Written by: Janni Pedersen. Edited by: Debbie Prichard.
Dedicated to my little brother Ole... for... well... making me start writing fanfics...=)
NOTE:
I've decided to rewrite ALL of my stories now because I've changed writing style… I'll rewrite "Girl Power!", "Family Secrets" and "Weak or Strong?" as soon as I get time as well. Even though "Weak or Strong?" is already written in my new writing style, I'd like to make some small changes… you'll see what changes I'm talking about as soon as it's finished. Here's the legal stuff anyway: Sonic Underground, Sonic the Hedgehog, Manic the Hedgehog, Sonia the Hedgehog, Sleet, Dingo, Robotnik and so on are all © SEGA and/or DiC. But they DO NOT own Jennifer Scott… she's © me, so PLEASE e-mail me at sonicfriends_forever@start.com.au if you wanna use her… I'll probably say yes… PLEASE give me some feedback too… thanks for reading this and have a nice day!
Best wishes, JANNI!!!
Enemy or Ally?
Manic sighed heavily before he finally plopped down on the couch, closing his eyes. Everything had been kinda hectic at HQ the past week, and the freedom fighters rarely got a break. Then he opened his eyes again, and looked around the room. He never knew he'd have to fight for his life like this. He only had to steal to survive when he was living with Farrell and the other pickpockets, but now, it was literally fighting for survival. He sank the lump he had gotten in his throat. Farrell. He missed him. Like a father. Even though he knew he was only adopted. Sort of, anyway. When he found Sonic and Sonia, his life changed totally. He was with his real family, but it didn't feel right. Perhaps because their mother was missing. Perhaps because something else was missing. He was feeling kinda lonely. Of course he had Sonic and Sonia and the other freedom fighters, but he still seemed to want to take care of himself like he did before. No follow-the-leader. Farrell taught him to take care of himself, and he was used to this. He sighed, and looked around the room again. He suddenly noticed a figure standing in the door, looking at him.
"Huh?!" he sat up, fast, making himself dizzy. Looking at the figure once again, he recognized it. "MOM?!" he got up. The figure laid a note, and then, ran away. Manic ran to the door, and looked out at the corridor. The figure, or Aleena, was gone. "Mom?" he whispered, still a bit confused. He then looked down at the floor, noticing the note. Biting in his lip, he picked it up, and started reading.
My dear Manic.
I know you, Sonic and Sonia have been searching for me for along time, and I promise you the prophecy will be fulfilled. As long as you all work in harmony, I know you'll overthrow Robotnik. The Oracle of Delphius contacted me yesterday, telling a new obstacle- especially a test for you, Manic- will come up. A stranger. A stranger you may not like the first time you meet, but remember, it's not always what's on the outside that counts. Even though this person may look like an enemy, it might be an ally inside. Only if you're in harmony with this person, you will overthrow Robotnik and the prophecy will be fulfilled. I know you will be able to understand this, Manic, and I have to ask you to hide this message and the medallion until the time is right for Sonic and Sonia to know about this. I know you can make everyone feel in harmony with this person. You're the only one who'll be able to do this. I love you.
Manic looked up, from the note, realizing he was still biting in his lip. He looked around, and then, down at the note again, like he wanted to make sure it actually existed and he wasn't dreaming.
*Medallion? Which medallion?* he thought. Then he finally noticed it. A shiny medallion right in front of him, where he found the note. Picking it up, he noticed it was shaped like a transverse flute.
"A stranger... a test... for me." He mumbled to himself, looking at the note again. Suddenly, somebody put a hand on his shoulder. He hid the note and the medallion in his fanny pack, quickly, and turned. Sonic stood behind him, grinning.
"So... ready to go?" he asked. Manic looked away, and then, nodded yes.
"Sure."
"Great... the mission doesn't wait for us you know. Could you get sis? Then, I'll get the van ready." Sonic looked around in the room.
"Yeah. Where is she?" he asked.
"Probably in the band room, giving herself a facial." Sonic finished looking around the room then looked at Manic again, "Is something wrong, bro? You don't look like everything is alright" He leaned against the wall.
"I'm fine... just a little tired, that's all." He walked off, feeling like Sonic was still looking after him.
"Ok! Tell sis we're leaving in five minutes. She needs to finish her facial too!" Sonic shouted as he sped off. Manic heard himself mumble yes, and continued down the corridor until he reached the room where the SU usually practiced and slept. He tried to open the door, but found out it was locked.
"Sis?" he asked, knocking on the door.
"Coming!" he heard Sonia's voice from inside, then, steps coming closer. The door opened, and a green face looked out at him. Manic jumped back with a scream. The face, who happened to be Sonia, frowned.
"What's up, Manic? It's me!" she folded her arms, and tapped her foot. Manic felt his pulse fall back to normal again, while his heart fell back from sitting in his throat.
"Sorry..." he said, breathing out, "Bro asked me to tell you that we're leaving in five minutes. We need to pack." He walked into the room. Sonia walked over to a mirror and washed the facial off in some water, which stood on the table beside. She looked at Manic in the mirror. He sat down, rubbing his face.
"What's up, Manic?" she asked, turning to him. Manic stopped rubbing his face, and grinned sheepishly.
"Uhh... nothing."
"You look like something's wrong." She dried her face, and turned to him while brushing her hair.
"I'm cool. Just tired." He got up, "Sonic's waiting for us." He started walking towards the door while Sonia lifted an eyebrow. Then, she walked after him.
"It's been kinda hectic, right?" she asked. Manic just stared out into the air, while saying nothing, "Manic?" still no answer, "MANIC!!!" she stopped. Manic turned to her, shocked.
"Wh... what?"
"Never mind. What are you thinking of? Something IS wrong, right?" she walked up to his side and the two continued. Manic felt himself bite his teeth together. *don't tell them before the time comes.* he heard the voice inside his head. He then shook his head.
"I'm just tired." He replied. Sonia rolled her eyes. She knew she couldn't get him to tell her anything when he acted like this. When the two reached the building where the van was parked and walked inside, Sonic was scarfing down at least ten chili-dogs.
"Are you done?!" Sonia asked, through her gritted teeth while she tapped her foot in disgust. Manic couldn't help smiling. Sonic and Sonia had been like this since the first day they all met. Always having something to argue about. Even now. Sonic looked at her, careless, scarfing down the last chilidog, and licking his lips.
"Satisfied, miss?" he opened the door to the van. Manic walked in, giggling while Sonia stared at Sonic, her teeth still gritted.
"Sonic Hedgehog! You're getting on my nerves!" she muttered while she walked in. Sonic sped in as well, closed the door, and sat down in the driver's seat. The hatch to the underground garage opened, and Sonic drove the van out, heading towards Robotropolis.
***
Even though her parents had never cared for her, she missed them now. She
had never missed them like this. Sitting there in the dark corner, hiding from anything that should come by, shaking like a little child even though she was a 16-year-old girl who was always able to take care of herself. But not this time. She was locked up in some sort of cell, she tried to make somebody hear her by knocking and kicking the metal door while screaming franticly. But now, she just sat in the corner. Being the only human onboard this thing, among a lot of robots and two... aliens? A wolf and a dingo, walking and talking like her. She looked out of the window beside her, through the bars. If she didn't know better, she'd think she was in space or something. But that was impossible in her theories. In her theories, yes... but who said her theories were right? She saw something getting closer underneath the ship. A planet? A little ball, glowing blue and green in the middle of what seemed like a bottomless, giant hole. It was getting bigger and bigger when they came closer. A sound interrupted her thoughts, and she turned her head in that direction, seeing the door open and two of these robots step in. They saw her, and started approaching her, fast.
"No..." she whispered as they held their arms out to grab her when she tried to get away, "please... don't!" she felt the metal hands grab her firmly by her shoulders, lift her up, and drag her out.
***
"Yo, Manic! Wake up, sleeping beauty! We're there!" Manic heard Sonic's voice and opened his eyes slowly when Sonic shook him by his shoulders.
"We're… where?" he asked, bluntly, yawning.
"Robotropolis, Manic!" Sonia said from her seat.
"Huh?" Manic blinked a couple of times.
"It's time for a mission bro!" Sonic laughed quietly, looking at Manic who sat, looking more asleep than awake.
"Oh…" Manic finally got up, "I'm up, I'm up." He yawned again. He still felt the sleep in his eyes, but what had to be done had to be done. Sonic and Sonia looked at each other, lifting their eyebrows, but then, got up, and followed him out. Sonia walked up by his side.
"Manic… you're sure you're alright?" she asked, softly. Manic nodded yes, rubbing the last sleep out of his eyes.
"I'm fine, sis. I'm fine." He took a deep breath of the fresh evening air when he and his siblings stepped out of the van. They stood looking down at Robotropolis. Everything seemed to be calm down there.
"Ok, guys… everybody knows what to do?" Sonic turned to his siblings. Sonia nodded yes.
"Uhm…" Manic scratched his neck. Trying to remember made the headache he had earlier this morning come back. He shook his head no.
"I guess we'll have to retell… alright, first, we'll blow up the roboticizer. Then, we'll go to the prison building to check to see if there are any prisoners. The chances of finding any are small, but we have to check. Then, we'll blow the prison building up. That's it." Sonic explained. Manic looked towards the prison building. He knew the chances of finding any prisoners there were small. In fact, very small. He checked the lists of prisoners earlier today, and there was nothing. He didn't get why they bothered checking the prison at all. He was totally SURE there weren't any prisoners anyway. But something told him it had to be done. Besides, it wouldn't hurt. He yawned, and nodded yes.
"We only need to look out for SWATbots if there are any. It looks kinda dead. Too dead to me." Sonia shuddered.
"Yea… no party!" Sonic snickered. Sonia rolled her eyes.
"I'm serious, Sonic Hedgehog!" she hissed.
"I know, I know! Let's go, anyway... we just need to keep an eye on everything around us, and nothing should happen! Ok?" Sonic tapped his foot.
"Fine!" Sonia muttered.
"Ok! Let's do it to it!" Sonic slapped the others a high five, and they all ran off.
***
She sat in another cold and wet cell, still knowing nothing about what was going on. Still scared. When suddenly, she noticed somebody standing in front of the cell. She turned around to face the person. The wolf and the dingo were there too. The person was a big (REALLY big) man with a moustache, which looked more like pencils sticking out of his nose, and black and red eyes with no feelings. They all looked at her while she tried to hide herself, melt into the wall, something, just hide.
"Is it her?" the man asked. The wolf nodded.
"She was the fastest one to get, sir. The SWATbots located her fast, and even though she fought, she was easy to get." He said. The man smiled at her, evilly which sent a shiver down her spine.
"She's perfect! Make sure everyone gets to know! I want all of my noble subjects to be there when she's roboticized! The first roboticized human in Mobius' history! I can hardly wait!" he rubbed his hands, and laughed while he walked away. She looked after him. Roboticized? What was he talking about anyway? He was a human himself too… or… was he? The thought sent another shiver down her spine. She turned her head. Facing the wolf and the dingo who still stood in front of the cell, looking at her.
"He should give us a raise now. That human wasn't easy to get." He looked at her, frowning. The dingo looked at her too, confused.
"Why a human?" he asked. His accent was very Australian. More like one great walking stereotype. The wolf sounded more French in her opinion. He slapped the dingo.
"Because Earth is the only planet near Mobius with proved intelligent life on it, flea brain! But I don't understand why he'd want to go to another planet just to capture some alien and roboticize it! It's a waste of money if you ask me!" he rolled his eyes.
*So this IS another planet?!* she thought, biting in her lip, looking at the wolf and the dingo again. They looked at her too. Something about them made her shiver. Maybe it was just the cold?
"We won't get much pay for this one! She's locked up in the panzered cell, it'd be stupid to try to unlock it without Robotnik knowing it was us. This lousy job's just too much!" the wolf muttered as he and the Dingo walked off, finally leaving her alone. Suddenly, a great boom sounded, sending an echo through the building. Then, everything was dark again.
***
Sonic watched the SWATbots walk into the prison building, and then, turned to his siblings.
"They're gone, guys! It's time to get started!" he whispered. Sonia transformed her medallion to her keyboard.
"I wonder why all of them are going to the prison. Maybe somebody IS in there after all." She frowned.
"Or maybe Robotnik just gave the cleaning-job to them!" Manic laughed.
"Anyway, let's check it out! Hang on to your lunch, sibs!" Sonic grabbed Sonia and Manic by their wrists and quickly zipped into the prison building where they hid behind a wall. They looked around the corner. SWATbots seemed to be everywhere.
"Looks like they're guarding something important!" Sonia whispered.
"I'd say someONE! Looks like the person in there needs a S-S-U-R!" Sonic grinned. Sonia and Manic looked at each other, confused.
"S-S-U-R?" Sonia frowned.
"Super Sonic Underground Rescue, what else?! Ok, sibs! Stay here and wait for my signal! Got it?" Sonic looked at the other two. They nodded. Then, Sonic stepped out from behind the corner. The SWATbots didn't notice him.
"Hey, SWATbutts! Your hero is here!" he shouted, whistling. The SWATbots turned around and quickly started shooting after him while the half of them started walking towards him. Sonic snapped his fingers and Sonia and Manic jumped out from behind the corner too. Manic pulled out his drumsticks.
"Yo dudes! Missed me?!" he jumped up on one of them, and started drumming on its head. It exploded, taking 2 other bots with it. Sonia shot 3 of them, and a few seconds later, the rest of the bots had to leave the cell and join the fight. Sonic spin dashed into a crowd, destroying a couple.
"Manic! Go free the prisoner in the cell! We'll get the last SWATbutts!" he shouted. Manic finished the bot which shoulders he was sitting on, and started running towards the cell while pulling the lock breaking tools out of his fanny pack. When he got to the cell, he started picking the lock at the same.
"Don't worry, dude! We'll get ya outta here in no time!" his fingers did their own work. His brain was focusing on something else. He had a strange feeling when he was standing there in front of the cell. He couldn't tell what it was like, but he realized his hands were working faster than usual.
"A… a…. a…. HEDGEHOG?!?!?!" he heard a cry from inside the cell. He almost dropped the hairpin he was using when he heard the cry.
"Well, I know I'm not exactly… WHA?!" the hairpin was dropped on the floor when Manic looked up to see the person inside the cell. He stood like stunned, and just stared at the person. Sonic and Sonia came to his side.
"Hey, bro, what's taking you so long? The SWATbots could-" Sonic was cut off by his own gasp when he and Sonia looked into the cell too. Their mouths dropped open in shock: on the plank bed in the cell an Overlander sat, looking out at them, looking a hundred times more shocked than them. An Overlander, or someone who looked pretty much like one. It was a female, of their age and Manic's height. She was wearing a red T-shirt, blue jeans, a brown backpack and a headband, which matched her light blonde hair pretty well. Manic just stood, staring at her. There was something about those greenish blue eyes…
"A-a-a-an OVERLANDER?!" Sonia cried, stepping backwards, making Manic jump as she interrupted his thoughts. The 'Overlander' looked at her, shocked.
"Listen… I'm not an Overlander… I… could you… please tell me what's going on?" she asked, with a little voice.
"You wanna know what's going on?! I'll tell you what's going on! Stay there,
don't move!" Sonia started pointing at the Overlander with her synthesizer,
ready to shoot while the Overlander crawled backwards, falling down from the plank bed.
"HEY! Stop that, sis! She can't do anything, anyway!" Manic pushed the synthesizer away, making Sonia stop pointing at the Overlander. Sonic and Sonia looked at each other, frowning.
"And... what do you think you're doing, bro?!" Sonic asked.
"Well... you can't blame her for her species." Manic replied.
"She's an Overlander, Manic! Like Robotnik!" Sonia crossed her arms.
"Hey, she's NOT Robotnik! And there has to be a reason of why she's locked up in
there!" Manic pointed to the Overlander who just looked from one of them to
another in confusion.
"Yeah, she probably betrayed Robotnik or something! Manic, let's just leave
her here!" Sonic rolled his eyes.
"Sorry, but... I didn't betray anyone..." the Overlander quietly said, "he just took me away... I don't know why." she looked at Sonic, pleading, "you have to trust me... please... get me out of here, I can't stand another day here!" she bit in her lip.
"Yeah, yeah... nice acting. Sis, bro, Com' on!" Sonic turned around along with Sonia and started walking out when they suddenly saw Manic was missing. Turning around, they saw him in front of the cell, trying to break the lock again.
"Manic, what the heck are you doing?!" Sonic sped back and grabbed his
brother by the shoulder. Manic just continued breaking the lock.
"We can't leave her here! Robotnik would roboticize her." he let his fingers do their own work, and finally, the lock gave up, "that's it!"
"And so what if Robotnik roboticized her?" Sonic sighed heavily.
"So what?! Hey, so what if Robotnik roboticized me? So what if Robotnik roboticized you? It's the same, Sonic, she's alive just like us!" Manic said, "if you don't wanna help me get her out, it's alright, but I AM gonna help her!" he looked at Sonic for the last time, and then, walked into the cell. Sonic rolled his eyes.
"Com' on sis, we're outta here! See you by the van, Manic!" he turned around,
and he and Sonia left. Manic looked after them, shrugging his shoulders.
"Thanks, guys." he mumbled, and then, turned to the Overlander, "ok
dudette... let's get outta here, alright?" he offered her a hand.
She crawled backwards, startled.
"Leave me alone!" she quietly, but firmly said. Manic smiled.
"Hey, take it easy! I'm not gonna hurt ya! I just wanna help you out of here!
Com' on, nothing will happen!" he offered her a hand again. She hesitated for
a moment, and then, let Manic help her to her feet. He looked her over once again.
She was totally pale, and looked like she'd collapse any moment.
"Hey... are you alright?" Manic asked.
"Would you be if you were taken away from your parents, flown to some place
you don't even know and thrown into an ugly, cold and wet cell in an ugly,
cold and wet town without having anything to eat or drink in 2 days, and
after a time some, sorry, aliens rescue you? No, I'm not alright! I just
wanna go home!" she shook her head while her eyes started to water. Then, she looked at him, sighing heavily, "sorry... and thank you."
"It's alright, no problem. Listen, we'd better..." Manic was cut off when a
beam from a stun gun suddenly hit the wall, "whoops! Looks like they're back! Let's go!" Manic grabbed the girl's hand.
"But they... WHOA!!!" she was cut off when Manic suddenly ran towards
the bots.
"Listen, I don't think that's a good idea!!!" she cried when they came closer. She covered her eyes with her hands when Manic suddenly jumped up and kicked all of the 'bots down. Then, he turned to the girl.
"Are you coming? More SWATbots are coming soon, we've gotta get outta here!"
he pointed to the exit of the building. The girl looked at him, impressed.
"S... sure." she replied. Manic started running, followed by the girl. When
they came out some SWATbots were checking the streets noticed them and started following them closely, shooting after them with glue- and
stun guns. Manic looked behind and saw the SWATbots catching up with the girl
who tried to keep up with him. They started reaching for her.
"Oh no! HANG ON!!!" he shouted, turning around and running towards the girl.
When he reached her he grabbed her hand and the two continued their way
toward the hills behind the city. After a short moment, they were far ahead of the SWATbots, but kept on running.
"We need to get to the van! Sis an' bro are waiting there, it's our only
chance to get away!" Manic said, "you'll be alright?" he looked at the girl.
"Yeah... thanks again!" she replied. They finally reached the van and hurried
inside, short of breath. Manic ran over, and sat down in his seat, buckling
his seat belt.
"Manic, what the heck are you doing?! She's not..." Sonic was cut off by
Manic.
"Shut up and drive! We have an army of SWATbots on our backs, no time for
this!" he spat. Sonic and Sonia looked at each other, and then, back at
Manic, blinking confused. Suddenly, something started knocking on the door to
the van, trying to knock it in.
"They're here! Com' on, hurry up!" Manic shouted to Sonic who finally started
the van, "take the passenger's bench... You'll need to sit down." Manic
pointed to passenger's bench, looking at the Overlander. She did as she was told, but
was thrown to one of the sides when Sonic backed the van into a SWATbot. He
drove forwards, right into another SWATbot, throwing the Overlander to the
other side.
"Ok, let's go!" he stepped on the gas, and the van raced forwards, away from
the SWATbots, which started following them, shooting after the wheels. Sonic
made a hard turn, driving directly into some other SWATbots. Only two left.
Sonic drove forwards with full speed, avoiding some shots from the two bots.
Then, he backed up destroying one of the bots, and then, raced forwards,
followed by the last one. After a short moment, the SWATbot gave up, and stopped
the chase, going back to Robotropolis.
"Alright! We made it!" Manic slapped his sister a high-five.
"Yeah, barely all because of HER!" Sonic grumbled while he continued driving,
pointing to the Overlander, who just sat, holding onto the passenger's bench,
firmly.
"Ah, stop it! It's not her fault!" Manic folded his arms.
"Oh, but they were following HER! It actually WAS her fault!" Sonia protested.
The Overlander heard this, and just looked at them, biting in her lip.
"I'm... sorry." she quietly said.
"And you have a reason to be! You almost got us killed back there!" Sonic looked
at her, icy, and then, turned back to keep an eye on the road. Manic looked
back at the Overlander who looked down at the ground. He unbuckled his
seatbelt and got up. Sonic and Sonia looked at him surprised when he
walked over and sat down beside the Overlander on the passenger's seat. Manic
just ignored this, and turned to the Overlander.
"Listen, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to..." she fell silent when Manic
signed her to be quiet.
"It wasn't your fault in any way... they followed me too, so it'd be my fault
as well." he shrugged his shoulders.
"But you stayed to get me out... if you'd just left, they wouldn't be following
you." The Overlander looked away from him, down at the passenger's bench.
"Hey, it was my own choice... don't feel bad about it, ok?" Manic placed his
hand on her shoulder. She looked at him for a moment, and then, looked at
Sonic and Sonia.
"But your siblings don't want me here... perhaps it'd be the best if I just
left." she said, quietly.
"Sounds good to me!" Sonic muttered from the front.
"Mind your own business, Sonic!" Manic hissed. He turned back to the
Overlander, "if you left, Robotnik would probably get you again..."
"Who's... Robotnik?" the Overlander asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"You don't know?" Manic asked, confused. The Overlander shook her head no.
"I've never heard of him..."
"Well, he's the guy who's making this war… have you seen a big round guy with mustache?"
"HE was Robotnik?" Jennifer scratched her head, "talk about overweight!"
"That's Robotnik alright… what about a wolf and a…"
"Dingo! I saw them… thought they were aliens… I… it's hard to believe what's going on." The girl cut Manic off, looking down at the ground.
"Sleet and Dingo." Manic looked at her. She just sat, looking down at the ground
"I wonder what they wanted with you... they rarely use the panzered cell." He broke the silence.
"The fat... I mean, Robotnik said he wanted to... robo... roboticaze me... I think." the Overlander said.
"Roboticize!" Manic snapped his fingers.
"Yeah... he said something about I'd be the first roboticized human in the history of... something I don't remember." she shrugged her shoulders.
"Human?" Manic asked. The Overlander nodded.
"I'm a human! Not one of those... Overlanders." she replied.
"You hear that! She's not an Overlander!" Manic shouted to his siblings.
"She's acting, Manic! She IS an Overlander!" Sonia just replied. Manic sighed and looked back at the Overlander and into her eyes. Somehow, he didn't think she was lying. It was like her eyes told him that she really was telling him the truth.
"Never mind them." he muttered.
"It's ok... I don't blame them. If that Robotnik guy is an Overlander, they have a really good reason to be mad at me." the Overlander, or human, said.
"Which reason? YOU aren't Robotnik."
"No, I know."
Silence... Neither Manic nor the girl said anything.
"Oh, listen... we haven't introduced ourselves yet! I'm Manic Hedgehog. The two others over there are Sonic and Sonia, my siblings. We're all looking for our mother, Queen Aleena. You?" Manic broke the silence again, and held his hand out to shake the girl's hand.
"Jennifer Scott. I'm-" she was cut off by her own gasp, "WAITAMINUTE?! QUEEN ALEENA?! So you're a… PRINCE?!" she almost fell backwards down from the bench, "sorry Your Highness, I didn't..." she fell silent when Manic laid a hand over her mouth.
"Listen, just act natural... we're in the same situation, J." he smiled and removed his hand. Jennifer looked at him, all silent.
"J?" she asked.
"Well... I… uhh… it's shorter!" Manic grinned nervously, and noticed he was blushing. He had already given a nickname to a girl he didn't even know yet. Jennifer smiled.
"It's great... never gotten a nickname before." she said. She then looked at him, "you've got the black belt?" she asked. Manic lifted an eyebrow.
"The... black belt?"
"Yeah, in karate... only the ones with the black belt or higher would be able to do flying kicks like the ones you did in the city! It was very impressive!" Jennifer explained.
Manic looked confused at her for a moment, and then, laughed.
"Oh, those! Hey, it's easy enough... but I haven't got any belts or whatever... kicks are the only karate tricks I've learned... but Sonia, my sister, is great at karate." he pointed to Sonia.
"Ok... but... why are you here? People with titles such as prince and princess should be in exile or something someplace!" Jennifer lifted an eyebrow.
"It's pretty tough since Robotnik's invaded the entire planet... our mom,
Queen Aleena, the right ruler of the planet, was forced to split us up when we
were babies, otherwise, the prophecy about the Council of Four and overthrowing
Robotnik wouldn't be fulfilled... so we're looking for her while we're in the
resistance." Manic sighed heavily, "it's not all luxury an' that stuff to be royal when such a thing as war breaks out. Believe me." He snorted.
"I... see." she looked up when the van suddenly stopped and Sonic turned to
look at them both.
"Listen up bro, first you rescue some Overlander, and then, you give away our
entire life story to her! She's supposed to be like Robotnik, Manic!" he frowned. Manic sighed heavily.
"She ain't like Buttnik... why can't you see that?!" he rolled his eyes.
"Because she's an Overlander, Manic! No Overlanders are good! It's obvious!
She works for Robotnik, and this time, Robotnik's been more stupid than ever!
Ridiculous trick, she's of his own species! Why can't YOU see that!" Sonic almost
shouted.
"She's NOT Robotnik!" Manic cried back. Sonic finally fell silent, gritting his
teeth.
"Ok, you believe her, I don't! We'll camp here... and if your little girlfriend's going to stay for the night, prepare it all yourselves! I am not gonna help!" he said, coldly, "I'll go for a walk! Think of it in the meantime, Manic!" he got up, and walked out of the van.
"You'd better listen to Sonic... you know what could happen, Manic." Sonia
quietly said, walking out too. Manic and Jennifer looked after them.
"Never mind them..." Manic shook his head.
"Listen... I really should leave now. I don't wanna cause trouble..." Jennifer looked down at the floor.
"Don't leave, Buttnik would most likely get you again... and since you were locked up in the panzered cell I'm willing to bet that he won't hesitate to Roboticize you... I could at least teach you how to defend yourself before you leave." he put a hand on her shoulder.
"You're sure your siblings would allow that? I mean... they're pretty upset." she scratched her arm.
"Hey, I just tell them I'm responsible for you and your acts... alright?" Manic asked.
"You're sure about this?"
"Totally."
Jennifer thought for a moment, and then, half smiled.
"Alright... thanks."
***
Robotnik looked up when Dingo entered the command tower. "Well?" he watched as the nervous Dingo came closer.
"Sleet told me to give you this, sir... a prisoner has escaped." Dingo handed
some papers to Robotnik. He read them through.
"Cell 52, the panzered cell?! That was the human!" he looked up at Dingo
again.
"Yes sir... she was rescued by the hedgehogs and... whooa!" Dingo avoided a
metal device, which Robotnik threw after him.
"IDIOT!!! You just destroyed my chance to get the first roboticized human in
Mobius history!!! MORON!!! I thought the panzered cell was top guarded while
she was in there!" Robotnik threw another metal device at Dingo.
"It... it was. But the hedgehogs got through, we don't know how." Dingo stuttered.
"Find her location! I don't care what it takes! The spacecraft I sent to Earth after her is entirely destroyed and I haven't got the time or the money to build another one! So get that girl or I'll make sure the roboticizer gets work to do! Now, DISMISSED!" he pointed to the door, and Dingo ran off.
***
Manic made a well placed flying kick in the chest of the dummy, jumped over it, and kicked it from the back too. Then, he turned to Jennifer who was sitting, watching him on the ground, impressed.
"Well?" he walked over and leaned against the tree beside her, drying the sweat of his forehead. Jennifer half-smiled at him, uncertain.
"Well?" she asked.
"Show me what you can do, dudette!" he laughed. Jennifer looked at the dummy out of the corner of her eye.
"You're sure you wanna see it? I mean, I only had the orange belt in jui-jitsu, my fighting is nowhere CLOSE to yours." She got up. Manic nodded yes.
"You've gotta learn more than orange jui-jitsu if you wanna defend yourself! Go on, have a try!" he nodded to the dummy. Jennifer sighed, and nodded yes. Then, she took off her backpack and gave it to Manic.
"Hai, Manic." She smiled, and then, started walking towards the dummy. She stared at it for a split second, and then, ran towards it. Few meters before, she jumped, but missed the dummy and hit the tree it was tied to instead, and fell down, hitting the ground hard.
"Oh my Gawd! J!" Manic threw the backpack away and ran over to Jennifer, helping her to sit up. She rubbed her head.
"I told you I couldn't… its no use." She looked down at the ground, sighing heavily, "I'm sorry, Manic…" she bit in her lip while getting up. Manic smiled, shaking his head.
"Hey, you don't wanna know what it looked like when I had to learn to fight! Totally humiliating!"
"And what would you call what I just did?"
"Better than my fighting back then! Throwing my own drumsticks at my head, imagine that!" he scratched his neck. Jennifer laughed.
"Why drumsticks?" she forced herself to stop laughing. Manic pulled his drumsticks out and started swinging them in the air. Then, he threw them. Both of them hit in the middle of the tree, precisely. Jennifer's jaw dropped open in awe.
"O-o-ok! I understand!" she walked over to the tree, and had a closer look. Then, she turned to Manic.
"Can I see them?" she pointed to the drumsticks. Manic nodded yes.
"Go on."
Jennifer pulled them out of the tree, and looked at them, twisting and turning them in her hand, "but… these are ordinary drumsticks, what are you doing with them anyways?" she gave them back to Manic, lifting an eyebrow.
"You see my medallion?" Manic pointed to his medallion.
"What's with that?"
"Medallion now, set of drums NOW!" Manic rubbed it. A light appeared, making Jennifer almost fall backwards, covering her eyes from the sharpness of the light. When she looked in front of Manic, a set of drums, very futuristic looking, was there, they appeared out of nowhere. She stopped breathing for a moment.
"How… what… hey, it's incredible!" she started walking around it for a better view, "it's simply… wow! How'd you do it?" she looked at Manic.
"It's my medallion. Sonic and Sonia each have one too. Sonia has a keyboard, Sonic a guitar. They work as weapons as well… mine can shoot lasers and make earthquake." He hit one of the cymbals.
"So you're having a band or something?"
"Yep. The medallions can change to the instruments upon our will, and back, of course!" Manic stepped back, and transformed his set of drums back into his medallion, "hey, how 'bout you? Can you play any instruments?" he asked.
"Well… I played bass-guitar for some years ago, and I've had transverse flute lessons since I was eight, so… yes." Jennifer shrugged her shoulders, smiling. Manic looked at her, stunned for a moment.
"Transverse flute?" he asked, almost in a whisper. Jennifer nodded yes.
"Why?"
"Wait a sec…" Manic opened his fanny pack and started looking for something in it while Jennifer just stood looking at him, confused. He pulled a note out, and hid something in his hand while he started reading the note, looking to Jennifer a couple of times too. Then, he folded the note again, still staring at Jennifer.
"It's you… you're the one she wrote about in that note!" he whispered.
"What do you mean?! Who wrote what about me?! Is-" Jennifer almost yelled.
"Shhh! Sis and bro can hear you!" he cut her off, whispering. Jennifer looked at him, even more confused now. Manic looked at the note. "sorry… it's just that mom wrote that I shouldn't tell sis and bro this before the time came… and since they want you to leave at the moment, I don't think this is the right moment at all!" he looked at the van to make sure neither Sonic nor Sonia were listening.
"Tell them what? Manic, what's going on?" she scratched her head. Manic bit in his lip.
"First, promise me that you won't tell Sonia or Sonic no matter what… and don't show them the thing I'm giving you now to them at all, ok?" he moved closer. Jennifer nodded yes.
"I promise."
"Fine." Manic sighed, "close your eyes, and don't open them before I tell you, ok?"
"Ok!" Jennifer closed her eyes. Manic looked at the medallion in his hand.
"And you can open… now!" he quickly put it in her hand. Jennifer opened her eyes, and when she noticed the medallion, she forced herself not to let out a cry of surprise.
"What… how…. Why… for me?!" she asked, whispering. Manic nodded yes.
"Mom gave me this, and told me to give it to you… read this." He handed the note to Jennifer who started reading it. She read all silent while her mouth dropped open and she seemed to read the note several times before she folded it and gave it back to Manic. He looked at her. She was pale, and just stared out into the air. Inside, she knew what this meant. She wouldn't get home. She had just hoped somebody knew a way to get home, but after what the note said, she couldn't leave. A voice inside her said she had to help these Mobians through the war. But she'd never thought they actually needed her. Now, she knew she'd have to stay and help no matter what. She swallowed the lump she had in her throat, looking at Manic.
"Listen… I… I'd like to be alone for a while." She quickly walked past him. Manic knew something was wrong, he could see it in her eyes. But what?
***
Sleet walked into Robotnik's lab with some papers. Robotnik was standing in the room, working on something when Sleet came over to him.
"Robotnik, sir?" Sleet cleared his throat. Robotnik looked up from his work, at his lackey.
"I told you not to disturb me when I'm working! What is it?!" he narrowed his eyes. Sleet shuffled his feet, nervously.
"I-I-I bring news of the human, sir. The SWATbots found her location." He replied, stuttering. Robotnik looked at him for a moment, then, smiled evilly.
"Really?"
"Yes sir… she's still with the hedgehogs… we're ready to attack soon."
"Good! Roboticize her as soon as you get her! The hedgehogs too if that's necessary! Just get that girl, no matter what!" Robotnik turned away from his lackey for a moment, "launch the attack at 12 o'clock sharp tomorrow! Then, she'll be ours!" he clenched his fist.
END OF PART ONE.
Thank you for reading this! Part two is on its way!
Best wishes, JANNI!! :D
Dedicated to my little brother Ole... for... well... making me start writing fanfics...=)
NOTE:
I've decided to rewrite ALL of my stories now because I've changed writing style… I'll rewrite "Girl Power!", "Family Secrets" and "Weak or Strong?" as soon as I get time as well. Even though "Weak or Strong?" is already written in my new writing style, I'd like to make some small changes… you'll see what changes I'm talking about as soon as it's finished. Here's the legal stuff anyway: Sonic Underground, Sonic the Hedgehog, Manic the Hedgehog, Sonia the Hedgehog, Sleet, Dingo, Robotnik and so on are all © SEGA and/or DiC. But they DO NOT own Jennifer Scott… she's © me, so PLEASE e-mail me at sonicfriends_forever@start.com.au if you wanna use her… I'll probably say yes… PLEASE give me some feedback too… thanks for reading this and have a nice day!
Best wishes, JANNI!!!
Enemy or Ally?
Manic sighed heavily before he finally plopped down on the couch, closing his eyes. Everything had been kinda hectic at HQ the past week, and the freedom fighters rarely got a break. Then he opened his eyes again, and looked around the room. He never knew he'd have to fight for his life like this. He only had to steal to survive when he was living with Farrell and the other pickpockets, but now, it was literally fighting for survival. He sank the lump he had gotten in his throat. Farrell. He missed him. Like a father. Even though he knew he was only adopted. Sort of, anyway. When he found Sonic and Sonia, his life changed totally. He was with his real family, but it didn't feel right. Perhaps because their mother was missing. Perhaps because something else was missing. He was feeling kinda lonely. Of course he had Sonic and Sonia and the other freedom fighters, but he still seemed to want to take care of himself like he did before. No follow-the-leader. Farrell taught him to take care of himself, and he was used to this. He sighed, and looked around the room again. He suddenly noticed a figure standing in the door, looking at him.
"Huh?!" he sat up, fast, making himself dizzy. Looking at the figure once again, he recognized it. "MOM?!" he got up. The figure laid a note, and then, ran away. Manic ran to the door, and looked out at the corridor. The figure, or Aleena, was gone. "Mom?" he whispered, still a bit confused. He then looked down at the floor, noticing the note. Biting in his lip, he picked it up, and started reading.
My dear Manic.
I know you, Sonic and Sonia have been searching for me for along time, and I promise you the prophecy will be fulfilled. As long as you all work in harmony, I know you'll overthrow Robotnik. The Oracle of Delphius contacted me yesterday, telling a new obstacle- especially a test for you, Manic- will come up. A stranger. A stranger you may not like the first time you meet, but remember, it's not always what's on the outside that counts. Even though this person may look like an enemy, it might be an ally inside. Only if you're in harmony with this person, you will overthrow Robotnik and the prophecy will be fulfilled. I know you will be able to understand this, Manic, and I have to ask you to hide this message and the medallion until the time is right for Sonic and Sonia to know about this. I know you can make everyone feel in harmony with this person. You're the only one who'll be able to do this. I love you.
Manic looked up, from the note, realizing he was still biting in his lip. He looked around, and then, down at the note again, like he wanted to make sure it actually existed and he wasn't dreaming.
*Medallion? Which medallion?* he thought. Then he finally noticed it. A shiny medallion right in front of him, where he found the note. Picking it up, he noticed it was shaped like a transverse flute.
"A stranger... a test... for me." He mumbled to himself, looking at the note again. Suddenly, somebody put a hand on his shoulder. He hid the note and the medallion in his fanny pack, quickly, and turned. Sonic stood behind him, grinning.
"So... ready to go?" he asked. Manic looked away, and then, nodded yes.
"Sure."
"Great... the mission doesn't wait for us you know. Could you get sis? Then, I'll get the van ready." Sonic looked around in the room.
"Yeah. Where is she?" he asked.
"Probably in the band room, giving herself a facial." Sonic finished looking around the room then looked at Manic again, "Is something wrong, bro? You don't look like everything is alright" He leaned against the wall.
"I'm fine... just a little tired, that's all." He walked off, feeling like Sonic was still looking after him.
"Ok! Tell sis we're leaving in five minutes. She needs to finish her facial too!" Sonic shouted as he sped off. Manic heard himself mumble yes, and continued down the corridor until he reached the room where the SU usually practiced and slept. He tried to open the door, but found out it was locked.
"Sis?" he asked, knocking on the door.
"Coming!" he heard Sonia's voice from inside, then, steps coming closer. The door opened, and a green face looked out at him. Manic jumped back with a scream. The face, who happened to be Sonia, frowned.
"What's up, Manic? It's me!" she folded her arms, and tapped her foot. Manic felt his pulse fall back to normal again, while his heart fell back from sitting in his throat.
"Sorry..." he said, breathing out, "Bro asked me to tell you that we're leaving in five minutes. We need to pack." He walked into the room. Sonia walked over to a mirror and washed the facial off in some water, which stood on the table beside. She looked at Manic in the mirror. He sat down, rubbing his face.
"What's up, Manic?" she asked, turning to him. Manic stopped rubbing his face, and grinned sheepishly.
"Uhh... nothing."
"You look like something's wrong." She dried her face, and turned to him while brushing her hair.
"I'm cool. Just tired." He got up, "Sonic's waiting for us." He started walking towards the door while Sonia lifted an eyebrow. Then, she walked after him.
"It's been kinda hectic, right?" she asked. Manic just stared out into the air, while saying nothing, "Manic?" still no answer, "MANIC!!!" she stopped. Manic turned to her, shocked.
"Wh... what?"
"Never mind. What are you thinking of? Something IS wrong, right?" she walked up to his side and the two continued. Manic felt himself bite his teeth together. *don't tell them before the time comes.* he heard the voice inside his head. He then shook his head.
"I'm just tired." He replied. Sonia rolled her eyes. She knew she couldn't get him to tell her anything when he acted like this. When the two reached the building where the van was parked and walked inside, Sonic was scarfing down at least ten chili-dogs.
"Are you done?!" Sonia asked, through her gritted teeth while she tapped her foot in disgust. Manic couldn't help smiling. Sonic and Sonia had been like this since the first day they all met. Always having something to argue about. Even now. Sonic looked at her, careless, scarfing down the last chilidog, and licking his lips.
"Satisfied, miss?" he opened the door to the van. Manic walked in, giggling while Sonia stared at Sonic, her teeth still gritted.
"Sonic Hedgehog! You're getting on my nerves!" she muttered while she walked in. Sonic sped in as well, closed the door, and sat down in the driver's seat. The hatch to the underground garage opened, and Sonic drove the van out, heading towards Robotropolis.
***
Even though her parents had never cared for her, she missed them now. She
had never missed them like this. Sitting there in the dark corner, hiding from anything that should come by, shaking like a little child even though she was a 16-year-old girl who was always able to take care of herself. But not this time. She was locked up in some sort of cell, she tried to make somebody hear her by knocking and kicking the metal door while screaming franticly. But now, she just sat in the corner. Being the only human onboard this thing, among a lot of robots and two... aliens? A wolf and a dingo, walking and talking like her. She looked out of the window beside her, through the bars. If she didn't know better, she'd think she was in space or something. But that was impossible in her theories. In her theories, yes... but who said her theories were right? She saw something getting closer underneath the ship. A planet? A little ball, glowing blue and green in the middle of what seemed like a bottomless, giant hole. It was getting bigger and bigger when they came closer. A sound interrupted her thoughts, and she turned her head in that direction, seeing the door open and two of these robots step in. They saw her, and started approaching her, fast.
"No..." she whispered as they held their arms out to grab her when she tried to get away, "please... don't!" she felt the metal hands grab her firmly by her shoulders, lift her up, and drag her out.
***
"Yo, Manic! Wake up, sleeping beauty! We're there!" Manic heard Sonic's voice and opened his eyes slowly when Sonic shook him by his shoulders.
"We're… where?" he asked, bluntly, yawning.
"Robotropolis, Manic!" Sonia said from her seat.
"Huh?" Manic blinked a couple of times.
"It's time for a mission bro!" Sonic laughed quietly, looking at Manic who sat, looking more asleep than awake.
"Oh…" Manic finally got up, "I'm up, I'm up." He yawned again. He still felt the sleep in his eyes, but what had to be done had to be done. Sonic and Sonia looked at each other, lifting their eyebrows, but then, got up, and followed him out. Sonia walked up by his side.
"Manic… you're sure you're alright?" she asked, softly. Manic nodded yes, rubbing the last sleep out of his eyes.
"I'm fine, sis. I'm fine." He took a deep breath of the fresh evening air when he and his siblings stepped out of the van. They stood looking down at Robotropolis. Everything seemed to be calm down there.
"Ok, guys… everybody knows what to do?" Sonic turned to his siblings. Sonia nodded yes.
"Uhm…" Manic scratched his neck. Trying to remember made the headache he had earlier this morning come back. He shook his head no.
"I guess we'll have to retell… alright, first, we'll blow up the roboticizer. Then, we'll go to the prison building to check to see if there are any prisoners. The chances of finding any are small, but we have to check. Then, we'll blow the prison building up. That's it." Sonic explained. Manic looked towards the prison building. He knew the chances of finding any prisoners there were small. In fact, very small. He checked the lists of prisoners earlier today, and there was nothing. He didn't get why they bothered checking the prison at all. He was totally SURE there weren't any prisoners anyway. But something told him it had to be done. Besides, it wouldn't hurt. He yawned, and nodded yes.
"We only need to look out for SWATbots if there are any. It looks kinda dead. Too dead to me." Sonia shuddered.
"Yea… no party!" Sonic snickered. Sonia rolled her eyes.
"I'm serious, Sonic Hedgehog!" she hissed.
"I know, I know! Let's go, anyway... we just need to keep an eye on everything around us, and nothing should happen! Ok?" Sonic tapped his foot.
"Fine!" Sonia muttered.
"Ok! Let's do it to it!" Sonic slapped the others a high five, and they all ran off.
***
She sat in another cold and wet cell, still knowing nothing about what was going on. Still scared. When suddenly, she noticed somebody standing in front of the cell. She turned around to face the person. The wolf and the dingo were there too. The person was a big (REALLY big) man with a moustache, which looked more like pencils sticking out of his nose, and black and red eyes with no feelings. They all looked at her while she tried to hide herself, melt into the wall, something, just hide.
"Is it her?" the man asked. The wolf nodded.
"She was the fastest one to get, sir. The SWATbots located her fast, and even though she fought, she was easy to get." He said. The man smiled at her, evilly which sent a shiver down her spine.
"She's perfect! Make sure everyone gets to know! I want all of my noble subjects to be there when she's roboticized! The first roboticized human in Mobius' history! I can hardly wait!" he rubbed his hands, and laughed while he walked away. She looked after him. Roboticized? What was he talking about anyway? He was a human himself too… or… was he? The thought sent another shiver down her spine. She turned her head. Facing the wolf and the dingo who still stood in front of the cell, looking at her.
"He should give us a raise now. That human wasn't easy to get." He looked at her, frowning. The dingo looked at her too, confused.
"Why a human?" he asked. His accent was very Australian. More like one great walking stereotype. The wolf sounded more French in her opinion. He slapped the dingo.
"Because Earth is the only planet near Mobius with proved intelligent life on it, flea brain! But I don't understand why he'd want to go to another planet just to capture some alien and roboticize it! It's a waste of money if you ask me!" he rolled his eyes.
*So this IS another planet?!* she thought, biting in her lip, looking at the wolf and the dingo again. They looked at her too. Something about them made her shiver. Maybe it was just the cold?
"We won't get much pay for this one! She's locked up in the panzered cell, it'd be stupid to try to unlock it without Robotnik knowing it was us. This lousy job's just too much!" the wolf muttered as he and the Dingo walked off, finally leaving her alone. Suddenly, a great boom sounded, sending an echo through the building. Then, everything was dark again.
***
Sonic watched the SWATbots walk into the prison building, and then, turned to his siblings.
"They're gone, guys! It's time to get started!" he whispered. Sonia transformed her medallion to her keyboard.
"I wonder why all of them are going to the prison. Maybe somebody IS in there after all." She frowned.
"Or maybe Robotnik just gave the cleaning-job to them!" Manic laughed.
"Anyway, let's check it out! Hang on to your lunch, sibs!" Sonic grabbed Sonia and Manic by their wrists and quickly zipped into the prison building where they hid behind a wall. They looked around the corner. SWATbots seemed to be everywhere.
"Looks like they're guarding something important!" Sonia whispered.
"I'd say someONE! Looks like the person in there needs a S-S-U-R!" Sonic grinned. Sonia and Manic looked at each other, confused.
"S-S-U-R?" Sonia frowned.
"Super Sonic Underground Rescue, what else?! Ok, sibs! Stay here and wait for my signal! Got it?" Sonic looked at the other two. They nodded. Then, Sonic stepped out from behind the corner. The SWATbots didn't notice him.
"Hey, SWATbutts! Your hero is here!" he shouted, whistling. The SWATbots turned around and quickly started shooting after him while the half of them started walking towards him. Sonic snapped his fingers and Sonia and Manic jumped out from behind the corner too. Manic pulled out his drumsticks.
"Yo dudes! Missed me?!" he jumped up on one of them, and started drumming on its head. It exploded, taking 2 other bots with it. Sonia shot 3 of them, and a few seconds later, the rest of the bots had to leave the cell and join the fight. Sonic spin dashed into a crowd, destroying a couple.
"Manic! Go free the prisoner in the cell! We'll get the last SWATbutts!" he shouted. Manic finished the bot which shoulders he was sitting on, and started running towards the cell while pulling the lock breaking tools out of his fanny pack. When he got to the cell, he started picking the lock at the same.
"Don't worry, dude! We'll get ya outta here in no time!" his fingers did their own work. His brain was focusing on something else. He had a strange feeling when he was standing there in front of the cell. He couldn't tell what it was like, but he realized his hands were working faster than usual.
"A… a…. a…. HEDGEHOG?!?!?!" he heard a cry from inside the cell. He almost dropped the hairpin he was using when he heard the cry.
"Well, I know I'm not exactly… WHA?!" the hairpin was dropped on the floor when Manic looked up to see the person inside the cell. He stood like stunned, and just stared at the person. Sonic and Sonia came to his side.
"Hey, bro, what's taking you so long? The SWATbots could-" Sonic was cut off by his own gasp when he and Sonia looked into the cell too. Their mouths dropped open in shock: on the plank bed in the cell an Overlander sat, looking out at them, looking a hundred times more shocked than them. An Overlander, or someone who looked pretty much like one. It was a female, of their age and Manic's height. She was wearing a red T-shirt, blue jeans, a brown backpack and a headband, which matched her light blonde hair pretty well. Manic just stood, staring at her. There was something about those greenish blue eyes…
"A-a-a-an OVERLANDER?!" Sonia cried, stepping backwards, making Manic jump as she interrupted his thoughts. The 'Overlander' looked at her, shocked.
"Listen… I'm not an Overlander… I… could you… please tell me what's going on?" she asked, with a little voice.
"You wanna know what's going on?! I'll tell you what's going on! Stay there,
don't move!" Sonia started pointing at the Overlander with her synthesizer,
ready to shoot while the Overlander crawled backwards, falling down from the plank bed.
"HEY! Stop that, sis! She can't do anything, anyway!" Manic pushed the synthesizer away, making Sonia stop pointing at the Overlander. Sonic and Sonia looked at each other, frowning.
"And... what do you think you're doing, bro?!" Sonic asked.
"Well... you can't blame her for her species." Manic replied.
"She's an Overlander, Manic! Like Robotnik!" Sonia crossed her arms.
"Hey, she's NOT Robotnik! And there has to be a reason of why she's locked up in
there!" Manic pointed to the Overlander who just looked from one of them to
another in confusion.
"Yeah, she probably betrayed Robotnik or something! Manic, let's just leave
her here!" Sonic rolled his eyes.
"Sorry, but... I didn't betray anyone..." the Overlander quietly said, "he just took me away... I don't know why." she looked at Sonic, pleading, "you have to trust me... please... get me out of here, I can't stand another day here!" she bit in her lip.
"Yeah, yeah... nice acting. Sis, bro, Com' on!" Sonic turned around along with Sonia and started walking out when they suddenly saw Manic was missing. Turning around, they saw him in front of the cell, trying to break the lock again.
"Manic, what the heck are you doing?!" Sonic sped back and grabbed his
brother by the shoulder. Manic just continued breaking the lock.
"We can't leave her here! Robotnik would roboticize her." he let his fingers do their own work, and finally, the lock gave up, "that's it!"
"And so what if Robotnik roboticized her?" Sonic sighed heavily.
"So what?! Hey, so what if Robotnik roboticized me? So what if Robotnik roboticized you? It's the same, Sonic, she's alive just like us!" Manic said, "if you don't wanna help me get her out, it's alright, but I AM gonna help her!" he looked at Sonic for the last time, and then, walked into the cell. Sonic rolled his eyes.
"Com' on sis, we're outta here! See you by the van, Manic!" he turned around,
and he and Sonia left. Manic looked after them, shrugging his shoulders.
"Thanks, guys." he mumbled, and then, turned to the Overlander, "ok
dudette... let's get outta here, alright?" he offered her a hand.
She crawled backwards, startled.
"Leave me alone!" she quietly, but firmly said. Manic smiled.
"Hey, take it easy! I'm not gonna hurt ya! I just wanna help you out of here!
Com' on, nothing will happen!" he offered her a hand again. She hesitated for
a moment, and then, let Manic help her to her feet. He looked her over once again.
She was totally pale, and looked like she'd collapse any moment.
"Hey... are you alright?" Manic asked.
"Would you be if you were taken away from your parents, flown to some place
you don't even know and thrown into an ugly, cold and wet cell in an ugly,
cold and wet town without having anything to eat or drink in 2 days, and
after a time some, sorry, aliens rescue you? No, I'm not alright! I just
wanna go home!" she shook her head while her eyes started to water. Then, she looked at him, sighing heavily, "sorry... and thank you."
"It's alright, no problem. Listen, we'd better..." Manic was cut off when a
beam from a stun gun suddenly hit the wall, "whoops! Looks like they're back! Let's go!" Manic grabbed the girl's hand.
"But they... WHOA!!!" she was cut off when Manic suddenly ran towards
the bots.
"Listen, I don't think that's a good idea!!!" she cried when they came closer. She covered her eyes with her hands when Manic suddenly jumped up and kicked all of the 'bots down. Then, he turned to the girl.
"Are you coming? More SWATbots are coming soon, we've gotta get outta here!"
he pointed to the exit of the building. The girl looked at him, impressed.
"S... sure." she replied. Manic started running, followed by the girl. When
they came out some SWATbots were checking the streets noticed them and started following them closely, shooting after them with glue- and
stun guns. Manic looked behind and saw the SWATbots catching up with the girl
who tried to keep up with him. They started reaching for her.
"Oh no! HANG ON!!!" he shouted, turning around and running towards the girl.
When he reached her he grabbed her hand and the two continued their way
toward the hills behind the city. After a short moment, they were far ahead of the SWATbots, but kept on running.
"We need to get to the van! Sis an' bro are waiting there, it's our only
chance to get away!" Manic said, "you'll be alright?" he looked at the girl.
"Yeah... thanks again!" she replied. They finally reached the van and hurried
inside, short of breath. Manic ran over, and sat down in his seat, buckling
his seat belt.
"Manic, what the heck are you doing?! She's not..." Sonic was cut off by
Manic.
"Shut up and drive! We have an army of SWATbots on our backs, no time for
this!" he spat. Sonic and Sonia looked at each other, and then, back at
Manic, blinking confused. Suddenly, something started knocking on the door to
the van, trying to knock it in.
"They're here! Com' on, hurry up!" Manic shouted to Sonic who finally started
the van, "take the passenger's bench... You'll need to sit down." Manic
pointed to passenger's bench, looking at the Overlander. She did as she was told, but
was thrown to one of the sides when Sonic backed the van into a SWATbot. He
drove forwards, right into another SWATbot, throwing the Overlander to the
other side.
"Ok, let's go!" he stepped on the gas, and the van raced forwards, away from
the SWATbots, which started following them, shooting after the wheels. Sonic
made a hard turn, driving directly into some other SWATbots. Only two left.
Sonic drove forwards with full speed, avoiding some shots from the two bots.
Then, he backed up destroying one of the bots, and then, raced forwards,
followed by the last one. After a short moment, the SWATbot gave up, and stopped
the chase, going back to Robotropolis.
"Alright! We made it!" Manic slapped his sister a high-five.
"Yeah, barely all because of HER!" Sonic grumbled while he continued driving,
pointing to the Overlander, who just sat, holding onto the passenger's bench,
firmly.
"Ah, stop it! It's not her fault!" Manic folded his arms.
"Oh, but they were following HER! It actually WAS her fault!" Sonia protested.
The Overlander heard this, and just looked at them, biting in her lip.
"I'm... sorry." she quietly said.
"And you have a reason to be! You almost got us killed back there!" Sonic looked
at her, icy, and then, turned back to keep an eye on the road. Manic looked
back at the Overlander who looked down at the ground. He unbuckled his
seatbelt and got up. Sonic and Sonia looked at him surprised when he
walked over and sat down beside the Overlander on the passenger's seat. Manic
just ignored this, and turned to the Overlander.
"Listen, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to..." she fell silent when Manic
signed her to be quiet.
"It wasn't your fault in any way... they followed me too, so it'd be my fault
as well." he shrugged his shoulders.
"But you stayed to get me out... if you'd just left, they wouldn't be following
you." The Overlander looked away from him, down at the passenger's bench.
"Hey, it was my own choice... don't feel bad about it, ok?" Manic placed his
hand on her shoulder. She looked at him for a moment, and then, looked at
Sonic and Sonia.
"But your siblings don't want me here... perhaps it'd be the best if I just
left." she said, quietly.
"Sounds good to me!" Sonic muttered from the front.
"Mind your own business, Sonic!" Manic hissed. He turned back to the
Overlander, "if you left, Robotnik would probably get you again..."
"Who's... Robotnik?" the Overlander asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"You don't know?" Manic asked, confused. The Overlander shook her head no.
"I've never heard of him..."
"Well, he's the guy who's making this war… have you seen a big round guy with mustache?"
"HE was Robotnik?" Jennifer scratched her head, "talk about overweight!"
"That's Robotnik alright… what about a wolf and a…"
"Dingo! I saw them… thought they were aliens… I… it's hard to believe what's going on." The girl cut Manic off, looking down at the ground.
"Sleet and Dingo." Manic looked at her. She just sat, looking down at the ground
"I wonder what they wanted with you... they rarely use the panzered cell." He broke the silence.
"The fat... I mean, Robotnik said he wanted to... robo... roboticaze me... I think." the Overlander said.
"Roboticize!" Manic snapped his fingers.
"Yeah... he said something about I'd be the first roboticized human in the history of... something I don't remember." she shrugged her shoulders.
"Human?" Manic asked. The Overlander nodded.
"I'm a human! Not one of those... Overlanders." she replied.
"You hear that! She's not an Overlander!" Manic shouted to his siblings.
"She's acting, Manic! She IS an Overlander!" Sonia just replied. Manic sighed and looked back at the Overlander and into her eyes. Somehow, he didn't think she was lying. It was like her eyes told him that she really was telling him the truth.
"Never mind them." he muttered.
"It's ok... I don't blame them. If that Robotnik guy is an Overlander, they have a really good reason to be mad at me." the Overlander, or human, said.
"Which reason? YOU aren't Robotnik."
"No, I know."
Silence... Neither Manic nor the girl said anything.
"Oh, listen... we haven't introduced ourselves yet! I'm Manic Hedgehog. The two others over there are Sonic and Sonia, my siblings. We're all looking for our mother, Queen Aleena. You?" Manic broke the silence again, and held his hand out to shake the girl's hand.
"Jennifer Scott. I'm-" she was cut off by her own gasp, "WAITAMINUTE?! QUEEN ALEENA?! So you're a… PRINCE?!" she almost fell backwards down from the bench, "sorry Your Highness, I didn't..." she fell silent when Manic laid a hand over her mouth.
"Listen, just act natural... we're in the same situation, J." he smiled and removed his hand. Jennifer looked at him, all silent.
"J?" she asked.
"Well... I… uhh… it's shorter!" Manic grinned nervously, and noticed he was blushing. He had already given a nickname to a girl he didn't even know yet. Jennifer smiled.
"It's great... never gotten a nickname before." she said. She then looked at him, "you've got the black belt?" she asked. Manic lifted an eyebrow.
"The... black belt?"
"Yeah, in karate... only the ones with the black belt or higher would be able to do flying kicks like the ones you did in the city! It was very impressive!" Jennifer explained.
Manic looked confused at her for a moment, and then, laughed.
"Oh, those! Hey, it's easy enough... but I haven't got any belts or whatever... kicks are the only karate tricks I've learned... but Sonia, my sister, is great at karate." he pointed to Sonia.
"Ok... but... why are you here? People with titles such as prince and princess should be in exile or something someplace!" Jennifer lifted an eyebrow.
"It's pretty tough since Robotnik's invaded the entire planet... our mom,
Queen Aleena, the right ruler of the planet, was forced to split us up when we
were babies, otherwise, the prophecy about the Council of Four and overthrowing
Robotnik wouldn't be fulfilled... so we're looking for her while we're in the
resistance." Manic sighed heavily, "it's not all luxury an' that stuff to be royal when such a thing as war breaks out. Believe me." He snorted.
"I... see." she looked up when the van suddenly stopped and Sonic turned to
look at them both.
"Listen up bro, first you rescue some Overlander, and then, you give away our
entire life story to her! She's supposed to be like Robotnik, Manic!" he frowned. Manic sighed heavily.
"She ain't like Buttnik... why can't you see that?!" he rolled his eyes.
"Because she's an Overlander, Manic! No Overlanders are good! It's obvious!
She works for Robotnik, and this time, Robotnik's been more stupid than ever!
Ridiculous trick, she's of his own species! Why can't YOU see that!" Sonic almost
shouted.
"She's NOT Robotnik!" Manic cried back. Sonic finally fell silent, gritting his
teeth.
"Ok, you believe her, I don't! We'll camp here... and if your little girlfriend's going to stay for the night, prepare it all yourselves! I am not gonna help!" he said, coldly, "I'll go for a walk! Think of it in the meantime, Manic!" he got up, and walked out of the van.
"You'd better listen to Sonic... you know what could happen, Manic." Sonia
quietly said, walking out too. Manic and Jennifer looked after them.
"Never mind them..." Manic shook his head.
"Listen... I really should leave now. I don't wanna cause trouble..." Jennifer looked down at the floor.
"Don't leave, Buttnik would most likely get you again... and since you were locked up in the panzered cell I'm willing to bet that he won't hesitate to Roboticize you... I could at least teach you how to defend yourself before you leave." he put a hand on her shoulder.
"You're sure your siblings would allow that? I mean... they're pretty upset." she scratched her arm.
"Hey, I just tell them I'm responsible for you and your acts... alright?" Manic asked.
"You're sure about this?"
"Totally."
Jennifer thought for a moment, and then, half smiled.
"Alright... thanks."
***
Robotnik looked up when Dingo entered the command tower. "Well?" he watched as the nervous Dingo came closer.
"Sleet told me to give you this, sir... a prisoner has escaped." Dingo handed
some papers to Robotnik. He read them through.
"Cell 52, the panzered cell?! That was the human!" he looked up at Dingo
again.
"Yes sir... she was rescued by the hedgehogs and... whooa!" Dingo avoided a
metal device, which Robotnik threw after him.
"IDIOT!!! You just destroyed my chance to get the first roboticized human in
Mobius history!!! MORON!!! I thought the panzered cell was top guarded while
she was in there!" Robotnik threw another metal device at Dingo.
"It... it was. But the hedgehogs got through, we don't know how." Dingo stuttered.
"Find her location! I don't care what it takes! The spacecraft I sent to Earth after her is entirely destroyed and I haven't got the time or the money to build another one! So get that girl or I'll make sure the roboticizer gets work to do! Now, DISMISSED!" he pointed to the door, and Dingo ran off.
***
Manic made a well placed flying kick in the chest of the dummy, jumped over it, and kicked it from the back too. Then, he turned to Jennifer who was sitting, watching him on the ground, impressed.
"Well?" he walked over and leaned against the tree beside her, drying the sweat of his forehead. Jennifer half-smiled at him, uncertain.
"Well?" she asked.
"Show me what you can do, dudette!" he laughed. Jennifer looked at the dummy out of the corner of her eye.
"You're sure you wanna see it? I mean, I only had the orange belt in jui-jitsu, my fighting is nowhere CLOSE to yours." She got up. Manic nodded yes.
"You've gotta learn more than orange jui-jitsu if you wanna defend yourself! Go on, have a try!" he nodded to the dummy. Jennifer sighed, and nodded yes. Then, she took off her backpack and gave it to Manic.
"Hai, Manic." She smiled, and then, started walking towards the dummy. She stared at it for a split second, and then, ran towards it. Few meters before, she jumped, but missed the dummy and hit the tree it was tied to instead, and fell down, hitting the ground hard.
"Oh my Gawd! J!" Manic threw the backpack away and ran over to Jennifer, helping her to sit up. She rubbed her head.
"I told you I couldn't… its no use." She looked down at the ground, sighing heavily, "I'm sorry, Manic…" she bit in her lip while getting up. Manic smiled, shaking his head.
"Hey, you don't wanna know what it looked like when I had to learn to fight! Totally humiliating!"
"And what would you call what I just did?"
"Better than my fighting back then! Throwing my own drumsticks at my head, imagine that!" he scratched his neck. Jennifer laughed.
"Why drumsticks?" she forced herself to stop laughing. Manic pulled his drumsticks out and started swinging them in the air. Then, he threw them. Both of them hit in the middle of the tree, precisely. Jennifer's jaw dropped open in awe.
"O-o-ok! I understand!" she walked over to the tree, and had a closer look. Then, she turned to Manic.
"Can I see them?" she pointed to the drumsticks. Manic nodded yes.
"Go on."
Jennifer pulled them out of the tree, and looked at them, twisting and turning them in her hand, "but… these are ordinary drumsticks, what are you doing with them anyways?" she gave them back to Manic, lifting an eyebrow.
"You see my medallion?" Manic pointed to his medallion.
"What's with that?"
"Medallion now, set of drums NOW!" Manic rubbed it. A light appeared, making Jennifer almost fall backwards, covering her eyes from the sharpness of the light. When she looked in front of Manic, a set of drums, very futuristic looking, was there, they appeared out of nowhere. She stopped breathing for a moment.
"How… what… hey, it's incredible!" she started walking around it for a better view, "it's simply… wow! How'd you do it?" she looked at Manic.
"It's my medallion. Sonic and Sonia each have one too. Sonia has a keyboard, Sonic a guitar. They work as weapons as well… mine can shoot lasers and make earthquake." He hit one of the cymbals.
"So you're having a band or something?"
"Yep. The medallions can change to the instruments upon our will, and back, of course!" Manic stepped back, and transformed his set of drums back into his medallion, "hey, how 'bout you? Can you play any instruments?" he asked.
"Well… I played bass-guitar for some years ago, and I've had transverse flute lessons since I was eight, so… yes." Jennifer shrugged her shoulders, smiling. Manic looked at her, stunned for a moment.
"Transverse flute?" he asked, almost in a whisper. Jennifer nodded yes.
"Why?"
"Wait a sec…" Manic opened his fanny pack and started looking for something in it while Jennifer just stood looking at him, confused. He pulled a note out, and hid something in his hand while he started reading the note, looking to Jennifer a couple of times too. Then, he folded the note again, still staring at Jennifer.
"It's you… you're the one she wrote about in that note!" he whispered.
"What do you mean?! Who wrote what about me?! Is-" Jennifer almost yelled.
"Shhh! Sis and bro can hear you!" he cut her off, whispering. Jennifer looked at him, even more confused now. Manic looked at the note. "sorry… it's just that mom wrote that I shouldn't tell sis and bro this before the time came… and since they want you to leave at the moment, I don't think this is the right moment at all!" he looked at the van to make sure neither Sonic nor Sonia were listening.
"Tell them what? Manic, what's going on?" she scratched her head. Manic bit in his lip.
"First, promise me that you won't tell Sonia or Sonic no matter what… and don't show them the thing I'm giving you now to them at all, ok?" he moved closer. Jennifer nodded yes.
"I promise."
"Fine." Manic sighed, "close your eyes, and don't open them before I tell you, ok?"
"Ok!" Jennifer closed her eyes. Manic looked at the medallion in his hand.
"And you can open… now!" he quickly put it in her hand. Jennifer opened her eyes, and when she noticed the medallion, she forced herself not to let out a cry of surprise.
"What… how…. Why… for me?!" she asked, whispering. Manic nodded yes.
"Mom gave me this, and told me to give it to you… read this." He handed the note to Jennifer who started reading it. She read all silent while her mouth dropped open and she seemed to read the note several times before she folded it and gave it back to Manic. He looked at her. She was pale, and just stared out into the air. Inside, she knew what this meant. She wouldn't get home. She had just hoped somebody knew a way to get home, but after what the note said, she couldn't leave. A voice inside her said she had to help these Mobians through the war. But she'd never thought they actually needed her. Now, she knew she'd have to stay and help no matter what. She swallowed the lump she had in her throat, looking at Manic.
"Listen… I… I'd like to be alone for a while." She quickly walked past him. Manic knew something was wrong, he could see it in her eyes. But what?
***
Sleet walked into Robotnik's lab with some papers. Robotnik was standing in the room, working on something when Sleet came over to him.
"Robotnik, sir?" Sleet cleared his throat. Robotnik looked up from his work, at his lackey.
"I told you not to disturb me when I'm working! What is it?!" he narrowed his eyes. Sleet shuffled his feet, nervously.
"I-I-I bring news of the human, sir. The SWATbots found her location." He replied, stuttering. Robotnik looked at him for a moment, then, smiled evilly.
"Really?"
"Yes sir… she's still with the hedgehogs… we're ready to attack soon."
"Good! Roboticize her as soon as you get her! The hedgehogs too if that's necessary! Just get that girl, no matter what!" Robotnik turned away from his lackey for a moment, "launch the attack at 12 o'clock sharp tomorrow! Then, she'll be ours!" he clenched his fist.
END OF PART ONE.
Thank you for reading this! Part two is on its way!
Best wishes, JANNI!! :D