This one might be a bit off, sorry in advance.

All reviews welcome.


Chapter 6.

Sonic was back, sort of. Despite it being a very wacky and unsafe idea by the Doctor, it worked. Using a psycho-graph Sonic's essence, his very soul had been transferred and was now safe from harm inside Carla the Androids' body- the only body in the whole world capable of holding him. The only reason that Sonic had not broken free yet was the melted hunk of gold in the cats' chest, upon doing some scans the Doctor found that Sonic's one billionth ring had it own mystical properties. He just wasn't sure how long they would last, they might last a week or hopefully a year. But the atmosphere in the workshop was the same; everyone was overjoyed to have the gang back as a whole.

Everyone apart from Sonic it seemed.

It had been days since the botched sting operation at Shamar, Shadow and Rouge had been stuck at HQ under mountains of paperwork cleaning up the mess and trying to explain what went wrong but it all fell onto deaf ears of the Commander. Chuck and Tails spent the time in the workshop going over the files that Rogue lent them about Eggman, the Egg Knights and E-NET, now they knew that all three were connected they had to find a way of stopping it. The Doctor used his time wisely setting up all sorts of tests to find out more about the odd glove he'd found on the stage, he journeyed back and forth between TARDIS and workshop gathering trinkets to make the tests run faster. Amy was left with the huge task of settling in the newest member of the Freedom Fighters, which she was doing now in Sonic's old room…

"Here we go, I brought a few things as requested." She tipped the contents of her backpack onto the bed covers, " I think they're fit you, nothing too pink"

The tuxedo marked feline looked at her blankly in her fluffy towel. There was a beat and then, " I know about you and Shadow."

Amy blinked, "Oh, OK. I wasn't expecting that…yet, gearing myself to tell you." She began to fold a T-shirt absentmindedly, her cheeks pinking. " Yeah, we're together. H-How did you…"

She shrugged, "It's complicated. When I was, y'know, asleep," Amy nodded, "I was… it felt like I was flying, I could see all of you. What you were doing in my absence, and..."

"Sonic…" she started towards her but the feline backed away nervously. " It's OK, friend, remember?"

"Friend." The cat nodded and pulled the towel tighter around herself. " I-I like t-to get dressed now."

"Uh, yeah. Sure. Take all the time you need." Amy grabbed her bag and the dirty pair of blue PJ's, she wrinkled her nose at them, "I'll get these cleaned up for you," she grinned, "Must be some part of Sonic in there because these are his favourite blue ones with the mini chilli-dogs on them. If you need anything…" she trailed off, nodded kindly and left her to it.

The cat looked around the small room; she moved to the small dresser under the windows where she saw that morning had come and looked at the group of photos on its top. Her new hazel toned eyes narrowed slightly at one particular picture-one of a blue hedgehog. She picked it up with trembling hands and carefully took it out of its frame. A strong emotion rose up deep within her as she stared at it, crumpling the corners of the paper she ripped it into tiny pieces and dumped them into the waste paper bin. Seeing the others the cat gathered them all and deposited them the same way, tears streaming down her white cheeks. Breath coming in hard pants she sat on the bed and held her head in her hands, her honeyed locks falling over her face creating a curtain.

"Uh, knock- knock." Came a male voice, one that was strange to her, from the doorway. A man in a scruffy brown suit gave her a weak grin before entering the room carrying something blue in his right hand. " Oh, sorry. If you were having a moment…"

" No. I'm OK now." Quickly wiping her eyes she turned back to the tiny mountain of clothes and pulled out a faded pink T-top. "This will do." She lifted a brow at the stranger.

" Oh, right." He turned his back to her while she dressed. Once done she coughed quietly and he whirled around. " Nice choice. How do you feel?"

" Like a girl." She folded her arms defensively across her new lumpy chest, made a face and dropped them. " So you're the guy who saved me, huh? You got a name or what?"

" Yes, introductions. I'm the Doctor." He held out his free hand. " I brought you back from the brink of death. You can thank me anytime you want."

" I won't."

The Doctor sat on the edge of the bed, " I don't understand. I saved you; you were being compressed to death, Sonic. You should be happy that you're in this state and not in some Hell dimension."

" I WAS HAPPY!" She screamed at the top of her lungs causing him to jump.

"What do you mean?"

The cat plonked herself next to him, ran a hand over her face and spoke slowly, " I was happy. As I was lying there something was tugging me, calling to me to come away. At first I didn't want to because you know-hero, but I did, just once and it was…I was... Where ever I was going to it felt… nice, warm and safe." The Doctor's expression grew to one of suddenly realisation. " I think it was heaven," she said turning to face him, fresh tears splashing onto her white cheeks leaving salty tracks, " and you lot tore me, ripped me away because you cared. If I wasn't in some Hell dimension I am now. This is Hell."

" I…we had no idea. Your friends were just trying to help." He handed her a spotted hankie for her nose. " I know it's hard getting use to a new body, been there myself."

"You're a Time King or something, yeah? And you have special powers that stop you from dying. I over heard Unc and Tails."

"Lord." He corrected her. " I'm a Time Lord and I'm over 900 years old. And I do have powers to cheat death."

She raised her brows in astonishment and gave back the hankie. "Really? You don't look 900. So what's this power you have then?"

The Doctor sat back comfortably, she did the same. "It's called regeneration. If I'm close to death or fatally wounded I can change my body into a new one. This body I'm in now is my tenth. So, yeah, I know what you're going through."

" Totally. So…err, do you think you could, y'know, help me adjust? Start over because…" she looked down at herself. "Damn!"

He smiled, "Why not. First things first a new name." Fishing about in his pockets he pulled out a pink piece of notepaper. "This one. I think you'll like it and it's goes with your top."

The cat peered at the neatly written word and smiled softly with admiration, "Hm. Amy thinks of everything." At that moment a loud gurgled growl erupted from the Doctors' stomach, he grinned sheepishly and she laughed, the first time since getting back and she found it refreshing. " Sounds like you're in need of a chilli-dog, a whole plate full."

" I did ask about bananas for breakfast but nobody has any. Bananas are good."

"OK, we go out to Joe's Diner. She should be open now, makes a mean breakfast and her banana milkshakes are to die for. I need to get out, stretch these new legs of mine and just…get out." She jumped up was half way to the door when the Doctor coughed, she turned and put hands on hips, "What?"

He held out the blue thing in his hand, "Maybe you should finish dressing."

Plucking the garment from his fingers she opened it and blinked, "This one of Unc's. Does he know you pinched it?" Slipping the tailored waistcoat over her shoulders she looked at herself in the mirror and grinned at the Doctor's reflection." Well, how do I look?"

" Great! Now lets eat!"

--

Soon the Doctor and the cat were sitting in a booth at Joes', the Doctor was attacking his breakfast with gusto and the cat had never seen a sight like it! Egg yolk and bean juice splattered the Doctor's tie and jacket front and he didn't take a blind bit of notice.

"Here ya go, hon." Joe gave them a smile placing another loaded tray onto their table. She was a nice lady with a friendly face and black hair that was constantly greasy as she was head chef and owner. She gave the cat a funny look,"Don't I know you? Aren't you Tail's robot, Carla?"

"Actually, I'm a newer model," went the cat holding out a paw." I'm Sola."

" Sola, eh? OK. This is for you," She slid in beside her and placed a paper cup in front of her filled with some kind of paste. " specially made by Tails for your simple digestive system, kinda like baby food, but much tastier. Try some." Dipping a spoon into the cup she held it out to her. Sola looked at the offered object suspiciously, the Doctor stopped long enough to give her a nod of encouragement; she shrugged and shoved it into her mouth. A tiny gasp of delight left her lips and she attacked it with the same amount of gusto the Doctor had done with his food. " Now we're best buds… Who's your friend?"

The Doctor wiped his chin with a napkin. " I'm the Doctor. You must be Joe, love the place and the grub." He grinned taking a drink from his yellow milkshake and smacked his lips. "AH! Can't beat banana, no sir."

" Ta. Ever since Eggman destroyed my last place it's been a struggle, but I've had help, mostly from Sonic the Hedgehog. Have you heard that he's in a coma and that he might not come out of it? Shame. He's a good kid, a bit head strong and brash but nice." She got up and cleaned away empty dishes from the next table.

Sola stopped eating and pushed the half full cup away. "I don't feel so good."

"I think we should get you back to the workshop. Nice talking Joe, see ya." The Doctor grabbed the paper cup for himself before ushering Sola out the diner doors and onto the streets. Once outside they found themselves walking in no particular direction, the light breeze made Sola constantly push her hair from her face the Doctor fumbled with his jacket pockets and took out an elastic band. She nodded her thanks and pulled her messy locks into a serviceable ponytail. Rounding a corner into the back streets Sola growled, and held out an arm stopping the Doctor in his tracks. " What is it?"

Without giving him an answer Sola gave him an almighty shove out the way. Just in time too as a huge lighting bolt came out of nowhere and struck the pavement where they had been moments before. He rolled to a safe spot, looked down and groaned spying his suit now covered with toffee coloured goop. His eyes widened as his sensitive hearing caught the unmistakable sounds of a struggle. Sola! He scrambled to his feet only to be floored by a punch in the jaw from a chunky metal fist; blinking away stars the Doctor looked up and blanched as an Egg Knight stomped towards him.

The feline was in the middle of the street with another Egg Knight, the robot blocked her attacks with ease. Using what Carla had learned from the other Freedom Fighters, Sola jumped and somersaulted over the Knights head, it turned to meet her she flipped backwards and hit it under its chin, the robot stumbled back in shock, spying the gap she crouched and span landing a flick-kick to its ankles. The Knight fell onto its back with an electronic grunt as she went to stamp its arms it lumbered back to its feet, the cat grinned and ran full pelt, without Sonic's homing attack she'd have to improvise. Waiting for the right moment she jumped again, the Knight thinking she was going to go over its head raise it arms to catch her. Sola instead planted both heels into it midsection the Knight shot off like a silver bullet, smacking into the power generator of the pizza place at the other end of the alley in a dazzling display of sparks.

High above on a nearby rooftop watching the fight below stood a lone figure. His rounded shape wrapped nicely in a woollen coat its tails flapping it the light winds. Eggman's moustache bristled eagerly, there had to be a reason why the cat abomination was back on line and he was going to find out. He pressed a hand to his earpiece, spoke clearly and waited.

The Doctor pressed his back against the wall, "Can't we talk about this? Don't make me hurt you because I will." Without hurting Sola in the process His hand closed around one of Rouge's EMP bombs, but he couldn't use it because at such short range Sola would shut down too. The Knight came closer its hand outstretched ready to clamp down on his neck and electrocute. He closed his eyes, heard a grunt followed by another more drone like and opened them. A white fist was sticking out of the Knights chest grasping wires and covered in gunk. The fist withdrew and the robot fell sideways revealing Sola grinning like an idiot.

"Now that was sweet!" She took a second to look at him, " You're covered in paste but other wise fine, no broken bones."

"How did you?"

She tapped the side of her head, " Scanning eye balls, Doc. I accessed some of Carla's programmes, girl's got some neat stuff."

" Smashing." He crouched to examine the beaten EK, took out his glasses and peered into the hole she made with her fist. Taking out a clear food bag, he carefully plucked a small black object no bigger than a mobile phone and placed it inside. Holding it up at eye level he turned it this way and that and grinned." Gotcha!"

" Good news?"

"Oh, yeah. With this little baby I might be able to put a stop to Eggman's plans. That's him up there, right?" Standing, he pointed upwards towards the roofs where the lone figure stood clapping his hands.

" Nice work with my toys." He called down. " You must be the infamous Doctor, a long way from Gallifrey are you not?" The Doctor blinked, " Yes, I know all about you, my boy. I have friends in high places too, you know."

Sola pushed her way forward, " Whatever you're up to, we'll stop you like always Lard Belly!"

This time Eggman blinked, " Lard Belly? The only person who calls me that is…" He raised his brows over his sunglasses. "Sonic? Is that you?" He smirked.

" Yeah it's me." She put hands on hips. "Giggle all you want,'Buttnik but I'll stop you."

The mad doctor waved his hands trying to control his giggles, " Let me get this right. You're Sonic inside the cat robot that Tails made, how'd you do it? Oh, wait…an energy transfer! That's smart, very smart. Did you think of that, Time Lord?" The Doctor frowned at him, brown eyes darkened. " So…Sonic's mind is right here, where's your body, rodent?"

"Safe with G.U.N guarding it 24/7," beside her the Doctor shot her a warning glare a little too late. She ignored it completely and continued regardless." Even if you did get it, you'll have no use for it 'cause Dark Gaia's completely taken over and we all know how that worked out for you last time."

Eggman looked at them oddly for a second and then bowed his head. " You're right. It's foolish of me to try a control him again. I'll have to settle for wanton destruction of the planet with my new Egg Knights. Go. Try and find a weakness if you can, I'll be waiting for you for the final showdown." He turned and with a flourish of his coat disappeared from view. Once he was out of earshot he pressed the earpiece again. " It's me, you were right. Dark Gaia is ready for extraction, your highness."

In the alleyway Sola looked up at the Doctor, " I've just made things worse, haven't I?" He nodded and she sighed, " Thought so. Come on, let's do it to it! Assemble the gang and save the day." Together they headed back to Mystic Ruins.