The Regulator: Part 2
A Sonic the Hedgehog SatAM Fan Fiction by Vilsy
A/N:
I just have to mention that much credit must be given to the episode of Sonic the Hedgehog entitled "Sonic and Sally", I think it was, for a large part of this chapter. You'll recognize it when you read it, I hope. :) Enjoy!
Tails was now more distraught than ever. He had tired of waiting for Sonic and ventured off into the woods to try and occupy himself. Agitation consumed him and angry thoughts burned in his mind. He picked up sticks and snapped them in half and picked up rocks and chucked them hard against the forest floor. He followed the beaten down path until he came to the clearing where the Power Ring Pool lay. He lowered himself down on the worn log that had been sat upon so many times before. He picked up another stick and drew pictures in the moist dirt, resting his cheek in his other hand. He looked up to the shimmering water and the hissing waterfall.
After some moments of reflection, Tails dropped the stick and got up, walking towards the bank of the pond. He kicked his sneakers off and balanced his way out onto the long, heavy root that jutted out from an ancient oak tree and dangled a few feet above the rippling water. The small fox sat down on the edge, dangling his feet into the cool water. His twin bushy tails waggled up and down slowly as he stared into the water, watching his billowing reflection stare right back. He splashed the water around for a bit with his toes, and then reached over to a pile of smooth, flat stones that he had accumulated over time, stashing them away in a small crook in the root. He picked one up and inspected it solemnly, and then flicked his wrist most expertly, skipping the stone across the water the way Bunnie had taught him during the time he used to spend waiting with her. He let out a sigh and skipped two more stones, becoming incredibly bored and even more vexed.
He suddenly heard snapping twigs and the sound of footsteps disturbing the beds of fallen leaves. He turned and gazed up the path, smiling when he saw the blue hedgehog making his way towards the clearing. Tails then remembered how angry he was supposed to be at Sonic. He quickly turned back around and pretended he hadn't noticed Sonic's presence.
"Hey big guy," Sonic greeted with a suave flick of his finger when he reached the bank of the pond.
Tails feigned surprise. "Oh, hi. What're you doing here?"
Sonic padded his way out onto the root and knelt down next to the little fox, adjusting the straps of his backpack and gazing out at the shimmering water. "I totally forgot I had midday shift." He smiled and looked at Tails. "Were you standin' in for me?"
Tails glanced at his best friend, somewhat perturbed that Sonic had Power Ring duty on their supposed play day. He shook his head. "Nah, I was just stopping by to sit for a minute. I'm very busy, you know."
"Busy?" Sonic repeated, rather incredulously. "Oh yeah? Whatcha up to, li'l bro?"
Tails searched for some ideas. "I'm uh, going to hang out with a friend in a little bit. We're gonna go do something."
Sonic smiled and nodded. "Cool. Who?"
Tails was stuck momentarily. "Uh, you know. A friend of mine."
Sonic looked Tails over a few times thoughtfully. "Oh I see." He got a huge grin on his face and shifted his weight, sitting down with one foot over the water and the other tucked against his leg. "Wouldn't be Amy Rose, would it?"
"NO!" Tails quickly snapped, startling the hedgehog.
"Oh. OK," Sonic frowned, looking back out to the pond.
The water began rippling ever so slightly and a golden glow shone up from the depths. "Oh great, here it comes," Sonic said, standing up. He looked around, then grabbed one of the sticks Tails had snapped in half. Suddenly, a Power Ring leapt out from the waves and hung suspended for several seconds. Sonic reached out with the stick and looped it through the glowing ring. "Gotcha!" he declared, drawing the stick back. He turned to Tails, pointing the stick at him. "You mind slipping this in my backpack, big guy?"
Tails hesitated, trying to remain irked, but then nodded. He slid the ring off of the stick which Sonic discarded. Sonic turned around and Tails flipped open his backpack and placed the ring neatly inside. "There you go."
Sonic turned back around and offered Tails a wink. "Thanks li'l bro! Catch ya later."
He started revving up his legs. "I'm outta here!"
Tails could no longer hold it in. "Sonic wait!"
Sonic slowed the movement of his legs to a stop and the dirt and leaves he had begun to churn up settled around his feet. "Hmm? What's up?"
Tails looked slightly sheepish, shuffling his bare feet against the slick wood. "Where are you going?"
Sonic frowned, remembering Sally's precise directions. "Well big guy... Me and the others got some real important work to do. We're gonna have to step out of Knothole a little later on."
Tails stood up. "Where are you guys going?" he asked again. "Can I come too?"
Sonic was about to answer when he got a sly look on his face. "I thought you said you were really busy."
Tails looked down. "Uh... I..."
"You just go hang out with whoever it is you're gonna hang out with and I'll catch up to you later. We'll finish that wrestling match, OK big guy?" Sonic asked, revving his legs again. "Get loose and juice time!" he exclaimed, blasting off into the forest and causing Tails to lose his footing and scramble to regain balance. Unfortunately, the poor little fox slipped and toppled into the chilly pond water with a great splash.
Tails paddled his way back to the bang and dragged himself into the sand. His fur was drenched and he coughed a few times, and then looked up to the trees, spitting out some water. "Darn it!" he exclaimed, slamming his fists angrily into the sand. "Something's up and I'm gonna find out what it is! ACHOOO!"
"C'mon Amy!" Tails was pleading. He had left the Power Ring Pool, taken a moment to dry off, and now found the little pink hedgehog on Knothole's bridge. She was skipping rope and had no intentions of stopping now.
"I don't feel like playing spy, Tails! I hate that game!" she remarked.
Tails frowned, more annoyed than ever. "But I really need a spying partner, Amy! I need your help to spy on Sonic and Aunt Sally and Bunnie and-"
Amy Rose dropped the jump rope. "Did you say Sonic?" she cried, turning around and running up to Tails.
Tails got a disgusted look on his face. "Yeah, yeah. I did."
"Oh..." Amy cooed, getting a dreamy look on her girlish face.
"All right, all right! Then will you help me?" Tails demanded.
"Sure will!" Amy sang, skipping off after Tails as he dashed off towards the village.
Tails and Amy ducked down in some bushes not far from Sally's hut. They peered over the foliage and caught glimpse of Sonic and Sally standing together in front of the door. Amy smiled from ear to ear.
"Oh, there he is," she whispered to Tails. "He's so cute..."
"Shhh! Be quiet!" Tails insisted. "We're s'posed to be spies!"
Amy frowned, sticking her tongue out at the little fox. Sally was speaking to Rotor, Bunnie, and Antoine who nodded from the doorway. Sally said one last thing and waved goodbye, Bunnie and Rotor returning the gesture, Antoine replying with a bow. Sonic gave them the peace sign and held his arms out to Sally. Sally jumped into them and Sonic blasted off towards the forest.
Amy quizzically looked to Tails. "Where are they going?"
Tails smirked and shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno. Let's find out. C'mon." He jumped out of the bushes and ran off towards Sally's hut.
Amy gasped. "Tails! What are you doing? We're supposed to be spies! You'll give away our secret position! OH!"
She jumped out and ran after the orange fox.
Tails reached Bunnie, Rotor and Antoine before they could close the door. "Where'd Sonic and Aunt Sally go?" he demanded, not bothering to even say hello.
Bunnie looked to Antoine who looked to Rotor who shrugged. Bunnie looked back down at Tails and Amy who had just caught up. "Oh, they just went tuh visit Uncle Chuck. They'll be back shortly, sugah-fox."
Sally held tightly to Sonic's neck as he sped into the grim city of Robotropolis. He raced into the garbage dump along the ends of the city limits. He skid to a stop at the huge pile of discarded scrap metal and gently set Sally down, and then suddenly grabbed her again and yanked her to the ground. Two hover units skimmed by and Sally poked her head back out afterward, scanning the area. She turned back to Sonic who had already begun advancing to the garbage heap. "Good reflexes, Sonic," she whispered, following him.
"As always," Sonic replied almost automatically. He picked up an abandoned wrench and banged it four times on the protruding pipe. He waited and Sally walked closer to him and looked around nervously. Sonic tapped his foot impatiently.
"C'mon Uncle Chuck! Where ya at?" He tried the special combination of hits again, pulling Sally out of the way when another hover unit sailed by the dump.
Sally stepped out of the shadows, looking around once more. "He must be out on his shift. Let's get out of here."
"But Sal, he knew we'd be coming today!" Sonic rebuked, raising his hands up in exasperation.
"I know, Sonic," Sally replied calmly. "But he can't break shift. It could draw suspicion. Perhaps he's left something in the Blind Drop."
Sonic ran up to her and nodded, scooping her up into his arms. "You're right, Sal. Jelly and jam time!" He revved up his legs and sped off into the city.
Seconds later they came to the shabbier parts of Robotropolis' outskirts. They found the hideous looking gargoyle that served as a secret correspondence drop box between Uncle Chuck and them. Sally lifted up its head while Sonic stood watch. Sure enough, Uncle Chuck had left them a message. Sally closed the gargoyle back up and unfolded the piece of paper. "Whatcha got there, Sal?" Sonic inquired, walking up to her.
"Message from Uncle Chuck," she replied blankly, her eyes busily scanning the letter. "It's encoded... It must be important." She lowered the scrap of paper and reached down for trusty Nicole. "Nicole," she said softly as she flipped open the computer.
"Yes, Sally."
"Scan and decode message using language base 'freedom', please," she requested, holding the paper up and angling Nicole toward is.
"Scanning, Sally." A small beam of hazy blue light shone out from Nicole's screen and slowly swept down the strange characters printed on the paper. When it reached the bottom of the page, the light extinguished.
"Whoa," Sonic murmured with a raised eyebrow.
"Scanning complete," Nicole droned as Sally turned the computer back toward her. "Displaying translated sequence."
Sally proceeded to read Nicole's screen silently and Sonic began tapping his foot loudly. "Well?" he demanded breathlessly.
"He says he retrieved more information on the production of the satellites... He's found the location of the factory they're being produced in! He says to meet him at his office at 2000 hours, bring at least three of us."
Sonic returned to pensive thought, tapping his foot and rubbing his chin. "Sounds like he has a plan, Sonic," Sally said softly. "But that doesn't give us much time to get back to Knothole and pick up one of the others. Let's get going."
Sonic and Sally made haste and returned to Knothole to fill in the other Freedom Fighters. As 2000 hours drew nearer, Bunnie volunteered to go back to Robotropolis with Sally and Sonic. Antoine and Rotor's job was to keep the suspicion and concern low within Knothole. With Tails alone, they would have their work cut out for them.
Sonic kicked up a cloud of dust as he screamed to a dead stop in front of the garbage dump. Bunnie and Sally were clinging to both of his arms. "We're here, ladies," Sonic announced chivalrously, looking between the two.
Sally and Bunnie peeled themselves off of the hedgehog and straightened out their bangs. "Come on, guys," Sally instructed, walking up to the garbage heap. She took the liberty of banging four times on the pipe. The wall of garbage lifted up and the three Freedom Fighters hurried in.
"Good, you're here," Uncle Chuck said, rummaging around in the back of his office. "I hoped you'd think to check the drop."
"What's the deal, Uncle Chuck?" Sonic asked. "What's going down?"
Uncle Chuck picked up a box full of small metal objects and carried them to his desk. "Now listen up, youngsters. I found the satellite factory and I want you three to level it!"
"Yeah! Way past cool!" Sonic exclaimed, running up to Uncle Chuck, Bunnie and Sally following.
"How do you propose we do that, Charles?" Sally asked soberly.
Uncle Chuck reached into the box and pulled out one of the metal objects. "With these."
Bunnie marveled at it. "What in the hoo-ha're those thangs?"
"77-B Type remote explosives," Uncle Chuck verified. "I've been scavenging for any volatile items that have been carelessly discarded, and I hit the mother lode with these little babies. Been savin' them for something important. Now take a look at this map." The robotic hedgehog motioned his metallic fingers to a map of the city. "The factory is located right here. It can't be missed. Now, there is extremely tight security located at the northern and southern ends of the building. Bunnie?"
"Yes, sugah?"
"I want you to make your way to the west side of the factory. There, you should find a large surge box. I want you all to synchronize your watches and when your timer hits zero, Bunnie, you throw the large switch located in this box. This should momentarily surge the power in the factory. Got it?"
Bunnie nodded. "Got it."
"Before the back up generators kick on, Sonic, you'll enter the factory and place these babies at these ten points within the factory." Sonic watched as Uncle Chuck pointed out ten points on the map. "With the power out momentarily, these security will be disrupted and emergency doors should automatically open. You'll have free reign for a limited time."
"Gotcha, Unc," Sonic nodded, giving a thumbs up.
Uncle Chuck looked up to Sally who was watching intently.
"Princess?"
"Yes?"
"Your job will be to detonate the bombs once Sonic has set them all."
Sally looked at him nervously. "May I see Nicole for a moment?"
Sally snapped out of her apprehensive state. "Oh, oh yes of course."
She bent down and unclipped Nicole from her boot, handing her to Uncle Chuck.
"Thank you. I'll just modify her to be coordinated with the explosive charges..." Uncle Chuck continued, entering commands on Nicole's console. Meanwhile, Sally was staring at Sonic who was becoming quite itchy.
"Ya done yet, Unc?"
"Patience, Sonnie boy," Uncle Chuck pleaded. He handed Nicole back to Sally. "OK, Bunnie," he continued, turning the rabbot around.
He loaded the ten explosives into Bunnie's backpack.
"Hey Unc! I thought I was gonna handle those," Sonic questioned.
"You will, Sonic. But Bunnie has to arm the bombs right before you head into the factory. After you arm each one individually by pressing this green button here, you transfer them into Sonic's backpack so you can keep track, OK?"
Bunnie turned around and nodded. "You can count on me, Uncle Chuck."
Uncle Chuck walked up to Sally and motioned to Nicole. "You'll be able to monitor Sonic's position on Nicole's radar. Once he's dropped the last explosive and cleared the area, you commence detonation. OK?" Sally swallowed and nodded. He held up a tiny metallic device between his thumb and forefinger, no larger than a coat button. "Just place this in Sonic's backpack, or somewhere on his person where it won't fall off." Sally took the little device and squeezed it in her small hand like a precious treasure, and gave another affirming nod to Uncle Chuck. She realized the older hedgehog did not completely trust his nephew with small important items. "Now don't be fooled," the mustachioed robot continued, turning to the group. "These babies pack quite a punch! Keep your distance when you blow it up! Everyone got it?"
"We got it," Sonic answered for them all. "It'll be cake. C'mon guys."
The three of them arrived on the east side of the factory, away from the heavy SWATbot patrol. They all crouched behind a pile of scrap metal, Bunnie taking off her backpack. "I woulda never guessed this old building was an active factory..." Sonic whispered, looking up at the run-down edifice that appeared to be in dire disrepair and disuse.
"Yes, it seems idle from the outside..." Sally agreed. "Are you sure this is the right one?"
"Uncle Chuck said it was," Sonic verified, as if his uncle's word was law.
Sally seemed apprehensive, not so much in question of Sir Charles' information, but in apprehension of the haste they were making in this mission.
Bunnie was busy arming the explosives. "C'mere sugah-hog," she said, pulling Sonic closer to her. She flipped open his backpack and began loading the explosives into it. "There ya go, sugah, yer all set."
"Cool. You guys ready?" Sonic asked, standing up.
"Wait!" Sally suddenly blurted out, opening her hand which had been enclosing the tiny tracking device like a locked safe. "Here, let me put this in your backpack, Sonic."
"OK, Sal, make it quick," Sonic replied dryly, not seeming to understand the vital role this tiny object was meant to play. Sally reopened Sonic's backpack and squeezed the device in, making sure it sank to the very bottom under the armed bombs before resealing it.
Sonic turned to face Sally and Bunnie and smiled in his confident way. "Ready now?"
"Ready n' steady, sugah-hog."
"Uh-huh." Sally looked to her wrist. "Let's set our watches before we forget." She and Bunnie stood up as they held out their wrists.
"Ready, in five, four, three, two, one, synchronize." They all pressed their start buttons and their timers started counting down from three minutes.
"OK. After this baby blows sky high, I'll meet you guys at the usual. If you run into trouble, no worries. The ol' hedgehog'll be around to help ya. Cool?"
"Cool," Bunnie and Sally both said, somewhat out of sync on Sally's part.
"All righty then, whatta ya say?" Sonic asked, holding out his fist. "Freedom Fighters forever?"
Sally and Bunnie smiled, holding out their fists. "Freedom Fighters forever."
They all executed the Knothole handshake. "Let's do it to it," they said in unison.
"Good luck, y'all," Bunnie said, running off in her appointed direction.
Sonic turned and was about to head off when Sally grabbed his shoulder. He looked back to his princess. "Be careful, Sonic," she pleaded.
Sonic smiled and winked at her. "You too, Sal." He ran off and Sally backed off from the towering factory.
Sonic peered out from behind another pile of scrap. He spotted two SWATbots and a security camera. "Hmmm," he pondered to himself, looking around for resources. He found two broken pipes. He flung one of them to the far left of him, catching the SWATbots' attention. They ran off towards the direction of the noise, the camera following their movement. Sonic then hurled the second pipe at the camera, smashing it with a direct hit. He leaped out from behind the pile and sped towards the eastern entrance.
Meanwhile, Bunnie had located the huge surge box and ripped the cover off of it with her metal hand, leaving subtlety for some other southern belle. She examined the several breaker switches until she found the master control switch. She looked to her watch and watched the numbers count down.
Sonic was crouched behind a wall, watching SWATbots march down the wide halls of the factory. He too looked at his watch, then up at the huge florescent lights. Sally knelt down behind the safety of the scrap piles. She observed her watch intently, watching the final thirty seconds wind down. She clutched her computer tightly.
"Nicole, display radar..." she whispered.
"Displaying, Sally."
Sally looked at the only bright red and orange dot in the diagram.
"Sonic..."
"Ten, nine, eight, sev'n, six, five, four, three, two, one, huhhhuunhh!" Bunnie strained to yank down the huge master switch when the counter reached zero. She slammed it down and the wiring sparked.
Sonic looked up as the lights flickered out. "Way past. Time to lock and load!" He revved up his legs and grabbed an explosive from his backpack. He dropped it and blasted off. He ran at top speed around the factory, tossing the bombs at the respective points.
After he'd dropped the last one, he was about to head for the exit. He suddenly skid to a stop when something caught his eye. "Whoa..." he said in awe, walking up to a glass window. He pressed his hands against it, peering through. He could see the gigantic satellites being worked on several Workerbots- all roboticized Mobians.
There were roughly one dozen of the huge orbs, all covered with intricate lights and panels. Sonic marveled at Robotnik's twisted genius.
Sally wondered why the orange dot had stopped moving. "Come on Sonic! Get out of there!"
Sonic was about to try and get a closer view when a blue laser blew a giant hole through the wall beside him. "Whoa!" Sonic exclaimed, whirling around. A security-bot practically stared him in the face. Sonic offered a smile. "Hi there." Another laser blasted out the wall to the right of him. "Yikes! Not the friendly type huh?" Sonic grabbed the Power Ring from his backpack and held it up, not noticing the tiny "clink" sound the tracker made as it fell to the floor. "Adios amigo!" The power surged through his body and rocketed him directly at the security-bot, tearing through it like a blue can opener. He flew through the factory like lightning.
Sally was running. Several SWATbots had made her position. "Nicole!" she cried between breaths. "Prepare for detonation!"
"Standing by for detonation, Sally."
Sally glanced at the radar, noticing the small red-orange blip was stationary. "Sonic, what are you--" Sally suddenly tripped, throwing Nicole several feet ahead of her. "Oh no!"
The SWATbots cocked their lasers at the fallen princess. "PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR, INTRUDER."
As they advanced towards Sally, Bunnie suddenly crashed into them with a flying kick. "HIYA! Y'all still don't know how tuh treat uh lady!" she yelled, stomping her weight down on the SWATbots and knocking them to the ground. She whirled around and roundhouse kicked a SWATbot's arm so hard it went flying off, slamming another bot in the head and toppling it over. In the confusion, she ran up to Sally, helping her up. "Security's on tuh us, Sally girl! We gotta get this thang goin'!"
Sally hurried and picked up Nicole. "But Sonic is still in there!"
Both girls let out a scream as more laser fire flew their direction.
"Just do it, Sally girl! Sugah-hog'll make it! Ah know he will!" Bunnie pleaded, dragging Sally away.
Sally blinked out tears of fear as she and Bunnie ran off.
"Nicole?"
"Yes, Sally?"
"Detonate."
"Detonating, Sally."
Moments later, red and orange flames cracked the factory open like an egg. Smoke and fire crawled quickly up to the sky as explosions burst out of the building. Sally gaped in terror as the building collapsed to the ground under the raging flames. Bunnie shielded her eyes to the bright explosion as she dragged Sally towards the outskirts of the city.
The explosions seemed to be dying down as Sally and Bunnie watched from the safety of the tree line. "Where's Sonic!? Where is he??"
Sally was wailing, tears pouring from her eyes as she lay on her belly in the grass. They had been waiting for over ten minutes and no Sonic.
Bunnie was hugging Sally tightly, tears pouring from her own eyes. "Oh Ah dunno, Sally girl! Ah, Ah was shoah he could make it! He has to!"
"I shouldn't have done it! I shouldn't have done it!! I didn't give him enough time! He didn't make it!!" Sally wept, crying into Bunnie's chest.
Bunnie stroked Sally's auburn hair, trying to console her. She gazed off to the horizon, gasping when she saw the approaching blue streak. "Sally girl, look!!"
Sally looked up, her vision blurred by tears. She gasped as they were suddenly engulfed in a cloud of dust.
"WOO HOO HOO!" they heard. "THAT WAS MONDO WAY PAST COOL!!"
"Sugah-hog?" Bunnie coughed out, trying to see through the dust.
The cloud rose and Bunnie and Sally glared in awe as the blue hedgehog danced around merrily, punching the air with his fists. "Wooo WEE! That was a MAJOR rush doin' that factory!" Sonic sang. "I wish we could do it again! Did you see those flames! Yeah!" His cries were cut short as Princess Sally lunged at him, leaping onto him without restraint. "Whoa, Sal!" he cried out, nearly toppling over. "Easy!"
Sally hugged the hedgehog tightly and planted kisses all over his face. "SONIC!" she cried between kisses. "Where on Mobius were you??" More kisses. "I was so SCARED!" Kisses on his forehead. "I thought you got caught in the explosion!!"
Sonic was taken aback by all the concern and affection and he stumbled backwards. He peeled Sally off of him and set her down.
"Wowee Sal!" he chuckled, a little embarrassed. "I was running around looking for you and Bunnie! I didn't know you two could kick it so fast!" He looked at Bunnie who smiled warmly at him, relieved that he was OK. "You guys are almost as fast as me!"
Sally blinked more tears out and threw her arms around Sonic's neck. Sonic held her close. "Never scare me like that, Sonic..." she whispered.
Sonic lifted her face up with his index finger. "I'm sorry, Sal. You know nothin' can stop the ol' hedgehog!" He wiped the tears off of Sally's cheeks.
Sally gazed into his eyes solemnly, a growing wind blowing her hair around her soft face. "You are wonderful, Sonic..." She slowly placed her lips against Sonic's, kissing him gently. Bunnie watched, a huge smile on her face, but a sudden rumbling of thunder startled them. All three Freedom Fighters looked up to the dark purple sky, full of black clouds. Bunnie and Sally shrieked as blue lightning flashed across the sky, a loud explosion of thunder following shortly after. Rain drops slowly began falling. Sonic looked back to Robotropolis, swarms of hover units and SWATbots visible as alarm of the factory destruction no doubt reached Robotnik.
"I think we've over-stayed our welcome, guys," Sonic said softly, rain pouring off of his quills.
Bunnie walked up and took Sonic's other arm. "Let's git home."
Snively missed his seat. Though he never really ever got the chance to sit down in the metal chair by the huge computer console, he missed it nonetheless. Robotnik had hurled it out the window.
Several screaming alarms were going off and Robotnik was in a state of uncontrollable rage. Not one window in the main control room remained standing. Shattered glass lay all over the floor, rain blowing in from the growing storm outside. If Robotnik had hair, that too would be on the floor. Snively cringed as Robotnik emitted the most bloodcurdling growl he'd ever heard in his entire life.
Snively let out a shriek of his own when he saw Robotnik's own storm change direction and head his way, red eyes blazing. Without a word, Robotnik grabbed Snively by the throat and slammed his feeble body against the wall. He pressed his face so close that Snively felt that Robotnik's putrid breath would melt the skin right off his face.
"How...." Robotnik hissed, saying nothing more.
Sweat was running down into Snively's eyes, causing them to burn. He said a prayer in his mind and built up the guts to reply, knowing that doing so could easily get his neck snapped. "It-it-it-it's not good, s-s-suh..." he rasped. The appertaining rage within Robotnik's eyes grew at the sound of this obvious point. His grip tightened.
Snively squealed. "We have MAJOR security problems!!"
"I KNOW THAT YOU INCOMPETENT DOLT!!" Robotnik thundered, drawing Snively away from the wall and then slamming him back to it.
Snively cried out in pain. "Dr. Robotnik, PLEASE! L-l-l-look-"
"Someone is going to pay dearly for this, Snively..." Robotnik interrupted, inferring the risk of Snively's health.
"LOOK AT THE SURVEILLANCE TAPES!" Snively managed to yell out, squirming in the mad doctor's iron grip.
Robotnik seemed to deter momentarily, and then dropped Snively to the floor altogether. He turned and stormed to the mainframe computer.
Snively slowly picked himself up from the floor and watched as Robotnik accessed the surveillance footage from the hidden camera in the rear of the control room. "I was reviewing the surveillance from last night and I came across the- the..."
Robotnik finished for him when he watched the image of Sally using Nicole on the mainframe. "Princess..." he hissed, an enraged look on his face. He remained eerily silent as he watched the film progress, causing chills to run down Snively's spine as he stayed standing against the wall. His face turned bright red when he saw
the image of a blue hedgehog jump down from the ceiling and run up to the Princess. They exchanged dialogue briefly before thrashing through several of Robotnik's SWATbots. Robotnik stopped the playback and rotated his head towards his terrified lackey. "The Princess hacked into my mainframe, Snively..." he rumbled, advancing towards the trembling little man. Snively was too frightened to respond. Robotnik loomed over him. "Not only did she hack into my mainframe..." He abruptly grabbed Snively by the collar and hoisted him up to eye level. "SHE DID IT FROM MY MAIN COMPUTER IN MY MAIN CONTROL ROOM!!! HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED?!"
Snively hastily squeaked out an answer. "Eeee! Sh-sh-she must have slipped in wh-when we l-l-left the room! The hedgehog no d-doubt caused the diversion to allow the P-P-Princess to get by us!"
Robotnik's eyes grew clouded over with anger. "The hedgehog..." he repeated in the most sinister voice he could muster. He dropped Snively again. He turned and walked off to one of the large, broken windows, gazing out. The rain and wind billowed his yellow cape back. A flash of lightning and crash of thunder didn't stir him a bit. Snively built up the heart to advance towards his master.
Robotnik stared past all the factories and skyscrapers towards the horizon where the Great Forest lay. "This is the last time..." he declared aloud. "The hedgehog won't come to me... I'll go to him..."
"Pardon, suh?" Snively trembled, stepping closer.
Robotnik turned his head and glared at his minion. "I want the hedgehog..." he explained dryly. "And I want him NOW..."
Snively wasn't sure what to say, but then thought of something. "Suh, I could send out a squad of SWATbots to search the Great Forest if you desire..."
"Not a squad, Snively," Robotnik interjected. "An ARMY!"
Snively looked at him questioningly. "Army, suh?"
Robotnik stared past him in thought. "Double SWATbot production- no- TRIPLE SWATbot production! Shut down all other minor substations and move all resources to the SWATbot factory!"
Snively did not question. "Yes, right away, suh!" He hurried over to the main computer and began typing.
"SEND ALL NEW SWATBOTS TO THE GREAT FOREST AND ANTE UP ON SECURITY IN SECTOR 007-J AND HAVE TEN SWATBOTS ON 24 HOUR DUTY GUARDING THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM!!" Robotnik ordered, on a serious roll.
"Yes, suh!"
"Only ONE order will be issued to these new SWATbots. LOCATE AND CAPTURE THE HEDGEHOG, OR OTHERWISE DESTROY HIM!!" Robotnik screamed. He did some more thinking. "See that SWATbot production increases by tomorrow morning. Also, get rebuilding of the satellite factory underway IMMEDIATELY. Those infernal Freedom Fighters are obviously on to my Doomsday Project..." He looked at Snively pensively. "Intelligent little buggers if I do say so... No matter. I'll be rid of them soon. We couldn't keep it under our belts forever. As long as the Distributor remains safe... They'll never find that anyway. Rebuilding the satellites is top priority other than seeking and destroying the miserable hedgehog. Understood? Get to work, Snively."
Snively grinned, turning back to the console. "With pleasure, suh."
"And Snively?" Robotnik added.
"Suh?"
"Get a Workerbot up here to replace the windows. It's raining in here."
"Yes suh."
Rotor peered through his window, a solitary candle illuminating his hut. He squinted through the rain streaking down the window pane. The glare of the candle made it hard to see. He blew it out, seeing three figures running across the compound. "They're back!" he announced to seemingly no one.
"What?" Antoine cried, snapping awake from his position in a chair. "What ees happened?"
Rotor turned to him. "Sonic, Sally, and Bunnie are back! C'mon!"
Antoine got up and ran after Rotor out the door into the rain. They trampled through the mud towards the waving three. "How'd you make out!?" Rotor exclaimed, competing with the rumbling thunder.
Sonic yelled something out but it was drowned out by a clap of thunder. Antoine froze with fear. "I am theenking ve should be goeeng eento zee Great Hall, yes?"
Rotor nodded, motioning the other to follow. They all dashed to the Great Hall and hastily entered. Rotor closed the door and practically tackled the three returning Freedom Fighters. "What happened? How'd you do? Are you OK? What happened?"
"Oui oui!" Antoine chimed in. "What ees happened?"
Sonic couldn't keep it bottled in. "WE BLEW THE PLACE SKY HIGH!!! WOO HOO HOO!!!"
"ALL RIGHT!" Rotor cried, slapping Sonic a hard five. He grabbed Sally and Bunnie in a huge hug and swung both girls in a circle.
"You guys are the greatest! I KNEW you could do it!" he continued, setting them down.
Bunnie started wringing out one of her ears. "Aw, 'tweren't nothin', honey. That ol' sugah-Chuck always comes through with them inside jobs, huh." She shook her hair out and patted it gently, stealing an affectionate look towards Sonic. "But sugah-hog's the real hero here."
Sally couldn't help smiling, turning and gazing at the beaming hedgehog. "Yes, Sonic was amazing..."
Sonic almost blushed. "Aw, it was a mondo piece of cake." He let out an amused laugh. "I'd LOVE to see the look on ol' bullet-head's face when he saw that little job!"
All five of them laughed out victoriously. "Yes," Sally smiled, at ease for once. "We certainly put a hurting on his endeavors."
"Well Ah don't know 'bout y'all, but Ah'm pooped!" Bunnie announced, wringing out her other ear, water dripping to the floor.
Sally nodded. "We've had a long night. This is two nights in a row we've been at work."
"I could use a vacation," Sonic joked.
Sally smiled. "I think we may have setback Robotnik's plans at least for the time being. We could all use a rest."
Rotor spoke up. "You guys should go to bed. It's a miserable night out."
Bunnie nodded her tired head. "Ah agree with Rotor. G'night, y'all. Great job tonight!" She reopened the door which flung open, wind and icy rain blowing in. "Oh mah stars! Ah'm simply gonna rust out here!" she cried before dashing out. Rotor and Antoine said their good nights and followed quickly out. Sally was ready to make her dash when Sonic touched her shoulder.
"What is it, Sonic?" she asked, turning around.
Sonic's once excited expression seemed to recede. "C-Can I talk to you for a little, Sally?"
Sally became concerned when she heard him call her by her full first name, something he rarely ever did unless he was distressed or experiencing some other deep, serious emotion. "Why of course, Sonic," she said comfortingly. She waited for him to continue but he just looked back at her uncomfortably. Sally thought a moment. "Would you like to talk in my hut? It should be warmer in there."
Sonic nodded slowly, saying nothing.
"C'mon then," Sally instructed, both of them heading out into the rain.
Sally sat on her bed and watched as Sonic paced irritably back in forth in front of her. "I saw those satellites in there, Sal," he was saying. "They were way past enormous! They were mondo involved too! I mean, Buttnik must've meant serious business with whatever he was gonna use 'em for!" He stopped, a pained expression coming over his tired face.
Sally paused, trying to read his feelings. "What is it, Sonic?" she whispered. Sonic didn't answer. Sally frowned. "Come sit here," she instructed.
Sonic stood there a moment, and then finally went and sat next to his princess. It took him a moment to start speaking as he stared idly at his wet sneakers. "Ya know, Sal, how you said... if I have any feelings and junk that I wanted to talk about... I could always come to you and talk about it?"
Sally tried to gaze into Sonic's eyes but he wouldn't look at her. "Of course Sonic..." she whispered. "You can tell me anything. What is on your mind?"
Sonic swallowed, becoming slightly flustered. "Sal..." he finally continued. "I saw a bunch of Workerbots in there, making those things for Robuttnik... They were all roboticized Mobians... and... and we blew 'em all up! We blew 'em up, Sal!! We killed 'em!"
Sally was taken back by this. Sonic had seemed so ecstatic about the mission, she never expected him to report something like this. She put her arm around his shoulder, forcing him to look at her. Tears filled his gentle eyes, fighting not to overflow and spill down his soft cheeks. Sally's blue eyes shimmered with moisture when she saw her best friend's hurt, and at her own realization of what had transpired "Oh Sonic..." she whispered gently, rubbing his shoulder. "I hadn't realized... I'm so sorry..." Sally's lip quivered and she bit it tentatively, her mind racing for a bit of hope to offer both Sonic and herself. "But... perhaps, they'll be all right... Maybe... just damaged, but their--"
Sonic shook his head suddenly. "No, no it ain't all right!" he yelled, tears finally sliding down his face. "RoBUTTnik's forcing them to make things that are s'posed to destroy us! And now they've suffered because of me!" He clenched his fists angrily, his eyes becoming red from crying. "I swear I'm gonna KILL that bastard if it's the last thing I ever do!"
Sally quickly calmed Sonic down by giving him a tight hug. "Calm down, Sonic. I know it's extremely frustrating, but we're working on this." She drew away from him and mustered a very small smile. "We destroyed his satellites, and we will soon destroy his entire empire. Until then, have hope, Sonic. I will do everything in my power to protect the lives of my people, I promise you."
Sonic wiped his cheek with the back of his hand and nodded. Sally looked at him solemnly again. "Many Mobians, including ourselves, have suffered and sacrificed their lives during this war that we're fighting. I'm not justifying what has happened," she added, when Sonic looked like he would explode with grief and anger at any second, "but it would be a dishonor to all who have made sacrifices if we do not continue to find a way to defeat Robotnik. And we will defeat him, one day at a time." Sally drummed her fingers absently on her leg, not sure if she approved of her own speech. She was disappointed in herself, thinking if she had thought Uncle Chuck's plan through more thoroughly, that the roboticized Mobians might be spared. A moment later, she realized that the situation may not have been avoidable at all. Sighing deeply and clutching herself in a hug, she finally spoke again over Sonic's subsiding sniffles. "I'm sure we'll hear from Uncle Chuck very soon with news of how Robotnik's taking this."
Sonic said nothing but nodded again, shamefully wiping the rest of the tears from his face and eyes. "Sal?" he finally uttered.
"Yes, Sonic?"
"Don't tell anybody I was crying, OK? It won't do my rep much good, if you know what I mean. Please, Sal?"
Sally cracked a solemn smile, having difficulty stopping herself. "I understand, Sonic," she managed. "You can depend on me. You are my best friend, after all."
Sonic at long last smiled and nodded. "Thanks Sal. You're the best."
Sally grinned. "I know." They hugged again. "Now you go get some sleep, Sonic. You deserve some rest."
Sonic stood up. "G'night, Sal. Sleep well."
Sally smiled. "You too. And Sonic?"
Sonic paused, his hand on the door as he looked back to the princess. "Yeah?"
"Please keep faith..."
With a nod and a small spark of his familiar confidence, Sonic nodded. "I will."
END OF PART TWO...
~ The Freedom Fighters have prevailed!- But at what cost? Will Robotnik's retaliation mean serious payback for the Freedom Fighters? What more does he have in store for them? And what is this Distributor thing he speaks of? Sonic has revealed his emotional side to Sally. Will she have a field day and tell everybody? Find out in Part Three of "THE REGULATOR".
