"Lightning Doesn't Strike Twice...."
Authors: Robert Brown-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 or by another and we have
permission to use them). 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: Greetings again everyone. I know this story has been a while in
coming, but after this note, you'll all understand why. As you know, Francis
has had bad kidneys for a while, and I was to give him one of my own. Well,
before I could, another kidney became available for him. It was a match and
they had the surgery. Francis has now almost fully recovered from the surgery
and the kidney is working great. We're being cautiously optimistic because
the first 6 months are crucial. If he can make it through that with no
rejection episodes, the next few years should be fine. Thanks to all our fans
who wrote us and sent well-wishes. Till next time, Happy Reading.
Cast of Characters(in order of appearance)
Nadia***
Donovan###
Dr. Robotnik
Dorian Lexford***
Snively
Metal Sonic
Princess Sally Acorn
Princess Sondra Acorn***
Uncle Chuck
Miles "Tails" Prower
Rotor
Dulcy
Princess Lydia Evergreen^^^
Isabela Evergreen^^^
Antoine D'Coolette
Bunnie Rabbot
Sonic Hedgehog
Patricia Hedgehog***
Kelly Min Hedgehog**##
Maurice Hedgehog***
Knuckles Echidna
#26
"Come in, Donovan," Nadia called over the communicator. "How's everything
going?"
"So far, so good," Donovan said.
"You know, this would go a lot faster if you had let me come along to
help."
Donovan sighed and looked around. He was hidden in a cramped corner of
a secret tunnel right next to Robotnik's main control room. Now that the
Kavenoff was out of the way, and his deal with Robotnik long since broken, he
was finally setting up some surveillance equipment in the command center to
monitor Robotnik's every move. This had been one of only two rooms in
Robotropolis without such equipment; the other being the one that had held his
"parents".
"We've been over this already," Donovan said tiredly. "I know the ins and
outs of this place. I can get around more quickly by myself than I can if I
were worrying about you."
"Yeah, but that was when you had two good eyes," Nadia pointed out. "If
you still did, we wouldn't even be having this arguement because you'd be done
already."
Donovan sighed and adjusted his eyepatch. "Just keep a lookout on things,
OK? I'll be done in five to ten minutes."
"I don't mean to be nosy or anything," the computer interrupted, "but what
will you do if something does show up?"
"For a computer, you're kind of dumb," Nadia said. "He does have his
teleport chips on him, remember? You can bring him back in a second."
"That's not what I meant," the computer said calmly. "If he's found, now
that he's technically a Freedom Fighter, Robotnik can claim the last Emerald."
"Oh," Nadia said. "Guess I'm the dumb one then."
"You said it, not me."
"But it does have a good point," Nadia said into the communicator. "What
are you going to do?"
Donovan was about to answer, but suddenly alarms started blaring in the
command center. Robotnik, who had been napping in his chair, suddenly snapped
awake and moved to the controls. "Main power down," his computer said.
"Auxiliary power to main command center online."
Robotnik scanned his monitors, looking for any sign of trouble. The
building that had housed his main generator was a smoking mass of rubble.
"Computer, playback the last thirty minutes of the security tape of the main
power generator," Robotnik said calmly, though he already knew what he'd find.
Donovan watched silently through a ventilation grate as the tape played
at three times normal speed. He too knew what Robotnik would find, and smiled
to himself. "Touche, Snive-ly," he thought.
Meanwhile, back at the hut, Nadia was working at the computer. "Computer,
bring up a power grid schematic of Robotropolis," she directed. "I want to see
exactly what's online right now. After all, we didn't do it, but who says we
can't take advantage of it?"
"Will do," the computer said. "As a matter of fact, done."
Nadia scanned the schematics for a moment, and paused. "That can't be
right. Computer, re-check power signature coming from roboticizer."
"Re-checking. Power signature confirmed."
"But there's no power going into the room, or coming out of it. I know
the thing doesn't have its own power source...."
"Don't be too sure."
"But the only thing that can fit in there and have enough power to make it
work is the Light--" Nadia cut herself off as she heard what she was saying.
"By the Almighty, I know where the Emerald is! I gotta tell Sondra."
"Don't you want to try to get Donovan home first? I am getting static
interference, after all."
"Static?" Nadia asked, worried. "A simple explosion shouldn't cause
that."
"A simple one, no. But a low-level nuclear device? Big time."
"What?" Nadia screeched. "Can you still track him?"
"Yes, but--"
"Just let me know when he starts moving and when he's clear."
"Very well."
Nadia got up and began to pace around the room. She knew in her head that
he was going to be OK, that his wish would still protect him, but based on what
happened with the Kavenoff, she still had a lingering doubt or two.
"What do you mean a nuclear device?" Robotnik demanded as his computer
returned the same analysis as Donovan's. "Am I safe here?"
"Yes", the computer said. "The irradiated area is 1 mile in diameter, and
this is 2 miles from the explosion site. You are quite safe."
"But I'll bet I lost a few hundred worker-bots," Robotnik muttered. "Even
if they had survived, there's no way they'll ever be useful to me."
"Records show that an order was given removing all roboticized Mobians
from the irradiated area five minutes before the explosion."
Robotnik muttered a curse and threw a piece of scrap metal at the console.
"I thought I eliminated all his access codes." He activated the communicator.
"SWATbot battallions three through eight, converge on area and begin cleanup.
Squadrons one and two report to roboticizer room and guard it; let no one pass
but me."
"ORDERS ACKNOWLEDGED." various SWATbots droned.
Robotnik sat back in his chair, regarding the monitors before him darkly.
"Snively's out to destroy me," he thought. "I continue to underestimate my
nephew, but perhaps he will underestimate me as well."
Donovan studied the map on the monitors carefully from where he was
hidden, checking to see if his escape route passed through the irradiated area.
Fortunately, it didn't. He quickly finished setting up his equipment and left,
trying not to make any noise.
"He's on the move," the computer told Nadia. "He'll be out of the static
area in ten minutes."
Nadia nodded, continuing to pace. "As soon as he is, get him back here."
Meanwhile, in a hidden base, Dorian Lexford anxiously awaited the return
of his friends. "That explosion affected an area bigger than I thought," he
said worriedly. "I hope they had enough time to get clear."
As if on cue, a knocking was heard at the door. Dorian waited while a
specific pattern was repeated three times before getting up to open it. "I was
getting worried," he said.
Snively walked in, followed by Metal Sonic. "There was nothing to worry
about," Snively said. "I knew exactly how much time we had and where we had to
be clear from. Did you give the command like I told you to?"
Dorian nodded. "I sent it exactly like you said; no roboticized Mobians
got caught in the blast, though more than a few SWATbots were."
"Did you remember to access the power grids?" Metal Sonic asked.
Dorian just glared at the robot. For his answer, he punched a few keys on
the nearby console and the schematics came up. "You were right," he said.
"There were two places that had their own power source: the main room, and the
roboticizer."
Snively nodded, smiling. "Well, well, it seems my uncle has found the
perfect hiding place for the Emerald. I guess we should go and take it from
him."
"Not wise," Dorian said. "Robotnik has two battallions of SWATbots
guarding the roboticizer. We wouldn't stand a chance."
"Good point," Snively said. "We'll wait a couple of days for everything
to die down. And just when he's least expecting it, we strike!"
Donovan made his way carefully through Robotropolis, avoiding the SWATbots
that seemed to be everywhere. His only thoughts were about getting out of the
city without being discovered. He stopped short as he heard SWATbots in front
of him, but also heard some coming up behind him. "Great," he thought, looking
both ways.
Just before he was spotted, a white light enveloped him and he was
teleported back to his hut. As he tried to recover his equilibrium, he was
tackled to the floor by Nadia and covered in kisses. "I'm so glad you're
safe!" she cried in between kisses.
"I'm glad to be back too," Donovan said, when she let him catch his
breath. "But next time could you allow me to get my sight back before you
tackle me?"
Nadia sat on his chest. "Why? So you could see me coming and avoid it?
No way."
"Yeah, yeah," Donovan muttered, but didn't seem all that upset.
Nadia smiled and started to lay down on him, but stopped herself. "As
much as I'd love to continue this, hopefully all the way, we can't."
Donovan just stared up at her. "You mean you're finally listening to me?"
he asked.
"No," she said, standing and pulling him to his feet, "it's just that we
have to get to Knothole. I'm not entirely sure what happened in Robotropolis,
but whatever did showed me the location of the Lightning Emerald. I really
think the others will want to know."
"Perhaps, even though I don't think it would be a good idea to go after
the roboticizer right now," Donovan said thoughtfully.
"How did you.... Nevermind. Let's just get going."
Meanwhile over in Knothole's War Room, all the major Freedom Fighters were
gathered to discuss the latest surveillance. Sally plugged Nicole into the
holographic projector and sighed. "Well, we haven't found it yet," Sally said,
pushing some buttons, "but at least we're narrowing where it's not." As she
spoke, certain sections of the holograph went dark.
"That's good," Sondra said. "There are only so many places it can be; we
have to find it eventually."
"I've been wondering something," Uncle Chuck said. "We've been spending
so much time and energy trying to keep ourselves from being spotted that would
be better spent on the Race itself."
"Trying to find the Emerald is part of the Race, Uncle Chuck," Tails
pointed out.
"You're right. But I got to thinking that since this is the last Emerald,
why not just let Robotnik have it so we can start going all out on him? Maybe
set up a trap for him or something when he actually claims it."
"It makes sense," Rotor said, sticking his head through a window. With
everyone else gathered inside, he and Dulcy were more comfortable sitting
outside, especially with Dulcy pregnant. "I've been waiting to try out my
powers on Robotropolis."
Dulcy whacked Rotor lightly on his nose. "Rotor, we're Protectors, we
can't use our powers to just attack any time we feel like it."
"That's true, but once the Emeralds are decided, wouldn't we be attacking
to protect all of Mobius from the return of Chaos?"
"He's got you there," Uncle Chuck said.
Dulcy mumbled something to herself, rubbing her belly. But before she
could say anything, she was cut off by the sounds of two pairs of approaching
rocket boots. "Looks like they finally showed up," she said, sitting back.
Sondra got up and opened the door just as Nadia and Donovan touched down.
"Thanks, Sondra," Nadia said, giving her friend a hug.
"You're just in time," Uncle Chuck said. "I was just asking the others
for permission to--"
"No offense, Uncle Chuck," Nadia interrupted, "but I think what we have to
say is a little more important. We found where the Lightning Emerald is!"
Every head turned to look at them. "How?" Sally demanded.
"By accident, really," Nadia admitted. "Snively blew up Robotnik's main
generator and according to the power grids only two areas had power: the main
command center and the roboticizer."
"Of course!" Sally exclaimed. "The one room we couldn't check out
because of all the cameras and security equipment in there. You two have done
well."
"How long will the power be out?" Sondra asked.
"Until Robotnik gets his auxiliary generator up and running," Donovan
said, speaking for the first time since he showed up. "But by all accounts, he
should have done that already. How long that holds out is questionable,
though, because he's going to have to build a whole new generator."
"Why can't he just rebuild?" Sally asked. "That's what he used to do
when we got at his generator."
"We never nuked the generator before," Donovan said grimly.
A deathly silence fell over the War Room. "He did what?" Tails asked,
his voice low and threatening.
"Snive-ly used a nuclear device to blow up the generator, rendering the
area around it for one mile in every direction useless and unfit for life."
Tails stood up so fast his chair clattered to the floor. "Do you know
what that means?" he snarled, rounding on Lydia. "He and your boyfriend just
killed thousands of Mobians!"
Lydia was too shocked to say anything at first. Sondra grabbed Tails and
wrestled him to the ground. "Easy Miles!" she yelled, fighting to keep him
pinned down. "Easy!"
"He couldn't have had anything to do with it," Lydia whispered, hugging
Isabela close to her. "He couldn't have."
"Actually, I'm quite sure he did," Donovan said. "He's probably the one
who sent the command ordering all roboticized Mobians out of the area five
minutes before the blast went off."
Tails stopped struggling suddenly and Sondra hauled him to his feet. "See
what happens when you don't have all the facts," Sondra said, righting his
chair and sitting him down in it roughly. "With all we've been through I
figured you would've learned that by now."
Lydia breathed a sigh of relief and smiled slightly. Isabela smiled up at
her mother and hugged her. "Dorian's a good man," she said.
"Yes he is, honey," Lydia whispered, wiping away a tear.
"Save that energy, Tails," Sally said. "We're gonna need all that when we
go after the Emerald."
"Not today, I hope," Donovan said. "Robotnik's expecting just that."
"Good point," Sally said, rubbing her chin. "All right, if you know so
much, when's the best time to go?"
Donovan checked his watch. "In exactly two days, four hours," he said.
"That's the exact moment Robotnik will let his guard down, and the moment when
Snive-ly will strike."
Sally let out a low whistle. "Anything else we should know?"
"Yes. Expect a trap on the roboticizer."
"I don't suppose you happen to know what kind of trap?"
"That, no. Before I had a chance to discover it, Sondra came to me with
that information about my parents, and I haven't gone back since."
"You knew about it for four months?!" Sally nearly screeched. "Why
didn't you tell us about it sooner?"
"I was too busy keeping the Kavenoff's damage to a minimum. Besides, I'm
still not used to being part of a team."
"But the Kavenoff's been gone for over a month!"
"Which I spent trying to get used to having only one eye," Donovan said
angrily. "And that's a subject I'm still very testy about, thank you!"
"Let it go, my Princess," Antoine said softly. "I am knowing how hard it
is to adjust to what that monster did to us."
Bunnie took hold of Antoine's hand, which had begun to tremble. "He's
right, Sally-girl," she said, running a finger over the scar just above her
eye.
Sally's face softened. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "All right, we'll
follow your advice, Donovan. Try to find out what the trap is if you can; the
rest of us will be ready."
Sonic, who had sitting quietly until this moment, spoke up softly. "Do
you even have to ask? Even I know what the trap is. As soon as someone
touches the Emerald, the thing's gonna go off and roboticize whoever's there."
Everyone just looked at Sonic, mouths slightly open. Donovan clapped his
hand to his forehead. "Why didn't I think of that?" he muttered under his
breath.
"We can deal with that easily enough," Sally said. "All we have to do is
cut the power--"
"That's a no-go, Sally," Nadia said. "He's using the Lightning Emerald to
power the roboticizer; no way to cut the power."
Uncle Chuck started trembling slightly, and Sonic put a hand on his
Uncle's shoulder. "It's cool, Unc," he said softly. "You're the only one here
who knows what it's like to be under that thing and remembers it. You don't
have to come along."
"Yes I do, Sonic," Uncle Chuck said bravely. "I'm the one that designed
that thing; I've got the best bet at disconnecting the Emerald safely."
"I can try to make some shields," Sondra suggested. "The crystals I
created to reverse the roboticization gun should work on the roboticizer as
well, which means it won't have any effect on you if the beam passes through
the shield."
"Too risky," Uncle Chuck pointed out. "If the beam hits the shield wrong,
who knows what effect the crystal will have on it. Besides, I don't think it's
a good idea to carry around something that big that's gonna explode after we
use it."
Sondra winced slightly, but nodded. "Well, what about the metal shields
we used to use? They should work."
"I've got a better idea," Sonic said. "Back when I dealt with Robotnik
and his Doomsday Device, I fought off the beam with my power rings. If I take
enough and reach through them to grab the Emerald, I should be able to fight it
off again."
"And what about your hand?" Sally asked. "That won't be protected."
Sonic looked at Sally for a moment, then looked at Bunnie. "Bunnie lived
with three robotic limbs for over half her life. One hand isn't that big a
sacrifice."
Sally opened her mouth to say something, but Sonic stopped her. "Sal,
it's the best way we got, and you know it. If anyone else has a better idea,
I'm all ears." He turned to look each one in their eyes, but they all simply
shook their heads and looked away. "I didn't think so. Don't bail on me with
this Sal, I'm gonna need you there with me."
Sally closed her eyes and nodded once. "OK Sonic," she whispered
brokenly, "you win. We'll do things your way."
Sonic nodded and stood up. Without saying another word, he left the War
Room. As Sonic passed by him, Donovan patted him on the back. Sally watched
him go, tears in her eyes. "I've never seen Sonic so distant," she whispered.
"Why is he being like this?"
Donovan took Nadia by the hand and whispered something in her ear.
Nadia's eyes widened for a moment, but she quickly nodded. She walked to Sally
and placed her hand on the princess' shoulder. "Sally, can I ask you a
question? Who won the Fire Emerald?"
Sally turned to look at Nadia. "I'm in no mood for--"
"Humor me," Nadia said, smiling.
Sally sighed. "Robotnik, but you know that."
"Ok, then, what about the Water Emerald?"
"We did."
"I mean who specifically."
"Oh, I guess that would be Lydia, then."
"The Earth Emerald?"
"I did, even though Isabela's the one who found it."
"Life?"
"Sondra and you."
"Wind?"
"Snively got that one."
"Shadow?"
"The six of you that went."
"Two last questions. Where's Sonic's name on that list?"
Sally stared at Nadia. "You mean he feels bad that he hasn't won an
Emerald?"
"It's more than that. My other question is: of the Emeralds we don't
have, who was the one that tried to get them?"
Sally's mouth opened in a small "o" of wonder. Nadia glanced around and
saw much the same expression on the faces of everyone there. Everyone, but
Donovan, of course, who had clued her in to the problem. "Think about it for
a second. Yes, Sally, you're the princess, but we all look to Sonic as our
leader. Yet he's really the only one who hasn't gotten an Emerald, and he's
failed when he's tried. How do you think that must make him feel?"
"I never realized...." Sally said slowly. "I have to go to him." She
ran from the War Room, calling Sonic's name.
"I think this meeting is adjourned," Donovan said, holding out his hand
to Nadia.
Just then, a strange sound came from outside. Everyone looked out the
window and saw Dulcy with her head in a hastily dug hole. More than one face
in that War Room took on a greenish tinge as they realized what was going on.
At that moment, Patricia walked by with Kelly Min in her arms. "I know what
that's like," she whispered to Dulcy. "It'll be over soon."
Maurice walked directly to Rotor, who had faced away during all this. "I
wouldn't be too worried about this," he said. "It's when she starts getting
mad at you that you better know how to run. Or in your case, fly."
Rotor closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. "I thought I'd never be
in this position," he muttered.
Maurice smiled. "Is it worth it?"
Rotor took a long look at Dulcy, who had finished and was filling in her
hole. A smile played upon his snout. "Yes, it is," he answered.
"Remember that. In the coming months, it's all too easy to forget."
Sally caught up to Sonic just as he was entering his hut. "Sonic, we need
to talk," she said.
"What's there to talk about, Sal?" Sonic asked. "We both know what's
gotta be done, and we both know why."
"I know how you've been feeling," Sally said quietly.
Sonic turned to look at her for a moment. "Tails has a really big mouth
sometimes," he muttered.
"Tails knew? He seemed just as surprised as the rest of us. Actually, it
was Donovan and Nadia who tipped me off."
Sonic shook his head and opened the door. "Well, there's nothing you can
do to change my mind, Sal. I'm going to do this."
"I'm not trying to change your mind, Sonic. I just wanted to let you know
that I'll be there for you, always."
Sonic bowed his head for a moment, then turned around quickly and gave
Sally a hug. Sally put her arms around him and they just stood there for a
while, holding each other. Later on, they would talk, and train, but for the
moment, this was exactly what they both needed.
The next two days passed rather uneventfully, with only two incidents
worth mentioning. The first occurred during training. During a wrestling
match, Sonic was knocked cold by a left-arm clothesline from Antoine. Even
though he had the arm heavily padded, Sonic had accidentally moved the padding
aside with an armbar, and Antoine never realized it. It took a couple hours
for Sonic to come around, and even then he was groggy the rest of the day.
Everyone feared he might have a concussion, but those fears were quickly laid
to rest by Knuckles. Ordinarily, they would've went to Tanis about it, but
they didn't want to bother him, especially seeing Rosie had moved into
Sanctuary.
The second incident caused a great deal more concern, though. It all
started when Rotor made an unscheduled flight to Donovan's hut in the middle of
the night and knocked on the door furiously. Donovan and Nadia woke up
immediately from the loud noise. "Computer," Nadia called, half-groggy and
half-angry, "who's out there?"
"A rather large, and rather agitated platinum dragon," the computer
answered.
Nadia and Donovan just looked at each other. Without another word, they
threw on their clothes and ran to the door. "What could he want this time of
night?" Donovan muttered, opening the door.
Rotor almost bowled them over, trying to get inside. "Oh good, you're
up. I don't suppose you have any avocados, do you?"
Donovan turned his good eye on Nadia, who returned his look. He glanced
back at Rotor. "You mean to tell me, Boomer, that you woke us up in the middle
of the night, knocked us on our tails trying to fit through the door for some
stinking avocados?"
Rotor picked him up and dragged Donovan outside. The night sky was lit
up with flashes of red and orange from the direction of Knothole. "Fine, you
tell Dulcy she can't have any," he said, dropping Donovan on the ground.
Nadia came out of the hut, looking at the display. "What's gotten into
her?" she demanded.
Rotor didn't even turn around. "Have you ever dealt with a pregnant,
hungry Protector in a very cranky mood? Especially when she wants the one
fruit _not_ grown on the Floating Island?"
Donovan got to his feet very slowly, rubbing his posterior. But before he
could vent his frustration, Rotor picked him up and looked him square in the
eye. "If we don't find a way to calm her down, she could destroy the whole
Great Forest!"
Donovan nearly growled in anger as Rotor set him on his feet. "Computer,"
he called, "is there anywhere on Mobius with avocados in season?"
"Scanning through memory banks...."
"Could you scan a little faster please?" Donovan yelled.
"Aren't we the cranky one?" the computer muttered. "Match found.
Avocados are currently in season on the islands in the Southern Ocean."
"Outta here," Rotor said, taking off quickly and "cracking the whip".
"You're welcome," Donovan yelled after him.
"Donovan, he's not gonna be back for hours," Nadia said. "We'd better get
over there and help with damage control." Donovan let out a bitter sigh and
nodded grudging agreement. They set off for Knothole, with Nadia making one
final comment along the way. "After seeing all this, I'm not in such a hurry
to get pregnant anymore."
Donovan turned to look at her. Nadia smiled back, but it was a scared
smile. "At least one good thing came of tonight," he muttered.
All told, fifteen trees were lost to Dulcy's rage. Fortunately, all
injuries suffered were minor and easily treatable. But Knuckles placed a
spell on Dulcy preventing her from losing her temper like that again, for which
Rotor, and most of Knothole, was extremely grateful.
The next day, while everyone else was trying to do what they could to fix
the damage Dulcy had caused, Sonic and Sally were preparing to go to
Robotropolis and get the Lightning Emerald. Everyone wanted to go with them,
but Sally was adamant about it. "A smaller group has less chance of being
seen," Sally pointed out. "As soon as Robotnik knows we're there, all he has
to do is get his hand on the Emerald and we lose it."
"We all know that, Sally," Nadia pointed out. "That doesn't mean we don't
want to help anyway."
"Thanks, but this has to be just me and Sonic."
"Ready Sal?" Sonic asked, getting his backpack ready.
"You have enough power rings?" Sally asked, helping him adjust the
straps.
"Got five in there. I only needed three last time."
Sally nodded. "Wish us luck," she called, revving up her legs in time
with Sonic.
They all said their goodbyes, and then Sonic and Sally took off. Nadia
and Donovan, who had been helping clear away the charred trees, took advantage
of the others' distractions and slipped back to their hut where they could
keep an eye on everything that would happen.
At almost the same time, Snively and Dorian were making plans to get the
Emerald themselves. "I still don't see why I can't come," Metal Sonic
grumbled, handing Dorian his backpack.
"We've been through this," Snively said. "Besides, you came last time."
"Yeah, but I don't see any reason for you to put yourself at risk over
this. Let Dorian and me go."
Snively shook his head. "You two still don't get along unless I'm around
to watch. Look, the cameras at Robotropolis still can't pick me up. Now if
Dorian stays close enough to me, he'll be shielded as well. But I can't say
the same for you; the virus works for living creatures only."
Metal Sonic nodded, but he didn't look happy. Dorian and Snively left
without another word, heading straight for Robotropolis.
Where Snively and Dorian planned on making a beeline straight for the
roboticizer, Sonic and Sally had to take a very long, roundabout path to avoid
being spotted. Believe it or not, it was Sonic who suggested taking such a
route. "We're not taking any chances, Sal," he whispered as they dodged by
another camera. "I want to get this Emerald."
Sally just nodded, keeping quiet. Though she would never let him know it,
seeing Sonic this serious frightened her in a way. She knew he was putting his
all into getting the Emerald, and was worried about what would happen if
something went wrong. She tried not to think about it, but the more she tried,
the more it kept popping up.
"Hey!" Sonic whispered furiously, grabbing Sally's arm and pulling her
out of the path of a spotlight. "What's the matter with you?"
Sally covered her worry as best she could and forced a smile. "I'm OK,
Sonic. I'm just...thinking ahead to when we'll have to get the other Emeralds
from Robotnik and Snively."
Sonic let out a small sigh. "Sal, let's just concentrate on getting this
one first, OK?"
Sally nodded and they crept onward, moving slowly toward the roboticizer
and the Emerald within it.
Donovan and Nadia sat in their hut, monitoring the progress Sonic and
Sally were making. "I was afraid of this," Donovan said, shaking his head.
"Afraid of what?" Nadia asked. "It looks like they're making good
progress."
"Not quite. Look at them; one of them is moving purposefully while the
other seems to be dragging a little."
"Why is that surprising?"
"The chip I placed is the one moving purposefully."
Nadia stared at the screen. "I see your point," she said. "But as long
as they're doing their job, we don't have any reason to worry, right?"
"For now, but if they keep going the rate they're going, one of two things
will happen."
"Well?" Nadia asked, getting impatient.
"One thing, their emotions will get the better of them which will get them
either spotted by Robotnik or make them careless around the roboticizer."
"Give them some credit. I've never seen Sonic so committed to something,
except Sally, that is."
"There's a fine line between commitment and obsession."
Nadia waved it aside. "What's the second thing?"
For answer, Donovan merely looked at the screen. Nadia followed his gaze
and saw a red line forming where alarms were being tripped. "But those alarms
are nowhere near Sonic and Sally," Nadia said. "Don't tell me...."
"And that's number two." Donovan just sat back and watched as the line
grew closer and closer to the path Sonic and Sally had agreed to take.
In his command center, Robotnik had just begun reassigning the SWATbots
who were on cleanup duty back to their stations when alarms started blaring.
But when he looked on the monitors, he saw nothing wrong. "What is happening
out there?" he demanded of his computer.
"Alarm malfunction," the computer answered. "The alarms are being tripped
but I can find no evidence of anyone tripping them."
"Bring up alarm grid on main viewer." Robotnik studied the grid, seeing
the straight line that was being made to the roboticizer. "Ready my
transport," he snarled, stalking from the room.
Sonic and Sally continued on their route, until they came upon a tripped
alarm. "What gives?" Sonic asked. "We didn't do this."
Sally pulled Nicole from her boot. "Nicole, is this a malfunction?" she
asked, opening the computer up.
"Negative, Sally," Nicole said. "Scanners indicate that there are two
lifeforms heading along a straight path to the roboticizer."
"Nicole, identify lifeforms."
"They are Snively and Dorian Lexford."
"Let's get moving, Sal!" Sonic yelled, revving up his legs.
"Sonic, wait!" Sally said.
"We can't Sal. If we follow their path, it'll make things a lot easier."
"But if we're spotted...."
"If we don't Snively gets the Emerald."
Sally nodded, replacing Nicole and revving up her own legs. They took off
down the path Snivley and Dorian had left behind them.
Unknown to them, however, Snively and Dorian were already at the
roboticizer. "There's the Emerald," Dorian said, pointing at the focusing lens
on the machine.
"It seems too easy," Snively observed. "It was nothing to disable these
SWAtbots, so I'm betting there's a trap on that Emerald. Let's be careful
about this."
Dorian nodded, opening up an access panel. They worked in silence for a
few moments, silence that was suddenly broken the sound of an approaching
sonic boom. Dorian looked at the doorway, seeing Sonic and Sally suddenly
appear. "No time," he said, making a grab for the Emerald.
At that moment, Snively saw the danger. Just as Dorian touched the
Emerald, activating the trap, Snively dived and shoved him out of the way.
Dorian fell to the side and tried to pull Snively with him, but it was too
late.
The glass tube slammed down, trapping Snively. A split second later, the
roboticizer hummed to life, filling the room with a purple light. Before
anyone could move or react, Snively had been fully roboticized.
The glass tube retracted and the Lightning Emerald fell to the floor
beside Snively's feet. "I believe this is mine," a harsh voice said.
Robotnik emerged from a side room and picked up the Emerald with ease.
As soon as Robotnik retrieved the Emerald, Knuckles appeared in a flash
of light. "All seven Emeralds have been claimed," he said. "All rules have
been repealed. You are free to do whatever you must to gain all seven."
"Exactly what I wanted to hear," Robotnik said, pulling out a laser rifle
and aiming right for Sonic's head. But almost before the laser left the rifle,
Sonic and Sally were enveloped in another flash of light and teleported back to
Knothole. Robotnik whipped the rifle around to draw a bead on Dorian, but he
was already out the door.
"It's no matter," Robotnik said, looking over the robot in front of him.
"You, stay here until I find a place for you." He walked from the room through
the same door he had entered, noting peripherally that Knuckles had also
vanished.
When the room was quiet, Dorian crept back into the room and stood before
the robot that had been his friend. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, regarding
Snively with a saddened face.
The robot stood unmoving for a few moments, then a smile broke out on its
metallic face. "Don't be sad," the robot said, laying his hand on Dorian's
shoulder. "Everything is working out just fine."
Dorian raised an eyebrow. "But how? Don't tell me you had another virus
in the roboticizer program."
Snively shook his head. "I had the Wind Emerald on me," he said simply.
"Apparently, it protected me to some extent. Now you'd better get out of here
before someone finds you."
Dorian nodded and quickly left the room. Snively resumed his pose,
looking like nothing but a robot on the outside. But in his mind, he was
already planning ways of getting the other Emeralds from his uncle and then the
Freedom Fighters.
Sonic and Sally were confused. One moment, they were in Robotropolis,
about to be fired on. But now, they were underwater, just above the Power Ring
generator. Sally kicked to the surface, dragging Sonic with her. She pushed
him onto the shore and pulled herself up after him.
"Sally?" Sondra asked, disengaging from the kiss she and Tails were
sharing. "What happened?"
"We blew it," Sonic answered, pushing himself up to his feet. Without
another word, he walked off, dripping wet, heading for his hut.
Tails started to go after Sonic, but Sally stopped him. "He's going to
need some time, honey," Sally said softly. "Let's leave him alone for now."
Sonic walked to his hut and threw himself down on his bed. To anyone
passing by, it would have looked like he was asleep. But in reality, Sonic was
planning, planning for something he felt was now inevitable: a day in the near
future when the fate of all Mobius would rest on his shoulders. But that was
still in the future. For now, he still had to deal with the fact that the
Race for the Emeralds has now truly begun.
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