Chapter 1: The Proposition
Downunda, mysterious ruins near the Great Crater, several months ago
Duck "Bill" Platypus stood alone outside a small scattering of aged ruins near the fabled Great Crater of Downunda, the rim of which rose over ten stories into the air. Little was known about the mysterious architectural remnants of an ancient society long since vanished, but they were usually attributed to the same individuals who created the Great Crater in an effort to save their homeland. As he waited, heart thumping in throat, for Dr. Eggman's air transport to arrive, Bill made a effort to shut out the storm of emotions inside his head by staring at the various half-eroded buildings nearby, pondering what they were for and why they were abandoned. The pain of having to betray his friends, the Downunda Freedom Fighters, had already begun to take its toll on his emotional well-being, but he wasn't about to show the doctor any weakness whatsoever. Far too much was at stake.
His purposeful distraction was not working, Bill realized, as he felt a single tear making its way down his face. No...don't lose your composure now, he told himself, wiping the tear from his cheek. He noticed the shape of a red and gray blimp descending from up above, signaling the arrival of Dr. Eggman. C'mon, get it together, Bill old boy. Just act obedient and respectful, like the perfect lackey, and it'll all be over soon enough.
The blimp, adorned with the insignia of the Eggman Empire, gradually made its way to a patch ground near the Great Crater, extending its landing gear and making a touchdown near the ruins as small puffs of dust rose around the landing gear. Bill felt his hands shaking as the vehicle's exit ramp opened and extended downward from the underside of the aircraft. Dr. Eggman, the supreme leader of the Empire, stepped out of the blimp and walked down the ramp, a broad smile on his face as he was no doubt overjoyed at the opportunity to enslave another big batch of Mobians.
Bill bowed to the obese dictator standing importantly in front of him. Dr. Eggman, for his part, was slightly suspicious about the platypus's sudden change in allegiance, but chose to ignore this suspicion. "Welcome to Downunda, sir! It pleases me that you were able to answer my summons so promptly," greeted Bill as he rose to his feet. "Might I show you around our little establishment here...?"
"Nah, that won't be necessary," said Eggman, looking at the back of his hand as if it were more fascinating than Bill himself. "I've already reviewed your request, and I'm happy to inform you that I accept your offer. You and your people will be inducted into my army, outfitted with brand-spanking-new cybernetic enhancements, given some spiffy new uniforms andbe given the resources you need to conquer the entire continent in the name of the glorious Eggman Empire!" Eggman paused, strumming his great mustache as though he were forgetting something. "Oh yes, how silly of me; I seem to have forgotten one trivial detail. There's also the matter of all of you swearing your eternal and undying loyalty to the Eggman Empire," added the doctor.
"Sir, help me restore my people to power, and you'll have my loyalty until the day I die," said the smiling Bill, and Eggman reached out and shook his hand even as he knew he wasn't the least bit sincere. "I will do whatever it takes, and that includes betraying my old buddies in the Downunda Freedom Fighters. Believe me, you won't regret this decision, doctor."
"I know I won't," replied Eggman, withdrawing his hand and gazing at the massive rim of the nearby crater. "Perhaps this Great Crater would make a suitable location for your chapter's base, hmm? Anyway, in precisely three days, I expect that you will have your people gathered and waiting in this exact location, at which time you will receive and install the mandatory cybernetic upgrades."
"Very well, sir," stated Bill, performing another polite bow in the presence of his new leader. "Is that all?"
Eggman nodded. "Indeed. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go have a discussion with more future army leaders." Bill stood and walked away, and once he was out of sight behind the stone buildings of the ruins, nearly began crying over what he had done. No, I won't break down now, not when everything's already been said and done. I had absolutely no choice, thought Bill, wiping away the first tears. With me at the helm I can mismanage things enough to keep us from making any real progress. As much as it pains me to betray my mates in the Freedom Fighters...I'm doing the right thing in the long run. I know I am.
Meanwhile, Dr. Eggman turned and began to enter his transport, when suddenly a shiny glint caught his eye from the stone ruins near a pile of rubble under a half-collapsed building. He blinked and squinted, and after a few seconds of examination deduced it to be a piece of metal or something-except metal really didn't belong in ancient stone ruins. He snapped his fingers, and two chubby orange Egg Pawns exited the entrance to the flying transport, metal clanking with every step taken.
"Sir," they announced simultaneously and in monotone, saluting with their thin segmented fingers as they made their way down the boarding ramp.
Eggman pointed to the pile of stone debris, at the metallic object almost completely buried under rocks. "There's something that caught my eye over there; it looks like just a piece of metal, but you never really know until you look. Go and dig out that little doohickey."
"Yes, sir," responded the Pawns, obeying immediately. They clunked over the the stones and began removing them with little effort. Dr. Eggman watched, wide-eyed beneath his tinted glasses, as his pawns unearthed a bizarre orange object from the rubble, covered in layer upon layer of dust. It was a robot, about the size of the average Mobian and apparently long-past useful, though it seemed to be undamaged. The robots delivered the odd machine to their master, who glanced over it, carefully examining its sleek metal body.
"Put that thing in the cargo hold," ordered the doctor, "as it just might prove useful to us." The Pawns did as they were told, but suddenly as they made their way up the ramp the robot began speaking. "Show...power...OR I sh...all ob...ey...Sha...ll conqu...r a...ll..." it sputtered, both of its cyan-colored eyes glowing briefly. "I sha...ll not...represent...and become...of all..." it continued before sputtering out completely.
The Pawn holding the robot looked up at Eggman, who was downright astounded. "How very intriguing," murmured the doctor, his words hardly doing the situation justice.