****
A/N: Once again, sorry for the long delay... I've had to shift my writing to papers for classes once more... :D. Thanks for being so patient! :)
****
CHAPTER 8: Who's Who?
After walking non-stop for a hour or so, we stood at the top of yet another hill and looked around. I never realized how vastly open Mobius was - at least in the part of the world we were in. The rolling farmlands reminded me of the farms my family and I would drive past on long summer vacations. I remembered thinking back then how cool it would be just to walk the whole way and have an adventure or two. Well, I was definitely singing a different tune now.
A sign to the side of the road read, "NOW ENTERING MOBIUS CORNERS."
Grounder examined the sign, "Why does that sound so familiar?"
A lightbulb came on in my head, "Of course! 'Untouchable Sonic'! Bert and Roxie live here!"
"Bert Who?" Electra asked.
"Yeah, that's him!" Scratch nodded.
"Huh?" Electra seemed confused.
I laughed a bit, "Nevermind. Let's stop in here for a bit."
"I don't know," Coconuts frowned, "They may not like us here. I don't wanna get run outta town."
"Don't worry," I said, "I'll take care everything," I started down the hill and everyone followed behind me.
* * *
As we headed into town, I spotted "Bert's Diner" down the street, with its sign advertising "Foot-Long Chilidogs". Other buildings along the street were a general store, sheriff's office, city hall, and a hospital.
"I want to go check out the diner," I said, heading straight for it.
"I'm not going in there!" Grounder stopped in his tracks.
"Me neither," Scratch stood beside him, "It holds a lot of memories..."
"That's okay," Electra said, "I'll go with her."
"Me too! Me too! I don't mind Electra," Coconuts said sweetly to Electra. Scratch and Grounder shot him menacing looks.
"Well, maybe we can just wait outside," Grounder suggested to Scratch, "You know, to watch out for trouble."
"Yeah," Scratch agreed, "We'll protect you guys!"
"Oh, that's sooo sweet fellas!" Electra said as they blushed.
Coconuts stamped his foot, "Let's quick talkin' and get movin' already!" He grabbed our hands and led us toward the diner. I heard Scratch and Grounder snicker at Coconuts as they followed.
The diner was just like they pictured it in the cartoon. I couldn't believe my eyes as I pushed the swinging door open, I expected my hand to go right through it. The inside was extremely immaculate - I could see my reflection in the shiny surface of the white tables, as we headed for the counters.
We hopped onto the barstools and looked around the diner, "Where is everyone?"
"Looks pretty deserted," Coconuts said.
"What time is it?" I asked.
Coconuts pulled out a digital clock, "It's Noon... in Mobian Standard Time - lunchtime!"
"But we don't eat lunch," Electra said, "Do we?"
"Oh... yeah... I forgot!" Coconuts replied sheepishly.
Something popped up from behind the counter so quickly it scared us and we fell off the barstools. The towering figure was a robot with a head like a reptile and another head where it's stomach was supposed to be. It stood there for a second, staring blankly at us. Then it lurched to life, and spoke in a recorded voice, "Hello, Welcome to Bert's Diner! May I please take your order?"
"Is that B-B-Ballhog and R-R-Roller?" Coconuts muttered, "Whoa! So THAT'S where they went!"
"Not exactly," I said, "Tails made a new robot out of them."
"Well, what will it be?" The robot asked.
A head peered out of the kitchen, "What's all the commotion out here?"
"Roxie!" I exclaimed.
She emerged from the kitchen, and headed for the counter. Roxie too was a lot taller than I imagined her - she wore a white apron over her pink waitress outfit, her racoon tail swishing behind her, "Do I know you?"
"No, but I know you!" I said, "I'm a - friend of Sonic's!"
"Really?" she crossed her arms, "Funny, he never mentioned you before. What's your name?"
"Joanie."
She leaned on the counter, "What's with the bots?"
"Don't worry, these are my friends," I answered, a little nervous.
"Hmm... you're cute," she said to Electra, "But you... haven't I seen you somewhere before..." she eyed Coconuts carefully, "Hmmm..."
"No, no! I never seen ya before in my life!" he cried, waving his arms. Electra calmed him down a little.
Someone else emerged from the kitchen, "Roxie, I need some-" Bert stopped and adjusted his glasses, "Oh! Customers! Welcome to the diner!" he smiled.
Why is it I always end up so short, I asked myself as I looked up at Bert. He was wearing his poofy chef's hat and apron. If I had been anywhere else, I would've wondered why a green owl was running a diner with a racoon. But not only, I remembered, hearing his voice in my head, was he the chief chilidog chef of Mobius Corners, but the mayor AND the sheriff as well.
His smile turned upside down, "I'm sorry, Miss, but you'll have to leave your robots outside," he pointed to a sign in the window that said, 'NO BOTS ALLOWED'.
"But Bert," Roxie said, "They're friends of Sonic."
"Oh," he took her aside. I pretended to read a menu, leaned forward and listened in.
"I've never seen them before," he whispered, getting something out of the cabinet.
"I think I've seen the monkey one," she answered, "But I'm not sure where."
"You know... I think I have too - now that you mention it."
"I-I don't like this," Coconuts whispered, "We outta leave."
"Just wait a sec," I said.
"Wait, he's one of Robotnik's bots!" Bert said.
"Are you sure?" Roxie asked.
"Sure as Sonic is fast," he replied.
"What should we do, I don't think they're here to cause any trouble," she glanced back at us and I smiled weakly, and returned to the menu.
"If they're from Robotnik, they are trouble," he said as he turned to face us, "Look, I don't wanna be harsh, but it might be best if you leave," he said as Roxie went towards the window.
"But we didn't do nothin!!" Coconuts practically yelled.
"Bert! Those bozos are back again!" Roxie called from the window, "They're on the porch!"
"Alright you!" Bert snatched a frying pan and shook it at us, "OUT!"
"Bert!" Roxie cried, "Don't make them mad!"
"OUT!"
We leaped off the chairs and scrambled for the door. Bert chased after us, waving the frying pan like it was a broadsword or something.
We tumbled down the stairs. I tripped on Scratch and Grounder and we fell into a pile. We got up and scurried away from the diner.
"I told you that was a bad idea!" Scratch complained.
"I'm sorry guys, I didn't know they'd be so rough," I sighed.
"You did your best, Sweets," Electra assured me, "Some people just carry grudges."
"They kinda have a reason to," Grounder sighed.
"There's nowhere for us to go," Coconuts kicked an empty can lying in the street, "Nobody likes us. Nobody trusts us. We're as good as scrap."
Scrap? An idea formulated in my brain, "That's it!"
"What? What's it?" Coconuts asked.
"Scrap Valley - the home for misfit robots! You guys could live there!" I said excitedly.
"What is it?" Grounder asked.
"It's a new town where a whole bunch of Robotnik's old robots have gone to live - you guys would fit right in!"
"Really, like who?" Scratch asked.
"Remember Chef Wolfgang Puke?"
Coconuts made a sick face, "He was the woist cook in all of Mobius!"
"Or Mojo - the weather bot?"
"Oh, Mojo! I wondered where he went!" Grounder said, "He used to play tennis with me!"
"I don't know..." Scratch said.
"Did I mention Robot lives there?" I said with a smile.
"Robot? Robot the robot? As in OUR robot?" Scratch's face lit up with joy. He and Grounder looked at me with anticipation.
I nodded.
"Let's go!" Scratch shouted.
"Unfortunately," I started, "I have no idea where it is..."
"What!" They exclaimed.
"But, I know someone who does know!" I finished.
"Yeah, who? Who?" Coconuts asked.
"Sonic," I answered.
"Like he would ever help us," Grounder sighed.
"Sure he will. I'll talk to him."
"But how will you find him, Sweets?" Electra asked.
"Good question," I sighed.
Suddenly, something whizzed by us and blew up a trashcan. We turned around and to find a sizeable robot brigade lined up on the street about 50 meters from us. One of the robot soldiers shot a missle towards us.
"HIT THE DIRT!" I yelled as we all ducked. It again whizzed by and blew up a street light.
"Surrender in the name of Dr. Robotnik!" The bots cried out systematically, "Or be destroyed!"
"What do we do, Scratch?" Grounder whined.
"Where gonna get blasted!!" Coconuts covered his head.
I looked around. There wasn't anywhere we could run to. We were standing in the middle of the street - the perfect sitting ducks. The soldiers fired a few more missles our way which blasted into the general store. They called to us again repeating what they had said like a broken record.
"We'd better do something," Electra said, "Or there won't be anything left of us to surrender!"
"Hey, Stooge-bots! Behind you!" A far-off voice caused the robots to turn away from us. They began to fire as I saw a blue blur zoom through the air and cause them to fire at each other. A couple fell over as the figure of Sonic the Hedgehog came speeding towards us.
The soldiers began to charge after him. Clouds of dust kicked up behind him as he ran right towards me. Without a word, he scooped me up and we took off like a bullet, "Hang on!"
I never traveled so fast in my entire life. Even the rollercoasters that blast you off at 75 miles an hour weren't even close to traveling at Sonic speed. The world around us was going by so fast I felt dizzy if I looked off to the side. The wind roared in my ears, sounding like rumbling storm clouds. My hair was blasted back and I barely grabbed my scrunchie before it blew off. I couldn't help but call out, "YAHOO! FASTER!"
Sonic smiled and sped up as we neared the edge of town. I saw Tails - looking much healthier - come into view and pass our view just as quickly. I heard him call, "HEY! Wait up, Sonic!"
I looked over Sonic's shoulder as Tails took to the air, rotating his Tails, and caught up, flying beside us. He waved at me, "Hello!"
I waved back, "Hi!"
We seemed to fly over the landscape as he ran up a hill, where a small campsite was set up. He skidded to a halt. My body couldn't seem to tell the difference however. My stomach churned violently - I usually could take most thrill rides pretty well - but this was too much! As he let me down, I wobbled around a little bit before I experienced some serious tunnel vision and blacked out.
TO BE CONTINUED
A/N: Once again, sorry for the long delay... I've had to shift my writing to papers for classes once more... :D. Thanks for being so patient! :)
****
CHAPTER 8: Who's Who?
After walking non-stop for a hour or so, we stood at the top of yet another hill and looked around. I never realized how vastly open Mobius was - at least in the part of the world we were in. The rolling farmlands reminded me of the farms my family and I would drive past on long summer vacations. I remembered thinking back then how cool it would be just to walk the whole way and have an adventure or two. Well, I was definitely singing a different tune now.
A sign to the side of the road read, "NOW ENTERING MOBIUS CORNERS."
Grounder examined the sign, "Why does that sound so familiar?"
A lightbulb came on in my head, "Of course! 'Untouchable Sonic'! Bert and Roxie live here!"
"Bert Who?" Electra asked.
"Yeah, that's him!" Scratch nodded.
"Huh?" Electra seemed confused.
I laughed a bit, "Nevermind. Let's stop in here for a bit."
"I don't know," Coconuts frowned, "They may not like us here. I don't wanna get run outta town."
"Don't worry," I said, "I'll take care everything," I started down the hill and everyone followed behind me.
* * *
As we headed into town, I spotted "Bert's Diner" down the street, with its sign advertising "Foot-Long Chilidogs". Other buildings along the street were a general store, sheriff's office, city hall, and a hospital.
"I want to go check out the diner," I said, heading straight for it.
"I'm not going in there!" Grounder stopped in his tracks.
"Me neither," Scratch stood beside him, "It holds a lot of memories..."
"That's okay," Electra said, "I'll go with her."
"Me too! Me too! I don't mind Electra," Coconuts said sweetly to Electra. Scratch and Grounder shot him menacing looks.
"Well, maybe we can just wait outside," Grounder suggested to Scratch, "You know, to watch out for trouble."
"Yeah," Scratch agreed, "We'll protect you guys!"
"Oh, that's sooo sweet fellas!" Electra said as they blushed.
Coconuts stamped his foot, "Let's quick talkin' and get movin' already!" He grabbed our hands and led us toward the diner. I heard Scratch and Grounder snicker at Coconuts as they followed.
The diner was just like they pictured it in the cartoon. I couldn't believe my eyes as I pushed the swinging door open, I expected my hand to go right through it. The inside was extremely immaculate - I could see my reflection in the shiny surface of the white tables, as we headed for the counters.
We hopped onto the barstools and looked around the diner, "Where is everyone?"
"Looks pretty deserted," Coconuts said.
"What time is it?" I asked.
Coconuts pulled out a digital clock, "It's Noon... in Mobian Standard Time - lunchtime!"
"But we don't eat lunch," Electra said, "Do we?"
"Oh... yeah... I forgot!" Coconuts replied sheepishly.
Something popped up from behind the counter so quickly it scared us and we fell off the barstools. The towering figure was a robot with a head like a reptile and another head where it's stomach was supposed to be. It stood there for a second, staring blankly at us. Then it lurched to life, and spoke in a recorded voice, "Hello, Welcome to Bert's Diner! May I please take your order?"
"Is that B-B-Ballhog and R-R-Roller?" Coconuts muttered, "Whoa! So THAT'S where they went!"
"Not exactly," I said, "Tails made a new robot out of them."
"Well, what will it be?" The robot asked.
A head peered out of the kitchen, "What's all the commotion out here?"
"Roxie!" I exclaimed.
She emerged from the kitchen, and headed for the counter. Roxie too was a lot taller than I imagined her - she wore a white apron over her pink waitress outfit, her racoon tail swishing behind her, "Do I know you?"
"No, but I know you!" I said, "I'm a - friend of Sonic's!"
"Really?" she crossed her arms, "Funny, he never mentioned you before. What's your name?"
"Joanie."
She leaned on the counter, "What's with the bots?"
"Don't worry, these are my friends," I answered, a little nervous.
"Hmm... you're cute," she said to Electra, "But you... haven't I seen you somewhere before..." she eyed Coconuts carefully, "Hmmm..."
"No, no! I never seen ya before in my life!" he cried, waving his arms. Electra calmed him down a little.
Someone else emerged from the kitchen, "Roxie, I need some-" Bert stopped and adjusted his glasses, "Oh! Customers! Welcome to the diner!" he smiled.
Why is it I always end up so short, I asked myself as I looked up at Bert. He was wearing his poofy chef's hat and apron. If I had been anywhere else, I would've wondered why a green owl was running a diner with a racoon. But not only, I remembered, hearing his voice in my head, was he the chief chilidog chef of Mobius Corners, but the mayor AND the sheriff as well.
His smile turned upside down, "I'm sorry, Miss, but you'll have to leave your robots outside," he pointed to a sign in the window that said, 'NO BOTS ALLOWED'.
"But Bert," Roxie said, "They're friends of Sonic."
"Oh," he took her aside. I pretended to read a menu, leaned forward and listened in.
"I've never seen them before," he whispered, getting something out of the cabinet.
"I think I've seen the monkey one," she answered, "But I'm not sure where."
"You know... I think I have too - now that you mention it."
"I-I don't like this," Coconuts whispered, "We outta leave."
"Just wait a sec," I said.
"Wait, he's one of Robotnik's bots!" Bert said.
"Are you sure?" Roxie asked.
"Sure as Sonic is fast," he replied.
"What should we do, I don't think they're here to cause any trouble," she glanced back at us and I smiled weakly, and returned to the menu.
"If they're from Robotnik, they are trouble," he said as he turned to face us, "Look, I don't wanna be harsh, but it might be best if you leave," he said as Roxie went towards the window.
"But we didn't do nothin!!" Coconuts practically yelled.
"Bert! Those bozos are back again!" Roxie called from the window, "They're on the porch!"
"Alright you!" Bert snatched a frying pan and shook it at us, "OUT!"
"Bert!" Roxie cried, "Don't make them mad!"
"OUT!"
We leaped off the chairs and scrambled for the door. Bert chased after us, waving the frying pan like it was a broadsword or something.
We tumbled down the stairs. I tripped on Scratch and Grounder and we fell into a pile. We got up and scurried away from the diner.
"I told you that was a bad idea!" Scratch complained.
"I'm sorry guys, I didn't know they'd be so rough," I sighed.
"You did your best, Sweets," Electra assured me, "Some people just carry grudges."
"They kinda have a reason to," Grounder sighed.
"There's nowhere for us to go," Coconuts kicked an empty can lying in the street, "Nobody likes us. Nobody trusts us. We're as good as scrap."
Scrap? An idea formulated in my brain, "That's it!"
"What? What's it?" Coconuts asked.
"Scrap Valley - the home for misfit robots! You guys could live there!" I said excitedly.
"What is it?" Grounder asked.
"It's a new town where a whole bunch of Robotnik's old robots have gone to live - you guys would fit right in!"
"Really, like who?" Scratch asked.
"Remember Chef Wolfgang Puke?"
Coconuts made a sick face, "He was the woist cook in all of Mobius!"
"Or Mojo - the weather bot?"
"Oh, Mojo! I wondered where he went!" Grounder said, "He used to play tennis with me!"
"I don't know..." Scratch said.
"Did I mention Robot lives there?" I said with a smile.
"Robot? Robot the robot? As in OUR robot?" Scratch's face lit up with joy. He and Grounder looked at me with anticipation.
I nodded.
"Let's go!" Scratch shouted.
"Unfortunately," I started, "I have no idea where it is..."
"What!" They exclaimed.
"But, I know someone who does know!" I finished.
"Yeah, who? Who?" Coconuts asked.
"Sonic," I answered.
"Like he would ever help us," Grounder sighed.
"Sure he will. I'll talk to him."
"But how will you find him, Sweets?" Electra asked.
"Good question," I sighed.
Suddenly, something whizzed by us and blew up a trashcan. We turned around and to find a sizeable robot brigade lined up on the street about 50 meters from us. One of the robot soldiers shot a missle towards us.
"HIT THE DIRT!" I yelled as we all ducked. It again whizzed by and blew up a street light.
"Surrender in the name of Dr. Robotnik!" The bots cried out systematically, "Or be destroyed!"
"What do we do, Scratch?" Grounder whined.
"Where gonna get blasted!!" Coconuts covered his head.
I looked around. There wasn't anywhere we could run to. We were standing in the middle of the street - the perfect sitting ducks. The soldiers fired a few more missles our way which blasted into the general store. They called to us again repeating what they had said like a broken record.
"We'd better do something," Electra said, "Or there won't be anything left of us to surrender!"
"Hey, Stooge-bots! Behind you!" A far-off voice caused the robots to turn away from us. They began to fire as I saw a blue blur zoom through the air and cause them to fire at each other. A couple fell over as the figure of Sonic the Hedgehog came speeding towards us.
The soldiers began to charge after him. Clouds of dust kicked up behind him as he ran right towards me. Without a word, he scooped me up and we took off like a bullet, "Hang on!"
I never traveled so fast in my entire life. Even the rollercoasters that blast you off at 75 miles an hour weren't even close to traveling at Sonic speed. The world around us was going by so fast I felt dizzy if I looked off to the side. The wind roared in my ears, sounding like rumbling storm clouds. My hair was blasted back and I barely grabbed my scrunchie before it blew off. I couldn't help but call out, "YAHOO! FASTER!"
Sonic smiled and sped up as we neared the edge of town. I saw Tails - looking much healthier - come into view and pass our view just as quickly. I heard him call, "HEY! Wait up, Sonic!"
I looked over Sonic's shoulder as Tails took to the air, rotating his Tails, and caught up, flying beside us. He waved at me, "Hello!"
I waved back, "Hi!"
We seemed to fly over the landscape as he ran up a hill, where a small campsite was set up. He skidded to a halt. My body couldn't seem to tell the difference however. My stomach churned violently - I usually could take most thrill rides pretty well - but this was too much! As he let me down, I wobbled around a little bit before I experienced some serious tunnel vision and blacked out.
TO BE CONTINUED