Chapter 11

"My, my! This is interesting indeed," the Professor declared, looking as though his birthday had come early with the analysis of the strange object.

Sonia knew that look in his eyes. Her Professor had found something. "What is it Professor?"

The Professor gazed with absolute awe, almost reverence at the piece. "This is not from Mobu Pinchu. It dates much later than that. Not that it isn't valuable. It's only about 500 years old. It's a shell casing from the Last Human War."

Both hedgehogs gasped. "Are you sure Professor? The Last Human War?"

"Yes," the Professor said. "The war that all but wiped out the human animal. Back when Möbius was called Earth. The war from whence the Mobian animal was born," the Professor looked about ready to prostrate himself before the shell casing.

Sonic looked at Sonia. "Is this guy okay?"

"Behave Sonic!" Sonia snapped.

"Forgive me," the Professor returned to a level of decorum. "I've been studying the human animal for some time. One of my former students, from about oh 20 or so years ago, was a human. She was one of the last in existence. Ah, she was a smart girl that one. An IQ of over 300. A special one she was." The Professor carefully removed the casing from the analyzer. "But this is not from Mobu Pinchu. And if Robotnik isn't careful, he could find himself scattered all over Möbius. I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few live explosives still floating around the area where he got this."

Sonia gasped. "Oh my gosh!"

"Sonia, would you mind if I kept this and studied it for a bit?" The Professor pleaded.

Sonia shook her head with a sigh. "Sorry Professor, I wish I could, but it's not mine to loan out. I have to return it."

Sonic's gaze snapped to his sister. "Why? Robotnik…"

"Sonic, Bartleby rightfully purchased this from Robotnik. And though I hate it, we need to give credit where it is due. Robotnik found it so… it was his to sell," Sonia elaborated. "Were it really from Mobu Pinchu, it would be a different story. But it's not so we have to return it."

Sonic continued to try and protest. "Robotnik is just going to sell these things to get money for more bots. Don't give it back."

"Sonic!" Sonia snapped, scaring her brother into shutting up. "We get on Manic's case all the time for stealing. We can't do that and then steal things ourselves. We're sending him mixed messages. Sometimes it's okay, sometimes it's not. No it's never okay and from now on, we need to stick to that. Don't worry. You don't have to go. I'll do it myself." She picked up the shell casing.

The argument was lost. Sonic knew she was right. "I'll go with you."

She shook her head. "That's not necessary. You need to find Manic and go back to tell the other Freedom Fighters about all this." She hurried off before Sonic could stop her.

Sonic watched with perplexity. She claimed disdain for Bartleby and yet she seemed to take any opportunity to pay him a visit. "Ugh, all this thinking is hurting my head." He massaged his temples and decided to go find his brother.


Manic counted the money a third time. "1800, 2000. Whoa, with this Robotnik is practically finished."

"Manic!" Sonic called before coming to a stop right in front of him. "Hey, where'd you get all that moolah? Manic, have you been stealing again?"

Manic grinned sheepishly. "I only stole from Buttnik, no big deal. I took that ball thing and sold it for the Resistance."

Sonic recognized the excuse and realized that Sonia was right again. "Look Manic, I know Robotnik seems like a different matter but stealing is always wrong. No matter who it's from. The Freedom Fighters are an honorable bunch, we don't steal. Now, we have that get orb back. It's not really from Mobu Pinchu. It's a bomb."

Manic's eyes went wide. "A bomb? Oh no… this way."


By the time Manic led Sonic to the black market dealer, Vince was already counting the profits for the day.

"Vince, I need that orb," he pulled out the money. "Here's that 2000."

Vince chuckled. "You're too late kid. I told you I got a customer who likes unique finds like that orb."

"Bummer majores! You gotta tell us who you sold it to!" Sonic demanded.

Vince shook his head. "Not a chance. I'm not letting you cut me out of my sales. This is a good customer."

"He won't be a good customer if you don't tell us," Sonic said. "That orb was a bomb, not an ancient relic. It could go off then boom. You've lost your customer, for good."

Vince thought about Sonic's argument. "What kind of guarantee do I have that you're not trying to cheat me?"

"Vince, I swear," Manic said. "The next big art piece I find, it's yours. No charge."

Vince seemed to think about the offer. "Deal! I sold it to one of the nobles. Bartleby. He's got a real fine taste in art."

"What!" Sonic shouted. "That's where Sonia is! She was taking back the shell casing she stole from him!"

"Dude, we gotta get there, quick," Manic stated.

Sonic grabbed his brother. "Quick? That's for slowmos! We're coming Sonia!" Like a bullet from a gun, Sonic sped off with Manic in tow.


Bartleby looked over the orb for damages. "Good news Uncle, the orb is perfectly intact." He spoke towards his speaker phone.

"Good work brat. I'm sending Sleet and Dingo to retrieve it," Robotnik said. "Unless you were hoping to purchase it."

"Uncle, how about you just tell me what you need for the expansion," Bartleby suggested.

"Bite your tongue brat! This isn't your responsibility," said his godfather. Never let it be said the man did not have his pride.

"Uncle, how can I buy it without a price?" Bartleby challenged that stubborn pride. "Just tell me what you need."

Robotnik could be heard sighing on the other hand. "Fine, brat, five million."

Satisfied, Bartleby agreed. "Done." The doorbell rang. "Be right back Uncle." He went to answer the door. He gasped to see Sonia waiting. "Sonia!" He was equally surprised to see the artifact she'd stolen from him in her hands.

Awkwardly she shuffled her feet. Just two days ago, they'd had a big fight. She didn't know if she still angry or not. "Hi… I brought this back…" She offered the shell casing.

Bartleby looked away. "Irony, my sweet, I bought it for you."

Her mouth fell open. "You bought this for me?"

He nodded. "I wanted a way to apologize. I'm sorry you misunderstood what I was trying to say."

Sonia touched his hand. "What were you trying to say?"

"I just wanted you to look at things from a different perspective," he explained, while leading her into the living room, forgetting his godfather was on the phone. "I don't think your mother is evil, far from it. But this is a war my darling. And in war, there are always two sides and each side has a different story. I just want you to hold reserve judgment until you know both sides. Doesn't that make sense?"

Sonia didn't like it but, "Yes Bartleby. It does make sense. It just hurt that's all. You called my mother evil."

Bartleby put his hand in hers. "Sonia, I love you. All I really care about is your safety and happiness." He got up to retrieve the orb. "I also bought you this. Fine art my darling, only one of the many things we have in common." Suddenly the ball began beeping with an alarm.

"Bartleby!" Sonia shrieked. With the orb in his hand beeping increasing in frequency, it alerted them that it was getting closer to going off. "Get down!" She leapt into a jump kick, getting it into the vaulted ceiling. The bomb exploded with an ugly orange color and the mansion shook. The walls began to crack and crumble and the ceiling came down.

Bartleby saw a large piece crashing down upon them and reacted on impulse. "Sonia!" He cried, pushing down into the sofa and creating a barrier with his own body.


Robotnik had silently listened to the conversation between the two. So Bartleby had wanted to give Sonia those rare treasures. Ah well, he had already paid for the rocket and he was buying the orb. They were his to do with as he wished. Bartleby had told him that Sonia had refused his proposal but he'd had suspicions that he was lying through his teeth. However, he understood that Bartleby would not keep it secret without a good reason.

He was about to just hang up when he heard the beeping and then the hedgehog princess' shriek followed by an explosion. He snatched up the receiver. "Bartleby! What's happened? Answer me!" He received no answer beyond a terrified, somewhat muffled scream for help. He threw down the phone. "Sleet! Dingo!"


Bartleby grit his teeth as his body flared in pain before he was able to push it aside to look at Sonia who was beneath him. His body along with the couch had saved her from being hurt worse than what appeared to be bruises. "Sonia… are you alright…" He ground out before losing consciousness.

"Bartleby!" Sonia cried. She saw blood trickling down his head. "Bartleby! Help!"


Sonic and Manic reached the mansion just in time to witness the explosion. "Sonia!" They screamed rushing to the site.


The dark figure watched with sadistic delight as the mansion collapsed. "So ends the tale of another traitor. Shame about the princess but… all's fair in love and war."


AN: Reviews appreciated!