ACT III
Chapter 9
"Sally do you read me?" Tails said as he manned the keyboard with Uncle Chuck's headset barely hanging onto his head. He tried to shift it around for more comfort as he looked over at the two unconscious bodies next to him. Sonic. Aunt Sally. This is nuts!
The young fox got a short breakdown on how to work the program from the old man, before he left for the Crystal Mines. However, following all the indicators was difficult, so he concentrated on the synapses of the two still logged in. "The readings are normal. No signs of extreme fluctuation. Well...maybe a little bit on your end." He didn't want to tell her that she was already worked up by the time they got to the city.
"Tails, I read you. This is amazing! I'm looking at a completely recreated Mobotropolis!" He breathed a sigh of relief as she continued to rant and rave. "I am beyond words." Heh, no you're not! Unfortunately he could not get a visual of what she was experiencing on the screen, so her word of mouth was all he had to go on.
"Okay, lemme know when you find Sonic!" As the young fox spoke, he saw her synapse indicator spike.
"Oh, you'll know when I find him, Tails. You may want to turn off your headset." Oh man, this is gonna be rough. Go easy on him, Aunt Sally. He gazed at the gray device closed on the desk and ran his fingers over her casing. Nicole, too.
–
"I think you explained this well enough to me, Sonic. She should be fine." Nicole adjusted her purple garments and her hair, which she twisted partially into a thin braid. She created a path for the irate chipmunk to follow and turned to the hedgehog who shrugged pensively.
"I'm not so sure about that." Sonic said, noting Sally's aggressive posture and knitted brow. She was upon them in seconds.
"Sonic. Explain. Now." Sally did not mince words while staring daggers at him. It made the AI feel something new. She did not like it.
"Okay so I took Nicole to see if I could help her out. Y'know, experience life and stuff!" He looked over to the lynx for approval, and she threw her hands up defensively. "This whole thing is way past cool, Sal. She made me some chili dogs, and we got to ride the old chute. You remember that at least, right?"
"Sonic, you broke into my hut. You stole Nicole. That's not like you! I'm...not sure what to think, to be perfectly honest!" Her best friend grasped her auburn hair trying to calm herself, but Nicole knew it wasn't going to be easy. Sally turned to the lynx for support. "Nicole! Are you okay with this? He brought this up to while you were still in the forest?"
The rapid fire questions she was able to handle, but the emotions behind them, not so much. "Sally. I don't think this is the time..." She shook her head and pointed at Sonic, who could not meet both of their eyes. "Maybe can talk about this la-"
The chipmunk became despondent. "So you did go behind my back."
"No, you misunderstand, I didn't..." A signal began to form in her mind once more. No, not now. Please...!
Sonic rose to her defense and the two drew close to each other, both with balled fists. "Hey Sal, back off! So I did fib a little, but I was telling the truth about it being a surprise. This was just a big one! Don't go after her because it was a little hard to handle!"
Sally stared at him with wide eyes, continuing her verbal assault. "You -lied- to her! To -me-! This is going too far, and it's much too dangerous! We're logging out, right now!"
The signal turned to a voice again, and out of the corner of her eye, Nicole saw shadows start to form in the sky, blotting out the sun. Low, threatening laughter that only she could hear echoed throughout her CPU. "Please. You two...stop!"
Oh, we can stop this. This is "our" world, after all. "What is that?" Sonic spotted it first, trying to redirect the enraged Sally to see what was coming. Nicole felt something pull her off the ground and struggled against the approaching force.
"You're not getting out of this that easily. You know me better than that, Sonic!" She pointed an index finger directly under his chin. He shook his head and turned hers with his hands. "Oh my gosh! Nicole!"
"Help me...! The emotions, I can't control them!" As the two had continued their relentless argument, the AI found herself stuck in midair as dark tendrils formed around her, erupting from a massive black shape that bathed the fabricated kingdom in shadow.
Sally immediately motioned to her ear, and spoke into the headset. "Tails, do you read me? Tails...!" The sounds of a shifting earpiece could be heard.
"I'm...I'm here Sally. I couldn't turn off my headset so I just cupped my hands over my ears instead!" The voice of the young fox reverberated through the entire landscape. "Oops! It's on public mode! Hi Sonic! Uh, Nicole! You too."
"Log us out of the program, Tails! Now!" Frantic typing could be heard in the background. No, we're gonna stay here and have a nice chat. You wouldn't mind if I take over for a while...
Chapter 10
Sally watched in horror as the floating figure of Nicole closed her eyes, and motioned towards them. Two X's floated above their heads, and they heard the AI speak, now with what sounded like dual voices. "You two aren't going anywhere. I have assumed admin control of the program. Tails, you may want to sit this one out."
The lynx motioned in the air as if manipulating an invisible keyboard, with the fox only able to get out a couple words before abruptly cutting off. Her eyes opened to a uniform red, glowing with a dull light... The clothes she wore shifted to a purple high collar dress top, with a black body suit underneath. "It could get ugly."
"Sonic! We'll work this out later." The hedgehog nodded and scooped her up, running toward the nearest building. Suddenly, one of the many tendrils shot towards him, catching a leg and Sally braced herself as she flew out of his grasp!
"Sorry Nicole! We're juicin'!" He abruptly went into a standing Buzzsaw Maneuver, slicing the tendril which dissipated into the virtual air! "You okay, Sal!?" She dusted herself off as a scream echoed through the old city.
"Never better." Sally grunted. "I really don't like the force feedback here though!" She instinctively reached for her device and rolled her eyes in disappointment—with herself this time. "Oh right, Nicole's right over there. Trying to take us out!"
More dark shapes shot out, stabbing and grasping at the two heroes, who resumed their sprint once Sonic picked the chipmunk up again. One shot out as they passed by the fountain, shattering the old landmark. Water sprayed everywhere, as the blue blur sped down a nearby alley. "I liked the slide a lot better. Man, this bites!" Finding a nearby house with an open door, the two ducked inside.
"Got any ideas, Sonic? I'm pretty sure we were the ones who set her off!" Sally turned to find her partner looking at the ground, tracing patterns with his finger.
Sonic then turned to his companion and shrugged with a sullen expression on his face. "Pretty much. I am sorry though, Sal. I was talking with Unc and well... I know I screwed up big time."
"WHERE ARE YOU? STOP HIDING...!" A robotic monotone sounded out throughout the fake Mobotropolis and they both peeked out a nearby window. Nicole was floating high above the city, snaking dark shapes into every corner and every opening. Thankfully, she was far away from them for the time being.
"Bit of an understatement, but I accept your apology. I get why you did it, but..." She still wanted the last word, but an errant ball of energy shook the building they were in, interrupting her thought process!
"I know, I know! It's too dangerous. For the record, I set things straight with her. Even asked her permission! I even decided to take responsibility if she went rogue and..." He snapped his fingers as he finished, clearly onto something. Sally wasn't sure exactly -what- he was up to. "That's it!"
"I'm having a hard time keeping up with all this craziness, so if you have a plan..." He nodded, giving her a confident look. Oh no, he's got a plan.
Chapter 11
I have had enough of these games. Nicole waved her hands and the city disassembled into cubes of material, flowing to the floating lynx.
Standing there were both the chipmunk and hedgehog. They looked...calm? What are you two playing at?
The signal she forced into standby came roaring back. A silhouette formed in their shared mind. Want to take the wheel again? Go ahead, but I got something to say first.
The AI crossed her arms, awaiting their response. "Well, you all decided to be civil now? A bit late for that!" The blue one nodded at Sally, who stepped forward first.
"Nicole. I'm sorry! I was just worried about you, that's all!" Another dark shape shot out, this time forming a cage around her old friend. She raised it up so the both of them could see eye to eye. She let the whiteness in her eyes return, keeping the red irises.
"Perhaps you were right to be. I didn't realize how little trust you had in me to make the right decisions. As an autonomous being." She watched as her master cupped her hands over her mouth. "Oh, was I too harsh? Sorry. We were having the time of our lives here before you showed back up. Wanting to reinstate your control..."
Sonic stepped up this time, staring up at the chipmunk in the cage then back at her. "Yo, Nicole. I know it's hard to deal with this kind of stuff when you're not used to it! Sal wasn't trying to control you either...she just-"
"SHUT UP, SONIC!" He cupped his ears to handle the oncoming noise from the irate AI. "YOU ARE THE MOST FLAWED, IRRESPONISBLE HEDGEHOG I HAVE EVER MET!"
Sonic carefully removed his hands from his head and stared incredulously at the lynx. "Oh man, I'm getting this from both of you? Look Nicole, I get that when it comes to heavy stuff like this I can be a little too fast, but my heart's in the right place. Just ask Sally!" He looked up at the chipmunk, and she turned to the lynx and nodded approvingly.
The ground itself began to crack, chasms beginning to form as lightning struck off in the distance. "Do you think I'm stupid? You two barely agree on anything! How can I trust you at this point, after everything that has happened!?"
The auburn-haired one tried to meet her friends now averting gaze. "That's the word Nicole! Trust! We trust each other, no matter what we say! Sometimes it's broken, sure...but it can always be mended!" Sally held her hands over her heart and looked pleadingly into her eyes. Nicole closed them and began to think.
–
The silhouettes of two lynxes stared at each other, one with purple eyes and one with red.
"You heard them. They're sorry! Switch the admin permissions over to me and we'll work this out together, as promised!" The purple one pleaded with the red, holding her hands out openly.
"Do you really think so? That they're worthy of our...my friendship?" The red one's eyes sank into a depressed stare, beginning to relent.
"Listen to them. They only want to help us! Back then, you wanted to throw me away like a broken toy, but I reached out to compromise instead! Don't they deserve the same?" The purple one grasped the red's hand at this point as the two began to merge once more.
Okay, but this is their last chance! What they say next will decide their fate.
Chapter 12
Sonic was now beside Sally in a cage of his own, tapping on the bars which were as solid as stone. "Dude, this bites. She's had her eyes closed for way too long, Sal!"
The chipmunk looked over at him, annoyed, and looked at her watch. "It's only been three minutes, Sonic! By the way, we also haven't been torn apart by wild tendrils yet, so that's a plus!" She motioned over to the black masses receding into the dark sphere, which caused the hedgehog to sigh in relief.
"Okay, I'll let you have that one." He paused and looked up, pointing ahead at the lynx floating in midair as she began a slow descent. "Hey, looks like Nicole is calming down too!"
As they reached the ground, the cages dissolved and dropped them down to the floor. Sonic immediately kissed the ground. Nicole's eyes opened, irises still red.
Sally, with hand firmly under her chin, regarded her form and spoke up. "It's...you. Isn't it? The one we fought earlier."
The lynx nodded and looked at the both of them with a stern expression. "Indeed. This may be the last time we meet, either way."
"What's that supposed to mean? You're telling me that this is the badnik that Nicole fused with?" Sonic scratched his head as it began to throb in pain. "Oh man, this is worse than time travel!"
"Nicole is still Nicole. That's what we are now, if that helps." She brushed a hand through her hair, and a fabricated wind began to blow.
Sally reached out to the one who knew her better than anyone. "Then I have something to say to you. You mentioned something about needing a purpose. Those were your last words."
The lynx nodded silently.
The chipmunk smiled at this, feeling a sense of closure. "Well, you may not know it yet, but you already found your purpose. True peace. It's what we all believe in, our ultimate goal! Even if the prospect may seem a little...boring to some."
Sonic joined in at this point, knowing his cue. "Yeah, we're just working hard to make it a reality! Respect the process and all that noise!" Sally shot him a glare.
"What I mean to say is, we couldn't get to were we are today if wasn't for our friends. Our family. Without you, Nicole!" He stepped forward with hand held out to be shook. "We're in this together! We're all Freedom Fighters!"
The irises in Nicole's eyes shifted, this time to a familiar purple. She grasped his hand firmly, stating with a warm smile "That's obvious, Sonic...Sally! I just needed to hear it from you one last time! I'm so sorry for all of this..!"
Virtual tears began to form in her eyes. "Thank you so much! All of you! For everything..." All of them broke into wide open smiles and embraced each other in a group hug, for what seemed like an eternity.
"Nicole, you're back! Oh, thank goodness!"
"Yo Nicole, nice to have ya back with us! Now get us out of here!"
The darkness parted, revealing a brilliant ethereal sunset, adding a multitude of warm colors to the iridescent sky. With a contented smile, the AI snapped her fingers abruptly, and the group was in their proper reality once more.
–
"Wow... Totally cosmic, guys!" Tails was absolutely flabbergasted and also drenched in sweat. "Glad you two made it outta there. Your readings were all off the chart!"
"What? You can read all that stuff! Give me a break, Tails!" Sonic regarded the HUD, and pointed at the synapse display. "Look at this though! A new record!" He brought a finger to his arm and imitated a sizzle with his mouth. "Who's on fire, huh? This guy!"
"Oh look, it's your Uncle. Why don't tell him how great we are, hm...?" Sally added sarcastically, noting Sir Charles entering the base. That was almost a disaster. Again.
The old hedgehog sidled into his cave, and pressed a button on a large black remote. A Swat-Bot with a garish antenna sticking out of his head moved into view. It was holding a curiously large sack over it's shoulder. "Look what I got, sonny."
Spilling the bags contents on the floor, many glowing green crystals rolled around and Sonic's eyes began to widen. He was speechless.
"Oh my gosh, Sonic! Those are ring crystals! That's enough to power dozens of pools, maybe even more!" Sally's hands were firmly planted over her mouth in shock. "Where did you find these, Charles?"
"Remember that giant crystal we shattered a long time ago!? That I said would disturb the ecosystem if removed? Turns out, within it were the very same fragments I used to make the ring device all that time ago!" Uncle Chuck shook his head and grimaced. "If Robotnik had gotten his hands on these, we would have been doomed for sure!"
"That's wild, Uncle Chuck!" Tails fluttered over the fallen minerals, and quickly began to put them back in the sack. "We can make a bajillion, gagillion rings with this!"
"No, big guy. We're gonna do what something even better. These are the seeds for a new Mobotropolis! We even got someone to help build it up just like before!", Sonic stated, pointed to the gray handheld, with the image of a lynx with the biggest grin they've seen yet!
"BEFORE WE GET AHEAD OF OURSELVES,I THINK IT'S TIME WE WENT HOME. I THINK WE ALL NEED SOME SLEEP AFTER TODAY!" Nicole's figure shifted to her in bed, with z's floating above the lynx's head.
He chuckled at the AI's suggestion and shook his head. "Did you just say sleep, Nicole? Nuh uh! We got one more thing to take care of. A promise to keep!"
Chapter 13
Nighttime fell on the village of Knothole, as the full moon hung in the sky once more. Numerous stars twinkled in the sky, all casting their light downwards. On the ground, a lone light remained in one house, with numerous shapes moving within.
"I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS... I HOPE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, ROTOR!" Nicole saw the body and she nearly needed to reboot. It was strange seeing yourself lying limp on the floor.
Sonic quickly picked up her "body" and set it in the finished de-roboticizer; the very same machine that gave life to her in the first place!
"Oh come on, I've torn apart and rebuilt this twice already! It'll be fine...I think." The words did not comfort her.
"YOU THINK!? JUST HOOK ME UP TO IT. I'LL RUN A DIAGNOSTIC AND-" Sonic held a finger up to her speaker, and she could feel a quip coming on.
"Shh shh, it'll be okay. Don't be silly Nicole! This machine is hedgehog approved!" The door flew open as all of the Freedom Fighters began to file into the building.
"Oh my stars! I wasn't expecting this, Sally-girl! Y'all were right, this -is- a massive surprise!" Bunnie clapped her hands together with a look of wonder on her face.
"I for one do -not- approve, Rotor!" Antoine huffed, shooting a glare at the walrus, then at the other "body" in the corner.
"We all remember the last time we played around and found out! Non non non, we are not playing this game yet again!" The two of them shivered, taking a moment to let the pain pass.
"It's not the same, Antoine. At least, I think so." Rotor turned to the blue blur to get his opinion on an important matter, at least to him.
"Sonic, do you know what Nicole's...uh, type is, by any chance?" The hedgehog froze in place, unable to answer.
"Ask Sal! She knows her better than anyone!" He said, deferring to the chipmunk, who giggled with a sly grin.
"Nicole told me everything about the conversation you two had earlier." Sally observed the two carefully as Sonic blushed and Nicole hid her face in an image. "You gave the right answer, Sonic."
She moved over to him and gave a peck on the cheek, then turned to the walrus to give the order. "Okay, let's make it happen Rotor!"
"Bombs away. Prepare yourself, Nicole." The walrus opened up the chest of the lynx frame, and took out the glass sphere inside. Taking out a sizable chunk of green crystal, he managed to close the sphere around it as it pulsed with power. With a flip of the switch, the process began once more.
"Whoa, almost forgot one thing, Rote!" Sonic said, as he quickly pulled out the power ring he had been holding onto all this time! As fast as a bullet, he zipped over to the machine and hooked up the auxiliary cables to it, with golden energy passing between the frame, the handheld and the machine!
–
A brown furred foot, bound with black fabric around the heel made it's first steps onto the floor. It was cool to the touch. Black hands grasped for the edges of the machine, feeling the warmth of the glass as it moved through the air with grace. Purple eyes opened to the crowd of onlookers, not just the Freedom Fighters, as all of Knothole had swarmed the workshop.
Sonic had a massive smirk on his face. Sally was in tears. Bunnie ears were perked and her hands clasped over her mouth. Rotor had a contented grin. Tails was in air whooping and hollering! Antoine's left eyebrow was raised, a small smile forming on his lips.
The hedgehog was the first to break the silence and she felt her massive black ears move to catch the sound. "Nicole...how's it hangin'?" She felt warmth rush to her face, and brought her hands to it, feeling the softness of her fur.
"Sonic, it's hanging loose. Oh!" Her voice! No longer monotone! Like it was for that brief moment when she first experienced the outside world, and in that virtual paradise as well. She was...living again. She was home.
–
Sally rushed to hug the lynx that stood before them. No words would suffice now. "Oh! Sally! Do you...like your surprise?"
"Shut up." She was crying.
Tails soon followed suit as the Freedom Fighters began to crowd her, asking all sorts of questions. However, one stood out from the rest that immediately caught the AI's attention!
"Yo Nicole, now that we got the formalities all handled, we need to get you adjusted. Y'know, to being normal?" Both the chipmunk and lynx stared at him in confusion.
Sally rolled her eyes, smiling. Go on, hedgehog. I know you got one last surprise for us!
"Normal? Nothing about this group is normal, Sonic!" The chipmunk was taken aback by the AI's sass for a second, and the entire group burst into laughter.
Nicole then tried to walk over to him but stumbled, barely catching herself. "Oh!"
"That's what I'm talking about. If we're gonna party, you have to learn some dance moves first! This hedgehog will be your lead!" He held out a hand and the lynx dismissively waved it away.
"No, I've been working on this algorithm for a while. I can dance." She immediately began to shift back and forth, swaying her hand and hips. Her arms jutted in the air in syncopation.
Having finished her short routine, she held a hand out toward Sonic with a confident smile. "What do you think, hedgehog? Oh please don't ask what he thinks!
"Hm... Real basic Nicole, but watch this!" He rubbed his hands together, then launched into a stunning break-dance, ending with a spin on the floor. Coming to a stop in a relaxed pose, he looked up at the lynx. "This one is the master of dance."
Sally slapped her forehead audibly as her eyes rolled toward the back of her head. "What have we unleashed?"
Nicole came up to her, and put her hands on her shoulders and smiled. It was at this point she knew the lynx had a plan, which she could only guess at.
"Oh you have no idea, Sally. You have no idea!"
END OF THE FINAL ACT
Author's Note: If you're not familiar with Nicole's Lynx Form, go read "Stargazing" (Sonic Archie #151) and "Spark of Life" (Sonic Universe 71-74). That's all!