Jazzerman here, I do not own any of these characters, they are owned by their respected companies, blah, blah, blah. You've heard this sht before.

But I do own this story, that and the 2 OCs.

A Wily tale

Part 22

It was dinner time and once again Ali-Su and Jonny were sitting by themselves.

Ali-Su looked at the plate of pasta she had finished and sighed with relief. "I'm glad that Heat man isn't cooking today."

Jonny laughed. "Don't worry, I made him promise to only cook his atomic chili when requested."

Ali-Su laughed. "Good, but I think Sonic might ask him to make that chili. I swear he has a cast iron stomach."

"Stomach nothing. His whole digestive system must be more armored than Hard man's whole body." Jonny joked.

Ali-Su giggled. "True."

Jonny ate his last bite of pasta and looked at Ali-Su. She quickly noticed he had an odd look on his face, like he had something on his mind.

He was silent for a small stretch of time, at length he asked, "Can I make an unusual request Ali?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"This is kinda embarrassing..." Jonny was looked a little flush. "Can I... touch one your dreadlocks? I've been kinda curious about them..."

"Sure." Ali-Su chuckled, it WAS an odd request, but she saw no reason to deny him. She even felt a little flattered.

Ali-Su walked around the table and sat next to Jonny. She smiled as he hesitantly took one of her locks in his hand and gently stoked it. Finding it to be surprisingly soft and silky.

"Forgive me but I didn't think your dreadlocks were that soft." He let go of her golden dreadlock and looked at her with a friendly smile. He then reached into his coat and handed the echidna a pair of shades just like his. "As I promised."

Ali-Su smiled and took the sunglasses. "Thanks Jonny. I promise to keep it in good condition."

Jonny mentally grinned, he was glad to have a friend like Ali-Su.

Ali-Su looked over at Sonic and the others, and then looked at Jonny. "Hey Jonny, why don't you ever sit with Sonic or the other Freedom fighters? Why do you always sit alone?"

Jonny frowned. "I just don't feel like I'd fit in. Besides, as long as you're here, I'm not alone."

Ali-Su blushed a little, but she smiled at Jonny. Jonny seemed different from most guys she had known. She didn't mean that because he was a human and not a Mobian, but that he was genuinely kind, honest, a generally sweet person. She honestly felt safe with him around, and she admitted to herself that she liked being around him.

Ali-Su's thoughts were interrupted when she saw Princess Sally approached their table.

Jonny quickly noticed the echidna sitting next to him was looking at something. "What's up Ali?"

Ali-Su motioned towards the princess.

"Hi Sal, what can I do for her highness?" Jonny joked, leaning back in his chair.

Sally wore a serious look on her face. "Jonny, we have to talk."

"Ummm... Okay, do you want to go somewhere more private?" Jonny asked.

Sally crossed her arms. "Your lab will do."

"I'll talk to you later Ali." Jonny smiled at the echidna.

Jonny rolled to the elevator with Sonic and Sally close behind him.

"I have a little surprise Sal." Jonny said as they entered the lab. "We finished the roboticizer."

Before them stood the massive machine that had caused so much pain to Mobius. Recreated from the robot parts that Jonny had lying around. Sonic and Sally both felt a little uncomfortable in front of it, both had been inside the machine before, and the experience was not enjoyable.

Jonny rolled over to the roboticizer, opened a compartment and removed a chip from its mother board and held it up.

"This little chip, the submission ship I call it, is the thing that takes away your free will when roboticized." Jonny reached into a drawer and pulled out a hammer. He then set the chip on the desk. "Anyone want to do the honors?"

"Gladly" Sonic said, he took the hammer from Jonny and smashed the chip to bits, then laid the hammer down on the desk.

Sally raised an eyebrow at Jonny. "What was the point of building the chip if you were just going to smash it?"

Jonny scratched his head. "The satisfaction of breaking something, and to validate that the machine will not be used to remove free will if used. IE: I couldn't use it to enslave you guys, even if I wanted to."

"I bet you could easily build another chip." sally stated flatly.

Jonny laughed at that. "I guess I could, but... I don't feel like doing it."

Sally rolled her eyes. "So, how long until that machine you wanted to build is ready? The one that can be used to help Bunnie."

"I have to perform a few tests, turning a roboticizer into a... uh... Organicizer is not going to be easy." Jonny said.

"Organicizer?" Sally asked.

"It was the best name I could think of." Jonny said admittedly.

They were Silent for a little while.

At long length Sally said. "Listen, no one knows this yet, but you may be responsible for Knothole's destruction."

"What!? Princess you either have a bad sense of humor or a bad memory. I'd never do such a thing!" Jonny jerked his head around to look at them both. "Hell, I sent my Robot masters to try to save Knothole."

"Yes, I know you meant well. But the thing is that you stole a lot of Robotnik's robots and equipment, that may have sent him the deep end and triggered the attack."

Jonny was stunned. It was very possible that that is was what happened. Be it that he didn't mean it to happen, he was responsible for the attack as much as the fat Overlander he had sworn to fight.

Jonny hung his head. "Does this mean... You want me to leave?"

Sally frowned and turned her back to him. "Is that what you want? To just pack up and leave? I thought you wanted to help us in taking back Mobius."

"I do, I just don't want to hurt anyone of you. I feel like I failed, really failed, for the first time since I got here. Everything was going like clockwork, I had no idea my actions would cost you your home. I'm so sorry." Jonny hung his head, he felt like a failure even though he didn't think he should.

Sonic laughed. "Jonny, you took us in, fed us, had your robots come to our aid. Twice. And you want to leave?"

"No, but I don't want to stay if it means costing you something else. Something more dear to you. I could never do that to my... friends." Jonny hung his head again.

Sally turned, a small smile on her face, she was only trying to see what Jonny's reaction would be, and he passed. But that smile quickly faded as she saw how bummed Jonny was.

"I'm... going to go for a walk, I need to clear my mind." Jonny entered the elevator and was gone.

"I hope he's aware that 'going for a walk' isn't the phrase to use with a person in his condition." Sonic said, then backed off as he saw the look that Sally was giving him.

Ali-Su saw Sonic and Sally exiting the elevator from the lab, and walked up to them.

"Hi guys, have... you seen Jonny?"

"He said he was going to clear his head, and left."

"Thanks Sonic." Ali-Su turned and walked off, leaving Sonic and Sally alone.

"She sure has been spending a lot of time with him." Sally turned to Sonic. "You think she's in love with him Sonic?"

Sonic shrugged, "Stranger things have happened."

Ali-Su walked around the first floor, looking around for her human friend. She knew he wouldn't be in the Gym, dojo, or battle arena, his injuries were still too bad to do anything in there. She checked the Arcade, and even Crystal man's shop (Which was still as empty as when Amy and Sonic came in). She was about to give up when she passed the auditorium. She peeked inside and was more surprised at what she heard than she saw.

Star man was playing his custom electric guitar that was made to look like a star with a neck. Quick man was playing drums and, most surprisingly, Jonny was the vocal of this little group. The song was Jonny's favorite type, heavy metal. Jonny was out of his wheel chair sitting on the edge of the stage.

Ali-Su smiled and took a seat in the back row.

Jonny sang his best, even though he didn't see Ali-Su come in. In truth, he never could sing in front of people.

What we feel, it might be so unreal

And what we know, it's under construction

We have learned, the truth, it can be turned

Well, it just depends on what we believe is real

In secrecy our mission will be

Let's create our future aware

I'll see you in heaven one day

Or I'll see you in hell

Yeah, we'll be where we think we will stay

I'll see you in heaven or hell

You and me, we think of what will be

It's so hard to trust in that we'll be given

Fear, so strong, will surely lead us wrong

It's gonna bring us down, we better believe it's real

In secrecy our mission will be

Let's create our future aware

I'll see you in heaven one day

Or I'll see you in hell

Yeah, we'll be where we think we will stay

I'll see you in heaven or hell

No limit, I'm in it, it's all inside my mind

I'll be there where I dare, it's all my choice

In secrecy our mission will be

Let's create our future aware

I'll see you in heaven one day

Or I'll see you in hell

Yeah, we'll be where we think we will stay

I'll see you in heaven or hell

As Jonny finished, he heard a single pair of hands applauded, his heart skipped a beat when he saw who was clapping.

"That was great Jonny!" Ali-Su complimented as she approached the stage. "You could be a professional singer if you wanted to."

Jonny looked at the ground, 'I can't believe I didn't see her come in. I'm really off today.' he thought.

Star man swung his guitar over his shoulder, hopped off the stage with Quick man and got in close to the echidna so Jonny couldn't hear them.

"The Chief only sings when he wants to cheer himself up." Star man whispered. "And believe me, he was really depressed when he asked us to play with him. I think you made him feel really embarrassed."

"Why would he be embarrassed? He's a good singer." Ali-Su told them, not even bothering to whisper.

"Maybe but he's very shy about crowds. I think you know why." Quick man whispered.

Ali looked at Jonny, he looked very depressed and a little ashamed. She felt kinda bad that she had walked in on him, but she had thoroughly enjoyed listening to him sing. She actually liked heavy metal.

Star man and Quick man left, leaving Ali and Jonny alone in the auditorium.

"Hi." Ali-Su said walking up to the human, his legs were dangling off the edge of the stage.

"Hi." Jonny's voice was almost a whisper. He didn't even bother to look up at Ali-Su.

'Man, he's even more depressed than I thought...' Ali climbed up onto the stage and sat near Jonny.

Both sat in silence for an unknown amount of time, both trying to steal looks at each other without the other seeing them.

At long length, Ali-Su finally spoke up. "Listen Jonny, I may never know what really happened to you when you were four... But I want you to know, I'm your friend."

Jonny reached into his lab coat and pulled out two M.I.S. head bands.

He handed one to Ali-Su. "Put it on. Controlling drones isn't the only thing these things can do."

Ali gave him a look of confusion, but complied, placing the metallic band on her head.

"Close your eyes." Jonny told her.

As Ali-Su did so, she felt herself being whisked away. She suddenly found herself standing in a dark street. She saw a little boy staring in horror as his parents were being beaten with pipes, chains and various other blunt implements of destruction. Ali-Su saw these images and was horrified, she knew that she was seeing with her own eyes was the day Jonny lost his family with vivid detail. She saw the look of horror and fright on Jonny's face, she heard the sounds of bone breaking, the mad laughter from the mob as they hoisted the broken forms of Jonny's parents and hung them from the lamp post by the same chains that they had used to beat them. She didn't want to see anymore of this and opened her eyes. This surprised her a little as it felt like her eyes had been open the whole time.

But, there was one thing she felt, something Jonny had no intention of doing. Ali-Su had actually, for a brief second, felt what was going on in his heart. The echidna knew what was really troubling him. He felt lonely and in a sense empty, and was afraid that he'd be alone for the rest of his time on Mobius.

Ali set the M.I.S. band down and scooted next to Jonny.

"Ali, what are you doing?" Jonny was confused as Ali-Su gently took off his shades.

Ali's heart fluttered as she saw his pretty speckled eyes, and placed a kiss on his cheek.

Jonny looked shocked, his heart felt like it was going a mile a minute. He looked at the echidna next to him, who smiled warmly at him before resting her head on his chest, right on the Yin Yang.

Jonny's whole body went rigid in nervousness. He was so surprised couldn't even form rational thought. He gulped and gently put his arm around her shoulder.

Ali-Su smiled, 'I'm glad he's starting to cheer up.'

Ali-Su looked up and saw a few tears on his face. "What's wrong?"

He looked down at the echidna, a warm smile on his face. "Nothing. For once, nothing."

They both smiled at each other and then found themselves in a warm hug that lasted for quite a while.

'It's nice to know someone cares about me.' Jonny thought. 'I hope.'

Later that night on the fifth floor, Jonny was still thinking about Ali-Su, he felt like for once he could finally be happy and no one could take that away from him.

He plopped down on his bed and sighed contently as he closed his eyes.

"She doesn't care for you, and you know that." Said a rasping whispering voice.

Jonny's eyes shot open as he sat up. "Who's there?"

The thought of someone invading his personal room, especially unannounced and uninvited, was more than enough to make him seethe with anger. Yet, Jonny saw no one.

"Ali-Su is just pitying you. She doesn't really like you." The voice seemed to come from everywhere, and was much louder than before. "Who in their right mind would want to associate with someone of your lineage?"

"Ooookay... Who's there? Shadow man, if this is one of your pranks you are so junked." Jonny's eyes were searching the room very slowly and very carefully, but still saw nothing.

"Who would want to be near a man who has so much blood on his hands? No one."

"Hey! Shut up! Who are you and where are you? I want to kick your head clean off your body for that!" Jonny was shocked at what he had just said, that wasn't like him. He hated to needless violence, he had no qualms with a good clean brawl every once in a while but he'd never actually wanted to kill anyone in his life. Yet this person had succeeded in making the human's blood boil with rage with little effort.

"At last, the true Wily persona shows itself." There was a hint of accomplishment in the voice now. "You are just like your grandfather, you just don't know it yet. Why else would you build this tower and all the robot masters than to conquer this world?"

Jonny hung his head, 'Is this true? Is this voice somehow right? Am I walking down the same path as grandpa Albert?' Jonny shook his head. "Who are you!?"

No response came. Jonny sat for a good half hour waiting for a response before laying back down.

Jonny laid back onto his bed. "Am I going mad?"

That moment in Robotropolis...

"This is your great plan Sir?" Snivley was not impressed at Robotnik's new plan. "Another frontal assault on this 'Skull tower'."

"Quiet Snively." Robotnik ordered. "My 'bot planes weren't designed for taking on such a force. That's why next time, my egg bots will bring back one of those robots, and we'll be able to upgrade all of my army.

"You stupid fat baboon..." Snivley grumbled.

"What did you say?" Robotnik shot his small nephew a death glare.

Snivley froze, his mind raced to come up with something to say. "I said 'You'll make them look like buffoons' sir."

Robotnik snorted and sat down. Snivley relaxed and got back to work.

To be continued....

A/N: the Song is none other than one of my faves: "See You In Heaven Or Hell" by Rage. Not Rage against the machine, the name of the band is Rage. To hear some of their songs, go to Rage-on.de and look in the media section.

2nd thing, I'm playing around with the idea that all Mobians and Overlanders have solid eye colors and no one has hazel eyes. Look in the comics, you'll see nothing but solid color eyes.