Donovan muttered while Sally covered her mouth
to hide her smile.
"How did you know that?" Sondra asked.
Donovan pulled a folder from underneath his vest. "Because I found my own
copy and came to similar conclusions," he said, tossing it on the table."
"It seems odd that Snively would devote six SWATbots to guarding a fake,"
Sondra observed. "There has to be something we're missing. Maybe you two
working together can figure it out."
Donovan stared at Sondra incredulously. "Do you honestly expect me to
work with that bad attitude computer?"
"And do you expect me to work with a no-account braggart who shows no
respect to anyone?"
"Respect must be earned," Donovan said softly.
"Enough you two," Sally ordered. "Sondra's right. So while the rest of
us try to save Sonic, you two stay here and figure out those plans."
"But..." Donovan and Nadia protested.
"No buts. Remember, Donovan, you said the final decision is mine, and
this is it."
Donovan scowled and Nadia showed her frowning-face hologram. "As you
command, Princess," Donovan said, bowing. "However, you should know that
Snive-ly has some new SWATbots that I was going to inform you of later."
"Yes, I've seen the ones with the red markings on their arms. Do you
know what that means?"
"Snive-ly has equipped those SWATbots with an artificial intelligence
similar to the one he uses in Metal Sonic."
Sally nodded. "Thank you for the information. Now, we'd best be going
if we are going to make our window."
"Look, we're not gonna get anywhere unless we work together," Nadia said
after the two princesses had left.
"You have a remarkable grasp of the obvious," Donovan said.
"How about we call a truce until we figure this out, OK?"
"Fine," Donovan said, yawning. "Let's get to work."
"Are you sure this'll work, Sally girl?" Bunnie asked, rubbing the
sleep from her eyes. She and the others had tried to catch a few minutes
worth of sleep before the rescue mission.
"No, I'm not," Sally admitted. "But I know if it does, I'll need all
your help to do it. Are the secondary guards in place?"
"Oui, my princess," Antoine said. "I made sure myself. And they are well
protecting against the cold."
"Good. Let's get over there, then. At least the snow hasn't started up
again." Sally led the way while the others followed behind her.
In the meantime, Donovan was sitting down in a chair, nodding off while
Nadia scanned the pages. "Hey, Squirrel-boy, you helping or what?" Nadia
asked just as Donovan was about to fall asleep.
Donovan jerked back to full wakefulness. "I told you not to call me
that, Nadine," Donovan said.
"Oh, so the one who has nicknames for everyone can't take one for himself,
can he?"
"At least my nicknames make sense," Donovan countered. "And they're not
for everyone, just those I knew as a child. I don't call Miles or Sondra by
any nicknames, do I?"
"Well, I would call you Donny, but I think that's what Antoine calls you.
I like to add a personal touch to things."
"Oh, you're touched all right," Donovan muttered.
"I heard that! If it wasn't for your wish, I'd---hey, wait a minute,
this is weird, and I'm not talking about you."
"So, you're talking about yourself, then?"
"I'm serious. These plans are not the same!"
"What?" Donovan demanded, springing out of his chair.
"Well, pages one to four, six, and eight to ten are the same between the
two plans, but pages five and seven differ."
"How so?" Donovan asked, scrutinizing the indicated pages.
"Subtly, at best. But most importantly is the fact that page five of our
copy has a mark your page five doesn't. Also, your page seven has that mark
while our page seven doesn't."
"Hmm..." Donovan said, thinking.
"You don't suppose that Snively took the ten actual pages and split them
up among ten otherwise fake plans?" Nadia asked.
"Well, only one way to make sure: get another set of plans."
"What, now?" Nadia demanded as Donovan put on his trenchcoat.
"Yep," Donovan said, picking up Nadia. "Does our truce still stand?"
"I'll admit, I'm curious about this. OK, truce still on until we get the
plans."
"Fine. Device one, activate." They flew off toward Robotropolis.
"Is everyone ready?" Sally whispered, looking around. Everyone nodded.
"Good. Antoine, do your thing."
Antoine walked in front of the two SWATbots that were guarding the
building. "Umm, excuse me but do you know where the kitchen is?" he asked
nonchalantly.
The two SWATbots looked at each other then raised their rifles. "FREEZE
ORGANIC LIFEFORM," one droned.
"If you insist!" Dulcy called from above the SWATbots. They looked up
just in time to see Dulcy's freezing breath envelop them.
"Good work," Sally said, motioning the others forward. "Dulcy, stand
guard, but stay out of sight."
"Gotcha, Sal." Dulcy gave everyone a thumbs up and hid in a mound of
snow.
Once inside, Sally regarded the huge carpet that covered the floor.
"There's no way to tell where the pressure-sensitive panels are," she said
thoughtfully. "But maybe we don't have to. Tails, feeling strong today?"
"You betcha Aunt Sally," the young fox answered energetically.
"Think you can help me fly everyone over one at a time?"
"Sure!" He grabbed Sondra and flew across with her.
"Your turn, Rotor," Sally said, holding his hands and flying across with
him.
But on her return trip, Sally accidentally broke an invisible laser beam,
setting off an alarm. "Damn," she said. "Run for it you two!"
Bunnie and Antoine ran across the carpet. But as they ran, a trap door
opened under Bunnie. Antoine grabbed at her, keeping her from falling. But
the delay was costly; they all heard SWATbots marching toward the room.
"Come on you two!" Sally encouraged.
Antoine and Bunnie shook their heads. "We'll hold 'em here," Bunnie said,
turning her limbs robotic. "If they don't find anyone here, they'll look all
over the place."
"OK, but be careful, and get out when you can."
"As you wish, my princess," Antoine said, drawing his sword.
"Remember, the ones with red bands on their arms think for themselves!"
Sondra yelled as they left.
Bunnie and Antoine turned to meet the approaching horde. Antoine grabbed
Bunnie and held her close. "Let us, umm...what was it..., do it to it!" he
said.
Bunnie nodded. She kissed Antoine quickly and they separated, preparing
for battle.
"I don't like leaving them," Sally said as they hurried down the path
Donovan had indicated.
"They're right, though," Sondra pointed out as the sounds of battle
started up from the room they had just left. "If they can hold the SWAT-butts
long enough, we can get to Sonic and get out. Besides, two have a better
chance than one."
"Yeah, I guess so," Sally said grudgingly. "Donovan said there would be
a computer-locked door that we have to get past. Everyone keep an eye out
for it."
At the other end of Robotropolis, Donovan silently landed and melted into
the shadows. "Keep your scanners peeled for SWATbots," he whispered to Nadia.
"I know my job!" she whispered indignantly. "You just make sure you
know where we're going."
Donovan bit back his sharp retort and hurried down a secret passage. He
continued for a hundred meters or so before Nadia's screen began blinking.
"There's a SWATbot guarding a door twenty meters east of here," she cautioned.
Donovan peered down the corridor. It was well-lit and had no side
passages. In short, he'd be a sitting duck if he tried to get to the door.
Also, he noticed that the SWATbot had red bands on its arm and groaned. "Can
you scan what's behind that door?" he asked.
"Too much magnetic interference," Nadia answered. "It's too much of a
distance."
"Great," he said sarcastically. "Well, is there anything you can do?"
"Just point me at the SWATbot, Squirrel-boy; you'll see what I can do!"
Donovan made as if to draw his sword, but just pointed Nadia at the
SWAtbot. Numbers started flashing across Nadia's screen at such a rapid rate
that Donovan was getting a headache trying to follow them. But nothing
seemed to be happening to the SWATbot.
Then, electricity started crackling around the SWATbot. Its limbs moved
jerkily as if it were no longer in control. "Forgive me," Nadia explained, "I
have a flair for the dramatic." The SWATbot exploded, sending red-hot shards
of metal whizzing down the passage and into the walls.
Donovan just stared at the smoldering remnants of the SWATbot. "You have
to show me how you did that," he said, giving her a certain amount of credit.
"What, you've never seen a computer virus before?" Nadia asked
innocently.
"Not one that works that fast," Donovan said, walking down the hallway.
"Just a little something Sondra's been working on," Nadia said, frying the
lock with her laser. "This is the first time it's been used. I think Sondra
will be happy with the results."
"I'd say so." Donovan opened the door and quickly surveyed the room. "I
believe this is what we're looking for," he said, picking up a folder. "Now
let's get back. Device one, activate."
"What? You didn't leave a receiver chip in Knothole?" Nadia asked as
they flew off. "I'm dealing with a real brainiac here."
"Will you back off?! I had other things on my mind, Nadine."
"Yeah, Squirrel-boy? I'm surprised you can have more than one thing on
your mind."
"Will you stop calling me that?!!"
"I'd call you other things, but my programming doesn't allow use of
profanity."
"Why you oversized transistor radio! I've got a good mind to..."
"If you say so."
And so it continued, all the way back to Knothole.
"I found something!" Tails called from a side passage.
The others hurried to where Tails was. "Hmm, I don't remember this door
ever being here," Rotor remarked thoughtfully.
"Then this must be it," Sally said. She hooked Nicole up to the access
port in the terminal next to the door. "Nicole, run password algorithm."
"Running, Sally." A few seconds passed. "First password cracked, Sally."
"Come on, Nicole, hurry," Sally urged, looking around.
"Second password cracked, Sally."
"FREEZE ORGANIC LIFEFORMS," a metallic voice droned behind her. Sally
turned to look and saw a SWATbot standing behind her with a rifle pointed
right at her head. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the others in
similar predicaments.
"Don't provoke them," Sally called, slowly raising her hands.
But Sondra seemed very calm. "On my signal, duck," she said, clenching
her hands. "Duck!"
Everyone threw themselves flat as Sondra pointed at the SWATbots. Crystal
shards flew from her hands, destroying three SWATbots immediately. The fourth
one, however, which had red bands on its arms, also ducked out of the way of
the crystals.
Sondra dropped to one knee, spent. Tails hurried to her side just as the
last SWATbot stood up. "I repeat, FREEZE ORGANIC LIFEFORMS," it commanded,
pointing its laser at Sally's head again. "Or would you rather have your
princess a robot?"
"Final password cracked, Sally," Nicole said as the door opened. The
SWATbot looked at Nicole for only a split second, but that was all it took.
Sondra pushed Tails aside and leapt at the SWATbot. She grabbed it around
the arm just as the SWATbot fired.
Sally closed her eyes, waiting for that sickening feeling to envelop her.
But nothing happened. She opened her eyes and saw that SWATbot turning to
crystal as Sondra exerted her powers. When the transformation was complete,
she threw the SWATbot at the wall, shattering it. She stood there for a
moment, then fell forward.
"Sondra!" Tails yelled, catching her before she hit the ground.
"That...took a lot more out of me than I thought it would," Sondra said
weakly. "I...need to rest. Sorry I can't...continue on with you. Too bad...
my bracelet can't help with this."
"Don't worry about it," Sally said, smoothing back her sister's sweat-
dampened quills. "Tails, get her back to Knothole. And make sure Bunnie,
Antonie, and Dulcy are safely away by now."
"Gotcha, Aunt Sally." Tails cradled Sondra in his arms and flew off in
the direction they had just come.
"Sally, the door's closing!" Rotor said, pointing.
"Let's move!" Sally disconnected Nicole and ran through the door just
before it closed. But Rotor didn't make it. "Rotor, you OK?"
"Yeah," he said, his voice muffled by the door. "I'll try to find another
way in, just hang tight until I get there."
"No, go back with Tails and Sondra. He's not going to be able to do much
while carrying her."
"All right. Just be careful, Sally." Sally heard him running away,
calling for Tails. She looked around trying to get her bearings in the
darkness.
Bright light suddenly flared all around her, and she had to squint against
it. "Well, well, so it seems the high and mighty princess has come to rescue
her boyfriend," a nasal voice said.
"Where is he, Snively?" Sally demanded, still trying to adjust her eyes
to the light.
"Why, he's right here. Can't you see him? Oh that's right, maybe the
light is too bright. Will this help?" The light dimmed to a normal level.
Sally blinked her eyes, trying to clear the red spots from her vision.
In front of her stood a vaguely hedgehog-shaped form. "Sonic?" she asked.
"Close, Princess," a metal voice grated. Sally was struck hard in the
stomach by a metallic fist.
Sally doubled over, falling to her hands and knees. "Metal Sonic!" she
said, her vision clear.
"You got it," the robot said, smiling. He grabbed Sally and hauled her up
to her feet. "And now, for your entertainment, watch as Snively the Great
turns ordinary old Sonic into a carbon copy of myself." He tapped the tube
that held a still unconscious Sonic.
"No!" Sally yelled, kicking Metal Sonic in the back of his knee. The
robot released her, falling backwards. Sally ran to the tube and banged on
it. "Sonic! Wake up! Sonic!"
"No you don't," Metal Sonic said, getting up and grabbing Sally from
behind. He threw her against a console.
Sally groaned as her body hit the hard metal. She pushed away just as
Metal Sonic made another grab for her.
"This should be most amusing," Snively said, sitting back in his chair.
"Do you really think you can defeat him?"
Sally paid no attention to Snively, focusing solely on Metal Sonic. The
robot was smiling, inching closer and closer to her, trying to corner her.
Sally kept circling, though, not allowing herself to be cornered. Metal Sonic
kept feinting a lunge, keeping Sally back. She was sure it was only a matter
of time before he got careless.
Metal Sonic lunged, not feinting this time. He went into his version of a
Spin Attack as Sally dived out of his way. The robot landed against the wall
and changed directions, again forcing Sally to dive out of the way. But then
the robot made a mistake. He performed the same manuever again, but Sally
waited until the last second to dive out of the way.
Metal Sonic uncurled a little too late, and plowed into a console.
Electricity sparked and Metal Sonic lay there helplessly as his circuits fried.
Snively flipped a switch, cutting power to that console before the damage was
permanent. "Very good," he commended. "But not good enough." He raised a
rifle and pointed it at Sally. "Now be a good princess and stand there while
I roboticize that hedgehog."
"I don't think so," Sally said, running at Snively. Snively, not
prepared for this, was caught between pushing the button and pulling a trigger.
Sally slapped away the rifle and grabbed Snively. She locked her hands
around Snively and bridged back, bringing him up and over in a belly-to-belly
suplex.
Snively landed hard. He rolled to his stomach and tried to scramble for
the rifle, but Sally pounced on him. She grabbed one leg and locked it between
hers. She fell forward and locked her hands under his chin, wrenching it to
the side. "Now, you will tell me how to open that tube up, or I will break
your neck," she threatened.
"You wouldn't dare!" Snively said, in obvious pain. "It's not in you to
kill!"
"Ordinarily, you'd be right. But because you threatened Sonic, I might
make an exception. Do you really want to risk that?"
Snively struggled briefly, then collapsed. "Great," Sally thought. "He's
fainted. I should just snap his neck now and be done with it."
"Sally, no!" Sonic yelled, having been awakened by the struggle. Though
he did not hear her thoughts, he could read her intentions on her face.
"Snively's right; you're not a killer."
"Sonic?" Sally said wonderingly. "Sonic!" She released Snively and ran
to the tube that held Sonic. "Sonic! Are you OK? Can you get out of there?"
Sonic rubbed his neck. "I think so." He started revving up his legs, but
collapsed. "I'm too weak. Gimme a few seconds."
"You don't have that long, hedgehog," Snively said, positioning himself so
that he aimed his rifle at both Sally and Sonic. "Did you really think I would
faint so easily? Go ahead, dodge out of the way. Either way, I'll roboticize
one of you!" he yelled, pulling the trigger.
Sonic flattened himself as much as possible as Sally dodged. Snively set
himself for another shot, but Sally kicked the rifle from his hands. She
struck Snively with a kick to the stomach followed by a fist-elbow combination
to the chin.
Snively fell back against the console. Sally picked up the rifle and
trained it on Snively. "Release Sonic, or I turn you into a robot."
"Go ahead and fire," Snively said. "Do you really think that I would
create a weapon that could be turned against me?"
Sally hesitated for a second, then pulled the trigger. The purple beam
enveloped Snively. But though the force from the beam held Snively down, he
did not change in the least. "Told you," he sneered.
Sally dropped the rifle and grabbed Snively by his throat. "Release him,
or you die. The fact that I fired on you should have convinced you that I am
serious."
Snively searched Sally's eyes. Sonic could not see her expression, but
whatever Snively saw made him shudder. He hit a button on the console and the
tube holding Sonic lifted.
Sally threw Snively aside. She crouched and picked up the rifle as she
ran to Sonic's side. "Can you run?" she asked, concerned.
Sonic nodded. He stood up and swayed unsteadily. "Hold this," Sally
said, handing him the rifle. She picked him up in her arms and turned around.
"Know this, Snively. If you ever try to harm him again, I will personally hunt
you down and take you out." The last was said in a voice so sinister, even
Sonic began shaking.
Sally ran out of the room at full speed, picking up Sonic's backpack which
had lain forgotten in a corner. Snively took a few moments to collect himself,
then went over to Metal Sonic. He flipped a few switches and Metal Sonic came
back online. "I'm glad you installed all those secondary circuits in me," the
robot said.
"Indeed." Snively walked over to a computer panel. "Computer, put
Robotropolis on yellow alert."
"VOICE-PRINT CONFIRMED," the computer said. "ALL SWATBOTS NOW HAVE ORDERS
TO SHOOT UNAUTHORIZED ORGANIC LIFEFORMS ON SIGHT."
"Was that necessary?" Metal Sonic asked.
"Yes. I have underestimated the fire of the Freedom Fighters. I have
never seen Princess Sally so angry as she was tonight. You know, I truly
believe she would have killed me."
"I see. It'll take some time for the SWATbots to adapt to their new
orders."
"I know, and we will be vulnerable until then. Take some AI SWATbots and
station them at key areas."
"Understood," Metal Sonic said. He took off to fulfill his orders.
Back at Knothole, Nadia had just finished going over the new set of plans.
"It's official," she declared. "This page six differs from the others. And
when I compare it with the correct pages five and seven, there is completed
circuitry evident."
"Snively is more clever than I realized," Donovan admitted. "There are
seven other files out there, each one with only one correct page. We have our
work cut out for us."
He checked his watch. "But, I see that the others should be returning
soon, so I will depart. Farewell, Nadine. Device one, activate."
"Wait!" Nadia called as he flew out the door. "Stupid squirrel. He
didn't even take a copy of the plans! Oh well, I'll bet this'll be an
interesting tale."
The next day, after Sonic had fully recovered from his ordeal, Sally
dropped by with a plate of chili dogs. "Hope you're hungry, Sonic," she said,
opening the door. Then she saw that Sonic was packing his backpack. "And
where do you think you're going?" she inquired, arching one eyebrow playfully.
But Sonic was not in a playful mood. "Away," he said, not looking up.
"Away? And what does that mean?"
"I mean away. I need time to myself right now, Sally."
Sally put the chili dogs down, suddenly aware that this was not a joke.
"Sonic, what's the matter?"
Sonic sighed and sat down on his bed. "Sal, I shoulda never been caught
like that," he said dejectedly. "I mean, I just haven't been myself lately."
"Sonic, everyone has an off day," Sally said encouragingly. "You just
need time to relax. We all do. I mean, you saw what the stress did to me
last night. That was a side of me I never even knew existed!"
"True that. You know what, I honestly thought you would kill Snively."
"Well, I was thinking about it. The Almighty knows that he would kill us
in a heartbeat. And well, I guess it was just a lot of frustration that had
built up over so long that I needed to let it out.
"I mean, after we beat Robotnik and his Doomsday Device, I thought it was
finally over. I thought we'd be able to put Mobius back together and be normal
teenagers for once. But then Snively shows up and it starts up all over again.
I'm almost at my breaking point with this. And I guess that's what's wrong
with you too."
"No, Sal, it's not about frustration or anger, even though I have my own
fair share of those emotions," Sonic said, rising to his feet. "Ever since we
came back from the Void, I've been thinking about what it offered me. I mean,
it said my parents are alive! All this time, and I've never known them. I
have so many things to ask them; things I have to know."
"So that's it, then. But how do we know the Void was telling the truth?
It could have just said those things to get us to leave it alone!"
"Maybe, but I have to know. One way or another."
"Sonic, it's the middle of winter! Of all the times for this, this has to
be the worst. Why don't you wait until spring, when it might be easier?"
"No, Sal, I've put this off too long. I have to do this now, before I put
you in some kind of danger."
"Then I'm going with you," Sally declared.
Sonic shook his head. "No, Sally. I have to do this alone."
"And just how do you intend to find them?" Sally inquired. "Like you
said, you don't know a thing about them."
"No, but Uncle Chuck does. Everytime I tried asking him about it when I
was young, he always said he'd tell me when I was older. Well, I'm older now."
"So, you're determined to do this. And nothing I can do or say will
change your mind?"
"Not this time, Sal."
"All right," Sally said, holding back her emotions. "But you better come
back to me. I won't forgive you if I never see you again."
Sonic had to smile at that. "I'll make you a deal. If I don't find out
anything, I'll be back in a week."
"All right. And Sonic," she said, stopping him as he was putting on his
coat, "be careful out there."
"I will, Sally, I promise." Sonic hugged Sally close and kissed her
deeply. Sally returned his kiss in kind, and they might have remained like
that if Sonic had not pulled away. "I have to go, before I change my mind," he
said, picking up his backpack and running out the door.
Sally sat on Sonic's bed, lost in thought. At that moment, Sondra came
running into the hut. "Hey Sally," she said, shaking snow out of her light
auburn hair-quills, "we're starting up a snowball fight again. You and Sonic
wanna join in?"
"Sonic's not here," Sally answered dully.
"Not here? Then where is he?"
"He left in search of his parents."
"He did?" Sondra asked. "Oh, that's right, the Void incident. Don't
worry he'll be back."
Sally managed a weak smile, then lay down. "If you don't mind, I think
I'd like to be alone," she said, snuggling under the covers.
Sondra eyed her sister with concern, noting the full plate of still-
steaming chili dogs. "OK, I'll be outside if you need me." She walked outside
and promptly got nailed with three snowballs.
Sally turned on her side and closed her eyes. "This week will be the
longest one of my life," she thought. "Oh, Sonic, you have to come back to me.
I don't care about anything else, as long as you're back here safely. Take
care, my love." She drifted off to sleep with Sonic being the last thought on
her mind.
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