Part Three
I'm looking for something you stole
**Benjamin had been out with some of the alien children on a cloudy misty day.
Well, everyday was pretty much like that. The aliens had finally, after much searching, found a planet suited to their needs. They had settled right away. The planet was practically all rainforest.
Benjamin wasn't sure how long she'd been with them. Some of them had died during the journey, and others from, well, old age she supposed.
She didn't know whether they had very short lives, or if she had been alive for a very long time. She supposed it was the latter. She had been alive for what seemed like centuries.
The aliens trusted her now. Some of this generation weren't alive when the evil had demolished their planet. But even the elders had decided that she had nothing to do with the destruction.
She was splashing and playing in a water hole with the alien children that day.
"Ack! I got water in my ear!" She laughed and shook her head. The children squealed as water droplets hit them, and hit the water with their tiny hands, splashing her all over again.
"Oh, you are so naughty!" she chuckled. A small boy climbed upon her shoulders, demanding she play. She scooped him in her arms and tossed him high in the air. He splashed down in the water curled like a cannonball.
Ben laughed heartily, but suddenly stiffened. The children threw water on her, but she stood straight and still, green eyes unblinking.
"What's the matter, Benjamin?"
The boy turned and looked in the direction she was staring, but saw nothing.
"BEN! Whatsa matter with you!"
She blinked, and shivered. A strange tingling sensation was tugging at her soul...she sank down in the water, and hugged herself.
**Oh no...oh no...someone has touched IT...someone has found the box...but how...**
She straightened up and grabbed the children. They protested and struggled, but she held them firmly and ran back to the village. After depositing them back in their mothers' hands, she bade the elders of the village farewell.
"Why you leave?"
"Someone has discovered the evil. I must make sure IT never escapes again."
The elders nodded solemnly, their eyes haunted. "Go, then and quickly, dear Benjamin. We shall miss you."
She hugged them tight, planting a kiss on each of their wrinkled foreheads.
Then she fled.
She followed the 'pull' like a bloodhound on the scent trail. The planet was only a few light years away.
Her search led her to a place of scientists and labs. The inhabitants seemed to be large skinless creatures, and some furred ones like herself.
She found IT, kept under close security in some sort of laboratory. To her relief, they had not unleashed the evil, but they were quite curious about IT.
She knew IT could influence the mind. Hypnotize people. Some people were immune to it. Most people were afraid of IT, and rightly so, so they weren't likely to be influenced. However, evil or power-mad people just might be tempted by IT's whispered influence.
Tempted, and then devoured when they got too close to IT or had served their purpose...
IT wasn't supposed to be able to reach through the glass box. She was quite relieved that so far IT hadn't!
"You must let me enter...I am IT's guardian."
"Lady, look. This is a restricted area."
Eventually, they allowed her entrance, after learning she had no family. She knew they had some dark intent in doing so. She was a nobody, somebody they could use for a test subject with no repercussions.
She learned to accept the needles they jabbed into her, and the strange tests they ran...some painful...
She was kept in close proximity to the evil, and as long as her eyes rested upon IT...still caged in IT's glass prison...she was happy.
******
A day before the evil was found: Robotropolis.
Robotnik sneezed.
He was in an old storage room, looking through dusty papers, and old discs.
Packbell poked his head in.
"Sir, what are you doing?"
"Ah, just looking through these old files. Might be some abandoned projects or such that I could put to a good use now."
"Hmm...hope ya find something good."
Robotnik heard Packbell's footsteps fade away as he left. He picked up a folder, and out fell a photograph. He bent down to retrieve it, grunting at the effort.
He examined it, a small smile tugging at his fat lips. Seemed it was an old photo, back when he was Warlord for the king.
**Yes, I remember this. This was taken after we defeated the Overlanders.**
His eyes wandered over everyone in the picture. There was King Acorn, laughing, and looking quite noble in his robes and crown.
**Fool.**
A young Princess Sally, her back to the camera, little fists clenched at the one behind her, Sonic. The hedgehog was laughing and Robotnik scowled a little.
**That wretched beast. Your time will come...**
There was General D'Coolette, one who had never liked Robotnik. But where was he now? **Ah yes**, remembered Robotnik. **Roboticized**. His voice boomed out in a laugh.
Julian, of course, was the largest figure in the room, looking quite imposing in the coattail outfit he'd worn as Warlord.
**I actually quite liked that outfit. Should've kept it...Ah well. This one suits me better.**
In front of Robotnik was his scrawny nephew, back when he'd had hair. Robotnik grinned a little at seeing that. It was funny; he remembered how much Snively used to pride that hair of his...and how teary-eyed he'd been the day he lost it...
**Hmmm...now that I think about it...how did he lose it? Bah, who cares?**
His eyes moved over more of the figures. Lots of friends of the Acorn family. More of those little freedom fighter brats. And another Overlander.
**Who is that...ah, now I remember. That is Tobin.**
That's right...Tobin had joined the Acorn Kingdom also. He'd actually joined before Julian had.
The laboratory had a bounty on his head, Robotnik remembered. But for what?
He remembered that Tobin had disappeared one day, and the Overlander laboratory had put out a reward for his capture.
He wrinkled his brow, thinking good and hard.
**He stole something...I recall that....**
Something was coming to him... He remembered that lab. He'd only gone there occasionally...because he didn't usually work in that part of the building. But he was beginning to remember a certain room... Bright lights...huge...a strange lady...glass chambers...
He held his breath, and put his hands to his temples, rubbing, as if trying to stimulate his brain into remembering more.
Soft footsteps distracted him, and he looked up with a hideous frown.
**Who dares...especially when I almost had it...!**
"Um...sir, sorry to disturb you, but..."
"You'd better be sorry!!" roared Robotnik.
Snively jumped, not expecting such outrage. "Sorry sir, very sorry," he quickly blurted.
"What do you want?!"
**Why is he so angry?** Snively backed away, feeling himself start to tremble. He tried to regain his composure, but Robotnik's face was terribly angry, and now his fists were clenching...
"Um...well, sir...uh..."
"SPIT IT OUT!!"
Robotnik grabbed his nephew by the collar and slammed him up against the wall.
**I hate it when he does this...his breath reeks!** Sniv' squirmed, but Robotnik had no intentions of letting him go. He jutted his face into his nephew's, long mustache brushing the smaller man's face.
"What is it you want to tell me, Snively?! I'm busy at the moment!"
"Well, sir...due to the improvements...um...that you devised for the factories last week..."
"Yes?!"
**Goddamn, let me finish, you fatass. Make me do your goddamn dirty work...don't give me any fucking credit...**
"YES?!"
Sniv' let out a shriek, murderous thoughts fleeing from his head. With Robotnik's breath blasting his face, he choked and gagged, unable to breathe for a moment. For that, he received a severe shaking.
"The factories have a power output better by 30 percent, sir!"
Robotnik relaxed, and released his nephew. "That's good, Snively."
**You bet your fat ass it's good...fucking good in fact...IEEEE!**
The fist had him again, and Robotnik's huge teeth filled his vision as the fat man snarled.
"However, Snively...I was expecting 50 percent. WHERE IS MY FIFTY PERCENT, SNIVELY!!?"
His head connected with the wall several times as Robotnik drew him back and slammed him into it. He saw white for a moment, and then a blur of color as his eyes watered.
"We did all...all the improvements you came up with, sir!...but the best we got was thirty percent, sir, I SWEAR!"
"Are you saying, Snively, that there was something wrong with my plans!?"
"No, sir, not at all," his nephew grimaced and rubbed at his head, "but I think you might've miscalculated the results..."
"YOU THINK?" Robotnik spat, spraying his nephew's face with spittle. He turned and threw the little wretch into the pile of boxes he'd been going through.
Snively curled up, covering his head with his hands. Robotnik's boots came towards him and stopped, inches from his face. He could hear his uncle's breath, coming in deep and growling.
**Damn, he's really angry now...Godamn this! It's not my fault! It's his fau...**
Thoughts cut off as if snipped by scissors. Robotnik's foot slammed into his ribs, and he writhed among the papers, struggling to breathe.
"I WANT MORE POWER, SNIVELY!!! MORE POWER!!! YOU HEAR ME, YOU LITTLE PRICK!?"
"More power," choked out his nephew, curling up and clutching his side. "Owww..."
Robotnik sighed and picked up some of the scattered papers.
"This city cannot run without energy, and those wretched freedom fighters..." Robotnik had to breathe in deep and close his eyes hard, fighting back the anger. **Mustn't lose my composure again...**
"...keep shutting down our generators and destroying our factories..."
"Sir, I'll try my best, but I'm afraid that's the maximum energy output we can get..." Sniv' climbed to his feet, where he swayed unsteadily.
Robotnik turned around and stared his nephew dead in the eye.
Snively wilted like a plant deprived of water; shoulders drooping, even his hair seemed less perky.
Robotnik took a step closer to his nephew. His foot slid upon something. He looked down.
It was the photograph. His eyes lighted on Tobin for a second...
He moved one foot forward.
Snively's eyes widened in fear, his mouth opening to protest.
"That will not be the maximum output of energy..."
Robotnik's eyes went back to the photo.
Tobin.
Energy.
Tobin...energy...Tobin stole something...the bounty on his head...they wanted it back...
**The energy!! In the box...I remember...I remember, the black energy...he stole it from the lab and ran away to the Acorn Kingdom!**
His eyes went wide and he clenched his hands together, almost shaking in giddiness...
"That's it...that's what will KILL THOSE FREEDOM FIGHTERS!!!!"
"Sir?"
Robotnik grabbed Snively by the shoulders, grinning as he shook the little man. "Go prepare the deroboticizer, Snively. NOW!"
"The deroboticizer?! But...but you never use..."
"NOW SNIVELY!!!" Robotnik threw his lackey towards the door.
****
Robotnik was impatient.
The deroboticizer stood silently. The bottom panel was open, and Snively's legs were sticking out. Robotnik could hear the clinks and metallic sounds as Sniv' fiddled with the internal components. The deroboticizer had never been used before.
"Snively, are you finished yet?" he growled.
**He's so slow. Maybe he needs a good session of shock therapy after this... he's been getting lazy lately...**
"Almost sir," came the muffled reply.
"Well, hurry it up!"
Robotnik looked at his nephew's legs and lower torso sticking out, and was strongly tempted to smash one of his feet, or kick him in the nuts.
He resisted the temptation.
A few minutes passed and Sniv' slid out from the compartment and brushed his hands together. "I believe it's ready to go, sir."
"This had better work, Snively. If not..." He ended on a growl, but his nephew understood perfectly.
"Well...well...um, there might be some glitches, since it's never been used...but I think it'll work, sir..."
Robotnik ignored his nephew this time, and tapped into a computer. He searched among the files of all the prisoners they'd taken over the years. He'd been meticulous in keeping the records...and it was paying off now.
**'T's....Taffy...Tracker...no...that's 'tr', Ah, here it is. Tobin Greenman. There you are, my old friend. Hmm...roboticized...working in the water refineries...Workerbot #057893. **
"Snively!"
"Yes sir?"
Robotnik turned around and grinned toothily at his nephew. Sniv' nervously smiled back, hands clasped behind his back.
"Go fetch me Workerbot #057893."
Sniv' quickly memorized the numbers and nodded.
"He should be working in the water refineries."
"Yes sir, right away."
Robotnik waited until his nephew had run from the room, then let out a hideous laugh.
****
"Ah man, what a great place to wake up!" exclaimed the blue hedgehog.
He had arrived back in the present time, and the first thing that greeted him was an eyeful of his most hated city, Robotropolis.
He was sitting near some building. A factory of some sort. He could hear the churning of gears, and beside him was a large pipe, which his shoulder was leaning against. It was cold to the touch, and when he pressed his ear to it, he could hear the rush of water flowing through it.
**Must be by the bay or something.**
He could hear the crashing of water upon rocks and sand. He rounded the building, walking cautiously.
He could see the bay. The waters crashed upon the dirty rocks, foaming up with more than salt. That was a poison sea now, thanks to Robotnik.
**Man, where am I gonna find that evil box thingy?**
He heard the footsteps of SWATS. He raced to the shoreline, hiding behind one of the large stones.
He peeked out and saw two SWATs, followed by Snively stop at the water refinery.
"All right," said the little man, "look in there for Workerbot number... damn! What was that number..."
He grumbled for a second before blurting out, "Ah yes! 057893!"
The bots nodded and went into the factory. Sonic thought of sneaking away, but decided it was easier to just wait.
While keeping his eye on the Sniv-miester, who was kicking rocks and muttering curses under his breath, he thought over what the lady had said.
**Ok...she said that I had to get it before Ro-butt-nik did... Thanks, lady. I already knew that! Whoa!**
He ducked his head quickly behind the rocks as Sniv' turned his way.
He heard the little guy growl, and half-expected SWATs to come running towards his hiding place.
"This goddamn headache!"
Sonic stifled a laugh.
He heard the SWATs feet clank out of the water refinery.
"Well?! Is he in there?"
"No, sir."
There was a large sigh. "Fiiineeee, let's check the next one."
Sonic waited until the SWAT footsteps faded away before coming out behind the rock.
He looked at the water refinery. He could smell the bay behind him; nasty, fishy, dirty.
**Must take a lotta energy to clean that water.**
He narrowed his eyes.
Water.
He turned and looked at the bay.
**She said...it was in the water...** He looked at the foaming waves. **I wonder...is it in the bay?**
It had to be. But how did it get there?
He stood, frowning for a while.
There was the clanking of metal feet. The SWATs were coming back. He ducked behind the rock again.
They seemed to have found who they were looking for. Sniv' was followed by the two SWATs, plus a taller Overlander-bot.
There was something very familiar about the robot. The glasses. The hair, even though it was made of metal, had a familiar shape to it.
**Dude, I know! It's that scientist guy! Tobin, yeah. That's his name. That's the dude who wanted to get rid of the box.**
He looked out in the bay.
**Well, the girl was pretty right about everything so far... I guess I'll have to check it out...**
He stuck his shoe into some of the foam on the beach and grimaced.
**Ah man, how am I gonna do this? Who knows where it is! I can't even swim that good!**
He wondered how Robotnik had gotten it out. **Scubadiving? Submarine?
Submarine, duh! I'll just borrow Tail's "Seafox" for a while. Perfect!**
He grinned and zoomed back to Knothole.
&&&&&&
Robotnik grinned at the workerbot now standing inside the deroboticizer.
"Soon, my old friend, you will give me the key to annihilating those freedom fighters!" He laughed and pounded the control console in glee.
"Who is that, exactly?" asked Snively, and Robotnik whirled around.
"You're still in here? Leave at once!"
Sniv' looked surprised. "But, don't you need me to..."
"Do you think I'm stupid!?"
"No, sir, not at all...it's just that..." **You always make me do all the work, you fat piece of shit...**
"GET OUT!"
Snively turned tail and skittered from the room. Robotnik watched the doors slide shut, chuckling.
Then he turned to the deroboticizer. The controls were similar to the roboticizer. He assumed the large red button meant 'START', so he pressed it down. The room was bathed in blue light as the tube lit up. The workerbot inside became only a silhouette, but it was clear that it was changing...
****
Tobin knew where he was. How? Because even roboticized, the mind is still alive...and still knows exactly what's going on.
The tube slid back up into the ceiling and Tobin crouched on the platform, brushing his hair out of his eyes. His skin and clothes were beaded with moisture from the deroboticization process.
"Ah, it worked!" Robotnik exclaimed.
**I suppose I can let Snively off with the shock therapy...then again, he could always use a little motivation to work harder...**
Tobin stood up and moved backwards warily. He was surprised he didn't feel tired or weak. "What do you want, Julian?"
"Surely, you know of my name change? I am now Robotnik."
"Whatever. What do you want?"
"Come with me, Tobin, and we'll have a nice chat." Robotnik gestured to a SWAT who stood guard near the door. Tobin backed away, but the SWAT grabbed his arm.
They left the room and went down the hallway, before turning into another room.
The door slid open, and Tobin balked at seeing the interior of the room. There was a chair in the middle of the room, and Tobin recognized it as an interrogation chair.
**Which means I'm going to get tortured!**
"Julian...really, we don't have to go through this... Just tell me what you want..."
"Have a seat, have a seat," Robotnik beckoned to the chair, smiling widely.
The SWAT forcefully pushed the scientist into the chair, and snapped on the restraints. Tobin gulped.
"Well, Tobin, I know it's been a long long time...but I'm looking for something that you stole."
Tobin gave him a questioning look. Even after being roboticized for years and years, his hair was regaining its old greasy looks.
Robotnik sighed and smiled. "You left the Overlander country for a reason because you'd stolen something very valuable from the laboratory."
Tobin's eyes widened and Robotnik knew he knew.
"Where is it?"
"No...no! I don't know what you're talking about! I didn't steal anything!"
Robotnik walked around the chair, trailing his fingers along the back. Tobin trembled nervously. Pausing behind the chair, Robotnik lifted up the electroshock headband that dangled from wires embedded in the chair. This particular chair was wired specifically for electro-torture. He pressed the headband down firmly onto Tobin's head.
"What...what is that?"
"Just a little motivation for you, my old friend. I like to call it 'shock therapy.'. If Snively was here, he could tell you how very effective it is in making people talk. Or scream...in his case."
Tobin shook more severely. "You'd do that to your own nephew?"
Robotnik grinned toothily. "Oh yes. The little bastard brings it upon himself... Much as you're doing, Tobin. Why not just tell nice Dr. Robotnik where IT is?"
Tobin gulped again, straining his skinny wrists against the bonds. "I don't know, Julian!"
"Ah well." Robotnik picked up the remote that controlled the headband. He turned the knob a little, and Tobin felt a slight tingling sensation through his veins.
Robotnik turned the knob slowly, smiling as Tobin's face grew distressed. He was feeling it now.
**Oh, it won't take long for you, Tobin. Soon, you'll be squealing like a pig. Too bad...I almost like the stronger ones better. It's always more pleasing to break something when it takes more effort to break it...**
He turned the power up, ever so slowly. Tobin gasped, fingers gripping the armrest. The dial turned more.
Tobin's fingers turned white, and his teeth clenched.
Robotnik's fat fingers turned the dial higher. He saw Tobin's head tilt back, and his eyes sparkle with tears.
**Hmmm...he's tougher than I thought. That will change.**
With a twist of his hand, the dial went into the higher levels. Tobin let out a scream, his body jerking in the bonds. Spittle dribbled down his chin as he thrashed. His skin crackled with electricity.
Robotnik inched the knob up a little further, then left it, watching as Tobin's body shook with the punishment.
Tobin voiced a cracked shriek.
Robotnik sighed.
It wasn't nearly as nice a scream as others he'd heard. Females usually had the best. High and sweet. **That's because females are weak. No pain tolerance.** Children were probably the best after females. Either gender of children was nice, because both had high voices. Robotnik liked high voices, because it seemed the higher the voice, the more pain was expressed.
**Even when I torture men, their voices go much higher.** It was a wonderful sound!
His third favorite scream was from his own nephew. Sniv' had a wonderful scream. What was more surprising was that, even with his weak lungs, Sniv' could still produce quite powerful sounds.
**They go right through you.** He shivered. **Exquisite.**
Tobin's shriek, cracked and dusty, sounded like an old weak man's. It was unimpressive.
Robotnik watched as the crotch of the scientist's pants grew wet. He just loved it when they pissed themselves. It was like...the ultimate submission...the highest fear...
He turned down the voltage and allowed Tobin to recover somewhat.
"Do you remember now?" he asked pleasantly.
Tobin's eyes were wide with fear. He whimpered. "Julian...Ju...please...you can't mess with it...it's dangerous...!"
The voltage went up again. Tobin jumped and shrieked.
Robotnik turned the knob to off.
"You don't understand. I WANT it **because** it's dangerous. Because it'll kill certain vermin that have been plaguing me these past years..."
Tobin sobbed as Robotnik's hand went to the dial, tapping it threateningly. "FINE!" he screamed. "I'LL TELL YOU!!"
"That's more like it!"
Tobin coughed. "May I have a drink first?"
Robotnik filled a glass from the lab sink in the room, and handed it to Tobin. The scientist drank it and then wearily dropped it to the floor. It was plastic, and bounced off harmlessly.
"I stole it from the lab, you're right... I took it cause it wasn't something anyone had a right to be messing with. They...whoever it was...put it on that dead planet for a reason..."
"Oh, but I know why. They were weak, like you. Cowards. Afraid of having all that power."
Tobin trembled at the mad light in Robotnik's eyes. "You're just as crazy as you've ever been."
Robotnik laughed.
"Tell me more."
Tobin shut his eyes, looking nauseous. "I was afraid to touch it...but that crazy lady...you remember her? She begged me to let her out...she told me about that thing...IT's evil! I let her out too and took the box. She followed me. We hid out for a while. But I found out the lab had put a high price on my head. I had to get out of there. So we went to the Acorn Kingdom."
"So, the energy is here?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
There was the sound of gulping, and Tobin's fingers clenched on the arms of the chair. "I...I..can't..."
Robotnik shrugged and turned the knob. As Tobin thrashed and cried, he picked up the plastic glass and returned it to its spot on the lab counter.
Tobin sagged back into the chair as the voltage shut off.
"Now, tell me where it is!"
Tobin whimpered and sobbed again, snot and tears dripping down his face.
**Pathetic. So pathetic.** Robotnik smiled contentedly. He knew he was going to get what he wanted, and he liked it.
"When...When I came to the Acorn Kingdom...I went across the sea... When I came to the shore near Mobotropolis, I threw the box into the bay!"
Robotnik's eyes lit up. **It...it was so close! All this time. All these years of fighting those beasts, and their doom was lying at the bottom of the bay! Well...now their time has surely come!**
***
The tideline of Robotropolis calmed in the late afternoon wind. The waves crept silently upon the dark sands, coming to stop a few feet before a pair of red sneakers and large green feet.
Sonic hopped upon Dulcy's back, unstrapping the bonds that had held the miniature submarine to her belly.
She sighed. "Whew, that was a lotta weight to be luggin' around! So, whatcha gonna do with it?"
"I'm lookin' for something. Don't stick around, it might take me awhile. Just help me push this thing into the water."
Sonic entered the submarine through the top hatch.
"Good luck finding whatever it is!" said Dulcy, before Sonic closed the hatch.
She lifted it up and brought it to deeper waters. She released it gently, and waved, even though she knew Sonic couldn't see her.
**Don't get in any trouble, Sonic! Sally'll have a fit!**
She watched the sky for hovercraft or any other dangers, then took flight back to Knothole.
Sonic cruised through the dark water. Strange fish swam around him, luminous in the single headlight of the small craft.
He shuddered at their bulging eyes and thin bodies; their skin with its irregular scales, and long tails that seemed to ooze out behind them like trailing entrails...
The controls, having been made specifically for the young Tails, were simple and easy to use. Sonic brought the submarine lower in the water.
**Man, lookit all this crap down here. Nasty.**
The submarine seemed to be stationary. The water was so thick...
**Probably just one of those optical illusion thingys. It's just water.**
Something indescript, but very slimy looking, hit the windshield, and Sonic grimaced.
**Very dirty water!**
He played the headlight over the water, sweeping it in wide arcs. He saw nothing but the sea animals, garbage, and darkness.
He sighed and kept going.
**Maybe I should go deeper.**
He did so, and saw bottom. The sand was black and glittered in some spots. Others were covered with what looked like thick oil.
**Oil floats, though. Some kind of crap, then. Nasty, whatever it is.**
He scooted along, watching white crabs and insect-like creatures scurry out of the light. Up ahead, he saw a school of tiny fish scatter. The light glinted off their scales; making them appear like silver ribbons.
After they scattered, something continued to glint. He thought maybe it was a stray fish, lost from the school, but it wasn't moving.
Curious, he went closer.
Through the windshield, he saw a glass box, half buried in the sand. His heart clenched in his chest. Something was in it...black, dark...blacker than the water even... forming shapes, but never for more than a second.
He shook his head hard, then looked through the periscope for a closer view.
"That's definitely it," he muttered.
He examined the control panel. There was a button that was marked 'claw.' Below it was a small monitor and below that was a small joystick. He pressed the button and saw a view of the water and a long piece of metal almost out of sight of the camera.
He took a look out of the periscope and saw there was a long metal 'arm' complete with a claw on the end, jutting out from the side of the sub. He grinned.
He went back to the control panel, and moved the joystick. As he suspected, it moved the claw. He maneuvered the claw until it was above the box. At the top of the joystick was a button; he pressed that down and was pleased to see the claw open.
Keeping the button pressed down, he moved the claw above the box. The fingers of the claw slid down on the sides of the glass, and he gently released the button. The claw gripped the box tight.
**Hope it don't break it.**
He controlled the claw; moving it back up against the submarine.
**Now what?**
He figured he just had to keep the box close to the submarine and hope he didn't slam into anything.
He brought the submarine as close to the beach as possible, but had to wade through the water anyway. He grimaced in disgust. The box was in his arms.
He looked back at the sub, frowning.
**Hmmm. Maybe I should've told Dulcy to stay. What am I gonna do with that thing? Tails'll be pissed if I lose it.**
He looked down at the box, and the shapeless black thing made him shiver so severely that he nearly dropped it.
**I... I think maybe this is more important.**
And he ran down the beach.
"Where am I gonna find that lady?" Sonic was wondering aloud, when he neared a cave along the beach.
A figure came stumbling out. Sonic braked, but couldn't stop in time. He collided with her.
The box went flying.
He jumped up and over her, and nabbed the box out of midair. He turned and saw the girl struggling to her feet, her face frantic.
"It's all right, lady. It ain't broke," he assured her.
She let out a breath. "You are the blue one...the one meant to help..."
He frowned a little; he never had liked mysterious-type stuff.
"Hey lady, how come you didn't get this thingy outta the bay yourself?"
She looked tired, and rubbed her eyes. "I have been asleep. For a long time. It was the only thing to do, since the evil was untouchable in the water..."
"If you were here all the time, then how come ole Ro-butt-nik found it?"
"I have been asleep...when the city men touched it, I awoke. But I was not able to stop the fat city man in time... he let IT out... That cannot happen again."
"Yeah, I can't keep going back in time over and over," laughed the hedgehog.
The basenji looked rather somber. "We must get IT away from this place..."
"I'm with ya...uh Miss..." he stared pointedly at her. She gave him a blank look.
"Your name?" he prompted.
"My name is Benjamin," she replied, and she took off at a fast trot. He followed her, holding the evil box in his arms. He wanted to use his super speed, but figured they were doing fine. She seemed disoriented as it was.
**Who is this lady?
How does she know me?
What kinda connection does she have with this box?**
****
-Sigh-
**I'm bored**, thought Snively boredly, as he boredly stared at the computer console for no good reason. The lights were dimmed, as his ole Uncle Julian was napping in his green throne.
Snively looked over at him. Robotnik had a large smile on his sleeping face.
**Hope you have a nightmare, you fat slob. A really good one.** He smirked at the thought.
**How'd I just love to get you in the interrogation room, Julian...you'd get a taste of your own damn medicine...**
An irritating beeping noise drew his attention to the surveillance monitors. A SpyEye was sending its transmissions back.
The floating camera was somewhere near the bay. He could see the shoreline; strewn with garbage and gunk. Traveling up the beach and towards the outskirts of the city, was the hedgehog.
He sent a transmission back, telling the camera to move closer. It did so. He saw there was also an attractive Mobian girl with the hedgehog. She had wild brown hair, blowing all over her face in the evening wind. He noticed that the hedgehog was holding a glass box in his arms.
He commanded the camera to move closer. It obeyed once again. The hedgehog stooped and picked up a rock. The last thing the SpyEye saw was the stone hurtling towards it.
The surveillance monitor dissolved into static.
"Damn."
Sniv' turned around, eyeing his uncle.
"Sir?"
Robotnik grunted and shifted in his throne.
He raised his voice. "Sir!"
Robotnik was still.
"SIR!!" He kicked the console, making a resounding metal clang. Robotnik sat up.
"Eh...?" He blinked and looked at his nephew. "WHAT IS IT, SNIVELY?! WHY ARE YOU WAKING ME UP!!!?"
"There's a hedgehog sighting."
"What's he doing?" grumbled the tyrant.
"Well, he just destroyed the SpyEye, but," Sniv' cleared his throat nervously, "he was down near the bay, and..."
Robotnik's eyes widened.
"There was a Mobian with him..."
"Was he carrying anything?" Robotnik blurted out. His voice sounded unusually anxious.
**Oh my...don't think he's going to like the answer.** Sniv' gulped painfully, throat dry. "Um...actually, he was, sir."
Robotnik jumped out of his throne and stamped over. "What was it!?"
Sniv' backed away. "It was a box, sir. A glass box."
"WHAT?!" Robotnik swung, and Sniv' ducked. A huge dent was made in the console, but Robotnik didn't seem to care. He grabbed the nearest comm device and screamed orders to capture the hedgehog.
Then he blared into the intercom system of the Death Egg: "PACKBELL, GET IN HERE NOW!!!"
I'm looking for something you stole
**Benjamin had been out with some of the alien children on a cloudy misty day.
Well, everyday was pretty much like that. The aliens had finally, after much searching, found a planet suited to their needs. They had settled right away. The planet was practically all rainforest.
Benjamin wasn't sure how long she'd been with them. Some of them had died during the journey, and others from, well, old age she supposed.
She didn't know whether they had very short lives, or if she had been alive for a very long time. She supposed it was the latter. She had been alive for what seemed like centuries.
The aliens trusted her now. Some of this generation weren't alive when the evil had demolished their planet. But even the elders had decided that she had nothing to do with the destruction.
She was splashing and playing in a water hole with the alien children that day.
"Ack! I got water in my ear!" She laughed and shook her head. The children squealed as water droplets hit them, and hit the water with their tiny hands, splashing her all over again.
"Oh, you are so naughty!" she chuckled. A small boy climbed upon her shoulders, demanding she play. She scooped him in her arms and tossed him high in the air. He splashed down in the water curled like a cannonball.
Ben laughed heartily, but suddenly stiffened. The children threw water on her, but she stood straight and still, green eyes unblinking.
"What's the matter, Benjamin?"
The boy turned and looked in the direction she was staring, but saw nothing.
"BEN! Whatsa matter with you!"
She blinked, and shivered. A strange tingling sensation was tugging at her soul...she sank down in the water, and hugged herself.
**Oh no...oh no...someone has touched IT...someone has found the box...but how...**
She straightened up and grabbed the children. They protested and struggled, but she held them firmly and ran back to the village. After depositing them back in their mothers' hands, she bade the elders of the village farewell.
"Why you leave?"
"Someone has discovered the evil. I must make sure IT never escapes again."
The elders nodded solemnly, their eyes haunted. "Go, then and quickly, dear Benjamin. We shall miss you."
She hugged them tight, planting a kiss on each of their wrinkled foreheads.
Then she fled.
She followed the 'pull' like a bloodhound on the scent trail. The planet was only a few light years away.
Her search led her to a place of scientists and labs. The inhabitants seemed to be large skinless creatures, and some furred ones like herself.
She found IT, kept under close security in some sort of laboratory. To her relief, they had not unleashed the evil, but they were quite curious about IT.
She knew IT could influence the mind. Hypnotize people. Some people were immune to it. Most people were afraid of IT, and rightly so, so they weren't likely to be influenced. However, evil or power-mad people just might be tempted by IT's whispered influence.
Tempted, and then devoured when they got too close to IT or had served their purpose...
IT wasn't supposed to be able to reach through the glass box. She was quite relieved that so far IT hadn't!
"You must let me enter...I am IT's guardian."
"Lady, look. This is a restricted area."
Eventually, they allowed her entrance, after learning she had no family. She knew they had some dark intent in doing so. She was a nobody, somebody they could use for a test subject with no repercussions.
She learned to accept the needles they jabbed into her, and the strange tests they ran...some painful...
She was kept in close proximity to the evil, and as long as her eyes rested upon IT...still caged in IT's glass prison...she was happy.
******
A day before the evil was found: Robotropolis.
Robotnik sneezed.
He was in an old storage room, looking through dusty papers, and old discs.
Packbell poked his head in.
"Sir, what are you doing?"
"Ah, just looking through these old files. Might be some abandoned projects or such that I could put to a good use now."
"Hmm...hope ya find something good."
Robotnik heard Packbell's footsteps fade away as he left. He picked up a folder, and out fell a photograph. He bent down to retrieve it, grunting at the effort.
He examined it, a small smile tugging at his fat lips. Seemed it was an old photo, back when he was Warlord for the king.
**Yes, I remember this. This was taken after we defeated the Overlanders.**
His eyes wandered over everyone in the picture. There was King Acorn, laughing, and looking quite noble in his robes and crown.
**Fool.**
A young Princess Sally, her back to the camera, little fists clenched at the one behind her, Sonic. The hedgehog was laughing and Robotnik scowled a little.
**That wretched beast. Your time will come...**
There was General D'Coolette, one who had never liked Robotnik. But where was he now? **Ah yes**, remembered Robotnik. **Roboticized**. His voice boomed out in a laugh.
Julian, of course, was the largest figure in the room, looking quite imposing in the coattail outfit he'd worn as Warlord.
**I actually quite liked that outfit. Should've kept it...Ah well. This one suits me better.**
In front of Robotnik was his scrawny nephew, back when he'd had hair. Robotnik grinned a little at seeing that. It was funny; he remembered how much Snively used to pride that hair of his...and how teary-eyed he'd been the day he lost it...
**Hmmm...now that I think about it...how did he lose it? Bah, who cares?**
His eyes moved over more of the figures. Lots of friends of the Acorn family. More of those little freedom fighter brats. And another Overlander.
**Who is that...ah, now I remember. That is Tobin.**
That's right...Tobin had joined the Acorn Kingdom also. He'd actually joined before Julian had.
The laboratory had a bounty on his head, Robotnik remembered. But for what?
He remembered that Tobin had disappeared one day, and the Overlander laboratory had put out a reward for his capture.
He wrinkled his brow, thinking good and hard.
**He stole something...I recall that....**
Something was coming to him... He remembered that lab. He'd only gone there occasionally...because he didn't usually work in that part of the building. But he was beginning to remember a certain room... Bright lights...huge...a strange lady...glass chambers...
He held his breath, and put his hands to his temples, rubbing, as if trying to stimulate his brain into remembering more.
Soft footsteps distracted him, and he looked up with a hideous frown.
**Who dares...especially when I almost had it...!**
"Um...sir, sorry to disturb you, but..."
"You'd better be sorry!!" roared Robotnik.
Snively jumped, not expecting such outrage. "Sorry sir, very sorry," he quickly blurted.
"What do you want?!"
**Why is he so angry?** Snively backed away, feeling himself start to tremble. He tried to regain his composure, but Robotnik's face was terribly angry, and now his fists were clenching...
"Um...well, sir...uh..."
"SPIT IT OUT!!"
Robotnik grabbed his nephew by the collar and slammed him up against the wall.
**I hate it when he does this...his breath reeks!** Sniv' squirmed, but Robotnik had no intentions of letting him go. He jutted his face into his nephew's, long mustache brushing the smaller man's face.
"What is it you want to tell me, Snively?! I'm busy at the moment!"
"Well, sir...due to the improvements...um...that you devised for the factories last week..."
"Yes?!"
**Goddamn, let me finish, you fatass. Make me do your goddamn dirty work...don't give me any fucking credit...**
"YES?!"
Sniv' let out a shriek, murderous thoughts fleeing from his head. With Robotnik's breath blasting his face, he choked and gagged, unable to breathe for a moment. For that, he received a severe shaking.
"The factories have a power output better by 30 percent, sir!"
Robotnik relaxed, and released his nephew. "That's good, Snively."
**You bet your fat ass it's good...fucking good in fact...IEEEE!**
The fist had him again, and Robotnik's huge teeth filled his vision as the fat man snarled.
"However, Snively...I was expecting 50 percent. WHERE IS MY FIFTY PERCENT, SNIVELY!!?"
His head connected with the wall several times as Robotnik drew him back and slammed him into it. He saw white for a moment, and then a blur of color as his eyes watered.
"We did all...all the improvements you came up with, sir!...but the best we got was thirty percent, sir, I SWEAR!"
"Are you saying, Snively, that there was something wrong with my plans!?"
"No, sir, not at all," his nephew grimaced and rubbed at his head, "but I think you might've miscalculated the results..."
"YOU THINK?" Robotnik spat, spraying his nephew's face with spittle. He turned and threw the little wretch into the pile of boxes he'd been going through.
Snively curled up, covering his head with his hands. Robotnik's boots came towards him and stopped, inches from his face. He could hear his uncle's breath, coming in deep and growling.
**Damn, he's really angry now...Godamn this! It's not my fault! It's his fau...**
Thoughts cut off as if snipped by scissors. Robotnik's foot slammed into his ribs, and he writhed among the papers, struggling to breathe.
"I WANT MORE POWER, SNIVELY!!! MORE POWER!!! YOU HEAR ME, YOU LITTLE PRICK!?"
"More power," choked out his nephew, curling up and clutching his side. "Owww..."
Robotnik sighed and picked up some of the scattered papers.
"This city cannot run without energy, and those wretched freedom fighters..." Robotnik had to breathe in deep and close his eyes hard, fighting back the anger. **Mustn't lose my composure again...**
"...keep shutting down our generators and destroying our factories..."
"Sir, I'll try my best, but I'm afraid that's the maximum energy output we can get..." Sniv' climbed to his feet, where he swayed unsteadily.
Robotnik turned around and stared his nephew dead in the eye.
Snively wilted like a plant deprived of water; shoulders drooping, even his hair seemed less perky.
Robotnik took a step closer to his nephew. His foot slid upon something. He looked down.
It was the photograph. His eyes lighted on Tobin for a second...
He moved one foot forward.
Snively's eyes widened in fear, his mouth opening to protest.
"That will not be the maximum output of energy..."
Robotnik's eyes went back to the photo.
Tobin.
Energy.
Tobin...energy...Tobin stole something...the bounty on his head...they wanted it back...
**The energy!! In the box...I remember...I remember, the black energy...he stole it from the lab and ran away to the Acorn Kingdom!**
His eyes went wide and he clenched his hands together, almost shaking in giddiness...
"That's it...that's what will KILL THOSE FREEDOM FIGHTERS!!!!"
"Sir?"
Robotnik grabbed Snively by the shoulders, grinning as he shook the little man. "Go prepare the deroboticizer, Snively. NOW!"
"The deroboticizer?! But...but you never use..."
"NOW SNIVELY!!!" Robotnik threw his lackey towards the door.
****
Robotnik was impatient.
The deroboticizer stood silently. The bottom panel was open, and Snively's legs were sticking out. Robotnik could hear the clinks and metallic sounds as Sniv' fiddled with the internal components. The deroboticizer had never been used before.
"Snively, are you finished yet?" he growled.
**He's so slow. Maybe he needs a good session of shock therapy after this... he's been getting lazy lately...**
"Almost sir," came the muffled reply.
"Well, hurry it up!"
Robotnik looked at his nephew's legs and lower torso sticking out, and was strongly tempted to smash one of his feet, or kick him in the nuts.
He resisted the temptation.
A few minutes passed and Sniv' slid out from the compartment and brushed his hands together. "I believe it's ready to go, sir."
"This had better work, Snively. If not..." He ended on a growl, but his nephew understood perfectly.
"Well...well...um, there might be some glitches, since it's never been used...but I think it'll work, sir..."
Robotnik ignored his nephew this time, and tapped into a computer. He searched among the files of all the prisoners they'd taken over the years. He'd been meticulous in keeping the records...and it was paying off now.
**'T's....Taffy...Tracker...no...that's 'tr', Ah, here it is. Tobin Greenman. There you are, my old friend. Hmm...roboticized...working in the water refineries...Workerbot #057893. **
"Snively!"
"Yes sir?"
Robotnik turned around and grinned toothily at his nephew. Sniv' nervously smiled back, hands clasped behind his back.
"Go fetch me Workerbot #057893."
Sniv' quickly memorized the numbers and nodded.
"He should be working in the water refineries."
"Yes sir, right away."
Robotnik waited until his nephew had run from the room, then let out a hideous laugh.
****
"Ah man, what a great place to wake up!" exclaimed the blue hedgehog.
He had arrived back in the present time, and the first thing that greeted him was an eyeful of his most hated city, Robotropolis.
He was sitting near some building. A factory of some sort. He could hear the churning of gears, and beside him was a large pipe, which his shoulder was leaning against. It was cold to the touch, and when he pressed his ear to it, he could hear the rush of water flowing through it.
**Must be by the bay or something.**
He could hear the crashing of water upon rocks and sand. He rounded the building, walking cautiously.
He could see the bay. The waters crashed upon the dirty rocks, foaming up with more than salt. That was a poison sea now, thanks to Robotnik.
**Man, where am I gonna find that evil box thingy?**
He heard the footsteps of SWATS. He raced to the shoreline, hiding behind one of the large stones.
He peeked out and saw two SWATs, followed by Snively stop at the water refinery.
"All right," said the little man, "look in there for Workerbot number... damn! What was that number..."
He grumbled for a second before blurting out, "Ah yes! 057893!"
The bots nodded and went into the factory. Sonic thought of sneaking away, but decided it was easier to just wait.
While keeping his eye on the Sniv-miester, who was kicking rocks and muttering curses under his breath, he thought over what the lady had said.
**Ok...she said that I had to get it before Ro-butt-nik did... Thanks, lady. I already knew that! Whoa!**
He ducked his head quickly behind the rocks as Sniv' turned his way.
He heard the little guy growl, and half-expected SWATs to come running towards his hiding place.
"This goddamn headache!"
Sonic stifled a laugh.
He heard the SWATs feet clank out of the water refinery.
"Well?! Is he in there?"
"No, sir."
There was a large sigh. "Fiiineeee, let's check the next one."
Sonic waited until the SWAT footsteps faded away before coming out behind the rock.
He looked at the water refinery. He could smell the bay behind him; nasty, fishy, dirty.
**Must take a lotta energy to clean that water.**
He narrowed his eyes.
Water.
He turned and looked at the bay.
**She said...it was in the water...** He looked at the foaming waves. **I wonder...is it in the bay?**
It had to be. But how did it get there?
He stood, frowning for a while.
There was the clanking of metal feet. The SWATs were coming back. He ducked behind the rock again.
They seemed to have found who they were looking for. Sniv' was followed by the two SWATs, plus a taller Overlander-bot.
There was something very familiar about the robot. The glasses. The hair, even though it was made of metal, had a familiar shape to it.
**Dude, I know! It's that scientist guy! Tobin, yeah. That's his name. That's the dude who wanted to get rid of the box.**
He looked out in the bay.
**Well, the girl was pretty right about everything so far... I guess I'll have to check it out...**
He stuck his shoe into some of the foam on the beach and grimaced.
**Ah man, how am I gonna do this? Who knows where it is! I can't even swim that good!**
He wondered how Robotnik had gotten it out. **Scubadiving? Submarine?
Submarine, duh! I'll just borrow Tail's "Seafox" for a while. Perfect!**
He grinned and zoomed back to Knothole.
&&&&&&
Robotnik grinned at the workerbot now standing inside the deroboticizer.
"Soon, my old friend, you will give me the key to annihilating those freedom fighters!" He laughed and pounded the control console in glee.
"Who is that, exactly?" asked Snively, and Robotnik whirled around.
"You're still in here? Leave at once!"
Sniv' looked surprised. "But, don't you need me to..."
"Do you think I'm stupid!?"
"No, sir, not at all...it's just that..." **You always make me do all the work, you fat piece of shit...**
"GET OUT!"
Snively turned tail and skittered from the room. Robotnik watched the doors slide shut, chuckling.
Then he turned to the deroboticizer. The controls were similar to the roboticizer. He assumed the large red button meant 'START', so he pressed it down. The room was bathed in blue light as the tube lit up. The workerbot inside became only a silhouette, but it was clear that it was changing...
****
Tobin knew where he was. How? Because even roboticized, the mind is still alive...and still knows exactly what's going on.
The tube slid back up into the ceiling and Tobin crouched on the platform, brushing his hair out of his eyes. His skin and clothes were beaded with moisture from the deroboticization process.
"Ah, it worked!" Robotnik exclaimed.
**I suppose I can let Snively off with the shock therapy...then again, he could always use a little motivation to work harder...**
Tobin stood up and moved backwards warily. He was surprised he didn't feel tired or weak. "What do you want, Julian?"
"Surely, you know of my name change? I am now Robotnik."
"Whatever. What do you want?"
"Come with me, Tobin, and we'll have a nice chat." Robotnik gestured to a SWAT who stood guard near the door. Tobin backed away, but the SWAT grabbed his arm.
They left the room and went down the hallway, before turning into another room.
The door slid open, and Tobin balked at seeing the interior of the room. There was a chair in the middle of the room, and Tobin recognized it as an interrogation chair.
**Which means I'm going to get tortured!**
"Julian...really, we don't have to go through this... Just tell me what you want..."
"Have a seat, have a seat," Robotnik beckoned to the chair, smiling widely.
The SWAT forcefully pushed the scientist into the chair, and snapped on the restraints. Tobin gulped.
"Well, Tobin, I know it's been a long long time...but I'm looking for something that you stole."
Tobin gave him a questioning look. Even after being roboticized for years and years, his hair was regaining its old greasy looks.
Robotnik sighed and smiled. "You left the Overlander country for a reason because you'd stolen something very valuable from the laboratory."
Tobin's eyes widened and Robotnik knew he knew.
"Where is it?"
"No...no! I don't know what you're talking about! I didn't steal anything!"
Robotnik walked around the chair, trailing his fingers along the back. Tobin trembled nervously. Pausing behind the chair, Robotnik lifted up the electroshock headband that dangled from wires embedded in the chair. This particular chair was wired specifically for electro-torture. He pressed the headband down firmly onto Tobin's head.
"What...what is that?"
"Just a little motivation for you, my old friend. I like to call it 'shock therapy.'. If Snively was here, he could tell you how very effective it is in making people talk. Or scream...in his case."
Tobin shook more severely. "You'd do that to your own nephew?"
Robotnik grinned toothily. "Oh yes. The little bastard brings it upon himself... Much as you're doing, Tobin. Why not just tell nice Dr. Robotnik where IT is?"
Tobin gulped again, straining his skinny wrists against the bonds. "I don't know, Julian!"
"Ah well." Robotnik picked up the remote that controlled the headband. He turned the knob a little, and Tobin felt a slight tingling sensation through his veins.
Robotnik turned the knob slowly, smiling as Tobin's face grew distressed. He was feeling it now.
**Oh, it won't take long for you, Tobin. Soon, you'll be squealing like a pig. Too bad...I almost like the stronger ones better. It's always more pleasing to break something when it takes more effort to break it...**
He turned the power up, ever so slowly. Tobin gasped, fingers gripping the armrest. The dial turned more.
Tobin's fingers turned white, and his teeth clenched.
Robotnik's fat fingers turned the dial higher. He saw Tobin's head tilt back, and his eyes sparkle with tears.
**Hmmm...he's tougher than I thought. That will change.**
With a twist of his hand, the dial went into the higher levels. Tobin let out a scream, his body jerking in the bonds. Spittle dribbled down his chin as he thrashed. His skin crackled with electricity.
Robotnik inched the knob up a little further, then left it, watching as Tobin's body shook with the punishment.
Tobin voiced a cracked shriek.
Robotnik sighed.
It wasn't nearly as nice a scream as others he'd heard. Females usually had the best. High and sweet. **That's because females are weak. No pain tolerance.** Children were probably the best after females. Either gender of children was nice, because both had high voices. Robotnik liked high voices, because it seemed the higher the voice, the more pain was expressed.
**Even when I torture men, their voices go much higher.** It was a wonderful sound!
His third favorite scream was from his own nephew. Sniv' had a wonderful scream. What was more surprising was that, even with his weak lungs, Sniv' could still produce quite powerful sounds.
**They go right through you.** He shivered. **Exquisite.**
Tobin's shriek, cracked and dusty, sounded like an old weak man's. It was unimpressive.
Robotnik watched as the crotch of the scientist's pants grew wet. He just loved it when they pissed themselves. It was like...the ultimate submission...the highest fear...
He turned down the voltage and allowed Tobin to recover somewhat.
"Do you remember now?" he asked pleasantly.
Tobin's eyes were wide with fear. He whimpered. "Julian...Ju...please...you can't mess with it...it's dangerous...!"
The voltage went up again. Tobin jumped and shrieked.
Robotnik turned the knob to off.
"You don't understand. I WANT it **because** it's dangerous. Because it'll kill certain vermin that have been plaguing me these past years..."
Tobin sobbed as Robotnik's hand went to the dial, tapping it threateningly. "FINE!" he screamed. "I'LL TELL YOU!!"
"That's more like it!"
Tobin coughed. "May I have a drink first?"
Robotnik filled a glass from the lab sink in the room, and handed it to Tobin. The scientist drank it and then wearily dropped it to the floor. It was plastic, and bounced off harmlessly.
"I stole it from the lab, you're right... I took it cause it wasn't something anyone had a right to be messing with. They...whoever it was...put it on that dead planet for a reason..."
"Oh, but I know why. They were weak, like you. Cowards. Afraid of having all that power."
Tobin trembled at the mad light in Robotnik's eyes. "You're just as crazy as you've ever been."
Robotnik laughed.
"Tell me more."
Tobin shut his eyes, looking nauseous. "I was afraid to touch it...but that crazy lady...you remember her? She begged me to let her out...she told me about that thing...IT's evil! I let her out too and took the box. She followed me. We hid out for a while. But I found out the lab had put a high price on my head. I had to get out of there. So we went to the Acorn Kingdom."
"So, the energy is here?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
There was the sound of gulping, and Tobin's fingers clenched on the arms of the chair. "I...I..can't..."
Robotnik shrugged and turned the knob. As Tobin thrashed and cried, he picked up the plastic glass and returned it to its spot on the lab counter.
Tobin sagged back into the chair as the voltage shut off.
"Now, tell me where it is!"
Tobin whimpered and sobbed again, snot and tears dripping down his face.
**Pathetic. So pathetic.** Robotnik smiled contentedly. He knew he was going to get what he wanted, and he liked it.
"When...When I came to the Acorn Kingdom...I went across the sea... When I came to the shore near Mobotropolis, I threw the box into the bay!"
Robotnik's eyes lit up. **It...it was so close! All this time. All these years of fighting those beasts, and their doom was lying at the bottom of the bay! Well...now their time has surely come!**
***
The tideline of Robotropolis calmed in the late afternoon wind. The waves crept silently upon the dark sands, coming to stop a few feet before a pair of red sneakers and large green feet.
Sonic hopped upon Dulcy's back, unstrapping the bonds that had held the miniature submarine to her belly.
She sighed. "Whew, that was a lotta weight to be luggin' around! So, whatcha gonna do with it?"
"I'm lookin' for something. Don't stick around, it might take me awhile. Just help me push this thing into the water."
Sonic entered the submarine through the top hatch.
"Good luck finding whatever it is!" said Dulcy, before Sonic closed the hatch.
She lifted it up and brought it to deeper waters. She released it gently, and waved, even though she knew Sonic couldn't see her.
**Don't get in any trouble, Sonic! Sally'll have a fit!**
She watched the sky for hovercraft or any other dangers, then took flight back to Knothole.
Sonic cruised through the dark water. Strange fish swam around him, luminous in the single headlight of the small craft.
He shuddered at their bulging eyes and thin bodies; their skin with its irregular scales, and long tails that seemed to ooze out behind them like trailing entrails...
The controls, having been made specifically for the young Tails, were simple and easy to use. Sonic brought the submarine lower in the water.
**Man, lookit all this crap down here. Nasty.**
The submarine seemed to be stationary. The water was so thick...
**Probably just one of those optical illusion thingys. It's just water.**
Something indescript, but very slimy looking, hit the windshield, and Sonic grimaced.
**Very dirty water!**
He played the headlight over the water, sweeping it in wide arcs. He saw nothing but the sea animals, garbage, and darkness.
He sighed and kept going.
**Maybe I should go deeper.**
He did so, and saw bottom. The sand was black and glittered in some spots. Others were covered with what looked like thick oil.
**Oil floats, though. Some kind of crap, then. Nasty, whatever it is.**
He scooted along, watching white crabs and insect-like creatures scurry out of the light. Up ahead, he saw a school of tiny fish scatter. The light glinted off their scales; making them appear like silver ribbons.
After they scattered, something continued to glint. He thought maybe it was a stray fish, lost from the school, but it wasn't moving.
Curious, he went closer.
Through the windshield, he saw a glass box, half buried in the sand. His heart clenched in his chest. Something was in it...black, dark...blacker than the water even... forming shapes, but never for more than a second.
He shook his head hard, then looked through the periscope for a closer view.
"That's definitely it," he muttered.
He examined the control panel. There was a button that was marked 'claw.' Below it was a small monitor and below that was a small joystick. He pressed the button and saw a view of the water and a long piece of metal almost out of sight of the camera.
He took a look out of the periscope and saw there was a long metal 'arm' complete with a claw on the end, jutting out from the side of the sub. He grinned.
He went back to the control panel, and moved the joystick. As he suspected, it moved the claw. He maneuvered the claw until it was above the box. At the top of the joystick was a button; he pressed that down and was pleased to see the claw open.
Keeping the button pressed down, he moved the claw above the box. The fingers of the claw slid down on the sides of the glass, and he gently released the button. The claw gripped the box tight.
**Hope it don't break it.**
He controlled the claw; moving it back up against the submarine.
**Now what?**
He figured he just had to keep the box close to the submarine and hope he didn't slam into anything.
He brought the submarine as close to the beach as possible, but had to wade through the water anyway. He grimaced in disgust. The box was in his arms.
He looked back at the sub, frowning.
**Hmmm. Maybe I should've told Dulcy to stay. What am I gonna do with that thing? Tails'll be pissed if I lose it.**
He looked down at the box, and the shapeless black thing made him shiver so severely that he nearly dropped it.
**I... I think maybe this is more important.**
And he ran down the beach.
"Where am I gonna find that lady?" Sonic was wondering aloud, when he neared a cave along the beach.
A figure came stumbling out. Sonic braked, but couldn't stop in time. He collided with her.
The box went flying.
He jumped up and over her, and nabbed the box out of midair. He turned and saw the girl struggling to her feet, her face frantic.
"It's all right, lady. It ain't broke," he assured her.
She let out a breath. "You are the blue one...the one meant to help..."
He frowned a little; he never had liked mysterious-type stuff.
"Hey lady, how come you didn't get this thingy outta the bay yourself?"
She looked tired, and rubbed her eyes. "I have been asleep. For a long time. It was the only thing to do, since the evil was untouchable in the water..."
"If you were here all the time, then how come ole Ro-butt-nik found it?"
"I have been asleep...when the city men touched it, I awoke. But I was not able to stop the fat city man in time... he let IT out... That cannot happen again."
"Yeah, I can't keep going back in time over and over," laughed the hedgehog.
The basenji looked rather somber. "We must get IT away from this place..."
"I'm with ya...uh Miss..." he stared pointedly at her. She gave him a blank look.
"Your name?" he prompted.
"My name is Benjamin," she replied, and she took off at a fast trot. He followed her, holding the evil box in his arms. He wanted to use his super speed, but figured they were doing fine. She seemed disoriented as it was.
**Who is this lady?
How does she know me?
What kinda connection does she have with this box?**
****
-Sigh-
**I'm bored**, thought Snively boredly, as he boredly stared at the computer console for no good reason. The lights were dimmed, as his ole Uncle Julian was napping in his green throne.
Snively looked over at him. Robotnik had a large smile on his sleeping face.
**Hope you have a nightmare, you fat slob. A really good one.** He smirked at the thought.
**How'd I just love to get you in the interrogation room, Julian...you'd get a taste of your own damn medicine...**
An irritating beeping noise drew his attention to the surveillance monitors. A SpyEye was sending its transmissions back.
The floating camera was somewhere near the bay. He could see the shoreline; strewn with garbage and gunk. Traveling up the beach and towards the outskirts of the city, was the hedgehog.
He sent a transmission back, telling the camera to move closer. It did so. He saw there was also an attractive Mobian girl with the hedgehog. She had wild brown hair, blowing all over her face in the evening wind. He noticed that the hedgehog was holding a glass box in his arms.
He commanded the camera to move closer. It obeyed once again. The hedgehog stooped and picked up a rock. The last thing the SpyEye saw was the stone hurtling towards it.
The surveillance monitor dissolved into static.
"Damn."
Sniv' turned around, eyeing his uncle.
"Sir?"
Robotnik grunted and shifted in his throne.
He raised his voice. "Sir!"
Robotnik was still.
"SIR!!" He kicked the console, making a resounding metal clang. Robotnik sat up.
"Eh...?" He blinked and looked at his nephew. "WHAT IS IT, SNIVELY?! WHY ARE YOU WAKING ME UP!!!?"
"There's a hedgehog sighting."
"What's he doing?" grumbled the tyrant.
"Well, he just destroyed the SpyEye, but," Sniv' cleared his throat nervously, "he was down near the bay, and..."
Robotnik's eyes widened.
"There was a Mobian with him..."
"Was he carrying anything?" Robotnik blurted out. His voice sounded unusually anxious.
**Oh my...don't think he's going to like the answer.** Sniv' gulped painfully, throat dry. "Um...actually, he was, sir."
Robotnik jumped out of his throne and stamped over. "What was it!?"
Sniv' backed away. "It was a box, sir. A glass box."
"WHAT?!" Robotnik swung, and Sniv' ducked. A huge dent was made in the console, but Robotnik didn't seem to care. He grabbed the nearest comm device and screamed orders to capture the hedgehog.
Then he blared into the intercom system of the Death Egg: "PACKBELL, GET IN HERE NOW!!!"