Transformation

I awake in the middle of the night. The bright red numbers on the alarm clock say two thirty four, but the clock is early. I always set my clock early, to wake up early. It's silly, I know, but it helps me.

What wakes me up is the constant feeling of abdominals spasms. At first it's not that bad, just enough to coax me out of sleep, but suddenly it worsens. I feel sick, and throw the covers off immediately. I land on one mechanical knee, the floor cracking loudly under my heavy robotic limbs.

Disregard this, and scramble to my feet, and stumble into the bathroom. I fall to my knees at the toilet, and begin to puke, almost as if it were on cue. I don't remember ingesting something so... red.

Me? Okay, I suppose if you really want to know. My name is Bunnie Rabbot, and no, it's not a coincidence. This is a nickname given to me by the freedom fighters. Even though I hate this name more than you could possibly conceive, I don't say anything, because they saved me. I owe them my life, so they can call me what ever they want.

Unlike most of the freedom fighters, I did not grow up fearing Robotnik. It isn't that he wasn't scary, because he was, and still very much is. I just lived on a farm, out in the middle of the forest, and it took longer for his reach to head to that side of the great forest.

I was very sheltered as a child. I didn't have any friends, the only people I knew where my parents. We didn't have any television, and my parents seldom went to town. Then, after a while, they just stopped altogether. I never got to go to town, because my dad said it was too dangerous. I would beg to go, but never to any avail.

I think they knew, they just didn't want to scare me. I think they knew that whole time about Robotnik, and we were just hiding from him, but they never told me anything. In fact, I'm pretty sure of it. Even when the time came, which wasn't long ago at all, they only told me to hide.

It was an ordinary day. Crazy things always happen on days that seem extremely ordinary, to the point where that line is incredibly clichéd. My dad was outside, working in the yard, and my mom was cleaning the windows. I was sitting at the kitchen table, drawing a picture of a pig.

Suddenly my mom yells at me, telling me to hide, and runs out the front door. I ran for the cellar. You had to go outside to get to the cellar. Wooden double doors, sticking out of the ground, slightly angled with a chain on them. The cellar was locked, and it was too late. I was suddenly snatched by metallic arms, and hoisted into the air, kicking and screaming.

It was only after I heard the gunshots from the other side of the house that I just gave up, and wept.

I was escorted to a train. There was an abundance of mobians already in the cars. Prisoners, like me. Other mobians around me, being pushed into the cars ahead of me. Robots, and fleshy pink mobian-like creatures I now know as humans, were pointing guns, and doing the pushing.

Only one person tried to escape. A grey cat just bolted, out of nowhere. I heard gasps, and murmurs behind me, and I turned to see him pushing others out of the way, trying to make it to some kind of sanctuary. They didn't even try to catch him.

A sudden gunshot; followed immediately by the grey cat's fall to one knee. The bullet had hit him in the right thigh, and there was blood visible all down his leg, as he tried vainly to stagger away. I could hear him grunting in pain as he forced himself, back to his feet. More gunshots landed him back to the ground, this time on both knees, as bullets entered his back, and ripped through his stomach, bringing vital organs with them.

I was suddenly pushed forward, and into the dark train car. The stink of body odor surrounded me, as I made my way through the crowded space. I found a place near the wall to sit. During this time, all I could really ponder was what they wanted with us.

Hours stacked on top of hours, I can only tell it's been more than one day because of the barred window placed directly above me. I havn't had anything to drink in a while, and it's been even longer since I have eaten.

Sit down, lean my back against the wall. Perhaps rest can be attained, but doubtful. Not for lack of being tired, but there is simply too much on my mind to sleep. Too many unanswered questions. Too many answers to questions that I didn't want.

God, I have to pee. The car constantly rocking and shaking isn't helping either.

They brought us to Robotropolis, although at the time I had no idea what it was. If I stood on my tiptoes, I could see out the barred window. I figured we were in a city of sorts, noting all the large stone structures with windows. Those must be buildings. I had never been privy to anything quite like this.

My feet were growing tired, so I leaned against the wall, and sat down with my knees to my chest. I tried not to think too hard about the situation, because every time I did, I cried. There wasn't much else to think about, though. A few of the people in the car were still hysterical, but most of them were staying silent, or crying to themselves.

I closed my eyes, and rested the right side of my face on my knees. It wasn't long after that the train stopped, and I could hear the doors unlocking.

As I said earlier, I didn't have any television or friends as a child. I liked taking care of the animals. I had a sense of accomplishment, a feeling that my presence was needed in order for their survival. In my leisure time, I would read, or draw. I loved books! Fantasy books were the best. I would pretend to be that beautiful princess awaiting a knight in shining armor. So childish and silly.

I love to draw as well. I can sketch landscapes pretty well, but I could never capture the true beauty of them. My talent seemed to lean towards animals. Though my pictures weren't realistic, they were cartoonish, and cute. I would make characters, give them names, and put them in little scenarios.

Wish I had some paper.
Wish I had a pen.
Wish I had some food.
Wish I had a toilet.
Wish my parents weren't dead.

And despite having to pee, I'm extremely thirsty.

It wasn't long before they forced us out of the car, and into a long line, going down the length of the train. The fleshy pink things were pointing in the direction to walk. After a while, one human pointed left, guiding us all through some double doors, and into a bright hallway.

We traveled down this hall for a good time, passing by humans pointing what corridors to go down, and robots holding guns, making sure no one who tries to run makes it out alive. At the end of the hallway, I could see prisoners were taking either a left, or a right. I couldn't, however, see the human that was telling each one which way to go.

I later found out, the reason I couldn't see him at all until I got extremely close, was that he was incredibly small. He was bald, and he wore a lab coat. When I walked up to him, he looked at me, smirking. He appeared to be thinking real hard about where to send me. His smirk finally turned into a full smile, and he pointed left.

It was here I started to ponder what exactly was down this hallway, as opposed to the right one.

I am guided to yet another line in yet another hallway. This one I wait in for hours, just barely inching forward. Finally, we pass through some double doors into a very large circular room.

People are lined up around the edge of the wall, and at the 180 mark, they are guided to the center of a room, into a large circle. A mobian, I can't tell what kind from here, is escorted to a chair in the center of this circle, and strapped down. Suddenly, a glass tube falls around him.

I lose all hope once I see the electricity surging through his body.

When the electricity stops, the tube rises again. A robot sits in the mobian's place. A few animals tried to run, choosing death over that fate. They were murdered right there. Just like the grey cat. Just like my parents.

Maybe it isn't so bad, I think to myself. Lies. False solace. My wait is a long one, excruciating even. The wait was the worst part. Watching what horrible event was going to happen to you over and over again before your number is up.

My sobbing was getting loud, and probably very annoying by now.

It takes what seems like an eternity before I'm next. I could hear gunshots coming from the hallway I came in through. Someone must have tried to escape. The tube rises in front of me, and the newly created robot is released from his straps, and he exits. The man who helped him out turns to me, and smiles.

He grabs my hand, and leads me to the chair. I don't fight him. Feel like I should, but no longer posess the will. I just sit down in the chair, and let him strap me in. I watch him scurry back to safety, then I look up at the ceiling. I can see the tube already making its way down. I watch as it closes around me, sealing me from the outside world.

I was suddenly struck by the most painful thing I have ever experienced. This was followed shortly by unconsciousness.

I wake up to glass shards raining down all around me. I'm already screaming when I wake up, or at least I think I am. The glass tube around me has been obliterated, and I can see my savior running toward me. He braves the falling glass to my chair, and starts to relieve me of my restraints.

"Are you okay?"

I've stopped screaming by now, and I just stare stupidly at him. Am I alright? I look down, and what I see makes me start screaming again.

He keeps telling me it's okay, that I'm alright, but it isn't until I notice my right arm is still normal that I stop screaming. He finishes freeing me, and stands up, holding out his left hand to help me up. I take it, and pull him into a hug, sobbing hysterically. I only use my right arm, as not to hurt him. He hugs me back, and speaks quietly to me.

"Can you run?"

I followed him, keeping up with him as best as I could. This hedgehog was extremely fast, and I could tell he was slowing down a lot for me. It was extremely difficult to get used to running efficiently with robotic legs. It's very clumsy at first. He knew which way to go to get out, and it didn't take long. He said there was some sort of distraction going on, but it wouldn't last forever.

We headed for the door where the robots exited, and took a left into a white hallway. Everything looks the same in here, and I'm hoping this hedgehog knows what he is doing. As I hear the gunshots, and screams of my fellow mobians around me, my fear is suddenly replaced by anger.

I realize my intense prejudice towards these fleshy bags, and my hatred for them pushes me further than I thought it could ever go. My thoughts of hope, replaced by the urge to kill every last human and robot I come across.

Clench a steel fist as I try valiantly to keep up. Exhaustion is no longer even an issue for me. I see the hedgehog turn a corner, jumping into a spin dash as his body faces another direction, cutting into something living that I can't see. Blood coats the walls ahead of me, and I catch up to see that the hedgehog has almost completely obliterated a tall, skinny human.

Organs lay everywhere, and his two halves lay on the floor. Split directly down the middle. I stop, and stare for a few seconds, but then I feel the hedgehog's hand on mine, pulling us towards salvation.

Not before I snatch the dead human's pistol off the ground with my right hand.

We run, taking a left into the unmarked door of a workshop of some sort. We are greeted by gunshots, but they were thrown off as well by our sudden burst into the room, so the shots weren't accurate. I can feel bullets ricocheting off my metal arm while shielding my face.

The hedgehog took off; I didn't even see him go. Turned a metal table over with my robotic arm, and ducked behind it. I could hear the sound of the assortment of objects on the table hit the ground, followed by more gunshots. I think there are three of them, perhaps four.

The table behind me is filling with dents, and I decide something should be done very soon when a bullet rips through a dent right next to me. Jump up to see what's going on for a second. Sonic has spin dashed through one of the humans, and taken refuge behind a table on the opposite side of the room. There are two humans left, and one robot.

Duck back down, quickly. Time to think fast.

Dash from behind the table, and over to the left wall, back hitting against it hard. Bring my right hand up, with the gun in it. Try to aim as best I can, which isn't very good with my right hand. Pull the trigger, firing almost blindly into the general direction.

Unload the gun, but only kill one of the humans. He turns, and begins firing at me, when I see the blue blur zipping behind the human, into another spin dash through the tall man's chest. The robot has been occupied with the hedgehog, chasing the blur in vain. Brandishing claws, it heads in my direction.

Take this opportunity to step forward, and catch the robot from the side, bringing my steel fist down like a hammer, disfiguring its metal head, and sending bolts flying. It staggers, but it isn't dead. Stifle its movement by bringing my arm down on it repeatedly.

I kneel over the smashed robot, breathing heavily, but it isn't from being tired. It's a result of the adrenaline rush. I have never quite been privy to anything like this. What happened to me? A gloved hand reaches out in front of me, and I look up to see the hedgehog smirking at me.

"You aren't too bad. My name's Sonic. What's your name?"

Scarlett

"Scarlett?"

Nod.

Scarlett O'Hare

"Doesn't fit"

What?

"You should join the Freedom Fighters. We could use someone like you."

Tell you what. Let's make a deal. You get me out of here, and not only will I join your group, but you can call me whatever you want.

He leads me from the workshop, down some similar hallways. Moving so quickly it doesn't seem possible to take in my surroundings. Keeping up with Sonic isn't too much trouble now. Follow him through this maze of white, and pray to the gods he knows what he is doing.

I trust him.

Left, right, right, left, right, left, left, it gets too confusing, so I stop keeping track. Suddenly a door opens in front of me, and a human comes out. Blood spews from every orifice on his face as I bring my left hand into an uppercut. His chin is pushed in, and he stumbles sideways between the closing door and the wall.

Door closes on his shoulder. Put my foot on it to keep him in place, and bring a left hook to his face, caving it in entirely, finishing off the job. Humans are a lot easier to kill than robots, I've noticed.

"Don't you think that's overkill?" Sonic asks me.

I scoff, and turn.

Just lead the way, Mr. Buzzsaw.

A really bad joke. Inappropriate, too. He doesn't laugh, but he doesn't say anything else. We keep moving towards the exit, which I am hoping is very close.

We went through another unmarked door, and I was happy to see I was greeted by sunlight. A walrus is waiting for us by the door, and I almost attacked him before I realized he was a mobian.

"The plan went accordingly. We have to get the hell out of here, though," the walrus tells Sonic, who replies, "Right. You take Bunnie to Knothole, I'm going to make sure they don't follow us back to the village."

The fat walrus turns to me.

"Nice to meet you Bunnie. My name is Rotor."

Shrug, and shake his odd flipper thing.

Hi Rotor. I guess I'm Bunnie.

VD

LazerTH