Author's Note:
This story is a revisualization of the original Sonic the Hedgehog television series (affectionately known as SatAM by fans). While most of the characters from the original show appear in this story, it also introduces a few characters from subsequent Sonic series. All characters have appeared in the original show or later series. Out of respect for the wishes of the Archie Comics group in regards to copyrights, I have made the best possible effort to avoid or remove references to the comic books. Be advised that some of the references to the original television show are occasionally overt. I do not own the copyrights to any such dialogue in the story, nor is it my intent to take credit for such references.
Jack Reynolds – 9/2/10
Original "Sonic the Hedgehog" television series ©1993, 1994 DIC Entertainment, L.P. and Sega of America, Inc. Sega, Sonic the Hedgehog and all related characters and indicia are trademarks of SEGA. All rights reserved.
Sonic the Hedgehog: The Legend of Mobius
Chapter 1 – Heads or Tails
I
Smoke rose from the dingy city below in acrid, brown clouds. If the sun over Planet Mobius was to stop shining, the denizens of Robotropolis wouldn't have known it for all the smog. Not that they would have cared – only organic life forms needed sunlight. A mordant atmosphere and a sky dark as night from pollution made no difference to the mechanized masses. The skiff that dropped through the smog was completely open, even though it carried one of the few organic life forms remaining in the city.
Ahh… Home sweet home… I do so miss the beauty of this place when I'm away. And my, what lovely weather we're having today. The man in the skiff thought to himself, looking around calmly as the skiff neared its destination – a large, egg-shaped structure in the center of the city. The metallic voice of the skiff pilot interrupted the man's thoughts. "Now approaching headquarters, sir."
"Very well," the man lazily replied, "commence landing procedure."
As the skiff approached headquarters, a little man came out onto the landing pad. He quickly ran his hand over his head, but that did little to fix the thin wisps of hair that extended in all directions. The skiff landed, and the tiny man stood at a rigid attention. "Good morning, Sire," he said nervously, "Exciting trip?"
"Shut up, Snively," the man in the skiff said nonchalantly as he walked down onto the landing pad.
Snively made a quick bow and fell in behind the man. He knew better than to pursue the matter any further with his boss. Dr. Julian Ivo Robotnik was a tyrant, and unfortunately, being Robotnik's second-in-command did not make life any better for Snively. As they approached the building's entrance, the doors opened automatically for Dr. Robotnik, and the sentry bots on duty saluted smartly. Robotnik waved carelessly in reply and continued his way into headquarters. Snively followed, until the door shut in his face and the sentries tried to suppress their metallic chortling.
Robotnik's war room was different from the squalid city outside, but no less sinister. The walls came to life with blinking lights, message indicators, and video images as the doctor entered. "Any sign of the hedgehog?" Robotnik asked Snively as his frustrated subordinate entered, still rubbing his large nose from where the door hit it.
"Negative, Sir. He hasn't been seen since you left three days ago," Snively replied. Robotnik growled crossly at this news.
"Those Freedom Fighters have become a nuisance, Snively," the Doctor mused, "they can't be allowed to continue sabotaging our operations. We must put a stop to it."
"Yes, Dr. Robotnik," Snively quickly agreed.
"But how…" Robotnik said, half to himself, "Every time they strike, those fetid freedom fighters always get away. It's like they just disappear."
"If we could find where they hide, Sir…" Snively offered.
"Oh yes, Snively," Robotnik replied in a voice dripping with sarcasm, "your logic is totally stunning." Snively smiled proudly. His smile quickly faded when Robotnik's sarcasm turned to rage. "Of course we have to find where they hide, you fool!" he bellowed, "I know where they're hiding! Knothole village!"
"Well, then we can send our troops to Knothole and—"
"Snively," Robotnik sighed, rubbing his forehead, "Don't give me another reason to turn you into a paperweight. I don't know where Knothole is. What do you think I've been looking for during the last ten years?" Snively did not reply. He was used to this sort of talk from Robotnik. Suddenly, he remembered some good news that might abate his boss's anger.
"I do have something that may help, Sire. While you were away, we found this where the king's quarters used to be." He pulled from his pocket a small handheld computer and handed it to Robotnik.
"Interesting…" Robotnik said as he examined the device in his hands, "Oh that's very good. I may not have to kill you after all, Snively! What does it do?"
"It appears to be a portable device linked to the Knothole information system designed by the king's men several years ago. Unfortunately it is protected by a password, and we have been unable to solve it."
"Snively, I am having a wonderful day today. Don't ruin it for me," Robotnik said, his mood darkening again. Snively nervously nodded. Such was the life of a minion.
II
The Great Forest of Mobius provided a pleasant contrast from the dank city of Robotropolis. Birds chirped and sang happily, and the sun shone brightly. A brook rippled and ran across the landscape. By this brook sat a curious walrus, wearing a yellow baseball cap and preparing to eat his lunch.
"You ready, Rotor?" A voice interrupted the birds and the walrus's lunch.
"Hit it, man," the walrus, Rotor, replied. A blue streak passed in front of him, and the music began. Sonic the Hedgehog had been working on the song for weeks, and Rotor would be the first to hear it. His guitar shattered the peace and quiet of the forest around them. Rotor tapped his foot in time with the rhythm as Sonic rocked.
When the song came to an end, Sonic turned to his friend and asked, "Well, Rote? Whaddya think?"
"Well…" Rotor answered pensively, "I love it, Sonic… but…"
"But what?" Sonic quickly asked, now on the defensive.
"Sally won't like it," Rotor explained, understanding Sonic's real purpose behind the performance, "It's too hard-rock. You know she doesn't go in for that sort of thing. If you want to impress Sally, you should tone it down a bit."
"C'mon, Rotor," Sonic retorted, disappointed by Rotor's review, "Tone it down? I can't tone it down. Soft is for quilts, not music. It's gotta move."
"Now…" Rotor continued, ignoring Sonic's heated reply, "if you were to write her a nice ballad or something…"
"No way, man," Sonic replied agitatedly, "Cut it out or I'm gonna hurl."
"Sure, Sonic. Sure." Rotor chuckled as he finished the last of his lunch. "Well," he said, "we ought to get back to Knothole now." Sonic nodded and began humming a tune to himself as the two Freedom Fighters made their way back to their home.
III
"Very good, Bunny. Now, just a little bit higher." Antoine D'Colette was in his usual form today, standing on the sidelines issuing orders to the other Freedom Fighters.
"Whai, Aintwawn, I do declare…" Bunny responded cynically, "I just don't know what I'd do without your help."
"Oh, no no, 'tis nothing" Antoine replied, completely oblivious to the annoyance he was causing her.
Bunny Rabbot just sighed and continued working, using her powerful, robotic muscles to lift the weight. When Robotnik took over Mobius, his first order of business was to replace all organic life with machines. Using a device called the Roboticizer, he succeeded in changing almost all of the planet's citizens into robots. Robotnik knew the fear his machine instilled in the people of Mobius – and continued to use roboticision not only to create more workers, but to intimidate the remaining free life forms. Bunny was unique. She was lucky enough to escape complete roboticision, but not before losing her left arm and both her legs to the dreaded machine. Now she used her cybernetic assets to the Freedom Fighters' advantage.
When Bunny had finished her task, she walked over to one of the other Freedom Fighters, a young red squirrel who was looking at a broken catapult.
"What's wrong, Sally girl?" Bunny asked the girl, who was apparently deep in thought.
Sally grunted in reply, then answered, "I wish I knew, Bunny. The throwing arm keeps breaking and I can't figure out why."
It wasn't just the ardent determination in her eyes or the authoritative voice that set her apart from the other Freedom Fighters. At eighteen years of age, Princess Sally Alicia Acorn already possessed a commanding presence that made her a natural leader. After bringing the Freedom Fighters safely through countless struggles against Robotnik and his mechanical horde, the deposed king's only daughter had earned the respect of everyone in Knothole. Her I.Q. of 167 also gave the Freedom Fighters an advantage. Above all, however, Princess Sally was kind-hearted, courageous, and just.
"Wish I could help, hun. 'Fraid I dunno nuthin' 'bout mechanical stuff, though," Bunny shrugged regretfully.
Sally smiled and replied, "Thanks anyway, Bunny. Rotor usually works with me on these things. He and Sonic are who-knows-where right now." Then, as if on cue…
"Cannonball!" Two figures landed in the large pile of hay a few yards away from the catapults, where the secret tunnel into Knothole emerged.
"I do believe that's them now," Bunny said, nodding in the direction of the haystack.
"I thought I detected a foul odor," Antoine added disdainfully as he joined the two girls. As he spoke, Sonic and Rotor came to them.
"What's the matter, Ant?" Sonic asked teasingly, "Didn't get your beauty rest last night? Come to think of it, you do look a little green." Then Sonic paused and added, "Actually, I think you look good in green."
At this, Antoine grunted and sulked away. Sonic continued to stand there smiling, until Sally glared at him. "Sonic, you were supposed to be helping me today," the princess said to him sternly, "Where have you and Rotor been all this time?"
Sonic and Rotor stuttered and stammered, trying to find an excuse that might placate the princess. Finally, she held up her hand and shouted, "Enough! Forget it! Just come over here. We have a problem." Sally led them to the broken catapult she had been examining.
"Since we've redesigned them for another thousand pounds' capacity," she explained (mostly to Rotor – Sonic didn't have much of a mind for engineering), "the throwing arms keep breaking. It's like they're not able to handle the extra weight. What do you think, Rotor?"
Rotor went very close to the catapult and began studying it. A few minutes later, he called Sally over to him. "Look – there's your problem," he showed her, pointing to a place on the catapult, "The cotter pin keeps breaking. That's why the throwing arm isn't cutting it."
"Well, what can we do about it?" Sonic asked.
"You got me there, Sonic," Rotor replied, "but I'll think of something."
"I have an idea," Sally offered, "We've been using wooden cotter pins. Do we have any metal ones? They'd do the job without breaking, I think."
"Perhaps…" Rotor answered skeptically, "but we don't have any metal cotter pins. We'd have to go into the city to find some."
"Hey, I can handle that. Just leave it to the Hedgehog," Sonic responded. Sally looked at him doubtfully.
"The city's really too dangerous for anyone to go alone. Even you, Sonic."
"Nah, I'll be fine. Trust me, Sal," Sonic said confidently.
"Well, okay…" Sally consented, "But you'd better take along a power-ring, just in case you end up needing it."
"Sure thing, Sal," Sonic agreed.
IV
Robotropolis's junkyard was even more foul than the rest of the city, but Sonic decided to look there because it was where he would most likely find the cotter pins Sally was looking for. Besides, this part of the city was usually free of the "SWAT" bots that patrolled the rest of Robotropolis. Sonic darted and dashed among the piles of scrap metal, looking through all the odds and ends that were needed to finish Sally's catapults. Each time he found a cotter pin, he put it in the backpack he wore. He endeavored to be quick about it; Robotropolis was dangerous at the best of times, but it was worse after nightfall. If a "carby" (as the robots called organic life forms) was unlucky enough to be in the city after nightfall, he or she would be very vulnerable. Even the best organic life forms could not see in the dark nearly as well as a robot could.
As Sonic looked up, he noticed that the brown haze of the city was changing into a strange reddish-purple color. The sun was setting. Fortunately, he had found all the cotter pins he needed. As Sonic prepared to leave, he heard a noise not far in front of him. He climbed to the top of the junk pile to see what was going on.
Not far off, Sonic could see two SWAT-bots walking toward the city. The two bots were carrying a young fox. "Hey, come on, you guys! Let me go! I haven't done anything wrong!" The child's pleas were ignored.
"By decree number 616-H of Mobius, by order of Dr. Robotnik, all organic life forms are prohibited. Any being found in non-compliance with this order is to be taken for immediate roboticision," one of the SWAT-bots said unemotionally. Suddenly, they found themselves face-to-face with Sonic.
"Hey, metal-heads!" the Hedgehog taunted, "Bet you can't catch me!" After speaking, Sonic sped off in the opposite direction.
"Command override," the bots reported mechanically, dropping the young fox to chase after Sonic. "Top priority target sighted. Commencing pursuit of Hedgehog." The SWAT-bots followed Sonic until they came to a wall. Sonic quickly came to a halt, but the bots weren't able to stop as fast. They careened into the wall, shattering into dozens of pieces as they hit it at high speed.
"Those bots just never learn," Sonic sighed casually as he returned to where he had first seen them. Sonic scratched his head. The little fox had disappeared. Sonic looked around. Just then, some junk fell, making a metallic clatter as it trickled down one of the piles.
"It's okay, kid," Sonic said in the direction of the pile, "They're gone. You can come out now." The young fox came out from behind the junk pile, trembling. As the fox came closer, Sonic noticed that he had two tails. "Are you all right? You're not hurt?" Sonic asked him, but the poor thing was too afraid to speak. "What's wrong?" Sonic prompted when the fox made no response, "Bot got your tongue? I don't bite." The fox averted his eyes, still trembling. Sonic put his hand on the fox's shoulder. The frightened creature jumped and took a step back. "Hey," Sonic reassured him, holding out his hand for the fox to see it, "It's okay. You can trust me. I'm one of the good guys."
The fox looked around, as if looking for an escape, then he finally exhaled and said, "Yeah. I'm fine. Thanks for taking care of those guys."
"My pleasure," Sonic replied, smiling. "By the way," he added, still holding out his hand, "My name's Sonic." His jumpy new acquaintance still just eyed his hand suspiciously. "So," Sonic tried again, "You got a name, Kiddo?"
"Miles," the fox finally said, shaking Sonic's hand, "My name is Miles Prower."
"Right," Sonic said in response to the fox's peculiar name. "Tell you what – how 'bout I just call you Tails?"
Sonic's new companion nodded slowly, then asked him, "Why were those robots after me?"
"Well, that's why the city's so dangerous, Big Guy," Sonic explained, "That creep, Robotnik, wants everything roboticized."
"What's roboticize?" Tails asked nervously.
"Roboticize means you end up like them," Sonic answered grimly, pointing at the new piles of junk that used to be the SWAT-bots who chased him. Tails gasped and looked at Sonic anxiously. Sonic continued, "Robotnik does that to anybody he can get his slimy hands on."
"I don't want to be roboticized. What can I do?" Tails pleaded.
"Why don't you come with me, Tails," Sonic answered encouragingly, "I'm part of a group of Freedom Fighters trying to give Robot-no-goodnik what's coming to him. Maybe you can help us. But even if not, it sure beats fending for yourself here, doesn't it?" Tails nodded again in response, then Sonic said, "Come on, then. Night's falling and we don't want to be out here much longer. You know, you're small enough – jump in my backpack, and we'll get out of here."
Tails climbed up into Sonic's backpack. He was able to sit comfortably and look over Sonic's shoulder. "Now hang tight, Tails. We're bailin' from this joint," Sonic said as he and his new friend headed to Knothole.