Chapter 6: Menace to Society
Location: Station Square
Later that night...
The moon hung full over the city, projected by the convex holographic panels that lined the inside the cavern. If not for first-hand knowledge, Sonic would never have believed that the city was completely underground. The others were relaxing back at the hotel, but not he, not when there was an entire city out there for him to explore. Leaping from the rooftops of the closely spaced buildings, the hedgehog was having the time of his life.
"This town is awesome," Sonic thought to himself, "Nothing like Knothole or Mobotropolis. I feel like my favorite comic book adventure heroes...The Rush..., the Dark Bat..., and Super Surfer, all rolled into one."
Sliding down an angled rooftop, Sonic dropped down to the busy sidewalks below, startling several pedestrians. He realized his error almost immediately, as the next thing he knew he had been surrounded by two police officers.
"What is that thing?" the officer asked.
"Looks like a big hedgehog," his partner replied.
"A blue hedgehog?"
"Well, whatever it is, we better get it out of here. Hey, buddy. Wanna ride with us down to the station?"
"Should I call for backup?"
"I have three kitty cats at home. I think I can handle this little fella."
The officer then began to imitate kissing noises, which prompted Sonic to cross his arms in annoyance.
"Did you see that? That thing's got an attitude. A bad one."
"Yeah? Well he won't get away from me!" he growled, lunging at the hedgehog.
Sonic easily sidestepped the attempt, incensing the law enforcement officer with his juvenile antics.
"Why you little!" the officer growled, brandishing his nightstick.
"Take it easy. I think we can handle this without getting rough," another voice stated.
A mustachioed sergeant had arrived on the scene, followed by another officer, likely his partner.
"Yeah, but sarge..."
"Duffy, get behind him."
"Right sarge," said the partner.
"Okay, now when I say the word, we're all going to jump into him at once. Alright then, is everyone ready? LET'S DO IT!"
All four officers lunged at him, piling on top of one another in an attempt to pin him to the ground.
"I have its leg!" one of the officers yelled.
"Here too! I got an arm!" declared another.
"All right! One the count to three. One. Two. Three!" ordered the sergeant.
The police officers pulled with all their might, while failing to realize that they had succeeded was grabbing one another. Watching them collapse in a heap on the ground from atop a nearby car, Sonic could only shrug his shoulders in embarrassment at the display.
"What the heck were you doing?" one of the officer's shouted.
"Where's the hedgehog!?"
The hedgehog was about to make his getaway, but a net suddenly descended upon him.
"I caught it!" another officer declared.
Sonic launched himself into the run, dragging the officer with him, while the other officers grabbed a hold of him. There bold attempt at capturing him lasted only briefly, as Sonic leapt over a swerving police cruiser, sending the officers in through the open driver-side window. The Sergeant immediately seized the microphone of the radio and issued an All-Points Bulletin.
"Attention all units! Attention all units! A blue hedgehog is headed north on Central Street. Shut down all thoroughfares that lead into and out of Station Square and set up a roadblock just before the on-ramp to 101!"
Location: Station Square
That same time...
Driving along the quiet highway, officers Wachowski and Whipple couldn't help but share a laugh. Their colleagues clearly had a wild imagination, believing that a hedgehog was running about.
"I've never seen a blue hedgehog before, have you?" Whipple asked.
"It must've been one of those fancy sports cars. Hey, if we catch it, maybe the captain will let us drive it," his partner chuckled, hands behind his head.
"I bet it has one of those cute little hood ornaments that looks like a hedgehog."
The two police officers could only watch in disbelief as Sonic suddenly landed on the hood of their car.
"Geez, Sal gonna have a fit," Sonic sighed, leaping off the vehicle and tearing off down the road.
"Just now...how many kilometers...? If I'm not mistaken..."
"One hundred kilometers per hour...," the driver replied.
"Is that so..."
From the sky, a police helicopter circled around the highway of the underground metropolis, seeking the hedgehog in question.
"What? The patrols couldn't stop it? How can it run like that!?" the pilot complained.
"Isn't that it?" his co-pilot asked.
"Visual contact. Subject's headed north on the Central Street extension. About a mile and a half from the entrance to the 101."
"Roger! Patrol 80-5-5, the target is in your area," headquarters reported.
"Don't you worry. This hedgehog can't get under us, around us or through us. We'll stop him!
Up ahead the highway had been encased with a massive roadblock full of S.S.P.D. cruisers, heavy construction vehicles, and barricades. They watched as the hedgehog approached the roadblock, miraculously jumped so high that he easily cleared the entire collection of vehicles. He landed on the other side of the barricade and sped away, acting like it was nothing. The patrolman's voice came over the radio mere moments later, his confidence having evaporated.
"Well, he didn't get under us, around us or through us," the officer laughed.
"Ah, they're gonna love this down at headquarters," said the chopper pilot, "Ah, Delta 1 to base. I'm afraid that roadblock didn't work."