Chapter 8 Long Way Down
"Aunt Sally!" Tails screamed. St. John, who was covering the inside of the building, knew nothing of what had happened outside. He had his own problems to worry about such as how to get to the next level. Eventually, they figured out how to operate Robotnik's elevator. They ran into yet another problem because from what could read, the elevator only went up to the second floor. After playing around with the controls for a little while they managed to find a map of the office tower.
"Robotnik's main office is located on the tenth floor and from what this shows the only way to get there is through the duct work system." Geoffrey explained as he worked the computers.
"Which way?" Lenny asked. St. John consulted the map and his compass.
"Looks like straight up matey. What I'm wonderin' is how, we're gonna get up there." Geoffrey answered. They both looked up above them and thought about the problem facing them.
Meanwhile, Sally's team was working on how to get her back to Knothole as fast as possible.
"Outta the way! Comin' though. This is important, so move it!" Bunnie Rabbot said as she scooped the Princess up and went running full speed back to Knothole. Less then two minutes later, she arrived at Knothole's Infirmary.
"Dr. Quack! Help! Hurry!" Bunnie shouted as she ran into the Infirmary. Dr. Quack came out of the Emergency Room and could not believe his eyes.
"What happened? How'd this happen?" Quack asked.
"She was leading the invasion and was working on climbing the outside of Robotnik's headquarters to get the King's sword when Sonic cut her rope…" Bunnie trailed off. Dr. Quack called to the rest of the Infirmary.
"Prep OR-2. We've got another extremely important patient on her way in!"
"Now, who is it?" One of the other doctors asked.
"Unfortunately, it is the Princess. She took a nasty fall and possibly injured her spine and neck in the fall." He explained. Doctor Quack punched in a code on a keyboard that let Rotor know that the plan was in full swing. Drago watched from the steps of his hut, his face a confusion of emotions. Some real, others not with sadness being the main one that he had to fake.
"Radio St. John and have him capture Sonic. Preferably alive if at all possible. And tell him not to hurt the hedgehog too badly." Drago ordered. He then turned and went back to Hershey's hut. As Drago arrived at Hershey's hut, she came running back.
"I killed Snively!" Hershey happily exclaimed to Drago. Drago laughed out loud, but stopped when Hershey shot him a curious glance. "Where is the Princess? I've gotta tell her all about this!" Drago suppressed another burst of laughter.
"I've got bad news… you just killed her. The Sonic costume made it look like Sonic did it. You gullible fool! You killed your beloved Princess! And, probably the hedgehog too!" Drago laughed. Hershey ran out of her hut and ran blindly into the dark forest, not knowing where she was going.
"How're they doin'?" Bunnie asked, very worried for the safety of the King and Princess. In Robotropolis, both teams had reached the room in which Robotnik kept the magical Sword of Acorns. Back in Knothole, Rotor was carefully monitoring the convergence of the planets.
"St. John, we've only got thirteen hours until the two planets have merged completely. So, hurry up with that sword and get it back here on the double. Copy." Rotor said into the radio.
"Uh, roger. Any word on where the Princess is? I'm looking over the ledge she was supposed to be coming up and I can't see her. Over." St. John reported.
"Bad news. She's back here in the Infirmary. She's in tough shape. She may not make it through the night. Alert everyone to be on the lookout for Sonic. He was the bastard who did this. Drago wants him brought back alive. Over." There were a few seconds of silence.
"A big ten-four. If we see him, he's ours. You just do what you can for the Princess and the King."
"All right. Over and out. And, hurry for all our sakes." Rotor said into the radio and then walked back into the Infirmary.
"Doc, what's her diagnosis? Give it to me straight… I can take it." Rotor asked. Doctor Quentin Quack took a deep breath and then said,
"The King has stabilized and seems okay, but as for the Princess, her condition is rapidly deteriorating. My staff and I have done all we can do with what limited technology we have… I'm sorry. If we only had access to a more powerful computer, I may be able to do something." Quentin explained. Aaron, who had been watching the monitors for Sally, had an idea.
"Rotor, would the computers from my car be sufficient? It's the most sophisticated computer we have access to… for the time being." Aaron suggested. Samantha was knelt beside the Princess in silent prayer.
"I say we wait until tomorrow. Night has fallen and with it a wave of patrolling robots." Rotor said. Rotor looked at Quack and hoped that everything would go as it had been planned.
Back on Earth, Robotnik had begun his assimilation of humankind, thereby securing his role as the Supreme ruler of Earth and eventually, Mobius.
"Sir, there's a problem with the machines." Snively said.
"What'? What's wrong with them? What's happening?" Robotnik growled. Snively looked at the monitors and various displays.
"As it appears, the generators are being affected by the convergence of the planets. We will be without a source of power in about two hours." Snively reported. Robotnik grinned.
"Once the two planets are merged completely, I can use the Ultimate Annihilator to destroy both worlds at once. And, once I am rid of the meddling hedgehog, I can proceed with my plans.' Robotnik chuckled. Robotnik had used one of the portals that Sonic unwittingly provided to jump to Earth and start the roboticization process on Earth. He had only brought along his deadliest device in the event that it was needed.
"Sire, I give you the great kingdom of Robotropolis." Snively proudly said as the city appeared on the horizon. Robotnik's grin grew wider.
That night as almost everyone, even Doctor Robotnik who had not slept soundly for the past ten years, slept deep enough to dream. As each slept and dreamt, they dreamt of how they had gotten to the point they now were at.
(End of Chapter 8)