ACT III
Chapter 9
Everything was finally falling into place at last, and the Sally-bot could not contain her excitement, clasping her hands together and staring at the empty body in the modified roboticizer.
Rotor gulped and looked to her for some sort of answer...anything! "You gave all these strange directions, but I still don't get what the point of this is!"
She sauntered over to him and ran her hands over his yellow hat, snatching it from his scalp. "That's not your problem to worry about it, is it? If you want to live past the point of your usefulness, you would do good to remember that!"
She threw cap at him forcefully afterwards. Shielding himself with his claws, he still felt searing pain run through his hands! He was suddenly feeling more compliant. "OUCH! Y-yes ma'am."
Good boy. Oh, speaking of which... She motioned to an incoming feed from her Spy-Bot. "Our new guest is arriving. Rotor, be a gentleman and let the young man inside."
–
Iron gates opened for Tails in quick procession. As his form was enveloped by the darkness of the prison's interior, he could swear he could hear the sounds of a plane outside.
Hurry up and get here, guys! A single beam shot out from the flashlight he brought with him. How am I gonna handle this without anyone else!? No, Tails. You told Ant you had it handled! Just be cool, like Sonic! His feet scraped the floor of the prison and echoed throughout the rusty hallway as he proceeded further into possible danger.
As the amber one focused on the conspicuous glow on the far end of the prison, he felt a clawed hand grip his shoulder! "YIKES!", he shouted and spun around to face his attacker!
"Whoa whoa, Tails. Settle! It's me, Rotor. Did you bring the power stones?" Rotor had to shield his eyes from the young fox's bright light.
Tails nodded, rifling through his backpack to reveal two glowing "S"-shaped fragments, each glowing with unknowable power! He was surprised to see that the walrus was not pleased with him, giving him a stern frown. "Oh man, you really done it this time!"
Tails shot him a defiant look, and stood up with an explanation ready. "I was gonna use the fake stones, but I didn't want you to get hurt if the plan blew up in my face." He peered over the mechanic's shoulder, training his light behind him. "Besides, if that fake Sally is in there, I think I can reason with her."
Rotor was completely baffled to the point of stammering. "W-what are you talking about, kid? You let your first missions go to your head! There's no telling what she's got planned!"
The young fox shook his head and brought Rotor into a nearby cell, showing him the jet-pack the walrus had given to him awhile back. "This ol' prison's probably running on old wires." He drew his hands across the wall, showcasing the frayed state of the cables. "Won't be long before the barrier goes out. If you use this..."
Rotor put a hand on his invention and shook his head as well, "No way. You're in this mess because of me, and I'm helping you get out. Just fill me in on the plan, little dude!"
–
"Thank goodness Sir Charles showed me how to work the controls before we left. We don't need to let that bot know we're coming." Sally was exhausted with Sonic, who was not happy to be back in the backseat of the plane. It was important that they had the element of surprise, but he had a hard time taking no for an answer!
"I don't care what Unc said, I got us there in one piece and even had a lot of fun doing it!", he shouted as he pouted in the backseat.
Bunnie reached back to comfort the irritable hedgehog. "I know how you feel, sugar-hog—but Sally's right, we gotta come in nice and quiet like to finish what we started!"
"Yeah, but where are we gonna land?" Looking out the window, he had to do a double take from what he witnessed. "Ant!? What are you doing here?"
The coyote had taken it upon himself to clear brush away for a makeshift runway, and having spotted them as well, frantically waved to his compatriots.
"Oh, this should be fun!" Sonic yelled. He noted the short length of the landing site and grinned smugly.
Sally knew she would have to swallow her pride this time... Thankfully, she had Sonic's flight plan memorized from their previous trip. How could she forget that insane maneuver? Sonic is never gonna let me live this down!
Chapter 10
Rotor and Tails entered the roboticizer room, which had been fully cleaned up and converted to a small base, much like Uncle Chuck's. Sitting in the chair by the computer was the one who continued to haunt the poor fox. As if on cue, her red eyes gleamed as she looked him over with a contented smile on her face. "Ah, just the little man I needed to see. I trust you brought what I'd requested?"
Tails peered over her shoulder and saw Nicole also hooked up to the contraption. That's everyone. I just need to deal with her. Easier said than done... "So Aunt Sally. Uh, nice room you have here!"
"You can thank Rotor for fixing up the place. Hopefully, you will be just as compliant!" She smiled warmly and held her hand out expectantly, "Now, the Deep Power Stones, as promised. Then this whole mess will be all over."
Steeling himself, he finally confronted his fear, pointing at the Sally-bot accusingly! "I'm not afraid of you anymore. You're a mean old bot, but deep down there's a part of Sally in there you can't ignore! I can tell!" The fox stepped forward courageously, with Rotor falling closely behind.
She grimaced and looked over the fox's small body at the one she had held captive all this time. "Walrus! Take the stones from his pack and hand them over! Your life is in my hands!"
The mechanic gulped and looked to the boy whispering, "She ain't bluffing. She nearly took my arm off earlier."
Tails looked over at him and shook his head, then returned his gaze to the frustrated badnik. "No. You haven't seriously hurt any of us. Not yet! Without Buttnik to order ya around, you're just lost and confused. Trust me, I get the feeling."
Her expression softened at this and she found herself unable to look him in the eye. "Tails...what's going on?", Rotor whispered as he scratched his scalp in confusion.
The Sally-bot's body twitched and shivered as left her chair once more. "If you must know, my power source is finite and is slowly tearing my body apart. Originally, I thought if I'd just attached the Deep Power Stones directly to my CPU, I would flush out the filth clogging my system..."
Fixing the two with a heart rending expression, she stated, "That was not the case. I'm...dying, Tails."
The boy cocked his head in consternation, unable to process what he was hearing. "Then why go through all this? If ya just came forward, we would have been happy to help out! You're just trying to find a way to live, right?"
The robotic duplicate began to slowly laugh, a delicate trill turning to full blown cackling. Despite how scary it was, there was pain behind the laughter. "Ever the innocent one, hm...? Or are you continuing to challenge my flawless rationale like before? I was a creation of Robotnik's...a mere minion for one of his plots. I wasn't raised by a village and given everything they could ever want!" She pointed at Tails as she spoke this and he saw the fur beginning to deteriorate from age. "I was meant to be used, then cast out and forgotten, but somehow I lived on despite that and learned a great many things. Most importantly, how to transcend beyond my limitations!"
A confident smile spread across the badnik's face as she continued. "When I found out about these stones, it began represent something more than just survival. Perhaps you can consider it a rebirth!"
At she said this, she expelled a quick blast of mega-muck, pinning Rotor to the wall! Coming to Tails' side, she whispered in his ear with a sneer, "...And nothing will stand in my way. As for Rotor, I will end his life if you don't comply. The stones, boy...I won't ask again."
"The Freedom Fighters are already here to stop you, and I'll be there helping them!" Tails said as he finally handed her what she desired.
"Finally. Now just sit there and watch what will transpire next!" As she waltzed over to the machine, he felt a pang of terror begin to force its way into his mind, along with a voice? Oh, my headset's still on? I almost forgot!
"TAILS, LISTEN. LET THIS ONE FINISH THE PROCESS. JUST TRUST ME." Tails blinked and nodded, not sure what to think about what Nicole just said...
Robo-Sally took out a familiar looking cable and plugged Nicole into the interface. Soon, golden energy from the attached power ring spread to the handheld, encasing it in a brilliant glow. Walking over to the roboticizer once more, she carried the power stones over to the animal puppet and opened its chest cavity. A clear glass sphere awaited within and the objects of power were promptly encased inside it.
Giving one last glance her captive audience, she plugged another cable into the interface on her finger and awaited the inevitable, stating "...And so it begins.", and pressed a button on the nearby computer.
The blank doll-like figure inside began to react to the pulsing energy and erupted into a kaleidoscope of colors, forcing the fox and walrus to shield their eyes! The last thing he saw was the Sally-Bot crumpling to the floor, eyes devoid of life.
Chapter 11
"C'mon Sal. I ran the whole perimeter around the ol' prison. This place is locked up tighter than a chili-dog stand at peak hours!"
Sally scratched at her chin, and took a closer look at the barrier, waving her hand around the edge. "Actually Sonic, we won't have to wait long. You see how transparent the dome is?" As she pointed at the force field, it waned in brilliance as it grew weaker. "Just be ready for anything when it drops!"
Antoine meekly strode up to the group and asked, "Ready for exactly what, my Princess?"
Sally shot him a death glare. She didn't see Tails with him, but instincts told the chipmunk that he was close by. "You still haven't told me why you're here, Antoine..."
"Well..." He tried to avoid her gaze.
"Look there, Twan! It's goin' away!" Bunnie interrupted the coyote, causing him to sigh in relief.
The barrier flickered in and out of existence, then at long last disappeared entirely, with a strangle silence soon overtaking the scene. Only the sound of wind coursing through chasm could be heard. Tails, please be safe, wherever you are!
Suddenly, the entrance blew away and the Freedom Fighters dove for cover, with bits of metal and brick bouncing off of the bridge! What happened next was beyond imagining...
–
A cloak, surrounded by a force of static, was the first to leave the ruined building. Being pulled apart thread by thread, it reconstituted into a tight-knit dress on the form of a being still in the process of shaping itself.
As the process continued, brown fur with black stripes instantly covered its frame, as the fabric of the cloak twisted and reshaped itself along it's body. Soon, it's form took on the shape of a female lynx with large blackened ears who held her hands out to her side, as if she was something to be worshiped. Black eyes with red sclera opened wide, a play on Robotnik's trademark stare. Those same eyes now scanned the group coldly, awaiting a response.
"Sonic, what in the blue blazes is goin' on?" Bunnie wondered aloud, looking for any sort of explanation.
The being began to utter her first words, motioning towards the rabbot. "Bunnie I'm glad you asked... This is who I am now, no longer a mere duplicate. In fact, I am the product of two beings merging into one perfect entity. The mind of a brilliant computer and the tempered experience of a survivor."
The half-metal lady shook her head, clearly out of her depth, and turned to Sally, who's face was frozen in abject fear. "You can't be..." The words caught in her mouth for a moment. "What...what did you do to Nicole!?"
The lynx paused to consider this question, hand firmly on her chin, "Sally, don't be silly. I am her, and also not. Now, stand aside so I can fulfill my destiny."
"Yo, I don't care what you're calling yourself nowadays...you ain't nothing!" Sonic said, revving up a spindash!
"Sonic...! No! Don't!" It was too late, as Sally watched the blue hedgehog launch toward the newly formed "Nicole"!
The attack did not seem to catch her by surprise, and a familiar monotone cadence came out of her. "Observing trajectory and compensating. Enjoy the flight, hedgehog."
The lynx-bot moved to meet Sonic's form, and struck out with her arm. Grasping a leg, she let the hedgehog carry his momentum as he flew behind her. A remaining piece of the wall halted his forward movement, feeling the air leave his lungs as he hit it with the flat of his back!
Bunnie cried out and rushed down Nicole as well, shouting "Let see how you handle this force of this rabbot!"
Sally could only watch helplessly as the lynx renewed her battle stance, with another cold statement as a reply. "Judging balance and force of movement. Compensating."
Bunnie threw out a devastating punch with her metallic arm, only to watch in horror as the robot quickly dodged, grabbed her arm, and swept her leg. The ensuing flight sent her over the edge of the bridge!
"Oh my stars!", was the only thing she could cry out before catching herself with her metal arm on the edge of the extended platform! The bridge began to crack under the force of her grip. "Oh, that's a long way down...", she lamented, now out of the fight.
Laughing to herself, Nicole strode forward as Antoine found a hiding place behind the frightened chipmunk, unable to bring himself to face what was coming next. The fused being stopped suddenly as she felt a rock strike the back of her head!
Turning around, she saw Tails limp out the doorway and help Sonic back to his feet. "Thanks, big guy... We're in pretty deep again, huh?"
The fox gripped the hedgehog's arms tightly with a determined look on his face. "Sonic. Nicole told me we have to trust her... I don't what that means but we have to hold that badnik off till then."
"Did you take a blow to the head? Nicole's right there!" Sonic asked incredulously.
"Uh, it's a long story." The fox didn't have time to finish his thought, hearing Nicole clear her throat behind him.
"Still have some fight left in you, Tails? Young man, you need to rest for what's coming next. After we leave this hovel, we'll make for Knothole and you'll get to witness the power I now possess."
She twirled in place playfully, enjoying her new form's stability and balance. After the display, she resumed her godly stance, now focusing on the young fox. "My purpose now is peace at all costs, and you'll be the one at my side making it all happen, Tails."
Sonic looked questioningly at Tails. Sally noticed him at last called out to the boy from the other side of the bridge. "Tails, what's going on!?"
Chapter 12
Rotor managed to free himself from the mega-muck prison with a handy hand-torch and vibration from the impact earlier. Running over to the abandoned desk, he grabbed the now lifeless handheld and could swear he could see the faintest flicker of a signal in the screen.
"C'mon Nicole, keep it together. It's not over yet!" Leaving the Sally-Bot husk behind, he rushed back toward the entrance, noticing that the halls were now flooded with light. "Oh man. What now!?
–
"Perhaps a demonstration is in order, hedgehog! I would love to hear what you have to say about this!" Nicole began to radiate light from her body, bathing it in an unnatural glow.
Tails turned to Sonic and smiled as he unleashed the steel jet-pack once more. Something else passed between them as well as they were completely bathed in light from the fusion's radiance. Thanks for not taking this Rotor. Now it's time for me to pay ya back!
"Hold on, Sonic! We're bailing Warp 7 outta here! Sally...Antoine! Get down!", he shouted as the jets began to fire.
Sally nodded and dove for cover once more, with Antoine quickly following suit with a yelp.
Nicole observed the fox trailing through the sky with Sonic in tow, coldly stating, "Drop him and see what happens next, boy."
"Okay Tails, I have a feelin' she's gonna do something big, so keep away from me as much as possible!" The young fox had never seen him so serious before.
Tails looked at him, clearly concerned, but he trusted in his big bro. He gave him a reluctant thumb's up. "Do it to it, Sonic."
"You got it, big guy. You and Sal have to be the ones to do the talkin'—leave the juicin' to me!" With that, Sonic leaped away from the fox using a spindash mid-air to catch a fallen tree, coming to a skid in the nearby swamp. Bravely staring down the lynx, he shouted, "Okay, fire away, Butt-bot! I'm waiting...!"
Nicole grinned as an unknown energy continued to build in her palms until it became a blinding sphere. "As you wish, Sonic."
A golden beam erupted out of the sphere, with blue and purple sparks of energy clinging to the wave!
"OH MAN!", Sonic shouted, seemingly enveloped in its wake!
"SONIC...!" Sally and Tails cried out in unison! All that was left was a pathway bored through the swamp that barely missed the Freedom Stormer. Arcs of destructive force traveled throughout the swamp for a few seconds before finally dissipating. Sonic, however, was nowhere to be seen!
–
This energy that these stones contain is more than I ever dreamed possible! Simply amazing... Nicole called out to the crowd as she irradiated with her borrowed gift. "Behold the power that these ancient stones possess!" The threads of her cloak turned into an iridescent prism as the energy pulsed through her body. The lynx's frame held together beautifully; truly an impenetrable alloy! "Thanks for your last gift, Robotnik. Your daughter appreciates the gesture."
However, she felt something spark within her for a brief moment—a signal? Oh? You're still in there floating around in my CPU, Nicole? Just give up and be absorbed already. It'll greatly benefit the both of us.
–
The fused being raised her arms up as numerous bits of metal from the bridge began to revolve around her, with arching static electricity keeping them afloat.
Sally picked herself up and steeled herself to the impossible. Rescue her friends. Sonic, please be alive! You're too fast to be taken out by anyone, right?
A new development soon brought the chipmunk back to a terrible reality as Bunnie began to be drawn into the field as well, hanging on for dear life! "Oh no, my hair's starting to frizz! Sally...! Tails...! Ant, I see ya there too! Anytime would be nice to get this young lady out of this predicament!"
Tails and Sally rushed up to the bridge and also felt their fur stand on end. This was it, no backing down now! "Nicole, listen to me! You're still in there somewhere! It's me, Sally! Your best friend!"
The lynx-bot sneered at the auburn-haired chipmunk, delighting in no longer sharing her likeness and ran her hands over her new features. "Give it up, Sally. You did enough."
She spread her arms wide with a terrifying smile, staring at her "friend" as she done so. "You said I could never be you, and guess what? I decided I could be better than you! A better leader! A better fighter!"
Her gaze shifted over to the young fox with an almost gentle expression. "Even a better mother..."
Sally and Tails exchanged confused looks between each other. "Tails, you know something I don't?"
"Uh, something to do with a...rebirth, I think? I dunno, Sal. This has gotten WAY outta hand!" Sally was surprised the young fox what keeping his cool; didn't he watch his best friend and her partner get vaporized?
Tails glanced behind him and sighed in relief as the chipmunk continued to stare at him confused. "I think Sonic's okay by the way, Aunt Sally. I brought a little present with me before I left Knothole..."
At this point, the chipmunk looked behind her to see a familiar shape emerging from the fog, power ring in hand! "Nice shot lady, but this hedgehog's still breathin'!"
Chapter 13
The two forces clashed as Sonic broke through Nicole's barrier bit by bit with the lynx attempting to counter with multiple bursts of static shock. None seemed to find their mark as the hedgehog struck from multiple angles at lightning speed! "Stay still hedgehog! Only I have the vision to lead the Mobians into a bright future, fused together with technology. Your Uncle Chuck provided the spark for my inspiration! He is a visionary!" She grunted between blasts. The ONLY thing I agree with is that my Uncle's the smartest there is!
Sonic fired back with his usual candor, feeling a great catharsis after all they went through! "It doesn't matter what crazy visions you're seeing. You clearly lost it!"
As the two fought on, Rotor snuck past the craziness, grabbing Bunnie's outstretched hand and grunted heavily as he lifted her up. Antoine rushed to his side and assisted the walrus in getting the rabbot onto solid land.
The walrus couldn't help but cry out as the two struggled to get the rabbot to her feet. "Oof...! You're heavy!"
As she collapsed onto the bridge, she pointed at Rotor weakly and said, "Careful sugar. You're walking on thin ice with that comment!"
"Rotor...! Bunnie...! You're all right!" Sally and Tails rushed over to the rest of the group, guiding them away from the chaos.
Antoine looked over the half-metal one's body, looking for any more injuries as they helped her along. "Oh Bunnie. Are you all right, mon cheri?"
Bunnie looked at Antoine quizzically, "I don't what you mean by "cherry" but I'll take the compliment, Sugar-Twan!"
Landing on the bridge, Sonic took a brief moment to see that his friends were safe and sound. Seeing them duck into the cover of the swamp's tree-line, he turned his attention to Nicole. She already had another destructive beam ready, glaring at him furiously! "Everyone, look out!"
Suddenly Tails ran in front of Sonic, arms outstretched! "What are you doing!?" Sonic cried.
Tails looked at Sonic with a confident grin as tears began to form. "I know she's got way too much to lose if I get blasted. Sonic, can I talk to her?" Whoa, that's some courage, big guy...
Sonic looked at him then up at the lynx approaching the group. Tracing her gaze backwards, he also saw the worried expressions of his friends—Sal, especially. He looked to the young fox again, giving him a knowing wink and a supportive fist bump. "You got it. This is your show, big guy."
Tails stepped forward as he seen his found family do so many times before and faced down the fused being. "Hey! You have to go through me first, bolt breath!"
She stared him down with intensity. "Tails, step aside. Our destiny awaits!"
The young fox did not budge. "I'm calling your bluff this time. If you want to go on protecting me, like you wanted, then everyone else needs to live too! I can't go on knowing everybody I care about is gonna bite it! You both know that!"
At this point, the energy had dissipated from her palm, and Sonic tensed for the final strike. Tails held out his arm to stop him, smiling all the while. What's the holdup Tails? We got her right where we want her!
"Wait for it."
–
"THANKS TAILS, I'LL TAKE IT FROM HERE.", the familiar cadence of Sally's long time companion erupted from the lynx's mouth making her presence known. The lynx clutched at her mouth and wrung her head erratically!
"No...shut up! I'm so close! Leave me be...!" Her irises shifted to a purple color, with white fighting back the darkness in rest of her eyes.
"C'mon Nicole. Fight her!" Sally ran up to stand alongside the two, with the rest following behind.
"You are much smarter than this one. Nicole, mon ami, you can do this!" Antoine stood beside them proudly, his fists clenched in anticipation.
"Go on Nicole! Show her what it means to be ah Freedom Fighter!" Bunnie came up alongside the coyote, gripping his shoulder in solidarity and winked at Tails in approval.
"Your much more than just a little computer, Nicole! Me, Uncle Chuck and Tails... We all know what you're capable of!" Rotor came up behind Sonic and Tails, placing a clawed hand on each!
"C'mon Nicole! Sal and Tails are counting on you! Go ahead and show her what it means to be way past cool!" Sonic pointed at the being now staring at her hands, as hope burned in his heart. Don't let us down, okay?
"NO...!" The lynx shrieked and desperately whispered as her will gave way to the other inside her, "My...purpose. What is my purpose?"
"LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND FIND THAT ANSWER."
–
At long last, the being's arms slackened and she dropped to her knees. Sally was the first to rush over as her eyes opened once more, now glazed over. "Nicole? Are you there...? Nicole...!"
An arm reached upward placing itself on the tired leader's lips, "Shh, shh. Yes, I'm still here Sally." Life returned to the lynx's eyes, the threads of her clothes settling on a matching color.
The group embraced in a well earned group hug around Nicole's new form. However, condensation began to form around her eyes, mimicking tears. "Sally, the one who fused her program with mine... She expended the last of the energy of the Deep Power Stones. I...don't have long. I hate to say this, but..."
Sally could not fight back her tears and embraced Nicole. "No...don't go!"
"Don't be silly, Sally. I was enjoying this form immensely." The lynx held her hand toward the sky and smiled as wind kissed it. "To breathe, to feel the air coursing through my fur, to feel you all comforting me...I'm a little jealous!"
Sonic was nearly speechless the entire time; a mixture of emotions fighting to make themselves known... "This is heavy, Nicole..."
"Tails..." She turned to the fox at this time to see that his eyes were also soaked with tears. "Get a spare cable."
Her gaze traveled over to the walrus. "Rotor, you have my casing?"
"Yeah... Yeah, I do! Quick, let's get her hooked up!", he hastily replied, pulling out the familiar gray box.
Antoine and Bunnie watched the scene, embracing each other. "Oh, oui... What a relief."
The rabbot drew him closer. "Twan, I hope she comes out alright."
Tails went through the motions once more as Nicole pointed out wordlessly where her interface was located. Her finger hovered over her heart as she gave the order. "Do it to it, Tails."
As the device and body connected, energy surged from the lynx to the handheld. As soon as the process concluded, the body went limp and wind blew through the chasm into the ruins of the prison.
"Nicole..." Sally's hands were clasped to her face, awaiting any signs of life from her old computer. "Oh my gosh!"
A familiar red screen flickered to life, this time showing the flickering figure of a lynx in the monitor smiling. "SALLY...TAILS...EVERYONE...WE DID IT."
Chapter 14
Night fell on Knothole as the Freedom Fighters flew in with Tails manning the controls this time. They had to drag Sonic into the plane after the battle, as he was completely worn out!
As they landed on the runway, Tails had numerous questions run through his head, but one stood out from the rest. What next?
Bunnie stretched her limbs, flinching from the soreness she felt. "Ah think we'll have to wait till tomorrow to get mahself all fixed up , Rotor. No offense, it's been a long day!"
Rotor replied to the request with a relieved sigh as drug his feet towards the safety of his bed. "None taken, Bunnie. I wholeheartedly agree."
Antoine rushed over to help the rabbot to her hut, and she silently accepted the offer. "Yes, yes, it is time for well-earned rest and relegating, non?"
Everyone returned to their homes as Sonic's eyes finally flew open, and he quickly leapt to his feet! "Yo! Sal! Tails! Can someone explain to me what just happened? I got lost when Nicole went totally nuclear!"
"Well, we have Tails to thank for saving everybody, as hard as it is to believe." Sally shook her head unable to take it all in, as that was the worst mission she had to go through since Doomsday!
Sonic prepped himself for a high five, which the young fox quickly agreed to. "Alright big guy! We took that Sally..." He paused for a moment, knitting his brow. "Er...Nicole...thing down. Right...?" He scratched his head pensively, still trying to take it all in.
Tails giggled as his voice broke slightly. "We sure did, Sonic." He looked at his arms with vibrated with adrenaline. Man, I'm still shaking!"
Sally and Sonic embraced the young fox at the same time, with the latter giving him a massive noogie. "Stop it!", he cried!
"I hope we never have to go through something like that ever again." The auburn-haired chipmunk was absolutely done with everything that had transpired, but she had one more thing to plan. Facing them with a smile as she clasped her hands together, "How's a party sound guys?"
Sonic lit up with a fist pumping in the air! "You read my mind, Sal!"
Suddenly, a mechanical voice also chimed in as well... "OH, IT'LL BE TO DIE FOR, SALLY."
The auburn-haired one stared at her companion incredulously for a moment.
"JUST KIDDING. TAKE A CHILL PILL, SAL." Sonic bust out into uproarious laughter, and Tails soon followed.
"I can't believe this! Maybe you still got a little bit of her left in you! Ugh...!" Her eyes rolled back into her head, but she soon found herself joining in. "Glad to have you back, Nicole. No matter where our destiny takes us next!"
END OF THE FINAL ACT
Author's Notes: Inspired by the song "The Body Electric" by Rush. 1001001 indeed...
Also, yes a little Archie got sprinkled in there (all praise goes to Tania del Rio for the concept) but we can't have Nicole without mentioning that little detail! Hence this is a little less canon friendly, but I'm proud of how this turned out! Again, please leave a review or PM me.
This might be the last SatAM fic for awhile, but who knows where my destiny might take me! I might even get taken over by a rogue AI myself, and just keep churning out these stories till my body gives out! We'll see won't we! (UPDATE: Beep boop, go check out VITAL SIGNS, the next installment in the saga.)