Besieged Homeland
by Darren "RedFox" McRoy
Prologue"I just don't understand why we had to come this early."
Sally sighed. It was the fifth time that Sonic had said pretty much the same thing in different wording. Yes, the sun had barely crested the peaks of the tall pines surrounding Knothole Village, but the project was of urgency and needed to be addressed immediately. Besides, they'd both promised Rotor yesterday that they'd meet him at his lab just after dawn. While Sonic liked to keep his promises, he also liked to sleep late. It was an unfitting combo for when those promises were to be carried out before noon.
Six months had passed since the two-week war against Snively and his robotic forces was won. The conflict had ended in victory, but also in tragedy, as young Randall D'Coolette had fallen afoul of an imposter that had roboticized the entire lower half of his body. It was estimated that over a decade would pass before the supply of a natural resource essential to the deroboticization process was replenished. However, Knothole's prime scientists were well on the track of discovering a synthetic substitute for the critical chemical. This was the project that Rotor had to make a formal presentation on today. It was bound to be tedious, but critical. Sally would have to ensure that Sonic didn't nod off in the middle of the demonstration—such behavior did not become his popular image.
"You know how vital this is," Sally replied, keeping a tight hold on her temper. It wasn't easy. This could be the only chance at saving Randall from a dozen years of suffering through a life half-robot, and all that Sonic could think about was how little sleep he had gotten the previous night.
"So vital that it can't wait another two hours?" Sonic would just not let the issue rest. It suited his personality—he simply didn't give up. In battle, that had always been one of his greatest assets. Now, when it came to complaining, his insatiable persistence was just plain annoying. "What's going to happen in the next two hours?"
"You're going to attend this demonstration, that's what." Sally's curiosity broke through her irritation for a moment. Sonic was generally far more responsible than this. "Something's definitely up with you," she said flatly, stopping and turning to face the hedgehog so that he nearly walked into her. "You never act this childish anymore unless you're particularly angry about something."
Sonic scowled. "I have reason to be."
It didn't take long for Sally to figure out what the reason was. When she got it, she let out a surprised snort of laughter. "Oh, come on," she said in disbelief. "You don't mean to tell me that you're still up in arms over the whole Laertes affair?"
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't be!" Sonic retorted. "Sally, do you remember even a fraction of what that creep tried to do to me? To you? To us?"
Sally remembered. Fifteen years ago Laertes, then a falcon in his prime and a hero for his numerous contributions to the war against Robotnik, had been the primary opponent of her marriage to Sonic, a union that had bridged the caste gap to bring together a princess and a lowly commoner. The outcry over the breaking of ancient custom was enormous, and Laertes, a traditionalist pure and simple, had led the faction that sought to keep the two of them apart. The motion was defeated, however, in the light of Sonic's heroic accomplishments.
Then three years ago King Acorn, Sally's father, had finally succumbed to heart problems. Sally's brother Elias had forsaken the kingship long ago, and his present whereabouts were unknown. Though Sally had been trained from youth to lead the kingdom, many of the traditionalists would not accept a female leader. Ironically, those who had earlier sought to denounce Sonic now supported his ascension to the throne as the lesser of two evils. Others declared that Sonic's inexperience as a ruler would lead to chaos. Arguments between the two parties became so fierce that civil war was feared.
Finally, a simple agreement had been reached. The two would reign as a duumvirate, each with an equal amount of power. Both factions were at least partially satisfied, and Knothole had lived in peace since, save for that brief bizarre war that left but one casualty. The conflict had, however, been a jarring reminder to expect the unexpected and thus Sonic and Sally were urged to choose a temporary successor to the sovereignty, in case something should happen to them. Their own daughter, Sabrina, was still just thirteen years old and their only child—as well as female. She would have to prove her own worth someday.
Therefore, they had needed to choose a regent and Sonic, at the time burdened by a number of other matters concerning the aftermath of the brief confrontation and considering the succession to be of less immediate importance, had shuffled the responsibility off to Sally. It hadn't been easy to make a decision, either. Many of the highest people in the government had very little actual knowledge of politics; they had simply won their positions by supporting winning causes. Laertes, on the other hand, was brilliant, much respected, and had the overall skills necessary to take a place at the head of the regime. Despite her deep personal dislike for the falcon, Sally had to concede he was best suited for the job.
Convincing Sonic had not been effortless either. Sonic loathed Laertes far more than her, and he had only agreed—reluctantly, grudgingly, and bitterly—out of respect for the political training that Sally had been receiving practically since she could walk. Even so, he remained resentful and sulky, though the decision had been passed over a week ago. Laertes had accepted the appointment with dignity and grace, and resumed his current position as a member of the advisory council, for he would not be called upon lest both king and queen be unable to rule. Sally did not doubt that she had made the correct choice, and having Sonic consistently question it was beginning to irritate her. "There was no better choice," she said flatly.
"I don't trust that creep," Sonic replied in a disgusted tone.
Realizing that they were already nearly a minute late, Sally sought to quickly bring the argument to a close. "You know the only way that he'll assume the position is if something happens to us," she reminded him, and continued sarcastically, "so unless you were planning on getting us both killed anytime soon, there's nothing to worry about." A long time ago, the likelihood of that would have been nothing to joke about. Now, with Mobius at peace, even Sonic's recklessness had little chance of landing himself six feet underground. Turning away in a manner that suggested the topic was closed, Sally resumed walking, now rather quickly, towards Rotor's laboratory. She heard Sonic following her and restrained from looking behind her so she wouldn't have to see the undoubtedly nasty expression on his cobalt and beige face.
Rotor had prepared the lab for them. A couple of easels graced with complex-looking scientific diagrams stood to either side of a table boasting a number of bubbling chemicals in test tubes and Erlenmeyer flasks. Two cushioned chairs were also provided. The building was small, and with all of the space taken up by scientific equipment, could not have accompanied many more than the three of them. Of course, Rotor was also rather large. It was a wonder that he didn't break something every time that he turned around—but for some reason he preferred the tiny place to any of the more spacious options that Sonic had offered to him.
The walrus turned to salute, but Sonic waved off the formality grouchily and crashed into a chair. Sally gave him a reproachful look, and an apologetic one to Rotor, who grinned. Having known Sonic for just as long as Sally, he was long used to the hedgehog's unofficial demeanor. "Good to see you both here on time," he said - Sally also noticed that the wall clock was a bit slow. "I do believe that I've made a very important breakthrough—have a seat, and I'll tell you what I know."
As Rotor began to present his intricate diagnosis, Sally could practically feel Sonic straining to stay awake. He stifled a yawn. She tried her best to ignore him and listen to what the scientist was describing. Something about silicon and radioactive decay. Should have invited Miles to tag along, Sally reflected. Not only would the fox have been fascinated, he might have been able to translate the scientific phraseology into something at least remotely coherent. As far as she was concerned, if the chemical did the job, fine.
Rotor now appeared to be demonstrating something as he picked up a test tube filled with a steel-blue substance and poured it into a flask with a yellow liquid, quickly corking the latter. The substance inside began to bubble and fizz slightly. Pointing to the chart to his left, he began to explain the chemical reaction that was occurring in the flask. Sally was more alert now; it was starting to make a faint bit of sense. When those bonds were broken, the carbon ones formed… it was exothermic, so the leftover energy could be utilized for…
Sonic suddenly gasped out loud and pointed at the flask. It had been bubbling lightly before, but now had taken on the appearance of a lava lake. Rotor looked horrified. "That's not right!" he cried. "The reaction isn't supposed to be that explosive!" Whatever was supposed to happen was now irrelevant. The tumultuous reaction now looked like some sort of possessed demon that was trapped in a bottle and had a vicious urge to escape. The bottle began to shake on the table, and crashed into another, which fell onto the floor and smashed, splashing its contents everywhere.
"No!" Rotor cried, making a wild stab for the raging flask. "If those two touch—"
It was too late. The container fell and smashed on the ruins of the other.
"Look out!" Rotor cried.
Sonic threw his body in front of Sally.
A tremendous explosion rocked Knothole Village.
