Chapter 36 PART TWO

Lord Robotnik, the Savior?

Sonic, for maybe the first time in his life, was at a loss for words. A shiver ran the length of his body that caused the quills on his back to stand up on end. His discomfort did not go unnoticed. "Is something wrong?" Simon asked with a raised eyebrow.

The electric, tingling sensation of an adrenaline rush had always been one of Sonic's favorite feelings. It usually drove him into action, overrode his fear and allowed him to run faster or fight harder than before. Now it was making him shake and temporarily deprived him of the ability to speak. He tapped his feet anxiously under the table. It had happened. Just as he had feared that it would. Eggman had left earth and had conquered another planet. All because of Sonic. Knuckles and Shadow were right. He enjoyed fighting Eggman too much. He had rested on the idea of defeating Eggman forever, never imagining that one day Eggman would leave and take his reign of terror somehwere beyond Sonic's reach.

"Eggman…" Sonic hissed with his fists clenched. "He…he took over?"

"Eggman? What is that?"

"Robotnik…"

Simon glanced at Flip in concern before responding. "Well yeah..pretty much. At first he seemed like another petty king with scattered supporters. His machines were neat and all but they could never match the power of the Imperial army. But that was before the Summer of Hidden Blade and the rise of the Iron Fist-"

"Shhh!" Flip put a hand to Simon's mouth to stop him from speaking. "Do you want to get us killed?"

"Where is he?" Sonic asked, his voice quivering with a mixture of fear and rage.

"The Emperor?" Simon looked completely bewildered now. "At the Imperial Palace I would assume, but why does that matter?"

Sonic pushed back his bench and rose to his feet. "Where are you going?" Flip snapped as he reached for Sonic's hand. Sonic evaded him and started for the tavern door. He would run straight to the Imperial Palace and put a stop to Eggman's reign within the hour. His abrupt exit caught the eye of many of the tavern patrons and they watched him suspiciously. The sentinel's red eye marked him. Sonic ignored them all and pushed the door open and stepped out into the sunlight.

He would just ask the first person to point him in the right direction of the Imperial Palace and settle things with Eggman once and for all. "What are you doing!" Simon had emerged out of the tavern and ran up to Sonic. His face was red and he was breathing hard.

"Where is the Imperial Palace?" Sonic demanded.

"The capital of course. Robotnik City, or Verdanina as it was called before."

"Which way?"

"Why?"

"I'm going there. I have to stop him."

"Stop him? Stop the Emperor?" Simon's voice dropped to a whisper. "Are you insane? Why would you go and do a thing like that?"

"He's from my world. He is my responsibility. I've let him come here and take over. I owe it to you all to save you."

"Save you?" Simon shook his head. "We've already been saved. Haven't you been listening? Robotnik saved us from the empire. It was failing. The empire was cruel even at the zenith of its power, but recently it was becoming completely intolerable. Rebellions were springing up everywhere. There was strife, war, famine and disaster. Lord Robotnik has fixed all of that. We've had peace for the first time in ages."

Sonic felt as if he had gone through the portal a second time. The breath was momentarily stolen from him. "Eggman…save…you…?" Sonic could not even string the words together. They felt completely anathema to one another, as opposite as hot was from cold.

"Yes," Simon whispered. He looked around to make sure none of the sentinels were in the area. "He's changed everything for the better. He may be a bit…paranoid but after everything the empire went through, who can blame him. I'm sure he will let up once his reign has had time to ingrain itself more."

Sonic could not believe what he was hearing. "I know him…" He insisted. "He's evil…I…I have to stop him."

Simon sighed in exasperation. "Maybe you really did hit your head? Can you hear yourself? Do you honestly think you can run straight to the Imperial Palace? I don't care how fast you are, you would never get near it. The Emperor has legions and legions of his sentinels and that doesn't even include his legions and legions of imperial soldiers. Now stop this crazy raving."

"I can stop him," Sonic insisted. "I've battled his armies dozens of times."

"Not here you haven't," Simon replied with a note of finality in his tone. "Come with me." He snatched Sonic by the arm and marched him into the plaza of the village. Booths were set up all around the central dais with the wolf statue. Vendors were selling wares to eager looking customers. Imperial soldiers and sentinels skulked through the crowds with their eyes narrowed, looking for thieves.

"A year ago you wouldn't see anyone here." Simon explained in a low voice. "No one could afford to trade except the guilds. They controlled everything and a man had to sell his soul if he wanted to get into one. The old empire taxed the provientals into poverty, turned their descendants into slaves and then put a cold foot down whenever anyone thought about grumbling. In the old empire it wasn't strange to see a parent sell a child just to keep a farm. Many people sold themselves into a few years of slavery to pay off a debt. Only problem was the interest was higher than their wages so a few years quickly turned into a lifetime."

Sonic and Simon watched as a hopeful looking squirrel child purchased a beaded necklace. She put it around her neck and took a picture with what appeared to be this world's equivalent of a smartphone. "The world of the old empire was one of desperation. The only coin that pushed a person up the social ladder was blood. But Robotnik has turned things around. He understood the errors of the old empire. Ultimate power doesn't belong just to anybody, it belongs to the best. He's proved himself to be that."

Simon moved on and Sonic followed after him. Every word the beaver said cut another tie to Sonic's hold on plausibility. "He didn't give a fig for the guilds or old family legacies. Robotnik has broken the stranglehold the top had on wealth and for the first time in the empire's history the playing field is even. Everyone has at least some chance at making something of themselves. People can actually go about their day with the genuine hope that tomorrow will be better."

They headed to the far end of the village. Simon pointed to a sturdy looking stone building which was encircled by sharpened fences and a dozen imperial soldiers. A line of villagers waited to file inside. "It was not uncommon to see at least one death at the tax office nearly every day," Simon continued. "The old empire taxed the tax burden of the provinces off to collectors. These collectors were incentivized to collect more than was needed so they could make an income. It was a nefarious but profitable arrangement often carried out by other provincials in order to decrease social ties and prevent anyone from joining together to rise up against the empire."

"The old emperors knew they could never stop the tax and while some tried to decrease the burden they never knew how to do so while maintaining the empire. That is what makes Robotnik's plan so genius. He has taken the time to document his empire, every person in it and what their trade was. Now people are not taxed into poverty but only give what they can, and not always in gold but on what their skills or their industry can provide."

"But you were trying to skip on the tax." Sonic argued. "That's why you wanted to keep quiet."

"Shhh!" Simon held a finger up to his mouth. His voice dropped to a whisper. "Ever since Robotnik arrived the empire has been flushed with new technologies. My tax burden is calculated based on when I will receive new tools. Flip and I…procured some of the new chain saws."

Sonic's frown made Simon's eyes narrow. "I never said I liked paying taxes, I said that Robotnik's are manageable. The empire has many problems, but the emperor isn't one of them. Before Robotnik Flip and I could look forward to nothing but meager lives of eating dust. Now we really have a chance to make something of ourselves. Sure we have to dance on the line a bit to get ahead, but it is not nearly as bad as it was before."

"I…I can't believe that. Eggman must be manipulating you or something. He never does anything out of generosity, he-"

"I didn't say he was," Simon interrupted. "We've had generous emperors before, we've had fatherly one's and we've had ones that wanted to be everyone's best friend. Weak emperors are almost worse than tyrants. Lord Robotnik is not weak. His power keeps our borders safe, it is the reason rebels and dissidents stay quiet. War hardly sounds worth it when you know you will lose. But Robotnik is not a tyrant, at least not in the traditional sense. He does not need to dominate others or lord his majesty over his subjects in order to feel better about himself. He is better. He is smarter. Why force your subjects to grovel, when your singular industry has created a world that allows them to prosper? Robotnik is the first emperor to be feared in equal measure that he is loved."

Simon shook his head, sighed and gave Sonic a pleading look. "I don't know what your story is. But if you really have come here to hurt Robotnik or stop his reign…I think it would be best if you left. I appreciate you saving me before…but if you insist…I will tell the imperials."

"I…" Sonic could not think of what to say. He had been so certain of his objective when he left, but now…Everyone else had told him not to pursue Eggman. Sonic had been so sure he was right it had been easy to ignore their protests. Now he was experiencing that same division again. No matter what Simon said or showed him, Sonic could not believe it. His heart would not allow him to accept that Eggman would ever rule benevolently.

Internally split on what to do or how to feel, Sonic closed his eyes and took a deep breath. I can't doubt myself, not now. Doubt was the one chain capable of slowing Sonic down. "Okay," He said after collecting himself. "I won't go straight to the capital. I'll stick around a bit and see how things are going. Maybe Eggman really has changed, but the Eggman I knew…he didn't create things…he destroyed them."

Simon smiled faintly. "Well, if you are going to stay here for a bit, you may as well stay with me. You won't find anyone more widely connected. Give me a week and I bet I can prove to you that the new emperor has made things better for everyone. Well…" Simon's expression darkened. "Some cannot help but find the shade when the sun is shining in full…" The rest of his sentence dropped to an incompressible grumble. "Come on then! Let's get you to the conscription officer."

Sonic allowed himself to be led towards the barricaded building. Instead of joining the queue going inside, Simon took Sonic to an adjacent booth. A broad hippo wearing several necklaces and colorful shawls sat behind a thick oak desk. The booth was guarded by three sentinels. ``What do you want, Simon?" The hippo groaned.

"Is that anyway to say hello, Delilah?" When his flattery only earned him a scowl, Simon ushered Sonic forward. "My friend here is new to District 13. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind signing him up."

The hippo gave Sonic a sidelong glance. "What province are you from?" She asked, while turning on a tablet.

"Fifteen!" Simon interjected when Sonic did not respond. "You know how it is up there. Practically a great wild frontier," Simon added with a laugh. "They aren't used to all this official business."

Delilah did not smile. She typed onto the tablet. "Name?"

"Uh…Knuckles?," Sonic answered lamely. It was the first fake name he could think of. He ignored Simon's quizicall expression and then stated firmly. "Knuckles the Hedgehog."

"Your last name is the Hedgehog?"Delilah's eyes narrowed. She looked suddenly interested and suspicious. After a moment, she shrugged and typed away on her tablet.

"So Deliah," Simon prompted. "How have things been for you since the new Emperor rose to power?"

The hippo raised her head and her beady eyes darted towards the sentinels. "What are you playing at?" She hissed.

Simon raised his hands in mock surrender. "It's just a question darling. My friend here has been wondering how things have gone since Robotnik rose to power." Simon nudged Sonic in the ribs who nodded in agreement.

Delilah frowned. "Six months ago I was an indentured servant. I took out a loan to go to school but the imperials wouldn't hire me because I was a provincial. The college came collecting and since I had no job to pay them off I had to trade my freedom. When Robotnik became emperor he issued an empire wide emancipation for all educated servants and put an end to servitude as a payment for debt. He changed everything for me. No one would turn me down because of where I was born, they only cared about what I could do."

Sonic's heart seemed to fill with lead as Deliah finished her story. His mind was torn on what to believe but his heart remained adamant. It had to be a trick or a setup. There was no way Eggman was simply making his new world a better place.

Delilah typed for another minute before turning her gaze on Sonic. "Occupation?"

"He is a freelancer at the moment," Simon answered with a smile.

Delilah frowned. "Freelancers have a stable six percent tax for their first year. Present earnings every quarter. If you don't report or you report your earnings incorrectly we will find out." She glared up at Sonic while she typed her last entry. "Now hold out your arm?"

Sonic hesitated but Simon nodded for him to proceed. He held out his harm and Delilah held her tablet over the bare patch of fur just below his wrist. A red light issued out of the tablet. Sonic felt a flash of hot pain and withdrew his arm. "Ow!" The burn had left a small black scorch mark on his flesh. Sonic looked closer and his stomach twisted. The burn was shaped in the insignia of Eggman's face.

"That will allow you to work and trade here for a year," Delilah continued. "Now if that is all, you can leave."

Simon put an arm over Sonic's shoulder and led him away. "Knuckles? I thought you said your name was Sonic?"

"It is, but I don't want anyone to know that. I told you, me and Robotnik come from the same world. If he finds out I'm here, he will come for me."

"You two had some kind of rivalry where you are from?"

"Yeah, that is one way of putting it. What is this by the way?" Sonic asked, indicating the mark on his skin.

"That is the Imperial Persona. It is not easy to maintain an empire of this size. It was Robotnik's idea to have every person marked and registered so that they could be taxed fairly and accounted for at census time." Simon held out his own arm and pushed aside the thick fur near his hand. Sonic saw the same red mark but slightly more faded. "Now come on, I'll show you my house and we can get some food."

Sonic's stomach audibly grumbled at the mention of food so he followed Simon eagerly. As they crossed to the far eastern end of the village, Sonic observed the people around him. Despite the many armed guards and roaming sentinels, Sonic could not deny that most people appeared at ease and happy. While on the surface the village appeared more primitive to even the smallest country town of the U.F, Sonic kept noticing hints of far more advanced technology.

A group of teenage cats were circled around a holographic moving image of what Sonic could only assume was a pop star of this world. The bracers worn by the Imperial soldiers were not simply antiquated pieces of armor, but communication devices. Sonic saw many of them raise their arms and speak softly into them.

The more he saw, the more he was filled with disbelief and confusion. Had Eggman really brought peace and security to all these people? A world controlled by Eggman was supposed to be made of metal and choked by furnaces. Machine engines were supposed to take over the mountains, every lake and river were supposed to be clogged with the runoff of his pollution. The sky was supposed to be black with smog and a perpetual storm was supposed to hover over the planet covering it in gloom and crippling every resident with fear.

While Sonic tried to wrap his brain around the dichotomy of expectation and reality, they entered the east quadrant of the village which clearly consisted of residential houses. The homes were simple with this world's trademark flair of sudden blossoms of advanced tech. What Sonic had taken as thatched straw from a glance he now realized were actually artfully made solar panels.

There were alleys between the houses where children played or the adults gathered to talk. Many people called out to Simon and he answered their greetings with enthusiastic waves. A group of small children had congregated by one of the larger houses and had brought buckets full of river water and sand. Sonic paused to see what they were doing. They were using the water to make mud clumps which they were adding to an already halfway finished monument. It depicted a portly man sitting on a tall throne. Sonic did not need to guess who it was. He recognized the physique immediately and its human character made the identity a dead giveaway.

Sonic was not surprised to see children making an idol of Eggman. He knew Eggman's vanity exceeded all boundaries. However, Sonic never would have expected to see children making an idol to Eggman and look so excited about it. Simon noticed Sonic had stopped walking and came back to stand beside him. He put his hands on his hips and exhaled. "Yes, the Emperor is a true hero to the children. Many of them would have been destined to join a failing legion only to die in some far flung corner of the empire, fighting for a nation they despised. Now they are eager to take up the sword. Mostly because doing so comes with very little risk. The whole world has already been conquered."

Sonic turned away from the sight. He wasn't sure how much more confused he could feel. "Come along, my house is near." Simon pointed to a short wood building closest to one of the perimeter walls. Sonic followed meekly after him. I should have waited for Tails. He had not wanted to put his friend at risk, but Tails would have been able to figure out what was really going on. Sonic did not understand politics or government. He knew nothing about tax policy and had no real way of evaluating what Eggman was up to. But if the people want him…who am I to say that's wrong?

They were almost at Simon's house when Sonic heard the unmistakable sound of moaning. Simon groaned in frustration as Sonic turned toward the source of the noise. Across from Simon's house, hidden between all the other houses was a broken down stone base. Like the temple Sonic had seen in the forest, it appeared as if its walls were pulled away leaving the base exposed and empty.

A group of cats, foxes and one towering tusked boar stood in the center of the broken remains. Unlike the rest of the villagers, these wore filthy rags which barely concealed their emaciated figures. The woman among them veiled their faces and clutched at their dresses while weeping loudly.

"Why did they have to pick today?" Simon grumbled.

The audible crying captured some attention from the children building the icon. They looked over but they were quickly distracted by their parents who rushed into the streets and moved their children along. Sonic watched the group with interest. The tall boar reached into his cloak and drew out a bronze pendant shaped like the sun. It glowed softly in the dusky gloom. "There is only one King of the Sun. Only one King of Eternal Flame!" The boar shouted suddenly. His voice cracked like a whip and boomed through the streets.

Simon grabbed Sonic by the wrist. "Come on. We don't want to see this."

"The false ruler has claimed a title that he has no right to," The boar continued. "When the clouds of darkness disperse the holy fury of the sun will burn away all that he has endeavored to build."

Sonic shrugged off Simon and walked towards the group. His approach caused several of them to cringe and step backwards. The boar's eyes narrowed and he lowered his arms. Behind their veils, Sonic could see the women watching him. Hate and fear was etched on their expressions. "Why do you approach us, Imperial?" The boar demanded.

"Sonic, come back!" Simon protested. He was staring down the street looking suddenly terrified. "Soldiers will be here soon, we should go!"

Sonic remained where he was. "Who are you? What happened to this place?"

"Imperials tore it down," The boar spat. "And do not play games with me. You know perfectly well who we are. Do you wish to test our faith and courage?"

"No…I…" Comprehension dawned on him at last. Sonic realized these must be the Thirteens that Flip had told him about. "You're Thirteens then?"

The woman hissed at him and the boar's expression contorted with rage. "You'd insult us to our face?"

"Sorry!" Sonic held up his hands in apology. "I only…I'm not from here. I don't know what this place is called."

The boar's chest swelled with pride. "This is the kingdom of Soleanna."

AN: I hope y'all are enjoying part two so far! Please feel free to leave a review if you have any feedback about the direction of the story