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 Four:

Deal with the Grimreaper

So the contact was made.
Bronx stares towards the man in front of him who leans with his whole weight against the capsule as if he doesn't care what is inside of it. The man introduced himself as doctor Robotnik and as from what Bronx can tell; he wants to meet de dark furred hedgehog, but why?
Bronx looks slightly away from the creature with the moustache to think. The name Robotnik went from village to village and the name has never been used in a good cause. Some say Robotnik is dangerous, other say he is a crazy scientist and a coward. Which will be true?
"I see you are not impressed," the doctor says and takes his weight away from the capsule to step around it. He stands beside the much smaller creature and continues to speak," I still wonder why I should be meeting you… After all, I am not so fond of hedgehogs. So why should I lay my hatred aside for you and your friend?"
Bronx's perks his ears a bit and quickly looks towards Jenna, who still lies in the capsule as if she is asleep. He has no answer for the doctor's wondering and the doubts he has against the human also play him apart.
"She told me you both could be of use to me," the doctor says as he mentions towards Pepper with his cyborg hand and pouts his tick lip," but really… what can a dead and a weak hedgehog mean to me? I have strong minions! My SWAT-bots can handle more than you can and you ever will! Now tell me, hedgehog, why should I even listen to you?"
Pepper holds back a sigh as she listens to Robotnik and slightly shakes her head, hoping Bronx knows what to do right now. It is true that Robotnik has a big hatred towards hedgehogs, but that also counts for all the Mobians on this planet. He hates every single creature around him; he uses them in his experiments and robotizes them for his own good. There are only a few who dare to stand up against him and one of them is a very fast hedgehog who can run with the speed of light. She has seen him in a few occasions, but it mostly ended with a huge explosion and the destruction of a base or a new invention the doctor made to take over Mobius.
"Can you save her?"
Pepper gasps when she hears Bronx's voice through her thoughts and tilts her head to look towards him. He dared to say something… He even dared to ask the doctor for a request. She never dared to do that… She sees how Bronx looks up to the doctor, not afraid and with courage. He is one of a kind, this hedgehog. She just hopes this won't insult the doctor. If it does, Bronx will go through life as a robotized Mobian.
"Save her…?" the doctor asks as he repeat Bronx's words and his surprised looks slowly changes. He starts to laugh, his belly shaking as the laughing becomes louder and he slaps his hand down at the hatch of the capsule, asking with a loud voice," save her! Haven't you noticed she is dead, hedgehog? She can't be saved anymore!"
Bronx narrows his eyes as he watches the doctor laugh about his serious question and clenches his fists. He will not be laughed at by a crazy doctor who wasn't even planning on helping him.
"Can't take the challenge of bringing someone back to life, doctor? Or is that way out of your league of experience?"
The sarcasm is spread thick over Bronx's words and the reaction of the doctor doesn't even surprise him. Robotnik has stopped laughing and his black eyes now even look darker than they usually do. It is obvious that Bronx's remark insulted him deeply. Pepper raises her hands to cover her mouth, afraid of what might happen. She now realises it was a mistake to bring Bronx and his friend Jenna to this place in the hope that Robotnik could help. She only brought more misery in Bronx's life and now he has to pay for it. She sees how Robotnik raises his broad shoulders so he even look much bigger, towering above Bronx. She always has been afraid of him, but now… she is terrified.
"Out of my league!" Robotnik's voice roars through the dark cold room, but the only one who doesn't flinch is Bronx. Robotnik sets another step forward so his nose almost touches Bronx's and says," you don't even know how far my league stretches, foolish hedgehog! If I want that female alive, then I will be capable of doing it!" He points with his thick finger towards Jenna to prove his point and continues to yell," I am the great doctor Robotnik! No challenge can bring me down from what I have achieved! None!"
"Alright… you accept it then?"
Bronx's calm voice startles the doctor in the middle of his rage and he blinks with his eyes to focus on what he was screaming about. Accept the challenge of bringing that female hedgehog back to life? It would be a new chance to increase his power and to take over Mobius. If he is able to control over the living and the dead, nobody can stop him. Not even that blue hedgehog that always stands in his way. With a wide grin across his lips, he nods and looks back down at the hedgehog who was able to change his mind. He straightens his back and rubs his hands together, saying, "I accept! I will bring your friend back to life, that I promise… But… what will be in it for me?"
"For you…?" Bronx asks with a frown, not expecting the doctor wants more than only the fame. He thought that would be enough…
"He'll work for ya!"
Both Robotnik and Bronx look to where the voice came from and see Pepper with her hand raised and with a scared expression across her gentle face. She slowly lowers her hand when she notices all attention is pinned down at her and she clears her throat. She slowly skates forward to get closer to them and holds her hands together against her chest as she speaks," he'll work for ya to increase your victory, until ya have succeeded to bring her back to life. He'll do everythin' ya ask him, I'll see to that."
Bronx looks with wide open eyes towards Pepper and opens his mouth to object against her offer, but Robotnik cuts him of before he even gets the chance to breathe.
"A hedgehog working for me? Under my command?" the doctor mutters as he rubs over his chin in a pondering way," that is quite ironic… But so delightful. If I can not boss that annoying blue blur around, I just have to replace him with you."
Robotnik presses his finger against Bronx's nose and this one grits his teeth, not liking the idea at all. He pulls his head back to avoid the finger and wants to turn his objection towards him, but gets cut of again as the doctor talks towards Pepper.
"You better keep an eye on him, dog or you will regret it. Now, take him away and tell him what to do while I am going to work on bringing back the dead."
"Yes, sir," Pepper nods and skates over towards Bronx. She holds out a hand towards him to motion for him to follow her and says," lets go, Bronx. The doctor will make things right."
Bronx glares towards Pepper, having the feeling she betrayed him after being all nice towards him and slaps her hand away to walk away on his own. Pepper slowly lowers her hand and looks towards doctor Robotnik, but sees he is gazing down at the dead hedgehog in the capsule, deep in thought. He doesn't even bother about Bronx's opinion about all this.
Bronx walks towards the large door and stops for a second to have a last glance of Jenna, but all he can see is her face as for Robotnik stands in his view. He shakes his head and turns around to leave the cold room, having the feeling it is now freezing in there.
The door slides open and he steps out of it, feeling the warmth of the hallway around him.
"Bronx, please wait."
Pepper skates into the hallway and the door closes quickly behind her. She skids to a stop, but doesn't dare to come near Bronx, afraid of his behaviour now. Her ears are pressed against her head and she whispers," I am sorry… It was the only to make Robotnik to help you…"
"Tell me something, Pepper… What if he doesn't keep his promise? Did you even think about that? …I made a promise once and you just forced me to break it."
"I didn't… know…"
"No, of course you don't know. That's because you are selfish; you just want me to stay here so you have a play buddy, isn't it?"
"That… that is not true!"
"Then what is true, Pepper? Will he be able to bring Jenna back to me or is he just bluffing? Showing of? Making us think he is able to do everything? You made me work for a mad man who is now alone with Jenna!"
"He can help her! Trust me on that one! He'll do everythin' to bring her back to life, ya'll see!" Pepper says and quickly grabs for Bronx's wrist," he is a man of his word, Bronx. He is a noble man who has goals in his life. He'll see to it that she comes back."
She wraps her fingers around his so she is now holding his hand and squeezes in it, trying to comfort him. He remains standing with his back towards her, not saying a word or giving a sign that he is listening.
A noble man? After all those stories he heard, she is the first in his life who calls Robotnik a noble man. Others call him a maniac, some a crazy mind, but she of all the creatures he knows calls the doctor a noble man. Why does she think like that? What did he do for her to make her have such a weird thoughts?
"All I want is to have Jenna back… no matter the price."
He pulls his hand gently out of her grip and walks away from her, saying," I want to be alone for a moment, if that is alright with you…"
"Of course… Of course," Pepper sighs and rubs her hands together as she watches him walk down the hallway to have some privacy. She will let him go, unless he plans to leave completely. He is in shock now, that's normal… Of course he needs time alone. She will tell him what his duties are later, there is no rush… Especially now that the doctor has a new experiment he can play with. Bring the dead back to life… Has anybody been able to do such a thing?
She stares down the now empty hallway in front of her and lowers her head. She just hopes Bronx will forgive her for what she did… she doesn't care about anything else.

Bronx leans against a wall after walking a short distance through the labyrinth of hallway and rests there. With his eyes closed he listens to the soft humming coming from all the machines which are installed through the whole base. His mind is racing, trying to find a way to ease down the tidal wave of thoughts and doubts.
He feels cold and alone…
"Forgive me, Jenna… "he whispers with a trembling voice and lifts up a hand to rub over his forehead," I broke my promise to you…"
Slowly his hand covers his eyes and he cringes, his shoulders shuddering. He lets himself slip down the wall to sit at the floor and remains there alone to hold back the tears.

-To Be Continued-