Alright got some stuff I gots to say before I start this chapter. Some good reviews this time including the one of Dr. Quack, very good point, but don't worry what seems like a plot hole now will get patched up much later. The one who asked for his OCs in the story, I'm sorry to say there are no openings, good luck on the other fanfics you posted, if I ever get an opening I'll consider it. You'll notice the only OCs I have had played minor roles, and there is a reason for that.
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A group of Mobians ran through the opening into the tunnel segment; the water was settled and completely drained. Forcefully and carefully Sally, Sonic, Selim, and the others made their way down to the ground. Selim was a big help and even the young Miles brought down as many as he could. The others could climb down by metal rungs that stuck out of the wall. The smell was horrendous causing the Lower Mobians to stop in their tracks.
"What happened here?" Dirk, the boar who leads Lower Mobius's military operations gasped as he placed an arm over his snout.
Sonic and the others were silent as they looked amongst the bodies, and the downed robotic rat which towered above them. It was a rhetorical question; the evidence was very present throughout the area. The four unfortunate Freedom Fighters were charred. The burns made them seem hardly recognizable; it was probably from a severe electrocution, by the dampness in the air it was obvious that the shock was amplified by water.
Grif looked to the group; he was shocked, not only by the death, but also that the mutant was taken out. For years that thing had haunted the pipe system, it looked as if its day of doing so were now over. Rotor wasted no time in making sure that the huge mechanical rodent stayed decommissioned, removing all of its motor functions and mechanical hardware that caused it to run wild in the tunnels.
"You guys should have stayed put, didn't you get my message?" The goat asked Sally, who right now was silent, but she had to pull herself together, because up on the surface, the sun would be rising right now, it was the dawn of a new era for the freedom fighters, and she had to make sure everyone was ready for it.
"What happened is tragic, but we have to get moving..." She said looking down. "Let's get everything set up; of course if that is ok with you Grif, you are the one in charge here after all."
Grif nodded. "Sally, you're still going to lead the Freedom Fighters, I am just going to make sure my people are fine, and you take care of yours."
Sally nodded, she then turned to the others, "Alright guys let's go." She stated as she followed Grif, Dirk, and the other Lower Mobian's into the final stretch that leads to the town. The others stood for awhile before following; Selim, Rabbot, and Sonic helped move the bodies out of the damp pipe system. They left the mechanical beast, it was too heavy to lift, and it was better off where it lay. It was nauseating work and it was good that all that moved them were old companions to death, and loss, Selim more then any of them. Bunnie noticed his face, it was kind of like a stone, like he was covering his emotions from them all, and she knew that he was hiding many things from them. Antoine didn't have such a constitution and would have probably upchucked if not for him shaking and creeping past the dead, ignoring all around him as best as he could.
It was early in the morning, and everyone was tired, however they all stood in the town center. They were greeted warmly; however there was a chill to the warmth. A sadness for all those that had given their life, so that the Freedom Fighter could continue to rebel against the evil doctor and Sally gave their memorial speech well.
She stood before the people, of both the Lower Mobians and the Freedom Fighters of Knothole. Sonic, the younger Tails, Rotor, and those that had been with the resistance since it began, or close to it in the young Mile's case, stood behind her as the ground squirrel spoke across the podium. Then there was silence, for it was called for, and by Sally's simple command the silence washed over the crowd as they looked down and mourned.
...
...
Everyone brought their heads back up, and opened their eyes as the quietest moment of the entire ordeal had passed. The residents agreed to put up a memorial for those that had fallen, a monument with all the names of those that were lost, it hit hard for them all. Selim felt kind of sadden whenever he looked at such monuments. So many names would be written, Dr. Quack, Jerome, they would just be names on a cold stone, their vitality, their life, their being was lost, and only four would be buried here, a little less then a quarter who were sacrificed. The feeling was all too familiar, he knew that some would have their names life on forever, like Dr. Quack, the greatest physician the Freedom Fighters ever had. But Jerome, or the others, how would they be remembered? Would they be remembered? Yes, maybe not in as many minds, but he remembered Jerome, his hobbies, his voice, his albino skin, and as long as his memory, his appearance stayed in the mind of one, his sacrifice would not be forgotten.
After the service all the residents went about their business, and the mass of Freedom Fighters went to their new living spaces, they were temporary little rooms, they were currently building a bigger building to support the increase of population, it grew from a little more then thirty to about twice as much. Grif, Sally, and Sonic discussed where they would go from here; important projects would need to be done. One of which required the ring stone. So five people were sent to pick up the trucks, Sally told Selim to just get some sleep, he wondered how he was supposed to do that though, they were all very restless.
He was sitting in his small room he was given. A lot more empty and quiet then his old room, getting lost in thought was very easy. He decided that he should probably take his journal out and start writing... maybe it would help tire him out.
The meeting room was finishing up with their plans, and one topic sparked particular interest. They wanted revenge, the sadness had passed, and an anger and hatred for what Robotnik had done began to arise. Sally would usually not agree with such an action, however, it would be easy to pull a surprise attack on Robotropolis from where they were, but what they had planned was nothing small. "Well do we have enough supplies for such an operation?" she asked as she contemplated everything.
"Yeah Sally," Rotor said. "And I say we go for it, hit the big man right where it hurts!"
Sonic was ready for a little payback himself, "Ya Sal, let's take him out!"
Sally sighed a little, she was more of the patient type, and she knew that if they were to pull this off, everything would have to go right, she felt forced into it, mainly because everyone was all for it. She had to strike while the iron was hot, before the moral dropped again, and the mission would defiantly fail. If it was successful it could give a great hope for ultimate victory.
She looked at the map on Nicole again, the Lower Mobians, along with her map 'Bean' were able to pinpoint an area in which the pipe connects to the most vital areas of Robotropolis. They were going to use explosives, taking out the main tower, and the newly installed robotosizer and power stations. This would require well placed explosives and careful stealth; they were hoping to catch the big man completely off guard hopefully catching him in one of the explosions.
In the tunnels it was easy to find supplies in order to make powerful explosives, it would take a couple of days to make, and that was fine, since it would take a couple of days to get all this set up, and it would be good time to cool down after all this shocking conflict. Sally nodded, "Alright guys, lets do it to it." She said as she smiled ensuringly at the others.
Sonic let out a great relaxing sigh, he laid back in the boiling water in the creator in the Great Unknown. He was with his pal Tails, this was their secret place after all. And since Robotnik had bought the farm, it was a good time to relax and kick back.
"This is way past cool, Thank you for bringing me here Sonic." Tails said as he layed back and smiled as the bubbles massaged his muscles under his fur.
Sonic nodded and leaned back, Tails looked up and smiled. "Do you think I'll find my parents now that it's all over...? I always wondered what they were like, not my foster ones, my real ones." The little fox frowned. "When we find my foster parents I wonder what they'd think of me now, I wonder if they'd be proud of me, or if they'd still see me as a... freak."
Sonic seemed to be off in his own world as he leaned back.
"...Sonic?" Tails' voice suddenly jutted in, causing the hedgehog to barely go into cardiac arrest.
"Y-Yeah big guy?" He asked lightly as he jumped out of his trance. He blushed as he just realized how deep into thought he went.
"Are you ok? You seem to be spacin'." The fox said as he looked concernedly at Sonic.
The hedgehog nodded, "I was just thinkin' about Sal is all."
The fox cocked his head. "Is she in danger?"
Sonic had to laugh at this, "No big guy, it's just you know... it's just I think of her, because well, I feel close to her..."
"Like us Sonic?" Tails asked a little confused.
The hedgehog shook his head. "No, we're different; we're like pals, me and Sal are just a little closer then that."
Tail was looking a little disappointed. "You mean Aunt Sally is more to you?"
Sonic jumped and moved toward the kit and patted him on the back twice. "No, you all mean a lot to me... it's just... you know how you see Sally kissing me in a way that grosses you out? It's like that kind of close."
Tails nodded, "Gross kissing and stuff."
The hedgehog laughed a bit, "Well, I think you may change your mind about that soon enough big guy."
"Selim, ya'll alright?" came a southern accent from behind.
The vulpine jumped up, he found himself back in the little room, pen still in hand. He looked to the paper, noticing a nice long line fall of the edge of the page. The writing worked better then he figured he fell asleep while he was writing the events of the day. He scratched the back of his head as he thought about the dream he just had. That was him and Sonic, it wasn't the first time he had it. He remembered his childhood constantly, and even now that he was a witness to it in his life, he still dreamed of when he was the young Miles. He remembered that happened a week after the fall of Doomsday, when true peace seemed at last upon them, but it turned out to be a sick joke. Only 7 weeks later it all started again.
"Tails? Are you ok?" Bunnie asked as the fox seemed to zone again.
Miles spun around in his chair, looking toward the rabbot. She tried to become derobotisized during those two months, but she decided that she would help with the clean up before she did so. As a result, it never happened, she was pretty upset, but she suddenly stated that she would not remove the metallic limbs until the world was free, kind of like a symbol.
"I'm fine, just tired I guess." The vulpine finally stated, closing the book and putting down the pen. "Are you alright?"
She nodded and smiled. "Thanks to you sugar..." she said moving over to the cot which was to be Selim's bed. "Mind if I sit myself down?"
The fox shook his head. "No, not at all, don't call me Tails either, I lost that title a long time ago..."
Bunnie nodded as she sat down, "Alright sugar..." she stated wondering what to ask him first so she started off with some casual conversation. "It's been a long night for all of us."
Selim nods, looking at the rabbot as she sat on the cot. "This is my fault, it wasn't supposed to happen like this, Dr. Quack wasn't supposed to die."
Bunnie found this opportunity to learn more about the vulpine. "And who was? Sally? Sonic?"
The older Tails looked up in confusion. "How did you-"
The rabbot looked to the fox and smiles. "Y' all were carrin' Nicole sugar... That means y'all were leader, which means..." She stated, knowing she didn't have to go any further for him to figure it out.
The older Tails stood up and looked out the window, it was kind of odd seeing no sun when it was actually morning, but he'd get used to it again. The thing was Sonic and Sally weren't supposed to be here, heck the Lower Mobians weren't supposed to even be involved until two months from now. Whatever he changed it caused everything to scramble out of order. Sally and Sonic might still be in danger.
"Y'all seem like ya gotta lot on yer mind." Bunnie stated. "Ya mind sharin' and not keepin' it all in Tails."
"Please, don't call me that, once you start it'll be hard to stop, when around others call me Selim... If not call me Miles or Selim, just not Tails." He said looking over to the cot.
She had noticed that, whenever the word Tails rang in the air the older fox seemed to wreath a bit. It was if someone had suddenly stuck ice down his back. The fur rising lightly, it was if it were either a chill or painful jolt as she looked at him. She knew it was none of her business, so she decided to change the subject. "Aren't y' all hungry? They're givin' out chilly dogs down at the stand... not many are goin' I guess, probably cause they ain't hungry... but I am, and let's face it, we all gotta eat sometime."
"Chili dogs? For breakfast?" Selim icked. "I don't know if I can eat or not."
Bunnie sighed. "I don't wanna eat alone sugar, Sally-girl and sugar hog are down in meetin's and I can't really eat without someone to talk to. So what do ya'll say?" She asked looking at him pleadingly. "Ya don't have to eat anything, and it's not a date neither, so y'all don't get uptight er nothin'."
Selim nodded, it looked like he really didn't have a choice. "Alright, I'll be right with you..." he stated, turning to the rabbit and held a mediocre expression.
The rabbot nodded, at least it was a yes, she had so much she wanted to know, curiosity was in her nature. Southern girls like her loved the art of gossip. Though she knew this gossip had to stay with her, but she could get what she wanted out of him. Now that she knew that Sally and Sonic were in danger, she needed to help, and she would do whatever it took.
She walked out the door and Selim looked down at the journal. For the first time since Sonic's death he'd found himself deep in thought about the point. The point of all of this, the fighting constantly just to put a dent that would easily be repaired, he wondered if anyone else felt that way. All those years as a leader though, he had to hide that feeling from everyone, it wouldn't help morale. He closed the book as he noticed his mind was wandering again, he should get going, Bunnie obviously had something on her mind as well, and his stomach was a bit unsettled, maybe food would help. Selim put the journal into the desk drawer and left his room shutting off the light.
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Scarily the fall season is coming to an end, which means that there'll be a gap in my posts as I go on vacation. The semester ends on the 10th. Which means the next chapter (or the one after) will be the last one up until the end of January, time flies when you're doing school work.
