Chapter 3

What now?

There was one thing that continually perplexed and puzzled Miles when he had finally regained mobility of his body was why Bunny didn't just leave. She wanted sonic, she got him. There was another thing puzzling him why was he sitting there? theoretically he get to the phone booth go back in time and fix the whole mess. but then there would be two of him, but considering the law of averages there should already be two of him so would he cease to exist? If so then how could he fix anything? Time travel was very confusing that way, more so than dimensional gateways, and the young kit really wasn't the version of Miles with the brains in the package. He considered his options carefully, he knew the version of him on this world was in a coma, which is what allowed him to take over his slot in the dimension without interference from Zonic . However if that were true then how did Sonny find him?

"My brain hurts." Miles said out loud. He didn't know if it was a side effect of drugs Sonic had tramped him with or just out of pure mental exhaustion.

"Cute" Sonny said as he realized the blade had moved from the small of his back to angle

just to the right of his neck (facing). In a movement that was somewhat quicker than his attempt to disable the one armed Rabbit. She was in a position to sever his head when the Fox in the background Sneezed. Sonny noticed her inattention to detail and used it to avoid the swing grab her in a sleeper hold. "Still, not fast enough sweetie."

Bunny slowly drifted into unconsciousness ...

Zonic Universe...

All the power for the base had suddenly cut off. the Virus Mandy had been transmitting had somehow been able to infect the Mainframe of the dimensional raft. Mandy of course wasn't sure if this was another one of Robotnick's traps, and the electric pink hedgehog wasn't sure if he should activate the counter virus. In the end common sense won out and he managed to upload the counter virus before the entire system shut down.

At this point any semblance of a plot was lost in the darkness of sleep...

During a time when Pogs were bigger than Poke'mon I was bigger than Elvis...well at least in my mind. See I have a tale to tell that will probably become myth, or fall into that realm of nothingness, C'est la vie. See that group of people setting up equipment, Well I guess you can't see as you are reading this. So I want you to assume that there are people setting up band equipment for a spectacular event at ... I don't know the Hard Rock Cafe' in Casinopolis. It was an annual battle of the bands for local artists. OK so now you have a location, The blonde bombshell in the faded black T-shirt with the blue jeans torn at the knee caps, up the one that reminds you of that girl you'd do anything to meet. She's Cheri she has lead vocals as well as being the manager of our little group, or was. If you haven't guessed by now the band that I'm referring to was the Blood Woolvez, thats right the band who's Drummer was found in the Mojave desert after the forthcoming show. If you could see, you would 'just know ' Cause the drums have our logo on the front. So now you Have an understanding when and where this story begins, the question on your mind is this 'How will it end?' The answer I am afraid I can't tell you as you are going to have to learn along with everyone else...

"Rouge, Rouge have you seen Miles?" Cheri asked of a smaller with her hair tied in a chocolate ponytail. only four inches shorter than Cheri. Rouge was wearing a blue denim jacket over a black Tube top with the Initials BW in crimson on the back of the jacket. As much as I would like to say she was not wearing anything else due to 'Harassment Stuff' I have to admit that she was wearing a pair of Old Navy slacks, which she took from me. Look I don't know if you have a Roommate, ALF or other wise I don't care, But whern it gets to the point were they start taking your Clothes you need to set up boundaries, of course by that point you've already borrowed half her CD collection so Its sort of' OK. I like New Kids on the Block, Vanilla Ice, and Chris Cross...Is that a crime? cough yes well for the record I also like Iron Maiden, Smashing Pumpkins, and some of that Ozzy guy's junk.

"Sorry Cheri, If I know Miles he's on his way."Rouge had a slick grin on her face, one of those where she knew something she wasn't telling.

"He better, that little drummer boy is the only thing thats keeping this band together." Ok, maybe it wasn't exactly what she said, as I wasn't there in person I only know how the aspects of her personality work. So what she said was Probably more along the lines of "He better get his Butt in gear before I put it in a sling". However, since I'm telling this story I can embellish certain aspects in my favor. Meanwhile I was a block or 13 away Outside a Lucky supermarket, getting a Soda and New York Style Hotdog. I'm not sure if it is any different than a Vegas Style Hotdog, in fact I'm almost positive it's not0 at all pivital to the story. Though at least you know what i'm up too.

I ,in all my red haired, Green eye'd, Grunge glory, was The Best drummer in all of nine counties At that time, which is 1990 something, I was ahead of my time For I was the first Skater Boy. I made my board from scratch, it wasn't one of those cookie cutter one's you find in the Wally-worlds' of today. No, it looked more like one of those goldfish cookies. I had discovered that Temporary tattoo's could be used as Decals, and they adorned the underside of my now weathered board. it had pink Contact paper and 8 back 40's. Ok, ok so it was my sisters Board. 'Don't know where she obtained it, she never used it, and I never felt the need to use the board as an extension of my manhood like the Skater's of the day, besides I liked Neon pink, when was the last time you saw a skateboard with any color but black. With my baggy, faded Carpenter Jeans rolled at the cuff, drumsticks proudly sticking out the back pocket, my Tommy Hilfigger flannel shirt tied around my waste and, my mustard stained Mighty Max T-shirt. I was the poster board for future generations of Teenie Boppers, and when the Bloodwolves hit it big I would have my own poster in every teenage girls room from here to Utopia. I would even have my own limited edition Pog if I played my cards right.

Well I think somone Important once said a simple statement that put a damper on my parade 'Dreams were meant to be broken' Why? I guess because some things just happen to work out that way, Darn I miss Koosh balls. At any rate Generaly this is where the plot starts to thicken my friends. I finished my hotdog in record time, so fast in fact I almost choked on it as I realzed I was late for the start of the show. This meant it was 30 maybe 40 minutes before the wire. After some very well learned tricks that cost me several injuries over the past few years, I was Dirt boarding down a hill that lead to a gated wash which was made to prevent flash floods. Believe me when I tell you Casinopolis is all desert the strip is the only area with wall to wall pavement in Casino Zone. My pants were making it difficult to climb the fence, once I crossed that hurdle I could Use my board like a rocket on the Pavement, with a twin tailed booster of course. It would only take me 20 min' to get to the parking garage of the Desert Inn. I won't Bore you with the details Needless to say I was winded when I made it to the Parking Garage. Once there I made my way to my motorcycle, a Kawasaki Ninja, which I nicknamed the tornado and was streamlined with Metallic Red paint. Four more payments and that puppy was as good as mine.

I revved the motor as she started to purr and made my way to the exit of the parking garage. What followed was a recless abandon of Safety regulations and Road rules that you Couldn't put a price tag on. I should say, had I been caught I wouldn't be in the situation that sets this story into motion. After several tricks that would have made the Enigmatic Mcgraw' cringe in terror, I successfully made it to my destination. 'The Hard Rock' I had a vallet park my baby since I was pressed for time and Money wasn't really an issue if we Won. I had to show the bouncer my ID before I had access the backstage, apparently I wasn't the only one who claimed to be The drummer of the Bloodwolvez. I feel real secure with a guy that smells of booze, and looks like Charles Manson.

"ABOUT TIME YOU SHOWED UP YOU JAGOFF! Cheri's been knawing my ear off for the past 15 minutes. "Rouge was clearly relived.

"I love you to sis. So when do we sta-"my statement had been cut short as our manager/ singer entered.

"We're on next...And get that Mighty Max T shirt Off Miles you look like a total Targ."Sonic insisted as he tossed him a black T with a cute animal that looked like a cross between a rabbit and a cat on the front, there was a bandanna around its neck with the letters BW made with triangle shaped letters. Frankly the only thing the band had that looked anything like a wolf of any kind was me.You could feel the glares emanating from the group.

"As opposed to someone who knows Conversational Klingon?" I returned in jest, before I looked at the Cabbit on the front of the shirt "Gawd my teeth are rotting just looking at this thing, who killed Pretty Sammy?"This only to got a glare in return from the Irate manager. Eager to change the subject to something less dangerous I had 3 choices. These subjects include Food, Money, or Girls. As Cheri is a 'girl' the third one is out, since we're all broke the second option is also out. "Oh man do I have a Jones for some pizza , Say! want to go to Pizza Villa after the show? My treat."

"What the hell Kind of Question is that? I swear when your not working on your bike your thinking with your stomach."Cheri rolled her eyes as we prepared for the curtain call.

"I'm going to take that as a yes."what followed was the most Gut wrenching 10 minutes of my life...and possibly the most disappointing. Our band was good. it started with a rap...

"Yo! YO! My name is Miles and I hate the Macarena, those Bayside Boys can really go to hell yeah! I don't like it can't stand it So I, well Torched it." switch goes here."Somebody once told me the world was gonna screw me, that I didn't have the guts to surive. She was looking kinda dumb with her lawyer on the phone, she said give me one reason to try. Bwah hah ah "The dumb Bunnie should have known I had no money and I sued her Edit for telling' the lie." at any rate, you get the idea of what our sound was like. BAD...and not the good Bad, the lame one. Despite the positive nature bad carried at that time we were awful, we were as bad as that Espio and Chammyduo that came on before us.

Somehow, we made it into the next leg of the competition against some lame Spice Girls Ripp offs who only got there because 3 of the Judges were clearly smitten with their rendition of the Macarena. The other was either tone deaf or had given the go ahead out of pity I didn't see it coming, it was kind of like getting run over by a jeep. The Charles Manson guy whispered something into the ear of a judge, who started chattering with his Co-horts it was then that some stuffy British Guy asked Specifically about my age.

"Come Again?" I wasn't sure I heard him right.

"Mr. Prower How old Are you?"

"11, why?"

"I'm sorry The Bloodwolvez are disqualified as the drummer is to Young to participate."

"Pardon?"I asked, personaly I thought it was a load of crock. I'm an adult so I take some blows in stride, but this was just ludicrous.

" the minimum age to enter the competition is 16. as much as I regret the situation ...Bryan was it?

"Miles, Miles Prower"

"you have been disqualified."

"Why?"I asked as it was just not sinking into my brain. What The hell gave him the right to Tell Me, a MAN under the law, that I was a Child.

"I believe I explained why, But according to Competition Statutes...I'm Sorry son there's nothing I can do."

I could tell almost subconsciously that he was related to one of the Spice Girls rip-offs.

It may have started out as a prank, or some sort of twisted revenge. The girls and sonic had left me in an abandoned Mine shaft outside town, what surprised me was that Sonic went along with it. All I had was a glow in the dark Duncan Yo-Yo, and a stick of chewing gum. I placed the stick of chewing gum in my mouth and blew a couple of bubbles, I truly expected them to return by morning. Sonic at the very least, my blood, my Brother. Unfortunately standing at the base of the opening in the dwindling moonlight I had a snowballs chance in hell Of surviving the Night.

It was then that I heard a rattle like hiss, and I knew my days were numbered... The snake bit me, but it wasn't what was expected the bite caught me in the ear then it was almost as if the room was spinning. my knees bucked first. for a moment I was balanced enough to stay upright before I fell flat on my face.

As I lay there I wanted to know why I'm now waiting to die... that's right that twisted charred Carcass of of fox in the sickeningly sweet Cabbit shirt is me. they say your life passes before your eyes when you die. Personally I think death is a cold bastard, I saw him first when I was four years old and I haven't trusted him since. It was at that moment that awoke found my self 'Transmogrified as it were I looked at the snake for a moment "wha?"

"The snake seemed perplexed, or rather I was the one who was perplexed. "name issss Scratj, what issss yourssss?"

"Miles"

"Tailsssis iss easessst. Tailssis Scratj iss trapped isss ssstuck need warmth and ssstrength to get out."

"where do I fit in?"Miles asked.

"Tailssis Providesss warmth providesss usss SSStrength. if you helps me I helpsess you ."

"and I'm just supposed to help you, no burning in hell or nothing?"

"SSSimple Yesss?"

" sure." I don't know what happened next, I think it was all a hallucination from the snake biting me, where was I now? I could hear the heart monitor to my left my eyes hurt from the sudden burst of light so I squinted tem shut. Where on earth was I now?...