Chapter 8
Three days later
"We've raided every known rebel location sire," Sleet said. "Still no sign of Lady Sonia."
Robotnik punched the wall. "Well she has to be somewhere! I want her found! And I want her found now! There has to be someplace you haven't searched yet. Now go! And if she's not found by the end of the day..." He left the threat unfinished.
Sleet and Dingo trembled as they considered what their ruler could possibly have planned if they failed. "Y-y-yes sire! We'll find her." Quickly, the Snow Wolf and orange Canine ran out of the throne room.
Robotnik looked over at Bartleby. His worry for his wife and children was written all over his face. "Bartleby, we'll find her."
"But they've searched for three whole days and they haven't found her yet," Bartleby said. "What if they've already taken her to Sanctuary? I'll never see her again! I won't get to hold her in my arms. I won't get to see my babies be born. I won't get to hold them. They'll likely be trained to fight you. Who knows what they'll do to Sonia now that she knows the truth. They won't be able to make her fight for them anymore. What if they keep her only until they're born and then...and blame it on you? By the Source, if I lose her...ow!" He looked up into the firm eyes of his godfather after he slapped the back of his head. His lip trembled. "I can't live without her."
Robotnik thwacked him on the head a second time. "Stop that nonsense! Hysterics won't help bring her home any faster. And we will bring her home. I promise."
Bartleby wanted to believe it. "I should be out there helping..."
"You'd only be placing yourself in danger. You have no experience with battle," the man said. "You're safest right here. Once we have her back, we're going with my first instinct."
"Okay Sonic, it's been three days," Manic said. "You're going to go talk to Sonia. If she says she wants to go, you're going to let her go."
This fight had been going on for the last three days. Sonic was stubborn beyond words regarding the matter. But that was fine because Manic could be stubborn too.
"Manic, I can't yet. You said she could meet Dad. He's not here yet," Sonic pointed out.
Manic folded his arms and stamped his feet. "Where is he anyway? What is he up to? He's been gone a while."
"He'll be here. He said he needed to reacquaint himself with the other Freedom Fighters," Sonic said. "But he should have a say in how we handle this."
Manic growled. "Sonic, I swear... if you don't let her go..."
"Manic, chill!" Sonic shouted. "Sonia'll be fine. She just needs to be reminded who's playing which role in this little service comedy."
"Well, I say while we wait for him, we talk to Sonia," Manic said. "And after she talks to...him, you will let her go. In fact, you will drive her back to Bartleby's mansion with a full apology." Sonic didn't answer, telling Manic rather clearly that regardless of Sonia's feelings, he had no intention of letting her go.
"I'll talk to her, and I'll listen, but she is our sister. I will do what I have to in order to protect her," Sonic said. "Even if that means keeping her under lock and key until Robotnik's taken care of." He went past Manic and into Sonia's room.
She was playing her keyboard and she looked up. "Unless you're coming in here to apologize and let me go, stay out Sonic."
Sonic pulled up a chair, determined to get some sense into his sister's head. "I am sorry. I'm sorry that this was necessary but sis, I care about you. You're my sister. I had to get you away from him, away from Robotnik."
"Sonic, you don't get it," she hissed. "I'm 18 years old. I'm not a child. You're not Lady Wyndemere and you're not Mother. I don't have to listen to you. Don't you understand that you're basically holding me prisoner? I want to be with Bartleby and you need to let me go and back the hell off."
"Sonia, stop it. You're away from them now. There's nothing to be afraid of. You can say what you really feel instead of what they've drilled into you," Sonic said.
Sonia eyed her brother. "What?"
Sonic took her hands in his. "Dad explained it. Being pregnant, Bartleby's taking advantage and making you feel afraid of doing this without him, without the father. They've essentially been drilling propaganda into your head. Damn it, the guy tried to kill me when I was a toddler!"
Sonia stood up. "No he didn't! And he didn't roboticize your parents or Ferrell or Lady Wyndemere! Sonic, I saw them, I met them!"
Manic stared in shock. "Ferrell?"
Sonic waved his hands. "Lies! I saw the SWATBots take them away!"
"They were rescuing them!" Sonia shouted. "Sonic, the Resistance is the evil here. All Robotnik's done is take the throne by force. He wouldn't be the first man to stage a rebellion. I mean we're trying to force him out. The Resistance on the other hand can't even let people be neutral! They have to bully them and resort to attacking, harassment and even kidnapping! You were kidnapped by your Uncle Chuck."
Sonic scoffed. "Bullshit I was!"
"Sonic, listen to me. Your parents, foxes, red-heads. Your father was a tall, muscular fox. Your mother wore a green and yellow dress and matching hat," Sonia saw she'd said the right thing by his reaction. "I met them. They told me about Chuck befriending them shortly before the Resistance started going to them. Asking your father to join them, asking for monetary support, anything. They refused. And they refused. And they refused. The Resistance came in to attack. They didn't know that Robotnik was already wise to it and preparing a rescue. They thought they could send you to Chuck for safe keeping and get you back afterward. Chuck vanished with you."
Sonic stood up and paced. "That's... impossible. Uncle Chuck wouldn't do that to me! Robotnik's lying! He got some actors to PRETEND to be them."
Manic asked. "Ferrell's not roboticized?"
"No," Sonia said. "The robotic Wyndemere and Ferrell we were shown, they were replicas. They're all currently safe in Robotropolis' Secret Quarter. But you cannot tell anyone. These are people whom the Resistance declared traitors to the crown and they were all nearly killed. Many of them lost children, kidnapped by the Resistance to train as the next generation of rebels. Most of our current members were those children."
Manic fought back tears at the news. "I want to see him. Please."
Sonia nodded. "Let me go and I'll take you. But you have to keep it a secret. You too, Sonic. Please!"
Sonic appeared to be considering it. "Sonia, I just can't. For all I know this is just a trick of some kind." He turned and left before she could say anything else in Robotnik's favor.
Sonia sat down, frustrated with Sonic. "Manic? Will you help me?"
Manic looked at his hands. "You're sure you met Ferrell?"
"Yes, big roach, round belly. He's been working to steal food and supplies back from the Resistance. And appeared to be getting close to Lady Wyndemere. Which was strange but they seemed to have a common interest in the two of us." She could tell he was close. "Please Manic."
"Sonic promised me he'd let you go after you met our father," he said. "If he doesn't, I'll go to Robotnik myself and let him know where you are. But at least meet him."
Sonia sighed. "Manic…"
"Sonia, I don't like him," Manic confided. "I need to know I'm not crazy. Please meet him."
Sonia rolled her eyes. "Alright, I'll meet him. Where is he?"
Sonic was staring into the table when the hideout door opened. King Jules walked in looking rather disheveled. "Dad are you alright?"
Jules sat down. "Yes son. Robotnik's been ransacking the city, looking for your sister. I was helping our people evacuate to Sanctuary." The Hedgehog King released a heavy sigh. "Tonight, it's your turn."
Sonic let out a relieved breath. "Good, then we can get Sonia safely out of here. You should go see her. Maybe you can talk her into using her head."
Jules sighed. "She still wants to be with that aristocrat?" He stood. "Yes, I'll go speak with her."
Sonia and Manic looked up from their conversation when the door opened to admit a hedgehog of sapphire blue. Instantly Sonia knew what Manic was talking about. The smile seemed genuine but seeing him felt like a thousand terrible memories were trying to break loose at once. She didn't like it and she didn't like him.
"Oh my little girl, thank the Source you're safe," Jules hugged the young woman.
Sonia froze. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't 'little girl' me. I want to know what you're up to."
Jules smiled softly, not a good smile either. "Manic, please give your sister and I some time to talk alone."
Manic nodded. "I'll be right outside the door if you need me." He went out slowly. He didn't want to leave her alone but he and she needed answers.
Once they were alone, the kindly demeanor faded from Jules's expression before his hand lashed out, slapping Sonia across the face. "You have some nerve talking to me in that manner!" He grabbed her by her pink tresses and yanked. "Now see here, I am your father and you will obey me whether you like it or not."
Sonia tried to free herself but he just yanked her closer. "Now get this. You are not going back to your precious snob. Get it out of your head. And you can forget everything Robotnik told you. You are going to help me reclaim Mobotropolis. Do you understand me?"
Sonia groaned. "I'd rather die then help you."
Jules threw her onto the bed. "Oh no, you're more valuable alive. For now. I'd be considering those brats inside you if I were you."
Sonia glared but didn't challenge the king any further. Manic, no doubt, heard that if the cracked door was any indication.
Manic wasn't waiting any longer. He was convinced as soon as he'd seen Jules yank her around. He ran out of the hideout and jumped on his hoverboard, flying towards the palace.
He stopped when he saw the Scorpion below him. He could see Sleet and Dingo knocking on some doors and SWATBots smashing down others. Even better. They could go get her out now, or at least make a distraction so he could get her out.
He flew down. "Yo, Sleet and Dingo. I know where Sonia is!"
The wolf ran over. "Tell us where she is!"
Manic nodded. "I will but we have to be quick and clever. If you can create a distraction, I can get her out."
"And why should we trust you?" Dingo asked. "You helped kidnap her."
"Yeah but only on the condition that Sonic would let her go after having a chance to talk to her." He explained. "He's gone back on his word now and our father is beating her. Please!"
Sleet and Dingo nodded. "Dingo, you go with Manic," he pointed at his remote at the orange dog. Dingo shrunk down into an anthromouse. "Go with Manic. Tell Sonic that you and I are attacking and you need help. I'll radio Robotnik and follow."
Dingo didn't even protest as he followed Manic back to the hideout.
Manic burst into the hideout with the disguised Dingo. "Sonic! Dad! We need help!"
Sonic came running over. A few minutes later, Jules joined them. "What's wrong Manic?"
"This is Davey, his family is under attack by sleet and Dingbat!" Manic explained. "Just six blocks west of here!"
Dingo-Davey forced some very convincing sobs. 'Please, please save my mommy and daddy. Robotnik heard them talking about joining the Resistance. Please help."
Sonic patted the boy's back. "It's okay kid. Come on Dad. Davey, you stay here with Manic. He'll look after you."
Manic and Dingo watched as Sonic and Jules ran off. They could just barely make out the top of the scorpion behind a building. With the coast clear, Sleet quickly and quietly hurried out.
Manic raced to Sonia's room. "Sonia, come on, you're getting out of here." He and Dingo gasped at the handprint still prominent on her cheek. "Sis, I'm so sorry. From now on, I'm on your side completely."
"Okay, let's get out of here." Dingo said. "Sleet's waiting and they'll figure out they've been bamboozled really fast."
Manic and Dingo took positions on either side of Sonia as they walked out to the Scorpion. "Hurry. We have like two minutes tops to get out of here," he said as they climbed into the transport."
"Hey, who said you could tag along?" Sleet asked.
Sonia finally found her voice. "I did. He just betrayed the Resistance. He's going to need protection."
Sleet just turned up his nose. "Whatever. Speaking of protection Miss Hedgehog, guess where we're going now."
Sonia grinned sheepishly. "Yep, I figured." At least she was on her way back to Bartleby, and free to be with the man she loved
