Well it looks like that this might be my last chapter before I leave for a week in March. I will at least get started on the next chapter before then though so that it won't be long after I get back that I'll get it up. Until then, enjoy this next chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own any Sonic characters

Some time passed by before Sonic was able to return to Uncle Chuck's place. Just because he had escaped one group of SWATbots didn't mean that the rest were just gonna stop their patrols. But eventually he was able to get back to his uncle's hideout. As he arrived, he gave the secret knock and Chuck opened the door for him. When he reentered Chuck's residence, he could see Tails and Bunnie were napping in makeshift beds made of old mattresses that he had found abandoned around the city. There were even a couple more vacant mattresses there, likely for Sonic and Sally.

Sally was currently sitting at the surveillance monitors but as Sonic entered, she sighed in relief.

"Sonic thank goodness you're back. We were getting worried when you didn't show up," she said.

Sonic laughed in triumph and said, "Well I'm not used to moving at a snails pace Sal. But when I do, it's done to outsmart those dumb old SWATbutts. They can't even catch a cold let alone a slow moving hedgehog."

Sally hid her amusement of Sonic's little boasting and went back to focusing on the monitors. Sonic watched this and let the smile fade from his face. He looked back at Bunnie and Tails who were both sound asleep and then back at Sally who was still watching the monitors. She'd barely had any sleep the past couple of days and it must have been taking a tole on her. It didn't feel good to him and it certainly wasn't healthy for Sally to continue carrying on like this. She needed to get some rest now before she started losing her mind.

"Hey Sal why don't you take a break from there and get some sleep as well?" Sonic suggested gently as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

Sally shrugged him off and said, "I'm fine Sonic. We still have some other creatures to worry about. And with Robotnik and Harvester targeting us the way they are, it'll be hard to get to them. All of them have to be stopped."

She tried to hide a yawn, but it failed.

Sonic shook his head and said, "Come on Sally. You barely slept the other night and we were sleeping in shifts last night. You're not fine. If you keep going like this you could hurt yourself or someone else."

Sally groaned in frustration and said, "Fine Sonic if it makes you feel better I'll go get some rest. Happy now?"

She got up from the monitors and walked over to a vacant mattress and lied down on it, but didn't close her eyes. She saw Sonic observing her and turned away from him. She knew that he was right, but she was used to being more right than him and she didn't want to admit that he was right this time and not her. But she gave into the temptation and let her eyes slide shut and her breathing quickly became soft and silent as she feel into deep slumber.

Chuck looked at Sonic and said, "Why don't you get some rest too Sonic? I know that both of you are tired from all that's happened since last night and today. We don't need the two of you to be getting at each other's throats."

Sonic sat back in a chair and said, "I will in a bit Uncle Chuck. I do want to make sure that there's nothing unusual out there before I do."

Sonic was going to look at the monitors as well, but Chuck stopped him.

"Uh uh Sonic. The two of you have been getting agressive with each other and it's likely due to sleep deprivation in the both of you. If you don't sleep you get angry. I'm only saying this because I care about you guys. And don't worry about the cameras. I'll keep an eye on them," Chuck said in a fatherly tone to Sonic.

It was here that Sonic could feel his lack of energy getting to him. His muscles were beginning to ache and it was getting hard for his eyes to stay open. Finally deciding that Uncle Chuck was right, he got up from the seat and lied himself down upon the last remaining mattress and began snoring as he fell asleep.

Chuck watched the four of them as they slept. He figured that the four could use a few hours and turned his focus to the monitors once more. Thankfully for him, he didn't have to worry about sleep. That was the one positive thing about being a robot. It allowed him to remain awake for an unlimited amount of time and he couldn't feel fatigue at all. It allowed him to get much done in as little time as possible without taking any shortcuts either. He'd let them rest and he'd do all the work as they got some much needed sleep.

It was almost nightfall when Bunnie and Tails finally stirred from their own slumber. Their journey along with the heat had sapped most of their energy and they had been dead tired once things had finally calmed down a little. They couldn't even imagine how things must have been for Sonic and Sally through all the stuff that had happened to them through the night. Bunnie looked over at a still sleeping Sally and decided to leave her and Sonic alone. She even told Tails to do the same.

"How are the two of you feeling?" asked Uncle Chuck as he looked back at them.

Bunnie said that she was fine and Tails did the same as Bunnie came over to join Chuck at the monitors. Tails watched the monitors from behind the two of them in wonder.

"What are you guys looking at?" Tails asked.

Chuck motioned towards the monitors and said, "From here I can examine much of Robotroplis. I can see what Robotnik is up to and I can find all sorts of items I think could be helpful in the fight against him. You'd be surprised by all the useful stuff he has lying around."

"Not very observant is he?" Bunnie asked jokingly.

Chuck laughed a little and said, "Not really. Never was to be honest. The man has an IQ of over three-hundred and he can't even see it when we improvise weapons against him from all the old junk he leaves lying about."

"So what are we looking for right now?" asked Bunnie.

"Same old same old Bunnie. Anything that Robotnik is up to and weapons. However I'm also on the lookout for any unusual creatures like those things you kids have been fighting," Chuck said.

They continued for a little while and Tails watched from behind the two of them. But as he looked up at a monitor in the upper right corner, he spotted something unusual moving around alright.

"Hey. What's that thing?" Tails asked and pointed at the monitor he was currently looking at.

Both Bunnie and Chuck turned their heads and they saw what Tails was looking at. On the monitor was what looked like a skeletal bird with a very translucent skin, displaying some of it's inards. Instead of feathers, it had fur all over the areas where it's skin was thicker and it was wandering around. It scratched at the ground and sniffed wherever it walked. It's mouth was similar to a bird's beak, but as it opened it's mouth they saw that it had crooked teeth. Not like a real bird at all and Bunnie was betting that it didn't eat worms or bugs.

Eventually it ended up at the camera and looked at it from empty eye sockets. At least the sockets looked empty from what they could see, but it must have been able to see as it looked straight into the camera itself. It opened it's ugly mouth and then bit into the camera, making it static.

Bunnie stood up and asked, "Where was that thing located at?"

"Near the old museum of art," Chuck answered.

Bunnie knew exactly where that was. She nodded and got up from her seat.

"Going out there to fight it Aunt Bunnie?" Tails asked.

Chuck knew there'd be no talking her out of it and said, "You be careful out there little lady. There's no telling what that thing could do to you. I'll keep an eye on the thing from here."

"I've already learned that lesson once. I don't intend to repeat it," Bunnie said as she recalled just how she had been ambushed by Harvester and enslaved.

Chuck gave her an ear piece so that he could keep in contact with her as he changed cameras to keep a lookout for the monster. She clipped the piece to her ear and walked out of Chuck's hideout, making sure that she closed the door as she left. Once she was sure the hideout was secure, she went out into the city and using the street signs she was able to map out her path towards the museum. Since most of Robotnik's forces were still searching for Sonic, there was less opposition out in the city this time around. Still though, she proceeded with caution cause there were still enemies out and she wasn't just talking about the security and SWATbots.

It didn't take too long to arrive at the museum, but couldn't see the bird thing anywhere around her.

She pushed a button on her ear piece and said, "Chuck it's me. I'm at the museum but that bird brain isn't here. Can you see him anywhere? Do you read? Over."

"I read you Bunnie. Yeah it's moved into the museum now and is in one of the sculpture wings. That area is a dead end. If you move in now you can trap it in there and take it out. Over," Chuck answered back.

Bunnie nodded and said, "I'm moving in on it then. Over and out."

She released the button on the ear piece and went into the museum. She moved quickly as she had to rush towards the hall before the thing could leave it. But as she went she couldn't help but take a look around at the various paintings and statues as she passed by.

She had been only five years old at the time of Robotnik's coup, but she could still remember what the museum was like in it's hay day. It had been a very beautiful place. All the wonderful paintings and marvelous statues that once stood and hung in the museum glorious halls had been a wonderful sight. Even during the Great War when Overlanders had gotten into the city, they had left the museum untouched. She figured that they too must have seen the beauty in all these works of art and spared it from harm.

But now things were very much different. All the once beautiful paintings that hung in the halls were now torn to shreds or were gone completely. And the majestic statues that stood over spectators were either now crumbling, completely smashed, or simply knocked over. It hurt her to see art like this being tarnished so bad. Real treasures that Mobians had poured their hearts and energy into were now gone and others were tarnished.

Just gave her another reason to hate Robotnik.

She pushed on towards the sculpture hall. The sculpture hall had been one of the newest things added to the museum by the time of the coup. It was where they displayed the newest artwork that Mobians, both young and old, had created and there it would be decided if it was good enough to be placed in the museum. Contrary to the hall's name it wasn't just for sculptures, but also paintings and pottery as well.

Despite her memories of the museum, she still had to follow the signs that pointed her towards the hall. She knew she had to be getting close to it though. If the abundance of old signs weren't enough to tell her that, she could at the same time hear some odd noises coming from that area of the building. A combination of squeals, hisses and scratches as she could hear something wandering around in there. As she arrived at the hall, Bunnie moved more slowly as her metallic feet could give her away as she walked along. She quietly peered around a corner and she could see the thing in the room, flapping it's furry wings and letting out another squeal that sounded nothing like a birds.

She pulled back and took a breath as she turned away from the hall. Just looking at the thing was enough to freak her out and she waited for her pulse to calm down some before preparing herself for the fight. Just as she was about to charge in there, she suddenly heard the creature flapping it's wings once more and the room and the creature fell silent completely. What could it be doing in there? Deciding that now would have to be the right time to face it, she popped out from around the corner and readied herself. However, save for the remains of the old exhibits and some broken benches, there was nothing in the room.

What had happened and where did the thing go? There was no way it went past her and this was the only way in or out of the room.

"What the? There's no way it could have gone past me," she said as she wandered a little ways into the room.

But as she walked in, she heard the hissing sounds again. So it was still in the room and hadn't rushed past her. But now it sounded like the noises were coming from above her. She looked up and what she saw spooked her. She could see the bird thing and it was clinging to the marble of the ceiling. It hissed at her and using it's wings, it jumped from the ceiling and glided down towards her. As it flew down towards her Bunnie jumped up, spun around, and kicked the thing in the midsection. It flew backwards, but dug the claws of it's wings into the floor and this allowed it to slow down it's drag across the floor. Once the bird had come to a stop, it stood back up and faced Bunnie down.

The two just across from each other, just staring the other down. Waiting for someone to make the next move. The room and the rest of the building fell silent. The creature stopped it's hisses and squeals and no other living things were dwelling within the museum. It seemed as if the whole world had stopped and was waiting on these two individuals to continue their fight.

"I'm ready when you are. So why don't you make the first move sugar?" Bunnie said in a taunting manner.

The bird shifted it's feet and composed itself, getting itself ready to pounce. But Bunnie caught wind of what the creature was doing so she squated down and as the monster leaped right at her, she fell to floor and with one of her metallic feet she sent the creature flying into a pile of broken and jagged pottery. It shrieked as the broken pottery pierced it's body in multiple places as it rolled along the ground. But it merely pulled it's body back up and pulled the broken pottery back out with the claws at the end of it's wings. Each piece came out clean with no signs that the creature was bleeding.

'Looks like this one will be tougher than the rest of them. I best find some other way to do this,' she said in her head and peered around.

There was no way she could finish this thing off in here as this bird creature was not going to go down easy. It leaped at her again and gave it another roundhouse kick to the back and it fell forward once more. She spun around and ran out of the sculpture hall as fast as her feet would let her. She dashed down the nearest hall and checked all the signs that she passed along the way. She noticed some pointed towards a hall of old weapons so she decided to try there first. But to her disappointment, there were no longer any weapons to be found here. Probably taken by Robotnik and his forces after the coup.

She suddenly heard an even louder shriek as the thing started rushing in her direction. She looked at any other exhibit signs she could see and then she spotted one for the pottery exhibit. If her memory served her correctly there was a large room sized kiln in the back area near the pottery exhibit that was used in demonstrations for students of art. If it was still in good working condition, it would be a good way to dispose of this beast.

For the time being she waited right where she was for the thing to catch up to her. Her plan was to lure this creature and allow it to chaser her so that she could lead it to the kiln. She didn't have to wait long however as the creature crawled along the ceiling and got closer to her. Probably in an attempt to instill fear into it's prey.

'Perfect,' she said in her head.

She ran from her current spot and the creature jumped down to the ground and chased her along the ground once more. She was wasn't concerned this time though, because she knew exactly where she was going this time. She was at the very least glad that it moved about as fast as a normal Mobian with the exception of a certain blue hedgehog.

She quickly arrived at the pottery exhibit and waited for the thing once more. Within seconds it was rushing around the corner leading up to her and the exhibit. As it leaped for her once more, she kicked it down and it gave her a few seconds to move forward. Thankfully the way towards the back area was clear and she was able to gain easy access to the unauthorized sections of the museum. As she went, she noticed a sign for the kiln and knew that she was close to her destination.

The kiln itself was still intact as she arrived and she could hear the creature dashing down the hall and in her direction. She threw open the kiln door and walked right into it. As she looked in, she saw some sculptures and pots still sitting in there even after a full decade. She grabbed a couple of small crumbling statues and threw them to the ground in front of the door and smashed some pots there for good measure. After this was done, she ducked behind the door as the creature rushed inside. But once it's feet hit the broken pieces of clay and glass, it skidded on the ground and hit the opposite wall with a shrill shriek.

Bunnie then came out from behind the door and started exiting the kiln. But right before she was completely out, the creature recovered and grabbed her metal foot. It started pulling back on her leg and it attempted to drag her back inside. But Bunnie was prepared for this and slammed her other foot onto the creature's bony hand and it caused a loud crunching sound. It screamed again and with a second slam of her foot, the things hand came off and she kicked the beast back into the kiln. She pulled herself back up to her feet and the thing jumped at her once more and tried to hold the kiln door open and keep her from closing it. But she pulled back her metal fist and punched the thing square in it's skull like face and sent it flying back into the opposite wall. This time she slammed the door shut and locked the kiln tight.

It slammed into the door and started clawing at the viewing window and started shrieking once more. Bunnie merely smirked and flipped the kiln on from the outside and set it to full heat to last for several hours. The fires inside began to flare and cast the entire room and the hall in front of it in an orange glow as the entire room began to heat up from the flames. The creature itself stood too close to them and went up in flames rather easily as it's fur caught. It shrieked more loudly than it had before and desperately scratched at the window. But the window was designed and built to withstand temperatures of well over a thousand degrees, so the bird's efforts were futile. All at once the shrieks turned into gurgles and then they abruptly stopped as the creature took one last breath and then fell silent.

Bunnie watched the flames some more and breathed a sigh of relief. She turned away from the kiln and left it to continue flaring.

"Bunnie are you there? Are you okay?" came Chuck's voice in her ear.

She pressed the button on her communicator and said, "I'm here Chuck. I'm alright, over."

She could hear the relief in Chuck's breathing and he said, "Excellent. We were getting worried when we didn't hear from you. Report back here Bunnie. We'll wake Sonic and Sally soon and we'll move on from there. Over and out."

Bunnie nodded and began to leave the museum. Boy did she have a tale to tell the others.

Well another one bites the dust. Only three creatures remain. So what other monsters do they have to face. You'll see when I return from vacation.

Any comments or advice would be great to hear. See you folks soon.