Disclaimer: All Sonic Characters © to Sega/Sonic Team/DIC/Archie Comics.
Fan characters belong to the writer of this fiction, which is me: Lynxia aka Patty Hendriks.

Life before and after Death

Chapter Three:

Contacts are Made

The husky's tail sways from side to side to show the hedgehog she is enthousiastic about meeting him. He squints his eyes in a way he isn't even sure he wants to meet this strange creature who doesn't even have eyes, but a weird visor which still seems to glare at him with the bright colored streak across it. He presses his lips together and lets his eyes wander further over her body to see if she has more strange details. It wouldn't surprise him though.

The husky who introduced herself as Pepper arches both her brows as she notices she is been checked up and a grin slowly forms across her lips. She places her hands on her side and says with a loud voice," hey! I was talkin' to you, mister Hedgehog. I introduced myself, so that means you will say somethin' like its a delighted pleasure to meet ya and my name is yada yada the yada thingie. Or weren't you raised that way?"

Bronx quickly looks back up to her and his mouth falls slightly open. She really is something weird... He swallows, feeling his troath is dry and says slowly," its a delighted pleasure to meet you and my name is yada yada the yada thingie...?"

He pulls his painful shoulders a bit up as he grits his teeth, wondering how she will react on this. The husky leans more forward with a blunt expression across her face, her hands remaining on her sides and her face coming closer to his. In a reaction, he leans a little bit back to keep a distance between them and grips his fingers around the edge of the table so he won't fall over it. Her silence makes him even more uncomfortable and he wonders what will hapen to him next.

Suddenly she starts to laugh and raises a hand to smack it down agaisnt his back, saying," you're so funny and cute! I think I am gonna lika ya!"

Bronx cringes with every slap he gets on his back, feeling his soar muscles become even more soar and he quickly gets off the table to get away from her. His legs are wobbly and he sways a bit from side to side as he tries to walk. He stops, taking a deep breath and hears nothing behind him. He looks over his shoulder towards the husky and sees she is still standing by the table and how she lowers her arm back to her side. The grin already faded and made place for an unsure smile.

Pepper sighs softly and places her hands together infront of her as she slowly skates over towards Bronx, saying," I am sorry... I don't meet new people around, so I got a little bit tad carried away. It's just so good to see a cute, kind, honest, innocent face like yours here."

Bronx grimaces, not liking that kind of compliments coming from a girl, especially when she isn't named Jenna. Yet, this husky doesn't seem to have any grudge agaisnt him nor seems to have bad intentions so he slowly lifts up his hand to introduce himself.

"I am Bronx, Bronx the Hedgehog. Nice to meet you."

Pepper looks down at his hand in complete surprise and lifts her gaze up to see if he is serious. She then lets out a squeel and wraps her arms around him to hug him. With ease she lifts him up from his feet and twirls quickly around on her skates, obviously happy that Bronx finally introduced himself to her.Bronx is so surprised by this sudden unexpected reaction of the husky that he even forgets to struggle against this unwanted action. She puts him back down on his bare feet and lets her hands rest on his shoulders, feeling how he tries to keep his balance after being twirled around. He looks dizzy in a way.

"You have such a cool name!" she says and gently rocks his shoulders, his head bopping up and down and she chuckles, quickly letting go of him," Oh shucks, I got carried away again. Silly me..."

Bronx shakes his head and sighs softly, guessing its just the personailty of this girl and that he has to live with his. He rubs over the side of his head to calm down the dizzyness and finally asks," where am I? ... and where is Jenna?"

Pepper looks at him and because he can't see her eyes which are hidden behind the odd device, he can't lay his finger on what she is thinking. She doesn't say anything for a moment and she presses up her lips so she looks worried in a way.

"I'll show ya..." she finally says with a soft and serious voice and turns around, skatting across the room to a wall. She lays her hand against it once she reached it and a small panel opens, revealing a small compartment. She sticks her hands into it and as she pulls them back, she holds his boots, gloves and scarf, together with a few belts in her arms. The panel closes again, disappearing completly into the white wall and Pepper skates back to Bronx. She stops infront of him and hands over his belongings, saying," ya better get dressed first, before he will see ya like this wanderin' around through this shabby place."

Bronx looks at her confused as he takes his stuff from her and asks," he? Who is He?"

"Ya'll meet him shortly, so don't ya worry about it for now," Pepper says to calm him down and watches him put on his boots and gloves. She remains quiet as he gets further dressed, watching how he puts two small belts around his left arm and leg to give him a more rough expression. Two small scars which cross over his left eyebrow and a small silver ring pierced through it already give him a look that nobody can mess with him, but she knows he is different like that deep inside of him. You cans ee it in his eyes... She frowns slightly as she notices he hesitates by the black scarf and lowers her shoulders a bit, knowing something isn't right.

Bronx stares down at the silk he holds losely in his hands and holds back a sigh. Jenna made this scarf for him a long while back. She has one that matches, only that one has the color white. She told him she wants him to keep it with him forever, so people were able to see that nobody could come between their friendship. They still can't, though... even after what happend to her. He wraps the scarf around his neck and looks towards Pepper, saying," I am ready."

Pepper smiles broadly and takes a deep breath to speak again, but gets interrupted by something else.

"And about time."

Both Bronx and Pepper looks towards the open doorway when they hear the voice and see a small creature standing there, looking towards them. He is bald, except for a few strands of hair which already look like they will fall out any time soon, has a very pointy nose and wears a dark green jacket and light green pants which are tugged away in black boots. The creature steps further into the white room and Bronx notices he isn't much taller than himself.

"Hello, Snively," Pepper says with clear mock dripping from her voice as she looks at him and crosses her arms over her chest. It's obvious she doesn't like this short bald headed guy and Bronx doesn't even make the attempt to wonder why. He guesses he wouldn't like him either... must be the nose...

Snively looks at Pepper, snorts softly and says," I hope he is ready to see the doctor, because he is waiting for him. So is he?"

"No," Pepper simply replies as if she is trying to scare the odd creature with the cold tone in her voice and skates towards Bronx to stand beside him," he isn't ready yet. First, he needs to see somethin' and I will bring him to it. After that, the doctor may speak to him."

She takes Bronx's hand and pulls him along with her, leaving a stunned Snively behind. Bronx stumbles a bit, but follows her with no hesitation, having the feeling that sticking with Pepper will help him out of what he has rolled into.

"But.. but wait! He give me strict orders to bring the hedgehog to him! You will not change the plan!" Snively yelps in a nervous way and scurries after Pepper who continues to make her way out of the room with Bronx getting dragged along by her.

"Well, tough luck then, ey Snively?" Pepper smirks and hears how fast Snively needs to walk to keep up with them as his footsteps echo through the hallway. He pants as his short legs try to carry him as fast as he can and grumbles as he notices Pepper skates away with more speed, Bronx almost running after her with an unsteady pace.

"But you will get me into trouble if you don't get that hedgehog by him this instant!"

"What else is new...?" Pepper asks as she looks over her shoulder towards Snively. Snively always gets the blame for everything, so him saying this doesn't even move her. She is used to it and so is he, even though he doesn't want to get used to it. He became a coward because of all this and it kind of suits his appearance in a way.

Snively stops walking after her and sighs deeply, knowing she is right and lowers his shoulders, looking defeated.

"I am not gonna like this..." he whimpers and watches Pepper and Bronx go around the corner to disappear from his sight.

Pepper doesn't slow down as she glides around another corner on her skates and Bronx slips away with his feet, not getting the proper time to steady himself. He falls onto the ground with a loud wince and Pepper gets yanked back, because she was still holding his hand. She lets out a surprised yelp and falls onto the floor beside the hedgehog who is trying to get back up. She curses softly as she rubs over her bottom and looks over to Bronx, asking," ya alright there, Bronx?"

Bronx only nods and stands up by himself, rubbing over his ellbow.

Pepper snickers as she gets up, standing easily on the skates and says with a smirk," atleast we lost Snively, so that is good."

Bronx dusts himself off, not saying anything towards the husky and sets a step forward to continue on without her. Pepper watches him brush by her and reached out a hand towards him to grab for his wrist.

"Woh there! Where do ya think you're goin'? I still need to show ya somethin'..."

Bronx pulls his arm free from her grip with an aggresive movement and glares towards Pepper as if he actually means it. He sets a step towards her, pointing firmly at her and starts to speak with held back anger," listen, girl! I don't know what is going on here, but I had enough of it! All I want to know is where Jenna is! I don't want to meet this doctor who is so eager to see me! I don't want to see that annoying whimpering baldy guy again! And I am fed up with your enthousiasm, because you see... there is no reason on this whole darned world to be happy and jolly!"

Pepper stares at him in shock and for the first time ever since she introduced herself to him, she is speechless. Her lowerlip starts to tremble and she slowly starts to cring as if she is holding back tears. Bronx doesn't seem to notice this, because his wave of ragefull talk just continues on.

"I lost someone! Someone I adored so much! I have been wandering around for days with no sleep and no food! All I want is her and it just seems to much to ask! Don't you get it, Peppy"

"Pepper.."

"What ever! You don't know what happend! So leave me alone!"

Bronx raises his hands and turns around to walk away from Pepper, leaving her completly defeated. She inhales quickly to make an attempt to hold back those tears which keep burning behind that visor of hers. All she wanted was to give him a warm welcome in this cold and empty place. Of course she doesn't know what has happend to him and this Jenna he can't stop thinking about. But unfortunatly she wants to know the story. She clenches her fists as she makes a decission, opens her mouth and with a loud voice she says quickly," I know where she is!"

Bronx lowers his pace, his ears rising up when he hears her words. He turns half around to face her with obvious hesitation and his eyes are filled with questions towards the husky who is at the edge of breaking down crying.

"I found ya... both of ya... in the storm. It was three days ago... I took you two to this place, thinkin' I would be able to help ya. But she... she was already dead."

A darkbrown tear rolls down from underneat the visor over her white cheek and she quickly wipes it away, leaving a dark spot across the pure white fur. She takes a deep wheezing breath and continues to tell her version of the story of how he got in this bizar place," so the doctor... He made a plan... at first he wasn't pleased to see me return with two strangers, but as soon as he saw her... her dead body... he agreed about you stayin' to recover. Ya remained unconscious for days and today ya woke up."

Bronx slowly shakes his head and walks towards her with careful steps, taking her hands in his. He remains silent, looking at her in a way that he needs to know more. He looks at the dark mark across her cheek which is the remains of the tear and notices it grease. His eyebrows twitch as he notices this, but the wonder is short as Pepper starts to speak again," the doctor was kind enough not to despose your friend's body. He put her in a capsule to keep her completly intact and he has been waitin' for ya to wake up."

"Jenna is here...?"

Pepper nods and squeezes in his hands, saying," that is what I wanted to show ya. Snively knew this, because the doctor wanted to show ya to her himself... That is why he wanted ya to come with him so badly. But I myself think this is best. I dun care about what the doctor might think about my action. Ya need to see her, before ya meet the doctor."

Bronx smiles slightly and nods towards her as he understands her. He leans slightly forward and places a gently kiss against her forehead, before asking," can you show me to her?"

Pepper stares up towards him and another darkbrown tear rolls down her cheek. In a way she looks more relieved, but still slightly disturbed. As before she quickly wipes this tear away as well and lets out a weak chuckle, looking down towards the floor.

"Of course... It's this way," she says and looks back up to show Bronx the way. She starts to skate forward and heads towards a large heavy looking door at the end of the hall. Bronx follows her right away and stays close to her, feeling his heart race inside of his chest. He will see Jenna again, maybe not alive but the sight of her body will atleast ease his mind. His anger has completly disappeared and all he can hope for is that Pepper will forgive him for his outburst.

Pepper slows down and looks up the large metallic doorslooking unsure for only a second. She lowers her shoulders and looks towards Bronx, saying," she is in here…"
Bronx narrows his green eyes as he listens to Pepper's voice and steps forward to open the doors so he can enter what ever is behind it. The doors slide open when he stands close by them and a large dark hall reveals itself. The hair in his neck rise when he feels how much colder it is in there and he swallows, not knowing what to expect. To confidence himself, he clenches his fists and sets another step forward to step inside. Pepper watches him in silence and how he tries to keep his act together. It must be tough for him… She follows right after him and the door quickly closes again once they are both a few steps away from it.
Bronx quickly turns around to see what happened as the darkness seals them completely up and lets his eyes adjust, seeing Pepper's visor glowing bright in the dark.
"Are we locked up?"
"No, the door closes fast to keep the temperature at the same level. If it gets a few grades warmer here, the computer system will fail. It is very fragile," Pepper replies to Bronx's question and nods towards something in front of them," don't worry and just go ahead. Nothin' can happen here."
Bronx nods slightly and turns back around to continue his way further into the room. Located close near a wall across of the two creatures, something large shows a sign of dim light. Small buttons light up in a certain rhythm and dim before Bronx can even blink with his eyes. As he comes closer to the object he needs to go to, he sees it's a large capsule with a transparent hatch across of it. He arches his eyebrows in a questioning way as he notices something is in the capsule and steps closer. He is afraid for what it might be, but his curiosity just won the fight as he lays his gloved hands against the hatch to look at it.
In the dim lights coming from out the inside of the capsule, the features of the one he knows can be seen. She lays there like she is asleep, her eyes closed and in perfect shape as if she has never fell of that cliff and died. She lays half covered under a white sheet which reaches till her collarbone, her arms resting beside her body.
"Jenna…" Bronx whispers as he brushes a hand over the glass hatch, knowing she can't hear him and lowers his head a bit. He holds back a deep sigh when he hears Pepper's skates rolling towards him and straightens his back a bit.
The husky clears her throat as she stands behind Bronx and says softly," I cleaned her up so she would look decent… I hope ya don't mind I did."
Bronx smiles slightly as he continues to stare down at the female hedgehog in the capsule and shakes his head, muttering," no… it's like she is asleep... like she never died… Thank you."
Pepper smiles when she hears the thank you and tries to hold back a blush, quickly cupping her own cheek to hide it. She knows Bronx won't see it, because all he cares for now is Jenna, but she rather not wants him to see her like this. She opens her mouth to say something to point her attention to something else, but her smile turns into a grimace as she bites firm on her lower lip as a shadow appears across the hatch and Jenna. She slightly backs away and nudges Bronx to make him aware of what is going on, looking like she is frightened all the sudden.
Bronx snaps out of his thinking when he feels Pepper's elbow in his back and his eyes widen when he sees someone else standing on the other side of the capsule. He blinks quickly to scramble his thoughts together and narrows his eyes, asking with a serious voice," who are you?"
The person, who is so much taller than him, leans forward so his facial features become visible in the lights of the capsule and the large orange moustache above the thick lips almost curls up as he grins. He is a broad man, seeming to be the same creature as the odd Snively and his left arm is completely cybernetic. He clenches the robotized fingers into a fist as the metal armour glows faint in the only light of this room and says with an evil tone in his voice," I am the one who is so eager to have a nice chat with you. I am the doctor… Dr. Robotnik."

-To Be Continued-

-To Be Continued-