--------------------------------CHAPTER 5-----------------------------------



Some time before the Freedom Fighters came to execute their plan, Robotnick was yelling as usual at everything including Snively.
"THAT BLASTED HEDGEHOG HAS RUINED MY PLANS AGAIN! I had that rotten princess's brother in my clutches and then Sonic and his precious princess showed up ruining everything!"
Snively stayed hidden behind a chair as Robotnick ranted and raven. Several object had nearly hit him and he was still nursing a bruise from when Robotnick first came in and threw him across the room. After Robotnick sat down Snively came out of hiding. Robotnick had his hands in front of him, with the fingertips touching only while he was thinking. Snively noticed he was deep in thought since his eyebrows occasionally rose and fell back down again. Several minutes had passed when Robotnick suddenly got up.
"AH HA! I HAVE A FOOL PROOF PLAN THAT...WHAT'S GOING ON!!!!!!!!!!!" He started yelling as explosions rocked the city. Monitors and computer consoles overloaded sending sparks and glass shards in all directions. Snivley was cowering under a console when it exploded. Snively was thrown a few feet away, unconscious and bleeding. Robotnick was screaming and cursing as systems crashed. Then all power failed. Robotnick was looking around in the dark for a light when the backup systems came on.
"SNIVELY!!!! WHAT HAPPENED?!" he yelled looking around for the little twerp. Almost stepping on him he moaned in disgust, as he walked over him to a functioning computer. Going through the damage report he yelled a few choice words before calling for a medic-bot and ordering the new worker-bots to fix things.

Back at Knothole everyone except Sally, the Queen and King, and Ford were all celebrating their small victory over the recent attack. Ford was seated in a room with the Queen and King at one end and Sally next to them. Sally was telling her father how things went.
"Everything went completely according to plan. Including the part that you told Ford to not tell me." Sally said the last part with a bit of anger.
King Max gave a look at his daughter that made her turn away. "Ford I specifically said not to tell her. Why did you disobey my orders?"
Putting his hands in the air he said, "I'm sorry your Majesty, but I know the Sally and the rest of the Freedom Fighters better than you do. I've seen the things they've had to go through and all the different secrets you've had to keep from her." Max's face scowled at Ford when he said this. "I didn't want Sally mad at me and especially not Sonic, so I told her. I 'd rather be on your bad side than Sally and the others."
"How did she find out that you were planting a spy device on Robotnicks command center?"
"Because I wasn't completely truthful with you. The only way I could get a listening device on the command center was by using this." Ford said placing the case that had his rifle on the table. Opening the case he turned it around for all to see. King Max slightly jumped in his wheelchair with a start. When King Max looked about to touch it Ford spoke up.
"I wouldn't touch it. I built this myself and it has a security device built into it that makes it so that only I can touch it. Only my DNA will it except."
"DNA encoded? Interesting." the King said. His face turned from curiosity to a scowl as he spoke, "I can see now why my daughter was angry and had every right to be. I should have asked at the time how you were going to place that device, but I had other matters to attend to. Even though you did help us do significant damage to Robotnick's factories, I'm ordering that you be monitored until further notice. Is that understood?"
"Yes your Majesty."
"As for your weapons they are to be confiscated and placed in the vault until I see otherwise." Pressing a button on the table, a couple of large guards entered the room. "Guards, take this man's weapons and place them in the vault." Undoing his belt Ford handed over the pair of revolvers, still in the holsters. Closing the case he locked it and handed it over.
"Once you let go of the case it will just hover wherever you place it. It won't do anything else." Glancing over at the king, Max nodded and they walked out.
"May I make one request as to whom I have following me around?"
Max thought a moment before answering, "Ask, but I may not grant it."
"Anybody but Geoffrey. I know for a fact that he hates overlanders."
"That is acceptable since he would probably try to kill you."
"Father if I may?" Sally said interrupting.
"Yes Sally."
"Rotor has been working on a device that would allow Nichole to track anything's or anyone's movements. The range so far is 10 miles. We could place one on Ford and Nichole can tell us if he tries anything. It's capable of allowing us to hear whatever is said as well."
"I'll take it!" Ford said a little too loud. "Sorry." he said afterward sitting back.
"Then it's settled. Sally escort him to Rotor and have it done."
After King Max and the Queen left, Sally and Ford took off.