Chapter 2

(Note to readers. I will be introducing other Sonic characters that were not in the original SatAM and taking out others I don't find particularly necessary (like Snively). Attempting to round out the cast with other common faces that most Sonic fans would be familiar with.)

The sun began to creep over the horizon, its normal yellow glow turned a grimy pale color by the pollution that hung in the atmosphere. Still, as it climbed higher its normal color returned and the day officially began. Well, at least for most of the people on Mobius.

One exception was Sonic, who after a long night was sleeping in, waking up only long enough to pull the simple curtains across his windows and block out the light so he could go back to sleep. Still, while he could hide from the sun there were others in Knothole that could not be so easily escaped from.

One in particular began knocking loudly on Sonic's door, the banging on the wood having a strange metallic sound. Sonic groaned, his quills in a bit of a mess as he climbed out of bed and moved over to the door, not even bothering to put on his shoes. He opened it, covering his eyes for a moment so they could adjust to the bright light before looking into the face of a fairly irritated looking Bunnie.

The partially roboticized rabbit humanoid was glaring rather coldly at Sonic. It was a fairly bad day in Knothole when a mission went horribly wrong. It was only in a few last minute efforts that Sonic was even able to save Bunnie at all, but not before the Roboticizer had done its work. With everything below her waist and her entire left arm robotic, Bunnie was lucky to survive. Her robotic parts had come in handy from time to time, but it was common knowledge that given the opportunity Bunnie would want to be completely organic again.

"Sugar, I know it was late last night when you came in, but if you recall it's our turn to tend the crops and you ain't getting out of it."

"Oh, come on Bunnie, I destroyed a power station last night. Didn't I at least earn the right to sleep in?"

"Usually yes, but not today. Now, get your blue spiny butt out here so we can hurry up and get done. Heaven knows this girl has other things planned today." Bunnie spat, her strong accent spread heavily on every word.

Sonic grumbled, but not wanting to get into a fight with Bunnie we disappeared back inside to get his shoes on. A few minute later he reemerged, seeing Bunnie waiting rather impatiently, her metal foot making a loud tapping sound. Still, after a quick comment the pair went off, joining the rest of Knothole as everyone did their parts to help keep the well hidden village alive and well.

And, for that morning, Sonic and Bunnie's duties awaited near the river, in the fields of vegetables that helped sustain Knothole. Grumbling, it was easy to see Sonic didn't like having to due his duty by tending the farms. He had multiple arguments with Sally, trying to get out of the work, but none of them had ever worked out for him. The worst part of it all was he had to take it slow otherwise the wind he stirred up could damage the plants.

Bunnie ignored Sonic's moans and low whispered complaints as the pair came up to the side of the garden. Several other people were already working to pull weeds, smiling and greeting the pair as they came. Still, after a while of hearing sonic moan and groan he was finally able to at least get partially out of his duties. He didn't have to weed anymore, but he did have to run on the treadmill that was hooked up to a corkscrew system. It drew water out of the river and let it flower into the fields. He again had to take it slow, but even running slow beat working on his hands and knees weeding.

At the Freedom Fighters HQ Tails was working with the purple toned Walrus man Rotor in the mechanical garage. While they never were able to scrounge much more then a few pieces, they managed to build several machines to help with life around Knothole. Tails took up the design aspect, trying to build the most efficient things out of the components they had. Rotor handled assembly, being much strong and better with his hands then the brainy, two tailed fox.

At the moment, the pair was working on assembling a generator. The village already had one hooked to a water wheel that was powered by the flow of the river, but it barely produced enough energy to turn on a few electric lights around the village and it was heavily dependent on old, dated wiring technology. The generator they were now trying to assemble would hopefully put out much more energy, and also allow them to consider installing a more permanent electrical system, considering all the villages wires were now basically strung along poles stuck in the ground.

"Hey Tails, this magnetic polarizer bit isn't fitting in right." Rotor called, wheeling out from underneath the generator with a square piece of hardware in his hands, several colored wires protruding.

"You need to open up the case and take out the components. We put in some holes on the inside paneling where you can mount the components and then replace the covering." Tails replied, glancing up from his technical plans for only a moment. Rotor nodded, getting up and moving to a work bench as he began to take apart the devices outer casing. Tails set the plans for the generator off to the side, and continued his work on a new set of plans. The sketches were rough, but it was clear to see that an airplane was already starting to take shape.

"Hey guys, how's everything going?" Sally asked as she came in the door of the workshop.

"Fairly well," Rotor replied, "We just need a few more components and we should be able to get the new generator up and going. Do you think Sonic will be up for a factory raid tonight?"

"No, I don't think so. After last nights mission and the fact he has to take his turn helping in the fields he's probably going to be dead tired by tonight. Still, I'm sure it can wait until tomorrow."

"Ya, it can." Rotor said, popping open the case with a resounding clank. "So, how did things go last night?"

"Just as we hoped, Dr. Robotnik, trying to keep his maintenance robots works, has drawn power away from sector 79. If we can make him just pull a little more power away from that sector's security systems should start shutting down and then we'll be able to make a mission on the storage facilities there."

"What are we looking for again?" Tails asked, turning around in his seat to join the conversation.

"The plans for the roboticizer and Charles's original research into the subject. The doctor doesn't keep any of that data in his system, knowing full well that we could steal it from his servers. Still, he wouldn't throw away that kind of research. He has to have it stored somewhere, on isolated hard-drives or in research journals. Still if we can get a hold of that research we will have a much better change of developing something to reverse the effect."

"Think, we could finally turn all our friends and family back to normal."

"I sure hope so Rotor. We don't know a thing about the roboticizer. Even Bunnie who was put through the system doesn't remember how it changes flesh into robotic parts, her memory blurred by the pain the process induces. It may not even be reversible, for all we know."

"Now don't talk like that Sally." Rotor advised, glancing over at tails. Sally mentally kicked herself, seeing the expression on Tails' face. He was mature and brilliant, but he was still a kid and his biggest desire was to see his mother and father again, flesh and blood Mobians.

"You're right Rotor," Sally finally said, deciding for the moment to stay optimistic, "We'll find a way to reverse the effect. We have to." This brought a smile to tails face, and he quickly went back to his designs. Sally and Rotor glanced at each other for a moment, both knowing they couldn't shield Tails forever. They were at war, after all, and in war there were casualties. At the very least, if they were able to defeat Dr. Robotnik, they would be able to free all the robots from his control. They wouldn't be flesh and blood again, but they would at least be free.

Still, in the moment of silence a knock came at the workshop door. Opening it slowly the coyote guard Antoine stepped into the room, "Pardon, my princess, but Knuckles has been seen approaching ze forest. He will arrive in Knothole within ze hour."

"Thanks Ant. Why don't you head out to the bridge and meet up with him?"

Antoine nodded, "Of course, it would be my pleasure Princess Sally."

"I thought I told you to just call my Sally. There are no royalty in this forest, and…"

"Ah, yes, I know, we are all equally oppressed by Robotnik. But, as I have said before, you are always my princess. Au revoir."

Sally just shook her head, watching Antoine leave before turning her attention back to Tails and Rotor. "All right guys, keep working and if you need anything I'll be up in the command center. Hopefully, Knuckles has some good news from our allies."

Rotor and Tails nodded, wishing Sally good luck before she left. As Antoine promised, within the hour the red echidna with the mighty punch and short temper, Knuckles, walked up the stairs into the command center. Sally had busied herself trying to plan the rebellions next move, but smiled when she saw him enter the room.

"Good to see you Knuckles, how did your mission go?"

Knuckles shook his head, a very serious look on his face. "It isn't good news Sally. When I arrived at New Haven it looked like the place had been bombed. I found out from the survivors that Dr. Robotnik managed to attack the city, having a stealth robot disable the city's energy shields before he sent in his bombers. There weren't a lot of casualties, and they managed to fight of the advanced party but the main army is still approaching."

"How long ago was that?"

"I left New Haven two days ago. The mobile fortress wouldn't have gotten there yet, but it will by sometime tomorrow. I spoke with the leader there, and he said they'll try to evacuate to their old stronghold base, but it won't hold out long against Robotnik's attacks, especially since its own shield generators are on their last legs."

Sally cursed a bit, leaning against the table. "That's the second city Robotnik's tried to take back. We're making headway on Robotropolis but we can't afford to loose ground anywhere else."

"We haven't lost New Haven yet. If we can get their shield generators back on line and protect them from another stealth robot attack, they'll be able to hold out against Dr. Robotnik. Then, if we can hit them hard enough here in Robotropolis he'll be forced to pull back the mobile fortress."

"Your right Knuckles, but Sonic just ran a mission last night. Even if he slept a few more hours he wouldn't be able to make a run to New Haven with anyone to help, at least until sunset.

"Then get lets get him in bed. The army won't arrive at New Haven until at earliest noon tomorrow, and probably later if the rainstorm holds up over the region. So, as long as we leave sometime tonight, we'll make it there in time to help."

"That's the problem Knuckles, I also need Sonic here. We've weakened the defenses in Sector 79. If we stop pushing now, Dr. Robotnik might figure out what were doing or just finish repairing some of his damaged structures. Our missions made it look like we were attacking his robot production, which has been helpful in its own right, but we can't let our opportunity to access that warehouse slip away."

"Is there any other way to break into the warehouse?"

"If we can knock out a power station in another nearby sector Dr. Robotnik will draw power and the security will go down around the warehouse. The next target was power station 17, but without Sonic's speed we really don't have any hope of getting that far into the city."

Knuckles moved up to the map spread across the large round table, eventually pointing with his strange, mitten like gloves. "What about here, power station 7."

"Its defenantly right on the boarder, but the security there is tight. It's almost constantly under lockdown, and Sonic can't get through the blast doors once they've shut."

"Who says it has to be Sonic?" Knuckles said, smiling devilishly.

"What are you thinking about echidna?"

"Send Sonic with a team to New Haven to help there and I'll head with a team to Robotropolis to disable that power station. While Sonic has speed, I've got the strength to knock any SwatBot for a loop and beat down those blast doors."

Sally looked down at the map, gently drumming her fingers on the table. "Let me think about it. In the mean time, why don't you head home and get some rest and tell Sonic that we have an emergency mission on your way. We'll all meet here in the command center at sunset."

Knuckles nodded, leaving Sally as she looked down at the map, eyes narrowing as the cogs in her brain began to spin. After walking for a while and saying high to a few people Knuckles came up on the gardens. To say the least Sonic was more then happy to have any excuse to go back to bed. Still, as he speed off and Knuckles tried to leave Bunnie grabbed the echidna by the arm, eyeing him coldly.

"Oh no darling, since you let Sonic leave you can finish his part of the work."

"But… But…"

"Sugar, I know I got a cute tush but that ain't getting you out of work. Now get over here and help pull these stubborn weeds or I'll throw y'all in the river."

Thankfully for Knuckles, most of the work was done so he was able to get some rest. Still, as Sally requested, just after sunset, under their few electric lights, the meeting began. Sally stood on one side of the table while the others stood around the other side. Bunnie, Tails, and Rotor all leaned in intently, preparing to listen while Knuckles stood with his arms crossed and Sonic sat on the edge of the low walls that surrounded the command center, enjoying the feel of the cool night breeze on his back.

"All right people, we have an emergency mission. New Haven has fallen under attack from Dr. Robotnik and their shield generators are out of commission. If we don't send help, it's likely everyone in the city will either be killed or roboticized. Since New Haven is two days away for most people, we need Sonic's speed to get there in time to help."

"No problem Sal. I'll be there and back in a jiff."

"Don't interrupt Sonic," Sally scolded before quickly going back to her mission briefing. "Now, from Knuckles reports we know that the army is too large to fight off. So, Sonic, you'll be taking Bunnie and Rotor with you. Rotor knows the shield generators backwards and forwards, and hopefully he can get it working again before the armies arrive. Bunnie will be going along to help fight the first wave of attackers while Sonic helps the city evacuate."

"Still, if the mobile fortress gets within firing range I want you all to drop what you are doing and get out of the city as quickly as you can. The mobile fortress has a roboticizer on board and we can't risk loosing anyone. Our primary goal is to protect our allies in the city. We can stand loosing the city itself."

Tails raised his hand, much like a kid who was trying to be well mannered. "Then what am I going to do Aunt Sally?"

"Tails, you'll be coming with me and Knuckles. Even though we're dealing with Dr. Robotnik's force in New Haven we can't lift up our pressure on Robotropolis. If we do, it will give Dr. Robotnik time to realize he's making Sector 79 vulnerable. Thus, Knuckles is going to attack power station 7 while Tails and I use the uplink terminals in the area to hack Dr. Robotnik's system and try to give Knuckles as much help as we can."

"Whoa Sal, I don't think we should be send Tails anywhere near Robutnik's robots, not to mention you." Sonic piped up, drawing a nod from Bunnie.

"Sugar hog's right, I don't think Tails old enough."

"Hey, I may be a kid but I'm smart enough to take care of myself." Tails protested, not liking being treated like a helpless child.

"Oh, hun, we just don't want to see you get hurt."

"You don't have to worry about that, I'll be with Knuckles."

The red toned Echidna nodded, "Ya, those bolt heads will be so busy dealing with me they won't even notice Tails."

"That's also why I'm going," Sally added, trying to retake control of the mission briefing, "Tails is more then capable of hacking the systems alone and he can do a better job then Nicole. So, I'll be there just to keep an eye on everything while the other two are working. If things start to get to hot, we'll pull out immediately."

"I still don't like it. What if something goes wrong? The only one here that will be any help is Ant, and he isn't very good at fast rescues."

"Oh, now Sonic, don't be so hard on him."

Sonic shrugged, "Hey, I'm just saying, if I'm in New Haven then there will be no one here to run in and save your butts."

Sally frowned a little, eyebrows furrowing, "Sonic, though you do a lot, you're not the only member of the Freedom Fighters that can accomplish missions without getting caught. Now, if you're done being so egotistical you, Bunnie, and Rotor need to leave now. We've already got the pull cart ready and waiting near the boarder of the forest."

"All right Sal, we'll get going, but the rest of you still need to be careful."

"We will Sonic," Tails spoke up, his youthful optimism lifting the mood in the room. "When you get back, it will be my turn to tell you a story."

Sonic smiled, chuckling and nodding his head, "And I'll look forward to it Tails." With that he, Bunnie, and Rotor made their way out of the headquarters, saying a few final "see you later"'s before disappearing into the trees of the great forest. Soon, a resounding sonic boom cut across the city as Sonic, pulling the cart Bunnie and Rotor were riding in, broke the sound barrier and began to race towards New Haven.

Not much later, after getting a few things prepped, it was Knuckles, Sally, and Tails turn. They crept quietly out of the forest, walking along the boarder of Mervlo Trees before stopping beside a particularly large dune of sand. After pulling a nearby tree branch the sand spilled away revealing a wheeled piece of metal with a large sail. There was always some form of wind on the wasteland between the Great Forest and Robotropolis, and it already began to fill the sail and pull it across the sand buggy across the rolling dunes, towards the mechanical city that glowed in the distance.

Dr. Robotnik smiled that evening, watching one of his computer monitors. As promised, Core had finished the first projects prototype earlier that morning. The weapon rested against Dr. Robotnik's throne like chair, a long rifle like weapon that had a deep green color to it, a long black barrel, and five red colored tubes stretching from the top of the barrel to a small tank at the very back of the weapon.

From the screen, the sound of snarls and growls echoed along with the tones of snapping bones and cries of pain. The scene that would have made most people cringe in pain and turn away just made the twisted doctor smile, his mind already imagining what it would be like to use his new toy against that Hedgehog.

"Core," Dr. Robotnik finally said, "Give me an observation report."

"Test Subject, Mobian captured and yet to be roboticized, was exposed to weapons effects. The effects were multiplied to hasten the reaction and make it more observable. Subject passed through all stages seamlessly and no overall defects were detected. Pathogen was 100 effective"

"From tests, what is the rough time line if someone is only hit with the weapon once?"

"Stage one of Pathogen is a twenty four hour incubation period. State 2 is a short six hour mutation period. Stage 3 is a second incubation period that lasts 210 hours, or eight days and 18 hours. The final stage is a twelve hour mental deterioration stage. From infection to complete mental breakdown will take, in a common subject, ten days and twelve hours."

"And what's the status on our other project?"

"Project Z7K5G is running ahead of schedule and will be ready in two days."

"Marvelous Core, you have really been out doing yourself lately. I may just consider giving you a visualizer upgrade. Now, however, I'm going to bed."

"Dr. Robotnik…"

"Yes Core?"

"Satellites have just sent me a report. They have detected an object traveling a super sonic speeds has just left the great forest and moving in the direction of New Haven. Digital image enhancement identifies the entity as one blue hedgehog pulling a scrap metal car in which is one partially roboticized rabbit Mobian and one walrus Mobian."

"Those Freedom Fighters are undoubtedly trying to stop me from taking over their precious New Haven. I expected as much."

"Any order's doctor?"

"Alert the mobile fortress's AI that he's going to have some unwelcome company and to not press the attack too hard. I want to reclaim that city, but I don't want to loose too many of my troops, especially with our production down by over fifty percent. We'll play it safe for now, until I can show those rodents my new toys."

"Understood Dr. Robotnik."