A/N: Okay, I promise this is the last time I do a massive update! To this arc I've only done some tweaks here and there, improved dialogue, corrected typos (again) so it doesn't actually require you to reread it to catch everything. If it's your first time reading then enjoy!

Copyright notice: All original Sonic the Hedgehog characters are property of SEGA and based upon the Saturday AM cartoon. Other characters may come from the video games or the Archie comic books. The AI SWATbots are the original creation of Robert Brown and Francis Tolbert and are used with their permission. All concepts from the manga BLEACH are copyright Tite Kubo. All concepts from Rurouni Kenshin are copyright Nobuhiro Watsuki. All original characters are of my creation and require written permission before use. These fanfics may not be reposted without my permission.

Throughout Robotropolis alarms sound, punctuated by a sonic boom. Sonic Hedgehog sped through the city at breakneck speed doing his best at dodging incoming SWATbots. He was in no mood to be caught as he pulled a second power ring from his pack, powered up and took off. He finally managed to take shelter in an old warehouse from before the coup.

He furrowed his brow and muttered a light curse between breaths. It felt like Robotnik had been expecting him. While tormenting the fat man gave him great joy it bothered him now. He hadn't told any of the Freedom Fighters of his intentions to head to the city so if he was hurt or captured he was on his own. He knew that Sally would let him have it if and when he returned, a thought that made capture seem preferable for a brief moment.

Maybe I should've brought help, he thought helplessly kneeling. Ol' Buttnik's got every square inch of this place covered. It's like he was herding me here.

As the revelation hit he heard an almost inaudible click. On instinct he bolted out of the warehouse. Not a moment later the building erupted into a firestorm. The blast caught him, sending him sprawling across the old road.

"Way too close for comfort," he muttered brushing himself off. "I guess that's what I get for ignoring Sal's warnings."

The alarms shut off, signaling what he was hoping was an all-clear. He knew in a matter of minutes the area would be crawling with SWATbots. He ran off at a slower speed so as not to attract too much attention. Sally had warned him that Robotnik was experimenting with artificial intelligence. Between herding him and the warehouse explosion Sonic was willing to believe her.

No bots following me, he thought glancing around. Time to head to Uncle Chuck's. With that he took off at top speed, weaving his way around the city to throw off Robotnik's spy cams just in case.

Uncle Chuck paced around his base much like a certain nephew of his would. Sonic had been late before but not this late. The explosion he had heard had him worried sick. Robotnik had gotten much more serious about his attempts to destroy the Freedom Fighters after the destruction of the Doomsday Project. The old hedgehog couldn't help but wonder if Robotnik would start winning against the Freedom Fighters now.

A series of knocks on his door brought him out of his thoughts. He waited for the whole knock, confirming it was a Freedom Fighter. After that he quickly scanned the area with the periscope and swung the door open letting in a winded Sonic..

"Sonic, what's wrong?" Uncle Chuck asked. He had never seen his nephew this shaken up.

"Robuttnik's been toying with me all day long," he answered angrily. "Took me forever to shake the SWATbots so they don't find you here."

His uncle sighed. "I was afraid something like this was going to happen," he said. "You may have guessed it but Robotnik has been developing some new technologies. I just got my hands on these." He reached into his desk and pulled out a small disk. "On this are the schematics for two things: designs for the brand new AI's for his new SWATbots, and a new project he's working on using sound waves. I haven't been able to identify what it actually does yet but the disk has all of my and Snively's notes on it."

"Snively?" Sonic said putting the disk in his bag. "Mondo weird. Any idea why he's behind this one?"

Uncle Chuck shook his head. "No idea," he admitted. "It's not often but Snively has moments that eclipse his uncle's genius and they've been coming more often. At this rate I'm having trouble believing we can win."

"Don't say that unc," Sonic said. "We'll win, one way or the other. There's no way those two are gonna beat us, I promise that."

His uncle smiled. "Thanks nephew, that's what I needed to hear."

Sonic checked his watch and muttered another curse. "I gotta run, unc," he said. "Sally will have figured out I left without telling her or getting backup and she'll let me have it."

"Be careful out there, sonny," Uncle Chuck said hugging his nephew. "Sally would never forgive me if you got caught while coming here."

"Will do unc," Sonic said.

He checked the periscope for SWATbots and when the coast was clear went out the hidden door. He sped around Robotropolis to put distance between him and his uncle. When he was sure he had eliminated any suspicion he sped off into the forest.

Robotnik sat in his control room calmly watching Sonic leave the city. Snively stood over a command console coordinating the efforts of the new SWATbots. "It seems that the new programming in the SWATbots works quite well," Robotnik mused as a smile crept to his face. "Even if the hedgehog realized the trap before it went off it was enough to test our new forces."

"Shall I give the order to install the programming on all the SWATbots?" Snively asked.

Robotnik thought for a moment. "No," he said. "If we do I suspect the princess will develop a strategy against them. It is better to keep those miserable rodents on their toes. Make sure the new deployment gives them equal distribution among the platoons." He tapped a few buttons and a complicated schematic came on-screen. "I must admit Snively," he admitted, "this must be one of the the most devious weapons I have ever seen. When can you have it installed?"

"By the end of the week sir," Snively replied. "We're still testing the prototype but afterwards we should be able to install it into every SWATbot."

"Excellent," Robotnik said laughing evilly. "Do we have suitable subjects?"

"Of course, sir," Snively said with a smile. "A nearby outpost one of our recon teams recently discovered. We should have the results within the next few hours."

"I want no slip-ups, Snively," Robotnik said swiveling his chair away. "Let the Freedom Fighters feel my wrath in their homes!"