Chapter 10
Dressed as waiters, Sonic, Sonia and Manic looked around the packed audience chamber of the place which should have been their home. They prepared platters of hor d'eourves.
"Sonic, this was a terrible idea," Sonia chided her brother. "I know everybody here. Our faces aren't even covered. You call these disguises?"
Sonic rolled his eyes. "Like those aristo-twats will really pay attention to a waiter. Just keep it cool Sonia and they won't notice a thing."
Sonia turned her nose into the air and grabbed a tray. "Whatever Sonic. If anything bad happens, I get to say 'I told you so.'" She turned and gasped. What was Bartleby doing with that other woman?
Bartleby stood talking with a pretty young lady, pretending not to notice Sonia coming up behind him with a tray of snacks. His arms ached to hold her. He wondered if she was still upset with him. He thought back to his earlier meeting with Robotnik.
"Come in my boy, come in," Robotnik invited his godson into their sitting room. A silver tray was already waiting with tea and scones. "Tell me, how are things going? You said you needed some advice?"
Bartleby took a cup of tea and a scone. "Yes, I do." He wondered how to start the conversation. He couldn't say too much. He knew that Robotnik wouldn't hurt her but he had promised Sonia that he wouldn't let him know they were together. "Well to make it easy, um… did you ever fight with Aunt Maria?" He instantly regretted the question as Robotnik froze, visibly going stiff. "I'm sorry, I just…"
Robotnik stirred his cup of tea. "Yes… Maria and I, we fought often. She was very opinionated and you know I've always been a stubborn curmudgeon. It was inevitable. But that's life boy. All couples fight. No relationship is going to be without conflict."
Bartleby could believe that. "Well, um… did you ever say something and she took it entirely the wrong way?"
Robotnik laughed. "Oh did I ever… I remember once it was when she first got pregnant. She had yet to tell me and I made an offhanded comment about her weight. She thought I was accusing her of being fat, which was obviously not true. I was actually worried that being around the chemicals in our lab was hurting her, causing perhaps a tumor in her belly."
Bartleby laughed. "Oh no! Did she hurt you much?" Even he knew from his mother that he was never to comment on a woman's weight.
"She refused to cook me any meals for a week. That's where the idea for RoboChef came from," the despot said with a grin of reminiscence. He would be the first to admit that he couldn't cook, at all.
Bartleby chuckled and returned to his questions. "And… was there ever a time where you knew she was wrong about something but just couldn't convince her?"
This time, his godfather quite morose. "Yes… yes there was… a very important time. In fact, it's because of that very important incident… Where is this going Bartleby?"
The mink was quiet. How could he answer without spoiling their secret? If he told and she found out he told…
Robotnik sighed. "Look boy, sometimes you have to understand that you cannot change anyone's opinion. No matter how much you may want to. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to let others believe what they want. One day, they will learn the truth on their own. You don't need to risk your happiness on my behalf." The man stood. "Now, the guests will be arriving soon. Let us go to the throne room and await them."
On the way to the throne room, Robotnik stopped. "Look Bartleby, just so you know, you can tell me anything."
Bartleby nodded. "Thank you Uncle. I will remember that."
He knew already though that he could trust his godfather. How could he tell him why he wasn't telling him without telling him though? That was the dilemma. And the answer was he couldn't. No matter how much he wanted to.
But what was Sonia doing there? The treasures were supposed to be a surprise for her. Who had told her about this? Or rather who had told the Resistance? This could ruin his godfather's plans, something he could ill afford. What should he do?
"Bartleby, you're very quiet tonight," the woman near him said. "Is something on your mind."
Bartleby shook his head. "Not at all. I was just thinking about why Doctor Robotnik invited us here tonight."
As if on cue, the lights on the dais focused on the ruler of Robotropolis. "I suppose you're all wondering why I asked you here tonight." Robotnik approached two podiums. Upon them sat two interesting looking pieces of work. One was a ancient rocket-like object while the other appeared to be a fairly new piece. "You have all heard the legend of Mobu Pinchu, well it's real. And I have found it." He held up the rocket. "These are the first pieces of our ancient history. And they are up for bid tonight. We shall start with this beautiful artifact. Bidding begins at 100,000."
Shocked gasps filled the room at the announcement of the price. Bartleby smirked. Driving the price on this thing up would be fun.
"And of course all of the funds will be going to protecting all of my dear subjects," Robotnik with a sneer.
Bartleby raised his hand. "150,000 möbiums!"
Knowing the richest noble in all of Robotropolis wanted it, a mink highly regarded for his taste in art, the bidding war began.
"200,000!" bid another noble.
Again Bartleby bid. "400,000…"
Sonia returned to her brothers. "Did you hear that? Mobu Pinchu and sounds like he's looting it just to raise money for more SWATBots."
Sonic clenched his fist. "We can't let him do that! We have to get those artifacts!"
Suddenly, they heard the clacking of Robotnik's gavel on the first podium. "Sold to Lord Montclair for a mere one million möbiums."
Bartleby approached for his prize. He quietly whispered. "I got it up as high as I could uncle."
"Shhh!" Robotnik hissed. "You got this one cheap," he said loud enough to be heard. "Bid higher next time!"
Bartleby feigned trembling at the man's snarling order and nodded.
Suddenly three plates came flying past their heads and into SWATBots behind them. The bots exploded and both Robotnik and Bartleby leapt with surprise.
Robotnik pressed a button at his side. "SWATBots! Send in more SWATBots!" He shouted upon sight of the hedgehogs.
A small contingent of the bots came tramping in while the nobility ran about like chickens with their heads cut off. Sonic touched his medallion to turn it into his laser guitar-gun. Manic was focused on the orb.
Sonia saw her brothers focused on other things and took her chance. She ran to Bartleby who had got off the stage and out of the way. Quickly she snatched the rocket from him, replacing it with a quick kiss on his cheek. "Sorry!" She said softly, speaking of more than just taking the artifact.
"Sonia, we gotta go!" Sonic called.
"And next time, remember to tip your waiter!" Sonia snapped before dashing off.
Bartleby watched his lover run off with the rocket he'd bought. He wondered how she'd react later to learn he'd meant it for her in the first place. He touched his cheek where the sensation of her kiss still lingered. At least she didn't seem angry with him anymore.
"Damn!" Robotnik shouted. "Those hedgehogs stole both of the artifacts! We need to get them back! The Quarter's expansion depends on them!"
From just outside the palace, a dark figure watched. "That idiot fell for my trap. Soon… Mobotropolis will be mine again and Robotnik will regret his interference."
The next morning, Sonia and Sonic took the rocket to Sonia's old school, to one of her old teachers. Manic excused himself claiming to have something he needed to take care of.
"Robotnik says it's from Mobu Pinchu, Professor," Sonia explained to the old man. "If that's true, we have to find it and stop him from using it to fund his end of the war! Mobu Pinchu belongs to everybody."
The Professor took the rocket and looked it over. "Ahh, Sonia, keep asking questions. It is how you learn. Let's test this in my machine right here. The gamma rays should be able to tell us more."
Manic took the small orb from his fanny packet. "It's from Robotnik's private collection."
The dealer, Vince, took the artifact from the thief and looked it over. "Hmmm, a very odd piece. And I have a guy who loves rare, unique items. I'll give you 1,000 möbiums."
Manic shook his head. "1,000? Dude. My siblings and I risked our hides to liberate it from the Buttster. 3,000."
Vince pulled out and pack of money. "2,000. I have to make a profit."
"Deal!" Manic accepted the money. Neither of them noticed the small timer on the side of the piece.
AN: Uh oh. Seems we have a problem. Will Robotnik still be able to come up with the six million möbiums for Speedster Island? And who is that dark figure! Review please!