Bunnie knelt over the fifth to last prisoner in cart sixty-nine, level five. She quivered as she dug the toe of her roboticized foot beneath the wrist band of a young eagle. Her hinges hissed as her foot pulled up and the wrist band snapped free. She went on to the next wrist.

Five levels. Ten Mobians on each level. Only five Mobians left to go—and then she had to make the hole leading out of the cart. She had just enough acid in her blaster left.

"Where will we go?" the eagle asked. He stared up at her with desperation in his eyes, his feathers slicked against his body with sweat.

Bunnie grunted. "Since you're winged, ya'll be able to get into the forest an' fly above to see where the nearest town is—only once you're far away from here though. It's gonna be up to you an' the other winged Mobians t' make sure people know where to go. Think ya can do that?"

He nodded. "Yes—yes I can."

"Thank you, honey," Bunnie said.

"Ma'am?" The eagle asked. "Are you sure we can make it?"

"Sure we can," Bunnie said, flashing him a smile. She could not remember how many times she'd been asked this. "You'll have to wait your turn, but I've got a blaster on this arm and a couple slugs left, so we'll sure try-"

Shots cracked through the air. Bunnie froze. The freed Mobians, waiting in their places all let out cries of fear.

"Is it a firing squad?" a Mobian horse whispered.

"What's happening?"

Bunnie and several Mobians rushed to the single crack of fresh air and peered outside into the dark. Bunnie closed one eye and made a face.

Rotor's head popped up from the bottom level. "B-Bunnie—it's Sonic, Bunnie! Sonic is here—the combots are all—all running to him—"

Bunnie whipped about and stared at Rotor, her green eyes wide. "Bless mah stars," she hissed out. She turned back to crack and pressed her face against it. She lifted one of her large Mobian rabbit ears.

She could hear someone shouting.

"My planet's s'gonna be free, Robotnik!"

Bunnie smiled.

"He is here," she said.

All throughout the cart, on every level, loud whispers began to hum and bright eyes began to flash.

"Did you hear that? Sonic is here—Sonic, the hedgehog—he's here now—!"

"Our Sonic? The Ringweilder?"

"We're saved for sure! Sonic the hedgehog—I used to eat at his grandfather's diner every weekend!"

"I passed him on the street every day—I knew he had it in him—he's here to rescue us!"

"Sonic!" Zoey gasped on level three, blushing hard. "We're saved—"

On level five, Bunnie turned around on her knees, facing the Mobians in the cart. She scrambled back to the eagle and wedged her foot beneath his ankle band. "Rotor—ya'll—spread the word! Everyone stay in line an' get ready, 'cause we're gonna move out in ten minutes!"


Author's Note:

Thanks for all the encouragement last week, guys! You all are the best and the reviews make my day. :) Enjoy!

~April/Connie