I don't own Sonic, Robotnik, or any characher created by SEGA or Archie

When I introduce my own characters, I'll tell you who they are.

Now that this bull's out of the way....

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Obstinate

"Okay, Nicole, run that by me one more time." Sonic said as he rubbed his eyes.

"Very well." Nicole said. "The product of an (m * n) matrix, A, and an (n * r) matrix, B, is the (m * r) matrix, AB. The element in the i-th row and the j-th column of AB is the sum of the products of the corresponding elements in the i-th row of A and the j-th column of B. Multiplication of matrices is not commutative. Knowing this, what is matrix AB when matrix A has a row one of 2 and -1 and a row two of 3 and 4, and matrix B has a row one of 3, -9, and 2 and a row two of 5, 7, and -6?"

"Gimme a sec..." Sonic said as he ran the numbers through his head. "2 times 3 plus -1 times 5 is 1, 2 times -9 plus -1 times 7 is -25................row one of matrix AB is 1, -25, 10 and row two is 29, 1, -18."

"Correct." Nicole said. Then she slowed down to a normal rate of speech. "Sonic, perhaps you should take a break."

"Say wha'?" Sonic said as he slowed himself down, not catching all of what Nicole said. The mini-computer repeated herself. "I'm fine. Come on, Nicole, put the pedal to the medal. I've still got a lot to learn."

"You've already processed an astonishing amount of data in the last few days, Sonic." Nicole said. "A few hours will do you no harm and could do a great amount of good."

"I'm stuck in a hospital, Nicole." Sonic pointed out.

"Dr. Quack is keeping you here for form more than anything else." Nicole countered. "You have pain medication and salve for the burns. You're stiched up and healing. You'd probably be out already if Dr. Quack didn't want to run a few tests to try and figure what the source of your speed is."

"I'm waiting." Sonic said impatiently. Nicole was silent for a minute.

"No."

"Say what?"

"I refuse to tudor you any more until you rest a few hours and ingest something other than hospital food." Nicole said. "Until then, I may as well be with Sally." With that, she shut off.

"Nicole!" Sonic snapped, shaking the mini computer. She reactivated.

"Shaking me won't do you any good, Sonic." Nicole said. "And if I break, I can't help you at all." Before Sonic could say anything, she deactivated again.

Luckily for Nicole, that was when Tails walked in.

"How you feelin', Sonic?" the two tailed fox asked.

"'Bout ready to throw Nicole in the trash." Sonic replied. "Other than that, I'm cool."

"You want me to work with her?" Tails asked.

"Nah, she's right, I need some fresh air." Sonic replied. "And some real food. I can't figure how they make hospital food so tasteless. I wouldn't make Snive-ly eat the stuff."

"What about Robotnik?" Tails asked, laughing.

"Dunno." Sonic replied. "Depends on how pissed at him I am."

"Well, Dr. Quack said your good to go." Tails said. "I was wondering if you wanted to go fishing with me and maybe get some chili dogs later."

"Sounds like a past cool plan, Little Bro." Sonic said, grinning.

"Great!" Tails exclaimed. "We can... what's wrong?" Sonic was glaring at something past him. Tails turned and spotted the nurse that had just entered the room, and what she brought with her.

"What the hell is that?" Sonic demanded.

"It's a wheel chair." the nurse said in the sweet tone of voice that also said, 'Isn't it obvious, you dumb shit?'. "It will let you get around easi.."

"Hell no." Sonic interupted. "There's no way I'm gettin' in that thing. I'm gonna get around by myself. No one's gonna wheel me around on a damn easy chair."

"But, sir.." the nurse began.

"What part of 'NO' don't you understand?" Sonic demanded. "Is it the 'N' or the 'O', or just the part that means I'm not gonna do what you want me to?"

"Is something wrong?" Dr Quack asked as he entered the room.

"Doctor, the patient is refusing to use the wheel chair."

"Doc..." Dr. Quack held up a hand for silence. Sonic looked at him stubornly, the nurse exasperated, and Tails a little unnerved.

"I had a feeling you wouldn't like the wheel chair, so I brought these." Dr Quack said, holding out a pair of crutches. He handed them to Sonic. "I figure you'll either master these quickly or fall down so often you'll beg for the wheel chair." With a little help from Tails, Sonic stood up and got the crutches in position.

"I'll figure out how to use there, even if it kills me." Sonic said. It took Sonic a couple of tries, but he finally got out of the room, then down the hall. By the time he got outside, Sonic didn't have any trouble using his crutches.

"So where you wanna go?" he asked Tails as they waloked away from the hospital.

"I was thinking the bend in the river just past the bridge." the small fox replied.

"Cool, you can get some huge trout there.' Sonic said. "I'd race ya there, but I dont wanna have to get any stiches redone."

"R-race?" Tails stammered. Sonic was his hero, he believed the hedgehog could do just about anything, but running without one of his legs was a little much.

"C'mon, Tails," Sonic exclaimed, "I'm not helpless! I've still got my good ol' Sonic Spin! It might wobble a bit without my leg, but I can still move! At least I can after Doc Quack pulls out my stiches."

"Oh, I hadn't thought about that." Tails admitted. "Sonic...how can you stand it?"

"Stand what?"

"Not being able to run." Sonic didn't answer for a couple minutes.

"It ain't easy, little bro." Sonic finally said. "When I saw my leg, it was like time stopped. I dunno how long it was, couldn'ta been more'n a couple seconds, but I almost ended it. But I realized something. That's how a coward thinks. I ain't gonna go like that. I've got it too good. I've got friends: Bunnie, Sally, Rotor," Sonic glanced at Tails and grinned, "you. Even Ant'. I'm not gonna throw all that away. Once I figured that out, the rest was cake. I gotta figure out how to run again."

"How you going to do that?" Tails asked. Quickly, he brushed the tears from his eyes. This was the closest thing the two tailed fox to a speech he had ever heard Sonic give, and that made it even more powerful. The thought that Sonic had considered killing himself terrified the little fox, but he knew that Sonic was going to be okay, maybe better than ever.

"I haven't exactly figured that out." Sonic said, grinning sheepishly. "It'll come to me sooner or later. Come on, let's forget about my leg. How you want your fish sticks?" On that note, Sonic and Tails headed for the river.

Stupid shit-hog. thought an individual hidden in the shadows. Thinks he's so great. What'cha gonna do now that ya gotta move like the rest of us? Nothin', that's what. Now you're no better than the rest of us. Heh. Course, you're such a stupid crap, I'll probably have to drive that into your thick skull.

Losing a leg hadn't done anything to Sonic's cast. The hook still went where ever he looked. Before long, he and Tails were relaxing, waiting for some unlucky fish to take a bite. Sonic scratched an ear lazily.

"What's Sal and the others doin' lately?" he asked suddenly.

"Antoine's the same as always." Tails answered. "Bunnie's working on a surprize to cheer you up, that's why you haven't seen her yet. Um, don't tell her I told you about it."

"My lips are sealed." Sonic said with a grin.

"Rotor's been working on a solar power generator." Tails continued. "I think he's missing a part though. He and Aunt Sally keep looking at that holo-map in the War Room."

"Why didn't they come get Nicole?"

"Idunno. I guess they didn't want to bother you if they didn't have to."

"Well that was slow. Here, take Nicole to Sal for me." Sonic tossed the mini computer to Tails.

"You sure?"

"Absolutly." Sonic said. "Go on, juice. I'll keep an eye on your pole."

"Okay, Sonic." With that, the young fox flew off.

Shit-hog's finally by himself. thought the hate-filled individual. He glared at the blue hedgehog from the bushes. Now's my chance to show him what a real hedgehog's like.

"You can quit hiddin' now." Sonic said suddenly. The blue hedgehog looked right at the hidden individual.

Sonic watched as a dark blue, almost black, hedgehog walked out of the bushes to his left. If, as the saying went, one really could glare daggers, Sonic would have looked like a pin-cusion. The hedgehog tossed a large riverstone from one hand to another.

"How the mighty have fallen." the dark hedgehog sneered. "How's it feel to be a worthless fuck?"

"Dunno." Sonic replied easily. "Why don't you tell me?" The other hedgehog's sneer turned into a snarl.

"Time to step off your pedistal, Speedy. Or is that Stumpy now?" Sonic made a quick guess to what the other hedgehog's problem and acted.

"Whatever tops your dog, wannabe." the blue hedgehog retorted, turning his attention back to the river.

"Wan-wannabe?" the other hedgehog sputtered. The hatred in his eyes intensified. "I'll show you who's the wannabe!" He hurled the stone in his hand at Sonic as hard as he could.

As close as they were, anyone else would have been lucky to dodge the stone, especially lying down. Sonic just took his time. He could have easily caught the stone without hurting himself, but he had something else in mind. An instant before the stone struck, Sonic reved into a sonic spin. The attack split the stone in two. One half sailed along the river. The other went straight between the darker hedgehog's ears. The dark hedgehog felt between his ears with a hand that trembled and came up with blood.

"Ya gotta wonder 'bout somethin'." Sonic said, motionless once again. "I can turn SWATbots into SWAT-heaps with that. Wha'd'ya think it can do to flesh and bone?" The darker hedgehog whirled around and crashed though the bushes as fast as he could. Sonic waited until the noise fadded.

Hell, that hurt! Sonic winced. He removed his gloves and gently searched his body. He sighed when he felt neither blood nor broken stiches. All that small bit of bravo cost him was a little pain. Luckier than I should be.

Stupid damn fuck. I'll show him. I'll show 'em all. Nothing but a damn fuck. I'll show everyone that's all he is. A fuckin' wannabe.

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TO BE CONTINUED........MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! Sorry