--------------------------------------CHAPTER 7-----------------------------



Author's note: Knight Rider is copyrighted to whatever company made it. I just made references in the story to some things in the show but KITT, Michael and all them are not in this story. If you don' know what I'm talking about, I'd suggest you look it up on the Internet.

Mina slowly came to as she heard voices.
"She's coming to..." Sonic said. "Welcome back kid. You gave us all a scare."
"We Mongooses heal pretty quickly."
"What you did today, was really dumb...but it was totally brave and way past cool."
"Looks like we got something else in common, huh? Princess Sally are you okay?"
"Yes, Mina. What about you? You were hurt pretty bad."
"I--I'll get over it...

Several weeks later....
Things were going well in Knothole. The villagers had come to accept Ford as a friend, especially after Dr.Quack learned to use the medical stuff he gave him. The overlanders that were living in Knothole were very happy to see someone that they could relate to with things of the past even though it was Ford's past. With Rotors and Uncle Chucks help, Ford had managed to convince the King to allow him to try and fix his car up. With Nichole's help they were trying to make an A.I for it as well. Bunnie had been hanging around Ford quite a bit as well. Some of the villagers thought something was up and Ford kept telling them that as far as he knew Bunnie just thought he was good company. The best news they had was that Robotnick was having lots of problems since the mission that Ford had done with them along with another one they went on later that consisted of Sonic, Ford and Sally. They managed to take out Robotnicks main power plant along with several back-up generators. That was almost a week ago. Then on one rainy morning in early June.
Sonic woke up to find his dog, Muttski was missing. As a matter of fact, Sonic's entire family had disappeared as well as the entire roboticized population of the planet Mobius. The evil Dr.Robotnick was immediately suspected of the heinous act, but was nowhere to be found. Sonic's friends tried there best to lend him comfort--and the heroic hedgehog found himself also consoling others during this time of suffering-- but nothing could take away the awful pain, or the awful fact. The robians were gone.
Everyone was trying to find different ways to cope with the disappearance of their family and friends. Some tried new hobbies, others worked harder, and some just coped. Ford couldn't really relate to any of what happened and spent alot of time looking around with the search parties to try and help. Bunnie used his shoulder to cry on several times when things got even to rough for her.
Three weeks later, Sonic received word from allies in the distant Deewood forest that Muttski had been found. But he had changed. Deroboticized. No longer a creature of circuits and bolts. Slowly, over the following weeks, the others reappeared, also changed and with no memory of how this mass "metalmorphosis" had occurred. Though the mystery remained unsolved, it was agreed the world over that a miracle had occurred. Ford thought it was aliens, but it kept it to himself. As time went on, all of the robians were returned, restored to flesh and blood. Except for one who remained missing. Jules the hedgehog, Sonic's father.
Bunnie had found a friend she knew before the war with Robotnick and Ford rarely saw her much after that, but Bunnie must have mentioned how much of a gentleman he was because he kept getting lots of girls coming over to meet him saying Bunnie told them about him.
Max had approved something Ford had wanted to build sometime before the disappearance of everyone. Max let him build it after everyone started coming home and moral was climbing. Ford, Rotor and Uncle Chuck had built a garage that was big enough to hold two cars. Tables were set up with different parts lying around as Ford did a complete make over with the engine and other components. Thanks to Rotor and Sally, along with Nichole's help Ford would have an A.I. very soon. Bunnie had came to help put the car on blocks lifting it almost three feet in the air. Most of the engine was intact again. The tires were all off along with some of the frame but at least the dents and bangs were gone. Also all the boxes he had were in the corner. Max had allowed him to take all his stuff back but wanted to be let known when he was going to use some of the different things.
Ford was busy in his garage working under his car when someone walked in.
"Hey is that you Rotor?" he said wiping off some grease from his forehead. "I need that 3\4 socket and I think I left it on the top of Shelby." Feeling around he found the socket wrench and pulled the 1\8 off. Feeling a tap on his foot, "Thanks. Can you roll it to me?" Looking to his left Ford saw the socket he needed being handed to him from underneath the car near his head. The hand was not pink.
"Thanks."
He put the socket on and started turning a bolt when he finally realized that it wasn't Rotor in the garage with him. Looking back to his left he noticed a pair of probably size nine shoes. White fur legs where in them, but the car obstructed the view of whoever it was. The shoes were white bottomed with blue on top, alot like Sonics except for no buckle and no high top. He tried to roll out when he remembered that he hadn't made a rolling platform that would allow him to do that. He had to crawl under the car to get where he was and had to crawl out.
"I really need to build that roll thing."
"It probably would help you get out of there quicker." a female voice said.
There was a loud clang followed by, "OW!" Ford managed to crawl out finally and see who was in the garage with him. A tall, five-foot, white female fox was standing next to the driver door. She had black shorts on along with a black top that basically covered her chest. Her eyes were bright blue along with the inside of her ears. She was leaning against the car with her right arm on the top.
"You must be Ford." she said not moving from where she was.
Ford just stood there with the socket wrench in his hands staring.
"Uh...uh.."
"There was a bet to see if something like this would happen to you eventually."
Regaining his composure, "Say what?"
"You really have been cooped up in here."
"Only a couple of days."
"Try a week. And I'm not the first girl to come in here but I'd have to say I'm near breaking the record of the longest stayed."
Ford looked up with his eyes as he tried to remember something. "Other than Bunnie coming in to help me lift the car on these blocks I don't really remember anyone else."
"There have been several dozen women who have came in and tried to talk to you. Most of them where overlanders but a few have been Mobian."
"I really have to get out more. A week?"
"Yes."
"So they just left? These women who came in?"
"Pretty much. Some talked but you must have been asleep or to into this machine."
"I must be being seen as an egotistical man or something."
"Not really. Everyone thinks your in here because while everyone else's family's are getting back together, you are basically alone and from what was said, you love this car more than anything else."
"So I look like I'm pouring my heart into this since I don't have anyone to be with."
"Exactly."
"So what's this bet?"
"The bet is that you wouldn't stop working even if a woman came in and tried to get you out and do something not involving your car. When women started coming out without even being there long enough to even get a name, the bet changed to how long would one stay."
"Interesting. I'd get in on that bet if I weren't it."
"You might want to put that wrench down before your hands become as white as me."
"Huh?"
"Your hands."
Looking down he noticed that he was gripping it hard enough to be a death lock and his hands were really white. Letting go suddenly it dropped on his foot. It clanged when it hit the floor.
"Thanks...you should have told me earlier when I could still fell my hands." he said shaking them. "So, no offense, but are you the last one to come in and talk to me."
She looked up thinking. "Not really, they asked me to try since I had something in common with you and that maybe you'd talk then."
"Let me guess, you like to work on machines."
"Right first try. So you want to tell me what this really is. I've heard a few things about it and seeing no one else here, I'd be glad to help."
"Really!" he said with surprise.
"Yeah really. I didn't bring that bag on mine here just to talk and leave."
Looking where she was pointing he saw a large black duffel bag.
"What's in there if I may ask?"
"A work suit like the one you're wearing for when I work on machines and other things and a few of my tools."
"Cool." he said wiping his hands on a rag. "Well if you want to help, your more than welcome to join me." Picking up a large binder off the ground he walked over to show her. "This is the complete guide I wrote on how everything works, volts, scale of everything, you know, more than just basic instructions. With this you could build a completely new car." Looking up from the book suddenly and then at her.
"What?" she said looking around for a moment before staring back at him.
"I just realized I never got your name, do forgive me, please." he said holding out his hand.
"No problem. I sometimes do the same thing when I'm working. Just space out on introductions. Name's Melaine Power. You can call me Mel." she said taking his hand. After shaking it he went over what he was doing since she wanted to get right on it. A few Mobians outside counted off the minutes as she continued to stay inside. One of the Mobians looked through the window and saw them working together. After relaying the information to the others they realized that the betting was finished and left.

Several days later Sonic's father showed up. Sonic found him walking in the woods. He was back. Safe. But unlike the others who had vanished and reappeared...Sonic's father was still roboticized. But even though Sonic's Uncle Chuck worked day and night to find a cure...he was unsuccessful. Down in a lab where the roboticizer they had built at Knothole, Jules was in the tube while Uncle Chuck tried different things. Tails was looking at some computer print outs as they came out of the slot. Rotor was pushing buttons and pulling levers as Chuck instructed while Sonic and his Mom watched from the doorway.
"Don't worry Jules! I won't rest until I've found a way to make you just like everyone else!" Uncle Chuck was saying.
As the weeks dragged on, and still nothing from Robotnik was going on, Jules discovered that he was an outsider looking in at his family while they could eat. They could sleep. He couldn't, why had it taken him so long to notice all these differences? Sonic thought it cruel and unfair, and then realized the only person on the planet he associated those words with was



"ROBOTNICK!!" Sonic yelled standing outside of a section in Robotropolis. A large screen came on with Robotnick on it.
"What is it Hedgehog?! You're cutting in on precious scheming time!"
"Why'd you deroboticize all the robians except my dad?! Is that how you get your kicks now, ya big jerk?" Sonic yelled.
"Don't be stupid!! What makes you think I changed any of them back in the first place? One of the few things in life that made me happy was knowing that I'd turned your whole family into oil drums with eyebrows. Meh.."
Sonic left, leaving Robotnick to rant and rave without him there.
Out near a steam near Knothole, Sonic and his family were talking.
"He denied doing any of it, and it's weird, but I kinda believe him!"
"I won't stop until I've found a cure, Jules." Uncle Chuck said.
"No, Charles. I can't stand the way you've been pushing yourself lately. I realized that when we were all roboticized, we were happier--- why should now be any different because I still am? Instead of focusing on the fact that I haven't changed, how about celebrating the fact that everyone else has?" Jules said.
"Dad's right. No matter what happens, we'll face the future together as a family." Sonic said as they all hugged. But I'll find out who did this, I swear!

The next day Sonic brought Ford over to see his parents, since Ford hadn't actually met them yet, just Sonic and Uncle Chuck. They were happy to see him and they talked most of the day about different things. Sonic wouldn't let his parents tell Ford his real first name or anyone else for that matter. He showed them the comics he had which had seen better days since they had circulated through the Freedom Fighters. They all thought the comics were cool mostly cause they didn't have much of any pictures of the past since they spent more time fighting than capturing memories. Sally wasn't too thrilled with seeing what she used to look like, but let it slide since she couldn't do much about it anyway. Ford gave the box of comics to Sonic since Sonic asked what he planned to do with them.
"Well now that I'm living a dream come true, I don't really need these. I don't want them destroyed and I figure you and Sally can have them to keep as memories that you couldn't take when you had the chance."
Just before dinnertime, Sonic asked if Ford would stay for dinner but he declined politely saying he had a previous engagement.
"Something tells me that from rumors I've heard that it's not the car you got this date with."
With a smile that practically beamed. "Wrong...and right." he said before thanking them for a wonderful day and then left, leaving a perplexed Sonic. After dinner Sonic went to see Sally.

Back in his garage, Ford came in to see the lights already on and Mel bent over the car working on something in the engine. He leaned against the wall for a moment and watched before going over to her.
"So how long were you going to stand there and watch me before helping?" she said standing up and pulling off a pair of working gloves.
"Your ears are better than I thought." he said setting down a basket. "Actually I sorry about that. It's been, well since almost ever really that I've been around a woman who likes me for who and what I am."
"Well you don't have to be sorry. I'm flattered that you like me for who I am and for my looks. Most men, correction, every male I've came across liked me for what you see, not what I could do. Now where's that dinner you brought?"
They sat down at an empty table Ford had cleared earlier. Ford pulled out the cheese sandwiches he made along with an apple pie Rosie had help make. He also brought a bottle of grape wine that Mel said she had told him once that she liked.
"How did you manage to get hold of that?"
"Let's say I know friends in high places."
Pouring her a glass, they toasted each other before eating.
"I thought I asked before, but if I didn't, will you let me test run the car?" she said between a bite.
"Actually I'll do better. You can be the one to give it the full test run. After we install these last few parts, which shouldn't take too long, it will be ready."
She looked at him with her sandwich halfway to her mouth.
"Really?!"
"Yes really. You're the first woman I've came across that likes things like this. Other than my mom, you're the only girl I've ever spent this much time with. Besides I think she's taken a liking to you."
They sat in silence for a few moments not noticing that there was someone outside.

Sonic had found Sally studying something when he found her.
"Hey Sal, whatcha doin?"
"Looking over the comics that you gave me. Strange to think in some other universe were not real."
"I know how you feel. Startled me at first too, but hey, with Ford here now things have been going better."
"True. Unfortunately an electrical storm took out that spying device that Ford put on his command center."
"Major bummer."
"I assume you not here to talk are you?"
"Not really. I brought Ford over to see my parents, cause they wanted to talk to him."
"Something go wrong?"
"No, everything went fine. When we asked if he wanted to stay for dinner he said he had a previous engagement. Which I found out was a date."
"Anyone we know?"
"I was hoping Nichole could answer that."
"All right lets see what she says." Sally pulled Nichole from her boot and opened it up.
"Nichole?"
"Yes Sally?"
"I need information on...Sonic what's her name?"
"It's Mel something."
"Mel...you mean that white female fox that seems out of place."
"Yeah that's the one."
"Nichole bring up anything you have on a Mel.....M.E.L."
"Searching Sally...........There are several Mel's Sally."
"How many are a white female fox?"
"One Sally."
"What do you have on her?"
"She's 20 years old and has no family due to them being killed during the war with Robotnick. She was roboticized over a year ago and was found wandering around in the Great Forest two weeks ago."
"She came back like the other former robians?" Sonic asked.
"You got it my main hedgehog."
"Anything else Nichole?" Sally asked.
"She has white fur due to a mutant gene."
"What does that mean?" Sonic asked.
"She's an albino Sonic. She can't stay to long in the sun or it will hurt her."
"Oh."
"If I may continue Sally..."
"Sorry Nichole, go on."
"She is highly skilled in mechanics and engineering, loves grape wine but does no indulge in it, hate's chilly dogs..."
"Say what?" Sonic said.
Nichole continued, ignoring Sonic's interruption, "capable of piloting a hover cargo and has less than average computer skills."
"What does that last part mean?"
"That Nichole wouldn't trust Mel to use her." Sally said. After asking if there was anything else relevant and finding out nothing she put Nichole back in her boot. "So why did you want to know about her?"
"She's Ford's date tonight."
Sally nearly fell off her seat. "This I got to see."
They both headed out as Sonic kept talking. "I didn't see a problem, since I've heard that in the past overlanders and Mobians have got together before."
"Do we know if she's with anyone?"
"As far as I've found out, she's a loner. Just helps when she can but stay's to herself. Don't tell me you have a problem?"
"Not really other than some of Knothole's residents might go crazy about it. Wait a minute, is anyone else suspicions of them being together?"
"Not that I've seen. Mostly everyone is spending time with family and friends. I'd really like to find out who undone the roboticization and thank them. Then pound them for not doing my dad!" Sonic said punching his fist into his other hand.
"Hopefully we'll find something soon...now shhh! Were here."
Looking inside they saw the two talking and eating at a small table. There were a few lights on, mostly around the car though. They seemed lost in there own world, talking mechanics.

"Yeah, I went to an old junkyard that the military had abandoned. There were parts everywhere. I could have rebuilt several of the planes they had left from just the stuff lying around. I even came across a slightly damaged laser pistol, but I didn't like those sort of weapons so I sold it. Managed to get quite a bit of money too. Anyway, I found a few engines that weren't so messed up and cobbled together an engine for Shelby and that's how I got the twin turbine engine. I'll let you in on something..." he said setting aside his glass.
"You got the idea for the engine from something else."
"You are quick, but yes. There was a show on television along time ago called Knight Rider. I don't remember alot of the specifics but the car had a twin turbine engine and a few other things that I managed to incorporate into Shelby. One of the things is the A.I. which was the most important part."
"Wow. Was this car also a...um what did you call this again?"
"Mustang....and no it was a....uh black t-top trans- something...transam I think is what they called it. I wish I had a picture but everything about the past was pretty expensive before the year 2000. Well you ready to finish this with me."
"Been ready since the day I saw it."

Sonic and Sally watched them mess with it for about a half an hour before acting like they just showed up.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Did you hear something?" Ford said from under the hood.
"I think someone's at the door." Mel said from underneath the dashboard.
Setting down the tools he was holding, Ford opened the door.
"Hey Sonic. Sally. What brings you here at.." Looking at his watch he noticed it was 9:12 pm. "It's later than I thought. Just after 9:00?"
"You've spent quite a lot of time in here lately, is there anything I should be concerned about?" Sally asked.
"Not that I can think of. Come in if you like." he said walking back in. Sonic followed Sally in and closed the door a little too hard. BANG!
"I really should get that fixed." Ford said picking up a few wires and bending back into the engine. He grabbed a part from the table and handed it to her before going in.
"I'm ready to attach the other wires into this section here if you're ready Ford. What's this part for?"
"Cool Mel. Here comes a few. Let me know when you have enough slack so I can hook them up over here. That part is a surprise. You should see where it goes."
"Okay, yeah I see were this goes."
Sonic glanced around and started tapping his foot, showing he was bored. Ford heard the tapping and ignored it. Sally was looking around.
"Okay I figure I got enough now."
"Okay. Let's see..." Ford said a he mumbled off numbers. "Hey Sonic?"
"Yeah." he said.
"After I do a test run to make sure all the bugs are out. I want to challenge you to a race."
"Race the fastest thing alive. You're kidding right. No overlander can keep up with me."
"I didn't say I was going to run. If these modifications work out I should be able to do 400 miles an hour easily. 500 if I really push it."
"That's impossible." Sonic said waving his hand at Ford.
"Before I got to your universe I could hit 400-500 depending on weather and traffic before the engine started to tell me to slow down. So are you up to it?"
"There's no way you could withstand that sort of G-forces."
"I have something that will help with that."
"I don't think you can but if a race you want, a race you get. Just tell me when and where." Sonic said with a smirk on his face.
"When is unknown but where.., is the Great Unknown. Perfect for getting up to full speed on a straight, flat, open area."
"Deal." Sonic said holding out his hand.
"Deal." Ford said taking his hand.
"Ford I need to talk seriously with you for a moment." Sally said interrupting their macho moment. "And you too Mel."
Mel extracted herself from the underside of the dash section hitting her head on the steering column.
"OW!"
"You all right Mel?" Ford asked walking over to help her out of the car. Concern was all over his face, Sally noted.
"Yeah, just bumped my head. Sometimes think I should wear a hard hat." she said taking his hand. Standing up she started to reach for her head and thought better of it seeing her gloves were dirty.
"What's up?" Ford asked leaning against the table with the food. Ford picked up a bottle of water as Sally spoke.
"As much as I would like to stay out of your personal life, I have to ask for the safety of the village. How close are you two?"
Ford was drinking ask she talked. The question startled him enough it caused him to inhale by accident. Going into a choking fit he pounded on his chest for a moment. Holding up his other hand to show he was okay, Ford shook his head before speaking.
"Ahem..." Clearing his throat a few times, "...ahem, ah well I can understand why you would have to ask that, and since I doubt you'll stop asking till I tell you...ahem...I admit I do have feelings for her, but so far the relationship is just close friends. If we get closer, then we closer, if not, I'll live with it."
"Mel?" Sally asked.
"Your right that you shouldn't be having to ask, but I know why you're asking. If anyone but you were asking, excluding the rest of the Royal family, I probably wouldn't answer. Anyway, I'd have to say I'm definitely attracted to him even though he's not Mobian. Why?"
"I was asking for the sake of the village. For now we'll keep this between us and go on." Sally said crossing her arms.
"I'm guessing Sonic's the first to see something possibly going on, others might later."
"Yeah. I've been hearing others talking about seeing Mel in here alot and rumors are flying." Sonic said with a yawn.
"Well they'll know tomorrow. That is if you two can get out so we can finish."
"Thanks for being honest with me Ford. And you as well Mel. We'll see you in the morning then." Sally said stifling a yawn of her own. Sonic held the door and followed after she left.
"I was wondering how long it would take for someone to come ask me that?"
"You seemed pretty shocked as I was, I admit more you than me since you got more water on yourself that in."
"I wasn't thinking she was going to ask in front of both of us. I figured she'd ask us separately and then confront us together, or something like that, but anyway it's out there."
"Well let's finish this and then we can talk more about a "us", if that's okay with you." she said sitting down in the driver's seat.
"Later it is then. A few more hours maybe less and it will be completed."
A little after 3:00 they finished putting Shelby back together.
"Now if you will do the honors of pressing that button, we'll have a living car. Well technically anyway."
Mel pushed the button under the steering column. Less than minute went by before they heard the car power up.
VVVVVVVVVVRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSHHHHHH
Just under the hood, on the outside of the car a small red light flashed back and forth. Several other sounds came out as all the systems came online. The engine revved a few times before idling out.
"I like this! So much power! So much control! Oh yeah!" the car said revving itself a few more times.
"Oh great...Shelby thinks she's macho." Ford mumbled.
"I HEARD that! Remember I can listen in to a conversation several miles away. Once I was just great, now I'm SPECTACULAR! You want to keep that promise to Sonic about a race I'd shut up or else you won't be getting in her for a long while."
"Say what?!" Ford said walking up. He was about to place his hands on the hood when she stopped him.
"AH! AH! You hands and the rest of you are filthy. No way you're getting near me, much less inside till you take a shower." she said closing her doors and locking them. "And where's that MBS formula your suppose to spray on me?!"
"MBS?" Mel asked through her giggling fit.
"Something the government I was working for, was working on, that took the idea from that car I mentioned earlier. They managed to come up with a formula like it and I stole it."
"You STOLE it?!"
"They never found out who did it and as far as I know they never were able to make it again. If the other countries we were fighting were to get hold of it we could never have stopped them. I took everything. They didn't notice it was missing until it was too late. Since we only could go back in time, to a certain amount of time, I was able to get it and then time was more than up when they found it missing."
"So what is this formula?"
"The Molecularly Bonded Shell, or MBS for short. Rotor's should have been able to make some of it by now. And why were you laughing earlier?"
"Listening to you and Shelby argue was funny."
"I thought you were on my side?!" Ford said with more of a joke intention.
"I am, but also on her's."
"Great, both of you are ganging up on me. I need some rest."
"So do I." Mel said with a yawn. "How late is it?"
"Almost 4."
"That late." she said sitting in a chair. "So when do we do the test run?"
"Sometime tomorrow after we put the MBS on. A few coats and then a few hours of waiting, I figure by 1 or 2:00 we'll be ready."
"I can't wait to see what I'm capable of for real, but I want that shell first. With the information I got from Nichole I want some better form of protection other than this steel body and...uh Ford?"
"Yeah Shelby." he said through another yawn.
"Our lady friend fell asleep. Might want to get her before she falls out of the chair."
"Huh?" Ford said looking over at Mel. She had her hand against her face and her elbow on the table. She was fast asleep and looked about to fall forward any moment. Ford walked over to wake her but thought better of it. Instead he picked her up and took her over to a bed, he brought in some time ago, in the back corner of the garage. Knowing she was wearing other clothes underneath the coveralls, he removed it then laid her in the bed. Giving her a quick kiss on the head, he pulled the sheet over her and went over to the recliner he also brought in earlier. He pulled off his work suit and slipped into a pair of jogging pants and a t-shirt saying "TIME COP! When you want things figured out in a matter of seconds, give us a call." Laying the recliner back he said goodnight to Shelby.
"Goodnight Ford." Shelby said as she powered down for the night.