--------------------------------CHAPTER 3-----------------------------------



Sally awoke rather early with Nichole buzzing about something.
"Not now Nichole. It's way too early." she said placing the pillow over her head.
"It's 5:30. I would have let you sleep longer but there is an urgent matter to attend to."
"How important?" she mumbled turning over trying to ignore Nichole.

"There's an unknown overlander in the village."
"Where?!" she said sitting up.
"The overlander is unconscious due to a blunt trauma to the head. He will live but won't be up anytime soon."
Then why wake me so early?"
"If anyone else woke up early and...
"I got it the picture Nichole. Where is he?"
"Outside your hut."
"Alright give me moment and if he wakes up let me know." Sally said heading into the bathroom.
Several minutes later she emerged wearing her boots and vest. Picking up Nichole she walked outside. Upon walking out she nearly screamed. Laying in front of a large blue vehicle was an unconscious overlander.
Antoine must have had lookout duty last night.
"Nichole what is that?"
"A rather large an unknown type of vehicle. Sonic's name is on it and a metal figure of him seems to have been placed on top of the front section. The overlander on the other hand could use medical attention."
"Contact Dr. Quack and tell him what to expect."
"Yes Sally."
Walking slowly over to the overlander on the ground she noticed a pile of white pills on the ground.
"Nichole what are these?"
"Aspirin. A painkiller. More potent than anything we have at the moment."
"Any idea why they are all over the ground?"
"He fell on them when he passed out."
Sally picked them up and placed them back in the bottle while she waited for Dr. Quack.
"Princess, sorry it took so long. Nichole said to get a stretcher and Rotor." Dr. Quack said coming up to her. "How long has he been here like this?"
"Nichole?"
"Since 1:15 in the morning." Nichole said.
"Why didn't you wake me up then?"
"He wasn't a threat and you needed your sleep."
The overlander stirred a bit as Sally argued with Nichole.
"Sally I think he's waking up?" Dr .Quack said as he sat the overlander up. Sally looked him over as Dr. Quack looked at him. He looked to be six feet tall, strangely he had blue hair, same as Sonic's color. He was wearing a three piece suit, all black with a pocket watch in the vest and a blue shirt underneath. He had a unusual looking watch on and had what looked to be a couple of weapons on him. He had a large, black, trench like coat over his suit. For some reason it looked quite heavy.
"Nichole scan his large coat."
"It seems to have large metal plates in it. I think its for added protection against projectile attacks."
"Water please....and maybe a large pack of ice." he mumbled.
"Try to be still sir. You might have a concussion."
"Nichole scan his vitals?"
"His blood pressure is 130 over 90, his heart rate is 98 beats per minute, no disease or infections and he has a small concussion Sally."
"Nichole...Nichole....that name sounds familiar so does Sally...but I can't remember why." he mumbled some more holding his head with his hand.
"Can you open your eyes sir?"
"Maybe......names Ford. You a doctor?"
"Yes. Names Dr. Quack."
"Quack....that's familiar too. Wait a minute." Opening his eyes, Ford looked at the two in front of him. Standing up quick enough that it made Quack and Sally back up a bit he started looking around.
"Oh my God....I'm actually in Knothole! Cool! Well where the hell is everyone?"
"Sleeping! And please refrain from using foul language."
"Sorry." Ford said in a whisper. "How did I get here?" he said scratching his head looking around. Must have been that explosion with the eh Chevy.
"Sally that vehicle has dangerous weapons in it."
"What type?"
Before Nichole could respond Ford spoke up.
"Yes Sally I do have some dangerous things in Shelby and I'll give them to you. I hope it will make things easier for you to possibly trust me. I also will not use any of them on anyone on this planet with a few exceptions."
"Exceptions?" Sally said with a puzzled look.
"Robotnick, Snivley, the Swat-bots....anyone else who is for Robotnicks ideals."
As Ford was finishing up Rotor came running up with the stretcher.
"Sorry it took so long. Waking up at this time is not something I like to do." Glancing over at the overlander, his eyes were more drawn to the large blue vehicle that was behind him. "COOL RIDE!" he said looking it over. "What is it?"
"It's a rebuilt 1967 Mustang Shelby Cobra GT 500. It has a Twin Turbine engine that runs off hydrogen and is capable of speeds in excess of 300 miles an hour."
"I don't know what that is but wow! What else can it do?" Rotor asked looking inside through the passenger window.
"Well these screens here allowed me access to files on people's backgrounds and..." Ford was going to continue when Sally stopped him.
"Excuse me mister Ford but your presence here is not on the best of terms yet, until I have other reasons to believe anything your still considered a possible threat."
Dr. Quack asked Ford if he thought he needed medical attention. When Ford said he'd be fine, Dr. Quack decided to leave and told Sally that he didn't think he'd be needed since Ford didn't look like he was going to pass out of anything. Sally said thanks for coming and let him leave.
Turning around out of the driver window. "Forgive me Princess Sally, you're right. I got excited and forgot that Mobians don't really trust overlanders yet and until I prove otherwise I'm consider more a foe than friend. I understand. With your permission though I would like to be the one that empties the my car of the weapons. I really don't trust anybody other than a selective few around my car. Rotor, Bunnie, Uncle Chuck, and Nichole would make great guards as it were to stay will me till its empty. But that's my personal opinion."
With a skeptic look, "Why them?" Sally said lifting an eyebrow.
"Well with the exception of Bunnie, the others know alot about technologies, explosives and that sort of thing and Bunnie would be able to stop me if I tried anything, WHICH I wouldn't I must add. And hopefully Nichole can tell you this but if I wanted to leave I couldn't since one of the turbine's is out of alignment and until it's repaired Shelby ain't going anywhere. She won't start."
"It is true Sally. The engine did take some damage and does need some extensive repair." Nichole reported.
Sally placed one arm under her chest while tapping her nose with the other hand showing she was thinking.
"If it helps any I'll even stay in the brig till you trust me. I'll do anything, okay just about anything to prove I'm on your side. Wait!, where's Dulcy she could tell you if I'm lying or not."
"He has a point there. Dulcy can tell if people are lying." Rotor said pulling a metal box from the back of the car. "What's this?"
Turning to see what he was referring to Ford eyes widen. "Nothing of any danger is in that. Sonic is the only one I will show that."
"Rotor bring that over here so Nichole can scan it."
"Sure thing Sally."
Rotor walked around and placed it on Sally's doorstep. Sally watched Ford the entire time seeing if he'd do anything. Ford just seemed to fidget quietly.
"Nichole." Ford and Sally said at the same time. Sally stopped but Ford kept going. "If when you scan inside that box and you find out what's in there please don't tell ANYONE what is in there except for the fact that they are just books that aren't dangerous."
Rotor was starring at the strange lock on it. "This looks like a voice lock."
"It is." Ford said looking at Sally's disturbed face.
Sally was contemplating tossing him straight into the brig and dismantling the car and everything in it when she was interrupted by Sonic's loud voice.
"OH WOW!"
Ford just about jumped over the height of the car along with everyone else when he came running around it several times.
"Sonic! Slow down! And quiet down others are sleeping." Sally said in a raised voice.
"Sorry Sal. Between you all talking and my dreaming of chilly dogs I couldn't sleep anymore." Sonic looked back at the car just now noticing Ford. Sonic went into a defensive position but was calmed down quickly by Sally.
"He's not a threat Sonic, as far as I can tell anyway, and he owns this so "cool" car that you ran around twice." she said using her fingers to make quotation marks.
"Three times actually." Sonic said proudly as he walked up to the hood ordainment. "Cool look alike but I'm better looking."
Ford shook his head and leaned back against the driver door. He held his head a moment still feeling pain. Reaching in he popped the trunk catching Rotor off guard. "Rotor there's no traps or anything back they're to keep you from taking anything out."
"Since when did you think you became in charge?" Sally said with and annoyed voice.
"I'm really sorry Sally, but head is really killing me and I've always wanted to try Sonic's famous chilly dogs. If we can just get on with whatever questions you want to ask then that would be great."
Sally just rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I had to wake up this morning."
"What's in the metal box?" Sonic asked picking it up off her doorstep.
"I'm not sure yet but Ford seems to be real agitated about us finding out about what's inside it."
"No, just everyone but Sonic." Ford said laying back on the hood.
"Why me?" Sonic said turning the box around. "Seems like it's got books in it from the feel of it."
"Because you're the only one I think would possibly understand what is in there. Let's just says there from another dimension just like me." Ford said sitting up.
"Nichole is there a bomb in the box?"
"Scanning Sally............no.......but the books are strange......"
"Are they dangerous?"
"........."
"Nichole would you say it depends on your point of view?" Ford said.
"Yes." Nichole said with a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"Nichole what are the books about?" Sally said tapping her foot in an impatient manner.
"There actually alot of magazine, comic books really, but PLEASE only let Sonic look at them. He's been to other dimensions and he'd understand what's in there better than you or anyone else on Mobias. If you read them it might cause...how should I put this....umm...mildly I'd say emotional trauma. Or it might do nothing at all, but I'd rather not chance it."
"The next time you interfere I'll have you put in the brig." Sally said giving him a look that would shut anyone up. "Now, Nichole what are they?"
"He is right Sally. These...comics as they are might cause untold trouble and Sonic should read them first."
"What?!"
"Sorry Sally but to save you from possible harm I can't reveal anything else about them."
"Hey Sal. I'll look them over and then let you know what they are. Okay?" Sonic said putting his hand on her arm.
Venting a frustrated sigh she reluctantly agreed. "Alright then. First go get Bunnie and Dulcy and Uncle Chuck so we can see if he's lying and then go from there to maybe saving you car."
"Ouch." Ford said seeing the contempt on her face.
"Cool Sal." Sonic said putting the box down and running off.
"Rotor look around in the car an see if there's any hidden traps."
"There's no trap, just a few buttons that release a grappling hook, a parachute, a micro jamming device that only works if the cars running, along with a turbo boost, oil slick, smoke emitters and a hydro planeing capability. There are a few other things but nothing big." Ford said as he counted off his fingers. "I wanted to add weapons once but with the crashes I've had in the past they might have went off on impact so I thought otherwise."
"The only thing I can find in the back seat section Sally is some bag of papers with faces on it. Some cards, several changes of clothes, and a large metal suitcase." Rotor said taking them out. Rotor opened the metal suitcase finding a large foam pad with two empty indentations and a two scopes.
"You left the small box behind my seat." Ford said getting up and opening the door.
"Wait." Sally said stopping him. "Nichole."
"Yes Sally."
"What's in the box behind his seat."
"Ammunition."
"For what?"
"This." Ford said taking a large 44. magnum from his right side holster. Pushing a switch on its side popped the gun open and ejected the ammo from the wheel. Closing the gun he handed it to Sally handle first. "This usually sits in the metal case there with the other one I dropped earlier on the passenger floorboard."
Sally took the gun from him and dropped it from the surprising weight. "Rotor you take it and the other one and put them in that case till I decided what to do with them."
While Sally was talking to Rotor, Ford had managed to get the box of ammo and the other gun. After empting the gun and placing all the ammo in the box he handed them over to Rotor.
"Does that help you trust me any better?" Ford said putting the car in neutral then getting out.
"A little. Why is it you want our trust so bad?" Sally said putting Nichole away in her boot.
"Where I'm from your my hero's. Everyday fighting some new thing Robotnick cooked up. Against insurmountable odds you fight and keep him at bay each day. I 've daydreamed of being here helping fight against his evils."
Sally and Rotor had perplexed looks on their faces as he spoke. Sally was about to say something when Sonic came back with Bunnie and Chuck in tow. Dulcy was following behind in the air.
"Hey Sal. Anything happen while I was gone?"
"Oh my stars. Where did he come from?" Bunnie said looking at Ford with look that bothered Sally.
"What did you need me for Princess?" Uncle Chuck said as he walked up to her.
"I wanted you and Rotor to take everything from the back of this vehicle and find out what it is. Some of it is explosive so be careful. Once your finished report back to me."
Dulcy had finally landed and almost got it right except that the car was in the way so she ended up almost sliding into someone's hut. "I almost got it right that time!" Turning around she walked over to the bunch. Noticing Ford she glared at him.
"What did I ever do to...no wait never mind." Ford said looking away holding up his hands.
Unfortunately for him Dulcy heard and figured out what was going to say. "What DID YOU DO? Your kind either tracked us down for sport or like your friend Robo...."
"ROBOTNICK IS NO FRIEND OF MINE!" After a second of composure, "Sorry, look I'm not on Robotnick's side, never will be. Second I know about the Great War and how it started and if I was there I would have joined your side. As for my kind tracking dragons down I would have personally killed those overlanders with my bare hands if it would have stopped them from going after your kind Dulcy. Personally I see no sport in hunting any animal down."
Dulcy looked at first like she was going to retaliate but must have thought better of it Sally thought seeing her face change from being angry to sorrowful.
"I've never met a overlander that cared for Mobians or my kind so much."
"That was a quick change of heart Dulcy." Sally said. Remembering why she wanted Dulcy, "Is it because you feel he's telling the truth."
"It's not actually feeling, it's I know he's telling the truth. In some ways what he said is scary. What did you need me for?"
"I was going to ask him some questions and I wanted you here to see if he lied about anything. He suggested you be here."
"Okay, but can we get breakfast first."
"CHILLY DOG TIME!" Sonic said as he started to race off.
Reaching over Sally grabbed Sonic before he could take off. "Wait Sonic."
"What? This guy here wants to try my famous chilly dogs."
"Yes but I want you to look those books over first and in my hut so nobody can disturb you."
"But Sal." Sonic said with a pleading look.
"No buts. I'll have Tails make them and then bring you some. Now go." she said pushing him into the hut. Setting the box inside, she closed the door locking it.
"Alright we need to move this...."
"We can push it over to Rotor's shop and hide it behind there. It may not run right now but it can move, just not under it's own power." Ford said getting ready to push it. "Just point me in the right direction."
"I can probably pick it up sug." Bunnie said getting ready to pick it up.
"One it might be too heavy and two with the damage she took she might leak on you."
"Good point sug, push'n would be better."
Rotor, Chuck, Bunnie and Ford started pushing it toward Rotor's workshop when Sonic poked his head out the door.
"Hey I can't get the box to open."
"With your permission Sally I'll go in and open it."
"Why can't you open it here?"
"Because if the box was accidentally dropped the contents you and the others would see would cause untold trouble."
Sally was thinking while he talked. Her eyes opened really wide then became slits as she asked him if these books were adultish.
"No! no no no no. Nothing like that." he said waving his hands. "I abhor that stuff."
Looking over at Dulcy, she watched the female dragon nod her head saying he wasn't lying.
"You've got one minute."
Walking in Ford went straight to the box on the table. Sonic closed the door and walked over.
"What is so important about these magazines that you only want me to look at them?" he said shaking his head. "I know I've been to other dimensions but I still don't see the point."
"Remember Zonic?"
"Zonic?"
"Yeah Zonic, the Zone Cop."
Sonic sat down in the chair next to Ford. "Yeah I do remember now."
"Good." After muttering a password into the box's top he heard a click.
"Now Sonic this might shock you, but you are the only one who might understand." Popping the lid back revealed a large collection of comic books. Looking in Sonic's jaw dropped.
"I always wondered about this maybe being a possibility but..." he said picking the first one up. On the front was a picture of Sonic standing next to Prince Elias. The bottom had a small picture of Knuckles and Mina Mongoose. "I can see why you would want only me to see this." he said thumbing through it. "We did all this the other day."
"I have issues one thru one hundred and twenty one in here. I was going to get the next issues in a couple of weeks but that's not going to happen now. Not that I'm complaining. Just ignore the other pictures and things that don't apply to the story. I can explain them later but it wouldn't make any difference to what you would read."
"I remember being dragged into some universe or dimension, whatever you want to call it where I was a video game character, but I just decided to forget about it."
Sally opened the door telling Ford his time was up.
"Look as long as you like but please don't damage them and once you close the box it instantly locks."
Sonic just nodded looking through the rest as Ford left.
Once outside Ford helped them move the car around to Rotor's workshop. Once their Ford pocketed the keys and then was proceeded to follow Bunnie to the War Room.
"Rotor please take care of her like she was a special tool of yours that you didn't want getting damaged." he said as he was walking off.
"What's with the great concern for this vehicle? I admit it's cool but what makes it so special?" Rotor said taking a box out of the box.
Turning to Rotor Ford said, "Other than the fact that it's the only thing I have in this world, my dad helped me built it from the frame up. When things got to me in my world, and with few friends, none of which I could really trust, that car is the only thing that I ever could depend on. If you can try and fix that damaged framework for me. I'd do it myself but I think Sally will have alot of questions." Seeing the look on Bunnie's face, "I have no problem answering them though. I'd rather get whatever she wants to know out of the way so I can get on with my life. If you have any questions about anything come get me first."

Sally was sitting down at the table eating something that looked like a salad. Next to her was another dish just like it. Bunnie sat down and thanked her for getting one for her. Sally had Ford sit two seats up from her and Bunnie. Ford figured it was because if he tried anything they could get to the door before him. Linking his hands together, Ford placed them on the table in front of him.
"So what do you want to know first?"

Antoine was cooking breakfast while at the same time the car was being moved. Dulcy had woke him up before she went to find out what Sally wanted. Around the same time that Sally was talking to Ford, the villagers were starting to pile in. Tails was helping cook along with Rosie and some others. Alot of the villagers were wondering what the strange smell was. Some of them were about to find Sally when Dulcy told them that she was busy with something and would tell them later. This calmed them down a bit and they went back to eating. After Tails was finished cooking the chilly dogs Dulcy told him where Sonic was and that he was waiting for some. As she watched Tails go something nagged at her mind saying something was wrong.
Tails walked up to Sally's hut and knocked. When the door didn't open he tried again only louder. After a third time he set down the chilly dogs and flew through the open widow. "Sonic." he said as he opened the door retrieving the chilly dogs. Sonic was still hunched over some book. "Sonic!" he said walking over and finally poking him. Sonic still didn't move. Tails sat down to the right of him and began eating. After finishing the first dog he picked up the second and flashed it in Sonic's face. When he still didn't move Tails smacked him up side the head.
"What the...Tails...oh hey bro, what's up?" Sonic said just now noticing him. "How did you get in, the door was locked?"
"I knocked and then knocked some more. When that failed I flew in and then started eating without you."
"Eating? Oh the chilly dogs I asked for. Thanks bro." he said picking one up and eating it in one bite.
"What's up Sonic? You never seem to be this troubled."
"We got a visitor last night that. He's an overlander who says he came from another dimension. He wants to help get rid of Ro-butt-nick. At first I didn't believe him but now that I've seen these I do."
Tails picked one of the comics up skimming through it. "Hey someone made a cool comic about us. It's got all of the Freedom Fighters in it." After a minute of reading it through, "Wait a minute Sonic.....this book shows what we did several weeks back. How is that possible?"
"I don't really understand it myself Tails. Where he's from were just what those pictures in the book shows. Comic book characters. Plain and simple. But where also very popular. Several games are out there with us in them. This is the latest one he got. I didn't even hear that Knuckles died."
"Knuckles Died! How?" Tails said almost dropping the dog he was holding.
"These here tell what happened. This one shows his funeral."
Tails dropped the comic he was looking at and picked up newest one. About a minute later Tails closed it. Tails felt a pang of remorse and could tell Sonic was feeling the same seeing a tear fall from his face. "Does Aunt Sally know yet?"
"No lil bro. No one does. No one knows about these but you and me bro. I'm going to tell Sally what these are but not about Knuckles yet. Don't tell anyone what you saw in here until I tell you it's okay. Cool?"
"Yeah Sonic. It's cool."
"Now lets finish these chilly dogs and then put these away."

At the time that Ford was talking to Rotor about his car before going to the War Room, someone had noticed the overlander earlier and was watching from a distance.
"Hmmm. The King is not going to like this. The Princess should have sent word to him already but she's already planning to talk to him before letting her father."
The other next to him spoke up, "What do you want to do?"
"I'll go tell the King that there is a unknown overlander in the village and Princess Sally is talking to him. I want you to go and try to find out what they talk about."
"No problem. Not many are up yet and those that are will be heading over to the mess hall anyway so."
"Good, then let's go."

"So what do you want to know first?" Ford asked glancing around.
"First who are you and what is it that you do?" Sally said pulling Nichole out.
"Recording the conversation. Understandable. Who I am? My full name is Ford Prime. What I do or in this case did, I was a cop." Seeing the confused look, "Law officer, police."
"I understand now. What type?"
"Actually there was quite a bit of them I did considering the..." he was interrupted by a beeping on his right arm. Glancing over he fiddled with his watch. "Well that settles that. I'm now stuck here permanently. But I'd rather be here than there. Anyway...
"Wait, that's just a watch right?"
"No not completely."
"Nichole I thought you said that was all he was carrying was those guns and keys?"
"I did Sally."
"Then why did you not mention the watch?"
"Because it didn't register on my scanners and still doesn't."
"I can explain that. You see I'm not an ordinary police officer. My real title description is Temporal Law Enforcement Judge. You could say a time cop. This watch is capable of manipulating time."
Sally had finished her breakfast and had set the bowl aside now paying more attention to Ford than before. "How much control over time do you have?"
"Enough to say that if I was the enemy, I could have already killed the whole village within a few seconds or less."
Sally tried not to appear intimidated but leaned back in shock anyway. Bunnie started to choke on an piece of carrot. Sally turned around quickly smacking her in the back. Bunnie spit it out when Sally hit her.
"Thanks Sally-girl. I'm going to go get some water." she said holding her throat.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah just need a drink."
Sally nodded and watched her go. Before she walked out Ford told her he was sorry.
"I should have been more delicate about that answer. Already I've hurt someone." Ford said shaking his head. "Sorry."
"Bunnie will be fine but I wouldn't tell many others that you can do that." Sally sat back down thinking a moment, "Did you use that power to sneak into the village?"
"No. I didn't even know this was Knothole till this morning when you and Dr.Quack where standing over me. I figured it was someone I was working with, idea of a joke. Sending me to some remote village in a God only knows where country, where I couldn't repair my car. Alot of the people I used to work with hated it for some reason. I think it was my father they hated and since he was gone they were taking it out on me by bashing my car whether through emotional or physical abuse."
"Then how did you get in past the lookout?"
"Who was suppose to be watching for intruders last night?"
"Antoine was." Sally said nodding in a understanding fashion.
"That's how. I thought I heard a snoring noise somewhere above me as I came into the village but I ignored it. I didn't plan any of this and I'm not quite sure how I got here either, but...." he threw up his hands in a I don't know gesture.
"I knew Antoine was looking tired last night but he insisted he would be able to take the night shift." Sally said shaking her head. "What is your watch fully capable of?"
"Well, first the reason why it beeped the way it did was because it was telling me that it reset itself. It has a limited range of how far back it can go. 24 hours is as far back as I can make myself or anyone I take with me I can go. In this case I have passed that mark and the only place I would end up if I went back 24 hours is when I came here sometime last night."
"But it hasn't been 24 hours?"
"I know. That's what I don't understand, but I think I know why. Okay, how should I put this....Ah. I come from the year 2025. Now as strange as this is going to sound, I basically have come from that time. Between then and now something happened and we blew ourselves up or something stupid that pretty much wiped out the human race. Possibly knocking the planet out of the solar system or something. Where I'm from we had one moon and nine planets which included Earth."
"I've heard of Earth." Sally said leaning back in the chair.
"Good. Now what I'm guessing happened is that either we somehow managed to knock our planet somewhere else as I said before or the other planets moons got near to us. Now what I'm about to say is going to sound insane but I do have proof. In that box Sonic has, has the proof though. Okay here it is. Mobias is Earth." Ford said then looked at her dead serious.
Sally laughed at the look on his face before speaking. "you're right that does sound incredibly insane. But if you say Sonic had the proof I'll have someone go..." Just as she was about to get up Sonic walked in with Tails and the box.
"Hey Sal. I looked through them. I'd let a select few look through these though." he said placing the box in front of her.
"Good timing Sonic, as usual. Ford says there's proof in there that Mobias is Earth." Sally said sliding the box near to Ford.
"Okay." Sonic said. He seemed like he was about to say something else but was at a loss for words.
"Morning Aunt Sally."
"Morning Tails. You didn't look at the books to with Sonic did you?"
"Yeah I did Aunt Sally. Why?"
"Thanks Sonic. Did you understand any of it? Oh hey Tails." Ford said pulling the box closer and whispering a password. Sonic nodded but had the look of sorrow. "I'm sorry you had to learn it that way Sonic."
Sonic nodded to Ford understanding what he said and told Sally he'd explain later when she asked him what Ford meant.
"Hi." Tails said.
"Okay Sally the proof I need is in one of these, give me a moment." he said scanning through a few. He had the box facing open away from her.
"Proof of what my dear?" someone said from the doorway.
They all looked at the door startled. Ford out of habit closed the box quickly and caught his thumbs in it at the same time. Shaking his hands he mumbled a few intelligible words as he stuck them in his mouth.

"I'm disappointed in you Sally. You know that any unknown person that shows up around here, especially if it's an overlander, you are to bring them to me first." King Max Acorn said from his wheelchair. Queen Alicia Acorn, a couple of guards along with Geoffrey and Hershey were with him.
Ford came around in front of Sally and the rest dropping to one knee. Geoffrey started to walk in thinking that the overlander was going to try something but stopped short when he heard what the overlander spoke.
"Forgive me your majesty. It is my fault that they didn't tell you I was here. How I got here I don't fully understand of yet but I was trying to explain it when you showed up. My intentions are to help the Mobians destroy Julian's reign of terror. If you will permit me I will continue and try to explain my theory of how I got here, but if you wish to do something else, then I await your orders." he said with his head still down.
After what seemed like an eternity, which was really a minute or so Ford looked up. The king had a surprised look on his face along with everyone else. Geoffrey broke the silence when he passed out. Everyone looked at St. John as Hershey checked on him.
"He passed out from shock I think, sir." Hershey said lifting John to his feet. Ford almost laughed out loud but restrained himself.
"Have Dr.Quack look at him anyway. I want to make sure it was just that." Max said giving her permission to leave.
"Ford wha..." Sally started to say but seemed at a loss for words after that.
"He is the King and it is customary to bow before one as such." Ford said glancing at her but still kneeing.
"Then why didn't you do it with me when we first met?" Sally said crossing her arms.
"No offence but you usually just tell someone that you don't like them doing that and ....that being called Princess is usually enough."
"He has you their Sal." Sonic said putting an arm around her shoulder.
"I see that you are different from the other overlanders. From what I was told from a subordinate that overheard your talk with Dulcy and the others here I believe that you are telling the truth." Rolling the wheelchair forward he placed a hand on Ford's shoulder. "Arise and continue your what you were doing. After that we will talk."
Standing up Ford bowed thanking him. "Okay where was I..oh alright for those who weren't here, I come from the year 2025 on Earth, but I believe from a different dimension possibly, but unlikely. Now I know that this is Earth because of the something I saw Sonic and Bunnie run into some time ago." Ford turned to Sonic. "Now Sonic do you remember that time you had to go way up north and saw a really large statue of a overlander woman in the middle of a large body of water and lots of broken down and damaged buildings on the body of land near it."
Sonic looked up in a thinking pose. Ford meanwhile opened the box back up looking through the books. "He'll remember better when I find the book that shows what I'm talking about." Ford said still rifling through them.
"Ah here it is, that place you call the ruins of Old Megaopolis is actually what's left of New York City. Once the biggest areas of money changing in the entire world." Ford showed him issue 116 page 5. "Also remember when you were pulled into this," Ford said showing him 'Sonic Live'.
"Hey I do remember this now looking at the picture of me and Bunnie here." Sonic said showing Sally. She started to ask how Ford got this and he said he'd explain later. "How is this proof though. Those building have been there for years."
"A couple thousand of them. That is the Statue of Liberty. Her hand use to carry a torch. That was New York City. The continent were on is what's left of the United States Of America."
"I've heard that name before, but it was a childhood memory." King Max said stroking his muzzle.
"One of these days I'd like to visit that place and see what really survived but most likely nothing is really there since Sonic, Bunnie, Robotnick and Rogue trashed the place."
"We didn't do that much damage." Sonic said giving Ford a hard look.
"Yeah right Sonic, look at that picture and tell me you didn't level the city."
"Well there was still some buildings standing."
Sally was looking through the books as the argued and King Max asked to see that book with Sonic and Bunnie so he handed it over. Sally came across issue 121 where Knuckles dead was talked about. Sally read it and then broke down.
"No..." She said dropping the book and leaning against the table. She cried softly at first but it was growing in volume.
"Sal what's wrong?" Sonic said going over to her.
Ford picked up a book off the ground seeing it open to the page about Knuckles death.
"Ah dammit." Noticing the glances, "Sorry. This is one of the reasons that I didn't want alot of people seeing these. I'm sorry your Majesty but this tells about what happened to Knuckles." Ford said giving him the book.
"What?" he said taking it and reading the section.
"He died saving someone's life. Mammoth Monguels now officially dead."
"He was fighting Mammoth?" Sonic said surprised.
"Didn't you read any of these?"
"Mostly glanced at them."
"Where did you get these?" King Max asked now looking through the rest. Queen Alicia even picked up one.
"In my universe you're all fictional characters that are used in comic books. I've been buying them for quite a few years now. I just thought of a great idea for gaining my trust. Sonic." he said motioning for him to come over. He whispered into his ear the idea.
"If you can actually do that then we would have a great advantage of Ro-butt-nick."
"Yes you would. But I came only do it once a day and then if I do it then I can't do the other thing."
"Hmmm....that does present a problem." Sonic said rubbing his chin. "We'd have to prepare for a possible counterattack."
"True but think about how much damage you could do?"
"We'll have to ask Sally first."
"You seem to be forgetting who's in charge." Max said looking at them. Turning to him they both noticed they were being watched the entire time by everyone.
"Sorry your Majesty, I'm still getting use to you being in charge again." Sonic said rubbing his head.
Walking over to King Max and whispered in his ear the plan.
"Now that might work! Are you really capable of this?"
"I am, though I'm not really supposed to do it I'm going to do it anyway since my superiors aren't around. Now if we do this we should make the plan with the least amount of people knowing as possible."
"Right. As much as this would boost morale we should keep it to ourselves for now." Max said with great determination.
"The best place we can talk about this would be in the castle. I don't know much about the inside but I figure you must have a secret place for something that is nearly soundproof or....you know."
"Yes I actually have a place like that. Come we must talk about this now."
Ford was starting to follow along with everyone else when there was a slight gurgle heard. Everyone looked at Ford when it was heard again. "I haven't had anything to eat since yesterday. Can we do this in about an hour?"
"Yes that would be a better idea. I'm feeling quite hungry myself. I'll have someone come get you.."
"Sorry to interrupt but if it was someone like Sally or one of the other Freedom Fighters I would feel better. Mostly I'm asking for my benefit because I know alot of people around here don't really have much love for overlanders."
"Your suggestion has merit. I'll sent Sally to come get you later in two hours."
"Thank you your Majesty." Ford said with a bow. After watching them leave Ford closed his box and told Sonic to lead him to those wonderful chilly dogs.