12
Uncle Chuck was quickly heading for the exit from the Main Structure when he was
stopped by a SWATbot.
"Return to duty," it said.
"What is my duty?" replied Uncle Chuck.
"Serve Robotnik," said the SWATbot.
"In what way am I not serving Robotnik?" snapped Uncle Chuck.
"This does not compute," said the SWATbot, as it seemingly did not have an
answer in its programming.
But a Combot seemed to have an answer, as it was a newer robot compared to the
SWATbot, and was more deeply programmed.
"Your programming does not send you in the direction which you are traveling,"
said the lifeless Combot.
Another Combot entered the scene and said to Uncle Chuck, "The lord Ivo Robotnik
wishes you in his chambers immediately, Sir Charles."
"Uh-oh," thought Uncle Chuck, "maybe I shouldn't have argued with that SWATbot."
Uncle Chuck was escorted into the Command Center by the two Combots.
**********
Knothole…
"I got a faint signal from Rotor, although all I could make out very little,"
said Bunnie.
"Did he say where he was?" asked Sally
"Not that I could make out," replied Bunnie.
"Maybe we can track the signal," said Sally. "Nicole?"
"I'm sorry, Sally. The connection to Rotor was too faint to be recorded. With
a signal that faint, you can only track it while it is in progress," said
Nicole.
"Well, then," said Bunnie, "I guess we'll have to guess Robotropolis."
Dr. Quack commented, "That is where he said he was going."
"I am aleergeec to Robotneek," whined Antoine.
"Maybe we should leave him at Knothole," Bunnie whispered to Sally, "after what
almost happened."
"That time is passed. We can't be worried about what almost happened anymore.
We need him," replied Sally, and then, louder, "Come on, Antoine. We've got
ourselves a Freedom Fighter to save!"
**********
Robotropolis…
"Come on, Caero," said Sonic, "let's see if Unc's found out anything new."
"All right," replied Caero, "let's go!"
The two of them headed for the secret hideaway, and Sonic opened the door.
"Unc?" called Sonic, "Unc, are you here?" "I guess he had to do something in
Robotnik's domain. Sometimes he has to do stuff for Robotnik to keep Robotnik
thinking he's under his control."
"Should we go back into fat-boy's place?"
"I dunno." "With my uncle in there, it could put all of us in danger." "If
Robotnik sees us, he'll force Unc to sic us, and if my uncle doesn't,
Nonutnik'll know Chuck has his free will back and realign him."
"Realign?"
"That means put Unc back under his control."
"Well, all right."
"How 'bout going to the home of my band, the Freedom Fighters? I can introduce
you to my friends."
"Sounds good to me."
Sonic and Caero headed for Knothole.
**********
Meanwhile, in Robotnik's Headquarters…
Robotnik spun his chair around to face Uncle Chuck as he entered his domain.
"Hello, Sir Charles," rasped Robotnik.
"How may I serve you, my lord?" monotonously spoke Chuck.
"Hmm, well, you could explain to me the conversation you had with the SWATbot a
few minutes ago." "Let's see."
"Uh-oh!" thought Uncle Chuck.
"Not understood," Uncle Chuck replied.
"Let's just ask this straight out: have you gained free will and independence
from my control?"
"I live to serve you, my lord. Your word is my command."
"I'm not so sure I believe you." "Well, let's test your allegiance."
Robotnik turned around in his chair and spoke into his radio transmitter:
"Secondary roboticization chamber units, send the walrus to my chambers."
About a minute later, two Combots arrived with Rotor. Robotnik pressed a button
on his control panel, turned his chair around and stepped up to Uncle Chuck.
"Computer, activate warp!" boomed Robotnik.
"Yes, sir, activating warp now," spoke the computer.
Uncle Chuck, Robotnik, Rotor, and the two Combots were all surrounded in a red
glow.
**********
Knothole sector, Great Forest…
Antoine reluctantly followed Bunnie and the princess. They headed out of Sector
102 of the Great Forest, into Sector 101. A few SWATbots patrolled the area.
"Fire, Bunnie!" commanded Sally, quietly.
Bunnie activated her pulse cannon and fired at one of the SWATbots. Quickly, it
was taken down, but this alerted the other SWATbots; two of them, to be exact.
"Identified as Freedom Fighters Sally Alicia Acorn, Bunnie Rabbot, Antoine
D'coolette," droned a SWATbot.
"Priority One: apprehend Freedom Fighters," blared the other.
The SWATbots fired stun rays. Antoine barely avoided one that whizzed past his
left ear, then drew his sword and struck one of the robots. The SWATbot fell to
the ground and squeaked out, "Malfunction!" Antoine struck the SWATbot again,
and it sizzled with electricity, and then short-circuited. The other SWATbot
fired a stun ray at Bunnie, which hit her robotic arm, causing a shutdown of her
pulse cannon. Sally delivered a flip back kick (her trademark attack) to the
SWATbot and it exploded upon contact with the ground.
Bunnie's pulse cannon rebooted at this point. The shutdown was only temporary,
apparently. The trio of justice-seeking warriors headed out of the Great
Forest, toward the prime enemy for which their cause was to fight.
**********
Great Forest…
Sonic and Caero headed into the Great Forest, Sector 107. Sector 107 was at the
boundary of the Great Forest. From 107, going into the forest, was 104, and
then 101.
"So, Caero," spoke Sonic, "how did you make your clan's hideaway invisible?"
"'Tis not invisible," replied Caero, "just scientifically blended with its
surroundings." "That remote you found removes the camouflage."
"But how can you do it?"
"Our clan has scavenged some of blubber-butt's technology components and studied
them to make them more advanced. I don't know how our clan does it. We have a
few things Robotnik doesn't have. He has a lot of things we don't have. But he
hasn't found us yet!"
Caero and Sonic entered Sector 104.
"Let's speed up!" suggested Sonic.
"Fine by me; just don't go too fast!" replied Caero.
Sonic headed toward Sector 101 at a slightly faster pace, when he was attacked
by SWATbots patrolling Sector 104.
"Priority Two: neutralize Sonic the Hedgehog!" alerted a SWATbot as it detected
Sonic.
"Not today," cried Sonic, "not any day!"
Sonic went into spin mode and blasted through all the SWATbots. All but one
were destroyed after this quick maneuver by Sonic. Caero delivered a strong
punch to finish off the last one.
"Nice job, Caero!" congratulated Sonic.
"Thanks," cheered Caero, "you were pretty awesome yourself!"
Caero and Sonic continued, now walking, toward Knothole (in Sector 102), and,
more immediately, toward Sector 101.
**********
Robotropolis, Secondary Roboticization Chamber…
The room was filled with a red glow as Robotnik, Chuck, Rotor, and the Combots
arrived.
"Welcome to the secondary roboticization chamber," smirked Robotnik.
Uncle Chuck was silent.
"This is where we turn Mobian citizens into mindless robotic slaves who are
helplessly under my command," said Robotnik, "like you."
"Your word is my command, lord Robotnik," said Chuck.
"That is what we will test now," said Robotnik. "After all, your conversation
with the SWATbot earlier sounded as if it contained logic." "We don't want any
logic in my slaves now, do we?" "Logic leads to free thought, and free thought
leads to mutiny!"
Again, Uncle Chuck was silent.
"If you are under my control, you will obey my every command." "Including
roboticizing one of your nephew's fellow Freedom Fighters!"
Rotor, who had been silent all this time, now gasped.
"Oh, no!" thought Uncle Chuck.
"Sir Charles," boomed Robotnik, "I order you to roboticize the freedom-fighting
walrus!" "NOW!"
**********
Great Forest…
Sally, Bunnie, and Antoine trekked on. They now approached Sector 107, the
boundary of the Great Forest. They were confronted by no more SWATbots. (Sonic
and Caero finished off the last of them) Now, the trio approached Robotropolis.
They crouched behind some metal piles.
"Nicole, robot scan," commanded Sally.
"Scanning, Sally," said Nicole. "Coast clear for current path."
"Thank you," replied Sally, who then tucked Nicole into her pocket. "Let's go!"
Sally, Bunnie, and Antoine continued on their current path, taking Nicole's word
that the coast was clear. Nicole must have been correct, because they
approached the Main Structure without any resistance from SWATbots. (or any
other robots, for that matter)
**********
Knothole, Great Forest…
Sonic and Caero approached Knothole. Knothole was in a secluded part of the
forest, and had been yet undiscovered by Robotnik. Of course, even if it was
discovered, the Freedom Fighters also had a secret hideaway underground, the
entrance of which had been concealed by a tree stump. The tree stump was
hollow, and upon opening the top, a secret passage was revealed.
Sonic headed for his hut. "Well, this is my hut. Um, I sleep here, and I keep
my stuff here. Want to meet my friends?"
"Sure," replied Caero.
Sonic left his hut and headed for Sally's hut. Upon seeing that she was not
there he said, "Hmm, I wonder where she is. I hope nothing happened to her!"
Sonic sped into Doctor Quack's hut, and Caero yelled out, "Wait up!"
"Doctor Quack?" called Sonic.
Doctor Quack turned around and replied, "Yes, Sonic?"
At this time, Caero entered the room, but was quiet.
"Where's Sally?"
"Well, Sally, Bunnie, and Antoine left on a mission to find Rotor." "I haven't
seen you for a while; where have you been?"
"I'll tell you later!" "Right now, just tell me where they went to;
Robotropolis, right?"
"Yes, Robotropolis."
Sonic zoomed out of the hut.
"Sonic, wait up!"
**********
Outside Knothole, Caero and Sonic spoke.
"Caero, I've put you in enough danger. I appreciate your help, but I think I
should do this alone."
"But, it seems like your friends are in danger. Your buddy Tails got turned
into a robot, like, four of your friends are in Robotropolis, and your uncle
might be confronted with one of them. Or you, if you're going to Robotropolis
now."
"You're right, but you've already saved me from Robotnik before. You've done
enough."
"I want to help, Sonic."
"Are you sure? What about your clan?"
"I'm sure, and my clan doesn't need me that much. They've got enough security."
"Well, okay. C'mon!"
Sonic and Caero set off together toward danger.
© 1997, 1999, 2001 Brandon, aka Escee "SC" Takeshi.
Sonic, Tails, Robotnik, and related characters and indicia, are trademarks of
SEGA. Other characters such as Princess Sally, Bunnie, and Antoine, are
trademarks of DiC or Archie Comics. Caero, Ruben, and other related characters
are works of Escee.
Sonic: Take it All the Way is a work of Brandon. See http://www.escee.com for
contact information for Brandon, aka Escee "SC" Takeshi.
Escee.com and related companies are subsidiaries of JB Computer Technologies
(http://www.jbcomptech.com) and are owned by Brandon.
Uncle Chuck was quickly heading for the exit from the Main Structure when he was
stopped by a SWATbot.
"Return to duty," it said.
"What is my duty?" replied Uncle Chuck.
"Serve Robotnik," said the SWATbot.
"In what way am I not serving Robotnik?" snapped Uncle Chuck.
"This does not compute," said the SWATbot, as it seemingly did not have an
answer in its programming.
But a Combot seemed to have an answer, as it was a newer robot compared to the
SWATbot, and was more deeply programmed.
"Your programming does not send you in the direction which you are traveling,"
said the lifeless Combot.
Another Combot entered the scene and said to Uncle Chuck, "The lord Ivo Robotnik
wishes you in his chambers immediately, Sir Charles."
"Uh-oh," thought Uncle Chuck, "maybe I shouldn't have argued with that SWATbot."
Uncle Chuck was escorted into the Command Center by the two Combots.
**********
Knothole…
"I got a faint signal from Rotor, although all I could make out very little,"
said Bunnie.
"Did he say where he was?" asked Sally
"Not that I could make out," replied Bunnie.
"Maybe we can track the signal," said Sally. "Nicole?"
"I'm sorry, Sally. The connection to Rotor was too faint to be recorded. With
a signal that faint, you can only track it while it is in progress," said
Nicole.
"Well, then," said Bunnie, "I guess we'll have to guess Robotropolis."
Dr. Quack commented, "That is where he said he was going."
"I am aleergeec to Robotneek," whined Antoine.
"Maybe we should leave him at Knothole," Bunnie whispered to Sally, "after what
almost happened."
"That time is passed. We can't be worried about what almost happened anymore.
We need him," replied Sally, and then, louder, "Come on, Antoine. We've got
ourselves a Freedom Fighter to save!"
**********
Robotropolis…
"Come on, Caero," said Sonic, "let's see if Unc's found out anything new."
"All right," replied Caero, "let's go!"
The two of them headed for the secret hideaway, and Sonic opened the door.
"Unc?" called Sonic, "Unc, are you here?" "I guess he had to do something in
Robotnik's domain. Sometimes he has to do stuff for Robotnik to keep Robotnik
thinking he's under his control."
"Should we go back into fat-boy's place?"
"I dunno." "With my uncle in there, it could put all of us in danger." "If
Robotnik sees us, he'll force Unc to sic us, and if my uncle doesn't,
Nonutnik'll know Chuck has his free will back and realign him."
"Realign?"
"That means put Unc back under his control."
"Well, all right."
"How 'bout going to the home of my band, the Freedom Fighters? I can introduce
you to my friends."
"Sounds good to me."
Sonic and Caero headed for Knothole.
**********
Meanwhile, in Robotnik's Headquarters…
Robotnik spun his chair around to face Uncle Chuck as he entered his domain.
"Hello, Sir Charles," rasped Robotnik.
"How may I serve you, my lord?" monotonously spoke Chuck.
"Hmm, well, you could explain to me the conversation you had with the SWATbot a
few minutes ago." "Let's see."
"Uh-oh!" thought Uncle Chuck.
"Not understood," Uncle Chuck replied.
"Let's just ask this straight out: have you gained free will and independence
from my control?"
"I live to serve you, my lord. Your word is my command."
"I'm not so sure I believe you." "Well, let's test your allegiance."
Robotnik turned around in his chair and spoke into his radio transmitter:
"Secondary roboticization chamber units, send the walrus to my chambers."
About a minute later, two Combots arrived with Rotor. Robotnik pressed a button
on his control panel, turned his chair around and stepped up to Uncle Chuck.
"Computer, activate warp!" boomed Robotnik.
"Yes, sir, activating warp now," spoke the computer.
Uncle Chuck, Robotnik, Rotor, and the two Combots were all surrounded in a red
glow.
**********
Knothole sector, Great Forest…
Antoine reluctantly followed Bunnie and the princess. They headed out of Sector
102 of the Great Forest, into Sector 101. A few SWATbots patrolled the area.
"Fire, Bunnie!" commanded Sally, quietly.
Bunnie activated her pulse cannon and fired at one of the SWATbots. Quickly, it
was taken down, but this alerted the other SWATbots; two of them, to be exact.
"Identified as Freedom Fighters Sally Alicia Acorn, Bunnie Rabbot, Antoine
D'coolette," droned a SWATbot.
"Priority One: apprehend Freedom Fighters," blared the other.
The SWATbots fired stun rays. Antoine barely avoided one that whizzed past his
left ear, then drew his sword and struck one of the robots. The SWATbot fell to
the ground and squeaked out, "Malfunction!" Antoine struck the SWATbot again,
and it sizzled with electricity, and then short-circuited. The other SWATbot
fired a stun ray at Bunnie, which hit her robotic arm, causing a shutdown of her
pulse cannon. Sally delivered a flip back kick (her trademark attack) to the
SWATbot and it exploded upon contact with the ground.
Bunnie's pulse cannon rebooted at this point. The shutdown was only temporary,
apparently. The trio of justice-seeking warriors headed out of the Great
Forest, toward the prime enemy for which their cause was to fight.
**********
Great Forest…
Sonic and Caero headed into the Great Forest, Sector 107. Sector 107 was at the
boundary of the Great Forest. From 107, going into the forest, was 104, and
then 101.
"So, Caero," spoke Sonic, "how did you make your clan's hideaway invisible?"
"'Tis not invisible," replied Caero, "just scientifically blended with its
surroundings." "That remote you found removes the camouflage."
"But how can you do it?"
"Our clan has scavenged some of blubber-butt's technology components and studied
them to make them more advanced. I don't know how our clan does it. We have a
few things Robotnik doesn't have. He has a lot of things we don't have. But he
hasn't found us yet!"
Caero and Sonic entered Sector 104.
"Let's speed up!" suggested Sonic.
"Fine by me; just don't go too fast!" replied Caero.
Sonic headed toward Sector 101 at a slightly faster pace, when he was attacked
by SWATbots patrolling Sector 104.
"Priority Two: neutralize Sonic the Hedgehog!" alerted a SWATbot as it detected
Sonic.
"Not today," cried Sonic, "not any day!"
Sonic went into spin mode and blasted through all the SWATbots. All but one
were destroyed after this quick maneuver by Sonic. Caero delivered a strong
punch to finish off the last one.
"Nice job, Caero!" congratulated Sonic.
"Thanks," cheered Caero, "you were pretty awesome yourself!"
Caero and Sonic continued, now walking, toward Knothole (in Sector 102), and,
more immediately, toward Sector 101.
**********
Robotropolis, Secondary Roboticization Chamber…
The room was filled with a red glow as Robotnik, Chuck, Rotor, and the Combots
arrived.
"Welcome to the secondary roboticization chamber," smirked Robotnik.
Uncle Chuck was silent.
"This is where we turn Mobian citizens into mindless robotic slaves who are
helplessly under my command," said Robotnik, "like you."
"Your word is my command, lord Robotnik," said Chuck.
"That is what we will test now," said Robotnik. "After all, your conversation
with the SWATbot earlier sounded as if it contained logic." "We don't want any
logic in my slaves now, do we?" "Logic leads to free thought, and free thought
leads to mutiny!"
Again, Uncle Chuck was silent.
"If you are under my control, you will obey my every command." "Including
roboticizing one of your nephew's fellow Freedom Fighters!"
Rotor, who had been silent all this time, now gasped.
"Oh, no!" thought Uncle Chuck.
"Sir Charles," boomed Robotnik, "I order you to roboticize the freedom-fighting
walrus!" "NOW!"
**********
Great Forest…
Sally, Bunnie, and Antoine trekked on. They now approached Sector 107, the
boundary of the Great Forest. They were confronted by no more SWATbots. (Sonic
and Caero finished off the last of them) Now, the trio approached Robotropolis.
They crouched behind some metal piles.
"Nicole, robot scan," commanded Sally.
"Scanning, Sally," said Nicole. "Coast clear for current path."
"Thank you," replied Sally, who then tucked Nicole into her pocket. "Let's go!"
Sally, Bunnie, and Antoine continued on their current path, taking Nicole's word
that the coast was clear. Nicole must have been correct, because they
approached the Main Structure without any resistance from SWATbots. (or any
other robots, for that matter)
**********
Knothole, Great Forest…
Sonic and Caero approached Knothole. Knothole was in a secluded part of the
forest, and had been yet undiscovered by Robotnik. Of course, even if it was
discovered, the Freedom Fighters also had a secret hideaway underground, the
entrance of which had been concealed by a tree stump. The tree stump was
hollow, and upon opening the top, a secret passage was revealed.
Sonic headed for his hut. "Well, this is my hut. Um, I sleep here, and I keep
my stuff here. Want to meet my friends?"
"Sure," replied Caero.
Sonic left his hut and headed for Sally's hut. Upon seeing that she was not
there he said, "Hmm, I wonder where she is. I hope nothing happened to her!"
Sonic sped into Doctor Quack's hut, and Caero yelled out, "Wait up!"
"Doctor Quack?" called Sonic.
Doctor Quack turned around and replied, "Yes, Sonic?"
At this time, Caero entered the room, but was quiet.
"Where's Sally?"
"Well, Sally, Bunnie, and Antoine left on a mission to find Rotor." "I haven't
seen you for a while; where have you been?"
"I'll tell you later!" "Right now, just tell me where they went to;
Robotropolis, right?"
"Yes, Robotropolis."
Sonic zoomed out of the hut.
"Sonic, wait up!"
**********
Outside Knothole, Caero and Sonic spoke.
"Caero, I've put you in enough danger. I appreciate your help, but I think I
should do this alone."
"But, it seems like your friends are in danger. Your buddy Tails got turned
into a robot, like, four of your friends are in Robotropolis, and your uncle
might be confronted with one of them. Or you, if you're going to Robotropolis
now."
"You're right, but you've already saved me from Robotnik before. You've done
enough."
"I want to help, Sonic."
"Are you sure? What about your clan?"
"I'm sure, and my clan doesn't need me that much. They've got enough security."
"Well, okay. C'mon!"
Sonic and Caero set off together toward danger.
© 1997, 1999, 2001 Brandon, aka Escee "SC" Takeshi.
Sonic, Tails, Robotnik, and related characters and indicia, are trademarks of
SEGA. Other characters such as Princess Sally, Bunnie, and Antoine, are
trademarks of DiC or Archie Comics. Caero, Ruben, and other related characters
are works of Escee.
Sonic: Take it All the Way is a work of Brandon. See http://www.escee.com for
contact information for Brandon, aka Escee "SC" Takeshi.
Escee.com and related companies are subsidiaries of JB Computer Technologies
(http://www.jbcomptech.com) and are owned by Brandon.