A Fissure Among the Factions Part 2

by MistressAli

The second part of Fissure. Snively is awaiting his punishment in Knothole, to the joy of some, and dismay of others. Meanwhile, the FF's are about to discover Nagus is far nastier than they thought.

1. Default Chapter

A Fissure Among the Factions (c) 01-02 by me, MistressAli
All "Sonic the Hedgehog" characters and related indicia (c) and TM Sega/Archie/and DIC.
Used without permission.

This document may be freely distributed, as long as it's not altered in any way.
Ok, peoples, this story contains: some violence and swearing. I love comments so review.

This story is the third in the New Season series, therefore it takes place after the New Season and For Whom the Gavel Pounds. This is split into two parts...this is part 2. And Part 2 in turn is split into 2 (or maybe 3, depending how long it gets) chapters!

A Fissure Among the Factions
Part Two : The Escape

Morality would frown upon
Decency looked down upon
The scapegoat fate's made of me
But I promise now, my judge and jurors
My intentions couldn't have been purer
My case is easy to see

I'm not looking for a clearer conscience
Peace of mind after what I've been through
And before we talk of any repentance
Try walking in my shoes
You'll stumble in my footsteps.
--Depeche Mode

~Chapter One~

Blue eyes blinked, then opened. It was black all around, but not like it was dark. The air itself was the color of night.

He saw faintly a ringlet of gold. It was hanging in the air, swaying slightly.

Snively stared at it, lower lip trembling. That *ring*. That was what had gotten him in trouble. Brought him death.

No, it wasn't the ring. It was temptation.

Temptation killed. He was tempted by power. A powerless man wanting strength.

He clenched his hands into fists. But they were weak. His vision focused suddenly.

It wasn't a power ring!

It was a noose. Braided out of golden cord, just like the tassels on King Acorn's shoulder boards. It was swinging back and forth like a beckoning finger.

"Kill the traitor..." A hissing voice seeped from the blackness around him.

He whirled around but saw nothing. "Uncle?"

It sounded so much like Julian, that rasping hissing voice, laced with impatient disdain.

"Kill the traitor..."

No, it wasn't Uncle. It was King Acorn.

"Kill..." No... It was Geoffrey. He recognized the accent.

The next voice made him stagger backwards.

"Kill the traitor. He betrayed all of us."

Bunnie.

"NO!" Bunnie was on his side. She was his *friend*.

The darkness suddenly turned to light and he could see. His arms hurt, each one grabbed by a Mobian, both who wore featureless white masks.

The rope hung suspended on a large tree near the gardens. Mobians stood around it, screaming. He heard his name and insults, all about him and his kind.

He whimpered, trying to struggle, but the Mobians were too strong. Their claws were bleeding his arms.

A rock hit his shoulder as they dragged him forward. Then another struck. He tried to break away an arm to shield his face. They wouldn't let him.

He caught sight of Tails. The child had a rock in his hand, and he drew back his arm. Their eyes met.

The rock struck him hard in the face, and he heard the distinct *crack* of his nose, and he wailed. Blood spilled onto his lips and down his chin.

He was suddenly there at the tree, and he felt tall, standing upon a wooden crate under the noose. King Acorn was grinning as he dropped the looped rope around Snively's slender neck. The rope tightened, gagging him... a prelude to the next event.

Bunnie stood among the crowd, a rock still in her hand. He tried to cry out to her, but she turned away.

King Acorn's voice was viciously triumphant, and he heard the villagers laughing.

"Die traitor."

The box was kicked out from under him and he fell, then was snapped back by the rope. Bunnie turned back, and as his vision flashed red, he saw her

Smiling...

**

His head cracked upon the stone wall as he jerked back, moaning. His eyes fluttered open.

He lay shivering on the cold cell floor, panting, his eyes wide and fixated on a patch of moss growing in the wall.

He pushed himself into a seated position. Despite the cold, his brow was beaded with sweat, and he wiped it away with his sleeve.

Something was making a tapping noise of metal against metal and he heard grunted laughter. He turned his head to peer over his shoulder, eyes narrowing in contempt. Geoffrey was there, with a long metal spoon gripped in one hand, and he was rapping it against the bars.

"What do you want?" Snively turned all the way around, but didn't stand. He remained seated on the cold floor, glaring. "It's not time already, is it?" His voice was surprisingly firm.

"No." Geoffrey grinned, clanking the spoon rapidly between two bars. The tattoo of metal on metal was not an unfamiliar sound to the small human. It got on his nerves, and he snarled.

"Leave me alone then..."

"I just wanted to ask you what you wanted to eat on your last day alive."

Snively settled back against the wall, giving Geoffrey a cold stare. "I'll eat your heart...after I rip it out of your chest... Mobian..."

"HAHAA!" Geoffrey had a grand ole laugh at that. "Oh, that's rich, Snively, real rich." He shook his head. "I hope King Acorn lets me kick over the box."

Snively closed his eyes, drawing his knees closer to his chest. He felt sick. His arms clasped around his legs, hugging, for the moment not caring about this display of vulnerability. The skunk couldn't ridicule him any more than this.

Geoffrey tucked the spoon in his belt, casting a sharp glance at his watch. "Allright. Now it's time."

As if on cue, two villagers who also doubled as Geoff's MPs stepped into the jail. They came to stand on each side of the skunk.

"Door," said Geoff.

One of the MPs, a cat, stepped up and produced a key from his back pocket. He unlocked the cell door, opened it, and stepped aside. "Door!"

"Good, Sig." Geoff gave a curt nod. Snively eyed the opening, but didn't run for it, much less stand. There was no way to get around all of them in here.

"Manacles," commanded Geoff, and the other MP snapped to attention. Snively narrowed his eyes. He looked to be one of the men who had beaten him up a late Knothole evening. He'd just been out for a walk.

"Manacles," said the MP, taking a jangling set of cuffs off his belt, and putting them in the skunk's outstretched paw.

"Good, Tory, very good..." A black finger beckoned. "Stand up, Snively." Geoff stepped into the cell, grinning down at Snively, who refused to move. Defiance shone in those blue eyes, but it was a thin cover. Geoff could see the fear clearly beneath it.

"I said stand up." He roughly dragged Snively to his feet.

Arms were yanked behind the slender back and the manacles tightly clasped.

Snively whimpered; this was highly reminiscent of his second day in Knothole. But he wasn't going to trial this time. No, sentencing would be firm and in favor of punishment. There'd be no arguments on his behalf.

They were pulling him out now. The early sunlight wasn't that bright but it still hurt his eyes. He dug his heels into the ground, trying to slow them down, but they just kept walking, dragging him. He stumbled, whimpering.

It didn't take long to reach the gardens. A podium was under the big red-berry tree, the same one they'd tried to lynch him on before.

Like he'd expected, there was a crowd. God, it seemed everyone in the damn village was there. He tried to fight back again, but his captors kept walking like it was nothing, and it was. The most he could manage was a few kicks and a couple jerks of his torso.

So head down, he was pulled before the podium. No one was behind it, and the air was filled with yelling. Someone threw a tomato. It splattered on Snively's shoes and he stared down at it.

"Overlander scum!"

"You traitor! How could you?! We let you live here!"

"Hang him! Hang him!"

Snively wanted to curl up. The MPs stood solidly. Geoffrey was grinning, standing behind him, and Snively could feel his breath hot on the back of his neck.

"Oh, Snively," Geoffrey chuckled low. "Doesn't sound too good for you..."

"Shut up, Geoffrey," He hissed. "Shut up." He felt heat in his eyes and blinked rapidly.

Then, like a beacon of hope, her voice came. "Ya'll stop it! He ain't evil! He didn't do nothing!"

He snapped his head up. Bunnie was fighting her way through the crowd, heading for the podium. She reached it, and it seemed she would take a stand behind it, screaming in his behalf. But there was a hush over the crowd and they parted.

King Acorn, wearing his crown and his robes, swept through the crowd. His regality hovered over him like thick perfume, and he took his place behind the podium. His eyes traveled over the crowd as the last few people silenced.

"Citizens...good citizens! I'm sure you're all aware of why you're here today. One of yours has betrayed. This man."

A finger lifted and aimed squarely at Snively's face. His shoulders cringed, feeling dozens of eyes on him. It felt like drills boring into his skin.

"As you all may know, this man was once an enemy of ours. He worked in close connection with both Robotnik and Nagus."

'A lie. I was never on Nagus's side...' Snively narrowed his eyes. A bit of tomato slid off his shoe and plopped onto the ground. A lip curled; filthy Mobians, throwing their shit... they didn't know the whole story.

They never would, either.

"However he decided to come to us. He was given a trial, allowed to live with us, and never once was he punished for his crimes. We were *generous* with him. We were utterly forgiving."

The crowd murmured. Some people nodded. Snively scowled, scuffing his shoe in the ground. So forgiving they'd shunned him, or teased him, or beaten him.

But he deserved it...huh...well, some of it...

'But death?' I don't deserve to die...'

"But this wasn't enough for him. Unlike us, Overlanders are not capable of..." King Acorn paused, as if thinking. "living in harmony. They're a violent deceitful race."

There were no arguments. Snively wasn't surprised. All they knew of Overlanders were him and Julian and one-sided tales of the Great War.

"This man was not satisfied with our leniency and still craved destruction."

"No, he ain't like that!"

People were quiet, staring at Bunnie, frowning. But King Acorn plunged on without so much a look in her direction.

Snively noticed then, Antoine...standing far away from her, his head bowed and shaking. Something twisted inside. They were broken apart.

'But who cares...Ant was an asshole to me...'

Bunnie too had her head bowed but one fist was clenched.

'But she needs him...'

"So, he began to steal one of our most valuable resources, the power rings!"

The crowd made appropriate gasping noises and mutters of angry disbelief.

"Yes. He hid them away in Ms. Bunnie's hut. The poor girl was unsuspecting...she only was trying to *help* him." He shook his head. "Do not be angry at her for her naivety. Like all Overlanders, Snively was very capable of lying to gain trust...Overlanders have a keen knack for doing so."

'Only because Julian tricked you...you old coot...' Snively set his fiercest glare on the King, wishing the power of that stare could kill. But the king remained untouched.

"He ain't like Robotnik!" Bunnie yelled out again. "All them Overlanders ain't the same! That ain't right ta judge em all by Robotnik!"

The crowd gasped again and Sally grabbed hold of Bunnie's arm, shaking her head. "Sssh, Bunnie, please..."

King Acorn finally acknowledged her. "Ms Rabbot. I know you're upset, because this man was in your home for quite a while. You might've gotten to trust him, to even like him..." His voice seemed to suggest sheer disgust at that idea. "But this cunning snake was only earning your trust so he could plot against us."

Snively stared at the ground, seeing it blur before his eyes. He wasn't crying. But his chest was tight and his eyes stung, and King Acorn's voice blurred out just like the ground. Droning on and on about how evil he was, how he'd tricked Bunnie, how he'd stolen. On and on. He almost wished he'd just shut up and get to the killing.

And after the speech was over there was a horrible din. People yelling and cheering and *agreeing* with those false words their king said.

'But they can't help it, right?' Snively thought sadly, his eyes on Bunnie. She was the bright spot in the sea of sameness. Vouching for him. Deviant.

"Sentencing will be announced now, citizens."

But no, to Snively's awe, there was more brightness. It was in Rotor. Sally. Sonic! Rose-something-or-another. And Bunnie, of course, Bunnie.

"Your...your highness..." the Rose-gal said somewhat timidly. "Isn't this just..." she gave a short nervous laugh. "a tad unfair?"

"Yes, daddy." Sally's voice was much firmer. "We've never given sentencing without a trial; I don't care what the crime is!"

And the walrus, the shy walrus, he too spoke. "I think it's unfair too..."

"This is mondo uncool!" Sonic's brow was furrowed. "I think it really stinks that ole Snotley..." ('oh thanks, Sonic', thought the small human, sighing), "was stealing *my* rings! But dude, I still don't think you-"

"He laughs at our laws! I saw through that façade at his last trial; he thought it was a joke. Why should we be soft on this vile species?"

Snively inwardly cringed. It was true. He thought these animals and their ideals quaint. 'But why should I? They have morals straight out of the Bible.'

Maybe that was it then.

He had no more love for worn books written by ancients, coveted by a race nearly gone now. His race. The Mobians had their own Holy book anyway.

So yes, at his trial he had been smug, knowing if he played it right he would get through, carried by the animal's generous forgiving. And he had. But he hadn't been altogether confident. Fear had lurked in the back of his mind, and that fear had resurfaced, but ten-fold, because he knew he wouldn't get through this time.

Sonic shook his head in a helpless gesture. "I dunno, it just doesn't seem right to do that! Why can't we just lock him up?"

King Acorn raised a lecturing finger. "Containing evil never destroys it! Look at Nagus. We thought he was harmless and contained, but he has shown his evil nature. And Robotnik, who we thought had perished, has returned as well! If we only imprison this man, his evil will still exist to harm us one day."

"Shut up, you kids!" A boisterous voice came from somewhere in the crowd. "I want to hear the sentence!"

Others seemed to echo. "He's Overlander scum! He stole from us!"

"Spawn of Robotnik's!"

And to Snively's dismay, though he knew he was doomed, their shouts began to overpower that of the children and the elder Rose.

"Sentencing shall be harsh for this heinous man, and his stealing of our valuable resources."

"Yeah, tell us!"

"As punishment, I sentence this man, Snively Ivo..."

'My name is not Ivo', thought Snively bitterly, eyes narrowed in a glare of killing proportions. 'That's *uncle's* name, not mine...' As his thoughts ranted, his body shook. The crowd was holding its breath. He was too. It was making him dizzy.

The pause lasted only seconds in reality; in Snively's mind this was an eternity, but now eternity was over.

"...to death. This verdict will take place tomorrow, to allow him time to think about what he's done."

There was silence. Just total silence.

No way. There was a roar, a dull roar. People screaming or shouting or something. He felt something sharp hit his body. A stone, maybe.

But Snively's eyes had gone unfocused and if his arms had not been captive they would've been curled around his chest, clutching, feeling the dying mummers of a stopped heart. His breath didn't come in, and he felt woozy.

'But I knew it would be...'

He knew it was going to be death. The rope. The rope...and his neck burned like fire and the lack of breath became painful, seeming to wring his lungs into a twisted lump.

He drew in a great shuddering breath, and the shock of it made his vision go black for a moment. The noise blended into the foreground again, sudden, making his ears ring. They weren't all clamoring for his death; he could hear his small group of supporters shouting and arguing.

From behind him, Geoffrey's voice boomed, adding to the clamor. He wished he had an arm free; then he would arc a sharp elbow backwards, slamming that skunk in the stomach.

"Very good highness, but we should just get it over with now, eh?"

King Acorn shook his head over the din of the crowd, spoke something about punishment, and Snively's own voice finally rose.

"What do you think I've gone through?! Here? The city, everywhere, I've been punished my whole life!"

The crowd didn't seem to quiet; neither did he. "Even when I was a child, I was punished, for things I didn't even do... you don't understand what I've been through! You don't even know..." And then he cried out, for Geoffrey was yanking him away from Tory and Sig.

"Shut up, prick..." The skunk jerked him bodily around, starting to drag him away.

He tried to make them know. Make those damn Mobians know a story of suffering, of abuse, of hatred given and received. But Geoffrey would not let him, and so his words rang out, drowned out by the crowd who were so busy yelling they didn't notice he was being taken away. If only they knew...if only they knew the story of truth. Maybe they would forgive...?

He doubted it.

Back at the jail, Geoffrey was miraculously able to open the door, shove him in, and lock it, without the help of the illustrious Tory and Sig. 'Those bastards,' thought Snively. He glared hatred at the skunk who smiled at him through solid bars of steel.

"I'm surprised you can wait, Geoffrey, wait one more fucking day. Maybe your heart will give out from the anticipation."

"Oh, you can only hope, Snively..." Geoffrey shook his head, grinning wide. His sharp teeth shone dully in the muted light through the high tiny windows.

True, he could only hope. He didn't pray anymore. He didn't really even hope anymore, either, but what a nice thought it was of Geoffrey falling down with glazed eyes and lolling tongue in death, maybe his last breath cursing Snively? How sweet it would be. But hopes, and prayers, and figments of his imagination never came true.

**

He could imagine it. The feel of Freedom. But what did Freedom feel like, anyway? Would it be like wind through his hair? Kisses from a warm lover? Would it be richer and fuller than a pocketful of money?

But he had no hair, and had never been kissed by a lover, or at least not one who loved him. And money... it had no meanings here. The feel of Freedom was something he had not experienced, for being free and breaking free were two different things. He had always had *freedom*. And now he was deprived.

'So the question is, how will it feel to be free again?'

That question was soon to be answered. Well, as soon as he had his plan ironed out and flawless in his mind. Robotnik didn't want to act until every detail had been carefully mulled over, every step taken in the right order.

'If I fail and Nagus finds out...'

It was a thought he didn't want to finish.

But still, he wanted to finish planning as soon as possible. Everyday here was like being with a time bomb, constantly fearing those times when Nagus would explode.

He scowled as he paced. His red boots squeaked a little as he turned on his heel; they seemed to be wearing out from standing so long. But he hadn't been standing that long really, had he? Nagus had only overtaken his city a few months ago.

The time bomb. Well, he was his own bomb, one of the kinds with chemicals inside. His impatience was liquid, steadily building to combine with anger. Too much mixing of these and he would explode. He feared the damage would affect him far more than Nagus.

*Squeak* Went his boots again, and the sound seemed to echo metallically in the room. He realized it was footsteps coming upon the command room. He didn't flinch. They were a robot's. The footsteps he feared were rarely heard. Nagus, for all his clumsy appearance, could tred lighter than a cat.

"Sir," droned the SWATbot as it entered, "Repairs on SWAT factories #2 and 3 are at 100% completion."

"Good." Robotnik's voice came out as nearly monotone as the bot's. He was lacking interest in these petty matters lately. So, yes, they could churn out more brothers for this SWAT here, but they all ended up broken anyway.

Stronger bots would be a top priority when he regained control.

He watched the SWAT leave with a weary eye. Just getting control was a task he didn't know he could achieve.

No.

A fist clenched with the crinkling of leather around powerful knuckles. He *would* achieve it.

And soon. Very soon.

**

"But we have to have a trial!" Sally demanded, her voice loud over the crowd. It seemed to command attention like her father's.

"Why?" sneered a villager. "Overlander dirt don't deserve it!"

"Everyone deserves a fair trial," Sally shot back. "It's an important part of our laws. Our beliefs!"

"Well, we ain't got no proper laws with Robotnik in charge, eh? So who cares?!"

"Who...who cares?!" The insides of her ears were red, and had she been furless her face would've been bright with anger. "This is what we're fighting *for*! For our ways, our beliefs, our...our..." She sputtered off, her head shaking in disbelief. "I can't believe any of you would say something like that!"

"If he was a Mobian, yeah, I'd agree with ya, but he's an *Overlander*! They aren't part of OUR society!"

"No...no it doesn't mat-"

"It does! They aren't..."

"Quit talking, and let's kill him now..."

"Silence!" bellowed the king. "This decision is not up for debate. The Overlander will be punished tomorrow."

Geoffrey rejoined the crowd with a smirk. "I for one, stand by *my* King's decision. He knows what's right for us."

"It ain't right ta kill!" Her face was stony and voice stubborn; Bunnie refused to back down.

Someone interjected, quiet but still heard from his position apart from the rabbit. "*He* has killed so many."

Sally looked over at Antoine, and Sonic's brow crinkled in a frown.

"Antoine," Bunnie's voice came out shaky. "Ya'll can't..."

"He deserves to die." The fox's voice was flat, not rising in volume.

"Yeah," said Geoffrey, grinning wide; mean. "That's the spirit, Antoine!"

And even Sonic spoke, as Bunnie silently slipped away, her hands over her eyes, "I...I dunno...I mean, we did think Robotnik was dead. What are we gonna do with him and Nagus? Throw 'em in jail? Maybe we should just..." He gulped, "...get rid of 'em."

Geoffrey cackled. Antoine solemnly nodded. King Acorn cleared his throat.

"To some of you, this may not seem the justifiable action."

Bunnie's legs propelled her down to the pool. Her feet sank into the mud. She couldn't feel it, but it smelled warm and strong in the humid air. The heat had risen after last night's rain and by the water it felt almost jungle-like. She looked down at the mud. She knew what the King was saying. He was spreading his poor excuses...

..."But let me assure you, this is the right course of action. We have been lenient with this man to the point of absurdity."

...to kill. He would say Snively never did good, but he had helped them! Bunnie stared at the water and it blurred green and blue before her tears dropped.

"...Remember citizens, he committed treason, and yes, our punishment for treason is death. Yet we let it slide. We cannot let this blatant disdain for our laws and desire to harm us again go unpunished!"

'...he didn't want ta hurt us...' Bunnie's vision blurred again. She remembered him calling them dirty animals, she remembered the horrible insults flung between him and Geoffrey.

The waters stirred in the light wind. He had taken the rings. But so... She drew in a shaking breath. It didn't mean he wanted to hurt. He wasn't thinking of hurting.

He wouldn't hurt them, not when he loved her...

"...it is the best choice. For us and our future."

There were mummers in the crowd. There were no protests. At least not aloud. Sally looked torn; Sonic looked almost ashamed, his pointed ears laid back on his head.

They didn't want to kill, but their King deemed it right. And part of them agreed. The other part was soft, longing for things the war hadn't given them, mercy, forgiveness, life. Concepts they had kept strong in their group, tried to follow them... but now... they would be betraying those concepts.

But Sally couldn't move her mouth to say the words right. And Sonic; the noble hero, with those ears down, was shamed, but couldn't deny his agreement to kill. Just this once...

Well, it seemed the king had them in thrall.

"How can they listen ta him?' Bunnie's eyes traveled over the pool. It was green and blue, but there was a patch of red on the far shore. Ferns. She squinted and it blurred out of detail. Vivid vivid red, like blood. Or anger.

Opposing the king was wrong. She shouldn't do it... she loved the king, she loved the kingdom. And laws against treason were for a good reason...the punishment was fair...

No.

'Ah just can't support this...'

**

The sunset in Robotropolis was stolen. It seemed a great hand had snatched away the colors before they could bloom.

Robotnik's mustache twitched.

Afternoon faded into evening, both a listless gray. There was no wind and the smog clouds adhered flat and unmoving to the pasty sky.

Uninspired, but determined to create, Robotnik sat in the empty throne room, flipping though files. Robots and hovercraft and maps flashed before him.

To hide. To get past Nagus. If he went on the street, Nagus had to know, had to track his every move. He grit his teeth.

'Permission to do this, do that! Absurd, it's absurd! Soon I will have to ask when to go to the bathroom!'

His fat lips twisted into a sneer, because, sometimes he did have to ask.

He turned his attention back to the holographic display. 'Therefore...'

He had to get on the street in disguise. A sheepskin Nagus's eyes would pass over, unbeknownst of the wolf fleeing underneath.

He looked at Swats, but they were too small, and not hollow. He looked at techbots, remembering how Sir Charles had fit so cleverly inside one. 'The old fool,' he scoffed, but it was not such a foolish idea, that. Using his own creations against him.

He ran a finger over the holographic image of one of the little techbots, its sides a shiny turquoise. He was much too large to squeeze into that.

He sighed. For once, he regretted his vanity, his insistence to grow into this shape of the divine, perfect circle.

'Even if I were skinny, I could not fit into that...' His sour eyes swept the bot. Height was against him here.

To hide. To Run. For killing was desired, but a botch on Nagus's life would mean pain beyond the limits of his body, and mind.

So he'd do the safe thing then.

'Run. Run like hell.'

*

An hour later, the skies outside were black. The throne room was similarly dark. Only a few pools of gold glimmered from lights turned on the lowest setting.

Robotnik paced in the shadows. His eyes were two pinpoints of red in the gloom; his footsteps were loud and echoed. He let out a sigh, and the walls threw it back.

He tried a tentative 'Mobius is mine', and it cascaded around him, whispering like ghosts of his victims.

He shivered, pacing faster to ward off the chill. Voices could never haunt him; no amount of screaming Mobians could infuse him with regret or remorse.

No, he would not pity them, and he would not join them. He would kill Nagus, somehow. Sometime. But first...

'First I will escape and then...'

...Slave.

'I will escape and no longer be a...'

"Slave."

Lost in his grandiose thoughts, his ears barely heard that voice hissing, rancid like dead meat. He tried to block it out.

Slave. Slave. Slave. "Slave!"

'I will no longer be a...'

"SLAVE!" that voice rose to a roar. It seemed to tremble the floor, hurting in the marrow of his bones. He whirled around, seeing Nagus's face on the monitor, his ember-colored eyes smoldering.

"Yes..." Robotnik had to clear his throat, knock away the sudden fright. Disgusted, because he'd never been easily scared. Until now... "...master?"

The wizard regarded him silently. Robotnik fought back the urge to scowl. Nagus was always staring, staring, staring.

So he stared back. But meeting the wizard's eyes was something Robotnik couldn't do for very long. He eyed the room behind Nagus instead. It appeared to be his lab, the one by the bay, and it was disarrayed and full of crates. The wizard was vacating, apparently.

Nagus noticed his eyes flitting. "Yes, attentive one, I am moving to a different location."

"To where, Master?"

"Oh, *curious* as well!" said Nagus snidely. "To another place... a safe place where the beasties won't know."

'For now,' thought Robotnik, a sullen gleam in his eyes. The Freedom Fighters always found out secrets with their prying spies and mistress Luck who always seemed to be on their damn side.

But who cared. He was leaving anyway. Let Nagus deal with it. Maybe they would destroy him, make his job easier.

A slight smile touched his face. Nagus's eyes flared up, like snakes rearing to strike.

"You find something amusing, slave?!"

"N-no!"

"Nor do I..." The wizard smiled evilly. "Although I am a comedic person. I could show you something quite amusing if you'd like!"

"No...no, master." Robotnik began to shake. Nagus had a sense of humor alright, one that laughed mercilessly at Robotnik's suffering. Even now the wizard chuckled at his quivering. He tried to redirect the subject.

"When are you moving, master?"

"Tomorrow morning."

Robotnik closed his eyes. He wished Nagus wouldn't wait.

"I will want an escort of metal men. But discreetly escorting, slave, discreetly..."

If there was such a thing as a discreet escort.

The freedom fighters would notice. They would know. They would sabotage. And he...

"...and if you fail to protect my convoy, slave, I must say, I won't be amused by that."

The fat man gulped.

"It will be discreet and protected, master! I assure you..."

**

The stars twinkled like lights in mother's eyes.

They were stuck on the night, they were mated in a sense, such beauty paired with black as deep and frightening as...

'You're a failure, Snively...
I wish I could be there to watch you die.'

...daddy....but why was he wasting thoughts on this?

Snively slouched against the wall, eyes half-closed and staring bleakly through the small jailhouse window.

'I am going to die tomorrow. Let me think of something good. Please. Please let me...'

From outside a warm breeze blew in the smell of lilacs. His eyelids slid closed, his head lolled onto his shoulder. Eyelashes were wet, his cheeks...he licked his tongue out, tasting the dripping salt.

The air smelled so good.

They would take it away from him tomorrow.
They would steal his air.
He wouldn't smell it again, he wouldn't feel the wind on his face, he wouldn't taste...

'But I won't hurt...' his mind offered feeble comfort.

Outside, standing guard but not particularly alert, were Antoine and one of Geoffrey's MPs, Tory.

Antoine had his sword in one hand; he was polishing it with a soft cloth. Tory was yawning. Antoine looked over.

"You are having something stuck in your teethes."

"Huh?" Tory stared at Antoine.

"In your teethes." Ant made a motion towards his mouth.

"Aw. Yeah." The badger picked at his pearly yellows with a claw.

The French fox sighed. "I am not knowing why eet ees necessary to be standing here."

"We're guarding, duh."

"He cannot escape."

"Yeah, maybe not..." The badger succeeded in getting the black speck off his teeth. "But it ain't gonna look good if no one guards him."

They were quiet for a while. Antoine put his sword away. Inside the jail they could hear the soft sound of feet pacing.

"I bet yer glad he's outta here," Tory said, giving Antoine a wicked grin. "Him living in Bunnie's house and all. He probably saw more of her 'tail' than you."

The sword was out like lightening, hovering near Tory's throat.

"Whoa, whoa man-"

"Do not speak of her like that!" A growl rumbled out of the fox's throat.

"Hey man, I didn't say nothing bout her, man." Tory chuckled nervously, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Ant moved the sword closer. Now it touched Tory's white throat-fur. "And Mademoiselle Bunnie is having no 'interest' in Snipley, if you are implying that's!"

"No, nah man, look...forget I said nothing, man, ok...it was just a joke."

"One I do not find funny." Ant kept the sword there a moment longer, then sheathed it.

Tory breathed in a loud breath.

Snively sat on the cold floor, staring at a crack there. It formed a shape somewhat like a bird...awkward and one wing looked broken. Outside, Tory and Antoine's voices grew loud suddenly like they were fighting. Tory sounded anxious; Ant angry.

He heard Bunnie's name. He heard his. Then he heard Bunnie from his dreams, whispering in his ear, her cold robotic fingers digging into his shoulder. "Kill the traitor. He betrayed all of us."

She really didn't have an interest. Antoine had just said that to Tory. It was true, though, it was true. He swallowed hard, remembering the kiss in her hut, how she'd let him do it the first time...
But then she'd pushed him away.
She had no interest.

'I knew that all along.'

She had no interest... and he fell upon the floor, his body covering the broken-winged bird's, his arms tucked under himself like they were ruined wings too. He curled up, shivering as the cool air swirled in. The floor felt like ice.

'Or maybe it's me, freezing the cell...' He felt like his insides were frozen. Cold and aching with needle-stabs of pain. Going numb.

He closed his eyes; he just wanted to sleep. 'I can't drag it out anymore. I need a last night, please, one last night, don't let me see Uncle there, don't let me see King Acorn. Don't let me see ropes.' He saw a flash of yellow fur. 'Let me see Bunnie. An interested Bunnie. A Bunnie who wants me. Let me dream this at least. Let me see that before I wake and die."

Maybe he'd get his wish. His eyelids were so heavy and his body was limp and his breathing slow. The blackness was closing in. It would be like this tomorrow. It would hurt like hell, and then be over, and he'd be lost in this black...

He drifted away into a light slumber.

The rustling leaves and warm night air were lulling Antoine to a similar lack of consciousness. He'd always been prone to falling asleep while on guard. Verbally thrashed by Sonic about it enough times, he tried to force his eyelids open, then decided against it. There was no need for guards here anyway.

So dream... He could hear Bunnie's voice. She sounded sweet. But no, she was angry with him. And her voice suddenly reflected that. She sounded irate. Then Tory's voice butted in and Antoine opened his eyes.

"Ain't letting you in, Bunnie, no way, no how."

"Ah jest want ta talk ta him! Talkin' ain't no crime!"

Bunnie was standing with her hands on her hips. Tory had moved in front of the door, standing solidly. He would've been hard to get by...if this hadn't been Bunnie. She could knock his head off with one punch.

"About what?" Tory scoffed.

"Ah don't know. It don't matter."

"That piece of shit'll only lie to you..."

"He ain't no piece a' shit!" Her voice rose. "Now ya'll let meh in! He was...he is...mah friend."

Tory shot Antoine an unbelieving look. "How can an Overlander be your friend?"

"He ain't all that different from us," Bunnie said heatedly. "Now let meh in!"

Antoine stepped up next to Tory. "He ees right, mon ami. We cannot let you in."

"Don't ya'll start, Ant." Bunnie looked as if she'd knock both their heads off. "Ah don't know what's gotten into ya, but Ah don't like it."

Antoine looked away. But he didn't move. Neither did Tory.

"Hey, it's King Acorn's orders. He doesn't want anyone going in there."

"Did he say that?" Bunnie said. "Ah bet not cause King Max can't believe anyone would like Snively. Well Ah do!"

"Acorn's got the right idea. He's filth."

Bunnie stepped forward. Her metallic toes nearly trod on Tory's paws.

"Ya'll say what ya want, but Ah'm goin' in and ya'll can't-"

"Mon ami. Please calm down." Antoine had his hand on his sword pommel. "You may go in, but only for a few minuets."

Tory shook his head savagely, but he moved. "Your chick is seriously whacked, Ant; she's got a few boards loose in the attic, if you know what I mean."

Antoine didn't, but Tory's tone was mean. He growled. "Be silent, fuel. A few minuets won't hurt."

Bunnie shot them both a withering look as she entered the jail.

The warmth from outside seemed to be restricted from entering. The interior of the jail was cool, in a damp creepy way, like the earth of burial grounds.

It was dimly lit from the moon through the tiny windows, illuminating the empty cells, their bars long and silver.

She heard a sound from the third and last cell down. A soft intake of breath.

Snively had heard the commotion outside. It had woken him...Bunnie's voice slicing through the dark of his dreams like a beautiful shaft of light. He heard the clink of metal on stone. She was coming.

She was there. Standing before his cell. The moonlight filtered through a window in the cell behind her, backlighting her, like a heavenly being.

She just stood there, looking at him, where he lay curled on the floor, his arm tucked under his head, his little body bruised and his clothes still dirty from the night before. Her eyes were so sad. They made him shiver and he sat up, trying to distance himself from the cold floor.

"How ya'll doin'?" she asked in a soft voice.

He didn't answer. He stood and approached the bars, his trembling hands clenching on them. "W-w-why did you come, Bunnie?"

He wished she hadn't. The sadness in her face made him hurt inside. It was like she was killing him before his execution. He stared at her face.

"Ah had ta see ya. Ah had ta..."

"Give a last goodbye?" He managed a smirk.

Her brightness seemed to dim. Her eyes lowered to the floor. "That ain't too funny, sugah," she said quietly.

He slumped back against the wall, eyeing her. Bitter cynicism was flooding over, tainting self-pity with anger. Anger was his steroid. Pumping up confidence and willpower that was normally weak.

"It's plenty funny, Ms Bunnie..." he didn't pause to laugh at the rhyme. "after all this time I'm finally getting what I deserve. Everyone else is laughing it up..."

"Half of them ain't wanting ta-"

"And you and Antoine'll finally have privacy, hmm? Maybe you can fuck on the couch now. Maybe you-"

"STOP IT!"

He glared, but this bitterness was not for her. She knew it. He dropped his gaze. His momentary strength was gone.

"Bunnie...I'm scared."

She reached through the bars and took his hand.

"Ah know, sugah."

"I...I wish...I just wish it didn't have to end now. I just feel...like I never..."

He knew in prison inmates could confess to a priest before they died. Repent for their god. He thought maybe he'd reject a priest. He didn't want to talk to any god. He didn't believe in gods.

Bunnie was better. Higher in his eyes.

"...got a chance. And I never gave anyone one...either..."

She looked ready to cry. "Ah wish ya'll hadn't taken those rings!" she blurted out.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, but she was talking over him. "They would've accepted ya...in time...they would've seen ya like Ah do..."

"How do you see me?" His voice was a whisper. He suddenly hurt very badly. It was like a bubble of hope had grown inside him. But it was like a pimple, it was painful and he knew it wasn't supposed to be there.

"As a good person..." she squeezed his hand. "Ah see ya as a person...a nice person who just don't know how ta show his goodness. Ah see someone scared ta be hurt so they built up a shield."

She popped it. He let go of her hand and turned away. Blood and pus burned his insides. "But not someone you could love," he choked out, focusing his gaze out the tiny window. The tops of the trees swayed and blurred.

She didn't answer. He leaned against the wall, running his fingers down the rough surface. He couldn't get over the fact he wouldn't feel it again.

"I didn't take the last ring," he said, just to take his mind off the pain inside.

"Ya'll didn't?" her voice was trembling.

"No...it was Geoffrey. He tried to catch it and lost it. He didn't want to look stupid. So he said it was stolen."

"Ah...Ah'm so sorry....Ah treated you so bad the other night...oh Snively...Ah'm so..."

He turned back, rushing to grab her hand. "No...Bunnie...don't. Don't be sorry." He gripped her hand hard. She was crying and he felt tears break from his own eyes. "Please Bunnie...you were the best thing I've had in my life for a long time."

It sounded so cliché. But it was true. Her brightness...even his anguish over her was sweeter than any feeling from Robotropolis.

"Bunnie..." This was getting more painful by the moment. "You made me love again. I might have died without remembering it." He neglected to say he still loved his mother. He neglected to say he would still die without love received. It mattered, but she didn't need to know. She only need know how very important she was.

She blurted out again. She felt so horrible inside...she wanted to comfort him, but her pain kept her from it. She could only make it worse...pondering moot points. "Ah wish ya'll never worked fer Robotnik! Or left earlier. Ya wouldn't be here..."

"I know!" His voice was starting to deteriorate. The tears had broken free and now he couldn't dam the river up again. "But I can't...can't change it..."

'I wish I could see you die...'

Daddy. Daddy had wanted to kill him when he was a child. He hated him. He hated him back. They hated each other. But child could only express hate screaming in his own mind, father could express it with words that bled, fists that broke.

'I don't care about you.' Snively's thoughts shot back to that phantom voice of daddy.

'I don't care about you.' Mimicking and cruel.

'I didn't need your love!' Desperate to deny.

'Couldn't have my love.'

Finality.

And a phantom voice whispered, edged with metal, "Come with me, nephew...and get away from HIM...'

Snively slumped his head against the bars. He was shaking and tried to keep a grip on the bars so he wouldn't fall down. For now his knees had gone weak. He began to collapse, held up barely by weakened hands. If he were on a cliff's edge he would've fallen.

"It was his fault," he growled out through tears. His knees touched the ground and he released the bars, clasping his arms around himself. "It was his it was his..."

Bunnie knelt down too. "Sugah..."

He couldn't quit shaking. "It was HIS FAULT!! He FUCKING DID..."

"Sugah..."

"HE FUCKING..." His cracked voice was rising to a scream.

"Ah know Robotnik..."

"DROVE ME TO THIS!"

"SUGAH!"

Snively snapped his head up, breathing harshly through his mouth. He felt weak and strong. He felt like he could kill

'I wish I could watch'

HIM. And Uncle. And Geoffrey and King Acorn and Antoine and HIM and Uncle and

"Sugah..."

...he saw Bunnie, wide-eyed, her shining legs in the dirt, her lips trembling.

And she sapped it away. She made him want to die while wanting to live and love her. She didn't love him.

So maybe he should die.

'What's so bad about it? I have nothing left.'

Just a pimple of hope, busted.

'I have nothing.'

Scabbing over.

'Maybe I could...have someday...have something...'

Just fuck it. Just DIE.

Her lime eyes blinked and dripped.

He took a deep shuddering breath and stared her in the eyes.

"I don't want to die."

**

Tory was standing against the door with his ear pressed to it.

"Heh. I can't believe she likes that goon."

Antoine was stationed near the wall, standing very straight. The perfect attentive guard he was; except his mind was miles away from this little prison.

Tory stepped away, fixing a mean gaze on the fox. "I wonder if she likes him more than you."

Antoine ignored him.

Tory snorted and slumped against the wall.

Antoine was snapped out of his rigid guard stance by yelling. Tory moved fast to open the door, but Antoine was even faster, charging past the badger and down the short hallway to Snively's cell.

Snively had Bunnie's hand, clutching it. She was crying.

"Snipley, be letting her go!" Antoine brandished his sword. Tory was right on his heels.

Snively let go. Bunnie turned to Antoine with her wide eyes; Tory shook his head and smirked.

And louder Snively proclaimed: "I don't want to die!"

He wanted to live. He wanted to exist just to spite them. Antoine and Daddy and King Acorn and his blasted uncle. Even if it were a life of agony, he'd endure it to spite them.

"Shut up, Snively," said Tory and Snively glared and opened his mouth to scream back and Antoine still had his sword out and glimmering and Bunnie looked back and forth between this all, and that sad bitter little voice echoed 'I don't want to die to die to die I don't want to die...'

And she moved with earlier resolutions resounding loud in her head. "Ah can't support this.'

Tory barely had time to throw his hands up. He barely had time to say anything, only a low grunt as Bunnie's metal arm connected with his head. The badger collapsed into a monochrome ball of fur.

Antoine stared at Bunnie with his jaw slack in shock. Then his expression changed, becoming a mask of determination, and he charged her, grabbing her by the arm. "MON AMI! What are you thinking!?"

"Don't get in mah way," she said. Her arm came around again but Antoine blocked it with his sword. The force of impact knocked him back against the wall.

"Mon AMI!" came one last cry and then silence, and Bunnie stood panting over him, watching a slow trickle of blood come from his head.

Snively peered out from the bars, watching Bunnie search Tory's pockets, her eyes leaking onto the floor, her mouth trembling uncontrollably. When she got to Antoine, she was gulping great sobs and she gave an anguished cry as she pulled his pockets out empty. She whirled to face the cells and Snively recoiled.

"Is...Is he de-"

She ran towards the cell, her leg flying out to strike.

"-ead!" He dove against the wall as the barred door clanged to the ground beside him.

She came in and grabbed his arm. Her grip hurt.

"Is he...?"

She pulled him down the hall and he looked back at Antoine. He thought he saw his chest moving.

"We gotta get outta here."

Still holding his arm, although he was walking quite willingly, she led him through the darkened village. Tree branches clicked overhead, their shadows cast over the ground like reaching hands. He shivered, wondering if anyone was glancing out their windows now...in this moonlight they would be able to see them. Even the typical sounds of the night seemed hushed.

They made no noise themselves until finally they reached the dark tangle of the forest. Then their feet cracked upon small sticks and rustled in the dead leaves. They walked for about two minutes before Snively spoke.

"Bunnie..." He looked over at her. Her limbs were dully lit by the filtered moonlight, but he could barely see her eyes. Her hair was over her downturned face.

She stepped over a fallen log. He almost tripped. She was walking fast and it took him effort to keep up.

"We ain't got no time ta lose. Ya gotta git far away."

"Bunnie." He grabbed her arm. His free hand moved to her face, pushing away her hair. Her eyes were wet and sad. "You didn't kill him, did you?"

'No." She said bluntly. "Ah would never kill no one. He's alraight, he'll just have a headache."

"Alright..." He released her arm, even though he didn't want to...he wanted to hold onto her forever.

"Now come on, we gotta git..."

He shook his head. "You can't come with me."

"Ah'm already in trouble."

"Bunnie, they'll forgive *you*." He sighed and looked into the dark depths of the forest. He fought back shivers; the thought of walking deeper into this wilderness frightened him.

Besides, he knew she didn't want to come.

"I'll be ok," he said.

"But ya'll can't-"

"I have a place to go," he confided, though this was supposed to be a secret. "I'll be ok." Speaking this made him suddenly confident. He could get there. His watch had a compass, that was all he needed.

She stared at him for a long moment. He felt hot under her gaze, the shivers coming back, his fingers itching to grab her.

"Alright, sugah, but please be careful." Her organic hand came out and awkwardly patted his shoulder.

"I will." He clasped her hand upon his shoulder, loving the feel of that golden fur, so warm and soft. His eyes were locked on hers, wanting so badly to extend a finger forward and wipe it along her eyes, feeling silken eyelashes and taking away salty wetness.

He leaned forward suddenly, lips seeking hers, but she pulled her face back. Her eyes glimmered and spilled onto her cheeks. "Please...Snively..." Her hand left his shoulder and clenched across her chest. "Don't make it...worse..."

He gulped hard, feeling ill. He took a step back. Voice refused to go above a whisper now, shaking, "Ok...Bunnie...ummm..." He turned away. "Goodbye..."

He ran without looking back. Tears dripped off his chin, flying back in the wind, his shoes crunched on dead things underfoot, his lungs sobbed painfully in his chest. He didn't let his last words fly off his tongue. He kept them in, not wanting to hear them again, not wanting her to hear them.

'Forget her. Forget her now. This never happened...'

Onto his secret place, the place Robotnik had built into a cliff side. A secret fortress, a place of protection. He would go there, and he would build up power, and he would crush Nagus and Uncle and Knothole.

Towards the promise of power he went.

Swallowed down in his throat, burning his insides, were the words of love.

*Clink* went a fork into an empty bowl of rice pudding.

Geoffrey St. John stared out the window of his hut. He licked his lips, swallowing down the last traces of the dessert. Bunnie had made it a few days earlier and given him the leftovers.

Geoff couldn't cook worth a crap. He usually went to the café or took someone else's leftovers. With their permission...usually.

He was on the edge tonight. His legs urged him to jump up and roam around, but he wasn't really the pacing type. He sighed and turned his eyes to the empty porcelain bowl, thinking of Bunnie for a minute, and then thinking of what would happen tomorrow.

He grinned savagely.
O, what a joy to witness the death of sin.
The death of Snively.

Of course...he idly twirled the fork. Would it be that great? The guy could only die once. Then he was just a corpse, and corpses were no fun to torment.

Oh well. There were other things to do. And he wouldn't have to constantly be worrying where the little prick was, what kind of evil ideas he was plotting in that hairless head of his, no...Geoffrey would be free to attend to *other* matters.

He stared into the empty bowl, lost in thoughts of cheering crowds, but one little image nagged, marring the perfection of his envisioned execution. It was Bunnie, standing there off to the side, crying over that Overlander scum, bawling as his feet dangled and his strange eyes glazed.

She probably would cry, too. He snorted.

"How...disappointing.' He shook his head. But Bunnie had always been like that, anyway. Soft...

He pushed back from the table and left his hut, moving towards the jail with rapid steps. Something in him tugged and wouldn't stop, that little image of Bunnie, those faces who'd yelled this morning, saying Snively's death was unfair.

When he got there, he spoke to Tory and Antoine.

"Hey...mates...

"Are you alright?"

"Oof!"

Snively tripped over a fallen stick and fell to the ground. The dead leaves felt hot and warm under his hands; moist too. He grimaced as he heard something scuttling away from him. A bug or small rodent, maybe.

He got to his feet and looked around. He'd been traveling for maybe ten minutes now. Since he'd left Bunnie, the woods seemed to get blacker, the trees taller, their branches stretching out to blot out the sky.

He pushed on deeper into the forest. Each owl hoot, each rustle of leaves made his skin shiver. He paused by a tree, taking slow deep breaths.

It worked. He felt his heartbeat slow down, and the odd trembling feeling in his limbs subsided. He managed a dry smile. No problem. He could make it through this, easy.

Then all calmness fled at the cracking of sticks. This was no small animal. Someone was coming this way.

"Bunnie?" He called tentatively, and then immediately wished he hadn't spoken. From the noises, the person was moving faster now, and heading his way.

"Shit..." he hissed under his breath and broke into a run. He gritted his teeth, hating the noise he was making, a terrific smashing of leaves and breaking of sticks. 'You could hear me for miles away!' he thought disgustedly, but he supposed stealth wasn't important at the moment.

Something was off to his side. He could see it barely out of the corner of his eye. He whimpered, not wanting to look. It darted closer, taking the lead, moving in front of him. He gasped, his legs moving to dodge.

Too late. The figure dodged with him, moving forward and now they were only a few feet apart.

They both stopped moving. Silence fell down. Broken finally by the sound of crickets chirping.

Geoffrey snorted. "Well. Ain't this a familiar sight?"

Oh no...

"Not you," Snively groaned aloud. "Oh God...why you..."

The skunk moved closer. "I guess yer escape just ain't meant to be..."

Beads of sweat appeared on the human's forehead, and he was trembling again. "No...Geoffrey..." He took a few rapid steps backward. "Please, just let me go..."

Geoffrey laughed but didn't sound amused. His murky blues seemed darker, like clouds had crept over, shutting out highlights and condescending mirth. The skunk stood with his legs apart, leaning forward with fisted hands. He was aggressive tonight; he was a hunter.

Snively clenched his fists and matched the stance...he wasn't going to fall into his usual role... the helpless prey, the victimized boy.

"You won't take me anywhere."

Geoffrey took a step forward. "Really, mate? We'll see about that."

Eyes widened and nostrils flared as Snively planted his feet more firmly into the ground, taking in deep breaths. The skunk advanced, smiling cruelly, the murderous thoughts in his head shining plainly through his eyes.

'Well, not tonight', thought the small human firmly.

Geoffrey charged forward and threw his hand out, seeking a grip on Snively's throat. Snively ducked, darting to the left. Geoffrey whirled around and charged again, running low like a football player. His shoulder slammed into the fleeing human.

Snively was knocked to the ground. Dead leaves flew in the air as he kicked wildly, regaining his footing. He backed away from the oncoming skunk, gulping as his back hit a tree.

Geoffrey sprang forward...Snively sprang away. The skunk nearly collided with the trunk, but pushed himself away with his hands. Quick as lightning was he, and he was on Snively's running heels in seconds.

Snively ducked behind a tree, breath raspy in fear.

If Geoffrey got a hold of him, he was good as dead. Literally. It would take a while...the passing of this night, but then in the slow lazy morning...he would die.

Geoffrey made a grab for him around the tree. Snively dodged away. Circling the tree they went, each trying to be faster than the other. But this high speed high-and-seek was too nerve-wracking for the small human.

He darted away from the tree, making a mad dash into the forest.

His feet hit a tree root and he went sprawling. His left hand slammed into something sharp and bled. He let out a cry, seeing the skunk approaching, turning his head to see what he'd struck.

A tree branch, thick. The offshooting branches were broken off, making sharp jagged points.

"Tsk, tsk, Snively." Geoffrey shook his head, leering down at the Overlander. "Too bad I can't charge you for escape. Maybe I'll just teach you a lesson before I bring you back, eh?" Pointed teeth shone and a black hand reached down.

Snively made a quick grab. The branch was in his hands. It felt good there. Geoffrey leaned down with that leering grin and he swung the branch, feeling the shock wave through his arms, hearing the thunk as it cracked against Geoffrey's head. One of the sharp points had barely missed going into Geoff's ear. He snarled and jerked back, a hand flying to clutch the side of his head, flowing bright red a contrast against dark fingers.

It was a beautiful sight. Teeth snarling, Snively swung again...suddenly wild...lusting for that crimson flow. Eager for Geoffrey's face to collapse in a mess of blood and spit. He swung and the branch struck Geoffrey's face again.

Sharp pieces dug into his cheek. Another came just shy of his eye. Blood oozed down his brow. He grunted, losing his footing to sprawl in the leaves, his hands clutching his face.

Snively stood, and now he was the one looming over, the one looking down. At that filth. He held the branch up like a club, teeth bared. He wanted the blood to fly, to taste it in his throat.

With a loud animal growl, he arced the stick viciously downwards.

Geoffrey kicked out. His foot struck Snively hard on the upper leg, knocking him off balance. The stick struck the ground next to Geoffrey's head. The skunk was up in seconds, throwing himself ungracefully on top of the small human.

He pinned Snively's wrists down over his head, and sneered down. "Nice try, you little prick!" He sprayed the human's face with spittle. "You know what?"

Snively glared up, struggling, his feet kicking futilely. "Let me go, Mobian dirt! Let me goooo!" He howled, thrashing under the skunk, but Geoffrey was unmoved.

His pointed teeth exposed in a smile. "I don't think they're gonna have an execution tomorrow. I think I'm gonna reschedule it for tonight!"

Large black hands left thin white wrists to clamp upon flesh equally slender, and much more delicate. His fingers curled violently around Snively's neck. And squeezed.

He couldn't make a sound. Eyes widened and mouth opened slightly, Snively squirmed his tiny body like mad, but it wasn't helping. Geoffrey's grip tightened, a sick smile on his lips.

'No. NO. Can't die like...

He weakly kicked, his hands going up to push at Geoff's face, whimpers trapped in his throat, begging with his eyes.

'Like this...'

He had to live! To spite them. To make them pay for the damage.

But he was weakening. Now Geoffrey's face leered through a haze of black...red flashes...and such agony in his lungs....his eyes burned like acid.

He felt one of his fingers hit something soft and yielding on Geoffrey's face. Wet. An...eye? He dug in but even then he knew it wouldn't be enough.

But the pressure was gone suddenly. He heard a faint grunt and the sound of a body falling upon leaves.

He tried to look but couldn't see; tried to breathe but he felt so weak... And then firm hands laid on his chest and pushed, and a breathy voice sang to him. Coaxing his weary lungs to draw in a breath... "Just one breath...please...please..."

And they did.

He coughed and gasped frantically. Fingers curled into his palms, digging nails in. The hands pressing on his chest turned to massaging, soothing him. Finally the panic slipped away, replaced by a sort of relieved weariness.

He opened his eyes and the haze had cleared.

She was there. But of course. Who else would've helped him...who else had been around? She shone like a light, her face wreathed in smiles to see his eyelids lift. He pushed himself up too quick, getting dizzy in the head.

Maybe it was intentional....an excuse for her touch. He fell forward, feeling her arms wrap around for support. Ah, it felt so good to be there, his head pressed against her soft bosom, the warmth and coldness of her different arms on his back...the gentle thump of her heart. Her breath was warm on his head.

"Are ya'll alraight, sugah?"

He was quiet for a moment. "Y...Yes..."

She stood up slowly, helping him up. Together they looked at Geoffrey's prone body.

He nudged the skunk with his foot. "I do hope you killed *him*."

"Ah do believe Ah'm in a spot o' trouble. Even if Ah didn't!"

Snively cringed, but her voice was warm. Her hand laid on his shoulder. "But Ah'll live...ya'll won't if ya don't git goin'!" She smiled.

He awkwardly embraced her, still biting back the sacred words. Keeping his lips to himself this time, he allowed his hands to clutch her a bit harder. "Thank you Bunnie...for everything."

He stepped back and turned to leave.

Before he went, he stopped and took Geoffrey's crossbow glove. Then he headed off into the dark trees with a heart that was strangely light and yet weighted. His feet nonetheless seemed to move more easily over roots and leaves.

He wouldn't miss too much of it...

"Goodbye Knothole...

Goodbye Bunnie..."

**

The plan was flimsy as tinfoil.

'No.'

The plan was... strong...?

'Well...no.'

But it would work. It had to. After so many hours of deliberating, Robotnik had finally decided on the old Ocum's Razor theory. The simplest explanation is often the right one. Or in this case, the simplest, most obvious course of action was the way to go.

"I have just noticed..." Nagus suddenly spoke from the throne. Robotnik jumped on his aching feet, surprised as his train of thoughts derailed and crashed. He turned around slowly to eye the wizard. Nagus was staring into space, his rust colored eyes unfocused.

"There is a feeling of power beneath the city. Do you have a power source down there, slave?"

"There is a Stealthbot factory in the underground caves, master..."

"NO!" Nagus waved his crab claw and Robotnik gulped. "No...no..." He calmed, finally turning his gaze to Robotnik. "No...I have felt that...it feels the same as your other creations. Metal. Cold. Uninspiring."

Robotnik hid a sneer behind a raised hand. He feigned a cough. The wizard seemed unconcerned.

"This is a more natural sort of energy. Warm and clean. Soft..."

"Perhaps there is oil underground." Robotnik relished the idea. He loved oil... thick and dirty and the beautiful smog it threw into the air when used, O! He loved the greasy smell of it; the way it floated on water like an iridescent veil.

"No, slave, this is not a stagnant source, this is something being drawn from."

"Do you know what it is, master?"

Nagus's lip curled. "I would not muse about it if I knew, slave!" He sighed. "But it is not of the matter, now. I will investigate it later."

'You mean you'll have me investigate it...' the fat man thought sourly. He feigned another cough. 'But I won't be around, now will I...'

"I trust you are prepared for the escort tomorrow."

"Yes, master."

"Good!" Nagus rose from the throne, levitating to impress his slave's eyes.

Robotnik didn't bat an eye.

The wizard landed and lumbered towards the exit, thick tail dragging. "I will be off to rest then, slave. You will regret my being disturbed."

"Of course, master. Have a good night..."

**

Pale gray showed through the leaves. He squinted and blinked.

The leaves were swaying. There was something hard underneath his leg.

He groaned, spreading his arms out, feeling around him. He was lying on his back. Looking up. He lifted his leg with a groan and pulled out what was underneath him.

A stick. A sharp broken piece of it had been gouging into him.

He threw it away with a loud snort. Pushing himself up to a sitting position he grimaced and put a hand to his head. It was quite sore in the back and his neck hurt.

He rubbed it and squinted into the forest. Thick white fog snaked through the trees. He stood, his mouth drawn in a tight line.

Last night's events came flooding back in his mind. He HAD Snively. He was killing him!

And then he had been struck.

He snarled and batted his arm about, like he could chase the fog off. It didn't work. He began to walk, ears swiveling and nose twitching... with sight rendered useless he would have to use other means to get back home...

Finally he came upon the outskirts of the village. By this time his head was aching badly.

'I guess I'll have to pay ole Quack a visit.'

The door to the infirmary squeaked open. Geoffrey thought idly that maybe Rotor should come oil it sometime.

"My goodness, another one?" exclaimed Quack, running over to him. He was holding a tomato sandwich in one hand and a bloody bandage in the other.

The skunk made a face. "Another?"

Quack opened a miniature icebox. Rummaging past a vodka bottle and another tomato sandwich he grabbed an icepack. Geoff noticed he left the bandage inside as he closed the door and shook his head disgustedly.

The doc handed the pack to Geoffrey. "Put that on your head. You got a nasty bump."

"No shit, mate."

"Much like these two." He led the skunk over to two cots. Antoine sat on one, nursing a similar bump. In the other, Tory lay unconscious.

"Well I see yer alright."

Antoine raised his eyes to greet them. "My head eez sore."

"Yeah..." Geoffrey paused, looking at Antoine shrewdly. "How did Snively escape?"

There was silence. Quack bit into his sandwich, looking between the fox and skunk.

"Well how, mate?"

"You know he escape-ed?"

"Of course I know! I tracked the bloke last night. My question is how did he get out? C'mon Antoine!"

The fox shrugged. "I do not know."

Geoffrey rolled his eyes heavenward, letting out an annoyed snort. "Of course you don't, Ant. Nobody around here knows shit." He roughly pushed on Tory's shoulder. "Maybe this dipshit does."

"Well, wait till he wakes up." Quack nudged Geoff away from the cot. "I don't want you in here shoving on my patients." He held up his sandwich. "I have an extra, if you're hungry."

Geoffrey mumbled and snatched the sandwich from Quack's hand. "Yeah. Ok."

Quack pouted as the skunk downed his sandwich in one gulp.

**
Bunnie stood in her bathroom, gaze alternating between the mirror and out the window. She stared at her reflection, wiping a hand over her eyes, trying to smooth away that scared look. She knew, soon, there would be a ruckus outside that window.

News of the traitor's disappearance was going to hit hard. News of this morning's noose swinging empty was going to draw anger, most of all from King Acorn.

She wondered if they would march her to the noose instead. Substitute a Mobian neck for an Overlander's; use her as a martyr for his crimes.

She sighed and brushed back her headfur, eyeing herself critically.

"They won't be able ta tell... Ah still look innocent."

She only hoped the ruckus would occur *after* this morning's mission. They were going to break into Nagus's lab and free his test subjects. She wanted to be there. They might need her strength.

'And maybe they'll forgive me better...if Ah helped...'

**

So, King Acorn didn't know yet, eh?

Typical of them. Geoffrey's magenta boots hit the ground hard. Nostrils flared as he breathed in angry breaths. That shit Antoine hadn't informed anyone of the jailbreak. That stupid doctor didn't appear to even care.

"Hey, dealing death isn't my profession. If Snively gets out of his execution, more power to him."

"Stupid bird!" Geoffrey had slammed the door on his way out, waking up several sleeping patients.

He found the King sitting near the gardens on one of their shoddy wooden benches. He was smoking a cigar, looking contented. In the distance behind him, Geoffrey could see the execution site, raising its branches high above the village.

Nearby, there was a clamor as Sonic made a joke about chilidogs. Bunnie covered her mouth, trying not to laugh...or maybe hiding her lack of amusement. Sally was strapping Dulcy's harness around the dragon's belly.

Bunnie's eyes followed Geoffrey as he passed by, but he didn't notice her.

"Your highness." He came to a halt before the king.

"Ah, St. John. How goes it?" He nodded towards the group. "They may need you on a mission today. Although they plan to leave at the very time our punishment to the Overlander takes place."

'Typical,' thought Geoffrey sourly, casting a scoffing glance at them. They all had been protesting against Snively's death. Fighting so hard for freedom, and then blanching when it came time to ending the fight!

"I have bad news for you, my liege."

The King took a puff from his cigar, his carefree look gone to hard glaring. "What kind of problem?"

"Well..."

Sonic had turned around and was watching Geoffrey with a large smile on his face. The skunk snarled in his direction. "Snively...escaped."

King Acorn rose with a bellow. "WHAT?!"

Geoffrey didn't bother to repeat himself.

"How did he escape?"

The group stared at Geoffrey.

"How did he escape, St. John?!"

"I don't know, sire. Antoine and Tory were guarding the cell. And somehow Snively got out."

The king aimed his finger at the group. "Postpone the mission! I want everyone out looking for Snively. That traitor *must* be caught!"

"No, daddy!" A clod of dirt went flying as Sally stamped the ground. "This mission is *important*. People's lives are at stake! Nagus is torturing them...and we have to get them out!"

The king was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Geoffrey cleared his throat. "I'll find him, sire. He was initially my responsibility. He will be brought to justice."

"Perhaps, he should go with you." King Acorn's finger pointed to Sonic.

"No, daddy, we need him."

"Uh no...your highness...I don't think he'll be necessary..."

"Yeah, stinky'll do just great by himself." Sonic stuck out his tongue. "I hafta stick with Sal, Sir Max! Ya know how it is."

Logic and love dominated the vengeance in the King's mind. He nodded again. "You are right, Sonic. The well being of my daughter is much more important. As is the welfare of my citizens in Robotropolis."

Sonic did an awkward bow. "Thanks, Sir Max. Ya know I'll take care of her."

Sally shook her head and smiled. "We'll take care of each other...as usual."

"And you, St John, will take care of our traitor. He won't evade his punishment this time. He..."

He trailed off as Antoine came trudging up to the group. Following a distance behind was Tory.

King Acorn raised an eyebrow. "Mr. D'Coolette! Is it my understanding you were guarding Snively's cell last night?"

"Oui." Antoine forced his gaze to the ground so he wouldn't look at Bunnie. She had turned away at the sight of him, eyes stricken.

"How did he get out?"

The group didn't stare this time; they were busy making last preparations. Sally had taken out NICOLE and called up a holographic map, pointing out the tiny lab by the bay.

"I am not being sure, your highness." Antoine clasped his hands together.

"How can you not be sure!? You were there. What happened! At least tell me what happened!"

"I was hit your highness, I do not know who did eet." The statement came out mumbled. Sweat was beading under his fur.

"WHAT?! You liar!" Tory shoved past the group, holding an icepack to his head. The badger looked livid. "He knows who did it! I know who did it!"

Antoine snapped his head up. His eyes could kill. They were more lethal than the sword on his belt; his hand had gone there to clutch.

"Who, then, Tory?" asked the king.

"SHE DID!" The black finger came out. It leveled. The group followed its lead.

And Bunnie stared back with her ears drooping, but her eyes blazed defiance.

"Bunnie!?" Sally cried, and King Acorn's voice boomed out, overshadowing his daughter's.

"MS RABBOT?! You did this thing?!"

Antoine put his face in his hands.

Geoffrey rubbed the bump on his head, his mouth agape. "It was YOU in the forest?" He tried to close his mouth, it just gaped open again. "I SHOULD'VE KNOWN IT WAS YOU! YOU BLOODY OVERLANDER LOVER!"

"SHUT UP, GEOFFREY, leave her alone!"

"Ms Rabbot, why?"

"Where is he?" Geoffrey strode forward and his hands came forward as if to shake her. They hovered before her robotic shoulder, almost loathing to touch it. "Where the hell is he? You KNOW where he went!"

King Acorn stepped forward as well. "Tell us, where did he go?"

Sally's face was distressed. Sonic was holding her arm.

"Leave her alone!" He said. "Stop yelling at her!"

Sally's voice echoed. "Stop it, Geoffrey, let her explain. Stop yelling. Everyone STOP YELLING!"

There was silence. Bunnie bowed her head. "Yes, Ah let him out. Ah helped him get away from Geoffrey. But Ah let him go...inta the forest. Ah don't know where he's gone ta."

"You liar." Geoff's hand finally dared to touch her, shoving against her robotic shoulder.

Suddenly, Dulcy's head came down, knocking Geoff away with her snout. "Knock it off, stinky! Don't push her!"

The cigar left King Acorn's hand. It landed in the grass, still burning. Antoine stomped it out with his boot.

"This is a very shocking revelation, Ms Bunnie. One who would help the traitor escape is at serious fault."

"Ah..." she began.

"St John, this cannot go unnoticed." He shook his head, features grave. "So I order you now to arrest her."

Bunnie raised her head, eyes wide.

W-w-what?" Sonic's mouth was now the one opened in shock. Sally's arm trembled under his hand.

Antoine's mouth opened as Geoff reached into his belt. A small sound came from him.

Bunnie didn't look at him. Her eyes were on Geoffrey. He knew she heard him.

"Bunnie..." he whispered. And then fell silent.

Running feet distracted attention for a moment. Uncle Chuck came trotting up. His brow furrowed at the scene, not knowing what was occurring. "Hey Sonny-boy, everyone, we oughta get goin'. If we wait much longer, we'll be too late."

Geoff reached out and snagged Bunnie's flesh arm. In his other hand was a pair of manacles. She made no noise as he snapped them onto her wrists.

Uncle Chuck stared.

"No Geoffrey, you can't!" Sally lunged forward. But Bunnie sidestepped, blocking her from the skunk.

"Go and rescue dem people, Sally-girl! Ah'll be fine, hon!"

Tears streaked her friend's pale cheeks.

"Go on, now...they need ya..."

Geoffrey pushed in front of Bunnie, waving his hand at Sally. "We ain't gonna hurt her, luv."

King Acorn nodded stoically. "Of course not. No harm will come to her. But answers must be had."

Geoffrey tugged sharply on the chain between the manacles.

"What's going..." Uncle Chuck sputtered.

Sally sighed, her eyes narrowing as she watched Geoffrey smirk, tugging the chain. Bunnie turned and went without a struggle.

She couldn't stand the thought. That Bunnie would be locked up! Treated like a traitor!" Her head swiveled to her father, her lips pulled into a grim line. "All right. C'mon gang. Bunnie's right, we have to rescue the people."

King Acorn did not flinch as his daughter's fiery gaze settled on him. "We'll talk about this when I get back, daddy."

Geoffrey and Bunnie disappeared into the jail.

"Yes, Sally. We most certainly will."

**

"I want out..." A voice whimpered. "Why is he doing this?"

"Shut up." Someone cuffed the speaker in the mouth.

They cried out. "I'm s-s-soo s-s-scared..."

"I said shut up..."

"Sssssh! He's coming. He's..."

A shadow fell over the huddled group of Mobians. Then light came, emanating out of the newcomer's very form.

Red light. Black shadows pooled in the furrows of his face. Eyes blazed equally scarlet. And his teeth bared in a shark's smile, toothy and wide.

A laugh rang out. The prisoners pressed tighter together. Blood ran from a female's nose and onto another's hand, the very hand that had struck her.

"Hello, my lovelies." Nagus's voice was taunting. He sneered as he eyed them. They'd been deroboticized several days ago and experienced the glorious sensation of having feeling back in their bodies. They cowered as he stepped closer...of course...most of the sensations they'd been feeling lately was pain...

"I know you are tiring of this place, so today we're moving somewhere else. Somewhere where we can continue our tests...in peace..."

The female shivered. "Please, let us go!"

The male fox clasping her ground his claws into her arm hard. "Shut up!" He hissed under his breath.

'They are so pathetic...' Another smile touched Nagus's face. But useful they were; their bodies and vulnerable minds such a lovely thing to toy with.

This was research after all. They should be grateful! Knowing their lives were being put to good use; knowing they were contributing to the pool of knowledge; their pain leading to beautiful discoveries. Not only this, but they were free from their robotic bodies!

The wizard figured it should be enough to satisfy them, but they were uncaring and ungrateful. Their lack of interest made them expendable in his eyes. Not that they had been seen any other way anyway...

"Now stand, my friends. I expect there to be no problems."

"I don't want to go," The female squealed. She remained on the floor as the others rose. The fox tried to pull her up but she cried and scratched at his arm. "NO. NO! Leave me alone!"

The crab claw lifted. The Mobians fell back, abandoning their companion. Even the fox let go of her, cowering back against the wall.

She was lifted into the air, surrounded by blue light. Her eyes were wide and terrified; her body stiff from the magic. Then she jerked suddenly. Her lips parted but no noise came.

Fur crackled with electricity.

Blood oozed over her lower lip, staining her chest fur.

Then she was dropped, curling into a shivering ball, arms clasped around her head. The others shivered at the sound of her whimpering.

Nagus laughed and turned away. He held out his wrist, tapping a few buttons on the COM device strapped there.

"Slave. Is everything ready?"

Robotnik's meek voice came crackling after a moment's hesitation. "Yes, master. Your supplies have already been transported to the new location. And I have hovercraft and robots ready to escort you..." He cleared his throat. "Discreetly."

"Good."

Nagus cut off the link abruptly and turned back to his captives. They flinched as their bodies were trapped in a leash spell.

Even the female was forced to her feet, standing unsteadily with her head lolling.

If one looked closely they could see a thin shimmering line in the air, leading from Nagus to the Mobians. Nagus turned sharply and moved towards the exit, and the line pulled. Reluctant, but unable to stop it, the others followed the wizard out onto the dirty streets.

**

Dirty.

This place smelled of it. Well, not dirt per say. But earth. That rich wet smell of decaying leaves, mingled with sweet and dried stuff, like pollen and bark and moss.

Snively was making better progress now, because the sun was higher in the sky, filtering through the leaves. His feet crunched upon the leaves in a steady rhythm, and around him, small birds chirped and flitted in the trees.

His voice rang out along with them. "Now...where to go..." He checked his compass. Still on the right track. He had to head north, going through the forest, through the dark swamp that lay beyond and all the way to the edge of the Great Unknown; that vast barren desert where the Void had first reappeared.

In the side of a cliff, Robotnik had built a small fortress there. They had stayed for a week, studying the Void's activities and looking for magical items, which was a hobby of Uncle's. Always looking for more power.

There he would go and stay, for now.

He grimaced, putting a hand to his stomach. It growled, demanding food. But he had none. He sighed, trying to put it from his mind, but it was such an empty ache.

"And it might take days to get there..."

Not might. Would. Especially when traversing areas like the swamp. He shuddered to think of the deep pools of water, the green slime, the slippery rocks. Surely nothing would be fit to eat there.

A few feet ahead of him, a squirrel ran across the path. It sat on its haunches, fixing beady eyes on him.

He stared back, scowling as it made chattering noises at him. Without thinking he raised his arm towards it, the arm with the pilfered crossbow.

The squirrel bolted.

He lowered his arm and sighed. "Gross. But I may have to resort to that..." He tried to remember if they'd kept any rations in the fortress.

His stomach growled again, loud.

"For your sake...I hope we did..." He patted his belly and continued walking.

After ten minutes, the ground became littered with rocks. Even more annoying than continuously tripping, were the hills that sprouted from nowhere.

He grumbled as he struggled up, using trees and protruding roots to slowly drag himself forward. His feet seemed to conveniently fall upon small pebbles or slippery leaves, and he fell several times before reaching the top.

"Now I know why I always hated the woods..." he panted, glaring at the trees. They should've torched them, he and Robotnik. They should've burnt this place down.

His ears caught a sound...well it had been there all along, but just now did they notice it was the gurgling sound of water. He swallowed, realizing that he was very thirsty indeed, and at the bottom of this wretched hill was a small stream.

He stumbled down hastily. His foot slipped into the hole of some animal and with a cry, he fell forward. There was nothing to grab! He went tumbling down the slope, until he lay sprawled on the streambed. He moaned and tried to stand, but only succeeded in getting a few feet farther, before falling again. It was soft under his knees; thick with plush green moss. Small bugs with long legs paddled the water, but he ignored them, cupping the cold liquid in his hands and drinking greedily.

"Ahhhh..." He breathed. The water seemed to wipe away some of the tiredness from his body. He leaned back against a small tree. His leg drawn up to his chest, he peeled back his sock to check his ankle.

There was skin scrapped away and blood staining the white fabric. He washed it away and pressed his hand to the stinging wound.

"It's nothing..." He snorted. But it would probably hurt to walk.

But it most certainly wasn't going to stop him.

**

They weren't going to stop.

Sally was staring straight ahead, eyes shocked but her mouth still set in that grim line.

"I don't care if she did it!"

"I don't care either, Dulce, but she's in mondo trouble! But she couldn't have done it!"

"Who cares if she did? Needlenose is a wimp! He can't do anything to us!"

Sonic laughed. "True, true."

"They won't hang her will..."

"Stop talking about it!" Sally said loudly. Her eyes snapped back into focus, resting on the group as they stared back at her.

"But Sally, we're worried..."

"I know. I am too..." Sally's gaze shifted to the looming spires in the distance. They were the only part of the city visible from here. Thick morning fog and the perpetual smog lay thick as blankets.

"But look there..."

Her finger aimed at the highest spire, the immense antennae that crowned the top of the Death Egg, reaching up to pierce through the crowds. She imagined she would be able to see the whole planet from up there.

"That's where we got to focus our attention."

"But what if they hang Bunnie...?" Dulcy put a hand to her face.

"They won't do that, Dulcy, don't be silly." Sally frowned at that spire. From that building Snively had come, bringing the filth of the city with him. Somehow he'd dirtied Bunnie's mind too...

Sonic shook his head. "No way, Dulce!"

"Look, she's not going to get in trouble. For whatever reason she let-"

"No way did she do it, Sal!"

"I don't know..." Dulcy looked rather uncertain.

Uncle Chuck had been walking ahead silently, but he turned. "Bunnie has strong compassion, Sonny-boy. I don't know if she could let him die."

Dulcy nodded vigorously. "Yeah, she and Snively were friends!"

Sonic looked unconvinced.

"They were," the dragon insisted. "Whenever I saw them, Snively was always nice to her."

Sonic recalled words of Geoffrey's. Words he'd laughed at. That Snively had the 'hots' for Bunnie. The idea of the skinny pale Overlander lusting for Bunnie was so ludicrous in his mind. But now...

Further evidence came with Uncle Chuck's words. "When Bunnie got shot on the last mission, Snively was really worried about her. I saw the look on his face. He was *really* worried."

"Hmmmm..."

They were nearly across the wasteland now, getting to an area of large rocks, their surfaces black with grime, and piles of scrap metal and other garbage.

"Maybe they were more than friends."

Sally laughed dryly. "I don't think so, Sonic Hedgehog! Bunnie wouldn't give up Antoine!"

"HAHAHA!" The hedgehog feigned bending over in laughter. "Don't ask me why...the dork!"

"It was a one-sided romance, I'm sure." Uncle Chuck took a position behind one of the rocks, his robotic eyes scanning the city before them. They could see better now. The area before them was deserted.

"I wonder where they all are?" Sonic mused. The lack of guards was no concern to him, but Sally frowning, and biting her lip, thought differently.

"I don't like this..."

"I think maybe Robotnik has tightened security on the inner factories." Chuck said, his voice holding a rare note of uncertainty.

"But you'd think he'd have a few out here...at least..." Sonic peered out.

"Blast!" Chuck looked upset. "I should've stayed here..."

"Cool it, Unc, it's not your fault! Besides...nothing Robotnik can throw can hurt me! He's tried everything, and I'm still here."

"But Robotnik's not in charge..." Dulcy said. Sonic shot her an annoyed look.

"So I can still-"

"C'mon," said Chuck. "My bug is still in place in the lab. We'll go my hideout first and check it. See if Nagus leaked any vital information."

"Let's hope that ole wizard spilled the beans."

"I think he's short a few beans."

Dulcy and Sonic laughed. Sally shook her head.

They crept out, darting behind rock and trash pile until they were walking the dark streets amidst the factories.

Finally, they came across guards, which were avoided by quiet stealth. They crept their way to a large pile of scrap near one of the abandoned buildings. It was piled against the wall and rust had spilled out onto the wall's surface in random patterns, like flat brown vines.

Chuck's hand pushed on a certain piece of scrap, his other hand pulled a pipe a few seconds later and the door to his hideout swung open.

They entered the pile.

"Ok..." Chuck sat down in his wheeled chair, moving it with his feet till he sat before a recording device. It picked up the signal from his bug, and recorded it. He put on a headset and rewound the tape a ways. For a moment he was silent listening.

Then he unplugged the headphones to let the recording be heard aloud. For a moment there was silence as he rewound it again.

Sally leaned forward onto the table.

"This is very recent. The bug picked this up maybe ten minutes ago..."

The recorder hissed...no...it was a voice.

"Hello, my lovelies..."

Dulcy shivered.

"I know you are tiring of this place, so today we're moving somewhere else."

They listened intently for the next few moments; even Sonic was silent and still.

"Blast!" Chuck cried. "He didn't say where he's going!"

Sonic was at the door in seconds. "Well, let's go find them!"

"Yes," Sally said, "Before he gets inside and out of sight."

**

The smell of the bay drifted far out from the water's edge, making stomachs curl to breathe it. The stench was thick and pungent, not easily shaken from nostrils. Water once translucent and pure churned on the shores black. It hissed as it hit stones covered in brown and orange sludge. Flies swarmed over this decay.

Along the bayside streets they raced, coughing every now and then. The damp air seemed hard to breathe in. It was so thick...it seemed to clog their noses and mouths.

Sonic was grumbling as he run a few paces ahead of the others, panting. He didn't usually pant. That made him more annoyed. Sally didn't want to split up.

"I can find them faster by myself you know!" He coughed harshly.

"Sonic, no."

"Why not...?"

"Because..."

"Duck!" Chuck said, and they immediately dove for cover.

Swooping out of the clouds, a few hovercraft appeared.

"Good ears, Unc!"

His uncle ignored him, red eyes settled on the hovercraft. They were erratically spaced and seemingly unrelated in destination. But something about their formation, however loose, was a ringer. He pointed. "They're guarding something! Nagus and his prisoners, maybe."

"Of course," Sonic scoffed. "Cause he knows we'll bust up his little parade."

The airships were parallel to them, but some distance away. Sally sighed and began to stand.

A hovercraft swerved their way.

She quickly dropped to the ground, huddling next to her companions. The red and black aircraft screamed overhead.

But no lasers came. No voice yelling for surrender. No blinding lights. No, the hovercraft kept going, heading after the others.

"Do you think it saw us?"

"It must have."

"No...it's going..."

"I don't know. Seems fishy to me." Dulcy gulped. "What if it's a trap?" She shivered again. "I keep getting bad feelings."

"Aw, don't worry." Sonic stood, watching the thick fog swallow up the aircraft. "It's already gonna be dangerous. Trap or no trap!" He jumped to his feet, grinning.

"Follow those hover-heads!"

**

Well, there they were. He'd known...oh, how he'd known they'd be there.

As tempting as it was, Robotnik had refrained from peppering the Freedom Fighter group with laser fire.

He had targeted them, put his finger on the trigger. And decided against it, leaning back in the hovercraft seat.

He'd almost laughed as he crept a fair distance behind the hovercraft before him. It had been too easy. Instead of trying to sneak out of the command center in robot guise, or crawl through air ducts...he'd stuck to his final plan. The Ocum's Razor. And it'd worked! He'd simply asked Nagus if he could monitor the convoy from the street.

"Whatever way is the most effective, slave." The wizard had barely glanced at him, too immersed in whatever 'grandiose' ideas that graced his thoughts this time.

Too easy. Robotnik shook his head. "I should be glad the old fool is losing his mind. The less attention he pays to me, the better..." He checked his rearview camera. The mangy furballs were left far behind, but they would waste no time getting to Nagus and his convoy of poor poor furry victims.

"Come my enemies..." He smiled bitterly. "Enemies of my enemy, does that make you my friends? Unknowing allies, perhaps."

No, they weren't even that much. He wouldn't give them that much honor. He spat, glaring at the streets below. How he hated their furred hides and dirty paws and their eyes flashing intelligence. They shouldn't have it. The animals. It should be limited to his race alone.

'And not even all of us deserve it, either.'

Oh well...not everything could be perfect.

**

Nagus smiled as he and his entourage moved down the street. They were going at a steady pace, tramping over the damp streets. It must have rained while he was getting his furry
friends ready for the trek across town.

Occasionally he caught the red glint of a SWATbot's visor. They were flanking his group on both sides, but a fair distance away from the prisoners.

He knew the SWATbots would only better alert the Freedom Fighters to his location. But so far, there was no sight of fur other than his group...who were slowing. The tug of the leash was like a hand gripped onto his mind, tugging insistently.

"Come along," he commanded. "You are moving much too slowly for my liking!"

"No..."

Nagus snarled.

"No, please..."

Her voice cut through the air. It was like an icepick to his brain.

"Please let us go..."

He whirled around, his teeth bared and claw glowing. "Insolent wench! If I hear another word from you, it will be your last!"

Her eyes went wide and her knees buckled, sending her to the ground. Her mouth opened and the group cringed. The male fox grabbed her shoulder, digging his claws in. Nagus glared at her for a harrowing moment and each member of that group felt their hearts stop, their bodies quivering and wet with perspiration.

The wizard turned away. His silver trimmed cape flared around like water, with a grace the wizard lacked, catching a rare ray of sun.

This ray reflected off the silver, piercing their eyes. Maybe it was just a trick of magic then. When the male fox glanced upwards, he could not see the sun...

When that bright light hit her eyes the female threw an arm up.

And cried out.

****

"Where *are* they?" Sally skirted across the dark road, fast and keeping to the darkness. They had run across a few SWATs here and there, but security did not seem up to par today.

'Like he's letting us in...' Sally could still remember her first encounter with Nagus in the Void; his gaping smile, the decay in his eyes. Even through a pretense of good, she could see the corruption beneath.

'How could I believe he was my father?'

Her group was quiet behind her as they followed her lead through the city. Overhead the smog clouds blew in a sudden breeze.

"The hover-heads were going this way."

A narrow road lay ahead of them, coursing through Robotropolis north.

Sonic revved up, but Sally leapt and grabbed his arm.

'He looked just like my father. Sounded just like him.'

"No Sonic...we're staying together."

Something in her voice made him slow and come to a standstill. They kept walking.

"Sal, don't be scared."

She glanced over, startled. "I'm not. I'm just worried."

Dulcy laughed. "Well, I'm not scared!" She put on a fierce face. "That old wizard can't beat-" Her eyes went wide and the pupils dilated. The large reptile froze in place.

The smog clouds parted for a brief moment, letting the sky show, and a shaft of light fell upon them. Nobody noticed.

"Dulcy!" Sally grabbed her hand. "What's wrong?"

"He's...casting something..." The dragon shivered and looked at the ground. Her feet shuffled, moving her backwards quickly, as if she'd nearly trod upon something dangerous. "We're definitely going the right way. I can *feel* him..."

"Let's hurry."

The dragon shook her head, dashing away the strange feeling. It was like prickles of energy on her skin, like the feeling of static electricity lifting hair. She could feel his effects...his aura in the air, crackling. The others seemed so oblivious to it...

Sally could still see Nagus in her father's guise. He seemed so kindly...

'He let us in to use us.'

***

"That was a fatal slip, wench."

"No, Nagus...master, please forgive me!" She wailed, stretching her hands out pleading.

The wizard did not answer; the crab claw held before his face, shimmering a vile green. A tendril of green light crept from the claw to the woman's neck, and there it wrapped and coiled like a snake.

And became a snake.

She screamed, her hands flying to grab the serpent, trying to tug it off. It only coiled tighter, swaying out to hiss before her crying mouth.

The others stepped back, too afraid to touch her.

"NO MASTER PLEASE...GET IT OFF!" She tugged and tugged, her eyes locked on the slitted yellow pupils. A forked tongue flicked out, touching her lips.

"Quiet your tongue, wench!" The wizard commanded. The claw glowed brighter.

The snake hissed, and just as she opened her mouth to cry out again, it dove forward, cutting off her scream. Her cries muffled, eyes wide and bulging...her chest heaved to vomit. The snake uncoiled, thrusting more of its body down her throat.

Tears spilled over her cheeks. One of the prisoners turned away and began to sob.

The green coils were nearly gone now. Only the emerald tip of that tail showed, flickering back and forth from the corner of her mouth.

"Now silence." Nagus closed his eyes.

The tail spread across her lips, sealing them. And as the claw waved one last time, the tail and her lips became one, fused together as if melted.

She fell to her back, eyes wide and vacant. From her welded mouth no sound came.

"Now," snarled the wizard, "Stand and follow me. We're almost there."

**

"Hurry...hurry..."

Feet ran. Breath panted.

"There he is!"

Nagus stopped, only a mere twenty feet from his new lab. He was so close. Slowly he turned.

Not close enough. Too far away.

"I see Robotnik failed at this task as well."

His prisoners turned with him. Their eyes registered only dull surprise at the sight of four Mobians...a hedgehog, a squirrel, a workerbot and a dragon.

"You better let them go, Nagus!" The dragon yelled.

Nagus's hand moved to his wrist communicator. "Slave! Your escort has failed, much as I expected! Now take care of these beasts!"

He expected the SWATs to burst out at any minute, the hovercraft to arrive and shoot the rebels to pieces.

Meanwhile, his eyes darted back to the Mobians.

"You heard her, let 'em go!" The blue hedgehog ran forward, his fists clenched. "Or I'm gonna mess yer ugly face up even more!"

Sally bent and took NICOLE from her boot. "NICOLE: Ready laser!" She aimed it at the wizard, and a red dot appeared on his forehead.

Dulcy circled around from one side, steam puffing from her nostrils.

Chuck took the other side, his hard robotic hands curled, his body ready to tackle.

"Silly fools!" The wizard scoffed. He moved in front of his captives. "Resorting to stealing? They are my property."

"People aren't property." Sally took a few steps forward, her eyes dark, flashing menace. The small computer did not look like much a weapon, but NICOLE's laser could certainly do damage. "I suggest you hand them over."

Dulcy's chest puffed out. Chuck moved closer. Sonic's legs bent and he hunched over, preparing to curl into a spindash.

"Slave, attack now." The wizard growled into the communicator. His head swiveled, trying to keep the rebels in his sights, watching the sky for his guards.

They weren't coming...

Dulcy's mouth opened, her chest swelled, and nostrils smoking. Sonic's body hurtled forward in a cobalt blur...

**

The city blurred underneath him as the hovercraft reached its maximum speed. He watched the Death Egg go by; his eyes caressing its smooth sides.

'Someday I will command you again.'

He watched the spires below him, his heart swelling with something like...sadness.

This was his home, after all. And he was leaving it.

He heard Nagus growling over the COM Link and ignored him. Until finally, he was over the barren land at the outskirts of the city. SWATbot sentries looked up to watch him.

Only when Robotnik saw the first stunted tree on the edge of the forest, did he give the command to attack.

**

The claw glowed and Nagus lowered his head, his beard swaying in a phantom wind. He concentrated. This would be exerting, and he hadn't wanted exertion.

Then concentration was broken by the sound of laser fire and robots intoning "Priority One: Hedgehog."

He snapped his head up, eyes glowing enraged.

The SWATbots swarmed over the group. Sonic turned abruptly back; his deadly spindash sawing two in half. Dulcy turned her head to exhale, incinerating three more in her fiery breath.

Sally leapt in the air and kicked another down. Chuck was there to rip away the head and toss it, still trilling warnings, away into the street.

"Slave. Too late. Cease the attack. I have my own plans now..."

There was no answer.

SWATbots poured from the side streets, converging on the freedom fighters. Overhead, hovercraft circled like vultures over carrion, each picking a separate rebel in its laser sights... poised to kill.

"Slave, cease the attack!"

The wizard's voice was barely heard over the ruckus of the rebels and robots fighting. He growled, raising the claw high.

"ENOUGH!"

"WHOA!" Sonic jumped back as the SWATbot in front of him glowed a deep red, then exploded.

The entire troop of bots were suddenly flung high in the air, as if tossed by a hurricane wind. Breeze whipped back Sally's hair. She put her arms up as a shield, bracing herself against the wind.

"What's going-"

Their eyes were drawn to the bots. They were hovering in the air, like they had been glued there. Even now, they kept up the barrage of warnings, trying to maneuver their laser-equipped arms at the freedom fighters. Deep red enveloped them; they glowed brightly for a split second before exploding.

Nagus yelled something incoherent, the claw waving, glowing the same blood red. SWAT pieces rained down around them as the freedom fighters stared at Nagus, shocked.

Then the hovercraft were destroyed, lighting the sky in their dying brilliance. They slammed down; some crashing into buildings and sticking there, smoking. Others hit the ground in a terrific explosion, sending shrapnel flying and setting the ground afire.

"What is he doing?!" Sally covered her head, cringing as the thigh of a SWATbot hit the ground beside her. Gravel flew up to strike her leg, cutting through the fur.

"Watch out!"

Sally looked up. A falling piece of SWATbot. Big. A torso, maybe. It was coming at her... so fast, it was going to kill her. All she could do was close her eyes.

And she was swept away. Strong arms locked around her and she heard breathing against her cheek. Then she was standing again, staring at Sonic with her breath still hanging in the air where the robot part lay smashed and sparking.

"Thanks Sonic..." Her legs felt shaky.

"No prob." His green eyes stared shrewdly at the wizard. Nagus had his head tilted up, the claw still glowing, but only faintly now. His cape was blowing, but the breeze seemed to be waning.

"C'mon let's grab those people while he's playing around!"

"Yes!"

They darted forward, hands reaching to grab. The prisoners gazed at them blankly, mouths closed, huddled together. They did not cheer or react when their fellow Mobians were a mere few feet away, nor did they blink when Nagus snapped his head back down and glared.

"STOP!"

They halted.

"Let them go, Nagus!"

"C'mon," Dulcy said to the male fox, "Let's go. We're going to get you away from him."

The fox was quiet, then whispered. "We can't. He'll kill us."

"No, he won't! We won't let him!"

Nagus snarled, watching as Dulcy's hand reached out towards the fox's.

"STOP NOW, DRAGON!"

"Why should I?"

Nagus's hands came together. Hand clasping claw. He lowered his head. The breeze came back, blowing his cape around him.

"What's he doin'?"

"Sally..."

Tendrils of black snaked from the claw, wrapping around Nagus's body, clutching around the horn atop his head. Around his feet it spread like a pool of blood, dark and shiny, reflecting the poison clouds and smoke floating above.

Dulcy gasped and took a step back as it flowed inches from her clawed feet, seeping under the prisoner's feet. The fox made a whimpering sound, his hands clutching to his chest; the others did similar motions. The female was silent still, only her eyes screaming terrified.

"What's he-"

"He's casting something!" Dulcy took another step back, her nostrils flaring. "He's casting something...it's terrible!"

Sonic growled and moved forward. "Who cares, let's get these people out of here!"

"No!" Dulcy grabbed his arm tight, pulling him back. "Don't touch them!"

"Let go!"

"I don't know what it is...it's bad...Sonic..."

"I don't care!" Sonic wrenched free of Dulcy's grip.

Nagus laughed, a rolling dark sound, his gaze piercing through them. He moved in front of the prisoners, rust colored eyes gone onyx black. The arms stretched out, the claw oozing blackness.

"You can't have them, hedgehog, even if you take them."

**

A/N: Well, aren't you all on the edge of your seats? *laugh* Right. I don't think this is as good as Part 1...some parts of this just well...suck. But anyway. I hope you enjoyed despite that. Chapter 2 should be out...well...whenever I finish it.