Rotor's gaze darkened.

"What Rotor…?"

"Th-then we were all taken to be extracted…" Rotor said, his head bowed.

Bunnie blinked, sadness filling her gaze.

"Th-they…they needed more energy." Rotor pushed his hands into his pockets. "There were some good people there with me too…they put us in a line and filed us to the Mobium extractor and one by one they just…they strapped us all down and…and I thought I'd died."

Bunnie stared at Rotor.

"It's a miracle you found me," Rotor murmured. "It's a miracle they didn't f-finish me. They are usually pretty thorough…" he sighed. "It-it wasn't painful." But a look of fear still lingered in his gaze. "I…remember feeling like I was been sucked into—"

"A vacuum, Rotor?" Bunnie asked, her voice soft. "A whirlpool…? Quicksand…? Drownin' alive…?" She met Rotor's gaze. "Extraction is nuthin' you or your friends or any Mobian alive should have to experience…"

Rotor glanced up at her. He swallowed. "You've been extracted?"

Bunnie nodded once. For a moment, a small shiver ran along her live shoulder. "Ah was one of the hostages Robotnik took when he first made this city…the way it is now," Bunnie stared at the floor. "Most of us had it happen at least once…Sonic had it every few days…" she sighed. "One night, when we had to stay at the Underground, Ah heard him talkin' about it in his sleep."

Rotor swallowed. "I…wouldn't have guessed…he seems like the…the sort of p-person who laughs at danger…"

"Trust me, honey," Bunnie let out a low chuckle. "He is." Sadness filled her eyes. "Ah wish he'd just cry about it sometimes too. Ah felt so sorry for him, even then. He trah'ed t'be so brave for the rest of us. He's the one that saved me, ya know?" She flexed her metal arm. "Found a way to turn off the Roboticizer with me still in it."

Rotor watched her.

"You really care about him," he said, his voice low.

Bunnie did not respond. She bowed her head and her blonde bangs fell over her eyes.

"Of course, you would." He added quickly. "He's…he's a hero and a fighter…"

Rotor's gaze flickered. Like you.

"Ah'd be a mindless tin can if it wasn't for him," Bunnie tried to smile. "…Ah used to be mad. Thought bein' a mindless slave would be better than bein' a livin' freak." She shook her head to herself. "Finally Ah realized…Ah had this new body for a reason, an' maybe it had somethin' to do with tryin' to keep people like you and your unit alive." She smiled a little, sadness still in her eyes. "Ah didn't know them, Rotor, but Ah'm sorry. Ah'm sorry for everythin'…you bein' back here…you bein' stuck with me."

Rotor opened his mouth, then shut it, trying to shake his head. "N-no. I'm glad I met you. N-No matter what else happens—I—it's hard, but…but," he scratched the back of his head.

She gave him hope again.

"But…it's good," he finished, glancing away. "I'm…I'm glad you made me…talk."

Bunnie smiled.

Rotor and Bunnie sat in silence. Rotor coughed. He had held up well yesterday, probably because he was used to being forced to march and work, but now, he looked wasted away. The look that haunted all the living prisoners of that city.

"In fact…I'm the one that's s-sorry," Rotor said, his voice soft.

Bunnie's eyes were dim. She stared ahead, her eyelids half shut. "You haven't done anything wrong, sugah."

"I mean…I'm s-sorry…for the news…and for telling you all this now…when it's over. When it does no good knowing…" Rotor said.

The corner of Bunnie's mouth quirked up. "Rotor, darlin'," she said. "As soon as Ah can, Ah'm gonna tell them. If any of them are still alive, they're gonna know."

Rotor glanced up at her from beneath his few grey forelocks. "Wh-what?"

"Just you see, Rotor. The others are gonna know if it's the last thing Ah do." She lifted her chin in determination, shifting her weight. "Ah've been studyin' this cell…if Ah can just get to a radio….hmmm." She rubbed her chin with her good hand.

Rotor watched her, hesitating.

"Bunnie."

She looked at him, her green eyes wide. "Yes, Rotor?"

"I…" He looked away. "I'll try to keep…whatever it is…that you are thinking of d-doing…from being the last thing you do," he murmured.

Bunnie's eyes widened.

He let out a sharp breath of air.

What was it she had said back in that cart? When you see somethin'—or someone—that's worth it, you just…you just fight.

"What'd ya say, Rotor?" Bunnie asked, leaning closer to him.

"I-I…I said…" Rotor glanced around, his sea gray eyes brightening. "I—I'll help you."

Her face lit up.

"Well…that's awful decent of you, Rotor." She'd won and they both knew it. "'Bout time."


5/110/2019

Author's Note: Thanks for reading, guys! :D FINALLY Knuckles gets to show up! I hope you all like this version of him. Like all these characters, I've played around with them a lot from the originals. ;-) My first look at Knuckles was the Sonic Boom Knuckles (who is really really dumb) so I tried to give my version a little of that eccentric element, but still keeping his more classic hardcore personality. I love writing him so much. 3 I really hope I can finish this saga so I can tell his complete story arc. Anyway, thanks again and God bless!

~April/Constance